Chapter 37: Fish-Blasting
“Heh heh, the Tail Fire Dao lineage, refining the leftover embers of tribulation fire… that really scared this old fox half to death.”
An Zhuzi patted his chest in an extremely human-like manner. The smile hooked at the corner of his fox mouth actually carried a hint of mockery.
“Ahem, ahem…”
Seeing that the situation was going off-track, Fang Qing had no choice but to speak up: “Daoist… I am currently the one seeking to purchase a cultivation method. Do you have one on hand?”
“This old fox does not have a Great Sun Cultivation Method on hand… however, my demon clan’s vaults are abundant. I will go back and ask around; there should be some leads.”
An Zhuzi was clearly fond of doing cultivation-method business. Under the candlelight, his fox face looked exceptionally shrewd and eerie. “If you trust this old fox, pay a deposit first… once I find it, I will contact you.”
Fang Qing fell silent for a moment, then tossed out a yellow-skinned gourd.
An Zhuzi caught it, opened it, and sniffed. “Mm… not bad, not bad. This old fox will remember this matter.”
Fang Qing then secretly transmitted a message, giving the old fox a rendezvous location and a passphrase, before retreating back into the crowd.
‘This exchange gathering, though the atmosphere was tense… really leaked quite a lot of information.’ As he ate melon seeds, his heart was stirred with excitement, hoping that An Zhuzi and the Pu Family cultivator would expose a few more explosive secrets.
After the exchange ended, it was time for open discussion.
It was still that Old Tian who stepped out first and asked, “This old Tian bears a Lou Metal destiny, but my grandchildren do not. If they cultivate Lou Metal techniques, will there be any hindrance?”
Hearing this, Fang Qing’s spirits lifted, and he looked toward the ragged Daoist.
In the future, he himself would certainly switch to other cultivation methods.
“A cultivator’s destiny does enhance cultivation methods, but it is not absolute…”
The ragged Daoist thought for a moment, then explained, “If your descendants possess other Metal-virtue destinies, cultivating Lou Metal techniques poses little obstacle… it is only that progress may be slower than with methods perfectly suited to them. If one has a Metal-virtue destiny yet cultivates Wood- or Fire-aspected methods, it is not impossible either, but the speed will be extremely slow, and the risk of qi deviation will be much higher…”
Fang Qing immediately understood.
In this regard, Qi Ingestion Path methods were quite similar to the Qi Refining Path.
According to Qi Refining theory, the human body contained all Five Elements, so one could actually cultivate Metal, Wood, Fire, Earth, or even Ice-aspected methods.
It was just that he excelled at Water-aspected methods—one hour of cultivation could rival ten hours of other methods.
If he wanted to break through major realms and extend his lifespan, focusing on Water-aspected methods was naturally best.
However, after Foundation Establishment, he could switch to the Azure Sea Sect’s Core Formation method, the “Azure Sea Art,” or even change to another Water-aspected method.
On the Qi Ingestion Path side, once a method was chosen at the start, one had to walk that path to the very end.
“So that’s how it is. Many thanks for clearing this up, Daoist…”
Old Tian suddenly realized something, then gritted his teeth. “This old man was ignorant in his youth. When I first entered the Dao, I only ingested a strand of lower-third-tier True Qi, resulting in poor-quality True Power. Is there still any way to make up for it?”
“Heh heh…”
The Pu-surnamed cultivator snorted. “After entering the Dao, there is no changing it. Since you ingested lower-third-tier True Qi, you are destined to remain in the Qi Ingestion Realm for life. Forget about breaking through to the Dao Foundation Realm.”
As soon as these words were spoken, most cultivators present turned pale.
It was obvious—loose cultivators like them had no elders to guide them.
The first mouthful of True Qi upon entering the Dao was extremely precious, so they refined whatever they could get.
Most people’s True Qi was lower-third-tier.
Not only was breaking through to Dao Foundation hopeless, even in daily cultivation and duels against peers, they were always at a disadvantage.
“Actually… it’s not that there is no way.”
At this moment, the old fox spoke up. “Water nurtures all things. If one could find certain legendary Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Waters, such as ‘Heaven-One Generating Water,’ it might not be impossible to purify True Power and defy fate…”
“Heh… in this age, Metal and Fire are in great ascendancy. Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Flames and the few cosmic rare metals capable of refining nine-turn flying swords are already exceedingly scarce… Heaven-and-Earth Spirit Waters will only be rarer.”
The Pu-surnamed cultivator sneered. “‘Heaven-One Generating Water’ probably no longer exists in this world. To find it, one would need a great being to achieve the Dao and greatly benefit the world’s Water Virtue—only then would there be the slightest hope. Even if you found it, such a spiritual object would cause Purple Palace cultivators to fight like mad. And you lot still dare to covet it?”
The surrounding cultivators fell silent, but they firmly etched the name “Heaven-One Generating Water” into memory. It was probably futile—but what if?
“A great being achieving the Dao? There are such changes?”
Fang Qing was genuinely surprised.
“What’s so strange about that? Dao Foundation breakthroughs already produce Heaven-and-Earth phenomena. Purple Palace breakthroughs affect an even wider area—at least an entire commandery. When that Pu Family ancestor broke through back then, Yulin Commandery was engulfed in fire. Who knows how many innocent passersby burned to death, and many Wood-aspected cultivators suffered qi deviation… those in seclusion attempting major breakthroughs had it even worse. Aside from Fire cultivators gaining benefits, the rest all failed—some directly perished, body and Dao extinguished…”
The old fox continued, “If a great being truly achieved the Dao, the impact would absolutely spread across the world. If they cultivated Water Virtue, what would it matter if a few more Water-aspected spiritual objects appeared between Heaven and Earth?”
“Many thanks. I have learned much.”
Fang Qing cupped his fists in salute. No matter what, this was invaluable knowledge.
“Heh heh… no need. It’s just common knowledge. This old fox has a clerical post at Falling Phoenix Mountain, overseeing the Langhuan Book Pavilion. I usually love reading books the most.”
The old fox smiled.
“The demon clan’s sacred land—Falling Phoenix Mountain?”
Fang Qing was still marveling at why the old fox loved cultivation-method trading so much—turns out he was a librarian—when he heard the Pu-surnamed cultivator exclaim in alarm.
Looking over, Fang Qing saw that the Pu-surnamed cultivator was full of wariness, no longer showing the previous aggressiveness.
‘Alright… inferior power, so he’s decided to submit?’
Scions from great clans could look down their noses at the bottom rung, yet when facing higher clans, they could become incomparably humble—truly a display of duality.
With the Pu-surnamed cultivator backing down and saying nothing, the subsequent discussion produced no juicy gossip. Fang Qing found it rather dull.
After the exchange gathering ended, the cultivators dispersed one by one.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard the ragged old Daoist speak: “Daoist Fang Shui, please stay a moment…”
“Daoist, what instructions do you have?”
Fang Qing became secretly alert, his expression extremely polite.
“Thinking back, when I saw you few outside the Floating Boat Market, it feels like yesterday… For a young friend to ingest a strange fruit in childhood and find the Floating Boat Market was indeed fate.”
The ragged Daoist looked somewhat dazed. “And now, you have not only entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion, but reached the sixth layer… Li Rulong is even more remarkable—favored by fortune, a child of the era, able to occupy most of Ba Commandery. Though constrained by a Purple Palace agreement, it is still rare…”
‘Ingest a strange fruit?’
Fang Qing’s eyelid twitched. ‘If this wasn’t leaked by Li Rulong or the Pu Family, then this old fellow is divining me? He can divine me? Is he really just a Qi Ingestion cultivator? Could he be… Dao Foundation? And he’s not afraid of the Purple Palace prohibition?’
At the same time, resentment surged in his heart. ‘Attending a mere Qi Ingestion–level exchange gathering and still running into such a big shot… this damned latrine of a place!’
‘Luckily, I have “As If Within the Calculation.” He thinks he has divined me, but it’s just a layer of false appearance… Later I’ll use Plum Blossom Divination to divine him in reverse. According to the hexagram texts, those who proactively form karma with me should be easier to calculate… but if his major realm exceeds mine, that’s unlikely. Especially in Ancient Shu, this cesspit of Heavenly Secrets!’
At this moment, Fang Qing’s expression shifted slightly as he sensed another abnormality.
Within him, the Dao-Birth Pearl spun rapidly. Clear and turbid qi spread out, manifesting myriad phenomena.
‘This is… “As If Within the Calculation” being triggered?’
‘This person might not be Dao Foundation?’
‘Damn it—could a Purple Palace cultivator be personally coming down to blast fish? Is there no justice left?! No law?!’
‘I’ve been diligently working at the Azure Sea Sect for nearly ten years and still haven’t even seen what our Core Formation ancestor looks like! And over here, Purple Palace cultivators are this approachable?!’
Though his inner monologue was going wild, Fang Qing maintained his acting. Outwardly, everything seemed normal.
Or rather, with the Dao-Birth Pearl concealing him, even his mental fluctuations were shrouded in a layer of “As If Within the Calculation.” Even if this Purple Palace cultivator possessed mind-reading techniques, he would only see a layer of false psychological activity.
Fang Qing continued listening as the old Daoist said, “Though Li Rulong is a child of fortune for the time being, he has already reached his limit. Dao Foundation clan strongholds and the Black Moth Sect are not things he can handle. Though this old man is weak, I am willing to do what little I can for him. Would you be willing to deliver a letter for me and invite him to join this exchange gathering?”
“Naturally.”
He readily agreed, accepted a bright yellow letter, and took his leave.
Whoosh!
Fang Qing stepped on the Mysterious Ice Wheel and flew far away in one breath, instinctively wanting to shuttle back to Jade Island and not stay in this wretched place any longer.
But in the next instant, his heart stirred, and he silently circulated Plum Blossom Divination.
After the fright just now, he had stumbled upon another layer of change in “As If Within the Calculation.”
‘Although the Heavenly Secrets of Ancient Shu are a cesspit, I have the Dao-Birth Pearl. Borrowing its status… my divination ability might rival that of the Purple Palace?’
‘Plus, that ragged Daoist proactively formed karma with me earlier—calculating him should be relatively easy…’
In Fang Qing’s sea of consciousness, several illusory plum blossoms drifted down, forming a hexagram.
“Great misfortune?!”
“Could it be… that ragged Daoist has been monitoring me all along? That the moment I shuttle, I’ll expose a great secret of myself?”
His heart was shaken to the extreme, yet his face revealed nothing. After inquiring about the location of Li Rulong’s army, he headed straight there.
“Fortunately, for now, Li Rulong is the chess piece everyone values. I’m just a peripheral nobody… As long as I play my role well and exit the stage, no one will notice.”
“Most crucial of all are Plum Blossom Divination and the status of the Dao-Birth Pearl… otherwise, I wouldn’t even know whether I had entered the game, dying like a muddled ghost…”