Chapter 41: The Dissolution of the Five Dragons Society
“Is this… Core Formation?”
As a standard ant in the cultivation world, after watching the grand spectacle of the Core Formation battle and the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent undergoing Tribulation Crossing beneath the protection of formations, Fang Qing’s heart burned with fervor.
He wished he could immediately return to secluded cultivation and not emerge until he had reached Foundation Establishment and then Core Formation!
But he knew this was only a beautiful fantasy.
Without a Foundation Establishment Pill, how was he supposed to charge into Foundation Establishment with his head?
After returning to his Cave Dwelling, Fang Qing began studying ‘Plum Blossom Divination’ and could not resist casting a few hexagrams.
“Hmm? The Azure Sea Sect’s fate is secretly concealed? It bears the aspect of great prosperity…”
Following the Hexagram, he deduced cause and effect and received a revelation: “External Pill… ‘Tide-Birth Pearl’? No, I can’t continue calculating. It involves Core Formation, which is Third Tier… Even with the Dao-Birth Pearl’s status, the disparity in major realms is too great…”
Since his previous experience, he had understood the principle that divination required reverence for destiny.
After resting briefly, Fang Qing could not help himself again and began calculating his Foundation Establishment opportunity, especially the whereabouts of a Foundation Establishment Pill—preferably an unclaimed one. Then his calculations led to Elder Heavenly Cauldron…
“Plum Blossom Divination first calculates those who have karmic ties with me… I am a disciple of Pill Island, so being entangled with Elder Heavenly Cauldron is quite reasonable…”
Fang Qing then calculated the location of Core Formation spiritual medicine, only to receive a blank result!
“The cultivation world is incomparably vast. Even if the Small Huan Sea lacks Core Formation spiritual medicine, the Eastern Sea Cultivation World must have it! I cannot calculate it… First, my realm is insufficient. Second, there is no karmic entanglement?”
He touched his nose and found it stained crimson once more.
“As expected… Even on this side, I cannot act without restraint.”
Fang Qing swallowed a healing pill and silently adjusted his breathing. A thought stirred in his heart, and he recalled that streak of red shadow.
He silently calculated Zha Zhu’s karma: “Top-Grade Water Spiritual Root, Pearl Body? If the Mixed-Sea Flood Dragon Serpent had devoured her, perhaps it could have endured all nine heavenly tribulations…”
“What a pity… her fragrance vanished and jade perished.”
“Hua Lian did not know this secret at all. He merely contacted members of the Zhong Family of Taibai Island to pull off a scheme… Yet it unexpectedly severed the flood serpent’s hope of advancement. Destiny?”
…
Wanbao Island, Administrative Affairs Hall.
The once-deserted hall was extraordinarily lively today.
Many disciples stared at the rankings on the merit board, shouting excitedly. Others gazed at the exchange list, practically drooling. “Foundation Establishment Pill! It can actually be exchanged directly for a Foundation Establishment Pill?!”
Fang Qing glanced over and nodded inwardly. ‘So many disciples died. They had to show some gesture. Releasing a few Foundation Establishment Pills is only appropriate.’
He looked at the merit board. Since it did not rank cultivators above Foundation Establishment, the first place was ‘Life-Reaping Sword’ Cui Zhe.
With his merits, he should be able to exchange for one Foundation Establishment Pill.
If in a few years he also seized a True Disciple position, he would have two opportunities at Foundation Establishment. He could essentially be regarded as a future Foundation Establishment cultivator already.
“Senior Brother, are you here to check your Contribution Points?”
When Fang Qing entered the Administrative Affairs Hall and found an administrative disciple, he was warmly received.
After all, he was now a Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivator. Even among the sect’s many Qi Refining cultivators, he was undoubtedly an expert.
Not to mention, after a great battle, Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators had suffered heavy casualties. Those who remained were all ruthless characters.
“Correct.”
Fang Qing handed over his identity token.
“Senior Brother killed a Late-Stage Qi Refining enemy?”
After checking, the disciple glanced at Fang Qing with admiration. “This counts as a great merit. According to the sect’s latest regulations, you are rewarded one thousand Contribution Points. Additionally, there was the previous garrison mission. Although it failed, the base Contribution Points amount to one hundred… Finally, after the great battle, the sect is distributing rewards to each disciple. Late-Stage Qi Refining receives five hundred Contribution Points… If Senior Brother wishes to exchange items, now is the best opportunity.”
Fang Qing nodded slightly and looked toward the exchange list.
‘The Zhong Family of Taibai Island has withdrawn. The battle has ended… Artifact prices have immediately plummeted.’
‘But according to my calculations, within a few years there will likely be another great battle. Should I stockpile a batch first and sell them after prices skyrocket, reaping huge profits?’
‘Wait… If in a few years I am still relying on stockpiling artifacts to earn spirit stones, wouldn’t these years have been wasted?’
His mind wandered, but his Divine Sense remained sharp. He circled many portions of the main ingredients for Qi Refining Powder. “I’ll exchange for these first.”
“Yes, Senior Brother!”
Upon seeing Fang Qing exchange medicinal materials, the Administrative Affairs Hall disciple became even more respectful.
After all, this was an alchemist! And one suspected of refining high-grade First-Tier pills!
On Pill Island, he could have done as Five Dragons Child had—gathering a group of mid- and low-level disciples to form a small faction.
It could only be said that Fang Qing’s ambitions did not lie there.
‘Wait… I wonder how that group from the Five Dragons Society, especially Five Dragons Child and Xu Wusu, are doing?’
As Fang Qing pondered, the administrative disciple handed him a Storage Pouch filled with medicinal materials. “Senior Brother, all exchanged items are here. Due to the large expenditure, please sign to confirm.”
“Mm.”
Fang Qing agreed and looked at the disciple holding the ledger. Suddenly he smiled. “Senior Brother Hua…”
“Junior Brother Fang?”
Hua Lian was equally astonished. “You… broke through to Late Stage?”
“Yes. At the brink of life and death, there is always some progress.”
Fang Qing answered politely.
Although he had decided inwardly to eliminate this smiling tiger, his outward demeanor was even more courteous.
“Then I must congratulate Junior Brother. It’s a pity we broke through too late. Otherwise, riding this momentum, Foundation Establishment might have been within reach…”
Hua Lian sighed. Though he had exploited information earlier to secretly undermine elite disciples and made a fortune, those were spirit stones and supplies… They could not be converted into Contribution Points, nor into a Foundation Establishment Pill!
However, given the Flying Fish Island Hua Family’s merits this time, the Zhong Family of Taibai Island would surely not be stingy with a few Foundation Establishment Pills.
Perhaps in a few years, he would be a Foundation Establishment great cultivator.
Since there was a familiar face present, and although Hua Lian harbored ill intent, he had always maintained good manners, Fang Qing casually inquired about the Five Dragons Society.
“The Five Dragons Society… quite regrettable indeed…” Hua Lian sighed first, then continued. “It’s said that many frontline members pooled their Contribution Points and gave them to Five Dragons Child. They were almost able to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill… Unfortunately, after the naval defeat, even Five-Tusked Great Ships were sunk, and the Five Dragons Society suffered heavy casualties. However, Senior Brother Five Dragons Child should have returned safely to the sect…”
Fang Qing was silent for a moment before asking, “How is Xu Wusu?”
“He returned safely as well, but his Dantian Sea of Qi was damaged. His cultivation fell to Early-Stage Qi Refining… Without a Second-Tier spiritual pill, he will likely never recover in this lifetime.”
Hua Lian had clearly seen many such cases. “Perhaps before long, Junior Brother Xu will retire to his hometown and start a family… Many Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment families under the sect began this way.”
“His Dantian Sea of Qi was injured?”
Fang Qing was stunned. This injury was even more damaging to the Dao path than losing a limb. “Alas… It seems Junior Brother Xu was destined for this tribulation. I wonder whether Senior Brother Five Dragons Child can exchange a spiritual pill for him?”
“I doubt it…”
A trace of ridicule flashed across Hua Lian’s face. “Five Dragons Child has enough Contribution Points to exchange for a Second-Tier pill to repair the Dantian, but the price would be nearly emptying his battle merits… He was only a bit short of a Foundation Establishment Pill. If it were you, would you be willing?”
Fang Qing was silent for a long time before speaking. “Naturally not…”
“So…”
Hua Lian waved his hand.
Fang Qing walked out of the Administrative Affairs Hall and looked at the gloomy sky.
Some disciples around him smiled brightly at the end of the great battle, while others were excited over the rare treasures on the exchange list.
As for the dead and crippled, they had long been ignored!
Such were cultivators!
Cultivation was heartless!
…
Lakeside Villa.
It had to be said that the Azure Sea Sect was pragmatic.
When Xu Wusu’s cultivation fell to Early-Stage Qi Refining and could no longer advance, he voluntarily requested demotion to Outer Sect disciple and moved his Cave Dwelling to Lakeside Villa.
After inquiring along the way, Fang Qing arrived before Xu Wusu’s courtyard.
The only advantage of Lakeside Villa was that the Cave Dwellings were spacious. Xu Wusu had even built a fence around his wooden house and planted some low-value spiritual herbs inside.
“Junior… Brother Xu.”
When Fang Qing arrived, Xu Wusu was watering the herbs.
But the Xu Wusu before Fang Qing was no longer as before. His hair had turned gray, and he looked much older.
“So it is Senior Brother Fang.”
Xu Wusu stopped his work and felt the powerful spiritual pressure from Fang Qing. “I have yet to congratulate you on advancing to Late-Stage Qi Refining…”
“Junior Brother should not lose heart. The Five Dragons Society will still need you to manage it in the future…” Fang Qing consoled him.
“Haha… The Five Dragons Society? There is no more Five Dragons Society.”
Xu Wusu gave a bitter smile. “After the great battle, the Society suffered heavy casualties. Many survivors saw my current fate and directly withdrew… I suppose Senior Brother has come today for the same reason? But I have no spirit stones left. If you wish to withdraw your membership fee, I fear I cannot return it…”
In the face of life and death, everything became clear.
Five Dragons Child would not even treat him. As for future support in reaching Foundation Establishment, it was nothing but a joke!
Thus many members demanded the return of the spirit stones and supplies they had previously pooled… Since Xu Wusu had run around tirelessly as the Society’s steward, they bullied the weak and feared the strong, naturally coming to him.
“Junior Brother has misunderstood.”
Fang Qing shook his head. “I do not care about such minor spiritual resources. It’s just… has Senior Brother Five Dragons Child said nothing?”
At this, Xu Wusu’s eyes dimmed. “He now has only Foundation Establishment in mind. If he succeeds, perhaps we might receive a little benefit. If he fails… hehe…”