Chapter 15: Eastern Extreme Jade Clarity

Zhapter 15: Eastern Extreme Jade Clarity

‘As expected, the great powers of this world profoundly influenced the world itself—even cultivation!’

Fang Qing’s heart trembled slightly, and he caught another blind spot: “Among the twelve 【Wardens of the Year】, is there not also a Great Sun lineage?”

“Cultivators of the Great Sun lineage were exceedingly rare, because the 【Great Sun Purple Qi】 required for entry could no longer be gathered…”

The old blind man shook his head and sighed. “Back when this old blind man was young, I too once coveted the Great Sun lineage, and so entered the ‘Secret Treasury Domain’ to roam and search. The result—you have already seen…”

“【Great Sun Purple Qi】—it cannot be gathered?”

Fang Qing raised his head and looked toward the blazing sun.

“It was said that in ancient times, 【Great Sun Purple Qi】 was among the easiest True Qi in heaven and earth to gather. A cultivator only needed to face the east at sunrise and use a qi-gathering art to collect it… but since the late ancient era, all who attempted to gather 【Great Sun Purple Qi】 inevitably met sudden calamity…”

The old blind man let out a strange, cold laugh. “Nothing more than some great figure above not wishing for cultivators to walk this path…”

‘These words… are things cultivators like us at the bottom allowed to say?’

Cold sweat formed on Fang Qing’s forehead, and inwardly he was speechless: ‘Damn it, just discussing entry-level cultivation already dragged in figures of this magnitude… blocking off 【Great Sun Purple Qi】? In this damned place, is no one allowed to cultivate properly? As expected, my Azure Sea Sect really is more honest and simple by comparison…’

“As for the qi-gathering method of 【Ji Water】, this old blind man just happens to have one. One must seek out a spring eye—ideally a spiritual spring—and after several years of harmonizing qi, one may obtain ‘Earth Spring Tempered True.’ This True Qi ranks at fifth-tier, mid-grade, and is already extraordinary. By calculation, you’ve actually profited…”

“Fifth-tier, mid-grade?”

“Indeed. The first realm of cultivation is called ‘Qi Ingestion.’ This first mouthful of True Qi determines one’s Dao path and is of paramount importance. It is divided into nine tiers and thirty-six grades…”

Fang Qing grew interested. “Then where does 【Great Sun Purple Qi】 rank?”

The old blind man answered solemnly: “Sun rising in the east, this qi is extremely precious. It ranks at ninth-tier, top-grade, and is also known as 【Eastern Extreme Jade Clarity】…”

Fang Qing rolled his eyes. “Forget it. Give me the qi-gathering method… I still have a few questions I wish to ask, old sir…”

The old blind man’s hollow eye sockets stared at Fang Qing. If his eyeballs were still there, he probably would have rolled them.

……

“As expected… qi-gathering methods—this kind of entry-level knowledge—can be copied. They really aren’t worth much.”

After leaving the Floating Boat Market, Fang Qing used lightness skill and encountered no rogue cultivators along the way, muttering inwardly.

He had spent all his Spiritual Items—only identifying his aptitude and obtaining a qi-gathering method—leaving him completely broke, so poor that even rogue cultivators were too lazy to rob him.

Even so, Fang Qing remained cautious throughout the journey.

Only after several days did he find an opportunity to return to Jade Island, resuming the role of a loyal and devoted Azure Sea Sect disciple, purZhasing Treasure Fish.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

“Huu…”

Upon seeing the mountain gate of the Azure Sea Sect, Fang Qing let out a long breath.

He went to the Administrative Affairs Hall, submitted his task, made some purZhases, and returned to his cave dwelling on Pill Island.

After closing the cave door and pasting up a talisman that prevented disturbance and detected spiritual sense probing, Fang Qing’s mind finally relaxed completely, and he collapsed onto the stone bed.

“This time, the Zhannels have been opened… I’ve already inquired into several trading locations of Qi Ingestion cultivators in Ba Commandery.”

“Next time, I’ll learn a technique to alter my appearance and aura… then I can try to move goods and obtain large amounts of—uh, prices over there seem a bit higher, but no matter what, there’s always a profit margin…”

“No rush on that. I still need to gather qi and obtain one strand of ‘Earth Spring Tempered True.’ Then, after acquiring a 【Ji Water】 technique, I should be able to freely convert between the power of the Commentary on the Water Classic and 【Ji Water】 power.”

Fang Qing had already grasped the general usage of the Dao-Birth Pearl’s ‘Return to Origin.’ To convert, one needed a ‘primer.’

For example, to convert to 【Ji Water】 power, one first needed to cultivate at least a trace of 【Ji Water】 power.

Likewise, if he wished to convert to Great Sun power, he would first need to obtain a Great Sun technique and cultivate its entry level.

“Qi gathering takes time, and cultivating a body-altering secret art also takes time…”

“I’m only at the third layer of Qi Refining right now. Accumulating power likewise takes time… all measured in years. Fortunately… cultivators have long lifespans—enough to wait.”

At this thought, Fang Qing recalled the cultivation knowledge he had finally wheedled out of the old blind man.

“Cultivation over in Ancient Shu is known as the ‘Qi Ingestion Path.’ By ingesting a mouthful of True Qi and entering the Dao, one becomes a Qi Ingestion cultivator, also divided into nine layers… Qi Ingestion cultivators have lifespans similar to Qi Refining cultivators—around two sixty-year cycles.”

“After Qi Ingestion comes the ‘Dao Foundation Realm,’ which requires forging a ‘Dao Foundation.’ It contains another layer of profundity, and Dao Foundation cultivators live two hundred years…”

“After Dao Foundation comes the ‘Purple Palace Realm,’ with vast divine abilities and boundless power… enjoying five hundred years of lifespan… roughly the same as Core Formation Ancestors over here.”

“The Pu Family of Yulin is a Purple Palace Immortal Clan, with a Purple Palace Ancestor seated within, making them the foremost aristocratic family of Yulin Commandery… The Black Miasma Sect also has Purple Palace cultivators. These are the two closest Purple Palace forces to me?”

“As for the Luo Family… they certainly have Qi Ingestion cultivators. Whether they have Dao Foundation cultivators remains to be slowly investigated…”

Thinking thus, Fang Qing gradually fell into deep sleep.

The next day.

Cold Spring Peak.

He sat cross-legged before a cold spring, attempting to gather qi.

“Hmm?”

After a short while, Fang Qing opened his eyes and looked at the jade bottle in his hand with some surprise. “This speed is a bit fast… Is it because this place is a spiritual spring, or because I’m already a cultivator? Or both?”

During qi gathering just now, he had already noticed that his gathering speed was extremely fast.

By rough estimation, what would originally require ten years to collect a single portion of ‘Earth Spring Tempered True’ would take him only two or three years to gather one strand!

“Wait… shouldn’t the key point be—this world can also gather qi?”

At this thought, Fang Qing suddenly raised his head and looked toward the dazzling sun, his heart pounding: “‘Earthspring Tempered True Qi’ is like this—then what about ‘Great Sun Purple Qi’?”

“However, I still need to get hold of the qi-gathering method for Great Sun Purple Qi. A qi-gathering method that’s already been rendered useless shouldn’t be too expensive…”

“With a heavy treasure in hand and opportunity in sight, it’s still best to advance step by step… stabilize things for a while longer first.”

“Even though… what comes next will be somewhat difficult.”

Fang Qing planned not to go to the Land of Ancient Shu before cultivating a disguise technique. And within the Azure Sea Sect, he was already feeling somewhat constrained.

He failed at alchemy and was unwilling to take on high-risk tasks, so his cultivation speed was bound to be average.

Moreover, having entered Pill Island through connections back then, and now performing poorly, he was certain to face criticism.

“Words are like the wind… ignore them and nothing happens.”

“Oh… I should also read more books… nourish my 【Ji Water】 destiny.”

Just as he adjusted his breathing and sat in meditation, preparing to gather qi again—

Suddenly, a young disciple in blue robes, brimming with confidence, walked over. “Are you Senior Brother Fang Qing?”

“And you are?”

Fang Qing looked at him, feeling he looked familiar. He quickly recalled that this person had been one of the Immortal Seedlings selected alongside him at the Immortal Opportunity Assembly: “Junior Brother Li Yudan?”

Li Yudan’s face flushed red. “I’ve already Zhanged my name to ‘Li Yusu.’ Senior Brother, don’t get it wrong. I’ve already been promoted to the inner sect, and I’m also a Pill Island disciple.”

“So that’s how it is. Congratulations, congratulations!”

Sensing the Qi Refining third-layer fluctuations from Li Yudan, Fang Qing smiled and cupped his hands. “But I remember you seemed to have a wood spiritual root… are you also learning water-method pill refinement?”

“Although water spiritual root cultivators are the most compatible with water-method pill refinement, the human body contains all five elements. As long as the fire spiritual root isn’t too prominent, one can attempt water-method pill refinement…”

Li Yudan said proudly, “I have some talent in water control and extraction, and have been taken in as a disciple by Master Floating Cloud Daoist…”

“So that’s the case. We’re of the same year and hometown—it would be good to become closer in the future.”

Fang Qing nodded. Water nourished wood—this was the rule of Five-Element power here.

Not like over in Ancient Shu, where water, earth, and wood were all suppressed by metal and fire, completely unreasonable.

“Senior Brother Fang, you might not have quite understood.”

Li Yudan said, “I’ve taken a liking to this spiritual spring of yours. Please leave.”

“Hmm?”

Fang Qing’s expression immediately became calm. “Are you planning to seize my spiritual spring?”

“Heaven and earth’s spiritual springs are taken by the virtuous… I’ve already asked Senior Sister Zha. She said she has nothing more to do with you.”

Seeing disciples gathering around, Li Yudan’s voice grew louder, a faint trace of smugness in his heart.

What he hated most was that they had both been Immortal Seedlings selected together, yet Fang Qing entered as an inner sect disciple immediately, while he had to climb up slowly from the outer sect.

Zha Zhu was top-grade aptitude—he accepted that.

But Fang Qing was only mid-grade aptitude.

Moreover, he had come specifically today to give Fang Qing trouble, and behind him there was naturally the instruction of a certain senior sister.

“So that’s how it is…”

Fang Qing looked deeply at Li Yudan. “Junior Brother Li Yudan, since that’s the case, I’ll yield this spiritual spring to you…”

This spring had just been used for qi gathering anyway, and its spiritual resonance might be diminished. Using it for alchemy would yield half the results for twice the effort—switching to another was just as well.

“My name is Li Yusu!”

Li Yudan’s face reddened slightly. “Also, Senior Sister Zha has already broken through to mid-stage Qi Refining and has boundless prospects ahead. I don’t want to see anyone borrowing her name to bully others.”

These words were clearly directed at the surrounding disciples.

As Zha Zhu’s junior brother, his words naturally carried greater weight in representing her.

“I understand. Between Zha Zhu and me, there is no longer the slightest connection.”

Fang Qing nodded, having long expected this day.

His connection with the Zha family had begun with that sea rescue, but in truth, even without Old Man Zha, he would still have drifted to Jade Island without any danger to his life.

Instead, it was Old Man Zha who had exploited his eagerness to attend the Immortal Opportunity Assembly, sending him to risk his life at Sea Dragon Reef.

After the Sea Dragon King’s Birthday, upon seeing Fang Qing alive, Old Man Zha immediately chose to compensate him.

After detecting cultivation aptitude, he might even have instructed his granddaughter in some way.

But by now, it felt like the debt had been repaid—or perhaps some influence had intervened, leading them to sever ties.

Fang Qing accepted this calmly, not caring about the faint gazes of the surrounding disciples. He selected another remote spring eye and began sitting down to gather qi.

From the outside, this qi-gathering method looked no different from ordinary seated breathing, so there was no fear of these low-level disciples noticing any flaws.