Chapter 51: Embers

Not far from the military camp.

“It's done. At least I did not fail the instructions from the mountain…”

The old fox An Zhuzi watched the scene unfold, his fox-like face full of smiles.

“【Bi Moon】 devours 【Neck Metal】.

If he swallows that Zhao Wuxu as well, he should be able to achieve the Dao Foundation ‘Tempered Softness and Hardness’ on the spot… This is an ancient Dao Foundation.

After the ancient Great Sage Bi Moon, it is also called ‘Heaven-Flipping and Earth-Overturning.’ It governs the rise and fall of mountains and rivers, the inversion of Dao techniques—truly profound beyond measure.”

On the large tree beside him, a crow cawed, “A good seedling. Just be careful he doesn’t get beaten to death… I reckon the Zhao Family will be the first to lose their minds.”

“Heh… They’re allowed to treat commoners like leeks and harvest them at will, but lower cultivators aren’t allowed to resist?”

An Zhuzi laughed softly.

“If not for the agreement between Falling Phoenix Mountain and Mountain-Covering Cloud Cliff, the demon race Purple Palace experts would have already arrived—why would this matter be so troublesome? Fortunately, through that senior’s exchange gathering, we still managed to connect with Li Rulong… And since Purple Palace great demons cannot come, Dao Foundation demon generals can. Stopping those enraged Zhao Family Dao Foundation cultivators won’t be a problem. The key is still the Purple Palace!”

Falling Phoenix Mountain and Mountain-Covering Cloud Cliff had an agreement—demon race Purple Palace cultivators could not easily arrive.

For Li Rulong to escape successfully, he first had to kill Zhao Wuxu and advance to Dao Foundation as quickly as possible.

Second came interference from the Purple Palace of the Black Miasma Sect and the Pu Family Ancestor.

As for the remaining Dao Foundation cultivators? They were merely ordinary tribulations—if he could not overcome them, he might as well die.

Roar!

At that moment, from within the camp tent, a profound aura rose, forming a Dao Foundation that carried the might of overturning heaven and earth.

“It’s done!”

An Zhuzi cried out, “Hahaha… The Human Pill backlash—mutually forming a Dao Foundation Grand Pill. Marvelous, marvelous!”

“Old fox, why aren’t you running? Li Rulong has achieved Dao Foundation.

Next comes… the Purple Palace making a move.”

The crow flapped its wings, preparing to flee far away.

But in the next instant, a figure suddenly appeared in the empty air ahead.

Clad in black robes, his features indistinct, merely standing there caused countless snakes, insects, rats, and ants on the ground to writhe and transform into black bugs spreading in all directions.

“Dao friend, please stay your hand.”

A mass of dark clouds drifted over, upon which stood a ragged Daoist.

“I see that lower cultivator breaking into Dao Foundation was no easy feat. Please, Dao friend, spare his life…”

This black-robed figure was none other than a Purple Palace cultivator of the Black Miasma Sect!

His indistinct face, like countless crawling insects, turned two icy beams of light toward the ragged Daoist.

“So it is True Person Sanji. Could it be that you have already pledged yourself to the demon race?”

While the two Purple Palace cultivators confronted one another, Li Rulong below had already begun his desperate flight.

The Black Miasma Sect Purple Palace cultivator faced off against True Person Sanji while secretly seething:

‘Where is Lord Pushan? His family’s dog has bitten its master and run off—why hasn’t he killed it yet? What is he waiting for?’

…

A moment earlier.

Fang Qing remained hidden on Jade Island, controlling Luo Dacheng to arrive in Tianshui.

The ancestral residence of the Luo Family of Tianshui was vast, occupying an entire mountain, with a lake beside it and numerous hot springs.

The scenery was beautiful.

“Isn’t that Dacheng? Back already?”

As soon as he descended from his Escape Light, several familiar cultivators laughed.

“Li Rulong is dead for sure.

Our family’s Blood and Qi must be reclaimed—we’re waiting to refine pills!”

“With such abundant Blood and Qi, once refined into pills, our cultivation methods will advance another layer…”

A freckled youth licked his lips, greed flashing in his eyes.

“At a time like this, you’re still thinking about refining pills?”

Luo Dacheng cursed, “I request an audience with the Ancestor.

I have a Purple Palace spiritual item to present!”

“What? A Purple Palace spiritual item?”

The group was stunned.

At last, a white-haired Luo Family cultivator barked, “What are you standing there for? Disperse immediately.

And remember—what happened today must not be spread!”

As he spoke, he employed the True Power of 【Ji Water】 to plant an unbreakable ‘spirit oath’ upon these disciples.

He then approached Luo Dacheng and slapped him across the face.

“A Purple Palace spiritual item is of enormous consequence! Have you lost your mind shouting about it? Do you want our family exterminated?”

‘Old fellow, congratulations—you guessed right.’

Fang Qing inwardly approved.

“I truly do have a Purple Palace spiritual item—but I can only speak of it to the Ancestor!”

“Fine.

Come with me.”

The old Luo cultivator sighed and led Luo Dacheng deep into the estate.

It was an ordinary courtyard with simple furnishings, except for a bubbling spring at its center.

Seated cross-legged beside the spring was a youth.

His gaze swept over them.

“You two—what is your purpose?”

“Reporting to Ancestor, I have a Purple Palace treasure to present!”

Luo Dacheng stepped forward, face filled with delight.

“Wretched fool—silence!”

The Luo Family Ancestor’s youthful face changed drastically.

“At a time like this? How many Purple Palace cultivators are watching the commandery? Even I dare not go out, and you shout nonsense? No… your fate is off.

Very off…”

The Luo Family had once produced a divination-type Dao Foundation.

Though this Ancestor had not forged such a Dao Foundation himself, he was still skilled in reading fate.

A chill ran through him.

“Who has clouded your mind? No… someone is calculating you.

This is bad—it’s Purple Palace!”

Yet Luo Dacheng continued smiling obsequiously.

He produced a jade bottle and opened it directly.

“Ancestor, look… this is Great Sun Purple Qi!”

Purple light shot skyward, scorching the Luo Family Ancestor’s insides.

“Who seeks to harm my family? This—this—this?”

He considered whether selling the entire Luo Family would be enough to gather a strand of Great Sun Purple Qi.

It would not…

The moment the Great Sun Purple Qi appeared—

At Li Rulong’s camp.

In the void, a Purple Palace cultivator clad in crimson robes, dignified, with three long whiskers, was calculating karmic connections.

Though this was not his primary path, calculating Li Rulong—a mere Qi Ingestion cultivator—was effortless.

“This man’s fate has changed astonishingly! Besides the demon race and Sanji, there is another… the Luo Family! Luo Dacheng!?”

Because Fang Qing possessed the great ability “As If Within the Calculation,” Lord Pushan could not see the karmic intersection between Luo Dacheng and Fang Qing.

He could only see that Luo Dacheng had been gathering Blood and Qi for the Luo Family and had just met Li Rulong.

“He is in Tianshui! What? A strand of Great Sun Purple Qi?”

Greed flashed across Lord Pushan’s face as his figure vanished instantly.

…

Tianshui, Luo Family.

A streak of fire descended from the sky, arriving in an instant.

Lord Pushan appeared before the Luo Family Ancestor.

The moment he landed, every other cultivator in the estate froze in place like wax figures.

“True Person Pu?”

The Luo Family Ancestor recognized him and prostrated repeatedly.

“This was all caused by that junior.

My Luo Family has nothing to do with this!”

Lord Pushan smiled gently.

“Do not worry.

I will search each soul thoroughly and miss nothing.

After all, it is Great Sun Purple Qi.

The world no longer permits the existence of a pure Great Sun orthodoxy.

Remnants of the Sun—better to kill wrongly than to let one slip.”

Two sparks of fire appeared in his eyes and pierced into the Luo Family Ancestor.

From birth until now, every memory was laid bare before him.

Calmly, Lord Pushan took the jade bottle and opened it.

Purple light shone brilliantly.

But his brow suddenly furrowed.

“Empty? No… it indeed once contained Great Sun Purple Qi.

The aura and karma remain.

There is no mistake.

Where is it?”

He turned toward the collapsed Luo Dacheng.

Two sparks flared again.

‘Damn… this place really is hard to survive in.

The moment Great Sun Purple Qi appears, Purple Palace comes investigating… slaughtering all orthodox Great Sun cultivators?’

‘Could it be that last time, the ragged Daoist noticed me because I immediately asked for a Great Sun cultivation method?’

On Jade Island, Fang Qing saw the scene and immediately activated the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art, extinguishing Luo Dacheng’s life.

Lord Pushan stared at the suddenly lifeless Luo Dacheng, frowning.

“Soul dispersed completely? Such a clean death… This resembles methods from the Secret Treasury Domain.”

Then he calculated again.

“Li Rulong… has escaped! Was this place a trap? To lure me here? Heh—I was played? Such audacity! Such audacity!”

When a Purple Palace rages, heaven follows its will!

Flowers, trees, springs, ponds, cultivators—all burst into flames without wind, turning into ashes.

Even the Luo Family’s Dao Foundation Ancestor was no exception.

This was the might of Embers Tribulation Fire!

A Purple Palace cultivator venting his anger—killing Dao Foundation cultivators was no different from slaughtering chickens and dogs.

For being deceived, exterminating a mere Luo Family meant nothing.

Moments later, a streak of fire shot into the sky.

Amid boundless flames, Lord Pushan toyed with the jade bottle still carrying traces of Great Sun Purple Qi, the corner of his mouth curving into an amused smile…

…

Jade Island.

When Luo Dacheng died, Fang Qing lost real-time observation.

He did not immediately return to the World of Ancient Shu, instead choosing to lie low for a time.

“I don’t know how Li Rulong plans to escape… but I’ve done everything I possibly could, drawing away a Purple Palace cultivator for him.”

“This is doing all one can and leaving the rest to fate… The rest depends on his fortune.”

“As for the outcome? It will surely spread across Shu. After a few months—or years—I can inquire at the marketplace and learn everything clearly.”

“And the Luo Family…”

Fang Qing exhaled slowly.

“Even if this framing failed, there will be a next time. Or when I reach Dao Foundation—or even Purple Palace.”

“Still… that wretched place in Ancient Shu—loose cultivators truly struggle to rise. The cultivation methods are full of traps, and high-tier True Qi is watched closely.”

“Even the slightest irregularity can attract attention from higher cultivators… A mere Qi Ingestion cultivator can encounter a Purple Palace coming to crush fish.”

“It’s only because it’s me. If it were another cultivator, they’d have died countless times already.”

“Hopefully after this, the Land of Ancient Shu will quiet down for a while.”

“Just in time for me to settle on Jade Island for several years and plan my advancement from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment…”