Chapter 115

Little Chamber Mountain.

The rich scent of burning fat filled the air, mixed with unsettling chants of scripture.

The old blind man lay sprawled on the ground, gazing toward the esoteric cultivator ahead who wore a bright yellow rooster cap and a grand crimson monk robe. His voice cracked like a cuckoo weeping blood. “Bright Son Miaohuo, this old man is willing to repay every sin. Please show mercy and spare my family... I clearly calculated it all. The karma should have been settled... I should not suffer such calamity in my later years.”

Not far in front of him, Bright Son Miaohuo sat cross-legged with palms pressed together, a brazier placed before him.

His skin was slightly dark, his nose high-bridged, and his eyes deep-set. A faint smile touched his lips. “Benefactor, you have no calamity at all. On the contrary, you carry great merit, for you have delivered a Vajra Protector to our path. This is a tremendous achievement.”

“Then why?”

Though the old blind man’s hollow eyes could see nothing, he could already sense the tragic fate of his family.

“This is your blessing. Lord Buddha has come specifically to deliver you all. In lifetime after lifetime, you will reincarnate in the Hidden-Treasury Domain and share in ultimate bliss. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Only those with great merit may offer their physical bodies to become dharma instruments in the hands of the Guru. To receive the Guru’s constant chanting and blessings day and night—what immense fortune is that?”

Bright Son Miaohuo spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The old blind man was momentarily speechless.

Bright Son Miaohuo pressed his palms together once more and murmured the scripture. “The three realms have no peace, like a house on fire... Realize that the five aggregates are all empty...”

As the chanting continued, fierce flames roared upward from the brazier, leaping and dancing wildly.

This was the unique Fire Offering method of the Hidden-Treasury Domain, capable of protection, enhancement, and divination.

Bright Son Miaohuo took out the offerings one by one and cast them into the brazier.

A graceful young girl stepped forward holding a tray filled with various gold and silver mundane items along with freshly harvested spiritual rice and grains.

Her eyes burned with fervor. Her pupils seemed to hold nothing but the dancing flames before her.

Sizzle!

Gold, silver, and grains were thrown into the brazier, producing sharp crackling sounds.

The flames leaped higher. Fleeting images flickered within them, yet they remained extremely blurry.

“This person truly possesses fate’s protection. It took great effort to locate Little Chamber Mountain connected to him. Using it as an offering to perform the Fire Offering, I still cannot break through this layer of concealment?”

Bright Son Miaohuo licked his lips, both surprised and greedy. “Not bad. Only the fate of such a great Vajra Protector can help Guru Sangji advance to Dharma King!”

As the Guru’s Bright Son, he revered Guru Sangji as his sole personal deity, worshipping him with fanatical devotion and desperately hoping for the Guru’s success, which would bring him boundless benefits.

“Mundane offerings are no longer enough. Lord Buddha requires a blood offering from a maiden!”

Bright Son Miaohuo formed the outer lion seal with both hands and shouted, “Why are you not acting immediately?”

“Granddaughter—no!”

The old blind man had no tears left to shed. He could only hear the sound of blood gushing like a waterfall...

“Found him!”

Bright Son Miaohuo’s ecstatic voice rang out. “Haha! Lord Buddha knew it. Even if you have fate shielding you, what about the people around you? Using this person as a clue, we can definitely locate him... Then I will become Guru’s most favored Bright Child.”

At that moment, the flickering images above the brazier froze, revealing the figure of a short, dwarfish old man...

The old blind man collapsed, his heart still filled with resentment. ‘Back then... why did I wander the world? Why did I go to that damned Hidden-Treasury Domain?’

...

Taibai Island.

As the island’s highest guardian—essentially its master—Fang Qing lived an extremely comfortable life.

The rumored immortal cultivation war had not erupted immediately, most likely because the third-rank spiritual contract signed by the Core Formation ancestors of both sides had not yet fully expired.

He now enjoyed sole access to a quasi third-rank spiritual vein. Every day he sat in meditation, refined his qi, and occasionally patrolled the entire island.

When he grew bored, he could visit the Sancai Market to stroll around or listen to songs in the pleasure quarters. His days passed in exceptional ease.

One day.

Inside the Ice Snow Palace.

Bei Lingshu was handing over the latest intelligence she had gathered to Fang Qing.

...

“Sanyuan Island... is it about to descend into chaos as well? Could this be some omen of the great war?”

Fang Qing read the jade slip, then summoned Ma Xin. The three of them discussed the matter together.

“The Lu Clan and Jiang Clan that control Sanyuan Island should be following our Blue Sea Sect’s orders, right?”

He asked with some confusion.

“Well... the Foundation Establishment forces on Sanyuan Island were fence-sitters back when the three Core Formation powers coexisted. Later, when our Blue Sea Sect unified the Minor Huan Sea, they immediately pledged allegiance. To this day, it’s hard to say for sure...”

Bei Lingshu and Ma Xin exchanged glances. In the end, Ma Xin spoke.

“Sanyuan Island’s geographic position is vital. If war breaks out, it will be the key hub.”

Fang Qing sighed. There was nothing much to say.

Foundation Establishment forces were all fence-sitters. Moreover, the Blue Sea Sect’s domineering actions in the past had already stirred up widespread resentment.

To be fair, if Sanyuan Island chose neutrality, that would already be a decent outcome.

“I heard that the two major clans on Sanyuan Island previously held an auction to gather a large sum of resources. They want to cultivate the Myriad Longevity Turtle and advance it to second-rank superior grade. This turtle has an extraordinary bloodline. If it can reach second-rank superior, it might possess pseudo-Core level combat strength...”

Bei Lingshu hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“The Lu Clan actually supports this?”

Ma Xin was somewhat surprised.

“Pseudo-Core combat strength... If none of the Core Formation ancestors take action, it could still serve as a chess piece on the board?” Fang Qing gave a faint smile instead. “Under normal circumstances, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lu Clan might not agree, but with the Minor Huan Sea now in turmoil, there is actually a sliver of possibility... After all, the higher the Myriad Longevity Turtle’s combat strength, the more likely they are to stay safe amid the chaos... They might even seize war profits and cultivate the turtle all the way to third-rank?”

“They actually dare to think this way?”

Ma Xin found it somewhat unbelievable.

Core Formation combat strength?

Was this something rogue cultivators or even Foundation Establishment forces could possibly dream of?

“We cultivate immortality precisely for this, don’t we?”

Fang Qing waved his hand, dismissing the two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

While the war had yet to erupt, he still had some free time. He might as well use it to clean up the unstable forces nearby first.

For instance, the Lu Clan and Jiang Clan on Sanyuan Island...

‘If they really managed to raise the Myriad Longevity Turtle to second-rank superior grade... then I’ll simply go and kill it in secret?’

Fang Qing stroked his chin. ‘Wouldn’t that be too heartless?’

They had passed the turtle down through three generations, exhausting every scheme and resource to finally nurture it. Now they could breathe easy at last, and here he was, about to ruin everything.

Their ancestors might even rise from their coffins in rage!

Just as Fang Qing was pondering, his expression stirred.

Xu Hei had obtained results on the Ancient Shu side!

‘They actually found the continuation of the Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art? Perfect timing, right when I urgently need to strengthen my physique and divine sense.’

Fang Qing’s expression turned enigmatic.

According to Xu Hei’s report, he had not only located clues but had even purchased the second layer of the technique—the Mule-Faced Vajra Prajna Stage!

From the description, it appeared genuine.

The seller even claimed to possess the third and fourth stages, plus large jars of Vajra ghee perfectly suited to this Body-refining path, ready for the next transaction.

After so many years of searching without success, the moment a esoteric monk crossed over, the continuation appeared. Clearly the source was those esoteric cultivators.

The bait was obvious—but it was definitely worth taking.

Fang Qing touched his storage bag and revealed a faint smile.

Others believed he was merely an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator called Fang Shui, cultivating the supposedly unbeatable [Ji Water] Dao Foundation Long-Awaited Sweet Rain.

In truth, his strongest aspect right now was not the [Lou Metal] sword methods at all, but the Blue Sea Art!

‘Sometimes having off-the-charts numbers can be quite intimidating.’

Although he had decided to go fishing with explosives, Fang Qing did not rush to Ancient Shu.

Xu Hei’s life was worthless anyway. He could string the seller along a little longer; perhaps more hooks would appear.

As long as they dared to cast the bait, he dared to swallow it whole!

Beside the Ice Soul Cold Spring.

He sat half-reclined, hands forming the Treasure Vase Seal. Visualizing the Horse-Headed Vajra original form, he silently circulated the method and began cultivating the second layer of the Horse-Headed Vajra Protector Divine Method—the Mule-Faced Vajra Prajna stage!

“Prajna means wisdom!”

“This layer places far greater emphasis on developing the spiritual sea of consciousness...”

Fang Qing’s skin took on an ancient bronze luster. Sensing the slight increase in his divine sense under the visualization diagram’s effect, joy rose in his heart. ‘As expected, it matches my calculations. This second layer is equivalent to second-rank body refinement. If I can perfect it, I should reach second-rank superior body refinement—or even quasi third-rank?’

As for the various strange side effects that came with cultivating this protector divine art?

He naturally used the Dao-Genesis Pearl to convert them all away.

“Excellent!”

“Cultivating beside this cold spring lets me borrow the third-rank Ice Soul cold qi to temper my physique. Though the effect is slightly inferior to Vajra ghee, it is still far better than grinding away on my own...”

After a session of cultivation, feeling the long-stagnant physique inch upward, Fang Qing was thoroughly satisfied.

“Once I cultivate a while longer, I’ll handle the Ancient Shu matter...”

“Take it slow and steady—no need to rush... Who knows, maybe Cloud Grazing Cliff is holding back for a big move, sending down ten or so Purple Mansion experts straight from the cliff. Then those esoteric cultivators from Ancient Shu would simply have to crawl back where they came from.”

Fang Qing calmed his mind. For the following days he even stopped refining pills entirely, sinking completely into Body Refinement.

Unknowingly, another half year slipped by.

Not to mention how the Bright Son Miaohuo on the Ancient Shu side was being toyed with by Xu Hei until he was practically spitting fire, the situation in the Minor Huan Sea had also grown treacherous and unpredictable.

One day.

Fang Qing was deep in body refinement when his brows suddenly furrowed.

He reached out and opened the restriction. A transmission talisman immediately flew inside.

“Oh?”

Fang Qing’s expression shifted. Transforming into a streak of escape light, he arrived inside the Ice Snow Palace.

Bei Lingshu and Ma Xin were both present, along with several late-stage Qi Refining disciples. Every face was filled with panic and fear.

“Look at yourselves—what kind of example is this?”

With a flash of light, Fang Qing appeared on the main seat and rebuked them.

“Island Lord... the... the war has broken out again.”

Ma Xin’s complexion was ghastly. “Our sect and the Sea-Destroying Alliance have resumed hostilities. Every spirit island is on high alert... Even the transport ships from the sect to here have been harassed. The shipping routes can no longer be guaranteed safe.”

“Hmm?”

Fang Qing’s brows knitted tighter. “Our sect’s shipping route... Sanyuan Island is a critical node. If something happens there now, the Lu Clan and Jiang Clan cannot escape blame. Are they preparing to fully defect to the Sea-Destroying Alliance?”

“Most likely. If the route is truly severed, we will immediately be isolated and helpless.” Bei Ling Shu’s face had turned pale.

“In that case, the Myriad Longevity Turtle on the Jiang Clan’s side may have truly reached second-rank superior grade... strong enough to match a pseudo-Core?”

Fang Qing secretly calculated with his fingers, then spoke. “Regardless, we will each stick to our duties and guard Taibai Island well. There is no need to concern ourselves with anything else...”