Several hours later.
Inside the cave abode on Taibai Island.
Fang Qing stretched lazily with deep satisfaction and rose unhurriedly from the jade bed.
“Young Master...”
A voice as soft and alluring as it was bone-deep drifted through the air.
Two delicate jade hands slipped around his waist, helping him into his robes.
Fang Qing closed his eyes, savoring the gentle service of the beauty while still replaying the earlier duel in his mind.
‘Hmm... The seamless conversion between multiple Dao Foundations means that as long as I am not facing an enemy an entire major realm above me, I am practically undefeatable.’
Moments later he sat upon the jade chair and sipped a cup of spirit wine.
Yu Xiang’er’s cheeks flushed with two rosy blooms as she gazed at him in open infatuation.
“Give me a full report on the situation with True Personage Heiyuan.”
Fang Qing had no interest in lingering and spoke casually.
Ever since he had converted this woman using the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art, there were no secrets left whatsoever between Tianxin Island and the Sea-Destroying Alliance.
Yu Xiang’er replied, “Master... no, True Personage Heiyuan has always been temperamental and unpredictable. Ever since his eldest disciple died, his cultivation of the Black Profound Scripture has made him increasingly tyrannical toward us. If not for the restrictions he planted in our bodies, we would have scattered long ago.”
“Currently, there are sixty-eight Foundation Establishment cultivators on Tianxin Island, among them late-stage Foundation Establishment.”
“Haoyuan Island and the Jade Boat Chamber of Commerce have already secretly pledged allegiance to the Sea-Destroying Alliance...”
Listening to Yu Xiang’er’s account, Fang Qing nodded slightly.
Of course he had no intention of keeping this woman here. He planned to send her back to the Sea-Destroying Alliance side.
After all, she was still a disciple of True Personage Heiyuan, with a noble status that could not disappear for too long.
Moreover, this way he now had spies planted in both warring camps. Whether the Minor Huan Sea fell into chaos or not was now entirely up to him.
‘This Minor Huan Sea instance is basically completely cleared by me now.’
Fang Qing thought for a moment and asked, “Tell me about the Eastern Sea cultivation world. Why did your master come to the Minor Huan Sea?”
A look of recollection crossed Yu Xiang’er’s face. “The Eastern Sea cultivation world is vast and boundless. Only sects with Nascent Soul old monsters presiding over them can be called major sects. The great demons in the ocean are even more dangerous, with no shortage of fourth-rank demon beasts.”
“True Personage Heiyuan originally cultivated on Ice Heaven Island and was a notorious bandit cultivator. Later he encountered an Ice Spiritual Root Foundation Establishment cultivator. In their clash, he was actually able to escaped from by the other party. But that person also left behind a treasure map, which pointed precisely to the location of the Minor Huan Sea!”
“A treasure map?” Fang Qing smelled a conspiracy no matter how he looked at it. “What did that Ice Spiritual Root cultivator look like?”
“Full head of white hair, with a male body but feminine features...”
After Yu Xiang’er described him, Fang Qing immediately understood. “It’s Zhong Lingxiu! That’s right. This person has a blood feud with the Blue Sea Sect. After fleeing to the Eastern Sea cultivation world, he deliberately spread some kind of treasure map to lure Core Formation cultivators here?”
The Zhong Clan was after all a Core Formation power in its own right and likely had some understanding of secret realms.
His heart stirred, and he asked, “Have you ever heard True Personage Heiyuan mention the ‘Zhoutian Star Palace’?”
“Never...”
Yu Xiang’er thought carefully and slowly shook her head.
“Never mind. In a few days, return to Tianxin Island. Serve as my eyes and ears well.”
As for the position of Wisdom Consort?
Fang Qing was still somewhat stingy and did not bestow it.
“Yes, Young Master.”
Yu Xiang’er answered softly, like a gentle and obedient little wife.
“Haha, before you return to Tianxin Island, show me every seductive art you have learned.”
Fang Qing laughed heartily.
Aside from cultivation, this was one of his occasional pleasures.
The reason he pursued power and sought to become a [Year Arbiter] to prove his Dao and attain immortality was simply so he could enjoy life for longer and better. He could not let the means become the end and turn himself into a stone that knew only cultivation.
‘On the Minor Huan Sea side, with Qin Ruxue and Yu Xiang’er, no matter what big moves they make, nothing can be hidden from me.’
‘As long as no outside Core Formation experts appear, everything remains perfectly stable.’
Ancient Shu, Xituo Commandery, Wusheng Temple.
Inside the side room, Fang Qing sat cross-legged on an apricot-yellow meditation cushion, inwardly calculating.
‘With things like this, I can now direct more of my attention toward the Ancient Shu side.’
He pretended to have emerged from seclusion and went to find Miaoshan.
The main temple affairs of Wusheng Temple were handled by Miaoshan, while Miaoshui took care of most reception and liaison duties.
As for the previous Miaohuo, Miaofeng, and even the Qingjing Wisdom Consort, they functioned more like enforcers.
Of course, in the Hidden-Treasury Domain, they were called “Protectors.”
“Bright Son, there are no issues within the temple. The White Bone Dao has gained another three hundred thousand followers.”
Miaoshan said with a smile.
“Huh? That many?”
Such an explosive surge in follower numbers even startled Fang Qing.
“It is merely the demon race driving fish into the abyss...”
Miaoshan smiled as she handed over a piece of intelligence. “Bright Son, please take a look...”
Fang Qing swept his eyes over it and froze. “The Azure Bird Division is advancing unstoppable, breaking through nine passes and swallowing three commanderies in succession... Their vanguard has actually reached Ba Commandery, the heart of Ancient Shu?”
“No wonder so many refugees are fleeing into Xituo Commandery, but how is this possible?”
Previously, even when the Azure Bird Division attacked Beixuan Commandery, it had taken them a long time to achieve victory. Although they ultimately won, the campaign had never been this swift and overwhelming.
“Hee hee… Bright Son, watching the movements and casualties of mortal armies is pointless. What matters is whether any Purple Mansion cultivators have fallen.”
Miaoshan, the Wisdom Consort, smiled. “During the previous battle for Beixuan Commandery, one Purple Mansion expert from the Shangyong Sect died. This time, the demon race army has swallowed three entire commanderies and crushed the Ancient Shu forces. yet not a single Purple Mansion cultivator has perished. So this is hardly a major event.”
“Could it be…?”
Recalling the recent visit from the Azure Bird Division’s little princess, Fang Qing fell into thoughtful silence.
“The Azure Bird Division alone is not the combined strength of all eight divisions of Descending Phoenix Mountain. How could they possibly be this powerful?”
“It is simply that the peak great demon Purple Mansion behind the Azure Bird Division is willing to pay an enormous price to secure his path to attaining the Dao as [Bi Moon]. He has bribed the Purple Mansion experts of Cloud Grazing Cliff…”
Miaoshan chuckled. “In any case, the ones dying are nothing more than ordinary citizens, rogue cultivators, and clan cultivators down below… To the demonic path, the common people are like chives. As long as the price is right, there is nothing that cannot be sold.”
Fang Qing listened and suddenly understood everything.
The peak great demon Purple Mansion backing the Azure Bird Division wanted to attain his Dao as [Bi Moon], and that required the world to fall into chaos.
The Azure Bird Division by itself might not have been strong enough, but with heavy bribes they could buy the cooperation of Cloud Grazing Cliff, and even the Blissful Union Sect to the east or the Yin Corpse Sect to the south!
The other side only cared about the final result, world-shaking chaos. The process itself did not matter.
As for Cloud Grazing Cliff?
They stood to gain without losing anything. Once the great demon succeeded in proving his Dao, they could simply reclaim the lost territories. In the end they would suffer no real loss and might even come out ahead. As for the common people and low-level cultivators?
They would grow back on their own after some time.
“So when the demon race marches south, the only real battle will be at the Shangyong Sect. That fight will serve to show their resolve, while everything afterward is merely theater, each side taking what they need.”
“Is this the perspective of an upper sect?”
Fang Qing’s heart turned icy.
If he were still the same Dao Foundation rogue cultivator he had once been, he would have been swept along helplessly by this great tide, his heart filled with unease.
But now, with the full backing of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain, he could sit firmly in Xituo Commandery, seeing the entire situation with crystal clarity, and even claim a share of the spoils amid the chaos.
‘As expected, when you go out into the world, background is everything. Even cultivation is no exception.’
‘This land of Ancient Shu really is no easy place to survive.’
At the border of Xituo Commandery.
Zhenxi Pass.
A vast, endless procession of refugees stretched out like a black dragon, covering the land in a dense, dark mass.
From time to time, distant caravans and streams of people merged into the flow, making the column appear even more immense.
“Times of prosperity bring suffering to the common people. Times of chaos bring suffering to the common people.”
High in the sky, Fang Qing rode the Fire Luoba Bowl, gazing down at the scene below.
Among the refugees he saw carriages and ox carts… those dressed in fine clothes still made up a sizable portion.
There were actually very few who truly looked ragged and destitute.
“Could it be, they are still manning checkpoints and collecting tolls? No payment, no passage?”
Fang Qing glanced at the soldiers below and roughly understood. ‘The White Bone Dao truly does not treat people as human… And the ones fleeing into Xituo Commandery like this are all fat sheep that can be fleeced once more.’
“Haha… Bright Son, you are here too?”
A loud laugh rang out as a streak of escape light flew over. It was Miaofeng.
“What are you doing here?”
Fang Qing asked.
“Bright Son, you may not know, but with Ancient Shu now fallen into ruin, countless rogue cultivators and Dao Foundation forces are desperate to flee into Xituo for a single night of safety. I am collecting taxes here.”
Miaofeng, the Bright Son, shook his head. “No, that is not right. I am examining their devotion to the Buddhists Dao Esoteric Sect. If they are not sincere, they cannot pass…”
“Oh? And how much offering is required?”
Fang Qing inquired.
“For Qi Ingestion cultivators, one Qi Ingestion spirit item per person. For Dao Foundation cultivators, one Dao Foundation spirit item…”
Miaofeng answered matter-of-factly. “After all, our path leads to the Land of Peaceful Bliss…”
“As it should be.”
Fang Qing nodded. “However, we have already collected from the cultivators. These ordinary mortals below are of great use to our White Bone Dao. Would we really be so stingy as to begrudge them a bit of grain? Open the pass at once.”
“Yes!”
Miaofeng pressed his palms together and descended to relay the order.
Before long the gates of Zhenxi Pass swung wide open. The flood of people surged inside, and many commoners burst into cheers.
Fang Qing concealed his presence, descended into the pass, and swept the area with his divine sense. He immediately picked up several conversations.
“Ugh… who would have thought the demon chaos could reach all the way to Ba Commandery? Have all the immortals up above died off?”
“Heh heh, the immortals of Ba Commandery were wiped out long ago. Now they can only come begging the Buddha for protection…”
Two seemingly knowledgeable mortals whispered inside a carriage.
“Alas… what sin have we common people committed?”
The first speaker suddenly sighed. “I heard the situation at the front was still manageable at first. Grand General Ji Fengchun was a famous commander. He set an ambush at Three Fork Mountain and trapped a large number of demon beasts… But then a great demon suddenly appeared, charged straight into the army camp, and devoured General Ji alive… Our forces were routed as a result.”
“Our immortals on this side supposedly suffered heavy losses in some earlier incident and no longer have the strength to intervene…”
“Ah… demons bring chaos to the world, and the common people are no more than grass…”
Listening to their words, Fang Qing could only shake his head in silence.
‘Are famous generals among mortals even useful?’
‘Even if they step into cultivation and become Qi Ingestion or Dao Foundation cultivators… when they encounter a shameless Purple Mansion great demon who crosses realms to fight, they still end up losing.’
‘But the chaos has truly reached Ba Commandery now?’
Something occurred to him. He silently performed a divination regarding the Fang family fort, yet received no feedback at all.
‘I forgot. This is Ancient Shu. The heavenly secrets are muddled here. Even with the Dao-Genesis Pearl assisting me, I can only barely divine my own good or bad fortune…’
Fang Qing shook his head. He then divined the fortune of heading there himself and received a hexagram image.
“A small auspicious sign?”