Chapter 592 - 408: Imparting a Technique and a Mission (Part 2)

Tu Dai’Er had been laughing heartily, but her expression grew slightly serious upon seeing Fang Qingyuan’s confident look. A few moments later, however, she relaxed.

Fang Qingyuan felt a shift in the aura around him and knew with certainty that Tu Wuzhao had manifested once again from afar.

’Doesn’t this Divinity Transformation Cultivator have anything better to do?’

Suppressing his inner snark, Fang Qingyuan bowed. Tu Wuzhao shot him a glance before settling lazily into the host’s seat and asking:

"Has the matter with the Great Zhou Academy been handled?"

She was asking about Bear Wind’s identity. When Tu Wuzhao had chosen to help, not only had she received an unknown payment from Jinbao’s biological father, but she had also intended to plant a "nail" in White Mountain. That nail was Bear Wind.

"It cost fifty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones, but Ji Jiaqing of the Great Zhou Academy’s Gui Valley faction agreed to help settle the matter. She originally said she’d have word for me within half a year. Three months have passed, so it should be soon."

Fang Qingyuan answered respectfully, explaining the situation in full. After listening, Tu Wuzhao chuckled.

"Gui Gu has recently been losing ground in his struggle against Gui Ru. Fifty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones is no small sum for them right now. Heh, but since Gui Gu can barely fend for himself, I’m afraid Gui Ru will learn of your affair and try to sabotage it."

A jolt of alarm went through Fang Qingyuan. He had already spent fifty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones. If the matter fell through, he’d be out a fortune. ’Most importantly, would Bear Wind still trust me?’

Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s anxious expression, Tu Wuzhao offered a faint smile.

"It’s fine. I’ll give them a push. At a critical juncture like this, both Gui Gu and Gui Ru have to give me face."

Fang Qingyuan felt a wave of relief wash over him. He bowed in thanks.

"Thank you for your help, Elder Tu. I am beyond grateful."

Tu Wuzhao watched Fang Qingyuan with keen interest and said:

"Enough with the empty pleasantries. Let’s talk about something tangible. I just heard you wish to cultivate my sect’s *Unfettered Celestial Demon Soul Capturing Scripture*? I can tell you honestly, if you were to serve my sect with your whole heart for a thousand years, I could arrange to have this scripture passed on to you. But, just as Dai’Er said, you are not currently qualified.

However, I can give you the *Six Desires Celestial Demon Transformation* in advance as a reward for secretly aligning yourself with my sect. This Cultivation Technique is enough for you to cultivate to the Late-stage Nascent Soul. You’re only at the Fourth-Layer Golden Core right now; there’s no need to plan for the distant Divinity Transformation Realm. Confidence is a good thing, but overconfidence... well, that is the path to becoming a demon.

Furthermore, if you agree, you must also do something for me. During the last War of Expansion, on a battlefield originally under Gui Ru’s command, a spatial passage appeared in a remote part of the Barbaric Land, linking to a small Ghost Cultivation World. Perhaps drawn by the immense death qi from the war, a dozen or so Ghost Cultivators emerged from this small world. Gui Gu was the first to discover this, but the inside story is rather complex. In short, because of this incident, Gui Ru now has leverage over Gui Gu, forcing him onto the defensive. Of the dozen or so Ghost Cultivators who smuggled themselves through, most were killed or captured, but one remains missing.

A few days ago, an incident in Awakening Lion Valley brought me new information: that same Ghost Cultivator from all those years ago is now trapped somewhere within the valley. All you need to do is bring him to me."

Tu Wuzhao spoke at length, as if she had prepared this speech long in advance. As Fang Qingyuan listened, he understood instantly. The time had come to prove his worth.

Because of the Old Lion, an overwhelmingly powerful Divinity Transformation Cultivator residing in Awakening Lion Valley, ordinary Divinity Transformation Cultivators dared not enter personally. Furthermore, the cautionary tale of Du Bu’s Nascent Soul served as a clear warning to others: the probability of a Nascent Soul Cultivator dying within Awakening Lion Valley was also unimaginably high.

No power dared to send a Nascent Soul Cultivator to test the Old Lion’s temper. Therefore, the highest level of combat power seen in Awakening Lion Valley was, by tacit agreement, the Golden Core Realm.

And this was where Fang Qingyuan became useful. Tu Wuzhao wanted this key figure at the center of the conflict between Gui Gu and Gui Ru, but her Black Wind Valley’s influence couldn’t reach so far, constrained as she was by the situation in White Mountain. This was why she placed so much importance on Fang Qingyuan.

It seemed that for the past century, White Mountain had been the epicenter of major events in the Cultivation Realm. First, the War of Expansion had torn open a spatial passage to an Otherworld. Then, the Old Lion had driven off three Divinity Transformation Cultivators, suppressing all dissent. Finally, the Master of White Mountain had fallen. In the short span of sixty or seventy years, these three dramatic events had firmly captured the attention of all interested parties.

Listening to Tu Wuzhao’s conditions, Fang Qingyuan realized he didn’t have much room to refuse. He had understood from his very first contact with her that the schemes of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator could ensnare you before you even knew what was happening.

The issue of Bear Wind’s identity, the Divine Incense and Candle Smoke Aroma on Jinbao, and his own lack of a primary Cultivation Technique—all these things made it impossible for Fang Qingyuan to refuse.

And these were just the overt machinations he could perceive. As for the covert ones—like the lingering Divine Incense—if the Jade Rabbit hadn’t pointed it out, Fang Qingyuan would still be completely in the dark.

"What is this person’s cultivation?"

Fang Qingyuan asked cautiously. Tu Wuzhao replied nonchalantly:

"He was originally approaching the Nascent Soul Realm, but he’s been trapped for over sixty years with no way to replenish his energy. You can deduce his current level of cultivation from that. However, the methods of Ghost Cultivators are quite treacherous. Back then, he slaughtered Golden Core Cultivators as if they were chickens, so you must still be careful. It would be best to take Jinbao with you; it possesses a means to counter Ghostly Divine Techniques."

’She must be referring to the Divine Incense and Candle Smoke Aroma on Jinbao. Could Tu Wuzhao have planned for this from the start?’

’No, no, she couldn’t have schemed that far ahead. It must be a coincidence.’

For a moment, Fang Qingyuan remained doubtful, but in the end, he nodded cautiously in agreement.

"This junior is willing to try. I will do my utmost to complete the task you’ve assigned, Elder Tu."

"Heh, you certainly know what’s good for you. Alright now, don’t guard your spiritual soul too tightly. This is going to hurt a little, you know."

Tu Wuzhao’s teasing voice had barely faded when Fang Qingyuan felt as if a red-hot branding iron was churning through his mind, and an excruciating pain instantly erupted.

But the pain lasted for only a single breath before vanishing as if it were an illusion, leaving behind only an incredibly profound scripture.

It was a scripture of over a thousand characters, written in a script unlike any Fang Qingyuan had ever encountered. Each character was like a shimmering, jet-black tadpole, swimming vividly in his mind.

When a dozen or two of the jet-black tadpoles gathered, they would form a profound, structured rune, but before Fang Qingyuan could get a clear look, they would scatter again to cluster with other tadpoles.

These thousand-odd tadpole-like characters continuously gathered and scattered within his mind, revealing all sorts of supreme, esoteric principles, and for a time, Fang Qingyuan was completely mesmerized.

"Fang Qingyuan, what have you done now?"

Tu Dai’Er’s voice snapped Fang Qingyuan out of his trance. He looked over at her, only to see a jarring, crimson flush on her gorgeous face. Two trickles of blood were flowing from her nostrils.

"Er, what’s...?"

Fang Qingyuan knew exactly what had happened. It was the result of Tu Wuzhao remotely transmitting such a profound scripture. Her true cultivation was still that of a cultivator who had not yet passed the Wind Tribulation, and from over a hundred thousand li away, her Divine Techniques were certainly no match for the Old Lion’s. Therefore, a considerable portion of the price for such an act had to be paid by Tu Dai’Er.

Tu Dai’Er had never imagined that a simple chat with Fang Qingyuan would lead to this. Feeling her own lifespan drain away yet again, how could she not be furious?

But she certainly didn’t dare complain about the true cause of her misfortune, so she had no choice but to take it out on Fang Qingyuan.

But Fang Qingyuan was no fool. Having received his benefit, he immediately played dumb. ’If you have a problem, take it up with your master. I don’t owe you a thing.’

"A nosebleed? You should get more rest. I have urgent business to attend to, so I can’t stay. Fellow Daoist Tu, I’ll be taking my leave."

Fang Qingyuan flew quickly out of Tu Dai’Er’s cave residence, cutting a rather sorry figure. As Tu Dai’Er’s furious roar erupted behind him, the other Cultivators practicing nearby were left to their wild speculations.