Chapter 704: The Immortal Mansion's New Project (2)

‘As for controlling Jiang Wanqin, or maybe just killing her…’ Wanzhu considered it. He realized he was actually quite wary of the Qingyuan Sect’s Sect Leader.

‘That kid has too many connections. He’s linked to the Beast Taming Sect, the Great Zhou Academy, Black Wind Valley, and even Qi Yun. If I make an enemy of him, my life is over.’ So, no matter how incompetent Jiang Wanqin appeared, he decided to just secretly endure it.

‘If it were a Cultivator from some minor sect, I would’ve secretly planted a soul seed long ago to control their mind and spirit.’

Wanzhu shot through the water with incredible speed, reaching the pack of sea beasts in just a few moments. A flicker of delight passed through his dense compound eyes. In an instant, he was hovering over the head of their leader, the largest of the beasts. His sharp claws then pierced its skull as easily as a hot knife through butter.

Strangely, despite the gruesome sight, the sea beast leader seemed to feel no pain; its reaction was remarkably calm.

Then, just a few moments later, the pack of sea beasts began to slowly retreat at a cry from their leader, eventually vanishing from this stretch of sea.

It all took just a moment, and there wasn’t even a fight. The troublesome pack of sea beasts had completely withdrawn. Everyone on the ship was amazed, thinking to themselves, ‘As expected of a Major Sect Disciple from the mainland. He really has his methods.’

Once Lou Yuan was safely back on board, the old captain respectfully took out the Soul Nourishing Wood. He handed it to Lou Yuan, gesturing for him to take it.

Next was the time for haggling. Meanwhile, in the distant sea, Wanzhu was relishing his delicious prize.

……

Inside the Immortal Mansion, Fang Qingyuan’s soul stood before the Array that suppressed the Xuanli Sword. His ethereal hand reached out, trying to grasp the sword’s hilt.

The moment Fang Qingyuan’s hand closed around the hilt, he felt as if all the Spiritual Qi in the world had instantly turned into burning oil. It seared his divine sense. Even when he defended with all his might, wisps of it still drilled through, transforming into a tyrannical, horrifying poison that burned his meridians, severed his energy channels, and seeped deep into his internal organs.

Such was the power of the Xuanli Sword Intent. As a Fourth-rank Middle-grade Sword, its innate might alone could unleash an offensive half as powerful as a Nascent Soul Cultivator. However, compared to a true Nascent Soul Cultivator, it lacked their adaptability and tactical cunning.

Sensing the Sword Intent’s rampage, Fang Qingyuan didn’t immediately let go. Instead, he let his very soul soak in the fiery poison of the Sword Intent.

As time passed, Fang Qingyuan slowly adjusted his soul, striving to help every part of it adapt and endure for longer. He was treating the Xuanli Sword Intent as a rudimentary Nascent Soul Domain, using it to acclimate himself so that he could withstand a true Nascent Soul Domain for longer when he faced one in the future.

Beyond this purpose, Fang Qingyuan was also using this method to subdue Xuanli. The sword’s Sword Spirit had the intelligence of a three-year-old child, making it incredibly difficult for Fang Qingyuan to communicate with it—especially since it refused to communicate at all. Therefore, Fang Qingyuan planned to wear it down first. Once Xuanli’s willfulness was broken, he would then completely subdue it.

After a long time, Fang Qingyuan began to feel his mind grow groggy. His soul-body had been soaking in the Xuanli Sword Intent for far too long. Only then did he release his grasp on the Xuanli Sword’s hilt.

Just then, the Sword Intent pervading the air abruptly retracted. The Xuanli Spiritual Sword trembled a few times, a perfect picture of something exhausted and unable to muster its strength.

The Bee Queen at his side held up a bucket of Soul-Calming Spirit Liquid and offered it to him. Fang Qingyuan took it and poured the entire thing over his soul-body.

As he felt the restless, fiery poison of the Sword Intent being soothed by the cool Soul-Calming Spirit Liquid, Fang Qingyuan let out a comfortable sigh.

Bucket after bucket, he continued until he had used five in total. Fang Qingyuan finally stopped this extravagant act. A single bucket of Soul-Calming Spirit Liquid was priced in Top-grade Spirit Stones; five of them were enough to bankrupt a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

But the effects of this Spirit Liquid were extremely potent. It could even temper the soul. After being ground down by the Xuanli Sword Intent and then soothed by five buckets of Soul-Calming Spirit Liquid, Fang Qingyuan could clearly feel that his soul-body had become a bit more substantial than before.

“Congratulations, Master. The Sword Intent released by the Xuanli Spiritual Sword today was a full three-thousandths less than the day before.”

The Bee Queen brandished her record book. She recorded and analyzed the data during every session, occasionally offering Fang Qingyuan suggestions for minor improvements. Her assistance was what made Fang Qingyuan’s “sword-grinding” process go so smoothly.

Fang Qingyuan took out a new robe and draped it over himself, letting his hair hang loose. At his level, a soul was already as substantial as a physical body and could manifest even the most minute details.

Barefoot, Fang Qingyuan strolled across the black soil of the Immortal Mansion. The Bee Queen shuffled along beside him, her head bowed low.

Treading on the soft earth, Fang Qingyuan remained silent. Only when the man and the beast reached a medicine garden did he finally speak.

“How has the Spiritual Medicine production been lately?”

“Due to a lack of manpower, the Spiritual Medicines haven’t been properly tended, so their appearance isn’t the best. However, because the Spiritual Qi is so abundant, their medicinal potency is at full strength. We can produce three hundred catties of various Tier One Spiritual Medicines per quarter, five hundred catties of Tier Two Spiritual Medicines, and over twenty stalks of Tier Three Spiritual Medicine.”

Fang Qingyuan nodded slightly. The production of Spiritual Medicine within the Immortal Mansion had always been stable. However, the higher the rank of the Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Plants, the more meticulous the care they required. Unlike plants growing in the wild, which depended on luck, large-scale cultivation required meticulous care and patient nurturing to ensure a stable output. These were absolutely indispensable.