Chapter 256

Fang Qing naturally chose the Qi Refining world as the place to break through to the Purple Mansion realm.

Not to mention that the Qi Ingestion world was currently undergoing violent changes in its spiritual atmosphere, constantly swinging between great drought and wind calamities.

Even if there were only wind calamities, which greatly benefited [Ji Water], Fang Qing still would never choose to make his breakthrough in Ancient Shu.

What if, at the most critical moment, some great expert suddenly attempted to attain the Golden position again and altered the world's spiritual atmosphere?

Would he not be left completely helpless?

Moreover, even if the spiritual atmosphere remained favorable throughout, insufficient fate could still spell disaster. If an enemy plotted against him while he was in seclusion and sent Qi Ingestion or Dao Foundation cultivators to attack his abode, causing his breakthrough to fail at the final step, the outcome would be just as disastrous.

'As long as I never gamble, I can never lose!'

'When I break through to the Purple Mansion realm, it will definitely be on the Qi Refining side.'

Fang Qing's resolve was unwavering.

If he had once worried that the different worlds might operate under different rules, those concerns had now completely vanished.

'Before I break through, it's time to go back and have a look.'

His gaze drifted into the distance. With a single step, his figure disappeared into the void.

...

The Minor Huan Sea Cultivation World.

The Ten Thousand Li Sea stretched endlessly across countless thousands of miles. Dangerous natural barriers and forbidden regions blocked the paths of innumerable high-level cultivators.

But to Fang Qing, who could traverse the void itself, such distances were trivial.

He first traveled to Ice Heaven Island and confirmed that Zhong Meng was safe and sound. Then he stepped into the void once more. Less than half a day later, he had returned to the Minor Huan Sea Cultivation World.

Taibai Island.

Beside the third-rank Cold Spring, a woman in palace attire sat cross-legged in meditation.

She wore plain white robes. The slit of her skirt ran all the way to the roots of her thighs, revealing smooth ivory-like legs.

It was Qin Ruxue.

She was immersed in cultivation and never noticed Fang Qing watching from nearby.

'Late Foundation Establishment, but judging from her aura, she forced the breakthrough with medicinal pills.'

'She's only a little older than I am. Reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment before the age of one hundred and fifty and then attempting Core Formation will be rather difficult.'

Fang Qing could only shake his head inwardly.

The Wisdom Consort he had chosen truly possessed rather mediocre aptitude.

Of course, Xiang Dahu, who held the position of Bright Son, was even worse. He remained stuck at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

'The positions of Bright Son and Wisdom Consort are at the very core of the Hidden Treasury Secret Art. Once granted, they cannot be reclaimed unless the recipient dies.'

'Fortunately, I'm about to break through to the Purple Mansion realm. It seems they won't need to struggle anymore. They can simply lie back and reap the rewards?'

Shaking his head, Fang Qing thought of Xu Hei.

That old fellow truly deserved his reputation as the legendary king of survival. During the disastrous eastward expedition of the Esoteric monks, where nearly everyone was wiped out, he had somehow managed to survive.

Out of consideration for their past friendship, Fang Qing had stationed him in the Eastern Water Region. This time, he had returned alongside Bai Ziye.

Xu Hei had likewise been granted the position of Bright Son.

Once Fang Qing successfully broke through to the Purple Mansion realm, Xu Hei would naturally receive tremendous benefits as well.

With his hands clasped behind his back and his figure concealed beneath a layer of mist, Fang Qing wandered leisurely around Taibai Island.

Before long, he encountered Bei Lingshu.

Her appearance had hardly changed, though her cultivation still remained at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

"Taibai Island has a spirit vein and a spirit spring. It truly is an excellent place for secluded cultivation."

After taking another look around, Fang Qing shook his head again.

"It is simply, far too conspicuous."

The entire Minor Huan Sea knew that Ancestor Fang was in secluded cultivation on Taibai Island.

At first glance, with the Blue Sea Sect having unified the region, there seemed to be nothing to worry about.

But if a late Core Formation cultivator, or even some old Nascent Soul monster from outside, were to appear, the entire balance of power within the Minor Huan Sea would be overturned overnight.

'Breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm requires a lengthy period of seclusion. If someone surrounded Taibai Island while I was inside... that would be the end of me.'

'Even if the odds are tiny, I absolutely refuse to gamble.'

'It would be far safer to randomly choose some insignificant island somewhere in the Minor Huan Sea and remain there until I successfully break through to the Purple Mansion realm.'

After all, the Minor Huan Sea was unimaginably vast.

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator could never search every inch of it.

Furthermore, the Qi Refining path had no inheritance in the art of divination. As long as he picked a random place to hide, the seas would be wide and the skies boundless.

Having made up his mind, Fang Qing returned to his own cave abode and opened its gates.

Rumble!

As the restrictions dispersed, he no longer concealed his aura.

The immense mana fluctuations of a mid Core Formation cultivator surged outward like an overwhelming tide.

One streak of Foundation Establishment light after another flew over as cultivators bowed respectfully.

"Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Young Master."

"Haha!"

Fang Qing burst into hearty laughter as he wrapped an arm around Qin Ruxue beside him.

"After years of secluded cultivation, I have finally broken through the bottleneck and advanced to the middle stage of Core Formation. This calls for a banquet lasting three days!"

To the outside world, he had claimed to be cultivating in seclusion.

Naturally, he now had to display the fruits of those years of "hard work."

At the same time, this also served to intimidate the Blue Sea Sect.

Otherwise, if he entered seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion realm and disappeared for several decades, only to return and discover that Taibai Island no longer existed...

"Wh... What? Young Master... has reached the middle stage of Core Formation?"

Bei Lingshu covered her cherry lips, her delicate face filled with utter disbelief.

The Lord of Taibai Island had only formed his Core a little over ten years ago.

Yet now, he had already advanced to the middle stage of Core Formation?

Meanwhile, Ancestor Ruan Zhixuan of the Blue Sea Sect was still only at the early Core Formation stage.

Could it be...that the skies over the Blue Sea Sect were about to change?

In the past, Bei Lingshu would certainly have been filled with worry.

But now, her heart remained completely calm.

Perhaps after experiencing so many storms, her mind had become as tranquil as an ancient well. She now watched the changing tides with detached composure.

'Besides... knowing the Island Lord's temperament, he'd probably be too lazy to bother with all the troublesome affairs of the Blue Sea Sect anyway.'

Several days later.

Fang Qing rose from the embrace of fragrant, powdered arms and leisurely put on his robes.

“Young Master?”

A soft, alluring voice drifted from behind the crimson bed curtains.

“You should rest. I have something to take care of.”

He took a single step forward and immediately vanished into the void.

...

At the same time.

Somewhere in the Minor Huan Sea.

The sharp cry of swords suddenly rang out as one five-toothed warship after another surrounded an island.

“Blue Sea Sect...My Hai Family is innocent!”

Within the protective array, a Foundation Establishment cultivator clad in blue robes rose into the air, loudly protesting his innocence.

“Hmph. Your Hai Family colluded with the Sea-Destroying Alliance, and you are still harboring several of its key members. How dare you cry innocence?”

The Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, Cui Zhe, now appeared as a dignified middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard. His face was filled with stern authority.

“Kill them!”

Boom!

The five-toothed warships thundered forward, crashing straight into the Hai Family's defensive array.

As merely a Foundation Establishment clan, the Hai Family possessed only a low second-rank array. It was shattered almost instantly.

Bolt after bolt of divine lightning descended.

The Hai Family's Foundation Establishment ancestor was annihilated on the spot, body and soul alike.

“Hmph.”

Cui Zhe let out a cold snort.

“Search every corner immediately. Better to kill one by mistake than let one escape!”

“Yes, Hall Master!”

The Blue Sea Sect disciples immediately mounted their magical artifacts and spiritual artifacts, completely surrounding the Hai Family estate before rushing inside to search.

The sounds of battle soon echoed throughout the compound.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, several streams of jet-black demonic qi lashed out like tentacles, sending two Foundation Establishment cultivators flying.

A mass of black demonic flames erupted.

Standing within the flames was a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

Her cultivation had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.

“Black Profound Demonic Qi! So it really is you... Yu Xiang'er!”

Cui Zhe's flying sword buzzed in his hand as battle intent filled his eyes.

“What a magnificent catch.”

Yu Xiang'er looked at Cui Zhe, inwardly feeling rather helpless.

During this period, she had faithfully followed the Young Master's orders and remained completely hidden.

Who would have thought one of her subordinates would accidentally expose himself, allowing the Blue Sea Sect to capture him? Soon afterward, Cui Zhe had personally led this assault.

The Blue Sea Sect now stood at the height of its power throughout the Minor Huan Sea. Life had become increasingly difficult for the remnants of the Sea-Destroying Alliance.

'Moreover... Cui Zhe has actually reached peak Foundation Establishment. As expected of one of the Blue Sea Sect's Core Formation candidates.'

'Still, aside from the few people the Young Master specifically instructed me to spare, everyone else in the Blue Sea Sect may be killed.'

Yu Xiang'er laughed, her enchanting voice capable of stealing souls.

With a wave of her hand, countless needle-shaped spiritual artifacts shot into the night sky, disappearing into the darkness.

At the same time, she formed a hand seal.

A mass of black demonic fire condensed into the shape of a hawk and lunged straight toward Cui Zhe.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Cui Zhe swept his flying sword horizontally.

Sword light intertwined with countless flying needles as two peak Foundation Establishment cultivators clashed.

Even the aftermath alone was enough that ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators dared not receive it head-on.

Boom!

Suddenly, a tiny illusory sword appeared in Cui Zhe's hand.

It carried power far surpassing ordinary Foundation Establishment mana.

With a single strike, it shattered the black demonic flames and cut countless flying needles from the sky.

“A talisman treasure?”

Yu Xiang'er's complexion paled.

“What kind of sword cultivator are you?”

“Heh. Who said sword cultivators must shackle themselves with such inconveniences?”

Had this been his younger days, Cui Zhe might have insisted upon the rigid principles of sword cultivators, preferring to break rather than bend.

But after all these years, his only concern was achieving the greatest merit at the smallest possible cost.

“Blue Sea Sect disciples, hear my order!”

“There is no need to speak of honor against demonic cultivators.”

“Attack together!”

'Damn it... Could this really be where I fall?'

A trace of anxiety surfaced deep within Yu Xiang'er's eyes.

Just then, a divine sense transmission reached her ears.

Her expression immediately relaxed into a charming smile.

“Well done, Hall Master Cui. I only hope... you survive my next technique.”

Her hands rapidly formed seals as she cried out.

Water vapor gathered from the surrounding air.

It condensed into a translucent flying blade.

“Hmph. Empty tricks.”

Cui Zhe had never believed any Foundation Establishment spell could rival a talisman treasure.

The miniature sword descended like wind and thunder.

Bang!

The tiny sword collided with the flying blade.

It immediately let out a mournful cry before reverting into a talisman.

The paper burst into flames and crumbled into ash in midair.

“What kind of spell was that?”

Cui Zhe's eyelids twitched violently.

He hurriedly produced a supreme-grade spiritual artifact shield and raised it before himself.

The translucent flying blade slammed directly into it.

Boom!

Cui Zhe staggered back several steps.

The shield shattered into pieces.

Fortunately, the flying blade had likewise exhausted its power and dissolved into droplets of water.

When he looked up again, Yu Xiang'er had already twisted her graceful waist, transformed into a streak of black light, and rushed beyond the encirclement.

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators attempted to intercept her.

Yu Xiang'er let out a sharp cry.

“Scram!”

The two mid Foundation Establishment cultivators froze in place as though bewitched, allowing her to fly straight past and disappear into the endless night.

“You two...”

Cui Zhe glared at them.

Only then did they seem to awaken from a dream.

“Senior Brother Cui... It wasn't that we didn't try! That demoness's spell was too strange. Just now it felt as though our bodies were no longer under our control!”

“Not under your control?”

Cui Zhe snorted coldly.

“Report yourselves to the Punishment Hall afterward and receive ten Thunder Whip lashes.”

Having served as Hall Master of the Punishment Hall for many years, his authority was unquestionable.

After casually assigning punishment to the two junior brothers, he quietly turned away and discreetly wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.

...

Several hundred miles away.

On a deserted island.

Yu Xiang'er descended from the sky and immediately bowed gracefully upon seeing the slender blue-robed figure standing before her.

“Many thanks to Young Master for saving my life.”

“You were fortunate.”

Fang Qing stood with his hands clasped behind his back before slowly turning around.

“Had I not happened to be in the Minor Huan Sea, you would certainly have died this time.”

His gaze settled upon the enchanting demonic woman before him.

Then, after a brief pause, he asked calmly, “Tell me... do you wish to form your Core?”