Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 41 The Five Dragons Gathering Disperses

"So this is... the Core Formation stage?"

As a typical ant in the cultivation world, after watching the grand spectacle of the Core Formation battle and the tribulation of the Chaotic Sea Flood Dragon under the protection of the formation, Fang Qing's heart was burning with excitement. He couldn't wait to go back to seclusion and cultivate until he reached the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages before emerging from seclusion!

But he knew it was just a beautiful fantasy.

Without Foundation Establishment Pills, how can he rush to Foundation Establishment?

After returning to his cave, Fang Qing began to study the "Plum Blossom Divination" and couldn't resist casting a few divinations.

"Hmm? The Azure Sea Sect has hidden fortune? It seems poised for great prosperity..."

He deduced the cause and effect from the divination and received an inspiration: "External alchemy... 'Tide-born Pearl'? No, I can't continue calculating. After all, it involves the formation of the core, which is the third stage... Even if it has the status of 'Tide-born Pearl', the difference in the major realms is too great..."

Having gone through that experience, he understood the importance of revering destiny in divination.

After resting for a while, Fang Qing couldn't help but start calculating the opportunities for Foundation Establishment, especially the location of Foundation Establishment Pills, preferably one that was unclaimed.

Then, he even considered Elder Tianding's involvement...

"The first thing this Plum Blossom Divination method calculates is those with whom I have karmic ties... I am a disciple of Dan Island, so it makes perfect sense that I'm involved with Elder Tianding..."

Fang Qing tried to find the location of the Core Formation Elixir, but the result was a blank!

"The cultivation world is incredibly vast. Even if the Lesser Universe Sea doesn't have Core Formation elixirs, the Eastern Sea cultivation world certainly does! I can't calculate it... First, is it because my cultivation level isn't high enough? Second, is it because there's no karmic connection?"

He touched his nose and noticed another patch of crimson.

"As expected... even here, one cannot act recklessly."

Fang Qing swallowed a healing pill, silently regulated his breathing, and then his heart stirred as he thought of that red figure again.

He silently calculated the cause and effect of Cha Zhu: "A superior-grade water spiritual root, a Yuan Zhu body? If the Chaotic Sea Flood Dragon had swallowed her, perhaps she could have survived the nine heavenly tribulations..."

"It's just a pity... she passed away so young."

"Hua Lian... was actually unaware of the secrets involved, merely contacting the Zhong family to pull off a heist... yet he unexpectedly thwarted the serpent's hopes of advancement. Was it fate?"

……

Wanbao Island, General Affairs Hall.

The once deserted halls are now bustling with activity.

Many disciples stared at the rankings on the battle merit board, shouting excitedly. Some even looked at the exchange list, practically drooling: "Foundation Establishment Pills! We can actually exchange them directly for Foundation Establishment Pills?!"

Fang Qing glanced at it as well, and nodded to himself: 'With so many disciples dead, we should at least show some respect by releasing a few Foundation Establishment Pills; it's only right.'

He glanced at the battle merit list. This list did not rank cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage, so the first place was Cui Zhe, the "Life-Taking Sword".

With his battle merits, he should be able to exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

If one obtains the position of true disciple again after several years, one will have two opportunities to establish a foundation, and can basically be regarded as a foundation-establishing cultivator.

"Senior brother, are you here to check your contribution points?"

Fang Qing arrived at the Hall of General Affairs and found the disciples in charge of general affairs; he was immediately given a warm welcome.

After all, he is now a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, a true expert even among the many Qi Refining cultivators in the sect.

Not to mention, after a great battle, the late-stage Qi Refining cultivators suffered heavy casualties, and those who remained were all formidable figures.

"good."

Fang Qing handed over his disciple token.

"Senior brother has slain a powerful enemy at the late stage of Qi Refining?"

The disciple checked the records and glanced at Fang Qing with some admiration: "This is a great achievement. According to the sect's latest regulations, you can be rewarded with 1,000 contribution points. In addition, there was the last garrison mission. Although it failed, you still got 100 contribution points... Finally, after the great battle, the sect will give each disciple a reward. Those in the late stage of Qi Refining can get 500 contribution points... If you want to exchange for items, now is a good opportunity."

Fang Qing nodded slightly and looked at the exchange list.

"The Zhong family has retreated, the great battle is over... the price of magical artifacts has immediately plummeted!"

"But according to my calculations, there will probably be another major war in a few years. Perhaps we could stockpile a batch now, sell it after the price skyrockets, and reap huge profits?"

"Wait a minute... if I'm still making spirit stones by hoarding magical artifacts a few years from now, wouldn't all these years have been for nothing?"

His mind was racing with random thoughts, but his spiritual sense was exceptionally sharp. He circled many of the main ingredients for the "Qi Refining Powder": "Let's exchange these for now."

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

The disciple from the General Affairs Hall became even more respectful when he saw Fang Qing exchanging medicinal herbs.

After all, this is an alchemist! And he's even suspected of being able to refine first-grade high-quality pills!

If they were on Dan Island, they could have gathered a group of mid- to low-level disciples and formed a small force, just like the Five Dragon Princes.

It can only be said that Fang Qingzhi was not here.

"Wait... what happened to the Five Dragons Society, especially Five Dragon Prince and Xu Wusu?"

Just as Fang Qing was pondering, the disciple on duty handed him a storage bag full of medicinal herbs: "Senior brother, all the items you exchanged are here. Since the expense was huge, please sign as proof."

"Um."

Fang Qing agreed, looked at the disciple who brought the account book, and suddenly smiled: "Senior Brother Hua..."

"Junior Brother Fang?"

Hua Lian was equally astonished when he saw Fang Qing: "You... you've broken through to the late stage?"

"Yes, even in the face of life and death, there is always some progress."

Fang Qing replied politely.

Although he was determined to kill this smiling tiger, he was even more polite on the surface.

"Then I must congratulate you, Junior Brother. It's just a pity we broke through too late; otherwise, with this opportunity, we might have a chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage..."

Hua Lian sighed. Although he had secretly swindled a group of elite disciples by using his previous experience of cultivating a network of spies, he had made a fortune.

But those are spirit stones and resources... they can't be exchanged for contribution points, let alone a Foundation Establishment Pill!

However, given the Hua family's contribution to Flying Fish Island this time, the Zhong family will likely be generous with a few Foundation Establishment pills.

Perhaps in a few years, he will have reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

As it happened, an acquaintance was there. Even though Hua Lian had ill intentions, his attitude had been good before, so Fang Qing casually asked about the Five Dragons Society.

"The Five Dragons Society, it's truly a pity..." Hua Lian sighed first, then continued, "It's said that this time, many Five Dragons members on the front lines worked together, handing over all their contribution points to the Five Dragon Prince, almost enough to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill... It's just a pity that they suffered a major defeat in the seas before, with several of their five warships sunk, and the Five Dragons Society members suffering heavy casualties. However, Senior Brother Five Dragon Prince should have returned to the sect smoothly..."

Fang Qing was silent for a moment, then asked, "How is Xu Wusu?"

"He did return safely, but his dantian and qi sea were damaged, and his cultivation level dropped to the early stage of Qi Refining... Without second-tier spiritual pills and medicines, I'm afraid he will never be able to recover his cultivation level in this lifetime."

Hua Lian had clearly seen this kind of thing many times: "Perhaps soon, Junior Brother Xu will retire and return to his hometown to start a new family... Many Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment families under the jurisdiction of sects came about in this way."

"Did it damage your dantian?"

Fang Qing was taken aback. This injury was even more damaging to his cultivation than a severed limb: "Alas... it seems that Junior Brother Xu is destined to suffer this calamity. I wonder if Senior Brother Wulongzi could exchange a spiritual pill for him?"

"I think it's unlikely..."

A fleeting sneer crossed Hua Lian's face: "The Five Dragon Princes' contribution points are enough for Xu Wusu to exchange for a second-tier spirit pill to repair his dantian, but the price is that his contribution points from this battle are almost wiped out... He was just a hair's breadth away from exchanging for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Would you be willing to do that?"

Fang Qing remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "Of course I don't want to..."

"so……"

Hua Lian waved his hand.

Fang Qing walked out of the General Affairs Hall and looked at the gloomy sky.

The disciples around were either beaming with joy at the end of the great battle or excited about the rare treasures on the exchange list.

As for the dead and the injured, they have long been forgotten!

This is what cultivators are like!

Cultivating immortality is ruthless!

……

Lakeside Villa.

It must be said that Bihaimen is very realistic.

When Xu Wusu's cultivation level reached the early stage of Qi Refining, and it became difficult to improve further, he requested to be demoted to an outer disciple, and his cave dwelling was moved to the Lakeside Villa.

Fang Qing inquired along the way before finally arriving at Xu Wusu's courtyard.

The only advantage of Lakeside Villa is that the cave is large enough. Xu Wusu even built a fence around his wooden house and planted some worthless spiritual herbs inside.

"Junior Brother Xu..."

When Fang Qing arrived, Xu Wusu was watering the spiritual herbs.

However, the Xu Wusu that appeared in Fang Qing's eyes at this moment was no longer the same as before. Not only had his hair turned gray, but he also looked much older.

"So it's Senior Brother Fang..."

Xu Wusu stopped what he was doing, sensing the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from Fang Qing: "I haven't congratulated you yet on advancing to the late stage of Qi Refining..."

"Junior brother, don't be discouraged. The Five Dragons Society will still need you to manage it in the future..." Fang Qing comforted him.

"Haha... The Five Dragons Society? There's no such thing as the Five Dragons Society anymore."

Xu Wusu smiled bitterly: "After the great battle, the Five Dragons Society suffered heavy casualties, and many survivors, seeing my current predicament, have left the society... I suppose you've come here today for the same reason? But I have no spirit stones left, so I'm afraid I can't get a refund..."

When faced with life and death, everything becomes clear.

If even the Five Dragon Princes are unwilling to treat him, then any talk of helping him reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the future will only be a joke!

Therefore, many members of the Five Dragons Association demanded the return of the spirit stones and supplies they had previously raised... Who told Xu Wusu to work so hard and call himself the head steward of the Five Dragons Association?

They bully the weak and fear the strong, so naturally they can only turn to him.

"Junior brother has misunderstood."

Fang Qing shook his head: "I don't care about a little bit of spiritual resources, but... hasn't Senior Brother Wulongzi said anything?"

Mentioning this, Xu Wusu's eyes dimmed: "He's only focused on Foundation Establishment now. If he succeeds, he might share some benefits with us. If he fails... hehe..."