Chapter 213

The battlefield was deathly silent.

At some unknown moment, patches of black earth had begun gathering from all directions, burying the corpses and scattered bones that once littered the ground.

Bats emerged from nowhere, hanging upside down from the trees lining the roadside.

The Xuanwu Sect Dao Foundation cultivator held the black jade ritual tablet in both hands, carefully storing away the Corpse Accumulation Qi before kneeling respectfully beside Fang Qing.

Seeing this scene, Fang Wujiu’s eyelids twitched violently.

This…

Countless thoughts surged through his mind, yet he forcefully suppressed every single one, not daring to let even half a thought slip free.

“This little woman greets the Dharma King!”

Beside him, Yue Mingxue had already dropped to her knees, kowtowing repeatedly.

“Heh heh… I am the Vajra Strength Duzi under the White Bone Dharma King.”

Fang Qing flicked his sleeve lightly. The shattered fragments of organs scattered across the ground once again transformed into clumps of black earth, which Monk Fayuan swallowed back into his body.

Monk Fayuan’s eyes rolled once before he suddenly awakened. The moment he saw Fang Qing, he immediately prostrated himself in worship.

“Praise to the indestructible Vajra Strength, whose strength shatters the barriers of the Three Realms, the boundless radiant Dharma Duzi.”

“In the end, one’s own people truly do speak more pleasantly.”

Fang Qing chuckled softly. His gaze swept over the remaining Qi Ingestion cultivators, all of whom were trembling violently, drenched in cold sweat.

“Enough. This Buddha has no use for the likes of you. Cultivate diligently instead. Only after reaching Dao Foundation will you share karmic affinity with our Wusheng Temple… Go on now!”

He took several steps forward, and the Xuanwu Sect Dao Foundation cultivator immediately followed behind him, matching his pace step for step like a servant attending his master.

A flash of light streaked across the horizon, and the two figures vanished without a trace.

“Huff… huff…”

Only then did Yue Mingxue finally let out a long breath. “This, is a Purple Mansion cultivator? And that person, that Xuanwu Sect Dao Foundation cultivator.”

“Have you gone mad? Don’t speak of it, don’t listen to it, don’t even think about it…”

Fang Wujiu’s expression turned fierce as he glared harshly at his sister-in-law. Then he looked toward the newly formed burial mounds that had piled themselves up nearby, his heart still filled with lingering fear.

As for Monk Fayuan, he had already lost all emotional awareness. He simply continued kowtowing over and over while reciting the Vajra Sutra.

This Purple Mansion existence, had already ceased to be human.

‘As expected, bullying weaker opponents really is refreshing!’

‘I should have spent my time crushing small fry instead of playing hide-and-seek with Nascent Soul old monsters.’

Inside the White Bone Buddhist Soldier camp.

Fang Qing tore through the void and descended, followed by three Dao Foundation cultivators from the Xuanwu Sect.

With his current abilities, completely capturing all the children of destiny in one sweep would not have been difficult. But considering he still needed to give Cloud Grazing Cliff some face, he ultimately refrained from going that far.

‘Several key locations have already turned into mass graves. The Corpse Accumulation Qi there is dense beyond measure. Combined with shamanic sacrificial rites, it might truly be possible to pry open a crack in the Grotto Heaven?’

He pondered silently.

‘A Grotto Heaven isolated within the void is still extremely dangerous. Worse, there’s no way to investigate it beforehand. But I’m different! The Dao-Genesis Pearl is not obstructed by Grotto Heavens at all. I can simply convert someone first and throw them inside to scout the situation.’

‘If it turns out to be another death trap like the Buried Earth Blessed Land, then I won’t accompany those people from Cloud Grazing Cliff in their games.’

‘Three Dao Foundation cultivators. Three chances. Not bad at all.’

Fang Qing looked toward the three Dao Foundation cultivators behind him.

Among Qi Ingestion cultivators, Dao Foundation experts barely qualified as true figures of importance. Their status was ordinarily lofty and revered.

Yet before him, under the augmentation of the Duzi divine status, he did not even need to employ verbal confrontation or rhetorical techniques. Mere influence from his “power of speech” was enough to command them like obedient servants.

‘These few are rather unfortunate as well. They were abandoned pieces of the Xuanwu Sect. Yet after obtaining fate’s blessing, they each managed to establish a Dao Foundation.’

‘Sadly, in the face of the greater tide, Dao Foundation amounts to nothing. A Purple Mansion cultivator would at least matter somewhat. But the time required to nurture a Purple Mansion is far too long. Nothing can be done in time.’

Fang Qing sighed inwardly.

If both sides possessed Purple Mansion cultivators overseeing matters, then a powerful Dao Foundation cultivator could still play a significant role.

But in this kind of overwhelming disparity, even a Dao Foundation cultivator at perfect completion would merely end up personally sent to death by a Duzi.

‘Without reaching the higher levels, all that remains is despair.’

Fang Qing brought the three Dao Foundation cultivators to Sangji’s tent.

“You have arrived at the right moment.”

Sangji had gathered the Duzi and Dumu under his command around a map. His finger pointed toward a marked location.

“The location of the White Luminary Heaven, should be here!”

Fang Qing looked toward the small hill indicated on the map. The place originally had no name, though now it could be called White Luminary Mountain.

Judging by the layout, several massive corpse pits happened to surround the hill perfectly.

“[Ghost Metal] is elusive and insubstantial. Using shamanic arts to connect with the Corpse Accumulation Qi and force open the Grotto Heaven, should indeed be feasible.”

Fang Qing nodded slightly.

“Excellent. This Grotto Heaven is clearly fated with our Esoteric Domain.”

Sangji pressed his palms together, his face filled with joyous delight.

In truth, he had long since received Fang Qing’s instructions. Before properly investigating the situation, it was better to abandon the opportunity entirely than recklessly enter the Grotto Heaven in person.

As for the scouting itself?

Naturally, Fang Qing would handle it personally.

“Vajra Strength Duzi, you shall be responsible for investigating this Grotto Heaven.”

Sangji declared openly.

“I obey the Dharma decree.”

Fang Qing accepted with a smile.

Auspicious Green Dumu and Demon-Subduing Black Dumu exchanged glances, both secretly thinking: ‘So this Vajra Strength Duzi is tasked with the most dangerous assignments. No wonder trivial matters like escort duty and military protection never require his involvement.’

Qi Refining world.

Eastern Sea cultivation world, within a rented cave dwelling in a cultivation marketplace.

Ever since deciding to explore the White Luminary Grotto Heaven, Fang Qing had, as usual, returned to the Qi Refining world, untouched by all karmic influence.

‘A Grotto Heaven is far too dangerous. Best to use the old method again and convert those Xuanwu Sect Dao Foundation cultivators first.’

‘Within the Esoteric Hidden Treasury Domain, only slave-owning figures like Gurus and Dharma Kings possess the authority to convert others. Slave-ranked identities such as Bright Son and Duzi cannot convert anyone themselves.’

‘But I’m different.’

The three Dao Foundation cultivators from the Xuanwu Sect had naturally already been converted by Fang Qing.

There was no way he would personally explore such a dangerous place. Matters involving a Grotto Heaven were far too unpredictable, and even divinations could not be trusted completely. The only reliable method was to use human lives to probe the dangers ahead.

‘There are still two Bright One positions in my hands, leftovers from the last Taihuang Heaven incident.’

‘But Xuanwu Sect cultivators are already Dao Foundation cultivators. Bright One positions are of little use to them unless… it is a “Duzi position”!’

Fang Qing connected his consciousness to the Dao-Genesis Pearl and sensed inwardly.

That exalted pearl could barely be moved by him. He could not bestow a true “position of divinity” upon his own Bright Ones. Even he himself could only borrow a trace of its divinity during divination or moments of danger. But if the Dao-Genesis Pearl could not do it, Sangji’s side might still be able to!

‘A Dharma King possesses only five Duzi positions in total. One of those positions was reversely offered to me.’

‘In theory, a Dharma King’s Duzi position cannot be transferred unless its holder dies. But I am not truly a Dharma King Duzi in the first place, which creates a paradox! Since I can borrow this “position,” naturally I can also pass it on to others.’

‘After all, my Bright Ones are still part of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury system. We are all one family, so these things are easier to discuss.’

Fang Qing’s consciousness communicated with the Dao-Genesis Pearl.

The chaotic pearl, existing neither inside nor outside, nor at the center, spun lightly in place. Clear and turbid qi revolved as rosy clouds and mist surged forth.

In the next instant, Fang Qing let out a long breath.

The faint sense of superiority that had always placed him above ordinary cultivators abruptly vanished, as though he had suddenly “descended” from a three-dimensional world into a two-dimensional one.

At the same time, he lost the overwhelming power that allowed him to casually tear through space and roam the void.

‘This truly feels awful.’

‘If I had never experienced it, perhaps it would not matter. But once someone has enjoyed the convenience granted by a position of divinity, losing that blessing afterward, it is enough to drive a person mad. The fanatical worship that the Duzi and Dumu of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain hold toward the Dharma Kings is not without reason.’

‘Still, this is also a tempering of my Dao heart. Without proper tempering, how could I ever survive the Nascent Soul Heart Demon tribulation in the future?’

Fang Qing carefully experienced the sensation of being weak once again.

Meanwhile, in the Qi Ingestion world, within Wushan Commandery.

One of the Xuanwu Sect Dao Foundation cultivators abruptly opened his eyes. The [Di Earth] mana within his body instantly transformed into [Nu Earth].

Though this conversion slightly weakened his cultivation, a mysterious position of divinity descended upon him from the unseen world. His figure seemed to rise infinitely higher, while faint Buddhist chanting echoed around him.

‘Just as expected. This is equivalent to Sangji appointing a fifth Duzi through me.’

The Xuanwu Sect cultivator stood with his hands clasped behind his back as Fang Qing’s voice echoed within his heart.

‘Mm… forcibly bestowing too much empowerment at once has damaged this person’s consciousness. He is no longer fit for independent use. I may as well control him personally from start to finish.’

Fang Qing casually raised a hand, shattering the void before him. Roaming through the great void, he arrived in a wilderness in the blink of an eye.

Not far away stood a snow-white mountain in silent stillness.

It was the White Luminary Mountain.

At this moment, it was night. The stars overhead shone brilliantly, while a crescent moon hung high in the heavens, casting down pale and icy radiance.

Black bats had gathered silently from all directions, hanging upside down upon the surrounding trees.

“Begin.”

“Fang Qing” stood with his hands behind his back as he issued the command calmly.

Behind him, the two Dao Foundation cultivators from the Xuanwu Sect immediately raised their black jade ritual tablets and began arranging a strange and sinister shamanic ritual.

A short while later, dark and hoarse chanting echoed across the wilderness:

“The shaman stands beneath the open wilds, cloaked in starlight and moonlight, holding the black jade tablet in sacrifice. Shamanic arts communicate yin and yang, linking hidden and manifest. Using Corpse Accumulation Qi as the medium, they shatter the divide between stellar domains, allowing yin and yang to resonate and hidden and manifest to connect.”

“Mm?”

Fang Qing’s divine sense stirred. He sensed that as the shamanic ritual unfolded, one of the stars overhead suddenly brightened.

Then, within the void itself, some vast and colossal existence seemed to roll and shift, revealing only fragments of scales and claws.

‘A fragment of an unfamiliar void has appeared, It is temporarily connected to the present world!’

‘The Grotto Heaven has not yet fully opened, but this is still an opportunity!’

‘Anyone below Purple Mansion truly would find it impossible to sneak inside.’

At this moment, Fang Qing possessed the body of a Duzi and thus carried almost no restrictions. Immediately, he sensed the void, tore open space itself, and used that fleeting connection through the great void to forcefully enter White Luminary Heaven.

Meanwhile, out in the wilderness, the two Dao Foundation cultivators continued standing motionlessly like statues and guardians.

White Luminary Heaven.

Green mountains and clear waters stretched beneath a blazing midday sun. Smoke curled gently upward from a small village nearby.

Many farmers carried hoes upon their shoulders as they walked into the rice fields to work.

High in the sky, the Duzi controlled by Fang Qing stood silently as his divine sense swept across the world, taking in every detail of the village below.

‘This White Luminary Heaven… is completely different from the Blessed Lands and Grotto Heavens I encountered before. There are actually large numbers of mortals living here!’

He was briefly shocked, but quickly accepted the reality.

Even Grotto Heavens possessed suns, moons, and stars. Why should mortals not exist within them?

Even the secret realms on the Qi Refining side supported demon beasts, after all.

His divine sense swept across the land, and he quickly learned the language and writing system of this Grotto Heaven, though they differed slightly from those of the outside world.

Soon afterward, he discovered the village’s sole discordant feature.

It was a small temple filled with incense offerings.

Within the shrine stood a clay statue with a kind and benevolent expression.

Above it hung a plaque inscribed with golden characters:

Qingxi Village Earth God Temple.