Chapter 233

Several days later.

Eastern Waters.

A fine drizzle hung in the air.

The former Bai Family territory had now been completely transformed into a Bitter Drowning Spring.

Even ordinary Qi Ingestion cultivators who approached the area would unconsciously feel their eyes sting and water, tears flowing down their cheeks without warning.

Groups of Buddhist soldiers piled white bones into towering mountains, using them as offerings to the White Bone Dao's ritual implements.

Layers of ritual arrays mixed with flesh and blood spread across the earth. Their outer boundaries were circular while their inner layouts were square. Dharma Protectors patrolled continuously throughout the area.

It was precisely a Hidden-Treasury mandala ritual.

The Bai Family's Purple Mansion grand array had been broken and could no longer be used. Since the Hidden-Treasury Domain had occupied this land, they naturally needed to establish a new array of their own.

Inside a command tent.

Fang Qing sat cross-legged, silently sensing the void.

'If the void was once a solid slab of iron, impossible to pass through... now, at least, a few cracks have appeared.'

'Although these cracks are still insufficient for ordinary early or mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators to travers, for late-stage Purple Mansion Great Spiritual Master or Great Dharma Kings, that may no longer be the case.'

Just then, Fang Qing sensed the cracks within the void widen slightly once again.

'This is... another array node has been destroyed?'

'The void has loosened enough that late-stage Purple Mansion Great Spiritual Masters can now travel through it freely.'

He inwardly complained.

'The Blissful Union Sect's resistance isn't determined at all. Instead, they're dragging things out and fighting sluggishly. Could this be their real objective? Using an open scheme to stall for time, waiting for circumstances to change?'

The thought suddenly enlightened him.

Using the Dao-Genesis Pearl in secret, he contacted Sangji.

'Does the Blissful Union Sect still possess any great cultivators capable of advancing to Golden Core? Don't be fooled by the fact that four perfected divine abilities satisfy the minimum requirement for Golden Core advancement. The gap between that and actual success is unimaginably vast.'

'Although someone from [Stomach Earth] has successfully reached Golden Core, can that even be compared?'

'We've struggled and fought our entire lives. How can we compare to someone benefiting from the efforts of a previous life?'

'Of course, not many people know these inner details. That is why the world still encourages Purple Mansion cultivators who have perfected four divine abilities, igniting their ambitions toward Golden Core.'

'But in reality, none of the fundamental problems have been solved. Just the issue of shifting Golden Core Positions and divine abilities failing to align is already an insurmountable chasm.'

Sangji's response came quickly.

"Reporting to the Venerable One, within the Blissful Union Sect, Great Spiritual Master Xinyi attained her fourth divine ability over a century ago. Her divine abilities are now perfected, and she should possess some hope of advancing to Golden Core."

"Aside from her, the Blissful Union Sect certainly possesses a Grotto Heaven. As for how many Great Spiritual Masters with all four perfected paths remain hidden inside, outsiders have no way of knowing."

Fang Qing's thoughts stirred.

'Could it be that the Hidden-Treasury Domain is attacking the Blissful Union Sect at all costs in order to disrupt some advancement ritual? To interrupt someone's Golden Core ascension?'

"In this humble monk's opinion, the connection is minimal..."

Sangji replied.

"After all, [Fang Sun] is not [Bi Moon]. It does not require the imagery of chaos engulfing the world."

"Such rituals merely strengthen the momentum surrounding a Golden Core breakthrough. They are not indispensable requirements."

"If that Demon King Suwu had successfully completed his ritual and plunged the world into chaos, it would only have increased the likelihood of the [Bi Moon] Golden Core position drawing attention, thereby granting him a slightly greater chance of success."

"Even if the ritual had failed, Suwu would still attempt his Golden Core breakthrough regardless."

"Therefore, even when such large-scale rituals and methods of enhancing one's momentum exist, success ultimately depends upon the individual."

"Furthermore..."

Sangji's tone unconsciously carried a trace of pride.

"The Hidden-Treasury Domain possesses boundless divine abilities. If we truly wished to prevent a Purple Mansion cultivator from reaching Golden Core, why would we resort to such a troublesome method?"

That was true.

Fang Qing sighed inwardly.

'Then everything shall proceed according to the original plan.'

A few days later, the newest battle reports arrived.

The Mystic River Lin Family had fallen.

After leaving behind a portion of their forces, the White Bone Dao army prepared to mobilize in full and join forces with Black Spring Temple to attack the Crimson Flame Nangong Family.

The Nangong Family cultivated Fire Virtue and possessed formidable combat strength. Their current generation even included two Purple Mansion cultivators. Black Spring Temple had been unable to take them down for quite some time.

Remembering old ties, Sangji chose to head over and provide assistance.

As for the three major sects, their Purple Mansion cultivators were even more numerous. Some even possessed Great Spiritual Masters among their ranks, making them exceptionally difficult opponents.

The most troublesome was the Violet Garden Sect, which was currently under attack by the Temple of All Beings Without Form.

The sect had erected a Grand Array known as the [Purple Qi Coming from the East Array].

Protected by purple qi, the array was immune to blood-qi contamination and extraordinarily difficult to breach.

Furthermore, the Violet Garden Sect housed a Great Spiritual Master who personally guarded one of the crucial nodes of the Void-Severing Grand Array.

The Buddhist soldiers of the Temple of All Beings Without Form had been completely halted.

Rumor had it that Great Dharma King Jiumoluojie was either refining a powerful treasure or searching for a suitable divine ability to counter the Purple Qi Coming from the East Array.

'A direct assault would cause unacceptable losses. Their current approach is already the fastest and least costly option available.'

'But the unavoidable consequence is that their advance has been stalled.'

Fang Qing stepped out of his tent and watched countless streams of light gathering overhead.

Soon afterward, Sangji stood expressionlessly upon a cloud of white radiance, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.

At his side stood Bai Ziye, head lowered and demeanor obedient, looking every bit the humble attendant.

The Bai Family cultivators below appeared noticeably more spirited and confident.

According to the official explanation, Bai Ziye had caught Dharma King Sangji's eye and had been accepted into his service as a novice monk attendant.

Thanks to this relationship, the treatment of many Bai Family members had improved significantly.

Even during this campaign, a portion of them had been permitted to remain behind and assist the Vajra Strength Duzi in garrisoning the Eastern Waters region.

“I, this Dharma King, have already made my decision. We march on Nangong!”

Sangji’s voice echoed slowly through the camp.

“In this campaign, the two Dumu, Moonlight White and Peacock, shall accompany the army. Vajra Strength Duzi will remain behind to guard the mandala city. Under no circumstances may further warfare arise in this region!”

“We obey the Dharma decree!”

Fang Qing bowed slightly and casually selected several groups of Buddhist soldiers.

By coincidence, Fang Wujiu and Yue Mingxue of the Fang Family were among them.

Tian Youliang, on the other hand, was not so fortunate. His luck had run dry, and he would have to depart with the main force once again.

“Uncle Fang…”

Determination filled Tian Youliang’s face as he handed a storage bag to Fang Wujiu.

“If no news comes from me, please deliver this storage bag back to my family.”

“Sigh... just take care of yourself. Don't try to play the hero when trouble comes.”

Fang Wujiu and Fang Shangxuan could only offer a few words of comfort.

Once the main army departed, they joined the Bai Family cultivators and came to pay their respects to Vajra Strength Duzi.

Within the mandala city, Vajra Strength Duzi floated in midair, seated cross-legged.

A circle of mysterious radiance surrounded his body. Even Dao Foundation perfection cultivators felt tremendous pressure merely standing in his presence.

“You are charged with guarding this place. Fulfill your duties faithfully.”

“Otherwise, do not blame me for showing no mercy. The White Bone Dao possesses three hundred and sixty-five great punishments of bone-breaking, skin-flaying, and flesh-grinding. They shall be reserved for offenders!”

Fang Qing delivered a fierce reprimand before waving his hand dismissively.

“Get lost.”

The gathered cultivators immediately scrambled away in terror, retreating as though granted a pardon from death.

‘I should be considered part of the rear lines now.’

‘This place isn't particularly valuable. The Blissful Union Sect is unlikely to launch a major offensive just to seize it.’

The few Fang Family cultivators had been deliberately preserved by Fang Qing.

After all, he possessed the Forest Creek Deer-Sighting Art. Keeping around a few cultivation relatives with close blood ties was still useful.

He could hardly let them all die in this war and then return to Qingli Mountain to slowly raise a new batch from scratch.

‘Divine abilities... divine abilities are truly difficult to achieve.’

‘Although I now possess three different [Ji Water] Purple Mansion cultivation methods... the one I am most confident in remains Wind-Positioned.’

After all, Fang Qing had forged his Dao Foundation with it and diligently cultivated it all the way to late-stage Dao Foundation.

In fact, he was not far from Dao Foundation perfection.

The wealth obtained from the Eastern Waters Bai Family alone was enormous. For the Bai Family, producing a [Ji Water] Purple Mansion cultivator might depend somewhat on fortune, but pushing someone to Dao Foundation perfection was practically guaranteed.

‘The real issue is acquiring a Purple Mansion spiritual object.’

At that thought, Fang Qing's expression darkened.

Since Spiritual Master Bai Mu had already submitted, everything he knew had naturally been poured out like beans from a bamboo tube before Dharma King Sangji.

And once Sangji knew, Fang Qing learned it as well.

‘The first Purple Mansion cultivator of the Eastern Waters Bai Family was originally a loose cultivator. By a stroke of fortune, he obtained both an inheritance and a Purple Mansion spiritual object, allowing him to become a Purple Mansion Spiritual Master.’

‘Throughout his entire life of cultivation, even his accumulated wealth was insufficient to fully refine a Purple Mansion dharma treasure. He only managed to leave behind the embryo of the Water-Parting Ring.’

‘After his death, however, his Dao transformation produced a treasure land. That treasure land generated a [Ji Water] Purple Mansion spiritual object perfectly suited for breakthroughs.’

‘Thus the second-generation Purple Mansion Spiritual Master of the Bai Family was born.’

‘That Spiritual Master possessed considerable ability. He spent his life conquering and expanding territory, building the Bai Family's reputation throughout the Eastern Waters.’

‘Before reaching the end of his lifespan, he even obtained another Purple Mansion spiritual object, allowing Spiritual Master Bai Mu to break through as well.’

‘That spiritual object was obtained through chance. There was no stable source.’

‘After his death, the spiritual objects generated from his Dao transformation were unsuitable for breakthroughs and were instead entirely used to refine the Water-Parting Ring. Only then did the Bai Family finally produce a true Purple Mansion dharma treasure.’

‘As for Spiritual Master Bai Mu himself... the Bitter Drowning Spring that will form after his Dao transformation is practically worthless. Even the Purple Mansion spiritual object generated thirty-three years later will be unsuitable for breakthroughs.’

Purple Mansion spiritual objects capable of assisting Dao Foundation perfection cultivators in advancing were exceedingly rare.

Moreover, the higher the rank, the better was not necessarily true.

Compatibility with one's cultivation method and divine abilities was far more important.

‘Still... if members of the same bloodline cultivate the same inheritance, perhaps quite a few interesting tricks become possible.’

In this regard, Fang Qing had already had his horizons broadened several times by the Qi Ingestion Path.

‘A father dies and the son inherits... not entirely impossible.’

‘Take Metal Virtue's divine ability, Mutual Slaughter, for example.’

‘It requires cultivators of the same realm, which is somewhat demanding. But if a similar principle could be applied to Purple Mansion Spiritual Masters, wouldn't that be marvelous?’

‘Imagine two early-stage Purple Mansion cultivators who each possess one divine ability. Before death, they engage in a glorious sword duel. The survivor emerges as a mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivator with two divine abilities?’

‘Surely it can't be that simple.’

‘Or perhaps two Dao Foundation perfection sword cultivators duel to the death, and the victor directly advances to Purple Mansion?’

Fang Qing recalled the countless bizarre methods the Qi Ingestion path employed to exploit the profundities of divine abilities and could not help shaking his head.

As for Purple Mansion, who knew?

But two Dao Foundation perfection sword cultivators fighting to the death and producing a Purple Mansion cultivator afterward?

Just thinking about it made it obvious how unrealistic it was.

Even if the victor won, at most they would gain deeper sword insights, improve the quality of their flying sword, and perhaps glimpse a breakthrough opportunity.

Even slaughtering several more opponents would probably only raise the probability of advancing to Purple Mansion somewhat.

‘Back when Yanbo Blessed Land first opened, Tian Jinchen and the others...’

‘They had only reached Qi Ingestion perfection. Even after being nurtured through Mutual Slaughter, they still nearly failed to establish their Dao Foundation. Their foundation and momentum were insufficient. They required countless treasures, favorable timing, geographical advantages, and careful preparation.’

Otherwise, with Fang Qing's current strength, it would have been difficult to resist the temptation to hunt down late-stage and Dao Foundation perfection Metal Virtue sword cultivators.

‘Still...’

‘If killing sword cultivators could accumulate the momentum needed for my own Purple Mansion breakthrough.’

‘That actually doesn't sound bad at all.’

A faint smile appeared on Fang Qing’s lips as the thought crossed his mind.