bookbashuk Chapter 183 Eavesdropping on Thoughts
Chapter 183 Eavesdropping on Thoughts
Inside the Ice and Snow Palace.
It took Fang Qing a full half hour to finish counting Zhan Hongxiu's gains.
"Not bad... 30% of these is enough for you to exchange for a Golden Core."
Zhong Lingxiu nodded and accepted all the spiritual objects in the room.
Fang Qing thought to herself, "She kept the most precious part to herself, and the thing she brought out was actually so valuable... No wonder she's a woman of destiny and luck."
"But that's precisely why we have good wool to bury... I'm also having a headache over the consequences of the Sea-Swallowing Technique."
He immediately said, "Congratulations, Island Master... After taking stock, I have gathered most of the auxiliary materials for the Golden Core Pill formula. The remaining part is not difficult... I believe we can start refining the pill soon."
Zhan Hongxiu originally wanted to take her leave, after all, she still had the stolen goods on her.
But upon hearing the news of refining the Golden Core, he was so captivated that he couldn't move.
"That's right. If one of the pills is successfully formed, I'll send it to that 'Guest Elder Bai'... He's a sword cultivator from the East Sea and also a good friend of mine. He only agreed to help this time because of this Golden Core pill..."
Zhong Lingxiu said.
"Young Master Bai, are you that swordsman?"
Upon hearing news of her benefactor, Zhan Hongxiu became even more concerned.
"Indeed... Alas, that Bai Keqing is a pitiful man. It is said that he has enemies everywhere in the East Sea and had no choice but to flee to this remote and impoverished place." Zhong Lingxiu said, "I heard that he has grudges against the nine major forces of 'One Palace, One Temple, Three Gates, and Four Islands.' It's truly pitiful for him..." "Hey... little girl, quickly ask where the Zhou Tian Star Palace is now?"
Before Zhan Hongxiu could speak, the old man's voice echoed in her mind.
"That won't do. How would I know anything about the Zhou Tian Xing Gong? Saying it would only arouse suspicion..."
Zhan Hongxiu inquired, "Island Master, I yearn for the cultivation world of the East Sea, but I am not as valiant as you were back then, daring to traverse thousands of miles of sea at the Foundation Establishment stage. I wonder what the East Sea is like? What powerful forces are there?"
"The East Sea is vast and full of opportunities... The greatest forces are naturally the palace and the temple. These two forces not only have powerful cultivators in the late Nascent Soul stage, but are also rumored to have the foundation of a Deity Transformation cultivator... The palace is the 'Water Moon Palace,' and the temple is the 'Thunder Sound Temple'..."
"Water Moon Palace? Thunder Sound Temple? Damn it... It's Water Moon Hall and Thunder Sound Hall! These were just two branch halls of my Zhou Tian Star Palace back then, and now they've actually started to act like sects and rulers... and they even have the foundation of a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
The old turtle shouted, "He clearly ascended to the Divine Realm back then, but he was the ancestor of my Zhou Tian Star Palace... Damn it, could it be that these two families rebelled against the Star Palace and divided up its resources?"
Fang Qing's ears twitched.
He originally just wanted to hear the secrets of the "Sea-Swallowing Technique," but he didn't expect to uncover such a huge secret.
"That's enough for today. If I say any more, Zhan Hongxiu might become suspicious... As for the matter of the Devouring Sea, we can slowly probe it later... But what about the Zhou Tian Star Palace... the last cultivator to ascend to the Nascent Soul stage?"
He recalled a travelogue he had read at home, in which a Nascent Soul cultivator had emerged in the cultivation world of the East Sea ten thousand years ago, eventually breaking through the void and ascending to the upper realm! This coincided perfectly with the era in which the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Zhou Tian Star Palace appeared.
If the cultivation world of the East Sea can only support one Nascent Soul cultivator in an era, then the probability that these two are the same person is very high!
a few days later.
Ice Soul Cave.
Looking at the various spiritual herbs and minerals that Zhong Lingxiu had brought, Fang Qing nodded in satisfaction: "Another windfall! This time it's even more than Xiang Dahu's last gift..."
After all, Xiang Dahu was just one person at the time, and his cultivation level was limited.
This time, during the exploration of the secret realm, there were two Core Formation level warriors who entered!
Furthermore, thanks to the experience gained last time, we had more targeted methods, so the gains were a natural outcome.
"I've gathered all the main and auxiliary ingredients needed for the Golden Core Elixir recipe... Now I should ignore everything else and focus solely on refining the elixir." A jade slip appeared in Fang Qing's hand, containing the Golden Core Elixir recipe.
Speaking of this elixir formula, it was originally obtained from Tian Ding.
"Main ingredients... Five Elements Spirit Fruits, auxiliary ingredients... Heavenly Wheel Flower, Year-Withered Leaf... Most of these precious auxiliary materials have disappeared in the Little Universe Sea, but they were found in the secret realm's herb garden. This should not be a coincidence, but rather that the ancient cultivators intentionally arranged the herb garden according to the requirements of the Golden Core pill formula to cultivate various auxiliary materials..." It must be said that this "Golden Core" is considered quite difficult to make among third-tier pills.
If Fang Qing hadn't gained some insights from refining the "Great Barrier-Breaking Pill" last time, integrating the alchemy techniques of the two worlds and greatly improving his alchemy skills, he really wouldn't have had much confidence.
"At this point, the advantages of water-based alchemy become apparent... When refining such difficult pills, the time can be extended to reduce the difficulty... This also aligns with the principle of the potential for change in the properties of water."
"Hmm, I can also go to Sangji and ask for some Dao Foundation Artifacts that can enhance success... or even perform the Purple Mansion Ceremony to bless me and increase the success rate..."
Fang Qing secretly plotted his own methods.
Just then, he sensed a communication talisman swaying outside the cave, and couldn't help but smile slightly, knowing it was Zhan Hongxiu again.
It's quite reasonable for this woman to try to visit me under the guise of refining the Golden Core.
"It's time to meet them."
"Perfect, let's test that turtle spirit as well..."
Thinking of his previous arrangements, Fang Qing couldn't help but smile and transmitted his thoughts through divine sense.
Not long after, Zhan Hongxiu, dressed in a green robe with crimson cuffs, entered the Ice Soul Cave. The first thing she felt was the astonishing cold: "Such powerful cold... Alas, Island Master Fang is suffering."
"Hmph... I'd like to see what kind of demeanor this third-tier alchemist you've been longing for is like. Can he compare to the sword cultivator from that day?" The tortoise spirit spoke disdainfully in his sea of consciousness.
Then, Zhan Hongxiu entered the cave and saw the fountain, koi fish, and wind chimes...
A strange spiritual aura spread out, making Fang Qing appear even more like a celestial being.
"Huh? This place is strange...it seems to have a Taoist aura?"
"How is this possible? Even Nascent Soul cultivators are people with profound cultivation; only their dwelling places would exhibit such strange phenomena..."
The incredulous voice of the tortoise spirit rang out in Zhan Hongxiu's consciousness.
"Taoist charm?"
Zhan Hongxiu felt a strange sensation in her heart and almost blurted it out.
Then, seeing Fang Qing drinking tea, he said with relief, "I originally thought that you were imprisoned and making pills, and your life must be miserable. Seeing you today, I can rest assured a lot..."
"After all, I am a third-tier alchemist, and in the cultivation world of the East Sea, I am qualified to be on par with Core Formation cultivators..."
Fang Qing brewed a cup of Azure Sparrow Spirit Tea for Zhan Hongxiu and said with a smile, "Master Zhong still wants to win me over and has sent over a lot of good things... Try this tea."
In his heart, however, he thought to himself, "The old man got all arrogant after arriving at the tent... He even dared to call me 'fellow Daoist' now."
"It really tastes good..."
Zhan Hongxiu took a sip, her eyes lighting up, which made the turtle spirit in her sea of consciousness somewhat anxious.
It was, after all, just a wisp of consciousness, having already given up any desire for food or drink.
"Hongxiu has come today, presumably for the matter of forming the Golden Core... To be honest, I have collected all kinds of auxiliary materials, and I am waiting for an auspicious day to open the pool... However, if I want to refine this pill, and even produce multiple genuine ones, I really don't have much confidence... Therefore..." Fang Qing's face showed a hint of difficulty.
"Fellow Daoist, you might want to take a look at this!"
Zhan Hongxiu handed over a jade slip.
Fang Qing scanned it with his divine sense and was stunned: "This is... a formula for the Golden Core Pill? No, there are dozens of times more annotations than this, which seem to be the experience of a master alchemist who has refined Golden Core Pills for many years... This is a good thing."
He chuckled inwardly, knowing that Zhan Hongxiu had once again been taken advantage of by his own family for the sake of the Dao.
Although this alchemy manual only covers the Golden Core stage, the techniques, alchemy skills, and even the concepts and experience in handling medicinal materials involved... if enriched slightly, it would practically be a high-grade third-tier alchemy inheritance.
"With this item added, how confident are you, fellow Daoist?"
Zhan Hongxiu asked somewhat nervously.
"Hmph, if this young Fang still can't refine more than two finished products, then his title of third-tier alchemist is a sham, undeserved... What I'm giving you is the experience of our sect's fourth-tier alchemy grandmaster in refining Golden Core pills back in the day..."
Gui Ling huffed.
"We should be about 50% certain..."
Fang Qing accepted the jade slip, pondered for a moment, and replied, "But..."
"But what? Is there anything lacking?" Zhan Hongxiu asked somewhat nervously.
"No, it's just that refining pills with water takes a long time...it might take several years," Fang Qing said with a smile.
"There's no rush; I haven't even completed my foundation building yet..."
Zhan Hongxiu let out a long sigh of relief. Only after advancing to the late Foundation Establishment stage did she realize how much effort was required to cultivate her magical power to perfection. It was an unfathomable chasm, no wonder late-stage cultivators were called "great masters of the same realm".
"I must also thank you, fellow Daoist, for the gift of the alchemical text..."
Fang Qing poured Zhan Hongxiu another cup of spiritual tea and listened to her recount her experiences in the secret realm...
After chatting for a while, he deliberately asked, "Fellow Daoist Hongxiu, have you obtained any ancient secret techniques or ancient cultivation methods from the secret realm?" "Why do you ask this, Fellow Daoist?" Zhan Hongxiu became a little wary instantly.
"I heard from Fellow Daoist Xiang Dahu that a few ruthless figures have recently emerged from the Extinction Sea Alliance. They are skilled in a strange demonic art, which is different from the previous one that controls demonic fire. Instead, they control black water... They call it something like 'Sea Devouring Technique'..."
Fang Qing said casually.
This is not a lie. If Zhan Hongxiu were to inquire, she would find that there really are such demonic disciples.
He did indeed cultivate the "Sea-Swallowing Technique," but it was a simplified version that he had comprehended, which was secretly spread by Yu Xiang'er.
"Bihai Sect is, after all, my sect. Taibai Island is not suitable... Besides True Person Heiyuan, who else can take the blame?" Fang Qing sighed inwardly.
"What? The inheritance of the Devouring Sea Demon Sect... has been reborn? Could it be that the one who entered the Void Stepping Hall last time was the Yu Xiang'er you mentioned?" Within Zhan Hongxiu's sea of consciousness, the Turtle Spirit immediately began to shout.
"Senior Guiling, please calm down."
Zhan Hongxiu rubbed her temples, looking somewhat helpless.
"How can I be at ease? You must know... that Devouring Sea Demon Sect might be the culprit behind the decline and division of Zhou Tian Star Palace!" Gui Ling lamented, "If it weren't for the battle with the Devouring Sea Demon Sect, my Zhou Tian Star Palace might still be the number one force in the East Sea cultivation world..."