Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 153 Red Sleeves Foundation Building

Several hours later.

Zhan Hongxiu was covered in blood, and the longevity tortoise next to her was also covered in wounds, yet she was riding a crimson flying sword that pierced through the chest of the last tribulation cultivator.

"finally……"

Years of hardship had given her a resolute look: "After this, I will go into hiding... and find a master alchemist to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill. Foundation Establishment is just around the corner."

However, she also harbored some worries.

As a wanted "demonic disciple," even legitimate alchemy masters would not receive him.

Those demonic alchemy masters are often ruthless; they are absolutely capable of colluding with other cultivators to embezzle pills. Just then, Zhan Hongxiu smelled a pleasant fragrance, and her internal energy faltered.

The longevity tortoise next to it let out a mournful cry and collapsed.

"Heh heh heh... It wasn't for nothing that I waited this long. You should have used up all your trump cards by now, right?"

A figure appeared, dressed in brightly colored robes, a lewd grin on his face: "This time, not only will I gain a little beauty, but also a second-tier demon core. Truly, heaven is helping me!"

"Foundation Establishment cultivator... to resort to such underhanded tactics... You're a Tribulation cultivator from Caihua Peak?!"

Zhan Hongxiu's face was filled with despair.

But just then, a flash of lightning appeared.

A raging storm of lightning transformed into a thunder dragon, a bead still in its mouth, as it surged forth!

"Huh? Foundation Establishment cultivator? Second-tier high-grade talisman?"

Cai Huafeng's terrified voice rang out, followed by a loud shout: "It's a misunderstanding... If you've taken a fancy to that woman, I'll give her to you..." *Pfft!*

A heavy thud was heard, followed by a headless corpse falling in front of Zhan Hongxiu.

Only the brightly colored robes remained, still proclaiming the owner's status.

"Dead... Caihua Peak, known for his cowardice, only targeting those with spiritual energy, and always resorting to sneak attacks, is dead just like that?"

"Those who have come here specifically to rid the world of evil must be righteous heroes!"

In Zhan Hongxiu's mind, the image of a handsome and elegant senior who was skilled in combat arose.

Then, a kind-looking face appeared before her eyes.

"Are you a senior in this field?"

Zhan Hongxiu was taken aback.

Xiang Dahu, his face cold, said nothing more, but simply took out a jade bottle and poured out two pills: "Take these... we can't keep the island lord waiting." "Is the island lord... the Lord of Taibai Island?"

Zhan Hongxiu's heart stirred.

Taibai Island.

Ice Palace.

"This humble woman bows in gratitude to the Island Lord, thanking you for saving my life..."

Zhan Hongxiu first gave a deep bow, then stood up, her expression cold: "The island lord has been sending people to monitor this young lady. I wonder what his intentions are?" Little did she know that Fang Qing had already tampered with her body and could use this connection to make calculations.

The only explanation for Xiang Dahu's timely appearance to save her life is that he had been following her for a long time!

"After going through all that hardship, I've grown quite a bit."

Fang Qing nodded and smiled, "Originally, I wasn't interested in you, but later I discovered that the Sancai Market had secretly sided with the Extinction Alliance, and that's when I found you useful."

"The island lord wants to support this young woman to deal with the Three Talents Market? If evidence of collusion with demonic cultivators is found, wouldn't it be better to just wipe out her entire clan with a large army?"

Zhan Hongxiu murmured to herself, then realized: "Without substantial evidence, destroying a Foundation Establishment power would only cause other forces in the Little Universe Sea to panic and all side with the Extinction Alliance... But if I were to reach Foundation Establishment, it would be only natural for me to destroy the Three Talents Market." "That's right, you're very clever. Besides, you've obtained a second-tier demon core, which has investment value."

Fang Qing smiled slightly: "Would you mind if I were to refine some pills for you?"

In reality, these are all excuses.

He's not the leader of the Azure Sea Sect, so he can't control so much. If he wants to destroy the Three Talents Market, it's just a matter of changing his name.

Zhan Hongxiu remained silent for a moment, then took out her storage bag and hairpin, placed them in front of Fang Qing, and bowed gracefully: "Please, Island Master, make your move!"

"It's time to unpack again."

Fang Qing felt a sense of anticipation. He first opened his storage bag and took out a second-tier water-attribute demon core.

"The quality is so-so... That second-tier fish demon must have struggled for a long time before it died, and its demonic power must have been drained away..."

He nodded and then shook his head: "I can barely produce three genuine Foundation Establishment Pills."

Fang Qing then took out Zhan Hongxiu's hairpin magic tool, opened it, and scanned it with his divine sense. He couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

It seems the woman had been overly forceful in the previous gestation period and hadn't fully recovered, so there weren't many good things inside.

Aside from a few exquisite second-tier low-grade talismans, there was only a bottle of "Millennial Spirit Milk" and a few "Longevity Pills." "This Millennial Spirit Milk is quite good; consider it payment for refining pills for you."

Fang Qing didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the jade bottle containing the "Millennium Spirit Milk".

A single drop of this substance can replenish almost half of a Core Formation cultivator's mana, and it is also the main ingredient for refining many third-tier restorative elixirs, making it incredibly precious. However, the "Longevity-Burning Pill" is a rare second-tier high-grade elixir belonging to the demonic path.

Its main function is to burn one's lifespan to gain powerful magical energy.

According to Fang Qing's speculation, this woman probably used some kind of magic to make the Longevity Turtle take the Longevity Pill, but instead of unleashing its power, she released its effects slowly to accelerate the Longevity Turtle's growth.

Of course, this approach is somewhat short-sighted and undermines the potential of the Mandarin Duck.

Fortunately, this tortoise has a superior bloodline, a long lifespan, a powerful physique, and the ability to repair its foundation through the cultivation of the "Tortoise and Crane Longevity Technique," which allows it to play like this.

Changing to a different spirit beast or cultivation technique would only ruin it.

"This longevity tortoise has a long lifespan, and it may have a chance to reach the fourth rank in the future... With this, the third rank will probably be the end."

Fang Qing looked at the woman with a hint of pity in his eyes.

"The island owner is free to make the decisions."

Zhan Hongxiu was already a tough nut to crack, but now she actually felt somewhat fortunate.

Compared to the last major hemorrhage, this is much better.

Furthermore, as a lone cultivator, she was like a duckweed in the wind; if she didn't seize every opportunity to improve her strength, she might have died long ago.

With Fang Qing's help and the pills being refined using a third-tier Ice Soul Cold Spring, the Foundation Establishment Pill was practically guaranteed.

In less than a month, three genuine pieces were made, which Xiang Dahu then sent to Zhan Hongxiu.

As for taking them in for seclusion on Taibai Island?

Fang Qing was well aware of the troubles that came with being born into this kind of destiny, and he wouldn't disrupt his family's peaceful life.

Many islands outside the city have spiritual veins, and some even rent out cave dwellings, which is enough for Zhan Hongxiu to make plans.

"The celestial phenomenon of Foundation Establishment is not easy to conceal... I, the Lord of Taibai Island, am not all-powerful..."

He calculated that his family had only been guarding Taibai Island for about ten years.

"Cultivators have a different concept of time than mortals. It's only been a little over ten years. The sect shouldn't be thinking about things like unruly forces or regional warlords yet..." "Right now, improving our own strength is the most important thing..."

Fang Qing returned to his cave dwelling, enjoying the third-tier spiritual energy. He then took out a shimmering pill and swallowed it directly…

Now that he has reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, he can still maintain a cultivation speed of about one drop of liquid mana every six months, which is naturally inseparable from that batch of thousand-year-old spiritual herbs.

Otherwise, even if one consumes a large amount of Water Essence Pills, it would be impossible to make rapid progress like in the early or middle stages of Foundation Establishment.

In fact, the cost of increasing the maximum amount of liquid mana by even a single drop in the late Foundation Establishment stage is several times that of the mid-stage and early stages!

If it weren't for the secret realm as a safety net, Fang Qing's accumulated Water Essence Pills over the years would probably not be enough.

At that time, there was no other way but to hunt monsters everywhere.

Fortunately, with his magical powers and his almost unimpeded divination skills in this world, it would only be a little troublesome.

"With the elixirs I have accumulated, I should have enough to cultivate to the late Foundation Establishment stage with perfect mana..."

"At that time, I will refine a third-tier 'Great Barrier-Breaking Pill' to directly achieve the Pseudo-Core Formation Realm at the peak of Foundation Establishment!"

"It's time for a deep retreat."

Fang Qing closed her eyes.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator who can live on air and dew, and who has mastered the profound Dao Foundation, it is quite normal for him to go into seclusion for several years or even more than ten years at a time.

White Shark Island.

This island is entirely white, and legend has it that mermaids can occasionally be seen on nights when the moon is full; the scenery is absolutely stunning.

Of course, more importantly, there is a first-grade high-quality spiritual vein on this island!

The island is occupied by the Ao family, who have always kept a low profile. It is said that their ancestor was a half-demon with half merman blood.

Perhaps because of its low profile, or perhaps because it is located in a remote place and not many people care about it, this Qi Refining force survived the previous struggle between the three major Core Formation forces, survived the ten-year beast tide, survived the later destruction of the Sea Alliance... until today.

Whoosh!

On the pristine white sand, a spiritual fruit fell to the ground.

The island seemed to begin to tremble slightly, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered, turning into a vortex that disappeared into a cave.

"This is... a sign of Foundation Establishment?"

A woman draped in white gauze, with long, slender legs, stood in the sea gazing towards the cave dwelling: "That's a cave dwelling rented out by my family... How did they manage to establish their foundation with only first-grade high-level spiritual energy?"

"Is it really Foundation Establishment?"

Some passing monks and merchants who witnessed this scene showed expressions of envy and jealousy on their faces.

"First-grade high-level spiritual energy is a bit lacking for Foundation Establishment, but if a 'Spirit Gathering Array' is set up, or a large number of spirit stones are prepared beforehand... it's not impossible." An old cultivator with white hair sighed, "However, such actions might make the identity of this person who is currently breaking through somewhat awkward..."

Inside the cave.

Feeling the magical power within her body liquefying, her divine consciousness leaving her body, and the Yi Jing cleansing her marrow... Zhan Hongxiu looked up at the sky and roared, seemingly wanting to sweep away the years of pent-up frustration before Foundation Establishment. "Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, lifespan of two hundred years, ability to fly with physical body..."

She examined herself and then touched her beast-taming pouch: "With the characteristics of the 'Turtle and Crane Longevity Technique,' my successful Foundation Establishment will greatly benefit the Longevity Turtle's breakthrough to the second tier... As long as Little Green also becomes a second-tier demon beast, the two of us working together can even handle a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator... The time for revenge is not far off."

Zhan Hongxiu emerged from the pass with high spirits, like a newborn baby curiously surveying this brand new world with her divine sense.

Just then, another divine sense arrived: "Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on successfully establishing your foundation and becoming one of us."

"Hmm? There are Foundation Establishment cultivators on the island?"

In Zhan Hongxiu's consciousness, a graceful female cultivator dressed in white gauze with white scales on her cheeks appeared.

"A merman?! No... he seems to be a half-demon hybrid?"