Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 166 Aftermath

Sanyuan Island.

"Finally back in the market town..."

Inside the main hall, Zhan Hongxiu gazed at everything that was both familiar and strange, and finally, her expression changed. She sat in the main seat where Green Water Hermit had once sat. "Congratulations, sister, on reclaiming your sect's foundation..."

A tall woman dressed in a white tulle dress adorned with seashells, with faint scales on her cheeks, smiled.

"I must thank you for your help, sister; otherwise, that demonic witch might not have retreated so easily..."

Zhan Hongxiu said with a wry smile, "Although this foundation was passed down from our sect, it is actually located in a place of constant warfare... It is indeed quite troublesome."

She knew in her heart that Yu Xiang'er's retreat was due to two reasons: firstly, she did indeed have some strength, and secondly, the fact that the Jiang family had colluded with demonic cultivators had been exposed, making her a useless piece of the puzzle with no value whatsoever.

"If Yu Xiang'er knew that my Foundation Establishment was aided by the Taibai Island Master of the Azure Sea Sect... I'm afraid I'll become a thorn in the side of the Sea Annihilation Alliance." She felt a bitter taste in her mouth, but the merman who had reached Foundation Establishment laughed and said, "Little sister is so naive. This place has such a vast foundation. If we connect with my merman race and trade deep-sea resources... we can make a fortune every day. Given time, we might even accumulate enough resources to advance to the late Foundation Establishment stage..."

"That's right, we can't give up on the path we're on... Sister, you'll always have a share of the profits from this market."

Zhan Hongxiu made a promise.

She came to seek revenge after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, but was ambushed and rescued by the merman. They formed a friendship and gained another opportunity, which allowed her to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in less than twenty years.

"Yes, thank you, Miss Hongxiu. Our merfolk do indeed have a need for some of the specialties of the human race..."

The merman, having established his foundation, tentatively asked, "I've heard that the secret realm will reopen in about twenty years?"

"Indeed, the Heavenly Heart Island Secret Realm! Last time, it was said that many thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and numerous rare herbs were found there..."

Zhan Hongxiu sighed, "It is said that this secret realm opens once every sixty years. Now, if I do the math, nearly forty years have passed... There will be a lot of trouble in the years leading up to the opening of the secret realm."

At that time, the Azure Sea Sect and the Extinction Alliance will definitely not be engaging in such lukewarm, low-intensity skirmishes anymore.

After so many years of recuperation, we have cultivated quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators, and a great battle is definitely in the works!

The merman woman licked her lips: "The secret realm is full of treasures. I wonder if my merman clan could get a share?"

Ancient Shu, Xituo County, Qingli Mountain.

"Waaah..."

The baby's cries came from inside the house and lingered for a long time.

"Go help your sister-in-law..."

Fang Wujiu sighed and said to his wife.

After the woman went inside, the crying finally stopped...

He shook his head, shouldered his hoe, and went outside to the spirit field.

"Sigh... I wonder how your elder brother is doing, and if there's any way to find out... And Uncle Hu, a few more people from the Hu family came today, pleading and begging..."

Fang Yixin stood under the green mulberry and jujube tree, shaking his head and sighing.

"Hmph! The Hu family has the nerve to come here? My brother was ruined by them."

Fang Wujiu slammed his hoe into the ground, casually remarking, "If it weren't for the fact that Father and I were both cultivators... do you think the Hu family would come and seize our spiritual fields after my elder brother's passing? And what about our Qingli Mountain estate?"

"Sigh... I'm useless. Without a powerful late-stage cultivator to oversee things at Qingli Mountain, I can't help but feel uneasy..."

Fang Yixin reached around his waist, took out a pipe with a copper mouthpiece, took a few puffs, and then looked into the house: "Mingxue has given birth to a son and a daughter. How about naming the boy 'Shanglin' ​​and the girl 'Shangning'?"

Fang Wujiu's heart skipped a beat. Naming should have been his father's responsibility, but now his grandfather was overstepping his bounds, clearly indicating that he also believed his eldest brother was unlikely to return...

"Is the boy the 'rain' in 'long-lasting rain'?"

He asked in a low voice.

"Indeed... I heard that the Xuan Tu Sect's large ship took away many cultivators, most of whom cultivated the Earth Virtue... The 'Treasure Earth Returning to Origin Technique' is probably somewhat evil. Even if it can forge a foundation for the Dao, it is still not something to cultivate... If Shang Lin has the aptitude for cultivation, he should obediently follow our family's inherited 'Viewing the Black Tomb Book'..."

Fang Yixin took another puff of his pipe and tapped it on the bluestone slab beneath him: "Also... the world is in chaos lately. You heard that voice too, saying that some important figures are forbidden from consuming human pills or blood essence..."

"I inquired around, and there was a rogue cultivator nearby who didn't take it seriously and was still using Blood Qi Pills to cultivate... I heard he went mad and died in a fit of rage these past few days!" Fang Wujiu gasped, clearly chilled by the description. "A few traveling merchants also mentioned that Blood Qi Pills aren't as effective anymore, and they're seeking elixirs made from herbs, wood, and minerals... I think the price of spirit rice is going to rise! After all, it's a necessary resource for cultivation, and whether these pills are poisonous or ineffective, the price of spirit rice will definitely increase!"

"This is not a good thing; it's the root of all trouble!"

Fang Yixin gazed at his own spiritual field, his face full of worry: "This is the foundation that Wuchen risked his life for; we can't afford to squander it in our hands... By the way, what lineage did that rogue cultivator who went mad and died cultivate?"

"I don't know the specific technique, but it should be of the Earth element."

Fang Wujiu said.

"It's Tudor again, huh!"

Fang Yixin sneered a few times and then fell silent.

Clearly, this is because they are afraid of offending some important figure and bringing trouble upon themselves.

The next day.

Yuyifang.

This market caters to independent cultivators and opens only once a month on the fifth day of each lunar month. It happens to be located near Qingli Mountain.

Fang Yixin came with Fang Wujiu so they could look after each other and also to gather information.

"Why... is the foot traffic so low?"

Seeing the once bustling market town teeming with independent cultivators now in ruins, Fang Yixin couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

"Don't you know? A precious light emanated from the Wusheng Temple, and many mountains rose up around it. This strange phenomenon was visible throughout the county... It is said that a master attained enlightenment there..." An old cultivator sighed, "And the Kitchen God Sect, along with its leader and a group of core members, have all disappeared... Why haven't those cultivators who once relied on the Kitchen God Sect and the Tie family fled? With them running away, the market naturally became deserted..."

"The Lord of the White Bone Path... has he attained the status of Dharma King?"

Fang Yixin suddenly felt her head snap open, as if buckets of cold water had been poured over her, and her whole body was radiating cold air.

"What...what should we do?"

His eyes were red-rimmed, and he almost cried: "I told you... we shouldn't have left the Zeng family back then. Now the Zeng family is about to prosper. They've served the Wusheng Temple for decades, and three Dao Foundation cultivators died in battle... they should at least receive some compensation. Wujiu, shouldn't we go back and kowtow to our master to acknowledge them..." "Hmph! Their secretive ways mean they might not repay the Zeng family. They might even turn all the men, women, and children of the Zeng family into magical artifacts, keeping them by the side of the Buddhas and enjoying great blessings..."

At that moment, a cold laugh came from the side.

Fang Yixin looked over and exclaimed in surprise, "Old Tian?!"

The man looked old, but his eyes were still bright. He was Tian Jinchen, the former tenant of the Le family, later the tenant of the Zeng family, and the neighbor of the Fang family! Fang Yixin had no idea that Tian Jinchen had a huge karma on his hands, which might even drag the Fang family into it. Seeing an old friend at this time, he was very happy.

Perhaps Tian Jinchen had other uses for his Purple Mansion, which is why he didn't take it to the Taihuang Heaven, thus missing out on a great opportunity.

"Haha... Brother Fang, it's rare to see you again, let's go have a drink."

Upon seeing Fang Yixin, Tian Jinchen was overjoyed, as if reuniting with an old friend. He led the two to a stall, where he ordered a pot of fine wine and several small dishes. "Is my old brother still living at the Zeng family's?"

Fang Yixin asked if she could ask Lao Tian to help her with some connections.

"I have already left..."

Tian Jinchen shook his head and said, "I have heard that your eldest son has built a great foundation and is now breaking through to the Dao Foundation stage. I have also heard about the strange phenomena that occurred at Qingli Mountain back then."

"Indeed, my eldest brother has already laid the foundation for his cultivation..."

Fang Wujiu's response clearly indicated his intention to rely on his elder brother's reputation to preserve the foundation of Qingli Mountain.

Tian Jinchen wore a half-smile, saying little, but pulled Fang Yixin to drink: "Haha... Congratulations to that esteemed one! I always knew there was a righteous path in this world..."

In the end, perhaps overcome with emotion, his eyes turned red and tears streamed down his face.

"Old Tian...does he have some painful past?"

Fang Yixin thought for a moment, then tentatively asked a few questions, wanting to take Lao Tian back to his home.

Many of the old fields in Qingli Mountain are skilled at farming and are also a valuable fighting force.

And since he had known him for many years, he was relatively at ease.

"Brother... to tell you the truth, I have a heavy burden of karma."

Old Tian, ​​understanding the implied meaning, shook his head and refused: "Furthermore... I have sworn an oath that I will never take on disciples, never marry... I will live alone until my death!"

Clearly, he now understands that he is afraid those powerful figures will also prey on his disciples and descendants.

Therefore, they chose to live out their lives alone, giving themselves no chance whatsoever.

"Sigh... Well then, what do you think, Brother Wusheng Temple? Is it possible to seek refuge with him?"

Fang Yixin put down his chopsticks with some regret and asked the most crucial question: "And... is Xituo County about to change?" "Change? Of course... after all, the Kitchen God Cult has become an empty shell, and the Tie family..."

A bitter smile appeared on Old Tian's lips as he downed the wine in the large bowl in one gulp. He sighed, "The Tie family is gone now... I heard that a few nights ago, a bright moonlight enveloped the Tie family's Ironclad Mountain, and the entire mountain was reduced to a sight of white bones!"

"The Tie family has four Dao Foundation cultivators..."

Fang Wujiu spoke in disbelief.

The Tie family was the first to oppose the Wusheng Temple back then, and they benefited greatly from following the Kitchen God Sect, cultivating several Dao Foundation cultivators. Tie Kuangtu has even advanced to the late stage!

Unexpectedly, it was destroyed quietly...

"Haha, what are Foundation Establishment cultivators in the eyes of the Purple Mansion? Mere ants!"

Old Tian seemed to have thought of something, and burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face: "Among those countless white bones covering the mountain, there were four Dao Foundation Establishments from the Tie family, their skeletons kneeling facing west, as if to apologize..."

"Such...the power of the Purple Palace has reached this level?"

Fang Wujiu gasped, a mixture of envy and jealousy in his eyes, and said, "If only my family could produce one..."

"Then your family must be a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan, just like the Yu Lin Pu family... Who knows when they might get caught up in some major event and be wiped out!" Old Tian added with a sneer, "Your family is already a Dao Foundation Establishment family, but unfortunately, you're still a hundred and eight thousand miles away from being a Purple Mansion Immortal Clan..."

His tone was disdainful, and even a little sarcastic.

"Sigh, let's drink and get down to business."

Fang Yixin quickly grabbed Lao Tian's arm: "Masters of Wusheng Temple, would you still accept us?"

"I don't know either. I only know that the White Bone Dao Master has left. The one in charge of the temple now is the former Master Miaoshan. However, she is now revered as the 'Moonlight White Tara.' She is also a Purple Mansion. It was she who destroyed the Tie family... With a single Purple Mansion, the heavens of this ancient Shu should change."

Old Tian sneered, yet seemed to harbor a hint of anticipation.