Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Ba County.

Due to the previous chaos in the cultivation world, the Dao Foundation Clan and the Purple Mansion Immortal Sect went into seclusion, using Qi-accepting cultivators as pawns, which made the entire cultivation world a mess.

Many markets and shops have closed down, and logistics have been disrupted.

After Li Rulong consolidated his power over half the country, the cultivation world finally settled down, but many of the markets that Fang Qing was familiar with, such as Biluofang and Fuzhoufang, were dilapidated and closed down.

Over the past few years, Fang Qing has been constantly exploring and developing his network of contacts... which has earned him the qualification to attend several irregularly held exchange meetings for independent cultivators.

……

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, in the desolate wilderness, the atmosphere is cold and desolate.

There was a small, half-collapsed temple by the roadside. The statues inside were so blurred that they were barely recognizable, with only a terracotta figure barely visible, and a half-black red cloth wrapped around its neck.

"kitchen?"

Fang Qing stared at the broken plaque for a long time, barely managing to make out the character "灶" (stove).

"What kind of temple is this? The Kitchen God Temple?"

He blew on the candle and lit it.

"Hehe...not the Kitchen God, but the Kitchen God! A Kitchen God Temple!"

A dark figure emerged from behind the statue, uttering a hoarse voice; its form appeared extremely disproportionate.

Only when you get closer do you realize that it is a fox standing upright with a skull on its head.

"The Kitchen God?"

Fang Qing nodded: "It seems you are not one of the twelve year-duty officials. I wonder what kind of great power you are?"

"These country bumpkins are engaging in haphazard and improper rituals... Alright, I am 'Dark Candle,' fellow Daoist, are you also here for the exchange meeting?"

The old fox continued speaking.

"Exactly."

Fang Qing, wearing a straw hat that covered most of his face, nodded.

"That's wonderful. This is my first time participating in a human exchange event. Is there anything I should be aware of?"

The old fox seems quite humble.

"this……"

Before Fang Qing could speak, another cultivator appeared at the temple gate: "Hmph! With the chaos in Ba County, all sorts of demons and monsters have emerged. You monsters dare to come here? Aren't you afraid of being slain by the cultivators?"

"Tsk tsk... Judging from the [Tail Fire] aura emanating from you, could you perhaps be from the Yu Lin Pu family?"

The old fox didn't take it seriously: "The Purple Mansion Immortal Clan is indeed remarkable, but I haven't gone to Yulin County... The Black Gu Sect is a close friend of our demon clan. If we have to pay a price, we demons might have to help the Black Gu Sect to attack your Pu family."

"What courage!"

The Pu family cultivator sneered, flames erupting from his mouth and nose, as if he was about to make a move.

"Gentlemen... please give this old Taoist priest some face."

Just when Fang Qing thought the human and the demon were about to fight, a voice suddenly broke in.

Fang Qing looked over and saw the disheveled Taoist priest, whom he had met once before in front of the Floating Boat Workshop, walk in. He made no attempt to conceal his true nature, and his cultivation level had clearly reached the point of perfect Qi Conversion.

"Hehe... I am the organizer of this exchange meeting. During the transaction, I will guarantee everyone's safety. If you want to make a move, I'm afraid I will have to suppress you first."

The slovenly Taoist priest looked at the cultivator surnamed Pu.

Under the prohibition of the Purple Mansion, achieving perfect Qi cultivation is now the pinnacle of cultivation in Ba County.

"Since that's the case, I'll give you face, fellow Daoist."

The monk surnamed Pu immediately stepped down the stairs, and the flames on his face disappeared.

Each person entered the small temple and found a place to sit.

Half an hour later, Fang Qing glanced around and found that there were now more than a dozen cultivators in the small temple.

Among them were old farmers, holding pipes and accompanied by their grandchildren, as well as elegantly dressed noblewomen.

Of course, most cultivators, like Fang Qing, hid themselves inside their robes.

Even though Fang Qing felt that the slovenly Taoist priest's previous reminder to Li Rulong was quite upright, one should always be wary of others.

As for the monsters, it seems there's only one: the old fox.

"Alright, thank you all for coming to this small gathering... Let's exchange what we need first, and then have a chat."

The slovenly Taoist priest explained the rules: "Let's start with this fellow Taoist."

He pointed to the monk who looked like an old farmer.

"My surname is Tian. Fellow Daoists, you may simply call me 'Old Tian'."

Old Tian revealed a set of yellow and black teeth: "My family entered the Dao by accident, cultivating the [Loujin] method... Unfortunately, the technique is mediocre, and we can only cultivate to the late stage of Qi Condensation. I wonder if any fellow Daoists have any clues about subsequent techniques? At least enough to reach the Dao Foundation stage."

Upon hearing this, someone sneered; it turned out to be the cultivator surnamed Pu.

He sneered, "You country bumpkins, you want Dao Foundation cultivation techniques? The markets in this ancient Shu land are in ruins now. If you want Dao Foundation cultivation techniques, you can only seek them from Dao Foundation families. If you want Purple Mansion cultivation techniques, you can only seek them from Purple Mansion forces."

"Is that so?"

Old Tian's eyes were glazed over as he muttered, "I thought I could exchange it for spirit grain..."

Fang Qing couldn't help but chuckle when he heard this.

Then he thought of himself. Although he had been paying attention to collecting cultivation techniques, he didn't have many basic Daoist techniques. In addition, gathering Qi was troublesome, and he was indeed more suited to the [Ji Shui] path. Therefore, he had not yet started learning the second ancient Shu cultivation technique.

"If it's the [Great Sun Purple Qi] cultivation method, then I could sacrifice some cultivation time... I haven't encountered any others that particularly appeal to me yet."

Changing your cultivation technique multiple times doesn't actually increase your combat power much, but it does improve your adaptability.

At this moment, the old fox 'Dark Candle' spoke up: "If you, fellow Daoist, are not so insistent on [Lou Jin], I do have a cultivation technique here, belonging to the Taiyin lineage, under the [Bi Yue], which cultivates the Dao foundation 'Overturning Heaven and Earth'... At least cultivating to the Dao foundation will not be a problem."

"What?"

Old Tian was overjoyed: "Fellow Daoist... are you willing to exchange your cultivation technique for spirit grains?"

"Ahem!"

At this moment, the slovenly Taoist spoke up: "Dark Candle, since you're going to sell your [Bi Yue] lineage's cultivation techniques, you should make the potential risks clear beforehand."

"Hidden dangers?"

Fang Qing was taken aback and looked at An Zhuzi.

The old fox remained unmoved: "I spoke too slowly and haven't explained myself clearly yet... This technique originates from [Bi Yue]. After cultivating it, one will transform into a half-demon and become close to us demons."

"What? I can't even be a human being? This... I guess I'll just give up."

Old Tian quickly shook his head.

"Why would this technique turn into a demon? Could there be some hidden danger?"

Fang Qing's eyes flickered, and she asked a question.

"Hehe, it's not that the old fox's techniques are problematic, but rather that all the techniques of the [Bi Yue] lineage are only suitable for the demon race... After all, in ancient times, the great demon sage 'Bi Yue Wu' was born, causing chaos throughout the world. Since then, [Bi Yue] has only been passed down among the demon race, and all other techniques have been corrupted..."

The cultivator surnamed Pu originally didn't want to talk about these cultivation secrets, but since the slovenly Taoist had spoken up, he, harboring the thought of a disgusting old fox, also spoke up.

"this……"

Fang Qing was speechless: 'What kind of lousy place is this? There are even people who unknowingly cultivate into demons?'

"Hehe... That Great Sage 'Bi Yue Wu' was skilled at swallowing gold and devouring fire, how impressive... But that was more than eight thousand years ago. It's just that the demon race has been colluding with the demonic path all these years and has been supporting the fortunes of the barbarians, otherwise how could the world be in such chaos?"

The monk surnamed Pu was unforgiving, even when he was in the right.

Upon hearing this, Fang Qing vaguely understood: "This world divides history into three stages: the Primordial Era, the Ancient Era, and the Near Ancient Era... According to the Immortal Calendar, it should now be the 8,529th year of the Near Ancient Era... The twelve [Yearly Officials] positions were established in the Primordial Era, but... the Great Sun Daoist lineage and the Gold and Fire Daoist lineages are satisfied, but what about the other lineages? Will there be feuds and conflicts between them? The Demon Clan's Great Sage 'Bi Yue Wu' devouring gold and fire, could it represent the Taiyin Daoist lineage's counterattack? Even someone as powerful as the [Yearly Official]... will still perish?"

The old fox fell silent, and Old Tian retreated sheepishly.

Next, the noblewoman stepped forward: "I have a piece of 'Innate Geng Metal,' which is an excellent material for forging flying swords... I would like to inquire about the whereabouts of a flying sword."

"I wonder which flying sword it is?"

One of the monks asked.

“Enjoy it to the fullest!” the noblewoman replied.

"Heh... Although this sword is not among the ten most famous flying swords in the universe, it is still very famous in the ancient Shu region and is worthy of being ranked among the forty-nine famous swords of ancient Shu... A mere piece of innate Geng metal, and not even a proper flying sword, is not enough! Not enough!!" The cultivator shook his head.

"Oh? What if I were to unleash a flying sword?" the noblewoman asked quietly, her eyes sparkling.

"This... I don't know where that 'Xu Jin Huan' sword is either? This sword is very famous. It was the personal sword of the Purple Mansion sword cultivator, Master Yanbo. It is said that its sword light is as brilliant as brocade clouds and as proud as a dragon in flight..."

The monk's voice was filled with longing.

"So you're joking with me?" The noblewoman's tone suddenly turned extremely dangerous.

"Alright, Madam Qi, wait a moment..." The slovenly Taoist priest stepped forward again, "This fellow Taoist is also very outspoken... let's spare him."

"snort!"

Lady Qi snorted coldly and quietly took her place in the ranks.

After her, it was Fang Qing's turn.

Fang Qing touched his bamboo hat and said in a clear voice, "I... am looking for a cultivation technique from the Great Sun Dao lineage. The reward can be in the form of pills that enhance magical power."

"The Great Sun Daoist cultivation method? Since the 'Great Sun Purple Qi' was severed, what use is this cultivation method now?"

The cultivator surnamed Pu sneered, his tone full of disdain.

"Hehe... Although the Great Sun Purple Qi has been extinguished for thousands of years, it's possible that some remnants remain in those ancient ruins and secret realms..."

Anzhuzi was clearly at odds with this cultivator surnamed Pu: "Your knowledge is shallow, so don't speak recklessly, it only makes you look inferior... Oh, by the way, wasn't your Pu family ancestor, 'Lord Pu Shan,' only able to soar to the heavens by chance after obtaining a cave left behind by his predecessors, and relying on the cultivation techniques and true qi he acquired there? Just because your ancestor was like that, does that mean others can't pick up the same treasure?"

"you?!"

Flames shot out from the nostrils of the monk surnamed Pu.

The cultivators present remained silent, trembling with fear.

That's the patriarch of the Pu family! A Purple Mansion cultivator! A great supernatural being!

It is said that he fell into an ancient cultivation cave when he was young and cultivated diligently until he reached the Dao Foundation stage before emerging from seclusion and making a great name for himself in Yulin County.

Even in the late stage of the Dao Foundation stage, he found a kind of spiritual fire of heaven and earth—the "Ember Calamity Fire"! At the great risk of life and death, he forcibly absorbed and mastered this spiritual fire.

This "Ember Calamity Flame" ranks ninety-eighth on the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Flame Ranking. It is a rare treasure that even cultivators of the Purple Mansion Realm would covet. Once refined, it possesses boundless power and is invincible in battle.

He then broke through to the Purple Mansion and established the Pu family, which has been in existence for over two hundred years.