Chapter 13: Classic of the Water Organ of the Origin of the Ridge: Entering the Realm of Human Habitation

"Cultivating further, there are only two steps left: Faxiang and Ascension, and then one can break through to the Scattered Immortal realm."

After Fang Longye indulged in self-admiration for a long while, the contents of the cultivation manual, the *Classic of the Water Organ of the Origin of the Ridge*, surfaced in his mind as he contemplated the next step of his cultivation.

This was an Immortal scripture treasure that Qingshe had imparted to him after they had sworn their contract; it was a water-attribute 'Heavenly Immortal Path' technique at the Scattered Immortal level.

The Primordial Spirit Realm is divided into three stages: Yin Spirit, Faxiang, and Ascension.

The Yin Spirit stage goes without saying.

The Faxiang Realm, as the name implies, is to visualize a Primordial Spirit Faxiang within the sea of consciousness.

There is basically no fixed pattern for this; some visualize divine beasts, some visualize the great sun or the bright moon, others visualize mountains, rivers, or vast seas, and there are even sword cultivators who visualize a heaven-piercing divine sword.

However, this is the cultivation method for Human Clan cultivators, whereas the Demon Clan often visualizes a Faxiang related to their own racial Bloodline.

This is because this Faxiang relates to cultivation at the Yuan Immortal level.

Although the *Classic of the Water Organ of the Origin of the Ridge* that Fang Longye obtained did not contain specific cultivation methods for the Yuan Immortal level, it did describe some aspects of Yuan Immortal cultivation.

The Yuan Immortal level involves merging the cultivated Primordial Spirit Faxiang with the physical body, allowing the physical body to transform into a Dharma body similar to the Faxiang.

Just like the human-body-with-a-snake-tail image that Qingshe usually maintains; it was not that her transformation was incomplete as Fang Longye had previously thought, but rather a form of Dharma body transformation.

Human Clan cultivators have inconspicuous physical Bloodlines, so they must be ingenious with their Faxiang, condensing special mysterious traits according to their techniques, and then at the Yuan Immortal level, they sublimate the Faxiang into a human form before merging it with their physical body to achieve various mysterious Dharma bodies.

The Demon Clan is different; even if their Bloodline is mediocre, they still have their own formidable ancestors to cling to and imitate.

Some divine beasts and exotic species even possess boundless power and mystery in their own inherent traits; where would they need other Faxiang to cultivate? For these naturally gifted beings, their own image is the Dharma body most suited to them.

Even for Qingshe, as Fang Longye recalls her human-body-with-a-snake-tail Dharma body now, how could he not understand that she was cosplaying Nuwa? As for the Ascension Realm, it is the final step of the Primordial Spirit Realm. To put it simply, it is the merging of the Yin Spirit with the visualized Faxiang, causing the visualized Faxiang to thoroughly transform into a mysterious change within the Primordial Spirit.

Afterward, the Primordial Spirit absorbs all of its own power and strives to succeed, gestating a Primordial Spirit Dao Embryo that combines the traits of its own essence, Qi, and spirit. In terms of form, it undergoes a cycle of life and death, a withering and flourishing, during this process; once that is achieved, one attains the Immortal Realm and becomes a Scattered Immortal.

As for the Faxiang Realm, with his current accumulation, he wouldn't dare say he could achieve it in one go, but it wouldn't take much effort either.

However, he still had some considerations regarding this realm, so it was time to see Qingshe Niangniang again.

To see what other benefits he could swindle out of her.

Fang Longye thought with ill intent.

He put away his luxurious equipment, washed away the dust from his body, and casually condensed a set of cyan-blue robes from water mist, similar to the attire of Xu Xian in his past-life memories.

Observing himself with divine sense, the scattered long hair covered the horns on his forehead; apart from the noble air from his Dragon Clan Bloodline that could not be concealed, he looked quite presentable.

What a dashing young gentleman! Fang Longye praised himself highly.

But in his heart, he couldn't help but sigh, "It's a pity I don't look like a scholar; one must know that in the storybooks and biographies of my past life, snake demons loved this type the most."

Once tidied up, he gathered the clouds and mist; without wearing armor or carrying a spear, he drifted leisurely toward the Qingshe Dongfu, looking just like an Immortal figure.

Above the clouds, Fang Longye moved his mind and changed the weather. The water vapor between heaven and earth rapidly condensed into a dark cloud, followed by a 'Crack!' of thunder; the gathered water vapor turned into raindrops that drifted and scattered downward, starting a light rain.

"The 'Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making' I awakened earlier is only the most basic of the Dragon Clan's Bloodline supernatural powers; it doesn't count as a flight supernatural power. Otherwise, wouldn't the Green Snake Mansion be reached in a single thought?"

Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making is of no use in combat or fighting, nor is it a supernatural power for flying and traveling; it belongs to the lowest tier among Dragon Clan Bloodline supernatural powers.

The inherited supernatural powers of the Dragon Clan Bloodline that are powerful are Great Divine Abilities like Summoning Wind and Rain, Overturning Rivers and Seas, and Size Manipulation; each one possesses incredible power.

The 'Cloud-Treading and Mist-Riding' that corresponds to Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making is the exclusive supernatural power for travel and flight. However, he estimated he would have to wait until he completely evolved into a Flood Dragon before he could awaken it from his Bloodline.

Fang Longye had been busy practicing his transformation before and hadn't really tried the Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making supernatural power.

Now that he had experienced it, he felt that the consumption of Dharma power was very low. There was no need to pinch seals or chant Curses like Human Clan cultivators; with a single thought, he could change the weather.

Since he wasn't in a hurry anyway, Fang Longye moved slowly along with the clouds, testing the 'Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making' Bloodline supernatural power from time to time on his journey.

However, when he saw the figure at the entrance of the Green Snake Mansion, he hurriedly stopped his experiment, quickly descended from the clouds, and used the Wind-Riding Art to dash to the front in a few steps.

"How could I dare to trouble Niangniang to come out of the mansion to wait for me? Longye is ashamed."

"Didn't I say it already? You and I should address each other as fellow Daoists; my Dharma name is Cuiwei, you can just call me Fellow Daoist Cuiwei."

Seeing Fang Longye's current appearance, Qingshe's willow eyebrows moved, a brilliant light flashed in her eyes, and she couldn't help but praise: "As expected of a Dragon descendant, so handsome and extraordinary after transformation."

In her eyes, Fang Longye now possessed a good appearance, heroic and imposing, standing tall and proud.

A simple set of cyan-blue robes could not hide the nobility that permeated his bones. The wind blew his scattered hair, revealing the single horn he had been covering, which did not look strange at all, but rather even more handsome and extraordinary.

"Niangniang is joking; Niangniang is the one with an Immortal grace, truly a goddess descended to the world." Seeing her frown because of the address, Fang Longye immediately said, "Since Niangniang honors me, I shall boldly address Niangniang as Cuiwei Fairy from now on."

"Very well, since Fellow Daoist Longye says so, then it shall be as you wish." Seeing Fang Longye's cautiousness, Qingshe did not force the issue anymore; after all, she had also come from that realm.

The two exchanged their forms of address and then entered the cave, winding through the paths until they reached the reception hall.

Not long after they sat down, Qingshe said, "It seems the Blood Ginseng and Lingzhi I gave you were of great benefit to your Bloodline, and you awakened a natural supernatural power?"

"Many thanks to Cuiwei Fairy for your generous gift; I obtained Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making, but it's a pity it provides no help in combat, so it can only be called a chicken rib."

Qingshe shook her head and said: "That is incorrect. Do you know the difference between supernatural powers and Dharma spells?"

"Naturally, I have some understanding." Seeing that Qingshe had the intention to guide him, Fang Longye stated his own insights, treating it as casting a brick to attract jade.

"In my view, most Dharma spells are just means to drive Dharma power to command the heaven and earth's elemental energy. Basically, any cultivator can explore and develop a few spells on their own. But supernatural powers are different; they more or less contain some laws of heaven and earth. The deeper the laws contained, the greater the power."

"Although Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making belongs to the supernatural powers, it only involves some superficial cloud and water laws, and it is not an offensive supernatural power, so it should be useless for us of the Demon Clan, right?"

Seeing him speaking eloquently, Qingshe showed a look of approval and then smiled lightly: "It is indeed as you said earlier; the Dao techniques of this world are nothing more than two categories: supernatural powers and Dharma spells. But your subsequent understanding is slightly off."

"No matter how weak a supernatural power is, it is still a supernatural power. The laws contained within might be useless to us now. But when we reach a realm where we need to comprehend laws in the future, the supernatural powers we have mastered will be the keys to opening the door."

"So, do you still think the supernatural power you awakened is a chicken rib?" Speaking of this, a trace of envy that others could not detect flashed in the depths of her eyes. "Different people have different fates, different umbrellas have different handles."

"You have to admit that there are some beings in this world who are naturally gifted, knowing things from birth, and possessing innate supernatural powers."

"Some beings are born with one or two supernatural powers that others have to work hard and exhaust their efforts to refine."

"But this kind of supernatural power that comes with the Bloodline also has its limitations. That is, the possessor often knows the 'what' but not the 'why'." Fang Longye had at least awakened a supernatural power, so he naturally had the qualifications to speak.

In his view, this Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making supernatural power could only improve with the richness of his Bloodline and the growth of his cultivation. The richer the Dragon Clan Bloodline and the deeper the cultivation, the greater the range of his Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making would be.

He had no way to make improvements or practice it on his own.

"Heh~ you are quite right, but you have to admit that if one day your cultivation advances to the point where you need to comprehend laws, these supernatural powers that come with your Bloodline will be the shortcut for you to comprehend the laws."

"Ordinary people, besides comprehending the Dao laws directly with their Primordial Spirit, have to work hard to refine supernatural powers before they can comprehend them if they want to start from supernatural powers to speed up their cultivation. But you, compared to ordinary people, how much time and energy can you save?" Qingshe sneered, as if mocking Fang Longye for being in a state of blessing without knowing it.

"As for the problem of 'knowing the what but not the why' that you mentioned. As you have a deeper understanding of these laws, you can even continuously improve upon them and create your own version of the same supernatural power."

Just like many Great Divine Abilities, they were all inspired by the Bloodline abilities inherent to divine beasts and exotic species, refined and created by some great powers of the past.

How could there still be the drawbacks you speak of?"

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I observe that your cultivation has made extraordinary progress this time, Fellow Daoist, but I wonder if your Bloodline has awakened to the point of transforming into a Flood Dragon yet?"

"Can the Fairy not see through it?" Fang Longye was surprised to hear this. He himself had just stepped into the Primordial Spirit Realm, while Qingshe was at least an Origin Immortal. To prevent Qingshe from becoming suspicious due to her inability to see through him, he had even deliberately relaxed his various concealments.

"Your Dragon Clan Bloodline has awakened to a certain degree, Fellow Daoist. For those of us with scales and armor, there are great limitations. Although it does not affect the exertion of strength, methods involving the foundation of the Bloodline, such as probing one's true form, are already very difficult to perform." Since the two had already signed a contract and oath, Qingshe did not hide much.

"It still lacks quite a bit of heat," Fang Longye said with his eyes open, telling a lie. According to his calculations, without any heavenly treasures, just by collecting the essence of the sun and moon to refine his physical body for about ten or twenty years, he would be able to evolve into a Flood Dragon.

Qingshe did not suspect anything upon hearing this. According to her estimation, by ingesting the two spiritual medicines she gifted him that could refine the Bloodline, it was already a stroke of great fortune that Fang Longye could temper his Bloodline to a degree that affected her probing of his true form.

She was seen taking a mass of Water Vein Dragon Qi, marked with a Forbidden Technique, out of her own treasure pouch with a look of slight heartache, sealing it in a jade box, and sending it before Fang Longye.

"I did collect some Water Vein Dragon Qi due to my cultivation. Although that 'Stinging Dragon Art' of yours previously had no effect on increasing cultivation, it is just the right time to deal with the bottleneck you are currently facing," Qingshe explained.

"However, to ensure there is no mistake, it is best for you, Fellow Daoist, to go to the inhabited lands in this Small World and borrow the National Fortune to serve as an aid when you transform into a Flood Dragon."

Borrowing National Fortune to transform into a dragon? Isn't this the same nature as the National Fortune Dragon Transformation method I saw when I first transmigrated and made a deal with the Stinging Dragon Art?

Fang Longye was startled, and then he saw Qingshe use her Dharma power to hand over a Jade Slip.

He did not hesitate and probed with his divine sense. A piece of information was transmitted.

Wonderful, it can be considered a wonderful Dharma~

It was not the direct absorption of National Fortune Dragon Qi to transform into a dragon as he had guessed; that is a Demon method, often harming others to benefit oneself, and becoming tainted with Karma.

What Qingshe taught was the orthodox path of the Immortal Dao: through nominal appointment, such as a State Preceptor, one obtains the blessing of National Fortune to strengthen oneself and increase one's luck. At critical moments, one can also consume that portion of National Fortune blessed upon oneself to increase the success rate of doing certain things.

This method of borrowing National Fortune is what the Daoist sects often call "Supporting the Dragon Court."

As long as one does not absorb the National Fortune one should not obtain, there are no sequelae.

"This kind of 'Supporting the Dragon Court' method is often practiced by the Daoist and Buddhist families outside this Small World," Qingshe said unhurriedly after seeing Fang Longye comprehend the method. "However, because there are too many great powers in the outside world and the fighting is intense, even the 'Supporting the Dragon Court' within a small nation has various disputes, and it is often very easy to be affected and tainted with Karma that should have been avoided."

"But it is different in the Small World. There are not many Human Clan cultivators in the inhabited lands of this Small World, and their strength is weak. You, Fellow Daoist Longye, are an invincible existence there; no one will affect your collection of National Fortune."

Fang Longye nodded to show he understood.

Seeing that he understood, Qingshe said no more, only telling him that he could head to the inhabited lands after handling the affairs of the Jinsha River.

Seeing this, Fang Longye rose to take his leave.

Caidie, as a maid, saw him out of the mansion.

"I didn't expect that Fellow Daoist Longye would be so handsome after taking human form." Caidie was, after all, a young girl of fourteen or fifteen, her temperament carrying a bit of innocence and naivety. Looking at his handsome appearance now, her cheeks flushed slightly red.

"It is just because of the Bloodline. However, after I leave, I will have to trouble you to help look after the affairs of the Jinsha River," Fang Longye waved his hand and replied with a smile.

"Just a small matter, Fellow Daoist, rest assured." Caidie patted her chest and promised.

With his mind on cultivation matters and without too much small talk, Fang Longye turned around, raised clouds and mist, and flew toward the "Longgong" of the Jinsha River.

Not long after, he arrived at the place.

He was once again faced with the awkward situation of minor demons not recognizing their own Great King.

He then received some subordinate commanders, handled the accumulated affairs, and summoned the turtle demon who served as the manager of his "Longgong."

"Congratulations to the Great King for successfully taking human form. I wish the Great King an early transformation into a True Dragon and eternal enjoyment of immortal blessings." The turtle demon immediately bowed and saluted upon seeing him.

"Get up!" Fang Longye looked at the turtle demon who received the order and stood up, sighing to himself that it was no wonder that in the myths and legends of his previous life, no matter which kind of Dragon King it was, there was often a Turtle Prime Minister among his subordinates.

Look at that cleverness; the flattery was so well-delivered that if the turtle clan doesn't serve as Prime Minister, who should?

It is only right that the turtle clan should eat well and drink well following the Dragon Clan.

Hmm, that's not right either; not all turtle clans are clever, like the one by the Tongtian River.

Seeing the turtle demon was so tactful, the greatly pleased Fang Longye said: "I observe that your 'Water Origin Blood-Refining Scripture' has reached the seventh level, and you are not far from the Chengdan Realm, so I will bestow upon you a 'Taiyin Spirit-Washing Method', hoping you will step into the Chengdan Realm soon."

Then, he transmitted the Dharma with his divine sense, instilling the 'Taiyin Spirit-Washing Method' into the turtle demon's sea of consciousness.

Qingshe only restricted the private teaching of cultivation knowledge above the Primordial Spirit Realm; she did not take to heart things similar to what Fang Longye taught.

He sorted out the precious medicines and spiritual materials accumulated in the "Longgong" treasury and put them into his pocket.

After giving instructions on the operational rules of the Jinsha River after his departure, he did not hesitate any longer, left the Jinsha River, and followed its flow, riding the clouds and wind all the way away.

Seedlings need care, please follow and collect~ (End of this chapter)