Chapter 586: Spiritual Power Seed: Great Golden Core

Poison Dragon Slope.

Fang Xing held a paper crane, a faint smile appearing on his face: "The Fei family… are quite cooperative."

He had seen the Fei family's terms, and found them quite intriguing.

For Fang Xing, talisman coins and spiritual artifacts were mere clouds—after all, the flying squirrel pouch of the Fei family's ancestor lay snugly in his arms.

What truly tempted him were these breakthrough experiences and the guaranteed slots to Qingmu Ridge.

"Guaranteed admission" meant accepting all applicants regardless of talent.

It was a privilege granted by Qingmu Ridge to its subordinate Daoji families—if Song Yunqian had possessed such a slot, Song Yunyun would not have been rejected.

"Even a rotten boat still has three pounds of nails…"

"The Qingli Fei family has endured for so many generations—how many disciples in Qingmu Ridge must bear the Fei surname?"

Even if disciples who join the sect grow distant from their families, they still share the same blood!

"For me, personal gain must outweigh the interests of the few families on Dongfeng!"

"It's time to sell out the Qingfeng Ao Xu family and the San Yue Tan Yin family…"

Fang Xing made his decision.

He was accustomed to hoarding all the spoils for himself and had no desire to share with these two families.

What about the Lüshui Wang Song family?

They could only serve as a token of allegiance.

After all, the Fei family wouldn't hand over benefits based solely on a verbal promise—they'd give only a portion upfront, then the rest only after seeing concrete action.

Annihilating the entire Song clan of Lüshui Wang would be the perfect token of allegiance!

…

As the highest-cultivation individual on Poison Dragon Slope and the master of the demonic serpent,

Fang Xing's decision meant that even if the Floating Cloud Five were displeased, none could openly oppose him.

That night.

Lüshui Wang.

Beneath the night sky, the emerald lake shimmered with scattered points of light—pearls within the clamshells.

With Fei family members as inside agents, the Poison Dragon Slope group slipped into Lüshui Wang as easily as if on a leisurely tour.

"This… didn't the Song family just rise up and drive out the Fei emissary?"

Lu Feng stared at the distant Song manor, barely believing his eyes.

"They drove them out, but after years of infiltration and control, how could their influence vanish in a day or two? Of course, they left hidden hands…"

Fang Xing exhaled, gazing at his own faction.

This time, Poison Dragon Slope had sent its elite: not only had the demonic serpent arrived, but Tie Luo Sanren also held his Iron Umbrella to oversee the battle.

He remained at Qi Absorption Sixth Layer, and likely would never advance further.

Song Yunqian and Hu Liuniang were both at Qi Absorption Fifth Layer; notably, Lu Feng was at the same level.

In addition, several junior disciples at Qi Absorption Fourth Layer had come along to witness bloodshed.

Those with even lower cultivation didn't need to come—no point in sending them to die.

"Kill!"

Fang Xing waved his hand, and serpentine qi forms emerged.

BOOM!

Terrifying murderous qi roared, collapsing the Song family's walls outright.

"Who are you?"

Several Qi Absorption Fifth and Sixth Layer cultivators burst from the Song manor, faces filled with shock.

The Fei family had just left—better days were coming—what was this?

"The ones who take your lives."

Fang Xing flicked his hand lightly, sending out a strand of qi.

Sssss!

A serpent of murderous qi materialized midair and bit off the head of a Qi Absorption Sixth Layer elder.

"Grand Elder?"

"No good—murderous qi unleashed! He's Qi Absorption Posterior Stage!"

"Poison Dragon Slope… you'll die a cursed death!"

…

The Song family descended into chaos.

Fang Xing merely coldly waved his hand, and the black serpent surged forward, spewing toxic mist.

Tie Luo Sanren and the other cultivators followed close behind, slaughtering the Song cultivators.

This was indeed a one-sided battle.

After all, the Song family had no Qi Absorption Seventh Layer cultivators, while Fang Xing's side had two Qi Absorption Posterior Stage combatants.

Fang Xing showed only two moves, killing two Qi Absorption Sixth Layer cultivators, then stood back and watched.

"Brother Yun…"

From a small courtyard came a woman's wail.

Soon after, a severed hand flew through the air—clutching what looked like a Beauty-Preserving Pill?

Fang Xing observed it all with indifference.

After some time, the thick stench of blood began to cling to the Song manor.

Fei Wu had arrived beside him: "Good… Poison Dragon Slope truly keeps its word." "Where's the payment?"

Fang Xing ignored the barb in his tone and asked casually.

"Here…"

For some reason, Fei Wu felt uneasy.

But the deal was settled, and part of the inheritance had already been delivered—there was no backing out. He reached into his robe and pulled out half a booklet: "This is what we promised you… Our clan head says he plans to annihilate the Yin and Xu families. If Poison Dragon Slope joins, you'll receive a share of the spoils."

"Please convey my thanks to the Fei clan head—Poison Dragon Slope will lend strength at the Xu family's end…"

Fang Xing intended to send the black serpent later to simply rack up battle merits.

After all, since he'd chosen to side with the Fei family, the Fei family's position in Qingli Marsh was now secure.

From now on, no matter how the battles unfolded, they wouldn't lose!

…

No mistake—a single issue—no content—looked at!

By moonlight, Fang Xing opened the booklet immediately, reading it with eager anticipation.

"At Qi Absorption Ninth Layer and Daoji Third Grade… a cultivator's foundational training, after a series of transformations, condenses a single 'Hunyuan Qi'—this is the foundation of the Immortal Path!"

"The quality of the Daoji formed can be divided into three grades!"

"Low-grade Daoji is chaotic and cannot sustain longevity—merely extending life by a hundred years."

"Mid-grade Daoji contains profound subtleties, extending life by one hundred and fifty years…"

"High-grade Daoji is the foundation of the Great Dao, self-created by creation…"

"Regardless of quality, all Daoji are the condensation of a cultivator's essence, energy, and spirit, possessing strange abilities—thus called 'pseudo-spiritual powers'!"

It is precisely because of these spiritual powers that Daoji cultivators can easily suppress Qi Absorption cultivators.

'The Fei family wrote nine truths and one lie in their breakthrough experience—believing it all would make me a fool.'

'But their descriptions of post-breakthrough states and Yin Spirit-related matters are heavily detailed…'

'So the pseudo-spiritual powers of Daoji cultivators can be further cultivated, eventually becoming true spiritual powers, enabling advancement to Yin Spirit True Person?'

The cultivation realms of this world—Qi Absorption, Daoji, Yin Spirit, Yang Spirit!

A 'Yin Spirit True Person' possesses spiritual power in every gesture, a force not to be trifled with.

Especially the Spirit Invoker Fang Xing had met before—he sensed it already touched upon certain rules and authority… that was the power of spiritual powers.

"By forging Daoji with Qingmu Technique, many variations arise depending on the qi absorbed…"

"For example, if one primarily cultivates 'Qinghua Qi,' one may condense a high-grade Daoji—'Qinghua Canopy'! Such a Daoji cultivator, when activating the pseudo-spiritual power 'Qinghua Canopy,' is protected by a green canopy, nearly invulnerable to all evils… dominating in early and mid-stage Daoji combat."

"Moreover, by further cultivation, they may acquire another pseudo-spiritual power—'Radiant Heaven'—and enter Daoji Posterior Stage…"

"Once these two pseudo-spiritual powers are refined, combined, and transformed into a spiritual power seed—'Qinghua Radiant World'—and used to nurture a Yin Spirit, they will break through into a Yin Spirit True Person."

"Additionally, Qingmu Technique cultivators may condense the Daoji 'Grass Spirit,' capable of transforming plants into soldiers with a wave of the hand—unrivaled in group combat… paired with another pseudo-spiritual power—'Jianmu Qi'—they can form the spiritual power seed 'One Tree Becomes a Forest'…"

"This Qingmu Technique is no wonder the foundational art of Qingmu Ridge—it yields many Daoji forms: Ten Thousand Trees, Verdant Grove, Jiao Mu Jiao…"

"Spiritual power seeds are also called 'Great Dao Golden Core'… so Yin Spirit True Persons are also known as 'Jin Dan True Persons'?"

"Among the Ten Major Sects, some specialize in rating Dan grades…"

"For example, 'Jiao Long' paired with 'River Lake' may condense the 'Jiao Dragon in Water Dan,' a top-tier Jipin!"

"And the Sword Sect's Daoji 'Star Qi' and 'Sword Resonance'… can form the 'Sword Pierces Ox-Dipper Dan,' also a top-grade!"

"Qingmu Ridge's 'Qinghua Radiant World Dan,' Blood Shadow Sect's 'Yellow Springs Naihe Dan'… both are top-grade, having produced many Yin Spirit True Persons, even some who eventually broke through to Yang Spirit!"

…

Fang Xing flipped through the book quickly, finishing all the material the Fei family had given him.

He closed his eyes, integrating what he'd learned with his own experiences, cultivation path, and observations—his confusion regarding the cultivation paths of the Ten Major Sects was now nearly gone.

"Qingmu Technique is good—though very basic, the Daoji it forms adapts well to many pseudo-spiritual powers…"

"Yet, to condense the Divine Ability Seed into a Great Golden Core and break through to the Yin Spirit True Person, one must obtain another cultivation art to study alongside it—this is the insurance that Guangshu Ridge's widespread Green Wood Art transmission doesn't fear..."

"With my insight and experience... I might be able to deduce a new art from nothing, perfectly compatible with the Dao Foundation formed by the Green Wood Art, then condense the Divine Ability Seed and break through to Yin Spirit... but it would take too much time."

"Wait—I seem to have all the time I need. Why not... wait and see?"

"If all else fails, there's still the Fei family's access route into Green Wood Ridge..."

Fang Xing didn't actually need this route at all.

After all, if he established his foundation with the Green Wood Art, he would be a rare talent for Green Wood Ridge.

Even the Top Ten Sects wouldn't refuse the allegiance of a Dao Foundation cultivator.

And he could gain a certain degree of freedom.

"As a disciple, you could never claim a large area and be allowed to plant trees every day... but a Dao Foundation cultivator might enjoy certain privileges?"

"Too bad... there would surely be sect missions of some kind. But if they're cultivation-related tasks, that would suit me perfectly. No rush—I'll observe first..."

Having made up his mind, Fang Xing saw Lu Feng and the others emerge from the Song family mansion.

Most carried bloodstained packs, bulging with loot.

More astonishingly, even the four new cultivators at the Fourth Stage of Sensing Qi now carried a hint of ferocity.

Clearly, having seen blood, their minds had changed—they had become qualified cultivators.

Fei Wu saw that Poison Dragon Slope had suffered almost no losses; his face smiled, but his heart sank:

"Poison Dragon Slope has too much potential—if it grows, it will harm my Fei family..."

"The biggest thorn among them is Fang Xing... too bad I can't turn against him now."

"But the clan master has decided to offer him several high-grade Blood Shadow Sect origami secret arts as bait... Is this deliberately using exquisite techniques to confuse his mind, hoping to shorten his lifespan? I hope this plan works..."

(End of Chapter)