Chapter 608: Grave

'This time, the sect has really bled heavily.'

Leaving the Ancestral Hall, Fang Xing watched the Sensing-Qi disciples—who had no right to attend the meeting but had clearly heard the rumors and now looked far more energized—and thought to himself.

In the past, internal disciples of Qingmu Ridge were still divided into tiers.

For example, someone like him, an outsider with a scattered-cultivation foundation, could only exchange for the foundational diagram of the 'Grass Spirit,' and dreaming of the 'Flesh Tai Sui' was nearly impossible.

He had barely succeeded by exploiting wartime loopholes and with Fei Changnong's help, paying a premium to acquire it.

But now, the exchange list treated everyone equally—no distinction between outsiders and insiders; as long as you had enough battle merit, you could exchange for it.

'There were signs of this before; now it's just official recognition.'

'After enduring a sect-destroying disaster, further dividing insiders from outsiders would only make people feel abandoned...'

The Sensing-Qi disciples, seeing large quantities of Foundation Establishment Pills open for exchange, cheered wildly.

Meanwhile, Foundation Establishment cultivators were utterly captivated by the 'Spiritual Technique Pill Membrane.'

'This is exactly what they mean by "men die for wealth, birds die for food"...'

'Even when everyone knows the building is about to collapse, a generous reward still makes everyone rush forward bravely...'

Fang Xing watched these scenes with keen interest: 'It's just like the game of passing the drum—everyone knows the last person holding it is in danger, but all bet that they won't be the one...'

Though he had some interest in the 'Spiritual Technique Pill Membrane,' he had no intention of acting.

After all, with Fang Xing's talent, he had already gathered two pseudo-spiritual techniques.

Through meditating on 'Flesh Tai Sui' and 'Yuchonglong,' he had unlocked the method of merging spiritual techniques and achieved the 'Blood and Flesh Proliferation' technique—not quite effortless, but still remarkably simple.

'I am, after all, a True Immortal reincarnated. Though previously I followed the Spirit Root Immortal path, entirely different from this world's cultivation, with all my techniques intact, advancing a realm is still no challenge... After all, the Three Thousand Dao Paths all converge at the same destination.'

While he pondered, Fei Changnong and Red Sister also stepped out.

Yet now, rather than being partners, the two seemed more like father and daughter—or even grandfather and grandson.

Fei Changnong's expression was dull and lifeless; he bowed slightly to Fang Xing, showed no interest in speaking, and walked off alone.

Fang Xing chuckled softly and returned to Qingyu Garden.

In truth, many Foundation Establishment cultivators had died in battle, leaving numerous positions vacant.

If he wished to be reassigned, it would take only a word—even Deputy Head of Shennong Hall was not beyond consideration.

But Fang Xing had no interest; he chose to continue farming in Qingyu Garden.

'Next... I'll focus entirely on planting Changqing Trees, aiming to fill the entire valley with them.'

'That way, my advancement speed will also increase.'

Fang Xing gazed at Qingyu Valley and silently mapped out his plan.

After advancing to Level 15 Druid, his 【Tree Shepherd】 talent had also been strengthened, granting him more planting experience.

Otherwise, the later a Druid advances, the more experience is required—truly no easy gap to fill.

At this point, Fang Xing held absolute authority and could do anything he wished within Qingyu Garden.

'Manager Uncle...'

Meng Tiandong flew over, respectfully asking: 'The graves of the fallen disciples have been completed—shall we go take a look?'

'Never mind, let's go see.'

Fang Xing followed Meng Tiandong to a corner of the herb garden, where he saw several graves.

One of them was Dong Meier's.

Though she had survived the first few rounds, she fell in the final darkness before dawn.

In contrast, Meng Tiandong and Yu Santian, the two veteran herb farmers, had been alert enough to escape the massacre.

Even so, Meng Tiandong had lost one arm.

Fang Xing thought for a moment, then gathered the herb garden disciples: 'You all may not have earned merit, but you've endured hardship. Now that the sect is rewarding merit generously, I can decide to grant each of you one Foundation Establishment Pill—but who ultimately receives it will depend on your own efforts.'

For Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Foundation Establishment Pill was still precious, but not unattainable.

On the exchange list, one could obtain it with the battle merit of killing just one Foundation Establishment cultivator of the initial stage.

Fang Xing had no use for his own battle merit, so he didn't mind handing out one to boost the disciples' morale.

After all, so many companions had died; any human would overthink and develop psychological issues.

True to form, as soon as he spoke, everyone became as energized as if injected with blood.

Even Meng Tiandong and Yu Santian, clearly past the age of sixty, were spurred on by Fang Xing's promise that the Foundation Establishment Pill could be passed to their disciples, and they threw themselves into planting trees...

Knowing that after the great battle, the sect's demand for various spirit herbs would drop, Fang Xing hadn't bothered cultivating century-old herbs.

In a flash, another spring and autumn passed.

In a daze, another season passed.

Fang Xing had just poured himself a cup of home-brewed fruit wine to celebrate his eightieth birthday in this body.

Suddenly, he sensed something and turned toward the valley entrance.

A white-haired old man flew in—it was Fei Changnong!

'Brother Fei, come to collect spirit herbs?'

Fang Xing stepped forward with a smile and asked.

'Yes, but Brother, prepare yourself—this time, there won't be much merit to earn...'

Fei Changnong carried the aura of an old man nearing death.

Fang Xing said nothing, merely had the equally aged Meng Tiandong bring the lowest-tier herbs.

'Hmm... these are worth five hundred merit points.'

Fei Changnong counted them, then glanced at Fang Xing with a thoughtful look.

This younger brother clearly understood the situation and hadn't exerted much effort.

Instead, the surrounding Changqing Trees nearly surrounded the entire herb garden.

He had once doubted this younger brother's motives.

But now, it seemed he was truly here just to plant trees?

'Alas... though Brother Fang cultivates the Origami Art, who will outlive whom is still uncertain.'

Fei Changnong sighed inwardly and began discussing the Three Absolute Passes and the Zhou Shenchao with Fang Xing.

Since their last defeat, the Killing Sect had hung like a massive boulder over every Qingmu Ridge disciple's heart, none knowing when it would fall.

Fang Xing watched Fei Changnong depart, knowing the next one to come collect herbs would likely not be this man.

He turned to Meng Tiandong: 'This time, our contribution is so low—do you harbor any resentment?'

Meng Tiandong looked utterly ancient, saluted with his single remaining arm: 'I'm already half-buried in the yellow earth—why care about such worldly things?'

'Besides, during the sect's great calamity, it was Manager Uncle who saved my life. All I ask is to spend my remaining years doing something for Manager Uncle, to repay even a little—that's enough...'

"Moreover, it was the Manager-uncle who saved this old man's life during the sect's great calamity; all this old man asks is to do something for the Manager-uncle before he dies, to repay even a fraction of that debt—this is enough…"

Fang Xing nodded: 'You said you wanted to spend your final days here—then choose your own burial plot within the herb garden.'

'Yes, thank you, Manager Uncle.'

Meng Tiandong bowed quickly.

He was a veteran of Qingyu Garden and deeply attached to this place.

To be buried here was indeed fitting.

But no sooner had he spoken than a jade vial was tossed before him.

'This Foundation Establishment Pill is yours to distribute—whether to your disciples or other brothers and sisters, it's your choice...'

Fang Xing waved him off, telling him not to disturb him, and prepared to enter the wooden hut to focus on cultivation, striving to complete his spiritual technique in one push.

Fang Xing waved his hand, telling Meng Tiandong not to disturb him, and prepared to enter the wooden hut to focus on cultivation, striving to forge the divine art in one decisive push.

Spring passed, autumn came.

Years rolled by.

Dulong Slope, Qingli Marsh, Qingmu Ridge remained as always.

The Killing Sect claimed it would come—but after shouting 'Wolf!' too many times, it never arrived...

Rumors said it had feigned weakness, set a trap, and even defeated the Zhou Shenchao in a brilliant maneuver, promoting a new Yangshen True Lord on the spot.

The entire Outer Realm's top ten sects, especially Qingmu Ridge disciples, reacted with complex emotions.

Once, a single rumor had terrified them into turning on each other, nearly willing to cut off their own flesh to feed the tiger.

But in the end, the Killing Sect still looked down on the Outer Realm and chose to stand firm against the Zhou Shenchao.

This only made the Outer Realm sects look like a joke.

Qingmu Ridge disciples, however, felt only slight shame—and relief.

If the Killing Sect didn't come, they could return to their usual cultivation and life... still high-ranking disciples of the top ten sects!

If the Killing Sect does not come, they can resume their usual cultivation and life… still the esteemed disciples of the Top Ten Sects!

Inside the treehouse.

'The Killing Sect is rather interesting...'

Fang Xing sat cross-legged, a faint smile on his lips.

His calmness stemmed from his astonishing strength.

Even if Qingmu Ridge were suddenly attacked, he could escape easily.

With no urgency, he focused entirely on cultivation.

'Pseudo-spiritual techniques are called pseudo because their spiritual runes are incomplete...'

"False Divine Art is called false because its divine art runes are incomplete..."

"And the compatible pseudo-spiritual techniques can have their spiritual runes complement each other, together forming a spiritual talisman..."

"Spiritual talismans are unstable, for they are merely two-dimensional structures; they must yet form a three-dimensional seed-like shape, becoming a 'spiritual seed,' before they can be stabilized."

"This spiritual seed is, in the broad sense, the Golden Core."

Fang Xing gazed inward at his dantian and saw his Dao foundation suddenly transform—the shadows of the tree and the lingzhi mushroom swayed, faintly taking the shape of a spiritual talisman.

At this stage, he could already be called a quasi-Yin Spirit True Person.

All that remained was to slowly refine the spiritual seed, and breakthrough would come as naturally as water flowing to its level.

"Although the cultivation path of this world is unique, once its foundation is complete, cultivation will accelerate ever faster..."

"The lower levels may vary endlessly, but at the heights, all paths remain true to their origin."

Fang Xing stepped out of the treehouse, facing the sliver of sunlight, and silently calculated:

"After the Yin Spirit True Person, one naturally transforms a single thought into pure yang... thereby ascending to Yang Spirit True Lord!"

"And beyond the Yang Spirit True Lord? It seems one must take another path..."

"This mortal realm has some kind of limit... the Yang Spirit True Lord may not be the ceiling, but beyond that, it's nearly the end."

He gazed at that layer of celestial membrane, recalling the many legends of the Zhou Shenchao.

In the Zhou Shenchao, ordinary land gods and city gods are called 'Earth Deities'; excluding their yin soldiers and yin generals, their strength is roughly equal to that of a Dao Foundation or Yin Spirit True Person.

True 'deities,' however, ascend to the 'Celestial Court,' traveling to some higher outer plane closely linked to the mortal realm.

As he pondered, he unknowingly arrived before a tombstone.

This was Meng Tiandong's grave.