Chapter 237

Several days later.

Within a magnificent palace, the sound of zithers flowed endlessly, lingering in the air long after each note had faded.

Wang Ziqin played the zither while Wang Zixuan danced gracefully beside her. Fang Qing reclined lazily on a cushioned chair, casually eating spirit fruits with a relaxed expression.

When the performance ended, Wang Ziqin looked at him with a trace of resentment.

“Fellow Daoist, you lit the spark, yet it was my family that ended up in complete turmoil afterward.”

“Haha... Fellow Daoist Ziqin, that accusation is unfair.”

Fang Qing laughed.

“Those were parasites that grew within your Wang Family. They have nothing to do with me. Besides, I helped eliminate a hidden danger for your clan.”

“Otherwise, if they dared to frame a few early Core Formation cultivators today, tomorrow they would dare sell out a late Core Formation ancestor. People like that must be dealt with firmly.”

“You make it sound so easy...”

Wang Zixuan felt a faint bitterness in her heart.

It was not merely the pain of being betrayed by people close to her, but also the headache that followed.

Many of those Wang Family members who had framed Wang Jinhai and Wang Jinfeng were related to her by blood. Some were her own cousins or nephews.

When a crowd of white-haired elders knelt before her, pleading desperately for mercy, how was she supposed to handle them?

“When a family bloodline grows large enough, there will always be a few unfilial descendants.”

Wang Ziqin was far more clear-headed.

“Especially on the path of cultivation. The gap between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation is like a heavenly chasm of cultivation, divine abilities, and centuries of lifespan.”

“How many people could resist temptation?”

She rose and offered a formal bow.

“Even so, we must thank Fellow Daoist for this matter. Great-Uncle Feng has already made preparations. The family treasury can now be opened, and Fellow Daoist may select whatever treasure you desire as compensation.”

“Oh? Then I shall gladly accept.”

Fang Qing laughed heartily.

If not for the fact that his divinations had revealed a destined opportunity hidden within the Wang Family treasury, why would he have bothered making another trip here?

“Lead the way.”

With the Wang sisters guiding him, they proceeded deeper into the estate.

Along the way, every Wang Family cultivator they encountered bowed respectfully from the roadside. Some even detoured from afar, avoiding him as though fleeing from a plague.

After all, news of what Fang Qing had done to Wang Jinyuan had already spread throughout the clan.

Rumors within the Wang Family claimed he was the Dao Child of some great power, possessing astonishing intelligence networks and information resources. Worse still, he acted entirely according to his whims, unconstrained by any considerations.

If he uncovered another scandal, nobody's reputation would survive intact.

'Ah... it is lonely at the top.'

Fang Qing sighed inwardly.

Soon, they arrived at the deepest layer of the Wang Family's protective formations.

Grand-uncle Feng was already waiting there.

Dressed more like a wealthy mortal landlord than a cultivator, his expression was solemn.

“Fellow Daoist... please.”

A golden command token rested in his hand as he formed a series of seals.

Streams of runes sank into the treasury gate.

Moments later, the massive doors rumbled open, releasing countless streams of treasure light.

'Haha... They clearly fear whatever background I might possess and don't dare provoke me into conflict. They just want me to take my compensation and leave as quickly as possible.'

Fang Qing saw through their thoughts immediately.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he strolled into the Wang Family treasury with considerable curiosity.

As a Core Formation power, anything worthy of entering the treasury was at least pseudo-third-rank or above.

The treasury itself was not large. Only a handful of shelves stood within.

Yet every treasure displayed upon them was extraordinary.

The first thing Fang Qing noticed was a row of medicine cabinets.

They had been crafted entirely from purple fragrant wood, preserving medicinal properties from deterioration. Inside were specially made Jade Paste Boxes designed for spirit herbs.

Labels attached to each cabinet recorded the name and age of every herb.

“Quite a few thousand-year spirit herbs...”

Fang Qing spotted several ingredients required for refining the Profound Star Cascade Pill.

His heart stirred slightly.

At that moment, Grand-uncle Feng smiled.

“The two girls mentioned that Fellow Daoist is gathering spirit herbs for alchemy. If it is medicinal ingredients you require, you may choose three complete sets.”

The goodwill behind those words was obvious.

As one of the leaders of a major force, Grand-uncle Feng naturally chose to befriend and curry favor with a high-level cultivator like Fang Qing, whose cultivation method was extraordinary and whose intelligence network appeared unfathomably vast.

Fang Qing nodded, then shook his head.

Zhong Lingxiu could likely acquire these spirit herbs as well.

They did not seem to match the opportunity his divinations had revealed.

He moved on to the artifact shelf.

Only a few dharma treasures rested there, most of them low-grade.

After a brief glance, he lost interest and proceeded to the mineral shelf nearby.

“Hmm?”

Only then did Fang Qing's heart suddenly stir.

He reached out and picked up a pitch-black iron box.

Upon opening it, a palm-sized mineral appeared inside.

Brilliant light burst forth immediately, dazzling to the eye.

“This is a fourth-rank Brightlum Crystal.”

An elderly voice sounded from nearby.

“It is particularly suited for refining mirror-type dharma treasures.”

Fang Qing looked up.

At some unknown moment, another Core Formation cultivator had appeared within the treasury.

The newcomer's aura had already reached the level of a late Core Formation great cultivator.

He wore a golden robe, possessed broad limbs, and had a face framed by wild, bristling hair and beard. He resembled a lion king awakened from slumber.

“Elder Cousin...”

Great-Uncle Feng immediately bowed.

“So this is the Wang Family Ancestor.”

Fang Qing smiled.

He knew this was the true pillar supporting the Wang Family, the late Core Formation ancestor.

“This old man is Wang Junjie. Greetings, Fellow Daoist.”

The Wang Family Ancestor returned the greeting with a smile.

“This item is among the most precious treasures in our treasury.”

“Does it satisfy Fellow Daoist's eye?”

“It does.”

Fang Qing smiled as he held the Bright Radiance Crystal.

“This item happens to be exactly what I need.”

Fang Qing nodded.

Among the natal treasures of his Devouring Sea Art, there was one known as the Abstruse Dark Mirror, and this material was precisely one of its primary ingredients.

'If it were any other Core Formation cultivator, they would already have their natal treasure and would hardly want to refine another one...'

After all, nurturing a natal treasure consumed a considerable amount of a cultivator's True Core origin.

Ordinarily, one or two natal treasures were more than sufficient for a typical Core Formation cultivator.

As for the rest of their combat needs, they could naturally rely on ordinary treasures, exotic treasures, talisman sacrifices, and similar methods.

The Abstruse Dark Mirror, however, was different.

This treasure possessed the ability to pierce illusions and calm the heart and spirit. It was even somewhat effective against the Heart Demon Tribulation encountered during the forming of the Nascent Soul.

Because of that, Fang Qing was determined to refine it and invest heavily in its growth.

Furthermore, he still needed to obtain the eyes of a fourth-rank flood dragon in order to refine the Abyss Pupil Pearl, which would further strengthen his divine sense.

'After all, the Nascent Soul realm is a heavenly chasm. Countless tribulations await there. The more preparations I make, the better.'

Unfortunately, while the Wang Family could be considered wealthy among Core Formation factions, there was no way they would possess materials from a beast carrying the bloodline of the Candle Dragon.

"This piece of Brightlum Crystal has rested within my family's treasury for many years. Looking at it now, it seems it was destined for Fellow Daoist all along."

The Wang Family Ancestor chuckled and casually swept a sleeve through the air.

A vast surge of mana descended upon the black box containing the Brightlum Crystal.

Immediately, a series of cracking sounds echoed out as layer after layer of restrictions shattered.

As one of the Wang Family's treasures, the item naturally carried numerous hidden restrictions. Anyone ignorant enough to remove it from the treasury without authorization would instantly trigger a reaction from the clan's grand protective array.

Of course, to Fang Qing, a mere third-rank array of the Wang Family was hardly worth mentioning.

Still, it was a gesture of goodwill.

Moreover, the Wang Family Ancestor's casual removal of all those restrictions with a single wave of his sleeve was itself a display of his formidable mana and precise divine sense control.

It was, in its own way, a warning.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist."

Fang Qing laughed and stored the Brightlum Crystal inside his storage bag.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly.

'The Qi Refining world truly is rich in resources.'

'Even Core Formation factions can come into contact with fourth-rank spiritual materials...'

'If this were the Qi Ingestion world, it would be like an early- or mid-stage Purple Mansion Spiritual Master somehow obtaining a spiritual object normally used by a late-stage Purple Mansion great cultivator.'

'Not impossible, but the chances would be far too small.'

The three left the Wang Family treasury.

Fang Qing glanced at the Wang Family Ancestor and Wang Junfeng before smiling.

"The matters that remain are internal affairs of the Wang Family. As an outsider, it would be inappropriate for me to intrude any further. I shall take my leave."

"This..."

Wang Junfeng was clearly caught off guard.

The Wang Family Ancestor, however, stroked his beard and smiled.

"Travel safely, Fellow Daoist. Might I ask where your immortal residence lies? This old man would like to pay a visit someday."

"It is merely an insignificant place with no reputation worth mentioning."

Fang Qing laughed loudly.

Without sparing another glance toward the pale-faced Wang Ziqin sisters, he transformed into a streak of sword light and swiftly departed from Wang Family Island.

Only after the sword light had vanished beyond the protective array did Wang Junfeng finally lose his composure.

"Clan Brother, we're really just letting him leave like that?"

He gritted his teeth.

"That brat enjoyed the finest women of our Wang Family and then simply walked away. Truly shameless!"

"And you still have the nerve to say that?"

The Wang Family Ancestor glared fiercely at his clansman.

"I left the family in your hands while I entered seclusion, and this is how you managed it? You've turned the entire clan into a complete mess!"

"We now have a Foundation Establishment cultivator scheming against a Core Formation cultivator. If word of this spreads, won't our Wang Family become a laughingstock among our peers?"

"Uh..."

At the mention of that matter, Wang Junfeng's face burned with shame.

"I am guilty. Please reclaim the clan authority, Clan Brother. I will personally report to the Punishment Hall and accept whatever sentence is deemed appropriate."

The family had descended into such chaos that he no longer wished to shoulder the responsibility.

After all, both sides were members of his family.

The Wang Family Ancestor himself felt a headache coming on despite having rushed out of seclusion to handle the crisis.

"These wretched descendants... truly wretched descendants."

He sighed repeatedly before asking,

"And what did the Three Fiends of the Tong Family say?"

Now that the truth behind the incident was known, the Wang Family naturally hoped to reconcile.

Unfortunately...

"The Tong brothers refuse."

Wang Junfeng rubbed his forehead.

"The three of them cultivate the Childheart True Scripture. Their personalities are practically those of stubborn children. Once they make up their minds, not even nine oxen can drag them back."

"They insist that since a duel was agreed upon, it must continue to the very end."

"How did things end up like this..."

The Wang Family Ancestor sighed deeply.

"Forget it. If they want to fight, then let them fight. Do they really think this old man fears that old demon?"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"And this Bai Jianfeng who appeared out of nowhere is highly suspicious as well."

"Even if it were those people from the One Palace and One Temple, could they really possess such extensive intelligence that they know every hidden scandal within a Core Formation family?"

"Clan Brother makes a good point..."

Wang Junfeng already had some suspicions of his own.

"The Three Fiends of the Tong Family answer to the Cloudrain Old Demon, a late Core Formation cultivator who has rampaged across the seas for many years."

The Wang Family Ancestor sighed.

"How could such a person have no backing? Most likely, he originates from Blood Fiend Island."

"That Bai Jianfeng's swordsmanship was enough to make ghosts weep and gods tremble, yet he stubbornly concealed his origins."

"There is a good chance he comes from the demonic path as well. Perhaps he is even a member of Blood Fiend Island."

"Blood Fiend Island is filled with demonic cultivators, but Bai Jianfeng's sword qi was pure and perfectly controlled."

Wang Junfeng clearly found the theory difficult to believe.

"Hmph. Any demonic cultivator whose demonic aura can be recognized at a glance is merely a fake."

The Wang Family Ancestor snorted.

"You are still too inexperienced."

"The truly dangerous demonic cultivators are all outwardly righteous and respectable. They appear even more upright than genuine gentlemen."

"Sword cultivators are naturally extreme in temperament. They are among those most likely to fall into demonic paths."

"Then what about the Ziqin sisters?"

Wang Junfeng's expression changed dramatically.

"So what if he's a demonic cultivator?"

The Wang Family Ancestor suddenly smiled.

"In the Eastern Sea cultivation world, strength determines everything."

"If he truly has connections within the demonic path, then that is not necessarily a bad thing."

A strange gleam appeared in his eyes.

"Otherwise, why do you think I willingly gifted that boy a piece of fourth-rank spiritual ore?"