Chapter 241

“This concerns an item needed for condensing a Nascent Soul. There is no way I could produce something like that.”

Shang Yuanxin gave a bitter smile, his tone growing noticeably more careful and cautious.

Fang Qing understood well enough. This man possessed the instincts of a true merchant. He would never release the hawk before seeing the rabbit.

At present, his relationship with "Bai Jianfeng" was little more than a casual acquaintance. Naturally, he would not reveal the real information so easily.

However, he would also never pass up the opportunity to build ties with a third-rank high-grade alchemist, perhaps even a late-stage or peak Core Formation great cultivator.

Thus, the clues and channels he offered at the beginning were merely the information recorded later in the jade slip.

As expected, Shang Yuanxin continued.

“However, I do happen to possess a lead regarding a top-tier treasure produced by spirit springs…”

“Oh? I would be glad to hear it.”

Fang Qing smiled.

“Fellow Daoist, have you heard of Tianquan Island?”

Shang Yuanxin swept his spiritual sense over the surroundings before lowering his voice.

“Tianquan Island is the holy land of water-method alchemists. How could I not know of it? Are you referring to Blood Fiend Island's recent invasion?”

Fang Qing asked in return.

“Precisely. Since Fellow Daoist knows of Blood Fiend Island, then you should also know that the island itself is extraordinary, having been refined with endless bloodfiend qi.”

“When the demonic cultivators used that island to attack Tianquan Island, the bloodfiend qi seeped deep into its earth veins and water veins.”

“That fourth-rank spirit spring suffered severe damage as a result and now shows signs of declining in rank.”

“The Profound Center Sect has invited array masters and geomancers from across the Eastern Sea, but the results have been disappointing.”

Shang Yuanxin continued, “According to the information I received, several fourth-rank formation grandmasters have already examined the spring. They all concluded that its decline cannot be reversed.”

“The only option is to vent its spiritual essence and bloodfiend qi, reducing it to a third-rank spirit spring.”

“And a fourth-rank spirit spring is a condensation of heaven and earth's purest essence. When its spiritual energy is released, high-rank spirit spring treasures will inevitably be born.”

“Thank you for your honesty, Fellow Daoist.”

As Shang Yuanxin spoke, Fang Qing had already begun calculating karma in his mind.

At this moment, his eyes shone brightly.

‘My Purple Mansion opportunity truly lies here.’

‘As expected, one can fail to see Mount Tai when standing too close to it.’

Fang Qing could not help but reflect that he had once stayed on Tianquan Island himself, yet had never calculated this possibility.

Perhaps there truly was some truth to the saying that doctors cannot heal themselves, nor diviners calculate their own fate.

Sometimes, it took an outsider to point out what had been right before one's eyes all along.

‘This serves as a warning.’

‘I must not assume that possessing divination arts within the Qi Refining path makes me invincible.’

He looked at Shang Yuanxin with burning eyes.

“Can the Merchant Alliance acquire such a spirit spring treasure?”

Behind Tianquan Island stood the Profound Center Sect, one of the nine great powers of the Eastern Sea.

As a mere Core Formation cultivator, barging in personally would gain him nothing.

The Merchant Alliance, however, was also one of the nine great powers and possessed the ability to negotiate such a purchase.

“I am a merchant. Naturally, I will do my utmost.”

“If we can offer a price they cannot refuse, then obtaining it is entirely possible.”

A flicker of shadow passed through Shang Yuanxin's eyes.

“But… what exactly can you offer?”

Fang Qing fell silent.

Indeed, to move a power of that level and match the value of a spirit spring treasure, ordinary third-rank spiritual objects would not suffice.

‘Surely I can't simply rob them?’

‘That sect has Nascent Soul old monsters overseeing it, beings comparable to late-stage Purple Mansion great cultivators…’

‘Stealing it would be equally difficult.’

After some calculations, Fang Qing arrived at the same conclusion.

‘The only option is trade.’

‘But finding something suitable to trade is just as difficult.’

‘To impress a force of that level, even ordinary fourth-rank spiritual objects would be insufficient.’

‘Among the treasures I possess, only the Resentful Infant Fruit barely qualifies.’

‘But the origins of that thing are far too shady.’

Once he traded it away, if Talisman Sword Island discovered the truth, trouble would immediately follow.

Not to mention the possibility that the Profound Center Sect might simply kill him and seize the treasure.

Unless the Merchant Alliance personally stepped in.

And that would require Shang Yuanxin's full support.

Not merely acting as an intermediary, but staking his reputation as a young master of the Shang Clan and mobilizing the Merchant Alliance's resources on Fang Qing's behalf.

But that raised another question.

How could he guarantee that Shang Yuanxin would work wholeheartedly for him instead of simply selling him out?

What if he summoned one of the Shang clan's Nascent Soul old monsters, or even Master Heavenly Talisman?

‘Could it be… there is still only that one method?’

Naturally, Fang Qing was referring to converting Shang Yuanxin into one of his disciples.

If he did so, countless possibilities would open up, and he could trust him completely.

‘But… that isn't my style.’

The disciples and consorts under him had mostly joined willingly, or had once been enemies before being subdued.

Only then had he accepted them one by one.

Moreover, there were only three positions for direct disciples.

Qin Ruxue and Xiang Dahu had joined voluntarily.

Xu Hei had once been his enemy.

Once those positions were bestowed, they could never be reclaimed unless the disciple died.

As for the others, such as Yu Xiang’er, Zhong Lingxiu, and Sangji, they had all sought his death before ultimately being subdued in return.

The remaining disciples followed similar patterns.

Most came from the White Bone Dao and had committed countless crimes.

But Shang Yuanxin?

He was neither a blood-drinking demonic cultivator nor someone who had ever tried to kill him.

To enslave another person for no reason at all?

At least at this moment, Fang Qing found himself somewhat reluctant.

As for acting willingly?

The young master of the Shang Family came from an illustrious lineage. Generation after generation, the family had produced Nascent Soul cultivators, and they even had an old ancestor at the late Nascent Soul stage.

Would someone like that willingly become the slave of a mere Core Formation cultivator?

Anyone with a brain knew that was impossible.

Overall, taking this person as a disciple would violate some of Fang Qing's principles.

Though he did not have many principles to begin with, he still had certain bottom lines.

It was the same reason he had never consumed human pills, nor used demonic arts to devour Core Formation cultivators.

Once such a line was crossed, the consequences might not become apparent immediately, but he felt that afterward, he would no longer truly be himself.

'The reason I am myself is because there are still certain things I insist upon.'

Of course, if the situation ever reached the point where failing to subdue Shang Yuanxin meant certain death, Fang Qing would not hesitate for long.

But things had clearly not reached that stage yet.

'Sigh... I really do seem a little contradictory and sentimental.'

'But so what? Wasn't the reason I stepped onto the path of immortality so that neither heaven nor earth could bend my will?'

'Human beings are contradictory creatures by nature. These contradictions are also a part of who I am.'

'I should accept these contradictions honestly. As long as I am at peace with myself, there is no need to change.'

Countless thoughts passed through Fang Qing's mind as he glanced at Shang Yuanxin once more.

Unaware that he had just brushed past the gates of death, Shang Yuanxin continued smiling.

"May I ask what kind of spirit spring treasure you require, Fellow Daoist?"

"They are several special types of spring water with great value in alchemy."

Fang Qing recorded descriptions of the spirit springs he had collected, those suitable for a [Ji Water] breakthrough to Purple Mansion, into a jade slip and handed it to Shang Yuanxin.

"I will trouble Market Master Shang to investigate this matter for me. If Tianquan Island produces similar spiritual treasures, I am willing to pay a high price."

He paused briefly before adding, "Should you assist me, I will refine an entire pool of third-rank high-grade spirit pills as compensation."

"Very well."

Shang Yuanxin nodded.

"I will dispatch people to contact our branch on that side immediately. As for pills... have you ever refined Jade Spring Pills?"

"I have heard of them. They seem to be a type of pill suited for late Core Formation cultivators, capable of increasing one's mana."

Fang Qing looked somewhat surprised.

"Correct. I currently need a batch of Jade Spring Pills. I will have to trouble you to act on my behalf. I have prepared enough materials for three attempts. As long as the minimum required amount is met, everything beyond that will belong to you."

Since it was customary for alchemists to keep any pills produced beyond the expected yield, Shang Yuanxin appeared exceptionally generous.

"Very well."

Fang Qing gazed deeply at Shang Yuanxin before agreeing.

Refining a third-rank superior-grade pill was hardly worth mentioning to him now.

Moreover, every session of water-method alchemy had become a form of cultivation in itself.

Several months later.

Inside the spirit spring alchemy chamber.

Fang Qing sat cross-legged, several bottles of Jade Spring Pills casually placed at his side.

Refining this type of pill posed no challenge whatsoever for him.

His thoughts remained fixed on Tianquan Island.

'Although I've asked Shang Yuanxin to investigate, I already know for certain that Tianquan Island possesses spiritual treasures suitable for advancing to Purple Mansion. The only question is how to obtain them.'

'If I don't pursue an exchange, I could infiltrate the island, bribe or control some disciples, and wait for an opportunity to strike...'

'But that approach is too dangerous. After all, there's a Nascent Soul old monster there. If I push them too far and force a Nascent Soul cultivator to leave their body and pursue me, they could still chase me into the void itself.'

'Being hunted down by a Nascent Soul old monster is the sort of exciting experience that suits Zhan Hongxiu, not me.'

'If I choose the exchange route, the only spiritual treasure I possess that could move Tianquan Island is probably the Resentful Infant Fruit.'

'But for that, I would need an intermediary with impeccable credibility.'

'Neither option is completely reliable. Fortunately, I know divination.'

Fang Qing took out a tortoise shell and several copper coins, then began calculating carefully.

His divination techniques had originally originated from the Plum Blossom Divination method, but later he had studied numerous books on the art.

After entering the Hidden-Treasury system, he had also comprehended many blood divination secrets possessed by that Golden Core power.

And after obtaining the Duzi divine status, his divination abilities had advanced by leaps and bounds.

At the very least, within the Qi Ingestion system, he had already achieved a breakthrough.

Not only could he calculate his own fortune and misfortune, he could also deduce the karmic ties of Qi Ingestion and Dao Foundation cultivators with crystal clarity, as though examining the lines on his own palm.

As for the Qi Refining system, his divinations had become virtually infallible.

A moment later, Fang Qing studied the hexagrams before him, deep in thought.

'If I infiltrate and seize the treasure by force, the outcome is mildly inauspicious?'

'If I trade through Shang Yuanxin, then it is auspicious?'

'My divination abilities should be stronger within the Qi Refining system, though when Nascent Soul old monsters are involved, there will inevitably be some interference.'

After all, divination techniques were always ill-suited for calculating matters involving those at higher levels.

However, Nascent Soul cultivators were still inferior to Golden Core True Lords of the Qi Ingestion path. Thus, although there would be some interference, it would not be enough to obscure karma completely and lead him to disaster.

'If I wanted absolute certainty, forcibly converting Shang Yuanxin would naturally be the best option.'

'Aside from that, I can use divination to determine his true intentions.'

'According to the hexagrams, if I approach him solely as a third-rank alchemist, my importance in his eyes will not be high enough. There is still a chance something could go wrong.'

'But if I use the identity of Fang Shui, the Void Spiritual Root cultivator, then his confidence will become unwavering.'

'Besides, once I reveal the Resentful Infant Fruit, he should be able to guess my identity anyway.'

Fang Qing could not help but sigh inwardly.

It seemed that in Shang Yuanxin's mind, Fang Shui possessed the bearing of a future Nascent Soul cultivator. Otherwise, he would not place such value on him.

'The only issue is that this would effectively expose my hand and sell out Zhong Meng and Zhong Lingxiu.'

'If something goes wrong in the future, that person will certainly die.'

'But Zhong Lingxiu would never betray me anyway. If he dies, then so be it.'

'At the same time, he can serve as a hostage left in Shang Yuanxin's hands.'

'That actually makes him even more useful.'