Cultivating Immortality: Starting from Ferrying Passengers

Chapter 194 Three years in a hurry
A moment later, Fang Jingxuan awoke from his state of enlightenment and realized that the upper limit of his divine sense's range had increased by ten zhang.

The range of this divine sense becomes increasingly difficult to increase as one progresses. This time, the range increased by ten zhang, which is enough to offset Fang Jingxuan's half-year of arduous cultivation.

Such enlightenment for cultivators is always rare and hard to come by. It doesn't mean that one must comprehend some profound truth of heaven and earth. As long as it aligns with one's state of mind and one firmly believes in one's principles, there is a chance of reaching this state.

Fang Jingxuan hadn't entered this place for many years, especially with the Enlightenment Vine, and this was the first time he had managed to comprehend it, which shows how difficult it was.

After checking his own condition, Fang Jingxuan turned his attention to Lin Xiaoqian.

Just now, when Fang Jingxuan was having an epiphany, she wisely refrained from making a sound to disturb him. Otherwise, if Fang Jingxuan had missed this rare moment of enlightenment, he might have killed her in a fit of anger.

As for whether Lin Xiaoqian might take advantage of his moment of enlightenment to harm him?
That's impossible. Enlightenment is just a deeper level of thinking, not a coma or a lack of response to the outside world. If you encounter danger, you will definitely wake up immediately.

Moreover, Fang Jingxuan also has the ability to sense "whims," ​​so if Lin Xiaoqian has any thoughts that are detrimental to him, he can sense them immediately.

At this moment, the enlightenment was complete, and Fang Jingxuan's temperament changed a little. Perhaps this is how cultivation is, changing one's cognition little by little. When the cultivation level is higher, he will find that he is completely different from when he was cultivating Qi.

"You're quite sensible. This is a Spirit Nourishing Pill. As an alchemist, you naturally know how to take it. Quickly strengthen your spirit; this will greatly benefit your alchemy. In a few years, I'll need you to do something important."

Lin Xiaoqian accepted the pill from Fang Jingxuan, a look of joy appearing on her face. This Nourishing Spirit Pill was of second-tier quality, clearly the kind that this Foundation Establishment expert in front of her usually took.

The fact that she's giving one away to herself shows how much she values ​​herself.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior. I am very grateful. However, I do not know your name. Please tell me."

At this moment, Fang Jingxuan realized that he had not given his name, which was quite an oversight.

"I am Xuanming, a subordinate of Elder Xiao of the Holy Sect. In the future, just state my name when you go out."

After giving Lin Xiaoqian his instructions, Fang Jingxuan returned to the quiet room, leaving behind the girl who had been feeling uneasy but had relaxed after his departure.

Inside the quiet room, Fang Jingxuan pondered Lin Xiaoqian's arrangements, checking for any oversights.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he has the ability to train his own alchemist to refine pills that are not suitable for public display and are made to order.

Just like the Moon Essence True Water, this level of true water obviously cannot be handled by outside alchemists.

Besides the Taiyin Moon Essence True Water, the other types of True Water also need to be refined.

Of course, Fang Jingxuan could spend time handling these things himself, but that would delay his cultivation time.

As someone with cultural experience from another world, Fang Jingxuan highly values ​​the concept of division of labor and cooperation.

He subconsciously resisted the idea of ​​doing everything himself.

Just like the production of electrical appliances, Fang Jingxuan cannot produce all the parts himself and then assemble them.

Specialization is key. By delegating complex and less important tasks, we can save more time for cultivation, which can then be used to improve combat strength and obtain more resources.

If it weren't for one's own cultivation and strength, would one be able to obtain these benefits?
After this epiphany, Fang Jingxuan finally understood that only strength is the foundation of everything, and that nothing else is worth wasting his time pursuing.

Fang Jingxuan even abandoned the previous path of talismans, focusing solely on cultivation and trying to improve his combat power.

With this in mind, Fang Jingxuan entered meditation again, immersing himself in the profound state of cultivating the "Mysterious Abyss True Explanation".

Three years passed in the blink of an eye, and the cultivators in the Holy Infant Sect gradually emerged from their previous defeat in the battle against the Thousand Sun Sect.

Meanwhile, Fang Jingxuan, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was quite famous at the time, has faded into obscurity after these past few years and is no longer mentioned.

However, Daoist Baizhu has been extremely prominent in the past three years. He led several Foundation Establishment cultivators to conquer a large territory for the Holy Infant Sect, and his reputation has soared.

Since acquiring that spirit stone mine, the Thousand Sun Sect has developed rapidly in recent years. The treatment and benefits of the sect's disciples have been improved, and the magic weapons for Foundation Establishment cultivators have also been fully prepared.

In addition, the Four Seas Society also began to become active in the surrounding area, saying that they wanted to besiege a Foundation Establishment cultivator and hoped that the other sects would provide appropriate assistance.

Fang Jingxuan remained in seclusion, focusing on his cultivation, and paid no attention to these external events.

With less than a year left of the promised five-year period, Fang Jingxuan finally turned his attention away from his mundane cultivation and began to learn about the outside world.

At this time, after more than three years of dedicated cultivation, and with an ample supply of the Wonderful Auspicious Cloud Pills, Fang Jingxuan's cultivation progress was more than twenty points per day. After three years, he had now reached:
[Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Level 1 (31456/45000)]

At this rate, it will take less than two years for me to reach the second level of Foundation Establishment.

At present, Fang Jingxuan is also satisfied with his cultivation speed. And now, after several years of collecting, he finally has news of a second-grade top-quality pine and cypress spirit.

With Tuoyuan in tow, Fang Jingxuan left the quiet room and went outside.

Over the past three years, Lin Xiaoqian has matured and become much more composed, losing some of her previous fiery temper.

Of course, Lin Xiaoqian never showed her shrewish side in front of Fang Jingxuan.

With the supply of spirit stones from Fang Jingxuan, Lin Xiaoqian's cultivation has progressed rapidly over the past three years, reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining.

A Qi Refining stage cultivator in his early twenties would be considered a genius if placed within the sphere of influence of the Chu family of Red Leaf Workshop.

But in the Chaotic Star Sea of ​​the Holy Infant Sect, she wouldn't be considered exceptionally talented. After all, among tens of thousands of Qi Refining cultivators, there are at least a hundred like her.

At this moment, Lin Xiaoqian was diligently refining pills, her small face reflecting the red glow of the furnace fire.

Over the course of three years, Lin Xiaoqian also made good use of her talent, and her alchemy skills improved rapidly.

In these few years, it also brought Fang Jingxuan an income of three high-grade spirit stones, which was truly astonishing.

Pill making is indeed a highly profitable industry. The cost of ten low-grade spirit stones can yield five times the profit once the pill is successfully refined.

This is just for basic pills; the profit margin would double for complex, high-grade pills.

With Fang Jingxuan's protection, Lin Xiaoqian didn't need to worry about anything, whether it was collecting materials for alchemy or selling pills. Those vassal cultivators would handle it all. She only needed to focus on refining pills, just like Fang Jingxuan.

However, as these three years passed, Lin Xiaoqian also developed strange thoughts. Anyone who spent so much time refining pills like being in prison would have similar thoughts.

Fang Jingxuan didn't care about Lin Xiaoqian's thoughts. As long as she couldn't break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, she had no right to bargain with him.

After ignoring Lin Xiaoqian, Fang Jingxuan arrived at Shuwu Peak. It was still the same as before, unchanged for centuries.

"Uncle-Master Xuanming, your disciple Huang Fengxian greets you." The Qi Refining cultivator opposite him was none other than Huang Fengxian from before. Last time, he was the one who exchanged the [Tongxuan Treasure Cicada] for a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

At that time, his cultivation had not yet reached perfection, but now it seems that he is ready.

Upon seeing this person, Fang Jingxuan raised his eyebrows slightly, secretly increasing his opinion of him.

The fact that this young man has managed to find the fellow practitioners he needs time and again suggests that he possesses some extraordinary talent.

However, everyone has secrets, and Fang Jingxuan didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he stopped investigating the secrets behind the man and just wanted to complete the deal.

"Huang Fengxian, I still remember you. Last time, it was you who found the [Mysterious Cicada] for me. So, what treasure have you found this time?"

Huang Fengxian was quite straightforward; she took out a cypress tree from her storage bag and placed it on the table in front of Fang Jingxuan.

"This is a second-tier top-grade cypress tree that I obtained by chance during my travels over the past few years. After identification, it was confirmed to be a [Jianmu Spirit Cypress]. It is said that given enough time, it can be cultivated into a fifth-tier Jianmu Divine Tree. I don't know if it's true or not, but judging from its current grade, it is still worthy of being called a second-tier top-grade."

After Huang Fengxian took out the pot of Jianmu Spirit Cypress, Fang Jingxuan's eyes were fixed on it. Compared to the Three Friends of Winter that he was currently using, this spiritual plant was much more attractive to him.

But in front of Huang Fengxian, Fang Jingxuan still wanted to maintain his dignity, so he said casually:

“Rare indeed, rare indeed. Such a spiritual plant is indeed very important to me. Nephew Fengxian, what would you like to exchange it for? Spirit stones, pills? Or other spiritual materials and resources?”

Fang Jingxuan had assumed that Huang Fengxian would demand a large amount of spirit stones, since selling to him would yield double the profit compared to selling to outside merchants.

Fang Jingxuan had previously announced that he would double the purchase price for certain spiritual materials in order to attract many Qi Refining disciples so that they would think of him first when such materials were available.

But to Fang Jingxuan's surprise, Huang Fengxian suddenly knelt down and said to him:

"Disciple Fengxian has no other requests, but only hopes that Uncle Xuanming will save me, considering how diligently I have collected spiritual materials for you."

Ok?
After pondering for a few moments, Fang Jingxuan said:

"What trouble have you encountered that makes you beg me like this? Have you offended a Foundation Establishment cultivator and someone wants to take your life?"

"Uncle Xuanming is truly a prophet. That's exactly what happened. Half a month ago, I sensed an opportunity in the western sea outside the Holy Gate using my innate divine power, so I went there excitedly."

Just as I was about to leave after plundering the opportunities on that deserted island, a Foundation Establishment cultivator jumped out and said that I had ruined his plans, and that he was going to kill me without a word.

Fortunately, the disciple also had some tricks and trump cards, and managed to escape by chance. However, this person left a mark on his body, saying that unless he never left Holy Gate Island again, it would be the day he died.

The disciple was helpless. This was the critical period for Foundation Establishment. If this matter affected his state of mind, even with the help of top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, he feared that everything would be in vain and all would come to an end.

Therefore, I earnestly request my Uncle-Master Xuanming to help me resolve this matter and remove this mental obstacle from my heart.

Hearing Huang Fengxian's plea, Fang Jingxuan finally understood that she wanted to use this [Jianmu Lingbai] to ask him to settle her matter.

Speaking of which, is it worth risking animosity with another Foundation Establishment cultivator over a second-tier top-grade item?

Fang Jingxuan pondered quietly for a few moments and then realized that the [Jianmu Spirit Cypress] was related to his cultivation speed, and he absolutely had to obtain it.

Moreover, this is an excellent example of spending a fortune to acquire a horse's bones. With role models like Huang Fengxian, it will be much easier for me to collect spiritual materials in the future.

However, there are still a few questions that need to be clarified.

"Have you figured out the identity and background of the Foundation Establishment cultivator you offended? What level of cultivation has he reached? What supernatural abilities does he have?"
Furthermore, why didn't you ask the Foundation Establishment cultivators in your own faction for help, but instead came to me for assistance?"

Faced with Fang Jingxuan's questions, Huang Fengxian explained them one by one, and Fang Jingxuan fell silent after listening to them all.

According to Huang Fengxian, he had also approached the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the main sect about this matter. However, because he had been wandering around for many years, he had not accumulated much merit within the sect, so the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the main sect did not have a good impression of him.

Secondly, the opposing cultivator was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, while the Foundation Establishment cultivators in his own faction were all at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Upon hearing the opponent's cultivation level, they initially wanted to intervene but ultimately gave up.

He was simply advised to be patient for now, and that everything would be fine once the sect leader achieved the Golden Core stage.

However, Huang Fengxian felt that it would probably take another ten years or so for their sect leader to form his core, which he couldn't afford to wait for.

Then he remembered Fang Jingxuan's prowess in his battle against the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Thousand Sun Sect. Although he was only in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, his combat power was astonishing. So he came to ask for help, hoping to try anything.

The opposing cultivator was a Foundation Establishment Level 4 cultivator who practiced water-based techniques. His origins were unclear, but it was known that he didn't respect the Holy Infant Sect and had a rather arrogant attitude.

After hearing all this, Fang Jingxuan also felt a headache coming on. After thinking for a few moments, he said:

"So how do you want to resolve this? Do you expect me to kill the other party?"

"This disciple dares not ask for such a thing. I only hope that the other party will promise not to pursue my previous offense and to remove the mark left on me, so that this matter can be put aside and everyone can treat it as a misunderstanding."

"In that case, there is a chance for this matter to turn around, and perhaps we won't have to fight. Very well, I will go for you. But let me make it clear beforehand that no matter whether this matter succeeds or not, this [Jianmu Lingbai] will be mine."

Upon hearing this, Huang Fengxian was overjoyed and respectfully presented the Jianmu Lingbai.

Fang Jingxuan put it into his storage bag, flicked his sleeve, and said to Huang Fengxian:

"Let's go now, I need to get back to cultivate as soon as possible."

Huang Fengxian was startled and somewhat stunned by Fang Jingxuan's swift action.

"What are you waiting for? Come on up."

The Tuoyuan behind Fang Jingxuan also swelled up from the size of a tiger to the size of a Wumeng ship in just a few breaths.

In recent years, the power of the bloodline within Tuoyuan's body and his own cultivation have been increasing, so he can use the [Size and Size at Will] supernatural power more and more freely.

Huang Fengxian was so focused on talking to Fang Jingxuan that she didn't notice the existence of such a large Tuoyuan. It seems that once Tuoyuan becomes low-key, it is just a lump, which is very much in line with the lurking habits of turtle-like spirit beasts.

Upon receiving Fang Jingxuan's invitation, Huang Fengxian gritted her teeth and flew directly onto Tuoyuan's back, where she sat cross-legged in a corner.

Fang Jingxuan smiled slightly at this, and then Tuoyuan automatically climbed out of Shuwu Peak and rushed towards the sea outside the island.

After arriving on the sea from the island, Tuoyuan began to display his strength. His size grew larger and larger without anyone noticing. Huang Fengxian, who was originally only a few meters behind Fang Jingxuan, had now been automatically moved several meters away.

At this moment, as Huang Fengxian looked at Fang Jingxuan's back, she felt a strong sense of security for some reason. This martial uncle was probably even more powerful than she had imagined.

(End of this chapter)