Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 220 The Immortal Family of the Vast Sea
"Good, good, good! This method sounds much better than those earth vein foundation building methods on the market that sound like they're from some old ghost!"

A hearty laugh rang out from the guest room.

Fang Shu looked up and saw that it was Zhuang, a seemingly rough and straightforward martial artist, shouting and yelling.

Clearly, all four of them, including Fang Shu, were extremely interested in the Foundation Establishment method of the Vast Sea region.

Seeing this, the woman in white smiled. She spoke:

"Since all four of you think this method is acceptable and do not regard it as a heretical path, I am very pleased. I hope that you four will put in your best efforts in the following matters and not be lazy."

Someone on the spot immediately replied, "What are you saying, Dharma Protector? We are good friends, and you have such a true Dharma to offer. We should serve you with all our might!"

Fang Shu nodded repeatedly.

However, while everyone else was simply excited, he hesitated for a moment, then suppressed his joy and spoke out seemingly unintentionally:

"By the way, Protector Bai, the immortals of the Vast Ocean use this method to build their foundations, which is quite damaging to the earth's veins. I wonder if the local immortal sects are also strictly guarding against this method?"

Upon hearing this, the other celestial beings, who were in the midst of their joy, also had their eyes flicker. They all snapped out of their reverie and looked at Protector Bai with amusement.

Upon hearing this, the White Protector showed no change in expression; instead, his smile deepened.

The woman smiled at Fang Shu and said, "What Fellow Daoist Hu actually wanted to say was, how did such a method spread? Is it true or false? Or is it that I, Bai, have exaggerated?"

Indeed, although Fang Shu was delighted, he still couldn't help but be cautious about such an important matter as Foundation Establishment.

After all, according to the White Protector's description of the foundation-building method, it has many advantages, but its disadvantages are also quite obvious.

Of course, this disadvantage is not for the immortals themselves, but for the region they belong to.

These Foundation Establishment Immortals are not confined to one place, but instead extract the earth's veins into their own bloodline. However, earth veins and dragon veins are not the same as malevolent energy or fierce energy.

The latter can be harvested without harm, and the Qi Refining Immortals need very little of it. However, once the former is harvested, the local spiritual energy will either wither or be cut off, and in the future, it will only be inhabited by mortals and beasts. It will be difficult to grow spiritual plants, raise demonic beasts, cultivate spiritual herbs, etc. It can be described as draining the pond to catch all the fish and killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

It can be said that such foundation building is based on "damaging heaven and earth to enrich oneself". Its harm to heaven and earth is like that of locusts passing through the land, or herds of cattle and horses, which can easily destroy the local feng shui and soil.

Fang Shu still didn't know how the ancient Taoists' methods of cultivating inner world destroyed heaven and earth. However, the harmfulness of this kind of foundation-building method in the vast sea to heaven and earth was quite obvious. Therefore, he had some doubts about whether this method was truly as Protector Bai said, and whether it had already taken shape in the vast sea region.

The White Protector spoke:
"What you may not know is that the vast desert is not only found in our Xihulu Continent, but also in other major continents in the east, west, north and south, though they may be called by different names."

It is named the Vast Sea because its desert is endless, encircling the entire outer world, as vast as the sea. The deeper one goes, the more life is cut off. It is a desolate and dangerous place that even immortal sects cannot reach, and even mortals cannot live there.

In such regions, immortals do not reside in one place, but rather migrate according to the flow of water, vegetation, and spiritual energy. Previously, there were no sects, only tribes. Only over tens of thousands of years have signs of the merging of sects and Daoist schools emerged, and it wasn't until the last ten thousand years that cities appeared.

As she spoke, she concluded, "In short, the vast Hanhai region is a barren land that no immortal sect in the world would despise. It has always been occupied by rogue cultivators, and the local immortals are fierce and bloodthirsty."

In such regions, even if one wishes to establish a sect and properly cultivate the spiritual energy of the land, not only will the environment not allow it, but other immortal sects will also object, as they will certainly covet and encroach upon it. Therefore, this method of foundation building that seizes the earth's veins for private use was born and has become widely circulated.

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu's expression immediately softened. He understood; this Foundation Establishment method was unheard of and quite vicious for inland immortal families like theirs. However, for the Vast Ocean Immortal Family, it was a method perfectly suited to their needs.

Suddenly, someone in the audience echoed:
"Indeed, I have heard of what Protector Bai said. It is said that the immortals of the Vast Sea have no permanent property and no perseverance. The area is also plagued by natural disasters and calamities, which are difficult even for immortals to endure."

Some have compared them to us, saying one is a shepherd and the other a farmer. We find them fierce, like wolves and tigers. They, in turn, find us honest, like cattle and sheep.

Upon hearing this, the female talisman master surnamed Luo, one of the four, suddenly frowned and spoke:
"These words have reminded me of something. It is said that the immortals in the Hanhai region are doing well now. They have built immortal cities, opened up trade routes, and there are even Nascent Soul immortals in the cities. Their habits have improved a lot."

They are no longer like before, readily raiding various states and regions, swallowing up local immortal sects and Taoist schools, like a horde of demonic beasts.

These claims reached Fang Shu's ears, which he found quite novel.

He pondered to himself, realizing that the so-called immortals of the vast ocean and the immortals of the inland were indeed very different in their habits.

From this perspective, the foundation-building path mentioned by Protector Bai is indeed sound and has a long history.

This immediately dispelled most of Fang Shu's doubts.

Of course, the main reason is that, according to his Daoist deductions, the general principles of the methods in the jade slip are indeed highly feasible, and could not possibly be fabricated by a mere Qi-refining immortal.

"It was Hu who was being presumptuous." Fang Shu immediately bowed to the white-robed protector and apologized.

The woman in white remained composed and said with a laugh, "Brother Hu, you flatter me. If you have any doubts, it would be best to raise them directly. Otherwise, I might overlook something."

Then, the group chatted for a while longer in the guest room.

With the sample provided, the others raised their concerns, inquired about key points in the incantation, or asked how to deliver the remaining passwords on the jade slip once the task was completed.

Faced with these doubts, the woman in white answered them one by one in an orderly manner, not at all like someone who would just pull off a quick heist. This demeanor reassured Fang Shu and the others even more.

During this time, Fang Shu's thoughts drifted away.

He suddenly thought of his own lineage's "eldest brother," who was rumored to have fled to the Immortal City of Vast Ocean.

Previously, Fang Shu did not quite understand the difference between the two places. Now, after listening to Protector Bai and the others explain, he immediately suspected that his senior brother might not have returned to the sect for so long because of the difference in Foundation Establishment between the two places.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, he put aside his distracting thoughts.

Inside the room, after discussing the Foundation Establishment Techniques, the group, guided by the woman in white, shifted their attention to the upcoming Dragon Girl's search for a husband.

This was important business, so Fang Shu immediately composed himself, listened attentively, and occasionally chimed in with a few words.

What put him at ease was that, according to the White Protector, although the Dragon Girl's ship was a distinguished guest of Floating Mountain, with a great reputation and many henchmen, there were no Foundation Establishment Immortals on board.

In this way, even if the matter is dangerous, it shouldn't be too serious. At worst, if we can't win, we can run away; there's always a way to survive.

(End of this chapter)