Chapter 429 - 324: Consummation and Farewell
Fang Qingyuan opened his eyes, the first time he had done so in over half a year. His body felt as if it were covered by a thin membrane, pressing down on him. He paused for a moment before remembering that he had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection.
His body was now more sensitive than ever before, able to feel the intrusion of the various impure qi from the outside world, as well as the Magical Power that felt ready to erupt from within.
His gaze illuminated the dark chamber. The room’s furnishings were unchanged from half a year ago. Thanks to the Dust-Repelling Array, not even a single speck of dust had accumulated, as if the long passage of time had frozen here.
Fang Qingyuan was naturally not disturbed by this illusion. He made a slow, deliberate motion of breathing in. In truth, not a single wisp of the outside world’s turbid qi entered him. Instead, it was as if an opening had appeared at the crown of his head, allowing a continuous stream of pure Spiritual Qi to pour in.
This was the Magical Power he had accumulated over the past six months of cultivation. During his training, his Magical Power had already reached its peak, but his Five Elements Body Refining Technique had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment Peak. Therefore, Fang Qingyuan had chosen to use this excess Magical Power to temper his entire body.
As Fang Qingyuan moved, a surge of Magical Power seeped into the hundreds of apertures all over his body. Once inside, the Magical Power fused with the most minute parts of his physical form, causing a fundamental transformation.
As his Magical Power was slowly consumed, the bones and joints throughout Fang Qingyuan’s body began to hum. His meridians stretched and contracted, and his hair rustled softly. His entire body was undergoing a comprehensive yet subtle transformation.
A moment later, this session of cultivation finally came to an end.
He then got off the bed and casually condensed the water vapor in the air into a mirror to see his reflection.
In the Water Mirror, his tall, straight figure appeared, seemingly even more handsome and with an extraordinary air about him.
He truly had sword-like eyebrows that slanted toward his temples, a face as fair as jade, and eyes as bright as stars.
Cultivation itself was a process of continuous self-perfection, of pursuing a higher level of existence. Back in his Qi Cultivation Stage, Fang Qingyuan’s appearance had been unremarkable. Now, after nearly a century of cultivation, each breakthrough in his realm had long since adjusted his physical appearance, his skin, and even his meridians to a state of near-perfection.
It couldn’t even be compared to the plastic surgery of his previous life. If Fang Qingyuan were to have children now, they would inherit his current appearance and bearing, not his original looks from the very beginning.
After admiring his own reflection for a while, Fang Qingyuan dispelled the Water Mirror spell. Once he had straightened himself up, he leisurely emerged from his seclusion.
The moment Fang Qingyuan stepped out, the few Daoist Disciples waiting at the door spread the news. A short while later, many people came to pay their respects.
Among them, Jiang Wanqin came forward and said:
"Senior Brother Qingyuan, you should go see Sect Leader Mao. I don’t think he’s going to make it."
Fang Qingyuan was startled. ’When I went into seclusion half a year ago, Mao Cheng seemed fine. How could he suddenly be at death’s door?’
Over the years, he had bestowed several Blood Life Pills upon Mao Cheng. However, since Mao Cheng had already taken one full-strength pill, the effects of any subsequent ones were halved. By the third pill, the effect was minimal, and the fourth was practically useless.
A few Blood Life Pills should have been enough to extend Mao Cheng’s life by about ten years. But Mao Cheng was at most a hundred and ten years old. ’Is his time already up?’
Looking around, he saw that most of the people present wore dejected expressions. Fang Qingyuan sighed sorrowfully, and much of the joy from successfully reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection faded. He then led the group to the Mao Mansion.
A dismal, misty rain was falling. The Mao Residence, usually bustling with a lively, flourishing crowd, was now utterly silent, shrouded in an atmosphere of solemnity and grief.
Even the gatekeepers of the Mao Residence, who were usually arrogant and looked down on others, were now as wilted as frost-bitten eggplants, completely lacking in spirit. Everyone was clutching a set of white hemp mourning clothes, and many also held black gauze covers intended for the lanterns.
Inside the Mao Mansion, several men past the age of fifty, as well as many middle-aged people, stood dazedly in the courtyard. Some looked miserable, others lost, all quietly awaiting the final moment.
On the way, Fang Qingyuan heard from Jiang Wanqin that Mao Cheng’s health had taken a turn for the worse over half a month ago. He had been hanging on by a thread ever since, wanting to see Fang Qingyuan one last time. He probably had something he needed to tell him.
Upon entering the courtyard and seeing the kneeling descendants of the Mao Family, Fang Qingyuan said nothing. He gestured for everyone to stay behind and went inside alone.
Several beautiful maids were attending to the semi-conscious Mao Cheng. Upon seeing Fang Qingyuan arrive, they quickly knelt in greeting.
Dismissing the maids, Fang Qingyuan stepped forward to check Mao Cheng’s condition. A scan with his divine sense revealed that Mao Cheng’s body was an empty shell. He was like a desiccated corpse, his life force utterly drained. The only thing keeping him from death was sheer willpower, but it was clear he couldn’t hold on for much longer.
Fang Qingyuan had never paid much mind to this little old man before, but he had to admit that managing the Qingyuan Sect so capably for all these years was no small feat.
The sect had been established for over forty years, and in all that time, the Qingyuan Sect had never suffered a major mishap. ’Those who are truly skilled in battle achieve no glorious victories.’ Although Mao Cheng was not an exceptionally talented man, to have accomplished this much, Fang Qingyuan had to acknowledge his competence.
With a point of his finger, he sent a stream of pure Wood Spirit Power into Mao Cheng’s body. Mao Cheng’s cloudy eyes fluttered open, and he looked at Fang Qingyuan.
"Sect Leader..."
Fang Qingyuan sat down beside Mao Cheng and said to him:
"I’ve come to see you. If you have any last wishes, you can tell me."
Mao Cheng struggled to sit up, but his current condition no longer permitted such a large movement. He could only gasp laboriously for breath.
Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan frowned slightly. He then summoned his Wood Spirit Fish Dragon and, through it, drew a Nine-Luminaries-level Talisman in the air, sending it into Mao Cheng’s body.