Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 138 Not Two Colors

Fang Qing rode the Fire Bowl, heading east in a grand and unrestrained manner.

Occasionally, when encountering fleeing cultivators, those of the highest level of cultivation would kneel down to see them off, and even those at the Foundation Establishment stage would respectfully make way upon seeing the radiant light of the "Six-Syllable Mantra," displaying an extremely humble demeanor.

"Fang Family Fortress... is still in Ba County. Back then, I was just a minor cultivator, and I couldn't travel too far. I couldn't find a better place to settle down."

Although it was decided that there was no need to acknowledge each other or deliberately lead the Fang family onto the path of immortality.

But it is, after all, this is my clan, and it would not be good to see the lineage die out.

Fang Qing decided to go and take a look anyway.

After all, Ba County has now become the front line, and it could be breached at any time.

Warfare and disasters, displacement and devastation... these are all common occurrences.

He looked around along the way and found that the further east he went, the worse the war became, with many starving corpses floating by the roadside.

Dividing bones for cooking, exchanging children for food… these are not merely a few words in books, but a bloody reality, crashing down upon us. The refugees fleeing the hordes show no other emotion, only numbness…

In such a world, struggling to survive, one probably has no emotions other than numbness.

Fangjiabao.

Fang Jingchun was in his fifties or sixties, but he looked exceptionally old. He was wearing a snow-white fox fur coat, but he still felt a bit cold.

"This damn weather..."

He sat in the wicker chair, looking at his bony hands, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Back then, he was a renowned martial arts master, known as "Iron Palm Suppresses the Three Rivers, Silver Spear Sweeps the Eight Directions," how spirited he was!

Unfortunately, as he grew older, his vital energy declined, and his internal strength gradually became unable to suppress the injuries he had sustained in his youth.

This caused him to gradually become emaciated, and he suffered terribly on rainy days.

"grandfather!"

At this moment, a dashing young man burst in; it was none other than his grandson, Fang Yixin.

His white robe and silver spear reminded Fang Jingchun of his younger self, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face: "My dear grandson... how's the investigation going?"

"General Ji perished at Sancha Mountain. The demon army rested for several days before continuing their southward advance... Their invasion is raging and extremely urgent. Grandfather, our family should make a decision soon."

Fang Yixin said.

"It is said that Ji Fengchun could use qi cultivation and alchemy to breathe and spit out flying swords, and was a figure of the first rank of immortals... yet he died under mysterious circumstances."

Fang Jingchun sighed, his eyes somewhat bewildered: "Back then... my Fang family ancestor said that even immortals are inferior to mortals, and how true that is." Fang Yixin, however, curled his lip, quite unconvinced: "But I think, among all these mortals, if you offered them a chance to become an immortal, how many wouldn't be tempted? Besides, even you, Grandfather, who arranged for me to marry the Hu family of the Sixi Merchant Guild, weren't you only doing so because you admired the Hu family ancestor's willingness to enter the Dao..." "Indeed!"

Fang Jingchun narrowed his eyes slightly, finally revealing a hint of ruthlessness: "These years have been tough on you... Outsiders think that the Miss Sixi Chamber of Commerce is marrying up, but actually my family is the one who married up... It's been hard for you to be humble and subservient in your boudoir."

"If you don't become an immortal, you'll always be an ant."

Fang Yixin said, "After reading the clan history, I was terrified... It was bad enough that the Luo family of Tianshui kept my family captive and consumed our life essence... but they even frequently performed blood sacrifices and fed us flesh pills..."

When the Luo family of Tianshui was destroyed, only the cultivators died; quite a few mortals still managed to escape.

After Fangjiabao was established, several people were captured and subjected to secret torture, which revealed much of the truth.

Only then did they learn that many of the Fang family's ancestors had not died of natural causes, but had been taken by the Luo family to cultivate various evil arts and even consume blood essence. It was said that this could improve one's destiny and make it easier to cultivate the [Ji Shui] technique.

Fang Yixin found this strange.

To immortals, mortals are like ants.

Under such captivity, how did the Fang family produce an ancestor who cultivated immortality?

Unfortunately, Fang Jingchun was unaware of this matter.

He lowered his voice and said, "Over the years, I've learned that my family's destiny is exceptionally auspicious, suitable for cultivating the [Ji Shui] technique. Our ancestor left us the [Ji Shui] 'Guan Hei Ling Shu'... a foundational cultivation method with a very complete Qi-gathering technique. Our family has been cautious for many years, and the reserves in our three secret vaults are sufficient to supply at least three 'Earthly Origin Refining True Qi' stages. However, the final step requires a Qi-gathering cultivator to come and combine their Qi to truly synthesize a True Qi... How is things on your end?"

"I was just about to bring this up... Madam Hu said that her uncle is preparing to move his whole family westward to avoid the war... If we don't speak up, we might miss out."

Fang Yixin was getting a little anxious.

Over the years, his family has been trying to curry favor with the Hu family, sending them truckloads of gold, silver, jewelry, and rare antiques. They have also been secretly inquiring about the Hu family's family traditions and character... Isn't it all for this final request?

If he successfully obtains the true knowledge, he will definitely be able to accept it and enter the Dao—after all, he has privately read that cultivation method over and over again no less than a thousand times, and can recite it fluently.

"In times of great importance, one must remain calm... Why are you in such a hurry? I've guarded this place my whole life, and I'm not even in a rush when I'm about to die... Even if you die of old age, you still have sons and grandsons... My Fang family will eventually attain enlightenment. Safety is paramount. Who knows if that Hu family cultivator will become greedy and covet my family's true essence?" Fang Jingchun said, "Actually, if they are willing to leave one path for my family, what's wrong with giving them the other two? I'm just afraid that they might ruthlessly slaughter my entire family for the sake of this opportunity, and that would truly be a tragedy..."

"Grandpa is right."

Fang Yixin accepted the instruction with a stern expression. His father had died young in an assassination attempt, and he had been raised by Fang Jingchun, developing a very close relationship with his grandfather. "Right now, protecting my family is paramount… Since the Hu family is leaving, we'll naturally need escorts, bodyguards, and grooms… Those Hu family cultivators are merely acquaintances; their cultivation is reportedly not high enough to handle everything. This is precisely the time to utilize my family. Go and tell them that my family will provide manpower and resources to accompany us!"

Fang Jingchun opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them.

This scene felt both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar to Fang Yixin.

Whenever faced with a life-or-death crisis for their family, my grandfather would always make the same decision. Fangjiabao's success today is largely due to my grandfather's resourcefulness and decisiveness; he always had the foresight to anticipate opportunities.

"yes!"

Fang Yixin bowed and was about to leave when her grandfather instructed her, "Our family is divided into three branches. Your great-uncle's branch should move elsewhere, south or east is fine, just don't go west... As for your great-aunt's branch, it should stay here; surely a few of them will survive..."

Fang Yixin's great-uncle and great-aunt were naturally the two who were with Fang Jingchun back then, and were also the second and third masters of Fang Family Fortress. Especially the great-aunt's lineage, back then they found someone to marry into the family, but told the outside world that they had married out, and the descendants even changed their surnames, just in case the Luo family would have cultivators looking for them in the future.

Fang Yixin agreed to bid farewell to her grandfather and returned to her own courtyard.

He was faithful to one woman throughout his life, taking only one wife and having no concubines.

In the courtyard, two chubby-cheeked boys were playing. When they saw him come in, they both ran over with smiles and called him "Daddy."

"Wuchen, Wujiu...did you behave well today?"

Fang Yixin hugged the two little ones: "They've gotten a bit heavier..."

Upon entering the room, a woman dressed in a bright red coat, adorned with jeweled hairpins and jade ornaments, with ordinary features, came out to greet them. She was none other than Hu, Fang Yixin's wife.

He put down his two sons and asked, "I just met with my grandfather. Now that you're returning home, you can talk to your ancestors about... sending some people from our family to come along."

As for Ms. Hu, she was overjoyed to be able to travel with her parents and readily agreed.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Since your family are martial arts practitioners, it's good to have more manpower prepared. We'll definitely need it when we get to the west..."

"Wouldn't it be best to travel light and simply when fleeing?"

Fang Yixin was somewhat stunned, but then he heard his wife sneer, "I heard my uncle mention that Xituo County is now occupied by Tibetan monks, and they will inevitably demand some talent. If it is a strong and healthy man, the better..."

"this……"

Fang Yixin was stunned: "How can this be?"

"How can this not be? The great demons of the north devour people, and the south is littered with corpses... Do you think there's still a paradise on earth?"

Hu's eyes held a hint of pity: "We've been husband and wife for many years, and I don't care what you're hiding from me... We need to work together to get through this ordeal first."

"I……"

Fang Yixin felt somewhat ashamed. His family's secret practice of gathering qi and cultivating immortality was indeed a secret, but as his wife of many years, it was unavoidable that she would discover his little secret.

a few days later.

A convoy left Bavaria and headed west.

The caravan was not only loaded with a large number of suitcases, but also had many knights as guards. Each of them had bulging waists, which were obviously full of weapons. No one dared to provoke them on the road, and they traveled peacefully for several days.

"Haha... Brother Fang, I've been longing to meet you for so long, and now we've finally met."

The cultivator from the Hu family, named Hu Quan'an, lifted the carriage curtain and greeted Fang Jingchun with a smile.

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it..."

Fang Jingchun repeatedly said he dared not, as his family had inquired for many years and, although he had not been able to enter the Dao, he had heard many stories of immortals.

Even a cultivator who has just entered the Dao through Qi cultivation, as long as he has magic to protect him, is difficult for any martial arts grandmaster or innate expert to break through his defenses, making him almost a different species from ordinary people.

Therefore, in some strict cultivation sects and families, mortals must kneel and bow when they see a cultivator, and they must not walk on the path that a cultivator has walked. If they accidentally step on the shadow, it is a serious offense of disrespect and they will be executed on the spot.

"If even cultivators who have mastered Qi are like this, what about those who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"I've heard that the Dao Foundation stage is extremely prestigious, and even cultivators who have attained Qi must bow down to it..."

"Although my family has inquired about Hu Quan'an and knows his character, which is why we were determined to marry the Hu family girl, we still cannot be careless..."

Fang Jingchun forced himself to stay alert and chatted with Hu Quan'an for a few minutes. Hu Quan'an smiled and said, "I see you brought quite a few mortals with you, all of whom are skilled in martial arts. We need your help with something up ahead."

"What can I do for you, Immortal?"

Fang Jingchun felt a vague unease in his heart.