Chapter 38: Purple Lead Poisonous Blood Wins Favor, Immortals And Mortals Divided
Fang Shu followed the Dojo Master into the backyard of the Du Gu Guan, a place he had never entered before.
The furnishings in the backyard were no different from those in the front courtyard; there were simply more buildings and a bit more spaciousness.
But this scene, falling into his eyes, made him feel quite novel.
The group walked into what seemed to be the guest reception hall. The Dojo Master sat on the armchair and said indifferently:
“Since you have entered the Inner Courtyard, the questions that need to be asked still must be asked.
Fang Shu, are you willing to take me as your master? This would be the master of a master, not the tuition teacher from the front courtyard, and become a formal Daoist Child in my Du Gu Guan?”
In cultivation at the front courtyard, although there was some incense affinity between disciples and the dojo, it was also paid with incense money and issued receipts. Although also called “Master,” its meaning was more like “instructor,” or more accurately, “teacher.”
Entering the backyard, from now on, there would be no need to pay tuition fees at all. The dojo would occasionally provide some remuneration, and only when purchasing pills and such would one need to spend one’s own money, though with discounts.
In correspondence, once the master-disciple status was formally established, the master would be like a father; if the disciple had matters, the master must support the facade; if the master had matters, the disciple must serve.
Many strict dojos would conduct another examination before accepting someone as a formal disciple, to avoid taking in those who filled quotas or had exhausted potential, wasting their reputation.
Facing the Du Gu Guan Master’s direct invitation to take him as a disciple, Fang Shu was naturally overjoyed.
He immediately prostrated himself and kowtowed three resounding heads:
“Master above, please accept this one bow from your disciple!”
A smile appeared on the Du Gu Guan Master’s face, while Senior Sister Yu Er beside her hurriedly fetched a cup of tea and handed it to Fang Shu for him to present.
After drinking this cup of tea, the master-disciple status between the two was formally established. As for subsequent registration, teaching rules, explaining treatment, and so on, those were miscellaneous matters that could wait.
The Dojo Master gestured for Fang Shu to rise: “I have no such strict rules here. We are all family now, get up and sit to talk.”
Then, this old woman sat on the too-big armchair, slowly sipping her tea without giving further instructions or having Fang Shu do anything else.
Seeing this, Senior Sister Yu Er gave Fang Shu a look, signaling him to be patient, then excused herself and quietly slipped away.
Newly entered into the Inner Courtyard, although Fang Shu believed his actions today should have been good, he could not quite gauge what the Dojo Master wanted or whether she still wanted to test his temperament.
Thus, he sat steadily on the chair, eyes on nose, nose on heart, quietly circulating the newly formed qi and blood in his body, tempering his whole body.
The formed qi and blood was truly wondrous, like a stream of hot air, or a warm current, more like a force formed from the twisting of muscles throughout the body. Except for bone marrow and brain, it could reach everywhere.
When the qi and blood circulated to a certain part of Fang Shu’s body, that part would rapidly engorge with blood, swell and harden, like donning armor.
Fang Shu glanced at his body and discovered that his skin surface emitted a purple-black color, actually having a metallic texture.
As he secretly tried to control the qi and blood, the Dojo Master beside him suddenly said out of the blue:
“You have mastered this dojos Insect Skill, also mastered Shao Wei Guan’s Lead Skill, and successfully passed the Scorpion Basin ritual. The Precious Blood you refined should be between the two, and can be called ‘Purple Lead Poisonous Blood’.”
As for the specific wondrous uses of this blood, you can figure it out yourself, but it is nothing more than possessing the wondrous uses of both Poisonous Blood and Lead Blood simultaneously, superior to the ordinary.
“Purple Lead Poisonous Blood?” Fang Shu mulled it over in his heart and immediately cupped his hands:
“Yes, thank you, Master, for your guidance.”
Receiving affirmation from Du Shi, confirming that the Precious Blood he, Fang Shu, had refined was no ordinary thing, the weight in his heart completely fell away, replaced by visible joy.
However, Fang Shu still restrained his emotions and continued sitting silently in place, showing no joy or anger.
He also stopped probing and controlling the qi and blood, merely letting it circulate inside his physical body cavities, flowing and tempering naturally.
With such tempering, he directly half-entered meditation, unaware of the passage of time.
But during this, Fang Shu’s senses were extremely sharp, even the hairs on his skin could capture the sound of his own breathing.
Thus, when an hour later, undisguised footsteps sounded outside the Assembly Hall, he immediately awoke and stood up at once, knowing Senior Sister Yu Er had arrived.
“Senior Sister Yu.” Fang Shu stood and paid respects.
Senior Sister Yu Er gestured for Fang Shu not to stand on ceremony, then reported to the Dojo Master: “Grandma, someone from Seven Fragrance Tower has come and brought compensation.”
The Dojo Master seemed to have long anticipated this matter, showing no surprise, merely asking faintly:
“Who did they send?”
“The Seven Fragrance Tower Master came herself and is now waiting in the courtyard for summons.”
Hearing that the Seven Fragrance Tower Master had come in person, the Dojo Master narrowed her eyes slightly, a trace of mockery appearing on her face as she said lowly:
“She still has some sense, not sending a subordinate to brush it off. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite and ignorant of marketplace rules.”
Fang Shu listened on the side. Although the Dojo Master had not said any specific threats, her demeanor clearly showed she did not take Seven Fragrance Tower seriously.
This also stirred his heart, knowing that his refusal of Xiang Xing Wu’s prize today had been a very wise move!
Sure enough, the Dojo Master was too lazy to see the Seven Fragrance Tower Master and casually said: “Take the items, no need to see the person, send her off directly.”
Senior Sister Yu Er, hearing this, showed no surprise and responded before leaving.
And in the Du Gu Guan courtyard.
Seeing that the Dojo Master would not receive her at all, the Seven Fragrance Tower Master’s face stiffened slightly, knowing that her family’s actions had ultimately damaged relations between the two sides.
But she said nothing more, instead breathing a slight sigh of relief when Senior Sister Yu Er took the generous gift from her hands.
When Senior Sister Yu Er carried the generous gift into the Assembly Hall, the Dojo Master glanced at it, pointing to the medicine fee in the gifts—whose amount was unknown but at least tens of thousands—and had Senior Sister Yu Er send it directly to the Medicine Hall.
As for the other generous gift, she weighed it and casually tossed it to Fang Shu:
“Take it. The item has no issues, use it freely.
You earned me face, I can’t let you lose out. This serves perfectly as an accounting, saving me the trouble of thinking what to reward you with.”
Fang Shu was surprised. After a moment of hesitation on his face, he did not refuse and merely cupped his hands: “Thank you, Master, for the reward.”
He then opened the object wrapped in red silk and found inside a jade pendant, a ring with a gap, shaped like a dragon serpent.
Upon taking it, it felt cool to the touch, quite similar to the Plain Moon Jade he had crushed, but even more full of spiritual energy, and its weight seemed substantial, probably over two taels.
Senior Sister Yu Er glanced at it and smiled, explaining from the side: “This is also Plain Moon Jade, and it looks new, never used by anyone, free of miscellaneous qi, quite convenient for nurturing. Junior Brother is fortunate.”
Fang Shu understood.
Such a personal item was naturally better new than second-hand, and this piece of Plain Moon Jade was clearly heavier and purer than Xiang Xing Wu’s, probably worth fifty thousand talisman money!
He hurriedly wanted to stand, but the Dojo Master reached out to stop him and shook her head with a light laugh: “As expected of merchant tricks. They have new jade but insist on bringing out an old one to be snatched.
Just take it and use it, no hesitating and making me lose face.”
These words left Fang Shu speechless.
He complied smoothly, not standing to give thanks, merely cupping his hands toward the Dojo Master.
The Dojo Master then waved her hand impatiently:
“Alright. You two withdraw. Yu Er, this fellow just entered the Inner Courtyard and may not know things; take him around to get familiar.”
“Yes.”
Fang Shu and Du Yu Er took their leave and departed.
Once their figures disappeared, the Dojo Master’s always calm expression suddenly came alive.
This old woman’s eyes gleamed, her face clearly joyful as she muttered:
“Lost me one talent of resolve, but gifted me one talent of Gu Dao. My luck is not bad, not bad!”
But amid her joy, a conflicted expression appeared on her face:
“This child came from the Mortal World. Although improved by the Lead Skill, his spiritual root is still not high.
Should I take some of the Royal Jelly meant for Bao Er and use it on him?”
A disciple like this—discerning, comprehending, resolute, and righteous—even without a spiritual root, would be rare throughout the entire marketplace and highly likely to join an Immortal Sect.
Especially Fang Shu’s performance today, which truly delighted the Dojo Master.
Note that the matter with Shi Hou, although instigated by Seven Fragrance Tower, was Shi Hou’s own choice, and there was indeed a chance it could pay off in the future, so she could not intervene, much less openly lash out.
Fang Shu’s appearance perfectly slapped back for her and for Du Gu Guan.
Otherwise, she would not have established their master-disciple status in just a few words.
For a moment.
The Dojo Master’s face was full of conflict, rarely experiencing the pain of having too many excellent disciples.
She also knew that if this matter was not handled well, it could affect relations between Qin Min and Fang Shu, which was what she least wanted to see.
………………
On the other side.
“The backyard also has a Medicine Hall, separate from the front courtyard, guarded day and night by masters or waiters.”
Senior Sister Yu Er dutifully led Fang Shu, introducing the backyard layout:
“This is the Quiet Room, different from the front courtyard. The backyard ones are semi-underground, bronze casting and iron forging, with formations arranged, like wells. For the next seven days, you need to stay here.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu cast a puzzled gaze.
Senior Sister Yu Er smiled lightly:
“You just passed your Tribulation, and there are seven days of Blood Change left. Only after the Blood Change is complete will you truly be a First Tribulation Essence Refining Immortal. Of course you must seclude yourself quietly for seven days.
And these seven days have particular requirements: you must practice Bigu for seven days but cannot take Bigu Pills, best not to use medicines either, no meals, only drink clear water, feeding on spiritual energy.”
She spoke eloquently:
“Under such hunger and starvation, it can promote your body to maximally replace blood and digest the spiritual poison within.
This is also a little trick. Many Immortal Cultivators outside the dojos, after luckily passing Tribulation, think to feast and greatly supplement to better refine the body, which is a grave mistake.
Excessive intake of grains, miscellaneous items, and external medicinal power only diminishes the potential painstakingly accumulated during Tribulation.”
Hearing this, enlightenment dawned on Fang Shu’s face.
He solemnly cupped his hands: “Many thanks, Senior Sister Yu Er!”
Senior Sister Yu Er, hearing this, shook her ponytail behind her head and stepped lightly:
“No need to keep calling me Senior Sister Yu Er one after another. I’m not much older than you; just call me ‘Du Yu Er’ or ‘Yu Er.’
Hurry and follow; there are other fun places, I’ll introduce them all.”
Fang Shu looked at the youthful, radiant girl ahead with her long, slender legs and involuntarily quickened his steps to follow.
The backyard was large, but introducing it did not take much time, and they did not encounter other disciples along the way.
Du Gu Guan’s formal disciples, compared to tuition disciples, seemed much freer and more mysterious, not often staying in the dojo.
When the two returned to the Quiet Rooms in the backyard, it was time to part.
Du Yu Er pointed to the underground Quiet Room ahead, with copper pillars upright and formations arranged:
“Alright, go pick one. Any without a seclusion tag can be chosen.”
Fang Shu nodded, but before leaving, he curiously asked one more thing about Shi Hou.
Du Yu Er said candidly:
“No worry for his life yet, but his Immortal Path is ruined, no foundation left for Tribulation. Without heaven-sent opportunity, attempting Tribulation would be suicide. But the strength accumulated over years of hardship can recover with good care, and he might cultivate a few magics to get by in the future.
Also, Shi Hou is still in a coma. Even if he wakes tonight, he’ll need to lie another six or seven days, so no need for you to go. When your seclusion ends, you can visit then.”
Fang Shu nodded, then cupped his hands in farewell and entered the backyard Quiet Room alone.
Before entering the Quiet Room, he looked back and saw Du Yu Er had not left directly.
She watched him, smiling and waving for him to hurry inside.
Next.
One day, two days, three days…
Fang Shu sat alone in the well-like Quiet Room, enduring hunger, feeding only on clear water.
All the waste in his intestines and stomach was thoroughly emptied.
Because Immortal Cultivators consume much, in just a few short days, his cheeks were sunken and his figure much thinner.
But Fang Shu’s spirit was extremely vigorous, his eyes bright as candle flames.
He could clearly feel his body’s vitality continuously metamorphosing over these seven days, the purple-black qi and blood around him seeming about to burst out.
However, an indescribable hunger also shadowed him more closely, like a venomous snake coiling around him, sometimes making his mind dim and unaware of time.
Fortunately, in this seclusion, though he carried no medicines, he had brought that Plain Moon Jade pendant.
This night, the bright moon hung high.
Fang Shu held the jade pendant, quietly standing in stance. His breathing was deep, a purple-black dark light on his body—like flowing water, like a python—circulating deeply in his chest, abdomen, and limbs, quite astonishing.
Even more astonishing, with his breathing’s pull, patches of moonlight suddenly fell from the night sky like snowflakes onto his body, melting in an instant.
Now stepping into First Tribulation Refining Essence Human Immortal realm, plus the aid of the Plain Moon Jade pendant, in just a few days Fang Shu captured moonlight that had shown no sign for months before.
With moonlight added to his body, his dark light grew denser, muscles twitching on their own, unified top to bottom, quite aesthetic.
Such moon-absorbing breathing continued steadily for three hours before Fang Shu slowly awoke from cultivation.
His eyes opened, brighter than candle flames, piercing the dark, as if already cloaked in fox fur.
He moved his body, walking a few steps in the well mouth, his movements ghostly, even more agile than when cloaked in fox fur.
Especially when Fang Shu looked up, the one-zhang qi and blood essence smoke rising steadily above his head was vigorous and exuberant, free of the previous chaos compared to during Tribulation, now with a slow-burning feel.
Essence smoke straight in the well, Dojo Master’s night moon round.
At this moment, Fang Shu knew his physical body had completed the seven-day Blood Change, all his blood transformed into “Purple Lead Poisonous Blood.”
In every move, his breathing was unified, qi and blood like ropes; he was thoroughly an Immortal Cultivator!
A faint joy overflowed in his heart. With a thought, he wanted to see what his completed Purple Lead Poisonous Blood looked like, whether purple to black.
Thus, he wiped his mouth, drew the Tongue Sword, and slashed his forearm.
A dull knife cutting cowhide sensation appeared on his hand, filling his face with wonder.
Then came the cutting pain, but under Fang Shu’s control, qi and blood surged there at once, suppressing and isolating the pain instantly.
Beads of lead and mercury-like blood, heavy, squeezed from the wound, like freshly molten iron.
Its color was not purple-black, but purple-red. Under moonlight, the blood beads flickered with silver-sand-like light, quite mysterious.
The Precious Blood dripped to the ground, immediately sizzling, corroding pits half a finger deep into the hard black stone slab, its toxicity fiercer than the Poisonous Blood in the Scorpion Basin!
Seeing this, Fang Shu felt no horror, but a smile appeared on his face.
He lightly shook his arm, and the skin and flesh on his forearm closed, becoming tight and solid, leaving only a purple line, no sign it was just slashed.
Hands behind his back, moon above his head, feet on the well bottom, he paced in the moonlight, feeling utter joy and tranquility of body and mind.
Fang Shu could not help but recite lowly:
“Sitting alone in the well like a crouching frog, body like a serpent nurturing spirit.
Feeding on wind and moon to change Precious Blood, success in cultivation, body strong as Human Immortal.”
From now on, he, Fang Shu, would be strong and robust, few illnesses, immune to cold and heat, swelling pain, stabbing pain, cold pain, burning pain, twisting pain, dull pain, heavy pain… all pains controllable.
Even more able to freely learn magic, wield magic tools, drive talismans, catch demons and ghosts, without harming the body, lifespan reaching heavenly one hundred twenty years—an extraordinary existence—
This is called Essence Refining Immortal, immortal among men!
………………
Blood Change complete,
The next morning.
Fang Shu leapt lightly from the well mouth like a python from its cave, walking out of the backyard toward the front courtyard Medicine Hall.
Soon, he saw in the Medicine Hall several fellow disciples who seemed to have failed Breaking Through.
One of them had already awakened.
The other sat dazedly with his back to the bamboo bed, avoiding the sunlight outside the window.
His figure was gaunt but tall, like a skeleton, his whole body emitting medicinal qi and depressive qi, utterly opposite to his beefy vigor seven days ago.
This person was Shi Hou.
Now, one thought’s difference, worlds apart.
