Chapter 7, emerging from the mud yet untainted
"Hmph. Don't try to be clever with me. You know how many enemies you have, right? Your father, the emperor, is missing. If you go out like this, be careful not to be captured and used as a furnace vessel." Luoxia warned Fumi.
The setting sun and the ethereal mist quickly turned their gaze towards the medicinal cauldron, where they beheld a snow-white, flawless lotus flower, quietly floating on a patch of dark medicinal mud, its petals shimmering with divine light and celestial aura.
Luoxia was momentarily taken aback before understanding the ethereal movement.
This statement infuriated Luoxia, as the elixir that she and her husband had painstakingly sought, along with what the Lotus Emperor had prepared for Fumi, was sufficient for one hundred people to undergo marrow cleansing. Yet, when it came to Fumi, it ended up with the outcome of "insufficient medicinal potency".
The setting sun let out a cold laugh, "You really look down on your aunt. I have added decay liquid to this thunder; you won't be able to see anyone for at least one or two months."
Fumilian did not even have the courage to look in the mirror, yet she still said, "This little injury is nothing."
Fu Mi smiled and said, "Aunt, this is not necessarily a bad thing. This time, not being able to advance smoothly can actually help to solidify the foundation."
For an entire month, she lingered outside the medicinal cauldron, yet there was no sign of activity within. Having undergone the cleansing of marrow, she naturally understood its mysteries, but knowing is one thing and doing is another. Few possess the fortitude to endure such a trial for a month like Fu Mi. The requirements for talent and mental fortitude are exceedingly stringent.
As expected by Fu Mi, upon entering the Holy Lotus Palace, she was forced into the medicinal cauldron by Luo Xia. This cauldron was entirely black, its age indiscernible, but it was coated with a thick layer of medicinal residue inside, which surely could not have accumulated to such thickness without at least a thousand years.
Deep down, Fu Mi was filled with indignation, yet felt utterly helpless. "Aunt, please let me leave. I have countless enemies, and if I stay in the Holy Lotus Palace, once those people learn of my father's disappearance, they will surely come knocking at our door. At that time, it would be disastrous for the innocent. I will bear the consequences of my own actions!" Fu Mi spoke with righteous fervor.
The setting sun and the ethereal mist gazed at the medicinal cauldron without daring to blink. Suddenly, the cauldron began to shake, resembling the might of a landslide or a tsunami. Within it, faint sounds of phoenix cries and dragon roars could be heard, followed by the emergence of celestial music.
"Behave and cultivate properly. You have wasted enough of the heavenly materials and earthly treasures of Lianzhou, yet you have only just entered the Washing Marrow Realm. If you do not reach the Great Perfection of the Washing Marrow Realm, do not even think about escaping." Luoxia paused, "You need not look to Piaomiao; she cannot help you."
However, the urgent task at hand is still to find the whereabouts of Father Emperor
Luo Xia Dao: "How can you go out looking like this?"
The setting sun gave a thumbs up to the ethereal mist
Piaomiao shook her head. At that moment, the ancient secret patterns on the wall of the medicinal cauldron suddenly lit up, spinning rapidly. What was clearly a pitch-black cauldron was now radiating golden light in all directions.
"Has the boundary marker been taken away?" asked Fumi
The mirror, being a woman, is something that one always carries. Without a word, Luoxia swiftly placed her precious mirror in front of Fumi. Fumi took a glance, and her first reaction was to cover her face and jump back a large step, screaming loudly.
Fu Mi gazed at the setting sun and thought to herself, if it weren't for you, the fierce lioness of Hedong, scaring my uncle to the point that he weakens at the sight of you, if we practiced the fox's art a few more times, we would have had children by now
Fumif stared in disbelief at the setting sun, truly the heart of a woman can be the most venomous. She exclaimed how painful the injury was, and it turned out to be disfiguring. "Aunt!" Fumif exclaimed in anger, jumping up and down.
Luoxia pressed her forehead in pain; upon hearing Fumi's words, she realized that Fumi had not yet matured. However, like a young bird, she would eventually have to leave the nest and learn to survive on her own.
The setting sun shook its head, "However, I suspect it is related to the boundary marker. Recently, several groups have come to Lianzhou to inquire, probably to ascertain whether your father, the emperor, is in Lianzhou. Once they obtain the boundary marker, Lianzhou is likely to face devastation."
The royal family of Lianzhou throughout the ages has undergone marrow cleansing in this medicinal cauldron; you should obediently stay inside. Luo Xia summoned her purple haze fire, diligently boiling the medicinal liquid and the lotus flower in the cauldron.
Fumi associated the character "破" (to break) and did not employ her mental techniques to heal the wound; instead, she went against the natural course, allowing the muscles to evert, the wound to expand, and the necrotic flesh to gradually peel away from the bone
Aunt, there will definitely be many people going this time. I want to take the opportunity to inquire about Father Emperor's news. Moreover, with Piaomiao and the Eight Steeds present, seizing the boundary marker is not impossible. Although we do not have the ambition to ascend to the upper realm, it would still be worthwhile if it could be used to ensure Father Emperor's safety.
From a young age, Fu Mi had been pampered and spoiled, and at this moment, the only motivation keeping her from jumping out of the medicinal cauldron was the Lotus Emperor. She knew that Luo Xia was a person of her word; if she did not reach the Great Perfection of the Washing Marrow Realm, she would not be able to leave the Holy Lotus Palace to search for her father.
"Don't worry, aunt, I have grown up," Fumi assured.
The final step is the key to marrow washing. The longer one persists in the medicinal cauldron, the more thorough the marrow washing will be. In the future, once one enters the innate realm, the benefits of today's marrow washing will become evident. Those practitioners whose marrow washing is not complete, even if they enter the innate realm, can only struggle to cultivate. Although they have reached the innate realm, their bodies will never truly enter the innate state.
Fu Mi still wanted to run away; she was not foolish. If she were caught and taken back by Elder Luo Xia, she would definitely be confined. Luo Xia was infuriated when she saw Fu Mi's indifferent expression. Just as she was about to lose her temper, she noticed Piao Miao standing behind Fu Mi, making faces at her.
Fumi did not understand what it meant, but she was startled when she looked down and saw the rotting flesh on her fingers. When Luoxia struck her with lightning, she may have already been prepared to force her to undergo marrow cleansing. The flesh that had been split by the lightning was more easily permeated by the medicinal liquid, causing her skin to rot
In order to avoid becoming the weakest realm and being attacked by other realms after being promoted to the upper realm, it is necessary to integrate the strongest resources. Lianzhou has spiritual veins beneath it, with countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures. If they can obtain Lianzhou, after being promoted to the upper realm and bathing in more spiritual energy, they will be able to surpass others.
Luoxia was still unwilling to agree. Lianzhou did not lack those things, but if Fumi were to fall, Lianzhou would be left without successors
The setting sun nodded slightly
After Fengmi regained her human form, Luoxia said: "You have absorbed so many medicinal properties, why haven't you taken the opportunity to break through to the Muscle Cutting Realm?"
Suddenly, a rainbow of light shot up into the sky, and the lid of the medicinal cauldron was also propelled into the air, landing on the ground
"Aunt, are you trying to refine me into medicine?" Fu Mi pitifully poked her head out from the cauldron, only to be struck directly by the purple lightning of the setting sun.
As the last herb was placed into the cauldron, Luoxia closed the lid of the cauldron and instructed Piaomiao, "Guard the princess; she is not to emerge for three days."
When returning to the Holy Lotus Palace, Fu Mi applied oil to the soles of her feet, preparing to pass by her home without entering.
"Prodigal girl, prodigal girl," Luo Xia stamped her foot and said. Although she spoke this way, she was genuinely happy for Fu Mi from the bottom of her heart. Such talent is indeed rare. However, this also means that it will be more difficult for Fu Mi to reach higher realms, as she requires more spiritual energy than others.
Fumie obediently followed Luoxia into the Sacred Lotus Palace. Her appearance truly lacked the courage to step out the door
Fu Mi gritted her teeth and persevered in the medicinal cauldron, her entire body aching as if pricked by needles, accompanied by a feeling of soreness and swelling, occasionally accompanied by a prickling itch, making one feel as if they could not help but tear their own flesh apart. That sensation was akin to someone using a knife to scrape all the flesh off your bones, only for new flesh to grow back anew.
Fumi screamed: "It needs to be cooked, it needs to be cooked"
Aunt, is there any news from Father Emperor?" Fu Mi asked, as her little servant had not returned with any news either
However, Fei Mi did not dare to speak such words; she could only cry out in pain. As the medicinal properties of the liquid spread, it brought about excruciating pain. The path of cultivation has never been an easy one
"Aunt, rest assured, I won't mention anything else; my ability to protect myself is definitely the strongest." Fu Mi said proudly. She was not speaking falsely; for someone like her, who easily gets into trouble and makes enemies, how could she not understand self-protection?
The essence of Fumi is an exceptional furnace of utmost yin and purity. On that day at the auction in the Demon City, the deceased female demon from Huixing Prefecture recognized Fumi's potential and harbored malicious intentions.
Fumi nodded. The boundary marker can elevate the entire three thousand states to the previous realm, but this requires a prerequisite condition, which is that at least two states must be merged
At this moment, if anyone were to see the situation inside the medicinal cauldron, they would only see a skeleton.
"What a beautiful example of rising from the mud without being stained." Luoxia revealed a radiant smile on her face as she scraped a bit of the medicinal mud with her finger. The essence within had almost completely dissipated, as Fumi had absorbed and neutralized nearly one hundred percent of the medicinal properties of all the herbs. No wonder it took two months.
I also want to give it a try, Aunt. Fei Mu calculated the days, and the date for the emergence of the Purple Sovereign's Immortal Mansion has arrived. Even if it were not for the boundary marker, many people would still want to take a chance. The Purple Sovereign was a renowned powerful figure in the upper realm a thousand years ago, and his immortal mansion must contain numerous treasures
Fu Mi looked at the spirit marrow grass and said, "This grass must be at least a hundred years old. Aunt, how wasteful it is for you to give it to me."
The setting sun coldly laughed and said, "I also think it is a waste. If I were to have a child, I would have driven you away long ago"
The setting sun sighed, and I do not expect much from the boundary marker. "It would be good for you to go out and gain some experience. However, you must remember that this time, we do not know how many recluses will come out of their mountains. You must control your temper and avoid causing trouble."
The setting sun cast a sidelong glance at her, "Did you not say you would focus on your cultivation?"
Falling Sunset continuously poured herbs into the medicinal cauldron, as if various rare spiritual medicines were being thrown in without a care for cost. Although Fu Mi kept crying out in pain, she did not jump out. Falling Sunset secretly sighed, what a wonderful talent she has; others would not be able to endure such medicinal properties at all, yet Fu Mi thrived in it. However, she did not cherish it at all, truly a waste of resources.
The setting sun hesitated somewhat, after all, Fu Mi's cultivation level was too low
"Shut up." Luoxia threw a sprig of Spirit Essence Grass into the medicinal cauldron.
Piaomiao indeed made a fearful expression and took two steps back
Fu Mi was simmering in the medicinal cauldron, recalling what her father, the emperor, had explained to her about the path of cultivation, mentioning that the essence of the marrow washing realm is encapsulated in a single word: "break"
Fumi expressed with lingering thoughts: "The medicinal effect is insufficient now."
Do not let it be that when your father returns, you have gone missing" continued Luoxia
Two months later, Luoxia found it somewhat strange, "Is there still no news?"
The domain lord of Magic City is extremely mysterious, and until now, no one has been able to take the boundary marker from him. Everyone can only follow his rules to seize the Golden Crow Tree at the Purple Respect Immortal Mansion