《Male Inferiority and Female Supremacy in the World of Immortal Cultivation》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: 1. Divorce flow due to incorrect gender Chapter 1: 1. Divorce flow due to incorrect gender Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Break-off engagement genre is a type of genre in web novels, popularized by Qi Transformation, but due to overuse, it has led to reader fatigue and is rarely seen nowadays.¡± Fang Zhou never imagined that after transmigrating, he too would become the protagonist of a break-off engagement saga, experiencing a classic break-off engagement. It¡¯s just that, damn it, the gender is all wrong! ¡°You want to break off the engagement?! What did the Xiao Family do wrong?¡± A furious shout jolted Fang Zhou from his contemplation. Standing before him was a tall and beautiful young girl, dressed in a deep green outfit, staring at Fang Zhou with eyes full of anger. At the moment, Fang Zhou was in a spacious and bright hall, with many people either sitting or standing on both sides, displaying various expressions, mostly women. Seated at the center of the hall was a charming middle-aged woman, also glaring at Fang Zhou with an unfriendly look. And behind Fang Zhou stood several women, with Fang Zhou at the forefront, vaguely forming a group, confronting the middle-aged woman and the girl in green. This was a melodramatic story¡ªcoming over to break off an engagement. It was him, a straight man made of steel, coming to break off an engagement with a pretty girl who had both looks and body. Damn, am I a gay? Or was it that I was bitten by a dog before transmigration and became a forever single, a curse that didn¡¯t disappear even after transmigration? Under the young girl¡¯s scolding, Fang Zhou had nothing to say, with whispers and buzzing sounds surrounding him like incessant flies. Suddenly, a tall and beautiful woman in a moon-white outfit stepped forward from behind Fang Zhou, placed her hands on Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulders, and said with a gentle smile, ¡°Leave it to your Senior Sister.¡± Li Ruyu, a disciple of Xuanji Sect, the current Senior Sister of this body, and the support for daring to come here to break off the engagement. Li Ruyu looked towards the middle-aged woman and the girl in green, her smile receding, ¡°That¡¯s right, my Junior Brother Fang is here to break off the engagement today. He has joined our Xuanji Sect, no longer a common mortal, and your engagement with the Xiao Family should be null and void. If you understand reason, swiftly cancel the marriage contract and foster a good relationship with our Xuanji Sect.¡± Though her tone was gentle, Li Ruyu¡¯s demeanor was aloof, immediately angering the girl in green. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Xuanji Sect is really something, isn¡¯t it? To openly come here and break off an engagement, where do you put my Wu City Xiao Family¡¯s face?¡± ¡°Wu City Xiao Family, huh.¡± Li Ruyu let out a dismissive snicker, ¡°Your Xiao Family indeed has some reputation around Wu City, but after all, you¡¯re merely commoners. What right do you have to talk about face in front of our Xuanji Sect?¡± The girl in green glared, ¡°You!!¡± ¡°Enough, Yan¡¯er.¡± As soon as the middle-aged woman spoke, the entire hall instantly quieted down, silence so profound you could hear a pin drop. Li Ruyu fearlessly met the middle-aged woman¡¯s gaze, yet secretly remained cautious. With the sect behind her, Li Ruyu wasn¡¯t worried, but the Xiao Family had some tricks up their sleeves, and this family head, Xiao Zhan, was one of the strongest in Wu City, not to be underestimated. Yet Xiao Zhan turned to Fang Zhou, speaking in a deep voice, ¡°Fang Zhou, my Xiao Family and your Fang Family have been friends for generations, and the marriage between you and Yan¡¯er was personally arranged by your grandmother. Her death hasn¡¯t even been three years, and now your Fang Family dares to go against the elder¡¯s last wishes. You really have the guts. I¡¯m asking you one more time, do you really want to break off the engagement?¡± By the end of it, her tone was fierce, her Phoenix eyes filled with wrath. No, I don¡¯t want to! This girl to be broken off with, Xiao Yan, has been an exceptional talent since childhood, reputed to be Wu City¡¯s once-in-a-century genius. But for some unknown reason three years ago, she became useless and became the subject of mockery. Look, everyone look, this damn protagonist¡¯s privileges are about to blind the dogs, why would I offend her? Fang Zhou really wanted to say this, but he had just transmigrated, and breaking off the engagement was already inevitable, with the initiative taken by the Fang Family and Xuanji Sect¡ªhe had no say in it. Actually, he thought both the Fang Family and Xuanji Sect were stubborn. Why break off the engagement? Just get married now, enter the bridal chamber tonight, infuse Xiao Yan with soul, and then go to Xuanji Sect to train. How wonderful would that be? But of course, he couldn¡¯t say this out loud, for he would definitely be killed on the spot. Suddenly, Li Ruyu took Fang Zhou¡¯s hand tenderly and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her threats, Junior Brother, you are now with the Xuanji Sect, no one can harm you, your Senior Sister will protect you.¡± Holding the delicate hand, a fleeting thought rose in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind; meeting Li Ruyu¡¯s eyes, he seemed to see intense passion in them. Yes, intense passion. ¡°A kind of naked desire to strip him bare, skin and bones included, and swallow him whole.¡± ¡°Damn, isn¡¯t this woman crazily infatuated?!¡± Fang Zhou was startled, and the fantasy in his mind disappeared instantly; he tried to pull his hand back, but Li Ruyu held it tight. The green-clad girl Xiao Yan saw her not-yet-married fianc¨¦, hand in hand and deeply gazing into the eyes of another woman publicly, and immediately, her eyes turned green with fury, her hair seemingly changing to match her dress. ¡°No need to ask him anymore, my lady mother.¡± Xiao Yan, fueled by anger, moved aside, quickly wrote something down with a brush, then stormed up to Fang Zhou and threw it at him. Fang Zhou caught it instinctively, only to see a big ¡°Divorce¡± character written on it. Xiao Yan pointed at Fang Zhou and roared, ¡°I, Xiao Yan, divorce you, Fang Zhou! From this moment, you are no longer my fianc¨¦, and there shall be no ties between us. However, the humiliation you brought upon Xiao Family today, I, Xiao Yan, will remember, and in three years, I will personally visit Xuanji Sect to seek your advice!¡± Oh crap, still managed to make an enemy of the protagonist, and even triggered a duel scenario. Fang Zhou was weary in his heart, but he wasn¡¯t too worried, at worst, he could just admit defeat in the future, lie down, and let you do as you please. Xiao Yan¡¯s words earned applause from everyone present, and Xiao Zhan also showed a face full of approval. On Fang Zhou¡¯s side, it was as if he was playing the role of a villain who had just been slapped in the face. The infatuated senior sister leaned close to Fang Zhou¡¯s ear and whispered softly, ¡°Junior Brother, do you need your senior sister to step in and teach her a lesson?¡± She knew that for a man to be divorced and kicked out by his wife could be quite humiliating and challenging for remarriage. Nevertheless, Fang Zhou shook his head, ¡°No, thanks. The deeper the offense now, the more energy it would take to resolve in the future, and I fear being completely drained.¡± Li Ruyu then bowed to Xiao Zhan, lightly smiling, ¡°Leader Xiao, until we meet again. Fang Family is now in charge of procurement for Xuanji Sect, I hope Xiao Family can support us.¡± This statement was both an announcement that Fang Family had been taken under Xuanji Sect¡¯s wing, and a warning to Xiao Family as well. Xiao Zhan¡¯s face darkened, and he slammed down on the tea table, ¡°Show them out!¡± Fang Zhou suddenly felt something uncomfortably amiss, like a person with OCD spotting asymmetry. Just as everyone was about to leave the Xiao residence, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke, ¡°Fang Zhou, now that you¡¯ve climbed onto a high branch, don¡¯t think you¡¯ve become a Phoenix. Let me give you some advice, ¡®Thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west, don¡¯t bully a poor maiden.''¡± Yes, that¡¯s it, I knew something was missing¡ªit was this famous line. Fang Zhou felt relief in his heart, smiling and waving goodbye to Xiao Yan as if he was not there for a divorce but merely stopping by after lunch. Xiao Yan paused briefly, her mind possibly racing, and her face contorted, ¡°That¡¯s too much!¡± ¡­ Leaving the Xiao residence and stepping outside, Li Ruyu helped Fang Zhou into the carriage. Before boarding the carriage, she seemed to touch Fang Zhou¡¯s bottom, or perhaps not. Fang Zhou stiffened, turned his head to look, only to see Li Ruyu smiling warmly, ¡°What is it, Junior Brother?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, maybe it was an illusion? After he climbed into the carriage, Li Ruyu placed her hand in front of her nose, took a deep sniff, her face enraptured. ¡°The fragrance of a virgin, even better than fine wine.¡± Aboard the carriage, Fang Zhou faintly heard Li Ruyu¡¯s muttered words, and his entire being cracked open. Li Ruyu and several women with longswords mounted on tall horses, while Fang Zhou sat in the carriage. The carriage was pink and fragrant, previously exclusive to his original self, filled with youthful, or rather, youthful male vibes. Inside, two frail boys waited, who upon seeing Fang Zhou board, greeted him in delicate voices, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingled, although these two boys looked delicate and tender, the overly effeminate demeanor triggered a strong physical discomfort in Fang Zhou. These two boys were Fang Zhou¡¯s personal male servants, their hair braided into loops and dressed in skirt-like clothing, their faces lightly powdered. The two servants intended to help Fang Zhou tidy his appearance but were stopped by him. Suppressing any signs of disgust, Fang Zhou washed his face and retired to lie down by himself. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: 2. A world where men are inferior to women Chapter 2: 2. A world where men are inferior to women Editor: Dragon Boat Translation This is a world where men are inferior to women. It is said that thousands of years ago, it was a male-dominated society, but since women could easily practice cultivation while men could not, the social atmosphere gradually changed to favor women over men. Most cultivators who can move mountains and seas, and achieve immortality, are women. There are male cultivators too, but they are few in number. The rulers of the country are also women, and the army is composed of women, because women can easily enter the path of cultivation and become stronger than men who have not undergone cultivation. On the rivers and lakes, most of the high-profile knights are women; they rob the rich to aid the poor and travel the world with swords. Women drink and eat meat heartily, while men have to cautiously protect themselves from being robbed of their wealth and color when traveling. Even demons and evil spirits that harm the community are predominantly female. Under the influence of female supremacy, as time goes by, the whole world has also begun to see a decline in masculinity; in specific household units, women have become the decision-makers, while men manage the household duties. Beauty for women is to be tall and healthy, out and about in public, while men are considered beautiful when they are delicate and shy, staying at home, managing domestic affairs. Fang Zhou felt overwhelmed when he transversed into such a world. At first he was quite thrilled, even prepared for endless nights of revelry. However, he quickly realized something was off; this world demands chastity from men, all the chastity arches on the streets are erected for men, looking at a woman one time too many labels you a philanderer, a married man who flirts with other women could be thrown into a pig cage. Women, however, have no such restraints; apart from their husbands, it¡¯s normal for wealthy and influential women to marry several lesser husbands. Flirting with men in public will at worst get you scolded as a ¡®dallying woman¡¯. So, Fang Zhou immediately discarded any ideas of nightly revelries; he didn¡¯t want to end up serving one wife with several other men, being in such companionate bonds. Moreover, most women in this world are cultured, the brothel in Wu City drags out several pale and skinny and unconscious top males every month. This made Fang Zhou lose all interest in chasing girls. Isn¡¯t Miss Wu fragrant enough? If he can solve his needs by himself, why risk his life looking for a woman? The body that Fang Zhou had when he transversed was handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a tall and upright posture¡ªan excellent beauty, which actually is a drawback in marriage matters; many big households prefer to marry delicate and frail men, who are picturesque and can stay at home to teach and care for kids. Fang Zhou¡¯s excessively tall and handsome type could only qualify as a lesser husband, unable to become the main spouse. The Fang family had been concerned about Fang Zhou¡¯s marriage since he was a child and secretly contacted many matchmakers; finally, it was the grandmother of the Fang Family who stepped in and arranged a marriage engagement with Xiao Yan for Fang Zhou. So, it was not righteous of the Fang family to cancel the engagement when the Xiao Family was helping you take out the trash for free. Of course, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t see himself as trash; with his looks, he would have been a winner in life on Earth, the kind that makes girls weak at the knees, only to be disliked in this twisted world. It¡¯s not him who is wrong, but this world. A few months ago, an elder from Xuanji Sect passed by Wu City and encountered Fang Zhou, discovering his unique physique and rare high cultivation potential, and thus took him as a disciple. Upon hearing that Fang Zhou had a marriage engagement, he decided to have him call off the marriage. The Fang family couldn¡¯t be happier; although this would offend the Xiao Family, how could a small Xiao Family compare to the renowned Cultivation Sect of Jingnan State? Fang Zhou really wanted to mock the Fang family, saying what a mistake, you¡¯re not just offending a small Xiao Family, but the main character. Don¡¯t regret it when you¡¯re being slapped in the face later. Wait, Fang Zhou suddenly realized he seems to be among those being slapped too, and his mood suddenly worsened. Unfortunately, he¡¯s unimportant and his words carry little weight, he couldn¡¯t stop any of this. From Li Ruyu¡¯s infatuated performance, it seems Xuanji Sect isn¡¯t really a good place either, perhaps just a henhouse. He¡¯s afraid he might walk in plump and healthy, and be carried out lean and haggard. Just thinking about it scares him, making him feel weak all over. Upon returning to the Fang family, Fang Zhou¡¯s original parents were already waiting at the front door. After Fang Zhou got out of the carriage, his frail father immediately approached with a graceful gait, grasping Fang Zhou¡¯s hands softly and said, ¡°Zhou¡¯er, did the Xiao family give you any trouble?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s tall mother was also concerned but first respectfully greeted Li Ruyu, thanking her, ¡°Thank you, Immortal Li, for safely bringing back my child.¡± Li Ruyu smiled and said, ¡°Madam Fang, don¡¯t be polite. Just call me Ruyu. Since your son has joined my Xuanji Sect, we are family and should naturally help each other.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s mother happily responded repeatedly, ¡°You¡¯re too kind, too kind. Please come inside. I have prepared a feast for you all.¡± Indeed, the external affairs of the Fang family are managed by Fang Zhou¡¯s mother, whereas his father manages the inner house. While chatting and laughing, everyone entered the Fang household, and a few frail and girlish-looking young men came up to ask about Fang Zhou¡¯s well-being. These young men were lesser husbands married by Fang Zhou¡¯s mother. Properly, Fang Zhou should call them ¡°uncle¡±. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it, and covered in goosebumps, he excused himself by claiming ill health and hastily retreated to his ¡®boudoir¡¯. The furnishings in his boudoir were filled with this world¡¯s unique youthful male essence, and there was an unfinished embroidery, featuring a pair of mandarin ducks. Fang Zhou directly tore the mandarin ducks apart, at which two male servants lunged to stop him, ¡°Young master, this is your favorite.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Fang Zhou shredded the mandarin ducks decoration and then whipped out some paper and pen, quickly sketching out a macho Mr. Banana and King Billy, and hung them up somewhere. He didn¡¯t believe that wouldn¡¯t dispel the overwhelming scent of rouge in the house. After the banquet ended, a flushed-faced Li Ruyu came to visit him once more. ¡°Junior brother, not feeling well? Your senior sister here knows a thing or two about medicine, let me take a look.¡± Li Ruyu, with a smile, squeezed closer to Fang Zhou and even grabbed one of his hands, caressing it gently. Two male servants hid to one side, stealthily peeping over here, their faces blushing. Fang Zhou quietly withdrew his hand; he wasn¡¯t afraid of being taken advantage of by a beauty, but he feared being misunderstood by this infatuated woman in front of him. Li Ruyu sensed Fang Zhou¡¯s resistance, but just laughed it off. While society might not consider Fang Zhou¡¯s features delicate enough, or his figure a bit too tall, In Li Ruyu¡¯s eyes, he was absolutely a ¡®beauty¡¯. However, she didn¡¯t want to scare her junior brother, so she toned down her eagerness, thinking there¡¯d be plenty of opportunities once they returned to Xuanji Sect. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, junior brother. Your sister here just feels a kinship towards you, nothing inappropriate.¡± Li Ruyu explained with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m too grateful to Sister to even suspect anything.¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment, then she quickly returned to normal, explaining, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just had a bit of alcohol and broke out in a sweat, feeling slightly unwell.¡± Fang Zhou just hmm¡¯d, but inside he sneered. Really think I¡¯m a na?ve three-year-old? Sweating, haha, I think you¡¯re drooling. Ha, woman, in front of my well-experienced titanium-dog eyes, you can¡¯t hide anything. As evening approached, Li Ruyu could no longer stay in Fang Zhou¡¯s boudoir. She had to stay in the Fang Family for another ten days or half a month, giving Fang Zhou some time to prepare to say goodbye to his parents, before bringing him to Xuanji Sect. After Li Ruyu left, the two male servants immediately came over, grinning at Fang Zhou: ¡°Master, Immortal Li seems to really fancy you, why don¡¯t you just accept it.¡± ¡°Shut up, I¡¯d rather die than comply.¡± Fang Zhou finally lost his patience. Fancy me? She¡¯s lusting after my body, how low! The male servants again urged, ¡°Master, Immortal Li is outstanding and totally smitten with you. Such a good match, won¡¯t you consider it?¡± Then they started blushing again, thinking if their master married Immortal Li, they would be her fellow male servants and could take Fang Zhou¡¯s place in consummating the marriage. ¡°What the hell, are you serious?¡± Fang Zhou could clearly see these two pansies¡¯ intentions, feeling shocked, angry, and disgusted all at once. I treated you like family, and you want to be my accomplices. ¡°Get out, out, out!¡± Fang Zhou quickly drove these guys out, threw a couple of punches and did a few sets of calisthenics to suppress the anger in his heart. [Ding, Tai Chu¡¯s Sun activated, host has accumulated enough grievances, ¡®Rise up, Brave Man¡¯ system activated] Hearing the sudden sound in his mind, Fang Zhou was slightly startled, then his eyes lit up. Finally online, oh my dear father! ¡­ After the two male servants were driven out of the room, they went to the backyard and saw Li Ruyu hiding in the shadows. Li Ruyu¡¯s face was normal, her aura calm, showing no signs of drunkenness. She chuckled, ¡°So, what did your master say?¡± The male servants immediately started babbling rapidly. ¡°We tested him, master is quite shy yet bold.¡± ¡°Master seriously considered it, even asked us if we were serious too.¡± ¡°He even said he¡¯d rather die than comply, but master is timid and drove us out.¡± Li Ruyu handed the two male servants a generous amount of silver and then, with a smile, gazed at Fang Zhou¡¯s boudoir, licking her lips. ¡°Little junior brother, turns out you say one thing but mean another, but no worries, we¡¯ll soon be together, sharing our hearts without any need for pretense.¡± COMMENT 2 comment SEND GIFT 2 Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: 3. Resist the Temptation of a Lewd Woman Chapter 3: 3. Resist the Temptation of a Lewd Woman Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Rise up, Brave Man¡± Name: Fang Zhou Realm: None Martial Arts: None Skills: None Strength: 1 Speed: 1 Constitution: 1 Spirit: 1 Masculinity: 0 This is a system named ¡°Rise up, Brave Man,¡± which has a simple and crude name, with a minimalistic style so straightforward that even an idiot could understand it. Nowadays, systems are a dime a dozen, cheaper than cabbages. Most protagonists each have one, two, or even three systems, and some have even switched careers to become system wholesalers and manufacturers. Getting a system when you traverse is considered a newbie¡¯s welfare, and systems that are not good enough get complained about. Life is truly tough. If possible, Fang Zhou really hopes for a system like ¡°Three Years of Invincibility and Five Years of Ascension,¡± but obviously, he doesn¡¯t get to choose and has to make do for the time being. After studying all night, Fang Zhou finally figured out the functions and usage of this system. The goal of this system is to turn Fang Zhou into a real man, to reverse the bad customs of the world, and to make the concept of social harmony and gender equality mainstream. The system will randomly trigger some tasks, and by completing these tasks, you can obtain masculinity, which can be used to enhance basic attributes or to upgrade martial arts skills. If others truly believe that Fang Zhou is a manly man from the bottom of their hearts, they can also award masculinity, with the amount awarded depending on the situation. From the moment he acquired the system, Fang Zhou became a glorious advocate of men¡¯s rights, ready to strike with heavy fists, combating the world¡¯s bullying and discrimination against men, fighting for the rights they deserve, so that they don¡¯t have to sweat in the heat with cold hands and feet, nor do they have to be afraid of being raped by mere sight of a cup. Hell is empty, and all the devils are here. This dirty world is waiting for him to change! But before gaining the power to change the world, Fang Zhou feels it¡¯s better to grovel and play it safe first, lest he dies before achieving anything. The next morning, Fang Zhou began to try triggering system tasks. The Fang family has many women who are responsible for heavy labor and acting as protectors of the home. The Fang family itself has its own martial arts, but they are only suitable for women to practice. Fang Zhou interacted with the maids and protectors, but he didn¡¯t trigger any tasks; he didn¡¯t know whether these people were too low-level or if he was using the wrong approach. He didn¡¯t dare to go too far in case the members of the Fang family caught on to anything. ¡°Junior Brother, so you are here?¡± Li Ruyu found Fang Zhou hiding in the back garden. She was still dressed in her moon-white gown, with delicate features and outstanding elegance, like a beauty who had stepped straight out of a painting. Such a beauty, if she were on Earth, would undoubtedly be hailed as a goddess, claiming countless admirers. Yet, in this otherworld, she can only be a foolish woman. Sometimes, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel the urge to give in to resistance and let himself be taken down. You might hit the jackpot, but I definitely won¡¯t be at a loss. But the thought that this foolish woman may have been through many battles immediately filled Fang Zhou with resistance. It reminded him of a commonly seen image¡ªDad goes out to buy a pack of smokes and runs into nine men who have slept with you.JPG No, in this world, it should be¡ªDad goes out to buy a pack of smokes and runs into nine men you have slept with.JPG In either case, it was something Fang Zhou simply could not accept. ¡°Junior Brother, why are you hiding here?¡± Li Ruyu came close intimately, carrying a slightly strange yet fragrant scent on her body. As Fang Zhou pondered how to send away this foolish woman, a few lines of text suddenly popped up in front of him. [New Task Triggered ¨C Resist the Temptation of the Foolish Woman] [Difficulty: Easy] [Reward: Masculinity*2 White Card*1] [Failure: Lose Virginity] Fang Zhou was shocked and quickly composed himself. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s odd expression, Li Ruyu thought he was uncomfortable with her closeness and said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re so shy, but don¡¯t worry, your senior sister won¡¯t force you to do anything you¡¯re uncomfortable with.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts were racing. The quest had finally triggered, but it was rather vague, without clear success conditions. However, failing the quest meant losing his virginity, which in other words, meant all he had to do was not get seduced. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said to Li Ruyu, ¡°Senior Sister, I¡¯m not very familiar with the Xuanji Sect or the Cultivation World. Could you tell me about them?¡± Li Ruyu smiled and said, ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll need to understand these things after joining the Xuanji Sect. I was just about to tell you.¡± She was planning to use this as a way to grow closer to Fang Zhou and didn¡¯t expect him to bring it up himself; it fit her intentions perfectly. The two found a pavilion in the back garden and sat down, where Li Ruyu began to explain the common knowledge of the Cultivation World to Fang Zhou. This world was still in a backward feudal society where information did not flow smoothly. An ordinary person might never travel beyond a hundred miles in their lifetime, having little knowledge of events thousands of miles away. Wu City was considered a major city that could appear on the map of Jingnan State, yet Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t find much about it in his original memories, and he knew even less about anything beyond Jingnan State, other than that it was a territory of Chu Kingdom. Through Li Ruyu¡¯s introduction, Fang Zhou learned that Chu Kingdom had a total of eleven regions. However, Chu Kingdom wasn¡¯t even considered a large country in this world, as there were five countries contending in the Central Plains alone, with other countries in the overseas regions, northern frontiers, and southern mountains. These were merely the mundane political powers. The Cultivation World¡¯s range was even broader. Xuanji Sect was somewhat renowned in Jingnan State but was just ordinary on the scale of the entire Chu Kingdom, and insignificant within the broader Central Plains area. The Central Plains were places rich in turbid energy, whereas the real prestigious sects and factions occupied the Immortal Cave Mansions, which were areas with thick Spiritual Energy and seldom visited by humans. Of course, Li Ruyu would never bluntly state this; she significantly embellished the reputation of Xuanji Sect instead. From the hints and cues in her speech, Fang Zhou surmised that Xuanji Sect was probably a small and insignificant sect. After completing the geographical primer, it was time to explain the most crucial hierarchy ¡ª or rather, the power levels of Cultivators. Cultivators were divided into seven realms: Qi Refinement entry-level, Foundation Building, Innate, Golden Core Formation, Spirit Soul Refining, Yin Yang Unification, and Tribulation Ascension. Li Ruyu emphasized the stages from Qi Refinement to Innate, only briefly touching upon the later realms. ¡°Senior Sister, what realm are you in?¡± Fang Zhou asked, seizing the opportunity to flatter her, ¡°You must be quite impressive within the sect, right?¡± Li Ruyu casually replied, ¡°Where, where. I was just lucky to succeed in Foundation Establishment, and Innate is promising. I¡¯m just a minor character in the sect.¡± Despite her modest words, there was a tinge of pride in Li Ruyu¡¯s expression. She had entered the Xuanji Sect eight years ago, spent three years in Qi Refinement, and five years in Foundation Building, and she stood out among the many disciples to be favored by her mentor. ¡°Foundation Establishment, huh.¡± Fang Zhou was under the impression that this naive woman was exceptionally powerful, but isn¡¯t Foundation Establishment just a minor rank? Many protagonists start cultivating with a fart reaching Foundation Establishment and reach Golden Core with a nap. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s unimpressed look, Li Ruyu felt she had wasted her breath. She said with slight dissatisfaction, ¡°Junior Brother, don¡¯t aim too high and miss. Foundation Building is the first major threshold for Cultivators, and so many people have failed there, wasting years of their life. If you underestimate Foundation Building, no matter how high you climb later, it will all be like a castle in the sky, at risk of collapsing.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression turned serious, and he immediately responded, ¡°I have learned my lesson.¡± Although this woman was naive, she wasn¡¯t without reason. He also reflected inwardly; ever since he obtained the system, he seemed to have become arrogant, looking down on this and that, forgetting that he was weak and could easily be killed by others ¡ª he had no right to look down on anyone. Li Ruyu then smiled and said, ¡°You are teachable. But you don¡¯t need to worry; since you¡¯ve been exceptionally accepted as a disciple by the mentor, you naturally have outstanding talent. Foundation Building should be easy for you.¡± After a sharp rebuke, she offered him comforting encouragement, and Li Ruyu felt the bond with her Junior Brother had grown even closer. She began to feel restless and shifted closer to Fang Zhou. As she drew near, the scent from her body swept over him, causing Fang Zhou¡¯s head to grow heavy. He bit the tip of his tongue and moved his bottom outward, then asked, ¡°Senior Sister, what realm is Xiao Zhan, the mistress of the Xiao Family? I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s quite powerful.¡± Li Ruyu disdainfully said, ¡°Without a tiger in the mountains, the monkey is king. Xiao Zhan only dares to swagger around Wu City. She is merely a martial artist who hasn¡¯t even completed Foundation Establishment ¡ª nothing to be concerned about.¡± In this world, most women practiced cultivation, but it was widely spread yet mediocre cultivation methods that were easy to start but hard to master. She added, ¡°Fortunately, Junior Brother, you didn¡¯t follow along and learn those flawed techniques, otherwise your uncut jade would have been ruined.¡± Fang Zhou pondered; indeed, his current body had never cultivated before. Firstly, the Fang Family¡¯s hereditary cultivation techniques were only suitable for women, and secondly, hoping he could be married off, the Fang Family didn¡¯t let him cultivate but instead taught him embroidery and flower arrangement. Seizing the moment as Fang Zhou was lost in thought, Li Ruyu suddenly took his hand, smiling, ¡°Junior Brother, let¡¯s not talk about these boring topics anymore. I¡¯ve learned some Face Reading at the sect, let me read your palm.¡± As she spoke, the scent from her body grew even stronger. As Fang Zhou inhaled, his head spun, and he thought, ¡°Goddamn it, it must be an aphrodisiac.¡± Frightened, Fang Zhou bit his tongue hard, the acute pain dispelling the lust, momentarily regaining his clarity. He quickly stood up: ¡°No need, Senior Sister. I¡¯m not feeling well, I will go back to rest.¡± Saying so, he hurriedly left the pavilion. Watching Fang Zhou¡¯s bent and crouched figure, Li Ruyu chuckled softly. ¡°It seems the dose wasn¡¯t enough. Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky, Junior Brother.¡± COMMENT 1 comment SEND GIFT 1 Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: 4. Single pull produces a miracle Chapter 4: 4. Single pull produces a miracle Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Rushing back to his room in a hurry, Fang Zhou locked the door and downed several pots of tea before he managed to suppress the burning desire within him. That woman was too terrifying; it was a good thing he was on guard at all times, otherwise, he would have been seduced in his confusion. But this trip wasn¡¯t without its gains. Looking at the line of text in front of him, Fang Zhou revealed a smile. [Successfully resisted the temptation of the enchantress] [Reward: Masculinity*2, White Card*1] A pure white card was slowly spinning in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. [White Card: Use to randomly obtain a common quality item or skill, with a low chance of drawing a higher quality item or skill] Is this a card-drawing game after all? Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but rub his hands together and then clasped them, starting to chant. ¡°May the Jade Emperor, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, The Bodhisattva Guanyin, Buddha, God, Jesus, Maria, and his holy mother bless me with a miracle single draw!¡± After finishing the invocation, a gleam flashed in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, feeling the universe¡¯s blessing descending upon him. He focused all his consciousness on the card and chose to use it. The card spun rapidly, bursting into a bright light, turned into countless particles, which then re-formed into an eye. [Illusion Technique: Causes a single target to fall into an illusion, spiritual resistance shortens the duration] He actually drew a skill card; he really was a lucky emperor. Fang Zhou opened the system joyfully. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: None Cultivation Method: None Skill: Illusion Technique Strength: 1+ Speed: 1+ Physical: 1+ Spirit: 1+ Masculinity: 2 The quest reward added two points of masculinity; the pluses appeared behind each attribute, which he could probably use to increase attributes. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and added the masculinity to his strength and spirit, the spirit would help him resist the temptress Li Ruyu¡¯s seduction, while strength could improve his currently feeble body. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: None Cultivation Method: None Skill: Illusion Technique Strength: 2 Speed: 1 Physical: 1 Spirit: 2 Masculinity: 0 After increasing his strength and spirit attributes, Fang Zhou immediately felt a noticeable change. His body felt as if it had endless energy, strength suddenly enhanced, and the change in spirit was particularly evident. The dizziness and sluggishness when seduced by Li Ruyu were swept away, and his spirit became invigorated and clear. ¡°Young master, are you there?¡± At this moment, Fang Zhou¡¯s male servant happened to be knocking on the door outside. Fang Zhou let the male servant in and then cast the Illusion Technique on him. The male servant immediately fell into a daze, as Fang Zhou began to count the time, meanwhile waving his hand in front of the servant, ¡°Hey, can you hear me speaking?¡± The male servant was indifferent to Fang Zhou¡¯s actions, remained motionlessly standing for a few seconds and then suddenly started wriggling like a teddy bear. What kind of vision did this damn guy see? Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know what someone under an illusion would see, but it was clear that this guy caught sight of something inappropriate for children. In the next moment, the male servant let out a heavy breath, looking enlightened like a sage who has comprehended the ultimate truth that all is vanity. Fang Zhou gave a bewildered look and hurriedly kicked the servant out of the room with a swift foot. This guy really isn¡¯t reliable, better to test it on someone else. Fang Zhou left the room and secretly found a few isolated servants to test on, quickly figuring out the effects and limitations of the Illusion Technique. Ordinary people under the illusion would stay affected for about a minute; simple sounds and touches wouldn¡¯t wake them, only a greater stimulus would do the job. For those who have practiced cultivation, the duration of the Illusion Technique would be shortened and they could be awakened by smaller stimuli. Releasing three illusions would exhaust Fang Zhou¡¯s spirit, forcing five could completely deplete him, almost emptying his body. This was after he had strengthened his spiritual power; without the enhancement, he might have only managed two or three. Although the skill didn¡¯t seem very powerful, at least it gave Fang Zhou some power to resist, so he wouldn¡¯t be entirely at others¡¯ mercy. ¡­ Li Ruyu and her entourage stayed at the Fang Mansion for ten days, during which Li Ruyu harassed Fang Zhou almost daily, finding all sorts of excuses to make physical advances. Fang Zhou matched wits and courage against this enamored woman, taking the opportunity to extract more information about the Cultivation World from her and even asking Li Ruyu to demonstrate a cultivator¡¯s power. Seeing Li Ruyu easily split a large rock in two with her longsword, Fang Zhou got a clear understanding¡ªLi Ruyu could kill him with just the poke of a finger. This realization created a sense of crisis in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. Inside Fang Mansion, Li Ruyu still had to maintain some semblance of propriety, but who knew whether she would force herself on him during the trip to Xuanji Sect. By then, crying for help would be useless, pitifully small and helpless to her whims. Once, Fang Zhou tentatively asked if he could learn some basic Cultivation Methods from Xuanji Sect beforehand. Li Ruyu flatly refused, telling him not to be anxious and to wait until they reached Xuanji Sect. How can I not be anxious, you deranged woman who could poke me to death? The ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and Fang Zhou had to bid farewell to his family to start the journey back to Xuanji Sect with Li Ruyu. ¡°Zhou¡¯er, remember to come back and visit your father!¡± At the gate of Fang Mansion, Fang Zhou¡¯s father cried, his face smeared with tears and snot, clinging to his mother¡¯s embrace, while a few aunts sobbed in a huddle. His mother had tears in her tiger¡¯s eyes, but as the head of the family, she couldn¡¯t reveal her childlike demeanor, only telling Fang Zhou, ¡°Go ahead, don¡¯t worry about the family matters.¡± Fang Zhou had to feign a deep sorrow, but his heart remained calm. He had only crossed over for a few weeks and naturally had no affection for the Fang Family, yet occupying their son¡¯s body, he still managed to squeeze out a few tears. Li Ruyu, riding on a horse, smiled and said, ¡°Auntie Fang, please don¡¯t worry. I will ensure that junior brother reaches Xuanji Sect safely. After he meets our Master and has practiced cultivation for three years at Xuanji Sect, he¡¯ll be able to come down the mountain and visit home.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s mother could only wave: ¡°That¡¯s good then, go on, don¡¯t delay any further.¡± Li Ruyu saluted with her hands, then turned her horse¡¯s head around and began the journey with the carriage. Fang Zhou¡¯s father tiptoed, waving a handkerchief vigorously towards the carriage with tear-blurred eyes: ¡°Zhou¡¯er, remember to come back!¡± Fang Zhou waved from the carriage window, then retreated back inside. ¡­ Although Xuanji Sect is also within Jingnan State, the journey is long and requires over a month by horse-drawn carriage. The trip could be much shortened by horseback, but Li Ruyu, concerned about Fang Zhou¡¯s lack of cultivation and fearing the journey would tire and harm him, chose the carriage instead. However, Fang Zhou felt that Li Ruyu¡¯s reasons weren¡¯t so simple; she likely wanted to prolong the time on the road. After leaving Wu City, Li Ruyu¡¯s gaze towards Fang Zhou no longer contained any disguise, it was naked covetousness, like a hungry tiger eyeing a caged lamb, almost drooling. Fang Zhou suspected that on the road, this obsessed woman would definitely make her move, so he prepared himself secretly to prevent being ruined by her before even reaching Xuanji Sect. Then again, birds of a feather flock together, and Li Ruyu from Xuanji Sect had this thirsty demeanor and was said to be highly valued within the sect; it was hard to believe that the atmosphere of Xuanji Sect was pure and full of positive energy. Fang Zhou feared that the moment he entered Xuanji Sect, he would be devoured completely, bound in chains at the limbs, with a gag ball, locked in a dark room, subjected to the whims of a bunch of crazed women every day. Damn, even thinking about it is terrifying. Sure enough, as expected, Li Ruyu became more and more brazen on the road; before, she had to find some excuse to touch him, but now she didn¡¯t even bother with a pretext and just did as she pleased. Every time the caravan stopped to rest, Li Ruyu would crawl into the carriage to make advances on Fang Zhou, her true face as a lust demon fully revealed. Fang Zhou pretended to comply on the surface, but he maintained his bottom line and never let the femme fatale succeed. Li Ruyu wasn¡¯t in a hurry, enjoying the feeling of teasing a respectable young man. After leaving Wu City, the caravan headed south and after several days of travel, crossed the Jingchu River, stayed for two days in the well-known Liuhe City, and then continued south along the main road, entering the Yun Mountain Region of Jingnan State. Yun Mountain Region, an economically underdeveloped area in Jingnan State, had inconvenient transportation and sparse population; Cultivation Sects favored these deep mountains and old forests because of their abundant Spiritual Energy, conducive to Cultivation. After entering the Yun Mountain Region, the roads became narrow and rugged, Fang Zhou felt like his rear was being bumped into eight pieces inside the carriage. There were also very few pedestrians on the road, only occasionally meeting fully-armed merchant caravans, each person appearing vigilant. Danger lurked outside, with the risk of bandits and demons abducting travelers in the wilderness¡ªonly by hiding in villages with the protection of local deities or city gods could one be safe. One day, Fang Zhou sat in the carriage, opened the window to let in some air, and looked at the distant undulating mountain ranges, standing tall like giant bamboo shoots with peaks piercing the heavens. According to Li Ruyu, Xuanji Sect was located in those steep mountains, a place akin to an Immortal Realm; he wondered if it was all just boasting. During this time, Fang Zhou had been trying to trigger a new task, but to no avail. Suddenly, a whistle broke Fang Zhou¡¯s contemplation. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: 5. No matter how loudly you shout, no one will come to save you. Chapter 5: 5. No matter how loudly you shout, no one will come to save you. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He looked back and saw a horse catching up from behind the caravan, with a young woman in white sitting on its back. This woman was extraordinarily beautiful, even more so than Li Ruyu, but she possessed not the typical beauty but a striking, dashing air. In her hand was a wine flask, and a longsword hung by the horse; her hair was tied into a long ponytail, fluttering in the wind as she rode, creating a vibrant and carefree scene in the setting sun. This picture caused Fang Zhou to become momentarily distracted, and the woman in white rode up to him, gave a cheerful whistle in his direction. Fang Zhou snapped back to reality, immediately realizing he was being flirted with. The woman in white playfully shook her wine flask towards Fang Zhou and teased, ¡°Young man, why do you look so lonesomely bored? How about joining me for a drink? My treat.¡± Damn your lonesome boredom! Fang Zhou shook his head and responded, ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t like drinking.¡± The woman in white laughed again, ¡°Why not? Are you afraid of throwing up? Don¡¯t worry, I never throw up no matter how much I drink. Of course, if it¡¯s somewhere else, that¡¯s none of my business, haha.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face turned dark, thinking to himself that she was also a hooligan, making bawdy jokes right off the bat. At this moment, the disciples from the Xuanji Sect ahead finally noticed the commotion and called out, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Li Ruyu from the front immediately turned her horse around and came galloping over, staring solemnly at the woman in white; Fang Zhou had never seen her with such a serious expression before. Li Ruyu greeted the woman in white with a bow, ¡°We are disciples of the Xuanji Sect, may I ask why you are here?¡± The woman in white waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Nothing much, just chatting with this young man for a bit.¡± Li Ruyu looked displeased, ¡°Please respect yourself and refrain from harassing male companions of the Xuanji Sect.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face darkened again. Male companions? FML!! ¡°My apologies for that, excuse me,¡± the woman in white said seemingly courteously, yet without a hint of embarrassment. She spurred her horse gently and swiftly overtook the caravan, moving ahead. Fang Zhou clearly saw the woman in white give him a wink before she departed. Once the woman in white left, Li Ruyu turned back to Fang Zhou and warned, ¡°These are dangerous times, junior brother. Do not show off your presence to avoid attracting the bad intentions of evildoers.¡± Fang Zhou felt a flame of annoyance surge up, thinking to himself, are you implying that I¡¯m inviting trouble? Besides, you¡¯re calling others evildoers? I think you¡¯re the biggest one. It¡¯s infuriating. ¡°Understood, Senior Sister.¡± Fang Zhou replied with a smile, feeling as if his acting skills were on par with winning an Oscar. He then asked, ¡°Senior Sister, was that woman in white very formidable?¡± Li Ruyu shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. In the future, if we encounter such individuals, we should avoid provoking them.¡± The incident was just a minor interruption, and the group continued onward. The sun set, and evening came; the caravan arrived at the base of a mountain and stopped in front of a dilapidated Mountain God Temple to spend the night. The door of the Mountain God Temple was rotten. The carriages were left outside, while the horses were led inside the temple. The Mountain God Temple was somewhat deserted, with overgrown weeds in corners. It wasn¡¯t very spacious; the main hall was separated from the entrance by a courtyard. Inside the main hall, there was a Mountain God Statue with an indistinct face, and the murals on both sides were flaking and faded. Scorched pieces of wood from campfires littered the ground in front of the shrine, presumably from past travelers. A few disciples from the Xuanji Sect started to busy themselves, making a fire and boiling water for dinner, which consisted of dried food and some wild game they had caught on the way. These disciples were just ordinary members of the Xuanji Sect, their status nowhere near that of Li Ruyu, thus they were responsible for such miscellaneous tasks along the journey. Li Ruyu wasn¡¯t idle either, she took a charcoal stick and drew several hidden exorcism charms and alert measures around the Mountain God Temple. Staying overnight in the wilderness necessitated such precautions, or else lonely ghosts and wild spirits might take advantage of the darkness to encroach. After finishing, Li Ruyu and several fellow disciples of the Xuanji Sect gathered to share their cultivation experiences and insights, mostly them asking and Li Ruyu answering, since she was at the Foundation Establishment Realm while the rest were only at the Qi Refinement Realm. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t join them but stayed alone in a side hall, which was clean despite a hole in the wall that was covered with thatch to keep out the wind. Inside the side hall, there was also a damaged deity statue with a dog¡¯s head lying on the ground. Before long, Li Ruyu brought food to the side hall and set it down, not leaving immediately. Under her blatant ogling, Fang Zhou felt his appetite wane, and he only ate a few bites before stopping. ¡°Junior brother, why are you eating so little?¡± ¡°Heh, not hungry.¡± Li Ruyu naturally and skillfully took Fang Zhou¡¯s hand and said affectionately, ¡°Junior brother, you must take good care of yourself. If you¡¯re weary, your Senior Sister will feel heartache.¡± Fang Zhou felt goosebumps all over his body; he withdrew his hand, feeling awkward, ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, Senior Sister.¡± Li Ruyu leaned closer to Fang Zhou, their faces nearly touching, ¡°Junior Brother, how are you going to repay me for my kindness towards you?¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly stepped back, ¡°In the future, if Senior Sister needs anything, just say the word, and I won¡¯t hesitate to help.¡± Li Ruyu chuckled softly, ¡°I need your help right now, Junior Brother.¡± Fang Zhou forced a smile, ¡°With what?¡± Damn, she¡¯s not going to ask me to help her relieve it, is she? Li Ruyu licked her lips with her red tongue, her gaze fixated on Fang Zhou, ¡°I encountered some complications during my cultivation, and now there¡¯s a flaming energy within my body, can you help me get rid of it?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked; he didn¡¯t expect Li Ruyu to be so blunt. [New quest triggered] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: 4x Manliness points, 1x blue card] [Failure: Lose Virginity] Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect to trigger a new quest at this time; he didn¡¯t get a chance to look closely because Li Ruyu already lunged at him with open arms. Fang Zhou quickly dodged to the side, shouting loudly, ¡°Senior Sister Li, please have some self-respect, our Master wouldn¡¯t want to see you act like this towards me!¡± Hearing Fang Zhou bring up their Master, Li Ruyu hesitated slightly. She stood up, straightened her clothes, and said, ¡°Junior Brother is right, I was reckless. I hope you won¡¯t tell our Master about this. You should rest early as well, we have to get up early tomorrow.¡± After saying that, Li Ruyu gave Fang Zhou a deep look, with a mysterious smile, she turned around and left the side hall. Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief; the thing he had been worried about ultimately happened¡ªthe crazy woman really wanted to force herself on him, but why did she back off so easily? The newly triggered quest also didn¡¯t indicate success; if the difficulty of this quest was normal and the last one was easy, it didn¡¯t make sense for normal to be easier than easy. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and broke out in a cold sweat. Motherfucker, this crazy woman will surely come back tonight, mentioning her Master¡¯s name won¡¯t scare her at all. Should I run? Fang Zhou considered it for a moment, hesitating. Not to mention being in the middle of nowhere, he couldn¡¯t outrun Li Ruyu. Besides, Li Yuyu had already set up an alarm outside the temple; any attempt to flee would definitely get noticed. Time ticked by second by second; Fang Zhou thought about strategies but couldn¡¯t come up with any countermeasures. He just felt his body getting hotter, beginning to sweat. His consciousness also became somewhat dull, as sleepiness washed over him like a tidal wave. But he quickly realized something was not right; his spirit had been strengthened, and after spending the whole day in a carriage, there was no reason for him to be this exhausted. He bit down hard on his tongue, using pain to fight the drowsiness. After enduring for at least an hour, Fang Zhou felt the sleepiness gradually recede. But immediately after, his skin turned red and burning hot. ¡°Could it be¡­ was there something in the food I ate tonight?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s voice suddenly came from outside the side hall, startling Fang Zhou. He quickly turned his head and saw Li Ruyu walking in from outside the hall. She was only draped in a thin layer of gauze, and under the gauze, she wore nothing, giving Fang Zhou a clear view of everything. ¡°What did you put in it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an aphrodisiac. I spiked it with an aphrodisiac,¡± she said. Li Ruyu walked toward Fang Zhou step by step, with a triumphant smile on her face. Fang Zhou stepped back inch by inch, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll scream.¡± Li Ruyu laughed, ¡°Go ahead and scream. No one will come to your rescue even if you scream your throat sore.¡± Damn, I don¡¯t want to play out this clich¨¦ scenario at all. Fang Zhou cursed silently, but he knew that Li Ruyu was confident without fear; they were in the wilderness with no outsiders around, and those Xuanji Sect disciples outside were all Li Ruyu¡¯s sycophants, even less likely to come to his aid. Li Ruyu approached Fang Zhou, her eyes red, breathing heavily, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to resort to this, Junior Brother, you forced me. But no matter, after tonight, you¡¯ll be mine, and you¡¯ll definitely forgive me.¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: 6. How can decent people stand by and do nothing? Chapter 6: 6. How can decent people stand by and do nothing? Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Inside the grand hall, several disciples of Xuanji Sect gathered together, looking enviously at the side palace. They too were covetous of Fang Zhou¡¯s body, but Fang Zhou had already caught the eye of Li Ruyu, and they dared not interfere. One of them rubbed their hands together and laughed in a sleazy tone: ¡°Even though we can¡¯t have the first round, after Senior Sister Li has had her fun, perhaps we could also¡­ indulge a bit?¡± The group immediately let out a chorus of lecherous laughter. Another disciple of Xuanji Sect frowned and said, ¡°That¡¯s not right. Why can we only hear Senior Sister Li¡¯s voice, and not Junior Brother Fang¡¯s?¡± Hearing this, the rest of them also realized something was off. It was true, from the side palace, only the sounds of Li Ruyu¡¯s speech and laughter could be heard; Fang Zhou¡¯s voice had briefly emerged at the beginning, but then it stopped. Realizing something was amiss, they hurried to their feet and rushed into the side palace, only to be stunned by what they saw. There was Li Ruyu, stripped of her clothes, her body pixelated, her face flushed with a lascivious smile, and her eyes empty. And Fang Zhou, who was supposed to be in the side palace, had vanished without a trace. ¡°Senior Sister, what are you doing, Senior Sister?¡± The disciples of Xuanji Sect hurriedly went forward to pull Li Ruyu down. Just after they pulled her down, Li Ruyu immediately regained clarity. She looked at everyone with both shock and anger: ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why have you all come in?¡± The crowd explained the situation in a babble of voices, and someone noticed signs that the thatched part of the wall in the side palace had been disturbed. It was quite clear that Fang Zhou had escaped. ¡°Whoosh¡ª Whoosh¡ª¡± The piercing sound suddenly came from outside the Mountain God Temple, indicating that the early warning system Li Ruyu had set up had been triggered. ¡°Catch him! Bring him back to me!¡± Li Ruyu took the clothes passed to her by a junior sister and dressed herself, her exquisite face twisted with anger. She hadn¡¯t expected to be played like this by a man she could crush without a second thought, it was truly humiliating. She was determined to capture Fang Zhou and let him know the consequences of angering a woman! ¡­.. ¡°Huff! Huff!¡± Fang Zhou was running wildly through the mountain woods, tumbling head over heels countless times along the way. The moment Li Ruyu stepped into the side palace, Fang Zhou decisively threw an Illusion Technique at her before escaping. Though he had previously given up on the idea of fleeing, faced with impending doom, he had no choice but to run. Would he stay and be drained dry? It was unsure how long the Illusion Technique he cast on Li Ruyu would last. She was at the Foundation Establishment Realm, with a spiritual resistance far higher than ordinary people, so Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t dare to stop even after falling so many times. [Successfully resisted the ravishing of the lustful woman] [Reward: Masculinity*4, Blue Card*1] When Fang Zhou escaped the Mountain God Temple, the success message of the mission appeared. Whether or not he could get away tonight would depend on this stroke of luck. Fang Zhou immediately added the four points of Masculinity to his speed, which boosted his running speed by several times, feeling almost as if he was about to take flight. A blue card was slowly rotating in his mind. [Blue Card: Use to randomly obtain a high-quality item or skill, with a low chance of obtaining an even higher quality item or skill] Fang Zhou chose to draw, and the blue card spun rapidly before disintegrating into sparks of light, which then reconverged into a translucent left hand. [Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand: Summon an invisible left hand; proficiency affects control precision] Another Skill Card appeared, but this skill seemed hardly serious. Fang Zhou activated this skill, and a translucent left hand appeared at the back of his left shoulder, significantly longer than his own left hand. No sooner had the hand of Hu Lai appeared than it began to flail wildly, breaking branches and uprooting weeds, slapping at Fang Zhou¡¯s face. ¡°Bleh bleh bleh, what is this thing?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s heart sank. At this moment he needed something to aid his escape, yet he drew a hand out of control. Not true, the hand wasn¡¯t completely uncontrollable. If Fang Zhou concentrated, he could somewhat control the hand, but once he let go, it moved on its own again. But what was the use of control? Even with this third hand, he absolutely couldn¡¯t beat Li Ruyu. ¡°Junior Brother, stop running!¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from behind, reverberating through the entire mountain woods. Fang Zhou was startled and stopped examining the useless hand, running for his life. The path at the foot of the mountain was blocked by the Mountain God Temple, so he could only flee up the mountain. Having run all the way to the top, he suddenly emerged into a clearing, facing an abyssal cliff that plumbed unseen depths. ¡°Dammit, why does escaping always end up at a cliff!! Do I seriously get to find some long-lost secret manual if I jump down!?¡± Fang Zhou cursed loudly, as Li Ruyu¡¯s voice got closer from behind. It was too late to turn back and find another path at this point. Fang Zhou looked around and finally, clenching his teeth, took off one of his shoes and leapt off the cliff. In less than the time it takes for a few breaths, Li Ruyu had already led her junior sisters to the edge of the cliff. One of them picked up the shoe on the ground, glanced at the dark abyss of the cliff, and her expression changed slightly: ¡°Junior Brother Fang jumped down? What should we do now?¡± Everyone looked at Li Ruyu, waiting for her to make a decision. Li Ruyu¡¯s face was also very unpleasant; she wasn¡¯t afraid that Fang Zhou was seeking death, but she did fear that if Fang Zhou really died, she wouldn¡¯t be able to explain herself to the old hag back home. ¡°We need to see a body, dead or alive. Go down and look,¡± she coldly ordered, leading her junior sisters away. A few meters below the cliff edge, Fang Zhou breathed a deep sigh of relief. His hands tightly grasped a vine that dangled down; his whole body pressed closely against the inward-sloping cliff wall which was invisible from above. Fang Zhou felt somewhat fortunate that he had increased his strength a bit; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have had the power to hang onto the cliff like this. He planned to wait until the people above had gone far away before he¡¯d climb up and then leave the Yun Mountain Region. He no longer intended to go to the Xuanji Sect. Just as Fang Zhou was thinking this, he suddenly felt a force transmitted through the vine, pulling him upwards in a leap, flying over the edge of the cliff, tracing an arc, and landing on the ground with a thud. He couldn¡¯t bother with the pain, quickly getting up only to discover that Li Ruyu and the others, who should have left, were still there. Li Ruyu was holding onto the vine ¨C the very one Fang Zhou had hung onto. Li Ruyu looked at Fang Zhou with a sneer: ¡°You think you can fool me with such petty tricks?¡± It¡¯s as if she hadn¡¯t just been fooled herself. But Fang Zhou¡¯s cold sweat still streamed down. There were five people on the other side, and he could only cast four more Illusion Techniques. He wouldn¡¯t be able to beat the remaining one, nor escape from her. This was truly a dead end. Li Ruyu closed in on Fang Zhou: ¡°Junior Brother, stop making trouble, I can pretend nothing happened just now.¡± I¡¯d trust a ghost before I trust you, you devious minx. Fang Zhou stepped back gradually, his thoughts racing as he considered his options. He was blocked by a large tree, but still had no idea what to do next. At that moment, Fang Zhou feigned a look of surprise, pointing behind Li Ruyu and the others: ¡°There¡¯s someone behind you.¡± Li Ruyu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed it off: ¡°Junior Brother, stop playing these childish tricks.¡± She drew her sword and tossed it at Fang Zhou. The sword light flashed, passing over Fang Zhou¡¯s head and with a twang, sticking into the tree trunk. Li Ruyu scoffed: ¡°Next time, it won¡¯t be a tree trunk I¡¯m stabbing into, it¡¯ll be your body. Won¡¯t you come over here and admit your wrongs like a good boy?¡± Fang Zhou thought about it, then yanked the sword from the tree, waving it twice ¨C not too lightly, not too heavily, just perfect: ¡°Thanks buddy, for the gear.¡± Li Ruyu was baffled and then outraged, storming towards Fang Zhou. She intended to pressure Fang Zhou into admitting his mistake willingly, but it turned out he was still unrepentantly thickheaded. It seemed she had to take action and give him a harsh lesson. ¡°Poof!¡± A tree branch shot from who knows where, landing before Li Ruyu, blocking her path. Li Ruyu looked down at the tree branch on the ground, then suddenly spun around to look back. Her junior sisters all looked back as well, and saw a woman in white lying on the branches of a not-so-distant tree. It was the same person they had bumped into today. Li Ruyu was baffled and furious but also a bit wary. She greeted the woman in white with a bow: ¡°What are you after, following us in secret like this?¡± The woman in white stood up, her long ponytail and white clothes fluttering slightly in the night breeze, looking ethereal under the moonlight. She said with a cheerful smile: ¡°I was out for a stroll because I couldn¡¯t sleep at night, and to my surprise, I found several big women bullying a young man. As a righteous person, how could I stand idly by?¡± Fang Zhou was truly moved; he hadn¡¯t expected to find a helpful ally in such a moment of despair. In this cold and indifferent world, there was still a glimmer of warmth for him. Li Ruyu held back her rage: ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡± Ling Xiaoyue pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°Since I witnessed it, count me in!¡± Li Ruyu: (¡°¨‰¡õ¨‰) Fang Zhou: (#?§¥?) Shit, I almost forgot this woman is also a hooligan!! COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: 7. Hu Lais left hand Chapter 7: 7. Hu Lai¡¯s left hand Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The air suddenly fell silent, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s response came a bit unexpected, catching people off guard. Li Ruyu swung her sleeve fiercely, irate: ¡°Your Excellency need not mock us any longer, what exactly do you want?¡± Ling Xiaoyue sat back down, shaking her head with a sigh, ¡°Ah, this means there¡¯s no room for discussion then? You all are really petty, traversing the jianghu yet unwilling to abide by the rule that beauty should be shared by those who encounter it?¡± With a wave of her hand, Li Ruyu took the longsword from her junior sister¡¯s hand out of thin air. She flicked the blade lightly, speaking coldly with her head raised: ¡°This Yun Mountain Region is under the jurisdiction of Xuanji Sect. We disciples of Xuanji Sect are dealing with sect affairs, I ask Your Excellency not to misjudge. If you visit Xuanji Sect another day, we will certainly offer you a cup of fine tea.¡± Had it been anyone else meddling in Xuanji Sect¡¯s affairs, Li Ruyu would have already made a move, but she couldn¡¯t see through Ling Xiaoyue, couldn¡¯t fathom her, and could only proceed with caution. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t bother with her, instead, she smiled at Fang Zhou, ¡°Little brother, do you want me to save you or not?¡± If I say yes, will you make me beg you? Fang Zhou thought to himself under the warning glances of Li Ruyu and the others, he resolutely nodded his head. Having already offended Xuanji Sect, he couldn¡¯t afford to offend another party. The priority was to escape the current predicament and then figure out how to cope with the gangster in the tree. Ling Xiaoyue swayed her wine flask, and a clear sound was heard from within. ¡°Saving you is not impossible, but the righteous prioritize a well-founded apprenticeship. Meddling in your Xuanji Sect affairs like this doesn¡¯t seem quite right.¡± Disciples of Xuanji Sect all displayed an ¡°as expected, you know better¡± expression, however, Fang Zhou knew this gangster woman must have something more to say. Sure enough, as if struck by a great idea, Ling Xiaoyue snapped her fingers: ¡°Little brother, I see you have the beauty of a flower along with astonishing bones, with divine light erupting from your crown, truly a heaven-sent genius. How about this, you take me as your master right now, as my disciple, then I¡¯d have the right to save you. What do you say?¡± ¡°How dare you?!¡± Li Ruyu immediately gave Fang Zhou a furious stare and barked, ¡°Fang Zhou, you have already entered Xuanji Sect. If you dare to switch allegiance to another, that¡¯s a betrayal of the sect¡¯s trust, a deceitful act against your ancestors. According to the sect rules, you must be cut to pieces, your soul detained and enslaved by the sect forever. Have you thought it through?!¡± Damn, it wasn¡¯t me who brought it up, why are you yelling at me? Previously Xiao Family instructed Fang Zhou to think it through, now it was Li Ruyu¡¯s turn to insist Fang Zhou do the same, this repetition came quite fast. Fang Zhou glances at Ling Xiaoyue, after throwing out a line that infuriated everyone from Xuanji Sect, she had resumed leisurely drinking her wine. Fang Zhou knew it was time to make his decision, if he refused, the gangster in the tree might just let go and leave. Feeling one¡¯s fate being controlled by another wasn¡¯t pleasant, but with no other choices left, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have the luxury to consider whether he was jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Facing Li Ruyu¡¯s threatening gaze, Fang Zhou met her eyes without the slightest fear. These many days of keeping his head down and acting tame had built up a surge of anger within Fang Zhou, unable to contain it any longer. ¡°Teared to fragments¡­ Haha, Li Ruyu, you really think highly of yourself.¡± Fang Zhou let out a cold laugh, ¡°Idiot, get lost!!¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s expression turned icy, and her body suddenly transformed into a white blur, charging towards Fang Zhou. ¡°Master, save me!¡± While speaking, Fang Zhou had already assessed the terrain and started running as he saw Li Ruyu rushing towards him. Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, casually plucking two branches and shooting them towards Li Ruyu. Li Ruyu¡¯s figure made an abrupt return, evading the branches and leaping into the air, stabbing her longsword towards Ling Xiaoyue in the treetop. Meanwhile, the four Xuanji Sect disciples charged straight at Fang Zhou. Li Ruyu¡¯s stabbing sword was swift and fierce, like a shooting star striking the moon, the blade casting a long, chilling gleam. Ling Xiaoyue, still seated, swung the wine flask forward, spilling out a stream of wine. The wine in mid-air astonishingly condensed into ice, shooting like countless shards of light towards Li Ruyu. Li Ruyu¡¯s complexion drastically changed, hastily retracting her attack, twirling the sword into a circle of light, clinking and clanging as she shattered all incoming icicles. As a result, she was knocked back to the ground, tapping her toes on the surface, she dashed under the tree and sliced, in one stroke, the thick trunk. The enormous tree crown crashed down with a thunderous roar. Ling Xiaoyue drifted lightly down from the air, and before her feet touched the ground, Li Ruyu¡¯s longsword was already thrusting at her from the shadows. Elsewhere, Fang Zhou, with his agile pace, sped wildly through the woods. [Trigger new mission ¨C Escape the pursuit of infatuated women] [Difficulty: Easy] [Reward: 2 points of Manliness, 1 White Card] [Failure: Loss of virginity] Another new mission triggered, why is it always losing virginity upon failure? ¡°` Fang Zhou¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, and for a moment, the four Qi Refining Realm disciples from Xuanji Sect couldn¡¯t catch up to him. But they soon found a way. ¡°Whoosh!¡± As Fang Zhou was fleeing, he suddenly heard a whooshing sound from behind and hurriedly ducked. A glint of cold light flew over his head and embedded into a tree trunk ahead¡ªit was a steel needle. Just as Fang Zhou was about to continue his escape, another few glints of cold light shot toward him, forcing him to dodge. This delay allowed the four Xuanji Sect disciples to immediately catch up. Fang Zhou turned around and consecutively cast three Illusion Techniques, hitting the three leading Xuanji Sect disciples and trapping them in illusions. Because he released the techniques too quickly, his spiritual power was severely depleted, causing him an excruciating headache. The remaining Xuanji Sect disciple saw her three companions with dazed expressions and was startled but understood it was Fang Zhou¡¯s doing. She quickly brandished her sword and thrust at him. Fang Zhou, enduring the pain, relied on his high agility to dodge the incoming sword and simultaneously summoned the disorderly left hand of Hu Lai. Fang Zhou tried to control this kind of left hand but failed due to the headache, and as soon as it appeared, it started flailing wildly. The Xuanji Sect disciple heard the racket from the flailing hand and took a wary step back, noticing no danger. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s embarrassed and panicked expression, she let out a light laugh, surged forward, and thrust with her sword. These Qi Refining Realm disciples might be at the bottom of the Cultivation World¡¯s food chain, but for an ordinary person, they were already superhuman. Their bodies had been nourished by Spiritual Energy year after year, able to harness Spiritual Energy to aid in combat, and with every move, they wielded formidable strength. This disciple from Xuanji Sect thrust her sword, the blade tearing through the air with a whistling sound, quick as lightning. Fang Zhou hastily defended with Li Ruyu¡¯s personal longsword. Relying on his five points of speed, he barely managed a couple of parries before his hands went numb from the vibration. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t understand swordsmanship and was disarmed by the opponent¡¯s sword after just a few exchanges. As Fang Zhou hastily dodged backward, he accidentally stepped on a rock and tumbled to the ground. The woman, showing a triumphant look, chased after him and thrust. Before she could strike Fang Zhou, a gust of foul wind arrived with such velocity that she couldn¡¯t react in time. With a bang, it struck her in the chest. The woman let out a piercing scream as she was sent flying backward, spinning six and a half circles in a 360-degree turn mid-air¡ªa difficult maneuver¡ªbefore plunging headfirst into the ground. Fang Zhou caught his breath for a few moments, surprised that Hu Lai¡¯s left hand had actually done something useful, flailing about and managing to hit someone. Approaching her, he saw that she was unconscious, with half her chest caved in, an indication of the punch¡¯s power; it could have burst a persimmon. Truly, Hu Lai¡¯s left hand made a difference where it struck. Fang Zhou looked at the remaining three women, who were now entangled in a bundle, tearing at each other¡¯s clothes and bursting into peals of lascivious laughter. ¡°Little punk, see if you run now!¡± ¡°Watch me turn you over!¡± ¡°Keep screaming, come on, shout! Hahaha¡± Without guessing, Fang Zhou knew what obscene things these three women were seeing in the illusion; he hadn¡¯t expected that even in these women¡¯s illusions, he couldn¡¯t escape inappropriate relations. Such scenes that disrupt social harmony and poison the minds of young people, Fang Zhou felt he couldn¡¯t bear to watch another second. He cautiously managed Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, enduring the stabbing pain in his head, and dealt each of the three debauched women a punch. Whether it was due to lack of proficiency or some other reason, the left hand kept hitting the same spot with every blow; while he aimed for the head, what was hit were always the chests. The three women still lost in the illusion were knocked out, and the notification of mission success followed. [Successfully evaded the pursuit of the amorous women] [Reward: Testosterone*2, White Card*1] Fang Zhou added the two points of testosterone to his physical constitution. His constitution was just average, and the strenuous exertion had nearly killed him. With the addition of two points of constitution, a warm current spontaneously emerged within his body, flowing to his limbs and banishing all fatigue; it even restored much of his drained spirit. He then drew the newly rewarded White Card. The white card spun rapidly, exploded into particles, and finally condensed into a bottle. [Revealing Potion: After drinking, you can see invisible objects for thirty minutes] A small bottle wide enough for two fingers magically appeared in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, filled with clear, transparent liquid. At last, he had drawn an item, but it seemed pointless at the moment. Fang Zhou could only tuck the small bottle close to himself. ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: 8. Its the first time for both, no experience Chapter 8: 8. It¡¯s the first time for both, no experience Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In the woods, noises abounded¡ªit was probably Ling Xiaoyue and Li Ruyu still fighting. Now, Fang Zhou had two options: one was to wait right there until the two women resolved their battle, and the other was to turn around and leave, the farther the better. Although Ling Xiaoyue had once saved him, this woman was also a hooligan. Fang Zhou was quite afraid that if she won, she would execute him on the spot, and that would be a cry for help unheard by heaven and earth. As Fang Zhou hesitated, suddenly, a rapid rattling noise approached, followed by a figure who burst out from the dense forest and slammed into a tree trunk before stopping. That figure was Li Ruyu, whose appearance was extremely disheveled; hair unkempt, clothes in tatters. Her originally beautiful face was now bruised and swollen, with several new wounds. Ling Xiaoyue strolled out from amongst the trees, her pure white robe unblemished, seemingly glowing under the moonlight. She hooked a wine pot with her slender, jade-like little finger, swaying it as she walked. The difference between the two was immediately clear, leaving Fang Zhou no need for choice. Ling Xiaoyue noticed the four Xuanji Sect disciples unconscious on the ground and with a delicate frown showed a hint of surprise: ¡°Quite capable, huh.¡± She could tell Fang Zhou had no cultivation base, just a normal young man; yet, she didn¡¯t expect him to have defeated four Qi Refining Realm cultivators. Just as Fang Zhou was about to humbly deflect, Ling Xiaoyue added meaningfully, ¡°With such capability, no wonder they tried to occupy your body. Seems you¡¯re really something. Take off your clothes and let your master check how ¡®capable¡¯ you are.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face darkened instantly, this hooligan wasn¡¯t much better than Li Ruyu. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s expression like he had just eaten something disgusting, Ling Xiaoyue burst out laughing. On the other hand, Li Ruyu, supporting herself with a tree trunk, stood up. With an angry gaze toward Ling Xiaoyue, she yelled, ¡°My master is Yu Yang the Hermit, and the grandmaster is the Sect Master of Xuanji Sect, they won¡¯t let you off!¡± Facing Li Ruyu¡¯s threats, Ling Xiaoyue scoffed with disdain, ¡°Just an Innate and a Golden Core, two old women and you think you can scare someone with that? If the founder of Xuanji Sect were here herself, maybe I¡¯d give her some face.¡± Fang Zhou felt his blood boil hearing this; this hooligan was not even afraid of the current Sect Master and elders of Xuanji Sect. She was indeed formidable, and it seemed he had latched onto a strong leg. Li Ruyu¡¯s expression twisted: ¡°You dare insult my master and the ancestors of our sect, I¡¯ll fight you!¡± She yelled and leapt into the air, but shockingly, she shot backwards and ran off far in just a few movements. Fang Zhou, thinking Li Ruyu was about to fight to the death, got quite the scare and then realized she was actually fleeing. She even left her unconscious sisters behind, truly shameless. Ling Xiaoyue plucked a tree branch and shot it towards the fleeing Li Ruyu, hitting her target. Li Ruyu screamed as the branch stuck into her buttocks, disappearing without a trace in an instant. Fang Zhou felt a chill down his spine; this hooligan was indeed ruthless. He turned to Ling Xiaoyue and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Run?¡± Ling Xiaoyue put her hand to her mouth and whistled sharply. A spirited horse dashed out from the woods. Ling Xiaoyue leapt onto its back and grabbed Fang Zhou by the collar, lifting him into the air as she galloped away. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?!¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t dare to struggle, afraid his clothes might rip and he¡¯d fall off. Ling Xiaoyue glanced down at him, ¡°Nonsense, obviously we¡¯re fleeing! That woman will definitely go back to report us, if we don¡¯t hurry we¡¯ll just be sitting ducks here. I don¡¯t mind, I can surely escape, but you¡¯d be caught and squeezed dry.¡± Fang Zhou was dumbstruck, ¡°But you acted so tough just now?¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, ¡°Let your master teach you a lesson. It¡¯s alright if you can¡¯t win a fight, but never lose in bravado, understood?¡± Fang Zhou was exasperated, thinking she was more formidable. Turns out, she¡¯s also a ¡®king of talk.¡¯ ¡°Hold on, we¡¯re still days away from Xuanji Sect, let¡¯s head back to the Mountain God Temple first, they have horses there.¡± Leading Fang Zhou back to Mountain God Temple, they took several horses, and Fang Zhou also took his belongings. The two left overnight, not sparing the horses, rushing through the Yun Mountain Region under the starlight and moon. After exhausting several horses, they finally left the influence range of Xuanji Sect, no longer fearing an imminent pursuit. Fang Zhou was responsible for switching between the exhausted horses; he wasn¡¯t very good at riding, but Ling Xiaoyue led the way. However, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s horse was extraordinary, enduring the long run without faltering. ¡°This horse of mine is a treasure, named Yue Ya¡¯er, it¡¯s been with me for a long while, as close as family to me.¡± Ling Xiaoyue affectionately stroked the horse¡¯s neck, then lay back on its back, legs crossed, taking a sip of wine, utterly relaxed. ¡°Disciple, call out ¡®Master¡¯ and let me hear.¡± Fang Zhou rolled his eyes and weakly called out, ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Ling Xiaoyue responded delightfully, shaking her head and swaying with closed eyes, taking another sip of wine, plainly enjoying herself. It seemed this hooligan really enjoyed being a master; along the way, she had made Fang Zhou call her ¡®Master¡¯ countless times. Suddenly, Ling Xiaoyue opened her eyes, ¡°Disciple, you haven¡¯t given me any offering for becoming a disciple.¡± Fang Zhou slowly marked a question, ¡°What offering? You never mentioned that before.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you be a bit more proactive? Ah well, it¡¯s not too late now, hand it over.¡± ¡°What kind of offering do you want? It¡¯s my first time; I don¡¯t have any experience.¡± Ling Xiaoyue suddenly sat up with a chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s your first time so of course you lack experience. If you do it more often, you¡¯ll get the hang of it. It¡¯d be best if you let a skilled big sister help you.¡± Pfft, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re implying. Fang Zhou with a poker face asked, ¡°What exactly do you want as a master-apprentice gift?¡± Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand, ¡°I¡¯m not greedy. I won¡¯t ask my disciple to fetch Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as a gift. Just give me some silver.¡± ¡°How much silver do you want?¡± ¡°A hundred thousand taels should do.¡± Fang Zhou gave Ling Xiaoyue a respectful bow, ¡°It seems we have the fate to meet but not the destiny to follow. I¡¯ll have to find you to become your disciple after I save up a hundred thousand taels. Thanks for your righteous act, moved to tears. It¡¯s a long road ahead in the martial world, until we meet again by fate.¡± After finishing his words, he pulled the reins, ready to gallop away. ¡°Hey hey hey, wait, we can negotiate.¡± Ling Xiaoyue grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s horse, ¡°You don¡¯t have a hundred thousand? You can repay with your body then, ten taels a time, a hundred days will clear the debt.¡± ¡°You must be joking, then I wouldn¡¯t have a single drop left.¡± ¡°You can preserve your energy.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯d rather keep my little life.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, if you don¡¯t want to repay with your body, you must have a thousand taels at least, right? I¡¯m dropping it down by ninety-nine thousand for you. You won¡¯t find such a generous master anywhere else, no more bargaining.¡± Fang Zhou glared at Ling Xiaoyue with a righteous look, the thuggish nature of this woman finally revealed itself. He happened to have a thousand taels in his pouch which he carried with him when he left the Fang Family. Ling Xiaoyue asking for a thousand taels as a master-apprentice gift clearly indicated she knew he had that amount. ¡°Did you secretly go through my bag?¡± ¡°No!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s righteous scolding did nothing to Ling Xiaoyue, this woman had a thick skin and flatly denied the allegation. Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a thousand taels right now, can I owe it to you?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s gaze landed on his bag, ¡°No way, you clearly have it in your bag, still trying to fool me?¡± This woman indeed went through his bag. Eventually, the one thousand taels remained in Fang Zhou¡¯s pouch but now belonged to Ling Xiaoyue, with Fang Zhou temporarily keeping it. ¡°By the way, what is our sect called?¡± Fang Zhou asked, having become her disciple, yet not knowing which sect he belonged to. ¡°Our sect¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue pondered then said to Fang Zhou, ¡°How about calling it Invincible Sect?¡± Fang Zhou felt as if a lightning bolt struck his head, utterly stunned. He looked at Ling Xiaoyue in shock, ¡°You¡¯ve already taken disciples and only just thought of the sect name?¡± Ling Xiaoyue chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s my first time too, no experience.¡± Fang Zhou had thought Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t seem very reliable, possibly even a makeshift assembly, now he realized she didn¡¯t even have a makeshift. ¡°Is it still possible for me to back out now?¡± ¡°What do you think? If you dare to back out now, it¡¯s considered betraying the sect and disrespecting me, the rules say¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue thought for a moment, then said, ¡°According to the rules, we should dismember your body, summon your soul back to the sect to serve forever as a slave, yep, that¡¯s it.¡± Fang Zhou had a full head of black lines, don¡¯t just copy Xuanji Sect¡¯s rules. It seems I¡¯ve really fallen into a pit. If I knew this would happen, I would have run away earlier. Fang Zhou lamented his bad luck. On the very first day of transmigrating, he offended the potential main character Xiao Yan, within a month offended one of the famous Cultivation Sects in Jingnan State, and now fallen into another pit, really wanted to sing ¡®Liang Liang¡¯ for himself. He asked again, ¡°So it¡¯s just the two of us in the sect? What about a residence, don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re a roaming sect?¡± Ling Xiaoyue lay back down, shaking her head, ¡°Originally you had a senior sister, but I lost her.¡± Fang Zhou now somewhat allergic to the phrase ¡®senior sister¡¯ felt relieved hearing that this yet-to-meet senior sister was already lost by Ling Xiaoyue. Wait a minute, how exactly do you play to lose your own apprentice? Ling Xiaoyue kept shaking her head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve bought a piece of land long ago. The Spiritual Energy there is abundant like the Immortal Realm, pavilions and towers so divine, plenty of big houses, let¡¯s go there, just wait to live in luxury.¡± Hearing there was a place to stay, Fang Zhou finally relaxed, and the environment sounded quite promising, he somewhat looked forward to it. ¡°So, what is our sect¡¯s name in the end?¡± ¡°How about Invincible Sect?¡± ¡°No way!¡± ¡°How about First Sect of the Cultivation World?¡± ¡°Rejected!¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: 9. Flaws in the New Martial Arts Technique Chapter 9: 9. Flaws in the New Martial Arts Technique Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ling Xiaoyue had chosen a location for the Xuanji Sect within Jingnan State, specifically in the northern Jing Chu Territory, which required over a month¡¯s travel to reach. Regarding the name of the sect, as the founding ancestor, Ling Xiaoyue had the duty to name it, but her talent in naming was rather poor, merely cycling through names like ¡®Invincible Under Heaven¡¯, ¡®Only I Am Awesome¡¯, and ¡®You Are All Trash¡¯, fearing that speaking such names aloud might get her beaten up. Fang Zhou rejected all the names she came up with, as he didn¡¯t want to bear a title such as Sect of Invincibility or Awesome Sect in the future, as it would make him look foolish. Ling Xiaoyue wanted to use her authority as master to forcibly decide the sect¡¯s name, but Fang Zhou threatened to disband the group, and thus the matter of naming was put on hold, to be revisited and developed together in the future. Ling Xiaoyue might seem unreliable, but she was quite diligent, quickly teaching Fang Zhou a Qi Refining Technique called New Moon Qi. The principle of cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm is simple; spiritual energy is pervasive in this world, merely in varying concentrations in different areas. When people breathe, they inhale air along with spiritual energy, but it is exhaled immediately; the human body cannot retain spiritual energy on its own, and thus methods must be devised to keep it within. The role of a Qi Refining Technique is to extract spiritual energy from the air and retain it within the body, nurturing the body day and night, and even using it to assist in combat. Fang Zhou had learned from Li Ruyu that within the same category of techniques, there are superior and inferior ones; for instance, Qi Refining Techniques that are casually circulated in the world are considered inferior, full of flaws. Whereas more complete techniques are extremely valuable in the eyes of ordinary people, they are seen as substandard by Cultivation Sects and not worth a second glance. Cultivation Sects typically teach lower-grade techniques to their ordinary disciples, which some families would treasure as heirlooms. The core force of a sect usually cultivates higher-grade techniques, and if one becomes a disciple of the Sect Master or an elder, they might be granted a true inherited technique. Of course, different sects have different foundations; in some major sects, what is considered low-grade might be treated as top-grade in smaller sects. Different quality techniques yield significantly different benefits during cultivation, with more advanced techniques offering wider disparities in benefits. When Ling Xiaoyue transmitted the New Moon Qi to Fang Zhou, he couldn¡¯t tell its quality, but with cultivation techniques, one usually looks at the foundation or encounters exceptional luck; in these aspects, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t hold much hope for Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°Hey, this New Moon Qi you gave me, it wouldn¡¯t happen to just be some generic mass-produced item you bought and renamed as your own, would it?¡± Seeing Fang Zhou doubt her like this, Ling Xiaoyue, uncharacteristically upset, picked up a wine jug and knocked it on his head. ¡°My foolish disciple, you know nothing. This New Moon Qi is a Divine Skill bestowed from heaven, unique in the entire cultivation world. If word gets out, it might cause a storm of blood and violence throughout the cultivation world. Your master isn¡¯t selfishly keeping it; I gave it to you as soon as you started. Tell me, aren¡¯t you touched?¡± ¡°Just keep bragging.¡± ¡°So, are you going to practice it or not? If not, give it back.¡± ¡°I will practice!¡± There¡¯s no harm in practicing, and Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have much choice. ¡­ Deep into the night, a bright moon hung high, with the stars all hidden. Fang Zhou sat cross-legged on a large rock at the mountain peak, bathed in moonlight, his eyes tightly closed, ears only picking up the rustling of the wind and the chirping of insects in the grass. Ling Xiaoyue lay on another rock not far away, enjoying the beautiful moonlit scenery, occasionally taking a sip of wine. Tonight was Fang Zhou¡¯s first night practicing New Moon Qi, which was more effective and had a higher success rate under the moonlight, thus he chose to do his first session at night. ¡°This is a free bonus, listen well.¡± Ling Xiaoyue only taught him some techniques for cultivation, then left him to his own devices. Fang Zhou fumbled on his own, feeling quite nervous. The first barrier in beginner cultivation is to extract the first strand ofAppropriately controlled, the various sounds in his ears had disappeared, and his mind was clear and bright. from the inhaled air. Many men fail at this barrier, seemingly unable to sense the presence of spiritual energy or refine it. Having never cultivated before, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know if he would be successful or not. Following the breathing methods recorded in New Moon Qi, Fang Zhou quickly adjusted his breathing, heartbeat, and mind, entering a very subtle state. He slowly inhaled; the air traveled through his nostrils into his lungs, which trembled imperceptibly in novel ways, like a starving person greedily swallowing this inflowing air and rapidly expelling the waste gases. Fang Zhou¡¯s breaths grew faster, and around his body, the moonlight formed hazy specks of light that floated around him and were absorbed into his body. The various insects and nocturnal creatures on the mountaintop seemed drawn by the moonlight, growing restlessly agitated. Ling Xiaoyue, who had been lying on the rock, suddenly sat up, stunned by the scene. ¡°Triggering the Moonlight on your first cultivation session?¡± She stood up from the rock, her hair tips and long robe fluttering in the wind, an awe-inspiring aura bursting forth from her like a tsunami sweeping across. The rustling insects and creatures in the forest bushes fell silent, and the whole mountaintop became as tranquil as water. Completely absorbed in his cultivation, Fang Zhou was oblivious to the outside world. As the moon set and stars dimmed, and the east began to lighten. Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long, turbid breath. He checked himself and immediately showed a surprised expression. Cultivation was actually successful; he had refined Spiritual Energy inside his body, not just a strand but a cluster, gathered in the Dantian. Following the guidance of New Moon Qi, Fang Zhou manipulated this cluster of Spiritual Energy to wander throughout his body, circulating and dispelling the fatigue from a night of cultivation. As long as he kept circulating it constantly, it would nourish his physique and eventually transform him, transcending the mundane. However, after one complete circulation, the cluster of Spiritual Energy visibly shrank, necessitating continued cultivation to replenish it. A sound came from beside him, Fang Zhou turned his head and saw Ling Xiaoyue standing next to him. ¡°I¡¯ve successfully made entry-level progress.¡± Fang Zhou smiled, remembering that protagonist-like Xiao Yan from his childhood in Wu City ¨C a once-in-a-century genius who also took two whole days to refine his first strand of Spiritual Energy. Could I also be a genius? Otherwise, why would Xuanji Sect and Ling Xiaoyue compete to take me as a disciple? Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s overjoyed expression, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s lips slightly curled up: ¡°That¡¯s because I teach well; I have the knack of turning stones into gold, turning dunces into geniuses under my guidance.¡± Fang Zhou gave her a sidelong glance, feeling that her shamelessness was even stronger. Ling Xiaoyue picked up the wine pot and lightly tapped it on Fang Zhou¡¯s head: ¡°Do you think you¡¯re amazing because you made entry-level progress in one night?¡± Fang Zhou felt unconvinced: ¡°Otherwise?¡± Ling Xiaoyue crossed her hands, asking: ¡°Guess how long it took for your master to make entry-level progress when I first started cultivating?¡± She held up a finger: ¡°Here¡¯s a hint.¡± Fang Zhou frowned: ¡°One day?¡± Ling Xiaoyue threw back her head and laughed loudly, hands on her hips: ¡°You really underestimate your master. It was one hour, I made entry-level progress in one hour, while you spent a whole night. So who gave you the courage to be complacent in front of your master?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s pride vanished in an instant, okay, you¡¯re more impressive. He opened the system to check his current attributes. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level) Cultivation Technique: New Moon Qi Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand Strength: 2 Speed: 5 Body: 3 Spirit: 2 Manliness: 0 After starting cultivation, he should be able to enhance his physical attributes, but he had only been cultivating for one night, so there were no effects yet. Just then, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder: ¡°Disciple, there¡¯s something I must tell you. Although our sect¡¯s cultivation technique is a Divine Skill, there is a flaw I need to mention beforehand to prevent you from finding out later and not accepting it.¡± Fang Zhou frowned: ¡°A flaw, what flaw?¡± Her expression and tone seemed slightly awkward, making it apparent she was somewhat embarrassed. This surprised Fang Zhou, the female rogue who usually had remarkably thick skin, now having a moment of embarrassment¡ªhow severe must this flaw be?! Amidst Fang Zhou¡¯s anxiousness, Ling Xiaoyue leaned closer, whispering: ¡°The flaw is¡­ after cultivating, you will lose hair.¡± ¡°I, what the¡­ why didn¡¯t you say so sooner¡­ wait, what did you say?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her in shock, goddamn losing hair, does that mean I will also become bald in the future? No way, one bald guy is enough, I don¡¯t want to be a bald superhero¡­ Wait!! Fang Zhou looked at Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s ponytailed long hair, if it causes hair loss then how could she still have such long hair, could it be a wig? Fang Zhou instinctively reached out to pull on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s ponytail Ling Xiaoyue slapped his hand away: ¡°No need to check, this is real hair. You won¡¯t become bald in the future.¡± Fang Zhou puzzledly said: ¡°Then why did you say it causes hair loss?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The air suddenly quieted down. The two silently looked at each other. Ling Xiaoyue: (?£þ??£þ??)? Fang Zhou: (?_?) COMMENT 2 comment SEND GIFT 2 Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: 10. The debtor is the master. Chapter 10: 10. The debtor is the master. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Shocking! A well-known Cultivation Technique surprisingly harbors a secret flaw unknown to others. What is this secret that causes those who know about it to blush and stay silent, yet secretly study it under the covers at night? Fang Zhou fell into a trap again. But this time, the pit was shallow, only causing hair loss, which was not unacceptable, as long as no one saw it. Besides this hair-loss flaw, the New Moon Qi Qi Refining Technique was actually quite powerful. After several days of cultivation, Fang Zhou¡¯s physique was a little stronger, and his strength had increased, though it was not enough to show up as a whole unit of increase in attributes. When he encountered something he didn¡¯t understand during cultivation, Fang Zhou would try to figure it out by himself, and only when he really couldn¡¯t understand would he go to Ling Xiaoyue for advice. Why so? Not because Fang Zhou was self-reliant, but because Ling Xiaoyue, that fool, actually charged!! money!! for answering questions! You heard right, it cost money to ask her questions. Living through two worlds, Fang Zhou? had never heard of a disciple having to pay to ask his or her mentor questions. Not only that, Ling Xiaoyue charged Fang Zhou for food, accommodation, medical expenses, clothing, and so on, inventing various reasons to collect money. Fang Zhou seriously suspected that this woman must have died poor in her past life and fell into a money pit as soon as she was born in this one. Ling Xiaoyue, however, had a ready argument: ¡°I¡¯m not your mother; why would I raise you? Don¡¯t eating, medical care, and clothing cost money?¡± Fang Zhou was a bit annoyed: ¡°I¡¯ve already given you 1,200 silver taels as a ceremony gift when becoming your disciple!¡± ¡°Correct!¡± Ling Xiaoyue said as though it was a matter of course: ¡°Didn¡¯t I freely teach you New Moon Qi? I will pass on so many more techniques to you in the future, you¡¯re earning big here.¡± Fang Zhou spread his hands: ¡°Then we are merely in a transactional relationship, not a mentor-student relationship.¡± ¡°Oh, my foolish disciple!¡± Ling Xiaoyue scoffed: ¡°The essence of the mentor-student relationship is reciprocal benefits, cloaked in a layer of emotional pretense. Try handing over 1,200 taels to see which sect would accept you as a disciple. I¡¯ll teach you another lesson; free things are the most expensive. If a sect takes you in without charge, they surely covet something of yours, like your body, hehe.¡± Fang Zhou was at a loss for words, Ling Xiaoyue had a pile of twisted logic, but he had to admit there was a grain of truth in her words. The threshold for Cultivation in this world was not low at all, with countless people waving around silver bills and still unable to find the entrance, only talent and connections acting as the key. It was somewhat like those renowned private universities on Earth¡ªone needs a recommendation letter to enter, and having money alone only means being treated like a fat sheep to be slaughtered. If a sect doesn¡¯t want money and has no connections, they¡¯re probably after your talent. The Xuanji Sect¡¯s elder probably took Fang Zhou as a disciple because she fancied his talent, but she didn¡¯t expect they wouldn¡¯t let go of his body either. Regardless, this was not a reason for Ling Xiaoyue to look for excuses to charge him money. Unable to argue or fight his way out, Fang Zhou could only give in, sheared like a sheep by Ling Xiaoyue. He kept these grievances in mind, vowing to settle accounts with this woman one day. In just a few days, Fang Zhou had accumulated a massive debt, and the creditor was his own mentor. However, once he had accepted the reality of the situation, Fang Zhou settled down. After all, owing debts made one the boss. She can shear all she wants; if I ever repay even a penny, I¡¯ll take her last name. ¡­ The Jing Chu Territory lies in the northern part of Jingnan State, and the easiest route is to follow the Jing Chu River. After leaving Yun Mountain Region, Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue traveled northwards alongside Jing Chu River. Many places offered boat rides¡ªeasy and effort-saving. Yet Ling Xiaoyue, a cultivator through and through, complained about the expensive boat fares, dragging him through dozens of miles of mountain roads almost breaking him to pieces. However, through such trials, Fang Zhou became even more adept at absorbing and channeling Spiritual Energy. Sitting on horseback, he could nurture his body with Spiritual Energy at any time and clearly felt his physique growing stronger. And finally, his strength increased, from 2 points to 3 points. Fang Zhou did not know if Ling Xiaoyue did this intentionally or not, but considering her carefree demeanor, he took it as unintentional. Continuing north, Fang Zhou¡¯s horse began to lose condition, and continuing to run would ruin it, so they had to stop at a place called Qingde City. Qingde City, smaller than Wu City, was still a large city with a population of a hundred thousand, with soaring walls and grand city gates. Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue joined the flow of people into the city, where high-rise buildings dotted the skyline, streets were orderly and broad, and throngs of pedestrians bustled about¡ªa picture of prosperity. Fang Zhou entered the city and wanted to find a place to stay, have a good meal, and take a hot bath. Having been living on dry rations outdoors for some time, the constant diet was almost making him sick, and he seldom had a chance to bathe, leaving his skin uncomfortably sticky. Ling Xiaoyue, however, looked as if dust could not soil her, as if she was impervious to any grime. Seeing Fang Zhou heading towards the bustling taverns and inns, Ling Xiaoyue reached out to stop him: ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Obviously, to find a place to stay.¡± Fang Zhou first looked perplexed, then cautiously at her: ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not planning to sleep on the streets now that we¡¯re in the city, are you?¡± He had resigned himself to sleeping in the wild and feeding the mosquitoes while on the road, as there was no alternative, but if she expected him to sleep on the streets now that they were in the city, he would never stand for it. Seeing Fang Zhou with a look that said, ¡°dare to make me sleep on the streets and I¡¯ll sever ties with you as my master,¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed: ¡°Would I be the kind of person to make you sleep in the streets?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Her laughter abruptly stopped, and Ling Xiaoyue scolded him with a stern face: ¡°We¡¯re cultivators; how can we stay in an inn like ordinary people? That¡¯s beneath our dignity.¡± Fang Zhou revealed a mocking smile: ¡°So sleeping on a tree doesn¡¯t make us lose face, right? Monkeys also sleep on trees.¡± Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine jug and threw it at Fang Zhou, but he agilely dodged it. ¡°Follow me. Let your master teach you the secrets of wandering the mortal realms as a cultivator, something I don¡¯t even tell regular folks.¡± Despite Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s earnest words, Fang Zhou remained skeptical, but she didn¡¯t care about his disbelief. Mounting her horse, she turned and left, leaving Fang Zhou no choice but to follow. The two arrived at the public announcement wall in Qingde City, where government officials posted documents to inform the populace, stuck various gazettes on the board, and also pasted curious tidbits, missing persons notices, etc. Of course, you had to have money to do that; without money, you¡¯d be left pasting flyers in alleys and street corners. Many townsfolk, with nothing better to do, would come here for entertainment, mainly listening to literate people explain the postings, much like enjoying a storyteller, and it was all free. The public announcement wall wasn¡¯t large, and with the crowd of onlookers pushing forward, several government officials were maintaining order at the edge of the wall, creating an organized chaos amidst the hubbub. What Fang Zhou found predictable yet still intriguing was that all the people present were female, including the government officials. Under these circumstances, if Fang Zhou dared to squeeze in, he¡¯d immediately be engulfed by a sea of women, experiencing the ¡°treatment¡± of being fawned over. But he dared not, as each of these women was robust and burly, with thickset faces; if he pushed his way in, it would be questionable whose ¡®tofu¡¯ was being eaten¡ªhis, or theirs. He feared that he might enter alive but not make it out the same way. With his improved constitution, Fang Zhou had keen eyesight and hearing, allowing him to see clearly from the periphery the contents posted on the wall. Fang Zhou curiously glanced over and saw wanted posters with portraits, notices of earth dragons turning in some cities, frequent incidents of missing children in Jing Chu Territory, rampant human trafficking, warning people to watch out for their young ones. Just then, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly gestured, and a flyer flew off the wall into her hand as if by magic. This act instantly caught the attention of many onlookers around the wall, who then turned to look. Ling Xiaoyue, with such an appearance, could attract attention anywhere in the real world, but unfortunately, this world was not normal. After a quick glimpse at her, the next second, all eyes were on Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou instantly felt like he was spot-lit, the dense gazes seemingly stripping him of his clothes. Flip the genders and it¡¯s akin to countless burly men brazenly ogling a beautiful young girl. ¡°What a handsome young lad!¡± ¡°Such a perky butt!¡± ¡°Let me touch, and I swear I¡¯d rather stay unmarried for two years, heh.¡± All sorts of teasing remarks and even sounds of salivation reached Fang Zhou¡¯s ears, making his skin crawl. Although Fang Zhou did not meet the standards of beauty demanded by the affluent for marrying a handsome youth, his looks were still exceptionally high, and his tall figure could easily stir the desire to conquer within women. People were starting to close in; Fang Zhou hastily urged Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Let¡¯s go, quickly!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s embarrassment brought Ling Xiaoyue much joy, but she didn¡¯t linger, taking him away with her. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: After all, this is a world that judges by appearance. Chapter 11: After all, this is a world that judges by appearance. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ling Xiaoyue received a private post from the notice wall. The poster was named Wang Fulai, a local business tycoon known by the nickname ¡°Wine King.¡± It¡¯s said that forty percent of Qingde City¡¯s alcohol supply is provided by Wang Fulai, a bona fide tycoon. However, the content of the post had nothing to do with the alcohol business. Instead, the Wang Family had recently been disturbed by demonic forces, with Wang Fulai¡¯s only son, Wang Minghong, narrowly escaping with his life. Left with no other options, Wang Fulai had to post a notice seeking the help of remarkable and unusual individuals. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue pick up the post, Fang Zhou immediately understood her so-called secret of cultivators roaming the human world, and burst out, ¡°This is your secret?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Ling Xiaoyue nodded. ¡°Cultivators journey through society not only to temper their mind and body but also to exterminate demons and bring blessings to the human world.¡± Fang Zhou directly pierced through her veil of hypocrisy: ¡°Bullshit, you clearly just want to freeload on food and drink.¡± Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t annoyed and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m testing your discernment, and you¡¯ve seen through it so quickly. You¡¯re right, do you think every cultivator traveling the world is loaded with silver? Cultivation is also very costly, of course we should save when we can. Those with a bit of shame exterminate demons, those without shame rob the rich to aid the poor. This is the non-transmissible secret.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s down-to-earth explanation shattered Fang Zhou¡¯s last remnants of high-regard for the Cultivation World, causing him to blurt out in frustration, ¡°Crap.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°A type of herbaceous plant.¡± The master and disciple duo asked around for directions, and soon found the Wang Family¡¯s luxurious estate. As expected of a local tycoon, the estate had two person-tall stone lions at the gate, and a vermilion door that looked even more imposing than the State Mansion¡¯s. There were quite a few business-looking people outside the gate seeking an audience, but they were rudely turned away by the aggressive gatekeepers, and could only bribe their way in with silver. Ling Xiaoyue handed the post to Fang Zhou: ¡°You go.¡± Fang Zhou protested unhappily: ¡°Why should I go?¡± It wasn¡¯t him who wanted to freeload. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s gaze fell on Fang Zhou¡¯s face, and she said with a smile, ¡°Why let such a face go to waste?¡± Damn it, so she¡¯s using my face to get in. Fang Zhou had no choice but to take the post, dismount, and walk up to explain their intentions to the gatekeeper. The female gatekeeper¡¯s attitude towards Fang Zhou was indeed much better. She didn¡¯t even ask for silver before going in to report. Looks like every world is indeed all about face-value. Soon, a female housekeeper came out and led the master and disciple inside the Wang estate. The housekeeper¡¯s attitude was rather ordinary, merely giving Fang Zhou a few more glances before admonishing them not to wander around, rather lukewarm. The housekeeper took them to a side hall, where, surprisingly, there was a man and a woman. The woman, who appeared to be in her forties, wore a tall hat, a Daoist robe, and held a dust whisk. She sat on a chair, her face kind and radiating the transcendent aura of a cultivator. A young Taoist boy stood behind her, with a submissive look in his eyes. He was of ordinary appearance, with a few freckles on his face. ¡°Master Ji.¡± The housekeeper first greeted the female Daoist, then said to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou, ¡°Please rest here. I will arrange for servants to serve your meal, and you will meet the family head when he is available.¡± After saying this, the housekeeper left. Ling Xiaoyue stretched lazily and then smiled at the female Daoist, ¡°Master Ji, I presume? Delighted to meet you.¡± Master Ji returned a smile and performed a Taoist salute, ¡°The courtesy is yours.¡± Fang Zhou noticed that the Taoist boy standing behind Master Ji was giving them a scrutinizing look, even with a hint of hostility. Fang Zhou was puzzled but quickly realized¡ªthese two were colleagues. At the same time, he finally understood the housekeeper¡¯s indifferent attitude and her immediate arrangements for a meal. After Wang Fulai¡¯s post, there must have been many shameless people like Ling Xiaoyue who came to freeload food and drink. The Wang Family must be so used to it by now that as soon as someone arrives, they directly arrange food and drink. If one doesn¡¯t show some real skills, they might get kicked out before even spending the night. Very soon, a servant brought in a meal¡ª a large plate of steamed meat buns, a plate of dried meat, and a pot of wine. Simple dishes, but in generous quantities, with steam rising from the hot meat buns and the wine warmed to the right temperature. ¡°Quick, eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Ling Xiaoyue beckoned Fang Zhou to start eating, which rendered Fang Zhou speechless. Here he was with a whopping one thousand taels in his pocket, yet he found himself mooching food and drink at someone else¡¯s place. Just as Fang Zhou pondered where things had gone wrong, Ling Xiaoyue had already gobbled down two big meat buns. ¡°Aren¡¯t you fasting from food already?¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise, since all the way here Ling Xiaoyue had hardly eaten anything, only drinking alcohol. Her wine bottle seemed to provide an endless supply, never running out no matter how much she drank. ¡°Yeah.¡± Ling Xiaoyue took a sip of her wine, then poured the rest into her wine bottle, ¡°You can¡¯t finish all this food anyway, I¡¯m helping you eat some so it doesn¡¯t go to waste. Wasting food is disgraceful.¡± Just as Fang Zhou was about to retort, he heard a snicker. ¡°Two country bumpkins!¡± Fang Zhou turned his head and saw that the Taoist boy was the one who sneered. Seeing that Fang Zhou had noticed him, the Taoist boy wasn¡¯t the least bit nervous; instead, he showed a look of disdain as if observing two greenhorns who had just entered the city. Master Ji sat with his eyes half-closed, seemingly meditating, showing no reaction to the Taoist boy¡¯s behavior. Fang Zhou, not knowing the strength of these two individuals and not wanting to stir trouble, pretended not to hear. His gaze paused on the boy¡¯s ordinary face for a moment, and he let out a light chuckle. Turning his head, he saw that almost all of the big buns had been eaten by Ling Xiaoyue, which made him panic: ¡°Save some for me!¡± Seeing that Fang Zhou didn¡¯t dare to speak up, the Taoist boy huffed twice, smug, but then he quickly realized what that light chuckle from Fang Zhou meant¡ªWas he laughing at my appearance?! The Taoist boy¡¯s face twisted instantly, staring fiercely at Fang Zhou. This seductive wretch!! ¡­ Wang Fulai felt utterly exhausted, dark circles under her eyes that no amount of makeup could conceal. It wasn¡¯t because of business troubles, but because of a recent demonic assault that disturbed the peace of her family. The whole ordeal started a month ago when her only son, Wang Minghong, suddenly fell ill. Numerous doctors were unable to cure him, all saying he was physically weak due to kidney deficiency and excessive indulgence. Could this be possible? Wang Fulai immediately investigated to see who had the gall to seduce her son, but her search turned up nothing. Instead, she heard from the servants that, occasionally, sounds of pleasure would emanate from the son¡¯s chamber late at night. After pressing her son, Wang Fulai found out that a month earlier, Wang Minghong had met a stunning woman while out, and he had fallen for her at first sight. Since then, this beautiful woman would appear in his room every few nights to meet with him. Having built such a big business, Wang Fulai, well-versed in the world, immediately knew it was the doing of a demonic being. She sought out famous cultivators in Qingde City, yet to no avail. Instead, several servants lost their lives. Left with no choice, Wang Fulai posted a reward notice, seeking assistance from extraordinary individuals. But those who answered the call turned out to be charlatans from the jianghu, who came swaggering in to mooch food and drink. When push came to shove, they did nothing but enrage the demonic being. Recently, the demonic entity had become more brazen, treating the Wang Family as a marketplace, coming and going as it pleased, causing panic throughout the household, with everyone starting to suffer from nerves. Wang Fulai could only send people to seek help from the State Mansion while continuing to post the reward notice, hoping for a miracle. Today, Master Ji had arrived, said to be an esteemed elder from Qinghua Mountain and a true cultivator. She must meet him in person. Oh, and there was also a young man and woman, who her housekeeper said were there to mooch food and drink¡ªthey were no good. Heavy-hearted, Wang Fulai went to the side hall. Just as she entered, she immediately saw Master Ji; indeed, someone from a distinguished immortal lineage had an extraordinary presence. Only then did Wang Fulai take notice of the pair that had just finished their meal, mooching food and drink. In terms of demeanor and looks, Ling Xiaoyue could knock Master Ji several blocks down, but after gorging herself, she had her legs crossed and was picking her teeth with audible tsk-tsk sounds, displaying none of the grace expected of a master¡ªpurely the attitude of someone who came for a free meal. This made Wang Fulai frown, but after taking a few good looks at Fang Zhou, she felt a bit more comfortable, deciding to forgive these two young food swindlers. After all, we live in a world that judges by appearances. Fang Zhou was somewhat surprised to see Wang Fulai. He had originally thought Wang Fulai would be a man, so it was unexpected that she was a woman with bold eyebrows and large eyes¡ªshe looked very similar to a celebrity he knew back on Earth. He nearly blurted out, ¡°Isn¡¯t this surreal?!¡± Thankfully, he managed to hold back. But a sect hierarch in women¡¯s clothes¡ªis that not a sight for sore eyes? COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: 12. Under the Moon, Ling Xiaoyue Chapter 12: 12. Under the Moon, Ling Xiaoyue Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°` Wang Fulai greeted Master Ji with a bow: ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with many matters and made Master Ji wait for a long time.¡± Master Ji looked at Wang Fulai, suddenly waved his whisk, and a gust of wind arose in the side hall. Wang Fulai was invigorated by the wind, immediately feeling refreshed and dispelling days of fatigue and anxiety. She looked surprised: ¡°This is¡­¡± Master Ji smiled and said: ¡°Benefactor Wang need not worry. What has been troubling your family is a red fox that has cultivated into a spirit. I have been tracking it for months, not expecting it to run to Qingde City and harm the people.¡± Wang Fulai was both shocked and delighted; outsiders only knew a demonic evil troubled her house, not that it was a fox demon. Master Ji¡¯s arrival and immediate identification showed his true skill. Wang Fulai quickly bowed deeply to Master Ji: ¡°Please, Master, save my Wang Family¡¯s young and old.¡± Master Ji was seated and accepted Wang Fulai¡¯s bow before standing up to help her rise: ¡°Benefactor Wang, rest assured. As a cultivator wandering through the mortal world, besides forging the body and spirit, one should also exorcise demons for the benefit of humanity. My visit this time is precisely for demon extermination.¡± Fang Zhou felt these words sounded familiar. He turned his head and looked at Ling Xiaoyue, and noticed she was also looking back, her gaze clearly saying ¡ª see, didn¡¯t I tell you so. Pfft, birds of a feather. Fang Zhou originally thought Master Ji seemed dignified and might be an expert, but it turns out he was just a freeloader. Wang Fulai was, however, very pleased: ¡°Then I¡¯ll entrust this to you, Master. Please, move to the main hall, I will arrange a banquet immediately to welcome and refresh you.¡± Saying this, she glanced hesitantly at Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou, the two freeloaders who still sat there unmoved when the host was present, truly impolite. Wang Fulai initially wanted to send them away, but then thought better of it, opting to show her generosity in front of Master Ji since the Wang Family was not short of food. Importantly, these two young people were good-looking, especially this young man. Though his facial features weren¡¯t very gentle and his stature was quite tall, he really was attractive¡ªkeeping him as a young husband could be nice. Fang Zhou was unaware that he¡¯d been earmarked by Wang Fulai in a blink, only feeling that the Sect Hierarch¡¯s gaze upon him had softened a lot. A sudden apprehension crossed his mind¡ªcould this old cow be craving tender grass? Why does everyone want a piece of me wherever I go? Wang Fulai instructed the housekeeper to take care of Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue and then led Master Ji out of the side hall. The Taoist boy strutted past Fang Zhou, grunting continuously like a little pig. ¡­ The housekeeper arranged rooms for Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue, it seemed like they would be staying over at the Wang Family. By now, Fang Zhou was more resigned to freeloading, so he comfortably took a bath, washing off the grime. After bathing, he retreated to his room to meditate, knowing from the housekeeper that Master Ji would start the ritual for demon extermination after nightfall; there would surely be excitement tonight, and he needed to be fully alert. During this time, the system¡¯s task had not been triggered, possibly due to his comfortable living conditions. Though Ling Xiaoyue was not considerate and often crude, his safety was assured with her around. Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t about to endanger himself deliberately to trigger tasks, so getting stronger had to rely on continuous practice. Laziness is incurable, diligence is the handsomest trait. I¡¯m not being humble; the above is about me. He practiced until night fell before stopping, feeling rejuvenated and the weariness from days of travel completely erased. He stepped out of his room to see moonlight like water, a bright moon hanging in the sky. In front of the room was a courtyard with artificial hills and flowing water, where Ling Xiaoyue lay on a hill, holding her small wine jug, under the arc of the moon, sipping wine. Fang Zhou stared at her, mesmerized. Under the moon, Ling Xiaoyue¡ªwith her graceful and ethereal posture¡ªseemed like a spirit. This was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his two lifetimes. Ling Xiaoyue lowered her head towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Disciple, do you know why the moon shines?¡± Fang Zhou of course knew, but it wasn¡¯t knowledge he was supposed to possess, so he shook his head. ¡°Then let me tell you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s lips curved slightly: ¡°The moon shines because¡­ it¡¯s lit by the sun! Haha!!¡± She laughed uncontrollably, doubling over with laughter. Fang Zhou watched her, bewildered by the moonlit Ling Xiaoyue laughing like a fool. This was the most foolish woman he had seen in his two lifetimes. ¡­ Under Master Ji¡¯s guidance, the Wang Family¡¯s servants bustled around, and finally, after nightfall, constructed an altar in the large courtyard. By the time Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue arrived, Master Ji was dressed in a dark yellow Daoist robe, holding a whisk, and had already ascended the altar to begin the ritual. Wang Fulai, with the housekeeper and a group of servants, stood on the side, watching nervously. The Taoist boy stood below the altar, jealously glancing at Fang Zhou. Before Fang Zhou arrived, he had been the center of attention among the Wang Family, basking in the worshipful gazes of many women. ¡°` But after Fang Zhou arrived, those boring women all abandoned the Daoist boy, their eyes seemingly glued to Fang Zhou, even Wang Fulai, the head of the Wang Family, was no exception. Hmph, a bunch of fickle women, blinded by their own folly! The little Daoist boy was so frustrated that his teeth itched. Noticing the envious and jealous gaze of the Daoist boy, Fang Zhou sighed softly. Alas, being handsome is not his fault, nor is being so eye-catching, it¡¯s just what fate had in store for him. If possible, Fang Zhou would rather be more ordinary and not so handsome. But it is the will of heaven, probably just his destiny, alas. Fortunately, the ladies were merely looking and did not cause any disturbance, their focus was still on Master Ji, who was performing the ritual. This was crucial to successfully exorcising the demon tonight, which was related to the future peace of the Wang Family. The fox demon had recently become increasingly brazen, especially after the Wang Family sought people for Demon Extermination; it almost came every night, and tonight was certainly no exception. The night was like water, the entire Wang Family estate was quiet, with only the slight noise of the night wind rustling through the treetops. Just then, a cold wind blew suddenly from nowhere, mixed with faint laughter. ¡°Here it comes!¡± ¡°The fox demon is here!¡± The servants of the Wang Family were in turmoil; had it not been for the housekeeper leading several Protectors sternly ordering them to stop, these servants would probably have started scattering and running away. They also didn¡¯t want to stay, but Master Ji had instructed to gather as many people as possible to increase vitality, and Wang Fulai had asked them to remain. Wang Fulai was also somewhat panicked, but she was not disoriented because she had witnessed many such incidents in the past month. Unfortunately, every time the fox demon appeared, the extraordinary individuals she invited were defeated and fled. Thinking of this, Wang Fulai looked hopefully towards Master Ji on the altar, who was a revered elder from Qinghua Mountain and wouldn¡¯t be easily defeated, right? On the altar, Master Ji, with a solemn face, loudly declared, ¡°Minor tricks, show yourself immediately!¡± After speaking, she grabbed a handful of incense ashes, murmured a few words, and with a forward sweep, the scattered incense ashes instantly turned into a flame, spreading in all directions and suddenly exploding, illuminating the entire courtyard brilliantly. ¡°Good!¡± Wang Fulai couldn¡¯t help but cheer; this kind of power had never been exhibited by other extraordinary individuals. Fang Zhou was also somewhat shocked and couldn¡¯t help but ask Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Can you do this?¡± Ling Xiaoyue pinched his ear: ¡°You actually compare your teacher with juggling, showing no respect at all.¡± Your actions aren¡¯t any better than juggling. But Ling Xiaoyue saying so, does it mean that Master Ji is just a juggler? After Master Ji demonstrated her skills, the fox demon still did not appear, but the laughter in the cold wind became more and more apparent, carrying a mocking tone. Seeing Wang Fulai showing a doubtful look, Master Ji snorted coldly, ¡°Damn fiend, since you refuse to show yourself, let this poor Daoist force you out, disciple, protect me!¡± The little Daoist boy replied and drew his longsword, standing firmly in front of the altar. Master Ji performed several flashy moves with her whisk, placed both palms together in front, murmured spells, but felt somewhat panicked inside. If the demon fox didn¡¯t appear, her specially prepared fox-destroying medicine would be useless. The cold wind grew stronger and the laughter more piercing, causing the flowers and trees in the courtyard to rustle loudly. The people of the Wang Family were also made unsteady by the wind, Wang Fulai quickly called out to Master Ji, ¡°Master!¡± Master Ji responded, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I am using my Mana to force the demon fox to show itself!¡± The cold wind quickly turned into a violent wind, blowing people in the courtyard haphazardly. Fang Zhou, relying on his extraordinary physical condition and strength, barely managed to not be blown away. Ling Xiaoyue, standing by, hadn¡¯t even had her clothes flutter; the wind seemed unable to touch her. Just then, a red light suddenly leapt out from the darkness, its form unclear, flying instantly among the Wang Family people, knocking several Protectors in the front off their feet, their bodies splitting apart in midair. Finally, the servants couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, crying and screaming, scattering in all directions, cursing their luck for not having more legs. The entire courtyard instantly turned chaotic, the red light rampaging through the crowd. ¡°Master!!¡± Wang Fulai, knocked to the ground, cried out for help toward the altar! Master Ji stared intently at the red light, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, this is a Mana adjustment, I¡¯ll kill this demon fox immediately.¡± The red light, as if hearing Master Ji¡¯s voice, turned and flew towards the altar. The little Daoist boy, facing the red light, boldly shouted and charged forward with his sword, then tripped over his own feet and fell flat, unconscious, performing flawlessly like a king of the entertainment industry. The red light passed over the unconscious Daoist boy and flew straight towards the altar, where Master Ji seized the opportunity and took out the fox-destroying medicine she carried, throwing it forward. Having purchased it at a high price, it was effective even against cultivated fox demons, especially against female foxes, and she had tested it on many foxes before coming. The fox-destroying medicine hit the red light, spraying a large amount of white powder, but the anticipated scream did not occur; the red light merely shivered and continued flying towards the altar. Master Ji was dumbfounded and blurted out: ¡°Don¡¯t come¡­ don¡¯t come over!!¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: 13. Reach out to help the person who is drowning Chapter 13: 13. Reach out to help the person who is drowning Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Even though Master Ji shouted the famous line, ¡°Don¡¯t come over here,¡± the red light still soared onto the altar and collided with Master Ji. Master Ji let out a pig-slaughtering scream, fell off the altar, rolled on the ground a couple of times, then quickly got up and ran off. The little novice lying unconscious on the ground also ¡°woke up¡± just in time, hurriedly got up, and followed behind Master Ji. ¡°Master! Master!¡± Wang Fulai stretched out an ¡°Erkang¡± hand, calling out to Master Ji, but Master Ji and the little novice didn¡¯t look back and kept sprinting away. ¡°Heeheehee!!¡± The red light let out a shrill laugh, darting around the courtyard, teasing those servants who hadn¡¯t managed to escape. Fang Zhou leaned over to Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Hey, what do we do next?¡± Ling Xiaoyue tipped back her head for a sip of liquor, and smiled: ¡°Next, of course, is the moment for your master to make a grand entrance and turn the tide. Disciple, open your eyes wide and watch closely, don¡¯t miss the spectacular performance.¡± Fang Zhou eagerly waited for a while, only to find that after Ling Xiaoyue finished her drink, she began leisurely tidying up her appearance, making him impatient: ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to make a move?¡± ¡°No rush, your master has to present the most dashing side to talk about the price.¡± ¡°Price?¡± Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue pour some liquor into her palm, then smear it on her head, her whole person immediately glowed radiantly, it was just like activating special effects and beauty filters, almost blinding him. Holy shit, what kind of special skill is this? Wang Fulai also quickly noticed this side. After the much-anticipated Master Ji had fled, Wang Fulai, who had already despaired, absolutely did not expect that the two young ones, whom she thought came to mooch food and drinks, could still stand calmly in place, unaffected by the demon fox. Especially that white-clothed woman, who was emitting light from her whole body like luminescence, so dazzling. At this moment, Wang Fulai finally understood that these two youngsters were the truly capable ones. She hurriedly wanted to run to Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue to seek protection. But the red light noticed Wang Fulai¡¯s movements, flew straight towards her, grabbed her legs, and dragged her into mid-air. ¡°Master! Master, save my life please!¡± Wang Fulai called out to Ling Xiaoyue for help. Ling Xiaoyue gave Fang Zhou a look that the time had come, then replied: ¡°No problem in saving you, as cultivators wander the mortal world, we should hone the body and mind and also undertake the demon extermination to benefit the human world.¡± Fang Zhou: This sounds familiar! Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s words suddenly shifted: ¡°However, we, as master and disciple journeying the world, have spent greatly, and now we are in financial distress, would Sponsor Wang be interested in sponsoring some travel expenses?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her unbelievably, this was another way to operate? Wasn¡¯t this taking advantage of people¡¯s plight? Ling Xiaoyue turned her head and glared over: ¡°Whose side are you on? I am being brave and righteous while also asking for a little reward; if she won¡¯t even give this small reward, why should we extend a helping hand?¡± Wang Fulai was also stunned by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s shamelessness, and blurted out without thinking: ¡°This isn¡¯t taking advan-ahahahah!!¡± She was spun around dozens of times in the air by the demon fox and was already dizzy, unable to take it anymore: ¡°I¡¯ll give! I¡¯ll give!¡± ¡°How much will you give?¡± ¡°Five hundred taels!¡± Ling Xiaoyue saluted towards Wang Fulai, who was spinning in mid-air: ¡°Sponsor Wang, take care of yourself, we¡¯ll meet again in the future.¡± ¡°No!¡± With a splash, water splattered everywhere, and Wang Fulai was thrown by the fox demon into the courtyard¡¯s pond. She emerged from the water and shouted towards Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Master, please wait!¡± The fox demon flew down, pressed down on Wang Fulai¡¯s head, and pushed her back into the water. ¡°Master¡­ glub glub¡­ I¡¯ll give¡­ glub glub¡­ a thousand taels¡­ glub glub¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue considered for a few seconds, then shook her head: ¡°Sponsor Wang, not to be modest, but you should seek someone more capable.¡± Wang Fulai¡¯s head was underwater, already completely unable to make a sound, but she still tried hard to reach out an arm, raising two fingers. ¡°Glubbery glub glub glubbery glubbery!¡± Ling Xiaoyue was satisfied, she picked up the wine pot and threw it forward. A stream of liquor spilled from the pot, the crystalline liquor instantly solidified into ice, like countless points of starlight, shooting towards the demon fox. The demon fox hid within this sphere of red light, moving with astonishing speed, rapidly leaving Wang Fulai behind, and flying upward attempting to dodge Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s attack. The wine liquid that shot towards it suddenly expanded, like a sky full of stars, covering all possible escape routes and leaving no room for the demon fox to flee. Whizzing through the air! The red light was pierced by ice crystals, immediately emitting a high-pitched screech that was clearly filled with agony. The red light dimmed significantly, revealing the blurry shape of a fox. This fox glared resentfully at Ling Xiaoyue, then leaped over the wall and disappeared from sight. This was Fang Zhou¡¯s first time seeing Ling Xiaoyue take action, as he had not witnessed it the previous time she saved him. This was the kind of technique he had imagined a Cultivator to possess, unlike Li Ruyu who would simply draw her sword to chop. Ling Xiaoyue did not reveal her realm, but Fang Zhou estimated that she might be in the Innate Realm; otherwise, she would not be so eager to escape before the Xuanji Sect, seeing as its Sect Master was at the Golden Core Realm. The difference between the Innate Realm and Li Ruyu¡¯s Foundation Establishment Realm was only one tier, yet the gap in combat power was like heaven and earth. Fang Zhou somewhat looked forward to the day when he himself would reach the Innate Realm, though he wondered just how many years and months that might take. He asked Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you keep that fox demon?¡± Judging by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s casual demeanor, it was clear that the fox demon was no match for her, and she did not seem to make any effort to stop it as it fled. Ling Xiaoyue glanced at Fang Zhou and said with profound meaning, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lesson, making money should be a steady stream, you can¡¯t finish all your business at once, do you understand?¡± Fang Zhou understood; this woman had a heart as black as coal, enjoying the process of fleecing one victim after another. Ling Xiaoyue tapped him with her wine jug, ¡°Go on, fish up manager Wang.¡± Just a moment ago she referred to him as benefactor Wang, and now he¡¯s manager Wang. Fang Zhou had no choice but to strip off his upper garment, leaving just his pants on, and jumped into the pool to fish manager Wang, who was floating on the water, back to shore. Manager Wang had not been knocked unconscious, clutching Fang Zhou as she was carried, she still managed to reach out and stroke Fang Zhou¡¯s strong chest, weakly asking, ¡°Little brother, are you interested in staying with the Wang Family, by my side, and protecting me closely?¡± Fang Zhou dropped her back into the pool. ¡­ The Wang Family¡¯s commotion finally came to an end tonight, with Wang Fulai being fished out once again by the housekeeper and servants. But now, no one in the Wang Family dared to be the slightest bit discourteous to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou; instead, they became extremely respectful. The duo¡¯s treatment improved dramatically in an instant¡ªthey were moved into a large house and had attentive servants to tend to their needs. This was the first time the Wang Family had seen a demon fox driven away after suffering its harassment for so long, the first time they had seen a true master. They naturally rushed to honor them, fearing the master would simply leave with a wave of her hand. Having guzzled a bellyful of water, Wang Fulai spat it out for quite a while and had to retire early to rest. The housekeeper wanted to invite Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou to visit Wang Minghong, who had nearly lost his life, but Ling Xiaoyue refused, and even yawned, ¡°We¡¯ll see tomorrow.¡± After Ling Xiaoyue left, Fang Zhou secretly pulled the housekeeper aside, asking her to bring some food to his room. He hadn¡¯t had more than a couple of large steamed buns today, all of which had gone into Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mouth. His stomach was roaring with hunger, and being in the stage of growing and constantly cultivating, his appetite was naturally large. The housekeeper repeatedly apologized for her cold demeanor earlier upsetting the two masters and quickly arranged for the kitchen to send a table full of dishes to Fang Zhou¡¯s room. Fang Zhou, taking advantage of his agility, climbed onto the roof of the Wang Family¡¯s house and began cultivation under the moonlight. With the presence of the moon, the cultivation of New Moon Qi would bring twice the results with half the effort. After witnessing Ling Xiaoyue in action tonight, his heart was filled with both anticipation and urgency, not wanting to waste a single moment of cultivation time. After a few Circulations, the moon was obscured by clouds, and Fang Zhou finally came down from the roof and returned to his room. The housekeeper had already sent a table full of sumptuous food to Fang Zhou¡¯s room, but now there was an additional person in there. Someone Fang Zhou did not want to see at the moment. He exclaimed in outrage, ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± Ling Xiaoyue spat out a chicken bone from her mouth, ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here? Can you finish all this food by yourself? Of course, I¡¯m here to help you clean up, to avoid wasting food.¡± Fang Zhou looked at the table, which had already been mostly devoured by Ling Xiaoyue, and felt a wave of sadness. He carried thousands of taels on him, and manager Wang still owed him two thousand taels, yet even eating his fill was a challenge. Unable to restrain his frustration, he cried out, ¡°Damn it (a type of plant), leave some for me!¡± And then he joined in the scramble for food. By the time they finished eating, it was late at night, and Fang Zhou, infuriated by Ling Xiaoyue, couldn¡¯t sleep. He went back to the roof of the Wang Family¡¯s house to continue cultivating. He cultivated until dawn when the sun was just rising, and only then did Fang Zhou stand up and stretch his back. His midnight training had not left him fatigued; the only problem was his stomach was growling again, the food from last night already digested and gone. Fang Zhou began to understand why Ling Xiaoyue said cultivation was an expensive affair. Apart from everything else, just providing for the daily meals of a cultivator was not something an ordinary family could afford. He jumped down from the roof, ready to ask the housekeeper for some more food, since he might as well not refuse what¡¯s free. The housekeeper quickly appeared before Fang Zhou with a panicked expression, and said to him, ¡°Master, something has happened.¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: 14. Please be a human. Chapter 14: 14. Please be a human. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Fang Zhou thought a major incident had occurred but upon asking, he found out that overnight, all the livestock of the Wang Family had been slaughtered, including the horses ridden by Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. Also killed were several servants responsible for feeding the livestock. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mind much about himself, he could just buy another horse, but the horse called Yue Ya¡¯er that belonged to Ling Xiaoyue was a treasure. It had been with her for a long time and was like family to her, it was unbelievable that it was killed too. This was indeed a big deal, and Fang Zhou could hardly imagine the heartless Ling Xiaoyue getting furious. He hurried to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s room and knocked on the door: ¡°Bang bang bang, get up, something terrible has happened!¡± The door quickly opened, and Ling Xiaoyue, yawning, appeared in front of Fang Zhou, discontentedly saying, ¡°What is it, why are you wailing so early in the morning?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s wailing.¡± Fang Zhou frowned, ¡°Your horse is dead.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was momentarily taken aback, then grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s collar with both hands, saliva flying as she sprayed: ¡°You unfilial disciple, I am your master, equivalent to your mother, and you dare to curse me? This is totally outrageous!¡± Fang Zhou struggled: ¡°Who cursed you? I am saying your horse is dead!¡± Ling Xiaoyue became even more infuriated, pinching Fang Zhou¡¯s ear and shouting: ¡°You can¡¯t curse my mother either, I am your master, equivalent to your mother, and my mom is equivalent to your grandmother. How dare you curse that she die, this is outright perverse behavior, are you forcing your master to enforce family rules?¡± Fang Zhou, exasperated, stomped his foot: ¡°Are you crazy or brainless? I am saying your horse, your horse is the one dead!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still cursing!¡± ¡°Damn it, your mother¡¯s dead!¡± Finally, Ling Xiaoyue realized, it was her horse that died, not her mother. She ran to the stable to take a look, then came back fuming: ¡°It was that little fox seeking revenge last night, daring to kill even my horse, totally asking for death.¡± Fang Zhou wanted to comfort Ling Xiaoyue, after all, the precious horse was like family to her. Before Fang Zhou could speak, Ling Xiaoyue called the butler over and asked, ¡°Does anyone buy horse meat?¡± The butler nodded: ¡°Familiar butchers do buy horse meat, but the price¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue waved a hand to interrupt the butler: ¡°This is a celestial treasure horse; eating its meat can prolong life, not the same as ordinary horse meat.¡± The butler¡¯s eyes suddenly gleamed: ¡°I understand, let me handle this celestial horse, I guarantee everything will be properly taken care of.¡± This butler would definitely keep the celestial horse¡¯s remains to enjoy alone, possibly even secretly stashing some celestial horse meat for himself. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t care about these details; converting it into money was fine by her. After the butler hurriedly left, Ling Xiaoyue then noticed the confused look Fang Zhou was giving her: ¡°What kind of look is that?¡± Fang Zhou: (?_?) So much for treating the treasure horse like family, is this how you treat your family? Ling Xiaoyue, understanding Fang Zhou¡¯s point, suddenly sighed nostalgically: ¡°Yue Ya¡¯er often told me, it wished that even after death its body would contribute to the world. I am fulfilling its last wish; I am heartbroken by its death, but I can¡¯t stop moving forward because of the pain, as long as we continue, it will surely be waiting for us ahead, do you understand?¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°Ï£Íû¤Î¤Ï¤Ê¿Ž¤¤¤À°í¤¬¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue curious asked: ¡°What are you singing?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t know, it just came out spontaneously.¡± Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°But you understand what I said, right?¡± I understand my foot, please be human, this treasure horse really was unlucky with you, ridden by you during its life and even sold by you after its death. ¡­ Despite being force-fed water last night, Wang Fulai was still in high spirits the next day. After learning that all the livestock had been slaughtered overnight, Wang Fulai secluded herself in her room, remained silent for a long time, then ordered the butler to bring over several large plates of golden ingots, personally presenting them to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. ¡°Yesterday, Fulai was blind and negligent towards two great masters; any scolding or punishment is acceptable, Fulai dares not complain, please ma¡­ Secondly, Wang Fulai realized that the demon fox from last night was thoroughly enraged, hence it killed humans and livestock to vent its anger. If at this time Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou were to wash their hands off the matter, then his entire Wang Family would indeed face a lethal threat. Ling Xiaoyue glanced at the several large plates of gold ingots, and with her sharp eyes, she could tell that there were at least five hundred taels of gold. Although Wang Fulai was wealthy, five hundred taels of gold would empty almost half of his family fortune. His heart was bleeding, but wealth is external; money lost can be earned again, but lost lives are irrevocable. Despite the pain that nearly suffocated him, Wang Fulai had a sincere smile on his face, hoping that the two masters could feel his sincerity. Ling Xiaoyue indeed felt the sincerity. With a wave of her hand, her long sleeve swept over the gold, and the plates of gold instantly disappeared. This scene shocked the Wang Family members and even surprised Fang Zhou. Could this be the legendary Sleeve Universe? I want to learn! I want to learn! I want to learn this!!! Ling Xiaoyue showed a satisfied smile and then asked Wang Fulai, ¡°You¡¯ve been bullied by that little fox for so long, haven¡¯t you thought about reporting to the authorities?¡± These days, with demons rampant, the government had established Demon Extermination Bureaus, recruiting many extraordinary folks specifically for demon eradication. For a large city like Qingde City with a population of a hundred thousand, at least one team from the Demon Extermination Bureau would be stationed to easily handle a small fox. Wang Fulai revealed a bitter smile, ¡°We have already reported it, but the city¡¯s Demon Extermination Bureau had just left a month ago to deal with demons attacking travelers at Lianyun Mountain; they won¡¯t be back for months, and my Wang Family can¡¯t wait that long.¡± ¡°Then you are indeed unfortunate.¡± Although Qingde City has the city god¡¯s protection, the city god only manages spirits and evil entities, not demons; even if the city god wanted to, he couldn¡¯t manage them. Ling Xiaoyue stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t you have a son who nearly lost his life? Let¡¯s check on him.¡± Wang Fulai was initially a bit uneasy, afraid that Ling Xiaoyue would take the money and do nothing, but now he finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, ¡°Please, masters, follow me.¡± Fang Zhou deliberately fell behind and secretly asked the steward, ¡°Is that immortal horse taken care of?¡± The steward replied, ¡°It¡¯s been taken care of, what would you have me do, master?¡± Fang Zhou hesitated for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, ¡°My horse, it¡¯s also an immortal horse.¡± The steward looked at him in surprise. Fang Zhou showed an embarrassed smile. Surely, that woman can¡¯t earn all the money, right? ¡­ The group arrived at an elegant small courtyard; Wang Fulai dismissed a few servants and led Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou into the room. Inside the room, incense was burning, and there was also a faint scent of medicine, which wasn¡¯t very comforting to smell. A very emaciated young man lay on the bed, nearly reduced to skin and bones, pale skinned and with sunken eyes. Seeing his mother bringing two strangers into the room, Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t evade and could only lower his eyelids, a bashful crimson blush spread across his pale face. If a young girl posed this way, it might evoke pity, but such shy twisting from a grown man naturally failed to stir any sympathy from Fang Zhou. Ling Xiaoyue only glanced at Wang Minghong and immediately diagnosed, ¡°This is a case of Yang energy deficiency; your son has been excessively drained by that little fox, a few times more and his life will not be spared.¡± Wang Fulai gasped, looking at his son with worry and pleaded with Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°What should we do, master? Please save my son.¡± ¡°My service has always been reputed as shining; you can relax about the money.¡± Ling Xiaoyue gave Wang Fulai a reassuring look, ¡°After I exterminate that little fox, I¡¯ll refine a Yang Reviving Pill for your son. One pill will guarantee him bursting with vigor as if he were a celestial being.¡± Wang Fulai listened with joyous laughter, feeling the money was well spent. Ling Xiaoyue then said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Ask young master Wang, about the¡­¡± Under the righteous gaze of Fang Zhou, Ling Xiaoyue finally swallowed the rest of her question and changed her words, ¡°Inquire about the details, through which we can evaluate the little fox¡¯s strength and from its strength, determine its range of activity and hiding spots. Learn this, apprentice.¡± Fang Zhou then nodded, ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then? If that little fox doesn¡¯t dare come tonight, I¡¯ll personally visit and turn it into a scarf; would you want one?¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: 15. Digest your own things by yourself Chapter 15: 15. Digest your own things by yourself Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Since the matter involves privacy, everyone else left the room, leaving only Fang Zhou, who was also male, to stay. Wang Minghong relaxed significantly, looking timidly at Fang Zhou with eyes like a small animal, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Big Brother, where are you from?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingled, and he quickly placed his hands in front of his chest, palms up, starting to channel his energy to suppress the surge of malevolence in his chest. Otherwise, he was afraid that he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist punching this sissy to death on the bed. If it were some gender-neutral pretty boy making this gesture, Fang Zhou might not react this way, but this Wang Minghong obviously inherited his mother¡¯s looks, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a squarish face, even sporting a circle of stubble around his mouth. Even if cast as a villain, audiences would suspect such a face of being an undercover agent for justice. To see him putting on a timid and delicate demeanor was really more than Fang Zhou could bear. Wang Minghong looked at Fang Zhou curiously, his big eyes flickering under his thick brows. After adjusting his mindset, Fang Zhou finally said to Wang Minghong, ¡°Brother Wang, please tell me in detail the sequence of events before and after your encounter with the demon fox. This is a matter concerning your life.¡± Wang Minghong slowly lowered his eyelids, pouted his lips, and said, ¡°People¡­ people are still young, cannot bear the word ¡®brother¡¯, Big Brother, you can call me Hong¡¯er.¡± Fang Zhou felt the malevolent energy he had so painstakingly suppressed surging up again, his forehead beginning to pop with veins. ¡°Big Brother, are you angry?¡± Fang Zhou took a few deep breaths, rubbed his face with both hands, then showed a stiff smile, his teeth gritting, ¡°You little brat, don¡¯t pull this nonsense on me, just answer my question honestly, or else I¡¯ll strip you naked, hang you outside and turn you into a cured chicken, understand?¡± Wang Minghong stared at him, blank. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°Oh~¡± A voice full of grievance. [Wang Minghong thinks you¡¯re a crass jerk, rewarded with 1 point of masculinity] Fang Zhou: (?_?) If someone genuinely thinks that Fang Zhou is a manly man, the system would reward him with points of masculinity, the amount depending on the situation. Fang Zhou has made numerous attempts with this rule and nearly gave up having never succeeded before, but to his surprise, the first reward came so unexpectedly, and it actually came from someone of the same sex. So gross, can I return it? Wang Minghong began to narrate his encounter with the fox demon, which was mostly similar to what Wang Fulai had said. Over a month ago, Wang Minghong had met a beautiful girl on his way home. Wang Minghong fell in love with the beautiful girl at first sight, they chatted happily, and after he went home, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. That night, the beautiful girl suddenly appeared in Wang Minghong¡¯s room. Though he felt something was fishy, Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t resist his feelings of love, and they ended up rolling in the sheets that night. Afterward, every few days, the beautiful girl would appear in Wang Minghong¡¯s room in the middle of the night to meet with him. A month later, Wang Minghong grew thinner and eventually fell ill. Obviously, this beautiful girl was a fox demon. Fang Zhou began asking about the details of Wang Minghong¡¯s trysts with the fox demon, but Wang Minghong¡¯s face turned red and he stuttered, unwilling to give details. When pressed, he could only provide a general idea and refused to go into specifics. Fang Zhou was very dissatisfied, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to live? What¡¯s there to be ashamed of? Is it because she was on top and you were on the bottom?¡± As soon as these words came out, Wang Minghong suddenly fell silent, like a dead man, no longer uttering a sound. Fang Zhou: ¡°?¡± In the end, he couldn¡¯t get much detail out of him, and as Wang Minghong¡¯s energy waned, Fang Zhou could only leave. Outside, Fang Zhou reported the interrogation to Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue mused, ¡°That little fox demon must only be in the Qi Refinement Realm, but how could a Qi Refinement Realm little fox dare to cause trouble in Qingde City?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked, ¡°The fox demon is only in the Qi Refinement Realm? Wasn¡¯t she very powerful last night?¡± It¡¯s not Fang Zhou bragging, but among his defeated competitors, there were four in the Qi Refinement Realm, yes, those four disciples from the Xuanji Sect who don¡¯t even deserve to have names. ¡°` And the ruckus caused by that demon fox last night was no small affair; Fang Zhou felt even with the Illusion Technique and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, he lacked the confidence to win. Seeing the ignorant look on Fang Zhou¡¯s face, which would have embarrassed his master, Ling Xiaoyue could only clarify it for him: ¡°Fox demons find cultivation difficult, and those who manage to become spirits all have some capabilities, naturally stronger than humans, and most demons have innate Spells. Like that fox demon last night, who excelled at Illusion Technique and Wind Control Technique because foxes are adept at beguiling and escaping.¡± Fang Zhou suddenly realized and learned a little bit more. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue getting into the conversation, he took the opportunity to ask: ¡°You mentioned Wang Minghong is suffering from a deficit of Innate Yang Qi, but what exactly is that?¡± Ling Xiaoyue wouldn¡¯t fall for it and simply pinched Fang Zhou¡¯s fingers with hers. Seeing his attempt to gain advantage was unsuccessful, Fang Zhou rolled his eyes at her and then generously waved: ¡°Put it on my tab.¡± Where debts abound, cares confound; you might profit immensely, but I surely won¡¯t be at a loss, for I won¡¯t repay, mehehehehe. Ling Xiaoyue delightedly added it to Fang Zhou¡¯s tab and then explained: ¡°Just by hearing the name, you could guess it. Innate Yang Qi is the pure Innate Yang essence a man carries from birth, which gradually depletes after sexual intercourse.¡± Speaking of which, Ling Xiaoyue smiled slyly at Fang Zhou: ¡°For a man of exceptional talent, that Innate Pure Yang Qi is a great nourishment for cultivators, even more effective than spiritual elixirs.¡± Fang Zhou shivered suddenly, no wonder Li Ruyu was so desperate to overpower him. ¡°What about women?¡± Fang Zhou inquired, ¡°If there¡¯s Yang, there should be Yin. Don¡¯t women possess something like Innate Yin essence?¡± Ling Xiaoyue snapped her fingers: ¡°Of course, they do. Women are also born with a pure Yin essence, which is beneficial for cultivators.¡± Fang Zhou immediately felt disgruntled: ¡°Then why haven¡¯t I heard of women being harvested for replenishing Qi? All along the way, it¡¯s been stories of men aiding replenishment.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed out loud, tapping Fang Zhou¡¯s head with a wine flask, but he dodged it: ¡°My foolish Disciple, there are plenty of female cultivators in this world, who have long consumed their own Yin essence; why would they need someone else¡¯s? Besides, between women, without the ¡®tools,¡¯ how could they possibly harvest it?¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, her reasoning is sound¡ªso it¡¯s the lack of ¡®tools,¡¯ and what¡¯s this self-consumption tactic? This world harbors such malice towards men; not only is cultivation difficult with feeble strength, but one¡¯s Innate Pure Yang Qi is coveted by both demons and female cultivators, a slight misstep could cost one¡¯s life, it¡¯s just too hard. Ling Xiaoyue suddenly extended her delicate hand, tapped Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, and smirked ambiguously: ¡°My Disciple, seeing how vigorous you are, your Innate Yang Qi is getting purer. Rather than someday benefiting some unknown wretched woman, why not let your master take advantage? Keep the ¡®water¡¯ within our own fields, enhancing the sect¡¯s collective strength, and strengthening the bond between master and disciple¡ªthree birds with one stone, isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡± Fang Zhou swung a punch at her shameless face, missing as she dodged. ¡°You wish, I¡¯ll self-consume!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so stingy; as your master, I¡¯d even pay to purchase it.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡­ With the falling of night, the Wang Family¡¯s residence was brightly lit. In the backyard where the light didn¡¯t reach, two heads popped up and then deftly scaled the wall into the Wang Family¡¯s compound. These two were none other than Master Ji and the little Daoist boy, scared away by the fox demon the night before, returning now. The little Daoist boy was nervous: ¡°Master, why are we coming back?¡± Master Ji scolded: ¡°Shut up, of course we¡¯re back to stop those two food-stealers.¡± After being scared away last night, Master Ji found out today that the Wang Family hadn¡¯t suffered from misfortune; instead, those two young rascals who conned for food and drink had saved them. This was something Master Ji couldn¡¯t accept. She came to Qingde City to branch out her market, picking the Wang Family specifically for a spectacular debut. Unfortunately, her plans went awry. If that pair of junior competitors succeeded in taking the Wang Family¡¯s business, then there would be no place for Master Ji in Qingde City¡¯s market. Fortunately, the fox demon had not been eradicated yet. Master Ji came back tonight to ¡®pick the peaches,¡¯ planning to swoop in once the two youngsters and the fox demon had worn each other out, salvaging her reputation while striking a blow to her competitors¡ªtwo birds with one stone. For this, she had made a significant investment in more potent fox-killing medicine, refusing to believe they couldn¡¯t kill that fox demon. ¡°Master, we were beaten black and blue and fled in a panic last night; isn¡¯t it dangerous for us to come back this evening?¡± ¡°You know nothing; that was a strategic retreat, to bewilder the fox demon and those two youngsters. Tonight we¡¯ll capture them all in one go.¡± ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: 16. Men should rise to the challenge Chapter 16: 16. Men should rise to the challenge Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The Wang estate was bustling last night, but tonight, it¡¯s eerily quiet. Having received Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s instructions, everyone in the Wang family retreated to their rooms, not to come out regardless of any noises they heard, to avoid accidental injury. Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou stayed in Wang Minghong¡¯s courtyard, waiting for that fox demon to return. According to Ling Xiaoyue, Wang Minghong still had a vestige of male essence within him, which the fox demon wouldn¡¯t pass up. It might have been playful before, not in a rush to harvest it, but after getting shot in the face by Ling Xiaoyue last night, it would surely come back to absorb the last bit of yang energy and take its revenge on the two. Ling Xiaoyue stayed in the next room, and when Fang Zhou went in, he noticed a thick piece of cured meat on the table that seemed to have just been brought over by the butler. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Fang Zhou picked up the cured meat, feeling that its shape was a bit ominous. Ling Xiaoyue was drinking a small jar of wine and replied, ¡°That¡¯s Yue Ya¡¯er¡¯s horsewhip. I specifically asked the butler to keep the horsewhip and then used a secret technique to stew it into this cured meat. It¡¯s very nourishing. You¡¯re in luck, disciple.¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± He tossed the horsewhip back at Ling Xiaoyue, who caught it smoothly and tossed it back: ¡°Keep it for me, this is good stuff, I¡¯m not lying. Now go back and watch over Young Master Wang.¡± Fang Zhou glared at her fiercely, turned, and went back to Wang Minghong¡¯s room. Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t afford any mishaps tonight; otherwise, it would be hard to explain to Wang Fulai, especially after taking so much money from him. With nothing else to do, Fang Zhou began to cultivate and summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, practicing control while cultivating to improve his proficiency. Lately, he would take out Hu Lai¡¯s left hand whenever he was free and play with it, significantly increasing his proficiency. Although he couldn¡¯t say it was as natural as moving his own limb, at least he could hit wherever he aimed, not ending up hitting the chest when aiming at the head. He added the 1 point of manly fortitude he got from Wang Minghong to his strength, boosting it a little. He opened the system panel. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level) Cultivation Method: New Moon Qi Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand Strength: 4 Speed: 5 Constitution: 4 Spirit: 2 Manly Fortitude: 0 His attributes now were much better than when he first transmigrated, comparable to an ordinary disciple of Xuanji Sect who doesn¡¯t merit a name. However, he was still far behind Li Ruyu, not to mention Ling Xiaoyue. He still needed to work hard. He didn¡¯t aim to dominate the world but at least had to overcome Ling Xiaoyue, so as not to be constantly looked down on by this shameless person acting as if she was his master who could fleece him at will. Fang Zhou was cross-legged cultivating in the room, while the courtyard outside was silent, with the occasional reminder from outside the Wang estate, ¡°Dry weather, be careful with candles.¡± Time passed, and suddenly a wind began to howl in the yard, sounding like the wails of ghosts. Fang Zhou, who was in the midst of cultivation, opened his eyes and glanced at the candle on the table; it had burned halfway down. Had the fox demon arrived? Fang Zhou stood up, and turning his head, he saw Wang Minghong hiding beneath the blankets, shivering with fear: ¡°It¡¯s here! It¡¯s here!¡± Seems he¡¯s quite experienced. The wind outside grew stronger, rustling the flowers and trees. ¡°Eh? Quite a few are here, disciple, stay with Young Master Wang and don¡¯t wander off, your master will be right back.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice came from next door, but she was already outside in the courtyard, gone without a trace. As Ling Xiaoyue left, the fierce wind outside suddenly died down, returning to quiet. Fang Zhou really wanted to go out and join the excitement, but he thought better of it, not wanting to be stolen away by someone. He sat down again, but before long, the sound of the wind picked up outside again, this time accompanied by faint laughter. ¡°Hong¡¯er¡­ Hong¡¯er¡­ Hong¡¯er¡­¡± The chilling screams followed one after another, like the howling of ghosts; Wang Minghong in the bed was already shaking like a sieve, unable to utter a single word. Fang Zhou abruptly stood up, his face solemn. What is Ling Xiaoyue up to, how did the demon fox get here? The sound of the wind outside grew louder and louder, blowing the doors and windows until they could no longer withstand the pressure and burst open with a bang. The cold wind poured in from the doorway, snuffing out the candles, and the entire room was plunged into darkness in an instant. A burst of red light shot in from outside the door, heading straight for Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou, already on guard and with reflexes far better than before, controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and threw a punch directly at the red light. ¡°Slap!¡± It sounded like hitting a balloon as the red light was punched and sent flying backward. [Triggered new mission ¨C Defeat the fox demon] [Difficulty: Ordinary] [Reward: Male Fortitude*4 Blue Card*1] [Failure: Death] Seeing Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was effective, Fang Zhou felt greatly relieved, grabbed a weapon at hand, and charged out of the room into the courtyard. After being punched out of the room, the demon fox spun around in the courtyard and then pounced towards Fang Zhou again. Fang Zhou controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and slashed down at the demon fox¡¯s head. The left hand caused a sharp whistle through the air as it attacked; although the demon fox couldn¡¯t see it, it could sense it and agilely dodged in mid-air. However, Fang Zhou had another move ready, drawing his sword to thrust at it. Wait, why does the feel of this not seem right?! Fang Zhou looked down and to his shock realized that what he had grabbed was not the longsword, but the horsewhip that had been placed alongside the longsword. ¡°Ling Xiaoyue, you backstabber!!¡± Fang Zhou cursed in his heart, his action too late to stop; holding the horsewhip, he stabbed at the demon fox. He had braced himself for the whip to break and himself to be injured, but unexpectedly when the demon fox was hit by the horsewhip, it let out a sharp cry and suddenly flew away. What¡¯s going on? Fang Zhou looked dumbfounded as he drew back the horsewhip, wondering if this thing actually had exorcising powers. The demon fox flew to the other side of the courtyard, landed on the ground, the red light faded away, revealing a seductive beauty. Fang Zhou eyed the fox demon suspiciously, sizing it up and down several times, then suddenly asked, ¡°Are you male?¡± The demon fox was greatly startled; it clearly had the appearance of a woman, so why was it seen through? Seemingly realizing something, the demon fox said angrily, ¡°Did Hong¡¯er tell you?!¡± Fang Zhou felt a chill but also sensed something was amiss and hurriedly threw an illusion at the demon fox. The demon fox¡¯s gaze became vacant for a moment, then rapidly returned to normal, its eyes showing a fierce light as it lunged straight for Fang Zhou. ¡°The illusion doesn¡¯t work?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked; could it be that the demon fox¡¯s spiritual resistance could directly neutralize his illusion. He hastily threw two more illusions, but they were still ineffective, and he could only engage with the demon fox in battle with the horsewhip. ¡­¡­. A young novice monk peeked over the wall and looked into the courtyard. He saw that guy with a face he was jealous of; they were the same age, so why could you be so handsome, while I could only rely on my temperament? It wasn¡¯t just Fang Zhou; the young novice monk also spotted another seductive beauty. Just one look, and the young novice felt as if his soul was about to be hooked away. Fortunately, the young novice monk was quite composed thanks to traveling around the south with his master, and quickly came back to his senses, realizing that this beauty was probably the fox demon. However, the situation between Fang Zhou and the fox demon was strange; man and demon faced each other, neither moving nor speaking, both wearing similarly dazed expressions. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: 17. Illusion Technique vs Illusion Technique Chapter 17: 17. Illusion Technique vs Illusion Technique Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Master Ji sent her disciple to tail someone, while she herself was secretly lurking in the garden. Even if she were discovered, with the disciple drawing attention ahead, she could escape in time. She lurked until midnight without any commotion and just when Master Ji thought it was a wasted trip, suddenly a cold breeze swept by, making her shiver. Lacking in strength but rich in experience, Master Ji immediately realized the demon fox had arrived. She crawled forward like a big rat in the flowerbed, all the way to the open courtyard. Poking her head out, she saw a delicate little boy not far away, draped in fox fur, blankly sucking his thumb. Hearing the noise, the little boy turned around, his nearly white-less black eyes staring directly at Master Ji. Master Ji, without a change in expression, slowly stood up, revealing a kindly smile, ¡°Little darling, why are you wandering around alone so late at night? Come over to auntie.¡± While speaking, Master Ji¡¯s hand stealthily reached into the bundle on her back, groping for a packet of Strong Fox Killing Medicine. Having traveled widely, Master Ji, tough and experienced, thought if she couldn¡¯t handle a big fox, surely she could deal with a small one and decided to start with this little fox tonight. The little boy stared blankly at her for quite a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my mom and sister.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re waiting for someone.¡± Master Ji took two steps forward, slowly pulling out the Strong Fox Killing Medicine, her smile growing more benevolent, ¡°And where are your mom and sister?¡± The little boy tilted his head and pointed behind Master Ji, ¡°They¡¯re right behind you.¡± Master Ji stiffened, slowly turning her head to look behind, only to find four beautiful women had appeared at some unknown time, glaring at her unfriendly, eyes also fixed on the Strong Fox Killing Medicine in her hand. Master Ji pulled off an awkward smile, ¡°Misunderstanding¡­ sisters, all a misunderstanding!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your sister?¡± One of the women coldly spoke, waving her hand. With a slap sound, despite being several meters away, a red palm mark appeared on Master Ji¡¯s face, flipping her over to the ground. That woman, still not pacified, waved her hand repeatedly, sending out invisible energy that thrashed Master Ji around the ground, begging for mercy. A beautiful lady raised her hand to stop her, looking at Master Ji on the ground with a smile, asking, ¡°What is your relationship with the cultivator from the Wang Family?¡± Master Ji realized the opportunity had come, whether she lived or died depended on her answer. Enduring the pain, she quickly said, ¡°Enemies, me and those two are mortal enemies, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Master Ji thought she hadn¡¯t said anything wrong, after all, rivals in the same profession, right? The beautiful lady hadn¡¯t answered yet when suddenly a light laugh rang from above. The fox demons, startled, hurriedly looked up. They saw a celestial-like beauty in white lying on a tree canopy, holding a wine jug, smilingly watching them. ¡°So, it turns out we are enemies, Master Ji.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, smiling, said to Master Ji, ¡°I was actually thinking of rescuing you, but you¡¯ve gone and treated me as your enemy, how sad. But no worries, I don¡¯t hold grudges.¡± Master Ji pulled off an awkward smile again, ¡°Misunderstanding¡­ all a misunderstanding!¡± The beautiful lady stared at Ling Xiaoyue in the tree, asking, ¡°Are you the cultivator who hurt my child?¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed, ¡°If you mean the little fox from last night, then yes, that was me.¡± The lady also smiled, ¡°Then choose your way to die¡ªdismemberment, skinning, or soul extraction?¡± Ling Xiaoyue shook her wine jug, ¡°I choose¡­ sliced white fox, or braised is fine too.¡± ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue was true to her word, the whip indeed had a miraculous effect, inflicting special damage on the demon fox. Fang Zhou, using Hu Lai¡¯s left hand in conjunction with the whip, successfully shattered the demon fox. But he also sustained quite a few injuries. However, the successful mission alert didn¡¯t pop up, and the smashed demon fox reappeared unscathed the next moment, baring its teeth and pouncing at him again. ¡°Undying Body?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked; he hadn¡¯t even left the novice village, how could he encounter a boss of this level? Without time to think, Fang Zhou could only pick up the whip again and entangle with the demon fox. After smashing the demon fox for the third time, Fang Zhou finally realized that he might have fallen for an Illusion Technique. A regular fox needing to seek human males for nourishment couldn¡¯t possibly possess such a high-end skill as Undying Body, and besides, Ling Xiaoyue had mentioned that this demon fox was only in the Qi Refining Realm and was adept at Illusion Technique. So, the likelihood that he was under an illusion was the greatest. Fang Zhou faced the demon fox¡¯s fourth attack, starting to ponder how to break the illusion technique. Usually, he was the one casting illusion techniques on others, and this was the first time he himself had fallen victim to one. As Fang Zhou kept hammering the demon fox in the illusion, the demon fox was also deeply trapped in it. The demon fox had never expected Fang Zhou to be proficient in illusion techniques. As it cast an illusion on Fang Zhou, Fang Zhou retaliated with several illusions of his own, and both ended up entangled in the illusions. Unaware that it was caught in the illusion, the demon fox looked at the dazed Fang Zhou, suddenly revealing a coy smile. This man was far more handsome than Wang Minghong, which made it itch with desire. It just wondered if he was still a virgin. However, it didn¡¯t dare let its guard down and continued to maintain the illusion, waiting until it was sure Fang Zhou was deeply ensnared before lunging at him with a fierce smile, ¡°Let me show you what I can do!¡± ¡­ In reality. A young novice monk observed from outside the yard for a while, noting that Fang Zhou and the demon fox were still standing motionless, seemingly lost in thought. He remembered something his master had once mentioned: cultivators and demons can engage in soul-level combat while their bodies remain motionless. If someone were to damage their bodies at this moment, it could lead to the downfall of their souls. Realizing his opportunity, the novice quickly climbed over the wall into the yard, approaching cautiously. Seeing that neither Fang Zhou nor the demon fox reacted, his courage gradually grew. He first walked up to the demon fox, waved his hand, and then went to Fang Zhou. Looking at Fang Zhou¡¯s stern, starry-eyed face, the novice felt like he had eaten a dozen lemons, the sourness almost making his teeth fall out. ¡°Hmph, a seductive, cheap creature, surely using that face to charm women all the time.¡± Out of indignant fury, the novice pulled out a small dagger and started gesturing towards Fang Zhou¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me, blame your face for being prettier than mine.¡± As the novice pondered how to scar Fang Zhou¡¯s face, he didn¡¯t notice the demon fox behind him suddenly baring a fierce grin and pouncing over. Caught off guard, the novice was knocked to the ground, nearly petrified in fright, and frantically struggled. ¡°Let me go, you demon fox! My master is nearby, what are you trying to do?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªah!¡± ¡­ Finally, Fang Zhou thought of a way to break the illusion, although he couldn¡¯t be sure it would work, it was worth a try. He cast an illusion on himself. Suddenly, the entire world twisted, two bizarre scenes intertwining and tearing at each other, various eerie sounds infiltrating Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. It was as if someone was roaring in the distance and whispering in his ears, crying, laughing, screaming¡ªall these sounds mingled together. Fang Zhou felt a splitting headache and an irritable sensation welled up from within. However, the bizarre scenery and sounds soon vanished, and the world returned to calm. Fang Zhou broke free from the illusion and before he could feel relieved, he heard a sound. He looked down and jumped out of fright, leaping three feet high and bouncing far away. ¡°Damn, what the hell are you playing at¡­ Damn, my eyes!¡± Fang Zhou felt like his eyes would be scorched blind. These two people, no, one person and one fox had gone mad. Even if you¡¯re irresistibly attracted to each other, at least consider the setting. Unable to bear the sight any longer, he summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and smashed it down. The demon fox, hit by the left hand on its back, wasn¡¯t very powerful apart from its illusion and Wind Control Technique, and was still at the Qi Refining Realm. It was directly knocked down by the punch, spitting blood. This punch also woke the demon fox up from the illusion. It just regained consciousness and was still dazed when Fang Zhou landed another punch, knocking it to the ground. ¡°Thump¡ª¡± A plume of blue smoke appeared, and the human form of the demon fox vanished, revealing its true form¡ªa yellow fox, slightly smaller than a hunting dog, with a fluffy tail. The demon fox glared at Fang Zhou hatefully, then leapt into the air, darted toward the courtyard exit. ¡°Think you can escape?¡± Hu Lai¡¯s left hand couldn¡¯t reach, and Fang Zhou, in a rush, picked up a whip and hurled it forcefully at the demon fox, while enduring a headache to cast another illusion. Struck by the illusion, the demon fox fell into a stupor, and the whip, like lightning, hit it directly on the buttocks, causing a penetrating wound. The demon fox hit the wall with a smack, then fell to the ground, convulsing, its large eyes filled with humiliation and defiance. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect to be so accurate and breathed a sigh of relief; though the hit was lewd, the ends justify the means. He looked down at the novice, opened his mouth, not knowing what to say; at this moment, he didn¡¯t know what expression was appropriate. The novice silently gathered his torn clothes, stood up, and limped out of the courtyard. Soon after, Fang Zhou heard muffled cries coming from outside the courtyard. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: 18. Not a person who is only interested in money Chapter 18: 18. Not a person who is only interested in money Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°This is a tragedy!¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, then went over to check on the demon fox. The demon fox had breathed its last; Fang Zhou, manipulating Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, pulled out the riding crop. It felt like a waste to throw it away, but it seemed too despised to keep. He carried the demon fox¡¯s body back to the courtyard, dumped it on the ground, then returned to Wang Minghong¡¯s room and used a Fire Stone to light a candle. [Successfully defeated the demon fox] [Reward: Masculinity*4, Blue Card*1] A blue card slowly revolved in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. This was the moment Fang Zhou had been looking forward to the most; card-drawing games were truly addictive and irresistible. ¡°May the non-paying players be forever non-salvaged, may only the King of Luck bring ease to hardship, let the Golden Legend appear!¡± After reciting the spell, a spark flashed in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, feeling as though the luck from all over the world, from the heavens above to the yellow springs below, had descended upon him. His consciousness focused entirely on the card as he chose to use it. The blue card began to spin at high speed, exploded into a burst of light, and turned into a myriad of particles which then recombined into a ball of flame. [Fireball Technique: Releases a fireball that causes an explosion and burning effect] It was another Skill Card, but Fang Zhou was far from happy. He even rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. Fireball Technique was a retro-style skill, simple and direct. It was a staple skill that every mage protagonist in ancient times was required to learn, and one of the three basic skills that novices had to master. Unfortunately, due to the progress of the times and changes in aesthetic taste, the hardworking Fireball Technique was ultimately callously abandoned by philanderers and could only occasionally appear in the dusty corners of memories. Fang Zhou never imagined that he¡¯d actually draw the Fireball Technique. It wasn¡¯t that he looked down on this classic skill, but could he possibly get an upgraded version of it? It was just one word apart, but why did it feel like a world of difference in terms of class? Alas, the system didn¡¯t support returns, so Fang Zhou could only silently store the Fireball Technique, treating it as a nostalgic collection. After all, having it was better than not, and skills could be upgraded with Masculinity, perhaps one day the prestige of the Fireball Technique could be improved. From the moment Fang Zhou entered, Wang Minghong had been sneakily watching him. Seeing Fang Zhou zoning out for a long time, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Big brother¡­ what about that demon fox?¡± Fang Zhou came back to reality and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve killed that demon fox; you¡¯re safe now.¡± Wang Minghong was slightly shocked and immediately burst into tears. Fang Zhou looked at him, perplexed, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Could it be that he had developed feelings for the demon fox over time? Did I just ruthlessly tear apart a couple? Why does it feel so satisfying? Wang Minghong quickly wiped away his tears and explained, ¡°No, I¡¯m¡­ happy¡­ You don¡¯t know, these past few days have been so terrifying, I¡¯ve suffered so much¡­ sniffle.¡± As he mentioned his sorrows, Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t help but cry again. Perhaps relieved of the burden in his heart, he even revealed details he previously refused to share. ¡°I originally thought he was the partner destined for me in this life. Only after revealing our true selves to each other did I discover he was also male. He¡­ he¡­¡± Wang Minghong said ¡®he¡¯ several times, then covered his face with his hands, tears streaming out, ¡°¡­ turned out to be larger than I am.¡± Fang Zhou sucked in a breath of cold air; a picture seemed to be forming in his mind. He shook his head quickly to disperse the image, for he shouldn¡¯t think any further or he might lose his appetite tomorrow. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid anymore, the demon fox is dead and won¡¯t come to hurt you.¡± This Wang Minghong was also a pitiful person, a victim. Fang Zhou comforted him a bit, then handed him the riding crop, ¡°This is an Immortal Beast Spiritual Root refined by a secret technique. It can replenish Essence and strengthen the body; you should use it to make a soup.¡± Wang Minghong took the riding crop and hugged it to his chest, gratefully looking at Fang Zhou, ¡°Thank you, big brother, you really are a good person.¡± Receiving a ¡®Good Person¡¯ card, and from someone of the same sex at that. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, so he could only toss the ¡®Good Person¡¯ card back, ¡°You¡¯re a good person too, get some good rest and don¡¯t stay up late.¡± Wang Minghong nodded and lay down with the riding crop. Fang Zhou got up to leave, but as he exited the room, he faintly heard the sound of Wang Minghong smacking his lips, ¡°How come this Immortal Beast Spiritual Root tastes so weird when licked?¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly closed the door. ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue soon returned, carrying four dead foxes. Fang Zhou was startled: ¡°Why are there so many demon foxes?¡± He originally wanted to show off to Ling Xiaoyue that he single-handedly killed a fox demon, but Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s feats were so impressive that he could only swallow his words. ¡°A big one was leading four little ones.¡± Ling Xiaoyue dumped the foxes on the ground, next to the one Fang Zhou had killed, forming a furry pile. Fang Zhou noticed Ling Xiaoyue brought back only four and asked curiously, ¡°Did one get away?¡± ¡°I intentionally let one go. There must be a few more in their den, we¡¯ll catch them all at once.¡± Ling Xiaoyue took a swig from her flask, then patted Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. You¡¯re worthy of being my disciple, I even thought about coming back to save you.¡± Fang Zhou knocked her hand away annoyingly: ¡°If I didn¡¯t have some skills, I would have been dead by the time you returned.¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t be angry, my apprentice.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was in a good mood tonight, probably because she made some money, and smilingly said to Fang Zhou: ¡°If I¡¯m free tomorrow, I¡¯ll teach you a set of Qi Gathering Technique and swordsmanship so you can protect yourself.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s interest was piqued, but he looked at her warily: ¡°How much will it cost?¡± Ling Xiaoyue grabbed her flask and threw it at him in frustration: ¡°What¡¯s this about money? Do I seem like the sort who¡¯s only after money?¡± Fang Zhou dodged the flask and rolled his eyes at her: ¡°Do you want the truth or flattery?¡± Ling Xiaoyue stood with her hands on her hips: ¡°I want to hear flattering words.¡± ¡°None, scram!¡± ¡­ The staggering little Daoist boy left the Wang Family and came outside. Not far from the exit, he saw another figure limping along the road, who also noticed him. ¡°Master! What happened to you?¡± ¡°Disciple! What happened to you?¡± Master Ji had a swollen face and head as big as a pig¡¯s, while the little Daoist boy also looked beaten up. The master and disciple faced each other, ultimately sighing in unison: ¡°Alas, let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± With tears in his eyes, the little Daoist boy advised, ¡°Master, the Wang Family is too dreadful; we can¡¯t go back there.¡± Master Ji deeply agreed: ¡°I understand, let¡¯s find another place. I refuse to believe we can¡¯t make a living in Qingde City.¡± The master and disciple supported each other, slowly disappearing into the length of the street. Unbeknownst to them, a demon fox whisked past on the eaves of a nearby house. The demon fox moved through the streets and alleys under the cover of night, eventually slipping into a secluded garden. With a flash of red light, the demon fox transformed into a middle-aged beauty. The beauty¡¯s face was pale, and her shoulder bore a deep wound, with fresh blood staining her fox fur. Stumbling out of the garden, she entered a courtyard but could not keep upright and tumbled to the ground. Soon, a patrolling Protector found her and hurried to call for help; shortly after, a middle-aged man in brocade clothes rushed over. ¡°Hu Lai! How did you end up like this?¡± The middle-aged man helped her up quickly and noticed she was alone, both shocked and angry: ¡°Hu Lai, where are the children?¡± The beauty broke down in tears: ¡°The children won¡¯t be coming back; you must avenge them.¡± After listening to Hu Lai recounting the incident through her sobs, the middle-aged man¡¯s face darkened, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes. ¡°The Wang Family! I will make you pay in blood for this debt!¡± He punched the ground, shattering the solid floor to pieces. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: 19. The Wondrous Uses of the Qi Gathering Technique Chapter 19: 19. The Wondrous Uses of the Qi Gathering Technique Editor: Dragon Boat Translation For the Wang Family, tonight was calm and peaceful because the two battles that occurred were swiftly resolved without creating any disturbance. When they got up the next morning and saw the pile of fox carcasses, the entire Wang Family was in an uproar. Wang Fulai showered Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou with endless gratitude, nearly kneeling in appreciation. For the past month, she hadn¡¯t been able to eat or sleep properly, almost driven to nervous exhaustion; but today, she could finally rest assured. Ling Xiaoyue was very pleased because Wang Fulai had given her a hefty sum of money. It was payment for the fairy horse, whose meat had been purchased by the Wang Family. They might keep it for themselves or sell it, but that was none of her concern. Fang Zhou was also happy. His horse, inadvertently caught up in the affair, had sold for the price of a fairy horse. In life it was unknown and ridden by people, but in death, it received the title of a fairy horse, which would surely bring a smile to its face even in the netherworld. The key point was that the money for the horse was delivered privately by the steward, something Ling Xiaoyue had not noticed, so the money was Fang Zhou¡¯s private stash belonging only to him. As for the pile of fox carcasses, Ling Xiaoyue commanded the steward to skin the foxes to make scarves, and chop their meat to make meatballs, all of which she intended to take with her. Fang Zhou listened on the side, his scalp tingling ¡ª was this woman¡¯s heart made of black iron? She was even more ruthless than infamous skinflints, sparing nothing. Since Ling Xiaoyue had promised to refine a Yang Reviving Pill for Wang Minghong, and there was also the issue of a big fox yet to be dealt with, both she and Fang Zhou were in no rush to leave and decided to stay at the Wang Family for two more days. Ling Xiaoyue took the opportunity to teach the Qi Gathering Technique and swordsmanship to Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou was still a bit wary. How could this woman, whose eyes lit up at the sight of money, be so generous? ¡°Really, it¡¯s free of charge?¡± Ling Xiaoyue kept tapping on his head with her finger: ¡°Money, money, money? Is that all you think about? Should there be such formality between master and disciple?¡± ¡°Heh heh!¡± Fang Zhou let out a scornful but polite laugh. This made Ling Xiaoyue quite unhappy; she felt that Fang Zhou¡¯s stereotypes of her had tarnished her shining image as a master, as well as the reputation of the Xuanji Sect itself. Such a rebellious disciple. However, she truly had no intention of charging Fang Zhou for these two things, as they were supplementary techniques for New Moon Qi and thus, part of the after-sales service. Ling Xiaoyue had always been honest in her dealings, never defrauding anyone. ¡°Wait a minute, you¡¯re not charging for the initial teaching, but you¡¯ll charge later for cultivation or upgrades, won¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou suddenly realized. It reminded him of something he had seen in his previous life: some products were sold at a low price or even given away for free, but subsequent maintenance or repair costs were exorbitant. Ling Xiaoyue widened her eyes and pointed at Fang Zhou: ¡°You¡¯re slandering me. How could your master ever engage in such shameless acts?¡± Oh, nailed it. She would definitely do it. ¡°So, do you want to learn or not?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Of course, he wanted ¡ª to learn for free is a bargain. ¡°I¡¯ll owe you the money; if I lose even a hair to you, consider it my loss.¡± The Qi Gathering Technique is a supplementary technique for New Moon Qi, or more accurately, an accompanying skill. New Moon Qi absorbs, refines, and uses spiritual energy to nourish the body, while the Qi Gathering Technique allows Fang Zhou to mobilize the stored spiritual energy within his body more quickly and conveniently, enabling spiritual energy to envelop the entire body in an instant, enhancing strength and speed. Of course, this also intensifies the consumption of spiritual energy, making it unsustainable for prolonged use. For Fang Zhou, the Qi Gathering Technique was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. Since his entry into the Qi Refinement Realm, he hadn¡¯t felt much improvement. His cultivation had only increased his strength and constitution by one point each, and while his body had accumulated a fair amount of spiritual energy, it would gradually dissipate and needed to be replenished through constant cultivation. Mobilizing spiritual energy can enhance strength and speed, but in battle, who has the time for slow mobilization? It is also impossible to multitask and maintain an energized state. Therefore, the saved-up spiritual energy was wasted, unable to be used in battle. Now, having learned the Qi Gathering Technique, Fang Zhou could rapidly mobilize spiritual energy throughout his body without needing to multitask, finally experiencing the true combat power of entering the Qi Refining Realm. Fang Zhou opened the system to test it out, and after using the Qi Gathering Technique, his strength increased by 2 points to 6, and his speed also increased by 1 point to 6. Originally, he was already exceptionally talented, and now with the use of the Qi Gathering Technique, he was even more formidable. The only drawback was that the Qi Gathering Technique would speed up the consumption of spiritual energy. As soon as he stopped using the technique, or when the spiritual energy was depleted, the enhanced attributes would drop as well. Overall, the Qi Gathering Technique greatly improved Fang Zhou¡¯s combat capabilities. Now, he could proudly claim that if he encountered those female disciples from the Xuanji Sect again, he could easily defeat them. Plus, with the Illusion Technique and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, facing Li Ruyu wouldn¡¯t be as embarrassing. Fang Zhou was very satisfied. Li Ruyu had been with the Xuanji Sect for eight years, whereas he had started cultivating for less than a month. Of course, the system¡¯s contribution was the greatest and had brought the most improvement to Fang Zhou ¡ª truly a doting father. Apart from the Qi Gathering Technique, Ling Xiaoyue also taught Fang Zhou a set of swordsmanship. Fang Zhou watched as she demonstrated with a tree branch, a fierce energy emanating aggressively from her motions, which were crisp and concise, devoid of any fancy, flashy moves. At the end, she extended the branch forward with a point, and a fierce Sword Qi burst forth, piercing through the rockery in the courtyard, with no one knowing where it shot off to. Ling Xiaoyue tossed the branch to Fang Zhou: ¡°Remember the movements? When channeling your energy, follow the route of the Qi Gathering Technique.¡± Fang Zhou caught the branch, which was just an ordinary piece of wood in his hands, yet in Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s hands, it was sharper than a treasure sword. Fang Zhou recalled Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s movements in his mind, then asked: ¡°What is this sword technique called?¡± ¡°Call it¡­ huh¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue suddenly got stuck, and only after a struggle did she blurt out: ¡°Call it Invincible Sword, how about that?¡± Fang Zhou immediately waved her off: ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll name it myself, no need to trouble you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was enraged by Fang Zhou¡¯s contemptuous attitude: ¡®Is there something wrong with the name I chose?¡¯ Fang Zhou shrugged: ¡°Is it really that good? Why don¡¯t you use it yourself?¡± ¡°The good stuff should naturally be reserved for one¡¯s disciples, this is this master¡¯s affection for you.¡± ¡°Your ¡®affection¡¯ is something I can¡¯t afford to enjoy.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, feeling helpless, couldn¡¯t force Fang Zhou to use the name she chose. Naming was indeed one of her rare weaknesses. This was simply unfathomable for the self-proclaimed handsome, charming, perfect and powerful Ling Xiaoyue. She wallowed in her frustration for a while, but then seemed to think of something amusing, she placed a hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder with an ambiguous expression: ¡°Disciple, the Qi Gathering Technique also has another ingenious use, did you know?¡± Fang Zhou glanced at her sideways; he was now very familiar with Ling Xiaoyue. Whenever she showed this kind of expression, she was definitely going to say something provocative. Fang Zhou: ¡°You tell me, I¡¯m listening.¡± Sure enough, Ling Xiaoyue chuckled: ¡°When you summon Spiritual Energy, you can channel it into your Spirit Root, and the effect will definitely surprise you¡­ You can ask the housekeeper for some lard tonight¡­ try it out yourself, but don¡¯t play too late, hehehe!¡± Fang Zhou: (?_?) What on earth is going on with this woman¡¯s train of thought? Turning a high and mighty Cultivation Technique into something so vile ¨C it¡¯s a complete insult to the term ¡®cultivation¡¯. Fang Zhou expressed strong condemnation, ashamed to be associated with it. But what she described¡­ is it real? Worth looking into. ¡­ The housekeeper was very efficient. Several foxes were skinned by skilled craftsmen, the fox tails were made into scarves, the fox skins into capes, and the leftovers were sewn into gloves. The fox meat was minced into meatballs, the bones ground into powder, and both were delivered to Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue used the Sleeve Universe to stash away everything and then secretly took out a golden fox meatball, prepared using a Secret Technique, and had Fang Zhou take it to Wang Minghong to ingest. ¡°Is this the so-called Yang Reviving Pill?¡± Fang Zhou was speechless; this was too much of a scam. It was obviously just a colored meatball. ¡°Oh, you know nothing.¡± Ling Xiaoyue said in exasperation: ¡°Yang deficiency is simply caused by too frequent bedroom activities leading to kidney weakness. Wang Minghong would recover naturally with some rest, and this meatball, no, this Yang Reviving Pill has Spiritual Energy added to it. After he takes it, it¡¯ll provide some psychological comfort and he¡¯ll recover faster. This is called psychological comfort therapy¡ªlearn something. Plus, I¡¯m giving this for free. The real Yang Reviving Pill would cost ten Wang Fulais and he couldn¡¯t afford it. Are you footing the bill for him?¡± So this is a health supplement from another world, mentor style? Fang Zhou was really impressed; this woman had one absurd logic after another. But he didn¡¯t refute her in the end, mainly because it was a free gift from Ling Xiaoyue, which was far too rare, more so than spending money. After giving the meatball, no, the Yang Reviving Pill to Wang Minghong, his complexion indeed improved significantly, and he was very grateful to Fang Zhou. It wasn¡¯t just psychological comfort; the refined Spiritual Energy also had excellent nourishing effects on the body. Seeing that all affairs were now in order, with only the escaped fox yet to be dealt with. Fang Zhou was about to ask Ling Xiaoyue when she planned to resolve this risk, when a visitor with the surname Hu suddenly arrived at the Wang Family. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: 20. Obligatory labor is not possible Chapter 20: 20. Obligatory labor is not possible Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Within just two days, Master Ji¡¯s swollen face had returned to normal. Although her cultivation level wasn¡¯t that impressive, merely at the entry-level of the Qi Refining Realm, her skills were plentiful, and treating bruises and injuries was a piece of cake for her. Which Cultivator that wanders the world has not suffered a beating? Without some medical skills, one might very well lose their life on the road. At this moment, Master Ji and her little apprentice stood in front of the Hu Family¡¯s residence. These past two days, rumors of a fox demon causing trouble at the Hu Family had spread. Upon hearing this, Master Ji immediately brought her apprentice over, ready to perform Demon Extermination. The little apprentice was worried: ¡°Master, are we really going to take on this business?¡± He had developed PTSD towards the demon fox, and just hearing the two words made his butt clench. The events of that night two days ago were an indelible trauma in his life. ¡°What do you know?¡± Master Ji was very dissatisfied with her apprentice¡¯s cowardice: ¡°Now is the perfect opportunity to take on this business, any later and it would be too late.¡± That night after escaping from the Wang Family, Master Ji had personally seen several demon foxes being chopped up like vegetables by the lady in white. It was impossible for two lairs of demon foxes to exist in one city. Since the demon foxes were already dead, the situation at the Hu Family was without a doubt worry-free, and the people of the Hu Family definitely weren¡¯t aware that the demon foxes were dead. This was simply a golden opportunity where one could make money just by bending over. Master Ji hurried over with her apprentice, aiming to secure the deal before the lady in white found out. It was also fortunate that the Wang Family had been too busy these past two days to spread the word that Master Ji was a fraudster. Master Ji herself didn¡¯t consider herself a swindler. She did have real abilities, it was just that her luck had been particularly bad. Under Master Ji¡¯s urging, the reluctant little apprentice stepped forward to knock on the door and explain their purpose. Soon, the master and disciple were welcomed into the Hu Family, and a middle-aged man dressed in brocade met with them. Before coming here, Master Ji had already inquired about the Hu Family. The Hu Family ran a restaurant business, was exceedingly wealthy, and unusually, it was a man who took charge of household affairs, his abilities even sharper than a woman¡¯s. This was a curious matter even in Qingde City. Hence, upon seeing this middle-aged man named Hu Zhaici appear, Master Ji didn¡¯t show even the slightest surprise. Master Ji repeated the same tactics she¡¯d used on Wang Fulai on Hu Zhaici and promptly gained his trust. Hu Zhaici recounted to Master Ji the recent occurrences at the Hu Family: his daughter falling ill, and a demon fox causing chaos in the residence, having injured several people. ¡°Do not worry, Head Hu. As Cultivators travel through the mundane world, besides honing our bodies and minds, it¡¯s also our duty to eliminate demons and benefit mankind.¡± Master Ji confidently stated, assuring that she could set up the altar and eliminate the demon fox tonight. ¡°It¡¯s said that the Wang Family also encountered a demon fox recently, and it was exterminated by two young masters. Does Master Ji know them?¡± Hu Zhaici cautiously inquired. Master Ji opened her mouth and nearly blurted out the words ¡®sworn enemies¡¯, but ultimately managed to swallow them back with strong willpower, and smiled: ¡°Without hiding the truth from Head Hu, those two from the Wang Family are my junior fellow disciples. Their cultivation is inadequate, and since making their debut, they have caused a bit of a comedy of errors. Please forgive them.¡± Hu Zhaici was overjoyed: ¡°So it is! Then we will trouble Master Ji.¡± After arranging for the housekeeper to take Master Ji down to rest, Hu Zhaici¡¯s smile on his face gradually faded. He stepped outside the door and instructed his servants: ¡°Prepare some gifts, I¡¯m going to visit the Wang Family.¡± ¡­ When Fang Zhou arrived at the main hall, he saw Wang Fulai and Hu Zhaici chatting away merrily. Fang Zhou was here in place of Ling Xiaoyue because he had heard that there was business, no, a victim seeking help, so he came to have a look. Seeing that Hu Zhaici was a man, Fang Zhou felt as if a ray of sunlight had finally broken through the gloomy sky. It wasn¡¯t easy to finally encounter a man who could call the shots. The Wang Family and the Hu Family were business partners, one selling drinks and the other running a tavern; it would be a real surprise if they had no business dealings, so their relationship was quite good. ¡°A few days ago, my daughter fell ill, and we sought a physician¡¯s diagnosis, who said she was weak and overindulged in pleasures. Moreover, these past few days there¡¯s been a demon fox haunting our residence, disturbing the peace of my home. Having heard that a similar incident occurred at Old Sister Wang¡¯s, I had no choice but to muster the courage and seek help; I hope Old Sister Wang doesn¡¯t take offense, for I really am at my wit¡¯s end.¡± Hu Zhaici bluntly stated his intention, wishing to invite Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou to the Hu residence for Demon Extermination. ¡°Why would you say that, Brother Hu? The Wang and Hu families have been close for generations, and you and I are just like siblings; why act like an outsider?¡± Wang Fulai empathized with Hu Zhaici¡¯s plight, knowing that if not for their good fortune in finding two great masters, her own Wang Family might well have been destroyed. Although she was eager to make a decision right away, Wang Fulai was well aware that she was not the one to call the shots on this matter. With an apologetic look, she said to Hu Zhaici: ¡°I wish I could personally come over and help, I truly support the idea, but we must leave the final decision to the two masters.¡± Saying this, she turned her gaze to Fang Zhou, who had been silent all this time. Hu Zhaici also looked at Fang Zhou with a smile, his black eyes twinkling keenly. Fang Zhou, who had been cultivating idly, looked up at the two of them and didn¡¯t know what to say at first, but then spontaneously uttered: ¡°Rest assured, Benefactor Hu, we Cultivators travel the mortal world not only to temper our bodies and minds, but also to perform Demon Extermination and bring benefits to the Human World.¡± Right after speaking, he immediately felt embarrassed; it was all Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s fault for always saying that phrase, to the point where it had brainwashed him. Hu Zhaici was overjoyed, promptly bowing and saying: ¡°Thank you, Master, for extending your helping hand; Zhaici is immensely grateful.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ about that¡­ the sponsorship¡­¡± Fang Zhou, after all, cared about his face and couldn¡¯t, like Ling Xiaoyue, take advantage of others¡¯ misfortune to demand a high price and yet sound righteous. But this matter had been specifically assigned by Ling Xiaoyue, and he couldn¡¯t forget to ask for payment no matter what; gratuitous labor was out of the question, not in this lifetime. However, Hu Zhaici was shrewd and quickly realized what Fang Zhou was hesitating about, promptly stating: ¡°We shall bear all costs as we did with the Wang Family, and upon successful resolution, a generous reward is assured.¡± Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief: ¡°So when would your family be available?¡± ¡°No time should be lost, I earnestly request the esteemed masters to grace the Hu residence tonight, where Zhaici will await your arrival.¡± And so it was settled. After Hu Zhaici left, Fang Zhou turned to look for Ling Xiaoyue. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue looking like she was waiting to count money, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but remind her: ¡°There¡¯s something off about Hu Zhaici; the Hu estate might be a fox demon¡¯s den.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was a bit surprised, ¡°Oh, tell your master how you figured it out?¡± Fang Zhou spread his hands: ¡°Aren¡¯t fox demons usually named Hu? I¡¯ve asked people from the Wang Family; in Qingde City, theirs is the only prominent Hu household. And Hu Zhaici¡¯s name, phonetically it¡¯s like ¡®Hu Zai Ci,¡¯ which sounds like ¡®fox is here.¡¯ Is that not obvious enough that they¡¯re afraid people won¡¯t see it if they¡¯re blind?¡± Ling Xiaoyue suddenly laughed out loud and patted Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Good job, my apprentice, you have improved. It¡¯s true that fox demons are often surnamed Hu, haha, that¡¯s a novel angle. But what you¡¯ve said is not wrong.¡± Fang Zhou was puzzled: ¡°I can¡¯t believe you wouldn¡¯t have noticed it, so why still take on this job? Why didn¡¯t you just directly take down Hu Zhaici before and raid his house?¡± Ling Xiaoyue rolled her eyes at him: ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to make money. Kill him, and who knows where he¡¯s hidden his fortune. You must realize that Cultivation is very expensive, especially maintaining a sect. Without earning a lot, are we supposed to wait around to be blown away by the north wind?¡± Fang Zhou was a bit moved, he had not expected Ling Xiaoyue to work so hard for the sect and perhaps had misjudged her before. Ling Xiaoyue consoled him: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, apprentice, tonight we¡¯re going to take both the money and the fox, not letting either escape.¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: 21. The Master and Disciple with tight budgets Chapter 21: 21. The Master and Disciple with tight budgets Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Night had fallen as Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue took their seats in the sedan provided by the Wang Family, heading to the Hu Family residence to exorcise the demon foxes. Sitting in the sedan, Fang Zhou reminisced about the bits of knowledge Ling Xiaoyue had shared with him before they left the Wang Family estate. Fox demons usually operate as families, with only one nest of fox demons in a given area. A nest would contain no more than ten at most. If there were more, the dominant fox demon would drive the young out to fend for themselves and spread out. Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou had altogether slain five fox demons; therefore, it was highly probable that there were still five remaining in the Hu residence, two adults and three young ones. Ling Xiaoyue had made it clear that she would only deal with the two adult fox demons, leaving the three younger ones for Fang Zhou. This served as training for him and an opportunity to gain experience. Fang Zhou now understood why Ling Xiaoyue had taught him the New Moon Qi and swordsmanship¡ªit was all for this purpose. He did not refuse. Had this been when he first arrived at Qingde City, he certainly would have rejected the offer, but now he has gained some confidence. Even if he couldn¡¯t beat them, he could at least run away. If he was lucky, perhaps there wouldn¡¯t be as many as three young demon foxes in the Hu residence. Opening the system panel, Fang Zhou allocated the unused 4 points of manliness entirely to Spirit, boosting his spiritual resistance and ensuring that he could shake off any illusion technique the demon foxes might use. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level) Techniques: New Moon Qi, Qi Refinement Technique Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, Fireball Technique, Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship Strength: 4 Speed: 5 Constitution: 4 Spirit: 6 Manliness: 0 Unknowingly, Fang Zhou had already acquired four skills. The Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship was the swordsmanship technique taught to him by Ling Xiaoyue. He initially wanted to give it a name full of swagger on his own, but as he hadn¡¯t come up with a suitable one, he just left it as is. Unexpectedly, the system went ahead and named it something with zero swagger. But this swordsmanship technique was indeed simple and understandable. One just needed to remember the actions and changes in the moves, plus a few key points, following the Qi circulation pathways of the Qi Refinement Technique. After two days of practice, Fang Zhou was already performing it quite adeptly. The sedan moved through the streets and alleys and soon arrived at the gate of the Hu residence, where Hu Zhaici personally greeted them at the entrance. ¡°Welcome, honored masters. Your presence truly graces the Hu Family with distinguished glory.¡± Hu Zhaici bowed profoundly, almost to the point of bending down to the ground. Ling Xiaoyue accepted the greeting indifferently and waved her hand, ¡°Mr. Hu, no need for such formality. It is said that cultivators travel the mortal world for¡ªah! Why the heck are you pinching me?¡± Ling Xiaoyue turned around and glared at Fang Zhou, grabbing a wine pot and hurling it toward him. Fang Zhou, with an unflustered expression, swatted the wine pot away. I pinched you to stop you from spouting that nonsense again. I¡¯m almost brainwashed by that line, for crying out loud! Hu Zhaici watched the two with a peculiar gaze. If he hadn¡¯t confirmed their identities beforehand, he might have suspected them to be frauds, impersonating cultivators, as they lacked any semblance of a cultivator¡¯s demeanor. Yet his face remained expressionless as he made a welcoming gesture with his hand, ¡°Please, masters, come inside.¡± Ling Xiaoyue shot Fang Zhou a look that said we¡¯ll settle this when we get back, then walked ahead into the Hu residence. Fang Zhou followed behind, glancing up at the residence plaque, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Disregarding that night two days prior, this time Fang Zhou was actively setting out to slay demons¡ªthis was what he envisioned a true cultivator to be: chivalrous and filled with vigor, wielding a sword to purge evil spirits. Not those who scammed meals, jacked up prices, or took advantage of health and wellness scams. The group entered the Hu residence, passing through courtyards and gardens, and arrived at the main hall. To their surprise, there were two beautiful young girls looking at them with large, curious eyes, mainly focusing their attention on Fang Zhou. ¡°These two are my daughters, Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui, who are a bit unruly. Please forgive their behavior.¡± Hu Zhaici introduced them to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou and then instructed his daughters, ¡°Hurry up and greet the masters.¡± The two young girls glanced at each other, bowed with their hands folded and said in unison, ¡°Greetings to both masters.¡± After they spoke, their four large eyes continued to gaze unblinkingly at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou feigned indifference, but inside he was secretly on guard. The looks in the eyes of these two women were almost identical to the way Li Ruyu had looked at him initially. You know what they¡¯re thinking without even having to guess. You¡¯re thinking about eating farts, aren¡¯t you? A dissatisfied snort from Hu Zhaici finally made the two daughters¡¯ unbridled stares subside a bit. Only then did he turn to Ling Xiaoyue and say, ¡°Master, my third daughter¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue sat down carelessly, interrupting him: ¡°Boss Hu, demon extermination is the duty of us cultivators; you needn¡¯t worry about that. However, my apprentice and I wander across the world, always extending a helping hand to those afflicted by evil spirits. Yet, we have no means of making a living, leading us to a life of poverty due to an empty wallet. We often have no idea where our next meal will come from. I hope Boss Hu can demonstrate some humanitarian spirit and sponsor some travel expenses. My apprentice and I would be eternally grateful.¡± Hu Zhaici¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, and he finally couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. Damn, just ask for money straightforwardly, no need for such sanctimonious and fresh platitudes. You think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ve just earned tens of thousands of silver from the Wang Family? Empty wallet, my ass! At that moment, Hu Zhaici and his two daughters looked at Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou as if they were shameless rogues who¡¯d gladly trade their lives for money. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s skin was incredibly thick, and such disdainful gazes were like a gentle breeze to her, not even comparable to the feeling of solid banknotes slapping her face. Fang Zhou¡¯s skin wasn¡¯t as thick, and he felt a bit embarrassed under their stares. Ah, if only I¡¯d known to make a mask to cover my face; otherwise, my reputation will soon be in the negatives. Fortunately, Hu Zhaici was prepared. With a light clap of his hands, several servants walked into the hall with several large trays of gold, approaching Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°These pieces of gold¡­¡± Hu Zhaici was about to give Ling Xiaoyue an introduction. But the gleam in Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t wait any longer; she directly used her Sleeve Universe Technique, sweeping all the gold on the trays into her possession in a single gesture. Hu Zhaici¡¯s face stiffened, half of what he was about to say caught in his throat, and veins popped on his forehead. Damn, I wasn¡¯t planning to give you all of it! Yet, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s use of the Sleeve Universe Technique still made Hu Zhaici¡¯s eyes narrow. He coughed and chased away the stunned servants, then said to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Master, my third daughter, Hu Yiye, is seriously ill. I¡¯ve heard that the master possesses the miraculous ability to revive the dying. Could you perhaps save my daughter¡¯s life first?¡± Ling Xiaoyue, delighted at having received the money, beamed, ¡°No problem, let my apprentice handle it. He¡¯s best at treating patients with physical depletion.¡± Seeing that Hu Zhaici and his three daughters were looking at him, Fang Zhou nodded nonchalantly ¨C it¡¯s just a matter of using the whip and meatballs, nice and simple. Although the whip was gone now, the meatballs, oh no, the Yang Reviving Pills, Ling Xiaoyue had indeed given him a few. Hu Zhaici looked intently at Fang Zhou for a few moments, then turned to his two daughters and said, ¡°Take this master to see your sister.¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui immediately winked at Fang Zhou with grinning faces: ¡°Master, please follow us.¡± Fang Zhou looked at Ling Xiaoyue, who nodded at him. This was what they had agreed upon before; the big fox demon was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s responsibility, while the smaller fox demons would be dealt with by Fang Zhou. However, before leaving, Ling Xiaoyue stood up and gently touched the philtrum area under Fang Zhou¡¯s nose, and then patted his shoulder significantly, saying meaningfully, ¡°Go on, come back early.¡± Touched lightly by Ling Xiaoyue, Fang Zhou¡¯s nose suddenly felt different, a strong odor of fox musk hitting him, causing him to sneeze involuntarily. ¡°Sorry!¡± Fang Zhou quickly apologized to the Hu family, who looked at him in surprise. Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui, unsuspecting, led the way, and Fang Zhou followed closely behind them. ¡°Master, where are you from?¡± ¡°Master, how old are you this year?¡± After leaving the main hall, the two girls immediately became lively, bombarding Fang Zhou with questions about his privacy and getting very close to him, almost hanging on him. Fang Zhou was extremely uncomfortable because a strong odor of fox musk wafted from the two girls. After sniffing it for a while, he felt it was too overwhelming. But he had no choice but to act as if nothing was wrong, gasping for air without wanting to be noticed; he was really caught in a bind. They arrived at a secluded small courtyard, and Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui led Fang Zhou into a room in the yard. The room was simply furnished and the air was slightly stagnant; a girl, skinny to the extreme, lay on the bed, as if all the blood and flesh from her body had vanished, leaving only skin wrapped around bones. Fang Zhou was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected the girl to be so gravely ill. What surprised him even more was that he didn¡¯t smell any fox musk from this girl. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 22. The Fellow Sect Brothers of Fang Zhou Chapter 22: 22. The Fellow Sect Brothers of Fang Zhou Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Hu Yiling sat by the bed, reaching out to stroke the girl¡¯s cheek on the bed, whispering, ¡°My younger sister has been attacked by a demon, her life is in danger, please master save her.¡± Upon hearing the voice, the girl on the bed opened her lifeless eyes and slightly opened her mouth, making barely audible sounds, already completely unable to speak. Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui both looked at Fang Zhou, saying in unison, ¡°Please save our sister.¡± Fang Zhou walked to the bedside, asked the girl, ¡°Miss Hu, I am a cultivator specializing in slaying demons and exorcising evil spirits, can you tell me when you encountered the demon, and what did this demon look like?¡± After speaking, Fang Zhou noticed Miss Hu¡¯s lifeless eyes looking at him. Her mouth moved slightly, but she could only futilely emit some meaningless sounds. Deep-set eyes slowly filled with tears, sliding down to the pillow along her cheeks. Fang Zhou silently watched her, while Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui looked at him with hopeful eyes. The atmosphere turned somewhat silent for a moment. ¡°Master¡­ can my sister be cured?¡± Finally, Hu Yiling broke the silence. Fang Zhou smiled slightly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let me see how the feng shui is in this room.¡± The Hu sisters showed a puzzled expression: ¡°Feng shui?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Zhou began walking around the room, explaining: ¡°The layout of feng shui involves the harmony of yin and yang and the energy of the earth. First, the sitting direction must be prosperous, and so must be the facing direction for good fortune. A household in such a layout ensures safety, and prosperity for all beings, whereas facing a bad direction brings misfortune, unrest to the household and sickness among the beings, and also attracts demons¡­¡± The Hu sisters were bewildered by Fang Zhou¡¯s explanation, finding it too specialized and completely incomprehensible. While talking, Fang Zhou felt the corners of the room with his fingers, finding them dusty. Clearly, the house had been uninhabited for a long time and had only been hastily cleaned recently; moreover, despite there being a sick person in the room, there was no smell of medicine, and the girl on the bed did not seem like a demon fox. A guess formed in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. ¡°Master, what next?¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui asked eagerly, although they didn¡¯t understand, they were very interested in the feng shui knowledge Fang Zhou talked about, which was not easy for them to access normally. What next? How would I know. Fang Zhou was able to bluff a few words, but continuing would inevitably reveal his lack of knowledge. He smiled slightly: ¡°The secrets of heaven cannot be revealed.¡± Then he walked to the bedside, took out a Yang Reviving Pill, and fed it to the girl on the bed. The Hu sisters stared intensely at the Yang Reviving Pill Fang Zhou brought out, Hu Yiling sniffed, asking, ¡°Master, what is this?¡± ¡°A good medicine for healing, after taking it and resting for a period, your sister will recover.¡± Fang Zhou casually replied, immediately feeling the Hu sisters move closer, one on his left and the right, placing their hands on his shoulders. ¡°Thank you, master.¡± Hu Yiling pouted slightly, blowing a flirtatious breath towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Let us sisters, help you relax properly.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression stiffened: ¡°Okay¡­¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui exchanged a smile, showing triumphant expressions. ¡°What a master, not so great after all.¡± Hu Yirui took a deep sniff on Fang Zhou, immediately showing a intoxicated expression, her cheeks flushed as if drunk: ¡°This man¡­ has such pure yang energy.¡± Hu Yiling also mimicked her sister, ceaselessly sniffing on Fang Zhou: ¡°Yes, so tempting¡­ and also quite handsome.¡± ¡°This is our trophy now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait to devour him!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start then.¡± The sisters couldn¡¯t help themselves anymore and eagerly stretched out their hands to undress Fang Zhou, not even caring about the appropriateness of the situation, ready to exact justice on the spot. Swoosh¡ª A gleam of cold light suddenly flared up, and the Longsword, like a green dragon emerging from the sea, pierced through Hu Yiling¡¯s chest with the swiftness of lightning. Fang Zhou, who had a dull expression a moment ago, instantly transformed into a fierce tiger, pulling out the Longsword that stabbed into Hu Yiling, then turned around and punched Hu Yirui in the face, shattering her beautiful, jade-like face with blood splattering everywhere. The Hu sisters screamed in unison. Two puffs of blue smoke appeared with two thumps, and the Hu sisters disappeared, replaced by two glossy-furred foxes that whisked into the breeze and fled out of the room. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± Fang Zhou let out a loud shout, summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, and threw an Illusion Technique at one of the fox demons, then manipulated the left hand to smash it, planning to kill one first! The fox demon struck by the Illusion Technique paused in its escape, nearly getting hit by the left hand. The other fox demon quickly swept its long tail around, wrapping up the one hit by the Illusion Technique, and they both fled the room together. Fang Zhou hurriedly chased after them, rushing into the courtyard. The two fox demons hadn¡¯t gotten far, they flew to the other end of the courtyard and landed, then two more puffs of blue smoke appeared and they transformed back into human forms. Hu Yiling pulled out the Longsword from her chest, blood freely flowing from her wound, her gaze fiercely fixated on Fang Zhou who was in pursuit. Hu Yirui, still dazed from the Illusion Technique, touched her disfigured face, and screamed at Fang Zhou: ¡°You¡¯re dead!!¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t respond; his mind was quickly analyzing the situation. Hu Yiling should¡¯ve been fatally wounded by his sword, yet she appeared unharmed; Hu Yirui¡¯s smashed face also didn¡¯t seem critically injured, suggesting regular attacks weren¡¯t effective on them. The demon fox killed two days ago was probably due to that whip. Ling Xiaoyue really should¡¯ve clarified, at least provided another whip. The only good news was that there were only two small fox demons, not three. Hu Yiling asked Fang Zhou: ¡°You knew all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou remained silent; he had no interest in chatting with two demon foxes, unless he could extract some secrets from them. Yet, he felt somewhat relieved that he had raised his Spirit to 6 before coming here, significantly enhancing his spiritual resistance, which helped him quickly break free from the fox demon¡¯s Illusion Technique. Hu Yirui angrily said: ¡°Sister, why waste words on him, let¡¯s just kill him together.¡± Hu Yiling smiled: ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Killing him outright would be letting him off too easily. Remember, there¡¯s another fun thing we can use to torment him.¡± Hu Yirui seemed to recall something at those words and also smiled, but the smile strained the wounds on her face, causing her to grimace in pain as she glared angrily at Fang Zhou. Yet Fang Zhou was curious about what mischiefs these two fox demons were up to. The next moment he understood, as he saw Hu Yiling dragging from behind a rockery in the courtyard a young boy who was tied up with his mouth gagged. It was the little Taoist boy not seen for two days. Fang Zhou widened his eyes at him¡ªwhy are you here? Seeing the little Taoist boy, Fang Zhou could not help recalling that night at the Wang Family¡¯s residence, with the fallen flowers and the array of wounds. The little Taoist boy, upon seeing Fang Zhou, also struggled while whimpering. Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui exchanged a smile, the reactions of these two, clearly they knew each other. Hu Yiling cheerfully said to Fang Zhou: ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this, did you? Your fellow sect brother has fallen into our hands.¡± Fellow sect brother? Fang Zhou slowly formed a question mark, when had I ever been fellow sect brothers with this victim of misfortune? How was I not informed? COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: 23. This question is too difficult. Chapter 23: 23. This question is too difficult. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Master Ji sensed something was amiss. Hu Zhaici had clearly said that the construction of the altar to perform Demon Extermination would begin tonight, but as the night grew deeper, there was no sign of Hu Zhaici reappearing. Master Ji quietly sent out a little daoist apprentice to gather information and check if the Hu Family was building an altar, but the brat vanished after running out and didn¡¯t come back. This made Master Ji doubtful and even secretly worried, fearing that Hu Zhaici had learned about the events at the Wang Family and labeled her a fraudster. Should she run away before anything else happened? Master Ji was very conflicted. She had spent a substantial amount of money on the Strong Fox Killing Medicine and couldn¡¯t bear to not make a profit to compensate for the loss. Just as Master Ji was having difficulty making up her mind, the steward made an appearance: ¡°Master Ji, the lord of the house invites you to the main hall for an urgent discussion.¡± Master Ji had no choice but to calm her troubled thoughts and followed the steward to the main hall. As they arrived at the entrance of the main hall, the steward didn¡¯t continue to follow but instead gestured for her to go in. Unease gripped Master Ji as she proceeded alone, and upon entering the main hall, she immediately spotted Hu Zhaici seated in the place of honor and Ling Xiaoyue beside him. The moment she saw Ling Xiaoyue, Master Ji¡¯s heart sank and only one thought was in her mind. It¡¯s over! My cover¡¯s blown! Ling Xiaoyue looked at her with a half-smiling expression, while Hu Zhaici turned to Ling Xiaoyue and asked, ¡°This Master Ji, I hear she¡¯s a fellow sect member with you?¡± Hmm? There might still be hope! Master Ji quickly snapped out of her panic, resisting the urge to turn and run, and looked pitifully at Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue said with a smile, ¡°Hmm, you could say that. We are indeed from the same sect.¡± Master Ji let out a huge sigh of relief. Although this woman had beaten her up severely that night at the Wang Family, she turned out to be kind-hearted, not exposing her but instead covering for her. Hu Zhaici smiled at Master Ji and said, ¡°Please, Master Ji, take a seat.¡± With a benevolently gracious smile, Master Ji slowly walked over and sat at a spot neither too close nor too far from Ling Xiaoyue. Just as she sat down, several thuds were heard as the doors of the main hall closed on their own. Hu Zhaici stood up, the constant smile on his face gone, replaced by a chillingly cold expression: ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, it¡¯s time we settle our scores.¡± Master Ji hadn¡¯t even warmed her seat when she sprang up again, slightly confused about what was going on. Then, she saw a beautiful woman clad in fox fur appear in the hall. Seeing this beautiful woman, Master Ji¡¯s face showed shock. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be dead? But seeing Ling Xiaoyue nonchalantly sitting there, while the beautiful woman¡¯s eyes shone with murderous intent fixed on her, Master Ji realized the truth instantly. This great fox demon hadn¡¯t died at the Wang Family¡¯s place, and here she was, right in the fox¡¯s den. Hu Zhaici fixed Ling Xiaoyue and Master Ji with a fierce gaze, as astonishing demonic power emanated from him: ¡°None of you will escape tonight. I¡¯m going to skin you and pull out your bones to avenge my daughter.¡± This was clearly a great fox demon with accomplished Cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s all a misunderstanding, all of it!¡± Master Ji rushed to protest to Hu Zhaici, ¡°I¡¯m not her sect member, I am¡­¡± Master Ji noticed Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s smirk-like gaze, and the words at the tip of her tongue retreated. She remembered what had happened at the Wang Family¡¯s place. Was she about to repeat that lesson? To deny or admit? This question was too difficult, she couldn¡¯t answer it. Master Ji felt exhausted at heart, wondering why she was so unlucky. ¡­ [Triggered new mission ¨C Defeat two fox demons] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: Masculinity*4 Blue Card*1] [Failure: Lose virginity, Death] This was the newly triggered mission, the ¡®lose virginity¡¯ part was back again. Fang Zhou closed the prompt and looked across, realizing that the two demon foxes hadn¡¯t given up on the idea of eating him. Really, this was a woman¡ªor rather, a female fox spirit¡ªthinking with her lower half. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash, it¡¯s best if you just stand still.¡± Hu Yiling, wielding Fang Zhou¡¯s Longsword, pressed it against the neck of the little daoist apprentice, grinning slyly, ¡°If you dare to act out, my hands might tremble, and I could end up beheading your fellow sect member. Then, you¡¯d be the killer, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± He felt there might be some misunderstanding between Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui. The little daoist apprentice was neither his fellow sect member nor his brother, and really, they had no connection at all. In some sense, they were even enemies, since they were competitors after all. Using enemies to threaten him, what kind of ludicrous tactic is that? Sure enough, the thought process of demons is different from humans, truly baffling. The little Taoist boy made a ¡°wooo wooo wooo¡± noise, seemingly trying to say something. Hu Yiling reached out and pulled the cloth from the little Taoist boy¡¯s mouth, and told him: ¡°Advise your fellow disciples, for the sake of your life, don¡¯t make any rash moves.¡± Free to speak at last, the little Taoist boy eagerly shouted to Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui: ¡°Big sisters, you¡¯ve got it wrong, he¡¯s not my fellow disciple. We are enemies, enemies!¡± The little Taoist boy felt he was unfairly treated, extremely unlucky. Two days ago, at the Wang Family¡¯s place, his master sent him out to check things out, resulting in the loss of the most important thing in his life. Tonight, dispatched by his master again to gather information, he ended up captured by two fox demons. It was all the master¡¯s fault. For heaven¡¯s sake, he had to drag him straight into the fox den for Demon Extermination, spouting nonsense, saying that he and those two Cultivators from the Wang Family were disciples of the same sect. Now look, he had been mistaken for one by the fox demons. He really felt like dying. Hu Yiling disdainfully said: ¡°To save your own skin, you¡¯d even deny your own sect; you truly are heartless and ungrateful.¡± The little Taoist boy was close to tears: ¡°We really aren¡¯t from the same sect. Look at him, he¡¯s so handsome, and I get by on my vibe alone; our styles are completely different, how could we be from the same sect?¡± To save his life, the little Taoist boy had to painfully belittle his own good looks. Hearing the little Taoist boy¡¯s defense, Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui jointly turned their eyes to Fang Zhou. Indeed, one was so handsome, the other so unremarkable, they really didn¡¯t look like fellow disciples when put together. Fang Zhou felt that as a good person, a Cultivator with morals, principles, a conscience, and good looks too, it was necessary to clarify the misunderstanding for the little Taoist boy and clear his name. Plus, the boy had complimented his good looks, although that wasn¡¯t the main point. Therefore, Fang Zhou smiled and said: ¡°That¡¯s right, we are enemies, not fellow disciples.¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui looked at each other, then Hu Yiling¡¯s longsword chopped down onto the little Taoist boy¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ah!¡± The little Taoist boy screamed in agony: ¡°Why did you chop me?!¡± Hu Yiling sneered: ¡°You think you can fool me with this kind of trick?¡± Fang Zhou: (£þ¨Œ£þ) Little Taoist boy: (?_?) Fang Zhou inwardly thought, buddy, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not helping you, but there¡¯s nothing I can do if they don¡¯t believe me. Seeing Hu Yiling raise her longsword again, stabbing it into his other leg, the little Taoist boy immediately burst into tears: ¡°I¡¯m wronged, I really am not his fellow disciple, we only met for the first time two days ago, believe me, I really didn¡¯t lie to you this time.¡± The cries and pleas of the little Taoist boy were filled with sincerity and sorrow. Hu Yirui said softly, ¡°Sister, could we really have made a mistake?¡± Hu Yiling hesitated for a moment, originally intending to threaten Fang Zhou with the little Taoist boy. If the two weren¡¯t fellow disciples, wouldn¡¯t that be a joke? Glancing at Fang Zhou, who was in the spectator mode, Hu Yiling couldn¡¯t help but ask the little Taoist boy: ¡°Are you really not fellow disciples?¡± The little Taoist boy nodded vigorously: ¡°We are really not from the same sect. It¡¯s just my master spouting nonsense and tricking you for business purposes. Why should you believe what my master says and not believe me?¡± Noticing Fang Zhou¡¯s look as if watching an idiot, Hu Yiling felt ashamed and annoyed, raising her longsword again: ¡°Alright, daring to deceive us, sick of living are you? Since you¡¯re not fellow disciples, then you¡¯re of no use, go die then.¡± As the longsword was about to come down, the little Taoist boy¡¯s mind went blank. He couldn¡¯t understand why, having done nothing wrong, he was always the one getting hurt. Why was fate so unjust to him? Could it really be because I¡¯m not good-looking? No, I don¡¯t want to die; I want to continue living. Even if it is fate, I must defy it; even if heaven wants me dead, I will go against it! In that moment, a strong will to survive inspired the little Taoist boy, leading him to the correct choice. He instantly dropped to the ground, hands covering his head, while shouting towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Senior brother, save me!!¡± Fang Zhou, who had been enjoying the show, was startled. What is this kid doing climbing relationships out of nowhere? But Hu Yiling¡¯s sword stopped, and she turned her head towards Fang Zhou. This back-and-forth reversals had confused her, and she was desperate for a real answer. Fang Zhou initially wanted to deny it, but noticing the little Taoist boy¡¯s pleading, weak, pitiable, and helpless eyes, Fang Zhou¡¯s heart softened, and he nodded: ¡°No mistake, he is my junior brother.¡± The little Taoist boy exhaled deeply in relief. He hadn¡¯t expected Fang Zhou to extend a helping hand in this critical moment, truly a respectful and lovable good person. No wonder he was so handsome; I won¡¯t disparage you again in the future. ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± The longsword plunged deeply into the little Taoist boy¡¯s buttocks, eliciting a miserable scream. Tearful, the little Taoist boy looked at Hu Yiling: ¡°Why did you still stab me?¡± Hu Yiling, grinding her teeth: ¡°So you really are fellow disciples, and you dared to deceive me, thinking I¡¯m gullible, huh?¡± The little Taoist boy cried again, very heartbroken. If I say we¡¯re not, you want to chop me; if I say we are, you still want to chop me. What do you actually want from me, can you just give a clear answer? I can¡¯t solve this question, it¡¯s too difficult. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: 24. Release me Chapter 24: 24. Release me Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The sorrow of the little novice monk was understood by no one. Hu Yiling looked towards Fang Zhou, scoffed, and said: ¡°Trying to trick me into rescuing your junior? Wishful thinking! Are you feeling frustrated and heartbroken now?¡± As she spoke, she thrust her sword at the little novice monk again. Fang Zhou wore a puzzled expression, ¡°If I say I¡¯m not heartbroken or frustrated at all, would you think I¡¯m deceiving you again?¡± Fang Zhou thought that although the little novice monk¡¯s conduct was poor, the crime did not warrant death, so he said, ¡°Demon fox, let go of my junior now, or this won¡¯t end with you!¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui burst into laughter. The two demon foxes finally enjoyed the pleasure of threatening Fang Zhou. That was precisely why they had captured the little novice monk and kept him until now. Hu Yiling thrust her sword at the little novice monk again: ¡°I won¡¯t let go, what can you do about it?¡± Fang Zhou warned: ¡°If anything happens to my junior, I¡¯ll make sure you demon foxes are buried along with him.¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword once more at the little novice monk: ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m so scared, come at me.¡± Fang Zhou continued to warn: ¡°You think I wouldn¡¯t dare?¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword again: ¡°Then show me.¡± Fang Zhou warned for the third time: ¡°Don¡¯t push me!¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword again: ¡°We are pushing you, what about it?¡± Fang Zhou strongly warned: ¡°Just you wait!¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword once more: ¡°We are right here waiting, let¡¯s see when you make a move.¡± Fang Zhou finally warned: ¡°I will make a move right now.¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword once more: ¡°Then do it!¡± Fang Zhou and Hu Yiling kept verbally sparring, with Hu Yiling stabbing the little novice monk with her sword with each remark. Stab after stab, the little novice monk had become a bloodied figure, his body riddled with holes. ¡°Enough!¡± Lying on the ground, the little novice monk uttered weakly: ¡°Just kill me, stop tormenting me.¡± Fang Zhou yelled to him: ¡°Junior, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll rescue you right now.¡± The little novice monk looked at Fang Zhou with uninterested eyes, pleading silently not to be rescued, to just let him be released from suffering. Hu Yiling pressed the sword against the little novice monk¡¯s neck and threatened Fang Zhou: ¡°Surrender, or I¡¯ll make your junior lose his head.¡± ¡°As you wish!¡± Fang Zhou suddenly threw an Illusion Technique at both Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui. As they were caught in a moment of stupor, Fang Zhou circulated the Qi Gathering Technique. Spiritual Energy instantly enveloped his entire body, greatly enhancing his strength and speed. He sprinted forward, using the courtyard stone to leverage a jump, traversing thirty feet in the air, landing right in front of the two demon foxes. He raised his hand towards Hu Yirui, a bright light blooming in his palm, forming into a fireball slightly bigger than a fist, shooting straight at Hu Yirui¡¯s face. The fireball exploded upon touching Hu Yirui¡¯s face, a wave of scorching air rolling out, creating ripples visible to the naked eye in the air. [Fireball Technique: Releases a fireball, causing explosion and scorch damage] After realizing that regular attacks were not effective against the two demon foxes, Fang Zhou decided to use the Fireball Technique. However, he had tested the Fireball Technique at the Wang Family, and while powerful, it had a fairly short range which required him to close in. Moreover, unleashing the Fireball Technique also consumed spiritual power, much more than the Illusion Technique, using up a quarter of his spiritual power with each fireball. The explosion awakened the two demon foxes from the illusion. Hu Yirui instantly screamed, not only from the explosion¡¯s damage, but the flames also engulfed her entirely. She emitted a wisp of blue smoke from her body, revealing her true form, but the flames continued to scorch her body. Hu Yirui kept rolling on the ground, but her fox fur only fueled the flames, turning her into a rolling fireball. ¡°Sister!¡± Hu Yiling, both shocked and angered, wanted to rush over to rescue her, but Fang Zhou quickly blocked her way. Hu Yiling, furious, swung her sword vigorously, though without any technique, clearly showing that this demon fox had no knowledge of swordsmanship. Fang Zhou stepped back to dodge Hu Yiling¡¯s attack while tossing an Illusion Technique at her, controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to swing forward. As Hu Yiling swung her sword, she also cast an Illusion Technique at Fang Zhou. Both person and demon were trapped in the illusion; just as Hu Yiling¡¯s sword was about to strike Fang Zhou, she was suddenly thrown back by an unseen left hand with a loud bang. Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, longer than the sword, struck Hu Yiling first. When Hu Yiling was knocked back, the pain snapped her out of the illusion. By this delay, Hu Yirui had been charred by the flames, lifeless. Hu Yiling glanced at her sister, then stared daggers at Fang Zhou with eyes filled with hatred, but ultimately chose not to continue attacking and instead revealed her true form, using the Wind Control Technique to escape the yard. With his spiritual resistance, Fang Zhou recovered from the illusion and saw Hu Yiling reveal her true form and flee. Fang Zhou wanted to chase after her, but Hu Yiling turned and threw her longsword. Fang Zhou quickly controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to swat away the incoming sword, which spun and pierced into the buttocks of a young Taoist boy lying on the ground. The young Taoist boy looked back calmly. Fang Zhou apologised as he walked over, pulled out the sword, and then chased in the direction Hu Yiling had fled. The young Taoist boy watched as blood spurted from his wound, his eyes showing neither sadness nor joy. Hu Yiling flew quickly, but Fang Zhou was not slow either, using the Qi Gathering Technique to enhance his speed with Spiritual Energy, and thanks to Ling Xiaoyue making his nose sensitive, he could smell the foul scent of the demon fox, ensuring she wouldn¡¯t lose him. [Successfully defeated two demon foxes] [Reward: Manliness*4, Blue Card*1] The prompt for a successful mission finally sounded, with Hu Yiling dead and Hu Yirui fleeing, considered a defeat, Fang Zhou successfully completed the mission. The remaining Hu Yiling was no match for him, so Fang Zhou left the reward of 4 Manliness points untouched, continuing the chase while drawing the blue card from his mind. The blue card spun rapidly before bursting into light, converging into a small bottle. [Detoxification Potion: After ingestion, can remove some low-level toxins and provide resistance against toxins for thirty minutes] It wasn¡¯t a Skill Card, certainly because he forgot to chant the Spell during the draw, a real oversight. Fang Zhou finally had a chance to be an African Chief, but the Detoxification Potion had a significant role during poisoning, couldn¡¯t be too greedy. A small bottle appeared before Fang Zhou, smaller than the last Visibility Potion he drew, probably just a single dose. Fang Zhou secured the bottle and continued chasing Hu Yiling. During the chase, the two, one human and one fox, ran through most of the Hu Family residence and into the backyard garden. Hu Yiling dived into the garden and disappeared; Fang Zhou followed closely, though he lost sight of her, he relied on her lingering foul scent to keep up the pursuit. Chasing deep into the garden, an entrance to a cellar appeared, the stench of fox emanating from within. Fang Zhou hesitated, then stepped inside. Outside it was deep night, and inside the cellar was pitch black, thankfully the corridor walls had torches inserted at intervals. Fang Zhou took a torch and followed the corridor down, descending several steps into a surprisingly large underground space, nearly as big as the Hu Family¡¯s main hall. The cellar was lit with several oil lamps, not very bright but enough for illumination. As Fang Zhou observed the scene inside the cellar, a deep chill overcame him, making his limbs ice-cold, almost stopping his heartbeat. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: 25. Demon Extermination takes place at this moment Chapter 25: 25. Demon Extermination takes place at this moment Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The basement was dim and shadowy, with emaciated corpses hanging from the ceiling, of all ages, both male and female. The bodies were covered in wounds, having suffered excruciating torture before death. This scene reminded Fang Zhou of the pigs and sheep hung up in a slaughterhouse. Beneath the hanging corpses was a small hill of skeleton remains, each missing half of their form, with internal organs and blood and flesh mixed together, the stench hitting him in the face. In a corner of the ground, there was a heap of ghastly white bones, gnawed clean without leaving a morsel of meat, their surfaces marked with teeth indentations of varying depths. A tall figure sat in the middle of the basement, perched atop a bed made of skulls. It was a fox demon, with the body of a human but the filthy head of a fox on its neck, its fur matted with dried blood, as it tore at an arm with its sharp teeth. The hellish scene in the basement rendered Fang Zhou silent ¨C it confirmed his earlier guess. Invasion of the nest! These four characters once again surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. After discovering that the seriously ill girl on the bed was not the demon fox, Fang Zhou had speculated that she was likely the true member of the Hu Family. And the rest of the Hu Family? They were all here. After escaping into the basement, Hu Yiling threw herself before the demon fox with a human¡¯s body and wept, ¡°Big brother, our little sister was killed, this man is the murderer, please kill him and avenge her.¡± The fox demon tossed away the arm from its mouth and slowly stood up, like a small mountain of flesh, nearly ten feet tall, with muscles coiling like that of The Immortal of Colossal Spirit in the flesh. It looked down at Fang Zhou from above, its pitch-black eyes filled with brutality and bloodlust. A deep, male voice emerged from its mouth, still speckled with bits of flesh. ¡°Dare to kill my kin? Have you prepared your last words, you animal?¡± Animal? A fox demon dares to call me an animal? After a long silence, Fang Zhou slowly raised his longsword, pointing at it, and said in a low voice, ¡°How many people¡­ have you eaten exactly?¡± The demon fox laughed heartily, the sound echoing eerily through the basement. ¡°How many? I¡¯ve lost count. But of the Hu household¡¯s hundred and thirty some, the stewards and servants outside are all recent hires.¡± It sneered, ¡°You tell me, how many have I eaten?¡± Fang Zhou had no answer. The chill in his heart had quietly vanished, replaced by a sudden upsurge of scorching emotions. This was a feeling he had never experienced since transiting to this world. He felt as if his blood was boiling, his body became feverish, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenched with a creaking sound, his sword grip turned white, veins popping out. He felt a surge of intense emotions pressing against his chest, growing swiftly, seeking an urgent release. For no apparent reason, a phrase suddenly popped into his head. ¡°Demon Extermination, now is the time!¡± Ding! [Side quest triggered ¨C Demon Extermination] [Eliminate the Cannibal Fox Demon] [Difficulty: Hard] [Reward: 8 Male Gallantry Points, 1 Purple Card] [Failure: Death, leaving no corpse] Hu Yiling moved closer to the demon fox, whispering, ¡°Big brother, this man is also skilled in the Illusion Technique and seems to be able to use Fire Technique. You must be careful!¡± The fox demon seemed to be unconcerned, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Have you forgotten my innate talent?¡± Of course, Hu Yiling hadn¡¯t forgotten. Since childhood, her big brother was different from ordinary demon foxes, possessing little talent for illusion but having a high resistance to Illusion Techniques. Instead of studying Demon Arts like ordinary demon foxes, it cultivated the path of combat, hence its colossal size and preference for eating humans. The demon fox extended its hand backward, dragging out a massive iron axe with a heavy scraping sound. ¡°Stand back, once I¡¯ve slain him, we¡¯ll share the spoils.¡± The demon fox gripped the iron axe with both hands, striding towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou allocated all 4 points of his Male Gallantry into his physique, then threw an Illusion Technique at the demon fox, but it broke free in the blink of an eye, rendering the technique almost ineffective. This was the first time Fang Zhou encountered an opponent immune to illusion; even Li Ruyu at the Foundation Establishment Realm had succumbed to it before. Hu Yiling, from behind, also launched an Illusion Technique at Fang Zhou, assisting her brother. The demon fox had a stalwart physique and wide steps, moving faster than a run. It reached Fang Zhou almost instantly and swung its axe overhead. ¡°Boom!¡± The massive iron axe struck, producing a deafening collision, stirring up a large amount of dust within the basement, clouding the scene. A fireball suddenly flew out from the dust, hitting the demon fox and exploding on impact, igniting the dust behind it and causing an even more intense explosion. The scorching flames immediately engulfed the large body of the demon fox, and the dazzling firelight made the entire cellar instantly bright, forcing Hu Yiling to squint her eyes shut from the glare. The next moment, Fang Zhou shot out from the flames, his clothes tattered and ablaze, his body covered in burn wounds. His expression was icy, holding a longsword in both hands, he soared through the air like an immortal descending from the heavens, aiming directly at Hu Yiling. As Hu Yiling¡¯s vision just began to clear, she saw Fang Zhou rushing toward her. Her eyes widened in shock, she instinctively wanted to show her true form, but an Illusion Technique hit her, leaving her in a trance. Swift as the wind, his sword fell! Blood sprayed along with the sword¡¯s blade, casting a piercing line of crimson. Hu Yiling¡¯s head flew up into the air, landing on the bed made of skulls, lying among the remains of the Hu Family, her delicate face still frozen in that dazed expression. It wasn¡¯t until now that her body slowly fell backward, a puff of blue smoke emerged, and she transformed into a headless fox. Ordinary attacks weren¡¯t very effective, but decapitation would certainly bring death! The demon fox, covered in dust from the explosion, had just turned around when it saw the scene of Hu Yiling being beheaded by Fang Zhou. Its eyes were wide with rage, and from its mouth came an angry roar: ¡°I will tear you to pieces!!¡± The roar echoed throughout the cellar, creating waves of reverberations. With a leap, the massive and burly body of the demon fox soared into the air, raising an iron axe overhead, creating sparks against the cellar¡¯s ceiling. The demon fox descended like Mount Tai bearing down on Fang Zhou, swinging the axe with incredible force. Fang Zhou dodged to the side in a hurry; he couldn¡¯t withstand such immense size and power by brute force. The iron axe smashed into the ground, causing a loud crash that broke the solid floor and sent mud and rocks flying, kicking up another cloud of dust. The demon fox pulled out the iron axe and swung it towards Fang Zhou. The iron axe, with its gusty winds and howls, sliced through the dust, sweeping towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou bent down to dodge, his feet slipped, and he slid to the side of the demon fox, thrusting his sword at it. The longsword pierced into the demon fox¡¯s ribcage, like it was stabbing into tough leather, only penetrating slightly before being caught by muscle. The demon fox took the opportunity to grab Fang Zhou¡¯s arm and lifted its iron axe high, chopping down. With his arm caught, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t dodge and had to summon his invisible left hand, intercepting the descending iron axe. This left hand held immense strength, tough beyond compare. The iron axe bent it, but ultimately, it blocked the attack. Seizing the moment, Fang Zhou held his sword with both hands and pushed hard. With the strength of nearly six points, enhanced by the Qi Gathering Technique, the longsword penetrated deeper into the demon fox¡¯s body, injuring its vital organs. The demon fox uttered a roar of pain, grabbing Fang Zhou¡¯s arm and throwing him backwards, flinging him through the air. Pulled by the momentum, the longsword was yanked out, and blood immediately sprayed from the wound. Fang Zhou was thrown across the entire cellar, only coming to a stop when he hit the wall; his entire back numbed. Had he not just bolstered his physique with four points of manly fortitude, his body might have fallen apart from the impact. Before Fang Zhou could catch his breath, the demon fox, axe in hand, charged towards him. Fang Zhou frowned, his mind racing faster than ever. Basic swordsmanship seemed ineffective against an opponent both physically imposing and highly resilient. He needed to change his strategy. Noticing the demon fox¡¯s splay-footed gait, Fang Zhou instantly had a plan and, sword in hand, confronted the fox demon head-on. The two quickly approached each other. As the demon fox raised its iron axe, aiming a sweeping blow at Fang Zhou, Fang Zhou started running, holding the longsword high, then suddenly dropped to his knees, sliding underneath the demon fox. The raised longsword sliced from below, the blade drawing a trail of blood. The demon fox let out a scream of agony like never before. It turned around and hurled the iron axe at Fang Zhou. The spinning axe carried a terrifying whistling and momentum. Fang Zhou had just turned around and couldn¡¯t dodge in time, so he directed his invisible left hand to block the axe. The left hand was knocked aside, but it managed to reduce much of the power from the axe. Hurriedly, Fang Zhou lifted his longsword, blocking the axe; the resulting metallic clang marked the end as Li Ruyu¡¯s sword, after less than a month with Fang Zhou, was broken into two pieces in a heroic sacrifice. While the iron axe was deflected, Fang Zhou was left with numb hands from the shock, and the broken sword fell from his grasp. The enraged demon fox, brandishing fists as large as a large pot, rushed towards Fang Zhou and slammed down towards his head. Fang Zhou controlled his invisible left hand to block upwards, stopping the demon fox¡¯s fist with a loud thud. The demon fox¡¯s other hand quickly captured Fang Zhou by the collar, lifting him up and opening its huge mouth, aiming to bite his head off. Fang Zhou extended his right hand forward, shoving his fist and half of his forearm into the demon fox¡¯s mouth. A gleam of sadistic pleasure flashed in the eyes of the demon fox as it clamped down with its jaws, ready to crush Fang Zhou¡¯s fist and forearm. It failed to notice the cold smile curling on Fang Zhou¡¯s mouth. A burst of firelight, blossoming! COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: 26. Any system without in-game purchases is garbage Chapter 26: 26. Any system without in-game purchases is garbage Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Scorching flames burst from the mouth of the demon fox before it could sever Fang Zhou¡¯s arm, the explosive force shattering its brain upwards and piercing its lungs downwards through its throat. Flames shot out from its mouth, nostrils, and ears, turning the fox¡¯s head into a burning torch. After releasing the Fireball Technique, Fang Zhou hurriedly pulled his arm out, but was not faster than the explosion¡¯s force, leaving his forearm bloodied and completely numb. The demon fox¡¯s huge body fell backwards with a bang, emitting blue smoke, transforming into a giant fox almost the size of an adult, its head still burning with flames. Fang Zhou also fell to the ground, his body injuries and spirit exhaustion causing him to feel dizzy, almost passing out. From the beginning of the fight with the two female fox spirits until now, Fang Zhou had released six Illusion Techniques, three Fireball Techniques, and controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, fully exhausting his spirit, and this last Fireball Technique was released with his last ounce of strength. The injuries from the explosion were serious, adding to his spirit exhaustion, Fang Zhou now solely relied on his 8 points of constitution to persevere, if another fox demon came, it could easily kill him. Fang Zhou sat on the ground panting, taking the opportunity to glance at the successful mission prompt. [Successfully killed the man-eating demon fox] [Reward: Masculinity*8, Purple Card*1] [Completed the side quest ¨C Demon Extermination] [Reward: Righteous Reputation +1] This time the task had a new variation, a side quest ¨C Demon Extermination, which also rewarded 1 point of Righteous Reputation, but what is this for? Fang Zhou opened the system panel and found a new Righteous Reputation at the bottom, along with a detailed description. [Righteous Reputation: The data will affect your status within the Righteous Camp. If negative, you will be automatically added to the Evil Cult Camp] Clearly, this was a reputation value, the higher the data, the higher your status in the Righteous Camp. This status probably isn¡¯t about actual identity but the type that makes others immediately see you as a man of integrity, a chivalrous character, gaining their closeness and trust easily. If the reputation value becomes negative, no matter how noble you look, others will see you as a conniving scoundrel, a shameless demon. This reputation value might seem useless, but if used well, it could be quite advantageous; for example, accumulating high reputation by completing tasks and then committing misdeeds, people would not suspect you, and even if discovered, they would think you had hardships, gaining forgiveness easily. If the reputation value is negative, then that¡¯s perfect for undercover work; you wouldn¡¯t be easily exposed no matter how you act. Of course, that¡¯s the gameplay in games, it might not work the same in reality, Fang Zhou could set it aside for now and figure out its specific use later. This was his first difficult task, much more challenging than before, slightly careless and he would have ended up a mangled corpse, if not for the last minute save with the Fireball Technique, Fang Zhou today would either turn the tables or crash. But the reward was also extremely generous, a full 8 points of Masculinity, and most importantly, a Purple Card. Now this Purple Card was spinning in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. This was the first time Fang Zhou had obtained a Purple Card, unfortunately, he was too injured now and had no interest in chanting spells, he chose to draw the card directly, since a Purple Card was definitely a good thing. The purple card spun rapidly, dazzling rainbow-like light spreading from beneath the card, stunningly beautiful. As expected of a Purple Card, even the card-drawing effect was more than cheap. After spinning to the limit, the glowing Purple Card finally exploded, countless light particles converging together, forming a Longsword. [Evil Slaying Sword: A sword imbued with Evil Qi capable of causing damage to demons and evil spirits] It turned out to be an Equipment Card, Fang Zhou had completed many tasks, always drawing skills and items, this was the first time he had drawn equipment. And his weapon had just broken, to draw a weapon now was like finding a pillow when sleepy. I truly am the author¡¯s favored son, psh, I¡¯m truly a king of luck! A longsword appeared out of thin air in Fang Zhou¡¯s hands, resembling a Han Sword in shape but much heavier than the damaged one, without a scabbard and with faint red patterns on the blade, resembling talismans. Fortunately, this sword is called the Evil Slaying Sword, if it were called something else, Fang Zhou would rather use it as a fire stick than wield it. After resting for a while, Fang Zhou used the Evil Slaying Sword to prop himself up and slowly stood up from the ground. ¡°What?! What is this?¡± Just as Fang Zhou was about to leave, he suddenly noticed something inside the head of the demon fox¡¯s charred corpse. He used the Evil Slaying Sword to pry open the demon fox¡¯s head and picked out a slick black orb. After picking it up, it felt cool to the touch, composed of a material that wasn¡¯t metallic or wooden, unharmed despite the fire and still very cold. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t figure out what it was; could it be the so-called demon core? But the demon fox didn¡¯t seem that powerful either. He¡¯d better ask Ling Xiaoyue¡ªif only the system could help identify it. Just as this thought surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes. [Illusion-Repelling Orb: A rare demon brain calculus, provides immunity to low-level Spirit Magic] Ssss~ Fang Zhou gasped in surprise; the system actually had an identification function; it truly was terrifying. ¡°Hey, do you have an Alchemy function?¡± ¡°What about the store? Does it have a store?¡± ¡°There has to be a microtransaction feature, right? Without even that, you¡¯re not a qualified system, trash!¡± No matter how Fang Zhou tried, the system remained silent. Well, one shouldn¡¯t be too greedy; having an identification function was already a pleasant surprise. Fang Zhou fiddled with the Illusion-Repelling Orb in his hand, not expecting it to be a demon brain calculus, wrongly assuming it was a demon core, yet the effect was not any less potent, as it can provide immunity to low-level Spirit Magic. Illusion Techniques belong to Spirit Magic, and Fang Zhou already had high spiritual resistance. Now, with the Illusion-Repelling Orb, he was virtually in a low-level Spirit Magic Immune state. Awesome! Next time he encountered a fox demon, Fang Zhou would let them know who their nemesis was. He securely hid the Illusion-Repelling Orb close to his body and glanced once more at the cellar, quietly sighing, ¡°I have avenged you; rest in peace.¡± Before coming tonight, Fang Zhou had asked Wang Fulai; the Hu Family had been kind and virtuous for generations, they shouldn¡¯t have met such a fate. Suddenly, a cold wind picked up in the cellar, accompanied by faint whining, as if someone was crying, or perhaps thanking someone. In a daze, Fang Zhou saw over a hundred men, women, and children, side by side, kneeling down in front of him. He rubbed his eyes, and looked again¡ªeverything was gone, including the chilling wind. He pursed his lips, turning to leave the cellar. Stepping out of the cellar and into the back garden, Ling Xiaoyue, clad in a pristine white robe, suddenly flew down from the sky and landed in front of him. Ling Xiaoyue remained pure as driven snow, spotless, holding a wine jug in one hand and the bodies of two enormous fox demons in the other, much larger than the Hu sisters, just slightly smaller than the man-eating demon fox in the cellar. Clearly, the two large fox demons hadn¡¯t escaped either and died by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s hands. With this, the entire family of fox demons had finally been exterminated by the master and apprentice. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: 27. Cultivators should have a broad mind Chapter 27: 27. Cultivators should have a broad mind Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ling Xiaoyue originally had a delighted face, tonight she had made a big profit, eating at various places, at least another ten thousand silver in hand. Upon seeing Fang Zhou, she immediately stopped smiling, quite surprised, ¡°Disciple, how did you end up like this?¡± Ling Xiaoyue knew Fang Zhou was harboring some secrets of his own, which she didn¡¯t really care about, but she was fairly confident about Fang Zhou¡¯s fighting ability. The Hu residence had at most three little demon foxes, with the skills that Fang Zhou had shown, even if he couldn¡¯t beat them, he shouldn¡¯t end up in such a sorry state. Before Fang Zhou could answer, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly realized, dropped the two demon fox corpses, then rested her hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder with a suggestive smile, ¡°It must be because you thought those fox spirits looked pretty and couldn¡¯t bear to act, right? What have you been playing at for so long, candle dripping or bondage? Look, your hands are even scorched.¡± Fang Zhou kicked towards Ling Xiaoyue, who dodged deftly by twisting lightly. ¡°Damn it, you still have the nerve to say?!¡± Fang Zhou swore angrily: ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for your inaccurate information, would I have ended up like this? I really fell for your nonsense, had I known you were so unreliable, I wouldn¡¯t have come.¡± ¡°Nonsense, how could the information from your master be wrong.¡± Ling Xiaoyue placed one hand on her hip, discontentedly saying, ¡°Then tell me, what exactly was wrong?¡± Fang Zhou kept it brief about the incidents in the cellar without going into the details of the fight: ¡°You said there were at most three little demon foxes in the Hu residence, but that man-eating fox in the cellar had a fist bigger than your face, dare you say you didn¡¯t get it wrong? If it wasn¡¯t for my great skills, handsome looks, and sheer luck, I would¡¯ve been eaten by that demon fox, and you¡¯d have to look for your disciple inside its stomach.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was slightly surprised, as she hadn¡¯t considered this situation; after all, demon foxes are not known for their strength, and it¡¯s rare to encounter a man-eating demon fox skilled in combat even in a hundred years. ¡°Oh dear, you hear me making excuses, no, you hear me explain, what I meant by little demon foxes was young in age, not small in size, didn¡¯t you hear that clearly?¡± Ling Xiaoyue started making excuses and it seemed to make more sense as she spoke, ¡°That clearly was your misunderstanding, how can you blame your master? I always told you to read more, but you wouldn¡¯t listen, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have made such a blunder. But it¡¯s alright, your master forgives you.¡± Seeing Ling Xiaoyue actually flipping the blame onto him, Fang Zhou almost wanted to grab the Evil Slaying Sword and stab her through. Just as Fang Zhou was about to retort, Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine pot, ¡°Here, take a drink, let your master treat your injuries.¡± Fang Zhou refused with his hand, ¡°No, I don¡¯t drink¡­¡± Before he could finish, Ling Xiaoyue stuffed the wine pot into his mouth, forcing a large gulp down his throat. Fang Zhou thought he would choke, but surprisingly the wine was not at all harsh, instead, it was cool and sweet like spring water, with a fragrant taste that instantly traveled to his stomach. In an instant, Fang Zhou felt his body warm up, and his tiredness and pain vanished. Ling Xiaoyue took Fang Zhou¡¯s injured hand, poured the wine on it, washing off the burnt marks, with the wound visibly healing rapidly from the wine. Fang Zhou exclaimed, ¡°What is this¡­¡± ¡°Pretty impressive, right?¡± Ling Xiaoyue boasted a bit, ¡°This is the immortal wine brewed by me using a secret technique, it¡¯s also a Healing Holy Medicine, in the future if you are missing an arm or a leg, don¡¯t worry, your master can fix it with just a mouthful of this.¡± Fang Zhou was somewhat touched, but then he became wary again, ¡°It¡¯s free right?¡± Ling Xiaoyue glared at him annoyed, ¡°In your eyes, am I the kind of person who only thinks about money? We are master and disciple, it¡¯s fate, and looking after you is my duty, how can I talk about money in every sentence? Are your eyes filled with money?¡± Fang Zhou almost choked, wondering who was always talking about money. But with Ling Xiaoyue stating thus, Fang Zhou was genuinely moved, ¡°You¡¯re right, shall we cancel the debts I owe you?¡± Ling Xiaoyue solemnly said, ¡°Look at you, bringing up money again, let me teach you a lesson, a person¡¯s vision should not be so narrow, you shouldn¡¯t always focus on material things. Cultivators should have broad minds, looking far and wide is the right way. But having said that, even brothers settle accounts clearly, let alone master and disciple? To repay debts is righteous and just, how can we maintain trust between people if you, as my disciple, don¡¯t settle debts?¡± Damn it, give me back my earlier sentiment. Ling Xiaoyue continued, ¡°This immortal wine is quite valuable, I didn¡¯t plan to charge you for it, but since you insist on paying, I won¡¯t stop you lest it hurts our relationship, let¡¯s just put it on the tab.¡± Fang Zhou could no longer hold back. He grasped the Evil Slaying Sword and aimed a strike at her, determined today to purge the sect. As long as he killed this woman, he would become the founding patriarch of the sect. Ling Xiaoyue pinched the Evil Slaying Sword between two fingers, ¡°Huh, this sword has a strong Evil Qi. Where did it come from?¡± Fang Zhou snapped irritably, ¡°None of your business. Let go and let me finish you off.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, uninterested in the Evil Slaying Sword, flicked it away with a finger, smiling, ¡°My disciple, don¡¯t be so hot-tempered. How about your master helps you cool down?¡± Fang Zhou tilted his head to look at her, ¡°How would you cool me down?¡± He wasn¡¯t expecting anything, just curious what new trick this woman might pull. Ling Xiaoyue lightly tapped on a wine pot, and a cloudy mist of steam emerged, floating over Fang Zhou¡¯s head. Instantly realizing what she was up to, Fang Zhou hurriedly turned tail and ran, as the cloud of steam poured down like rain, chasing after him. His voice echoed from afar: ¡°You¡¯re ruthless. This isn¡¯t over~~¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, bent down to pick up the corpses of two demon foxes from the ground, and followed. ¡­ Supported by incredible determination and survival instinct, the young apprentice leaned against the wall, slowly making his way step by step out of the Hu mansion. On the silent and deserted street late at night, he had just walked a short distance when he saw another figure across the street, also leaning against the wall, slowly moving forward. Their eyes met, and both froze at the same time. ¡°Disciple, what happened to you?¡± ¡°Master, what happened to you?¡± The person across the street was Master Ji, her body covered in wounds, her clothes soaked in blood as if she had just been fished out of a pool of blood. The young apprentice was in no better condition, covered in gashes, a true bloody mess. The master and disciple stared at each other, and the apprentice couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Ah, let¡¯s just leave it unsaid¡­¡± ¡°Leave it unsaid my ass!¡± Master Ji suddenly erupted, ¡°Those damned demon foxes only bully the weak and fear the strong, constantly attacking me. And that woman, why do I bump into her everywhere? She¡¯s truly a curse¡­¡± As she spoke, she covered her face with her hands, starting to cry, ¡°Why am I so unlucky? I just want to earn money peacefully, to be respected as a great master, to live a life counting money leisurely. Is that too much to ask? Such a simple wish, yet I can¡¯t achieve it. Why does fate conspire against me? Life is so hard, wuwuwu.¡± The young apprentice softly said, ¡°Master¡­¡± Master Ji said irritably, ¡°What is it, can¡¯t you let me cry in peace?¡± The young apprentice pointed at Master Ji¡¯s body, weakly saying, ¡°You¡¯re gushing blood, Master.¡± Master Ji looked down and noticed the wounds on her body actively bleeding out. Her eyes rolled back as she collapsed backward. ¡°Master.¡± The young apprentice hurried over, his eyes brimming with tears. Master Ji held the young apprentice¡¯s hand, weakly saying, ¡°Disciple, let¡¯s go quickly, let¡¯s leave Qingde City, the further from that woman, the better.¡± Tearfully, the apprentice nodded and helped Master Ji up. The master and disciple, supporting each other, slowly disappeared into the night on the long street. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: 28. The sixth generation and 55 Kai Chapter 28: 28. The sixth generation and 55 Kai Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After the demon fox was killed, the servants of the Hu Family scattered and fled, leaving not a single one behind. These people were all recently recruited by the demon fox and had yet to feel any sense of loyalty to the Hu Family. The vast Hu estate was left with only the bedridden Miss Hu; out of over a hundred and thirty people in the Hu Family, she was the sole survivor, fortunate enough to have her life spared. Perhaps she still held some utility for the demon fox, otherwise she would have been thrown into the cellar to be devoured long ago. Fang Zhou could only bring this lady who had narrowly escaped disaster back to the Wang Family, entrusting her to the care of Wang Fulai, a longtime friend of the Hu Family. As for whether Wang Fulai would seize the opportunity to covet the Hu estate, that was beyond Fang Zhou¡¯s concern; it was up to Miss Hu¡¯s own fortune. After returning to the Wang Family, Wang Fulai was extremely shocked to hear what had happened to the Hu mansion, but she did not immediately send people to take over the Hu estate. Instead, she decided to wait for Miss Hu to regain consciousness before asking her and then making further plans. Whether Wang Fulai¡¯s statement was sincere or just for show, it raised people¡¯s respect for her. After two more days staying at the Wang Family, Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou prepared to leave. The master and disciple had originally planned only to freeload in Qingde City and incidentally solve some minor troubles for the Wang Family, but they did not anticipate spending several days here. However, the gains were significant, and Fang Zhou¡¯s combat experience had also improved greatly. Outside the gates of Qingde City, almost the entire Wang Family came out to see Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou off, including Miss Hu who had just woken up not long before, arriving in a carriage to bid farewell to her life-saving benefactors. After a brief exchange, Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou mounted their horses and left, the horses being gifts from the Wang Family. Watching the master and disciple grow smaller in the distance on the road, Wang Fulai couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly. She very much wanted to foster a good relationship with the master and disciple and keep in touch, but she was also aware that this was wishful thinking, given the disparity in their status and identity. Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou both appeared amiable and easy to converse with, but Wang Fulai regarded this master-disciple pair as an exception. She had encountered many Cultivators; not to mention the distant ones, within Qingde City¡¯s Demon Extermination Bureau there were countless Cultivators, with whom Wang Fulai had much interaction in the past. Though not all of these Cultivators were arrogant, their demeanour was still aloof, with superficial courtesies, showing disdain for ordinary mortals. In this world, while it¡¯s easy for all women to cultivate, very few can actually take the first step on the path of Cultivation, which requires one-in-a-million talent. Once someone becomes a Cultivator, they start to consciously distance themselves from the mortals, the less serious among them feeling they simply stand on different grounds, while the more extreme ones might even feel they¡¯re no longer the same species. Among Cultivators, congenial ones like Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou are the anomaly. As Wang Fulai pondered, the curtains of the nearby carriage were quietly lifted, and a pair of large eyes stared fixedly at the departing master and disciple. Making a firm resolution. ¡­ After leaving Qingde City, Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue place her hand on the horse¡¯s head, her eyes slightly closed. Driven by curiosity, Fang Zhou asked: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Without opening her eyes, Ling Xiaoyue answered, ¡°Your master is enhancing Yue Ya¡¯er¡¯s blood and vitality, increasing its endurance.¡± Fang Zhou found it strange: ¡°Isn¡¯t Your Yue Ya¡¯er already dead?¡± Not only was it dead, but it had also been sold for a high price, and its body was very likely already in the stomachs of a group led by Wang Fulai, which was a pitiable thought. ¡°Yes, but the one you¡¯re referring to was the fifth generation Yue Ya¡¯er.¡± Ling Xiaoyue opened her eyes and smiled, ¡°This one your master is with now is the sixth generation Yue Ya¡¯er. Come, greet your senior brother.¡± Saying this, she patted the horse¡¯s head gently, and the horse neighed cheerfully towards Fang Zhou as if it possessed great intelligence. Fang Zhou was amazed; this horse, like the one he was currently riding, was gifted by Wang Fulai. They were both very ordinary horses, yet how had hers suddenly become so spirited? And it even appeared extremely majestic, moving with strong strides and bright eyes. Upon closer thought, Fang Zhou understood, damn, no wonder she wasn¡¯t at all saddened by the death of that highly enduring precious horse within the Wang Family¡ªit was a man-made treasure and moreover, she could produce them herself. Even in death, it could still be sold at a high price, truly killing two birds with one stone. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know whether to praise her for her business acumen or criticize her for squandering such a remarkable talent. But he was extremely envious of this ability. ¡°Do the same for my horse, too.¡± Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue that since she can buff horses, there¡¯s no reason not to use it for free. Ling Xiaoyue smiled and raised two fingers to Fang Zhou, then twisted them. Fang Zhou knew she would react like this, so he had already thought of a strategy. He shrugged, ¡°No money. Anyway, when the horse is broken, it¡¯ll be with your money that we¡¯ll buy a new one.¡± Sure enough, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s expression changed slightly, but she still wanted to resist, ¡°The money for buying horses will also be added to your account.¡± Fang Zhou looked up at the sky, with a sigh, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Spending money is still spending, right? Who doesn¡¯t know how to? The shining silver disappears in an instant, ah, it pains me to think about it.¡± The phrase ¡°spending money¡± seemed to be Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s natural enemy. The more Fang Zhou emphasized spending money, the uglier Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s face got, as if someone was trying to steal her money. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Shut up. I work so hard to earn money, and here you are thinking about spending it all, such a wastrel. Get over here!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s lips curved slightly, revealing a successful smile. The two switched horses, with Ling Xiaoyue buffing Fang Zhou¡¯s horse into a strong and enduring steed. Fang Zhou named his horse ¡°Fifty-Fifty,¡± because Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s horse was the sixth generation. Thus his horse was called Fifty-Fifty, which seemed to match very well with the other horse¡¯s name. ¡°Right, you mentioned earning money just now.¡± Fang Zhou suddenly remembered something very important, something that he had been neglecting until Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s comment reminded him. ¡°The money you earned in Qingde City, there¡¯s a share for me too, right?¡± Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s face turned incredulously, ¡°That¡¯s money for maintaining the Xuanji Sect, it¡¯s my money. Are you planning to rebel by eyeing your master¡¯s money?¡± Fang Zhou retorted discontentedly, ¡°I helped with the demon extermination too, if not for merit, I¡¯ve put in the hard work, surely I¡¯m entitled to a share of that money.¡± ¡°Without me, you would have been turned into jerky by the Xuanji Sect¡¯s old hens long ago, and now you have the audacity to ask me for money, it¡¯s outrageous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a separate issue, besides, haven¡¯t I already given you the entry-level gift? With such a big sacrifice, you can¡¯t just not give me even a hundred silver pieces, can you?¡± The master and disciple started arguing about whether money should be given or not, right in the middle of the road, and their voices got louder and louder. Ling Xiaoyue piled up one fallacious argument after another, but Fang Zhou kept focusing on the main issue, which was about getting the money. Eventually, Ling Xiaoyue had enough and simply spurred her horse to flee, ¡°Dream on. I would rather die poor, die outside, jump off a cliff, but I will never give you a single cent.¡± Fang Zhou quickly spurred his horse to catch up, ¡°Stop, give me back what¡¯s mine!¡± ¡­ Jingnan State, to the southwest, the eight-thousand-peaks Demon Mountain. In the dense forest darkening the sky, a Dog Demon lay in a pool of blood, its eyes filled with unwillingness. The scarred Xiaoyue leant against a tree for support, barely standing. ¡°You¡¯re pushing yourself too hard; this will affect your health.¡± A female voice suddenly emerged, seemingly from the ancient ring on Xiaoyue¡¯s finger. Xiaoyue shook her head, ¡°No worries, I can still hold up.¡± A determined expression appeared on her delicate face, and flames seemed to burn in her eyes. Three more years, just three more years. After three years, I will go to the Xuanji Sect myself to reclaim everything I¡¯ve lost. Just wait for it, Fang Zhou! COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: My disciple has the makings of a racehorse. Chapter 29: My disciple has the makings of a racehorse. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After leaving Qingde City, Fang Zhou returned to a life of braving the elements. In this era of backward productivity, traveling in the wilderness is no easy feat; every meal comprises dry rations and raw water, and even defecating requires vigilance against snakes in the bushes. At night, when he cultivated, the overwhelming mosquitoes nearly drained him dry, forcing him to wrap himself up tightly. Comparatively, Ling Xiaoyue seemed to be on a leisurely outing, her clothes always free of dust, never bitten by mosquitoes, and since she practiced fasting, she didn¡¯t need to eat or drink at all. She spent her days lying on the horse¡¯s back, drinking, sleeping, and basking in the sun, in utmost comfort. Fang Zhou was incredibly envious, but this harsh life was also a tempering experience for him. He could feel his cultivation making smooth progress; although he was still in the Qi Refining Realm (entry-level), he could feel his physique slowly strengthening each day. His spiritual energy constantly nourished his body, and his physical condition had improved from an 8-point rating to a 9. A 9-point physique gave him extraordinary strength and endurance, making his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort. After leaving Qingde City, they passed through several small cities and villages, but the master and disciple pair did not stop. They continued their journey northward. According to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s estimate, they had traveled half of the distance, and in another half a month, they would be back at their sect. In the Nameless Valley. ¡°Ptui~¡± Li Dahong spat out a chewed-up root she had been nibbling on, looked up at the afternoon sun, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and felt impatient. Turning her head, she saw her underlings scattered across the grass, either lying around or hiding in the shade, their weapons tossed aside. Li Dahong felt a surge of anger and couldn¡¯t help but yell: ¡°Everyone, get up! You¡¯re all slouching around without a hint of proper posture; you show no image of bandits at all, completely tarnishing the reputation of Black Wind Stronghold.¡± The bandits responded in a disorganized chorus but remained immovable as if their bottoms had taken root, only Li Huanghua from the same village made a bitter face and said to Li Dahong: ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s too hot, let the sisters rest a bit longer.¡± Li Dahong, enraged, retorted: ¡°Resting, always resting, has it not been over a month since Black Wind Stronghold has had any action? Haven¡¯t you rested enough? At this rate, we¡¯ll all end up drinking the northwest wind.¡± Li Huanghua sighed: ¡°There are demons on this mountain route, and there are fewer and fewer merchants and travelers passing through. We can¡¯t keep waiting here, doing nothing.¡± She glanced up at the sky and continued, ¡°Big sister, no one travels the mountain path at this hour. Let¡¯s head back early; once the hour of the rooster passes, the demon will come out to prey on humans and livestock again.¡± Li Dahong hesitated, but just then, a bandit who had been out scouting ran back excitedly: ¡°Big sister, fat sheep have arrived, fat sheep have arrived!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Dahong immediately raised her big saber and shouted, ¡°Sisters, follow me, it¡¯s time to make a move!¡± The rest of the bandits quickly picked up their weapons, following Li Dahong in a clamor. In the winding valleys, two horses were making their way along the mountain path; Xiaoyue lay on the horseback with legs crossed, swaying leisurely while humming an unknown tune. Fang Zhou took the chance to refine his Qi. After all, Sunshine Tribe¡¯s horse was quite spiritual, following closely behind the sixth generation without straying. Whoosh¡ª A sudden whooshing noise was followed by an arrow striking the ground right in front of the two horses. Then, with a battle cry, more than ten bandits charged down from both sides of the valley, encircling Fang Zhou and Xiaoyue. Xiaoyue kept reclining on the horseback soaking up the sun, undisturbed by the arrival of the bandits, not even bothering to open her eyes. Fang Zhou, on the other hand, was on alert. Throughout their journey, they had encountered several groups of bandits. Initially, Xiaoyue handled them, but later on, Fang Zhou took over. But these bandits were truly a sore sight for the eyes, unbearable to behold. These bandits were all women but ugly as sin, save for a few leaders with intact clothing, the rest wearing only trousers, exposing their chests under the bright sun, a degradation of moral hierarchy. Had they had good figures, Fang Zhou would not mind at all, but some of them hung down to their bellies, while others could sling them over the shoulder. On closer inspection, Fang Zhou felt he might go blind. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Li Dahong let out a hearty laugh. As bandits, they feared two things the most: being unable to overpower the enemy, and the fat sheep getting away. Yet these two fat sheep stood foolishly in place, not attempting to run. ¡°Sisters!¡± Li Dahong pointed her saber at Fang Zhou, her eyes gleaming, ¡°Kill the woman, but this man is tall and sturdy, definitely robust and durable. Take him back to serve as a stud!¡± The bandits cheered, eyes fixed on Fang Zhou, as if they wanted to pull him off his horse right then and there. Fang Zhou felt a chill run through his body, while Xiaoyue next to him opened her eyes, sat up, and laughed along with the bandits, ¡°I never expected, my disciple, that you would have the makings of a stud. This is a great fortune for our sect. In the future, should the sect need money, we could have you mate for a fee, ten thousand taels a time, non-negotiable!¡± ¡°` ¡°Shut up, you double-dealer.¡± Fang Zhou picked up the Evil Slaying Sword, leaped from the horseback, traversed two zhang in the air, and with a slash aimed straight at Li Dahong. Li Dahong was taken aback and hurriedly raised his broadsword to block. Clang! With a crisp sound, the broadsword in Li Dahong¡¯s hand was instantly cut into two pieces, and a wound was cleaved open on his chest, with blood flowing profusely. Li Dahong screamed miserably and fell, only then did the bandits nearby wave their weapons and rush forward. Fang Zhou activated the Qi Guiding Technique, instantly enveloping his body in spiritual energy, significantly increasing his speed and strength. There was no need to do so against a group of bandits, Fang Zhou was doing this to improve the proficiency of the Qi Guiding Technique. Moreover, one should go all out even when hunting a rabbit, not to underestimate any enemy and avoid capsizing in the gutter. The bandits only felt a blur before they lost sight of Fang Zhou, followed by the crackling sound of weapons being severed and dropping, their inferior weapons were no match for a casual strike of the Evil Slaying Sword. Li Dahong, clutching his wound, got up and took to his heels. Fang Zhou noticed Li Dahong¡¯s fleeing figure, flitted forwards, and blocked her path, his sword resting on her neck. Thud. Li Dahong immediately knelt down, begging loudly, ¡°Hero, please spare my life!¡± The bandits were stunned in place, and a few more agile ones also turned tail and ran, but Fang Zhou picked up a few stones and shot them down one by one. After a dozen or so breaths, the group of bandits were all kneeling in front of Fang Zhou, like students waiting for a scolding from their teacher. According to Fang Zhou¡¯s plan, he intended to teach these bandits a small lesson, cutting off a hand or a foot would be sufficient. However, Ling Xiaoyue had different intentions. In her eyes, bandits were nothing more than buzzing mosquitoes, yet even the smallest mosquito had its flesh. She sat on her horseback, smiling at the kneeling bandits, ¡°If you want to live, that can be arranged, but you¡¯ll have to pay for your lives.¡± The bandits shook their heads in unison, falling over themselves to declare that they belonged to the Sunshine Tribe, usually spending any money they robbed immediately, without any savings. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s gaze fell on Li Dahong, who immediately tried to ingratiate herself with a smile, ¡°Both of you heroes, we¡¯re all miserable paupers, forced to take up this trade because we can¡¯t survive, we don¡¯t have any money.¡± Yet Ling Xiaoyue did not relent and asked again, ¡°Really, not even a single copper coin? Wealth is external, it can¡¯t be brought into life nor carried into death, life is more important after all. You¡¯d better think carefully.¡± The bandits shook their heads again, and Li Dahong repeated her appeasing smile, ¡°Truly, we don¡¯t have anything, not a single copper coin. It has been hard enough for me to lead my sisters in scraping a living. To take care of them, I eat chaff and swallow vegetables and don¡¯t even spend extra on clothing. How could I have saved much money?¡± ¡°Big sister!¡± The bandits looked at Li Dahong through tearful eyes, touched. ¡°What a deep sisterly love, you have moved me.¡± Ling Xiaoyue followed with a clap of her hands and then raised a finger, a glimmer of light shining at the fingertip. She pointed her finger at the bandits, and the glimmer of light immediately shot out, circling around each of the bandits before disappearing. The observing Fang Zhou asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Every once in a while, Ling Xiaoyue would bring out some new trick, piquing Fang Zhou¡¯s interest. ¡°A type of Truth-telling Technique, you¡¯ll understand very soon.¡± Ling Xiaoyue answered nonchalantly, and then with a smile told the bandits, ¡°Come on, tell me how much secret money you have. No need to rush, one by one, starting with you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue casually pointed to the one on the far left, who immediately blurted out, ¡°Five taels!¡± After speaking, she quickly covered her mouth, looking shocked. Next to her, the other bandits started confessing their hidden savings, counting off one after another like a roll call. ¡°Four taels!¡± ¡°Seven taels!¡± ¡°Three taels!¡± ¡°Five taels!¡± ¡°One tael!¡± ¡°Five thousand taels!¡± ¡°` COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: 30. Im Han Li from Qingyun Sect Chapter 30: 30. I¡¯m Han Li from Qingyun Sect Editor: Dragon Boat Translation All the bandits present shuddered and turned their heads in unison, even Fang Zhou was taken aback, as a four-digit figure suddenly emerged among the single digits. Amid everyone¡¯s astonished gazes, Li Dahong clutched her mouth tightly, her face flushed red, but it was no use, everyone heard the figure ¡®five thousand taels¡¯ burst from her mouth. Truly impressive, truly worthy of the big sister who cares so deeply for her sisters, to have saved five thousand taels in such a godforsaken place. The bandits stared at Li Dahong with fiery eyes, their mouths emitting ¡°damn hell¡± and ¡°screw it¡± and other endearing words of comfort, this passionate sisterly love was indeed touching. Ling Xiaoyue picked a few of the more honest bandits and instructed them to go back to Black Wind Stronghold and bring Li Dahong¡¯s private stash. To prevent these bandits from running off with the money, Ling Xiaoyue specially cursed them, stating that if they dared to flee, a terrible curse would strike them dead. Even though Fang Zhou felt Ling Xiaoyue was bluffing, these bandits took it seriously, their faces paled with fear, and they hurriedly ran back. Black Wind Stronghold was not close to this valley, and the journey back and forth took quite some time. By the time dusk fell and the rooster crowing had passed, several bandits hurried back, carrying a cloth bag filled with five thousand taels they had found in Li Dahong¡¯s room. ¡°My money, my money!¡± Li Dahong cried hysterically seeing the bag of money, it was the accumulation of many years, now all gone in an instant. Just like toiling tirelessly for decades, just to return to ground zero overnight. ¡°Leave me some, please, just leave me some.¡± Li Dahong cried out to Fang Zhou, her voice hoarse, her expression one of extreme agony. Fang Zhou felt a bit of compassion, feeling as though he himself was the bandit who had robbed her of her hard-earned money. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m too kind-hearted, I¡¯ll leave you some.¡± Fang Zhou felt his pockets and pulled out a copper coin, tossing it in front of Li Dahong. Li Dahong picked up the copper coin from the ground, crying even louder. Unexpectedly, even a small den of bandits like this had such a big windfall, Ling Xiaoyue was delighted, using her Sleeve Universe to pocket the money. Fang Zhou watched jealously, dying to learn this technique, but unfortunately, Ling Xiaoyue, the stingy, refused to teach him. ¡°Heaven carries the virtue of all things good, seeing how pitiful you all are, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± After collecting the money, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mood greatly improved, graciously allowing the bandits to leave without a harsh word. But Fang Zhou felt that Ling Xiaoyue was definitely not that kind-hearted, she was likely fishing, letting the bandits go now only to profit again when they return, what a ruthless woman. The bandits thanked Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou profusely, supporting each other as they left, the greatly distressed Li Dahong was also carried away by her sisters. ¡°Let¡¯s go, disciple.¡± Ling Xiaoyue lay back down, propped up her legs, and hummed a tune, utterly pleased with this unexpected fortune. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, ¡°That technique Sleeve Universe¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue knew what Fang Zhou wanted to say, and with her eyes closed, she answered, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the rush, you¡¯re not ready to learn yet, when your realm is sufficient, I as your master will naturally teach you.¡± Tch~ I think you¡¯re just making excuses. Fang Zhou inwardly snorted, then slapped the horses¡¯ necks, signaling them to catch up with the rest. Just as they walked out, a faint scream suddenly erupted from behind. Fang Zhou was startled, quickly turning back, only to see the bandits climbing the side slope of the valley being swept up by a mysterious black wind, their screams emanating from within it. ¡°What is that?!¡± Fang Zhou turned to Ling Xiaoyue and realized she had sat back up on her horse, her expression calm, ¡°Daring to devour humans in front of me, quite bold!¡± She threw her wine pot forward, transforming it into a dark streak headed towards the black wind on the mountain slope. With a clash of the pot, the black wind instantly dispersed, throwing the bandits entangled within it outward. The wine pot spun back into Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s hand. Just when Fang Zhou thought it was over, a surge of black wind blew towards them, making him unable to open his eyes, and the horses were also pushed back repeatedly. The entire valley was engulfed in flying sand and stones, the stirred dust darkening the skies. Ling Xiaoyue sat unmoved on her horse, but the black wind finally caused her clothes and hair to sway slightly. Faintly within the black wind, a massive ghostly head appeared, over three meters in both length and width, opening its mouth wide towards Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°Cover your ears.¡± Following Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s warning, Fang Zhou quickly lifted his hands to cover his ears. He saw Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s lips part slightly, and the next moment, a thunderous roar burst forth from her mouth. ¡°Scram!¡± This sound, like thunder falling from the ninth heaven, shook both horses to their knees. Fang Zhou felt his brain about to burst, and his eardrums almost shattered. The rolling sonic wave immediately shattered the approaching ghostly head, scattered the surrounding black winds, and cleared the sky of dust. The entire valley became pristine, with the moon hanging high and stars sparse. Fang Zhou stared blankly at Ling Xiaoyue, slowly regaining his hearing. This was his second time witnessing Ling Xiaoyue taking action, but the power displayed far surpassed the previous occasion. This was not a battle he could partake in. Fang Zhou initially thought that after this period of cultivation and strengthening, the gap between him and Ling Xiaoyue might have narrowed somewhat, yet it seemed to be growing wider. No, he never truly knew just how formidable Ling Xiaoyue could be. His cheap master always appeared enigmatic in his eyes. At this rate, when would he be able to surpass her? ¡°What¡¯s wrong, disciple? You look stunned.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, proud with her hands on her hips, teased, ¡°Are you overwhelmed by your master¡¯s invincible posture? Don¡¯t make a fuss; this is just standard procedure for me. Under my guidance, someday you can be just as badass.¡± Fang Zhou, snapped back to reality by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s smug appearance, grumbled, ¡°Overwhelmed my ass, you almost burst my ears.¡± ¡°Haha, no need to feel shy; I¡¯ve already seen admiration in your eyes.¡± ¡°That five thousand taels just now¡­¡± ¡°Ungrateful disciple!¡± Fang Zhou intentionally climbed upon the valley slope, only to find that the bandits were either dead or injured, with limbs scattered everywhere. Few had survived. It made him silent, not out of sympathy for the bandits, but wondering if he himself could resist the black wind in their shoes. He secretly had an answer; facing the black wind, his fate might not differ much from these bandits. This was an absolute gap in strength, not something a few skills could make up for. Fang Zhou thought he was already quite strong, but this was clearly one of life¡¯s great illusions. After questioning a surviving bandit, he learned that this mountain range had seen demon appearances starting this year, usually emerging around dusk to prey on livestock and people. Today, the bandits had lingered too long, drawing the demon¡¯s attention. Fang Zhou returned to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s side and the master-disciple duo resumed their journey. The demon did not reappear, dead or alive unknown. ¡°What was that thing?¡± Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°It seemed very powerful, what realm is it?¡± ¡°A Mountain Demon with considerable cultivation.¡± Ling Xiaoyue yawned casually, ¡°It¡¯s probably just touched the threshold of the Innate Realm. If it lived another few decades, it might have succeeded in reaching the Innate Realm, but it¡¯s heavily injured by your master now, leaving potential complications. Whether it can achieve the Innate is uncertain now.¡± This was somewhat beyond Fang Zhou¡¯s expectation. He thought the demon had at least reached the Innate Realm but turned out it had only neared the threshold, needing decades more to attain Innate. Fang Zhou thought the Innate Realm was trivial, now realizing his misjudgment¡ªthe Innate Realm was not weak; it was his perception that was narrow. Considering this, an urgent sense arose in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart. The world was dangerous; demons freely devoured humans, and yet he was so weak, only able to travel safely under Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s protection. He must cultivate more diligently, as Ling Xiaoyue was not entirely reliable; after all, she had already lost one disciple. Eventually, he must rely on his own strength to truly stand on his own. Fang Zhou seized each minute, continuing his cultivation on horseback without wasting a second. As the night deepened, the master-disciple duo found an old, dilapidated Land God Temple beside the mountain path and rested inside. Just after gathering some dry wood to start a campfire, Fang Zhou noticed Ling Xiaoyue lying down on a pile of straw. ¡°Disciple, tonight is the night of the full moon. Your master will meditate quietly overnight. Guard for me, and no matter what happens, do not wake me; otherwise, there is a risk of me deviating from my path.¡± This was the first time Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue speaking so seriously, and he expressed surprise, ¡°Really?¡± Ling Xiaoyue glanced at him, ¡°Would I joke about this?¡± Yet Fang Zhou was worried, perhaps Ling Xiaoyue had been injured during today¡¯s encounter with the Mountain Demon? He wanted to ask more, but saw Ling Xiaoyue had already closed her eyes and fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing becoming faint. Fang Zhou had no choice but to drop the subject. Soon, faint footsteps sounded outside the Land God Temple; someone was approaching. Fang Zhou turned his head to look toward the entrance, and saw a dark-skinned young girl walking in. Seeing Fang Zhou and his master, the girl paused, then greeted with a bow. ¡°I am Han Li from Qingyun Sect, passing through here. Please allow me to rest.¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: 31. The more people who watch, the bigger the scene gets. Chapter 31: 31. The more people who watch, the bigger the scene gets. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Qingyun Sect¡¯s Han Li? Fang Zhou felt the name sounded familiar, yet upon thinking carefully, he could not recall where he had heard it before. He nodded slightly and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright, please make yourself comfortable.¡± Han Li then turned around to sit in a corner, placed her longsword beside her, and took out a small bun from her knapsack, nibbling on it slowly. Fang Zhou added a few sticks to the campfire and casually scrutinized her. This Miss Han Li, dressed simply and covered in dust, seemed to have traveled a great distance. Traveling alone through such remote, wild terrain, she must be skilled, either a martial expert or a cultivator. He had encountered many such individuals on the road; it was nothing unusual. However, Fang Zhou was surprised that Han Li¡¯s gaze towards him was pure, devoid of the overt possessive desire seen in other women. Such a person must either be simple in thought or steadfast in spirit, capable of walking this world alone; either type was far from ordinary. Without Fang Zhou noticing, Han Li also stealthily observed him with a hidden gaze. She was cautious, not looking too much, fearing it might stir trouble or misinterpretation. Fang Zhou took out some dry food, skewered it on a stick, and roasted it in the fire, not for the taste but to change the flavor, as the constant bland dry food almost made him nauseous. Wild animals were not hard to catch, but since he didn¡¯t know how to prepare them nor did he carry seasonings, occasionally caught animals ended up too gamey and rank, worse than the dry food. As for Ling Xiaoyue, don¡¯t even expect her help; what culinary skills could a person who doesn¡¯t eat possess? After slightly charring the dry food, Fang Zhou took a bite; still tasteless, he swallowed it down begrudgingly. If not for the increased food intake required by his cultivation, he wouldn¡¯t bother with such stuff. After eating, Fang Zhou looked resentfully at Ling Xiaoyue, who was lying on a heap of dry grass, already sound asleep. Unaffected by Fang Zhou¡¯s resentful gaze and uncaring even if she saw it. Fang Zhou deeply suspected that her claim of quiet meditation was false and that sleeping was her reality. He had to take out more dry food to roast, as he was still not full. Soon, footsteps approached the Land God Temple from outside. Fang Zhou found it strange; weren¡¯t the mountains haunted by demons? Why were there so many people out at night, seemingly too careless about the Mountain Demon at the threshold of the Innate Realm? Shortly after, a man and a woman entered the Land God Temple, both of whom had the kind of expendable faces in a movie that wouldn¡¯t survive more than two scenes. Upon their entry, Fang Zhou noticed that Han Li, who sat in the corner, instantly grasped her longsword, readying herself. Hmm? Is there a good show to watch? Fang Zhou immediately perked up. As the man and woman entered the temple, the woman was first caught by Fang Zhou¡¯s presence, her eyes lit up upon seeing his face, and she licked her lips with her tongue. The man beside her nudged her with his elbow, pointing toward the corner. Upon seeing Han Li, the woman immediately became furious: ¡°Han, you fled here? It¡¯s divine help indeed, I¡¯d like to see you escape this time!¡± Han Li drew her longsword, slowly stood up with a calm face: ¡°Lingnan Twin Fiends, our grievances were settled, why do you persist in chasing me!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lingnan Double Heroes, not Lingnan Twin Fiends!¡± The woman furiously said, ¡°I¡¯ve suffered for nothing, all my friends and family are gone, yet you, Han, managed to escape completely, fleeing so fast.¡± Han Li furrowed her brows, ¡°It was your own greed that was at fault, why involve me?¡± ¡°Bullshit, had you not been a coward, we would never have fallen into that trap!¡± Han Li immediately lost any interest in arguing, knowing this woman was purposefully shifting the blame onto her. She could only say, ¡°What do you want?¡± A glint of greed appeared in the woman¡¯s eyes: ¡°Hand over the item you obtained in Black Jiao Cave, and I might spare your life.¡± Han Li knew her intentions were for this and shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t have it on me, I didn¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Spit it out, who are you fooling.¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends drew their weapons, ready to attack: ¡°Ignorant fool, if you don¡¯t hand over the item, tonight will be your end.¡± Han Li glanced at Fang Zhou, who was enjoying his dry food as if watching an entertaining show, totally unconcerned. Though the dry food lacked flavor, the unfolding drama served as a decent side dish. Han Li¡¯s look also turned the attention of the Lingnan Twin Fiends toward Fang Zhou; perhaps out of a brain lapse, the woman then suggested to Fang Zhou: ¡°The blades are blind, and it would be unfortunate to cause accidental harm. Perhaps you should rest elsewhere?¡± She was likely thinking of seizing the Secret Treasure from Han Li and didn¡¯t want these two strangers to develop a covetous notion, better to send them away first. Yet, Fang Zhou was displeased, thinking: I¡¯m enjoying the show, and now you want to kick me out? Believe it or not, should I call someone? Fang Zhou turned his head towards Ling Xiaoyue, wanting to wake her up: Hey, they¡¯re trying to kick us out, stop sleeping! But he eventually didn¡¯t try to speak up, to avoid provoking Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wrath. He turned back, sat upright, and firmly told the Lingnan Twin Fiends, ¡°No switching!¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends exchanged glances, just as Fang Zhou thought they might start something with him, he saw them coordinate a simultaneous attack on Han Li. Han Li swung her sword to meet her adversaries, three of them tangled into a fight, and the Land God Temple suddenly filled with flashes of blades and swords, an intense killing aura pervading the air. Fang Zhou watched intently, the first impression of the trio¡¯s battle was its speed, extremely fast, and the strength immense, with the clashing of the sword and saber ringing painfully in the ears and sparks flying everywhere. All three of them were at least at the Qi Refining Realm, and they must have learned how to channel Spiritual Energy to enhance themselves. As for the techniques, they rather gave an impression of being flashy. He imagined himself facing the Lingnan Twin Fiends, thinking that if he used all his techniques, he should be able to win. The Land God Temple was a bit cramped, the three of them couldn¡¯t fully utilize their skills, Han Li, fighting two against one, found it somewhat difficult. Spotting a gap, she extricated herself from the melee and escaped from the temple. The Lingnan Twin Fiends quickly pursued her. Fang Zhou also hurried to the entrance of the Land God Temple, only to find that Han Li didn¡¯t get far before she was caught by the Lingnan Twin Fiends, and the trio started fighting again in the open space in front of the temple. Leaning against the doorway, Fang Zhou ate some dry food while watching the battle with great interest, clapping at the exciting parts. ¡°Fight, beat the hell out of them, don¡¯t stop!¡± ¡°Right, right there, a left hook, hit her.¡± ¡°Exciting!¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends were irritated, grating their teeth; this cheeky kid always cheered when they were losing, it was blatantly obvious whose side he was on. After killing Han Li, they decided they must fix this irritating brat. Han Li found it somewhat amusing yet distracting due to Fang Zhou¡¯s heckling, causing the Lingnan Twin Fiends to make frequent mistakes which provided her with several opportunities. Even so, she gradually fell into a disadvantage as she was up against two and both Fiends were not weaker than her in realm. Han Li hesitated; she had a trump card to kill the Lingnan Twin Fiends, but with Fang Zhou, a stranger present, she dared not use it lightly. Being inherently cautious, she didn¡¯t want to expose her trump card to a stranger. During Han Li¡¯s hesitation, she suddenly saw the Lingnan Twin Fiends look towards the distance with terrified expressions on their faces. Han Li also quickly looked in that direction and saw a black wind swirling from afar under the night sky. A demon?! This thought surfaced in her mind, causing her to turn pale with fright. All three immediately stopped fighting and turned to run. Watching the spectacle, Fang Zhou also noticed the black wind, and he knew more clearly what it was. Why is this ghostly thing still here? Could it be here seeking revenge on Xiaoyue and him? Fang Zhou hurriedly ran back into the Land God Temple, to Xiaoyue¡¯s side, shouting, ¡°Wake the hell up and fight!¡± He reached out to shake her awake but hesitated before touching her. He wasn¡¯t sure if Xiaoyue was joking or serious about going berserk; if it was the latter, waking her now would spell disaster. Outside, the winds grew fiercer, accompanied by screams. Suddenly, thud, thud, thud, three sounds as Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends crashed through the old temple door, falling inside. The Lingnan Twin Fiends each lost an arm, blood spattering everywhere; while Han Li, though her limbs were intact, was pale and bleeding from the mouth. In an instant, all three were heavily wounded. Outside, the wind started to die down as heavy footsteps approached; the Mountain Demon was getting closer. Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends, regardless of their injuries, scrambled back in terror, the demon outside easily capable of killing them as if they were mere chickens. Fang Zhou gritted his teeth and knew he had to face it head-on. The next moment, he saw the Mountain Demon step into the Land God Temple. The Mountain Demon resembled a gigantic ape with thick fur and a human face full of wrinkles, a long single horn on its forehead. As the Mountain Demon stepped into the temple, the Lingnan Twin Fiends screamed in terror. Han Li trembled, her hand reaching into her chest, tightly gripping a small green bottle. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart raced; he clutched the Evil Slaying Sword tight, took a deep breath, and shouted, ¡°Stop!¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends forgot to scream, and Han Li stopped shaking; all three turned their heads to look at him. Has this man gone mad? The Mountain Demon also paused briefly, staring at Fang Zhou with a somewhat familiar feeling, then its gaze fell on Xiaoyue lying on the hay, looking even more familiar. It studied them closely and, once it recognized them, its whole body shook, eyes widening like bronze bells. ¡°Little demon¡­ Little demon didn¡¯t know the esteemed presence was here, disturbing your tranquil cultivation, please forgive me.¡± The Mountain Demon, mimicking human gestures, bowed deeply with hands held forward. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart leaped. There¡¯s a chance! COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: 32. Being a person is really too much of a failure Chapter 32: 32. Being a person is really too much of a failure Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°` The entire Land God Temple fell silent. Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends were dumbfounded; they looked at the Mountain Demon, then at Fang Zhou, back at the Mountain Demon, and then once again at Fang Zhou. The three of them had their minds crash, somewhat unable to comprehend the current situation. Not receiving a response, the Mountain Demon began to shiver uncontrollably, its entire fur trembling. Fang Zhou let out a deep sigh of relief; if he couldn¡¯t bluff the Mountain Demon, he was ready to pick up Ling Xiaoyue and use her as a human bomb to throw out. Fortunately, the Mountain Demon was sensible, and it seemed that Ling Xiaoyue had indeed taught it a profound lesson today. Fang Zhou did not relax his vigilance, knowing that this moment was the most critical¡ªif the Mountain Demon saw through the act now, everyone would die in its rage. So, stay calm, stay steady! He cleared his throat, imitating an authoritative tone: ¡°Well then, aren¡¯t you going to scram?¡± After saying that, his heart started thumping wildly, his pulse racing to his throat. The Mountain Demon sneakily glanced at Ling Xiaoyue, and seeing no reaction from her, felt like it had been granted amnesty. ¡°Your honor, sparing me is a mercy I¡¯ll never forget.¡± It dared not lift its head, maintaining the gesture of a bowed head and clasped hands, retreating step by step until after leaving the Land God Temple, it immediately transformed into a gust of black wind, fleeing as if for its life. The Land God Temple fell silent again. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart suddenly settled back down, feeling his entire back soaked, drenched in sweat. Han Li let out a deep sigh of relief, casting a complicated, covert glance at Fang Zhou, not daring to look any longer. On the other side, the Lingnan Twin Fiends were crying tears of joy, having thought they were surely doomed tonight, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a stroke of luck and retrieved their lives. But after the joy, fear began to rise again¡ªthe two had not forgotten the disrespectful words they had said to Fang Zhou just moments before. Yet they also couldn¡¯t help but feel aggrieved¡ªwho would have known this expert was masquerading as a harmless youth; maybe he even enjoyed playing this kind of deceiving game. But the preferences of an expert are not something we dare to question, nor ask. ¡°Esteemed¡­ senior¡­¡± That woman hesitantly began to speak, as if intending to apologize, yet unsure of how to start. Fang Zhou directly said to the two: ¡°You two, scram as well.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends were stunned. ¡°Ah what? Do I need to take action myself?¡± ¡°No, no! Of course not!¡± The two, disregarding their own injuries and the prospect of more trouble with Han Li, scrambled out of the Land God Temple, tumbling over each other. Now, scrambling away was much better than having this high-level being who could scare away a Mountain Demon personally drive them out. After driving away the two troublesome fellows, Fang Zhou glanced at Han Li. Han Li was tense all over, ready to flee at a moment¡¯s notice. But Fang Zhou didn¡¯t say anything and sat back down by the campfire. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that Fang Zhou truly relaxed, feeling an immense relief of having survived the ordeal. Lucky for him, his Oscar-level acting skills allowed him to scare away the Mountain Demon by leveraging Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s intimidation¡ªif there were any slip-up, the Mountain Demon could have killed him before Ling Xiaoyue woke up. This made Fang Zhou feel a surge of anxiety; if Ling Xiaoyue weren¡¯t here tonight, his fate, and that of Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends, wouldn¡¯t have been any better than what they had encountered with the bandits today. This was just one Mountain Demon, and the world is full of such demons and monsters. This bout of anxiety made Fang Zhou unable to sit still, and soon he stood up again, went outside the Land God Temple, found a large rock to sit on, and began to cultivate under the moonlight. Within the Land God Temple, Han Li glanced at the soundly sleeping Xiaoyue, took out a small vial from her bosom, and took a sip of the Extract Liquid inside. ¡°` After drinking it, her complexion immediately became rosy, and her breath steadied. Tucking the small bottle away, Han Li stood up from the ground, went to the door, and saw Fang Zhou cultivating on the rock. His eyes were tightly closed, his body sat upright, and his face with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes was calm as water, seemingly emitting a faint glow all around. Moonlight transformed into speckles of light, revolving around him. This scene made Han Li slightly distracted; she placed her hand on her slightly pounding chest, feeling her hastened heartbeat. After watching for a while, Han Li withdrew her gaze, left the Land God Temple, and walked into the forest. Lost in his cultivation, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when his nose suddenly caught a familiar fragrance. It was the scent of roast chicken. He opened his eyes and found that the moon had disappeared, and everything was pitch dark¡ªthe darkest time before dawn. Only the bonfire of the Land God Temple still shone, like the only light in this dark world. Fang Zhou jumped down from the rock and walked over, and as he approached, he discovered a pile of feathers on the ground at the entrance, showing some wild chicken had met its fate. Entering the temple, indeed, there was a golden brown roast wild chicken on the fire, big and fatty, with chicken grease dripping into the fire like water, making a sizzling sound. The one roasting the chicken was Han Li. Seeing Fang Zhou come in, she seemed a bit uneasy. Fang Zhou hurriedly tore off two strips of cloth and ran to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s side, stuffing them into her nostrils. If this fellow wakes up from the smell, no one else would get to eat. After doing this, Fang Zhou clapped his hands, turned to Han Li with a smile, and said, ¡°This chicken¡­ is it yours?¡± Han Li nodded her head, sat up straight, and gave Fang Zhou a deep bow, ¡°Senior, thank you for your rescue just now.¡± Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t refuse such favor given freely; he merely waved his hand, ¡°No need to call me senior. My surname is Fang, you can call me¡­ uh¡­¡± For a moment he didn¡¯t know what to have Han Li call him, and he didn¡¯t really want to reveal his name. ¡°Mr. Fang!¡± Han Li quickly adapted and changed her form of address. In this life, unlike Fang Zhou¡¯s previous life, the title of ¡®Mr.¡¯ was not common everywhere. In this world, regardless of gender, ¡®Mr.¡¯ is a very significant honorific. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t understand the intricacies behind this, but it sounded pleasant to the ear, so he didn¡¯t correct her, and then pointed to the roast chicken, his mouth already watering. Since leaving Qingde City, he had almost forgotten what meat tasted like. Han Li smiled gently and nodded, ¡°Mr. Fang¡¯s life-saving grace, Han Li has nothing to repay, but my culinary skills are fairly proficient, I hope they amuse you.¡± She had been on the road for many years and had lived alone for quite some time, having developed her cooking skills, and carried spices and salt with her, occasionally treating herself to something delicious. She had noticed Mr. Fang¡¯s troubled face when eating dry rations before, and had an idea, so she went out and caught a wild chicken, which indeed brought a smile to Mr. Fang¡¯s face. Han Li was quite pleased with her judgment and actions. When the chicken was ready, Fang Zhou and Han Li divided it between themselves, with Han Li taking only a leg, leaving the rest for Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou, eating the delicious roasted chicken, couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. Others traveled to new worlds and conquered girls with their cooking, but it was he who was conquered by a girl¡¯s cooking. He felt like a complete failure as a person. ¡°Right, are the Lingnan Twin Fiends your enemies?¡± Fang Zhou chatted casually with Han Li while eating. It wasn¡¯t that he had any special thoughts; he just wanted to learn about the situation in the Cultivation World from Han Li. Fang Zhou¡¯s initial understanding of the Cultivation World came from Li Ruyu, but Li Ruyu¡¯s explanations were very general, somewhat ambiguous, and concealed a lot of important information. As for Ling Xiaoyue, well, there was even less hope; she had no interest in discussing mundane matters with Fang Zhou, and engaging in conversation with her, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she¡¯d drag it off-topic. Thus, Fang Zhou¡¯s understanding of the true situation of the Cultivation World could be said to be completely in the dark. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: 33. The style suddenly went awry. Chapter 33: 33. The style suddenly went awry. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In Jingnan State¡¯s Lingnan Territory, a rumor has perennially circulated, claiming that a Black Jiao lurks within the Lingnan Swamp, and within the dwelling of this Black Jiao¡ªa Jiao Dragon Cave¡ªeven more so lies a Secret Treasure. Han Li¡¯s Qingyun Sect unexpectedly came into possession of a treasure map concerning Black Jiao Cave, but somehow the news leaked out, inciting the covetous stares of many fellow Cultivation seekers. After a fierce scramble, the Qingyun Sect suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to offer up the treasure map. Together with the Lingnan seekers, they formed a treasure hunting party and set off to the swamp in search of the treasure. Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends were naturally also in the treasure hunting party. Following the map, they smoothly located the Black Jiao Cave, but upon entering it, to their alarm, they awoke the Black Jiao who was in secluded Cultivation. Almost all members of the hunting party were killed or injured, with only a handful escaping with their lives. Thanks to her high vigilance and quick escape, Han Li fled before the Black Jiao awoke; the Lingnan Twin Fiends, due to their excessive greed, fell into a trap. Although they eventually escaped successfully, their friends and family all perished within the Black Jiao Cave. The Lingnan Twin Fiends attributed the death of their relatives to Han Li, convinced that she had acquired the Secret Treasure of the Black Jiao Cave, hence they relentlessly pursued her. After finishing off the roast chicken, Fang Zhou also learned from Han Li about some of the basic circumstances of the Cultivation World in Jingnan State. The Cultivation World in Jingnan State can be divided into three strata. The lowest level comprises the independent cultivators without sect or lineage, the most numerous of all, but mostly they lead insubstantial lives, relying on deception or a modicum of skill to make a living¡ªMaster Ji could be counted among the independents. The middle stratum includes small sects with complete heritage and Cultivation families bound by blood. Both Qingyun Sect and the Lingnan Twin Fiends belong to this category. The highest stratum consists of the Major Sects towering above all, sects with systematic techniques and traditions, a large number of disciples, and affiliated secular forces, with powerful beings in command. Xuanji Sect is one such Major Sect, teeming with disciples and home to Golden Core Realm powerhouses, a domineering Cultivation force in Jingnan State. Han Li spoke of Xuanji Sect with a tinge of envy. With her aptitude, Xuanji Sect was out of her reach. She could only join a minor sect like Qingyun Sect. Now that Qingyun Sect was decimated because of the Black Jiao Cave incident, she had fallen to the status of an independent cultivator without sect or lineage. However, Fang Zhou was somewhat startled upon hearing this; Xuanji Sect was incredibly formidable. He had thought Li Ruyu was just boasting, but it turned out she was telling the truth. Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue could be said to have grievously offended Xuanji Sect; should they meet again, swords might cross. It seems one mustn¡¯t reveal their name and origin rashly in the future, lest Xuanji Sect come knocking. While Han Li found Fang Zhou¡¯s ignorance of these commonalities strange, she did not doubt his strength. Anyone capable of terrifying a ferocious demon into speaking human language is no ordinary person. Within the Cultivation World, it is not unheard of for experts to engage deeply in Cultivation and remain oblivious to worldly affairs. As the two chatted away, the outside world welcomed the sunrise and the sky was suffused with morning glow. Ling Xiaoyue, who had slept through the night, finally woke up at this time, stretching languidly, ¡°Mmm~~ I haven¡¯t slept this well in a long time¡­ What is this, who stuffed my nose?¡± She removed the two strips of cloth stuffed in her nose, then saw Han Li sitting together with Fang Zhou and was taken aback: ¡°Disciple, I didn¡¯t watch over you for just one night, and you¡¯ve been scooped up already, who is this little sow?¡± Han Li, who had been curiously observing Ling Xiaoyue, showed an embarrassed expression upon hearing this. How could this woman speak so carelessly? She also took note of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s way of addressing Fang Zhou. Disciple? Fang Zhou, however, glared at Ling Xiaoyue; had it not been for this woman falling asleep, last night wouldn¡¯t have been so perilous. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Fang Zhou said discontentedly, ¡°This lady is Han Li, whom we happened to come across last night and who sought shelter.¡± He recounted the events of last night once again, especially emphasizing how he remained calm in the face of danger and ultimately relied on his astonishing reaction and wit to scare off the Mountain Demon, preventing the tragic fate of Ling Xiaoyue being devoured by a demon in her sleep. While listening to Fang Zhou¡¯s story, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes were fixed on the chicken bones on the ground, discontentedly saying, ¡°That¡¯s going too far, eating without even calling for your teacher.¡± A vein instantly popped on Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead. Aren¡¯t you focusing on the wrong thing here? He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that if we woke you up, you¡¯d be possessed?¡± ¡°How could it be so easy to be possessed,¡± Ling Xiaoyue retorted, blaming Fang Zhou¡¯s poor reading comprehension. ¡°I was just joking with you. Can¡¯t you tell? I¡¯ve always told you to read more¡­¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t hold back his anger anymore and picked up a large stone to throw at her, but she dodged it with a gleeful laugh. Han Li watched the two of them curiously, listening to the conversation between Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue, and she vaguely guessed something, but her face showed no sign of it. Ling Xiaoyue looked towards Han Li and said with a laugh, ¡°Oh dear, I apologize, young lady. I was a bit groggy from just waking up. Seeing the two of you sitting so close together, I thought you might have had a fling last night.¡± Ling Xiaoyue claimed to be embarrassed, but her face showed no sign of embarrassment at all. She patted Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder: ¡°But it¡¯s okay if you did have a fling; my disciple is as virile as a dragon, capable of handling four or five sows like you with no problem.¡± Fang Zhou drew his sword and swung at her: ¡°Shut up, shameless old woman.¡± Ling Xiaoyue dodged Fang Zhou¡¯s sword: ¡°Hehe, your teacher will always be seventeen.¡± Han Li quickly tried to explain: ¡°Senior, please don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I have neither overstepped with Mr. Fang, nor dare to offend.¡± Ling Xiaoyue sidled up to Han Li, put her arm around her shoulder, and said with a beaming smile: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I know you wouldn¡¯t dare, but do you want to? No need to deny it, everyone appreciates beauty, and it¡¯s not illegal to fantasize. Even if you imagine my disciple in eighteen positions in your mind, I won¡¯t blame you. How about we exchange notes? I often picture him in a hundred and eight positions in my mind, hehehe.¡± Han Li¡¯s face finally turned slightly red, embarrassed not knowing where to put her hands and feet, she could only weakly say: ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± She was cautious by nature, liked to weigh up situations, and conducted herself with restraint, able to handle all sorts of people. Yet this was the first time she had encountered someone like Ling Xiaoyue who made her feel at a complete loss. As for whether Han Li had really imagined Fang Zhou in three hundred and sixty different positions, only a ghost would know. Fang Zhou really couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; what had been a very pure, serious, and solemn atmosphere just moments ago had been completely twisted by this woman as soon as she woke up, heading straight into lewd territory. Would you die if you didn¡¯t ¡°drive the car¡± (a euphemism for indulging in sexual innuendos)? Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t bear to listen anymore and could only say to Han Li: ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense.¡± Then he turned and left the Land God Temple to find the sixth generation and 55Kai. After Fang Zhou left, Ling Xiaoyue glanced at Han Li¡¯s chest: ¡°Oh, hiding something good there.¡± Han Li was startled and instinctively covered the small bottle in her bosom. Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m not interested in your precious trinket.¡± She walked towards the outside of the Land God Temple, while Han Li stared at her back, her heart all tangled up. She never expected that her biggest secret would be seen through in an instant, and the other party seemed to disdain it. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: 34. On the left is a tree, and on the right is also a tree. Chapter 34: 34. On the left is a tree, and on the right is also a tree. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Outside the Land God Temple, Fang Zhou retrieved the sixth generation and No. 55, two man-made treasure horses, which mixed with the horse Han Li had ridden. Han Li¡¯s horse also looked extraordinarily spirited. There was only one mountain path, and evidently, Han Li shared the same route as Fang Zhou and his disciple. Therefore, Fang Zhou invited Han Li to accompany them. He was merely being polite, yet to his surprise, after Han Li glanced at Ling Xiaoyue, she actually agreed to his proposal. Fang Zhou, having extended the invitation, found it inappropriate to reject her now. He silently resolved to avoid polite overtures in the future. The trio then left the Land God Temple and set out together, proceeding along the mountain path. On the way, the situation Fang Zhou was worried about did not occur. Ling Xiaoyue did not continue to harass Han Li, nor did she tease him. Instead, she lay on the horse¡¯s back, drinking and basking in the sun as always. Han Li seemed to lack any interest in conversing and followed in silence behind the two. Fang Zhou then started his cultivation practice on horseback. He had a hunch that he was about to reach the entry-level bottleneck and that by continuing to cultivate, he should be able to break through to a new stage in the Qi Refining Realm. While Fang Zhou was cultivating, he suddenly heard Han Li speak from behind. ¡°Mr. Fang, have you also come here for the secret treasure of Wild Tomb Ridge?¡± Before Fang Zhou could reply, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly sat up, ¡°Wild Tomb Ridge has a secret treasure?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s reaction confirmed that the master and disciple duo were clueless about Wild Tomb Ridge. Understanding this, Han Li explained. After escaping from Black Jiao Cave, she was not unscathed. The Black Jiao Dragon was powerful, capable of spewing toxic miasma. Even a mere whiff of this Jiao Poison could lead to poisoning. Han Li could not avoid the Jiao Poison while she was inside Black Jiao Cave, and though the poison would not activate immediately, it was a hidden danger that would inflict greater harm on her body the longer it was left untreated. After leaving Lingnan, Han Li searched everywhere for a cure to the poison. By chance, she heard that in Jing Chu Territory¡¯s Wild Tomb Ridge, a secret treasure associated with Buddhism had emerged. Buddhist artifacts were particularly known for their purifying capabilities, potentially able to cleanse the Jiao Poison, prompting Han Li to travel great distances to try her luck. The Lingnan Twin Fiends were also afflicted with the Jiao Poison. Presumably, they had the same idea as Han Li, which was why they encountered each other in these desolate outskirts, as the location wasn¡¯t far from Wild Tomb Ridge. After hearing Han Li¡¯s explanation, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes shone as she turned to look at Fang Zhou, ¡°Disciple, Wild Tomb Ridge is right on our way back to our sect. Do you think this could be fate?¡± Fate my ass. Fang Zhou wished he could spit on her face. Just a few days ago, she had clearly said that crossing over this range of mountains would allow them to continue along the banks of Jing Chu River without the need to scale any more ridges. So where did this essential stop at Wild Tomb Ridge suddenly come from? It was clear they had heard about the emergence of a secret treasure and wanted to join in on the excitement. Then, Han Li spoke to Ling Xiaoyue again, ¡°Senior, it¡¯s said that the grade of this treasure might be below that of a spirit artifact. It seems that a person of your caliber might not have a use for it?¡± Han Li was uncertain of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s realm but reasoned that someone who could scare off a demon near the Innate Realm must be at the Innate Realm or above. Generally, equipment with innate mana is called a magic artifact, and those with powerful mana and unique traits are spirit artifacts. Spirit artifacts or those of a higher grade are useful to cultivators in the Innate Realm. Anything below that is of little use to them. Of course, this is just a rough distinction, some items with special effects are difficult to summarize simply. Han Li¡¯s words seemed to be advising Ling Xiaoyue, to prevent disappointment later on, but they were not without the intent of probing. Unfortunately, she got the wrong person. If it were any other cultivator in the Innate Realm, they might have dismissed the comment, but who is Ling Xiaoyue? She¡¯s someone who wouldn¡¯t even spare a bandit¡¯s private stash. Thus, Ling Xiaoyue was not at all concerned about Han Li¡¯s words, just smilingly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I don¡¯t necessarily have to take it, just curious to see what the Secret Treasure looks like.¡± As a result, Fang Zhou¡¯s opinion was ignored, and Ling Xiaoyue happily decided to make a detour, oh no, to make a little side trip to Wild Tomb Ridge to see what the Secret Treasure looked like. After spending two days crossing this part of the mountain range, a fork in the road appeared ahead, one side was the Jing Chu River visible from afar, winding and twisting on the ground like a silver dragon, the other side continued along the mountain trail, shadowed by trees that blocked out the sun, with wild grass sprawling everywhere. The three of them continued deeper into the mountains on the mountain trail, Ling Xiaoyue also knew the location of Wild Tomb Ridge, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have uttered the rhetorical question, ¡°Wild Tomb Ridge has a Secret Treasure?¡± Wild Tomb Ridge is a mountain range that resembles a pile of tombs, with several stone peaks like tombstones piercing the sky at the front of the ridge. Objectively speaking, the terrain of Wild Tomb Ridge has a sense of artistry that could steal the show from nature itself, it¡¯s just unfortunate that it resembles a tomb, which gives it a bit of an unlucky connotation. The mountain path extends all the way to the foot of the mountain, and the path up the mountain even shows signs of man-made repairs. Moreover, according to Han Li, there was even a temple atop Wild Tomb Ridge. Fang Zhou felt that something was amiss upon hearing this; a temple popping up out of nowhere in the wilderness was definitely troublesome. Either there was a female ghost, oh no, a male ghost lingering inside, waiting to absorb the life force of passersby, or the monks were all monsters in disguise, deceiving people to come and eat them. Unfortunately, Fang Zhou¡¯s concerns were met with ridicule from Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°You¡¯re just unsophisticated, my disciple. Wild Tomb Ridge wasn¡¯t always known as that. It used to be called Immortal¡¯s Tomb, a fengshui treasure land. Many high officials from the previous dynasty were buried here. The Lanruo Temple on the mountain was once very popular, but as the previous dynasty fell, Immortal¡¯s Tomb turned into Wild Tomb Ridge, and Lanruo Temple also fell into decay, although there are still people there.¡± After hearing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou suddenly understood. He patted Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s shoulder and said with a laugh, ¡°I see, don¡¯t worry, whenever you die, I¡¯ll bury you in this fengshui treasure land.¡± Ling Xiaoyue also smiled, ¡°Your filial piety is fully felt by your master. When the time comes for your master to die, I will surely take you along, so you wouldn¡¯t be left alone in this world.¡± Han Li was speechless on the side, what kind of master and disciple were these? The master didn¡¯t act like a master, the disciple didn¡¯t act like a disciple. It was her first time seeing a disciple wish the master to die soon with a smile, and the master happily planning to take the disciple with them in death. Han Li suddenly felt tired, recalling her own time at Qingyun Sect, the trepidatious way she had to treat her master, not daring to even breathe loudly. The three of them climbed up the mountain, the dirt path turned into stone steps, with moss growing on both sides and only the middle polished smooth, presumably from frequent use. There was a pavilion halfway up the mountain, where one could enjoy the view of the surrounding scenery. Next to the pavilion was a large stone as tall as a person, with the words ¡°Immortal Points the Way¡± inscribed on it, signed by Zhong Tongxuan. According to Han Li¡¯s explanation, this Zhong Tongxuan was the last empress of the former dynasty. The three of them paused at the pavilion for a while, then continued up, finally reaching the top of Wild Tomb Ridge. A temple appeared before the three of them. There was a clearing covered in fallen leaves in front of the temple, and two tall trees stood on either side. On the left was a scholar tree, and on the right was also a scholar tree, with the temple gate sandwiched between them. Above the temple gate was a plaque, with three large characters written in a flowing and lively script. Lanruo Temple. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: 35. Dear benefactors are predestined with Buddha Chapter 35: 35. Dear benefactors are predestined with Buddha Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lanruo, also known as Alanruo, is a Buddhist term that originally refers to the forest, denoting places of tranquility and remoteness, signifying a location to avoid the hustle and bustle of the human world ¡ª it¡¯s a general term for Buddhist monasteries. Therefore, monasteries are also commonly called Lanruo Temple. So don¡¯t just barge into Lanruo Temple shouting for Xiaoqian, you¡¯ll get chased out by the monks. The Lanruo Temple at Wild Tomb Ridge keeps its doors shut even in broad daylight, no wonder no one comes to offer incense, they don¡¯t even understand the principle of opening doors to welcome visitors. Han Li took the initiative to knock on the door, and after a short moment, the gate cracked open slightly, and a bald young monk peeked half her body out. Though Fang Zhou was mentally prepared, he still felt an overwhelming urge to comment upon seeing this bald young monk. This was a female monk. Why Fang Zhou could identify her at a glance? Because this young monk had quite the figure. The young monk put her hands together in a gesture of respect and asked, ¡°Are the three benefactors here to offer incense and worship Buddha?¡± Han Li replied with a clasped hand salute, ¡°Little Master, the three of us are passing through the area and hope to stay for a few nights. Could your temple do us this courtesy?¡± The young monk didn¡¯t say anything else, just nodded her head, then pushed the gate open to lead the three inside the temple. The temple covered a large area, and while many places looked old, none were in disrepair; it was clear that people maintained and cleaned them regularly. The young monk led the three to a side hall and came before a plump middle-aged female monk. ¡°Amitabha.¡± The female monk said with a smile, ¡°I am Hui Neng, the abbot of this temple. We welcome the three benefactors to our temple. Are you here to stay, to offer incense, or to seek the secret treasure?¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li had odd expressions; this monk didn¡¯t seem like a religious recluse but more like a businessman welcoming customers to his shop. However, Ling Xiaoyue inquired, ¡°Monk, do many people come here seeking the treasure?¡± Hui Neng nodded her head and explained with a smile, ¡°Indeed, ever since the news of the Secret Treasure was revealed, despite not knowing how the information leaked, many benefactors have traveled from afar to seek it. Some benefactors leave after seeing the treasure, while some choose to stay in our temple. The three of you are here for that as well, right?¡± Ling Xiaoyue, excitedly probing, asked, ¡°Tell us about this Secret Treasure, what¡¯s the deal? Is it real or fake?¡± With her hands joined together, Hui Neng assured with a solemn face, ¡°Of course it¡¯s real, monks do not speak lies.¡± She explained that the Secret Treasure was not actually in Lanruo Temple but at the site of the old Lanruo Temple, which was still a mountain away from their current location. The story began over a year ago when, unexpectedly one night, the monks of Lanruo Temple noticed seven-colored rosy clouds being emitted from the mountaintop at the site of the old Lanruo Temple and faint Buddha¡¯s voice and Buddhist chants could be heard. At that time, Hui Neng was already the abbot of the temple. Thrilled with the discovery and believing it was the arrival of the Buddha, she quickly led all the monks to go worship. By the time they reached the old site, the seven-colored rosy clouds and the Buddha¡¯s voice and chants had disappeared. Hui Neng was deeply disappointed, but she could feel that the old site had changed; originally a place of ordinariness, after the appearance of the seven-colored rosy clouds, it was now filled with Spiritual Energy, full of vitality. Since then, every several days or after about a month, seven-colored rosy clouds and Buddha¡¯s voice and chants would intermittently manifest at the site of the old Lanruo Temple. Hui Neng had organized multiple expeditions to investigate and even assigned people to live at the old site, but they could never determine the cause of the appearances. She initially ordered the monks to keep the matter a secret, but the truth eventually slipped through, and soon enough the news had leaked out, attracting many treasure-seekers. ¡°Three benefactors, if you want to witness the seven-colored rosy clouds and hear the Buddha¡¯s voice and chants for yourselves, you must do so at night. Since the dates of the Secret Treasure¡¯s appearances are erratic, you may need to extend your stay at our temple,¡± Hui Neng said with a chubby smiling face, resembling Maitreya Buddha. ¡°The three benefactors need not worry about missing it, for our temple has designated people to keep watch day and night. If the Secret Treasure emits the seven-colored rosy clouds, we will immediately inform you all. Additionally, we have constructed the Treasure Viewing Platform with an excellent vantage point, so there is no fear of missing the spectacle.¡± Hui Neng was like a passionate merchant, explaining the origins of the Secret Treasure and the timing and method of viewing it. Fang Zhou felt an exhausting inability to retort; he felt as if he had come not for treasure-seeking but for sightseeing at a tourist attraction, with Hui Neng resembling those businessmen in tourist areas, trying hard to sell to their guests. Stop, this isn¡¯t an adventure at all; you¡¯re killing the entire adventurous atmosphere. After Hui Neng spoke at length, she finally inquired, ¡°Have the three benefactors decided to stay in our temple?¡± What a silly question. After such a long trek through the mountains to get here, did you think we came just to have a drink of water? Han Li clasped her hands and said, ¡°Yes, thank you for your trouble, Master.¡± ¡°No trouble at all, no trouble at all.¡± Hui Neng smiled and took out a Merit Box, placing it in front of the three of them. Ling Xiaoyue immediately jumped, ¡°What, you want to charge us?¡± Hui Neng showed a helpless expression, ¡°Our temple has no farmland, and can only be maintained by the monks cultivating a few vegetable plots and occasional alms-seeking outside. Since the Secret Treasure has appeared, many believers have come from afar. Our temple is overwhelmed by providing food and lodging and had to resort to this solution. I hope the benefactors can understand.¡± Another person might have just paid up, as Hui Neng¡¯s words were indeed reasonable, but who was Ling Xiaoyue to comply? She immediately retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten vegetarian meals at the Great Mercy Temple for a whole month without paying, and you want to charge me, in this shabby place? Besides, the three of us don¡¯t need to eat. Giving you money is simply letting you profit for nothing.¡± Shut up, you¡¯re the only one here who doesn¡¯t need to eat! Fang Zhou covered his face with his hand, feeling utterly ashamed. This woman, with tens of thousands of taels at her disposal, actually had the nerve to haggle over accommodation fees with a monk. Han Li also felt quite embarrassed. She had met many distinguished figures; some enthusiastic, some indifferent, some gentle, but this was her first time encountering someone as shameless as Ling Xiaoyue. She hastily took out some silver, ¡°I¡¯ll pay, I¡¯ll pay.¡± Ling Xiaoyue instantly had no objections and even gave Han Li a look of approval. Han Li responded with an awkward smile. Hui Neng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, ¡°Our dear hosts need not worry. Considering that many believers who come from afar might find it inconvenient to pay at times, our temple has specially introduced humanized services.¡± He took out a wooden board with three accommodation packages listed on it. Pilgrim Package: A ordinary Zen room with three vegetarian meals provided daily, a common seat at the Treasure Viewing Platform, for ten taels of silver per person. Layman¡¯s Package: A mid-grade Zen room, ample vegetarian meals and tea provided daily, help with feeding horses, a mid-grade seat at the Treasure Viewing Platform, for thirty taels per person. Buddha¡¯s Blessing Meal: A top-notch Zen room, gourmet tea, snacks, and supper provided daily, meals personally prepared by the temple¡¯s chief chef, top-quality feed for horses, a top-grade seat at the Treasure Viewing Platform, accompanied by the temple¡¯s abbot for a one-day tour of Lanruo Temple, and a personal guide to the old site when the Secret Treasure appears, for one hundred taels per person. When Fang Zhou saw these packages, he burst out laughing. Lanruo Temple really had stumbled upon a scheme; this Hui Neng was without a doubt a genius. Why are you still being an abbot? You should go down the mountain, give up monastic life, and go into business! With this kind of creativity, you¡¯re guaranteed to have a substantial income within three years, become wealthy in five, and achieve a lifetime of success in ten. Fang Zhou deeply suspected that the so-called Secret Treasure might not exist at all, and it was just a ploy by Hui Neng to attract visitors and boost the economy. Just now he was complaining that Lanruo Temple didn¡¯t even know the basics of doing business and receiving guests. Now he realized that he was the one who didn¡¯t understand business; the Great Monk was hiding his talents well. ¡°One hundred taels per person?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes widened, giving Hui Neng a menacing look, ¡°Not bad at business, are you, Monk? Even I wouldn¡¯t dare to charge so much for my services.¡± You¡¯re full of it! Fang Zhou looked at her with disdain. Hui Neng laughed naively, ¡°Not expensive, not expensive. Benefactor, this is specially prepared for those who are fated with Buddha. Buddha ferries the fated, can we really talk of expensiveness when it comes to Buddha¡¯s affairs? I see that our benefactors are fated with Buddha; why not try it out?¡± Fang Zhou translated Hui Neng¡¯s words in his head: This package is specially tailored for suckers. Do you want to give it a try? Ling Xiaoyue turned to look at Han Li, expectant. Han Li was embarrassed again. She had a little over a hundred taels with her, which was what she had casually saved up along her journey of Demon Extermination. A little over a hundred taels was a fortune to the ordinary people, but now it seemed to be slightly insufficient. Buying a Buddha¡¯s Blessing Meal for anyone would be unequal, and buying a Pilgrim Package for her two life-saving benefactors seemed a bit stingy. In the end, Han Li bit the bullet and purchased the Layman¡¯s Package for all three of them. After taking the money, Hui Neng immediately called a young monk in to arrange three mid-grade Zen rooms for the three lay practitioners. Their horses were also taken to the temple stables to be looked after by the monks. The three were led by the young monk to the rooms arranged for them. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: 36. Have I already been this awesome? Chapter 36: 36. Have I already been this awesome? Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Along the way, Fang Zhou encountered many monks, all of whom were women, which made him think that Lanruo Temple should not be called a monk¡¯s temple, but a nunnery instead. However, in this world where yin prevails over yang, there are no nuns, and all monks are referred to simply as monks, differentiated only as female monks and male monks. The meditation rooms arranged for the three of them were located behind the side hall, featuring a large courtyard with a huge locust tree planted in front of the entrance, and rows of houses within the courtyard. Just as the three of them stepped into the courtyard, the door of one of the houses suddenly opened, and a young woman came out. This woman, dressed in gray attire and carrying a longsword on her back, had an indifferent expression and a long scar on her left cheek. The woman in the gray attire surveyed Fang Zhou and his two companions, her gaze swept past Ling Xiaoyue and Han Li, lingering a bit longer on Fang Zhou¡¯s face before she left the courtyard straight away. Fang Zhou asked the young monk who was leading the way, ¡°Is this person also here to search for the Secret Treasure?¡± The young monk¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, ¡°Yes, there are many such visitors in the temple who come to search for the Secret Treasure. They do not come out during the day and only appear at dinner time.¡± The three of them were assigned to three connected meditation rooms, furnished simply and spartanly, with only bedding, a table, and several stools. There was nothing else. Its only advantage was its cleanliness. Were the standard meditation rooms simply bare floor spaces then? The young monk informed the three that the latrines and baths were located at the back of the courtyard. They were allowed to move freely around the entire temple, and dinner started at the time of You (5-7 PM), which they had to get themselves in the temple¡¯s dining hall. After the young monk left, Ling Xiaoyue jumped onto the canopy of the locust tree to bask in the sun. After putting down her luggage, Han Li planned to stroll around Lanruo Temple to familiarize herself with the surroundings and asked Fang Zhou if he wanted to join. Fang Zhou shook his head and declined, hiding in his room for cultivation after she left. He recently felt that he was just a little bit away from advancing his realm in cultivation, but always failed to grasp it, feeling extremely uncomfortable in a stagnant state. There was also a considerable amount of Spiritual Energy accumulated in his body, which, aside from nourishing his body, was left to naturally dissipate. Fang Zhou did not know if other cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm experienced the same, but he himself felt it was a waste. Time always passed quickly during cultivation. When Fang Zhou heard the sound of a door opening next door, he emerged from his cultivation state and realized the sky outside had already darkened. He stretched lazily and stepped out of his room into the courtyard. At that moment, the woman in the gray attire who had left earlier returned. Perhaps because Fang Zhou was alone, her gaze towards him became unrestrained, sizing him up thoroughly as if wanting to strip him bare. Fang Zhou frowned slightly; he felt that the woman¡¯s gaze carried not just possessiveness but also a distinct hostility which made him uncomfortable. After a few seconds of mutual staring, the woman in the gray attire slightly curved the corners of her mouth into a silent smile, then entered her room and slammed the door shut. Fang Zhou stood in the courtyard for a while longer and looked up at the locust tree¡¯s canopy, but couldn¡¯t spot Ling Xiaoyue, unsure where she had wandered off. ¡°Mr. Fang.¡± Han Li¡¯s voice came from behind him. Fang Zhou turned around and saw her coming out from the next room. Han Li had already realized that the expert who had scared off the Mountain Demon at the Land God Temple that night was not Fang Zhou and guessed from his daily cultivation that he might be in the same Qi Refining Realm as her. But since Fang Zhou had indeed saved her life that night, she still hadn¡¯t changed her respectful way of addressing him. Fang Zhou, used to it from his previous life, didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with the title ¡°Mr. Fang¡± and did not correct her. Seeing Han Li, Fang Zhou suddenly remembered the issue he had contemplated before the cultivation session and asked her, ¡°What do you do with the excess Spiritual Energy accumulated inside your body after cultivation?¡± Han Li looked at him curiously, ¡°There isn¡¯t any excess. How could there be excess Spiritual Energy?¡± Thinking she might have misunderstood, Fang Zhou patiently explained, ¡°I mean the Spiritual Energy stored in the Dantian after cultivation, the bulging one.¡± Han Li¡¯s gaze became even stranger, but she didn¡¯t speak rashly. After pondering for a while, she solemnly said, ¡°Mr. Fang, usually when I cultivate for half a day, refine the Spiritual Energy to nourish my body through circulation, the Spiritual Energy left in my Dantian is less than a finger full.¡± Fang Zhou blinked and looked at her, wondering what kind of joke is this, then what is this bulging mass inside my Dantian that sometimes even feels uncomfortably swollen? Could it possibly be gas? Han Li patiently explained to Fang Zhou that unless one possesses the most top-tier techniques, the amount of Spiritual Energy refined in the Qi Refining Realm each time is not much, and after circulating it throughout the body, little remains. Even the top-tier Qi Refining Techniques wouldn¡¯t leave much Spiritual Energy after each cultivation session. Only when one achieves Perfection in Qi Refining can they store more Spiritual Energy in their body, in preparation for advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. After listening to Han Li¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou fell silent, extremely shocked in his heart. He realized that if Han Li wasn¡¯t lying, then the New Moon Qi taught to him by Ling Xiaoyue is definitely not some common technique. He is only at the entry-level of the Qi Refining Realm, yet the Spiritual Energy stored in his Dantian after each cultivation session is so plentiful that it becomes uncomfortable, so much that it¡¯s unusable, which according to Han Li, even top-tier Qi Refining Techniques couldn¡¯t achieve. Fang Zhou suddenly remembered, when Ling Xiaoyue taught him New Moon Qi, she mentioned it was a Divine Skill bestowed by heaven. Could it be she wasn¡¯t just boasting? Fang Zhou found it hard to believe, mainly because Ling Xiaoyue often left an unreliable impression, far from that of a highly skilled master. He was eager to find Ling Xiaoyue to clarify this, but he had no idea where she had gone. Even without asking, Fang Zhou could guess her reaction; she would probably just stand with her hands on her hips, laughing grandly, ¡°Basic operations, trivial matter, sit down!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense; without Spiritual Energy, how do you enhance yourselves during fights?¡± Fang Zhou recalled another contradiction; he had seen Han Li and Lingnan Twin Fiends fighting, their strength and speed far surpassing normal humans. Weren¡¯t they using Spiritual Energy to enhance themselves in battle? At that moment, Fang Zhou thought these three must have also learned the Qi Gathering Technique like himself; otherwise, without the aid of Spiritual Energy, how could their skills be so good? When Fang Zhou raised this question, Han Li didn¡¯t show any sign of surprise. Fang Zhou was asking entry-level questions, how could Han Li not realize he had just started cultivating? Was it possible that Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t teach him these basics? ¡°Mr. Fang, I don¡¯t use Spiritual Energy to enhance myself during fights, and neither do the Lingnan Twin Fiends.¡± Han Li told Fang Zhou that their skills came from nourishing their bodies with Spiritual Energy over many years. The little Spiritual Energy gathered during regular cultivation wouldn¡¯t be enough to enhance themselves in battle; wouldn¡¯t it run out in just one breath? Fang Zhou pondered, ¡°Have you really not learned any Spiritual Energy Guiding Techniques? Like the kind that instantly spreads Spiritual Energy throughout the body?¡± Han Li helplessly shook her head, ¡°No, even if there was such a technique, there isn¡¯t enough Spiritual Energy to afford such luxury. I¡¯ve heard that in Major Sects, there might be such techniques that allow one to use Spiritual Energy to assist in fighting even in the Qi Refining Realm, but it can only temporarily direct it to the limbs, not instantly cover the whole body.¡± Fang Zhou fell silent again. He wanted to tell Han Li, how can there be none? The Qi Gathering Technique I am learning does exactly that. But he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to disclose such information to others. His impression of Ling Xiaoyue once again was shattered. What kind of background does this cheap master have, teaching him stuff, one more impressive than the other? ¡°May I ask,¡± Fang Zhou said to Han Li, ¡°what realm are you currently in? How long have you been cultivating? If it¡¯s inconvenient to talk about, then never mind.¡± Han Li hesitated for a moment, then answered, ¡°I am currently at Qi Refining Great Achievement, just a step away from Perfection. It has been five years since I started cultivating.¡± Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure if he should be happy; he had been cultivating for just over a month. If Han Li¡¯s combat power was only as shown at the Land God Temple, then Fang Zhou thought he could easily defeat her. Am I really that formidable already? However, this was just self-validation. Fang Zhou knew there was nothing outstanding about his intelligence or character. If he became stronger than Han Li in just a month, it was mainly due to the system, secondly due to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s techniques, and thirdly because of his cultivation aptitude, which even attracted the elders of Xuanji Sect to take him as a disciple. If the conditions were the same and it was a fair competition, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t think he could win against Han Li. But that¡¯s how unjust the world is, true fairness never existed. Fang Zhou could only reflect on this in his mind, reminding himself not to be complacent. The Golden Finger must be used when necessary, we common people rely on it to live comfortably and sleep well. After their conversation, the sky had completely darkened, the time had passed Youshi, and the monastery¡¯s dining hall rang the mealtime bell. Yet, Ling Xiaoyue had not returned. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: 37. Someone with just a ladle will get cut. Chapter 37: 37. Someone with just a ladle will get cut. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation As the fifth bell sounded, Fang Zhou and Han Li arrived at the dining hall of the temple. The spacious dining hall was clearly divided into two sections. To the left, at a glance, there was a sea of shaved heads¡ªabout two dozen female monks of varying ages were seated around four large wooden tables, which were set with steamed buns, rice porridge, several cold dishes, and a big pot of mushroom soup. The other side consisted of several rows of small tables, apparently reserved for guests, sparsely seated with over a dozen people. Some were in groups, others were alone, keeping a considerable distance from each other. In the middle, four people were eating and drinking. Clearly, these dozen or so people were all here for the Secret Treasure. At a glance, Fang Zhou noticed that this group was entirely female, ages ranging from twenty to thirty. In other words, currently in the whole Lanruo Temple, Fang Zhou was the only man; the rest were all women. Tch, this feels a bit dangerous. As Fang Zhou just set foot in the dining hall, all eyes immediately turned to him. If there were spotlights, the scene would be pitch black with only him illuminated. In Fang Zhou¡¯s world, women are a kind of herd creature; as their number increases, they can get very bold. And if they hold an absolute majority, they would turn the tables and create pressure for men. And in this world, it was even more outrageous; the naked glances gave Fang Zhou the feeling of being a little white rabbit that had wandered into a wolf¡¯s den. The female monks¡¯ gazes were fervent and fearless. Though there were strict rules and precepts, looking a bit longer wouldn¡¯t lead to pregnancy, right? And those who came for the treasure were even more audacious, their eyes boldly wandering and lingering over Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, arms, and thighs. Fang Zhou felt a tingle on his scalp but still managed to appear calm and collected as he and Han Li found an empty table to sit down. A diligent little monk brought dinner to the two of them¡ªsteamed buns, rice porridge, a few cold dishes, a plate of stir-fried bok choy, and a bowl of mushroom soup. That was it; as expected, the meal was vegetarian¡ªit couldn¡¯t get any more plain. Fang Zhou stopped the little monk who was about to leave: ¡°How come they get to eat meat, but we don¡¯t?¡± Fang Zhou was referring to the four women sitting not far from him. It was clear that these four were together; their table was piled with meat and alcohol, several empty wine jars on the ground, and all four were flushed with drink. The little monk whispered, ¡°Please forgive us, benefactor. Our temple doesn¡¯t provide meat dishes. The meat for those benefactors was hunted outside by themselves, and the wine was brought by them too.¡± Fang Zhou nodded and after the little monk left, Han Li whispered, ¡°Master, should I go and hunt some game?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°No need to trouble yourself, this is fine.¡± He had just asked out of habit; it wasn¡¯t as if he absolutely needed meat, that would be too fussy. ¡°Hey, little brother over there~¡± It seemed that their conversation was overheard by the boisterous four; one of them lifted a wine jug and called out to Fang Zhou loudly, ¡°Want to eat meat? Come over then, big sister will feed you, haha.¡± The other three also started to make a racket: ¡°Come here, little brother, have a drink with your sisters; eat as much meat as you like.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and responded, ¡°Thank you, but you can enjoy it yourselves.¡± He did not want to cause trouble but overlooked something¡ªwhen dealing with drunks, one must never engage with them, otherwise, they would push it further. Sure enough, as soon as Fang Zhou replied, the four somewhat drunken women immediately got even more excited. ¡°Little brother, don¡¯t be shy, come on over.¡± ¡°Your sisters won¡¯t eat you, haha!¡± ¡°Come for a good time.¡± The clamor of these four made everyone else in the dining hall frown. The monks just watched, not daring to intervene; those who came in search of treasure kept to themselves, not wanting to get involved in trouble. Fueled by alcohol, the four were becoming increasingly offensive, spewing all sorts of vulgarities. Listening to these sleazy words, Fang Zhou had no reaction. As an old driver who had seen countless films, these mediocre vulgarities were no big deal to him. But this made it impossible to enjoy the meal, so Fang Zhou could only say to Han Li, ¡°Too noisy, let¡¯s go.¡± Han Li nodded and stood up to leave. Just as they were about to step out, a porcelain bowl flew past and crashed in front of them. Bang! The entire dining hall instantly fell silent. The woman who threw the bowl cockily raised a leg and said, ¡°Did I say you could leave? Our throats are hoarse from shouting for you, and you¡¯re trying to leave without having a few drinks?¡± Han Li swiftly stood in front of Fang Zhou, her hand on the hilt of her sword, quickly pondering for a countermeasure. ¡°What realm are these four people at, can you tell?¡± Han Li suddenly heard Fang Zhou¡¯s voice behind her, as if he were speaking right into her ear. Han Li instantly felt a numbness on her back and as if her limbs were stiffened, with her ears feeling hot and itchy. She hastily replied, ¡°They are all in the Qi Refining Realm, not higher than me.¡± ¡°Then step aside, let me handle this!¡± Fang Zhou put his hand on Han Li¡¯s shoulder and nudged her to the side. Summoning Hu Lai¡¯s invisible left hand, Fang Zhou grabbed a steaming bowl of mushroom soup from the table ahead and hurled it at the four women. Since there was no sign of Fang Zhou moving and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was invisible, the four women were caught completely off guard. The flying mushroom soup hit the leg-raising woman, splashing with a smack, soup scattering, bowl shattering, flipping her onto her back. The remaining three women turned in surprise, their reflexes dulled by alcohol, and seemed not to have realized what had happened. Fang Zhou, with the Evil Slaying Sword in hand, operated the Qi Gathering Technique, and spiritual energy instantly flooded his body. While the entire tavern¡¯s attention was captivated by the bowl of mushroom soup, Fang Zhou, as quick as a charging horse, reached the four women in a blink and thrust out three consecutive strikes. Each stab was simple and direct, yet executed effortlessly and as fast as lightning. After completing the three thrusts, the woman who had fallen was just getting up when Fang Zhou¡¯s sword was already at her neck, immobilizing her. Only then did the other three women realize Fang Zhou¡¯s approach, they stood up abruptly, but with three thumping sounds, their chests burst open, each revealing a fine cut oozing blood, and only then did they feel a slight pain. The three were completely unaware of when they had been attacked and stood still in shock, not even thinking to cover their exposed clothes. Fang Zhou surveyed them with a critical gaze, serious and stern, appreciating his handiwork. This was the Cloth Exploding Sword Technique derived from the straightforward swordsmanship, indeed formidable. His gaze finally settled on the woman who had spoken first. The woman¡¯s drunkenness was scared away, sweat beading on her forehead, and her lost wits finally returned. These four women were independent cultivators who feared nothing more than offending someone without reason. Unfortunately, after a few cups too many, their sense became inflated. Even the well-known proverb ¡°A swaying head may invite a blade¡± was forgotten. With her face flushed, whether from the hot soup or fear, she quickly bowed to Fang Zhou: ¡°Thank you for your mercy, esteemed one. We sisters were blind to see, are willing to accept punishment and ask for your forgiveness.¡± The other three women, also with lingering fears, bowed to apologize. They weren¡¯t fools; for Fang Zhou to easily inflict small cuts on their chests was even more difficult than stabbing them to death. To concede to such a master did not mean being cowardly. Fang Zhou softly said, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you with some advice, don¡¯t act arrogantly¡­ cough, I mean, there is always someone better than you, so stay humble.¡± That was close, nearly ruined the cool factor. Their heads sunk even lower as they chorused, ¡°We¡¯ve learned our lesson.¡± Fang Zhou calmly sheathed the Evil Slaying Sword, satisfied with the four women¡¯s admission of wrong. But your clothes are torn open at the chest, bowing and bending over in front of me like that isn¡¯t quite appropriate. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t look further, glancing around the tavern. Those who previously ogled him unabashedly now averted their gazes and refused to meet his eye. He left the tavern nonchalantly, Han Li at his side. After Fang Zhou left, the four women collapsed onto their chairs, filled with the relief of having survived a disaster. They were independent cultivators without any sect; even if Fang Zhou had killed them, there would be no one to avenge them. They looked at the remaining drinks on the table but dared not to touch them again. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: 38. No matter how funny, you cannot laugh Chapter 38: 38. No matter how funny, you cannot laugh Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Fang Zhou and Han Li left the dining hall and on their way back, Fang Zhou walked ahead while Han Li trailed a couple of steps behind. She watched his back, her expression calm but her eyes somewhat complicated. Originally, she thought that Mr. Fang had not been cultivating for long, and in Senior Ling¡¯s absence, she would need to protect him. But to her surprise, Mr. Fang was incredibly powerful. Well, of course, with someone as eminent as Senior Ling as his master, how weak could his disciple possibly be? Han Li recalled the skills Fang Zhou had displayed in the dining hall ¨C his strength, speed, and technique, all exceeded hers. She could not help but think back to the basic questions Fang Zhou asked, questions that even a novice would understand. Clearly so powerful, how could he possibly not know? For a time, Han Li couldn¡¯t figure out whether Fang Zhou was doing it on purpose or really didn¡¯t understand. Thinking to herself, her face slightly darkened and she couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft sigh. But she abruptly caught herself, quickly glanced at Fang Zhou, and seeing that he seemed unaware, she breathed a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t resist tapping her own face with her hand. Han Li, what are you thinking? Stay calm. You need to be as composed and unruffled as Mr. Fang, with the boldness to remain unwavering even if Mount Tai were to collapse before you. Look at how he remained indifferent throughout, using force to intimidate those clowns as if it wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning. This breadth of mind and magnanimity is worth learning from. Han Li silently encouraged herself. Meanwhile, ahead of her, Fang Zhou¡¯s expression had become contorted in an effort to hold back laughter. He couldn¡¯t laugh, he had to maintain the poise of an eminent figure, no matter how hilarious the situation, he couldn¡¯t laugh. No good, can¡¯t hold it anymore! Hahahaha! That act I just put on, I give myself a hundred points!! Hahahahaha!!! Despite the laughter, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t entirely putting on an act for the sake of it. He deliberately showed off his skills to deter others, letting them understand that he¡¯s not easy to provoke. Otherwise, those rowdy bunch might secretly target him, causing endless trouble. Of course, it was mainly because of those four drunken women¡¯s harassment that Fang Zhou went along with the flow ¨C otherwise, he had no interest in showing off. There¡¯s a saying, those who jump too gladly die early, just like those who show off entice trouble; it¡¯s a warning that should always be remembered. Once he had composed himself, Fang Zhou turned back to Han Li and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you didn¡¯t even get to have your dinner because of me.¡± Han Li shook her head: ¡°It¡¯s alright, I still have some dry food to satisfy my hunger.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°Mr. Fang, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so formidable¡­ much more so than me.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t praise me, otherwise, I might start to think I¡¯m really awesome.¡± Fang Zhou somewhat awkwardly waved his hand: ¡°Those four were drunk, their movements sluggish and that¡¯s the only reason I got the upper hand. If it had been a fair fight, the outcome would have been uncertain.¡± But Han Li didn¡¯t see it that way. Cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm have their bodies nourished by Spiritual Energy year-round; it¡¯s not so easy for them to get drunk. Those four women may have appeared drunk, but if a fight really broke out, they would sober up instantly. Han Li felt it wasn¡¯t that the four were slow, but that Fang Zhou was too fast and caught them off guard, especially with that triple thrust¡ª even Han Li couldn¡¯t see it clearly. If Fang Zhou had really intended to kill, those four wouldn¡¯t have had time to realize what happened before meeting their end. As Han Li was recalling that moment, Fang Zhou suddenly sniffed: ¡°Ah, that smells good~~ so familiar.¡± Han Li came back to her senses and also sniffed. There indeed was a meaty aroma in the air, and she immediately identified it: ¡°That¡¯s the smell of roast chicken.¡± After saying this, she paused abruptly and exchanged a glance with Fang Zhou. This is Monk Temple, where would roast chicken come from? The two immediately followed the scent, turning a corner into a graceful courtyard. The door of the house was closed tight, with the tantalizing aroma wafting from within. Fang Zhou walked over and pushed, the door swung open, revealing a true Zen room with a table in the center, on which were steaming dishes of chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Lanruo Temple¡¯s abbot Hui Neng was sitting behind the desk, holding a chicken leg in his hand, gnawing it with grease smeared all around his mouth. He lifted his head to look at the intruding Fang Zhou and Han Li, his mouth slightly agape, revealing several strands of meat stuck between his teeth. Fang Zhou complained unhappily, ¡°We were eating bland meat dishes out front while you were hiding here gorging on sumptuous food, and you call yourself a monk? What about the monastic rules and precepts?¡± Han Li also gave a nasty look, feeling like she had thrown her hundred taels of silver into the water. Finally realizing what happened, Hui Neng, unruffled, put down the chicken leg, brought his palms together in a gesture of respect, and said solemnly, ¡°Amitabha, the donors have misunderstood this poor monk. As the abbot of Lanruo Temple, I, of course, must observe the monastic rules and precepts. These chicken, duck, and fish are actually vegetarian chicken, vegetarian duck, vegetarian fish, made by the temple¡¯s chef using tofu. This poor monk consumes these things for cultivation, to temper my desire for taste.¡± Fang Zhou felt like giving Hui Neng a thumbs-up, thinking to himself that this monk is truly a genius in hypocrisy. ¡°Admirable, admirable, I highly respect a high monk like the master who strictly observes the precepts.¡± Fang Zhou walked in and picked up the chicken and duck from the table: ¡°Since they are all vegetarian chicken and duck, then there¡¯s no problem with me eating your two vegetarian dishes, right?¡± Hui Neng was about to stop him when Fang Zhou already hurried out of the room with the chicken and duck, moving faster than when he confronted those four women moments ago. Both Hui Neng and Han Li were shocked, their eyes widening. Was there such a play? Han Li hastily followed, but in two seconds, she ran back, picked up the vegetarian fish and pork knuckle from the table, showed Hui Neng an awkward yet polite smile, and dashed off swiftly. ¡°You two shameless rascals,¡± Hui Neng opened his mouth wide, eventually resenting, ¡°At least leave some for me!¡± Outside the door, a young monk peeked in, puzzled, ¡°Abbot, have you eaten enough?¡± Hui Neng glared at him: ¡°Eat your mischief, now hurry to the kitchen and bring me a few more dishes!¡± The young monk took the order and left. Hui Neng sat sulkingly in the meditation cell, thinking this place was not safe and that he had to find a new hiding spot the next day to avoid being found again. Before long, the young monk ran back with a panicked expression. ¡°Something bad happened, Abbot, the meals prepared for you in the kitchen have all been eaten.¡± Hui Neng¡¯s eyes darkened instantly. ¡­¡­ Fang Zhou and Han Li each held two plates of meat dishes as they returned to their quarters, setting them on the table to reveal a sumptuous dinner. The two exchanged glances and then laughed together. Fang Zhou guffawed heartily, while Han Li giggled modestly, her smile tinged with a hint of helplessness. She did not expect to follow Fang Zhou and do such a shameful act, to actually steal the abbot¡¯s dinner. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be shy, we deserve this. That baldy took our money and still had the nerve to hog all the food, truly shameless!¡± Lacking chopsticks, Fang Zhou directly grabbed a chicken leg with his hand and called Han Li to join. Han Li never expected Fang Zhou to be so rough as a man. Just then, there was a rustle from outside the door, and a figure dropped in and strode forward¡ªit turned out to be Ling Xiaoyue, who had been missing for a while. She fixed a furious glare on Fang Zhou upon seeing the food on the table: ¡°You wicked disciple, to enjoy good food without calling your master, burp~¡± After she finished, she belched, with the corners of her mouth still smeared with a bit of oil. Fang Zhou really wanted to throw the chicken leg in her face: ¡°Where did you run off to sneak some food?¡± Ling Xiaoyue immediately denied it: ¡°No, I just went for a casual stroll.¡± She sat down and reached for the pork knuckle. Fang Zhou quickly snatched the plate back: ¡°Stop it, you¡¯ve already had your fill and you¡¯re still fighting with us for food?¡± Ling Xiaoyue swiftly switched hands to grab the roast duck: ¡°Your master is only eighty percent full and can still eat.¡± ¡°Damn it, go away.¡± Unable to outmaneuver her, Fang Zhou hurried to stuff food in his mouth and didn¡¯t forget to remind Han Li: ¡°Eat quickly, or you won¡¯t even get to gnaw on the bones.¡± Watching this master-disciple pair scrapping over a few dishes with none of the mannerisms of the lofty figures they should be, Han Li couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and exasperated. Then she too quickly joined in the scramble for the dishes. COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: 39. Master Hui Nengs Innate Talent Chapter 39: 39. Master Hui Neng¡¯s Innate Talent Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After nightfall, Fang Zhou specifically went to check out the Treasure Viewing Platform built by the monks. The so-called Treasure Viewing Platform is just a simple wooden structure about ten feet high, situated on the hillside beside Lanruo Temple. Climbing up Fang Zhou found, indeed, there were monks standing guard over it, keeping a constant watch on any movement regarding the Secret Treasure, day and night. From the platform, one could see the distant hilltop where the old site of Lanruo Temple was located, but now that it was night, it was pitch black over there and nothing could be seen clearly. According to Monk Hui Neng¡¯s description, if the Secret Treasure were to appear, that entire hilltop would emanate seven-colored rosy clouds, the light shooting straight into the sky, clearly visible from afar. Over the past ten or so days, there had been no appearance of the rosy clouds. According to the monks¡¯ estimates, it should be happening soon, with the longest intervals usually not exceeding half a month, but it was not expected tonight. Fang Zhou came down from the Treasure Viewing Platform and returned to his room. Han Li in the room next door had already gone to sleep, while Ling Xiaoyue had run up to perch in a locust tree¡¯s canopy again; that person was like a monkey, preferring to stay up in trees. There was no moon tonight, so Fang Zhou prepared to practice cultivation inside his room, not wanting to feed the mosquitoes outside. Before starting cultivation, however, he set up a simple early warning trap on the room door. After today¡¯s conflict with those four women, although he had managed to intimidate them, as the saying goes, people tend to stew in their own resentment when they yield for the moment and feel more aggrieved the more they think about it. Just in case they couldn¡¯t get over it and decided to sneak over for an assault in the middle of the night, and he happened to be cultivating, that would spell disaster. One doesn¡¯t worry about the ten thousand possibilities, but rather the one in ten thousand. Fang Zhou felt it was necessary to be vigilant. He couldn¡¯t rely on Ling Xiaoyue outside for everything; what if she slept through it all? At this moment, Fang Zhou was envious of Li Ruyu¡¯s methods¡ªcreating hidden exorcism charms and early warning measures on the ground that would automatically be triggered by someone or something evil. While all he could play with were manual devices¡ªthere was just too big of a gap. After setting the trap, Fang Zhou sat down cross-legged on the bed and began cultivation, but he also paid a bit of attention to his surroundings, not completely immersing himself in cultivation. Time ticked by second by second. The monks finished their evening chanting and turned in for the night, and the whole Lanruo Temple was silent. After midnight, the night was like water, everything deathly still. In the midst of cultivation, Fang Zhou suddenly smelled a faint scent of grass, like the aroma that drifts from a meadow after rain. Soon after, he heard a ¡°click¡± behind him as the early warning trap by the door was triggered. Fang Zhou instantly came out of his meditative state, but he didn¡¯t hurry to open his eyes. He continued to maintain the posture of cultivating, with the Evil Slaying Sword right beside him, ready for use. The room door creaked as it was gently pushed open, and a cool night breeze blew in. Fang Zhou listened intently but heard nothing; the smell of grass, however, became more pronounced. He slightly opened his eyes. A pale face was extremely close, two dark eyes staring into his own. ¡°Shit!¡± Fang Zhou cursed in shock, his body reflexively jerking backward as he grabbed for the Evil Slaying Sword beside him and swept forward. With a ¡°whoosh¡±, the Evil Slaying Sword sliced through the air, hitting nothing. Fang Zhou quickly retreated to the corner of the bed by the wall, scanning everywhere, but seeing nothing; the dimly lit room was empty, only the door standing wide open. He held his wildly beating chest and swallowed hard. What was that just now? A ghost or a hallucination? ¡°Hee hee!¡± A woman¡¯s laughter suddenly rang in his ear. Fang Zhou turned around and thrust out with his sword, piercing the wall. Suddenly, there was a chill at the back of his neck as if someone had touched him with an ice-cold hand. Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp exploded as he hastily circulated the Qi Gathering Technique, filling his body with Spiritual Energy, and threw a punch with all his might into the air, producing a sharp crack, yet he hit nothing. ¡°Hee hee¡­ Hee hee¡­¡± The woman¡¯s laughter sounded both far and near, seemingly mocking Fang Zhou. He vigilantly watched his surroundings, quickly considering countermeasures in his mind when he noticed the grass scent had vanished. Reacting quickly, he drew out the Evil Slaying Sword and jumped down from the bed to pursue. Once in the courtyard, the scent of grass was noticeable again but rapidly dissipating, seemingly drifting away in a certain direction. Ling Xiaoyue had enhanced his sense of smell, allowing him to detect the unique scent of demons and Evil Spirits. Remembering Ling Xiaoyue, Fang Zhou hurriedly looked up into the locust tree canopy, but the darkness of the night obscured everything; he couldn¡¯t tell if she was still up there. Fang Zhou called out a few times with no response, his teeth gritted with anger; this woman always disappeared when needed most. Perhaps having heard Fang Zhou¡¯s shouting, Han Li rushed out from the neighboring room: ¡°Mr. Fang, what has happened?¡± Fang Zhou was just about to explain to Han Li when he suddenly paused, staring at her face. He saw that someone had written two words on Han Li¡¯s face with a green liquid. On the left side was the character for ¡°black,¡± and on the right was the character for ¡°sister,¡± which together read ¡°Black Sister.¡± Han Li naturally had dark skin, so the words ¡°Black Sister¡± could be considered fitting, but no, now was not the time to think about this. ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± Han Li noticed Fang Zhou¡¯s gaze, reached up to wipe her face, and got a faint green color on her hand. She took a sniff, but there was no smell. Fang Zhou nodded: ¡°Someone wrote the words ¡®Black Sister¡¯ on the left and right sides of your face.¡± Han Li¡¯s scalp tingled in an instant. She didn¡¯t take these words as an insult, as a woman being darker and sturdier showed more spirit. What chilled her heart was the thought that someone had stealthily entered her room and written on her face without her noticing. If the person who wrote on her face had murderous intent, wouldn¡¯t she be headless by now? Fang Zhou guessed what she was thinking and comforted her: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it seems that it wasn¡¯t a person who wrote those words, but a ghost.¡± Han Li¡¯s face changed instantly: ¡°Ghost?!¡± She quickly asked, ¡°Where is Senior Ling?¡± ¡°Dead! Follow me.¡± Fang Zhou chased after the direction where the grass scent disappeared, with Han Li following behind him, not understanding what was happening. After a short chase, Fang Zhou caught the faint scent of grass again. He touched his body, finding a small bottle of revealing agent won from a mission. Drinking it would allow one to see invisible things. However, there was only one bottle and the effect lasted only thirty minutes, so it needed to be used with caution. He and Han Li followed the grass scent through the temple¡¯s twists and turns until they arrived at a secluded courtyard where the light was still on in one of the rooms. The grass scent disappeared in this courtyard, and moaning could be heard from inside the room. Fang Zhou thought someone was injured and rushed over, kicking the door open. The room was elegantly furnished, and in the center of it was a large bed where Monk Hui Neng was rolling in the sheets with a man. On seeing someone burst in, the man let out a shrill scream and hurriedly wrapped himself in the blanket. Monk Hui Neng, however, was dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at Fang Zhou and Han Li who had burst in, his gaze seemingly accusingly silent: Why is it you two again?! Han Li¡¯s face was filled with embarrassment, while Fang Zhou righteously scolded: ¡°Monk, how dare you claim you observe the precepts? Is your idea of observing the precepts rolling in the sheets with a man in the middle of the night?¡± This tactic was called preemptive accusation, seizing the moral high ground first, forcing the opponent to feel guilty and ashamed with the condemnation and criticism of conscience. However, Monk Hui Neng lived up to being an accomplished monk and quickly calmed down. She draped a silk Zen robe over herself and said to Fang Zhou and Han Li: ¡°Amitabha, the two benefactors have misunderstood me.¡± Fang Zhou stared at her, waiting to see what kind of excuse she could come up with this time. Monk Hui Neng pointed to the man on the bed and solemnly said: ¡°Just like the principle of vegetarian chicken, duck, and fish, this is a vegetarian man, a test of my resistance to the temptations of lust.¡± Fang Zhou almost exploded. He had no idea ¡°vegetarian human¡± could serve this purpose: ¡°Then how do you explain a man and a woman alone together in the middle of the night?¡± Monk Hui Neng joined her hands together: ¡°This vegetarian person is confused at heart, and I have been instructing and enlightening him overnight. Where is the fault in that?¡± Fang Zhou pointed at the pair: ¡°Is it a special feature of your monks¡¯ teachings not to wear clothes?¡± Monk Hui Neng replied unflinchingly, with a smile: ¡°Being unclothed is because sincerity is best shown when one has nothing to hide. I hope the two benefactors can understand.¡± Fang Zhou was convinced. He couldn¡¯t counter Monk Hui Neng¡¯s explanations and was completely persuaded. This monk¡¯s twisted logic was on par with Ling Xiaoyue; she had a set for every claim. ¡°Great Master,¡± Fang Zhou sincerely asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you particularly good at Finger Skill?¡± Monk Hui Neng let out a surprised sound: ¡°How did the benefactor come to know this? Indeed, I am proficient in the Three Finger Zen Technique.¡± Fang Zhou wondered: ¡°Why not the One Finger Zen?¡± Monk Hui Neng revealed a meaningful smile: ¡°The power of One Finger Zen is inadequate, just inadequate!¡± Fang Zhou understood and could only give her a thumbs up. Master, you¡¯re truly awesome! He couldn¡¯t help but lament: ¡°Great Master, it¡¯s a waste of your talent being a monk. As far as I know, there¡¯s a profession in Japan, on the coast of the East Sea that is the center of everyone¡¯s attention. The elite, like Master Sora Aoi, are famous far and wide, and even in the Central Plains region, they are known. Master Kato, famed for his Two-finger Zen, is also known across the world. With your talents, had you joined that field, you¡¯d probably be well-known everywhere by now.¡± Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s description, Monk Hui Neng couldn¡¯t help but yearn: ¡°Should there be a chance, I shall certainly go to Japan to see for myself.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± COMMENT 0 comment SEND GIFT Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: 40. Note it down in the notebook Chapter 40: 40. Note it down in the notebook Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After discussing the future, Hui Neng finally noticed the words ¡°black sister¡± on Han Li¡¯s face. ¡°What is this?¡± Fang Zhou told Hui Neng what had just happened, omitting the fact that his own nose could smell the scent of grass. After listening, Hui Neng looked solemn: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect those ghosts to start stirring again.¡± Fang Zhou asked, ¡°Master, was this temple haunted before?¡± Hui Neng nodded and clarified to Fang Zhou and Han Li. It turns out that Wild Tomb Ridge was previously called Immortal¡¯s Tomb, a geomantically treasured site where many high officials from previous dynasties were buried, including the imperial mausoleum of one of the emperors. However, since the fall of that dynasty, seemingly tied to the fate of the nation, the geomantic treasure of Immortal¡¯s Tomb was also destroyed. The souls of the dead buried there gathered together, nourished by the yin energy of the land veins, and gradually transformed into ghosts. Lanruo Temple was harassed by these ghosts, which is why it had to move to another building, letting the old site completely fall into ruin. Fang Zhou stared at her with an unhappy expression: ¡°Master, you didn¡¯t mention this when we arrived.¡± Hui Neng put his palms together and sighed, ¡°Ah, those ghosts haven¡¯t been active for many years, they reappeared tonight perhaps because there were too many outsiders at the temple this year.¡± Fang Zhou wanted to say more, but suddenly screams came from a distance. Hui Neng hurriedly said, ¡°Both of you, go see what happened first, while I change my clothes and follow you shortly.¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li exchanged glances and had no choice but to leave the courtyard and head towards where the screams were coming from. The screams originated from the front courtyard of Lanruo Temple, where many trees were planted. Upon arriving, they saw many people hanging from these trees, all outsiders who came for treasure hunting, and not a single monk. All of these people¡¯s limbs were bound in reverse, the pain in their joints making them scream as they swung back and forth, turning the entire Lanruo Temple noisy. Other un-hung outsiders were also awakened, and understandably, every one of their faces was written on with green liquid or painted with a turtle, one person¡¯s hair was even dyed green most tragically. With such eerie events unfolding, everyone was like a frightened bird, not daring to make any sudden moves, just as Han Li had thought, if someone could silently draw and write on faces, killing someone would be even easier. Only when the monks also appeared were the people on the trees rescued, and Hui Neng, having changed clothes, also hurried over. ¡°What exactly happened, grand monk?¡± ¡°Monk, you must give us an explanation!¡± Seeing Hui Neng appear, the outsiders immediately confronted her, especially those who were bizarrely hung in their sleep. Seeing the crowd was noisy and explanations unclear, Hui Neng could only bring everyone to the main hall and explain the matter of the ghosts. However, after listening, these people weren¡¯t quite convinced: ¡°Then how come you monks are all fine?¡± Indeed, neither were the monks hung up, nor were their faces drawn on. Hui Neng gave a wry smile, only able to patiently explain: ¡°Everyone, many years ago the ghosts frequently disturbed our temple, and us monks were often tricked too, not to hide it from you, I myself was hung on a tree in the middle of the night, but later on, the ghosts did not show up anymore, probably having lost interest in us monks. Perhaps the vigorous vitality of you who have come from afar recently has reactivated those long-silent ghosts.¡± This explanation seemed reasonable, and at this moment, a person stepped forward, pointing at Fang Zhou: ¡°Then why is he fine?¡± This person was none other than the athletic woman who stayed not far from Fang Zhou, her face was also marked with several traces. Fang Zhou¡¯s expression darkened, not expecting this woman to step forward and direct the blame towards him, feeling even more certain that this person harbored hostility towards him, only not knowing where this hostility came from. Other people also looked towards Fang Zhou, in so many colorful and green faces, his clean one was indeed conspicuous. ¡°That¡¯s right, how is he fine?¡± Again, someone jumped out, and it turned out to be the four women who had provoked Fang Zhou during dinner tonight: ¡°Are you colluding with these monks to monopolize the secret treasure?¡± Indeed, after sobering up, these four felt indignant, believing that Fang Zhou had taken advantage by launching a sneak attack. Now seizing the opportunity, they jumped out to cause trouble and even went as far as to frame and slander him. Fang Zhou silently noted these five people in his mental notebook, then pondered how to explain himself. Just then, the usually silent Han Li suddenly spoke up: ¡°Mr. Fang is not uninvolved.¡± She pointed at the back of Fang Zhou¡¯s neck: ¡°Mr. Fang has a mark here too.¡± Fang Zhou immediately realized that the ghost in the room indeed had touched his neck, but he hadn¡¯t noticed any mark left on himself. Han Li must have seen it while following behind him. He turned around, and everyone saw a green mark on the back of his neck. With this, the accusations of those five women against Fang Zhou became groundless. Hui Neng also timely stepped forward and said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please be assured, although the ghost caused a commotion, it has not harmed anyone¡¯s life, at most it has left marks that are difficult to wash off.¡± Indeed, there were no casualties tonight, but as soon as they heard the marks were hard to clean, everyone immediately panicked. ¡°What do we do, master?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Hui Neng smiled and said: ¡°Just wash with the incense ash water from our temple and it will clean right off.¡± She was a bit tempted to charge money for the incense ash water, but ultimately refrained. If she had asked for money, these people might have flipped Lanruo Temple upside down. Seeing everyone¡¯s attention diverted and unable to continue framing Fang Zhou, the aggressive woman shrugged her shoulders regretfully, and gave Fang Zhou a malicious smile, highly irritating. Fang Zhou silently watched her, feeling an urge to release a fireball and blast her face away. As for the other four, they¡¯ll be dealt with when the opportunity arises. After Hui Neng used incense ash water to clean everyone¡¯s marks and repeatedly assured that there was no threat to life, the crowd finally dispersed. Fang Zhou and Han Li returned to their quarters and met the returning Ling Xiaoyue. Fang Zhou frowned and said, ¡°Where have you been running around happily?¡± ¡°Untamed disciple, watch your tone when you speak to your master.¡± With hands on her hips, Lig Xiaoyue said: ¡°Of course, I was chasing that ghost.¡± Both Fang Zhou and Han Li were surprised and said in unison: ¡°Did you catch it?¡± Ling Xiaoyue lay down, propping up her legs, hummed: ¡°Ah, your master chased it so far, chased until my feet are sore. If only someone would massage them for me.¡± Fang Zhou kicked towards her: ¡°Spill it!¡± Ling Xiaoyue deftly dodged, continuing to prop her legs, her toes wiggling. Han Li hesitated: ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°No need!¡± Furious, Fang Zhou raised his hand to stop her, gritting his teeth: ¡°Step aside, I¡¯m her disciple, it¡¯s my place to do so!¡± He grabbed Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s foot, activated the Qi Gathering Technique, channeled spiritual energy into his fingers, and with all his might, pinched down hard on her calf. With that grip, even a stone could be crushed. Chapter 41 - 41: I want to write on her legs Chapter 41: I want to write on her legs Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Fang Zhou had made up his mind to teach Ling Xiaoyue a lesson, lest she always disappear at crucial moments. He couldn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t make this woman feel a bit of pain, even with his full strength. His fingers pinched on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s calf, feeling like he had grabbed a piece of warm, fragrant soft jade, tender and silky smooth, with an excellent touch. The force of his fingers seemed to disappear into the sea like a clay ox¡ªgone in an instant. Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine pot and lightly tapped it on Fang Zhou¡¯s head, ¡°Put more effort, Disciple. You still want to compete with me for dinner, why do you look so weak and powerless?¡± Fang Zhou gritted his teeth, circulating the Qi Gathering Technique. Spiritual Energy surged again into his fingers; this time, he tried twisting, hoping to make her leg turn dark blue. Ling Xiaoyue reminded him, ¡°Hey, this amount of force is about right, a little higher up.¡± Fang Zhou still didn¡¯t believe it. He moved both hands, pinching and twisting on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s calf, wishing he could even use his teeth to bite her leg. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he exerted himself, the force of his hands would vanish upon contacting Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s calf, turning into just the right amount of massage pressure. Ling Xiaoyue hummed comfortably, stretching her long legs straight, her toes fidgeting restlessly inside her shoes. Seeing her enjoying it, Fang Zhou could only give up, glaring harshly at her, ¡°Tell me, did you catch that ghost?¡± Ling Xiaoyue hummed, ¡°Didn¡¯t catch it. To correct, that might not be a ghost but a demon cultivated from a beast, heading towards the old site of Lanruo Temple. That place is strange.¡± Hearing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s words, Fang Zhou immediately stopped and exchanged a look with Han Li. So it wasn¡¯t a ghost but a demon. Could it be that Monk Hui Neng was lying? Or did she also not recognize it, thus mistaking it for a ghost? Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°You missed another monster; why not check out the old site of Lanruo Temple?¡± Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure about Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s real combat abilities, but he knew she had a weakness: allowing enemies to escape, always unable to catch up, or perhaps uninterested in pursuing. The master and disciple duo had been together for a long time. Ling Xiaoyue knew what he meant by ¡®missing a monster¡¯. Since the night at the Land God Temple, Fang Zhou had been constantly nagging in her ear about how she ¡®attracted and let monsters go¡¯, which was unhelpful. Suddenly annoyed, Ling Xiaoyue retorted, ¡°You know nothing; as a master, I¡¯m playing a long game, fishing for big fish. The Secret Treasure isn¡¯t revealed yet. If master recklessly enters the old site of Lanruo Temple, wouldn¡¯t it scare the snake in the grass?¡± Occasionally, she could say something reasonable, leaving Fang Zhou speechless. He could only request, ¡°Next time you do something, can¡¯t you give me a hint? You always disappear at crucial moments.¡± Ling Xiaoyue argued righteously, ¡°As my disciple, you should have the ability to adapt. You always depend on me for everything; I¡¯m not your mother, I have no milk for you.¡± Han Li couldn¡¯t hold back and chuckled on the side. Embarrassed, Fang Zhou realized that he was too dependent on Ling Xiaoyue, always subconsciously looking for her whenever something happened. Seeing Fang Zhou out of responses, Ling Xiaoyue had a victorious expression, lifting her foot forward, ¡°Keep massaging, Disciple. Your master is not yet satisfied.¡± ¡°Massage your head!¡± Fang Zhou shoved Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s long leg away, turning back to his room, secretly swearing that one day he would inscribe ¡®rectitude¡¯ all over her legs to avenge today¡¯s grievances. Returning to his room, Fang Zhou calmed his emotions and then continued with his cultivation. He needed to become stronger quickly, rid himself of dependence on Ling Xiaoyue, and not always rely on her. In crucial moments, he had to depend on himself. Tonight, disrupted by the ghost-like demon, time had already passed significantly by the time Fang Zhou was immersed in his cultivation practice, and before he knew it, it was already the next morning. Han Li had come over to call him for breakfast. Breakfast was still in the food hall, the monks had not yet come for their morning prayers, and only a few others had arrived, sitting sparsely. The events of last night had left them all frightened, and even in broad daylight, their expressions were cautious. Looking at these people, Fang Zhou had a doubt in his heart, based on Han Li¡¯s judgment that these people were at most in the Qi Refinement Realm, why would they dare to seek a Secret Treasure? The abilities of someone in the Qi Refinement Realm were limited to physical prowess; they couldn¡¯t even make use of Spiritual Energy for materialization or emitting it externally. Frankly speaking, they were merely somewhat more advanced pawns, yet these pawns dared to join in the fray, clearly unaware of their proper place. Although Fang Zhou was also a pawn in the Qi Refinement Realm, it was not by his own choice; he was dragged here by Ling Xiaoyue, so that didn¡¯t count. Since arriving at Lanruo Temple, this question had troubled Fang Zhou, and ultimately, it was Han Li who clarified it for him. This was actually the survival status at the bottom of the Cultivation World, where solitary cultivators struggled with low realms, no sect or school backing them, and most solitary cultivators lacked a complete technique inheritance. They could only rely on fortunate encounters and treasure hunts for breakthrough opportunities. Moreover, the so-called Secret Treasures were mostly unremarkable; disciples from Major Sects and powerful solitary cultivators disdain such treasures. Only those cultivators of lower realms would swarm to them like jackals drawn to rotting meat. Of course, there were exceptions. Some disciples from Major Sects would occasionally participate in these low-level treasure disputes during their travels. With their robust techniques and sharp combat skills, they often become the protagonists in these battles, easily defeating all rivals, seizing the treasure, acquiring handsome men and followers, and then departing triumphantly, leaving a group of envious and jealous solitary cultivators behind. If the treasures were of high quality, then more people would vie for them, like the Black Jiao Cave incident Han Li had experienced before, where several smaller sects and cultivator families joined forces to hunt for treasures, including several experts in the Innate Realm. Right now, the people who came to Lanruo Temple to hunt for treasure seemed to be in the Qi Refinement Realm at first glance, but there might be some hiding in the Foundation Establishment Realm among them; this kind of deception was not uncommon. After hearing Han Li¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional about how extremely harsh the living environment in the Cultivation World was. Solitary cultivators struggled and hustled but could not measure up to even a single finger of a Sect¡¯s disciple, who in turn was suppressed by the genius disciples and unable to make their mark, while those genius disciples, because of their high profile, were also prone to rapid downfalls. Comparisons are daunting. Before, Fang Zhou felt that encountering a unreliable person like Ling Xiaoyue was terribly unlucky, but now he instead felt fortunate to have met her, as if he was incredibly lucky. In the future, he might as well be nicer to her; after all, she was technically his master, and respecting one¡¯s mentor is a virtue. As Fang Zhou was reevaluating his attitude towards Ling Xiaoyue, she, who was basking in the sun on a tree canopy, suddenly sneezed and rubbed her nose: ¡°Who is thinking badly about me?¡± After breakfast, Fang Zhou toured Lanruo Temple to familiarize himself with the layout, to avoid any awkward encounters with Monk Hui Neng giving blessings. After touring, Fang Zhou returned to his room and once again plunged into cultivation, not wanting to waste a single minute. Moreover, cultivation was actually not tedious for him; as long as he routinely circulated the Spiritual Energy through the Circulation, his consciousness would enter an indescribable state where both mind and body felt comfortably warm, completely unaware of the passing of time. After waking up and having lunch, Fang Zhou continued to cultivate diligently until evening, earning some admiration from Han Li as she usually only cultivated half of the day and spent the rest practicing swordsmanship and physical movements. After dinner at the hour of You, just as Fang Zhou was about to continue cultivating, a breathless young monk came running to inform him and Han Li: ¡°The seven-colored rosy clouds have appeared.¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly called out to Ling Xiaoyue on the tree. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice came down: ¡°No need to shout; your master has already seen it.¡± Right, she was on a locust tree, higher than the entire Lanruo Temple and even the Treasure Viewing Platform, naturally, she could see the seven-colored rosy clouds. Without waiting for her, Fang Zhou and Han Li hastily headed to the Treasure Viewing Platform. When the two reached the Treasure Viewing Platform, the place was already brightly lit, and the solitary cultivators had gathered. At this moment, no one cared whether they had elite seats or ordinary seats set by Monk Hui Neng; they all climbed onto the platform. Fang Zhou and Han Li exchanged glances and also quickly climbed onto the large wooden platform, which thankfully was big enough to accommodate so many people. Upon reaching the top, Fang Zhou immediately saw the Legendary seven-colored rosy clouds. Chapter 42 - 42: 42. Competence is the paramount principle. Chapter 42: 42. Competence is the paramount principle. Seven-colored rosy clouds shot from the old site of Lanruo Temple atop the mountain, overlapping and illuminating each other, reaching straight into the sky, as if even the clouds above were tinted with color. Even Fang Zhou, who had seen high-powered colorful spotlights in his previous life, was taken aback by this scene, not to mention the others, who were stunned into silence. Fang Zhou came back to his senses, and while everyone else was silent, he listened carefully and sure enough, he could faintly hear the sound of Buddha¡¯s voice and Buddhist chant, as if a group of monks were singing in chorus. This matched exactly with what Monk Hui Neng had described, and she certainly hadn¡¯t bragged about it. ¡°This phenomenon¡­ this is definitely not just a Magic Artifact, or even a Spiritual Artifact¡­ no, it might even be a Treasure Artifact!¡± Han Li watched the scene unfold before her, murmuring to herself, her eyes gradually igniting with passion. ... It wasn¡¯t just her; other solitary cultivators also began to breathe heavily, their eyes red, as if they were starving wolves seeing fresh meat. At that moment, Monk Hui Neng also arrived and said to the solitary cultivators, ¡°Amitabha, dear benefactors, the Secret Treasure has appeared. The way to the old site of Lanruo Temple is just behind our temple. Whether you can obtain the Secret Treasure depends on whether you are destined with Buddha.¡± Since no one purchased the Buddha¡¯s Blessing Meal, Hui Neng didn¡¯t need to send someone to lead the way, and there was only one path to the old site of Lanruo Temple, so even if it got dark, it was unlikely for one to get lost. Before Hui Neng could finish speaking, some solitary cultivators could no longer restrain themselves and leaped down from the platform, rushing towards the back door of Lanruo Temple. The rest followed hurriedly, fearful of falling behind the others by even a single step. As soon as Monk Hui Neng finished speaking, the Treasure Viewing Platform was completely empty, without a single silhouette in sight. Watching the solitary cultivators who left eagerly, two young monks whispered to each other. ¡°Another group rushing to their doom!¡± ¡°How many do you think will return this time?¡± ¡°At most three. I do hope that man makes it back alive.¡± ¡°Hehe, me too!¡± Suddenly, the two young monks seemed to sense something and immediately shut their mouths, trembling as they looked behind. Monk Hui Neng stood right behind them, his plump face sporting a faint smile. The two young monks started shaking all over. ¡­ Fang Zhou and Han Li followed closely behind the group of solitary cultivators; seeing them run faster than the others, they passed through the back door of Lanruo Temple and dashed into the dark forest, soon disappearing from sight. Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Why are they so excited?¡± Even if the Secret Treasure has appeared, there¡¯s no need to act as if they¡¯re rushing to be reincarnated. While running, Han Li explained to Fang Zhou, ¡°Sir, the rumors were mistaken. It was initially thought that the Secret Treasure in Wild Tomb Ridge was at most a Magic Artifact, but from the phenomena just observed, this Treasure seems to be of quality surpassing a Spiritual Artifact. That¡¯s why they¡¯re so urgent.¡± A Spiritual Artifact alone is worthwhile for smaller sects to act on. If it¡¯s of Treasure Artifact quality, even the Major Sects would compete for it. How could these Qi Refining Realm solitary cultivators not be anxious upon seeing the suspected appearance of a Treasure Artifact. The saying ¡®A man is not guilty until he possesses a jade¡¯ won¡¯t be considered unless there is a jade to be possessed. Fang Zhou now understood that these solitary cultivators thought they had stumbled upon a great deal. The quality of this newly emerged Secret Treasure was much higher than rumored, hence their impatience. Otherwise, once the news spread and attracted those Major Sects, these little shrimps would have no chance. Even so, Fang Zhou always felt something was off but couldn¡¯t pinpoint it at the moment. He and Han Li did not stop their feet and continued to follow the solitary cultivators into the dense forest, along a somewhat unclear mountainous path, rushing towards the old site of Lanruo Temple. As for Ling Xiaoyue, Fang Zhou knew he did not need to worry about her; she would surely be ahead of everyone. The distance from Lanruo Temple to the old site was not short. Fang Zhou now sprinted like a swift horse, and after running wildly for half an hour, they finally reached the mountaintop where the old site was located. There were long stone steps grown over with vines leading straight to the old site of Lanruo Temple. Fang Zhou and Han Li followed the stone steps and finally arrived at the entrance to the old site of Lanruo Temple. This old site of Lanruo Temple was almost identical to the Lanruo Temple where Hui Neng and the others resided, the only difference being its much larger area, nearly several times larger. Upon arriving, Fang Zhou noted that the entire old site of Lanruo Temple was enveloped in seven-colored rosy clouds, and the sound of Buddha¡¯s voice and Buddhist chant had once again disappeared. Fang Zhou also noticed a giant tree growing inside the old site of Lanruo Temple. The huge canopy covered the sky and was visible even from outside, which was quite rare. For some reason, looking at that giant tree, Fang Zhou felt an oppressive heaviness in his heart and a palpitation. The temple doors of the old site of Lanruo Temple were wide open. When Fang Zhou and Han Li arrived, they saw several solitary cultivators rush straight into the temple and disappear from sight. Fang Zhou and Han Li didn¡¯t rush in; the two hadn¡¯t forgotten that Ling Xiaoyue mentioned last night, the demon that looked like a ghost was seen running in this direction, it might be inside the old site of Lanruo Temple. Speak of the devil, just with a whoosh, Ling Xiaoyue popped out of nowhere, landing next to Fang Zhou: ¡°Disciple, why are you so slow? Your master has been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Fang Zhou subconsciously wanted to ask her what to do, but he held back just as he was about to speak. He had agreed to stop relying on Ling Xiaoyue so much, not to turn to her or ask her what to do whenever something came up. However, before Fang Zhou could speak, Han Li already asked, ¡°Senior Ling, what should we do?¡± This wasn¡¯t like her usually quiet and reserved style; she seemed a bit too eager, probably stimulated by the fact that the Secret Treasure might be of Treasure Artifact grade. Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t in her usual playful and smiling mood, rarely becoming serious: ¡°The Secret Treasure should be inside that huge tree, but that tree is very dangerous, and this old site of Lanruo Temple is treacherous too. One slight error could cost you your life.¡± She looked at Fang Zhou: ¡°Your master will go in to check it out, you and her can wait outside. If you want to join in the fun, you can come in, but you¡¯ll be responsible for your own safety.¡± Ling Xiaoyue left the choice up to Fang Zhou, just as she had when they first met, giving him the choice to take her as his master. Perhaps the situation was just like that time, choosing wrong could be very dangerous. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t wait for Fang Zhou to reply; with a slight tap of her foot, she soared into the air, rapidly flying towards the giant tree inside the site of Lanruo Temple. A distant voice: ¡°Disciple, be careful not to die, you still owe your master a large sum of money.¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, this woman really was a scam, always ditching her disciple at critical moments. No wonder she could lose that senior sister, who he hasn¡¯t met yet. Han Li hesitated and looked at Fang Zhou: ¡°Mr. Fang¡­¡± Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about¡­ you go in, and I wait for you outside?¡± He remembered that Han Li came to find the Secret Treasure to eradicate the Jiao Poison from her body, so she must go in. Fang Zhou himself didn¡¯t need to; after all, he didn¡¯t even want to come in the first place. Since Ling Xiaoyue said it was very dangerous inside, why would he go in and court death? It¡¯s sensible to be cautious. Han Li blankly stared at Fang Zhou, then bowed and said: ¡°Understood, if there is danger, sir can go back on your own, no need to wait for me, goodbye.¡± After saying that, she turned and ran towards the temple gate. Fang Zhou waved at Han Li¡¯s departing figure, wishing her success. A line of text suddenly popped up in front of him. [Mission triggered¡ªDemon Extermination] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Eliminate the Mystic Yin Tree Demon] [Difficulty: Hard] [Time limit: 48 hours] [Reward: 8 Manliness Points, 1 Purple Card] [Failure: Death, soul dispersed] Damn, is this intentional?! Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly; this system task could not have come at a worse time. If he stayed outside just watching, with Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s level of leaving gaps, that mission would definitely fail. Fang Zhou could only shout to Han Li: ¡°Wait a second.¡± Han Li immediately stopped and looked back at him. Fang Zhou caught up and reluctantly said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go in with you.¡± Han Li¡¯s eyes seemed to light up as she focused on him. Fang Zhou thought, what kind of look is that? and quickly explained, ¡°Let me be clear, I¡¯m not going in because I¡¯m worried about your safety, I have some unavoidable reasons for going in.¡± Han Li smiled slightly, nodding, ¡°I understand.¡± You understand nothing, Sister Han!! Fang Zhou felt helpless, he was really in a situation¡ªa forced hand, yet no one would believe him. Chapter 43 - 43: The lower half of the body controlled the brain. Chapter 43: The lower half of the body controlled the brain. Fang Zhou and Han Li entered the old site of Lanruo Temple together. From the outside, the architecture of Lanruo Temple seemed intact, but once inside, they realized that Lanruo Temple was in ruins, everywhere there were remnants of walls and green vines. As soon as he entered the temple gate, Fang Zhou smelled a heavy scent of trees, as if he was in a forest after the rain, very similar to the smell of grass he detected the previous night. He looked up to the sky and saw seven-colored rosy clouds filling the sky, as if dyeing the entire night with color. It was impressive from the outside, but feeling it from inside was especially awe-inspiring. This meant that the whole old site of Lanruo Temple was bathed in the seven-colored rosy clouds, which also meant it was impossible to know where the light was emanating from. With such a large area for the temple, it was impossible for these individual cultivators to search every part of it. However, Fang Zhou and Han Li had already received a tip from Ling Xiaoyue that the Secret Treasure was within the giant tree, so they did not need to search aimlessly like the other cultivators. ... Thus, after entering the temple, they headed straight for the giant tree. The giant tree was incredibly huge, visible from outside the temple, and even more evident from within. The enormous canopy was like a giant umbrella that covered the sky, unimaginable that a tree could grow so large. Normally, with such a large reference point like the giant tree, one would not take the wrong path, but Lanruo Temple was filled with odd structures and complicated pathways. Many collapsed buildings and overgrown wild grass and vines had blocked the paths, forcing them to take detours. After several turns, they ended up even farther away from the giant tree. Fang Zhou felt something was amiss and said to Han Li, ¡°I¡¯ll climb up to the roof to take a look.¡± Han Li was about to suggest that she should go, but then saw Fang Zhou take a running start and deftly climbed up the roof of a nearby building. Just as he arrived on the roof, before he had a chance to take in the surroundings, he immediately noticed someone else climbing up on the other side. The other person, halfway up, also noticed someone on the roof, looked up and locked eyes with Fang Zhou, both slightly surprised. That person turned out to be one of the four women with whom Fang Zhou had a conflict. The other person¡¯s mouth opened slightly, as if about to shout, but Fang Zhou was already holding the Evil Slaying Sword, activating the Qi Gathering Technique, and dashed over with the speed of a running horse, thrusting his sword. The other person quickly let go with both hands and dropped downwards, avoiding Fang Zhou¡¯s thrust, but had a section of her hair chopped off. Han Li below heard the noise and urgently asked, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s happened?¡± Fang Zhou jumped down from the roof, and sure enough, those four women were below. Seeing Fang Zhou coming down from the roof, they all drew their weapons and glared at him angrily. Han Li came over from the other side, saw the four women, and her expression turned serious. She quickly drew her longsword and stood guard beside Fang Zhou. Both sides were on edge. Fang Zhou had not expected to encounter these four women here. He had only recorded these four women in his notebook the previous night, and tonight they had appeared before him; truly, enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths. The leading woman touched her cut hair and yelled angrily at Fang Zhou, ¡°Well, well, enemies do meet on a narrow path. Tonight, I¡¯m going to teach you, you stinky brat who can only sneak attack!¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than just a lesson!¡± Another woman chimed in, looking at Fang Zhou with a lascivious gaze, ¡°We need to make him wish he were dead.¡± ¡°Exactly, we need to vent our anger,¡± The four of them started to laugh provocatively, completely taking Fang Zhou for a given. Han Li, hearing their foul and offensive language, had her expression darken immediately, as if she had been wronged. Fang Zhou was also amused by anger. Did they really think he was so easy to bully? It seemed that the intimidation he imposed on these four women yesterday had no effect at all. The gender norms in this world were indeed deeply rooted; he was a man handsome and capable of fighting, yet the women only remembered his looks, each thinking he was easy to bully and wanting to get the better of him. Fang Zhou made a miscalculation here; adding up his ages from both lives, he was quite old, and often considered himself an adult, but in appearance he was actually a teenager around fifteen or sixteen, just a bit taller, even Han Li seemed older than him. Moreover, if you put yourself in their shoes, if men encounter a beautiful girl who can also fight, even if they can¡¯t beat her, they¡¯d still fantasize about her in their minds, and there are quite a few who are so lecherous they¡¯d risk their lives for it. The four women facing him were typical cases of their lower halves governing their brains. [Trigger new mission¡ªDefeat the Four Sisters of the White Tiger Sect] [Difficulty: Easy] S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Reward: Masculinity*2 White Card*1] [Failure: Lose virginity, become an RBQ] Looking at the failure punishment in the mission prompt, it seems the Four Sisters of the White Tiger Sect were indeed serious about turning him into an RBQ, making his life worse than death. Yet Fang Zhou calmed himself, considering the mission to be only of ¡®Easy¡¯ difficulty, posing no real danger, and certain that he could handle it alone. To Han Li, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t take action, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± After speaking, he activated the Qi Gathering Technique, filling his body with spiritual energy, moving swiftly like the wind, and in a blink closing the gap between the two parties, striking toward the leading woman with a sword. The woman was caught off guard and hastily lifted her Ghost Head Blade to defend. With a crisp clang, the sturdy Ghost Head Blade was split in two by the Evil Slaying Sword, and the tip of the sword grazed her chest, causing blood to spurt out. The woman let out a wail, quickly retreating backward. ¡°Big sister¡Á3!¡± The other three rushed forward, swinging their weapons at Fang Zhou. Their reaction was fast, but in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, it was too slow. He raised his Evil Slaying Sword to block the first blade, stuck and twisted the sword body, and pushed the longsword toward the other two weapons. The three weapons collided, and using the force of the impact, all three sisters felt a numbness in their palms. Fang Zhou seized the opportunity to execute simple and straightforward swordsmanship, with the Evil Slaying Sword striking like lightning, so fast that it left afterimages. With a few hissing sounds, each of the three women had several blossoms of blood burst forth on their bodies. This time, Fang Zhou did not hold back, using lethal force, nearly piercing through their bodies. The three women screamed in unison, holding their wounds as they retreated. The Qi Refining Realm indeed deserved to be ranked as Advanced Mixed Soldiers; their bodies nourished by spiritual energy were extremely durable. Ordinary people would have been down with such injuries, but they were still jumping around lively. The four women still looked like they had the strength to fight. Fang Zhou did not relax his vigilance, and as he raised his sword to launch the second wave of attacks, he saw all four women turn uniformly¡­ and flee. Hey, weren¡¯t you the ones who said you would turn me into an RBQ? I had my weapon ready, how can you go back on your word? Fang Zhou immediately gave chase, casually turning off the mission success prompt. If you don¡¯t eradicate the roots when cutting weeds, they¡¯ll grow back with the spring breeze¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford to be like Ling Xiaoyue, fond of leaving monsters behind. Watching Fang Zhou¡¯s retreating figure, Han Li couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of astonishment. Fang Zhou was indeed formidable, even more so than herself. For some reason, Han Li¡¯s reference to Fang Zhou changed from ¡°sir¡± to calling him by his name in her heart. Touching the small bottle in her embrace, Han Li¡¯s face showed determination. Being a woman, how could she be weaker than a man, especially weaker than Fang Zhou? Seeing Fang Zhou running far ahead, she hurried to catch up. Chapter 44 - 44: 44. Illusion Technique with Colors Chapter 44: 44. Illusion Technique with Colors ¡°Ladies, split up and run!¡± The head sister of White Tiger Sect clutched her chest wound and shouted loudly. The other three women immediately fled in different directions, decisively and succinctly, clearly not their first time being beaten into a panicked escape. Ordinary people faced with this situation would probably pause, not knowing which one to chase. But Fang Zhou had a clear target, relentlessly pursuing the head sister of White Tiger Sect. This woman was the first to tease him, and she was also the first to pick a fight last night, so Fang Zhou had the deepest impression of her, and his hatred value for her was the highest. Seeing Fang Zhou catching up, the head sister of White Tiger Sect¡¯s scalp tingled with fear: ¡°Why are you chasing me?¡± Out of four people, why only chase her? Could it be because her charm was the greatest? ... Being relentlessly pursued by a handsome young man, in her panic, the head sister couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit thrilled. Fang Zhou sneered: ¡°Because I need a quick sugar fix, psh, because you¡¯re the ugliest, I most want to beat you!¡± Hearing such heartless words from Fang Zhou, the head sister was instantly heartbroken, but her feet moved even faster, resenting her parents for not giving her an extra pair of legs. It must be said that while the fighting ability of this White Tiger Sect head sister was nothing impressive, her skill in running away was not bad at all. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t catch up to her for a moment and could only throw an Illusion Technique at her. The head sister of White Tiger Sect was hit by the Illusion Technique and immediately stopped running, standing dumbfounded on the spot. Fang Zhou caught up and saw the head sister break into a lascivious smile, saying, ¡°Turns out you¡¯re a harsh-tongued, kind-hearted guy, only chasing big sister because you want to spend a spring night with me, you little flirt. Big sister will satisfy you.¡± While speaking, she even started to undress, intending to have a moment of indulgence in this dilapidated temple. Fang Zhou felt his scalp tingle. He always thought that those affected by illusions were full of dirty thoughts, wanting to indulge in lewd acts whenever under an illusion. But recently, he had a new idea: perhaps it was the illusion itself that prompted those affected to act so lewdly since they were seeing nothing but adult-rated illusions. Now the head sister of White Tiger Sect confirmed his thought; the Illusion Technique awarded by his system indeed had a problem¡ªthe people affected by it were practically acting out an adult film. This shouldn¡¯t simply be called an Illusion Technique; it should be called an AV Illusion Technique. While the head sister of White Tiger Sect was still stripping herself, Fang Zhou kicked her over, snapping her out of the illusion. Sitting on the ground, she looked around disorientedly until Fang Zhou swung his sword at her. She screamed in fright and hurriedly raised half a Ghost Head Blade to block. With a crisp sound, the sturdy Ghost Head Blade was chopped into two pieces. The head sister threw the blade away, thinking it¡¯s not worth antagonizing someone upfront; she immediately knelt before Fang Zhou, ¡°Hero, please spare my life, I¡¯m just a nameless nobody, not worth dirtying your treasure sword.¡± Fang Zhou kicked the Ghost Head Blade on the ground: ¡°Other cultivators use treasure swords, treasure blades, stylish and imposing, but you use a Ghost Head Blade. No wonder you¡¯re just a nameless extra who doesn¡¯t even deserve a name. So LOW, what are you cultivating for? Let me send you back to your hometown to raise pigs.¡± The head sister wanted to say that she did have a name, but you never asked. She didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind Fang Zhou¡¯s words, but sending her back home was clear enough and she trembled with fear, tears and snot flowing as she rushed forward to cling to Fang Zhou¡¯s leg. Fang Zhou contemptuously kicked her away and suddenly felt a chill on his back. He hastily swung his sword backwards. This time, he didn¡¯t miss; a vague shadow of a man was struck by the Evil Slaying Sword, emitting a barely audible scream as it completely dissipated into nothingness. Cold sweat broke out on Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead; had his reaction not been prompt, that shadowy figure would have pounced on his back. And the surrounding area, unbeknownst when, was filled with a thick white fog that enshrouded the entire Lanruo Temple. The night sky and tall trees were obscured by the fog, only the seven-colored rosy clouds shone through chasms in the mist, hazy and dreamlike. Just a moment ago, this white fog hadn¡¯t been there¡ªat the blink of an eye, it appeared. Even Han Li hadn¡¯t caught up, without a trace. Fang Zhou called out behind him but received no response. Taking advantage of Fang Zhou¡¯s inattention, the head sister quietly got up and dashed into the white fog. Fang Zhou heard the noise and hastily pursued, but he immediately lost sight of the head sister. Surrounded by the white fog, he could no longer distinguish the directions. The next moment, Fang Zhou heard his elder sister¡¯s scream. He hurriedly followed the direction of the scream and hadn¡¯t run far before he saw the elder sister of the White Tiger Sect facedown on the ground, limbs trembling nonstop. A man¡¯s ghostly apparition clung tightly to her back. Fang Zhou dashed forward in a flash, thrusting his sword into the apparition. The apparition let out a faint scream as if it were there and then dissipated. The Evil Slaying Sword that Fang Zhou had obtained from a draw could harm the Evil Spirit¡¯s ethereal body, and now it finally came into play. After the apparition vanished, Fang Zhou checked on the elder sister of the White Tiger Sect and saw her complexion turn cyanotic, her eyes rolled back, breath gone. There were ten deep finger marks on her neck; she had been strangled to death. Fang Zhou¡¯s expression was solemn; this person was still lively and jumping despite the sword wound, yet in a blink of an eye, she was strangled to death by a ghostly shadow without any chance to resist. If he hadn¡¯t had the Evil Slaying Sword, he really wouldn¡¯t have known how to cope. ¡°Next life when you reincarnate, remember it¡¯s fine to pick up any weapon, just not the Ghost Head Blade. It¡¯s the exclusive of the expendable characters, with a built-in BUFF that ensures an early exit,¡± Fang Zhou muttered to the dead body of the elder sister of the White Tiger Sect, then focused his attention and cautiously moved forward through the fog. Previously, even with the giant trees as reference points, he was still lost; now, without the sight of giant trees, Fang Zhou could only rely on himself to find a way out of this vast, white fog. ¡­ Meanwhile, Han Li also got lost. She watched helplessly as the fog suddenly appeared, cutting off the distance between her and Fang Zhou. After Han Li rushed over, she could no longer find Fang Zhou. No matter how loudly she called out, there was no response. The distance between the two was clearly no more than ten meters, yet in such a short space, contact was completely lost, evidently due to the white fog that had suddenly sprung up. Han Li became immediately alert; although she was only at the Qi Refining Realm, she had encountered no shortage of dangerous situations and had a natural keen intuition for danger, which helped her avoid peril. This intuition was now sounding alarm bells like mad, warning her of the danger of this white fog. Han Li clenched her longsword and moved slowly forward, eyes and ears open in all directions, any rustling could make her carefully observe for a long time. After walking like this for who knows how long, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her, standing still with its back to Han Li. Han Li silently approached from the side, getting within ten feet before realizing that this person was one of those loose cultivators. ¡°Senior, are you alright?¡± Han Li tried calling out, but there was no response. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the person, while preparing to flee. The stone hit the person¡¯s back, causing their body to sway, then fall backward, lying on the ground like a dead body. Han Li slowly walked over and found the person had indeed become a corpse, face sallow and eyes rolled back, with ten clear finger marks on the neck. ¡°Strangled to death?¡± Han Li muttered, feeling as though her neck was getting cold. No, it was really cold; a pair of icy hands was approaching her neck. By the time she realized this in her mind, those icy hands had already grasped her throat, and a ghostly shadow clung tightly to her back. Chapter 45 - 45: 45. Holy crap, little monster Chapter 45: 45. Holy crap, little monster Han Li felt her entire body stiffen, unable to move, as the ghostly hands strangled her neck tighter and tighter. The next moment, the small bottle in her arms emitted a green light, enveloping her and fiercely repelling the ghostly figure behind her. Han Li, enduring the pain in her throat, quickly turned around and slid a yellow talisman from her sleeve, pinching it in her hand. The ghostly figure swiftly retreated, and Han Li pursued closely, tossing the yellow talisman forward and thrusting her longsword. The longsword pierced through the yellow talisman and struck the ghostly figure, pinning the talisman to it. The ghostly figure let out a faint scream and struggled violently, but the talisman pinned to it started burning without fire, incinerating both itself and the ghostly figure into ashes. ... Han Li coughed a few times, looking painfully at the ashes on the ground. She only had six exorcism charms in total, each reusable, yet killing one ghostly figure used up one ¨C who knew how many ghosts were in this mist? She turned back to look at the corpse on the ground; she remembered this person, who was also quite powerful among the rogue cultivators. Han Li estimated that she was roughly on par with her. Such a person died silently in the mist; without the small bottle, she would likely have met the same fate. Han Li remembered Senior Ling¡¯s warning; indeed, this place was extremely dangerous, no less intimidating than Black Jiao Cave. As a small pawn in such a perilous place, without miraculous luck, one could end up dead without knowing how. The thought of retreating as the best strategy suddenly emerged in Han Li¡¯s mind. Whenever she faced danger before, escaping early was her way of saving her life. But this time, the image of Fang Zhou surfaced in her mind, causing her some hesitation. Shhh¡ª A strange noise suddenly sounded. Han Li hurriedly looked over and saw the corpse not far away on the ground being dragged away by something. Han Li¡¯s expression turned extremely grave; she held her breath and began to slowly step back, retreating until she was enveloped by the mist and disappeared. ¡­ Fang Zhou found himself unable to determine the direction. The white mist combined with the complex architecture and pathways of Lanruo Temple formed a natural large maze. Fang Zhou was completely lost, not knowing how long he had walked, but feeling increasingly anxious as the surrounding buildings began to look familiar. He found a spot to make a mark, and casually struck back with his sword, killing a ghostly figure that attempted to latch onto his back. Initially, Fang Zhou was quite wary of these ghostly figures, but he slowly realized that they were not hard to deal with. Every approach by a ghostly figure made Fang Zhou feel a chill, and their method of attack was simply to latch onto the back and strangle the neck, nothing else, making them one-trick simpletons. So, whenever he felt a chill on his back, Fang Zhou would effortlessly perform a back-stab move and easily kill them, having already taken down seven or eight. If it were in a game, this place would be the perfect spot for grinding monsters, but unfortunately, Fang Zhou gained no experience for killing monsters, and the system didn¡¯t trigger any quests for him. After marking, Fang Zhou continued to grope his way forward, not knowing how long he walked, but the buildings around increasingly looked familiar, then he saw the mark he had made. Indeed, he had been walking in circles from the beginning. Could this be the legendary ghost hitting the wall? What should he do? Fang Zhou felt a headache coming on. After some thought, he chose to climb onto the roof and see if he could leave this haunted place from above. This time, he didn¡¯t encounter any acquaintances on the roof. Choosing a direction, he took a few running steps and jumped onto another roof. Using the buildings as landmarks, Fang Zhou moved straight forward as the surroundings gradually changed. ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡± Suddenly, a tremor occurred, causing the buildings underfoot to shake, almost causing Fang Zhou to lose his balance. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down, inhaling sharply. He saw that the open space below was covered with thick roots, each as thick as an adult, breaking through the ground and exposed on the surface. At this time, these roots seemed to come to life, crawling on the ground like giant pythons, penetrating and collapsing the houses on both sides. Seeing the roots coming this way, Fang Zhou quickly turned around and jumped off the roof, and within a few breaths, the house was crushed by the roots. He kept running outward, with continuous rumbling sounds behind him as a large number of buildings were destroyed by the roots. Finally, Fang Zhou jumped into a small courtyard, and only then did the noises cease. He couldn¡¯t help gasping for breath, it was terrifying, were those roots from that giant tree in the temple? It was like a giant monster with numerous tentacles. The system actually wanted him, an advanced mixed soldier, to kill such a colossal creature. Was there some mistake? Even if he were to fight monsters above his level, there was no reason to skip so many levels at once; it felt like he just left the newbie village and was going to fight a boss. Fang Zhou complained in his mind for a while and wondered where Ling Xiaoyue was now. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the roots from here meant he wasn¡¯t far from that giant tree, and Ling Xiaoyue had been inside for so long without any signs. After resting for a while, Fang Zhou was ready to leave when he suddenly smelled a faint scent of grass. Surprised, he sniffed carefully; the smell was similar to the grass he smelled last night in Lanruo Temple but with slight differences. The scent of grass was coming out of a room in the courtyard. The house was old and dilapidated, covered with cobwebs, the doors were nowhere to be found, and the inside was pitch black, looking like a monster opening its mouth, waiting for prey to enter. Fang Zhou quietly retreated, planning to leave the courtyard. He dared to chase out last night because there were many people around him. Now alone, of course, he had to be more cautious, without losing face. Before Fang Zhou could leave, a childlike voice suddenly sounded behind him. ¡°Are you lost?¡± Fang Zhou stiffened, subconsciously gripping the Evil Slaying Sword tightly. He slowly turned around and saw a little girl standing not far away, looking at him curiously. The girl was about twelve years old, with pigtail braids, large eyes, a small nose, slightly chubby cheeks, looking both cute and adorable. She was dressed in purple clothes, with a small gourd hanging at her waist. Seeing such a cute little girl, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but smile: ¡°Yes, I am lost too. Do you know the way out?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The little girl proudly put her hands on her hips: ¡°I¡¯ve led many people out of here, nobody knows it better than me.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Can you lead me out?¡± ¡°Of course, big brother.¡± The little girl bounced over. Fang Zhou also walked over with a smile, raised his hand to cast an Illusion Technique, then activated the Qi Gathering technique, stomped his foot heavily, and dashed towards the little girl like a galloping horse, thrusting his sword towards her chest. Covered in the scent of grass and still trying to deceive me, do you think I¡¯m a Copper Refining Mage? Damn little monster! Chapter 46 - 46: 46. The best strategy is to retreat. Chapter 46: 46. The best strategy is to retreat. The little girl, under Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique, fell into a daze, and Fang Zhou¡¯s sword had already reached her chest. The next moment, the small gourd hanging from her waist suddenly flew up by itself, blocking the Evil Slaying Sword. With a clang, Fang Zhou felt as if he had stabbed his sword into steel with all his might; the entire Evil Slaying Sword trembled, and the force of the rebound left his entire arm numb. The little gourd merely shook slightly, without even a white mark left on it. The little girl¡¯s eyes quickly cleared up; it took merely a second for her to recover from the illusion technique, showing a high level of spiritual resistance. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her little face immediately turned gloomy, and she raised her right hand, from which a vine shot out of her palm, over ten feet long. ... The little girl, holding the vine, swung it down, bringing a whooshing sound with it. Fang Zhou hastily dodged, and the vine struck the ground with a bang, directly cracking the thick floor and creating a ten-foot-long deep pit. Fang Zhou quickly retreated backward, and as the little girl waved, the vine chased after him like a long whip. Fang Zhou hurriedly bent over; the vine flew over his head and snapped a column in front of the room in half. By the time the little girl withdrew the vine, Fang Zhou had already jumped out of her attack range. Looking at the column¡ªwhich was thicker than a thigh¡ªFang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but swallow. This little demon was so adorable on the outside but so ruthless in attack, truly terrifying. ¡°I¡¯m so pissed, why didn¡¯t you fall for it?!¡± The little girl, as irritable as a child denied pocket money, wielded the vine wildly, creating one deep pit after another on the ground. Fang Zhou slowly backed away, preparing to escape. Suddenly, the little girl tossed the vine aside, picked up the little gourd, and pouted at Fang Zhou, ¡°You¡¯re no fun at all, go die.¡± Fang Zhou suddenly felt a strong suction force pulling at his body, and he was greatly alarmed, quickly summoning Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to grasp a nearby column. The suction force grew stronger, pulling Fang Zhou off his feet; if not for Hu Lai¡¯s left hand holding him, he would have been sucked in. Seeing Fang Zhou immobilized, the little girl seemed to think of something fun to do. She smiled, raised her right hand, and another vine shot out of her palm. She held the gourd in one hand and the vine in the other, lashing towards Fang Zhou. This scene made Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingle; this whip would likely send him back home to raise pigs, just like the elder sister from the White Tiger Sect. He hurriedly raised his hand and released the Fireball Technique towards the little girl. The fireball that shot out was sucked into the gourd, and in an instant of touching the mouth of the gourd, it exploded, turning into a large ball of flame. The little girl was scared into falling to the ground, but the flames hadn¡¯t harmed her¡ªthey all got absorbed by the gourd. However, Fang Zhou took this opportunity to break free and hurriedly got up and ran towards the courtyard wall. When fleeing is the best plan, wait until I grow stronger before I come back to settle the score with you! Seeing Fang Zhou running, the little girl hurriedly picked up the gourd and aimed it at him. But Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t slow to escape; he reached the wall, Hu Lai¡¯s left hand grabbed it, and with a leap, he was light as a swallow and quickly jumped over the wall and disappeared. The little girl¡¯s gourd couldn¡¯t suck up Fang Zhou who had jumped over the wall, and she resentfully got up and chased after him. After jumping over the wall, Fang Zhou chose a direction and fled. Not long after, he heard a loud bang behind him. He looked back to see a hole in the wall, and the little girl had chased out through it. ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± The little girl, seeing Fang Zhou dashing away quickly, chased after him with fierce momentum. Fang Zhou felt a tingling on his scalp and ran even faster. The architecture of this place remained undamaged by tree roots, and its layout was as complex as a maze; Fang Zhou zigzagged randomly, intending to shake off the little girl. However, he forgot that this place had an effect similar to a ghost hitting a wall; he ended up running in circles within a small area. The little girl was very familiar with the environment. No matter how Fang Zhou ran, he couldn¡¯t shake her off, and the distance between them was getting shorter. Fang Zhou became anxious, unable to fight or escape. How was he supposed to handle this? He rushed headlong into the chaos and finally burst into a cul-de-sac. Just as he was about to turn back, the sound of the little girl¡¯s quick footsteps was already close. Fang Zhou broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly thinking of a plan. The walls on both sides were too high to climb in a hurry, and the place was too empty for him to hide. The sound of the little girl running was getting closer. Just then, a hole suddenly appeared in the ground by the wall, and a head popped out, saying to Fang Zhou, ¡°This way, this way!¡± Nervously, Fang Zhou instinctively thrust his sword forward, startling the person, who froze completely. Luckily, Fang Zhou stopped in time, with his sword tip less than an inch from the person¡¯s face. The person came to their senses, hurriedly ducked back into the hole, and Fang Zhou followed by jumping in after him. Only after jumping down did Fang Zhou realize that below was a tunnel, the entrance of which was covered by a large wooden board glued to a few floorboards, which made it indistinguishable from above once closed. The person waited for Fang Zhou to jump down, then struggled to shut the wooden board and whispered to Fang Zhou, ¡°Follow me.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t smell the scent of fresh grass on the person, only the scent of not having bathed for a long time, but he still remained vigilant as he followed the person into the tunnel. Above ground, the little girl jumped to the entrance of the cul-de-sac and laughed loudly, ¡°Found you! Hey, where are you?¡± The cul-de-sac was empty, not a person in sight. The little girl showed a perplexed expression, then her mouth twisted in irritation, and she turned and left. In the tunnel, Fang Zhou had to bend over to follow the person. After a long walk, they arrived in an underground room. The underground room wasn¡¯t spacious and had few items, with a bed in one corner; it seemed to be the person¡¯s living space. After entering the underground room, the person sighed in relief, fumbled for a flint, lit a lamp, revealing a delicate face. It was a young woman dressed like a scholar. From her clumsy behavior, she seemed not to have practiced cultivation or was at a very low level, but Fang Zhou still maintained his vigilance and distance. The woman looked at Fang Zhou and asked in puzzlement, ¡°Why are you standing so far away?¡± Fang Zhou was blunt. ¡°For safety.¡± This place, the old site of Lanruo Temple, was perilous. Suddenly encountering a weak scholar seemed entirely abnormal. The woman seemed to misunderstand, then laughed, saying, ¡°Young man, there¡¯s no need to be afraid, I won¡¯t force you to do anything.¡± The term ¡°young man¡± in this world was equivalent to ¡°miss¡± in Fang Zhou¡¯s former life, a term favored by pretentious literati. Fang Zhou¡¯s face darkened after hearing this. I could beat ten of you, with your puny arms and legs, who really has the upper hand if we actually fought? He said irritably, ¡°Who are you?¡± The woman adjusted her clothes, then performed a saluting gesture, saying, ¡°My name is Ning Caichen.¡± Chapter 47 - 47: 47. This is A Chinese Ghost Story Chapter 47: 47. This is A Chinese Ghost Story Fang Zhou subconsciously dug at his ear: ¡°What did you say? Sorry, I must have heard wrong, could you repeat that?¡± Ning Caichen could only continue with a cupped fist salute: ¡°I am Ning Caichen, did you hear clearly this time?¡± This time it was clear, Fang Zhou instantly gasped in shock. Could it be that Lanruo Temple actually harbored a Ning Caichen? Could this place be the world of A Chinese Ghost Story¡ªno, wait, a Male Ghost Story? He couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Ning Caichen, why would you hide in such a place full of evil spirits?¡± Ning Caichen revealed a bitter smile: ¡°I have been trapped in this damned place for over a year now.¡± ¡°A year?¡± Fang Zhou started, astonished, and couldn¡¯t help but take a few good looks at the crude basement. Outside, it was teeming with demons and ghosts, and he couldn¡¯t imagine how Ning Caichen, a scholar without the strength to truss a chicken, had managed to survive in this dangerous place. ¡°Somebody¡­ um, brings me food and drink.¡± Ning Caichen paused noticeably at the word ¡°somebody,¡± looking embarrassed. Fang Zhou immediately understood that the one bringing him food and drink was definitely not human. Could it be Nie Xiaoqian? Ning Caichen hurried over this point and started to explain to Fang Zhou why he was trapped in Lanruo Temple. It turned out that a year ago, Ning Caichen and his classmates from his hometown were traveling to the Capital City for an exam, and they encountered a fierce evil spirit while staying overnight in a desolate temple. The Cultivator that they had hired to ensure the safety of their travels abandoned them and fled alone. His classmates were killed one by one, and just when it came to Ning Caichen¡¯s turn, a Cultivator happened to pass by and rescued her. Fang Zhou suddenly interrupted her recollections: ¡°Was the person who saved you called Yan Chixia?¡± Ning Caichen let out a surprised sound and curiously asked, ¡°You know Hero Yan too?¡± Know him? Of course he knew him! Fang Zhou was very familiar with Yan Chixia¡¯s big beard¡ªno, wait, the Yan Chixia in this world could very well be a woman. He hurriedly asked, ¡°Where is Yan Chixia now?¡± Yan Chixia was indeed a major figure, no idea if her legs were as long as Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s, or if it was comfortable to hold her. Fang Zhou subconsciously fantasized for a moment, then quickly shook his head. No, no, that¡¯s not right. I am a mature, independent man; I shouldn¡¯t always be thinking about clinging to a woman¡¯s legs. Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s question, Ning Caichen¡¯s face involuntarily showed a despondent look: ¡°After I arrived at Lanruo Temple with Hero Yan, we were forced to separate, and I don¡¯t know where she is now. She probably has already¡­ alas¡­¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise: ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± Yan Chixia was also one of the main characters in the world of A Chinese Ghost Story. Her importance might even be higher than Ning Caichen¡¯s. How could she be dead? But in the trilogy of A Chinese Ghost Story, Yan Chixia did indeed die in the last installment, and her belongings were inherited by Brother Fly. So, in this different world, it¡¯s conceivable that she could have died earlier. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but show an expression of regret. Such a great support, gone just like that. After a moment of silence, Ning Caichen continued explaining the reason she was trapped here. After being saved by Yan Chixia, Ning Caichen decided to give up on the exam and go back home because it was impossible for her to reach the Capital City alone; she also needed to bring back the news of her classmates¡¯ deaths to her hometown. Yan Chixia, on the other hand, went because a friend of hers believed rumors and went to Wild Tomb Ridge looking for Secret Treasure, but then his fate became unknown. She planned to find out about her friend¡¯s safety. They realized they were traveling in the same direction, so they journeyed together. When they arrived just outside Wild Tomb Ridge, they were originally planning to part ways, but continuous heavy rains and muddy roads made it so Ning Caichen had no choice but to follow Yan Chixia into Wild Tomb Ridge, taking shelter in Lanruo Temple. At this point, Ning Caichen also couldn¡¯t help but complain about Monk Hui Neng¡¯s greed, stripping her of the little money she had. Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen had been staying at Lanruo Temple for several days when the temple began to be haunted. Fang Zhou interrupted her again, this time with a more serious tone: ¡°Wait, you¡¯re saying Lanruo Temple is haunted?¡± Last night when the haunting occurred, Monk Hui Neng said that Lanruo Temple hadn¡¯t seen any ghosts for many years, but Ning Caichen claimed that when she and Yan Chixia visited a year ago, the temple was also haunted. The two accounts clearly didn¡¯t match; someone was definitely lying. Moreover, Fang Zhou recalled something else. After seeing the seven-colored rosy clouds tonight, Han Li said it didn¡¯t match the legends about the Secret Treasure at all. Fang Zhou felt something was off but couldn¡¯t figure it out. Now thinking back, he realized what it was. Monk Hui Neng had said that over the past year, many Cultivators had come to search for the Secret Treasure and had left empty-handed. If that was true, those who came looking for the Secret Treasure must have seen the seven-colored rosy clouds, so the rumors about the Treasure should have been updated to reflect its Treasure Artifact quality. Because those Cultivators wouldn¡¯t have kept quiet after leaving, many Major Sects were buying information about Secret Treasures at high prices. If the Secret Treasure of Wild Tomb Ridge was truly of Treasure Artifact quality, it would have attracted Major Sects long ago. It didn¡¯t make sense that it was still here for rogue cultivators to find after more than a year. There could only be two possibilities for this situation: one was that there was a special reason why those who left kept silent. The other possibility was that none of those who came for the treasure left; they all died here. Combining this with Ning Caichen¡¯s statement that a friend of Yan Chixia had come to Wild Tomb Ridge to search for the Secret Treasure and had also vanished without a trace, Fang Zhou felt the latter was more likely. In that case, the monks at Lanruo Temple were highly suspicious; at best, they were concealing the truth and profiting from the misfortune of others, at worst, they might have orchestrated this dangerous place themselves. This infuriated Fang Zhou, but it was too late for recriminations now; he and the others were already trapped in this cursed place, and it was uncertain whether they could escape. The main problem was that the monks appeared too weak, just like ordinary people, which made the Cultivators underestimate them and let their guard down. Seeing Fang Zhou with a solemn expression, Ning Caichen couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, then took a few deep breaths to calm his emotions. If he could leave, he would certainly settle accounts with Monk Hui Neng, but for now, he had to deal with the current situation. He said to Ning Caichen, ¡°I¡¯m fine, continue.¡± Ning Caichen looked slightly embarrassed and paused for a moment before continuing. After Lanruo Temple became haunted, Ning Caichen hid in her room and ended up being targeted by a ghost. But the ghost had a kind heart and didn¡¯t harm her. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t ask if the ghost was named Nie Xiaoqian, so as not to frighten Ning Caichen. However, Ning Caichen brought up the ghost¡¯s name herself, indeed it was Nie Xiaoqian. Speaking of Nie Xiaoqian, Ning Caichen couldn¡¯t help but reveal a sweet smile. Nie Xiaoqian did not harm Ning Caichen but merely played tricks on her. The two, or rather, the person and the ghost, got to know each other because of this. When Yan Chixia returned and saw Nie Xiaoqian, he was about to exterminate her but was stopped by Ning Caichen, and Nie Xiaoqian drifted away. Over the next ten or so days living at Lanruo Temple, Nie Xiaoqian visited every night, talking with Ning Caichen about everything under the moon. The person and the ghost attracted each other and gradually became infatuated, and by the time they came to their senses, they had already fallen in love. Half a month later, when the seven-colored rosy clouds appeared, Yan Chixia went to the old site of Lanruo Temple, and Ning Caichen followed because she worried about Yan Chixia¡¯s safety. With a somewhat mocking smile, Fang Zhou looked at her: ¡°Really?¡± He didn¡¯t believe Ning Caichen followed Yan Chixia to the old site of Lanruo Temple just because she was worried about him; it must have been for another reason. Ning Caichen looked embarrassed and finally admitted honestly that although she did worry about Yan Chixia¡¯s safety, she mainly came for Nie Xiaoqian. Because Nie Xiaoqian had told her that Lanruo Temple¡¯s Tree Demon had imprisoned a group of ghosts to lure in passersby, and Nie Xiaoqian was one of those imprisoned spirits. The ashes urn was situated at the roots of the Tree Demon, and without the urn, they couldn¡¯t leave or reincarnate. Ning Caichen wanted to save Nie Xiaoqian, and Yan Chixia could only let her be. However, upon arriving at the old site of Lanruo Temple, the two were separated by a white mist. Ning Caichen nearly lost her life to the ghosts, but Nie Xiaoqian appeared in time to save her and placed her in this basement room, providing her with food and drink daily, preparing to find an opportunity to send her away. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came, and Ning Caichen ended up trapped in this ghostly place for over a year. Chapter 48 - 48: 48. Give me back the original Nie Xiaoqian. Chapter 48: 48. Give me back the original Nie Xiaoqian. Ning Caichen finally finished speaking, took a long breath, and then looked at Fang Zhou with expectant eyes. Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and asked, ¡°You saved me once, and I am very grateful. Is there anything you need me to do?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had thought he encountered someone providing an external help, but it turned out that Ning Caichen needed help even more than himself, so he couldn¡¯t expect her to be of much assistance. From her appearance, saving him might have had ulterior motives. ¡°Really?¡± Sure enough, as soon as Fang Zhou said this, Ning Caichen immediately became excited, clasping her hands on her chest and deeply bowing: ¡°Ning Caichen has no other desires, just hoping venerable cultivator can help me with one thing.¡± Fang Zhou listened quietly, not in a hurry to agree. It must be asking for help to get out of here, but unfortunately, this matter is too difficult. Even I can barely protect myself, bringing another person is as hard as ascending to the heavens. The next second, Ning Caichen said, ¡°I beg the venerable cultivator to help, take Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn away, so that Xiaoqian can leave this place, be reincarnated, and start a new life.¡± Fang Zhou was immediately startled, damn, it turned out to be this request. The difficulty of this is even higher. Isn¡¯t the ashes urn under the Tree Demon¡¯s roots? Am I just delivering myself up? Fang Zhou pondered and said, ¡°Caichen, what about changing the request? Like, let me help you get out of here, I will definitely do my best.¡± Ning Caichen had a resolute face: ¡°Venerable cultivator, please do not worry about my safety. After being trapped here, life and death have been behind me. My only wish is to rescue Xiaoqian from suffering.¡± Fang Zhou quickly persuaded, ¡°If the green hills are preserved, one need not fear running out of firewood. Nie Xiaoqian is a ghost, who can live a long time, there¡¯s no rush. Let¡¯s leave first, and when there¡¯s a way, we come back to rescue, no, to save the ghost, alright?¡± Ning Caichen had a determined look as if ready to face death: ¡°Venerable cultivator, your concern deeply moves me, but no need to persuade further. If you take me, a living person, it would definitely be inconvenient. Taking Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn alone would be much easier. Xiaoqian has been trapped here for many years, I can¡¯t bear to see her suffer any longer. Venerable cultivator, I beg you.¡± Ning Caichen bowed deeply to Fang Zhou again. Fang Zhou had a constipated expression. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried about your safety, it¡¯s that I can¡¯t meet your request. He sighed and spoke the truth, ¡°There¡¯s no need to say more. If Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn indeed is under the Tree Demon¡¯s roots, with my abilities, I simply cannot take it out. There¡¯s a slight possibility of just getting you out.¡± Ning Caichen showed a dejected look; she had actually guessed it already. If Fang Zhou was powerful enough, how could he be chased by demons everywhere, needing her to intervene? But she still held a sliver of hope, hoping for a miracle. Yet Fang Zhou straightforwardly admitted his powerlessness. Seeing her dejected and saddened expression, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°In this past year, haven¡¯t you sought help from others? There must have been many cultivators coming here?¡± Ning Caichen showed a bitter smile and nodded. Indeed, many cultivators came here, but most had insufficient strength and died by seven or eight once the white mist appeared, while those cultivators who survived in the mist were mostly powerful, targeted by the demons, making it hard for Ning Caichen to approach them. She, although able to freely commute through tunnels, was also afraid of being discovered by the demons. Thus, over the past year, Fang Zhou was the only cultivator she ¡®caught¡¯ because his power was just moderately suitable. After hearing Ning Caichen¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but inwardly complain, damn, so you saved me not because I am handsome and strong, but purely by chance. Stewing over it for a while, Fang Zhou then said, ¡°How about, I still try to find a way to take you with me?¡± Ning Caichen, however, shook her head, ¡°No, if Xiaoqian also can¡¯t leave, I¡¯d rather spend my life here.¡± Watching Ning Caichen¡¯s resolved expression, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel moved, ¡°You and Nie Xiaoqian are truly committed to each other.¡± Ning Caichen showed an embarrassed expression but didn¡¯t deny it. Fang Zhou looked at her embarrassed expression, suddenly realizing, could Nie Xiaoqian be a woman? Although according to the nature of this world, Nie Xiaoqian should be a male ghost, but it¡¯s unlikely for a man to have such a feminized name as Nie Xiaoqian, right? He couldn¡¯t help asking Ning Caichen, ¡°You and Nie Xiaoqian are in love, but the conventions of the world won¡¯t allow it.¡± Ning Caichen replied solemnly, ¡°Even if the conventions don¡¯t allow it, I am willing to bear the consequences.¡± Exactly, this is the love that defies taboo. Wait, by the standards of this world, it¡¯s a love akin to that between lovers. As Fang Zhou was lamenting, suddenly the entire basement shook as if a land dragon was turning over, shaking the debris and dust off. He exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Ning Caichen also looked panicked, ¡°I have no idea, this has never happened before.¡± Just when both were unsure, a roar, sounding both male and female, came from above, causing their eardrums to throb painfully. ¡°Damn girl, if you dare, stop running around!!¡± Ning Caichen immediately trembled in fear, ¡°That¡¯s the voice of the Tree Demon!¡± Fang Zhou was startled, this Tree Demon¡¯s voice could penetrate down here and even cause his ears to hurt, how terrifying must its power be? The system must be malfunctioning, asking me to deal with such a monster? At that moment, another clear laughter came from above. ¡°Ha ha ha, catch me if you can.¡± Hearing this familiar voice, Fang Zhou was slightly stunned, then showed a look of joy, that¡¯s Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice, this dead woman finally makes a sound after disappearing for so long. But it seems she¡¯s confronting the Tree Demon head-on. Fang Zhou immediately realized this was an opportunity; if Ling Xiaoyue was confronting the Tree Demon, he might be able to move silently and directly infiltrate the base. He quickly asked Ning Caichen, ¡°Is Nie Xiaoqian very familiar with Lanruo Temple?¡± Ning Caichen nodded, ¡°Xiaoqian has been trapped in Lanruo Temple for many years and knows it very well.¡± Fang Zhou urgently asked, ¡°Can you get Nie Xiaoqian to come over?¡± Ning Caichen thought for a moment and then shook his head, ¡°I can¡¯t do it, but with the ground shaking earlier, if Xiaoqian is free, she will definitely come back to check on my safety.¡± Fang Zhou clenched his fist, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± To make a move, I must first understand the situation in Lanruo Temple, like the environment and the number of demons; only by knowing the enemy and ourselves can we make a corresponding plan. Ning Caichen was right, Nie Xiaoqian didn¡¯t make them wait too long and soon appeared at the basement entrance. Fang Zhou was full of anticipation, wondering what this world¡¯s Nie Xiaoqian would look like? It would be best if she looked like Wang Zuxian, but if not, any charming female ghost would be enchanting. Then he saw a burly man with a big beard rushing in, urgently calling out, ¡°Caichen! Caichen!¡± ¡°Xiaoqian!¡± Ning Caichen also called out and rushed up, the two embraced tightly. Fang Zhou was dumbfounded. This bearded man is Nie Xiaoqian? Damn, you must be Yan Chixia!! Give me back my Wang Zuxian!! Chapter 49 03-25 - 49: 49. The style of painting suddenly became wrong. Chapter 49: 49. The style of painting suddenly became wrong. Fang Zhou felt that he had suffered from a lack of experience. Just when he thought the world couldn¡¯t get any lower, it turned out to go even lower. He had been eagerly waiting to see the Wang Zuxian version of Nie Xiaoqian, but instead, he ended up seeing the Yan Chixia version, which was like riding a roller coaster in terms of the drop in expectations and was just too much to handle. When Fang Zhou was dumbfounded, Ning Caichen and Yan Chixia were still intimately hugging each other, with Yan Chixia¡¯s head buried in Ning Caichen¡¯s chest, whispering sweet nothings to each other. No, it was Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian hugging intimately, but this picture was not romantic at all; in fact, it was quite an eyesore. Fang Zhou wondered if the Tree Demon buried in the ground had buried itself stupid. You want to imprison a male ghost to lure people, you should at least find some better-looking ghosts, aren¡¯t you afraid that releasing this kind of bearded man will affect business performance? Wait, didn¡¯t this bearded man lure Ning Caichen, the fool, here? Really unbelievable. ¡°Right, Xiaoqian, let me introduce you to someone.¡± It was only then that Ning Caichen remembered that Fang Zhou was still there, and hurriedly pulled Nie Xiaoqian over: ¡°This Immortal¡­ uh¡­¡± She just remembered that she hadn¡¯t asked for Fang Zhou¡¯s name. Fang Zhou took the initiative to say, ¡°My surname is Fang.¡± Nie Xiaoqian looked at Fang Zhou curiously and bowed gracefully: ¡°I¡¯ve seen Fang Immortal.¡± Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s movements were very elegant, her voice was neither fast nor slow, clearly well-educated in her former life, perhaps from a prominent family. But a man with a full beard making a graceful bow, speaking in a soft and delicate voice, all the while staring with a pair of curious big eyes, made Fang Zhou feel like he was going to crack. This Nie Xiaoqian, if she changed into a costume, could effortlessly play Zhang Fei, and it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he suddenly blurted out ¡°Me too.¡± Fang Zhou hesitatingly asked, ¡°Are you Yan Chixia?¡± Nie Xiaoqian shook her head: ¡°My name is Nie Xiaoqian.¡± Fang Zhou was not convinced: ¡°Maybe you used to be Yan Chixia and now you¡¯ve just lost your memory and think you are Nie Xiaoqian?¡± ¡°This¡­ Fang Immortal, I¡¯m quite sure I haven¡¯t lost my memory, and I¡¯ve met Hero Yan before, we¡¯re not the same person, she¡¯s a woman!¡± Nie Xiaoqian felt wronged, she was a decent young man, how could she be the vulgar and boorish woman like Yan Chixia. After saying this, she looked at Ning Caichen with an inquiring gaze, what¡¯s up with this Fang Immortal? Ning Caichen also had a puzzled look because she couldn¡¯t figure out what Fang Zhou was up to either. Fang Zhou sighed deeply, having to face reality. The bearded man in front of him was truly not Yan Chixia, but Nie Xiaoqian. Fang Zhou looked at Ning Caichen with resentment: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your love with Nie Xiaoqian was frowned upon by the secular world?¡± Ning Caichen nodded: ¡°That¡¯s right, Xiaoqian is a ghost and I¡¯m human, of course, it goes against the secular world, but I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Damn, so you were talking about human ghosts, I seriously thought you meant the same sex.¡± ¡°Now, it¡¯s not just about human ghosts, any humanoid, any creature, even paper-cut figures can be a wife. You¡¯ve found a hubby you can touch and climb on, what¡¯s there to complain about? Care to share with this lone dog?¡± Fang Zhou looked like he had just taken a hit, making the atmosphere awkward for a moment. Ning Caichen hurriedly changed the subject: ¡°Perhaps Fang Immortal can help Nie Xiaoqian retrieve your ashes urn.¡± Fang Zhou showed a wry smile. He hadn¡¯t even agreed yet, and here Ning Caichen was, blurting it out in haste. Nie Xiaoqian clearly knew Ning Caichen¡¯s plan all along, and said to Fang Zhou: ¡°My ashes urn is at the root of the Tree Demon, which is extremely dangerous, guarded by demons under the Tree Demon. If the Immortal isn¡¯t fully confident, please consider the long-term plan and avoid risking it.¡± Fang Zhou immediately had a better impression of Nie Xiaoqian. Listen to this, Nie Xiaoqian might be a ghost, but at least she talks sense, immediately advising against taking risks. Yet Ning Caichen, a living person, only spouts nonsense, pushing me into danger; do we have a grudge or something? If it were moments earlier, Fang Zhou might have just agreed, but now that Ling Xiaoyue had begun fighting the Tree Demon, Fang Zhou felt this was an opportunity not to be missed. Retrieving the ashes urn was one thing, but the main goal was to complete his own mission, or else his life might not be spared. Fang Zhou asked Nie Xiaoqian: ¡°Whether I¡¯m certain is one thing, but are you very familiar with this Lanruo Temple?¡± Nie Xiaoqian nodded: ¡°I¡¯ve been trapped in this Lanruo Temple for decades, I¡¯m very familiar with every grass and tree here, I could navigate it with my eyes closed.¡± Fang Zhou felt encouraged, it was good that she was familiar with things. He quickly said: ¡°Then tell me everything you know for a start, like the situation with the Tree Demon, the characteristics and number of the demons, the pathways leading to the roots of the Tree Demon, as well as its weaknesses, and focus on the important details.¡± Since there was so much to tell, Nie Xiaoqian had to organize her thoughts first before starting from the beginning. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nie Xiaoqian was the daughter of a high official from the previous dynasty. She succumbed to an incurable disease and after death, was buried in the Immortal¡¯s Tomb, a place of excellent feng shui. Due to the special feng shui of the Immortal¡¯s Tomb, her soul gathered but did not disperse, turning into a consciousness-less wandering ghost. When she became aware again, she found that the once feng shui treasure, Immortal¡¯s Tomb, had become Wild Tomb Ridge, and the once-famous Lanruo Temple was now in ruins and abandoned, with a Tree Demon that had cultivated its spirit emerging in the temple. The now-conscious Nie Xiaoqian was imprisoned by the Tree Demon, only able to lure travelers to provide Innate Yin Yang Qi and Blood Food for the Tree Demon. Gradually, Wild Tomb Ridge became deserted, with very few daring to venture this way. Years passed, and a group of foreign Monks moved into Lanruo Temple¡¯s annex. Nie Xiaoqian, out of curiosity, had spied on them. The Monks were very peculiar, and the Tree Demon strictly ordered not to lure or harm the Monks. At that time, Nie Xiaoqian realized that the Monks might be in league with the Tree Demon. And sure enough, every so often, some people would move into Lanruo Temple¡¯s annex, and then they, the ghosts, would be sent to lure them over. Moreover, the people who came were no longer ordinary; they gradually all became Cultivators. Ning Caichen was the last ordinary person Nie Xiaoqian ¡®lured¡¯; afterwards, those Cultivators didn¡¯t need ghosts to lure them, they would come to Lanruo Temple on their own, and then all would die there, their bodies dragged away by the roots of the Tree Demon. Regarding the specifics about the Tree Demon, Nie Xiaoqian didn¡¯t know much. She didn¡¯t know the origin, species, or level of the Tree Demon, just that the demons under it called the Tree Demon ¡®Granny¡¯, and the ones managing and driving these ghosts were the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods under the Tree Demon. Although they were called Yin Gods, they were actually seven gourd fruits that the Tree Demon had nurtured and which cultivated into spirits. Nie Xiaoqian was quite clear about the abilities of these seven Gourd Demons. The first gourd had immense strength and could turn into a giant, the second gourd had thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear, the third gourd was Copper Head and Iron Arm, impervious to swords and spears, the fourth gourd could control fire and spit thunder, the fifth gourd could control water and spit lightning, the sixth gourd had the powers of Invisibility and wall-penetrating, and the seventh gourd carried a magical gourd that could absorb and refine all things. Besides these seven gourds, it was said there was an eighth one, pure white, possessing the abilities of the previous seven gourds, but Nie Xiaoqian had never seen it. Chapter 50 03-25 - 50: 50. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio and Childrens Books Chapter 50: 50. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio and Children¡¯s Books These seven Gourd Demons, known as the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, manage all kinds and sizes of demons and spirits within Lanruo Temple. Any cultivator who intrudes into Lanruo Temple is dealt with by the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods. The Tree Demon Elder wakes up every seven days; other than absorbing Blood Food, it hardly ever takes action. Having been in Lanruo Temple for so many years, Nie Xiaoqian has only seen the Tree Demon act twice. Once when Yan Chixia caused a huge disturbance in Lanruo Temple, and the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods could not handle her. Ultimately, the Tree Demon personally took action and defeated Yan Chixia. The second time is now, with that female cultivator outside who is fighting fiercely against the Tree Demon. Nie Xiaoqian doesn¡¯t recognize this one. While Nie Xiaoqian was recounting this, there were still intermittent vibrations and explosions coming from above, indicating that the battle between the Tree Demon and Ling Xiaoyue was far from over. After hearing Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s account, Fang Zhou was completely baffled. Am I in the world of ¡°A Chinese Ghost Story¡± or in the world of ¡°Calabash Brothers¡±? You mix a supernatural anthology with children¡¯s literature; it puts me in a very passive situation. Fang Zhou felt a headache coming on, now fully realizing that the ghostly disturbance last night in the courtyard of Lanruo Temple was highly likely caused by the invisible Sixth Brother. At that time, instead of directly killing all the cultivators, Sixth Brother probably feared that some might escape, waiting to trap them all in this haunted place where they could play any game they wanted without issues. And that little demon chasing him all over just now must have been the youngest, Seventh Brother, with that purple gourd as his signature equipment. As for the genders of the Calabash Brothers, Fang Zhou was no longer fretting over it. Whatever they are, they are. Even if you are a hermaphroditic demon, I will still stab you without hesitation. And by stabbing, I mean with a sword; don¡¯t misunderstand. Although the abilities of the seven Calabash Brothers are known, Nie Xiaoqian knows nothing about the key figure, the Tree Demon Elder. Being just an ordinary ghost, he can¡¯t get close to the Tree Demon and had to stay far away, unable to even watch, let alone interfere, in the two instances the Tree Demon took action. If relying solely on information provided by Nie Xiaoqian, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t be able to take any targeted action. Even if he could defeat the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, the crucial Tree Demon is still an issue, and Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t solely rely on Ling Xiaoyue to defeat the Tree Demon. Furthermore, he wasn¡¯t sure if defeating the Tree Demon would mean his task was completed. Therefore, no matter what, he must get involved, even if just to assist. I¡¯ll just linger outside without going in; the Tree Demon shouldn¡¯t abandon Ling Xiaoyue to target me instead, right? Seeing Fang Zhou deeply frowning in thought, Nie Xiaoqian suddenly said, ¡°Regarding the Tree Demon, there is someone who might know more than I do.¡± Fang Zhou abruptly looked up, ¡°Who?¡± Nie Xiaoqian slowly said, ¡°Hero Yan!¡± ¡°Yan Chixia?¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t she already dead?¡± Ning Caichen, also surprised, looked at Nie Xiaoqian, ¡°Xiaoqian, what¡¯s going on? Is Hero Yan still alive?¡± After they parted ways with Yan Chixia, he had wanted to go out and search for her multiple times but was dissuaded by Nie Xiaoqian, who said that Yan Chixia had likely met with misfortune and it would be too risky to search for her. Nie Xiaoqian looked at Ning Caichen with deep regret, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Caichen. I lied to you. Hero Yan didn¡¯t die; after the Tree Demon defeated her, it didn¡¯t kill her but imprisoned her in a dungeon, torturing her daily. I didn¡¯t tell you because I was afraid you would act rashly. Just the two of us wouldn¡¯t be able to rescue Hero Yan; please don¡¯t blame me.¡± Fang Zhou silently gave Nie Xiaoqian a thumbs up, beautifully done. With Ning Caichen¡¯s impulsive nature, if he knew Yan Chixia was still alive, he would likely have prompted Nie Xiaoqian to go on a suicide mission. Ning Caichen looked at Nie Xiaoqian lovingly, ¡°Xiaoqian, I know you did it for my sake. How could I blame you?¡± Nie Xiaoqian also looked at Ning Caichen lovingly, ¡°Caichen, you are truly kind.¡± This man and ghost stared deeply into each other¡¯s eyes, full of tender affection. If Fang Zhou, the single guy, hadn¡¯t been there, they probably would have started rolling around in the sheets by now. This couple started feeding dog food again, but Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t swallow any of it. In his mind, he continuously replaced Nie Xiaoqian with Yan Chixia, and whenever he thought about Ning Caichen and Yan Chixia embracing and whispering sweet nothings under the moonlight, his heart ached. What heinous crime had he committed to deserve such spiritual corruption?! Seeing Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian getting closer in their deep gaze and about to embrace again, Fang Zhou quickly interrupted: ¡°Enough, enough, wait for me to leave before you get cozy, hurry up and tell me the location of the dungeon.¡± The news that Yan Chixia was still alive surprised Fang Zhou; he knew that as one of the main characters in the first two parts of ¡°A Chinese Ghost Story,¡± Yan Chixia wouldn¡¯t die so easily. Yan Chixia had immense mana, the seven Gourd Boys couldn¡¯t handle her. She even personally fought against the Tree Demon, so she certainly had a deep understanding of it. Embarrassed, Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian separated. Nie Xiaoqian to Fang Zhou, ¡°Immortal Fang, let me lead you. We can avoid the demons¡¯ patrols along the way.¡± Fang Zhou had no objections; having a ghost lead the way was too good to pass up. Nie Xiaoqian then turned back to Ning Caichen and said softly, ¡°Caichen, stay here and wait for me to return.¡± Ning Caichen, knowing he was a weak scholar who couldn¡¯t help, could only nod, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stay put and won¡¯t run around.¡± After the two said goodbye, Fang Zhou left with Nie Xiaoqian from the basement, heading through the tunnels towards the dungeon. Nie Xiaoqian went ahead, Fang Zhou followed, and only when he got closer did he smell the ghostly aura on him. This aura, though colorless and odorless, had a chilling effect that seeped into one¡¯s heart and lungs. As Fang Zhou followed Nie Xiaoqian, he wondered how Han Li was doing now. Hoping she was safe. ¡­ Half an hour earlier. After witnessing a corpse being dragged away by tree roots, Han Li¡¯s urge to leave this place grew stronger. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But with the entire Lanruo Temple shrouded in white fog, discerning directions was difficult, and leaving was not an easy feat, especially with many ghosts lurking in the fog. Another exorcism charm was used, leaving only four remaining. Han Li didn¡¯t plan on using them unless absolutely necessary, as she had a small bottle on her that ensured ghosts couldn¡¯t stealthily attack and kill her. After groping her way through the fog for a while, Han Li noticed many thick tree roots emerging densely from the ground, like the tentacles of a monster. Feeling the danger in her instincts, Han Li quickly turned to leave, but suddenly saw a figure ahead. The figure noticed her too and immediately shouted, ¡°Who is there?¡± Upon closer inspection, Han Li realized it was one of the independent cultivators who came this time, surprisingly still alive. Being cautious by nature, she didn¡¯t approach immediately, and the look in the other¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t seem friendly either. ¡°Well, well, it turns out to be you, you stinky girl.¡± True to form, the other immediately spoke rudely and shouted loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I have found the stinky girl who colluded with the monks.¡± Chapter 51 03-25 - 51: 51. Grandpa does not like to eat barbecue Chapter 51: 51. Grandpa does not like to eat barbecue As the voice rose, shadows loomed in the surrounding fog, with more than ten scattered cultivators who had entered Lanruo Temple converging quickly. Han Li¡¯s heart sank, it was no surprise that these scattered cultivators noticed something off about the monk, but why did they still think she was in collusion with him? Among those who approached, Han Li spotted that woman clad in power attire with a scar on her face, immediately realizing that it must be this person causing mischief again. Seeing only Han Li and no sign of Fang Zhou, the woman in the power attire showed a hint of disappointment and then stared at Han Li with malice. That shouting scattered cultivator yelled at Han Li: ¡°You wretch, quickly lead us out of this damned place.¡± They had been lured here by the Secret Treasure, only realizing they had been deceived when the fog appeared, many had died, leaving only these last ten or so, each highly skilled, and at the very least at Qi Refining Realm Perfection. Huddling together for warmth, they hadn¡¯t been wiped out by ghostly figures, yet unable to discern the direction, they weren¡¯t able to escape and would eventually exhaust their strength. Han Li¡¯s emergence felt like a drowning person clutching at a straw; they weren¡¯t considering whether she was being wrongfully accused. Han Li sternly said: ¡°If I were colluding with the monks, why would I also be trapped here, and even have my companion dead?¡± She apologized silently to Fang Zhou in her heart and used him as a shield for the moment. The scattered cultivators subconsciously felt that Han Li made sense, but the woman in power attire suddenly said: ¡°You¡¯re probably not trapped here, but stayed by choice, using our names to scout the path for you, so you could wait for the opportune moment to seize the Secret Treasure; maybe your companion is hiding somewhere.¡± Upon hearing the woman¡¯s words, the scattered cultivators became noisy again, Han Li noticed their eyes were bloodshot, their emotional state clearly disturbed, with only the power-clad woman seeming normal. Furious and shocked, Han Li thought, not only is this woman maliciously framing, but she¡¯s also using dark manipulation on her peers¡¯ minds, what exactly does she want to do. The scattered cultivators glared at Han Li with hostility, advancing step by step. Instinctively retreating, Han Li gripped her longsword tightly. ¡°Boom¡ª¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the entire Lanruo Temple suddenly trembled, and the thick tree roots on the ground seemed to come alive, stretching out in all directions. The scattered cultivators nearly lost their balance, and Han Li seized the moment to turn and flee into the fog. The woman in power attire flicked her hand, releasing a paper crane that chased in the direction Han Li fled. ¡°Chase her, we can get out if we follow her.¡± The scattered cultivators immediately followed behind the paper crane. The fog, disorienting and impeding exploration, had Han Li hoping it would help her shake off the pursuing group. Yet, they kept up closely. It wasn¡¯t long before Han Li noticed the paper crane that was tracking her, evidently betraying her location. She wanted to turn back and deal with the paper crane but feared getting caught, forcing her to blindly run, no longer caring about the directions, heading wherever it was most complex. During the chase, unknowingly covering much ground, suddenly, Han Li noticed the surrounding fog had disappeared. She found herself in a clearing hundreds of meters in diameter, desolate all around except for a pavilion at the center. Han Li halted, silently staring at the pavilion, her intuition about the lurking danger almost manifesting physically, causing copious amounts of cold sweat on her forehead and back. The paper crane circled over her head. In a few moments, the scattered cultivators burst out of the fog, their faces showing delight. ¡°We¡¯re out! We finally made it out!¡± ¡°I never want to go back to that damned place!¡± ¡°That wretched girl indeed must be in collusion with the monks¡­¡± The scattered cultivators were still immersed in the joy of escaping from the white mist and hadn¡¯t had time to confront Han Li when they noticed the existence of the pavilion. They gradually fell silent. Those who could cultivate to Qi Refining Realm Perfection were not fools¡ªthey had been influenced by the tough-dressed woman previously, and now an unknown chill brought them back to their senses. In the pavilion sat four young women of varying ages, two playing chess, two watching. The sudden appearance of four women playing and watching chess in this eerie place seemed abnormal, and it was even uncertain if they were human. The scattered cultivators instinctively swallowed, each feeling a profound threat. Just then, a patting sound of footsteps came, and from the other side of the white mist, a cute little girl with pigtails and a purple gourd hanging at her waist walked out. The little girl entered the pavilion, plopped down to sit, and puffed her cheeks into a bun-like face, looking quite indignant. The eldest woman, also playing chess, dressed in red, holding a chess piece, smiled and said, ¡°Who has bullied Xiao Qi?¡± Xiao Qi complained, ¡°Big sister, a nasty guy escaped from my grasp, you have to help me catch him back!¡± The woman in red said indulgently, ¡°Alright, I will definitely help you catch him.¡± Another woman in yellow playing chess also laughed, ¡°Someone managed to escape from our Xiao Qi, not simple, eh? Did you suction the wrong thing again?¡± Xiao Qi glared at her, ¡°Third sister, don¡¯t tease me, you wouldn¡¯t have caught him either, that person was too fast.¡± The four women all laughed; this youngest sister was the joy of their group of six. These five sisters chatted and laughed in the pavilion, paying no mind to the group of scattered cultivators in the distance. The scattered cultivators dared not make a rash move, the five women seemed too eerie, and behind them was the mist, none of them wanted to go back. Only then did the scattered cultivators remember Han Li, who had led them here, and they started searching around only to find that Han Li had disappeared at some point. ¡°What the hell, when did she run off?¡± ¡°Damn girl, slipped away so fast!¡± The scattered cultivators were very annoyed, but they forgot that a tough-dressed woman had also disappeared. In the pavilion, the five women finally turned their attention to the scattered cultivators. The woman in green watching the chess smiled, ¡°It¡¯s my turn to act this time, don¡¯t fight with me.¡± The woman in blue also watching responded with a roll of her eyes, ¡°Forget it, great-grandfather doesn¡¯t like grilled stuff, I should do it.¡± The woman in green protested, ¡°Sister Five, it was your turn last time and the time before; it should be my turn now.¡± ¡°But great-grandfather doesn¡¯t like it!¡± ¡°Grandfather just said it¡¯s not tasty, not that he doesn¡¯t like it.¡± As the two strikingly similar-looking twins started bickering, Xiao Qi shouted, ¡°Sister Four, Sister Five, stop arguing, let me do it, I haven¡¯t had the chance even once!¡± Both turned to Xiao Qi and then burst into laughter together, ¡°If you suction them into your gourd, what¡¯s left for great-grandfather to eat?¡± When the eldest and third sister finished their chess game, the third sister in yellow stood up, ¡°Let me do it then, chopping them up won¡¯t matter.¡± The other three had no objection, and the third sister left the pavilion, walking towards the dozen scattered cultivators leisurely, as if strolling. The dozen scattered cultivators were intimidated by her mere presence and instinctively retreated to the edge of the mist. One of the cultivators gritted his teeth, ¡°What are we afraid of? We are over a dozen people, are we really afraid we can¡¯t handle a few demons? One spit from each of us would drown her!¡± Hearing this, the crowd felt it made sense, their morale boosted, and they all rubbed their hands in preparation for demon extermination! Chapter 52 - 52: 52. The King of Qin walks around the pillar Chapter 52: 52. The King of Qin walks around the pillar The tunnels were not interconnected, many areas were collapsed and blocked, necessitating detours. No wonder Nie Xiaoqian took the initiative to guide Fang Zhou; he might have gotten lost if he were on his own. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. According to Nie Xiaoqian, these tunnels were secretly constructed by the monks of the former Lanruo Temple, but the reason for their construction was unknown. They reached the end of the tunnel, where Nie Xiaoqian opened a door and floated out to scout the surroundings before beckoning Fang Zhou to come out. The outside was still shrouded in thick fog, preventing Fang Zhou from discerning their location, but with Nie Xiaoqian as a guide, they avoided wandering aimlessly. In the fog, occasional ghostly figures or demons appeared, but with Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s help and cover, Fang Zhou remained undetected. Nie Xiaoqian explained that these demons originally lived in Wild Tomb Ridge and the nearby mountains. They were captured personally by the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods to guard Lanruo Temple, calling them a bunch of unfortunate souls. After avoiding several patrols, Nie Xiaoqian finally brought Fang Zhou to the entrance of the dungeon, which turned out to be an old well. Nie Xiaoqian pointed to the well and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°The entrance to the dungeon is at the bottom of this well. I¡¯ve entered it once by chance. Inside, there¡¯s a giant phagocyte guarding it, and Hero Yan is locked in the deepest part of the dungeon.¡± She paused, then continued apologetically, ¡°My mana is weak, and I won¡¯t be much help inside. I¡¯ll stay outside and guard for you, Master Immortal. If anyone comes, I¡¯ll send a warning in time.¡± Fang Zhou did not expect Nie Xiaoqian to accompany him down, so he bowed politely, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be troubling you.¡± Then, he walked to the well, looked down into it¡ªit wasn¡¯t very deep, perhaps three to four meters, with weeds growing at the bottom. He was about to jump down when he suddenly heard Nie Xiaoqian say, ¡°Master Immortal, please be careful. I wish you great victory and success.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and waved his hand, ¡°I also wish you clear-mindedness and foresight¡­ Eh, never mind.¡± After saying this, he jumped down the well. Nie Xiaoqian was momentarily puzzled by Fang Zhou¡¯s words. What did he mean by ¡®in advance¡¯? This Master Immortal indeed acted differently from ordinary people; perhaps this is typical of cultivators. She shook her head, stopped pondering, and gradually disappeared from sight. Inside the well, after Fang Zhou jumped down, he immediately saw an entrance, which was pitch-dark inside. He didn¡¯t rush in but instead, opened his long-neglected personal attributes. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refinement (entry-level) Techniques: [New Moon Qi][Qi Gathering Technique] Skills: [Illusion Skill+][Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand+][Fireball Technique][Straightforward Swordsmanship] Strength: 4 Speed: 5 Physique: 9 Spirit: 6 Masculinity: 10 Righteous Reputation: 1 White Card: 1 After eliminating the man-eating demon fox at the Hu Family¡¯s place, the system rewarded him with 8 points of masculinity, which he had not used yet. Additionally, he had completed a simple task of defeating the four sisters of the White Tiger Sect, earning another 2 points. The 10 points of masculinity, an unprecedented sum, allowed for the possibility to upgrade his skills like Illusion and Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, as indicated by the plus signs next to them. Yet, Fang Zhou chose not to upgrade; he preferred to enhance his basic attributes because his own strength was too weak. Even with skills, he would be at a disadvantage against the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods. He didn¡¯t rush to add all 10 points of masculinity to his attributes right away. There was a strategy known as adding points during battle, which meant adding attributes during combat to surprise the enemy and exploit an information gap. However, the white card could be drawn immediately. Fang Zhou silently recited a prayer for good luck and chose to draw. The next second, a small bottle appeared in his palm. ¡°` [Invisibility Potion: After taking it, you can become invisible, and the effect lasts for thirty minutes.] Fang Zhou¡¯s complexion darkened slightly; it seemed he had been getting too much sun lately, almost akin to an African Chief. He currently had three bottles of potions on him: one for invisibility, one to see through invisibility, and one for detoxification. Securing the potions close to him, Fang Zhou gripped the Evil Slaying Sword and delved into the dungeon entrance. Once inside, there was a descending stone staircase, dark and damp with a chilling eeriness. Fang Zhou cautiously moved down the steps, his eyes adjusting to the darkness, enabling him to vaguely make out the inside scene and not be completely blinded. This dungeon was built underground by monks from the past dynasty. As for why monks needed a dungeon, this question had long become untraceable, a thought most terrifying. Not far down the stairs, he entered into the dungeon proper, a rectangular space with severely rotted wooden cell bars on either side, many rusted chains hanging from the ceiling, and the floor was densely covered with layers of decayed bones, too numerous to count. Every cell presented the same sight; this place was less like a dungeon and more akin to a mass grave. Since stepping into the dungeon, Fang Zhou had been extremely alert. Nie Xiaoqian had mentioned that the dungeon was long and narrow, and with the giant phagocyte being huge in size, there was no chance for shortcuts; he had to confront and kill the Rat Demon in order to meet Yan Chixia. Not far ahead, Fang Zhou smelled a foul, rotten sewer odor that almost made him vomit. The next moment, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared in the dark, staring fixedly at Fang Zhou. He looked and finally saw the true face of the giant phagocyte. It was a bull-sized giant rat, with claws thick and long like scythes and two incisors like axes. It crawled on the ground, dribbling foul-smelling saliva from its mouth and issuing a hissing growl. This giant rat blocked the only path leading deeper into the dungeon; indeed, there was no way around it but to kill it. [Trigger new quest ¨C Kill the Giant Phagocyte] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: Manly Spirit*4, Blue Card*1] [Failure: Death] Easy difficulty is truly easy, but normal difficulty implies certain dangers. Fang Zhou exhaled, silently running the Qi Gathering Technique, allowing spiritual energy to permeate his entire body. He held up the Evil Slaying Sword and said in a low voice to the giant phagocyte, ¡°Come on, I don¡¯t believe that, as an endless Sword Saint, I cannot defeat a mere rat that doesn¡¯t even have Dolan.¡± As if understanding Fang Zhou¡¯s challenge, the giant phagocyte issued a piercing shriek and rapidly pounced towards him. Its massive body charging forward created a formidable force, making the entire dungeon seem to tremble. Fang Zhou threw an Illusion Technique at it, but it was hard to tell from the rat¡¯s face and eyes whether it was affected by the illusion as it continued to charge rapidly. Fang Zhou ran a few steps forward, leaped powerfully over the giant rat¡¯s head, and swung the Evil Slaying Sword downwards, slashing across the rat¡¯s back, breaking through its fur and creating a wound. The giant phagocyte screamed and thrashed its thick tail violently towards Fang Zhou. Still in mid-air, Fang Zhou could only summon Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and grab onto the rat¡¯s tail. The tail was powerful, swinging Fang Zhou around in the air and eventually pulling him towards its mouth, then turning its head to bite. Fang Zhou had to release the tail and punched its head with his controlled left hand. The giant phagocyte, dizzied by the punch and seeing stars, shook its head and immediately swiped another claw at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou raised the sword to defend, and the Evil Slaying Sword clashed with the claws, sparks flying, the force numbing his hands holding the sword. The giant phagocyte swiped yet another claw which Fang Zhou rapidly retreated from; the claw missing him and striking the ground, easily carving deep marks like cutting into tofu. The giant phagocyte kept slashing, faster than a Phantom Sword Dance, forcing Fang Zhou to continuously retreat until he backed into a nearby cell. The wall between the cells had partially collapsed, leaving only a pillar. Seeing the giant phagocyte following him in, Fang Zhou immediately executed a secret move¡ªCircling Around the Pillar. ¡°` Chapter 53 - 53: 53. The master isnt some kind of treasure. Chapter 53: 53. The master isn¡¯t some kind of treasure. The ¡®Qin King Circling the Pillar¡¯ is an illustrious secret technique created by none other than Qin Shi Huang himself in times of life-threatening danger, granting a one-hundred percent chance of evasion, a lifesaver during critical moments. The only downside is that it requires a pillar. Fang Zhou started circling around a pillar, and the giant phagocyte, acting on instinct, followed suit, but due to its enormous body, it got stuck in the half-collapsed wall. Now behind the giant phagocyte, Fang Zhou dodged its tail and stabbed it in the buttocks with his sword. It wasn¡¯t that he had a particular fondness for this spot, but targeting weaknesses is essential for every warrior. The Evil Slaying Sword pierced right through the body, causing the giant phagocyte to let out a painful shriek, struggling to break free and bringing down both wall and pillar. It charged out of the prison cell, only to be greeted by a glaring burst of flame. The fireball exploded on the face of the giant phagocyte, its intense heat and the blast causing it to rear its head, while Fang Zhou rushed forward, stabbing it in the throat with his sword. [Successfully killed the giant phagocyte] ¡®Reward: Manliness*4 Blue Card*1] Fang Zhou withdrew the Evil Slaying Sword, a bit surprised that this giant phagocyte¡¯s combat strength wasn¡¯t as he expected¡ªnot too strong, but rather too weak. Assigned to guard a fierce person like Yan Chixia, yet possessing only average might, the only possibility was that Yan Chixia was now extremely frail; any guard would suffice to watch over him. Cleaning the blood off his sword, Fang Zhou contemplated a rotating blue card in his mind; he subconsciously wanted to draw it but hesitated and then decided against it. Now was an unlucky time, and he surely wouldn¡¯t draw anything good; better to wait until later. His manliness points had also accumulated to 14; adding them all to his attributes might give him a physique like Captain America¡ªan ace in the hole, depending on which demon was fortunate enough to get a taste first. Now that the guard was dead, there was no need for Fang Zhou to sneak around anymore. He found a fairly intact piece of wood, lit it with the Fireball Technique to make a torch, and then made his way deeper into the dungeon. Reaching the very end of the dungeon, a relatively intact prison cell appeared before Fang Zhou, its door made of wooden bars and secured with heavy iron chains. Dry straw covered the floor of the cell, and a disheveled woman was sitting against the wall, shackled in iron chains. She seemed utterly lifeless, unmoved by sounds, whether dead or alive was unclear. Fang Zhou felt a bit nervous; if Yan Chixia was dead, then his trip would have been in vain. From outside the cell, Fang Zhou shouted, ¡°Yan Chixia?¡± Perhaps in response to hearing her name, the woman in the cell shivered slightly and slowly lifted her head, revealing a face hidden under messy hair. Seeing the face clearly, Fang Zhou blurted out in shock, ¡°Nie Xiaoqian?!¡± He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter the Nie Xiaoqian resembling Wang Zuxian here; no, it should be Wang Zuxian¡¯s version of Yan Chixia. Indeed, this Yan Chixia bore an uncanny resemblance to a young Wang Zuxian, and was even more beautiful. Even with a pale, haggard face, her beauty was inescapable. However, upon seeing Fang Zhou, Yan Chixia¡¯s eyes gradually regained their luster, and she swiftly perked up, ¡°Oh, looks like a good deal has arrived.¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± Is that really the first thing you focus on when you see someone? Her voice, however, was unexpectedly pleasant to the ear, full of allure. Fang Zhou shook his head to cast aside these messy thoughts, and addressed Yan Chixia, ¡°Hero Yan, I¡¯ve come to rescue you. Surprised or not, are you astonished?¡± Yan Chixia scrutinized Fang Zhou with a piercing gaze from head to toe, a fully satisfied expression on his face: ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. You have robust Yang energy and exceptional talent, and especially good looks¡ªa fine seedling indeed.¡± Seeing Yan Chixia dodging the question, Fang Zhou assumed that being locked up for too long had muddled her mind. He directly raised the Evil Slaying Sword, chopped off the iron chains of the cell door, and pushed the door open to enter. Once inside the cell, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t rush into action. Instead, he paid his respects to Yan Chixia with cupped hands: ¡°Hero Yan, I am preparing to eliminate the Tree Demon and require your minor assistance. In exchange, I will rescue you from this place. How about that?¡± He did this to prevent any unexpected refusal from Yan Chixia once she was rescued, should she not wish to assist. It was better to clarify matters beforehand. Yan Chixia grew more and more pleased with Fang Zhou and replied: ¡°There¡¯s no need to rescue me. My life is drawing to a close; I could die at any moment.¡± Fang Zhou was taken aback. Did that mean his efforts had been in vain? He observed Yan Chixia and found her growing more vivacious. Her previously wan complexion was now rosy; she hardly looked like someone on the brink of death. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s incredulous look, Yan Chixia smiled and said: ¡°You needn¡¯t doubt it. This is but a brief rally before the end. I am only holding on to breathe long enough for your arrival, so that I can pass on my last wishes before my death.¡± Fang Zhou inquired, astonished: ¡°You knew I would come?¡± Yan Chixia let out a hearty laugh: ¡°I am quite skilled in divination and foresaw that someone would come to inherit my secret techniques.¡± Fang Zhou frowned slightly. He was here to seek support from Hero Yan, not to take her as his master. The two seemed similar but were quite different; a master could be a support, but support did not necessarily mean taking on a master. Besides, he already had a troublesome nominal master to deal with; taking on another would be too much. Consequently, Fang Zhou could only respond diplomatically: ¡°Hero Yan, I already have a master¡­¡± Yan Chixia cut him off: ¡°A master is nothing special¡ªhaving one more or one fewer makes no difference.¡± Is that any way to speak of oneself? The nominal master he had outside valued the role immensely, always bringing it up. Caught in hesitation, Fang Zhou heard Yan Chixia continue: ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. My Innate True Qi is nearly depleted. If you have any questions, you better ask quickly.¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly asked: ¡°What is the Tree Demon¡¯s weakness? You have fought it; do you understand?¡± ¡°Do you truly intend to exterminate the Tree Demon?¡± Yan Chixia asked in return, her eyes blazing: ¡°That Tree Demon is a Mystic Yin Divine Tree, cultivated into a spirit and has birthed Seven Mysterious Demon Pills, becoming a Golden Core Realm Demon. Not just any novice in the Qi Refining Realm, but even a Golden Core Realm expert would be helpless against it. Your involvement would mean certain death. Still, you wish to carry out the Demon Extermination?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou asserted firmly: ¡°We cultivators are meant to enforce justice on behalf of heaven, to subdue and remove demons. If this Tree Demon endangers the innocent and harms fellow cultivators, I am ready to face destruction, even if it means my body is torn asunder and my soul scattered.¡± It was imperative to eliminate it, given that he had already accepted the task; it was a situation of life and death. Fang Zhou did not wish to die, so the Tree Demon had to be the one to go. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, his words were spoken with genuine passion and deep conviction. How could Yan Chixia not see through this? She immediately roared in approval, her face bursting with life: ¡°Worthy indeed of being the disciple I have taken a fancy to. Cultivators should possess the ambition and courage to enforce justice and exterminate demons on behalf of heaven.¡± Fang Zhou felt somewhat helpless. I haven¡¯t even agreed yet. Yan Chixia continued: ¡°This Wild Tomb Ridge was originally called Immortal¡¯s Tomb. It is said that the tomb of a former emperor is buried here, and the rumor is true. The great tomb of an emperor is indeed buried deep within the mountains. The Tree Demon took root in Wild Tomb Ridge and its roots feed directly into the Emperor¡¯s Tomb, absorbing the Yin spirit from the royal burial as it cultivated, which allowed it to become a formidable Golden Core Demon easily.¡± ¡°But its foundation is unstable due to cutting corners in its cultivation. The weakness of the Tree Demon lies in the Seven Mysterious Demon Pill. Originally, the demon pill was hidden deep within the roots of the tree. A year ago, I pierced through the roots with my sword, leaving a sword mark. If you follow that mark, you will be able to find the demon pill. Taking the demon pill away will leave the Tree Demon powerless.¡± Yan Chixia said all this in a single breath, not even stopping to take a breath. Fang Zhou made sure to remember it, while Yan Chixia added: ¡°However, that sword wound entrance is surely guarded by demons, and the roots below seethe with virulent Miasma. These are all for you to deal with on your own.¡± Fang Zhou thought to himself that he had Detoxification Medicine, which should allow him to handle the Miasma. As for the demon guards, he wondered whether the Invisibility Potion might help him slip past them unnoticed? Chapter 54 - 54: 54. Cultivators Life and Death are Unpredictable Chapter 54: 54. Cultivator¡¯s Life and Death are Unpredictable Fang Zhou had firmly memorized all the critical points mentioned by Yan Chixia; whether the task could be completed depended on this information. After Yan Chixia finished speaking, her complexion remained rosy; her originally cracked lips had become moist, and her eyes sparkled with vitality. She didn¡¯t look like someone on the brink of death at all. Fang Zhou hesitated, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need my help to get out? You seem like you could live another thirty or fifty years without any problem.¡± Yan Chixia shook her head, speaking frankly, ¡°I¡¯ve been injured at my foundation by the Tree Demon, and tormented over the past year. I¡¯m already at the end of my tether, barely hanging on by a thread of Innate True Qi. In a little while, once this thread of True Qi dissipates, I¡¯ll be beyond saving, with no hope of resurrection, no matter who comes.¡± Fang Zhou felt a twinge of regret. Had he known, he would have gotten some wine from Ling Xiaoyue to bring along; the healing effects of her wine were quite potent. Now it seemed too late to go looking for her. Yan Chixia stretched out her hands bound by iron chains and heavily slapped the ground. With a bang, the floor of the cell exploded, sending dirt and stones flying. A dark sword box shot up from the ground, landing squarely in front of Fang Zhou. Yan Chixia gazed nostalgically at the sword box, her eyes not like those of someone looking at an object, but at an old friend. Then she said to Fang Zhou, ¡°My teaching lineage comes from the Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect. This sect has always remained concealed from the world, with sparse discipleship. The lineage has nearly died out with my generation. This Sword Box is a treasured artifact of the sect, containing the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, the complete Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique, full volumes of the Sword Control Technique, along with the Sect Leader Seal.¡± She encouraged Fang Zhou with her eyes, ¡°Pick it up.¡± Fang Zhou hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out to lift the Sword Box. However, as soon as his fingers touched the box, it violently shook and a faint sound of swords humming was heard, stinging Fang Zhou¡¯s fingertips. Frightened, Fang Zhou leaped backward, defensively holding up the Evil Slaying Sword. Yan Chixia laughed heartily as if she had succeeded in a prank, ¡°This Sword Box has a spirit, ordinary people can¡¯t pick it up. However, you are the inheritor I¡¯ve chosen. Give it another try; though it may cause some pain, it won¡¯t cause injury.¡± Fang Zhou gave her a glance, then walked straight over, and with both hands together, he hugged the Sword Box. The Sword Box began to shake again, its stinging like needles against Fang Zhou¡¯s hands. Enduring the pain, he held on tight, ¡°I can handle huskies, I don¡¯t believe I can¡¯t deal with you.¡± He struggled with the Sword Box, the box shook trying to escape, but Fang Zhou exerted all his strength, even employing the Qi Gathering Technique. Yan Chixia watched with interest from the side but did not attempt to intervene. Within just a few seconds, Fang Zhou was sweating profusely from the pain, feeling as if his hands were about to be riddled like a hornet¡¯s nest. But he clenched his teeth and bore it. Such a great opportunity presented before him, to not seize it would be a lifelong regret. A little pain was nothing; it was like being bitten by a dog. When Fang Zhou¡¯s hands were almost numb from the pain and his head was spinning, the Sword Box¡¯s shaking finally began to slow, until it became completely still, the humming of swords ceased, and it no longer stung his hands. Fang Zhou hurriedly rolled up his sleeves and saw not a single wound, just as Yan Chixia had said; he was unharmed. Yan Chixia looked at Fang Zhou approvingly, ¡°This was the Sword Box¡¯s trial. If there had been even a slight intention to give up, or even the thought of it, you would have never been able to lift the Sword Box again. You have passed the trial.¡± She hadn¡¯t warned Fang Zhou beforehand, relying solely on his perseverance. Only in this way could he truly pass the Sword Box¡¯s trial. Fang Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead, holding the Sword Box in his hands and inspecting it. The sword box was rather heavy, carved from a solid piece of wood, with inscriptions on both sides that he could not understand. Fang Zhou tried to open the sword box but couldn¡¯t find the opening because it was seamless and whole, without any gaps, and it was impossible to tell which end was which. He looked at Yan Chixia with a pleading expression, ¡°How does this thing work?¡± Yan Chixia chuckled, ¡°Only after you have entered the entry-level of the Sword Control Technique, can you use it to open the sword box. Otherwise, no one can open it.¡± Fang Zhou immediately showed a look that seemed to say, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± The Sword Control Technique was needed to open the sword box, yet the complete Sword Control Technique was inside the sword box; wasn¡¯t this a vicious cycle? But he quickly realized, wasn¡¯t there a living textbook right in front of him? Yan Chixia knew how. Seeing the change in Fang Zhou¡¯s expression, Yan Chixia smiled again, ¡°Come closer, I will transmit to you the incantations of the Sword Control Technique and a Buddhist Heart Sutra I acquired while wandering the world. This Heart Sutra is a powerful Buddhist mental method ¨C consider yourself lucky, kid.¡± So it was a combination of both Buddhist and Daoist cultivation; no wonder there was both a Buddhist Heart Sutra and the Limitless Heaven and Earth. Fang Zhou set the sword box aside and leaned in to listen to Yan Chixia¡¯s oral transmission. She repeated it several times before Fang Zhou could barely remember it. Fortunately, both the mantra of the Sword Control Technique and the Heart Sutra were not long; otherwise, he would not have been able to remember them at all. In the end, Yan Chixia solemnly told Fang Zhou, ¡°Entering the Sword Control Technique is extremely difficult, and mastery is also extremely difficult. Even with my innate talents, I spent over three years before entering it. If you succeed in entering it and manage to open the sword box and acquire the Sect Leader Seal, then you will be the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect. If you cannot enter it, you must find a successor for me, and ensure the Hidden Sect¡¯s inheritance does not cease! You may carry the sword box with you; it will save your life when necessary. Remember! Remember!¡± Fang Zhou nodded with a grave expression. Since he had received the Hidden Sect¡¯s inheritance, he naturally had to take responsibility. Fang Zhou understood such a simple principle. It was then that Yan Chixia finally let out a deep sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Her originally rosy complexion began to turn pale again. Fang Zhou realized that she might really be living on borrowed time, persevering only to find a successor for the Hidden Sect. Now that her final wish was fulfilled, death was not far away. Fang Zhou felt some reluctance; Yan Chixia was a great hero who served justice by slaying demons and eradicating evil, and yet she was destined to die in obscurity in the dangerous dungeons of this place. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s distressed look, Yan Chixia spoke boldly and freely: ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, the life and death of cultivators are unpredictable. Besides, I have reached the Innate Realm, and my Divine Soul is already formed. Even in death, I am not scattered but can be reborn through reincarnation. Perhaps we will meet again someday.¡± Seeing how open-minded Yan Chixia was, Fang Zhou put away his reluctance and asked, ¡°Do you have any final wishes?¡± Yan Chixia looked at Fang Zhou and suddenly smiled, ¡°I have practiced cultivation alone for many years, remaining a virgin without knowing the taste of love. Why not fulfill my wish before I die?¡± She was originally extremely beautiful, and with that smile, she seemed alluring, making the entire dim dungeon seemingly glow. Fang Zhou was dumbfounded, never having expected Yan Chixia to make such a request. He could feel his heart pounding rapidly, his mouth dry and his tongue parched, unable to deny that he was slightly tempted. But looking down, Fang Zhou¡¯s mind cleared instantly, and he respectfully said, ¡°Safe travels. I will remember you.¡± No matter how beautiful she was, what joy could there be in a flat chest? Yan Chixia burst into laughter, the laughter gradually becoming lower, and then it faded away. She had passed. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 55 - 55: 55. I hate Tentacle Monster the most. Chapter 55: 55. I hate Tentacle Monster the most. Yan Chixia had died, her face peaceful as if in deep sleep, the spark of life completely extinguished. Fang Zhou silently watched her, and finally bowed deeply, ¡°Master Yan, if I do not succeed in this mission, it only becomes an act of benevolence; if I fail, I too shall perish here. Your legacy will have to wait for someone else to continue. If by any luck I succeed, I will come back to bury you.¡± He straightened up, tore the hem of his garment into strips, and strapped the Sword Box on his back. Taking one last look at Yan Chixia, he turned and left. Exiting the dungeon and reaching the bottom of the dry well, Fang Zhou used the walls on either side to climb to the surface. Just as he emerged onto the ground, Nie Xiaoqian appeared beside him. Seeing the Sword Box on Fang Zhou¡¯s back, Nie Xiaoqian immediately recognized it as Yan Chixia¡¯s and took a fearful step back. The Sword Box seemed extremely dangerous to him, as if a sword might spring out at any time and cleave him in two. ¡°Immortal Fang, where is Hero Yan?¡± Nie Xiaoqian asked curiously, wondering why only the objects appeared but not the person. Fang Zhou somberly replied, ¡°She has already died.¡± Nie Xiaoqian covered her mouth in shock, ¡°Died?¡± Then, somberly, she added, ¡°If Caichen knew about this, she would be very grieved. She always saw Hero Yan as a benefactor and sister.¡± Fang Zhou felt a twinge of sorrow too, but quickly composed himself and told Nie Xiaoqian, ¡°I will avenge Yan Chixia. She told me that a year ago, during a battle with the Tree Demon, she left a sword mark at its roots. Do you know where that is?¡± Nie Xiaoqian initially shook her head, then frowned in thought. After a moment, her eyes brightened, ¡°The base of the Tree Demon was unguarded originally, but a breach appeared a year ago. Since then, it has been guarded by Thousand-mile Eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear, who rank second among the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods. The sword mark Hero Yan mentioned must be at that spot.¡± Fang Zhou felt invigorated, ¡°Good, take me there quickly.¡± Nie Xiaoqian hesitated, ¡°The place is filled with deadly Miasma, I can¡¯t get close.¡± Fang Zhou touched the three vials of potions on him and said, ¡°No worries, just lead me there. I can manage on my own.¡± Nie Xiaoqian then nodded and led Fang Zhou away from the place, heading towards the Tree Demon¡¯s root. ¡­ Half an hour earlier. In the open space in front of the pavilion, several scattered practitioners had been turned into severed limbs and remains; blood flowing from them had dyed the ground red, forming a shallow pool of blood. San Jie stood amidst these severed limbs, her yellow clothing almost entirely soaked in red. Before her stood the last living practitioner. This practitioner, trembling all over and with a face full of terror, was on the verge of collapsing to the ground. In fact, her knees were gradually bending as if she had lost all will to fight and was about to kneel and beg for mercy. San Jie looked at her and suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ll stand still. If you can injure me, I¡¯ll spare you. But if you dare to kneel and beg, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± The practitioner suddenly stopped her knees from bending further, her face changing rapidly, apparently engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Finally, with a distorted expression, she yelled and charged at San Jie, swinging her sword at her head. San Jie, true to her word, stood motionless. The high-carbon steel sword struck her forehead and broke with a clang, without even cutting her hair. Looking at the broken sword in her hand, the practitioner displayed a look of despair. ¡°You lost!¡± San Jie smiled slightly, reached out her hand into the practitioner¡¯s chest, and neatly plucked out her beating heart. She held the still-warm, pulsating heart to her lips, licked it with her tongue, and then showed a disgusted expression. ¡°Yuck, so fishy and stinky, only Grandpa likes to eat this.¡± She casually tossed the heart away and walked towards the pavilion. Inside the pavilion, her four sisters had already started a new chess game; this time, the youngest was challenging the eldest. Among the seven sisters, the eldest had the strongest chess skills, unbeatable by any. The fifth and the seventh sisters were giving random advice to the youngest, causing her to cry out in frustration. All sisters¡¯ attention was on the chessboard, unconcerned about San Jie¡¯s slaughter of the practitioner. This kind of carnage was something they had done many times and only the youngest and the seventh sister found it interesting. Although killing is boring, humans themselves are a fascinating creature, inventing many interesting things, such as the chess pieces that the sisters are addicted to. While the third sister was feeling sentimental, a sudden intense vibration came, like the earth dragon turning over, causing the entire Lanruo Temple to tremble. She quickly looked up, only to see the fog in the sky almost dispersed, revealing the huge canopy of the Tree Demon and the night sky illuminated by the seven-colored rosy clouds. Huge tree roots stretched from the ground towards the sky like swinging tentacles. A giant gourd was flying agilely in the air, dodging the swinging tree roots, occasionally spitting out a white light from the gourd¡¯s mouth, severing the tree roots. The third sister revealed a look of shock and anger; someone was disturbing grandfather¡¯s meditation. Whoosh whoosh, the four sisters in the pavilion had already jumped out and landed next to the third sister, all looking up at the sky. The eldest sister had a grave expression, the youngest and the third sister, like the fourth one, all had faces full of anger, only the seventh looked confused, still unaware of what was happening. ¡°You bratty girl, if you¡¯re capable, then don¡¯t run around!! Grandfather¡¯s angry voice rang out, the sound waves rolling, creating ripples in the air, making all the demons big and small in Lanruo Temple tremble. The giant gourd dodged the attacks of the tree roots agilely, a crisp voice coming from above it. ¡°Hahaha, catch me if you can.¡± The Tree Demon grew even angrier, driving the tree roots to chase the gourd, but the gourd was too agile, and could also emit Sword Qi to sever the tree roots, totally unable to be caught. In front of the pavilion, just as the third sister took a step forward, the eldest sister immediately reached out and grabbed her shoulder: ¡°What are you doing?¡± The third sister turned around: ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to help grandfather.¡± The eldest sister stared at her intently: ¡°Have you forgotten Yan Chixia?¡± The third sister¡¯s expression changed and she fell silent, looking upset. Of course, she hadn¡¯t forgotten. A year ago, Yan Chixia came to Lanruo Temple, and no demon big or small was her match. Even the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods together were defeated by her. The third sister¡¯s steel bones, which she took pride in, were broken by Yan Chixia¡¯s sword, nearly costing her life. In the end, it was only by grandfather¡¯s intervention that Yan Chixia was suppressed. The eldest sister softly said: ¡°To be an opponent of grandfather, their realm is much higher than ours. If you rashly intervene, you will only harm yourself. You must trust grandfather.¡± The third sister reluctantly nodded, then looked up at the gourd flying in the sky, silently resolving to herself to become stronger, to better protect grandfather and to not always make him confront powerful enemies. ¡­ S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue was sitting on the giant gourd, her face wearing a rare serious expression. This giant gourd is just the flask she always held in her hand, only it had been enlarged many times. The wildly swinging tree roots around her couldn¡¯t touch Ling Xiaoyue, but similarly, she also couldn¡¯t do anything about the Tree Demon. Both sides were in a stalemate, waiting to see whose endurance was better. It turned out this Tree Demon had already formed a Golden Core, which Ling Xiaoyue had never expected. She thought the most there would be in Lanruo Temple was a demon at the Innate Realm. In this world, every Golden Core Demon was famous in the Demon Domain, but for a Tree Demon with a Golden Core to still stay in a small place like Wild Tomb Ridge and rely on petty tricks to consume humans was unheard of. However, after a confrontation, Ling Xiaoyue realized the Tree Demon¡¯s Golden Core was formed by tricks, not solidly founded, and its Mana was worlds apart from a real Golden Core Demon. Even so, the Tree Demon¡¯s Golden Core was genuine and extremely difficult to deal with. Ling Xiaoyue was glad she hadn¡¯t rashly acted on arrival but had set up the Sealing Demon Sword Formation while the Tree Demon was asleep, suppressing its power, or else she would have been forced to flee now. But killing it seemed unrealistic too, perhaps she should just let it go? Ling Xiaoyue, looking at the swinging tree roots around her, sighed: ¡°I hate tentacle monsters the most.¡± Just then, her ears suddenly twitched, and she turned her head towards the lingering fog below. ¡°Eh, why is my disciple so close, is he seeking death?¡± Apparently, while she was battling, she was also spying on Fang Zhou¡¯s whereabouts. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 56 - 56: 56. Here comes another greedy one Chapter 56: 56. Here comes another greedy one Nie Xiaoqian led Fang Zhou toward the back courtyard of Lanruo Temple. According to him, Lanruo Temple was originally a small temple in the mountains, which received royal attention and started to thrive. It underwent several expansions and now occupies an astonishingly large area, almost covering half of the mountain. The back courtyard was even more expansive. Originally, there was a Buddha statue several meters tall, but after the statue collapsed, a Tree Demon took over the spot. Now, the entire back courtyard was filled with the Tree Demon¡¯s root system, permeating it with a deadly Miasma. It was inhospitable to humans, ghosts, and demons alike, with only the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods born from the Tree Demon able to move freely in and out. With Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s help, Fang Zhou avoided all patrolling demons and successfully reached the back courtyard. He was very fortunate to have met Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian, not only receiving the legacy of Yan Chixia, but also receiving guidance like a ¡°Nie-style navigation,¡± otherwise, by himself, he would still be wandering aimlessly like a headless fly. Words of thanks were unnecessary; retrieving the ashes urn for Nie Xiaoqian would be the best reciprocation. At the edge of the back courtyard, there was a long section of a wall collapsed under tree roots. The ground inside was covered with thick roots, and the air was filled with a visible pale green gas¡ªthese must be the deadly Miasma. Even through the mist, Fang Zhou could see the gigantic shadow of the Tree Demon, resembling a towering building. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was about to ask Nie Xiaoqian to wait outside, but she suddenly took a deep sniff in the air and remarked, ¡°There¡¯s a very faint trace of life energy. There might be living people nearby.¡± Startled, Fang Zhou quickly asked Nie Xiaoqian to lead the way, quietly approaching the direction from which the life energy emanated. The nearby buildings were destroyed by the tree roots, leaving only ruins. Fang Zhou and Nie Xiaoqian hid behind a section of broken wall, peering ahead. At the edge of the Miasma, indeed, there were four living humans, all of whom Fang Zhou recognized. Three of them were the Three Sisters of the White Tiger Sect, who had previously escaped from Fang Zhou¡¯s grasp. Their eldest sister had been killed by a ghost, and Fang Zhou originally thought these three would meet the same fate but didn¡¯t expect them to end up in such a deep place. However, it was not voluntary; at this moment, the three sisters were bound with ropes, with their mouths gagged, showing a look of terror on their faces. The fourth was also someone Fang Zhou recognized¡ªthe tough-looking woman with a scar on her face who had troubled him before. It seemed that the Scarred Woman had captured the sisters of the White Tiger Sect. She was currently lifting one sister, kicking her into the Miasma. As soon as she entered the Miasma, she started struggling desperately, her skin beginning to ulcerate. The Scarred Woman observed carefully, and soon, the woman she had thrown in was completely rotted away, lifeless. The remaining two sisters of the White Tiger Sect were terrified. Fang Zhou, hiding in the distance, also inhaled sharply, unintentionally contributing a little to global warming. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± The Scarred Woman was extremely alert. Suddenly turning her head toward Fang Zhou¡¯s direction, she swung her hand, sending over a dozen white lights flying. Fang Zhou hurriedly jumped away from the wall, only to hear a crackling sound as that section of the wall got pierced with a dozen holes. The incoming white lights were actually paper darts. Nie Xiaoqian, also startled, flew far away immediately¡ªhe had no combat abilities. Seeing Fang Zhou emerge, the Scarred Woman¡¯s eyes shone brightly, and she couldn¡¯t help laughing: ¡°It¡¯s just like finding something after a long search without any effort.¡± She had been regretting not being able to locate Fang Zhou, and now he had delivered himself to her doorstep¡ªa stroke of fate. Now that he was spotted, Fang Zhou did not get discouraged. He also had scores to settle with this woman; the unresolved matters noted down in his little notebook could not be ignored. Before that, there¡¯s a question that needs to be clarified, otherwise I won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. Fang Zhou pointed his Evil Slaying Sword at Scarred Woman and asked, ¡°We just met for the first time yesterday, with no grudges from the past or recent days, yet you seem to have an issue with me?¡± Scarred Woman exhibited a provoking expression, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess?¡± Fang Zhou hated it when people said this, and he responded expressionlessly: ¡°After much thought, there are only a few possibilities; either you are going through menopause and your hormones are unbalanced, or you behave like a rabid dog that bites on sight, or perhaps your mother died. Choose one.¡± Obviously, Scarred Woman could not tolerate such a toxic manner of conversation, and her expression slightly darkened: ¡°No harm telling you, I am cultivating the Cold Yin Divine Skill and need a man with an extremely strong Yang energy to balance the Yin and Yang. If you could spend a few nights with me, you may ask for anything.¡± Fang Zhou: (Censored) #@$% He couldn¡¯t help cursing internally, Are these women sick? Scarred Woman stared coldly at Fang Zhou, then suddenly smiled, ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t comply easily, but no worries, even if your limbs are broken, it¡¯s all the same to me.¡± After saying so, she took out two balls of paper from her sleeve and threw them on the ground. Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t just watch her prepare, he immediately threw an Illusion Technique at her and rushed forward, slashing his sword at the Scarred Woman¡¯s head. Scarred Woman fell into the illusion, but she recovered in an instant; her spiritual resistance was even higher than that of the youngest gourd kid. The two paper balls she dropped on the ground quickly expanded and turned into two armored paper soldiers with shields and swords. The paper soldier on the left blocked in front of Scarred Woman, raising its paper shield to fend off Fang Zhou¡¯s attack. The Evil Slaying Sword struck the paper shield and emitted a sound like metal clashing, as if it had struck an iron shield. The Evil Slaying Sword was extremely sharp, capable of easily cutting through normal weapons, but this paper shield could block it, demonstrating its solid build. The other paper soldier swung its paper sword at Fang Zhou, who quickly jumped back to dodge the attack. Scarred Woman pulled another provoking face: ¡°These two paper soldiers are immune to blades and endlessly energetic; let them keep you company for a while. Just don¡¯t give up too quickly.¡± Saying this, she even licked her lips suggestively, emphasizing the words ¡®give up,¡¯ with a double entendre. Fang Zhou silently activated the Qi Gathering Technique, spiritual energy enveloping his body, and charged again at the two paper soldiers, thrusting his sword. The paper soldier on the left blocked with the shield, while the one on the right immediately swung its sword in a counterattack. One was responsible for blocking Fang Zhou¡¯s attacks, the other for retaliating, their coordination quite impressive. After several exchanges with the two paper soldiers, Fang Zhou quickly spotted their weaknesses. They were not real humans after all; although their cooperation was in sync, their movements were stiff and their defense and offense were based on predetermined actions. Seeing through their weaknesses, Fang Zhou used the powerful properties of the Qi Gathering Technique to circle around the paper soldiers, causing their movements to become chaotic. He targeted their vulnerabilities, executing simple and understandable swordmanship. The Evil Slaying Sword streaked through like a comet striking the moon, stabbing repeatedly at the vital points of the two paper soldiers. To no avail, hitting them felt like striking a steel plate, leaving only a few sword marks. The two paper soldiers, indifferent to Fang Zhou¡¯s attacks, swung their swords wildly, putting Fang Zhou in a flurry of deflecting blows. The observing Scarred Woman revealed a mocking smile; the two paper soldiers were indeed not agile, but their robust defense was enough to leave one helpless, eventually to exhaust someone to death under their tireless pursuit. Of course, as Scarred Woman had her sights set on Fang Zhou¡¯s body, naturally she wouldn¡¯t let him die of exhaustion, only to weaken him until he could no longer move, then it would be her time to enjoy the beauty of this man. Chapter 57 - 57: 57. Spiritual Energy Borrowing Chapter 57: 57. Spiritual Energy Borrowing Fang Zhou also realized that sharp weapons were of no use against these two paper figures. Fortunately, he had more than just a sword, and immediately summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, aiming a fierce hammer blow at the paper figure on the right. Since Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was invisible, the paper figure on the left was completely unaware of the need to help block, allowing its teammate to be brutally struck. With a thud, Hu Lai¡¯s left hand smashed a punch onto the head of the right paper figure, completely flattening its head. Although they were sufficiently defensive against sharp blades, blunt force damage was completely different; the paper figures were hollow inside and, aside from fear of water and fire, their biggest weakness was blunt force. With its head flattened, this paper figure seemed to malfunction, stumbling and falling down. The paper figure on the left swung its knife over, and Fang Zhou controlled the left hand to sweep across, hammering it away with a punch. The chest of the paper figure was crushed, leaving a huge dent, and it fell to the ground and couldn¡¯t get up. In less than a moment, the two paper figures were defeated. The Scarred Woman showed a look of astonishment; she had just been mocking Fang Zhou for engaging in futile efforts, but in the blink of an eye, she was proven wrong, as the paper figures¡ªher important magic artifacts which had resolved many tricky enemies for her¡ªwere quickly overturned. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t see through how Fang Zhou had managed it, as if an invisible hand was assisting him. After disposing of the two paper figures, Fang Zhou charged again towards the Scarred Woman, aiming his sword at her head. The Scarred Woman regained her composure, her wrist flicked, and a paper sword slid out from her sleeve. She raised the paper sword, blocking Fang Zhou¡¯s attack; this paper sword was even more sturdy than the paper figures. Fang Zhou controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, smashing it down towards the Scarred Woman¡¯s head. The Scarred Woman was not like the two paper figures; she heard the movement of the left hand¡¯s attack and immediately dodged backward. With a bang, the left hand hammered the ground, blasting the solid floor and causing mud and stones to splash. The Scarred Woman finally understood how Fang Zhou had defeated the two paper figures; indeed, there was an invisible hand assisting from the side. She sneered, ¡°Not bad, I underestimated you.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t waste words and charged again. The Scarred Woman swung her sword fiercely, the paper sword cutting through the air with a shrill sound, almost turning into a blurred white shadow. Fang Zhou also swung the Evil Slaying Sword; the two swords collided again, producing a clang of piercing sound. A tremendous force transmitted from the Evil Slaying Sword, numbing Fang Zhou¡¯s arm and making his hand hurt. He was shocked by the woman¡¯s strength. The Scarred Woman delivered another swift and peerless sword strike, landing on the blade of the Evil Slaying Sword. Fang Zhou was shaken so much that he could barely hold onto the Evil Slaying Sword, quickly retreating as the Scarred Woman chased him laughing, ¡°Don¡¯t hide, weren¡¯t you very impressive?¡± Her sword strikes were faster one after another, growing stronger, and Fang Zhou dared not meet her directly, only able to rely on his high agility to dodge. Swipe! Fang Zhou dodged a head-on sword strike, and the Scarred Woman¡¯s sword cut a large stone in half, leaving a smooth, neat cut. Fang Zhou took this opportunity to escape further, turning back to see the split stone, his heart suddenly leapt. Spiritual Energy Borrowing! This was a technique usable only in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Originally, Li Ruyu had demonstrated to Fang Zhou how a sword could split a stone. In the Qi Refinement realm, cultivators could only use Spiritual Energy within their bodies, but once they reached Foundation Establishment, cultivators could bring its effects onto objects, covering them with Spiritual Energy to produce various magical effects. The most common application was to cover weapons with Spiritual Energy, making them incredibly strong and able to cut through metal as if it were mud. This technique is known as Spiritual Energy Borrowing. Scarred Woman can achieve this; she is definitely a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, Han Li guessed correctly. There really is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator hiding their strength among a group of Qi Refinement Realm foot soldiers, truly a cunning old fox. Fortunately, Fang Zhou¡¯s Evil Slaying Sword is sturdy enough, otherwise he would have ended up like the senior sister from White Tiger Sect. No wonder the Scarred Woman¡¯s strength is so formidable. Fang Zhou¡¯s body, having been enhanced by system attribute points and further strengthened by the Qi Gathering Technique, surpasses most Qi Refinement Realm cultivators in strength and speed; however, he is still clearly at a disadvantage compared to the Scarred Woman. This makes him recall a simple description of the Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªafter Foundation Establishment, one undergoes a transformation, no longer ordinary. [Trigger new mission ¨C Defeat a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: Masculinity*4, blue card*1] [Failure: Lose virginity, death by exhaustion] The system mission popped up timely, as those two paper men hadn¡¯t triggered any missions. Seeing the mission description, Fang Zhou was shocked; why is it only a normal difficulty? Could it be that facing a Foundation Establishment Realm opponent is just considered dangerous? Once he realized Scarred Woman was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, Fang Zhou had already thought about running away. However, he soon understood why the difficulty is so low¡ªhe still has 14 points of masculinity unused; adding these to his attributes, flipping the Scarred Woman could be a breeze. But there are still the Tree Demon and the calabash brothers later, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t want to waste this precious opportunity on the Scarred Woman. However, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have time to ponder further, as the Scarred Woman charged at him again, swinging her paper sword and creating dazzling streaks of sword light, delivering overpowering powerful attacks on Fang Zhou. She was not using any sophisticated swordsmanship, but simply utilizing immense strength and speed, and even with that, Fang Zhou was already struggling to manage. ¡°Give up, kid. Just lie down obediently, and after I have my fun, I¡¯ll let you live a little longer.¡± The Scarred Woman attacked while attempting to persuade him to surrender, disrupting Fang Zhou¡¯s fighting spirit, and the mission¡¯s failure conditions confirmed that her surrender offer was insincere¡ªthis vicious woman was bent on destruction and murder. Fang Zhou remained silent, continuously retreating until he was backed into a collapsed ruin with no way out. He thrust his sword at the Scarred Woman but she sneered, flicking it aside: ¡°Useless, your strength is far less than mine!¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the Evil Slaying Sword deflected, Fang Zhou was wide open, and the Scarred Woman, with a brutal and cruel expression, swung her sword down towards Fang Zhou¡¯s arms, intending to cut off both hands first. Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes flashed with brilliance, adding four points of masculinity to his strength. Instantly, his strength attribute surged from 4 to 8, and with the enhancement from the Qi Gathering Technique, it reached 10 points. Once the attribute reached 10 points, as if quantity had caused a qualitative change, an overwhelming force burst forth from Fang Zhou¡¯s body, flowing into his arms. The deflected Evil Slaying Sword, with an increased speed, reversed and swept back, striking the paper sword with an impressive shrill. ¡°Clang!¡± A far more grating collision sound than before echoed as the two swords rebounded from each other¡¯s force. Scarred Woman displayed a look of astonishment, not understanding how Fang Zhou¡¯s strength had suddenly increased so much. She could still distinguish between being in full control and exerting all her strength. Fang Zhou swung away the Scarred Woman¡¯s paper sword and, controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, smashed it down on her head. The Scarred Woman tried to dodge, but Fang Zhou cast an Illusion Technique, trapping her in an illusion. Though she broke free from the Illusion Technique in just a brief moment, it was enough time for Fang Zhou; Hu Lai¡¯s left hand heavily smashed onto her head. The Scarred Woman let out a muffled grunt, rapidly retreating backward, as Fang Zhou followed up with a thrust of his sword. Chapter 58 - 58: 58. Lets make a Heart Demon Oath to see. Chapter 58: 58. Let¡¯s make a Heart Demon Oath to see. Fang Zhou¡¯s sword pierced forward, and the Scarred Woman hastily lifted her sword to block. The collision of the swords and the sudden increase in Fang Zhou¡¯s power numbed her arm. Fang Zhou, controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, smashed it towards the Scarred Woman¡¯s head again, while simultaneously casting an Illusion Technique. However, having learned from her past mistake, although the Scarred Woman fell into the illusion again, a white light suddenly emerged from her waist and swiftly covered her whole body, turning out to be a suit of paper armor. A white helmet fitted onto her head, and as Hu Lai¡¯s left hand punched down, it rendered the Scarred Woman dizzy, but the damage was nullified by the helmet this time. The Scarred Woman shook her head and roared as she lunged at Fang Zhou: ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Wearing the paper armor, the Scarred Woman no longer feared Fang Zhou¡¯s sword attacks. With the robust physique of a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm, coupled with the protection of the paper armor, blunt blows could hardly harm her. She decided to drain Fang Zhou¡¯s Yang energy and torment him to death to satisfy her grudge. Seeing the Scarred Woman donning the paper armor, Fang Zhou was not alarmed but pleased. He blocked her incoming paper sword with his own, threw another Illusion Technique at her, and then controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to choke her neck. The Scarred Woman instantly snapped out of the illusion, and as she was about to break free from the left hand, Fang Zhou already raised his hand, targeting her, and released the Fireball Technique. The fireball struck the Scarred Woman directly and exploded with a boom. The powerful explosion blasted the Scarred Woman backward, tearing her paper armor apart and igniting it with the scorching flames, instantly turning her into a blazing figure. After releasing the Fireball Technique, Fang Zhou hurriedly retreated, but his palm was still painfully shaken by the explosion from a distance. Although the Fireball Technique was sufficiently lethal, its slow release speed made it easy to dodge, and he needed to approach close every time, indeed a costly method that was like killing a thousand enemies at the expense of five hundred of his own. Looking up, he saw the Scarred Woman, now aflame, rolling on the ground and screaming horribly, as her paper armor and clothes became excellent fuel for the flames. However, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t let his guard down and surged forward to deal the finishing blow, knowing that a person at the Foundation Establishment Realm wouldn¡¯t die so easily. Sure enough, amid her struggles, the Scarred Woman tore off the burning clothes from her body and escaped, naked. Fang Zhou charged forward, piercing towards her heart with his sword while simultaneously casting another Illusion Technique. The Scarred Woman staggered significantly, slowed down by the impact of the illusion, and was stabbed in the chest by Fang Zhou¡¯s sword. Regrettably, the strike deviated from the critical spot and did not kill her instantly. The Scarred Woman, furious and desperate, lunged forward despite the sword penetrating her chest, fearlessly letting it go through her back. Fang Zhou remained calm amid the crisis, kicking her stomach directly while controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to deliver a fierce palm strike to her neck. Two muffled sounds later, the Scarred Woman was sent spinning into flight, rolling out over ten meters away before sprawling on the ground in a spread-eagled position. Fang Zhou carefully approached, only to find that the Scarred Woman was not yet dead, just gasping heavily, with her punctured chest spurting blood. Her vitality was indeed terrifying, yet it seemed she had no strength left to rise again. ¡°You won!¡± the Scarred Woman, coughing up blood, said to Fang Zhou: ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be defeated by a Qi Refinement Realm youngster one day. You must be from a Major Sect on a training journey. For merely a Qi Refinement Realm, to possess such strength and numerous astonishing spells, I don¡¯t feel wronged in my defeat.¡± Fang Zhou raised the Evil Slaying Sword towards her, preparing to chop off her head. ¡°Wait!¡± the Scarred Woman hastily said, ¡°I can swear a Heart Demon Oath, promising never to seek revenge against you, offering all my treasures in exchange for my life and even serving under you for ten years. Would you accept this deal?¡± Fang Zhou pointed the sword at her: ¡°First, let¡¯s hear your Heart Demon Oath.¡± The Scarred Woman raised her hand and began to swear that she would never seek revenge against Fang Zhou in her lifetime, or else she would never attain the Innate Realm and would suffer a violent death. After she finished swearing, Fang Zhou sheathed the Evil Slaying Sword, and the Scarred Woman, seeing this, deeply sighed in relief, believing Fang Zhou had spared her. However, Fang Zhou summoned the left hand, targeting the Scarred Woman¡¯s head with several heavy punches, knocking her unconscious. Make no petty sales; it is not wise to crave small benefits at the risk of losing one¡¯s life. Keep it for now, see if it will be of use later. The reason for making Scarred Woman take the Heart Demon Oath is because Fang Zhou had never seen one and wanted to see what it was like, real or fake did not matter. [Successfully defeated a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator] [Reward: Masculinity*4 Blue Card*1] Good, 14 points of masculinity remaining, two blue cards, one yet to be drawn after killing the giant phagocyte. Nie Xiaoqian, who was hiding somewhere, floated back concernedly, ¡°Fang Immortal, are you alright?¡± Nie Xiaoqian had watched the entire battle. When Fang Zhou was at a disadvantage, she hesitated whether to rush out to help, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be of much help and might even be a hindrance. It was only after Fang Zhou won that she heaved a sigh of relief, as she was still hoping Fang Zhou could help retrieve her ashes urn. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou shook his head and then glanced at the two White Tiger Sect sisters still tied up. The sisters were stunned; they had thought Scarred Woman was formidable, but she had lost to Fang Zhou. And it just so happened that they held a grudge against Fang Zhou. The two were in despair. Fang Zhou ignored them, dragging the unconscious Scarred Woman over, placing one of her hands into the miasma. After about ten seconds, there was no change in her hand. He then dragged one of the White Tiger Sect sisters over; she struggled desperately but couldn¡¯t overcome Fang Zhou¡¯s strength as he forcefully put her hand into the miasma. Within seconds, her hand began to fester, while Scarred Woman¡¯s remained unharmed. If such a situation occurred, either the Scarred Woman had some kind of poison resistance, or the physical body of someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm was far stronger than that in the Qi Refinement Realm, capable of resisting the corrosion of miasma. Fang Zhou instructed Nie Xiaoqian to keep a watch around and to wake him up if Scarred Woman¡¯s hand started to fester. After Nie Xiaoqian agreed, he hurriedly sat down to cultivate, primarily to restore his Spiritual Energy. The consecutive battles, several uses of Qi Gathering Technique, had nearly depleted the accumulated Spiritual Energy in his body. There were definitely more battles ahead, so he must restore some Spiritual Energy first. Just after refining some Spiritual Energy, Nie Xiaoqian woke him up, ¡°Fang Immortal, her hand has started festering.¡± Fang Zhou had to stop cultivating and check Scarred Woman¡¯s hand, which indeed had begun to fester. Calculating the time, her hand lasted a full ten minutes. Fang Zhou let Nie Xiaoqian try as well; she gritted her teeth, put her hand into the miasma, and within seconds, it festered, causing her intense pain, and she quickly withdrew it. The miasma¡¯s toxicity was formidable, effective even on ghosts, but its effect on those in the Foundation Establishment Realm was significantly reduced. Fang Zhou also tried it himself, placing his hand inside; perhaps due to his higher constitution, he lasted five minutes before feeling pain, quickly pulling back, though his hand still felt a burning sensation. He took a small bottle from his body and drank it. [Detoxification Potion: After ingestion, it can remove some low-level toxins and will produce resistance to toxins for thirty minutes] After drinking it, Fang Zhou felt the burning sensation on his hand disappear immediately. He placed his hand back into the miasma, and this time he lasted over five minutes without any issues. Fang Zhou prepared himself and turned back to Nie Xiaoqian, ¡°I¡¯m going in to check the situation. If I don¡¯t come out within half an hour, kill these three people and then go find Ning Caichen.¡± Nie Xiaoqian bit her lip and bowed to Fang Zhou, ¡°If it¡¯s not feasible, please prioritize your safety, Fang Immortal. Also, the one guarding inside the miasma is ranked second among the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, a demon with thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear, usually only monitors within the miasma, but if something significant happens outside, she will also peek out. Please be cautious, Fang Immortal.¡± Fang Zhou nodded, then took a deep breath and walked into the miasma. Chapter 59 - 59: 59. Wow, Golden Legend Chapter 59: 59. Wow, Golden Legend After entering the miasma, Fang Zhou took out an Invisibility Potion and drank it down. [Invisibility Potion: Grants invisibility after consumption, effect lasts for thirty minutes.] His entire body turned completely invisible, including the Sword Box on his back, he couldn¡¯t see himself, but he could still touch and make sounds when walking on the ground. Speaking of which, it¡¯s kind of funny. Fang Zhou had always fantasized about having the power of invisibility when he was a child, moving around the city at will. Later, he gave up on this fantasy, not because he grew up, but for fear of being hit by a car while invisible. Now, he hadn¡¯t expected this wish to finally come true, although it was only for a brief thirty minutes. Inside the miasma, the ground was covered with thick tree roots. Fang Zhou followed the orientation of the roots into the depths, taking care to make no sound. The guards inside, Sharp-Hearing Ear, had the ability to hear even the slightest disturbance. With the distance closing in, the figure of the Tree Demon became clearer and clearer, the surrounding roots writhed and twisted, and from time to time, a loud boom could be heard in the air ¨C that must be Ling Xiaoyue still fighting the Tree Demon. The battle between the two had been going on for at least over an hour, yet it wasn¡¯t over. Fang Zhou quickly arrived at the base of the giant tree, looking up in awe. Calling it a colossal ancient tree spirit was not an exaggeration at all, especially at close range, Fang Zhou felt like he was looking at a towering skyscraper. The roots under this tree were even more gigantic, crisscrossing and completely occupying the ground. Fang Zhou could only climb onto the roots, beginning his search for the sword mark left by Yan Chixia. Before long, he found the sword mark, which was very conspicuous. It was a large hole opened at the base of the root, leading directly into the main trunk. Fang Zhou also spotted Scarred Woman guarding in front of the sword mark. She was a young woman wearing an orange robe, beneath her the roots formed a rocking chair in which she lay, holding a book, looking lazy and listless as if she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. It was clear that this woman was Scarred Woman. As Fang Zhou was about to have a closer look, he took one step and Scarred Woman immediately turned her head in his direction. Fang Zhou instantly froze and held his breath, not moving a muscle. At the same time, Fang Zhou could see Scarred Woman¡¯s appearance clearly. She was undeniably beautiful, exuding a scholarly aura. Compared to Ning Caichen, Scarred Woman seemed more like a scholar, and not just any scholar but a talented and erudite gentleman. Just then, another loud boom sounded in the sky, like a thunderclap on a clear day. Scarred Woman¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed as she glanced up into the sky with a look of helplessness and shook her head, continuing her listless state. Fang Zhou then quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Scarred Woman¡¯s sense of smell was too sharp. If not for the invisibility, he would have been discovered long ago. And he had to thank Ling Xiaoyue, the tank, for stepping up to attract the Tree Demon and the gourd children¡¯s attention, or Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t have been able to infiltrate this place. However, the problem now was how to bypass Scarred Woman. She was blocking the entrance of the sword mark, and he would be easily detected if he approached. Being extremely cautious, Fang Zhou backed away and returned on the same path he came from, moving out of the miasma. Nie Xiaoqian was keeping watch over three people. Fang Zhou reached out and tapped her shoulder. Nie Xiaoqian turned around and saw no one, and she immediately jumped up, her face pale and trembling, ¡°Who is it?!¡± Fang Zhou was somewhat speechless. What¡¯s with this reaction, as if seeing a ghost late at night, did you forget that you yourself are a ghost? Why was she so timid? She had seemed quite brave before. He said in an annoyed tone, ¡°It¡¯s me, what are you afraid of?¡± Hearing that familiar voice, Nie Xiaoqian finally relaxed, ¡°So it¡¯s Fang Immortal, I thought it was that invisible demon.¡± ¡°` S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It turns out it¡¯s not ghosts she¡¯s afraid of, but the Sixth Child. After the shock, Nie Xiaoqian soon became amazed again, ¡°Fang Immortal, are you¡­?!¡± Nie Xiaoqian didn¡¯t expect that Fang Zhou could also become invisible. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this another time.¡± Fang Zhou replied casually and then recited the ¡°King of Europe¡± proclamation in his mind, drawing both blue cards. When one blue card spun and shattered, it actually emitted a golden light, like the sun. ¡°Could this be¡­ the Golden Legend?¡± Fang Zhou showed a surprised expression; the last time he had completed a difficult task and drawn a purple card, there were special effects, but those effects were not the same as this golden one. Fang Zhou remembered the system¡¯s description of the card drawing, which mentioned a chance of getting higher quality equipment or skills. Perhaps this referred to that. With a series of pleasant music, the shattered points of light converged into the shape of a talisman. The next second, a talisman wrapped in metal and a blue crystal appeared in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand. [Fairy Talisman¡ï: Carrying it restores 1% of Energy Value every minute] Indeed it is high-quality equipment; other items¡¯ introduction fonts are white, but the Fairy Talisman¡¯s font is blue and additionally has a star at the end, something even the Evil Slaying Sword doesn¡¯t have. It seems that my lucky European bloodline is genuinely strong, and a bit of tanning doesn¡¯t affect it much. However, Spiritual Energy is refined from the air through the Qi Refining Technique, and the body itself does not produce it. Can this also be restored? Fang Zhou happily wore the Fairy Talisman and carefully felt it, surprised to discover that the Fairy Talisman was actually helping him slowly refine Spiritual Energy from the air he breathed into his lungs, thus achieving the effect of restoring Spiritual Energy. Not only Spiritual Energy, but spiritual power was also slowly recovering. This is simply a divine item, and moreover, it is what Fang Zhou currently needs the most. Just a single blue card drew such good equipment; it seems that fortune was shining upon him. Fang Zhou was now even more excited about the other blue card¡¯s draw. If only he could draw one or two more Divine Skills or equipment to easily get through the current difficulties. The second blue card spun and shattered. This time there was no golden light, but the shattered points of light formed a bottle. Seeing the bottle, Fang Zhou had a bad feeling. The next second, a slightly larger bottle appeared in the palm of his hand. [Strong Aphrodisiac: Just a drop is enough to make a person with strong will lose rationality, completely falling into a state of mad passion] Fang Zhou: (?_?) Damn, I got happy too soon. It seems I¡¯ve used up all my luck. Why did I have to draw this kind of thing? Is it meant to be fed to enemies to make them lose combat ability? Fang Zhou was about to put away the Strong Aphrodisiac when he suddenly noticed the two sisters from the White Tiger Sect and the Scarred Woman nearby. He looked at the three of them, then at the aphrodisiac in his hand, and suddenly a light bulb went off in his head. Fang Zhou: (?£þ??£þ??)? He asked Nie Xiaoqian, who was beside him, ¡°That demon guarding inside, if there¡¯s really any movement outside, will she sneak a peek?¡± Nie Xiaoqian couldn¡¯t see Fang Zhou, so she just nodded in the direction of the sound, ¡°I heard it from other ghosts in the temple. That demon really has a peeping hobby.¡± Fang Zhou immediately snapped his fingers, ¡°Then could you do me a favor?¡± Nie Xiaoqian nodded, ¡°No problem, just say the word.¡± Fang Zhou leaned over and began to whisper his instructions. Nie Xiaoqian first was stunned, then her face turned red, she started stuttering, ¡°This¡­ this¡­ this kind of thing?!¡± After some persuasion from Fang Zhou, Nie Xiaoqian shyly agreed to the task. Damn, if you were a cute girl making a shy expression, that would be one thing, but you¡¯re a foot-scratching man with a full beard, so stop being coy. ¡°` Chapter 60 - 60: A practice that corrupts public morals Chapter 60: A practice that corrupts public morals Fang Zhou stripped the clothes off the two sisters from the White Tiger Sect, only to glance at them and feel very disappointed. ¡°You two are engaging in blatant fraud.¡± Fang Zhou fed them a few drops of the strong aphrodisiac, then picked up the Scarred Woman and smacked her face with a few hard slaps. The punches earlier were to enhance sleep, now these slaps were for wake-up service. Both provided the effect of enhancing sleep quality. Despite being in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Scarred Woman had a through-and-through sword wound to her chest, had her head bashed in with several punches, and even been set on fire, yet she still didn¡¯t die, with her wounds automatically clotted. Fang Zhou slapped her awake, and while she was just clearing the haze of waking up, he fed her a strong aphrodisiac. Fearing that this one had high tolerance, Fang Zhou directly fed her nearly half a mouthful. The sisters from the White Tiger Sect were already embracing and biting each other, and when Fang Zhou threw the Scarred Woman over, the three immediately started rolling together in a frenzy. Fang Zhou looked from left to right, feeling the scene wasn¡¯t very thrilling. Nie Xiaoqian covered her face with both hands, but she still peeked through her fingers. Fang Zhou appreciated his own masterpiece and then told Nie Xiaoqian to keep track of the time while he turned and stepped back into the miasma. He arrived at the original spot and saw the Second Child guarding the entrance to the sword mark. Outside the miasma, Nie Xiaoqian counted the time, cleared her throat, and then suddenly let out a high-pitched scream. This scream traveled far and reached inside the miasma. The second child who was reading book twitched her ears, turned her head to look outside the miasma, and instantly widened her eyes, breaking free from the state of a salted fish, becoming spirited. She quickly sat up from the rocking chair, her shocked words slipping out: ¡°This is truly shameless, such vulgar acts under the broad daylight of the public square!¡± Even though she criticized with her words, her eyes remained firmly fixed on the scene, unbeknownst to her, her cheeks gradually turning red and hot, with her nose even bleeding a line of fresh blood. Fang Zhou, hiding nearby, didn¡¯t expect the effect to be so good; he was initially hoping to slightly attract the Second Child¡¯s attention, but she was even more engrossed than when reading a book. Ah, this poor child, staying in such a desolate ghostly place, must have gone crazy, reacting so intensely to a bit of stimulation. But do demons have interest in human affairs as well? Taking advantage of the Second Child¡¯s diverted attention, Fang Zhou sneakily circled around her. The Second Child was immersed in the little film and didn¡¯t notice someone approaching stealthily. Fang Zhou arrived at the sword mark, looking up at this sword mark created by Yan Chixia with a single strike. The shape of the sword mark was narrow at both ends and wide in the middle, several meters wide, unfathomably deep, like a tunnel carved at the root of the Tree Demon. Fang Zhou was about to enter but then noticed not far from the entrance to the sword mark, many broken urns piled up. He went over for a look and found that these urns were all ashes urns, probably about a hundred or so. Among them should be Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn. Luckily, each urn had the birth date and name written on it; otherwise, it would be impossible to distinguish which was Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s. Fang Zhou quickly searched around and soon found Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn, lying on the outer edge, with the writing still clear. The luck wasn¡¯t too bad, if he hadn¡¯t found it, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t have stayed here any longer, as the detoxification medicine and invisibility potion only lasted for thirty minutes, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time. After placing the ashes urn in a place easy to grab, Fang Zhou turned and entered the sword mark. The sword marks were smooth, all cut out by Yan Chixia¡¯s Sword Qi forcibly, and touching them you could still feel a lingering slight prickling pain. That was the residual Sword Qi of Yan Chixia that, even after a year, had yet to completely dissipate. Fang Zhou noticed that inside the sword mark, it wasn¡¯t calm; the tree¡¯s body was constantly wriggling, trying to heal but obstructed by the Sword Qi. This explained one of Fang Zhou¡¯s doubts; no wonder the Tree Demon would leave such a glaring weakness; it was not that it didn¡¯t want to repair the flaw, but that the Sword Qi left by Yan Chixia had not yet vanished. This made Fang Zhou feel admiration; a strike delivered a year ago and the Sword Qi still remains, truly badass. Yan Chixia said she was only at the Innate Realm; her combat strength must be much stronger than the average of those in the Innate Realm, but alas, the gap with a Golden Core Demon was still too vast, even if it was just a degenerate version of a Golden Core Demon like the Tree Demon. Fang Zhou did not linger, he followed the sword mark deep inside, quickly arriving within the Tree Demon¡¯s body. Indeed there is but one swift path to the heart, the ancients did not deceive me. The main trunk of this Tree Demon was actually hollow, like the interior of a high tower, with web-like veins all over the inner walls, luminescent energy flowing swiftly within. The entire trunk was filled with an abundance of seven-colored rosy clouds, dreamlike and illusory, these lights passing through the hollows inside the tree, projecting upwards, piercing the sky. At the very center of the trunk¡¯s base, a glittering Golden Core suspended a few meters above the ground, its surface flowing with light, seven colors of rosy clouds contending in brilliance. The interiors of this trunk, and even the entire Lanruo Temple¡¯s seven-colored rosy clouds, were actually all emanating from this Golden Core. Fang Zhou¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to this Golden Core. He subconsciously wanted to get closer; his body seemed to be emitting a strong craving, like a traveler in the desert stumbling upon a spring. But the Golden Core also radiated a forbidding sense of danger, instinctively making him reluctant to approach. Two completely contradictory impulses simultaneously emerged in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind and body, making him feel very uncomfortable. He shook his head, suppressed all these inexplicable impulses, then took steps toward the Golden Core. As long as this Golden Core is taken away, the Tree Demon would be nothing to worry about, and Ling Xiaoyue should be able to defeat it. Fang Zhou himself would have mooched an assist; that should count as completion of the task, right? As he got closer, Fang Zhou could feel a piercing chill coming towards him, like stepping into a freezing icebox, so cold that he subconsciously shivered. ¡°Eh?!¡± At that moment, a female¡¯s surprised exclamation echoed within the trunk. Fang Zhou stiffened all over, his movements abruptly stopping. He had heard this voice before; just last night at the Lanruo Temple¡¯s annex building, that invisible ¡®Sixth child¡¯. How could she be here? Didn¡¯t Nie Xiaoqian say that only ¡®Second child¡¯ with the urn is guarding within the Miasma? But Fang Zhou immediately remembered, he was also in an invisible state, ¡®Sixth child¡¯ should not be able to see him. Just as this thought surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, ¡®Sixth child¡¯s voice unexpectedly came from behind him. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How can you turn invisible too?¡± Chapter 61 - 61: 61. Really a clever little devil Chapter 61: 61. Really a clever little devil Fang Zhou¡¯s cold sweat started pouring out instantly. These six kids actually see through their invisibility, do they have other abilities besides invisibility? Fang Zhou slowly turned around, nothing was behind him, but he could smell that familiar scent of grass. This scent wasn¡¯t present when he just entered, it¡¯s very likely that after Fang Zhou entered, the child also happened to follow in. ¡°Turns out it¡¯s you!¡± The child¡¯s voice sounded again, with a hint of surprise, probably recognizing Fang Zhou since they had just met last night when the child played a trick on him. Fang Zhou wanted to determine the child¡¯s position through their voice, but the voice started to fluctuate, becoming elusive. ¡°Nobody here, maybe it¡¯s a hallucination?¡± Fang Zhou muttered to himself, then took out a revealing potion and drank it down: ¡°Let me have a drink, calm down.¡± [Revealing Potion: After drinking, you can see invisible objects, lasting for thirty minutes] Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s muttering, the child let out a playful laugh, seemingly from the left, then seeming to be from the right. After drinking the revealing potion, Fang Zhou immediately noticed a slender figure slowly appearing about three meters in front of him. ¡°Who¡¯s talking, come out!¡± Fang Zhou shouted sternly, his eyes darting around, using his superb acting skills to feign panic when encountering invisible enemies. The child¡¯s figure finally fully revealed itself ¨C a pretty young girl in blue clothes, with round, curious eyes fixated on Fang Zhou. Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s words, the child giggled: ¡°You really don¡¯t have a brain, we just met last night. Oh no, you couldn¡¯t see me last night.¡± Her voice was coming from all around him, strangely enough, even though she was right in front of him. ¡°So it was you playing tricks last night?!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face was filled with rage as he rebuked righteously, ¡°Be bold and stop hiding, come out for a fair fight!¡± ¡°Haha, try to find me first!¡± The child crossed her arms over her chest and laughed, ¡°But I have a question, if you answer me, maybe I can show myself to you.¡± Fang Zhou looked around and slowly stepped forward: ¡°What¡¯s the question?¡± The child didn¡¯t notice Fang Zhou¡¯s subtle movement, curiously asking: ¡°How did you get past my second sister and run inside? She has the thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear. If I hadn¡¯t decided on a whim to take a stroll here, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed you.¡± So she just happened to follow in, Fang Zhou felt like his luck was all used up after drawing the Golden Legend; to have such a coincidence. But with just one sentence, the child had exposed her second sister¡¯s capabilities, somewhat na?ve and sweet. Fang Zhou also figured out her character, she must be the naive, playful kind without much scheming. He took a deep breath and stepped forward again: ¡°I have a question too, that Golden Core behind you, I can take it without any issue, right?¡± The child was momentarily stunned and then burst into laughter: ¡°This Golden Core is protected by a spell my grandpa cast, aside from us seven sisters, whoever touches it dies. If you dare to touch it, you¡¯re sure to die. Why don¡¯t you go ahead and try?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If what the child said was true, thankfully he didn¡¯t rashly attempt to take it, or he¡¯d die without even knowing how. Yet, his expression remained unchanged, shaking his head: ¡°What kind of spell only you can touch but no one else can, next time you lie please find a better excuse.¡± Sixth Sister puffed her face in frustration: ¡°I did not lie!¡± Fang Zhou looked at her with disdain: ¡°Then why don¡¯t you come down and show me?¡± Sixth Sister almost instinctively reached for it but then stopped midway, her eyes rolling, and she stuck out her tongue at Fang Zhou, making a face: ¡°You just want to trick me into getting it for you. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± You¡¯re quite the clever imp. Fang Zhou burst out laughing: ¡°I did indeed want to trick you. But your reaction has also proven that there¡¯s a flaw in the spell cast by your Granny, one that allowed you girls to get the Golden Core. I¡¯ve figured out where the flaw is. Thanks for the tip, the Golden Core is mine!¡± He turned and ran toward the Golden Core, reaching out his hand to leap up and grab it. Sixth Sister was startled and quickly shot out a transparent vine, wrapping around the Golden Core before Fang Zhou could get to it, and pulled it down from the air. Fang Zhou, however, swiftly reversed his forward charge, thrusting his sword towards Sixth Sister¡¯s chest while casting an Illusion Technique at her. Perhaps Fang Zhou¡¯s acting was quite convincing, for Sixth Sister didn¡¯t notice his previous slight movements. Given their proximity, she was utterly unprepared, and by the time Fang Zhou suddenly attacked, it was too late to dodge. She was first caught by the Illusion Technique, and then pierced in the chest by the Evil Slaying Sword, as the sword¡¯s Evil Qi began to burn her body. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The intense pain brought Sixth Sister out of the illusion, screaming instinctively as her body sprouted a plethora of woody substances, quickly encasing her entirely. Fang Zhou hastily withdrew his sword and leapt back just in time to see Sixth Sister transform into a giant gourd. ¡°Second Sister, save me!! Someone is attacking me!!¡± Sixth Sister¡¯s cry, with a whine, echoed from inside the gourd, carrying far and wide. Fang Zhou¡¯s complexion changed, and he swiftly turned around and snipped the vine with a sword strike, not daring to touch it with his hands. Instead, he summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to take out the Golden Core, still wrapped in the vine. ¡°Ssss~¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but shiver again; it was just too cold. The Golden Core emitted a constant chill, and even when held by Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, it made his body unbearably frozen. After securing the Golden Core, Fang Zhou immediately turned and fled towards the exit marked by sword marks. ¡°Ah!!¡± The Tree Demon, locked in a stalemate with Ling Xiaoyue, suddenly bellowed, ¡°Which despicable thief has stolen my Golden Core?!!¡± Outside the pavilion, the five sisters who were spectating the fight all changed their expressions dramatically. As the fruits sired by the Tree Demon, they knew all too well the importance of the Golden Core to Granny. With a whoosh, Third Sister shot out like an arrow leaving a bow, charging towards the Tree Demon¡¯s main body. Eldest Sister took it a step further, jumping on the spot so hard that the ground cratered beneath her, and she propelled herself into the air like a cannonball, even faster. The remaining three sisters looked at each other and could only follow suit. ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue, perched on top of the wine jug, was initially stunned by the Tree Demon¡¯s roar but then burst into uncontrollable laughter, laughing so hard that he rolled on the jug, nearly crying with laughter. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­ Truly worthy of being my disciple¡­ Ha ha ha¡­ You sure did it¡­ Ha ha ha ha¡­ Oh my, I¡¯m dying of laughter!!¡± A Golden Core Demon actually getting its Golden Core stolen by someone in the Qi Refining Realm was simply unbelievable, less likely than an ant killing an elephant. It was like two fully equipped warriors clashing, only for a simple minion to sneak past the high ground and single-handedly steal the base. Ling Xiaoyue had been curious about what Fang Zhou was doing near the Tree Demon and had thought about helping him out. He had not expected Fang Zhou to pull off such a feat. Chapter 62 - 62: 62. Retribution is like a tornado Chapter 62: 62. Retribution is like a tornado After laughing, Ling Xiaoyue stood up from the jug, her face turning serious. ¡°Since my disciple is so formidable, I, as the master, can¡¯t fall behind, otherwise how can I continue to ride on his head and boss him around?¡± She drew the longsword she always carried but had never used, raised her right hand, and pointed the sword towards the sky. The longsword flew out of her hand, shooting into the night sky like a meteor and disappearing from sight. In the next instant, countless rays of light shone around Lanruo Temple, like a meteor shower, converging on the longsword Ling Xiaoyue had thrown into the sky. All the lights gathered around the longsword as the core, forming a giant sword over a hundred meters in length. The giant sword hung upside down, its entire body radiant, emitting a dazzling light that illuminated the entire mountain, suppressing the seven-colored rosy clouds in the sky. Ling Xiaoyue pointed downward with her raised hand and chuckled softly, ¡°Little sapling, take my sword!¡± Her voice was ethereal and calm, like the pure moonlight. As Ling Xiaoyue made her move, the hundred-meter-long giant sword hanging in the night sky plummeted down, directly targeting the Tree Demon¡¯s main body. The Tree Demon, originally planning to retract all its roots to look for the thief who stole its Golden Core, now had to raise its roots again and contract its crown to block the attack of the giant sword. ¡­ Fang Zhou, who was fleeing inside the sword mark, also heard the Tree Demon¡¯s roar and ran even faster subconsciously. I¡¯m just passing through here; surely the Tree Demon won¡¯t really leave Ling Xiaoyue to come after me. Fang Zhou worried since the Seven-colored Golden Core he had seized did not turn invisible with him but continued to emit the noticeable seven-colored rosy clouds quite conspicuously. Running out with the Golden Core like this was like being a living target. Fang Zhou held the Golden Core while running and thought of strategies, but instead of the Tree Demon, he encountered Scarred Woman. Scarred Woman charged in following the sword mark. Her face was full of anger, not only because she had heard the cries for help from her sixth sister and the roar of the grandfather but also because someone had stealthily bypassed her watch and sneaked into the trunk, which was a blatant mockery of her thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear. She now realized that the provocative palace drama outside was someone¡¯s mischief, yet she had easily fallen for it, feeling insulted intelligence-wise, having always considered herself the smartest among her seven sisters. But now understanding was too late; she needed the enemy¡¯s blood to wash away this disgrace. Scarred Woman, burning with fury, charged inside but froze momentarily when she saw the Seven-colored Golden Core flying towards her. Although Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t make the Seven-colored Golden Core invisible, he was still invisible, holding and running with the Golden Core, which, in others¡¯ eyes, looked like the Golden Core was flying by itself. Fang Zhou was mentally prepared for Scarred Woman¡¯s arrival; seizing the opportunity when she was stunned, he threw an Illusion Technique and then thrust forward with his longsword. Scarred Woman quickly broke free from the illusion, raised her hand to block, and numerous vines sprouted from her hands. Fang Zhou cut off several vines with his sword, but he couldn¡¯t harm Scarred Woman. He suddenly flew up a kick, hitting Scarred Woman in the stomach. It seemed all of these gourd children could sprout vines from their bodies for defense and attack, but Scarred Woman¡¯s combat power was pretty mediocre; Fang Zhou kicked her away with one blow. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t stay to fight further and continued to escape outward. Scarred Woman steadied herself and hurriedly chased after him, shooting vines towards Fang Zhou¡¯s direction. Although she couldn¡¯t see him, the Seven-colored Golden Core he held was like a live target. Seeing the vines shooting towards him, Fang Zhou knew these could break even thick pillars, and getting hit by one could spell instant death for him. He quickly turned and cast a Fireball Technique. The Fireball Technique flew out and hit the vines, exploding instantly. The explosion severed all the vines, and the second child pursuing was also blown back, rolling away to a distance. Fang Zhou had already seized the opportunity to burst out of the sword mark, arriving outside the roots of the Tree Demon. The outside had completely transformed, all the roots stretched towards the sky, the ground became pocked and messy. He hurried towards the area where the ashes urns were placed, most of the urns had been shattered by the movement of the roots, leaving only a few intact. Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s urn was safe and sound; fortunately, Fang Zhou had previously taken it out separately, otherwise, how could he explain to Nie Xiaoqian upon returning that her ashes were scattered? Should he just tell her to accept it with sorrow? He picked up the ashes urn, bypassed these roots, and dashed towards the outside of the miasma. Not long after, the dirt-covered second sister also chased out. Behind Lanruo Temple, the area was filled with miasma and white fog; the seven-colored rosy clouds inside the Tree Demon had not completely dissipated, so Fang Zhou holding the Seven-colored Golden Core outside was not so conspicuous, and with the roots blocking, the second sister could not see where Fang Zhou was running. But the seven sisters had a clear instinctual connection to the Seven-colored Golden Core, it was something connected to their bloodline and they could sense its exact location without seeing it. By sensing the direction of the Golden Core, the second sister immediately chased in the direction Fang Zhou had run. Here, Fang Zhou was escaping from the miasma at the fastest speed, meeting Nie Xiaoqian, as well as the two sisters from the White Tiger Sect and the Scarred Woman. The scene was a mess, indicating a fierce battle, even the several Double-headed Dragons specially prepared by Fang Zhou were ruined. The three were almost stacked on top of each other, with the Scarred Woman sandwiched in the middle like a sandwich, already lifeless. Although she was in the Foundation Establishment Realm and the strongest in physical constitution, she had been severely injured before, and facing two enemies alone, she could not withstand the attack from both sides and ultimately perished, truly a pitiful and lamentable end. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but recall the Heart Demon Oath the Scarred Woman had taken before; wasn¡¯t this scene right before him a fulfillment of it? It was like karma came fast like a tornado. It seemed the Scarred Woman still held deep prejudice against Fang Zhou in her heart, such endless reprisal, and in the end, it harmed herself. Fang Zhou felt empathetic, realizing that he shouldn¡¯t casually swear any Heart Demon Oath in the future; the Scarred Woman truly taught him a lesson with her life. Nie Xiaoqian stood beside the three, her face showing an endless aftertaste, a stark contrast from her initial shyness. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Could this guy have awakened some special preference? Hope Ning Caichen can hold on. When Nie Xiaoqian heard the noise, she looked up and almost jumped in fright, seeing an ashes urn flying out from the miasma toward her, scarier than seeing a ghost at midnight. Fang Zhou directly tossed the ashes urn to her: ¡°Your ashes urn, catch!¡± Nie Xiaoqian, hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s voice, clumsily caught the ashes urn, seeing the familiar name and date of birth on it, her eyes immediately reddened. ¡°My ashes, finally seeing you again.¡± Nie Xiaoqian hugged the ashes urn tightly, looking like an old eunuch reunited with his treasure after many years. Fang Zhou quickly said to Nie Xiaoqian: ¡°Take your ashes urn, quickly take Ning Caichen and leave this damned place, don¡¯t come back.¡± After speaking, Fang Zhou turned and ran; he still had pursuers behind him, no time to chat more with Nie Xiaoqian. Nie Xiaoqian was about to thank Fang Zhou, seeing this could only sigh: ¡°Fang Immortal truly is a man who comes and goes like the wind.¡± After speaking, she also picked up her own ashes urn and directly made her escape. Chapter 63 - 63: 63. Hurry up and shoot her in the face with your Pokémon. Chapter 63: 63. Hurry up and shoot her in the face with your Pok¨¦mon. Perhaps it was because the Seven-colored Golden Core had been taken away, the mist enveloping Lanruo Temple gradually thinned. The huge body of the Tree Demon became clearly visible, and although Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t recall the path to leave Lanruo Temple, as long as he ran with his back to the Tree Demon, he could always make it out. However, before he could get far, a tall red-clad woman descended from the sky and landed in front of Fang Zhou, creating a large crater in the ground. Fang Zhou gasped in shock¡ªwearing red clothing and such a violent entry, it was definitely the eldest sister, but how did she get here so fast? The eldest sister sensed the presence of the Golden Core; she was the fastest, leaving all her sisters behind. Upon landing, the eldest sister immediately saw the floating Golden Core. She hesitated briefly, then realized what was going on. Stamping her feet on the ground, a loud explosion resounded as the mud and stones under her feet burst apart. She shot towards Fang Zhou like a cannonball being fired. Fang Zhou hurriedly threw himself to one side, only feeling the strong wind whip past his face as the eldest sister flew past, smashing down a wall behind him. Fang Zhou stared in disbelief¡ªwas this a superhuman? How on earth could he fight this? The eldest sister dug herself out from under the bricks, leaping up next to the Golden Core and throwing a punch towards its surroundings, her delicate fist causing an explosive sound in the air. The eldest sister paused, puzzled as to why she didn¡¯t hit the target. She realized that the thief who stole the Golden Core was also invisible, like her sixth sister, so she attacked the area around the Golden Core but didn¡¯t hit anything¡ªwhat was going on? Fang Zhou was a bit scared by the eldest sister¡¯s ferocity; he just stood there, watching as she leapt towards him and punched the space beside him. What was this? How could she miss seeing something so close at her young age? Fang Zhou quickly realized that he was holding the Golden Core with Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, at a distance from his body, which caused the eldest sister to misjudge and strike nothingness. Opportunity not to be missed, Fang Zhou stabbed at the eldest sister with his sword. Hearing the movement, the eldest sister raised her hand to block. The Evil Slaying Sword pierced into her forearm, its Evil Qi beginning to burn her skin. The eldest sister¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and she abruptly swept forward with a leg sweep. Her strong, round legs whistled through the air, casting a blur of afterimages. Being hit by such legs would spell disaster. Yet Fang Zhou had silently shifted position, causing the eldest sister to kick the air once again. He reciprocated in kind, kicking his leg out as well, striking the eldest sister¡¯s taut six-pack abdomen. The eldest sister reeled back a couple of steps but quickly steadied herself. Her skill was worlds apart from that of her second sister. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she stomped down hard onto the ground. With a thunderous boom, the ground within a radius of ten meters from her shattered and collapsed. Fang Zhou found it difficult to keep his footing and hurriedly retreated. This eldest sister was too terrifying, a veritable superhuman. He couldn¡¯t afford to provoke her¡ªit was best to run. ¡°Stop right there!¡± The eldest sister let out a thunderous yell, lifting a huge rock that had fragmented from the ground, as big as a horse carriage, and hurled it towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou rolled on the spot, and the large rock whistled past overhead, crashing onto the ground a short distance away, making the entire ground tremble. This woman was too reckless. Didn¡¯t she worry about damaging the Golden Core as well? What was even more terrifying was that Fang Zhou¡¯s figure was gradually becoming visible as the thirty minutes had passed, and the Invisibility Potion had finally lost its effect. The eldest sister eyed Fang Zhou, her lips curving into a slight smile: ¡°I see you now, you little thief.¡± Fang Zhou felt a cold sweat break out in an instant. Oh no, he was done for. Now he was going to turn into fertilizer. This eldest sister definitely had the formidable strength of a Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection, plus a talent for immense power. Even if Fang Zhou added all of his remaining 14 points of manhood to his strength, he was afraid it wouldn¡¯t be enough to overpower her. ¡°Master, come save me!¡± At this moment, Fang Zhou could no longer pretend to be strong and decisively called for help. Self-reliance and self-improvement should be time-dependent; what¡¯s the point if you lose your life? As soon as the words left his lips, a figure descended from the sky and landed in front of him. Fang Zhou, full of question marks, asked, ¡°You got here so quickly?¡± The person who had landed held an unfurled scroll in hand and slammed it onto the ground with force. The eldest child was warily watching this suddenly-appeared individual when she suddenly felt the ground beneath her feet give way, and she began sinking down. She looked down, panicked to discover that the ground had turned into a swamp. She tried to jump out, but the mushy swamp didn¡¯t allow for any leverage, and in the blink of an eye, the eldest child was completely submerged in the muck. The rescuer then turned his head to Fang Zhou and flashed a beaming smile, ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± Seeing this familiar dark face, Fang Zhou opened his eyes wide in surprise, ¡°Han Li, what are you doing here?¡± This person was indeed Han Li, whom Fang Zhou had thought had either escaped or perished. He never expected her to be safe and sound, and to come to his rescue at such a critical moment. ¡°I came over when I heard the noise.¡± Han Li answered Fang Zhou¡¯s question, casually picking up the scroll from the ground. Fang Zhou saw that the scroll depicted mountains and rivers; it was actually a painting. This was certainly a treasure; Fang Zhou refrained from asking further to avoid any misunderstandings. Han Li¡¯s gaze fell onto the Seven-colored Golden Core hovering not far from Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder. Although her face showed surprise, she refrained from prying. Fang Zhou said to Han Li, ¡°We can talk more once we get out. This place is dangerous and not suitable to linger.¡± Han Li nodded in agreement. She had been searching for a way out, and now with the fog dissipating and most of the buildings in Lanruo Temple destroyed by the battle between Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon, escaping didn¡¯t seem too difficult. The two immediately made their move to flee from Lanruo Temple. The noises from the battle between Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon still came intermittently. The Tree Demon let out roar after roar, seemingly disadvantaged after the Golden Core was stolen by Fang Zhou. If it weren¡¯t for Xiaoyue acting as a meat shield against the Tree Demon, even with the Golden Core, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. And now, the seven brotherly gourds wouldn¡¯t let him off easily¡ªwhether he could really escape was yet another question. ¡°Sir, watch out!¡± Han Li suddenly let out a shriek of alarm. A yellow blur shot towards them at incredible speed. Fang Zhou hurriedly pushed Han Li aside and thrust forward with his sword. With a clang, the Evil Slaying Sword pierced the yellow-clothed woman¡¯s body, but it made a sound like metal striking metal. She reached out to grab Fang Zhou, who quickly retreated, simultaneously executing simple swordsmanship techniques. The Evil Slaying Sword left several afterimages as it continuously stabbed at the vital points of the yellow-clothed woman¡¯s body, but it was like stabbing into steel, leaving not even a scratch. Yellow clothes, impervious to weapons, this woman, whether in appearance or temperament, was extremely fierce, and was without a doubt the steel-boned third sibling. She relentlessly pursued Fang Zhou, unfazed by the Evil Slaying Sword¡¯s strikes at her vital parts, and even the Evil Qi on the sword seemed to have no effect on her. Fang Zhou was frantically coping with the situation, and in the blink of an eye, danger loomed. Against someone impervious to weapons, the Evil Slaying Sword in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand was practically toy-like. The third sibling¡¯s strength was no weaker than the Scarred Woman. While Fang Zhou was fending off the third sibling¡¯s ferocious attacks, he glanced at Han Li, hoping she would quickly take out her treasured item and deal a heavy blow to the third sibling, sending her to reunite with the eldest sibling. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s expectant gaze, however, Han Li drew her own Longsword and rushed in to help. Fang Zhou: ??? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little black sister, what on earth are you doing, little black sister? Quick, whip out your magical treasure and give her a full blast in the face. Chapter 64 - 64: 64. Exceptional awareness, operating at full capacity Chapter 64: 64. Exceptional awareness, operating at full capacity In fact, Fang Zhou misunderstood Han Li. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to use the treasure; she simply couldn¡¯t. The treasure used to trap the eldest sister was a Treasure Artifact named the Mountain and River Map, capable of transforming into terrain features such as mountains and rivers, and so on. It is said that if a cultivator above the Yin Yang Realm were to use it, they could even create real mountains and rivers out of thin air that would not disappear. But with Han Li¡¯s current Qi Refining Realm capabilities, she could only alter the terrain on a small scale, and it could be used only once. If she tried to force it, it would only lead to failure. Therefore, she had no choice but to put the treasure aside and roll up her sleeves to help out. The two of them flanked the third sister from the front and the back, but the third sister was fearless and ignored attacks from behind by Han Li, focusing solely on Fang Zhou, attempting to snatch the Seven-colored Golden Core from him. Fang Zhou was beaten around by the third sister, who chased after him relentlessly, while Han Li chased after the third sister without letting up, the three of them running around in circles as if they were playing a game. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t take it anymore and yelled to Han Li, ¡°Poke her butt!¡± He remembered that the third sister¡¯s weakness seemed to be her buttocks, but unfortunately, she kept her gaze fixed on him and he couldn¡¯t get behind her. When Han Li heard Fang Zhou¡¯s words, she was taken aback but her hand did not slow down, thrusting her sword towards the third sister¡¯s butt. This time, the third sister dared not allow Han Li to attack her anymore. Angered, she turned around and with a sweep of her hand, snapped Han Li¡¯s Longsword into two pieces. Fang Zhou took the opportunity to allocate 14 points of manliness to his strength and speed, increasing his strength to 15 and his speed to 12. With the boost from the Qi Gathering Technique, his strength reached 17 and his speed 14. When a single attribute exceeded 10, a qualitative change would occur. Fang Zhou only felt a surge of explosive strength emerging from his body, like a volcano that had been accumulating power for a long time, which made him wish to roar out loud to vent it. He abandoned his sword for his fist, and hurled a punch at the third sister, with the speed and power of his punch being about half as formidable as the eldest sister when she attacked. By the time the third sister sensed the danger, it was too late. She was struck by Fang Zhou¡¯s punch and, accompanied by a deafening thud, she flew out like a cannonball and crashed into the ruins. Fang Zhou only felt a severe pain in his fist, his whole hand bloodied and dripping. His own body couldn¡¯t even bear the force of that punch. The style of the fight had changed entirely; it had been a proper fantasy genre, but now it had turned into a style where a mighty fighter dealt flesh-and-blood blows. Although he had become stronger and not bald, Fang Zhou dared not linger in battle. He quickly called out to Han Li, preparing to make a dash for it. ¡°Don¡¯t think of running away!¡± The third sister leaped out from the ruins, blood on the corner of her mouth, having been punched by Fang Zhou to the point of vomiting blood. Although resistant to blades and spears, pure power could still injure her. However, such an injury was not enough to hinder the third sister¡¯s movements. She raised her hand and shot out a multitude of roots and vines, aiming at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou dodged left and right but was still entangled by the vines around his arms. He used his sword to cut off the vines, while shouting to Han Li, ¡°You go first!¡± Han Li nodded and turned to run, but was immediately blocked by three young girls who emerged. The three sisters who were left behind by the eldest and third sisters had finally caught up. The two girls dressed in green and light blue who looked very similar were the fourth and fifth sisters. The youngest girl, with a purple gourd hanging at her waist, was the youngest, the seventh sister. Blocked by the three sisters, Han Li dared not charge through. Although she didn¡¯t know about the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, these monsters were more troublesome one than the next. Who knew what strange abilities these three newly-appeared girls possessed. However, little seven¡¯s gaze passed over Han Li and landed on Fang Zhou, immediately screaming angrily, ¡°Ah, so you¡¯ve run off here; watch as I capture you and turn you into fertilizer for flowers.¡± Saying so, she reached for the purple gourd at her waist, aiming it at Fang Zhou. ¡°Wait, little seven!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless!¡± The fourth and fifth sisters hurriedly stopped little seven. They didn¡¯t care about Fang Zhou, but the Seven-colored Golden Core was floating right beside Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder. If little seven carelessly collected the Seven-colored Golden Core into the gourd, they would have no way of explaining it to their grandfather. Xiaoqi also realized this point. She pouted and then aimed the gourd at Han Li: ¡°Can I at least capture this one?¡± Fang Zhou urgently shouted at Han Li: ¡°Run!¡± Han Li immediately turned her head and ran, but the gourd could suck away everything within the line of sight, and Han Li hadn¡¯t run a few steps before being sucked backward by the gourd. In desperation, Fang Zhou could only grab the Evil Slaying Sword and threw it at Xiaoqi. Xiaqi immediately turned the gourd¡¯s mouth around and collected the Evil Slaying Sword into it. ¡°Boom!¡± Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and a giant several tens of meters tall popped out from nowhere in the distance, it was Big Sister, who finally freed herself from the mire through her gigantic transformation. On her shoulders sat Second Sister and Sixth Sister, who had been shaken off by Fang Zhou earlier. The Second Sister, possessing thousand-mile eyes, was pointing in this direction, guiding Big Sister. And in front of them, the steel-boned Third Sister charged at Fang Zhou again, with the three sisters blocking the way ahead. It could be said that Fang Zhou and Han Li were now in a dire situation. The spiritual energy inside Fang Zhou had also been depleted, the recovery from the Fairy Talisman was far from enough, and the continuous use of Illusion Technique and Fireball Technique had nearly exhausted his spirit. At this moment, he could be described as completely drained. But Fang Zhou had calmed down at this juncture. He ran both New Moon Qi and Qi Gathering Technique at the same time, refining spiritual energy with New Moon Qi and then sending it throughout his body with Qi Gathering Technique. This action would greatly strain his body, causing damage, but at this moment he had no other care. Third Sister rushed forward, swinging a fist towards Fang Zhou¡¯s head. Her body was impervious to swords and spears, a tremendous advantage, so she never learned any combat skills. Her fights were straightforward and simple. Fang Zhou raised his hand to catch Third Sister¡¯s fist tightly. At this moment, his Qi Gathering Technique was unstable, with his strength fluctuating between 15 to 17, unpredictable. Such power was naturally inferior to Big Sister, but more than enough to surpass Third Sister. As her fist was caught, Third Sister raised her foot to kick at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, grabbing her kicking leg. With both her right and left leg in his grasp, Third Sister clenched her teeth and raised her left hand to swing at Fang Zhou¡¯s face. Fang Zhou stepped back, grabbed Third Sister¡¯s limbs, roared angrily, lifted up her entire body, spun around twice, and tossed her towards the three sisters. After throwing out Third Sister, he followed closely, charging towards the three sisters. Xiaoqi was about to use the gourd to suck away Han Li again when she saw Third Sister being thrown over, and she subconsciously turned the mouth of the gourd around. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fourth Sister quickly slapped her on the back of her head: ¡°Are you going to suck up our Third Sister too?¡± Fifth Sister raised her hand to catch Third Sister but ended up being knocked over by her. At this time, Fourth Sister noticed Fang Zhou rushing up behind them; she wasn¡¯t flustered and opened her mouth to spit out a thunderbolt, shooting towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou spun around sharply, and the thunderbolt hit him right on the Sword Box on his back. The Sword Box was struck, instantly releasing dazzlingly bright light and endless sword cries. Fourth Sister and Xiaoqi were both dazzled by the bright light and instinctively closed their eyes, the sword cries causing them intense bodily pain. But the sword cries wouldn¡¯t cause Fang Zhou any more harm, with a speed of 12-14 points, he moved as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of Fourth Sister and Xiaoqi, and punched Fourth Sister away. Xiaoqi sensed danger and subconsciously aimed the gourd at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou raised his hand and snatched the gourd treasure away, kicked Xiaoqi away, and then turned the gourd¡¯s mouth towards the four sisters. Chapter 65 - 65: 65. A flute-playing child sitting beneath me Chapter 65: 65. A flute-playing child sitting beneath me Seeing Fang Zhou actually snatch away the magical gourd to aim at his own sisters, Triplets and Quintuplets, as well as Quad who had her vision restored, were all stunned. Fang Zhou let out a haha and shouted loudly: ¡°Retrieve!¡± The scene instantly quietened down, yet the magical gourd remained motionless. Fang Zhou: ??? Could it be that the Spell isn¡¯t this one? Fang Zhou yelled at the four sisters: ¡°Monsters, I¡¯m calling you out, do you dare to respond?¡± The four sisters: ??? Fang Zhou got a bit panicked, he tried to channel a bit of the Spiritual Energy he had just refined into the magical gourd, but due to insufficient cultivation, the Spiritual Energy couldn¡¯t leave his body. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The kicked away Little Seven got up from the ground, pointed at Fang Zhou, and laughed loudly: ¡°You big dummy, the magical gourd is my item, how could it possibly listen to you, little gourd, catch him!¡± Fang Zhou hastily tried to throw the gourd away, but it was already too late. Following Little Seven¡¯s command, the magical gourd instantly sprouted a large number of vines, swiftly binding Fang Zhou into a zongzi; arms, legs, and torso all tightly wrapped, unable to move, with only his head exposed. It truly was a situation where gloom turns to bloom, Fang Zhou originally thought he had outsmarted everyone and instantly turned the tables to gain an advantage, only to have it overturned in the blink of an eye. This reversal was so fast that even Fang Zhou was taken aback. ¡°Master!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Li, wielding her broken sword, rushed forward to rescue Fang Zhou. Little Seven commanded again: ¡°Little gourd, catch her!¡± The vines that bound Fang Zhou immediately sprouted a few more, shooting towards Han Li. Han Li nimbly dodged, and the vines tore open her bodice, from which a green small bottle fell out. Han Li quickly grabbed the small bottle and was then bound by the vines. Seeing Fang Zhou and Han Li both caught, the four sisters finally breathed a sigh of relief, but they all failed to notice that the small bottle in Han Li¡¯s hand was emitting a glowing green light. Han Li did not charge forward recklessly, as cautious as she was, seeing Fang Zhou caught, she would surely have run away first and then looked for an opportunity to rescue him. She deliberately charged forward just to allow these vines to touch her. At this moment, she stared intensely at the glowing small bottle, murmuring something under her breath, then with a flick of her wrist, a drop of crystal clear liquid slid out of the bottle, falling onto the vine. In the next moment, the vine exploded in size, splitting into countless branches. Triplet frowned and said, ¡°Little Seven, stop playing around, stop the vines.¡± Little Seven looked bewildered: ¡°Triplet sister, it¡¯s not me doing this.¡± She tried to control the vines, only to discover that they had slipped from her control. Triplet¡¯s expression changed slightly as she hurried towards Fang Zhou, intending to seize the Seven-colored Golden Core first. But the surging vines immediately pushed her away. ¡°My gourd!¡± Little Seven also wanted to rush over to retrieve her gourd, but was held back by Quad running in the opposite direction. Quintuplet spat out sharp water threads from her mouth to cut the growing vines, while Quad spat out scorching flames to burn them, but their destruction speed was far slower than the growth rate of the vines. The surging vines reached for the sky, turning into a giant tree tens of meters tall, while also splitting into countless branches below. These branches dug into the ground and new vines sprouted out, spreading at a terrifying pace in all directions. The four sisters, who couldn¡¯t escape in time, were instantly swallowed by the vines, countless vines crazily spreading around, claiming all the land as their own. ¡°` The three sisters rushing over from a distance were also ensnared by the expanding vines, the tallest sister struggled with all her might, tearing off the vines that tangled around her. But more vines tied up her arms and legs, rendering her immobile, her enormous strength rendered useless. The sister on her shoulders, Little Two and Little Six, couldn¡¯t escape either; Little Two was wrapped up like a zongzi, and even though Little Six quickly turned herself into a calabash, she too was bound tight and secure. The vines continued to expand in all directions, covering a vast amount of buildings and ruins, even the Tree Demon¡¯s roots were entangled. By the time the energy was depleted and the expansion stopped, the surroundings had become a lush small forest. Ling Xiaoyue looked down from the sky and saw that nearly a third of Lanruo Temple had been covered by the vines. She smiled slightly: ¡°The little girl¡¯s treasure is pretty good.¡± She then controlled the wine flask to dodge a huge branch that smacked down. The Tree Demon had already begun to wield its branches as weapons, and there was a giant gash in its canopy, inflicted by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s massive sword attack. This completely enraged the Tree Demon, and because of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s interference, it couldn¡¯t go after Fang Zhou to retrieve its Golden Core and could only pin its hopes on its seven granddaughters. However, it seemed the situation was not very good. Fang Zhou was also confused by the sudden surge of vines, not knowing this was Han Li¡¯s doing, he thought it was Little Seven¡¯s misoperation, protecting the enemy and hitting his own team. But for Fang Zhou, this was a good thing; at least it gave him time to escape. He hurriedly struggled, but unfortunately, the vines around him were too tight and elastic, and without a weapon, it would be hard to break free with strength alone. Fang Zhou¡¯s Evil Slaying Sword had been taken by the calabash, which pained him greatly; he hadn¡¯t even had time to get used to his system¡¯s rewarded equipment, and now it was gone, feeling like a loss of five million. Although the Sword Box still contained the Xuanyuan Divine Sword left by Yan Chixia, a name that sounded absolutely dominant, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t take it out. Yan Chixia had passed the secrets of the Sword Control Technique to Fang Zhou before her death, but as she said, entry-level was too difficult. Fang Zhou remembered it but was clueless in understanding, with no idea what it was all about. This was different from the New Moon Qi and Qi Gathering Technique that Ling Xiaoyue passed to him; both of these techniques were easy to comprehend, simply telling you what to do in plain language, just follow the instructions. But the phrases from the Sword Control Technique were profound and enigmatic; without a background in classical literature, it¡¯s really hard to understand, let alone comprehend. There was also the Heart Sutra passed to him by Yan Chixia, which even required Buddhist knowledge to understand. So now Fang Zhou could only drool over his wealth of treasures without the key to unlock them. Fang Zhou was trapped within the vines, incapable of moving, and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was holding the Golden Core, unable to assist. ¡°Han Li¡± Fang Zhou could only twist his head and shout back, ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Han Li¡¯s voice came swiftly: ¡°I hear you, just wait a bit, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Fang Zhou was just trying to shout out and didn¡¯t expect Han Li would actually answer; her voice seemed not too far away. He waited patiently, wondering where the calabash brothers had run off to. Could it be that they played themselves and also got wound up by the vines? That would be well-deserved. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Fang Zhou was just thinking about the calabash boys when suddenly there was a disturbance up ahead, and then he saw Little Three squeezing out from between the vines. Fang Zhou¡¯s face changed dramatically, and he struggled urgently but still couldn¡¯t break free. He was now like a lab rat on an experiment table, anyone who came by could mess around with him. After squeezing out, Little Three climbed onto a vine and looked down at Fang Zhou from above, a cold smile on her beautiful and brave face. Fang Zhou also showed an embarrassed smile: ¡°I surrender, request leniency for a prisoner of war!¡± Little Three crossed her arms over her chest, sizing up Fang Zhou¡¯s face: ¡°It¡¯s a pity to kill you, but if you¡¯re willing to be a flute-playing child beneath me, I might spare your life.¡± Fang Zhou was stunned. Seeing her serious expression, it was apparent she was not joking? ¡°` Chapter 66 - 66: 66. Ate something that shouldnt have been eaten Chapter 66: 66. Ate something that shouldn¡¯t have been eaten Triplets are just too outrageous, actually suggesting that Fang Zhou become her attendant. Even more outrageous is that Fang Zhou actually seriously considered it for a moment, and in that instant, he was even slightly tempted. To be honest, as a normal male in such an open world of women, it¡¯s impossible not to have any fantasies at all. But most of those women eyeing him were too ugly, with misshapen faces, and some of the better-looking ones clearly had plenty of experience, like Li Ruyu. Although Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t a germaphobe, he had no interest in squeezing onto a crowded bus. What¡¯s more, Fang Zhou had an innate source of Innate Yang Qi within him, planning to absorb it himself once his realm was higher, not wanting to benefit others. For all these reasons, Fang Zhou has always been strict with himself, insisting on a pure path, and avoiding anything risque. So after a few seconds of consideration, Fang Zhou decisively gave up. Of course, if he were captured by accident and the seven sisters forced themselves on him, then there would be nothing he could do. He can¡¯t just bite his tongue and commit suicide, can he? ¡°This kind of major life decision¡­ you need to give me some time to think about it.¡± Fang Zhou pretended to hesitate; in reality, he was stalling for time, waiting for Han Li to arrive. Triplets, however, didn¡¯t just stupidly wait, she leapt straight down from the vines and charged at the Golden Core, planning to snatch it back first. Fang Zhou was in a panic but unable to move his hands and feet. Seeing Triplets reaching for the Golden Core, Fang Zhou could only control Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, tossing the Golden Core upward, then suddenly grasping Triplets¡¯ neck with great force and pushing her away. The Golden Core fell from the sky, and just happened to hit Fang Zhou¡¯s head directly. With no hands free, Fang Zhou could only open his mouth to catch it, hoping to trap the Golden Core in his mouth. The Golden Core landed precisely in his mouth and then slid down his throat. Gulp! He swallowed it! Fang Zhou: ????? Struggling Triplets: ????? Fang Zhou felt as if he had swallowed a piece of ice, his mouth and throat numb with cold, a severe chill spreading from his belly and chest, freezing his entire body stiff. His intention had been to trap it in his mouth, but he misjudged the weight and force with which the Golden Core was falling. Triplets watched in horror as Fang Zhou swallowed the Golden Core, feeling empty as if she lost something vitally important, and the connection to the Golden Core vanished as well. ¡°Spit it out, you bastard!! Thief!!¡±, she roared with rage, forcefully breaking free from Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and rushed forward, aiming a knife-hand strike at Fang Zhou¡¯s head. Fang Zhou felt his head was frozen, his thoughts sluggish. He tried to control his left hand to defend, but it was too late¡ªhe could only watch as Triplets¡¯ knife-hand came down on his head. If she landed the hit, it would be easier than slicing a watermelon, with his brain splattering all over. Cling¡ª In this life-and-death moment, a piercing sword cry suddenly emitted from the Sword Box behind Fang Zhou. A streak of golden light shot out from the Sword Box, slashing towards Triplets. Triplets¡¯ complexion drastically changed, evidently recognizing the golden light; she even disregarded attacking Fang Zhou and quickly raised her hand to defend. The Golden Light Slash collided with Triplets¡¯ arm, producing a grating metallic sound. Triplets was sent flying backwards, crashing into the vines, her arms bleeding profusely as even her steel bones were cleaved through by the sword. However, the golden light did not pursue the attack; instead, it flew back, swiftly slicing through the vines binding Fang Zhou. Once free, Fang Zhou finally saw that the golden light was actually a Golden Sword. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This must be the Xuanyuan Divine Sword that Yan Chixia spoke of. After cutting through the vines, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword hovered in front of Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou, now exceedingly cold, nevertheless drew upon his strong will to survive, managing to slowly grasp the Xuanyuan Divine Sword with his left hand. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword carried him up into the sky. Han Li had just crawled out from the vines at this time, looking up to see Fang Zhou flying away into the sky, utterly bewildered. Fang Zhou, almost too frozen to speak, managed to shout to Han Li with his last bit of strength: ¡°Feet!¡± Han Li immediately understood Fang Zhou¡¯s intention, and with a forceful leap using the vines, she grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s foot. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword, with both of them in tow, smoothly flew out of the vine-filled forest. Below them, Triplets emerged from the vines, wounded¡ªit was too late for her to do anything but watch Fang Zhou and Han Li fly away. Looking down from the air, Han Li saw that the entire Lanruo Temple had been reduced to ruins. Although the temple was dilapidated before, the overall structure had been intact. Now, there wasn¡¯t a single unscathed building in sight. Most had been destroyed in the battle between Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon, the rest devoured by the vines. After this battle, Lanruo Temple was practically no more. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword, as if sensing Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts, led him and Han Li directly away from Lanruo Temple and the surrounding hills, towards the temple¡¯s annex. What would normally have been a half-hour journey, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword covered in a brief moment. After entering the annex, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword casually landed, then turned into a streak of golden light and re-entered the Sword Box. After landing, Fang Zhou immediately fell to his knees, barely able to stand, on the verge of collapsing. Han Li quickly supported him, only to shiver from cold herself¡ªFang Zhou¡¯s entire body was like a block of ice, emanating cold from inside out. Han Li exclaimed in shock, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s wrong with your body?! Why is it so cold?¡± ¡°I ate¡­ hiss¡­ something I shouldn¡¯t have, my mouth¡­ my mouth is too loose.¡± Fang Zhou answered while shivering, wanting to spit out the Golden Core, but by now his stomach and chest had gone numb from the cold. ¡°What shall we do now?¡± Han Li asked anxiously, realizing Fang Zhou¡¯s situation was very grim; if things continued, he would be frozen to death. But even then, Fang Zhou had the presence of mind to remind Han Li: ¡°The¡­ Monk¡­ here¡­ is shady¡­ be careful!¡± Han Li nodded, ¡°I understand, I will first find a place to hide you, then get some hot water to soak you in.¡± But before Han Li could lead Fang Zhou away, they heard hurried footsteps approaching. Chapter 67 - 67: 67. Little Black Girl, do you trust me? Chapter 67: 67. Little Black Girl, do you trust me? Han Li looked up and saw Hui Neng approaching hurriedly with a group of monks, who were even holding sticks in their hands. Han Li was startled, wondering how these monks could arrive so quickly. She had originally planned to hide Fang Zhou away secretly, keeping their presence unknown from the monks, but that plan had now fallen through. Han Li could only feign calmness and said to Hui Neng, ¡°Master Hui Neng, you¡¯ve arrived just in time, please prepare some hot water; my friend needs to bathe.¡± However, Hui Neng did not move and instead looked around, relieved to see that only two people had returned. The reason for their swift arrival was that a monk had seen a golden light shoot into the courtyard and, having been informed earlier, the prepared Hui Neng immediately led people here. He was worried that if too many people escaped back, and one or two managed to flee, leaking the news would be troublesome. Fortunately, there were only two of them, making the situation easier to handle. Seeing that Hui Neng did not respond, Han Li raised her voice: ¡°Master Hui Neng?¡± Hui Neng smiled gently at her: ¡°Are there only two benefactors who have returned? Very good, very good.¡± She was genuinely relieved; the situation had almost slipped out of control. The noises of battle coming from the old site of Lanruo Temple were terrifying, making her fear tremendously. Even the intrusion by Yan Chixia into Lanruo Temple a year ago wasn¡¯t as frightening. After Yan Chixia¡¯s visit a year ago, Hui Neng deeply reflected and downplayed the rumors about the Buddhist Secret Treasure to avoid attracting more powerful figures. Unexpectedly, it had been only a year, and yet another formidable person had hidden among a group of ordinary soldiers. Luckily, it seems they did not escape back; they must be dead in Lanruo Temple by now. Faced with the least desired situation, Han Li felt a sinking feeling, ¡°Master Hui Neng, what is this supposed to mean?¡± Master Hui Neng brought his hands together in prayer and smilingly said to Han Li, ¡°Amitabha, please forgive this monk. Our temple is in ruins, barely able to sustain the monks¡¯ lives, surviving only by attracting tourists with this Buddhist Secret Treasure. If two benefactors leave and spread the news about this place, wouldn¡¯t that cut off the lifeline for our temple¡¯s old and young? For the sake of our sustenance, I ask both benefactors to descend into Hell, and this humble monk will chant sutras for your transmigration, thanking you for your great kindness and virtue.¡± Both Fang Zhou and Han Li had already suspected the intentions of these monks; seeing Hui Neng straightforwardly reveal it, their expressions drastically changed. Han Li pressed down on the small bottle hidden at her chest and spoke coldly, ¡°Do you think you can really kill us?¡± These monks were merely some boxers, and Hui Neng seemed to be nothing more than in the Qi Refining Realm. Han Li alone was enough to handle them. But this was just an ideal scenario; considering how confident Hui Neng was, wouldn¡¯t he have some backup plan? Sure enough, upon hearing Han Li¡¯s words, Hui Neng burst into laughter, ¡°You two benefactors are naively pitiable. This monk has been presiding over Lanruo Temple for many years and has seen countless cultivators. To this day, I remain unharmed. Do you really think I¡¯m merely in the Qi Refining Realm?¡± With that said, his entire demeanor changed; though originally chubby like a Maitreya Buddha, now his face trembled with its flabby flesh, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light. The well-experienced Han Li¡¯s complexion changed instantly, exclaiming in disbelief, ¡°Foundation Establishment Realm?!¡± Although Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t see it, his heart too sank. His current strength and speed were both over ten points, enough to handle a Foundation Establishment Realm, but his body was frozen stiff by the swallowed Golden Core, making movement and fighting impossible. Relying solely on Han Li to confront a Foundation Establishment Realm would be too harsh on her. However, with so many treasures on her, she should be able to pull something out to shoot this fat monk in the face, right? Anticipating support, Fang Zhou looked at Han Li, only to see her expression extremely grim; it was not the look of confidence. Fang Zhou was clearly overestimating Han Li; she was just in the Qi Refinement Realm. Not to mention independents, even disciples from Major Sects wouldn¡¯t possess magical artifacts in the Qi Refinement Realm unless they were prodigious disciples. Han Li, merely a lone cultivator, already had incredible fortune by possessing a small bottle and the Mountain and River Map in the Qi Refining Realm. Giving her any more advantages would be overkill, wouldn¡¯t it? Besides, those other cultivators wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Besides, Han Li had already used those two secret treasures previously, and they were now in their cooldown period. She couldn¡¯t use them again if she wanted to. Thus, she was now like a skilled chef without rice, completely out of ideas. Ahead, Monk Hui Neng was striding towards them: ¡°Fellow benefactors, please surrender without resistance. Don¡¯t be stubborn. This poor monk is quite skilled, and I can assure you a painless and peaceful death.¡± Han Li gritted her teeth and took a step back, only to hear Fang Zhou¡¯s voice in her ear: ¡°Let me handle this!¡± Surprised, she turned her head and saw Fang Zhou holding a purple gourd, aiming it at Monk Hui Neng. Seeing the gourd, Han Li was shocked and delighted. Delighted because Fang Zhou had somehow managed to snatch this gourd, which belonged to Xiao Qi, and even brought it with him, which she hadn¡¯t noticed before. The shock came because Han Li had seen Fang Zhou trying to use the gourd before and knew he couldn¡¯t operate it. She instantly understood Fang Zhou¡¯s intentions but wondered if it could fool Hui Neng. Evidently, Hui Neng recognized the precious gourd in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, halted in his tracks with a start, and exclaimed in horror, ¡°How did this treasure end up in your hands?¡± Fang Zhou wanted to sneer coldly, but he was already chilled to the bone and stuttering, not wanting to add more strain on himself, so he replied with a warm smile, ¡°Monk¡­continue¡­coming, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hui Neng¡¯s expression underwent a dramatic change, finally settling on a resolute look: ¡°Impossible, even if you obtained this treasure, you definitely can¡¯t use it. Don¡¯t think you can fool me.¡± It seemed as if she was trying to convince herself, her voice growing louder. Fang Zhou remained cool and composed: ¡°You could¡­try it. What do you think¡­allowed us¡­to escape?¡± He appeared steady, but inside, he was extremely anxious. He knew very well whether or not the gourd would work. ¡°I bet you can¡¯t!¡± Monk Hui Neng let out a fierce shout and suddenly lunged towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou suddenly panicked, Damn it, why isn¡¯t this monk playing by the rules? Isn¡¯t this the time to be cautious? Seeing Fang Zhou not reacting, Hui Neng knew she had guessed right. She sneered, thinking these two dared to bluff her. She decided to kill the woman and violate then kill the man afterward, keeping the gourd treasure for herself. Simply delicious! Seeing Hui Neng charge, Han Li quickly moved in front of Fang Zhou and pulled out the small bottle, no longer concerned about its damage. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou too was exasperated. Why couldn¡¯t this damn gourd work? Did it need facial recognition or something? I swallowed your Golden Core; I am your grandfather, so freaking absorb me! Grandson!! Just as this thought crossed Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, he immediately felt the gourd in his hand warm up slightly, creating an instantaneous blood and flesh connection with him. As Hui Neng was about to reach them, Han Li was about to smash the small bottle at her, but suddenly Monk Hui Neng¡¯s corpulent body shrank abruptly and turned into a black spot that vanished into the gourd. Han Li¡¯s face was a picture of disbelief as she turned to look at Fang Zhou, her expression almost accusatory¡ªSo you could use it, why didn¡¯t you do it sooner, did you have to make it so thrilling? Fang Zhou: ??? Little black girl, if I say I could only use it just now, would you believe me? Chapter 68 - 68: 68. Garbage mountain inside the gourd Chapter 68: 68. Garbage mountain inside the gourd The monks around also widened their eyes, seemingly unable to understand what had just happened. Fang Zhou took the chance to turn around the mouth of the gourd and swoosh ¨C absorbed all the monks into it at once. While absorbing Hui Neng and the group of monks, Fang Zhou felt a cold sensation rushing from his body towards the gourd in his hand, being absorbed by it. Although it didn¡¯t absorb all the chill, it made Fang Zhou feel much better and not so cold. All the monks were gone, leaving only Fang Zhou and Han Li looking at each other. Han Li said with a strained voice, ¡°This gourd¡­ you can actually use it?¡± Her voice was filled with grievance. If you could use it, why didn¡¯t you use it earlier? We could¡¯ve taken care of those female demons right away, but you had to wait until now. Fang Zhou felt a bit embarrassed and cleared his throat softly, ¡°The timing wasn¡¯t right; it would have been useless to use it earlier.¡± Han Li seemed to not quite understand, but felt relieved. She thought that Fang Zhou definitely wasn¡¯t the type to seek thrills; he must have had some kind of constraint on using it. She felt that she only saw one layer of the reasoning, while Fang Zhou must have considered a five-layered strategy. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such contests of wisdom were not something she could participate in. After dealing with all the monks, Han Li helped Fang Zhou into the temple, where they boldly occupied Hui Neng¡¯s meditation room. Han Li busied herself, bringing Fang Zhou a large bucket of hot water, scarcely stopping short of helping him bathe and scrub his back. However, by her demeanor, Fang Zhou guessed she would have been quite willing if he had asked. Only after stripping and soaking in the hot water did the chill inside Fang Zhou¡¯s body begin to subside, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. It was then that he had the leisure to study the gourd he held. Although he was not yet clear why he could use the gourd now, Fang Zhou believed it was very likely related to his swallowing of the Golden Core. He and the gourd had established a weak but clear connection, one like flesh and blood, but not the kind that one could grill. Fang Zhou made a mark on a nearby candle, then closed his eyes and began to concentrate on feeling the gourd. Almost instantly, he felt his consciousness enter an immensely vast space. He didn¡¯t know the size of this space and couldn¡¯t see its boundaries, because it was filled with countless bizarre items¡ªa massive amount of rocks, soil, trees, and various animal and human corpses, all piled up like a garbage mountain, yet without any foul smell. Below seemed to be a steaming sea, filled with liquids of unknown composition, bubbling vigorously. The steam resulted from the bubbles rose and floated in the air, eroding the garbage above which then dissolved into liquid, drop by drop, falling down. Thousands of drops of liquid joined together to form a heavy rain. Fang Zhou realized that these piles of garbage must have been casually absorbed by the Seventh Brother of the gourd kids and were being refined by the gourd. As for the effects of the refined liquid, that was yet to be known. Now that he was here, he thought, one shouldn¡¯t just leave ¨C no, one should not leave a mountain of treasures empty-handed. With such a large garbage mountain, who knows what treasures that Seventh Brother had absorbed were hidden inside; sometimes, trash picking could lead to riches. And in addition, Fang Zhou wanted to retrieve his Evil Slaying Sword that had been sucked in as well. But he soon gave up on searching, as the garbage mountain was simply too vast and large; he had no idea where his Evil Slaying Sword had fallen to. After carefully sensing around, he instead sensed the group of monks that he had just absorbed. Fang Zhou followed the sensation and quickly spotted the group of monks; they were all lying on the garbage mountain, immobile, with most of them still having their eyes open yet not even breathing. Hui Neng was among them, his plump face still maintaining a fierce smile. These monks were lying on the garbage mountain, below which the fog was corroding; it was unsure when it would be their turn. Fang Zhou discovered that he could not only sense them but seemed to be able to control them as well. No sooner had this thought occurred, the monks immediately flew up under Fang Zhou¡¯s control. He picked one of the monks and placed them outside the garbage mountain in the fog, and in a blink, the monk was completely corroded by the fog, with even their clothing disappearing, turning into a drop of liquid. This was many times more fearsome than the toxicity of the miasma at the root of the Tree Demon; that miasma could only corrode flesh, and had no effect on inanimate objects like stones and earth, while the fog in this gourd seemed to be able to refine anything away. Fang Zhou then picked another monk and tossed them directly into the hot sea below, corroded away by the fog before even getting close. He threw the rest of the monks onto the garbage mountain and gazing at the continuous clusters of garbage mountains, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He had a suspicion in his heart that he could sense and control these monks, but not any other items, probably because these monks were absorbed by him, while other things were absorbed by Xiao Qi, hence he couldn¡¯t control them. If that was the case, then he would have to give up on finding his Evil Slaying Sword for the time being; who knows where it might have fallen. However, if he was unable to control the things Xiao Qi absorbed, what about the fog? Another idea surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind; he tried to control the fog, and following his thoughts, part of the fog drifted over. Under his control, the fog sometimes formed an ¡®S¡¯, sometimes a ¡®B¡¯, and even formed an Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon with high fidelity. Fang Zhou controlled the fog to corrode the garbage mountain, and indeed the speed was many times faster. He played around for a while before stopping and then exited the gourd, returning his consciousness to his body. After coming out, Fang Zhou looked at the burning candle; the mark he made had barely moved, meaning that less than half a minute had passed in reality, yet he had stayed in the gourd space for at least half an hour. The flow of time in both places was completely different; time in the gourd space flowed so slowly, and yet there was still so much garbage that hadn¡¯t been corroded away, revealing how much garbage Xiao Qi had absorbed over the years. While researching the gourd, Fang Zhou took a bath, and before long, the hot water began to cool down, chilled by the coldness emanating from his body. At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Han Li called from outside, ¡°Sir, would you like some hot water added?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Fang Zhou responded. The door was pushed open, and Han Li came in carrying a bucket of hot water and immediately saw Fang Zhou¡¯s back emerging from the tub. Smooth and white, not particularly muscular, yet sturdy and broadening slightly, it conveyed a sense of security. Han Li walked over, pouring the hot water into the tub, her eyes occasionally glancing at Fang Zhou¡¯s upper body above the water, feeling slightly parched, as if there was a fire stirring inside her. At the same time, Han Li thought to herself, Fang Zhou was being far too unguarded; it was okay with someone as self-disciplined as her, but with other women, they might have taken the opportunity to make a move or do something. Of course, she was very grateful for Fang Zhou¡¯s trust, and so she would never make any untoward advances towards him. Chapter 69 - 69: 69. Wipeout Engine? Chapter 69: 69. Wipeout Engine? If Fang Zhou knew what Han Li was thinking, he¡¯d probably not know whether to laugh or cry. He was unguarded because of habits leftover from his past life, and besides, Han Li¡¯s behavior was very normal without any signs of being infatuated. Besides, it¡¯s not a big deal for a man to be seen naked; it¡¯s not like he can get pregnant. After adding hot water, Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and turned to thank Han Li: ¡°Thanks, I¡¯d really have frozen to death without your help.¡± Han Li shook her head but did not leave after pouring the water, instead asking, ¡°Sir¡­¡± Fang Zhou interrupted her: ¡°Stop calling me ¡®sir¡¯. You¡¯ve saved me a few times too; we¡¯re even now. Calling me ¡®sir¡¯ is too formal, just call me by my name.¡± Fang Zhou already considered Han Li as a friend he could associate with. Her character was impeccable, her values aligned with his, and most importantly, her potential was enormous and her luck was good. If he hadn¡¯t met Xiao Yan before, Fang Zhou might have thought Han Li was the world¡¯s destined heroine, the main character of this universe. Such a powerful future ally, if not to cultivate a good relationship with now, then when? Previously, Fang Zhou always felt that he couldn¡¯t rely on others and needed to be self-reliant and strong. But after the dangerous situation in Lanruo Temple, he realized that it¡¯s right to be self-reliant, but there¡¯s nothing wrong with holding onto a few strong legs; at critical moments, it can save your life. At the same time as being self-reliant, one must also strive to hold onto those legs, and if there¡¯s no opportunity to hold on, create one. You have to walk with both legs, grab with both hands, both hands must be strong, that¡¯s the right path. Seeing Fang Zhou allowing her to call him by his name, Han Li felt a slight joy in her heart. Although she felt a bit inferior in front of Fang Zhou, thinking that she, a dark-skinned girl, was not a match for a white, wealthy, and noble disciple like Fang Zhou, and maintained politeness in their daily interactions, she couldn¡¯t help fantasizing about being closer to him. Now that Fang Zhou let her call him by his name, it was clear proof that their relationship had taken a step further. Han Li initially thought that coming to Lanruo Temple had been a loss, not finding the Secret Treasure and instead losing a lot of good items. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But at this moment, she felt the trip had been worthwhile. On impulse, Han Li blurted out, ¡°Do you want me to scrub your back?¡± After saying it, she instantly regretted it, fearing that this action would annoy Fang Zhou and reverse the progress of their budding relationship. When Fang Zhou heard this, his body stiffened slightly. What¡¯s this situation? According to the customs of this world, it¡¯s like a dark-skinned boy offering to scrub the back of a white and wealthy beauty during her bath, totally overstepping boundaries, and likely to get his legs broken for it. Fang Zhou himself didn¡¯t mind, but if he refused, it would be awkward for both of them. If he accepted, it could look like he was selling his charms. Han Li regretted it secretly and was about to apologize to Fang Zhou when she heard him say in a conflicted voice, ¡°Well¡­ that would be great, thanks.¡± Han Li felt a jolt throughout her body, he agreed? Then a surge of joy mixed with disbelief filled her heart. Could it be that Fang Zhou is also interested in me? Otherwise, why would he agree to such an excessive request? Lost in her wild thoughts, Han Li licked her lower lip, picked up the bath towel beside her, and stretched her ¡°devil¡¯s claws¡± towards Fang Zhou¡¯s smooth back, gently wiping. She held her breath, her touch was as gentle as if she was wiping a delicate piece of porcelain, fearing that one careless move could break it. Yet, while scrubbing, she couldn¡¯t help but use her fingertips to lightly touch Fang Zhou¡¯s skin, as if caressing it. Fang Zhou felt a bit awkward, feeling as if he was at a spa where the attendant insisted on washing him, an utter impropriety. The atmosphere turned somewhat oppressive, and Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but break the silence, asking, ¡°What were you about to say to me just now?¡± Regaining her composure, Han Li hastily responded, ¡°First¡­ ahem, Fang Zhou, I was wondering, when will Senior Ling come back? She shouldn¡¯t have run into any trouble, right?¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li managed to escape Lanruo Temple primarily due to both exerting their utmost abilities, narrowly evading death in the process. Objectively though, it was Ling Xiaoyue who directly engaged the Tree Demon. If the Tree Demon had been free, no matter how powerful they were, escaping would have been impossible. Han Li felt profoundly grateful to Ling Xiaoyue, so much so that she began to worry about her safety after their escape. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she should be fine. As for when she¡¯ll return, that¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess.¡± Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t overly concerned about Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s safety. After rescuing him from Li Ruyu, she immediately whisked him away, fearing retaliation from Xuanji Sect. If real danger arose, Ling Xiaoyue was sure to flee faster than anyone else. Moreover, Fang Zhou still had the Tree Demon Golden Core which he had obtained, even swallowed, after Ling Xiaoyue brazenly confronted the Tree Demon. According to Yan Chixia, the Tree Demon was no longer a threat and shouldn¡¯t be able to harm her. The two conversed briefly, recounting their respective experiences after separating in Lanruo Temple. Hearing that Fang Zhou had received Yan Chixia¡¯s inheritance, Han Li was genuinely delighted for him. She showed no envy or jealousy, knowing she possessed the mystery-packed small bottle that would benefit her for a lifetime. However, when Fang Zhou learned that the group of rogue cultivators who hassled Han Li had all perished, his expression grew peculiar. Previously in Black Jiao Cave, Han Li¡¯s adventure ended with everyone but her and two weaklings meeting their demise. This time in Lanruo Temple, it was once again a total wipeout with only her and Fang Zhou escaping, plus Ling Xiaoyue. She was like a calamity engine, with every adventure ending with the demise of her companions and just herself escaping. Fang Zhou even felt some relief that he had split up with Han Li midway; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t even know how he died. This little sister had a knack for defeating her teammates. Terrifying, indeed. As Fang Zhou was experiencing after-the-fact shivers, Han Li had finished wiping his back and shoulders. Looking down, her heart involuntarily started pounding. Should she¡­ go further? If she continued downward and Fang Zhou didn¡¯t object, it would mean he completely let his guard down around her, and tonight could culminate in something more. But if he did object, he would definitely think she was overstepping, ruining all the good impressions built thus far. Han Li felt as if she was facing a monumental life decision, her forehead beginning to sweat with the tension. Eventually, it was Fang Zhou who came to her rescue: ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll take care of the rest myself.¡± Han Li exhaled a deep sigh of relief, reluctantly stepping away to leave the room. She patted her face, shooing away the jumbled thoughts, reasoning with herself that there was no need to rush; a strong relationship would yield plenty of opportunities in the future. Ensuring the door was firmly closed behind her, Han Li couldn¡¯t resist bringing her fingers to her nose for a stealthy sniff, then breaking into a smile. (¨s¨Œ¨t) So fragrant~~ Inside the room, Fang Zhou also let out a deep breath. Though his back was turned, he could sense Han Li¡¯s hesitations. It seemed she too was struggling with temptation, fortunately restraining herself, preventing any unpleasant incidents. Chapter 70 - 70: 70.Che Guevara Fang Zhou Chapter 70: 70.Che Guevara Fang Zhou ¡°Thankfully it was Han Li, the flat-chested and flat-bottomed girl, wiping his back. If it had been a fair-skinned, beautiful, busty and long-legged woman instead, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure if he could have controlled himself.¡± He shook his head and opened his Personal Attributes. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refinement (Minor Achievement) Techniques: New Moon Qi, Qi Gathering Technique Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, Fireball Technique, Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship Strength: 15 Speed: 12 Constitution: 9 Spirit: 6 Manliness: 0 Righteous Reputation: 1 Fang Zhou glanced and was surprised to find that his realm had progressed from Qi Refinement (entry-level) to Qi Refinement (Minor Achievement). When did this happen? He pondered, and then recalled that during the fight with the gourd children, due to a lack of Spiritual Energy, he forcibly used New Moon Qi and Qi Gathering Technique, refining and consuming simultaneously. It seems that was when he broke through, as Ling Xiaoyue had said that the stages of realm are actually very simple, the entry-level stage requires one to concentrate on refining and guiding Spiritual Energy to nourish the blood and flesh. At the minor achievement stage, one can multitask, refining while doing other things and guiding Spiritual Energy to nourish the internal organs; at the major achievement stage, it becomes an instinct to refine Qi, guiding Spiritual Energy to nourish the meridians and bones. When the whole body is nourished by Spiritual Energy from the inside out, it reaches the perfection stage of Qi refinement. What follows is accumulating massive amounts of Spiritual Energy in preparation for the Foundation Establishment. Fang Zhou had been stuck in the Qi Refinement (entry-level) stage for a while and felt the bottleneck before coming to Wild Tomb Ridge, always on the verge of breaking through to minor achievement. However, this method of forcibly squeezing potential should not be used again, this time it was good luck. Originally just a step away, it did not cause any serious consequences. If used recklessly, it might harm the foundation, causing irreversible damage. So it¡¯s better to proceed systematically and solidly. After soaking in hot water, Han Li brought Fang Zhou¡¯s belongings left behind in the temple, and he changed into fresh clothes. Not long after, Fang Zhou started to feel cold again, with chills continuously emanating from his body, making him tremble. Fang Zhou had no choice but to use the gourd treasure again, absorbing some miscellaneous objects. Each time he used it, the gourd treasure absorbed some of the coldness from his body, alleviating his symptoms. This situation did not last long, as Ling Xiaoyue finally returned. She sat on a giant wine jug, flying into the temple and landing in front of Fang Zhou and Han Li. The wine jug quickly shrank and actively flew to her waist to hang. ¡°Senior Ling, you¡¯re finally back.¡± Han Li said joyfully. Though Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s behavior seemed unreliable, her powerful strength still provided a strong sense of safety, as if there was no need to fear being chased by demons anymore. ¡°Yo, you escaped too? Not bad, not bad.¡± Ling Xiaoyue said with a smile to Han Li, then jumped next to Fang Zhou and slapped him heavily on the shoulder: ¡°Well done, truly worthy of being my disciple, even able to steal the Golden Core from a Golden Core Demon. I see you have a talent for thievery, perhaps switching to a thief might make you famous in history. The position of the next Thief Emperor is yours, I¡¯ve even thought of a name for you, let¡¯s call you Che Guevara Fang Zhou!¡± Ling Xiaoyue was very excited, seemingly looking forward to having a disciple who could steal across the world, the thought alone made her quite proud. From now on, whoever dares to provoke Ling Xiaoyue, let them keep their mounts and Magic Treasures extra safe. Although Han Li was prepared, hearing Ling Xiaoyue say this still left her immensely shocked. Previously, the Tree Demon had roared about a little thief stealing its Golden Core. Later, Han Li saw the Seven-colored Golden Core floating beside Fang Zhou, but she still couldn¡¯t believe it until Ling Xiaoyue confirmed it. This is a Golden Core, a realm countless cultivators dream of, an elusive goal for countless loose practitioners and even sect disciples. Within Major Sects, being in the Golden Core Realm is like being a revered expert, and among demons, it¡¯s like being a formidable Demon ruling over a region in the Demon Domain. For Han Li, the thought of Fang Zhou managing to steal a Golden Core from such a formidable being was utterly unthinkable. Now looking at Fang Zhou, she no longer just saw him with respect, but her gaze was wholly incredulous¡ªat this rate, Fang Zhou, maybe you really have a talent for stealing. Consider switching careers, the position for the next Thief Emperor is yours, just steal whatever Magic Treasures you need. Of course, Fang Zhou¡¯s deed was actually exaggerated. The Tree Demon wasn¡¯t really a proper Golden Core Demon; its combat power compared to a real Golden Core Demon was worlds apart. Additionally, it was stabbed by Yan Chixia with a sword, breaking through the tree¡¯s defenses, leaving a gap through which the residual Sword Qi lingered, aided by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s upfront distraction. Under these conditions created by his two masters, Fang Zhou managed to steal the Golden Core successfully. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Had it been a real Golden Core Demon, with control over its Golden Core as if it were a limb, Fang Zhou might have been able to touch it but not take it away. But now the task wasn¡¯t completed yet, and Ling Xiaoyue had come back. Could it be that the Tree Demon isn¡¯t dead yet? Fang Zhou, unable to bear the cold, stared at Ling Xiaoyue with a look in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Ling Xiaoyue asked as she stretched out her hand towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Quick, take out the Golden Core and let me have a look; it¡¯s my first time seeing one with seven colors.¡± Han Li hurriedly explained Fang Zhou¡¯s situation to Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue raised an eyebrow, grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, and felt it carefully, her expression becoming strange: ¡°How old are you this year, disciple? What have you been stuffing into your mouth?¡± ¡°It was purely an accident.¡± Fang Zhou, shivering from the cold, spoke while his breath came out as white mist: ¡°Quick, help me take it out.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed out loud: ¡°Let¡¯s see if you dare to eat things recklessly in the future.¡± After laughing, she placed her hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s chest and even winked at him: ¡°I am not harassing you, my disciple. If you feel wronged, you can get back at me later.¡± Fang Zhou glanced at Ling Xiaoyue and snorted internally, thinking that if he did as she said, he would lose face. Just as Ling Xiaoyue was about to extract the Golden Core, her smile suddenly vanished, and she exclaimed in surprise: ¡°Eh, how come this Golden Core is connected to your flesh and heart? What have you done?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression changed, and he immediately thought of the connection he had established with the gourd through blood and flesh. Han Li, hearing this, anxiously said: ¡°Senior Ling, could Fang Zhou be in danger?¡± Ling Xiaoyue glanced at her and joked: ¡°You care so much about my disciple, do you want to marry him?¡± Han Li was left speechless; even at this time, Senior Ling still had the mood to joke. Ling Xiaoyue then said to Fang Zhou: ¡°This Golden Core continuously emits Yin Cold Spiritual Energy. A normal person swallowing it would freeze to death alive. Disciple, you were born with extremely strong Yang energy, which barely neutralizes the Golden Core, which is why you haven¡¯t been frozen to death instantly. However, your Yang energy recovery rate is far less than the Golden Core¡¯s, and this way, it¡¯s also a path to death.¡± Although her words sounded horrifying, Ling Xiaoyue remained relaxed. Fang Zhou, knowing she surely had a way, also relaxed quite a bit. It turns out that all this coldness that nearly froze him to death was Spiritual Energy, completely different from the New Moon Qi he used for refinement¡ªit was no wonder that every time he used the gourd, some was sucked away. Chapter 71 - 71: 71. Indeed, dares to eat anything Chapter 71: 71. Indeed, dares to eat anything Seeing that Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t nervous, Ling Xiaoyue also lost the interest in teasing him further: ¡°I can help you lock the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy in your Golden Core, but this is not a long-term solution. You must frequently refine and transform this Yin Cold Spiritual Energy for your own use. This could actually be a blessing in disguise for you. If you fully refine the Golden Core, your future achievements will be boundless.¡± Fang Zhou nodded; the future can wait, for now, he only wanted to quickly disperse the chilling energy. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t need to prepare anything further, and she continued to press her hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s chest. Fang Zhou only felt her palm grow slightly warm, the heat transferred through his clothes and into his chest. Then, the familiar and intimate Spiritual Energy from Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s palm surged into his chest. The reason Fang Zhou found Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Spiritual Energy to be intimate and familiar was because both master and disciple practiced the New Moon Qi Refining Technique, which essentially comes from the same source; therefore, there was no feeling of rejection, not even a hint of it. Unlike the Tree Demon Golden Core¡¯s Spiritual Energy that was cold and freezing, unbearable for Fang Zhou. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Spiritual Energy was very warm and gentle, roaming throughout Fang Zhou¡¯s body and dispelling the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy that penetrated his whole being. Fang Zhou felt as though he was soaking in a hot spring, his whole body warm and relaxed, comfortable enough to close his eyes and fall asleep. It was easy to drive out the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy, but locking it inside the Golden Core was by no means a simple task; Ling Xiaoyue had to increase her power output, infusing more and more dense Spiritual Energy into Fang Zhou¡¯s body, which eventually even transformed from a gaseous state into a liquid state. The Golden Core, sensing danger, started to release a large amount of Yin Cold Spiritual Energy, which began to form ice at the spot where it connected with Fang Zhou¡¯s heart. Ling Xiaoyue increased her output, channeling an even purer and warmer force into Fang Zhou, sealing the rebound from the Golden Core. This new force was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s origin power, like the waters of a warm spring, enveloping Fang Zhou¡¯s organs, pushing all the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy towards the Golden Core connected to his heart, and scattering the chill. Fang Zhou felt that the Spiritual Energy inside his body was so abundant it was nearly explosive. This wasn¡¯t like the swelling of his Dantian filled with gas after practicing New Moon Qi Refinement; now it was almost as if his entire abdomen was filled with liquid Spiritual Energy, stretching his skin taut. Unable to bear it, Fang Zhou began to subconsciously guide this liquid Spiritual Energy, circulating it throughout his body and nourishing his flesh. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s expression changed immediately, and she glared at Fang Zhou with a menacing gaze, grinding her teeth with such force it was audible, almost wishing she could grab and hammer this rebellious disciple. Her origin power had actually been absorbed. This rascal really dared to swallow anything!! After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ling Xiaoyue still didn¡¯t stop. Because she was only one step away from locking the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy in the Golden Core, and if she backed out abruptly, the Golden Core would rebound with full force, and Fang Zhou would be dead for sure. In this way, Fang Zhou silently used Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquid Spiritual Energy and origin power to nourish his own body. His body began to heat up, and every blood vessel, muscle, and bone became filled with Spiritual Energy. Usually, Fang Zhou would cultivate by guiding strands of Spiritual Energy to circulate and nourish his body; being immersed in Spiritual Energy like now was completely unprecedented. This method had a specific name in the Cultivation World¡ªit was called empowerment. It¡¯s when a peerless expert, at the end of their life, imparts their lifetime of cultivation to their successor. By chance, Fang Zhou ended up receiving an ¡¯empowerment¡¯ from Ling Xiaoyue, using her power to enhance himself, especially absorbing her origin power, which enraged her enough to bite¡ªit was precisely for this reason. She had never seen such a disciple who would take advantage of their own master! At this moment, Fang Zhou was unaware of all this; he was immersed in cultivation, rapidly absorbing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquid Spiritual Energy. If his Personal Attributes were to be opened at this moment, one could see that his attributes of strength, speed, and constitution were jumping up at a rate of 1 point every ten seconds. Time ticked away second by second, and when all the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy was locked on top of the Golden Core, Ling Xiaoyue immediately withdrew all her Spiritual Energy, leaving only a weak gap on top of the Golden Core. This allowed a bit of the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy to leak out for Fang Zhou to refine and use for himself. Fang Zhou awoke from his Cultivation to find the cessation abrupt, opened his eyes, and licked his lips unsatisfied: ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Ling Xiaoyue replied with fierce eyes, picked up her Longsword beside her, and lashed out at Fang Zhou with force. Fang Zhou only saw a blur before he was sent flying by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s sword, hurtling through the air like a cannonball, bringing down several walls in the process. Han Li was shocked into a daze, while Ling Xiaoyue charged forward like an enraged tigress. Crawling out from the rubble, Fang Zhou was still bewildered when Ling Xiaoyue pounced on him, pinning him to the ground and delivering a merciless beating. This was her first time committing domestic violence since becoming a master. ¡°Stop it!¡± Fang Zhou struggled, trying to escape: ¡°Why are you hitting me?!¡± Ling Xiaoyue dragged him back and continued her assault. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ve worked hard to eliminate threats for you, and you, this ungrateful disciple, turn around and betray me, even absorbing my Spiritual Energy for your empowerment. How does my water taste? Is it good?!¡± Ling Xiaoyue was so irate that she became incoherent. It wouldn¡¯t have angered her so much if it were just the Spiritual Energy that was absorbed, but the fact that Fang Zhou had also siphoned off some of her origin power infuriated her. Only cultivators above the Innate level could refine their origin power, which is extremely precious. Moreover, the origin power is related to the Divine Soul, which is highly private for cultivators. Even couples engaged in Dual Cultivation would not touch each other¡¯s origin power. Ling Xiaoyue was livid not just because Fang Zhou had drained a significant amount of her origin power, weakening her, but also because it meant Fang Zhou could possibly glimpse into the deepest secrets and ancient memories that she harbored in her heart by absorbing a part of that power. That was the real reason she was angry. In the Cultivation World, tampering with someone¡¯s origin power is a declaration of mortal enmity, no negotiations, life-or-death struggles. What puzzled Ling Xiaoyue was that origin power carries a strong personal imprint, rejecting anyone but the owner. Absorbing it is not easy; the only exception is if the owner willingly transfers their power to another, and even then, there¡¯s a reaction of resistance. That¡¯s why Ling Xiaoyue dared to use her origin power to dissolve Fang Zhou¡¯s Inner Golden Core. Initially, she didn¡¯t believe Fang Zhou could absorb her origin power. But to her utter surprise, Fang Zhou did absorb it, and so effortlessly at that. Nevertheless, her confusion didn¡¯t stop Ling Xiaoyue from thrashing her rogue disciple. As a master, she hadn¡¯t even taken advantage of her disciple yet, but to have the tables turned, it was like a lecherous scoundrel trying to take advantage of a beauty only to be toppled in return. The humiliation was indescribably extreme. After the thorough beating, Ling Xiaoyue somewhat vented her anger and gave Fang Zhou a kick: ¡°You little brat, go change your clothes. Your master has a task for you.¡± Once Ling Xiaoyue had stormed off with a huff, Fang Zhou got up, his face covered in dust, spat toward her retreating figure: ¡°Crazy woman, why hit me for no reason?¡± He checked his body and, despite the pain, found not a single injury, which indicated Ling Xiaoyue had restrained herself. Chapter 72 - 72: The man who comes and goes like the wind Chapter 72: The man who comes and goes like the wind Han Li hurried over and asked with concern, ¡°Fang Zhou, are you alright?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head; he checked his body again and felt better than ever before¡ª the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy that used to pervade his entire body had been locked onto the Golden Core by Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°Right, I had my eyes closed earlier and didn¡¯t pay attention; do you know why she hit me?¡± Fang Zhou asked Han Li. Previously, Ling Xiaoyue would argue but never resort to physical violence¡ªit was her first time laying hands on him, and Fang Zhou had no clue what had upset her. ¡°This¡­¡± Han Li had a faint guess in her mind, but without any evidence, she dared not to speak hastily, so she could only shake her head: ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°Then forget it.¡± Fang Zhou decided to put the matter aside for now and clear it up when he had the chance later. His clothes were torn, so he had to go back and change. While changing, Fang Zhou felt something was off with his body¡ªit was incredibly light, as if he had limitless strength, and the pent-up power felt like a volcano ready to erupt, eagerly wanting to be released. Fang Zhou was familiar with this sensation¡ªit was what he felt every time after increasing his attributes using his manly dignity, but he hadn¡¯t enhanced anything recently, had he? Fang Zhou was baffled. He opened his Personal Attributes, and was so shocked that he jumped up. Literally jumped up, hitting his head straight into the ceiling and hanging from it. Struggling, he pulled his head out and fell to the floor, rubbing his eyes hard, thinking he had seen wrong. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Perfect Qi Refining Cultivation Techniques: New Moon Qi, Qi Drawing Decision Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, Fireball Technique, Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship Strength: 27 Speed: 24 Body: 21 Spirit: 6 Manly Dignity: 0 Righteous Prestige: 1 What the hell? Fang Zhou sucked in a few breaths of cold air; he could already claim a spot on the global warming contribution list. He remembered that he had only reached minor achievement in Qi Refinement, yet now he had suddenly reached Perfection, and his strength, speed, and constitution had all increased by more than ten points. Only his spirit remained stubbornly in last place, not flipping out like the other three brazen and shameless stats. Did the system freakin¡¯ bug out? Fang Zhou really wanted to drag the system out and give it a good smack to see if something was broken, but alas, that thought could only be a thought¡ªhe couldn¡¯t actually hit his own head, could he? But he really didn¡¯t understand¡ªhow did it suddenly become like this? Could it be that he has been dreaming all this time? Or was it that he fell asleep because the bath was too comfortable? Fang Zhou raised his right hand, which he had injured so badly with a punch that left him bleeding profusely. Now, the wound on his hand had disappeared without a trace, and the hand was completely unscathed. Fang Zhou suddenly threw a punch at the wall beside him, and with a loud bang, a hole instantly appeared in the thick wall. He slowly withdrew his hand and examined it closely in front of his eyes. There was not a single scratch on the back of his hand, not even a break in the skin, and he didn¡¯t feel any pain at all. This kind of strength, this kind of constitution, was definitely beyond what he had before. Fang Zhou lowered his hand and began to silently circulate the New Moon Qi, instantly increasing the amount of refined Spiritual Energy by over tenfold. He guided the Spiritual Energy in its circulation, intending to nourish his body with it, but the Spiritual Energy just passed through without entering, circulating once around his body before returning to the Dantian for storage, without any consumption at all. He realized he no longer needed the nourishment of Spiritual Energy; this body had already completed everything that needed to be done in the Qi Refining Realm, with the viscera, blood, flesh, sinews, and bones all been nourished by Spiritual Energy. Further cultivation of the New Moon Qi could not improve his bodily attributes, so what he needed to do next was to accumulate a large amount of Spiritual Energy to prepare for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. To have leaped from minor Qi Refinement achievement straight to Perfect Qi Refining could be said to have saved Fang Zhou several years of arduous effort, yet he did not feel it was real at all. The feeling was akin to a college graduate, who after years of hard work manages to save up to one hundred thousand, then with an additional five million from parents, buys a house outright. Fang Zhou realized that his changes must be related to Ling Xiaoyue; perhaps while she was helping to lock down the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy, she also took the opportunity to nourish his body with Spiritual Energy. Fang Zhou still remembered the massive amount of liquid Spiritual Energy she injected into his body, it wasn¡¯t just nourishing, it was more like his body was thoroughly washed and then steeped and marinated. Moreover, when she beat him up, she mentioned that he had used her Spiritual Energy for empowerment, and asked him if her water tasted good. How would I know if it tastes good if I haven¡¯t actually tasted it? Fang Zhou shook his head, always feeling that things were not that simple. After changing his clothes, with a light step, his whole being instantly turned into an afterimage. With whoosh, he vanished from the room, with the wind caused by his speed rattling the two doors. With such a high speed point of 24, Fang Zhou moved like a gust of wind, so fast that he himself was a bit dizzy. Han Li, who had been waiting in the yard, saw Fang Zhou from a distance, but she only saw a few afterimages. The image before her eyes blurred, and Fang Zhou appeared in front of her, his arrival blowing her clothes and hair in disarray. Han Li was startled and exclaimed, ¡°How can you walk so fast?¡± Fang Zhou laughed heartily, ¡°Because I am the man of the joyful wind, let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing the change in Fang Zhou, Han Li became even more convinced of her previous guess ¨C Senior Ling must have indeed performed the empowerment on Fang Zhou. Such treatment was simply too generous. But it seemed that she was not willing; otherwise, why did she start beating people up afterward? But how could the empowerment be successful if she wasn¡¯t willing? Han Li couldn¡¯t figure it out, deciding to suppress her doubts and get ready to go find Ling Xiaoyue with Fang Zhou. However, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t control his walking speed, and with a few swooshes, he ran off without a trace, leaving Han Li, who was chasing after him with all her might, far behind in an instant. Han Li could only chase while sighing to herself that Fang Zhou truly was a man who comes and goes like the wind, living up to the name ¡®man of the joyful wind¡¯. Fang Zhou soon found Ling Xiaoyue, who was inserting her longsword into the ground in front of the temple¡¯s main hall. Upon Fang Zhou¡¯s arrival, Ling Xiaoyue looked up, and their eyes met, both stunned for a moment. A strange feeling emerged in their hearts, as if an invisible thread connected their souls together, enabling them to sense each other¡¯s happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. ¡°Tsck!¡± Ling Xiaoyue gnashed her teeth in displeasure, aware that it was the part of the origin power absorbed by Fang Zhou that was causing this, making the two of them have a feeling of heart-to-heart connection. This feeling was not false, but a real effect, allowing them to sense each other¡¯s emotions at any time, and if delved deeper, even each other¡¯s thoughts could be perceived. Fang Zhou also felt this heart-to-heart connection effect and was immediately surprised. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t it said the shortest path to a woman¡¯s heart is, well, that thing? I haven¡¯t even touched her, so why can I feel her spirit? Chapter 74 - 74: 74. The eldest child who is mentally exhausted Chapter 74: 74. The eldest child who is mentally exhausted The Golden Core was situated right at Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, almost connected to his heart. Even within the ribcage, the Golden Core radiated seven-colored rosy clouds constantly. If anyone could open up Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, they would surely witness the extraordinary sight of his chest emitting seven-colored rosy clouds. Wrapped around the Golden Core was a layer of water-like transparent membrane, which was left by Ling Xiaoyue, specifically to seal the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy of the Golden Core. However, she left a small opening in the membrane, which took Fang Zhou a while to detect. Since the membrane consisted of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Spiritual Energy, Fang Zhou, being of the same origin, could also control it. He manipulated the membrane, enlarging the opening slightly, which caused the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy of the Golden Core to immediately gush out from the gap, turning into a frigid chill that rampaged within Fang Zhou¡¯s body. With his current physique, Fang Zhou had significantly increased his resistance against Yin Cold Spiritual Energy. He didn¡¯t feel frozen but just a slight cold, and quickly grabbed the gourd. The gourd sensed the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy within Fang Zhou¡¯s body and immediately sucked it in, using it as the energy to activate itself, and was ready to be used once more. Yet, Fang Zhou did not rush to use it. As long as this method worked, his next consideration was how to deal with the seven Gourd Brothers. ¡­ Lanruo Temple Ruins At this moment, the white mist within the old site of Lanruo Temple had completely dissipated, and with the loss of the Golden Core, the seven-colored rosy clouds previously radiated by the Tree Demon had also faded away, plunging the entire site of Lanruo Temple back into darkness. The seven Gourd Brothers were currently waiting in the miasma of the backyard for the Tree Demon¡¯s Transformation to complete. The demons and ghosts trapped in Lanruo, sensing an impending threat of disintegration to this small Demon Domain, began to stir restlessly. In the darkness, demonic roars and ghostly wails sounded from time to time, creating a sinister and terrifying atmosphere. The usually mild-tempered eldest among the Gourd Sisters had no time to manage those demons and ghosts seeking to rebel, as her own sisters were each restless. The youngest was clamoring to retrieve her gourd, the second youngest seemed oblivious and wanted to escape, the fourth and fifth squabbled, the third was in a state of self-confinement, and the second was clutching at her thighs, howling in penitence for her past mistakes. The eldest felt like her head was about to explode and could only try to soothe them one by one, but to no avail, as the authoritarian presence she should have had as the eldest sister was not established, leading to her sisters¡¯ disobedience. Even the slightly authoritative third sister, who had returned, was immersed in self-confinement, paying no regard to the noises from outside. This couldn¡¯t go on, the eldest felt it was necessary to assert her authority as the eldest sister. ¡°Stop quarrelling!¡± She shouted at her six sisters: ¡°Everyone quiet down!¡± Except for the self-confining third sister, all of her sisters turned to look at her and then¡­ continued doing whatever they were doing! Eldest sister: ¡°¡­¡± So infuriating, Nai Zi is about to explode, you bunch of naughty younger sisters. The eldest felt she needed to pull out her trump card now, her voice gentle yet threatening: ¡°If you all continue like this, then I¡¯ll summon the eighth sister to make the decisions.¡± The scene went silent. The self-confining third sister suddenly lifted her head, advising, ¡°Eldest sister, don¡¯t be impulsive!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± ¡°Big sis, don¡¯t mess around.¡± ¡°Let the eighth sister keep sleeping!¡± ¡°Little Eight will only make things worse.¡± The other Calabash Brothers hurriedly followed to persuade, even Little Seven, who was usually fearless, had a look on his face that said ¡®dare to summon Little Eight, and I¡¯ll show you death.¡¯ Mentioning Little Eight, aside from the eldest brother, every one of the Calabash Brothers had an apprehensive look. The Eldest Brother smiled and said, ¡°Then will you listen?¡± The Calabash Brothers nodded in unison, anything is fine as long as you don¡¯t summon Little Eight. At this time, Third Brother asked again, ¡°Big Sister, when can Grandpa complete his Transformation?¡± Looking back, the Eldest Brother glanced at the huge shadow of the Tree Demon¡¯s body hidden in the darkness, with occasional sounds of trees rubbing against each other, a sign that the Tree Demon was in the process of Transforming. The Eldest Brother nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s almost done. Once Grandpa completes his Transformation, we can take back the Golden Core and the calabashes.¡± While she was comforting her sisters, deep in her heart the Eldest Brother was full of serious concerns. Transformation literally means transforming into human shape, which is an extremely arduous step for demons; many fail at this stage and end up half-dead. Most humanoid demons people typically see don¡¯t actually Transform, they simply use magic to alter their appearance; they are still demons by nature. True Transformation is completely reconstructing oneself to resemble a human, inside and out, that is what counts as Transformation. The reason why demons transform into humans lies in a reluctant choice. The innate abilities of demons set a limit on their cultivation level ¡ª once reached, further cultivation is impossible and their power will fade with age. Humans are different; they are creative creatures capable of systematizing the methods of cultivation, creating a variety of magical Cultivation Methods that help them break through their innate limits and achieve greater heights. Therefore, once a demon reaches the limit of their abilities, there are only two options: to create their own Cultivation Method or learn human cultivation techniques to break through their talent ceiling. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Demons cultivate based on instinct, instinctively absorbing Spiritual Energy and Sun and Moon Essence, with many unable to even speak human languages or read ¡ª how could they create Cultivation Methods? Throughout history, demons that managed to create their own techniques were one in a million, prodigies among prodigies, extremely rare to the point of being negligible. Thus, for most demons, the only path left is to learn human techniques, and to do that, they need a human body; they must Transform, or else even if they learned the techniques, they wouldn¡¯t be able to practice them. So for demons, the path of Transformation is a path taken with no other choice. The Tree Demon originally had no plans to Transform, especially not now, as its innate potential goes far beyond a Golden Core. But now with the Golden Core stolen, the Tree Demon had no choice but to Transform and take it back; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be able to move half a step away from this place; this is also a natural weakness of plant demons. And the Tree Demon¡¯s decision to Transform at such a bad time would seriously damage its foundation. It had already taken a shortcut to form its Golden Core, which was unstable, and now it¡¯s been damaged once again, which made its future journey even more challenging. The Eldest Brother was well aware of this and felt heavy-hearted. She and her six sisters shared life with the Tree Demon; if it were to fall, all seven sisters would be doomed as well. Suddenly, from within the darkness, there came the sound of trees splitting which made all seven sisters turn their eyes subconsciously. The noise lasted for a moment and then ceased. Not long after, a middle-aged man with black hair appeared before the seven sisters, standing on a huge leaf, flying in the air. This middle-aged man was the Tree Demon, experiencing its first Transformation, very unused to this humanoid body with stiff movements and expressions. The Eldest Brother, along with her sisters, bowed deeply: ¡°Grandpa!¡± With a wave of its hand, the Tree Demon sent seven huge leaves flying towards them, lifting the seven sisters up. ¡°My children, follow me, and let¡¯s take back the Golden Core!¡± The Tree Demon, leading the seven sisters, shot into the night sky and disappeared. Chapter 75 - 75: 75. Calabash Brothers Save Grandpa Chapter 75: 75. Calabash Brothers Save Grandpa Fang Zhou finally got to see Ling Xiaoyue set up the Sword Array, but sadly the process was too concise, completely incomprehensible. She lay atop the canopy and with a slight wave of her hand, the Longsword stuck in the ground emitted dozens of streaks of light, covering half of the grounds of Lanruo Temple¡¯s branch courtyard, and then it was over, without even the cheap effect of fifty cents. Yet, Han Li was filled with admiration: ¡°Back when I was at Qingyun Sect, Master had to prepare for several days in advance to set up an array, and the process would take a whole day without interruption, or all efforts would be in vain. Senior Ling, with a mere gesture, has completed the task. It truly reflects a return to simplicity and extreme brilliance.¡± Is she really that amazing, or do I feel like you¡¯re just kissing up? Even though it¡¯s quite far away, Ling Xiaoyue could definitely hear it, and Fang Zhou has already sensed through their mental connection that she¡¯s in a very cheerful mood. Such a shallow woman, flattered by a few words of flattery, can¡¯t you hold back a little dignity? ¡°Disciple.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice came from the canopy: ¡°The Tree Demon will surely head straight for you once it arrives, but don¡¯t worry, your master will handle it. Just concentrate on dealing with those seven little demons.¡± Fang Zhou shouted towards the canopy: ¡°I got it, just be careful, and don¡¯t let that Tree Demon escape.¡± Fang Zhou feared Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s tendency to allow creatures to escape would come into play, letting the Tree Demon get away. ¡°Impudent disciple, are you questioning your master¡¯s capabilities? Are you itching for another lesson?¡± Ling Xiaoyue plucked a leaf and tossed it down towards Fang Zhou. Thrown by her, the leaf was more lethal than a throwing knife, whizzing by so fast it was nearly invisible. Fang Zhou quickly turned and ran, as the leaf pierced the ground behind him, lining the floor with a row. Escaping outside, Han Li also came out, expressing her concerns: ¡°Fang Zhou, the more I think about it, those seven demons are not easy to deal with¡­¡± Fang Zhou smiled: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already thought of a plan.¡± After finding out that the gourds could be used normally, Fang Zhou came up with two plans that should be effective. He decided to implement Plan A first, and if it fails, then move to Plan B. The likelihood of success was quite high. After hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s two plans, Han Li looked confused: ¡°Can this really work?¡± She felt both plans were far-fetched. Unless those seven demons were foolish, how could they ever fall for this? Fang Zhou reassured her: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, both plans have an eighty percent chance of success.¡± Han Li asked puzzledly: ¡°Why so?¡± Fang Zhou gave a confident smile: ¡°Because Calabash Brothers rescue Grandpa!¡± Han Li: ???? ¡­ The Tree Demon, with her seven sisters, glided through the night sky on a leaf, heading straight for the Lanruo branch courtyard. After swallowing the Golden Core, the seven sisters could no longer sense it, but the Tree Demon still had a clear sensation, as that was its possession after all. On the way, the Tree Demon suddenly said to the seven sisters: ¡°Once we arrive, if the Golden Core is not on that female cultivator, you all go block her, and I¡¯ll take back the Golden Core before dealing with her.¡± The eldest was startled. That female cultivator was a match for their Granny, even stronger than Yan Chixia from a year ago. They, the seven sisters, stood no chance at all. Having barely survived their encounter with Yan Chixia a year ago, facing this formidable female cultivator would surely put the sisters in mortal danger. The eldest hurriedly said, ¡°Granny, we sisters are still young, it¡¯s better for me alone to¡­¡± ¡°Not enough!¡± The Tree Demon interrupted her: ¡°Alone, you are far from enough. You all must go together to buy some time, and if you really cannot hold on, call for the youngest.¡± The eldest¡¯s heart sunk, she said hoarsely, ¡°Understood.¡± Turning to look at her sisters, all six displayed different expressions, the seventh seemed to want to say something, but the sixth, anxious, covered her mouth. The eldest felt a bitter taste in her heart. Although the seven sisters shared a body and blood with Granny, in the end, they weren¡¯t her own kin. Furthermore, most monsters are emotionally detached; the old man¡¯s approach is understandable. Unfortunately, due to their origins, they have no other choice. Lanruo Temple is now within reach. The Tree Demon, accompanied by its seven sisters, flew to Lanruo Temple, not rushing in but closing its eyes to sense the whereabouts of the Golden Core. ¡°If the female cultivator makes a move, hold her back.¡± The Tree Demon opened its eyes and shot rapidly towards a certain location in Lanruo Temple, moving so fast it was barely visible to the naked eye. Fang Zhou and Han Li were right there, conversing. Suddenly, a chill rose in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart. Turning his head quickly, he saw a shadow flying towards him from the sky, extremely fast. ¡°Shameless thief, return my Golden Core!¡± Even before its arrival, the deafening sound waves had already thundered through. Fang Zhou recognized the voice of the Tree Demon, and his exceptional vision allowed him to see clearly the appearance of the Tree Demon¡ªa middle-aged male with black hair like ink, exuding an imposing aura. With just one glance, the Tree Demon¡¯s presence locked onto Fang Zhou, rendering him stiff and immobile. This was the vast disparity in strength; even after becoming stronger, Fang Zhou could not contend. However, Fang Zhou was not overly fearful in his heart because Ling Xiaoyue had said she would handle this problem. She had never joked about such life-or-death matters. As expected, just as the Tree Demon flew into Lanruo Temple, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s laughter followed closely behind. ¡°Little sapling, looking for trouble with my disciple, did you ask for my permission as her master? Come here to me.¡± The Tree Demon, which was flying towards Fang Zhou, suddenly turned uncontrollably in the air. It quickly regained control of its body, but had already entered the range of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Sword Array and could no longer escape. The enraged roar of the Tree Demon followed: ¡°Using such despicable and shameless methods to trap me, you have no face!¡± ¡°Hahaha, this is called strategical deception; there¡¯s a dog hole left over there, crawl out if you can!¡± ¡°Ah ah ah, I¡¯m enraged to death!¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon started fighting again inside the Sword Array, accompanied by all kinds of trash talk. Of course, most of the name-calling was coming from Ling Xiaoyue, with the Tree Demon howling furiously in response. Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief; now that the Tree Demon was here, those seven ¡®Cauldron Boys¡¯ were sure to have arrived too. He exchanged a glance with Han Li and they hurriedly rushed forward. Outside Lanruo Temple, the seven sisters were utterly befuddled; this seemed a bit different from what had been agreed upon earlier. Didn¡¯t the old man say he would retrieve the Golden Core, asking them to hold off that female cultivator? Why had he been so eager to confront the female cultivator himself? Could he have been blinded by anger? The fourth sister said anxiously, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and help the old man!¡± ¡°Hold on, don¡¯t be rash!¡± The eldest sister quickly stopped her, ¡°We can¡¯t intervene in the battle between the old man and the female cultivator; let¡¯s retrieve the Golden Core first, then think of a way to give it to the old man.¡± The fifth sister asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the Golden Core?¡± The eldest sister looked towards the second sister, ¡°It must be inside this Lanruo Temple, have the second sister locate it.¡± ¡°No need to search,¡± the second sister suddenly spoke, ¡°It¡¯s already here.¡± The back door of Lanruo Temple was abruptly opened, and Fang Zhou and Han Li came out, immediately spotting the seven sisters supported by tree leaves in the air. Chapter 76 - 76: 76. Yazi doesnt seem very smart. Chapter 76: 76. Yazi doesn¡¯t seem very smart. Upon seeing Fang Zhou appear, the fury was evident on the beautiful and heroic face of the third sister as she prepared to rush down and pick a fight. The eldest sister quickly stopped her: ¡°Third sister, don¡¯t be rash!¡± ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s him who swallowed the Golden Core; killing him would allow us to retrieve it.¡± The third sister said anxiously and tried to bypass the eldest sister to rush downwards. Seeing that she wouldn¡¯t be dissuaded, the eldest sister¡¯s tone grew stern: ¡°Have the wounds on your hands stopped hurting?¡± The third sister shuddered and immediately ceased her movements. Her steel bones, severed by Yan Chixia a year ago and once again by Fang Zhou¡¯s Sword Box, had almost become a psychological shadow. Her gaze settled on the Sword Box behind Fang Zhou, a fierce light flickering in her eyes, but she refrained from charging forward. The eldest sister finally managed to halt the third sister¡¯s advance, only to see the seventh sister also itching to dash downwards: ¡°Big bad guy, return my magical gourd to me!¡± The eldest sister quickly called out to the sixth sister: ¡°Sixth sister, stop little seven.¡± The sixth sister hurriedly dragged the seventh sister back. But the second sister spoke solemnly: ¡°Big sister, leave it to me. I want to retrieve the Golden Core personally and make up for my mistake!¡± You¡¯re just a bottom-tier fighter, don¡¯t add to the chaos. The eldest sister felt a headache coming on. The fourth and fifth sisters also appeared eager: ¡°Big sister, let us do it.¡± ¡°All of you, stop messing around. Listen to me, don¡¯t be impulsive, or I will call out the eighth sister.¡± The eldest sister had no choice but to invoke the eighth sister¡¯s name once more. The six sisters immediately became quiet. The eldest sister felt exhausted, for as an older sister, her authority seemed even less than that of the youngest one. So frustrating, Nai Zi is about to explode with anger. Fang Zhou and Han Li were both a little stunned. Upon arriving, they had been ready to face a joint assault by the seven sisters, yet what they saw resembled internal strife among them. What¡¯s happening here? The eldest sister was not opposed to overwhelming Fang Zhou in a group attack to retrieve the Golden Core and the gourd, but this duo has an arsenal of wondrous spells at their disposal; they can become invisible, neutralizing her swamp, counter the third sister¡¯s Sword Box, and even turn the control of their vines against them. With such unpredictable spells, there might even be more trump cards up their sleeves, so the eldest sister had to act cautiously. As the eldest sister, it was her duty to ensure the safety of her siblings without exception. While the eldest sister pondered how to deal with Fang Zhou, she saw him pull out the seventh sister¡¯s gourd, aim it at the seven sisters, and shout, ¡°I order you, come to me!¡± The scene fell silent, the precious gourd unresponsive. The seven sisters showed expressions ranging from mockery to amusement. The seventh sister, in particular, began to laugh loudly, clutching her stomach: ¡°Ha-ha, what a fool, he can¡¯t even use it and won¡¯t believe it. Little gourd, quickly help me catch¡­¡± Before she could finish, Fang Zhou hurriedly put away the gourd, keeping it out of the seventh sister¡¯s sight. The seventh sister was taken aback; without seeing the gourd, she was unable to control it. Fang Zhou shook his head, an expression of regret on his face, and said to the eldest sister, ¡°Fighting and killing really goes against the mindset of us Cultivators. How about we engage in a friendly contest instead?¡± The eldest sister knitted her brows, ¡°What kind of contest?¡± With a sincere tone, Fang Zhou proposed: ¡°If you seven sisters are able to defeat me one-on-one, I will return the Golden Core and the gourd to you, and then leave Wild Tomb Ridge immediately, never to step foot here again. If you lose, the Golden Core is mine, and you must also tell me how to use the gourd and promise never to attempt to take it back.¡± Upon hearing this, the eldest sister felt there must be a catch. ¡°` But she had lived in Lanruo Temple since she was born and really couldn¡¯t be considered as having seen much of the world or having a wealth of experience, so she couldn¡¯t immediately sense where the problem lay. She thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°If you lose, how can you guarantee you¡¯ll return the items to me?¡± Fang Zhou smiled and said, ¡°I can take a Heart Demon Oath, of course, you all need to do the same.¡± The eldest sister asked doubtfully, ¡°Are you really willing to return the Golden Core and the gourds to us?¡± Fang Zhou shrugged, ¡°We came to Lanruo Temple for an adventure. The Golden Core and the gourds were unexpected gains, losing them means little, and we can¡¯t even use the gourds anyway, so why not gamble with them?¡± The eldest sister still felt something was off but could only say to Fang Zhou, ¡°We need to discuss it.¡± The seven sisters huddled together, with the eldest sister wanting to lead her younger sisters to pinpoint the issue, only to see that they all seemed eager to try, like the attention-loving fourth and fifth sisters and the excitement-loving little seventh, finding this one-on-one novel way of playing right up their alley. The third sister, eager to avenge that sword strike, couldn¡¯t wait to go one-on-one with Fang Zhou, with only the sixth sister looking scared, ¡°Don¡¯t count me in, okay?¡± She, like the little seventh sister, enjoyed fun and games, but was always averse to dangerous situations. The eldest sister had no choice but to pin her last hopes on the second sister, ¡°Second sister, do you think there¡¯s a problem?¡± The second sister was always clever and definitely able to spot the problem. As expected, the second sister spoke gravely, ¡°That man is conniving as a ghost; surely, there is deceit involved. Let me take him on personally, and he will assuredly be captured.¡± The eldest sister smacked her forehead hard; this second sister was quite the worry, completely oblivious to her own limitations. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The eldest sister couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Are you really going to agree?¡± All sisters, except for the sixth sister, shouted in unison, ¡°Of course!¡± Forget it, the eldest sister initially felt that if there was danger, she should face it, so as not to put her sisters at risk; it was best for her to deal with Fang Zhou. ¡­ While the seven sisters were discussing in their huddle, Han Li was very anxious, feeling certain that they would not agree. After all, Fang Zhou¡¯s suggestion was simply too frivolous, and any loose Cultivator with some time in the Cultivation World would not agree to such an absurd one-on-one challenge. The Cultivation World was perilous; when facing an enemy, it was common practice for everyone to stand together, speaking of righteousness and morality. If they didn¡¯t agree, then it was time for plan B, which, in Han Li¡¯s opinion, was an insult to intelligence. Soon, the seven sisters had made their decision, and Han Li was prepared for them to turn hostile. The eldest sister announced, ¡°We¡¯ve agreed.¡± Han Li: ??? Are you seven monsters simpletons? How could you be so foolish to fall for such an obvious trap? But the reality was right in front of her eyes, and Han Li had no choice but to accept it, though she was utterly baffled. Since they had all agreed, Fang Zhou and the gourd children each took the Heart Demon Oath. If Fang Zhou lost, he would have to return the Golden Core and the gourds and leave Wild Tomb Ridge; if the gourd children lost, they would have to reveal how to use the gourds and promise not to reclaim the Golden Core. Whoever breaks the oath would immediately die violently; to ensure fairness in the competition, those who do not follow the rules would also be considered oath breakers. Fang Zhou set a rule that he would choose a gourd child to fight one-on-one inside the temple, while the rest could only wait outside for the result and not watch. The eldest sister objected to this rule, fearing Fang Zhou would play tricks inside the temple. But Fang Zhou argued convincingly, ¡°I only have so many spells, and I have to face all seven of you; what if you learn them all?¡± The gourd children felt it made sense, and the eldest sister had the second sister use her thousand-mile eyes to check the temple interior for any traps Fang Zhou might have set. After the second sister reported no abnormalities in the temple, the eldest sister agreed to let Fang Zhou choose his opponent for the duel. However, the eldest sister also put forward numerous conditions, insisting that Fang Zhou must not use traps, must not use the Sword Box, must fight fairly face-to-face, and must not seek help from others. Chapter 77 - 77: 77. Suddenly had an Opening Aperture Chapter 77: 77. Suddenly had an Opening Aperture Seeing Fang Zhou about to choose his opponents for a duel, the eldest sister thought he would definitely pick the sixth sister and the seventh sister, who lost her gourd first. These two sisters are now the weakest in combat and would be easy to deal with. The eldest sister whispered to the two, ¡°If he chooses you first, just admit defeat right away. Leave the dangerous tasks to your big sister.¡± ¡°(?£þ?£þ?) Okay!¡± ¡°(*£þ¦ä£þ) No way!¡± The sixth sister and Little Seven gave different responses. The eldest sister gave the sixth sister a look, who immediately hugged Little Seven tightly. Little Seven began to struggle, ¡°Let me go, Sixth Sister, I want to get my gourd back, you can¡¯t leave me out of this!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a game.¡± ¡°But it clearly is!¡± After resolving the internal conflict, the eldest sister then turned towards Fang Zhou, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°It¡¯s your choice.¡± She had a feeling something was amiss but couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. Since the Heart Demon Oath had been taken, it was too late to go back. The eldest sister could only hope that Fang Zhou would choose her first so she could take him down herself and take her sisters back home safely. Fang Zhou let out a deep sigh of relief, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. He never expected that this whimsical plan could actually succeed. These seven gourd girls really were monsters who hadn¡¯t seen the world; if they left Wild Tomb Ridge, they would easily be deceived by others. Fang Zhou raised a hand and pointed at the second sister, ¡°You¡¯re first, come with me.¡± The second sister pointed at herself, ¡°Me?¡± The rest of the sisters were taken aback; they never expected Fang Zhou to choose the second sister first. Though she was weak, she wasn¡¯t easy to handle. The second sister, already rubbing her hands together in anticipation, excitedly ran out and followed Fang Zhou into Lanruo Temple. Han Li stayed at the entrance to prevent the remaining gourd girls from peeking inside. Once inside the gate, there was a side courtyard with a spacious open area suitable for combat. Fang Zhou turned around to look at the second sister, who was eagerly staring back, ready to make a move. She was heavily self-reproaching for being deceived by Fang Zhou and was desperate to defeat him, retrieve the Golden Core, and make up for her mistake. Just as the second sister was about to make her move, Fang Zhou suddenly said, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He took out the gourd and aimed it at the second sister: ¡°Let me try one more time to see if it can be used.¡± The second sister blinked in confusion and then chuckled, reminding him, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time; this is Little Seven¡¯s treasure. No one but her can use it. Come on, let¡¯s have a good fight. This time I won¡¯t let you¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Fang Zhou had already smiled and said, ¡°Capture!¡± The second sister¡¯s eyes widened as she was pulled towards the gourd; she instinctively threw out a vine, trying to entangle something to hold herself back. Fang Zhou casually threw an Illusion Technique at her, and the second sister, caught in the illusion, was immediately sucked into the gourd. He shook the gourd and breathed a sigh of relief. The gourd was a bit slow in capturing people, and its force wasn¡¯t quite strong enough¡ª even the second sister had time to react. That¡¯s why Fang Zhou chose the second sister first; he was afraid she¡¯d use her thousand-mile eyes to see that he could use the gourd. If the other gourd sisters were on guard, it would be much harder to capture them. After dealing with the second sister, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t rush to go out. Instead, he lifted his leg and stomped heavily on the ground. With a bang, he created a big hole. Outside Lanruo Temple, the six gourd sisters were eagerly anticipating, hearing the noises inside and feeling that the fight must be fierce. It was a pity they couldn¡¯t see from outside. At this moment, the eldest sister finally realized, belatedly, why Fang Zhou chose the second sister first¡ªit must have been because of her thousand-mile eyes. Without it, the remaining six sisters wouldn¡¯t be able to see what was happening inside clearly. The battle inside lasted for a while before coming to an end. Fang Zhou emerged looking disheveled, his clothes covered in dust. Had the second child lost? All six sisters were shocked, with the eldest sister asking anxiously, ¡°Where is my sister?¡± Fang Zhou wiped the corner of his mouth and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she is not dead, just passed out.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The seven sisters could sense each other¡¯s life and death, and upon checking, the eldest did not feel the second sister was dead, just that she couldn¡¯t sense her consciousness. This kind of feeling would mean she was either taken into the gourd or unconscious. Since Fang Zhou could not use the gourd, the only other possibility was that she had indeed passed out. The eldest sister breathed a sigh of relief. Although her second sister was defeated, she was a bit weaker and it was not a big deal. Fang Zhou then said, ¡°Next up is¡­¡± ¡°Me! Pick me!¡± The fourth, fifth, and seventh sisters all raised their hands, bouncing up and down, almost like kids fighting over computers in an internet cafe. The third sister stepped forward and said coldly, ¡°It should be me.¡± But Fang Zhou pointed at the eldest sister, ¡°You¡¯ll be the second one.¡± This eldest sister was slightly more cautious than the other gourd children and posed the highest threat. It was best to deal with her first. The fourth, fifth, and seventh sisters were a bit disappointed. The third sister looked at the eldest, who was frowning in deep thought and mumbling to herself, ¡°I was wrong, we should not have agreed from the start.¡± The third sister asked confusedly, ¡°Big sister, what are you saying?¡± The eldest turned to her and whispered, ¡°Third sister, if I lose, no matter who he chooses next, you must all admit defeat. Then, you take our sisters away, got it?¡± ¡°Why?¡± asked the third sister in surprise. The eldest seemed to have a moment of clarity, ¡°We¡¯ve been deceived. This guy must have a way to target each of us individually. If I lose, you all won¡¯t stand a chance, and in the end, we¡¯ll all end up in his hands.¡± ¡°What should we do now¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late, the Heart Demon Oath has already been made, we cannot break it. I¡¯ll go in and save the second sister, just remember what I said. If I lose, you must take our sisters back.¡± Seeing the earnest look on the eldest sister¡¯s face, the third sister nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± Only then did the eldest sister step out and follow Fang Zhou into the temple. Once in the side courtyard, the eldest sister searched around but did not find her second sister, her expression changed slightly, ¡°Where is my sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s resting in my room,¡± Fang Zhou replied offhandedly, then took out his gourd and aimed it at the eldest sister, ¡°Let me try again and see if I can use it.¡± A glint flashed in the eldest sister¡¯s eyes as she saw Fang Zhou with the gourd. She stomped her foot hard on the ground, fracturing it instantly as countless cracks spread out like a spider web. Fang Zhou quickly steadied himself, only to see several paving stones flying straight at him. He swiftly dodged. The eldest sister was already following closely behind the stones, shooting towards Fang Zhou like a cannonball and landing a heavy punch on him. Fang Zhou raised his hand to catch her fist, and with a loud ¡®snap¡¯, a visible ripple bloomed where their fists met, and the air exploded. The floor under Fang Zhou¡¯s feet cracked again, as two large pits were stomped out. But he had firmly grasped the eldest sister¡¯s fist. The eldest sister¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°You¡­ caught it?!¡± From her birth until now, aside from not daring to strike against their Grandpa, only Yan Chixia had caught her punch, and even he didn¡¯t catch it directly but used a spell. Fang Zhou was the first one to catch her punch barehanded. Chapter 78 - 78: 78. The next one Chapter 78: 78. The next one Hearing Big Sister¡¯s unbelievable words, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help wanting to laugh. Bullshit, if he couldn¡¯t catch a strength of 27, he might as well admit defeat. But Big Sister¡¯s strength really wasn¡¯t hot air; one punch made his whole arm go numb. Whoever marries this kind of woman in the future is really out of luck, she¡¯d crush the bed. Fang Zhou winked at the dazed Big Sister: ¡°Why are you spacing out? Keep going.¡± Realizing the situation, Big Sister raised her other fist, but in a blur, Fang Zhou¡¯s figure was suddenly lost. Fang Zhou had instantly moved to Big Sister¡¯s back, and he hadn¡¯t even used the Qi Gathering Technique, relying solely on a speed of 24 points. Big Sister¡¯s pose was a bit tempting, giving Fang Zhou an impulse to use Thousand-Year Kill on her. If the person who had scrubbed Fang Zhou¡¯s back before had a figure like Big Sister¡¯s, Fang Zhou definitely couldn¡¯t restrain himself. He pulled out his treasure and aimed at Big Sister: ¡°Capture!¡± By the time Big Sister realized Fang Zhou had moved behind her, it was too late; a strong suction force pulled her backward. Because the distance was too close, and Big Sister had no leverage, she didn¡¯t even have time to turn gigantic before being sucked into the gourd. That most troublesome one was finally sorted out; the rest no longer posed a worry. Fang Zhou shook the gourd and continued to stir up some noise. When Fang Zhou reappeared at the entrance, Han Li, who was waiting patiently, let out a sigh of relief. She hadn¡¯t expected the two demons to be resolved so easily. Seeing Fang Zhou come out, the remaining Calabash siblings looked at each other. It was one thing for the second sister to fail; after all, her strength was weak, but Big Sister¡¯s failure was beyond the younger sisters¡¯ expectations. Big Sister¡¯s combat strength was said to be the strongest; if even she lost, how could the rest continue fighting? But Fang Zhou didn¡¯t seem to be in great shape either; his clothes were torn and tattered, with multiple abrasions on his body and a clear trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. The sisters all looked to the third sister, for her to make the decision. In terms of authority, the third sister was even higher than Big Sister, and the sisters feared her slightly more. Fang Zhou also pointed to the third sister: ¡°Your Big Sister has also passed out, you¡¯re the third one up.¡± The third sister remained silent; she recalled what Big Sister had said to her before going in. Should she admit defeat? No! The third sister lifted her head, her face showing determination. Big Sister, perhaps you were right; there must be deceit inside, but you overlooked one point. And that is, I am stronger than you. I will definitely defeat this man and rescue you and the second sister. The third sister showed a reassuring smile to her remaining siblings: ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Then she strode into the temple. A fierce commotion of battle came from inside the temple, and the four siblings waited anxiously. Soon after, they saw Fang Zhou limping out, and the third sister was nowhere to be seen. The fifth sister turned pale and murmured to herself, ¡°How could this be¡­ Even the third sister lost?¡± The fourth sister, however, as if discovering a new continent, pointed at Fang Zhou and exclaimed, ¡°He¡¯s almost done for.¡± The siblings looked and indeed, Fang Zhou was severely injured; not only was he limping, but his body was covered in blood, and one hand hung unnaturally, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. The sisters suddenly regained their confidence. With the efforts of the three older sisters, their enemy was already gravely injured, just needing a final push to be toppled. Fang Zhou, with no strength left, raised his hand and said, ¡°Next, anyone of you will do!¡± The fifth sister hesitated, but the fourth sister and the youngest argued over who should go in first, with the fourth sister ultimately winning due to her seniority. She walked towards Fang Zhou, full of pride; she would be the hero, defeating the fearsome enemy and rescuing the three elder sisters. Reaching Fang Zhou¡¯s side, the fourth sister even extended a hand to pat his shoulder: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll show mercy later, hahaha.¡± Fang Zhou was slapped askew and nearly fell over. The two entered the temple together, and minutes later, Han Li dashed in and carried out the barely conscious Fang Zhou on her back, while the fourth child, like her three sisters, disappeared without a trace. Fang Zhou raised his trembling hand, pointing at the three sisters: ¡°Next¡­ the next one.¡± He seemed to have no energy left to speak. The fifth child immediately twisted her mouth in anger: ¡°That idiot Fourth, couldn¡¯t even handle this.¡± ¡°I-I-It¡¯s my turn!¡± The seventh child struggled to rush out but was tightly held back by the sixth child. The fifth child said to the two of them: ¡°You two stay put right here, your sister will go snatch back the gourd for you, and bring them all back while I¡¯m at it.¡± The fifth child charged into the temple with a torrent of rage, but inside it was quiet, with no signs of battle. The sixth child and the seventh child finally felt something was amiss, as their sisters disappeared one by one, leaving only the two youngest. The two sisters clung to each other, shuddering; the temple¡¯s great doors were like the gaping maw of a monster, engulfing their sisters one after another. The sixth child tugged at the seventh child: ¡°Let¡¯s run away, Seventh.¡± The seventh child hesitated: ¡°But, our sisters are all inside, what should we do?¡± The sixth child wore a pained expression: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± As they spoke, Fang Zhou emerged once again. This time he walked out on his own; although covered in blood, his limbs were intact and his spirit was full of vigor, clearly unharmed. With just the two youngest left, Fang Zhou lost interest in tricking them further and lifted the gourd, aiming at them directly. The seventh child cried out in distress: ¡°My little gourd!¡± The sixth child, however, hurriedly grabbed the seventh child¡¯s hand and turned tail to run. They hadn¡¯t run far when a strong suction force tugged them back. The sixth child hugged her sister, and countless wooden filaments sprung from her body, wrapping around both of them; in a blink of an eye, they transformed into a large gourd. This large gourd was instantly sucked into the precious gourd. ¡°Finally sorted out.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou let out a deep sigh of relief and his shoulders slumped down. Although there wasn¡¯t much physical exertion, he had been on edge, fearing any slip-up during the process. Fortunately, the Calabash Kids cooperated, one by one they delivered themselves, and now all were sucked into the gourd. Han Li leaned in; she had been an observer throughout the entire process, still feeling a bit incredulous at this point. The seven monsters each possessed unique abilities and were exceptionally tricky to deal with. Han Li had been at a loss for ideas on how to handle them. Yet she hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Zhou would resolve the issue with such a simple and almost foolish strategy. ¡°What¡¯s with the blood on you?¡± Han Li asked, puzzled. ¡°Just something a monk conjured.¡± The blood on Fang Zhou¡¯s body was from a monk inside the gourd, drawn by Fang Zhou for the ruse. His disguise was quite amateurish, but fortunately, his acting skills were on point, and the Calabash Kids, not the most experienced of monsters, were hoodwinked from start to finish. Han Li hesitated for a moment, then asked, ¡°If you accidentally lost, would you really return the Golden Core and the gourd to them?¡± The Golden Core was already connected to Fang Zhou¡¯s heart and could not be removed. Fang Zhou, however, had sworn the Heart Demon Oath to return the Golden Core if he lost; wasn¡¯t this tantamount to wagering his own life? Fang Zhou laughed heartily: ¡°Return it, of course, why not? But I never said when I would return it. Even if I lost, returning it after ten years is still returning it, right?¡± Han Li opened her mouth but realized that the monsters had not specified a time for Fang Zhou to return the artifacts. But Fang Zhou was well aware that such verbal tricks could only deceive the Calabash Kids, who were inexperienced monsters. Real experienced monsters could neither be fooled this way, nor would they understand the concepts of benevolence and morality ¡ª they simply couldn¡¯t grasp it. Chapter 79 - 79: 79. You really are a clever little thing Chapter 79: 79. You really are a clever little thing Fang Zhou wanted to use his consciousness to enter the gourd to check on the situation of the seven gourd children. But then he thought better of it. Although he could use this gourd because of his Golden Core, it was actually an item belonging to the seventh child, and she could use it too. So now, recklessly entering the gourd might be dangerous. Better to wait until they had left Wild Tomb Ridge. The sky was gradually brightening, marking the end to this long night. Fang Zhou and Han Li came to the outside of the Sword Array to find the Tree Demon pressed to the ground, immobilized by the enlarged wine pot, while Ling Xiaoyue was lying on top of the pot. The two didn¡¯t dare get too close and could only watch from a distance. Fang Zhou saw a faint green mist emanating from the Tree Demon¡¯s body, carrying a rich and fresh scent of trees, feeling just like a walk in the woods after rain. This faint green mist coming off the Tree Demon was slowly drifting towards the opening of the wine pot, then being absorbed into it. It seemed the battle had been decided. The Tree Demon and Ling Xiaoyue were originally evenly matched, but now that the Tree Demon had lost its Golden Core and had hastily transformed, its strength had severely diminished, so it was normal for Ling Xiaoyue to defeat it. Ling Xiaoyue waved to Fang Zhou and Han Li: ¡°Come on over, it won¡¯t bite now.¡± Out of curiosity, the two approached to take a closer look. When the Tree Demon saw Fang Zhou, it glared at him furiously: ¡°Shameless thief, return my Golden Core!!¡± ¡°Are you sure it won¡¯t bite?¡± Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Many dog owners say that, but after you get bitten they claim it was because you provoked it.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°You could give it a try.¡± Fang Zhou was very interested and immediately started to get busy. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He caught a mouse from the temple, tied it to a stick, and extended it toward the Tree Demon. Seeing what Fang Zhou had brought, Han Li was bemused: ¡°A Golden Core Demon wouldn¡¯t be scared of something like this.¡± Seeing the mouse presented before it, the Tree Demon screamed in horror: ¡°Take it away, quickly take it away!¡± Han Li: ¡­ She felt her worldview starting to crumble; a Golden Core Demon was actually afraid of mice. But after giving it some thought, even though it was a Golden Core Demon, it seemed to be male, so being scared of mice was normal. Facing the mouse, the Tree Demon struggled desperately, but the enormous wine pot on its back didn¡¯t budge an inch. The Tree Demon reached out to swat the mouse away, only managing a feeble flail that did nothing to the pest. Fang Zhou wondered: ¡°Why does it look so listless and weak?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smirk, fairly bragging: ¡°Its demonic power has been locked down by me. Right now, it¡¯s weaker than an untrained child.¡± Fang Zhou asked again: ¡°So when can it be completely dealt with?¡± Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand: ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you already? It can be refined to death in three days.¡± ¡°Three days?¡± Fang Zhou frowned; if it required three days, wouldn¡¯t his mission fail? ¡°Isn¡¯t there a faster way? You¡¯re not slacking off, are you?¡± Faced with her disciple¡¯s suspicion, Ling Xiaoyue immediately got annoyed. ¡°Ah, what do you know? What I¡¯m doing is meticulous work that requires patience. This Tree Demon has absorbed who knows how many humans and beasts, its body filled with Innate Yin Yang Qi, it can¡¯t be killed without refining away these energies.¡± So it¡¯s that difficult? Fang Zhou looked down at the Tree Demon, now appearing completely at the mercy of others. Wouldn¡¯t it be over if he just chopped off its dog-head? Could it actually grow back again? But Ling Xiaoyue is the authority on this matter. Since she said it can¡¯t be killed until the Innate Yin Yang Qi is refined and dissolved, it must not be as simple as beheading. Fang Zhou pondered, an unclear idea surfacing in his mind. He looked up at Ling Xiaoyue and asked, ¡°Is this guy male or female?¡± Trees shouldn¡¯t have genders, right? How come after cultivating into a spirit, it has the appearance of a man. Ling Xiaoyue, however, was starting to get impatient: ¡°You little brat, why so many questions? Either stay aside or you try to handle it?¡± Aren¡¯t you the expert at this? What¡¯s with the ¡®you try to handle it¡¯? Fang Zhou thought better of speaking out loud, lest he provoke Ling Xiaoyue further. Han Li, standing nearby, chimed in just in time to explain the Tree Demon¡¯s gender issue to Fang Zhou. Demons are of many kinds, and those from the Grass and Wood Demons are one variety. Typically, they are genderless, but once they reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, Grass and Wood Demons get to choose their gender once, and after the choice they can¡¯t change it again. Most Grass and Wood Demons select the gender they like, a small portion don¡¯t choose and remain genderless demons, but there are also some who choose both genders and become hermaphrodite demons. Han Li looked down at the Tree Demon, saying, ¡°Although this Tree Demon looks like a man, its voice is ambiguous, definitely a hermaphrodite demon!¡± Fang Zhou was shocked on the spot. These Grass and Wood Demons can actually choose their gender at will, either not choosing or choosing both. Are they really so mischievous? In an instant, countless unsightly tricks came to mind. Could this be an opportunity to create a dark bible of a different world? He looked down again at the Tree Demon. I didn¡¯t expect this bushy-browed fellow to be a transvestite¡ªno, wrong, it¡¯s originally a demon. The realization that the Tree Demon was hermaphrodite suddenly brought clarity to the vague idea in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. He raised his head and said to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°I have an immature suggestion, maybe it could deal with the Innate Yin Yang Energy inside this Tree Demon.¡± Ling Xiaoyue sat up with interest: ¡°Oh, let¡¯s hear it.¡± Fang Zhou laid out his thought-up plan. After hearing it, excitement flashed across Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes: ¡°Wow, that could work, that definitely could work.¡± She hopped down from the wine pot, slapping Fang Zhou on the shoulder: ¡°You really are a clever devil. As your mentor, I couldn¡¯t be prouder that you could come up with such a despicable and shameless method.¡± Han Li, on the other hand, felt slightly embarrassed, glancing at Fang Zhou, who looked very proper, wondering how he came up with such lowly ideas. Could it be that he is prim and proper on the outside, but lecherous on the inside, the silent and sultry type? Han Li couldn¡¯t help but lick her lips, feeling thrilled by the thought, yearning to experience it for herself. The Tree Demon also heard Fang Zhou¡¯s method, but it sneered: ¡°Hmph, utterly foolish.¡± No one paid it any attention. They would find out if it worked after they tried; even if it failed, there was no loss. Ling Xiaoyue hurriedly sent Fang Zhou and Han Li to make preparations, eager to see the plan in action. First, they¡¯d need some men. But Lanruo Temple originally had only one man, Fang Zhou, and now the Tree Demon could be considered half a man too. With Wild Tomb Ridge being such a wilderness, where could they find more men? But Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t forgotten that last night, he caught Hui Neng Monk in the act of enlightening a man. With Hui Neng Monk¡¯s build, one man couldn¡¯t possibly satisfy her. The monks of Lanruo Temple were all in cahoots; it was likely others participated, and the temple surely had more hiding. Fang Zhou and Han Li began searching within Lanruo Temple and indeed found a hidden chamber stuffed full of men. Chapter 80 - 80: 80. foot-scratching man Chapter 80: 80. foot-scratching man Fang Zhou kicked open the iron gate at the entrance and entered the basement. He had thought he would see a grimy scene, but surprisingly, the basement was quite clean, spacious, and fully equipped with living facilities, even having a skylight on top. It seems that the monks also know that dirty men aren¡¯t fun to play with and are prone to falling sick, so cleanliness is a must. When Fang Zhou and Han Li entered, they found the imprisoned men leisurely embroidering¡ªabsolutely ridiculous. Seeing two strangers burst in, the men screamed in fear and huddled together. This was the first time Fang Zhou saw so many men crowded together, yet he did not feel the least bit of kinship. These men all exuded a strong effeminate air with their gestures, some even had makeup on, causing him intense psychological discomfort. ¡°Everybody, quiet down!¡± Fang Zhou, suppressing his nausea, loudly declared, ¡°I am here to rescue you all.¡± The expected cheers and tears of joy did not happen; instead, the men began whispering among themselves. ¡°What a rough man.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, flaunting himself in public, so immodest.¡± ¡°One look and you can tell he won¡¯t get married off.¡± Veins popped out on Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead, these nutcases. Coming here kindly to rescue you and you dare criticize me? ¡°Shut up!¡± He roared, interrupting the men¡¯s murmuring: ¡°Anyone who keeps whining stays locked up here to die.¡± The cell instantly went silent, but the system notification followed. [More than ten males regard you as a crude and foul man, awarded 10 points of masculinity, title awarded: Foot-Scratching Man] Fang Zhou: (?_?) Damn, these bastards. And what the hell is this foot-scratching man title reward? I¡¯d never wear it. Then Han Li spoke up, ¡°Gentlemen, don¡¯t be afraid, we really are here to get you out.¡± A burly, mustached man timidly raised his hand, ¡°Really?¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Li showed a gentle smile and nodded. The mustached man immediately started hopping around hand-in-hand with the other men, some even cried tears of joy. Fang Zhou: ¡­ He looked at Han Li and then at himself. Despite being handsome and dashing, even having some righteous reputation, why did he seem like a villain in these men¡¯s eyes? And Han Li, quite ordinary looking, managed to gain their trust. ¡°Don¡¯t get too happy too soon.¡± Fang Zhou, a bit annoyed, told the men, ¡°If you want to get out, you must do something for us first, only then you can leave.¡± The men got nervous again, ¡°What is it?¡± When Fang Zhou stated the requirement, he thought the men would resist, but they agreed without even a moment of hesitation. Well, even in this world where gender roles are reversed, deep down men still are enthusiastic about certain matters. ¡°It¡¯s the kind that says no with the mouth, but the body is very honest.¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li led this group of men out of the dungeon, and took the opportunity to count them. There were thirty-five men in total, you should know that Lanruo Temple only had about thirty monks. Men were gathered, next they needed women. In this world, it might be difficult to find men, but finding women was too simple, Fang Zhou already had a bunch in his gourd. Fang Zhou picked a smaller courtyard and released all the monks from the gourd. He and Han Li then started tying up these monks with ropes. The last monk let out was Hui Neng. Upon touching the ground, her expression was a bit dazed, but she quickly regained her composure, and with an envious look at the gourd in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, she said coldly, ¡°There will be another time, we will meet again.¡± After speaking, she leapt up. Her plump body soared like a large bird, shooting out of the courtyard. She was in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Hardly anyone could stop her if she wanted to flee. Unfortunately, her opponent this time was different. Just as Hui Neng¡¯s figure was about to cross over the wall, she felt a blur before her eyes, as if someone had appeared in front of her instantaneously. Before she could see clearly, she was struck hard in the abdomen and sent flying back, crashing heavily onto the ground in the courtyard. Hui Neng spat out blood, and upon looking up in shock, she realized that the person who had stopped her was Fang Zhou, her eyes revealing a trace of horror. This kid is clearly just in the Qi Refinement Realm, how can he be so strong?! Could it be that he has always been hiding his true realm? As much as Hui Neng racked her brains, she couldn¡¯t figure it out. Although Fang Zhou was only in the Qi Refinement Realm, his Physical Strength was far beyond a typical Foundation Establishment practitioner. Moreover, for cultivators transitioning from Qi Refinement Realm to Foundation Establishment Realm, Physical Strength is linked to one¡¯s power. How strong the body can only exhibit corresponding strength unless supplemented by Spiritual Energy¡ªthere should not be a scenario where strength exceeds the body¡¯s limits. But Fang Zhou was different. Due to the system, his strength, speed, and constitution were calculated separately. The imbalance in upgrades meant his strength and speed limits exceeded that of his Physical Strength. If someone else had the same Physical Strength as Fang Zhou, then his strength and speed would be comparatively higher, thus showing such terrifying effects. Hui Neng, with her significantly weaker Physical Strength compared to Fang Zhou, was naturally knocked down by his punch. Seeing that there was no escape, Hui Neng calmed down, slowly sat cross-legged, and sneered, ¡°Benefactors, do you really think I¡¯m alone in maintaining Lanruo Temple here? I advise you to let me go, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li exchanged a look, with Hui Neng saying so, it was clear that someone was directing her from behind the scenes. If they dared to harm her, they would face revenge from that person behind the scenes. Han Li was slightly alarmed¡ªif Hui Neng wasn¡¯t lying, whoever could instruct a Foundation Establishment cultivator to guard this desolate place for years must be extraordinarily strong? Fang Zhou asked interestedly, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Hui Neng¡¯s face was serene, ¡°Just let me go, and we can talk.¡± Fang Zhou smiled, ¡°Letting you go is fine, but first, you need to do something for us.¡± Hui Neng¡¯s eyebrows furrowed just to see Fang Zhou suddenly holding a glaze bottle, walking over, and forcibly pouring the liquid from the bottle into her mouth. Hui Neng coughed and spat out saliva several times, glaring furiously at Fang Zhou: ¡°What did you make me drink?¡± Fang Zhou shook the bottle, smiling, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s something good. You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± With Han Li¡¯s help, Fang Zhou poured the remaining half bottle of Strong aphrodisiac into the mouths of the other monks, and few monks under the age of ten were picked out and sent outside. Although these monks all deserved their fate, what was coming next was not suitable for the young. After about ten seconds, the effects of the drug started taking place, and the thirty or so monks began to lose their sanity, including Hui Neng who was no exception. To take care of her, Fang Zhou had her drink most of the Strong aphrodisiac. Thus, Hui Neng was affected the most severely. Even in the Foundation Establishment Realm, she could not resist and because she had nothing to vent, her skin turned red-hot, and she appeared completely crazed. Fang Zhou and Han Li stepped out of the courtyard, and the Tree Demon had already been brought by Ling Xiaoyue. Chapter 81 - 81: 81. Tree Demons Tragedy. Chapter 81: 81. Tree Demon¡¯s Tragedy. Hearing the roaring from the courtyard, the Tree Demon sneered: ¡°The Innate Qi within my body is in perfect harmony of Yin and Yang, endlessly sustaining. You think you can kill me with this little trick? Dream on!¡± Fang Zhou pushed the Tree Demon through the main gate, smiling and waving goodbye: ¡°Then I wish you sweet dreams too.¡± With its demonic power sealed, the Tree Demon, now powerless as a common person, was pushed into a group of Monks who had taken Strong aphrodisiacs. Immediately, excited howls from the Monks filled the air, like thirsty desert travelers stumbling upon a sweet spring. Although the gate was closed and nothing could be seen, Fang Zhou could imagine the scene; after all, the adult films from his past life hadn¡¯t been watched in vain. Ling Xiaoyue tiptoed, flying up to the top of the wall, and found a comfortable position to lie down. Fang Zhou looked up at her: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t turn her head back, her expression serious: ¡°As your master, I need to keep watch on the Tree Demon¡¯s restraints within its body, preventing it from recovering its demonic power due to overstimulation. Disciple, do you want to come up and join me in watching?¡± ¡°No thanks, you enjoy yourself.¡± Fang Zhou turned to glance at Han Li and saw an eager expression on her face: ¡°Do you want to watch too?¡± ¡°Want¡­ huh, want what?¡± Han Li promptly said, ¡°Such vulgar matters, I utterly despise them.¡± Fang Zhou thought she was just shy and persuaded: ¡°What¡¯s vulgar about it? Love between a man and a woman is a normal physiological phenomenon. Watching more could help you gain some experience, and besides, seeing a Golden Core Demon battle a group of female Monks like this, you must be curious, right?¡± This world definitely lacked sex education; Fang Zhou felt that it would be beneficial for a disciplined person like Han Li to receive some sex education ahead of time. Han Li hurriedly said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not curious at all, you needn¡¯t say more. Inappropriate to see, inappropriate to listen, I won¡¯t watch.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t persuade further: ¡°Suit yourself then.¡± But Han Li secretly sighed in relief, glad that she had reacted in time. This must be Fang Zhou testing her, if she had really watched, he would definitely think she was a frivolous girl. At this point, Fang Zhou finally had the time to check the title awarded to him by the system. [Foot-scratching man: Repels the same sex, attracts the opposite sex. Equipping this title makes the same sex think you¡¯re a stinky man, reducing 1 point of same-sex favorability. The opposite sex will think you¡¯re a man of distinction, increasing 1 point of opposite-sex favorability, and Spiritual power +3] Crap, what kind of lousy title is this. He was already mysteriously quite appealing to the opposite sex, wearing this would only attract more female temptresses, right? Fang Zhou deliberated for a moment but still equipped the title. After all, 3 points of Spiritual Attribute shouldn¡¯t be wasted. If it invites temptresses, so be it; more lice doesn¡¯t itch. Just after equipping it, Fang Zhou himself didn¡¯t feel any changes, but Han Li¡¯s gaze towards him gradually started to change. She secretly touched her slightly hot cheeks, wondering what was wrong with her. Was it due to the influence from inside the courtyard? After a few hours since the Tree Demon had been pushed in, the main gate suddenly burst open, and the naked Tree Demon escaped from the yard. Followed closely by a group of Monks, they caught the Tree Demon clumsily and dragged it back in. ¡°You despicable and shameless villains, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± The Tree Demon roared at Fang Zhou as it was dragged back into the courtyard. A few more hours passed, and it was now noon, yet the commotion in the courtyard hadn¡¯t ceased. If there were only one or a few monks, they certainly wouldn¡¯t have lasted this long, but there were as many as thirty monks in the courtyard, fully capable of rotating rest and replacements to create a perpetual cycle. The courtyard gate was pushed open again. A terrified Tree Demon, with weak steps, fled out. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It hadn¡¯t run far when a monk rushed out, caught it, and dragged it back. The Tree Demon¡¯s hands clawed wildly at the ground, leaving trails of blood: ¡°Let go of me, I don¡¯t want to go back, I don¡¯t want to go back!¡± Its tragic cries were shut inside as the gate closed. Several hours later, the gate was pushed open again, but this time the Tree Demon didn¡¯t flee out, it just stretched out a hand, seemingly trying to grasp the freedom outside. ¡°Save¡­ save me!¡± The voice of the Tree Demon was filled with weakness and exhaustion. It struggled to crawl out, only to be dragged back again, leaving behind a bout of utterly horrifying screams. Until the sun set, the more than thirty monks finally ended the battle. Other than Hui Neng, whose Foundation Establishment Realm physical strength remained, the rest of the monks were completely drained and lifeless. Having lain on the walltop all day, Ling Xiaoyue stretched lazily: ¡°So boring, I shouldn¡¯t have watched.¡± Fang Zhou shouted to Xiaoyue, ¡°Check on the Tree Demon.¡± He absolutely did not want to go inside the courtyard again, as there would be no place to stand. From afar, Xiaoyue checked on the Tree Demon and couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Apprentice, you really did it, the Innate Yang Qi inside the Tree Demon is almost depleted now, only the Innate Yin Qi is still present.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Zhou also sighed with relief, thankful that it had worked, otherwise he would have wasted the entire day for nothing. The scene in the courtyard was indescribable, and Fang Zhou was unwilling to enter. In the end, it was Han Li who went inside and took out the unconscious Tree Demon, throwing it into a water tank to wash off the filth on its body. After washing, the Tree Demon was taken to a new courtyard. Since it still possessed Innate Yin Qi, the process couldn¡¯t stop; they had to continue through the night. Han Li brought the men who had been waiting all day and were growing impatient and Fang Zhou washed a bottle that contained a Strong aphrodisiac, giving the water used for washing to the men to drink. Indeed, this Strong aphrodisiac, a system product, was effective even in the washing water. Upon drinking it, although the men didn¡¯t lose their senses, each one of them felt immensely agitated and couldn¡¯t wait. Han Li had them line up, one by one entering the courtyard. Fang Zhou, holding a megaphone made of a rolled leaf, stood by to maintain order: ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush, line up, take it slowly, everyone will get a turn, there¡¯s no need to panic, rest aside when you¡¯re done, there¡¯s food and brown sugar water to replenish your strength, rest well and then come back to line up.¡± The fighting power of these thirty-some men ultimately wasn¡¯t as strong as that of thirty-some women; they barely managed to last about a dozen rounds before they couldn¡¯t continue. However, the Tree Demon, having already exhausted its Innate Yang Qi and left only with Innate Yin Qi, which couldn¡¯t flourish alone, was also easily depleted. The nearly disfigured Tree Demon, after losing both Innate Yin Yang Energy, was nothing but a demon to be easily slaughtered. Watching the entire process, Xiaoyue brought out her wine pot; the pot flew above the courtyard, absorbing the demonic power from the Tree Demon¡¯s body from a distance, as she now dared not let the pot touch the Tree Demon even slightly. This time, Xiaoyue easily sucked all the demonic power out of the Tree Demon, whose hard-earned humanoid form turned into a piece of bark. Thus, the family of this Tree Demon was finally exterminated by the master and apprentice duo. Chapter 83 - 83: 83. You must pay a heavy price. Chapter 83: 83. You must pay a heavy price. To prevent the grave from being desecrated and robbed, Fang Zhou did not pile up a mound or erect a tombstone, but simply made some marks that he could recognize to avoid not finding the location in the future. After finishing up, Fang Zhou dusted off his hands, looked at the leveled ground, and whispered, ¡°Farewell, if death really means reincarnation as you said, then I eagerly await our day of reunion.¡± Although the meeting with Yan Chixia was brief, Yan Chixia¡¯s boldness and free spirit had deeply impressed Fang Zhou, leaving a shining image of a Cultivator in his heart. After burying Yan Chixia, Fang Zhou returned to the Lanruo Temple¡¯s separate courtyard, with only one last matter to deal with¡ªthe men who had been captured by the monks and were being wantonly abused at Lanruo Temple. Fang Zhou had promised to release them, but he couldn¡¯t just let them go, as these men had seen the faces of Fang Zhou and his companions. It would be troublesome if they were let loose to talk recklessly. It is known that behind Monk Hui Neng, there are instigators, making it easy to find out about the trio through these men. If Fang Zhou were to act against his word and kill these people, it would be an act of utter ruthlessness, which made the situation quite vexing. In the end, Han Li stepped forward, offering to handle the matter. After her departure, she could take the men away and deal with them properly. Yes, Han Li was preparing to leave. She originally came to Wild Tomb Ridge to find the Buddhist Secret Treasure to cure the Black Jiao Poison in her body. Now that the so-called Secret Treasure did not exist, Han Li could only continue her journey to find a remedy. Fang Zhou then remembered to coax and beg Ling Xiaoyue for some wine and gave it to Han Li to drink. After drinking, Han Li felt refreshed, even feeling a slight increase in Physical Strength. Unfortunately, it did not help with the Black Jiao Poison inside her. Unable to help himself, Fang Zhou complained to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your wine is of the Immortals, a Healing Holy Medicine? Why doesn¡¯t it work on Han Li¡¯s poison?¡± Ling Xiaoyue, snapping up the wine jug, hurled it over: ¡°You brat, you know it¡¯s called a Healing Holy Medicine, which naturally means it¡¯s for healing. Who said it could cure poison? If it could heal wounds and also cure poison, wouldn¡¯t I be rich from selling wine and no longer need to make money elsewhere?¡± Fang Zhou retorted unconvinced, ¡°Being poisoned is also a form of injury, an internal one. If your wine can¡¯t even cure internal injuries, how dare you claim it to be a Healing Holy Medicine.¡± Ling Xiaoyue twisted her mouth in annoyance, ¡°Come here, let me beat you till you have an internal injury and see if it can cure it.¡± ¡°Resorting to violence when you¡¯re losing the argument, do you still dare claim yourself to be a role model in the educational field?¡± ¡°You defiant disciple, dare you not to use it from now on.¡± Seeing the teacher and student bickering again, Han Li couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, dissipating the faint sorrow of parting. Before leaving, Ling Xiaoyue made a special round inside Lanruo Temple, scraping the ground for everything valuable, uncovering all the silver that Monk Hui Neng had earned over the years. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know how much money Ling Xiaoyue had plundered, but judging from her cheerful mood, it was certainly a lot. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The trio left with a group of men from Wild Tomb Ridge on the same day, separating at the Jingchu River bank. In this era where travel is by foot and communication by shout, after parting, the day of reunion might be indefinitely far away. Perhaps it¡¯s a bit better in the Cultivation World, yet the path of Cultivation is filled with extreme dangers. A slight misstep could result in demise, whether killed in a conflict or perishing in a desolate Secret Place. For Cultivators, a parting often could become a permanent farewell. In the face of this, Fang Zhou, a newcomer to the Cultivation World, was not deeply touched. He took his leave seriously from Han Li, inviting her to visit the Xuanji Sect if she was free, and then he and Ling Xiaoyue turned and departed. By the way, the sixth generation [horses] and ¡¯55 Kai¡¯ were not hurt by the monks, perhaps because the monks saw the horses¡¯ intelligence and did not slaughter them, allowing them a chance to safely return to their master. Han Li watched Fang Zhou¡¯s departing figure, silently memorizing the address of his sect that he had given her. She didn¡¯t know if this parting was forever, but if there was a chance, she would definitely meet Fang Zhou again. ¡­ ¡°` Late at night, in the deserted courtyard of Lanruo Temple, a crow flew down from a tree branch, perched on the rooftop, and let out a series of ominous caws. Two figures appeared in Lanruo Temple, their heads covered with conical bamboo hats, draped in black cloaks. With the arrival of these two figures, the temperature inside Lanruo Temple plummeted drastically. Many plants in the courtyard began to wither before the naked eye, their branches and leaves frosted over with ice. The crow on the rooftop seemed to sense danger and took flight, only to plummet to the ground midway. Not just the crow, but a large number of creatures within Lanruo Temple were dying, rendering an area of lifeless silence. Apart from a few young monks taken away by Han Li, the rest of the monks in the temple had perished. Out of humanistic spirit, Fang Zhou and Han Li dug a grave to bury the monks, lest they be exposed in the wilderness. The two figures in black quickly found the burial site. One of them squatted down, pressed a hand to the ground, and finally said, ¡°Hui Neng¡¯s body is beneath, but his three souls and six spirits have been dispersed. What lies here is just an empty shell.¡± The voice was pleasing to the ear, belonging to a young woman. Another figure in black let out a cold snort, ¡°Useless in success, yet causing trouble in failure.¡± That voice belonged to an old crone. The young woman beside her remained silent. The Mystic Yin Tree has been planted by the Divine Sect; it has stood for a century. After the previous caretaker passed away unexpectedly, Hui Neng was appointed as the new guardian. His duty was to watch over the Mystic Yin Tree and to capture Blood Food and Cultivators to feed it. He diligently attended to his duties here for over ten years. The Divine Sect trusted him and never bothered to check up. Little did they know, Hui Neng gradually grew lazy in secret, posing as a monk to enjoy his leisure and spreading rumors to lure Cultivators into their deaths, while he sat back and reaped the benefits effortlessly. Although this strategy was easy, it was extremely risky, as it could easily attract virtuous masters. This time, it indeed backfired. By the time the Divine Sect received the news, the Mystic Yin Tree Demon had been slain, the Golden Core was missing, and Hui Neng himself met a fatal end. Truly detestable and deserving of death, he not only brought disaster upon himself but also caused the Divine Sect¡¯s century-long plans to be ruined overnight. The upper echelons of the Divine Sect were enraged. As the local supervisors, they were duty-bound to rush over in the night to investigate the killer and the whereabouts of the Golden Core, cleaning up the mess Hui Neng had left behind. After the old woman cursed under her breath, she formed Dharma Seals with her hands and shouted into the silent woods, ¡°Hui Neng! Soul return! Hui Neng! Soul return!¡± Following her calls, a transparent and ethereal soul shadow began to drift out from within the woods; it was indeed the soul of Monk Hui Neng. The crone abruptly seized Hui Neng¡¯s soul shadow and demanded fiercely, ¡°Who did this?¡± Hui Neng¡¯s expression was one of agony as he uttered in a broken voice, ¡°Xuan¡­ji¡­Sect¡­¡± This was merely one of Hui Neng¡¯s three souls, which could only remember the most significant impressions, while the other souls and spirits had long since scattered. Seeing that no useful information could be extricated, the crone ruthlessly tore Hui Neng¡¯s soul to shreds. With the loss of this soul, Hui Neng was deprived of any chance for reincarnation, doomed to remain an unconscious solitary ghost forever. Still unsatisfied, the old crone stomped forcefully on the ground, the strength of the blow passing through the soil to pulverize all the monks¡¯ bodies below into dust. ¡°Xuanji Sect? Well, Xuanji Sect, you shall pay a terrible price!!¡± ¡°` Chapter 84 - 84: 84. Wise Time and Xues Enlightenment Chapter 84: 84. Wise Time and Xue¡¯s Enlightenment Traveling north along the Jing Chu River and after entering the Jing Chu Territory in the northern part of Jingnan State, the sect was no longer far away. The Jing Chu Territory is considered a bustling area within Jingnan State, with many towns along the way. Since they were nearing the sect, the mentor and disciple duo were not in a rush to travel, and finally could afford to relax, sparing Fang Zhou from the harshness of having to sleep in the wilderness. While staying in a town on the way, Fang Zhou felt that he had accumulated enough good karma and luck, so he specifically bought incense and candles, took a bath, changed clothes, worshipped the heavens and earth, and then chose to draw that purple card. The purple card in his mind spun rapidly, emitting rings of rainbow-like light that spread out from beneath the card, breathtakingly beautiful. The animation effects of drawing the card were almost as impressive as getting a Golden Legend, far surpassing any cheap tricks. After spinning to the limit, the glowing purple card finally exploded, radiating golden light outward, like the sun, and was accompanied by a melody of pleasant music. Fang Zhou was shocked; these golden rays were undeniably the special effects associated with a Golden Legend. A purple card with a Golden Legend? This is like striking it rich!! Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes widened in anticipation, his face brimming with excitement as he waited. Countless points of light converged to form the image of a figure with a fist propped against his chin, deep in thought. [Wise Time¡ï¡ï: With detachment from all and sudden enlightenment of the five senses, using Wise Time forcibly enhances one¡¯s comprehension, thought, and logical abilities, entering an Enlightenment State. Duration depends on skill level and user¡¯s talent. Cooldown: Thirty days] It turned out to be a Skill Card, and it even had a cooldown period, though the cooldown was absurdly long. This outcome was completely different from what Fang Zhou had anticipated. He had hoped to draw some Divine Artifact Equipment or Supreme Divine Skill, as he didn¡¯t set high expectations for skills since he already had quite a few. Unexpectedly, he had drawn a Skill Card, but this Wise Time was indeed different from other skills. Fang Zhou was initially a bit frustrated, but his mood gradually brightened as he studied Wise Time, eventually becoming so happy that he burst into laughter. Fang Zhou had hoped to draw Divine Artifact Equipment and Supreme Divine Skills, two things that he already possessed; they were all in his Sword Box, with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword and Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique perfectly meeting the criteria. Unfortunately, since leaving Lanruo Temple, the Sword Box had remained inert, refusing to open no matter what Fang Zhou tried. Furthermore, mastering the Sword Control Technique was too difficult; Fang Zhou had been studying it since he acquired the incantation and still couldn¡¯t understand what it even stated. He had even asked Ling Xiaoyue for guidance, but she declined with ¡®This is your chance, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to intervene¡¯, leading Fang Zhou to suspect that she couldn¡¯t solve it either and refused out of fear of losing face. Unable to master the Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou was helpless to open the Sword Box and could only watch helplessly. The feeling was akin to having billions in cash stored in a safe for you to spend, but the safe¡¯s code is hidden within the most difficult math problem for a math flunkie to solve. Sigh, indeed, when pushed to the edge, anything is possible except for math problems. Fang Zhou originally planned to address this issue when an opportunity arose, but the emergence of Wise Time showed a glimmer of hope for solving it. It was exactly what he needed the most, just like providing a pillow as soon as one feels sleepy. Fang Zhou originally thought his royal European bloodline had devolved into that of an African Chief, but his lineage was still there, and even purer than before. Now he just wanted to laugh out loud and stride outside, for we are not the people from Africa. Still, he shouldn¡¯t get too excited too soon; he must first confirm that Wise Time is effective for mastering the Sword Control Technique to avoid any disappointment. Fang Zhou immediately began to try it out. He first recited the incantation for the Sword Control Technique quietly to himself twice. During this period, he had already memorized the incantation inside out. After reciting, Fang Zhou unleashed the skill called Wise Time. Upon activating the skill, a sense of blandness immediately filled his mind, akin to the feeling one gets after shivering all over. His mind was blank at first, with all seven emotions and six desires reduced to the extreme. He felt almost floaty, as though he wanted to do nothing and just stay like this forever. At the same time, his thinking, comprehension, and logical abilities were greatly enhanced. It seemed as if all difficult problems in time could be easily solved before his eyes. Fang Zhou recalled the incantation for the Sword Control Technique, which had previously seemed like a mystery, and now appeared straightforward and easy to understand. How could such a simple thing elude me before? Haha, I really am an idiot. After understanding the incantation, Fang Zhou realized that every single word in the incantation carried profound meanings and was intricately associated with the other words. The concise incantation of merely a dozen or so lines was as complex and rigorous as a long technique spanning tens of thousands of characters. Fang Zhou could only decipher it word by word, his thoughts deeply immersed in the interpretation of the Sword Control incantation, oblivious to the outside world. ¡°Disciple, your master has returned!¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice rang from outside, and before it faded, she had already run into the room. Seeing Fang Zhou sitting in the chair with a vacant look in his eyes, Ling Xiaoyue instinctively reached out to pat him, but her hand stopped short of touching his shoulder. Ling Xiaoyue took a couple of steps back, examining Fang Zhou, and a hint of surprise gradually appeared in her eyes. ¡°Is this¡­ Enlightenment?!¡± She murmured in astonishment. Enlightenment, as the name implies, means sudden comprehension. In the Cultivation World, enlightenment is a state that cultivators might encounter by chance rather than by search. It is when a cultivator inadvertently understands a certain principle of cultivation, leading to a breakthrough in their thought process and ushering them into a whole new world. After the period of enlightenment, a cultivator¡¯s abilities and realms often exhibit astonishing explosive growth. Enlightenment is both a common and uncommon state in the Cultivation World, first discovered by a cultivator with the surname Xue, and is thus referred to as Xue¡¯s Enlightenment. It is considered common because every cultivator can discuss enlightenment with great detail, with various opinions and schools of thought so vast they could fill a library. It is uncommon because enlightenment only occurs in cultivators at the Innate Realm and above and is a one in a million occurrence. Many cultivators never experience it once in their lifetime. In other words, countless cultivators have a detailed understanding of enlightenment, but countless others have never witnessed or experienced it firsthand. Therefore, it was incredibly inconceivable to Ling Xiaoyue that Fang Zhou, who was merely at the Qi Refining Realm, would encounter a state of enlightenment. This is because from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, the exercises are all fundamental, and the techniques are the most rudimentary form of teaching, without any profound mysteries. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou¡¯s situation was similar to a primary school student doing simple arithmetic and arriving at the Goldbach Conjecture. Unbelievably awesome. Chapter 85 - 85: 85. This sword has no copper, stealing it is useless Chapter 85: 85. This sword has no copper, stealing it is useless With Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s knowledge, even she was baffled by Fang Zhou¡¯s situation, unclear about what he was suddenly comprehending. However, she remembered that when Fang Zhou first practiced New Moon Qi, it had triggered Moonlight, a condition that only those with extremely high aptitude would experience. Now, he has had another epiphany in the Qi Refining Realm, which is simply like a calf stepping on a landmine¡ªutterly explosive. Ling Xiaoyue thought to herself, if the disciple is so extraordinary, doesn¡¯t that prove that I, as the master, am even more remarkable? The thought made her quite delighted. She now felt fortunate that she hadn¡¯t slapped Fang Zhou awake; entering an epiphany is a rare opportunity, and if it were interrupted, he might never encounter it again in his lifetime. Seeing that Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t finish anytime soon, Ling Xiaoyue turned and leaped onto the rooftop. This place was provided for them to stay by a wealthy person of the city after the master and disciple duo performed Demon Extermination for him. The environment was fairly tranquil, but these past few days, people had been frequently requesting them to eradicate demons. She needed to keep an eye on things to prevent anyone from barging in and disturbing Fang Zhou¡¯s epiphany. Just as Ling Xiaoyue jumped onto the roof, she saw a carriage coming from a distance. A fat woman dressed in fine silk stepped down, supported by two struggling servants. Led by the servants, the fat woman headed this way. Ling Xiaoyue flicked her fingers lightly at the woman, and immediately, the woman, weighing over 200 pounds, fell down, squashing the servant beside her like a dead dog. A group of people cried out in alarm and dragged the fat woman back onto the carriage, hastily leaving. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue found a comfortable spot, just lied down when another carriage arrived, forcing her to sit up and repeat the process. Fang Zhou was unaware of the happenings outside, immersed in decoding the incantations of the Sword Control Technique. The Sword Control Technique took Yan Chixia, with his talents, over three years to master entry-level, indicating its difficulty. However, even the difficulty of the Sword Control Technique couldn¡¯t withstand the Wise Time that follows life¡¯s great harmony¡ªa special state where even the academically poor dare ponder the origins of the universe. When the Wise Time ended, Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes. The sky outside was dim, and night had fallen, plunging the room into darkness. But Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes were brimming with sharpness, like a drawn blade. The incantations of the Sword Control Technique, he had decoded them completely and understood thoroughly. Sword Control Technique, mastered entry-level! Fang Zhou slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and whispered lowly, ¡°Sword, come forth!¡± Clang¡ª From a corner of the room, the Sword Box suddenly emitted a crisp sound of sword ringing. A beam of golden light shot out from the Sword Box, spiraling around the room twice before landing in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand. It was a golden longsword, not the wide-bladed type used by Yan Chixia in the movies but more slender, resembling the Han Sword. This sword was the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, entirely golden and exquisitely handsome. Fang Zhou held it in his hand, examining it; the more he looked, the more he liked it. The only downside was that the sword was not only golden but also radiating golden light, making the entire room shine with brilliance. ¡°Too tacky.¡± He murmured. Holding the sword felt like being a nouveau riche who had never seen the world before, flashy with gold, likely to attract thieves if taken outside. As if sensing Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts, the golden light on the Xuanyuan Sword suddenly disappeared, and its golden blade slowly dimmed, at a glance appearing not like a golden sword but a bronze one. Fang Zhou was instantly astonished. Does the Xuanyuan Sword actually come with an auto color-changing feature? This could work. A bronze sword is much more low-key than a Golden Sword, although it¡¯s also risky since bronze isn¡¯t cheap either. Maybe inscribe ¡°This sword contains no copper, stealing it is useless¡± on it? Fang Zhou pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°Can it turn green?¡± The Xuanyuan Sword slowly turned green and even emitted light, resembling a glow stick in this pitch-dark room. Fang Zhou released his hand, and the Xuanyuan Sword did not fall to the ground but floated up, moving around the room following Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts, looking from afar like a flying glow stick. The incantation for Sword Control Technique is the most fundamental spell for manipulating the Xuanyuan Sword. Sword Control Technique is an extremely mystical skill that doesn¡¯t require the realm of external Spiritual Energy manifestation, merely the presence of internal Spiritual Energy is enough. Fang Zhou was having an immensely enjoyable time playing with the sword in the room. Ling Xiaoyue on the roof also slowly opened her eyes, her lips curling slightly: ¡°No wonder, he is actually gaining insight into the Sword Control Technique.¡± Fang Zhou had previously sought guidance from Ling Xiaoyue on the incantation of Sword Control Technique, but she found an excuse to refuse. The entry-level of Sword Control Technique is difficult, mastery is even harder, and its upper limit is extremely high¡ª it is an Immortal Technique that can be regarded as a sect-defining skill even within a Major Sect. Therefore, cultivating it is extremely difficult. Without exceptional talent, one could spend a lifetime without mastering the basics, and rashly practicing it would only waste time and mental energy. Thus, instead of Fang Zhou wasting his prime time on this Sword Control Technique, it would be better for him to wait and cultivate it when he reaches a higher realm in the future. Certainly, this also involves Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s reluctance to explain and teach him, since it would be a significant waste of her time, which is valuable. Ling Xiaoyue originally thought that after Fang Zhou failed a few times, he would give up, but unexpectedly he took the chance of sudden enlightenment and mastered the Sword Control Technique, which even a peerless genius would need years of arduous practice to learn, in just half a day. Plus, Fang Zhou¡¯s luck was exceptionally good too. On a trip to Wild Tomb Ridge, he obtained the Golden Core of a Tree Demon, received the inheritance of a Hermit, and acquired a treasure gourd capable of absorbing everything. Such wealth of gains made even Ling Xiaoyue slightly envious; exchanging them for money could make her incredibly rich overnight¡ªriches are not just a dream. Fortunately, Ling Xiaoyue isn¡¯t an ordinary Cultivator. If it were someone else mentoring Fang Zhou, faced with such a disciple, they likely wouldn¡¯t feel joy but instead jealousy, possibly leading them to kill and steal treasures. ¡­ After playing with the Xuanyuan Sword for a while, Fang Zhou had it change color again. Green really is unlucky, carelessly even the hair might get dyed green, and holding a green sword always gave him the feeling of chewing on green mint gum. Eventually, the Xuanyuan Sword transformed back to the appearance of an ordinary iron sword, looking stylish but without showing any peculiarities. Fang Zhou then fetched the Sword Box again. Yan Chixia mentioned that there were other items inside. Now that he had entered the entry-level of Sword Control Technique, the items inside belonged to him. The Sword Box had neither end nor opening, perfectly seamless. But now, having entered the entry-level of Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou knew how to use it. The incantation for Sword Control Technique was the key to opening the Sword Box. With the incantation silently recited in his mind, upon his thought, three beams of light flew out from the box and landed in front of Fang Zhou, transforming into three objects. A bundle of jade slips, an ancient-looking booklet, and a Sect Leader Seal that was neither gold nor jade. Fang Zhou picked up each one, carefully examining them in his hands. The jade slips contained the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique. Hmm, couldn¡¯t understand it. The booklet was the complete text of the Sword Control Technique. Hmm, still couldn¡¯t understand it. The Sect Leader Seal was the size of a palm, with an Exotic Beast carved onto it, entirely snow-white and unidentifiable in material. Four large characters were inscribed on the bottom of the Seal, which Fang Zhou could understand and subconsciously read aloud. ¡°Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals!¡± Chapter 86 - 86: 86. Pay attention to your tone of voice. Chapter 86: 86. Pay attention to your tone of voice. Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals? That awesome, huh? Fang Zhou shook his head and set down the Sect Leader Seal. Although he didn¡¯t know the origins of this so-called Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, Fang Zhou could guess that the first Sect Leader of this Hidden Sect definitely disliked eating celery. Such grandiosity, enough to make one dizzy, daring to claim to be the ancestor of ten thousand immortals? So incredible, why not ascend to heaven then? Well, now that I¡¯ve gotten the Sect Leader Seal, doesn¡¯t that make me the Sect Master of this Hidden Sect? Talking about predecessors like this, what if they could actually hear me? Fang Zhou thought for a moment, lifted the Sect Leader Seal with both hands, and respectfully said, ¡°Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals, truly a lofty aspiration rarely seen, admirable admiration.¡± After saying that, Fang Zhou collected the three items back into the Sword Box. Though he forcibly learned the Sword Control Technique¡¯s mantra with the help of Wise Time, this kind of cheating won¡¯t last long. Now, unable to comprehend the entire Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique and Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou could only wait to study and practice them slowly in the future. Of course, even if he can¡¯t understand them later, it¡¯s no big deal; he could just rely on the Wise Time once a month to forcefully practice. After tidying up, Fang Zhou opened his Personal Attributes and found that the entire Wise Time skill had dimmed, now in cooldown, temporarily unusable. Such matters, if too frequent, can harm the body, if too rare, can cause frustration; so once a month is just right, can¡¯t be forced. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having entered the entry-level of Sword Control, he has already risen above the level of the weak, and now being the Sect Master of Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, Fang Zhou felt his whole demeanor was different. A slight noise came from outside. Fang Zhou looked up and saw Ling Xiaoyue with her hands clasped behind her back, slowly stepping inside. Fang Zhou picked up a flint and lit a candle, asking her, ¡°How was your haul today?¡± Ling Xiaoyue walked to the table, sat down, took a swig from her flask: ¡°None of your business, it¡¯s all the toilsome earnings of your master.¡± Hardly your toils! Fang Zhou silently retorted in his stomach but feeling good about his successful entry into Sword Control and not wanting to quarrel with this selfish woman. ¡°So when do we leave?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll leave tomorrow.¡± Ling Xiaoyue replied nonchalantly, her gaze falling on the purple gourd placed alongside the Sword Box: ¡°This gourd of yours¡­¡± Fang Zhou quickly interrupted her: ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Ever since they left Lanruo Temple, Ling Xiaoyue had been using various reasons and excuses to coax Fang Zhou into selling the gourd. Saying it wasn¡¯t much use, barely managing against Innate Realm enemies, better to sell it for some real silver and gold. Utter madness. This gourd might not be very useful to Ling Xiaoyue, but for Fang Zhou, it was a precious treasure and a commemorative trophy, not to mention it still housed seven gourd children he hadn¡¯t dealt with. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s intense reaction, Ling Xiaoyue also showed a displeased expression: ¡°Stingy ghost, showing no respect or honor to your master, even if you offered it, I wouldn¡¯t want it.¡± Fang Zhou was also displeased: ¡°Mind your tone, I am now the distinguished Sect Master of Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry.¡± Ling Xiaoyue seemed amused and laughed: ¡°Oh, Sect Master, huh? Where¡¯s your sect located? How many disciples and followers do you have?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression stiffened. Although Yan Chixia had mentioned her mentorship under Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, she never disclosed the address of the sect¡¯s main gate; perhaps it no longer existed. With the Hidden Sect passed down to Yan Chixia already dwindling in numbers, transferring to Fang Zhou would leave him all alone, inheriting the position of Sect Manager without even a witness. Moreover, the Hidden Sect sounded fancy, but it might just be a few people nesting in the deep mountains and wild ridges, living like savages. As soon as Fang Zhou thought of that scene, the prestige of the Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect in his heart plummeted to rock bottom. A sense of boredom spread in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart; he thought he had already escaped the ranks of the riffraff, but it seemed he was still struggling in a mire filled with them. Ling Xiaoyue pinched Fang Zhou¡¯s cheek: ¡°What¡¯s being the head of a Hidden Sect? You are my disciple, and that alone is enough for you to swagger through the Cultivation World.¡± Fang Zhou gave her a sideways glance: ¡°And then get killed by someone?¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°As long as you walk fast while swaggering, even if someone wants to kill you, they can¡¯t catch up. Remember, our sect¡¯s motto is never to lose in words, never to stop in steps, run when it¡¯s dangerous, and frolic when it¡¯s safe. Got it?¡± Damn, that actually makes some sense. Fang Zhou felt Han Li might be more suitable as Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s disciple, as these two, one who runs at the first sign of danger and the other who runs if they can¡¯t win, both truly comprehend the art of escaping, they must have a lot in common. Ling Xiaoyue then looked at the gourd: ¡°Don¡¯t use this gourd for now. You can use it because of the Golden Core, but each use makes the Golden Core fuse more with your heart, and it will be troublesome once it fully integrates.¡± That¡¯s a new one! Fang Zhou frowned slightly: ¡°What should I do then?¡± Ling Xiaoyue patted his shoulder: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when I get time after returning, I¡¯ll help you refine the gourd to sever its connection to the Golden Core. As for the Golden Core, you will need to slowly refine it yourself.¡± Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and then asked, ¡°For free?¡± Ling Xiaoyue chortled: ¡°I¡¯ll give you a 20% discount.¡± Fang Zhou boldly said: ¡°Put it on my tab.¡± Ling Xiaoyue stared at him suspiciously: ¡°You¡¯re not planning on not paying, are you?¡± Fang Zhou remained calm: ¡°You know exactly how much pocket money I have. If I can¡¯t pay, you can just sell me.¡± Ling Xiaoyue thought about it and then felt reassured. The next morning, under Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s urging, Fang Zhou got ready and left with her. However, upon departure, they heard the local residents say that the place was even haunted; many wealthy merchants who approached the house where the master and disciple lived had fallen down mysteriously and could not get up. ¡­ After over two months of long journey, with stops and starts, master and disciple finally arrived at the location of their sect¡ªthe Cloud Sea Mountains. The master and disciple did not rush into the mountains but took a break in a small city called Yunshan City situated at the mountain¡¯s entrance. In Yunshan City, Ling Xiaoyue actually had a small courtyard that had been uninhabited for a long time and was dusty everywhere; moreover, there was a lush big tree in the courtyard that had to be Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s nest. Sure enough, after setting down their luggage, Ling Xiaoyue jumped onto the tree canopy to sunbathe and tossed down her wine jug, asking Fang Zhou to buy some daily necessities and some good wine to fill her jug. Buying supplies could be understood as there wasn¡¯t a convenience store on the mountain; if they didn¡¯t stock up on daily necessities, they would have to rely on hunting and self-sufficiency, which is not cultivation but rather outdoor survival. But here¡¯s the problem¡­ Fang Zhou looked up and shouted to the canopy, ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s languid voice came down, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your private stash? Everything you buy is for your use, your master doesn¡¯t need it.¡± You know it¡¯s called private money? Fang Zhou directly threw the wine jug back up: ¡°Then I don¡¯t need to drink wine either.¡± After a while, the wine jug was thrown back down, along with a piece of silver and Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s annoyed voice: ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to honor your master? Even buying wine requires money from your master, you unfilial disciple!¡± Fang Zhou tossed the silver lightly, smiling faintly ¨C extracting some feathers from this iron rooster really wasn¡¯t easy. Then he whistled and went out. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 87 - 87: 87. Sights and Insights of Yunshan City Chapter 87: 87. Sights and Insights of Yunshan City Yunshan City is just a small city, but it is bustling with activity, people bustling shoulder to shoulder on the streets, and a never-ending stream of sales pitches and chatter. Perhaps due to an overwhelming dominance of Yin over Yang, many men in this world prefer to stay at home and avoid showing their faces in public, therefore women predominantly roam the streets, with men being a rare sight. Having traveled such a long distance, Fang Zhou had grown accustomed to this, so before stepping out, he had made himself a homemade mask to cover his face. Although this still attracted some attention, it was much better than being gawked at everywhere he went. Walking on the street, Fang Zhou found it curious that many of the pedestrians in Yunshan City were young women with weapons or travel bags, resembling wandering adventurers rather than local residents. There were also quite a few people shouting along the street with banners that mostly read ¡°Such-and-such training¡±, ¡°Exclusive secret manuals by Master so-and-so¡±, ¡°Guaranteed to pass the preliminary test¡±, much like the various training classes Fang Zhou had seen in his previous life. ¡°Young brother, do you know Master Anli?¡± A sleazy-looking woman approached and whispered. Fang Zhou shook his head and turned to leave, but little did he know, this persistent woman would not take no for an answer, chasing after him: ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t know, once you get to know about him, you¡¯ll be interested. Master Anli¡¯s mana is boundless, he can easily help you pass the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry test.¡± After being chased for half a street, Fang Zhou finally managed to shake off the woman, truly a salesperson, able to match his speed. By now, Fang Zhou finally realized something was amiss. He asked around and soon understood the situation. The Heavenly Sword Sect is the top Major Sect in Jingnan State, famous throughout the Chu Kingdom, where even the Xuanji Sect has to give way. And this Cloud Sea Mountains is the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect; this year happens to be the day the sect recruits new disciples once every ten years, so from all over Jingnan State, including other states, those desiring to seek the path of cultivation have hurried to Yunshan City, ready to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry trials, including some lone cultivators trying their luck. This is a grand event in the cultivation circles of Jingnan State, with many people counting down the days on their fingers, only someone ignorant like Fang Zhou would arrive here clueless. After figuring things out, Fang Zhou was quite intrigued ¨C he would certainly take the chance to observe. If there were a main storyline in this world, then the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry trial would definitely be the start of it¡ªwhere a genius protagonist makes a stunning debut on the path of glory, or perhaps a village lad lucks into entry and takes the scheming path. The property that Ling Xiaoyue bought is also in the Cloud Sea Mountains; perhaps they could be neighbors with the Heavenly Sword Sect, watching the protagonists battle wits or brute force within the sect daily, akin to following a series. Fang Zhou roamed around the marketplace, bought a load of daily necessities, asked the shopkeeper to deliver them to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s yard, then went looking for a tavern, intending to fill up her wine jugs. ¡°Eh, young brother ahead, please wait.¡± Fang Zhou turned around and saw a middle-aged woman in brocade robe, waving a jade fan in her hand, with sly and dodgy eyes¡ªnot someone who looked trustworthy at all. This woman glanced at Fang Zhou¡¯s simple face mask, then clasped her hands together and bowed: ¡°I¡¯m Guo Baomu, young brother, I greet you respectfully.¡± Young brother? More like you¡¯re a young brother! Fang Zhou replied coolly: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Guo Baomu¡¯s gaze fell on the sword box on Fang Zhou¡¯s back, smiling, she said: ¡°Young brother, your sword box is of fine quality, would you be interested in parting with it? I¡¯m willing to offer a high price.¡± Fang Zhou was slightly startled in his heart, could she have discerned the origin of this sword box? Yet his face remained impassive as he firmly responded: ¡°Not interested, this is not for sale.¡± Having said that, Fang Zhou turned and walked away, but he kept a watchful eye; if this woman was not willing to give up easily, she might know something about the sword box, if not its origin, then at least its value. But what was unexpected to Fang Zhou was that Guo Baomu didn¡¯t chase after him. Instead, he just showed a hint of regret and turned to leave in another direction. Fang Zhou, feeling uneasy, quietly followed him and discovered that Guo Baomu asked the price of weapons from everyone he encountered without exception. Tsk, and here I thought he was someone with discernment, turned out to just be a scavenger. Fang Zhou instantly lost interest, turned around, and left. He randomly picked a tavern and asked, ¡°How much is your cheapest wine?¡± Upon seeing a customer, the tavern keeper immediately smiled and said, ¡°Sir, the cheapest wine in our tavern costs three hundred coins per dou.¡± Fang Zhou thought for a moment and then asked, ¡°What about watered-down wine?¡± The tavern keeper got anxious, hastily saying, ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t spout nonsense; our tavern¡¯s wine is absolutely not watered down.¡± Who are you fooling, the cheapest wine couldn¡¯t possibly be without water. However, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t here to expose frauds. He patiently explained, ¡°I¡¯m not saying your tavern¡¯s wine is watered down. I mean that I want watered-down wine, half-water¡­ sixty percent water, how much would that be?¡± The tavern keeper thought for a moment, looked around, and then extended his hand towards Fang Zhou, ¡°I can give you a maximum of twenty percent off.¡± Fang Zhou placed a wine jug on the table, ¡°Deal, fill it up, but this jug of mine can hold quite a lot of wine.¡± The tavern keeper took the wine jug, smiling, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. Yunshan City is under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Sect, and our tavern has seen many Immortal Sect magic treasures. We will definitely satisfy you.¡± His words were not without merit; familiar with many things, they wouldn¡¯t be shocked like other people who gasped in awe upon seeing a cultivator. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The wine jug was taken by a server to be filled, and Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t worried they would dare to do something foolish like switching magic treasures, so he patiently waited. After a while, there was sudden noise outside on the street of the tavern, with many people crowding around, not knowing what they were doing. Being curious is human nature, and Fang Zhou was no exception. He immediately went over to see what was happening. In the crowd, two women were tugging at each other. One was an older woman dressed and looking like a typical second-rate character. The other was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, pretty and cute with plain clothes, carrying a longsword and a knapsack, looking like a pure village girl who just came from the mountains. The second-rate woman was pointing at the shattered porcelain on the ground and yelling loudly, while the young girl looked embarrassed and panicked, almost on the verge of tears. The onlookers explained what had happened; the woman was carrying the porcelain on the street, and accidentally, the young girl bumped into her causing the porcelain to break. Thus, she clung to the girl, demanding compensation. Clearly, this was a typical case of scamming, now just to see if the girl could see through it. The second-rate woman firmly gripped the girl, not letting go, ¡°Hurry up and compensate me!¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were reddened, ¡°I want to compensate you, but you are asking for too much, I really can¡¯t afford it.¡± The second-rate woman then began to wail miserably, her acting skills very convincing, ¡°This was a family heirloom passed down from my ancestors, now it¡¯s broken, how am I to face my ancestors? You must compensate no matter what, you cannot leave otherwise.¡± Everyone around watched the drama unfold. Such incidents were common, yet no one stepped up to speak for the girl. ¡°Stop!¡± No, there was someone who did step up. Fang Zhou turned to look and the person who stood out turned out to be Guo Baomu, the same man who was after bargains earlier. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 88 - 88: 88. Hero Saves the Beauty Chapter 88: 88. Hero Saves the Beauty Many bystanders were present, yet no one was willing to speak up for the young girl; it was a scavenger who stepped forward. Fang Zhou originally thought that Guo Baomu, with her thievish brows and rat-like eyes, did not seem like a good person, but it turned out he had wronged her. Guo Baomu stopped the ruffian¡¯s tugging, walked over and separated the two: ¡°Everyone, in public like this, is it seemly to be tugging and pulling like that?¡± ¡°Guo Baomu?¡± The ruffian clearly recognized Guo Baomu, showing a surprised look, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Even if it¡¯s you, you can¡¯t let me suffer for nothing.¡± ¡°Of course, nothing escapes the discernment of these treasure eyes of mine, Guo Baomu. The value of this ancestral item, just one look and I¡¯ll know.¡± Guo Baomu said proudly, then turned to ask the young girl, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I will help you identify if she¡¯s deliberately asking for an exorbitant price.¡± The young girl was already on the verge of tears, and seeing someone willing to help, naturally nodded her head repeatedly in agreement. Guo Baomu squatted down, picked up a piece of porcelain fragment, and after examining it for a moment, clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Indeed, it is an antique. Although it¡¯s not the exorbitant price she claims, it is still a valuable item.¡± The young girl grew anxious again, ¡°Then, what should I do?!¡± Guo Baomu pondered for a moment, her gaze landing on the longsword the young girl carried on her back, and said in a deep voice, ¡°Ah, to help is to help to the end, who calls me the most fond of helping others out of trouble? How about this, I¡¯ll offer a high price to buy your weapon, then add a bit of my own money to compensate her, how¡¯s that?¡± The ruffian said immediately, ¡°Good, I¡¯ve always admired Guo Baomu¡¯s sense of fairness. I accept your proposal.¡± Thus, Guo Baomu and the ruffian both turned their gazes to the young girl, waiting for her to decide. The girl was completely dumbfounded, ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± The watching Fang Zhou was about to vomit from watching; this was clearly a scam to trap outsiders. And here he thought Guo Baomu was a good person, but she turned out to be scum, too. Indeed, Fang Zhou had seen right from the start; that person, with her thievish brows and rat-like eyes, was no good. Don¡¯t these scammers fear that the person they swindle might pass the trial to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect and come back for retribution? Looking at the alone and helpless young girl, Fang Zhou hesitated. He didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, but his sense of justice was stirring. Before he could make a decision, a voice filled with righteousness suddenly rang out: ¡°Stop!¡± A brocade-dressed young lady leapt out from the crowd, pointing at the two and said, ¡°Under the broad daylight and the heavens, you dare to swindle together?¡± The crowd of onlookers, which had been about to disperse, suddenly came back together, not expecting such an exciting twist. The faces of the ruffian and Guo Baomu instantly darkened; someone dared to ruin their scheme. It seemed that the reputation of the Cloud Sea Gang wasn¡¯t loud enough. The ruffian spoke viciously, ¡°Where did this stupid woman come from, get lost, it¡¯s none of your business here.¡± But the brocade-dressed young lady maintained a righteous expression, ¡°When seeing injustice on the road, I draw my sword to assist, this is the spirit of us cultivators.¡± Her words slightly moved Fang Zhou, as if seeing a hint of Yan Chixia in her. Of course, this person couldn¡¯t be Yan Chixia; Yan Chixia hasn¡¯t been dead long, even if the Underworld expedited the case to allow her reincarnation, at most, she would only now be a tadpole. The brocade-dressed young lady shouted directly at the swindled silly girl, ¡°Stop being foolish, they are all in cahoots, duping you together.¡± The girl showed a look of shock, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is; I knew something was off.¡± She immediately glared at Guo Baomu and her accomplice with a hostile gaze. Guo Baomu slapped her jade fan fiercely and said in a harsh tone, ¡°Very well, how dare someone slander my reputation, Guo Baomu. Today I must seek justice from you.¡± With that, Guo Baomu charged straight at the brocade-dressed young lady. The brocade-dressed young lady excitedly drew the sword she carried: ¡°Bring it on, I, Chu Yunfei, shall uphold justice today.¡± The two immediately engaged in battle, with Chu Yunfei in the minor accomplishment of the Qi Refining Realm and Guo Baomu of the same realm, they were unexpectedly evenly matched. However, in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, they were just like chickens pecking at each other. If he stepped in, it probably wouldn¡¯t take a second to lay them both flat. Fang Zhou suddenly realized something at this moment¡ªwas the Qi Refining Realm really this weak? No wonder they¡¯re just cannon fodder. Wait, am I also from the Qi Refining Realm? The girl who got tricked saw Chu Yunfei make a move and immediately drew her sword to fight back: ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± But there was still a ruffian nearby, who quickly put his finger to his lips and whistled loudly. Accompanied by the whistle, a bald head, no, several bald heads, burst from the crowd, belonging to muscular women. These two really had accomplices, no wonder the onlookers didn¡¯t dare to help from the start. Neither Chu Yunfei nor the girl had the ability to fight multiple opponents, and the two were quickly pinned down to the ground. Guo Baomu stepped on Chu Yunfei, sneering: ¡°Imposing justice on behalf of the heavens? I¡¯ll let you witness today what it means to truly impose justice on behalf of the heavens.¡± At this point, she no longer concealed her connection with the ruffian and his gang. Fang Zhou silently picked up a few pebbles from the ground, preparing to show this sly-looking guy, what it means not to show off, for those who show off are struck by lightning; Heaven doesn¡¯t need you to impose justice on its behalf, let alone for you to show off pretending to be it. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª A few pebbles shot out from the shadows, striking the smug-faced Guo Baomu and knocking out her teeth, her mouth full of blood. ¡°Who? Who dares to ambush me?¡± Guo Baomu covered her mouth, her angry gaze sweeping around, finally landing on Fang Zhou. The reason she could spot Fang Zhou out of so many people at a glance was mainly because his simple mask was too conspicuous, leaving a deep impression on Guo Baomu. The crowd swiftly parted, revealing Fang Zhou and the pebbles in his hand. Fang Zhou: ????? It wasn¡¯t me who threw them, although I wanted to throw them, I haven¡¯t thrown them yet. Who the hell is framing me? Fang Zhou was dumbfounded; he had just picked up the pebbles when someone else used stones to ambush Guo Baomu, and now even if he jumped into the Yellow River he couldn¡¯t clear his name. ¡°So it¡¯s you!¡± Guo Baomu, furious, charged towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou let out a slight sigh; he hadn¡¯t intended to get involved, but now it seemed he couldn¡¯t avoid taking action. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fortunately, it was just a bunch of nobodies, easy to deal with. The main concern was that fighting the small fries might draw out their bosses, one wave after another, which would be tiresome. However, before Fang Zhou could make a move, a surge of powerful energy came flying, hitting Guo Baomu and instantly knocking her to the ground. The energy didn¡¯t dissipate but instead twisted and turned, swirling around, knocking down more than a dozen bald women. Then, a woman dressed in dark blue long robes descended from the sky, landing in the center of the crowd, just so happening to step on Guo Baomu¡¯s back. This woman was very beautiful, with long hair casually tied with a ribbon, her demeanor casual and elegant, like a celestial being exiled from heaven. ¡°It¡¯s Master Xuan Ling!!¡± ¡°As expected of a True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect.¡± ¡°Master Xuan Ling, look this way!¡± The onlooking crowd played the part of a chorus, letting out waves of fangirl-like gasps and praise. Fang Zhou also clicked his tongue in admiration; look at her, that¡¯s how you show off. Guo Baomu, that was just acting foolishly. Before Fang Zhou could finish his contemplations, he saw the woman in blue turning towards him, with a flippant smile she said: ¡°Little brother, you¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± Fang Zhou was momentarily stunned, damn it, so you¡¯ve come not just to show off, but also to flirt. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 89 - 89: 89. Remember to wear a mask when you go out. Chapter 89: 89. Remember to wear a mask when you go out. The scene unfolding on this long street is simply one of hero saving the beauty. But Fang Zhou had no desire to be the beauty being saved. Seeing him silent, Xuan Ling asked again, ¡°Got scared, little brother?¡± Fang Zhou was exasperated; could it be that she had only come out to play this act after seeing him? Guo Baomu, pressed to the ground by Xuan Ling, struggled in vain and couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Let me go now!¡± Xuan Ling looked down and chuckled, ¡°Daring to cause trouble in Yunshan City, you¡¯re quite bold.¡± Guo Baomu shouted loudly, ¡°We are from the Cloud Sea Gang.¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, her foot flicked, and immediately kicked Guo Baomu away, knocking over those bald heads who had just gotten up. She spoke in a soft voice, ¡°Scram, don¡¯t let me see you again.¡± Guo Baomu obviously recognized Xuan Ling, and dared not say anything more, quickly leading his people away in haste. The conflict thus dissipated, and Chu Yunfei along with the young girl got up, exchanged glances, laughed together, and then thanked Xuan Ling. Seeing there was no more spectacle to witness, the onlookers began to leave. Fang Zhou also prepared to depart, but then Xuan Ling called out to him, ¡°Little brother, wait a moment.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t look back; this kind of flirtatious woman was the most scheming, and he absolutely must not provoke her. He hadn¡¯t gone far when suddenly a gust of wind came from behind. Fang Zhou quickly turned around and saw a delicate hand reaching for his face. He dodged, but the hand was wrapped in a strong wind, tearing off the mask from his face. Fang Zhou stepped back, glaring at Xuan Ling unpleasantly. Thinking, ¡°You¡¯re trying to force yourself on me after failing to flirt?¡± Xuan Ling, however, stared at his face, then chuckled and clicked her tongue, ¡°A beauty like jade, superior to the spring breeze, with such good looks, why cover up your own face?¡± Chu Yunfei and the young girl following behind were already stunned. They didn¡¯t expect the man who had helped them to be so handsome and beautiful. Fang Zhou picked up the mask and put it back on, and said indifferently, ¡°What do you want?¡± Judging from the power displayed by Xuan Ling, she might be slightly stronger than Li Ruyu, but not by much, likely also within the scope of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Fang Zhou now kills those in the Foundation Establishment Realm as easily as dogs, yet even a mere dog dares to act wildly in front of me. He decided, if this Xuan Ling really dared to tease him, he would give her a lesson, letting her know that the dignity of a tough man should not be provoked. Xuan Ling felt Fang Zhou¡¯s slight rejection, but didn¡¯t care, maintaining her frivolous smile, ¡°What I want, of course, is to¡­ heehee, little brother, you¡¯re here to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry-level trial, aren¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou answered, ¡°No.¡± Xuan Ling winked at him, ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, I think highly of you. If you pass the entry-level trial, I could be your senior sister.¡± Fang Zhou frowned, he was very uncomfortable with the word ¡®senior sister¡¯. Chu Yunfei and the young girl, however, were full of envy. They too were there to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry-level trial, not daring to imagine that they could get to know a True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. This man had great luck indeed; if recommended by a True Disciple, even if the trial results weren¡¯t good, he would have a great chance of entering the Heavenly Sword Sect. Xuan Ling¡¯s hand flicked lightly, and something flew towards Fang Zhou. She herself then leapt up, transforming into a streak of green light, drifting away. ¡°Carrying the Jade Pendant, the Trial Elder will give you some face. If you pass the preliminary selection, come find me at Xuan Sword Peak, and I¡¯ll take you to explore the Cloud Sea Mountains.¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s voice came, and before her words finished, she was already out of sight. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t catch the thing Xuan Ling tossed to him, but simply sidestepped; it flew past him and crashed to the ground nearby, indeed a Jade Pendant. Just because anyone gives me something I should accept it? Who knows if it¡¯s covered in germs or saliva. Chu Yunfei and the young girl were both shocked; this was a huge opportunity, why didn¡¯t he take it? Fang Zhou turned back to look at the two, and then they realized, quickly saying to Fang Zhou, ¡°Young master, thank you for your righteous aid just now.¡± They both thought the stone was thrown by Fang Zhou. Perhaps it¡¯s because of his 2 points of positive reputation, Fang Zhou just looks like that kind of righteous, chivalrous gentleman. Fang Zhou hears himself being called ¡°young master¡± for the first time; it¡¯s supposed to be a respectful title, but most women don¡¯t like using it. But why add the ¡°young¡±? Do I look that young? I¡¯ll scare you to death if I pull it out! Fang Zhou has no interest in chatting with two young ladies, merely saying, ¡°Be more careful next time.¡± Chu Yunfei quickly makes a salute with her hands and says, ¡°I will heed your advice!¡± The girl beside her also mimics the hand salute. Fang Zhou then turns around and leaves, with the two young ladies staring blankly at his retreating figure. Chu Yunfei suddenly says, ¡°I want to pursue him.¡± The girl beside her gapes in surprise, ¡°Ah? Is that¡­ really okay?¡± Chu Yunfei firmly says, ¡°What¡¯s not okay about it? A handsome young man is always sought after by the ladies; mutual affection between men and women is a natural thing in this world.¡± She grabs the shoulder of the girl, ¡°I know you must be thinking the same, don¡¯t worry, we can compete fairly.¡± The girl¡¯s face turns red, but she doesn¡¯t object. ¡°By the way, my name is Chu Yunfei, I haven¡¯t asked for your name yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Li Yunlong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s destiny, I didn¡¯t expect both our names to contain the character ¡®Yun¡¯.¡± The two start conversing enthusiastically, but their eyes couldn¡¯t help but drift to the jade pendant lying on the ground. To pick it up or not, that is the question. ¡­ Fang Zhou returns to the inn, and the innkeeper immediately apologizes to him. It turns out that the inn has been diluting all their bad wine with 60% water, and they still can¡¯t fill the wine jugs. Fang Zhou is indifferent about it. He pays for the drinks, takes the wine jug, and heads back to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s small courtyard. The living supplies he has ordered have all been delivered and are piled up like a small hill. Fang Zhou tosses the wine jug onto the tree canopy, and Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice immediately rings out, ¡°What about the change?¡± Fang Zhou rolls his eyes, ¡°Spent it all.¡± Not even thinking about giving me running errands fee, what kind of master is this. There¡¯s silence from the canopy, but soon Ling Xiaoyue spits out saliva ¡°ptui, ptui, ptui.¡± She sticks her head out, glaring at Fang Zhou: ¡°What kind of wine did you buy for me? And even diluted with water?¡± Fang Zhou shrugs, ¡°With the little money you gave me, what good wine could I buy? If you don¡¯t want to drink it, just pour it out.¡± Sensing from their mental connection that Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s anger is rising, Fang Zhou quickly changes the subject: ¡°Speaking of which, since the Cloud Sea Mountains are the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and our sect is also located within the Cloud Sea Mountains, can the Heavenly Sword Sect really tolerate us being their neighbors?¡± Ling Xiaoyue snorts, ¡°The Cloud Sea Mountains are so vast, it¡¯s not all Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s territory. I¡¯ll settle wherever I want, Heavenly Sword Sect can¡¯t control us, understand?¡± Fang Zhou nods, then sees Ling Xiaoyue jump down, use the Sleeve Universe to store all the materials, and then says to Fang Zhou, ¡°Disciple, your master is going to turn in a mission; you¡¯ll make your own way up the mountain tomorrow.¡± Fang Zhou is taken aback, he knows that Ling Xiaoyue is out on a mission to make money, but he didn¡¯t expect she would let him go up the mountain alone. ¡°I don¡¯t know the way?¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± Ling Xiaoyue teaches Fang Zhou a method, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Heavenly Sword Sect recruiting disciples? Just pretend you want to attend, and they¡¯ll lead you up the mountain. Once you¡¯re there, find a spot to stay, and wait for your master to collect you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit improper?¡± Fang Zhou feels it¡¯s not quite right, ¡°Can¡¯t you just take me in?¡± Ling Xiaoyue impatiently replies, ¡°Oh come on, the Heavenly Sword Sect has the Mountain Protection Array. If I take you in, then I have to go out again, finish the mission and then go back. Going in and out like that, forcefully, do you think we¡¯re flirting? They have to agree to it, otherwise it¡¯s coercion, and what if it ends in death¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright!¡± Fang Zhou hastily stops her from continuing, otherwise, the topic might stray, and the color might change. ¡°Let¡¯s just do as you say, just don¡¯t forget to come and get me.¡± Fang Zhou actually also wants to experience the entry-level trials of a Major Sect firsthand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 90 - 90: 90. Cant afford to fix your goddamn MB. Chapter 90: 90. Can¡¯t afford to fix your goddamn MB. The next day, Ling Xiaoyue left Yunshan City to complete her task. Her approach was not much different from that of a lone cultivator. What is the most important thing for a sect? Some people would say talent, and that¡¯s somewhat true, but the most important is still money. With money, it¡¯s not a problem to recruit people. Tossing out a handful of coins can always fish up a person or two. Conversely, if there¡¯re people but no money, those people will eventually leave. Therefore, whether big or small, every sect has its foundation, which is not something else but income and industry, the essence of a sect¡¯s establishment. When choosing a location, every sect not only seeks places rich in spiritual energy but also those with resources, from spirit mines to spirit gardens and fields. Otherwise, the outcome will be depletion and eventual bankruptcy. Even the smallest sect would have a medicine field to maintain basic income because cultivation isn¡¯t about finding a place to stay put. Before fasting, one needs to eat, and after fasting, the expenses are even greater. The consumption of spirit pills, spiritual medicines, and spirit stones is almost endless, plus the costs of daily cultivation and the materials for crafting elixirs and magic treasures, enough to terrify even a Golden Core expert into excreting their Golden Core on the spot. To put it bluntly ¡ª without money, you can¡¯t cultivate a damn thing. And lone cultivators, with no sect, no faction, and no income, must earn all their resources themselves. Demon extermination is only low-end work; high-end work involves taking tasks released by sects. Many sects have matters they cannot handle openly, so they assign these tasks to lone cultivators. If successful, it just costs some money, if not, there¡¯s no real loss. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s way of survival was similar to that of lone cultivators; although she belonged to a sect, she was also on her own. Even with property, one person cannot manage it all, and still needed to earn money herself. Thinking this way, one might slightly understand Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s greedy nature. Her situation was not unique; wealthy individuals in the Cultivation World were rare. Most cultivators who appeared brilliant and impressive were actually very stingy. Thinking about his probable future as a worker earning money, Fang Zhou became somewhat pessimistic about his path of cultivation. In his previous life, he was a simple worker, and now, starting cultivation in this life, he still has to be a worker. Why is it so difficult? With a listless spirit, Fang Zhou packed up his luggage, put on a mask, left the courtyard, found a place in Yunshan City to board his two spiritual horses, and then headed to the registration sites of Heavenly Sword Sect. Heavenly Sword Sect had several registration points in Yunshan City, which were already overcrowded, maintained by several sect disciples. Because there were so many people signing up for the entry trials, Heavenly Sword Sect set very strict registration criteria. First, age; they only accept those between seven to seventeen years old. Eighteen and up was considered too old¡ªHeavenly Sword Sect wasn¡¯t a retirement home, of course, and wouldn¡¯t accept such older disciples. Under seven where the spirit hasn¡¯t awakened, unless the talent is extraordinary, Heavenly Sword Sect wasn¡¯t a nursery or kindergarten and wouldn¡¯t take unruly kids. After age comes appearance. Yes, looks¡ªthose who are too ugly or sleazy are not accepted. Handsome and beautiful can score some extra points. Heavenly Sword Sect is a cultivation sect. The appearance of its disciples represents the face of the sect. If a bunch of unattractive disciples were accepted, it would be a laughingstock among peers. After age and appearance, physical health and any potential hidden ailments are checked. Finally, comes realm¡ªthe minimum standard is three years of Qi refinement for entry-level. If you have been cultivating from a young age and still only at the Qi Refining Realm at seventeen, then it¡¯s best to go back where you came from. After such a selection process, not many could successfully register; most are just trying their luck, with only the minority being truly eligible. Fang Zhou patiently waited in line, and it took over two hours before his turn came. The disciple from Heavenly Sword Sect responsible for selection was already looking tired, but perked up a little upon seeing that a man had arrived. He asked Fang Zhou to remove the mask on his face. Fang Zhou knew he couldn¡¯t avoid this step and honestly took off the mask, revealing his face. The Heavenly Sword Sect disciple was invigorated, the fatigue on his face swept away as if he had drunk a cup of ice-cold spring water on a hot summer day, feeling refreshed from head to toe. Finally, among all the crooked melons and cracked dates, appeared someone pleasing to the eye, and quite a fine one at that, leaving her legs unable to close. Seeing her staring at him continuously, Fang Zhou frowned, ¡°Are we done here?¡± The Heavenly Sword Sect disciple replied, ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Fang Zhou: (?_?) Realizing she had misspoken, she quickly corrected, ¡°Passed! This little brother¡­¡± She wanted to ask Fang Zhou¡¯s name, but Fang Zhou took the token he had received and turned to leave, not giving her a chance to strike up a conversation. After successful registration, the Heavenly Sword Sect would take responsibility for transporting individuals into the mountains. The transportation into the mountains was a ship. Yes, it was a huge ship placed on the ground, on par with some of the cruise ships Fang Zhou had seen in his previous life. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The journey into the mountains was not via water, but through the air, and this huge ship was known as a shuttle, a famous Magic Treasure of the Heavenly Sword Sect with the Flying Ability, used to transport those participating in the trials. It was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito, but it also served as a means to show off the sect¡¯s strength. Fang Zhou, with the token he had received, boarded the shuttle and waited for it to take off. The inside of the shuttle was off limits to traffic, so those participating in the trial could only wait on the deck. When Fang Zhou arrived at the deck, there were already a lot of people gathered, roughly a thousand or more by a quick glance. The majority were females, with only about a dozen males. These few men were quite smart, sticking together for warmth, occupying a corner of the deck, and the other women, for the sake of their reputation, did not dare to come forward to bother them. However, brown-nosers, those creatures who are not bound by gender, age, time, place, or space, were also gathered around these men, attempting to cozy up and gain favor through their flattery. When Fang Zhou came up, a man was sent out to invite him over. But Fang Zhou declined, as he didn¡¯t want to stay with a bunch of effeminate men, and probably, due to the nickname ¡°foot-scratching man,¡± these men also wouldn¡¯t have a good impression of him. Sure enough, seeing Fang Zhou refuse, the man returned to his group with an ugly expression, and then the bunch of effeminate men directed pointing and whispering at Fang Zhou, surely calling him names like ¡®crude man¡¯ or ¡®green tea d**k¡¯. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t care for the opinion of a bunch of effeminate men, what troubled him was that the looks the women on the deck were giving him were also starting to change. Even though he had his face covered up tightly with a mask, things like stature and temperament couldn¡¯t be hidden, and with the ¡°foot-scratching man¡± nickname as a bonus, Fang Zhou, to these women, seemed increasingly appealing, exuding a charming aura. Those solid shoulders, that firm waist, those straight legs, those eyes devoid of emotion. Many women, looking at Fang Zhou¡¯s body, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in their hearts¡ªOMG!! Fang Zhou, unable to bear being gazed at with so many blatant looks, could only stroll to the tail end of the deck on the shuttle, where there were fewer people. However, upon arriving, he immediately encountered someone familiar. ¡°Young Master?!¡± Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong looked at Fang Zhou with a face full of surprise. Chapter 91 - 91: 91. If it were me, Id jump down. Chapter 91: 91. If it were me, I¡¯d jump down. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the two girls here, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t surprised. These two young ladies weren¡¯t old, both had achieved minor success in Qi Refinement, possessed decent talent, and were quite good-looking, too. As long as there were no physical issues, they should easily succeed in registering. However, seeing the two of them standing together so intimately, Fang Zhou still felt it was somewhat unexpected. It was just one night; how had their relationship progressed so quickly? Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei joyfully ran up to greet Fang Zhou, very politely at that. Their eyes didn¡¯t wander over Fang Zhou, which left a good impression on him. Fang Zhou pointed at them, ¡°Your relationship¡­is this good?¡± The girls looked at each other, and Chu Yunfei laughed, ¡°Last night, we chatted by candlelight till late, feeling an instant connection. We¡¯ve sworn to be like sisters of different mothers, so please forgive our boldness, young master.¡± Wow, two beauties chatting by candlelight, just the thought is exciting. Why didn¡¯t you invite me to join? Fang Zhou sighed softly, wondering when he would be able to have a candlelit chat with a pure and shy beauty. Seeing Fang Zhou appear to be in a bad mood, Chu Yunfei pulled out a jade pendant from her bosom and offered it to him with both hands, ¡°Young master, this is something you dropped yesterday. We picked it up for you.¡± Fang Zhou shook his head and did not accept it, ¡°Keep it, or just toss it away.¡± He had no intention of joining the Heavenly Sword Sect. What use would that thing have for him? Moreover, the impression Xuan Ling left on him yesterday was quite bad, reminding him of Li Ruyu, whose frivolous manner clearly indicated she was no novice. If someone¡¯s going to flirt, it should be me doing the flirting. Being flirted with? No, thanks, I¡¯ll pass. Yet seeing the jade pendant, Fang Zhou still felt a bit embarrassed, remembering his emphatic declaration the day before that he was not there to take part in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry-level trials¡ªnow it seemed like he was slapping his own face. Although he was pretending, nobody else knew that. They probably thought he was a person who didn¡¯t keep his word. Sure enough, the straightforward Li Yunlong immediately asked in confusion, ¡°Young master, didn¡¯t you say yesterday that you weren¡¯t here to join the Heavenly Sword Sect?¡± Chu Yunfei tried to interrupt him a few times but failed. Couldn¡¯t this guy read the room at all? Fang Zhou thought to himself, forcing a small smile, ¡°That¡¯s correct, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°How come?¡± ¡°I can swear a Heart Demon Oath; if I¡¯m lying, I¡¯ll jump off this shuttle.¡± Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong gasped. Such an oath was no small matter, and if Fang Zhou was willing to swear by it, he certainly wasn¡¯t lying. With Fang Zhou¡¯s 2 points in the righteous reputation, it was hard for others to think poorly of him¡ªoh, except for those overdramatic fools who are probably persuaded by that foot-scratching man. Only then did the two girls realize that Fang Zhou, despite having a shortcut like the jade pendant, chose not to use it and must have had his reasons. The three of them chatted about random things, mostly led by Chu Yunfei, with Li Yunlong trying hard to join in and Fang Zhou occasionally responding. He noticed Chu Yunfei¡¯s personality was quite extroverted and lively, while Li Yunlong was more on the shy side. However, after observing for a while, Fang Zhou sensed that Li Yunlong was probably not as reserved and simple as she appeared. She almost let slip her habitual saying ¡®your dad¡¯ several times but managed to hold back. Indeed, anyone who could travel to Yunshan City alone wasn¡¯t simple; there are many dangers on the road and without some craftiness, one would likely have been dead a long time ago. Li Yunlong¡¯s na?ve behavior when she was being extorted was probably a guise from someone new to the area. Chu Yunfei tried a few times to inquire about Fang Zhou¡¯s name, but he always casually brushed it off, not wanting to expose his identity. Before long, two more distinguished-looking women boarded the shuttle, drawing the attention of everyone around and sparking much discussion. Chu Yunfei eagerly filled Fang Zhou in. The woman in white was called Xia Wenqiu, just fifteen years old, the only daughter of the Xia family from the Jing Chu Territory of Jingnan State. A family that practiced cultivation. She was extremely intelligent and talented. She had reached the Perfection of Qi Refining after only five years of practicing her family¡¯s techniques. With the Xia family¡¯s influence, recommending Xia Wenqiu to join the Heavenly Sword Sect would not be difficult, and the Heavenly Sword Sect would also welcome such a talent to become their entry-level disciple. But Xia Wenqiu, competitive by nature, did not wish to be recommended for the sect entrance. Instead, she personally took part in the entry-level trials, aspiring to join the Heavenly Sword Sect by her own strength. This matter spread far and wide throughout the Jing Chu Territory, and many declared that the Xia family had produced a girl with lofty ambitions akin to a qilin. Another girl clad in blue was named Ji Congfeng; no one knew where she came from, only that she arrived at Yunshan City alone, half a month prior, beating up the Cloud Sea Gang and kicking down the Black Tiger Sect, demonstrating the power of Perfect Qi Refining. Ji Congfeng and Xia Wenqiu encountered each other at the Cloud Sea Tavern, competing in swordplay, fistfights, and liquor debates, neither conceding defeat, each viewing the other as a rival. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but chuckle upon hearing this. They were just at the Qi Refining Realm, yet already debating the Dao. What Dao to discuss, the Dao of romance? However, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong were both very excited, like little fangirls starstruck by celebrities, discussing the feats of Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng with great familiarity. Over the past half month, these two figures had become the talk of Yunshan City, and Fang Zhou, having arrived less than two days ago, naturally wasn¡¯t aware. He took the chance to observe them briefly; indeed, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were quite the topic of conversation. First off, both had high levels of appearance, which is fundamental since no one likes to look at the ugly. Furthermore, they had excellent auras, and their attire revealed wealth. Combined with their astonishing talent, impressive strength, and mysterious backgrounds, it¡¯s no wonder they sparked such intense discussions. To say that numerous women turned into adoring fans was an understatement; even the effeminate men began to swoon, their eyes sparkling when looking at the duo. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but muse that judging from their entrance, Ji Congfeng and Xia Wenqiu were destined to be prominent figures; perhaps they¡¯re bound for a long, torturous love story, such as falling for the same man and unraveling into a dramatic love triangle. It was a pity that he wasn¡¯t a member of the Heavenly Sword Sect, unable to witness their love and rivalry firsthand. The shuttle filled up quickly, and the deck was swarming with people. As the shuttle vibrated gently, it rose into the air amidst exclamations of awe, soaring towards the distant misty mountains. The shuttle¡¯s speed was swift, yet standing on the deck, one only felt a gentle breeze and no cold¡ªsurely an effect of the shuttle¡¯s own protection. Fang Zhou stood at the edge of the deck looking down. Below were rapidly undulating mountain ranges and forests, treacherous in terrain¡ªsuch places were inaccessible to ordinary people and could only house the sects of Cultivators. He finally understood why the Heavenly Sword Sect used shuttles to ferry people; had they walked up the mountain, who knows how long it would have taken. Behind Fang Zhou, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong watched his silhouette, exchanging glances and gestures, seemingly urging each other to join him and enjoy the view. But soon, their childish antics ceased, captivated entirely by the scenery unfolding outside the shuttle. The shuttle rose above the clouds, seemingly a real ship navigating a sea of clouds. Amongst the cloud sea, mountain peaks rose to the sky like columns holding the heavens, with the sun casting shimmering light upon them, creating the illusion of an Immortal Realm. Everyone on the deck was stunned by this peerless scenic beauty, only then realizing the true meaning of the Cloud Sea Mountains. Everyone was engrossed in the scenery, oblivious to the passage of time until a Heavenly Sword Sect Disciple shouted, rousing them all. They had arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect. But when everyone looked around, they faced confusion; the surroundings were enveloped in clouds¡ªwhere was the Heavenly Sword Sect? At this moment, the Heavenly Sword Sect Disciple announced the beginning of the entry-level trials. The first trial was for them to leap from the shuttle into the cloud sea. Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei simultaneously turned to look at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou: ¡°???¡± Chapter 92 - 92: 92. Falling Objects from a High Altitude Chapter 92: 92. Falling Objects from a High Altitude The shuttle hovered above the clouds. When the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect announced that the first trial was to jump off the shuttle, there was a moment of complete silence on the deck, followed by an uproar. Those with courage questioned the sect¡¯s disciples, while the timid stood in place, unsure of what to do, either exclaiming in shock or whispering among themselves, making the whole scene chaotic. The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, however, did not offer any explanations, but merely emphasized that jumping was the trial, and those who did not jump would soon be sent back. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong were still looking at Fang Zhou; they had just taken the Heart Demon Oath, and now it was coming true, and their 2 points of righteous reputation could not hold up against it. Fang Zhou, feeling utterly awkward, could only change the subject: ¡°Didn¡¯t you all do your homework before coming to participate in the entry-level trials? Don¡¯t even know what the trials are about?¡± If the Heavenly Sword Sect had held so many entry-level disciple recruitment trials, then the content of the trials should have long been known. Chu Yunfei looked at him in surprise: ¡°The content of the entry-level trials by the Heavenly Sword Sect is different every time.¡± Ah, it seems the person who didn¡¯t do their homework beforehand was myself. But I wasn¡¯t here to participate in the first place, so why do any homework at all. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou coughed awkwardly: ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Just jump, is the Heavenly Sword Sect really going to let these nearly a thousand trialists all fall to their death? There must be some kind of protection below.¡± ¡°The young master is right.¡± Chu Yunfei flattered first and then looked outside the shuttle with a fearful gaze: ¡°That¡¯s right, but this is high above the clouds, who would dare to jump rashly?¡± This is a height of ten thousand meters; though they know the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t let them travel thousands of miles just to die, not everyone has the courage to jump. Not to mention, some people are naturally afraid of heights; they feel their legs turning to jelly just by looking down, let alone jumping. ¡°Damn it¡­ Damn it¡­¡± Li Yunlong¡¯s face was pale, and he was muttering to himself, his legs shaking involuntarily. Well, here¡¯s someone with a fear of heights. For such a terrifying thing, someone needs to lead the way, or else no one will dare to be the first to jump. The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were in no hurry and took out a stick of already lit incense from behind, announcing loudly: ¡°You have the time of one incense stick; the shuttle will return to base. Please make your decision soon.¡± The trialists looked at each other, but no one dared to move. Suddenly, a light laugh sounded, and everyone looked over¡ªit was the centre of attention, Xia Wenqiu. There was no sign of panic on her face; instead, she wore a confident smile, arrogantly taking out a paper fan and walking towards the edge of the deck. Another figure also stepped forward at almost the same time, Xia Wenqiu¡¯s arch-rival, Ji Congfeng. Ji Congfeng¡¯s face was indifferent, her steps neither hasty nor slow, displaying a calm composure. Both reached the edge of the deck, Xia Wenqiu flicking her paper fan, smiling at Ji Congfeng: ¡°Sister Ji, if you fear this height, you can come back in ten years. Your little sister will wait for you in the Heavenly Sword Sect?¡± Ji Congfeng snorted coldly, and amidst countless exclamations, she leapt into the sea of clouds. Xia Wenqiu laughed out loud, closed her fan, and then jumped off the shuttle just after. With these two Heavenly Prides leading the way, soon after, other people followed suit and jumped, but the majority were still watching and waiting. ¡°I¡¯m going first.¡± Fang Zhou said to Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong. Without waiting for a response, Fang Zhou took a light leap; he was already standing at the edge of the deck, and with that leap, he had already moved beyond the deck. Outside the shuttle, a gust of wind suddenly rose, which instantly blew away Fang Zhou¡¯s mask from his face. He couldn¡¯t afford to reach for it and could only reveal an awkward smile to the dumbstruck Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong as his figure rapidly fell. But in Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong¡¯s eyes, Fang Zhou seemed to lightly hop down, like an immortal man soaring through the sky. He revealed a breathtakingly beautiful smile to them. In that moment, it was as if time stood still, the whole world lost its color, and only the radiance of his smile shone brilliantly, warm as the spring. When Fang Zhou¡¯s figure vanished from sight as he plummeted down, it seemed as if he took the hearts of the two on the deck with him. Li Yunlong closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, determination filled her gaze, and her hands no longer shook, nor were her legs weak. ¡°Yunfei, pull me down!¡± Her tone was filled with resolve: ¡°Damn it, I refuse to believe jumping down would kill me, and even if it does, I¡¯ll accept my fate!¡± Chu Yunfei laughed heartily: ¡°Sister Yunlong, I¡¯ll join you!¡± The two held hands and leaped off the deck together. ¡­ After jumping down from the shuttle, Fang Zhou still felt a twinge of nervousness. After all, this was his first experience with high-altitude free-fall in both his lives. The wind nearly pierced his eardrums with its fierceness as the temperature plummeted, making it hard to breathe the air into his mouth. Ordinary people might find this unbearable, but Fang Zhou¡¯s body, having been enhanced by the system and nourished by Spiritual Energy, was far beyond ordinary and felt no discomfort at all. Surrounded by clouds and without any point of reference, he had no idea how fast he was falling. Fang Zhou looked up, and the shuttle had already disappeared into the clouds. The reason he dared to jump was not only his conviction that the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t let the trialists plummet to their deaths but also his own protective measures. In his heart, Fang Zhou silently recited the incantation for the Sword Control Technique, and immediately a streak of light shot out from the Sword Box on his back, spiraling to position itself under Fang Zhou¡¯s feet, raising him up. Indeed, Fang Zhou¡¯s protective measure was the Xuanyuan Sword with the Sword Control Technique. For cultivators to fly is not simple, as the Flying Technique is something only those above the Golden Core Realm can learn. Below the Golden Core, one could only resort to Artifact Control Flight, and Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquor flask was one such method. Of course, most cultivators favored Sword Flight, probably because it looked cooler. Sword Flight doesn¡¯t have a fixed pose or action; essentially, it all comes down to using Spiritual Energy to manipulate the Magic Treasure to fly, so there is no set standard. Whether standing, sitting, prone, supine, or trailing behind, or even flying with the sword pressing against your backside, any action is possible. Fang Zhou was at the Perfection of Qi Refining and had plentiful Spiritual Energy within his body, but without being able to extend it outward, he couldn¡¯t achieve Artifact Control Flight. However, the Sword Control Technique was different, as it connected and communicated with Fang Zhou¡¯s mind and body, similar to Little Seven¡¯s gourd treasure. Little Seven¡¯s gourd had a specific name in the Cultivation World, known as the ¡®Bloodline Treasure¡¯ or ¡®Consort Magical Treasure,¡¯ usually found with demons. The treasure is linked to the owner¡¯s bloodline, and it can be used even without Spiritual Energy. The Sword Control Technique probably mimicked this method, linking the Xuanyuan Sword to Fang Zhou¡¯s bloodline, allowing easy Sword Flight without needing to externalize Spiritual Energy. Of course, it still fell short of a true Bloodline Treasure. If Fang Zhou had no Spiritual Energy within his body, he wouldn¡¯t be able to control the Xuanyuan Sword. Supported by the Xuanyuan Sword, Fang Zhou¡¯s descent slowed down. Now, he could easily fly back up to the shuttle standing on the Xuanyuan Sword, but doing so would blow his cover. After a while, Fang Zhou saw people plummeting past him, accompanied by faint cries of terror, akin to raindrops falling. He also spotted Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, with Chu Yunfei shouting at the top of her lungs, and Li Yunlong with her eyes tightly closed. Seeing the two holding hands, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but wonder if aside from their long night chats, the two did something unspeakable last night. To avoid getting hit by people falling above him, Fang Zhou had no choice but to deactivate the Sword Control Technique and continue falling. Before long, he passed through the cloud layer and saw the landscape below. Chapter 93 - 93: 93. Heavenly Ascending Ladder Chapter 93: 93. Heavenly Ascending Ladder Below the sea of clouds was a harsh terrain of clustered mountains, countless strange peaks rising from the ground, piercing the sky. Directly under Fang Zhou, there were two vertical peaks. He could faintly feel a subtle force tugging at him, flying towards these two peaks below, ensuring he¡¯s not blown away by the wind. As he approached, Fang Zhou could see clearly; one peak was taller and obscured by fog, while the shorter one had a square stone platform built on top. Between the two peaks, a long stone staircase incredibly spanned across. When Fang Zhou fell onto the shorter peak, his speed abruptly slowed, the force of the fall sharply reduced, as if a pair of invisible hands were cradling him, gently landing him on the stone platform of the peak. On the stone platform, many Trialists who had jumped earlier were already there; some calm, some gasping for breath, others shouting and screaming, venting their excitement from the jump. ¡°Little young master!¡± Hearing this address, he knew it was Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong. The two girls came over enthusiastically, and if they had tails, they would probably be wagging them by now. Chu Yunfei asked with some confusion: ¡°Didn¡¯t you jump before us? How come you arrived later than us?¡± Fang Zhou casually replied: ¡°I stopped to enjoy the scenery on the way.¡± The two girls looked at each other, puzzled by what that meant. ¡°This young brother¡­¡± Just then, another voice suddenly rang out beside them, and Fang Zhou turned his head to see a girl with a friendly smile. Seeing Fang Zhou turn around, the girl¡¯s eyes lit up, her smile even warmer: ¡°You look familiar, young brother, where are you from?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s mask had been blown off by the wind, now exposing his face, and finally someone came to strike up a conversation. The girl did not wait for Fang Zhou¡¯s answer, but instead received two hostile glares. Chu Yunfei said impatiently: ¡°Who we are, is none of your business.¡± She was quick-witted, making it easy to misinterpret the three as being together. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Yunlong timed her support well: ¡°Exactly, just go away¡ªcough cough, just scram.¡± Normally, anyone else might have taken the hint and left, but this girl was quite thick-skinned, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have the mind to flirt in such a situation. She scoffed: ¡°I am talking to this young man; what does it have to do with you two?¡± Chu Yunfei retorted: ¡°We¡¯re his friends, naturally we need to shield him from these frivolous pests.¡± The girl sneered: ¡°Shield? I think you just want him all to yourselves!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Hit the nail on the head, didn¡¯t I?¡± Fang Zhou was baffled, watching the two sides quickly escalate into an argument. I haven¡¯t even said a word yet. The commotion here soon attracted the attention of other Trialists. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng also noticed, both casting admiring glances at Fang Zhou. However, Xia Wenqiu was shaking a folding fan, looking pleased, while Ji Congfeng remained expressionless. As the quarrel intensified and more and more gazes fell on him, Fang Zhou felt quite troubled and was about to speak up to stop it. ¡°Silence!¡± A booming voice like a great bell suddenly appeared, making everyone¡¯s heart sink, and the whole stone platform went quiet. The next moment, an ethereal figure appeared above the stone platform, gradually solidifying, and finally transforming into a woman dressed in dark cyan long robes. ¡°Feng Qin, a Deacon Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, presides over this entry-level trial. Let none of you behave recklessly.¡± Feng Qin, about thirty years old, hovered in mid-air, emitting a faint pressure that silenced the hundreds of Trialists below, including Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, the Heavenly Pride, who also looked solemn. Fang Zhou, hidden among the crowd, observed Feng Qin. Although she did not possess the terrifying might of a Tree Demon, she still exuded a strong sense of threat. Without a doubt, she must be a Cultivator of the Innate Realm. Even though Fang Zhou could now slay those in the Foundation Establishment Realm as if they were dogs, he still had a huge gap in strength compared to those in the Innate Realm. For instance, the Mountain Demon he encountered earlier, who had touched the threshold of the Innate Realm, might still not be manageable by Fang Zhou. Of course, after mastering the basics of the Sword Control Technique, he could certainly defend himself, but winning was another matter. Against an authentic Cultivator of the Innate Realm, defeat was certain. Feng Qin raised her hand gracefully, and hundreds of streamers flew out from the sleeves of her robe, drilling into the minds of each Trialist. This was information about the content of the trial. The standards for accepting disciples in the Heavenly Sword Sect were extremely strict, assessing courage, perseverance, character, talent, and comprehension. Jumping down from the shuttle was a test of courage; previously nearly a thousand Trialists on the shuttle, yet only about four hundred people dared to jump, less than half. Just the first hurdle eliminated so many, and with four more hurdles to go, probably not even a hundred would remain in the end. After releasing the streamers, Feng Qin disappeared, having said all she needed to; now, she only needed to keep an eye out for any rule violations or cheating. The second hurdle tested perseverance and was called the Heavenly Ascending Ladder, essentially the stone staircase connecting the platform to a higher peak. From above, this stone staircase didn¡¯t seem long, but as one approached, it seemed nearly endless. The second hurdle was simple: walk up the Heavenly Ladder, climb as high as possible¡ªthe higher, the better. The Heavenly Sword Sect would decide if one was qualified based on how far one walked, but the specifics of the standard were not disclosed. This second hurdle was much simpler than the first. This time, without needing Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng to take the lead, many rushed forward to ascend the ladder, afraid of falling behind. However, once they ascended, their speed suddenly slowed, and expressions of surprise appeared on their faces. Despite their surprise, they did not stop advancing and continued to climb. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng also began their climb with steady steps, but upon stepping on the ladder, both showed curious expressions. Xia Wenqiu waved his fan lightly, smiling, ¡°Interesting, indeed interesting.¡± Ji Congfeng, however, had a cold expression and continued upward. More and more people climbed the ladder; the girl who had talked to Fang Zhou didn¡¯t want to be left behind but glared at Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong before leaving. The two young girls weren¡¯t pushovers either and promptly glared back. They both then looked at Fang Zhou and said, ¡°Young master, let¡¯s go up too.¡± But Fang Zhou replied, ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll rest a little while longer; don¡¯t wait for me.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten that he was impersonating someone¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be good to draw too much attention; best to keep a low profile. The two girls exchanged a glance, then together told Fang Zhou, ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you at the top.¡± With that, they also ran up the ladder with the crowd. Upon stepping on it, they, too, showed surprised expressions and significantly slowed their climbing pace. Fang Zhou had noticed this earlier. Could it be that the gravity on the ladder was different from other places? After almost everyone had left the platform, Fang Zhou leisurely approached the ladder and stepped onto it. He wanted to see what was so peculiar about this thing. Chapter 94 - 94: 94. Everything is for the sect Chapter 94: 94. Everything is for the sect S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Heavenly Sword Sect, Yuxu Palace. When Xuan Ling arrived at the Yuxu Palace, she immediately saw the person she most disliked¡ªYu Qing, the True Disciple of the Sword Control lineage. She was also Xuan Ling¡¯s senior sister. Yu Qing wore white, her figure tall and upright, her appearance handsome and graceful, her temperament gentle as jade, mild yet not outdated, deeply loved and revered by the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect. It is said that the male disciples who secretly love her could fill the entire Heavenly Ascending Ladder. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re here.¡± Upon seeing Xuan Ling, Yu Qing greeted her with a smile, and a breeze-like warm and gentle aura hit her face, making one feel refreshed and delighted. Several duty disciples inside the Yuxu Palace showed enchanted expressions. Xuan Ling very subtly frowned, but on her face, she revealed a frivolous smile: ¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite lazy compared to sister, who is always so diligent. The Sect Master must see this clearly.¡± Facing Xuan Ling¡¯s sarcasm, Yu Qing did not show displeasure but advised, ¡°Heavenly Dao rewards the diligent. It¡¯s better for you to be diligent, sister. Try not to go down the mountain to play often and delay your cultivation.¡± ¡°No matter how diligent, I cannot compare to sister¡¯s innate talent, it might be better to be lazy.¡± ¡°Sister¡­¡± While they were talking, three streaks of light flew from the distance and landed in the Yuxu Palace, transforming into human forms, revealing three women of different ages. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling quickly bowed in greeting: ¡°Master, Aunt Master.¡± The structure of the Heavenly Sword Sect comprises a main sect and three lineages. The main sect is the Heavenly Sword Sect, and the three lineages are Sword Control, Xuan Sword, and Lei Sword, all branches of the Heavenly Sword. These three women are the leaders of the three lineages. True Master Xuan Jian is Xuan Ling¡¯s Master, bearing the appearance of a sixteen-year-old girl; standing next to Xuan Ling, they looked like sisters. True Master Yu Jian is Yu Qing¡¯s Master, a forty-year-old woman, whose temperament was almost identical to Yu Qing¡¯s, both gentle as jade and modest, appearing like mother and daughter. The last woman, aged between twenty and thirty, indeterminable, wore a stern and indifferent expression, her eyes piercing, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. This was True Master Lei Jian, whose True Disciple, Lei Ting, was currently secluded in cultivation and did not appear. Despite their similar ages, their different characters were evident from their appearances. True Master Yu Jian was gently inquiring about Yu Qing¡¯s recent studies, assigning cultivation tasks to her True Disciple every few days. True Master Xuan Jian and Xuan Ling were arm in arm, whispering secrets; soon they broke into laughter. True Master Lei Jian, who was always serious, headed straight into the Yuxu Palace. Others had no choice but to end their conversations and follow. Inside the grand hall of the Yuxu Palace, mist lingered, resembling an Immortal Realm, with a huge circle of light erected in the middle. Within the circle, the current scenes from the Heavenly Ascending Ladder were reflected. This magical circle is called Heavenly Light Mirror, a Magic Treasure of the Heavenly Sword Sect, capable of observing the surroundings of Cloud Sea Mountains. The leaders of the three lineages had come here today to pick promising new seeds. Among this year¡¯s trialists, most were mediocre, with two exceptions: Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng. The Xia family of Jing Chu Territory has a close relationship with Heavenly Sword Sect, hence Xia Wenqiu was added early to the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s watchlist. If not for her insistence on participating personally in the entry-level trials, she would have been admitted into the sect already. Ji Congfeng, appearing in Yunshan City half a month ago, had her talent noted by Heavenly Sword Sect and was also added to the watchlist as a top candidate that could compete with Xia Wenqiu. Aside from these two women, other trialists were rubbish, not worth mentioning. The leaders of the three lineages had rushed here early to compete for the ownership of Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng. Only the two most promising seeds, one of the three paths is destined to be left void. As soon as they entered the grand hall, one could see Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, reaching the head of everyone on the Heavenly Ascending Ladder, dominating the scene. Those trialists who had ascended the ladder earlier had long been left behind. As soon as True Master Xuan Jian stepped in, she immediately pointed at Xia Wenqiu and exclaimed in a delicate voice, ¡°Wow, waving a paper fan in such cold weather, so charismatic, I want her.¡± True Master Lei Jian, with an expression as cold as ice, stared at an equally indifferent Ji Congfeng and coldly spat out three words: ¡°Ji Congfeng.¡± The two paths had divided the two most outstanding seedlings right from the start, not even giving True Master Yu Jian a chance to speak. But Yu Qing was not worried at all; she had great confidence in her Master. Watching her two anxious junior sisters, True Master Yu Jian spoke gently: ¡°I want them all.¡± The grand hall fell silent. True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian were not surprised at all. Don¡¯t be fooled by True Master Yu Jian¡¯s gentle demeanor and soft speech, which seems generous, but in reality, she has the thickest skin and can say the most shameless things. True Master Xuan Jian pointed at her: ¡°Senior sister, your Sword Control path has the most disciples, yet you still compete with your junior sisters, isn¡¯t that too shameless?¡± True Master Lei Jian gave a succinct agreement: ¡°Despicable.¡± True Master Yu Jian laughed, her smile as warm as a spring breeze: ¡°What are my sisters talking about? Although we are all branches of the Heavenly Sword, we come from the same source and are all sisters. What¡¯s yours is mine and what¡¯s mine is yours; you think having many disciples in my Sword Control path is a blessing? It¡¯s actually a burden, a huge responsibility. The everyday losses and expenses keep me up at night, causing my hair to fall out. All these efforts are for the sect, why distinguish between you and me?¡± Look, does this sound like something a person would say? Why not give some of your disciples and resources to me so I can share the burden for the sect? True Master Xuan Jian knew how to argue too, she, together with True Master Lei Jian, were no match for their senior sister and straightforwardly said: ¡°Let¡¯s not talk further, senior sister, let¡¯s go by the rules.¡± True Master Lei Jian succinctly agreed again: ¡°Agreed.¡± True Master Yu Jian also smiled: ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen to you both.¡± Yu Qing was not worried at all. Why did her Sword Control path have the most disciples? Wasn¡¯t everything done according to the rules? There was no loss. While the three decision-makers were amiably negotiating, Xuan Ling, who usually loved to interrupt, remained unusually silent this time. Her gaze fixated on the Heavenly Light Mirror, following the figure on the Heavenly Ladder below, slowly climbing up. After being reminded by me yesterday, he didn¡¯t wear a face mask today¡­ was he captivated by my heroic charm? Heh, men. A smug smile appeared on Xuan Ling¡¯s face as she already thought about which places to take this stubbornly outspoken young man. ¡°Junior sister, what are you looking at?¡± The voice of Yu Qing suddenly interrupted Xuan Ling¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Are you looking at this man? Oh, he is quite handsome, even more so than the Disciple Gou Cheng, seems like the junior sisters are going to be restless again.¡± Yu Qing looked at the figure in the Heavenly Light Mirror, her praise genuine. Gou Cheng is a male disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, very talented and known for his handsome features, greatly admired by the female disciples. But Gou Cheng had not favored anyone, as it was said he secretly admired one of the True Disciples, but no one knew who it specifically was. Xuan Ling slowly turned around, staring at Yu Qing, and said with a smile: ¡°Senior sister, this is the man I¡¯m interested in, I even gave him my jade pendant¡ªsurely you won¡¯t compete with me for him?¡± Yu Qing also smiled: ¡°Junior sister jests, I always embrace the Heavenly Dao and do not dwell on personal feelings of romance; you can rest assured.¡± Xuan Ling eyed Yu Qing suspiciously, her smile was 90% similar to True Master Yu Jian¡¯s, always leaving her feeling uneasy. Chapter 95 - 95: 95. Its all this damned worlds fault. Chapter 95: 95. It¡¯s all this damned world¡¯s fault. Fang Zhou was walking up the Heavenly Ladder, and couldn¡¯t tell if it was an illusion, but he always felt like someone was spying on him. It probably wasn¡¯t an illusion, since after he had started climbing, other Trialists on the ladder would blatantly or cautiously steal glances at him. He had long gotten used to being gawked at and eyed like he was a rare exhibit. After setting his foot on the Heavenly Ladder, Fang Zhou finally realized the problem with this ladder¡ªhis attributes had been reduced by a third. Strength, speed, and constitution all dropped by nearly 10, only his spiritual power stubbornly maintained itself, staying just as high as it should be. No wonder those who stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder looked so bewildered, slowing down because their Physical Strength had been diminished by the ladder. If the reduction was permanent, that would undoubtedly be a killer trap, but the Heavenly Sword Sect probably wouldn¡¯t pull such a dumb stunt. With their Physical Strength reduced, these Trialists were like a bunch of men with kidney deficiency and impotence¡ªno, wait, that metaphor should apply to men. In any case, all these women looked weak and drained as if their endocrine systems were out of whack. They weren¡¯t very high up before they started panting and sweating profusely; some even sat down and couldn¡¯t get back up. Fang Zhou passed by them with a bit of schadenfreude in his heart, hmph, serves you right for thinking about men all the time and not training properly. Now you¡¯ve learned your lesson. He didn¡¯t dare walk too fast himself, to avoid drawing attention, just taking his time, but at least maintaining a steady pace. Almost everyone had left him behind at first, but soon he had passed one Trialist after another. Then, out of nowhere, a girl started following him closely behind. Initially, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mind, thinking that she was just looking for a target to follow, but when he turned back, the girl gave him an honest and simple smile. But soon, Fang Zhou realized something was off. His spiritual power, boosted by the foot-scratching man, had reached a formidable 9 points. Though it hadn¡¯t broken into double digits, it was still quite high. From Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, no one would have cultivated their spiritual power, and even those with exceptional talents were just slightly above average, excluding monsters. So Fang Zhou could feel the girl¡¯s gaze lingering on his lower body. Damn, this woman was sneaking a peek at him. At that moment, Fang Zhou felt a mix of annoyance and amused helplessness. He turned back to give her a glare, but the girl just kept playing dumb, showing him that naive expression. If it were some sleazy-looking woman, Fang Zhou would¡¯ve kicked her in the face long ago, but this girl was actually very cute, looking to be just fourteen or fifteen years old, yet her figure was already quite curvy. Such a promising potential stock, and yet she¡¯s learning to act like a pervert. Damn this world to hell. Fang Zhou decided to teach the girl a lesson. To her astonishment, he reached out, pinched her face, and gave it a twist. ¡°Ouch!¡± The girl jumped in pain, looking up only to find Fang Zhou had already sprinted far ahead. She gazed vacantly at his retreating figure, a sudden ecstatic expression crossing her face as she hurriedly chased after him, but alas, she couldn¡¯t catch up and soon exhausted herself on the Heavenly Ladder. Like a gust of wind, Fang Zhou quickly surpassed many other Trialists. He didn¡¯t know how high he had climbed, but more and more Trialists were collapsing unable to get up; those still persevering moved up inch by inch, but the end of the Heavenly Ladder was nowhere in sight, which was utterly despairing. Even with a third shaved off, Fang Zhou¡¯s average three attributes were still over fifteen, so this distance was no more challenging than a post-dinner walk, not panting in the slightest. With fewer and fewer Trialists on the ladder, Fang Zhou quickly encountered Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong. Both were drenched in sweat, still persisting step by step. Seeing Fang Zhou appear fresh as a daisy, they both widened their eyes. Seeing their nearly exhausted state, Fang Zhou was puzzled; it¡¯s just a third reduction in Physical Strength¡ªwas it that bad? Both girls were too tired to speak, their clothes soaked with sweat. Fang Zhou glanced at their chests but remained unflustered, entirely free of any impulses. The development is still unfinished; the girls need to strive harder. After accompanying them for a while, Fang Zhou continued upward. He would have liked to stay, but the Heavenly Sword Sect hadn¡¯t announced any specific criteria for the Heavenly Ascending Ladder trial. If he stayed and got eliminated, that would be a complete disaster. So he could only continue upward to reach a position where he could be sure he wouldn¡¯t be eliminated. As he went higher, there were practically no people left; it seemed like the entire Heavenly Ladder was devoid of human presence, all but Fang Zhou alone. Surely he couldn¡¯t have left everyone behind? No, he hadn¡¯t seen those two girls who loved and bickered with each other yet. Instinctively quickening his pace, Fang Zhou soon saw the two Heavenly Prides. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng. These two Heavenly Prides also noticed Fang Zhou catching up, and all three were briefly stunned. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were just as sweaty, their clothing soaked as if they had just finished a marathon. So when they saw Fang Zhou, without a trace of sweat and looking cool, they were momentarily taken aback. Realizing these two Heavenly Prides were also sweaty, Fang Zhou understood he had been mistaken. Meanwhile, inside Yuxu Palace, the three decision-makers saw Fang Zhou catching up. All three were baffled. Where did this man come from? S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 96 - 96: 96. Have the opportunity to talk by candlelight through the night Chapter 96: 96. Have the opportunity to talk by candlelight through the night Seeing Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng drenched in sweat, Fang Zhou realized he had made a mistake. These two Heavenly Prides are at Qi Refining Realm Perfection, even if one third of their attributes are reduced, they should be much stronger than other trialists. How could they be exhausted just from climbing a section of the Heavenly Ladder? Their attributes must have been reduced by more than one third, likely all of it. The strength nourished by Spiritual Energy has been stripped away, reducing their bodies back to ordinary strength, which is why they¡¯re so weary. One third of Fang Zhou¡¯s physical strength is enhanced by Spiritual Energy nourishment, while the remaining two thirds are augmented by the system, equivalent to his original body strength, which is why he is not suppressed by the Heavenly Ladder. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng both looked at Fang Zhou in astonishment, wondering how this man doesn¡¯t have a drop of sweat on him. How did he do it? While the three of them exchanged wordless glances, inside the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s Yuxu Palace, the three True Masters were also a bit stunned. Wasn¡¯t it said that aside from Xia and Ji, the rest are trash this year? How come there¡¯s another one popping up, and it¡¯s a man at that. After all, being in charge of one lineage, they quickly realized that having another outstanding seed was good news. At least the three lineages didn¡¯t need to fight fiercely anymore. ¡°This man, why not let him join your Sword Control lineage, Elder Sister?¡± ¡°Seconded!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± The three True Masters exchanged glances and burst into laughter, filling the Yuxu Palace with a cheerful atmosphere. Yu Qing whispered to Xuan Ling, ¡°Junior Sister, you have good judgement.¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s mouth curled up in a smile: ¡°You flatter me, Elder Sister.¡± But inside, she felt quite smug. Isn¡¯t that obvious? Though she was also surprised by Fang Zhou¡¯s performance. On the Heavenly Ladder, the awkward atmosphere continued to spread. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng stopped moving and took the opportunity to rest while also keeping an eye on Fang Zhou, which made his scalp tingle as their gazes were akin to observing some rare animal. They had thought only each other were their competitors among these people, the rest being nothing more than chickens and dogs. Unexpectedly, another formidable rival appeared. Finally, it was Xia Wenqiu who broke the silence. She cupped her hands towards Fang Zhou and smiled, ¡°I am Xia Wenqiu. May I know your name?¡± Fang Zhou thought for a moment, then replied, ¡°My name is Li Yunlong.¡± ¡°So, you are Mister Yunlong.¡± Xia Wenqiu appeared to be well-mannered, her smile warm like a spring breeze: ¡°Mister Yunlong, aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Ji Congfeng also intently watched Fang Zhou. ¡°Tired indeed!¡± Fang Zhou lay straight down on the ground: ¡°I¡¯m exhausted to death, if I walk any further, I¡¯ll pass out.¡± Xia Wenqiu¡¯s smile stiffened, while Ji Congfeng¡¯s forehead started to throb with veins. We have no grudge against you, why are you treating us like fools? Who would believe you¡¯re so exhausted you could pass out, without a single drop of sweat on your forehead? Faced with their intense gazes, Fang Zhou shamelessly refused to get up. He was helpless, who could have foreseen this situation? Pretending to be a trialist should be no issue, as long as he didn¡¯t go overboard. But if he ended up taking first place in the trial and the Heavenly Sword Sect found out it was a fraud, that would be a serious problem. This would be making a mockery of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s reputation, potentially pushing their anger to the brink. So no matter what, he must not surpass these two Heavenly Prides. ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡± Inside the Yuxu Palace, True Master Xuan Jian burst out laughing: ¡°This lad¡¯s skin is indeed thick, quite similar to you, Elder Sister. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to take him into your Sword Control lineage?¡± True Master Yu Jian smiled genially: ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Yu Qing patted Xuan Ling on the shoulder to console her, saying, ¡°Junior Sister need not be nervous, Aunt Master must be joking.¡± Xuan Ling irritably slapped her hand away. ¡­ ¡°Mr. Yunlong, get up.¡± Xia Wenqiu urged, ¡®stop pretending, do you really take us for fools?¡¯ ¡°No way, my waist is sore, my back hurts, my legs are cramping, my head is dizzy, my eyes are blurry, and my head hurts, just leave me be and hurry up.¡± Fang Zhou decided not to get up, I¡¯m just going to lie here, no one will make me stand up again. Powerless to do anything, Xia Wenqiu had seen men who were either gently compliant or lively and quick-witted, but had never seen such shamelessness and could only turn her head to look at Ji Congfeng. Ji Congfeng let out a cold snort and continued walking upwards. Xia Wenqiu gave a smile and followed along. They couldn¡¯t possibly stay here and waste time with Fang Zhou; they would deal with this hurdle first. As for the debt of Li Yunlong insulting their intelligence, they could settle it with him slowly afterward. After the two Heavenly Prides had walked far away, Fang Zhou then got up and sighed towards the sky. To avoid offending people, is it easy for me? I even had to resort to lying on the ground. It¡¯s all Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s damn fault. After waiting a bit, Fang Zhou continued walking upwards, this time slowing his pace to avoid catching up with those two again. However, there wasn¡¯t much left of the Heavenly Ladder, and it wasn¡¯t long before Fang Zhou could see the end. When he stepped onto the end of the Heavenly Ladder, he found a high platform built of giant rocks, and near the ladder there was a stone cauldron with an incense stick halfway burned. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart sank a bit; the incense was probably a timer, and if it finished burning before climbing the ladder, you would probably be eliminated. The Heavenly Sword Sect didn¡¯t clarify the standards at the beginning, merely saying to climb as high as you can, the higher the better, which gave some trialists a glimmer of hope, making them more likely to give up halfway. Fang Zhou spared half a second worrying about Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, hoping they could hold on and make it up. Atop the high platform stood two Exotic Beast statues, and next to them was a sign saying to proceed inward. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were standing before the two Exotic Beast statues. Fang Zhou stepped onto the high platform and noticed that the space between the two Exotic Beast statues was slightly distorted, resembling a door. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing Fang Zhou arrive, Xia Wenqiu greeted him with clasped hands, ¡°Mr. Yunlong, Wenqiu once thought that only Sister Ji was worthy of attention, and that others were insignificant, but I didn¡¯t expect there would be Mr. Yunlong, such a noble gentleman who regards false reputation as dung. It was Wenqiu who was arrogantly ignorant, please forgive me.¡± Xia Wenqiu seemed to be apologizing with quite a sincere tone, but Fang Zhou had a feeling she was mocking him for pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. What an injustice, if I really were pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger, I would have flipped you two little girls over by now, why would I have to humbly talk to you like this. Fang Zhou¡¯s gaze fell on Xia Wenqiu¡¯s upright chest and he immediately said seriously, ¡°No, you¡¯re so big, how can you be overly arrogant? It¡¯s clearly too big, perhaps we can have an opportunity to talk deep into the night by candlelight.¡± Xia Wenqiu frowned, Fang Zhou¡¯s words were so disconnected that she really couldn¡¯t understand what he meant by ¡°too big.¡± Ji Congfeng had been studying the invisible door between the two Exotic Beasts since earlier and now ignored the two, stepping straight through and disappearing instantly. ¡°Hehe, this trial from the Heavenly Sword Sect is truly interesting. The first two challenges are about courage and perseverance, so this third one must be about character.¡± Xia Wenqiu smiled at Fang Zhou, ¡°Mr. Yunlong, Wenqiu will go ahead first, we¡¯ll meet again at the fourth challenge.¡± With that, Xia Wenqiu also stepped through and vanished instantly. Fang Zhou looked at the high platform, wondering if Ling Xiaoyue would come to fetch him if he waited here. But he was genuinely curious about the next few challenges, it would be itchy not to see them for himself. After half a second of consideration, Fang Zhou followed through as well. Chapter 97 - 97: 97. The revolution has begun. Chapter 97: 97. The revolution has begun. Who am I? Where am I? What am I to do? Fang Zhou stood in the bustling street, pondering these classic philosophical questions, which could also be called the security guard¡¯s three questions. As he thought this, an idea emerged in his mind¡ªI was about to go to the Heavenly Sword Sect for the entry-level trials. Eh, that¡¯s not right, am I not already in the middle of the trials? Two different thoughts collided in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, causing him great confusion. At this moment, a faint yellow light suddenly shone from Fang Zhou¡¯s arms, engulfing him entirely, his consciousness instantly became clear, and all doubts were swept away. He reached into his arms and pulled out a pitch-black orb. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [Illusion-Repelling Orb: A rare demon brain calculus, which grants immunity to low-grade Spirit Magic when carried.] This was obtained from the body of a maneating fox after killing it at Hu Family¡¯s house, capable of immunizing against low-grade Spirit Magic. Fang Zhou had always carried this thing with him, nearly forgetting about it, but it proved to be useful at this very moment. After being purified by the Illusion-Repelling Orb, Fang Zhou then remembered that he had stepped into the third stage of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s trials. This place should be an illusion; if it¡¯s an Illusion Technique, after being immune by the Illusion-Repelling Orb, Fang Zhou would definitely become clear-headed. Since he hasn¡¯t escaped yet, the thing he¡¯s dealing with is not an Illusion Technique but the Legendary illusion capable of creating a real-world illusion. Inside the illusion, everything is real and everything is false, making it an excellent test of human nature. The Illusion-Repelling Orb can only immunize against low-grade Spirit Magic, and in principle, it shouldn¡¯t immunize against an illusion, but Fang Zhou¡¯s spiritual power is exceptionally high. With the Illusion-Repelling Orb, it¡¯s just enough to become clear-headed. He is now in a town bustling with people. Everything around him seems undeniably real, without a single detail amiss. ¡°Ouch~¡± Just as Fang Zhou was contemplating what kind of trial the illusion was going to impose on the trialists, a cry of pain suddenly rose. An old beggar was knocked to the ground by someone, who then walked away without looking back. Passersby showed disgust at the filthy beggar and steered clear, not one willing to lend a hand. Well, the content of this trial is pretty obvious at a glance. Fang Zhou went over, helped the old beggar up, and upon seeing his many injuries, he sent him to a medical hall for treatment, paying both money and effort, earning the old beggar¡¯s profuse gratitude. The content of this trial seems pretty simple, but clear-headed people like Fang Zhou are an exception. Other trialists, though they may act humbly in front of the Heavenly Sword Sect, are high and mighty Cultivators in the Human World. Without realizing that this is a test, would those trialists really extend a helping hand to a dirty old beggar? This is doubtful. Fang Zhou felt that the elimination rate of this third stage might not be much lower than the previous two stages. He originally thought that after assisting the old beggar, the trial would end, but he didn¡¯t expect that another cry of alarm would follow shortly after. A young man, with barely any clothes on his body, was frantically running through the crowd, chased closely by more than a dozen fierce-looking women. Damn, abducting a townsman¡ªno, wrong¡ªabducting a town boy, the classic plot. Fang Zhou stepped forward and easily knocked the dozen women to the ground, earning the young man¡¯s gratitude. The youth had barely left when another man was thrown out of the inn. It turned out he had been swindled out of his money and seduced, ending up destitute on the streets. MMP, will this never end? Fang Zhou suppressed the urge to curse and took the man to find the fraudster. ¡­ The trial in the illusion would obviously not be that simple; it normally lasts for half an hour, which equates to thirty days, or one month, inside the illusion. It takes about a month to barely discern the true nature of the trialist, to gauge if there might be any disguise in the minutiae. Moreover, as it nears thirty days, law and order within the illusion will gradually deteriorate, plunging into chaos to test the trialists¡¯ choices in turbulent times. Heavenly Sword Sect does not necessarily need to recruit disciples who are paragons of virtue or heroes of justice, but it does require disciples to have a normal sense of right and wrong, as well as a grateful and reciprocating moral character. It¡¯s not uncommon for a sect to have raised ingrates; there was once a major sect in the Central Plains that fell due to the betrayal of such a disciple, in collusion with external forces. Many cultivators took this as a warning, and many major sects added moral character to their standards for taking in disciples, not expecting contributions but hoping they wouldn¡¯t go out and cause trouble. Even so, the occasional outlier slips through; after all, many people are adept at deception and can even keep it up for a lifetime, revealing their true colors only in specific circumstances. This part of the trial was by no means trivial, so the three True Masters regarded it highly. If either Xia Wenqiu or Ji Congfeng showed any issues in moral character, they would have to reluctantly let them go. Fortunately, the performances of the two ladies from the Xia and Ji families after entering the illusion were quite impressive, not displaying the haughty attitude typical of cultivators. Of course, Fang Zhou¡¯s performance was not inferior in the least, even surpassing the two ladies. At least when he carried the old beggar to seek medical help, he did not frown at the beggar¡¯s filth and stench but showed a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor. Such a performance from Fang Zhou made True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian put aside their earlier jests and consider him as a target for observation just like the Xia and Ji ladies. ¡°It seems this year is fortunate for Heavenly Sword Sect, being able to find three outstanding talents at the same time, without having to vie for them,¡± True Master Xuan Jian said with a smile. ¡°Agreed.¡± True Master Lei Jian was as concise as ever. A millennium ago, after the calamity of the White Demon¡¯s destruction of the path, the Cultivation World went through a thousand years of peace, with the progress of the immortal path slowing and talent diminishing year by year. With the talents of the two ladies from the Xia and Ji families, they would have been cannon fodder a thousand years ago, elite cannon fodder worth cultivating five hundred years ago, but are now eagerly anticipated excellent seeds by various factions. It can only be said that the Cultivation World has fallen. True Master Yu Jian did not join in the conversation with her two fellow sisters, but her gaze never left Fang Zhou. Her lineage of Sword Control, though thriving, had too many female disciples¡ªa case of having more wolves than meat, cough ¡­ too much yin and not enough yang. If they could take in another genuine male disciple, it would help balance yin and yang, which would be most excellent. Suddenly, True Master Yu Jian frowned, and Yu Qing also uttered a surprised ¡°What is he doing?¡± True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian turned their heads to look and were simultaneously taken aback. Xuan Ling pinched her brows secretly as well; this little man was not being the least bit obedient. Inside the illusion, after more than ten days had passed, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were still doing good deeds, but Fang Zhou used his reputation as a good man to get acquainted with quite a few men in the illusion. At this moment, under Fang Zhou¡¯s rallying, these men gathered inside a tavern, which had closed its doors to the public and barred women from entering. An increasing number of men arrived at the tavern through secretive channels, crowding the place with over three hundred men inside. Fang Zhou used tables and chairs to improvise a podium and began to speak before the watchful eyes of the crowd. The first sentence that came out of his mouth was¡ª¡±My fellow men, the revolution has begun!!¡± Chapter 98 - 98: 98. Men can hold up half the sky Chapter 98: 98. Men can hold up half the sky Fang Zhou was being the good guy and doing good deeds non-stop at first. But as time went on, he felt something was amiss. After all, he wasn¡¯t truly there to participate in the entry-level trial, so why was he working so hard? And what if, by mistake, he outdid Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng? After all, he is now unaffected by the illusion, and could easily disguise himself as a paragon of justice with impeccable character. Nobody¡¯s perfect, and the other Trialists within the illusion would definitely reveal some issues more or less, unless they could, like Fang Zhou, remain unaffected. On this point, Fang Zhou had already beaten everyone, competing with others like he was playing with cheats¡ªif you¡¯re working this hard even with cheats, should the others even bother to live? So Fang Zhou started to slack off, not being as active in his good deeds; just going through the motions was enough. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the contrary, he started to explore the secrets of the illusion, which was a rare opportunity. The entire range of the illusion was only about the size of a small town and Fang Zhou tried to leave this town only to be sent back promptly. He began to make friends, observing whether the people within the illusion were different from those outside. However, within a few days, Fang Zhou had generally grasped the situation within this small illusion, but at the same time, he discovered something that made him very uncomfortable. This illusion is constantly filled with various injustices, such as bullying and exploiting the common folk, waiting for the Trialists to resolve them. This is a world especially prepared for Trialists; it¡¯s normal for there to be a higher frequency of bad deeds. However, almost all victims of bullying are men. That¡¯s right, all the victims are male, while the perpetrators are female. The situation of gender discrimination is much worse than in reality. Perhaps the creators of the illusion wanted to tap into the sympathy of Trialists, most of whom are women, by showcasing men¡¯s vulnerability. But through the eyes of Fang Zhou, a man, this was blatant gender discrimination; the illusion was a cruel cage oppressing men. Men here had to serve women, take care of housework, do physical labor, as well as look after the elderly and children, and any dissidence was met with being kicked out of their homes after getting punched and kicked. It was so miserable that some didn¡¯t even know if the child in a woman¡¯s belly was theirs, not daring to speak up or even inquire. After observing for several days, Fang Zhou felt heavyhearted and felt that he needed to do something for these oppressed men. Since there was no telling how long the illusion would last, continuing to do good might mean ending up with too good of a performance; it might be better to do something he liked instead. So Fang Zhou began to take action. Firstly, he had to shed the title of the foot-scratching man, as he couldn¡¯t get anything done with it. Then, he leveraged the reputation he gained from doing good deeds, quickly earning the title of a great philanthropist and hero in the town. Using his reputation, Fang Zhou began to build connections with some of the wealthy and influential second-generation men in the town. These men, due to their family backgrounds, had considerable status in the town, and their plain and dull lives made them feel bored; Fang Zhou¡¯s arrival piqued the interest of these men. Unable to show themselves off like women, they could only learn about the outside world and interesting happenings through Fang Zhou. At their gatherings, Fang Zhou threw an enticing proposal to this group of second-generation men¡ªforming a male mutual aid society, where men would support and help each other. The bored second-generation men began to enthusiastically respond to Fang Zhou¡¯s proposal, eagerly contributing money and effort. With the power and influence of the second generation, Fang Zhou used the wealth obtained from robbing the rich to aid the poor to navigate through connections, and within just over ten days, he formed a vast network of relationships within the city, allowing him to move unhindered based solely on his reputation. The Men¡¯s Mutual Aid Society was successfully established without any interference, with Fang Zhou as its first chairman. He began to enact a series of rules and regulations, using the donations from the second generation to help the oppressed men within the city. But this was merely a drop in the bucket. It was far from enough to change the situation of men being oppressed, and once the second generation grew tired of this game, the mutual aid society would either collapse or lose its original intent. Fang Zhou carefully studied the highest Combat Power values within the city and a new idea suddenly sprang to mind. Since they wanted to play something exciting, why not see it through to the end? Thus, Fang Zhou took advantage of his network of second-generation connections and his own prestige to secretly gather many oppressed men in a tavern. This night was the eighteenth day since Fang Zhou entered the illusion, and it was also a day worth commemorating. Many men came to the tavern through secret channels, and soon, the tavern was bustling with over three hundred men gathered. When Fang Zhou took to the stage, the men looked up at him with respect and fervor. All these men had been directly or indirectly helped by Fang Zhou; they regarded him as their lifesaver, the result of his continuous good deeds. Standing on the makeshift podium, Fang Zhou looked out at the straightforward faces and eager eyes below him, took a deep breath, and began to shout. ¡°Fellow men, the revolution begins now!!¡± The entire tavern fell silent, everyone staring at him with wide eyes. Fang Zhou wore a solemn expression, his voice high and filled with passion. ¡°Ancient sages once said that all people are born equal, regardless of gender, but men¡¯s rights have been usurped. Those women ride on our necks, lording over us and trampling on our dignity.¡± ¡°Think back, the suffering you have endured just because of your gender, your cries and pleas unanswered¡ªshould it naturally be so?¡± ¡°In the eyes of women, we men are nothing but slaves, slaves that can be humiliated at will.¡± The breathing of the men in the tavern became heavy, their eyes red with anger. These men had all been selected by Fang Zhou; they had endured humiliation from women and many could hardly go on living. It was Fang Zhou who saved them, but the hatred remained. With a single match, Fang Zhou ignited the flames in their hearts, every one of them burning with rage. At the edge of the crowd, a few onlooking second generation finally sensed something was off; Fang Zhou had initially claimed that he just wanted to organize a normal gathering. The second generation had never imagined it would turn out like this; had they known, they would never have agreed to participate and help gather people. The second generation wanted to interrupt Fang Zhou¡¯s speech, but a dozen men who were already prepared rushed forward, pinning the second generation to the ground. These second generation were inexperienced, knowing only to contribute money and effort; meanwhile, Fang Zhou had monopolized the financial and personnel authority. Now, the entire Men¡¯s Mutual Aid Society listened only to him. Fang Zhou¡¯s speech continued. ¡°We might simply yearn for a life of peace and contentment, a meal to eat, but as long as this society does not change, as long as this culture of male inferiority and female superiority persists, our humble dreams can never be realized; we will forever live as slaves in humiliation.¡± ¡°Are men truly inferior to women? No, apart from facing difficulty in Cultivation, men can endure hardships and have willpower and patience. Whatever women can do, we men can do, too; men can hold up half the sky.¡± ¡°We want more than just a life of peace and contentment. We also need equality and dignity. These cannot be attained by mere prayer; we can only reclaim them through our own strength.¡± ¡°Now, please tell me loudly, are you willing to be cowards for life, or are you willing to be heroes, even if only for an instant!¡± Chapter 99 - 99: Establish a world where everyone is equal Chapter 99: Establish a world where everyone is equal Heavenly Sword Sect, Yuxu Palace. The three True Masters watched Fang Zhou passionately delivering his speech with expressionless faces. However, from subtle movements, it was evident that the hearts of the three True Masters were not at peace. Even though they have been cultivating for many years and have lived very long lives, familiar with all the vicissitudes of life, someone like Fang Zhou was a first for them. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling had too little experience and were not as calm as the three speakers; Fang Zhou¡¯s speech left the sister disciples utterly astonished. ¡°Very well said!¡± Yu Qing came back to her senses and couldn¡¯t help but applaud loudly, especially the last sentence which deeply moved her body and soul. Xuan Ling couldn¡¯t help but give her elder sister a look, ¡°Don¡¯t forget you are also a woman, whose side are you really on?¡± Yu Qing spoke righteously, ¡°I stand on the side of justice.¡± Xuan Ling pursed her lips. Yet Yu Qing bowed deeply to the three True Masters, ¡°Please, Master and Aunts, enlighten us!¡± This was an invitation for them to express their opinions. The three True Masters exchanged glances, unsure of how to comment for a moment. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Because not only them, even the Sect Master and even the Three Great Holy Lands had probably never considered the issue of gender equality. And the words spoken by Fang Zhou, in the current societal norms, weren¡¯t exactly wrong but could be seen as somewhat radical. However, the three True Masters couldn¡¯t openly agree he was right, but considering the millennia-old tradition of Heavenly Sword Sect, Fang Zhou was still the first to stir up trouble in an illusion. For that reason alone, he would definitely not be a disciple who would stay in line in the future. Why couldn¡¯t you be more like Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, doing good deeds? You are making it difficult for us. Meanwhile, in the illusion, the situation continued. After Fang Zhou finished his speech, already a dozen men began to shout vociferously; these were Fang Zhou¡¯s fanatical fans, who believed every word he said unconditionally, not to mention that what Fang Zhou said resonated deep in their hearts. ¡°We want to be heroes!! Be heroes!! Be heroes!!¡± Led by these fanatical fans, other men also began to shout loudly. People have a herd mentality, and in such an atmosphere, even those who were hesitant would subconsciously integrate into the group, becoming one of them. The cries of three hundred men shook the tavern, nearly lifting the roof, and widely spread. Although this world¡¯s culture was one where men were inferior to women, the testosterone in males dictated that they were naturally not inclined to stay subdued and submissive; they had to compromise in face of reality. Fang Zhou¡¯s actions were like opening Pandora¡¯s box, igniting the indignation hidden in the hearts of men. ¡°You have shown me vigor and courage, this is the heroic stature a man should possess. Although those women are strong, they are just loose sand; as long as we unite and twist into a single rope, we will be invincible!!¡± Fang Zhou also raised his arms and shouted, ¡°Follow me, we are not rebelling, we just want to retake our own rights and dignity, to establish a world where everyone is equal!¡± Three hundred men roared fervently. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s leadership, they rushed out of the tavern toward the city¡¯s government offices. Fang Zhou had already observed that within the illusion, the strongest combatants were merely the government officials and constables of the government office, with neither the Demon Suppression Bureau nor the army present; Fang Zhou alone was enough to sweep through the entire town. After all, it was only a place for Qi Refining Realm Trialists, and it was unlikely that powerful Cultivators would appear; therefore, once the government office was controlled and military power was secured, one could do whatever they desired with the entire town. Along the way, many women who heard the commotion and came out to check were swept into this tide. Although they were easily able to cultivate and were physically stronger than ordinary men, they were only at the entry-level of Qi Refinement and couldn¡¯t withstand three hundred men, easily getting subdued. The tavern was not far from the government office, and they arrived in an instant. The tightly shut doors of the government office were kicked open by Fang Zhou, and three hundred men swarmed in, tying up the government officials and constables who were still asleep. The usual haughty magistrate was dragged out of her bed, where her recently married seventh junior husband still lied. Having taken control of the county government, Fang Zhou immediately ordered his subordinates to gather more oppressed men and distributed the stored weapons from the government office. With just about five hundred men, even without rigorous training, he could control this small city; unorganized citizens were nothing but a flock of lambs to the slaughter. In history, refugees behaved in this way; they even had to face encirclement and suppression by government troops, but in the illusion, this small town stood alone, and Fang Zhou did not have to face any military from the government. About those family retainers of the gentry, Fang Zhou alone was enough to deal with them. The noise of the county government falling drew the gentry¡¯s family retainers to investigate the situation, leading to conflicts with the men. The retainers, being few in number, were subdued. Angered, the men stormed into the gentry¡¯s homes to plunder, and the disturbance started to spread to the whole town. By the next day, Fang Zhou had mobilized over a thousand oppressed men, and even many opportunistic women joined the ranks, believing that the time for a regime change had arrived. Fang Zhou personally led his troops to quell the disturbances in the city, maintaining order and punishing criminals taking advantage of the chaos; he even personally dealt with some troublemakers within his own ranks. Order and disorder are two different things; Fang Zhou¡¯s actions needed to proceed in an orderly manner as disorder would only spawn chaos and regression. After being busy the entire day, Fang Zhou had barely managed to restore order throughout the city, fortunately, the illusion was small enough for him to manage by running back and forth. But this alone was not enough; reversing the air of men being inferior to women was not simple and had to start from myriad aspects such as childhood education. The main issue remained unresolved ¨C women could easily cultivate while men found it difficult. Without resolving this issue, reversing the unequal atmosphere would just be empty talk. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t wait that long, for he did not know when the illusion would end. He simply issued an order, enforcing the rule of gender equality forcefully. However, those gentry who were previously quiet and compliant began to fiercely resist following this decree from Fang Zhou. ¡°Hmph, stubbornly ignorant!¡± Upon receiving the news, Fang Zhou let out a cold laugh, a bolder idea emerging in his mind. Since gender equality was met with fierce resistance, he decided to play a more thrilling game ¨C targeting the wealthy landlords first to see which type they preferred. However, before Fang Zhou could implement his strategy of dividing the wealth from the landlords, a meteorite fell from the sky, smashing the entire town to ashes. Chapter 100 - 100: 100. If you cant afford it, dont play Chapter 100: 100. If you can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t play Fang Zhou blinked his eyes and found himself standing on a stone bridge set among the clouds, beneath which swirls of mist obscured his view. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng stood not far from him, both with their eyes tightly shut. Behind Fang Zhou, there stood numerous trialists, each with their eyes closed; some wore serene expressions as if in peaceful sleep, while others had fierce countenances resembling nightmare torment. Among the crowd, Fang Zhou also spotted Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, the two young girls, also with eyes tightly shut, but at this time, they were still holding hands, hinting at a problematic relationship. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, these trialists were still struggling within the illusion, except for Fang Zhou, who had managed to break free first. Realizing this, Fang Zhou almost jumped in frustration. Damn it, if you can¡¯t play then don¡¯t play, I had many ideas to try, I wasn¡¯t done having fun, how could you just shut down the illusion? And to end it with such a mean method as Meteor Escape. It¡¯s even more frustrating than having your internet disconnect midway through a game, I was all decked out ready to slaughter universally and suddenly you disconnect me? Unfortunately, there were no Heavenly Sword Sect staff present at the scene, otherwise, Fang Zhou would have surely lodged a serious complaint. In this regard, Fang Zhou actually misunderstood the Heavenly Sword Sect; the illusion wasn¡¯t actively shut down by them. At this time within Yuxu Palace, the three Real Ones were also a bit confused; they still wanted to continue watching. The cold smirk when Fang Zhou learned that the gentry resisted fiercely was full of conspiratorial vibes, fueling anticipation, so why did it just end abruptly? It¡¯s like having finished all the foreplay only for it to abruptly end before climax, leaving one deeply unsatisfied. Yu Qing turned and went out, instructing a disciple to inquire about the news. They were selecting promising seeds in Yuxu Palace, criticising and judging, but in reality, they could not interfere with the trial process, now it was Feng Qin who was in charge of the decisions. Soon, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciple who went to gather information came back running, Yu Qing also was a bit stunned by the news and could only return to Yuxu Palace to report to the Master and Master Aunt. After hearing it, the entire Yuxu Palace fell quiet. The three Real Ones looked at each other, their expressions somewhat odd. Fang Zhou¡¯s early exit from the illusion was simple; the illusion responsible for his trial had collapsed. The operation of illusions has an intrinsic logic inclusive of all potential actions and reactions of trialists, even including a transformation into a demon lord devastating cities. However, Fang Zhou¡¯s behavior still exceeded the illusion¡¯s intrinsic logic; it had never incorporated the concept of gender equality, and the ideas he later came up with were even more taboo in this era. Thus, Fang Zhou¡¯s illusion succinctly crashed to prevent affecting other trialists, directly kicking him out of the server. Hence, the expressions of the three Real Ones were very odd, having lived for so long, they had never seen anyone break an illusion and then be actively ejected by it, how should this achievement be rated? Xuan Ling secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it was better that he was ejected, lest Fang Zhou¡¯s continued chaos stopped him from even entering Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s doors. Then she saw Yu Qing looking interestedly at Fang Zhou within Heavenly Light Mirror, her heart tightening. This most annoying senior sister, could she also be taking an interest in Fang Zhou? She had never seen her pay such attention to any male disciple before. ¡­ Above the Cloud Bridge. Although Fang Zhou was filled with grievances, he remembered he was under disguise and didn¡¯t act excessively, simply waiting quietly for other trialists to finish. As time passed, the expressions of each trialist gradually became solemn. At this moment, the illusion had evolved into a chaotic world, where each trialist needed to make their own choices amidst the chaos. Finally, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng almost simultaneously opened their eyes. Both looked confused at first, but then they realized that everything they had experienced was just an illusion. Xia Wenqiu showed a relieved smile, and even the always cool Ji Congfeng seemed visibly relieved. However, both appeared relaxed, unaware in the illusion, and only started to understand the content of the trial after leaving it. Both were grateful for having made the right choices. Upon seeing Fang Zhou, Xia Wenqiu exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Young Master Yunlong, did you awaken earlier than us?¡± Fang Zhou did not deny it, and straightforwardly admitted, ¡°Yes, I behaved recklessly and was kicked out.¡± Xia Wenqiu was slightly stunned, then laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s quite unfortunate, unfortunate!¡± She clearly didn¡¯t believe Fang Zhou¡¯s words, but knowing faces doesn¡¯t mean knowing hearts, she didn¡¯t dare to speak too assertively. At this time, other trialists were also gradually coming out of the illusion, some crying out in luck, while others had gloomy faces, showing various emotions. The third phase of the trial was about moral character, and the task was simple: just be your true self. Now out of the illusion, the trialists understood what the trial was about. Many believed their actions might not be acceptable to the Heavenly Sword Sect, showing regret on their faces, while some were still hopeful. ¡°Damn it, lucky I, Old Li, am a good person.¡± Li Yunlong wiped the sweat from his forehead, relaxing enough to blurt out his catchphrase. Chu Yunfei also smiled and said, ¡°After all, we are sworn sisters; of course, our characters are not an issue¡­ Oh, I see the young master!¡± The two girls simultaneously noticed Fang Zhou at the front of the Cloud Bridge, intending to make their way over, but suddenly the Trial Elder Feng Qin appeared. ¡°Silence!¡± Elder Feng Qin¡¯s entrance was exactly the same as before, even her opening remark hadn¡¯t changed. Whether it was an illusion or not, Fang Zhou felt that Feng Qin gave him a meaningful look. He suddenly tensed up, thinking, could this female elder have taken a fancy to him? In fact, he was mistaken this time; indeed, Feng Qin looked at Fang Zhou meaningfully ¨C not because she fancied him, but because he had caused the collapse of the illusion. During her hundred years of cultivation, this was the first time she had encountered such a person, which piqued her curiosity. Of course, she just glanced at him briefly and did not focus too much; she was a Trial Elder and needed to be fair and just. After all the trialists quieted down, Feng Qin then said, ¡°Walk forward on the Cloud Bridge. At the end of the bridge, there is a stele engraved with our sect¡¯s Sword-controlling Skill, which you may comprehend and learn. Further ahead there is a Buried Sword Peak, where you can use the Sword Control Skill to retrieve your own sword, and then you¡¯ll have passed the trial.¡± Upon hearing this, the trialists showed signs of joy, unexpectedly able to learn the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s Sword-controlling Skill before even becoming formal disciples, and even receiving a weapon. Eager, they hurriedly walked forward on the Cloud Bridge, and those who felt lucky about their performance in the illusion followed, seeing that Feng Qin did not stop them. A cloud of mist lay before the Cloud Bridge, but stepping into it cleared away to reveal they were back at the stone platform in front of the Heavenly Ladder. Feng Qin¡¯s voice came from the sky, emotionless. ¡°You may descend the mountain now!¡± Every trialist stood as if struck by thunder, frozen in place. Chapter 101 - 101: 101. Draw out ones own sword Chapter 101: 101. Draw out one¡¯s own sword Pushing through the fog and walking forward for what seemed like a few hundred meters, one could see a sharp mountain peak emerge from the mist. The peak was filled with innumerable swords, resembling a thick forest; this must be the Buried Sword Peak that Feng Qin mentioned. Here, the Cloud Bridge also came to an end, and indeed, there was a stele as tall as a person. The stele was engraved with many tiny characters, likely the Sword-controlling Skill. Fang Zhou looked around and noticed that nearly a third of the trialists had disappeared, leaving less than a hundred. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, the others couldn¡¯t wait to swarm over to the stele, surrounding the Sword-controlling Skill carved upon it, reading it with thirsty fascination, even Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were no exception. Although Xia Wenqiu was born into a cultivation family, the Xia family¡¯s heritage was worlds apart from that of a Major Sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect; they weren¡¯t even qualified for comparison. The spells of the Xia family were few, each treasured like a rare gem, while the Heavenly Sword Sect could casually produce a spell to serve as an entry-level trial. That was exactly why the Xia family sent their only daughter, Xia Wenqiu, to the Heavenly Sword Sect. Xia Wenqiu was one thing, but the others were even worse off, many hadn¡¯t even seen a proper spell in their entire lives. Fang Zhou also leaned in to take a look and, after reading¡­ hmm, he didn¡¯t quite understand it. The talent of his current body was undoubtedly astonishing, but as Fang Zhou hailed from another world, his comprehension was quite ordinary, and his way of thinking was different from the people of this world. The methods and skills taught to Fang Zhou by his teacher Ling Xiaoyue were simple and easy to understand ¡ª direct instructions on what to do, which allowed him to perform well. But the likes of Sword Control Technique, the Heart Sutra, and other such mystical texts, including the one now etched into the stele, were abstruse and often used many allusions and abbreviations. Fang Zhou found it quite difficult to read, let alone to grasp. If only he still had Wise Time, he could have tried to forcefully comprehend it, but Wise Time was more than twenty days away from cooling down completely. Not too far away, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei, the young ladies, seemed to enjoy reading it. Suddenly, Fang Zhou felt quite ashamed; he was just a salted fish, incapable of comprehension on his own, unlikely to ever manage it in this lifetime, only able to muddle through life by clinging to the system¡¯s coattails to maintain his cultivation lifestyle. Although it was also Sword Control Skill, the Sword-controlling Skill of the Heavenly Sword Sect was still somewhat comprehensible to Fang Zhou, unlike the Sword Control Technique passed to him by Yan Chixia, which was utterly incomprehensible to him. Feng Qin appeared again, her silent gaze intensifying the pressure on the trialists. ¡°Haha, so that¡¯s how it is! So that¡¯s how it is!¡± Xia Wenqiu suddenly burst into delightful laughter and strode toward Buried Sword Ridge. Fang Zhou was somewhat surprised; he had only read half of it, and this guy had already learned it? Was he that amazing? The other trialists also showed looks of envy and astonishment, even Feng Qin¡¯s eyes carried a hint of approval. Truly worthy of being the Xia family¡¯s ¡°Heavenly Pride,¡± her comprehension skills were high. Then all attention turned to Ji Congfeng, who had been on par with Xia Wenqiu from the start. Was he about to be left behind here? But Ji Congfeng continued to read the stele with a cold face, in no rush. Xia Wenqiu approached Buried Sword Ridge and used the newly learned Sword-controlling Skill, immediately resonating with one of the countless longswords on Buried Sword Ridge. She lightly stepped and exerted her family¡¯s unique martial arts skill, as light as a swallow, borrowing force from the many swords to climb upwards swiftly, and soon leaped up three meters, reaching out to grab and pull out a longsword. It was a white longsword with flowing light like water, and the blade bore the inscription ¡°Ruoshui.¡± ¡°Ruoshui Sword? Good!¡± Xia Wenqiu took to the Ruoshui Sword instantly, holding it fondly. As she pulled out the Ruoshui Sword, Ji Congfeng had already strode over, leaping up, and shot up two meters like a lightning bolt. A longsword vibrated and fell from Buried Sword Ridge, landing precisely in Ji Congfeng¡¯s hands. This sword was blue, shining like light and flashing like lightning, with the sword inscription of Thunderbolt. Ji Congfeng reached out to gently caress the Thunderbolt, and a trace of tenderness emerged on her icy face. The Thunderbolt Sword let out a light humming sound, seemingly rejoicing as well. Feng Qin looked at Ji Congfeng with admiration in her eyes; this trial tested one¡¯s talent and perception. Xia Wenqiu possessed the highest perceptiveness, which is why she was the first to learn the Sword Control Skill. However, Ji Congfeng¡¯s talent was clearly superior, as the Thunderbolt Sword actively responded to her. The two could be said to be equally matched, both exceptional uncut jades. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, as two Heavenly Prides, led the way. After some time, other Trialists gradually learned the Sword Control Technique and went to Buried Sword Ridge to pull out their own longswords. Even Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei had drawn their swords; Chu Yunfei¡¯s was a pair of swords named Browning, and Li Yunlong¡¯s sword was called Yidaili, both with unclear meanings. The crowd around Fang Zhou gradually thinned until only he remained in front of the stele, all other Trialists having claimed their own longswords. Everyone¡¯s attention was now focused on Fang Zhou, including the three Sages and two True Disciples from Yuxu Palace who were secretly peering at the scene. Could it be that this handsome and distinguished man¡¯s talent and perception are so lacking? This Sword-controlling Skill inscribed on the stele was the most fundamental spell of the Heavenly Sword Sect, enabling even those in the Qi Refining Realm, unable to project Spiritual Energy externally, to sense weapons, but that was all it could do. It wasn¡¯t very powerful and was even simpler; if one couldn¡¯t learn this, it would be difficult to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect. The Sect also does not need a mere vase¡­ hmm, but it seems rather nice to admit a good-looking vase. At this moment, the three Sages were already considering the question of accepting a vase. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling were also quite puzzled; had they both misjudged this man as nothing more than an attractive vase? With so many eyes on him, Fang Zhou felt a tingle on his scalp; these people weren¡¯t coveting his looks but doubting his intelligence. He could only set aside the Sword-controlling Skill he only half-understood and bravely walked towards Buried Sword Ridge. Halfway there, Fang Zhou¡¯s heart gradually calmed; after all, he remembered he was an imposter, so what if he failed to learn the skill? They surely wouldn¡¯t kick him off here. With a leveled mindset, Fang Zhou¡¯s steps became much lighter, and with encouraging looks from Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, Fang Zhou managed even to offer a smile in return. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Fang Zhou approached Buried Sword Ridge. He planned to use the Xuanyuan Sword to bluff as if to say, ¡°Look, I already have my own weapon; you can keep your swords.¡± Fang Zhou began to perform the Sword Control Technique, but before he could summon the Xuanyuan Sword from the Sword Box, he heard countless strong and faint responses. All these responses came from Buried Sword Ridge, from the myriad of longswords there. These longswords possessed their own spirit, battered by wind and rain atop Buried Sword Ridge day after day, stubbornly making themselves heard, waiting for their masters to arrive. But not every sword could wait for its owner. Some were already covered in rust, some had been buried on the peak for hundreds of years, unnoticed, hoping just to be glanced at one more time. After performing the Sword Control Skill, Fang Zhou could feel the longing and loneliness of these masterless swords, the strong desires of these sentient beings nearly overwhelming him. Fang Zhou reached out towards Buried Sword Ridge and intoned softly, ¡°Come!¡± Buried Sword Ridge shook violently as if an earth dragon were turning over, even the Cloud Bridge trembled. The Trialists panicked, and Feng Qin¡¯s face changed dramatically as she looked towards Buried Sword Ridge. The next moment, accompanied by countless ringing sounds, thousands of longswords broke free from Buried Sword Ridge, like a dark cloud eclipsing the sun, flying towards Fang Zhou. Chapter 102 - 102: 102. Its All Mine Chapter 102: 102. It¡¯s All Mine The dark cloud-like swarm of swords blocked out the sun, pouring down like heavy rain towards Fang Zhou. The incoming swords were not only aiming for the spot where Fang Zhou stood, but the entire surrounding area including the Cloud Bridge was within the swords¡¯ falling coverage. The Trialists showed expressions of panic and fear, tumbling and scrambling to dodge, terrified of being perforated by the falling swords. Trial Elder Feng Qin wore a look of disbelief; by the time she thought to intervene, it was already too late. The number of incoming swords was overwhelming; she couldn¡¯t control so many, and she had to dodge as she herself was also within the coverage area. The only person who did not move was Fang Zhou, who was completely dumbfounded. Initially, he had only intended to try and see if he could cause a sword or two to respond, thinking that would be enough. He never expected that all the swords atop Buried Sword Ridge would resonate with him. Moreover, before Fang Zhou could react, the swords jostled and rushed out from Buried Sword Ridge, heading towards him. As he faced the sky-darkening swarm of swords, Fang Zhou felt like a tiny boat bobbing with the wind and waves, facing an immense tsunami, a sense of insignificance and helplessness bloomed in his heart. Instinctively, Fang Zhou wanted to flee, but his legs wouldn¡¯t move; these swords were all coming for him, there was no use running. Besides, reason told him there was no danger, it would be laughably bizarre if Sword Control Technique managed to stab him to death. Except for standing in place to pose, there was nothing Fang Zhou could do. If it were one or two swords, he could catch them, but with tens of thousands of longswords, not even a Thousand-Handed Guanyin could catch them all. Fang Zhou could only maintain the gesture of beckoning, motionless, as the swarm of swords finally arrived. A sword landed right before him, piercing straight into the ground. Following that, the sound of longswords penetrating the ground was like a thunderous storm, crackling continuously, countless longswords falling around Fang Zhou. The sheer number of swords was so great that they completely submerged Fang Zhou¡¯s figure, only a black cascade could be seen, followed by a continuous roaring as they plunged into the ground. When every last sword had fallen, everyone¡¯s hearts were in their throats, fearing to see a body turned into a hedgehog-like corpse by the longswords. They did not witness their worst fear; Fang Zhou stood unharmed just as before. All the longswords fell with a two-step distance from Fang Zhou, surrounding him to form an immense circle. Including the Cloud Bridge Stele and even the ground in front of Buried Sword Ridge, they were all pierced by the swords, with various longswords standing upright on the ground. At a glance, these longswords seemed like soldiers loyally carrying out their duties, encircling Fang Zhou at the center. This scene left the Trialists in stunned silence, those who had learned Sword-controlling Skills could more or less feel the joy and elation being radiated by these tens of thousands of longswords, akin to their own emotions when receiving their personal swords. At that moment, a single thought occupied their minds ¨C the Sword Control Technique once renowned across the entire Cultivation World and still fondly recounted to this day ¨C All Swords Return to the Sect. Even the Innate Realm Elder Feng Qin was slightly dazed at this moment. ¡°Clang¡ª¡± A Trialist, too shocked to hold her sword properly, dropped it. She hurriedly picked up the fallen sword, but the silence was nonetheless broken. A wave of commotion immediately erupted among the Trialists, excited and thrilled, having witnessed a part of history unfolding. These were all individuals who had passed character tests, feeling at most admiration, and even if there was jealousy or resentment, those feelings were concealed within, and not blatantly displayed. Within the crowd, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng unusually maintained silence, the two exchanged a glance, and simultaneously looked back at Fang Zhou, who was guarded by tens of thousands of longswords. At that moment, they suddenly felt that their prior competition appeared rather childish and laughable. Elder Feng Qin finally came to her senses and flew down to the outskirts of the sword formation. Up close, one could feel the awe-inspiring sensation of controlling myriad swords more clearly. She stayed silent for a moment, then, unable to help herself, asked Fang Zhou, who was still posing, ¡°What did you do?¡± In her hundred plus years of cultivation, Elder Feng Qin had never seen such a thing; this could not be simply explained by talent and perception. ¡°What did I do?¡± Fang Zhou finally snapped out of it as well. He looked down at the multitude of longswords on the ground and decided to play dumb: ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just beckoned and they flew over here, it has nothing to do with me, and my little heart is still thumping wildly.¡± Elder Feng Qin¡¯s pretty face turned serious, but inside she couldn¡¯t help laughing and crying at the same time; this kid was definitely slick, starting to shift the blame with his first sentence. What do you mean it has nothing to do with you? If it¡¯s unrelated to you, could it be that these swords collectively wanted to run away from home? Worried that Elder Feng Qin would investigate further, Fang Zhou quickly changed the subject: ¡°Elder Feng Qin, according to the rules of the trial, these swords should all belong to me now, right?¡± As he spoke, he also started to get excited. These were tens of thousands of swords after all, and each one possessed its own spirit, with the lowest grade being that of a Magic Artifact. If he sold them, wealth and riches would be within reach. Fang Zhou could practically see countless mountains of gold and silver beckoning him. He was going to be rich. But then Elder Feng Qin¡¯s voice, full of mixed amusement and distress, immediately interrupted his fantasy: ¡°Nonsense, how could they all be given to you.¡± These tens of thousands of spirit-imbued swords were precious properties of the Heavenly Sword Sect, all crafted and accumulated over a thousand years of the sect¡¯s inheritance. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though these Spirit Swords might appear at the lowest level of Magic Artifacts now, once allocated to each disciple, they would grow alongside the disciple¡¯s power. Sword refining is an essential skill to be learned in the Heavenly Sword Sect. When these disciples met unexpected deaths, their Spirit Swords were also to be reclaimed, which indirectly bolstered the strength and heritage of the Heavenly Sword Sect. How to deal with this situation, however, gave Elder Feng Qin quite the headache. In previous new disciple recruitment trials, there had been geniuses who simultaneously resonated with two or even three Spirit Swords. The Heavenly Sword Sect was generous towards these talents; however many they resonated with, they took. Could you even take them all? Now, a person who could potentially take them all had finally appeared. And it was indisputable. Can you say he didn¡¯t resonate with them? Did these Spirit Swords suddenly grow legs and run over on their own? Nevertheless, Elder Feng Qin didn¡¯t have the authority to make a decision to let Fang Zhou take all the swords, and not even the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect would likely make that decision. This wasn¡¯t an issue of generosity; it was a matter of risking one¡¯s life. Seeing Elder Feng Qin¡¯s rejection, Fang Zhou felt quite disappointed. If not all, then half would do, or even a third, let¡¯s discuss it. But Fang Zhou ultimately did not speak up, remembering that he was just pretending and did not truly intend to join the Heavenly Sword Sect. So, forget taking them all, even taking one was out of the question since once Ling Xiaoyue came to pick him up, the Heavenly Sword Sect would surely find out he was an impostor. Then, if the Heavenly Sword Sect discovered they had been conned out of a sword and became enraged, whether Ling Xiaoyue would abandon him and run off alone was questionable. Moreover, Fang Zhou remembered something else that filled him with terror. Would the Heavenly Sword Sect make him reinsert all the swords back into Buried Sword Ridge? Chapter 103 - 103: 103. Born to be a sword Chapter 103: 103. Born to be a sword Heavenly Sword Sect, Yuxu Palace. When tens of thousands of Spirit Swords flew out from Buried Sword Ridge, the long-cultivated state of ¡®Supreme Water Is Gentle¡¯ by the three True Masters was nearly shattered. True Master Yu Jian¡¯s eyes widened, True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s mouth opened slightly, and even True Master Lei Jian, who was normally as stoic as Mount Tai crumbling before him, was now breathing heavily. Feng Qin, who had been cultivating for over a hundred years, had never seen such a spectacle, not to mention the True Masters who have cultivated even longer. It is said that when the Sect Master first participated in the entry-level trial, he inspired fifteen Spirit Swords, shocking the Heavenly Sword Sect into considering him a prodigy and began focusing on his training. Now an emergence of ten thousand, how does fifteen compare with ten thousand? Should those True Masters, who initially only inspired a few Spirit Swords, consider themselves as shameful enough to commit suicide? The reactions of the three True Masters were already so, not to mention the True Disciples Yu Qing and Xuan Ling, who were so shocked they had become stunned, unable to even speak. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. True Master Xuan Jian dropped her relaxed demeanor and said to True Master Yu Jian, ¡°Senior Sister, could this child have learned the long-lost Sword Control Technique?¡± Although there¡¯s only one word difference between Sword Control Technique and Sword-controlling Skill, they are entirely different systems. Sword Control Technique is an extremely sophisticated Divine Skill lost in the Cultivation World, while Sword-controlling Skill is a generic term for all spells controlling swords. True Master Yu Jian shook her head: ¡°No, that lost Sword Control Technique is known to be extremely difficult to cultivate; even a genius would need ten years to merely enter the doorway. Considering that this child is only about fifteen years old and in the Qi Refining Realm, he would have had to start cultivating in his mother¡¯s womb, foregoing food and sleep, which is too bizarre and unbelievable.¡± True Master Yu Jian could be considered an authority and expert in the realm of Sword-controlling Skills, so her judgment was conclusive¡ªthat the child could not possibly know Sword Control Technique. ¡°How then is this to be explained?¡± Usually terse, True Master Lei Jian unexpectedly uttered seven words, causing Yu Qing and Xuan Ling to look over in shock. Logically, the three True Masters should be delighted with such a prodigious talent participating in the entry-level trials of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Yet, this situation was so abnormal: if Fang Zhou had inspired a dozen or so Spirit Swords, the True Masters might believe that the Heavenly Sword Sect would prosper for hundreds more years; if Fang Zhou had inspired hundreds of Spirit Swords at once, the True Masters might have been dancing joyously as the status of the Heavenly Sword Sect would have been lifted to an unprecedented level in the Cultivation World. But inspiring tens of thousands of Spirit Swords at once felt not like a surprise, but more like a fright, making one wonder if this was some kind of demon or monster disguised as a human. With such abnormal occurrences, there must be demons involved, and the True Masters had to clarify to ease their minds. If it turned out to be a demonic trick, they would have to stir their old bones and suppress it. Regarding her junior sister¡¯s doubts, True Master Yu Jian pondered and said, ¡°My junior sisters, do you remember the Wuji Sword Saint from six hundred years ago?¡± True Master Xuan Jian answered: ¡°Senior Sister, are you referring to the Sword Saint who once spanned thirty-thousand li with his Sword Qi and whose sword gleam chilled nineteen provinces?¡± As the older generations spoke of ancient histories, Yu Qing and Xuan Ling perked up their ears. Six hundred years ago, that was a previous era in the Cultivation World. Cultivators who formed their Golden Cores would extend their lifespan by five hundred years and were considered as magnates in the Cultivation World. And events six hundred years ago just happen to sit right before the era of a generation of powerful figures, who wouldn¡¯t come out to tell stories for no reason. And since the Cultivation World doesn¡¯t have a specific sect dedicated to recording history, it can only rely on brief mentions in the historical records of various Major Sects, limited to particularly important or influential events. Over the past six hundred years, countless sects have risen and fallen, and many tales have been buried in the sands of time, forgotten by all. So when three True Masters mentioned the Wuji Sword Saint, both of the True Disciples surprisingly did not recognize the name. ¡°Indeed, it is that unparalleled Wuji Sword Saint.¡± True Master Yu Jian nodded and smilingly said: ¡°The Wuji Sword Saint had quite a connection with our Heavenly Sword Sect. It is said that she had an innate talent for Sword Control. Even as a young child before starting her cultivation, she could resonate with the Spirit Sword, and after beginning her cultivation journey, she entered the path through the sword unmatched in her generation, born for the sword. She once said, ¡®A sword breaks ten thousand spells, the art of sword controlling is the ultimate among All Swords Return to the Sect, it is the supreme method¡­''¡± ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± True Master Xuan Jian coughed discontentedly, this elder sister always seizes the chance to brag about her Sword Control Technique. True Master Yu Jian unchangingly redirected the discussion: ¡°Therefore, this child may similarly possess a high innate talent for the Sword Control, born for the sword, truly an Innate Swordman.¡± ¡°Innate Swordman?¡± True Masters Xuan Jian and Lei Jian silently repeated these four words. At that moment, True Master Yu Jian suddenly smiled at True Masters Xuan Jian and Lei Jian: ¡°Dear sisters, I¡¯ve been pondering, and I feel you two make a lot of sense. Xia Wenqiu, with his bright and clever nature, fits very well with your Xuan Jian lineage, while Ji Congfeng who sensed the Thunderbolt Sword is clearly suitable for Lei Jian lineage. As an elder sister, I must defer to you two, I won¡¯t compete with you.¡± True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s face twisted with anger, never had she seen such shamelessness, why didn¡¯t you think of deferring just a moment ago? Now that a higher talent appears, you immediately start being modest, pushing the lower talents aside, as if no one knows what you¡¯re plotting, how ridiculous! True Master Xuan Jian angrily replied: ¡°No need, elder sister, I suddenly feel my Xuan Jian lineage is lacking in yang and needs a highly talented male Disciple to balance it out, I think this one is quite appropriate.¡± True Master Lei Jian¡¯s body began faintly radiating flashes of electricity, her face becoming even colder: ¡°This person, I want him.¡± True Master Yu Jian was not concerned with her sisters¡¯ fierce reactions, still smiling as pleasantly as spring: ¡°Dear sisters, don¡¯t be pushy, this child is an Innate Swordman, clearly most suitable for my Sword Control.¡± ¡°Since he is an Innate Swordman, then obviously any sword could fit.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± As the three True Masters started to argue again, Xuan Ling felt very anxious. She didn¡¯t expect that a randomly chosen attractive young man she flirted with would possess such high talent, causing the three True Masters to scramble over him. What worried Xuan Ling was, she very well knew her Master, True Master Xuan Jian, couldn¡¯t outcompete True Master Yu Jian. Yu Qing, however, wasn¡¯t filled with such thoughts, merely saluted the three elders: ¡°Master, oh Aunts, the new Disciples have already left Buried Sword Ridge, shall we take a look?¡± The three True Masters looked into the Heavenly Light Mirror and indeed, those considered entry-level Disciples had already followed Feng Qin away from the Buried Sword Ridge, heading towards the Heavenly Sword Peak. The three True Masters exchanged a glance, instantly reaching a consensus, knowing that linguistic arguments couldn¡¯t determine a winner, everything had to adhere to the rules. Chapter 104 - 104: 104. Breaking away from the vulgar and the purely innocent people Chapter 104: 104. Breaking away from the vulgar and the purely innocent people ¡°` According to the rules of the Heavenly Sword Sect, after a trialist obtains their own sword at Buried Sword Ridge, they can be considered a new entry-level disciple of the sect. The next step is simply a matter of assignment. What¡¯s giving Elder Feng Qin a headache now is Fang Zhou, this special fellow. According to past customs, all the tens of thousands of Spirit Swords on Buried Sword Ridge now belong to him. But both emotionally and logically, it¡¯s impossible for the Heavenly Sword Sect to give all the Spirit Swords to him. Giving him just one doesn¡¯t seem right, and letting him choose freely isn¡¯t appropriate either; no matter the number, it¡¯s a headache. Elder Feng Qin saw Fang Zhou remaining silent and thought he felt disappointed. Although she didn¡¯t want to see such a talent disappointed with the Heavenly Sword Sect, Elder Feng Qin still had no authority to make a decision; she could only choose to throw this troublesome matter to the sect¡¯s big shots to solve. What she didn¡¯t know was that Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t dealing with the issue of disappointment at all; the reason he didn¡¯t dare to speak up was that he was a bit afraid¡ªafraid that the Heavenly Sword Sect would ask him to put all these Spirit Swords back. Tens of thousands of Spirit Swords, only the devil knows until when he would have to insert them¡ªhis Sword Control Technique is just entry-level, quite imprecise, and he couldn¡¯t possibly control that many Spirit Swords to return them the way they came. So right now, he was playing dead, pretending to be a victim. However, Elder Feng Qin did not speak the words that Fang Zhou was worried about. Instead, she turned her head to the group of new disciples who were still chattering and said, ¡°Silence, next you will be taken to the sect. Hold your swords tightly; if anyone should accidentally drop theirs on the way, no one else can be blamed.¡± Elder Feng Qin¡¯s words drew the new disciples¡¯ attention back, and they subconsciously gripped their Spirit Swords tighter. The next moment, the Spirit Swords in their hands soared towards the sky, lifting them up off the ground. Having previously experienced jumping from ten thousand meters high, the disciples weren¡¯t scared by suddenly flying into the sky; instead, they shouted and hollered excitedly. After all the new disciples were taken away by the Spirit Swords, Elder Feng Qin turned to Fang Zhou and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you for part of the way.¡± The ability of these new disciples¡¯ Spirit Swords to fly was secretly controlled by people of the Heavenly Sword Sect, otherwise the new disciples, being in the Qi Refining Realm and unable to project Spiritual Energy outward, would not be capable of Artifact Control Flight. Unable to pick his own sword for the time being, Elder Feng Qin could only take Fang Zhou part of the way. Fang Zhou held back from saying he could fly himself and saw Elder Feng Qin lightly lift her arm¡ªas a ribbon shot out from her sleeve, gently winding around Fang Zhou¡¯s waist. Elder Feng Qin gracefully flew into the sky, dragging Fang Zhou along with her. This ribbon must be a Magic Treasure that allowed for Artifact Control Flight. However, everyone else was using Sword Flight, and only Fang Zhou was being bound and hauled along like a captured suspect, which was quite embarrassing. Fang Zhou could only look for other things to divert his attention. As Elder Feng Qin was dressed in dark cyan robes and a half-length skirt and she was above while he was below, a simple glance upward would afford a view. But he wouldn¡¯t stoop to such indecency, as everyone must have a moral baseline, to be a pure person devoid of vulgarity. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet upon further thought, sneaking peeks at women in this world didn¡¯t seem like such a big deal¡ªmany women deliberately expose themselves to entice men to peek. Knowing full well it wasn¡¯t right, Fang Zhou was too curious and, motivated by a quest for knowledge, still couldn¡¯t help but look up for a glance, instantly astounded. My goodness, such things exist? Unexpectedly, beneath Elder Feng Qin¡¯s dignified and serious exterior lay such a liberated spirit¡ªadmirable, truly admirable. He wished he had the time to exchange some life experiences with her. Unable to endure the torment and reproach of his conscience, Fang Zhou painfully turned his gaze away after a few more glances. ¡°` My sins, please forgive me for being a vulgar and impure person. While Fang Zhou bowed his head in repentance, he didn¡¯t notice that Elder Feng Qin¡¯s expression also turned slightly unnatural. But soon Fang Zhou had no mood for idle thoughts, as Feng Qin led him through the clouds, and once again, the entire vista of the Cloud Sea Mountains appeared before him, including the whole Heavenly Sword Sect. In the center of the cloud sea, a mountain peak like a longsword stretched straight into the sky, as if intending to pierce through the heavens. Three other shorter peaks protected it, with steep and sharp mountain ridges, just like longswords across the sky. All four mountain peaks were adorned with vermilion buildings, with pavilions, terraces, towers, and grand halls, where strange flowers and exotic trees grew amidst the swirling mists, and divine deer and spirit beasts wandered, like a hidden scroll of the Immortal Realm. That must be the sect ground of the Heavenly Sword Sect. ¡°The highest peak is called Heavenly Sword Peak, where the main lineage of our sect resides¡­¡± Elder Feng Qin began to introduce to Fang Zhou, including the structure and origins of the sect¡¯s three lineages. The highest peak is Heavenly Sword Peak, the other three are Yujian, Xuanjian, and Leijian lineages. These three lineages are both branches and the foundation of the Heavenly Sword, as the main lineage does not directly recruit disciples, but rather supplements from the three lineages, including the True Disciples of the Heavenly Sword and the Sect Master. Thus, entry-level disciples are first assigned to one of the three lineages, and only those who stand out may ascend to reside in Heavenly Sword Peak. Listening to Feng Qin¡¯s introduction, Fang Zhou suddenly pointed between Heavenly Sword Peak and Yujian Peak: ¡°What place is that?¡± The area was shrouded in mist, harboring a small mountain peak. While not as grand and perilous as those of the main lineage, its presence felt abrupt in that location. Feng Qin¡¯s face changed slightly, speaking harshly, ¡°That is Moon Viewing Peak, currently occupied by a shameless rogue, but no matter, the sect will soon expel her.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression changed too, damn, this shameless rogue couldn¡¯t be¡­ Feng Qin and many flying on their Spirit Swords were heading towards the Yuxu Palace atop Heavenly Sword Peak, where they would be chosen by the three lineages, like piglets up for market. This time, there were seventy-nine new entry-level disciples, all of whom landed excitedly in front of Yuxu Palace, possibly experiencing the thrill of Sword Flight for the first time. Feng Qin also landed with Fang Zhou, but not among the disciples, choosing instead to land aside. Many were envious of Fang Zhou, who was visibly receiving special treatment, while his performance at the Buried Sword Ridge made it seem that his rise to success was imminent. They all wanted to forge a good relationship with this destined talent, but Feng Qin¡¯s cold demeanor kept the disciples from approaching, including Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei, who had been eager to strike up a conversation with Fang Zhou. ¡°Silence!¡± Feng Qin hushed the whispering disciples, instructing them to wait patiently. Soon, the doors of Yuxu Palace swung wide open, and the first to emerge were True Disciples Yu Qing and Xuan Ling. Upon appearing, they immediately looked towards Fang Zhou beside Feng Qin. Yu Qing gazed with a curious and astonished examination, while Xuan Ling winked at Fang Zhou. Unfortunately, it was a seductive glance cast at a blind man, as Fang Zhou completely ignored her. This infuriated Xuan Ling so much her teeth itched. The boy was so arrogant; once he joined the sect, she¡¯d have to make sure he understood just how formidable his senior sister was. Chapter 105 - 105: 105. Im not going anywhere Chapter 105: 105. I¡¯m not going anywhere Two True Disciples came out, and just as Feng Qin was about to greet them, she saw both standing solemnly to one side, and the next moment, three clouds appeared in front of Yuxu Palace. Seated on the clouds were three figures emitting a faint glow, gradually becoming more solid and ultimately revealing True Master Sword Control, True Master Xuan Jian, and True Master Thunder Sword. A tranquil yet immense aura spread out, causing every new disciple to become solemn and respectful, as if in the presence of a saint, daring not to make a fuss. Feng Qin hastily performed a salute: ¡°Disciple pays respect to the three True Masters.¡± Usually, True Disciples from the three sects are responsible for selection, only when exceptional talents emerge do the three True Masters appear. ¡°There¡¯s no need for excess formality, Feng Qin.¡± True Master Sword Control said with a gentle smile, naturally turning his gaze toward Fang Zhou. Xuan Jian and Thunder Sword were also secretly sizing him up with Spiritual Vision, feeling quite astonished. Previously, through the Heavenly Light Mirror, nothing special could be seen, but now witnessing with their own eyes, they were amazed to see such vibrancy of life from him, a yang energy bursting forth from his crown like the dazzling sun at dawn. Such vigorous yang energy and vitality were rare, but compared to his talent in the Sword Dao, it seemed trivial. With Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, who were originally the center of attention, the three True Masters lost interest in paying more attention to them. After witnessing the spectacle of Ten Thousand Swords Fired, the act of Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng climbing to pull out a sword seemed somewhat awkward. Feng Qin knew about Fang Zhou¡¯s performance at Buried Sword Ridge, and the three True Masters must have been aware too, so there was no need for further words, and she stepped aside after the salute. The assignment of new entry-level disciples was generally decided by three factors: the needs of the sects, the disciples¡¯ own desires, and the suitability for each sect. If one sect was understaffed, then it would need to replenish with new disciples in the following terms, and the other two must concede and not compete. Next, it considered the disciples¡¯ own wishes, to which sect they wanted to join. The primary focus of the three sects could be seen from their names; Sword Control focused on Sword Control, practicing swords for life, never parting with the sword; Xuan Jian combined swordsmanship with Spell, complementing each other, with profound mastery in spells; Thunder Sword specialized in integrating Thunder Skill with swordsmanship, the combination of strengths. These three sects inherently had no ranking among them; however, the fame of Sword Control Technique was immense. The long-lost Sword Control Technique and All Swords Return to the Sect still had great renown in the Cultivation World, continuously talked about with great interest. Thus, eight or nine out of ten new disciples wanted to join the Sword Control sect, even though Sword-controlling Skill and Sword Control Technique were completely different, and, of course, True Master Sword Control wouldn¡¯t clarify this explicitly. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was why the number of disciples in her Sword Control sect was higher than in the other two sects; once they joined and realized they couldn¡¯t learn the Sword Control Technique, it would be too late to leave. This place wasn¡¯t a restroom, where you could come and go as you please. Lastly, the degree of compatibility, unless the difference was too stark, generally they would not force disciples to change their wishes. The three True Masters were debating endlessly inside Yuxu Palace, yet in front of the new disciples, they maintained a dignified and steady demeanor. True Master Sword Control asked Fang Zhou with a smile, ¡°Which sect would you like to join?¡± The other two True Masters and True Disciples also looked towards Fang Zhou, waiting for his decision. The initial scramble to claim Fang Zhou was actually governed by rules; once the highest talented was picked, the remaining disciples needed to be shared among the other two sects, maintaining basic fairness so that one sect wouldn¡¯t monopolize all the advantages. If Fang Zhou chose one sect, then Xia Wenqiu, Ji Congfeng, and the rest of the disciples would have to be divided among the other two. Because Fang Zhou¡¯s significance far outweighed the other disciples, whoever secured him would refrain from competing with the other two sects for the remaining fringe benefits. Everyone else also watched Fang Zhou, waiting for him to make his decision about which sect he intended to join. Fang Zhou, feeling awkward under the gaze of so many, said: ¡°I¡­ won¡¯t join any of the three sects.¡± At those words, the atmosphere suddenly stilled, and everyone expressed a look of confusion; if not these three sects, then where did he plan to go? The three True Masters exchanged glances, but instead of being angry, they burst into hearty laughter. True Master Xuan Jian laughed and said, ¡°Good, that¡¯s the spirit.¡± What¡¯s happening? Disciples were confused and Fang Zhou was also a bit stunned; he thought the three True Masters would be angry. Actually, the reason why the three True Masters were happy is quite simple. The Sect Master, who initially sensed fifteen Spirit Swords, also declared from the beginning that she would not join any of the three branches and aimed directly for the Sect Master¡¯s lineage, aspiring to become the Sect Master herself. Having such ambition and courage right after entry-level, it is admirable. So when Fang Zhou declared he would not join any of the three branches, the three True Masters thought they had encountered another youngster with grand ambitions. True Master Yu Jian said kindly with a smile, ¡°We know you want to join the Sect Master¡¯s lineage at Heavenly Sword Peak, but you must also experience the other three branches, as it¡¯s been the rule for hundreds of years and cannot be broken.¡± Who said I wanted to join the Sect Master¡¯s lineage at Heavenly Sword Peak? Fang Zhou instinctively responded, ¡°You three elders¡­ strong and vigorous True Masters, is there a misunderstanding? I don¡¯t want to join the Sect Master¡¯s lineage; I don¡¯t want to go anywhere.¡± That was close, almost said something embarrassing. The smiles on the faces of the three True Masters gradually disappeared. What¡¯s happening? He doesn¡¯t want to join the three branches or the Sect Master¡¯s lineage, then what is he here for? We at the Heavenly Sword Sect aren¡¯t lacking people to do the janitorial work either. With the three True Masters so perplexed, others were even more clueless about the situation. Being stared at with questioning eyes by so many, Fang Zhou was almost sweating profusely. Where is Ling Xiaoyue, that troublemaker, to pick me up? If she doesn¡¯t come soon, your beloved disciple is about to be snatched away. True Master Yu Jian pondered and said, ¡°You actually¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when a furious shout from a distance interrupted him. ¡°Ling, you again trespassed into our Mountain Protection Array, stop running!¡± Hearing the shout, the expressions of the three True Masters changed slightly, especially True Master Yu Jian, who looked quite constipated. True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian looked at her, thinking in their hearts that the rival of their elder sister, who had disappeared for half a year, had finally returned. They¡¯ve met the most shameless people; True Master Yu Jian undoubtedly deserved that title, but that rogue occupying Moon Viewing Peak was, in terms of shamelessness, possibly on par with their elder sister. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling had different expressions, while Feng Qin clenched her teeth secretly. Only Fang Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief, wishing he could immediately shout: Ling, I¡¯m here!! No wonder Ling Xiaoyue did not dare to bring him back first, given the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s attitude, they indeed cannot tolerate her coming and going freely. ¡°Never mind her.¡± True Master Yu Jian quickly regained her composure and looked at Fang Zhou again with a slightly stern expression, ¡°Li Yunlong, where do you actually want to go?¡± In the crowd, Li Yunlong was dumbfounded, huh, the True Master seems to be calling my name, but why is she addressing the young master? Under the stern gaze of True Master Yu Jian, Fang Zhou immediately felt an immense pressure. He could only stubbornly say, ¡°To be honest, I already have a master.¡± True Master Yu Jian exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Oh? Which elder in the sect is your master?¡± Could it be a disciple personally taken by an elder who had descended from the mountain? Fang Zhou¡­ didn¡¯t dare to say. He suddenly realized that Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s relationship with the Heavenly Sword Sect seemed very bad, the sect even wanted to drive her away. If he admitted that he was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s disciple, would he be beaten on the spot? Chapter 106 - 106: 106. What do you take the Heavenly Sword Sect for? Chapter 106: 106. What do you take the Heavenly Sword Sect for? Fang Zhou kept silent, and the scene fell quiet for a moment. The big shots are always tolerant of geniuses; had it been an ordinary disciple who was uncooperative, the three True Masters probably wouldn¡¯t have the patience to wait. True Master Yu Jian thought Fang Zhou was afraid of being punished and dared not speak, so he smiled and said, ¡°Are you worried about pledging to a master before your entry-level trial? Don¡¯t worry, just speak.¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed joyfully, ¡°Really?¡± True Master Yu Jian showed a gentle and magnanimous expression, ¡°Of course, no matter who your master is, I will not blame you and your master.¡± Such precedents are not unheard of; sometimes, an elder would take a disciple outside the sect and then let the disciple participate in the entry-level trial. Although it¡¯s a pity that they can¡¯t take such a talent as a disciple, as long as he is a part of the Heavenly Sword Sect, that¡¯s fine. True Masters Xuan Jian and Lei Jian were quite disappointed as well; they didn¡¯t expect someone else to have gotten ahead. But it didn¡¯t matter. Whichever elder had taken the disciple, such a talent, unless personally taken as a disciple by the Sect Master or the True Masters, couldn¡¯t be taught by just one elder. They, the True Masters, could still intervene for the future of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If it were just a mediocre or ordinary genius, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be worth doing so, but Fang Zhou¡¯s performance could be described as the finest raw jade in the history of the Heavenly Sword Sect. The True Masters naturally itched to leave their mark on him, which might eventually make them famous for ages. Fang Zhou did not yet know that these big shots were planning to leave their mark on him; he was about to confess honestly when a gourd wine flask came flying from the distant cloud sea at high speed. The wine flask flew to the front of Yuxu Palace, came to a sudden halt after drifting sharply, and Ling Xiaoyue, who had been absent for a dozen chapters, was sitting atop it. The new disciples were all curiously watching her, wondering which big shot of the Heavenly Sword Sect this woman who dared to drift in front of Yuxu Palace was. Yet the people of the Heavenly Sword Sect all displayed constipated expressions, only True Master Xuan Jian and Yu Qing seemed slightly less bothered. True Master Yu Jian looked at Ling Xiaoyue with a serious expression, ¡°Ling Xiaoyue, this is a sacred place of our Heavenly Sword Sect, do not create disturbance.¡± Ling Xiaoyue glanced at her, puzzled, ¡°Yu Jian, haven¡¯t seen you for half a year and you have such a long face, did your mom die?¡± The new disciples were instantly in uproar, True Master Yu Jian being one of the top three figures in the Heavenly Sword Sect, second only to the Sect Master, a tremendously famous figure across Jingnan State and even in Chu Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, someone dared to openly curse her mom dead. Although given True Master Yu Jian¡¯s age, her mom indeed had long passed away. True Master Yu Jian, who had cultivated for many years, had a mind as solid as a fortress and naturally wouldn¡¯t be provoked into anger by a few taunting words from Ling Xiaoyue. She raised her eyebrows and said sternly, ¡°When have I ever shown you a good face?¡± Ling Xiaoyue immediately brought up evidence, ¡°Yes, you did, half a year ago when I was leaving, didn¡¯t you smile like something?¡± True Master Yu Jian expressionless, True Master Xuan Jian chuckled on the side; half a year ago they all thought Ling Xiaoyue would never return, of course, they were very happy, little did they know she would come back so soon. From the moment Ling Xiaoyue appeared, True Master Yu Jian¡¯s gentleness and magnanimity disappeared, displaying a deep-seated grudge, she snorted coldly, ¡°What exactly are you here for? Do not interfere with our sect¡¯s affairs, leave if there¡¯s nothing important.¡± Ling Xiaoyue retorted discontentedly, ¡°How can you slander people out of thin air? Who is interfering with you? I¡¯m here to pick up my disciple.¡± True Master Yu Jian frowned, ¡°Nonsense, there¡¯s no disciple of yours here¡­¡± Suddenly she considered a possibility, turning sharply to look at Fang Zhou, the other two True Masters did the same. Fang Zhou was watching the drama unfold and was startled by the sudden looks from the three True Masters. True Master Yu Jian almost in disbelief asked, ¡°Your master is?¡± Fang Zhou, with a hardened scalp, pointed at the wine flask in the air. He was a little worried and added, ¡°True Master, you just said that no matter who my master is, you wouldn¡¯t blame them.¡± True Master Yu Jian, ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, Ling Xiaoyue also leaned down, smiling mischievously, ¡°Disciple, it seems you are quite popular.¡± At this moment, the expressions of the people from Heavenly Sword Sect were so spectacular that it was indescribable with words. The hearts of the three True Masters fluctuated even more than when they saw Fang Zhou activating ten thousand swords. Such a genius was actually someone else¡¯s child? And also the disciple of Ling Xiaoyue, that annoying guy? Elder Feng Qin felt the world spinning around her, what had she just said in front of someone else¡¯s disciple? The two True Disciples were even more dumbfounded. Not to mention the feelings of the three True Masters, they felt as if they had painfully given birth to a child only to find out the child belonged to someone else. Not just getting a green hat, but nearly blacking out. True Master Yu Jian stared at Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Your disciple¡­ why has he come to participate in our sect¡¯s entry-level trial?¡± Ling Xiaoyue shrugged, ¡°Just hitching a ride, you guys wouldn¡¯t be happy seeing me coming in and out all the time, right?¡± True Master Yu Jian suddenly raised her voice, ¡°Hitching a ride? What do you think Heavenly Sword Sect is, huh?¡± With this ¡®huh¡¯ from True Master Yu Jian, everyone present felt a tremor within themselves, scattering the clouds surrounding Yuxu Palace. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t care at all, laughed and said, ¡°Of course, I see you as a loving and pleasant neighbor. As a major sect, you wouldn¡¯t be so petty as to quibble with us two, right?¡± ¡°You¡­ you shameless¡­¡± True Master Yu Jian pointed at Ling Xiaoyue with trembling fingers, she knew that this rogue coming back would definitely not bring anything good. And she hadn¡¯t expected the shock to be this big. Ling Xiaoyue patted the wine gourd, yelling down to Fang Zhou, ¡°Disciple, what are you dazing out for? Come up, are you planning on staying for dinner?¡± Fang Zhou also felt the profound resentment from the Heavenly Sword Sect members, remaining on the ground would be dangerous, better to skedaddle. He bowed apologetically to the three True Masters, then leaped up onto the wine gourd. Only then did Ling Xiaoyue wave to the three True Masters, ¡°See you later, let¡¯s have tea when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± True Master Xuan Jian, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly spoke to stop Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Taoist Ling, please stop, there¡¯s a matter to discuss.¡± True Master Xuan Jian used the Thousand-Mile Transmission spell, only audible to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. Ling Xiaoyue turned her head, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She had a good impression of True Master Xuan Jian, the friendliest among the three True Masters. True Master Xuan Jian glanced at Fang Zhou, smiled and said, ¡°Taoist Ling, are you interested in swapping disciples? If you agree, you can pick any of my disciples, even several if you¡¯d like.¡± Fang Zhou was immediately taken aback, is that even possible? But on second thought, if there were bizarre behaviors like swapping wives, husbands, sons, swapping disciples was not an unreasonable idea. Ling Xiaoyue patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder, ¡°That¡¯s strange, my disciple is so dull, what¡¯s so good about him that makes you so generous, Xuan Jian?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± True Master Xuan Jian surprisedly said, ¡°Your disciple is an innate swordsman, extremely compatible with my Xuan Jian lineage. If he could join my sect, his future potential is limitless, becoming the sect master of our sect could be just around the corner.¡± True Master Xuan Jian purposely said these words to let Fang Zhou hear, painting him a rosy picture, describing a promising future to entice him. But she didn¡¯t expect that after hearing this, Fang Zhou was full of question marks. Meow meow meow? Born a nasty person? Why insult me when we have no grudges? Chapter 107 - 107: 107.Are you here for cultivation or to enjoy the blessings? Chapter 107: 107.Are you here for cultivation or to enjoy the blessings? True Master Xuan Jian and Ling Xiaoyue conversed using the Thousand-Mile Transmission spell, leaving others only to see them silently looking at each other without hearing a word they said. The other two True Masters were as serene as meditating monks, while Feng Qin below seemed to be lost in thought, raising her head to look at Fang Zhou with a complex expression in her eyes. What an outstanding talent, how could he follow the wrong person? Isn¡¯t their Heavenly Sword Sect good enough? After hearing True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s words, Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°Born a scoundrel? This kid really is a scoundrel, but I have no plans to replace my disciple just yet. When I get tired of him, we¡¯ll talk. I just wonder if you would accept second-hand goods then¡ªah, why are you pinching me?¡± Ling Xiaoyue turned her head and glared at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou maintained a polite and humble expression, calmly withdrawing his hand, thinking to himself that she was the real second-hand good. And he finally discovered, if attacked by surprise, this woman could feel pain too, which was good news. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s refusal, True Master Xuan Jian couldn¡¯t help but look regretful. Such great talent, just wasted like that. Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand towards her and then controlled the wine jug to fly towards the cloud sea. Watching the departing wine jug, True Master Yu Jian whispered, ¡°What did she say?¡± True Master Xuan Jian showed a wry smile, ¡°She asked if we would accept second-hand goods in the future.¡± True Master Yu Jian snorted coldly, ¡°So presumptuous.¡± But deep down, she sighed; such a presumptuous person was able to find such a rare talent that appears once in hundreds of years, why couldn¡¯t their Heavenly Sword Sect find one too. At that moment, True Master Lei Jian, who had been silent from the start, concisely said: ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± True Masters Yu Jian and Xuan Jian were both shocked looking at her. You are really desperate. On the other side, Xuan Ling stared blankly at the departing wine jug, astonished by the day¡¯s surprising and tumultuous events. This young man who was supposed to become her junior brother, turned out to be the disciple of that notorious scoundrel, attending the entry-level trial just to hitch a ride, was something she had never expected. Yu Qing stood beside her, consoling, ¡°Cheer up, junior sister. Moon Viewing Peak is not far, and you¡¯ll have chances to meet him later.¡± Xuan Ling glanced at her, So what if it¡¯s not far, he is no longer a person of Heavenly Sword Sect. Wait, isn¡¯t that even better? Xuan Ling fell into deep thought. Until now, the new disciples were still clueless, the situation had changed too fast for these newbies to adapt, but one thing was clear to them, this guy who overshadowed everyone else was no longer a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. No one knew how many were feeling regret or relief. Although the most outstanding ¡®seed¡¯ had run away, now they still had to assign the new disciples. But the three True Masters felt a kind of dullness; the previously coveted Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng seemed to have lost all attraction now. True Master Yu Jian, unable to hide her annoyance, stressed, ¡°Fellow disciples, that Li Yunlong is no longer a disciple of Heavenly Sword Sect, don¡¯t make a mistake when you see him.¡± In the crowd, Li Yunlong timidly raised his hand. ¡°True Master, I am Li Yunlong.¡± True Master Yu Jian: ¡°¡­¡± Good for you, kid, even the name is fake, just as shameless as your scoundrel master. ¡­ The wine jug sped through the cloud sea. This was Fang Zhou¡¯s first time riding in Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wine jug. Although it was quite small, it was fast and stable. After leaving Yuxu Palace, Ling Xiaoyue curiously asked, ¡°My disciple, what have you done to make those three old women value you so much?¡± Fang Zhou puffed out his chest, ¡°Of course, because I¡¯m handsome, have a good character, strong abilities, beloved by people, and flowers bloom at my sight. Is it strange to be valued?¡± ¡°Give me a break, your master didn¡¯t see that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re blind.¡± Under Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s persistent questioning, Fang Zhou had no choice but to recount what happened at Buried Sword Ridge. ¡°Hahaha, no wonder those three old ladies wouldn¡¯t leave you alone.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed breathlessly, knowing that Fang Zhou had mastered the long-lost Sword Control Technique, but the three True Masters were unaware and thought he was an Innate Swordman. But if the fact that Fang Zhou entered the Enlightenment State in just the Qi Refining Realm were to be leaked, the Heavenly Sword Sect would probably fight over accepting him as a disciple. After finishing her laughter, Ling Xiaoyue started to complain about Fang Zhou again: ¡°You sensed so many Spirit Swords, why didn¡¯t you bring them all back? Even if you couldn¡¯t take all, taking half would work. Those Spirit Swords are worth a lot, and you didn¡¯t take a single one, truly disappointing your master.¡± Damn, why don¡¯t you go get them yourself? If I took one, who knows if I could have safely escaped. However, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s comment reminded Fang Zhou of something else: ¡°Right, what¡¯s the deal with your Moon Viewing Peak, the people from Heavenly Sword Sect said you seized it forcefully.¡± ¡°Seized my ass.¡± Ling Xiaoyue looked indifferent: ¡°I have the deed for Moon Viewing Peak, those people from Heavenly Sword Sect are shameless and won¡¯t admit it.¡± Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, having a deed was good, otherwise being driven away by the Heavenly Sword Sect would be too embarrassing. Something feels off. At this moment, they had arrived at Moon Viewing Peak. Compared to the main and three branches of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Moon Viewing Peak was not very high and looked quite slender, but the scenery at the peak was very pleasant, a good place for cultivation and healing. And it not being very large was only relatively speaking, for Fang Zhou, a whole mountain was big enough, he had never lived in such a big place in his two lifetimes. Ling Xiaoyue mentioned that the sect had pavilions and mansions like heavenly palaces, there were plenty of big houses, which location should he choose to live in? While pondering, the wine jug had already flown up to Moon Viewing Peak, Fang Zhou looked down and was dazzled by the beautiful scenery. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But soon Fang Zhou realized something was wrong: ¡°Wait, where is our sect?¡± ¡°Right there.¡± Ling Xiaoyue pointed downward. Following her direction, Fang Zhou immediately saw it, right on the summit of Moon Viewing Peak. Three thatched cottages. Fang Zhou thought he was seeing things, he rubbed his eyes, then confirmed he was not mistaken, indeed there were only three mud and thatch cottages on Moon Viewing Peak. When Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wine jug landed in front of the three thatch cottages, Fang Zhou finally confirmed, this was the sect Ling Xiaoyue was talking about. He silently activated the Sword Control Technique, a sword cry echoed, and Xuanyuan Sword shot out from the Sword Box, chopping towards Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s dog head. Ling Xiaoyue got a fright and quickly dodged: ¡°Rebellious disciple, what are you doing, trying to kill your master?¡± Fang Zhou pointed at the three cottages with a face full of sorrow and angrily said to Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been looking forward to a big house? Is this what you meant by pavilions and mansions like heavenly palaces, with plenty of big houses?¡± He felt as heartbroken and pained as a naive girl deceived physically by a sugar-coated scumbag posing as a rich second-generation. In his last life, Fang Zhou had deep resentment for houses. He couldn¡¯t even afford a toilet until he died, and now in this life, he thought he could realize his dream but ended up still being fooled. Why is life so hard? Facing Fang Zhou¡¯s scolding, Ling Xiaoyue pointed around: ¡°Pavilions, mansions, big houses, aren¡¯t all these here?¡± She was referring to the buildings on Heavenly Sword Peak and Yujian Peak. Fang Zhou almost spat out blood in anger: ¡°That¡¯s someone else¡¯s from Heavenly Sword Sect.¡± Ling Xiaoyue shrugged: ¡°Yeah, I never said it was ours. Having a few thatched cottages to live in is not bad at all. Look at others and then see what we have. Isn¡¯t it an opportunity to temper your mindset? ¡®The sword¡¯s edge comes from sharpening, and the plum blossom¡¯s scent from the cold.¡¯ Heaven assigns a great task to a person, must first suffer their mind, task their muscles, starve their skin. Cultivation is about facing all sorts of difficulties to break through oneself, otherwise are you here to cultivate or to enjoy comforts?¡± It had to be said, Ling Xiaoyue made a lot of sense. Fang Zhou considered it carefully then turned around: ¡°True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s house must be really big, I¡¯ll go visit there.¡± ¡°Come back here.¡± Chapter 108 - 108: 108. Master, when will you die? Chapter 108: 108. Master, when will you die? Fang Zhou ultimately did not leave. One should consider feelings when dealing with people; it¡¯s not right to look down on Ling Xiaoyue just because her material possessions are lacking. Otherwise, how would one be different from those materialistic jerks and gold diggers? As the saying goes, a mountain need not be high, for with immortals, it will be famous; water need not be deep, for with dragons, it will be spirituous. Amongst the many pavilions, towers, and grand halls, a few simple straw huts can better highlight a Cultivator¡¯s extraordinary aura, right? Of course, another little reason Fang Zhou didn¡¯t leave is that Ling Xiaoyue said that aside from lacking a big house, the entire Moon Viewing Peak was her property; such a big mountain was all hers alone. In other words, as long as Ling Xiaoyue died, Moon Viewing Peak would belong to Fang Zhou. That¡¯s far better than the Heavenly Sword Sect; there, so many people cram together, whereas here, I¡¯d have an entire mountain to myself. It doesn¡¯t matter if there¡¯s no house; I can just build one myself. A mountain in a top-grade scenic area, I couldn¡¯t afford even if I had the money in my previous life. Who needs a bike then? ¡°Master, when are you going to die?¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t wait to imagine the beautiful prospect of inheriting a mountain after Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s death. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquor flask came flying: ¡°Scram, your master isn¡¯t dead yet, even if you die.¡± The three straw huts were all casually erected by Ling Xiaoyue herself, and to be honest, they looked pretty decent. Fang Zhou originally thought she would nest in a tree. Although they were just straw huts, they were quite spacious; it¡¯s just that they were completely empty inside, without any furniture. Ling Xiaoyue walked into the left hut, and countless items appeared out of nowhere, clattering onto the ground. Among these were the daily necessities purchased by Fang Zhou, as well as items the pair had collected on their way back¡ªlike the fox skins peeled from the fox demons they killed, and the bark left behind by dead Tree Demons, amongst others. There were even more items that Fang Zhou had never seen before, a dazzling array almost piling up into a small mountain. ¡°What are you collecting all these things for?¡± Fang Zhou casually picked up a twig, which looked jade-like, circulating with luminescence and emitting a refreshing aura. Many of these items seemed useless to both mentor and student. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to sell for money. The Heavenly Sword Sect organizes a trade fair every year, your master plans to sell these.¡± Ling Xiaoyue switched hands and with a clatter, spilled out another pile of items. Fang Zhou suddenly understood; no wonder Ling Xiaoyue liked collecting these trinkets, it seemed she not only did odd jobs like a rogue cultivator but also moonlighted as a small merchant. Quite the hard worker. Fang Zhou then picked up something that looked very much like a Magic Cube, which could be randomly assembled into various patterns of animals and people. Fang Zhou assembled a small deer, and the Magic Cube emitted light, projecting an image of the deer so realistic it was almost identical to a live one. He reached out to touch it, and the deer actually licked his hand with its tongue. This thing is basically a toy, yet it¡¯s so finely crafted and fun. While Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t paying attention, Fang Zhou absorbed the Magic Cube into the gourd, which he could use to kill time when he was bored. After Ling Xiaoyue had thrown out all the items, she seemed to remember something and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Oh right, take out your little gourd, your master will refine it for you.¡± Fang Zhou was a bit nervous, thinking Ling Xiaoyue had discovered he had secretly taken her things. He tossed over the purple little gourd, and with pretense warned, ¡°Just don¡¯t secretly sell it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worth much even if sold; your master doesn¡¯t fancy it.¡± Ling Xiaoyue caught the gourd, weighed it, and then tossed it back to Fang Zhou with a smile, ¡°Deal with the few demons inside it first. Whether you want to refine them or subdue them, decide for yourself.¡± Only then did Fang Zhou remember the seven Calabash Brothers he had put inside the gourd; he hadn¡¯t tended to them since. He asked doubtfully, ¡°Is subduing them even an option? I mean, we killed their dear granny; isn¡¯t that an irreconcilable vendetta?¡± Ling Xiaoyue stared at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, ¡°You should read more books like I told you to; otherwise you wouldn¡¯t make such a joke. Do you really think a Mystic Yin Tree could bear gourds?¡± What does that mean? Could there be some unknown story of a hapless scapegoat inside? Fang Zhou was completely baffled and asked, ¡°Then how should I control it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need to rely on your own abilities for that. No one else can help you with this,¡± Ling Xiaoyue pushed him away, ¡°I need to organize my things. You can choose any of the other two thatched cottages or build a new one if you like.¡± Fang Zhou had no current plans for such an extensive project, so he found a scenic spot, sat down with his legs crossed, and took out the gourd. The issue with the seven calabash brothers inside must be resolved, or it would remain a hidden danger. Whether to eliminate or subdue them depended on the situation. Fang Zhou had initially intended to annihilate them, but Ling Xiaoyue mentioned they could be subdued, which seemed a better option. He could gain seven free workers, and besides, Fang Zhou also had a sense of nostalgia for the calabash brothers. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Holding the gourd, he closed his eyes and started to immerse himself in sensing its interior. Almost instantly, his consciousness entered the vast space within the gourd. Everything was exactly as it had been during his last visit, almost without any change, the garbage mountain was still suspended in the air, below was a sea bubbling with heat. Because the garbage mountain was so big, Fang Zhou really couldn¡¯t see where the seven calabash brothers were hiding, he could only try to sense them, as it seemed he could sense anything he had taken in. Soon, Fang Zhou located the seven calabash brothers and also the Magic Cube he had sneakily taken from Ling Xiaoyue. He picked up the Magic Cube first, then flew towards the calabash brothers. The seven calabash brothers hid at the deepest part of the garbage mountain. When Fang Zhou flew towards them, a yellow figure shot towards him at an incredibly fast speed. At the same time, calabash brothers of various colors leaped out from around the garbage mountain, surrounding Fang Zhou in the middle¡ªit was actually a trap. Had he been surrounded by the calabash brothers like this before, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t have come out dead, then he would need to flee, but he was now not the same as he had been before. Also, inside the gourd could also be considered his home ground. With a single thought, the bodies of six calabash brothers were immediately immobilized in the air, unable to move. ¡°Little Seven!¡± The eldest brother let out a loud shout. Fang Zhou then realized that the youngest, Little Seven, was actually hiding inside the garbage mountain and hadn¡¯t appeared. With the eldest brother¡¯s shout, the six calabash brothers immediately broke free from Fang Zhou¡¯s control. Fang Zhou was prepared for this; the gourd was Little Seven¡¯s companion treasure after all. Fang Zhou was only able to indirectly control the gourd through his connection with the Golden Core. In terms of control, he was no match for Little Seven, so he could not control the things Little Seven had taken in, and Little Seven could instead affect his control over the calabash brothers. That these calabash brothers were able to move within the gourd, must also be thanks to Little Seven¡¯s help. But Little Seven¡¯s only flaw was that she too had been sucked in by Fang Zhou, and she too was under his control. Fang Zhou regained control, at the same time pulling Little Seven out from the garbage mountain. ¡°Despicable bad guy, let me go!¡± Little Seven struggled to regain control, and just when the calabash brothers were able to move, control was taken back again. The two sides kept fighting for control, leaving the seven calabash brothers pulsating in the air, alternating between movement and stopping, utterly agonized. The eldest brother saw that this was not the way to do it, Fang Zhou could leave the gourd at any time, and would definitely be prepared the next time he entered; their chance was only this once. She made up her mind and shouted, ¡°Sisters, unite and release Little Eight!¡± This time, none of the sisters opposed or hesitated, they too believed only Little Eight could lead them to escape the gourd. Little Seven regained control again, and from Number Two to Little Seven, they all rushed towards the eldest brother. Fang Zhou, however, was taken aback. Others might not know who Little Eight was, but how could he not know? The Vajra Little Gourd was too terrifying; she could not be allowed out. ¡°Stop, I did not come to fight with you!¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly shouted, but it was too late, the calabash brothers had not heard him. Even if they had, it would have been too late. Chapter 109 - 109: 109. Vajra Little Gourd Chapter 109: 109. Vajra Little Gourd Fang Zhou¡¯s consciousness entered the gourd this time, and he didn¡¯t bring the Sword Box with him. He could only pounce towards the seven gourd children, summoning Hu Lai¡¯s left hand in the process and scooping up a huge stone from the garbage mountain to smash at the seven gourd children. The seven gourd children had already collided with each other, emitting a dazzling white light in an instant. Fang Zhou swung the stone down, and before it could hit, it was propped up by a hand still with baby fat. As the white light faded, the seven gourd children had disappeared, replaced by a little girl. With a light pinch of her hand, the enormous stone was immediately crushed into powder by a terrifying force. Fang Zhou hurriedly backed away, finally getting a clear look at the little girl. She was about five or six years old, wearing white clothes, with cute big eyes, a small nose, and mouth, her fair cheeks still retaining a bit of baby fat, even cuter than Little Seven. Is this the Vajra Little Gourd? As Fang Zhou was taking her in, the eighth child¡¯s eyes widened in curiosity, surveying the surroundings, ¡°Wow, what is this place?¡± Eh, has she never been here before? And she seems¡­ pretty easy to deceive¡ªvery approachable. Just as Fang Zhou thought about subduing her without a fight, the little girl finally noticed Fang Zhou: ¡°Are you the bad guy my sisters talked about?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression became solemn, and he said earnestly, ¡°No, I¡¯ve already driven the bad guy away, let your sisters come out.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The little girl tilted her head, ¡°But you look just like the bad guy my sisters described?¡± Fang Zhou said with a heavy heart, ¡°That¡¯s right, the bad guy was impersonating me to do evil, which is why I had to drive him away.¡± The little girl obviously couldn¡¯t understand such complicated matters, her face filled with confusion, she couldn¡¯t help scratching her head, ¡°Then wait for me, I¡¯ll ask my sisters.¡± After speaking, she froze in place. Fang Zhou, however, was startled. What the heck, turning into the Vajra Little Gourd still allowed communication with the other gourd children? Fang Zhou had not guessed wrong. After the seven gourd children transformed into the Vajra Little Gourd, the consciousness of eight sisters shared the same Divine Soul Realm, but the body was controlled by the eighth child. In the Divine Soul Realm, the seven gourd children gathered together, and the eighth child appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Big sisters, I missed you all so much!¡± The eighth child exclaimed with arms wide open, rushing towards the gourd children with her little short legs. The second to seventh children instantly dodged to the side, only the eldest child stood her ground, bravely smiling and opening her arms. The eighth child plunged into the eldest¡¯s embrace, knocking her backward in flight, soaring for hundreds of meters before crashing down hard to the ground. Even without physical forms in the Divine Soul Realm, the eldest child nearly had her consciousness shattered by the eighth child¡¯s bump, her eyes slightly rolling back in a daze. The eighth child gleefully shook the eldest child¡¯s shoulders non-stop: ¡°Did you come to play with me? Did you, did you, did you?¡± The eldest child, shaken like she was convulsing, couldn¡¯t even speak. The other six gourd children cautiously approached. ¡°Eighth sis, stop shaking her, you¡¯re about to shake our big sister to pieces.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The eighth child stood up, cheerfully looking at her sisters: ¡°Then let¡¯s play.¡± The gourd children fell silent instantly. The eighth child¡¯s smile gradually faded. ¡°Play, we will play with you.¡± The eldest struggled to her feet, giving her sisters a knowing look¡ªthey had to appease the youngest, or else if she threw in the towel, their union would be pointless. The youngest cheered up and extended a fist to the eldest: ¡°Big sis, let¡¯s have a strength contest.¡± The eldest broke into a cold sweat, clenched her teeth, and offered her fist. For her sisters¡¯ safety, enduring a little pain was nothing. Competing in strength with the youngest was simple¡ªthe sisters would just punch each other¡¯s fists. The eldest and the youngest both gathered their strength, then punched out at the same time, resulting in a muffled thud. The air rippled out in waves, and everyone¡¯s clothes fluttered violently. The eldest was sent flying, turning into a small black dot in the distance. The remaining six sisters all swallowed hard. The youngest then turned her innocent gaze to the second eldest, gleefully saying: ¡°Second sis, it¡¯s your turn now.¡± The second sister¡¯s face stiffened. The youngest would use her Sharp-Hearing Ear and thousand-mile eyes to play hide-and-seek with her, betting on who would find the other first. The loser had to act as the winner¡¯s dog mount. Hmm¡­ and the mount had to stay until the union was broken, with added performances of barking, pooping, and peeing. The second sister looked at the third with pleading eyes, knowing that if she lost, it would be her own turn next. The third sister coughed and forced a smile on her usually indifferent face: ¡°Little Eight, there¡¯s a bad guy outside bullying your sisters, can you help us catch him?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little Eight nodded: ¡°Sure, but after I catch him, you all have to keep playing with me.¡± The sisters nodded vigorously, and the third quickly described Fang Zhou¡¯s appearance to Little Eight. Once Little Eight disappeared, the sisters sighed in relief, finding the confrontation with her even more nerve-wracking than facing an enemy. But before they could relax, the vanished Little Eight reappeared: ¡°Big sis, that guy outside said he¡¯s not a bad person.¡± After Little Eight repeated her conversation with Fang Zhou, the third sister¡¯s cheeks puffed up with anger. ¡°He¡¯s a big liar, all of us sisters have been deceived by him. When you go out, just attack him directly, no need for words.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Little Eight exited the Divine Soul Realm and returned to reality. In Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, she had merely paused for a moment before becoming alert and pouncing toward him without further words. Fang Zhou was startled, trying to control Little Eight¡¯s body but found he couldn¡¯t. He could control the seven sisters he had absorbed, but not this Little Eight. Little Eight was incredibly fast, much faster than her sisters. She became a white blur, and Fang Zhou could hardly dodge with his barely twenty points of speed. Little Eight dived straight into the garbage mountain next to them, collapsing it with a loud crash. The next moment, a giant figure over thirty meters tall rose from the garbage mountain. After growing to such a tremendous size, Little Eight now towered over the garbage mountain. Fang Zhou was stunned, wondering how on earth he was supposed to fight this. At that moment, to Little Eight, Fang Zhou was smaller than a mouse. She lifted her foot, stomping down towards him. Fang Zhou frantically ran away, Little Eight¡¯s baby-fat-filled tiny feet more terrifying than anything else. He felt like a regular person in a monster movie being chased by a monster, without Ultraman or Godzilla coming to his rescue. As Little Eight stomped down, the garbage mountain crumbled with the impact, revealing a churning sea beneath. Unable to catch Fang Zhou after several stomps, Little Eight took a deep breath, her mouth and belly bulging as two thick plumes of smoke erupted from her nostrils. Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingled with fear¡ªit looked like she was about to breathe fire. He had to stop her; otherwise, with Little Eight¡¯s current size, once she breathed fire, the whole garbage mountain might turn into Flame Mountain. Chapter 110 - 110: 110. Defecting Mini Transformer Chapter 110: 110. Defecting Mini Transformer ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Just as Xiao Ba was about to breathe fire, she heard Fang Zhou¡¯s loud shout. She instinctively looked down and saw Fang Zhou standing on the garbage mountain, holding a glowing strange object in his hand. Xiao Ba¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the object. Seeing an opportunity, Fang Zhou quickly manipulated the Magic Cube in his hand, assembling a lively little dog and projecting it out. Xiao Ba¡¯s swollen belly and mouth both subsided as she squatted down, staring blankly with both large eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°What is this?¡± She asked in a soft, milky voice. Fang Zhou shook the Magic Cube: ¡°This is fun; I¡¯ll tell you about it if you shrink down.¡± Xiao Ba immediately shrank from thirty meters tall to less than one meter, even shorter than before. Fang Zhou continuously assembled various patterns and projected them out, featuring people and animals that not only looked vivid but also could interact. Xiao Ba put her finger in her mouth and was almost mesmerized, then after a while, she asked: ¡°Can I play with it?¡± ¡°You can play with it.¡± Fang Zhou said with a smile: ¡°But you can¡¯t hit me anymore; I am not a bad guy.¡± Xiao Ba frowned, torn between her sisters¡¯ admonishments and the fun object. It was a tough choice. She agonized for three seconds, then cast her sisters aside and raised her hand to Fang Zhou: ¡°I won¡¯t hit you, let me play.¡± She¡¯s so easy to appease. Fang Zhou handed over the Magic Cube with a smile, and Xiao Ba, beaming with joy, took it and immediately started fiddling with it. Seeing that all of Xiao Ba¡¯s attention was captivated by the Magic Cube, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Although she possessed terrifying power, she was indeed just a child, bought over by a toy. Thankfully, he had brought the Magic Cube with him; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have handled this Vajra Little Gourd. Taking advantage of Xiao Ba¡¯s lack of vigilance, Fang Zhou started teaching her how to play while also casually extracting information, quickly learning all about the gourd children. Xiao Ba, along with the seven gourd children, can only appear when they combine, and usually, they hide and sleep in a Spirit-like Divine Soul Realm. After the seven gourd children combine, their consciousness would enter the Divine Soul Realm, and Xiao Ba would control the combined body. Xiao Ba can freely travel between the body and the Divine Soul Realm, but the seven gourd children couldn¡¯t. They couldn¡¯t see the outside world or come out, and could only wait for Xiao Ba to voluntarily end the combination or when the combination time naturally expired. Fang Zhou also extracted the most crucial piece of information that the combined state could only last for a maximum of one day before it automatically ends. Poor Xiao Ba, she had always stayed in the Divine Soul Realm since she was young, only coming out for a day occasionally, which is even worse than being imprisoned. She appears to be just a pure child, not driven mad by containment, which is truly rare. Previously, Fang Zhou had a somewhat negative impression of the gourd children; after all, they had killed so many humans, and with differing species stands, there was nothing good to say. However, Xiao Ba was an exception. She hadn¡¯t participated in wrongdoings with her sisters and was still very innocent. With proper guidance, she might become a good spirit. Of course, things like nurturing and finding free labor, Fang Zhou definitely didn¡¯t think about that. Even if he did, it was just a tiny bit. With the compassionate belief of rescuing a not yet fallen spirit, Fang Zhou was ready to start tempting, ah no, to start guiding Xiao Ba. ¡°` However, before guiding her, it¡¯s essential to establish a good relationship with her. Building a relationship with a child is actually quite simple, requiring only three things¡ªToys, games, and stories. A toy is already available, Fang Zhou knows games, and the simplest magic tricks. He has seen many magic trick revelations before and knows the process, but unfortunately, as someone clumsy with hands, it¡¯s typical to understand mentally but fail physically. Now that his physical fitness is so strong, he just needs to remember the process, and he can succeed without any practice. As for stories, that¡¯s even simpler. He can effortlessly come up with various well-known fairy tales or even make up some of his own, such as whatever silly stories, easily deceiving a naive little monster like Little Eight. Fang Zhou initially wanted to wait until Little Eight got bored of magic before showing her some new tricks, but she didn¡¯t tire even after several hours and was still enthusiastic. This might be the first time in her monster life that she¡¯s had so much fun with a toy. If she continues to play, the day will pass by, and Fang Zhou could only take the initiative to perform a couple of small magic tricks for her. Little Eight¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the magic tricks, but her keen eyesight saw through the simple deceptions. Fang Zhou had no choice but to bring out his ace in the hole¡ªtelling her a story. This finally managed to captivate her. One was innocent-minded, and the other was deliberately pleasing; their relationship could be described as progressing by leaps and bounds. In less than half a day, Little Eight was already incessantly calling Fang Zhou ¡®Brother¡¯ in her childish voice. No wonder so many are fond of doting on younger sisters; it turns out that hearing a cute little girl call you ¡®Brother¡¯ is quite a heartwarming thing. Of course, becoming fond of younger sisters requires two conditions: one doesn¡¯t have a real younger sister, and the other is the younger sister must be pretty. It might sound contradictory, but it¡¯s not contradictory at all upon closer thought. Because those without real younger sisters tend to become fond of them, and those whom they imagine as younger sisters have to be pretty. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Also, to Fang Zhou¡¯s surprise, because Little Eight had grown up isolated, she harbored neither ideas of male superiority nor female inferiority¡ªit was like she was an uncarved gem. Of course, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t planning to make Little Eight someone without independent thoughts, but rather to instill in her the correct values for a comfortable relationship. Speaking of which, the notion of male deference to female is predominantly a human societal attitude¡ªnot so much a concern among monsters, where strength reigns supreme, although strong female monsters are somewhat more common. ¡°Brother, I need to go back.¡± Suddenly, Little Eight said to Fang Zhou, her constantly smiling face now without a smile. Fang Zhou then realized that the day had silently passed by; there¡¯s no transition of day and night within the gourd, making time changes less noticeable. And he had ended up spending a whole day playing with a child. ¡°Then go back, I¡¯ll come to play with you when I¡¯m free.¡± Fang Zhou patted Little Eight¡¯s head, feeling a bit reluctant. Compared with her seven sisters, Little Eight was much cuter and also more impressive. Suddenly, Little Eight hugged Fang Zhou, burying her head into his waist, and mumbled, ¡°You must not lie to Little Eight, okay? Don¡¯t be like my sisters, always saying they¡¯ll come to play with me soon but then taking a long, long, long time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother promises you that we will meet again soon.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and assured her, having already decided to take over Little Eight¡¯s education from those seven foolish gourds himself: ¡°Also, don¡¯t tell your sisters when you get back; this is our little secret between the two of us.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Little Eight released Fang Zhou, looked up at him, and emphasized again, ¡°You must come to find me, okay?¡± Fang Zhou nodded, handing her the Magic Cube: ¡°Can you take this in?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know; I¡¯ll try.¡± Holding the Magic Cube, Little Eight reluctantly bade farewell to Fang Zhou: ¡°Bye-bye, Brother!¡± After saying that, her whole body emitted a dazzling white light. ¡°` Chapter 111 - 111: 111. I can swear Chapter 111: 111. I can swear In the Divine Soul Realm, the seven gourd children huddled together. They had been waiting here for a full day. Xiao Ba had returned once before, but had not come back since, and they were unclear about the situation outside. Sixth child whispered, ¡°I hope nothing has happened to Xiao Ba.¡± Third child firmly said, ¡°No, Xiao Ba is stronger than all seven of us combined. Nothing will have happened.¡± Sixth child dared not say anything more, but she did not agree with third sister¡¯s words. Xiao Ba was formidable, but too na?ve and easily deceived, and it had been a whole day without any news. If there were no problems, she should have returned by now. Seeing the morale dropping, eldest child spoke up, ¡°The duration of our union is almost up, Xiao Ba will definitely be back before it ends, and we¡¯ll know soon enough if there¡¯s any trouble.¡± She was actually also worried, but was afraid that speaking up would be useless and might dampen spirits, so she kept it to herself. In fact, eldest child also did not wish to send such a na?ve child as Xiao Ba to face the enemy, but Xiao Ba was their only trump card, and they had to use her in this difficult situation. After a silence, Xiao Ba¡¯s figure suddenly appeared within the Divine Soul Realm. The gourds breathed a sigh of relief, quickly gathering around, bombarding her with questions. Finally, third child quieted everyone down, and eldest child took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Xiao Ba, how are the bad guys outside?¡± Xiao Ba shook her head, repeating what Fang Zhou had taught her to say, ¡°Big sister, I couldn¡¯t beat them. The brother outside caught me, then let me go.¡± Here, Xiao Ba made a mistake in her reply¡ªshe was supposed to refer to Fang Zhou as the bad guy, as Fang Zhou had taught her, but she still called him brother instead. Fortunately, the gourds didn¡¯t notice this, nor could they imagine that Xiao Ba had already turned traitor, acknowledging someone else as her brother outside. ¡°He caught you and then let you go, is he that powerful?¡± Eldest child asked, visibly shocked. Xiao Ba¡¯s prowess was best known by these elder sisters; in the past, even their grandfather could hardly handle her when they let her run wild at Lanruo Temple. That she could have been captured by that man outside. Surely he must have used some despicable tactics, as after all, that¡¯s how they all ended up inside the gourd. Eldest child wanted to ask more details, but Xiao Ba yawned, ¡°Big sister, I am sleepy. I want to sleep now.¡± At that moment, eldest child sensed something was wrong. Xiao Ba had always begged them to stay a bit longer, why would she suddenly want to sleep on her own? She noticed Xiao Ba holding a strange object and immediately asked, ¡°Xiao Ba, what is that? Since when can you bring things here?¡± Xiao Ba quickly hugged the Magic Cube to her chest, curled up into a ball, and rolled away. ¡°Xiao Ba, stop right there.¡± Eldest child was about to chase her when suddenly her vision blurred, and she found herself back in the gourd space. The union time had ended, and the seven gourd children were forced to leave the Divine Soul Realm. Just as they came out, they saw Fang Zhou not far away, which startled them all, and they instinctively wanted to move into action. ¡°Stop, I am not here to fight with you.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s loud shout stopped the gourds in their tracks, this was attributed to Xiao Ba¡¯s mistake; otherwise, they definitely wouldn¡¯t have listened to Fang Zhou¡¯s nonsense just now. Seeing that they had stopped, Fang Zhou continued, ¡°I have a message for you. You can decide whether to fight after listening.¡± Eldest child frowned, ¡°What message?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her, speaking in an even tone, ¡°Your grandfather is already dead.¡± At these words, all the gourd children were severely shaken, some with stunned expressions, and some looked utterly lost. Little Seven directly shouted at Fang Zhou, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Third Kid¡¯s face was full of anger as he charged towards Fang Zhou, but he was stopped by the First Kid before he could get close. Third Kid angrily said, ¡°Big Sister, are you still going to listen to his nonsensical ramblings?¡± First Kid replied solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive, I can tell truth from lies.¡± Seeing the unprecedented serious expression on First Kid¡¯s face, Third Kid was momentarily lost for words. First Kid turned to look at Fang Zhou, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°I believe Grandpa is already dead. Did you come here to kill us?¡± ¡°Big Sister!?¡± The other gourd kids became anxious, but First Kid just stared intently at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou shook his head, ¡°If I wanted to kill you, I could have done it outside. There¡¯s no need to come in person. I¡¯m here to propose a cooperation.¡± Third Kid sneered, ¡°Cooperate? You just want to deceive us into being your minions and sacrificing ourselves for you.¡± Well, aren¡¯t you smart now? What took you so long? Of course, Fang Zhou would not admit to Third Kid¡¯s accusation. This steel-boned Third Kid also had a steel-boned head, too stubborn, and First Kid was easier to communicate with. He continued to First Kid, ¡°Let me explain to you. I could have killed you all, but now I need some manpower. If you are willing to work for me, I will grant you freedom. If you fear I might deceive, I am willing to take the Heart Demon Oath.¡± Hearing the words ¡°Heart Demon Oath,¡± the gourd kids¡¯ faces turned ugly, and even First Kid started to mock him, ¡°You want to use an oath to deceive us again?¡± It was precisely because they had trusted Fang Zhou¡¯s Heart Demon Oath before that they were defeated one by one. Fang Zhou raised a finger and shook it, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. If I had used the Heart Demon Oath to deceive you, I would have died from violating the oath long ago. My oath was not the problem; the problem was that you mistakenly thought I couldn¡¯t use the gourd. That¡¯s not deception; it¡¯s strategy. In war, deception isn¡¯t frowned upon. You can¡¯t call me a cheat just because you were naive.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± First Kid wanted to argue, but she had nothing to say. Although she had gained some experience after being deceived once, arguing was still not her strong suit, same as the other gourd kids. Fang Zhou continued, ¡°My oaths will not be violated. If you are afraid, I can make a more detailed vow. Work for me, and I will grant you freedom in ten years. A fair cooperation, where no one is the other¡¯s lackey.¡± First Kid was silent for a while before saying, ¡°We need to think about it.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou nodded, ¡°Sure, discuss it. I¡¯ll come back after some time.¡± Previously, during the hostilities, he had to deceive the gourd kids, which meant he was tense and nervous throughout the process for fear of being exposed. This time, he came with sincerity and had no intention to deceive, believing that the gourd kids would see the reality. Moreover, the gourd kids¡¯ trump card was Vajra Little Gourd, and Vajra Little Gourd had already been turned by Fang Zhou; the remaining seven gourd kids had no way to overturn the situation. Fang Zhou had won them even at an overall disadvantage; now that he held all the advantages, it was even more straightforward. After Fang Zhou left, the gourd kids gathered around First Kid, with Third Kid discontentedly saying, ¡°Big Sis, Grandpa can¡¯t possibly be dead. Why do you believe that liar?¡± The other gourd kids also looked towards First Kid. First Kid sighed deeply, ¡°If Grandpa doesn¡¯t come to save us, whether he¡¯s dead or alive, it¡¯s all the same to us.¡± ¡°Big Sister, you¡­¡± The gourd kids were stunned, seemingly unable to believe that Big Sister would say something so ¡®utterly outrageous.¡¯ ¡°Wake up, sisters. Grandpa has never treated us as family but merely as subordinates that can be sacrificed at will.¡± With determination on her face, First Kid said, ¡°I am grateful for Grandpa¡¯s protection, but we have also done a lot for him. Now that we can¡¯t even save ourselves, and Grandpa¡¯s fate is unknown, we have no choice but to save ourselves.¡± Compared to Grandpa, First Kid hoped that her sisters could be safe and sound. Third Kid discontentedly said, ¡°Then we don¡¯t need to cooperate with that liar.¡± However, First Kid revealed a bitter smile, ¡°Third Sister, do you think we have a choice? Right now, our very lives are controlled by others.¡± Third Kid looked around the boundless gourd space and fell silent. Chapter 112 - 112: 112. Strategic Partner Chapter 112: 112. Strategic Partner After leaving the gourd space, Fang Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief. This had gone much better than he anticipated. He had prepared for the worst scenario where he would engage in a fierce battle with the gourd children, and both parties would be hurt, as he wasn¡¯t sure whether they would seek revenge after knowing about their grandfather¡¯s death. It seems that their kinship with their grandfather wasn¡¯t as firm as he had imagined. Ling Xiaoyue was still in the house sorting the small collected goods. Seeing how proficiently she worked, it seemed she had done this quite often, an eligible small vendor indeed. Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue for paper and a pen, and wrote two Contracts, outlining the scope of cooperation, responsibilities, and rewards with the gourd children. It might have seemed redundant, but Fang Zhou wanted to make it official, to create a serious ambiance to impress these unsophisticated rustic, oh no, rustic demons. After finishing, Fang Zhou waited for the ink to dry before carefully folding them. He planned to test whether he could bring objects into the gourd using his consciousness. He closed his eyes, entered the consciousness of the gourd, but his hands were empty; the Contracts could not come with him. Whether it was due to lack of skill or a fundamental impossibility, that question had to be explored later. Fang Zhou went back out, used the gourd to suck in the two Contracts, and then entered the gourd space with his consciousness. After finding the sucked-in Contracts, Fang Zhou flew towards the gourd children. In the gourd space, time flowed differently and much faster. The time outside that Fang Zhou took to write the two Contracts had already become several days inside the gourd. From afar, Fang Zhou saw the seven gourd children hiding on a flat boulder on the garbage mountain. Upon seeing Fang Zhou appear, the gourd children did not rush over shouting and fighting; they must have deliberated whether to accept Fang Zhou¡¯s proposal. However, their gaze towards Fang Zhou was devoid of goodwill; whether there was animosity was indiscernible, but hostility was evident, Especially the third child, whose eyes still brimmed with rage. It¡¯s baffling where this lass got such resentment; Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t really wronged her at Lanruo Temple. From the second youngest to the seventh, none moved, only the eldest approached, likely having reached a consensus. ¡°We agree to cooperate with you.¡± The eldest directly went to the point, but once the words were out, the determined expression collapsed, showing a look of anguish. As if from then on they would be slaves. It seems the gourd children truly did not trust Fang Zhou¡¯s talk of equal partnership; they thought Fang Zhou would inevitably enslave the seven sisters. If possible, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t mind doing so, but he clearly understood that slavery was a very backward system, and slavers did not meet good ends; there were too many risks involved. He still needed the gourd children to help him with work in the future. If he enslaved them, they would harbor grievances¡ªkeeping a group of demons by his side who were full of resentment, even hatred, would be foolish. Fang Zhou also wasn¡¯t interested in imposing too many restrictions or reeducating them, nor did he have the energy; it was better to be clear from the start. ¡°Don¡¯t rush into agreement.¡± Fang Zhou handed the Contract to the eldest, ¡°Take a look at this first.¡± The eldest took the Contract with a puzzled look, glanced down, then looked up at Fang Zhou, displaying an awkward expression. She couldn¡¯t read. He isn¡¯t exactly illiterate; Big Sister can recognize the characters on a chessboard, but beyond that, nothing more. Fortunately, among the gourd creatures, there is one who can read, and that is Second Sister. When Fang Zhou first met Second Sister, he found her reading a book, her appearance gentle and scholarly like a literate scholar. Big Sister took the Contract back to Second Sister for her to read, and the group of gourd creatures huddled together whispering. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°This is a Contract.¡± After Second Sister read through the Contract from start to finish, she looked puzzled, ¡°It mentions something about cooperation with us.¡± ¡°Cooperation?¡± Third Sister quickly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t he trying to turn us into slaves?¡± Second Sister also shook her head in confusion, indicating she was also unclear, then she read aloud the contents of the Contract to her sisters. Although the content was plentiful, it wasn¡¯t complicated. Fang Zhou tried to write in simple, straightforward sentences, using fewer idioms, to avoid confusion for these magical creatures. The first sentence of the Contract was about forming a strategic partnership, emphasizing the responsibilities and rewards for both sides. The gourd creatures were responsible for following Fang Zhou¡¯s commands, ensuring his personal safety, with a work period of ten years. Throughout these ten years, Fang Zhou would take care of their daily needs, and after ten years, they must be granted their freedom. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were many other detailed clauses, such as the gourd creatures must not slack off, betray, or hurt their employer; and Fang Zhou must not ask them to do deadly tasks or intentionally endanger their safety. There were also several benefits, like receiving basic living necessities, being allowed to go outdoors in turn once a day, and even receiving bonuses for good performance. After listening to Second Sister¡¯s explanation, the gourd creatures were bewildered, and couldn¡¯t help thinking ¨C could this person be a fool, to offer such favorable conditions to these defeated subordinates? The victor enslaving the defeated is a common occurrence among magical creatures, and even humans. Losers lose everything and are disposed of at the victor¡¯s mercy; being tormented then killed or eaten is the most common outcome. Fang Zhou choosing to cooperate as equals was indeed a bizarre and rare notion. Of course, if Fang Zhou had truly chosen to enslave them, the gourd creatures, forced by circumstances, would accept it, but they would regard him as an enemy destined to be killed, rather than merely calling him a foolish idiot under their breaths. Fourth Sister interjected, ¡°Can we trust this?¡± Fifth Sister immediately retorted, ¡°It¡¯s written in black and white, how can we not trust it?¡± ¡°Who told you that just because it¡¯s written, it¡¯s trustworthy?¡± ¡°Why write it down if it can¡¯t be trusted?¡± Seeing that the twins were about to argue again, Big Sister quickly intervened, ¡°Stop bickering, do we even have a choice? Our current situation is already much better than what we anticipated.¡± Indeed, under someone else¡¯s roof, they had to bow their heads ¨C life and death were controlled by the victor, and all the losers could do was accept everything. Although Fang Zhou¡¯s approach was unexpected, whether true or not, it was much better than direct enslavement; they had even prepared themselves mentally to be collared by Fang Zhou. Moreover, having made it so formal, even presenting a Contract, perhaps he really intended it that way. Big Sister, holding the Contract, approached Fang Zhou, this time the other gourd creatures followed, looking at him with strange expressions. ¡°We agree to the content of this Contract.¡± Big Sister said to Fang Zhou, this time without showing any pain, only a face full of puzzlement. Seeing the gourd creatures agree, Fang Zhou showed no particular surprise; they would agree to enslavement, let alone his proposal for equal cooperation unless they were out of their minds. Chapter 113 - 113: 113. Picking up trash at the start Chapter 113: 113. Picking up trash at the start ¡°Keep your copies of the Contract, and let¡¯s take the Heart Demon Oath according to its terms, to ease your minds.¡± Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t fully trust these gourd children, so in addition to the Contract, having an oath seemed more secure. The gourd children were somewhat surprised; if they truly took oaths according to the Contract¡¯s content, then indeed they wouldn¡¯t have to be slaves. Could this man really be so magnanimous? The gourd children looked at each other, and eventually, under the lead of the eldest, they started taking the oath; they wouldn¡¯t easily trust Fang Zhou either, as this fellow indeed had a past record; taking an oath was somewhat more reassuring. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After taking the oaths according to the Contract, a contractual relationship was established between the two parties. From here on, the gourd children needed to work for Fang Zhou without compensation for ten years before gaining their freedom. Ten years was not long for demons, especially Grass and Wood Demons, so they didn¡¯t find it excessive. Being able to exchange a mere ten years for life and freedom was already a great bargain. After the oath was taken, both parties were silent for a moment, as transitioning from enemies to cooperative relations didn¡¯t immediately improve their closeness or trust. The third child was the one who first broke the silence: ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t think that because we now agree, you¡¯ll win our hearts; we will never submit to you.¡± Fang Zhou looked at her curiously: ¡°What do I want with your hearts? I want your bodies, give your hearts to whoever you want.¡± The third child was momentarily lost for words. Fang Zhou felt pleased; having been in this world for so long, it was finally his turn to yearn for others¡¯ bodies, and even for many at once. That¡¯s the thrill of being a scoundrel who wants only bodies and not hearts. By the way, there¡¯s no ghs here. Fang Zhou extended his hand toward the eldest: ¡°I hope we can cooperate well, Eldest.¡± The eldest was startled, revealing a puzzled expression: ¡°I¡¯m not called Eldest.¡± Fang Zhou was also startled: ¡°Then what¡¯s your name?¡± She smiled slightly: ¡°My name is Hong Tang, we didn¡¯t originally have our names; we chose them for ourselves later.¡± She then introduced the names of her sisters to Fang Zhou. The second eldest is Cheng Xing, who hesitantly nodded at Fang Zhou. The third is Huang Lian, with a cold expression. The fourth is Lu Rong, and the fifth, Qing Lan, is her twin sister; the two sisters whispered to each other, about who knows what. The sixth, who can become invisible, is Lan Shao, she harbors the least enmity towards Fang Zhou, but also the most fear, now hiding behind the others. The youngest, the seventh, is called Zi Wen, a true brat, who likes to judge people through her nostrils. These are the names of the seven sisters, without a surname; if they had one, it might be Gourd. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect the gourd children to actually choose names for themselves, but these names sounded odd to him, as if he had heard them somewhere before. He wanted to ask what the eighth was called, but after thinking it over, he held back and didn¡¯t ask, to avoid exposing his close relationship with the eighth. As for whether the gourd children and the Tree Demon are biologically related, Fang Zhou was curious, but since the Tree Demon is now a taboo between the two parties, it wasn¡¯t suitable to ask; he could only keep it in his mind and address it later. Clearly, Hong Tang didn¡¯t understand the meaning of handshaking and was indifferent towards the hand Fang Zhou extended. Fang Zhou nonchalantly withdrew his hand and coughed. ¡°Since the contract is complete, I¡¯ll assign you ladies a task.¡± The seven sisters turned solemn, nervous, anxious, and expectant¡ªwhat would Fang Zhou¡¯s first task for them be? Would it involve murder or treasure hunting? Yet, Fang Zhou pointed to the sprawling garbage mountain and said, ¡°The task I am giving you is to sort through this garbage. Separate the potentially useful items from the useless ones and dispose of the latter. You can also use these materials to build yourself some houses.¡± The seven sisters were shocked, their eyes widened¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected Fang Zhou to assign them to garbage picking and sorting. ¡°If there are no objections, then start. If you need anything, let me know, and I¡¯ll bring it in after I leave.¡± Hong Tang thought for a moment and said, ¡°Could you bring us some dew? If possible, as much as you can.¡± Although they were all demons, they had not yet mastered fasting and still needed to eat to survive. Fortunately, being Grass and Wood Demons, they could survive on just dew. If they were carnivorous demons, Fang Zhou would have had to find meat for them. As Grass and Wood Demons, they needed the Sun and Moon Essence and Spiritual Energy for cultivation, neither of which were in the gourd. So, Hong Tang did not dare to ask for too much. ¡°Dew may not be available; would ordinary water suffice?¡± Once it was confirmed that ordinary water would work, Fang Zhou carefully stored his contract away and then turned to leave. After Fang Zhou left, Cheng Xing asked her eldest sister, ¡°Should we continue with the plan we discussed earlier?¡± It turned out that the seven sisters had previously agreed that if Fang Zhou enslaved them, they would pretend to submit and then look for an opportunity to assassinate him. They¡¯d rather gamble for a chance at freedom than be slaves for life. But now, with Fang Zhou¡¯s arrangement requiring only ten years of work for freedom and him not treating them as mistreated slaves, their previous plan to assassinate him seemed unnecessary. Hong Tang pondered, ¡°Let¡¯s put that aside for now. If he goes back on his word or circumvents the Heart Demon Oath, we can always act later. For now, let¡¯s focus on completing the task he gave us to avoid accusations of negligence.¡± Cheng Xing nodded, and the other sisters agreed. Then, the seven sisters looked out at the sprawling garbage mountain again and fell silent. How long would it take to sort through all this trash? From the eldest, Hong Tang, to the sixth, Lan Shao, they all turned their heads to stare at the youngest, blaming her, the troublemaker, for recklessly absorbing so much trash. Although Zi Wen was usually unruly, she knew to flash an appeasing smile at her sisters now. ¡­ Fang Zhou left the gourd space and went outside. The issue with the gourd children was temporarily resolved. As for future problems, Fang Zhou was certain there would be some, but he believed they wouldn¡¯t be more difficult than today. He had spoken from his heart when he told Huang Lian that winning over the gourd children¡¯s genuine respect and compliance was too difficult and thankless an effort for him to bother with. Having gained seven free laborers and bodyguards, Fang Zhou was already more than satisfied. One shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. There was a small lake atop Moon Viewing Peak. Fang Zhou took the gourd to the edge of the lake and absorbed several tons of water¡ªit should be enough for them to drink. When he returned to the thatched hut, Fang Zhou saw a beam of light flying towards him from the distant sea of clouds. As the light neared, he could see clearly¡ªit was a beautiful woman sitting cross-legged on a sword, surrounded by white light emanating from the Spirit Sword beneath her. Fang Zhou had seen this woman before; she had been standing next to Xuan Ling, apparently named something like Yu something. As Fang Zhou pondered her name, she had already landed on her sword at Moon Viewing Peak. Chapter 114 - 114: 114. Lacking a severe beating from society Chapter 114: 114. Lacking a severe beating from society Yu Qing rode the Spirit Sword, coming to the skies above Moon Viewing Peak. This place she had visited a few times, and each time she came, the sight of the three thatched cottages deeply moved her. In her eyes, this was the attitude a Cultivator should have towards life ¨C not clinging to material possessions, content and at ease. If one pursued extravagant palaces and indulged in excessive desires, it would only cloud the mind and obstruct the path to enlightenment. Thus, Yu Qing didn¡¯t have such a bad impression of Ling Xiaoyue, even though her Master¡¯s relationship with Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t good. Before she landed, Yu Qing noticed Fang Zhou and flew directly over to him, where she descended in front of him; the Spirit Sword transformed into a jade hairpin and was inserted into her long hair. Fang Zhou was somewhat on guard, afraid that this person had come to cause trouble. But Yu Qing revealed a gentle smile to him: ¡°Little brother, you¡¯ve given us quite the runaround, it turns out your name isn¡¯t Li Yunlong.¡± With her smile, an aura like that of spring blossomed forth, resembling the fresh and natural beauty of flowers after rain. Fang Zhou¡¯s spirits lifted, feeling an exhilarating rush akin to taking a drug, and it immediately brought to mind certain famous advertising slogans ¨C this woman could definitely make a fortune if she went into commercials. However, it made him even more vigilant; an encounter beginning with such ¡®poison¡¯ surely meant no good intentions. Li Ruyu, initially, had also given off a refreshing impression, yet he ended up revealing a brutal nature. ¡°My surname is Fang, what do you want?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s indifferent attitude did not offend Yu Qing, she smiled and said: ¡°So you are Taoist Fang. I am Yu Qing, a disciple of the Sword Control lineage. Indeed, I¡¯ve come for a small matter.¡± ¡°Are you looking for my Master? She is inside, you can go in yourself.¡± Fang Zhou pointed at the thatched cottage. But Yu Qing didn¡¯t move an inch and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°No, I am not here to see your esteemed Master, but to find Taoist Fang himself.¡± Fang Zhou was taken aback, could it be that he was supposed to return and insert those flying Spirit Swords back into Buried Sword Ridge? He kept his facial expression unchanged: ¡°What do you want me for? If you need me for some work, I am afraid I¡¯ve been having a backache recently, and I really don¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°Work?¡± Yu Qing was momentarily startled, then spoke: ¡°Taoist Fang may have misunderstood, I am here to deliver something to you.¡± She pulled a jade token out from her sleeve and handed it to Fang Zhou: ¡°This is our Sect¡¯s token, with it, you can freely enter and exit the Mountain Protection Array and can also use the shuttle to descend the mountain. It is by my Master¡¯s orders that I am delivering it to you.¡± ¡°For me?¡± Fang Zhou found it strange, why would someone suddenly give him something for no reason: ¡°Why give this to me?¡± Yu Qing explained: ¡°Naturally, to form a congenial relationship with Taoist Fang. After all, Taoist Fang has passed through our Sect¡¯s entry trials, and the story has already become quite the tale. If Taoist Fang has free time, you can also visit Yujian Peak to appreciate the scenery, and we can sit down to exchange insights. Wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?¡± So without even reaching the Innate Realm, you all want to sit down and exchange insights. What insights are we to exchange? Discussing the path along a narrow trail or the great road to heaven? But Fang Zhou understood what Heavenly Sword Sect was up to; they were still coveting his talent, getting ready to poach him, with both gifts and smooth talk. Yu Qing is one of the three great True Disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect, herself already at the Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and might break through to the Innate Realm at any moment¡ªthe difference in standing far surpasses that of an ordinary Disciple. Fang Zhou is merely in the Qi Refinement Realm, yet Yu Qing proposed sitting down to exchange insights with him, clearly elevating him to a very high position. If it were anyone else, they might have been carried away by now. Unfortunately, they encountered Fang Zhou, whose thinking was entirely different from others. The moment they mentioned sitting down for discussion, his mind raced with thoughts of scheming. ¡°Well, then I should thank you all.¡± Fang Zhou accepted the jade token, not turning down what was freely given; the way to handle a sugar-coated bullet was to swallow the sugar and return the bullet ¨C if they could sway him, then it¡¯s my loss. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be polite.¡± Yu Qing looked towards the distant thatched cottages and suddenly said: ¡°Such a humble abode, has Taoist Fang grown accustomed to living here?¡± Here comes the old trick¡ªgive gifts and sweet words, then find weak spots to sow discord. Fang Zhou has seen plenty of these petty schemes. Fang Zhou is quite irritated with Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s three-thatched cottages too, but that¡¯s an internal family matter. It¡¯s not an outsider¡¯s place to chirp and chirrup about it. But what she said is also true; damn it all to Ling Xiaoyue. Since he was the recipient of a favor, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t show any displeasure but stood with one hand behind his back, calmly gazing at the rolling clouds in the distance, and said mildly, ¡°Have you, Taoist Yu Qing, ever heard this saying?¡± Yu Qing replied earnestly, ¡°Please enlighten me.¡± ¡°A mountain doesn¡¯t need to be high; it is renowned if it harbors immortals. Water doesn¡¯t need to be deep; it is spirited if it harbors dragons. This may be a humble abode, but it¡¯s where my virtue resides.¡± Fang Zhou turned around, smiled at her, and said, ¡°The pursuit of cultivation is the path to longevity. If one clings to material possessions, it will cloud the spirit and be counterproductive. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Yu Qing was profoundly shaken, staring blankly at Fang Zhou. After a silent stare between the two, after a few seconds, Fang Zhou got a bit flustered. What¡¯s going on? Why is she completely motionless? Could it be some sort of ailment? Fang Zhou simply felt that Yu Qing¡¯s statements were undeniable facts, and instead of rebutting, thought it would be easier to bluff his way through with some profound words. He did not expect this kind of reaction. Finally, Yu Qing snapped back to reality, her porcelain-like cheeks instantly flushing red. She had always thought her simple ideals were misunderstood by others, never expecting to meet a kindred soul who could express such stunning words and stir her so deeply. The words Fang Zhou just spoke struck right at her heart, poking sharply at its softest spot. She solemnly gave a bow to Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang has spoken truly; Yu Qing has learned her lesson.¡± Fang Zhou, however, watched her with some surprise, puzzled by her intense reaction. Could it be that this person is the artistic type? After pondering, Fang Zhou asked Yu Qing, ¡°What do you think of my master?¡± Yu Qing immediately responded earnestly, ¡°Your master is unconcerned with material things and has a noble character; indeed, an exemplar for us all.¡± Moreover, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s shamelessness reminded her very much of True Master Yu Jian, which she found endearingly familiar. Fang Zhou understood then; she was a child who hadn¡¯t been toughened by the harshness of society. Indulging in luxury yet advocating hardship and adversity. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Little did they know, nobody truly likes hardship; the ultimate purpose of enduring it is to eventually enjoy luxury. Only after satisfying material needs can one pursue spiritual life and the path to longevity. With an empty stomach and no warm clothes, good luck cultivating anything¡ªmight as well get back to plowing the fields. If she were to enter the thatched cottage now and see the mountain of trinkets inside, who knows what she would think. Fang Zhou immediately knew that he and Yu Qing were not on the same path because he was a very pragmatic person, not one to seek out hardship for the sake of it. But having just postured pretentiously, he couldn¡¯t contradict himself so soon, so he decided to change the subject. ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, my master has the deed to Moon Viewing Peak. Do you know the story behind how she acquired it?¡± Ling Xiaoyue refused to give details, leaving Fang Zhou with a gut feeling that there were issues to probe. He could only seek clarification from the Heavenly Sword Sect. ¡°Didn¡¯t your master tell you?¡± Yu Qing asked in surprise. ¡°She indeed possesses the deed to Moon Viewing Peak. However, the story behind that deed is rather complicated.¡± The event happened about two years ago when Ling Xiaoyue first appeared at Heavenly Sword Sect, brandishing a deed from Tongtian Sect, demanding the land specified on the deed¡ªthe very Moon Viewing Peak. Of course, the Heavenly Sword Sect would not entertain Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s claims. After all, the Tongtian Sect, which had been situated in the Cloud Sea Mountains more than six hundred years ago, had long perished. She had a deed from Tongtian Sect, but what did that have to do with them at Heavenly Sword Sect? The Heavenly Sword Sect dismissed Ling Xiaoyue and sent her away. Who knew that the next day she would crash through their Mountain Protection Array and take up residence on Moon Viewing Peak, refusing to leave. Chapter 115 - 115: 115. Seeing green makes me think of grasslands Chapter 115: 115. Seeing green makes me think of grasslands S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s rogue behavior confused the Heavenly Sword Sect. Where is the sense in seizing without reasoning? And it¡¯s one thing to take advantage of ordinary people, but the Heavenly Sword Sect is a famous Major Sect in both Jingnan State and Chu Kingdom, how dare you try to take advantage of them? The Heavenly Sword Sect immediately dispatched people, planning to drive Ling Xiaoyue away, but unexpectedly, Ling Xiaoyue was very formidable, and several elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect were unable to subdue her. In the end, the Heavenly Sword Sect had to resort to their trump card, asking True Master Yu Jian to make a direct move¡ªbut failed to win. Yu Jian, not caring about losing face, had to pull in both the Mysterious Sword and the Thunder Sword to finally drive Ling Xiaoyue away. Then the next day, she came back, angering True Master Yu Jian to the point of furious embarrassment, which was very unseemly. Individually, no true master could handle Ling Xiaoyue, but if more than two went together, she would immediately flee and return once the coast was clear, displaying utter shamelessness. Faced with such a rogue, the Heavenly Sword Sect was at a loss; they couldn¡¯t have the Sect Master personally deal with a rogue¡ª that would be degrading, and three true masters couldn¡¯t stay permanently at Moon Viewing Peak. So they negotiated with Ling Xiaoyue, but the goals of both sides were too far apart to reach any consensus. Even though the Heavenly Sword Sect had a thousand-year heritage, they had not settled in the Cloud Sea Mountains from the start, but had moved there only six hundred years ago. Six hundred years ago, the Cloud Sea Mountains were the territory of the Tongtian Sect, but since the Tongtian Sect had long perished, according to the unspoken rules of the Cultivation World, after the fall of the Tongtian Sect, the Cloud Sea Mountains were considered ownerless, and whoever claimed them first could consider them their territory. But Ling Xiaoyue argued convincingly that not all descendants of the Tongtian Sect had perished, some were still scattered about, and she had purchased her land deed from the descendants of the Tongtian Sect. ¡°You Heavenly Sword Sect are occupying Tongtian Sect property as a rogue sect. I am here to retrieve what I paid for, which is perfectly justifiable.¡± The negotiations failed, but the two sides did not resume fighting because the Heavenly Sword Sect cared too much about face, fearing that pushing too hard would cause Ling Xiaoyue to publicize the matter, making them a laughingstock. Thus, the situation remained deadlocked. Fortunately, Ling Xiaoyue had no plans to establish a sect at Moon Viewing Peak and often disappeared, so the Heavenly Sword Sect turned a blind eye and let her be. After hearing Yu Qing¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou finally understood what was going on, and this indeed seemed very much like Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s style. He could be certain that Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s land deed was definitely not purchased, but likely acquired by chance, and she had rushed to the Heavenly Sword Sect in the spirit of taking an opportunity that came her way. ¡°Taoist Fang.¡± Yu Qing suddenly spoke in a low voice, ¡°Although it¡¯s hard to distinguish right from wrong in this matter, our sect will not keep ignoring it forever. Taoist Fang needs to prepare in advance.¡± This seemed like a covert hint that the Heavenly Sword Sect couldn¡¯t tolerate Ling Xiaoyue occupying Moon Viewing Peak any longer. If it were only her, the Heavenly Sword Sect could still turn a blind eye and pretend nothing happened. Now that Fang Zhou was involved with plans to establish a sect, that was something they couldn¡¯t ignore. But what does it mean to prepare in advance? Are they suggesting I switch sides? Fang Zhou glanced at Yu Qing, thinking that the Heavenly Sword Sect was really keeping a tight watch on him. What, are you so short of talented people? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the Eastern Depot. After Yu Qing conveyed her message and saw that Fang Zhou made no move to invite her inside, she chose to take her leave. She leapt up lightly, and her jade hairpin transformed into a Spirit Sword under her feet. She sat cross-legged on the Spirit Sword, bowed to Fang Zhou, and then flew towards the Cloud Sea. Fang Zhou returned to the thatched cottage, where Ling Xiaoyue was still checking her goods. Seeing Fang Zhou enter, she casually asked, ¡°Has that girl Yu Qing left?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Zhou nodded and added, ¡°She said the Heavenly Sword Sect won¡¯t let this go, and they¡¯ll eventually drive us away.¡± Ling Xiaoyue showed a disdainful expression, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? With me here, no one can drive us away. This is our territory.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you that I¡¯m worried. If the Heavenly Sword Sect is determined to drive the master and disciple away, Fang Zhou doesn¡¯t know what to do; he can only pin his hopes on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s personal martial strength, which is way too risky. The Heavenly Sword Sect probably won¡¯t act rashly right away; this matter can¡¯t be rushed and can only be discussed later. As he was pondering, Ling Xiaoyue turned her head and asked, ¡°Have you dealt with all the demons in the gourd?¡± Fang Zhou just remembered this matter, nodded, and handed the gourd to Ling Xiaoyue, then anxiously instructed, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t kill them, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to handle them.¡± Ling Xiaoyue took the gourd and laughed, ¡°As your master, my capabilities aren¡¯t something you should doubt. You haven¡¯t even used it fully yet, and you¡¯re worried like this?¡± She patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder and winked, ambiguously saying, ¡°You should practice moderation, disciple, don¡¯t overwork and harm your body.¡± Damn it, you think everyone has a dirty mind like you. Plus, with the gourd demons being so dangerous now, who would dare mess with them unless they want to be bitten to death during the fun? Even if one wanted to mess around, at least wait until I¡¯ve fully absorbed the Innate Yang Qi. After Ling Xiaoyue finished checking the items, she began making the gourd for Fang Zhou. Originally, she thought it would take a long time, but after asking Fang Zhou for some blood, she finished it that same night. After being processed, the gourd changed color, surprisingly turning green. Fang Zhou confronted Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Seriously, did you do this on purpose? Why is it green?¡± Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t understand, ¡°The gourd is naturally green; it¡¯s a healthy color. It makes one think of the grasslands and wild horses running free. What¡¯s not to like?¡± Fang Zhou was unconvinced, ¡°Keep that healthy color for yourself then, give me a more low-key color.¡± Ling Xiaoyue scoffed, ¡°What virtue.¡± But in the end, she did change it for Fang Zhou to a dull gray color, which was very inconspicuous. This was what Fang Zhou wanted; purple was too flashy, which did not suit his low-profile demeanor, and green was absolutely unacceptable. When he got the gourd back, an odd sensation immediately surged through him; the gourd felt like a part of his own body, a totally different feeling from when it was connected to the Golden Core. Moreover, now using the gourd didn¡¯t require the use of the Golden Core¡¯s Yin Cold Spiritual Energy anymore, just Fang Zhou¡¯s own Spiritual Energy sufficed. Fang Zhou gave it a try; the scope and strength of the absorption hadn¡¯t changed, but it used up one-third of his Spiritual Energy in just one shot, and his whole body¡¯s Spiritual Energy could only support three uses. Fang Zhou thought Ling Xiaoyue had messed up the gourd and quickly went to settle the score with her. After listening to Fang Zhou¡¯s complaints, Ling Xiaoyue scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s not your natural treasure, of course using it would consume Spiritual Energy. You felt the consumption was little before because you borrowed the Golden Core¡¯s energy; now it¡¯s all on you. How much Spiritual Energy can a minor Qi Refining Realm like you possibly have?¡± Alright, Fang Zhou had nothing to say, not expecting there to be such downsides to making the gourd his own. Actually, it wasn¡¯t really a downside; previously using the Golden Core¡¯s Spiritual Energy was a shortcut. Now without shortcuts, once he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and his Spiritual Energy is sufficient, using the gourd will be no problem. After sorting out the gourd, Fang Zhou began to pick a location for his living quarters. Moon Viewing Peak was not small at all, it could even comfortably fit an amusement park. There were lakes, mountain springs, and even a bamboo forest. Fang Zhou chose to build his house in front of a waterfall formed by a mountain spring, not wanting to stay with Ling Xiaoyue. After spending several days building a bamboo house for himself, Fang Zhou thought what followed would be boring cultivation days. Little did he expect that trouble had just begun to find its way to him.¡± Chapter 116 - 116: 116. Cultivation also faces forced demolition Chapter 116: 116. Cultivation also faces forced demolition After settling down on Moon Viewing Peak, Fang Zhou began his mundane cultivation life. He¡¯s now at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, no longer able to improve his physical strength merely through the nourishment of Spiritual Energy. He could only accumulate a massive amount of Spiritual Energy within his body to prepare for the eventual breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Fang Zhou had no idea how much Spiritual Energy was required. He asked Ling Xiaoyue, and she said to just fill himself up until it overflowed. The more, the better anyway, since not having enough accumulated Spiritual Energy was the most common cause of failure in attempting to achieve Foundation Establishment. After moving beside the waterfall, Fang Zhou¡¯s days consisted of cultivation, eating, cultivation, eating, occasionally checking on the progress of the gourd boys picking up trash in the gourd, then more cultivation, and eating. Besides accumulating Spiritual Energy himself, Fang Zhou also had to periodically refine the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy within his Golden Core. It was challenging to refine, as each strand of Yin Cold Spiritual Energy could keep Fang Zhou busy for a while, but when refined, it brought him a considerable amount of Spiritual Energy, even more than his own cultivative accumulation. He felt that at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he was completely filled with Spiritual Energy. Four or five days passed when Ling Xiaoyue took the initiative to come to the waterfall to find him. ¡°My disciple, your master needs to go out for a while.¡± ¡°Granted.¡± Ling Xiaoyue knocked on Fang Zhou¡¯s head with her flask: ¡°You scoundrel, what are you granting permission for? I need to be away for quite a while, maybe a few months.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sect would hold a trade fair at the year¡¯s end, which was still about half a year away, but Ling Xiaoyue had quite a bit of merchandise stored in other places that she needed to retrieve. What? To be separated from Ling Xiaoyue for months? Fang Zhou was taken aback, almost laughing aloud. That would be wonderful, this woman was always troublesome, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t wait for her to scram. Of course, he could not show this sentiment. Reluctantly, Fang Zhou tried to squeeze out some tears: ¡°Master, be careful on the road, watch for safety, I will miss you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was also very moved: ¡°Disciple, your master is also reluctant to leave you. How about we go together?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s tear-wiping hand stiffened: ¡°I¡¯ve just hit a bottleneck in my cultivation recently and it¡¯s not suitable for me to move around. You should go on your own, master.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes narrowed with a smile: ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? I will personally guide you on the road, and you¡¯ll be so happy that you won¡¯t even think of homesickness.¡± Fang Zhou was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said, ¡°I can go with you, but I¡¯ll need a labor fee, not a penny less than ten thousand taels.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s expression changed drastically: ¡°You rebellious disciple, daring to ask your master for a labor fee, you wish! Not a single coin for you.¡± She cursed and ran out, flying away on her flask. Soon after, the roar of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array Elder could be heard: ¡°Ling, you¡¯ve trespassed into our Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array again, don¡¯t run!!¡± Once Ling Xiaoyue left, Fang Zhou immediately felt the scenery of Moon Viewing Peak become more beautiful, and even the air seemed fresher and more pleasant. Now alone on this mountain, he could do whatever he wanted without being pestered by anyone. How cool. Sadly, Fang Zhou¡¯s good mood lasted only until the afternoon. A small shuttle flew through the clouds and descended onto Moon Viewing Peak. From the shuttle, more than a dozen Heavenly Sword Sect disciples disembarked, led by a man. As soon as he got off, he pointed at the three conspicuous thatched cottages and said loudly, ¡°Tear them down.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, upon hearing this, moved forward. A figure sped from a distance, arriving in an instant to block their path. ¡°Stop!¡± It was Fang Zhou. He had seen the shuttle land from the waterfall side and initially thought it was people from the Heavenly Sword Sect coming to visit. He didn¡¯t expect that as soon as these people arrived, they would start to demolish the cottages. These three thatched cottages were modest, but they were all that Fang Zhou and his master had; they couldn¡¯t just let people tear them down. Especially not by the Heavenly Sword Sect, that would be a different matter altogether. When the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples saw Fang Zhou, they all stopped. The man approached Fang Zhou, looked him up and down, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes, clearly the nickname ¡°foot-scratching man¡± was working its subtle magic. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t expected a man to be the leader, a rarity indeed. If he had known, he would have removed the nickname. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man scolded Fang Zhou: ¡°How dare you obstruct our Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s internal affairs?¡± This guy was obviously pretending to be ignorant, and Fang Zhou nearly burst out laughing: ¡°This is Moon Viewing Peak, my territory, who gave you the right to tear down my home?¡± ¡°Your territory?¡± The man seemed to have heard a joke, his voice shrill as he laughed: ¡°Ridiculous, this place belongs to our Sect. Since when did it become the territory of you rogues? I am Wang Xiuzhu, a Deacon of Heavenly Sword Peak, acting on the name of the Law Enforcement Elder, to tear down these shabby cottages and drive you two rogues out of our Sect.¡± Hearing this, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel disheartened. Just what he feared, Yu Qing had hinted at this threat. Fang Zhou thought there¡¯d be some time before the Heavenly Sword Sect would act, but he didn¡¯t expect them to come so quickly. And they specifically chose when Ling Xiaoyue was away. Were they thinking he was easy to bully alone, or was this some kind of test? Ling Xiaoyue couldn¡¯t possibly have heard something and run away in advance, right? Damn, it was actually possible. Fang Zhou¡¯s mind raced as he rapidly pondered his next move. Wang Xiuzhu saw Fang Zhou silent and thought he had no argument, so he sneered: ¡°Did you understand? If so, pack up your things and scram quickly. Don¡¯t make us use force and accidentally take your life.¡± Wang Xiuzhu looked alright, but a pity that his single eyelids and thin lips, plus his affected demeanor, made him look petty and spiteful, just like a eunuch. Fang Zhou looked at him and instantly had a strategy. He must prevent the demolition or being driven off, or else it would create a fait accompli. He didn¡¯t have the prowess of Ling Xiaoyue to return after being driven away. But he couldn¡¯t cause too much of a commotion either, or else if the elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect got involved, he wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. He had to grasp the right degree, neither too soft nor too hard would work. Fang Zhou beckoned lightly, and from the bamboo cottage near the waterfall, the Sword Box suddenly soared up, breaking through the window and shooting into the sky, quickly arriving in front of the cottages. Fang Zhou reached out to catch the Sword Box and slammed it down firmly, making it stand like a tombstone. His hands rested on the Sword Box as he said gravely, ¡°Whoever dares to demolish my home today must step over my dead body. Even if I die, I will poke her P-hole.¡± The first two sentences sounded quite heroic, but with the addition of the last two, the atmosphere abruptly turned bizarre. The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect looked at each other, some actually seeming eager to try. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Being poked by a handsome young man, the thought itself was stimulating. Chapter 117 - 117: Why should men make life difficult for other men? Chapter 117: Why should men make life difficult for other men? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou disturbed the minds of these Heavenly Sword Sect disciples with just a single sentence. Their thoughts wandered into the inappropriate, and their expressions turned somewhat sleazy, as if they had come not to demolish, but to patronize a brothel together. ¡°Silence!¡± Wang Xiuzhu shouted the catchphrase of Elder Feng Qin to stop the whispering among his subordinates. He glared at Fang Zhou and berated him: ¡°Shameless scoundrel, how dare you resist enforcement! Don¡¯t blame us for being merciless then. All disciples, on my command, take him down and lock him in the dungeon to await punishment.¡± The spirits of the Heavenly Sword disciples were lifted as they each drew their Spirit Swords, swift as falcons and hares, and pounced towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t summon the Xuanyuan Sword but instead grabbed the Sword Box to defend himself while silently deploying the Sword Control Technique. Upon using the Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou immediately felt a dozen responses, all coming from the Spirit Swords in the hands of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. Indeed, although these Spirit Swords belonged to the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, they could still be sensed and even forcibly controlled by Fang Zhou¡¯s Sword Control Technique. No wonder the Sword Control Technique, notoriously difficult to master, was so domineering that it could even cuck someone with their own sword. Could the creator of this technique have been a perv? Leveraging his physical attributes that far surpassed those of both the Qi Refining Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm, Fang Zhou was able to fend off the assault from the dozen Heavenly Sword Sect disciples with just the Sword Box. If necessary, he could easily knock them all to the ground, but there¡¯s an almost ironclad rule that beating the lesser ones would bring out the greater ones, and since Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t deal with those old fogeys for now, he had to pretend to be weak. Most of these dozen disciples were female, who showed no intention of fighting Fang Zhou to the death, as after all, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s order was to capture, not to kill. Moreover, facing such a beauty, they subconsciously didn¡¯t want to harm him. However, among the dozen disciples, there was also a male disciple who, perhaps because of the bad influence of the foot-scratching man, was particularly ruthless towards Fang Zhou, with his Spirit Sword continuously greeting Fang Zhou¡¯s face. Ah, why should men make things difficult for each other? Fang Zhou carelessly swung the Sword Box, smashing it into the male disciple¡¯s face, causing it to blossom with injuries. See, that¡¯s karma for you. But the male disciple¡¯s karmic retribution also incited the vengeance of the other female disciples, making their attacks more fierce, although to no avail. At the beginning, Wang Xiuzhu was casually watching from the sidelines, envisioning the scene where Fang Zhou would be captured and beg for mercy. But gradually, his expression turned solemn, and his eyes were firmly fixed on Fang Zhou. Although there¡¯s a significant gap between the Qi Refining Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm, it¡¯s not so vast that one can disregard numbers; a solitary individual at the Foundation Establishment Realm against a siege of a dozen or so at the Qi Refining Realm would surely be in a sorry state. Yet, here was Fang Zhou, withstanding the encirclement of over a dozen Perfect Qi Refining disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect with apparent ease, defending himself impeccably without even a corner of his clothes being touched. This surprised Wang Xiuzhu. He had been informed that there was only a young man at the Qi Refinement level on Moon Viewing Peak. Could he be so formidable? After observing for a while, he felt relieved, noting that the youth hadn¡¯t launched a single attack from start to finish and was purely on the defensive, which suggested his cultivation method was tailored this way. However, it was embarrassing for Wang Xiuzhu that over a dozen Perfect Qi Refining fellows couldn¡¯t take down an enemy of the same realm. It was humiliating. These were his subordinates, after all, and being defeated like this would be the butt of jokes among his peers. ¡°They¡¯re all a bunch of useless fools.¡± Wang Xiuzhu snorted coldly, and his jade bracelet transformed into a green Spirit Sword. Holding the Spirit Sword, he joined the fray, charging straight towards Fang Zhou. As one at the Foundation Establishment Realm, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s movements immediately stood out as extraordinary. The Spirit Sword in his hand surged with a faint glow, and every swing brought forth a trail of green light, a symbol of Spiritual Energy Borrowing. Seeing Wang Xiuzhu stepping into the fight, Fang Zhou felt a surge of joy in his heart, thinking to himself that he had finally waited for this ¡®dead eunuch.¡¯ Fang Zhou used the Sword Box to block Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s attack, and the Sword Box sank with a harsh clanging sound of metal striking metal. Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s strength had already surpassed that of the Scarred Woman whom Fang Zhou had encountered in Lanruo Temple. Although both were at the Foundation Establishment Realm, disciples from a Major Sect were indeed more formidable than independent cultivators. Pretending to struggle, Fang Zhou saw Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s triumphant screech and couldn¡¯t help but laugh haughtily: ¡°You¡¯ve got some skill, kid, but sadly you¡¯ve met me. Now, let me show you my unique, secret technique¡­¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes flashed with a cunning light¡ªit was now or never. He executed the Sword Control Technique, forcibly taking control of the Spirit Sword from a disciple standing behind Wang Xiuzhu, and thrust it forward. ¡°Let me show you my unique secret skill¡­ Ahh!!!¡± Before Wang Xiuzhu could finish his sentence, he heard a gut-wrenching sound and felt intense pain in his buttocks, causing him to let out a miserable scream. He turned his head sharply only to see the disciple behind him had stabbed the Spirit Sword into his backside. The narrow path unexpectedly welcomed an uninvited guest. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Wang Xiuzhu pointed at the disciple, his face contorted with rage, struggling to speak a word. The disciple happened to be the same male disciple who had previously been particularly vicious to Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t targeted him on purpose; it was merely a coincidence that he had taken cover behind Wang Xiuzhu after being injured. This male disciple too was stunned, hastily explaining, ¡°Senior Brother Wang, it wasn¡¯t on purpose, the sword moved on its own¡­¡± ¡°Smack!¡± Wang Xiuzhu gave him a fierce slap and cursed angrily, ¡°Li Yinghao, do you think I¡¯m a fool? Get lost, I¡¯ll settle the score with you later.¡± Li Yinghao, feeling wronged, covered his face and pulled out the Spirit Sword. ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Xiuzhu let out another cry of pain as blood flowed freely. The other disciples hurriedly came forward to help stop the bleeding for Wang Xiuzhu. ¡°Get lost, all of you get lost!¡± Wang Xiuzhu scolded the bunch of female disciples who were attempting to take off his pants and drove them to one side, then picked up the Spirit Sword again. Fang Zhou asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay? If you¡¯re injured, shall we call it quits?¡± Despite his trousers being soaked with blood, Wang Xiuzhu waved his hand with an ashen face, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury, nothing serious, if I don¡¯t tear down your shabby huts today, then I, Wang Xiuzhu, will write my name backwards.¡± He raised the Spirit Sword again and pointed it at Fang Zhou, his voice cold, ¡°Let me show you my unique secret skill¡­ Ahh!¡± A scream of agony! Li Yinghao, who had ducked to one side, suddenly lost control of his Spirit Sword again, and it flew out of his hand, stabbing into Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s backside. The narrow path was once again graced by an uninvited guest. Wang Xiuzhu was struck forward onto the ground, his rear raised and head buried between his hands, his body trembling slightly. Upon closer inspection, Fang Zhou was startled to discover. He was crying. ¡°Senior Brother Wang!¡± Li Yinghao ran over in a panic, ¡°Senior Brother Wang, I¡­ I really didn¡¯t mean to do it¡­¡± In his panic, he instinctively pulled his Spirit Sword out of Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s behind. As the Spirit Sword was pulled out, blood spurted out as well, splattering all over Li Yinghao¡¯s face. ¡°Ah¡ªNo!¡± Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s face twisted in agony as he let out a scream to the heavens. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Li Yinghao hurriedly reinserted the Spirit Sword back in. Chapter 118 - 118: 118. Is this the atmosphere of the Heavenly Sword Sect? Chapter 118: 118. Is this the atmosphere of the Heavenly Sword Sect? ¡°Ah¡ª¡± When Li Yinghao subconsciously reinserted the Spirit Sword, Wang Xiuzhu let out a bone-chilling scream. He jumped up from the stab, not caring to pull out the Spirit Sword, and turned around to grab Li Yinghao by the collar, roaring, ¡°Are you trying to rebel and kill me in front of everyone?!!¡± Li Yinghao, his face sprayed with saliva, didn¡¯t dare to wipe it away and hastily defended, ¡°Senior Brother Wang, I really didn¡¯t do it on purpose, the Spirit Sword moved on its own¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Wang Xiuzhu interrupted him sharply, his face contorted, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool, Li Yinghao? I always knew you were jealous of my better talent and higher realm, even jealous of my position as a Deacon, so you took this chance to kill me and usurp my position, right?¡± Li Yinghao was so aggrieved he almost cried: ¡°I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t, Senior Brother Wang, you¡¯re misunderstanding me, think about it, I have always been obedient and loyal to you.¡± Wang Xiuzhu hesitated slightly; indeed, in normal times, Li Yinghao treated him with respect and flattery almost like a cringing dog. Fang Zhou whispered from behind: ¡°Loyalty wouldn¡¯t have you stabbing him twice in the butt.¡± Hearing the word ¡®butt,¡¯ Wang Xiuzhu immediately remembered that Li Yinghao¡¯s Spirit Sword was still stuck in his own buttocks. His face twisted again. ¡°You despicable wretch, still daring to argue, I will clean the sect of your presence today.¡± Wang Xiuzhu raised his own Spirit Sword, about to strike down at Li Yinghao, who was scared stiff, forgetting even to dodge. The other Heavenly Sword Sect disciples couldn¡¯t just watch a fellow disciple being harmed, and they hurriedly intervened to calm and extricate the situation. ¡°Get away, I must kill this shameless scoundrel today.¡± Wang Xiuzhu was like a madman, the humiliation of being stabbed twice in public not so easily brushed off. ¡°Senior Brother Wang!¡± Suddenly a loud shout, Li Yinghao, finally snapping back to reality, knelt down fiercely toward Wang Xiuzhu, tears streaming down his face. ¡°Ever since I entered the sect, Senior Brother Wang, you have shown warmth and asked about my well-being, all of which I remember by heart, I have always seen you as a brother, the closest person to me, thinking about you every day, even dreaming about you at night, how could I ever harm you?¡± Wang Xiuzhu pushed away the other disciples, walked over, and grabbed Li Yinghao, pulling him up to his face. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t harm me, then why did you stab me twice?¡± Facing Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s harsh questioning, Li Yinghao raised three fingers, his voice morose: ¡°That was not my intention, I swear to the heavens, if I intentionally hurt you, may the thunder strike me down, never to die a good death.¡± Cultivators should not swear lightly, as their oaths could come true. Seeing Li Yinghao making such a vow, Wang Xiuzhu hesitated, wondering if Li Yinghao really didn¡¯t do it on purpose. By this time, he also recalled Li Yinghao¡¯s usual flattery and pleasing demeanor, his anger gradually subsided, and his heart softened. It seemed a misunderstanding between brothers was about to dissipate into nothing, Fang Zhou, who had been watching the drama unfold, couldn¡¯t help wanting to applaud. Being able to forgive being stabbed twice in public, who could say this wasn¡¯t true love. It seemed they had always restrained their feelings due to gender and status; let me, Fang. Cupid. Zhou, fulfill your desires. Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao¡¯s faces were very close, with no small split team birthed at this moment. But no worries, Fang Zhou had a better plan, he directly threw two Illusion Techniques at Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao. After using Illusion Technique frequently, Fang Zhou had figured out its limits¡ªit works up to the Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection considering willpower and spiritual power, and it also depends on the species. Like the gourd children, Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique has little effect on them, at most making them stunned momentarily. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That Scarred Woman he met at Lanruo Temple didn¡¯t react much to Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique either, but Li Ruyu, being at the Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection, had no resistance against Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique. Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s emotional fluctuations were so intense, his spiritual power and willpower must be mediocre; as soon as Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique was cast, he immediately fell for it. Li Yinghao, who was only in the Qi Refinement Realm, agreed without any resistance and plunged deep into the illusion. The fellow disciples stared blankly at each other, getting closer and closer, and finally passionately biting each other. The surrounding female disciples suddenly let out a shout of surprise, their eyes wide and mouths agape. What was going on? They had been at each other¡¯s throats just a moment ago, how could they suddenly become uncontrollable? Even if you can¡¯t control yourself, you should at least consider the time and place. Soon, the two brothers rolled into a ball, and Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s Spirit Sword still stuck in his butt, swaying with their movements. The female disciples¡¯ breathing grew heavier and heavier, yet none of them wanted to step forward to stop it; instead, they all widened their eyes, unwilling to miss a single detail. The only one who shifted his gaze away was Fang Zhou, he had no interest in such an eye-soaring scene, fearing that another glance might give him nightmares. However, it confirmed once again that this Illusion Technique was indeed designed to stir up lewdness. ¡­ Above the sea of clouds, Yu Qing rode her Spirit Sword, speeding towards Moon Viewing Peak. She had just received news that the Law Enforcement Elder had surprisingly issued an order to demolish the thatched cottage on Moon Viewing Peak and drive away the people there. Under normal circumstances, Yu Qing would not have any standing to intervene in such matters, nor would she have been concerned about Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s capabilities. But now, it was different; after Ling Xiaoyue left, it was Taoist Fang who remained on Moon Viewing Peak. Yu Qing was very clear about the Master¡¯s intention for her to get close to Taoist Fang, which certainly wasn¡¯t to undermine his position, but to recruit this exceptional young talent in Sword Control to the Heavenly Sword Sect; leaving him to Ling Xiaoyue would just be a waste. But now, they hadn¡¯t even started undermining and the wall was already about to be torn down. Taoist Fang, only in the Qi Refinement Realm, was no match for the group of disciples from the Law Enforcement Department. Imagining a frail Taoist Fang trembling before a group of ferocious Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, Yu Qing grew increasingly anxious. If Taoist Fang were to suffer any harm, Yu Qing really wouldn¡¯t know how to explain it to the Master, and even if he wasn¡¯t injured, giving him a bad impression of the Heavenly Sword Sect would not do. Yu Qing reached Moon Viewing Peak as quickly as possible and immediately saw a group of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples gathered in a huddle. She thought Fang Zhou was being beaten up, both angry and anxious, she hastily shouted: ¡°Stop¡­¡± Before she could finish shouting ¡°hand¡±, Yu Qing saw the situation among the crowd and was instantly dumbfounded, almost falling off her Spirit Sword. Since when did the ethos of our Heavenly Sword Sect start mirroring the Demon Sect? Under the bright sun and the clear sky, they are actually performing in a group? Following that, Yu Qing saw Fang Zhou standing not far away. Fang Zhou, with his hands behind his back, was watching the scenery, and compared to the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect crowded together watching, he was like a breath of fresh air. Yu Qing already had a great impression of Fang Zhou, and this moment only made her esteem for him skyrocket. This is truly the behavior of a noble gentleman; the upbringing of our Heavenly Sword Sect disciples has all gone to the dogs. Fang Zhou also noticed Yu Qing¡¯s arrival, pointed over there, and looked up at her with a smile: ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, is this the ethos of your Heavenly Sword Sect? Loved it.¡± Yu Qing thought Fang Zhou was mocking her, and for a moment, her face flushed red, speechless. She couldn¡¯t help but turn her head towards the group and shouted: ¡°Stop them now, performing such a disgraceful act under the broad daylight, shameful.¡± Chapter 119 - 119: 119. Must swindle the apprentice before fleeing Chapter 119: 119. Must swindle the apprentice before fleeing Yu Qing is highly esteemed among the disciples, rarely speaks harshly, yet now her yelling of ¡°shameful spectacle¡± demonstrates how vexed she was. The disciples were so engrossed that they only noticed Yu Qing¡¯s arrival when she started scolding, and they quickly rushed up to separate Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao. As soon as the two were separated, they broke free from the Illusion Technique. Wang Xiuzhu, with a trembling hand, pointed at Li Yinghao, his face filled with shock, anger, fear, confusion, and disbelief, looking more dramatic than an oil painting. He sounded like a pure young man who had been scorned several times by a group of aunties as he wailed to the sky. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± This scream was heart-wrenching, truly like that of a groundhog. Eventually, anger overcame Wang Xiuzhu; his eyes rolled back as he fainted. With Wang Xiuzhu out cold, Li Yinghao, who was still savoring the moment, became the center of attention and suddenly grew tense. He hadn¡¯t expected fainting was an option; Senior Brother Wang reacted so quickly, no wonder he could become a deacon. Following suit, Li Yinghao also shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t want to live anymore.¡± After shouting, he immediately closed his eyes tightly and collapsed headfirst. Such poor acting skills made Yu Qing¡¯s head fill with dark lines; these two male disciples really brought disgrace to the reputation of Heavenly Sword Sect. She smiled wryly and greeted Fang Zhou with a cupped fist salute: ¡°Our Sect fails to discipline our disciples strictly, making Taoist Fang witness such a farce.¡± Fang Zhou laughed heartily: ¡°Indeed, it did bring me lots of joy. These two disciples are truly candid, may the lovers eventually become spouses; I hope Heavenly Sword Sect won¡¯t separate them due to prejudice and discrimination.¡± Yu Qing almost spat out; what does he mean by ¡®may the lovers become spouses,¡¯ and hoping ¡®Heavenly Sword Sect won¡¯t separate them¡¯? If it were a male and female disciple loving each other and wanting to become Taoist partners, Heavenly Sword Sect would not stop them, but both of these fools are male. If Heavenly Sword Sect allowed two men to become Taoist partners, it would undoubtedly become the laughingstock amongst fellow sects. In the Cultivation World, same-sex relationships are not unheard of, but they are mostly found in renegade Demon Sects or the Demon Domain, and even there, it¡¯s rare. Righteous Sects, even if they exist, would never openly acknowledge or encourage them. Yu Qing truly didn¡¯t know how to respond to Fang Zhou¡¯s words, so she switched the topic: ¡°Taoist Fang, are you injured?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, his smiling face becoming serious: ¡°I¡¯m not injured, but when my master was away, you came to demolish forcefully and bullied me, a mere Qi Refinement Realm cultivator. Is this the conduct of a prestigious sect? Disgusting.¡± Yu Qing, feeling ashamed, told Fang Zhou: ¡°This was an order from the Law Enforcement Elder, but it does not represent the entire opinion of our sect. I¡¯ll go right away¡­¡± Before she could finish, a cold snort suddenly resounded in the air, cutting her off. Both Fang Zhou and Yu Qing looked up to see a hazy figure gradually solidifying and finally transformed into a woman dressed in dark blue robes, hovering in mid-air. Fang Zhou was startled; this person was dressed in the same style as Feng Qin and appeared in the same way, surely also an elder of Heavenly Sword Sect, perhaps even the Law Enforcement Elder Yu Qing mentioned. As expected, upon the woman¡¯s arrival, Yu Qing promptly saluted: ¡°Elder Yan, greetings.¡± All disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect also saluted in unison: ¡°Greetings to the Law Enforcement Elder.¡± From the greetings, the difference between Yu Qing and the ordinary disciples was evident. Elder Yan glanced coldly at Fang Zhou, then spoke amiably to Yu Qing: ¡°Yu Qing, why leave Yujian Peak to come to this desolate place?¡± Yu Qing stood up straight and said solemnly: ¡°Elder Yan, I think the matter of demolishing the thatched hut at Moon Viewing Peak needs further discussion. Please reconsider your decree.¡± After hearing this, Elder Yan¡¯s expression turned serious again, and he firmly said: ¡°That named Ling has been occupying our sect land for over two years. Originally, the Law Enforcement Department pitied her and turned a blind eye, but she pushed her limits and even brought people in. If this continues, wouldn¡¯t it allow her to establish her own faction within our sect? If word gets out, it might become a joke among our peers. Therefore, the Law Enforcement Department thinks it¡¯s time to drive her away to clear the clouds for Heavenly Sword Sect.¡± Yu Qing wanted to say more, but Elder Yan interrupted: ¡°Yu Qing, this is an internal matter of the Law Enforcement Department.¡± Yu Qing frowned slightly and had to remain silent. Although she is a True Disciple with a distinguished status, she could not interfere with the internal affairs of the Law Enforcement Department. Unless she could reside in Heavenly Sword Peak and become a Sect Master candidate, the Law Enforcement Department would not change its order. Yu Qing could only cast a helpless look at Fang Zhou, while secretly switching her Spirit Sword to a jade hairpin and shooting it toward the sea of clouds. Fang Zhou understood Yu Qing¡¯s look, but he suspected that these two were putting on a show; one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop. Elder Yan was also looking at Fang Zhou, expressionless, but her icy demeanor said it all. Fang Zhou was puzzled; currently, his looks were capable of making any woman swoon, yet even if someone was unimpressed by his face, an icy stare was unnecessary. Elder Yan¡¯s attitude instantly made Fang Zhou think of three possibilities: One: She was going through menopause. Two: She had questionable sexual preferences. Three: Ling Xiaoyue had offended her, and it was now being taken out on him. The third possibility was ninety-nine percent likely. Damn Ling Xiaoyue, even when fleeing you screw over your disciple. As Fang Zhou internally complained, Elder Yan coldly said to him: ¡°Using underhanded means to harm my Law Enforcement disciples, your nature is truly malicious; let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your master.¡± With that, she towered above and ferociously slapped down towards Fang Zhou. ¡°Stop!¡± Yu Qing was terrified, but it was too late to intervene. Elder Yan¡¯s slap came down, with countless strands of energy swirling and intertwining, instantly forming a visible enormous handprint descending toward Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou¡¯s face changed, and his body was pinned on the spot by the suppressive energy, unable to move. He gritted his teeth, and pushed the Qi Gathering Technique and the Sword Control Technique to their limits. From a distance, a dozen Heavenly Sword Sect disciples¡¯ Spirit Swords were trembling, instantly breaking free from the disciples¡¯ grasp, and with a clear ringing sound, they shot towards Fang Zhou. These Spirit Swords flew above Fang Zhou¡¯s head and under his control, quickly circled around, with sword tips pointing upward, piercing towards the descending energy handprint. A dozen Spirit Swords hit the handprint, only holding on for a few seconds before being bounced away. Fang Zhou had already used the Qi Gathering Technique to infuse Spiritual Energy throughout his body, elevating his physical attributes to an unprecedented strength of 30 points. Fang Zhou summoned his left hand, and with three palms pushed outward, he managed to hold up the falling handprint. Boom¡ª With a loud noise, the ground around Fang Zhou immediately collapsed, forming a huge palm print. Fang Zhou stood undeterred in the middle of the palm print, maintaining a pose with both hands pushing upward, his skin emitting heat, a sign of the physical strain from exerting too much force. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Eh?¡± Elder Yan let out a surprised sound, not expecting Fang Zhou to catch her palm. She was in the Innate Realm, and although it was just a casual palm strike, for someone in the Qi Refining Realm to catch it was laughable. Even though this Qi Refinement Realm individual was obviously stronger than the typical Foundation Establishment Realm, outsiders would not see it that way. Elder Yan felt humiliated and raised her hand again. ¡°Elder Yan, please show mercy.¡± Yu Qing hurriedly stood in front of her. Chapter 120 - 120: 120. I am still a child. Chapter 120: 120. I am still a child. Facing the obstruction of Taoist Yu Qing, Elder Yan dared not act rashly, frowning she said: ¡°Yu Qing, are you really going to interfere with the internal affairs of the Law Enforcement Department?¡± This was a very severe questioning. Once confirmed, even with her status as a True Disciple, she would be taken to the Heavenly Sword Peak for a reprimand. ¡°Yu Qing wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Yu Qing quickly clasped her hands in a gesture of respect: ¡°But Yu Qing has reported the matter to Master, and Master entrusted me to convey a message to Elder Yan. Please be cautious in your actions, Elder, and do not act recklessly.¡± As she spoke, she held out her jade hairpin, which emitted a glowing light. Seeing that Yu Qing had even invoked True Master Yu Jian, Elder Yan was shocked. Even though she knew Yu Qing would not lie, Elder Yan still grudgingly sensed the jade hairpin, indeed receiving the words conveyed by True Master Yu Jian. Yu Qing could be disrespected, but True Master Yu Jian was one of the three great leaders of the Heavenly Sword Sect, second only to the Sect Master. Who would dare not give face to her? Thus, even with reluctance, Elder Yan had no choice but to put off today¡¯s issue. ¡°Yan Gulan has acted rashly, disturbing the True Master¡¯s cultivation. This is truly a sin.¡± Elder Yan clasped her hands toward the jade hairpin as a gesture of respect, then smiled at Yu Qing: ¡°For such a trivial matter, to trouble the True Master to speak out, Yu Qing is really making a mountain out of a molehill.¡± Though smiling, the sound was quite piercing. Yu Qing, of course, knew this was Elder Yan expressing her dissatisfaction and could only offer an apologetic reply: ¡°Yu Qing has acted brashly, please forgive me, Elder Yan.¡± Yu Qing lowered her stance, and Elder Yan couldn¡¯t keep dwelling on this issue, but that didn¡¯t mean she would let it go. Elder Yan looked down at Fang Zhou below and said indifferently: ¡°Well then, for the sake of Yu Qing, I will extend your grace period for one more month. Move out on your own, next time you won¡¯t be so lucky to have someone help you.¡± Fang Zhou pursed his lips, dropped his hands, and stayed silent. He¡¯d already cursed this old woman¡¯s ancestors thoroughly in his mind. If you¡¯re so capable, go find Ling Xiaoyue, have a confrontation with her. Bullying me, a mere Qi Refining Realm, what skill is that? I¡¯m only fifteen years old, I¡¯m still a child. But now was not the time for tough talk, Fang Zhou could only swallow this loss for now, waiting for the future to seek retribution. After Elder Yan finished speaking, her figure disappeared with the wind, vanishing without a trace¡ªtruly as if she had never been there. Those dozen or so disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, who had been silent since Elder Yan¡¯s arrival, all let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her leave, sending two of them over to gather up the scattered Spirit Swords. Then they carried the unconscious Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao onto the shuttle and swiftly left. Once this group had left, the bustling Moon Viewing Peak finally quieted down again. Yu Qing looked at Fang Zhou, unable to come up with any comforting words, and in the end, she could only ask: ¡°Taoist Fang, are you all right?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head and calmly replied: ¡°Just this? It¡¯s fine.¡± This surprised Yu Qing. Although Elder Yan hadn¡¯t used her full strength with that palm, it was aimed to injure Fang Zhou, and she didn¡¯t expect him to catch it unscathed¡ªa feat even a typical Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator wouldn¡¯t manage. And Fang Zhou seemed to be just at the Qi Refinement Realm. While it¡¯s hard to tell the difference between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment from the outside, there are subtle differences, and an expert could tell at a glance. Fang Zhou was clearly in the Qi Refinement stage, not yet at Foundation Establishment, but his strength was already far beyond that of an average Foundation Establishment. Is this the terrifying aspect of talent? Yu Qing was somewhat silent. She was also considered a prodigy; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have become a True Disciple of True Master Yu Jian, but at the Qi Refinement stage, she wouldn¡¯t dare to withstand a blow from the Innate Palm unharmed. Yu Qing originally took great pride in being the foremost True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, but now she felt deeply ashamed. Indeed, there is always someone better out there. She had been too arrogant and resolved to be more cautious in her speech and diligent in her cultivation. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t expected that he would inadvertently make a true genius feel ashamed. If he knew, he would certainly laugh out loud thrice. No matter how unrivaled your talents are, you still can¡¯t beat the System Dad. It¡¯s proper to lie down and behave. Fang Zhou had thought Yu Qing and Elder Yan were playing good cop, bad cop, yet it didn¡¯t seem quite like that now. He gathered himself and asked Yu Qing, ¡°Does Elder Yan hold a grudge against my master?¡± Yu Qing couldn¡¯t just say there was a grudge, so she answered, ¡°Elder Yan sparred with your esteemed master two years ago and was¡­ slightly inferior.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Damn, that really is Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mess bringing me trouble after two years. But being slightly inferior is surely just Yu Qing trying to save face for Elder Yan. That old woman must have been beaten by Ling Xiaoyue into a state where she couldn¡¯t take care of herself. Unable to defeat Ling Xiaoyue, she turned her anger towards Fang Zhou instead. Frowning, Fang Zhou looked at Yu Qing: ¡°Isn¡¯t this just seeking private revenge? The entry-level trial of your Heavenly Sword Sect clearly has an assessment of one¡¯s character. How did you end up recruiting such a person?¡± Yu Qing was fairly embarrassed; Elder Yan was indeed seeking private revenge, as anyone with clear eyes could see. But she was acting under the banner of the Law Enforcement Department, so there was no issue legally. Besides, the stories from when Elder Yan joined are ancient history, and people change, cultivators included. Yet Yu Qing couldn¡¯t stand there and say Elder Yan was a bad person, so she smoothed things over: ¡°Elder Yan is just rather strict, that¡¯s all.¡± However, Fang Zhou was not satisfied: ¡°Because she¡¯s called Yan, she¡¯s strict, so how do you explain someone with the surname Shi? Should someone named Gou not bite you? She wants to slap me to death, and you call that strictness. Does that mean in the Heavenly Sword Sect people get slapped to death by her every day?¡± Yu Qing thought for a moment, then cupped her fists and said to Fang Zhou: ¡°Indeed, my words were inappropriate. Please, Taoist Fang, forgive me.¡± Yu Qing¡¯s submissive demeanor made Fang Zhou feel a bit embarrassed to continue his tirade. After all, it was a matter of perspective for both sides. Yu Qing was caught in the middle and couldn¡¯t be blamed. To blame her would be no different than being like the surname Yan. Moreover, Yu Qing owed Fang Zhou nothing, and her willingness to come forward and speak on his behalf was already commendable. This matter could only be solved by himself; he couldn¡¯t count on others for help. Yu Qing saw Fang Zhou silent, interpreting it as worry, and advised, ¡°Taoist Fang, you should still notify your esteemed master as soon as possible.¡± Fang Zhou glanced at her and shook his head: ¡°My master is away on business and won¡¯t return for several months.¡± Yu Qing was surprised, no wonder Elder Yan gave Fang Zhou a month-long deadline. Could it be she calculated that Ling Xiaoyue wouldn¡¯t return for several months? But wasn¡¯t she afraid Ling Xiaoyue would stir up trouble upon her return? Elder Yan might have other plans, but that was beyond Yu Qing¡¯s guess. She was powerless to help Fang Zhou with his current predicament, unable to even offer a strategy. ¡°Taoist Fang, if you¡¯re ever in trouble, feel free to come to Yujian Peak to find me. I¡¯ll do everything in my power to assist.¡± Yu Qing could only offer such support as it was beyond her ability to do more. Fang Zhou was moved by Yu Qing¡¯s stance. This beauty clearly wasn¡¯t just after his body. Though she might have the suspicion of luring him away from the Heavenly Sword Sect, at least her intentions were sincere. ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, thank you for your righteous words. You are a good person. We should have a candlelit night talk sometime.¡± Yu Qing, however, was puzzled by Fang Zhou¡¯s thanks. What did he mean by having a candlelit night talk? Chapter 121 - 121: 121. Must go through the main entrance, cannot take the back route. Chapter 121: 121. Must go through the main entrance, cannot take the back route. After leaving Moon Viewing Peak, Yu Qing hurried back to Yujian Peak. Along the way, many disciples greeted Yu Qing, she responded politely but did not stop her pace, soon entering the Sword Lake located in the deepest part of Yujian Peak, where True Master Yu Jian practiced in seclusion, a place off-limits to ordinary disciples. Yu Qing briskly walked in and met True Master Yu Jian in the middle of Sword Lake. This was a vast and clear lake filled with countless swimming fish, which upon closer inspection revealed themselves to be Spirit Swords that moved leisurely like living creatures. True Master Yu Jian was seated cross-legged on the lake¡¯s surface, as if on flat ground, without causing a single ripple. Yu Qing quieted her footsteps and approached the lake, True Master Yu Jian slowly opened his eyes: ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Yu Qing bowed respectfully and said: ¡°Master, about the incident at Moon Viewing Peak¡­¡± True Master Yu Jian interrupted softly: ¡°No need to say more, your master is already aware. I didn¡¯t expect this youngster¡¯s talent to be so terrifying. Having only learned a single Sword-controlling Skill, he was able to forcefully take the enemy¡¯s Spirit Sword through sensing alone, surpassing even the Wuji Sword Saint.¡± These few words from True Master Yu Jian conveyed two meanings; the first being she also spied on the events at Moon Viewing Peak, and the second being more concerned about Fang Zhou¡¯s talent rather than the destruction. To this day, True Master Yu Jian did not believe that Fang Zhou had learned the Sword Control Technique, but thought that he had only learned the Sword-controlling Skill carved on the Stele at the Cloud Bridge during his entry-level trial, and just with this, he could forcefully control an enemy¡¯s Spirit Sword¡ªsuch talent indeed was terrifyingly exceptional. She now wished she could rush to Moon Viewing Peak and snatch Fang Zhou away; if Heavenly Sword Sect could acquire this child, they could easily leap to become the foremost sect among the Three Great Holy Lands. Sadly, such an outstanding seed, yet to be spoiled by that thug Ling Xiaoyue. Seeing her Master suddenly sigh with emotion, Yu Qing was slightly taken aback. After thinking, she sincerely said: ¡°Master, isn¡¯t Elder Yan afraid that Senior Ling will come back and take back Moon Viewing Peak?¡± True Master Yu Jian gave a slight smile: ¡°Before you arrived, the Law Enforcement Department had already reported to me; they plan to demolish the whole of Moon Viewing Peak. So what can Ling Xiaoyue possibly take back when she returns?¡± Yu Qing was shocked, so that was the plan of the Law Enforcement Department, no wonder Elder Yan was so fearless. This was simply a plan to remove the foundation; Moon Viewing Peak was not a significant place for Heavenly Sword Sect, by demolishing the entire peak, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s return would be futile. Previously this might not have been necessary, but now it seems, the Law Enforcement Department is determined and will not change their decision. Yu Qing worried about Fang Zhou¡¯s predicament and couldn¡¯t help saying: ¡°Master, if we make Fang Zhou resent Heavenly Sword Sect, how can we then recruit him into our sect?¡± She knew that from the time of the entry-level trial, True Master Yu Jian had always wanted to steal Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s thunder. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In response to Yu Qing¡¯s concerns, True Master Yu Jian simply said. ¡°Let nature take its course.¡± Seeing her Master close her eyes, Yu Qing could only take her leave. ¡­ After Yu Qing left, Fang Zhou returned to the bamboo house by the waterfall. But he couldn¡¯t calm his mind. Elder Yan Gulan gave only a month¡¯s deadline, while Ling Xiaoyue couldn¡¯t return for several months, so he couldn¡¯t rely on her. If Fang Zhou doesn¡¯t figure out a way to handle this within the month, he will undoubtedly be expelled by Heavenly Sword Sect. As for taking back Moon Viewing Peak after Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s return, Fang Zhou was not so optimistic, as the Heavenly Sword Sect wasn¡¯t foolish; daring to act this way, they surely have prepared for Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s reaction. By the time she returns, the situation would have already cooled down. Thus, Fang Zhou had to handle this crisis himself, and thinking about it made him irate¡ªdamn, even starting to Cultivate, why encounter such nonsense like a forceful demolition. A Cultivator having to deal with such trivial and vile matters seriously is just too low. Fang Zhou started to meditate hard on a solution. The Heavenly Sword Sect held absolute martial power, Fang Zhou was not Ling Xiaoyue, so he couldn¡¯t confront them head-on, even Ling Xiaoyue had to flee multiple times. So Fang Zhou could only take a roundabout approach to find the weaknesses of the Heavenly Sword Sect. But as a large sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect definitely didn¡¯t have any obvious weaknesses, otherwise, its lineage would have been discontinued long ago. Fang Zhou spent an entire day in deep thought inside a bamboo hut and finally thought of a weakness of the Heavenly Sword Sect that wasn¡¯t really a weakness. He noticed that in dealing with Ling Xiaoyue, the Heavenly Sword Sect often feared being ridiculed by fellow cultivators and didn¡¯t want to escalate matters. Even in the entry-level trials for recruiting new disciples, there were many details that showed the Heavenly Sword Sect greatly cared about the opinions of fellow cultivators. It was evident that the Heavenly Sword Sect was a sect that greatly valued face-saving. Caring about face isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, but there¡¯s always a fear of overdoing it. For the sake of maintaining face, countless foolish mistakes have been made throughout history. Fang Zhou immediately realized that he could take advantage of this and indeed, the Heavenly Sword Sect held military power. But who said that confronting military power must involve using military power? After thinking of a plan, Fang Zhou was invigorated and immediately took out his private savings, approximately ten thousand taels ¨C not too much, not too little. These ten thousand taels had long been coveted by Ling Xiaoyue, and were definitely not going to be kept, so why not spend them now? Taking his private savings, Fang Zhou used the Sword Control Technique and summoned the Xuanyuan Sword. He stepped on the Xuanyuan Sword and left Moon Viewing Peak, flying towards Yujian Peak amidst the sea of clouds. Riding a shuttle and flying with his own Sword Control Technique felt completely different; the shuttle had protective features, while using the Sword Control Technique relied solely on his own Spiritual Energy for protection. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t even project his Spiritual Energy outward to shield himself from the wind, and was so blasted by the cold wind en route that his face nearly went numb. This was still him controlling the speed; any faster and he feared his clothes might be blown away. Upon reaching Yujian Peak, he randomly chose a stone platform to land on. ¡°Halt, who goes there!¡± Immediately, a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect appeared and stopped Fang Zhou, examining him with a curious gaze: ¡°Which lineage are you from, and why have you trespassed onto Yujian Peak?¡± Fang Zhou was taken aback, thinking that disciples from the three lineages of the Heavenly Sword Sect could visit each other freely. Was that not the case? He could only explain to the disciple that he was here to find Yu Qing, and he also took out the jade token Yu Qing had given him. The other party was skeptical but asked Fang Zhou to wait there while she went to report. Before long, Yu Qing hurried over and, seeing Fang Zhou, exclaimed in surprise: ¡°Taoist Fang, it really is you. What brings you here?¡± Fang Zhou was also perplexed: ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here, didn¡¯t you say you had something to ask me?¡± It has only been a day; surely you haven¡¯t forgotten? You heartbreaker. Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but laugh, surprised: ¡°Of course you can come to see me, but you should¡­ come through the main entrance!¡± What, your mountain still has a main entrance? After listening to Yu Qing¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou finally realized he had made a fool of himself. Disciples from the three lineages of the Heavenly Sword Sect can indeed visit each other, but they must pass through the main entrance because there are many restricted areas within each lineage that one cannot enter without permission. Fang Zhou¡¯s act of randomly finding a place to land amounted to not using the main gate, sneaking around through the back door. Chapter 122 - 122: 122. Deaf and blind to the world, ignorant and unenlightened. Chapter 122: 122. Deaf and blind to the world, ignorant and unenlightened. Although he took the wrong path, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t feel embarrassed¡ªit was very normal to make such a mistake on a first visit. Besides, you don¡¯t have any signs or anything, it¡¯s not my fault. Of course, Yu Qing didn¡¯t mean to blame him; she asked with curiosity, ¡°Taoist Fang, what brings you to me?¡± Even though Yu Qing said yesterday that Fang Zhou could ask her about anything, if it was about the Law Enforcement Department wanting to demolish Moon Viewing Peak, she really couldn¡¯t help with that. She believed Fang Zhou was a smart person and wouldn¡¯t be so tactless. Sure enough, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mention anything about Moon Viewing Peak; instead, he asked, ¡°Can I sell things here? I mean, like setting up a small stall to sell stuff on a long-term basis.¡± Sell things? Set up a stall? Yu Qing was taken aback, completely not expecting Fang Zhou to bring up such a question. ¡°Of course, our sect doesn¡¯t forbid trading, but why has Taoist Fang suddenly thought about selling things?¡± Yu Qing was puzzled; just yesterday, Fang Zhou was almost chased out of Heavenly Sword Sect, and now, with only a month to spare, instead of thinking about how to cope with the situation, he suddenly wanted to set up a stall to sell things. This seemed like mixed-up priorities. Hearing Yu Qing¡¯s question, Fang Zhou immediately put on a pained expression: ¡°My master is not around, and your Heavenly Sword Sect wants to drive away someone as insignificant as me, in the Qi Refining Realm¡ªI¡¯m powerless to resist. Since you won¡¯t recognize the deed, I can only think about selling some stuff first, earning some money to see if I can buy Moon Viewing Peak.¡± Yu Qing¡¯s face was a picture of oddness; she found Fang Zhou¡¯s idea to be too naive. It wasn¡¯t a question of money at all; no matter how much money you offer, Heavenly Sword Sect would never sell Moon Viewing Peak. Besides, how much money can you make from a stall, unless what you¡¯re selling is Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. She couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°Forgive my bluntness, but I¡¯m afraid that buying Moon Viewing Peak is not feasible for Taoist Fang.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, Fang Zhou knew it wasn¡¯t feasible; once Ling Xiaoyue died, or if something unexpected happened to her like illness or falling off a cliff, then Moon Viewing Peak would become his property, his thing¡ªwhy would he pay to buy it from Heavenly Sword Sect? They shouldn¡¯t dream of getting a penny from him. He said this only as a pretext for his actions, intending to garner sympathy. Fang Zhou immediately adopted a tragic expression: ¡°What else can I do then? I¡¯m desperate too. As a mere cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm, I dare not speak out when bullied. An orphan without parents¡¯ love can only resort to such foolish methods. Other than this, tell me, what else can I do?¡± Yu Qing was moved by Fang Zhou¡¯s grief-stricken emotions, feeling that the Law Enforcement Department¡¯s actions were indeed too harsh to bully such a lonely and helpless young man. Right, he was just a minor cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm; facing the oppression of such a Major Sect as Heavenly Sword Sect, what could he do when he was driven to a dead end? If it were her, she would probably have no choice but to leave obediently. With a heavy heart, Yu Qing clasped her hands towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Taoist Fang, I understand your pain. I can¡¯t guarantee for the other two branches, but here on Yujian Peak, you can sell whatever you want, just go ahead and sell.¡± Fang Zhou also grasped Yu Qing¡¯s hands, gratefully saying, ¡°Yu Qing, you are truly a good person. We should take a bath together sometime.¡± Yu Qing was slightly startled, then somewhat unnaturally released her hands, smilingly saying, ¡°You flatter me, Taoist Fang. We hit it off at first sight, this is what I should do.¡± However, Fang Zhou was like an explorer discovering a new world; Yu Qing¡¯s reaction¡ªcould it be¡­ she was shy? So not only is she a literary enthusiast, but also a pure-hearted young woman? If this had been any other woman with dirty thoughts in her head, being seized by Fang Zhou like this, she might have taken off on the spot. Fang Zhou guessed correctly; Yu Qing was indeed a bit embarrassed and shy, mainly because she had very little contact with the opposite sex since childhood, let alone physical touch. Many male disciples within the Heavenly Sword Sect admired her, but very few ever had the chance to touch her body. Even if some shrewd disciples deliberately schemed to have close contact with Yu Qing, they would be seriously chastised by her. To cover up the awkwardness, Yu Qing had no choice but to change the topic: ¡°Taoist Fang, what are you planning to sell?¡± Fang Zhou also put aside his interest in teasing her and stated seriously: ¡°I¡¯m planning to sell newspapers, can it be done?¡± Yu Qing thought for a moment, then curiously asked: ¡°When you speak of newspapers, could it be that you mean the official gazette?¡± The official gazette is a type of newspaper circulated within the realm¡¯s government offices, mainly containing copies of the emperor¡¯s decrees, edicts, ministerial memos, and other official documents, as well as significant events in the court. The official gazette is not circulated among the common folk, and it lacks any newsworthy or interesting reports. Fang Zhou nodded: ¡°Roughly the same, essentially.¡± Yu Qing found it even more peculiar: ¡°It¡¯s possible to sell, but why did Taoist Fang think of selling such a thing?¡± She carefully phrased her tone: ¡°I¡¯m afraid¡­ it won¡¯t make much money.¡± That was still putting it nicely. In Yu Qing¡¯s view, it wasn¡¯t just about making little money; it was outright impossible to make any money at all. Who in the Heavenly Sword Sect would be so well-fed as to buy such a thing? In Yu Qing¡¯s eyes, Fang Zhou had simply become a na?ve youth who was oblivious to worldly matters. Alright, both consider the other as innocent. It seems necessary to have a serious and straightforward exchange to see who is truly innocent and who is the seasoned expert. But not right now. Fang Zhou, however, smiled and said: ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, what do the disciples of your Heavenly Sword Sect usually do when they have free time? Any activities or pastimes?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Yu Qing thought for a while and replied: ¡°The disciples usually exchange cultivation experiences. Aside from cultivation, they also engage in chess, poetry, and painting.¡± Fang Zhou raised a finger and shook it, clicking his tongue: ¡°Not enough, not enough. All these are old-fashioned pastimes, only making the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s disciples become more dull and depressed. As the saying goes, one must travel wide and read extensively to broaden one¡¯s perspective. Staying on the mountain, oblivious to the outside world and solely focused on cultivation, will only lead to producing ignorant individuals who are closed off to the world. As the poem goes, ¡®To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower,¡¯ one must climb to greater heights to see farther, with ¡®height¡¯ here referring to the depth of knowledge, not just the level of cultivation. Do you understand?¡± Yu Qing frowned slightly, thinking that Fang Zhou¡¯s words made sense, but she still explained: ¡°We don¡¯t always stay on the mountain; after reaching the Foundation Establishment phase, we do go down the mountain for experience.¡± Yet Fang Zhou sneered: ¡°Descending the mountain for experience, huh. You disciples of the Major Sects merely wield your formidable power to play in the secular world, doing heroic deeds and thinking you¡¯ve understood the variety of worldly ways. In truth, you are just having a cursory look, what can you really see?¡± Yu Qing was stunned by Fang Zhou¡¯s words: ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou leaned in and whispered: ¡°Not to mention far places, just take Qingde City in Jingnan State. Let me ask you, the Hu Family of Qingde City¡ªall ten members being accomplished Cultivators¡ªwere wiped out overnight. Do you know who did it?¡± Yu Qing had a blank face; she didn¡¯t even know where Qingde City was. Fang Zhou continued: ¡°I¡¯ll ask you another question, rumors of a secret treasure causing a glow of Buddha light to appear on Wild Tomb Ridge have attracted countless Cultivators to seek the treasure, yet many disappeared without return, suffering numerous casualties. The monks of Lanruo Temple on Wild Tomb Ridge lived in detachment from the world, yet they were all slaughtered overnight. Do you know who did it?¡± Yu Qing¡¯s mouth fell open slightly, without being able to utter a word. She knew of Lanruo Temple on Wild Tomb Ridge, but when did a secret treasure appear there? Suddenly feeling embarrassed, she indeed seemed to be blind to the world and ignorant. Chapter 123 - 123: 123. Its the season for the White Album again Chapter 123: 123. It¡¯s the season for the White Album again Yu Qing, who had ascended Cloud Mountain at a young age, indeed remained oblivious to the affairs of the outside world, and was now completely unaware of the current situation beyond the mountain. Even her, as a True Disciple, was so uninformed, let alone the other ordinary disciples. Yu Qing was quite worried and hastily asked Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang, what should we do now?¡± Fang Zhou replied earnestly, ¡°This is precisely why I want to sell newspapers. The newspapers will document the customs and cultures of various places, as well as my personal experiences. It can broaden the horizons of the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect. Through the stories and perspectives I provide, I offer them a new direction of thinking, meanwhile enriching their otherwise monotonous lives during their Cultivation breaks. Besides, I can make a little money for myself. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a win-win situation?¡± Yu Qing¡¯s spirit was uplifted; it was such an epiphany. She hadn¡¯t realized that Fang Zhou¡¯s newspaper business was underpinned by such profound considerations. It was not merely about making money, but more importantly, about expanding the vision of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s disciples to prevent them from becoming isolated and ignorant. Deeply moved, Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but bow deeply to Fang Zhou, expressing her gratitude, ¡°Taoist Fang, on behalf of the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect, I thank you for your noble deed.¡± If there was a progress bar for favor at this moment, it would definitely show Yu Qing¡¯s increasing admiration towards Fang Zhou skyrocketing. What a pure and good child indeed, a gentleman can be deceived by being straightforward. Though Yu Qing is not a gentleman, her personality is quite similar. Fang Zhou felt quite emotional inside, he extended his hands to lift Yu Qing, and said gravely, ¡°Although I am not from the Heavenly Sword Sect, I am a member of the righteous path in the Cultivation World. It is only if such Major Sects like yours grow stronger that we can better protect the peace of the Cultivation World. I am merely contributing a slight force for the sake of peace, it¡¯s nothing worthy of thanks.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression and tone were righteous, enhanced by the addition of 2 points of reputation for being righteous, and most importantly, his handsome face. At this moment, a shaft of sunlight happened to pierce through the sea of clouds, shining upon him, making his entire being gleam gently, as if a divine being had descended to earth. Yu Qing was utterly mesmerized. Before, it was her who, with her spring-like demeanor, would intoxicate others. This time, Yu Qing finally experienced the feeling of spring arriving. Her whole being seemed to be placed in nature, so harmonious and relaxing, utterly intoxicating. Fang Zhou waved his hand in front of Yu Qing, ¡°Hey, did you hear me? Are you alright?¡± Yu Qing abruptly snapped back to reality, her cheeks heating up and her ears reddening, her eyes darting about, too embarrassed to meet Fang Zhou¡¯s gaze. This was the first time she had lost her composure in front of someone else. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m fine, sorry for spacing out.¡± Yu Qing took several deep breaths and quietly operated the Sword Control Technique, calming her emotions. After regaining her composure, Yu Qing said solemnly to Fang Zhou, ¡°I fully support your approach. If there¡¯s any difficulty, please tell me and I will do my utmost to help.¡± Fang Zhou let out a slight sigh of relief, managing to convince her, ¡°Of course. The reason I came to you is to inquire where I can purchase a large quantity of paper and ink. It would be even better if you have a channel for purchasing them.¡± Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Then you¡¯ve found the right person by coming to me. Our sect owns a paper and ink workshop, and I am acquainted with the master of the workshop.¡± Although Heavenly Sword Sect consists of cultivators, their daily material consumption is not small, and stationery like paper and inkstones are greatly needed. From the Sect Master to the ordinary disciples, everyone needs to write and draw daily; these things can¡¯t be conjured out of thin air through Cultivation. Other materials could be purchased in Yunshan City, but paper and ink were different. A significant portion was used for writing secret manuals and Cultivation insights, which should not be casually shown to others. Hence, there is a high demand for the quality of paper and ink as well. For this reason, Heavenly Sword Sect built their own workshop, producing and selling paper and ink themselves, along with offering printing services. Yu Qing, as a True Disciple, being nurtured as a future leader, definitely had access to these resources, which was something Fang Zhou had considered prior to his visit. Therefore, Yu Qing¡¯s response was within Fang Zhou¡¯s expectations. He smiled and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you to introduce me to the master of that workshop.¡± The workshop is located at Heavenly Sword Peak, and one must fly there. Yu Qing took off the jade hairpin on her head, which transformed into a Spirit Sword, nimbly flying below her, allowing her to sit cross-legged upon it. Fang Zhou summoned the Xuanyuan Sword and stepped onto it with one foot. Yu Qing observed Fang Zhou¡¯s Xuanyuan Sword, scrutinizing it carefully, and a touch of confusion appeared in her eyes: ¡°Huh, Taoist Fang, your sword is quite peculiar.¡± Yu Qing was naturally highly compatible with swords, able to discern their history and quality with just a glance. However, this seemingly unimpressive and dusty sword of Fang Zhou¡¯s gave her an indescribable feeling. Although Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know the grade of the Xuanyuan Sword, with the word ¡®divine¡¯ in its name, it was at least not a mundane item. Still, it¡¯s a basic principle not to flaunt one¡¯s wealth. Fang Zhou replied with a slight smile, ¡°There¡¯s nothing peculiar about it, it just accidentally fell into a latrine pit before. That¡¯s why it looks dusty after it dried. Maybe you caught a whiff of that.¡± The Xuanyuan Sword suddenly shook violently, almost shaking Fang Zhou off. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yu Qing wore an expression of odd befuddlement. Who ever heard of a Spirit Sword falling into a latrine pit? Yu Qing wasn¡¯t too surprised by the fact that Fang Zhou¡¯s sword could fly. Artifact Control Flight required at least reaching the Innate Realm. Below Innate, flying could only rely on the inherent abilities of the Magic Treasure itself. For example, Yu Qing¡¯s jade hairpin was a Spirit Sword with the Flying Ability¡ªit was the Spirit Sword that carried her aloft, essentially the same principle as a shuttle. Therefore, seeing Fang Zhou fly, Yu Qing assumed it was the Xuanyuan Sword carrying him and didn¡¯t realize that Fang Zhou had already learned the Sword Control Technique and could fly without externally channeling Spiritual Energy. Of course, the Xuanyuan Sword itself had the Flying Ability, but it lacked the flexibility compared to Fang Zhou personally controlling it with the Sword Control Technique. After the two left Yujian Peak, they roamed amidst the sea of clouds. At this moment, setting aside trivial matters, Sword Flight while wandering between heaven and earth, gave Fang Zhou a true sense of cultivation. However, they quickly arrived at Heavenly Sword Peak. The building complex on Heavenly Sword Peak was more majestic and vast in scale, and the area was bigger as well. But even so, the total population of Heavenly Sword Sect was less than ten thousand. Living in such a large place was frankly wasteful. Yu Qing led the way, bringing Fang Zhou to land at one of the gates of Heavenly Sword Peak; there indeed was an official entrance. With Yu Qing as the guide, their journey was smooth and unimpeded. Many disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect were surprised upon seeing Fang Zhou, yet none dared to obstruct or inquire, instead, they paid their respectful salutations to Yu Qing. After passing through the gate, they had to climb a long and steep staircase to reach Zhengkun Palace at Heavenly Sword Peak. In front of Zhengkun Palace, a group of disciples had gathered, busy with something. Fang Zhou looked at Yu Qing with a puzzled expression, and Yu Qing explained: ¡°They are conducting the monthly routine assessment for disciples of the three veins.¡± It turned out that the Heavenly Sword Sect assigned cultivation tasks each month and conducted an assessment at the month¡¯s end. Those who excelled would receive rewards, those who passed would receive encouragement, and while failing did not mean expulsion from the Sect, a stern reprimand was inevitable. If a disciple¡¯s cultivation did not progress over the years, the Heavenly Sword Sect would assign them to work in various departments rather than continue to feed them for nothing. The assessment process wasn¡¯t much to look at, terribly dull. Most deacons were reluctant to come, and if they did, it was a mere formality¡ªmaintaining stern faces throughout, stifling any cheerfulness, placing significant pressure on the disciples who often made mistakes. Having watched for a while and finding it uninteresting, Fang Zhou was ready to leave with Yu Qing, but then he encountered someone unexpected. Xuan Ling. ¡­ PS: I don¡¯t seem to have ever asked for votes, so I¡¯ll ask this time. Chapter 124 - 124: 124. Ironclad relationship formed through late-night talks by candlelight. Chapter 124: 124. Ironclad relationship formed through late-night talks by candlelight. Xuan Ling also came to Heavenly Sword Peak on business, just leaving Zhengkun Palace, and happened to run into Fang Zhou and Yu Qing. Upon seeing each other, both Yu Qing and Xuan Ling subconsciously stopped their steps, while Fang Zhou continued walking forward cluelessly for a moment until he realized Yu Qing wasn¡¯t following and stopped. He ended up right between Yu Qing and Xuan Ling, forming a triangle with their positions. When Xuan Ling emerged from Zhengkun Palace, a smile was on her face, but upon seeing Fang Zhou and Yu Qing walking side by side, her smile gradually stiffened and then faded away. Xuan Ling hadn¡¯t expected to see Fang Zhou there. She had been contemplating how to find a pretext to go to Moon Viewing Peak these past few days, never anticipating that Yu Qing would beat her to it. When Xuan Ling first met Fang Zhou in Yunshan City, she felt something very special towards him, a feeling she had never had towards any other man, hence leaving him her personal Jade Pendant. Afterward, when Fang Zhou participated in the entry-level trials, Xuan Ling watched him throughout, her impression of him deepening gradually, her interest growing bit by bit. Although it might not have been love at first sight for Xuan Ling towards Fang Zhou, she was certainly highly interested in him. Leaving the Jade Pendant was a clear proof, a declaration ¨C I have my eyes on this person, none of you should even think about snatching him away. Back in Yuxu Palace, Xuan Ling even warned Yu Qing, who solemnly swore she had no interest in romantic male-female relationships. But what was she seeing now? Yu Qing and Fang Zhou walking closely side by side, chatting and laughing ¨C this is what you called having no interest? This hypocritical, shameless woman! At that moment, Xuan Ling felt the anger of having something precious stolen from her. Seeing Xuan Ling¡¯s cold stare, Yu Qing maintained a mild expression, but her eyes betrayed a slight helplessness. Yu Qing could swear she had no inappropriate thoughts about Fang Zhou, no romantic inclinations, just pure appreciation. She definitely had no intention of stealing Xuan Ling¡¯s beloved. But she knew this junior sister too well, who was always somewhat prejudiced against her, not to mention now having witnessed the ¡®evidence¡¯; she definitely wouldn¡¯t listen to any explanations. She didn¡¯t want their sisterly affection to be marred because of Fang Zhou. This truly was an undeserved disaster. Among the three, probably only Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t realized what was happening yet, but he keenly sensed the atmosphere turning strange. He looked back at Yu Qing and asked, confused, ¡°Let¡¯s go, why have you stopped?¡± Yu Qing gave him a helpless look, not understanding whether Fang Zhou was just thick or intentionally behaving this way. It was clear that the junior sister who gave you her Jade Pendant is right in front of you ¨C why do you pretend not to see her and keep talking to me instead? Don¡¯t drag me into your complicated relationship. This, however, was completely misunderstood by Yu Qing. For Fang Zhou, Xuan Ling was just a strange woman who tried to flirt with him in Yunshan City, one of the countless similar women he had encountered. If he was entangled with emotions for every one of them, he would be utterly exhausted. Therefore, Fang Zhou was completely unaware that the strange tension between Yu Qing and Xuan Ling was because of him. Xuan Ling, watching them with a cold gaze, suddenly came forward, switching to a frivolous smile, and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°I never expected to meet here again since our last encounter in Yunshan City, why haven¡¯t you come to find me on Xuanjian Peak?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her incredulously, thinking to himself, do I know you that well, beautiful lady? But considering this woman dared to flirt with him publicly on the streets, her outgoing personality made it normal for her to speak like this. Being on the other person¡¯s turf, Fang Zhou dared not speak recklessly and could only politely respond, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy.¡± Xuan Ling listened but wanted to sneer, you have no time to find me, yet you have time to search for my senior sister? She did not expose Fang Zhou¡¯s lame ¡®excuse¡¯, but glanced at the hesitant Yu Qing and asked, ¡°Is your relationship with my senior sister very good?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou almost reached out to put his arm around Yu Qing¡¯s shoulder, barely restraining himself: ¡°We have a good relationship where we stay up all night chatting.¡± ¡°Stay up, night, chatting?¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s smile disappeared again, she practically spoke each of these four words distinctly. She turned her head to look at Yu Qing, her gaze sharp as a knife. Yu Qing was a bit panicky, unable to keep calm any longer, she hurriedly said, ¡°No, there was no staying up all night, Taoist Fang is talking nonsense, junior sister, you misunderstood, it¡¯s definitely not what you think.¡± She explained to Xuan Ling the events of the past few days¡ªit wasn¡¯t her being opportunistic, it just happened coincidentally. But after listening, Xuan Ling thought of something else. You even know his last name, yet I know nothing, still claiming it wasn¡¯t opportunistically? And you call each other Taoist so affectionately, is the next step becoming Daoist partners? Xuan Ling looked coldly at Yu Qing and laughed, ¡°Senior sister, there¡¯s no need to rush in explaining, I have my own eyes to judge the true nature of things.¡± Fang Zhou also said from the side, ¡°That¡¯s right, why rush to explain, anyone can see that we two have a tight relationship.¡± He also wanted to foster a good relationship with Yu Qing, this esteemed True Disciple, as having this strong support would reduce many obstacles in the Heavenly Sword Sect. Little did he expect Yu Qing to hurry in distancing herself, this was unacceptable. Yu Qing glared at Fang Zhou with a look of disappointment as if to say, I¡¯m explaining this for you, and you¡¯re not helping, but instead adding fuel to the fire. Fang Zhou fearlessly glared back, if you try to kick me aside, that¡¯s unacceptable, this supportive leg of yours, I¡¯m determined to hold on to. Seeing these two daring to exchange such meaningful glances right in front of her, Xuan Ling felt utterly disregarded. Her complexion worsened, making the atmosphere even more oppressive. Seeing Xuan Ling¡¯s displeased expression, Yu Qing hurriedly explained, ¡°Junior sister, after so many years of affection, you wouldn¡¯t mistrust your senior sister, right?¡± Xuan Ling sneered back, ¡°Senior sister, you still remember our many years of affection? Then did you forget what you promised me at Yuxu Palace?¡± At that time, Yu Qing clearly stated she wouldn¡¯t act against Fang Zhou. Yu Qing gave a bitter smile, ¡°Junior sister, you really misunderstood me.¡± ¡°Hmph, whether it¡¯s a misunderstanding, I will judge for myself. You took my things, I will retrieve them by my own hands.¡± Yu Qing had nothing to respond with, knowing that the misunderstanding had been formed, no more explanations would be heard by her junior sister, only time could prove everything now. Seeing Yu Qing remain silent, Xuan Ling instead felt that her own assumption about Yu Qing¡¯s pain was confirmed, and she grew even more irritated. Xuan Ling turned to look at Fang Zhou, and suddenly raised her hand. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s bewildered gaze, she straightened his somewhat messy collar. ¡°You too, since you took my things, you must bear the consequences. If you keep pretending to be foolish, I will not be polite to you.¡± After speaking, Xuan Ling didn¡¯t wait for Fang Zhou¡¯s response and strode away. Fang Zhou watched Xuan Ling¡¯s departing figure, utterly confused. Crazy, who took your things? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 1: 1. Divorce flow due to incorrect gender Chapter 1: 1. Divorce flow due to incorrect gender Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Break-off engagement genre is a type of genre in web novels, popularized by Qi Transformation, but due to overuse, it has led to reader fatigue and is rarely seen nowadays.¡± Fang Zhou never imagined that after transmigrating, he too would become the protagonist of a break-off engagement saga, experiencing a classic break-off engagement. It¡¯s just that, damn it, the gender is all wrong! ¡°You want to break off the engagement?! What did the Xiao Family do wrong?¡± A furious shout jolted Fang Zhou from his contemplation. Standing before him was a tall and beautiful young girl, dressed in a deep green outfit, staring at Fang Zhou with eyes full of anger. At the moment, Fang Zhou was in a spacious and bright hall, with many people either sitting or standing on both sides, displaying various expressions, mostly women. Seated at the center of the hall was a charming middle-aged woman, also glaring at Fang Zhou with an unfriendly look. And behind Fang Zhou stood several women, with Fang Zhou at the forefront, vaguely forming a group, confronting the middle-aged woman and the girl in green. This was a melodramatic story¡ªcoming over to break off an engagement. It was him, a straight man made of steel, coming to break off an engagement with a pretty girl who had both looks and body. Damn, am I a gay? Or was it that I was bitten by a dog before transmigration and became a forever single, a curse that didn¡¯t disappear even after transmigration? Under the young girl¡¯s scolding, Fang Zhou had nothing to say, with whispers and buzzing sounds surrounding him like incessant flies. Suddenly, a tall and beautiful woman in a moon-white outfit stepped forward from behind Fang Zhou, placed her hands on Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulders, and said with a gentle smile, ¡°Leave it to your Senior Sister.¡± Li Ruyu, a disciple of Xuanji Sect, the current Senior Sister of this body, and the support for daring to come here to break off the engagement. Li Ruyu looked towards the middle-aged woman and the girl in green, her smile receding, ¡°That¡¯s right, my Junior Brother Fang is here to break off the engagement today. He has joined our Xuanji Sect, no longer a common mortal, and your engagement with the Xiao Family should be null and void. If you understand reason, swiftly cancel the marriage contract and foster a good relationship with our Xuanji Sect.¡± Though her tone was gentle, Li Ruyu¡¯s demeanor was aloof, immediately angering the girl in green. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Xuanji Sect is really something, isn¡¯t it? To openly come here and break off an engagement, where do you put my Wu City Xiao Family¡¯s face?¡± ¡°Wu City Xiao Family, huh.¡± Li Ruyu let out a dismissive snicker, ¡°Your Xiao Family indeed has some reputation around Wu City, but after all, you¡¯re merely commoners. What right do you have to talk about face in front of our Xuanji Sect?¡± The girl in green glared, ¡°You!!¡± ¡°Enough, Yan¡¯er.¡± As soon as the middle-aged woman spoke, the entire hall instantly quieted down, silence so profound you could hear a pin drop. Li Ruyu fearlessly met the middle-aged woman¡¯s gaze, yet secretly remained cautious. With the sect behind her, Li Ruyu wasn¡¯t worried, but the Xiao Family had some tricks up their sleeves, and this family head, Xiao Zhan, was one of the strongest in Wu City, not to be underestimated. Yet Xiao Zhan turned to Fang Zhou, speaking in a deep voice, ¡°Fang Zhou, my Xiao Family and your Fang Family have been friends for generations, and the marriage between you and Yan¡¯er was personally arranged by your grandmother. Her death hasn¡¯t even been three years, and now your Fang Family dares to go against the elder¡¯s last wishes. You really have the guts. I¡¯m asking you one more time, do you really want to break off the engagement?¡± By the end of it, her tone was fierce, her Phoenix eyes filled with wrath. No, I don¡¯t want to! This girl to be broken off with, Xiao Yan, has been an exceptional talent since childhood, reputed to be Wu City¡¯s once-in-a-century genius. But for some unknown reason three years ago, she became useless and became the subject of mockery. Look, everyone look, this damn protagonist¡¯s privileges are about to blind the dogs, why would I offend her? Fang Zhou really wanted to say this, but he had just transmigrated, and breaking off the engagement was already inevitable, with the initiative taken by the Fang Family and Xuanji Sect¡ªhe had no say in it. Actually, he thought both the Fang Family and Xuanji Sect were stubborn. Why break off the engagement? Just get married now, enter the bridal chamber tonight, infuse Xiao Yan with soul, and then go to Xuanji Sect to train. How wonderful would that be? But of course, he couldn¡¯t say this out loud, for he would definitely be killed on the spot. Suddenly, Li Ruyu took Fang Zhou¡¯s hand tenderly and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her threats, Junior Brother, you are now with the Xuanji Sect, no one can harm you, your Senior Sister will protect you.¡± Holding the delicate hand, a fleeting thought rose in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind; meeting Li Ruyu¡¯s eyes, he seemed to see intense passion in them. Yes, intense passion. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A kind of naked desire to strip him bare, skin and bones included, and swallow him whole.¡± ¡°Damn, isn¡¯t this woman crazily infatuated?!¡± Fang Zhou was startled, and the fantasy in his mind disappeared instantly; he tried to pull his hand back, but Li Ruyu held it tight. The green-clad girl Xiao Yan saw her not-yet-married fianc¨¦, hand in hand and deeply gazing into the eyes of another woman publicly, and immediately, her eyes turned green with fury, her hair seemingly changing to match her dress. ¡°No need to ask him anymore, my lady mother.¡± Xiao Yan, fueled by anger, moved aside, quickly wrote something down with a brush, then stormed up to Fang Zhou and threw it at him. Fang Zhou caught it instinctively, only to see a big ¡°Divorce¡± character written on it. Xiao Yan pointed at Fang Zhou and roared, ¡°I, Xiao Yan, divorce you, Fang Zhou! From this moment, you are no longer my fianc¨¦, and there shall be no ties between us. However, the humiliation you brought upon Xiao Family today, I, Xiao Yan, will remember, and in three years, I will personally visit Xuanji Sect to seek your advice!¡± Oh crap, still managed to make an enemy of the protagonist, and even triggered a duel scenario. Fang Zhou was weary in his heart, but he wasn¡¯t too worried, at worst, he could just admit defeat in the future, lie down, and let you do as you please. Xiao Yan¡¯s words earned applause from everyone present, and Xiao Zhan also showed a face full of approval. On Fang Zhou¡¯s side, it was as if he was playing the role of a villain who had just been slapped in the face. The infatuated senior sister leaned close to Fang Zhou¡¯s ear and whispered softly, ¡°Junior Brother, do you need your senior sister to step in and teach her a lesson?¡± She knew that for a man to be divorced and kicked out by his wife could be quite humiliating and challenging for remarriage. Nevertheless, Fang Zhou shook his head, ¡°No, thanks. The deeper the offense now, the more energy it would take to resolve in the future, and I fear being completely drained.¡± Li Ruyu then bowed to Xiao Zhan, lightly smiling, ¡°Leader Xiao, until we meet again. Fang Family is now in charge of procurement for Xuanji Sect, I hope Xiao Family can support us.¡± This statement was both an announcement that Fang Family had been taken under Xuanji Sect¡¯s wing, and a warning to Xiao Family as well. Xiao Zhan¡¯s face darkened, and he slammed down on the tea table, ¡°Show them out!¡± Fang Zhou suddenly felt something uncomfortably amiss, like a person with OCD spotting asymmetry. Just as everyone was about to leave the Xiao residence, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke, ¡°Fang Zhou, now that you¡¯ve climbed onto a high branch, don¡¯t think you¡¯ve become a Phoenix. Let me give you some advice, ¡®Thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west, don¡¯t bully a poor maiden.''¡± Yes, that¡¯s it, I knew something was missing¡ªit was this famous line. Fang Zhou felt relief in his heart, smiling and waving goodbye to Xiao Yan as if he was not there for a divorce but merely stopping by after lunch. Xiao Yan paused briefly, her mind possibly racing, and her face contorted, ¡°That¡¯s too much!¡± ¡­ Leaving the Xiao residence and stepping outside, Li Ruyu helped Fang Zhou into the carriage. Before boarding the carriage, she seemed to touch Fang Zhou¡¯s bottom, or perhaps not. Fang Zhou stiffened, turned his head to look, only to see Li Ruyu smiling warmly, ¡°What is it, Junior Brother?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, maybe it was an illusion? After he climbed into the carriage, Li Ruyu placed her hand in front of her nose, took a deep sniff, her face enraptured. ¡°The fragrance of a virgin, even better than fine wine.¡± Aboard the carriage, Fang Zhou faintly heard Li Ruyu¡¯s muttered words, and his entire being cracked open. Li Ruyu and several women with longswords mounted on tall horses, while Fang Zhou sat in the carriage. The carriage was pink and fragrant, previously exclusive to his original self, filled with youthful, or rather, youthful male vibes. Inside, two frail boys waited, who upon seeing Fang Zhou board, greeted him in delicate voices, ¡°Young Master, you¡¯re back.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingled, although these two boys looked delicate and tender, the overly effeminate demeanor triggered a strong physical discomfort in Fang Zhou. These two boys were Fang Zhou¡¯s personal male servants, their hair braided into loops and dressed in skirt-like clothing, their faces lightly powdered. The two servants intended to help Fang Zhou tidy his appearance but were stopped by him. Suppressing any signs of disgust, Fang Zhou washed his face and retired to lie down by himself. Chapter 2: 2. A world where men are inferior to women Chapter 2: 2. A world where men are inferior to women Editor: Dragon Boat Translation This is a world where men are inferior to women. It is said that thousands of years ago, it was a male-dominated society, but since women could easily practice cultivation while men could not, the social atmosphere gradually changed to favor women over men. Most cultivators who can move mountains and seas, and achieve immortality, are women. There are male cultivators too, but they are few in number. The rulers of the country are also women, and the army is composed of women, because women can easily enter the path of cultivation and become stronger than men who have not undergone cultivation. On the rivers and lakes, most of the high-profile knights are women; they rob the rich to aid the poor and travel the world with swords. Women drink and eat meat heartily, while men have to cautiously protect themselves from being robbed of their wealth and color when traveling. Even demons and evil spirits that harm the community are predominantly female. Under the influence of female supremacy, as time goes by, the whole world has also begun to see a decline in masculinity; in specific household units, women have become the decision-makers, while men manage the household duties. Beauty for women is to be tall and healthy, out and about in public, while men are considered beautiful when they are delicate and shy, staying at home, managing domestic affairs. Fang Zhou felt overwhelmed when he transversed into such a world. At first he was quite thrilled, even prepared for endless nights of revelry. However, he quickly realized something was off; this world demands chastity from men, all the chastity arches on the streets are erected for men, looking at a woman one time too many labels you a philanderer, a married man who flirts with other women could be thrown into a pig cage. Women, however, have no such restraints; apart from their husbands, it¡¯s normal for wealthy and influential women to marry several lesser husbands. Flirting with men in public will at worst get you scolded as a ¡®dallying woman¡¯. So, Fang Zhou immediately discarded any ideas of nightly revelries; he didn¡¯t want to end up serving one wife with several other men, being in such companionate bonds. Moreover, most women in this world are cultured, the brothel in Wu City drags out several pale and skinny and unconscious top males every month. This made Fang Zhou lose all interest in chasing girls. Isn¡¯t Miss Wu fragrant enough? If he can solve his needs by himself, why risk his life looking for a woman? The body that Fang Zhou had when he transversed was handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a tall and upright posture¡ªan excellent beauty, which actually is a drawback in marriage matters; many big households prefer to marry delicate and frail men, who are picturesque and can stay at home to teach and care for kids. Fang Zhou¡¯s excessively tall and handsome type could only qualify as a lesser husband, unable to become the main spouse. The Fang family had been concerned about Fang Zhou¡¯s marriage since he was a child and secretly contacted many matchmakers; finally, it was the grandmother of the Fang Family who stepped in and arranged a marriage engagement with Xiao Yan for Fang Zhou. So, it was not righteous of the Fang family to cancel the engagement when the Xiao Family was helping you take out the trash for free. Of course, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t see himself as trash; with his looks, he would have been a winner in life on Earth, the kind that makes girls weak at the knees, only to be disliked in this twisted world. It¡¯s not him who is wrong, but this world. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few months ago, an elder from Xuanji Sect passed by Wu City and encountered Fang Zhou, discovering his unique physique and rare high cultivation potential, and thus took him as a disciple. Upon hearing that Fang Zhou had a marriage engagement, he decided to have him call off the marriage. The Fang family couldn¡¯t be happier; although this would offend the Xiao Family, how could a small Xiao Family compare to the renowned Cultivation Sect of Jingnan State? Fang Zhou really wanted to mock the Fang family, saying what a mistake, you¡¯re not just offending a small Xiao Family, but the main character. Don¡¯t regret it when you¡¯re being slapped in the face later. Wait, Fang Zhou suddenly realized he seems to be among those being slapped too, and his mood suddenly worsened. Unfortunately, he¡¯s unimportant and his words carry little weight, he couldn¡¯t stop any of this. From Li Ruyu¡¯s infatuated performance, it seems Xuanji Sect isn¡¯t really a good place either, perhaps just a henhouse. He¡¯s afraid he might walk in plump and healthy, and be carried out lean and haggard. Just thinking about it scares him, making him feel weak all over. Upon returning to the Fang family, Fang Zhou¡¯s original parents were already waiting at the front door. After Fang Zhou got out of the carriage, his frail father immediately approached with a graceful gait, grasping Fang Zhou¡¯s hands softly and said, ¡°Zhou¡¯er, did the Xiao family give you any trouble?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s tall mother was also concerned but first respectfully greeted Li Ruyu, thanking her, ¡°Thank you, Immortal Li, for safely bringing back my child.¡± Li Ruyu smiled and said, ¡°Madam Fang, don¡¯t be polite. Just call me Ruyu. Since your son has joined my Xuanji Sect, we are family and should naturally help each other.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s mother happily responded repeatedly, ¡°You¡¯re too kind, too kind. Please come inside. I have prepared a feast for you all.¡± Indeed, the external affairs of the Fang family are managed by Fang Zhou¡¯s mother, whereas his father manages the inner house. While chatting and laughing, everyone entered the Fang household, and a few frail and girlish-looking young men came up to ask about Fang Zhou¡¯s well-being. These young men were lesser husbands married by Fang Zhou¡¯s mother. Properly, Fang Zhou should call them ¡°uncle¡±. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it, and covered in goosebumps, he excused himself by claiming ill health and hastily retreated to his ¡®boudoir¡¯. The furnishings in his boudoir were filled with this world¡¯s unique youthful male essence, and there was an unfinished embroidery, featuring a pair of mandarin ducks. Fang Zhou directly tore the mandarin ducks apart, at which two male servants lunged to stop him, ¡°Young master, this is your favorite.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Fang Zhou shredded the mandarin ducks decoration and then whipped out some paper and pen, quickly sketching out a macho Mr. Banana and King Billy, and hung them up somewhere. He didn¡¯t believe that wouldn¡¯t dispel the overwhelming scent of rouge in the house. After the banquet ended, a flushed-faced Li Ruyu came to visit him once more. ¡°Junior brother, not feeling well? Your senior sister here knows a thing or two about medicine, let me take a look.¡± Li Ruyu, with a smile, squeezed closer to Fang Zhou and even grabbed one of his hands, caressing it gently. Two male servants hid to one side, stealthily peeping over here, their faces blushing. Fang Zhou quietly withdrew his hand; he wasn¡¯t afraid of being taken advantage of by a beauty, but he feared being misunderstood by this infatuated woman in front of him. Li Ruyu sensed Fang Zhou¡¯s resistance, but just laughed it off. While society might not consider Fang Zhou¡¯s features delicate enough, or his figure a bit too tall, In Li Ruyu¡¯s eyes, he was absolutely a ¡®beauty¡¯. However, she didn¡¯t want to scare her junior brother, so she toned down her eagerness, thinking there¡¯d be plenty of opportunities once they returned to Xuanji Sect. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, junior brother. Your sister here just feels a kinship towards you, nothing inappropriate.¡± Li Ruyu explained with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m too grateful to Sister to even suspect anything.¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment, then she quickly returned to normal, explaining, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just had a bit of alcohol and broke out in a sweat, feeling slightly unwell.¡± Fang Zhou just hmm¡¯d, but inside he sneered. Really think I¡¯m a na?ve three-year-old? Sweating, haha, I think you¡¯re drooling. Ha, woman, in front of my well-experienced titanium-dog eyes, you can¡¯t hide anything. As evening approached, Li Ruyu could no longer stay in Fang Zhou¡¯s boudoir. She had to stay in the Fang Family for another ten days or half a month, giving Fang Zhou some time to prepare to say goodbye to his parents, before bringing him to Xuanji Sect. After Li Ruyu left, the two male servants immediately came over, grinning at Fang Zhou: ¡°Master, Immortal Li seems to really fancy you, why don¡¯t you just accept it.¡± ¡°Shut up, I¡¯d rather die than comply.¡± Fang Zhou finally lost his patience. Fancy me? She¡¯s lusting after my body, how low! The male servants again urged, ¡°Master, Immortal Li is outstanding and totally smitten with you. Such a good match, won¡¯t you consider it?¡± Then they started blushing again, thinking if their master married Immortal Li, they would be her fellow male servants and could take Fang Zhou¡¯s place in consummating the marriage. ¡°What the hell, are you serious?¡± Fang Zhou could clearly see these two pansies¡¯ intentions, feeling shocked, angry, and disgusted all at once. I treated you like family, and you want to be my accomplices. ¡°Get out, out, out!¡± Fang Zhou quickly drove these guys out, threw a couple of punches and did a few sets of calisthenics to suppress the anger in his heart. [Ding, Tai Chu¡¯s Sun activated, host has accumulated enough grievances, ¡®Rise up, Brave Man¡¯ system activated] Hearing the sudden sound in his mind, Fang Zhou was slightly startled, then his eyes lit up. Finally online, oh my dear father! ¡­ After the two male servants were driven out of the room, they went to the backyard and saw Li Ruyu hiding in the shadows. Li Ruyu¡¯s face was normal, her aura calm, showing no signs of drunkenness. She chuckled, ¡°So, what did your master say?¡± The male servants immediately started babbling rapidly. ¡°We tested him, master is quite shy yet bold.¡± ¡°Master seriously considered it, even asked us if we were serious too.¡± ¡°He even said he¡¯d rather die than comply, but master is timid and drove us out.¡± Li Ruyu handed the two male servants a generous amount of silver and then, with a smile, gazed at Fang Zhou¡¯s boudoir, licking her lips. ¡°Little junior brother, turns out you say one thing but mean another, but no worries, we¡¯ll soon be together, sharing our hearts without any need for pretense.¡± 2 comment 2 Chapter 3: 3. Resist the Temptation of a Lewd Woman Chapter 3: 3. Resist the Temptation of a Lewd Woman Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°Rise up, Brave Man¡± Name: Fang Zhou Realm: None Martial Arts: None Skills: None Strength: 1 Speed: 1 Constitution: 1 S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Spirit: 1 Masculinity: 0 This is a system named ¡°Rise up, Brave Man,¡± which has a simple and crude name, with a minimalistic style so straightforward that even an idiot could understand it. Nowadays, systems are a dime a dozen, cheaper than cabbages. Most protagonists each have one, two, or even three systems, and some have even switched careers to become system wholesalers and manufacturers. Getting a system when you traverse is considered a newbie¡¯s welfare, and systems that are not good enough get complained about. Life is truly tough. If possible, Fang Zhou really hopes for a system like ¡°Three Years of Invincibility and Five Years of Ascension,¡± but obviously, he doesn¡¯t get to choose and has to make do for the time being. After studying all night, Fang Zhou finally figured out the functions and usage of this system. The goal of this system is to turn Fang Zhou into a real man, to reverse the bad customs of the world, and to make the concept of social harmony and gender equality mainstream. The system will randomly trigger some tasks, and by completing these tasks, you can obtain masculinity, which can be used to enhance basic attributes or to upgrade martial arts skills. If others truly believe that Fang Zhou is a manly man from the bottom of their hearts, they can also award masculinity, with the amount awarded depending on the situation. From the moment he acquired the system, Fang Zhou became a glorious advocate of men¡¯s rights, ready to strike with heavy fists, combating the world¡¯s bullying and discrimination against men, fighting for the rights they deserve, so that they don¡¯t have to sweat in the heat with cold hands and feet, nor do they have to be afraid of being raped by mere sight of a cup. Hell is empty, and all the devils are here. This dirty world is waiting for him to change! But before gaining the power to change the world, Fang Zhou feels it¡¯s better to grovel and play it safe first, lest he dies before achieving anything. The next morning, Fang Zhou began to try triggering system tasks. The Fang family has many women who are responsible for heavy labor and acting as protectors of the home. The Fang family itself has its own martial arts, but they are only suitable for women to practice. Fang Zhou interacted with the maids and protectors, but he didn¡¯t trigger any tasks; he didn¡¯t know whether these people were too low-level or if he was using the wrong approach. He didn¡¯t dare to go too far in case the members of the Fang family caught on to anything. ¡°Junior Brother, so you are here?¡± Li Ruyu found Fang Zhou hiding in the back garden. She was still dressed in her moon-white gown, with delicate features and outstanding elegance, like a beauty who had stepped straight out of a painting. Such a beauty, if she were on Earth, would undoubtedly be hailed as a goddess, claiming countless admirers. Yet, in this otherworld, she can only be a foolish woman. Sometimes, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel the urge to give in to resistance and let himself be taken down. You might hit the jackpot, but I definitely won¡¯t be at a loss. But the thought that this foolish woman may have been through many battles immediately filled Fang Zhou with resistance. It reminded him of a commonly seen image¡ªDad goes out to buy a pack of smokes and runs into nine men who have slept with you.JPG No, in this world, it should be¡ªDad goes out to buy a pack of smokes and runs into nine men you have slept with.JPG In either case, it was something Fang Zhou simply could not accept. ¡°Junior Brother, why are you hiding here?¡± Li Ruyu came close intimately, carrying a slightly strange yet fragrant scent on her body. As Fang Zhou pondered how to send away this foolish woman, a few lines of text suddenly popped up in front of him. [New Task Triggered ¨C Resist the Temptation of the Foolish Woman] [Difficulty: Easy] [Reward: Masculinity*2 White Card*1] [Failure: Lose Virginity] Fang Zhou was shocked and quickly composed himself. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s odd expression, Li Ruyu thought he was uncomfortable with her closeness and said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re so shy, but don¡¯t worry, your senior sister won¡¯t force you to do anything you¡¯re uncomfortable with.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts were racing. The quest had finally triggered, but it was rather vague, without clear success conditions. However, failing the quest meant losing his virginity, which in other words, meant all he had to do was not get seduced. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said to Li Ruyu, ¡°Senior Sister, I¡¯m not very familiar with the Xuanji Sect or the Cultivation World. Could you tell me about them?¡± Li Ruyu smiled and said, ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll need to understand these things after joining the Xuanji Sect. I was just about to tell you.¡± She was planning to use this as a way to grow closer to Fang Zhou and didn¡¯t expect him to bring it up himself; it fit her intentions perfectly. The two found a pavilion in the back garden and sat down, where Li Ruyu began to explain the common knowledge of the Cultivation World to Fang Zhou. This world was still in a backward feudal society where information did not flow smoothly. An ordinary person might never travel beyond a hundred miles in their lifetime, having little knowledge of events thousands of miles away. Wu City was considered a major city that could appear on the map of Jingnan State, yet Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t find much about it in his original memories, and he knew even less about anything beyond Jingnan State, other than that it was a territory of Chu Kingdom. Through Li Ruyu¡¯s introduction, Fang Zhou learned that Chu Kingdom had a total of eleven regions. However, Chu Kingdom wasn¡¯t even considered a large country in this world, as there were five countries contending in the Central Plains alone, with other countries in the overseas regions, northern frontiers, and southern mountains. These were merely the mundane political powers. The Cultivation World¡¯s range was even broader. Xuanji Sect was somewhat renowned in Jingnan State but was just ordinary on the scale of the entire Chu Kingdom, and insignificant within the broader Central Plains area. The Central Plains were places rich in turbid energy, whereas the real prestigious sects and factions occupied the Immortal Cave Mansions, which were areas with thick Spiritual Energy and seldom visited by humans. Of course, Li Ruyu would never bluntly state this; she significantly embellished the reputation of Xuanji Sect instead. From the hints and cues in her speech, Fang Zhou surmised that Xuanji Sect was probably a small and insignificant sect. After completing the geographical primer, it was time to explain the most crucial hierarchy ¡ª or rather, the power levels of Cultivators. Cultivators were divided into seven realms: Qi Refinement entry-level, Foundation Building, Innate, Golden Core Formation, Spirit Soul Refining, Yin Yang Unification, and Tribulation Ascension. Li Ruyu emphasized the stages from Qi Refinement to Innate, only briefly touching upon the later realms. ¡°Senior Sister, what realm are you in?¡± Fang Zhou asked, seizing the opportunity to flatter her, ¡°You must be quite impressive within the sect, right?¡± Li Ruyu casually replied, ¡°Where, where. I was just lucky to succeed in Foundation Establishment, and Innate is promising. I¡¯m just a minor character in the sect.¡± Despite her modest words, there was a tinge of pride in Li Ruyu¡¯s expression. She had entered the Xuanji Sect eight years ago, spent three years in Qi Refinement, and five years in Foundation Building, and she stood out among the many disciples to be favored by her mentor. ¡°Foundation Establishment, huh.¡± Fang Zhou was under the impression that this naive woman was exceptionally powerful, but isn¡¯t Foundation Establishment just a minor rank? Many protagonists start cultivating with a fart reaching Foundation Establishment and reach Golden Core with a nap. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s unimpressed look, Li Ruyu felt she had wasted her breath. She said with slight dissatisfaction, ¡°Junior Brother, don¡¯t aim too high and miss. Foundation Building is the first major threshold for Cultivators, and so many people have failed there, wasting years of their life. If you underestimate Foundation Building, no matter how high you climb later, it will all be like a castle in the sky, at risk of collapsing.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression turned serious, and he immediately responded, ¡°I have learned my lesson.¡± Although this woman was naive, she wasn¡¯t without reason. He also reflected inwardly; ever since he obtained the system, he seemed to have become arrogant, looking down on this and that, forgetting that he was weak and could easily be killed by others ¡ª he had no right to look down on anyone. Li Ruyu then smiled and said, ¡°You are teachable. But you don¡¯t need to worry; since you¡¯ve been exceptionally accepted as a disciple by the mentor, you naturally have outstanding talent. Foundation Building should be easy for you.¡± After a sharp rebuke, she offered him comforting encouragement, and Li Ruyu felt the bond with her Junior Brother had grown even closer. She began to feel restless and shifted closer to Fang Zhou. As she drew near, the scent from her body swept over him, causing Fang Zhou¡¯s head to grow heavy. He bit the tip of his tongue and moved his bottom outward, then asked, ¡°Senior Sister, what realm is Xiao Zhan, the mistress of the Xiao Family? I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s quite powerful.¡± Li Ruyu disdainfully said, ¡°Without a tiger in the mountains, the monkey is king. Xiao Zhan only dares to swagger around Wu City. She is merely a martial artist who hasn¡¯t even completed Foundation Establishment ¡ª nothing to be concerned about.¡± In this world, most women practiced cultivation, but it was widely spread yet mediocre cultivation methods that were easy to start but hard to master. She added, ¡°Fortunately, Junior Brother, you didn¡¯t follow along and learn those flawed techniques, otherwise your uncut jade would have been ruined.¡± Fang Zhou pondered; indeed, his current body had never cultivated before. Firstly, the Fang Family¡¯s hereditary cultivation techniques were only suitable for women, and secondly, hoping he could be married off, the Fang Family didn¡¯t let him cultivate but instead taught him embroidery and flower arrangement. Seizing the moment as Fang Zhou was lost in thought, Li Ruyu suddenly took his hand, smiling, ¡°Junior Brother, let¡¯s not talk about these boring topics anymore. I¡¯ve learned some Face Reading at the sect, let me read your palm.¡± As she spoke, the scent from her body grew even stronger. As Fang Zhou inhaled, his head spun, and he thought, ¡°Goddamn it, it must be an aphrodisiac.¡± Frightened, Fang Zhou bit his tongue hard, the acute pain dispelling the lust, momentarily regaining his clarity. He quickly stood up: ¡°No need, Senior Sister. I¡¯m not feeling well, I will go back to rest.¡± Saying so, he hurriedly left the pavilion. Watching Fang Zhou¡¯s bent and crouched figure, Li Ruyu chuckled softly. ¡°It seems the dose wasn¡¯t enough. Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky, Junior Brother.¡± 1 comment 1 Chapter 4: 4. Single pull produces a miracle Chapter 4: 4. Single pull produces a miracle Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Rushing back to his room in a hurry, Fang Zhou locked the door and downed several pots of tea before he managed to suppress the burning desire within him. That woman was too terrifying; it was a good thing he was on guard at all times, otherwise, he would have been seduced in his confusion. But this trip wasn¡¯t without its gains. Looking at the line of text in front of him, Fang Zhou revealed a smile. [Successfully resisted the temptation of the enchantress] [Reward: Masculinity*2, White Card*1] A pure white card was slowly spinning in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. [White Card: Use to randomly obtain a common quality item or skill, with a low chance of drawing a higher quality item or skill] Is this a card-drawing game after all? Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but rub his hands together and then clasped them, starting to chant. ¡°May the Jade Emperor, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, The Bodhisattva Guanyin, Buddha, God, Jesus, Maria, and his holy mother bless me with a miracle single draw!¡± After finishing the invocation, a gleam flashed in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, feeling the universe¡¯s blessing descending upon him. He focused all his consciousness on the card and chose to use it. The card spun rapidly, bursting into a bright light, turned into countless particles, which then re-formed into an eye. [Illusion Technique: Causes a single target to fall into an illusion, spiritual resistance shortens the duration] He actually drew a skill card; he really was a lucky emperor. Fang Zhou opened the system joyfully. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: None Cultivation Method: None Skill: Illusion Technique Strength: 1+ Speed: 1+ Physical: 1+ Spirit: 1+ Masculinity: 2 The quest reward added two points of masculinity; the pluses appeared behind each attribute, which he could probably use to increase attributes. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and added the masculinity to his strength and spirit, the spirit would help him resist the temptress Li Ruyu¡¯s seduction, while strength could improve his currently feeble body. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: None Cultivation Method: None Skill: Illusion Technique Strength: 2 Speed: 1 Physical: 1 Spirit: 2 Masculinity: 0 After increasing his strength and spirit attributes, Fang Zhou immediately felt a noticeable change. His body felt as if it had endless energy, strength suddenly enhanced, and the change in spirit was particularly evident. The dizziness and sluggishness when seduced by Li Ruyu were swept away, and his spirit became invigorated and clear. ¡°Young master, are you there?¡± At this moment, Fang Zhou¡¯s male servant happened to be knocking on the door outside. Fang Zhou let the male servant in and then cast the Illusion Technique on him. The male servant immediately fell into a daze, as Fang Zhou began to count the time, meanwhile waving his hand in front of the servant, ¡°Hey, can you hear me speaking?¡± The male servant was indifferent to Fang Zhou¡¯s actions, remained motionlessly standing for a few seconds and then suddenly started wriggling like a teddy bear. What kind of vision did this damn guy see? Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know what someone under an illusion would see, but it was clear that this guy caught sight of something inappropriate for children. In the next moment, the male servant let out a heavy breath, looking enlightened like a sage who has comprehended the ultimate truth that all is vanity. Fang Zhou gave a bewildered look and hurriedly kicked the servant out of the room with a swift foot. This guy really isn¡¯t reliable, better to test it on someone else. Fang Zhou left the room and secretly found a few isolated servants to test on, quickly figuring out the effects and limitations of the Illusion Technique. Ordinary people under the illusion would stay affected for about a minute; simple sounds and touches wouldn¡¯t wake them, only a greater stimulus would do the job. For those who have practiced cultivation, the duration of the Illusion Technique would be shortened and they could be awakened by smaller stimuli. Releasing three illusions would exhaust Fang Zhou¡¯s spirit, forcing five could completely deplete him, almost emptying his body. This was after he had strengthened his spiritual power; without the enhancement, he might have only managed two or three. Although the skill didn¡¯t seem very powerful, at least it gave Fang Zhou some power to resist, so he wouldn¡¯t be entirely at others¡¯ mercy. ¡­ Li Ruyu and her entourage stayed at the Fang Mansion for ten days, during which Li Ruyu harassed Fang Zhou almost daily, finding all sorts of excuses to make physical advances. Fang Zhou matched wits and courage against this enamored woman, taking the opportunity to extract more information about the Cultivation World from her and even asking Li Ruyu to demonstrate a cultivator¡¯s power. Seeing Li Ruyu easily split a large rock in two with her longsword, Fang Zhou got a clear understanding¡ªLi Ruyu could kill him with just the poke of a finger. This realization created a sense of crisis in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. Inside Fang Mansion, Li Ruyu still had to maintain some semblance of propriety, but who knew whether she would force herself on him during the trip to Xuanji Sect. By then, crying for help would be useless, pitifully small and helpless to her whims. Once, Fang Zhou tentatively asked if he could learn some basic Cultivation Methods from Xuanji Sect beforehand. Li Ruyu flatly refused, telling him not to be anxious and to wait until they reached Xuanji Sect. How can I not be anxious, you deranged woman who could poke me to death? The ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and Fang Zhou had to bid farewell to his family to start the journey back to Xuanji Sect with Li Ruyu. ¡°Zhou¡¯er, remember to come back and visit your father!¡± At the gate of Fang Mansion, Fang Zhou¡¯s father cried, his face smeared with tears and snot, clinging to his mother¡¯s embrace, while a few aunts sobbed in a huddle. His mother had tears in her tiger¡¯s eyes, but as the head of the family, she couldn¡¯t reveal her childlike demeanor, only telling Fang Zhou, ¡°Go ahead, don¡¯t worry about the family matters.¡± Fang Zhou had to feign a deep sorrow, but his heart remained calm. He had only crossed over for a few weeks and naturally had no affection for the Fang Family, yet occupying their son¡¯s body, he still managed to squeeze out a few tears. Li Ruyu, riding on a horse, smiled and said, ¡°Auntie Fang, please don¡¯t worry. I will ensure that junior brother reaches Xuanji Sect safely. After he meets our Master and has practiced cultivation for three years at Xuanji Sect, he¡¯ll be able to come down the mountain and visit home.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s mother could only wave: ¡°That¡¯s good then, go on, don¡¯t delay any further.¡± Li Ruyu saluted with her hands, then turned her horse¡¯s head around and began the journey with the carriage. Fang Zhou¡¯s father tiptoed, waving a handkerchief vigorously towards the carriage with tear-blurred eyes: ¡°Zhou¡¯er, remember to come back!¡± Fang Zhou waved from the carriage window, then retreated back inside. ¡­ Although Xuanji Sect is also within Jingnan State, the journey is long and requires over a month by horse-drawn carriage. The trip could be much shortened by horseback, but Li Ruyu, concerned about Fang Zhou¡¯s lack of cultivation and fearing the journey would tire and harm him, chose the carriage instead. However, Fang Zhou felt that Li Ruyu¡¯s reasons weren¡¯t so simple; she likely wanted to prolong the time on the road. After leaving Wu City, Li Ruyu¡¯s gaze towards Fang Zhou no longer contained any disguise, it was naked covetousness, like a hungry tiger eyeing a caged lamb, almost drooling. Fang Zhou suspected that on the road, this obsessed woman would definitely make her move, so he prepared himself secretly to prevent being ruined by her before even reaching Xuanji Sect. Then again, birds of a feather flock together, and Li Ruyu from Xuanji Sect had this thirsty demeanor and was said to be highly valued within the sect; it was hard to believe that the atmosphere of Xuanji Sect was pure and full of positive energy. Fang Zhou feared that the moment he entered Xuanji Sect, he would be devoured completely, bound in chains at the limbs, with a gag ball, locked in a dark room, subjected to the whims of a bunch of crazed women every day. Damn, even thinking about it is terrifying. Sure enough, as expected, Li Ruyu became more and more brazen on the road; before, she had to find some excuse to touch him, but now she didn¡¯t even bother with a pretext and just did as she pleased. Every time the caravan stopped to rest, Li Ruyu would crawl into the carriage to make advances on Fang Zhou, her true face as a lust demon fully revealed. Fang Zhou pretended to comply on the surface, but he maintained his bottom line and never let the femme fatale succeed. Li Ruyu wasn¡¯t in a hurry, enjoying the feeling of teasing a respectable young man. After leaving Wu City, the caravan headed south and after several days of travel, crossed the Jingchu River, stayed for two days in the well-known Liuhe City, and then continued south along the main road, entering the Yun Mountain Region of Jingnan State. Yun Mountain Region, an economically underdeveloped area in Jingnan State, had inconvenient transportation and sparse population; Cultivation Sects favored these deep mountains and old forests because of their abundant Spiritual Energy, conducive to Cultivation. After entering the Yun Mountain Region, the roads became narrow and rugged, Fang Zhou felt like his rear was being bumped into eight pieces inside the carriage. There were also very few pedestrians on the road, only occasionally meeting fully-armed merchant caravans, each person appearing vigilant. Danger lurked outside, with the risk of bandits and demons abducting travelers in the wilderness¡ªonly by hiding in villages with the protection of local deities or city gods could one be safe. One day, Fang Zhou sat in the carriage, opened the window to let in some air, and looked at the distant undulating mountain ranges, standing tall like giant bamboo shoots with peaks piercing the heavens. According to Li Ruyu, Xuanji Sect was located in those steep mountains, a place akin to an Immortal Realm; he wondered if it was all just boasting. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. During this time, Fang Zhou had been trying to trigger a new task, but to no avail. Suddenly, a whistle broke Fang Zhou¡¯s contemplation. 0 comment Chapter 5: 5. No matter how loudly you shout, no one will come to save you. Chapter 5: 5. No matter how loudly you shout, no one will come to save you. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation He looked back and saw a horse catching up from behind the caravan, with a young woman in white sitting on its back. This woman was extraordinarily beautiful, even more so than Li Ruyu, but she possessed not the typical beauty but a striking, dashing air. In her hand was a wine flask, and a longsword hung by the horse; her hair was tied into a long ponytail, fluttering in the wind as she rode, creating a vibrant and carefree scene in the setting sun. This picture caused Fang Zhou to become momentarily distracted, and the woman in white rode up to him, gave a cheerful whistle in his direction. Fang Zhou snapped back to reality, immediately realizing he was being flirted with. The woman in white playfully shook her wine flask towards Fang Zhou and teased, ¡°Young man, why do you look so lonesomely bored? How about joining me for a drink? My treat.¡± Damn your lonesome boredom! Fang Zhou shook his head and responded, ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t like drinking.¡± The woman in white laughed again, ¡°Why not? Are you afraid of throwing up? Don¡¯t worry, I never throw up no matter how much I drink. Of course, if it¡¯s somewhere else, that¡¯s none of my business, haha.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face turned dark, thinking to himself that she was also a hooligan, making bawdy jokes right off the bat. At this moment, the disciples from the Xuanji Sect ahead finally noticed the commotion and called out, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Li Ruyu from the front immediately turned her horse around and came galloping over, staring solemnly at the woman in white; Fang Zhou had never seen her with such a serious expression before. Li Ruyu greeted the woman in white with a bow, ¡°We are disciples of the Xuanji Sect, may I ask why you are here?¡± The woman in white waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Nothing much, just chatting with this young man for a bit.¡± Li Ruyu looked displeased, ¡°Please respect yourself and refrain from harassing male companions of the Xuanji Sect.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face darkened again. Male companions? FML!! ¡°My apologies for that, excuse me,¡± the woman in white said seemingly courteously, yet without a hint of embarrassment. She spurred her horse gently and swiftly overtook the caravan, moving ahead. Fang Zhou clearly saw the woman in white give him a wink before she departed. Once the woman in white left, Li Ruyu turned back to Fang Zhou and warned, ¡°These are dangerous times, junior brother. Do not show off your presence to avoid attracting the bad intentions of evildoers.¡± Fang Zhou felt a flame of annoyance surge up, thinking to himself, are you implying that I¡¯m inviting trouble? Besides, you¡¯re calling others evildoers? I think you¡¯re the biggest one. It¡¯s infuriating. ¡°Understood, Senior Sister.¡± Fang Zhou replied with a smile, feeling as if his acting skills were on par with winning an Oscar. He then asked, ¡°Senior Sister, was that woman in white very formidable?¡± Li Ruyu shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. In the future, if we encounter such individuals, we should avoid provoking them.¡± The incident was just a minor interruption, and the group continued onward. The sun set, and evening came; the caravan arrived at the base of a mountain and stopped in front of a dilapidated Mountain God Temple to spend the night. The door of the Mountain God Temple was rotten. The carriages were left outside, while the horses were led inside the temple. The Mountain God Temple was somewhat deserted, with overgrown weeds in corners. It wasn¡¯t very spacious; the main hall was separated from the entrance by a courtyard. Inside the main hall, there was a Mountain God Statue with an indistinct face, and the murals on both sides were flaking and faded. Scorched pieces of wood from campfires littered the ground in front of the shrine, presumably from past travelers. A few disciples from the Xuanji Sect started to busy themselves, making a fire and boiling water for dinner, which consisted of dried food and some wild game they had caught on the way. These disciples were just ordinary members of the Xuanji Sect, their status nowhere near that of Li Ruyu, thus they were responsible for such miscellaneous tasks along the journey. Li Ruyu wasn¡¯t idle either, she took a charcoal stick and drew several hidden exorcism charms and alert measures around the Mountain God Temple. Staying overnight in the wilderness necessitated such precautions, or else lonely ghosts and wild spirits might take advantage of the darkness to encroach. After finishing, Li Ruyu and several fellow disciples of the Xuanji Sect gathered to share their cultivation experiences and insights, mostly them asking and Li Ruyu answering, since she was at the Foundation Establishment Realm while the rest were only at the Qi Refinement Realm. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t join them but stayed alone in a side hall, which was clean despite a hole in the wall that was covered with thatch to keep out the wind. Inside the side hall, there was also a damaged deity statue with a dog¡¯s head lying on the ground. Before long, Li Ruyu brought food to the side hall and set it down, not leaving immediately. Under her blatant ogling, Fang Zhou felt his appetite wane, and he only ate a few bites before stopping. ¡°Junior brother, why are you eating so little?¡± ¡°Heh, not hungry.¡± Li Ruyu naturally and skillfully took Fang Zhou¡¯s hand and said affectionately, ¡°Junior brother, you must take good care of yourself. If you¡¯re weary, your Senior Sister will feel heartache.¡± Fang Zhou felt goosebumps all over his body; he withdrew his hand, feeling awkward, ¡°I¡¯ll be careful, Senior Sister.¡± Li Ruyu leaned closer to Fang Zhou, their faces nearly touching, ¡°Junior Brother, how are you going to repay me for my kindness towards you?¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly stepped back, ¡°In the future, if Senior Sister needs anything, just say the word, and I won¡¯t hesitate to help.¡± Li Ruyu chuckled softly, ¡°I need your help right now, Junior Brother.¡± Fang Zhou forced a smile, ¡°With what?¡± Damn, she¡¯s not going to ask me to help her relieve it, is she? Li Ruyu licked her lips with her red tongue, her gaze fixated on Fang Zhou, ¡°I encountered some complications during my cultivation, and now there¡¯s a flaming energy within my body, can you help me get rid of it?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked; he didn¡¯t expect Li Ruyu to be so blunt. [New quest triggered] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: 4x Manliness points, 1x blue card] [Failure: Lose Virginity] Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect to trigger a new quest at this time; he didn¡¯t get a chance to look closely because Li Ruyu already lunged at him with open arms. Fang Zhou quickly dodged to the side, shouting loudly, ¡°Senior Sister Li, please have some self-respect, our Master wouldn¡¯t want to see you act like this towards me!¡± Hearing Fang Zhou bring up their Master, Li Ruyu hesitated slightly. She stood up, straightened her clothes, and said, ¡°Junior Brother is right, I was reckless. I hope you won¡¯t tell our Master about this. You should rest early as well, we have to get up early tomorrow.¡± After saying that, Li Ruyu gave Fang Zhou a deep look, with a mysterious smile, she turned around and left the side hall. Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief; the thing he had been worried about ultimately happened¡ªthe crazy woman really wanted to force herself on him, but why did she back off so easily? The newly triggered quest also didn¡¯t indicate success; if the difficulty of this quest was normal and the last one was easy, it didn¡¯t make sense for normal to be easier than easy. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and broke out in a cold sweat. Motherfucker, this crazy woman will surely come back tonight, mentioning her Master¡¯s name won¡¯t scare her at all. Should I run? Fang Zhou considered it for a moment, hesitating. Not to mention being in the middle of nowhere, he couldn¡¯t outrun Li Ruyu. Besides, Li Yuyu had already set up an alarm outside the temple; any attempt to flee would definitely get noticed. Time ticked by second by second; Fang Zhou thought about strategies but couldn¡¯t come up with any countermeasures. He just felt his body getting hotter, beginning to sweat. His consciousness also became somewhat dull, as sleepiness washed over him like a tidal wave. But he quickly realized something was not right; his spirit had been strengthened, and after spending the whole day in a carriage, there was no reason for him to be this exhausted. He bit down hard on his tongue, using pain to fight the drowsiness. After enduring for at least an hour, Fang Zhou felt the sleepiness gradually recede. But immediately after, his skin turned red and burning hot. ¡°Could it be¡­ was there something in the food I ate tonight?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s voice suddenly came from outside the side hall, startling Fang Zhou. He quickly turned his head and saw Li Ruyu walking in from outside the hall. She was only draped in a thin layer of gauze, and under the gauze, she wore nothing, giving Fang Zhou a clear view of everything. ¡°What did you put in it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an aphrodisiac. I spiked it with an aphrodisiac,¡± she said. Li Ruyu walked toward Fang Zhou step by step, with a triumphant smile on her face. Fang Zhou stepped back inch by inch, ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll scream.¡± Li Ruyu laughed, ¡°Go ahead and scream. No one will come to your rescue even if you scream your throat sore.¡± Damn, I don¡¯t want to play out this clich¨¦ scenario at all. Fang Zhou cursed silently, but he knew that Li Ruyu was confident without fear; they were in the wilderness with no outsiders around, and those Xuanji Sect disciples outside were all Li Ruyu¡¯s sycophants, even less likely to come to his aid. Li Ruyu approached Fang Zhou, her eyes red, breathing heavily, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to resort to this, Junior Brother, you forced me. But no matter, after tonight, you¡¯ll be mine, and you¡¯ll definitely forgive me.¡± 0 comment Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 6: 6. How can decent people stand by and do nothing? Chapter 6: 6. How can decent people stand by and do nothing? Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Inside the grand hall, several disciples of Xuanji Sect gathered together, looking enviously at the side palace. They too were covetous of Fang Zhou¡¯s body, but Fang Zhou had already caught the eye of Li Ruyu, and they dared not interfere. One of them rubbed their hands together and laughed in a sleazy tone: ¡°Even though we can¡¯t have the first round, after Senior Sister Li has had her fun, perhaps we could also¡­ indulge a bit?¡± The group immediately let out a chorus of lecherous laughter. Another disciple of Xuanji Sect frowned and said, ¡°That¡¯s not right. Why can we only hear Senior Sister Li¡¯s voice, and not Junior Brother Fang¡¯s?¡± Hearing this, the rest of them also realized something was off. It was true, from the side palace, only the sounds of Li Ruyu¡¯s speech and laughter could be heard; Fang Zhou¡¯s voice had briefly emerged at the beginning, but then it stopped. Realizing something was amiss, they hurried to their feet and rushed into the side palace, only to be stunned by what they saw. There was Li Ruyu, stripped of her clothes, her body pixelated, her face flushed with a lascivious smile, and her eyes empty. And Fang Zhou, who was supposed to be in the side palace, had vanished without a trace. ¡°Senior Sister, what are you doing, Senior Sister?¡± The disciples of Xuanji Sect hurriedly went forward to pull Li Ruyu down. Just after they pulled her down, Li Ruyu immediately regained clarity. She looked at everyone with both shock and anger: ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why have you all come in?¡± The crowd explained the situation in a babble of voices, and someone noticed signs that the thatched part of the wall in the side palace had been disturbed. It was quite clear that Fang Zhou had escaped. ¡°Whoosh¡ª Whoosh¡ª¡± The piercing sound suddenly came from outside the Mountain God Temple, indicating that the early warning system Li Ruyu had set up had been triggered. ¡°Catch him! Bring him back to me!¡± Li Ruyu took the clothes passed to her by a junior sister and dressed herself, her exquisite face twisted with anger. She hadn¡¯t expected to be played like this by a man she could crush without a second thought, it was truly humiliating. She was determined to capture Fang Zhou and let him know the consequences of angering a woman! ¡­.. ¡°Huff! Huff!¡± Fang Zhou was running wildly through the mountain woods, tumbling head over heels countless times along the way. The moment Li Ruyu stepped into the side palace, Fang Zhou decisively threw an Illusion Technique at her before escaping. Though he had previously given up on the idea of fleeing, faced with impending doom, he had no choice but to run. Would he stay and be drained dry? It was unsure how long the Illusion Technique he cast on Li Ruyu would last. She was at the Foundation Establishment Realm, with a spiritual resistance far higher than ordinary people, so Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t dare to stop even after falling so many times. [Successfully resisted the ravishing of the lustful woman] [Reward: Masculinity*4, Blue Card*1] When Fang Zhou escaped the Mountain God Temple, the success message of the mission appeared. Whether or not he could get away tonight would depend on this stroke of luck. Fang Zhou immediately added the four points of Masculinity to his speed, which boosted his running speed by several times, feeling almost as if he was about to take flight. A blue card was slowly rotating in his mind. [Blue Card: Use to randomly obtain a high-quality item or skill, with a low chance of obtaining an even higher quality item or skill] Fang Zhou chose to draw, and the blue card spun rapidly before disintegrating into sparks of light, which then reconverged into a translucent left hand. [Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand: Summon an invisible left hand; proficiency affects control precision] Another Skill Card appeared, but this skill seemed hardly serious. Fang Zhou activated this skill, and a translucent left hand appeared at the back of his left shoulder, significantly longer than his own left hand. No sooner had the hand of Hu Lai appeared than it began to flail wildly, breaking branches and uprooting weeds, slapping at Fang Zhou¡¯s face. ¡°Bleh bleh bleh, what is this thing?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s heart sank. At this moment he needed something to aid his escape, yet he drew a hand out of control. Not true, the hand wasn¡¯t completely uncontrollable. If Fang Zhou concentrated, he could somewhat control the hand, but once he let go, it moved on its own again. But what was the use of control? Even with this third hand, he absolutely couldn¡¯t beat Li Ruyu. ¡°Junior Brother, stop running!¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s voice suddenly echoed from behind, reverberating through the entire mountain woods. Fang Zhou was startled and stopped examining the useless hand, running for his life. The path at the foot of the mountain was blocked by the Mountain God Temple, so he could only flee up the mountain. Having run all the way to the top, he suddenly emerged into a clearing, facing an abyssal cliff that plumbed unseen depths. ¡°Dammit, why does escaping always end up at a cliff!! Do I seriously get to find some long-lost secret manual if I jump down!?¡± Fang Zhou cursed loudly, as Li Ruyu¡¯s voice got closer from behind. It was too late to turn back and find another path at this point. Fang Zhou looked around and finally, clenching his teeth, took off one of his shoes and leapt off the cliff. In less than the time it takes for a few breaths, Li Ruyu had already led her junior sisters to the edge of the cliff. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One of them picked up the shoe on the ground, glanced at the dark abyss of the cliff, and her expression changed slightly: ¡°Junior Brother Fang jumped down? What should we do now?¡± Everyone looked at Li Ruyu, waiting for her to make a decision. Li Ruyu¡¯s face was also very unpleasant; she wasn¡¯t afraid that Fang Zhou was seeking death, but she did fear that if Fang Zhou really died, she wouldn¡¯t be able to explain herself to the old hag back home. ¡°We need to see a body, dead or alive. Go down and look,¡± she coldly ordered, leading her junior sisters away. A few meters below the cliff edge, Fang Zhou breathed a deep sigh of relief. His hands tightly grasped a vine that dangled down; his whole body pressed closely against the inward-sloping cliff wall which was invisible from above. Fang Zhou felt somewhat fortunate that he had increased his strength a bit; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have had the power to hang onto the cliff like this. He planned to wait until the people above had gone far away before he¡¯d climb up and then leave the Yun Mountain Region. He no longer intended to go to the Xuanji Sect. Just as Fang Zhou was thinking this, he suddenly felt a force transmitted through the vine, pulling him upwards in a leap, flying over the edge of the cliff, tracing an arc, and landing on the ground with a thud. He couldn¡¯t bother with the pain, quickly getting up only to discover that Li Ruyu and the others, who should have left, were still there. Li Ruyu was holding onto the vine ¨C the very one Fang Zhou had hung onto. Li Ruyu looked at Fang Zhou with a sneer: ¡°You think you can fool me with such petty tricks?¡± It¡¯s as if she hadn¡¯t just been fooled herself. But Fang Zhou¡¯s cold sweat still streamed down. There were five people on the other side, and he could only cast four more Illusion Techniques. He wouldn¡¯t be able to beat the remaining one, nor escape from her. This was truly a dead end. Li Ruyu closed in on Fang Zhou: ¡°Junior Brother, stop making trouble, I can pretend nothing happened just now.¡± I¡¯d trust a ghost before I trust you, you devious minx. Fang Zhou stepped back gradually, his thoughts racing as he considered his options. He was blocked by a large tree, but still had no idea what to do next. At that moment, Fang Zhou feigned a look of surprise, pointing behind Li Ruyu and the others: ¡°There¡¯s someone behind you.¡± Li Ruyu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed it off: ¡°Junior Brother, stop playing these childish tricks.¡± She drew her sword and tossed it at Fang Zhou. The sword light flashed, passing over Fang Zhou¡¯s head and with a twang, sticking into the tree trunk. Li Ruyu scoffed: ¡°Next time, it won¡¯t be a tree trunk I¡¯m stabbing into, it¡¯ll be your body. Won¡¯t you come over here and admit your wrongs like a good boy?¡± Fang Zhou thought about it, then yanked the sword from the tree, waving it twice ¨C not too lightly, not too heavily, just perfect: ¡°Thanks buddy, for the gear.¡± Li Ruyu was baffled and then outraged, storming towards Fang Zhou. She intended to pressure Fang Zhou into admitting his mistake willingly, but it turned out he was still unrepentantly thickheaded. It seemed she had to take action and give him a harsh lesson. ¡°Poof!¡± A tree branch shot from who knows where, landing before Li Ruyu, blocking her path. Li Ruyu looked down at the tree branch on the ground, then suddenly spun around to look back. Her junior sisters all looked back as well, and saw a woman in white lying on the branches of a not-so-distant tree. It was the same person they had bumped into today. Li Ruyu was baffled and furious but also a bit wary. She greeted the woman in white with a bow: ¡°What are you after, following us in secret like this?¡± The woman in white stood up, her long ponytail and white clothes fluttering slightly in the night breeze, looking ethereal under the moonlight. She said with a cheerful smile: ¡°I was out for a stroll because I couldn¡¯t sleep at night, and to my surprise, I found several big women bullying a young man. As a righteous person, how could I stand idly by?¡± Fang Zhou was truly moved; he hadn¡¯t expected to find a helpful ally in such a moment of despair. In this cold and indifferent world, there was still a glimmer of warmth for him. Li Ruyu held back her rage: ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡± Ling Xiaoyue pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°Since I witnessed it, count me in!¡± Li Ruyu: (¡°¨‰¡õ¨‰) Fang Zhou: (#?§¥?) Shit, I almost forgot this woman is also a hooligan!! 0 comment Chapter 7: 7. Hu Lais left hand Chapter 7: 7. Hu Lai¡¯s left hand Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The air suddenly fell silent, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s response came a bit unexpected, catching people off guard. Li Ruyu swung her sleeve fiercely, irate: ¡°Your Excellency need not mock us any longer, what exactly do you want?¡± Ling Xiaoyue sat back down, shaking her head with a sigh, ¡°Ah, this means there¡¯s no room for discussion then? You all are really petty, traversing the jianghu yet unwilling to abide by the rule that beauty should be shared by those who encounter it?¡± With a wave of her hand, Li Ruyu took the longsword from her junior sister¡¯s hand out of thin air. She flicked the blade lightly, speaking coldly with her head raised: ¡°This Yun Mountain Region is under the jurisdiction of Xuanji Sect. We disciples of Xuanji Sect are dealing with sect affairs, I ask Your Excellency not to misjudge. If you visit Xuanji Sect another day, we will certainly offer you a cup of fine tea.¡± Had it been anyone else meddling in Xuanji Sect¡¯s affairs, Li Ruyu would have already made a move, but she couldn¡¯t see through Ling Xiaoyue, couldn¡¯t fathom her, and could only proceed with caution. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t bother with her, instead, she smiled at Fang Zhou, ¡°Little brother, do you want me to save you or not?¡± If I say yes, will you make me beg you? Fang Zhou thought to himself under the warning glances of Li Ruyu and the others, he resolutely nodded his head. Having already offended Xuanji Sect, he couldn¡¯t afford to offend another party. The priority was to escape the current predicament and then figure out how to cope with the gangster in the tree. Ling Xiaoyue swayed her wine flask, and a clear sound was heard from within. ¡°Saving you is not impossible, but the righteous prioritize a well-founded apprenticeship. Meddling in your Xuanji Sect affairs like this doesn¡¯t seem quite right.¡± Disciples of Xuanji Sect all displayed an ¡°as expected, you know better¡± expression, however, Fang Zhou knew this gangster woman must have something more to say. Sure enough, as if struck by a great idea, Ling Xiaoyue snapped her fingers: ¡°Little brother, I see you have the beauty of a flower along with astonishing bones, with divine light erupting from your crown, truly a heaven-sent genius. How about this, you take me as your master right now, as my disciple, then I¡¯d have the right to save you. What do you say?¡± ¡°How dare you?!¡± Li Ruyu immediately gave Fang Zhou a furious stare and barked, ¡°Fang Zhou, you have already entered Xuanji Sect. If you dare to switch allegiance to another, that¡¯s a betrayal of the sect¡¯s trust, a deceitful act against your ancestors. According to the sect rules, you must be cut to pieces, your soul detained and enslaved by the sect forever. Have you thought it through?!¡± Damn, it wasn¡¯t me who brought it up, why are you yelling at me? Previously Xiao Family instructed Fang Zhou to think it through, now it was Li Ruyu¡¯s turn to insist Fang Zhou do the same, this repetition came quite fast. Fang Zhou glances at Ling Xiaoyue, after throwing out a line that infuriated everyone from Xuanji Sect, she had resumed leisurely drinking her wine. Fang Zhou knew it was time to make his decision, if he refused, the gangster in the tree might just let go and leave. Feeling one¡¯s fate being controlled by another wasn¡¯t pleasant, but with no other choices left, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have the luxury to consider whether he was jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. Facing Li Ruyu¡¯s threatening gaze, Fang Zhou met her eyes without the slightest fear. These many days of keeping his head down and acting tame had built up a surge of anger within Fang Zhou, unable to contain it any longer. ¡°Teared to fragments¡­ Haha, Li Ruyu, you really think highly of yourself.¡± Fang Zhou let out a cold laugh, ¡°Idiot, get lost!!¡± Li Ruyu¡¯s expression turned icy, and her body suddenly transformed into a white blur, charging towards Fang Zhou. ¡°Master, save me!¡± While speaking, Fang Zhou had already assessed the terrain and started running as he saw Li Ruyu rushing towards him. Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, casually plucking two branches and shooting them towards Li Ruyu. Li Ruyu¡¯s figure made an abrupt return, evading the branches and leaping into the air, stabbing her longsword towards Ling Xiaoyue in the treetop. Meanwhile, the four Xuanji Sect disciples charged straight at Fang Zhou. Li Ruyu¡¯s stabbing sword was swift and fierce, like a shooting star striking the moon, the blade casting a long, chilling gleam. Ling Xiaoyue, still seated, swung the wine flask forward, spilling out a stream of wine. The wine in mid-air astonishingly condensed into ice, shooting like countless shards of light towards Li Ruyu. Li Ruyu¡¯s complexion drastically changed, hastily retracting her attack, twirling the sword into a circle of light, clinking and clanging as she shattered all incoming icicles. As a result, she was knocked back to the ground, tapping her toes on the surface, she dashed under the tree and sliced, in one stroke, the thick trunk. The enormous tree crown crashed down with a thunderous roar. Ling Xiaoyue drifted lightly down from the air, and before her feet touched the ground, Li Ruyu¡¯s longsword was already thrusting at her from the shadows. Elsewhere, Fang Zhou, with his agile pace, sped wildly through the woods. [Trigger new mission ¨C Escape the pursuit of infatuated women] [Difficulty: Easy] [Reward: 2 points of Manliness, 1 White Card] [Failure: Loss of virginity] Another new mission triggered, why is it always losing virginity upon failure? ¡°` Fang Zhou¡¯s speed was incredibly fast, and for a moment, the four Qi Refining Realm disciples from Xuanji Sect couldn¡¯t catch up to him. But they soon found a way. ¡°Whoosh!¡± As Fang Zhou was fleeing, he suddenly heard a whooshing sound from behind and hurriedly ducked. A glint of cold light flew over his head and embedded into a tree trunk ahead¡ªit was a steel needle. Just as Fang Zhou was about to continue his escape, another few glints of cold light shot toward him, forcing him to dodge. This delay allowed the four Xuanji Sect disciples to immediately catch up. Fang Zhou turned around and consecutively cast three Illusion Techniques, hitting the three leading Xuanji Sect disciples and trapping them in illusions. Because he released the techniques too quickly, his spiritual power was severely depleted, causing him an excruciating headache. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The remaining Xuanji Sect disciple saw her three companions with dazed expressions and was startled but understood it was Fang Zhou¡¯s doing. She quickly brandished her sword and thrust at him. Fang Zhou, enduring the pain, relied on his high agility to dodge the incoming sword and simultaneously summoned the disorderly left hand of Hu Lai. Fang Zhou tried to control this kind of left hand but failed due to the headache, and as soon as it appeared, it started flailing wildly. The Xuanji Sect disciple heard the racket from the flailing hand and took a wary step back, noticing no danger. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s embarrassed and panicked expression, she let out a light laugh, surged forward, and thrust with her sword. These Qi Refining Realm disciples might be at the bottom of the Cultivation World¡¯s food chain, but for an ordinary person, they were already superhuman. Their bodies had been nourished by Spiritual Energy year after year, able to harness Spiritual Energy to aid in combat, and with every move, they wielded formidable strength. This disciple from Xuanji Sect thrust her sword, the blade tearing through the air with a whistling sound, quick as lightning. Fang Zhou hastily defended with Li Ruyu¡¯s personal longsword. Relying on his five points of speed, he barely managed a couple of parries before his hands went numb from the vibration. Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t understand swordsmanship and was disarmed by the opponent¡¯s sword after just a few exchanges. As Fang Zhou hastily dodged backward, he accidentally stepped on a rock and tumbled to the ground. The woman, showing a triumphant look, chased after him and thrust. Before she could strike Fang Zhou, a gust of foul wind arrived with such velocity that she couldn¡¯t react in time. With a bang, it struck her in the chest. The woman let out a piercing scream as she was sent flying backward, spinning six and a half circles in a 360-degree turn mid-air¡ªa difficult maneuver¡ªbefore plunging headfirst into the ground. Fang Zhou caught his breath for a few moments, surprised that Hu Lai¡¯s left hand had actually done something useful, flailing about and managing to hit someone. Approaching her, he saw that she was unconscious, with half her chest caved in, an indication of the punch¡¯s power; it could have burst a persimmon. Truly, Hu Lai¡¯s left hand made a difference where it struck. Fang Zhou looked at the remaining three women, who were now entangled in a bundle, tearing at each other¡¯s clothes and bursting into peals of lascivious laughter. ¡°Little punk, see if you run now!¡± ¡°Watch me turn you over!¡± ¡°Keep screaming, come on, shout! Hahaha¡± Without guessing, Fang Zhou knew what obscene things these three women were seeing in the illusion; he hadn¡¯t expected that even in these women¡¯s illusions, he couldn¡¯t escape inappropriate relations. Such scenes that disrupt social harmony and poison the minds of young people, Fang Zhou felt he couldn¡¯t bear to watch another second. He cautiously managed Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, enduring the stabbing pain in his head, and dealt each of the three debauched women a punch. Whether it was due to lack of proficiency or some other reason, the left hand kept hitting the same spot with every blow; while he aimed for the head, what was hit were always the chests. The three women still lost in the illusion were knocked out, and the notification of mission success followed. [Successfully evaded the pursuit of the amorous women] [Reward: Testosterone*2, White Card*1] Fang Zhou added the two points of testosterone to his physical constitution. His constitution was just average, and the strenuous exertion had nearly killed him. With the addition of two points of constitution, a warm current spontaneously emerged within his body, flowing to his limbs and banishing all fatigue; it even restored much of his drained spirit. He then drew the newly rewarded White Card. The white card spun rapidly, exploded into particles, and finally condensed into a bottle. [Revealing Potion: After drinking, you can see invisible objects for thirty minutes] A small bottle wide enough for two fingers magically appeared in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, filled with clear, transparent liquid. At last, he had drawn an item, but it seemed pointless at the moment. Fang Zhou could only tuck the small bottle close to himself. ¡°` 0 comment Chapter 8: 8. Its the first time for both, no experience Chapter 8: 8. It¡¯s the first time for both, no experience Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In the woods, noises abounded¡ªit was probably Ling Xiaoyue and Li Ruyu still fighting. Now, Fang Zhou had two options: one was to wait right there until the two women resolved their battle, and the other was to turn around and leave, the farther the better. Although Ling Xiaoyue had once saved him, this woman was also a hooligan. Fang Zhou was quite afraid that if she won, she would execute him on the spot, and that would be a cry for help unheard by heaven and earth. As Fang Zhou hesitated, suddenly, a rapid rattling noise approached, followed by a figure who burst out from the dense forest and slammed into a tree trunk before stopping. That figure was Li Ruyu, whose appearance was extremely disheveled; hair unkempt, clothes in tatters. Her originally beautiful face was now bruised and swollen, with several new wounds. Ling Xiaoyue strolled out from amongst the trees, her pure white robe unblemished, seemingly glowing under the moonlight. She hooked a wine pot with her slender, jade-like little finger, swaying it as she walked. The difference between the two was immediately clear, leaving Fang Zhou no need for choice. Ling Xiaoyue noticed the four Xuanji Sect disciples unconscious on the ground and with a delicate frown showed a hint of surprise: ¡°Quite capable, huh.¡± She could tell Fang Zhou had no cultivation base, just a normal young man; yet, she didn¡¯t expect him to have defeated four Qi Refining Realm cultivators. Just as Fang Zhou was about to humbly deflect, Ling Xiaoyue added meaningfully, ¡°With such capability, no wonder they tried to occupy your body. Seems you¡¯re really something. Take off your clothes and let your master check how ¡®capable¡¯ you are.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face darkened instantly, this hooligan wasn¡¯t much better than Li Ruyu. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s expression like he had just eaten something disgusting, Ling Xiaoyue burst out laughing. On the other hand, Li Ruyu, supporting herself with a tree trunk, stood up. With an angry gaze toward Ling Xiaoyue, she yelled, ¡°My master is Yu Yang the Hermit, and the grandmaster is the Sect Master of Xuanji Sect, they won¡¯t let you off!¡± Facing Li Ruyu¡¯s threats, Ling Xiaoyue scoffed with disdain, ¡°Just an Innate and a Golden Core, two old women and you think you can scare someone with that? If the founder of Xuanji Sect were here herself, maybe I¡¯d give her some face.¡± Fang Zhou felt his blood boil hearing this; this hooligan was not even afraid of the current Sect Master and elders of Xuanji Sect. She was indeed formidable, and it seemed he had latched onto a strong leg. Li Ruyu¡¯s expression twisted: ¡°You dare insult my master and the ancestors of our sect, I¡¯ll fight you!¡± She yelled and leapt into the air, but shockingly, she shot backwards and ran off far in just a few movements. Fang Zhou, thinking Li Ruyu was about to fight to the death, got quite the scare and then realized she was actually fleeing. She even left her unconscious sisters behind, truly shameless. Ling Xiaoyue plucked a tree branch and shot it towards the fleeing Li Ruyu, hitting her target. Li Ruyu screamed as the branch stuck into her buttocks, disappearing without a trace in an instant. Fang Zhou felt a chill down his spine; this hooligan was indeed ruthless. He turned to Ling Xiaoyue and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Run?¡± Ling Xiaoyue put her hand to her mouth and whistled sharply. A spirited horse dashed out from the woods. Ling Xiaoyue leapt onto its back and grabbed Fang Zhou by the collar, lifting him into the air as she galloped away. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?!¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t dare to struggle, afraid his clothes might rip and he¡¯d fall off. Ling Xiaoyue glanced down at him, ¡°Nonsense, obviously we¡¯re fleeing! That woman will definitely go back to report us, if we don¡¯t hurry we¡¯ll just be sitting ducks here. I don¡¯t mind, I can surely escape, but you¡¯d be caught and squeezed dry.¡± Fang Zhou was dumbstruck, ¡°But you acted so tough just now?¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, ¡°Let your master teach you a lesson. It¡¯s alright if you can¡¯t win a fight, but never lose in bravado, understood?¡± Fang Zhou was exasperated, thinking she was more formidable. Turns out, she¡¯s also a ¡®king of talk.¡¯ ¡°Hold on, we¡¯re still days away from Xuanji Sect, let¡¯s head back to the Mountain God Temple first, they have horses there.¡± Leading Fang Zhou back to Mountain God Temple, they took several horses, and Fang Zhou also took his belongings. The two left overnight, not sparing the horses, rushing through the Yun Mountain Region under the starlight and moon. After exhausting several horses, they finally left the influence range of Xuanji Sect, no longer fearing an imminent pursuit. Fang Zhou was responsible for switching between the exhausted horses; he wasn¡¯t very good at riding, but Ling Xiaoyue led the way. However, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s horse was extraordinary, enduring the long run without faltering. ¡°This horse of mine is a treasure, named Yue Ya¡¯er, it¡¯s been with me for a long while, as close as family to me.¡± Ling Xiaoyue affectionately stroked the horse¡¯s neck, then lay back on its back, legs crossed, taking a sip of wine, utterly relaxed. ¡°Disciple, call out ¡®Master¡¯ and let me hear.¡± Fang Zhou rolled his eyes and weakly called out, ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Ling Xiaoyue responded delightfully, shaking her head and swaying with closed eyes, taking another sip of wine, plainly enjoying herself. It seemed this hooligan really enjoyed being a master; along the way, she had made Fang Zhou call her ¡®Master¡¯ countless times. Suddenly, Ling Xiaoyue opened her eyes, ¡°Disciple, you haven¡¯t given me any offering for becoming a disciple.¡± Fang Zhou slowly marked a question, ¡°What offering? You never mentioned that before.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you be a bit more proactive? Ah well, it¡¯s not too late now, hand it over.¡± ¡°What kind of offering do you want? It¡¯s my first time; I don¡¯t have any experience.¡± Ling Xiaoyue suddenly sat up with a chuckle, ¡°It¡¯s your first time so of course you lack experience. If you do it more often, you¡¯ll get the hang of it. It¡¯d be best if you let a skilled big sister help you.¡± Pfft, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re implying. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou with a poker face asked, ¡°What exactly do you want as a master-apprentice gift?¡± Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand, ¡°I¡¯m not greedy. I won¡¯t ask my disciple to fetch Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as a gift. Just give me some silver.¡± ¡°How much silver do you want?¡± ¡°A hundred thousand taels should do.¡± Fang Zhou gave Ling Xiaoyue a respectful bow, ¡°It seems we have the fate to meet but not the destiny to follow. I¡¯ll have to find you to become your disciple after I save up a hundred thousand taels. Thanks for your righteous act, moved to tears. It¡¯s a long road ahead in the martial world, until we meet again by fate.¡± After finishing his words, he pulled the reins, ready to gallop away. ¡°Hey hey hey, wait, we can negotiate.¡± Ling Xiaoyue grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s horse, ¡°You don¡¯t have a hundred thousand? You can repay with your body then, ten taels a time, a hundred days will clear the debt.¡± ¡°You must be joking, then I wouldn¡¯t have a single drop left.¡± ¡°You can preserve your energy.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯d rather keep my little life.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, if you don¡¯t want to repay with your body, you must have a thousand taels at least, right? I¡¯m dropping it down by ninety-nine thousand for you. You won¡¯t find such a generous master anywhere else, no more bargaining.¡± Fang Zhou glared at Ling Xiaoyue with a righteous look, the thuggish nature of this woman finally revealed itself. He happened to have a thousand taels in his pouch which he carried with him when he left the Fang Family. Ling Xiaoyue asking for a thousand taels as a master-apprentice gift clearly indicated she knew he had that amount. ¡°Did you secretly go through my bag?¡± ¡°No!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s righteous scolding did nothing to Ling Xiaoyue, this woman had a thick skin and flatly denied the allegation. Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a thousand taels right now, can I owe it to you?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s gaze landed on his bag, ¡°No way, you clearly have it in your bag, still trying to fool me?¡± This woman indeed went through his bag. Eventually, the one thousand taels remained in Fang Zhou¡¯s pouch but now belonged to Ling Xiaoyue, with Fang Zhou temporarily keeping it. ¡°By the way, what is our sect called?¡± Fang Zhou asked, having become her disciple, yet not knowing which sect he belonged to. ¡°Our sect¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue pondered then said to Fang Zhou, ¡°How about calling it Invincible Sect?¡± Fang Zhou felt as if a lightning bolt struck his head, utterly stunned. He looked at Ling Xiaoyue in shock, ¡°You¡¯ve already taken disciples and only just thought of the sect name?¡± Ling Xiaoyue chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s my first time too, no experience.¡± Fang Zhou had thought Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t seem very reliable, possibly even a makeshift assembly, now he realized she didn¡¯t even have a makeshift. ¡°Is it still possible for me to back out now?¡± ¡°What do you think? If you dare to back out now, it¡¯s considered betraying the sect and disrespecting me, the rules say¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue thought for a moment, then said, ¡°According to the rules, we should dismember your body, summon your soul back to the sect to serve forever as a slave, yep, that¡¯s it.¡± Fang Zhou had a full head of black lines, don¡¯t just copy Xuanji Sect¡¯s rules. It seems I¡¯ve really fallen into a pit. If I knew this would happen, I would have run away earlier. Fang Zhou lamented his bad luck. On the very first day of transmigrating, he offended the potential main character Xiao Yan, within a month offended one of the famous Cultivation Sects in Jingnan State, and now fallen into another pit, really wanted to sing ¡®Liang Liang¡¯ for himself. He asked again, ¡°So it¡¯s just the two of us in the sect? What about a residence, don¡¯t tell me we¡¯re a roaming sect?¡± Ling Xiaoyue lay back down, shaking her head, ¡°Originally you had a senior sister, but I lost her.¡± Fang Zhou now somewhat allergic to the phrase ¡®senior sister¡¯ felt relieved hearing that this yet-to-meet senior sister was already lost by Ling Xiaoyue. Wait a minute, how exactly do you play to lose your own apprentice? Ling Xiaoyue kept shaking her head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve bought a piece of land long ago. The Spiritual Energy there is abundant like the Immortal Realm, pavilions and towers so divine, plenty of big houses, let¡¯s go there, just wait to live in luxury.¡± Hearing there was a place to stay, Fang Zhou finally relaxed, and the environment sounded quite promising, he somewhat looked forward to it. ¡°So, what is our sect¡¯s name in the end?¡± ¡°How about Invincible Sect?¡± ¡°No way!¡± ¡°How about First Sect of the Cultivation World?¡± ¡°Rejected!¡± 0 comment Chapter 9: 9. Flaws in the New Martial Arts Technique Chapter 9: 9. Flaws in the New Martial Arts Technique Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ling Xiaoyue had chosen a location for the Xuanji Sect within Jingnan State, specifically in the northern Jing Chu Territory, which required over a month¡¯s travel to reach. Regarding the name of the sect, as the founding ancestor, Ling Xiaoyue had the duty to name it, but her talent in naming was rather poor, merely cycling through names like ¡®Invincible Under Heaven¡¯, ¡®Only I Am Awesome¡¯, and ¡®You Are All Trash¡¯, fearing that speaking such names aloud might get her beaten up. Fang Zhou rejected all the names she came up with, as he didn¡¯t want to bear a title such as Sect of Invincibility or Awesome Sect in the future, as it would make him look foolish. Ling Xiaoyue wanted to use her authority as master to forcibly decide the sect¡¯s name, but Fang Zhou threatened to disband the group, and thus the matter of naming was put on hold, to be revisited and developed together in the future. Ling Xiaoyue might seem unreliable, but she was quite diligent, quickly teaching Fang Zhou a Qi Refining Technique called New Moon Qi. The principle of cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm is simple; spiritual energy is pervasive in this world, merely in varying concentrations in different areas. When people breathe, they inhale air along with spiritual energy, but it is exhaled immediately; the human body cannot retain spiritual energy on its own, and thus methods must be devised to keep it within. The role of a Qi Refining Technique is to extract spiritual energy from the air and retain it within the body, nurturing the body day and night, and even using it to assist in combat. Fang Zhou had learned from Li Ruyu that within the same category of techniques, there are superior and inferior ones; for instance, Qi Refining Techniques that are casually circulated in the world are considered inferior, full of flaws. Whereas more complete techniques are extremely valuable in the eyes of ordinary people, they are seen as substandard by Cultivation Sects and not worth a second glance. Cultivation Sects typically teach lower-grade techniques to their ordinary disciples, which some families would treasure as heirlooms. The core force of a sect usually cultivates higher-grade techniques, and if one becomes a disciple of the Sect Master or an elder, they might be granted a true inherited technique. Of course, different sects have different foundations; in some major sects, what is considered low-grade might be treated as top-grade in smaller sects. Different quality techniques yield significantly different benefits during cultivation, with more advanced techniques offering wider disparities in benefits. When Ling Xiaoyue transmitted the New Moon Qi to Fang Zhou, he couldn¡¯t tell its quality, but with cultivation techniques, one usually looks at the foundation or encounters exceptional luck; in these aspects, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t hold much hope for Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°Hey, this New Moon Qi you gave me, it wouldn¡¯t happen to just be some generic mass-produced item you bought and renamed as your own, would it?¡± Seeing Fang Zhou doubt her like this, Ling Xiaoyue, uncharacteristically upset, picked up a wine jug and knocked it on his head. ¡°My foolish disciple, you know nothing. This New Moon Qi is a Divine Skill bestowed from heaven, unique in the entire cultivation world. If word gets out, it might cause a storm of blood and violence throughout the cultivation world. Your master isn¡¯t selfishly keeping it; I gave it to you as soon as you started. Tell me, aren¡¯t you touched?¡± ¡°Just keep bragging.¡± ¡°So, are you going to practice it or not? If not, give it back.¡± ¡°I will practice!¡± There¡¯s no harm in practicing, and Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have much choice. ¡­ Deep into the night, a bright moon hung high, with the stars all hidden. Fang Zhou sat cross-legged on a large rock at the mountain peak, bathed in moonlight, his eyes tightly closed, ears only picking up the rustling of the wind and the chirping of insects in the grass. Ling Xiaoyue lay on another rock not far away, enjoying the beautiful moonlit scenery, occasionally taking a sip of wine. Tonight was Fang Zhou¡¯s first night practicing New Moon Qi, which was more effective and had a higher success rate under the moonlight, thus he chose to do his first session at night. ¡°This is a free bonus, listen well.¡± Ling Xiaoyue only taught him some techniques for cultivation, then left him to his own devices. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou fumbled on his own, feeling quite nervous. The first barrier in beginner cultivation is to extract the first strand ofAppropriately controlled, the various sounds in his ears had disappeared, and his mind was clear and bright. from the inhaled air. Many men fail at this barrier, seemingly unable to sense the presence of spiritual energy or refine it. Having never cultivated before, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know if he would be successful or not. Following the breathing methods recorded in New Moon Qi, Fang Zhou quickly adjusted his breathing, heartbeat, and mind, entering a very subtle state. He slowly inhaled; the air traveled through his nostrils into his lungs, which trembled imperceptibly in novel ways, like a starving person greedily swallowing this inflowing air and rapidly expelling the waste gases. Fang Zhou¡¯s breaths grew faster, and around his body, the moonlight formed hazy specks of light that floated around him and were absorbed into his body. The various insects and nocturnal creatures on the mountaintop seemed drawn by the moonlight, growing restlessly agitated. Ling Xiaoyue, who had been lying on the rock, suddenly sat up, stunned by the scene. ¡°Triggering the Moonlight on your first cultivation session?¡± She stood up from the rock, her hair tips and long robe fluttering in the wind, an awe-inspiring aura bursting forth from her like a tsunami sweeping across. The rustling insects and creatures in the forest bushes fell silent, and the whole mountaintop became as tranquil as water. Completely absorbed in his cultivation, Fang Zhou was oblivious to the outside world. As the moon set and stars dimmed, and the east began to lighten. Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a long, turbid breath. He checked himself and immediately showed a surprised expression. Cultivation was actually successful; he had refined Spiritual Energy inside his body, not just a strand but a cluster, gathered in the Dantian. Following the guidance of New Moon Qi, Fang Zhou manipulated this cluster of Spiritual Energy to wander throughout his body, circulating and dispelling the fatigue from a night of cultivation. As long as he kept circulating it constantly, it would nourish his physique and eventually transform him, transcending the mundane. However, after one complete circulation, the cluster of Spiritual Energy visibly shrank, necessitating continued cultivation to replenish it. A sound came from beside him, Fang Zhou turned his head and saw Ling Xiaoyue standing next to him. ¡°I¡¯ve successfully made entry-level progress.¡± Fang Zhou smiled, remembering that protagonist-like Xiao Yan from his childhood in Wu City ¨C a once-in-a-century genius who also took two whole days to refine his first strand of Spiritual Energy. Could I also be a genius? Otherwise, why would Xuanji Sect and Ling Xiaoyue compete to take me as a disciple? Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s overjoyed expression, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s lips slightly curled up: ¡°That¡¯s because I teach well; I have the knack of turning stones into gold, turning dunces into geniuses under my guidance.¡± Fang Zhou gave her a sidelong glance, feeling that her shamelessness was even stronger. Ling Xiaoyue picked up the wine pot and lightly tapped it on Fang Zhou¡¯s head: ¡°Do you think you¡¯re amazing because you made entry-level progress in one night?¡± Fang Zhou felt unconvinced: ¡°Otherwise?¡± Ling Xiaoyue crossed her hands, asking: ¡°Guess how long it took for your master to make entry-level progress when I first started cultivating?¡± She held up a finger: ¡°Here¡¯s a hint.¡± Fang Zhou frowned: ¡°One day?¡± Ling Xiaoyue threw back her head and laughed loudly, hands on her hips: ¡°You really underestimate your master. It was one hour, I made entry-level progress in one hour, while you spent a whole night. So who gave you the courage to be complacent in front of your master?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s pride vanished in an instant, okay, you¡¯re more impressive. He opened the system to check his current attributes. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level) Cultivation Technique: New Moon Qi Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand Strength: 2 Speed: 5 Body: 3 Spirit: 2 Manliness: 0 After starting cultivation, he should be able to enhance his physical attributes, but he had only been cultivating for one night, so there were no effects yet. Just then, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder: ¡°Disciple, there¡¯s something I must tell you. Although our sect¡¯s cultivation technique is a Divine Skill, there is a flaw I need to mention beforehand to prevent you from finding out later and not accepting it.¡± Fang Zhou frowned: ¡°A flaw, what flaw?¡± Her expression and tone seemed slightly awkward, making it apparent she was somewhat embarrassed. This surprised Fang Zhou, the female rogue who usually had remarkably thick skin, now having a moment of embarrassment¡ªhow severe must this flaw be?! Amidst Fang Zhou¡¯s anxiousness, Ling Xiaoyue leaned closer, whispering: ¡°The flaw is¡­ after cultivating, you will lose hair.¡± ¡°I, what the¡­ why didn¡¯t you say so sooner¡­ wait, what did you say?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her in shock, goddamn losing hair, does that mean I will also become bald in the future? No way, one bald guy is enough, I don¡¯t want to be a bald superhero¡­ Wait!! Fang Zhou looked at Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s ponytailed long hair, if it causes hair loss then how could she still have such long hair, could it be a wig? Fang Zhou instinctively reached out to pull on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s ponytail Ling Xiaoyue slapped his hand away: ¡°No need to check, this is real hair. You won¡¯t become bald in the future.¡± Fang Zhou puzzledly said: ¡°Then why did you say it causes hair loss?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The air suddenly quieted down. The two silently looked at each other. Ling Xiaoyue: (?£þ??£þ??)? Fang Zhou: (?_?) 2 comment 2 Chapter 10: 10. The debtor is the master. Chapter 10: 10. The debtor is the master. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Shocking! A well-known Cultivation Technique surprisingly harbors a secret flaw unknown to others. What is this secret that causes those who know about it to blush and stay silent, yet secretly study it under the covers at night? Fang Zhou fell into a trap again. But this time, the pit was shallow, only causing hair loss, which was not unacceptable, as long as no one saw it. Besides this hair-loss flaw, the New Moon Qi Qi Refining Technique was actually quite powerful. After several days of cultivation, Fang Zhou¡¯s physique was a little stronger, and his strength had increased, though it was not enough to show up as a whole unit of increase in attributes. When he encountered something he didn¡¯t understand during cultivation, Fang Zhou would try to figure it out by himself, and only when he really couldn¡¯t understand would he go to Ling Xiaoyue for advice. Why so? Not because Fang Zhou was self-reliant, but because Ling Xiaoyue, that fool, actually charged!! money!! for answering questions! You heard right, it cost money to ask her questions. Living through two worlds, Fang Zhou? had never heard of a disciple having to pay to ask his or her mentor questions. Not only that, Ling Xiaoyue charged Fang Zhou for food, accommodation, medical expenses, clothing, and so on, inventing various reasons to collect money. Fang Zhou seriously suspected that this woman must have died poor in her past life and fell into a money pit as soon as she was born in this one. Ling Xiaoyue, however, had a ready argument: ¡°I¡¯m not your mother; why would I raise you? Don¡¯t eating, medical care, and clothing cost money?¡± Fang Zhou was a bit annoyed: ¡°I¡¯ve already given you 1,200 silver taels as a ceremony gift when becoming your disciple!¡± ¡°Correct!¡± Ling Xiaoyue said as though it was a matter of course: ¡°Didn¡¯t I freely teach you New Moon Qi? I will pass on so many more techniques to you in the future, you¡¯re earning big here.¡± Fang Zhou spread his hands: ¡°Then we are merely in a transactional relationship, not a mentor-student relationship.¡± ¡°Oh, my foolish disciple!¡± Ling Xiaoyue scoffed: ¡°The essence of the mentor-student relationship is reciprocal benefits, cloaked in a layer of emotional pretense. Try handing over 1,200 taels to see which sect would accept you as a disciple. I¡¯ll teach you another lesson; free things are the most expensive. If a sect takes you in without charge, they surely covet something of yours, like your body, hehe.¡± Fang Zhou was at a loss for words, Ling Xiaoyue had a pile of twisted logic, but he had to admit there was a grain of truth in her words. The threshold for Cultivation in this world was not low at all, with countless people waving around silver bills and still unable to find the entrance, only talent and connections acting as the key. It was somewhat like those renowned private universities on Earth¡ªone needs a recommendation letter to enter, and having money alone only means being treated like a fat sheep to be slaughtered. If a sect doesn¡¯t want money and has no connections, they¡¯re probably after your talent. The Xuanji Sect¡¯s elder probably took Fang Zhou as a disciple because she fancied his talent, but she didn¡¯t expect they wouldn¡¯t let go of his body either. Regardless, this was not a reason for Ling Xiaoyue to look for excuses to charge him money. Unable to argue or fight his way out, Fang Zhou could only give in, sheared like a sheep by Ling Xiaoyue. He kept these grievances in mind, vowing to settle accounts with this woman one day. In just a few days, Fang Zhou had accumulated a massive debt, and the creditor was his own mentor. However, once he had accepted the reality of the situation, Fang Zhou settled down. After all, owing debts made one the boss. She can shear all she wants; if I ever repay even a penny, I¡¯ll take her last name. ¡­ The Jing Chu Territory lies in the northern part of Jingnan State, and the easiest route is to follow the Jing Chu River. After leaving Yun Mountain Region, Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue traveled northwards alongside Jing Chu River. Many places offered boat rides¡ªeasy and effort-saving. Yet Ling Xiaoyue, a cultivator through and through, complained about the expensive boat fares, dragging him through dozens of miles of mountain roads almost breaking him to pieces. However, through such trials, Fang Zhou became even more adept at absorbing and channeling Spiritual Energy. Sitting on horseback, he could nurture his body with Spiritual Energy at any time and clearly felt his physique growing stronger. And finally, his strength increased, from 2 points to 3 points. Fang Zhou did not know if Ling Xiaoyue did this intentionally or not, but considering her carefree demeanor, he took it as unintentional. Continuing north, Fang Zhou¡¯s horse began to lose condition, and continuing to run would ruin it, so they had to stop at a place called Qingde City. Qingde City, smaller than Wu City, was still a large city with a population of a hundred thousand, with soaring walls and grand city gates. Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue joined the flow of people into the city, where high-rise buildings dotted the skyline, streets were orderly and broad, and throngs of pedestrians bustled about¡ªa picture of prosperity. Fang Zhou entered the city and wanted to find a place to stay, have a good meal, and take a hot bath. Having been living on dry rations outdoors for some time, the constant diet was almost making him sick, and he seldom had a chance to bathe, leaving his skin uncomfortably sticky. Ling Xiaoyue, however, looked as if dust could not soil her, as if she was impervious to any grime. Seeing Fang Zhou heading towards the bustling taverns and inns, Ling Xiaoyue reached out to stop him: ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Obviously, to find a place to stay.¡± Fang Zhou first looked perplexed, then cautiously at her: ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not planning to sleep on the streets now that we¡¯re in the city, are you?¡± He had resigned himself to sleeping in the wild and feeding the mosquitoes while on the road, as there was no alternative, but if she expected him to sleep on the streets now that they were in the city, he would never stand for it. Seeing Fang Zhou with a look that said, ¡°dare to make me sleep on the streets and I¡¯ll sever ties with you as my master,¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed: ¡°Would I be the kind of person to make you sleep in the streets?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Her laughter abruptly stopped, and Ling Xiaoyue scolded him with a stern face: ¡°We¡¯re cultivators; how can we stay in an inn like ordinary people? That¡¯s beneath our dignity.¡± Fang Zhou revealed a mocking smile: ¡°So sleeping on a tree doesn¡¯t make us lose face, right? Monkeys also sleep on trees.¡± Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine jug and threw it at Fang Zhou, but he agilely dodged it. ¡°Follow me. Let your master teach you the secrets of wandering the mortal realms as a cultivator, something I don¡¯t even tell regular folks.¡± Despite Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s earnest words, Fang Zhou remained skeptical, but she didn¡¯t care about his disbelief. Mounting her horse, she turned and left, leaving Fang Zhou no choice but to follow. The two arrived at the public announcement wall in Qingde City, where government officials posted documents to inform the populace, stuck various gazettes on the board, and also pasted curious tidbits, missing persons notices, etc. Of course, you had to have money to do that; without money, you¡¯d be left pasting flyers in alleys and street corners. Many townsfolk, with nothing better to do, would come here for entertainment, mainly listening to literate people explain the postings, much like enjoying a storyteller, and it was all free. The public announcement wall wasn¡¯t large, and with the crowd of onlookers pushing forward, several government officials were maintaining order at the edge of the wall, creating an organized chaos amidst the hubbub. What Fang Zhou found predictable yet still intriguing was that all the people present were female, including the government officials. Under these circumstances, if Fang Zhou dared to squeeze in, he¡¯d immediately be engulfed by a sea of women, experiencing the ¡°treatment¡± of being fawned over. But he dared not, as each of these women was robust and burly, with thickset faces; if he pushed his way in, it would be questionable whose ¡®tofu¡¯ was being eaten¡ªhis, or theirs. He feared that he might enter alive but not make it out the same way. With his improved constitution, Fang Zhou had keen eyesight and hearing, allowing him to see clearly from the periphery the contents posted on the wall. Fang Zhou curiously glanced over and saw wanted posters with portraits, notices of earth dragons turning in some cities, frequent incidents of missing children in Jing Chu Territory, rampant human trafficking, warning people to watch out for their young ones. Just then, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly gestured, and a flyer flew off the wall into her hand as if by magic. This act instantly caught the attention of many onlookers around the wall, who then turned to look. Ling Xiaoyue, with such an appearance, could attract attention anywhere in the real world, but unfortunately, this world was not normal. After a quick glimpse at her, the next second, all eyes were on Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou instantly felt like he was spot-lit, the dense gazes seemingly stripping him of his clothes. Flip the genders and it¡¯s akin to countless burly men brazenly ogling a beautiful young girl. ¡°What a handsome young lad!¡± ¡°Such a perky butt!¡± ¡°Let me touch, and I swear I¡¯d rather stay unmarried for two years, heh.¡± All sorts of teasing remarks and even sounds of salivation reached Fang Zhou¡¯s ears, making his skin crawl. Although Fang Zhou did not meet the standards of beauty demanded by the affluent for marrying a handsome youth, his looks were still exceptionally high, and his tall figure could easily stir the desire to conquer within women. People were starting to close in; Fang Zhou hastily urged Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Let¡¯s go, quickly!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s embarrassment brought Ling Xiaoyue much joy, but she didn¡¯t linger, taking him away with her. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 0 comment Chapter 11: After all, this is a world that judges by appearance. Chapter 11: After all, this is a world that judges by appearance. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ling Xiaoyue received a private post from the notice wall. The poster was named Wang Fulai, a local business tycoon known by the nickname ¡°Wine King.¡± It¡¯s said that forty percent of Qingde City¡¯s alcohol supply is provided by Wang Fulai, a bona fide tycoon. However, the content of the post had nothing to do with the alcohol business. Instead, the Wang Family had recently been disturbed by demonic forces, with Wang Fulai¡¯s only son, Wang Minghong, narrowly escaping with his life. Left with no other options, Wang Fulai had to post a notice seeking the help of remarkable and unusual individuals. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue pick up the post, Fang Zhou immediately understood her so-called secret of cultivators roaming the human world, and burst out, ¡°This is your secret?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Ling Xiaoyue nodded. ¡°Cultivators journey through society not only to temper their mind and body but also to exterminate demons and bring blessings to the human world.¡± Fang Zhou directly pierced through her veil of hypocrisy: ¡°Bullshit, you clearly just want to freeload on food and drink.¡± Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t annoyed and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m testing your discernment, and you¡¯ve seen through it so quickly. You¡¯re right, do you think every cultivator traveling the world is loaded with silver? Cultivation is also very costly, of course we should save when we can. Those with a bit of shame exterminate demons, those without shame rob the rich to aid the poor. This is the non-transmissible secret.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s down-to-earth explanation shattered Fang Zhou¡¯s last remnants of high-regard for the Cultivation World, causing him to blurt out in frustration, ¡°Crap.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°A type of herbaceous plant.¡± The master and disciple duo asked around for directions, and soon found the Wang Family¡¯s luxurious estate. As expected of a local tycoon, the estate had two person-tall stone lions at the gate, and a vermilion door that looked even more imposing than the State Mansion¡¯s. There were quite a few business-looking people outside the gate seeking an audience, but they were rudely turned away by the aggressive gatekeepers, and could only bribe their way in with silver. Ling Xiaoyue handed the post to Fang Zhou: ¡°You go.¡± Fang Zhou protested unhappily: ¡°Why should I go?¡± It wasn¡¯t him who wanted to freeload. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s gaze fell on Fang Zhou¡¯s face, and she said with a smile, ¡°Why let such a face go to waste?¡± Damn it, so she¡¯s using my face to get in. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou had no choice but to take the post, dismount, and walk up to explain their intentions to the gatekeeper. The female gatekeeper¡¯s attitude towards Fang Zhou was indeed much better. She didn¡¯t even ask for silver before going in to report. Looks like every world is indeed all about face-value. Soon, a female housekeeper came out and led the master and disciple inside the Wang estate. The housekeeper¡¯s attitude was rather ordinary, merely giving Fang Zhou a few more glances before admonishing them not to wander around, rather lukewarm. The housekeeper took them to a side hall, where, surprisingly, there was a man and a woman. The woman, who appeared to be in her forties, wore a tall hat, a Daoist robe, and held a dust whisk. She sat on a chair, her face kind and radiating the transcendent aura of a cultivator. A young Taoist boy stood behind her, with a submissive look in his eyes. He was of ordinary appearance, with a few freckles on his face. ¡°Master Ji.¡± The housekeeper first greeted the female Daoist, then said to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou, ¡°Please rest here. I will arrange for servants to serve your meal, and you will meet the family head when he is available.¡± After saying this, the housekeeper left. Ling Xiaoyue stretched lazily and then smiled at the female Daoist, ¡°Master Ji, I presume? Delighted to meet you.¡± Master Ji returned a smile and performed a Taoist salute, ¡°The courtesy is yours.¡± Fang Zhou noticed that the Taoist boy standing behind Master Ji was giving them a scrutinizing look, even with a hint of hostility. Fang Zhou was puzzled but quickly realized¡ªthese two were colleagues. At the same time, he finally understood the housekeeper¡¯s indifferent attitude and her immediate arrangements for a meal. After Wang Fulai¡¯s post, there must have been many shameless people like Ling Xiaoyue who came to freeload food and drink. The Wang Family must be so used to it by now that as soon as someone arrives, they directly arrange food and drink. If one doesn¡¯t show some real skills, they might get kicked out before even spending the night. Very soon, a servant brought in a meal¡ª a large plate of steamed meat buns, a plate of dried meat, and a pot of wine. Simple dishes, but in generous quantities, with steam rising from the hot meat buns and the wine warmed to the right temperature. ¡°Quick, eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± Ling Xiaoyue beckoned Fang Zhou to start eating, which rendered Fang Zhou speechless. Here he was with a whopping one thousand taels in his pocket, yet he found himself mooching food and drink at someone else¡¯s place. Just as Fang Zhou pondered where things had gone wrong, Ling Xiaoyue had already gobbled down two big meat buns. ¡°Aren¡¯t you fasting from food already?¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise, since all the way here Ling Xiaoyue had hardly eaten anything, only drinking alcohol. Her wine bottle seemed to provide an endless supply, never running out no matter how much she drank. ¡°Yeah.¡± Ling Xiaoyue took a sip of her wine, then poured the rest into her wine bottle, ¡°You can¡¯t finish all this food anyway, I¡¯m helping you eat some so it doesn¡¯t go to waste. Wasting food is disgraceful.¡± Just as Fang Zhou was about to retort, he heard a snicker. ¡°Two country bumpkins!¡± Fang Zhou turned his head and saw that the Taoist boy was the one who sneered. Seeing that Fang Zhou had noticed him, the Taoist boy wasn¡¯t the least bit nervous; instead, he showed a look of disdain as if observing two greenhorns who had just entered the city. Master Ji sat with his eyes half-closed, seemingly meditating, showing no reaction to the Taoist boy¡¯s behavior. Fang Zhou, not knowing the strength of these two individuals and not wanting to stir trouble, pretended not to hear. His gaze paused on the boy¡¯s ordinary face for a moment, and he let out a light chuckle. Turning his head, he saw that almost all of the big buns had been eaten by Ling Xiaoyue, which made him panic: ¡°Save some for me!¡± Seeing that Fang Zhou didn¡¯t dare to speak up, the Taoist boy huffed twice, smug, but then he quickly realized what that light chuckle from Fang Zhou meant¡ªWas he laughing at my appearance?! The Taoist boy¡¯s face twisted instantly, staring fiercely at Fang Zhou. This seductive wretch!! ¡­ Wang Fulai felt utterly exhausted, dark circles under her eyes that no amount of makeup could conceal. It wasn¡¯t because of business troubles, but because of a recent demonic assault that disturbed the peace of her family. The whole ordeal started a month ago when her only son, Wang Minghong, suddenly fell ill. Numerous doctors were unable to cure him, all saying he was physically weak due to kidney deficiency and excessive indulgence. Could this be possible? Wang Fulai immediately investigated to see who had the gall to seduce her son, but her search turned up nothing. Instead, she heard from the servants that, occasionally, sounds of pleasure would emanate from the son¡¯s chamber late at night. After pressing her son, Wang Fulai found out that a month earlier, Wang Minghong had met a stunning woman while out, and he had fallen for her at first sight. Since then, this beautiful woman would appear in his room every few nights to meet with him. Having built such a big business, Wang Fulai, well-versed in the world, immediately knew it was the doing of a demonic being. She sought out famous cultivators in Qingde City, yet to no avail. Instead, several servants lost their lives. Left with no choice, Wang Fulai posted a reward notice, seeking assistance from extraordinary individuals. But those who answered the call turned out to be charlatans from the jianghu, who came swaggering in to mooch food and drink. When push came to shove, they did nothing but enrage the demonic being. Recently, the demonic entity had become more brazen, treating the Wang Family as a marketplace, coming and going as it pleased, causing panic throughout the household, with everyone starting to suffer from nerves. Wang Fulai could only send people to seek help from the State Mansion while continuing to post the reward notice, hoping for a miracle. Today, Master Ji had arrived, said to be an esteemed elder from Qinghua Mountain and a true cultivator. She must meet him in person. Oh, and there was also a young man and woman, who her housekeeper said were there to mooch food and drink¡ªthey were no good. Heavy-hearted, Wang Fulai went to the side hall. Just as she entered, she immediately saw Master Ji; indeed, someone from a distinguished immortal lineage had an extraordinary presence. Only then did Wang Fulai take notice of the pair that had just finished their meal, mooching food and drink. In terms of demeanor and looks, Ling Xiaoyue could knock Master Ji several blocks down, but after gorging herself, she had her legs crossed and was picking her teeth with audible tsk-tsk sounds, displaying none of the grace expected of a master¡ªpurely the attitude of someone who came for a free meal. This made Wang Fulai frown, but after taking a few good looks at Fang Zhou, she felt a bit more comfortable, deciding to forgive these two young food swindlers. After all, we live in a world that judges by appearances. Fang Zhou was somewhat surprised to see Wang Fulai. He had originally thought Wang Fulai would be a man, so it was unexpected that she was a woman with bold eyebrows and large eyes¡ªshe looked very similar to a celebrity he knew back on Earth. He nearly blurted out, ¡°Isn¡¯t this surreal?!¡± Thankfully, he managed to hold back. But a sect hierarch in women¡¯s clothes¡ªis that not a sight for sore eyes? 0 comment Chapter 12: 12. Under the Moon, Ling Xiaoyue Chapter 12: 12. Under the Moon, Ling Xiaoyue Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°` Wang Fulai greeted Master Ji with a bow: ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with many matters and made Master Ji wait for a long time.¡± Master Ji looked at Wang Fulai, suddenly waved his whisk, and a gust of wind arose in the side hall. Wang Fulai was invigorated by the wind, immediately feeling refreshed and dispelling days of fatigue and anxiety. She looked surprised: ¡°This is¡­¡± Master Ji smiled and said: ¡°Benefactor Wang need not worry. What has been troubling your family is a red fox that has cultivated into a spirit. I have been tracking it for months, not expecting it to run to Qingde City and harm the people.¡± Wang Fulai was both shocked and delighted; outsiders only knew a demonic evil troubled her house, not that it was a fox demon. Master Ji¡¯s arrival and immediate identification showed his true skill. Wang Fulai quickly bowed deeply to Master Ji: ¡°Please, Master, save my Wang Family¡¯s young and old.¡± Master Ji was seated and accepted Wang Fulai¡¯s bow before standing up to help her rise: ¡°Benefactor Wang, rest assured. As a cultivator wandering through the mortal world, besides forging the body and spirit, one should also exorcise demons for the benefit of humanity. My visit this time is precisely for demon extermination.¡± Fang Zhou felt these words sounded familiar. He turned his head and looked at Ling Xiaoyue, and noticed she was also looking back, her gaze clearly saying ¡ª see, didn¡¯t I tell you so. Pfft, birds of a feather. Fang Zhou originally thought Master Ji seemed dignified and might be an expert, but it turns out he was just a freeloader. Wang Fulai was, however, very pleased: ¡°Then I¡¯ll entrust this to you, Master. Please, move to the main hall, I will arrange a banquet immediately to welcome and refresh you.¡± Saying this, she glanced hesitantly at Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou, the two freeloaders who still sat there unmoved when the host was present, truly impolite. Wang Fulai initially wanted to send them away, but then thought better of it, opting to show her generosity in front of Master Ji since the Wang Family was not short of food. Importantly, these two young people were good-looking, especially this young man. Though his facial features weren¡¯t very gentle and his stature was quite tall, he really was attractive¡ªkeeping him as a young husband could be nice. Fang Zhou was unaware that he¡¯d been earmarked by Wang Fulai in a blink, only feeling that the Sect Hierarch¡¯s gaze upon him had softened a lot. A sudden apprehension crossed his mind¡ªcould this old cow be craving tender grass? Why does everyone want a piece of me wherever I go? Wang Fulai instructed the housekeeper to take care of Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue and then led Master Ji out of the side hall. The Taoist boy strutted past Fang Zhou, grunting continuously like a little pig. ¡­ The housekeeper arranged rooms for Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue, it seemed like they would be staying over at the Wang Family. By now, Fang Zhou was more resigned to freeloading, so he comfortably took a bath, washing off the grime. After bathing, he retreated to his room to meditate, knowing from the housekeeper that Master Ji would start the ritual for demon extermination after nightfall; there would surely be excitement tonight, and he needed to be fully alert. During this time, the system¡¯s task had not been triggered, possibly due to his comfortable living conditions. Though Ling Xiaoyue was not considerate and often crude, his safety was assured with her around. Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t about to endanger himself deliberately to trigger tasks, so getting stronger had to rely on continuous practice. Laziness is incurable, diligence is the handsomest trait. I¡¯m not being humble; the above is about me. He practiced until night fell before stopping, feeling rejuvenated and the weariness from days of travel completely erased. He stepped out of his room to see moonlight like water, a bright moon hanging in the sky. In front of the room was a courtyard with artificial hills and flowing water, where Ling Xiaoyue lay on a hill, holding her small wine jug, under the arc of the moon, sipping wine. Fang Zhou stared at her, mesmerized. Under the moon, Ling Xiaoyue¡ªwith her graceful and ethereal posture¡ªseemed like a spirit. This was the most beautiful woman he had seen in his two lifetimes. Ling Xiaoyue lowered her head towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Disciple, do you know why the moon shines?¡± Fang Zhou of course knew, but it wasn¡¯t knowledge he was supposed to possess, so he shook his head. ¡°Then let me tell you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s lips curved slightly: ¡°The moon shines because¡­ it¡¯s lit by the sun! Haha!!¡± She laughed uncontrollably, doubling over with laughter. Fang Zhou watched her, bewildered by the moonlit Ling Xiaoyue laughing like a fool. This was the most foolish woman he had seen in his two lifetimes. ¡­ Under Master Ji¡¯s guidance, the Wang Family¡¯s servants bustled around, and finally, after nightfall, constructed an altar in the large courtyard. By the time Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue arrived, Master Ji was dressed in a dark yellow Daoist robe, holding a whisk, and had already ascended the altar to begin the ritual. Wang Fulai, with the housekeeper and a group of servants, stood on the side, watching nervously. The Taoist boy stood below the altar, jealously glancing at Fang Zhou. Before Fang Zhou arrived, he had been the center of attention among the Wang Family, basking in the worshipful gazes of many women. ¡°` But after Fang Zhou arrived, those boring women all abandoned the Daoist boy, their eyes seemingly glued to Fang Zhou, even Wang Fulai, the head of the Wang Family, was no exception. Hmph, a bunch of fickle women, blinded by their own folly! The little Daoist boy was so frustrated that his teeth itched. Noticing the envious and jealous gaze of the Daoist boy, Fang Zhou sighed softly. Alas, being handsome is not his fault, nor is being so eye-catching, it¡¯s just what fate had in store for him. If possible, Fang Zhou would rather be more ordinary and not so handsome. But it is the will of heaven, probably just his destiny, alas. Fortunately, the ladies were merely looking and did not cause any disturbance, their focus was still on Master Ji, who was performing the ritual. This was crucial to successfully exorcising the demon tonight, which was related to the future peace of the Wang Family. The fox demon had recently become increasingly brazen, especially after the Wang Family sought people for Demon Extermination; it almost came every night, and tonight was certainly no exception. The night was like water, the entire Wang Family estate was quiet, with only the slight noise of the night wind rustling through the treetops. Just then, a cold wind blew suddenly from nowhere, mixed with faint laughter. ¡°Here it comes!¡± ¡°The fox demon is here!¡± The servants of the Wang Family were in turmoil; had it not been for the housekeeper leading several Protectors sternly ordering them to stop, these servants would probably have started scattering and running away. They also didn¡¯t want to stay, but Master Ji had instructed to gather as many people as possible to increase vitality, and Wang Fulai had asked them to remain. Wang Fulai was also somewhat panicked, but she was not disoriented because she had witnessed many such incidents in the past month. Unfortunately, every time the fox demon appeared, the extraordinary individuals she invited were defeated and fled. Thinking of this, Wang Fulai looked hopefully towards Master Ji on the altar, who was a revered elder from Qinghua Mountain and wouldn¡¯t be easily defeated, right? On the altar, Master Ji, with a solemn face, loudly declared, ¡°Minor tricks, show yourself immediately!¡± After speaking, she grabbed a handful of incense ashes, murmured a few words, and with a forward sweep, the scattered incense ashes instantly turned into a flame, spreading in all directions and suddenly exploding, illuminating the entire courtyard brilliantly. ¡°Good!¡± Wang Fulai couldn¡¯t help but cheer; this kind of power had never been exhibited by other extraordinary individuals. Fang Zhou was also somewhat shocked and couldn¡¯t help but ask Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Can you do this?¡± Ling Xiaoyue pinched his ear: ¡°You actually compare your teacher with juggling, showing no respect at all.¡± Your actions aren¡¯t any better than juggling. But Ling Xiaoyue saying so, does it mean that Master Ji is just a juggler? After Master Ji demonstrated her skills, the fox demon still did not appear, but the laughter in the cold wind became more and more apparent, carrying a mocking tone. Seeing Wang Fulai showing a doubtful look, Master Ji snorted coldly, ¡°Damn fiend, since you refuse to show yourself, let this poor Daoist force you out, disciple, protect me!¡± The little Daoist boy replied and drew his longsword, standing firmly in front of the altar. Master Ji performed several flashy moves with her whisk, placed both palms together in front, murmured spells, but felt somewhat panicked inside. If the demon fox didn¡¯t appear, her specially prepared fox-destroying medicine would be useless. The cold wind grew stronger and the laughter more piercing, causing the flowers and trees in the courtyard to rustle loudly. The people of the Wang Family were also made unsteady by the wind, Wang Fulai quickly called out to Master Ji, ¡°Master!¡± Master Ji responded, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I am using my Mana to force the demon fox to show itself!¡± The cold wind quickly turned into a violent wind, blowing people in the courtyard haphazardly. Fang Zhou, relying on his extraordinary physical condition and strength, barely managed to not be blown away. Ling Xiaoyue, standing by, hadn¡¯t even had her clothes flutter; the wind seemed unable to touch her. Just then, a red light suddenly leapt out from the darkness, its form unclear, flying instantly among the Wang Family people, knocking several Protectors in the front off their feet, their bodies splitting apart in midair. Finally, the servants couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, crying and screaming, scattering in all directions, cursing their luck for not having more legs. The entire courtyard instantly turned chaotic, the red light rampaging through the crowd. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Master!!¡± Wang Fulai, knocked to the ground, cried out for help toward the altar! Master Ji stared intently at the red light, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, this is a Mana adjustment, I¡¯ll kill this demon fox immediately.¡± The red light, as if hearing Master Ji¡¯s voice, turned and flew towards the altar. The little Daoist boy, facing the red light, boldly shouted and charged forward with his sword, then tripped over his own feet and fell flat, unconscious, performing flawlessly like a king of the entertainment industry. The red light passed over the unconscious Daoist boy and flew straight towards the altar, where Master Ji seized the opportunity and took out the fox-destroying medicine she carried, throwing it forward. Having purchased it at a high price, it was effective even against cultivated fox demons, especially against female foxes, and she had tested it on many foxes before coming. The fox-destroying medicine hit the red light, spraying a large amount of white powder, but the anticipated scream did not occur; the red light merely shivered and continued flying towards the altar. Master Ji was dumbfounded and blurted out: ¡°Don¡¯t come¡­ don¡¯t come over!!¡± 0 comment Chapter 13: 13. Reach out to help the person who is drowning Chapter 13: 13. Reach out to help the person who is drowning Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Even though Master Ji shouted the famous line, ¡°Don¡¯t come over here,¡± the red light still soared onto the altar and collided with Master Ji. Master Ji let out a pig-slaughtering scream, fell off the altar, rolled on the ground a couple of times, then quickly got up and ran off. The little novice lying unconscious on the ground also ¡°woke up¡± just in time, hurriedly got up, and followed behind Master Ji. ¡°Master! Master!¡± Wang Fulai stretched out an ¡°Erkang¡± hand, calling out to Master Ji, but Master Ji and the little novice didn¡¯t look back and kept sprinting away. ¡°Heeheehee!!¡± The red light let out a shrill laugh, darting around the courtyard, teasing those servants who hadn¡¯t managed to escape. Fang Zhou leaned over to Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Hey, what do we do next?¡± Ling Xiaoyue tipped back her head for a sip of liquor, and smiled: ¡°Next, of course, is the moment for your master to make a grand entrance and turn the tide. Disciple, open your eyes wide and watch closely, don¡¯t miss the spectacular performance.¡± Fang Zhou eagerly waited for a while, only to find that after Ling Xiaoyue finished her drink, she began leisurely tidying up her appearance, making him impatient: ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to make a move?¡± ¡°No rush, your master has to present the most dashing side to talk about the price.¡± ¡°Price?¡± Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue pour some liquor into her palm, then smear it on her head, her whole person immediately glowed radiantly, it was just like activating special effects and beauty filters, almost blinding him. Holy shit, what kind of special skill is this? Wang Fulai also quickly noticed this side. After the much-anticipated Master Ji had fled, Wang Fulai, who had already despaired, absolutely did not expect that the two young ones, whom she thought came to mooch food and drinks, could still stand calmly in place, unaffected by the demon fox. Especially that white-clothed woman, who was emitting light from her whole body like luminescence, so dazzling. At this moment, Wang Fulai finally understood that these two youngsters were the truly capable ones. She hurriedly wanted to run to Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue to seek protection. But the red light noticed Wang Fulai¡¯s movements, flew straight towards her, grabbed her legs, and dragged her into mid-air. ¡°Master! Master, save my life please!¡± Wang Fulai called out to Ling Xiaoyue for help. Ling Xiaoyue gave Fang Zhou a look that the time had come, then replied: ¡°No problem in saving you, as cultivators wander the mortal world, we should hone the body and mind and also undertake the demon extermination to benefit the human world.¡± Fang Zhou: This sounds familiar! Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s words suddenly shifted: ¡°However, we, as master and disciple journeying the world, have spent greatly, and now we are in financial distress, would Sponsor Wang be interested in sponsoring some travel expenses?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her unbelievably, this was another way to operate? Wasn¡¯t this taking advantage of people¡¯s plight? Ling Xiaoyue turned her head and glared over: ¡°Whose side are you on? I am being brave and righteous while also asking for a little reward; if she won¡¯t even give this small reward, why should we extend a helping hand?¡± Wang Fulai was also stunned by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s shamelessness, and blurted out without thinking: ¡°This isn¡¯t taking advan-ahahahah!!¡± She was spun around dozens of times in the air by the demon fox and was already dizzy, unable to take it anymore: ¡°I¡¯ll give! I¡¯ll give!¡± ¡°How much will you give?¡± ¡°Five hundred taels!¡± Ling Xiaoyue saluted towards Wang Fulai, who was spinning in mid-air: ¡°Sponsor Wang, take care of yourself, we¡¯ll meet again in the future.¡± ¡°No!¡± With a splash, water splattered everywhere, and Wang Fulai was thrown by the fox demon into the courtyard¡¯s pond. She emerged from the water and shouted towards Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Master, please wait!¡± The fox demon flew down, pressed down on Wang Fulai¡¯s head, and pushed her back into the water. ¡°Master¡­ glub glub¡­ I¡¯ll give¡­ glub glub¡­ a thousand taels¡­ glub glub¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue considered for a few seconds, then shook her head: ¡°Sponsor Wang, not to be modest, but you should seek someone more capable.¡± Wang Fulai¡¯s head was underwater, already completely unable to make a sound, but she still tried hard to reach out an arm, raising two fingers. ¡°Glubbery glub glub glubbery glubbery!¡± Ling Xiaoyue was satisfied, she picked up the wine pot and threw it forward. A stream of liquor spilled from the pot, the crystalline liquor instantly solidified into ice, like countless points of starlight, shooting towards the demon fox. The demon fox hid within this sphere of red light, moving with astonishing speed, rapidly leaving Wang Fulai behind, and flying upward attempting to dodge Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s attack. The wine liquid that shot towards it suddenly expanded, like a sky full of stars, covering all possible escape routes and leaving no room for the demon fox to flee. Whizzing through the air! The red light was pierced by ice crystals, immediately emitting a high-pitched screech that was clearly filled with agony. The red light dimmed significantly, revealing the blurry shape of a fox. This fox glared resentfully at Ling Xiaoyue, then leaped over the wall and disappeared from sight. This was Fang Zhou¡¯s first time seeing Ling Xiaoyue take action, as he had not witnessed it the previous time she saved him. This was the kind of technique he had imagined a Cultivator to possess, unlike Li Ruyu who would simply draw her sword to chop. Ling Xiaoyue did not reveal her realm, but Fang Zhou estimated that she might be in the Innate Realm; otherwise, she would not be so eager to escape before the Xuanji Sect, seeing as its Sect Master was at the Golden Core Realm. The difference between the Innate Realm and Li Ruyu¡¯s Foundation Establishment Realm was only one tier, yet the gap in combat power was like heaven and earth. Fang Zhou somewhat looked forward to the day when he himself would reach the Innate Realm, though he wondered just how many years and months that might take. He asked Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you keep that fox demon?¡± Judging by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s casual demeanor, it was clear that the fox demon was no match for her, and she did not seem to make any effort to stop it as it fled. Ling Xiaoyue glanced at Fang Zhou and said with profound meaning, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you a lesson, making money should be a steady stream, you can¡¯t finish all your business at once, do you understand?¡± Fang Zhou understood; this woman had a heart as black as coal, enjoying the process of fleecing one victim after another. Ling Xiaoyue tapped him with her wine jug, ¡°Go on, fish up manager Wang.¡± Just a moment ago she referred to him as benefactor Wang, and now he¡¯s manager Wang. Fang Zhou had no choice but to strip off his upper garment, leaving just his pants on, and jumped into the pool to fish manager Wang, who was floating on the water, back to shore. Manager Wang had not been knocked unconscious, clutching Fang Zhou as she was carried, she still managed to reach out and stroke Fang Zhou¡¯s strong chest, weakly asking, ¡°Little brother, are you interested in staying with the Wang Family, by my side, and protecting me closely?¡± Fang Zhou dropped her back into the pool. ¡­ The Wang Family¡¯s commotion finally came to an end tonight, with Wang Fulai being fished out once again by the housekeeper and servants. But now, no one in the Wang Family dared to be the slightest bit discourteous to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou; instead, they became extremely respectful. The duo¡¯s treatment improved dramatically in an instant¡ªthey were moved into a large house and had attentive servants to tend to their needs. This was the first time the Wang Family had seen a demon fox driven away after suffering its harassment for so long, the first time they had seen a true master. They naturally rushed to honor them, fearing the master would simply leave with a wave of her hand. Having guzzled a bellyful of water, Wang Fulai spat it out for quite a while and had to retire early to rest. The housekeeper wanted to invite Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou to visit Wang Minghong, who had nearly lost his life, but Ling Xiaoyue refused, and even yawned, ¡°We¡¯ll see tomorrow.¡± After Ling Xiaoyue left, Fang Zhou secretly pulled the housekeeper aside, asking her to bring some food to his room. He hadn¡¯t had more than a couple of large steamed buns today, all of which had gone into Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mouth. His stomach was roaring with hunger, and being in the stage of growing and constantly cultivating, his appetite was naturally large. The housekeeper repeatedly apologized for her cold demeanor earlier upsetting the two masters and quickly arranged for the kitchen to send a table full of dishes to Fang Zhou¡¯s room. Fang Zhou, taking advantage of his agility, climbed onto the roof of the Wang Family¡¯s house and began cultivation under the moonlight. With the presence of the moon, the cultivation of New Moon Qi would bring twice the results with half the effort. After witnessing Ling Xiaoyue in action tonight, his heart was filled with both anticipation and urgency, not wanting to waste a single moment of cultivation time. After a few Circulations, the moon was obscured by clouds, and Fang Zhou finally came down from the roof and returned to his room. The housekeeper had already sent a table full of sumptuous food to Fang Zhou¡¯s room, but now there was an additional person in there. Someone Fang Zhou did not want to see at the moment. He exclaimed in outrage, ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± Ling Xiaoyue spat out a chicken bone from her mouth, ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here? Can you finish all this food by yourself? Of course, I¡¯m here to help you clean up, to avoid wasting food.¡± Fang Zhou looked at the table, which had already been mostly devoured by Ling Xiaoyue, and felt a wave of sadness. He carried thousands of taels on him, and manager Wang still owed him two thousand taels, yet even eating his fill was a challenge. Unable to restrain his frustration, he cried out, ¡°Damn it (a type of plant), leave some for me!¡± And then he joined in the scramble for food. By the time they finished eating, it was late at night, and Fang Zhou, infuriated by Ling Xiaoyue, couldn¡¯t sleep. He went back to the roof of the Wang Family¡¯s house to continue cultivating. He cultivated until dawn when the sun was just rising, and only then did Fang Zhou stand up and stretch his back. His midnight training had not left him fatigued; the only problem was his stomach was growling again, the food from last night already digested and gone. Fang Zhou began to understand why Ling Xiaoyue said cultivation was an expensive affair. Apart from everything else, just providing for the daily meals of a cultivator was not something an ordinary family could afford. He jumped down from the roof, ready to ask the housekeeper for some more food, since he might as well not refuse what¡¯s free. The housekeeper quickly appeared before Fang Zhou with a panicked expression, and said to him, ¡°Master, something has happened.¡± 0 comment Chapter 14: 14. Please be a human. Chapter 14: 14. Please be a human. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Fang Zhou thought a major incident had occurred but upon asking, he found out that overnight, all the livestock of the Wang Family had been slaughtered, including the horses ridden by Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. Also killed were several servants responsible for feeding the livestock. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mind much about himself, he could just buy another horse, but the horse called Yue Ya¡¯er that belonged to Ling Xiaoyue was a treasure. It had been with her for a long time and was like family to her, it was unbelievable that it was killed too. This was indeed a big deal, and Fang Zhou could hardly imagine the heartless Ling Xiaoyue getting furious. He hurried to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s room and knocked on the door: ¡°Bang bang bang, get up, something terrible has happened!¡± The door quickly opened, and Ling Xiaoyue, yawning, appeared in front of Fang Zhou, discontentedly saying, ¡°What is it, why are you wailing so early in the morning?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s wailing.¡± Fang Zhou frowned, ¡°Your horse is dead.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was momentarily taken aback, then grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s collar with both hands, saliva flying as she sprayed: ¡°You unfilial disciple, I am your master, equivalent to your mother, and you dare to curse me? This is totally outrageous!¡± Fang Zhou struggled: ¡°Who cursed you? I am saying your horse is dead!¡± Ling Xiaoyue became even more infuriated, pinching Fang Zhou¡¯s ear and shouting: ¡°You can¡¯t curse my mother either, I am your master, equivalent to your mother, and my mom is equivalent to your grandmother. How dare you curse that she die, this is outright perverse behavior, are you forcing your master to enforce family rules?¡± Fang Zhou, exasperated, stomped his foot: ¡°Are you crazy or brainless? I am saying your horse, your horse is the one dead!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still cursing!¡± ¡°Damn it, your mother¡¯s dead!¡± Finally, Ling Xiaoyue realized, it was her horse that died, not her mother. She ran to the stable to take a look, then came back fuming: ¡°It was that little fox seeking revenge last night, daring to kill even my horse, totally asking for death.¡± Fang Zhou wanted to comfort Ling Xiaoyue, after all, the precious horse was like family to her. Before Fang Zhou could speak, Ling Xiaoyue called the butler over and asked, ¡°Does anyone buy horse meat?¡± The butler nodded: ¡°Familiar butchers do buy horse meat, but the price¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue waved a hand to interrupt the butler: ¡°This is a celestial treasure horse; eating its meat can prolong life, not the same as ordinary horse meat.¡± The butler¡¯s eyes suddenly gleamed: ¡°I understand, let me handle this celestial horse, I guarantee everything will be properly taken care of.¡± This butler would definitely keep the celestial horse¡¯s remains to enjoy alone, possibly even secretly stashing some celestial horse meat for himself. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t care about these details; converting it into money was fine by her. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the butler hurriedly left, Ling Xiaoyue then noticed the confused look Fang Zhou was giving her: ¡°What kind of look is that?¡± Fang Zhou: (?_?) So much for treating the treasure horse like family, is this how you treat your family? Ling Xiaoyue, understanding Fang Zhou¡¯s point, suddenly sighed nostalgically: ¡°Yue Ya¡¯er often told me, it wished that even after death its body would contribute to the world. I am fulfilling its last wish; I am heartbroken by its death, but I can¡¯t stop moving forward because of the pain, as long as we continue, it will surely be waiting for us ahead, do you understand?¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°Ï£Íû¤Î¤Ï¤Ê¿Ž¤¤¤À°í¤¬¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue curious asked: ¡°What are you singing?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t know, it just came out spontaneously.¡± Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°But you understand what I said, right?¡± I understand my foot, please be human, this treasure horse really was unlucky with you, ridden by you during its life and even sold by you after its death. ¡­ Despite being force-fed water last night, Wang Fulai was still in high spirits the next day. After learning that all the livestock had been slaughtered overnight, Wang Fulai secluded herself in her room, remained silent for a long time, then ordered the butler to bring over several large plates of golden ingots, personally presenting them to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. ¡°Yesterday, Fulai was blind and negligent towards two great masters; any scolding or punishment is acceptable, Fulai dares not complain, please ma¡­ Secondly, Wang Fulai realized that the demon fox from last night was thoroughly enraged, hence it killed humans and livestock to vent its anger. If at this time Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou were to wash their hands off the matter, then his entire Wang Family would indeed face a lethal threat. Ling Xiaoyue glanced at the several large plates of gold ingots, and with her sharp eyes, she could tell that there were at least five hundred taels of gold. Although Wang Fulai was wealthy, five hundred taels of gold would empty almost half of his family fortune. His heart was bleeding, but wealth is external; money lost can be earned again, but lost lives are irrevocable. Despite the pain that nearly suffocated him, Wang Fulai had a sincere smile on his face, hoping that the two masters could feel his sincerity. Ling Xiaoyue indeed felt the sincerity. With a wave of her hand, her long sleeve swept over the gold, and the plates of gold instantly disappeared. This scene shocked the Wang Family members and even surprised Fang Zhou. Could this be the legendary Sleeve Universe? I want to learn! I want to learn! I want to learn this!!! Ling Xiaoyue showed a satisfied smile and then asked Wang Fulai, ¡°You¡¯ve been bullied by that little fox for so long, haven¡¯t you thought about reporting to the authorities?¡± These days, with demons rampant, the government had established Demon Extermination Bureaus, recruiting many extraordinary folks specifically for demon eradication. For a large city like Qingde City with a population of a hundred thousand, at least one team from the Demon Extermination Bureau would be stationed to easily handle a small fox. Wang Fulai revealed a bitter smile, ¡°We have already reported it, but the city¡¯s Demon Extermination Bureau had just left a month ago to deal with demons attacking travelers at Lianyun Mountain; they won¡¯t be back for months, and my Wang Family can¡¯t wait that long.¡± ¡°Then you are indeed unfortunate.¡± Although Qingde City has the city god¡¯s protection, the city god only manages spirits and evil entities, not demons; even if the city god wanted to, he couldn¡¯t manage them. Ling Xiaoyue stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go, don¡¯t you have a son who nearly lost his life? Let¡¯s check on him.¡± Wang Fulai was initially a bit uneasy, afraid that Ling Xiaoyue would take the money and do nothing, but now he finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly said, ¡°Please, masters, follow me.¡± Fang Zhou deliberately fell behind and secretly asked the steward, ¡°Is that immortal horse taken care of?¡± The steward replied, ¡°It¡¯s been taken care of, what would you have me do, master?¡± Fang Zhou hesitated for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, ¡°My horse, it¡¯s also an immortal horse.¡± The steward looked at him in surprise. Fang Zhou showed an embarrassed smile. Surely, that woman can¡¯t earn all the money, right? ¡­ The group arrived at an elegant small courtyard; Wang Fulai dismissed a few servants and led Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou into the room. Inside the room, incense was burning, and there was also a faint scent of medicine, which wasn¡¯t very comforting to smell. A very emaciated young man lay on the bed, nearly reduced to skin and bones, pale skinned and with sunken eyes. Seeing his mother bringing two strangers into the room, Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t evade and could only lower his eyelids, a bashful crimson blush spread across his pale face. If a young girl posed this way, it might evoke pity, but such shy twisting from a grown man naturally failed to stir any sympathy from Fang Zhou. Ling Xiaoyue only glanced at Wang Minghong and immediately diagnosed, ¡°This is a case of Yang energy deficiency; your son has been excessively drained by that little fox, a few times more and his life will not be spared.¡± Wang Fulai gasped, looking at his son with worry and pleaded with Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°What should we do, master? Please save my son.¡± ¡°My service has always been reputed as shining; you can relax about the money.¡± Ling Xiaoyue gave Wang Fulai a reassuring look, ¡°After I exterminate that little fox, I¡¯ll refine a Yang Reviving Pill for your son. One pill will guarantee him bursting with vigor as if he were a celestial being.¡± Wang Fulai listened with joyous laughter, feeling the money was well spent. Ling Xiaoyue then said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Ask young master Wang, about the¡­¡± Under the righteous gaze of Fang Zhou, Ling Xiaoyue finally swallowed the rest of her question and changed her words, ¡°Inquire about the details, through which we can evaluate the little fox¡¯s strength and from its strength, determine its range of activity and hiding spots. Learn this, apprentice.¡± Fang Zhou then nodded, ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then? If that little fox doesn¡¯t dare come tonight, I¡¯ll personally visit and turn it into a scarf; would you want one?¡± 0 comment Chapter 15: 15. Digest your own things by yourself Chapter 15: 15. Digest your own things by yourself Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Since the matter involves privacy, everyone else left the room, leaving only Fang Zhou, who was also male, to stay. Wang Minghong relaxed significantly, looking timidly at Fang Zhou with eyes like a small animal, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Big Brother, where are you from?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingled, and he quickly placed his hands in front of his chest, palms up, starting to channel his energy to suppress the surge of malevolence in his chest. Otherwise, he was afraid that he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist punching this sissy to death on the bed. If it were some gender-neutral pretty boy making this gesture, Fang Zhou might not react this way, but this Wang Minghong obviously inherited his mother¡¯s looks, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a squarish face, even sporting a circle of stubble around his mouth. Even if cast as a villain, audiences would suspect such a face of being an undercover agent for justice. To see him putting on a timid and delicate demeanor was really more than Fang Zhou could bear. Wang Minghong looked at Fang Zhou curiously, his big eyes flickering under his thick brows. After adjusting his mindset, Fang Zhou finally said to Wang Minghong, ¡°Brother Wang, please tell me in detail the sequence of events before and after your encounter with the demon fox. This is a matter concerning your life.¡± Wang Minghong slowly lowered his eyelids, pouted his lips, and said, ¡°People¡­ people are still young, cannot bear the word ¡®brother¡¯, Big Brother, you can call me Hong¡¯er.¡± Fang Zhou felt the malevolent energy he had so painstakingly suppressed surging up again, his forehead beginning to pop with veins. ¡°Big Brother, are you angry?¡± Fang Zhou took a few deep breaths, rubbed his face with both hands, then showed a stiff smile, his teeth gritting, ¡°You little brat, don¡¯t pull this nonsense on me, just answer my question honestly, or else I¡¯ll strip you naked, hang you outside and turn you into a cured chicken, understand?¡± Wang Minghong stared at him, blank. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°Oh~¡± A voice full of grievance. [Wang Minghong thinks you¡¯re a crass jerk, rewarded with 1 point of masculinity] Fang Zhou: (?_?) If someone genuinely thinks that Fang Zhou is a manly man, the system would reward him with points of masculinity, the amount depending on the situation. Fang Zhou has made numerous attempts with this rule and nearly gave up having never succeeded before, but to his surprise, the first reward came so unexpectedly, and it actually came from someone of the same sex. So gross, can I return it? Wang Minghong began to narrate his encounter with the fox demon, which was mostly similar to what Wang Fulai had said. Over a month ago, Wang Minghong had met a beautiful girl on his way home. Wang Minghong fell in love with the beautiful girl at first sight, they chatted happily, and after he went home, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. That night, the beautiful girl suddenly appeared in Wang Minghong¡¯s room. Though he felt something was fishy, Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t resist his feelings of love, and they ended up rolling in the sheets that night. Afterward, every few days, the beautiful girl would appear in Wang Minghong¡¯s room in the middle of the night to meet with him. A month later, Wang Minghong grew thinner and eventually fell ill. Obviously, this beautiful girl was a fox demon. Fang Zhou began asking about the details of Wang Minghong¡¯s trysts with the fox demon, but Wang Minghong¡¯s face turned red and he stuttered, unwilling to give details. When pressed, he could only provide a general idea and refused to go into specifics. Fang Zhou was very dissatisfied, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to live? What¡¯s there to be ashamed of? Is it because she was on top and you were on the bottom?¡± As soon as these words came out, Wang Minghong suddenly fell silent, like a dead man, no longer uttering a sound. Fang Zhou: ¡°?¡± In the end, he couldn¡¯t get much detail out of him, and as Wang Minghong¡¯s energy waned, Fang Zhou could only leave. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Outside, Fang Zhou reported the interrogation to Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue mused, ¡°That little fox demon must only be in the Qi Refinement Realm, but how could a Qi Refinement Realm little fox dare to cause trouble in Qingde City?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked, ¡°The fox demon is only in the Qi Refinement Realm? Wasn¡¯t she very powerful last night?¡± It¡¯s not Fang Zhou bragging, but among his defeated competitors, there were four in the Qi Refinement Realm, yes, those four disciples from the Xuanji Sect who don¡¯t even deserve to have names. ¡°` And the ruckus caused by that demon fox last night was no small affair; Fang Zhou felt even with the Illusion Technique and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, he lacked the confidence to win. Seeing the ignorant look on Fang Zhou¡¯s face, which would have embarrassed his master, Ling Xiaoyue could only clarify it for him: ¡°Fox demons find cultivation difficult, and those who manage to become spirits all have some capabilities, naturally stronger than humans, and most demons have innate Spells. Like that fox demon last night, who excelled at Illusion Technique and Wind Control Technique because foxes are adept at beguiling and escaping.¡± Fang Zhou suddenly realized and learned a little bit more. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue getting into the conversation, he took the opportunity to ask: ¡°You mentioned Wang Minghong is suffering from a deficit of Innate Yang Qi, but what exactly is that?¡± Ling Xiaoyue wouldn¡¯t fall for it and simply pinched Fang Zhou¡¯s fingers with hers. Seeing his attempt to gain advantage was unsuccessful, Fang Zhou rolled his eyes at her and then generously waved: ¡°Put it on my tab.¡± Where debts abound, cares confound; you might profit immensely, but I surely won¡¯t be at a loss, for I won¡¯t repay, mehehehehe. Ling Xiaoyue delightedly added it to Fang Zhou¡¯s tab and then explained: ¡°Just by hearing the name, you could guess it. Innate Yang Qi is the pure Innate Yang essence a man carries from birth, which gradually depletes after sexual intercourse.¡± Speaking of which, Ling Xiaoyue smiled slyly at Fang Zhou: ¡°For a man of exceptional talent, that Innate Pure Yang Qi is a great nourishment for cultivators, even more effective than spiritual elixirs.¡± Fang Zhou shivered suddenly, no wonder Li Ruyu was so desperate to overpower him. ¡°What about women?¡± Fang Zhou inquired, ¡°If there¡¯s Yang, there should be Yin. Don¡¯t women possess something like Innate Yin essence?¡± Ling Xiaoyue snapped her fingers: ¡°Of course, they do. Women are also born with a pure Yin essence, which is beneficial for cultivators.¡± Fang Zhou immediately felt disgruntled: ¡°Then why haven¡¯t I heard of women being harvested for replenishing Qi? All along the way, it¡¯s been stories of men aiding replenishment.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed out loud, tapping Fang Zhou¡¯s head with a wine flask, but he dodged it: ¡°My foolish Disciple, there are plenty of female cultivators in this world, who have long consumed their own Yin essence; why would they need someone else¡¯s? Besides, between women, without the ¡®tools,¡¯ how could they possibly harvest it?¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, her reasoning is sound¡ªso it¡¯s the lack of ¡®tools,¡¯ and what¡¯s this self-consumption tactic? This world harbors such malice towards men; not only is cultivation difficult with feeble strength, but one¡¯s Innate Pure Yang Qi is coveted by both demons and female cultivators, a slight misstep could cost one¡¯s life, it¡¯s just too hard. Ling Xiaoyue suddenly extended her delicate hand, tapped Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, and smirked ambiguously: ¡°My Disciple, seeing how vigorous you are, your Innate Yang Qi is getting purer. Rather than someday benefiting some unknown wretched woman, why not let your master take advantage? Keep the ¡®water¡¯ within our own fields, enhancing the sect¡¯s collective strength, and strengthening the bond between master and disciple¡ªthree birds with one stone, isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡± Fang Zhou swung a punch at her shameless face, missing as she dodged. ¡°You wish, I¡¯ll self-consume!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so stingy; as your master, I¡¯d even pay to purchase it.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡­ With the falling of night, the Wang Family¡¯s residence was brightly lit. In the backyard where the light didn¡¯t reach, two heads popped up and then deftly scaled the wall into the Wang Family¡¯s compound. These two were none other than Master Ji and the little Daoist boy, scared away by the fox demon the night before, returning now. The little Daoist boy was nervous: ¡°Master, why are we coming back?¡± Master Ji scolded: ¡°Shut up, of course we¡¯re back to stop those two food-stealers.¡± After being scared away last night, Master Ji found out today that the Wang Family hadn¡¯t suffered from misfortune; instead, those two young rascals who conned for food and drink had saved them. This was something Master Ji couldn¡¯t accept. She came to Qingde City to branch out her market, picking the Wang Family specifically for a spectacular debut. Unfortunately, her plans went awry. If that pair of junior competitors succeeded in taking the Wang Family¡¯s business, then there would be no place for Master Ji in Qingde City¡¯s market. Fortunately, the fox demon had not been eradicated yet. Master Ji came back tonight to ¡®pick the peaches,¡¯ planning to swoop in once the two youngsters and the fox demon had worn each other out, salvaging her reputation while striking a blow to her competitors¡ªtwo birds with one stone. For this, she had made a significant investment in more potent fox-killing medicine, refusing to believe they couldn¡¯t kill that fox demon. ¡°Master, we were beaten black and blue and fled in a panic last night; isn¡¯t it dangerous for us to come back this evening?¡± ¡°You know nothing; that was a strategic retreat, to bewilder the fox demon and those two youngsters. Tonight we¡¯ll capture them all in one go.¡± ¡°` 0 comment Chapter 16: 16. Men should rise to the challenge Chapter 16: 16. Men should rise to the challenge Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The Wang estate was bustling last night, but tonight, it¡¯s eerily quiet. Having received Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s instructions, everyone in the Wang family retreated to their rooms, not to come out regardless of any noises they heard, to avoid accidental injury. Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou stayed in Wang Minghong¡¯s courtyard, waiting for that fox demon to return. According to Ling Xiaoyue, Wang Minghong still had a vestige of male essence within him, which the fox demon wouldn¡¯t pass up. It might have been playful before, not in a rush to harvest it, but after getting shot in the face by Ling Xiaoyue last night, it would surely come back to absorb the last bit of yang energy and take its revenge on the two. Ling Xiaoyue stayed in the next room, and when Fang Zhou went in, he noticed a thick piece of cured meat on the table that seemed to have just been brought over by the butler. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Fang Zhou picked up the cured meat, feeling that its shape was a bit ominous. Ling Xiaoyue was drinking a small jar of wine and replied, ¡°That¡¯s Yue Ya¡¯er¡¯s horsewhip. I specifically asked the butler to keep the horsewhip and then used a secret technique to stew it into this cured meat. It¡¯s very nourishing. You¡¯re in luck, disciple.¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± He tossed the horsewhip back at Ling Xiaoyue, who caught it smoothly and tossed it back: ¡°Keep it for me, this is good stuff, I¡¯m not lying. Now go back and watch over Young Master Wang.¡± Fang Zhou glared at her fiercely, turned, and went back to Wang Minghong¡¯s room. Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t afford any mishaps tonight; otherwise, it would be hard to explain to Wang Fulai, especially after taking so much money from him. With nothing else to do, Fang Zhou began to cultivate and summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, practicing control while cultivating to improve his proficiency. Lately, he would take out Hu Lai¡¯s left hand whenever he was free and play with it, significantly increasing his proficiency. Although he couldn¡¯t say it was as natural as moving his own limb, at least he could hit wherever he aimed, not ending up hitting the chest when aiming at the head. He added the 1 point of manly fortitude he got from Wang Minghong to his strength, boosting it a little. He opened the system panel. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level) Cultivation Method: New Moon Qi Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand Strength: 4 Speed: 5 Constitution: 4 Spirit: 2 Manly Fortitude: 0 His attributes now were much better than when he first transmigrated, comparable to an ordinary disciple of Xuanji Sect who doesn¡¯t merit a name. However, he was still far behind Li Ruyu, not to mention Ling Xiaoyue. He still needed to work hard. He didn¡¯t aim to dominate the world but at least had to overcome Ling Xiaoyue, so as not to be constantly looked down on by this shameless person acting as if she was his master who could fleece him at will. Fang Zhou was cross-legged cultivating in the room, while the courtyard outside was silent, with the occasional reminder from outside the Wang estate, ¡°Dry weather, be careful with candles.¡± Time passed, and suddenly a wind began to howl in the yard, sounding like the wails of ghosts. Fang Zhou, who was in the midst of cultivation, opened his eyes and glanced at the candle on the table; it had burned halfway down. Had the fox demon arrived? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou stood up, and turning his head, he saw Wang Minghong hiding beneath the blankets, shivering with fear: ¡°It¡¯s here! It¡¯s here!¡± Seems he¡¯s quite experienced. The wind outside grew stronger, rustling the flowers and trees. ¡°Eh? Quite a few are here, disciple, stay with Young Master Wang and don¡¯t wander off, your master will be right back.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice came from next door, but she was already outside in the courtyard, gone without a trace. As Ling Xiaoyue left, the fierce wind outside suddenly died down, returning to quiet. Fang Zhou really wanted to go out and join the excitement, but he thought better of it, not wanting to be stolen away by someone. He sat down again, but before long, the sound of the wind picked up outside again, this time accompanied by faint laughter. ¡°Hong¡¯er¡­ Hong¡¯er¡­ Hong¡¯er¡­¡± The chilling screams followed one after another, like the howling of ghosts; Wang Minghong in the bed was already shaking like a sieve, unable to utter a single word. Fang Zhou abruptly stood up, his face solemn. What is Ling Xiaoyue up to, how did the demon fox get here? The sound of the wind outside grew louder and louder, blowing the doors and windows until they could no longer withstand the pressure and burst open with a bang. The cold wind poured in from the doorway, snuffing out the candles, and the entire room was plunged into darkness in an instant. A burst of red light shot in from outside the door, heading straight for Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou, already on guard and with reflexes far better than before, controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and threw a punch directly at the red light. ¡°Slap!¡± It sounded like hitting a balloon as the red light was punched and sent flying backward. [Triggered new mission ¨C Defeat the fox demon] [Difficulty: Ordinary] [Reward: Male Fortitude*4 Blue Card*1] [Failure: Death] Seeing Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was effective, Fang Zhou felt greatly relieved, grabbed a weapon at hand, and charged out of the room into the courtyard. After being punched out of the room, the demon fox spun around in the courtyard and then pounced towards Fang Zhou again. Fang Zhou controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and slashed down at the demon fox¡¯s head. The left hand caused a sharp whistle through the air as it attacked; although the demon fox couldn¡¯t see it, it could sense it and agilely dodged in mid-air. However, Fang Zhou had another move ready, drawing his sword to thrust at it. Wait, why does the feel of this not seem right?! Fang Zhou looked down and to his shock realized that what he had grabbed was not the longsword, but the horsewhip that had been placed alongside the longsword. ¡°Ling Xiaoyue, you backstabber!!¡± Fang Zhou cursed in his heart, his action too late to stop; holding the horsewhip, he stabbed at the demon fox. He had braced himself for the whip to break and himself to be injured, but unexpectedly when the demon fox was hit by the horsewhip, it let out a sharp cry and suddenly flew away. What¡¯s going on? Fang Zhou looked dumbfounded as he drew back the horsewhip, wondering if this thing actually had exorcising powers. The demon fox flew to the other side of the courtyard, landed on the ground, the red light faded away, revealing a seductive beauty. Fang Zhou eyed the fox demon suspiciously, sizing it up and down several times, then suddenly asked, ¡°Are you male?¡± The demon fox was greatly startled; it clearly had the appearance of a woman, so why was it seen through? Seemingly realizing something, the demon fox said angrily, ¡°Did Hong¡¯er tell you?!¡± Fang Zhou felt a chill but also sensed something was amiss and hurriedly threw an illusion at the demon fox. The demon fox¡¯s gaze became vacant for a moment, then rapidly returned to normal, its eyes showing a fierce light as it lunged straight for Fang Zhou. ¡°The illusion doesn¡¯t work?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked; could it be that the demon fox¡¯s spiritual resistance could directly neutralize his illusion. He hastily threw two more illusions, but they were still ineffective, and he could only engage with the demon fox in battle with the horsewhip. ¡­¡­. A young novice monk peeked over the wall and looked into the courtyard. He saw that guy with a face he was jealous of; they were the same age, so why could you be so handsome, while I could only rely on my temperament? It wasn¡¯t just Fang Zhou; the young novice monk also spotted another seductive beauty. Just one look, and the young novice felt as if his soul was about to be hooked away. Fortunately, the young novice monk was quite composed thanks to traveling around the south with his master, and quickly came back to his senses, realizing that this beauty was probably the fox demon. However, the situation between Fang Zhou and the fox demon was strange; man and demon faced each other, neither moving nor speaking, both wearing similarly dazed expressions. 0 comment Chapter 17: 17. Illusion Technique vs Illusion Technique Chapter 17: 17. Illusion Technique vs Illusion Technique Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Master Ji sent her disciple to tail someone, while she herself was secretly lurking in the garden. Even if she were discovered, with the disciple drawing attention ahead, she could escape in time. She lurked until midnight without any commotion and just when Master Ji thought it was a wasted trip, suddenly a cold breeze swept by, making her shiver. Lacking in strength but rich in experience, Master Ji immediately realized the demon fox had arrived. She crawled forward like a big rat in the flowerbed, all the way to the open courtyard. Poking her head out, she saw a delicate little boy not far away, draped in fox fur, blankly sucking his thumb. Hearing the noise, the little boy turned around, his nearly white-less black eyes staring directly at Master Ji. Master Ji, without a change in expression, slowly stood up, revealing a kindly smile, ¡°Little darling, why are you wandering around alone so late at night? Come over to auntie.¡± While speaking, Master Ji¡¯s hand stealthily reached into the bundle on her back, groping for a packet of Strong Fox Killing Medicine. Having traveled widely, Master Ji, tough and experienced, thought if she couldn¡¯t handle a big fox, surely she could deal with a small one and decided to start with this little fox tonight. The little boy stared blankly at her for quite a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my mom and sister.¡± ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re waiting for someone.¡± Master Ji took two steps forward, slowly pulling out the Strong Fox Killing Medicine, her smile growing more benevolent, ¡°And where are your mom and sister?¡± The little boy tilted his head and pointed behind Master Ji, ¡°They¡¯re right behind you.¡± Master Ji stiffened, slowly turning her head to look behind, only to find four beautiful women had appeared at some unknown time, glaring at her unfriendly, eyes also fixed on the Strong Fox Killing Medicine in her hand. Master Ji pulled off an awkward smile, ¡°Misunderstanding¡­ sisters, all a misunderstanding!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s your sister?¡± One of the women coldly spoke, waving her hand. With a slap sound, despite being several meters away, a red palm mark appeared on Master Ji¡¯s face, flipping her over to the ground. That woman, still not pacified, waved her hand repeatedly, sending out invisible energy that thrashed Master Ji around the ground, begging for mercy. A beautiful lady raised her hand to stop her, looking at Master Ji on the ground with a smile, asking, ¡°What is your relationship with the cultivator from the Wang Family?¡± Master Ji realized the opportunity had come, whether she lived or died depended on her answer. Enduring the pain, she quickly said, ¡°Enemies, me and those two are mortal enemies, you¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Master Ji thought she hadn¡¯t said anything wrong, after all, rivals in the same profession, right? The beautiful lady hadn¡¯t answered yet when suddenly a light laugh rang from above. The fox demons, startled, hurriedly looked up. They saw a celestial-like beauty in white lying on a tree canopy, holding a wine jug, smilingly watching them. ¡°So, it turns out we are enemies, Master Ji.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, smiling, said to Master Ji, ¡°I was actually thinking of rescuing you, but you¡¯ve gone and treated me as your enemy, how sad. But no worries, I don¡¯t hold grudges.¡± Master Ji pulled off an awkward smile again, ¡°Misunderstanding¡­ all a misunderstanding!¡± The beautiful lady stared at Ling Xiaoyue in the tree, asking, ¡°Are you the cultivator who hurt my child?¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed, ¡°If you mean the little fox from last night, then yes, that was me.¡± The lady also smiled, ¡°Then choose your way to die¡ªdismemberment, skinning, or soul extraction?¡± Ling Xiaoyue shook her wine jug, ¡°I choose¡­ sliced white fox, or braised is fine too.¡± ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue was true to her word, the whip indeed had a miraculous effect, inflicting special damage on the demon fox. Fang Zhou, using Hu Lai¡¯s left hand in conjunction with the whip, successfully shattered the demon fox. But he also sustained quite a few injuries. However, the successful mission alert didn¡¯t pop up, and the smashed demon fox reappeared unscathed the next moment, baring its teeth and pouncing at him again. ¡°Undying Body?¡± Fang Zhou was shocked; he hadn¡¯t even left the novice village, how could he encounter a boss of this level? Without time to think, Fang Zhou could only pick up the whip again and entangle with the demon fox. After smashing the demon fox for the third time, Fang Zhou finally realized that he might have fallen for an Illusion Technique. A regular fox needing to seek human males for nourishment couldn¡¯t possibly possess such a high-end skill as Undying Body, and besides, Ling Xiaoyue had mentioned that this demon fox was only in the Qi Refining Realm and was adept at Illusion Technique. So, the likelihood that he was under an illusion was the greatest. Fang Zhou faced the demon fox¡¯s fourth attack, starting to ponder how to break the illusion technique. Usually, he was the one casting illusion techniques on others, and this was the first time he himself had fallen victim to one. As Fang Zhou kept hammering the demon fox in the illusion, the demon fox was also deeply trapped in it. The demon fox had never expected Fang Zhou to be proficient in illusion techniques. As it cast an illusion on Fang Zhou, Fang Zhou retaliated with several illusions of his own, and both ended up entangled in the illusions. Unaware that it was caught in the illusion, the demon fox looked at the dazed Fang Zhou, suddenly revealing a coy smile. This man was far more handsome than Wang Minghong, which made it itch with desire. It just wondered if he was still a virgin. However, it didn¡¯t dare let its guard down and continued to maintain the illusion, waiting until it was sure Fang Zhou was deeply ensnared before lunging at him with a fierce smile, ¡°Let me show you what I can do!¡± ¡­ In reality. A young novice monk observed from outside the yard for a while, noting that Fang Zhou and the demon fox were still standing motionless, seemingly lost in thought. He remembered something his master had once mentioned: cultivators and demons can engage in soul-level combat while their bodies remain motionless. If someone were to damage their bodies at this moment, it could lead to the downfall of their souls. Realizing his opportunity, the novice quickly climbed over the wall into the yard, approaching cautiously. Seeing that neither Fang Zhou nor the demon fox reacted, his courage gradually grew. He first walked up to the demon fox, waved his hand, and then went to Fang Zhou. Looking at Fang Zhou¡¯s stern, starry-eyed face, the novice felt like he had eaten a dozen lemons, the sourness almost making his teeth fall out. ¡°Hmph, a seductive, cheap creature, surely using that face to charm women all the time.¡± Out of indignant fury, the novice pulled out a small dagger and started gesturing towards Fang Zhou¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me, blame your face for being prettier than mine.¡± As the novice pondered how to scar Fang Zhou¡¯s face, he didn¡¯t notice the demon fox behind him suddenly baring a fierce grin and pouncing over. Caught off guard, the novice was knocked to the ground, nearly petrified in fright, and frantically struggled. ¡°Let me go, you demon fox! My master is nearby, what are you trying to do?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªah!¡± ¡­ Finally, Fang Zhou thought of a way to break the illusion, although he couldn¡¯t be sure it would work, it was worth a try. He cast an illusion on himself. Suddenly, the entire world twisted, two bizarre scenes intertwining and tearing at each other, various eerie sounds infiltrating Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. It was as if someone was roaring in the distance and whispering in his ears, crying, laughing, screaming¡ªall these sounds mingled together. Fang Zhou felt a splitting headache and an irritable sensation welled up from within. However, the bizarre scenery and sounds soon vanished, and the world returned to calm. Fang Zhou broke free from the illusion and before he could feel relieved, he heard a sound. He looked down and jumped out of fright, leaping three feet high and bouncing far away. ¡°Damn, what the hell are you playing at¡­ Damn, my eyes!¡± Fang Zhou felt like his eyes would be scorched blind. These two people, no, one person and one fox had gone mad. Even if you¡¯re irresistibly attracted to each other, at least consider the setting. Unable to bear the sight any longer, he summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and smashed it down. The demon fox, hit by the left hand on its back, wasn¡¯t very powerful apart from its illusion and Wind Control Technique, and was still at the Qi Refining Realm. It was directly knocked down by the punch, spitting blood. This punch also woke the demon fox up from the illusion. It just regained consciousness and was still dazed when Fang Zhou landed another punch, knocking it to the ground. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Thump¡ª¡± A plume of blue smoke appeared, and the human form of the demon fox vanished, revealing its true form¡ªa yellow fox, slightly smaller than a hunting dog, with a fluffy tail. The demon fox glared at Fang Zhou hatefully, then leapt into the air, darted toward the courtyard exit. ¡°Think you can escape?¡± Hu Lai¡¯s left hand couldn¡¯t reach, and Fang Zhou, in a rush, picked up a whip and hurled it forcefully at the demon fox, while enduring a headache to cast another illusion. Struck by the illusion, the demon fox fell into a stupor, and the whip, like lightning, hit it directly on the buttocks, causing a penetrating wound. The demon fox hit the wall with a smack, then fell to the ground, convulsing, its large eyes filled with humiliation and defiance. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect to be so accurate and breathed a sigh of relief; though the hit was lewd, the ends justify the means. He looked down at the novice, opened his mouth, not knowing what to say; at this moment, he didn¡¯t know what expression was appropriate. The novice silently gathered his torn clothes, stood up, and limped out of the courtyard. Soon after, Fang Zhou heard muffled cries coming from outside the courtyard. 0 comment Chapter 18: 18. Not a person who is only interested in money Chapter 18: 18. Not a person who is only interested in money Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°This is a tragedy!¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, then went over to check on the demon fox. The demon fox had breathed its last; Fang Zhou, manipulating Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, pulled out the riding crop. It felt like a waste to throw it away, but it seemed too despised to keep. He carried the demon fox¡¯s body back to the courtyard, dumped it on the ground, then returned to Wang Minghong¡¯s room and used a Fire Stone to light a candle. [Successfully defeated the demon fox] [Reward: Masculinity*4, Blue Card*1] A blue card slowly revolved in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. This was the moment Fang Zhou had been looking forward to the most; card-drawing games were truly addictive and irresistible. ¡°May the non-paying players be forever non-salvaged, may only the King of Luck bring ease to hardship, let the Golden Legend appear!¡± After reciting the spell, a spark flashed in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, feeling as though the luck from all over the world, from the heavens above to the yellow springs below, had descended upon him. His consciousness focused entirely on the card as he chose to use it. The blue card began to spin at high speed, exploded into a burst of light, and turned into a myriad of particles which then recombined into a ball of flame. [Fireball Technique: Releases a fireball that causes an explosion and burning effect] It was another Skill Card, but Fang Zhou was far from happy. He even rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn¡¯t seeing things. Fireball Technique was a retro-style skill, simple and direct. It was a staple skill that every mage protagonist in ancient times was required to learn, and one of the three basic skills that novices had to master. Unfortunately, due to the progress of the times and changes in aesthetic taste, the hardworking Fireball Technique was ultimately callously abandoned by philanderers and could only occasionally appear in the dusty corners of memories. Fang Zhou never imagined that he¡¯d actually draw the Fireball Technique. It wasn¡¯t that he looked down on this classic skill, but could he possibly get an upgraded version of it? It was just one word apart, but why did it feel like a world of difference in terms of class? Alas, the system didn¡¯t support returns, so Fang Zhou could only silently store the Fireball Technique, treating it as a nostalgic collection. After all, having it was better than not, and skills could be upgraded with Masculinity, perhaps one day the prestige of the Fireball Technique could be improved. From the moment Fang Zhou entered, Wang Minghong had been sneakily watching him. Seeing Fang Zhou zoning out for a long time, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Big brother¡­ what about that demon fox?¡± Fang Zhou came back to reality and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve killed that demon fox; you¡¯re safe now.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Minghong was slightly shocked and immediately burst into tears. Fang Zhou looked at him, perplexed, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Could it be that he had developed feelings for the demon fox over time? Did I just ruthlessly tear apart a couple? Why does it feel so satisfying? Wang Minghong quickly wiped away his tears and explained, ¡°No, I¡¯m¡­ happy¡­ You don¡¯t know, these past few days have been so terrifying, I¡¯ve suffered so much¡­ sniffle.¡± As he mentioned his sorrows, Wang Minghong couldn¡¯t help but cry again. Perhaps relieved of the burden in his heart, he even revealed details he previously refused to share. ¡°I originally thought he was the partner destined for me in this life. Only after revealing our true selves to each other did I discover he was also male. He¡­ he¡­¡± Wang Minghong said ¡®he¡¯ several times, then covered his face with his hands, tears streaming out, ¡°¡­ turned out to be larger than I am.¡± Fang Zhou sucked in a breath of cold air; a picture seemed to be forming in his mind. He shook his head quickly to disperse the image, for he shouldn¡¯t think any further or he might lose his appetite tomorrow. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid anymore, the demon fox is dead and won¡¯t come to hurt you.¡± This Wang Minghong was also a pitiful person, a victim. Fang Zhou comforted him a bit, then handed him the riding crop, ¡°This is an Immortal Beast Spiritual Root refined by a secret technique. It can replenish Essence and strengthen the body; you should use it to make a soup.¡± Wang Minghong took the riding crop and hugged it to his chest, gratefully looking at Fang Zhou, ¡°Thank you, big brother, you really are a good person.¡± Receiving a ¡®Good Person¡¯ card, and from someone of the same sex at that. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, so he could only toss the ¡®Good Person¡¯ card back, ¡°You¡¯re a good person too, get some good rest and don¡¯t stay up late.¡± Wang Minghong nodded and lay down with the riding crop. Fang Zhou got up to leave, but as he exited the room, he faintly heard the sound of Wang Minghong smacking his lips, ¡°How come this Immortal Beast Spiritual Root tastes so weird when licked?¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly closed the door. ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue soon returned, carrying four dead foxes. Fang Zhou was startled: ¡°Why are there so many demon foxes?¡± He originally wanted to show off to Ling Xiaoyue that he single-handedly killed a fox demon, but Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s feats were so impressive that he could only swallow his words. ¡°A big one was leading four little ones.¡± Ling Xiaoyue dumped the foxes on the ground, next to the one Fang Zhou had killed, forming a furry pile. Fang Zhou noticed Ling Xiaoyue brought back only four and asked curiously, ¡°Did one get away?¡± ¡°I intentionally let one go. There must be a few more in their den, we¡¯ll catch them all at once.¡± Ling Xiaoyue took a swig from her flask, then patted Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. You¡¯re worthy of being my disciple, I even thought about coming back to save you.¡± Fang Zhou knocked her hand away annoyingly: ¡°If I didn¡¯t have some skills, I would have been dead by the time you returned.¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t be angry, my apprentice.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was in a good mood tonight, probably because she made some money, and smilingly said to Fang Zhou: ¡°If I¡¯m free tomorrow, I¡¯ll teach you a set of Qi Gathering Technique and swordsmanship so you can protect yourself.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s interest was piqued, but he looked at her warily: ¡°How much will it cost?¡± Ling Xiaoyue grabbed her flask and threw it at him in frustration: ¡°What¡¯s this about money? Do I seem like the sort who¡¯s only after money?¡± Fang Zhou dodged the flask and rolled his eyes at her: ¡°Do you want the truth or flattery?¡± Ling Xiaoyue stood with her hands on her hips: ¡°I want to hear flattering words.¡± ¡°None, scram!¡± ¡­ The staggering little Daoist boy left the Wang Family and came outside. Not far from the exit, he saw another figure limping along the road, who also noticed him. ¡°Master! What happened to you?¡± ¡°Disciple! What happened to you?¡± Master Ji had a swollen face and head as big as a pig¡¯s, while the little Daoist boy also looked beaten up. The master and disciple faced each other, ultimately sighing in unison: ¡°Alas, let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± With tears in his eyes, the little Daoist boy advised, ¡°Master, the Wang Family is too dreadful; we can¡¯t go back there.¡± Master Ji deeply agreed: ¡°I understand, let¡¯s find another place. I refuse to believe we can¡¯t make a living in Qingde City.¡± The master and disciple supported each other, slowly disappearing into the length of the street. Unbeknownst to them, a demon fox whisked past on the eaves of a nearby house. The demon fox moved through the streets and alleys under the cover of night, eventually slipping into a secluded garden. With a flash of red light, the demon fox transformed into a middle-aged beauty. The beauty¡¯s face was pale, and her shoulder bore a deep wound, with fresh blood staining her fox fur. Stumbling out of the garden, she entered a courtyard but could not keep upright and tumbled to the ground. Soon, a patrolling Protector found her and hurried to call for help; shortly after, a middle-aged man in brocade clothes rushed over. ¡°Hu Lai! How did you end up like this?¡± The middle-aged man helped her up quickly and noticed she was alone, both shocked and angry: ¡°Hu Lai, where are the children?¡± The beauty broke down in tears: ¡°The children won¡¯t be coming back; you must avenge them.¡± After listening to Hu Lai recounting the incident through her sobs, the middle-aged man¡¯s face darkened, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes. ¡°The Wang Family! I will make you pay in blood for this debt!¡± He punched the ground, shattering the solid floor to pieces. 0 comment Chapter 19: 19. The Wondrous Uses of the Qi Gathering Technique Chapter 19: 19. The Wondrous Uses of the Qi Gathering Technique Editor: Dragon Boat Translation For the Wang Family, tonight was calm and peaceful because the two battles that occurred were swiftly resolved without creating any disturbance. When they got up the next morning and saw the pile of fox carcasses, the entire Wang Family was in an uproar. Wang Fulai showered Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou with endless gratitude, nearly kneeling in appreciation. For the past month, she hadn¡¯t been able to eat or sleep properly, almost driven to nervous exhaustion; but today, she could finally rest assured. Ling Xiaoyue was very pleased because Wang Fulai had given her a hefty sum of money. It was payment for the fairy horse, whose meat had been purchased by the Wang Family. They might keep it for themselves or sell it, but that was none of her concern. Fang Zhou was also happy. His horse, inadvertently caught up in the affair, had sold for the price of a fairy horse. In life it was unknown and ridden by people, but in death, it received the title of a fairy horse, which would surely bring a smile to its face even in the netherworld. The key point was that the money for the horse was delivered privately by the steward, something Ling Xiaoyue had not noticed, so the money was Fang Zhou¡¯s private stash belonging only to him. As for the pile of fox carcasses, Ling Xiaoyue commanded the steward to skin the foxes to make scarves, and chop their meat to make meatballs, all of which she intended to take with her. Fang Zhou listened on the side, his scalp tingling ¡ª was this woman¡¯s heart made of black iron? She was even more ruthless than infamous skinflints, sparing nothing. Since Ling Xiaoyue had promised to refine a Yang Reviving Pill for Wang Minghong, and there was also the issue of a big fox yet to be dealt with, both she and Fang Zhou were in no rush to leave and decided to stay at the Wang Family for two more days. Ling Xiaoyue took the opportunity to teach the Qi Gathering Technique and swordsmanship to Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou was still a bit wary. How could this woman, whose eyes lit up at the sight of money, be so generous? ¡°Really, it¡¯s free of charge?¡± Ling Xiaoyue kept tapping on his head with her finger: ¡°Money, money, money? Is that all you think about? Should there be such formality between master and disciple?¡± ¡°Heh heh!¡± Fang Zhou let out a scornful but polite laugh. This made Ling Xiaoyue quite unhappy; she felt that Fang Zhou¡¯s stereotypes of her had tarnished her shining image as a master, as well as the reputation of the Xuanji Sect itself. Such a rebellious disciple. However, she truly had no intention of charging Fang Zhou for these two things, as they were supplementary techniques for New Moon Qi and thus, part of the after-sales service. Ling Xiaoyue had always been honest in her dealings, never defrauding anyone. ¡°Wait a minute, you¡¯re not charging for the initial teaching, but you¡¯ll charge later for cultivation or upgrades, won¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou suddenly realized. It reminded him of something he had seen in his previous life: some products were sold at a low price or even given away for free, but subsequent maintenance or repair costs were exorbitant. Ling Xiaoyue widened her eyes and pointed at Fang Zhou: ¡°You¡¯re slandering me. How could your master ever engage in such shameless acts?¡± Oh, nailed it. She would definitely do it. ¡°So, do you want to learn or not?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Of course, he wanted ¡ª to learn for free is a bargain. ¡°I¡¯ll owe you the money; if I lose even a hair to you, consider it my loss.¡± The Qi Gathering Technique is a supplementary technique for New Moon Qi, or more accurately, an accompanying skill. New Moon Qi absorbs, refines, and uses spiritual energy to nourish the body, while the Qi Gathering Technique allows Fang Zhou to mobilize the stored spiritual energy within his body more quickly and conveniently, enabling spiritual energy to envelop the entire body in an instant, enhancing strength and speed. Of course, this also intensifies the consumption of spiritual energy, making it unsustainable for prolonged use. For Fang Zhou, the Qi Gathering Technique was like a long-awaited rain after a drought. Since his entry into the Qi Refinement Realm, he hadn¡¯t felt much improvement. His cultivation had only increased his strength and constitution by one point each, and while his body had accumulated a fair amount of spiritual energy, it would gradually dissipate and needed to be replenished through constant cultivation. Mobilizing spiritual energy can enhance strength and speed, but in battle, who has the time for slow mobilization? It is also impossible to multitask and maintain an energized state. Therefore, the saved-up spiritual energy was wasted, unable to be used in battle. Now, having learned the Qi Gathering Technique, Fang Zhou could rapidly mobilize spiritual energy throughout his body without needing to multitask, finally experiencing the true combat power of entering the Qi Refining Realm. Fang Zhou opened the system to test it out, and after using the Qi Gathering Technique, his strength increased by 2 points to 6, and his speed also increased by 1 point to 6. Originally, he was already exceptionally talented, and now with the use of the Qi Gathering Technique, he was even more formidable. The only drawback was that the Qi Gathering Technique would speed up the consumption of spiritual energy. As soon as he stopped using the technique, or when the spiritual energy was depleted, the enhanced attributes would drop as well. Overall, the Qi Gathering Technique greatly improved Fang Zhou¡¯s combat capabilities. Now, he could proudly claim that if he encountered those female disciples from the Xuanji Sect again, he could easily defeat them. Plus, with the Illusion Technique and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, facing Li Ruyu wouldn¡¯t be as embarrassing. Fang Zhou was very satisfied. Li Ruyu had been with the Xuanji Sect for eight years, whereas he had started cultivating for less than a month. Of course, the system¡¯s contribution was the greatest and had brought the most improvement to Fang Zhou ¡ª truly a doting father. Apart from the Qi Gathering Technique, Ling Xiaoyue also taught Fang Zhou a set of swordsmanship. Fang Zhou watched as she demonstrated with a tree branch, a fierce energy emanating aggressively from her motions, which were crisp and concise, devoid of any fancy, flashy moves. At the end, she extended the branch forward with a point, and a fierce Sword Qi burst forth, piercing through the rockery in the courtyard, with no one knowing where it shot off to. Ling Xiaoyue tossed the branch to Fang Zhou: ¡°Remember the movements? When channeling your energy, follow the route of the Qi Gathering Technique.¡± Fang Zhou caught the branch, which was just an ordinary piece of wood in his hands, yet in Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s hands, it was sharper than a treasure sword. Fang Zhou recalled Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s movements in his mind, then asked: ¡°What is this sword technique called?¡± ¡°Call it¡­ huh¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue suddenly got stuck, and only after a struggle did she blurt out: ¡°Call it Invincible Sword, how about that?¡± Fang Zhou immediately waved her off: ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll name it myself, no need to trouble you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was enraged by Fang Zhou¡¯s contemptuous attitude: ¡®Is there something wrong with the name I chose?¡¯ Fang Zhou shrugged: ¡°Is it really that good? Why don¡¯t you use it yourself?¡± ¡°The good stuff should naturally be reserved for one¡¯s disciples, this is this master¡¯s affection for you.¡± ¡°Your ¡®affection¡¯ is something I can¡¯t afford to enjoy.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, feeling helpless, couldn¡¯t force Fang Zhou to use the name she chose. Naming was indeed one of her rare weaknesses. This was simply unfathomable for the self-proclaimed handsome, charming, perfect and powerful Ling Xiaoyue. She wallowed in her frustration for a while, but then seemed to think of something amusing, she placed a hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder with an ambiguous expression: ¡°Disciple, the Qi Gathering Technique also has another ingenious use, did you know?¡± Fang Zhou glanced at her sideways; he was now very familiar with Ling Xiaoyue. Whenever she showed this kind of expression, she was definitely going to say something provocative. Fang Zhou: ¡°You tell me, I¡¯m listening.¡± Sure enough, Ling Xiaoyue chuckled: ¡°When you summon Spiritual Energy, you can channel it into your Spirit Root, and the effect will definitely surprise you¡­ You can ask the housekeeper for some lard tonight¡­ try it out yourself, but don¡¯t play too late, hehehe!¡± Fang Zhou: (?_?) What on earth is going on with this woman¡¯s train of thought? Turning a high and mighty Cultivation Technique into something so vile ¨C it¡¯s a complete insult to the term ¡®cultivation¡¯. Fang Zhou expressed strong condemnation, ashamed to be associated with it. But what she described¡­ is it real? Worth looking into. ¡­ The housekeeper was very efficient. Several foxes were skinned by skilled craftsmen, the fox tails were made into scarves, the fox skins into capes, and the leftovers were sewn into gloves. The fox meat was minced into meatballs, the bones ground into powder, and both were delivered to Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue used the Sleeve Universe to stash away everything and then secretly took out a golden fox meatball, prepared using a Secret Technique, and had Fang Zhou take it to Wang Minghong to ingest. ¡°Is this the so-called Yang Reviving Pill?¡± Fang Zhou was speechless; this was too much of a scam. It was obviously just a colored meatball. ¡°Oh, you know nothing.¡± Ling Xiaoyue said in exasperation: ¡°Yang deficiency is simply caused by too frequent bedroom activities leading to kidney weakness. Wang Minghong would recover naturally with some rest, and this meatball, no, this Yang Reviving Pill has Spiritual Energy added to it. After he takes it, it¡¯ll provide some psychological comfort and he¡¯ll recover faster. This is called psychological comfort therapy¡ªlearn something. Plus, I¡¯m giving this for free. The real Yang Reviving Pill would cost ten Wang Fulais and he couldn¡¯t afford it. Are you footing the bill for him?¡± So this is a health supplement from another world, mentor style? Fang Zhou was really impressed; this woman had one absurd logic after another. But he didn¡¯t refute her in the end, mainly because it was a free gift from Ling Xiaoyue, which was far too rare, more so than spending money. After giving the meatball, no, the Yang Reviving Pill to Wang Minghong, his complexion indeed improved significantly, and he was very grateful to Fang Zhou. It wasn¡¯t just psychological comfort; the refined Spiritual Energy also had excellent nourishing effects on the body. Seeing that all affairs were now in order, with only the escaped fox yet to be dealt with. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was about to ask Ling Xiaoyue when she planned to resolve this risk, when a visitor with the surname Hu suddenly arrived at the Wang Family. 0 comment Chapter 20: 20. Obligatory labor is not possible Chapter 20: 20. Obligatory labor is not possible Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Within just two days, Master Ji¡¯s swollen face had returned to normal. Although her cultivation level wasn¡¯t that impressive, merely at the entry-level of the Qi Refining Realm, her skills were plentiful, and treating bruises and injuries was a piece of cake for her. Which Cultivator that wanders the world has not suffered a beating? Without some medical skills, one might very well lose their life on the road. At this moment, Master Ji and her little apprentice stood in front of the Hu Family¡¯s residence. These past two days, rumors of a fox demon causing trouble at the Hu Family had spread. Upon hearing this, Master Ji immediately brought her apprentice over, ready to perform Demon Extermination. The little apprentice was worried: ¡°Master, are we really going to take on this business?¡± He had developed PTSD towards the demon fox, and just hearing the two words made his butt clench. The events of that night two days ago were an indelible trauma in his life. ¡°What do you know?¡± Master Ji was very dissatisfied with her apprentice¡¯s cowardice: ¡°Now is the perfect opportunity to take on this business, any later and it would be too late.¡± That night after escaping from the Wang Family, Master Ji had personally seen several demon foxes being chopped up like vegetables by the lady in white. It was impossible for two lairs of demon foxes to exist in one city. Since the demon foxes were already dead, the situation at the Hu Family was without a doubt worry-free, and the people of the Hu Family definitely weren¡¯t aware that the demon foxes were dead. This was simply a golden opportunity where one could make money just by bending over. Master Ji hurried over with her apprentice, aiming to secure the deal before the lady in white found out. It was also fortunate that the Wang Family had been too busy these past two days to spread the word that Master Ji was a fraudster. Master Ji herself didn¡¯t consider herself a swindler. She did have real abilities, it was just that her luck had been particularly bad. Under Master Ji¡¯s urging, the reluctant little apprentice stepped forward to knock on the door and explain their purpose. Soon, the master and disciple were welcomed into the Hu Family, and a middle-aged man dressed in brocade met with them. Before coming here, Master Ji had already inquired about the Hu Family. The Hu Family ran a restaurant business, was exceedingly wealthy, and unusually, it was a man who took charge of household affairs, his abilities even sharper than a woman¡¯s. This was a curious matter even in Qingde City. Hence, upon seeing this middle-aged man named Hu Zhaici appear, Master Ji didn¡¯t show even the slightest surprise. Master Ji repeated the same tactics she¡¯d used on Wang Fulai on Hu Zhaici and promptly gained his trust. Hu Zhaici recounted to Master Ji the recent occurrences at the Hu Family: his daughter falling ill, and a demon fox causing chaos in the residence, having injured several people. ¡°Do not worry, Head Hu. As Cultivators travel through the mundane world, besides honing our bodies and minds, it¡¯s also our duty to eliminate demons and benefit mankind.¡± Master Ji confidently stated, assuring that she could set up the altar and eliminate the demon fox tonight. ¡°It¡¯s said that the Wang Family also encountered a demon fox recently, and it was exterminated by two young masters. Does Master Ji know them?¡± Hu Zhaici cautiously inquired. Master Ji opened her mouth and nearly blurted out the words ¡®sworn enemies¡¯, but ultimately managed to swallow them back with strong willpower, and smiled: ¡°Without hiding the truth from Head Hu, those two from the Wang Family are my junior fellow disciples. Their cultivation is inadequate, and since making their debut, they have caused a bit of a comedy of errors. Please forgive them.¡± Hu Zhaici was overjoyed: ¡°So it is! Then we will trouble Master Ji.¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After arranging for the housekeeper to take Master Ji down to rest, Hu Zhaici¡¯s smile on his face gradually faded. He stepped outside the door and instructed his servants: ¡°Prepare some gifts, I¡¯m going to visit the Wang Family.¡± ¡­ When Fang Zhou arrived at the main hall, he saw Wang Fulai and Hu Zhaici chatting away merrily. Fang Zhou was here in place of Ling Xiaoyue because he had heard that there was business, no, a victim seeking help, so he came to have a look. Seeing that Hu Zhaici was a man, Fang Zhou felt as if a ray of sunlight had finally broken through the gloomy sky. It wasn¡¯t easy to finally encounter a man who could call the shots. The Wang Family and the Hu Family were business partners, one selling drinks and the other running a tavern; it would be a real surprise if they had no business dealings, so their relationship was quite good. ¡°A few days ago, my daughter fell ill, and we sought a physician¡¯s diagnosis, who said she was weak and overindulged in pleasures. Moreover, these past few days there¡¯s been a demon fox haunting our residence, disturbing the peace of my home. Having heard that a similar incident occurred at Old Sister Wang¡¯s, I had no choice but to muster the courage and seek help; I hope Old Sister Wang doesn¡¯t take offense, for I really am at my wit¡¯s end.¡± Hu Zhaici bluntly stated his intention, wishing to invite Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou to the Hu residence for Demon Extermination. ¡°Why would you say that, Brother Hu? The Wang and Hu families have been close for generations, and you and I are just like siblings; why act like an outsider?¡± Wang Fulai empathized with Hu Zhaici¡¯s plight, knowing that if not for their good fortune in finding two great masters, her own Wang Family might well have been destroyed. Although she was eager to make a decision right away, Wang Fulai was well aware that she was not the one to call the shots on this matter. With an apologetic look, she said to Hu Zhaici: ¡°I wish I could personally come over and help, I truly support the idea, but we must leave the final decision to the two masters.¡± Saying this, she turned her gaze to Fang Zhou, who had been silent all this time. Hu Zhaici also looked at Fang Zhou with a smile, his black eyes twinkling keenly. Fang Zhou, who had been cultivating idly, looked up at the two of them and didn¡¯t know what to say at first, but then spontaneously uttered: ¡°Rest assured, Benefactor Hu, we Cultivators travel the mortal world not only to temper our bodies and minds, but also to perform Demon Extermination and bring benefits to the Human World.¡± Right after speaking, he immediately felt embarrassed; it was all Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s fault for always saying that phrase, to the point where it had brainwashed him. Hu Zhaici was overjoyed, promptly bowing and saying: ¡°Thank you, Master, for extending your helping hand; Zhaici is immensely grateful.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ about that¡­ the sponsorship¡­¡± Fang Zhou, after all, cared about his face and couldn¡¯t, like Ling Xiaoyue, take advantage of others¡¯ misfortune to demand a high price and yet sound righteous. But this matter had been specifically assigned by Ling Xiaoyue, and he couldn¡¯t forget to ask for payment no matter what; gratuitous labor was out of the question, not in this lifetime. However, Hu Zhaici was shrewd and quickly realized what Fang Zhou was hesitating about, promptly stating: ¡°We shall bear all costs as we did with the Wang Family, and upon successful resolution, a generous reward is assured.¡± Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief: ¡°So when would your family be available?¡± ¡°No time should be lost, I earnestly request the esteemed masters to grace the Hu residence tonight, where Zhaici will await your arrival.¡± And so it was settled. After Hu Zhaici left, Fang Zhou turned to look for Ling Xiaoyue. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue looking like she was waiting to count money, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but remind her: ¡°There¡¯s something off about Hu Zhaici; the Hu estate might be a fox demon¡¯s den.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was a bit surprised, ¡°Oh, tell your master how you figured it out?¡± Fang Zhou spread his hands: ¡°Aren¡¯t fox demons usually named Hu? I¡¯ve asked people from the Wang Family; in Qingde City, theirs is the only prominent Hu household. And Hu Zhaici¡¯s name, phonetically it¡¯s like ¡®Hu Zai Ci,¡¯ which sounds like ¡®fox is here.¡¯ Is that not obvious enough that they¡¯re afraid people won¡¯t see it if they¡¯re blind?¡± Ling Xiaoyue suddenly laughed out loud and patted Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder: ¡°Good job, my apprentice, you have improved. It¡¯s true that fox demons are often surnamed Hu, haha, that¡¯s a novel angle. But what you¡¯ve said is not wrong.¡± Fang Zhou was puzzled: ¡°I can¡¯t believe you wouldn¡¯t have noticed it, so why still take on this job? Why didn¡¯t you just directly take down Hu Zhaici before and raid his house?¡± Ling Xiaoyue rolled her eyes at him: ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to make money. Kill him, and who knows where he¡¯s hidden his fortune. You must realize that Cultivation is very expensive, especially maintaining a sect. Without earning a lot, are we supposed to wait around to be blown away by the north wind?¡± Fang Zhou was a bit moved, he had not expected Ling Xiaoyue to work so hard for the sect and perhaps had misjudged her before. Ling Xiaoyue consoled him: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, apprentice, tonight we¡¯re going to take both the money and the fox, not letting either escape.¡± 0 comment Chapter 21: 21. The Master and Disciple with tight budgets Chapter 21: 21. The Master and Disciple with tight budgets Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Night had fallen as Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue took their seats in the sedan provided by the Wang Family, heading to the Hu Family residence to exorcise the demon foxes. Sitting in the sedan, Fang Zhou reminisced about the bits of knowledge Ling Xiaoyue had shared with him before they left the Wang Family estate. Fox demons usually operate as families, with only one nest of fox demons in a given area. A nest would contain no more than ten at most. If there were more, the dominant fox demon would drive the young out to fend for themselves and spread out. Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou had altogether slain five fox demons; therefore, it was highly probable that there were still five remaining in the Hu residence, two adults and three young ones. Ling Xiaoyue had made it clear that she would only deal with the two adult fox demons, leaving the three younger ones for Fang Zhou. This served as training for him and an opportunity to gain experience. Fang Zhou now understood why Ling Xiaoyue had taught him the New Moon Qi and swordsmanship¡ªit was all for this purpose. He did not refuse. Had this been when he first arrived at Qingde City, he certainly would have rejected the offer, but now he has gained some confidence. Even if he couldn¡¯t beat them, he could at least run away. If he was lucky, perhaps there wouldn¡¯t be as many as three young demon foxes in the Hu residence. Opening the system panel, Fang Zhou allocated the unused 4 points of manliness entirely to Spirit, boosting his spiritual resistance and ensuring that he could shake off any illusion technique the demon foxes might use. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refining Realm (entry-level) Techniques: New Moon Qi, Qi Refinement Technique Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, Fireball Technique, Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship Strength: 4 Speed: 5 Constitution: 4 Spirit: 6 Manliness: 0 Unknowingly, Fang Zhou had already acquired four skills. The Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship was the swordsmanship technique taught to him by Ling Xiaoyue. He initially wanted to give it a name full of swagger on his own, but as he hadn¡¯t come up with a suitable one, he just left it as is. Unexpectedly, the system went ahead and named it something with zero swagger. But this swordsmanship technique was indeed simple and understandable. One just needed to remember the actions and changes in the moves, plus a few key points, following the Qi circulation pathways of the Qi Refinement Technique. After two days of practice, Fang Zhou was already performing it quite adeptly. The sedan moved through the streets and alleys and soon arrived at the gate of the Hu residence, where Hu Zhaici personally greeted them at the entrance. ¡°Welcome, honored masters. Your presence truly graces the Hu Family with distinguished glory.¡± Hu Zhaici bowed profoundly, almost to the point of bending down to the ground. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue accepted the greeting indifferently and waved her hand, ¡°Mr. Hu, no need for such formality. It is said that cultivators travel the mortal world for¡ªah! Why the heck are you pinching me?¡± Ling Xiaoyue turned around and glared at Fang Zhou, grabbing a wine pot and hurling it toward him. Fang Zhou, with an unflustered expression, swatted the wine pot away. I pinched you to stop you from spouting that nonsense again. I¡¯m almost brainwashed by that line, for crying out loud! Hu Zhaici watched the two with a peculiar gaze. If he hadn¡¯t confirmed their identities beforehand, he might have suspected them to be frauds, impersonating cultivators, as they lacked any semblance of a cultivator¡¯s demeanor. Yet his face remained expressionless as he made a welcoming gesture with his hand, ¡°Please, masters, come inside.¡± Ling Xiaoyue shot Fang Zhou a look that said we¡¯ll settle this when we get back, then walked ahead into the Hu residence. Fang Zhou followed behind, glancing up at the residence plaque, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation. Disregarding that night two days prior, this time Fang Zhou was actively setting out to slay demons¡ªthis was what he envisioned a true cultivator to be: chivalrous and filled with vigor, wielding a sword to purge evil spirits. Not those who scammed meals, jacked up prices, or took advantage of health and wellness scams. The group entered the Hu residence, passing through courtyards and gardens, and arrived at the main hall. To their surprise, there were two beautiful young girls looking at them with large, curious eyes, mainly focusing their attention on Fang Zhou. ¡°These two are my daughters, Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui, who are a bit unruly. Please forgive their behavior.¡± Hu Zhaici introduced them to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou and then instructed his daughters, ¡°Hurry up and greet the masters.¡± The two young girls glanced at each other, bowed with their hands folded and said in unison, ¡°Greetings to both masters.¡± After they spoke, their four large eyes continued to gaze unblinkingly at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou feigned indifference, but inside he was secretly on guard. The looks in the eyes of these two women were almost identical to the way Li Ruyu had looked at him initially. You know what they¡¯re thinking without even having to guess. You¡¯re thinking about eating farts, aren¡¯t you? A dissatisfied snort from Hu Zhaici finally made the two daughters¡¯ unbridled stares subside a bit. Only then did he turn to Ling Xiaoyue and say, ¡°Master, my third daughter¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue sat down carelessly, interrupting him: ¡°Boss Hu, demon extermination is the duty of us cultivators; you needn¡¯t worry about that. However, my apprentice and I wander across the world, always extending a helping hand to those afflicted by evil spirits. Yet, we have no means of making a living, leading us to a life of poverty due to an empty wallet. We often have no idea where our next meal will come from. I hope Boss Hu can demonstrate some humanitarian spirit and sponsor some travel expenses. My apprentice and I would be eternally grateful.¡± Hu Zhaici¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, and he finally couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly. Damn, just ask for money straightforwardly, no need for such sanctimonious and fresh platitudes. You think I don¡¯t know you¡¯ve just earned tens of thousands of silver from the Wang Family? Empty wallet, my ass! At that moment, Hu Zhaici and his two daughters looked at Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou as if they were shameless rogues who¡¯d gladly trade their lives for money. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s skin was incredibly thick, and such disdainful gazes were like a gentle breeze to her, not even comparable to the feeling of solid banknotes slapping her face. Fang Zhou¡¯s skin wasn¡¯t as thick, and he felt a bit embarrassed under their stares. Ah, if only I¡¯d known to make a mask to cover my face; otherwise, my reputation will soon be in the negatives. Fortunately, Hu Zhaici was prepared. With a light clap of his hands, several servants walked into the hall with several large trays of gold, approaching Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°These pieces of gold¡­¡± Hu Zhaici was about to give Ling Xiaoyue an introduction. But the gleam in Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t wait any longer; she directly used her Sleeve Universe Technique, sweeping all the gold on the trays into her possession in a single gesture. Hu Zhaici¡¯s face stiffened, half of what he was about to say caught in his throat, and veins popped on his forehead. Damn, I wasn¡¯t planning to give you all of it! Yet, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s use of the Sleeve Universe Technique still made Hu Zhaici¡¯s eyes narrow. He coughed and chased away the stunned servants, then said to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Master, my third daughter, Hu Yiye, is seriously ill. I¡¯ve heard that the master possesses the miraculous ability to revive the dying. Could you perhaps save my daughter¡¯s life first?¡± Ling Xiaoyue, delighted at having received the money, beamed, ¡°No problem, let my apprentice handle it. He¡¯s best at treating patients with physical depletion.¡± Seeing that Hu Zhaici and his three daughters were looking at him, Fang Zhou nodded nonchalantly ¨C it¡¯s just a matter of using the whip and meatballs, nice and simple. Although the whip was gone now, the meatballs, oh no, the Yang Reviving Pills, Ling Xiaoyue had indeed given him a few. Hu Zhaici looked intently at Fang Zhou for a few moments, then turned to his two daughters and said, ¡°Take this master to see your sister.¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui immediately winked at Fang Zhou with grinning faces: ¡°Master, please follow us.¡± Fang Zhou looked at Ling Xiaoyue, who nodded at him. This was what they had agreed upon before; the big fox demon was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s responsibility, while the smaller fox demons would be dealt with by Fang Zhou. However, before leaving, Ling Xiaoyue stood up and gently touched the philtrum area under Fang Zhou¡¯s nose, and then patted his shoulder significantly, saying meaningfully, ¡°Go on, come back early.¡± Touched lightly by Ling Xiaoyue, Fang Zhou¡¯s nose suddenly felt different, a strong odor of fox musk hitting him, causing him to sneeze involuntarily. ¡°Sorry!¡± Fang Zhou quickly apologized to the Hu family, who looked at him in surprise. Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui, unsuspecting, led the way, and Fang Zhou followed closely behind them. ¡°Master, where are you from?¡± ¡°Master, how old are you this year?¡± After leaving the main hall, the two girls immediately became lively, bombarding Fang Zhou with questions about his privacy and getting very close to him, almost hanging on him. Fang Zhou was extremely uncomfortable because a strong odor of fox musk wafted from the two girls. After sniffing it for a while, he felt it was too overwhelming. But he had no choice but to act as if nothing was wrong, gasping for air without wanting to be noticed; he was really caught in a bind. They arrived at a secluded small courtyard, and Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui led Fang Zhou into a room in the yard. The room was simply furnished and the air was slightly stagnant; a girl, skinny to the extreme, lay on the bed, as if all the blood and flesh from her body had vanished, leaving only skin wrapped around bones. Fang Zhou was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t expected the girl to be so gravely ill. What surprised him even more was that he didn¡¯t smell any fox musk from this girl. 0 comment Chapter 22: 22. The Fellow Sect Brothers of Fang Zhou Chapter 22: 22. The Fellow Sect Brothers of Fang Zhou Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Hu Yiling sat by the bed, reaching out to stroke the girl¡¯s cheek on the bed, whispering, ¡°My younger sister has been attacked by a demon, her life is in danger, please master save her.¡± Upon hearing the voice, the girl on the bed opened her lifeless eyes and slightly opened her mouth, making barely audible sounds, already completely unable to speak. Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui both looked at Fang Zhou, saying in unison, ¡°Please save our sister.¡± Fang Zhou walked to the bedside, asked the girl, ¡°Miss Hu, I am a cultivator specializing in slaying demons and exorcising evil spirits, can you tell me when you encountered the demon, and what did this demon look like?¡± After speaking, Fang Zhou noticed Miss Hu¡¯s lifeless eyes looking at him. Her mouth moved slightly, but she could only futilely emit some meaningless sounds. Deep-set eyes slowly filled with tears, sliding down to the pillow along her cheeks. Fang Zhou silently watched her, while Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui looked at him with hopeful eyes. The atmosphere turned somewhat silent for a moment. ¡°Master¡­ can my sister be cured?¡± Finally, Hu Yiling broke the silence. Fang Zhou smiled slightly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let me see how the feng shui is in this room.¡± The Hu sisters showed a puzzled expression: ¡°Feng shui?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Zhou began walking around the room, explaining: ¡°The layout of feng shui involves the harmony of yin and yang and the energy of the earth. First, the sitting direction must be prosperous, and so must be the facing direction for good fortune. A household in such a layout ensures safety, and prosperity for all beings, whereas facing a bad direction brings misfortune, unrest to the household and sickness among the beings, and also attracts demons¡­¡± The Hu sisters were bewildered by Fang Zhou¡¯s explanation, finding it too specialized and completely incomprehensible. While talking, Fang Zhou felt the corners of the room with his fingers, finding them dusty. Clearly, the house had been uninhabited for a long time and had only been hastily cleaned recently; moreover, despite there being a sick person in the room, there was no smell of medicine, and the girl on the bed did not seem like a demon fox. A guess formed in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. ¡°Master, what next?¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui asked eagerly, although they didn¡¯t understand, they were very interested in the feng shui knowledge Fang Zhou talked about, which was not easy for them to access normally. What next? How would I know. Fang Zhou was able to bluff a few words, but continuing would inevitably reveal his lack of knowledge. He smiled slightly: ¡°The secrets of heaven cannot be revealed.¡± Then he walked to the bedside, took out a Yang Reviving Pill, and fed it to the girl on the bed. The Hu sisters stared intensely at the Yang Reviving Pill Fang Zhou brought out, Hu Yiling sniffed, asking, ¡°Master, what is this?¡± ¡°A good medicine for healing, after taking it and resting for a period, your sister will recover.¡± Fang Zhou casually replied, immediately feeling the Hu sisters move closer, one on his left and the right, placing their hands on his shoulders. ¡°Thank you, master.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hu Yiling pouted slightly, blowing a flirtatious breath towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Let us sisters, help you relax properly.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression stiffened: ¡°Okay¡­¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui exchanged a smile, showing triumphant expressions. ¡°What a master, not so great after all.¡± Hu Yirui took a deep sniff on Fang Zhou, immediately showing a intoxicated expression, her cheeks flushed as if drunk: ¡°This man¡­ has such pure yang energy.¡± Hu Yiling also mimicked her sister, ceaselessly sniffing on Fang Zhou: ¡°Yes, so tempting¡­ and also quite handsome.¡± ¡°This is our trophy now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait to devour him!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start then.¡± The sisters couldn¡¯t help themselves anymore and eagerly stretched out their hands to undress Fang Zhou, not even caring about the appropriateness of the situation, ready to exact justice on the spot. Swoosh¡ª A gleam of cold light suddenly flared up, and the Longsword, like a green dragon emerging from the sea, pierced through Hu Yiling¡¯s chest with the swiftness of lightning. Fang Zhou, who had a dull expression a moment ago, instantly transformed into a fierce tiger, pulling out the Longsword that stabbed into Hu Yiling, then turned around and punched Hu Yirui in the face, shattering her beautiful, jade-like face with blood splattering everywhere. The Hu sisters screamed in unison. Two puffs of blue smoke appeared with two thumps, and the Hu sisters disappeared, replaced by two glossy-furred foxes that whisked into the breeze and fled out of the room. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± Fang Zhou let out a loud shout, summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, and threw an Illusion Technique at one of the fox demons, then manipulated the left hand to smash it, planning to kill one first! The fox demon struck by the Illusion Technique paused in its escape, nearly getting hit by the left hand. The other fox demon quickly swept its long tail around, wrapping up the one hit by the Illusion Technique, and they both fled the room together. Fang Zhou hurriedly chased after them, rushing into the courtyard. The two fox demons hadn¡¯t gotten far, they flew to the other end of the courtyard and landed, then two more puffs of blue smoke appeared and they transformed back into human forms. Hu Yiling pulled out the Longsword from her chest, blood freely flowing from her wound, her gaze fiercely fixated on Fang Zhou who was in pursuit. Hu Yirui, still dazed from the Illusion Technique, touched her disfigured face, and screamed at Fang Zhou: ¡°You¡¯re dead!!¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t respond; his mind was quickly analyzing the situation. Hu Yiling should¡¯ve been fatally wounded by his sword, yet she appeared unharmed; Hu Yirui¡¯s smashed face also didn¡¯t seem critically injured, suggesting regular attacks weren¡¯t effective on them. The demon fox killed two days ago was probably due to that whip. Ling Xiaoyue really should¡¯ve clarified, at least provided another whip. The only good news was that there were only two small fox demons, not three. Hu Yiling asked Fang Zhou: ¡°You knew all along, didn¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou remained silent; he had no interest in chatting with two demon foxes, unless he could extract some secrets from them. Yet, he felt somewhat relieved that he had raised his Spirit to 6 before coming here, significantly enhancing his spiritual resistance, which helped him quickly break free from the fox demon¡¯s Illusion Technique. Hu Yirui angrily said: ¡°Sister, why waste words on him, let¡¯s just kill him together.¡± Hu Yiling smiled: ¡°Don¡¯t rush. Killing him outright would be letting him off too easily. Remember, there¡¯s another fun thing we can use to torment him.¡± Hu Yirui seemed to recall something at those words and also smiled, but the smile strained the wounds on her face, causing her to grimace in pain as she glared angrily at Fang Zhou. Yet Fang Zhou was curious about what mischiefs these two fox demons were up to. The next moment he understood, as he saw Hu Yiling dragging from behind a rockery in the courtyard a young boy who was tied up with his mouth gagged. It was the little Taoist boy not seen for two days. Fang Zhou widened his eyes at him¡ªwhy are you here? Seeing the little Taoist boy, Fang Zhou could not help recalling that night at the Wang Family¡¯s residence, with the fallen flowers and the array of wounds. The little Taoist boy, upon seeing Fang Zhou, also struggled while whimpering. Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui exchanged a smile, the reactions of these two, clearly they knew each other. Hu Yiling cheerfully said to Fang Zhou: ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this, did you? Your fellow sect brother has fallen into our hands.¡± Fellow sect brother? Fang Zhou slowly formed a question mark, when had I ever been fellow sect brothers with this victim of misfortune? How was I not informed? 0 comment Chapter 23: 23. This question is too difficult. Chapter 23: 23. This question is too difficult. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Master Ji sensed something was amiss. Hu Zhaici had clearly said that the construction of the altar to perform Demon Extermination would begin tonight, but as the night grew deeper, there was no sign of Hu Zhaici reappearing. Master Ji quietly sent out a little daoist apprentice to gather information and check if the Hu Family was building an altar, but the brat vanished after running out and didn¡¯t come back. This made Master Ji doubtful and even secretly worried, fearing that Hu Zhaici had learned about the events at the Wang Family and labeled her a fraudster. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Should she run away before anything else happened? Master Ji was very conflicted. She had spent a substantial amount of money on the Strong Fox Killing Medicine and couldn¡¯t bear to not make a profit to compensate for the loss. Just as Master Ji was having difficulty making up her mind, the steward made an appearance: ¡°Master Ji, the lord of the house invites you to the main hall for an urgent discussion.¡± Master Ji had no choice but to calm her troubled thoughts and followed the steward to the main hall. As they arrived at the entrance of the main hall, the steward didn¡¯t continue to follow but instead gestured for her to go in. Unease gripped Master Ji as she proceeded alone, and upon entering the main hall, she immediately spotted Hu Zhaici seated in the place of honor and Ling Xiaoyue beside him. The moment she saw Ling Xiaoyue, Master Ji¡¯s heart sank and only one thought was in her mind. It¡¯s over! My cover¡¯s blown! Ling Xiaoyue looked at her with a half-smiling expression, while Hu Zhaici turned to Ling Xiaoyue and asked, ¡°This Master Ji, I hear she¡¯s a fellow sect member with you?¡± Hmm? There might still be hope! Master Ji quickly snapped out of her panic, resisting the urge to turn and run, and looked pitifully at Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue said with a smile, ¡°Hmm, you could say that. We are indeed from the same sect.¡± Master Ji let out a huge sigh of relief. Although this woman had beaten her up severely that night at the Wang Family, she turned out to be kind-hearted, not exposing her but instead covering for her. Hu Zhaici smiled at Master Ji and said, ¡°Please, Master Ji, take a seat.¡± With a benevolently gracious smile, Master Ji slowly walked over and sat at a spot neither too close nor too far from Ling Xiaoyue. Just as she sat down, several thuds were heard as the doors of the main hall closed on their own. Hu Zhaici stood up, the constant smile on his face gone, replaced by a chillingly cold expression: ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, it¡¯s time we settle our scores.¡± Master Ji hadn¡¯t even warmed her seat when she sprang up again, slightly confused about what was going on. Then, she saw a beautiful woman clad in fox fur appear in the hall. Seeing this beautiful woman, Master Ji¡¯s face showed shock. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be dead? But seeing Ling Xiaoyue nonchalantly sitting there, while the beautiful woman¡¯s eyes shone with murderous intent fixed on her, Master Ji realized the truth instantly. This great fox demon hadn¡¯t died at the Wang Family¡¯s place, and here she was, right in the fox¡¯s den. Hu Zhaici fixed Ling Xiaoyue and Master Ji with a fierce gaze, as astonishing demonic power emanated from him: ¡°None of you will escape tonight. I¡¯m going to skin you and pull out your bones to avenge my daughter.¡± This was clearly a great fox demon with accomplished Cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s all a misunderstanding, all of it!¡± Master Ji rushed to protest to Hu Zhaici, ¡°I¡¯m not her sect member, I am¡­¡± Master Ji noticed Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s smirk-like gaze, and the words at the tip of her tongue retreated. She remembered what had happened at the Wang Family¡¯s place. Was she about to repeat that lesson? To deny or admit? This question was too difficult, she couldn¡¯t answer it. Master Ji felt exhausted at heart, wondering why she was so unlucky. ¡­ [Triggered new mission ¨C Defeat two fox demons] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: Masculinity*4 Blue Card*1] [Failure: Lose virginity, Death] This was the newly triggered mission, the ¡®lose virginity¡¯ part was back again. Fang Zhou closed the prompt and looked across, realizing that the two demon foxes hadn¡¯t given up on the idea of eating him. Really, this was a woman¡ªor rather, a female fox spirit¡ªthinking with her lower half. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash, it¡¯s best if you just stand still.¡± Hu Yiling, wielding Fang Zhou¡¯s Longsword, pressed it against the neck of the little daoist apprentice, grinning slyly, ¡°If you dare to act out, my hands might tremble, and I could end up beheading your fellow sect member. Then, you¡¯d be the killer, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± He felt there might be some misunderstanding between Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui. The little daoist apprentice was neither his fellow sect member nor his brother, and really, they had no connection at all. In some sense, they were even enemies, since they were competitors after all. Using enemies to threaten him, what kind of ludicrous tactic is that? Sure enough, the thought process of demons is different from humans, truly baffling. The little Taoist boy made a ¡°wooo wooo wooo¡± noise, seemingly trying to say something. Hu Yiling reached out and pulled the cloth from the little Taoist boy¡¯s mouth, and told him: ¡°Advise your fellow disciples, for the sake of your life, don¡¯t make any rash moves.¡± Free to speak at last, the little Taoist boy eagerly shouted to Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui: ¡°Big sisters, you¡¯ve got it wrong, he¡¯s not my fellow disciple. We are enemies, enemies!¡± The little Taoist boy felt he was unfairly treated, extremely unlucky. Two days ago, at the Wang Family¡¯s place, his master sent him out to check things out, resulting in the loss of the most important thing in his life. Tonight, dispatched by his master again to gather information, he ended up captured by two fox demons. It was all the master¡¯s fault. For heaven¡¯s sake, he had to drag him straight into the fox den for Demon Extermination, spouting nonsense, saying that he and those two Cultivators from the Wang Family were disciples of the same sect. Now look, he had been mistaken for one by the fox demons. He really felt like dying. Hu Yiling disdainfully said: ¡°To save your own skin, you¡¯d even deny your own sect; you truly are heartless and ungrateful.¡± The little Taoist boy was close to tears: ¡°We really aren¡¯t from the same sect. Look at him, he¡¯s so handsome, and I get by on my vibe alone; our styles are completely different, how could we be from the same sect?¡± To save his life, the little Taoist boy had to painfully belittle his own good looks. Hearing the little Taoist boy¡¯s defense, Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui jointly turned their eyes to Fang Zhou. Indeed, one was so handsome, the other so unremarkable, they really didn¡¯t look like fellow disciples when put together. Fang Zhou felt that as a good person, a Cultivator with morals, principles, a conscience, and good looks too, it was necessary to clarify the misunderstanding for the little Taoist boy and clear his name. Plus, the boy had complimented his good looks, although that wasn¡¯t the main point. Therefore, Fang Zhou smiled and said: ¡°That¡¯s right, we are enemies, not fellow disciples.¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui looked at each other, then Hu Yiling¡¯s longsword chopped down onto the little Taoist boy¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ah!¡± The little Taoist boy screamed in agony: ¡°Why did you chop me?!¡± Hu Yiling sneered: ¡°You think you can fool me with this kind of trick?¡± Fang Zhou: (£þ¨Œ£þ) Little Taoist boy: (?_?) Fang Zhou inwardly thought, buddy, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not helping you, but there¡¯s nothing I can do if they don¡¯t believe me. Seeing Hu Yiling raise her longsword again, stabbing it into his other leg, the little Taoist boy immediately burst into tears: ¡°I¡¯m wronged, I really am not his fellow disciple, we only met for the first time two days ago, believe me, I really didn¡¯t lie to you this time.¡± The cries and pleas of the little Taoist boy were filled with sincerity and sorrow. Hu Yirui said softly, ¡°Sister, could we really have made a mistake?¡± Hu Yiling hesitated for a moment, originally intending to threaten Fang Zhou with the little Taoist boy. If the two weren¡¯t fellow disciples, wouldn¡¯t that be a joke? Glancing at Fang Zhou, who was in the spectator mode, Hu Yiling couldn¡¯t help but ask the little Taoist boy: ¡°Are you really not fellow disciples?¡± The little Taoist boy nodded vigorously: ¡°We are really not from the same sect. It¡¯s just my master spouting nonsense and tricking you for business purposes. Why should you believe what my master says and not believe me?¡± Noticing Fang Zhou¡¯s look as if watching an idiot, Hu Yiling felt ashamed and annoyed, raising her longsword again: ¡°Alright, daring to deceive us, sick of living are you? Since you¡¯re not fellow disciples, then you¡¯re of no use, go die then.¡± As the longsword was about to come down, the little Taoist boy¡¯s mind went blank. He couldn¡¯t understand why, having done nothing wrong, he was always the one getting hurt. Why was fate so unjust to him? Could it really be because I¡¯m not good-looking? No, I don¡¯t want to die; I want to continue living. Even if it is fate, I must defy it; even if heaven wants me dead, I will go against it! In that moment, a strong will to survive inspired the little Taoist boy, leading him to the correct choice. He instantly dropped to the ground, hands covering his head, while shouting towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Senior brother, save me!!¡± Fang Zhou, who had been enjoying the show, was startled. What is this kid doing climbing relationships out of nowhere? But Hu Yiling¡¯s sword stopped, and she turned her head towards Fang Zhou. This back-and-forth reversals had confused her, and she was desperate for a real answer. Fang Zhou initially wanted to deny it, but noticing the little Taoist boy¡¯s pleading, weak, pitiable, and helpless eyes, Fang Zhou¡¯s heart softened, and he nodded: ¡°No mistake, he is my junior brother.¡± The little Taoist boy exhaled deeply in relief. He hadn¡¯t expected Fang Zhou to extend a helping hand in this critical moment, truly a respectful and lovable good person. No wonder he was so handsome; I won¡¯t disparage you again in the future. ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± The longsword plunged deeply into the little Taoist boy¡¯s buttocks, eliciting a miserable scream. Tearful, the little Taoist boy looked at Hu Yiling: ¡°Why did you still stab me?¡± Hu Yiling, grinding her teeth: ¡°So you really are fellow disciples, and you dared to deceive me, thinking I¡¯m gullible, huh?¡± The little Taoist boy cried again, very heartbroken. If I say we¡¯re not, you want to chop me; if I say we are, you still want to chop me. What do you actually want from me, can you just give a clear answer? I can¡¯t solve this question, it¡¯s too difficult. 0 comment Chapter 24: 24. Release me Chapter 24: 24. Release me Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The sorrow of the little novice monk was understood by no one. Hu Yiling looked towards Fang Zhou, scoffed, and said: ¡°Trying to trick me into rescuing your junior? Wishful thinking! Are you feeling frustrated and heartbroken now?¡± As she spoke, she thrust her sword at the little novice monk again. Fang Zhou wore a puzzled expression, ¡°If I say I¡¯m not heartbroken or frustrated at all, would you think I¡¯m deceiving you again?¡± Fang Zhou thought that although the little novice monk¡¯s conduct was poor, the crime did not warrant death, so he said, ¡°Demon fox, let go of my junior now, or this won¡¯t end with you!¡± Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui burst into laughter. The two demon foxes finally enjoyed the pleasure of threatening Fang Zhou. That was precisely why they had captured the little novice monk and kept him until now. Hu Yiling thrust her sword at the little novice monk again: ¡°I won¡¯t let go, what can you do about it?¡± Fang Zhou warned: ¡°If anything happens to my junior, I¡¯ll make sure you demon foxes are buried along with him.¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword once more at the little novice monk: ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m so scared, come at me.¡± Fang Zhou continued to warn: ¡°You think I wouldn¡¯t dare?¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword again: ¡°Then show me.¡± Fang Zhou warned for the third time: ¡°Don¡¯t push me!¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword again: ¡°We are pushing you, what about it?¡± Fang Zhou strongly warned: ¡°Just you wait!¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword once more: ¡°We are right here waiting, let¡¯s see when you make a move.¡± Fang Zhou finally warned: ¡°I will make a move right now.¡± Hu Yiling thrust her sword once more: ¡°Then do it!¡± Fang Zhou and Hu Yiling kept verbally sparring, with Hu Yiling stabbing the little novice monk with her sword with each remark. Stab after stab, the little novice monk had become a bloodied figure, his body riddled with holes. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Enough!¡± Lying on the ground, the little novice monk uttered weakly: ¡°Just kill me, stop tormenting me.¡± Fang Zhou yelled to him: ¡°Junior, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll rescue you right now.¡± The little novice monk looked at Fang Zhou with uninterested eyes, pleading silently not to be rescued, to just let him be released from suffering. Hu Yiling pressed the sword against the little novice monk¡¯s neck and threatened Fang Zhou: ¡°Surrender, or I¡¯ll make your junior lose his head.¡± ¡°As you wish!¡± Fang Zhou suddenly threw an Illusion Technique at both Hu Yiling and Hu Yirui. As they were caught in a moment of stupor, Fang Zhou circulated the Qi Gathering Technique. Spiritual Energy instantly enveloped his entire body, greatly enhancing his strength and speed. He sprinted forward, using the courtyard stone to leverage a jump, traversing thirty feet in the air, landing right in front of the two demon foxes. He raised his hand towards Hu Yirui, a bright light blooming in his palm, forming into a fireball slightly bigger than a fist, shooting straight at Hu Yirui¡¯s face. The fireball exploded upon touching Hu Yirui¡¯s face, a wave of scorching air rolling out, creating ripples visible to the naked eye in the air. [Fireball Technique: Releases a fireball, causing explosion and scorch damage] After realizing that regular attacks were not effective against the two demon foxes, Fang Zhou decided to use the Fireball Technique. However, he had tested the Fireball Technique at the Wang Family, and while powerful, it had a fairly short range which required him to close in. Moreover, unleashing the Fireball Technique also consumed spiritual power, much more than the Illusion Technique, using up a quarter of his spiritual power with each fireball. The explosion awakened the two demon foxes from the illusion. Hu Yirui instantly screamed, not only from the explosion¡¯s damage, but the flames also engulfed her entirely. She emitted a wisp of blue smoke from her body, revealing her true form, but the flames continued to scorch her body. Hu Yirui kept rolling on the ground, but her fox fur only fueled the flames, turning her into a rolling fireball. ¡°Sister!¡± Hu Yiling, both shocked and angered, wanted to rush over to rescue her, but Fang Zhou quickly blocked her way. Hu Yiling, furious, swung her sword vigorously, though without any technique, clearly showing that this demon fox had no knowledge of swordsmanship. Fang Zhou stepped back to dodge Hu Yiling¡¯s attack while tossing an Illusion Technique at her, controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to swing forward. As Hu Yiling swung her sword, she also cast an Illusion Technique at Fang Zhou. Both person and demon were trapped in the illusion; just as Hu Yiling¡¯s sword was about to strike Fang Zhou, she was suddenly thrown back by an unseen left hand with a loud bang. Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, longer than the sword, struck Hu Yiling first. When Hu Yiling was knocked back, the pain snapped her out of the illusion. By this delay, Hu Yirui had been charred by the flames, lifeless. Hu Yiling glanced at her sister, then stared daggers at Fang Zhou with eyes filled with hatred, but ultimately chose not to continue attacking and instead revealed her true form, using the Wind Control Technique to escape the yard. With his spiritual resistance, Fang Zhou recovered from the illusion and saw Hu Yiling reveal her true form and flee. Fang Zhou wanted to chase after her, but Hu Yiling turned and threw her longsword. Fang Zhou quickly controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to swat away the incoming sword, which spun and pierced into the buttocks of a young Taoist boy lying on the ground. The young Taoist boy looked back calmly. Fang Zhou apologised as he walked over, pulled out the sword, and then chased in the direction Hu Yiling had fled. The young Taoist boy watched as blood spurted from his wound, his eyes showing neither sadness nor joy. Hu Yiling flew quickly, but Fang Zhou was not slow either, using the Qi Gathering Technique to enhance his speed with Spiritual Energy, and thanks to Ling Xiaoyue making his nose sensitive, he could smell the foul scent of the demon fox, ensuring she wouldn¡¯t lose him. [Successfully defeated two demon foxes] [Reward: Manliness*4, Blue Card*1] The prompt for a successful mission finally sounded, with Hu Yiling dead and Hu Yirui fleeing, considered a defeat, Fang Zhou successfully completed the mission. The remaining Hu Yiling was no match for him, so Fang Zhou left the reward of 4 Manliness points untouched, continuing the chase while drawing the blue card from his mind. The blue card spun rapidly before bursting into light, converging into a small bottle. [Detoxification Potion: After ingestion, can remove some low-level toxins and provide resistance against toxins for thirty minutes] It wasn¡¯t a Skill Card, certainly because he forgot to chant the Spell during the draw, a real oversight. Fang Zhou finally had a chance to be an African Chief, but the Detoxification Potion had a significant role during poisoning, couldn¡¯t be too greedy. A small bottle appeared before Fang Zhou, smaller than the last Visibility Potion he drew, probably just a single dose. Fang Zhou secured the bottle and continued chasing Hu Yiling. During the chase, the two, one human and one fox, ran through most of the Hu Family residence and into the backyard garden. Hu Yiling dived into the garden and disappeared; Fang Zhou followed closely, though he lost sight of her, he relied on her lingering foul scent to keep up the pursuit. Chasing deep into the garden, an entrance to a cellar appeared, the stench of fox emanating from within. Fang Zhou hesitated, then stepped inside. Outside it was deep night, and inside the cellar was pitch black, thankfully the corridor walls had torches inserted at intervals. Fang Zhou took a torch and followed the corridor down, descending several steps into a surprisingly large underground space, nearly as big as the Hu Family¡¯s main hall. The cellar was lit with several oil lamps, not very bright but enough for illumination. As Fang Zhou observed the scene inside the cellar, a deep chill overcame him, making his limbs ice-cold, almost stopping his heartbeat. 0 comment Chapter 25: 25. Demon Extermination takes place at this moment Chapter 25: 25. Demon Extermination takes place at this moment Editor: Dragon Boat Translation The basement was dim and shadowy, with emaciated corpses hanging from the ceiling, of all ages, both male and female. The bodies were covered in wounds, having suffered excruciating torture before death. This scene reminded Fang Zhou of the pigs and sheep hung up in a slaughterhouse. Beneath the hanging corpses was a small hill of skeleton remains, each missing half of their form, with internal organs and blood and flesh mixed together, the stench hitting him in the face. In a corner of the ground, there was a heap of ghastly white bones, gnawed clean without leaving a morsel of meat, their surfaces marked with teeth indentations of varying depths. A tall figure sat in the middle of the basement, perched atop a bed made of skulls. It was a fox demon, with the body of a human but the filthy head of a fox on its neck, its fur matted with dried blood, as it tore at an arm with its sharp teeth. The hellish scene in the basement rendered Fang Zhou silent ¨C it confirmed his earlier guess. Invasion of the nest! These four characters once again surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. After discovering that the seriously ill girl on the bed was not the demon fox, Fang Zhou had speculated that she was likely the true member of the Hu Family. And the rest of the Hu Family? They were all here. After escaping into the basement, Hu Yiling threw herself before the demon fox with a human¡¯s body and wept, ¡°Big brother, our little sister was killed, this man is the murderer, please kill him and avenge her.¡± The fox demon tossed away the arm from its mouth and slowly stood up, like a small mountain of flesh, nearly ten feet tall, with muscles coiling like that of The Immortal of Colossal Spirit in the flesh. It looked down at Fang Zhou from above, its pitch-black eyes filled with brutality and bloodlust. A deep, male voice emerged from its mouth, still speckled with bits of flesh. ¡°Dare to kill my kin? Have you prepared your last words, you animal?¡± Animal? A fox demon dares to call me an animal? After a long silence, Fang Zhou slowly raised his longsword, pointing at it, and said in a low voice, ¡°How many people¡­ have you eaten exactly?¡± The demon fox laughed heartily, the sound echoing eerily through the basement. ¡°How many? I¡¯ve lost count. But of the Hu household¡¯s hundred and thirty some, the stewards and servants outside are all recent hires.¡± It sneered, ¡°You tell me, how many have I eaten?¡± Fang Zhou had no answer. The chill in his heart had quietly vanished, replaced by a sudden upsurge of scorching emotions. This was a feeling he had never experienced since transiting to this world. He felt as if his blood was boiling, his body became feverish, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenched with a creaking sound, his sword grip turned white, veins popping out. He felt a surge of intense emotions pressing against his chest, growing swiftly, seeking an urgent release. For no apparent reason, a phrase suddenly popped into his head. ¡°Demon Extermination, now is the time!¡± Ding! [Side quest triggered ¨C Demon Extermination] [Eliminate the Cannibal Fox Demon] [Difficulty: Hard] [Reward: 8 Male Gallantry Points, 1 Purple Card] [Failure: Death, leaving no corpse] Hu Yiling moved closer to the demon fox, whispering, ¡°Big brother, this man is also skilled in the Illusion Technique and seems to be able to use Fire Technique. You must be careful!¡± The fox demon seemed to be unconcerned, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Have you forgotten my innate talent?¡± Of course, Hu Yiling hadn¡¯t forgotten. Since childhood, her big brother was different from ordinary demon foxes, possessing little talent for illusion but having a high resistance to Illusion Techniques. Instead of studying Demon Arts like ordinary demon foxes, it cultivated the path of combat, hence its colossal size and preference for eating humans. The demon fox extended its hand backward, dragging out a massive iron axe with a heavy scraping sound. ¡°Stand back, once I¡¯ve slain him, we¡¯ll share the spoils.¡± The demon fox gripped the iron axe with both hands, striding towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou allocated all 4 points of his Male Gallantry into his physique, then threw an Illusion Technique at the demon fox, but it broke free in the blink of an eye, rendering the technique almost ineffective. This was the first time Fang Zhou encountered an opponent immune to illusion; even Li Ruyu at the Foundation Establishment Realm had succumbed to it before. Hu Yiling, from behind, also launched an Illusion Technique at Fang Zhou, assisting her brother. The demon fox had a stalwart physique and wide steps, moving faster than a run. It reached Fang Zhou almost instantly and swung its axe overhead. ¡°Boom!¡± The massive iron axe struck, producing a deafening collision, stirring up a large amount of dust within the basement, clouding the scene. A fireball suddenly flew out from the dust, hitting the demon fox and exploding on impact, igniting the dust behind it and causing an even more intense explosion. The scorching flames immediately engulfed the large body of the demon fox, and the dazzling firelight made the entire cellar instantly bright, forcing Hu Yiling to squint her eyes shut from the glare. The next moment, Fang Zhou shot out from the flames, his clothes tattered and ablaze, his body covered in burn wounds. His expression was icy, holding a longsword in both hands, he soared through the air like an immortal descending from the heavens, aiming directly at Hu Yiling. As Hu Yiling¡¯s vision just began to clear, she saw Fang Zhou rushing toward her. Her eyes widened in shock, she instinctively wanted to show her true form, but an Illusion Technique hit her, leaving her in a trance. Swift as the wind, his sword fell! Blood sprayed along with the sword¡¯s blade, casting a piercing line of crimson. Hu Yiling¡¯s head flew up into the air, landing on the bed made of skulls, lying among the remains of the Hu Family, her delicate face still frozen in that dazed expression. It wasn¡¯t until now that her body slowly fell backward, a puff of blue smoke emerged, and she transformed into a headless fox. Ordinary attacks weren¡¯t very effective, but decapitation would certainly bring death! The demon fox, covered in dust from the explosion, had just turned around when it saw the scene of Hu Yiling being beheaded by Fang Zhou. Its eyes were wide with rage, and from its mouth came an angry roar: ¡°I will tear you to pieces!!¡± The roar echoed throughout the cellar, creating waves of reverberations. With a leap, the massive and burly body of the demon fox soared into the air, raising an iron axe overhead, creating sparks against the cellar¡¯s ceiling. The demon fox descended like Mount Tai bearing down on Fang Zhou, swinging the axe with incredible force. Fang Zhou dodged to the side in a hurry; he couldn¡¯t withstand such immense size and power by brute force. The iron axe smashed into the ground, causing a loud crash that broke the solid floor and sent mud and rocks flying, kicking up another cloud of dust. The demon fox pulled out the iron axe and swung it towards Fang Zhou. The iron axe, with its gusty winds and howls, sliced through the dust, sweeping towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou bent down to dodge, his feet slipped, and he slid to the side of the demon fox, thrusting his sword at it. The longsword pierced into the demon fox¡¯s ribcage, like it was stabbing into tough leather, only penetrating slightly before being caught by muscle. The demon fox took the opportunity to grab Fang Zhou¡¯s arm and lifted its iron axe high, chopping down. With his arm caught, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t dodge and had to summon his invisible left hand, intercepting the descending iron axe. This left hand held immense strength, tough beyond compare. The iron axe bent it, but ultimately, it blocked the attack. Seizing the moment, Fang Zhou held his sword with both hands and pushed hard. With the strength of nearly six points, enhanced by the Qi Gathering Technique, the longsword penetrated deeper into the demon fox¡¯s body, injuring its vital organs. The demon fox uttered a roar of pain, grabbing Fang Zhou¡¯s arm and throwing him backwards, flinging him through the air. Pulled by the momentum, the longsword was yanked out, and blood immediately sprayed from the wound. Fang Zhou was thrown across the entire cellar, only coming to a stop when he hit the wall; his entire back numbed. Had he not just bolstered his physique with four points of manly fortitude, his body might have fallen apart from the impact. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before Fang Zhou could catch his breath, the demon fox, axe in hand, charged towards him. Fang Zhou frowned, his mind racing faster than ever. Basic swordsmanship seemed ineffective against an opponent both physically imposing and highly resilient. He needed to change his strategy. Noticing the demon fox¡¯s splay-footed gait, Fang Zhou instantly had a plan and, sword in hand, confronted the fox demon head-on. The two quickly approached each other. As the demon fox raised its iron axe, aiming a sweeping blow at Fang Zhou, Fang Zhou started running, holding the longsword high, then suddenly dropped to his knees, sliding underneath the demon fox. The raised longsword sliced from below, the blade drawing a trail of blood. The demon fox let out a scream of agony like never before. It turned around and hurled the iron axe at Fang Zhou. The spinning axe carried a terrifying whistling and momentum. Fang Zhou had just turned around and couldn¡¯t dodge in time, so he directed his invisible left hand to block the axe. The left hand was knocked aside, but it managed to reduce much of the power from the axe. Hurriedly, Fang Zhou lifted his longsword, blocking the axe; the resulting metallic clang marked the end as Li Ruyu¡¯s sword, after less than a month with Fang Zhou, was broken into two pieces in a heroic sacrifice. While the iron axe was deflected, Fang Zhou was left with numb hands from the shock, and the broken sword fell from his grasp. The enraged demon fox, brandishing fists as large as a large pot, rushed towards Fang Zhou and slammed down towards his head. Fang Zhou controlled his invisible left hand to block upwards, stopping the demon fox¡¯s fist with a loud thud. The demon fox¡¯s other hand quickly captured Fang Zhou by the collar, lifting him up and opening its huge mouth, aiming to bite his head off. Fang Zhou extended his right hand forward, shoving his fist and half of his forearm into the demon fox¡¯s mouth. A gleam of sadistic pleasure flashed in the eyes of the demon fox as it clamped down with its jaws, ready to crush Fang Zhou¡¯s fist and forearm. It failed to notice the cold smile curling on Fang Zhou¡¯s mouth. A burst of firelight, blossoming! 0 comment Chapter 26: 26. Any system without in-game purchases is garbage Chapter 26: 26. Any system without in-game purchases is garbage Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Scorching flames burst from the mouth of the demon fox before it could sever Fang Zhou¡¯s arm, the explosive force shattering its brain upwards and piercing its lungs downwards through its throat. Flames shot out from its mouth, nostrils, and ears, turning the fox¡¯s head into a burning torch. After releasing the Fireball Technique, Fang Zhou hurriedly pulled his arm out, but was not faster than the explosion¡¯s force, leaving his forearm bloodied and completely numb. The demon fox¡¯s huge body fell backwards with a bang, emitting blue smoke, transforming into a giant fox almost the size of an adult, its head still burning with flames. Fang Zhou also fell to the ground, his body injuries and spirit exhaustion causing him to feel dizzy, almost passing out. From the beginning of the fight with the two female fox spirits until now, Fang Zhou had released six Illusion Techniques, three Fireball Techniques, and controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, fully exhausting his spirit, and this last Fireball Technique was released with his last ounce of strength. The injuries from the explosion were serious, adding to his spirit exhaustion, Fang Zhou now solely relied on his 8 points of constitution to persevere, if another fox demon came, it could easily kill him. Fang Zhou sat on the ground panting, taking the opportunity to glance at the successful mission prompt. [Successfully killed the man-eating demon fox] [Reward: Masculinity*8, Purple Card*1] [Completed the side quest ¨C Demon Extermination] [Reward: Righteous Reputation +1] This time the task had a new variation, a side quest ¨C Demon Extermination, which also rewarded 1 point of Righteous Reputation, but what is this for? Fang Zhou opened the system panel and found a new Righteous Reputation at the bottom, along with a detailed description. [Righteous Reputation: The data will affect your status within the Righteous Camp. If negative, you will be automatically added to the Evil Cult Camp] Clearly, this was a reputation value, the higher the data, the higher your status in the Righteous Camp. This status probably isn¡¯t about actual identity but the type that makes others immediately see you as a man of integrity, a chivalrous character, gaining their closeness and trust easily. If the reputation value becomes negative, no matter how noble you look, others will see you as a conniving scoundrel, a shameless demon. This reputation value might seem useless, but if used well, it could be quite advantageous; for example, accumulating high reputation by completing tasks and then committing misdeeds, people would not suspect you, and even if discovered, they would think you had hardships, gaining forgiveness easily. If the reputation value is negative, then that¡¯s perfect for undercover work; you wouldn¡¯t be easily exposed no matter how you act. Of course, that¡¯s the gameplay in games, it might not work the same in reality, Fang Zhou could set it aside for now and figure out its specific use later. This was his first difficult task, much more challenging than before, slightly careless and he would have ended up a mangled corpse, if not for the last minute save with the Fireball Technique, Fang Zhou today would either turn the tables or crash. But the reward was also extremely generous, a full 8 points of Masculinity, and most importantly, a Purple Card. Now this Purple Card was spinning in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. This was the first time Fang Zhou had obtained a Purple Card, unfortunately, he was too injured now and had no interest in chanting spells, he chose to draw the card directly, since a Purple Card was definitely a good thing. The purple card spun rapidly, dazzling rainbow-like light spreading from beneath the card, stunningly beautiful. As expected of a Purple Card, even the card-drawing effect was more than cheap. After spinning to the limit, the glowing Purple Card finally exploded, countless light particles converging together, forming a Longsword. [Evil Slaying Sword: A sword imbued with Evil Qi capable of causing damage to demons and evil spirits] It turned out to be an Equipment Card, Fang Zhou had completed many tasks, always drawing skills and items, this was the first time he had drawn equipment. And his weapon had just broken, to draw a weapon now was like finding a pillow when sleepy. I truly am the author¡¯s favored son, psh, I¡¯m truly a king of luck! A longsword appeared out of thin air in Fang Zhou¡¯s hands, resembling a Han Sword in shape but much heavier than the damaged one, without a scabbard and with faint red patterns on the blade, resembling talismans. Fortunately, this sword is called the Evil Slaying Sword, if it were called something else, Fang Zhou would rather use it as a fire stick than wield it. After resting for a while, Fang Zhou used the Evil Slaying Sword to prop himself up and slowly stood up from the ground. ¡°What?! What is this?¡± Just as Fang Zhou was about to leave, he suddenly noticed something inside the head of the demon fox¡¯s charred corpse. He used the Evil Slaying Sword to pry open the demon fox¡¯s head and picked out a slick black orb. After picking it up, it felt cool to the touch, composed of a material that wasn¡¯t metallic or wooden, unharmed despite the fire and still very cold. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t figure out what it was; could it be the so-called demon core? But the demon fox didn¡¯t seem that powerful either. He¡¯d better ask Ling Xiaoyue¡ªif only the system could help identify it. Just as this thought surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes. [Illusion-Repelling Orb: A rare demon brain calculus, provides immunity to low-level Spirit Magic] Ssss~ Fang Zhou gasped in surprise; the system actually had an identification function; it truly was terrifying. ¡°Hey, do you have an Alchemy function?¡± ¡°What about the store? Does it have a store?¡± ¡°There has to be a microtransaction feature, right? Without even that, you¡¯re not a qualified system, trash!¡± No matter how Fang Zhou tried, the system remained silent. Well, one shouldn¡¯t be too greedy; having an identification function was already a pleasant surprise. Fang Zhou fiddled with the Illusion-Repelling Orb in his hand, not expecting it to be a demon brain calculus, wrongly assuming it was a demon core, yet the effect was not any less potent, as it can provide immunity to low-level Spirit Magic. Illusion Techniques belong to Spirit Magic, and Fang Zhou already had high spiritual resistance. Now, with the Illusion-Repelling Orb, he was virtually in a low-level Spirit Magic Immune state. Awesome! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Next time he encountered a fox demon, Fang Zhou would let them know who their nemesis was. He securely hid the Illusion-Repelling Orb close to his body and glanced once more at the cellar, quietly sighing, ¡°I have avenged you; rest in peace.¡± Before coming tonight, Fang Zhou had asked Wang Fulai; the Hu Family had been kind and virtuous for generations, they shouldn¡¯t have met such a fate. Suddenly, a cold wind picked up in the cellar, accompanied by faint whining, as if someone was crying, or perhaps thanking someone. In a daze, Fang Zhou saw over a hundred men, women, and children, side by side, kneeling down in front of him. He rubbed his eyes, and looked again¡ªeverything was gone, including the chilling wind. He pursed his lips, turning to leave the cellar. Stepping out of the cellar and into the back garden, Ling Xiaoyue, clad in a pristine white robe, suddenly flew down from the sky and landed in front of him. Ling Xiaoyue remained pure as driven snow, spotless, holding a wine jug in one hand and the bodies of two enormous fox demons in the other, much larger than the Hu sisters, just slightly smaller than the man-eating demon fox in the cellar. Clearly, the two large fox demons hadn¡¯t escaped either and died by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s hands. With this, the entire family of fox demons had finally been exterminated by the master and apprentice. 0 comment Chapter 27: 27. Cultivators should have a broad mind Chapter 27: 27. Cultivators should have a broad mind Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Ling Xiaoyue originally had a delighted face, tonight she had made a big profit, eating at various places, at least another ten thousand silver in hand. Upon seeing Fang Zhou, she immediately stopped smiling, quite surprised, ¡°Disciple, how did you end up like this?¡± Ling Xiaoyue knew Fang Zhou was harboring some secrets of his own, which she didn¡¯t really care about, but she was fairly confident about Fang Zhou¡¯s fighting ability. The Hu residence had at most three little demon foxes, with the skills that Fang Zhou had shown, even if he couldn¡¯t beat them, he shouldn¡¯t end up in such a sorry state. Before Fang Zhou could answer, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly realized, dropped the two demon fox corpses, then rested her hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder with a suggestive smile, ¡°It must be because you thought those fox spirits looked pretty and couldn¡¯t bear to act, right? What have you been playing at for so long, candle dripping or bondage? Look, your hands are even scorched.¡± Fang Zhou kicked towards Ling Xiaoyue, who dodged deftly by twisting lightly. ¡°Damn it, you still have the nerve to say?!¡± Fang Zhou swore angrily: ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for your inaccurate information, would I have ended up like this? I really fell for your nonsense, had I known you were so unreliable, I wouldn¡¯t have come.¡± ¡°Nonsense, how could the information from your master be wrong.¡± Ling Xiaoyue placed one hand on her hip, discontentedly saying, ¡°Then tell me, what exactly was wrong?¡± Fang Zhou kept it brief about the incidents in the cellar without going into the details of the fight: ¡°You said there were at most three little demon foxes in the Hu residence, but that man-eating fox in the cellar had a fist bigger than your face, dare you say you didn¡¯t get it wrong? If it wasn¡¯t for my great skills, handsome looks, and sheer luck, I would¡¯ve been eaten by that demon fox, and you¡¯d have to look for your disciple inside its stomach.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was slightly surprised, as she hadn¡¯t considered this situation; after all, demon foxes are not known for their strength, and it¡¯s rare to encounter a man-eating demon fox skilled in combat even in a hundred years. ¡°Oh dear, you hear me making excuses, no, you hear me explain, what I meant by little demon foxes was young in age, not small in size, didn¡¯t you hear that clearly?¡± Ling Xiaoyue started making excuses and it seemed to make more sense as she spoke, ¡°That clearly was your misunderstanding, how can you blame your master? I always told you to read more, but you wouldn¡¯t listen, otherwise you wouldn¡¯t have made such a blunder. But it¡¯s alright, your master forgives you.¡± Seeing Ling Xiaoyue actually flipping the blame onto him, Fang Zhou almost wanted to grab the Evil Slaying Sword and stab her through. Just as Fang Zhou was about to retort, Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine pot, ¡°Here, take a drink, let your master treat your injuries.¡± Fang Zhou refused with his hand, ¡°No, I don¡¯t drink¡­¡± Before he could finish, Ling Xiaoyue stuffed the wine pot into his mouth, forcing a large gulp down his throat. Fang Zhou thought he would choke, but surprisingly the wine was not at all harsh, instead, it was cool and sweet like spring water, with a fragrant taste that instantly traveled to his stomach. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In an instant, Fang Zhou felt his body warm up, and his tiredness and pain vanished. Ling Xiaoyue took Fang Zhou¡¯s injured hand, poured the wine on it, washing off the burnt marks, with the wound visibly healing rapidly from the wine. Fang Zhou exclaimed, ¡°What is this¡­¡± ¡°Pretty impressive, right?¡± Ling Xiaoyue boasted a bit, ¡°This is the immortal wine brewed by me using a secret technique, it¡¯s also a Healing Holy Medicine, in the future if you are missing an arm or a leg, don¡¯t worry, your master can fix it with just a mouthful of this.¡± Fang Zhou was somewhat touched, but then he became wary again, ¡°It¡¯s free right?¡± Ling Xiaoyue glared at him annoyed, ¡°In your eyes, am I the kind of person who only thinks about money? We are master and disciple, it¡¯s fate, and looking after you is my duty, how can I talk about money in every sentence? Are your eyes filled with money?¡± Fang Zhou almost choked, wondering who was always talking about money. But with Ling Xiaoyue stating thus, Fang Zhou was genuinely moved, ¡°You¡¯re right, shall we cancel the debts I owe you?¡± Ling Xiaoyue solemnly said, ¡°Look at you, bringing up money again, let me teach you a lesson, a person¡¯s vision should not be so narrow, you shouldn¡¯t always focus on material things. Cultivators should have broad minds, looking far and wide is the right way. But having said that, even brothers settle accounts clearly, let alone master and disciple? To repay debts is righteous and just, how can we maintain trust between people if you, as my disciple, don¡¯t settle debts?¡± Damn it, give me back my earlier sentiment. Ling Xiaoyue continued, ¡°This immortal wine is quite valuable, I didn¡¯t plan to charge you for it, but since you insist on paying, I won¡¯t stop you lest it hurts our relationship, let¡¯s just put it on the tab.¡± Fang Zhou could no longer hold back. He grasped the Evil Slaying Sword and aimed a strike at her, determined today to purge the sect. As long as he killed this woman, he would become the founding patriarch of the sect. Ling Xiaoyue pinched the Evil Slaying Sword between two fingers, ¡°Huh, this sword has a strong Evil Qi. Where did it come from?¡± Fang Zhou snapped irritably, ¡°None of your business. Let go and let me finish you off.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, uninterested in the Evil Slaying Sword, flicked it away with a finger, smiling, ¡°My disciple, don¡¯t be so hot-tempered. How about your master helps you cool down?¡± Fang Zhou tilted his head to look at her, ¡°How would you cool me down?¡± He wasn¡¯t expecting anything, just curious what new trick this woman might pull. Ling Xiaoyue lightly tapped on a wine pot, and a cloudy mist of steam emerged, floating over Fang Zhou¡¯s head. Instantly realizing what she was up to, Fang Zhou hurriedly turned tail and ran, as the cloud of steam poured down like rain, chasing after him. His voice echoed from afar: ¡°You¡¯re ruthless. This isn¡¯t over~~¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily, bent down to pick up the corpses of two demon foxes from the ground, and followed. ¡­ Supported by incredible determination and survival instinct, the young apprentice leaned against the wall, slowly making his way step by step out of the Hu mansion. On the silent and deserted street late at night, he had just walked a short distance when he saw another figure across the street, also leaning against the wall, slowly moving forward. Their eyes met, and both froze at the same time. ¡°Disciple, what happened to you?¡± ¡°Master, what happened to you?¡± The person across the street was Master Ji, her body covered in wounds, her clothes soaked in blood as if she had just been fished out of a pool of blood. The young apprentice was in no better condition, covered in gashes, a true bloody mess. The master and disciple stared at each other, and the apprentice couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Ah, let¡¯s just leave it unsaid¡­¡± ¡°Leave it unsaid my ass!¡± Master Ji suddenly erupted, ¡°Those damned demon foxes only bully the weak and fear the strong, constantly attacking me. And that woman, why do I bump into her everywhere? She¡¯s truly a curse¡­¡± As she spoke, she covered her face with her hands, starting to cry, ¡°Why am I so unlucky? I just want to earn money peacefully, to be respected as a great master, to live a life counting money leisurely. Is that too much to ask? Such a simple wish, yet I can¡¯t achieve it. Why does fate conspire against me? Life is so hard, wuwuwu.¡± The young apprentice softly said, ¡°Master¡­¡± Master Ji said irritably, ¡°What is it, can¡¯t you let me cry in peace?¡± The young apprentice pointed at Master Ji¡¯s body, weakly saying, ¡°You¡¯re gushing blood, Master.¡± Master Ji looked down and noticed the wounds on her body actively bleeding out. Her eyes rolled back as she collapsed backward. ¡°Master.¡± The young apprentice hurried over, his eyes brimming with tears. Master Ji held the young apprentice¡¯s hand, weakly saying, ¡°Disciple, let¡¯s go quickly, let¡¯s leave Qingde City, the further from that woman, the better.¡± Tearfully, the apprentice nodded and helped Master Ji up. The master and disciple, supporting each other, slowly disappeared into the night on the long street. 0 comment Chapter 28: 28. The sixth generation and 55 Kai Chapter 28: 28. The sixth generation and 55 Kai Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After the demon fox was killed, the servants of the Hu Family scattered and fled, leaving not a single one behind. These people were all recently recruited by the demon fox and had yet to feel any sense of loyalty to the Hu Family. The vast Hu estate was left with only the bedridden Miss Hu; out of over a hundred and thirty people in the Hu Family, she was the sole survivor, fortunate enough to have her life spared. Perhaps she still held some utility for the demon fox, otherwise she would have been thrown into the cellar to be devoured long ago. Fang Zhou could only bring this lady who had narrowly escaped disaster back to the Wang Family, entrusting her to the care of Wang Fulai, a longtime friend of the Hu Family. As for whether Wang Fulai would seize the opportunity to covet the Hu estate, that was beyond Fang Zhou¡¯s concern; it was up to Miss Hu¡¯s own fortune. After returning to the Wang Family, Wang Fulai was extremely shocked to hear what had happened to the Hu mansion, but she did not immediately send people to take over the Hu estate. Instead, she decided to wait for Miss Hu to regain consciousness before asking her and then making further plans. Whether Wang Fulai¡¯s statement was sincere or just for show, it raised people¡¯s respect for her. After two more days staying at the Wang Family, Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou prepared to leave. The master and disciple had originally planned only to freeload in Qingde City and incidentally solve some minor troubles for the Wang Family, but they did not anticipate spending several days here. However, the gains were significant, and Fang Zhou¡¯s combat experience had also improved greatly. Outside the gates of Qingde City, almost the entire Wang Family came out to see Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou off, including Miss Hu who had just woken up not long before, arriving in a carriage to bid farewell to her life-saving benefactors. After a brief exchange, Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou mounted their horses and left, the horses being gifts from the Wang Family. Watching the master and disciple grow smaller in the distance on the road, Wang Fulai couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly. She very much wanted to foster a good relationship with the master and disciple and keep in touch, but she was also aware that this was wishful thinking, given the disparity in their status and identity. Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou both appeared amiable and easy to converse with, but Wang Fulai regarded this master-disciple pair as an exception. She had encountered many Cultivators; not to mention the distant ones, within Qingde City¡¯s Demon Extermination Bureau there were countless Cultivators, with whom Wang Fulai had much interaction in the past. Though not all of these Cultivators were arrogant, their demeanour was still aloof, with superficial courtesies, showing disdain for ordinary mortals. In this world, while it¡¯s easy for all women to cultivate, very few can actually take the first step on the path of Cultivation, which requires one-in-a-million talent. Once someone becomes a Cultivator, they start to consciously distance themselves from the mortals, the less serious among them feeling they simply stand on different grounds, while the more extreme ones might even feel they¡¯re no longer the same species. Among Cultivators, congenial ones like Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou are the anomaly. As Wang Fulai pondered, the curtains of the nearby carriage were quietly lifted, and a pair of large eyes stared fixedly at the departing master and disciple. Making a firm resolution. ¡­ After leaving Qingde City, Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue place her hand on the horse¡¯s head, her eyes slightly closed. Driven by curiosity, Fang Zhou asked: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Without opening her eyes, Ling Xiaoyue answered, ¡°Your master is enhancing Yue Ya¡¯er¡¯s blood and vitality, increasing its endurance.¡± Fang Zhou found it strange: ¡°Isn¡¯t Your Yue Ya¡¯er already dead?¡± Not only was it dead, but it had also been sold for a high price, and its body was very likely already in the stomachs of a group led by Wang Fulai, which was a pitiable thought. ¡°Yes, but the one you¡¯re referring to was the fifth generation Yue Ya¡¯er.¡± Ling Xiaoyue opened her eyes and smiled, ¡°This one your master is with now is the sixth generation Yue Ya¡¯er. Come, greet your senior brother.¡± Saying this, she patted the horse¡¯s head gently, and the horse neighed cheerfully towards Fang Zhou as if it possessed great intelligence. Fang Zhou was amazed; this horse, like the one he was currently riding, was gifted by Wang Fulai. They were both very ordinary horses, yet how had hers suddenly become so spirited? And it even appeared extremely majestic, moving with strong strides and bright eyes. Upon closer thought, Fang Zhou understood, damn, no wonder she wasn¡¯t at all saddened by the death of that highly enduring precious horse within the Wang Family¡ªit was a man-made treasure and moreover, she could produce them herself. Even in death, it could still be sold at a high price, truly killing two birds with one stone. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know whether to praise her for her business acumen or criticize her for squandering such a remarkable talent. But he was extremely envious of this ability. ¡°Do the same for my horse, too.¡± Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue that since she can buff horses, there¡¯s no reason not to use it for free. Ling Xiaoyue smiled and raised two fingers to Fang Zhou, then twisted them. Fang Zhou knew she would react like this, so he had already thought of a strategy. He shrugged, ¡°No money. Anyway, when the horse is broken, it¡¯ll be with your money that we¡¯ll buy a new one.¡± Sure enough, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s expression changed slightly, but she still wanted to resist, ¡°The money for buying horses will also be added to your account.¡± Fang Zhou looked up at the sky, with a sigh, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Spending money is still spending, right? Who doesn¡¯t know how to? The shining silver disappears in an instant, ah, it pains me to think about it.¡± The phrase ¡°spending money¡± seemed to be Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s natural enemy. The more Fang Zhou emphasized spending money, the uglier Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s face got, as if someone was trying to steal her money. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Shut up. I work so hard to earn money, and here you are thinking about spending it all, such a wastrel. Get over here!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s lips curved slightly, revealing a successful smile. The two switched horses, with Ling Xiaoyue buffing Fang Zhou¡¯s horse into a strong and enduring steed. Fang Zhou named his horse ¡°Fifty-Fifty,¡± because Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s horse was the sixth generation. Thus his horse was called Fifty-Fifty, which seemed to match very well with the other horse¡¯s name. ¡°Right, you mentioned earning money just now.¡± Fang Zhou suddenly remembered something very important, something that he had been neglecting until Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s comment reminded him. ¡°The money you earned in Qingde City, there¡¯s a share for me too, right?¡± Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s face turned incredulously, ¡°That¡¯s money for maintaining the Xuanji Sect, it¡¯s my money. Are you planning to rebel by eyeing your master¡¯s money?¡± Fang Zhou retorted discontentedly, ¡°I helped with the demon extermination too, if not for merit, I¡¯ve put in the hard work, surely I¡¯m entitled to a share of that money.¡± ¡°Without me, you would have been turned into jerky by the Xuanji Sect¡¯s old hens long ago, and now you have the audacity to ask me for money, it¡¯s outrageous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a separate issue, besides, haven¡¯t I already given you the entry-level gift? With such a big sacrifice, you can¡¯t just not give me even a hundred silver pieces, can you?¡± The master and disciple started arguing about whether money should be given or not, right in the middle of the road, and their voices got louder and louder. Ling Xiaoyue piled up one fallacious argument after another, but Fang Zhou kept focusing on the main issue, which was about getting the money. Eventually, Ling Xiaoyue had enough and simply spurred her horse to flee, ¡°Dream on. I would rather die poor, die outside, jump off a cliff, but I will never give you a single cent.¡± Fang Zhou quickly spurred his horse to catch up, ¡°Stop, give me back what¡¯s mine!¡± ¡­ Jingnan State, to the southwest, the eight-thousand-peaks Demon Mountain. In the dense forest darkening the sky, a Dog Demon lay in a pool of blood, its eyes filled with unwillingness. The scarred Xiaoyue leant against a tree for support, barely standing. ¡°You¡¯re pushing yourself too hard; this will affect your health.¡± A female voice suddenly emerged, seemingly from the ancient ring on Xiaoyue¡¯s finger. Xiaoyue shook her head, ¡°No worries, I can still hold up.¡± A determined expression appeared on her delicate face, and flames seemed to burn in her eyes. Three more years, just three more years. After three years, I will go to the Xuanji Sect myself to reclaim everything I¡¯ve lost. Just wait for it, Fang Zhou! 0 comment Chapter 29: My disciple has the makings of a racehorse. Chapter 29: My disciple has the makings of a racehorse. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After leaving Qingde City, Fang Zhou returned to a life of braving the elements. In this era of backward productivity, traveling in the wilderness is no easy feat; every meal comprises dry rations and raw water, and even defecating requires vigilance against snakes in the bushes. At night, when he cultivated, the overwhelming mosquitoes nearly drained him dry, forcing him to wrap himself up tightly. Comparatively, Ling Xiaoyue seemed to be on a leisurely outing, her clothes always free of dust, never bitten by mosquitoes, and since she practiced fasting, she didn¡¯t need to eat or drink at all. She spent her days lying on the horse¡¯s back, drinking, sleeping, and basking in the sun, in utmost comfort. Fang Zhou was incredibly envious, but this harsh life was also a tempering experience for him. He could feel his cultivation making smooth progress; although he was still in the Qi Refining Realm (entry-level), he could feel his physique slowly strengthening each day. His spiritual energy constantly nourished his body, and his physical condition had improved from an 8-point rating to a 9. A 9-point physique gave him extraordinary strength and endurance, making his cultivation twice as effective with half the effort. After leaving Qingde City, they passed through several small cities and villages, but the master and disciple pair did not stop. They continued their journey northward. According to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s estimate, they had traveled half of the distance, and in another half a month, they would be back at their sect. In the Nameless Valley. ¡°Ptui~¡± Li Dahong spat out a chewed-up root she had been nibbling on, looked up at the afternoon sun, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and felt impatient. Turning her head, she saw her underlings scattered across the grass, either lying around or hiding in the shade, their weapons tossed aside. Li Dahong felt a surge of anger and couldn¡¯t help but yell: ¡°Everyone, get up! You¡¯re all slouching around without a hint of proper posture; you show no image of bandits at all, completely tarnishing the reputation of Black Wind Stronghold.¡± The bandits responded in a disorganized chorus but remained immovable as if their bottoms had taken root, only Li Huanghua from the same village made a bitter face and said to Li Dahong: ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s too hot, let the sisters rest a bit longer.¡± Li Dahong, enraged, retorted: ¡°Resting, always resting, has it not been over a month since Black Wind Stronghold has had any action? Haven¡¯t you rested enough? At this rate, we¡¯ll all end up drinking the northwest wind.¡± Li Huanghua sighed: ¡°There are demons on this mountain route, and there are fewer and fewer merchants and travelers passing through. We can¡¯t keep waiting here, doing nothing.¡± She glanced up at the sky and continued, ¡°Big sister, no one travels the mountain path at this hour. Let¡¯s head back early; once the hour of the rooster passes, the demon will come out to prey on humans and livestock again.¡± Li Dahong hesitated, but just then, a bandit who had been out scouting ran back excitedly: ¡°Big sister, fat sheep have arrived, fat sheep have arrived!¡± Upon hearing this, Li Dahong immediately raised her big saber and shouted, ¡°Sisters, follow me, it¡¯s time to make a move!¡± The rest of the bandits quickly picked up their weapons, following Li Dahong in a clamor. In the winding valleys, two horses were making their way along the mountain path; Xiaoyue lay on the horseback with legs crossed, swaying leisurely while humming an unknown tune. Fang Zhou took the chance to refine his Qi. After all, Sunshine Tribe¡¯s horse was quite spiritual, following closely behind the sixth generation without straying. Whoosh¡ª A sudden whooshing noise was followed by an arrow striking the ground right in front of the two horses. Then, with a battle cry, more than ten bandits charged down from both sides of the valley, encircling Fang Zhou and Xiaoyue. Xiaoyue kept reclining on the horseback soaking up the sun, undisturbed by the arrival of the bandits, not even bothering to open her eyes. Fang Zhou, on the other hand, was on alert. Throughout their journey, they had encountered several groups of bandits. Initially, Xiaoyue handled them, but later on, Fang Zhou took over. But these bandits were truly a sore sight for the eyes, unbearable to behold. These bandits were all women but ugly as sin, save for a few leaders with intact clothing, the rest wearing only trousers, exposing their chests under the bright sun, a degradation of moral hierarchy. Had they had good figures, Fang Zhou would not mind at all, but some of them hung down to their bellies, while others could sling them over the shoulder. On closer inspection, Fang Zhou felt he might go blind. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± Li Dahong let out a hearty laugh. As bandits, they feared two things the most: being unable to overpower the enemy, and the fat sheep getting away. Yet these two fat sheep stood foolishly in place, not attempting to run. ¡°Sisters!¡± Li Dahong pointed her saber at Fang Zhou, her eyes gleaming, ¡°Kill the woman, but this man is tall and sturdy, definitely robust and durable. Take him back to serve as a stud!¡± The bandits cheered, eyes fixed on Fang Zhou, as if they wanted to pull him off his horse right then and there. Fang Zhou felt a chill run through his body, while Xiaoyue next to him opened her eyes, sat up, and laughed along with the bandits, ¡°I never expected, my disciple, that you would have the makings of a stud. This is a great fortune for our sect. In the future, should the sect need money, we could have you mate for a fee, ten thousand taels a time, non-negotiable!¡± ¡°` ¡°Shut up, you double-dealer.¡± Fang Zhou picked up the Evil Slaying Sword, leaped from the horseback, traversed two zhang in the air, and with a slash aimed straight at Li Dahong. Li Dahong was taken aback and hurriedly raised his broadsword to block. Clang! With a crisp sound, the broadsword in Li Dahong¡¯s hand was instantly cut into two pieces, and a wound was cleaved open on his chest, with blood flowing profusely. Li Dahong screamed miserably and fell, only then did the bandits nearby wave their weapons and rush forward. Fang Zhou activated the Qi Guiding Technique, instantly enveloping his body in spiritual energy, significantly increasing his speed and strength. There was no need to do so against a group of bandits, Fang Zhou was doing this to improve the proficiency of the Qi Guiding Technique. Moreover, one should go all out even when hunting a rabbit, not to underestimate any enemy and avoid capsizing in the gutter. The bandits only felt a blur before they lost sight of Fang Zhou, followed by the crackling sound of weapons being severed and dropping, their inferior weapons were no match for a casual strike of the Evil Slaying Sword. Li Dahong, clutching his wound, got up and took to his heels. Fang Zhou noticed Li Dahong¡¯s fleeing figure, flitted forwards, and blocked her path, his sword resting on her neck. Thud. Li Dahong immediately knelt down, begging loudly, ¡°Hero, please spare my life!¡± The bandits were stunned in place, and a few more agile ones also turned tail and ran, but Fang Zhou picked up a few stones and shot them down one by one. After a dozen or so breaths, the group of bandits were all kneeling in front of Fang Zhou, like students waiting for a scolding from their teacher. According to Fang Zhou¡¯s plan, he intended to teach these bandits a small lesson, cutting off a hand or a foot would be sufficient. However, Ling Xiaoyue had different intentions. In her eyes, bandits were nothing more than buzzing mosquitoes, yet even the smallest mosquito had its flesh. She sat on her horseback, smiling at the kneeling bandits, ¡°If you want to live, that can be arranged, but you¡¯ll have to pay for your lives.¡± The bandits shook their heads in unison, falling over themselves to declare that they belonged to the Sunshine Tribe, usually spending any money they robbed immediately, without any savings. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s gaze fell on Li Dahong, who immediately tried to ingratiate herself with a smile, ¡°Both of you heroes, we¡¯re all miserable paupers, forced to take up this trade because we can¡¯t survive, we don¡¯t have any money.¡± Yet Ling Xiaoyue did not relent and asked again, ¡°Really, not even a single copper coin? Wealth is external, it can¡¯t be brought into life nor carried into death, life is more important after all. You¡¯d better think carefully.¡± The bandits shook their heads again, and Li Dahong repeated her appeasing smile, ¡°Truly, we don¡¯t have anything, not a single copper coin. It has been hard enough for me to lead my sisters in scraping a living. To take care of them, I eat chaff and swallow vegetables and don¡¯t even spend extra on clothing. How could I have saved much money?¡± ¡°Big sister!¡± The bandits looked at Li Dahong through tearful eyes, touched. ¡°What a deep sisterly love, you have moved me.¡± Ling Xiaoyue followed with a clap of her hands and then raised a finger, a glimmer of light shining at the fingertip. She pointed her finger at the bandits, and the glimmer of light immediately shot out, circling around each of the bandits before disappearing. The observing Fang Zhou asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Every once in a while, Ling Xiaoyue would bring out some new trick, piquing Fang Zhou¡¯s interest. ¡°A type of Truth-telling Technique, you¡¯ll understand very soon.¡± Ling Xiaoyue answered nonchalantly, and then with a smile told the bandits, ¡°Come on, tell me how much secret money you have. No need to rush, one by one, starting with you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue casually pointed to the one on the far left, who immediately blurted out, ¡°Five taels!¡± After speaking, she quickly covered her mouth, looking shocked. Next to her, the other bandits started confessing their hidden savings, counting off one after another like a roll call. ¡°Four taels!¡± ¡°Seven taels!¡± ¡°Three taels!¡± ¡°Five taels!¡± ¡°One tael!¡± ¡°Five thousand taels!¡± ¡°` 0 comment Chapter 30: 30. Im Han Li from Qingyun Sect Chapter 30: 30. I¡¯m Han Li from Qingyun Sect Editor: Dragon Boat Translation All the bandits present shuddered and turned their heads in unison, even Fang Zhou was taken aback, as a four-digit figure suddenly emerged among the single digits. Amid everyone¡¯s astonished gazes, Li Dahong clutched her mouth tightly, her face flushed red, but it was no use, everyone heard the figure ¡®five thousand taels¡¯ burst from her mouth. Truly impressive, truly worthy of the big sister who cares so deeply for her sisters, to have saved five thousand taels in such a godforsaken place. The bandits stared at Li Dahong with fiery eyes, their mouths emitting ¡°damn hell¡± and ¡°screw it¡± and other endearing words of comfort, this passionate sisterly love was indeed touching. Ling Xiaoyue picked a few of the more honest bandits and instructed them to go back to Black Wind Stronghold and bring Li Dahong¡¯s private stash. To prevent these bandits from running off with the money, Ling Xiaoyue specially cursed them, stating that if they dared to flee, a terrible curse would strike them dead. Even though Fang Zhou felt Ling Xiaoyue was bluffing, these bandits took it seriously, their faces paled with fear, and they hurriedly ran back. Black Wind Stronghold was not close to this valley, and the journey back and forth took quite some time. By the time dusk fell and the rooster crowing had passed, several bandits hurried back, carrying a cloth bag filled with five thousand taels they had found in Li Dahong¡¯s room. ¡°My money, my money!¡± Li Dahong cried hysterically seeing the bag of money, it was the accumulation of many years, now all gone in an instant. Just like toiling tirelessly for decades, just to return to ground zero overnight. ¡°Leave me some, please, just leave me some.¡± Li Dahong cried out to Fang Zhou, her voice hoarse, her expression one of extreme agony. Fang Zhou felt a bit of compassion, feeling as though he himself was the bandit who had robbed her of her hard-earned money. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m too kind-hearted, I¡¯ll leave you some.¡± Fang Zhou felt his pockets and pulled out a copper coin, tossing it in front of Li Dahong. Li Dahong picked up the copper coin from the ground, crying even louder. Unexpectedly, even a small den of bandits like this had such a big windfall, Ling Xiaoyue was delighted, using her Sleeve Universe to pocket the money. Fang Zhou watched jealously, dying to learn this technique, but unfortunately, Ling Xiaoyue, the stingy, refused to teach him. ¡°Heaven carries the virtue of all things good, seeing how pitiful you all are, I¡¯ll let you go.¡± After collecting the money, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mood greatly improved, graciously allowing the bandits to leave without a harsh word. But Fang Zhou felt that Ling Xiaoyue was definitely not that kind-hearted, she was likely fishing, letting the bandits go now only to profit again when they return, what a ruthless woman. The bandits thanked Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou profusely, supporting each other as they left, the greatly distressed Li Dahong was also carried away by her sisters. ¡°Let¡¯s go, disciple.¡± Ling Xiaoyue lay back down, propped up her legs, and hummed a tune, utterly pleased with this unexpected fortune. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, ¡°That technique Sleeve Universe¡­¡± Ling Xiaoyue knew what Fang Zhou wanted to say, and with her eyes closed, she answered, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s the rush, you¡¯re not ready to learn yet, when your realm is sufficient, I as your master will naturally teach you.¡± Tch~ I think you¡¯re just making excuses. Fang Zhou inwardly snorted, then slapped the horses¡¯ necks, signaling them to catch up with the rest. Just as they walked out, a faint scream suddenly erupted from behind. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was startled, quickly turning back, only to see the bandits climbing the side slope of the valley being swept up by a mysterious black wind, their screams emanating from within it. ¡°What is that?!¡± Fang Zhou turned to Ling Xiaoyue and realized she had sat back up on her horse, her expression calm, ¡°Daring to devour humans in front of me, quite bold!¡± She threw her wine pot forward, transforming it into a dark streak headed towards the black wind on the mountain slope. With a clash of the pot, the black wind instantly dispersed, throwing the bandits entangled within it outward. The wine pot spun back into Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s hand. Just when Fang Zhou thought it was over, a surge of black wind blew towards them, making him unable to open his eyes, and the horses were also pushed back repeatedly. The entire valley was engulfed in flying sand and stones, the stirred dust darkening the skies. Ling Xiaoyue sat unmoved on her horse, but the black wind finally caused her clothes and hair to sway slightly. Faintly within the black wind, a massive ghostly head appeared, over three meters in both length and width, opening its mouth wide towards Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°Cover your ears.¡± Following Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s warning, Fang Zhou quickly lifted his hands to cover his ears. He saw Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s lips part slightly, and the next moment, a thunderous roar burst forth from her mouth. ¡°Scram!¡± This sound, like thunder falling from the ninth heaven, shook both horses to their knees. Fang Zhou felt his brain about to burst, and his eardrums almost shattered. The rolling sonic wave immediately shattered the approaching ghostly head, scattered the surrounding black winds, and cleared the sky of dust. The entire valley became pristine, with the moon hanging high and stars sparse. Fang Zhou stared blankly at Ling Xiaoyue, slowly regaining his hearing. This was his second time witnessing Ling Xiaoyue taking action, but the power displayed far surpassed the previous occasion. This was not a battle he could partake in. Fang Zhou initially thought that after this period of cultivation and strengthening, the gap between him and Ling Xiaoyue might have narrowed somewhat, yet it seemed to be growing wider. No, he never truly knew just how formidable Ling Xiaoyue could be. His cheap master always appeared enigmatic in his eyes. At this rate, when would he be able to surpass her? ¡°What¡¯s wrong, disciple? You look stunned.¡± Ling Xiaoyue, proud with her hands on her hips, teased, ¡°Are you overwhelmed by your master¡¯s invincible posture? Don¡¯t make a fuss; this is just standard procedure for me. Under my guidance, someday you can be just as badass.¡± Fang Zhou, snapped back to reality by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s smug appearance, grumbled, ¡°Overwhelmed my ass, you almost burst my ears.¡± ¡°Haha, no need to feel shy; I¡¯ve already seen admiration in your eyes.¡± ¡°That five thousand taels just now¡­¡± ¡°Ungrateful disciple!¡± Fang Zhou intentionally climbed upon the valley slope, only to find that the bandits were either dead or injured, with limbs scattered everywhere. Few had survived. It made him silent, not out of sympathy for the bandits, but wondering if he himself could resist the black wind in their shoes. He secretly had an answer; facing the black wind, his fate might not differ much from these bandits. This was an absolute gap in strength, not something a few skills could make up for. Fang Zhou thought he was already quite strong, but this was clearly one of life¡¯s great illusions. After questioning a surviving bandit, he learned that this mountain range had seen demon appearances starting this year, usually emerging around dusk to prey on livestock and people. Today, the bandits had lingered too long, drawing the demon¡¯s attention. Fang Zhou returned to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s side and the master-disciple duo resumed their journey. The demon did not reappear, dead or alive unknown. ¡°What was that thing?¡± Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°It seemed very powerful, what realm is it?¡± ¡°A Mountain Demon with considerable cultivation.¡± Ling Xiaoyue yawned casually, ¡°It¡¯s probably just touched the threshold of the Innate Realm. If it lived another few decades, it might have succeeded in reaching the Innate Realm, but it¡¯s heavily injured by your master now, leaving potential complications. Whether it can achieve the Innate is uncertain now.¡± This was somewhat beyond Fang Zhou¡¯s expectation. He thought the demon had at least reached the Innate Realm but turned out it had only neared the threshold, needing decades more to attain Innate. Fang Zhou thought the Innate Realm was trivial, now realizing his misjudgment¡ªthe Innate Realm was not weak; it was his perception that was narrow. Considering this, an urgent sense arose in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart. The world was dangerous; demons freely devoured humans, and yet he was so weak, only able to travel safely under Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s protection. He must cultivate more diligently, as Ling Xiaoyue was not entirely reliable; after all, she had already lost one disciple. Eventually, he must rely on his own strength to truly stand on his own. Fang Zhou seized each minute, continuing his cultivation on horseback without wasting a second. As the night deepened, the master-disciple duo found an old, dilapidated Land God Temple beside the mountain path and rested inside. Just after gathering some dry wood to start a campfire, Fang Zhou noticed Ling Xiaoyue lying down on a pile of straw. ¡°Disciple, tonight is the night of the full moon. Your master will meditate quietly overnight. Guard for me, and no matter what happens, do not wake me; otherwise, there is a risk of me deviating from my path.¡± This was the first time Fang Zhou saw Ling Xiaoyue speaking so seriously, and he expressed surprise, ¡°Really?¡± Ling Xiaoyue glanced at him, ¡°Would I joke about this?¡± Yet Fang Zhou was worried, perhaps Ling Xiaoyue had been injured during today¡¯s encounter with the Mountain Demon? He wanted to ask more, but saw Ling Xiaoyue had already closed her eyes and fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing becoming faint. Fang Zhou had no choice but to drop the subject. Soon, faint footsteps sounded outside the Land God Temple; someone was approaching. Fang Zhou turned his head to look toward the entrance, and saw a dark-skinned young girl walking in. Seeing Fang Zhou and his master, the girl paused, then greeted with a bow. ¡°I am Han Li from Qingyun Sect, passing through here. Please allow me to rest.¡± 0 comment Chapter 31: 31. The more people who watch, the bigger the scene gets. Chapter 31: 31. The more people who watch, the bigger the scene gets. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Qingyun Sect¡¯s Han Li? Fang Zhou felt the name sounded familiar, yet upon thinking carefully, he could not recall where he had heard it before. He nodded slightly and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s alright, please make yourself comfortable.¡± Han Li then turned around to sit in a corner, placed her longsword beside her, and took out a small bun from her knapsack, nibbling on it slowly. Fang Zhou added a few sticks to the campfire and casually scrutinized her. This Miss Han Li, dressed simply and covered in dust, seemed to have traveled a great distance. Traveling alone through such remote, wild terrain, she must be skilled, either a martial expert or a cultivator. He had encountered many such individuals on the road; it was nothing unusual. However, Fang Zhou was surprised that Han Li¡¯s gaze towards him was pure, devoid of the overt possessive desire seen in other women. Such a person must either be simple in thought or steadfast in spirit, capable of walking this world alone; either type was far from ordinary. Without Fang Zhou noticing, Han Li also stealthily observed him with a hidden gaze. She was cautious, not looking too much, fearing it might stir trouble or misinterpretation. Fang Zhou took out some dry food, skewered it on a stick, and roasted it in the fire, not for the taste but to change the flavor, as the constant bland dry food almost made him nauseous. Wild animals were not hard to catch, but since he didn¡¯t know how to prepare them nor did he carry seasonings, occasionally caught animals ended up too gamey and rank, worse than the dry food. As for Ling Xiaoyue, don¡¯t even expect her help; what culinary skills could a person who doesn¡¯t eat possess? After slightly charring the dry food, Fang Zhou took a bite; still tasteless, he swallowed it down begrudgingly. If not for the increased food intake required by his cultivation, he wouldn¡¯t bother with such stuff. After eating, Fang Zhou looked resentfully at Ling Xiaoyue, who was lying on a heap of dry grass, already sound asleep. Unaffected by Fang Zhou¡¯s resentful gaze and uncaring even if she saw it. Fang Zhou deeply suspected that her claim of quiet meditation was false and that sleeping was her reality. He had to take out more dry food to roast, as he was still not full. Soon, footsteps approached the Land God Temple from outside. Fang Zhou found it strange; weren¡¯t the mountains haunted by demons? Why were there so many people out at night, seemingly too careless about the Mountain Demon at the threshold of the Innate Realm? Shortly after, a man and a woman entered the Land God Temple, both of whom had the kind of expendable faces in a movie that wouldn¡¯t survive more than two scenes. Upon their entry, Fang Zhou noticed that Han Li, who sat in the corner, instantly grasped her longsword, readying herself. Hmm? Is there a good show to watch? Fang Zhou immediately perked up. As the man and woman entered the temple, the woman was first caught by Fang Zhou¡¯s presence, her eyes lit up upon seeing his face, and she licked her lips with her tongue. The man beside her nudged her with his elbow, pointing toward the corner. Upon seeing Han Li, the woman immediately became furious: ¡°Han, you fled here? It¡¯s divine help indeed, I¡¯d like to see you escape this time!¡± Han Li drew her longsword, slowly stood up with a calm face: ¡°Lingnan Twin Fiends, our grievances were settled, why do you persist in chasing me!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lingnan Double Heroes, not Lingnan Twin Fiends!¡± The woman furiously said, ¡°I¡¯ve suffered for nothing, all my friends and family are gone, yet you, Han, managed to escape completely, fleeing so fast.¡± Han Li furrowed her brows, ¡°It was your own greed that was at fault, why involve me?¡± ¡°Bullshit, had you not been a coward, we would never have fallen into that trap!¡± Han Li immediately lost any interest in arguing, knowing this woman was purposefully shifting the blame onto her. She could only say, ¡°What do you want?¡± A glint of greed appeared in the woman¡¯s eyes: ¡°Hand over the item you obtained in Black Jiao Cave, and I might spare your life.¡± Han Li knew her intentions were for this and shook her head: ¡°I don¡¯t have it on me, I didn¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Spit it out, who are you fooling.¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends drew their weapons, ready to attack: ¡°Ignorant fool, if you don¡¯t hand over the item, tonight will be your end.¡± Han Li glanced at Fang Zhou, who was enjoying his dry food as if watching an entertaining show, totally unconcerned. Though the dry food lacked flavor, the unfolding drama served as a decent side dish. Han Li¡¯s look also turned the attention of the Lingnan Twin Fiends toward Fang Zhou; perhaps out of a brain lapse, the woman then suggested to Fang Zhou: ¡°The blades are blind, and it would be unfortunate to cause accidental harm. Perhaps you should rest elsewhere?¡± She was likely thinking of seizing the Secret Treasure from Han Li and didn¡¯t want these two strangers to develop a covetous notion, better to send them away first. Yet, Fang Zhou was displeased, thinking: I¡¯m enjoying the show, and now you want to kick me out? Believe it or not, should I call someone? Fang Zhou turned his head towards Ling Xiaoyue, wanting to wake her up: Hey, they¡¯re trying to kick us out, stop sleeping! But he eventually didn¡¯t try to speak up, to avoid provoking Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wrath. He turned back, sat upright, and firmly told the Lingnan Twin Fiends, ¡°No switching!¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends exchanged glances, just as Fang Zhou thought they might start something with him, he saw them coordinate a simultaneous attack on Han Li. Han Li swung her sword to meet her adversaries, three of them tangled into a fight, and the Land God Temple suddenly filled with flashes of blades and swords, an intense killing aura pervading the air. Fang Zhou watched intently, the first impression of the trio¡¯s battle was its speed, extremely fast, and the strength immense, with the clashing of the sword and saber ringing painfully in the ears and sparks flying everywhere. All three of them were at least at the Qi Refining Realm, and they must have learned how to channel Spiritual Energy to enhance themselves. As for the techniques, they rather gave an impression of being flashy. He imagined himself facing the Lingnan Twin Fiends, thinking that if he used all his techniques, he should be able to win. The Land God Temple was a bit cramped, the three of them couldn¡¯t fully utilize their skills, Han Li, fighting two against one, found it somewhat difficult. Spotting a gap, she extricated herself from the melee and escaped from the temple. The Lingnan Twin Fiends quickly pursued her. Fang Zhou also hurried to the entrance of the Land God Temple, only to find that Han Li didn¡¯t get far before she was caught by the Lingnan Twin Fiends, and the trio started fighting again in the open space in front of the temple. Leaning against the doorway, Fang Zhou ate some dry food while watching the battle with great interest, clapping at the exciting parts. ¡°Fight, beat the hell out of them, don¡¯t stop!¡± ¡°Right, right there, a left hook, hit her.¡± ¡°Exciting!¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends were irritated, grating their teeth; this cheeky kid always cheered when they were losing, it was blatantly obvious whose side he was on. After killing Han Li, they decided they must fix this irritating brat. Han Li found it somewhat amusing yet distracting due to Fang Zhou¡¯s heckling, causing the Lingnan Twin Fiends to make frequent mistakes which provided her with several opportunities. Even so, she gradually fell into a disadvantage as she was up against two and both Fiends were not weaker than her in realm. Han Li hesitated; she had a trump card to kill the Lingnan Twin Fiends, but with Fang Zhou, a stranger present, she dared not use it lightly. Being inherently cautious, she didn¡¯t want to expose her trump card to a stranger. During Han Li¡¯s hesitation, she suddenly saw the Lingnan Twin Fiends look towards the distance with terrified expressions on their faces. Han Li also quickly looked in that direction and saw a black wind swirling from afar under the night sky. A demon?! This thought surfaced in her mind, causing her to turn pale with fright. All three immediately stopped fighting and turned to run. Watching the spectacle, Fang Zhou also noticed the black wind, and he knew more clearly what it was. Why is this ghostly thing still here? Could it be here seeking revenge on Xiaoyue and him? Fang Zhou hurriedly ran back into the Land God Temple, to Xiaoyue¡¯s side, shouting, ¡°Wake the hell up and fight!¡± He reached out to shake her awake but hesitated before touching her. He wasn¡¯t sure if Xiaoyue was joking or serious about going berserk; if it was the latter, waking her now would spell disaster. Outside, the winds grew fiercer, accompanied by screams. Suddenly, thud, thud, thud, three sounds as Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends crashed through the old temple door, falling inside. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Lingnan Twin Fiends each lost an arm, blood spattering everywhere; while Han Li, though her limbs were intact, was pale and bleeding from the mouth. In an instant, all three were heavily wounded. Outside, the wind started to die down as heavy footsteps approached; the Mountain Demon was getting closer. Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends, regardless of their injuries, scrambled back in terror, the demon outside easily capable of killing them as if they were mere chickens. Fang Zhou gritted his teeth and knew he had to face it head-on. The next moment, he saw the Mountain Demon step into the Land God Temple. The Mountain Demon resembled a gigantic ape with thick fur and a human face full of wrinkles, a long single horn on its forehead. As the Mountain Demon stepped into the temple, the Lingnan Twin Fiends screamed in terror. Han Li trembled, her hand reaching into her chest, tightly gripping a small green bottle. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart raced; he clutched the Evil Slaying Sword tight, took a deep breath, and shouted, ¡°Stop!¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends forgot to scream, and Han Li stopped shaking; all three turned their heads to look at him. Has this man gone mad? The Mountain Demon also paused briefly, staring at Fang Zhou with a somewhat familiar feeling, then its gaze fell on Xiaoyue lying on the hay, looking even more familiar. It studied them closely and, once it recognized them, its whole body shook, eyes widening like bronze bells. ¡°Little demon¡­ Little demon didn¡¯t know the esteemed presence was here, disturbing your tranquil cultivation, please forgive me.¡± The Mountain Demon, mimicking human gestures, bowed deeply with hands held forward. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart leaped. There¡¯s a chance! 0 comment Chapter 32: 32. Being a person is really too much of a failure Chapter 32: 32. Being a person is really too much of a failure Editor: Dragon Boat Translation ¡°` The entire Land God Temple fell silent. Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends were dumbfounded; they looked at the Mountain Demon, then at Fang Zhou, back at the Mountain Demon, and then once again at Fang Zhou. The three of them had their minds crash, somewhat unable to comprehend the current situation. Not receiving a response, the Mountain Demon began to shiver uncontrollably, its entire fur trembling. Fang Zhou let out a deep sigh of relief; if he couldn¡¯t bluff the Mountain Demon, he was ready to pick up Ling Xiaoyue and use her as a human bomb to throw out. Fortunately, the Mountain Demon was sensible, and it seemed that Ling Xiaoyue had indeed taught it a profound lesson today. Fang Zhou did not relax his vigilance, knowing that this moment was the most critical¡ªif the Mountain Demon saw through the act now, everyone would die in its rage. So, stay calm, stay steady! He cleared his throat, imitating an authoritative tone: ¡°Well then, aren¡¯t you going to scram?¡± After saying that, his heart started thumping wildly, his pulse racing to his throat. The Mountain Demon sneakily glanced at Ling Xiaoyue, and seeing no reaction from her, felt like it had been granted amnesty. ¡°Your honor, sparing me is a mercy I¡¯ll never forget.¡± It dared not lift its head, maintaining the gesture of a bowed head and clasped hands, retreating step by step until after leaving the Land God Temple, it immediately transformed into a gust of black wind, fleeing as if for its life. The Land God Temple fell silent again. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart suddenly settled back down, feeling his entire back soaked, drenched in sweat. Han Li let out a deep sigh of relief, casting a complicated, covert glance at Fang Zhou, not daring to look any longer. On the other side, the Lingnan Twin Fiends were crying tears of joy, having thought they were surely doomed tonight, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a stroke of luck and retrieved their lives. But after the joy, fear began to rise again¡ªthe two had not forgotten the disrespectful words they had said to Fang Zhou just moments before. Yet they also couldn¡¯t help but feel aggrieved¡ªwho would have known this expert was masquerading as a harmless youth; maybe he even enjoyed playing this kind of deceiving game. But the preferences of an expert are not something we dare to question, nor ask. ¡°Esteemed¡­ senior¡­¡± That woman hesitantly began to speak, as if intending to apologize, yet unsure of how to start. Fang Zhou directly said to the two: ¡°You two, scram as well.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± The Lingnan Twin Fiends were stunned. ¡°Ah what? Do I need to take action myself?¡± ¡°No, no! Of course not!¡± The two, disregarding their own injuries and the prospect of more trouble with Han Li, scrambled out of the Land God Temple, tumbling over each other. Now, scrambling away was much better than having this high-level being who could scare away a Mountain Demon personally drive them out. After driving away the two troublesome fellows, Fang Zhou glanced at Han Li. Han Li was tense all over, ready to flee at a moment¡¯s notice. But Fang Zhou didn¡¯t say anything and sat back down by the campfire. It wasn¡¯t until this moment that Fang Zhou truly relaxed, feeling an immense relief of having survived the ordeal. Lucky for him, his Oscar-level acting skills allowed him to scare away the Mountain Demon by leveraging Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s intimidation¡ªif there were any slip-up, the Mountain Demon could have killed him before Ling Xiaoyue woke up. This made Fang Zhou feel a surge of anxiety; if Ling Xiaoyue weren¡¯t here tonight, his fate, and that of Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends, wouldn¡¯t have been any better than what they had encountered with the bandits today. This was just one Mountain Demon, and the world is full of such demons and monsters. This bout of anxiety made Fang Zhou unable to sit still, and soon he stood up again, went outside the Land God Temple, found a large rock to sit on, and began to cultivate under the moonlight. Within the Land God Temple, Han Li glanced at the soundly sleeping Xiaoyue, took out a small vial from her bosom, and took a sip of the Extract Liquid inside. ¡°` After drinking it, her complexion immediately became rosy, and her breath steadied. Tucking the small bottle away, Han Li stood up from the ground, went to the door, and saw Fang Zhou cultivating on the rock. His eyes were tightly closed, his body sat upright, and his face with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes was calm as water, seemingly emitting a faint glow all around. Moonlight transformed into speckles of light, revolving around him. This scene made Han Li slightly distracted; she placed her hand on her slightly pounding chest, feeling her hastened heartbeat. After watching for a while, Han Li withdrew her gaze, left the Land God Temple, and walked into the forest. Lost in his cultivation, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when his nose suddenly caught a familiar fragrance. It was the scent of roast chicken. He opened his eyes and found that the moon had disappeared, and everything was pitch dark¡ªthe darkest time before dawn. Only the bonfire of the Land God Temple still shone, like the only light in this dark world. Fang Zhou jumped down from the rock and walked over, and as he approached, he discovered a pile of feathers on the ground at the entrance, showing some wild chicken had met its fate. Entering the temple, indeed, there was a golden brown roast wild chicken on the fire, big and fatty, with chicken grease dripping into the fire like water, making a sizzling sound. The one roasting the chicken was Han Li. Seeing Fang Zhou come in, she seemed a bit uneasy. Fang Zhou hurriedly tore off two strips of cloth and ran to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s side, stuffing them into her nostrils. If this fellow wakes up from the smell, no one else would get to eat. After doing this, Fang Zhou clapped his hands, turned to Han Li with a smile, and said, ¡°This chicken¡­ is it yours?¡± Han Li nodded her head, sat up straight, and gave Fang Zhou a deep bow, ¡°Senior, thank you for your rescue just now.¡± Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t refuse such favor given freely; he merely waved his hand, ¡°No need to call me senior. My surname is Fang, you can call me¡­ uh¡­¡± For a moment he didn¡¯t know what to have Han Li call him, and he didn¡¯t really want to reveal his name. ¡°Mr. Fang!¡± Han Li quickly adapted and changed her form of address. In this life, unlike Fang Zhou¡¯s previous life, the title of ¡®Mr.¡¯ was not common everywhere. In this world, regardless of gender, ¡®Mr.¡¯ is a very significant honorific. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t understand the intricacies behind this, but it sounded pleasant to the ear, so he didn¡¯t correct her, and then pointed to the roast chicken, his mouth already watering. Since leaving Qingde City, he had almost forgotten what meat tasted like. Han Li smiled gently and nodded, ¡°Mr. Fang¡¯s life-saving grace, Han Li has nothing to repay, but my culinary skills are fairly proficient, I hope they amuse you.¡± She had been on the road for many years and had lived alone for quite some time, having developed her cooking skills, and carried spices and salt with her, occasionally treating herself to something delicious. She had noticed Mr. Fang¡¯s troubled face when eating dry rations before, and had an idea, so she went out and caught a wild chicken, which indeed brought a smile to Mr. Fang¡¯s face. Han Li was quite pleased with her judgment and actions. When the chicken was ready, Fang Zhou and Han Li divided it between themselves, with Han Li taking only a leg, leaving the rest for Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou, eating the delicious roasted chicken, couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly. Others traveled to new worlds and conquered girls with their cooking, but it was he who was conquered by a girl¡¯s cooking. He felt like a complete failure as a person. ¡°Right, are the Lingnan Twin Fiends your enemies?¡± Fang Zhou chatted casually with Han Li while eating. It wasn¡¯t that he had any special thoughts; he just wanted to learn about the situation in the Cultivation World from Han Li. Fang Zhou¡¯s initial understanding of the Cultivation World came from Li Ruyu, but Li Ruyu¡¯s explanations were very general, somewhat ambiguous, and concealed a lot of important information. As for Ling Xiaoyue, well, there was even less hope; she had no interest in discussing mundane matters with Fang Zhou, and engaging in conversation with her, it wouldn¡¯t be long before she¡¯d drag it off-topic. Thus, Fang Zhou¡¯s understanding of the true situation of the Cultivation World could be said to be completely in the dark. 0 comment Chapter 33: 33. The style suddenly went awry. Chapter 33: 33. The style suddenly went awry. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation In Jingnan State¡¯s Lingnan Territory, a rumor has perennially circulated, claiming that a Black Jiao lurks within the Lingnan Swamp, and within the dwelling of this Black Jiao¡ªa Jiao Dragon Cave¡ªeven more so lies a Secret Treasure. Han Li¡¯s Qingyun Sect unexpectedly came into possession of a treasure map concerning Black Jiao Cave, but somehow the news leaked out, inciting the covetous stares of many fellow Cultivation seekers. After a fierce scramble, the Qingyun Sect suffered heavy casualties and had no choice but to offer up the treasure map. Together with the Lingnan seekers, they formed a treasure hunting party and set off to the swamp in search of the treasure. Han Li and the Lingnan Twin Fiends were naturally also in the treasure hunting party. Following the map, they smoothly located the Black Jiao Cave, but upon entering it, to their alarm, they awoke the Black Jiao who was in secluded Cultivation. Almost all members of the hunting party were killed or injured, with only a handful escaping with their lives. Thanks to her high vigilance and quick escape, Han Li fled before the Black Jiao awoke; the Lingnan Twin Fiends, due to their excessive greed, fell into a trap. Although they eventually escaped successfully, their friends and family all perished within the Black Jiao Cave. The Lingnan Twin Fiends attributed the death of their relatives to Han Li, convinced that she had acquired the Secret Treasure of the Black Jiao Cave, hence they relentlessly pursued her. After finishing off the roast chicken, Fang Zhou also learned from Han Li about some of the basic circumstances of the Cultivation World in Jingnan State. The Cultivation World in Jingnan State can be divided into three strata. The lowest level comprises the independent cultivators without sect or lineage, the most numerous of all, but mostly they lead insubstantial lives, relying on deception or a modicum of skill to make a living¡ªMaster Ji could be counted among the independents. The middle stratum includes small sects with complete heritage and Cultivation families bound by blood. Both Qingyun Sect and the Lingnan Twin Fiends belong to this category. The highest stratum consists of the Major Sects towering above all, sects with systematic techniques and traditions, a large number of disciples, and affiliated secular forces, with powerful beings in command. Xuanji Sect is one such Major Sect, teeming with disciples and home to Golden Core Realm powerhouses, a domineering Cultivation force in Jingnan State. Han Li spoke of Xuanji Sect with a tinge of envy. With her aptitude, Xuanji Sect was out of her reach. She could only join a minor sect like Qingyun Sect. Now that Qingyun Sect was decimated because of the Black Jiao Cave incident, she had fallen to the status of an independent cultivator without sect or lineage. However, Fang Zhou was somewhat startled upon hearing this; Xuanji Sect was incredibly formidable. He had thought Li Ruyu was just boasting, but it turned out she was telling the truth. Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue could be said to have grievously offended Xuanji Sect; should they meet again, swords might cross. It seems one mustn¡¯t reveal their name and origin rashly in the future, lest Xuanji Sect come knocking. While Han Li found Fang Zhou¡¯s ignorance of these commonalities strange, she did not doubt his strength. Anyone capable of terrifying a ferocious demon into speaking human language is no ordinary person. Within the Cultivation World, it is not unheard of for experts to engage deeply in Cultivation and remain oblivious to worldly affairs. As the two chatted away, the outside world welcomed the sunrise and the sky was suffused with morning glow. Ling Xiaoyue, who had slept through the night, finally woke up at this time, stretching languidly, ¡°Mmm~~ I haven¡¯t slept this well in a long time¡­ What is this, who stuffed my nose?¡± She removed the two strips of cloth stuffed in her nose, then saw Han Li sitting together with Fang Zhou and was taken aback: ¡°Disciple, I didn¡¯t watch over you for just one night, and you¡¯ve been scooped up already, who is this little sow?¡± Han Li, who had been curiously observing Ling Xiaoyue, showed an embarrassed expression upon hearing this. How could this woman speak so carelessly? She also took note of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s way of addressing Fang Zhou. Disciple? Fang Zhou, however, glared at Ling Xiaoyue; had it not been for this woman falling asleep, last night wouldn¡¯t have been so perilous. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Fang Zhou said discontentedly, ¡°This lady is Han Li, whom we happened to come across last night and who sought shelter.¡± He recounted the events of last night once again, especially emphasizing how he remained calm in the face of danger and ultimately relied on his astonishing reaction and wit to scare off the Mountain Demon, preventing the tragic fate of Ling Xiaoyue being devoured by a demon in her sleep. While listening to Fang Zhou¡¯s story, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes were fixed on the chicken bones on the ground, discontentedly saying, ¡°That¡¯s going too far, eating without even calling for your teacher.¡± A vein instantly popped on Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead. Aren¡¯t you focusing on the wrong thing here? He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that if we woke you up, you¡¯d be possessed?¡± ¡°How could it be so easy to be possessed,¡± Ling Xiaoyue retorted, blaming Fang Zhou¡¯s poor reading comprehension. ¡°I was just joking with you. Can¡¯t you tell? I¡¯ve always told you to read more¡­¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t hold back his anger anymore and picked up a large stone to throw at her, but she dodged it with a gleeful laugh. Han Li watched the two of them curiously, listening to the conversation between Fang Zhou and Ling Xiaoyue, and she vaguely guessed something, but her face showed no sign of it. Ling Xiaoyue looked towards Han Li and said with a laugh, ¡°Oh dear, I apologize, young lady. I was a bit groggy from just waking up. Seeing the two of you sitting so close together, I thought you might have had a fling last night.¡± Ling Xiaoyue claimed to be embarrassed, but her face showed no sign of embarrassment at all. She patted Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder: ¡°But it¡¯s okay if you did have a fling; my disciple is as virile as a dragon, capable of handling four or five sows like you with no problem.¡± Fang Zhou drew his sword and swung at her: ¡°Shut up, shameless old woman.¡± Ling Xiaoyue dodged Fang Zhou¡¯s sword: ¡°Hehe, your teacher will always be seventeen.¡± Han Li quickly tried to explain: ¡°Senior, please don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I have neither overstepped with Mr. Fang, nor dare to offend.¡± Ling Xiaoyue sidled up to Han Li, put her arm around her shoulder, and said with a beaming smile: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I know you wouldn¡¯t dare, but do you want to? No need to deny it, everyone appreciates beauty, and it¡¯s not illegal to fantasize. Even if you imagine my disciple in eighteen positions in your mind, I won¡¯t blame you. How about we exchange notes? I often picture him in a hundred and eight positions in my mind, hehehe.¡± Han Li¡¯s face finally turned slightly red, embarrassed not knowing where to put her hands and feet, she could only weakly say: ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± She was cautious by nature, liked to weigh up situations, and conducted herself with restraint, able to handle all sorts of people. Yet this was the first time she had encountered someone like Ling Xiaoyue who made her feel at a complete loss. As for whether Han Li had really imagined Fang Zhou in three hundred and sixty different positions, only a ghost would know. Fang Zhou really couldn¡¯t stand it anymore; what had been a very pure, serious, and solemn atmosphere just moments ago had been completely twisted by this woman as soon as she woke up, heading straight into lewd territory. Would you die if you didn¡¯t ¡°drive the car¡± (a euphemism for indulging in sexual innuendos)? Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t bear to listen anymore and could only say to Han Li: ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense.¡± Then he turned and left the Land God Temple to find the sixth generation and 55Kai. After Fang Zhou left, Ling Xiaoyue glanced at Han Li¡¯s chest: ¡°Oh, hiding something good there.¡± Han Li was startled and instinctively covered the small bottle in her bosom. Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m not interested in your precious trinket.¡± She walked towards the outside of the Land God Temple, while Han Li stared at her back, her heart all tangled up. She never expected that her biggest secret would be seen through in an instant, and the other party seemed to disdain it. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. 0 comment Chapter 34: 34. On the left is a tree, and on the right is also a tree. Chapter 34: 34. On the left is a tree, and on the right is also a tree. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Outside the Land God Temple, Fang Zhou retrieved the sixth generation and No. 55, two man-made treasure horses, which mixed with the horse Han Li had ridden. Han Li¡¯s horse also looked extraordinarily spirited. There was only one mountain path, and evidently, Han Li shared the same route as Fang Zhou and his disciple. Therefore, Fang Zhou invited Han Li to accompany them. He was merely being polite, yet to his surprise, after Han Li glanced at Ling Xiaoyue, she actually agreed to his proposal. Fang Zhou, having extended the invitation, found it inappropriate to reject her now. He silently resolved to avoid polite overtures in the future. The trio then left the Land God Temple and set out together, proceeding along the mountain path. On the way, the situation Fang Zhou was worried about did not occur. Ling Xiaoyue did not continue to harass Han Li, nor did she tease him. Instead, she lay on the horse¡¯s back, drinking and basking in the sun as always. Han Li seemed to lack any interest in conversing and followed in silence behind the two. Fang Zhou then started his cultivation practice on horseback. He had a hunch that he was about to reach the entry-level bottleneck and that by continuing to cultivate, he should be able to break through to a new stage in the Qi Refining Realm. While Fang Zhou was cultivating, he suddenly heard Han Li speak from behind. ¡°Mr. Fang, have you also come here for the secret treasure of Wild Tomb Ridge?¡± Before Fang Zhou could reply, Ling Xiaoyue suddenly sat up, ¡°Wild Tomb Ridge has a secret treasure?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s reaction confirmed that the master and disciple duo were clueless about Wild Tomb Ridge. Understanding this, Han Li explained. After escaping from Black Jiao Cave, she was not unscathed. The Black Jiao Dragon was powerful, capable of spewing toxic miasma. Even a mere whiff of this Jiao Poison could lead to poisoning. Han Li could not avoid the Jiao Poison while she was inside Black Jiao Cave, and though the poison would not activate immediately, it was a hidden danger that would inflict greater harm on her body the longer it was left untreated. After leaving Lingnan, Han Li searched everywhere for a cure to the poison. By chance, she heard that in Jing Chu Territory¡¯s Wild Tomb Ridge, a secret treasure associated with Buddhism had emerged. Buddhist artifacts were particularly known for their purifying capabilities, potentially able to cleanse the Jiao Poison, prompting Han Li to travel great distances to try her luck. The Lingnan Twin Fiends were also afflicted with the Jiao Poison. Presumably, they had the same idea as Han Li, which was why they encountered each other in these desolate outskirts, as the location wasn¡¯t far from Wild Tomb Ridge. After hearing Han Li¡¯s explanation, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes shone as she turned to look at Fang Zhou, ¡°Disciple, Wild Tomb Ridge is right on our way back to our sect. Do you think this could be fate?¡± Fate my ass. Fang Zhou wished he could spit on her face. Just a few days ago, she had clearly said that crossing over this range of mountains would allow them to continue along the banks of Jing Chu River without the need to scale any more ridges. So where did this essential stop at Wild Tomb Ridge suddenly come from? It was clear they had heard about the emergence of a secret treasure and wanted to join in on the excitement. Then, Han Li spoke to Ling Xiaoyue again, ¡°Senior, it¡¯s said that the grade of this treasure might be below that of a spirit artifact. It seems that a person of your caliber might not have a use for it?¡± Han Li was uncertain of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s realm but reasoned that someone who could scare off a demon near the Innate Realm must be at the Innate Realm or above. Generally, equipment with innate mana is called a magic artifact, and those with powerful mana and unique traits are spirit artifacts. Spirit artifacts or those of a higher grade are useful to cultivators in the Innate Realm. Anything below that is of little use to them. Of course, this is just a rough distinction, some items with special effects are difficult to summarize simply. Han Li¡¯s words seemed to be advising Ling Xiaoyue, to prevent disappointment later on, but they were not without the intent of probing. Unfortunately, she got the wrong person. If it were any other cultivator in the Innate Realm, they might have dismissed the comment, but who is Ling Xiaoyue? She¡¯s someone who wouldn¡¯t even spare a bandit¡¯s private stash. Thus, Ling Xiaoyue was not at all concerned about Han Li¡¯s words, just smilingly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I don¡¯t necessarily have to take it, just curious to see what the Secret Treasure looks like.¡± As a result, Fang Zhou¡¯s opinion was ignored, and Ling Xiaoyue happily decided to make a detour, oh no, to make a little side trip to Wild Tomb Ridge to see what the Secret Treasure looked like. After spending two days crossing this part of the mountain range, a fork in the road appeared ahead, one side was the Jing Chu River visible from afar, winding and twisting on the ground like a silver dragon, the other side continued along the mountain trail, shadowed by trees that blocked out the sun, with wild grass sprawling everywhere. The three of them continued deeper into the mountains on the mountain trail, Ling Xiaoyue also knew the location of Wild Tomb Ridge, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have uttered the rhetorical question, ¡°Wild Tomb Ridge has a Secret Treasure?¡± Wild Tomb Ridge is a mountain range that resembles a pile of tombs, with several stone peaks like tombstones piercing the sky at the front of the ridge. Objectively speaking, the terrain of Wild Tomb Ridge has a sense of artistry that could steal the show from nature itself, it¡¯s just unfortunate that it resembles a tomb, which gives it a bit of an unlucky connotation. The mountain path extends all the way to the foot of the mountain, and the path up the mountain even shows signs of man-made repairs. Moreover, according to Han Li, there was even a temple atop Wild Tomb Ridge. Fang Zhou felt that something was amiss upon hearing this; a temple popping up out of nowhere in the wilderness was definitely troublesome. Either there was a female ghost, oh no, a male ghost lingering inside, waiting to absorb the life force of passersby, or the monks were all monsters in disguise, deceiving people to come and eat them. Unfortunately, Fang Zhou¡¯s concerns were met with ridicule from Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°You¡¯re just unsophisticated, my disciple. Wild Tomb Ridge wasn¡¯t always known as that. It used to be called Immortal¡¯s Tomb, a fengshui treasure land. Many high officials from the previous dynasty were buried here. The Lanruo Temple on the mountain was once very popular, but as the previous dynasty fell, Immortal¡¯s Tomb turned into Wild Tomb Ridge, and Lanruo Temple also fell into decay, although there are still people there.¡± After hearing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou suddenly understood. He patted Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s shoulder and said with a laugh, ¡°I see, don¡¯t worry, whenever you die, I¡¯ll bury you in this fengshui treasure land.¡± Ling Xiaoyue also smiled, ¡°Your filial piety is fully felt by your master. When the time comes for your master to die, I will surely take you along, so you wouldn¡¯t be left alone in this world.¡± Han Li was speechless on the side, what kind of master and disciple were these? The master didn¡¯t act like a master, the disciple didn¡¯t act like a disciple. It was her first time seeing a disciple wish the master to die soon with a smile, and the master happily planning to take the disciple with them in death. Han Li suddenly felt tired, recalling her own time at Qingyun Sect, the trepidatious way she had to treat her master, not daring to even breathe loudly. The three of them climbed up the mountain, the dirt path turned into stone steps, with moss growing on both sides and only the middle polished smooth, presumably from frequent use. There was a pavilion halfway up the mountain, where one could enjoy the view of the surrounding scenery. Next to the pavilion was a large stone as tall as a person, with the words ¡°Immortal Points the Way¡± inscribed on it, signed by Zhong Tongxuan. According to Han Li¡¯s explanation, this Zhong Tongxuan was the last empress of the former dynasty. The three of them paused at the pavilion for a while, then continued up, finally reaching the top of Wild Tomb Ridge. A temple appeared before the three of them. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was a clearing covered in fallen leaves in front of the temple, and two tall trees stood on either side. On the left was a scholar tree, and on the right was also a scholar tree, with the temple gate sandwiched between them. Above the temple gate was a plaque, with three large characters written in a flowing and lively script. Lanruo Temple. 0 comment Chapter 35: 35. Dear benefactors are predestined with Buddha Chapter 35: 35. Dear benefactors are predestined with Buddha Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Lanruo, also known as Alanruo, is a Buddhist term that originally refers to the forest, denoting places of tranquility and remoteness, signifying a location to avoid the hustle and bustle of the human world ¡ª it¡¯s a general term for Buddhist monasteries. Therefore, monasteries are also commonly called Lanruo Temple. So don¡¯t just barge into Lanruo Temple shouting for Xiaoqian, you¡¯ll get chased out by the monks. The Lanruo Temple at Wild Tomb Ridge keeps its doors shut even in broad daylight, no wonder no one comes to offer incense, they don¡¯t even understand the principle of opening doors to welcome visitors. Han Li took the initiative to knock on the door, and after a short moment, the gate cracked open slightly, and a bald young monk peeked half her body out. Though Fang Zhou was mentally prepared, he still felt an overwhelming urge to comment upon seeing this bald young monk. This was a female monk. Why Fang Zhou could identify her at a glance? Because this young monk had quite the figure. The young monk put her hands together in a gesture of respect and asked, ¡°Are the three benefactors here to offer incense and worship Buddha?¡± Han Li replied with a clasped hand salute, ¡°Little Master, the three of us are passing through the area and hope to stay for a few nights. Could your temple do us this courtesy?¡± The young monk didn¡¯t say anything else, just nodded her head, then pushed the gate open to lead the three inside the temple. The temple covered a large area, and while many places looked old, none were in disrepair; it was clear that people maintained and cleaned them regularly. The young monk led the three to a side hall and came before a plump middle-aged female monk. ¡°Amitabha.¡± The female monk said with a smile, ¡°I am Hui Neng, the abbot of this temple. We welcome the three benefactors to our temple. Are you here to stay, to offer incense, or to seek the secret treasure?¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li had odd expressions; this monk didn¡¯t seem like a religious recluse but more like a businessman welcoming customers to his shop. However, Ling Xiaoyue inquired, ¡°Monk, do many people come here seeking the treasure?¡± Hui Neng nodded her head and explained with a smile, ¡°Indeed, ever since the news of the Secret Treasure was revealed, despite not knowing how the information leaked, many benefactors have traveled from afar to seek it. Some benefactors leave after seeing the treasure, while some choose to stay in our temple. The three of you are here for that as well, right?¡± Ling Xiaoyue, excitedly probing, asked, ¡°Tell us about this Secret Treasure, what¡¯s the deal? Is it real or fake?¡± With her hands joined together, Hui Neng assured with a solemn face, ¡°Of course it¡¯s real, monks do not speak lies.¡± She explained that the Secret Treasure was not actually in Lanruo Temple but at the site of the old Lanruo Temple, which was still a mountain away from their current location. The story began over a year ago when, unexpectedly one night, the monks of Lanruo Temple noticed seven-colored rosy clouds being emitted from the mountaintop at the site of the old Lanruo Temple and faint Buddha¡¯s voice and Buddhist chants could be heard. At that time, Hui Neng was already the abbot of the temple. Thrilled with the discovery and believing it was the arrival of the Buddha, she quickly led all the monks to go worship. By the time they reached the old site, the seven-colored rosy clouds and the Buddha¡¯s voice and chants had disappeared. Hui Neng was deeply disappointed, but she could feel that the old site had changed; originally a place of ordinariness, after the appearance of the seven-colored rosy clouds, it was now filled with Spiritual Energy, full of vitality. Since then, every several days or after about a month, seven-colored rosy clouds and Buddha¡¯s voice and chants would intermittently manifest at the site of the old Lanruo Temple. Hui Neng had organized multiple expeditions to investigate and even assigned people to live at the old site, but they could never determine the cause of the appearances. She initially ordered the monks to keep the matter a secret, but the truth eventually slipped through, and soon enough the news had leaked out, attracting many treasure-seekers. ¡°Three benefactors, if you want to witness the seven-colored rosy clouds and hear the Buddha¡¯s voice and chants for yourselves, you must do so at night. Since the dates of the Secret Treasure¡¯s appearances are erratic, you may need to extend your stay at our temple,¡± Hui Neng said with a chubby smiling face, resembling Maitreya Buddha. ¡°The three benefactors need not worry about missing it, for our temple has designated people to keep watch day and night. If the Secret Treasure emits the seven-colored rosy clouds, we will immediately inform you all. Additionally, we have constructed the Treasure Viewing Platform with an excellent vantage point, so there is no fear of missing the spectacle.¡± Hui Neng was like a passionate merchant, explaining the origins of the Secret Treasure and the timing and method of viewing it. Fang Zhou felt an exhausting inability to retort; he felt as if he had come not for treasure-seeking but for sightseeing at a tourist attraction, with Hui Neng resembling those businessmen in tourist areas, trying hard to sell to their guests. Stop, this isn¡¯t an adventure at all; you¡¯re killing the entire adventurous atmosphere. After Hui Neng spoke at length, she finally inquired, ¡°Have the three benefactors decided to stay in our temple?¡± What a silly question. After such a long trek through the mountains to get here, did you think we came just to have a drink of water? Han Li clasped her hands and said, ¡°Yes, thank you for your trouble, Master.¡± ¡°No trouble at all, no trouble at all.¡± Hui Neng smiled and took out a Merit Box, placing it in front of the three of them. Ling Xiaoyue immediately jumped, ¡°What, you want to charge us?¡± Hui Neng showed a helpless expression, ¡°Our temple has no farmland, and can only be maintained by the monks cultivating a few vegetable plots and occasional alms-seeking outside. Since the Secret Treasure has appeared, many believers have come from afar. Our temple is overwhelmed by providing food and lodging and had to resort to this solution. I hope the benefactors can understand.¡± Another person might have just paid up, as Hui Neng¡¯s words were indeed reasonable, but who was Ling Xiaoyue to comply? She immediately retorted, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten vegetarian meals at the Great Mercy Temple for a whole month without paying, and you want to charge me, in this shabby place? Besides, the three of us don¡¯t need to eat. Giving you money is simply letting you profit for nothing.¡± Shut up, you¡¯re the only one here who doesn¡¯t need to eat! Fang Zhou covered his face with his hand, feeling utterly ashamed. This woman, with tens of thousands of taels at her disposal, actually had the nerve to haggle over accommodation fees with a monk. Han Li also felt quite embarrassed. She had met many distinguished figures; some enthusiastic, some indifferent, some gentle, but this was her first time encountering someone as shameless as Ling Xiaoyue. She hastily took out some silver, ¡°I¡¯ll pay, I¡¯ll pay.¡± Ling Xiaoyue instantly had no objections and even gave Han Li a look of approval. Han Li responded with an awkward smile. Hui Neng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, ¡°Our dear hosts need not worry. Considering that many believers who come from afar might find it inconvenient to pay at times, our temple has specially introduced humanized services.¡± He took out a wooden board with three accommodation packages listed on it. Pilgrim Package: A ordinary Zen room with three vegetarian meals provided daily, a common seat at the Treasure Viewing Platform, for ten taels of silver per person. Layman¡¯s Package: A mid-grade Zen room, ample vegetarian meals and tea provided daily, help with feeding horses, a mid-grade seat at the Treasure Viewing Platform, for thirty taels per person. Buddha¡¯s Blessing Meal: A top-notch Zen room, gourmet tea, snacks, and supper provided daily, meals personally prepared by the temple¡¯s chief chef, top-quality feed for horses, a top-grade seat at the Treasure Viewing Platform, accompanied by the temple¡¯s abbot for a one-day tour of Lanruo Temple, and a personal guide to the old site when the Secret Treasure appears, for one hundred taels per person. When Fang Zhou saw these packages, he burst out laughing. Lanruo Temple really had stumbled upon a scheme; this Hui Neng was without a doubt a genius. Why are you still being an abbot? You should go down the mountain, give up monastic life, and go into business! With this kind of creativity, you¡¯re guaranteed to have a substantial income within three years, become wealthy in five, and achieve a lifetime of success in ten. Fang Zhou deeply suspected that the so-called Secret Treasure might not exist at all, and it was just a ploy by Hui Neng to attract visitors and boost the economy. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just now he was complaining that Lanruo Temple didn¡¯t even know the basics of doing business and receiving guests. Now he realized that he was the one who didn¡¯t understand business; the Great Monk was hiding his talents well. ¡°One hundred taels per person?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes widened, giving Hui Neng a menacing look, ¡°Not bad at business, are you, Monk? Even I wouldn¡¯t dare to charge so much for my services.¡± You¡¯re full of it! Fang Zhou looked at her with disdain. Hui Neng laughed naively, ¡°Not expensive, not expensive. Benefactor, this is specially prepared for those who are fated with Buddha. Buddha ferries the fated, can we really talk of expensiveness when it comes to Buddha¡¯s affairs? I see that our benefactors are fated with Buddha; why not try it out?¡± Fang Zhou translated Hui Neng¡¯s words in his head: This package is specially tailored for suckers. Do you want to give it a try? Ling Xiaoyue turned to look at Han Li, expectant. Han Li was embarrassed again. She had a little over a hundred taels with her, which was what she had casually saved up along her journey of Demon Extermination. A little over a hundred taels was a fortune to the ordinary people, but now it seemed to be slightly insufficient. Buying a Buddha¡¯s Blessing Meal for anyone would be unequal, and buying a Pilgrim Package for her two life-saving benefactors seemed a bit stingy. In the end, Han Li bit the bullet and purchased the Layman¡¯s Package for all three of them. After taking the money, Hui Neng immediately called a young monk in to arrange three mid-grade Zen rooms for the three lay practitioners. Their horses were also taken to the temple stables to be looked after by the monks. The three were led by the young monk to the rooms arranged for them. 0 comment Chapter 36: 36. Have I already been this awesome? Chapter 36: 36. Have I already been this awesome? Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Along the way, Fang Zhou encountered many monks, all of whom were women, which made him think that Lanruo Temple should not be called a monk¡¯s temple, but a nunnery instead. However, in this world where yin prevails over yang, there are no nuns, and all monks are referred to simply as monks, differentiated only as female monks and male monks. The meditation rooms arranged for the three of them were located behind the side hall, featuring a large courtyard with a huge locust tree planted in front of the entrance, and rows of houses within the courtyard. Just as the three of them stepped into the courtyard, the door of one of the houses suddenly opened, and a young woman came out. This woman, dressed in gray attire and carrying a longsword on her back, had an indifferent expression and a long scar on her left cheek. The woman in the gray attire surveyed Fang Zhou and his two companions, her gaze swept past Ling Xiaoyue and Han Li, lingering a bit longer on Fang Zhou¡¯s face before she left the courtyard straight away. Fang Zhou asked the young monk who was leading the way, ¡°Is this person also here to search for the Secret Treasure?¡± The young monk¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red, ¡°Yes, there are many such visitors in the temple who come to search for the Secret Treasure. They do not come out during the day and only appear at dinner time.¡± The three of them were assigned to three connected meditation rooms, furnished simply and spartanly, with only bedding, a table, and several stools. There was nothing else. Its only advantage was its cleanliness. Were the standard meditation rooms simply bare floor spaces then? The young monk informed the three that the latrines and baths were located at the back of the courtyard. They were allowed to move freely around the entire temple, and dinner started at the time of You (5-7 PM), which they had to get themselves in the temple¡¯s dining hall. After the young monk left, Ling Xiaoyue jumped onto the canopy of the locust tree to bask in the sun. After putting down her luggage, Han Li planned to stroll around Lanruo Temple to familiarize herself with the surroundings and asked Fang Zhou if he wanted to join. Fang Zhou shook his head and declined, hiding in his room for cultivation after she left. He recently felt that he was just a little bit away from advancing his realm in cultivation, but always failed to grasp it, feeling extremely uncomfortable in a stagnant state. There was also a considerable amount of Spiritual Energy accumulated in his body, which, aside from nourishing his body, was left to naturally dissipate. Fang Zhou did not know if other cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm experienced the same, but he himself felt it was a waste. Time always passed quickly during cultivation. When Fang Zhou heard the sound of a door opening next door, he emerged from his cultivation state and realized the sky outside had already darkened. He stretched lazily and stepped out of his room into the courtyard. At that moment, the woman in the gray attire who had left earlier returned. Perhaps because Fang Zhou was alone, her gaze towards him became unrestrained, sizing him up thoroughly as if wanting to strip him bare. Fang Zhou frowned slightly; he felt that the woman¡¯s gaze carried not just possessiveness but also a distinct hostility which made him uncomfortable. After a few seconds of mutual staring, the woman in the gray attire slightly curved the corners of her mouth into a silent smile, then entered her room and slammed the door shut. Fang Zhou stood in the courtyard for a while longer and looked up at the locust tree¡¯s canopy, but couldn¡¯t spot Ling Xiaoyue, unsure where she had wandered off. ¡°Mr. Fang.¡± Han Li¡¯s voice came from behind him. Fang Zhou turned around and saw her coming out from the next room. Han Li had already realized that the expert who had scared off the Mountain Demon at the Land God Temple that night was not Fang Zhou and guessed from his daily cultivation that he might be in the same Qi Refining Realm as her. But since Fang Zhou had indeed saved her life that night, she still hadn¡¯t changed her respectful way of addressing him. Fang Zhou, used to it from his previous life, didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with the title ¡°Mr. Fang¡± and did not correct her. Seeing Han Li, Fang Zhou suddenly remembered the issue he had contemplated before the cultivation session and asked her, ¡°What do you do with the excess Spiritual Energy accumulated inside your body after cultivation?¡± Han Li looked at him curiously, ¡°There isn¡¯t any excess. How could there be excess Spiritual Energy?¡± Thinking she might have misunderstood, Fang Zhou patiently explained, ¡°I mean the Spiritual Energy stored in the Dantian after cultivation, the bulging one.¡± Han Li¡¯s gaze became even stranger, but she didn¡¯t speak rashly. After pondering for a while, she solemnly said, ¡°Mr. Fang, usually when I cultivate for half a day, refine the Spiritual Energy to nourish my body through circulation, the Spiritual Energy left in my Dantian is less than a finger full.¡± Fang Zhou blinked and looked at her, wondering what kind of joke is this, then what is this bulging mass inside my Dantian that sometimes even feels uncomfortably swollen? Could it possibly be gas? Han Li patiently explained to Fang Zhou that unless one possesses the most top-tier techniques, the amount of Spiritual Energy refined in the Qi Refining Realm each time is not much, and after circulating it throughout the body, little remains. Even the top-tier Qi Refining Techniques wouldn¡¯t leave much Spiritual Energy after each cultivation session. Only when one achieves Perfection in Qi Refining can they store more Spiritual Energy in their body, in preparation for advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm. After listening to Han Li¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou fell silent, extremely shocked in his heart. He realized that if Han Li wasn¡¯t lying, then the New Moon Qi taught to him by Ling Xiaoyue is definitely not some common technique. He is only at the entry-level of the Qi Refining Realm, yet the Spiritual Energy stored in his Dantian after each cultivation session is so plentiful that it becomes uncomfortable, so much that it¡¯s unusable, which according to Han Li, even top-tier Qi Refining Techniques couldn¡¯t achieve. Fang Zhou suddenly remembered, when Ling Xiaoyue taught him New Moon Qi, she mentioned it was a Divine Skill bestowed by heaven. Could it be she wasn¡¯t just boasting? Fang Zhou found it hard to believe, mainly because Ling Xiaoyue often left an unreliable impression, far from that of a highly skilled master. He was eager to find Ling Xiaoyue to clarify this, but he had no idea where she had gone. Even without asking, Fang Zhou could guess her reaction; she would probably just stand with her hands on her hips, laughing grandly, ¡°Basic operations, trivial matter, sit down!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense; without Spiritual Energy, how do you enhance yourselves during fights?¡± Fang Zhou recalled another contradiction; he had seen Han Li and Lingnan Twin Fiends fighting, their strength and speed far surpassing normal humans. Weren¡¯t they using Spiritual Energy to enhance themselves in battle? At that moment, Fang Zhou thought these three must have also learned the Qi Gathering Technique like himself; otherwise, without the aid of Spiritual Energy, how could their skills be so good? When Fang Zhou raised this question, Han Li didn¡¯t show any sign of surprise. Fang Zhou was asking entry-level questions, how could Han Li not realize he had just started cultivating? Was it possible that Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t teach him these basics? ¡°Mr. Fang, I don¡¯t use Spiritual Energy to enhance myself during fights, and neither do the Lingnan Twin Fiends.¡± Han Li told Fang Zhou that their skills came from nourishing their bodies with Spiritual Energy over many years. The little Spiritual Energy gathered during regular cultivation wouldn¡¯t be enough to enhance themselves in battle; wouldn¡¯t it run out in just one breath? Fang Zhou pondered, ¡°Have you really not learned any Spiritual Energy Guiding Techniques? Like the kind that instantly spreads Spiritual Energy throughout the body?¡± Han Li helplessly shook her head, ¡°No, even if there was such a technique, there isn¡¯t enough Spiritual Energy to afford such luxury. I¡¯ve heard that in Major Sects, there might be such techniques that allow one to use Spiritual Energy to assist in fighting even in the Qi Refining Realm, but it can only temporarily direct it to the limbs, not instantly cover the whole body.¡± Fang Zhou fell silent again. He wanted to tell Han Li, how can there be none? The Qi Gathering Technique I am learning does exactly that. But he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to disclose such information to others. His impression of Ling Xiaoyue once again was shattered. What kind of background does this cheap master have, teaching him stuff, one more impressive than the other? ¡°May I ask,¡± Fang Zhou said to Han Li, ¡°what realm are you currently in? How long have you been cultivating? If it¡¯s inconvenient to talk about, then never mind.¡± Han Li hesitated for a moment, then answered, ¡°I am currently at Qi Refining Great Achievement, just a step away from Perfection. It has been five years since I started cultivating.¡± Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure if he should be happy; he had been cultivating for just over a month. If Han Li¡¯s combat power was only as shown at the Land God Temple, then Fang Zhou thought he could easily defeat her. Am I really that formidable already? However, this was just self-validation. Fang Zhou knew there was nothing outstanding about his intelligence or character. If he became stronger than Han Li in just a month, it was mainly due to the system, secondly due to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s techniques, and thirdly because of his cultivation aptitude, which even attracted the elders of Xuanji Sect to take him as a disciple. If the conditions were the same and it was a fair competition, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t think he could win against Han Li. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But that¡¯s how unjust the world is, true fairness never existed. Fang Zhou could only reflect on this in his mind, reminding himself not to be complacent. The Golden Finger must be used when necessary, we common people rely on it to live comfortably and sleep well. After their conversation, the sky had completely darkened, the time had passed Youshi, and the monastery¡¯s dining hall rang the mealtime bell. Yet, Ling Xiaoyue had not returned. 0 comment Chapter 37: 37. Someone with just a ladle will get cut. Chapter 37: 37. Someone with just a ladle will get cut. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation As the fifth bell sounded, Fang Zhou and Han Li arrived at the dining hall of the temple. The spacious dining hall was clearly divided into two sections. To the left, at a glance, there was a sea of shaved heads¡ªabout two dozen female monks of varying ages were seated around four large wooden tables, which were set with steamed buns, rice porridge, several cold dishes, and a big pot of mushroom soup. The other side consisted of several rows of small tables, apparently reserved for guests, sparsely seated with over a dozen people. Some were in groups, others were alone, keeping a considerable distance from each other. In the middle, four people were eating and drinking. Clearly, these dozen or so people were all here for the Secret Treasure. At a glance, Fang Zhou noticed that this group was entirely female, ages ranging from twenty to thirty. In other words, currently in the whole Lanruo Temple, Fang Zhou was the only man; the rest were all women. Tch, this feels a bit dangerous. As Fang Zhou just set foot in the dining hall, all eyes immediately turned to him. If there were spotlights, the scene would be pitch black with only him illuminated. In Fang Zhou¡¯s world, women are a kind of herd creature; as their number increases, they can get very bold. And if they hold an absolute majority, they would turn the tables and create pressure for men. And in this world, it was even more outrageous; the naked glances gave Fang Zhou the feeling of being a little white rabbit that had wandered into a wolf¡¯s den. The female monks¡¯ gazes were fervent and fearless. Though there were strict rules and precepts, looking a bit longer wouldn¡¯t lead to pregnancy, right? And those who came for the treasure were even more audacious, their eyes boldly wandering and lingering over Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, arms, and thighs. Fang Zhou felt a tingle on his scalp but still managed to appear calm and collected as he and Han Li found an empty table to sit down. A diligent little monk brought dinner to the two of them¡ªsteamed buns, rice porridge, a few cold dishes, a plate of stir-fried bok choy, and a bowl of mushroom soup. That was it; as expected, the meal was vegetarian¡ªit couldn¡¯t get any more plain. Fang Zhou stopped the little monk who was about to leave: ¡°How come they get to eat meat, but we don¡¯t?¡± Fang Zhou was referring to the four women sitting not far from him. It was clear that these four were together; their table was piled with meat and alcohol, several empty wine jars on the ground, and all four were flushed with drink. The little monk whispered, ¡°Please forgive us, benefactor. Our temple doesn¡¯t provide meat dishes. The meat for those benefactors was hunted outside by themselves, and the wine was brought by them too.¡± Fang Zhou nodded and after the little monk left, Han Li whispered, ¡°Master, should I go and hunt some game?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°No need to trouble yourself, this is fine.¡± He had just asked out of habit; it wasn¡¯t as if he absolutely needed meat, that would be too fussy. ¡°Hey, little brother over there~¡± It seemed that their conversation was overheard by the boisterous four; one of them lifted a wine jug and called out to Fang Zhou loudly, ¡°Want to eat meat? Come over then, big sister will feed you, haha.¡± The other three also started to make a racket: ¡°Come here, little brother, have a drink with your sisters; eat as much meat as you like.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and responded, ¡°Thank you, but you can enjoy it yourselves.¡± He did not want to cause trouble but overlooked something¡ªwhen dealing with drunks, one must never engage with them, otherwise, they would push it further. Sure enough, as soon as Fang Zhou replied, the four somewhat drunken women immediately got even more excited. ¡°Little brother, don¡¯t be shy, come on over.¡± ¡°Your sisters won¡¯t eat you, haha!¡± ¡°Come for a good time.¡± The clamor of these four made everyone else in the dining hall frown. The monks just watched, not daring to intervene; those who came in search of treasure kept to themselves, not wanting to get involved in trouble. Fueled by alcohol, the four were becoming increasingly offensive, spewing all sorts of vulgarities. Listening to these sleazy words, Fang Zhou had no reaction. As an old driver who had seen countless films, these mediocre vulgarities were no big deal to him. But this made it impossible to enjoy the meal, so Fang Zhou could only say to Han Li, ¡°Too noisy, let¡¯s go.¡± Han Li nodded and stood up to leave. Just as they were about to step out, a porcelain bowl flew past and crashed in front of them. Bang! The entire dining hall instantly fell silent. The woman who threw the bowl cockily raised a leg and said, ¡°Did I say you could leave? Our throats are hoarse from shouting for you, and you¡¯re trying to leave without having a few drinks?¡± Han Li swiftly stood in front of Fang Zhou, her hand on the hilt of her sword, quickly pondering for a countermeasure. ¡°What realm are these four people at, can you tell?¡± Han Li suddenly heard Fang Zhou¡¯s voice behind her, as if he were speaking right into her ear. Han Li instantly felt a numbness on her back and as if her limbs were stiffened, with her ears feeling hot and itchy. She hastily replied, ¡°They are all in the Qi Refining Realm, not higher than me.¡± ¡°Then step aside, let me handle this!¡± Fang Zhou put his hand on Han Li¡¯s shoulder and nudged her to the side. Summoning Hu Lai¡¯s invisible left hand, Fang Zhou grabbed a steaming bowl of mushroom soup from the table ahead and hurled it at the four women. Since there was no sign of Fang Zhou moving and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was invisible, the four women were caught completely off guard. The flying mushroom soup hit the leg-raising woman, splashing with a smack, soup scattering, bowl shattering, flipping her onto her back. The remaining three women turned in surprise, their reflexes dulled by alcohol, and seemed not to have realized what had happened. Fang Zhou, with the Evil Slaying Sword in hand, operated the Qi Gathering Technique, and spiritual energy instantly flooded his body. While the entire tavern¡¯s attention was captivated by the bowl of mushroom soup, Fang Zhou, as quick as a charging horse, reached the four women in a blink and thrust out three consecutive strikes. Each stab was simple and direct, yet executed effortlessly and as fast as lightning. After completing the three thrusts, the woman who had fallen was just getting up when Fang Zhou¡¯s sword was already at her neck, immobilizing her. Only then did the other three women realize Fang Zhou¡¯s approach, they stood up abruptly, but with three thumping sounds, their chests burst open, each revealing a fine cut oozing blood, and only then did they feel a slight pain. The three were completely unaware of when they had been attacked and stood still in shock, not even thinking to cover their exposed clothes. Fang Zhou surveyed them with a critical gaze, serious and stern, appreciating his handiwork. This was the Cloth Exploding Sword Technique derived from the straightforward swordsmanship, indeed formidable. His gaze finally settled on the woman who had spoken first. The woman¡¯s drunkenness was scared away, sweat beading on her forehead, and her lost wits finally returned. These four women were independent cultivators who feared nothing more than offending someone without reason. Unfortunately, after a few cups too many, their sense became inflated. Even the well-known proverb ¡°A swaying head may invite a blade¡± was forgotten. With her face flushed, whether from the hot soup or fear, she quickly bowed to Fang Zhou: ¡°Thank you for your mercy, esteemed one. We sisters were blind to see, are willing to accept punishment and ask for your forgiveness.¡± The other three women, also with lingering fears, bowed to apologize. They weren¡¯t fools; for Fang Zhou to easily inflict small cuts on their chests was even more difficult than stabbing them to death. To concede to such a master did not mean being cowardly. Fang Zhou softly said, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you with some advice, don¡¯t act arrogantly¡­ cough, I mean, there is always someone better than you, so stay humble.¡± That was close, nearly ruined the cool factor. Their heads sunk even lower as they chorused, ¡°We¡¯ve learned our lesson.¡± Fang Zhou calmly sheathed the Evil Slaying Sword, satisfied with the four women¡¯s admission of wrong. But your clothes are torn open at the chest, bowing and bending over in front of me like that isn¡¯t quite appropriate. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t look further, glancing around the tavern. Those who previously ogled him unabashedly now averted their gazes and refused to meet his eye. He left the tavern nonchalantly, Han Li at his side. After Fang Zhou left, the four women collapsed onto their chairs, filled with the relief of having survived a disaster. They were independent cultivators without any sect; even if Fang Zhou had killed them, there would be no one to avenge them. They looked at the remaining drinks on the table but dared not to touch them again. 0 comment Chapter 38: 38. No matter how funny, you cannot laugh Chapter 38: 38. No matter how funny, you cannot laugh Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Fang Zhou and Han Li left the dining hall and on their way back, Fang Zhou walked ahead while Han Li trailed a couple of steps behind. She watched his back, her expression calm but her eyes somewhat complicated. Originally, she thought that Mr. Fang had not been cultivating for long, and in Senior Ling¡¯s absence, she would need to protect him. But to her surprise, Mr. Fang was incredibly powerful. Well, of course, with someone as eminent as Senior Ling as his master, how weak could his disciple possibly be? Han Li recalled the skills Fang Zhou had displayed in the dining hall ¨C his strength, speed, and technique, all exceeded hers. She could not help but think back to the basic questions Fang Zhou asked, questions that even a novice would understand. Clearly so powerful, how could he possibly not know? For a time, Han Li couldn¡¯t figure out whether Fang Zhou was doing it on purpose or really didn¡¯t understand. Thinking to herself, her face slightly darkened and she couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft sigh. But she abruptly caught herself, quickly glanced at Fang Zhou, and seeing that he seemed unaware, she breathed a sigh of relief and couldn¡¯t resist tapping her own face with her hand. Han Li, what are you thinking? Stay calm. You need to be as composed and unruffled as Mr. Fang, with the boldness to remain unwavering even if Mount Tai were to collapse before you. Look at how he remained indifferent throughout, using force to intimidate those clowns as if it wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning. This breadth of mind and magnanimity is worth learning from. Han Li silently encouraged herself. Meanwhile, ahead of her, Fang Zhou¡¯s expression had become contorted in an effort to hold back laughter. He couldn¡¯t laugh, he had to maintain the poise of an eminent figure, no matter how hilarious the situation, he couldn¡¯t laugh. No good, can¡¯t hold it anymore! Hahahaha! That act I just put on, I give myself a hundred points!! Hahahahaha!!! Despite the laughter, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t entirely putting on an act for the sake of it. He deliberately showed off his skills to deter others, letting them understand that he¡¯s not easy to provoke. Otherwise, those rowdy bunch might secretly target him, causing endless trouble. Of course, it was mainly because of those four drunken women¡¯s harassment that Fang Zhou went along with the flow ¨C otherwise, he had no interest in showing off. There¡¯s a saying, those who jump too gladly die early, just like those who show off entice trouble; it¡¯s a warning that should always be remembered. Once he had composed himself, Fang Zhou turned back to Han Li and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you didn¡¯t even get to have your dinner because of me.¡± Han Li shook her head: ¡°It¡¯s alright, I still have some dry food to satisfy my hunger.¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a pause, she added, ¡°Mr. Fang, I didn¡¯t expect you to be so formidable¡­ much more so than me.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t praise me, otherwise, I might start to think I¡¯m really awesome.¡± Fang Zhou somewhat awkwardly waved his hand: ¡°Those four were drunk, their movements sluggish and that¡¯s the only reason I got the upper hand. If it had been a fair fight, the outcome would have been uncertain.¡± But Han Li didn¡¯t see it that way. Cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm have their bodies nourished by Spiritual Energy year-round; it¡¯s not so easy for them to get drunk. Those four women may have appeared drunk, but if a fight really broke out, they would sober up instantly. Han Li felt it wasn¡¯t that the four were slow, but that Fang Zhou was too fast and caught them off guard, especially with that triple thrust¡ª even Han Li couldn¡¯t see it clearly. If Fang Zhou had really intended to kill, those four wouldn¡¯t have had time to realize what happened before meeting their end. As Han Li was recalling that moment, Fang Zhou suddenly sniffed: ¡°Ah, that smells good~~ so familiar.¡± Han Li came back to her senses and also sniffed. There indeed was a meaty aroma in the air, and she immediately identified it: ¡°That¡¯s the smell of roast chicken.¡± After saying this, she paused abruptly and exchanged a glance with Fang Zhou. This is Monk Temple, where would roast chicken come from? The two immediately followed the scent, turning a corner into a graceful courtyard. The door of the house was closed tight, with the tantalizing aroma wafting from within. Fang Zhou walked over and pushed, the door swung open, revealing a true Zen room with a table in the center, on which were steaming dishes of chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Lanruo Temple¡¯s abbot Hui Neng was sitting behind the desk, holding a chicken leg in his hand, gnawing it with grease smeared all around his mouth. He lifted his head to look at the intruding Fang Zhou and Han Li, his mouth slightly agape, revealing several strands of meat stuck between his teeth. Fang Zhou complained unhappily, ¡°We were eating bland meat dishes out front while you were hiding here gorging on sumptuous food, and you call yourself a monk? What about the monastic rules and precepts?¡± Han Li also gave a nasty look, feeling like she had thrown her hundred taels of silver into the water. Finally realizing what happened, Hui Neng, unruffled, put down the chicken leg, brought his palms together in a gesture of respect, and said solemnly, ¡°Amitabha, the donors have misunderstood this poor monk. As the abbot of Lanruo Temple, I, of course, must observe the monastic rules and precepts. These chicken, duck, and fish are actually vegetarian chicken, vegetarian duck, vegetarian fish, made by the temple¡¯s chef using tofu. This poor monk consumes these things for cultivation, to temper my desire for taste.¡± Fang Zhou felt like giving Hui Neng a thumbs-up, thinking to himself that this monk is truly a genius in hypocrisy. ¡°Admirable, admirable, I highly respect a high monk like the master who strictly observes the precepts.¡± Fang Zhou walked in and picked up the chicken and duck from the table: ¡°Since they are all vegetarian chicken and duck, then there¡¯s no problem with me eating your two vegetarian dishes, right?¡± Hui Neng was about to stop him when Fang Zhou already hurried out of the room with the chicken and duck, moving faster than when he confronted those four women moments ago. Both Hui Neng and Han Li were shocked, their eyes widening. Was there such a play? Han Li hastily followed, but in two seconds, she ran back, picked up the vegetarian fish and pork knuckle from the table, showed Hui Neng an awkward yet polite smile, and dashed off swiftly. ¡°You two shameless rascals,¡± Hui Neng opened his mouth wide, eventually resenting, ¡°At least leave some for me!¡± Outside the door, a young monk peeked in, puzzled, ¡°Abbot, have you eaten enough?¡± Hui Neng glared at him: ¡°Eat your mischief, now hurry to the kitchen and bring me a few more dishes!¡± The young monk took the order and left. Hui Neng sat sulkingly in the meditation cell, thinking this place was not safe and that he had to find a new hiding spot the next day to avoid being found again. Before long, the young monk ran back with a panicked expression. ¡°Something bad happened, Abbot, the meals prepared for you in the kitchen have all been eaten.¡± Hui Neng¡¯s eyes darkened instantly. ¡­¡­ Fang Zhou and Han Li each held two plates of meat dishes as they returned to their quarters, setting them on the table to reveal a sumptuous dinner. The two exchanged glances and then laughed together. Fang Zhou guffawed heartily, while Han Li giggled modestly, her smile tinged with a hint of helplessness. She did not expect to follow Fang Zhou and do such a shameful act, to actually steal the abbot¡¯s dinner. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be shy, we deserve this. That baldy took our money and still had the nerve to hog all the food, truly shameless!¡± Lacking chopsticks, Fang Zhou directly grabbed a chicken leg with his hand and called Han Li to join. Han Li never expected Fang Zhou to be so rough as a man. Just then, there was a rustle from outside the door, and a figure dropped in and strode forward¡ªit turned out to be Ling Xiaoyue, who had been missing for a while. She fixed a furious glare on Fang Zhou upon seeing the food on the table: ¡°You wicked disciple, to enjoy good food without calling your master, burp~¡± After she finished, she belched, with the corners of her mouth still smeared with a bit of oil. Fang Zhou really wanted to throw the chicken leg in her face: ¡°Where did you run off to sneak some food?¡± Ling Xiaoyue immediately denied it: ¡°No, I just went for a casual stroll.¡± She sat down and reached for the pork knuckle. Fang Zhou quickly snatched the plate back: ¡°Stop it, you¡¯ve already had your fill and you¡¯re still fighting with us for food?¡± Ling Xiaoyue swiftly switched hands to grab the roast duck: ¡°Your master is only eighty percent full and can still eat.¡± ¡°Damn it, go away.¡± Unable to outmaneuver her, Fang Zhou hurried to stuff food in his mouth and didn¡¯t forget to remind Han Li: ¡°Eat quickly, or you won¡¯t even get to gnaw on the bones.¡± Watching this master-disciple pair scrapping over a few dishes with none of the mannerisms of the lofty figures they should be, Han Li couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and exasperated. Then she too quickly joined in the scramble for the dishes. 0 comment Chapter 39: 39. Master Hui Nengs Innate Talent Chapter 39: 39. Master Hui Neng¡¯s Innate Talent Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After nightfall, Fang Zhou specifically went to check out the Treasure Viewing Platform built by the monks. The so-called Treasure Viewing Platform is just a simple wooden structure about ten feet high, situated on the hillside beside Lanruo Temple. Climbing up Fang Zhou found, indeed, there were monks standing guard over it, keeping a constant watch on any movement regarding the Secret Treasure, day and night. From the platform, one could see the distant hilltop where the old site of Lanruo Temple was located, but now that it was night, it was pitch black over there and nothing could be seen clearly. According to Monk Hui Neng¡¯s description, if the Secret Treasure were to appear, that entire hilltop would emanate seven-colored rosy clouds, the light shooting straight into the sky, clearly visible from afar. Over the past ten or so days, there had been no appearance of the rosy clouds. According to the monks¡¯ estimates, it should be happening soon, with the longest intervals usually not exceeding half a month, but it was not expected tonight. Fang Zhou came down from the Treasure Viewing Platform and returned to his room. Han Li in the room next door had already gone to sleep, while Ling Xiaoyue had run up to perch in a locust tree¡¯s canopy again; that person was like a monkey, preferring to stay up in trees. There was no moon tonight, so Fang Zhou prepared to practice cultivation inside his room, not wanting to feed the mosquitoes outside. Before starting cultivation, however, he set up a simple early warning trap on the room door. After today¡¯s conflict with those four women, although he had managed to intimidate them, as the saying goes, people tend to stew in their own resentment when they yield for the moment and feel more aggrieved the more they think about it. Just in case they couldn¡¯t get over it and decided to sneak over for an assault in the middle of the night, and he happened to be cultivating, that would spell disaster. One doesn¡¯t worry about the ten thousand possibilities, but rather the one in ten thousand. Fang Zhou felt it was necessary to be vigilant. He couldn¡¯t rely on Ling Xiaoyue outside for everything; what if she slept through it all? At this moment, Fang Zhou was envious of Li Ruyu¡¯s methods¡ªcreating hidden exorcism charms and early warning measures on the ground that would automatically be triggered by someone or something evil. While all he could play with were manual devices¡ªthere was just too big of a gap. After setting the trap, Fang Zhou sat down cross-legged on the bed and began cultivation, but he also paid a bit of attention to his surroundings, not completely immersing himself in cultivation. Time ticked by second by second. The monks finished their evening chanting and turned in for the night, and the whole Lanruo Temple was silent. After midnight, the night was like water, everything deathly still. In the midst of cultivation, Fang Zhou suddenly smelled a faint scent of grass, like the aroma that drifts from a meadow after rain. Soon after, he heard a ¡°click¡± behind him as the early warning trap by the door was triggered. Fang Zhou instantly came out of his meditative state, but he didn¡¯t hurry to open his eyes. He continued to maintain the posture of cultivating, with the Evil Slaying Sword right beside him, ready for use. The room door creaked as it was gently pushed open, and a cool night breeze blew in. Fang Zhou listened intently but heard nothing; the smell of grass, however, became more pronounced. He slightly opened his eyes. A pale face was extremely close, two dark eyes staring into his own. ¡°Shit!¡± Fang Zhou cursed in shock, his body reflexively jerking backward as he grabbed for the Evil Slaying Sword beside him and swept forward. With a ¡°whoosh¡±, the Evil Slaying Sword sliced through the air, hitting nothing. Fang Zhou quickly retreated to the corner of the bed by the wall, scanning everywhere, but seeing nothing; the dimly lit room was empty, only the door standing wide open. He held his wildly beating chest and swallowed hard. What was that just now? A ghost or a hallucination? ¡°Hee hee!¡± A woman¡¯s laughter suddenly rang in his ear. Fang Zhou turned around and thrust out with his sword, piercing the wall. Suddenly, there was a chill at the back of his neck as if someone had touched him with an ice-cold hand. Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp exploded as he hastily circulated the Qi Gathering Technique, filling his body with Spiritual Energy, and threw a punch with all his might into the air, producing a sharp crack, yet he hit nothing. ¡°Hee hee¡­ Hee hee¡­¡± The woman¡¯s laughter sounded both far and near, seemingly mocking Fang Zhou. He vigilantly watched his surroundings, quickly considering countermeasures in his mind when he noticed the grass scent had vanished. Reacting quickly, he drew out the Evil Slaying Sword and jumped down from the bed to pursue. Once in the courtyard, the scent of grass was noticeable again but rapidly dissipating, seemingly drifting away in a certain direction. Ling Xiaoyue had enhanced his sense of smell, allowing him to detect the unique scent of demons and Evil Spirits. Remembering Ling Xiaoyue, Fang Zhou hurriedly looked up into the locust tree canopy, but the darkness of the night obscured everything; he couldn¡¯t tell if she was still up there. Fang Zhou called out a few times with no response, his teeth gritted with anger; this woman always disappeared when needed most. Perhaps having heard Fang Zhou¡¯s shouting, Han Li rushed out from the neighboring room: ¡°Mr. Fang, what has happened?¡± Fang Zhou was just about to explain to Han Li when he suddenly paused, staring at her face. He saw that someone had written two words on Han Li¡¯s face with a green liquid. On the left side was the character for ¡°black,¡± and on the right was the character for ¡°sister,¡± which together read ¡°Black Sister.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Li naturally had dark skin, so the words ¡°Black Sister¡± could be considered fitting, but no, now was not the time to think about this. ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± Han Li noticed Fang Zhou¡¯s gaze, reached up to wipe her face, and got a faint green color on her hand. She took a sniff, but there was no smell. Fang Zhou nodded: ¡°Someone wrote the words ¡®Black Sister¡¯ on the left and right sides of your face.¡± Han Li¡¯s scalp tingled in an instant. She didn¡¯t take these words as an insult, as a woman being darker and sturdier showed more spirit. What chilled her heart was the thought that someone had stealthily entered her room and written on her face without her noticing. If the person who wrote on her face had murderous intent, wouldn¡¯t she be headless by now? Fang Zhou guessed what she was thinking and comforted her: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it seems that it wasn¡¯t a person who wrote those words, but a ghost.¡± Han Li¡¯s face changed instantly: ¡°Ghost?!¡± She quickly asked, ¡°Where is Senior Ling?¡± ¡°Dead! Follow me.¡± Fang Zhou chased after the direction where the grass scent disappeared, with Han Li following behind him, not understanding what was happening. After a short chase, Fang Zhou caught the faint scent of grass again. He touched his body, finding a small bottle of revealing agent won from a mission. Drinking it would allow one to see invisible things. However, there was only one bottle and the effect lasted only thirty minutes, so it needed to be used with caution. He and Han Li followed the grass scent through the temple¡¯s twists and turns until they arrived at a secluded courtyard where the light was still on in one of the rooms. The grass scent disappeared in this courtyard, and moaning could be heard from inside the room. Fang Zhou thought someone was injured and rushed over, kicking the door open. The room was elegantly furnished, and in the center of it was a large bed where Monk Hui Neng was rolling in the sheets with a man. On seeing someone burst in, the man let out a shrill scream and hurriedly wrapped himself in the blanket. Monk Hui Neng, however, was dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at Fang Zhou and Han Li who had burst in, his gaze seemingly accusingly silent: Why is it you two again?! Han Li¡¯s face was filled with embarrassment, while Fang Zhou righteously scolded: ¡°Monk, how dare you claim you observe the precepts? Is your idea of observing the precepts rolling in the sheets with a man in the middle of the night?¡± This tactic was called preemptive accusation, seizing the moral high ground first, forcing the opponent to feel guilty and ashamed with the condemnation and criticism of conscience. However, Monk Hui Neng lived up to being an accomplished monk and quickly calmed down. She draped a silk Zen robe over herself and said to Fang Zhou and Han Li: ¡°Amitabha, the two benefactors have misunderstood me.¡± Fang Zhou stared at her, waiting to see what kind of excuse she could come up with this time. Monk Hui Neng pointed to the man on the bed and solemnly said: ¡°Just like the principle of vegetarian chicken, duck, and fish, this is a vegetarian man, a test of my resistance to the temptations of lust.¡± Fang Zhou almost exploded. He had no idea ¡°vegetarian human¡± could serve this purpose: ¡°Then how do you explain a man and a woman alone together in the middle of the night?¡± Monk Hui Neng joined her hands together: ¡°This vegetarian person is confused at heart, and I have been instructing and enlightening him overnight. Where is the fault in that?¡± Fang Zhou pointed at the pair: ¡°Is it a special feature of your monks¡¯ teachings not to wear clothes?¡± Monk Hui Neng replied unflinchingly, with a smile: ¡°Being unclothed is because sincerity is best shown when one has nothing to hide. I hope the two benefactors can understand.¡± Fang Zhou was convinced. He couldn¡¯t counter Monk Hui Neng¡¯s explanations and was completely persuaded. This monk¡¯s twisted logic was on par with Ling Xiaoyue; she had a set for every claim. ¡°Great Master,¡± Fang Zhou sincerely asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you particularly good at Finger Skill?¡± Monk Hui Neng let out a surprised sound: ¡°How did the benefactor come to know this? Indeed, I am proficient in the Three Finger Zen Technique.¡± Fang Zhou wondered: ¡°Why not the One Finger Zen?¡± Monk Hui Neng revealed a meaningful smile: ¡°The power of One Finger Zen is inadequate, just inadequate!¡± Fang Zhou understood and could only give her a thumbs up. Master, you¡¯re truly awesome! He couldn¡¯t help but lament: ¡°Great Master, it¡¯s a waste of your talent being a monk. As far as I know, there¡¯s a profession in Japan, on the coast of the East Sea that is the center of everyone¡¯s attention. The elite, like Master Sora Aoi, are famous far and wide, and even in the Central Plains region, they are known. Master Kato, famed for his Two-finger Zen, is also known across the world. With your talents, had you joined that field, you¡¯d probably be well-known everywhere by now.¡± Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s description, Monk Hui Neng couldn¡¯t help but yearn: ¡°Should there be a chance, I shall certainly go to Japan to see for myself.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together!¡± 0 comment Chapter 40: 40. Note it down in the notebook Chapter 40: 40. Note it down in the notebook Editor: Dragon Boat Translation After discussing the future, Hui Neng finally noticed the words ¡°black sister¡± on Han Li¡¯s face. ¡°What is this?¡± Fang Zhou told Hui Neng what had just happened, omitting the fact that his own nose could smell the scent of grass. After listening, Hui Neng looked solemn: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect those ghosts to start stirring again.¡± Fang Zhou asked, ¡°Master, was this temple haunted before?¡± Hui Neng nodded and clarified to Fang Zhou and Han Li. It turns out that Wild Tomb Ridge was previously called Immortal¡¯s Tomb, a geomantically treasured site where many high officials from previous dynasties were buried, including the imperial mausoleum of one of the emperors. However, since the fall of that dynasty, seemingly tied to the fate of the nation, the geomantic treasure of Immortal¡¯s Tomb was also destroyed. The souls of the dead buried there gathered together, nourished by the yin energy of the land veins, and gradually transformed into ghosts. Lanruo Temple was harassed by these ghosts, which is why it had to move to another building, letting the old site completely fall into ruin. Fang Zhou stared at her with an unhappy expression: ¡°Master, you didn¡¯t mention this when we arrived.¡± Hui Neng put his palms together and sighed, ¡°Ah, those ghosts haven¡¯t been active for many years, they reappeared tonight perhaps because there were too many outsiders at the temple this year.¡± Fang Zhou wanted to say more, but suddenly screams came from a distance. Hui Neng hurriedly said, ¡°Both of you, go see what happened first, while I change my clothes and follow you shortly.¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li exchanged glances and had no choice but to leave the courtyard and head towards where the screams were coming from. The screams originated from the front courtyard of Lanruo Temple, where many trees were planted. Upon arriving, they saw many people hanging from these trees, all outsiders who came for treasure hunting, and not a single monk. All of these people¡¯s limbs were bound in reverse, the pain in their joints making them scream as they swung back and forth, turning the entire Lanruo Temple noisy. Other un-hung outsiders were also awakened, and understandably, every one of their faces was written on with green liquid or painted with a turtle, one person¡¯s hair was even dyed green most tragically. With such eerie events unfolding, everyone was like a frightened bird, not daring to make any sudden moves, just as Han Li had thought, if someone could silently draw and write on faces, killing someone would be even easier. Only when the monks also appeared were the people on the trees rescued, and Hui Neng, having changed clothes, also hurried over. ¡°What exactly happened, grand monk?¡± ¡°Monk, you must give us an explanation!¡± Seeing Hui Neng appear, the outsiders immediately confronted her, especially those who were bizarrely hung in their sleep. Seeing the crowd was noisy and explanations unclear, Hui Neng could only bring everyone to the main hall and explain the matter of the ghosts. However, after listening, these people weren¡¯t quite convinced: ¡°Then how come you monks are all fine?¡± Indeed, neither were the monks hung up, nor were their faces drawn on. Hui Neng gave a wry smile, only able to patiently explain: ¡°Everyone, many years ago the ghosts frequently disturbed our temple, and us monks were often tricked too, not to hide it from you, I myself was hung on a tree in the middle of the night, but later on, the ghosts did not show up anymore, probably having lost interest in us monks. Perhaps the vigorous vitality of you who have come from afar recently has reactivated those long-silent ghosts.¡± This explanation seemed reasonable, and at this moment, a person stepped forward, pointing at Fang Zhou: ¡°Then why is he fine?¡± This person was none other than the athletic woman who stayed not far from Fang Zhou, her face was also marked with several traces. Fang Zhou¡¯s expression darkened, not expecting this woman to step forward and direct the blame towards him, feeling even more certain that this person harbored hostility towards him, only not knowing where this hostility came from. Other people also looked towards Fang Zhou, in so many colorful and green faces, his clean one was indeed conspicuous. ¡°That¡¯s right, how is he fine?¡± Again, someone jumped out, and it turned out to be the four women who had provoked Fang Zhou during dinner tonight: ¡°Are you colluding with these monks to monopolize the secret treasure?¡± Indeed, after sobering up, these four felt indignant, believing that Fang Zhou had taken advantage by launching a sneak attack. Now seizing the opportunity, they jumped out to cause trouble and even went as far as to frame and slander him. Fang Zhou silently noted these five people in his mental notebook, then pondered how to explain himself. Just then, the usually silent Han Li suddenly spoke up: ¡°Mr. Fang is not uninvolved.¡± She pointed at the back of Fang Zhou¡¯s neck: ¡°Mr. Fang has a mark here too.¡± Fang Zhou immediately realized that the ghost in the room indeed had touched his neck, but he hadn¡¯t noticed any mark left on himself. Han Li must have seen it while following behind him. He turned around, and everyone saw a green mark on the back of his neck. With this, the accusations of those five women against Fang Zhou became groundless. Hui Neng also timely stepped forward and said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please be assured, although the ghost caused a commotion, it has not harmed anyone¡¯s life, at most it has left marks that are difficult to wash off.¡± Indeed, there were no casualties tonight, but as soon as they heard the marks were hard to clean, everyone immediately panicked. ¡°What do we do, master?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Hui Neng smiled and said: ¡°Just wash with the incense ash water from our temple and it will clean right off.¡± She was a bit tempted to charge money for the incense ash water, but ultimately refrained. If she had asked for money, these people might have flipped Lanruo Temple upside down. Seeing everyone¡¯s attention diverted and unable to continue framing Fang Zhou, the aggressive woman shrugged her shoulders regretfully, and gave Fang Zhou a malicious smile, highly irritating. Fang Zhou silently watched her, feeling an urge to release a fireball and blast her face away. As for the other four, they¡¯ll be dealt with when the opportunity arises. After Hui Neng used incense ash water to clean everyone¡¯s marks and repeatedly assured that there was no threat to life, the crowd finally dispersed. Fang Zhou and Han Li returned to their quarters and met the returning Ling Xiaoyue. Fang Zhou frowned and said, ¡°Where have you been running around happily?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Untamed disciple, watch your tone when you speak to your master.¡± With hands on her hips, Lig Xiaoyue said: ¡°Of course, I was chasing that ghost.¡± Both Fang Zhou and Han Li were surprised and said in unison: ¡°Did you catch it?¡± Ling Xiaoyue lay down, propping up her legs, hummed: ¡°Ah, your master chased it so far, chased until my feet are sore. If only someone would massage them for me.¡± Fang Zhou kicked towards her: ¡°Spill it!¡± Ling Xiaoyue deftly dodged, continuing to prop her legs, her toes wiggling. Han Li hesitated: ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°No need!¡± Furious, Fang Zhou raised his hand to stop her, gritting his teeth: ¡°Step aside, I¡¯m her disciple, it¡¯s my place to do so!¡± He grabbed Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s foot, activated the Qi Gathering Technique, channeled spiritual energy into his fingers, and with all his might, pinched down hard on her calf. With that grip, even a stone could be crushed. Chapter 41: I want to write on her legs Chapter 41: I want to write on her legs S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Editor: Dragon Boat Translation Fang Zhou had made up his mind to teach Ling Xiaoyue a lesson, lest she always disappear at crucial moments. He couldn¡¯t believe that he couldn¡¯t make this woman feel a bit of pain, even with his full strength. His fingers pinched on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s calf, feeling like he had grabbed a piece of warm, fragrant soft jade, tender and silky smooth, with an excellent touch. The force of his fingers seemed to disappear into the sea like a clay ox¡ªgone in an instant. Ling Xiaoyue picked up a wine pot and lightly tapped it on Fang Zhou¡¯s head, ¡°Put more effort, Disciple. You still want to compete with me for dinner, why do you look so weak and powerless?¡± Fang Zhou gritted his teeth, circulating the Qi Gathering Technique. Spiritual Energy surged again into his fingers; this time, he tried twisting, hoping to make her leg turn dark blue. Ling Xiaoyue reminded him, ¡°Hey, this amount of force is about right, a little higher up.¡± Fang Zhou still didn¡¯t believe it. He moved both hands, pinching and twisting on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s calf, wishing he could even use his teeth to bite her leg. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he exerted himself, the force of his hands would vanish upon contacting Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s calf, turning into just the right amount of massage pressure. Ling Xiaoyue hummed comfortably, stretching her long legs straight, her toes fidgeting restlessly inside her shoes. Seeing her enjoying it, Fang Zhou could only give up, glaring harshly at her, ¡°Tell me, did you catch that ghost?¡± Ling Xiaoyue hummed, ¡°Didn¡¯t catch it. To correct, that might not be a ghost but a demon cultivated from a beast, heading towards the old site of Lanruo Temple. That place is strange.¡± Hearing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s words, Fang Zhou immediately stopped and exchanged a look with Han Li. So it wasn¡¯t a ghost but a demon. Could it be that Monk Hui Neng was lying? Or did she also not recognize it, thus mistaking it for a ghost? Fang Zhou said to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°You missed another monster; why not check out the old site of Lanruo Temple?¡± Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure about Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s real combat abilities, but he knew she had a weakness: allowing enemies to escape, always unable to catch up, or perhaps uninterested in pursuing. The master and disciple duo had been together for a long time. Ling Xiaoyue knew what he meant by ¡®missing a monster¡¯. Since the night at the Land God Temple, Fang Zhou had been constantly nagging in her ear about how she ¡®attracted and let monsters go¡¯, which was unhelpful. Suddenly annoyed, Ling Xiaoyue retorted, ¡°You know nothing; as a master, I¡¯m playing a long game, fishing for big fish. The Secret Treasure isn¡¯t revealed yet. If master recklessly enters the old site of Lanruo Temple, wouldn¡¯t it scare the snake in the grass?¡± Occasionally, she could say something reasonable, leaving Fang Zhou speechless. He could only request, ¡°Next time you do something, can¡¯t you give me a hint? You always disappear at crucial moments.¡± Ling Xiaoyue argued righteously, ¡°As my disciple, you should have the ability to adapt. You always depend on me for everything; I¡¯m not your mother, I have no milk for you.¡± Han Li couldn¡¯t hold back and chuckled on the side. Embarrassed, Fang Zhou realized that he was too dependent on Ling Xiaoyue, always subconsciously looking for her whenever something happened. Seeing Fang Zhou out of responses, Ling Xiaoyue had a victorious expression, lifting her foot forward, ¡°Keep massaging, Disciple. Your master is not yet satisfied.¡± ¡°Massage your head!¡± Fang Zhou shoved Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s long leg away, turning back to his room, secretly swearing that one day he would inscribe ¡®rectitude¡¯ all over her legs to avenge today¡¯s grievances. Returning to his room, Fang Zhou calmed his emotions and then continued with his cultivation. He needed to become stronger quickly, rid himself of dependence on Ling Xiaoyue, and not always rely on her. In crucial moments, he had to depend on himself. Tonight, disrupted by the ghost-like demon, time had already passed significantly by the time Fang Zhou was immersed in his cultivation practice, and before he knew it, it was already the next morning. Han Li had come over to call him for breakfast. Breakfast was still in the food hall, the monks had not yet come for their morning prayers, and only a few others had arrived, sitting sparsely. The events of last night had left them all frightened, and even in broad daylight, their expressions were cautious. Looking at these people, Fang Zhou had a doubt in his heart, based on Han Li¡¯s judgment that these people were at most in the Qi Refinement Realm, why would they dare to seek a Secret Treasure? The abilities of someone in the Qi Refinement Realm were limited to physical prowess; they couldn¡¯t even make use of Spiritual Energy for materialization or emitting it externally. Frankly speaking, they were merely somewhat more advanced pawns, yet these pawns dared to join in the fray, clearly unaware of their proper place. Although Fang Zhou was also a pawn in the Qi Refinement Realm, it was not by his own choice; he was dragged here by Ling Xiaoyue, so that didn¡¯t count. Since arriving at Lanruo Temple, this question had troubled Fang Zhou, and ultimately, it was Han Li who clarified it for him. This was actually the survival status at the bottom of the Cultivation World, where solitary cultivators struggled with low realms, no sect or school backing them, and most solitary cultivators lacked a complete technique inheritance. They could only rely on fortunate encounters and treasure hunts for breakthrough opportunities. Moreover, the so-called Secret Treasures were mostly unremarkable; disciples from Major Sects and powerful solitary cultivators disdain such treasures. Only those cultivators of lower realms would swarm to them like jackals drawn to rotting meat. Of course, there were exceptions. Some disciples from Major Sects would occasionally participate in these low-level treasure disputes during their travels. With their robust techniques and sharp combat skills, they often become the protagonists in these battles, easily defeating all rivals, seizing the treasure, acquiring handsome men and followers, and then departing triumphantly, leaving a group of envious and jealous solitary cultivators behind. If the treasures were of high quality, then more people would vie for them, like the Black Jiao Cave incident Han Li had experienced before, where several smaller sects and cultivator families joined forces to hunt for treasures, including several experts in the Innate Realm. Right now, the people who came to Lanruo Temple to hunt for treasure seemed to be in the Qi Refinement Realm at first glance, but there might be some hiding in the Foundation Establishment Realm among them; this kind of deception was not uncommon. After hearing Han Li¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional about how extremely harsh the living environment in the Cultivation World was. Solitary cultivators struggled and hustled but could not measure up to even a single finger of a Sect¡¯s disciple, who in turn was suppressed by the genius disciples and unable to make their mark, while those genius disciples, because of their high profile, were also prone to rapid downfalls. Comparisons are daunting. Before, Fang Zhou felt that encountering a unreliable person like Ling Xiaoyue was terribly unlucky, but now he instead felt fortunate to have met her, as if he was incredibly lucky. In the future, he might as well be nicer to her; after all, she was technically his master, and respecting one¡¯s mentor is a virtue. As Fang Zhou was reevaluating his attitude towards Ling Xiaoyue, she, who was basking in the sun on a tree canopy, suddenly sneezed and rubbed her nose: ¡°Who is thinking badly about me?¡± After breakfast, Fang Zhou toured Lanruo Temple to familiarize himself with the layout, to avoid any awkward encounters with Monk Hui Neng giving blessings. After touring, Fang Zhou returned to his room and once again plunged into cultivation, not wanting to waste a single minute. Moreover, cultivation was actually not tedious for him; as long as he routinely circulated the Spiritual Energy through the Circulation, his consciousness would enter an indescribable state where both mind and body felt comfortably warm, completely unaware of the passing of time. After waking up and having lunch, Fang Zhou continued to cultivate diligently until evening, earning some admiration from Han Li as she usually only cultivated half of the day and spent the rest practicing swordsmanship and physical movements. After dinner at the hour of You, just as Fang Zhou was about to continue cultivating, a breathless young monk came running to inform him and Han Li: ¡°The seven-colored rosy clouds have appeared.¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly called out to Ling Xiaoyue on the tree. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice came down: ¡°No need to shout; your master has already seen it.¡± Right, she was on a locust tree, higher than the entire Lanruo Temple and even the Treasure Viewing Platform, naturally, she could see the seven-colored rosy clouds. Without waiting for her, Fang Zhou and Han Li hastily headed to the Treasure Viewing Platform. When the two reached the Treasure Viewing Platform, the place was already brightly lit, and the solitary cultivators had gathered. At this moment, no one cared whether they had elite seats or ordinary seats set by Monk Hui Neng; they all climbed onto the platform. Fang Zhou and Han Li exchanged glances and also quickly climbed onto the large wooden platform, which thankfully was big enough to accommodate so many people. Upon reaching the top, Fang Zhou immediately saw the Legendary seven-colored rosy clouds. Chapter 42: 42. Competence is the paramount principle. Chapter 42: 42. Competence is the paramount principle. Seven-colored rosy clouds shot from the old site of Lanruo Temple atop the mountain, overlapping and illuminating each other, reaching straight into the sky, as if even the clouds above were tinted with color. Even Fang Zhou, who had seen high-powered colorful spotlights in his previous life, was taken aback by this scene, not to mention the others, who were stunned into silence. Fang Zhou came back to his senses, and while everyone else was silent, he listened carefully and sure enough, he could faintly hear the sound of Buddha¡¯s voice and Buddhist chant, as if a group of monks were singing in chorus. This matched exactly with what Monk Hui Neng had described, and she certainly hadn¡¯t bragged about it. ¡°This phenomenon¡­ this is definitely not just a Magic Artifact, or even a Spiritual Artifact¡­ no, it might even be a Treasure Artifact!¡± Han Li watched the scene unfold before her, murmuring to herself, her eyes gradually igniting with passion. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... It wasn¡¯t just her; other solitary cultivators also began to breathe heavily, their eyes red, as if they were starving wolves seeing fresh meat. At that moment, Monk Hui Neng also arrived and said to the solitary cultivators, ¡°Amitabha, dear benefactors, the Secret Treasure has appeared. The way to the old site of Lanruo Temple is just behind our temple. Whether you can obtain the Secret Treasure depends on whether you are destined with Buddha.¡± Since no one purchased the Buddha¡¯s Blessing Meal, Hui Neng didn¡¯t need to send someone to lead the way, and there was only one path to the old site of Lanruo Temple, so even if it got dark, it was unlikely for one to get lost. Before Hui Neng could finish speaking, some solitary cultivators could no longer restrain themselves and leaped down from the platform, rushing towards the back door of Lanruo Temple. The rest followed hurriedly, fearful of falling behind the others by even a single step. As soon as Monk Hui Neng finished speaking, the Treasure Viewing Platform was completely empty, without a single silhouette in sight. Watching the solitary cultivators who left eagerly, two young monks whispered to each other. ¡°Another group rushing to their doom!¡± ¡°How many do you think will return this time?¡± ¡°At most three. I do hope that man makes it back alive.¡± ¡°Hehe, me too!¡± Suddenly, the two young monks seemed to sense something and immediately shut their mouths, trembling as they looked behind. Monk Hui Neng stood right behind them, his plump face sporting a faint smile. The two young monks started shaking all over. ¡­ Fang Zhou and Han Li followed closely behind the group of solitary cultivators; seeing them run faster than the others, they passed through the back door of Lanruo Temple and dashed into the dark forest, soon disappearing from sight. Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Why are they so excited?¡± Even if the Secret Treasure has appeared, there¡¯s no need to act as if they¡¯re rushing to be reincarnated. While running, Han Li explained to Fang Zhou, ¡°Sir, the rumors were mistaken. It was initially thought that the Secret Treasure in Wild Tomb Ridge was at most a Magic Artifact, but from the phenomena just observed, this Treasure seems to be of quality surpassing a Spiritual Artifact. That¡¯s why they¡¯re so urgent.¡± A Spiritual Artifact alone is worthwhile for smaller sects to act on. If it¡¯s of Treasure Artifact quality, even the Major Sects would compete for it. How could these Qi Refining Realm solitary cultivators not be anxious upon seeing the suspected appearance of a Treasure Artifact. The saying ¡®A man is not guilty until he possesses a jade¡¯ won¡¯t be considered unless there is a jade to be possessed. Fang Zhou now understood that these solitary cultivators thought they had stumbled upon a great deal. The quality of this newly emerged Secret Treasure was much higher than rumored, hence their impatience. Otherwise, once the news spread and attracted those Major Sects, these little shrimps would have no chance. Even so, Fang Zhou always felt something was off but couldn¡¯t pinpoint it at the moment. He and Han Li did not stop their feet and continued to follow the solitary cultivators into the dense forest, along a somewhat unclear mountainous path, rushing towards the old site of Lanruo Temple. As for Ling Xiaoyue, Fang Zhou knew he did not need to worry about her; she would surely be ahead of everyone. The distance from Lanruo Temple to the old site was not short. Fang Zhou now sprinted like a swift horse, and after running wildly for half an hour, they finally reached the mountaintop where the old site was located. There were long stone steps grown over with vines leading straight to the old site of Lanruo Temple. Fang Zhou and Han Li followed the stone steps and finally arrived at the entrance to the old site of Lanruo Temple. This old site of Lanruo Temple was almost identical to the Lanruo Temple where Hui Neng and the others resided, the only difference being its much larger area, nearly several times larger. Upon arriving, Fang Zhou noted that the entire old site of Lanruo Temple was enveloped in seven-colored rosy clouds, and the sound of Buddha¡¯s voice and Buddhist chant had once again disappeared. Fang Zhou also noticed a giant tree growing inside the old site of Lanruo Temple. The huge canopy covered the sky and was visible even from outside, which was quite rare. For some reason, looking at that giant tree, Fang Zhou felt an oppressive heaviness in his heart and a palpitation. The temple doors of the old site of Lanruo Temple were wide open. When Fang Zhou and Han Li arrived, they saw several solitary cultivators rush straight into the temple and disappear from sight. Fang Zhou and Han Li didn¡¯t rush in; the two hadn¡¯t forgotten that Ling Xiaoyue mentioned last night, the demon that looked like a ghost was seen running in this direction, it might be inside the old site of Lanruo Temple. Speak of the devil, just with a whoosh, Ling Xiaoyue popped out of nowhere, landing next to Fang Zhou: ¡°Disciple, why are you so slow? Your master has been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Fang Zhou subconsciously wanted to ask her what to do, but he held back just as he was about to speak. He had agreed to stop relying on Ling Xiaoyue so much, not to turn to her or ask her what to do whenever something came up. However, before Fang Zhou could speak, Han Li already asked, ¡°Senior Ling, what should we do?¡± This wasn¡¯t like her usually quiet and reserved style; she seemed a bit too eager, probably stimulated by the fact that the Secret Treasure might be of Treasure Artifact grade. Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t in her usual playful and smiling mood, rarely becoming serious: ¡°The Secret Treasure should be inside that huge tree, but that tree is very dangerous, and this old site of Lanruo Temple is treacherous too. One slight error could cost you your life.¡± She looked at Fang Zhou: ¡°Your master will go in to check it out, you and her can wait outside. If you want to join in the fun, you can come in, but you¡¯ll be responsible for your own safety.¡± Ling Xiaoyue left the choice up to Fang Zhou, just as she had when they first met, giving him the choice to take her as his master. Perhaps the situation was just like that time, choosing wrong could be very dangerous. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t wait for Fang Zhou to reply; with a slight tap of her foot, she soared into the air, rapidly flying towards the giant tree inside the site of Lanruo Temple. A distant voice: ¡°Disciple, be careful not to die, you still owe your master a large sum of money.¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes, this woman really was a scam, always ditching her disciple at critical moments. No wonder she could lose that senior sister, who he hasn¡¯t met yet. Han Li hesitated and looked at Fang Zhou: ¡°Mr. Fang¡­¡± Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about¡­ you go in, and I wait for you outside?¡± He remembered that Han Li came to find the Secret Treasure to eradicate the Jiao Poison from her body, so she must go in. Fang Zhou himself didn¡¯t need to; after all, he didn¡¯t even want to come in the first place. Since Ling Xiaoyue said it was very dangerous inside, why would he go in and court death? It¡¯s sensible to be cautious. Han Li blankly stared at Fang Zhou, then bowed and said: ¡°Understood, if there is danger, sir can go back on your own, no need to wait for me, goodbye.¡± After saying that, she turned and ran towards the temple gate. Fang Zhou waved at Han Li¡¯s departing figure, wishing her success. A line of text suddenly popped up in front of him. [Mission triggered¡ªDemon Extermination] [Eliminate the Mystic Yin Tree Demon] [Difficulty: Hard] [Time limit: 48 hours] [Reward: 8 Manliness Points, 1 Purple Card] [Failure: Death, soul dispersed] Damn, is this intentional?! Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly; this system task could not have come at a worse time. If he stayed outside just watching, with Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s level of leaving gaps, that mission would definitely fail. Fang Zhou could only shout to Han Li: ¡°Wait a second.¡± Han Li immediately stopped and looked back at him. Fang Zhou caught up and reluctantly said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go in with you.¡± Han Li¡¯s eyes seemed to light up as she focused on him. Fang Zhou thought, what kind of look is that? and quickly explained, ¡°Let me be clear, I¡¯m not going in because I¡¯m worried about your safety, I have some unavoidable reasons for going in.¡± Han Li smiled slightly, nodding, ¡°I understand.¡± You understand nothing, Sister Han!! Fang Zhou felt helpless, he was really in a situation¡ªa forced hand, yet no one would believe him. Chapter 43: The lower half of the body controlled the brain. Chapter 43: The lower half of the body controlled the brain. Fang Zhou and Han Li entered the old site of Lanruo Temple together. From the outside, the architecture of Lanruo Temple seemed intact, but once inside, they realized that Lanruo Temple was in ruins, everywhere there were remnants of walls and green vines. As soon as he entered the temple gate, Fang Zhou smelled a heavy scent of trees, as if he was in a forest after the rain, very similar to the smell of grass he detected the previous night. He looked up to the sky and saw seven-colored rosy clouds filling the sky, as if dyeing the entire night with color. It was impressive from the outside, but feeling it from inside was especially awe-inspiring. This meant that the whole old site of Lanruo Temple was bathed in the seven-colored rosy clouds, which also meant it was impossible to know where the light was emanating from. With such a large area for the temple, it was impossible for these individual cultivators to search every part of it. However, Fang Zhou and Han Li had already received a tip from Ling Xiaoyue that the Secret Treasure was within the giant tree, so they did not need to search aimlessly like the other cultivators. ... Thus, after entering the temple, they headed straight for the giant tree. The giant tree was incredibly huge, visible from outside the temple, and even more evident from within. The enormous canopy was like a giant umbrella that covered the sky, unimaginable that a tree could grow so large. Normally, with such a large reference point like the giant tree, one would not take the wrong path, but Lanruo Temple was filled with odd structures and complicated pathways. Many collapsed buildings and overgrown wild grass and vines had blocked the paths, forcing them to take detours. After several turns, they ended up even farther away from the giant tree. Fang Zhou felt something was amiss and said to Han Li, ¡°I¡¯ll climb up to the roof to take a look.¡± Han Li was about to suggest that she should go, but then saw Fang Zhou take a running start and deftly climbed up the roof of a nearby building. Just as he arrived on the roof, before he had a chance to take in the surroundings, he immediately noticed someone else climbing up on the other side. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other person, halfway up, also noticed someone on the roof, looked up and locked eyes with Fang Zhou, both slightly surprised. That person turned out to be one of the four women with whom Fang Zhou had a conflict. The other person¡¯s mouth opened slightly, as if about to shout, but Fang Zhou was already holding the Evil Slaying Sword, activating the Qi Gathering Technique, and dashed over with the speed of a running horse, thrusting his sword. The other person quickly let go with both hands and dropped downwards, avoiding Fang Zhou¡¯s thrust, but had a section of her hair chopped off. Han Li below heard the noise and urgently asked, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s happened?¡± Fang Zhou jumped down from the roof, and sure enough, those four women were below. Seeing Fang Zhou coming down from the roof, they all drew their weapons and glared at him angrily. Han Li came over from the other side, saw the four women, and her expression turned serious. She quickly drew her longsword and stood guard beside Fang Zhou. Both sides were on edge. Fang Zhou had not expected to encounter these four women here. He had only recorded these four women in his notebook the previous night, and tonight they had appeared before him; truly, enemies often cross each other¡¯s paths. The leading woman touched her cut hair and yelled angrily at Fang Zhou, ¡°Well, well, enemies do meet on a narrow path. Tonight, I¡¯m going to teach you, you stinky brat who can only sneak attack!¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than just a lesson!¡± Another woman chimed in, looking at Fang Zhou with a lascivious gaze, ¡°We need to make him wish he were dead.¡± ¡°Exactly, we need to vent our anger,¡± The four of them started to laugh provocatively, completely taking Fang Zhou for a given. Han Li, hearing their foul and offensive language, had her expression darken immediately, as if she had been wronged. Fang Zhou was also amused by anger. Did they really think he was so easy to bully? It seemed that the intimidation he imposed on these four women yesterday had no effect at all. The gender norms in this world were indeed deeply rooted; he was a man handsome and capable of fighting, yet the women only remembered his looks, each thinking he was easy to bully and wanting to get the better of him. Fang Zhou made a miscalculation here; adding up his ages from both lives, he was quite old, and often considered himself an adult, but in appearance he was actually a teenager around fifteen or sixteen, just a bit taller, even Han Li seemed older than him. Moreover, if you put yourself in their shoes, if men encounter a beautiful girl who can also fight, even if they can¡¯t beat her, they¡¯d still fantasize about her in their minds, and there are quite a few who are so lecherous they¡¯d risk their lives for it. The four women facing him were typical cases of their lower halves governing their brains. [Trigger new mission¡ªDefeat the Four Sisters of the White Tiger Sect] [Difficulty: Easy] [Reward: Masculinity*2 White Card*1] [Failure: Lose virginity, become an RBQ] Looking at the failure punishment in the mission prompt, it seems the Four Sisters of the White Tiger Sect were indeed serious about turning him into an RBQ, making his life worse than death. Yet Fang Zhou calmed himself, considering the mission to be only of ¡®Easy¡¯ difficulty, posing no real danger, and certain that he could handle it alone. To Han Li, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t take action, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± After speaking, he activated the Qi Gathering Technique, filling his body with spiritual energy, moving swiftly like the wind, and in a blink closing the gap between the two parties, striking toward the leading woman with a sword. The woman was caught off guard and hastily lifted her Ghost Head Blade to defend. With a crisp clang, the sturdy Ghost Head Blade was split in two by the Evil Slaying Sword, and the tip of the sword grazed her chest, causing blood to spurt out. The woman let out a wail, quickly retreating backward. ¡°Big sister¡Á3!¡± The other three rushed forward, swinging their weapons at Fang Zhou. Their reaction was fast, but in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, it was too slow. He raised his Evil Slaying Sword to block the first blade, stuck and twisted the sword body, and pushed the longsword toward the other two weapons. The three weapons collided, and using the force of the impact, all three sisters felt a numbness in their palms. Fang Zhou seized the opportunity to execute simple and straightforward swordsmanship, with the Evil Slaying Sword striking like lightning, so fast that it left afterimages. With a few hissing sounds, each of the three women had several blossoms of blood burst forth on their bodies. This time, Fang Zhou did not hold back, using lethal force, nearly piercing through their bodies. The three women screamed in unison, holding their wounds as they retreated. The Qi Refining Realm indeed deserved to be ranked as Advanced Mixed Soldiers; their bodies nourished by spiritual energy were extremely durable. Ordinary people would have been down with such injuries, but they were still jumping around lively. The four women still looked like they had the strength to fight. Fang Zhou did not relax his vigilance, and as he raised his sword to launch the second wave of attacks, he saw all four women turn uniformly¡­ and flee. Hey, weren¡¯t you the ones who said you would turn me into an RBQ? I had my weapon ready, how can you go back on your word? Fang Zhou immediately gave chase, casually turning off the mission success prompt. If you don¡¯t eradicate the roots when cutting weeds, they¡¯ll grow back with the spring breeze¡ªhe couldn¡¯t afford to be like Ling Xiaoyue, fond of leaving monsters behind. Watching Fang Zhou¡¯s retreating figure, Han Li couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of astonishment. Fang Zhou was indeed formidable, even more so than herself. For some reason, Han Li¡¯s reference to Fang Zhou changed from ¡°sir¡± to calling him by his name in her heart. Touching the small bottle in her embrace, Han Li¡¯s face showed determination. Being a woman, how could she be weaker than a man, especially weaker than Fang Zhou? Seeing Fang Zhou running far ahead, she hurried to catch up. Chapter 44: 44. Illusion Technique with Colors Chapter 44: 44. Illusion Technique with Colors ¡°Ladies, split up and run!¡± The head sister of White Tiger Sect clutched her chest wound and shouted loudly. The other three women immediately fled in different directions, decisively and succinctly, clearly not their first time being beaten into a panicked escape. Ordinary people faced with this situation would probably pause, not knowing which one to chase. But Fang Zhou had a clear target, relentlessly pursuing the head sister of White Tiger Sect. This woman was the first to tease him, and she was also the first to pick a fight last night, so Fang Zhou had the deepest impression of her, and his hatred value for her was the highest. Seeing Fang Zhou catching up, the head sister of White Tiger Sect¡¯s scalp tingled with fear: ¡°Why are you chasing me?¡± Out of four people, why only chase her? Could it be because her charm was the greatest? ... Being relentlessly pursued by a handsome young man, in her panic, the head sister couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit thrilled. Fang Zhou sneered: ¡°Because I need a quick sugar fix, psh, because you¡¯re the ugliest, I most want to beat you!¡± Hearing such heartless words from Fang Zhou, the head sister was instantly heartbroken, but her feet moved even faster, resenting her parents for not giving her an extra pair of legs. It must be said that while the fighting ability of this White Tiger Sect head sister was nothing impressive, her skill in running away was not bad at all. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t catch up to her for a moment and could only throw an Illusion Technique at her. The head sister of White Tiger Sect was hit by the Illusion Technique and immediately stopped running, standing dumbfounded on the spot. Fang Zhou caught up and saw the head sister break into a lascivious smile, saying, ¡°Turns out you¡¯re a harsh-tongued, kind-hearted guy, only chasing big sister because you want to spend a spring night with me, you little flirt. Big sister will satisfy you.¡± While speaking, she even started to undress, intending to have a moment of indulgence in this dilapidated temple. Fang Zhou felt his scalp tingle. He always thought that those affected by illusions were full of dirty thoughts, wanting to indulge in lewd acts whenever under an illusion. But recently, he had a new idea: perhaps it was the illusion itself that prompted those affected to act so lewdly since they were seeing nothing but adult-rated illusions. Now the head sister of White Tiger Sect confirmed his thought; the Illusion Technique awarded by his system indeed had a problem¡ªthe people affected by it were practically acting out an adult film. This shouldn¡¯t simply be called an Illusion Technique; it should be called an AV Illusion Technique. While the head sister of White Tiger Sect was still stripping herself, Fang Zhou kicked her over, snapping her out of the illusion. Sitting on the ground, she looked around disorientedly until Fang Zhou swung his sword at her. She screamed in fright and hurriedly raised half a Ghost Head Blade to block. With a crisp sound, the sturdy Ghost Head Blade was chopped into two pieces. The head sister threw the blade away, thinking it¡¯s not worth antagonizing someone upfront; she immediately knelt before Fang Zhou, ¡°Hero, please spare my life, I¡¯m just a nameless nobody, not worth dirtying your treasure sword.¡± Fang Zhou kicked the Ghost Head Blade on the ground: ¡°Other cultivators use treasure swords, treasure blades, stylish and imposing, but you use a Ghost Head Blade. No wonder you¡¯re just a nameless extra who doesn¡¯t even deserve a name. So LOW, what are you cultivating for? Let me send you back to your hometown to raise pigs.¡± The head sister wanted to say that she did have a name, but you never asked. She didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind Fang Zhou¡¯s words, but sending her back home was clear enough and she trembled with fear, tears and snot flowing as she rushed forward to cling to Fang Zhou¡¯s leg. Fang Zhou contemptuously kicked her away and suddenly felt a chill on his back. He hastily swung his sword backwards. This time, he didn¡¯t miss; a vague shadow of a man was struck by the Evil Slaying Sword, emitting a barely audible scream as it completely dissipated into nothingness. Cold sweat broke out on Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead; had his reaction not been prompt, that shadowy figure would have pounced on his back. And the surrounding area, unbeknownst when, was filled with a thick white fog that enshrouded the entire Lanruo Temple. The night sky and tall trees were obscured by the fog, only the seven-colored rosy clouds shone through chasms in the mist, hazy and dreamlike. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just a moment ago, this white fog hadn¡¯t been there¡ªat the blink of an eye, it appeared. Even Han Li hadn¡¯t caught up, without a trace. Fang Zhou called out behind him but received no response. Taking advantage of Fang Zhou¡¯s inattention, the head sister quietly got up and dashed into the white fog. Fang Zhou heard the noise and hastily pursued, but he immediately lost sight of the head sister. Surrounded by the white fog, he could no longer distinguish the directions. The next moment, Fang Zhou heard his elder sister¡¯s scream. He hurriedly followed the direction of the scream and hadn¡¯t run far before he saw the elder sister of the White Tiger Sect facedown on the ground, limbs trembling nonstop. A man¡¯s ghostly apparition clung tightly to her back. Fang Zhou dashed forward in a flash, thrusting his sword into the apparition. The apparition let out a faint scream as if it were there and then dissipated. The Evil Slaying Sword that Fang Zhou had obtained from a draw could harm the Evil Spirit¡¯s ethereal body, and now it finally came into play. After the apparition vanished, Fang Zhou checked on the elder sister of the White Tiger Sect and saw her complexion turn cyanotic, her eyes rolled back, breath gone. There were ten deep finger marks on her neck; she had been strangled to death. Fang Zhou¡¯s expression was solemn; this person was still lively and jumping despite the sword wound, yet in a blink of an eye, she was strangled to death by a ghostly shadow without any chance to resist. If he hadn¡¯t had the Evil Slaying Sword, he really wouldn¡¯t have known how to cope. ¡°Next life when you reincarnate, remember it¡¯s fine to pick up any weapon, just not the Ghost Head Blade. It¡¯s the exclusive of the expendable characters, with a built-in BUFF that ensures an early exit,¡± Fang Zhou muttered to the dead body of the elder sister of the White Tiger Sect, then focused his attention and cautiously moved forward through the fog. Previously, even with the giant trees as reference points, he was still lost; now, without the sight of giant trees, Fang Zhou could only rely on himself to find a way out of this vast, white fog. ¡­ Meanwhile, Han Li also got lost. She watched helplessly as the fog suddenly appeared, cutting off the distance between her and Fang Zhou. After Han Li rushed over, she could no longer find Fang Zhou. No matter how loudly she called out, there was no response. The distance between the two was clearly no more than ten meters, yet in such a short space, contact was completely lost, evidently due to the white fog that had suddenly sprung up. Han Li became immediately alert; although she was only at the Qi Refining Realm, she had encountered no shortage of dangerous situations and had a natural keen intuition for danger, which helped her avoid peril. This intuition was now sounding alarm bells like mad, warning her of the danger of this white fog. Han Li clenched her longsword and moved slowly forward, eyes and ears open in all directions, any rustling could make her carefully observe for a long time. After walking like this for who knows how long, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her, standing still with its back to Han Li. Han Li silently approached from the side, getting within ten feet before realizing that this person was one of those loose cultivators. ¡°Senior, are you alright?¡± Han Li tried calling out, but there was no response. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the person, while preparing to flee. The stone hit the person¡¯s back, causing their body to sway, then fall backward, lying on the ground like a dead body. Han Li slowly walked over and found the person had indeed become a corpse, face sallow and eyes rolled back, with ten clear finger marks on the neck. ¡°Strangled to death?¡± Han Li muttered, feeling as though her neck was getting cold. No, it was really cold; a pair of icy hands was approaching her neck. By the time she realized this in her mind, those icy hands had already grasped her throat, and a ghostly shadow clung tightly to her back. Chapter 45: 45. Holy crap, little monster Chapter 45: 45. Holy crap, little monster Han Li felt her entire body stiffen, unable to move, as the ghostly hands strangled her neck tighter and tighter. The next moment, the small bottle in her arms emitted a green light, enveloping her and fiercely repelling the ghostly figure behind her. Han Li, enduring the pain in her throat, quickly turned around and slid a yellow talisman from her sleeve, pinching it in her hand. The ghostly figure swiftly retreated, and Han Li pursued closely, tossing the yellow talisman forward and thrusting her longsword. The longsword pierced through the yellow talisman and struck the ghostly figure, pinning the talisman to it. The ghostly figure let out a faint scream and struggled violently, but the talisman pinned to it started burning without fire, incinerating both itself and the ghostly figure into ashes. ... Han Li coughed a few times, looking painfully at the ashes on the ground. She only had six exorcism charms in total, each reusable, yet killing one ghostly figure used up one ¨C who knew how many ghosts were in this mist? She turned back to look at the corpse on the ground; she remembered this person, who was also quite powerful among the rogue cultivators. Han Li estimated that she was roughly on par with her. Such a person died silently in the mist; without the small bottle, she would likely have met the same fate. Han Li remembered Senior Ling¡¯s warning; indeed, this place was extremely dangerous, no less intimidating than Black Jiao Cave. As a small pawn in such a perilous place, without miraculous luck, one could end up dead without knowing how. The thought of retreating as the best strategy suddenly emerged in Han Li¡¯s mind. Whenever she faced danger before, escaping early was her way of saving her life. But this time, the image of Fang Zhou surfaced in her mind, causing her some hesitation. Shhh¡ª A strange noise suddenly sounded. Han Li hurriedly looked over and saw the corpse not far away on the ground being dragged away by something. Han Li¡¯s expression turned extremely grave; she held her breath and began to slowly step back, retreating until she was enveloped by the mist and disappeared. ¡­ Fang Zhou found himself unable to determine the direction. The white mist combined with the complex architecture and pathways of Lanruo Temple formed a natural large maze. Fang Zhou was completely lost, not knowing how long he had walked, but feeling increasingly anxious as the surrounding buildings began to look familiar. He found a spot to make a mark, and casually struck back with his sword, killing a ghostly figure that attempted to latch onto his back. Initially, Fang Zhou was quite wary of these ghostly figures, but he slowly realized that they were not hard to deal with. Every approach by a ghostly figure made Fang Zhou feel a chill, and their method of attack was simply to latch onto the back and strangle the neck, nothing else, making them one-trick simpletons. So, whenever he felt a chill on his back, Fang Zhou would effortlessly perform a back-stab move and easily kill them, having already taken down seven or eight. If it were in a game, this place would be the perfect spot for grinding monsters, but unfortunately, Fang Zhou gained no experience for killing monsters, and the system didn¡¯t trigger any quests for him. After marking, Fang Zhou continued to grope his way forward, not knowing how long he walked, but the buildings around increasingly looked familiar, then he saw the mark he had made. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, he had been walking in circles from the beginning. Could this be the legendary ghost hitting the wall? What should he do? Fang Zhou felt a headache coming on. After some thought, he chose to climb onto the roof and see if he could leave this haunted place from above. This time, he didn¡¯t encounter any acquaintances on the roof. Choosing a direction, he took a few running steps and jumped onto another roof. Using the buildings as landmarks, Fang Zhou moved straight forward as the surroundings gradually changed. ¡°Boom¡ª¡ª¡± Suddenly, a tremor occurred, causing the buildings underfoot to shake, almost causing Fang Zhou to lose his balance. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down, inhaling sharply. He saw that the open space below was covered with thick roots, each as thick as an adult, breaking through the ground and exposed on the surface. At this time, these roots seemed to come to life, crawling on the ground like giant pythons, penetrating and collapsing the houses on both sides. Seeing the roots coming this way, Fang Zhou quickly turned around and jumped off the roof, and within a few breaths, the house was crushed by the roots. He kept running outward, with continuous rumbling sounds behind him as a large number of buildings were destroyed by the roots. Finally, Fang Zhou jumped into a small courtyard, and only then did the noises cease. He couldn¡¯t help gasping for breath, it was terrifying, were those roots from that giant tree in the temple? It was like a giant monster with numerous tentacles. The system actually wanted him, an advanced mixed soldier, to kill such a colossal creature. Was there some mistake? Even if he were to fight monsters above his level, there was no reason to skip so many levels at once; it felt like he just left the newbie village and was going to fight a boss. Fang Zhou complained in his mind for a while and wondered where Ling Xiaoyue was now. Seeing the roots from here meant he wasn¡¯t far from that giant tree, and Ling Xiaoyue had been inside for so long without any signs. After resting for a while, Fang Zhou was ready to leave when he suddenly smelled a faint scent of grass. Surprised, he sniffed carefully; the smell was similar to the grass he smelled last night in Lanruo Temple but with slight differences. The scent of grass was coming out of a room in the courtyard. The house was old and dilapidated, covered with cobwebs, the doors were nowhere to be found, and the inside was pitch black, looking like a monster opening its mouth, waiting for prey to enter. Fang Zhou quietly retreated, planning to leave the courtyard. He dared to chase out last night because there were many people around him. Now alone, of course, he had to be more cautious, without losing face. Before Fang Zhou could leave, a childlike voice suddenly sounded behind him. ¡°Are you lost?¡± Fang Zhou stiffened, subconsciously gripping the Evil Slaying Sword tightly. He slowly turned around and saw a little girl standing not far away, looking at him curiously. The girl was about twelve years old, with pigtail braids, large eyes, a small nose, slightly chubby cheeks, looking both cute and adorable. She was dressed in purple clothes, with a small gourd hanging at her waist. Seeing such a cute little girl, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but smile: ¡°Yes, I am lost too. Do you know the way out?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The little girl proudly put her hands on her hips: ¡°I¡¯ve led many people out of here, nobody knows it better than me.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes lit up: ¡°Can you lead me out?¡± ¡°Of course, big brother.¡± The little girl bounced over. Fang Zhou also walked over with a smile, raised his hand to cast an Illusion Technique, then activated the Qi Gathering technique, stomped his foot heavily, and dashed towards the little girl like a galloping horse, thrusting his sword towards her chest. Covered in the scent of grass and still trying to deceive me, do you think I¡¯m a Copper Refining Mage? Damn little monster! Chapter 46: 46. The best strategy is to retreat. Chapter 46: 46. The best strategy is to retreat. The little girl, under Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique, fell into a daze, and Fang Zhou¡¯s sword had already reached her chest. The next moment, the small gourd hanging from her waist suddenly flew up by itself, blocking the Evil Slaying Sword. With a clang, Fang Zhou felt as if he had stabbed his sword into steel with all his might; the entire Evil Slaying Sword trembled, and the force of the rebound left his entire arm numb. The little gourd merely shook slightly, without even a white mark left on it. The little girl¡¯s eyes quickly cleared up; it took merely a second for her to recover from the illusion technique, showing a high level of spiritual resistance. Her little face immediately turned gloomy, and she raised her right hand, from which a vine shot out of her palm, over ten feet long. ... The little girl, holding the vine, swung it down, bringing a whooshing sound with it. Fang Zhou hastily dodged, and the vine struck the ground with a bang, directly cracking the thick floor and creating a ten-foot-long deep pit. Fang Zhou quickly retreated backward, and as the little girl waved, the vine chased after him like a long whip. Fang Zhou hurriedly bent over; the vine flew over his head and snapped a column in front of the room in half. By the time the little girl withdrew the vine, Fang Zhou had already jumped out of her attack range. Looking at the column¡ªwhich was thicker than a thigh¡ªFang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but swallow. This little demon was so adorable on the outside but so ruthless in attack, truly terrifying. ¡°I¡¯m so pissed, why didn¡¯t you fall for it?!¡± The little girl, as irritable as a child denied pocket money, wielded the vine wildly, creating one deep pit after another on the ground. Fang Zhou slowly backed away, preparing to escape. Suddenly, the little girl tossed the vine aside, picked up the little gourd, and pouted at Fang Zhou, ¡°You¡¯re no fun at all, go die.¡± Fang Zhou suddenly felt a strong suction force pulling at his body, and he was greatly alarmed, quickly summoning Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to grasp a nearby column. The suction force grew stronger, pulling Fang Zhou off his feet; if not for Hu Lai¡¯s left hand holding him, he would have been sucked in. Seeing Fang Zhou immobilized, the little girl seemed to think of something fun to do. She smiled, raised her right hand, and another vine shot out of her palm. She held the gourd in one hand and the vine in the other, lashing towards Fang Zhou. This scene made Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingle; this whip would likely send him back home to raise pigs, just like the elder sister from the White Tiger Sect. He hurriedly raised his hand and released the Fireball Technique towards the little girl. The fireball that shot out was sucked into the gourd, and in an instant of touching the mouth of the gourd, it exploded, turning into a large ball of flame. The little girl was scared into falling to the ground, but the flames hadn¡¯t harmed her¡ªthey all got absorbed by the gourd. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Fang Zhou took this opportunity to break free and hurriedly got up and ran towards the courtyard wall. When fleeing is the best plan, wait until I grow stronger before I come back to settle the score with you! Seeing Fang Zhou running, the little girl hurriedly picked up the gourd and aimed it at him. But Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t slow to escape; he reached the wall, Hu Lai¡¯s left hand grabbed it, and with a leap, he was light as a swallow and quickly jumped over the wall and disappeared. The little girl¡¯s gourd couldn¡¯t suck up Fang Zhou who had jumped over the wall, and she resentfully got up and chased after him. After jumping over the wall, Fang Zhou chose a direction and fled. Not long after, he heard a loud bang behind him. He looked back to see a hole in the wall, and the little girl had chased out through it. ¡°Don¡¯t run!¡± The little girl, seeing Fang Zhou dashing away quickly, chased after him with fierce momentum. Fang Zhou felt a tingling on his scalp and ran even faster. The architecture of this place remained undamaged by tree roots, and its layout was as complex as a maze; Fang Zhou zigzagged randomly, intending to shake off the little girl. However, he forgot that this place had an effect similar to a ghost hitting a wall; he ended up running in circles within a small area. The little girl was very familiar with the environment. No matter how Fang Zhou ran, he couldn¡¯t shake her off, and the distance between them was getting shorter. Fang Zhou became anxious, unable to fight or escape. How was he supposed to handle this? He rushed headlong into the chaos and finally burst into a cul-de-sac. Just as he was about to turn back, the sound of the little girl¡¯s quick footsteps was already close. Fang Zhou broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly thinking of a plan. The walls on both sides were too high to climb in a hurry, and the place was too empty for him to hide. The sound of the little girl running was getting closer. Just then, a hole suddenly appeared in the ground by the wall, and a head popped out, saying to Fang Zhou, ¡°This way, this way!¡± Nervously, Fang Zhou instinctively thrust his sword forward, startling the person, who froze completely. Luckily, Fang Zhou stopped in time, with his sword tip less than an inch from the person¡¯s face. The person came to their senses, hurriedly ducked back into the hole, and Fang Zhou followed by jumping in after him. Only after jumping down did Fang Zhou realize that below was a tunnel, the entrance of which was covered by a large wooden board glued to a few floorboards, which made it indistinguishable from above once closed. The person waited for Fang Zhou to jump down, then struggled to shut the wooden board and whispered to Fang Zhou, ¡°Follow me.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t smell the scent of fresh grass on the person, only the scent of not having bathed for a long time, but he still remained vigilant as he followed the person into the tunnel. Above ground, the little girl jumped to the entrance of the cul-de-sac and laughed loudly, ¡°Found you! Hey, where are you?¡± The cul-de-sac was empty, not a person in sight. The little girl showed a perplexed expression, then her mouth twisted in irritation, and she turned and left. In the tunnel, Fang Zhou had to bend over to follow the person. After a long walk, they arrived in an underground room. The underground room wasn¡¯t spacious and had few items, with a bed in one corner; it seemed to be the person¡¯s living space. After entering the underground room, the person sighed in relief, fumbled for a flint, lit a lamp, revealing a delicate face. It was a young woman dressed like a scholar. From her clumsy behavior, she seemed not to have practiced cultivation or was at a very low level, but Fang Zhou still maintained his vigilance and distance. The woman looked at Fang Zhou and asked in puzzlement, ¡°Why are you standing so far away?¡± Fang Zhou was blunt. ¡°For safety.¡± This place, the old site of Lanruo Temple, was perilous. Suddenly encountering a weak scholar seemed entirely abnormal. The woman seemed to misunderstand, then laughed, saying, ¡°Young man, there¡¯s no need to be afraid, I won¡¯t force you to do anything.¡± The term ¡°young man¡± in this world was equivalent to ¡°miss¡± in Fang Zhou¡¯s former life, a term favored by pretentious literati. Fang Zhou¡¯s face darkened after hearing this. I could beat ten of you, with your puny arms and legs, who really has the upper hand if we actually fought? He said irritably, ¡°Who are you?¡± The woman adjusted her clothes, then performed a saluting gesture, saying, ¡°My name is Ning Caichen.¡± Chapter 47: 47. This is A Chinese Ghost Story Chapter 47: 47. This is A Chinese Ghost Story Fang Zhou subconsciously dug at his ear: ¡°What did you say? Sorry, I must have heard wrong, could you repeat that?¡± Ning Caichen could only continue with a cupped fist salute: ¡°I am Ning Caichen, did you hear clearly this time?¡± This time it was clear, Fang Zhou instantly gasped in shock. Could it be that Lanruo Temple actually harbored a Ning Caichen? Could this place be the world of A Chinese Ghost Story¡ªno, wait, a Male Ghost Story? He couldn¡¯t help but ask: ¡°Ning Caichen, why would you hide in such a place full of evil spirits?¡± Ning Caichen revealed a bitter smile: ¡°I have been trapped in this damned place for over a year now.¡± ... ¡°A year?¡± Fang Zhou started, astonished, and couldn¡¯t help but take a few good looks at the crude basement. Outside, it was teeming with demons and ghosts, and he couldn¡¯t imagine how Ning Caichen, a scholar without the strength to truss a chicken, had managed to survive in this dangerous place. ¡°Somebody¡­ um, brings me food and drink.¡± Ning Caichen paused noticeably at the word ¡°somebody,¡± looking embarrassed. Fang Zhou immediately understood that the one bringing him food and drink was definitely not human. Could it be Nie Xiaoqian? Ning Caichen hurried over this point and started to explain to Fang Zhou why he was trapped in Lanruo Temple. It turned out that a year ago, Ning Caichen and his classmates from his hometown were traveling to the Capital City for an exam, and they encountered a fierce evil spirit while staying overnight in a desolate temple. The Cultivator that they had hired to ensure the safety of their travels abandoned them and fled alone. His classmates were killed one by one, and just when it came to Ning Caichen¡¯s turn, a Cultivator happened to pass by and rescued her. Fang Zhou suddenly interrupted her recollections: ¡°Was the person who saved you called Yan Chixia?¡± Ning Caichen let out a surprised sound and curiously asked, ¡°You know Hero Yan too?¡± Know him? Of course he knew him! Fang Zhou was very familiar with Yan Chixia¡¯s big beard¡ªno, wait, the Yan Chixia in this world could very well be a woman. He hurriedly asked, ¡°Where is Yan Chixia now?¡± Yan Chixia was indeed a major figure, no idea if her legs were as long as Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s, or if it was comfortable to hold her. Fang Zhou subconsciously fantasized for a moment, then quickly shook his head. No, no, that¡¯s not right. I am a mature, independent man; I shouldn¡¯t always be thinking about clinging to a woman¡¯s legs. Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s question, Ning Caichen¡¯s face involuntarily showed a despondent look: ¡°After I arrived at Lanruo Temple with Hero Yan, we were forced to separate, and I don¡¯t know where she is now. She probably has already¡­ alas¡­¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise: ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± Yan Chixia was also one of the main characters in the world of A Chinese Ghost Story. Her importance might even be higher than Ning Caichen¡¯s. How could she be dead? But in the trilogy of A Chinese Ghost Story, Yan Chixia did indeed die in the last installment, and her belongings were inherited by Brother Fly. So, in this different world, it¡¯s conceivable that she could have died earlier. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but show an expression of regret. Such a great support, gone just like that. After a moment of silence, Ning Caichen continued explaining the reason she was trapped here. After being saved by Yan Chixia, Ning Caichen decided to give up on the exam and go back home because it was impossible for her to reach the Capital City alone; she also needed to bring back the news of her classmates¡¯ deaths to her hometown. Yan Chixia, on the other hand, went because a friend of hers believed rumors and went to Wild Tomb Ridge looking for Secret Treasure, but then his fate became unknown. She planned to find out about her friend¡¯s safety. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They realized they were traveling in the same direction, so they journeyed together. When they arrived just outside Wild Tomb Ridge, they were originally planning to part ways, but continuous heavy rains and muddy roads made it so Ning Caichen had no choice but to follow Yan Chixia into Wild Tomb Ridge, taking shelter in Lanruo Temple. At this point, Ning Caichen also couldn¡¯t help but complain about Monk Hui Neng¡¯s greed, stripping her of the little money she had. Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen had been staying at Lanruo Temple for several days when the temple began to be haunted. Fang Zhou interrupted her again, this time with a more serious tone: ¡°Wait, you¡¯re saying Lanruo Temple is haunted?¡± Last night when the haunting occurred, Monk Hui Neng said that Lanruo Temple hadn¡¯t seen any ghosts for many years, but Ning Caichen claimed that when she and Yan Chixia visited a year ago, the temple was also haunted. The two accounts clearly didn¡¯t match; someone was definitely lying. Moreover, Fang Zhou recalled something else. After seeing the seven-colored rosy clouds tonight, Han Li said it didn¡¯t match the legends about the Secret Treasure at all. Fang Zhou felt something was off but couldn¡¯t figure it out. Now thinking back, he realized what it was. Monk Hui Neng had said that over the past year, many Cultivators had come to search for the Secret Treasure and had left empty-handed. If that was true, those who came looking for the Secret Treasure must have seen the seven-colored rosy clouds, so the rumors about the Treasure should have been updated to reflect its Treasure Artifact quality. Because those Cultivators wouldn¡¯t have kept quiet after leaving, many Major Sects were buying information about Secret Treasures at high prices. If the Secret Treasure of Wild Tomb Ridge was truly of Treasure Artifact quality, it would have attracted Major Sects long ago. It didn¡¯t make sense that it was still here for rogue cultivators to find after more than a year. There could only be two possibilities for this situation: one was that there was a special reason why those who left kept silent. The other possibility was that none of those who came for the treasure left; they all died here. Combining this with Ning Caichen¡¯s statement that a friend of Yan Chixia had come to Wild Tomb Ridge to search for the Secret Treasure and had also vanished without a trace, Fang Zhou felt the latter was more likely. In that case, the monks at Lanruo Temple were highly suspicious; at best, they were concealing the truth and profiting from the misfortune of others, at worst, they might have orchestrated this dangerous place themselves. This infuriated Fang Zhou, but it was too late for recriminations now; he and the others were already trapped in this cursed place, and it was uncertain whether they could escape. The main problem was that the monks appeared too weak, just like ordinary people, which made the Cultivators underestimate them and let their guard down. Seeing Fang Zhou with a solemn expression, Ning Caichen couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, then took a few deep breaths to calm his emotions. If he could leave, he would certainly settle accounts with Monk Hui Neng, but for now, he had to deal with the current situation. He said to Ning Caichen, ¡°I¡¯m fine, continue.¡± Ning Caichen looked slightly embarrassed and paused for a moment before continuing. After Lanruo Temple became haunted, Ning Caichen hid in her room and ended up being targeted by a ghost. But the ghost had a kind heart and didn¡¯t harm her. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t ask if the ghost was named Nie Xiaoqian, so as not to frighten Ning Caichen. However, Ning Caichen brought up the ghost¡¯s name herself, indeed it was Nie Xiaoqian. Speaking of Nie Xiaoqian, Ning Caichen couldn¡¯t help but reveal a sweet smile. Nie Xiaoqian did not harm Ning Caichen but merely played tricks on her. The two, or rather, the person and the ghost, got to know each other because of this. When Yan Chixia returned and saw Nie Xiaoqian, he was about to exterminate her but was stopped by Ning Caichen, and Nie Xiaoqian drifted away. Over the next ten or so days living at Lanruo Temple, Nie Xiaoqian visited every night, talking with Ning Caichen about everything under the moon. The person and the ghost attracted each other and gradually became infatuated, and by the time they came to their senses, they had already fallen in love. Half a month later, when the seven-colored rosy clouds appeared, Yan Chixia went to the old site of Lanruo Temple, and Ning Caichen followed because she worried about Yan Chixia¡¯s safety. With a somewhat mocking smile, Fang Zhou looked at her: ¡°Really?¡± He didn¡¯t believe Ning Caichen followed Yan Chixia to the old site of Lanruo Temple just because she was worried about him; it must have been for another reason. Ning Caichen looked embarrassed and finally admitted honestly that although she did worry about Yan Chixia¡¯s safety, she mainly came for Nie Xiaoqian. Because Nie Xiaoqian had told her that Lanruo Temple¡¯s Tree Demon had imprisoned a group of ghosts to lure in passersby, and Nie Xiaoqian was one of those imprisoned spirits. The ashes urn was situated at the roots of the Tree Demon, and without the urn, they couldn¡¯t leave or reincarnate. Ning Caichen wanted to save Nie Xiaoqian, and Yan Chixia could only let her be. However, upon arriving at the old site of Lanruo Temple, the two were separated by a white mist. Ning Caichen nearly lost her life to the ghosts, but Nie Xiaoqian appeared in time to save her and placed her in this basement room, providing her with food and drink daily, preparing to find an opportunity to send her away. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came, and Ning Caichen ended up trapped in this ghostly place for over a year. Chapter 48: 48. Give me back the original Nie Xiaoqian. Chapter 48: 48. Give me back the original Nie Xiaoqian. Ning Caichen finally finished speaking, took a long breath, and then looked at Fang Zhou with expectant eyes. Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and asked, ¡°You saved me once, and I am very grateful. Is there anything you need me to do?¡± He had thought he encountered someone providing an external help, but it turned out that Ning Caichen needed help even more than himself, so he couldn¡¯t expect her to be of much assistance. From her appearance, saving him might have had ulterior motives. ¡°Really?¡± Sure enough, as soon as Fang Zhou said this, Ning Caichen immediately became excited, clasping her hands on her chest and deeply bowing: ¡°Ning Caichen has no other desires, just hoping venerable cultivator can help me with one thing.¡± Fang Zhou listened quietly, not in a hurry to agree. ... It must be asking for help to get out of here, but unfortunately, this matter is too difficult. Even I can barely protect myself, bringing another person is as hard as ascending to the heavens. The next second, Ning Caichen said, ¡°I beg the venerable cultivator to help, take Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn away, so that Xiaoqian can leave this place, be reincarnated, and start a new life.¡± Fang Zhou was immediately startled, damn, it turned out to be this request. The difficulty of this is even higher. Isn¡¯t the ashes urn under the Tree Demon¡¯s roots? Am I just delivering myself up? Fang Zhou pondered and said, ¡°Caichen, what about changing the request? Like, let me help you get out of here, I will definitely do my best.¡± Ning Caichen had a resolute face: ¡°Venerable cultivator, please do not worry about my safety. After being trapped here, life and death have been behind me. My only wish is to rescue Xiaoqian from suffering.¡± Fang Zhou quickly persuaded, ¡°If the green hills are preserved, one need not fear running out of firewood. Nie Xiaoqian is a ghost, who can live a long time, there¡¯s no rush. Let¡¯s leave first, and when there¡¯s a way, we come back to rescue, no, to save the ghost, alright?¡± Ning Caichen had a determined look as if ready to face death: ¡°Venerable cultivator, your concern deeply moves me, but no need to persuade further. If you take me, a living person, it would definitely be inconvenient. Taking Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn alone would be much easier. Xiaoqian has been trapped here for many years, I can¡¯t bear to see her suffer any longer. Venerable cultivator, I beg you.¡± Ning Caichen bowed deeply to Fang Zhou again. Fang Zhou had a constipated expression. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried about your safety, it¡¯s that I can¡¯t meet your request. He sighed and spoke the truth, ¡°There¡¯s no need to say more. If Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn indeed is under the Tree Demon¡¯s roots, with my abilities, I simply cannot take it out. There¡¯s a slight possibility of just getting you out.¡± Ning Caichen showed a dejected look; she had actually guessed it already. If Fang Zhou was powerful enough, how could he be chased by demons everywhere, needing her to intervene? But she still held a sliver of hope, hoping for a miracle. Yet Fang Zhou straightforwardly admitted his powerlessness. Seeing her dejected and saddened expression, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°In this past year, haven¡¯t you sought help from others? There must have been many cultivators coming here?¡± Ning Caichen showed a bitter smile and nodded. Indeed, many cultivators came here, but most had insufficient strength and died by seven or eight once the white mist appeared, while those cultivators who survived in the mist were mostly powerful, targeted by the demons, making it hard for Ning Caichen to approach them. She, although able to freely commute through tunnels, was also afraid of being discovered by the demons. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thus, over the past year, Fang Zhou was the only cultivator she ¡®caught¡¯ because his power was just moderately suitable. After hearing Ning Caichen¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but inwardly complain, damn, so you saved me not because I am handsome and strong, but purely by chance. Stewing over it for a while, Fang Zhou then said, ¡°How about, I still try to find a way to take you with me?¡± Ning Caichen, however, shook her head, ¡°No, if Xiaoqian also can¡¯t leave, I¡¯d rather spend my life here.¡± Watching Ning Caichen¡¯s resolved expression, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel moved, ¡°You and Nie Xiaoqian are truly committed to each other.¡± Ning Caichen showed an embarrassed expression but didn¡¯t deny it. Fang Zhou looked at her embarrassed expression, suddenly realizing, could Nie Xiaoqian be a woman? Although according to the nature of this world, Nie Xiaoqian should be a male ghost, but it¡¯s unlikely for a man to have such a feminized name as Nie Xiaoqian, right? He couldn¡¯t help asking Ning Caichen, ¡°You and Nie Xiaoqian are in love, but the conventions of the world won¡¯t allow it.¡± Ning Caichen replied solemnly, ¡°Even if the conventions don¡¯t allow it, I am willing to bear the consequences.¡± Exactly, this is the love that defies taboo. Wait, by the standards of this world, it¡¯s a love akin to that between lovers. As Fang Zhou was lamenting, suddenly the entire basement shook as if a land dragon was turning over, shaking the debris and dust off. He exclaimed in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Ning Caichen also looked panicked, ¡°I have no idea, this has never happened before.¡± Just when both were unsure, a roar, sounding both male and female, came from above, causing their eardrums to throb painfully. ¡°Damn girl, if you dare, stop running around!!¡± Ning Caichen immediately trembled in fear, ¡°That¡¯s the voice of the Tree Demon!¡± Fang Zhou was startled, this Tree Demon¡¯s voice could penetrate down here and even cause his ears to hurt, how terrifying must its power be? The system must be malfunctioning, asking me to deal with such a monster? At that moment, another clear laughter came from above. ¡°Ha ha ha, catch me if you can.¡± Hearing this familiar voice, Fang Zhou was slightly stunned, then showed a look of joy, that¡¯s Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice, this dead woman finally makes a sound after disappearing for so long. But it seems she¡¯s confronting the Tree Demon head-on. Fang Zhou immediately realized this was an opportunity; if Ling Xiaoyue was confronting the Tree Demon, he might be able to move silently and directly infiltrate the base. He quickly asked Ning Caichen, ¡°Is Nie Xiaoqian very familiar with Lanruo Temple?¡± Ning Caichen nodded, ¡°Xiaoqian has been trapped in Lanruo Temple for many years and knows it very well.¡± Fang Zhou urgently asked, ¡°Can you get Nie Xiaoqian to come over?¡± Ning Caichen thought for a moment and then shook his head, ¡°I can¡¯t do it, but with the ground shaking earlier, if Xiaoqian is free, she will definitely come back to check on my safety.¡± Fang Zhou clenched his fist, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± To make a move, I must first understand the situation in Lanruo Temple, like the environment and the number of demons; only by knowing the enemy and ourselves can we make a corresponding plan. Ning Caichen was right, Nie Xiaoqian didn¡¯t make them wait too long and soon appeared at the basement entrance. Fang Zhou was full of anticipation, wondering what this world¡¯s Nie Xiaoqian would look like? It would be best if she looked like Wang Zuxian, but if not, any charming female ghost would be enchanting. Then he saw a burly man with a big beard rushing in, urgently calling out, ¡°Caichen! Caichen!¡± ¡°Xiaoqian!¡± Ning Caichen also called out and rushed up, the two embraced tightly. Fang Zhou was dumbfounded. This bearded man is Nie Xiaoqian? Damn, you must be Yan Chixia!! Give me back my Wang Zuxian!! Chapter 49 49: 49. The style of painting suddenly became wrong. Chapter 49: 49. The style of painting suddenly became wrong. Fang Zhou felt that he had suffered from a lack of experience. Just when he thought the world couldn¡¯t get any lower, it turned out to go even lower. He had been eagerly waiting to see the Wang Zuxian version of Nie Xiaoqian, but instead, he ended up seeing the Yan Chixia version, which was like riding a roller coaster in terms of the drop in expectations and was just too much to handle. When Fang Zhou was dumbfounded, Ning Caichen and Yan Chixia were still intimately hugging each other, with Yan Chixia¡¯s head buried in Ning Caichen¡¯s chest, whispering sweet nothings to each other. No, it was Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian hugging intimately, but this picture was not romantic at all; in fact, it was quite an eyesore. Fang Zhou wondered if the Tree Demon buried in the ground had buried itself stupid. You want to imprison a male ghost to lure people, you should at least find some better-looking ghosts, aren¡¯t you afraid that releasing this kind of bearded man will affect business performance? ... S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wait, didn¡¯t this bearded man lure Ning Caichen, the fool, here? Really unbelievable. ¡°Right, Xiaoqian, let me introduce you to someone.¡± It was only then that Ning Caichen remembered that Fang Zhou was still there, and hurriedly pulled Nie Xiaoqian over: ¡°This Immortal¡­ uh¡­¡± She just remembered that she hadn¡¯t asked for Fang Zhou¡¯s name. Fang Zhou took the initiative to say, ¡°My surname is Fang.¡± Nie Xiaoqian looked at Fang Zhou curiously and bowed gracefully: ¡°I¡¯ve seen Fang Immortal.¡± Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s movements were very elegant, her voice was neither fast nor slow, clearly well-educated in her former life, perhaps from a prominent family. But a man with a full beard making a graceful bow, speaking in a soft and delicate voice, all the while staring with a pair of curious big eyes, made Fang Zhou feel like he was going to crack. This Nie Xiaoqian, if she changed into a costume, could effortlessly play Zhang Fei, and it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he suddenly blurted out ¡°Me too.¡± Fang Zhou hesitatingly asked, ¡°Are you Yan Chixia?¡± Nie Xiaoqian shook her head: ¡°My name is Nie Xiaoqian.¡± Fang Zhou was not convinced: ¡°Maybe you used to be Yan Chixia and now you¡¯ve just lost your memory and think you are Nie Xiaoqian?¡± ¡°This¡­ Fang Immortal, I¡¯m quite sure I haven¡¯t lost my memory, and I¡¯ve met Hero Yan before, we¡¯re not the same person, she¡¯s a woman!¡± Nie Xiaoqian felt wronged, she was a decent young man, how could she be the vulgar and boorish woman like Yan Chixia. After saying this, she looked at Ning Caichen with an inquiring gaze, what¡¯s up with this Fang Immortal? Ning Caichen also had a puzzled look because she couldn¡¯t figure out what Fang Zhou was up to either. Fang Zhou sighed deeply, having to face reality. The bearded man in front of him was truly not Yan Chixia, but Nie Xiaoqian. Fang Zhou looked at Ning Caichen with resentment: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your love with Nie Xiaoqian was frowned upon by the secular world?¡± Ning Caichen nodded: ¡°That¡¯s right, Xiaoqian is a ghost and I¡¯m human, of course, it goes against the secular world, but I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡°Damn, so you were talking about human ghosts, I seriously thought you meant the same sex.¡± ¡°Now, it¡¯s not just about human ghosts, any humanoid, any creature, even paper-cut figures can be a wife. You¡¯ve found a hubby you can touch and climb on, what¡¯s there to complain about? Care to share with this lone dog?¡± Fang Zhou looked like he had just taken a hit, making the atmosphere awkward for a moment. Ning Caichen hurriedly changed the subject: ¡°Perhaps Fang Immortal can help Nie Xiaoqian retrieve your ashes urn.¡± Fang Zhou showed a wry smile. He hadn¡¯t even agreed yet, and here Ning Caichen was, blurting it out in haste. Nie Xiaoqian clearly knew Ning Caichen¡¯s plan all along, and said to Fang Zhou: ¡°My ashes urn is at the root of the Tree Demon, which is extremely dangerous, guarded by demons under the Tree Demon. If the Immortal isn¡¯t fully confident, please consider the long-term plan and avoid risking it.¡± Fang Zhou immediately had a better impression of Nie Xiaoqian. Listen to this, Nie Xiaoqian might be a ghost, but at least she talks sense, immediately advising against taking risks. Yet Ning Caichen, a living person, only spouts nonsense, pushing me into danger; do we have a grudge or something? If it were moments earlier, Fang Zhou might have just agreed, but now that Ling Xiaoyue had begun fighting the Tree Demon, Fang Zhou felt this was an opportunity not to be missed. Retrieving the ashes urn was one thing, but the main goal was to complete his own mission, or else his life might not be spared. Fang Zhou asked Nie Xiaoqian: ¡°Whether I¡¯m certain is one thing, but are you very familiar with this Lanruo Temple?¡± Nie Xiaoqian nodded: ¡°I¡¯ve been trapped in this Lanruo Temple for decades, I¡¯m very familiar with every grass and tree here, I could navigate it with my eyes closed.¡± Fang Zhou felt encouraged, it was good that she was familiar with things. He quickly said: ¡°Then tell me everything you know for a start, like the situation with the Tree Demon, the characteristics and number of the demons, the pathways leading to the roots of the Tree Demon, as well as its weaknesses, and focus on the important details.¡± Since there was so much to tell, Nie Xiaoqian had to organize her thoughts first before starting from the beginning. Nie Xiaoqian was the daughter of a high official from the previous dynasty. She succumbed to an incurable disease and after death, was buried in the Immortal¡¯s Tomb, a place of excellent feng shui. Due to the special feng shui of the Immortal¡¯s Tomb, her soul gathered but did not disperse, turning into a consciousness-less wandering ghost. When she became aware again, she found that the once feng shui treasure, Immortal¡¯s Tomb, had become Wild Tomb Ridge, and the once-famous Lanruo Temple was now in ruins and abandoned, with a Tree Demon that had cultivated its spirit emerging in the temple. The now-conscious Nie Xiaoqian was imprisoned by the Tree Demon, only able to lure travelers to provide Innate Yin Yang Qi and Blood Food for the Tree Demon. Gradually, Wild Tomb Ridge became deserted, with very few daring to venture this way. Years passed, and a group of foreign Monks moved into Lanruo Temple¡¯s annex. Nie Xiaoqian, out of curiosity, had spied on them. The Monks were very peculiar, and the Tree Demon strictly ordered not to lure or harm the Monks. At that time, Nie Xiaoqian realized that the Monks might be in league with the Tree Demon. And sure enough, every so often, some people would move into Lanruo Temple¡¯s annex, and then they, the ghosts, would be sent to lure them over. Moreover, the people who came were no longer ordinary; they gradually all became Cultivators. Ning Caichen was the last ordinary person Nie Xiaoqian ¡®lured¡¯; afterwards, those Cultivators didn¡¯t need ghosts to lure them, they would come to Lanruo Temple on their own, and then all would die there, their bodies dragged away by the roots of the Tree Demon. Regarding the specifics about the Tree Demon, Nie Xiaoqian didn¡¯t know much. She didn¡¯t know the origin, species, or level of the Tree Demon, just that the demons under it called the Tree Demon ¡®Granny¡¯, and the ones managing and driving these ghosts were the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods under the Tree Demon. Although they were called Yin Gods, they were actually seven gourd fruits that the Tree Demon had nurtured and which cultivated into spirits. Nie Xiaoqian was quite clear about the abilities of these seven Gourd Demons. The first gourd had immense strength and could turn into a giant, the second gourd had thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear, the third gourd was Copper Head and Iron Arm, impervious to swords and spears, the fourth gourd could control fire and spit thunder, the fifth gourd could control water and spit lightning, the sixth gourd had the powers of Invisibility and wall-penetrating, and the seventh gourd carried a magical gourd that could absorb and refine all things. Besides these seven gourds, it was said there was an eighth one, pure white, possessing the abilities of the previous seven gourds, but Nie Xiaoqian had never seen it. Chapter 50 50: 50. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio and Childrens Books Chapter 50: 50. Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio and Children¡¯s Books These seven Gourd Demons, known as the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, manage all kinds and sizes of demons and spirits within Lanruo Temple. Any cultivator who intrudes into Lanruo Temple is dealt with by the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods. The Tree Demon Elder wakes up every seven days; other than absorbing Blood Food, it hardly ever takes action. Having been in Lanruo Temple for so many years, Nie Xiaoqian has only seen the Tree Demon act twice. Once when Yan Chixia caused a huge disturbance in Lanruo Temple, and the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods could not handle her. Ultimately, the Tree Demon personally took action and defeated Yan Chixia. The second time is now, with that female cultivator outside who is fighting fiercely against the Tree Demon. Nie Xiaoqian doesn¡¯t recognize this one. While Nie Xiaoqian was recounting this, there were still intermittent vibrations and explosions coming from above, indicating that the battle between the Tree Demon and Ling Xiaoyue was far from over. After hearing Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s account, Fang Zhou was completely baffled. ... Am I in the world of ¡°A Chinese Ghost Story¡± or in the world of ¡°Calabash Brothers¡±? You mix a supernatural anthology with children¡¯s literature; it puts me in a very passive situation. Fang Zhou felt a headache coming on, now fully realizing that the ghostly disturbance last night in the courtyard of Lanruo Temple was highly likely caused by the invisible Sixth Brother. At that time, instead of directly killing all the cultivators, Sixth Brother probably feared that some might escape, waiting to trap them all in this haunted place where they could play any game they wanted without issues. And that little demon chasing him all over just now must have been the youngest, Seventh Brother, with that purple gourd as his signature equipment. As for the genders of the Calabash Brothers, Fang Zhou was no longer fretting over it. Whatever they are, they are. Even if you are a hermaphroditic demon, I will still stab you without hesitation. And by stabbing, I mean with a sword; don¡¯t misunderstand. Although the abilities of the seven Calabash Brothers are known, Nie Xiaoqian knows nothing about the key figure, the Tree Demon Elder. Being just an ordinary ghost, he can¡¯t get close to the Tree Demon and had to stay far away, unable to even watch, let alone interfere, in the two instances the Tree Demon took action. If relying solely on information provided by Nie Xiaoqian, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t be able to take any targeted action. Even if he could defeat the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, the crucial Tree Demon is still an issue, and Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t solely rely on Ling Xiaoyue to defeat the Tree Demon. Furthermore, he wasn¡¯t sure if defeating the Tree Demon would mean his task was completed. Therefore, no matter what, he must get involved, even if just to assist. I¡¯ll just linger outside without going in; the Tree Demon shouldn¡¯t abandon Ling Xiaoyue to target me instead, right? Seeing Fang Zhou deeply frowning in thought, Nie Xiaoqian suddenly said, ¡°Regarding the Tree Demon, there is someone who might know more than I do.¡± Fang Zhou abruptly looked up, ¡°Who?¡± Nie Xiaoqian slowly said, ¡°Hero Yan!¡± ¡°Yan Chixia?¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t she already dead?¡± Ning Caichen, also surprised, looked at Nie Xiaoqian, ¡°Xiaoqian, what¡¯s going on? Is Hero Yan still alive?¡± After they parted ways with Yan Chixia, he had wanted to go out and search for her multiple times but was dissuaded by Nie Xiaoqian, who said that Yan Chixia had likely met with misfortune and it would be too risky to search for her. Nie Xiaoqian looked at Ning Caichen with deep regret, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Caichen. I lied to you. Hero Yan didn¡¯t die; after the Tree Demon defeated her, it didn¡¯t kill her but imprisoned her in a dungeon, torturing her daily. I didn¡¯t tell you because I was afraid you would act rashly. Just the two of us wouldn¡¯t be able to rescue Hero Yan; please don¡¯t blame me.¡± Fang Zhou silently gave Nie Xiaoqian a thumbs up, beautifully done. With Ning Caichen¡¯s impulsive nature, if he knew Yan Chixia was still alive, he would likely have prompted Nie Xiaoqian to go on a suicide mission. Ning Caichen looked at Nie Xiaoqian lovingly, ¡°Xiaoqian, I know you did it for my sake. How could I blame you?¡± Nie Xiaoqian also looked at Ning Caichen lovingly, ¡°Caichen, you are truly kind.¡± This man and ghost stared deeply into each other¡¯s eyes, full of tender affection. If Fang Zhou, the single guy, hadn¡¯t been there, they probably would have started rolling around in the sheets by now. This couple started feeding dog food again, but Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t swallow any of it. In his mind, he continuously replaced Nie Xiaoqian with Yan Chixia, and whenever he thought about Ning Caichen and Yan Chixia embracing and whispering sweet nothings under the moonlight, his heart ached. What heinous crime had he committed to deserve such spiritual corruption?! Seeing Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian getting closer in their deep gaze and about to embrace again, Fang Zhou quickly interrupted: ¡°Enough, enough, wait for me to leave before you get cozy, hurry up and tell me the location of the dungeon.¡± The news that Yan Chixia was still alive surprised Fang Zhou; he knew that as one of the main characters in the first two parts of ¡°A Chinese Ghost Story,¡± Yan Chixia wouldn¡¯t die so easily. Yan Chixia had immense mana, the seven Gourd Boys couldn¡¯t handle her. She even personally fought against the Tree Demon, so she certainly had a deep understanding of it. Embarrassed, Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian separated. Nie Xiaoqian to Fang Zhou, ¡°Immortal Fang, let me lead you. We can avoid the demons¡¯ patrols along the way.¡± Fang Zhou had no objections; having a ghost lead the way was too good to pass up. Nie Xiaoqian then turned back to Ning Caichen and said softly, ¡°Caichen, stay here and wait for me to return.¡± Ning Caichen, knowing he was a weak scholar who couldn¡¯t help, could only nod, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stay put and won¡¯t run around.¡± After the two said goodbye, Fang Zhou left with Nie Xiaoqian from the basement, heading through the tunnels towards the dungeon. Nie Xiaoqian went ahead, Fang Zhou followed, and only when he got closer did he smell the ghostly aura on him. This aura, though colorless and odorless, had a chilling effect that seeped into one¡¯s heart and lungs. As Fang Zhou followed Nie Xiaoqian, he wondered how Han Li was doing now. Hoping she was safe. ¡­ Half an hour earlier. After witnessing a corpse being dragged away by tree roots, Han Li¡¯s urge to leave this place grew stronger. But with the entire Lanruo Temple shrouded in white fog, discerning directions was difficult, and leaving was not an easy feat, especially with many ghosts lurking in the fog. Another exorcism charm was used, leaving only four remaining. Han Li didn¡¯t plan on using them unless absolutely necessary, as she had a small bottle on her that ensured ghosts couldn¡¯t stealthily attack and kill her. After groping her way through the fog for a while, Han Li noticed many thick tree roots emerging densely from the ground, like the tentacles of a monster. Feeling the danger in her instincts, Han Li quickly turned to leave, but suddenly saw a figure ahead. The figure noticed her too and immediately shouted, ¡°Who is there?¡± Upon closer inspection, Han Li realized it was one of the independent cultivators who came this time, surprisingly still alive. Being cautious by nature, she didn¡¯t approach immediately, and the look in the other¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t seem friendly either. ¡°Well, well, it turns out to be you, you stinky girl.¡± True to form, the other immediately spoke rudely and shouted loudly, ¡°Fellow Daoists, I have found the stinky girl who colluded with the monks.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 51 51: 51. Grandpa does not like to eat barbecue Chapter 51: 51. Grandpa does not like to eat barbecue As the voice rose, shadows loomed in the surrounding fog, with more than ten scattered cultivators who had entered Lanruo Temple converging quickly. Han Li¡¯s heart sank, it was no surprise that these scattered cultivators noticed something off about the monk, but why did they still think she was in collusion with him? Among those who approached, Han Li spotted that woman clad in power attire with a scar on her face, immediately realizing that it must be this person causing mischief again. Seeing only Han Li and no sign of Fang Zhou, the woman in the power attire showed a hint of disappointment and then stared at Han Li with malice. That shouting scattered cultivator yelled at Han Li: ¡°You wretch, quickly lead us out of this damned place.¡± They had been lured here by the Secret Treasure, only realizing they had been deceived when the fog appeared, many had died, leaving only these last ten or so, each highly skilled, and at the very least at Qi Refining Realm Perfection. ... Huddling together for warmth, they hadn¡¯t been wiped out by ghostly figures, yet unable to discern the direction, they weren¡¯t able to escape and would eventually exhaust their strength. Han Li¡¯s emergence felt like a drowning person clutching at a straw; they weren¡¯t considering whether she was being wrongfully accused. Han Li sternly said: ¡°If I were colluding with the monks, why would I also be trapped here, and even have my companion dead?¡± She apologized silently to Fang Zhou in her heart and used him as a shield for the moment. The scattered cultivators subconsciously felt that Han Li made sense, but the woman in power attire suddenly said: ¡°You¡¯re probably not trapped here, but stayed by choice, using our names to scout the path for you, so you could wait for the opportune moment to seize the Secret Treasure; maybe your companion is hiding somewhere.¡± Upon hearing the woman¡¯s words, the scattered cultivators became noisy again, Han Li noticed their eyes were bloodshot, their emotional state clearly disturbed, with only the power-clad woman seeming normal. Furious and shocked, Han Li thought, not only is this woman maliciously framing, but she¡¯s also using dark manipulation on her peers¡¯ minds, what exactly does she want to do. The scattered cultivators glared at Han Li with hostility, advancing step by step. Instinctively retreating, Han Li gripped her longsword tightly. ¡°Boom¡ª¡± At that moment, the entire Lanruo Temple suddenly trembled, and the thick tree roots on the ground seemed to come alive, stretching out in all directions. The scattered cultivators nearly lost their balance, and Han Li seized the moment to turn and flee into the fog. The woman in power attire flicked her hand, releasing a paper crane that chased in the direction Han Li fled. ¡°Chase her, we can get out if we follow her.¡± The scattered cultivators immediately followed behind the paper crane. The fog, disorienting and impeding exploration, had Han Li hoping it would help her shake off the pursuing group. Yet, they kept up closely. It wasn¡¯t long before Han Li noticed the paper crane that was tracking her, evidently betraying her location. She wanted to turn back and deal with the paper crane but feared getting caught, forcing her to blindly run, no longer caring about the directions, heading wherever it was most complex. During the chase, unknowingly covering much ground, suddenly, Han Li noticed the surrounding fog had disappeared. She found herself in a clearing hundreds of meters in diameter, desolate all around except for a pavilion at the center. Han Li halted, silently staring at the pavilion, her intuition about the lurking danger almost manifesting physically, causing copious amounts of cold sweat on her forehead and back. The paper crane circled over her head. In a few moments, the scattered cultivators burst out of the fog, their faces showing delight. ¡°We¡¯re out! We finally made it out!¡± ¡°I never want to go back to that damned place!¡± ¡°That wretched girl indeed must be in collusion with the monks¡­¡± The scattered cultivators were still immersed in the joy of escaping from the white mist and hadn¡¯t had time to confront Han Li when they noticed the existence of the pavilion. They gradually fell silent. Those who could cultivate to Qi Refining Realm Perfection were not fools¡ªthey had been influenced by the tough-dressed woman previously, and now an unknown chill brought them back to their senses. In the pavilion sat four young women of varying ages, two playing chess, two watching. The sudden appearance of four women playing and watching chess in this eerie place seemed abnormal, and it was even uncertain if they were human. The scattered cultivators instinctively swallowed, each feeling a profound threat. Just then, a patting sound of footsteps came, and from the other side of the white mist, a cute little girl with pigtails and a purple gourd hanging at her waist walked out. The little girl entered the pavilion, plopped down to sit, and puffed her cheeks into a bun-like face, looking quite indignant. The eldest woman, also playing chess, dressed in red, holding a chess piece, smiled and said, ¡°Who has bullied Xiao Qi?¡± Xiao Qi complained, ¡°Big sister, a nasty guy escaped from my grasp, you have to help me catch him back!¡± The woman in red said indulgently, ¡°Alright, I will definitely help you catch him.¡± Another woman in yellow playing chess also laughed, ¡°Someone managed to escape from our Xiao Qi, not simple, eh? Did you suction the wrong thing again?¡± Xiao Qi glared at her, ¡°Third sister, don¡¯t tease me, you wouldn¡¯t have caught him either, that person was too fast.¡± The four women all laughed; this youngest sister was the joy of their group of six. These five sisters chatted and laughed in the pavilion, paying no mind to the group of scattered cultivators in the distance. The scattered cultivators dared not make a rash move, the five women seemed too eerie, and behind them was the mist, none of them wanted to go back. Only then did the scattered cultivators remember Han Li, who had led them here, and they started searching around only to find that Han Li had disappeared at some point. ¡°What the hell, when did she run off?¡± ¡°Damn girl, slipped away so fast!¡± The scattered cultivators were very annoyed, but they forgot that a tough-dressed woman had also disappeared. In the pavilion, the five women finally turned their attention to the scattered cultivators. The woman in green watching the chess smiled, ¡°It¡¯s my turn to act this time, don¡¯t fight with me.¡± The woman in blue also watching responded with a roll of her eyes, ¡°Forget it, great-grandfather doesn¡¯t like grilled stuff, I should do it.¡± The woman in green protested, ¡°Sister Five, it was your turn last time and the time before; it should be my turn now.¡± ¡°But great-grandfather doesn¡¯t like it!¡± ¡°Grandfather just said it¡¯s not tasty, not that he doesn¡¯t like it.¡± As the two strikingly similar-looking twins started bickering, Xiao Qi shouted, ¡°Sister Four, Sister Five, stop arguing, let me do it, I haven¡¯t had the chance even once!¡± Both turned to Xiao Qi and then burst into laughter together, ¡°If you suction them into your gourd, what¡¯s left for great-grandfather to eat?¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When the eldest and third sister finished their chess game, the third sister in yellow stood up, ¡°Let me do it then, chopping them up won¡¯t matter.¡± The other three had no objection, and the third sister left the pavilion, walking towards the dozen scattered cultivators leisurely, as if strolling. The dozen scattered cultivators were intimidated by her mere presence and instinctively retreated to the edge of the mist. One of the cultivators gritted his teeth, ¡°What are we afraid of? We are over a dozen people, are we really afraid we can¡¯t handle a few demons? One spit from each of us would drown her!¡± Hearing this, the crowd felt it made sense, their morale boosted, and they all rubbed their hands in preparation for demon extermination! Chapter 52: 52. The King of Qin walks around the pillar Chapter 52: 52. The King of Qin walks around the pillar The tunnels were not interconnected, many areas were collapsed and blocked, necessitating detours. No wonder Nie Xiaoqian took the initiative to guide Fang Zhou; he might have gotten lost if he were on his own. According to Nie Xiaoqian, these tunnels were secretly constructed by the monks of the former Lanruo Temple, but the reason for their construction was unknown. They reached the end of the tunnel, where Nie Xiaoqian opened a door and floated out to scout the surroundings before beckoning Fang Zhou to come out. The outside was still shrouded in thick fog, preventing Fang Zhou from discerning their location, but with Nie Xiaoqian as a guide, they avoided wandering aimlessly. In the fog, occasional ghostly figures or demons appeared, but with Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s help and cover, Fang Zhou remained undetected. Nie Xiaoqian explained that these demons originally lived in Wild Tomb Ridge and the nearby mountains. They were captured personally by the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods to guard Lanruo Temple, calling them a bunch of unfortunate souls. After avoiding several patrols, Nie Xiaoqian finally brought Fang Zhou to the entrance of the dungeon, which turned out to be an old well. Nie Xiaoqian pointed to the well and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°The entrance to the dungeon is at the bottom of this well. I¡¯ve entered it once by chance. Inside, there¡¯s a giant phagocyte guarding it, and Hero Yan is locked in the deepest part of the dungeon.¡± She paused, then continued apologetically, ¡°My mana is weak, and I won¡¯t be much help inside. I¡¯ll stay outside and guard for you, Master Immortal. If anyone comes, I¡¯ll send a warning in time.¡± Fang Zhou did not expect Nie Xiaoqian to accompany him down, so he bowed politely, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be troubling you.¡± Then, he walked to the well, looked down into it¡ªit wasn¡¯t very deep, perhaps three to four meters, with weeds growing at the bottom. He was about to jump down when he suddenly heard Nie Xiaoqian say, ¡°Master Immortal, please be careful. I wish you great victory and success.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and waved his hand, ¡°I also wish you clear-mindedness and foresight¡­ Eh, never mind.¡± After saying this, he jumped down the well. Nie Xiaoqian was momentarily puzzled by Fang Zhou¡¯s words. What did he mean by ¡®in advance¡¯? This Master Immortal indeed acted differently from ordinary people; perhaps this is typical of cultivators. She shook her head, stopped pondering, and gradually disappeared from sight. Inside the well, after Fang Zhou jumped down, he immediately saw an entrance, which was pitch-dark inside. He didn¡¯t rush in but instead, opened his long-neglected personal attributes. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refinement (entry-level) Techniques: [New Moon Qi][Qi Gathering Technique] Skills: [Illusion Skill+][Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand+][Fireball Technique][Straightforward Swordsmanship] Strength: 4 Speed: 5 Physique: 9 Spirit: 6 Masculinity: 10 Righteous Reputation: 1 White Card: 1 After eliminating the man-eating demon fox at the Hu Family¡¯s place, the system rewarded him with 8 points of masculinity, which he had not used yet. Additionally, he had completed a simple task of defeating the four sisters of the White Tiger Sect, earning another 2 points. The 10 points of masculinity, an unprecedented sum, allowed for the possibility to upgrade his skills like Illusion and Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, as indicated by the plus signs next to them. Yet, Fang Zhou chose not to upgrade; he preferred to enhance his basic attributes because his own strength was too weak. Even with skills, he would be at a disadvantage against the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods. He didn¡¯t rush to add all 10 points of masculinity to his attributes right away. There was a strategy known as adding points during battle, which meant adding attributes during combat to surprise the enemy and exploit an information gap. However, the white card could be drawn immediately. Fang Zhou silently recited a prayer for good luck and chose to draw. The next second, a small bottle appeared in his palm. ¡°` [Invisibility Potion: After taking it, you can become invisible, and the effect lasts for thirty minutes.] S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou¡¯s complexion darkened slightly; it seemed he had been getting too much sun lately, almost akin to an African Chief. He currently had three bottles of potions on him: one for invisibility, one to see through invisibility, and one for detoxification. Securing the potions close to him, Fang Zhou gripped the Evil Slaying Sword and delved into the dungeon entrance. Once inside, there was a descending stone staircase, dark and damp with a chilling eeriness. Fang Zhou cautiously moved down the steps, his eyes adjusting to the darkness, enabling him to vaguely make out the inside scene and not be completely blinded. This dungeon was built underground by monks from the past dynasty. As for why monks needed a dungeon, this question had long become untraceable, a thought most terrifying. Not far down the stairs, he entered into the dungeon proper, a rectangular space with severely rotted wooden cell bars on either side, many rusted chains hanging from the ceiling, and the floor was densely covered with layers of decayed bones, too numerous to count. Every cell presented the same sight; this place was less like a dungeon and more akin to a mass grave. Since stepping into the dungeon, Fang Zhou had been extremely alert. Nie Xiaoqian had mentioned that the dungeon was long and narrow, and with the giant phagocyte being huge in size, there was no chance for shortcuts; he had to confront and kill the Rat Demon in order to meet Yan Chixia. Not far ahead, Fang Zhou smelled a foul, rotten sewer odor that almost made him vomit. The next moment, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared in the dark, staring fixedly at Fang Zhou. He looked and finally saw the true face of the giant phagocyte. It was a bull-sized giant rat, with claws thick and long like scythes and two incisors like axes. It crawled on the ground, dribbling foul-smelling saliva from its mouth and issuing a hissing growl. This giant rat blocked the only path leading deeper into the dungeon; indeed, there was no way around it but to kill it. [Trigger new quest ¨C Kill the Giant Phagocyte] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: Manly Spirit*4, Blue Card*1] [Failure: Death] Easy difficulty is truly easy, but normal difficulty implies certain dangers. Fang Zhou exhaled, silently running the Qi Gathering Technique, allowing spiritual energy to permeate his entire body. He held up the Evil Slaying Sword and said in a low voice to the giant phagocyte, ¡°Come on, I don¡¯t believe that, as an endless Sword Saint, I cannot defeat a mere rat that doesn¡¯t even have Dolan.¡± As if understanding Fang Zhou¡¯s challenge, the giant phagocyte issued a piercing shriek and rapidly pounced towards him. Its massive body charging forward created a formidable force, making the entire dungeon seem to tremble. Fang Zhou threw an Illusion Technique at it, but it was hard to tell from the rat¡¯s face and eyes whether it was affected by the illusion as it continued to charge rapidly. Fang Zhou ran a few steps forward, leaped powerfully over the giant rat¡¯s head, and swung the Evil Slaying Sword downwards, slashing across the rat¡¯s back, breaking through its fur and creating a wound. The giant phagocyte screamed and thrashed its thick tail violently towards Fang Zhou. Still in mid-air, Fang Zhou could only summon Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and grab onto the rat¡¯s tail. The tail was powerful, swinging Fang Zhou around in the air and eventually pulling him towards its mouth, then turning its head to bite. Fang Zhou had to release the tail and punched its head with his controlled left hand. The giant phagocyte, dizzied by the punch and seeing stars, shook its head and immediately swiped another claw at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou raised the sword to defend, and the Evil Slaying Sword clashed with the claws, sparks flying, the force numbing his hands holding the sword. The giant phagocyte swiped yet another claw which Fang Zhou rapidly retreated from; the claw missing him and striking the ground, easily carving deep marks like cutting into tofu. The giant phagocyte kept slashing, faster than a Phantom Sword Dance, forcing Fang Zhou to continuously retreat until he backed into a nearby cell. The wall between the cells had partially collapsed, leaving only a pillar. Seeing the giant phagocyte following him in, Fang Zhou immediately executed a secret move¡ªCircling Around the Pillar. ¡°` Chapter 53: 53. The master isnt some kind of treasure. Chapter 53: 53. The master isn¡¯t some kind of treasure. The ¡®Qin King Circling the Pillar¡¯ is an illustrious secret technique created by none other than Qin Shi Huang himself in times of life-threatening danger, granting a one-hundred percent chance of evasion, a lifesaver during critical moments. The only downside is that it requires a pillar. Fang Zhou started circling around a pillar, and the giant phagocyte, acting on instinct, followed suit, but due to its enormous body, it got stuck in the half-collapsed wall. Now behind the giant phagocyte, Fang Zhou dodged its tail and stabbed it in the buttocks with his sword. It wasn¡¯t that he had a particular fondness for this spot, but targeting weaknesses is essential for every warrior. The Evil Slaying Sword pierced right through the body, causing the giant phagocyte to let out a painful shriek, struggling to break free and bringing down both wall and pillar. It charged out of the prison cell, only to be greeted by a glaring burst of flame. The fireball exploded on the face of the giant phagocyte, its intense heat and the blast causing it to rear its head, while Fang Zhou rushed forward, stabbing it in the throat with his sword. [Successfully killed the giant phagocyte] ¡®Reward: Manliness*4 Blue Card*1] Fang Zhou withdrew the Evil Slaying Sword, a bit surprised that this giant phagocyte¡¯s combat strength wasn¡¯t as he expected¡ªnot too strong, but rather too weak. Assigned to guard a fierce person like Yan Chixia, yet possessing only average might, the only possibility was that Yan Chixia was now extremely frail; any guard would suffice to watch over him. Cleaning the blood off his sword, Fang Zhou contemplated a rotating blue card in his mind; he subconsciously wanted to draw it but hesitated and then decided against it. Now was an unlucky time, and he surely wouldn¡¯t draw anything good; better to wait until later. His manliness points had also accumulated to 14; adding them all to his attributes might give him a physique like Captain America¡ªan ace in the hole, depending on which demon was fortunate enough to get a taste first. Now that the guard was dead, there was no need for Fang Zhou to sneak around anymore. He found a fairly intact piece of wood, lit it with the Fireball Technique to make a torch, and then made his way deeper into the dungeon. Reaching the very end of the dungeon, a relatively intact prison cell appeared before Fang Zhou, its door made of wooden bars and secured with heavy iron chains. Dry straw covered the floor of the cell, and a disheveled woman was sitting against the wall, shackled in iron chains. She seemed utterly lifeless, unmoved by sounds, whether dead or alive was unclear. Fang Zhou felt a bit nervous; if Yan Chixia was dead, then his trip would have been in vain. From outside the cell, Fang Zhou shouted, ¡°Yan Chixia?¡± Perhaps in response to hearing her name, the woman in the cell shivered slightly and slowly lifted her head, revealing a face hidden under messy hair. Seeing the face clearly, Fang Zhou blurted out in shock, ¡°Nie Xiaoqian?!¡± He hadn¡¯t expected to encounter the Nie Xiaoqian resembling Wang Zuxian here; no, it should be Wang Zuxian¡¯s version of Yan Chixia. Indeed, this Yan Chixia bore an uncanny resemblance to a young Wang Zuxian, and was even more beautiful. Even with a pale, haggard face, her beauty was inescapable. However, upon seeing Fang Zhou, Yan Chixia¡¯s eyes gradually regained their luster, and she swiftly perked up, ¡°Oh, looks like a good deal has arrived.¡± Fang Zhou: ¡°¡­¡± Is that really the first thing you focus on when you see someone? Her voice, however, was unexpectedly pleasant to the ear, full of allure. Fang Zhou shook his head to cast aside these messy thoughts, and addressed Yan Chixia, ¡°Hero Yan, I¡¯ve come to rescue you. Surprised or not, are you astonished?¡± Yan Chixia scrutinized Fang Zhou with a piercing gaze from head to toe, a fully satisfied expression on his face: ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. You have robust Yang energy and exceptional talent, and especially good looks¡ªa fine seedling indeed.¡± Seeing Yan Chixia dodging the question, Fang Zhou assumed that being locked up for too long had muddled her mind. He directly raised the Evil Slaying Sword, chopped off the iron chains of the cell door, and pushed the door open to enter. Once inside the cell, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t rush into action. Instead, he paid his respects to Yan Chixia with cupped hands: ¡°Hero Yan, I am preparing to eliminate the Tree Demon and require your minor assistance. In exchange, I will rescue you from this place. How about that?¡± He did this to prevent any unexpected refusal from Yan Chixia once she was rescued, should she not wish to assist. It was better to clarify matters beforehand. Yan Chixia grew more and more pleased with Fang Zhou and replied: ¡°There¡¯s no need to rescue me. My life is drawing to a close; I could die at any moment.¡± Fang Zhou was taken aback. Did that mean his efforts had been in vain? He observed Yan Chixia and found her growing more vivacious. Her previously wan complexion was now rosy; she hardly looked like someone on the brink of death. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s incredulous look, Yan Chixia smiled and said: ¡°You needn¡¯t doubt it. This is but a brief rally before the end. I am only holding on to breathe long enough for your arrival, so that I can pass on my last wishes before my death.¡± Fang Zhou inquired, astonished: ¡°You knew I would come?¡± Yan Chixia let out a hearty laugh: ¡°I am quite skilled in divination and foresaw that someone would come to inherit my secret techniques.¡± Fang Zhou frowned slightly. He was here to seek support from Hero Yan, not to take her as his master. The two seemed similar but were quite different; a master could be a support, but support did not necessarily mean taking on a master. Besides, he already had a troublesome nominal master to deal with; taking on another would be too much. Consequently, Fang Zhou could only respond diplomatically: ¡°Hero Yan, I already have a master¡­¡± Yan Chixia cut him off: ¡°A master is nothing special¡ªhaving one more or one fewer makes no difference.¡± Is that any way to speak of oneself? The nominal master he had outside valued the role immensely, always bringing it up. Caught in hesitation, Fang Zhou heard Yan Chixia continue: ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. My Innate True Qi is nearly depleted. If you have any questions, you better ask quickly.¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly asked: ¡°What is the Tree Demon¡¯s weakness? You have fought it; do you understand?¡± ¡°Do you truly intend to exterminate the Tree Demon?¡± Yan Chixia asked in return, her eyes blazing: ¡°That Tree Demon is a Mystic Yin Divine Tree, cultivated into a spirit and has birthed Seven Mysterious Demon Pills, becoming a Golden Core Realm Demon. Not just any novice in the Qi Refining Realm, but even a Golden Core Realm expert would be helpless against it. Your involvement would mean certain death. Still, you wish to carry out the Demon Extermination?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou asserted firmly: ¡°We cultivators are meant to enforce justice on behalf of heaven, to subdue and remove demons. If this Tree Demon endangers the innocent and harms fellow cultivators, I am ready to face destruction, even if it means my body is torn asunder and my soul scattered.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was imperative to eliminate it, given that he had already accepted the task; it was a situation of life and death. Fang Zhou did not wish to die, so the Tree Demon had to be the one to go. Thus, his words were spoken with genuine passion and deep conviction. How could Yan Chixia not see through this? She immediately roared in approval, her face bursting with life: ¡°Worthy indeed of being the disciple I have taken a fancy to. Cultivators should possess the ambition and courage to enforce justice and exterminate demons on behalf of heaven.¡± Fang Zhou felt somewhat helpless. I haven¡¯t even agreed yet. Yan Chixia continued: ¡°This Wild Tomb Ridge was originally called Immortal¡¯s Tomb. It is said that the tomb of a former emperor is buried here, and the rumor is true. The great tomb of an emperor is indeed buried deep within the mountains. The Tree Demon took root in Wild Tomb Ridge and its roots feed directly into the Emperor¡¯s Tomb, absorbing the Yin spirit from the royal burial as it cultivated, which allowed it to become a formidable Golden Core Demon easily.¡± ¡°But its foundation is unstable due to cutting corners in its cultivation. The weakness of the Tree Demon lies in the Seven Mysterious Demon Pill. Originally, the demon pill was hidden deep within the roots of the tree. A year ago, I pierced through the roots with my sword, leaving a sword mark. If you follow that mark, you will be able to find the demon pill. Taking the demon pill away will leave the Tree Demon powerless.¡± Yan Chixia said all this in a single breath, not even stopping to take a breath. Fang Zhou made sure to remember it, while Yan Chixia added: ¡°However, that sword wound entrance is surely guarded by demons, and the roots below seethe with virulent Miasma. These are all for you to deal with on your own.¡± Fang Zhou thought to himself that he had Detoxification Medicine, which should allow him to handle the Miasma. As for the demon guards, he wondered whether the Invisibility Potion might help him slip past them unnoticed? Chapter 54: 54. Cultivators Life and Death are Unpredictable Chapter 54: 54. Cultivator¡¯s Life and Death are Unpredictable Fang Zhou had firmly memorized all the critical points mentioned by Yan Chixia; whether the task could be completed depended on this information. After Yan Chixia finished speaking, her complexion remained rosy; her originally cracked lips had become moist, and her eyes sparkled with vitality. She didn¡¯t look like someone on the brink of death at all. Fang Zhou hesitated, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need my help to get out? You seem like you could live another thirty or fifty years without any problem.¡± Yan Chixia shook her head, speaking frankly, ¡°I¡¯ve been injured at my foundation by the Tree Demon, and tormented over the past year. I¡¯m already at the end of my tether, barely hanging on by a thread of Innate True Qi. In a little while, once this thread of True Qi dissipates, I¡¯ll be beyond saving, with no hope of resurrection, no matter who comes.¡± Fang Zhou felt a twinge of regret. Had he known, he would have gotten some wine from Ling Xiaoyue to bring along; the healing effects of her wine were quite potent. Now it seemed too late to go looking for her. Yan Chixia stretched out her hands bound by iron chains and heavily slapped the ground. With a bang, the floor of the cell exploded, sending dirt and stones flying. A dark sword box shot up from the ground, landing squarely in front of Fang Zhou. Yan Chixia gazed nostalgically at the sword box, her eyes not like those of someone looking at an object, but at an old friend. Then she said to Fang Zhou, ¡°My teaching lineage comes from the Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect. This sect has always remained concealed from the world, with sparse discipleship. The lineage has nearly died out with my generation. This Sword Box is a treasured artifact of the sect, containing the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, the complete Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique, full volumes of the Sword Control Technique, along with the Sect Leader Seal.¡± She encouraged Fang Zhou with her eyes, ¡°Pick it up.¡± Fang Zhou hesitated for a moment but eventually reached out to lift the Sword Box. However, as soon as his fingers touched the box, it violently shook and a faint sound of swords humming was heard, stinging Fang Zhou¡¯s fingertips. Frightened, Fang Zhou leaped backward, defensively holding up the Evil Slaying Sword. Yan Chixia laughed heartily as if she had succeeded in a prank, ¡°This Sword Box has a spirit, ordinary people can¡¯t pick it up. However, you are the inheritor I¡¯ve chosen. Give it another try; though it may cause some pain, it won¡¯t cause injury.¡± Fang Zhou gave her a glance, then walked straight over, and with both hands together, he hugged the Sword Box. The Sword Box began to shake again, its stinging like needles against Fang Zhou¡¯s hands. Enduring the pain, he held on tight, ¡°I can handle huskies, I don¡¯t believe I can¡¯t deal with you.¡± He struggled with the Sword Box, the box shook trying to escape, but Fang Zhou exerted all his strength, even employing the Qi Gathering Technique. Yan Chixia watched with interest from the side but did not attempt to intervene. Within just a few seconds, Fang Zhou was sweating profusely from the pain, feeling as if his hands were about to be riddled like a hornet¡¯s nest. But he clenched his teeth and bore it. Such a great opportunity presented before him, to not seize it would be a lifelong regret. A little pain was nothing; it was like being bitten by a dog. When Fang Zhou¡¯s hands were almost numb from the pain and his head was spinning, the Sword Box¡¯s shaking finally began to slow, until it became completely still, the humming of swords ceased, and it no longer stung his hands. Fang Zhou hurriedly rolled up his sleeves and saw not a single wound, just as Yan Chixia had said; he was unharmed. Yan Chixia looked at Fang Zhou approvingly, ¡°This was the Sword Box¡¯s trial. If there had been even a slight intention to give up, or even the thought of it, you would have never been able to lift the Sword Box again. You have passed the trial.¡± She hadn¡¯t warned Fang Zhou beforehand, relying solely on his perseverance. Only in this way could he truly pass the Sword Box¡¯s trial. Fang Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead, holding the Sword Box in his hands and inspecting it. The sword box was rather heavy, carved from a solid piece of wood, with inscriptions on both sides that he could not understand. Fang Zhou tried to open the sword box but couldn¡¯t find the opening because it was seamless and whole, without any gaps, and it was impossible to tell which end was which. He looked at Yan Chixia with a pleading expression, ¡°How does this thing work?¡± Yan Chixia chuckled, ¡°Only after you have entered the entry-level of the Sword Control Technique, can you use it to open the sword box. Otherwise, no one can open it.¡± Fang Zhou immediately showed a look that seemed to say, ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± The Sword Control Technique was needed to open the sword box, yet the complete Sword Control Technique was inside the sword box; wasn¡¯t this a vicious cycle? But he quickly realized, wasn¡¯t there a living textbook right in front of him? Yan Chixia knew how. Seeing the change in Fang Zhou¡¯s expression, Yan Chixia smiled again, ¡°Come closer, I will transmit to you the incantations of the Sword Control Technique and a Buddhist Heart Sutra I acquired while wandering the world. This Heart Sutra is a powerful Buddhist mental method ¨C consider yourself lucky, kid.¡± So it was a combination of both Buddhist and Daoist cultivation; no wonder there was both a Buddhist Heart Sutra and the Limitless Heaven and Earth. Fang Zhou set the sword box aside and leaned in to listen to Yan Chixia¡¯s oral transmission. She repeated it several times before Fang Zhou could barely remember it. Fortunately, both the mantra of the Sword Control Technique and the Heart Sutra were not long; otherwise, he would not have been able to remember them at all. In the end, Yan Chixia solemnly told Fang Zhou, ¡°Entering the Sword Control Technique is extremely difficult, and mastery is also extremely difficult. Even with my innate talents, I spent over three years before entering it. If you succeed in entering it and manage to open the sword box and acquire the Sect Leader Seal, then you will be the Sect Leader of the Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect. If you cannot enter it, you must find a successor for me, and ensure the Hidden Sect¡¯s inheritance does not cease! You may carry the sword box with you; it will save your life when necessary. Remember! Remember!¡± Fang Zhou nodded with a grave expression. Since he had received the Hidden Sect¡¯s inheritance, he naturally had to take responsibility. Fang Zhou understood such a simple principle. It was then that Yan Chixia finally let out a deep sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. Her originally rosy complexion began to turn pale again. Fang Zhou realized that she might really be living on borrowed time, persevering only to find a successor for the Hidden Sect. Now that her final wish was fulfilled, death was not far away. Fang Zhou felt some reluctance; Yan Chixia was a great hero who served justice by slaying demons and eradicating evil, and yet she was destined to die in obscurity in the dangerous dungeons of this place. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s distressed look, Yan Chixia spoke boldly and freely: ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, the life and death of cultivators are unpredictable. Besides, I have reached the Innate Realm, and my Divine Soul is already formed. Even in death, I am not scattered but can be reborn through reincarnation. Perhaps we will meet again someday.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing how open-minded Yan Chixia was, Fang Zhou put away his reluctance and asked, ¡°Do you have any final wishes?¡± Yan Chixia looked at Fang Zhou and suddenly smiled, ¡°I have practiced cultivation alone for many years, remaining a virgin without knowing the taste of love. Why not fulfill my wish before I die?¡± She was originally extremely beautiful, and with that smile, she seemed alluring, making the entire dim dungeon seemingly glow. Fang Zhou was dumbfounded, never having expected Yan Chixia to make such a request. He could feel his heart pounding rapidly, his mouth dry and his tongue parched, unable to deny that he was slightly tempted. But looking down, Fang Zhou¡¯s mind cleared instantly, and he respectfully said, ¡°Safe travels. I will remember you.¡± No matter how beautiful she was, what joy could there be in a flat chest? Yan Chixia burst into laughter, the laughter gradually becoming lower, and then it faded away. She had passed. Chapter 55: 55. I hate Tentacle Monster the most. Chapter 55: 55. I hate Tentacle Monster the most. Yan Chixia had died, her face peaceful as if in deep sleep, the spark of life completely extinguished. Fang Zhou silently watched her, and finally bowed deeply, ¡°Master Yan, if I do not succeed in this mission, it only becomes an act of benevolence; if I fail, I too shall perish here. Your legacy will have to wait for someone else to continue. If by any luck I succeed, I will come back to bury you.¡± He straightened up, tore the hem of his garment into strips, and strapped the Sword Box on his back. Taking one last look at Yan Chixia, he turned and left. Exiting the dungeon and reaching the bottom of the dry well, Fang Zhou used the walls on either side to climb to the surface. Just as he emerged onto the ground, Nie Xiaoqian appeared beside him. Seeing the Sword Box on Fang Zhou¡¯s back, Nie Xiaoqian immediately recognized it as Yan Chixia¡¯s and took a fearful step back. The Sword Box seemed extremely dangerous to him, as if a sword might spring out at any time and cleave him in two. ¡°Immortal Fang, where is Hero Yan?¡± Nie Xiaoqian asked curiously, wondering why only the objects appeared but not the person. Fang Zhou somberly replied, ¡°She has already died.¡± Nie Xiaoqian covered her mouth in shock, ¡°Died?¡± Then, somberly, she added, ¡°If Caichen knew about this, she would be very grieved. She always saw Hero Yan as a benefactor and sister.¡± Fang Zhou felt a twinge of sorrow too, but quickly composed himself and told Nie Xiaoqian, ¡°I will avenge Yan Chixia. She told me that a year ago, during a battle with the Tree Demon, she left a sword mark at its roots. Do you know where that is?¡± Nie Xiaoqian initially shook her head, then frowned in thought. After a moment, her eyes brightened, ¡°The base of the Tree Demon was unguarded originally, but a breach appeared a year ago. Since then, it has been guarded by Thousand-mile Eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear, who rank second among the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods. The sword mark Hero Yan mentioned must be at that spot.¡± Fang Zhou felt invigorated, ¡°Good, take me there quickly.¡± Source: , updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nie Xiaoqian hesitated, ¡°The place is filled with deadly Miasma, I can¡¯t get close.¡± Fang Zhou touched the three vials of potions on him and said, ¡°No worries, just lead me there. I can manage on my own.¡± Nie Xiaoqian then nodded and led Fang Zhou away from the place, heading towards the Tree Demon¡¯s root. ¡­ Half an hour earlier. In the open space in front of the pavilion, several scattered practitioners had been turned into severed limbs and remains; blood flowing from them had dyed the ground red, forming a shallow pool of blood. San Jie stood amidst these severed limbs, her yellow clothing almost entirely soaked in red. Before her stood the last living practitioner. This practitioner, trembling all over and with a face full of terror, was on the verge of collapsing to the ground. In fact, her knees were gradually bending as if she had lost all will to fight and was about to kneel and beg for mercy. San Jie looked at her and suddenly said, ¡°I¡¯ll stand still. If you can injure me, I¡¯ll spare you. But if you dare to kneel and beg, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± The practitioner suddenly stopped her knees from bending further, her face changing rapidly, apparently engaged in a fierce internal struggle. Finally, with a distorted expression, she yelled and charged at San Jie, swinging her sword at her head. San Jie, true to her word, stood motionless. The high-carbon steel sword struck her forehead and broke with a clang, without even cutting her hair. Looking at the broken sword in her hand, the practitioner displayed a look of despair. ¡°You lost!¡± San Jie smiled slightly, reached out her hand into the practitioner¡¯s chest, and neatly plucked out her beating heart. She held the still-warm, pulsating heart to her lips, licked it with her tongue, and then showed a disgusted expression. ¡°Yuck, so fishy and stinky, only Grandpa likes to eat this.¡± She casually tossed the heart away and walked towards the pavilion. Inside the pavilion, her four sisters had already started a new chess game; this time, the youngest was challenging the eldest. Among the seven sisters, the eldest had the strongest chess skills, unbeatable by any. The fifth and the seventh sisters were giving random advice to the youngest, causing her to cry out in frustration. All sisters¡¯ attention was on the chessboard, unconcerned about San Jie¡¯s slaughter of the practitioner. This kind of carnage was something they had done many times and only the youngest and the seventh sister found it interesting. Although killing is boring, humans themselves are a fascinating creature, inventing many interesting things, such as the chess pieces that the sisters are addicted to. While the third sister was feeling sentimental, a sudden intense vibration came, like the earth dragon turning over, causing the entire Lanruo Temple to tremble. She quickly looked up, only to see the fog in the sky almost dispersed, revealing the huge canopy of the Tree Demon and the night sky illuminated by the seven-colored rosy clouds. Huge tree roots stretched from the ground towards the sky like swinging tentacles. A giant gourd was flying agilely in the air, dodging the swinging tree roots, occasionally spitting out a white light from the gourd¡¯s mouth, severing the tree roots. The third sister revealed a look of shock and anger; someone was disturbing grandfather¡¯s meditation. Whoosh whoosh, the four sisters in the pavilion had already jumped out and landed next to the third sister, all looking up at the sky. The eldest sister had a grave expression, the youngest and the third sister, like the fourth one, all had faces full of anger, only the seventh looked confused, still unaware of what was happening. ¡°You bratty girl, if you¡¯re capable, then don¡¯t run around!! Grandfather¡¯s angry voice rang out, the sound waves rolling, creating ripples in the air, making all the demons big and small in Lanruo Temple tremble. The giant gourd dodged the attacks of the tree roots agilely, a crisp voice coming from above it. ¡°Hahaha, catch me if you can.¡± The Tree Demon grew even angrier, driving the tree roots to chase the gourd, but the gourd was too agile, and could also emit Sword Qi to sever the tree roots, totally unable to be caught. In front of the pavilion, just as the third sister took a step forward, the eldest sister immediately reached out and grabbed her shoulder: ¡°What are you doing?¡± The third sister turned around: ¡°Of course, I¡¯m going to help grandfather.¡± The eldest sister stared at her intently: ¡°Have you forgotten Yan Chixia?¡± The third sister¡¯s expression changed and she fell silent, looking upset. Of course, she hadn¡¯t forgotten. A year ago, Yan Chixia came to Lanruo Temple, and no demon big or small was her match. Even the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods together were defeated by her. The third sister¡¯s steel bones, which she took pride in, were broken by Yan Chixia¡¯s sword, nearly costing her life. In the end, it was only by grandfather¡¯s intervention that Yan Chixia was suppressed. The eldest sister softly said: ¡°To be an opponent of grandfather, their realm is much higher than ours. If you rashly intervene, you will only harm yourself. You must trust grandfather.¡± The third sister reluctantly nodded, then looked up at the gourd flying in the sky, silently resolving to herself to become stronger, to better protect grandfather and to not always make him confront powerful enemies. ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue was sitting on the giant gourd, her face wearing a rare serious expression. This giant gourd is just the flask she always held in her hand, only it had been enlarged many times. The wildly swinging tree roots around her couldn¡¯t touch Ling Xiaoyue, but similarly, she also couldn¡¯t do anything about the Tree Demon. Both sides were in a stalemate, waiting to see whose endurance was better. It turned out this Tree Demon had already formed a Golden Core, which Ling Xiaoyue had never expected. She thought the most there would be in Lanruo Temple was a demon at the Innate Realm. In this world, every Golden Core Demon was famous in the Demon Domain, but for a Tree Demon with a Golden Core to still stay in a small place like Wild Tomb Ridge and rely on petty tricks to consume humans was unheard of. However, after a confrontation, Ling Xiaoyue realized the Tree Demon¡¯s Golden Core was formed by tricks, not solidly founded, and its Mana was worlds apart from a real Golden Core Demon. Even so, the Tree Demon¡¯s Golden Core was genuine and extremely difficult to deal with. Ling Xiaoyue was glad she hadn¡¯t rashly acted on arrival but had set up the Sealing Demon Sword Formation while the Tree Demon was asleep, suppressing its power, or else she would have been forced to flee now. But killing it seemed unrealistic too, perhaps she should just let it go? Ling Xiaoyue, looking at the swinging tree roots around her, sighed: ¡°I hate tentacle monsters the most.¡± Just then, her ears suddenly twitched, and she turned her head towards the lingering fog below. ¡°Eh, why is my disciple so close, is he seeking death?¡± Apparently, while she was battling, she was also spying on Fang Zhou¡¯s whereabouts. Chapter 56: 56. Here comes another greedy one Chapter 56: 56. Here comes another greedy one Nie Xiaoqian led Fang Zhou toward the back courtyard of Lanruo Temple. According to him, Lanruo Temple was originally a small temple in the mountains, which received royal attention and started to thrive. It underwent several expansions and now occupies an astonishingly large area, almost covering half of the mountain. The back courtyard was even more expansive. Originally, there was a Buddha statue several meters tall, but after the statue collapsed, a Tree Demon took over the spot. Now, the entire back courtyard was filled with the Tree Demon¡¯s root system, permeating it with a deadly Miasma. It was inhospitable to humans, ghosts, and demons alike, with only the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods born from the Tree Demon able to move freely in and out. With Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s help, Fang Zhou avoided all patrolling demons and successfully reached the back courtyard. He was very fortunate to have met Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian, not only receiving the legacy of Yan Chixia, but also receiving guidance like a ¡°Nie-style navigation,¡± otherwise, by himself, he would still be wandering aimlessly like a headless fly. Words of thanks were unnecessary; retrieving the ashes urn for Nie Xiaoqian would be the best reciprocation. At the edge of the back courtyard, there was a long section of a wall collapsed under tree roots. The ground inside was covered with thick roots, and the air was filled with a visible pale green gas¡ªthese must be the deadly Miasma. Even through the mist, Fang Zhou could see the gigantic shadow of the Tree Demon, resembling a towering building. Fang Zhou was about to ask Nie Xiaoqian to wait outside, but she suddenly took a deep sniff in the air and remarked, ¡°There¡¯s a very faint trace of life energy. There might be living people nearby.¡± Startled, Fang Zhou quickly asked Nie Xiaoqian to lead the way, quietly approaching the direction from which the life energy emanated. The nearby buildings were destroyed by the tree roots, leaving only ruins. Fang Zhou and Nie Xiaoqian hid behind a section of broken wall, peering ahead. At the edge of the Miasma, indeed, there were four living humans, all of whom Fang Zhou recognized. Three of them were the Three Sisters of the White Tiger Sect, who had previously escaped from Fang Zhou¡¯s grasp. Their eldest sister had been killed by a ghost, and Fang Zhou originally thought these three would meet the same fate but didn¡¯t expect them to end up in such a deep place. However, it was not voluntary; at this moment, the three sisters were bound with ropes, with their mouths gagged, showing a look of terror on their faces. Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï The fourth was also someone Fang Zhou recognized¡ªthe tough-looking woman with a scar on her face who had troubled him before. It seemed that the Scarred Woman had captured the sisters of the White Tiger Sect. She was currently lifting one sister, kicking her into the Miasma. As soon as she entered the Miasma, she started struggling desperately, her skin beginning to ulcerate. The Scarred Woman observed carefully, and soon, the woman she had thrown in was completely rotted away, lifeless. The remaining two sisters of the White Tiger Sect were terrified. Fang Zhou, hiding in the distance, also inhaled sharply, unintentionally contributing a little to global warming. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± The Scarred Woman was extremely alert. Suddenly turning her head toward Fang Zhou¡¯s direction, she swung her hand, sending over a dozen white lights flying. Fang Zhou hurriedly jumped away from the wall, only to hear a crackling sound as that section of the wall got pierced with a dozen holes. The incoming white lights were actually paper darts. Nie Xiaoqian, also startled, flew far away immediately¡ªhe had no combat abilities. Seeing Fang Zhou emerge, the Scarred Woman¡¯s eyes shone brightly, and she couldn¡¯t help laughing: ¡°It¡¯s just like finding something after a long search without any effort.¡± She had been regretting not being able to locate Fang Zhou, and now he had delivered himself to her doorstep¡ªa stroke of fate. Now that he was spotted, Fang Zhou did not get discouraged. He also had scores to settle with this woman; the unresolved matters noted down in his little notebook could not be ignored. Before that, there¡¯s a question that needs to be clarified, otherwise I won¡¯t be able to sleep tonight. Fang Zhou pointed his Evil Slaying Sword at Scarred Woman and asked, ¡°We just met for the first time yesterday, with no grudges from the past or recent days, yet you seem to have an issue with me?¡± Scarred Woman exhibited a provoking expression, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a guess?¡± Fang Zhou hated it when people said this, and he responded expressionlessly: ¡°After much thought, there are only a few possibilities; either you are going through menopause and your hormones are unbalanced, or you behave like a rabid dog that bites on sight, or perhaps your mother died. Choose one.¡± Obviously, Scarred Woman could not tolerate such a toxic manner of conversation, and her expression slightly darkened: ¡°No harm telling you, I am cultivating the Cold Yin Divine Skill and need a man with an extremely strong Yang energy to balance the Yin and Yang. If you could spend a few nights with me, you may ask for anything.¡± Fang Zhou: (Censored) #@$% He couldn¡¯t help cursing internally, Are these women sick? Scarred Woman stared coldly at Fang Zhou, then suddenly smiled, ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t comply easily, but no worries, even if your limbs are broken, it¡¯s all the same to me.¡± After saying so, she took out two balls of paper from her sleeve and threw them on the ground. Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t just watch her prepare, he immediately threw an Illusion Technique at her and rushed forward, slashing his sword at the Scarred Woman¡¯s head. Scarred Woman fell into the illusion, but she recovered in an instant; her spiritual resistance was even higher than that of the youngest gourd kid. The two paper balls she dropped on the ground quickly expanded and turned into two armored paper soldiers with shields and swords. The paper soldier on the left blocked in front of Scarred Woman, raising its paper shield to fend off Fang Zhou¡¯s attack. The Evil Slaying Sword struck the paper shield and emitted a sound like metal clashing, as if it had struck an iron shield. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Evil Slaying Sword was extremely sharp, capable of easily cutting through normal weapons, but this paper shield could block it, demonstrating its solid build. The other paper soldier swung its paper sword at Fang Zhou, who quickly jumped back to dodge the attack. Scarred Woman pulled another provoking face: ¡°These two paper soldiers are immune to blades and endlessly energetic; let them keep you company for a while. Just don¡¯t give up too quickly.¡± Saying this, she even licked her lips suggestively, emphasizing the words ¡®give up,¡¯ with a double entendre. Fang Zhou silently activated the Qi Gathering Technique, spiritual energy enveloping his body, and charged again at the two paper soldiers, thrusting his sword. The paper soldier on the left blocked with the shield, while the one on the right immediately swung its sword in a counterattack. One was responsible for blocking Fang Zhou¡¯s attacks, the other for retaliating, their coordination quite impressive. After several exchanges with the two paper soldiers, Fang Zhou quickly spotted their weaknesses. They were not real humans after all; although their cooperation was in sync, their movements were stiff and their defense and offense were based on predetermined actions. Seeing through their weaknesses, Fang Zhou used the powerful properties of the Qi Gathering Technique to circle around the paper soldiers, causing their movements to become chaotic. He targeted their vulnerabilities, executing simple and understandable swordmanship. The Evil Slaying Sword streaked through like a comet striking the moon, stabbing repeatedly at the vital points of the two paper soldiers. To no avail, hitting them felt like striking a steel plate, leaving only a few sword marks. The two paper soldiers, indifferent to Fang Zhou¡¯s attacks, swung their swords wildly, putting Fang Zhou in a flurry of deflecting blows. The observing Scarred Woman revealed a mocking smile; the two paper soldiers were indeed not agile, but their robust defense was enough to leave one helpless, eventually to exhaust someone to death under their tireless pursuit. Of course, as Scarred Woman had her sights set on Fang Zhou¡¯s body, naturally she wouldn¡¯t let him die of exhaustion, only to weaken him until he could no longer move, then it would be her time to enjoy the beauty of this man. Chapter 57: 57. Spiritual Energy Borrowing Chapter 57: 57. Spiritual Energy Borrowing Fang Zhou also realized that sharp weapons were of no use against these two paper figures. Fortunately, he had more than just a sword, and immediately summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, aiming a fierce hammer blow at the paper figure on the right. Since Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was invisible, the paper figure on the left was completely unaware of the need to help block, allowing its teammate to be brutally struck. With a thud, Hu Lai¡¯s left hand smashed a punch onto the head of the right paper figure, completely flattening its head. Although they were sufficiently defensive against sharp blades, blunt force damage was completely different; the paper figures were hollow inside and, aside from fear of water and fire, their biggest weakness was blunt force. With its head flattened, this paper figure seemed to malfunction, stumbling and falling down. The paper figure on the left swung its knife over, and Fang Zhou controlled the left hand to sweep across, hammering it away with a punch. The chest of the paper figure was crushed, leaving a huge dent, and it fell to the ground and couldn¡¯t get up. In less than a moment, the two paper figures were defeated. The Scarred Woman showed a look of astonishment; she had just been mocking Fang Zhou for engaging in futile efforts, but in the blink of an eye, she was proven wrong, as the paper figures¡ªher important magic artifacts which had resolved many tricky enemies for her¡ªwere quickly overturned. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t see through how Fang Zhou had managed it, as if an invisible hand was assisting him. After disposing of the two paper figures, Fang Zhou charged again towards the Scarred Woman, aiming his sword at her head. The Scarred Woman regained her composure, her wrist flicked, and a paper sword slid out from her sleeve. She raised the paper sword, blocking Fang Zhou¡¯s attack; this paper sword was even more sturdy than the paper figures. Fang Zhou controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, smashing it down towards the Scarred Woman¡¯s head. The Scarred Woman was not like the two paper figures; she heard the movement of the left hand¡¯s attack and immediately dodged backward. With a bang, the left hand hammered the ground, blasting the solid floor and causing mud and stones to splash. The Scarred Woman finally understood how Fang Zhou had defeated the two paper figures; indeed, there was an invisible hand assisting from the side. She sneered, ¡°Not bad, I underestimated you.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t waste words and charged again. The Scarred Woman swung her sword fiercely, the paper sword cutting through the air with a shrill sound, almost turning into a blurred white shadow. Fang Zhou also swung the Evil Slaying Sword; the two swords collided again, producing a clang of piercing sound. A tremendous force transmitted from the Evil Slaying Sword, numbing Fang Zhou¡¯s arm and making his hand hurt. He was shocked by the woman¡¯s strength. The Scarred Woman delivered another swift and peerless sword strike, landing on the blade of the Evil Slaying Sword. Fang Zhou was shaken so much that he could barely hold onto the Evil Slaying Sword, quickly retreating as the Scarred Woman chased him laughing, ¡°Don¡¯t hide, weren¡¯t you very impressive?¡± Her sword strikes were faster one after another, growing stronger, and Fang Zhou dared not meet her directly, only able to rely on his high agility to dodge. Swipe! Fang Zhou dodged a head-on sword strike, and the Scarred Woman¡¯s sword cut a large stone in half, leaving a smooth, neat cut. Fang Zhou took this opportunity to escape further, turning back to see the split stone, his heart suddenly leapt. Spiritual Energy Borrowing! This was a technique usable only in the Foundation Establishment Realm. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Originally, Li Ruyu had demonstrated to Fang Zhou how a sword could split a stone. In the Qi Refinement realm, cultivators could only use Spiritual Energy within their bodies, but once they reached Foundation Establishment, cultivators could bring its effects onto objects, covering them with Spiritual Energy to produce various magical effects. The most common application was to cover weapons with Spiritual Energy, making them incredibly strong and able to cut through metal as if it were mud. This technique is known as Spiritual Energy Borrowing. Scarred Woman can achieve this; she is definitely a Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, Han Li guessed correctly. There really is a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator hiding their strength among a group of Qi Refinement Realm foot soldiers, truly a cunning old fox. Fortunately, Fang Zhou¡¯s Evil Slaying Sword is sturdy enough, otherwise he would have ended up like the senior sister from White Tiger Sect. No wonder the Scarred Woman¡¯s strength is so formidable. Fang Zhou¡¯s body, having been enhanced by system attribute points and further strengthened by the Qi Gathering Technique, surpasses most Qi Refinement Realm cultivators in strength and speed; however, he is still clearly at a disadvantage compared to the Scarred Woman. This makes him recall a simple description of the Foundation Establishment Realm¡ªafter Foundation Establishment, one undergoes a transformation, no longer ordinary. [Trigger new mission ¨C Defeat a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator] [Difficulty: Normal] [Reward: Masculinity*4, blue card*1] [Failure: Lose virginity, death by exhaustion] The system mission popped up timely, as those two paper men hadn¡¯t triggered any missions. Seeing the mission description, Fang Zhou was shocked; why is it only a normal difficulty? Could it be that facing a Foundation Establishment Realm opponent is just considered dangerous? Once he realized Scarred Woman was in the Foundation Establishment Realm, Fang Zhou had already thought about running away. However, he soon understood why the difficulty is so low¡ªhe still has 14 points of masculinity unused; adding these to his attributes, flipping the Scarred Woman could be a breeze. But there are still the Tree Demon and the calabash brothers later, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t want to waste this precious opportunity on the Scarred Woman. However, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have time to ponder further, as the Scarred Woman charged at him again, swinging her paper sword and creating dazzling streaks of sword light, delivering overpowering powerful attacks on Fang Zhou. She was not using any sophisticated swordsmanship, but simply utilizing immense strength and speed, and even with that, Fang Zhou was already struggling to manage. ¡°Give up, kid. Just lie down obediently, and after I have my fun, I¡¯ll let you live a little longer.¡± The Scarred Woman attacked while attempting to persuade him to surrender, disrupting Fang Zhou¡¯s fighting spirit, and the mission¡¯s failure conditions confirmed that her surrender offer was insincere¡ªthis vicious woman was bent on destruction and murder. Fang Zhou remained silent, continuously retreating until he was backed into a collapsed ruin with no way out. He thrust his sword at the Scarred Woman but she sneered, flicking it aside: ¡°Useless, your strength is far less than mine!¡± With the Evil Slaying Sword deflected, Fang Zhou was wide open, and the Scarred Woman, with a brutal and cruel expression, swung her sword down towards Fang Zhou¡¯s arms, intending to cut off both hands first. Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes flashed with brilliance, adding four points of masculinity to his strength. Instantly, his strength attribute surged from 4 to 8, and with the enhancement from the Qi Gathering Technique, it reached 10 points. Once the attribute reached 10 points, as if quantity had caused a qualitative change, an overwhelming force burst forth from Fang Zhou¡¯s body, flowing into his arms. The deflected Evil Slaying Sword, with an increased speed, reversed and swept back, striking the paper sword with an impressive shrill. ¡°Clang!¡± A far more grating collision sound than before echoed as the two swords rebounded from each other¡¯s force. Scarred Woman displayed a look of astonishment, not understanding how Fang Zhou¡¯s strength had suddenly increased so much. She could still distinguish between being in full control and exerting all her strength. Fang Zhou swung away the Scarred Woman¡¯s paper sword and, controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, smashed it down on her head. The Scarred Woman tried to dodge, but Fang Zhou cast an Illusion Technique, trapping her in an illusion. Though she broke free from the Illusion Technique in just a brief moment, it was enough time for Fang Zhou; Hu Lai¡¯s left hand heavily smashed onto her head. The Scarred Woman let out a muffled grunt, rapidly retreating backward, as Fang Zhou followed up with a thrust of his sword. Chapter 58: 58. Lets make a Heart Demon Oath to see. Chapter 58: 58. Let¡¯s make a Heart Demon Oath to see. Fang Zhou¡¯s sword pierced forward, and the Scarred Woman hastily lifted her sword to block. The collision of the swords and the sudden increase in Fang Zhou¡¯s power numbed her arm. Fang Zhou, controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, smashed it towards the Scarred Woman¡¯s head again, while simultaneously casting an Illusion Technique. However, having learned from her past mistake, although the Scarred Woman fell into the illusion again, a white light suddenly emerged from her waist and swiftly covered her whole body, turning out to be a suit of paper armor. A white helmet fitted onto her head, and as Hu Lai¡¯s left hand punched down, it rendered the Scarred Woman dizzy, but the damage was nullified by the helmet this time. The Scarred Woman shook her head and roared as she lunged at Fang Zhou: ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Wearing the paper armor, the Scarred Woman no longer feared Fang Zhou¡¯s sword attacks. With the robust physique of a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm, coupled with the protection of the paper armor, blunt blows could hardly harm her. She decided to drain Fang Zhou¡¯s Yang energy and torment him to death to satisfy her grudge. Seeing the Scarred Woman donning the paper armor, Fang Zhou was not alarmed but pleased. He blocked her incoming paper sword with his own, threw another Illusion Technique at her, and then controlled Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to choke her neck. The Scarred Woman instantly snapped out of the illusion, and as she was about to break free from the left hand, Fang Zhou already raised his hand, targeting her, and released the Fireball Technique. The fireball struck the Scarred Woman directly and exploded with a boom. The powerful explosion blasted the Scarred Woman backward, tearing her paper armor apart and igniting it with the scorching flames, instantly turning her into a blazing figure. After releasing the Fireball Technique, Fang Zhou hurriedly retreated, but his palm was still painfully shaken by the explosion from a distance. Although the Fireball Technique was sufficiently lethal, its slow release speed made it easy to dodge, and he needed to approach close every time, indeed a costly method that was like killing a thousand enemies at the expense of five hundred of his own. Looking up, he saw the Scarred Woman, now aflame, rolling on the ground and screaming horribly, as her paper armor and clothes became excellent fuel for the flames. However, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t let his guard down and surged forward to deal the finishing blow, knowing that a person at the Foundation Establishment Realm wouldn¡¯t die so easily. Sure enough, amid her struggles, the Scarred Woman tore off the burning clothes from her body and escaped, naked. Fang Zhou charged forward, piercing towards her heart with his sword while simultaneously casting another Illusion Technique. The Scarred Woman staggered significantly, slowed down by the impact of the illusion, and was stabbed in the chest by Fang Zhou¡¯s sword. Regrettably, the strike deviated from the critical spot and did not kill her instantly. The Scarred Woman, furious and desperate, lunged forward despite the sword penetrating her chest, fearlessly letting it go through her back. Fang Zhou remained calm amid the crisis, kicking her stomach directly while controlling Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to deliver a fierce palm strike to her neck. Two muffled sounds later, the Scarred Woman was sent spinning into flight, rolling out over ten meters away before sprawling on the ground in a spread-eagled position. Fang Zhou carefully approached, only to find that the Scarred Woman was not yet dead, just gasping heavily, with her punctured chest spurting blood. Her vitality was indeed terrifying, yet it seemed she had no strength left to rise again. ¡°You won!¡± the Scarred Woman, coughing up blood, said to Fang Zhou: ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be defeated by a Qi Refinement Realm youngster one day. You must be from a Major Sect on a training journey. For merely a Qi Refinement Realm, to possess such strength and numerous astonishing spells, I don¡¯t feel wronged in my defeat.¡± Fang Zhou raised the Evil Slaying Sword towards her, preparing to chop off her head. ¡°Wait!¡± the Scarred Woman hastily said, ¡°I can swear a Heart Demon Oath, promising never to seek revenge against you, offering all my treasures in exchange for my life and even serving under you for ten years. Would you accept this deal?¡± Fang Zhou pointed the sword at her: ¡°First, let¡¯s hear your Heart Demon Oath.¡± The Scarred Woman raised her hand and began to swear that she would never seek revenge against Fang Zhou in her lifetime, or else she would never attain the Innate Realm and would suffer a violent death. After she finished swearing, Fang Zhou sheathed the Evil Slaying Sword, and the Scarred Woman, seeing this, deeply sighed in relief, believing Fang Zhou had spared her. However, Fang Zhou summoned the left hand, targeting the Scarred Woman¡¯s head with several heavy punches, knocking her unconscious. Make no petty sales; it is not wise to crave small benefits at the risk of losing one¡¯s life. Keep it for now, see if it will be of use later. The reason for making Scarred Woman take the Heart Demon Oath is because Fang Zhou had never seen one and wanted to see what it was like, real or fake did not matter. [Successfully defeated a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator] [Reward: Masculinity*4 Blue Card*1] Good, 14 points of masculinity remaining, two blue cards, one yet to be drawn after killing the giant phagocyte. Nie Xiaoqian, who was hiding somewhere, floated back concernedly, ¡°Fang Immortal, are you alright?¡± Nie Xiaoqian had watched the entire battle. When Fang Zhou was at a disadvantage, she hesitated whether to rush out to help, knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be of much help and might even be a hindrance. It was only after Fang Zhou won that she heaved a sigh of relief, as she was still hoping Fang Zhou could help retrieve her ashes urn. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Fang Zhou shook his head and then glanced at the two White Tiger Sect sisters still tied up. The sisters were stunned; they had thought Scarred Woman was formidable, but she had lost to Fang Zhou. And it just so happened that they held a grudge against Fang Zhou. The two were in despair. Fang Zhou ignored them, dragging the unconscious Scarred Woman over, placing one of her hands into the miasma. After about ten seconds, there was no change in her hand. He then dragged one of the White Tiger Sect sisters over; she struggled desperately but couldn¡¯t overcome Fang Zhou¡¯s strength as he forcefully put her hand into the miasma. Within seconds, her hand began to fester, while Scarred Woman¡¯s remained unharmed. If such a situation occurred, either the Scarred Woman had some kind of poison resistance, or the physical body of someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm was far stronger than that in the Qi Refinement Realm, capable of resisting the corrosion of miasma. Fang Zhou instructed Nie Xiaoqian to keep a watch around and to wake him up if Scarred Woman¡¯s hand started to fester. After Nie Xiaoqian agreed, he hurriedly sat down to cultivate, primarily to restore his Spiritual Energy. The consecutive battles, several uses of Qi Gathering Technique, had nearly depleted the accumulated Spiritual Energy in his body. There were definitely more battles ahead, so he must restore some Spiritual Energy first. Just after refining some Spiritual Energy, Nie Xiaoqian woke him up, ¡°Fang Immortal, her hand has started festering.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou had to stop cultivating and check Scarred Woman¡¯s hand, which indeed had begun to fester. Calculating the time, her hand lasted a full ten minutes. Fang Zhou let Nie Xiaoqian try as well; she gritted her teeth, put her hand into the miasma, and within seconds, it festered, causing her intense pain, and she quickly withdrew it. The miasma¡¯s toxicity was formidable, effective even on ghosts, but its effect on those in the Foundation Establishment Realm was significantly reduced. Fang Zhou also tried it himself, placing his hand inside; perhaps due to his higher constitution, he lasted five minutes before feeling pain, quickly pulling back, though his hand still felt a burning sensation. He took a small bottle from his body and drank it. [Detoxification Potion: After ingestion, it can remove some low-level toxins and will produce resistance to toxins for thirty minutes] After drinking it, Fang Zhou felt the burning sensation on his hand disappear immediately. He placed his hand back into the miasma, and this time he lasted over five minutes without any issues. Fang Zhou prepared himself and turned back to Nie Xiaoqian, ¡°I¡¯m going in to check the situation. If I don¡¯t come out within half an hour, kill these three people and then go find Ning Caichen.¡± Nie Xiaoqian bit her lip and bowed to Fang Zhou, ¡°If it¡¯s not feasible, please prioritize your safety, Fang Immortal. Also, the one guarding inside the miasma is ranked second among the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, a demon with thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear, usually only monitors within the miasma, but if something significant happens outside, she will also peek out. Please be cautious, Fang Immortal.¡± Fang Zhou nodded, then took a deep breath and walked into the miasma. Chapter 59: 59. Wow, Golden Legend Chapter 59: 59. Wow, Golden Legend After entering the miasma, Fang Zhou took out an Invisibility Potion and drank it down. [Invisibility Potion: Grants invisibility after consumption, effect lasts for thirty minutes.] His entire body turned completely invisible, including the Sword Box on his back, he couldn¡¯t see himself, but he could still touch and make sounds when walking on the ground. Speaking of which, it¡¯s kind of funny. Fang Zhou had always fantasized about having the power of invisibility when he was a child, moving around the city at will. Later, he gave up on this fantasy, not because he grew up, but for fear of being hit by a car while invisible. Now, he hadn¡¯t expected this wish to finally come true, although it was only for a brief thirty minutes. Inside the miasma, the ground was covered with thick tree roots. Fang Zhou followed the orientation of the roots into the depths, taking care to make no sound. The guards inside, Sharp-Hearing Ear, had the ability to hear even the slightest disturbance. With the distance closing in, the figure of the Tree Demon became clearer and clearer, the surrounding roots writhed and twisted, and from time to time, a loud boom could be heard in the air ¨C that must be Ling Xiaoyue still fighting the Tree Demon. The battle between the two had been going on for at least over an hour, yet it wasn¡¯t over. Fang Zhou quickly arrived at the base of the giant tree, looking up in awe. Calling it a colossal ancient tree spirit was not an exaggeration at all, especially at close range, Fang Zhou felt like he was looking at a towering skyscraper. The roots under this tree were even more gigantic, crisscrossing and completely occupying the ground. Fang Zhou could only climb onto the roots, beginning his search for the sword mark left by Yan Chixia. Before long, he found the sword mark, which was very conspicuous. It was a large hole opened at the base of the root, leading directly into the main trunk. Fang Zhou also spotted Scarred Woman guarding in front of the sword mark. She was a young woman wearing an orange robe, beneath her the roots formed a rocking chair in which she lay, holding a book, looking lazy and listless as if she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. It was clear that this woman was Scarred Woman. As Fang Zhou was about to have a closer look, he took one step and Scarred Woman immediately turned her head in his direction. Fang Zhou instantly froze and held his breath, not moving a muscle. At the same time, Fang Zhou could see Scarred Woman¡¯s appearance clearly. She was undeniably beautiful, exuding a scholarly aura. Compared to Ning Caichen, Scarred Woman seemed more like a scholar, and not just any scholar but a talented and erudite gentleman. Just then, another loud boom sounded in the sky, like a thunderclap on a clear day. Scarred Woman¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed as she glanced up into the sky with a look of helplessness and shook her head, continuing her listless state. Fang Zhou then quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Scarred Woman¡¯s sense of smell was too sharp. If not for the invisibility, he would have been discovered long ago. And he had to thank Ling Xiaoyue, the tank, for stepping up to attract the Tree Demon and the gourd children¡¯s attention, or Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t have been able to infiltrate this place. However, the problem now was how to bypass Scarred Woman. She was blocking the entrance of the sword mark, and he would be easily detected if he approached. Being extremely cautious, Fang Zhou backed away and returned on the same path he came from, moving out of the miasma. Nie Xiaoqian was keeping watch over three people. Fang Zhou reached out and tapped her shoulder. Nie Xiaoqian turned around and saw no one, and she immediately jumped up, her face pale and trembling, ¡°Who is it?!¡± Fang Zhou was somewhat speechless. What¡¯s with this reaction, as if seeing a ghost late at night, did you forget that you yourself are a ghost? Why was she so timid? She had seemed quite brave before. He said in an annoyed tone, ¡°It¡¯s me, what are you afraid of?¡± Hearing that familiar voice, Nie Xiaoqian finally relaxed, ¡°So it¡¯s Fang Immortal, I thought it was that invisible demon.¡± ¡°` It turns out it¡¯s not ghosts she¡¯s afraid of, but the Sixth Child. After the shock, Nie Xiaoqian soon became amazed again, ¡°Fang Immortal, are you¡­?!¡± Nie Xiaoqian didn¡¯t expect that Fang Zhou could also become invisible. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this another time.¡± Fang Zhou replied casually and then recited the ¡°King of Europe¡± proclamation in his mind, drawing both blue cards. When one blue card spun and shattered, it actually emitted a golden light, like the sun. ¡°Could this be¡­ the Golden Legend?¡± Fang Zhou showed a surprised expression; the last time he had completed a difficult task and drawn a purple card, there were special effects, but those effects were not the same as this golden one. Fang Zhou remembered the system¡¯s description of the card drawing, which mentioned a chance of getting higher quality equipment or skills. Perhaps this referred to that. With a series of pleasant music, the shattered points of light converged into the shape of a talisman. The next second, a talisman wrapped in metal and a blue crystal appeared in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand. [Fairy Talisman¡ï: Carrying it restores 1% of Energy Value every minute] Indeed it is high-quality equipment; other items¡¯ introduction fonts are white, but the Fairy Talisman¡¯s font is blue and additionally has a star at the end, something even the Evil Slaying Sword doesn¡¯t have. It seems that my lucky European bloodline is genuinely strong, and a bit of tanning doesn¡¯t affect it much. However, Spiritual Energy is refined from the air through the Qi Refining Technique, and the body itself does not produce it. Can this also be restored? Fang Zhou happily wore the Fairy Talisman and carefully felt it, surprised to discover that the Fairy Talisman was actually helping him slowly refine Spiritual Energy from the air he breathed into his lungs, thus achieving the effect of restoring Spiritual Energy. Not only Spiritual Energy, but spiritual power was also slowly recovering. This is simply a divine item, and moreover, it is what Fang Zhou currently needs the most. Just a single blue card drew such good equipment; it seems that fortune was shining upon him. Fang Zhou was now even more excited about the other blue card¡¯s draw. If only he could draw one or two more Divine Skills or equipment to easily get through the current difficulties. The second blue card spun and shattered. This time there was no golden light, but the shattered points of light formed a bottle. Seeing the bottle, Fang Zhou had a bad feeling. The next second, a slightly larger bottle appeared in the palm of his hand. [Strong Aphrodisiac: Just a drop is enough to make a person with strong will lose rationality, completely falling into a state of mad passion] Fang Zhou: (?_?) Damn, I got happy too soon. It seems I¡¯ve used up all my luck. Why did I have to draw this kind of thing? Is it meant to be fed to enemies to make them lose combat ability? Fang Zhou was about to put away the Strong Aphrodisiac when he suddenly noticed the two sisters from the White Tiger Sect and the Scarred Woman nearby. He looked at the three of them, then at the aphrodisiac in his hand, and suddenly a light bulb went off in his head. Fang Zhou: (?£þ??£þ??)? He asked Nie Xiaoqian, who was beside him, ¡°That demon guarding inside, if there¡¯s really any movement outside, will she sneak a peek?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nie Xiaoqian couldn¡¯t see Fang Zhou, so she just nodded in the direction of the sound, ¡°I heard it from other ghosts in the temple. That demon really has a peeping hobby.¡± Fang Zhou immediately snapped his fingers, ¡°Then could you do me a favor?¡± Nie Xiaoqian nodded, ¡°No problem, just say the word.¡± Fang Zhou leaned over and began to whisper his instructions. Nie Xiaoqian first was stunned, then her face turned red, she started stuttering, ¡°This¡­ this¡­ this kind of thing?!¡± After some persuasion from Fang Zhou, Nie Xiaoqian shyly agreed to the task. Damn, if you were a cute girl making a shy expression, that would be one thing, but you¡¯re a foot-scratching man with a full beard, so stop being coy. ¡°` Chapter 60: A practice that corrupts public morals Chapter 60: A practice that corrupts public morals Fang Zhou stripped the clothes off the two sisters from the White Tiger Sect, only to glance at them and feel very disappointed. ¡°You two are engaging in blatant fraud.¡± Fang Zhou fed them a few drops of the strong aphrodisiac, then picked up the Scarred Woman and smacked her face with a few hard slaps. The punches earlier were to enhance sleep, now these slaps were for wake-up service. Both provided the effect of enhancing sleep quality. Despite being in the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Scarred Woman had a through-and-through sword wound to her chest, had her head bashed in with several punches, and even been set on fire, yet she still didn¡¯t die, with her wounds automatically clotted. Fang Zhou slapped her awake, and while she was just clearing the haze of waking up, he fed her a strong aphrodisiac. Fearing that this one had high tolerance, Fang Zhou directly fed her nearly half a mouthful. The sisters from the White Tiger Sect were already embracing and biting each other, and when Fang Zhou threw the Scarred Woman over, the three immediately started rolling together in a frenzy. Fang Zhou looked from left to right, feeling the scene wasn¡¯t very thrilling. Nie Xiaoqian covered her face with both hands, but she still peeked through her fingers. Fang Zhou appreciated his own masterpiece and then told Nie Xiaoqian to keep track of the time while he turned and stepped back into the miasma. He arrived at the original spot and saw the Second Child guarding the entrance to the sword mark. Outside the miasma, Nie Xiaoqian counted the time, cleared her throat, and then suddenly let out a high-pitched scream. This scream traveled far and reached inside the miasma. The second child who was reading book twitched her ears, turned her head to look outside the miasma, and instantly widened her eyes, breaking free from the state of a salted fish, becoming spirited. She quickly sat up from the rocking chair, her shocked words slipping out: ¡°This is truly shameless, such vulgar acts under the broad daylight of the public square!¡± Even though she criticized with her words, her eyes remained firmly fixed on the scene, unbeknownst to her, her cheeks gradually turning red and hot, with her nose even bleeding a line of fresh blood. Fang Zhou, hiding nearby, didn¡¯t expect the effect to be so good; he was initially hoping to slightly attract the Second Child¡¯s attention, but she was even more engrossed than when reading a book. Ah, this poor child, staying in such a desolate ghostly place, must have gone crazy, reacting so intensely to a bit of stimulation. But do demons have interest in human affairs as well? Taking advantage of the Second Child¡¯s diverted attention, Fang Zhou sneakily circled around her. The Second Child was immersed in the little film and didn¡¯t notice someone approaching stealthily. Fang Zhou arrived at the sword mark, looking up at this sword mark created by Yan Chixia with a single strike. The shape of the sword mark was narrow at both ends and wide in the middle, several meters wide, unfathomably deep, like a tunnel carved at the root of the Tree Demon. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was about to enter but then noticed not far from the entrance to the sword mark, many broken urns piled up. He went over for a look and found that these urns were all ashes urns, probably about a hundred or so. Among them should be Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn. Luckily, each urn had the birth date and name written on it; otherwise, it would be impossible to distinguish which was Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s. Fang Zhou quickly searched around and soon found Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s ashes urn, lying on the outer edge, with the writing still clear. The luck wasn¡¯t too bad, if he hadn¡¯t found it, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t have stayed here any longer, as the detoxification medicine and invisibility potion only lasted for thirty minutes, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste time. After placing the ashes urn in a place easy to grab, Fang Zhou turned and entered the sword mark. The sword marks were smooth, all cut out by Yan Chixia¡¯s Sword Qi forcibly, and touching them you could still feel a lingering slight prickling pain. That was the residual Sword Qi of Yan Chixia that, even after a year, had yet to completely dissipate. Fang Zhou noticed that inside the sword mark, it wasn¡¯t calm; the tree¡¯s body was constantly wriggling, trying to heal but obstructed by the Sword Qi. This explained one of Fang Zhou¡¯s doubts; no wonder the Tree Demon would leave such a glaring weakness; it was not that it didn¡¯t want to repair the flaw, but that the Sword Qi left by Yan Chixia had not yet vanished. This made Fang Zhou feel admiration; a strike delivered a year ago and the Sword Qi still remains, truly badass. Yan Chixia said she was only at the Innate Realm; her combat strength must be much stronger than the average of those in the Innate Realm, but alas, the gap with a Golden Core Demon was still too vast, even if it was just a degenerate version of a Golden Core Demon like the Tree Demon. Fang Zhou did not linger, he followed the sword mark deep inside, quickly arriving within the Tree Demon¡¯s body. Indeed there is but one swift path to the heart, the ancients did not deceive me. The main trunk of this Tree Demon was actually hollow, like the interior of a high tower, with web-like veins all over the inner walls, luminescent energy flowing swiftly within. The entire trunk was filled with an abundance of seven-colored rosy clouds, dreamlike and illusory, these lights passing through the hollows inside the tree, projecting upwards, piercing the sky. At the very center of the trunk¡¯s base, a glittering Golden Core suspended a few meters above the ground, its surface flowing with light, seven colors of rosy clouds contending in brilliance. The interiors of this trunk, and even the entire Lanruo Temple¡¯s seven-colored rosy clouds, were actually all emanating from this Golden Core. Fang Zhou¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to this Golden Core. He subconsciously wanted to get closer; his body seemed to be emitting a strong craving, like a traveler in the desert stumbling upon a spring. But the Golden Core also radiated a forbidding sense of danger, instinctively making him reluctant to approach. Two completely contradictory impulses simultaneously emerged in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind and body, making him feel very uncomfortable. He shook his head, suppressed all these inexplicable impulses, then took steps toward the Golden Core. As long as this Golden Core is taken away, the Tree Demon would be nothing to worry about, and Ling Xiaoyue should be able to defeat it. Fang Zhou himself would have mooched an assist; that should count as completion of the task, right? As he got closer, Fang Zhou could feel a piercing chill coming towards him, like stepping into a freezing icebox, so cold that he subconsciously shivered. ¡°Eh?!¡± At that moment, a female¡¯s surprised exclamation echoed within the trunk. Fang Zhou stiffened all over, his movements abruptly stopping. He had heard this voice before; just last night at the Lanruo Temple¡¯s annex building, that invisible ¡®Sixth child¡¯. How could she be here? Didn¡¯t Nie Xiaoqian say that only ¡®Second child¡¯ with the urn is guarding within the Miasma? But Fang Zhou immediately remembered, he was also in an invisible state, ¡®Sixth child¡¯ should not be able to see him. Just as this thought surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, ¡®Sixth child¡¯s voice unexpectedly came from behind him. ¡°How can you turn invisible too?¡± Chapter 61: 61. Really a clever little devil Chapter 61: 61. Really a clever little devil S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou¡¯s cold sweat started pouring out instantly. These six kids actually see through their invisibility, do they have other abilities besides invisibility? Fang Zhou slowly turned around, nothing was behind him, but he could smell that familiar scent of grass. This scent wasn¡¯t present when he just entered, it¡¯s very likely that after Fang Zhou entered, the child also happened to follow in. ¡°Turns out it¡¯s you!¡± The child¡¯s voice sounded again, with a hint of surprise, probably recognizing Fang Zhou since they had just met last night when the child played a trick on him. Fang Zhou wanted to determine the child¡¯s position through their voice, but the voice started to fluctuate, becoming elusive. ¡°Nobody here, maybe it¡¯s a hallucination?¡± Fang Zhou muttered to himself, then took out a revealing potion and drank it down: ¡°Let me have a drink, calm down.¡± [Revealing Potion: After drinking, you can see invisible objects, lasting for thirty minutes] Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s muttering, the child let out a playful laugh, seemingly from the left, then seeming to be from the right. After drinking the revealing potion, Fang Zhou immediately noticed a slender figure slowly appearing about three meters in front of him. ¡°Who¡¯s talking, come out!¡± Fang Zhou shouted sternly, his eyes darting around, using his superb acting skills to feign panic when encountering invisible enemies. The child¡¯s figure finally fully revealed itself ¨C a pretty young girl in blue clothes, with round, curious eyes fixated on Fang Zhou. Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s words, the child giggled: ¡°You really don¡¯t have a brain, we just met last night. Oh no, you couldn¡¯t see me last night.¡± Her voice was coming from all around him, strangely enough, even though she was right in front of him. ¡°So it was you playing tricks last night?!¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s face was filled with rage as he rebuked righteously, ¡°Be bold and stop hiding, come out for a fair fight!¡± ¡°Haha, try to find me first!¡± The child crossed her arms over her chest and laughed, ¡°But I have a question, if you answer me, maybe I can show myself to you.¡± Fang Zhou looked around and slowly stepped forward: ¡°What¡¯s the question?¡± The child didn¡¯t notice Fang Zhou¡¯s subtle movement, curiously asking: ¡°How did you get past my second sister and run inside? She has the thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear. If I hadn¡¯t decided on a whim to take a stroll here, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed you.¡± So she just happened to follow in, Fang Zhou felt like his luck was all used up after drawing the Golden Legend; to have such a coincidence. But with just one sentence, the child had exposed her second sister¡¯s capabilities, somewhat na?ve and sweet. Fang Zhou also figured out her character, she must be the naive, playful kind without much scheming. He took a deep breath and stepped forward again: ¡°I have a question too, that Golden Core behind you, I can take it without any issue, right?¡± The child was momentarily stunned and then burst into laughter: ¡°This Golden Core is protected by a spell my grandpa cast, aside from us seven sisters, whoever touches it dies. If you dare to touch it, you¡¯re sure to die. Why don¡¯t you go ahead and try?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If what the child said was true, thankfully he didn¡¯t rashly attempt to take it, or he¡¯d die without even knowing how. Yet, his expression remained unchanged, shaking his head: ¡°What kind of spell only you can touch but no one else can, next time you lie please find a better excuse.¡± Sixth Sister puffed her face in frustration: ¡°I did not lie!¡± Fang Zhou looked at her with disdain: ¡°Then why don¡¯t you come down and show me?¡± Sixth Sister almost instinctively reached for it but then stopped midway, her eyes rolling, and she stuck out her tongue at Fang Zhou, making a face: ¡°You just want to trick me into getting it for you. I won¡¯t fall for it.¡± You¡¯re quite the clever imp. Fang Zhou burst out laughing: ¡°I did indeed want to trick you. But your reaction has also proven that there¡¯s a flaw in the spell cast by your Granny, one that allowed you girls to get the Golden Core. I¡¯ve figured out where the flaw is. Thanks for the tip, the Golden Core is mine!¡± He turned and ran toward the Golden Core, reaching out his hand to leap up and grab it. Sixth Sister was startled and quickly shot out a transparent vine, wrapping around the Golden Core before Fang Zhou could get to it, and pulled it down from the air. Fang Zhou, however, swiftly reversed his forward charge, thrusting his sword towards Sixth Sister¡¯s chest while casting an Illusion Technique at her. Perhaps Fang Zhou¡¯s acting was quite convincing, for Sixth Sister didn¡¯t notice his previous slight movements. Given their proximity, she was utterly unprepared, and by the time Fang Zhou suddenly attacked, it was too late to dodge. She was first caught by the Illusion Technique, and then pierced in the chest by the Evil Slaying Sword, as the sword¡¯s Evil Qi began to burn her body. The intense pain brought Sixth Sister out of the illusion, screaming instinctively as her body sprouted a plethora of woody substances, quickly encasing her entirely. Fang Zhou hastily withdrew his sword and leapt back just in time to see Sixth Sister transform into a giant gourd. ¡°Second Sister, save me!! Someone is attacking me!!¡± Sixth Sister¡¯s cry, with a whine, echoed from inside the gourd, carrying far and wide. Fang Zhou¡¯s complexion changed, and he swiftly turned around and snipped the vine with a sword strike, not daring to touch it with his hands. Instead, he summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand to take out the Golden Core, still wrapped in the vine. ¡°Ssss~¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but shiver again; it was just too cold. The Golden Core emitted a constant chill, and even when held by Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, it made his body unbearably frozen. After securing the Golden Core, Fang Zhou immediately turned and fled towards the exit marked by sword marks. ¡°Ah!!¡± The Tree Demon, locked in a stalemate with Ling Xiaoyue, suddenly bellowed, ¡°Which despicable thief has stolen my Golden Core?!!¡± Outside the pavilion, the five sisters who were spectating the fight all changed their expressions dramatically. As the fruits sired by the Tree Demon, they knew all too well the importance of the Golden Core to Granny. With a whoosh, Third Sister shot out like an arrow leaving a bow, charging towards the Tree Demon¡¯s main body. Eldest Sister took it a step further, jumping on the spot so hard that the ground cratered beneath her, and she propelled herself into the air like a cannonball, even faster. The remaining three sisters looked at each other and could only follow suit. ¡­ Ling Xiaoyue, perched on top of the wine jug, was initially stunned by the Tree Demon¡¯s roar but then burst into uncontrollable laughter, laughing so hard that he rolled on the jug, nearly crying with laughter. ¡°Ha ha ha¡­ Truly worthy of being my disciple¡­ Ha ha ha¡­ You sure did it¡­ Ha ha ha ha¡­ Oh my, I¡¯m dying of laughter!!¡± A Golden Core Demon actually getting its Golden Core stolen by someone in the Qi Refining Realm was simply unbelievable, less likely than an ant killing an elephant. It was like two fully equipped warriors clashing, only for a simple minion to sneak past the high ground and single-handedly steal the base. Ling Xiaoyue had been curious about what Fang Zhou was doing near the Tree Demon and had thought about helping him out. He had not expected Fang Zhou to pull off such a feat. Chapter 62: 62. Retribution is like a tornado Chapter 62: 62. Retribution is like a tornado After laughing, Ling Xiaoyue stood up from the jug, her face turning serious. ¡°Since my disciple is so formidable, I, as the master, can¡¯t fall behind, otherwise how can I continue to ride on his head and boss him around?¡± She drew the longsword she always carried but had never used, raised her right hand, and pointed the sword towards the sky. The longsword flew out of her hand, shooting into the night sky like a meteor and disappearing from sight. In the next instant, countless rays of light shone around Lanruo Temple, like a meteor shower, converging on the longsword Ling Xiaoyue had thrown into the sky. All the lights gathered around the longsword as the core, forming a giant sword over a hundred meters in length. The giant sword hung upside down, its entire body radiant, emitting a dazzling light that illuminated the entire mountain, suppressing the seven-colored rosy clouds in the sky. Ling Xiaoyue pointed downward with her raised hand and chuckled softly, ¡°Little sapling, take my sword!¡± Her voice was ethereal and calm, like the pure moonlight. As Ling Xiaoyue made her move, the hundred-meter-long giant sword hanging in the night sky plummeted down, directly targeting the Tree Demon¡¯s main body. The Tree Demon, originally planning to retract all its roots to look for the thief who stole its Golden Core, now had to raise its roots again and contract its crown to block the attack of the giant sword. ¡­ Fang Zhou, who was fleeing inside the sword mark, also heard the Tree Demon¡¯s roar and ran even faster subconsciously. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I¡¯m just passing through here; surely the Tree Demon won¡¯t really leave Ling Xiaoyue to come after me. Fang Zhou worried since the Seven-colored Golden Core he had seized did not turn invisible with him but continued to emit the noticeable seven-colored rosy clouds quite conspicuously. Running out with the Golden Core like this was like being a living target. Fang Zhou held the Golden Core while running and thought of strategies, but instead of the Tree Demon, he encountered Scarred Woman. Scarred Woman charged in following the sword mark. Her face was full of anger, not only because she had heard the cries for help from her sixth sister and the roar of the grandfather but also because someone had stealthily bypassed her watch and sneaked into the trunk, which was a blatant mockery of her thousand-mile eyes and Sharp-Hearing Ear. She now realized that the provocative palace drama outside was someone¡¯s mischief, yet she had easily fallen for it, feeling insulted intelligence-wise, having always considered herself the smartest among her seven sisters. But now understanding was too late; she needed the enemy¡¯s blood to wash away this disgrace. Scarred Woman, burning with fury, charged inside but froze momentarily when she saw the Seven-colored Golden Core flying towards her. Although Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t make the Seven-colored Golden Core invisible, he was still invisible, holding and running with the Golden Core, which, in others¡¯ eyes, looked like the Golden Core was flying by itself. Fang Zhou was mentally prepared for Scarred Woman¡¯s arrival; seizing the opportunity when she was stunned, he threw an Illusion Technique and then thrust forward with his longsword. Scarred Woman quickly broke free from the illusion, raised her hand to block, and numerous vines sprouted from her hands. Fang Zhou cut off several vines with his sword, but he couldn¡¯t harm Scarred Woman. He suddenly flew up a kick, hitting Scarred Woman in the stomach. It seemed all of these gourd children could sprout vines from their bodies for defense and attack, but Scarred Woman¡¯s combat power was pretty mediocre; Fang Zhou kicked her away with one blow. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t stay to fight further and continued to escape outward. Scarred Woman steadied herself and hurriedly chased after him, shooting vines towards Fang Zhou¡¯s direction. Although she couldn¡¯t see him, the Seven-colored Golden Core he held was like a live target. Seeing the vines shooting towards him, Fang Zhou knew these could break even thick pillars, and getting hit by one could spell instant death for him. He quickly turned and cast a Fireball Technique. The Fireball Technique flew out and hit the vines, exploding instantly. The explosion severed all the vines, and the second child pursuing was also blown back, rolling away to a distance. Fang Zhou had already seized the opportunity to burst out of the sword mark, arriving outside the roots of the Tree Demon. The outside had completely transformed, all the roots stretched towards the sky, the ground became pocked and messy. He hurried towards the area where the ashes urns were placed, most of the urns had been shattered by the movement of the roots, leaving only a few intact. Nie Xiaoqian¡¯s urn was safe and sound; fortunately, Fang Zhou had previously taken it out separately, otherwise, how could he explain to Nie Xiaoqian upon returning that her ashes were scattered? Should he just tell her to accept it with sorrow? He picked up the ashes urn, bypassed these roots, and dashed towards the outside of the miasma. Not long after, the dirt-covered second sister also chased out. Behind Lanruo Temple, the area was filled with miasma and white fog; the seven-colored rosy clouds inside the Tree Demon had not completely dissipated, so Fang Zhou holding the Seven-colored Golden Core outside was not so conspicuous, and with the roots blocking, the second sister could not see where Fang Zhou was running. But the seven sisters had a clear instinctual connection to the Seven-colored Golden Core, it was something connected to their bloodline and they could sense its exact location without seeing it. By sensing the direction of the Golden Core, the second sister immediately chased in the direction Fang Zhou had run. Here, Fang Zhou was escaping from the miasma at the fastest speed, meeting Nie Xiaoqian, as well as the two sisters from the White Tiger Sect and the Scarred Woman. The scene was a mess, indicating a fierce battle, even the several Double-headed Dragons specially prepared by Fang Zhou were ruined. The three were almost stacked on top of each other, with the Scarred Woman sandwiched in the middle like a sandwich, already lifeless. Although she was in the Foundation Establishment Realm and the strongest in physical constitution, she had been severely injured before, and facing two enemies alone, she could not withstand the attack from both sides and ultimately perished, truly a pitiful and lamentable end. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but recall the Heart Demon Oath the Scarred Woman had taken before; wasn¡¯t this scene right before him a fulfillment of it? It was like karma came fast like a tornado. It seemed the Scarred Woman still held deep prejudice against Fang Zhou in her heart, such endless reprisal, and in the end, it harmed herself. Fang Zhou felt empathetic, realizing that he shouldn¡¯t casually swear any Heart Demon Oath in the future; the Scarred Woman truly taught him a lesson with her life. Nie Xiaoqian stood beside the three, her face showing an endless aftertaste, a stark contrast from her initial shyness. Could this guy have awakened some special preference? Hope Ning Caichen can hold on. When Nie Xiaoqian heard the noise, she looked up and almost jumped in fright, seeing an ashes urn flying out from the miasma toward her, scarier than seeing a ghost at midnight. Fang Zhou directly tossed the ashes urn to her: ¡°Your ashes urn, catch!¡± Nie Xiaoqian, hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s voice, clumsily caught the ashes urn, seeing the familiar name and date of birth on it, her eyes immediately reddened. ¡°My ashes, finally seeing you again.¡± Nie Xiaoqian hugged the ashes urn tightly, looking like an old eunuch reunited with his treasure after many years. Fang Zhou quickly said to Nie Xiaoqian: ¡°Take your ashes urn, quickly take Ning Caichen and leave this damned place, don¡¯t come back.¡± After speaking, Fang Zhou turned and ran; he still had pursuers behind him, no time to chat more with Nie Xiaoqian. Nie Xiaoqian was about to thank Fang Zhou, seeing this could only sigh: ¡°Fang Immortal truly is a man who comes and goes like the wind.¡± After speaking, she also picked up her own ashes urn and directly made her escape. Chapter 63: 63. Hurry up and shoot her in the face with your Pokémon. Chapter 63: 63. Hurry up and shoot her in the face with your Pok¨¦mon. Perhaps it was because the Seven-colored Golden Core had been taken away, the mist enveloping Lanruo Temple gradually thinned. The huge body of the Tree Demon became clearly visible, and although Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t recall the path to leave Lanruo Temple, as long as he ran with his back to the Tree Demon, he could always make it out. However, before he could get far, a tall red-clad woman descended from the sky and landed in front of Fang Zhou, creating a large crater in the ground. Fang Zhou gasped in shock¡ªwearing red clothing and such a violent entry, it was definitely the eldest sister, but how did she get here so fast? The eldest sister sensed the presence of the Golden Core; she was the fastest, leaving all her sisters behind. Upon landing, the eldest sister immediately saw the floating Golden Core. She hesitated briefly, then realized what was going on. Stamping her feet on the ground, a loud explosion resounded as the mud and stones under her feet burst apart. She shot towards Fang Zhou like a cannonball being fired. Fang Zhou hurriedly threw himself to one side, only feeling the strong wind whip past his face as the eldest sister flew past, smashing down a wall behind him. Fang Zhou stared in disbelief¡ªwas this a superhuman? How on earth could he fight this? The eldest sister dug herself out from under the bricks, leaping up next to the Golden Core and throwing a punch towards its surroundings, her delicate fist causing an explosive sound in the air. The eldest sister paused, puzzled as to why she didn¡¯t hit the target. She realized that the thief who stole the Golden Core was also invisible, like her sixth sister, so she attacked the area around the Golden Core but didn¡¯t hit anything¡ªwhat was going on? Fang Zhou was a bit scared by the eldest sister¡¯s ferocity; he just stood there, watching as she leapt towards him and punched the space beside him. What was this? How could she miss seeing something so close at her young age? Fang Zhou quickly realized that he was holding the Golden Core with Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, at a distance from his body, which caused the eldest sister to misjudge and strike nothingness. Opportunity not to be missed, Fang Zhou stabbed at the eldest sister with his sword. Hearing the movement, the eldest sister raised her hand to block. The Evil Slaying Sword pierced into her forearm, its Evil Qi beginning to burn her skin. The eldest sister¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and she abruptly swept forward with a leg sweep. Her strong, round legs whistled through the air, casting a blur of afterimages. Being hit by such legs would spell disaster. Yet Fang Zhou had silently shifted position, causing the eldest sister to kick the air once again. He reciprocated in kind, kicking his leg out as well, striking the eldest sister¡¯s taut six-pack abdomen. The eldest sister reeled back a couple of steps but quickly steadied herself. Her skill was worlds apart from that of her second sister. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and she stomped down hard onto the ground. With a thunderous boom, the ground within a radius of ten meters from her shattered and collapsed. Fang Zhou found it difficult to keep his footing and hurriedly retreated. This eldest sister was too terrifying, a veritable superhuman. He couldn¡¯t afford to provoke her¡ªit was best to run. ¡°Stop right there!¡± The eldest sister let out a thunderous yell, lifting a huge rock that had fragmented from the ground, as big as a horse carriage, and hurled it towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou rolled on the spot, and the large rock whistled past overhead, crashing onto the ground a short distance away, making the entire ground tremble. This woman was too reckless. Didn¡¯t she worry about damaging the Golden Core as well? What was even more terrifying was that Fang Zhou¡¯s figure was gradually becoming visible as the thirty minutes had passed, and the Invisibility Potion had finally lost its effect. The eldest sister eyed Fang Zhou, her lips curving into a slight smile: ¡°I see you now, you little thief.¡± Fang Zhou felt a cold sweat break out in an instant. Oh no, he was done for. Now he was going to turn into fertilizer. This eldest sister definitely had the formidable strength of a Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection, plus a talent for immense power. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if Fang Zhou added all of his remaining 14 points of manhood to his strength, he was afraid it wouldn¡¯t be enough to overpower her. ¡°Master, come save me!¡± At this moment, Fang Zhou could no longer pretend to be strong and decisively called for help. Self-reliance and self-improvement should be time-dependent; what¡¯s the point if you lose your life? As soon as the words left his lips, a figure descended from the sky and landed in front of him. Fang Zhou, full of question marks, asked, ¡°You got here so quickly?¡± The person who had landed held an unfurled scroll in hand and slammed it onto the ground with force. The eldest child was warily watching this suddenly-appeared individual when she suddenly felt the ground beneath her feet give way, and she began sinking down. She looked down, panicked to discover that the ground had turned into a swamp. She tried to jump out, but the mushy swamp didn¡¯t allow for any leverage, and in the blink of an eye, the eldest child was completely submerged in the muck. The rescuer then turned his head to Fang Zhou and flashed a beaming smile, ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± Seeing this familiar dark face, Fang Zhou opened his eyes wide in surprise, ¡°Han Li, what are you doing here?¡± This person was indeed Han Li, whom Fang Zhou had thought had either escaped or perished. He never expected her to be safe and sound, and to come to his rescue at such a critical moment. ¡°I came over when I heard the noise.¡± Han Li answered Fang Zhou¡¯s question, casually picking up the scroll from the ground. Fang Zhou saw that the scroll depicted mountains and rivers; it was actually a painting. This was certainly a treasure; Fang Zhou refrained from asking further to avoid any misunderstandings. Han Li¡¯s gaze fell onto the Seven-colored Golden Core hovering not far from Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder. Although her face showed surprise, she refrained from prying. Fang Zhou said to Han Li, ¡°We can talk more once we get out. This place is dangerous and not suitable to linger.¡± Han Li nodded in agreement. She had been searching for a way out, and now with the fog dissipating and most of the buildings in Lanruo Temple destroyed by the battle between Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon, escaping didn¡¯t seem too difficult. The two immediately made their move to flee from Lanruo Temple. The noises from the battle between Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon still came intermittently. The Tree Demon let out roar after roar, seemingly disadvantaged after the Golden Core was stolen by Fang Zhou. If it weren¡¯t for Xiaoyue acting as a meat shield against the Tree Demon, even with the Golden Core, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t be able to escape. And now, the seven brotherly gourds wouldn¡¯t let him off easily¡ªwhether he could really escape was yet another question. ¡°Sir, watch out!¡± Han Li suddenly let out a shriek of alarm. A yellow blur shot towards them at incredible speed. Fang Zhou hurriedly pushed Han Li aside and thrust forward with his sword. With a clang, the Evil Slaying Sword pierced the yellow-clothed woman¡¯s body, but it made a sound like metal striking metal. She reached out to grab Fang Zhou, who quickly retreated, simultaneously executing simple swordsmanship techniques. The Evil Slaying Sword left several afterimages as it continuously stabbed at the vital points of the yellow-clothed woman¡¯s body, but it was like stabbing into steel, leaving not even a scratch. Yellow clothes, impervious to weapons, this woman, whether in appearance or temperament, was extremely fierce, and was without a doubt the steel-boned third sibling. She relentlessly pursued Fang Zhou, unfazed by the Evil Slaying Sword¡¯s strikes at her vital parts, and even the Evil Qi on the sword seemed to have no effect on her. Fang Zhou was frantically coping with the situation, and in the blink of an eye, danger loomed. Against someone impervious to weapons, the Evil Slaying Sword in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand was practically toy-like. The third sibling¡¯s strength was no weaker than the Scarred Woman. While Fang Zhou was fending off the third sibling¡¯s ferocious attacks, he glanced at Han Li, hoping she would quickly take out her treasured item and deal a heavy blow to the third sibling, sending her to reunite with the eldest sibling. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s expectant gaze, however, Han Li drew her own Longsword and rushed in to help. Fang Zhou: ??? Little black sister, what on earth are you doing, little black sister? Quick, whip out your magical treasure and give her a full blast in the face. Chapter 64: 64. Exceptional awareness, operating at full capacity Chapter 64: 64. Exceptional awareness, operating at full capacity In fact, Fang Zhou misunderstood Han Li. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to use the treasure; she simply couldn¡¯t. The treasure used to trap the eldest sister was a Treasure Artifact named the Mountain and River Map, capable of transforming into terrain features such as mountains and rivers, and so on. It is said that if a cultivator above the Yin Yang Realm were to use it, they could even create real mountains and rivers out of thin air that would not disappear. But with Han Li¡¯s current Qi Refining Realm capabilities, she could only alter the terrain on a small scale, and it could be used only once. If she tried to force it, it would only lead to failure. Therefore, she had no choice but to put the treasure aside and roll up her sleeves to help out. The two of them flanked the third sister from the front and the back, but the third sister was fearless and ignored attacks from behind by Han Li, focusing solely on Fang Zhou, attempting to snatch the Seven-colored Golden Core from him. Fang Zhou was beaten around by the third sister, who chased after him relentlessly, while Han Li chased after the third sister without letting up, the three of them running around in circles as if they were playing a game. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t take it anymore and yelled to Han Li, ¡°Poke her butt!¡± He remembered that the third sister¡¯s weakness seemed to be her buttocks, but unfortunately, she kept her gaze fixed on him and he couldn¡¯t get behind her. When Han Li heard Fang Zhou¡¯s words, she was taken aback but her hand did not slow down, thrusting her sword towards the third sister¡¯s butt. This time, the third sister dared not allow Han Li to attack her anymore. Angered, she turned around and with a sweep of her hand, snapped Han Li¡¯s Longsword into two pieces. Fang Zhou took the opportunity to allocate 14 points of manliness to his strength and speed, increasing his strength to 15 and his speed to 12. With the boost from the Qi Gathering Technique, his strength reached 17 and his speed 14. When a single attribute exceeded 10, a qualitative change would occur. Fang Zhou only felt a surge of explosive strength emerging from his body, like a volcano that had been accumulating power for a long time, which made him wish to roar out loud to vent it. He abandoned his sword for his fist, and hurled a punch at the third sister, with the speed and power of his punch being about half as formidable as the eldest sister when she attacked. By the time the third sister sensed the danger, it was too late. She was struck by Fang Zhou¡¯s punch and, accompanied by a deafening thud, she flew out like a cannonball and crashed into the ruins. Fang Zhou only felt a severe pain in his fist, his whole hand bloodied and dripping. His own body couldn¡¯t even bear the force of that punch. The style of the fight had changed entirely; it had been a proper fantasy genre, but now it had turned into a style where a mighty fighter dealt flesh-and-blood blows. Although he had become stronger and not bald, Fang Zhou dared not linger in battle. He quickly called out to Han Li, preparing to make a dash for it. ¡°Don¡¯t think of running away!¡± The third sister leaped out from the ruins, blood on the corner of her mouth, having been punched by Fang Zhou to the point of vomiting blood. Although resistant to blades and spears, pure power could still injure her. However, such an injury was not enough to hinder the third sister¡¯s movements. She raised her hand and shot out a multitude of roots and vines, aiming at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou dodged left and right but was still entangled by the vines around his arms. He used his sword to cut off the vines, while shouting to Han Li, ¡°You go first!¡± Han Li nodded and turned to run, but was immediately blocked by three young girls who emerged. The three sisters who were left behind by the eldest and third sisters had finally caught up. The two girls dressed in green and light blue who looked very similar were the fourth and fifth sisters. The youngest girl, with a purple gourd hanging at her waist, was the youngest, the seventh sister. Blocked by the three sisters, Han Li dared not charge through. Although she didn¡¯t know about the Seven Mysterious Yin Gods, these monsters were more troublesome one than the next. Who knew what strange abilities these three newly-appeared girls possessed. However, little seven¡¯s gaze passed over Han Li and landed on Fang Zhou, immediately screaming angrily, ¡°Ah, so you¡¯ve run off here; watch as I capture you and turn you into fertilizer for flowers.¡± Saying so, she reached for the purple gourd at her waist, aiming it at Fang Zhou. ¡°Wait, little seven!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless!¡± The fourth and fifth sisters hurriedly stopped little seven. They didn¡¯t care about Fang Zhou, but the Seven-colored Golden Core was floating right beside Fang Zhou¡¯s shoulder. If little seven carelessly collected the Seven-colored Golden Core into the gourd, they would have no way of explaining it to their grandfather. Xiaoqi also realized this point. She pouted and then aimed the gourd at Han Li: ¡°Can I at least capture this one?¡± Fang Zhou urgently shouted at Han Li: ¡°Run!¡± Han Li immediately turned her head and ran, but the gourd could suck away everything within the line of sight, and Han Li hadn¡¯t run a few steps before being sucked backward by the gourd. In desperation, Fang Zhou could only grab the Evil Slaying Sword and threw it at Xiaoqi. Xiaqi immediately turned the gourd¡¯s mouth around and collected the Evil Slaying Sword into it. ¡°Boom!¡± Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and a giant several tens of meters tall popped out from nowhere in the distance, it was Big Sister, who finally freed herself from the mire through her gigantic transformation. On her shoulders sat Second Sister and Sixth Sister, who had been shaken off by Fang Zhou earlier. The Second Sister, possessing thousand-mile eyes, was pointing in this direction, guiding Big Sister. And in front of them, the steel-boned Third Sister charged at Fang Zhou again, with the three sisters blocking the way ahead. It could be said that Fang Zhou and Han Li were now in a dire situation. The spiritual energy inside Fang Zhou had also been depleted, the recovery from the Fairy Talisman was far from enough, and the continuous use of Illusion Technique and Fireball Technique had nearly exhausted his spirit. At this moment, he could be described as completely drained. But Fang Zhou had calmed down at this juncture. He ran both New Moon Qi and Qi Gathering Technique at the same time, refining spiritual energy with New Moon Qi and then sending it throughout his body with Qi Gathering Technique. This action would greatly strain his body, causing damage, but at this moment he had no other care. Third Sister rushed forward, swinging a fist towards Fang Zhou¡¯s head. Her body was impervious to swords and spears, a tremendous advantage, so she never learned any combat skills. Her fights were straightforward and simple. Fang Zhou raised his hand to catch Third Sister¡¯s fist tightly. At this moment, his Qi Gathering Technique was unstable, with his strength fluctuating between 15 to 17, unpredictable. Such power was naturally inferior to Big Sister, but more than enough to surpass Third Sister. As her fist was caught, Third Sister raised her foot to kick at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, grabbing her kicking leg. With both her right and left leg in his grasp, Third Sister clenched her teeth and raised her left hand to swing at Fang Zhou¡¯s face. Fang Zhou stepped back, grabbed Third Sister¡¯s limbs, roared angrily, lifted up her entire body, spun around twice, and tossed her towards the three sisters. After throwing out Third Sister, he followed closely, charging towards the three sisters. Xiaoqi was about to use the gourd to suck away Han Li again when she saw Third Sister being thrown over, and she subconsciously turned the mouth of the gourd around. Fourth Sister quickly slapped her on the back of her head: ¡°Are you going to suck up our Third Sister too?¡± Fifth Sister raised her hand to catch Third Sister but ended up being knocked over by her. At this time, Fourth Sister noticed Fang Zhou rushing up behind them; she wasn¡¯t flustered and opened her mouth to spit out a thunderbolt, shooting towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou spun around sharply, and the thunderbolt hit him right on the Sword Box on his back. The Sword Box was struck, instantly releasing dazzlingly bright light and endless sword cries. Fourth Sister and Xiaoqi were both dazzled by the bright light and instinctively closed their eyes, the sword cries causing them intense bodily pain. But the sword cries wouldn¡¯t cause Fang Zhou any more harm, with a speed of 12-14 points, he moved as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, he arrived in front of Fourth Sister and Xiaoqi, and punched Fourth Sister away. Xiaoqi sensed danger and subconsciously aimed the gourd at Fang Zhou. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou raised his hand and snatched the gourd treasure away, kicked Xiaoqi away, and then turned the gourd¡¯s mouth towards the four sisters. Chapter 65: 65. A flute-playing child sitting beneath me Chapter 65: 65. A flute-playing child sitting beneath me Seeing Fang Zhou actually snatch away the magical gourd to aim at his own sisters, Triplets and Quintuplets, as well as Quad who had her vision restored, were all stunned. Fang Zhou let out a haha and shouted loudly: ¡°Retrieve!¡± The scene instantly quietened down, yet the magical gourd remained motionless. Fang Zhou: ??? Could it be that the Spell isn¡¯t this one? Fang Zhou yelled at the four sisters: ¡°Monsters, I¡¯m calling you out, do you dare to respond?¡± The four sisters: ??? Fang Zhou got a bit panicked, he tried to channel a bit of the Spiritual Energy he had just refined into the magical gourd, but due to insufficient cultivation, the Spiritual Energy couldn¡¯t leave his body. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The kicked away Little Seven got up from the ground, pointed at Fang Zhou, and laughed loudly: ¡°You big dummy, the magical gourd is my item, how could it possibly listen to you, little gourd, catch him!¡± Fang Zhou hastily tried to throw the gourd away, but it was already too late. Following Little Seven¡¯s command, the magical gourd instantly sprouted a large number of vines, swiftly binding Fang Zhou into a zongzi; arms, legs, and torso all tightly wrapped, unable to move, with only his head exposed. It truly was a situation where gloom turns to bloom, Fang Zhou originally thought he had outsmarted everyone and instantly turned the tables to gain an advantage, only to have it overturned in the blink of an eye. This reversal was so fast that even Fang Zhou was taken aback. ¡°Master!¡± Han Li, wielding her broken sword, rushed forward to rescue Fang Zhou. Little Seven commanded again: ¡°Little gourd, catch her!¡± The vines that bound Fang Zhou immediately sprouted a few more, shooting towards Han Li. Han Li nimbly dodged, and the vines tore open her bodice, from which a green small bottle fell out. Han Li quickly grabbed the small bottle and was then bound by the vines. Seeing Fang Zhou and Han Li both caught, the four sisters finally breathed a sigh of relief, but they all failed to notice that the small bottle in Han Li¡¯s hand was emitting a glowing green light. Han Li did not charge forward recklessly, as cautious as she was, seeing Fang Zhou caught, she would surely have run away first and then looked for an opportunity to rescue him. She deliberately charged forward just to allow these vines to touch her. At this moment, she stared intensely at the glowing small bottle, murmuring something under her breath, then with a flick of her wrist, a drop of crystal clear liquid slid out of the bottle, falling onto the vine. In the next moment, the vine exploded in size, splitting into countless branches. Triplet frowned and said, ¡°Little Seven, stop playing around, stop the vines.¡± Little Seven looked bewildered: ¡°Triplet sister, it¡¯s not me doing this.¡± She tried to control the vines, only to discover that they had slipped from her control. Triplet¡¯s expression changed slightly as she hurried towards Fang Zhou, intending to seize the Seven-colored Golden Core first. But the surging vines immediately pushed her away. ¡°My gourd!¡± Little Seven also wanted to rush over to retrieve her gourd, but was held back by Quad running in the opposite direction. Quintuplet spat out sharp water threads from her mouth to cut the growing vines, while Quad spat out scorching flames to burn them, but their destruction speed was far slower than the growth rate of the vines. The surging vines reached for the sky, turning into a giant tree tens of meters tall, while also splitting into countless branches below. These branches dug into the ground and new vines sprouted out, spreading at a terrifying pace in all directions. The four sisters, who couldn¡¯t escape in time, were instantly swallowed by the vines, countless vines crazily spreading around, claiming all the land as their own. ¡°` The three sisters rushing over from a distance were also ensnared by the expanding vines, the tallest sister struggled with all her might, tearing off the vines that tangled around her. But more vines tied up her arms and legs, rendering her immobile, her enormous strength rendered useless. The sister on her shoulders, Little Two and Little Six, couldn¡¯t escape either; Little Two was wrapped up like a zongzi, and even though Little Six quickly turned herself into a calabash, she too was bound tight and secure. The vines continued to expand in all directions, covering a vast amount of buildings and ruins, even the Tree Demon¡¯s roots were entangled. By the time the energy was depleted and the expansion stopped, the surroundings had become a lush small forest. Ling Xiaoyue looked down from the sky and saw that nearly a third of Lanruo Temple had been covered by the vines. She smiled slightly: ¡°The little girl¡¯s treasure is pretty good.¡± She then controlled the wine flask to dodge a huge branch that smacked down. The Tree Demon had already begun to wield its branches as weapons, and there was a giant gash in its canopy, inflicted by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s massive sword attack. This completely enraged the Tree Demon, and because of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s interference, it couldn¡¯t go after Fang Zhou to retrieve its Golden Core and could only pin its hopes on its seven granddaughters. However, it seemed the situation was not very good. Fang Zhou was also confused by the sudden surge of vines, not knowing this was Han Li¡¯s doing, he thought it was Little Seven¡¯s misoperation, protecting the enemy and hitting his own team. But for Fang Zhou, this was a good thing; at least it gave him time to escape. He hurriedly struggled, but unfortunately, the vines around him were too tight and elastic, and without a weapon, it would be hard to break free with strength alone. Fang Zhou¡¯s Evil Slaying Sword had been taken by the calabash, which pained him greatly; he hadn¡¯t even had time to get used to his system¡¯s rewarded equipment, and now it was gone, feeling like a loss of five million. Although the Sword Box still contained the Xuanyuan Divine Sword left by Yan Chixia, a name that sounded absolutely dominant, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t take it out. Yan Chixia had passed the secrets of the Sword Control Technique to Fang Zhou before her death, but as she said, entry-level was too difficult. Fang Zhou remembered it but was clueless in understanding, with no idea what it was all about. This was different from the New Moon Qi and Qi Gathering Technique that Ling Xiaoyue passed to him; both of these techniques were easy to comprehend, simply telling you what to do in plain language, just follow the instructions. But the phrases from the Sword Control Technique were profound and enigmatic; without a background in classical literature, it¡¯s really hard to understand, let alone comprehend. There was also the Heart Sutra passed to him by Yan Chixia, which even required Buddhist knowledge to understand. So now Fang Zhou could only drool over his wealth of treasures without the key to unlock them. Fang Zhou was trapped within the vines, incapable of moving, and Hu Lai¡¯s left hand was holding the Golden Core, unable to assist. ¡°Han Li¡± Fang Zhou could only twist his head and shout back, ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Han Li¡¯s voice came swiftly: ¡°I hear you, just wait a bit, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Fang Zhou was just trying to shout out and didn¡¯t expect Han Li would actually answer; her voice seemed not too far away. He waited patiently, wondering where the calabash brothers had run off to. Could it be that they played themselves and also got wound up by the vines? That would be well-deserved. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Fang Zhou was just thinking about the calabash boys when suddenly there was a disturbance up ahead, and then he saw Little Three squeezing out from between the vines. Fang Zhou¡¯s face changed dramatically, and he struggled urgently but still couldn¡¯t break free. He was now like a lab rat on an experiment table, anyone who came by could mess around with him. After squeezing out, Little Three climbed onto a vine and looked down at Fang Zhou from above, a cold smile on her beautiful and brave face. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou also showed an embarrassed smile: ¡°I surrender, request leniency for a prisoner of war!¡± Little Three crossed her arms over her chest, sizing up Fang Zhou¡¯s face: ¡°It¡¯s a pity to kill you, but if you¡¯re willing to be a flute-playing child beneath me, I might spare your life.¡± Fang Zhou was stunned. Seeing her serious expression, it was apparent she was not joking? ¡°` Chapter 66: 66. Ate something that shouldnt have been eaten Chapter 66: 66. Ate something that shouldn¡¯t have been eaten Triplets are just too outrageous, actually suggesting that Fang Zhou become her attendant. Even more outrageous is that Fang Zhou actually seriously considered it for a moment, and in that instant, he was even slightly tempted. To be honest, as a normal male in such an open world of women, it¡¯s impossible not to have any fantasies at all. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But most of those women eyeing him were too ugly, with misshapen faces, and some of the better-looking ones clearly had plenty of experience, like Li Ruyu. Although Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t a germaphobe, he had no interest in squeezing onto a crowded bus. What¡¯s more, Fang Zhou had an innate source of Innate Yang Qi within him, planning to absorb it himself once his realm was higher, not wanting to benefit others. For all these reasons, Fang Zhou has always been strict with himself, insisting on a pure path, and avoiding anything risque. So after a few seconds of consideration, Fang Zhou decisively gave up. Of course, if he were captured by accident and the seven sisters forced themselves on him, then there would be nothing he could do. He can¡¯t just bite his tongue and commit suicide, can he? ¡°This kind of major life decision¡­ you need to give me some time to think about it.¡± Fang Zhou pretended to hesitate; in reality, he was stalling for time, waiting for Han Li to arrive. Triplets, however, didn¡¯t just stupidly wait, she leapt straight down from the vines and charged at the Golden Core, planning to snatch it back first. Fang Zhou was in a panic but unable to move his hands and feet. Seeing Triplets reaching for the Golden Core, Fang Zhou could only control Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, tossing the Golden Core upward, then suddenly grasping Triplets¡¯ neck with great force and pushing her away. The Golden Core fell from the sky, and just happened to hit Fang Zhou¡¯s head directly. With no hands free, Fang Zhou could only open his mouth to catch it, hoping to trap the Golden Core in his mouth. The Golden Core landed precisely in his mouth and then slid down his throat. Gulp! He swallowed it! Fang Zhou: ????? Struggling Triplets: ????? Fang Zhou felt as if he had swallowed a piece of ice, his mouth and throat numb with cold, a severe chill spreading from his belly and chest, freezing his entire body stiff. His intention had been to trap it in his mouth, but he misjudged the weight and force with which the Golden Core was falling. Triplets watched in horror as Fang Zhou swallowed the Golden Core, feeling empty as if she lost something vitally important, and the connection to the Golden Core vanished as well. ¡°Spit it out, you bastard!! Thief!!¡±, she roared with rage, forcefully breaking free from Hu Lai¡¯s left hand and rushed forward, aiming a knife-hand strike at Fang Zhou¡¯s head. Fang Zhou felt his head was frozen, his thoughts sluggish. He tried to control his left hand to defend, but it was too late¡ªhe could only watch as Triplets¡¯ knife-hand came down on his head. If she landed the hit, it would be easier than slicing a watermelon, with his brain splattering all over. Cling¡ª In this life-and-death moment, a piercing sword cry suddenly emitted from the Sword Box behind Fang Zhou. A streak of golden light shot out from the Sword Box, slashing towards Triplets. Triplets¡¯ complexion drastically changed, evidently recognizing the golden light; she even disregarded attacking Fang Zhou and quickly raised her hand to defend. The Golden Light Slash collided with Triplets¡¯ arm, producing a grating metallic sound. Triplets was sent flying backwards, crashing into the vines, her arms bleeding profusely as even her steel bones were cleaved through by the sword. However, the golden light did not pursue the attack; instead, it flew back, swiftly slicing through the vines binding Fang Zhou. Once free, Fang Zhou finally saw that the golden light was actually a Golden Sword. This must be the Xuanyuan Divine Sword that Yan Chixia spoke of. After cutting through the vines, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword hovered in front of Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou, now exceedingly cold, nevertheless drew upon his strong will to survive, managing to slowly grasp the Xuanyuan Divine Sword with his left hand. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword carried him up into the sky. Han Li had just crawled out from the vines at this time, looking up to see Fang Zhou flying away into the sky, utterly bewildered. Fang Zhou, almost too frozen to speak, managed to shout to Han Li with his last bit of strength: ¡°Feet!¡± Han Li immediately understood Fang Zhou¡¯s intention, and with a forceful leap using the vines, she grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s foot. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword, with both of them in tow, smoothly flew out of the vine-filled forest. Below them, Triplets emerged from the vines, wounded¡ªit was too late for her to do anything but watch Fang Zhou and Han Li fly away. Looking down from the air, Han Li saw that the entire Lanruo Temple had been reduced to ruins. Although the temple was dilapidated before, the overall structure had been intact. Now, there wasn¡¯t a single unscathed building in sight. Most had been destroyed in the battle between Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon, the rest devoured by the vines. After this battle, Lanruo Temple was practically no more. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword, as if sensing Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts, led him and Han Li directly away from Lanruo Temple and the surrounding hills, towards the temple¡¯s annex. What would normally have been a half-hour journey, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword covered in a brief moment. After entering the annex, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword casually landed, then turned into a streak of golden light and re-entered the Sword Box. After landing, Fang Zhou immediately fell to his knees, barely able to stand, on the verge of collapsing. Han Li quickly supported him, only to shiver from cold herself¡ªFang Zhou¡¯s entire body was like a block of ice, emanating cold from inside out. Han Li exclaimed in shock, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s wrong with your body?! Why is it so cold?¡± ¡°I ate¡­ hiss¡­ something I shouldn¡¯t have, my mouth¡­ my mouth is too loose.¡± Fang Zhou answered while shivering, wanting to spit out the Golden Core, but by now his stomach and chest had gone numb from the cold. ¡°What shall we do now?¡± Han Li asked anxiously, realizing Fang Zhou¡¯s situation was very grim; if things continued, he would be frozen to death. But even then, Fang Zhou had the presence of mind to remind Han Li: ¡°The¡­ Monk¡­ here¡­ is shady¡­ be careful!¡± Han Li nodded, ¡°I understand, I will first find a place to hide you, then get some hot water to soak you in.¡± But before Han Li could lead Fang Zhou away, they heard hurried footsteps approaching. Chapter 67: 67. Little Black Girl, do you trust me? Chapter 67: 67. Little Black Girl, do you trust me? Han Li looked up and saw Hui Neng approaching hurriedly with a group of monks, who were even holding sticks in their hands. Han Li was startled, wondering how these monks could arrive so quickly. She had originally planned to hide Fang Zhou away secretly, keeping their presence unknown from the monks, but that plan had now fallen through. Han Li could only feign calmness and said to Hui Neng, ¡°Master Hui Neng, you¡¯ve arrived just in time, please prepare some hot water; my friend needs to bathe.¡± However, Hui Neng did not move and instead looked around, relieved to see that only two people had returned. The reason for their swift arrival was that a monk had seen a golden light shoot into the courtyard and, having been informed earlier, the prepared Hui Neng immediately led people here. He was worried that if too many people escaped back, and one or two managed to flee, leaking the news would be troublesome. Fortunately, there were only two of them, making the situation easier to handle. Seeing that Hui Neng did not respond, Han Li raised her voice: ¡°Master Hui Neng?¡± Hui Neng smiled gently at her: ¡°Are there only two benefactors who have returned? Very good, very good.¡± She was genuinely relieved; the situation had almost slipped out of control. The noises of battle coming from the old site of Lanruo Temple were terrifying, making her fear tremendously. Even the intrusion by Yan Chixia into Lanruo Temple a year ago wasn¡¯t as frightening. After Yan Chixia¡¯s visit a year ago, Hui Neng deeply reflected and downplayed the rumors about the Buddhist Secret Treasure to avoid attracting more powerful figures. Unexpectedly, it had been only a year, and yet another formidable person had hidden among a group of ordinary soldiers. Luckily, it seems they did not escape back; they must be dead in Lanruo Temple by now. Faced with the least desired situation, Han Li felt a sinking feeling, ¡°Master Hui Neng, what is this supposed to mean?¡± Master Hui Neng brought his hands together in prayer and smilingly said to Han Li, ¡°Amitabha, please forgive this monk. Our temple is in ruins, barely able to sustain the monks¡¯ lives, surviving only by attracting tourists with this Buddhist Secret Treasure. If two benefactors leave and spread the news about this place, wouldn¡¯t that cut off the lifeline for our temple¡¯s old and young? For the sake of our sustenance, I ask both benefactors to descend into Hell, and this humble monk will chant sutras for your transmigration, thanking you for your great kindness and virtue.¡± Both Fang Zhou and Han Li had already suspected the intentions of these monks; seeing Hui Neng straightforwardly reveal it, their expressions drastically changed. Han Li pressed down on the small bottle hidden at her chest and spoke coldly, ¡°Do you think you can really kill us?¡± These monks were merely some boxers, and Hui Neng seemed to be nothing more than in the Qi Refining Realm. Han Li alone was enough to handle them. But this was just an ideal scenario; considering how confident Hui Neng was, wouldn¡¯t he have some backup plan? Sure enough, upon hearing Han Li¡¯s words, Hui Neng burst into laughter, ¡°You two benefactors are naively pitiable. This monk has been presiding over Lanruo Temple for many years and has seen countless cultivators. To this day, I remain unharmed. Do you really think I¡¯m merely in the Qi Refining Realm?¡± With that said, his entire demeanor changed; though originally chubby like a Maitreya Buddha, now his face trembled with its flabby flesh, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The well-experienced Han Li¡¯s complexion changed instantly, exclaiming in disbelief, ¡°Foundation Establishment Realm?!¡± Although Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t see it, his heart too sank. His current strength and speed were both over ten points, enough to handle a Foundation Establishment Realm, but his body was frozen stiff by the swallowed Golden Core, making movement and fighting impossible. Relying solely on Han Li to confront a Foundation Establishment Realm would be too harsh on her. However, with so many treasures on her, she should be able to pull something out to shoot this fat monk in the face, right? Anticipating support, Fang Zhou looked at Han Li, only to see her expression extremely grim; it was not the look of confidence. Fang Zhou was clearly overestimating Han Li; she was just in the Qi Refinement Realm. Not to mention independents, even disciples from Major Sects wouldn¡¯t possess magical artifacts in the Qi Refinement Realm unless they were prodigious disciples. Han Li, merely a lone cultivator, already had incredible fortune by possessing a small bottle and the Mountain and River Map in the Qi Refining Realm. Giving her any more advantages would be overkill, wouldn¡¯t it? Besides, those other cultivators wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Besides, Han Li had already used those two secret treasures previously, and they were now in their cooldown period. She couldn¡¯t use them again if she wanted to. Thus, she was now like a skilled chef without rice, completely out of ideas. Ahead, Monk Hui Neng was striding towards them: ¡°Fellow benefactors, please surrender without resistance. Don¡¯t be stubborn. This poor monk is quite skilled, and I can assure you a painless and peaceful death.¡± Han Li gritted her teeth and took a step back, only to hear Fang Zhou¡¯s voice in her ear: ¡°Let me handle this!¡± Surprised, she turned her head and saw Fang Zhou holding a purple gourd, aiming it at Monk Hui Neng. Seeing the gourd, Han Li was shocked and delighted. Delighted because Fang Zhou had somehow managed to snatch this gourd, which belonged to Xiao Qi, and even brought it with him, which she hadn¡¯t noticed before. The shock came because Han Li had seen Fang Zhou trying to use the gourd before and knew he couldn¡¯t operate it. She instantly understood Fang Zhou¡¯s intentions but wondered if it could fool Hui Neng. Evidently, Hui Neng recognized the precious gourd in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, halted in his tracks with a start, and exclaimed in horror, ¡°How did this treasure end up in your hands?¡± Fang Zhou wanted to sneer coldly, but he was already chilled to the bone and stuttering, not wanting to add more strain on himself, so he replied with a warm smile, ¡°Monk¡­continue¡­coming, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hui Neng¡¯s expression underwent a dramatic change, finally settling on a resolute look: ¡°Impossible, even if you obtained this treasure, you definitely can¡¯t use it. Don¡¯t think you can fool me.¡± It seemed as if she was trying to convince herself, her voice growing louder. Fang Zhou remained cool and composed: ¡°You could¡­try it. What do you think¡­allowed us¡­to escape?¡± He appeared steady, but inside, he was extremely anxious. He knew very well whether or not the gourd would work. ¡°I bet you can¡¯t!¡± Monk Hui Neng let out a fierce shout and suddenly lunged towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou suddenly panicked, Damn it, why isn¡¯t this monk playing by the rules? Isn¡¯t this the time to be cautious? Seeing Fang Zhou not reacting, Hui Neng knew she had guessed right. She sneered, thinking these two dared to bluff her. She decided to kill the woman and violate then kill the man afterward, keeping the gourd treasure for herself. Simply delicious! Seeing Hui Neng charge, Han Li quickly moved in front of Fang Zhou and pulled out the small bottle, no longer concerned about its damage. Fang Zhou too was exasperated. Why couldn¡¯t this damn gourd work? Did it need facial recognition or something? I swallowed your Golden Core; I am your grandfather, so freaking absorb me! Grandson!! Just as this thought crossed Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, he immediately felt the gourd in his hand warm up slightly, creating an instantaneous blood and flesh connection with him. As Hui Neng was about to reach them, Han Li was about to smash the small bottle at her, but suddenly Monk Hui Neng¡¯s corpulent body shrank abruptly and turned into a black spot that vanished into the gourd. Han Li¡¯s face was a picture of disbelief as she turned to look at Fang Zhou, her expression almost accusatory¡ªSo you could use it, why didn¡¯t you do it sooner, did you have to make it so thrilling? Fang Zhou: ??? Little black girl, if I say I could only use it just now, would you believe me? Chapter 68: 68. Garbage mountain inside the gourd Chapter 68: 68. Garbage mountain inside the gourd The monks around also widened their eyes, seemingly unable to understand what had just happened. Fang Zhou took the chance to turn around the mouth of the gourd and swoosh ¨C absorbed all the monks into it at once. While absorbing Hui Neng and the group of monks, Fang Zhou felt a cold sensation rushing from his body towards the gourd in his hand, being absorbed by it. Although it didn¡¯t absorb all the chill, it made Fang Zhou feel much better and not so cold. All the monks were gone, leaving only Fang Zhou and Han Li looking at each other. Han Li said with a strained voice, ¡°This gourd¡­ you can actually use it?¡± Her voice was filled with grievance. If you could use it, why didn¡¯t you use it earlier? We could¡¯ve taken care of those female demons right away, but you had to wait until now. Fang Zhou felt a bit embarrassed and cleared his throat softly, ¡°The timing wasn¡¯t right; it would have been useless to use it earlier.¡± Han Li seemed to not quite understand, but felt relieved. She thought that Fang Zhou definitely wasn¡¯t the type to seek thrills; he must have had some kind of constraint on using it. She felt that she only saw one layer of the reasoning, while Fang Zhou must have considered a five-layered strategy. Such contests of wisdom were not something she could participate in. After dealing with all the monks, Han Li helped Fang Zhou into the temple, where they boldly occupied Hui Neng¡¯s meditation room. Han Li busied herself, bringing Fang Zhou a large bucket of hot water, scarcely stopping short of helping him bathe and scrub his back. However, by her demeanor, Fang Zhou guessed she would have been quite willing if he had asked. Only after stripping and soaking in the hot water did the chill inside Fang Zhou¡¯s body begin to subside, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. It was then that he had the leisure to study the gourd he held. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he was not yet clear why he could use the gourd now, Fang Zhou believed it was very likely related to his swallowing of the Golden Core. He and the gourd had established a weak but clear connection, one like flesh and blood, but not the kind that one could grill. Fang Zhou made a mark on a nearby candle, then closed his eyes and began to concentrate on feeling the gourd. Almost instantly, he felt his consciousness enter an immensely vast space. He didn¡¯t know the size of this space and couldn¡¯t see its boundaries, because it was filled with countless bizarre items¡ªa massive amount of rocks, soil, trees, and various animal and human corpses, all piled up like a garbage mountain, yet without any foul smell. Below seemed to be a steaming sea, filled with liquids of unknown composition, bubbling vigorously. The steam resulted from the bubbles rose and floated in the air, eroding the garbage above which then dissolved into liquid, drop by drop, falling down. Thousands of drops of liquid joined together to form a heavy rain. Fang Zhou realized that these piles of garbage must have been casually absorbed by the Seventh Brother of the gourd kids and were being refined by the gourd. As for the effects of the refined liquid, that was yet to be known. Now that he was here, he thought, one shouldn¡¯t just leave ¨C no, one should not leave a mountain of treasures empty-handed. With such a large garbage mountain, who knows what treasures that Seventh Brother had absorbed were hidden inside; sometimes, trash picking could lead to riches. And in addition, Fang Zhou wanted to retrieve his Evil Slaying Sword that had been sucked in as well. But he soon gave up on searching, as the garbage mountain was simply too vast and large; he had no idea where his Evil Slaying Sword had fallen to. After carefully sensing around, he instead sensed the group of monks that he had just absorbed. Fang Zhou followed the sensation and quickly spotted the group of monks; they were all lying on the garbage mountain, immobile, with most of them still having their eyes open yet not even breathing. Hui Neng was among them, his plump face still maintaining a fierce smile. These monks were lying on the garbage mountain, below which the fog was corroding; it was unsure when it would be their turn. Fang Zhou discovered that he could not only sense them but seemed to be able to control them as well. No sooner had this thought occurred, the monks immediately flew up under Fang Zhou¡¯s control. He picked one of the monks and placed them outside the garbage mountain in the fog, and in a blink, the monk was completely corroded by the fog, with even their clothing disappearing, turning into a drop of liquid. This was many times more fearsome than the toxicity of the miasma at the root of the Tree Demon; that miasma could only corrode flesh, and had no effect on inanimate objects like stones and earth, while the fog in this gourd seemed to be able to refine anything away. Fang Zhou then picked another monk and tossed them directly into the hot sea below, corroded away by the fog before even getting close. He threw the rest of the monks onto the garbage mountain and gazing at the continuous clusters of garbage mountains, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He had a suspicion in his heart that he could sense and control these monks, but not any other items, probably because these monks were absorbed by him, while other things were absorbed by Xiao Qi, hence he couldn¡¯t control them. If that was the case, then he would have to give up on finding his Evil Slaying Sword for the time being; who knows where it might have fallen. However, if he was unable to control the things Xiao Qi absorbed, what about the fog? Another idea surfaced in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind; he tried to control the fog, and following his thoughts, part of the fog drifted over. Under his control, the fog sometimes formed an ¡®S¡¯, sometimes a ¡®B¡¯, and even formed an Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon with high fidelity. Fang Zhou controlled the fog to corrode the garbage mountain, and indeed the speed was many times faster. He played around for a while before stopping and then exited the gourd, returning his consciousness to his body. After coming out, Fang Zhou looked at the burning candle; the mark he made had barely moved, meaning that less than half a minute had passed in reality, yet he had stayed in the gourd space for at least half an hour. The flow of time in both places was completely different; time in the gourd space flowed so slowly, and yet there was still so much garbage that hadn¡¯t been corroded away, revealing how much garbage Xiao Qi had absorbed over the years. While researching the gourd, Fang Zhou took a bath, and before long, the hot water began to cool down, chilled by the coldness emanating from his body. At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Han Li called from outside, ¡°Sir, would you like some hot water added?¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Fang Zhou responded. The door was pushed open, and Han Li came in carrying a bucket of hot water and immediately saw Fang Zhou¡¯s back emerging from the tub. Smooth and white, not particularly muscular, yet sturdy and broadening slightly, it conveyed a sense of security. Han Li walked over, pouring the hot water into the tub, her eyes occasionally glancing at Fang Zhou¡¯s upper body above the water, feeling slightly parched, as if there was a fire stirring inside her. At the same time, Han Li thought to herself, Fang Zhou was being far too unguarded; it was okay with someone as self-disciplined as her, but with other women, they might have taken the opportunity to make a move or do something. Of course, she was very grateful for Fang Zhou¡¯s trust, and so she would never make any untoward advances towards him. Chapter 69: 69. Wipeout Engine? Chapter 69: 69. Wipeout Engine? If Fang Zhou knew what Han Li was thinking, he¡¯d probably not know whether to laugh or cry. He was unguarded because of habits leftover from his past life, and besides, Han Li¡¯s behavior was very normal without any signs of being infatuated. Besides, it¡¯s not a big deal for a man to be seen naked; it¡¯s not like he can get pregnant. After adding hot water, Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and turned to thank Han Li: ¡°Thanks, I¡¯d really have frozen to death without your help.¡± Han Li shook her head but did not leave after pouring the water, instead asking, ¡°Sir¡­¡± Fang Zhou interrupted her: ¡°Stop calling me ¡®sir¡¯. You¡¯ve saved me a few times too; we¡¯re even now. Calling me ¡®sir¡¯ is too formal, just call me by my name.¡± Fang Zhou already considered Han Li as a friend he could associate with. Her character was impeccable, her values aligned with his, and most importantly, her potential was enormous and her luck was good. If he hadn¡¯t met Xiao Yan before, Fang Zhou might have thought Han Li was the world¡¯s destined heroine, the main character of this universe. Such a powerful future ally, if not to cultivate a good relationship with now, then when? Previously, Fang Zhou always felt that he couldn¡¯t rely on others and needed to be self-reliant and strong. But after the dangerous situation in Lanruo Temple, he realized that it¡¯s right to be self-reliant, but there¡¯s nothing wrong with holding onto a few strong legs; at critical moments, it can save your life. At the same time as being self-reliant, one must also strive to hold onto those legs, and if there¡¯s no opportunity to hold on, create one. You have to walk with both legs, grab with both hands, both hands must be strong, that¡¯s the right path. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing Fang Zhou allowing her to call him by his name, Han Li felt a slight joy in her heart. Although she felt a bit inferior in front of Fang Zhou, thinking that she, a dark-skinned girl, was not a match for a white, wealthy, and noble disciple like Fang Zhou, and maintained politeness in their daily interactions, she couldn¡¯t help fantasizing about being closer to him. Now that Fang Zhou let her call him by his name, it was clear proof that their relationship had taken a step further. Han Li initially thought that coming to Lanruo Temple had been a loss, not finding the Secret Treasure and instead losing a lot of good items. But at this moment, she felt the trip had been worthwhile. On impulse, Han Li blurted out, ¡°Do you want me to scrub your back?¡± After saying it, she instantly regretted it, fearing that this action would annoy Fang Zhou and reverse the progress of their budding relationship. When Fang Zhou heard this, his body stiffened slightly. What¡¯s this situation? According to the customs of this world, it¡¯s like a dark-skinned boy offering to scrub the back of a white and wealthy beauty during her bath, totally overstepping boundaries, and likely to get his legs broken for it. Fang Zhou himself didn¡¯t mind, but if he refused, it would be awkward for both of them. If he accepted, it could look like he was selling his charms. Han Li regretted it secretly and was about to apologize to Fang Zhou when she heard him say in a conflicted voice, ¡°Well¡­ that would be great, thanks.¡± Han Li felt a jolt throughout her body, he agreed? Then a surge of joy mixed with disbelief filled her heart. Could it be that Fang Zhou is also interested in me? Otherwise, why would he agree to such an excessive request? Lost in her wild thoughts, Han Li licked her lower lip, picked up the bath towel beside her, and stretched her ¡°devil¡¯s claws¡± towards Fang Zhou¡¯s smooth back, gently wiping. She held her breath, her touch was as gentle as if she was wiping a delicate piece of porcelain, fearing that one careless move could break it. Yet, while scrubbing, she couldn¡¯t help but use her fingertips to lightly touch Fang Zhou¡¯s skin, as if caressing it. Fang Zhou felt a bit awkward, feeling as if he was at a spa where the attendant insisted on washing him, an utter impropriety. The atmosphere turned somewhat oppressive, and Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but break the silence, asking, ¡°What were you about to say to me just now?¡± Regaining her composure, Han Li hastily responded, ¡°First¡­ ahem, Fang Zhou, I was wondering, when will Senior Ling come back? She shouldn¡¯t have run into any trouble, right?¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li managed to escape Lanruo Temple primarily due to both exerting their utmost abilities, narrowly evading death in the process. Objectively though, it was Ling Xiaoyue who directly engaged the Tree Demon. If the Tree Demon had been free, no matter how powerful they were, escaping would have been impossible. Han Li felt profoundly grateful to Ling Xiaoyue, so much so that she began to worry about her safety after their escape. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she should be fine. As for when she¡¯ll return, that¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess.¡± Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t overly concerned about Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s safety. After rescuing him from Li Ruyu, she immediately whisked him away, fearing retaliation from Xuanji Sect. If real danger arose, Ling Xiaoyue was sure to flee faster than anyone else. Moreover, Fang Zhou still had the Tree Demon Golden Core which he had obtained, even swallowed, after Ling Xiaoyue brazenly confronted the Tree Demon. According to Yan Chixia, the Tree Demon was no longer a threat and shouldn¡¯t be able to harm her. The two conversed briefly, recounting their respective experiences after separating in Lanruo Temple. Hearing that Fang Zhou had received Yan Chixia¡¯s inheritance, Han Li was genuinely delighted for him. She showed no envy or jealousy, knowing she possessed the mystery-packed small bottle that would benefit her for a lifetime. However, when Fang Zhou learned that the group of rogue cultivators who hassled Han Li had all perished, his expression grew peculiar. Previously in Black Jiao Cave, Han Li¡¯s adventure ended with everyone but her and two weaklings meeting their demise. This time in Lanruo Temple, it was once again a total wipeout with only her and Fang Zhou escaping, plus Ling Xiaoyue. She was like a calamity engine, with every adventure ending with the demise of her companions and just herself escaping. Fang Zhou even felt some relief that he had split up with Han Li midway; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t even know how he died. This little sister had a knack for defeating her teammates. Terrifying, indeed. As Fang Zhou was experiencing after-the-fact shivers, Han Li had finished wiping his back and shoulders. Looking down, her heart involuntarily started pounding. Should she¡­ go further? If she continued downward and Fang Zhou didn¡¯t object, it would mean he completely let his guard down around her, and tonight could culminate in something more. But if he did object, he would definitely think she was overstepping, ruining all the good impressions built thus far. Han Li felt as if she was facing a monumental life decision, her forehead beginning to sweat with the tension. Eventually, it was Fang Zhou who came to her rescue: ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll take care of the rest myself.¡± Han Li exhaled a deep sigh of relief, reluctantly stepping away to leave the room. She patted her face, shooing away the jumbled thoughts, reasoning with herself that there was no need to rush; a strong relationship would yield plenty of opportunities in the future. Ensuring the door was firmly closed behind her, Han Li couldn¡¯t resist bringing her fingers to her nose for a stealthy sniff, then breaking into a smile. (¨s¨Œ¨t) So fragrant~~ Inside the room, Fang Zhou also let out a deep breath. Though his back was turned, he could sense Han Li¡¯s hesitations. It seemed she too was struggling with temptation, fortunately restraining herself, preventing any unpleasant incidents. Chapter 70: 70.Che Guevara Fang Zhou Chapter 70: 70.Che Guevara Fang Zhou ¡°Thankfully it was Han Li, the flat-chested and flat-bottomed girl, wiping his back. If it had been a fair-skinned, beautiful, busty and long-legged woman instead, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure if he could have controlled himself.¡± He shook his head and opened his Personal Attributes. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Qi Refinement (Minor Achievement) Techniques: New Moon Qi, Qi Gathering Technique Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, Fireball Technique, Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship Strength: 15 Speed: 12 Constitution: 9 Spirit: 6 Manliness: 0 Righteous Reputation: 1 Fang Zhou glanced and was surprised to find that his realm had progressed from Qi Refinement (entry-level) to Qi Refinement (Minor Achievement). When did this happen? He pondered, and then recalled that during the fight with the gourd children, due to a lack of Spiritual Energy, he forcibly used New Moon Qi and Qi Gathering Technique, refining and consuming simultaneously. It seems that was when he broke through, as Ling Xiaoyue had said that the stages of realm are actually very simple, the entry-level stage requires one to concentrate on refining and guiding Spiritual Energy to nourish the blood and flesh. At the minor achievement stage, one can multitask, refining while doing other things and guiding Spiritual Energy to nourish the internal organs; at the major achievement stage, it becomes an instinct to refine Qi, guiding Spiritual Energy to nourish the meridians and bones. When the whole body is nourished by Spiritual Energy from the inside out, it reaches the perfection stage of Qi refinement. What follows is accumulating massive amounts of Spiritual Energy in preparation for the Foundation Establishment. Fang Zhou had been stuck in the Qi Refinement (entry-level) stage for a while and felt the bottleneck before coming to Wild Tomb Ridge, always on the verge of breaking through to minor achievement. However, this method of forcibly squeezing potential should not be used again, this time it was good luck. Originally just a step away, it did not cause any serious consequences. If used recklessly, it might harm the foundation, causing irreversible damage. So it¡¯s better to proceed systematically and solidly. After soaking in hot water, Han Li brought Fang Zhou¡¯s belongings left behind in the temple, and he changed into fresh clothes. Not long after, Fang Zhou started to feel cold again, with chills continuously emanating from his body, making him tremble. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou had no choice but to use the gourd treasure again, absorbing some miscellaneous objects. Each time he used it, the gourd treasure absorbed some of the coldness from his body, alleviating his symptoms. This situation did not last long, as Ling Xiaoyue finally returned. She sat on a giant wine jug, flying into the temple and landing in front of Fang Zhou and Han Li. The wine jug quickly shrank and actively flew to her waist to hang. ¡°Senior Ling, you¡¯re finally back.¡± Han Li said joyfully. Though Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s behavior seemed unreliable, her powerful strength still provided a strong sense of safety, as if there was no need to fear being chased by demons anymore. ¡°Yo, you escaped too? Not bad, not bad.¡± Ling Xiaoyue said with a smile to Han Li, then jumped next to Fang Zhou and slapped him heavily on the shoulder: ¡°Well done, truly worthy of being my disciple, even able to steal the Golden Core from a Golden Core Demon. I see you have a talent for thievery, perhaps switching to a thief might make you famous in history. The position of the next Thief Emperor is yours, I¡¯ve even thought of a name for you, let¡¯s call you Che Guevara Fang Zhou!¡± Ling Xiaoyue was very excited, seemingly looking forward to having a disciple who could steal across the world, the thought alone made her quite proud. From now on, whoever dares to provoke Ling Xiaoyue, let them keep their mounts and Magic Treasures extra safe. Although Han Li was prepared, hearing Ling Xiaoyue say this still left her immensely shocked. Previously, the Tree Demon had roared about a little thief stealing its Golden Core. Later, Han Li saw the Seven-colored Golden Core floating beside Fang Zhou, but she still couldn¡¯t believe it until Ling Xiaoyue confirmed it. This is a Golden Core, a realm countless cultivators dream of, an elusive goal for countless loose practitioners and even sect disciples. Within Major Sects, being in the Golden Core Realm is like being a revered expert, and among demons, it¡¯s like being a formidable Demon ruling over a region in the Demon Domain. For Han Li, the thought of Fang Zhou managing to steal a Golden Core from such a formidable being was utterly unthinkable. Now looking at Fang Zhou, she no longer just saw him with respect, but her gaze was wholly incredulous¡ªat this rate, Fang Zhou, maybe you really have a talent for stealing. Consider switching careers, the position for the next Thief Emperor is yours, just steal whatever Magic Treasures you need. Of course, Fang Zhou¡¯s deed was actually exaggerated. The Tree Demon wasn¡¯t really a proper Golden Core Demon; its combat power compared to a real Golden Core Demon was worlds apart. Additionally, it was stabbed by Yan Chixia with a sword, breaking through the tree¡¯s defenses, leaving a gap through which the residual Sword Qi lingered, aided by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s upfront distraction. Under these conditions created by his two masters, Fang Zhou managed to steal the Golden Core successfully. Had it been a real Golden Core Demon, with control over its Golden Core as if it were a limb, Fang Zhou might have been able to touch it but not take it away. But now the task wasn¡¯t completed yet, and Ling Xiaoyue had come back. Could it be that the Tree Demon isn¡¯t dead yet? Fang Zhou, unable to bear the cold, stared at Ling Xiaoyue with a look in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Ling Xiaoyue asked as she stretched out her hand towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Quick, take out the Golden Core and let me have a look; it¡¯s my first time seeing one with seven colors.¡± Han Li hurriedly explained Fang Zhou¡¯s situation to Ling Xiaoyue. Ling Xiaoyue raised an eyebrow, grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, and felt it carefully, her expression becoming strange: ¡°How old are you this year, disciple? What have you been stuffing into your mouth?¡± ¡°It was purely an accident.¡± Fang Zhou, shivering from the cold, spoke while his breath came out as white mist: ¡°Quick, help me take it out.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed out loud: ¡°Let¡¯s see if you dare to eat things recklessly in the future.¡± After laughing, she placed her hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s chest and even winked at him: ¡°I am not harassing you, my disciple. If you feel wronged, you can get back at me later.¡± Fang Zhou glanced at Ling Xiaoyue and snorted internally, thinking that if he did as she said, he would lose face. Just as Ling Xiaoyue was about to extract the Golden Core, her smile suddenly vanished, and she exclaimed in surprise: ¡°Eh, how come this Golden Core is connected to your flesh and heart? What have you done?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression changed, and he immediately thought of the connection he had established with the gourd through blood and flesh. Han Li, hearing this, anxiously said: ¡°Senior Ling, could Fang Zhou be in danger?¡± Ling Xiaoyue glanced at her and joked: ¡°You care so much about my disciple, do you want to marry him?¡± Han Li was left speechless; even at this time, Senior Ling still had the mood to joke. Ling Xiaoyue then said to Fang Zhou: ¡°This Golden Core continuously emits Yin Cold Spiritual Energy. A normal person swallowing it would freeze to death alive. Disciple, you were born with extremely strong Yang energy, which barely neutralizes the Golden Core, which is why you haven¡¯t been frozen to death instantly. However, your Yang energy recovery rate is far less than the Golden Core¡¯s, and this way, it¡¯s also a path to death.¡± Although her words sounded horrifying, Ling Xiaoyue remained relaxed. Fang Zhou, knowing she surely had a way, also relaxed quite a bit. It turns out that all this coldness that nearly froze him to death was Spiritual Energy, completely different from the New Moon Qi he used for refinement¡ªit was no wonder that every time he used the gourd, some was sucked away. Chapter 71: 71. Indeed, dares to eat anything Chapter 71: 71. Indeed, dares to eat anything Seeing that Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t nervous, Ling Xiaoyue also lost the interest in teasing him further: ¡°I can help you lock the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy in your Golden Core, but this is not a long-term solution. You must frequently refine and transform this Yin Cold Spiritual Energy for your own use. This could actually be a blessing in disguise for you. If you fully refine the Golden Core, your future achievements will be boundless.¡± Fang Zhou nodded; the future can wait, for now, he only wanted to quickly disperse the chilling energy. Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t need to prepare anything further, and she continued to press her hand on Fang Zhou¡¯s chest. Fang Zhou only felt her palm grow slightly warm, the heat transferred through his clothes and into his chest. Then, the familiar and intimate Spiritual Energy from Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s palm surged into his chest. The reason Fang Zhou found Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Spiritual Energy to be intimate and familiar was because both master and disciple practiced the New Moon Qi Refining Technique, which essentially comes from the same source; therefore, there was no feeling of rejection, not even a hint of it. Unlike the Tree Demon Golden Core¡¯s Spiritual Energy that was cold and freezing, unbearable for Fang Zhou. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Spiritual Energy was very warm and gentle, roaming throughout Fang Zhou¡¯s body and dispelling the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy that penetrated his whole being. Fang Zhou felt as though he was soaking in a hot spring, his whole body warm and relaxed, comfortable enough to close his eyes and fall asleep. It was easy to drive out the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy, but locking it inside the Golden Core was by no means a simple task; Ling Xiaoyue had to increase her power output, infusing more and more dense Spiritual Energy into Fang Zhou¡¯s body, which eventually even transformed from a gaseous state into a liquid state. The Golden Core, sensing danger, started to release a large amount of Yin Cold Spiritual Energy, which began to form ice at the spot where it connected with Fang Zhou¡¯s heart. Ling Xiaoyue increased her output, channeling an even purer and warmer force into Fang Zhou, sealing the rebound from the Golden Core. This new force was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s origin power, like the waters of a warm spring, enveloping Fang Zhou¡¯s organs, pushing all the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy towards the Golden Core connected to his heart, and scattering the chill. Fang Zhou felt that the Spiritual Energy inside his body was so abundant it was nearly explosive. This wasn¡¯t like the swelling of his Dantian filled with gas after practicing New Moon Qi Refinement; now it was almost as if his entire abdomen was filled with liquid Spiritual Energy, stretching his skin taut. Unable to bear it, Fang Zhou began to subconsciously guide this liquid Spiritual Energy, circulating it throughout his body and nourishing his flesh. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s expression changed immediately, and she glared at Fang Zhou with a menacing gaze, grinding her teeth with such force it was audible, almost wishing she could grab and hammer this rebellious disciple. Her origin power had actually been absorbed. This rascal really dared to swallow anything!! After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Ling Xiaoyue still didn¡¯t stop. Because she was only one step away from locking the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy in the Golden Core, and if she backed out abruptly, the Golden Core would rebound with full force, and Fang Zhou would be dead for sure. In this way, Fang Zhou silently used Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquid Spiritual Energy and origin power to nourish his own body. His body began to heat up, and every blood vessel, muscle, and bone became filled with Spiritual Energy. Usually, Fang Zhou would cultivate by guiding strands of Spiritual Energy to circulate and nourish his body; being immersed in Spiritual Energy like now was completely unprecedented. This method had a specific name in the Cultivation World¡ªit was called empowerment. It¡¯s when a peerless expert, at the end of their life, imparts their lifetime of cultivation to their successor. By chance, Fang Zhou ended up receiving an ¡¯empowerment¡¯ from Ling Xiaoyue, using her power to enhance himself, especially absorbing her origin power, which enraged her enough to bite¡ªit was precisely for this reason. She had never seen such a disciple who would take advantage of their own master! At this moment, Fang Zhou was unaware of all this; he was immersed in cultivation, rapidly absorbing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquid Spiritual Energy. If his Personal Attributes were to be opened at this moment, one could see that his attributes of strength, speed, and constitution were jumping up at a rate of 1 point every ten seconds. Time ticked away second by second, and when all the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy was locked on top of the Golden Core, Ling Xiaoyue immediately withdrew all her Spiritual Energy, leaving only a weak gap on top of the Golden Core. This allowed a bit of the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy to leak out for Fang Zhou to refine and use for himself. Fang Zhou awoke from his Cultivation to find the cessation abrupt, opened his eyes, and licked his lips unsatisfied: ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Ling Xiaoyue replied with fierce eyes, picked up her Longsword beside her, and lashed out at Fang Zhou with force. Fang Zhou only saw a blur before he was sent flying by Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s sword, hurtling through the air like a cannonball, bringing down several walls in the process. Han Li was shocked into a daze, while Ling Xiaoyue charged forward like an enraged tigress. Crawling out from the rubble, Fang Zhou was still bewildered when Ling Xiaoyue pounced on him, pinning him to the ground and delivering a merciless beating. This was her first time committing domestic violence since becoming a master. ¡°Stop it!¡± Fang Zhou struggled, trying to escape: ¡°Why are you hitting me?!¡± Ling Xiaoyue dragged him back and continued her assault. ¡°I¡¯ve worked hard to eliminate threats for you, and you, this ungrateful disciple, turn around and betray me, even absorbing my Spiritual Energy for your empowerment. How does my water taste? Is it good?!¡± Ling Xiaoyue was so irate that she became incoherent. It wouldn¡¯t have angered her so much if it were just the Spiritual Energy that was absorbed, but the fact that Fang Zhou had also siphoned off some of her origin power infuriated her. Only cultivators above the Innate level could refine their origin power, which is extremely precious. Moreover, the origin power is related to the Divine Soul, which is highly private for cultivators. Even couples engaged in Dual Cultivation would not touch each other¡¯s origin power. Ling Xiaoyue was livid not just because Fang Zhou had drained a significant amount of her origin power, weakening her, but also because it meant Fang Zhou could possibly glimpse into the deepest secrets and ancient memories that she harbored in her heart by absorbing a part of that power. That was the real reason she was angry. In the Cultivation World, tampering with someone¡¯s origin power is a declaration of mortal enmity, no negotiations, life-or-death struggles. What puzzled Ling Xiaoyue was that origin power carries a strong personal imprint, rejecting anyone but the owner. Absorbing it is not easy; the only exception is if the owner willingly transfers their power to another, and even then, there¡¯s a reaction of resistance. That¡¯s why Ling Xiaoyue dared to use her origin power to dissolve Fang Zhou¡¯s Inner Golden Core. Initially, she didn¡¯t believe Fang Zhou could absorb her origin power. But to her utter surprise, Fang Zhou did absorb it, and so effortlessly at that. Nevertheless, her confusion didn¡¯t stop Ling Xiaoyue from thrashing her rogue disciple. As a master, she hadn¡¯t even taken advantage of her disciple yet, but to have the tables turned, it was like a lecherous scoundrel trying to take advantage of a beauty only to be toppled in return. The humiliation was indescribably extreme. After the thorough beating, Ling Xiaoyue somewhat vented her anger and gave Fang Zhou a kick: ¡°You little brat, go change your clothes. Your master has a task for you.¡± Once Ling Xiaoyue had stormed off with a huff, Fang Zhou got up, his face covered in dust, spat toward her retreating figure: ¡°Crazy woman, why hit me for no reason?¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He checked his body and, despite the pain, found not a single injury, which indicated Ling Xiaoyue had restrained herself. Chapter 72: The man who comes and goes like the wind Chapter 72: The man who comes and goes like the wind Han Li hurried over and asked with concern, ¡°Fang Zhou, are you alright?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head; he checked his body again and felt better than ever before¡ª the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy that used to pervade his entire body had been locked onto the Golden Core by Ling Xiaoyue. ¡°Right, I had my eyes closed earlier and didn¡¯t pay attention; do you know why she hit me?¡± Fang Zhou asked Han Li. Previously, Ling Xiaoyue would argue but never resort to physical violence¡ªit was her first time laying hands on him, and Fang Zhou had no clue what had upset her. ¡°This¡­¡± Han Li had a faint guess in her mind, but without any evidence, she dared not to speak hastily, so she could only shake her head: ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± ¡°Then forget it.¡± Fang Zhou decided to put the matter aside for now and clear it up when he had the chance later. His clothes were torn, so he had to go back and change. While changing, Fang Zhou felt something was off with his body¡ªit was incredibly light, as if he had limitless strength, and the pent-up power felt like a volcano ready to erupt, eagerly wanting to be released. Fang Zhou was familiar with this sensation¡ªit was what he felt every time after increasing his attributes using his manly dignity, but he hadn¡¯t enhanced anything recently, had he? Fang Zhou was baffled. He opened his Personal Attributes, and was so shocked that he jumped up. Literally jumped up, hitting his head straight into the ceiling and hanging from it. Struggling, he pulled his head out and fell to the floor, rubbing his eyes hard, thinking he had seen wrong. Name: Fang Zhou Realm: Perfect Qi Refining Cultivation Techniques: New Moon Qi, Qi Drawing Decision Skills: Illusion Technique, Hu Lai¡¯s Left Hand, Fireball Technique, Simple and Understandable Swordsmanship Strength: 27 Speed: 24 Body: 21 Spirit: 6 Manly Dignity: 0 Righteous Prestige: 1 What the hell? Fang Zhou sucked in a few breaths of cold air; he could already claim a spot on the global warming contribution list. He remembered that he had only reached minor achievement in Qi Refinement, yet now he had suddenly reached Perfection, and his strength, speed, and constitution had all increased by more than ten points. Only his spirit remained stubbornly in last place, not flipping out like the other three brazen and shameless stats. Did the system freakin¡¯ bug out? Fang Zhou really wanted to drag the system out and give it a good smack to see if something was broken, but alas, that thought could only be a thought¡ªhe couldn¡¯t actually hit his own head, could he? But he really didn¡¯t understand¡ªhow did it suddenly become like this? Could it be that he has been dreaming all this time? Or was it that he fell asleep because the bath was too comfortable? Fang Zhou raised his right hand, which he had injured so badly with a punch that left him bleeding profusely. Now, the wound on his hand had disappeared without a trace, and the hand was completely unscathed. Fang Zhou suddenly threw a punch at the wall beside him, and with a loud bang, a hole instantly appeared in the thick wall. He slowly withdrew his hand and examined it closely in front of his eyes. There was not a single scratch on the back of his hand, not even a break in the skin, and he didn¡¯t feel any pain at all. This kind of strength, this kind of constitution, was definitely beyond what he had before. Fang Zhou lowered his hand and began to silently circulate the New Moon Qi, instantly increasing the amount of refined Spiritual Energy by over tenfold. He guided the Spiritual Energy in its circulation, intending to nourish his body with it, but the Spiritual Energy just passed through without entering, circulating once around his body before returning to the Dantian for storage, without any consumption at all. He realized he no longer needed the nourishment of Spiritual Energy; this body had already completed everything that needed to be done in the Qi Refining Realm, with the viscera, blood, flesh, sinews, and bones all been nourished by Spiritual Energy. Further cultivation of the New Moon Qi could not improve his bodily attributes, so what he needed to do next was to accumulate a large amount of Spiritual Energy to prepare for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. To have leaped from minor Qi Refinement achievement straight to Perfect Qi Refining could be said to have saved Fang Zhou several years of arduous effort, yet he did not feel it was real at all. The feeling was akin to a college graduate, who after years of hard work manages to save up to one hundred thousand, then with an additional five million from parents, buys a house outright. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou realized that his changes must be related to Ling Xiaoyue; perhaps while she was helping to lock down the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy, she also took the opportunity to nourish his body with Spiritual Energy. Fang Zhou still remembered the massive amount of liquid Spiritual Energy she injected into his body, it wasn¡¯t just nourishing, it was more like his body was thoroughly washed and then steeped and marinated. Moreover, when she beat him up, she mentioned that he had used her Spiritual Energy for empowerment, and asked him if her water tasted good. How would I know if it tastes good if I haven¡¯t actually tasted it? Fang Zhou shook his head, always feeling that things were not that simple. After changing his clothes, with a light step, his whole being instantly turned into an afterimage. With whoosh, he vanished from the room, with the wind caused by his speed rattling the two doors. With such a high speed point of 24, Fang Zhou moved like a gust of wind, so fast that he himself was a bit dizzy. Han Li, who had been waiting in the yard, saw Fang Zhou from a distance, but she only saw a few afterimages. The image before her eyes blurred, and Fang Zhou appeared in front of her, his arrival blowing her clothes and hair in disarray. Han Li was startled and exclaimed, ¡°How can you walk so fast?¡± Fang Zhou laughed heartily, ¡°Because I am the man of the joyful wind, let¡¯s go.¡± Seeing the change in Fang Zhou, Han Li became even more convinced of her previous guess ¨C Senior Ling must have indeed performed the empowerment on Fang Zhou. Such treatment was simply too generous. But it seemed that she was not willing; otherwise, why did she start beating people up afterward? But how could the empowerment be successful if she wasn¡¯t willing? Han Li couldn¡¯t figure it out, deciding to suppress her doubts and get ready to go find Ling Xiaoyue with Fang Zhou. However, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t control his walking speed, and with a few swooshes, he ran off without a trace, leaving Han Li, who was chasing after him with all her might, far behind in an instant. Han Li could only chase while sighing to herself that Fang Zhou truly was a man who comes and goes like the wind, living up to the name ¡®man of the joyful wind¡¯. Fang Zhou soon found Ling Xiaoyue, who was inserting her longsword into the ground in front of the temple¡¯s main hall. Upon Fang Zhou¡¯s arrival, Ling Xiaoyue looked up, and their eyes met, both stunned for a moment. A strange feeling emerged in their hearts, as if an invisible thread connected their souls together, enabling them to sense each other¡¯s happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. ¡°Tsck!¡± Ling Xiaoyue gnashed her teeth in displeasure, aware that it was the part of the origin power absorbed by Fang Zhou that was causing this, making the two of them have a feeling of heart-to-heart connection. This feeling was not false, but a real effect, allowing them to sense each other¡¯s emotions at any time, and if delved deeper, even each other¡¯s thoughts could be perceived. Fang Zhou also felt this heart-to-heart connection effect and was immediately surprised. What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t it said the shortest path to a woman¡¯s heart is, well, that thing? I haven¡¯t even touched her, so why can I feel her spirit? Chapter 74: 74. The eldest child who is mentally exhausted Chapter 74: 74. The eldest child who is mentally exhausted The Golden Core was situated right at Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, almost connected to his heart. Even within the ribcage, the Golden Core radiated seven-colored rosy clouds constantly. If anyone could open up Fang Zhou¡¯s chest, they would surely witness the extraordinary sight of his chest emitting seven-colored rosy clouds. Wrapped around the Golden Core was a layer of water-like transparent membrane, which was left by Ling Xiaoyue, specifically to seal the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy of the Golden Core. However, she left a small opening in the membrane, which took Fang Zhou a while to detect. Since the membrane consisted of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Spiritual Energy, Fang Zhou, being of the same origin, could also control it. He manipulated the membrane, enlarging the opening slightly, which caused the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy of the Golden Core to immediately gush out from the gap, turning into a frigid chill that rampaged within Fang Zhou¡¯s body. With his current physique, Fang Zhou had significantly increased his resistance against Yin Cold Spiritual Energy. He didn¡¯t feel frozen but just a slight cold, and quickly grabbed the gourd. The gourd sensed the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy within Fang Zhou¡¯s body and immediately sucked it in, using it as the energy to activate itself, and was ready to be used once more. Yet, Fang Zhou did not rush to use it. As long as this method worked, his next consideration was how to deal with the seven Gourd Brothers. ¡­ Lanruo Temple Ruins At this moment, the white mist within the old site of Lanruo Temple had completely dissipated, and with the loss of the Golden Core, the seven-colored rosy clouds previously radiated by the Tree Demon had also faded away, plunging the entire site of Lanruo Temple back into darkness. The seven Gourd Brothers were currently waiting in the miasma of the backyard for the Tree Demon¡¯s Transformation to complete. The demons and ghosts trapped in Lanruo, sensing an impending threat of disintegration to this small Demon Domain, began to stir restlessly. In the darkness, demonic roars and ghostly wails sounded from time to time, creating a sinister and terrifying atmosphere. The usually mild-tempered eldest among the Gourd Sisters had no time to manage those demons and ghosts seeking to rebel, as her own sisters were each restless. The youngest was clamoring to retrieve her gourd, the second youngest seemed oblivious and wanted to escape, the fourth and fifth squabbled, the third was in a state of self-confinement, and the second was clutching at her thighs, howling in penitence for her past mistakes. The eldest felt like her head was about to explode and could only try to soothe them one by one, but to no avail, as the authoritarian presence she should have had as the eldest sister was not established, leading to her sisters¡¯ disobedience. Even the slightly authoritative third sister, who had returned, was immersed in self-confinement, paying no regard to the noises from outside. This couldn¡¯t go on, the eldest felt it was necessary to assert her authority as the eldest sister. ¡°Stop quarrelling!¡± She shouted at her six sisters: ¡°Everyone quiet down!¡± Except for the self-confining third sister, all of her sisters turned to look at her and then¡­ continued doing whatever they were doing! Eldest sister: ¡°¡­¡± So infuriating, Nai Zi is about to explode, you bunch of naughty younger sisters. The eldest felt she needed to pull out her trump card now, her voice gentle yet threatening: ¡°If you all continue like this, then I¡¯ll summon the eighth sister to make the decisions.¡± The scene went silent. The self-confining third sister suddenly lifted her head, advising, ¡°Eldest sister, don¡¯t be impulsive!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± ¡°Big sis, don¡¯t mess around.¡± ¡°Let the eighth sister keep sleeping!¡± ¡°Little Eight will only make things worse.¡± The other Calabash Brothers hurriedly followed to persuade, even Little Seven, who was usually fearless, had a look on his face that said ¡®dare to summon Little Eight, and I¡¯ll show you death.¡¯ Mentioning Little Eight, aside from the eldest brother, every one of the Calabash Brothers had an apprehensive look. The Eldest Brother smiled and said, ¡°Then will you listen?¡± The Calabash Brothers nodded in unison, anything is fine as long as you don¡¯t summon Little Eight. At this time, Third Brother asked again, ¡°Big Sister, when can Grandpa complete his Transformation?¡± Looking back, the Eldest Brother glanced at the huge shadow of the Tree Demon¡¯s body hidden in the darkness, with occasional sounds of trees rubbing against each other, a sign that the Tree Demon was in the process of Transforming. The Eldest Brother nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s almost done. Once Grandpa completes his Transformation, we can take back the Golden Core and the calabashes.¡± While she was comforting her sisters, deep in her heart the Eldest Brother was full of serious concerns. Transformation literally means transforming into human shape, which is an extremely arduous step for demons; many fail at this stage and end up half-dead. Most humanoid demons people typically see don¡¯t actually Transform, they simply use magic to alter their appearance; they are still demons by nature. True Transformation is completely reconstructing oneself to resemble a human, inside and out, that is what counts as Transformation. The reason why demons transform into humans lies in a reluctant choice. The innate abilities of demons set a limit on their cultivation level ¡ª once reached, further cultivation is impossible and their power will fade with age. Humans are different; they are creative creatures capable of systematizing the methods of cultivation, creating a variety of magical Cultivation Methods that help them break through their innate limits and achieve greater heights. Therefore, once a demon reaches the limit of their abilities, there are only two options: to create their own Cultivation Method or learn human cultivation techniques to break through their talent ceiling. Demons cultivate based on instinct, instinctively absorbing Spiritual Energy and Sun and Moon Essence, with many unable to even speak human languages or read ¡ª how could they create Cultivation Methods? Throughout history, demons that managed to create their own techniques were one in a million, prodigies among prodigies, extremely rare to the point of being negligible. Thus, for most demons, the only path left is to learn human techniques, and to do that, they need a human body; they must Transform, or else even if they learned the techniques, they wouldn¡¯t be able to practice them. So for demons, the path of Transformation is a path taken with no other choice. The Tree Demon originally had no plans to Transform, especially not now, as its innate potential goes far beyond a Golden Core. But now with the Golden Core stolen, the Tree Demon had no choice but to Transform and take it back; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be able to move half a step away from this place; this is also a natural weakness of plant demons. And the Tree Demon¡¯s decision to Transform at such a bad time would seriously damage its foundation. It had already taken a shortcut to form its Golden Core, which was unstable, and now it¡¯s been damaged once again, which made its future journey even more challenging. The Eldest Brother was well aware of this and felt heavy-hearted. She and her six sisters shared life with the Tree Demon; if it were to fall, all seven sisters would be doomed as well. Suddenly, from within the darkness, there came the sound of trees splitting which made all seven sisters turn their eyes subconsciously. The noise lasted for a moment and then ceased. Not long after, a middle-aged man with black hair appeared before the seven sisters, standing on a huge leaf, flying in the air. This middle-aged man was the Tree Demon, experiencing its first Transformation, very unused to this humanoid body with stiff movements and expressions. The Eldest Brother, along with her sisters, bowed deeply: ¡°Grandpa!¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a wave of its hand, the Tree Demon sent seven huge leaves flying towards them, lifting the seven sisters up. ¡°My children, follow me, and let¡¯s take back the Golden Core!¡± The Tree Demon, leading the seven sisters, shot into the night sky and disappeared. Chapter 75: 75. Calabash Brothers Save Grandpa Chapter 75: 75. Calabash Brothers Save Grandpa Fang Zhou finally got to see Ling Xiaoyue set up the Sword Array, but sadly the process was too concise, completely incomprehensible. She lay atop the canopy and with a slight wave of her hand, the Longsword stuck in the ground emitted dozens of streaks of light, covering half of the grounds of Lanruo Temple¡¯s branch courtyard, and then it was over, without even the cheap effect of fifty cents. Yet, Han Li was filled with admiration: ¡°Back when I was at Qingyun Sect, Master had to prepare for several days in advance to set up an array, and the process would take a whole day without interruption, or all efforts would be in vain. Senior Ling, with a mere gesture, has completed the task. It truly reflects a return to simplicity and extreme brilliance.¡± Is she really that amazing, or do I feel like you¡¯re just kissing up? Even though it¡¯s quite far away, Ling Xiaoyue could definitely hear it, and Fang Zhou has already sensed through their mental connection that she¡¯s in a very cheerful mood. Such a shallow woman, flattered by a few words of flattery, can¡¯t you hold back a little dignity? ¡°Disciple.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice came from the canopy: ¡°The Tree Demon will surely head straight for you once it arrives, but don¡¯t worry, your master will handle it. Just concentrate on dealing with those seven little demons.¡± Fang Zhou shouted towards the canopy: ¡°I got it, just be careful, and don¡¯t let that Tree Demon escape.¡± Fang Zhou feared Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s tendency to allow creatures to escape would come into play, letting the Tree Demon get away. ¡°Impudent disciple, are you questioning your master¡¯s capabilities? Are you itching for another lesson?¡± Ling Xiaoyue plucked a leaf and tossed it down towards Fang Zhou. Thrown by her, the leaf was more lethal than a throwing knife, whizzing by so fast it was nearly invisible. Fang Zhou quickly turned and ran, as the leaf pierced the ground behind him, lining the floor with a row. Escaping outside, Han Li also came out, expressing her concerns: ¡°Fang Zhou, the more I think about it, those seven demons are not easy to deal with¡­¡± Fang Zhou smiled: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already thought of a plan.¡± After finding out that the gourds could be used normally, Fang Zhou came up with two plans that should be effective. He decided to implement Plan A first, and if it fails, then move to Plan B. The likelihood of success was quite high. After hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s two plans, Han Li looked confused: ¡°Can this really work?¡± She felt both plans were far-fetched. Unless those seven demons were foolish, how could they ever fall for this? Fang Zhou reassured her: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, both plans have an eighty percent chance of success.¡± Han Li asked puzzledly: ¡°Why so?¡± Fang Zhou gave a confident smile: ¡°Because Calabash Brothers rescue Grandpa!¡± Han Li: ???? ¡­ The Tree Demon, with her seven sisters, glided through the night sky on a leaf, heading straight for the Lanruo branch courtyard. After swallowing the Golden Core, the seven sisters could no longer sense it, but the Tree Demon still had a clear sensation, as that was its possession after all. On the way, the Tree Demon suddenly said to the seven sisters: ¡°Once we arrive, if the Golden Core is not on that female cultivator, you all go block her, and I¡¯ll take back the Golden Core before dealing with her.¡± The eldest was startled. That female cultivator was a match for their Granny, even stronger than Yan Chixia from a year ago. They, the seven sisters, stood no chance at all. Having barely survived their encounter with Yan Chixia a year ago, facing this formidable female cultivator would surely put the sisters in mortal danger. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The eldest hurriedly said, ¡°Granny, we sisters are still young, it¡¯s better for me alone to¡­¡± ¡°Not enough!¡± The Tree Demon interrupted her: ¡°Alone, you are far from enough. You all must go together to buy some time, and if you really cannot hold on, call for the youngest.¡± The eldest¡¯s heart sunk, she said hoarsely, ¡°Understood.¡± Turning to look at her sisters, all six displayed different expressions, the seventh seemed to want to say something, but the sixth, anxious, covered her mouth. The eldest felt a bitter taste in her heart. Although the seven sisters shared a body and blood with Granny, in the end, they weren¡¯t her own kin. Furthermore, most monsters are emotionally detached; the old man¡¯s approach is understandable. Unfortunately, due to their origins, they have no other choice. Lanruo Temple is now within reach. The Tree Demon, accompanied by its seven sisters, flew to Lanruo Temple, not rushing in but closing its eyes to sense the whereabouts of the Golden Core. ¡°If the female cultivator makes a move, hold her back.¡± The Tree Demon opened its eyes and shot rapidly towards a certain location in Lanruo Temple, moving so fast it was barely visible to the naked eye. Fang Zhou and Han Li were right there, conversing. Suddenly, a chill rose in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart. Turning his head quickly, he saw a shadow flying towards him from the sky, extremely fast. ¡°Shameless thief, return my Golden Core!¡± Even before its arrival, the deafening sound waves had already thundered through. Fang Zhou recognized the voice of the Tree Demon, and his exceptional vision allowed him to see clearly the appearance of the Tree Demon¡ªa middle-aged male with black hair like ink, exuding an imposing aura. With just one glance, the Tree Demon¡¯s presence locked onto Fang Zhou, rendering him stiff and immobile. This was the vast disparity in strength; even after becoming stronger, Fang Zhou could not contend. However, Fang Zhou was not overly fearful in his heart because Ling Xiaoyue had said she would handle this problem. She had never joked about such life-or-death matters. As expected, just as the Tree Demon flew into Lanruo Temple, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s laughter followed closely behind. ¡°Little sapling, looking for trouble with my disciple, did you ask for my permission as her master? Come here to me.¡± The Tree Demon, which was flying towards Fang Zhou, suddenly turned uncontrollably in the air. It quickly regained control of its body, but had already entered the range of Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s Sword Array and could no longer escape. The enraged roar of the Tree Demon followed: ¡°Using such despicable and shameless methods to trap me, you have no face!¡± ¡°Hahaha, this is called strategical deception; there¡¯s a dog hole left over there, crawl out if you can!¡± ¡°Ah ah ah, I¡¯m enraged to death!¡± Ling Xiaoyue and the Tree Demon started fighting again inside the Sword Array, accompanied by all kinds of trash talk. Of course, most of the name-calling was coming from Ling Xiaoyue, with the Tree Demon howling furiously in response. Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief; now that the Tree Demon was here, those seven ¡®Cauldron Boys¡¯ were sure to have arrived too. He exchanged a glance with Han Li and they hurriedly rushed forward. Outside Lanruo Temple, the seven sisters were utterly befuddled; this seemed a bit different from what had been agreed upon earlier. Didn¡¯t the old man say he would retrieve the Golden Core, asking them to hold off that female cultivator? Why had he been so eager to confront the female cultivator himself? Could he have been blinded by anger? The fourth sister said anxiously, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and help the old man!¡± ¡°Hold on, don¡¯t be rash!¡± The eldest sister quickly stopped her, ¡°We can¡¯t intervene in the battle between the old man and the female cultivator; let¡¯s retrieve the Golden Core first, then think of a way to give it to the old man.¡± The fifth sister asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the Golden Core?¡± The eldest sister looked towards the second sister, ¡°It must be inside this Lanruo Temple, have the second sister locate it.¡± ¡°No need to search,¡± the second sister suddenly spoke, ¡°It¡¯s already here.¡± The back door of Lanruo Temple was abruptly opened, and Fang Zhou and Han Li came out, immediately spotting the seven sisters supported by tree leaves in the air. Chapter 76: 76. Yazi doesnt seem very smart. Chapter 76: 76. Yazi doesn¡¯t seem very smart. Upon seeing Fang Zhou appear, the fury was evident on the beautiful and heroic face of the third sister as she prepared to rush down and pick a fight. The eldest sister quickly stopped her: ¡°Third sister, don¡¯t be rash!¡± ¡°Big sister, it¡¯s him who swallowed the Golden Core; killing him would allow us to retrieve it.¡± The third sister said anxiously and tried to bypass the eldest sister to rush downwards. Seeing that she wouldn¡¯t be dissuaded, the eldest sister¡¯s tone grew stern: ¡°Have the wounds on your hands stopped hurting?¡± The third sister shuddered and immediately ceased her movements. Her steel bones, severed by Yan Chixia a year ago and once again by Fang Zhou¡¯s Sword Box, had almost become a psychological shadow. Her gaze settled on the Sword Box behind Fang Zhou, a fierce light flickering in her eyes, but she refrained from charging forward. The eldest sister finally managed to halt the third sister¡¯s advance, only to see the seventh sister also itching to dash downwards: ¡°Big bad guy, return my magical gourd to me!¡± The eldest sister quickly called out to the sixth sister: ¡°Sixth sister, stop little seven.¡± The sixth sister hurriedly dragged the seventh sister back. But the second sister spoke solemnly: ¡°Big sister, leave it to me. I want to retrieve the Golden Core personally and make up for my mistake!¡± You¡¯re just a bottom-tier fighter, don¡¯t add to the chaos. The eldest sister felt a headache coming on. The fourth and fifth sisters also appeared eager: ¡°Big sister, let us do it.¡± ¡°All of you, stop messing around. Listen to me, don¡¯t be impulsive, or I will call out the eighth sister.¡± The eldest sister had no choice but to invoke the eighth sister¡¯s name once more. The six sisters immediately became quiet. The eldest sister felt exhausted, for as an older sister, her authority seemed even less than that of the youngest one. So frustrating, Nai Zi is about to explode with anger. Fang Zhou and Han Li were both a little stunned. Upon arriving, they had been ready to face a joint assault by the seven sisters, yet what they saw resembled internal strife among them. What¡¯s happening here? The eldest sister was not opposed to overwhelming Fang Zhou in a group attack to retrieve the Golden Core and the gourd, but this duo has an arsenal of wondrous spells at their disposal; they can become invisible, neutralizing her swamp, counter the third sister¡¯s Sword Box, and even turn the control of their vines against them. With such unpredictable spells, there might even be more trump cards up their sleeves, so the eldest sister had to act cautiously. As the eldest sister, it was her duty to ensure the safety of her siblings without exception. While the eldest sister pondered how to deal with Fang Zhou, she saw him pull out the seventh sister¡¯s gourd, aim it at the seven sisters, and shout, ¡°I order you, come to me!¡± The scene fell silent, the precious gourd unresponsive. The seven sisters showed expressions ranging from mockery to amusement. The seventh sister, in particular, began to laugh loudly, clutching her stomach: ¡°Ha-ha, what a fool, he can¡¯t even use it and won¡¯t believe it. Little gourd, quickly help me catch¡­¡± Before she could finish, Fang Zhou hurriedly put away the gourd, keeping it out of the seventh sister¡¯s sight. The seventh sister was taken aback; without seeing the gourd, she was unable to control it. Fang Zhou shook his head, an expression of regret on his face, and said to the eldest sister, ¡°Fighting and killing really goes against the mindset of us Cultivators. How about we engage in a friendly contest instead?¡± The eldest sister knitted her brows, ¡°What kind of contest?¡± With a sincere tone, Fang Zhou proposed: ¡°If you seven sisters are able to defeat me one-on-one, I will return the Golden Core and the gourd to you, and then leave Wild Tomb Ridge immediately, never to step foot here again. If you lose, the Golden Core is mine, and you must also tell me how to use the gourd and promise never to attempt to take it back.¡± Upon hearing this, the eldest sister felt there must be a catch. ¡°` But she had lived in Lanruo Temple since she was born and really couldn¡¯t be considered as having seen much of the world or having a wealth of experience, so she couldn¡¯t immediately sense where the problem lay. She thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°If you lose, how can you guarantee you¡¯ll return the items to me?¡± Fang Zhou smiled and said, ¡°I can take a Heart Demon Oath, of course, you all need to do the same.¡± The eldest sister asked doubtfully, ¡°Are you really willing to return the Golden Core and the gourds to us?¡± Fang Zhou shrugged, ¡°We came to Lanruo Temple for an adventure. The Golden Core and the gourds were unexpected gains, losing them means little, and we can¡¯t even use the gourds anyway, so why not gamble with them?¡± The eldest sister still felt something was off but could only say to Fang Zhou, ¡°We need to discuss it.¡± The seven sisters huddled together, with the eldest sister wanting to lead her younger sisters to pinpoint the issue, only to see that they all seemed eager to try, like the attention-loving fourth and fifth sisters and the excitement-loving little seventh, finding this one-on-one novel way of playing right up their alley. The third sister, eager to avenge that sword strike, couldn¡¯t wait to go one-on-one with Fang Zhou, with only the sixth sister looking scared, ¡°Don¡¯t count me in, okay?¡± She, like the little seventh sister, enjoyed fun and games, but was always averse to dangerous situations. The eldest sister had no choice but to pin her last hopes on the second sister, ¡°Second sister, do you think there¡¯s a problem?¡± The second sister was always clever and definitely able to spot the problem. As expected, the second sister spoke gravely, ¡°That man is conniving as a ghost; surely, there is deceit involved. Let me take him on personally, and he will assuredly be captured.¡± The eldest sister smacked her forehead hard; this second sister was quite the worry, completely oblivious to her own limitations. The eldest sister couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Are you really going to agree?¡± All sisters, except for the sixth sister, shouted in unison, ¡°Of course!¡± Forget it, the eldest sister initially felt that if there was danger, she should face it, so as not to put her sisters at risk; it was best for her to deal with Fang Zhou. ¡­ While the seven sisters were discussing in their huddle, Han Li was very anxious, feeling certain that they would not agree. After all, Fang Zhou¡¯s suggestion was simply too frivolous, and any loose Cultivator with some time in the Cultivation World would not agree to such an absurd one-on-one challenge. The Cultivation World was perilous; when facing an enemy, it was common practice for everyone to stand together, speaking of righteousness and morality. If they didn¡¯t agree, then it was time for plan B, which, in Han Li¡¯s opinion, was an insult to intelligence. Soon, the seven sisters had made their decision, and Han Li was prepared for them to turn hostile. The eldest sister announced, ¡°We¡¯ve agreed.¡± Han Li: ??? Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Are you seven monsters simpletons? How could you be so foolish to fall for such an obvious trap? But the reality was right in front of her eyes, and Han Li had no choice but to accept it, though she was utterly baffled. Since they had all agreed, Fang Zhou and the gourd children each took the Heart Demon Oath. If Fang Zhou lost, he would have to return the Golden Core and the gourds and leave Wild Tomb Ridge; if the gourd children lost, they would have to reveal how to use the gourds and promise not to reclaim the Golden Core. Whoever breaks the oath would immediately die violently; to ensure fairness in the competition, those who do not follow the rules would also be considered oath breakers. Fang Zhou set a rule that he would choose a gourd child to fight one-on-one inside the temple, while the rest could only wait outside for the result and not watch. The eldest sister objected to this rule, fearing Fang Zhou would play tricks inside the temple. But Fang Zhou argued convincingly, ¡°I only have so many spells, and I have to face all seven of you; what if you learn them all?¡± The gourd children felt it made sense, and the eldest sister had the second sister use her thousand-mile eyes to check the temple interior for any traps Fang Zhou might have set. After the second sister reported no abnormalities in the temple, the eldest sister agreed to let Fang Zhou choose his opponent for the duel. However, the eldest sister also put forward numerous conditions, insisting that Fang Zhou must not use traps, must not use the Sword Box, must fight fairly face-to-face, and must not seek help from others. Chapter 77: 77. Suddenly had an Opening Aperture Chapter 77: 77. Suddenly had an Opening Aperture Seeing Fang Zhou about to choose his opponents for a duel, the eldest sister thought he would definitely pick the sixth sister and the seventh sister, who lost her gourd first. These two sisters are now the weakest in combat and would be easy to deal with. The eldest sister whispered to the two, ¡°If he chooses you first, just admit defeat right away. Leave the dangerous tasks to your big sister.¡± ¡°(?£þ?£þ?) Okay!¡± ¡°(*£þ¦ä£þ) No way!¡± The sixth sister and Little Seven gave different responses. The eldest sister gave the sixth sister a look, who immediately hugged Little Seven tightly. Little Seven began to struggle, ¡°Let me go, Sixth Sister, I want to get my gourd back, you can¡¯t leave me out of this!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a game.¡± ¡°But it clearly is!¡± After resolving the internal conflict, the eldest sister then turned towards Fang Zhou, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°It¡¯s your choice.¡± She had a feeling something was amiss but couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. Since the Heart Demon Oath had been taken, it was too late to go back. The eldest sister could only hope that Fang Zhou would choose her first so she could take him down herself and take her sisters back home safely. Fang Zhou let out a deep sigh of relief, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. He never expected that this whimsical plan could actually succeed. These seven gourd girls really were monsters who hadn¡¯t seen the world; if they left Wild Tomb Ridge, they would easily be deceived by others. Fang Zhou raised a hand and pointed at the second sister, ¡°You¡¯re first, come with me.¡± The second sister pointed at herself, ¡°Me?¡± The rest of the sisters were taken aback; they never expected Fang Zhou to choose the second sister first. Though she was weak, she wasn¡¯t easy to handle. The second sister, already rubbing her hands together in anticipation, excitedly ran out and followed Fang Zhou into Lanruo Temple. Han Li stayed at the entrance to prevent the remaining gourd girls from peeking inside. Once inside the gate, there was a side courtyard with a spacious open area suitable for combat. Fang Zhou turned around to look at the second sister, who was eagerly staring back, ready to make a move. She was heavily self-reproaching for being deceived by Fang Zhou and was desperate to defeat him, retrieve the Golden Core, and make up for her mistake. Just as the second sister was about to make her move, Fang Zhou suddenly said, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± He took out the gourd and aimed it at the second sister: ¡°Let me try one more time to see if it can be used.¡± The second sister blinked in confusion and then chuckled, reminding him, ¡°Don¡¯t waste time; this is Little Seven¡¯s treasure. No one but her can use it. Come on, let¡¯s have a good fight. This time I won¡¯t let you¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Fang Zhou had already smiled and said, ¡°Capture!¡± The second sister¡¯s eyes widened as she was pulled towards the gourd; she instinctively threw out a vine, trying to entangle something to hold herself back. Fang Zhou casually threw an Illusion Technique at her, and the second sister, caught in the illusion, was immediately sucked into the gourd. He shook the gourd and breathed a sigh of relief. The gourd was a bit slow in capturing people, and its force wasn¡¯t quite strong enough¡ª even the second sister had time to react. That¡¯s why Fang Zhou chose the second sister first; he was afraid she¡¯d use her thousand-mile eyes to see that he could use the gourd. If the other gourd sisters were on guard, it would be much harder to capture them. After dealing with the second sister, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t rush to go out. Instead, he lifted his leg and stomped heavily on the ground. With a bang, he created a big hole. Outside Lanruo Temple, the six gourd sisters were eagerly anticipating, hearing the noises inside and feeling that the fight must be fierce. It was a pity they couldn¡¯t see from outside. At this moment, the eldest sister finally realized, belatedly, why Fang Zhou chose the second sister first¡ªit must have been because of her thousand-mile eyes. Without it, the remaining six sisters wouldn¡¯t be able to see what was happening inside clearly. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The battle inside lasted for a while before coming to an end. Fang Zhou emerged looking disheveled, his clothes covered in dust. Had the second child lost? All six sisters were shocked, with the eldest sister asking anxiously, ¡°Where is my sister?¡± Fang Zhou wiped the corner of his mouth and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she is not dead, just passed out.¡± The seven sisters could sense each other¡¯s life and death, and upon checking, the eldest did not feel the second sister was dead, just that she couldn¡¯t sense her consciousness. This kind of feeling would mean she was either taken into the gourd or unconscious. Since Fang Zhou could not use the gourd, the only other possibility was that she had indeed passed out. The eldest sister breathed a sigh of relief. Although her second sister was defeated, she was a bit weaker and it was not a big deal. Fang Zhou then said, ¡°Next up is¡­¡± ¡°Me! Pick me!¡± The fourth, fifth, and seventh sisters all raised their hands, bouncing up and down, almost like kids fighting over computers in an internet cafe. The third sister stepped forward and said coldly, ¡°It should be me.¡± But Fang Zhou pointed at the eldest sister, ¡°You¡¯ll be the second one.¡± This eldest sister was slightly more cautious than the other gourd children and posed the highest threat. It was best to deal with her first. The fourth, fifth, and seventh sisters were a bit disappointed. The third sister looked at the eldest, who was frowning in deep thought and mumbling to herself, ¡°I was wrong, we should not have agreed from the start.¡± The third sister asked confusedly, ¡°Big sister, what are you saying?¡± The eldest turned to her and whispered, ¡°Third sister, if I lose, no matter who he chooses next, you must all admit defeat. Then, you take our sisters away, got it?¡± ¡°Why?¡± asked the third sister in surprise. The eldest seemed to have a moment of clarity, ¡°We¡¯ve been deceived. This guy must have a way to target each of us individually. If I lose, you all won¡¯t stand a chance, and in the end, we¡¯ll all end up in his hands.¡± ¡°What should we do now¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late, the Heart Demon Oath has already been made, we cannot break it. I¡¯ll go in and save the second sister, just remember what I said. If I lose, you must take our sisters back.¡± Seeing the earnest look on the eldest sister¡¯s face, the third sister nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± Only then did the eldest sister step out and follow Fang Zhou into the temple. Once in the side courtyard, the eldest sister searched around but did not find her second sister, her expression changed slightly, ¡°Where is my sister?¡± ¡°She¡¯s resting in my room,¡± Fang Zhou replied offhandedly, then took out his gourd and aimed it at the eldest sister, ¡°Let me try again and see if I can use it.¡± A glint flashed in the eldest sister¡¯s eyes as she saw Fang Zhou with the gourd. She stomped her foot hard on the ground, fracturing it instantly as countless cracks spread out like a spider web. Fang Zhou quickly steadied himself, only to see several paving stones flying straight at him. He swiftly dodged. The eldest sister was already following closely behind the stones, shooting towards Fang Zhou like a cannonball and landing a heavy punch on him. Fang Zhou raised his hand to catch her fist, and with a loud ¡®snap¡¯, a visible ripple bloomed where their fists met, and the air exploded. The floor under Fang Zhou¡¯s feet cracked again, as two large pits were stomped out. But he had firmly grasped the eldest sister¡¯s fist. The eldest sister¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°You¡­ caught it?!¡± From her birth until now, aside from not daring to strike against their Grandpa, only Yan Chixia had caught her punch, and even he didn¡¯t catch it directly but used a spell. Fang Zhou was the first one to catch her punch barehanded. Chapter 78: 78. The next one Chapter 78: 78. The next one Hearing Big Sister¡¯s unbelievable words, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help wanting to laugh. Bullshit, if he couldn¡¯t catch a strength of 27, he might as well admit defeat. But Big Sister¡¯s strength really wasn¡¯t hot air; one punch made his whole arm go numb. Whoever marries this kind of woman in the future is really out of luck, she¡¯d crush the bed. Fang Zhou winked at the dazed Big Sister: ¡°Why are you spacing out? Keep going.¡± Realizing the situation, Big Sister raised her other fist, but in a blur, Fang Zhou¡¯s figure was suddenly lost. Fang Zhou had instantly moved to Big Sister¡¯s back, and he hadn¡¯t even used the Qi Gathering Technique, relying solely on a speed of 24 points. Big Sister¡¯s pose was a bit tempting, giving Fang Zhou an impulse to use Thousand-Year Kill on her. If the person who had scrubbed Fang Zhou¡¯s back before had a figure like Big Sister¡¯s, Fang Zhou definitely couldn¡¯t restrain himself. He pulled out his treasure and aimed at Big Sister: ¡°Capture!¡± By the time Big Sister realized Fang Zhou had moved behind her, it was too late; a strong suction force pulled her backward. Because the distance was too close, and Big Sister had no leverage, she didn¡¯t even have time to turn gigantic before being sucked into the gourd. That most troublesome one was finally sorted out; the rest no longer posed a worry. Fang Zhou shook the gourd and continued to stir up some noise. When Fang Zhou reappeared at the entrance, Han Li, who was waiting patiently, let out a sigh of relief. She hadn¡¯t expected the two demons to be resolved so easily. Seeing Fang Zhou come out, the remaining Calabash siblings looked at each other. It was one thing for the second sister to fail; after all, her strength was weak, but Big Sister¡¯s failure was beyond the younger sisters¡¯ expectations. Big Sister¡¯s combat strength was said to be the strongest; if even she lost, how could the rest continue fighting? S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Fang Zhou didn¡¯t seem to be in great shape either; his clothes were torn and tattered, with multiple abrasions on his body and a clear trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. The sisters all looked to the third sister, for her to make the decision. In terms of authority, the third sister was even higher than Big Sister, and the sisters feared her slightly more. Fang Zhou also pointed to the third sister: ¡°Your Big Sister has also passed out, you¡¯re the third one up.¡± The third sister remained silent; she recalled what Big Sister had said to her before going in. Should she admit defeat? No! The third sister lifted her head, her face showing determination. Big Sister, perhaps you were right; there must be deceit inside, but you overlooked one point. And that is, I am stronger than you. I will definitely defeat this man and rescue you and the second sister. The third sister showed a reassuring smile to her remaining siblings: ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Then she strode into the temple. A fierce commotion of battle came from inside the temple, and the four siblings waited anxiously. Soon after, they saw Fang Zhou limping out, and the third sister was nowhere to be seen. The fifth sister turned pale and murmured to herself, ¡°How could this be¡­ Even the third sister lost?¡± The fourth sister, however, as if discovering a new continent, pointed at Fang Zhou and exclaimed, ¡°He¡¯s almost done for.¡± The siblings looked and indeed, Fang Zhou was severely injured; not only was he limping, but his body was covered in blood, and one hand hung unnaturally, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. The sisters suddenly regained their confidence. With the efforts of the three older sisters, their enemy was already gravely injured, just needing a final push to be toppled. Fang Zhou, with no strength left, raised his hand and said, ¡°Next, anyone of you will do!¡± The fifth sister hesitated, but the fourth sister and the youngest argued over who should go in first, with the fourth sister ultimately winning due to her seniority. She walked towards Fang Zhou, full of pride; she would be the hero, defeating the fearsome enemy and rescuing the three elder sisters. Reaching Fang Zhou¡¯s side, the fourth sister even extended a hand to pat his shoulder: ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll show mercy later, hahaha.¡± Fang Zhou was slapped askew and nearly fell over. The two entered the temple together, and minutes later, Han Li dashed in and carried out the barely conscious Fang Zhou on her back, while the fourth child, like her three sisters, disappeared without a trace. Fang Zhou raised his trembling hand, pointing at the three sisters: ¡°Next¡­ the next one.¡± He seemed to have no energy left to speak. The fifth child immediately twisted her mouth in anger: ¡°That idiot Fourth, couldn¡¯t even handle this.¡± ¡°I-I-It¡¯s my turn!¡± The seventh child struggled to rush out but was tightly held back by the sixth child. The fifth child said to the two of them: ¡°You two stay put right here, your sister will go snatch back the gourd for you, and bring them all back while I¡¯m at it.¡± The fifth child charged into the temple with a torrent of rage, but inside it was quiet, with no signs of battle. The sixth child and the seventh child finally felt something was amiss, as their sisters disappeared one by one, leaving only the two youngest. The two sisters clung to each other, shuddering; the temple¡¯s great doors were like the gaping maw of a monster, engulfing their sisters one after another. The sixth child tugged at the seventh child: ¡°Let¡¯s run away, Seventh.¡± The seventh child hesitated: ¡°But, our sisters are all inside, what should we do?¡± The sixth child wore a pained expression: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± As they spoke, Fang Zhou emerged once again. This time he walked out on his own; although covered in blood, his limbs were intact and his spirit was full of vigor, clearly unharmed. With just the two youngest left, Fang Zhou lost interest in tricking them further and lifted the gourd, aiming at them directly. The seventh child cried out in distress: ¡°My little gourd!¡± The sixth child, however, hurriedly grabbed the seventh child¡¯s hand and turned tail to run. They hadn¡¯t run far when a strong suction force tugged them back. The sixth child hugged her sister, and countless wooden filaments sprung from her body, wrapping around both of them; in a blink of an eye, they transformed into a large gourd. This large gourd was instantly sucked into the precious gourd. ¡°Finally sorted out.¡± Fang Zhou let out a deep sigh of relief and his shoulders slumped down. Although there wasn¡¯t much physical exertion, he had been on edge, fearing any slip-up during the process. Fortunately, the Calabash Kids cooperated, one by one they delivered themselves, and now all were sucked into the gourd. Han Li leaned in; she had been an observer throughout the entire process, still feeling a bit incredulous at this point. The seven monsters each possessed unique abilities and were exceptionally tricky to deal with. Han Li had been at a loss for ideas on how to handle them. Yet she hadn¡¯t expected that Fang Zhou would resolve the issue with such a simple and almost foolish strategy. ¡°What¡¯s with the blood on you?¡± Han Li asked, puzzled. ¡°Just something a monk conjured.¡± The blood on Fang Zhou¡¯s body was from a monk inside the gourd, drawn by Fang Zhou for the ruse. His disguise was quite amateurish, but fortunately, his acting skills were on point, and the Calabash Kids, not the most experienced of monsters, were hoodwinked from start to finish. Han Li hesitated for a moment, then asked, ¡°If you accidentally lost, would you really return the Golden Core and the gourd to them?¡± The Golden Core was already connected to Fang Zhou¡¯s heart and could not be removed. Fang Zhou, however, had sworn the Heart Demon Oath to return the Golden Core if he lost; wasn¡¯t this tantamount to wagering his own life? Fang Zhou laughed heartily: ¡°Return it, of course, why not? But I never said when I would return it. Even if I lost, returning it after ten years is still returning it, right?¡± Han Li opened her mouth but realized that the monsters had not specified a time for Fang Zhou to return the artifacts. But Fang Zhou was well aware that such verbal tricks could only deceive the Calabash Kids, who were inexperienced monsters. Real experienced monsters could neither be fooled this way, nor would they understand the concepts of benevolence and morality ¡ª they simply couldn¡¯t grasp it. Chapter 79: 79. You really are a clever little thing Chapter 79: 79. You really are a clever little thing Fang Zhou wanted to use his consciousness to enter the gourd to check on the situation of the seven gourd children. But then he thought better of it. Although he could use this gourd because of his Golden Core, it was actually an item belonging to the seventh child, and she could use it too. So now, recklessly entering the gourd might be dangerous. Better to wait until they had left Wild Tomb Ridge. The sky was gradually brightening, marking the end to this long night. Fang Zhou and Han Li came to the outside of the Sword Array to find the Tree Demon pressed to the ground, immobilized by the enlarged wine pot, while Ling Xiaoyue was lying on top of the pot. The two didn¡¯t dare get too close and could only watch from a distance. Fang Zhou saw a faint green mist emanating from the Tree Demon¡¯s body, carrying a rich and fresh scent of trees, feeling just like a walk in the woods after rain. This faint green mist coming off the Tree Demon was slowly drifting towards the opening of the wine pot, then being absorbed into it. It seemed the battle had been decided. The Tree Demon and Ling Xiaoyue were originally evenly matched, but now that the Tree Demon had lost its Golden Core and had hastily transformed, its strength had severely diminished, so it was normal for Ling Xiaoyue to defeat it. Ling Xiaoyue waved to Fang Zhou and Han Li: ¡°Come on over, it won¡¯t bite now.¡± Out of curiosity, the two approached to take a closer look. When the Tree Demon saw Fang Zhou, it glared at him furiously: ¡°Shameless thief, return my Golden Core!!¡± ¡°Are you sure it won¡¯t bite?¡± Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Many dog owners say that, but after you get bitten they claim it was because you provoked it.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°You could give it a try.¡± Fang Zhou was very interested and immediately started to get busy. He caught a mouse from the temple, tied it to a stick, and extended it toward the Tree Demon. Seeing what Fang Zhou had brought, Han Li was bemused: ¡°A Golden Core Demon wouldn¡¯t be scared of something like this.¡± Seeing the mouse presented before it, the Tree Demon screamed in horror: ¡°Take it away, quickly take it away!¡± Han Li: ¡­ She felt her worldview starting to crumble; a Golden Core Demon was actually afraid of mice. But after giving it some thought, even though it was a Golden Core Demon, it seemed to be male, so being scared of mice was normal. Facing the mouse, the Tree Demon struggled desperately, but the enormous wine pot on its back didn¡¯t budge an inch. The Tree Demon reached out to swat the mouse away, only managing a feeble flail that did nothing to the pest. Fang Zhou wondered: ¡°Why does it look so listless and weak?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mouth curved into a slight smirk, fairly bragging: ¡°Its demonic power has been locked down by me. Right now, it¡¯s weaker than an untrained child.¡± Fang Zhou asked again: ¡°So when can it be completely dealt with?¡± Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand: ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you already? It can be refined to death in three days.¡± ¡°Three days?¡± Fang Zhou frowned; if it required three days, wouldn¡¯t his mission fail? ¡°Isn¡¯t there a faster way? You¡¯re not slacking off, are you?¡± Faced with her disciple¡¯s suspicion, Ling Xiaoyue immediately got annoyed. ¡°Ah, what do you know? What I¡¯m doing is meticulous work that requires patience. This Tree Demon has absorbed who knows how many humans and beasts, its body filled with Innate Yin Yang Qi, it can¡¯t be killed without refining away these energies.¡± So it¡¯s that difficult? Fang Zhou looked down at the Tree Demon, now appearing completely at the mercy of others. Wouldn¡¯t it be over if he just chopped off its dog-head? Could it actually grow back again? But Ling Xiaoyue is the authority on this matter. Since she said it can¡¯t be killed until the Innate Yin Yang Qi is refined and dissolved, it must not be as simple as beheading. Fang Zhou pondered, an unclear idea surfacing in his mind. He looked up at Ling Xiaoyue and asked, ¡°Is this guy male or female?¡± Trees shouldn¡¯t have genders, right? How come after cultivating into a spirit, it has the appearance of a man. Ling Xiaoyue, however, was starting to get impatient: ¡°You little brat, why so many questions? Either stay aside or you try to handle it?¡± Aren¡¯t you the expert at this? What¡¯s with the ¡®you try to handle it¡¯? Fang Zhou thought better of speaking out loud, lest he provoke Ling Xiaoyue further. Han Li, standing nearby, chimed in just in time to explain the Tree Demon¡¯s gender issue to Fang Zhou. Demons are of many kinds, and those from the Grass and Wood Demons are one variety. Typically, they are genderless, but once they reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, Grass and Wood Demons get to choose their gender once, and after the choice they can¡¯t change it again. Most Grass and Wood Demons select the gender they like, a small portion don¡¯t choose and remain genderless demons, but there are also some who choose both genders and become hermaphrodite demons. Han Li looked down at the Tree Demon, saying, ¡°Although this Tree Demon looks like a man, its voice is ambiguous, definitely a hermaphrodite demon!¡± Fang Zhou was shocked on the spot. These Grass and Wood Demons can actually choose their gender at will, either not choosing or choosing both. Are they really so mischievous? In an instant, countless unsightly tricks came to mind. Could this be an opportunity to create a dark bible of a different world? He looked down again at the Tree Demon. I didn¡¯t expect this bushy-browed fellow to be a transvestite¡ªno, wrong, it¡¯s originally a demon. The realization that the Tree Demon was hermaphrodite suddenly brought clarity to the vague idea in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind. He raised his head and said to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°I have an immature suggestion, maybe it could deal with the Innate Yin Yang Energy inside this Tree Demon.¡± Ling Xiaoyue sat up with interest: ¡°Oh, let¡¯s hear it.¡± Fang Zhou laid out his thought-up plan. After hearing it, excitement flashed across Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes: ¡°Wow, that could work, that definitely could work.¡± She hopped down from the wine pot, slapping Fang Zhou on the shoulder: ¡°You really are a clever devil. As your mentor, I couldn¡¯t be prouder that you could come up with such a despicable and shameless method.¡± Han Li, on the other hand, felt slightly embarrassed, glancing at Fang Zhou, who looked very proper, wondering how he came up with such lowly ideas. Could it be that he is prim and proper on the outside, but lecherous on the inside, the silent and sultry type? Han Li couldn¡¯t help but lick her lips, feeling thrilled by the thought, yearning to experience it for herself. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Tree Demon also heard Fang Zhou¡¯s method, but it sneered: ¡°Hmph, utterly foolish.¡± No one paid it any attention. They would find out if it worked after they tried; even if it failed, there was no loss. Ling Xiaoyue hurriedly sent Fang Zhou and Han Li to make preparations, eager to see the plan in action. First, they¡¯d need some men. But Lanruo Temple originally had only one man, Fang Zhou, and now the Tree Demon could be considered half a man too. With Wild Tomb Ridge being such a wilderness, where could they find more men? But Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t forgotten that last night, he caught Hui Neng Monk in the act of enlightening a man. With Hui Neng Monk¡¯s build, one man couldn¡¯t possibly satisfy her. The monks of Lanruo Temple were all in cahoots; it was likely others participated, and the temple surely had more hiding. Fang Zhou and Han Li began searching within Lanruo Temple and indeed found a hidden chamber stuffed full of men. Chapter 80: 80. foot-scratching man Chapter 80: 80. foot-scratching man Fang Zhou kicked open the iron gate at the entrance and entered the basement. He had thought he would see a grimy scene, but surprisingly, the basement was quite clean, spacious, and fully equipped with living facilities, even having a skylight on top. It seems that the monks also know that dirty men aren¡¯t fun to play with and are prone to falling sick, so cleanliness is a must. When Fang Zhou and Han Li entered, they found the imprisoned men leisurely embroidering¡ªabsolutely ridiculous. Seeing two strangers burst in, the men screamed in fear and huddled together. This was the first time Fang Zhou saw so many men crowded together, yet he did not feel the least bit of kinship. These men all exuded a strong effeminate air with their gestures, some even had makeup on, causing him intense psychological discomfort. ¡°Everybody, quiet down!¡± Fang Zhou, suppressing his nausea, loudly declared, ¡°I am here to rescue you all.¡± The expected cheers and tears of joy did not happen; instead, the men began whispering among themselves. ¡°What a rough man.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, flaunting himself in public, so immodest.¡± ¡°One look and you can tell he won¡¯t get married off.¡± Veins popped out on Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead, these nutcases. Coming here kindly to rescue you and you dare criticize me? ¡°Shut up!¡± He roared, interrupting the men¡¯s murmuring: ¡°Anyone who keeps whining stays locked up here to die.¡± The cell instantly went silent, but the system notification followed. [More than ten males regard you as a crude and foul man, awarded 10 points of masculinity, title awarded: Foot-Scratching Man] Fang Zhou: (?_?) Damn, these bastards. And what the hell is this foot-scratching man title reward? I¡¯d never wear it. Then Han Li spoke up, ¡°Gentlemen, don¡¯t be afraid, we really are here to get you out.¡± A burly, mustached man timidly raised his hand, ¡°Really?¡± Han Li showed a gentle smile and nodded. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mustached man immediately started hopping around hand-in-hand with the other men, some even cried tears of joy. Fang Zhou: ¡­ He looked at Han Li and then at himself. Despite being handsome and dashing, even having some righteous reputation, why did he seem like a villain in these men¡¯s eyes? And Han Li, quite ordinary looking, managed to gain their trust. ¡°Don¡¯t get too happy too soon.¡± Fang Zhou, a bit annoyed, told the men, ¡°If you want to get out, you must do something for us first, only then you can leave.¡± The men got nervous again, ¡°What is it?¡± When Fang Zhou stated the requirement, he thought the men would resist, but they agreed without even a moment of hesitation. Well, even in this world where gender roles are reversed, deep down men still are enthusiastic about certain matters. ¡°It¡¯s the kind that says no with the mouth, but the body is very honest.¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li led this group of men out of the dungeon, and took the opportunity to count them. There were thirty-five men in total, you should know that Lanruo Temple only had about thirty monks. Men were gathered, next they needed women. In this world, it might be difficult to find men, but finding women was too simple, Fang Zhou already had a bunch in his gourd. Fang Zhou picked a smaller courtyard and released all the monks from the gourd. He and Han Li then started tying up these monks with ropes. The last monk let out was Hui Neng. Upon touching the ground, her expression was a bit dazed, but she quickly regained her composure, and with an envious look at the gourd in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, she said coldly, ¡°There will be another time, we will meet again.¡± After speaking, she leapt up. Her plump body soared like a large bird, shooting out of the courtyard. She was in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Hardly anyone could stop her if she wanted to flee. Unfortunately, her opponent this time was different. Just as Hui Neng¡¯s figure was about to cross over the wall, she felt a blur before her eyes, as if someone had appeared in front of her instantaneously. Before she could see clearly, she was struck hard in the abdomen and sent flying back, crashing heavily onto the ground in the courtyard. Hui Neng spat out blood, and upon looking up in shock, she realized that the person who had stopped her was Fang Zhou, her eyes revealing a trace of horror. This kid is clearly just in the Qi Refinement Realm, how can he be so strong?! Could it be that he has always been hiding his true realm? As much as Hui Neng racked her brains, she couldn¡¯t figure it out. Although Fang Zhou was only in the Qi Refinement Realm, his Physical Strength was far beyond a typical Foundation Establishment practitioner. Moreover, for cultivators transitioning from Qi Refinement Realm to Foundation Establishment Realm, Physical Strength is linked to one¡¯s power. How strong the body can only exhibit corresponding strength unless supplemented by Spiritual Energy¡ªthere should not be a scenario where strength exceeds the body¡¯s limits. But Fang Zhou was different. Due to the system, his strength, speed, and constitution were calculated separately. The imbalance in upgrades meant his strength and speed limits exceeded that of his Physical Strength. If someone else had the same Physical Strength as Fang Zhou, then his strength and speed would be comparatively higher, thus showing such terrifying effects. Hui Neng, with her significantly weaker Physical Strength compared to Fang Zhou, was naturally knocked down by his punch. Seeing that there was no escape, Hui Neng calmed down, slowly sat cross-legged, and sneered, ¡°Benefactors, do you really think I¡¯m alone in maintaining Lanruo Temple here? I advise you to let me go, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Fang Zhou and Han Li exchanged a look, with Hui Neng saying so, it was clear that someone was directing her from behind the scenes. If they dared to harm her, they would face revenge from that person behind the scenes. Han Li was slightly alarmed¡ªif Hui Neng wasn¡¯t lying, whoever could instruct a Foundation Establishment cultivator to guard this desolate place for years must be extraordinarily strong? Fang Zhou asked interestedly, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Hui Neng¡¯s face was serene, ¡°Just let me go, and we can talk.¡± Fang Zhou smiled, ¡°Letting you go is fine, but first, you need to do something for us.¡± Hui Neng¡¯s eyebrows furrowed just to see Fang Zhou suddenly holding a glaze bottle, walking over, and forcibly pouring the liquid from the bottle into her mouth. Hui Neng coughed and spat out saliva several times, glaring furiously at Fang Zhou: ¡°What did you make me drink?¡± Fang Zhou shook the bottle, smiling, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s something good. You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± With Han Li¡¯s help, Fang Zhou poured the remaining half bottle of Strong aphrodisiac into the mouths of the other monks, and few monks under the age of ten were picked out and sent outside. Although these monks all deserved their fate, what was coming next was not suitable for the young. After about ten seconds, the effects of the drug started taking place, and the thirty or so monks began to lose their sanity, including Hui Neng who was no exception. To take care of her, Fang Zhou had her drink most of the Strong aphrodisiac. Thus, Hui Neng was affected the most severely. Even in the Foundation Establishment Realm, she could not resist and because she had nothing to vent, her skin turned red-hot, and she appeared completely crazed. Fang Zhou and Han Li stepped out of the courtyard, and the Tree Demon had already been brought by Ling Xiaoyue. Chapter 81: 81. Tree Demons Tragedy. Chapter 81: 81. Tree Demon¡¯s Tragedy. Hearing the roaring from the courtyard, the Tree Demon sneered: ¡°The Innate Qi within my body is in perfect harmony of Yin and Yang, endlessly sustaining. You think you can kill me with this little trick? Dream on!¡± Fang Zhou pushed the Tree Demon through the main gate, smiling and waving goodbye: ¡°Then I wish you sweet dreams too.¡± With its demonic power sealed, the Tree Demon, now powerless as a common person, was pushed into a group of Monks who had taken Strong aphrodisiacs. Immediately, excited howls from the Monks filled the air, like thirsty desert travelers stumbling upon a sweet spring. Although the gate was closed and nothing could be seen, Fang Zhou could imagine the scene; after all, the adult films from his past life hadn¡¯t been watched in vain. Ling Xiaoyue tiptoed, flying up to the top of the wall, and found a comfortable position to lie down. Fang Zhou looked up at her: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t turn her head back, her expression serious: ¡°As your master, I need to keep watch on the Tree Demon¡¯s restraints within its body, preventing it from recovering its demonic power due to overstimulation. Disciple, do you want to come up and join me in watching?¡± ¡°No thanks, you enjoy yourself.¡± Fang Zhou turned to glance at Han Li and saw an eager expression on her face: ¡°Do you want to watch too?¡± ¡°Want¡­ huh, want what?¡± Han Li promptly said, ¡°Such vulgar matters, I utterly despise them.¡± Fang Zhou thought she was just shy and persuaded: ¡°What¡¯s vulgar about it? Love between a man and a woman is a normal physiological phenomenon. Watching more could help you gain some experience, and besides, seeing a Golden Core Demon battle a group of female Monks like this, you must be curious, right?¡± This world definitely lacked sex education; Fang Zhou felt that it would be beneficial for a disciplined person like Han Li to receive some sex education ahead of time. Han Li hurriedly said, ¡°No, I¡¯m not curious at all, you needn¡¯t say more. Inappropriate to see, inappropriate to listen, I won¡¯t watch.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t persuade further: ¡°Suit yourself then.¡± But Han Li secretly sighed in relief, glad that she had reacted in time. This must be Fang Zhou testing her, if she had really watched, he would definitely think she was a frivolous girl. At this point, Fang Zhou finally had the time to check the title awarded to him by the system. [Foot-scratching man: Repels the same sex, attracts the opposite sex. Equipping this title makes the same sex think you¡¯re a stinky man, reducing 1 point of same-sex favorability. The opposite sex will think you¡¯re a man of distinction, increasing 1 point of opposite-sex favorability, and Spiritual power +3] Crap, what kind of lousy title is this. He was already mysteriously quite appealing to the opposite sex, wearing this would only attract more female temptresses, right? Fang Zhou deliberated for a moment but still equipped the title. After all, 3 points of Spiritual Attribute shouldn¡¯t be wasted. If it invites temptresses, so be it; more lice doesn¡¯t itch. Just after equipping it, Fang Zhou himself didn¡¯t feel any changes, but Han Li¡¯s gaze towards him gradually started to change. She secretly touched her slightly hot cheeks, wondering what was wrong with her. Was it due to the influence from inside the courtyard? After a few hours since the Tree Demon had been pushed in, the main gate suddenly burst open, and the naked Tree Demon escaped from the yard. Followed closely by a group of Monks, they caught the Tree Demon clumsily and dragged it back in. ¡°You despicable and shameless villains, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± The Tree Demon roared at Fang Zhou as it was dragged back into the courtyard. A few more hours passed, and it was now noon, yet the commotion in the courtyard hadn¡¯t ceased. If there were only one or a few monks, they certainly wouldn¡¯t have lasted this long, but there were as many as thirty monks in the courtyard, fully capable of rotating rest and replacements to create a perpetual cycle. The courtyard gate was pushed open again. A terrified Tree Demon, with weak steps, fled out. It hadn¡¯t run far when a monk rushed out, caught it, and dragged it back. The Tree Demon¡¯s hands clawed wildly at the ground, leaving trails of blood: ¡°Let go of me, I don¡¯t want to go back, I don¡¯t want to go back!¡± Its tragic cries were shut inside as the gate closed. Several hours later, the gate was pushed open again, but this time the Tree Demon didn¡¯t flee out, it just stretched out a hand, seemingly trying to grasp the freedom outside. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Save¡­ save me!¡± The voice of the Tree Demon was filled with weakness and exhaustion. It struggled to crawl out, only to be dragged back again, leaving behind a bout of utterly horrifying screams. Until the sun set, the more than thirty monks finally ended the battle. Other than Hui Neng, whose Foundation Establishment Realm physical strength remained, the rest of the monks were completely drained and lifeless. Having lain on the walltop all day, Ling Xiaoyue stretched lazily: ¡°So boring, I shouldn¡¯t have watched.¡± Fang Zhou shouted to Xiaoyue, ¡°Check on the Tree Demon.¡± He absolutely did not want to go inside the courtyard again, as there would be no place to stand. From afar, Xiaoyue checked on the Tree Demon and couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Apprentice, you really did it, the Innate Yang Qi inside the Tree Demon is almost depleted now, only the Innate Yin Qi is still present.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Zhou also sighed with relief, thankful that it had worked, otherwise he would have wasted the entire day for nothing. The scene in the courtyard was indescribable, and Fang Zhou was unwilling to enter. In the end, it was Han Li who went inside and took out the unconscious Tree Demon, throwing it into a water tank to wash off the filth on its body. After washing, the Tree Demon was taken to a new courtyard. Since it still possessed Innate Yin Qi, the process couldn¡¯t stop; they had to continue through the night. Han Li brought the men who had been waiting all day and were growing impatient and Fang Zhou washed a bottle that contained a Strong aphrodisiac, giving the water used for washing to the men to drink. Indeed, this Strong aphrodisiac, a system product, was effective even in the washing water. Upon drinking it, although the men didn¡¯t lose their senses, each one of them felt immensely agitated and couldn¡¯t wait. Han Li had them line up, one by one entering the courtyard. Fang Zhou, holding a megaphone made of a rolled leaf, stood by to maintain order: ¡°Don¡¯t rush, don¡¯t rush, line up, take it slowly, everyone will get a turn, there¡¯s no need to panic, rest aside when you¡¯re done, there¡¯s food and brown sugar water to replenish your strength, rest well and then come back to line up.¡± The fighting power of these thirty-some men ultimately wasn¡¯t as strong as that of thirty-some women; they barely managed to last about a dozen rounds before they couldn¡¯t continue. However, the Tree Demon, having already exhausted its Innate Yang Qi and left only with Innate Yin Qi, which couldn¡¯t flourish alone, was also easily depleted. The nearly disfigured Tree Demon, after losing both Innate Yin Yang Energy, was nothing but a demon to be easily slaughtered. Watching the entire process, Xiaoyue brought out her wine pot; the pot flew above the courtyard, absorbing the demonic power from the Tree Demon¡¯s body from a distance, as she now dared not let the pot touch the Tree Demon even slightly. This time, Xiaoyue easily sucked all the demonic power out of the Tree Demon, whose hard-earned humanoid form turned into a piece of bark. Thus, the family of this Tree Demon was finally exterminated by the master and apprentice duo. Chapter 83: 83. You must pay a heavy price. Chapter 83: 83. You must pay a heavy price. To prevent the grave from being desecrated and robbed, Fang Zhou did not pile up a mound or erect a tombstone, but simply made some marks that he could recognize to avoid not finding the location in the future. After finishing up, Fang Zhou dusted off his hands, looked at the leveled ground, and whispered, ¡°Farewell, if death really means reincarnation as you said, then I eagerly await our day of reunion.¡± Although the meeting with Yan Chixia was brief, Yan Chixia¡¯s boldness and free spirit had deeply impressed Fang Zhou, leaving a shining image of a Cultivator in his heart. After burying Yan Chixia, Fang Zhou returned to the Lanruo Temple¡¯s separate courtyard, with only one last matter to deal with¡ªthe men who had been captured by the monks and were being wantonly abused at Lanruo Temple. Fang Zhou had promised to release them, but he couldn¡¯t just let them go, as these men had seen the faces of Fang Zhou and his companions. It would be troublesome if they were let loose to talk recklessly. It is known that behind Monk Hui Neng, there are instigators, making it easy to find out about the trio through these men. If Fang Zhou were to act against his word and kill these people, it would be an act of utter ruthlessness, which made the situation quite vexing. In the end, Han Li stepped forward, offering to handle the matter. After her departure, she could take the men away and deal with them properly. Yes, Han Li was preparing to leave. She originally came to Wild Tomb Ridge to find the Buddhist Secret Treasure to cure the Black Jiao Poison in her body. Now that the so-called Secret Treasure did not exist, Han Li could only continue her journey to find a remedy. Fang Zhou then remembered to coax and beg Ling Xiaoyue for some wine and gave it to Han Li to drink. After drinking, Han Li felt refreshed, even feeling a slight increase in Physical Strength. Unfortunately, it did not help with the Black Jiao Poison inside her. Unable to help himself, Fang Zhou complained to Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your wine is of the Immortals, a Healing Holy Medicine? Why doesn¡¯t it work on Han Li¡¯s poison?¡± Ling Xiaoyue, snapping up the wine jug, hurled it over: ¡°You brat, you know it¡¯s called a Healing Holy Medicine, which naturally means it¡¯s for healing. Who said it could cure poison? If it could heal wounds and also cure poison, wouldn¡¯t I be rich from selling wine and no longer need to make money elsewhere?¡± Fang Zhou retorted unconvinced, ¡°Being poisoned is also a form of injury, an internal one. If your wine can¡¯t even cure internal injuries, how dare you claim it to be a Healing Holy Medicine.¡± Ling Xiaoyue twisted her mouth in annoyance, ¡°Come here, let me beat you till you have an internal injury and see if it can cure it.¡± ¡°Resorting to violence when you¡¯re losing the argument, do you still dare claim yourself to be a role model in the educational field?¡± ¡°You defiant disciple, dare you not to use it from now on.¡± Seeing the teacher and student bickering again, Han Li couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, dissipating the faint sorrow of parting. Before leaving, Ling Xiaoyue made a special round inside Lanruo Temple, scraping the ground for everything valuable, uncovering all the silver that Monk Hui Neng had earned over the years. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know how much money Ling Xiaoyue had plundered, but judging from her cheerful mood, it was certainly a lot. The trio left with a group of men from Wild Tomb Ridge on the same day, separating at the Jingchu River bank. In this era where travel is by foot and communication by shout, after parting, the day of reunion might be indefinitely far away. Perhaps it¡¯s a bit better in the Cultivation World, yet the path of Cultivation is filled with extreme dangers. A slight misstep could result in demise, whether killed in a conflict or perishing in a desolate Secret Place. For Cultivators, a parting often could become a permanent farewell. In the face of this, Fang Zhou, a newcomer to the Cultivation World, was not deeply touched. He took his leave seriously from Han Li, inviting her to visit the Xuanji Sect if she was free, and then he and Ling Xiaoyue turned and departed. By the way, the sixth generation [horses] and ¡¯55 Kai¡¯ were not hurt by the monks, perhaps because the monks saw the horses¡¯ intelligence and did not slaughter them, allowing them a chance to safely return to their master. Han Li watched Fang Zhou¡¯s departing figure, silently memorizing the address of his sect that he had given her. She didn¡¯t know if this parting was forever, but if there was a chance, she would definitely meet Fang Zhou again. ¡­ ¡°` Late at night, in the deserted courtyard of Lanruo Temple, a crow flew down from a tree branch, perched on the rooftop, and let out a series of ominous caws. Two figures appeared in Lanruo Temple, their heads covered with conical bamboo hats, draped in black cloaks. With the arrival of these two figures, the temperature inside Lanruo Temple plummeted drastically. Many plants in the courtyard began to wither before the naked eye, their branches and leaves frosted over with ice. The crow on the rooftop seemed to sense danger and took flight, only to plummet to the ground midway. Not just the crow, but a large number of creatures within Lanruo Temple were dying, rendering an area of lifeless silence. Apart from a few young monks taken away by Han Li, the rest of the monks in the temple had perished. Out of humanistic spirit, Fang Zhou and Han Li dug a grave to bury the monks, lest they be exposed in the wilderness. The two figures in black quickly found the burial site. One of them squatted down, pressed a hand to the ground, and finally said, ¡°Hui Neng¡¯s body is beneath, but his three souls and six spirits have been dispersed. What lies here is just an empty shell.¡± The voice was pleasing to the ear, belonging to a young woman. Another figure in black let out a cold snort, ¡°Useless in success, yet causing trouble in failure.¡± That voice belonged to an old crone. The young woman beside her remained silent. The Mystic Yin Tree has been planted by the Divine Sect; it has stood for a century. After the previous caretaker passed away unexpectedly, Hui Neng was appointed as the new guardian. His duty was to watch over the Mystic Yin Tree and to capture Blood Food and Cultivators to feed it. He diligently attended to his duties here for over ten years. The Divine Sect trusted him and never bothered to check up. Little did they know, Hui Neng gradually grew lazy in secret, posing as a monk to enjoy his leisure and spreading rumors to lure Cultivators into their deaths, while he sat back and reaped the benefits effortlessly. Although this strategy was easy, it was extremely risky, as it could easily attract virtuous masters. This time, it indeed backfired. By the time the Divine Sect received the news, the Mystic Yin Tree Demon had been slain, the Golden Core was missing, and Hui Neng himself met a fatal end. Truly detestable and deserving of death, he not only brought disaster upon himself but also caused the Divine Sect¡¯s century-long plans to be ruined overnight. The upper echelons of the Divine Sect were enraged. As the local supervisors, they were duty-bound to rush over in the night to investigate the killer and the whereabouts of the Golden Core, cleaning up the mess Hui Neng had left behind. After the old woman cursed under her breath, she formed Dharma Seals with her hands and shouted into the silent woods, ¡°Hui Neng! Soul return! Hui Neng! Soul return!¡± Following her calls, a transparent and ethereal soul shadow began to drift out from within the woods; it was indeed the soul of Monk Hui Neng. The crone abruptly seized Hui Neng¡¯s soul shadow and demanded fiercely, ¡°Who did this?¡± Hui Neng¡¯s expression was one of agony as he uttered in a broken voice, ¡°Xuan¡­ji¡­Sect¡­¡± This was merely one of Hui Neng¡¯s three souls, which could only remember the most significant impressions, while the other souls and spirits had long since scattered. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that no useful information could be extricated, the crone ruthlessly tore Hui Neng¡¯s soul to shreds. With the loss of this soul, Hui Neng was deprived of any chance for reincarnation, doomed to remain an unconscious solitary ghost forever. Still unsatisfied, the old crone stomped forcefully on the ground, the strength of the blow passing through the soil to pulverize all the monks¡¯ bodies below into dust. ¡°Xuanji Sect? Well, Xuanji Sect, you shall pay a terrible price!!¡± ¡°` Chapter 84: 84. Wise Time and Xues Enlightenment Chapter 84: 84. Wise Time and Xue¡¯s Enlightenment Traveling north along the Jing Chu River and after entering the Jing Chu Territory in the northern part of Jingnan State, the sect was no longer far away. The Jing Chu Territory is considered a bustling area within Jingnan State, with many towns along the way. Since they were nearing the sect, the mentor and disciple duo were not in a rush to travel, and finally could afford to relax, sparing Fang Zhou from the harshness of having to sleep in the wilderness. While staying in a town on the way, Fang Zhou felt that he had accumulated enough good karma and luck, so he specifically bought incense and candles, took a bath, changed clothes, worshipped the heavens and earth, and then chose to draw that purple card. The purple card in his mind spun rapidly, emitting rings of rainbow-like light that spread out from beneath the card, breathtakingly beautiful. The animation effects of drawing the card were almost as impressive as getting a Golden Legend, far surpassing any cheap tricks. After spinning to the limit, the glowing purple card finally exploded, radiating golden light outward, like the sun, and was accompanied by a melody of pleasant music. Fang Zhou was shocked; these golden rays were undeniably the special effects associated with a Golden Legend. A purple card with a Golden Legend? This is like striking it rich!! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes widened in anticipation, his face brimming with excitement as he waited. Countless points of light converged to form the image of a figure with a fist propped against his chin, deep in thought. [Wise Time¡ï¡ï: With detachment from all and sudden enlightenment of the five senses, using Wise Time forcibly enhances one¡¯s comprehension, thought, and logical abilities, entering an Enlightenment State. Duration depends on skill level and user¡¯s talent. Cooldown: Thirty days] It turned out to be a Skill Card, and it even had a cooldown period, though the cooldown was absurdly long. This outcome was completely different from what Fang Zhou had anticipated. He had hoped to draw some Divine Artifact Equipment or Supreme Divine Skill, as he didn¡¯t set high expectations for skills since he already had quite a few. Unexpectedly, he had drawn a Skill Card, but this Wise Time was indeed different from other skills. Fang Zhou was initially a bit frustrated, but his mood gradually brightened as he studied Wise Time, eventually becoming so happy that he burst into laughter. Fang Zhou had hoped to draw Divine Artifact Equipment and Supreme Divine Skills, two things that he already possessed; they were all in his Sword Box, with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword and Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique perfectly meeting the criteria. Unfortunately, since leaving Lanruo Temple, the Sword Box had remained inert, refusing to open no matter what Fang Zhou tried. Furthermore, mastering the Sword Control Technique was too difficult; Fang Zhou had been studying it since he acquired the incantation and still couldn¡¯t understand what it even stated. He had even asked Ling Xiaoyue for guidance, but she declined with ¡®This is your chance, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to intervene¡¯, leading Fang Zhou to suspect that she couldn¡¯t solve it either and refused out of fear of losing face. Unable to master the Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou was helpless to open the Sword Box and could only watch helplessly. The feeling was akin to having billions in cash stored in a safe for you to spend, but the safe¡¯s code is hidden within the most difficult math problem for a math flunkie to solve. Sigh, indeed, when pushed to the edge, anything is possible except for math problems. Fang Zhou originally planned to address this issue when an opportunity arose, but the emergence of Wise Time showed a glimmer of hope for solving it. It was exactly what he needed the most, just like providing a pillow as soon as one feels sleepy. Fang Zhou originally thought his royal European bloodline had devolved into that of an African Chief, but his lineage was still there, and even purer than before. Now he just wanted to laugh out loud and stride outside, for we are not the people from Africa. Still, he shouldn¡¯t get too excited too soon; he must first confirm that Wise Time is effective for mastering the Sword Control Technique to avoid any disappointment. Fang Zhou immediately began to try it out. He first recited the incantation for the Sword Control Technique quietly to himself twice. During this period, he had already memorized the incantation inside out. After reciting, Fang Zhou unleashed the skill called Wise Time. Upon activating the skill, a sense of blandness immediately filled his mind, akin to the feeling one gets after shivering all over. His mind was blank at first, with all seven emotions and six desires reduced to the extreme. He felt almost floaty, as though he wanted to do nothing and just stay like this forever. At the same time, his thinking, comprehension, and logical abilities were greatly enhanced. It seemed as if all difficult problems in time could be easily solved before his eyes. Fang Zhou recalled the incantation for the Sword Control Technique, which had previously seemed like a mystery, and now appeared straightforward and easy to understand. How could such a simple thing elude me before? Haha, I really am an idiot. After understanding the incantation, Fang Zhou realized that every single word in the incantation carried profound meanings and was intricately associated with the other words. The concise incantation of merely a dozen or so lines was as complex and rigorous as a long technique spanning tens of thousands of characters. Fang Zhou could only decipher it word by word, his thoughts deeply immersed in the interpretation of the Sword Control incantation, oblivious to the outside world. ¡°Disciple, your master has returned!¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice rang from outside, and before it faded, she had already run into the room. Seeing Fang Zhou sitting in the chair with a vacant look in his eyes, Ling Xiaoyue instinctively reached out to pat him, but her hand stopped short of touching his shoulder. Ling Xiaoyue took a couple of steps back, examining Fang Zhou, and a hint of surprise gradually appeared in her eyes. ¡°Is this¡­ Enlightenment?!¡± She murmured in astonishment. Enlightenment, as the name implies, means sudden comprehension. In the Cultivation World, enlightenment is a state that cultivators might encounter by chance rather than by search. It is when a cultivator inadvertently understands a certain principle of cultivation, leading to a breakthrough in their thought process and ushering them into a whole new world. After the period of enlightenment, a cultivator¡¯s abilities and realms often exhibit astonishing explosive growth. Enlightenment is both a common and uncommon state in the Cultivation World, first discovered by a cultivator with the surname Xue, and is thus referred to as Xue¡¯s Enlightenment. It is considered common because every cultivator can discuss enlightenment with great detail, with various opinions and schools of thought so vast they could fill a library. It is uncommon because enlightenment only occurs in cultivators at the Innate Realm and above and is a one in a million occurrence. Many cultivators never experience it once in their lifetime. In other words, countless cultivators have a detailed understanding of enlightenment, but countless others have never witnessed or experienced it firsthand. Therefore, it was incredibly inconceivable to Ling Xiaoyue that Fang Zhou, who was merely at the Qi Refining Realm, would encounter a state of enlightenment. This is because from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, the exercises are all fundamental, and the techniques are the most rudimentary form of teaching, without any profound mysteries. Fang Zhou¡¯s situation was similar to a primary school student doing simple arithmetic and arriving at the Goldbach Conjecture. Unbelievably awesome. Chapter 85: 85. This sword has no copper, stealing it is useless Chapter 85: 85. This sword has no copper, stealing it is useless With Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s knowledge, even she was baffled by Fang Zhou¡¯s situation, unclear about what he was suddenly comprehending. However, she remembered that when Fang Zhou first practiced New Moon Qi, it had triggered Moonlight, a condition that only those with extremely high aptitude would experience. Now, he has had another epiphany in the Qi Refining Realm, which is simply like a calf stepping on a landmine¡ªutterly explosive. Ling Xiaoyue thought to herself, if the disciple is so extraordinary, doesn¡¯t that prove that I, as the master, am even more remarkable? The thought made her quite delighted. She now felt fortunate that she hadn¡¯t slapped Fang Zhou awake; entering an epiphany is a rare opportunity, and if it were interrupted, he might never encounter it again in his lifetime. Seeing that Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t finish anytime soon, Ling Xiaoyue turned and leaped onto the rooftop. This place was provided for them to stay by a wealthy person of the city after the master and disciple duo performed Demon Extermination for him. The environment was fairly tranquil, but these past few days, people had been frequently requesting them to eradicate demons. She needed to keep an eye on things to prevent anyone from barging in and disturbing Fang Zhou¡¯s epiphany. Just as Ling Xiaoyue jumped onto the roof, she saw a carriage coming from a distance. A fat woman dressed in fine silk stepped down, supported by two struggling servants. Led by the servants, the fat woman headed this way. Ling Xiaoyue flicked her fingers lightly at the woman, and immediately, the woman, weighing over 200 pounds, fell down, squashing the servant beside her like a dead dog. A group of people cried out in alarm and dragged the fat woman back onto the carriage, hastily leaving. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue found a comfortable spot, just lied down when another carriage arrived, forcing her to sit up and repeat the process. Fang Zhou was unaware of the happenings outside, immersed in decoding the incantations of the Sword Control Technique. The Sword Control Technique took Yan Chixia, with his talents, over three years to master entry-level, indicating its difficulty. However, even the difficulty of the Sword Control Technique couldn¡¯t withstand the Wise Time that follows life¡¯s great harmony¡ªa special state where even the academically poor dare ponder the origins of the universe. When the Wise Time ended, Fang Zhou slowly opened his eyes. The sky outside was dim, and night had fallen, plunging the room into darkness. But Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes were brimming with sharpness, like a drawn blade. The incantations of the Sword Control Technique, he had decoded them completely and understood thoroughly. Sword Control Technique, mastered entry-level! Fang Zhou slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and whispered lowly, ¡°Sword, come forth!¡± Clang¡ª From a corner of the room, the Sword Box suddenly emitted a crisp sound of sword ringing. A beam of golden light shot out from the Sword Box, spiraling around the room twice before landing in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand. It was a golden longsword, not the wide-bladed type used by Yan Chixia in the movies but more slender, resembling the Han Sword. This sword was the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, entirely golden and exquisitely handsome. Fang Zhou held it in his hand, examining it; the more he looked, the more he liked it. The only downside was that the sword was not only golden but also radiating golden light, making the entire room shine with brilliance. ¡°Too tacky.¡± He murmured. Holding the sword felt like being a nouveau riche who had never seen the world before, flashy with gold, likely to attract thieves if taken outside. As if sensing Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts, the golden light on the Xuanyuan Sword suddenly disappeared, and its golden blade slowly dimmed, at a glance appearing not like a golden sword but a bronze one. Fang Zhou was instantly astonished. Does the Xuanyuan Sword actually come with an auto color-changing feature? This could work. A bronze sword is much more low-key than a Golden Sword, although it¡¯s also risky since bronze isn¡¯t cheap either. Maybe inscribe ¡°This sword contains no copper, stealing it is useless¡± on it? Fang Zhou pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°Can it turn green?¡± The Xuanyuan Sword slowly turned green and even emitted light, resembling a glow stick in this pitch-dark room. Fang Zhou released his hand, and the Xuanyuan Sword did not fall to the ground but floated up, moving around the room following Fang Zhou¡¯s thoughts, looking from afar like a flying glow stick. The incantation for Sword Control Technique is the most fundamental spell for manipulating the Xuanyuan Sword. Sword Control Technique is an extremely mystical skill that doesn¡¯t require the realm of external Spiritual Energy manifestation, merely the presence of internal Spiritual Energy is enough. Fang Zhou was having an immensely enjoyable time playing with the sword in the room. Ling Xiaoyue on the roof also slowly opened her eyes, her lips curling slightly: ¡°No wonder, he is actually gaining insight into the Sword Control Technique.¡± Fang Zhou had previously sought guidance from Ling Xiaoyue on the incantation of Sword Control Technique, but she found an excuse to refuse. The entry-level of Sword Control Technique is difficult, mastery is even harder, and its upper limit is extremely high¡ª it is an Immortal Technique that can be regarded as a sect-defining skill even within a Major Sect. Therefore, cultivating it is extremely difficult. Without exceptional talent, one could spend a lifetime without mastering the basics, and rashly practicing it would only waste time and mental energy. Thus, instead of Fang Zhou wasting his prime time on this Sword Control Technique, it would be better for him to wait and cultivate it when he reaches a higher realm in the future. Certainly, this also involves Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s reluctance to explain and teach him, since it would be a significant waste of her time, which is valuable. Ling Xiaoyue originally thought that after Fang Zhou failed a few times, he would give up, but unexpectedly he took the chance of sudden enlightenment and mastered the Sword Control Technique, which even a peerless genius would need years of arduous practice to learn, in just half a day. Plus, Fang Zhou¡¯s luck was exceptionally good too. On a trip to Wild Tomb Ridge, he obtained the Golden Core of a Tree Demon, received the inheritance of a Hermit, and acquired a treasure gourd capable of absorbing everything. Such wealth of gains made even Ling Xiaoyue slightly envious; exchanging them for money could make her incredibly rich overnight¡ªriches are not just a dream. Fortunately, Ling Xiaoyue isn¡¯t an ordinary Cultivator. If it were someone else mentoring Fang Zhou, faced with such a disciple, they likely wouldn¡¯t feel joy but instead jealousy, possibly leading them to kill and steal treasures. ¡­ After playing with the Xuanyuan Sword for a while, Fang Zhou had it change color again. Green really is unlucky, carelessly even the hair might get dyed green, and holding a green sword always gave him the feeling of chewing on green mint gum. Eventually, the Xuanyuan Sword transformed back to the appearance of an ordinary iron sword, looking stylish but without showing any peculiarities. Fang Zhou then fetched the Sword Box again. Yan Chixia mentioned that there were other items inside. Now that he had entered the entry-level of Sword Control Technique, the items inside belonged to him. The Sword Box had neither end nor opening, perfectly seamless. But now, having entered the entry-level of Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou knew how to use it. The incantation for Sword Control Technique was the key to opening the Sword Box. With the incantation silently recited in his mind, upon his thought, three beams of light flew out from the box and landed in front of Fang Zhou, transforming into three objects. A bundle of jade slips, an ancient-looking booklet, and a Sect Leader Seal that was neither gold nor jade. Fang Zhou picked up each one, carefully examining them in his hands. The jade slips contained the Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique. Hmm, couldn¡¯t understand it. The booklet was the complete text of the Sword Control Technique. Hmm, still couldn¡¯t understand it. The Sect Leader Seal was the size of a palm, with an Exotic Beast carved onto it, entirely snow-white and unidentifiable in material. Four large characters were inscribed on the bottom of the Seal, which Fang Zhou could understand and subconsciously read aloud. ¡°Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals!¡± Chapter 86: 86. Pay attention to your tone of voice. Chapter 86: 86. Pay attention to your tone of voice. Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals? That awesome, huh? Fang Zhou shook his head and set down the Sect Leader Seal. Although he didn¡¯t know the origins of this so-called Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, Fang Zhou could guess that the first Sect Leader of this Hidden Sect definitely disliked eating celery. Such grandiosity, enough to make one dizzy, daring to claim to be the ancestor of ten thousand immortals? So incredible, why not ascend to heaven then? Well, now that I¡¯ve gotten the Sect Leader Seal, doesn¡¯t that make me the Sect Master of this Hidden Sect? Talking about predecessors like this, what if they could actually hear me? Fang Zhou thought for a moment, lifted the Sect Leader Seal with both hands, and respectfully said, ¡°Ancestor of Ten Thousand Immortals, truly a lofty aspiration rarely seen, admirable admiration.¡± After saying that, Fang Zhou collected the three items back into the Sword Box. Though he forcibly learned the Sword Control Technique¡¯s mantra with the help of Wise Time, this kind of cheating won¡¯t last long. Now, unable to comprehend the entire Heaven and Earth Qiankun Technique and Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou could only wait to study and practice them slowly in the future. Of course, even if he can¡¯t understand them later, it¡¯s no big deal; he could just rely on the Wise Time once a month to forcefully practice. After tidying up, Fang Zhou opened his Personal Attributes and found that the entire Wise Time skill had dimmed, now in cooldown, temporarily unusable. Such matters, if too frequent, can harm the body, if too rare, can cause frustration; so once a month is just right, can¡¯t be forced. Having entered the entry-level of Sword Control, he has already risen above the level of the weak, and now being the Sect Master of Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, Fang Zhou felt his whole demeanor was different. A slight noise came from outside. Fang Zhou looked up and saw Ling Xiaoyue with her hands clasped behind her back, slowly stepping inside. Fang Zhou picked up a flint and lit a candle, asking her, ¡°How was your haul today?¡± Ling Xiaoyue walked to the table, sat down, took a swig from her flask: ¡°None of your business, it¡¯s all the toilsome earnings of your master.¡± Hardly your toils! Fang Zhou silently retorted in his stomach but feeling good about his successful entry into Sword Control and not wanting to quarrel with this selfish woman. ¡°So when do we leave?¡± ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯ll leave tomorrow.¡± Ling Xiaoyue replied nonchalantly, her gaze falling on the purple gourd placed alongside the Sword Box: ¡°This gourd of yours¡­¡± Fang Zhou quickly interrupted her: ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Ever since they left Lanruo Temple, Ling Xiaoyue had been using various reasons and excuses to coax Fang Zhou into selling the gourd. Saying it wasn¡¯t much use, barely managing against Innate Realm enemies, better to sell it for some real silver and gold. Utter madness. This gourd might not be very useful to Ling Xiaoyue, but for Fang Zhou, it was a precious treasure and a commemorative trophy, not to mention it still housed seven gourd children he hadn¡¯t dealt with. Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s intense reaction, Ling Xiaoyue also showed a displeased expression: ¡°Stingy ghost, showing no respect or honor to your master, even if you offered it, I wouldn¡¯t want it.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was also displeased: ¡°Mind your tone, I am now the distinguished Sect Master of Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry.¡± Ling Xiaoyue seemed amused and laughed: ¡°Oh, Sect Master, huh? Where¡¯s your sect located? How many disciples and followers do you have?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression stiffened. Although Yan Chixia had mentioned her mentorship under Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect, she never disclosed the address of the sect¡¯s main gate; perhaps it no longer existed. With the Hidden Sect passed down to Yan Chixia already dwindling in numbers, transferring to Fang Zhou would leave him all alone, inheriting the position of Sect Manager without even a witness. Moreover, the Hidden Sect sounded fancy, but it might just be a few people nesting in the deep mountains and wild ridges, living like savages. As soon as Fang Zhou thought of that scene, the prestige of the Kunlun Ruins Hidden Sect in his heart plummeted to rock bottom. A sense of boredom spread in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart; he thought he had already escaped the ranks of the riffraff, but it seemed he was still struggling in a mire filled with them. Ling Xiaoyue pinched Fang Zhou¡¯s cheek: ¡°What¡¯s being the head of a Hidden Sect? You are my disciple, and that alone is enough for you to swagger through the Cultivation World.¡± Fang Zhou gave her a sideways glance: ¡°And then get killed by someone?¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°As long as you walk fast while swaggering, even if someone wants to kill you, they can¡¯t catch up. Remember, our sect¡¯s motto is never to lose in words, never to stop in steps, run when it¡¯s dangerous, and frolic when it¡¯s safe. Got it?¡± Damn, that actually makes some sense. Fang Zhou felt Han Li might be more suitable as Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s disciple, as these two, one who runs at the first sign of danger and the other who runs if they can¡¯t win, both truly comprehend the art of escaping, they must have a lot in common. Ling Xiaoyue then looked at the gourd: ¡°Don¡¯t use this gourd for now. You can use it because of the Golden Core, but each use makes the Golden Core fuse more with your heart, and it will be troublesome once it fully integrates.¡± That¡¯s a new one! Fang Zhou frowned slightly: ¡°What should I do then?¡± Ling Xiaoyue patted his shoulder: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when I get time after returning, I¡¯ll help you refine the gourd to sever its connection to the Golden Core. As for the Golden Core, you will need to slowly refine it yourself.¡± Fang Zhou pondered for a moment and then asked, ¡°For free?¡± Ling Xiaoyue chortled: ¡°I¡¯ll give you a 20% discount.¡± Fang Zhou boldly said: ¡°Put it on my tab.¡± Ling Xiaoyue stared at him suspiciously: ¡°You¡¯re not planning on not paying, are you?¡± Fang Zhou remained calm: ¡°You know exactly how much pocket money I have. If I can¡¯t pay, you can just sell me.¡± Ling Xiaoyue thought about it and then felt reassured. The next morning, under Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s urging, Fang Zhou got ready and left with her. However, upon departure, they heard the local residents say that the place was even haunted; many wealthy merchants who approached the house where the master and disciple lived had fallen down mysteriously and could not get up. ¡­ After over two months of long journey, with stops and starts, master and disciple finally arrived at the location of their sect¡ªthe Cloud Sea Mountains. The master and disciple did not rush into the mountains but took a break in a small city called Yunshan City situated at the mountain¡¯s entrance. In Yunshan City, Ling Xiaoyue actually had a small courtyard that had been uninhabited for a long time and was dusty everywhere; moreover, there was a lush big tree in the courtyard that had to be Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s nest. Sure enough, after setting down their luggage, Ling Xiaoyue jumped onto the tree canopy to sunbathe and tossed down her wine jug, asking Fang Zhou to buy some daily necessities and some good wine to fill her jug. Buying supplies could be understood as there wasn¡¯t a convenience store on the mountain; if they didn¡¯t stock up on daily necessities, they would have to rely on hunting and self-sufficiency, which is not cultivation but rather outdoor survival. But here¡¯s the problem¡­ Fang Zhou looked up and shouted to the canopy, ¡°Where¡¯s the money?¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s languid voice came down, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your private stash? Everything you buy is for your use, your master doesn¡¯t need it.¡± You know it¡¯s called private money? Fang Zhou directly threw the wine jug back up: ¡°Then I don¡¯t need to drink wine either.¡± After a while, the wine jug was thrown back down, along with a piece of silver and Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s annoyed voice: ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to honor your master? Even buying wine requires money from your master, you unfilial disciple!¡± Fang Zhou tossed the silver lightly, smiling faintly ¨C extracting some feathers from this iron rooster really wasn¡¯t easy. Then he whistled and went out. Chapter 87: 87. Sights and Insights of Yunshan City Chapter 87: 87. Sights and Insights of Yunshan City Yunshan City is just a small city, but it is bustling with activity, people bustling shoulder to shoulder on the streets, and a never-ending stream of sales pitches and chatter. Perhaps due to an overwhelming dominance of Yin over Yang, many men in this world prefer to stay at home and avoid showing their faces in public, therefore women predominantly roam the streets, with men being a rare sight. Having traveled such a long distance, Fang Zhou had grown accustomed to this, so before stepping out, he had made himself a homemade mask to cover his face. Although this still attracted some attention, it was much better than being gawked at everywhere he went. Walking on the street, Fang Zhou found it curious that many of the pedestrians in Yunshan City were young women with weapons or travel bags, resembling wandering adventurers rather than local residents. There were also quite a few people shouting along the street with banners that mostly read ¡°Such-and-such training¡±, ¡°Exclusive secret manuals by Master so-and-so¡±, ¡°Guaranteed to pass the preliminary test¡±, much like the various training classes Fang Zhou had seen in his previous life. ¡°Young brother, do you know Master Anli?¡± A sleazy-looking woman approached and whispered. Fang Zhou shook his head and turned to leave, but little did he know, this persistent woman would not take no for an answer, chasing after him: ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t know, once you get to know about him, you¡¯ll be interested. Master Anli¡¯s mana is boundless, he can easily help you pass the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry test.¡± After being chased for half a street, Fang Zhou finally managed to shake off the woman, truly a salesperson, able to match his speed. By now, Fang Zhou finally realized something was amiss. He asked around and soon understood the situation. The Heavenly Sword Sect is the top Major Sect in Jingnan State, famous throughout the Chu Kingdom, where even the Xuanji Sect has to give way. And this Cloud Sea Mountains is the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect; this year happens to be the day the sect recruits new disciples once every ten years, so from all over Jingnan State, including other states, those desiring to seek the path of cultivation have hurried to Yunshan City, ready to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry trials, including some lone cultivators trying their luck. This is a grand event in the cultivation circles of Jingnan State, with many people counting down the days on their fingers, only someone ignorant like Fang Zhou would arrive here clueless. After figuring things out, Fang Zhou was quite intrigued ¨C he would certainly take the chance to observe. If there were a main storyline in this world, then the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry trial would definitely be the start of it¡ªwhere a genius protagonist makes a stunning debut on the path of glory, or perhaps a village lad lucks into entry and takes the scheming path. The property that Ling Xiaoyue bought is also in the Cloud Sea Mountains; perhaps they could be neighbors with the Heavenly Sword Sect, watching the protagonists battle wits or brute force within the sect daily, akin to following a series. Fang Zhou roamed around the marketplace, bought a load of daily necessities, asked the shopkeeper to deliver them to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s yard, then went looking for a tavern, intending to fill up her wine jugs. ¡°Eh, young brother ahead, please wait.¡± Fang Zhou turned around and saw a middle-aged woman in brocade robe, waving a jade fan in her hand, with sly and dodgy eyes¡ªnot someone who looked trustworthy at all. This woman glanced at Fang Zhou¡¯s simple face mask, then clasped her hands together and bowed: ¡°I¡¯m Guo Baomu, young brother, I greet you respectfully.¡± Young brother? More like you¡¯re a young brother! Fang Zhou replied coolly: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Guo Baomu¡¯s gaze fell on the sword box on Fang Zhou¡¯s back, smiling, she said: ¡°Young brother, your sword box is of fine quality, would you be interested in parting with it? I¡¯m willing to offer a high price.¡± Fang Zhou was slightly startled in his heart, could she have discerned the origin of this sword box? Yet his face remained impassive as he firmly responded: ¡°Not interested, this is not for sale.¡± Having said that, Fang Zhou turned and walked away, but he kept a watchful eye; if this woman was not willing to give up easily, she might know something about the sword box, if not its origin, then at least its value. But what was unexpected to Fang Zhou was that Guo Baomu didn¡¯t chase after him. Instead, he just showed a hint of regret and turned to leave in another direction. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou, feeling uneasy, quietly followed him and discovered that Guo Baomu asked the price of weapons from everyone he encountered without exception. Tsk, and here I thought he was someone with discernment, turned out to just be a scavenger. Fang Zhou instantly lost interest, turned around, and left. He randomly picked a tavern and asked, ¡°How much is your cheapest wine?¡± Upon seeing a customer, the tavern keeper immediately smiled and said, ¡°Sir, the cheapest wine in our tavern costs three hundred coins per dou.¡± Fang Zhou thought for a moment and then asked, ¡°What about watered-down wine?¡± The tavern keeper got anxious, hastily saying, ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t spout nonsense; our tavern¡¯s wine is absolutely not watered down.¡± Who are you fooling, the cheapest wine couldn¡¯t possibly be without water. However, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t here to expose frauds. He patiently explained, ¡°I¡¯m not saying your tavern¡¯s wine is watered down. I mean that I want watered-down wine, half-water¡­ sixty percent water, how much would that be?¡± The tavern keeper thought for a moment, looked around, and then extended his hand towards Fang Zhou, ¡°I can give you a maximum of twenty percent off.¡± Fang Zhou placed a wine jug on the table, ¡°Deal, fill it up, but this jug of mine can hold quite a lot of wine.¡± The tavern keeper took the wine jug, smiling, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sir. Yunshan City is under the jurisdiction of the Immortal Sect, and our tavern has seen many Immortal Sect magic treasures. We will definitely satisfy you.¡± His words were not without merit; familiar with many things, they wouldn¡¯t be shocked like other people who gasped in awe upon seeing a cultivator. The wine jug was taken by a server to be filled, and Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t worried they would dare to do something foolish like switching magic treasures, so he patiently waited. After a while, there was sudden noise outside on the street of the tavern, with many people crowding around, not knowing what they were doing. Being curious is human nature, and Fang Zhou was no exception. He immediately went over to see what was happening. In the crowd, two women were tugging at each other. One was an older woman dressed and looking like a typical second-rate character. The other was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, pretty and cute with plain clothes, carrying a longsword and a knapsack, looking like a pure village girl who just came from the mountains. The second-rate woman was pointing at the shattered porcelain on the ground and yelling loudly, while the young girl looked embarrassed and panicked, almost on the verge of tears. The onlookers explained what had happened; the woman was carrying the porcelain on the street, and accidentally, the young girl bumped into her causing the porcelain to break. Thus, she clung to the girl, demanding compensation. Clearly, this was a typical case of scamming, now just to see if the girl could see through it. The second-rate woman firmly gripped the girl, not letting go, ¡°Hurry up and compensate me!¡± The girl¡¯s eyes were reddened, ¡°I want to compensate you, but you are asking for too much, I really can¡¯t afford it.¡± The second-rate woman then began to wail miserably, her acting skills very convincing, ¡°This was a family heirloom passed down from my ancestors, now it¡¯s broken, how am I to face my ancestors? You must compensate no matter what, you cannot leave otherwise.¡± Everyone around watched the drama unfold. Such incidents were common, yet no one stepped up to speak for the girl. ¡°Stop!¡± No, there was someone who did step up. Fang Zhou turned to look and the person who stood out turned out to be Guo Baomu, the same man who was after bargains earlier. Chapter 88: 88. Hero Saves the Beauty Chapter 88: 88. Hero Saves the Beauty Many bystanders were present, yet no one was willing to speak up for the young girl; it was a scavenger who stepped forward. Fang Zhou originally thought that Guo Baomu, with her thievish brows and rat-like eyes, did not seem like a good person, but it turned out he had wronged her. Guo Baomu stopped the ruffian¡¯s tugging, walked over and separated the two: ¡°Everyone, in public like this, is it seemly to be tugging and pulling like that?¡± ¡°Guo Baomu?¡± The ruffian clearly recognized Guo Baomu, showing a surprised look, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Even if it¡¯s you, you can¡¯t let me suffer for nothing.¡± ¡°Of course, nothing escapes the discernment of these treasure eyes of mine, Guo Baomu. The value of this ancestral item, just one look and I¡¯ll know.¡± Guo Baomu said proudly, then turned to ask the young girl, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I will help you identify if she¡¯s deliberately asking for an exorbitant price.¡± The young girl was already on the verge of tears, and seeing someone willing to help, naturally nodded her head repeatedly in agreement. Guo Baomu squatted down, picked up a piece of porcelain fragment, and after examining it for a moment, clicked her tongue and said, ¡°Indeed, it is an antique. Although it¡¯s not the exorbitant price she claims, it is still a valuable item.¡± The young girl grew anxious again, ¡°Then, what should I do?!¡± Guo Baomu pondered for a moment, her gaze landing on the longsword the young girl carried on her back, and said in a deep voice, ¡°Ah, to help is to help to the end, who calls me the most fond of helping others out of trouble? How about this, I¡¯ll offer a high price to buy your weapon, then add a bit of my own money to compensate her, how¡¯s that?¡± The ruffian said immediately, ¡°Good, I¡¯ve always admired Guo Baomu¡¯s sense of fairness. I accept your proposal.¡± Thus, Guo Baomu and the ruffian both turned their gazes to the young girl, waiting for her to decide. The girl was completely dumbfounded, ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± The watching Fang Zhou was about to vomit from watching; this was clearly a scam to trap outsiders. And here he thought Guo Baomu was a good person, but she turned out to be scum, too. Indeed, Fang Zhou had seen right from the start; that person, with her thievish brows and rat-like eyes, was no good. Don¡¯t these scammers fear that the person they swindle might pass the trial to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect and come back for retribution? Looking at the alone and helpless young girl, Fang Zhou hesitated. He didn¡¯t want to cause trouble, but his sense of justice was stirring. Before he could make a decision, a voice filled with righteousness suddenly rang out: ¡°Stop!¡± A brocade-dressed young lady leapt out from the crowd, pointing at the two and said, ¡°Under the broad daylight and the heavens, you dare to swindle together?¡± The crowd of onlookers, which had been about to disperse, suddenly came back together, not expecting such an exciting twist. The faces of the ruffian and Guo Baomu instantly darkened; someone dared to ruin their scheme. It seemed that the reputation of the Cloud Sea Gang wasn¡¯t loud enough. The ruffian spoke viciously, ¡°Where did this stupid woman come from, get lost, it¡¯s none of your business here.¡± But the brocade-dressed young lady maintained a righteous expression, ¡°When seeing injustice on the road, I draw my sword to assist, this is the spirit of us cultivators.¡± Her words slightly moved Fang Zhou, as if seeing a hint of Yan Chixia in her. Of course, this person couldn¡¯t be Yan Chixia; Yan Chixia hasn¡¯t been dead long, even if the Underworld expedited the case to allow her reincarnation, at most, she would only now be a tadpole. The brocade-dressed young lady shouted directly at the swindled silly girl, ¡°Stop being foolish, they are all in cahoots, duping you together.¡± The girl showed a look of shock, ¡°So that¡¯s how it is; I knew something was off.¡± She immediately glared at Guo Baomu and her accomplice with a hostile gaze. Guo Baomu slapped her jade fan fiercely and said in a harsh tone, ¡°Very well, how dare someone slander my reputation, Guo Baomu. Today I must seek justice from you.¡± With that, Guo Baomu charged straight at the brocade-dressed young lady. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The brocade-dressed young lady excitedly drew the sword she carried: ¡°Bring it on, I, Chu Yunfei, shall uphold justice today.¡± The two immediately engaged in battle, with Chu Yunfei in the minor accomplishment of the Qi Refining Realm and Guo Baomu of the same realm, they were unexpectedly evenly matched. However, in Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, they were just like chickens pecking at each other. If he stepped in, it probably wouldn¡¯t take a second to lay them both flat. Fang Zhou suddenly realized something at this moment¡ªwas the Qi Refining Realm really this weak? No wonder they¡¯re just cannon fodder. Wait, am I also from the Qi Refining Realm? The girl who got tricked saw Chu Yunfei make a move and immediately drew her sword to fight back: ¡°I¡¯ll help you!¡± But there was still a ruffian nearby, who quickly put his finger to his lips and whistled loudly. Accompanied by the whistle, a bald head, no, several bald heads, burst from the crowd, belonging to muscular women. These two really had accomplices, no wonder the onlookers didn¡¯t dare to help from the start. Neither Chu Yunfei nor the girl had the ability to fight multiple opponents, and the two were quickly pinned down to the ground. Guo Baomu stepped on Chu Yunfei, sneering: ¡°Imposing justice on behalf of the heavens? I¡¯ll let you witness today what it means to truly impose justice on behalf of the heavens.¡± At this point, she no longer concealed her connection with the ruffian and his gang. Fang Zhou silently picked up a few pebbles from the ground, preparing to show this sly-looking guy, what it means not to show off, for those who show off are struck by lightning; Heaven doesn¡¯t need you to impose justice on its behalf, let alone for you to show off pretending to be it. Whoosh whoosh whoosh¡ª A few pebbles shot out from the shadows, striking the smug-faced Guo Baomu and knocking out her teeth, her mouth full of blood. ¡°Who? Who dares to ambush me?¡± Guo Baomu covered her mouth, her angry gaze sweeping around, finally landing on Fang Zhou. The reason she could spot Fang Zhou out of so many people at a glance was mainly because his simple mask was too conspicuous, leaving a deep impression on Guo Baomu. The crowd swiftly parted, revealing Fang Zhou and the pebbles in his hand. Fang Zhou: ????? It wasn¡¯t me who threw them, although I wanted to throw them, I haven¡¯t thrown them yet. Who the hell is framing me? Fang Zhou was dumbfounded; he had just picked up the pebbles when someone else used stones to ambush Guo Baomu, and now even if he jumped into the Yellow River he couldn¡¯t clear his name. ¡°So it¡¯s you!¡± Guo Baomu, furious, charged towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou let out a slight sigh; he hadn¡¯t intended to get involved, but now it seemed he couldn¡¯t avoid taking action. Fortunately, it was just a bunch of nobodies, easy to deal with. The main concern was that fighting the small fries might draw out their bosses, one wave after another, which would be tiresome. However, before Fang Zhou could make a move, a surge of powerful energy came flying, hitting Guo Baomu and instantly knocking her to the ground. The energy didn¡¯t dissipate but instead twisted and turned, swirling around, knocking down more than a dozen bald women. Then, a woman dressed in dark blue long robes descended from the sky, landing in the center of the crowd, just so happening to step on Guo Baomu¡¯s back. This woman was very beautiful, with long hair casually tied with a ribbon, her demeanor casual and elegant, like a celestial being exiled from heaven. ¡°It¡¯s Master Xuan Ling!!¡± ¡°As expected of a True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect.¡± ¡°Master Xuan Ling, look this way!¡± The onlooking crowd played the part of a chorus, letting out waves of fangirl-like gasps and praise. Fang Zhou also clicked his tongue in admiration; look at her, that¡¯s how you show off. Guo Baomu, that was just acting foolishly. Before Fang Zhou could finish his contemplations, he saw the woman in blue turning towards him, with a flippant smile she said: ¡°Little brother, you¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± Fang Zhou was momentarily stunned, damn it, so you¡¯ve come not just to show off, but also to flirt. Chapter 89: 89. Remember to wear a mask when you go out. Chapter 89: 89. Remember to wear a mask when you go out. The scene unfolding on this long street is simply one of hero saving the beauty. But Fang Zhou had no desire to be the beauty being saved. Seeing him silent, Xuan Ling asked again, ¡°Got scared, little brother?¡± Fang Zhou was exasperated; could it be that she had only come out to play this act after seeing him? Guo Baomu, pressed to the ground by Xuan Ling, struggled in vain and couldn¡¯t help but shout, ¡°Let me go now!¡± Xuan Ling looked down and chuckled, ¡°Daring to cause trouble in Yunshan City, you¡¯re quite bold.¡± Guo Baomu shouted loudly, ¡°We are from the Cloud Sea Gang.¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, her foot flicked, and immediately kicked Guo Baomu away, knocking over those bald heads who had just gotten up. She spoke in a soft voice, ¡°Scram, don¡¯t let me see you again.¡± Guo Baomu obviously recognized Xuan Ling, and dared not say anything more, quickly leading his people away in haste. The conflict thus dissipated, and Chu Yunfei along with the young girl got up, exchanged glances, laughed together, and then thanked Xuan Ling. Seeing there was no more spectacle to witness, the onlookers began to leave. Fang Zhou also prepared to depart, but then Xuan Ling called out to him, ¡°Little brother, wait a moment.¡± Fang Zhou didn¡¯t look back; this kind of flirtatious woman was the most scheming, and he absolutely must not provoke her. He hadn¡¯t gone far when suddenly a gust of wind came from behind. Fang Zhou quickly turned around and saw a delicate hand reaching for his face. He dodged, but the hand was wrapped in a strong wind, tearing off the mask from his face. Fang Zhou stepped back, glaring at Xuan Ling unpleasantly. Thinking, ¡°You¡¯re trying to force yourself on me after failing to flirt?¡± Xuan Ling, however, stared at his face, then chuckled and clicked her tongue, ¡°A beauty like jade, superior to the spring breeze, with such good looks, why cover up your own face?¡± Chu Yunfei and the young girl following behind were already stunned. They didn¡¯t expect the man who had helped them to be so handsome and beautiful. Fang Zhou picked up the mask and put it back on, and said indifferently, ¡°What do you want?¡± Judging from the power displayed by Xuan Ling, she might be slightly stronger than Li Ruyu, but not by much, likely also within the scope of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Fang Zhou now kills those in the Foundation Establishment Realm as easily as dogs, yet even a mere dog dares to act wildly in front of me. He decided, if this Xuan Ling really dared to tease him, he would give her a lesson, letting her know that the dignity of a tough man should not be provoked. Xuan Ling felt Fang Zhou¡¯s slight rejection, but didn¡¯t care, maintaining her frivolous smile, ¡°What I want, of course, is to¡­ heehee, little brother, you¡¯re here to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry-level trial, aren¡¯t you?¡± Fang Zhou answered, ¡°No.¡± Xuan Ling winked at him, ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, I think highly of you. If you pass the entry-level trial, I could be your senior sister.¡± Fang Zhou frowned, he was very uncomfortable with the word ¡®senior sister¡¯. Chu Yunfei and the young girl, however, were full of envy. They too were there to participate in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry-level trial, not daring to imagine that they could get to know a True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. This man had great luck indeed; if recommended by a True Disciple, even if the trial results weren¡¯t good, he would have a great chance of entering the Heavenly Sword Sect. Xuan Ling¡¯s hand flicked lightly, and something flew towards Fang Zhou. She herself then leapt up, transforming into a streak of green light, drifting away. ¡°Carrying the Jade Pendant, the Trial Elder will give you some face. If you pass the preliminary selection, come find me at Xuan Sword Peak, and I¡¯ll take you to explore the Cloud Sea Mountains.¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s voice came, and before her words finished, she was already out of sight. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t catch the thing Xuan Ling tossed to him, but simply sidestepped; it flew past him and crashed to the ground nearby, indeed a Jade Pendant. Just because anyone gives me something I should accept it? Who knows if it¡¯s covered in germs or saliva. Chu Yunfei and the young girl were both shocked; this was a huge opportunity, why didn¡¯t he take it? Fang Zhou turned back to look at the two, and then they realized, quickly saying to Fang Zhou, ¡°Young master, thank you for your righteous aid just now.¡± They both thought the stone was thrown by Fang Zhou. Perhaps it¡¯s because of his 2 points of positive reputation, Fang Zhou just looks like that kind of righteous, chivalrous gentleman. Fang Zhou hears himself being called ¡°young master¡± for the first time; it¡¯s supposed to be a respectful title, but most women don¡¯t like using it. But why add the ¡°young¡±? Do I look that young? I¡¯ll scare you to death if I pull it out! Fang Zhou has no interest in chatting with two young ladies, merely saying, ¡°Be more careful next time.¡± Chu Yunfei quickly makes a salute with her hands and says, ¡°I will heed your advice!¡± The girl beside her also mimics the hand salute. Fang Zhou then turns around and leaves, with the two young ladies staring blankly at his retreating figure. Chu Yunfei suddenly says, ¡°I want to pursue him.¡± The girl beside her gapes in surprise, ¡°Ah? Is that¡­ really okay?¡± Chu Yunfei firmly says, ¡°What¡¯s not okay about it? A handsome young man is always sought after by the ladies; mutual affection between men and women is a natural thing in this world.¡± She grabs the shoulder of the girl, ¡°I know you must be thinking the same, don¡¯t worry, we can compete fairly.¡± The girl¡¯s face turns red, but she doesn¡¯t object. ¡°By the way, my name is Chu Yunfei, I haven¡¯t asked for your name yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Li Yunlong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s destiny, I didn¡¯t expect both our names to contain the character ¡®Yun¡¯.¡± The two start conversing enthusiastically, but their eyes couldn¡¯t help but drift to the jade pendant lying on the ground. To pick it up or not, that is the question. ¡­ Fang Zhou returns to the inn, and the innkeeper immediately apologizes to him. It turns out that the inn has been diluting all their bad wine with 60% water, and they still can¡¯t fill the wine jugs. Fang Zhou is indifferent about it. He pays for the drinks, takes the wine jug, and heads back to Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s small courtyard. The living supplies he has ordered have all been delivered and are piled up like a small hill. Fang Zhou tosses the wine jug onto the tree canopy, and Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s voice immediately rings out, ¡°What about the change?¡± Fang Zhou rolls his eyes, ¡°Spent it all.¡± Not even thinking about giving me running errands fee, what kind of master is this. There¡¯s silence from the canopy, but soon Ling Xiaoyue spits out saliva ¡°ptui, ptui, ptui.¡± She sticks her head out, glaring at Fang Zhou: ¡°What kind of wine did you buy for me? And even diluted with water?¡± Fang Zhou shrugs, ¡°With the little money you gave me, what good wine could I buy? If you don¡¯t want to drink it, just pour it out.¡± Sensing from their mental connection that Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s anger is rising, Fang Zhou quickly changes the subject: ¡°Speaking of which, since the Cloud Sea Mountains are the territory of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and our sect is also located within the Cloud Sea Mountains, can the Heavenly Sword Sect really tolerate us being their neighbors?¡± Ling Xiaoyue snorts, ¡°The Cloud Sea Mountains are so vast, it¡¯s not all Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s territory. I¡¯ll settle wherever I want, Heavenly Sword Sect can¡¯t control us, understand?¡± Fang Zhou nods, then sees Ling Xiaoyue jump down, use the Sleeve Universe to store all the materials, and then says to Fang Zhou, ¡°Disciple, your master is going to turn in a mission; you¡¯ll make your own way up the mountain tomorrow.¡± Fang Zhou is taken aback, he knows that Ling Xiaoyue is out on a mission to make money, but he didn¡¯t expect she would let him go up the mountain alone. ¡°I don¡¯t know the way?¡± ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± Ling Xiaoyue teaches Fang Zhou a method, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Heavenly Sword Sect recruiting disciples? Just pretend you want to attend, and they¡¯ll lead you up the mountain. Once you¡¯re there, find a spot to stay, and wait for your master to collect you.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit improper?¡± Fang Zhou feels it¡¯s not quite right, ¡°Can¡¯t you just take me in?¡± Ling Xiaoyue impatiently replies, ¡°Oh come on, the Heavenly Sword Sect has the Mountain Protection Array. If I take you in, then I have to go out again, finish the mission and then go back. Going in and out like that, forcefully, do you think we¡¯re flirting? They have to agree to it, otherwise it¡¯s coercion, and what if it ends in death¡­¡± ¡°Alright, alright!¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou hastily stops her from continuing, otherwise, the topic might stray, and the color might change. ¡°Let¡¯s just do as you say, just don¡¯t forget to come and get me.¡± Fang Zhou actually also wants to experience the entry-level trials of a Major Sect firsthand. Chapter 90: 90. Cant afford to fix your goddamn MB. Chapter 90: 90. Can¡¯t afford to fix your goddamn MB. The next day, Ling Xiaoyue left Yunshan City to complete her task. Her approach was not much different from that of a lone cultivator. What is the most important thing for a sect? Some people would say talent, and that¡¯s somewhat true, but the most important is still money. With money, it¡¯s not a problem to recruit people. Tossing out a handful of coins can always fish up a person or two. Conversely, if there¡¯re people but no money, those people will eventually leave. Therefore, whether big or small, every sect has its foundation, which is not something else but income and industry, the essence of a sect¡¯s establishment. When choosing a location, every sect not only seeks places rich in spiritual energy but also those with resources, from spirit mines to spirit gardens and fields. Otherwise, the outcome will be depletion and eventual bankruptcy. Even the smallest sect would have a medicine field to maintain basic income because cultivation isn¡¯t about finding a place to stay put. Before fasting, one needs to eat, and after fasting, the expenses are even greater. The consumption of spirit pills, spiritual medicines, and spirit stones is almost endless, plus the costs of daily cultivation and the materials for crafting elixirs and magic treasures, enough to terrify even a Golden Core expert into excreting their Golden Core on the spot. To put it bluntly ¡ª without money, you can¡¯t cultivate a damn thing. And lone cultivators, with no sect, no faction, and no income, must earn all their resources themselves. Demon extermination is only low-end work; high-end work involves taking tasks released by sects. Many sects have matters they cannot handle openly, so they assign these tasks to lone cultivators. If successful, it just costs some money, if not, there¡¯s no real loss. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s way of survival was similar to that of lone cultivators; although she belonged to a sect, she was also on her own. Even with property, one person cannot manage it all, and still needed to earn money herself. Thinking this way, one might slightly understand Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s greedy nature. Her situation was not unique; wealthy individuals in the Cultivation World were rare. Most cultivators who appeared brilliant and impressive were actually very stingy. Thinking about his probable future as a worker earning money, Fang Zhou became somewhat pessimistic about his path of cultivation. In his previous life, he was a simple worker, and now, starting cultivation in this life, he still has to be a worker. Why is it so difficult? With a listless spirit, Fang Zhou packed up his luggage, put on a mask, left the courtyard, found a place in Yunshan City to board his two spiritual horses, and then headed to the registration sites of Heavenly Sword Sect. Heavenly Sword Sect had several registration points in Yunshan City, which were already overcrowded, maintained by several sect disciples. Because there were so many people signing up for the entry trials, Heavenly Sword Sect set very strict registration criteria. First, age; they only accept those between seven to seventeen years old. Eighteen and up was considered too old¡ªHeavenly Sword Sect wasn¡¯t a retirement home, of course, and wouldn¡¯t accept such older disciples. Under seven where the spirit hasn¡¯t awakened, unless the talent is extraordinary, Heavenly Sword Sect wasn¡¯t a nursery or kindergarten and wouldn¡¯t take unruly kids. After age comes appearance. Yes, looks¡ªthose who are too ugly or sleazy are not accepted. Handsome and beautiful can score some extra points. Heavenly Sword Sect is a cultivation sect. The appearance of its disciples represents the face of the sect. If a bunch of unattractive disciples were accepted, it would be a laughingstock among peers. After age and appearance, physical health and any potential hidden ailments are checked. Finally, comes realm¡ªthe minimum standard is three years of Qi refinement for entry-level. If you have been cultivating from a young age and still only at the Qi Refining Realm at seventeen, then it¡¯s best to go back where you came from. After such a selection process, not many could successfully register; most are just trying their luck, with only the minority being truly eligible. Fang Zhou patiently waited in line, and it took over two hours before his turn came. The disciple from Heavenly Sword Sect responsible for selection was already looking tired, but perked up a little upon seeing that a man had arrived. He asked Fang Zhou to remove the mask on his face. Fang Zhou knew he couldn¡¯t avoid this step and honestly took off the mask, revealing his face. The Heavenly Sword Sect disciple was invigorated, the fatigue on his face swept away as if he had drunk a cup of ice-cold spring water on a hot summer day, feeling refreshed from head to toe. Finally, among all the crooked melons and cracked dates, appeared someone pleasing to the eye, and quite a fine one at that, leaving her legs unable to close. Seeing her staring at him continuously, Fang Zhou frowned, ¡°Are we done here?¡± The Heavenly Sword Sect disciple replied, ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Fang Zhou: (?_?) Realizing she had misspoken, she quickly corrected, ¡°Passed! This little brother¡­¡± She wanted to ask Fang Zhou¡¯s name, but Fang Zhou took the token he had received and turned to leave, not giving her a chance to strike up a conversation. After successful registration, the Heavenly Sword Sect would take responsibility for transporting individuals into the mountains. The transportation into the mountains was a ship. Yes, it was a huge ship placed on the ground, on par with some of the cruise ships Fang Zhou had seen in his previous life. The journey into the mountains was not via water, but through the air, and this huge ship was known as a shuttle, a famous Magic Treasure of the Heavenly Sword Sect with the Flying Ability, used to transport those participating in the trials. It was like using a cannon to kill a mosquito, but it also served as a means to show off the sect¡¯s strength. Fang Zhou, with the token he had received, boarded the shuttle and waited for it to take off. The inside of the shuttle was off limits to traffic, so those participating in the trial could only wait on the deck. When Fang Zhou arrived at the deck, there were already a lot of people gathered, roughly a thousand or more by a quick glance. The majority were females, with only about a dozen males. These few men were quite smart, sticking together for warmth, occupying a corner of the deck, and the other women, for the sake of their reputation, did not dare to come forward to bother them. However, brown-nosers, those creatures who are not bound by gender, age, time, place, or space, were also gathered around these men, attempting to cozy up and gain favor through their flattery. When Fang Zhou came up, a man was sent out to invite him over. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Fang Zhou declined, as he didn¡¯t want to stay with a bunch of effeminate men, and probably, due to the nickname ¡°foot-scratching man,¡± these men also wouldn¡¯t have a good impression of him. Sure enough, seeing Fang Zhou refuse, the man returned to his group with an ugly expression, and then the bunch of effeminate men directed pointing and whispering at Fang Zhou, surely calling him names like ¡®crude man¡¯ or ¡®green tea d**k¡¯. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t care for the opinion of a bunch of effeminate men, what troubled him was that the looks the women on the deck were giving him were also starting to change. Even though he had his face covered up tightly with a mask, things like stature and temperament couldn¡¯t be hidden, and with the ¡°foot-scratching man¡± nickname as a bonus, Fang Zhou, to these women, seemed increasingly appealing, exuding a charming aura. Those solid shoulders, that firm waist, those straight legs, those eyes devoid of emotion. Many women, looking at Fang Zhou¡¯s body, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in their hearts¡ªOMG!! Fang Zhou, unable to bear being gazed at with so many blatant looks, could only stroll to the tail end of the deck on the shuttle, where there were fewer people. However, upon arriving, he immediately encountered someone familiar. ¡°Young Master?!¡± Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong looked at Fang Zhou with a face full of surprise. Chapter 91: 91. If it were me, Id jump down. Chapter 91: 91. If it were me, I¡¯d jump down. Seeing the two girls here, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t surprised. These two young ladies weren¡¯t old, both had achieved minor success in Qi Refinement, possessed decent talent, and were quite good-looking, too. As long as there were no physical issues, they should easily succeed in registering. However, seeing the two of them standing together so intimately, Fang Zhou still felt it was somewhat unexpected. It was just one night; how had their relationship progressed so quickly? Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei joyfully ran up to greet Fang Zhou, very politely at that. Their eyes didn¡¯t wander over Fang Zhou, which left a good impression on him. Fang Zhou pointed at them, ¡°Your relationship¡­is this good?¡± The girls looked at each other, and Chu Yunfei laughed, ¡°Last night, we chatted by candlelight till late, feeling an instant connection. We¡¯ve sworn to be like sisters of different mothers, so please forgive our boldness, young master.¡± Wow, two beauties chatting by candlelight, just the thought is exciting. Why didn¡¯t you invite me to join? Fang Zhou sighed softly, wondering when he would be able to have a candlelit chat with a pure and shy beauty. Seeing Fang Zhou appear to be in a bad mood, Chu Yunfei pulled out a jade pendant from her bosom and offered it to him with both hands, ¡°Young master, this is something you dropped yesterday. We picked it up for you.¡± Fang Zhou shook his head and did not accept it, ¡°Keep it, or just toss it away.¡± He had no intention of joining the Heavenly Sword Sect. What use would that thing have for him? Moreover, the impression Xuan Ling left on him yesterday was quite bad, reminding him of Li Ruyu, whose frivolous manner clearly indicated she was no novice. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If someone¡¯s going to flirt, it should be me doing the flirting. Being flirted with? No, thanks, I¡¯ll pass. Yet seeing the jade pendant, Fang Zhou still felt a bit embarrassed, remembering his emphatic declaration the day before that he was not there to take part in the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s entry-level trials¡ªnow it seemed like he was slapping his own face. Although he was pretending, nobody else knew that. They probably thought he was a person who didn¡¯t keep his word. Sure enough, the straightforward Li Yunlong immediately asked in confusion, ¡°Young master, didn¡¯t you say yesterday that you weren¡¯t here to join the Heavenly Sword Sect?¡± Chu Yunfei tried to interrupt him a few times but failed. Couldn¡¯t this guy read the room at all? Fang Zhou thought to himself, forcing a small smile, ¡°That¡¯s correct, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°How come?¡± ¡°I can swear a Heart Demon Oath; if I¡¯m lying, I¡¯ll jump off this shuttle.¡± Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong gasped. Such an oath was no small matter, and if Fang Zhou was willing to swear by it, he certainly wasn¡¯t lying. With Fang Zhou¡¯s 2 points in the righteous reputation, it was hard for others to think poorly of him¡ªoh, except for those overdramatic fools who are probably persuaded by that foot-scratching man. Only then did the two girls realize that Fang Zhou, despite having a shortcut like the jade pendant, chose not to use it and must have had his reasons. The three of them chatted about random things, mostly led by Chu Yunfei, with Li Yunlong trying hard to join in and Fang Zhou occasionally responding. He noticed Chu Yunfei¡¯s personality was quite extroverted and lively, while Li Yunlong was more on the shy side. However, after observing for a while, Fang Zhou sensed that Li Yunlong was probably not as reserved and simple as she appeared. She almost let slip her habitual saying ¡®your dad¡¯ several times but managed to hold back. Indeed, anyone who could travel to Yunshan City alone wasn¡¯t simple; there are many dangers on the road and without some craftiness, one would likely have been dead a long time ago. Li Yunlong¡¯s na?ve behavior when she was being extorted was probably a guise from someone new to the area. Chu Yunfei tried a few times to inquire about Fang Zhou¡¯s name, but he always casually brushed it off, not wanting to expose his identity. Before long, two more distinguished-looking women boarded the shuttle, drawing the attention of everyone around and sparking much discussion. Chu Yunfei eagerly filled Fang Zhou in. The woman in white was called Xia Wenqiu, just fifteen years old, the only daughter of the Xia family from the Jing Chu Territory of Jingnan State. A family that practiced cultivation. She was extremely intelligent and talented. She had reached the Perfection of Qi Refining after only five years of practicing her family¡¯s techniques. With the Xia family¡¯s influence, recommending Xia Wenqiu to join the Heavenly Sword Sect would not be difficult, and the Heavenly Sword Sect would also welcome such a talent to become their entry-level disciple. But Xia Wenqiu, competitive by nature, did not wish to be recommended for the sect entrance. Instead, she personally took part in the entry-level trials, aspiring to join the Heavenly Sword Sect by her own strength. This matter spread far and wide throughout the Jing Chu Territory, and many declared that the Xia family had produced a girl with lofty ambitions akin to a qilin. Another girl clad in blue was named Ji Congfeng; no one knew where she came from, only that she arrived at Yunshan City alone, half a month prior, beating up the Cloud Sea Gang and kicking down the Black Tiger Sect, demonstrating the power of Perfect Qi Refining. Ji Congfeng and Xia Wenqiu encountered each other at the Cloud Sea Tavern, competing in swordplay, fistfights, and liquor debates, neither conceding defeat, each viewing the other as a rival. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but chuckle upon hearing this. They were just at the Qi Refining Realm, yet already debating the Dao. What Dao to discuss, the Dao of romance? However, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong were both very excited, like little fangirls starstruck by celebrities, discussing the feats of Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng with great familiarity. Over the past half month, these two figures had become the talk of Yunshan City, and Fang Zhou, having arrived less than two days ago, naturally wasn¡¯t aware. He took the chance to observe them briefly; indeed, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were quite the topic of conversation. First off, both had high levels of appearance, which is fundamental since no one likes to look at the ugly. Furthermore, they had excellent auras, and their attire revealed wealth. Combined with their astonishing talent, impressive strength, and mysterious backgrounds, it¡¯s no wonder they sparked such intense discussions. To say that numerous women turned into adoring fans was an understatement; even the effeminate men began to swoon, their eyes sparkling when looking at the duo. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but muse that judging from their entrance, Ji Congfeng and Xia Wenqiu were destined to be prominent figures; perhaps they¡¯re bound for a long, torturous love story, such as falling for the same man and unraveling into a dramatic love triangle. It was a pity that he wasn¡¯t a member of the Heavenly Sword Sect, unable to witness their love and rivalry firsthand. The shuttle filled up quickly, and the deck was swarming with people. As the shuttle vibrated gently, it rose into the air amidst exclamations of awe, soaring towards the distant misty mountains. The shuttle¡¯s speed was swift, yet standing on the deck, one only felt a gentle breeze and no cold¡ªsurely an effect of the shuttle¡¯s own protection. Fang Zhou stood at the edge of the deck looking down. Below were rapidly undulating mountain ranges and forests, treacherous in terrain¡ªsuch places were inaccessible to ordinary people and could only house the sects of Cultivators. He finally understood why the Heavenly Sword Sect used shuttles to ferry people; had they walked up the mountain, who knows how long it would have taken. Behind Fang Zhou, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong watched his silhouette, exchanging glances and gestures, seemingly urging each other to join him and enjoy the view. But soon, their childish antics ceased, captivated entirely by the scenery unfolding outside the shuttle. The shuttle rose above the clouds, seemingly a real ship navigating a sea of clouds. Amongst the cloud sea, mountain peaks rose to the sky like columns holding the heavens, with the sun casting shimmering light upon them, creating the illusion of an Immortal Realm. Everyone on the deck was stunned by this peerless scenic beauty, only then realizing the true meaning of the Cloud Sea Mountains. Everyone was engrossed in the scenery, oblivious to the passage of time until a Heavenly Sword Sect Disciple shouted, rousing them all. They had arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect. But when everyone looked around, they faced confusion; the surroundings were enveloped in clouds¡ªwhere was the Heavenly Sword Sect? At this moment, the Heavenly Sword Sect Disciple announced the beginning of the entry-level trials. The first trial was for them to leap from the shuttle into the cloud sea. Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei simultaneously turned to look at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou: ¡°???¡± Chapter 92: 92. Falling Objects from a High Altitude Chapter 92: 92. Falling Objects from a High Altitude The shuttle hovered above the clouds. When the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect announced that the first trial was to jump off the shuttle, there was a moment of complete silence on the deck, followed by an uproar. Those with courage questioned the sect¡¯s disciples, while the timid stood in place, unsure of what to do, either exclaiming in shock or whispering among themselves, making the whole scene chaotic. The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, however, did not offer any explanations, but merely emphasized that jumping was the trial, and those who did not jump would soon be sent back. Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong were still looking at Fang Zhou; they had just taken the Heart Demon Oath, and now it was coming true, and their 2 points of righteous reputation could not hold up against it. Fang Zhou, feeling utterly awkward, could only change the subject: ¡°Didn¡¯t you all do your homework before coming to participate in the entry-level trials? Don¡¯t even know what the trials are about?¡± If the Heavenly Sword Sect had held so many entry-level disciple recruitment trials, then the content of the trials should have long been known. Chu Yunfei looked at him in surprise: ¡°The content of the entry-level trials by the Heavenly Sword Sect is different every time.¡± Ah, it seems the person who didn¡¯t do their homework beforehand was myself. But I wasn¡¯t here to participate in the first place, so why do any homework at all. Fang Zhou coughed awkwardly: ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Just jump, is the Heavenly Sword Sect really going to let these nearly a thousand trialists all fall to their death? There must be some kind of protection below.¡± ¡°The young master is right.¡± Chu Yunfei flattered first and then looked outside the shuttle with a fearful gaze: ¡°That¡¯s right, but this is high above the clouds, who would dare to jump rashly?¡± This is a height of ten thousand meters; though they know the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t let them travel thousands of miles just to die, not everyone has the courage to jump. Not to mention, some people are naturally afraid of heights; they feel their legs turning to jelly just by looking down, let alone jumping. ¡°Damn it¡­ Damn it¡­¡± Li Yunlong¡¯s face was pale, and he was muttering to himself, his legs shaking involuntarily. Well, here¡¯s someone with a fear of heights. For such a terrifying thing, someone needs to lead the way, or else no one will dare to be the first to jump. The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were in no hurry and took out a stick of already lit incense from behind, announcing loudly: ¡°You have the time of one incense stick; the shuttle will return to base. Please make your decision soon.¡± The trialists looked at each other, but no one dared to move. Suddenly, a light laugh sounded, and everyone looked over¡ªit was the centre of attention, Xia Wenqiu. There was no sign of panic on her face; instead, she wore a confident smile, arrogantly taking out a paper fan and walking towards the edge of the deck. Another figure also stepped forward at almost the same time, Xia Wenqiu¡¯s arch-rival, Ji Congfeng. Ji Congfeng¡¯s face was indifferent, her steps neither hasty nor slow, displaying a calm composure. Both reached the edge of the deck, Xia Wenqiu flicking her paper fan, smiling at Ji Congfeng: ¡°Sister Ji, if you fear this height, you can come back in ten years. Your little sister will wait for you in the Heavenly Sword Sect?¡± Ji Congfeng snorted coldly, and amidst countless exclamations, she leapt into the sea of clouds. Xia Wenqiu laughed out loud, closed her fan, and then jumped off the shuttle just after. With these two Heavenly Prides leading the way, soon after, other people followed suit and jumped, but the majority were still watching and waiting. ¡°I¡¯m going first.¡± Fang Zhou said to Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong. Without waiting for a response, Fang Zhou took a light leap; he was already standing at the edge of the deck, and with that leap, he had already moved beyond the deck. Outside the shuttle, a gust of wind suddenly rose, which instantly blew away Fang Zhou¡¯s mask from his face. He couldn¡¯t afford to reach for it and could only reveal an awkward smile to the dumbstruck Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong as his figure rapidly fell. But in Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong¡¯s eyes, Fang Zhou seemed to lightly hop down, like an immortal man soaring through the sky. He revealed a breathtakingly beautiful smile to them. In that moment, it was as if time stood still, the whole world lost its color, and only the radiance of his smile shone brilliantly, warm as the spring. When Fang Zhou¡¯s figure vanished from sight as he plummeted down, it seemed as if he took the hearts of the two on the deck with him. Li Yunlong closed her eyes, and when she reopened them, determination filled her gaze, and her hands no longer shook, nor were her legs weak. ¡°Yunfei, pull me down!¡± Her tone was filled with resolve: ¡°Damn it, I refuse to believe jumping down would kill me, and even if it does, I¡¯ll accept my fate!¡± Chu Yunfei laughed heartily: ¡°Sister Yunlong, I¡¯ll join you!¡± The two held hands and leaped off the deck together. ¡­ After jumping down from the shuttle, Fang Zhou still felt a twinge of nervousness. After all, this was his first experience with high-altitude free-fall in both his lives. The wind nearly pierced his eardrums with its fierceness as the temperature plummeted, making it hard to breathe the air into his mouth. Ordinary people might find this unbearable, but Fang Zhou¡¯s body, having been enhanced by the system and nourished by Spiritual Energy, was far beyond ordinary and felt no discomfort at all. Surrounded by clouds and without any point of reference, he had no idea how fast he was falling. Fang Zhou looked up, and the shuttle had already disappeared into the clouds. The reason he dared to jump was not only his conviction that the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t let the trialists plummet to their deaths but also his own protective measures. In his heart, Fang Zhou silently recited the incantation for the Sword Control Technique, and immediately a streak of light shot out from the Sword Box on his back, spiraling to position itself under Fang Zhou¡¯s feet, raising him up. Indeed, Fang Zhou¡¯s protective measure was the Xuanyuan Sword with the Sword Control Technique. For cultivators to fly is not simple, as the Flying Technique is something only those above the Golden Core Realm can learn. Below the Golden Core, one could only resort to Artifact Control Flight, and Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquor flask was one such method. Of course, most cultivators favored Sword Flight, probably because it looked cooler. Sword Flight doesn¡¯t have a fixed pose or action; essentially, it all comes down to using Spiritual Energy to manipulate the Magic Treasure to fly, so there is no set standard. Whether standing, sitting, prone, supine, or trailing behind, or even flying with the sword pressing against your backside, any action is possible. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was at the Perfection of Qi Refining and had plentiful Spiritual Energy within his body, but without being able to extend it outward, he couldn¡¯t achieve Artifact Control Flight. However, the Sword Control Technique was different, as it connected and communicated with Fang Zhou¡¯s mind and body, similar to Little Seven¡¯s gourd treasure. Little Seven¡¯s gourd had a specific name in the Cultivation World, known as the ¡®Bloodline Treasure¡¯ or ¡®Consort Magical Treasure,¡¯ usually found with demons. The treasure is linked to the owner¡¯s bloodline, and it can be used even without Spiritual Energy. The Sword Control Technique probably mimicked this method, linking the Xuanyuan Sword to Fang Zhou¡¯s bloodline, allowing easy Sword Flight without needing to externalize Spiritual Energy. Of course, it still fell short of a true Bloodline Treasure. If Fang Zhou had no Spiritual Energy within his body, he wouldn¡¯t be able to control the Xuanyuan Sword. Supported by the Xuanyuan Sword, Fang Zhou¡¯s descent slowed down. Now, he could easily fly back up to the shuttle standing on the Xuanyuan Sword, but doing so would blow his cover. After a while, Fang Zhou saw people plummeting past him, accompanied by faint cries of terror, akin to raindrops falling. He also spotted Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, with Chu Yunfei shouting at the top of her lungs, and Li Yunlong with her eyes tightly closed. Seeing the two holding hands, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but wonder if aside from their long night chats, the two did something unspeakable last night. To avoid getting hit by people falling above him, Fang Zhou had no choice but to deactivate the Sword Control Technique and continue falling. Before long, he passed through the cloud layer and saw the landscape below. Chapter 93: 93. Heavenly Ascending Ladder Chapter 93: 93. Heavenly Ascending Ladder Below the sea of clouds was a harsh terrain of clustered mountains, countless strange peaks rising from the ground, piercing the sky. Directly under Fang Zhou, there were two vertical peaks. He could faintly feel a subtle force tugging at him, flying towards these two peaks below, ensuring he¡¯s not blown away by the wind. As he approached, Fang Zhou could see clearly; one peak was taller and obscured by fog, while the shorter one had a square stone platform built on top. Between the two peaks, a long stone staircase incredibly spanned across. When Fang Zhou fell onto the shorter peak, his speed abruptly slowed, the force of the fall sharply reduced, as if a pair of invisible hands were cradling him, gently landing him on the stone platform of the peak. On the stone platform, many Trialists who had jumped earlier were already there; some calm, some gasping for breath, others shouting and screaming, venting their excitement from the jump. ¡°Little young master!¡± Hearing this address, he knew it was Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong. The two girls came over enthusiastically, and if they had tails, they would probably be wagging them by now. Chu Yunfei asked with some confusion: ¡°Didn¡¯t you jump before us? How come you arrived later than us?¡± Fang Zhou casually replied: ¡°I stopped to enjoy the scenery on the way.¡± The two girls looked at each other, puzzled by what that meant. ¡°This young brother¡­¡± Just then, another voice suddenly rang out beside them, and Fang Zhou turned his head to see a girl with a friendly smile. Seeing Fang Zhou turn around, the girl¡¯s eyes lit up, her smile even warmer: ¡°You look familiar, young brother, where are you from?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s mask had been blown off by the wind, now exposing his face, and finally someone came to strike up a conversation. The girl did not wait for Fang Zhou¡¯s answer, but instead received two hostile glares. Chu Yunfei said impatiently: ¡°Who we are, is none of your business.¡± She was quick-witted, making it easy to misinterpret the three as being together. Li Yunlong timed her support well: ¡°Exactly, just go away¡ªcough cough, just scram.¡± Normally, anyone else might have taken the hint and left, but this girl was quite thick-skinned, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have the mind to flirt in such a situation. She scoffed: ¡°I am talking to this young man; what does it have to do with you two?¡± Chu Yunfei retorted: ¡°We¡¯re his friends, naturally we need to shield him from these frivolous pests.¡± The girl sneered: ¡°Shield? I think you just want him all to yourselves!¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Hit the nail on the head, didn¡¯t I?¡± Fang Zhou was baffled, watching the two sides quickly escalate into an argument. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I haven¡¯t even said a word yet. The commotion here soon attracted the attention of other Trialists. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng also noticed, both casting admiring glances at Fang Zhou. However, Xia Wenqiu was shaking a folding fan, looking pleased, while Ji Congfeng remained expressionless. As the quarrel intensified and more and more gazes fell on him, Fang Zhou felt quite troubled and was about to speak up to stop it. ¡°Silence!¡± A booming voice like a great bell suddenly appeared, making everyone¡¯s heart sink, and the whole stone platform went quiet. The next moment, an ethereal figure appeared above the stone platform, gradually solidifying, and finally transforming into a woman dressed in dark cyan long robes. ¡°Feng Qin, a Deacon Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, presides over this entry-level trial. Let none of you behave recklessly.¡± Feng Qin, about thirty years old, hovered in mid-air, emitting a faint pressure that silenced the hundreds of Trialists below, including Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, the Heavenly Pride, who also looked solemn. Fang Zhou, hidden among the crowd, observed Feng Qin. Although she did not possess the terrifying might of a Tree Demon, she still exuded a strong sense of threat. Without a doubt, she must be a Cultivator of the Innate Realm. Even though Fang Zhou could now slay those in the Foundation Establishment Realm as if they were dogs, he still had a huge gap in strength compared to those in the Innate Realm. For instance, the Mountain Demon he encountered earlier, who had touched the threshold of the Innate Realm, might still not be manageable by Fang Zhou. Of course, after mastering the basics of the Sword Control Technique, he could certainly defend himself, but winning was another matter. Against an authentic Cultivator of the Innate Realm, defeat was certain. Feng Qin raised her hand gracefully, and hundreds of streamers flew out from the sleeves of her robe, drilling into the minds of each Trialist. This was information about the content of the trial. The standards for accepting disciples in the Heavenly Sword Sect were extremely strict, assessing courage, perseverance, character, talent, and comprehension. Jumping down from the shuttle was a test of courage; previously nearly a thousand Trialists on the shuttle, yet only about four hundred people dared to jump, less than half. Just the first hurdle eliminated so many, and with four more hurdles to go, probably not even a hundred would remain in the end. After releasing the streamers, Feng Qin disappeared, having said all she needed to; now, she only needed to keep an eye out for any rule violations or cheating. The second hurdle tested perseverance and was called the Heavenly Ascending Ladder, essentially the stone staircase connecting the platform to a higher peak. From above, this stone staircase didn¡¯t seem long, but as one approached, it seemed nearly endless. The second hurdle was simple: walk up the Heavenly Ladder, climb as high as possible¡ªthe higher, the better. The Heavenly Sword Sect would decide if one was qualified based on how far one walked, but the specifics of the standard were not disclosed. This second hurdle was much simpler than the first. This time, without needing Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng to take the lead, many rushed forward to ascend the ladder, afraid of falling behind. However, once they ascended, their speed suddenly slowed, and expressions of surprise appeared on their faces. Despite their surprise, they did not stop advancing and continued to climb. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng also began their climb with steady steps, but upon stepping on the ladder, both showed curious expressions. Xia Wenqiu waved his fan lightly, smiling, ¡°Interesting, indeed interesting.¡± Ji Congfeng, however, had a cold expression and continued upward. More and more people climbed the ladder; the girl who had talked to Fang Zhou didn¡¯t want to be left behind but glared at Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong before leaving. The two young girls weren¡¯t pushovers either and promptly glared back. They both then looked at Fang Zhou and said, ¡°Young master, let¡¯s go up too.¡± But Fang Zhou replied, ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll rest a little while longer; don¡¯t wait for me.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten that he was impersonating someone¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be good to draw too much attention; best to keep a low profile. The two girls exchanged a glance, then together told Fang Zhou, ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you at the top.¡± With that, they also ran up the ladder with the crowd. Upon stepping on it, they, too, showed surprised expressions and significantly slowed their climbing pace. Fang Zhou had noticed this earlier. Could it be that the gravity on the ladder was different from other places? After almost everyone had left the platform, Fang Zhou leisurely approached the ladder and stepped onto it. He wanted to see what was so peculiar about this thing. Chapter 94: 94. Everything is for the sect Chapter 94: 94. Everything is for the sect Heavenly Sword Sect, Yuxu Palace. When Xuan Ling arrived at the Yuxu Palace, she immediately saw the person she most disliked¡ªYu Qing, the True Disciple of the Sword Control lineage. She was also Xuan Ling¡¯s senior sister. Yu Qing wore white, her figure tall and upright, her appearance handsome and graceful, her temperament gentle as jade, mild yet not outdated, deeply loved and revered by the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect. It is said that the male disciples who secretly love her could fill the entire Heavenly Ascending Ladder. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re here.¡± Upon seeing Xuan Ling, Yu Qing greeted her with a smile, and a breeze-like warm and gentle aura hit her face, making one feel refreshed and delighted. Several duty disciples inside the Yuxu Palace showed enchanted expressions. Xuan Ling very subtly frowned, but on her face, she revealed a frivolous smile: ¡°Oh, I¡¯m quite lazy compared to sister, who is always so diligent. The Sect Master must see this clearly.¡± Facing Xuan Ling¡¯s sarcasm, Yu Qing did not show displeasure but advised, ¡°Heavenly Dao rewards the diligent. It¡¯s better for you to be diligent, sister. Try not to go down the mountain to play often and delay your cultivation.¡± ¡°No matter how diligent, I cannot compare to sister¡¯s innate talent, it might be better to be lazy.¡± ¡°Sister¡­¡± While they were talking, three streaks of light flew from the distance and landed in the Yuxu Palace, transforming into human forms, revealing three women of different ages. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling quickly bowed in greeting: ¡°Master, Aunt Master.¡± The structure of the Heavenly Sword Sect comprises a main sect and three lineages. The main sect is the Heavenly Sword Sect, and the three lineages are Sword Control, Xuan Sword, and Lei Sword, all branches of the Heavenly Sword. These three women are the leaders of the three lineages. True Master Xuan Jian is Xuan Ling¡¯s Master, bearing the appearance of a sixteen-year-old girl; standing next to Xuan Ling, they looked like sisters. True Master Yu Jian is Yu Qing¡¯s Master, a forty-year-old woman, whose temperament was almost identical to Yu Qing¡¯s, both gentle as jade and modest, appearing like mother and daughter. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The last woman, aged between twenty and thirty, indeterminable, wore a stern and indifferent expression, her eyes piercing, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. This was True Master Lei Jian, whose True Disciple, Lei Ting, was currently secluded in cultivation and did not appear. Despite their similar ages, their different characters were evident from their appearances. True Master Yu Jian was gently inquiring about Yu Qing¡¯s recent studies, assigning cultivation tasks to her True Disciple every few days. True Master Xuan Jian and Xuan Ling were arm in arm, whispering secrets; soon they broke into laughter. True Master Lei Jian, who was always serious, headed straight into the Yuxu Palace. Others had no choice but to end their conversations and follow. Inside the grand hall of the Yuxu Palace, mist lingered, resembling an Immortal Realm, with a huge circle of light erected in the middle. Within the circle, the current scenes from the Heavenly Ascending Ladder were reflected. This magical circle is called Heavenly Light Mirror, a Magic Treasure of the Heavenly Sword Sect, capable of observing the surroundings of Cloud Sea Mountains. The leaders of the three lineages had come here today to pick promising new seeds. Among this year¡¯s trialists, most were mediocre, with two exceptions: Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng. The Xia family of Jing Chu Territory has a close relationship with Heavenly Sword Sect, hence Xia Wenqiu was added early to the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s watchlist. If not for her insistence on participating personally in the entry-level trials, she would have been admitted into the sect already. Ji Congfeng, appearing in Yunshan City half a month ago, had her talent noted by Heavenly Sword Sect and was also added to the watchlist as a top candidate that could compete with Xia Wenqiu. Aside from these two women, other trialists were rubbish, not worth mentioning. The leaders of the three lineages had rushed here early to compete for the ownership of Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng. Only the two most promising seeds, one of the three paths is destined to be left void. As soon as they entered the grand hall, one could see Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, reaching the head of everyone on the Heavenly Ascending Ladder, dominating the scene. Those trialists who had ascended the ladder earlier had long been left behind. As soon as True Master Xuan Jian stepped in, she immediately pointed at Xia Wenqiu and exclaimed in a delicate voice, ¡°Wow, waving a paper fan in such cold weather, so charismatic, I want her.¡± True Master Lei Jian, with an expression as cold as ice, stared at an equally indifferent Ji Congfeng and coldly spat out three words: ¡°Ji Congfeng.¡± The two paths had divided the two most outstanding seedlings right from the start, not even giving True Master Yu Jian a chance to speak. But Yu Qing was not worried at all; she had great confidence in her Master. Watching her two anxious junior sisters, True Master Yu Jian spoke gently: ¡°I want them all.¡± The grand hall fell silent. True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian were not surprised at all. Don¡¯t be fooled by True Master Yu Jian¡¯s gentle demeanor and soft speech, which seems generous, but in reality, she has the thickest skin and can say the most shameless things. True Master Xuan Jian pointed at her: ¡°Senior sister, your Sword Control path has the most disciples, yet you still compete with your junior sisters, isn¡¯t that too shameless?¡± True Master Lei Jian gave a succinct agreement: ¡°Despicable.¡± True Master Yu Jian laughed, her smile as warm as a spring breeze: ¡°What are my sisters talking about? Although we are all branches of the Heavenly Sword, we come from the same source and are all sisters. What¡¯s yours is mine and what¡¯s mine is yours; you think having many disciples in my Sword Control path is a blessing? It¡¯s actually a burden, a huge responsibility. The everyday losses and expenses keep me up at night, causing my hair to fall out. All these efforts are for the sect, why distinguish between you and me?¡± Look, does this sound like something a person would say? Why not give some of your disciples and resources to me so I can share the burden for the sect? True Master Xuan Jian knew how to argue too, she, together with True Master Lei Jian, were no match for their senior sister and straightforwardly said: ¡°Let¡¯s not talk further, senior sister, let¡¯s go by the rules.¡± True Master Lei Jian succinctly agreed again: ¡°Agreed.¡± True Master Yu Jian also smiled: ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll listen to you both.¡± Yu Qing was not worried at all. Why did her Sword Control path have the most disciples? Wasn¡¯t everything done according to the rules? There was no loss. While the three decision-makers were amiably negotiating, Xuan Ling, who usually loved to interrupt, remained unusually silent this time. Her gaze fixated on the Heavenly Light Mirror, following the figure on the Heavenly Ladder below, slowly climbing up. After being reminded by me yesterday, he didn¡¯t wear a face mask today¡­ was he captivated by my heroic charm? Heh, men. A smug smile appeared on Xuan Ling¡¯s face as she already thought about which places to take this stubbornly outspoken young man. ¡°Junior sister, what are you looking at?¡± The voice of Yu Qing suddenly interrupted Xuan Ling¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Are you looking at this man? Oh, he is quite handsome, even more so than the Disciple Gou Cheng, seems like the junior sisters are going to be restless again.¡± Yu Qing looked at the figure in the Heavenly Light Mirror, her praise genuine. Gou Cheng is a male disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, very talented and known for his handsome features, greatly admired by the female disciples. But Gou Cheng had not favored anyone, as it was said he secretly admired one of the True Disciples, but no one knew who it specifically was. Xuan Ling slowly turned around, staring at Yu Qing, and said with a smile: ¡°Senior sister, this is the man I¡¯m interested in, I even gave him my jade pendant¡ªsurely you won¡¯t compete with me for him?¡± Yu Qing also smiled: ¡°Junior sister jests, I always embrace the Heavenly Dao and do not dwell on personal feelings of romance; you can rest assured.¡± Xuan Ling eyed Yu Qing suspiciously, her smile was 90% similar to True Master Yu Jian¡¯s, always leaving her feeling uneasy. Chapter 95: 95. Its all this damned worlds fault. Chapter 95: 95. It¡¯s all this damned world¡¯s fault. Fang Zhou was walking up the Heavenly Ladder, and couldn¡¯t tell if it was an illusion, but he always felt like someone was spying on him. It probably wasn¡¯t an illusion, since after he had started climbing, other Trialists on the ladder would blatantly or cautiously steal glances at him. He had long gotten used to being gawked at and eyed like he was a rare exhibit. After setting his foot on the Heavenly Ladder, Fang Zhou finally realized the problem with this ladder¡ªhis attributes had been reduced by a third. Strength, speed, and constitution all dropped by nearly 10, only his spiritual power stubbornly maintained itself, staying just as high as it should be. No wonder those who stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder looked so bewildered, slowing down because their Physical Strength had been diminished by the ladder. If the reduction was permanent, that would undoubtedly be a killer trap, but the Heavenly Sword Sect probably wouldn¡¯t pull such a dumb stunt. With their Physical Strength reduced, these Trialists were like a bunch of men with kidney deficiency and impotence¡ªno, wait, that metaphor should apply to men. In any case, all these women looked weak and drained as if their endocrine systems were out of whack. They weren¡¯t very high up before they started panting and sweating profusely; some even sat down and couldn¡¯t get back up. Fang Zhou passed by them with a bit of schadenfreude in his heart, hmph, serves you right for thinking about men all the time and not training properly. Now you¡¯ve learned your lesson. He didn¡¯t dare walk too fast himself, to avoid drawing attention, just taking his time, but at least maintaining a steady pace. Almost everyone had left him behind at first, but soon he had passed one Trialist after another. Then, out of nowhere, a girl started following him closely behind. Initially, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mind, thinking that she was just looking for a target to follow, but when he turned back, the girl gave him an honest and simple smile. But soon, Fang Zhou realized something was off. His spiritual power, boosted by the foot-scratching man, had reached a formidable 9 points. Though it hadn¡¯t broken into double digits, it was still quite high. From Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, no one would have cultivated their spiritual power, and even those with exceptional talents were just slightly above average, excluding monsters. So Fang Zhou could feel the girl¡¯s gaze lingering on his lower body. Damn, this woman was sneaking a peek at him. At that moment, Fang Zhou felt a mix of annoyance and amused helplessness. He turned back to give her a glare, but the girl just kept playing dumb, showing him that naive expression. If it were some sleazy-looking woman, Fang Zhou would¡¯ve kicked her in the face long ago, but this girl was actually very cute, looking to be just fourteen or fifteen years old, yet her figure was already quite curvy. Such a promising potential stock, and yet she¡¯s learning to act like a pervert. Damn this world to hell. Fang Zhou decided to teach the girl a lesson. To her astonishment, he reached out, pinched her face, and gave it a twist. ¡°Ouch!¡± The girl jumped in pain, looking up only to find Fang Zhou had already sprinted far ahead. She gazed vacantly at his retreating figure, a sudden ecstatic expression crossing her face as she hurriedly chased after him, but alas, she couldn¡¯t catch up and soon exhausted herself on the Heavenly Ladder. Like a gust of wind, Fang Zhou quickly surpassed many other Trialists. He didn¡¯t know how high he had climbed, but more and more Trialists were collapsing unable to get up; those still persevering moved up inch by inch, but the end of the Heavenly Ladder was nowhere in sight, which was utterly despairing. Even with a third shaved off, Fang Zhou¡¯s average three attributes were still over fifteen, so this distance was no more challenging than a post-dinner walk, not panting in the slightest. With fewer and fewer Trialists on the ladder, Fang Zhou quickly encountered Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong. Both were drenched in sweat, still persisting step by step. Seeing Fang Zhou appear fresh as a daisy, they both widened their eyes. Seeing their nearly exhausted state, Fang Zhou was puzzled; it¡¯s just a third reduction in Physical Strength¡ªwas it that bad? Both girls were too tired to speak, their clothes soaked with sweat. Fang Zhou glanced at their chests but remained unflustered, entirely free of any impulses. The development is still unfinished; the girls need to strive harder. After accompanying them for a while, Fang Zhou continued upward. He would have liked to stay, but the Heavenly Sword Sect hadn¡¯t announced any specific criteria for the Heavenly Ascending Ladder trial. If he stayed and got eliminated, that would be a complete disaster. So he could only continue upward to reach a position where he could be sure he wouldn¡¯t be eliminated. As he went higher, there were practically no people left; it seemed like the entire Heavenly Ladder was devoid of human presence, all but Fang Zhou alone. Surely he couldn¡¯t have left everyone behind? No, he hadn¡¯t seen those two girls who loved and bickered with each other yet. Instinctively quickening his pace, Fang Zhou soon saw the two Heavenly Prides. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng. These two Heavenly Prides also noticed Fang Zhou catching up, and all three were briefly stunned. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were just as sweaty, their clothing soaked as if they had just finished a marathon. So when they saw Fang Zhou, without a trace of sweat and looking cool, they were momentarily taken aback. Realizing these two Heavenly Prides were also sweaty, Fang Zhou understood he had been mistaken. Meanwhile, inside Yuxu Palace, the three decision-makers saw Fang Zhou catching up. All three were baffled. Where did this man come from? sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 96: 96. Have the opportunity to talk by candlelight through the night Chapter 96: 96. Have the opportunity to talk by candlelight through the night Seeing Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng drenched in sweat, Fang Zhou realized he had made a mistake. These two Heavenly Prides are at Qi Refining Realm Perfection, even if one third of their attributes are reduced, they should be much stronger than other trialists. How could they be exhausted just from climbing a section of the Heavenly Ladder? Their attributes must have been reduced by more than one third, likely all of it. The strength nourished by Spiritual Energy has been stripped away, reducing their bodies back to ordinary strength, which is why they¡¯re so weary. One third of Fang Zhou¡¯s physical strength is enhanced by Spiritual Energy nourishment, while the remaining two thirds are augmented by the system, equivalent to his original body strength, which is why he is not suppressed by the Heavenly Ladder. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng both looked at Fang Zhou in astonishment, wondering how this man doesn¡¯t have a drop of sweat on him. How did he do it? While the three of them exchanged wordless glances, inside the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s Yuxu Palace, the three True Masters were also a bit stunned. Wasn¡¯t it said that aside from Xia and Ji, the rest are trash this year? How come there¡¯s another one popping up, and it¡¯s a man at that. After all, being in charge of one lineage, they quickly realized that having another outstanding seed was good news. At least the three lineages didn¡¯t need to fight fiercely anymore. ¡°This man, why not let him join your Sword Control lineage, Elder Sister?¡± ¡°Seconded!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± The three True Masters exchanged glances and burst into laughter, filling the Yuxu Palace with a cheerful atmosphere. Yu Qing whispered to Xuan Ling, ¡°Junior Sister, you have good judgement.¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s mouth curled up in a smile: ¡°You flatter me, Elder Sister.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But inside, she felt quite smug. Isn¡¯t that obvious? Though she was also surprised by Fang Zhou¡¯s performance. On the Heavenly Ladder, the awkward atmosphere continued to spread. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng stopped moving and took the opportunity to rest while also keeping an eye on Fang Zhou, which made his scalp tingle as their gazes were akin to observing some rare animal. They had thought only each other were their competitors among these people, the rest being nothing more than chickens and dogs. Unexpectedly, another formidable rival appeared. Finally, it was Xia Wenqiu who broke the silence. She cupped her hands towards Fang Zhou and smiled, ¡°I am Xia Wenqiu. May I know your name?¡± Fang Zhou thought for a moment, then replied, ¡°My name is Li Yunlong.¡± ¡°So, you are Mister Yunlong.¡± Xia Wenqiu appeared to be well-mannered, her smile warm like a spring breeze: ¡°Mister Yunlong, aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Ji Congfeng also intently watched Fang Zhou. ¡°Tired indeed!¡± Fang Zhou lay straight down on the ground: ¡°I¡¯m exhausted to death, if I walk any further, I¡¯ll pass out.¡± Xia Wenqiu¡¯s smile stiffened, while Ji Congfeng¡¯s forehead started to throb with veins. We have no grudge against you, why are you treating us like fools? Who would believe you¡¯re so exhausted you could pass out, without a single drop of sweat on your forehead? Faced with their intense gazes, Fang Zhou shamelessly refused to get up. He was helpless, who could have foreseen this situation? Pretending to be a trialist should be no issue, as long as he didn¡¯t go overboard. But if he ended up taking first place in the trial and the Heavenly Sword Sect found out it was a fraud, that would be a serious problem. This would be making a mockery of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s reputation, potentially pushing their anger to the brink. So no matter what, he must not surpass these two Heavenly Prides. ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡± Inside the Yuxu Palace, True Master Xuan Jian burst out laughing: ¡°This lad¡¯s skin is indeed thick, quite similar to you, Elder Sister. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to take him into your Sword Control lineage?¡± True Master Yu Jian smiled genially: ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see, let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Yu Qing patted Xuan Ling on the shoulder to console her, saying, ¡°Junior Sister need not be nervous, Aunt Master must be joking.¡± Xuan Ling irritably slapped her hand away. ¡­ ¡°Mr. Yunlong, get up.¡± Xia Wenqiu urged, ¡®stop pretending, do you really take us for fools?¡¯ ¡°No way, my waist is sore, my back hurts, my legs are cramping, my head is dizzy, my eyes are blurry, and my head hurts, just leave me be and hurry up.¡± Fang Zhou decided not to get up, I¡¯m just going to lie here, no one will make me stand up again. Powerless to do anything, Xia Wenqiu had seen men who were either gently compliant or lively and quick-witted, but had never seen such shamelessness and could only turn her head to look at Ji Congfeng. Ji Congfeng let out a cold snort and continued walking upwards. Xia Wenqiu gave a smile and followed along. They couldn¡¯t possibly stay here and waste time with Fang Zhou; they would deal with this hurdle first. As for the debt of Li Yunlong insulting their intelligence, they could settle it with him slowly afterward. After the two Heavenly Prides had walked far away, Fang Zhou then got up and sighed towards the sky. To avoid offending people, is it easy for me? I even had to resort to lying on the ground. It¡¯s all Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s damn fault. After waiting a bit, Fang Zhou continued walking upwards, this time slowing his pace to avoid catching up with those two again. However, there wasn¡¯t much left of the Heavenly Ladder, and it wasn¡¯t long before Fang Zhou could see the end. When he stepped onto the end of the Heavenly Ladder, he found a high platform built of giant rocks, and near the ladder there was a stone cauldron with an incense stick halfway burned. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart sank a bit; the incense was probably a timer, and if it finished burning before climbing the ladder, you would probably be eliminated. The Heavenly Sword Sect didn¡¯t clarify the standards at the beginning, merely saying to climb as high as you can, the higher the better, which gave some trialists a glimmer of hope, making them more likely to give up halfway. Fang Zhou spared half a second worrying about Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, hoping they could hold on and make it up. Atop the high platform stood two Exotic Beast statues, and next to them was a sign saying to proceed inward. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were standing before the two Exotic Beast statues. Fang Zhou stepped onto the high platform and noticed that the space between the two Exotic Beast statues was slightly distorted, resembling a door. Upon seeing Fang Zhou arrive, Xia Wenqiu greeted him with clasped hands, ¡°Mr. Yunlong, Wenqiu once thought that only Sister Ji was worthy of attention, and that others were insignificant, but I didn¡¯t expect there would be Mr. Yunlong, such a noble gentleman who regards false reputation as dung. It was Wenqiu who was arrogantly ignorant, please forgive me.¡± Xia Wenqiu seemed to be apologizing with quite a sincere tone, but Fang Zhou had a feeling she was mocking him for pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. What an injustice, if I really were pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger, I would have flipped you two little girls over by now, why would I have to humbly talk to you like this. Fang Zhou¡¯s gaze fell on Xia Wenqiu¡¯s upright chest and he immediately said seriously, ¡°No, you¡¯re so big, how can you be overly arrogant? It¡¯s clearly too big, perhaps we can have an opportunity to talk deep into the night by candlelight.¡± Xia Wenqiu frowned, Fang Zhou¡¯s words were so disconnected that she really couldn¡¯t understand what he meant by ¡°too big.¡± Ji Congfeng had been studying the invisible door between the two Exotic Beasts since earlier and now ignored the two, stepping straight through and disappearing instantly. ¡°Hehe, this trial from the Heavenly Sword Sect is truly interesting. The first two challenges are about courage and perseverance, so this third one must be about character.¡± Xia Wenqiu smiled at Fang Zhou, ¡°Mr. Yunlong, Wenqiu will go ahead first, we¡¯ll meet again at the fourth challenge.¡± With that, Xia Wenqiu also stepped through and vanished instantly. Fang Zhou looked at the high platform, wondering if Ling Xiaoyue would come to fetch him if he waited here. But he was genuinely curious about the next few challenges, it would be itchy not to see them for himself. After half a second of consideration, Fang Zhou followed through as well. Chapter 97: 97. The revolution has begun. Chapter 97: 97. The revolution has begun. Who am I? Where am I? What am I to do? Fang Zhou stood in the bustling street, pondering these classic philosophical questions, which could also be called the security guard¡¯s three questions. As he thought this, an idea emerged in his mind¡ªI was about to go to the Heavenly Sword Sect for the entry-level trials. Eh, that¡¯s not right, am I not already in the middle of the trials? Two different thoughts collided in Fang Zhou¡¯s mind, causing him great confusion. At this moment, a faint yellow light suddenly shone from Fang Zhou¡¯s arms, engulfing him entirely, his consciousness instantly became clear, and all doubts were swept away. He reached into his arms and pulled out a pitch-black orb. [Illusion-Repelling Orb: A rare demon brain calculus, which grants immunity to low-grade Spirit Magic when carried.] This was obtained from the body of a maneating fox after killing it at Hu Family¡¯s house, capable of immunizing against low-grade Spirit Magic. Fang Zhou had always carried this thing with him, nearly forgetting about it, but it proved to be useful at this very moment. After being purified by the Illusion-Repelling Orb, Fang Zhou then remembered that he had stepped into the third stage of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s trials. This place should be an illusion; if it¡¯s an Illusion Technique, after being immune by the Illusion-Repelling Orb, Fang Zhou would definitely become clear-headed. Since he hasn¡¯t escaped yet, the thing he¡¯s dealing with is not an Illusion Technique but the Legendary illusion capable of creating a real-world illusion. Inside the illusion, everything is real and everything is false, making it an excellent test of human nature. The Illusion-Repelling Orb can only immunize against low-grade Spirit Magic, and in principle, it shouldn¡¯t immunize against an illusion, but Fang Zhou¡¯s spiritual power is exceptionally high. With the Illusion-Repelling Orb, it¡¯s just enough to become clear-headed. He is now in a town bustling with people. Everything around him seems undeniably real, without a single detail amiss. ¡°Ouch~¡± Just as Fang Zhou was contemplating what kind of trial the illusion was going to impose on the trialists, a cry of pain suddenly rose. An old beggar was knocked to the ground by someone, who then walked away without looking back. Passersby showed disgust at the filthy beggar and steered clear, not one willing to lend a hand. Well, the content of this trial is pretty obvious at a glance. Fang Zhou went over, helped the old beggar up, and upon seeing his many injuries, he sent him to a medical hall for treatment, paying both money and effort, earning the old beggar¡¯s profuse gratitude. The content of this trial seems pretty simple, but clear-headed people like Fang Zhou are an exception. Other trialists, though they may act humbly in front of the Heavenly Sword Sect, are high and mighty Cultivators in the Human World. Without realizing that this is a test, would those trialists really extend a helping hand to a dirty old beggar? This is doubtful. Fang Zhou felt that the elimination rate of this third stage might not be much lower than the previous two stages. He originally thought that after assisting the old beggar, the trial would end, but he didn¡¯t expect that another cry of alarm would follow shortly after. A young man, with barely any clothes on his body, was frantically running through the crowd, chased closely by more than a dozen fierce-looking women. Damn, abducting a townsman¡ªno, wrong¡ªabducting a town boy, the classic plot. Fang Zhou stepped forward and easily knocked the dozen women to the ground, earning the young man¡¯s gratitude. The youth had barely left when another man was thrown out of the inn. It turned out he had been swindled out of his money and seduced, ending up destitute on the streets. MMP, will this never end? Fang Zhou suppressed the urge to curse and took the man to find the fraudster. ¡­ The trial in the illusion would obviously not be that simple; it normally lasts for half an hour, which equates to thirty days, or one month, inside the illusion. It takes about a month to barely discern the true nature of the trialist, to gauge if there might be any disguise in the minutiae. Moreover, as it nears thirty days, law and order within the illusion will gradually deteriorate, plunging into chaos to test the trialists¡¯ choices in turbulent times. Heavenly Sword Sect does not necessarily need to recruit disciples who are paragons of virtue or heroes of justice, but it does require disciples to have a normal sense of right and wrong, as well as a grateful and reciprocating moral character. It¡¯s not uncommon for a sect to have raised ingrates; there was once a major sect in the Central Plains that fell due to the betrayal of such a disciple, in collusion with external forces. Many cultivators took this as a warning, and many major sects added moral character to their standards for taking in disciples, not expecting contributions but hoping they wouldn¡¯t go out and cause trouble. Even so, the occasional outlier slips through; after all, many people are adept at deception and can even keep it up for a lifetime, revealing their true colors only in specific circumstances. This part of the trial was by no means trivial, so the three True Masters regarded it highly. If either Xia Wenqiu or Ji Congfeng showed any issues in moral character, they would have to reluctantly let them go. Fortunately, the performances of the two ladies from the Xia and Ji families after entering the illusion were quite impressive, not displaying the haughty attitude typical of cultivators. Of course, Fang Zhou¡¯s performance was not inferior in the least, even surpassing the two ladies. At least when he carried the old beggar to seek medical help, he did not frown at the beggar¡¯s filth and stench but showed a righteous and awe-inspiring demeanor. Such a performance from Fang Zhou made True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian put aside their earlier jests and consider him as a target for observation just like the Xia and Ji ladies. ¡°It seems this year is fortunate for Heavenly Sword Sect, being able to find three outstanding talents at the same time, without having to vie for them,¡± True Master Xuan Jian said with a smile. ¡°Agreed.¡± True Master Lei Jian was as concise as ever. A millennium ago, after the calamity of the White Demon¡¯s destruction of the path, the Cultivation World went through a thousand years of peace, with the progress of the immortal path slowing and talent diminishing year by year. With the talents of the two ladies from the Xia and Ji families, they would have been cannon fodder a thousand years ago, elite cannon fodder worth cultivating five hundred years ago, but are now eagerly anticipated excellent seeds by various factions. It can only be said that the Cultivation World has fallen. True Master Yu Jian did not join in the conversation with her two fellow sisters, but her gaze never left Fang Zhou. Her lineage of Sword Control, though thriving, had too many female disciples¡ªa case of having more wolves than meat, cough ¡­ too much yin and not enough yang. If they could take in another genuine male disciple, it would help balance yin and yang, which would be most excellent. Suddenly, True Master Yu Jian frowned, and Yu Qing also uttered a surprised ¡°What is he doing?¡± True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian turned their heads to look and were simultaneously taken aback. Xuan Ling pinched her brows secretly as well; this little man was not being the least bit obedient. Inside the illusion, after more than ten days had passed, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were still doing good deeds, but Fang Zhou used his reputation as a good man to get acquainted with quite a few men in the illusion. At this moment, under Fang Zhou¡¯s rallying, these men gathered inside a tavern, which had closed its doors to the public and barred women from entering. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. An increasing number of men arrived at the tavern through secretive channels, crowding the place with over three hundred men inside. Fang Zhou used tables and chairs to improvise a podium and began to speak before the watchful eyes of the crowd. The first sentence that came out of his mouth was¡ª¡±My fellow men, the revolution has begun!!¡± Chapter 98: 98. Men can hold up half the sky Chapter 98: 98. Men can hold up half the sky Fang Zhou was being the good guy and doing good deeds non-stop at first. But as time went on, he felt something was amiss. After all, he wasn¡¯t truly there to participate in the entry-level trial, so why was he working so hard? And what if, by mistake, he outdid Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng? After all, he is now unaffected by the illusion, and could easily disguise himself as a paragon of justice with impeccable character. Nobody¡¯s perfect, and the other Trialists within the illusion would definitely reveal some issues more or less, unless they could, like Fang Zhou, remain unaffected. On this point, Fang Zhou had already beaten everyone, competing with others like he was playing with cheats¡ªif you¡¯re working this hard even with cheats, should the others even bother to live? So Fang Zhou started to slack off, not being as active in his good deeds; just going through the motions was enough. On the contrary, he started to explore the secrets of the illusion, which was a rare opportunity. The entire range of the illusion was only about the size of a small town and Fang Zhou tried to leave this town only to be sent back promptly. He began to make friends, observing whether the people within the illusion were different from those outside. However, within a few days, Fang Zhou had generally grasped the situation within this small illusion, but at the same time, he discovered something that made him very uncomfortable. This illusion is constantly filled with various injustices, such as bullying and exploiting the common folk, waiting for the Trialists to resolve them. This is a world especially prepared for Trialists; it¡¯s normal for there to be a higher frequency of bad deeds. However, almost all victims of bullying are men. That¡¯s right, all the victims are male, while the perpetrators are female. The situation of gender discrimination is much worse than in reality. Perhaps the creators of the illusion wanted to tap into the sympathy of Trialists, most of whom are women, by showcasing men¡¯s vulnerability. But through the eyes of Fang Zhou, a man, this was blatant gender discrimination; the illusion was a cruel cage oppressing men. Men here had to serve women, take care of housework, do physical labor, as well as look after the elderly and children, and any dissidence was met with being kicked out of their homes after getting punched and kicked. It was so miserable that some didn¡¯t even know if the child in a woman¡¯s belly was theirs, not daring to speak up or even inquire. After observing for several days, Fang Zhou felt heavyhearted and felt that he needed to do something for these oppressed men. Since there was no telling how long the illusion would last, continuing to do good might mean ending up with too good of a performance; it might be better to do something he liked instead. So Fang Zhou began to take action. Firstly, he had to shed the title of the foot-scratching man, as he couldn¡¯t get anything done with it. Then, he leveraged the reputation he gained from doing good deeds, quickly earning the title of a great philanthropist and hero in the town. Using his reputation, Fang Zhou began to build connections with some of the wealthy and influential second-generation men in the town. These men, due to their family backgrounds, had considerable status in the town, and their plain and dull lives made them feel bored; Fang Zhou¡¯s arrival piqued the interest of these men. Unable to show themselves off like women, they could only learn about the outside world and interesting happenings through Fang Zhou. At their gatherings, Fang Zhou threw an enticing proposal to this group of second-generation men¡ªforming a male mutual aid society, where men would support and help each other. The bored second-generation men began to enthusiastically respond to Fang Zhou¡¯s proposal, eagerly contributing money and effort. With the power and influence of the second generation, Fang Zhou used the wealth obtained from robbing the rich to aid the poor to navigate through connections, and within just over ten days, he formed a vast network of relationships within the city, allowing him to move unhindered based solely on his reputation. The Men¡¯s Mutual Aid Society was successfully established without any interference, with Fang Zhou as its first chairman. He began to enact a series of rules and regulations, using the donations from the second generation to help the oppressed men within the city. But this was merely a drop in the bucket. It was far from enough to change the situation of men being oppressed, and once the second generation grew tired of this game, the mutual aid society would either collapse or lose its original intent. Fang Zhou carefully studied the highest Combat Power values within the city and a new idea suddenly sprang to mind. Since they wanted to play something exciting, why not see it through to the end? Thus, Fang Zhou took advantage of his network of second-generation connections and his own prestige to secretly gather many oppressed men in a tavern. This night was the eighteenth day since Fang Zhou entered the illusion, and it was also a day worth commemorating. Many men came to the tavern through secret channels, and soon, the tavern was bustling with over three hundred men gathered. When Fang Zhou took to the stage, the men looked up at him with respect and fervor. All these men had been directly or indirectly helped by Fang Zhou; they regarded him as their lifesaver, the result of his continuous good deeds. Standing on the makeshift podium, Fang Zhou looked out at the straightforward faces and eager eyes below him, took a deep breath, and began to shout. ¡°Fellow men, the revolution begins now!!¡± The entire tavern fell silent, everyone staring at him with wide eyes. Fang Zhou wore a solemn expression, his voice high and filled with passion. ¡°Ancient sages once said that all people are born equal, regardless of gender, but men¡¯s rights have been usurped. Those women ride on our necks, lording over us and trampling on our dignity.¡± ¡°Think back, the suffering you have endured just because of your gender, your cries and pleas unanswered¡ªshould it naturally be so?¡± ¡°In the eyes of women, we men are nothing but slaves, slaves that can be humiliated at will.¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The breathing of the men in the tavern became heavy, their eyes red with anger. These men had all been selected by Fang Zhou; they had endured humiliation from women and many could hardly go on living. It was Fang Zhou who saved them, but the hatred remained. With a single match, Fang Zhou ignited the flames in their hearts, every one of them burning with rage. At the edge of the crowd, a few onlooking second generation finally sensed something was off; Fang Zhou had initially claimed that he just wanted to organize a normal gathering. The second generation had never imagined it would turn out like this; had they known, they would never have agreed to participate and help gather people. The second generation wanted to interrupt Fang Zhou¡¯s speech, but a dozen men who were already prepared rushed forward, pinning the second generation to the ground. These second generation were inexperienced, knowing only to contribute money and effort; meanwhile, Fang Zhou had monopolized the financial and personnel authority. Now, the entire Men¡¯s Mutual Aid Society listened only to him. Fang Zhou¡¯s speech continued. ¡°We might simply yearn for a life of peace and contentment, a meal to eat, but as long as this society does not change, as long as this culture of male inferiority and female superiority persists, our humble dreams can never be realized; we will forever live as slaves in humiliation.¡± ¡°Are men truly inferior to women? No, apart from facing difficulty in Cultivation, men can endure hardships and have willpower and patience. Whatever women can do, we men can do, too; men can hold up half the sky.¡± ¡°We want more than just a life of peace and contentment. We also need equality and dignity. These cannot be attained by mere prayer; we can only reclaim them through our own strength.¡± ¡°Now, please tell me loudly, are you willing to be cowards for life, or are you willing to be heroes, even if only for an instant!¡± Chapter 99: Establish a world where everyone is equal Chapter 99: Establish a world where everyone is equal Heavenly Sword Sect, Yuxu Palace. The three True Masters watched Fang Zhou passionately delivering his speech with expressionless faces. However, from subtle movements, it was evident that the hearts of the three True Masters were not at peace. Even though they have been cultivating for many years and have lived very long lives, familiar with all the vicissitudes of life, someone like Fang Zhou was a first for them. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling had too little experience and were not as calm as the three speakers; Fang Zhou¡¯s speech left the sister disciples utterly astonished. ¡°Very well said!¡± Yu Qing came back to her senses and couldn¡¯t help but applaud loudly, especially the last sentence which deeply moved her body and soul. Xuan Ling couldn¡¯t help but give her elder sister a look, ¡°Don¡¯t forget you are also a woman, whose side are you really on?¡± Yu Qing spoke righteously, ¡°I stand on the side of justice.¡± Xuan Ling pursed her lips. Yet Yu Qing bowed deeply to the three True Masters, ¡°Please, Master and Aunts, enlighten us!¡± This was an invitation for them to express their opinions. The three True Masters exchanged glances, unsure of how to comment for a moment. Because not only them, even the Sect Master and even the Three Great Holy Lands had probably never considered the issue of gender equality. And the words spoken by Fang Zhou, in the current societal norms, weren¡¯t exactly wrong but could be seen as somewhat radical. However, the three True Masters couldn¡¯t openly agree he was right, but considering the millennia-old tradition of Heavenly Sword Sect, Fang Zhou was still the first to stir up trouble in an illusion. For that reason alone, he would definitely not be a disciple who would stay in line in the future. Why couldn¡¯t you be more like Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, doing good deeds? You are making it difficult for us. Meanwhile, in the illusion, the situation continued. After Fang Zhou finished his speech, already a dozen men began to shout vociferously; these were Fang Zhou¡¯s fanatical fans, who believed every word he said unconditionally, not to mention that what Fang Zhou said resonated deep in their hearts. ¡°We want to be heroes!! Be heroes!! Be heroes!!¡± Led by these fanatical fans, other men also began to shout loudly. People have a herd mentality, and in such an atmosphere, even those who were hesitant would subconsciously integrate into the group, becoming one of them. The cries of three hundred men shook the tavern, nearly lifting the roof, and widely spread. Although this world¡¯s culture was one where men were inferior to women, the testosterone in males dictated that they were naturally not inclined to stay subdued and submissive; they had to compromise in face of reality. Fang Zhou¡¯s actions were like opening Pandora¡¯s box, igniting the indignation hidden in the hearts of men. ¡°You have shown me vigor and courage, this is the heroic stature a man should possess. Although those women are strong, they are just loose sand; as long as we unite and twist into a single rope, we will be invincible!!¡± Fang Zhou also raised his arms and shouted, ¡°Follow me, we are not rebelling, we just want to retake our own rights and dignity, to establish a world where everyone is equal!¡± Three hundred men roared fervently. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s leadership, they rushed out of the tavern toward the city¡¯s government offices. Fang Zhou had already observed that within the illusion, the strongest combatants were merely the government officials and constables of the government office, with neither the Demon Suppression Bureau nor the army present; Fang Zhou alone was enough to sweep through the entire town. After all, it was only a place for Qi Refining Realm Trialists, and it was unlikely that powerful Cultivators would appear; therefore, once the government office was controlled and military power was secured, one could do whatever they desired with the entire town. Along the way, many women who heard the commotion and came out to check were swept into this tide. Although they were easily able to cultivate and were physically stronger than ordinary men, they were only at the entry-level of Qi Refinement and couldn¡¯t withstand three hundred men, easily getting subdued. The tavern was not far from the government office, and they arrived in an instant. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The tightly shut doors of the government office were kicked open by Fang Zhou, and three hundred men swarmed in, tying up the government officials and constables who were still asleep. The usual haughty magistrate was dragged out of her bed, where her recently married seventh junior husband still lied. Having taken control of the county government, Fang Zhou immediately ordered his subordinates to gather more oppressed men and distributed the stored weapons from the government office. With just about five hundred men, even without rigorous training, he could control this small city; unorganized citizens were nothing but a flock of lambs to the slaughter. In history, refugees behaved in this way; they even had to face encirclement and suppression by government troops, but in the illusion, this small town stood alone, and Fang Zhou did not have to face any military from the government. About those family retainers of the gentry, Fang Zhou alone was enough to deal with them. The noise of the county government falling drew the gentry¡¯s family retainers to investigate the situation, leading to conflicts with the men. The retainers, being few in number, were subdued. Angered, the men stormed into the gentry¡¯s homes to plunder, and the disturbance started to spread to the whole town. By the next day, Fang Zhou had mobilized over a thousand oppressed men, and even many opportunistic women joined the ranks, believing that the time for a regime change had arrived. Fang Zhou personally led his troops to quell the disturbances in the city, maintaining order and punishing criminals taking advantage of the chaos; he even personally dealt with some troublemakers within his own ranks. Order and disorder are two different things; Fang Zhou¡¯s actions needed to proceed in an orderly manner as disorder would only spawn chaos and regression. After being busy the entire day, Fang Zhou had barely managed to restore order throughout the city, fortunately, the illusion was small enough for him to manage by running back and forth. But this alone was not enough; reversing the air of men being inferior to women was not simple and had to start from myriad aspects such as childhood education. The main issue remained unresolved ¨C women could easily cultivate while men found it difficult. Without resolving this issue, reversing the unequal atmosphere would just be empty talk. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t wait that long, for he did not know when the illusion would end. He simply issued an order, enforcing the rule of gender equality forcefully. However, those gentry who were previously quiet and compliant began to fiercely resist following this decree from Fang Zhou. ¡°Hmph, stubbornly ignorant!¡± Upon receiving the news, Fang Zhou let out a cold laugh, a bolder idea emerging in his mind. Since gender equality was met with fierce resistance, he decided to play a more thrilling game ¨C targeting the wealthy landlords first to see which type they preferred. However, before Fang Zhou could implement his strategy of dividing the wealth from the landlords, a meteorite fell from the sky, smashing the entire town to ashes. Chapter 100: 100. If you cant afford it, dont play Chapter 100: 100. If you can¡¯t afford it, don¡¯t play Fang Zhou blinked his eyes and found himself standing on a stone bridge set among the clouds, beneath which swirls of mist obscured his view. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng stood not far from him, both with their eyes tightly shut. Behind Fang Zhou, there stood numerous trialists, each with their eyes closed; some wore serene expressions as if in peaceful sleep, while others had fierce countenances resembling nightmare torment. Among the crowd, Fang Zhou also spotted Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, the two young girls, also with eyes tightly shut, but at this time, they were still holding hands, hinting at a problematic relationship. Clearly, these trialists were still struggling within the illusion, except for Fang Zhou, who had managed to break free first. Realizing this, Fang Zhou almost jumped in frustration. Damn it, if you can¡¯t play then don¡¯t play, I had many ideas to try, I wasn¡¯t done having fun, how could you just shut down the illusion? And to end it with such a mean method as Meteor Escape. It¡¯s even more frustrating than having your internet disconnect midway through a game, I was all decked out ready to slaughter universally and suddenly you disconnect me? Unfortunately, there were no Heavenly Sword Sect staff present at the scene, otherwise, Fang Zhou would have surely lodged a serious complaint. In this regard, Fang Zhou actually misunderstood the Heavenly Sword Sect; the illusion wasn¡¯t actively shut down by them. At this time within Yuxu Palace, the three Real Ones were also a bit confused; they still wanted to continue watching. The cold smirk when Fang Zhou learned that the gentry resisted fiercely was full of conspiratorial vibes, fueling anticipation, so why did it just end abruptly? It¡¯s like having finished all the foreplay only for it to abruptly end before climax, leaving one deeply unsatisfied. Yu Qing turned and went out, instructing a disciple to inquire about the news. They were selecting promising seeds in Yuxu Palace, criticising and judging, but in reality, they could not interfere with the trial process, now it was Feng Qin who was in charge of the decisions. Soon, the Heavenly Sword Sect disciple who went to gather information came back running, Yu Qing also was a bit stunned by the news and could only return to Yuxu Palace to report to the Master and Master Aunt. After hearing it, the entire Yuxu Palace fell quiet. The three Real Ones looked at each other, their expressions somewhat odd. Fang Zhou¡¯s early exit from the illusion was simple; the illusion responsible for his trial had collapsed. The operation of illusions has an intrinsic logic inclusive of all potential actions and reactions of trialists, even including a transformation into a demon lord devastating cities. However, Fang Zhou¡¯s behavior still exceeded the illusion¡¯s intrinsic logic; it had never incorporated the concept of gender equality, and the ideas he later came up with were even more taboo in this era. Thus, Fang Zhou¡¯s illusion succinctly crashed to prevent affecting other trialists, directly kicking him out of the server. Hence, the expressions of the three Real Ones were very odd, having lived for so long, they had never seen anyone break an illusion and then be actively ejected by it, how should this achievement be rated? Xuan Ling secretly breathed a sigh of relief, it was better that he was ejected, lest Fang Zhou¡¯s continued chaos stopped him from even entering Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s doors. Then she saw Yu Qing looking interestedly at Fang Zhou within Heavenly Light Mirror, her heart tightening. This most annoying senior sister, could she also be taking an interest in Fang Zhou? She had never seen her pay such attention to any male disciple before. ¡­ Above the Cloud Bridge. Although Fang Zhou was filled with grievances, he remembered he was under disguise and didn¡¯t act excessively, simply waiting quietly for other trialists to finish. As time passed, the expressions of each trialist gradually became solemn. At this moment, the illusion had evolved into a chaotic world, where each trialist needed to make their own choices amidst the chaos. Finally, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng almost simultaneously opened their eyes. Both looked confused at first, but then they realized that everything they had experienced was just an illusion. Xia Wenqiu showed a relieved smile, and even the always cool Ji Congfeng seemed visibly relieved. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, both appeared relaxed, unaware in the illusion, and only started to understand the content of the trial after leaving it. Both were grateful for having made the right choices. Upon seeing Fang Zhou, Xia Wenqiu exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Young Master Yunlong, did you awaken earlier than us?¡± Fang Zhou did not deny it, and straightforwardly admitted, ¡°Yes, I behaved recklessly and was kicked out.¡± Xia Wenqiu was slightly stunned, then laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s quite unfortunate, unfortunate!¡± She clearly didn¡¯t believe Fang Zhou¡¯s words, but knowing faces doesn¡¯t mean knowing hearts, she didn¡¯t dare to speak too assertively. At this time, other trialists were also gradually coming out of the illusion, some crying out in luck, while others had gloomy faces, showing various emotions. The third phase of the trial was about moral character, and the task was simple: just be your true self. Now out of the illusion, the trialists understood what the trial was about. Many believed their actions might not be acceptable to the Heavenly Sword Sect, showing regret on their faces, while some were still hopeful. ¡°Damn it, lucky I, Old Li, am a good person.¡± Li Yunlong wiped the sweat from his forehead, relaxing enough to blurt out his catchphrase. Chu Yunfei also smiled and said, ¡°After all, we are sworn sisters; of course, our characters are not an issue¡­ Oh, I see the young master!¡± The two girls simultaneously noticed Fang Zhou at the front of the Cloud Bridge, intending to make their way over, but suddenly the Trial Elder Feng Qin appeared. ¡°Silence!¡± Elder Feng Qin¡¯s entrance was exactly the same as before, even her opening remark hadn¡¯t changed. Whether it was an illusion or not, Fang Zhou felt that Feng Qin gave him a meaningful look. He suddenly tensed up, thinking, could this female elder have taken a fancy to him? In fact, he was mistaken this time; indeed, Feng Qin looked at Fang Zhou meaningfully ¨C not because she fancied him, but because he had caused the collapse of the illusion. During her hundred years of cultivation, this was the first time she had encountered such a person, which piqued her curiosity. Of course, she just glanced at him briefly and did not focus too much; she was a Trial Elder and needed to be fair and just. After all the trialists quieted down, Feng Qin then said, ¡°Walk forward on the Cloud Bridge. At the end of the bridge, there is a stele engraved with our sect¡¯s Sword-controlling Skill, which you may comprehend and learn. Further ahead there is a Buried Sword Peak, where you can use the Sword Control Skill to retrieve your own sword, and then you¡¯ll have passed the trial.¡± Upon hearing this, the trialists showed signs of joy, unexpectedly able to learn the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s Sword-controlling Skill before even becoming formal disciples, and even receiving a weapon. Eager, they hurriedly walked forward on the Cloud Bridge, and those who felt lucky about their performance in the illusion followed, seeing that Feng Qin did not stop them. A cloud of mist lay before the Cloud Bridge, but stepping into it cleared away to reveal they were back at the stone platform in front of the Heavenly Ladder. Feng Qin¡¯s voice came from the sky, emotionless. ¡°You may descend the mountain now!¡± Every trialist stood as if struck by thunder, frozen in place. Chapter 101: 101. Draw out ones own sword Chapter 101: 101. Draw out one¡¯s own sword Pushing through the fog and walking forward for what seemed like a few hundred meters, one could see a sharp mountain peak emerge from the mist. The peak was filled with innumerable swords, resembling a thick forest; this must be the Buried Sword Peak that Feng Qin mentioned. Here, the Cloud Bridge also came to an end, and indeed, there was a stele as tall as a person. The stele was engraved with many tiny characters, likely the Sword-controlling Skill. Fang Zhou looked around and noticed that nearly a third of the trialists had disappeared, leaving less than a hundred. However, the others couldn¡¯t wait to swarm over to the stele, surrounding the Sword-controlling Skill carved upon it, reading it with thirsty fascination, even Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were no exception. Although Xia Wenqiu was born into a cultivation family, the Xia family¡¯s heritage was worlds apart from that of a Major Sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect; they weren¡¯t even qualified for comparison. The spells of the Xia family were few, each treasured like a rare gem, while the Heavenly Sword Sect could casually produce a spell to serve as an entry-level trial. That was exactly why the Xia family sent their only daughter, Xia Wenqiu, to the Heavenly Sword Sect. Xia Wenqiu was one thing, but the others were even worse off, many hadn¡¯t even seen a proper spell in their entire lives. Fang Zhou also leaned in to take a look and, after reading¡­ hmm, he didn¡¯t quite understand it. The talent of his current body was undoubtedly astonishing, but as Fang Zhou hailed from another world, his comprehension was quite ordinary, and his way of thinking was different from the people of this world. The methods and skills taught to Fang Zhou by his teacher Ling Xiaoyue were simple and easy to understand ¡ª direct instructions on what to do, which allowed him to perform well. But the likes of Sword Control Technique, the Heart Sutra, and other such mystical texts, including the one now etched into the stele, were abstruse and often used many allusions and abbreviations. Fang Zhou found it quite difficult to read, let alone to grasp. If only he still had Wise Time, he could have tried to forcefully comprehend it, but Wise Time was more than twenty days away from cooling down completely. Not too far away, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei, the young ladies, seemed to enjoy reading it. Suddenly, Fang Zhou felt quite ashamed; he was just a salted fish, incapable of comprehension on his own, unlikely to ever manage it in this lifetime, only able to muddle through life by clinging to the system¡¯s coattails to maintain his cultivation lifestyle. Although it was also Sword Control Skill, the Sword-controlling Skill of the Heavenly Sword Sect was still somewhat comprehensible to Fang Zhou, unlike the Sword Control Technique passed to him by Yan Chixia, which was utterly incomprehensible to him. Feng Qin appeared again, her silent gaze intensifying the pressure on the trialists. ¡°Haha, so that¡¯s how it is! So that¡¯s how it is!¡± Xia Wenqiu suddenly burst into delightful laughter and strode toward Buried Sword Ridge. Fang Zhou was somewhat surprised; he had only read half of it, and this guy had already learned it? Was he that amazing? The other trialists also showed looks of envy and astonishment, even Feng Qin¡¯s eyes carried a hint of approval. Truly worthy of being the Xia family¡¯s ¡°Heavenly Pride,¡± her comprehension skills were high. Then all attention turned to Ji Congfeng, who had been on par with Xia Wenqiu from the start. Was he about to be left behind here? But Ji Congfeng continued to read the stele with a cold face, in no rush. Xia Wenqiu approached Buried Sword Ridge and used the newly learned Sword-controlling Skill, immediately resonating with one of the countless longswords on Buried Sword Ridge. She lightly stepped and exerted her family¡¯s unique martial arts skill, as light as a swallow, borrowing force from the many swords to climb upwards swiftly, and soon leaped up three meters, reaching out to grab and pull out a longsword. It was a white longsword with flowing light like water, and the blade bore the inscription ¡°Ruoshui.¡± ¡°Ruoshui Sword? Good!¡± Xia Wenqiu took to the Ruoshui Sword instantly, holding it fondly. As she pulled out the Ruoshui Sword, Ji Congfeng had already strode over, leaping up, and shot up two meters like a lightning bolt. A longsword vibrated and fell from Buried Sword Ridge, landing precisely in Ji Congfeng¡¯s hands. This sword was blue, shining like light and flashing like lightning, with the sword inscription of Thunderbolt. Ji Congfeng reached out to gently caress the Thunderbolt, and a trace of tenderness emerged on her icy face. The Thunderbolt Sword let out a light humming sound, seemingly rejoicing as well. Feng Qin looked at Ji Congfeng with admiration in her eyes; this trial tested one¡¯s talent and perception. Xia Wenqiu possessed the highest perceptiveness, which is why she was the first to learn the Sword Control Skill. However, Ji Congfeng¡¯s talent was clearly superior, as the Thunderbolt Sword actively responded to her. The two could be said to be equally matched, both exceptional uncut jades. Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, as two Heavenly Prides, led the way. After some time, other Trialists gradually learned the Sword Control Technique and went to Buried Sword Ridge to pull out their own longswords. Even Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei had drawn their swords; Chu Yunfei¡¯s was a pair of swords named Browning, and Li Yunlong¡¯s sword was called Yidaili, both with unclear meanings. The crowd around Fang Zhou gradually thinned until only he remained in front of the stele, all other Trialists having claimed their own longswords. Everyone¡¯s attention was now focused on Fang Zhou, including the three Sages and two True Disciples from Yuxu Palace who were secretly peering at the scene. Could it be that this handsome and distinguished man¡¯s talent and perception are so lacking? This Sword-controlling Skill inscribed on the stele was the most fundamental spell of the Heavenly Sword Sect, enabling even those in the Qi Refining Realm, unable to project Spiritual Energy externally, to sense weapons, but that was all it could do. It wasn¡¯t very powerful and was even simpler; if one couldn¡¯t learn this, it would be difficult to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect. The Sect also does not need a mere vase¡­ hmm, but it seems rather nice to admit a good-looking vase. At this moment, the three Sages were already considering the question of accepting a vase. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling were also quite puzzled; had they both misjudged this man as nothing more than an attractive vase? With so many eyes on him, Fang Zhou felt a tingle on his scalp; these people weren¡¯t coveting his looks but doubting his intelligence. He could only set aside the Sword-controlling Skill he only half-understood and bravely walked towards Buried Sword Ridge. Halfway there, Fang Zhou¡¯s heart gradually calmed; after all, he remembered he was an imposter, so what if he failed to learn the skill? They surely wouldn¡¯t kick him off here. With a leveled mindset, Fang Zhou¡¯s steps became much lighter, and with encouraging looks from Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, Fang Zhou managed even to offer a smile in return. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Fang Zhou approached Buried Sword Ridge. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He planned to use the Xuanyuan Sword to bluff as if to say, ¡°Look, I already have my own weapon; you can keep your swords.¡± Fang Zhou began to perform the Sword Control Technique, but before he could summon the Xuanyuan Sword from the Sword Box, he heard countless strong and faint responses. All these responses came from Buried Sword Ridge, from the myriad of longswords there. These longswords possessed their own spirit, battered by wind and rain atop Buried Sword Ridge day after day, stubbornly making themselves heard, waiting for their masters to arrive. But not every sword could wait for its owner. Some were already covered in rust, some had been buried on the peak for hundreds of years, unnoticed, hoping just to be glanced at one more time. After performing the Sword Control Skill, Fang Zhou could feel the longing and loneliness of these masterless swords, the strong desires of these sentient beings nearly overwhelming him. Fang Zhou reached out towards Buried Sword Ridge and intoned softly, ¡°Come!¡± Buried Sword Ridge shook violently as if an earth dragon were turning over, even the Cloud Bridge trembled. The Trialists panicked, and Feng Qin¡¯s face changed dramatically as she looked towards Buried Sword Ridge. The next moment, accompanied by countless ringing sounds, thousands of longswords broke free from Buried Sword Ridge, like a dark cloud eclipsing the sun, flying towards Fang Zhou. Chapter 102: 102. Its All Mine Chapter 102: 102. It¡¯s All Mine The dark cloud-like swarm of swords blocked out the sun, pouring down like heavy rain towards Fang Zhou. The incoming swords were not only aiming for the spot where Fang Zhou stood, but the entire surrounding area including the Cloud Bridge was within the swords¡¯ falling coverage. The Trialists showed expressions of panic and fear, tumbling and scrambling to dodge, terrified of being perforated by the falling swords. Trial Elder Feng Qin wore a look of disbelief; by the time she thought to intervene, it was already too late. The number of incoming swords was overwhelming; she couldn¡¯t control so many, and she had to dodge as she herself was also within the coverage area. The only person who did not move was Fang Zhou, who was completely dumbfounded. Initially, he had only intended to try and see if he could cause a sword or two to respond, thinking that would be enough. He never expected that all the swords atop Buried Sword Ridge would resonate with him. Moreover, before Fang Zhou could react, the swords jostled and rushed out from Buried Sword Ridge, heading towards him. As he faced the sky-darkening swarm of swords, Fang Zhou felt like a tiny boat bobbing with the wind and waves, facing an immense tsunami, a sense of insignificance and helplessness bloomed in his heart. Instinctively, Fang Zhou wanted to flee, but his legs wouldn¡¯t move; these swords were all coming for him, there was no use running. Besides, reason told him there was no danger, it would be laughably bizarre if Sword Control Technique managed to stab him to death. Except for standing in place to pose, there was nothing Fang Zhou could do. If it were one or two swords, he could catch them, but with tens of thousands of longswords, not even a Thousand-Handed Guanyin could catch them all. Fang Zhou could only maintain the gesture of beckoning, motionless, as the swarm of swords finally arrived. A sword landed right before him, piercing straight into the ground. Following that, the sound of longswords penetrating the ground was like a thunderous storm, crackling continuously, countless longswords falling around Fang Zhou. The sheer number of swords was so great that they completely submerged Fang Zhou¡¯s figure, only a black cascade could be seen, followed by a continuous roaring as they plunged into the ground. When every last sword had fallen, everyone¡¯s hearts were in their throats, fearing to see a body turned into a hedgehog-like corpse by the longswords. They did not witness their worst fear; Fang Zhou stood unharmed just as before. All the longswords fell with a two-step distance from Fang Zhou, surrounding him to form an immense circle. Including the Cloud Bridge Stele and even the ground in front of Buried Sword Ridge, they were all pierced by the swords, with various longswords standing upright on the ground. At a glance, these longswords seemed like soldiers loyally carrying out their duties, encircling Fang Zhou at the center. This scene left the Trialists in stunned silence, those who had learned Sword-controlling Skills could more or less feel the joy and elation being radiated by these tens of thousands of longswords, akin to their own emotions when receiving their personal swords. At that moment, a single thought occupied their minds ¨C the Sword Control Technique once renowned across the entire Cultivation World and still fondly recounted to this day ¨C All Swords Return to the Sect. Even the Innate Realm Elder Feng Qin was slightly dazed at this moment. ¡°Clang¡ª¡± A Trialist, too shocked to hold her sword properly, dropped it. She hurriedly picked up the fallen sword, but the silence was nonetheless broken. A wave of commotion immediately erupted among the Trialists, excited and thrilled, having witnessed a part of history unfolding. These were all individuals who had passed character tests, feeling at most admiration, and even if there was jealousy or resentment, those feelings were concealed within, and not blatantly displayed. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within the crowd, Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng unusually maintained silence, the two exchanged a glance, and simultaneously looked back at Fang Zhou, who was guarded by tens of thousands of longswords. At that moment, they suddenly felt that their prior competition appeared rather childish and laughable. Elder Feng Qin finally came to her senses and flew down to the outskirts of the sword formation. Up close, one could feel the awe-inspiring sensation of controlling myriad swords more clearly. She stayed silent for a moment, then, unable to help herself, asked Fang Zhou, who was still posing, ¡°What did you do?¡± In her hundred plus years of cultivation, Elder Feng Qin had never seen such a thing; this could not be simply explained by talent and perception. ¡°What did I do?¡± Fang Zhou finally snapped out of it as well. He looked down at the multitude of longswords on the ground and decided to play dumb: ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just beckoned and they flew over here, it has nothing to do with me, and my little heart is still thumping wildly.¡± Elder Feng Qin¡¯s pretty face turned serious, but inside she couldn¡¯t help laughing and crying at the same time; this kid was definitely slick, starting to shift the blame with his first sentence. What do you mean it has nothing to do with you? If it¡¯s unrelated to you, could it be that these swords collectively wanted to run away from home? Worried that Elder Feng Qin would investigate further, Fang Zhou quickly changed the subject: ¡°Elder Feng Qin, according to the rules of the trial, these swords should all belong to me now, right?¡± As he spoke, he also started to get excited. These were tens of thousands of swords after all, and each one possessed its own spirit, with the lowest grade being that of a Magic Artifact. If he sold them, wealth and riches would be within reach. Fang Zhou could practically see countless mountains of gold and silver beckoning him. He was going to be rich. But then Elder Feng Qin¡¯s voice, full of mixed amusement and distress, immediately interrupted his fantasy: ¡°Nonsense, how could they all be given to you.¡± These tens of thousands of spirit-imbued swords were precious properties of the Heavenly Sword Sect, all crafted and accumulated over a thousand years of the sect¡¯s inheritance. Though these Spirit Swords might appear at the lowest level of Magic Artifacts now, once allocated to each disciple, they would grow alongside the disciple¡¯s power. Sword refining is an essential skill to be learned in the Heavenly Sword Sect. When these disciples met unexpected deaths, their Spirit Swords were also to be reclaimed, which indirectly bolstered the strength and heritage of the Heavenly Sword Sect. How to deal with this situation, however, gave Elder Feng Qin quite the headache. In previous new disciple recruitment trials, there had been geniuses who simultaneously resonated with two or even three Spirit Swords. The Heavenly Sword Sect was generous towards these talents; however many they resonated with, they took. Could you even take them all? Now, a person who could potentially take them all had finally appeared. And it was indisputable. Can you say he didn¡¯t resonate with them? Did these Spirit Swords suddenly grow legs and run over on their own? Nevertheless, Elder Feng Qin didn¡¯t have the authority to make a decision to let Fang Zhou take all the swords, and not even the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect would likely make that decision. This wasn¡¯t an issue of generosity; it was a matter of risking one¡¯s life. Seeing Elder Feng Qin¡¯s rejection, Fang Zhou felt quite disappointed. If not all, then half would do, or even a third, let¡¯s discuss it. But Fang Zhou ultimately did not speak up, remembering that he was just pretending and did not truly intend to join the Heavenly Sword Sect. So, forget taking them all, even taking one was out of the question since once Ling Xiaoyue came to pick him up, the Heavenly Sword Sect would surely find out he was an impostor. Then, if the Heavenly Sword Sect discovered they had been conned out of a sword and became enraged, whether Ling Xiaoyue would abandon him and run off alone was questionable. Moreover, Fang Zhou remembered something else that filled him with terror. Would the Heavenly Sword Sect make him reinsert all the swords back into Buried Sword Ridge? Chapter 103: 103. Born to be a sword Chapter 103: 103. Born to be a sword Heavenly Sword Sect, Yuxu Palace. When tens of thousands of Spirit Swords flew out from Buried Sword Ridge, the long-cultivated state of ¡®Supreme Water Is Gentle¡¯ by the three True Masters was nearly shattered. True Master Yu Jian¡¯s eyes widened, True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s mouth opened slightly, and even True Master Lei Jian, who was normally as stoic as Mount Tai crumbling before him, was now breathing heavily. Feng Qin, who had been cultivating for over a hundred years, had never seen such a spectacle, not to mention the True Masters who have cultivated even longer. It is said that when the Sect Master first participated in the entry-level trial, he inspired fifteen Spirit Swords, shocking the Heavenly Sword Sect into considering him a prodigy and began focusing on his training. Now an emergence of ten thousand, how does fifteen compare with ten thousand? Should those True Masters, who initially only inspired a few Spirit Swords, consider themselves as shameful enough to commit suicide? The reactions of the three True Masters were already so, not to mention the True Disciples Yu Qing and Xuan Ling, who were so shocked they had become stunned, unable to even speak. True Master Xuan Jian dropped her relaxed demeanor and said to True Master Yu Jian, ¡°Senior Sister, could this child have learned the long-lost Sword Control Technique?¡± Although there¡¯s only one word difference between Sword Control Technique and Sword-controlling Skill, they are entirely different systems. Sword Control Technique is an extremely sophisticated Divine Skill lost in the Cultivation World, while Sword-controlling Skill is a generic term for all spells controlling swords. True Master Yu Jian shook her head: ¡°No, that lost Sword Control Technique is known to be extremely difficult to cultivate; even a genius would need ten years to merely enter the doorway. Considering that this child is only about fifteen years old and in the Qi Refining Realm, he would have had to start cultivating in his mother¡¯s womb, foregoing food and sleep, which is too bizarre and unbelievable.¡± True Master Yu Jian could be considered an authority and expert in the realm of Sword-controlling Skills, so her judgment was conclusive¡ªthat the child could not possibly know Sword Control Technique. ¡°How then is this to be explained?¡± Usually terse, True Master Lei Jian unexpectedly uttered seven words, causing Yu Qing and Xuan Ling to look over in shock. Logically, the three True Masters should be delighted with such a prodigious talent participating in the entry-level trials of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Yet, this situation was so abnormal: if Fang Zhou had inspired a dozen or so Spirit Swords, the True Masters might believe that the Heavenly Sword Sect would prosper for hundreds more years; if Fang Zhou had inspired hundreds of Spirit Swords at once, the True Masters might have been dancing joyously as the status of the Heavenly Sword Sect would have been lifted to an unprecedented level in the Cultivation World. But inspiring tens of thousands of Spirit Swords at once felt not like a surprise, but more like a fright, making one wonder if this was some kind of demon or monster disguised as a human. With such abnormal occurrences, there must be demons involved, and the True Masters had to clarify to ease their minds. If it turned out to be a demonic trick, they would have to stir their old bones and suppress it. Regarding her junior sister¡¯s doubts, True Master Yu Jian pondered and said, ¡°My junior sisters, do you remember the Wuji Sword Saint from six hundred years ago?¡± True Master Xuan Jian answered: ¡°Senior Sister, are you referring to the Sword Saint who once spanned thirty-thousand li with his Sword Qi and whose sword gleam chilled nineteen provinces?¡± As the older generations spoke of ancient histories, Yu Qing and Xuan Ling perked up their ears. Six hundred years ago, that was a previous era in the Cultivation World. Cultivators who formed their Golden Cores would extend their lifespan by five hundred years and were considered as magnates in the Cultivation World. And events six hundred years ago just happen to sit right before the era of a generation of powerful figures, who wouldn¡¯t come out to tell stories for no reason. And since the Cultivation World doesn¡¯t have a specific sect dedicated to recording history, it can only rely on brief mentions in the historical records of various Major Sects, limited to particularly important or influential events. Over the past six hundred years, countless sects have risen and fallen, and many tales have been buried in the sands of time, forgotten by all. So when three True Masters mentioned the Wuji Sword Saint, both of the True Disciples surprisingly did not recognize the name. ¡°Indeed, it is that unparalleled Wuji Sword Saint.¡± True Master Yu Jian nodded and smilingly said: ¡°The Wuji Sword Saint had quite a connection with our Heavenly Sword Sect. It is said that she had an innate talent for Sword Control. Even as a young child before starting her cultivation, she could resonate with the Spirit Sword, and after beginning her cultivation journey, she entered the path through the sword unmatched in her generation, born for the sword. She once said, ¡®A sword breaks ten thousand spells, the art of sword controlling is the ultimate among All Swords Return to the Sect, it is the supreme method¡­''¡± ¡°Cough cough¡­¡± True Master Xuan Jian coughed discontentedly, this elder sister always seizes the chance to brag about her Sword Control Technique. True Master Yu Jian unchangingly redirected the discussion: ¡°Therefore, this child may similarly possess a high innate talent for the Sword Control, born for the sword, truly an Innate Swordman.¡± ¡°Innate Swordman?¡± True Masters Xuan Jian and Lei Jian silently repeated these four words. At that moment, True Master Yu Jian suddenly smiled at True Masters Xuan Jian and Lei Jian: ¡°Dear sisters, I¡¯ve been pondering, and I feel you two make a lot of sense. Xia Wenqiu, with his bright and clever nature, fits very well with your Xuan Jian lineage, while Ji Congfeng who sensed the Thunderbolt Sword is clearly suitable for Lei Jian lineage. As an elder sister, I must defer to you two, I won¡¯t compete with you.¡± True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s face twisted with anger, never had she seen such shamelessness, why didn¡¯t you think of deferring just a moment ago? Now that a higher talent appears, you immediately start being modest, pushing the lower talents aside, as if no one knows what you¡¯re plotting, how ridiculous! True Master Xuan Jian angrily replied: ¡°No need, elder sister, I suddenly feel my Xuan Jian lineage is lacking in yang and needs a highly talented male Disciple to balance it out, I think this one is quite appropriate.¡± True Master Lei Jian¡¯s body began faintly radiating flashes of electricity, her face becoming even colder: ¡°This person, I want him.¡± True Master Yu Jian was not concerned with her sisters¡¯ fierce reactions, still smiling as pleasantly as spring: ¡°Dear sisters, don¡¯t be pushy, this child is an Innate Swordman, clearly most suitable for my Sword Control.¡± ¡°Since he is an Innate Swordman, then obviously any sword could fit.¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± As the three True Masters started to argue again, Xuan Ling felt very anxious. She didn¡¯t expect that a randomly chosen attractive young man she flirted with would possess such high talent, causing the three True Masters to scramble over him. What worried Xuan Ling was, she very well knew her Master, True Master Xuan Jian, couldn¡¯t outcompete True Master Yu Jian. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yu Qing, however, wasn¡¯t filled with such thoughts, merely saluted the three elders: ¡°Master, oh Aunts, the new Disciples have already left Buried Sword Ridge, shall we take a look?¡± The three True Masters looked into the Heavenly Light Mirror and indeed, those considered entry-level Disciples had already followed Feng Qin away from the Buried Sword Ridge, heading towards the Heavenly Sword Peak. The three True Masters exchanged a glance, instantly reaching a consensus, knowing that linguistic arguments couldn¡¯t determine a winner, everything had to adhere to the rules. Chapter 104: 104. Breaking away from the vulgar and the purely innocent people Chapter 104: 104. Breaking away from the vulgar and the purely innocent people ¡°` According to the rules of the Heavenly Sword Sect, after a trialist obtains their own sword at Buried Sword Ridge, they can be considered a new entry-level disciple of the sect. The next step is simply a matter of assignment. What¡¯s giving Elder Feng Qin a headache now is Fang Zhou, this special fellow. According to past customs, all the tens of thousands of Spirit Swords on Buried Sword Ridge now belong to him. But both emotionally and logically, it¡¯s impossible for the Heavenly Sword Sect to give all the Spirit Swords to him. Giving him just one doesn¡¯t seem right, and letting him choose freely isn¡¯t appropriate either; no matter the number, it¡¯s a headache. Elder Feng Qin saw Fang Zhou remaining silent and thought he felt disappointed. Although she didn¡¯t want to see such a talent disappointed with the Heavenly Sword Sect, Elder Feng Qin still had no authority to make a decision; she could only choose to throw this troublesome matter to the sect¡¯s big shots to solve. What she didn¡¯t know was that Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t dealing with the issue of disappointment at all; the reason he didn¡¯t dare to speak up was that he was a bit afraid¡ªafraid that the Heavenly Sword Sect would ask him to put all these Spirit Swords back. Tens of thousands of Spirit Swords, only the devil knows until when he would have to insert them¡ªhis Sword Control Technique is just entry-level, quite imprecise, and he couldn¡¯t possibly control that many Spirit Swords to return them the way they came. So right now, he was playing dead, pretending to be a victim. However, Elder Feng Qin did not speak the words that Fang Zhou was worried about. Instead, she turned her head to the group of new disciples who were still chattering and said, ¡°Silence, next you will be taken to the sect. Hold your swords tightly; if anyone should accidentally drop theirs on the way, no one else can be blamed.¡± Elder Feng Qin¡¯s words drew the new disciples¡¯ attention back, and they subconsciously gripped their Spirit Swords tighter. The next moment, the Spirit Swords in their hands soared towards the sky, lifting them up off the ground. Having previously experienced jumping from ten thousand meters high, the disciples weren¡¯t scared by suddenly flying into the sky; instead, they shouted and hollered excitedly. After all the new disciples were taken away by the Spirit Swords, Elder Feng Qin turned to Fang Zhou and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you for part of the way.¡± The ability of these new disciples¡¯ Spirit Swords to fly was secretly controlled by people of the Heavenly Sword Sect, otherwise the new disciples, being in the Qi Refining Realm and unable to project Spiritual Energy outward, would not be capable of Artifact Control Flight. Unable to pick his own sword for the time being, Elder Feng Qin could only take Fang Zhou part of the way. Fang Zhou held back from saying he could fly himself and saw Elder Feng Qin lightly lift her arm¡ªas a ribbon shot out from her sleeve, gently winding around Fang Zhou¡¯s waist. Elder Feng Qin gracefully flew into the sky, dragging Fang Zhou along with her. This ribbon must be a Magic Treasure that allowed for Artifact Control Flight. However, everyone else was using Sword Flight, and only Fang Zhou was being bound and hauled along like a captured suspect, which was quite embarrassing. Fang Zhou could only look for other things to divert his attention. As Elder Feng Qin was dressed in dark cyan robes and a half-length skirt and she was above while he was below, a simple glance upward would afford a view. But he wouldn¡¯t stoop to such indecency, as everyone must have a moral baseline, to be a pure person devoid of vulgarity. Yet upon further thought, sneaking peeks at women in this world didn¡¯t seem like such a big deal¡ªmany women deliberately expose themselves to entice men to peek. Knowing full well it wasn¡¯t right, Fang Zhou was too curious and, motivated by a quest for knowledge, still couldn¡¯t help but look up for a glance, instantly astounded. My goodness, such things exist? Unexpectedly, beneath Elder Feng Qin¡¯s dignified and serious exterior lay such a liberated spirit¡ªadmirable, truly admirable. He wished he had the time to exchange some life experiences with her. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unable to endure the torment and reproach of his conscience, Fang Zhou painfully turned his gaze away after a few more glances. ¡°` My sins, please forgive me for being a vulgar and impure person. While Fang Zhou bowed his head in repentance, he didn¡¯t notice that Elder Feng Qin¡¯s expression also turned slightly unnatural. But soon Fang Zhou had no mood for idle thoughts, as Feng Qin led him through the clouds, and once again, the entire vista of the Cloud Sea Mountains appeared before him, including the whole Heavenly Sword Sect. In the center of the cloud sea, a mountain peak like a longsword stretched straight into the sky, as if intending to pierce through the heavens. Three other shorter peaks protected it, with steep and sharp mountain ridges, just like longswords across the sky. All four mountain peaks were adorned with vermilion buildings, with pavilions, terraces, towers, and grand halls, where strange flowers and exotic trees grew amidst the swirling mists, and divine deer and spirit beasts wandered, like a hidden scroll of the Immortal Realm. That must be the sect ground of the Heavenly Sword Sect. ¡°The highest peak is called Heavenly Sword Peak, where the main lineage of our sect resides¡­¡± Elder Feng Qin began to introduce to Fang Zhou, including the structure and origins of the sect¡¯s three lineages. The highest peak is Heavenly Sword Peak, the other three are Yujian, Xuanjian, and Leijian lineages. These three lineages are both branches and the foundation of the Heavenly Sword, as the main lineage does not directly recruit disciples, but rather supplements from the three lineages, including the True Disciples of the Heavenly Sword and the Sect Master. Thus, entry-level disciples are first assigned to one of the three lineages, and only those who stand out may ascend to reside in Heavenly Sword Peak. Listening to Feng Qin¡¯s introduction, Fang Zhou suddenly pointed between Heavenly Sword Peak and Yujian Peak: ¡°What place is that?¡± The area was shrouded in mist, harboring a small mountain peak. While not as grand and perilous as those of the main lineage, its presence felt abrupt in that location. Feng Qin¡¯s face changed slightly, speaking harshly, ¡°That is Moon Viewing Peak, currently occupied by a shameless rogue, but no matter, the sect will soon expel her.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression changed too, damn, this shameless rogue couldn¡¯t be¡­ Feng Qin and many flying on their Spirit Swords were heading towards the Yuxu Palace atop Heavenly Sword Peak, where they would be chosen by the three lineages, like piglets up for market. This time, there were seventy-nine new entry-level disciples, all of whom landed excitedly in front of Yuxu Palace, possibly experiencing the thrill of Sword Flight for the first time. Feng Qin also landed with Fang Zhou, but not among the disciples, choosing instead to land aside. Many were envious of Fang Zhou, who was visibly receiving special treatment, while his performance at the Buried Sword Ridge made it seem that his rise to success was imminent. They all wanted to forge a good relationship with this destined talent, but Feng Qin¡¯s cold demeanor kept the disciples from approaching, including Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei, who had been eager to strike up a conversation with Fang Zhou. ¡°Silence!¡± Feng Qin hushed the whispering disciples, instructing them to wait patiently. Soon, the doors of Yuxu Palace swung wide open, and the first to emerge were True Disciples Yu Qing and Xuan Ling. Upon appearing, they immediately looked towards Fang Zhou beside Feng Qin. Yu Qing gazed with a curious and astonished examination, while Xuan Ling winked at Fang Zhou. Unfortunately, it was a seductive glance cast at a blind man, as Fang Zhou completely ignored her. This infuriated Xuan Ling so much her teeth itched. The boy was so arrogant; once he joined the sect, she¡¯d have to make sure he understood just how formidable his senior sister was. Chapter 105: 105. Im not going anywhere Chapter 105: 105. I¡¯m not going anywhere Two True Disciples came out, and just as Feng Qin was about to greet them, she saw both standing solemnly to one side, and the next moment, three clouds appeared in front of Yuxu Palace. Seated on the clouds were three figures emitting a faint glow, gradually becoming more solid and ultimately revealing True Master Sword Control, True Master Xuan Jian, and True Master Thunder Sword. A tranquil yet immense aura spread out, causing every new disciple to become solemn and respectful, as if in the presence of a saint, daring not to make a fuss. Feng Qin hastily performed a salute: ¡°Disciple pays respect to the three True Masters.¡± Usually, True Disciples from the three sects are responsible for selection, only when exceptional talents emerge do the three True Masters appear. ¡°There¡¯s no need for excess formality, Feng Qin.¡± True Master Sword Control said with a gentle smile, naturally turning his gaze toward Fang Zhou. Xuan Jian and Thunder Sword were also secretly sizing him up with Spiritual Vision, feeling quite astonished. Previously, through the Heavenly Light Mirror, nothing special could be seen, but now witnessing with their own eyes, they were amazed to see such vibrancy of life from him, a yang energy bursting forth from his crown like the dazzling sun at dawn. Such vigorous yang energy and vitality were rare, but compared to his talent in the Sword Dao, it seemed trivial. With Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, who were originally the center of attention, the three True Masters lost interest in paying more attention to them. After witnessing the spectacle of Ten Thousand Swords Fired, the act of Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng climbing to pull out a sword seemed somewhat awkward. Feng Qin knew about Fang Zhou¡¯s performance at Buried Sword Ridge, and the three True Masters must have been aware too, so there was no need for further words, and she stepped aside after the salute. The assignment of new entry-level disciples was generally decided by three factors: the needs of the sects, the disciples¡¯ own desires, and the suitability for each sect. If one sect was understaffed, then it would need to replenish with new disciples in the following terms, and the other two must concede and not compete. Next, it considered the disciples¡¯ own wishes, to which sect they wanted to join. The primary focus of the three sects could be seen from their names; Sword Control focused on Sword Control, practicing swords for life, never parting with the sword; Xuan Jian combined swordsmanship with Spell, complementing each other, with profound mastery in spells; Thunder Sword specialized in integrating Thunder Skill with swordsmanship, the combination of strengths. These three sects inherently had no ranking among them; however, the fame of Sword Control Technique was immense. The long-lost Sword Control Technique and All Swords Return to the Sect still had great renown in the Cultivation World, continuously talked about with great interest. Thus, eight or nine out of ten new disciples wanted to join the Sword Control sect, even though Sword-controlling Skill and Sword Control Technique were completely different, and, of course, True Master Sword Control wouldn¡¯t clarify this explicitly. This was why the number of disciples in her Sword Control sect was higher than in the other two sects; once they joined and realized they couldn¡¯t learn the Sword Control Technique, it would be too late to leave. This place wasn¡¯t a restroom, where you could come and go as you please. Lastly, the degree of compatibility, unless the difference was too stark, generally they would not force disciples to change their wishes. The three True Masters were debating endlessly inside Yuxu Palace, yet in front of the new disciples, they maintained a dignified and steady demeanor. True Master Sword Control asked Fang Zhou with a smile, ¡°Which sect would you like to join?¡± The other two True Masters and True Disciples also looked towards Fang Zhou, waiting for his decision. The initial scramble to claim Fang Zhou was actually governed by rules; once the highest talented was picked, the remaining disciples needed to be shared among the other two sects, maintaining basic fairness so that one sect wouldn¡¯t monopolize all the advantages. If Fang Zhou chose one sect, then Xia Wenqiu, Ji Congfeng, and the rest of the disciples would have to be divided among the other two. Because Fang Zhou¡¯s significance far outweighed the other disciples, whoever secured him would refrain from competing with the other two sects for the remaining fringe benefits. Everyone else also watched Fang Zhou, waiting for him to make his decision about which sect he intended to join. Fang Zhou, feeling awkward under the gaze of so many, said: ¡°I¡­ won¡¯t join any of the three sects.¡± At those words, the atmosphere suddenly stilled, and everyone expressed a look of confusion; if not these three sects, then where did he plan to go? The three True Masters exchanged glances, but instead of being angry, they burst into hearty laughter. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. True Master Xuan Jian laughed and said, ¡°Good, that¡¯s the spirit.¡± What¡¯s happening? Disciples were confused and Fang Zhou was also a bit stunned; he thought the three True Masters would be angry. Actually, the reason why the three True Masters were happy is quite simple. The Sect Master, who initially sensed fifteen Spirit Swords, also declared from the beginning that she would not join any of the three branches and aimed directly for the Sect Master¡¯s lineage, aspiring to become the Sect Master herself. Having such ambition and courage right after entry-level, it is admirable. So when Fang Zhou declared he would not join any of the three branches, the three True Masters thought they had encountered another youngster with grand ambitions. True Master Yu Jian said kindly with a smile, ¡°We know you want to join the Sect Master¡¯s lineage at Heavenly Sword Peak, but you must also experience the other three branches, as it¡¯s been the rule for hundreds of years and cannot be broken.¡± Who said I wanted to join the Sect Master¡¯s lineage at Heavenly Sword Peak? Fang Zhou instinctively responded, ¡°You three elders¡­ strong and vigorous True Masters, is there a misunderstanding? I don¡¯t want to join the Sect Master¡¯s lineage; I don¡¯t want to go anywhere.¡± That was close, almost said something embarrassing. The smiles on the faces of the three True Masters gradually disappeared. What¡¯s happening? He doesn¡¯t want to join the three branches or the Sect Master¡¯s lineage, then what is he here for? We at the Heavenly Sword Sect aren¡¯t lacking people to do the janitorial work either. With the three True Masters so perplexed, others were even more clueless about the situation. Being stared at with questioning eyes by so many, Fang Zhou was almost sweating profusely. Where is Ling Xiaoyue, that troublemaker, to pick me up? If she doesn¡¯t come soon, your beloved disciple is about to be snatched away. True Master Yu Jian pondered and said, ¡°You actually¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when a furious shout from a distance interrupted him. ¡°Ling, you again trespassed into our Mountain Protection Array, stop running!¡± Hearing the shout, the expressions of the three True Masters changed slightly, especially True Master Yu Jian, who looked quite constipated. True Master Xuan Jian and True Master Lei Jian looked at her, thinking in their hearts that the rival of their elder sister, who had disappeared for half a year, had finally returned. They¡¯ve met the most shameless people; True Master Yu Jian undoubtedly deserved that title, but that rogue occupying Moon Viewing Peak was, in terms of shamelessness, possibly on par with their elder sister. Yu Qing and Xuan Ling had different expressions, while Feng Qin clenched her teeth secretly. Only Fang Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief, wishing he could immediately shout: Ling, I¡¯m here!! No wonder Ling Xiaoyue did not dare to bring him back first, given the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s attitude, they indeed cannot tolerate her coming and going freely. ¡°Never mind her.¡± True Master Yu Jian quickly regained her composure and looked at Fang Zhou again with a slightly stern expression, ¡°Li Yunlong, where do you actually want to go?¡± In the crowd, Li Yunlong was dumbfounded, huh, the True Master seems to be calling my name, but why is she addressing the young master? Under the stern gaze of True Master Yu Jian, Fang Zhou immediately felt an immense pressure. He could only stubbornly say, ¡°To be honest, I already have a master.¡± True Master Yu Jian exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Oh? Which elder in the sect is your master?¡± Could it be a disciple personally taken by an elder who had descended from the mountain? Fang Zhou¡­ didn¡¯t dare to say. He suddenly realized that Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s relationship with the Heavenly Sword Sect seemed very bad, the sect even wanted to drive her away. If he admitted that he was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s disciple, would he be beaten on the spot? Chapter 106: 106. What do you take the Heavenly Sword Sect for? Chapter 106: 106. What do you take the Heavenly Sword Sect for? Fang Zhou kept silent, and the scene fell quiet for a moment. The big shots are always tolerant of geniuses; had it been an ordinary disciple who was uncooperative, the three True Masters probably wouldn¡¯t have the patience to wait. True Master Yu Jian thought Fang Zhou was afraid of being punished and dared not speak, so he smiled and said, ¡°Are you worried about pledging to a master before your entry-level trial? Don¡¯t worry, just speak.¡± Fang Zhou exclaimed joyfully, ¡°Really?¡± True Master Yu Jian showed a gentle and magnanimous expression, ¡°Of course, no matter who your master is, I will not blame you and your master.¡± Such precedents are not unheard of; sometimes, an elder would take a disciple outside the sect and then let the disciple participate in the entry-level trial. Although it¡¯s a pity that they can¡¯t take such a talent as a disciple, as long as he is a part of the Heavenly Sword Sect, that¡¯s fine. True Masters Xuan Jian and Lei Jian were quite disappointed as well; they didn¡¯t expect someone else to have gotten ahead. But it didn¡¯t matter. Whichever elder had taken the disciple, such a talent, unless personally taken as a disciple by the Sect Master or the True Masters, couldn¡¯t be taught by just one elder. They, the True Masters, could still intervene for the future of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If it were just a mediocre or ordinary genius, it certainly wouldn¡¯t be worth doing so, but Fang Zhou¡¯s performance could be described as the finest raw jade in the history of the Heavenly Sword Sect. The True Masters naturally itched to leave their mark on him, which might eventually make them famous for ages. Fang Zhou did not yet know that these big shots were planning to leave their mark on him; he was about to confess honestly when a gourd wine flask came flying from the distant cloud sea at high speed. The wine flask flew to the front of Yuxu Palace, came to a sudden halt after drifting sharply, and Ling Xiaoyue, who had been absent for a dozen chapters, was sitting atop it. The new disciples were all curiously watching her, wondering which big shot of the Heavenly Sword Sect this woman who dared to drift in front of Yuxu Palace was. Yet the people of the Heavenly Sword Sect all displayed constipated expressions, only True Master Xuan Jian and Yu Qing seemed slightly less bothered. True Master Yu Jian looked at Ling Xiaoyue with a serious expression, ¡°Ling Xiaoyue, this is a sacred place of our Heavenly Sword Sect, do not create disturbance.¡± Ling Xiaoyue glanced at her, puzzled, ¡°Yu Jian, haven¡¯t seen you for half a year and you have such a long face, did your mom die?¡± The new disciples were instantly in uproar, True Master Yu Jian being one of the top three figures in the Heavenly Sword Sect, second only to the Sect Master, a tremendously famous figure across Jingnan State and even in Chu Kingdom¡¯s Cultivation World, someone dared to openly curse her mom dead. Although given True Master Yu Jian¡¯s age, her mom indeed had long passed away. True Master Yu Jian, who had cultivated for many years, had a mind as solid as a fortress and naturally wouldn¡¯t be provoked into anger by a few taunting words from Ling Xiaoyue. She raised her eyebrows and said sternly, ¡°When have I ever shown you a good face?¡± Ling Xiaoyue immediately brought up evidence, ¡°Yes, you did, half a year ago when I was leaving, didn¡¯t you smile like something?¡± True Master Yu Jian expressionless, True Master Xuan Jian chuckled on the side; half a year ago they all thought Ling Xiaoyue would never return, of course, they were very happy, little did they know she would come back so soon. From the moment Ling Xiaoyue appeared, True Master Yu Jian¡¯s gentleness and magnanimity disappeared, displaying a deep-seated grudge, she snorted coldly, ¡°What exactly are you here for? Do not interfere with our sect¡¯s affairs, leave if there¡¯s nothing important.¡± Ling Xiaoyue retorted discontentedly, ¡°How can you slander people out of thin air? Who is interfering with you? I¡¯m here to pick up my disciple.¡± True Master Yu Jian frowned, ¡°Nonsense, there¡¯s no disciple of yours here¡­¡± Suddenly she considered a possibility, turning sharply to look at Fang Zhou, the other two True Masters did the same. Fang Zhou was watching the drama unfold and was startled by the sudden looks from the three True Masters. True Master Yu Jian almost in disbelief asked, ¡°Your master is?¡± Fang Zhou, with a hardened scalp, pointed at the wine flask in the air. He was a little worried and added, ¡°True Master, you just said that no matter who my master is, you wouldn¡¯t blame them.¡± True Master Yu Jian, ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, Ling Xiaoyue also leaned down, smiling mischievously, ¡°Disciple, it seems you are quite popular.¡± At this moment, the expressions of the people from Heavenly Sword Sect were so spectacular that it was indescribable with words. The hearts of the three True Masters fluctuated even more than when they saw Fang Zhou activating ten thousand swords. Such a genius was actually someone else¡¯s child? And also the disciple of Ling Xiaoyue, that annoying guy? Elder Feng Qin felt the world spinning around her, what had she just said in front of someone else¡¯s disciple? The two True Disciples were even more dumbfounded. Not to mention the feelings of the three True Masters, they felt as if they had painfully given birth to a child only to find out the child belonged to someone else. Not just getting a green hat, but nearly blacking out. True Master Yu Jian stared at Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Your disciple¡­ why has he come to participate in our sect¡¯s entry-level trial?¡± Ling Xiaoyue shrugged, ¡°Just hitching a ride, you guys wouldn¡¯t be happy seeing me coming in and out all the time, right?¡± True Master Yu Jian suddenly raised her voice, ¡°Hitching a ride? What do you think Heavenly Sword Sect is, huh?¡± With this ¡®huh¡¯ from True Master Yu Jian, everyone present felt a tremor within themselves, scattering the clouds surrounding Yuxu Palace. Yet Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t care at all, laughed and said, ¡°Of course, I see you as a loving and pleasant neighbor. As a major sect, you wouldn¡¯t be so petty as to quibble with us two, right?¡± ¡°You¡­ you shameless¡­¡± True Master Yu Jian pointed at Ling Xiaoyue with trembling fingers, she knew that this rogue coming back would definitely not bring anything good. And she hadn¡¯t expected the shock to be this big. Ling Xiaoyue patted the wine gourd, yelling down to Fang Zhou, ¡°Disciple, what are you dazing out for? Come up, are you planning on staying for dinner?¡± Fang Zhou also felt the profound resentment from the Heavenly Sword Sect members, remaining on the ground would be dangerous, better to skedaddle. He bowed apologetically to the three True Masters, then leaped up onto the wine gourd. Only then did Ling Xiaoyue wave to the three True Masters, ¡°See you later, let¡¯s have tea when you¡¯re free.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Wait!¡± True Master Xuan Jian, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly spoke to stop Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Taoist Ling, please stop, there¡¯s a matter to discuss.¡± True Master Xuan Jian used the Thousand-Mile Transmission spell, only audible to Ling Xiaoyue and Fang Zhou. Ling Xiaoyue turned her head, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She had a good impression of True Master Xuan Jian, the friendliest among the three True Masters. True Master Xuan Jian glanced at Fang Zhou, smiled and said, ¡°Taoist Ling, are you interested in swapping disciples? If you agree, you can pick any of my disciples, even several if you¡¯d like.¡± Fang Zhou was immediately taken aback, is that even possible? But on second thought, if there were bizarre behaviors like swapping wives, husbands, sons, swapping disciples was not an unreasonable idea. Ling Xiaoyue patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder, ¡°That¡¯s strange, my disciple is so dull, what¡¯s so good about him that makes you so generous, Xuan Jian?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± True Master Xuan Jian surprisedly said, ¡°Your disciple is an innate swordsman, extremely compatible with my Xuan Jian lineage. If he could join my sect, his future potential is limitless, becoming the sect master of our sect could be just around the corner.¡± True Master Xuan Jian purposely said these words to let Fang Zhou hear, painting him a rosy picture, describing a promising future to entice him. But she didn¡¯t expect that after hearing this, Fang Zhou was full of question marks. Meow meow meow? Born a nasty person? Why insult me when we have no grudges? Chapter 107: 107.Are you here for cultivation or to enjoy the blessings? Chapter 107: 107.Are you here for cultivation or to enjoy the blessings? True Master Xuan Jian and Ling Xiaoyue conversed using the Thousand-Mile Transmission spell, leaving others only to see them silently looking at each other without hearing a word they said. The other two True Masters were as serene as meditating monks, while Feng Qin below seemed to be lost in thought, raising her head to look at Fang Zhou with a complex expression in her eyes. What an outstanding talent, how could he follow the wrong person? Isn¡¯t their Heavenly Sword Sect good enough? After hearing True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s words, Ling Xiaoyue laughed heartily: ¡°Born a scoundrel? This kid really is a scoundrel, but I have no plans to replace my disciple just yet. When I get tired of him, we¡¯ll talk. I just wonder if you would accept second-hand goods then¡ªah, why are you pinching me?¡± Ling Xiaoyue turned her head and glared at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou maintained a polite and humble expression, calmly withdrawing his hand, thinking to himself that she was the real second-hand good. And he finally discovered, if attacked by surprise, this woman could feel pain too, which was good news. Seeing Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s refusal, True Master Xuan Jian couldn¡¯t help but look regretful. Such great talent, just wasted like that. Ling Xiaoyue waved her hand towards her and then controlled the wine jug to fly towards the cloud sea. Watching the departing wine jug, True Master Yu Jian whispered, ¡°What did she say?¡± True Master Xuan Jian showed a wry smile, ¡°She asked if we would accept second-hand goods in the future.¡± True Master Yu Jian snorted coldly, ¡°So presumptuous.¡± But deep down, she sighed; such a presumptuous person was able to find such a rare talent that appears once in hundreds of years, why couldn¡¯t their Heavenly Sword Sect find one too. At that moment, True Master Lei Jian, who had been silent from the start, concisely said: ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± True Masters Yu Jian and Xuan Jian were both shocked looking at her. You are really desperate. On the other side, Xuan Ling stared blankly at the departing wine jug, astonished by the day¡¯s surprising and tumultuous events. This young man who was supposed to become her junior brother, turned out to be the disciple of that notorious scoundrel, attending the entry-level trial just to hitch a ride, was something she had never expected. Yu Qing stood beside her, consoling, ¡°Cheer up, junior sister. Moon Viewing Peak is not far, and you¡¯ll have chances to meet him later.¡± Xuan Ling glanced at her, So what if it¡¯s not far, he is no longer a person of Heavenly Sword Sect. Wait, isn¡¯t that even better? Xuan Ling fell into deep thought. Until now, the new disciples were still clueless, the situation had changed too fast for these newbies to adapt, but one thing was clear to them, this guy who overshadowed everyone else was no longer a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect. No one knew how many were feeling regret or relief. Although the most outstanding ¡®seed¡¯ had run away, now they still had to assign the new disciples. But the three True Masters felt a kind of dullness; the previously coveted Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng seemed to have lost all attraction now. True Master Yu Jian, unable to hide her annoyance, stressed, ¡°Fellow disciples, that Li Yunlong is no longer a disciple of Heavenly Sword Sect, don¡¯t make a mistake when you see him.¡± In the crowd, Li Yunlong timidly raised his hand. ¡°True Master, I am Li Yunlong.¡± True Master Yu Jian: ¡°¡­¡± Good for you, kid, even the name is fake, just as shameless as your scoundrel master. ¡­ The wine jug sped through the cloud sea. This was Fang Zhou¡¯s first time riding in Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wine jug. Although it was quite small, it was fast and stable. After leaving Yuxu Palace, Ling Xiaoyue curiously asked, ¡°My disciple, what have you done to make those three old women value you so much?¡± Fang Zhou puffed out his chest, ¡°Of course, because I¡¯m handsome, have a good character, strong abilities, beloved by people, and flowers bloom at my sight. Is it strange to be valued?¡± ¡°Give me a break, your master didn¡¯t see that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re blind.¡± Under Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s persistent questioning, Fang Zhou had no choice but to recount what happened at Buried Sword Ridge. ¡°Hahaha, no wonder those three old ladies wouldn¡¯t leave you alone.¡± Ling Xiaoyue laughed breathlessly, knowing that Fang Zhou had mastered the long-lost Sword Control Technique, but the three True Masters were unaware and thought he was an Innate Swordman. But if the fact that Fang Zhou entered the Enlightenment State in just the Qi Refining Realm were to be leaked, the Heavenly Sword Sect would probably fight over accepting him as a disciple. After finishing her laughter, Ling Xiaoyue started to complain about Fang Zhou again: ¡°You sensed so many Spirit Swords, why didn¡¯t you bring them all back? Even if you couldn¡¯t take all, taking half would work. Those Spirit Swords are worth a lot, and you didn¡¯t take a single one, truly disappointing your master.¡± Damn, why don¡¯t you go get them yourself? If I took one, who knows if I could have safely escaped. However, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s comment reminded Fang Zhou of something else: ¡°Right, what¡¯s the deal with your Moon Viewing Peak, the people from Heavenly Sword Sect said you seized it forcefully.¡± ¡°Seized my ass.¡± Ling Xiaoyue looked indifferent: ¡°I have the deed for Moon Viewing Peak, those people from Heavenly Sword Sect are shameless and won¡¯t admit it.¡± Fang Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, having a deed was good, otherwise being driven away by the Heavenly Sword Sect would be too embarrassing. Something feels off. At this moment, they had arrived at Moon Viewing Peak. Compared to the main and three branches of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Moon Viewing Peak was not very high and looked quite slender, but the scenery at the peak was very pleasant, a good place for cultivation and healing. And it not being very large was only relatively speaking, for Fang Zhou, a whole mountain was big enough, he had never lived in such a big place in his two lifetimes. Ling Xiaoyue mentioned that the sect had pavilions and mansions like heavenly palaces, there were plenty of big houses, which location should he choose to live in? While pondering, the wine jug had already flown up to Moon Viewing Peak, Fang Zhou looked down and was dazzled by the beautiful scenery. But soon Fang Zhou realized something was wrong: ¡°Wait, where is our sect?¡± ¡°Right there.¡± Ling Xiaoyue pointed downward. Following her direction, Fang Zhou immediately saw it, right on the summit of Moon Viewing Peak. Three thatched cottages. Fang Zhou thought he was seeing things, he rubbed his eyes, then confirmed he was not mistaken, indeed there were only three mud and thatch cottages on Moon Viewing Peak. When Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wine jug landed in front of the three thatch cottages, Fang Zhou finally confirmed, this was the sect Ling Xiaoyue was talking about. He silently activated the Sword Control Technique, a sword cry echoed, and Xuanyuan Sword shot out from the Sword Box, chopping towards Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s dog head. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Xiaoyue got a fright and quickly dodged: ¡°Rebellious disciple, what are you doing, trying to kill your master?¡± Fang Zhou pointed at the three cottages with a face full of sorrow and angrily said to Ling Xiaoyue: ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been looking forward to a big house? Is this what you meant by pavilions and mansions like heavenly palaces, with plenty of big houses?¡± He felt as heartbroken and pained as a naive girl deceived physically by a sugar-coated scumbag posing as a rich second-generation. In his last life, Fang Zhou had deep resentment for houses. He couldn¡¯t even afford a toilet until he died, and now in this life, he thought he could realize his dream but ended up still being fooled. Why is life so hard? Facing Fang Zhou¡¯s scolding, Ling Xiaoyue pointed around: ¡°Pavilions, mansions, big houses, aren¡¯t all these here?¡± She was referring to the buildings on Heavenly Sword Peak and Yujian Peak. Fang Zhou almost spat out blood in anger: ¡°That¡¯s someone else¡¯s from Heavenly Sword Sect.¡± Ling Xiaoyue shrugged: ¡°Yeah, I never said it was ours. Having a few thatched cottages to live in is not bad at all. Look at others and then see what we have. Isn¡¯t it an opportunity to temper your mindset? ¡®The sword¡¯s edge comes from sharpening, and the plum blossom¡¯s scent from the cold.¡¯ Heaven assigns a great task to a person, must first suffer their mind, task their muscles, starve their skin. Cultivation is about facing all sorts of difficulties to break through oneself, otherwise are you here to cultivate or to enjoy comforts?¡± It had to be said, Ling Xiaoyue made a lot of sense. Fang Zhou considered it carefully then turned around: ¡°True Master Xuan Jian¡¯s house must be really big, I¡¯ll go visit there.¡± ¡°Come back here.¡± Chapter 108: 108. Master, when will you die? Chapter 108: 108. Master, when will you die? Fang Zhou ultimately did not leave. One should consider feelings when dealing with people; it¡¯s not right to look down on Ling Xiaoyue just because her material possessions are lacking. Otherwise, how would one be different from those materialistic jerks and gold diggers? As the saying goes, a mountain need not be high, for with immortals, it will be famous; water need not be deep, for with dragons, it will be spirituous. Amongst the many pavilions, towers, and grand halls, a few simple straw huts can better highlight a Cultivator¡¯s extraordinary aura, right? Of course, another little reason Fang Zhou didn¡¯t leave is that Ling Xiaoyue said that aside from lacking a big house, the entire Moon Viewing Peak was her property; such a big mountain was all hers alone. In other words, as long as Ling Xiaoyue died, Moon Viewing Peak would belong to Fang Zhou. That¡¯s far better than the Heavenly Sword Sect; there, so many people cram together, whereas here, I¡¯d have an entire mountain to myself. It doesn¡¯t matter if there¡¯s no house; I can just build one myself. A mountain in a top-grade scenic area, I couldn¡¯t afford even if I had the money in my previous life. Who needs a bike then? ¡°Master, when are you going to die?¡± Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t wait to imagine the beautiful prospect of inheriting a mountain after Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s death. Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s liquor flask came flying: ¡°Scram, your master isn¡¯t dead yet, even if you die.¡± The three straw huts were all casually erected by Ling Xiaoyue herself, and to be honest, they looked pretty decent. Fang Zhou originally thought she would nest in a tree. Although they were just straw huts, they were quite spacious; it¡¯s just that they were completely empty inside, without any furniture. Ling Xiaoyue walked into the left hut, and countless items appeared out of nowhere, clattering onto the ground. Among these were the daily necessities purchased by Fang Zhou, as well as items the pair had collected on their way back¡ªlike the fox skins peeled from the fox demons they killed, and the bark left behind by dead Tree Demons, amongst others. There were even more items that Fang Zhou had never seen before, a dazzling array almost piling up into a small mountain. ¡°What are you collecting all these things for?¡± Fang Zhou casually picked up a twig, which looked jade-like, circulating with luminescence and emitting a refreshing aura. Many of these items seemed useless to both mentor and student. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to sell for money. The Heavenly Sword Sect organizes a trade fair every year, your master plans to sell these.¡± Ling Xiaoyue switched hands and with a clatter, spilled out another pile of items. Fang Zhou suddenly understood; no wonder Ling Xiaoyue liked collecting these trinkets, it seemed she not only did odd jobs like a rogue cultivator but also moonlighted as a small merchant. Quite the hard worker. Fang Zhou then picked up something that looked very much like a Magic Cube, which could be randomly assembled into various patterns of animals and people. Fang Zhou assembled a small deer, and the Magic Cube emitted light, projecting an image of the deer so realistic it was almost identical to a live one. He reached out to touch it, and the deer actually licked his hand with its tongue. This thing is basically a toy, yet it¡¯s so finely crafted and fun. While Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t paying attention, Fang Zhou absorbed the Magic Cube into the gourd, which he could use to kill time when he was bored. After Ling Xiaoyue had thrown out all the items, she seemed to remember something and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Oh right, take out your little gourd, your master will refine it for you.¡± Fang Zhou was a bit nervous, thinking Ling Xiaoyue had discovered he had secretly taken her things. He tossed over the purple little gourd, and with pretense warned, ¡°Just don¡¯t secretly sell it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not worth much even if sold; your master doesn¡¯t fancy it.¡± Ling Xiaoyue caught the gourd, weighed it, and then tossed it back to Fang Zhou with a smile, ¡°Deal with the few demons inside it first. Whether you want to refine them or subdue them, decide for yourself.¡± Only then did Fang Zhou remember the seven Calabash Brothers he had put inside the gourd; he hadn¡¯t tended to them since. He asked doubtfully, ¡°Is subduing them even an option? I mean, we killed their dear granny; isn¡¯t that an irreconcilable vendetta?¡± Ling Xiaoyue stared at him with a smile that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, ¡°You should read more books like I told you to; otherwise you wouldn¡¯t make such a joke. Do you really think a Mystic Yin Tree could bear gourds?¡± What does that mean? Could there be some unknown story of a hapless scapegoat inside? Fang Zhou was completely baffled and asked, ¡°Then how should I control it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need to rely on your own abilities for that. No one else can help you with this,¡± Ling Xiaoyue pushed him away, ¡°I need to organize my things. You can choose any of the other two thatched cottages or build a new one if you like.¡± Fang Zhou had no current plans for such an extensive project, so he found a scenic spot, sat down with his legs crossed, and took out the gourd. The issue with the seven calabash brothers inside must be resolved, or it would remain a hidden danger. Whether to eliminate or subdue them depended on the situation. Fang Zhou had initially intended to annihilate them, but Ling Xiaoyue mentioned they could be subdued, which seemed a better option. He could gain seven free workers, and besides, Fang Zhou also had a sense of nostalgia for the calabash brothers. Holding the gourd, he closed his eyes and started to immerse himself in sensing its interior. Almost instantly, his consciousness entered the vast space within the gourd. Everything was exactly as it had been during his last visit, almost without any change, the garbage mountain was still suspended in the air, below was a sea bubbling with heat. Because the garbage mountain was so big, Fang Zhou really couldn¡¯t see where the seven calabash brothers were hiding, he could only try to sense them, as it seemed he could sense anything he had taken in. Soon, Fang Zhou located the seven calabash brothers and also the Magic Cube he had sneakily taken from Ling Xiaoyue. He picked up the Magic Cube first, then flew towards the calabash brothers. The seven calabash brothers hid at the deepest part of the garbage mountain. When Fang Zhou flew towards them, a yellow figure shot towards him at an incredibly fast speed. At the same time, calabash brothers of various colors leaped out from around the garbage mountain, surrounding Fang Zhou in the middle¡ªit was actually a trap. Had he been surrounded by the calabash brothers like this before, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t have come out dead, then he would need to flee, but he was now not the same as he had been before. Also, inside the gourd could also be considered his home ground. With a single thought, the bodies of six calabash brothers were immediately immobilized in the air, unable to move. ¡°Little Seven!¡± The eldest brother let out a loud shout. Fang Zhou then realized that the youngest, Little Seven, was actually hiding inside the garbage mountain and hadn¡¯t appeared. With the eldest brother¡¯s shout, the six calabash brothers immediately broke free from Fang Zhou¡¯s control. Fang Zhou was prepared for this; the gourd was Little Seven¡¯s companion treasure after all. Fang Zhou was only able to indirectly control the gourd through his connection with the Golden Core. In terms of control, he was no match for Little Seven, so he could not control the things Little Seven had taken in, and Little Seven could instead affect his control over the calabash brothers. That these calabash brothers were able to move within the gourd, must also be thanks to Little Seven¡¯s help. But Little Seven¡¯s only flaw was that she too had been sucked in by Fang Zhou, and she too was under his control. Fang Zhou regained control, at the same time pulling Little Seven out from the garbage mountain. ¡°Despicable bad guy, let me go!¡± Little Seven struggled to regain control, and just when the calabash brothers were able to move, control was taken back again. The two sides kept fighting for control, leaving the seven calabash brothers pulsating in the air, alternating between movement and stopping, utterly agonized. The eldest brother saw that this was not the way to do it, Fang Zhou could leave the gourd at any time, and would definitely be prepared the next time he entered; their chance was only this once. She made up her mind and shouted, ¡°Sisters, unite and release Little Eight!¡± This time, none of the sisters opposed or hesitated, they too believed only Little Eight could lead them to escape the gourd. Little Seven regained control again, and from Number Two to Little Seven, they all rushed towards the eldest brother. Fang Zhou, however, was taken aback. Others might not know who Little Eight was, but how could he not know? The Vajra Little Gourd was too terrifying; she could not be allowed out. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Stop, I did not come to fight with you!¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly shouted, but it was too late, the calabash brothers had not heard him. Even if they had, it would have been too late. Chapter 109: 109. Vajra Little Gourd Chapter 109: 109. Vajra Little Gourd Fang Zhou¡¯s consciousness entered the gourd this time, and he didn¡¯t bring the Sword Box with him. He could only pounce towards the seven gourd children, summoning Hu Lai¡¯s left hand in the process and scooping up a huge stone from the garbage mountain to smash at the seven gourd children. The seven gourd children had already collided with each other, emitting a dazzling white light in an instant. Fang Zhou swung the stone down, and before it could hit, it was propped up by a hand still with baby fat. As the white light faded, the seven gourd children had disappeared, replaced by a little girl. With a light pinch of her hand, the enormous stone was immediately crushed into powder by a terrifying force. Fang Zhou hurriedly backed away, finally getting a clear look at the little girl. She was about five or six years old, wearing white clothes, with cute big eyes, a small nose, and mouth, her fair cheeks still retaining a bit of baby fat, even cuter than Little Seven. Is this the Vajra Little Gourd? As Fang Zhou was taking her in, the eighth child¡¯s eyes widened in curiosity, surveying the surroundings, ¡°Wow, what is this place?¡± Eh, has she never been here before? And she seems¡­ pretty easy to deceive¡ªvery approachable. Just as Fang Zhou thought about subduing her without a fight, the little girl finally noticed Fang Zhou: ¡°Are you the bad guy my sisters talked about?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression became solemn, and he said earnestly, ¡°No, I¡¯ve already driven the bad guy away, let your sisters come out.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The little girl tilted her head, ¡°But you look just like the bad guy my sisters described?¡± Fang Zhou said with a heavy heart, ¡°That¡¯s right, the bad guy was impersonating me to do evil, which is why I had to drive him away.¡± The little girl obviously couldn¡¯t understand such complicated matters, her face filled with confusion, she couldn¡¯t help scratching her head, ¡°Then wait for me, I¡¯ll ask my sisters.¡± After speaking, she froze in place. Fang Zhou, however, was startled. What the heck, turning into the Vajra Little Gourd still allowed communication with the other gourd children? Fang Zhou had not guessed wrong. After the seven gourd children transformed into the Vajra Little Gourd, the consciousness of eight sisters shared the same Divine Soul Realm, but the body was controlled by the eighth child. In the Divine Soul Realm, the seven gourd children gathered together, and the eighth child appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Big sisters, I missed you all so much!¡± The eighth child exclaimed with arms wide open, rushing towards the gourd children with her little short legs. The second to seventh children instantly dodged to the side, only the eldest child stood her ground, bravely smiling and opening her arms. The eighth child plunged into the eldest¡¯s embrace, knocking her backward in flight, soaring for hundreds of meters before crashing down hard to the ground. Even without physical forms in the Divine Soul Realm, the eldest child nearly had her consciousness shattered by the eighth child¡¯s bump, her eyes slightly rolling back in a daze. The eighth child gleefully shook the eldest child¡¯s shoulders non-stop: ¡°Did you come to play with me? Did you, did you, did you?¡± The eldest child, shaken like she was convulsing, couldn¡¯t even speak. The other six gourd children cautiously approached. ¡°Eighth sis, stop shaking her, you¡¯re about to shake our big sister to pieces.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The eighth child stood up, cheerfully looking at her sisters: ¡°Then let¡¯s play.¡± The gourd children fell silent instantly. The eighth child¡¯s smile gradually faded. ¡°Play, we will play with you.¡± The eldest struggled to her feet, giving her sisters a knowing look¡ªthey had to appease the youngest, or else if she threw in the towel, their union would be pointless. The youngest cheered up and extended a fist to the eldest: ¡°Big sis, let¡¯s have a strength contest.¡± The eldest broke into a cold sweat, clenched her teeth, and offered her fist. For her sisters¡¯ safety, enduring a little pain was nothing. Competing in strength with the youngest was simple¡ªthe sisters would just punch each other¡¯s fists. The eldest and the youngest both gathered their strength, then punched out at the same time, resulting in a muffled thud. The air rippled out in waves, and everyone¡¯s clothes fluttered violently. The eldest was sent flying, turning into a small black dot in the distance. The remaining six sisters all swallowed hard. The youngest then turned her innocent gaze to the second eldest, gleefully saying: ¡°Second sis, it¡¯s your turn now.¡± The second sister¡¯s face stiffened. The youngest would use her Sharp-Hearing Ear and thousand-mile eyes to play hide-and-seek with her, betting on who would find the other first. The loser had to act as the winner¡¯s dog mount. Hmm¡­ and the mount had to stay until the union was broken, with added performances of barking, pooping, and peeing. The second sister looked at the third with pleading eyes, knowing that if she lost, it would be her own turn next. The third sister coughed and forced a smile on her usually indifferent face: ¡°Little Eight, there¡¯s a bad guy outside bullying your sisters, can you help us catch him?¡± Little Eight nodded: ¡°Sure, but after I catch him, you all have to keep playing with me.¡± The sisters nodded vigorously, and the third quickly described Fang Zhou¡¯s appearance to Little Eight. Once Little Eight disappeared, the sisters sighed in relief, finding the confrontation with her even more nerve-wracking than facing an enemy. But before they could relax, the vanished Little Eight reappeared: ¡°Big sis, that guy outside said he¡¯s not a bad person.¡± After Little Eight repeated her conversation with Fang Zhou, the third sister¡¯s cheeks puffed up with anger. ¡°He¡¯s a big liar, all of us sisters have been deceived by him. When you go out, just attack him directly, no need for words.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Little Eight exited the Divine Soul Realm and returned to reality. In Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes, she had merely paused for a moment before becoming alert and pouncing toward him without further words. Fang Zhou was startled, trying to control Little Eight¡¯s body but found he couldn¡¯t. He could control the seven sisters he had absorbed, but not this Little Eight. Little Eight was incredibly fast, much faster than her sisters. She became a white blur, and Fang Zhou could hardly dodge with his barely twenty points of speed. Little Eight dived straight into the garbage mountain next to them, collapsing it with a loud crash. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next moment, a giant figure over thirty meters tall rose from the garbage mountain. After growing to such a tremendous size, Little Eight now towered over the garbage mountain. Fang Zhou was stunned, wondering how on earth he was supposed to fight this. At that moment, to Little Eight, Fang Zhou was smaller than a mouse. She lifted her foot, stomping down towards him. Fang Zhou frantically ran away, Little Eight¡¯s baby-fat-filled tiny feet more terrifying than anything else. He felt like a regular person in a monster movie being chased by a monster, without Ultraman or Godzilla coming to his rescue. As Little Eight stomped down, the garbage mountain crumbled with the impact, revealing a churning sea beneath. Unable to catch Fang Zhou after several stomps, Little Eight took a deep breath, her mouth and belly bulging as two thick plumes of smoke erupted from her nostrils. Fang Zhou¡¯s scalp tingled with fear¡ªit looked like she was about to breathe fire. He had to stop her; otherwise, with Little Eight¡¯s current size, once she breathed fire, the whole garbage mountain might turn into Flame Mountain. Chapter 110: 110. Defecting Mini Transformer Chapter 110: 110. Defecting Mini Transformer ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Just as Xiao Ba was about to breathe fire, she heard Fang Zhou¡¯s loud shout. She instinctively looked down and saw Fang Zhou standing on the garbage mountain, holding a glowing strange object in his hand. Xiao Ba¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the object. Seeing an opportunity, Fang Zhou quickly manipulated the Magic Cube in his hand, assembling a lively little dog and projecting it out. Xiao Ba¡¯s swollen belly and mouth both subsided as she squatted down, staring blankly with both large eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°What is this?¡± She asked in a soft, milky voice. Fang Zhou shook the Magic Cube: ¡°This is fun; I¡¯ll tell you about it if you shrink down.¡± Xiao Ba immediately shrank from thirty meters tall to less than one meter, even shorter than before. Fang Zhou continuously assembled various patterns and projected them out, featuring people and animals that not only looked vivid but also could interact. Xiao Ba put her finger in her mouth and was almost mesmerized, then after a while, she asked: ¡°Can I play with it?¡± ¡°You can play with it.¡± Fang Zhou said with a smile: ¡°But you can¡¯t hit me anymore; I am not a bad guy.¡± Xiao Ba frowned, torn between her sisters¡¯ admonishments and the fun object. It was a tough choice. She agonized for three seconds, then cast her sisters aside and raised her hand to Fang Zhou: ¡°I won¡¯t hit you, let me play.¡± She¡¯s so easy to appease. Fang Zhou handed over the Magic Cube with a smile, and Xiao Ba, beaming with joy, took it and immediately started fiddling with it. Seeing that all of Xiao Ba¡¯s attention was captivated by the Magic Cube, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but heave a sigh of relief. Although she possessed terrifying power, she was indeed just a child, bought over by a toy. Thankfully, he had brought the Magic Cube with him; otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have handled this Vajra Little Gourd. Taking advantage of Xiao Ba¡¯s lack of vigilance, Fang Zhou started teaching her how to play while also casually extracting information, quickly learning all about the gourd children. Xiao Ba, along with the seven gourd children, can only appear when they combine, and usually, they hide and sleep in a Spirit-like Divine Soul Realm. After the seven gourd children combine, their consciousness would enter the Divine Soul Realm, and Xiao Ba would control the combined body. Xiao Ba can freely travel between the body and the Divine Soul Realm, but the seven gourd children couldn¡¯t. They couldn¡¯t see the outside world or come out, and could only wait for Xiao Ba to voluntarily end the combination or when the combination time naturally expired. Fang Zhou also extracted the most crucial piece of information that the combined state could only last for a maximum of one day before it automatically ends. Poor Xiao Ba, she had always stayed in the Divine Soul Realm since she was young, only coming out for a day occasionally, which is even worse than being imprisoned. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She appears to be just a pure child, not driven mad by containment, which is truly rare. Previously, Fang Zhou had a somewhat negative impression of the gourd children; after all, they had killed so many humans, and with differing species stands, there was nothing good to say. However, Xiao Ba was an exception. She hadn¡¯t participated in wrongdoings with her sisters and was still very innocent. With proper guidance, she might become a good spirit. Of course, things like nurturing and finding free labor, Fang Zhou definitely didn¡¯t think about that. Even if he did, it was just a tiny bit. With the compassionate belief of rescuing a not yet fallen spirit, Fang Zhou was ready to start tempting, ah no, to start guiding Xiao Ba. ¡°` However, before guiding her, it¡¯s essential to establish a good relationship with her. Building a relationship with a child is actually quite simple, requiring only three things¡ªToys, games, and stories. A toy is already available, Fang Zhou knows games, and the simplest magic tricks. He has seen many magic trick revelations before and knows the process, but unfortunately, as someone clumsy with hands, it¡¯s typical to understand mentally but fail physically. Now that his physical fitness is so strong, he just needs to remember the process, and he can succeed without any practice. As for stories, that¡¯s even simpler. He can effortlessly come up with various well-known fairy tales or even make up some of his own, such as whatever silly stories, easily deceiving a naive little monster like Little Eight. Fang Zhou initially wanted to wait until Little Eight got bored of magic before showing her some new tricks, but she didn¡¯t tire even after several hours and was still enthusiastic. This might be the first time in her monster life that she¡¯s had so much fun with a toy. If she continues to play, the day will pass by, and Fang Zhou could only take the initiative to perform a couple of small magic tricks for her. Little Eight¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the magic tricks, but her keen eyesight saw through the simple deceptions. Fang Zhou had no choice but to bring out his ace in the hole¡ªtelling her a story. This finally managed to captivate her. One was innocent-minded, and the other was deliberately pleasing; their relationship could be described as progressing by leaps and bounds. In less than half a day, Little Eight was already incessantly calling Fang Zhou ¡®Brother¡¯ in her childish voice. No wonder so many are fond of doting on younger sisters; it turns out that hearing a cute little girl call you ¡®Brother¡¯ is quite a heartwarming thing. Of course, becoming fond of younger sisters requires two conditions: one doesn¡¯t have a real younger sister, and the other is the younger sister must be pretty. It might sound contradictory, but it¡¯s not contradictory at all upon closer thought. Because those without real younger sisters tend to become fond of them, and those whom they imagine as younger sisters have to be pretty. Also, to Fang Zhou¡¯s surprise, because Little Eight had grown up isolated, she harbored neither ideas of male superiority nor female inferiority¡ªit was like she was an uncarved gem. Of course, Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t planning to make Little Eight someone without independent thoughts, but rather to instill in her the correct values for a comfortable relationship. Speaking of which, the notion of male deference to female is predominantly a human societal attitude¡ªnot so much a concern among monsters, where strength reigns supreme, although strong female monsters are somewhat more common. ¡°Brother, I need to go back.¡± Suddenly, Little Eight said to Fang Zhou, her constantly smiling face now without a smile. Fang Zhou then realized that the day had silently passed by; there¡¯s no transition of day and night within the gourd, making time changes less noticeable. And he had ended up spending a whole day playing with a child. ¡°Then go back, I¡¯ll come to play with you when I¡¯m free.¡± Fang Zhou patted Little Eight¡¯s head, feeling a bit reluctant. Compared with her seven sisters, Little Eight was much cuter and also more impressive. Suddenly, Little Eight hugged Fang Zhou, burying her head into his waist, and mumbled, ¡°You must not lie to Little Eight, okay? Don¡¯t be like my sisters, always saying they¡¯ll come to play with me soon but then taking a long, long, long time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother promises you that we will meet again soon.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and assured her, having already decided to take over Little Eight¡¯s education from those seven foolish gourds himself: ¡°Also, don¡¯t tell your sisters when you get back; this is our little secret between the two of us.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Little Eight released Fang Zhou, looked up at him, and emphasized again, ¡°You must come to find me, okay?¡± Fang Zhou nodded, handing her the Magic Cube: ¡°Can you take this in?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know; I¡¯ll try.¡± Holding the Magic Cube, Little Eight reluctantly bade farewell to Fang Zhou: ¡°Bye-bye, Brother!¡± After saying that, her whole body emitted a dazzling white light. ¡°` Chapter 111: 111. I can swear Chapter 111: 111. I can swear In the Divine Soul Realm, the seven gourd children huddled together. They had been waiting here for a full day. Xiao Ba had returned once before, but had not come back since, and they were unclear about the situation outside. Sixth child whispered, ¡°I hope nothing has happened to Xiao Ba.¡± Third child firmly said, ¡°No, Xiao Ba is stronger than all seven of us combined. Nothing will have happened.¡± Sixth child dared not say anything more, but she did not agree with third sister¡¯s words. Xiao Ba was formidable, but too na?ve and easily deceived, and it had been a whole day without any news. If there were no problems, she should have returned by now. Seeing the morale dropping, eldest child spoke up, ¡°The duration of our union is almost up, Xiao Ba will definitely be back before it ends, and we¡¯ll know soon enough if there¡¯s any trouble.¡± She was actually also worried, but was afraid that speaking up would be useless and might dampen spirits, so she kept it to herself. In fact, eldest child also did not wish to send such a na?ve child as Xiao Ba to face the enemy, but Xiao Ba was their only trump card, and they had to use her in this difficult situation. After a silence, Xiao Ba¡¯s figure suddenly appeared within the Divine Soul Realm. The gourds breathed a sigh of relief, quickly gathering around, bombarding her with questions. Finally, third child quieted everyone down, and eldest child took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Xiao Ba, how are the bad guys outside?¡± Xiao Ba shook her head, repeating what Fang Zhou had taught her to say, ¡°Big sister, I couldn¡¯t beat them. The brother outside caught me, then let me go.¡± Here, Xiao Ba made a mistake in her reply¡ªshe was supposed to refer to Fang Zhou as the bad guy, as Fang Zhou had taught her, but she still called him brother instead. Fortunately, the gourds didn¡¯t notice this, nor could they imagine that Xiao Ba had already turned traitor, acknowledging someone else as her brother outside. ¡°He caught you and then let you go, is he that powerful?¡± Eldest child asked, visibly shocked. Xiao Ba¡¯s prowess was best known by these elder sisters; in the past, even their grandfather could hardly handle her when they let her run wild at Lanruo Temple. That she could have been captured by that man outside. Surely he must have used some despicable tactics, as after all, that¡¯s how they all ended up inside the gourd. Eldest child wanted to ask more details, but Xiao Ba yawned, ¡°Big sister, I am sleepy. I want to sleep now.¡± At that moment, eldest child sensed something was wrong. Xiao Ba had always begged them to stay a bit longer, why would she suddenly want to sleep on her own? She noticed Xiao Ba holding a strange object and immediately asked, ¡°Xiao Ba, what is that? Since when can you bring things here?¡± Xiao Ba quickly hugged the Magic Cube to her chest, curled up into a ball, and rolled away. ¡°Xiao Ba, stop right there.¡± Eldest child was about to chase her when suddenly her vision blurred, and she found herself back in the gourd space. The union time had ended, and the seven gourd children were forced to leave the Divine Soul Realm. Just as they came out, they saw Fang Zhou not far away, which startled them all, and they instinctively wanted to move into action. ¡°Stop, I am not here to fight with you.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s loud shout stopped the gourds in their tracks, this was attributed to Xiao Ba¡¯s mistake; otherwise, they definitely wouldn¡¯t have listened to Fang Zhou¡¯s nonsense just now. Seeing that they had stopped, Fang Zhou continued, ¡°I have a message for you. You can decide whether to fight after listening.¡± Eldest child frowned, ¡°What message?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her, speaking in an even tone, ¡°Your grandfather is already dead.¡± At these words, all the gourd children were severely shaken, some with stunned expressions, and some looked utterly lost. Little Seven directly shouted at Fang Zhou, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Third Kid¡¯s face was full of anger as he charged towards Fang Zhou, but he was stopped by the First Kid before he could get close. Third Kid angrily said, ¡°Big Sister, are you still going to listen to his nonsensical ramblings?¡± First Kid replied solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive, I can tell truth from lies.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the unprecedented serious expression on First Kid¡¯s face, Third Kid was momentarily lost for words. First Kid turned to look at Fang Zhou, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°I believe Grandpa is already dead. Did you come here to kill us?¡± ¡°Big Sister!?¡± The other gourd kids became anxious, but First Kid just stared intently at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou shook his head, ¡°If I wanted to kill you, I could have done it outside. There¡¯s no need to come in person. I¡¯m here to propose a cooperation.¡± Third Kid sneered, ¡°Cooperate? You just want to deceive us into being your minions and sacrificing ourselves for you.¡± Well, aren¡¯t you smart now? What took you so long? Of course, Fang Zhou would not admit to Third Kid¡¯s accusation. This steel-boned Third Kid also had a steel-boned head, too stubborn, and First Kid was easier to communicate with. He continued to First Kid, ¡°Let me explain to you. I could have killed you all, but now I need some manpower. If you are willing to work for me, I will grant you freedom. If you fear I might deceive, I am willing to take the Heart Demon Oath.¡± Hearing the words ¡°Heart Demon Oath,¡± the gourd kids¡¯ faces turned ugly, and even First Kid started to mock him, ¡°You want to use an oath to deceive us again?¡± It was precisely because they had trusted Fang Zhou¡¯s Heart Demon Oath before that they were defeated one by one. Fang Zhou raised a finger and shook it, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. If I had used the Heart Demon Oath to deceive you, I would have died from violating the oath long ago. My oath was not the problem; the problem was that you mistakenly thought I couldn¡¯t use the gourd. That¡¯s not deception; it¡¯s strategy. In war, deception isn¡¯t frowned upon. You can¡¯t call me a cheat just because you were naive.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± First Kid wanted to argue, but she had nothing to say. Although she had gained some experience after being deceived once, arguing was still not her strong suit, same as the other gourd kids. Fang Zhou continued, ¡°My oaths will not be violated. If you are afraid, I can make a more detailed vow. Work for me, and I will grant you freedom in ten years. A fair cooperation, where no one is the other¡¯s lackey.¡± First Kid was silent for a while before saying, ¡°We need to think about it.¡± Fang Zhou nodded, ¡°Sure, discuss it. I¡¯ll come back after some time.¡± Previously, during the hostilities, he had to deceive the gourd kids, which meant he was tense and nervous throughout the process for fear of being exposed. This time, he came with sincerity and had no intention to deceive, believing that the gourd kids would see the reality. Moreover, the gourd kids¡¯ trump card was Vajra Little Gourd, and Vajra Little Gourd had already been turned by Fang Zhou; the remaining seven gourd kids had no way to overturn the situation. Fang Zhou had won them even at an overall disadvantage; now that he held all the advantages, it was even more straightforward. After Fang Zhou left, the gourd kids gathered around First Kid, with Third Kid discontentedly saying, ¡°Big Sis, Grandpa can¡¯t possibly be dead. Why do you believe that liar?¡± The other gourd kids also looked towards First Kid. First Kid sighed deeply, ¡°If Grandpa doesn¡¯t come to save us, whether he¡¯s dead or alive, it¡¯s all the same to us.¡± ¡°Big Sister, you¡­¡± The gourd kids were stunned, seemingly unable to believe that Big Sister would say something so ¡®utterly outrageous.¡¯ ¡°Wake up, sisters. Grandpa has never treated us as family but merely as subordinates that can be sacrificed at will.¡± With determination on her face, First Kid said, ¡°I am grateful for Grandpa¡¯s protection, but we have also done a lot for him. Now that we can¡¯t even save ourselves, and Grandpa¡¯s fate is unknown, we have no choice but to save ourselves.¡± Compared to Grandpa, First Kid hoped that her sisters could be safe and sound. Third Kid discontentedly said, ¡°Then we don¡¯t need to cooperate with that liar.¡± However, First Kid revealed a bitter smile, ¡°Third Sister, do you think we have a choice? Right now, our very lives are controlled by others.¡± Third Kid looked around the boundless gourd space and fell silent. Chapter 112: 112. Strategic Partner Chapter 112: 112. Strategic Partner After leaving the gourd space, Fang Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief. This had gone much better than he anticipated. He had prepared for the worst scenario where he would engage in a fierce battle with the gourd children, and both parties would be hurt, as he wasn¡¯t sure whether they would seek revenge after knowing about their grandfather¡¯s death. It seems that their kinship with their grandfather wasn¡¯t as firm as he had imagined. Ling Xiaoyue was still in the house sorting the small collected goods. Seeing how proficiently she worked, it seemed she had done this quite often, an eligible small vendor indeed. Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue for paper and a pen, and wrote two Contracts, outlining the scope of cooperation, responsibilities, and rewards with the gourd children. It might have seemed redundant, but Fang Zhou wanted to make it official, to create a serious ambiance to impress these unsophisticated rustic, oh no, rustic demons. After finishing, Fang Zhou waited for the ink to dry before carefully folding them. He planned to test whether he could bring objects into the gourd using his consciousness. He closed his eyes, entered the consciousness of the gourd, but his hands were empty; the Contracts could not come with him. Whether it was due to lack of skill or a fundamental impossibility, that question had to be explored later. Fang Zhou went back out, used the gourd to suck in the two Contracts, and then entered the gourd space with his consciousness. After finding the sucked-in Contracts, Fang Zhou flew towards the gourd children. In the gourd space, time flowed differently and much faster. The time outside that Fang Zhou took to write the two Contracts had already become several days inside the gourd. From afar, Fang Zhou saw the seven gourd children hiding on a flat boulder on the garbage mountain. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon seeing Fang Zhou appear, the gourd children did not rush over shouting and fighting; they must have deliberated whether to accept Fang Zhou¡¯s proposal. However, their gaze towards Fang Zhou was devoid of goodwill; whether there was animosity was indiscernible, but hostility was evident, Especially the third child, whose eyes still brimmed with rage. It¡¯s baffling where this lass got such resentment; Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t really wronged her at Lanruo Temple. From the second youngest to the seventh, none moved, only the eldest approached, likely having reached a consensus. ¡°We agree to cooperate with you.¡± The eldest directly went to the point, but once the words were out, the determined expression collapsed, showing a look of anguish. As if from then on they would be slaves. It seems the gourd children truly did not trust Fang Zhou¡¯s talk of equal partnership; they thought Fang Zhou would inevitably enslave the seven sisters. If possible, Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t mind doing so, but he clearly understood that slavery was a very backward system, and slavers did not meet good ends; there were too many risks involved. He still needed the gourd children to help him with work in the future. If he enslaved them, they would harbor grievances¡ªkeeping a group of demons by his side who were full of resentment, even hatred, would be foolish. Fang Zhou also wasn¡¯t interested in imposing too many restrictions or reeducating them, nor did he have the energy; it was better to be clear from the start. ¡°Don¡¯t rush into agreement.¡± Fang Zhou handed the Contract to the eldest, ¡°Take a look at this first.¡± The eldest took the Contract with a puzzled look, glanced down, then looked up at Fang Zhou, displaying an awkward expression. She couldn¡¯t read. He isn¡¯t exactly illiterate; Big Sister can recognize the characters on a chessboard, but beyond that, nothing more. Fortunately, among the gourd creatures, there is one who can read, and that is Second Sister. When Fang Zhou first met Second Sister, he found her reading a book, her appearance gentle and scholarly like a literate scholar. Big Sister took the Contract back to Second Sister for her to read, and the group of gourd creatures huddled together whispering. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°This is a Contract.¡± After Second Sister read through the Contract from start to finish, she looked puzzled, ¡°It mentions something about cooperation with us.¡± ¡°Cooperation?¡± Third Sister quickly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t he trying to turn us into slaves?¡± Second Sister also shook her head in confusion, indicating she was also unclear, then she read aloud the contents of the Contract to her sisters. Although the content was plentiful, it wasn¡¯t complicated. Fang Zhou tried to write in simple, straightforward sentences, using fewer idioms, to avoid confusion for these magical creatures. The first sentence of the Contract was about forming a strategic partnership, emphasizing the responsibilities and rewards for both sides. The gourd creatures were responsible for following Fang Zhou¡¯s commands, ensuring his personal safety, with a work period of ten years. Throughout these ten years, Fang Zhou would take care of their daily needs, and after ten years, they must be granted their freedom. There were many other detailed clauses, such as the gourd creatures must not slack off, betray, or hurt their employer; and Fang Zhou must not ask them to do deadly tasks or intentionally endanger their safety. There were also several benefits, like receiving basic living necessities, being allowed to go outdoors in turn once a day, and even receiving bonuses for good performance. After listening to Second Sister¡¯s explanation, the gourd creatures were bewildered, and couldn¡¯t help thinking ¨C could this person be a fool, to offer such favorable conditions to these defeated subordinates? The victor enslaving the defeated is a common occurrence among magical creatures, and even humans. Losers lose everything and are disposed of at the victor¡¯s mercy; being tormented then killed or eaten is the most common outcome. Fang Zhou choosing to cooperate as equals was indeed a bizarre and rare notion. Of course, if Fang Zhou had truly chosen to enslave them, the gourd creatures, forced by circumstances, would accept it, but they would regard him as an enemy destined to be killed, rather than merely calling him a foolish idiot under their breaths. Fourth Sister interjected, ¡°Can we trust this?¡± Fifth Sister immediately retorted, ¡°It¡¯s written in black and white, how can we not trust it?¡± ¡°Who told you that just because it¡¯s written, it¡¯s trustworthy?¡± ¡°Why write it down if it can¡¯t be trusted?¡± Seeing that the twins were about to argue again, Big Sister quickly intervened, ¡°Stop bickering, do we even have a choice? Our current situation is already much better than what we anticipated.¡± Indeed, under someone else¡¯s roof, they had to bow their heads ¨C life and death were controlled by the victor, and all the losers could do was accept everything. Although Fang Zhou¡¯s approach was unexpected, whether true or not, it was much better than direct enslavement; they had even prepared themselves mentally to be collared by Fang Zhou. Moreover, having made it so formal, even presenting a Contract, perhaps he really intended it that way. Big Sister, holding the Contract, approached Fang Zhou, this time the other gourd creatures followed, looking at him with strange expressions. ¡°We agree to the content of this Contract.¡± Big Sister said to Fang Zhou, this time without showing any pain, only a face full of puzzlement. Seeing the gourd creatures agree, Fang Zhou showed no particular surprise; they would agree to enslavement, let alone his proposal for equal cooperation unless they were out of their minds. Chapter 113: 113. Picking up trash at the start Chapter 113: 113. Picking up trash at the start ¡°Keep your copies of the Contract, and let¡¯s take the Heart Demon Oath according to its terms, to ease your minds.¡± Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t fully trust these gourd children, so in addition to the Contract, having an oath seemed more secure. The gourd children were somewhat surprised; if they truly took oaths according to the Contract¡¯s content, then indeed they wouldn¡¯t have to be slaves. Could this man really be so magnanimous? The gourd children looked at each other, and eventually, under the lead of the eldest, they started taking the oath; they wouldn¡¯t easily trust Fang Zhou either, as this fellow indeed had a past record; taking an oath was somewhat more reassuring. After taking the oaths according to the Contract, a contractual relationship was established between the two parties. From here on, the gourd children needed to work for Fang Zhou without compensation for ten years before gaining their freedom. Ten years was not long for demons, especially Grass and Wood Demons, so they didn¡¯t find it excessive. Being able to exchange a mere ten years for life and freedom was already a great bargain. After the oath was taken, both parties were silent for a moment, as transitioning from enemies to cooperative relations didn¡¯t immediately improve their closeness or trust. The third child was the one who first broke the silence: ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t think that because we now agree, you¡¯ll win our hearts; we will never submit to you.¡± Fang Zhou looked at her curiously: ¡°What do I want with your hearts? I want your bodies, give your hearts to whoever you want.¡± The third child was momentarily lost for words. Fang Zhou felt pleased; having been in this world for so long, it was finally his turn to yearn for others¡¯ bodies, and even for many at once. That¡¯s the thrill of being a scoundrel who wants only bodies and not hearts. By the way, there¡¯s no ghs here. Fang Zhou extended his hand toward the eldest: ¡°I hope we can cooperate well, Eldest.¡± The eldest was startled, revealing a puzzled expression: ¡°I¡¯m not called Eldest.¡± Fang Zhou was also startled: ¡°Then what¡¯s your name?¡± She smiled slightly: ¡°My name is Hong Tang, we didn¡¯t originally have our names; we chose them for ourselves later.¡± She then introduced the names of her sisters to Fang Zhou. The second eldest is Cheng Xing, who hesitantly nodded at Fang Zhou. The third is Huang Lian, with a cold expression. The fourth is Lu Rong, and the fifth, Qing Lan, is her twin sister; the two sisters whispered to each other, about who knows what. The sixth, who can become invisible, is Lan Shao, she harbors the least enmity towards Fang Zhou, but also the most fear, now hiding behind the others. The youngest, the seventh, is called Zi Wen, a true brat, who likes to judge people through her nostrils. These are the names of the seven sisters, without a surname; if they had one, it might be Gourd. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect the gourd children to actually choose names for themselves, but these names sounded odd to him, as if he had heard them somewhere before. He wanted to ask what the eighth was called, but after thinking it over, he held back and didn¡¯t ask, to avoid exposing his close relationship with the eighth. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As for whether the gourd children and the Tree Demon are biologically related, Fang Zhou was curious, but since the Tree Demon is now a taboo between the two parties, it wasn¡¯t suitable to ask; he could only keep it in his mind and address it later. Clearly, Hong Tang didn¡¯t understand the meaning of handshaking and was indifferent towards the hand Fang Zhou extended. Fang Zhou nonchalantly withdrew his hand and coughed. ¡°Since the contract is complete, I¡¯ll assign you ladies a task.¡± The seven sisters turned solemn, nervous, anxious, and expectant¡ªwhat would Fang Zhou¡¯s first task for them be? Would it involve murder or treasure hunting? Yet, Fang Zhou pointed to the sprawling garbage mountain and said, ¡°The task I am giving you is to sort through this garbage. Separate the potentially useful items from the useless ones and dispose of the latter. You can also use these materials to build yourself some houses.¡± The seven sisters were shocked, their eyes widened¡ªthey hadn¡¯t expected Fang Zhou to assign them to garbage picking and sorting. ¡°If there are no objections, then start. If you need anything, let me know, and I¡¯ll bring it in after I leave.¡± Hong Tang thought for a moment and said, ¡°Could you bring us some dew? If possible, as much as you can.¡± Although they were all demons, they had not yet mastered fasting and still needed to eat to survive. Fortunately, being Grass and Wood Demons, they could survive on just dew. If they were carnivorous demons, Fang Zhou would have had to find meat for them. As Grass and Wood Demons, they needed the Sun and Moon Essence and Spiritual Energy for cultivation, neither of which were in the gourd. So, Hong Tang did not dare to ask for too much. ¡°Dew may not be available; would ordinary water suffice?¡± Once it was confirmed that ordinary water would work, Fang Zhou carefully stored his contract away and then turned to leave. After Fang Zhou left, Cheng Xing asked her eldest sister, ¡°Should we continue with the plan we discussed earlier?¡± It turned out that the seven sisters had previously agreed that if Fang Zhou enslaved them, they would pretend to submit and then look for an opportunity to assassinate him. They¡¯d rather gamble for a chance at freedom than be slaves for life. But now, with Fang Zhou¡¯s arrangement requiring only ten years of work for freedom and him not treating them as mistreated slaves, their previous plan to assassinate him seemed unnecessary. Hong Tang pondered, ¡°Let¡¯s put that aside for now. If he goes back on his word or circumvents the Heart Demon Oath, we can always act later. For now, let¡¯s focus on completing the task he gave us to avoid accusations of negligence.¡± Cheng Xing nodded, and the other sisters agreed. Then, the seven sisters looked out at the sprawling garbage mountain again and fell silent. How long would it take to sort through all this trash? From the eldest, Hong Tang, to the sixth, Lan Shao, they all turned their heads to stare at the youngest, blaming her, the troublemaker, for recklessly absorbing so much trash. Although Zi Wen was usually unruly, she knew to flash an appeasing smile at her sisters now. ¡­ Fang Zhou left the gourd space and went outside. The issue with the gourd children was temporarily resolved. As for future problems, Fang Zhou was certain there would be some, but he believed they wouldn¡¯t be more difficult than today. He had spoken from his heart when he told Huang Lian that winning over the gourd children¡¯s genuine respect and compliance was too difficult and thankless an effort for him to bother with. Having gained seven free laborers and bodyguards, Fang Zhou was already more than satisfied. One shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. There was a small lake atop Moon Viewing Peak. Fang Zhou took the gourd to the edge of the lake and absorbed several tons of water¡ªit should be enough for them to drink. When he returned to the thatched hut, Fang Zhou saw a beam of light flying towards him from the distant sea of clouds. As the light neared, he could see clearly¡ªit was a beautiful woman sitting cross-legged on a sword, surrounded by white light emanating from the Spirit Sword beneath her. Fang Zhou had seen this woman before; she had been standing next to Xuan Ling, apparently named something like Yu something. As Fang Zhou pondered her name, she had already landed on her sword at Moon Viewing Peak. Chapter 114: 114. Lacking a severe beating from society Chapter 114: 114. Lacking a severe beating from society Yu Qing rode the Spirit Sword, coming to the skies above Moon Viewing Peak. This place she had visited a few times, and each time she came, the sight of the three thatched cottages deeply moved her. In her eyes, this was the attitude a Cultivator should have towards life ¨C not clinging to material possessions, content and at ease. If one pursued extravagant palaces and indulged in excessive desires, it would only cloud the mind and obstruct the path to enlightenment. Thus, Yu Qing didn¡¯t have such a bad impression of Ling Xiaoyue, even though her Master¡¯s relationship with Ling Xiaoyue wasn¡¯t good. Before she landed, Yu Qing noticed Fang Zhou and flew directly over to him, where she descended in front of him; the Spirit Sword transformed into a jade hairpin and was inserted into her long hair. Fang Zhou was somewhat on guard, afraid that this person had come to cause trouble. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Yu Qing revealed a gentle smile to him: ¡°Little brother, you¡¯ve given us quite the runaround, it turns out your name isn¡¯t Li Yunlong.¡± With her smile, an aura like that of spring blossomed forth, resembling the fresh and natural beauty of flowers after rain. Fang Zhou¡¯s spirits lifted, feeling an exhilarating rush akin to taking a drug, and it immediately brought to mind certain famous advertising slogans ¨C this woman could definitely make a fortune if she went into commercials. However, it made him even more vigilant; an encounter beginning with such ¡®poison¡¯ surely meant no good intentions. Li Ruyu, initially, had also given off a refreshing impression, yet he ended up revealing a brutal nature. ¡°My surname is Fang, what do you want?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s indifferent attitude did not offend Yu Qing, she smiled and said: ¡°So you are Taoist Fang. I am Yu Qing, a disciple of the Sword Control lineage. Indeed, I¡¯ve come for a small matter.¡± ¡°Are you looking for my Master? She is inside, you can go in yourself.¡± Fang Zhou pointed at the thatched cottage. But Yu Qing didn¡¯t move an inch and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°No, I am not here to see your esteemed Master, but to find Taoist Fang himself.¡± Fang Zhou was taken aback, could it be that he was supposed to return and insert those flying Spirit Swords back into Buried Sword Ridge? He kept his facial expression unchanged: ¡°What do you want me for? If you need me for some work, I am afraid I¡¯ve been having a backache recently, and I really don¡¯t have the time.¡± ¡°Work?¡± Yu Qing was momentarily startled, then spoke: ¡°Taoist Fang may have misunderstood, I am here to deliver something to you.¡± She pulled a jade token out from her sleeve and handed it to Fang Zhou: ¡°This is our Sect¡¯s token, with it, you can freely enter and exit the Mountain Protection Array and can also use the shuttle to descend the mountain. It is by my Master¡¯s orders that I am delivering it to you.¡± ¡°For me?¡± Fang Zhou found it strange, why would someone suddenly give him something for no reason: ¡°Why give this to me?¡± Yu Qing explained: ¡°Naturally, to form a congenial relationship with Taoist Fang. After all, Taoist Fang has passed through our Sect¡¯s entry trials, and the story has already become quite the tale. If Taoist Fang has free time, you can also visit Yujian Peak to appreciate the scenery, and we can sit down to exchange insights. Wouldn¡¯t that be wonderful?¡± So without even reaching the Innate Realm, you all want to sit down and exchange insights. What insights are we to exchange? Discussing the path along a narrow trail or the great road to heaven? But Fang Zhou understood what Heavenly Sword Sect was up to; they were still coveting his talent, getting ready to poach him, with both gifts and smooth talk. Yu Qing is one of the three great True Disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect, herself already at the Perfection of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and might break through to the Innate Realm at any moment¡ªthe difference in standing far surpasses that of an ordinary Disciple. Fang Zhou is merely in the Qi Refinement Realm, yet Yu Qing proposed sitting down to exchange insights with him, clearly elevating him to a very high position. If it were anyone else, they might have been carried away by now. Unfortunately, they encountered Fang Zhou, whose thinking was entirely different from others. The moment they mentioned sitting down for discussion, his mind raced with thoughts of scheming. ¡°Well, then I should thank you all.¡± Fang Zhou accepted the jade token, not turning down what was freely given; the way to handle a sugar-coated bullet was to swallow the sugar and return the bullet ¨C if they could sway him, then it¡¯s my loss. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be polite.¡± Yu Qing looked towards the distant thatched cottages and suddenly said: ¡°Such a humble abode, has Taoist Fang grown accustomed to living here?¡± Here comes the old trick¡ªgive gifts and sweet words, then find weak spots to sow discord. Fang Zhou has seen plenty of these petty schemes. Fang Zhou is quite irritated with Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s three-thatched cottages too, but that¡¯s an internal family matter. It¡¯s not an outsider¡¯s place to chirp and chirrup about it. But what she said is also true; damn it all to Ling Xiaoyue. Since he was the recipient of a favor, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t show any displeasure but stood with one hand behind his back, calmly gazing at the rolling clouds in the distance, and said mildly, ¡°Have you, Taoist Yu Qing, ever heard this saying?¡± Yu Qing replied earnestly, ¡°Please enlighten me.¡± ¡°A mountain doesn¡¯t need to be high; it is renowned if it harbors immortals. Water doesn¡¯t need to be deep; it is spirited if it harbors dragons. This may be a humble abode, but it¡¯s where my virtue resides.¡± Fang Zhou turned around, smiled at her, and said, ¡°The pursuit of cultivation is the path to longevity. If one clings to material possessions, it will cloud the spirit and be counterproductive. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Yu Qing was profoundly shaken, staring blankly at Fang Zhou. After a silent stare between the two, after a few seconds, Fang Zhou got a bit flustered. What¡¯s going on? Why is she completely motionless? Could it be some sort of ailment? Fang Zhou simply felt that Yu Qing¡¯s statements were undeniable facts, and instead of rebutting, thought it would be easier to bluff his way through with some profound words. He did not expect this kind of reaction. Finally, Yu Qing snapped back to reality, her porcelain-like cheeks instantly flushing red. She had always thought her simple ideals were misunderstood by others, never expecting to meet a kindred soul who could express such stunning words and stir her so deeply. The words Fang Zhou just spoke struck right at her heart, poking sharply at its softest spot. She solemnly gave a bow to Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang has spoken truly; Yu Qing has learned her lesson.¡± Fang Zhou, however, watched her with some surprise, puzzled by her intense reaction. Could it be that this person is the artistic type? After pondering, Fang Zhou asked Yu Qing, ¡°What do you think of my master?¡± Yu Qing immediately responded earnestly, ¡°Your master is unconcerned with material things and has a noble character; indeed, an exemplar for us all.¡± Moreover, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s shamelessness reminded her very much of True Master Yu Jian, which she found endearingly familiar. Fang Zhou understood then; she was a child who hadn¡¯t been toughened by the harshness of society. Indulging in luxury yet advocating hardship and adversity. Little did they know, nobody truly likes hardship; the ultimate purpose of enduring it is to eventually enjoy luxury. Only after satisfying material needs can one pursue spiritual life and the path to longevity. With an empty stomach and no warm clothes, good luck cultivating anything¡ªmight as well get back to plowing the fields. If she were to enter the thatched cottage now and see the mountain of trinkets inside, who knows what she would think. Fang Zhou immediately knew that he and Yu Qing were not on the same path because he was a very pragmatic person, not one to seek out hardship for the sake of it. But having just postured pretentiously, he couldn¡¯t contradict himself so soon, so he decided to change the subject. ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, my master has the deed to Moon Viewing Peak. Do you know the story behind how she acquired it?¡± Ling Xiaoyue refused to give details, leaving Fang Zhou with a gut feeling that there were issues to probe. He could only seek clarification from the Heavenly Sword Sect. ¡°Didn¡¯t your master tell you?¡± Yu Qing asked in surprise. ¡°She indeed possesses the deed to Moon Viewing Peak. However, the story behind that deed is rather complicated.¡± The event happened about two years ago when Ling Xiaoyue first appeared at Heavenly Sword Sect, brandishing a deed from Tongtian Sect, demanding the land specified on the deed¡ªthe very Moon Viewing Peak. Of course, the Heavenly Sword Sect would not entertain Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s claims. After all, the Tongtian Sect, which had been situated in the Cloud Sea Mountains more than six hundred years ago, had long perished. She had a deed from Tongtian Sect, but what did that have to do with them at Heavenly Sword Sect? The Heavenly Sword Sect dismissed Ling Xiaoyue and sent her away. Who knew that the next day she would crash through their Mountain Protection Array and take up residence on Moon Viewing Peak, refusing to leave. Chapter 115: 115. Seeing green makes me think of grasslands Chapter 115: 115. Seeing green makes me think of grasslands Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s rogue behavior confused the Heavenly Sword Sect. Where is the sense in seizing without reasoning? And it¡¯s one thing to take advantage of ordinary people, but the Heavenly Sword Sect is a famous Major Sect in both Jingnan State and Chu Kingdom, how dare you try to take advantage of them? The Heavenly Sword Sect immediately dispatched people, planning to drive Ling Xiaoyue away, but unexpectedly, Ling Xiaoyue was very formidable, and several elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect were unable to subdue her. In the end, the Heavenly Sword Sect had to resort to their trump card, asking True Master Yu Jian to make a direct move¡ªbut failed to win. Yu Jian, not caring about losing face, had to pull in both the Mysterious Sword and the Thunder Sword to finally drive Ling Xiaoyue away. Then the next day, she came back, angering True Master Yu Jian to the point of furious embarrassment, which was very unseemly. Individually, no true master could handle Ling Xiaoyue, but if more than two went together, she would immediately flee and return once the coast was clear, displaying utter shamelessness. Faced with such a rogue, the Heavenly Sword Sect was at a loss; they couldn¡¯t have the Sect Master personally deal with a rogue¡ª that would be degrading, and three true masters couldn¡¯t stay permanently at Moon Viewing Peak. So they negotiated with Ling Xiaoyue, but the goals of both sides were too far apart to reach any consensus. Even though the Heavenly Sword Sect had a thousand-year heritage, they had not settled in the Cloud Sea Mountains from the start, but had moved there only six hundred years ago. Six hundred years ago, the Cloud Sea Mountains were the territory of the Tongtian Sect, but since the Tongtian Sect had long perished, according to the unspoken rules of the Cultivation World, after the fall of the Tongtian Sect, the Cloud Sea Mountains were considered ownerless, and whoever claimed them first could consider them their territory. But Ling Xiaoyue argued convincingly that not all descendants of the Tongtian Sect had perished, some were still scattered about, and she had purchased her land deed from the descendants of the Tongtian Sect. ¡°You Heavenly Sword Sect are occupying Tongtian Sect property as a rogue sect. I am here to retrieve what I paid for, which is perfectly justifiable.¡± The negotiations failed, but the two sides did not resume fighting because the Heavenly Sword Sect cared too much about face, fearing that pushing too hard would cause Ling Xiaoyue to publicize the matter, making them a laughingstock. Thus, the situation remained deadlocked. Fortunately, Ling Xiaoyue had no plans to establish a sect at Moon Viewing Peak and often disappeared, so the Heavenly Sword Sect turned a blind eye and let her be. After hearing Yu Qing¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou finally understood what was going on, and this indeed seemed very much like Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s style. He could be certain that Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s land deed was definitely not purchased, but likely acquired by chance, and she had rushed to the Heavenly Sword Sect in the spirit of taking an opportunity that came her way. ¡°Taoist Fang.¡± Yu Qing suddenly spoke in a low voice, ¡°Although it¡¯s hard to distinguish right from wrong in this matter, our sect will not keep ignoring it forever. Taoist Fang needs to prepare in advance.¡± This seemed like a covert hint that the Heavenly Sword Sect couldn¡¯t tolerate Ling Xiaoyue occupying Moon Viewing Peak any longer. If it were only her, the Heavenly Sword Sect could still turn a blind eye and pretend nothing happened. Now that Fang Zhou was involved with plans to establish a sect, that was something they couldn¡¯t ignore. But what does it mean to prepare in advance? Are they suggesting I switch sides? Fang Zhou glanced at Yu Qing, thinking that the Heavenly Sword Sect was really keeping a tight watch on him. What, are you so short of talented people? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the Eastern Depot. After Yu Qing conveyed her message and saw that Fang Zhou made no move to invite her inside, she chose to take her leave. She leapt up lightly, and her jade hairpin transformed into a Spirit Sword under her feet. She sat cross-legged on the Spirit Sword, bowed to Fang Zhou, and then flew towards the Cloud Sea. Fang Zhou returned to the thatched cottage, where Ling Xiaoyue was still checking her goods. Seeing Fang Zhou enter, she casually asked, ¡°Has that girl Yu Qing left?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Zhou nodded and added, ¡°She said the Heavenly Sword Sect won¡¯t let this go, and they¡¯ll eventually drive us away.¡± Ling Xiaoyue showed a disdainful expression, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? With me here, no one can drive us away. This is our territory.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you that I¡¯m worried. If the Heavenly Sword Sect is determined to drive the master and disciple away, Fang Zhou doesn¡¯t know what to do; he can only pin his hopes on Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s personal martial strength, which is way too risky. The Heavenly Sword Sect probably won¡¯t act rashly right away; this matter can¡¯t be rushed and can only be discussed later. As he was pondering, Ling Xiaoyue turned her head and asked, ¡°Have you dealt with all the demons in the gourd?¡± Fang Zhou just remembered this matter, nodded, and handed the gourd to Ling Xiaoyue, then anxiously instructed, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t kill them, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to handle them.¡± Ling Xiaoyue took the gourd and laughed, ¡°As your master, my capabilities aren¡¯t something you should doubt. You haven¡¯t even used it fully yet, and you¡¯re worried like this?¡± She patted Fang Zhou on the shoulder and winked, ambiguously saying, ¡°You should practice moderation, disciple, don¡¯t overwork and harm your body.¡± Damn it, you think everyone has a dirty mind like you. Plus, with the gourd demons being so dangerous now, who would dare mess with them unless they want to be bitten to death during the fun? Even if one wanted to mess around, at least wait until I¡¯ve fully absorbed the Innate Yang Qi. After Ling Xiaoyue finished checking the items, she began making the gourd for Fang Zhou. Originally, she thought it would take a long time, but after asking Fang Zhou for some blood, she finished it that same night. After being processed, the gourd changed color, surprisingly turning green. Fang Zhou confronted Ling Xiaoyue, ¡°Seriously, did you do this on purpose? Why is it green?¡± Ling Xiaoyue didn¡¯t understand, ¡°The gourd is naturally green; it¡¯s a healthy color. It makes one think of the grasslands and wild horses running free. What¡¯s not to like?¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was unconvinced, ¡°Keep that healthy color for yourself then, give me a more low-key color.¡± Ling Xiaoyue scoffed, ¡°What virtue.¡± But in the end, she did change it for Fang Zhou to a dull gray color, which was very inconspicuous. This was what Fang Zhou wanted; purple was too flashy, which did not suit his low-profile demeanor, and green was absolutely unacceptable. When he got the gourd back, an odd sensation immediately surged through him; the gourd felt like a part of his own body, a totally different feeling from when it was connected to the Golden Core. Moreover, now using the gourd didn¡¯t require the use of the Golden Core¡¯s Yin Cold Spiritual Energy anymore, just Fang Zhou¡¯s own Spiritual Energy sufficed. Fang Zhou gave it a try; the scope and strength of the absorption hadn¡¯t changed, but it used up one-third of his Spiritual Energy in just one shot, and his whole body¡¯s Spiritual Energy could only support three uses. Fang Zhou thought Ling Xiaoyue had messed up the gourd and quickly went to settle the score with her. After listening to Fang Zhou¡¯s complaints, Ling Xiaoyue scoffed, ¡°It¡¯s not your natural treasure, of course using it would consume Spiritual Energy. You felt the consumption was little before because you borrowed the Golden Core¡¯s energy; now it¡¯s all on you. How much Spiritual Energy can a minor Qi Refining Realm like you possibly have?¡± Alright, Fang Zhou had nothing to say, not expecting there to be such downsides to making the gourd his own. Actually, it wasn¡¯t really a downside; previously using the Golden Core¡¯s Spiritual Energy was a shortcut. Now without shortcuts, once he breaks through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and his Spiritual Energy is sufficient, using the gourd will be no problem. After sorting out the gourd, Fang Zhou began to pick a location for his living quarters. Moon Viewing Peak was not small at all, it could even comfortably fit an amusement park. There were lakes, mountain springs, and even a bamboo forest. Fang Zhou chose to build his house in front of a waterfall formed by a mountain spring, not wanting to stay with Ling Xiaoyue. After spending several days building a bamboo house for himself, Fang Zhou thought what followed would be boring cultivation days. Little did he expect that trouble had just begun to find its way to him.¡± Chapter 116: 116. Cultivation also faces forced demolition Chapter 116: 116. Cultivation also faces forced demolition After settling down on Moon Viewing Peak, Fang Zhou began his mundane cultivation life. He¡¯s now at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, no longer able to improve his physical strength merely through the nourishment of Spiritual Energy. He could only accumulate a massive amount of Spiritual Energy within his body to prepare for the eventual breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Fang Zhou had no idea how much Spiritual Energy was required. He asked Ling Xiaoyue, and she said to just fill himself up until it overflowed. The more, the better anyway, since not having enough accumulated Spiritual Energy was the most common cause of failure in attempting to achieve Foundation Establishment. After moving beside the waterfall, Fang Zhou¡¯s days consisted of cultivation, eating, cultivation, eating, occasionally checking on the progress of the gourd boys picking up trash in the gourd, then more cultivation, and eating. Besides accumulating Spiritual Energy himself, Fang Zhou also had to periodically refine the Yin Cold Spiritual Energy within his Golden Core. It was challenging to refine, as each strand of Yin Cold Spiritual Energy could keep Fang Zhou busy for a while, but when refined, it brought him a considerable amount of Spiritual Energy, even more than his own cultivative accumulation. He felt that at this rate, it wouldn¡¯t be long before he was completely filled with Spiritual Energy. Four or five days passed when Ling Xiaoyue took the initiative to come to the waterfall to find him. ¡°My disciple, your master needs to go out for a while.¡± ¡°Granted.¡± Ling Xiaoyue knocked on Fang Zhou¡¯s head with her flask: ¡°You scoundrel, what are you granting permission for? I need to be away for quite a while, maybe a few months.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sect would hold a trade fair at the year¡¯s end, which was still about half a year away, but Ling Xiaoyue had quite a bit of merchandise stored in other places that she needed to retrieve. What? To be separated from Ling Xiaoyue for months? Fang Zhou was taken aback, almost laughing aloud. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That would be wonderful, this woman was always troublesome, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t wait for her to scram. Of course, he could not show this sentiment. Reluctantly, Fang Zhou tried to squeeze out some tears: ¡°Master, be careful on the road, watch for safety, I will miss you.¡± Ling Xiaoyue was also very moved: ¡°Disciple, your master is also reluctant to leave you. How about we go together?¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s tear-wiping hand stiffened: ¡°I¡¯ve just hit a bottleneck in my cultivation recently and it¡¯s not suitable for me to move around. You should go on your own, master.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes narrowed with a smile: ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? I will personally guide you on the road, and you¡¯ll be so happy that you won¡¯t even think of homesickness.¡± Fang Zhou was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said, ¡°I can go with you, but I¡¯ll need a labor fee, not a penny less than ten thousand taels.¡± Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s expression changed drastically: ¡°You rebellious disciple, daring to ask your master for a labor fee, you wish! Not a single coin for you.¡± She cursed and ran out, flying away on her flask. Soon after, the roar of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array Elder could be heard: ¡°Ling, you¡¯ve trespassed into our Sect¡¯s Mountain Protection Array again, don¡¯t run!!¡± Once Ling Xiaoyue left, Fang Zhou immediately felt the scenery of Moon Viewing Peak become more beautiful, and even the air seemed fresher and more pleasant. Now alone on this mountain, he could do whatever he wanted without being pestered by anyone. How cool. Sadly, Fang Zhou¡¯s good mood lasted only until the afternoon. A small shuttle flew through the clouds and descended onto Moon Viewing Peak. From the shuttle, more than a dozen Heavenly Sword Sect disciples disembarked, led by a man. As soon as he got off, he pointed at the three conspicuous thatched cottages and said loudly, ¡°Tear them down.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, upon hearing this, moved forward. A figure sped from a distance, arriving in an instant to block their path. ¡°Stop!¡± It was Fang Zhou. He had seen the shuttle land from the waterfall side and initially thought it was people from the Heavenly Sword Sect coming to visit. He didn¡¯t expect that as soon as these people arrived, they would start to demolish the cottages. These three thatched cottages were modest, but they were all that Fang Zhou and his master had; they couldn¡¯t just let people tear them down. Especially not by the Heavenly Sword Sect, that would be a different matter altogether. When the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples saw Fang Zhou, they all stopped. The man approached Fang Zhou, looked him up and down, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes, clearly the nickname ¡°foot-scratching man¡± was working its subtle magic. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t expected a man to be the leader, a rarity indeed. If he had known, he would have removed the nickname. ¡°Who are you?¡± The man scolded Fang Zhou: ¡°How dare you obstruct our Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s internal affairs?¡± This guy was obviously pretending to be ignorant, and Fang Zhou nearly burst out laughing: ¡°This is Moon Viewing Peak, my territory, who gave you the right to tear down my home?¡± ¡°Your territory?¡± The man seemed to have heard a joke, his voice shrill as he laughed: ¡°Ridiculous, this place belongs to our Sect. Since when did it become the territory of you rogues? I am Wang Xiuzhu, a Deacon of Heavenly Sword Peak, acting on the name of the Law Enforcement Elder, to tear down these shabby cottages and drive you two rogues out of our Sect.¡± Hearing this, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but feel disheartened. Just what he feared, Yu Qing had hinted at this threat. Fang Zhou thought there¡¯d be some time before the Heavenly Sword Sect would act, but he didn¡¯t expect them to come so quickly. And they specifically chose when Ling Xiaoyue was away. Were they thinking he was easy to bully alone, or was this some kind of test? Ling Xiaoyue couldn¡¯t possibly have heard something and run away in advance, right? Damn, it was actually possible. Fang Zhou¡¯s mind raced as he rapidly pondered his next move. Wang Xiuzhu saw Fang Zhou silent and thought he had no argument, so he sneered: ¡°Did you understand? If so, pack up your things and scram quickly. Don¡¯t make us use force and accidentally take your life.¡± Wang Xiuzhu looked alright, but a pity that his single eyelids and thin lips, plus his affected demeanor, made him look petty and spiteful, just like a eunuch. Fang Zhou looked at him and instantly had a strategy. He must prevent the demolition or being driven off, or else it would create a fait accompli. He didn¡¯t have the prowess of Ling Xiaoyue to return after being driven away. But he couldn¡¯t cause too much of a commotion either, or else if the elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect got involved, he wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand it. He had to grasp the right degree, neither too soft nor too hard would work. Fang Zhou beckoned lightly, and from the bamboo cottage near the waterfall, the Sword Box suddenly soared up, breaking through the window and shooting into the sky, quickly arriving in front of the cottages. Fang Zhou reached out to catch the Sword Box and slammed it down firmly, making it stand like a tombstone. His hands rested on the Sword Box as he said gravely, ¡°Whoever dares to demolish my home today must step over my dead body. Even if I die, I will poke her P-hole.¡± The first two sentences sounded quite heroic, but with the addition of the last two, the atmosphere abruptly turned bizarre. The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect looked at each other, some actually seeming eager to try. Being poked by a handsome young man, the thought itself was stimulating. Chapter 117: Why should men make life difficult for other men? Chapter 117: Why should men make life difficult for other men? Fang Zhou disturbed the minds of these Heavenly Sword Sect disciples with just a single sentence. Their thoughts wandered into the inappropriate, and their expressions turned somewhat sleazy, as if they had come not to demolish, but to patronize a brothel together. ¡°Silence!¡± Wang Xiuzhu shouted the catchphrase of Elder Feng Qin to stop the whispering among his subordinates. He glared at Fang Zhou and berated him: ¡°Shameless scoundrel, how dare you resist enforcement! Don¡¯t blame us for being merciless then. All disciples, on my command, take him down and lock him in the dungeon to await punishment.¡± The spirits of the Heavenly Sword disciples were lifted as they each drew their Spirit Swords, swift as falcons and hares, and pounced towards Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t summon the Xuanyuan Sword but instead grabbed the Sword Box to defend himself while silently deploying the Sword Control Technique. Upon using the Sword Control Technique, Fang Zhou immediately felt a dozen responses, all coming from the Spirit Swords in the hands of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. Indeed, although these Spirit Swords belonged to the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, they could still be sensed and even forcibly controlled by Fang Zhou¡¯s Sword Control Technique. No wonder the Sword Control Technique, notoriously difficult to master, was so domineering that it could even cuck someone with their own sword. Could the creator of this technique have been a perv? Leveraging his physical attributes that far surpassed those of both the Qi Refining Realm and Foundation Establishment Realm, Fang Zhou was able to fend off the assault from the dozen Heavenly Sword Sect disciples with just the Sword Box. If necessary, he could easily knock them all to the ground, but there¡¯s an almost ironclad rule that beating the lesser ones would bring out the greater ones, and since Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t deal with those old fogeys for now, he had to pretend to be weak. Most of these dozen disciples were female, who showed no intention of fighting Fang Zhou to the death, as after all, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s order was to capture, not to kill. Moreover, facing such a beauty, they subconsciously didn¡¯t want to harm him. However, among the dozen disciples, there was also a male disciple who, perhaps because of the bad influence of the foot-scratching man, was particularly ruthless towards Fang Zhou, with his Spirit Sword continuously greeting Fang Zhou¡¯s face. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah, why should men make things difficult for each other? Fang Zhou carelessly swung the Sword Box, smashing it into the male disciple¡¯s face, causing it to blossom with injuries. See, that¡¯s karma for you. But the male disciple¡¯s karmic retribution also incited the vengeance of the other female disciples, making their attacks more fierce, although to no avail. At the beginning, Wang Xiuzhu was casually watching from the sidelines, envisioning the scene where Fang Zhou would be captured and beg for mercy. But gradually, his expression turned solemn, and his eyes were firmly fixed on Fang Zhou. Although there¡¯s a significant gap between the Qi Refining Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm, it¡¯s not so vast that one can disregard numbers; a solitary individual at the Foundation Establishment Realm against a siege of a dozen or so at the Qi Refining Realm would surely be in a sorry state. Yet, here was Fang Zhou, withstanding the encirclement of over a dozen Perfect Qi Refining disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect with apparent ease, defending himself impeccably without even a corner of his clothes being touched. This surprised Wang Xiuzhu. He had been informed that there was only a young man at the Qi Refinement level on Moon Viewing Peak. Could he be so formidable? After observing for a while, he felt relieved, noting that the youth hadn¡¯t launched a single attack from start to finish and was purely on the defensive, which suggested his cultivation method was tailored this way. However, it was embarrassing for Wang Xiuzhu that over a dozen Perfect Qi Refining fellows couldn¡¯t take down an enemy of the same realm. It was humiliating. These were his subordinates, after all, and being defeated like this would be the butt of jokes among his peers. ¡°They¡¯re all a bunch of useless fools.¡± Wang Xiuzhu snorted coldly, and his jade bracelet transformed into a green Spirit Sword. Holding the Spirit Sword, he joined the fray, charging straight towards Fang Zhou. As one at the Foundation Establishment Realm, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s movements immediately stood out as extraordinary. The Spirit Sword in his hand surged with a faint glow, and every swing brought forth a trail of green light, a symbol of Spiritual Energy Borrowing. Seeing Wang Xiuzhu stepping into the fight, Fang Zhou felt a surge of joy in his heart, thinking to himself that he had finally waited for this ¡®dead eunuch.¡¯ Fang Zhou used the Sword Box to block Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s attack, and the Sword Box sank with a harsh clanging sound of metal striking metal. Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s strength had already surpassed that of the Scarred Woman whom Fang Zhou had encountered in Lanruo Temple. Although both were at the Foundation Establishment Realm, disciples from a Major Sect were indeed more formidable than independent cultivators. Pretending to struggle, Fang Zhou saw Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s triumphant screech and couldn¡¯t help but laugh haughtily: ¡°You¡¯ve got some skill, kid, but sadly you¡¯ve met me. Now, let me show you my unique, secret technique¡­¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s eyes flashed with a cunning light¡ªit was now or never. He executed the Sword Control Technique, forcibly taking control of the Spirit Sword from a disciple standing behind Wang Xiuzhu, and thrust it forward. ¡°Let me show you my unique secret skill¡­ Ahh!!!¡± Before Wang Xiuzhu could finish his sentence, he heard a gut-wrenching sound and felt intense pain in his buttocks, causing him to let out a miserable scream. He turned his head sharply only to see the disciple behind him had stabbed the Spirit Sword into his backside. The narrow path unexpectedly welcomed an uninvited guest. ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Wang Xiuzhu pointed at the disciple, his face contorted with rage, struggling to speak a word. The disciple happened to be the same male disciple who had previously been particularly vicious to Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t targeted him on purpose; it was merely a coincidence that he had taken cover behind Wang Xiuzhu after being injured. This male disciple too was stunned, hastily explaining, ¡°Senior Brother Wang, it wasn¡¯t on purpose, the sword moved on its own¡­¡± ¡°Smack!¡± Wang Xiuzhu gave him a fierce slap and cursed angrily, ¡°Li Yinghao, do you think I¡¯m a fool? Get lost, I¡¯ll settle the score with you later.¡± Li Yinghao, feeling wronged, covered his face and pulled out the Spirit Sword. ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Xiuzhu let out another cry of pain as blood flowed freely. The other disciples hurriedly came forward to help stop the bleeding for Wang Xiuzhu. ¡°Get lost, all of you get lost!¡± Wang Xiuzhu scolded the bunch of female disciples who were attempting to take off his pants and drove them to one side, then picked up the Spirit Sword again. Fang Zhou asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay? If you¡¯re injured, shall we call it quits?¡± Despite his trousers being soaked with blood, Wang Xiuzhu waved his hand with an ashen face, ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury, nothing serious, if I don¡¯t tear down your shabby huts today, then I, Wang Xiuzhu, will write my name backwards.¡± He raised the Spirit Sword again and pointed it at Fang Zhou, his voice cold, ¡°Let me show you my unique secret skill¡­ Ahh!¡± A scream of agony! Li Yinghao, who had ducked to one side, suddenly lost control of his Spirit Sword again, and it flew out of his hand, stabbing into Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s backside. The narrow path was once again graced by an uninvited guest. Wang Xiuzhu was struck forward onto the ground, his rear raised and head buried between his hands, his body trembling slightly. Upon closer inspection, Fang Zhou was startled to discover. He was crying. ¡°Senior Brother Wang!¡± Li Yinghao ran over in a panic, ¡°Senior Brother Wang, I¡­ I really didn¡¯t mean to do it¡­¡± In his panic, he instinctively pulled his Spirit Sword out of Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s behind. As the Spirit Sword was pulled out, blood spurted out as well, splattering all over Li Yinghao¡¯s face. ¡°Ah¡ªNo!¡± Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s face twisted in agony as he let out a scream to the heavens. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Li Yinghao hurriedly reinserted the Spirit Sword back in. Chapter 118: 118. Is this the atmosphere of the Heavenly Sword Sect? Chapter 118: 118. Is this the atmosphere of the Heavenly Sword Sect? ¡°Ah¡ª¡± When Li Yinghao subconsciously reinserted the Spirit Sword, Wang Xiuzhu let out a bone-chilling scream. He jumped up from the stab, not caring to pull out the Spirit Sword, and turned around to grab Li Yinghao by the collar, roaring, ¡°Are you trying to rebel and kill me in front of everyone?!!¡± Li Yinghao, his face sprayed with saliva, didn¡¯t dare to wipe it away and hastily defended, ¡°Senior Brother Wang, I really didn¡¯t do it on purpose, the Spirit Sword moved on its own¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Wang Xiuzhu interrupted him sharply, his face contorted, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool, Li Yinghao? I always knew you were jealous of my better talent and higher realm, even jealous of my position as a Deacon, so you took this chance to kill me and usurp my position, right?¡± Li Yinghao was so aggrieved he almost cried: ¡°I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t, Senior Brother Wang, you¡¯re misunderstanding me, think about it, I have always been obedient and loyal to you.¡± Wang Xiuzhu hesitated slightly; indeed, in normal times, Li Yinghao treated him with respect and flattery almost like a cringing dog. Fang Zhou whispered from behind: ¡°Loyalty wouldn¡¯t have you stabbing him twice in the butt.¡± Hearing the word ¡®butt,¡¯ Wang Xiuzhu immediately remembered that Li Yinghao¡¯s Spirit Sword was still stuck in his own buttocks. His face twisted again. ¡°You despicable wretch, still daring to argue, I will clean the sect of your presence today.¡± Wang Xiuzhu raised his own Spirit Sword, about to strike down at Li Yinghao, who was scared stiff, forgetting even to dodge. The other Heavenly Sword Sect disciples couldn¡¯t just watch a fellow disciple being harmed, and they hurriedly intervened to calm and extricate the situation. ¡°Get away, I must kill this shameless scoundrel today.¡± Wang Xiuzhu was like a madman, the humiliation of being stabbed twice in public not so easily brushed off. ¡°Senior Brother Wang!¡± Suddenly a loud shout, Li Yinghao, finally snapping back to reality, knelt down fiercely toward Wang Xiuzhu, tears streaming down his face. ¡°Ever since I entered the sect, Senior Brother Wang, you have shown warmth and asked about my well-being, all of which I remember by heart, I have always seen you as a brother, the closest person to me, thinking about you every day, even dreaming about you at night, how could I ever harm you?¡± Wang Xiuzhu pushed away the other disciples, walked over, and grabbed Li Yinghao, pulling him up to his face. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t harm me, then why did you stab me twice?¡± Facing Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s harsh questioning, Li Yinghao raised three fingers, his voice morose: ¡°That was not my intention, I swear to the heavens, if I intentionally hurt you, may the thunder strike me down, never to die a good death.¡± Cultivators should not swear lightly, as their oaths could come true. Seeing Li Yinghao making such a vow, Wang Xiuzhu hesitated, wondering if Li Yinghao really didn¡¯t do it on purpose. By this time, he also recalled Li Yinghao¡¯s usual flattery and pleasing demeanor, his anger gradually subsided, and his heart softened. It seemed a misunderstanding between brothers was about to dissipate into nothing, Fang Zhou, who had been watching the drama unfold, couldn¡¯t help wanting to applaud. Being able to forgive being stabbed twice in public, who could say this wasn¡¯t true love. It seemed they had always restrained their feelings due to gender and status; let me, Fang. Cupid. Zhou, fulfill your desires. Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao¡¯s faces were very close, with no small split team birthed at this moment. But no worries, Fang Zhou had a better plan, he directly threw two Illusion Techniques at Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao. After using Illusion Technique frequently, Fang Zhou had figured out its limits¡ªit works up to the Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection considering willpower and spiritual power, and it also depends on the species. Like the gourd children, Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique has little effect on them, at most making them stunned momentarily. That Scarred Woman he met at Lanruo Temple didn¡¯t react much to Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique either, but Li Ruyu, being at the Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection, had no resistance against Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique. Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s emotional fluctuations were so intense, his spiritual power and willpower must be mediocre; as soon as Fang Zhou¡¯s Illusion Technique was cast, he immediately fell for it. Li Yinghao, who was only in the Qi Refinement Realm, agreed without any resistance and plunged deep into the illusion. The fellow disciples stared blankly at each other, getting closer and closer, and finally passionately biting each other. The surrounding female disciples suddenly let out a shout of surprise, their eyes wide and mouths agape. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What was going on? They had been at each other¡¯s throats just a moment ago, how could they suddenly become uncontrollable? Even if you can¡¯t control yourself, you should at least consider the time and place. Soon, the two brothers rolled into a ball, and Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s Spirit Sword still stuck in his butt, swaying with their movements. The female disciples¡¯ breathing grew heavier and heavier, yet none of them wanted to step forward to stop it; instead, they all widened their eyes, unwilling to miss a single detail. The only one who shifted his gaze away was Fang Zhou, he had no interest in such an eye-soaring scene, fearing that another glance might give him nightmares. However, it confirmed once again that this Illusion Technique was indeed designed to stir up lewdness. ¡­ Above the sea of clouds, Yu Qing rode her Spirit Sword, speeding towards Moon Viewing Peak. She had just received news that the Law Enforcement Elder had surprisingly issued an order to demolish the thatched cottage on Moon Viewing Peak and drive away the people there. Under normal circumstances, Yu Qing would not have any standing to intervene in such matters, nor would she have been concerned about Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s capabilities. But now, it was different; after Ling Xiaoyue left, it was Taoist Fang who remained on Moon Viewing Peak. Yu Qing was very clear about the Master¡¯s intention for her to get close to Taoist Fang, which certainly wasn¡¯t to undermine his position, but to recruit this exceptional young talent in Sword Control to the Heavenly Sword Sect; leaving him to Ling Xiaoyue would just be a waste. But now, they hadn¡¯t even started undermining and the wall was already about to be torn down. Taoist Fang, only in the Qi Refinement Realm, was no match for the group of disciples from the Law Enforcement Department. Imagining a frail Taoist Fang trembling before a group of ferocious Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, Yu Qing grew increasingly anxious. If Taoist Fang were to suffer any harm, Yu Qing really wouldn¡¯t know how to explain it to the Master, and even if he wasn¡¯t injured, giving him a bad impression of the Heavenly Sword Sect would not do. Yu Qing reached Moon Viewing Peak as quickly as possible and immediately saw a group of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples gathered in a huddle. She thought Fang Zhou was being beaten up, both angry and anxious, she hastily shouted: ¡°Stop¡­¡± Before she could finish shouting ¡°hand¡±, Yu Qing saw the situation among the crowd and was instantly dumbfounded, almost falling off her Spirit Sword. Since when did the ethos of our Heavenly Sword Sect start mirroring the Demon Sect? Under the bright sun and the clear sky, they are actually performing in a group? Following that, Yu Qing saw Fang Zhou standing not far away. Fang Zhou, with his hands behind his back, was watching the scenery, and compared to the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect crowded together watching, he was like a breath of fresh air. Yu Qing already had a great impression of Fang Zhou, and this moment only made her esteem for him skyrocket. This is truly the behavior of a noble gentleman; the upbringing of our Heavenly Sword Sect disciples has all gone to the dogs. Fang Zhou also noticed Yu Qing¡¯s arrival, pointed over there, and looked up at her with a smile: ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, is this the ethos of your Heavenly Sword Sect? Loved it.¡± Yu Qing thought Fang Zhou was mocking her, and for a moment, her face flushed red, speechless. She couldn¡¯t help but turn her head towards the group and shouted: ¡°Stop them now, performing such a disgraceful act under the broad daylight, shameful.¡± Chapter 119: 119. Must swindle the apprentice before fleeing Chapter 119: 119. Must swindle the apprentice before fleeing Yu Qing is highly esteemed among the disciples, rarely speaks harshly, yet now her yelling of ¡°shameful spectacle¡± demonstrates how vexed she was. The disciples were so engrossed that they only noticed Yu Qing¡¯s arrival when she started scolding, and they quickly rushed up to separate Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao. As soon as the two were separated, they broke free from the Illusion Technique. Wang Xiuzhu, with a trembling hand, pointed at Li Yinghao, his face filled with shock, anger, fear, confusion, and disbelief, looking more dramatic than an oil painting. He sounded like a pure young man who had been scorned several times by a group of aunties as he wailed to the sky. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± This scream was heart-wrenching, truly like that of a groundhog. Eventually, anger overcame Wang Xiuzhu; his eyes rolled back as he fainted. With Wang Xiuzhu out cold, Li Yinghao, who was still savoring the moment, became the center of attention and suddenly grew tense. He hadn¡¯t expected fainting was an option; Senior Brother Wang reacted so quickly, no wonder he could become a deacon. Following suit, Li Yinghao also shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t want to live anymore.¡± After shouting, he immediately closed his eyes tightly and collapsed headfirst. Such poor acting skills made Yu Qing¡¯s head fill with dark lines; these two male disciples really brought disgrace to the reputation of Heavenly Sword Sect. She smiled wryly and greeted Fang Zhou with a cupped fist salute: ¡°Our Sect fails to discipline our disciples strictly, making Taoist Fang witness such a farce.¡± Fang Zhou laughed heartily: ¡°Indeed, it did bring me lots of joy. These two disciples are truly candid, may the lovers eventually become spouses; I hope Heavenly Sword Sect won¡¯t separate them due to prejudice and discrimination.¡± Yu Qing almost spat out; what does he mean by ¡®may the lovers become spouses,¡¯ and hoping ¡®Heavenly Sword Sect won¡¯t separate them¡¯? If it were a male and female disciple loving each other and wanting to become Taoist partners, Heavenly Sword Sect would not stop them, but both of these fools are male. If Heavenly Sword Sect allowed two men to become Taoist partners, it would undoubtedly become the laughingstock amongst fellow sects. In the Cultivation World, same-sex relationships are not unheard of, but they are mostly found in renegade Demon Sects or the Demon Domain, and even there, it¡¯s rare. Righteous Sects, even if they exist, would never openly acknowledge or encourage them. Yu Qing truly didn¡¯t know how to respond to Fang Zhou¡¯s words, so she switched the topic: ¡°Taoist Fang, are you injured?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head, his smiling face becoming serious: ¡°I¡¯m not injured, but when my master was away, you came to demolish forcefully and bullied me, a mere Qi Refinement Realm cultivator. Is this the conduct of a prestigious sect? Disgusting.¡± Yu Qing, feeling ashamed, told Fang Zhou: ¡°This was an order from the Law Enforcement Elder, but it does not represent the entire opinion of our sect. I¡¯ll go right away¡­¡± Before she could finish, a cold snort suddenly resounded in the air, cutting her off. Both Fang Zhou and Yu Qing looked up to see a hazy figure gradually solidifying and finally transformed into a woman dressed in dark blue robes, hovering in mid-air. Fang Zhou was startled; this person was dressed in the same style as Feng Qin and appeared in the same way, surely also an elder of Heavenly Sword Sect, perhaps even the Law Enforcement Elder Yu Qing mentioned. As expected, upon the woman¡¯s arrival, Yu Qing promptly saluted: ¡°Elder Yan, greetings.¡± All disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect also saluted in unison: ¡°Greetings to the Law Enforcement Elder.¡± From the greetings, the difference between Yu Qing and the ordinary disciples was evident. Elder Yan glanced coldly at Fang Zhou, then spoke amiably to Yu Qing: ¡°Yu Qing, why leave Yujian Peak to come to this desolate place?¡± Yu Qing stood up straight and said solemnly: ¡°Elder Yan, I think the matter of demolishing the thatched hut at Moon Viewing Peak needs further discussion. Please reconsider your decree.¡± After hearing this, Elder Yan¡¯s expression turned serious again, and he firmly said: ¡°That named Ling has been occupying our sect land for over two years. Originally, the Law Enforcement Department pitied her and turned a blind eye, but she pushed her limits and even brought people in. If this continues, wouldn¡¯t it allow her to establish her own faction within our sect? If word gets out, it might become a joke among our peers. Therefore, the Law Enforcement Department thinks it¡¯s time to drive her away to clear the clouds for Heavenly Sword Sect.¡± Yu Qing wanted to say more, but Elder Yan interrupted: ¡°Yu Qing, this is an internal matter of the Law Enforcement Department.¡± Yu Qing frowned slightly and had to remain silent. Although she is a True Disciple with a distinguished status, she could not interfere with the internal affairs of the Law Enforcement Department. Unless she could reside in Heavenly Sword Peak and become a Sect Master candidate, the Law Enforcement Department would not change its order. Yu Qing could only cast a helpless look at Fang Zhou, while secretly switching her Spirit Sword to a jade hairpin and shooting it toward the sea of clouds. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou understood Yu Qing¡¯s look, but he suspected that these two were putting on a show; one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop. Elder Yan was also looking at Fang Zhou, expressionless, but her icy demeanor said it all. Fang Zhou was puzzled; currently, his looks were capable of making any woman swoon, yet even if someone was unimpressed by his face, an icy stare was unnecessary. Elder Yan¡¯s attitude instantly made Fang Zhou think of three possibilities: One: She was going through menopause. Two: She had questionable sexual preferences. Three: Ling Xiaoyue had offended her, and it was now being taken out on him. The third possibility was ninety-nine percent likely. Damn Ling Xiaoyue, even when fleeing you screw over your disciple. As Fang Zhou internally complained, Elder Yan coldly said to him: ¡°Using underhanded means to harm my Law Enforcement disciples, your nature is truly malicious; let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your master.¡± With that, she towered above and ferociously slapped down towards Fang Zhou. ¡°Stop!¡± Yu Qing was terrified, but it was too late to intervene. Elder Yan¡¯s slap came down, with countless strands of energy swirling and intertwining, instantly forming a visible enormous handprint descending toward Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou¡¯s face changed, and his body was pinned on the spot by the suppressive energy, unable to move. He gritted his teeth, and pushed the Qi Gathering Technique and the Sword Control Technique to their limits. From a distance, a dozen Heavenly Sword Sect disciples¡¯ Spirit Swords were trembling, instantly breaking free from the disciples¡¯ grasp, and with a clear ringing sound, they shot towards Fang Zhou. These Spirit Swords flew above Fang Zhou¡¯s head and under his control, quickly circled around, with sword tips pointing upward, piercing towards the descending energy handprint. A dozen Spirit Swords hit the handprint, only holding on for a few seconds before being bounced away. Fang Zhou had already used the Qi Gathering Technique to infuse Spiritual Energy throughout his body, elevating his physical attributes to an unprecedented strength of 30 points. Fang Zhou summoned his left hand, and with three palms pushed outward, he managed to hold up the falling handprint. Boom¡ª With a loud noise, the ground around Fang Zhou immediately collapsed, forming a huge palm print. Fang Zhou stood undeterred in the middle of the palm print, maintaining a pose with both hands pushing upward, his skin emitting heat, a sign of the physical strain from exerting too much force. ¡°Eh?¡± Elder Yan let out a surprised sound, not expecting Fang Zhou to catch her palm. She was in the Innate Realm, and although it was just a casual palm strike, for someone in the Qi Refining Realm to catch it was laughable. Even though this Qi Refinement Realm individual was obviously stronger than the typical Foundation Establishment Realm, outsiders would not see it that way. Elder Yan felt humiliated and raised her hand again. ¡°Elder Yan, please show mercy.¡± Yu Qing hurriedly stood in front of her. Chapter 120: 120. I am still a child. Chapter 120: 120. I am still a child. Facing the obstruction of Taoist Yu Qing, Elder Yan dared not act rashly, frowning she said: ¡°Yu Qing, are you really going to interfere with the internal affairs of the Law Enforcement Department?¡± This was a very severe questioning. Once confirmed, even with her status as a True Disciple, she would be taken to the Heavenly Sword Peak for a reprimand. ¡°Yu Qing wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Yu Qing quickly clasped her hands in a gesture of respect: ¡°But Yu Qing has reported the matter to Master, and Master entrusted me to convey a message to Elder Yan. Please be cautious in your actions, Elder, and do not act recklessly.¡± As she spoke, she held out her jade hairpin, which emitted a glowing light. Seeing that Yu Qing had even invoked True Master Yu Jian, Elder Yan was shocked. Even though she knew Yu Qing would not lie, Elder Yan still grudgingly sensed the jade hairpin, indeed receiving the words conveyed by True Master Yu Jian. Yu Qing could be disrespected, but True Master Yu Jian was one of the three great leaders of the Heavenly Sword Sect, second only to the Sect Master. Who would dare not give face to her? Thus, even with reluctance, Elder Yan had no choice but to put off today¡¯s issue. ¡°Yan Gulan has acted rashly, disturbing the True Master¡¯s cultivation. This is truly a sin.¡± Elder Yan clasped her hands toward the jade hairpin as a gesture of respect, then smiled at Yu Qing: ¡°For such a trivial matter, to trouble the True Master to speak out, Yu Qing is really making a mountain out of a molehill.¡± Though smiling, the sound was quite piercing. Yu Qing, of course, knew this was Elder Yan expressing her dissatisfaction and could only offer an apologetic reply: ¡°Yu Qing has acted brashly, please forgive me, Elder Yan.¡± Yu Qing lowered her stance, and Elder Yan couldn¡¯t keep dwelling on this issue, but that didn¡¯t mean she would let it go. Elder Yan looked down at Fang Zhou below and said indifferently: ¡°Well then, for the sake of Yu Qing, I will extend your grace period for one more month. Move out on your own, next time you won¡¯t be so lucky to have someone help you.¡± Fang Zhou pursed his lips, dropped his hands, and stayed silent. He¡¯d already cursed this old woman¡¯s ancestors thoroughly in his mind. If you¡¯re so capable, go find Ling Xiaoyue, have a confrontation with her. Bullying me, a mere Qi Refining Realm, what skill is that? I¡¯m only fifteen years old, I¡¯m still a child. But now was not the time for tough talk, Fang Zhou could only swallow this loss for now, waiting for the future to seek retribution. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After Elder Yan finished speaking, her figure disappeared with the wind, vanishing without a trace¡ªtruly as if she had never been there. Those dozen or so disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, who had been silent since Elder Yan¡¯s arrival, all let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her leave, sending two of them over to gather up the scattered Spirit Swords. Then they carried the unconscious Wang Xiuzhu and Li Yinghao onto the shuttle and swiftly left. Once this group had left, the bustling Moon Viewing Peak finally quieted down again. Yu Qing looked at Fang Zhou, unable to come up with any comforting words, and in the end, she could only ask: ¡°Taoist Fang, are you all right?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head and calmly replied: ¡°Just this? It¡¯s fine.¡± This surprised Yu Qing. Although Elder Yan hadn¡¯t used her full strength with that palm, it was aimed to injure Fang Zhou, and she didn¡¯t expect him to catch it unscathed¡ªa feat even a typical Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator wouldn¡¯t manage. And Fang Zhou seemed to be just at the Qi Refinement Realm. While it¡¯s hard to tell the difference between Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment from the outside, there are subtle differences, and an expert could tell at a glance. Fang Zhou was clearly in the Qi Refinement stage, not yet at Foundation Establishment, but his strength was already far beyond that of an average Foundation Establishment. Is this the terrifying aspect of talent? Yu Qing was somewhat silent. She was also considered a prodigy; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have become a True Disciple of True Master Yu Jian, but at the Qi Refinement stage, she wouldn¡¯t dare to withstand a blow from the Innate Palm unharmed. Yu Qing originally took great pride in being the foremost True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, but now she felt deeply ashamed. Indeed, there is always someone better out there. She had been too arrogant and resolved to be more cautious in her speech and diligent in her cultivation. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t expected that he would inadvertently make a true genius feel ashamed. If he knew, he would certainly laugh out loud thrice. No matter how unrivaled your talents are, you still can¡¯t beat the System Dad. It¡¯s proper to lie down and behave. Fang Zhou had thought Yu Qing and Elder Yan were playing good cop, bad cop, yet it didn¡¯t seem quite like that now. He gathered himself and asked Yu Qing, ¡°Does Elder Yan hold a grudge against my master?¡± Yu Qing couldn¡¯t just say there was a grudge, so she answered, ¡°Elder Yan sparred with your esteemed master two years ago and was¡­ slightly inferior.¡± Damn, that really is Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s mess bringing me trouble after two years. But being slightly inferior is surely just Yu Qing trying to save face for Elder Yan. That old woman must have been beaten by Ling Xiaoyue into a state where she couldn¡¯t take care of herself. Unable to defeat Ling Xiaoyue, she turned her anger towards Fang Zhou instead. Frowning, Fang Zhou looked at Yu Qing: ¡°Isn¡¯t this just seeking private revenge? The entry-level trial of your Heavenly Sword Sect clearly has an assessment of one¡¯s character. How did you end up recruiting such a person?¡± Yu Qing was fairly embarrassed; Elder Yan was indeed seeking private revenge, as anyone with clear eyes could see. But she was acting under the banner of the Law Enforcement Department, so there was no issue legally. Besides, the stories from when Elder Yan joined are ancient history, and people change, cultivators included. Yet Yu Qing couldn¡¯t stand there and say Elder Yan was a bad person, so she smoothed things over: ¡°Elder Yan is just rather strict, that¡¯s all.¡± However, Fang Zhou was not satisfied: ¡°Because she¡¯s called Yan, she¡¯s strict, so how do you explain someone with the surname Shi? Should someone named Gou not bite you? She wants to slap me to death, and you call that strictness. Does that mean in the Heavenly Sword Sect people get slapped to death by her every day?¡± Yu Qing thought for a moment, then cupped her fists and said to Fang Zhou: ¡°Indeed, my words were inappropriate. Please, Taoist Fang, forgive me.¡± Yu Qing¡¯s submissive demeanor made Fang Zhou feel a bit embarrassed to continue his tirade. After all, it was a matter of perspective for both sides. Yu Qing was caught in the middle and couldn¡¯t be blamed. To blame her would be no different than being like the surname Yan. Moreover, Yu Qing owed Fang Zhou nothing, and her willingness to come forward and speak on his behalf was already commendable. This matter could only be solved by himself; he couldn¡¯t count on others for help. Yu Qing saw Fang Zhou silent, interpreting it as worry, and advised, ¡°Taoist Fang, you should still notify your esteemed master as soon as possible.¡± Fang Zhou glanced at her and shook his head: ¡°My master is away on business and won¡¯t return for several months.¡± Yu Qing was surprised, no wonder Elder Yan gave Fang Zhou a month-long deadline. Could it be she calculated that Ling Xiaoyue wouldn¡¯t return for several months? But wasn¡¯t she afraid Ling Xiaoyue would stir up trouble upon her return? Elder Yan might have other plans, but that was beyond Yu Qing¡¯s guess. She was powerless to help Fang Zhou with his current predicament, unable to even offer a strategy. ¡°Taoist Fang, if you¡¯re ever in trouble, feel free to come to Yujian Peak to find me. I¡¯ll do everything in my power to assist.¡± Yu Qing could only offer such support as it was beyond her ability to do more. Fang Zhou was moved by Yu Qing¡¯s stance. This beauty clearly wasn¡¯t just after his body. Though she might have the suspicion of luring him away from the Heavenly Sword Sect, at least her intentions were sincere. ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, thank you for your righteous words. You are a good person. We should have a candlelit night talk sometime.¡± Yu Qing, however, was puzzled by Fang Zhou¡¯s thanks. What did he mean by having a candlelit night talk? Chapter 121: 121. Must go through the main entrance, cannot take the back route. Chapter 121: 121. Must go through the main entrance, cannot take the back route. After leaving Moon Viewing Peak, Yu Qing hurried back to Yujian Peak. Along the way, many disciples greeted Yu Qing, she responded politely but did not stop her pace, soon entering the Sword Lake located in the deepest part of Yujian Peak, where True Master Yu Jian practiced in seclusion, a place off-limits to ordinary disciples. Yu Qing briskly walked in and met True Master Yu Jian in the middle of Sword Lake. This was a vast and clear lake filled with countless swimming fish, which upon closer inspection revealed themselves to be Spirit Swords that moved leisurely like living creatures. True Master Yu Jian was seated cross-legged on the lake¡¯s surface, as if on flat ground, without causing a single ripple. Yu Qing quieted her footsteps and approached the lake, True Master Yu Jian slowly opened his eyes: ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Yu Qing bowed respectfully and said: ¡°Master, about the incident at Moon Viewing Peak¡­¡± True Master Yu Jian interrupted softly: ¡°No need to say more, your master is already aware. I didn¡¯t expect this youngster¡¯s talent to be so terrifying. Having only learned a single Sword-controlling Skill, he was able to forcefully take the enemy¡¯s Spirit Sword through sensing alone, surpassing even the Wuji Sword Saint.¡± These few words from True Master Yu Jian conveyed two meanings; the first being she also spied on the events at Moon Viewing Peak, and the second being more concerned about Fang Zhou¡¯s talent rather than the destruction. To this day, True Master Yu Jian did not believe that Fang Zhou had learned the Sword Control Technique, but thought that he had only learned the Sword-controlling Skill carved on the Stele at the Cloud Bridge during his entry-level trial, and just with this, he could forcefully control an enemy¡¯s Spirit Sword¡ªsuch talent indeed was terrifyingly exceptional. She now wished she could rush to Moon Viewing Peak and snatch Fang Zhou away; if Heavenly Sword Sect could acquire this child, they could easily leap to become the foremost sect among the Three Great Holy Lands. Sadly, such an outstanding seed, yet to be spoiled by that thug Ling Xiaoyue. Seeing her Master suddenly sigh with emotion, Yu Qing was slightly taken aback. After thinking, she sincerely said: ¡°Master, isn¡¯t Elder Yan afraid that Senior Ling will come back and take back Moon Viewing Peak?¡± True Master Yu Jian gave a slight smile: ¡°Before you arrived, the Law Enforcement Department had already reported to me; they plan to demolish the whole of Moon Viewing Peak. So what can Ling Xiaoyue possibly take back when she returns?¡± Yu Qing was shocked, so that was the plan of the Law Enforcement Department, no wonder Elder Yan was so fearless. This was simply a plan to remove the foundation; Moon Viewing Peak was not a significant place for Heavenly Sword Sect, by demolishing the entire peak, Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s return would be futile. Previously this might not have been necessary, but now it seems, the Law Enforcement Department is determined and will not change their decision. Yu Qing worried about Fang Zhou¡¯s predicament and couldn¡¯t help saying: ¡°Master, if we make Fang Zhou resent Heavenly Sword Sect, how can we then recruit him into our sect?¡± She knew that from the time of the entry-level trial, True Master Yu Jian had always wanted to steal Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s thunder. In response to Yu Qing¡¯s concerns, True Master Yu Jian simply said. ¡°Let nature take its course.¡± Seeing her Master close her eyes, Yu Qing could only take her leave. ¡­ After Yu Qing left, Fang Zhou returned to the bamboo house by the waterfall. But he couldn¡¯t calm his mind. Elder Yan Gulan gave only a month¡¯s deadline, while Ling Xiaoyue couldn¡¯t return for several months, so he couldn¡¯t rely on her. If Fang Zhou doesn¡¯t figure out a way to handle this within the month, he will undoubtedly be expelled by Heavenly Sword Sect. As for taking back Moon Viewing Peak after Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s return, Fang Zhou was not so optimistic, as the Heavenly Sword Sect wasn¡¯t foolish; daring to act this way, they surely have prepared for Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s reaction. By the time she returns, the situation would have already cooled down. Thus, Fang Zhou had to handle this crisis himself, and thinking about it made him irate¡ªdamn, even starting to Cultivate, why encounter such nonsense like a forceful demolition. A Cultivator having to deal with such trivial and vile matters seriously is just too low. Fang Zhou started to meditate hard on a solution. The Heavenly Sword Sect held absolute martial power, Fang Zhou was not Ling Xiaoyue, so he couldn¡¯t confront them head-on, even Ling Xiaoyue had to flee multiple times. So Fang Zhou could only take a roundabout approach to find the weaknesses of the Heavenly Sword Sect. But as a large sect, the Heavenly Sword Sect definitely didn¡¯t have any obvious weaknesses, otherwise, its lineage would have been discontinued long ago. Fang Zhou spent an entire day in deep thought inside a bamboo hut and finally thought of a weakness of the Heavenly Sword Sect that wasn¡¯t really a weakness. He noticed that in dealing with Ling Xiaoyue, the Heavenly Sword Sect often feared being ridiculed by fellow cultivators and didn¡¯t want to escalate matters. Even in the entry-level trials for recruiting new disciples, there were many details that showed the Heavenly Sword Sect greatly cared about the opinions of fellow cultivators. It was evident that the Heavenly Sword Sect was a sect that greatly valued face-saving. Caring about face isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing, but there¡¯s always a fear of overdoing it. For the sake of maintaining face, countless foolish mistakes have been made throughout history. Fang Zhou immediately realized that he could take advantage of this and indeed, the Heavenly Sword Sect held military power. But who said that confronting military power must involve using military power? After thinking of a plan, Fang Zhou was invigorated and immediately took out his private savings, approximately ten thousand taels ¨C not too much, not too little. These ten thousand taels had long been coveted by Ling Xiaoyue, and were definitely not going to be kept, so why not spend them now? Taking his private savings, Fang Zhou used the Sword Control Technique and summoned the Xuanyuan Sword. He stepped on the Xuanyuan Sword and left Moon Viewing Peak, flying towards Yujian Peak amidst the sea of clouds. Riding a shuttle and flying with his own Sword Control Technique felt completely different; the shuttle had protective features, while using the Sword Control Technique relied solely on his own Spiritual Energy for protection. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t even project his Spiritual Energy outward to shield himself from the wind, and was so blasted by the cold wind en route that his face nearly went numb. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was still him controlling the speed; any faster and he feared his clothes might be blown away. Upon reaching Yujian Peak, he randomly chose a stone platform to land on. ¡°Halt, who goes there!¡± Immediately, a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect appeared and stopped Fang Zhou, examining him with a curious gaze: ¡°Which lineage are you from, and why have you trespassed onto Yujian Peak?¡± Fang Zhou was taken aback, thinking that disciples from the three lineages of the Heavenly Sword Sect could visit each other freely. Was that not the case? He could only explain to the disciple that he was here to find Yu Qing, and he also took out the jade token Yu Qing had given him. The other party was skeptical but asked Fang Zhou to wait there while she went to report. Before long, Yu Qing hurried over and, seeing Fang Zhou, exclaimed in surprise: ¡°Taoist Fang, it really is you. What brings you here?¡± Fang Zhou was also perplexed: ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here, didn¡¯t you say you had something to ask me?¡± It has only been a day; surely you haven¡¯t forgotten? You heartbreaker. Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but laugh, surprised: ¡°Of course you can come to see me, but you should¡­ come through the main entrance!¡± What, your mountain still has a main entrance? After listening to Yu Qing¡¯s explanation, Fang Zhou finally realized he had made a fool of himself. Disciples from the three lineages of the Heavenly Sword Sect can indeed visit each other, but they must pass through the main entrance because there are many restricted areas within each lineage that one cannot enter without permission. Fang Zhou¡¯s act of randomly finding a place to land amounted to not using the main gate, sneaking around through the back door. Chapter 122: 122. Deaf and blind to the world, ignorant and unenlightened. Chapter 122: 122. Deaf and blind to the world, ignorant and unenlightened. Although he took the wrong path, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t feel embarrassed¡ªit was very normal to make such a mistake on a first visit. Besides, you don¡¯t have any signs or anything, it¡¯s not my fault. Of course, Yu Qing didn¡¯t mean to blame him; she asked with curiosity, ¡°Taoist Fang, what brings you to me?¡± Even though Yu Qing said yesterday that Fang Zhou could ask her about anything, if it was about the Law Enforcement Department wanting to demolish Moon Viewing Peak, she really couldn¡¯t help with that. She believed Fang Zhou was a smart person and wouldn¡¯t be so tactless. Sure enough, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mention anything about Moon Viewing Peak; instead, he asked, ¡°Can I sell things here? I mean, like setting up a small stall to sell stuff on a long-term basis.¡± Sell things? Set up a stall? Yu Qing was taken aback, completely not expecting Fang Zhou to bring up such a question. ¡°Of course, our sect doesn¡¯t forbid trading, but why has Taoist Fang suddenly thought about selling things?¡± Yu Qing was puzzled; just yesterday, Fang Zhou was almost chased out of Heavenly Sword Sect, and now, with only a month to spare, instead of thinking about how to cope with the situation, he suddenly wanted to set up a stall to sell things. This seemed like mixed-up priorities. Hearing Yu Qing¡¯s question, Fang Zhou immediately put on a pained expression: ¡°My master is not around, and your Heavenly Sword Sect wants to drive away someone as insignificant as me, in the Qi Refining Realm¡ªI¡¯m powerless to resist. Since you won¡¯t recognize the deed, I can only think about selling some stuff first, earning some money to see if I can buy Moon Viewing Peak.¡± Yu Qing¡¯s face was a picture of oddness; she found Fang Zhou¡¯s idea to be too naive. It wasn¡¯t a question of money at all; no matter how much money you offer, Heavenly Sword Sect would never sell Moon Viewing Peak. Besides, how much money can you make from a stall, unless what you¡¯re selling is Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°Forgive my bluntness, but I¡¯m afraid that buying Moon Viewing Peak is not feasible for Taoist Fang.¡± Of course, Fang Zhou knew it wasn¡¯t feasible; once Ling Xiaoyue died, or if something unexpected happened to her like illness or falling off a cliff, then Moon Viewing Peak would become his property, his thing¡ªwhy would he pay to buy it from Heavenly Sword Sect? They shouldn¡¯t dream of getting a penny from him. He said this only as a pretext for his actions, intending to garner sympathy. Fang Zhou immediately adopted a tragic expression: ¡°What else can I do then? I¡¯m desperate too. As a mere cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm, I dare not speak out when bullied. An orphan without parents¡¯ love can only resort to such foolish methods. Other than this, tell me, what else can I do?¡± Yu Qing was moved by Fang Zhou¡¯s grief-stricken emotions, feeling that the Law Enforcement Department¡¯s actions were indeed too harsh to bully such a lonely and helpless young man. Right, he was just a minor cultivator in the Qi Refinement Realm; facing the oppression of such a Major Sect as Heavenly Sword Sect, what could he do when he was driven to a dead end? If it were her, she would probably have no choice but to leave obediently. With a heavy heart, Yu Qing clasped her hands towards Fang Zhou: ¡°Taoist Fang, I understand your pain. I can¡¯t guarantee for the other two branches, but here on Yujian Peak, you can sell whatever you want, just go ahead and sell.¡± Fang Zhou also grasped Yu Qing¡¯s hands, gratefully saying, ¡°Yu Qing, you are truly a good person. We should take a bath together sometime.¡± Yu Qing was slightly startled, then somewhat unnaturally released her hands, smilingly saying, ¡°You flatter me, Taoist Fang. We hit it off at first sight, this is what I should do.¡± However, Fang Zhou was like an explorer discovering a new world; Yu Qing¡¯s reaction¡ªcould it be¡­ she was shy? So not only is she a literary enthusiast, but also a pure-hearted young woman? If this had been any other woman with dirty thoughts in her head, being seized by Fang Zhou like this, she might have taken off on the spot. Fang Zhou guessed correctly; Yu Qing was indeed a bit embarrassed and shy, mainly because she had very little contact with the opposite sex since childhood, let alone physical touch. Many male disciples within the Heavenly Sword Sect admired her, but very few ever had the chance to touch her body. Even if some shrewd disciples deliberately schemed to have close contact with Yu Qing, they would be seriously chastised by her. To cover up the awkwardness, Yu Qing had no choice but to change the topic: ¡°Taoist Fang, what are you planning to sell?¡± Fang Zhou also put aside his interest in teasing her and stated seriously: ¡°I¡¯m planning to sell newspapers, can it be done?¡± Yu Qing thought for a moment, then curiously asked: ¡°When you speak of newspapers, could it be that you mean the official gazette?¡± The official gazette is a type of newspaper circulated within the realm¡¯s government offices, mainly containing copies of the emperor¡¯s decrees, edicts, ministerial memos, and other official documents, as well as significant events in the court. The official gazette is not circulated among the common folk, and it lacks any newsworthy or interesting reports. Fang Zhou nodded: ¡°Roughly the same, essentially.¡± Yu Qing found it even more peculiar: ¡°It¡¯s possible to sell, but why did Taoist Fang think of selling such a thing?¡± She carefully phrased her tone: ¡°I¡¯m afraid¡­ it won¡¯t make much money.¡± That was still putting it nicely. In Yu Qing¡¯s view, it wasn¡¯t just about making little money; it was outright impossible to make any money at all. Who in the Heavenly Sword Sect would be so well-fed as to buy such a thing? In Yu Qing¡¯s eyes, Fang Zhou had simply become a na?ve youth who was oblivious to worldly matters. Alright, both consider the other as innocent. It seems necessary to have a serious and straightforward exchange to see who is truly innocent and who is the seasoned expert. But not right now. Fang Zhou, however, smiled and said: ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, what do the disciples of your Heavenly Sword Sect usually do when they have free time? Any activities or pastimes?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Yu Qing thought for a while and replied: ¡°The disciples usually exchange cultivation experiences. Aside from cultivation, they also engage in chess, poetry, and painting.¡± Fang Zhou raised a finger and shook it, clicking his tongue: ¡°Not enough, not enough. All these are old-fashioned pastimes, only making the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s disciples become more dull and depressed. As the saying goes, one must travel wide and read extensively to broaden one¡¯s perspective. Staying on the mountain, oblivious to the outside world and solely focused on cultivation, will only lead to producing ignorant individuals who are closed off to the world. As the poem goes, ¡®To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower,¡¯ one must climb to greater heights to see farther, with ¡®height¡¯ here referring to the depth of knowledge, not just the level of cultivation. Do you understand?¡± Yu Qing frowned slightly, thinking that Fang Zhou¡¯s words made sense, but she still explained: ¡°We don¡¯t always stay on the mountain; after reaching the Foundation Establishment phase, we do go down the mountain for experience.¡± Yet Fang Zhou sneered: ¡°Descending the mountain for experience, huh. You disciples of the Major Sects merely wield your formidable power to play in the secular world, doing heroic deeds and thinking you¡¯ve understood the variety of worldly ways. In truth, you are just having a cursory look, what can you really see?¡± Yu Qing was stunned by Fang Zhou¡¯s words: ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou leaned in and whispered: ¡°Not to mention far places, just take Qingde City in Jingnan State. Let me ask you, the Hu Family of Qingde City¡ªall ten members being accomplished Cultivators¡ªwere wiped out overnight. Do you know who did it?¡± Yu Qing had a blank face; she didn¡¯t even know where Qingde City was. Fang Zhou continued: ¡°I¡¯ll ask you another question, rumors of a secret treasure causing a glow of Buddha light to appear on Wild Tomb Ridge have attracted countless Cultivators to seek the treasure, yet many disappeared without return, suffering numerous casualties. The monks of Lanruo Temple on Wild Tomb Ridge lived in detachment from the world, yet they were all slaughtered overnight. Do you know who did it?¡± Yu Qing¡¯s mouth fell open slightly, without being able to utter a word. She knew of Lanruo Temple on Wild Tomb Ridge, but when did a secret treasure appear there? Suddenly feeling embarrassed, she indeed seemed to be blind to the world and ignorant. Chapter 123: 123. Its the season for the White Album again Chapter 123: 123. It¡¯s the season for the White Album again Yu Qing, who had ascended Cloud Mountain at a young age, indeed remained oblivious to the affairs of the outside world, and was now completely unaware of the current situation beyond the mountain. Even her, as a True Disciple, was so uninformed, let alone the other ordinary disciples. Yu Qing was quite worried and hastily asked Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang, what should we do now?¡± Fang Zhou replied earnestly, ¡°This is precisely why I want to sell newspapers. The newspapers will document the customs and cultures of various places, as well as my personal experiences. It can broaden the horizons of the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect. Through the stories and perspectives I provide, I offer them a new direction of thinking, meanwhile enriching their otherwise monotonous lives during their Cultivation breaks. Besides, I can make a little money for myself. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a win-win situation?¡± Yu Qing¡¯s spirit was uplifted; it was such an epiphany. She hadn¡¯t realized that Fang Zhou¡¯s newspaper business was underpinned by such profound considerations. It was not merely about making money, but more importantly, about expanding the vision of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s disciples to prevent them from becoming isolated and ignorant. Deeply moved, Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but bow deeply to Fang Zhou, expressing her gratitude, ¡°Taoist Fang, on behalf of the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect, I thank you for your noble deed.¡± If there was a progress bar for favor at this moment, it would definitely show Yu Qing¡¯s increasing admiration towards Fang Zhou skyrocketing. What a pure and good child indeed, a gentleman can be deceived by being straightforward. Though Yu Qing is not a gentleman, her personality is quite similar. Fang Zhou felt quite emotional inside, he extended his hands to lift Yu Qing, and said gravely, ¡°Although I am not from the Heavenly Sword Sect, I am a member of the righteous path in the Cultivation World. It is only if such Major Sects like yours grow stronger that we can better protect the peace of the Cultivation World. I am merely contributing a slight force for the sake of peace, it¡¯s nothing worthy of thanks.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s expression and tone were righteous, enhanced by the addition of 2 points of reputation for being righteous, and most importantly, his handsome face. At this moment, a shaft of sunlight happened to pierce through the sea of clouds, shining upon him, making his entire being gleam gently, as if a divine being had descended to earth. Yu Qing was utterly mesmerized. Before, it was her who, with her spring-like demeanor, would intoxicate others. This time, Yu Qing finally experienced the feeling of spring arriving. Her whole being seemed to be placed in nature, so harmonious and relaxing, utterly intoxicating. Fang Zhou waved his hand in front of Yu Qing, ¡°Hey, did you hear me? Are you alright?¡± Yu Qing abruptly snapped back to reality, her cheeks heating up and her ears reddening, her eyes darting about, too embarrassed to meet Fang Zhou¡¯s gaze. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the first time she had lost her composure in front of someone else. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m fine, sorry for spacing out.¡± Yu Qing took several deep breaths and quietly operated the Sword Control Technique, calming her emotions. After regaining her composure, Yu Qing said solemnly to Fang Zhou, ¡°I fully support your approach. If there¡¯s any difficulty, please tell me and I will do my utmost to help.¡± Fang Zhou let out a slight sigh of relief, managing to convince her, ¡°Of course. The reason I came to you is to inquire where I can purchase a large quantity of paper and ink. It would be even better if you have a channel for purchasing them.¡± Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Then you¡¯ve found the right person by coming to me. Our sect owns a paper and ink workshop, and I am acquainted with the master of the workshop.¡± Although Heavenly Sword Sect consists of cultivators, their daily material consumption is not small, and stationery like paper and inkstones are greatly needed. From the Sect Master to the ordinary disciples, everyone needs to write and draw daily; these things can¡¯t be conjured out of thin air through Cultivation. Other materials could be purchased in Yunshan City, but paper and ink were different. A significant portion was used for writing secret manuals and Cultivation insights, which should not be casually shown to others. Hence, there is a high demand for the quality of paper and ink as well. For this reason, Heavenly Sword Sect built their own workshop, producing and selling paper and ink themselves, along with offering printing services. Yu Qing, as a True Disciple, being nurtured as a future leader, definitely had access to these resources, which was something Fang Zhou had considered prior to his visit. Therefore, Yu Qing¡¯s response was within Fang Zhou¡¯s expectations. He smiled and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble you to introduce me to the master of that workshop.¡± The workshop is located at Heavenly Sword Peak, and one must fly there. Yu Qing took off the jade hairpin on her head, which transformed into a Spirit Sword, nimbly flying below her, allowing her to sit cross-legged upon it. Fang Zhou summoned the Xuanyuan Sword and stepped onto it with one foot. Yu Qing observed Fang Zhou¡¯s Xuanyuan Sword, scrutinizing it carefully, and a touch of confusion appeared in her eyes: ¡°Huh, Taoist Fang, your sword is quite peculiar.¡± Yu Qing was naturally highly compatible with swords, able to discern their history and quality with just a glance. However, this seemingly unimpressive and dusty sword of Fang Zhou¡¯s gave her an indescribable feeling. Although Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know the grade of the Xuanyuan Sword, with the word ¡®divine¡¯ in its name, it was at least not a mundane item. Still, it¡¯s a basic principle not to flaunt one¡¯s wealth. Fang Zhou replied with a slight smile, ¡°There¡¯s nothing peculiar about it, it just accidentally fell into a latrine pit before. That¡¯s why it looks dusty after it dried. Maybe you caught a whiff of that.¡± The Xuanyuan Sword suddenly shook violently, almost shaking Fang Zhou off. Yu Qing wore an expression of odd befuddlement. Who ever heard of a Spirit Sword falling into a latrine pit? Yu Qing wasn¡¯t too surprised by the fact that Fang Zhou¡¯s sword could fly. Artifact Control Flight required at least reaching the Innate Realm. Below Innate, flying could only rely on the inherent abilities of the Magic Treasure itself. For example, Yu Qing¡¯s jade hairpin was a Spirit Sword with the Flying Ability¡ªit was the Spirit Sword that carried her aloft, essentially the same principle as a shuttle. Therefore, seeing Fang Zhou fly, Yu Qing assumed it was the Xuanyuan Sword carrying him and didn¡¯t realize that Fang Zhou had already learned the Sword Control Technique and could fly without externally channeling Spiritual Energy. Of course, the Xuanyuan Sword itself had the Flying Ability, but it lacked the flexibility compared to Fang Zhou personally controlling it with the Sword Control Technique. After the two left Yujian Peak, they roamed amidst the sea of clouds. At this moment, setting aside trivial matters, Sword Flight while wandering between heaven and earth, gave Fang Zhou a true sense of cultivation. However, they quickly arrived at Heavenly Sword Peak. The building complex on Heavenly Sword Peak was more majestic and vast in scale, and the area was bigger as well. But even so, the total population of Heavenly Sword Sect was less than ten thousand. Living in such a large place was frankly wasteful. Yu Qing led the way, bringing Fang Zhou to land at one of the gates of Heavenly Sword Peak; there indeed was an official entrance. With Yu Qing as the guide, their journey was smooth and unimpeded. Many disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect were surprised upon seeing Fang Zhou, yet none dared to obstruct or inquire, instead, they paid their respectful salutations to Yu Qing. After passing through the gate, they had to climb a long and steep staircase to reach Zhengkun Palace at Heavenly Sword Peak. In front of Zhengkun Palace, a group of disciples had gathered, busy with something. Fang Zhou looked at Yu Qing with a puzzled expression, and Yu Qing explained: ¡°They are conducting the monthly routine assessment for disciples of the three veins.¡± It turned out that the Heavenly Sword Sect assigned cultivation tasks each month and conducted an assessment at the month¡¯s end. Those who excelled would receive rewards, those who passed would receive encouragement, and while failing did not mean expulsion from the Sect, a stern reprimand was inevitable. If a disciple¡¯s cultivation did not progress over the years, the Heavenly Sword Sect would assign them to work in various departments rather than continue to feed them for nothing. The assessment process wasn¡¯t much to look at, terribly dull. Most deacons were reluctant to come, and if they did, it was a mere formality¡ªmaintaining stern faces throughout, stifling any cheerfulness, placing significant pressure on the disciples who often made mistakes. Having watched for a while and finding it uninteresting, Fang Zhou was ready to leave with Yu Qing, but then he encountered someone unexpected. Xuan Ling. ¡­ PS: I don¡¯t seem to have ever asked for votes, so I¡¯ll ask this time. Chapter 124: 124. Ironclad relationship formed through late-night talks by candlelight. Chapter 124: 124. Ironclad relationship formed through late-night talks by candlelight. Xuan Ling also came to Heavenly Sword Peak on business, just leaving Zhengkun Palace, and happened to run into Fang Zhou and Yu Qing. Upon seeing each other, both Yu Qing and Xuan Ling subconsciously stopped their steps, while Fang Zhou continued walking forward cluelessly for a moment until he realized Yu Qing wasn¡¯t following and stopped. He ended up right between Yu Qing and Xuan Ling, forming a triangle with their positions. When Xuan Ling emerged from Zhengkun Palace, a smile was on her face, but upon seeing Fang Zhou and Yu Qing walking side by side, her smile gradually stiffened and then faded away. Xuan Ling hadn¡¯t expected to see Fang Zhou there. She had been contemplating how to find a pretext to go to Moon Viewing Peak these past few days, never anticipating that Yu Qing would beat her to it. When Xuan Ling first met Fang Zhou in Yunshan City, she felt something very special towards him, a feeling she had never had towards any other man, hence leaving him her personal Jade Pendant. Afterward, when Fang Zhou participated in the entry-level trials, Xuan Ling watched him throughout, her impression of him deepening gradually, her interest growing bit by bit. Although it might not have been love at first sight for Xuan Ling towards Fang Zhou, she was certainly highly interested in him. Leaving the Jade Pendant was a clear proof, a declaration ¨C I have my eyes on this person, none of you should even think about snatching him away. Back in Yuxu Palace, Xuan Ling even warned Yu Qing, who solemnly swore she had no interest in romantic male-female relationships. But what was she seeing now? Yu Qing and Fang Zhou walking closely side by side, chatting and laughing ¨C this is what you called having no interest? This hypocritical, shameless woman! At that moment, Xuan Ling felt the anger of having something precious stolen from her. Seeing Xuan Ling¡¯s cold stare, Yu Qing maintained a mild expression, but her eyes betrayed a slight helplessness. Yu Qing could swear she had no inappropriate thoughts about Fang Zhou, no romantic inclinations, just pure appreciation. She definitely had no intention of stealing Xuan Ling¡¯s beloved. But she knew this junior sister too well, who was always somewhat prejudiced against her, not to mention now having witnessed the ¡®evidence¡¯; she definitely wouldn¡¯t listen to any explanations. She didn¡¯t want their sisterly affection to be marred because of Fang Zhou. This truly was an undeserved disaster. Among the three, probably only Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t realized what was happening yet, but he keenly sensed the atmosphere turning strange. He looked back at Yu Qing and asked, confused, ¡°Let¡¯s go, why have you stopped?¡± Yu Qing gave him a helpless look, not understanding whether Fang Zhou was just thick or intentionally behaving this way. It was clear that the junior sister who gave you her Jade Pendant is right in front of you ¨C why do you pretend not to see her and keep talking to me instead? Don¡¯t drag me into your complicated relationship. This, however, was completely misunderstood by Yu Qing. For Fang Zhou, Xuan Ling was just a strange woman who tried to flirt with him in Yunshan City, one of the countless similar women he had encountered. If he was entangled with emotions for every one of them, he would be utterly exhausted. Therefore, Fang Zhou was completely unaware that the strange tension between Yu Qing and Xuan Ling was because of him. Xuan Ling, watching them with a cold gaze, suddenly came forward, switching to a frivolous smile, and said to Fang Zhou, ¡°I never expected to meet here again since our last encounter in Yunshan City, why haven¡¯t you come to find me on Xuanjian Peak?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her incredulously, thinking to himself, do I know you that well, beautiful lady? But considering this woman dared to flirt with him publicly on the streets, her outgoing personality made it normal for her to speak like this. Being on the other person¡¯s turf, Fang Zhou dared not speak recklessly and could only politely respond, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy.¡± Xuan Ling listened but wanted to sneer, you have no time to find me, yet you have time to search for my senior sister? She did not expose Fang Zhou¡¯s lame ¡®excuse¡¯, but glanced at the hesitant Yu Qing and asked, ¡°Is your relationship with my senior sister very good?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou almost reached out to put his arm around Yu Qing¡¯s shoulder, barely restraining himself: ¡°We have a good relationship where we stay up all night chatting.¡± ¡°Stay up, night, chatting?¡± Xuan Ling¡¯s smile disappeared again, she practically spoke each of these four words distinctly. She turned her head to look at Yu Qing, her gaze sharp as a knife. Yu Qing was a bit panicky, unable to keep calm any longer, she hurriedly said, ¡°No, there was no staying up all night, Taoist Fang is talking nonsense, junior sister, you misunderstood, it¡¯s definitely not what you think.¡± She explained to Xuan Ling the events of the past few days¡ªit wasn¡¯t her being opportunistic, it just happened coincidentally. But after listening, Xuan Ling thought of something else. You even know his last name, yet I know nothing, still claiming it wasn¡¯t opportunistically? And you call each other Taoist so affectionately, is the next step becoming Daoist partners? Xuan Ling looked coldly at Yu Qing and laughed, ¡°Senior sister, there¡¯s no need to rush in explaining, I have my own eyes to judge the true nature of things.¡± Fang Zhou also said from the side, ¡°That¡¯s right, why rush to explain, anyone can see that we two have a tight relationship.¡± He also wanted to foster a good relationship with Yu Qing, this esteemed True Disciple, as having this strong support would reduce many obstacles in the Heavenly Sword Sect. Little did he expect Yu Qing to hurry in distancing herself, this was unacceptable. Yu Qing glared at Fang Zhou with a look of disappointment as if to say, I¡¯m explaining this for you, and you¡¯re not helping, but instead adding fuel to the fire. Fang Zhou fearlessly glared back, if you try to kick me aside, that¡¯s unacceptable, this supportive leg of yours, I¡¯m determined to hold on to. Seeing these two daring to exchange such meaningful glances right in front of her, Xuan Ling felt utterly disregarded. Her complexion worsened, making the atmosphere even more oppressive. Seeing Xuan Ling¡¯s displeased expression, Yu Qing hurriedly explained, ¡°Junior sister, after so many years of affection, you wouldn¡¯t mistrust your senior sister, right?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xuan Ling sneered back, ¡°Senior sister, you still remember our many years of affection? Then did you forget what you promised me at Yuxu Palace?¡± At that time, Yu Qing clearly stated she wouldn¡¯t act against Fang Zhou. Yu Qing gave a bitter smile, ¡°Junior sister, you really misunderstood me.¡± ¡°Hmph, whether it¡¯s a misunderstanding, I will judge for myself. You took my things, I will retrieve them by my own hands.¡± Yu Qing had nothing to respond with, knowing that the misunderstanding had been formed, no more explanations would be heard by her junior sister, only time could prove everything now. Seeing Yu Qing remain silent, Xuan Ling instead felt that her own assumption about Yu Qing¡¯s pain was confirmed, and she grew even more irritated. Xuan Ling turned to look at Fang Zhou, and suddenly raised her hand. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s bewildered gaze, she straightened his somewhat messy collar. ¡°You too, since you took my things, you must bear the consequences. If you keep pretending to be foolish, I will not be polite to you.¡± After speaking, Xuan Ling didn¡¯t wait for Fang Zhou¡¯s response and strode away. Fang Zhou watched Xuan Ling¡¯s departing figure, utterly confused. Crazy, who took your things? Chapter 125: 125. Enjoy the treatment without the enjoyment of Cheng Ge (modified) Chapter 125: 125. Enjoy the treatment without the enjoyment of Cheng Ge (modified) After Xuan Ling left, Fang Zhou turned to Yu Qing and asked, ¡°Did you steal something from your junior sister?¡± Yu Qing fixed her eyes on Fang Zhou, her gaze fairly complicated. She sighed and said, ¡°Junior sister misunderstood, it really wasn¡¯t like that.¡± Fang Zhou frowned, ¡°Then what does it really mean?¡± Please, don¡¯t drag me into issues between you sisters, I¡¯m just an innocent bystander. Yu Qing didn¡¯t answer Fang Zhou¡¯s question and continued to look at him complicatedly. Yu Qing wasn¡¯t sure if Fang Zhou was genuinely confused or just pretending to be, but from his recent behavior, he definitely wasn¡¯t a confused person, and most likely he was playing dumb. Unmasking him seemed pointless then. Thinking this, Yu Qing sighed again: ¡°This is truly an unwarranted disaster.¡± Fang Zhou gradually figured it out, understanding what Xuan Ling meant, and then he gasped in shock. Gosh, this woman is toxic. I¡¯ve only met her once in Yunshan City, and she¡¯s already claiming ownership? This reminded Fang Zhou of the jade pendant Xuan Ling gave him. His initial thought was not to accept things from strangers, and since he wasn¡¯t planning to join the Heavenly Sword Sect, he didn¡¯t need the jade pendant as a backdoor tool. Now it seemed, Xuan Ling took that jade pendant very seriously. Is it like giving a dog tag? Once this dog wears my dog tag, it¡¯s my dog? Damn, I¡¯m a single dog, not a stray dog. Still uncertain, Fang Zhou, hoping against hope, sought final confirmation from Yu Qing: ¡°The person your junior sister is talking about, it¡¯s not me, right?¡± Yu Qing gave a wry smile and shook her head: ¡°You took junior sister¡¯s jade pendant, who else would it be but you?¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou¡¯s last hope was shattered, it really was him. He felt a bit embarrassed: ¡°I lost the jade pendant.¡± Yu Qing looked at him in total shock, and after a while she said in surprise: ¡°Well¡­ you¡¯d better watch out for yourself.¡± Then she added: ¡°If there¡¯s danger, remember to run to Yujian Peak.¡± Fang Zhou was also shocked, what do you mean by ¡®still there¡¯s danger¡¯? Although he isn¡¯t afraid of Xuan Ling, who is only at the Foundation Establishment Realm and isn¡¯t a newcomer to fighting, this is still her territory. Open attacks are easy to dodge, but sneaky tricks are hard to guard against. What if she calls for backup? Fang Zhou swallowed nervously: ¡°Why would there be danger?¡± Yu Qing hesitated, unsure how to explain, then sighed again: ¡°My junior sister¡­ her personality is a bit obsessive. If love turns into hatred, it might be possible¡­ you should be mentally prepared.¡± Fang Zhou instantly understood, damn, this is classic yandere¡ªdestroy if can¡¯t possess. Wouldn¡¯t it just be if I had actually played along, but the key is, I haven¡¯t even played yet. This is simply not enjoying Cheng Ge¡¯s perks but having to deal with Cheng Ge-like problems¡ªexperiencing retirement life prematurely. ¡­ After this unexpected event, Fang Zhou and Yu Qing lost interest in further conversation, and the two walked silently to the paper and ink workshop at Heavenly Sword Peak. The owner of the workshop was a plump beautiful woman named Wei Yuanling. Yu Qing introduced them, and Wei Yuanling looked Fang Zhou up and down with a smile that made his scalp tingle. Could this be anotherfemale predator? After the introductions, Wei Yuanling took him around the workshop. Besides producing writing materials, the workshop also handled printing. Elders wanting to publish books or write memoirs would have them printed here. Fang Zhou noticed that the workshop used block printing. It seemed that either movable type printing hadn¡¯t been invented yet, or it wasn¡¯t widespread. After the tour, Fang Zhou mentioned his requirements for buying paper and ink. Wei Yuanling answered with a smile: ¡°The workshop has ample stock of materials, any quantity you want, selling to you would be no problem Taoist Fang, but I have a small favor to ask.¡± Fang Zhou became wary, ¡°What kind of favor?¡± While Fang Zhou was internally debating, Wei Yuanling said with a smile: ¡°I would kindly ask Taoist Fang to leave us with one of your portraits.¡± What, just that? Fang Zhou was a bit let down, you proposed something so innocent, if it had been an over the line request, I would have outright refused, but what¡¯s the meaning behind wanting a portrait? Could she be one of those cutout lovers, planning to take it home for her fantasies? Yu Qing then explained, Wei Yuanling naturally loved art and had painted portraits of many big names of the Heavenly Sword Sect, including the three True Disciples. As for why she wanted Fang Zhou¡¯s portrait, clearly because he is handsome. Fang Zhou was very hesitant as he generally wouldn¡¯t even give out his name to strangers, much less leave behind his portrait. The Cultivation World is so dangerous, who knows if someone might use his portrait to place curses. After pondering for a while, Fang Zhou politely declined the request. Wei Yuanling was a bit disappointed, but not upset, and since she wanted to maintain good business, especially considering Yu Qing¡¯s face, she gave Fang Zhou a discount. Fang Zhou decided not to trickle out payments, but made a full upfront payment, buying up a large stock of paper and ink from the workshop. He did this worrying that Heavenly Sword Sect might restrict the raw materials once they figured out his actions, so it was better to stock up enough for future use. Wei Yuanling, although curious why Fang Zhou wanted to buy so much, was happy to clear out her inventory. Both parties were very satisfied with the deal, and Wei Yuanling immediately arranged for her men to deliver the purchased materials to Moon Viewing Peak, even waiving the shipping costs. ¡°If all goes well, I would like to continue doing business with Boss Wei, please take care of us in the future.¡± Happy with his purchases, Fang Zhou instinctively extended his hand to Wei Yuanling. Realizing midway that it was inappropriate, he attempted to withdraw it. But when Wei Yuanling saw Fang Zhou¡¯s outstretched hand, she was briefly taken aback but quickly reacted and shook his hand. ¡°Fang Taoist, you¡¯re too polite, just call me Yuanling; the doors of the workshop are always open for you,¡± Wei Yuanling said smiling. As they released hands, she quietly hooked Fang Zhou¡¯s palm with her thumb, winking at him while Yu Qing wasn¡¯t looking. Fang Zhou was startled, keeping his face expressionless. This woman looked prim on the surface, but definitely acted like a prankster in private. If he ever resolved his internal energies, perhaps he could join her for some deep, illuminating talks at night. Honestly, as long as these beautiful women weren¡¯t haughty or forceful, Fang Zhou was quite willing to ¡®interact¡¯ with them, in many senses of the word. Chapter 126: 126. The Value of Free Labor Chapter 126: 126. The Value of Free Labor After successfully making their purchases, Fang Zhou and Yu Qing left the Heavenly Sword Peak. As they left, they did not see Xuan Ling, and Fang Zhou could not find a chance to explain to her. Upon returning to Yujian Peak, Fang Zhou said goodbye to Yu Qing and took the opportunity to thank her, acknowledging that without her guidance he would have had to go down the mountain to make the purchases himself. ¡°It¡¯s just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yu Qing did not care about such minor matters, but as she saw Fang Zhou about to leave, she hesitated with unspoken words. Fang Zhou asked curiously, ¡°Is there something else?¡± Yu Qing then whispered, ¡°Taoist Fang, you mentioned earlier that both the Hu Family of Qingde City and the monks of Lanruo Temple were wiped out overnight. Who was responsible for this?¡± Damn, I thought you were going to ask about something significant, but you¡¯re asking about this? You really held on until now to ask. Fang Zhou looked around cautiously, then leaned in and said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you, but you must not tell anyone else.¡± Because he was so close, Fang Zhou¡¯s breath nearly sprayed on Yu Qing¡¯s ear. Her delicate ear twitched, and Yu Qing instinctively wanted to move away, but she held back. However, her ears gradually turned red. Fang Zhou did not notice these reactions; he just mysteriously said, ¡°It was the Xuanji Sect.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Yu Qing was shocked. The Xuanji Sect, although slightly inferior to the Heavenly Sword Sect, was still a major and reputable sect in Jingnan State, also part of the righteous path. Could they really commit such an atrocity as wiping out entire clans? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Fang Zhou was known to be reputable in the righteous sects, and also currently regarded with high favor, Yu Qing would not have believed it. ¡°Shh! Keep your voice down.¡± Fang Zhou hurriedly hushed, ¡°I only heard some rumors, there¡¯s no direct evidence. It might just be something done secretly by disciples of the Xuanji Sect without the sect¡¯s knowledge. These are all unconfirmed matters, and you must not spread rumors.¡± Seeing Fang Zhou making excuses for the Xuanji Sect, Yu Qing felt that Fang Zhou was very rational and objective, and not someone who blindly believed in rumors. She solemnly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Taoist Fang, I won¡¯t spread it around.¡± Fang Zhou then patted Yu Qing¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be heading back now, let¡¯s visit the restroom together when free.¡± Yu Qing smiled, ¡°No need for restroom visits, safe travels, Taoist Fang. Feel free to visit me anytime if needed.¡± Fang Zhou then mounted the Xuanyuan Sword and flew toward the sea of clouds. Watching Fang Zhou¡¯s receding figure, Yu Qing made a silent resolution in her heart. With such an extraordinary talent and extensive knowledge, as well as a peaceful disposition, Taoist Fang should not be pushed away. If Moon Viewing Peak were forcibly demolished a month later, even at the risk of punishment, she would plead with her master to shelter him. ¡­ Of course, Fang Zhou was unaware that Yu Qing was already thinking of taking him in should he find himself without a home. If he knew, he would definitely scoff at the notion, thinking, ¡°I¡¯m not some homeless stray dog that needs adopting by a little girl.¡± When Fang Zhou returned to Moon Viewing Peak, he saw a pile of high-quality paper and several buckets of ink in front of the straw hut. These papers were much smoother, thicker, and whiter than ordinary paper, almost comparable to the regular paper from his previous life. But the price was also very expensive, cut to the size of newspapers at fifty wen each. With one tael of silver, he could only buy twenty sheets, but Wei Yuanling gave him a discount, selling twenty-two for one tael. Fang Zhou purchased fifty thousand sheets in one go, enough to bury him. Turning these fifty thousand sheets into newspapers would be far from enough even in a year, let alone a month. But Fang Zhou had a special method, not even a month was needed, a few days would be enough. He picked up the gourd, sucked all the paper and ink into it, then returned to the bamboo hut by the waterfall, found a comfortable position to sit cross-legged, and immersed his consciousness into the gourd. Although the inside of the gourd hasn¡¯t completely changed its shape, it was gradually transforming. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s orders, the gourd children kept picking up garbage, sorting it, picking out potentially useful items, and refining the useless objects in the mist. They also built themselves several large houses using the wood, stones, and mud sorted from the garbage mountain, so they no longer needed to sleep on the garbage mountain. The sorted useful garbage had piled up into a small hill, containing various bottles, pots, or weapons and armor, which Fang Zhou had no time to inspect. He only occasionally entered the gourd during this period; originally, he had agreed to let a gourd child out every day, but the forceful demolition had been delayed. The gourd children didn¡¯t hold any grudges, probably because they didn¡¯t believe he would keep his promise. When Fang Zhou entered, the gourd children didn¡¯t pay him any attention; several days had passed outside, but a long time had passed inside the gourd, and the gourd children had already accepted the reality and silently continued working. Even the youngest Zi Wen just glared fiercely at Fang Zhou without causing trouble. When Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue to refine the gourd for him, Zi Wen, who lost her treasure, cried incessantly, as she could no longer control the gourd at all. Not every gourd child ignored Fang Zhou, though. The eldest, Hong Tang, stopped her work to greet him: ¡°Do you need something?¡± Her attitude was neither cold nor hot, and the initial hidden hostility had become increasingly rare. Fang Zhou nodded at her and said, ¡°Put aside your current work, I have an urgent task for you.¡± Hearing it was an urgent task, Hong Tang¡¯s expression became serious, and she turned back to gather her sisters. Fang Zhou found the white paper and ink he had just absorbed, and by the time he returned, the seven gourd children had already assembled. Having been picking up garbage for so long, although the gourd children were not slack in their duties, they were quite bored; now, hearing about the urgent task made them immediately interested. Could it be that he was preparing to take them out to kill and plunder treasures? Or maybe slaying monsters would suffice. But seeing the stack of paper next to Fang Zhou, the gourd children were a bit dumbfounded, except for the second child Cheng Xing, who showed some interest. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t waste words and simply slapped the pile of paper next to him: ¡°I want to run a newspaper. You don¡¯t need to know what a newspaper is, just know it means paper filled with writing. I¡¯ll turn all these papers into ones filled with writing, and that¡¯s also your job.¡± Hong Tang blinked her beautiful eyes, completely confused: ¡°But, apart from our second sister, none of us can write.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know how to write, just follow my instructions,¡± Fang Zhou replied. He pointed at Cheng Xing: ¡°Second child, come here.¡± Cheng Xing protested discontentedly, ¡°I¡¯m not called ¡®second child¡¯.¡± But she obediently walked over. From the moment Fang Zhou mentioned starting a newspaper, her eyes had lit up, clearly knowing what a newspaper was. Fang Zhou handed her the brush and inkstone: ¡°Write down all the characters you know on the paper, arrange them in lines, each character as small as a fly¡¯s head, evenly spaced.¡± This action was merely an instinctive move by Fang Zhou; unexpectedly, it all fit in, and he almost swooped his hand in too, leaving Fang Zhou flabbergasted. Damn, this second child is really something, so grandly hidden. He must find out more about her. However, Cheng Xing didn¡¯t realize she had been taken advantage of. She pulled out the brush and inkstone, running joyfully to one side. She was a gourd child who loved to learn, and had long been itching to write. Fang Zhou snapped back to his senses and instructed the eldest, Hong Tang, to lead the rest of the gourd children to the garbage mountain to dig out some yellow clay. Once the yellow clay was dug up, under Fang Zhou¡¯s direction, the fifth child Qing Lan spit water on the mud, and the gourd children started to play with the mud, creating block after block of mud boards, which were then dried by the fourth child Lu Rong with fire. Then the third child Huang Lian used her delicate skin to polish these mud boards until they were smooth as mirrors. ¡­ PS: Didn¡¯t expect such a huge reaction from you guys to chapter 125; I just wanted to play around with the cross-server chat gimmick, but since you all don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll modify it. If you have any comments, please raise them in the comment section or in this chapter, and I¡¯ll take them into account. Chapter 127: 127. Your sense of humor threshold is too low Chapter 127: 127. Your sense of humor threshold is too low After the Yellow Mud Boards were all made, Cheng Xing had finished writing all the characters she knew, which filled two sheets of paper, totaling nearly ten thousand characters. To her surprise, she had a good memory, and her handwriting was beautiful. Unlike Fang Zhou, whose brush-written characters were all crooked and slanted, comprehensible only to himself; they could very well be used as a code. Fang Zhou asked the gourd children to help by cutting out these characters one by one and pasting them in reverse on the Yellow Mud Boards, then carving according to the traces of the characters. After carving, each character was cut into a rectangular stamp of uniform length, width, and height. He also made some larger mud stamps for use as titles. In the end, it was the fourth child who breathed fire to harden these mud stamps by firing them. Due to improper control of the fire, many were burnt and had to be redone. While engaging in these activities, the gourd children were very puzzled, especially Cheng Xing who was particularly dissatisfied, thinking that Fang Zhou combining writing with mud digging was downright a desecration of the sacred characters. However, as the mud stamps gradually took shape, Cheng Xing seemed to realize what Fang Zhou was up to, her eyes growing increasingly bright. She peeked at Fang Zhou¡¯s back several times, biting her lower lip, looking as if she had something to say but hesitated. But Fang Zhou didn¡¯t have time to pay attention to her. While the fourth child was firing the mud stamps, Fang Zhou took the third child Huang Lian to look for some sturdy wood to chop into planks for making movable type frames. Huang Lian, tough as copper and iron, worked very efficiently, but her face was stern throughout, ignoring Fang Zhou with evident hostility. Sometimes Fang Zhou wondered, where did this third child harbor such a grudge against him? He hadn¡¯t taken any advantages of her, had he? But these issues could be discussed later. For now, the priority was to make tools. After Huang Lian chopped out the wooden planks, Fang Zhou personally started to create rectangular frames out of these planks. The thickness of the wooden planks had to be slightly lower than the height of the stamps, and the length and width of the wooden frames matched whole multiples of the size of the mud stamps, with an extra length for convenient installment of the mud stamps. Fang Zhou then added a few more planks inside the movable type frame to create columns as in newspapers. Once the movable type frame was finished, Fang Zhou filled it with the fired mud stamps. He took a silk cloth, dipped it in ink to apply it evenly over the mud stamps, then covered it with carefully cut white paper, patting the back of the paper gently and evenly. The gourd children watched the entire process, each with mud stains on their faces or bodies, looking as if they had just climbed out of a mud pit. But at that moment, they were too excited to care about their appearances, eyes glued to Fang Zhou¡¯s movements, not willing to miss a second. After even patting, Fang Zhou lifted the paper to reveal neat and clear small characters printed on the snow-white paper. Thus, the movable type printing was successfully created. Although six out of the seven gourd children couldn¡¯t read, that didn¡¯t stop them from instinctively cheering ¡°ohhhhhhhhhhh¡± when they saw the paper filled with characters! This was the joy and sense of achievement they felt after their hard work paid off. Cheng Xing, with shining eyes and an excited face, even her breathing became heavy. Among the sisters, only Cheng Xing could read and was eager to learn, clearly understanding human language and culture, so only she knew what Fang Zhou¡¯s method meant. According to her understanding, human printing was currently based on block printing, which had already broken the monopoly of knowledge by the gentry, but the cost of carving blocks was still too high and labor-intensive. If Fang Zhou¡¯s method could be spread, the cost of acquiring knowledge would face an unprecedented reduction, similar to the previous two reductions brought by the invention of Papermaking and printing technology. ¡°How did you come up with this method?¡± Cheng Xing took the initiative to talk to Fang Zhou, her tone so excited that she even stuttered. Fang Zhou glanced at her and casually replied, ¡°Stand on your head for two hours each day, let the blood rush to the brain to increase its oxygen content, take the high ground with IQ, and you¡¯ll become smarter.¡± ¡°Handstand?¡± Cheng Xing was somewhat bewildered, completely unable to understand what Fang Zhou was talking about. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But very soon, she looked as if she was lost in thought. Fang Zhou continued to appreciate the printed newspaper. There were places where the ink was blurred or faint, but overall it didn¡¯t affect reading, next, it just needed to be dried. He called over Cheng Xing, who was still pondering, and dictated the content for her to record. Then, she selected the clay character stamps for each character and placed them into the movable type frame. This first edition of the newspaper must become a hit, to establish a reputation. To this end, Fang Zhou decided to add some explosive content. A newspaper with four pages, he planned two pages for Cultivation World news, one page for jokes and short stories, and the last page for serialized fiction. Cheng Xing wrote quickly. Fang Zhou dictated normally, and she could record everything without missing a single word. With such speed, even if she didn¡¯t become a monster, she could make a living as a stenographer. Fang Zhou first dictated a dozen news articles about the Cultivation World, with shocking titles and content. The Calabash siblings became more and more alarmed as they listened, and Cheng Xing¡¯s hand even began to tremble as she wrote. She hadn¡¯t realized the Cultivation World was so dangerous and terrifying; staying in Lanruo Temple, they really had a narrow view of the world. Moreover, the fact that Fang Zhou, so young, knew so much secret information, was truly astonishing to the Calabash siblings. Seeing the Calabash siblings¡¯ unusual expressions, Fang Zhou asked in confusion, ¡°Why do you all look like you¡¯re constipated? Is there a problem?¡± Cheng Xing hesitated and said, ¡°The secrets you¡¯re talking about¡ªshould we really write them down? Won¡¯t we offend anyone?¡± Fang Zhou was slightly taken aback, then couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. He intended this newspaper to be like a tabloid, hence the veracity of these so-called news and expos¨¦s was as you¡¯d imagine¡ªall made up by his own imagination, not involving any specific locations or sects. He didn¡¯t expect the Calabash siblings to take it seriously. Fang Zhou had no interest in explaining it to them clearly, waving his hand grandly: ¡°Since I dare to do it, there¡¯s no problem. Continue writing.¡± Cheng Xing could only continue writing. The dozen or so news articles almost filled up the two pages. After finishing the news, Fang Zhou and Cheng Xing worked together to pick out the necessary clay stamps and arranged them in the movable type frame. If they were missing one or two characters, they quickly made them. After the typesetting was finished, they let the eldest Calabash sister print the two pages of news and then set them aside to dry. Fang Zhou continued to dictate jokes and short stories. To make them more comprehensible to readers of this era, he didn¡¯t choose internet jokes, but rather ones that were consistent with the time period. ¡°A villager went to a temple to buy manure. The male monk asked for double the price. The villager was surprised. The monk said: ¡®This manure is different from elsewhere. It¡¯s solidly produced by the masters here. Once diluted, one load can yield two!''¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± As a result, Cheng Xing understood it right away and couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter, causing all the hardworking Calabash siblings to perk up their ears. ¡°Sorry!¡± Cheng Xing took a deep breath, regained her composure, and put on a serious face. Fang Zhou looked at her surprisedly. As soon as the joke was out, the second Calabash sister instantly understood, indicating she must have seen this kind of material before. He thought for a while and told the second joke: ¡°A Cultivator passed by a wild graveyard and was hurt by a ghost, but a passerby saved him. The Cultivator said: ¡®Thanks for saving me, I have nothing to repay you, but take this ghost repellent charm as a token of my gratitude.''¡± ¡°Pfft¡­ Hahaha!¡± Before Cheng Xing even laughed, the nearby eavesdropping Calabash siblings burst into laughter, even the always serious Huang Lian quietly turned her head aside, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. The Calabash siblings laughed together, while Fang Zhou remained expressionless. These monsters¡¯ sense of humor was way too low. Chapter 128: 128. Learning makes people happy Chapter 128: 128. Learning makes people happy It took a great deal of effort to finish writing all the jokes and skits; the Calabash Brothers were nearly laughing themselves to death. The entire gourd space was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. Only Fang Zhou maintained a stony-faced expression throughout. He originally thought the situation where he¡¯d tell a joke, laugh nonstop, and no one around laughs would be awkward. Little did he expect that telling a dumb joke, not laughing himself, but having others around him laugh like idiots would also be quite awkward. Throughout the process, only the moment when Little Seventh, Zi Wen, laughed with snot bubbles seemed somewhat comical. After the jokes were told, the Calabash Brothers still seemed to want more, with Little Seventh, Zi Wen, looking like she wanted to plead with Fang Zhou to tell a few more, but in the end, she didn¡¯t speak up. After all, Fang Zhou was the nemesis who had taken her precious gourd; she couldn¡¯t forgive him so easily. After finishing the jokes and skits, the last section was the serialization of the novel. Fang Zhou did not choose those classic martial arts or cultivation novels to serialize; those were too slow to gain popularity, and with the different world, he wasn¡¯t sure if those novels would be able to attract an audience. Therefore, Fang Zhou decided to take a different approach, serializing novels that were guaranteed to be popular. He was confident that the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect would be unable to put them down after reading. As Fang Zhou narrated the novel, the Calabash Brothers listened intently; ever since he began presenting the news and jokes, all was valuable content with no rubbish, and the Calabash Brothers never thought that just listening to someone talk could be such an interesting affair. However, as they listened on, the expressions on the Calabash Brothers¡¯ faces began to look a bit strange. Except for the youngest, Zi Wen and Lan Shao, who didn¡¯t quite understand, from the eldest, Hong Tang, to the fifth, Qing Lan, all showed surprised expressions, even unconsciously stopping their ongoing work. They hadn¡¯t expected the novel narrated by Fang Zhou to be so explicit, so shameless. Yes, the novel that Fang Zhou was preparing to serialize was one with erotic content. Not the kind with mere insinuations, but the real deal, one that would mysteriously disappear as soon as it was written. In any world, as long as there are desires, such novels are bound to be popular, more stable than any famous masterpiece. ¡°Cough cough!¡± Hong Tang suddenly coughed, startling her sisters back to their tasks. But each of them perked up their ears, not willing to miss a single word from Fang Zhou¡¯s narration. Hidden in Lanruo Temple, at most, they had only seen the spring palace sketches collected by Cheng Xing or something like the Monastic Lantern, nowhere had they come across the explosive content carefully selected by Fang Zhou. Soon, they all started to breathe heavily; Cheng Xing, who was recording, bowed her head, fidgeting, and from time to time, she would swing her legs and twist her waist. At the same time, their impression of Fang Zhou completely changed in their hearts. This guy looked reserved and steady, but who would have thought he¡¯d be such a screwball. The ethos of male inferiority and female superiority was prevalent in both the human and Cultivation World, and it was also quite influential among the monsters; on the surface, it seemed to be the law of the jungle where the powerful ruled, but the powerful were female monsters, and the majority of male monsters had to rely on the wings of female monsters to survive. Thus, listening to Fang Zhou¡¯s lascivious stories, the Calabash Brothers didn¡¯t feel shy but rather found it exciting and titillating, each of them feeling itchy with curiosity. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou chose a medium-length novel, about two chapters for a single page, and by the end of it, he felt parched and tongue-tied. From Hong Tang to Qing Lan, all had slightly blushed cheeks, but each pretended to look serious. The atmosphere was a bit pink and ambiguous, and Fang Zhou also feigned indifference; there would be opportunities in the future, but now was not the time for fun, there were more important matters at hand. After the printing of the two pages of the news section was completed, Fang Zhou and Cheng Xing together arranged the layout for the jokes, skits, and novel, waiting for the ink on one side of the newspapers to dry before printing the other side. One person and seven monsters stayed busy in the gourd space for almost three days before they managed to print a thousand copies of the newspaper. Making the clay stamps, typesetting, and printing were the most time-consuming parts; the rest was nothing more than repetitive work. After all the hustle and bustle, Fang Zhou stretched himself and said to the gourd children, who also seemed a bit weary, ¡°Thanks for the hard work, everyone. I¡¯ll give you a bonus at the end of the month.¡± The gourd children didn¡¯t react much; they couldn¡¯t even leave the gourd, so what was the use of a bonus? But Fang Zhou, like a capitalist squeezing every bit of work from his employees, made a promise and immediately instructed the gourd children to continue making sets of movable type printing tools as before, in order to expand the scale of production. Then he took a thousand copies of the newspaper and left the gourd space. Once Fang Zhou had left, Cheng Xing quietly took out a newspaper; she had sneakily hidden it just before. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to hide a few more for her sisters, but since they couldn¡¯t read, it was useless to do so. Even so, seeing Cheng Xing with the newspaper, her sisters quickly gathered around. Xiao Qi and Xiao Liu begged Cheng Xing to retell those jokes and funny stories. But Cheng Xing¡¯s gaze swept over her older sisters from the eldest to the fifth. As if they had a telepathic understanding, the five sisters nodded in unison, then sent Xiao Liu and Xiao Qi away. ¡°Be good, you two go play over there. We sisters have important matters to discuss.¡± After Xiao Liu and Xiao Qi had left, the five sisters formed a circle. Cheng Xing sat in the middle, took a deep breath, and then solemnly turned the newspaper to the fiction section and began to read aloud, word by word. Initially, her sisters didn¡¯t take Cheng Xing¡¯s learning to read seriously; listening to her read would give them a headache, but now, they were as reverent as if on a pilgrimage, holding their breath and keeping quiet, afraid to miss a single word. The clear sounds of reading echoed throughout the gourd space. If a sage were in this world, seeing this scene, they would surely feel gratified. Indeed, learning brings joy, and even monsters are no exception. ¡­ After leaving the gourd space, Fang Zhou tightly tied up the thousand copies of the newspaper with straw ropes, then chopped down some bamboo to make long tables and chairs. The next day, Fang Zhou summoned the Xuanyuan Sword, took the newspapers and tables and chairs, and flew towards Yujian Peak. Familiarity breeds ease; coming to Yujian Peak for the second time, Fang Zhou finally didn¡¯t take any shortcuts but approached through the main entrance. There were disciples guarding the main entrance, so Fang Zhou asked them to go inform Yu Qing. Shortly after, Yu Qing hastened over upon receiving the news. Seeing Fang Zhou with a thousand copies of the newspaper, Yu Qing showed an expression of disbelief. It had only been one day, and Yu Qing couldn¡¯t imagine how Fang Zhou managed to produce so many newspapers. Had it not been for the fact that she had accompanied Fang Zhou to the workshop to purchase paper and ink just yesterday, Yu Qing would have doubted whether Fang Zhou had prepared the newspapers in advance. ¡°Taoist Fang¡­ you¡¯ve really given me a pleasant surprise.¡± Yu Qing exclaimed in amazement, thinking it would take at least a dozen days for Fang Zhou to produce the newspapers. ¡°You¡¯ll see even more surprises.¡± Fang Zhou smiled and then asked, ¡°Where do you think would be a good spot for me to set up a stall? Ideally, a spacious area with a good flow of people.¡± Yu Qing thought about it and answered, ¡°Go to Chaoyang Palace. Many disciples have their morning classes there.¡± Saying so, Yu Qing casually picked up a copy of the newspaper, exactly at the fiction section. She saw four big characters written on it. ¡°*****?¡± Chapter 129: 129. This publication disclaims responsibility for the content. Chapter 129: 129. This publication disclaims responsibility for the content. ¡°Bai Jie, the young husband?¡± Yu Qing looked at these four words with some confusion, unclear about their meaning. She was about to continue reading when Fang Zhou already asked her, ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, where is Chaoyang Palace?¡± Yu Qing could only put down the newspaper for now and smiled, ¡°Let me take you there; it¡¯s not far from here.¡± The two of them then proceeded together. Out of courtesy, Yu Qing took the initiative to carry the heavy items such as the long table and chairs for Fang Zhou, who did not refuse. Chaoyang Palace is located at the top of a steep cliff on Yujian Peak, facing east, welcoming the morning sun. Each morning, the spiritual energy here becomes richer than in other places, attracting many disciples in the Qi Refining Realm to come here for cultivation. When Yu Qing brought Fang Zhou here, there were already hundreds of disciples cultivating in front of Chaoyang Palace. They sat cross-legged on bamboo mats, facing the sunrise, eyes tightly closed, breathing rhythmically, inhaling the air filled with rich spiritual energy, and exhaling the purified waste air. This scene reminded Fang Zhou of the days when he did morning exercises at school long ago, missing only the familiar athletic march. Fang Zhou did not disturb those cultivating disciples. Instead, he found an open space nearby, put down the table and chairs, untied the newspaper¡¯s straw rope, and spread it out on the table. Seeing Fang Zhou arranging his goods earnestly, like a little peddler, Yu Qing also found it quite interesting. However, she was a True Disciple of the Sword Control lineage; while she could be informal in private, she could not do something inconsistent with her status in front of so many fellow sisters and brothers, so she could only stand by and watch. The movement here had already attracted the attention of the disciples, who frequently looked over, and some had already started whispering to each other. Fang Zhou was not concerned about those scrutinizing gazes; his psychological age was not small, and he would not feel shy or intimidated by such things. On the contrary, he hoped that the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect would pay more attention, as that would be better for business. After spreading out the newspapers evenly, Fang Zhou then sat on the chair and picked up a copy, handing it to Yu Qing standing by. Yu Qing took it with some puzzlement. Fang Zhou smiled, ¡°It¡¯s for you. I can give you a copy for free every time in the future. You¡¯ve helped me so much; this is the only thing I can use to repay you. Don¡¯t despise it.¡± ¡°Taoist Fang, you¡¯re too polite. We hit it off at first sight; such trivia is not worth mentioning.¡± Yu Qing revealed a warm smile, then opened the newspaper. This time, she didn¡¯t see the fiction section on the back, but the news section on the front. The first thing that caught her eye was four bold letters¡ªWangyue Daily, with three smaller words ¡®First Edition¡¯ next to them. Further down, there was an astonishing headline. ¡°Shock, a certain Elder Gao of xXuan Sect caught in bed committing adultery with the Sect Master¡¯s young wife.¡± Yu Qing gasped in shock. She hurriedly said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang, is this true?¡± Fang Zhou showed an innocent smile, ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, these are all hearsay, without solid evidence. Just read it for fun; don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Yu Qing looked worried and frowned, ¡°This¡­ doesn¡¯t seem appropriate.¡± Fang Zhou still looked very innocent, ¡°What¡¯s inappropriate about it? By bringing these unconfirmed things to light and discussing them together, we can distinguish truth from falsehood. Moreover, our paper hasn¡¯t named anyone specifically. If someone comes out to blame us, they¡¯re just taking it personally¡ªcan¡¯t blame the newspaper for that.¡± Yu Qing was at a loss for words; you made it so obvious with Xuan Sect, and yet you claim you haven¡¯t named names. Fang Zhou reminded her, ¡°Take a look at the end of this news item.¡± Yu Qing quickly looked at the end, and indeed, there was a disclaimer¡ªThis news report comes from an anonymous whistleblower named Ms. Li Ruyu. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The news does not represent the stance and viewpoints of this newspaper, and we will not be liable for any infringement. Yu Qing¡¯s small mouth opened slightly in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with this Ms. Li Ruyu who refuses to disclose her name?¡± Fang Zhou shrugged, ¡°All these news reports come from whistleblowers; our paper is just a platform. Anyone can publish their voice here. We are not liable for the content. If there are any issues, please look for the whistleblower.¡± Yu Qing was at a loss for words, having almost no understanding of newspapers, let alone what a news reporter is. Although she instinctively felt something was amiss, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what was inappropriate, let alone how to argue against it. ¡°Taoist Fang, you still need to proceed with caution.¡± That was all Yu Qing could advise, then she continued reading. The news report was narrated from the perspective of whistleblower Li Ruyu, describing how she inadvertently discovered Elder Gao having a secret affair with the Sect Master¡¯s young wife and how the clueless Sect Master caught them in the act, resulting in the Sect Master, losing her senses, chasing the half-dressed Elder Gao for over a thousand miles. The whole news story was vivid and lively, full of suspense and climaxes, and very engaging. After only a moment of reading, Yu Qing was completely enthralled, occasionally gasping in astonishment. The disciples in front of Chaoyang Palace had finished their morning cultivation but did not leave. Instead, they pointed and whispered at a distance. This was probably the first time street stalls had appeared in the Heavenly Sword Sect, let alone the entire Cloud Sea Mountains. It was enough to go down in history, naturally arousing the disciples¡¯ curiosity. However, with True Disciple Yu Qing present, these disciples were unclear about the situation and did not dare to come forward and interrupt for the time being. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect Yu Qing to have this kind of adverse effect, wishing he could kick her away. Soon enough, however, the standoff was broken as two familiar faces appeared in Fang Zhou¡¯s field of view. Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei. This pair of sworn sisters excitedly parted the crowd and ran up to Fang Zhou¡¯s stall. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They first greeted Yu Qing respectfully: ¡°Big Sister!¡± Immersed in the gossip, Yu Qing finally snapped back to reality and warmly smiled at them, ¡°No need for formalities.¡± Then she quickly returned her attention to the newspaper. She had reached the second news article ¨C Why did a nonagenarian die naked on the street, and why did hundreds of pigs wail in the middle of the night? The whistleblower was still the unnamed Ms. Li Ruyu. Seeing that True Disciple Yu Qing did not fault them, Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei breathed a sigh of relief. They also had taken quite some courage to come over. Afterward, they excitedly greeted Fang Zhou. Chu Yunfei¡¯s greeting was normal, merely saying, ¡°Long time no see, sir, I hope all is well with you.¡± Li Yunlong was more brash, ¡°Sir, what you did wasn¡¯t very upright. You used my name that day, causing the deacons to take special note of me, punishing me every day.¡± It seemed that after successfully entering the Heavenly Sword Sect, Li Yunlong had finally shown her true colors and stopped pretending to be a na?ve girl. Fang Zhou was quite pleased to see these two amusing characters and asked, ¡°Have you two been selected into Yujian Peak together?¡± Chu Yunfei nodded, ¡°Yes, except for Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng, the rest of the new disciples have been chosen by Yujian Peak.¡± After Fang Zhou left, it turned out that Xia Wenqiu and Ji Congfeng were considered talented. Although the two couldn¡¯t be split into three, eventually True Master Yu Jian made a concession. Xia Wenqiu was chosen for Xuanjian Peak, and Ji Congfeng was taken away by Lei Jian Peak. Having secured the talented newcomers, Xuanjian and Lei Jian had no grounds to continue the controversy, and the remaining new disciples were naturally welcomed by Yujian Peak. Fang Zhou could guess the reason why True Master Yu Jian conceded ¨C she wanted to undercut Ling Xiaoyue. Li Yunlong, who was beside, picked up a newspaper from the table, curious, ¡°Sir, are you running a small stall here? What are you selling?¡± Chapter 130: 130. Why not make a bet? Chapter 130: 130. Why not make a bet? Li Yunlong was born in a small mountain village, originally illiterate. It was by a stroke of serendipity that she managed to cultivate to the Qi Refining Realm. After successfully joining the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Sect began to help these new disciples become literate, teaching them how to read so they wouldn¡¯t be unable to understand even the cultivation manuals. Li Yunlong had only learned to read for a few days since her entry, and the densely packed characters on the newspaper made her feel dizzy; the only character she could understand was ¡®ÈÕ¡¯. ¡°I was peddling at a small stall.¡± Fang Zhou nodded and smiled, saying, ¡°What I¡¯m selling are newspapers, which record some events that occurred in the Cultivation World.¡± Just as Li Yunlong was about to question who would buy them, Chu Yunfei pulled her aside. Chu Yunfei said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Young Master, please give me one hundred copies.¡± This was clearly an attempt to support Fang Zhou¡¯s business. However, Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°There¡¯s no need for that many.¡± He was not selling newspapers to make money, but rather to have more people see them. Having Chu Yunfei buy them only to discard them would be a complete waste. Chu Yunfei, with her thoughtful nature, immediately understood Fang Zhou¡¯s idea and said with a smile, ¡°Young Master, you needn¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t throw them away after buying them; I will give them to other disciples.¡± Then there was no problem at all. Fang Zhou promptly counted out one hundred newspapers and handed them to Chu Yunfei. Priced at one hundred wen each, that was a return of ten taels of silver. Chu Yunfei was a rich second generation, and ten taels of silver was not even considered pocket money to her. After buying the newspapers and chatting with Fang Zhou for a bit, Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong took the newspapers and went back. With these two girls taking the lead in braving the unknown, other disciples who were still watching finally began to inquire, but there were very few buyers. Many disciples lost interest upon hearing that what was being sold were newspapers, not even sparing them an additional glance. Even the disciples who were spectating from a distance had dispersed. If it were some novel contraption it might have piqued their interest, but there were few who were interested in something filled with writing. Aside from the one hundred copies sold by Chu Yunfei, Fang Zhou managed to sell an additional dozen or so, then the place became desolate, with not a single customer in sight. Yu Qing, who had been beside Fang Zhou, finally finished reading the news section and couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep breath, her face filled with a sense that there was more to be desired. She hadn¡¯t expected that so many extraordinary and bizarre events could happen in the Cultivation World. Although Yu Qing didn¡¯t believe all these news stories were true, if even half of them were, that was still shocking enough to hear. If it weren¡¯t for Fang Zhou publishing this newspaper, Yu Qing would have had no idea that the outside world was so fascinating. Seeing Fang Zhou sitting there alone, with not a single customer in front of his stall, Yu Qing suddenly felt that her previous concern had come to pass¡ªhe couldn¡¯t sell them. Yu Qing walked over and asked, ¡°Taoist Fang, would you like to change locations?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°There¡¯s no need, this spot is quite good. Changing places means the regular customers won¡¯t be able to find me.¡± Yu Qing thought that Fang Zhou was just being stubborn. She weighed her words carefully, then encouraged him, ¡°Taoist Fang, don¡¯t be disheartened. Your newspaper is very good, allowing people to know the happenings of the world without leaving home. Disciples will eventually understand the benefits of this newspaper¡­¡± Fang Zhou looked at Yu Qing in surprise and interrupted her, ¡°Yu Qing, how about we make a bet?¡± Yu Qing asked with curiosity, ¡°What bet?¡± Fang Zhou pointed to the remaining newspapers, ¡°The bet is whether I can sell out these newspapers today or not. The winner can ask the loser to do something that doesn¡¯t go against one¡¯s conscience and the law.¡± Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but laugh in disbelief. You¡¯re clearly setting this bet to let me win, right? Just as she was about to continue persuading him, she saw Fang Zhou¡¯s confident smile: ¡°I have confidence that I can win against you. Do you dare take the bet?¡± Yu Qing was slightly taken aback, then she responded with seriousness, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I shall respectfully comply.¡± ¡°` Yet in her heart, she was determined that even if she won, she would never make any excessive demands of Taoist Fang. After accompanying Fang Zhou for a while and seeing that no one else came, Yu Qing picked up the newspaper again and flipped to the back side. The back of the newspaper was a collection of humorous stories and serialized novels. Yu Qing had seen Bai Jie before and was very curious; now, undisturbed, she began to read from the beginning, soon becoming engrossed in it. ¡­ Chu Yunfei and Li Yunlong, carrying a hundred newspapers, returned to the courtyard where they lived. Li Yunlong threw the newspapers on the table and said to Chu Yunfei, ¡°Old Chu, what are you buying this stuff for? You can¡¯t eat it or wear it, are you planning to use it as toilet paper?¡± ¡°You always talk nonsense.¡± Chu Yunfei sat on the other side and picked up a kettle to pour herself a cup of water, ¡°I¡¯m helping the young master with his business, taking care of things for him, and incidentally leaving a good impression.¡± Li Yunlong laughed with a ¡®hei¡¯ sound: ¡°You might as well buy some wine and meat and invite him for a few drinks. Maybe something good will happen when he¡¯s drunk.¡± Chu Yunfei shook her head, smiling and crying at the same time; the young master¡¯s realm was certainly higher than theirs, there was no way he would get drunk. Li Yunlong casually picked up a newspaper, glanced through it, and wondered, ¡°What¡¯s all this written about?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chu Yunfei wasn¡¯t actually interested in these newspapers, so she hadn¡¯t looked at them from beginning to end. Hearing Li Yunlong say this, she picked up a newspaper and after seeing the headline, she exclaimed, ¡°Is there really such a thing?¡± Li Yunlong¡¯s heart itched with curiosity, and he quickly asked, ¡°What is it, hurry up and read it to me.¡± Chu Yunfei read aloud while she read, narrating the news to Li Yunlong. After the first piece of news, both were full of gossip, and Li Yunlong even slapped the table and laughed heartily, ¡°This Elder Gao from what¡¯s-its-name sect is really something, even daring to steal the Sect Master¡¯s wife. Old Li admires him.¡± Just then, a female disciple happened to walk in from outside and saw Li Yunlong laughing and asked, ¡°Li Yunlong, what¡¯s so funny?¡± ¡°Kong Jie, you¡¯ve come at the perfect time, Old Chu will tell you.¡± Chu Yunfei had to read the news again, and this explosive news shocked Kong Jie as well. So the three of them began to debate; just how stunning must the Sect Master¡¯s wife of that sect be to make both the Sect Master and Elder Gao tear their faces apart and pursue her for thousands of miles. Urged by Li Yunlong, Chu Yunfei started reading the second piece of news, and then the three started debating again about who could be the culprit behind the naked death of the nonagenarian on the street. More and more disciples heard the noise and came over to watch. Chu Yunfei had no choice but to act as a broadcaster. After reading the news, she flipped the newspaper to the back and began reading the story of ¡°Bai Jie.¡± Halfway through, with her mouth dry and body overheating, Chu Yunfei had to stop, realizing something was off. The entire room was filled with dozens of disciples, who had encircled Chu Yunfei in the middle, each of them breathing heavily and cheeks flushed. Seeing that Chu Yunfei had stopped, they urged her discontentedly. ¡°Continue, don¡¯t stop.¡± ¡°Just when it was getting good.¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Chu Yunfei got a fright from these wolf-like gazes, pointing to the stacks of papers on the table: ¡°Aren¡¯t there some here? Read them yourselves!¡± The disciples exchanged glances and immediately scrambled for the newspapers. ¡°` Chapter 131: 131. Wise men think alike. Chapter 131: 131. Wise men think alike. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yu Qing would read books not at a glance or hastily, but word by word, sentence by sentence, carefully appreciating and understanding the meanings. This novel called ¡®****¡¯, its prose is not very beautiful, and could even be considered somewhat crude, its word choice and sentence formation are quite peculiar, very different from what Yu Qing usually reads. If she weren¡¯t very curious about its content, she definitely wouldn¡¯t have continued reading. But as she read, Yu Qing quickly realized something was amiss, especially when the main plot unfolded, she was shocked, her eyes widened, her entire face turned red all of a sudden, like a boiled lobster. Poor Yu Qing, having grown up all this while, not to mention erotic literature, she hadn¡¯t even seen erotic paintings, and still had no idea what the propriety of Duke Zhou¡¯s rites entailed. She was a girl so pure that she couldn¡¯t be purer. Upon suddenly encountering such explosive content, she was naturally dumbfounded, even her mental state began to fluctuate intensely. Yu Qing, as if electrocuted, quickly threw the newspaper onto the table, and stammered to Fang Zhou: ¡°Taoist Fang, this, this, this can¡¯t be allowed, right?¡± Fang Zhou turned his head to look at her, puzzled, ¡°What can¡¯t be allowed?¡± Yu Qing pointed at the novel section in the newspaper, her face flushed as she said, ¡°How can such obscene articles blatantly appear in the newspapers?¡± Fang Zhou laughed heartily, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? The joys of men and women are the laws of nature and human relations, the natural way. Everyone comes into this world in this manner. If we despise such acts, wouldn¡¯t we be despising ourselves?¡± Although Yu Qing felt that Fang Zhou¡¯s words were not unreasonable, she still found it somewhat difficult to accept, thinking such matters should be secretly handled, not openly published in the newspaper for others to see. She hesitated, ¡°Taoist Fang, everything has its public and private aspects. Making such articles publicly accessible isn¡¯t very appropriate, is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡± Fang Zhou handed the newspaper back to her: ¡°Does the Heavenly Sword Sect explicitly forbid it? If so, then I¡¯ll put it away.¡± He didn¡¯t believe that the Heavenly Sword Sect would also be involved in censorship. If it was, then he would move his position and adopt guerrilla tactics. Indeed, when he asked this, the honest Yu Qing could only shake her head, ¡°No, there isn¡¯t.¡± She hesitantly took the newspaper, but did not open it again. Fang Zhou laughed, ¡°Actually, I published these for the benefit of the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Reading these can be beneficial for them.¡± Yu Qing curiously asked, ¡°I¡¯d like to hear the details.¡± She really wondered how such erotic articles could benefit the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect? Fang Zhou then told Yu Qing a story about a married couple who, because their families had passed away early, had no one to teach them the propriety of Duke Zhou¡¯s rites and hence had not consummated their marriage for many years, almost resulting in no descendants. Fortunately, the kind-hearted Old Wang next door, through personal guidance and demonstration, helped the couple understand what it was all about. Yu Qing was very engrossed in listening, and inwardly she was amazed, never expecting there to be such strange occurrences in the world. Luckily, Old Wang next door was there to help, and all ended well. After finishing the story, Fang Zhou spoke earnestly to Yu Qing, ¡°Young people like us are very lacking, even absent in sexual education, remaining in a state of complete ignorance. If we read more of such articles, understand more about these matters, future tragedies of marriages without consummation can be avoided. The vulgar see vulgarity; the wise see wisdom. While some may view this as obscene literature, others may learn hard-to-come-by knowledge from it. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± After hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s reasons, Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but admit, ¡°Taoist Fang makes a valid point.¡± Not to mention others, she herself, if not for seeing this article, wouldn¡¯t have known the details of Duke Zhou¡¯s rites, let alone other disciples who have always stayed on the mountain. But at the same time, Yu Qing also remembered another issue. Why was Taoist Fang so familiar with these private matters; could it be that he once had a partner? Upon thinking of this, Yu Qing¡¯s mood subtly felt a sense of loss, experiencing a profound regret like a good vegetable being snatched up by a pig. She couldn¡¯t help but admonish, ¡°Taoist Fang, for the sake of reputation, it¡¯s better to write less of such articles.¡± Even in the Cultivation World, if a man became famous for writing erotic literature, his reputation would definitely not be good, absolutely criticized as a libertine. Fang Zhou was surprised and said, ¡°Who told you I wrote it? Didn¡¯t you see the author¡¯s name at the end?¡± He would never admit that he was the author, for if a moral guardian were to see the novel and feel provoked, it could lead to trouble. Yu Qing, hearing Fang Zhou speak thus, hurriedly flipped open the newspaper and indeed found the author¡¯s name listed after the novel¡ªLao Shi Ji. Relieved to see it wasn¡¯t written by Fang Zhou, Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but exhale in relief and exclaimed, ¡°Who is this Lao Shi Ji?¡± Fang Zhou looked reverent, ¡°Lao Shi Ji is a great person who seeks neither fame nor profit, silently fighting on the forefront for the gentleman, never giving up despite countless setbacks, with a steadfast will and bravely moving forward.¡± Yu Qing was also filled with respect, ¡°Such a person, I regret not being able to meet.¡± Fang Zhou flashed a mysterious smile, ¡°There will always be a chance.¡± Just then, a Heavenly Sword Sect disciple hurried over, greeted Yu Qing first, then threw a silver onto the table, ¡°Give me fifty copies.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s spirit was lifted, knowing that the newspaper¡¯s content had finally caught the attention of these Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. He had thought that it wouldn¡¯t pick up until the evening. After counting and handing over fifty copies, soon a few more Heavenly Sword Sect disciples came running, not buying many at once, but purchasing them one by one. Yu Qing was astonished by this situation, but soon realized, setting aside the appropriateness of the content in the newspaper, she was deeply interested herself, and if other disciples knew about it, they definitely would not ignore it. Concerning the bet with Fang Zhou, Yu Qing suddenly felt uncertain. More and more Heavenly Sword Sect disciples ran over to buy the newspapers, grabbed them, and ran off, not staying for a moment, as though afraid of being seen, clearly showing what they were here for. Some braver disciples, not minding Yu Qing¡¯s presence, directly asked Fang Zhou if there was any ¡®****¡¯ content left? Seizing the opportunity to advertise, Fang Zhou announced that ¡®****¡¯ was a serial novella, which would appear over many issues, inviting the disciples to look forward to the second edition of Wangyue Daily, which would officially launch the day after tomorrow. They could only leave feeling unsatisfied, of course, each of them didn¡¯t forget to buy a copy to take with them. By the afternoon, only about three hundred newspapers were left on Fang Zhou¡¯s table. He had thought he wouldn¡¯t sell them all today, but then a well-off Heavenly Sword Sect disciple came and bought all the remaining over three hundred newspapers. It was unclear whether they were being given as gifts or if he intended to resell them. For Fang Zhou, it didn¡¯t matter; as long as the newspapers were being distributed, he believed that with the content presented, building a good reputation wouldn¡¯t be difficult. ¡°Really sold out.¡± Yu Qing exclaimed in surprise, these were a thousand newspapers, considering the number of disciples at Yujian Peak, it averaged about one newspaper per person. But considering the content, it was normal for the disciples to be interested, which was much more interesting than playing chess or painting. ¡°Taoist Fang, it appears I¡¯ve lost our bet.¡± Yu Qing conceded wholeheartedly, and curiously asked Fang Zhou, ¡°What would you like me to do?¡± Fang Zhou appraised Yu Qing up and down, her beautiful face, exquisite figure, and gentle jade-like demeanor. If he made some outrageous requests, he wondered if she would agree. Fang Zhou felt that if he made a request under the guise of academic research, there was a fifty percent chance Yu Qing might agree, and a fifty percent chance she would refuse and think him a despicable creature. The odds were fifty-fifty. The issue was, if Yu Qing agreed, who would really be at a loss? She would definitely feel she had gained something, and so would Fang Zhou, wouldn¡¯t that be a win-win? Chapter 132: 132. The smart IQ has taken the high ground. Chapter 132: 132. The smart IQ has taken the high ground. Yu Qing felt somewhat uneasy under Fang Zhou¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, which seemed slightly penetrative: ¡°Taoist Fang?¡± Fang Zhou gathered his scattered thoughts, coughed, and said, ¡°Sorry, I was distracted. Let¡¯s put this matter on hold for now. I haven¡¯t thought of what I need you to do yet. I¡¯ll tell you when I figure it out.¡± Yu Qing nodded: ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a note of it. Just don¡¯t forget, Taoist Fang.¡± She wasn¡¯t worried that Fang Zhou would make her do something embarrassing. The newspapers were all sold out, and Fang Zhou was ready to return. He left the tables and chairs where they were since he¡¯d need them again the day after tomorrow. Fang Zhou summoned the Xuanyuan Sword, hopped onto it, and waving goodbye to Yu Qing, he said, ¡°See you the day after tomorrow then. The second issue of the Wangyue Daily is earnestly in the making. Please look forward to it.¡± ¡°Safe travels, Taoist Fang.¡± Yu Qing also waved back at Fang Zhou with a smile, watching as he flew into the sea of clouds. Although she was curious about how Fang Zhou could produce so many newspapers on his own in such a short time, since Fang Zhou didn¡¯t bring it up, she did not ask. There were definitely Magic Treasures or secrets involved. The Cultivation World was full of all sorts of bizarre Magic Treasures that many cultivators might not spare a second glance, especially one capable of mass-producing newspapers. After Fang Zhou¡¯s figure disappeared, Yu Qing then turned and left Chaoyang Palace, still holding the copy of the newspaper Fang Zhou had given her. Reaching a secluded place, Yu Qing looked around to make sure no one was near. Only then did she stealthily flip to the novel section of the newspaper and continued reading from where she had left off. Compared to those news stories of unconfirmed truth, Yu Qing was more interested in the novel, as she could learn new knowledge from it. Indeed, she was reading it with the intent to learn, and learning is an upright and proper thing to do; it doesn¡¯t require sneaking around. However, the passionate and detailed descriptions in the novel still made Yu Qing feel an unusual surge of emotions, with a ticklish sensation in her heart as if a cat¡¯s paw was scratching at it. It took her some time to finish, and Yu Qing didn¡¯t realize her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with emotion. She silently practiced the sword-controlling heart formula to calm her emotions, then carefully folded the newspaper. Originally, she hadn¡¯t valued the paper much, but now she found it precious. Tucking the folded newspaper into her sleeve, Yu Qing finally let out a breath of relief, her anticipation for the second issue of the Wangyue Daily growing stronger. ¡­ Fang Zhou returned to Moon Viewing Peak, made himself something simple to eat, and his body absorbed Spiritual Energy within the bamboo house while his consciousness entered the gourd space. Upon entering the gourd space, Fang Zhou saw a surprising scene¡ªseven little gourds were all doing headstands. He exclaimed in shock, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Cheng Xing, while maintaining her balance, replied, ¡°We¡¯re letting intelligence take the high ground. I already feel my head filled with power.¡± The other gourds, however, were not as excited as Cheng Xing, each with a pained expression and faces red as beets. It was only Cheng Xing who was doing headstands at first, and the rest of the gourds didn¡¯t believe such a silly-looking method would be effective. But Cheng Xing kept saying it worked and claimed that her intelligence was rushing to her head. This curiosity made the other gourds give it a try and start to do headstands as well. After all, intelligence was always a sore point for the gourd children. To sustain a headstand for two full hours, the gourd children encouraged and cheered each other on until Fang Zhou arrived. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at the same time, saying to them, ¡°Come down, it¡¯s no use.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What?¡± Cheng Xing, too surprised, toppled over, causing the others to fall as well. Ignoring the dizziness from the blood rushing to her head, she staggered toward Fang Zhou, complaining, ¡°It was you who said this method would make us smarter¡ªare you deceiving us?¡± The other gourd children also glared at Fang Zhou angrily. Before Fang Zhou¡¯s return, they had already done numerous headstands, almost flattening their heads. Fang Zhou laughed out loud: ¡°I didn¡¯t deceive you, but you are all too foolish; this method is of no use to you.¡± The gourd children almost became enraged at Fang Zhou¡¯s blunt words about their stupidity. Although it seemed to be the truth, he shouldn¡¯t say it to their faces. Cheng Xing, in particular, was furious at being called foolish, which she hated the most. Subconsciously, she reached out, grabbed Fang Zhou¡¯s collar, and pulled him close, their faces almost touching. ¡°You¡¯re the foolish one, you¡¯re clearly lying!¡± Fang Zhou, silently experiencing the grandeur of Cheng Xing¡¯s chest, composedly said, ¡°Do you still remember how I put it?¡± ¡°Of course, I remember!¡± Cheng Xing hurriedly repeated Fang Zhou¡¯s words: ¡°Stand on your head for two hours a day, let the blood rush to the brain, increase oxygen levels, and you¡¯ll become smarter!¡± Fang Zhou shrugged: ¡°Yeah, and people will become smarter. But you are not people, you¡¯re monsters!¡± The atmosphere suddenly became quiet, and the gourd children¡¯s mouths were agape in astonishment. Cheng Xing stood there, dumbfounded. Fang Zhou stretched out his hand, pushing Cheng Xing back, ¡°So you see, I say you¡¯re foolish and you get upset. But this method is meant for humans, not for monsters like you; of course, it wouldn¡¯t work.¡± This time, the gourd children had no strength to argue against Fang Zhou¡¯s insult to their intelligence as they were indeed foolish, unable to distinguish between humans and monsters. Cheng Xing was still in a daze when Fang Zhou patted her chest, ¡°Wake up. If there¡¯s a chance in the future, I¡¯ll teach you a method that even monsters can use to become smarter.¡± Cheng Xing snapped back to reality, not noticing Fang Zhou¡¯s movement, and with wide, doubtful eyes, she asked, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve always been a man of my word. But first, you¡¯ll have to finish your tasks,¡± Fang Zhou said. He looked around the circle and asked, ¡°Did you make a few more sets of movable type printing tools as I asked?¡± The gourd children finally sprang into action and presented the completed sets of tools. Fang Zhou had already planned the content for the second issue of Wangyue Daily and was about to have Cheng Xing record it when he found himself surrounded by the gourds. They were like exemplary students, eagerly waiting for the teacher to start class. Chapter 133: 133. No one will sleep tonight. Chapter 133: 133. No one will sleep tonight. This night, the disciples from Yujian Peak were destined to have trouble sleeping. Countless people secretly lit a small candle, took out a newspaper, turned to the novel section, and began to read intently once more. While reading by lamplight at night, making some subtle movements, they were also unknown to others. In a courtyard, Chu Yunfei had just finished bathing, dressed in a thin undergarment as sheer as cicada wings, revealing her fair, jade-like skin, brought back the moist air to her room. She lit a candle, then pulled out a newspaper from under the table, and huddled into the bedding, reading by the candlelight. She had read the serialized book in the newspaper for the second time today, but she couldn¡¯t help wanting to read it a third time. As a rich second generation, Chu Yunfei obviously wasn¡¯t ignorant of such things. Although she maintained her purity for cultivation, she had collected quite a number of lewd novels and erotic drawings, and could discuss them proficiently. She thought she had become immune to such things, and could look at them with a normal heart, but after reading it today, her worldview was drastically reshaped. So novels can be written like this!! Chu Yunfei found the book to be astonishingly brilliant, for her, it was definitely a novel that shocked her profoundly, making all her previous collections of novels and drawings seem like trash. She had never seen a novel like this that could strike directly at one¡¯s heart, poking fiercely at the softest places inside her, a truly exceptional masterpiece. I, Chu Yunfei, would call this text the strongest in the world of erotic literature. She had hastily read it twice during the day and also felt uneasy with others around. Tonight, Chu Yunfei planned to read it from start to finish ten more times, memorizing every single word. Just as she began reading, suddenly someone knocked at the room door. Chu Yunfei knew without guessing who it was, she directly called out, ¡°The door isn¡¯t locked, come in.¡± The room door was immediately pushed open, and Li Yunlong, wearing only light clothes, entered with a newspaper in her hand. After entering, she promptly locked the door behind her and rushed to the bed in a few steps, diving into the bedding with Chu Yunfei. Li Yunlong was still damp from her bath, showing an expression of helplessness, Chu Yunfei said: ¡°Sister Yunlong, aren¡¯t you going back to your room to sleep?¡± Li Yunlong lay on Chu Yunfei¡¯s back, resting her chin on her shoulder, and chuckled: ¡°Old Chu, sister Yunfei, heh, I really can¡¯t sleep, read it to me again, you know, I get sleepy listening to others read, maybe I¡¯ll fall asleep in no time.¡± Chu Yunfei didn¡¯t believe that Li Yunlong had come only for that reason; surely she was just like herself, rendered restless by the book and wanting to hear it a few more times. She felt embarrassed to send her sister away, so she just picked up the newspaper and started to read from the beginning. As she read, the temperature between the sisters began to rise, making the bedding as hot as a furnace. Chu Yunfei continued reading, but suddenly her expression stiffened and she said to Li Yunlong: ¡°Sister, stop fooling around.¡± Her delicate voice sounded less like dissatisfaction and more like coquetry. Li Yunlong chuckled, ¡°Keep reading, don¡¯t stop.¡± While speaking, she took a deep breath and blew hard at the table in the center of the room, extinguishing the candle on it. The room immediately plunged into darkness, with only the intermittent sound of Chu Yunfei reading the novel. This night, many disciples from Yujian Peak were destined to have trouble sleeping. The next day, in front of Chaoyang Palace during morning practice, half as many disciples showed up as usual, and those who did appeared listless. At the cafeteria providing three meals a day, it was said that the head chef lost his temper in the morning because the kitchen was robbed last night, and all the fruits and vegetables like cucumbers and eggplants prepared for breakfast were stolen. By the next day, the popularity of the Wangyue Daily did not decrease but increased even more. The disciples either discussed it secretly or exchanged complicit glances, showing a cheeky grin. Everything was conveyed without words. Disciples from the other two sect branches visited daily, and Wangyue Daily unsurprisingly circulated among the other two branches, similarly sparking widespread discussion and enthusiasm. No matter if it is sensational news, fun joke compilations, or novel novelties, all greatly interested the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect. Their life in the mountains, although carefree and comfortable, was dull and monotonous, like stagnant water. Yet Fang Zhou¡¯s Wangyue Daily was like throwing a stone into this calm stagnant water, stirring ripples one after another. After the fall of the three veins, Wangyue Daily finally spread to Heavenly Sword Peak within a single day. As a Law Enforcement Elder and a cultivator of the Innate Realm, Yan Gulan also had her own small dojo in Heavenly Sword Peak. Though far from comparing to the three true sages, it was still a place sizable and filled with abundant Spiritual Energy. Yan Gulan was cultivating in the dojo when suddenly, a maiden under her served reported that a subordinate from the Law Enforcement Department requested an audience. Yan Gulan allowed the maiden to let the visitor in. The one who walked in was none other than Wang Xiuzhu. Wang Xiuzhu was extremely respectful, not daring to look around carelessly, and upon seeing Yan Gulan, he immediately knelt and kowtowed: ¡°Xiuzhu pays his respects to the Elder, may the Elder be well.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If other disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect saw this, they would be utterly astounded. Although Heavenly Sword Sect maintained a strict hierarchy, after all, belonging to the same sect and lineage, ordinary disciples didn¡¯t even need to kowtow when meeting elders, let alone when meeting the Sect Master. But Wang Xiuzhu was different. Having climbed up to the position of a Deacon as a man, it wasn¡¯t through realm strength, but rather by clinging to the coattails of Yan Gulan. Among the hundreds of Deacons in Heavenly Sword Sect, only a handful were men, which shows how difficult it is for men to rise to leadership positions. Hence, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s extreme submissiveness and obsequiousness to Yan Gulan, kowtowing without any ambiguity. Of course, if Wang Xiuzhu possessed the kind of talent and strength shown by Fang Zhou (mistakenly), not only the Deacon position would be within reach, becoming a Sect Master in the future wouldn¡¯t be a problem either. Unfortunately, he had many such dreams, yet the realization of those remained unseen. ¡°Get up.¡± Yan Gulan still kept her eyes shut: ¡°You should be recuperating; what business brings you to see me?¡± Wang Xiuzhu then clambered up from the ground and upon hearing Yan Gulan mention recuperation, his eyes suddenly filled with resentment. After leaving Moon Viewing Peak, he finally realized that it wasn¡¯t his junior brother, Li Yinghao, who had harmed him, but rather a young miscreant from Moon Viewing Peak behind the scenes. Although supported by Yan Gulan, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s position as a Deacon was still very stable. However, the tale of his rear being stabbed twice had already spread throughout the entire Law Enforcement Department. Now, whenever his colleagues see him, they would inquire about his injuries, making him wish he could burrow into a hole. Although these people didn¡¯t mock him to his face, they definitely must be secretly gossiping behind his back. The more he felt humiliated, the more Wang Xiuzhu hated Fang Zhou for causing all of this. He couldn¡¯t even bother to recuperate properly, as he secretly went to monitor every move of Fang Zhou, trying to find his weakness. Hearing Yan Gulan¡¯s question, Wang Xiuzhu hurriedly produced a newspaper he had purchased at a high price: ¡°That lad from Moon Viewing Peak was selling this so-called newspaper yesterday at Yujian Peak, filling it with nonsensical and misleading words, I hope the Elder will discern the truth.¡± The maiden took the newspaper and handed it to Yan Gulan. Yan Gulan finally opened her eyes, took the newspaper, and immediately frowned: ¡°Xuanji Sect has had good relations with our Heavenly Sword Sect for generations, and their Sect Master, the Tranquil Hermit, is greatly respected. It¡¯s absurd to claim that he would pursue assassinating an elder due to a minor incident, it¡¯s utterly preposterous.¡± She casually tossed the newspaper aside and told Wang Xiuzhu: ¡°Xiuzhu, take good care of your injuries. In a month¡¯s time, the Law Enforcement Department will dismantle Moon Viewing Peak. That lad will also be expelled from Cloud Sea Mountains, and I will avenge you.¡± Seeing Yan Gulan taking such a stance, Wang Xiuzhu dared not say much more. Glancing at the newspaper on the ground, and not daring to pick it up, he could only rise and take his leave. After Wang Xiuzhu left, Yan Gulan picked up the newspaper from the ground again, flipping to the news page, frowning in thought. Seems like Yu Yang the Hermit is surnamed Gao. Could she have really stolen the junior husband of the Tranquil Hermit? In Yan Gulan¡¯s typically undisturbed state of mind, a spark called gossip couldn¡¯t help but flicker. ¡­ Inside the gourd space, Fang Zhou was unaware of all the troubles caused outside due to the dissemination of the Wangyue Daily. He was preoccupied with the gourd boys, starting to produce the second issue of the newspaper. Chapter 134: 134. Cheng Xings Joke Chapter 134: 134. Cheng Xing¡¯s Joke The content for the second issue cannot blatantly target the Xuanji Sect anymore; otherwise, readers will definitely think Fang Zhou is deliberately going after the Xuanji Sect. That wouldn¡¯t be good. So this time, Fang Zhou had Erwa write down the headline for today¡¯s headline as ¨C ¡°Shocking! An elder named He of a major sect in the Yun Mountain Region was seen streaking through the sect grounds with just underwear on his head. Is this the twist of human nature or the downfall of morality?¡± The informant remains the same as before, the anonymous Mrs. Li Ruyu, who was punished to guard the gate after revealing the private matters between Elder Gao and the sect master last time. She witnessed Elder He¡¯s performance when she got up in the middle of the night to use the toilet. Mrs. Li Ruyu could also tell from Elder He¡¯s physique and the color of grapes that his private life was very colorful. Listening to Fang Zhou¡¯s narration, the Gourd Babies were all thrilled with the excitement of uncovering secrets. As the saying goes, the first time leads to countless others. The first time they heard such private matters, they were very worried, afraid of offending people by writing about it. By the second time, such concerns lessened significantly. Instead, the flames of gossip burned brightly. They never expected the internal workings of these major sects of the cultivators to be so dirty and filthy. It seems us monsters have seen very little of the world. After narrating the news, Fang Zhou started telling jokes. With the experience from last time, the Gourd Babies were all mentally prepared this time. And once again, they laughed like crazy. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t mind them. He finished telling the joke in one breath and then said to the breathlessly laughing Cheng Xing, ¡°If you have any jokes you¡¯ve heard before, feel free to share them. If they¡¯re funny, we can put them in the newspaper.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cheng Xing¡¯s eyes lit up. She coughed twice into her hand and seriously said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell a very, very funny joke. Don¡¯t laugh so hard you get a stomachache after hearing it.¡± Fang Zhou nodded expressionlessly, gesturing for her to go ahead. Cheng Xing took a deep breath and recited what she thought was the funniest joke: ¡°Once there was a woman who lost her husband. During the funeral, she found pleasure with a monk and a Taoist priest, resulting in pregnancy and childbirth. Both the monk and the priest claimed the child was theirs, and this debate went on for a long time. When the child grew up, someone asked him, ¡®Who is your father?¡¯ The child replied, ¡®I was fathered by the monk.¡¯ The Taoist priest angrily asked, ¡®How can you prove that?¡¯ The child answered, ¡®When I was in my mother¡¯s womb, I only saw the monk, I never saw you, the priest.''¡± Just as she finished speaking, Cheng Xing and the other Gourd Babies burst into laughter, even to the point of tears. Although she had told this joke many times, every time it was this funny. Fang Zhou looked at her without any expression. As the laughter eased, Cheng Xing¡¯s smile gradually faded: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it funny?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The joke was indeed not bad. He didn¡¯t expect Erwa to be such an old hand at these kinds of jokes, no wonder she caught on so quickly with the previous innuendo jokes. But Fang Zhou had been baptized by countless silly netizens¡¯ jokes and memes in his past life, so his humor threshold was as high as Mount Everest. This joke didn¡¯t even come close to tickling his funny bone. After hearing it, he only had two words in mind. This is it? Seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s lack of interest, Cheng Xing gave an ¡°oh¡± and showed a distinctly disappointed expression. She didn¡¯t expect that her treasured joke couldn¡¯t make Fang Zhou laugh, filling her heart with a sense of defeat. Looking at her disappointed face, Fang Zhou suddenly said, ¡°Let¡¯s print it in the newspaper.¡± Cheng Xing was taken aback, then she showed a delighted expression: ¡°Really?¡± Fang Zhou nodded: ¡°It might be okay for me, but others will definitely find it funny.¡± ¡°Yay, that¡¯s great!¡± Cheng Xing jumped up in excitement, even throwing her arms around Fang Zhou in a hug, then turned to cheer with her sisters. As a monster, Cheng Xing¡¯s hope was to write her own book. Although this goal seemed unrealistic, having her work published in the newspaper was still something to be happy about. The other Gourd Babies were happy for Cheng Xing too, gathering around and laughing and chattering. Even though these seven Gourd Babies were very powerful, their temperament and intelligence were like children who hadn¡¯t fully matured. Just a little gain could bring out their heartfelt smiles. Watching them from the side, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but sigh. So big. Publishing Cheng Xing¡¯s joke wasn¡¯t just to gain her favor, though that was part of it. Considering the rarity of such childish appearances, it wasn¡¯t noticeable at all from her outward look. This paper needed to run for at least a month. If things went well, it might even take root in the Heavenly Sword Sect later. Based on normal time, Fang Zhou alone couldn¡¯t produce that much quality content. Writing novels was easier, a few real battles would do, but news and jokes needed a constant sense of freshness. Even if it¡¯s made up, you need a knowledge base, or you won¡¯t be able to come up with anything. This was also why he published an issue every two days to begin with. To avoid being drained dry, Fang Zhou had to use collective wisdom and absorb jokes from Cheng Xing as a first step, followed by initiating a paid writing contest. This not only enhanced reader engagement with Wangyue Daily but also leveraged the collective creativity. After the jokes were finished, Fang Zhou was going to update ¡®****¡¯. Except for Xiao Qi and Xiao Liu who weren¡¯t very interested, the remaining five Gourd Babies were all seated upright with serious expressions. If someone who didn¡¯t know saw this scene, they would think they were listening to some profound academic lecture. When Fang Zhou finished narrating a few chapters of ¡®****¡¯, the Gourd Babies all showed expressions of wanting more. But Fang Zhou didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he opened a new plot line, making the Gourd Babies more expectant than surprised. A single novel couldn¡¯t satisfy their curiosity. The new novel was called ¡®Gatekeeper Aunt Qin¡¯. Serializing a second novel wasn¡¯t because Fang Zhou loved creating multiple plots but considered ¡®****¡¯ might not be to everyone¡¯s liking, so serializing ¡®Gatekeeper Aunt Qin¡¯ would cater to a broader audience. Moreover, ¡®Gatekeeper Aunt Qin¡¯ wasn¡¯t a medium-length, but a short story, which could be completed in a few issues, preventing long-term occupation of the pages and avoiding reader fatigue. From now on, Fang Zhou decided to follow this format: simultaneously updating a medium-length and short story. The medium-length could cultivate reader habits, while the short story would add freshness. After he finished ¡®Gatekeeper Aunt Qin¡¯, he sensed the air becoming moist with a very noticeable sweet fragrance. Fang Zhou¡¯s nose had been blessed by Ling Xiaoyue, and this scent couldn¡¯t escape him. All five Gourd Babies had flushed cheeks and heavy breaths. He had no idea whose scent it was or maybe it was a mix from all of them. After finishing all the content narratives, Fang Zhou added a call for writing submissions and then, along with Cheng Xing, proceeded to format and layout these contents. Using the multiple sets of movable type printing tools the Gourd Babies had created, their efficiency greatly improved. This time, printing two thousand copies took only one-third of the time it did last time. After completing the production of the second issue, Fang Zhou continued to gather the group with promises of month-end bonuses, year-end bonuses, paid vacations, etc., and then left the gourd space. As soon as Fang Zhou left, the Gourd Babies immediately gathered, sending Xiao Qi and Xiao Liu off to the side, and the five sisters took out the second issue of the newspaper. With Cheng Xing¡¯s bright reading voice, their study session began again. Chapter 135: 135. This is the power of knowledge. Chapter 135: 135. This is the power of knowledge. On the third day, Fang Zhou brought two thousand newspapers to Yujian Peak. This time, there was no need for Yu Qing to vouch for him. The gatekeeping disciple was very polite and welcomed Fang Zhou in, buying a newspaper for a hundred coins in the process. Watching the disciple eagerly open the newspaper to the novel section, Fang Zhou smiled with satisfaction. This is the power of knowledge, it can make people willing to spend money to learn. On the surface, it seemed like Fang Zhou was merely sensationalizing news and writing risqu¨¦ stories, but fundamentally, he was guiding the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect to learn, nurturing their reading habits. Knowledge leads to greater civility. If all the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples were avid readers, eloquent in speech, then the Heavenly Sword Sect would be the intellectual and progressive representative of the Cultivation World. If the higher-ups of the Heavenly Sword Sect knew of Fang Zhou¡¯s painstaking efforts, they would definitely award him a ton-heavy medal. With a pleased smile, Fang Zhou arrived in front of Chaoyang Palace. Here, hundreds of disciples were already cultivating, significantly more than three days ago, undoubtedly drawn here by Fang Zhou. Who would have thought that Fang Zhou¡¯s newspapers could even increase the disciples¡¯ enthusiasm for cultivation, a multiple benefit with a single effort. Luckily, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t come yesterday, or he would have only seen a bunch of disciples staying up all night cultivating. He chose to come on the third day, and these disciples, refreshed and energetic, arrived early in front of Chaoyang Palace to cultivate. While waiting for Fang Zhou¡¯s arrival, they had been waiting for more than two hours, growing restless and impatient. As Fang Zhou appeared, he immediately felt hundreds of eager eyes focusing on him, as if they were about to devour him whole. This startled Fang Zhou. Since the time he was nearly overpowered by Li Ruyu when he was defenseless, Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t been stared at so intensely. He didn¡¯t expect to experience it again. However, he soon realized that these gazes weren¡¯t on him but on the newspapers he carried. Clearly, the newspapers¡¯ impact was much better than Fang Zhou had anticipated. It took only two days to cultivate the reading habits of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. Of course, to be honest, the risqu¨¦ stories had probably played a major role. Under the heated gazes, Fang Zhou slowly walked to the table, set down the newspapers neatly, and then sat on a chair with his legs crossed. Since the customary cultivation time wasn¡¯t over yet, the disciples did not come forward to buy. Nonetheless, their attention was fully drawn, making it impossible for them to concentrate on cultivation. Soon after Fang Zhou sat down, he saw Yu Qing fly over on a Spirit Sword, likely having been informed by someone. ¡°Taoist Fang.¡± Yu Qing gave Fang Zhou a gentle smile, her warm and peaceful aura felt like a comforting spring breeze. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but wonder if marrying Yu Qing would mean being in a state of perpetual spring due to her continuous influence. While his mind wandered, Fang Zhou picked up a newspaper and handed it to Yu Qing: ¡°This is your copy.¡± Giving Yu Qing a free newspaper with each issue, Fang Zhou hoped to cultivate her reading habit as well and possibly engage in future discussions. ¡°Thank you!¡± Yu Qing accepted the newspaper and immediately started reading. Upon seeing the headline of the day, even though she was mentally prepared, she still couldn¡¯t help but gasp, becoming another contributor to the global warming cause. With the context from the previous issue, Yu Qing didn¡¯t question the authenticity of the news anymore, though the headline ¡°A Major Sect in the Yun Mountain Region¡± still made her expression strange. Besides the Xuanji Sect, which other major sect was in the Yun Mountain Region? But this time, at least, it didn¡¯t name names. While Yu Qing was earnestly reading, the disciples finished their cultivation session and, ignoring Yu Qing¡¯s presence, rushed to buy the newspapers. ¡°Young Master!¡± Chu Yunfei squeezed through the crowd, drawing discontent from the other disciples, though they expressed it only through their eyes. Yu Qing¡¯s presence prevented any disorder or loud noise. ¡°Young Master, give me two hundred copies!¡± Chu Yunfei, generous as she was, ordered twice as many papers as before. Neatly, Fang Zhou counted out two hundred copies and handed them to her, saying, ¡°No need to spend so much. I can sell them all.¡± Chu Yunfei laughed heartily as she took the newspapers: ¡°To be honest with you, Young Master, both Senior Sister Yunlong and I love these newspapers. But buying so many is also for our fellow sisters.¡± Originally, she only wanted to support Fang Zhou¡¯s business and make a good impression, but the content of the newspapers turned out to be very interesting, especially the serialized novels, which fascinated her deeply. Moreover, many disciples liked the newspapers, and Chu Yunfei was happy to buy them as favors. She and Li Yunlong were newcomers and needed to build good relationships with those around them. The newspapers had a threefold benefit. Only a fool wouldn¡¯t buy them. If not for the fear of displeasing Fang Zhou by buying too many, Chu Yunfei would have bought them all. Due to the overwhelming number of buyers, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t chat much with Chu Yunfei. Fortunately, she understood and left promptly after getting her papers. Soon, hundreds of disciples bought their newspapers, but many more were still rushing in. The disciple who had bought the remaining newspapers the day before returned, asking for a thousand copies. Fang Zhou immediately realized this person was a reseller. He didn¡¯t rush to give them, instead asking: ¡°How should I address you?¡± The disciple replied with a shy smile: ¡°I am Lu Qiuling.¡± Lu Qiuling was a beauty, and of course, being admitted to the Heavenly Sword Sect indicated good looks. Among the beautiful, Lu Qiuling was top-tier, with a bit of baby fat and an innocent smile. Dressed conservatively, it was clear she had great curves, Fang Zhou¡¯s type. He smiled and asked: ¡°You¡¯re selling these, aren¡¯t you?¡± Despite being caught, Lu Qiuling didn¡¯t panic, smiling: ¡°Many of our peers don¡¯t have the time, so they asked me to help buy them.¡± Well, that¡¯s a good excuse. Fang Zhou patted the newspapers and said: ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re selling them or buying on someone¡¯s behalf, or how much you sell them for. I¡¯ll give you a thousand copies now, and more next time, but with one condition: you must sell them at Xuanjian Peak, Lei Jian Peak, or Heavenly Sword Peak. Agree to this, and I¡¯ll give you the papers.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Qiuling quickly understood Fang Zhou¡¯s intent. Though she couldn¡¯t name it exactly, she knew he wanted to expand the market. She immediately agreed. Selling here or there made no difference. Forming a stable, long-term partnership with Fang Zhou was a surefire win. Fang Zhou promptly handed her a thousand copies. Thus, Lu Qiuling became Fang Zhou¡¯s first distributor. Their mutual goal was to develop the newspaper market in the entire Heavenly Sword Sect and sell papers to every corner of the Cloud Sea Mountains. Fang Zhou¡¯s ultimate aim was: even the Sect Master had to read the newspaper in the toilet. Chapter 136: 136. The old driver is truly a masterful person. Chapter 136: 136. The old driver is truly a masterful person. After finishing the latest chapter of ¡®****¡¯ and the newest short story ¡°The Doorkeeper Auntie Qin¡±, Yu Qing¡¯s cheeks were flushed as she closed the newspaper, her breath slightly unsteady. Originally, she thought ¡®****¡¯ was already astonishing enough, but she didn¡¯t expect ¡°The Doorkeeper Auntie Qin¡± to stimulate her even more intensely. Yu Qing suddenly felt that tonight might be another sleepless night. After reading the newspaper, Yu Qing noticed that Fang Zhou¡¯s newspapers had already sold out. On the first day of sales two days ago, he had to spend more than half a day selling them. Today, they sold out in less than two hours. Indeed, gold will shine eventually; the love for learning is a fundamental human nature. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although Yu Qing admired the content of the newspaper deeply, as a True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, she felt it necessary to say something. ¡°Taoist Fang, the serialized novels in this newspaper are really too stimulating. I¡¯m afraid the younger disciples won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± Fang Zhou looked at her curiously, ¡°Why can¡¯t they handle it?¡± Yu Qing could only tell him how the disciples were lethargic the day after reading the newspaper, staying up late and even sneaking into the kitchen to steal cucumbers and eggplants to satisfy their cravings. Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but laugh; this Yu Qing, who usually seemed so shrewd when poaching talent from him, suddenly appeared so naive in such matters. Though those disciples seemed obedient in front of Yu Qing, in private, they were likely to speak far more crudely, and in terms of positions, they could outshine Yu Qing any day. Ultimately, it was probably because Yu Qing had spent too many years on the mountain, seeing too little of the world. With a mischievous glint, Fang Zhou asked her, ¡°Why do you think those disciples are stealing cucumbers and eggplants?¡± Yu Qing looked puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t they for eating?¡± Staying up late harms the body; getting thirsty and sneaking two cucumbers or eggplants to eat seemed perfectly normal. Fang Zhou beckoned her over with a finger, ¡°Come closer, and I¡¯ll tell you what they are really using the cucumbers and eggplants for.¡± Yu Qing hesitated for a moment, slightly uneasy as she leaned her ear toward him. Fang Zhou moved closer and whispered the alternative use of cucumbers and eggplants into her ear. His warm breath brushed against Yu Qing¡¯s ear, causing her ear to instinctively twitch, and her earlobe quickly turned a rosy pink. Her body stiffened as a ticklish, warm sensation spread from her heart. But Yu Qing soon forgot about all that, as she listened to Fang Zhou¡¯s revelation, her expression changing as rapidly as a Sichuan opera mask, from bewilderment to shock, and finally to disbelief. Her face abruptly turned redder than a monkey¡¯s butt. Yu Qing stared at Fang Zhou in disbelief, feeling as if her entire worldview had been shattered. Suddenly, she remembered the pickled cucumber she had eaten earlier that morning and felt a strong wave of nausea, almost gagging as she coughed repeatedly. Fang Zhou sympathetically patted her shoulder. The poor child, grown up without even knowing the joys of self-pleasure, missing out on one of life¡¯s great enjoyments. ¡°As for the harm of staying up late, it might feel that way at first, but you¡¯ll get used to it over time.¡± As he spoke, Fang Zhou gently patted Yu Qing¡¯s back, helping her catch her breath, ¡°Besides, these two stories might seem like they¡¯re about men and women on the surface, but if you read carefully, you¡¯ll realize ¡®****¡¯ is about the injustices and discrimination men face in the workplace, and the tragedies stemming from familial conflicts. ¡®The Doorkeeper Auntie Qin¡¯ is about the life of a lonely elderly woman, and the author calls for us to care about the physical and mental health of the elderly. Lao Shiji is a great writer; he uses the affairs of men and women to satirize reality. We need to look beyond the surface to see the essence.¡± Yu Qing looked surprised, ¡°Is that really the case?¡± Thinking back carefully, she realized Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t wrong, ¡®****¡¯ was indeed a workplace story, and ¡®The Doorkeeper Auntie Qin¡¯ was about the life of an elderly person. She couldn¡¯t help but express her admiration. Lao Shiji, what a divine person! Fang Zhou reminded her, ¡°If you think these stories are too stimulating, you could write your own. Look, the newspaper even has a writing competition.¡± Yu Qing quickly flipped open the newspaper and indeed found a paid writing competition. The competition was open to all readers of the Wangyue Daily. Readers could submit novels, jokes, and news articles, and if accepted, they would receive cash rewards and souvenirs. Believing that many readers had already seen the competition, she noticed quite a few had already begun to eagerly try their hand at it. Yu Qing hesitated, ¡°Can I also participate?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Fang Zhou firmly grasped Yu Qing¡¯s shoulders and encouraged her with genuine sincerity, ¡°In my opinion, you are the most cultured person in the entire Heavenly Sword Sect. If you can¡¯t, who can? You can use this newspaper to express and spread your ideas, finding like-minded partners.¡± Embarrassed by such straightforward praise, Yu Qing¡¯s cheeks flushed, feeling a bit shy. Fang Zhou¡¯s words also piqued her interest. She always felt isolated on Heavenly Sword Peak, with no one to understand her frustrations. If she could really find like-minded people through the newspaper, that would be wonderful. However, such an action was still something Yu Qing considered cautiously. ¡°Taoist Fang, please allow me some time to think about it.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± With a grand gesture, Fang Zhou dismissed her concern. For a literary girl like Yu Qing, publishing in the newspaper was an irresistible temptation. Her talk of consideration was just a formality. Once she experienced the thrill of seeing her work in print, she would increasingly crave it, even begging for it, abandoning her reservations. Just to clarify, there are no inappropriate implications here, so please don¡¯t think like that. Yu Qing left with the newspaper Fang Zhou gave her, deeply absorbed in thought. Fang Zhou also gathered his things and headed home, preparing to produce the third issue of the newspaper. ¡­¡­ Wangyue Daily was spreading through the Heavenly Sword Sect at a speed as swift as thunder. It is challenging for a new thing to be accepted, but if it has some tantalizing content, the difficulty of spreading it significantly decreases. Simply put, salacious content is what people crave the most, especially in a Cultivation Sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect. If it was among the common folk, the spread of the newspaper would actually be slower, as the hardworking masses aren¡¯t idle every day; they need to work and care about basic necessities, and many are illiterate, so they wouldn¡¯t care about what the newspaper is. In contrast, in a Cultivation Sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect, disciples¡¯ lives outside of daily cultivation are dull and empty. With abundant energy and little to occupy them, nearly everyone is literate. Once people learn to read, they tend to overthink. Overthinking without an outlet can lead to restlessness. That¡¯s when Wangyue Daily appeared, fulfilling their restless hearts, killing time, and adding a bit of blush-inducing content while providing updates on external events. It¡¯s simply a multi-faceted delight, and at one hundred coins per copy, it¡¯s economical. Given its cost-effectiveness, it¡¯s no surprise it spread quickly and became popular. As they say, business is about meeting the customer¡¯s needs. Wangyue Daily not only met the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples¡¯ needs but also struck their G-spot intensely. So, in just three days, Wangyue Daily did not reach every corner of the Heavenly Sword Sect but certainly covered at least half of the area, with most disciples having heard of it to some extent. Especially on Yujian Peak, where almost everyone had a copy. Chapter 137: 137. Wangyue Daily, you deserve to have Chapter 137: 137. Wangyue Daily, you deserve to have When Fang Zhou arrived at Yujian Peak with three thousand copies of the third issue of Wangyue Daily, he was immediately surrounded. Hundreds of disciples from the Heavenly Sword Sect were waiting in front of Chaoyang Palace, with some even standing right at the gate. They had been there since early morning, eagerly waiting, waiting anxiously, straining their eyes, just to buy that love-hate newspaper as soon as possible. Love, because of the interesting and rich content that allowed people to immerse themselves in the ocean of knowledge. Hate, because it was too captivating, making people neglect their cultivation and sleep, lost every night in self-stimulation and self-fulfillment, unable to extricate themselves. As soon as Fang Zhou appeared, he was immediately surrounded, with disciples waving silver at him, each looking like a wolf or tiger, ignoring any sense of order. As for the morning cultivation class, what¡¯s that? What¡¯s it like when hundreds of young and beautiful girls rush at you with heated gazes? Fang Zhou only felt his scalp tingle, almost about to run away. Had he run a bit slower, he feared he would end up losing both his money and his life, collapsing from exhaustion. Luckily, Yu Qing arrived in time, using her authority as a True Disciple to get these disciples to line up obediently. Gratefully, Fang Zhou handed her a newspaper, no words were needed, he knew this was what Yu Qing needed most right now. Yu Qing gave Fang Zhou a gentle smile, but her hands moved swiftly, quickly taking the newspaper. Opening it, she immediately saw today¡¯s headline¡ª¡±The entire cultivation world is abuzz, a certain major sect was caught doing this in secret, it¡¯s utterly disgraceful, if you don¡¯t share this, you¡¯re not a true cultivator!¡± This shocking headline instantly caught Yu Qing¡¯s attention. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luckily, this time, it wasn¡¯t about Xuanjian Sect or some well-known major sect in the Yun Mountain Region, just short of naming names outright. Yu Qing subconsciously glanced at the disclaimer, which stated that the whistleblower was still Ms. Li Ruyu, who preferred to remain anonymous, and this time, the sect being exposed was the one Ms. Li Ruyu belonged to, without specifying which. Yu Qing: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, any reader of the first two issues knows which sect you, Li Ruyu, belong to! Yu Qing continued reading and discovered that after Ms. Li Ruyu exposed the affair between Elder Gao and the Sect Master last time, she was demoted to gatekeeping duty. As a result, she witnessed Elder He running naked with a pair of pants on his head in the middle of the night and was punished to clean up the back mountain. While cleaning, Li Ruyu accidentally entered the restricted area of the sect and discovered that the sect was imprisoning male disciples who made mistakes, providing entertainment for the sect¡¯s high-ranking officials. Li Ruyu initially didn¡¯t want to expose such scandals due to fear of sect retaliation, but her conscience was tormented by a sense of justice, and she ultimately chose to summon the courage to publicize the matter. Although Yu Qing doubted the news¡¯s authenticity, she was still deeply shocked and outraged upon reading it. She also admired Ms. Li Ruyu¡¯s courage and conscience. While Yu Qing was entirely engrossed in the news, Fang Zhou¡¯s newspapers were rapidly decreasing at a visible rate. With so many people buying, the line stretched long, making Fang Zhou feel a bit overwhelmed and considering whether he should find a helper next time. Chu Yunfei routinely asked Fang Zhou for two hundred newspapers. Fang Zhou asked why he hadn¡¯t seen Li Yunlong. She replied that Li Yunlong was sleeping in late, but a faint blush crossed her face as she said it. Fang Zhou suddenly thought of the idiom ¡°burning the midnight oil.¡± Oh my, could you two really be doing it? Although the thought of endless romance between girls is nice, given the customs of this world, aren¡¯t you engaging in some Sisterly love? After sending Chu Yunfei off, Fang Zhou met with Wangyue Daily¡¯s first distributor, Lu Qiuling. The second issue¡¯s one thousand papers had all been sold out by Lu Qiuling. As per Fang Zhou¡¯s instructions, she had not sold them at Yujian Peak but at Xuanjian Peak, Thunder Sword Peak, and Heavenly Sword Peak. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t know how much Lu Qiuling had priced each paper, but from her radiant face, it was clear she had made quite a profit. However, Lu Qiuling still complained to Fang Zhou, emphasizing her hard work and effort, hoping Fang Zhou would give her a discount. Fang Zhou directly interrupted her, ¡°If it¡¯s that tough, I¡¯ll just find another partner.¡± Lu Qiuling immediately changed her expression to one of flattery, using a sweet voice to say, ¡°Brother, young master, it¡¯s not hard at all, please continue to exploit me.¡± Fang Zhou instantly got goosebumps. This woman really had a thick skin, being able to say such mushy words. ¡°Tell me, how¡¯s sales in other places?¡± When she got to business, Lu Qiuling immediately became serious and reported to Fang Zhou that sales at Xuanjian Peak and Thunder Sword Peak were great, and disciples accepted the papers well. But sales at Heavenly Sword Peak were poor; the disciples there weren¡¯t very interested. Fang Zhou easily guessed the reason; disciples of the three branches did little besides cultivating, so they had lots of free time. But Heavenly Sword Peak¡¯s disciples were different. Besides cultivating, they had many tasks and duties, leaving them little free time, thus a lower desire for leisure activities. Fortunately, Fang Zhou had anticipated such a situation and took out a paper, handing it to Lu Qiuling. Lu Qiuling took it curiously and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Fang Zhou smiled, ¡°This is your way to open the market, you can copy it and post it all around Heavenly Sword Peak.¡± Such a small ad posting would likely not be explicitly banned by the Heavenly Sword Sect. Lu Qiuling looked down and saw the following words: What is the trendiest thing in the Heavenly Sword Sect right now?! Mysterious cultivation techniques? Rare Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures? Wrong! Absolutely wrong! The hottest trend in the Heavenly Sword Sect is the exclusive daily from Moon Viewing Peak¡ªthe Wangyue Daily. If you haven¡¯t heard of this newspaper, then you are out of touch, you are ignorant. As the paper says, you are a lowly nobody. If your fellow disciples are all discussing Bai Jie¡¯s workplace issues and Qin Granny¡¯s later life, and you know nothing about either, you are ostracized from social circles and isolated. If your fellow disciples are all discussing major events thousands of miles away in the Cultivation World, and you only focus on trivial matters here, your knowledge and perspective are outdated, you are left behind. So, to integrate yourself into the collective, into the Heavenly Sword Sect family, to enrich your knowledge and broaden your horizons, to avoid being outpaced by fellow disciples¡ª Go buy a Wangyue Daily now. It will make you thrive within the family, stand at the forefront of progress, become the center of attention, and set an example for others. Wangyue Daily, you deserve it! ¡­ Below this paragraph, there was a drawing of a scantily clad, seductively posing man. Lu Qiuling immediately realized the benefits of such small ads and admired Fang Zhou greatly for coming up with this idea. She respectfully bowed to Fang Zhou, ¡°Young master, Qiuling will not disappoint you, I will sell Wangyue Daily to every corner of Heavenly Sword Peak.¡± Fang Zhou helped her up, ¡°I believe you can do it!¡± They looked at each other, revealing eyes of like-minded comrades, until a cough nearby disrupted their shared understanding. Chapter 138: 138. Doing news is about adding personal touches. Chapter 138: 138. Doing news is about adding personal touches. The person who coughed was Yu Qing. She had just finished reading the news and noticed Fang Zhou and Lu Qiuling were ¡®gazing deeply¡¯ into each other¡¯s eyes. This scene brought an indescribable feeling in Yu Qing¡¯s heart. She didn¡¯t understand what this feeling was, only that Taoist Fang clearly had emotional entanglements with her junior sister, yet was involved ambiguously with another female disciple. Of course, Fang Zhou does not belong to the Heavenly Sword Sect, and Yu Qing had no authority over his emotional affairs. The cough was just a subconscious reaction. Lu Qiuling acted normal and hurried away with two thousand newspapers. Over at Yujian Peak, around a thousand newspapers could satisfy the entire market demand, so they sold out quickly. However, some disciples didn¡¯t leave after selling out, instead, they shyly or boldly handed Fang Zhou one letter after another. Don¡¯t misunderstand, these were not love letters but submissions for an essay call. In this era, most who could engage in Cultivation were well-off; those like Li Yunlong from small villages were few. These wealthy disciples were mostly literate and prided themselves on their literary talent. They were very enthusiastic about essay submissions for newspapers since having their submissions accepted was something to boast about to fellow sect members. Cash rewards and commemorative items were less significant to them. Fang Zhou collected all these submissions and promised to review them earnestly, making the female disciples leave one by one, smiling happily. Fang Zhou then turned to Yu Qing and asked, ¡°Taoist Yu Qing, have you decided on your submission yet?¡± Yu Qing smiled slightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m still considering it.¡± But her eyes would occasionally glance at the submissions in Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, clearly indicating she was tempted. After selling out the newspapers, Fang Zhou bade farewell to Yu Qing and left Yujian Peak. He felt quite anxious today. By the most conservative estimate, with the sale of the third issue of the newspaper, it should reach the vicinity of Heavenly Sword Peak. The Law Enforcement Department or Yan Gulan would definitely know the concrete whereabouts. If Yan Gulan saw through Fang Zhou¡¯s intentions, she would surely come forward to stop him or suppress him through other means. If she remained quiet, it would mean she either didn¡¯t see through him or didn¡¯t care. Either way, it was beneficial for Fang Zhou. The third issue of the newspaper sold smoothly, and Yan Gulan didn¡¯t step forward, making Fang Zhou breathe a sigh of relief. This matter was half-successful. Once the market developed, it would be too late for Yan Gulan to try to stop him; she wasn¡¯t the Sect Master. After returning to Moon Viewing Peak, Fang Zhou hurriedly entered the gourd space to prepare the fourth issue of the newspaper. The gourd dolls were already prepared. After spending time together, their attitude towards him had gradually improved, no longer resisting and opposing him as they initially did. After all, when faced with someone who continuously tells jokes and adult literature, and you enjoy it immensely, your goodwill naturally grows. Among the gourd dolls, Cheng Xing¡¯s relationship with Fang Zhou progressed the fastest. This literary monster was deeply impressed by Fang Zhou¡¯s shown knowledge and began to regard herself as a student. Over time, she saw Fang Zhou and couldn¡¯t help but smile and flatter him. The worst relationship remained with Huang Lian. This third doll maintained a cold face toward Fang Zhou except during joke-telling sessions. After arriving at the gourd space, Fang Zhou immediately called Cheng Xing over and handed her the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples¡¯ essays, asking her to select some interesting submissions. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Cheng Xing knew about the submissions but didn¡¯t expect Fang Zhou to ask her to review them, making her cheer in excitement. Fang Zhou took the opportunity to pat her chest in encouragement: ¡°You are now the first review editor of Wangyue Daily. Work hard.¡± Cheng Xing collected her smile, her pretty face serious, and promised, ¡°Rest assured, I will work hard.¡± Only then did Fang Zhou begin dictating the contents of the fourth issue. The first three issues were merely groundwork and testing. Starting from the fourth issue, Fang Zhou would begin sneaking in private material. And this private material would naturally revolve around the demolition issue. ¡­ The method Fang Zhou taught to Lu Qiuling was very effective. Small ads plastered everywhere made the words Wangyue Daily frequently mentioned, significantly boosting newspaper sales at Heavenly Sword Peak. Now, the most popular phrase in the entire Heavenly Sword Sect was¡ªWangyue Daily, you deserve it. That advertisement slogan started trending among disciples. Even those fearful of being isolated and ostracized, whether they liked reading the newspaper or not, had to spend money to buy it and understand its contents. For a time, a newspaper-reading trend rose in the Heavenly Sword Sect and kept growing. Now when disciples met, they wouldn¡¯t greet each other with ¡®Have you eaten?¡¯ but ¡®Have you read the newspaper?¡¯ As the elder of the Law Enforcement Department, Yan Gulan naturally noticed this trend but disregarded it, considering Fang Zhou¡¯s actions to be a surrender. Regarding Wangyue Daily, Yan Gulan subscribed to it every issue and couldn¡¯t help but marvel at it. That scoundrel surname Ling actually has such a talented disciple. Once Moon Viewing Peak gets demolished, perhaps she could arrange to bring his disciple into the fold of the Law Enforcement Department. With no interference from the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s upper echelons, Wangyue Daily had practically spread across the entire sect, becoming known to everyone. ¡­ The release day of the fourth issue of the newspaper finally arrived to a grand occasion. The entire area in front of Chaoyang Palace was filled with eager readers, at least two-thirds of the disciples at Yujian Peak came there, intending to purchase Wangyue Daily as soon as possible. Because of the large crowd, Yujian Peak had to dispatch personnel to maintain order. Fang Zhou¡¯s bamboo-made table and chairs had long been replaced, now substituted with counters provided by Yujian Peak near the entrance of Chaoyang Palace. Fortunately, the Heavenly Sword Sect was open-minded, keeping a tolerant attitude towards this situation. If it were in a more conservative sect, Fang Zhou would have been chased away long ago. After three issues of collaboration, Lu Qiuling had officially become Fang Zhou¡¯s first employee at the Heavenly Sword Sect. Yes, an employee rather than a distributor. Lu Qiuling wisely realized she couldn¡¯t monopolize Fang Zhou¡¯s newspapers; others were already eyeing these profits enviously. She was just an ordinary disciple and couldn¡¯t protect the meat in her hand, so she simply joined Fang Zhou, choosing to cling to him¡ªif the boss eats meat, she drinks the soup. Fang Zhou regarded Lu Qiuling as an important employee, and specially signed a labor contract with her. Of course, it was signed privately, not to be known by outsiders. If the Heavenly Sword Sect discovered their carefully cultivated disciple working for someone else, they might not know if they¡¯d be angry, but they¡¯d certainly be displeased. On the release day of the fourth issue, Lu Qiuling directly stood beside Fang Zhou to help sell newspapers. Yu Qing, who hurried over, hesitated briefly but then joined in too. With the help of these two, Fang Zhou became much more relaxed, otherwise, just dealing with the money would have been overwhelming. After finally waiting for the disciples to buy the newspapers and leave, Yu Qing began reading the fourth issue. The headline was still sensational, and the informant remained the anonymous Ms. Li Ruyu. But this time¡¯s content made Yu Qing furrow her brows. Chapter 139: 139. Demolition feels great for a moment, consequence is a crematorium later on. Chapter 139: 139. Demolition feels great for a moment, consequence is a crematorium later on. The headline content of the fourth issue is still presented from the perspective of whistleblower Ms. Li Ruyu, describing her experiences. After Li Ruyu exposed the abuse of male disciples by her sect, she indeed faced retaliation from the sect, who wanted to imprison her on a trumped-up charge. But before that decision could be implemented, the Xuanji Sect was attacked by a powerful enemy. Unwilling to wait for death, Li Ruyu escaped during the chaos and secretly investigated, only to discover that the attackers were from a small sect in the Yun Mountain Region that had been suppressed by the Xuanji Sect years ago. This small sect had been demolished with violence by the Xuanji Sect, causing countless casualties. The survivors of the small sect bore the humiliation and attached themselves to a mysterious powerful force, silently amassing strength before seizing the opportunity to strike back against the Xuanji Sect, causing heavy losses. Feeling the karmic justice, Li Ruyu exposed the incident. Finally, she advised the readers in the tone of a person who had experienced it: ¡°Demolishing others¡¯ homes may feel good for a moment, but it ends in a crematorium. Those who demolish act arrogantly now, but their graves will be overgrown with grass in the future.¡± After reading it, Yu Qing immediately associated this news with the Law Enforcement Department¡¯s plan to forcibly demolish Moon Viewing Peak. She could guess that Fang Zhou had written it intentionally, but she couldn¡¯t fathom his purpose. Did he do this just to vent his anger, or was there another reason? In Yu Qing¡¯s view, this action had no benefit other than provoking Elder Yan. Yu Qing couldn¡¯t help but ask Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang, does this really have any use?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Fang Zhou blinked innocently: ¡°I don¡¯t understand. If you¡¯re talking about the rumors of Xuanji Sect facing retribution for demolishing others, it¡¯s just hearsay. I¡¯m merely reporting from an objective standpoint.¡± Even though it was an open scheme, he couldn¡¯t give anyone grounds to accuse him. Though he trusted Yu Qing wouldn¡¯t say anything, he thought it was best to be cautious. Yu Qing knew Fang Zhou was playing dumb and sighed slightly. She wanted to help, but there was nothing she could do. However, she could now be sure that Fang Zhou¡¯s news was likely fabricated. Xuanji Sect was a prominent sect in Jingnan State, second only to the Heavenly Sword Sect. If it were really attacked, the entire cultivation world in Jingnan State would be in an uproar, and information would have spread, not remaining this calm. With this thought, Yu Qing lost interest in the fake news, swiftly turning to the Fiction section to read the latest installments of ¡®Young Master Bai Jie¡¯ and ¡®Gatekeeper Aunt Qin.¡¯ By now, only this new knowledge could engross her. Seeing Yu Qing engrossed in reading the paper, Fang Zhou quietly called Lu Qiuling to the side and assigned her a new task: to sell the extra newspapers to Yunshan City. Lu Qiuling was excited by the task, thinking Fang Zhou intended to expand the market, and readily agreed. But she soon frowned, mentioning a problem: ¡°Boss, I can¡¯t descend the mountain at will.¡± As a regular disciple, Lu Qiuling could go down the mountain only twice a month. If she took leave from the Dharma Transmission Elders, it could increase to four times, but no more. Four times a month was clearly insufficient to expand the market. But Fang Zhou had already thought of this problem. He took out a jade token, flashing it in front of Lu Qiuling. Lu Qiuling widened her eyes in surprise: ¡°A Pass Jade Token! Boss, how did you get this?¡± The Pass Jade Token allowed one to descend the mountain at any time, but it was incredibly rare, so how did an outsider like the boss obtain it? Of course, the token was entrusted to Fang Zhou by True Master Yu Jian through Yu Qing, but such affairs couldn¡¯t be spoken about carelessly. He threw the token to Lu Qiuling, saying softly, ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much, just return it to me once the task is completed.¡± Lu Qiuling hastily accepted it, inwardly feeling profound admiration for Fang Zhou. He had created this novel newspaper, his advertising methods were astonishing, and he had mysterious connections able to procure rare items. In Lu Qiuling¡¯s mind, Fang Zhou¡¯s image soared, becoming increasingly unreachable. Initially, Lu Qiuling felt somewhat aggrieved about becoming Fang Zhou¡¯s employee, but now she believed she had made a wise decision. Following such a boss, how could she not get rich? She smiled broadly, assuring Fang Zhou, ¡°Boss, rest assured, within ten days, I will have the newspapers sold throughout Yunshan City.¡± Fang Zhou instinctively wanted to pat her chest but held back at the last moment, opting to pat her shoulder instead: ¡°I believe in you.¡± This girl was very astute, unlike some fool. Being overly familiar might lead to misunderstandings. ¡­ The fourth issue of the newspaper was exceptionally successful, with record-breaking sales. The main reason was that the fourth issue featured several disciples¡¯ contributions. These contributions were carefully selected by Cheng Xing, and their quality was decent. The contributors, overjoyed to be published, actively promoted the newspaper, directly boosting the sales of Wangyue Daily. Now, Fang Zhou could proudly announce that Wangyue Daily had reached every corner of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Fang Zhou wasn¡¯t sure if the higher-ups of the Heavenly Sword Sect read the newspaper. She couldn¡¯t exactly sneak into the restroom to see if the Sect Master reads it there! That would be too dangerous and possibly a one-way trip. Nonetheless, Fang Zhou knew that gossiping was in the nature of intelligent beings. Not only humans, even demons couldn¡¯t avoid it. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou also had Lu Qiuling conduct a survey to see what the disciples thought of the fourth issue, particularly their reactions to the news about demolitions. Lu Qiuling, with her deft social skills, gathered feedback within a day. The disciples were very satisfied with the fourth issue. Most felt indignant about the news on demolitions, stating that the Xuanji Sect was bullying the weak and that evildoers get what they deserve. This assured Fang Zhou that his effort was worth it. True to their name, prominent sects were zero-tolerant towards evil. He began working on the fifth issue, as they had received a lot of contributions for this edition. ¡­ At Heavenly Sword Peak, in a small dojo, Yan Gulan had also subscribed to the fourth issue of the newspaper. Upon seeing the headline, Yan Gulan couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed. She could clearly see that Fang Zhou was using the news as a veiled attack against her. Of course, she wasn¡¯t entirely unjustified. The decision by the Law Enforcement Department to demolish Moon Viewing Peak while Ling Xiaoyue was away was secretly driven and fully overseen by Yan Gulan herself. Fang Zhou¡¯s attempt to use the newspaper to criticize her hit a sore spot, making her angry. ¡°Hmph, this master and disciple pair are just as despicable and obstinate,¡± Yan Gulan snorted coldly, instinctively wanting to find a way to shut down the paper. But as soon as this thought arose, she felt reluctant to do so, as the newspaper¡¯s contents had been her only source of joy lately. After another moment, she felt amused. This kid dared only make veiled criticisms through the newspaper without even mentioning her name, let alone confronting her directly. Such weakness gave Yan Gulan a sense of satisfaction. It was obvious to Yan Gulan what Fang Zhou was aiming for with his newspaper: to win the sympathy of the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect. This made Yan Gulan laugh. Even if the disciples sympathized, so what? Would they dare stand up for Moon Viewing Peak and defy their own Law Enforcement Department? After all, Fang Zhou was just a naive, inexperienced kid with immature methods and ideas. Chapter 140: Issue 140: The Final Issue of Wangyue Daily Chapter 140: Issue 140: The Final Issue of Wangyue Daily Although Yan Gulan scoffed at Fang Zhou¡¯s actions, she still ordered Wang Xiuzhu to keep an eye on him, to prevent any sneaky moves. Wang Xiuzhu eagerly accepted the task, seemingly intent on personally catching Fang Zhou¡¯s mistakes and kicking him out of the Heavenly Sword Sect. But Yan Gulan and Wang Xiuzhu were bound to be disappointed. Aside from publishing a paper every other day, Fang Zhou made no other moves. Unless necessary, he wouldn¡¯t even step foot on Yujian Peak, spending all his time on Moon Viewing Peak. The content of the newspaper remained as sensational as always. Though it had stopped focusing on the Xuanzong Sect, it turned to reporting other news in the Cultivation World. Of course, subtle, indirect criticisms were still present, almost every issue using some event to satirize forced demolitions. Although the characters involved were different in each issue, they were always portrayed negatively. Every time Yan Gulan saw this, she would get inexplicably angry, but after seeing it for a while, she got used to it, mocking Fang Zhou for whining like a resentful husband. Besides the news, Fang Zhou also began serializing his personal biography, describing the local customs and the story of his acquaintance and mutual support with Ling Xiaoyue. Fang Zhou wrote this story with care, utilizing tear-jerking plots from Korean dramas, only stopping short of depicting car accidents, leukemia, and heart disease. The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect had never experienced such emotional stories. Despite the world¡¯s male-dominated atmosphere, women were naturally more emotional and had no resistance to such tear-jerking tales, quickly getting addicted. Every time Fang Zhou went to Yujian Peak to sell newspapers, he would see a group of fans looking at him with tear-filled, loving eyes, with some even wanting to donate to him. After a few issues, Fang Zhou¡¯s personal biography had earned a loyal following, with people promoting it everywhere they went. Of course, Fang Zhou¡¯s work was only a small, self-indulgent circle. The real star author of the Wangyue Daily, providing joy to countless lonely gentlemen, was the revered Lao Shiji. On many nights, as the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect secretly read Lao Shiji¡¯s novels under their blankets, their admiration and love for him deepened. Lao Shiji didn¡¯t stop at serializing ¡°Young Mistress Bai Jie¡± after ¡°Janitor Aunt Qin,¡± quickly following up with masterpieces like ¡°Young Girl A Bing¡± and ¡°Silver Alchemist,¡± capturing readers across the entire sect, dominating the Heavenly Sword Sect. Lao Shiji had undoubtedly become the disciples¡¯ favorite author, without exception. Fang Zhou had Lu Qiuling conduct a popularity poll, resulting in Lao Shiji winning first place with 98% of votes, leaving Fang Zhou in second place far behind, despite his fans¡¯ efforts to garner votes. After a dozen issues of the newspaper, Wangyue Daily had successfully integrated into the Heavenly Sword Sect in every aspect, becoming a part of each disciple¡¯s daily life. Now, their daily routine was to read the newspaper in the morning, then cultivate, read jokes at noon, then cultivate, and read novels at night, making use of their love. Wangyue Daily had taken control of the disciples¡¯ information channels, daily entertainment, and nighttime activities. Yet, the entire Heavenly Sword Sect remained ignorant of this. To the upper echelons, it was nothing more than a trivial pastime. A month passed in the blink of an eye, and finally came the final day set by the Law Enforcement Department for Fang Zhou. This day, the Law Enforcement Department would come to forcibly demolish Moon Viewing Peak and drive Fang Zhou away. On this day, Fang Zhou got up early, bringing the latest issue of the newspaper he had prepared, and flew to Yujian Peak, where thousands of eagerly awaiting loyal readers were. At the same time, in the Law Enforcement Department, Yan Gulan had already gathered a group of people. This time, it wasn¡¯t just about driving Fang Zhou away; they needed to demolish the entire Moon Viewing Peak. So, the Law Enforcement Department deployed a third of their personnel, bringing along Magic Treasures capable of breaking mountains. Yan Gulan personally led the team, not telling them what they were about to do. These subordinates only needed to follow orders. Before setting off, Yan Gulan called for Wang Xiuzhu to ask what Fang Zhou was currently up to. ¡°Reporting to the elder, that kid is selling newspapers at Yujian Peak.¡± Wang Xiuzhu honestly reported, feeling somewhat depressed after having kept a close eye on Fang Zhou for the entire month, hoping to find any wrongdoing. As it turned out, the kid was very cautious, doing nothing but staying on Moon Viewing Peak every day, selling newspapers every other day, and withdrawing again after selling. However, thinking that Fang Zhou would be driven out of the Heavenly Sword Sect today, Wang Xiuzhu quickly cheered up again. He had already set up some contingencies, just waiting for the kid to leave the mountain, which would be the time for his revenge. ¡°Still selling newspapers?¡± Yan Gulan couldn¡¯t believe it, thinking that at this point, Fang Zhou was still in the mood to sell newspapers. It seemed this brat had given up resisting. Yan Gulan sneered, now more curious about what the person surnamed Ling¡¯s expression would be after seeing Moon Viewing Peak demolished and her disciple driven away. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But now, caution was necessary to avoid any unforeseen incidents. ¡°Ke Yanhan!¡± Yan Gulan called, and a stern-looking woman stepped out from the corner, bowing and greeting, ¡°Elder, what are your orders?¡± As soon as she appeared, the surroundings people involuntarily made way. Yan Gulan coldly said, ¡°You are to come along.¡± Ke Yanhan nodded and agreed, unbothered by others¡¯ gazes. ¡­ Yujian Peak. After arriving here, Fang Zhou was once again surrounded by readers, countless fiery eyes focused on the newspapers he carried. However, after a month of training, these disciples had already formed the habit of lining up to buy, making the whole scene calm yet noisy. Fang Zhou, upon arrival, didn¡¯t immediately start selling newspapers but instead looked around at this group of eagerly awaiting readers. ¡°Everyone, please listen to me.¡± Fang Zhou shouted loudly, attracting everyone¡¯s attention: ¡°I have bad news for you. Today might be the last issue of Wangyue Daily.¡± The whole scene fell silent, with everyone thinking they had misheard, and many at the back couldn¡¯t hear at all. Fang Zhou repeated loudly: ¡°You did not mishear. Today might be the last issue of Wangyue Daily.¡± This time they heard clearly, and immediately, the scene broke into a deafening uproar. Countless disciples showed disbelief, loudly questioning the reason, many squeezing forward, making the scene chaotic, almost collapsing Fang Zhou¡¯s counter. Fang Zhou jumped onto the counter and shouted: ¡°Everyone quiet down and listen to me! ¡°Order!¡± ¡°Order!¡± The people assigned to maintain order at Yujian Peak also quickly intervened, striving to control the imminent riot. From his elevated position, Fang Zhou looked down at this group of disciples with expressions of shock, confusion, and disbelief, and slowly said: ¡°You should all know, I am not a person of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Currently, I reside on Moon Viewing Peak¡­¡± Those who had read Fang Zhou¡¯s personal biography knew that he and his master Ling Xiaoyue had supported each other through hardships, parting, and reuniting, finally finding respite on Moon Viewing Peak. And now, the heart and soul of the master and disciple were about to be taken away. Chapter 141: 141. Experienced driver, dont leave, we need you. Chapter 141: 141. Experienced driver, don¡¯t leave, we need you. Fang Zhou disclosed the conflicts between his master and disciple duo and the Heavenly Sword Sect. This matter was originally hard to distinguish right from wrong, so there was nothing to hide. The issue of Ling Xiaoyue occupying Moon Viewing Peak was not widely spread in the Heavenly Sword Sect. The middle and high-level members knew what was going on, but the lower-level disciples were completely clueless. The Heavenly Sword Sect would not publicize such a disgraceful matter. Even fewer people knew about the Law Enforcement Department¡¯s intention to forcefully dismantle Moon Viewing Peak and expel Fang Zhou. At this moment, upon hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s full disclosure, the disciples present finally knew that there was such a thing. This matter was a case of each party having their own justification, difficult to distinguish right from wrong, depending on one¡¯s standpoint and perspective. However, in Fang Zhou¡¯s autobiography, he had long portrayed himself and Ling Xiaoyue as a weak and pitiful master and disciple struggling to survive in the cruel cultivation world. Finally, after enduring hardships, they found a place to call home, only to suffer the oppression of a prestigious sect. This was the natural thought that emerged in the disciples¡¯ minds, rather than the notion of a rogue master and disciple forcibly occupying Moon Viewing Peak. One event can yield completely different answers when interpreted from different perspectives. So, the thousands of disciples present remained silent, finding it hard to imagine that their own sect would engage in such an act of oppressing the weak. In the crowd, many ¡°mom¡± fans were teary-eyed, looking at Fang Zhou. They wished they could take this little guy who had endured so much hardship but remained strong into their arms and cherish him. Fang Zhou was getting goosebumps from these looks, almost unable to maintain the sad expression on his face. ¡°If Moon Viewing Peak is dismantled, I will also leave the Heavenly Sword Sect, and the Wangyue Daily will no longer be published. So today is the last issue. To thank you for your support over the past month, I will not be charging for this issue.¡± Fang Zhou bowed deeply to the crowd, then jumped down and began to distribute the newspaper. The disciples silently stepped forward to take the final issue of the newspaper, with almost everyone stubbornly attempting to pay, but Fang Zhou did not accept the money. After finally handing out all the newspapers, Fang Zhou shouted loudly, ¡°If we are destined, we will meet from afar. If not, we won¡¯t even meet face-to-face. If we are fated, we will meet again when I roam the cultivation world someday.¡± After saying this, Fang Zhou almost choked up and cried. The sorrowful mood quickly spread among the crowd, with countless disciples feeling their eyes sting, almost coming to tears. When they opened the newspapers in their hands, they felt even sadder. The newspaper no longer contained humorous news, only an expos¨¦ by Li Ruyu condemning the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s actions of forcibly dismantling, equating the sect with the likes of those who seek fame and gain through deceitful means. Review editor Cheng Xing expressed agreement, as did the remaining six unnamed staff members of the Wangyue Daily. Old Wet Ji did not serialize the latest novel, only bidding an emotional farewell to readers, saying he would take the ending of ¡®Young Master Bai Jie¡¯ and wander the cultivation world with Fang Zhou. Seeing this heartbreaking message, many disciples could not accept it, bursting into tears on the spot. Old Wet Ji, don¡¯t go! We need you!! When Yu Qing hurried to the front of Chaoyang Palace, this was the scene she saw. Over a thousand disciples were crying together, shocking her greatly. Today was the final deadline given to Fang Zhou by the Law Enforcement Department. Yu Qing originally thought that Fang Zhou would not come out to sell newspapers today, so she went to Moon Viewing Peak early, but not finding him there, she learned that Fang Zhou had come to Yujian Peak. But coming here and making over a thousand junior sisters cry, what is this all about? Yu Qing came in front of Fang Zhou, smiling bitterly, ¡°Taoist Fang, why put yourself through this?¡± Fang Zhou sighed, ¡°I just came to say goodbye to them.¡± He looked up at Yu Qing and said sincerely, ¡°Also to say goodbye to you. Perhaps we will never meet again.¡± Hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s words of farewell, Yu Qing felt a faint pain in her heart. She knew Fang Zhou was not joking. If he was expelled from the Heavenly Sword Sect, he would surely wander the cultivation world. The cultivation world was vast, and often a parting meant a lifetime of separation, never to meet again. In this month of interaction, Yu Qing had long been impressed by Fang Zhou¡¯s witty speech and extraordinary knowledge, becoming close friends who regretted not meeting sooner. This month was the happiest time in Yu Qing¡¯s life, filled with joy and anticipation every day. But she did not expect such happy times to last barely a month before ending. Thinking of never seeing Fang Zhou again, Yu Qing¡¯s emotions became even more turbulent. Fang Zhou bowed deeply to the thousands of disciples, ¡°Everyone, the mountains are high, the rivers are long, and the roads of the world are far. This is where we part ways! After saying this, he patted Yujian on the shoulder, then summoned the Xuanyuan Sword, stepped onto it, and soared into the sky. Yu Qing, holding back her heartache, asked, ¡°Taoist Fang, where are you going?!¡± Fang Zhou looked at the distant sea of clouds and sighed deeply, ¡°To protect my only home.¡± With that, he rode the Xuanyuan Sword, flying towards Moon Viewing Peak, leaving the disciples a tragic figure. Yu Qing extended her hand towards Fang Zhou¡¯s departing figure, but could not utter any words to hold him back. She held the pose for a long moment, then took a deep breath, seemingly making a decision. She drew out her jade hairpin, transforming it into a spirit sword, and soared into the sky, heading deep into Yujian Peak, targeting Sword Lake. With Fang Zhou and Yu Qing leaving one after another, the disciples on site could only disperse with heavy hearts. However, what happened here spread through the entire Heavenly Sword Sect with lightning speed. Countless disciples gathered in private discussions. Among the crowd, Lu Qiuling yelled angrily. ¡°Wangyue Daily is such a good newspaper, meeting our needs and entertaining us. The Law Enforcement Department is trying to shut it down to keep us ignorant and naive.¡± In another place, Chu Yunfei was also expressing dissatisfaction to fellow disciples around him. ¡°Forced demolition is something done by those seeking fame and gain. Haven¡¯t you seen the retribution they face? Are we going to follow in their footsteps?¡± Li Yunlong, facing dozens of fellow disciples, raised his arm and shouted. ¡°We cannot let Old Wet Ji be driven away, Long live Old Wet Ji!¡± As the undercurrents surged, the sound of discontent began to rise. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within the Heavenly Sword Sect, with tens of thousands of members, almost all were loyal readers of the Wangyue Daily. Forcing the Wangyue Daily to cease publication would undoubtedly cause dissatisfaction, especially when readers discovered that their own sect was to blame for the newspaper¡¯s shutdown. One voice of dissatisfaction might be negligible, but countless voices were like scattered sand. Yet these voices could be directed, and when guided by those with intent, they could converge into a massive, terrifying flood. Anyone standing before such a flood would seem insignificant, unless their individual power surpassed it; otherwise, they would ultimately be swallowed and overwhelmed. Now, this flood was surging towards Moon Viewing Peak. Who could resist? Chapter 142: 142. We oppose forced demolition. Chapter 142: 142. We oppose forced demolition. Fang Zhou, stepping on the Xuanyuan Sword, was flying back to Moon Viewing Peak. After leaving Yujian Peak, the sorrowful expression on his face had subsided, replaced by calmness, but there was a hint of excitement in his eyes, as if the final battle was imminent. Everything that needed to be done had been completed, and personnel had been arranged. What followed was waiting for public opinion to ferment. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou believed he had done everything he could. If it still failed, he wouldn¡¯t surrender so easily; he wouldn¡¯t let himself be driven away like a dog. Moon Viewing Peak was his place, no one should think of taking it away. This was a deep obsession with land and house that had carried over from his past life. After returning to Moon Viewing Peak, it was still calm here, not a soul in sight, but Fang Zhou knew this peace wouldn¡¯t last long, the enemies would arrive soon. He leisurely returned to the bamboo house, took a sip of water, strapped on the Sword Box, carried the gourd, then left the bamboo house and sat on a piece of wood in front of the three straw huts. Within an hour, several small shuttles flew over from afar and hovered in midair. On them were members of the Law Enforcement Department, about fifty people. Wang Xiuzhu, who had shown his face last time, was also there. This time, Yan Gulan did not sneak around hiding while peeping; she openly led the team herself. She wanted to ensure no unexpected events occurred. Seeing Fang Zhou looking as if he had been waiting for a long time, Yan Gulan¡¯s face sank like water. She had assumed Fang Zhou had given up resisting and should be rolling away miserably, not showing such a posture to greet them. ¡°Humph, obstinate fool!¡± Standing on the shuttle, looking down at Fang Zhou, Yan Gulan coldly said, ¡°I am giving you one month to leave voluntarily. Such generosity, yet you refuse to acknowledge it, treating my words as mere wind?¡± Fang Zhou stood up and laughed at the sky: ¡°Moon Viewing Peak is my home. You order me to leave, and I will leave? Do you think you¡¯re bandits?¡± Yan Gulan¡¯s face was cold, not dignifying herself with arguing this issue with such a lowly figure as Fang Zhou. ¡°Impudent! Do not be rude to the elder!¡± Wang Xiuzhu, who had long been unable to hold back, jumped out. Fang Zhou glanced at him and laughed: ¡°Has your butt healed?¡± Some people on the shuttle immediately burst into laughter. Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s butt was the most talked-about topic a month ago. With Fang Zhou mentioning it, Wang Xiuzhu¡¯s face turned the color of a pig liver, glaring at Fang Zhou furiously, wishing he could rush down and fight him. Fang Zhou felt very innocent; I was sincerely greeting you, but you didn¡¯t take it kindly and even dared to glare at me. No wonder your butt got stabbed. Yan Gulan had no time to waste more words with Fang Zhou and directly ordered: ¡°Do it!¡± The disciples from the Law Enforcement Department hesitated for a moment. They had no idea they would be dealing with Fang Zhou before coming. Fang Zhou had become very famous for selling newspapers this month, with many fans. If they mistreated Fang Zhou here, wouldn¡¯t they be torn to pieces by those mom fans when they returned? If only they had known, they would have pretended to be sick and taken leave. Noticing the disciples¡¯ hesitation, Yan Gulan found it strange. When did her orders become ineffective? Fang Zhou suddenly said: ¡°No need to rush, you¡¯ll change your mind soon enough.¡± Yan Gulan looked at him and suddenly sneered: ¡°Are you waiting for your master to return?¡± Fang Zhou shook his head: ¡°No, I am waiting for justice to arrive.¡± Yan Gulan was puzzled: ¡°Justice?¡± Fang Zhou smiled slightly: ¡°That¡¯s right, someone will stand up and resist your bandit behavior.¡± Saying this, he glanced at the sea of clouds, feeling a bit anxious. Damn, why aren¡¯t they here yet? I can no longer hold on. Yan Gulan noticed Fang Zhou frequently looking at the sea of clouds and couldn¡¯t help but laugh: ¡°Could it be that you are waiting for Yu Qing, that girl? Forget it, she¡¯s just a True Disciple, why would she stand up for you.¡± Fang Zhou ignored her, his eyes fixed on the sea of clouds. Being ignored, Yan Gulan was infuriated. She shouted at her subordinates: ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± A disciple, showing a look of panic, raised her hand pointing behind: ¡°Elder, look!¡± Yan Gulan hurriedly turned her head and gasped. Even with her Innate Realm strength, she couldn¡¯t hide her surprise at this moment. From the sea of clouds appeared countless blurred small shuttles. Densely packed, like a dark cloud. This scene, it was as if the entire Heavenly Sword Sect was mobilized. For a moment, Yan Gulan thought the Demon Sect was attacking, her mind suddenly went blank. However, she quickly noticed these small shuttles heading towards Moon Viewing Peak and, combined with Fang Zhou¡¯s attitude, instantly understood what was happening. She suddenly turned to look at Fang Zhou, her eyes like electricity, and shouted: ¡°What did you do?¡± Fang Zhou let out a long breath, finally, they arrived. This month¡¯s efforts were not in vain. Facing Yan Gulan¡¯s questioning, Fang Zhou calmly smiled: ¡°Have you heard the phrase? Justice might be delayed, but it will never be absent. Righteousness resides in people¡¯s hearts. Your Law Enforcement Department defies common sense and ignores conscience, naturally causing resentment and dissatisfaction among the people. This is justice¡¯s judgment against you.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Yan Gulan was furious, even more so worried because she couldn¡¯t fathom what method Fang Zhou had used to gather so many disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect. It didn¡¯t take long for the shuttles to arrive at Moon Viewing Peak, densely packed, blocking out the sky. The shuttles were crowded with disciples from the three veins, even some disciples from Heavenly Sword Peak. These small shuttles were originally provided by Heavenly Sword Sect for disciples to travel around, about three hundred or more. At this moment, almost all had mobilized, meaning over two-thirds of sect disciples had come. These thousands of disciples surrounded the fifty from the Law Enforcement Department, making them look like rabbits fallen into a pack of wolves, trembling, not daring to act recklessly. Yan Gulan was no longer concerned with Fang Zhou. So many disciples coming out at once was a big event; mishandling it would cause great trouble. Yan Gulan looked around, embodying the dignity of the Law Enforcement Elder, and shouted: ¡°Disciples, why are you here instead of cultivating?¡± Normally, if a few disciples were shouted at by the Law Enforcement Elder, they would be scared like mice meeting cats. But in this sea of people, Yan Gulan couldn¡¯t specifically target any disciple, so her authority was nearly diminished to none. In the crowd, Lu Qiuling shouted with a pinched voice: ¡°We oppose the demolition of Moon Viewing Peak!¡± Yan Gulan quickly turned her head towards this direction: ¡°Who¡¯s talking nonsense?¡± Lu Qiuling was startled, quickly retracting her head. Only a few people echoed this shout, the responders were sparse, most disciples still stood on the shuttles, silently observing. On the other side of the crowd, Chu Yunfei shouted loudly: ¡°We oppose forced demolition!¡± People around Chu Yunfei also shouted: ¡°We oppose forced demolition!¡± This time, more people started responding, many disciples echoing the opposition to forced demolition. Though disordered, it gradually formed a momentum. Chapter 143: Youre involved every time theres trouble. Chapter 143: You¡¯re involved every time there¡¯s trouble. Hearing these chaotic yet overwhelmingly powerful shouts, Yan Gulan was both shocked and enraged. She couldn¡¯t understand what forced eviction from Moon Viewing Peak had to do with these disciples, and why they would stand up for that yellow-haired boy. Could it be simply out of sympathy? Fang Zhou looked at Yan Gulan¡¯s bewildered face from below and couldn¡¯t help but reveal a bullying smile. Of course Yan Gulan didn¡¯t understand, because this is the power of public opinion. Public opinion is something intangible yet truly existent. In chaotic or disorderly societies, it¡¯s almost useless, but in orderly societies, public opinion is a frightening force. Whoever controls public opinion, controls the power of speech, and public opinion can achieve many unimaginable things. You can do good deeds or bad deeds, depending on the user¡¯s stance. Doing good can guide society towards kindness, improve social morality, supervise governmental corruption, and regulate ethical standards. If you do bad, you can invert right and wrong, provoke confrontation and hatred, or even force the authorities to compromise. Heavenly Sword Sect internally is an orderly society, and public opinion is a powerful weapon here. However, the Heavenly Sword Sect from top to bottom does not realize the importance of public opinion, so Fang Zhou secretly seized this powerful weapon through the newspaper. Yan Gulan always thought Fang Zhou was using the newspaper to insert private goods about the forced eviction incident secretly, thinking he was actually scolding her. Even Yu Qing thought so, but they were gravely mistaken. Fang Zhou¡¯s articles around forced evictions were actually using public opinion to brainwash the entire Heavenly Sword Sect. He linked the forced eviction to negative images like seeking fame and bullying the weak. If you carefully look at the dozen issues of the newspaper, you¡¯ll find that those who did forced evictions were either hypocritical sects or the vile Demon Sect, and their fates were quite bad. The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect are very pure. Once Fang Zhou controls the channels through which they receive information, they will believe the Cultivation World is as described in Fang Zhou¡¯s newspaper, where the evil like forced evictions, and the good oppose them. Once this view is fostered, it will be difficult to eradicate. Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s disciples pride themselves on being renowned for righteousness. Once they realize their sect¡¯s Law Enforcement Department is doing forced evictions, their worldview will easily collapse¡ªso our sect is just like the Demon Sect? Especially since Fang Zhou, through personal biographies, portrayed himself and Ling Xiaoyue as a vulnerable group, indirectly reinforcing the negative image of the Law Enforcement Department bullying the weak. Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s disciples poured out to Moon Viewing Peak to see for themselves if the sect was really doing disappointing things. Supporting Fang Zhou and Wangyue Daily was just incidental. Thus, when Lu Qiuling shouted against the forced eviction from Moon Viewing Peak, few responded, but when Chu Yunfei shouted against the forced eviction, many disciples responded. This is the power of public opinion. After realizing he couldn¡¯t use force to fight against the Heavenly Sword Sect, Fang Zhou chose to use the weapon of public opinion. Yan Gulan simply couldn¡¯t understand. This was not a matter of sympathy for Fang Zhou, but rather a matter of the Heavenly Sword Sect ignoring the power of speech. Now, Fang Zhou has seized public opinion, morality is on his side, while Yan Gulan controls some of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s force but has lost moral ground. In the eyes of the disciples, the Law Enforcement Department is just an unjust department, and Yan Gulan is a parasite. The shouting around grew louder, making Yan Gulan agitated, wishing she could drag all these troublemaking disciples down and beat them. At this moment, another person arrived at Moon Viewing Peak, it was Yu Qing. Yu Qing originally rushed to Sword Lake, intending to ask her master to come out and stop the Law Enforcement Department. True Master Yu Jian¡¯s attitude was strange, neither agreeing nor refusing, merely instructing Yu Qing to go to Moon Viewing Peak and act as the situation demands. Yu Qing was quite puzzled but didn¡¯t dare ask more. After leaving Sword Lake, she then knew most of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples had gone to Moon Viewing Peak together. She feared that so many disciples gathering together might cause big trouble, so she hurriedly came over. As soon as she arrived, she saw thousands of disciples surrounding the fifty Law Enforcement members and Elder Yan, almost mistaking the disciples were attacking the Law Enforcement Department and Elder Yan, nearly falling from her Spirit Sword in fright. Although she was relieved after seeing clearly, she was still scared enough. So many disciples going to Moon Viewing Peak was definitely not spontaneous, one hundred percent related to Fang Zhou. Yu Qing didn¡¯t know how Fang Zhou did it, feeling helplessly amused and bewildered internally. She suddenly realized, as long as it¡¯s related to Fang Zhou, unusual scenes always show up unexpectedly, he¡¯s always involved in the trouble. However, this matter could be big or small, if not handled properly, it could lead to serious issues. Yu Qing began to consider how to minimize the impact; otherwise, Fang Zhou would have big trouble. Seeing Yu Qing appear, Yan Gulan seemed to find a target to vent and immediately scolded her sternly: ¡°Yu Qing, did you call these disciples here? This is absurd!¡± She couldn¡¯t understand how Fang Zhou managed to gather so many disciples, nor believed that a mere outsider in Qi Refining Realm could do it. So when Yu Qing appeared, Yan Gulan immediately suspected her, believing only this True Disciple could use her status to achieve this. Besides, the motive was there¡ªyou¡¯d do foolish things for a beauty. Facing Yan Gulan¡¯s baseless accusations, Yu Qing replied gently: ¡°Elder Yan misunderstood, this is the disciples¡¯ spontaneous behavior, it has nothing to do with me.¡± Yu Qing respected Elder Yan but wasn¡¯t afraid of her. Yu Qing¡¯s elusive attitude instead calmed down Elder Yan. She took a deep look at Yu Qing, then suddenly turned to shout at the Law Enforcement disciples: ¡°Why aren¡¯t you acting? Are you defying orders?¡± The Law Enforcement disciples were torn, almost crying. They dared not defy orders but with so many fellow disciples watching, if they forcefully conducted the eviction, they¡¯d become public enemies unless they hid in the Law Enforcement Department forever. Yan Gulan saw many disciples around still shouting against forced evictions, she couldn¡¯t help but shout: ¡°This is Law Enforcement Department¡¯s internal matter, are you disciples going to betray the sect?¡± No one dared to take this big hat, and the shouting temporarily quieted. Fang Zhou, who had been silent below, suddenly laughed: ¡°Ridiculous, since when does the Law Enforcement Department represent the entire Heavenly Sword Sect?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou looked around and loudly said: ¡°From my purely objective standpoint as a passerby, you disciples represent the Heavenly Sword Sect. This world is yours, ours, but fundamentally it¡¯s yours. You are vigorous, youthful, like the rising sun. You may not be so dazzling, but you will ultimately illuminate the entire world. You represent the future of Heavenly Sword Sect!¡± The thousands of disciples present felt their spirits shaken. After entering Heavenly Sword Sect, they realized their proud talents were insignificant here, reduced to nameless ordinary disciples, and the Dharma Transmission elders paid no attention to them. Never had anyone said they were the rising sun, the future of Heavenly Sword Sect. Yu Qing stared fixedly at Fang Zhou, eyes sparkling. Only Yan Gulan¡¯s face turned extremely dark. Not just because Fang Zhou openly contradicted her, but because his words seemed deeply provocative and divisive. Yan Gulan gave a secret signal, a figure suddenly leaped from the shuttle, rushing towards Fang Zhou. Chapter 144: 144. Sorry, I am indeed insulting you. Chapter 144: 144. Sorry, I am indeed insulting you. Seeing someone rush toward Fang Zhou, Yu Qing instinctively wanted to block them. However, Yan Gulan flashed and blocked Yu Qing¡¯s path, her expression very serious: ¡°Yu Qing, remember your position!¡± Hearing Yan Gulan¡¯s words, Yu Qing stopped her Spirit Sword, a conflicted look appearing on her face. This brief hesitation allowed the figure to reach Fang Zhou with an almost imperceptible speed, delivering a palm strike. Fang Zhou was shocked and hurriedly dodged backward. With a muffled boom, the palm strike landed, the force hitting the ground from a distance, raising a cloud of dust and gravel. The disciples on the shuttle around were in an uproar, not expecting the Law Enforcement Department to dare to act in such a situation. Yan Gulan saw that there seemed to be unrest in the crowd. If someone took the lead at this moment, things might spiral out of control. She silently circulated a breath of Innate True Qi and shouted: ¡°Who dares to act recklessly, I will report to the Sect Master and have them expelled from the Heavenly Sword Sect!¡± The booming voice from Yan Gulan¡¯s mouth made all the disciples present feel a piercing pain in their eardrums. Her gaze was as sharp as lightning, sweeping over the crowd, and none dared to meet her eyes. Her presence alone overshadowed thousands. This was the might of the Innate Realm. The disciples were intimidated by Yan Gulan¡¯s aura and quieted down, not daring to make noise again. They dared to support Fang Zhou and oppose the forced demolition only under the psychology of conformity. Yan Gulan¡¯s warning was too severe; the disciples dared not risk being expelled from the sect to show off. Conversely, Yan Gulan did not dare to forcibly demolish Moon Viewing Peak in front of so many disciples either. If the disciples caused trouble and aroused public anger, she could not bear the responsibility. At this moment, both sides were trapped in a subtle balance. The disciples did not dare to show off, and Yan Gulan was afraid of provoking public anger. But Yan Gulan did not feel helpless because she had prepared well, bringing along Ke Yanhan, who was suitable for action. As long as Ke Yanhan captured that yellow-haired boy and took him away, it would be fine to come back and demolish Moon Viewing Peak another day. As the dust cleared below, Yu Qing finally saw clearly who had attacked Fang Zhou and could not help but exclaim: ¡°Senior Sister Ke?¡± Ke Yanhan had joined the Heavenly Sword Sect earlier than Yu Qing, extraordinarily talented, and had high hopes of becoming a True Disciple of the Sword Control lineage. However, she was eliminated due to a personality flaw. She was heavy-handed, once severely injuring several sparring sisters. During her training outside, she also caused significant trouble. Despite being punished several times, she showed no remorse. Eventually, even True Master Yu Jian had to give up the idea of making her a True Disciple. When Yu Qing was young, it was the peak of Ke Yanhan¡¯s prominence, and they had interacted but were not well-acquainted. When Yu Qing became a True Disciple, Ke Yanhan was assigned to the Law Enforcement Department at Heavenly Sword Peak, leaving the Sword Control lineage. It was said that her conduct remained unchanged at the Law Enforcement Department, but her personality grew more eccentric. Unexpectedly, they would meet again today. Seeing the person who attacked was Ke Yanhan, Yu Qing immediately grew anxious. Ke Yanhan, once considered for True Disciple, was extraordinarily talented. Years ago, she had already reached Perfect Foundation Establishment. If not for her personality, she would have long since advanced to the Innate Realm. Even Yu Qing dared not claim victory against her. No matter how talented Fang Zhou was, he was only in the Qi Refining Realm and absolutely no match for Ke Yanhan. Given her usual heavy-handedness, Fang Zhou might even be in mortal danger. Yu Qing quickly said to Yan Gulan: ¡°Elder Yan, quickly tell Senior Sister Ke to come back. She will cause trouble.¡± Yan Gulan calmly replied: ¡°Ke Yanhan¡¯s character is solitary and perverse, acting recklessly. She won¡¯t listen to even me.¡± Coldness struck Yu Qing¡¯s heart, instantly understanding Yan Gulan¡¯s strategy. Ke Yanhan caused trouble wherever she went. After joining the Law Enforcement Department, her silence suggested Yan Gulan had firmly subdued her. Yet now Yan Gulan claimed Ke Yanhan wouldn¡¯t listen to her. Yan Gulan was clearly pushing Ke Yanhan to take the blame. If successful, it would be her credit; if things went wrong, Ke Yanhan would bear the blame. Yu Qing didn¡¯t expect Yan Gulan to be so ruthless. No wonder there were rumors within the sect that Yan Gulan was the one backing the Cloud Sea Gang, known for its numerous misdeeds in Yunshan City. Yu Qing¡¯s impression of Yan Gulan worsened significantly, no longer speaking to her, instead focusing her attention on Moon Viewing Peak, ready to act to save Fang Zhou. She couldn¡¯t help Fang Zhou much, only protect his life. Among the disciples on the shuttle, a few recognized Ke Yanhan and instinctively exclaimed, sharing her past deeds and reputation with others, quickly causing a commotion. In the crowd, Lu Qiuling, having heard about Ke Yanhan¡¯s deeds, looked down worriedly. Boss, I finally managed to cling to your powerful leg, don¡¯t die easily. Chu Yunfei and others familiar with Fang Zhou also showed concern but didn¡¯t know what to do. On Moon Viewing Peak, Ke Yanhan and Fang Zhou were sizing each other up. She was a very beautiful woman with long legs and a slim waist, but her aura was extremely cold, giving Fang Zhou the impression of a female instructor in tight clothes and black boots, holding a whip. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ke Yanhan suddenly asked: ¡°Are you that girl Yu Qing¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Her voice carried a faint magnetic quality but also a cold edge, like a winter wind. Fang Zhou raised an eyebrow and smiled: ¡°Why are your thoughts so dirty? Can¡¯t Yu Qing and I have a pure friends-with-benefits relationship?¡± Though he smiled, he was very vigilant in his heart. This woman exerted considerable pressure just now, undoubtedly at Perfect Foundation Establishment. The Heavenly Sword Sect deserved its reputation as a Majory Sect; even the random people who came were experts. Ke Yanhan seemed not to understand what a friends-with-benefits relationship was. A look of confusion flashed in her eyes as she licked her lips and said: ¡°If I kill you, Yu Qing will surely come at me desperately.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s smile faded slightly: ¡°I also want to know, if I kill you, who will come at me desperately?¡± Seemingly never having been spoken to like this, Ke Yanhan was stunned briefly, then couldn¡¯t help but laugh softly. ¡°Haha, fine, try it then.¡± She raised her finger and motioned for Fang Zhou to come. Fang Zhou took a deep breath, silently activating the Qi Gathering Technique and Sword Control Technique. He had used public opinion to corner Yan Gulan into this situation. The crucial point ahead was whether he could defeat the woman in front of him. If he succeeded, everything would be easily managed. If he failed, a month of effort would be wasted. Initially, facing the forced demolition, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t want to make a big deal, so he chose to conceal his strength. Now, he had to go all out. As Fang Zhou adjusted his state, Ke Yanhan, thinking he dared not move, took the initiative to step towards him. Fang Zhou asked quizzically: ¡°You¡¯re not using a sword?¡± As a member of the Heavenly Sword Sect, not using a sword was simply contemptuous. ¡°Against a mere Qi Refining Realm, you want me to use a sword?¡± Ke Yanhan walked faster and faster, eventually rushing at Fang Zhou like a gust of wind, her smile almost perverse: ¡°Are you insulting me?¡± Before finishing her sentence, Fang Zhou¡¯s fist already appeared in her line of sight, striking heavily on her face. The immense force made ripples form across her facial muscles, distorting her whole face in the direction of the blow. ¡°Bam!¡± With a resounding punch, Ke Yanhan was sent flying backwards even faster, rolling on the ground for dozens of meters. Fang Zhou rubbed his fist, a broad smile on his face. ¡°Sorry, I am insulting you, you piece of trash.¡± Chapter 145: 145. How did it suddenly become weak? Chapter 145: 145. How did it suddenly become weak? What happened? Ke Yanhan thought somewhat blankly, but the sharp pain on her face quickly reminded her that she had been knocked away by someone in the Qi Refining Realm. She got up from the ground, half of her face swollen and bloody¡ªthis was supposed to be the physical strength after achieving Foundation Establishment, yet she had been struck like this with a single punch. Touching her swollen face, Ke Yanhan glared at Fang Zhou with eyes that seemed to want to devour him, ¡°You actually dare¡­¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Zhou was striding towards her, and upon hearing, he quickened his pace. With a speed of over twenty points, he sprinted like a ghost. In an instant, he charged to Ke Yanhan, delivering a fierce, straightforward punch. Boosted by nearly thirty points of strength, the punch was like a cannonball, carrying astonishing power. Ke Yanhan was shocked and raised her hand to use the Lotus Palm technique. Disciples of the Sword-Control lineage only practiced swordsmanship. After leaving the Sword-Control lineage, Ke Yanhan learned many other spells from the Heavenly Sword Sect. As she activated the Lotus Palm spell, it immediately transformed into layers of palm prints, resembling blooming lotuses. Each palm print carried a force of a thousand pounds, easily shattering stone. The layers of palm prints struck Fang Zhou¡¯s hand, causing a ferocious storm-like collision sound. However, Fang Zhou¡¯s arm was like a rock on the coast, unwavering, and he directly punched Ke Yanhan. She felt a sharp pain in her abdomen, and her stomach began to twitch in agony, making her bend almost into a shrimp shape. Despite being at Perfect Foundation Establishment, though suffering from a heavy blow, she wouldn¡¯t lose her combat ability immediately. The silk belt at Ke Yanhan¡¯s waist unraveled like a spirit snake, swiftly wrapping around Fang Zhou¡¯s arm, following up his arm, binding both of his arms tightly. Ke Yanhan raised her slender middle finger, aiming at Fang Zhou¡¯s brow. This finger technique, Green Bee Wood Pointing, possessed the power to pierce through gold and stone. However, before her middle finger could touch Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead, it was gripped by an invisible hand. Fang Zhou summoned Hu Lai¡¯s left hand, grabbing Ke Yanhan¡¯s middle finger forcefully and twisting it. Although finger-twisting is usually a childish move in a fight, it worked surprisingly well, causing Ke Yanhan¡¯s face to twist in pain as she let out a scream. Taking advantage of the situation, Fang Zhou kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying and tearing off the silk belt that bound his arms, pursuing her closely, giving her no chance to catch her breath. Ke Yanhan, with strong combat skills and having learned numerous spells, was caught off guard by Fang Zhou¡¯s relentless close-quarters combat. Fang Zhou hadn¡¯t learned any sophisticated combat techniques either; he simply applied the straightforward swordsmanship taught by Ling Xiaoyue, using his fists to mimic sword moves, aiming at vital points and attacking where the enemy would defend. Under the enhancement of his superior physical attributes, each punch and kick from Fang Zhou carried terrifying power. This direct, body-to-body combat was highly unsuitable for Ke Yanhan. Facing Fang Zhou¡¯s powerful onslaught, Ke Yanhan could only react passively, taking hits continually. The thousands of disciples watching the battle from the shuttle were already dumbstruck. Is this the battle of high-level cultivators? Doesn¡¯t look like what I imagined at all! In a novice¡¯s imagination, cultivator battles should be ethereal, graceful, and elegant, no matter how intense the fight, their surroundings should remain spotless. Although their dreams were somewhat shattered, this close-quarters combat seemed pretty thrilling. The disciples watched with boiling blood, eager to cheer for Fang Zhou. Those familiar with Ke Yanhan¡¯s identity were already staring in disbelief. Could it be that the legends they heard were false? Why is Ke Yanhan so weak? Perfect Foundation Establishment, being chased around by someone in the Qi Refining Realm? ¡°Is this the so-called terrifying female demon you talked about? Quite formidable indeed.¡± Chu Yunfei couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, if possible, she might have added a cheeky tone to her comment. The disciple who had been explaining how powerful Ke Yanhan was to Chu Yunfei earlier now felt utterly embarrassed. Senior Sister Ke, oh, Senior Sister Ke, other Foundation Establishment cultivators are so powerful, why are you so underwhelming? Of course, some could clearly see that Ke Yanhan was indeed powerful, but Fang Zhou was even more impressive. An ordinary Qi Refining disciple daring to participate in this battle would likely be instantly defeated. Yu Qing was one of those who realized this, her reaction similar to the disciples¡¯, standing stunned. What shocked her wasn¡¯t Ke Yanhan¡¯s failure, but Fang Zhou¡¯s sudden display of combat prowess. It¡¯s like discovering the black-and-white bear you¡¯ve carefully protected suddenly reveals an ability to smack you down and bite your bones to bits. This feeling gave her a sense of being deceived. If you¡¯re this powerful, why did I treat you like a vulnerable bunny, secretly mocking me? Yu Qing¡¯s rare displeasure showed, but a captivating smile still played on her lips, her heart finally at ease. Unlike Yu Qing, Yan Gulan¡¯s expression turned sour. A month ago, Fang Zhou caught Yan Gulan¡¯s palm unharmed; since then, she had thoroughly investigated him, discovering his outstanding talent during the entry-level tests, catching the attention of three true cultivators. Hence, him catching her palm wasn¡¯t surprising. Yet she never expected even Ke Yanhan couldn¡¯t handle him, causing Yan Gulan to be secretly shocked. Just how formidable is this guy? Yan Gulan regretted not taking a firm stance with him back then; now things had escalated, becoming difficult to manage. On Moon Viewing Peak, Ke Yanhan was once again sent flying by Fang Zhou, her state miserable. She gasped heavily, glaring coldly at Fang Zhou, as an earring dropped from her ear and transformed into a cold light, shooting fiercely at Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou had anticipated her move. With a thought, his sword box emitted a sword hum, and the Xuanyuan Sword shot out, colliding with Ke Yanhan¡¯s spirit sword. ¡°You said earlier using a sword was an insult to you?¡± Fang Zhou looked at her in surprise, ¡°Now you¡¯re actively using a sword, do you truly want me to insult you?¡± He looked apologetically at her, ¡°In front of this crowd, isn¡¯t this inappropriate? Are you that desperate?¡± Ke Yanhan nearly choked on blood in anger, she desperately operated the sword-controlling heart formula, trying to maneuver her spirit sword past Xuanyuan Sword to attack Fang Zhou. Yet Xuanyuan Sword¡¯s defense was extremely tight, almost forming an impenetrable net, completely blocking Ke Yanhan¡¯s spirit sword. They no longer engaged in close-quarters combat but switched to sword dueling. Ke Yanhan¡¯s spirit sword seemed like it was made of ice crystals, thin and long, utterly transparent, emitting a faint blue light, beautiful and dazzling. While Fang Zhou¡¯s Xuanyuan Sword was dull, like a cheap iron sword bought from a roadside blacksmith for a few pieces of silver. The two swords were like a delicate rich girl and a strong poor boy, colliding madly in the air, creating a storm-like sound. Their speed was too fast, visible only as intertwined blue and gray lights. Fang Zhou and Ke Yanhan stood in the midst, letting the two sharp spirit swords whirl and clash around them. This sword duel was even more risky than the previous intense close-quarters combat, any slight mistake, no matter how strong the physical body, would end in being severed by a sword, beyond saving. Chapter 146: 146. Developed a strange new hobby Chapter 146: 146. Developed a strange new hobby Only by engaging in a sword duel can one truly imagine the combat between cultivators, but it is far more dangerous. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The spectators instinctively held their breath, afraid to make a sound that might disturb the duel below. Yu Qing¡¯s heart, which had previously settled down, was now racing again. As a true disciple of the Sword Control Technique lineage, she was most familiar with the dangers of a sword duel. This form of combat is very taxing on one¡¯s mind. If one¡¯s concentration is excessively depleted, it is easy to make mistakes and become vulnerable to the opponent¡¯s attacks. Ke Yanhan also practiced the sword-controlling heart formula, Fang Zhou certainly couldn¡¯t match her in controlling the Spirit Sword. Yu Qing prepared herself mentally, ready to intervene and stop this futile battle the moment Fang Zhou showed signs of weariness. On Moon Viewing Peak, the clash of two Spirit Swords continued. Ke Yanhan was growing increasingly shocked. Using Sword Control is extremely taxing on one¡¯s mind, especially under the Innate Realm where spiritual energy cannot be externalized. Ke Yanhan relied on the sword-controlling heart formula and the power of her Spirit Sword to control it, requiring her full concentration, and even then, she couldn¡¯t maintain it for long. Ke Yanhan had been attacking for a long time without success, her concentration was already half depleted, and her head was aching. Yet Fang Zhou still appeared calm and composed. This made her feel like spitting out blood in frustration; it¡¯s bad enough she couldn¡¯t win in hand-to-hand combat, but now she couldn¡¯t even win in a real sword fight? Is her Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation a fake? Suddenly, a faint blue powder fell from the sky, shocking Ke Yanhan to her core. The powder was all falling from her Spirit Sword. Her Spirit Sword had been chipped and gouged by Fang Zhou¡¯s dull iron sword. Under this double blow, blood finally spilled from Ke Yanhan¡¯s lips. Losing her rationality, she snarled grimly, ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Her Spirit Sword instantly emitted a blue glow, seemingly transforming into a frost-like mist that bypassed Fang Zhou¡¯s Xuanyuan Sword and enveloped him. Yu Qing, who was watching intently, turned pale. Her Spirit Sword immediately transformed into a blue streak of light, shooting out to stop Ke Yanhan. This time, Yan Gulan did not stop her. Facing the frost, Fang Zhou finally felt the danger. But he did not panic. In his Sword Control Technique state, he could sense a towering Sword Intent approaching him. This Sword Intent was identical to the thousands he had felt on Sword Burial Mountain, only differing in size. This Sword Intent could be communicated with, understood, and forcibly controlled by Fang Zhou, who had learned the Sword Control Technique. When he initially discovered this, Fang Zhou had studied it for a long time, eventually devising a very crude move. This move did not have a name yet, but Fang Zhou was willing to call it ¡°Husband¡¯s Current Offense!¡± Now was the perfect time to test this move, so Fang Zhou did not run. Instead, he stood his ground and pushed the Sword Control Technique to its limit. Under Fang Zhou¡¯s forceful control, the towering Sword Intent was torn open from the middle. The frost hit the ground, instantly creating numerous deep pits, with dirt flying everywhere, resembling machine gun fire. The only intact spot was where Fang Zhou stood. That spot was the gap he had torn open using the Sword Control Technique. At this moment, Yu Qing¡¯s Spirit Sword had just arrived, hovering beside Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou walked towards Ke Yanhan, slowly advancing until he stood before her. Ke Yanhan, having forcibly used Sword Intent, was now pale and drenched in sweat. She relied on sheer willpower to stay upright and, seeing Fang Zhou before her, forced a smile and said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe I lost to a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator. The victor commands; do as you wish.¡± ¡°You said it, don¡¯t go back on your word!¡± Fang Zhou responded with an embarrassed smile, then turned and entered the hut. The thousands of disciples on the shuttle were eagerly awaiting to see what he would do. Soon, Fang Zhou emerged, holding four or five arm-thick wooden sticks. Ke Yanhan misunderstood, thinking Fang Zhou was going to beat her severely. She sneered and pointed at her head, ¡°Go ahead, hit here!¡± Ke Yanhan guessed correctly at the beginning but missed the end. Fang Zhou indeed planned to beat her severely, but hitting the head would be boring. Fang Zhou walked behind Ke Yanhan, kicked her to the ground, then raised the wooden stick. ¡°What are you going to do¡ªah!¡± Ke Yanhan tried to rise, but Fang Zhou struck her buttocks with the stick. Fang Zhou did not hold back; with this blow, an ordinary person would have flesh torn and their buttocks bruised. Ke Yanhan, having a Perfect Foundation Establishment Realm physique, could endure the blow but the pain was real. Ke Yanhan¡¯s face turned crimson; she never expected to be publicly humiliated by a man in such a manner. Ke Yanhan struggled to rise and fight Fang Zhou, but he struck her buttocks again, knocking her back down. ¡°How dare you humiliate me¡ªah!¡± Ke Yanhan kept roaring furiously at Fang Zhou, while he continued to rain down furious blows on her buttocks. The entire Moon Viewing Peak was dead silent, with thousands of disciples watching Fang Zhou beat Ke Yanhan¡¯s buttocks in a daze. Yan Gulan¡¯s face was livid. She wished Fang Zhou would impulsively cause severe harm to Ke Yanhan, forcing the sect to intervene. But Fang Zhou chose this method, tarnishing the Law Enforcement Department¡¯s reputation without causing Ke Yanhan serious harm. Each blow from Fang Zhou felt like it was striking her face. Just as Yan Gulan was about to lash out, Yu Qing suddenly said, ¡°Elder Yan, do you really want this matter to be widely known?¡± Yan Gulan turned to her: ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yu Qing sighed, recalling what Fang Zhou had told her: ¡°You might not know, but the Wangyue Daily has already been sold to Yunshan City. Today¡¯s events could be reported.¡± Yan Gulan had not cared about this before. She said in a deep voice, ¡°So what¡­¡± She paused mid-sentence, a shock unconsciously silencing her. Earlier that morning, Fang Zhou had deliberately sold newspapers, detailing today¡¯s events. If the paper had reached Yunshan City, today¡¯s events would indeed spread. Yan Gulan gasped. She might not understand public opinion, but she knew the proverb ¡°rumors can destroy a person.¡± If she solidified this matter, the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s reputation would be¡­ Yan Gulan gave Fang Zhou a long, deep look, then suddenly flicked her sleeves. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± She turned and led the Law Enforcement Department disciples away. None of the other disciples left; such a public display of buttocks beating was too rare to miss. Seeing Yan Gulan leave, Yu Qing quickly landed on Moon Viewing Peak. Fang Zhou was still wildly beating Ke Yanhan¡¯s buttocks, having already broken one stick. He picked up another. Ke Yanhan turned back, glaring at Fang Zhou with hatred: ¡°I won¡¯t let you off¡­ ah!¡± Fang Zhou struck down again. He was not only humiliating this vile woman but also venting his pent-up anger. Ke Yanhan realized that the louder she shouted, the harder Fang Zhou hit. She instead buried her head in her arms, gritting her teeth, and made no more sounds. Using her hatred for Fang Zhou to cover the pain radiating from her buttocks. She endured, and the pain seemed to vanish, replaced by an unfamiliar, strange sensation. Chapter 147: 147. Justice is not as good as an experienced driver Chapter 147: 147. Justice is not as good as an experienced driver Fang Zhou kept hitting nonstop, until several wooden sticks were broken, with only one left. Yu Qing finally couldn¡¯t bear watching any longer. Thinking Fang Zhou¡¯s anger had subsided, she stepped forward to advise, ¡°Taoist Fang, stop hitting.¡± Fang Zhou also felt it was about time. With his last hit, he broke the last stick directly. ¡°Hmm~~¡± Ke Yanhan, who had been gritting her teeth without making a sound, suddenly let out a strange muffled groan. This sound did not resemble the panting of pain but had a faintly coquettish flavor. Fang Zhou looked down, only to see Ke Yanhan¡¯s skin flush red all over her body. She buried her head deep in her arm, her body trembling in pain. Fang Zhou¡¯s enlightened nose faintly smelled a strange scent. Coupled with Ke Yanhan¡¯s appearance, Fang Zhou was shocked. Damn, could this nasty woman have awakened some strange fetish from being beaten by me? sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh no, Senior Sister Ke has been damaged by your beating!¡± Yu Qing, this pure girl, thought Ke Yanhan¡¯s appearance was due to Fang Zhou¡¯s beating and hurriedly stepped forward to support her. Although Ke Yanhan¡¯s actions made Yu Qing very unhappy, she was still her fellow senior sister and hadn¡¯t committed any unforgivable sins, so Yu Qing didn¡¯t want to see her so miserable. Ke Yanhan did not refuse Yu Qing¡¯s help. She was drenched in sweat, her thin clothes clinging tightly to her burning skin, looking like she had just been fished out of the water. This appearance was very much like the exhaustion after a severe illness, but Fang Zhou felt it was more like another state. After being helped up, Ke Yanhan coldly stared at Fang Zhou, not saying a word, neither threatening him nor showing any sign of submission. In those water-filled eyes, there indeed was hatred toward Fang Zhou but it was vague and unclear. Fang Zhou¡¯s heart sank gradually, damn it, this woman really had been beaten out of sorts. Yu Qing didn¡¯t notice Ke Yanhan¡¯s abnormality. She said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang, well, I¡¯ll first take Senior Sister Ke for treatment. If you have any issues, you can come find me.¡± Quickly, quickly, take her away, the farther the better. Fang Zhou forced himself to stay calm and nodded, then said, ¡°I hope you can explain to your senior sister that there¡¯s no deep-seated hatred between us, right? There¡¯s no need for her to keep targeting me.¡± Ke Yanhan lowered her head, still not saying a word. Yu Qing gave Fang Zhou a strange look, nodded, then helped Ke Yanhan to leave. After the two left, Fang Zhou finally perked up and loudly said to the many disciples who had not yet left the scene, ¡°Thank you all for your support today. If nothing unexpected happens, the Wangyue Daily can continue its publication. This is all thanks to your efforts in stopping the evil demolition and upholding justice. On behalf of all the staff of the Daily, thank you!¡± The disciples listened, their blood boiling, as if they had indeed accomplished a righteous deed. In the crowd, Li Yunlong initially wanted to raise her arm and shout Fang Zhou¡¯s name, but she realized she still didn¡¯t know what Fang Zhou¡¯s name was, so she could only shout, ¡°We want Lao Shiji, we want Lao Shiji!¡± The surrounding disciples responded in unison, more and more of them shouting Lao Shiji. These scattered shouts eventually converged into a unified voice ¡ª Lao Shiji, we want Lao Shiji. Thousands of people shouting the same phrase is extremely heart-stirring. This was far louder than the earlier protest against the demolition. Fang Zhou¡¯s expression stiffened, damn it, I worked hard to shout all those justice slogans, but in the end, you guys just want Lao Shiji. ¡­ The disciples eventually dispersed, not lingering for too long. However, they were all excited about participating in a major event, and on their way back, they were still discussing it. One female disciple even sighed, ¡°Ah, I wish a handsome young man would publicly torment me, I¡¯m so jealous of Senior Sister Ke.¡± Her fellow senior sisters sneered, ¡°Wake up, a handsome young man wouldn¡¯t have time to torment you.¡± Lu Qiuling quietly remained on Moon Viewing Peak, waiting until the other disciples had left, then she appeared, smiling at Fang Zhou, ¡°Congratulations, boss, on overcoming the difficulties.¡± Fang Zhou glanced at Heavenly Sword Peak beyond the sea of clouds, smiling slightly, ¡°Hehe, this matter isn¡¯t over yet.¡± Lu Qiuling was surprised, ¡°What, it¡¯s already caused such a commotion, and Elder Yan still won¡¯t stop?¡± No, I mean, I won¡¯t stop. But such things didn¡¯t need to be told to Lu Qiuling. Fang Zhou said to her, ¡°Investigate Elder Yan¡¯s details for me during this period, the more detailed the better. Expenses can be reimbursed.¡± Lu Qiuling didn¡¯t expect Fang Zhou to dared to retaliate against Yan Gulan, she thought he was just trying to prevent a second retaliation from Yan Gulan. She immediately said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, boss, I assure you I¡¯ll investigate clearly, no need to worry about money. We¡¯re in this together through thick and thin now.¡± Lu Qiuling knew very well that helping someone in times of need was far more valuable than helping someone who was already successful. Now was the time to raise her status in Fang Zhou¡¯s heart, and there would be many opportunities to earn back multiple times in the future. Lu Qiuling took her orders and left, and Moon Viewing Peak became quiet again. Fang Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief. After running back and forth for this past month, he finally got some results. Yan Gulan failed to demolish Moon Viewing Peak today, and won¡¯t have another chance in the future. Unfortunately, the Wangyue Daily he worked hard to create would likely not be able to continue. But the Wangyue Daily was created in the first place for Moon Viewing Peak, and now that the goal has been achieved, it might still have residual value, which is not bad. He planned to sell the newspaper to Yunshan City as a backup plan since the Heavenly Sword Sect valued their reputation highly and would not want to bear the stigma of bullying the weak. That¡¯s why Fang Zhou chose to use the weapon of public opinion. Valuing reputation was an obvious weak point of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Of course, this kind of thing could only be done once; it wouldn¡¯t work the next time. Everyone knows the idiom ¡°public opinion can melt gold.¡± The higher-ups in the Heavenly Sword Sect might not have thought about using public opinion for anything, but it doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t understand it; no one is foolish. Now that Fang Zhou has done this, if they still don¡¯t understand how to use public opinion, then they would truly be fools. Therefore, the Heavenly Sword Sect would definitely not let the Wangyue Daily, a tool for manufacturing public opinion, remain in Fang Zhou¡¯s hands for him to smear the Heavenly Sword Sect. As for when and how to take this tool away, that depended on the wisdom of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s higher-ups. This matter spread quickly within the Heavenly Sword Sect, reaching every corner, causing quite a stir, with disciples constantly debating it during their free moments. Most of the public opinion supported Fang Zhou, but there were some who opposed him, most of them male disciples, who despised him for enticing Senior Sister Yu Qing and causing a mess in the Heavenly Sword Sect. The higher-ups of the Heavenly Sword Sect, on the other hand, maintained a peculiar silence. After returning, Yan Gulan didn¡¯t make any moves, nor did the Law Enforcement Department mention the forced demolition of Moon Viewing Peak again. But to think Yan Gulan would just stop here would be a big mistake. She had lost significant face this time, and keeping quiet now was merely to avoid the heat. She would certainly retaliate against Fang Zhou afterwards. The public opinion fermented for several days, gradually losing its fervor under the cold treatment of the Heavenly Sword Sect. On Fang Zhou¡¯s side, the Heavenly Sword Sect didn¡¯t come to trouble him. True Master Yu Jian even sent Yu Qing to convey a message, asking him to clarify the forced demolition issue in the newspaper to clear the dirt thrown at the Heavenly Sword Sect. After listening, Fang Zhou couldn¡¯t help but sigh, these Heavenly Sword Sect higher-ups were really old foxes, truly patient. Fortunately, Fang Zhou¡¯s opponent was Yan Gulan. If he were targeted by these old foxes, that would be truly problematic. Chapter 148: 148. Indulging in reading the news, neglecting Cultivation. Chapter 148: 148. Indulging in reading the news, neglecting Cultivation. Yu Qing hurriedly walked on the road to Sword Lake. Occasionally, she encountered some disciples who were chatting. With her excellent hearing, Yu Qing could hear that they were discussing the content of the Wangyue Daily. This deepened the worry in Yu Qing¡¯s heart. It had been seven days since Yan Gulan¡¯s failure to forcibly demolish Moon Viewing Peak. Heavenly Sword Sect had returned to peace, and Fang Zhou continued to publish the newspaper, but instead of releasing an issue every other day, it was now every three days. This naturally caused strong dissatisfaction among the readers. Unfortunately, no matter how much they cursed, Fang Zhou accepted it humbly and continued with the next issue. He monopolized the industry and was not worried about sales at all; he could sell it however he wanted. Even if he sold a lump of dogshit, they would curse and then still eat it. Thus, the popularity of Wangyue Daily remained as high as ever. In fact, after switching to every three days, the popularity notably increased because scarcity made things valuable. During this period, the disciples stopped playing chess, stopped painting, and spent all their free time discussing the content of the Wangyue Daily. Every time Wangyue Daily was published, plenty of disciples stayed up late that night, causing them to be listless the next day. After noticing this situation, Yu Qing conducted a special investigation and found that in the month or so since Wangyue Daily started issuing, the disciples¡¯ cultivation progress had clearly declined, while the kitchen¡¯s vegetable consumption had increased significantly. Yu Qing saw this and grew anxious, which was the reason she came to Sword Lake today. Entering Sword Lake, Yu Qing saw True Master Yu Jian sitting above the lake. His eyes were closed, and his whole body was surrounded by energy, clearly in the midst of cultivation. Yu Qing saluted her master and then conveyed her observations and her purpose. True Master Yu Jian slowly opened his eyes: ¡°Yu Qing, what do you think?¡± Yu Qing felt deeply conflicted. Fang Zhou was her close friend, and seeing his newspaper sell well naturally made her happy. But Fang Zhou¡¯s newspaper had already severely affected the cultivation of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples, and as a True Disciple, Yu Qing could not ignore this. Facing a dilemma between public and private interests, Yu Qing did not know how to choose and could only seek her master¡¯s advice. Now hearing her master ask her what she thought, she could not give an answer. Looking at the troubled disciple, True Master Yu Jian smiled warmly: ¡°Do not be burdened. If a mere newspaper can cause so many disciples to relax, it only proves that their determination to seek the path is not strong. The road of cultivation has countless hardships and obstacles, if they can¡¯t even pass this small test, then it would be better to give up the pursuit early.¡± Finishing his words, after Yu Qing showed a sudden realization, True Master Yu Jian continued: ¡°If you still have doubts, you can go and ask that kid. See what he thinks; he is quite clever and should have a solution. Also, bring him to Sword Lake.¡± Yu Qing was quite surprised, not expecting her master to want to meet Fang Zhou. Could it be that she was going to trick Taoist Fang into staying here? Impossible, impossible. No matter how shameless her master was, he wouldn¡¯t be this shameless. ¡°Thank you, master, for the clarification. I understand what to do now.¡± Yu Qing saluted True Master Yu Jian and then left. After she left, True Master Yu Jian took out the half-read newspaper from behind him, flipped to the novel section, and started reading with great interest. ¡­ ¡°What? You say the disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect are obsessed with the newspaper and neglecting their cultivation?¡± This was the question Yu Qing posed to Fang Zhou when she met him again. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Yu Qing nodded: ¡°Every day, the disciples talk about your newspaper content, even neglecting their cultivation. If this continues, their minds dedicated to seeking the path will disappear. I have already asked my master, and he asked me to seek your advice.¡± Saying this, Yu Qing cupped her hands and saluted Fang Zhou: ¡°Please, Taoist Fang, teach me a solution.¡± Fang Zhou was quite speechless; he wanted to say Yu Qing was making a fuss over nothing. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The newspaper was just leisure reading, no different from playing chess or painting. If Heavenly Sword Sect disciples were obsessed with the newspaper and neglecting cultivation, it indicated their pursuit of the path and self-control were insufficient, and they should just go down the mountain early. However, this was the first time Yu Qing sought his help, and it was True Master Yu Jian who sent her here, so Fang Zhou dared not be careless. Solving this matter was also quite simple. Fang Zhou helped Yu Qing up, smiled and said: ¡°This is a trivial matter. The disciples you mentioned merely lack a role model. Once the current serial novel ends, I will serialize a classic by Lao Shiji, which has a cultivation theme. It will ensure that the disciples will become deeply immersed in cultivation after reading it.¡± Yu Qing was surprised that the issue troubling her for so long was easily solved by Fang Zhou, feeling a bit embarrassed. After thinking for a while, she took out a manuscript from her sleeve, blushing, and handed it to Fang Zhou: ¡°Taoist Fang, after much deliberation, I think you¡¯re right. Publishing my ideas in the newspaper can help find like-minded people and encourage disciples to strengthen their dedication to the path. This is something I wrote before; the writing is immature and my insights are shallow. I fear it may be laughable, but please review it.¡± As a literary young woman, Yu Qing had undoubtedly written novels, but she usually kept them hidden for her own enjoyment. After being influenced by Fang Zhou for so long and seeing other disciples¡¯ submissions being accepted by Wangyue Daily, she could no longer resist taking it out. Fang Zhou was very surprised, not expecting Yu Qing would indeed submit a manuscript, especially since she took a long time to consider, he thought she had given up. Fang Zhou collected Yu Qing¡¯s manuscript and solemnly said: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will read your manuscript carefully and won¡¯t laugh, no matter how funny it is.¡± Yu Qing slightly exhaled in relief, trying to hide her embarrassment, she changed the topic: ¡°By the way, my master asked me to invite you to Sword Lake to meet you.¡± Fang Zhou¡¯s heart tensed; he thought it was finally happening. For some time, he had been waiting for Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s upper echelons to react and discuss the Wangyue Daily with him. After all, having seen the power of public opinion, the Heavenly Sword Sect would not leave it in the hands of an outsider. Unexpectedly, the old foxes of the Heavenly Sword Sect were quite patient, only acting today. True Master Yu Jian was indeed the best choice to approach Fang Zhou. Her position was high enough to represent the Heavenly Sword Sect, and she had a bit of connection with Fang Zhou. Having True Master Yu Jian involved also showed substantial respect for Fang Zhou, not treating him as an insignificant pawn. There might be some influence from Ling Xiaoyue, but it also proved that Heavenly Sword Sect was genuinely a reputable sect, uninterested in bullying the weak. Fang Zhou felt a bit guilty for throwing mud at Potian Sword Sect earlier. But remembering Yan Gulan, Fang Zhou¡¯s guilt disappeared. Every prestigious sect has its parasites, and the trouble caused by parasites naturally makes the entire sect carry the burden. Fang Zhou smiled at Yu Qing: ¡°True Master Yu Jian wishes to meet me, which is a great honor. Please, lead the way.¡± ¡°No need to be polite, follow me.¡± Yu Qing immediately took Fang Zhou to Sword Lake. When they reached a higher position on Yujian Peak, Fang Zhou suddenly pointed to a certain spot: ¡°Eh, what is that?¡± Chapter 149: 149. The master and apprentice both deserve a beating Chapter 149: 149. The master and apprentice both deserve a beating Fang Zhou had been to Yujian Peak many times, but each time he only wandered around the outskirts and had never ventured deep inside. Following Yu Qing to a place higher than Chaoyang Palace, he saw a vast square filled with various construction materials and tools, as if they were building some kind of structure. Curious, Fang Zhou asked, ¡°What is that?¡± Yu Qing explained to Fang Zhou that in half a month, it would be the anniversary of the founding of the Heavenly Sword Sect. They held a celebration each year. In previous years, the celebrations were casual and low-key, but this year was different. This year¡¯s anniversary coincided with the hundredth year of the Sect Master¡¯s tenure. She¡¯s very concerned about appearances, so she decided to throw a grand celebration. Of course, the three factions within the sect would go to great lengths to make the celebration splendid; whoever pleased the Sect Master would find it easier to negotiate next year¡¯s budget. What¡¯s being constructed now is a statue of the Sect Master. She plans to have statues of herself built in all three factions so that future generations can admire her supreme glory. Fang Zhou didn¡¯t expect such a grand affair. This Sect Master really knew how to toss things around. He asked Yu Qing, ¡°Has your Heavenly Sword Sect Master achieved any significant feats?¡± Yu Qing struggled for a while before finally saying, ¡°The Sect Master has been diligently cultivating on Heavenly Sword Peak, uninterested in worldly affairs, solely dedicated to the Dao, a model for us all.¡± These words somewhat missed the point, so Fang Zhou translated them himself: The Sect Master is a layabout who never handles matters and stays secluded in Heavenly Sword Peak, claiming to be engrossed in cultivation, possibly scratching his foot while reading his newspaper now. Fang Zhou understood: the Sect Master has been reclusive for a century without achieving any notable deeds. And yet, the Heavenly Sword Sect still fawns over such a Sect Master. They¡¯re basically a bunch of sycophants. Fang Zhou pointed to the workers busy on the construction site and asked curiously, ¡°Does the Heavenly Sword Sect also have disciples acting as craftsmen?¡± Yu Qing shook her head and laughed, ¡°Taoist Fang, you jest. These craftsmen are from Yunshan City, and they handle all the construction affairs within the sect.¡± That made sense. Since they came to cultivate, they wouldn¡¯t build houses themselves. Even if the disciples were willing, they wouldn¡¯t be able to, as building houses requires technical skill. Fang Zhou gazed at the construction site, pondering for a while before finally leaving at Yu Qing¡¯s urging. Sword Lake is True Master Yu Jian¡¯s domain, located at the deepest part of Yujian Peak, a taboo ground within taboo grounds, accessible without notice only by True Disciples. Unauthorized intruders would be pierced by Invisible Sword Energy. Upon arriving, Fang Zhou didn¡¯t need to use the Sword Control Technique to feel the countless sharp Sword Intents permeating the air. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He wouldn¡¯t dare use Sword Control Technique to provoke these Sword Intents; this was True Master Yu Jian¡¯s territory. Provoking her on her turf would be a death wish. The terrain outside Sword Lake formed a strange mountain peak, covered in black and red jagged rocks, resembling an upside-down trumpet. Fang Zhou glanced at it and thought, this looks like a volcano crater. However, the entire Yujian Peak stood upright and steep like a sword, vastly different from a volcano. It was unclear if the terrain changes caused this peculiar sight or if it was man-made. After all, top-tier cultivators possess the ability to transform the landscape; creating a wonder isn¡¯t difficult. Sword Lake lies inside this volcanic crater, a vast lake formed by an extinct volcano. Fang Zhou followed Yu Qing along the rugged tunnel to the lake, immediately stunned by the internal scenery. Though it was daytime outside, inside it felt like night, with a sky full of stars overhead, their light twinkling. Fang Zhou suspected these stars were real, visible through the atmosphere. The enormous lake was clear and transparent, with countless luminous aquatic plants on the lakebed and numerous fish swimming leisurely. Looking closely, Fang Zhou realized these fish were actually swords. Nima, even swords had become sentient! Could this lake water be a nutrient solution? After feeling it, Fang Zhou found the water incredibly rich in Spiritual Energy, causing an urge to jump in for a bath. True Master Yu Jian sat cross-legged at the lake¡¯s center. As Yu Qing brought Fang Zhou over, she slowly opened her eyes and greeted him warmly, ¡°Young friend Fang, we meet again.¡± Fang Zhou felt a vast aura enveloping him, gentle and soft, fresh and pleasing, like being in the spring grasslands. Finally, Fang Zhou understood why Yu Qing had exuded poison upon first meeting at Moon Viewing Peak; it was inherited. However, Yu Qing¡¯s poison paled in comparison to True Master Yu Jian¡¯s. This master-disciple pair were like walking aphrodisiacs, exuding charm wherever they went, making people want to stick close to them. Suppressing the comfort from inside out, Fang Zhou saluted True Master Yu Jian, ¡°Good morning, have you eaten?¡± True Master Yu Jian and Yu Qing stared at him in shock. You¡¯ve come to a forbidden area reserved for True Disciples, meeting one of the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s three giants alone. A senior cultivator from the Cultivation World calls you ¡®young friend¡¯ and holds you in high regard. This kind of treatment would make anyone else ecstatic. But your first words are calmly asking if she¡¯s eaten? I eat your big head ghost! Yu Qing awkwardly tugged at Fang Zhou, ¡°Taoist Fang, Master has been fasting for many years.¡± Fang Zhou looked at her strangely, ¡°Does fasting mean you can¡¯t eat? Even Ling Xiaoyue fasted, yet she stuffs her mouth each time she sees food.¡± True Master Yu Jian also showed an amused smile. Despite cultivating for centuries, no one had ever asked her face-to-face if she¡¯d eaten. ¡°Yu Qing, you may leave first. I have some words to speak alone with young friend Fang.¡± Yu Qing could only bow and leave. She secretly signaled Fang Zhou to be mindful of his words. Although Master had a gentle disposition and rarely got angry, Fang Zhou was Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s disciple, and Ling Xiaoyue had angered True Master Yu Jian many times. Besides, after such a long time of interaction, Yu Qing had realized that Fang Zhou appeared harmless but was actually a troublemaker. Fang Zhou found Yu Qing¡¯s signal difficult to decipher. Was True Master Yu Jian asking Yu Qing to guard outside and force herself on him? If so, that would be interesting, but it¡¯s unlikely. Fang Zhou knew that True Master Yu Jian¡¯s reason for summoning him was to discuss the Wangyue Daily. As expected, after Yu Qing left, True Master Yu Jian said to Fang Zhou, ¡°Your newspaper is well done, very interesting.¡± Fang Zhou nodded, ¡°Yes, I think so too, very happy.¡± True Master Yu Jian: ¡°¡­¡± You¡¯re a bit hard to converse with. However, with centuries of experience, True Master Yu Jian wasn¡¯t awkward. She continued, ¡°The sect¡¯s disciples are so engrossed in the newspaper that they¡¯re neglecting their cultivation.¡± Fang Zhou nodded, ¡°Yes, they are diligent learners, I¡¯m quite pleased.¡± True Master Yu Jian: ¡°¡­¡± Previously it hadn¡¯t been noticed, but this lad¡¯s conversation was as irksome as his master¡¯s. Truly asking for a beating. Chapter 150: 150. Take as much as you want. Chapter 150: 150. Take as much as you want. True Master Yu Jian naturally wouldn¡¯t get angry easily, but she wasn¡¯t interested in continuing to go in circles with Fang Zhou either. She directly said, ¡°You are a smart kid, this newspaper is quite good, even we elders like to read it, but you can¡¯t use it to stir trouble.¡± This was an accusation that he was using public opinion to incite the disciples to cause trouble, and slandering the Heavenly Sword Sect. Fang Zhou showed a very innocent expression, spreading his hands and said, ¡°I only spoke the truth, without any embellishment.¡± True Master Yu Jian looked at him with a faint smile, ¡°Do you think you and your master occupying Moon Viewing Peak is justified?¡± Fang Zhou grinned and raised two fingers, ¡°Probably more justified than bullying me while my master is away a little bit.¡± His face was smiling, but he was very tense inside. This sentence was to test True Master Yu Jian and the Heavenly Sword Sect¡¯s attitude. If True Master Yu Jian continued to pursue the matter, it would prove that the Heavenly Sword Sect did not intend to let it go, and might even get involved personally. Then it would be over for him, he could only escape first and wait for Ling Xiaoyue to come back. Fang Zhou nervously waited for a few seconds, True Master Yu Jian then slowly said, ¡°Elder Yan acted too rashly, but it was for the sect¡¯s sake, you also made her lose face, let¡¯s put this matter to rest.¡± Upon hearing this, Fang Zhou deeply sighed in relief, good, it seemed that the high-levels of the Heavenly Sword Sect did not intend to pursue this matter, maybe they hadn¡¯t thought of a solution yet and found it better to maintain the status quo. As for the matter with Yan Gulan, that would be a joke, when the heat is over, Yan Gulan would definitely find an opportunity to retaliate against him. But since the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t get involved, the rest would be his personal vendetta with Yan Gulan, which was exactly what Fang Zhou was happy to see. Meanwhile, Fang Zhou also found it strange, True Master Yu Jian was being too gentle and amiable towards him, could it be she hadn¡¯t given up on poaching him? This was indeed guessed right by Fang Zhou, although True Master Yu Jian was generous and gentle, she wasn¡¯t so amiable to everyone. Most disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t have a chance to speak a word to her from entry-level to their demise. If it wasn¡¯t for her coveting Fang Zhou¡¯s talent and her obsession with poaching Xiaoyue, True Master Yu Jian wouldn¡¯t have bothered with such a trivial matter. After conveying to Fang Zhou that the Heavenly Sword Sect wouldn¡¯t hold him responsible, True Master Yu Jian then asked, ¡°What are your plans for the future of the Wangyue Daily?¡± Fang Zhou gave True Master Yu Jian a surprised look, according to his worst-case scenario, the Heavenly Sword Sect would immediately revoke the operating rights and publication authorization of Wangyue Daily. Facing Fang Zhou¡¯s inquisitive gaze, True Master Yu Jian said sternly, ¡°Our sect is an orthodox sect, not like your master, that kind of hooligan!¡± Fang Zhou got it instantly, an orthodox sect, they have to act honorably, their behavior cannot be too ugly. The key is that Fang Zhou has a troublesome master behind him, who cannot be easily pinched. But as for the weapon of public opinion, after seeing Fang Zhou¡¯s manipulations, the Heavenly Sword Sect understood how to use it, naturally they couldn¡¯t leave it in the hands of an outsider. So this was letting Fang Zhou name his conditions and voluntarily transfer the newspaper. Fang Zhou thought for a moment and said, ¡°I can change Wangyue Daily to Heavenly Sword Daily, fully managed by the Heavenly Sword Sect, as long as the True Master personally writes a deed for Moon Viewing Peak.¡± The remaining value of Wangyue Daily in his hands was already not much, he couldn¡¯t sustain it much longer. After this month, Fang Zhou¡¯s good content was almost exhausted, he could only rely on contributions from submissions to support most of the content. The most valuable asset of Wangyue Daily now was the IP of ¡°Old Tipsy¡±, but if the Heavenly Sword Sect started to sweep out the erotica, he would be doomed, while the Heavenly Sword Sect could start their own newspaper and kick Wangyue Daily out. The Heavenly Sword Sect may not have thought of this now, but they would eventually understand. Before they understood, using the remaining value of Wangyue Daily to solve the hidden troubles of Moon Viewing Peak was a worthwhile deal. Whether the Heavenly Sword Sect would agree, Fang Zhou had no assurance, he could only take it one step at a time. After hearing Fang Zhou¡¯s suggestion, True Master Yu Jian pondered and said, ¡°You can go back first, you¡¯ll get a reply within three days.¡± Fang Zhou nodded and took a lingering look at Sword Lake. True Master Yu Jian noticed his gaze and smiled warmly, ¡°The water of Sword Lake can nourish Sword Spirits, even ordinary mortal iron soaked in it can become Spirit Swords, if you like, take some back.¡± Fang Zhou was pleasantly surprised, ¡°Really?¡± True Master Yu Jian nodded, she was making an implicit investment, letting Fang Zhou know the benefits of the Heavenly Sword Sect and leave Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s clutches as soon as possible. Fang Zhou took off the gourd from his waist and said embarrassedly, ¡°True Master, can I take more?¡± His pretending to be immature made True Master Yu Jian laugh, ¡°No matter, fill it up, take as much as you can.¡± This Sword Lake water contained extremely strong Spiritual Energy, normal Magic Treasures could not hold much. When this kid found out, he would likely be disappointed. True Master Yu Jian watched joyfully as Fang Zhou started to collect Sword Lake water with the gourd, with the mentality of an elder watching a younger generation make a fool of himself. A few minutes later, True Master Yu Jian¡¯s smile gradually faded. Half an hour later, True Master Yu Jian¡¯s face was expressionless. An hour later, True Master Yu Jian¡¯s originally gentle demeanor had turned into the oppressive atmosphere before a storm. Absorbing the lake water, Fang Zhou¡¯s hand couldn¡¯t help but tremble, he looked up to see True Master Yu Jian staring at him with an extremely coercive gaze, even faintly visible bloodshot eyes. ¡°Have. You. Filled. Enough.?¡± She spat out the words almost one by one, with each word, the atmosphere in the space grew more oppressive. Fang Zhou¡¯s forehead was sweating, he felt if he dared to say not enough, she would kill him first and then destroy the body. He pulled out an awkward smile, ¡°Enough, enough, thank you True Master for your generosity.¡± Fang Zhou quickly put away the gourd and bowed to True Master Yu Jian before leaving. After he left, True Master Yu Jian let out a long breath, miscalculated, didn¡¯t expect this kid¡¯s Magic Treasure could absorb so much, that wouldn¡¯t be Ling Xiaoyue¡¯s wine gourd, right? sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Soon, True Master Yu Jian heard Fang Zhou muttering outside Sword Lake, ¡°Stingy, still boasting that it could be filled as much as you want.¡± True Master Yu Jian¡¯s forehead instantly bulged with veins, she wanted to rush out and kill this ungrateful brat. She could only keep telling herself in her heart, this was an investment, she couldn¡¯t be petty. Finally calming her agitated mood, looking at the considerably lowered water level of Sword Lake, True Master Yu Jian felt heartache again. Fang Zhou came out of Sword Lake, Yu Qing was waiting here, seeing Fang Zhou, Yu Qing asked worriedly, ¡°Taoist Fang, did my master trouble you?¡± She had already guessed that her master wanted to see Fang Zhou, it was surely because of Fang Zhou resisting the demolition and inciting the disciples. Fang Zhou shook the gourd in his hand, smiled, ¡°Of course not, True Master speaks nicely and is generous, I really like Sword Lake.¡± Yu Qing listened with a puzzled expression, but looking at Fang Zhou, he seemed to be fine. Chapter 151: 151. I always keep my word. Chapter 151: 151. I always keep my word. Fang Zhou left Yujian Peak and returned to Moon Viewing Peak, where he saw Lu Qiuling sneaking over in a small shuttle. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve completed the task you assigned.¡± Lu Qiuling took out a few sheets of paper from her chest and handed them to Fang Zhou. Fang Zhou took the papers, which were still warm and fragrant from the girl¡¯s body, indicating she had kept them close for a long time. On the papers were comprehensive details about Yan Gulan, including the time she entered the sect, the techniques she learned, her positions, and interpersonal relationships¡ªall meticulously investigated. There were also some rumors about Yan Gulan, the most convincing of which was that the Cloud Sea Gang, which dominated Yunshan City, was secretly supported by Yan Gulan. The primary evidence was that Boss Zhou of the Cloud Sea Gang was a distant relative of Yan Gulan. With Yan Gulan¡¯s backing, the Cloud Sea Gang acted like tyrants in Yunshan City, monopolizing rental properties, gambling, transportation, construction, and other industries. However, as the Heavenly Sword Sect was a renowned orthodox sect, the Cloud Sea Gang refrained from extreme crimes like murder and arson, despite having connections. At most, they engaged in petty crimes, such as extortion. When Fang Zhou read this, he immediately thought of the construction site on Yujian Peak, suspecting it might be contracted by the Cloud Sea Gang. ¡°Good job.¡± Fang Zhou praised Lu Qiuling, initially expecting only a bit of information, but was surprised by her excellent work. Lu Qiuling grinned at the compliment and flattered him, saying, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your leadership, Boss.¡± This girl was peculiar; despite joining a major sect like the Heavenly Sword Sect, she showed no interest in cultivation but was keen on business ventures. Fang Zhou put away the materials and instructed Lu Qiuling, ¡°Go down the mountain and contact a few craftsmen. I want to talk business with them tomorrow.¡± Curious, Lu Qiuling asked, ¡°Boss, are you planning to build a house?¡± Fang Zhou pointed behind him and smiled, ¡°What do you think?¡± She glanced at the three straw huts behind and deeply agreed with Fang Zhou¡¯s decision. After Lu Qiuling left, Fang Zhou returned to his bamboo hut, took out some manuscripts, and entered the gourd space. The gourd space had changed significantly; the continuous garbage mountain had been greatly cleaned up. Making newspapers took only a small amount of the gourd children¡¯s time; most of their time was spent sorting garbage. They also became addicted to house building, having constructed many houses, from initially shaky structures to increasingly sturdy ones. When Fang Zhou entered, he saw the gourd children gathered around, staring at a large mass of floating water. It was the Sword Lake Water that Fang Zhou had just absorbed, enough to fill several large swimming pools, brimming with spiritual energy, leaving the gourd children mesmerized. With this lake water, the gourd children could cultivate within the gourd space, solving their survival issues, eliminating the need for Fang Zhou to frequently transport water. Fang Zhou had been curious about this; although the gourd children needed water to survive, wasn¡¯t Qing Lan capable of spraying water? Why did they still need him to provide water? The gourd children explained that the water Qing Lan sprayed was not absorbable for them, causing bloating if drunk too much. Fang Zhou guessed that Qing Lan¡¯s water wasn¡¯t natural and lacked certain minerals needed by plants, making it unusable for the gourd children. When Fang Zhou arrived, only Cheng Xing ran over, while the other gourd children continued watching the lake water. ¡°Sir!¡± Cheng Xing greeted him cheerfully. Over time, Cheng Xing had forgotten about the previous ¡°feud¡± with Fang Zhou, becoming quite fond of him, almost like a little fangirl. If affection and favorability levels were visible, Cheng Xing¡¯s would surely be the highest among the seven gourd children. The other gourd children had also greatly changed their impression of Fang Zhou and willingly chatted with him, except for the third one, who remained aloof. ¡°Sir, sir.¡± Cheng Xing pointed at the lake water and asked, ¡°Is that our reward?¡± Fang Zhou often made grand promises to the gourd children to get them to work for free, making them almost immune to such promises. Unexpectedly, this time it was fulfilled. This reward was far better than any end-of-month bonus. Seeing Cheng Xing¡¯s words, Fang Zhou felt a bit embarrassed; when he used the gourd to absorb the lake water, he hadn¡¯t intended it as a reward for the gourd children, but simply to take advantage of the situation. But since the gourd children misunderstood, Fang Zhou decided to go along with it, ¡°Of course, I always keep my word. This spiritual water wasn¡¯t easy to obtain; I went through great effort to get it, specifically to reward your hard work. You must cherish it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, thank you, Sir!¡± Cheng Xing jumped for joy. Taking advantage, Fang Zhou spread his arms wide, and Cheng Xing, seemingly unsuspecting, instinctively hugged him, jumping up and down. Fang Zhou relished the astonishing bounce, his heart melting. Fearing Cheng Xing would notice, Fang Zhou let go first, secretly sighing. How big. He didn¡¯t notice the hint of a calculating look on Cheng Xing¡¯s face. It was hard to tell who was really taking advantage of whom. Cheng Xing turned to share the good news with her sisters, naturally causing a burst of cheers. The younger sixth and seventh ones immediately stripped off their clothes and dived into the lake water. The fourth and fifth twins couldn¡¯t resist and followed suit, stripping off and jumping in, beginning to frolic in the clear and transparent lake water. Watching this scene, Fang Zhou frowned secretly; these gourd children were really ill-mannered. How was he supposed to drink this bath water later? He stared intensely, recording this uncouth scene in his mind to remind himself not to behave like them. To his disappointment¡ªoh no, to his relief¡ªthe three older sisters were more composed, not stripping off to swim. The eldest, Hong Tang, led the shy third one and Cheng Xing over to thank Fang Zhou. The gourd children always thought Fang Zhou wouldn¡¯t fulfill his promise of rewards, especially the third one, who had been secretly cursing Fang Zhou as a liar. Surprised by his fulfillment today, the gourd children felt they had wrongly blamed him, feeling rather embarrassed. ¡°No need to thank me. Besides honoring my promise, I have another matter to notify you about today.¡± The three sisters perked up their ears, their attention focused on Fang Zhou. Looking at the three different yet equally beautiful faces, Fang Zhou somberly said, ¡°Wangyue Daily will officially stop publication and be replaced by Heavenly Sword Daily. We no longer need to make it.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What?¡± The three sisters were shocked, especially Cheng Xing, who seemed struck by lightning, instantly deflated. During the time of making newspapers, the gourd children were happiest, especially Cheng Xing, who found this life more enjoyable than at Lanruo Temple, even if confined in the gourd. Could this happy life be ending? Seeing the three sisters¡¯ disappointment, Fang Zhou laughed heartily, took a manuscript from his belongings, and handed it to them. ¡°Not making newspapers is fine; we can do something else. Take a look at this.¡±