《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 - Chapter 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.