Translator: Myriea_ActiasLuna Editor: Nou
Surprised, it took a while for Elder Qinânyao to process what Fang Xing had just said. Sheâd originally intended to use Xiao Mahn as a bargaining chip to make Fang Xing work for her when it was necessary, but having money demanded from her made her feel reluctant. A quick thought flew across her mind while she maintained her expression. âWho said I wouldnât allow you to see her?â she calmly replied.
It was Fang Xingâs turn to be confused. If she wasnât unhappy about Shijie Linyun bringing Xiao Mahn here, why did this woman put on such a solemn face? Shijie Linyun had obviously just been scolded as well. However, since Elder Qinânyao wasnât forbidding him from visiting Xiao Mahn out of dislike for him, he decided to keep these thoughts to himself. âWhy did you say I have guts, then?â he asked.
âDoes it not require guts to so casually meet with others despite being in confinement?â
Fang Xing was initially surprised but began to smile. âThe rules only say Iâm not allowed to leave; no one said other people canât come hereâŠ. Didnât you come here as well?â
Elder Qinânyao was taken slightly aback. It was her first time speaking with Fang Xing directly, and she wasnât very familiar with the way he acted and spoke. After a short while, she finally shook her head. âSince youâre an old acquaintance of Xiao Mahn, the occasional meeting isnât a problem as long as it does not interrupt either of your cultivations. I am here to ask you a question. During the trip at Mount Desolation, how did Linyun treat you?â
âShijie Linyun?â Fang Xing furrowed his brows. âI havenât met many good people, but sheâs one of them!â
Satisfied with his answer, the edges of Elder Qinânyaoâs lips curled into a faint smile. âVery good. Then let me ask you this: if Linyun met with trouble, would you do everything you could to help her?â
Fang Xing was a bit perplexed at what the old bag was trying to do. His brows continued to furrow as he answered, âOf course Iâd help!â
Elder Qinânyao smiled. âGood. Have you heard the news concerning the visit from Fuyao Palace in half a year from now?â
âFuyao Palace again!â Fang Xing glanced curiously at Elder Qinânyao. Heâd already heard of this place twice by now after returning to the sect.
Elder Qinânyao let out a sigh. âIâm not going to mince words. Half a month ago, someone representing the Fuyao Palace visited the Melodic Ice Palace and gifted them a Foundation Pellet. Based on their rule of treating everyone equally, during their trip to the Ephemeral Butterfly Sect three months from now, and then our Qing-Yun Sect six months from now, they should also give one of these Foundation Pellets apiece. Within our sect, those with the qualifications to obtain the pellet would be either Xiao Jianming or Linyun!â
Surprised, Fang Xing hesitantly replied, âShijie Linyun is unlikely to defeat Xiao JianmingâŠ.â He didnât think Elder Qinânyao intended for Xu Linyun to fight for the Foundation Pellet. Xu Linyun was only at tier eight, and her main focus was in alchemy; when it came to battle prowess or even overall ability, could she even be considered Xiao Jianmingâs opponent?
âRight now, Linyun is only at Spirit Stage tier eight, but thatâs not a large problem; I can give her a few pellets so her cultivation level increases to the ninth tier within half a year. However, since her main study and focus is on alchemy, her understanding of the Qing-Yun Nine Swords is only at just the basics. Even after reaching tier nine by then, if she were to battle it out with Xiao Jianming, her chance to win is only around thirty percentâŠ.â
âThirty percent is too high!â Fang Xing directly interrupted. He didnât know what Elder Qinânyao was after, but he knew for sure thatâin terms of proficiency in the Qing-Yun Nine SwordsâXu Linyun was no match for Xiao Jianming.
âYouâre right. Even if I say thirty percent, itâs a bit of an overestimation.â Elder Qinânyao nodded and then looked at Fang Xing. âIf she had your ability that allowed you to easily take out a tier six while only being at tier four, then perhaps she might have a fighting chanceâŠ.â
After going in so many circles, Fang Xing suddenly understood what Elder Qinânyao was after. She wanted to find out his secret.
When Bai Qianzhang entered seclusion, heâd made it very clear he hadnât passed his knowledge on to Fang Xing, yet these old guys within the sect obviously thought otherwise. Xiao Shanhe didnât believe it and had sent Xiao Jianming to probe Fang Xing. Qinânyao also didnât believe it and had chosen to use the fact Xu Linyun had helped him earlier to try to probe him as well.
Without revealing many of his thoughts, Fang Xing scratched his head and smiled. âHaha, hasnât the Blue-Flame Grand Smithing already been placed inside the Hall of Heavenâs Tribute?â
âHehâŠ.â Elder Qinânyao turned around and continued. âIn half a year, I will organize for Linyun to fight against Xiao Jianming for the pellet. Defeat, victory, dead, alive, all will be up to herâŠ. By the way, Xiao Mahn is a good girl. I am very fond of her!â As soon as sheâd finished speaking, a cloud formed beneath her feet and she flew away.
Fang Xing waved his sleeves before returning to his pavilion, his expression darkening. This old bag was bad news; not only did she use Xu Linyun to try to sway him, sheâd also used Xiao Mahn to bargain with him as wellâŠ.
Fang Xing sank into his Sea of Consciousness and immediately yelled out, âOld bird, come the hell out right now.â
The Demonic Peng King was full of smiles as he flew over. âI studied it all night, and it seems there actually is a way toââ
âCan you get me powerful enough to kill a Foundation Stage cultivator within half a year?â Fang Xing interrupted.
Shocked, the Demonic Peng King frustratedly replied, âThen youâd best just kill meâŠ.â
âWhateverâŠ.â Although Fang Xing saw the old man rebelling, he didnât have any other options and waved his hand. âNevermind that part about killing a Foundation Stage cultivator. Tell me about the method you discovered!â
The Demonic Peng King proudly replied, âItâs an Ancient level technique of our Giant Peng Clan based on our innate ability. Technically speaking, humans canât study this technique, but I can make slight tweaks to it so you humans can also learn it. Of course, you will only be able to learn it; if you want to demonstrate its true potential, the requirements on the user is also very high. At the very least, you will first have to break through into the seventh tier!â
Fang Xing considered the amount of resources he had on hand and nodded. âNot a problem!â
The Peng King then continued, âFurthermore, since this Ancient technique belongs to our Giant Peng Clan, its power is unrivaled. You must fully understand every aspect of it before youâre able to use it well. Whether or not you can manage this within half a year is dependent on you!â
Fang Xingâs gaze darkened as he coldly laughed. âThe last thing your grandpa fears is a challenge!â
The Demonic Peng King nodded. âIf thatâs the case⊠how long can this exchange for?â
The Peng King was a bit dissatisfied with this. âYou did hear it correctly, right? This is an Ancient-level technique. Itâs only worth half a year?â
Fang Xing laughed. âIn half a year from now, if I can get rid of that guy, then itâll be fine. If not, Iâll be the one dead. If I die at that time, do you think you can still stay alive?â
A little dumbstruck, the Peng King let out a long sigh. âFine. Itâs my bad luckâŠ.â
Fang Xing suddenly recalled something else. âCan other bird-type beasts study the skills of your Giant Peng Clan as well?â
The Demonic Peng King furrowed his brows. âIt would be much easier for them than for a human, at least.â
Fang Xing nodded. âIn that case, give me another skill that can allow bird-type beasts to increase their speed to their maximum.â Fang Xing gave a short pause before continuing, âThis can be exchanged for three more months, and I will promise not to bully you as often!â
âNo problem!â Once the Peng King had understood what this meant, he immediately agreed with excitement. Even when compared to exchanging for more time, the boyâs promise to stop bullying him was perhaps worth even more.
It may have sounded embarrassing since the Demonic Peng King was once a Golden Core beast king, but ever since heâd fallen into this boyâs clutches, heâd not once received any sort of respect. Every day, he was either being cursed at, beaten, or roasted alive. Every day inside the boyâs Sea of Consciousness had been hell. That the boy had agreed to stop bullying him in the future was a very good thing; he would finally be able to have some pride and dignity as a former Golden Core Stage cultivation master.
To teach skills and techniques from one True Spirit to another was extremely simple. Especially when it was done within a Sea of Consciousness with both True Spirits in front of each other, it was as simple as blinking an eye. The Demonic Peng King activated his Spirit Sense, and two golden rays immediately flew into Fang Xingâs True Spirit.
Sensing deeper, two sets of skills had appeared within Fang Xingâs mind. One was an Ancient technique called âHundred and Eight Thousand Swordsâ, the other was a secret skill that trained a bird-type beastâs body and purified its bloodline to increase its flying speed. While looking over the contents of these two techniques, Fang Xing activated the [Book of Revelation] to make sure both were genuine before nodding in satisfaction and turning to the Peng King. âYouâre very sincere, old man; I see you didnât rig up any part of these techniques. Very well, your grandpa is very satisfied. I wonât bully you in the future.â
Then, with a loud laugh, Fang Xing exited his Sea of Consciousness.
However, these words left the Peng King a bit unsettled. âLogically speaking, this little turtle-egg bastard shouldnât be able to tell whether my techniques are genuine or not, right? Why do I get the feeling he seemed to know it all too well?â