TopAppnovel Chapter 197 - 159: A Small Test of Skills (Part 2)
Chapter 197 - 159: A Small Test of Skills (Part 2)
"Da Zui Hall is managed a bit more strictly. Its composition is rather simple, with its core members all coming from the same place. Though they are few in number, they are quite fierce. Moreover, Da Zui Hall is not skilled at business, so commerce there is more than a step behind the Talisman Divination Alliance."
After Wu Mi finished her analysis, Fang Qingyuan said without hesitation:
"Let’s go with the Talisman Divination Alliance’s side then. Go find me a few potential places. Rent if you can, buy if you can’t. This is the deposit in Spirit Stones. If it’s not enough, come back to me for more."
After speaking, Fang Qingyuan casually took out a one-cubic-meter storage pouch and placed it in front of Wu Mi. He had a large stockpile of these one-cubic-meter pouches in his Immortal Mansion, each containing a thousand Spirit Stones.
After giving Wu Mi her instructions, Fang Qingyuan gestured for her to take her time with the tea. He then left with Jinbao. Of course, he had already paid for the tea.
Inside the room, Wu Mi opened the storage pouch and was instantly shocked by the number of Spirit Stones inside. Her mouth fell slightly open, and she nearly bit her tongue. In her entire life, she had never seen so many Spirit Stones.
Wu Mi instinctively clutched the storage pouch tightly. Even after realizing she was alone in the room, she didn’t loosen her grip. She was a little nervous. After a long while, having drunk the Spirit Tea on the table until it was tasteless, Wu Mi finally headed out with her slightly bulging tummy, swaying as she went to find a residence for Fang Qingyuan.
Meanwhile, Fang Qingyuan had been following Wu Mi for half a day. Only after confirming that she was simply going about her business and not up to any tricks did he stop monitoring her.
With a soul strength comparable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was naturally a flawless task for Fang Qingyuan to monitor a young girl in the Early-stage Qi Cultivation. Wu Mi had no idea that the generous and magnanimous senior who had hired her harbored such thoughts.
Fang Qingyuan believed it was better to be safe than sorry. By giving her so many Spirit Stones at once, he was testing Wu Mi. ’If she dares to have any dark thoughts,’ he mused, ’my Immortal Mansion will just have a few more corpses for flower fertilizer.’
After parting ways with Wu Mi, Fang Qingyuan took Jinbao to South Street. He planned to purchase some more items to furnish his new home properly. Although he wouldn’t be staying here for long, he couldn’t let his quality of life suffer. ’Who knows,’ he thought, ’if I live a little more comfortably, maybe a Foundation Establishment Opportunity will just present itself.’
.....
After a round of shopping, Fang Qingyuan and Jinbao left South Street, preparing to head back to the inn. However, as Fang Qingyuan took his usual detour, his brow furrowed. He sensed several Cultivators tailing him from a distance.
’This Black Sand City is even more dangerous than the Southern Border,’ he thought. ’I just bought a few inexpensive things and didn’t even flaunt my wealth, yet I’ve already been targeted. It seems that without a recognized major power to keep order, human greed can’t be restrained.’
Fang Qingyuan had spotted his stalkers, but they had no idea they’d been exposed. This was because Fang Qingyuan had long practiced a Soul Dao Technique, giving him a soul strength nearly on par with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. His Divine Sense could perceive the area for about a li around him. Within that range, any malice directed at him was as obvious as a bonfire in the dark.
’Two at Late-stage Qi Cultivation, three at Mid-stage Qi Cultivation. Five people in total.’ Their auras were mixed, unlike those of Major Sect Cultivators. He guessed they were Loose Cultivators with no backing. ’That makes sense. What Major Sect Cultivator would engage in robbery? These Loose Cultivators are probably driven mad by poverty.’
Fang Qingyuan’s apparent cultivation level was only Mid-stage Qi Cultivation. With his robes and the cloak he wore, it would be difficult to discern his true cultivation level without special means. However, even if he had revealed a Late-stage Qi Cultivation level, his opponents would likely still believe they could take him down with their numbers.
After walking a bit further, Fang Qingyuan noticed that one of the Late-stage Cultivators, along with two Mid-stage Cultivators, had circled around to get ahead of him. It seemed they were preparing to make their move.
’Hmph, they’re asking for death. They can’t blame me for what’s about to happen.’ Fang Qingyuan’s thoughts turned ruthless. He abruptly changed direction and headed toward a secluded area.
The two Cultivators behind Fang Qingyuan saw him change course. One of them immediately asked:
"Third Brother, do you think he spotted us? Why did he leave the main path and head for the Black Sand Ruins over there?"
"So what if he did? A single Mid-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator and a simple-minded Spirit Beast can’t escape our grasp. What, are you getting cold feet now that it’s time to act?"
"I just feel like something’s off. Maybe we should just let this one go?"
"If you’re scared, you can stay here. But from now on, the bond between us brothers is over."
After spitting out those words, the "Third Brother" sped up and rushed toward where Fang Qingyuan had disappeared. The hesitant Cultivator wavered for a moment before finally sighing and following him.
But in the seven or eight breaths of time he had delayed, the situation ahead had become irreversible. Just as he caught up to his Third Brother’s position, he saw the man, who had been full of vigor just moments ago, now completely swarmed by thousands of fist-sized poison bees. No matter what techniques his Third Brother cast, he couldn’t break free.
"Third Brother!"
A furious roar erupted. Fang Qingyuan turned to see the other Late-stage Cultivator, accompanied by the two dumbfounded Mid-stage Cultivators, glaring at him with rage. In response, Fang Qingyuan grinned and said to the man:
"Fellow Daoist, please, try my Divine Techniques!"
The moment Fang Qingyuan finished speaking, waves of dark seeds were drawn from his Immortal Mansion. They scattered like a torrential downpour over a one-li radius. Then, a lifelike, four-and-a-half-inch-long small dragon materialized from thin air. It exhaled a mouthful of pure Wood Spiritual Power onto the seeds. In an instant, the seeds began to grow wildly, transforming into countless vines that snaked toward everyone present.
In just two breaths, the ruins, once dominated by black sand, had become a world of green vines. Seeing the vines sweeping toward them like venomous pythons, the lead Cultivator took out a Fire Crow Pot and unleashed a sky full of flames to burn them away.
The leader’s response was nothing short of decisive. But just as the flames incinerated a few hundred vines, he cried out in alarm:
"These vines are poisonous! Prepare Antitoxic Pills and protect yourselves."
"Hehehe, you realized a little too late. Since you like playing with fire, I’ll give you some more."
Fang Qingyuan let out a mocking laugh, but his expression remained ice-cold. As he spoke, a strange-looking, three-legged crow appeared above his head. It spat a torrent of fierce flames onto the sky full of vines.
The flames swept over them, and tens of thousands of vines caught fire. Yet, even so, the vines weren’t destroyed. Instead, now wreathed in flames, they whipped violently at the other Cultivators.
Fire Vines, poisonous smoke, and fierce flames all mixed together, creating a spectacular scene. This entire turn of events had happened in just a dozen breaths. The Cultivators who came to ambush Fang Qingyuan were now regretting it bitterly.
However, Fang Qingyuan was still not satisfied. He laughed again.
"That’s only a two-layer transformation. Not enough! Earth Spirit, imprison!"
As soon as he spoke, a gravitational force more than ten times stronger emanated from the ground. It made the Cultivators’ movements to fly and evade incredibly sluggish. In the blink of an eye, they were struck by a dozen vine whips, causing their Protective Spirit Shields to flicker violently, as if they would shatter at any moment.
"Boss, this guy is too tough! We have to retreat, now!"
"What about Third Brother? He’s still in the very center of it all!"
"We can’t worry about him! Saving our own skins is what matters! Let’s go!"
"Trying to leave? A bit late for that! Tiger!"
Fang Qingyuan’s cold voice cut into their conversation. Following his single word, "Tiger!", a roar echoed across the field. The next moment, a ferocious tiger with a white forehead and upturned eyes, standing three zhang tall, revealed itself.