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Chapter 11: Three Transformations (Seeking collection)

In his previous life, Fang Xi had also been lent money by relatives and friends, but the outcomes were never particularly pleasant.

Hearing that remark now, a hint of disgust welled up in his heart.

"About that. . ."

He feigned contemplation, intending to employ the 'delaying tactic'.

Meanwhile, Wu Ji's face steadily fell during the prolonged wait.

He considered himself highly regarded in the martial arts hall, his martial arts having long reached the realm of Blood-Qi Transformation, making him one of the higher-ups.

After Fang Xi joined the martial arts hall, he had even deliberately sought to win him over, introducing him into his own small circle.

Alas. . . the other party seemed like a fool, unable to grasp his subtle hints.

Now, even lending money was met with procrastination.

Some people are simply born petty individuals.

Even if he were to treat him like a beggar and agree to lend the money this time, there was a good chance the other party would still resent him, simply for being slow to agree!

'Besides. . . a mere Wu Ji, is he even worth my apprehension? '

At this thought, Fang Xi immediately made his decision: "My apologies, but I, too, have been short on funds lately and am truly unable to help. . ."

"You. . ."

Wu Ji's face flushed red then paled green, like a dye shop displaying its wares, a sight quite 'beautiful' to behold: "Junior Brother, you're truly something, you're truly something. . ."

He felt the gazes of the surrounding disciples seemed to be mocking him, and unable to bear it, he flung his sleeves and departed.

Only after Wu Ji left did Tang Xuan walk over: "Junior Brother Fang, you should be careful. Senior Brother Wu has a very small heart."

Fang Xi glanced at Tang Xuan, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

This Third Senior Brother, with his honest and simple appearance, didn't seem as naive as he let on.

Or rather, after he displayed his talent, many in the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall actively began to gravitate towards him.

This was quite normal!

After all, Fang Xi had both talent and money!

It would be abnormal for others *not* to curry favor with him.

"What does this Wu Ji's family do?"

Fang Xi casually asked.

"Senior Brother Wu's family is in business. They have a small merchant caravan and have hired quite a few martial artists as guards," Tang Xuan replied.

"So, a merchant family. . ."

Fang Xi smiled.

Although he didn't understand business warfare, he had plenty of money!

If he truly wanted to target them, he could even do things that would wound the enemy by eight hundred while harming himself by a thousand—that was using one's own capital to inflict damage.

'But they only showed me a sour face; if I make them go bankrupt, wouldn't that be a bit too 'Long Aotian'? '

'The ancient Long Aotian was certainly satisfying, but the current climate dictates one won't die a good death. . . '

Fang Xi inwardly scoffed.

However, he quite appreciated Tang Xuan, who had actively gravitated towards him. The two chatted for a bit more, discussing their martial arts progress.

Tang Xuan, like Wu Ji, had reached the Blood-Qi Transformation realm, which was already considered not weak within the martial arts hall.

Unfortunately, the Third Blood-Qi Transformation was still a distant prospect.

Speaking of this, even Tang Xuan's face couldn't help but show a hint of bitterness: "Actually. . . I'm still relatively well off. Fourth Senior Sister has long been unable to break through to Blood-Qi Transformation, and her family has already pressed her several times to return and marry."

Fang Xi was startled. He hadn't expected that Senior Sister, who practically threw herself at him every time they met, would have such a difficult background.

However, thinking of the outer disciples who, even after paying, couldn't smoothly grasp their blood-qi and had to leave dejectedly, Fang Xi felt much more balanced.

In reality, practicing martial arts was something that heavily relied on talent and resources.

Back then, the people from Yuan He Mountain truly hadn't misjudged; his physical aptitude was indeed ordinary.

But it was thanks to the nourishment of the spiritual energy and spirit rice from the cultivation world that he had made such progress, similar to the small geniuses in ordinary martial arts halls.

This was the sorrow of commoners!

If one had talent, they could quickly turn their fate around and become a person of the upper class.

If one had no talent and even fewer resources, then they could only remain as mud for their entire lives!

"But I am different, I must contend!"

"In the Da Liang world, I will strive to seize resources!"

With this thought, Fang Xi walked out of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall and returned to his Fang residence.

"Young Master is back!"

A Fu, Yue Gui, and the other maidservants came forward to greet him, especially the younger maids, whose eyes and brows were filled with smiles.

The Young Master had mysteriously vanished for several days again, and today he finally reappeared.

"To the training ground. I need to cultivate."

Ignoring Yue Gui's slightly wistful gaze, Fang Xi arrived at the training ground.

Whoosh!

His figure flickered, and he was already atop the wooden stakes, practicing the Eight Snake Movements.

He had never neglected his cultivation of the Red Snake Leg.

By now, he had also reached the realm of Blood-Qi Transformation!

"Snake Form Leg!"

In a flash, Fang Xi kicked out three legs mid-air.

His leg techniques were boneless and fluid, like agile spirit snakes, striking from unpredictable directions.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three wooden stakes snapped in response!

"This Red Snake Leg is not only sharp but also greatly aids leg cultivation. . ."

Fang Xi retracted his leg, murmuring to himself.

After obtaining the Red Snake Leg Mystical Intent Diagram, it was as if he had received the complete core inheritance of this martial art, allowing him to cultivate at least to the level of a martial arts hall master, so he naturally wouldn't give it up lightly.

If one were to roll up his trouser leg now, they would see his legs had grown a full size thicker than before, with distinct, sculpted muscles.

Not only that, but at the position of the main tendons, there was also a twisting pattern, like a snake yet not quite a snake.

This was a unique phenomenon that appeared after cultivating the Red Snake Leg to the Blood-Qi Transformation stage.

"The most pressing matter is still to quickly break through to the Third Blood-Qi Transformation and gain access to demon meat resources. . ."

After practicing the Red Snake Leg, Fang Xi already had a plan in mind.

However, upon seeing the pretty maidservants, he decided to postpone his plan slightly.

After all that hard work cultivating a batch of crops in the cultivation world, it was now time to continue enjoying himself.

...

The next day.

White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.

In the end, Fang Xi was a person of strong resolve.

After enjoying tea and music last night, he still came to cultivate today.

Moreover, he felt his blood-qi stirring restlessly.

Perhaps. . . the breakthrough to the Third Blood-Qi Transformation would happen today!

"Burn! Keep adding fuel!"

Before the earthen stove, feeling the pot of potent, poisonous concoction having less and less effect on his palms, Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged as he urged them on repeatedly.

"Yes, sir!"

Several servants stripped off their upper garments, working so hard they couldn't even wipe away the sweat pouring down their faces, piling large amounts of firewood under the earthen stove and adding more poison to the pot.

Around them, at some unknown point, a circle of spectators had gathered.

Wu Ji was among them. Watching this scene, his voice involuntarily grew louder: "Junior Brother Fang is making a rash mistake. . . recklessly increasing the amount of venom might cripple his hands. . ."

Tang Xuan's lips twitched, wanting to say something, but Liu Tao Tao beside him spoke first: "I think Junior Brother has probably accumulated enough, and wants to advance vigorously!"

Her clear voice not only made Wu Ji's expression falter, but Tang Xuan beside her also cast a surprised glance.

What medicine did this Junior Sister take today? To directly confront Second Senior Brother?

Not long after, Mu Cang Long and Mu Piao Miao were also alerted, arriving together, their expressions varied as they watched this scene.

Half an hour later.

"Huu. . ."

Fang Xi retracted his palms. His hands were bright red, but as the redness receded, a layer of grey gradually spread, seeping from his palms to the sides, then to the backs of his hands. . .

Until finally, both his hands had turned grey.

"This is. . . the Black Cloud stage?"

Mu Piao Miao gasped in surprise.

Third Blood-Qi Transformation, Black Cloud stage!

This meant that Fang Xi's mastery of the White Cloud Palm had already caught up to hers, surpassed only by Mu Cang Long!

"He actually broke through?"

Wu Ji watched this scene, his mouth agape, like a toad.

But at this moment, no one was paying attention to this clown anymore.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Fang, on your great progress in martial arts!"

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Fang (Senior Brother Fang). . . on your great progress in martial arts! " A crowd of disciples bowed.

"Many thanks!"

Fang Xi's expression was calm and indifferent. As he passed Liu Tao Tao, he smiled at her: "Senior Sister, if you encounter difficulties with cultivation resources in the future, you can tell me. . ."

As soon as he spoke, the expressions on the faces of those around them subtly changed.

Many disciples looked at Liu Tao Tao, their expressions filled with envy.

After all, they knew that Liu Tao Tao had failed to master martial arts and was now on the verge of being forced into marriage by her family!

Now that Senior Brother Fang had offered a helping hand, her life would become much easier.

"Many thanks. . . Junior Brother!"

Liu Tao Tao's voice was already choked with emotion.

"No need to be polite."

Fang Xi waved his hand.

For him, this was merely a casual investment.

...

Martial Arts Hall Main Hall.

"Good, good indeed!"

Mu Cang Long looked at Fang Xi, quite pleased.

He hadn't expected that a mere ordinary apprentice, whom he had initially only helped for the silver, would possess such outstanding talent in the White Cloud Palm!

"Fang Xi, since you have cultivated to the Third Blood-Qi Transformation, your next step should be to integrate your blood-qi and enter the True Force realm."

Mu Cang Long's expression was solemn as he took out a scroll: "This is the White Cloud Palm's secret Mystical Intent Diagram. Observe it first. Remember, emphasize intent over form, and pay close attention to the diagram's spiritual essence!"

"Many thanks, Master."

Fang Xi planned to have A Fu send a substantial thank-you gift later. For now, he accepted the scroll without ceremony and opened it.

On the vast scroll, there was nothing but wisps of clouds.

Clouds rolled and unfurled, imbued with an ethereal quality.

He observed it for a while, carefully comprehending its true meaning.

"It's quite normal not to comprehend this Mystical Intent Diagram immediately. In the future, you can observe it with your Senior Sister Piao Miao for half an hour each day."

Mu Cang Long said slowly.

"I understand. " Fang Xi returned the scroll to Mu Cang Long.

In any case, he would have plenty of opportunities to copy a new scroll later.

At this moment, his main concern was other matters: "Master. . . I would like to inquire about demons."

"I've heard Piao Miao say that you're very interested in demon meat?"

Mu Cang Long nodded, then shook his head, a rare hint of fear actually appearing on his face: "Demons are divided into 'monsters' and 'fiends'! Monsters roam the wilderness; common people encountering them have no chance of survival, yet they are the easiest to deal with. . . The truly terrifying ones are the 'fiends'!"

"Fiends?"

Fang Xi showed a questioning look, but Mu Cang Long merely waved his hand: "In short, you must understand that even a martial artist like your master would undoubtedly face certain death against a fiend. Moreover, if a fiend calamity occurs in any city across the Nine Prefectures of Da Liang, that place could become a dead zone!"

"It's actually that terrifying?"

Fang Xi sucked in a cold breath. Well. . . most of it was an act.

"As for demon meat resources. . . martial artists at the Third Blood-Qi Transformation stage can barely consume a bit of it. . . " Mu Cang Long pondered, then tossed out a wooden token: "There's a black market in Black Stone City. It has demon meat resources. If you want some, you can go buy a bit."