Chapter 59: Persuasion (A Celebration for Alliance Master Pi Pa Yin Li Jiao Shu Ren! )
Chapter 59: Persuasion (A Celebration for Alliance Master Pi Pa Yin Li Jiao Shu Ren! )
“My heart. . . ”
After descending Yuan He Mountain, Fang Xi employed his movement technique and hastened towards Three Yuan City.
As he traveled, he pondered his previous confrontation with Linghu Shan.
No, rather than a confrontation, it was more like a one-sided domination.
The True Vigor Martial Saint's power was all-encompassing, practically overwhelming him, and the externalized True Vigor was extremely sharp.
Several times, Fang Xi almost couldn't resist unleashing his artifact to directly cut down that old geezer!
The crucial point was that even after the fight, he was still completely clueless about how to condense True Vigor and break through to the Grandmaster realm.
Upon entering Three Yuan City, Fang Xi was about to return to the Have-A-Martial-Arts-Hall.
...
Somewhere in the outer city district.
Outside a small martial arts hall, two rows of willows swayed in the wind.
The martial arts hall's signboard, however, was remarkably new, emblazoned with the large characters 'White Cloud Martial Arts Hall', with cloud patterns along its edges.
On the training ground.
Zhang Minting's expression was resolute as he boiled toxic liquid in an iron pot, training his palms.
Through Fang Xi's introduction, he had apprenticed himself to Mu Cang Long of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall, becoming Mu Piao Miao's junior martial brother.
Currently, he was diligently practicing the White Cloud Palm, having even reached the Dark Cloud Layer!
He was just a hair's breadth away from the Black Cloud Layer of a True Force Martial Artist.
“Good! ”
Mu Cang Long stood nearby, sipping tea from his beloved purple clay pot, nodding repeatedly. "Among the eighteen rising stars in Three Yuan City right now, only two or three can truly suppress you. . . This year's Martial Alliance 'Eight Steeds' selection, Minting, you have a lot of hope. . . cough, cough. . ."
“Father, your health isn't fully recovered yet, don't run around. ”
Mu Piao Miao quickly came to support him. Her father had nearly died in Black Stone City back then, and though he fortunately received a spirit pill from Fang Xi to save his life, the residual toxins were not fully purged. His health hadn't been good lately, and many doctors proved useless.
Mu Cang Long's current joy was likely from seeing that the martial arts hall finally had a successor, wasn't it?
These few people did not notice a pair of eyes silently watching them from atop the wall.
“Mu Cang Long won't live much longer. . . ”
Fang Xi sighed inwardly, his sleeve fluttering as he entered the martial arts hall.
His movement technique was astonishingly light; none of the disciples coming and going could detect him.
And inside a high-quality side room, Bai He was embroidering a piece of clothing. Judging by the dense, meticulous stitches, she was clearly putting a lot of heart into it.
“Young Master. . . ”
As she embroidered, Bai He gazed at the clothing, seemingly lost in thought.
“Sigh. . . ”
Fang Xi sighed, yet did not enter. Instead, he departed.
He had come this time simply to follow his inner impulse, to check on the people of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall.
Seeing that they were doing well, he felt at ease.
“My heart. . . my Grandmaster's heart. . . it is to grow stronger! Stronger! ! ”
“This isn't the South Barrens Cultivation World; as long as my strength is sufficient, strong enough. . . it will be enough to suppress everything! ”
“Even if I break through to Grandmaster, I'll become much less scrupulous. . . I won't need to hide or specifically conceal my identity. ”
Fang Xi's expression gradually solidified. “Unrestrained freedom. . . built upon strength. Is this. . . my martial dao heart? ! ”
...
Three Yuan City naturally also had a black market.
Moreover, its scale was considerably larger than that of Black Stone City.
At the end of a commercial street in the inner city, if introduced by a familiar customer, one could pass through several camouflaged walls to enter another bustling street.
“So this is Three Yuan City's black market? ”
Fang Xi walked through the black market, his gaze sweeping over weapons, secret techniques, precious medicines rarely seen outside. . . Anything that appeared in the black market almost always had a somewhat dubious origin.
And there were many fakes too!
He knew about this black market and had bought some demon beast materials here before.
However, he hadn't come to buy anything today.
After walking past several small stalls, Fang Xi arrived before a building.
“Thousand Gold Pavilion? ”
Gazing at the signboard, Fang Xi let out a soft chuckle. "Isn't it more like 'Thousand Jin Pavilion'?"
He immediately walked inside.
“What can I get for you, honored guest? ” a young waiter greeted him, asking with a face full of smiles.
“I'm looking for someone! Is Han Pang Zi around? ”
Fang Xi glanced left and right, noticing it was a butcher shop.
Without his Taisui, Han Pang Zi had still returned to his old trade, truly not forgetting his roots.
“Shopkeeper Han? I'll go inform him right away! ”
The waiter was startled. Seeing Fang Xi speak with such certainty, he assumed they were acquainted and quickly went inside to report.
Not long after, he reemerged and invited Fang Xi into the back room.
“Brother Fang. . . Old Han has missed you terribly! ”
Inside the back room was indeed a mountain of flesh.
Han Pang Zi sat on the floor, surrounded by many large basins filled with roasted chickens, roasted ducks, suckling pigs. . . various aromatic meats piled up like small mountains, which he casually tossed into his mouth.
Seeing Fang Xi enter, he immediately dropped the chicken leg in his hand and greeted him warmly.
“Han Pang Zi, you're even fatter than before! ”
Fang Xi, seeing Han Pang Zi's weight surpass his former self, couldn't help but retort.
Speaking of which, this was the first time he had seen Han Pang Zi since arriving in Three Yuan City.
Han Pang Zi waved his hand, and the waiter immediately retreated from the room. He then turned to Fang Xi, his expression solemn:
“Brother Fang, coming to the black market this time, you must have something you need Old Han to do. Through mountains of daggers or into cauldrons of boiling oil, just say the word! ”
“No need for you to sacrifice your thousand jin of fat. ” Fang Xi shook his head. “I merely want to ask you to keep an eye out for demon beast materials in the black market for me. I'll purchase them at a high price. . . ”
As he spoke, he directly tossed out a pouch, heavy and full of gold.
“Demon beast materials? No problem. . . Although such things are rare, they always appear periodically! ” Han Pang Zi took the pouch, his smile becoming even more sincere. “However, Brother Fang, after our parting that day, I wonder where you went? ”
“Just wandering around. . . Once you receive the materials, store them here, and I'll come collect them every so often. ”
Fang Xi gave his instructions and prepared to leave.
“Wait, Brother Fang. . . ” Han Pang Zi called out, stopping Fang Xi. “Brother Fang, do you know. . . the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall has run into trouble recently? ”
“Oh? ” Fang Xi truly hadn't known, and immediately halted. “I'd like to hear the details. . . ”
“It's still matters within the Martial Alliance. Ever since the Huang family was annihilated, their secretly controlled 'Flying Rainbow Martial Arts Hall' and 'Yellow Jade Martial Arts Hall' have successively run into problems, their influence greatly diminished, forcing them to withdraw from the core circle of the Martial Alliance. Coincidentally, in the past two years, several smaller martial arts halls have risen abruptly. . . The struggle for power has stemmed from this! And it just so happens to coincide with the recent 'Eight Steeds' selection, in which Zhang Minting of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall has also become embroiled. . . ”
Han Pang Zi swiftly relayed the intelligence.
“It seems. . . some people don't want smaller martial arts halls to gain fame and then rise? ” Fang Xi's gaze darkened.
How is this merely Zhang Minting's affair?
His own Have-A-Martial-Arts-Hall would likely be even harder to escape!
‘Hmph, I'm afraid those people still don't know the might of Ghost-Fears-Sorrow Fang Leng! ’
Fang Xi muttered to himself, then asked, “Which families are they? ”
“Old Master Ximen of the Gale Martial Arts Hall, who was once known as the Martial Alliance's top expert, but had always been suppressed by the Huang family. Now, he harbors quite the ambition to integrate the Martial Alliance. . . ”
Han Pang Zi immediately replied.
“Many thanks. ”
Fang Xi cupped his fist and turned to leave.
Of course, he wouldn't simply believe their words, but a quick investigation back home would reveal the truth.
Watching Fang Xi's retreating figure, Han Pang Zi immediately called for the waiter. “I remember. . . the Ximen family secretly lends out money at interest, right? Quickly send a few more people to borrow, don't be afraid of high interest rates. . . Wait! ”
Seeing the waiter agree and about to exit, Han Pang Zi called out again, “Forget it, let's drop this matter! ”
He still held an inexplicable apprehension towards Fang Xi.
Even for something as easy as going with the flow, as long as there was a possibility of displeasing Fang Xi, he tried his best to avoid it. . .
...
“Gale Martial Arts Hall, Ximen family? ”
After leaving the black market, Fang Xi pondered for a moment. He didn't directly transform into Ghost-Fears-Sorrow and go to kill someone.
Otherwise, tomorrow the streets and alleys of Three Yuan City would again be filled with rumors of the Ximen family being tragically annihilated because they stepped out their door with their left foot first.
‘Seriously, would anyone believe such a thing? Unless it could be proven that Ghost-Fears-Sorrow was insane. . . ’
‘If I were to act like a normal person as Linghu Shan suggested, wouldn't I just be letting myself be slaughtered at this moment? How stifling would that be! ’
‘His path of 'Mortal Realm Heart Refining' is not my path! ’
‘My heart. . . my heart. . . ’
Pondering all the way, Fang Xi entered a dark alley.
When he emerged again, he was no longer Fang Xi, but had assumed Fang Leng's appearance!
...
Have-A-Martial-Arts-Hall.
Qingsang walked out from within, a gentle smile on his face, preparing to return to his residence.
Thwack!
The next moment, a pebble shot out and was caught in his hand. “Who's there? ”
A figure flashed and vanished.
Qingsang immediately gave chase.
The two, one pursuing and one fleeing, quickly arrived in an deserted alley.
“Qingsang. . . watching Qingmu surpass you day by day, you must feel uncomfortable, right? ”
The figure turned around. He wore a mask over his head, revealing only a pair of eyes.
“Hmph, boring tricks! ”
Qingsang assumed a boxing stance.
He and Qingmu shared a life-and-death bond!
“Heh heh. . . your master has never truly valued you. What he values is only Qingmu. . . One day, he will hand everything over to Qingmu, not you! ”
The masked man chuckled, “And. . . the Have-A-Martial-Arts-Hall is about to face a great disaster, do you know that? ”
“Haha. . . empty threats, you think that'll scare me? When this young master was fighting for his life with stray dogs by the roadside, you probably didn't even know where you were! ”
Qingsang roared in anger and unleashed a punch.
He had diligently practiced the Primordial True Art for many years, and his cultivation could be considered profound. He was able to gather most of his body's strength into a single punch, its power astonishing!
But the next moment, the masked man merely flickered, dodging his punch, his movements ghost-like!
His punch missing its mark, Qingsang instantly felt a sharp pain in his back. He stumbled forward, collapsing onto the ground, unable to get up for a long time.
“A True Force Martial Artist? ”
He stared at the masked man, somewhat incredulous.
Since when did the Martial Hall Master realm become so common?
“Heh heh. . . I'm merely a vanguard. Behind me, there are true Martial Master Lords. . . And your Have-A-Martial-Arts-Hall only has two martial artists. . . ”
The masked man said indifferently, “Whether you die with the martial arts hall or carve out a path to survival, that choice is yours! ”
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