Chapter 704: The Ways of the World (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
Chapter 704: The Ways of the World (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Votes)
Spring departed, autumn arrived.
For Fang Xi, this amount of time was barely enough to raise the 'Transformation at Will' Secret Art from elementary to minor mastery.
But for low-stage cultivators, it marked yet another cycle of a year.
Near Liang Widow's home, clusters of spirit rice in the spirit fields bent their stalks, looking exceptionally promising for a harvest.
Even the manager from the Heavenly Brahma Gang, who had come to collect protection fees, praised it profusely.
He circled the spirit fields a few times, full of compliments: "Good fields, good harvest indeed. . ."
There was a hint of emotion in his words.
Who would willingly risk their life in a cultivation battle when they could stably farm and cultivate? Alas. . . such are the ways of the world. . .
"Oh? Fellow Daoist Fang also has a share in this? I wasn't aware of that. . ."
The manager stroked his mustache and smiled.
"Of course he does, of course he does!"
Liang Widow forced a smile, secretly resolving to send Fang Xi some new spirit rice after the harvest.
Who would refuse free spirit rice?
"That's good then."
The manager said no more, surveying for a moment before bringing up another matter: "Recently, the city hasn't been peaceful. . . Another group of rogue cultivators, fleeing from the wilderness, formed something called the 'Brotherhood Society. ' They're quite unsightly in their methods, and while our Heavenly Brahma Gang intends to protect our neighbors in the eastern part of the city, there are limits to what we can do. You all must be extra careful."
Upon hearing the manager's words, Liang Widow's expression changed.
Most of those cultivators from the 'Brotherhood Society' were also among those who had fled that night.
Later, finding it impossible to survive in the wilderness, they gradually returned to the market town, living a hard life and forced to band together for warmth.
Furthermore, because their lives were cheap, they were merciless in their battles, causing the Thunderfire Hall and the Heavenly Brahma Gang to suffer minor losses.
Just the fact that the Brotherhood Society hadn't been wiped out yet indicated that a Core Formation Perfected cultivator was backing them!
In the small Black Rock Market Town, a Core Formation Perfected cultivator was akin to a god!
In the past, Liang Widow's family never had food beyond the current day, so they weren't afraid of being targeted. But now, it was different.
"The harvest season is almost here. . ."
The manager reminded her, then walked away leisurely, hands clasped behind his back.
Only Liang Widow remained, her face alternating between pale and flushed, before finally spitting, "This damned world. . ."
...
That night.
Inside his immortal cave, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, contemplating the 'Transformation into Myriad Things' Secret Art.
Suddenly, an expression of interest appeared on his face: "Have they arrived?"
Boom!
Above this block of residences, a peal of thunder suddenly flashed!
Several dark figures successively cast movement techniques and other spells, infiltrating the block. They suddenly split into several groups, heading towards various cultivators' immortal caves.
Even a wave of Qi Refining cultivators, eyes bloodshot, rushed into the spirit fields and began to harvest extensively.
A golden light flashed across their artifacts, and swathes of still-maturing spirit rice stalks fell rustling to the ground.
Subsequently, bundles of rice stalks were collected into Storage Bags, their cooperation seamless and their speed incredibly fast!
"Oh, you villains!"
Liang Widow's piercing shriek rang out.
She held several talismans flickering with lightning. Facing the assault of numerous rogue cultivators, streaks of formation patterns lit up above her wooden house.
A translucent barrier of light appeared, resisting the attacks from various artifacts and spirit artifacts.
"Don't be afraid, she only has one 'Thunder Frenzy Talisman'!"
"Use spirit shields! Those who can cast wood shield spells, step forward!"
A masked bandit cultivator surveyed the scene, quickly making adjustments. He then looked at Xiao Chong, who was holding a flying dagger artifact, gritting his teeth and glaring at him. The bandit couldn't help but cackle menacingly: "Kid. . . do you know how your mother made a living before? If we're talking seniority, we're all your godfathers!"
Although Xiao Chong knew these bandits were intentionally provoking him, rage still surged through him, his eyes blood-red. The flying dagger in his hand transformed into a streak of black light, flying out of his grip.
Pfft!
However, no sooner had the flying dagger left the formation than it was intercepted mid-air by a golden longsword spirit artifact.
Xiao Chong's face went pale, his Divine Consciousness damaged, leaving him dizzy.
"Xiao Chong!"
Seeing this, Liang Widow's heart seized with panic, leaving her vulnerable.
Under the bombardment of several spirit artifacts, the defensive power of the formation talisman was, after all, inferior to true formation artifacts.
The light barrier flickered violently a few times, then shattered with a crash!
...
"Is this the place?"
Outside Fang Xi's immortal cave, several figures gathered, each at least at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, holding strange dark green banners.
"The cultivator in this immortal cave is at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, not easy to deal with. . ."
"No matter how difficult, they'll still fall under our 'Heavenly Ghost Four Symbols Banners'. . ."
The few Foundation Establishment cultivators wore sinister grins.
The set of banners they held was a complete set of spirit artifacts. Coupled with the combined power of four cultivators above the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, even a Foundation Establishment Perfected cultivator would have to surrender. . .
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The immortal cave suddenly opened, and a black sword light emerged.
This sword light stirred wind and thunder, its might astonishing. With a single slash, it split the leading late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in two!
His smile still lingered on his face, and the Heavenly Ghost Four Symbols Banner in his hand plummeted to the ground.
"Big Brother? !"
The remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators' eyes turned red, but the black sword light, moving swiftly, effortlessly ended their lives with just three more slashes.
The black sword light darted nimbly, transforming into a small black snake that snatched the spirit artifacts and Storage Bags, then drilled back into the immortal cave, vanishing.
"What kind of trash is this? Even Xiao Qing doesn't want it. . ."
Fang Xi swept his Divine Consciousness over them casually, then tossed away the Storage Bags.
At this moment, he also saw that Daoist Zhou, unable to hold back, had finally intervened to save Liang Widow and Xiao Chong. He smiled faintly and continued to meditate.
...
The next day.
Early morning.
The strong scent of blood lingered, and the spirit fields were a mess.
Liang Widow cursed under her breath as she burned the bandit cultivators' corpses, scattering their ashes into the spirit fields.
Presumably, if spirit rice were planted next year, there would be a bountiful harvest.
Liang Widow arrived before Fang Xi's immortal cave, and upon seeing several dismembered corpses, she shivered again: "Indeed, this person is ruthless and cold-blooded. . ."
Suddenly, the immortal cave door opened, and Fang Xi walked out, startling Liang Widow into another shiver.
"Haha, I didn't expect Fellow Daoist to be a sword cultivator!"
At this moment, Daoist Zhou, clad in a hemp robe, walked over, praising, "The sword strikes like wind and thunder, truly remarkable. . ."
"Alas, last night, some petty villains attacked my immortal cave. Though I barely repelled them, my magic power is depleted, and I dare not venture out. . ."
Fang Xi sighed: "It's good that you all are fine. . ."
"Our three families are fine, but as for the others. . ."
Liang Widow's voice trailed off into silence.
Last night, her home was almost breached. Thankfully, Daoist Zhou had intervened.
Otherwise, her entire family might have been wiped out!
Recalling it now, she still felt lingering fear.
A moment later, a streak of light slowly approached in mid-air, revealing the figure of the Heavenly Brahma Gang manager.
"Last night, the Brotherhood Society went berserk, attacking many cultivators' immortal caves. Seeing you all unharmed, I am relieved. . ."
The manager's face was initially wreathed in smiles, but upon seeing the several corpses in front of Fang Xi's immortal cave, his expression changed: "The Heavenly Ghost Four Beasts? Good. . . I can't believe these four died here. Fellow Daoist Fang has truly eliminated a scourge for the people."
"The Heavenly Ghost Four Beasts? Are those the notorious villains skilled in setting up formations, rumored to have escaped even from Core Formation Perfected cultivators?"
Liang Widow was slightly surprised.
"Just a small matter, nothing worth mentioning."
Fang Xi waved his hand.
At this, the manager spoke with righteous indignation: "The Brotherhood Society is a cancerous tumor in our Black Rock Market Town. Now, our Heavenly Brahma Gang and Thunderfire Hall have reached an agreement. We must eliminate this society, leaving no bandit cultivator alive! I ask all Fellow Daoists to lend our gang a hand, and we will surely reward you generously!"
"I am but a free and unburdened rogue cultivator, with no desire for conflict or slaughter. . ."
Fang Xi gently shook his head, directly refusing.
Liang Widow, however, looked at her mostly destroyed spirit fields, deep in thought.
Her family's livelihood depended entirely on those spirit fields. Now that they were ruined, they would likely face starvation next year.
At this point, her only option was to take a desperate gamble.
After the manager left, Fang Xi and Daoist Zhou exchanged glances, and then Liang Widow walked over, gritting her teeth, and bowed: "I have an impudent request; I beg the two of you to grant it."
"If it's an impudent request, there's no need to tell me."
Fang Xi waved his hand, choosing a spot and sitting down to drink.
Liang Widow could only look at Daoist Zhou.
Daoist Zhou sighed helplessly: "Fellow Daoist Liang, you may go. I will help you look after Xiao Chong for a while. . ."
"Thank you."
Liang Widow cast a grateful look at Daoist Zhou and hurried away.
"What kind of wine is this?"
Daoist Zhou had Xiao Chong sit and cultivate Qi by his side, while he himself came to Fang Xi, looking at the wine gourd in his hand with a hint of curiosity.
"Care for a cup?"
Fang Xi glanced at him and smiled.
"A drink must always be tasted!"
Daoist Zhou took out a rattan cup, poured a cup of spirit wine, and took a sip. His brows furrowed: "It's only a low-grade first-order wine, and a bit bitter. . ."
"This is my own brew. Perhaps Fellow Daoist isn't accustomed to it."
Fang Xi laughed heartily. Deriving the Green Bamboo Wine recipe to fifth or sixth-order. . . while not impossible, it wouldn't be the original Green Bamboo Wine anymore.
His true self now preferred the old taste more and more, so he had brewed a large batch.
His External Avatar also carried some, taking it out to enjoy occasionally.
"I am a bit unaccustomed, but if I taste it carefully, it has a certain charm."
Daoist Zhou's nose was slightly red as he looked at Xiao Chong, who was cultivating much harder than usual: "Could it be that Fellow Daoist has also taken a liking to this child?"
"A gentleman doesn't steal what another cherishes."
Fang Xi shook his head.
"In that case, I shall begin. . . " Daoist Zhou's eyes lit up.
...
Three days later.
Liang Widow returned, her aura ragged, the corners of her robes stained with blood.
At the same time, she brought back several blood-stained Storage Bags. Soon after returning home, she collapsed.
Xiao Chong quickly rushed to invite Grandfather Zhou over.
After Daoist Zhou examined her, he used a spirit pill, and Liang Widow was indeed cured of her ailments.
From then on, the bond between the two families grew even deeper, and before long, Daoist Zhou formally accepted Xiao Chong as his disciple. . .
Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, twenty more years had gone by. . .
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