Give Them a Thorough Beating!

As Fang Qing advanced through the depths of Lingxu, he found a great many spiritual herbs and medicinal plants, and slew quite a few demonic beasts.

Lingxu as a whole could be divided into different levels. The spiritual herbs and medicinal plants growing in the outermost areas were naturally the youngest, while the demonic beasts there were also of the lowest grade. Some could not even be called demons, only beasts.

Things like venomous snakes could be easily killed even by cultivators of the Bitter Sea Realm.

If one went deeper, Lingxu became far more dangerous. The demonic beasts within were powerful enough to rival human cultivators of the Life Spring Realm, and such beasts often possessed unique traits. Some were immensely strong, some incredibly fast, and some extremely venomous.

Even human cultivators of the Life Spring Realm had to proceed with great caution upon entering such places.

However, the spiritual herbs and medicinal plants there were quite valuable, with over a hundred years of medicinal potency. Moreover, if one could kill a high-level demonic beast, whether its hide or inner core, both were precious riches.

For Bitter Sea Realm cultivators to enter such a place was entirely a matter of luck. With bad luck, they could easily die beyond all hope of recovery.

This was the region Fang Qing was currently traversing. He was already a Life Spring Realm cultivator, and with the Bronze Lamp, he moved through this area as though it were empty, harvesting quite a few good things.

If he went deeper still, Lingxu's danger would rise sharply once again. There were demonic beasts living there at the Divine Bridge Realm, the Other Shore Realm, and even Great Demons of the Dao Palace Realm above the Other Shore. If humans rashly set foot in those regions, death was certain.

In fact, Lingxu's deepest reaches were effectively a paradise for the Demon Clan, the equivalent of one of their great sects. It was like another Lingxu Grotto-Heaven. If others searched for treasure all the way into Lingxu Grotto-Heaven's back garden, they would surely be jointly killed by Lingxu Grotto-Heaven's elders.

Fang Qing would not go to such places to throw his life away.

This time, Fang Qing obtained quite a few treasures in Lingxu's middle regions. He refined every spiritual herb and medicinal plant directly, greatly enhancing his vital energy and gaining quite a few traits, such as poison resistance.

There were many poisonous insects in Lingxu, and their venom was extremely potent. A single bite could poison someone into collapse, turning them into food for the insects.

Fortunately, Fang Qing was more skilled. He killed those poisonous insects, picked the spiritual herbs they guarded, and after consuming them, gained the attribute of poison resistance.

"This trial will last for three days. You must spend the night in Lingxu. That is the true test for the disciples."

When Fang Qing returned to the Outer Layer of Lingxu after gathering many spiritual herbs, Elder Lu Zhihua spoke. Seeing Fang Qing return safely, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had feared that this Peerless Genius of Lingxu Grotto-Heaven might truly lose his head and venture into Lingxu's depths. That would have been the most terrifying outcome.

"This is indeed a challenge for the disciples. We must also be careful. Although Lingxu's outer layer is very safe, no one knows whether some unforeseen change might occur."

Fang Qing nodded.

Ever since arriving in this world, apart from that night he had spent in the wilderness of the Ancient Desolation Forbidden Zone, he had otherwise lived in human settlements. Yet in a place like Lingxu, nighttime was still extremely dangerous.

"Don't say things like unforeseen changes. There definitely won't be any unforeseen changes."

Hearing Fang Qing's words, Elder Lu Zhihua hurriedly spoke.

It was better not to speak such words aloud.

"I understand."

Fang Qing stopped mentioning unforeseen changes.

It was inauspicious.

When night fell, darkness shrouded the deep mountains and ancient forest. Disciples with weaker nerves would be frightened into trembling.

The nights in Lingxu were indeed terrifying. No one knew whether some poisonous insect or savage beast lurked within a certain grove or patch of grass.

Darkness was the unknown.

Danger seemed capable of lurking everywhere.

In such an environment, every disciple undergoing the trial had to proceed carefully, no longer daring to search so freely for treasures as they had during the day.

Some disciples formed groups. Part stood guard, while the others rested and recovered their strength.

Of course, some disciples suffered bullying. Such disciples did not dare remain alone at night and could only join someone else's group. But once they joined, they became other people's pawns. Not only did they have to hand over a portion of the spiritual herbs they found, they also had to do a great deal of work.

"Lingxu Grotto-Heaven is originally a cultivation sect that places great importance on character. But in recent years, the members have become increasingly mixed, and many disciples of poor conduct have appeared within the sect."

Elder Lu Zhihua understood Lingxu Grotto-Heaven's situation very well. "These disciples also have sect elders backing them. If we personally took action, it would inevitably provoke enormous conflict. It might even cause Lingxu Grotto-Heaven to fall apart, allowing the other grotto-heavens to profit instead."

Fang Qing's expression did not change. As he listened to Elder Lu Zhihua, he also kept watch on the darkness in the distance.

Since cultivating the Longevity Art and entering the Innate Realm, his connection to the outside world had always remained. It would not weaken just because darkness had descended.

Daytime and nighttime were the same.

Moreover, even in this darkness, Fang Qing could still circulate the Longevity Art and continuously increase his strength.

"Those disciples all have some backing. They are either the grandsons of some elder or the sons of some elder. They collude with one another, so how could ordinary disciples dare offend them? Some disciples even see those scum gathered together and eagerly go up to curry favor with them. They have ruined the atmosphere of our Lingxu Grotto-Heaven. The Sect Leader and several of us intend to have you join the Enforcement Team after this trial ends and give them a thorough beating."

Elder Lu Zhihua looked at Fang Qing. "I wonder if you dare to deal with them."

"Why wouldn't I dare? I am only curious—if I take action, won't it provoke even greater conflict?"

Fang Qing smiled as he listened to Elder Lu Zhihua.

Why would he fear the elders behind those spoiled young masters? At most, they were elders of the Life Spring Realm or Divine Bridge Realm. Even if it came to a real fight, he was not afraid.

And if he dealt with those spoiled young masters, he would gain even more resources in Lingxu Grotto-Heaven. If he could kill the elders backing them, that would be even better.

But for now, it seemed he still had to follow rules and principles.

"Just do it. The Sect Leader, I, Elder Wu Qingfeng, and the two elders you have met will all support you. No matter how great a disturbance you cause, so long as you have justice on your side, we will be your strongest backing."

Elder Lu Zhihua spoke solemnly.

"Alright."

Fang Qing nodded.