For an entire day, Fang Wang remained in his guest room cultivating, while Zhou Xingshi likewise stayed in his own room. Neither disturbed the other, yet both harbored their own thoughts.
Fang Wang was curious what Zhou Xue was doing and why she was digging out Green Cicada Valley disciples' eyes. Zhou Xingshi, meanwhile, was caught in a fierce inner struggle. If Fang Wang and Zhou Xue were both Demonic Cultivators, then Taiyuan Sect nurturing Fang Wang was no different from digging its own grave. Yet Fang Wang had treated him well, even teaching him the Body Protection Divine Gang and Great Heaven Lightning Summoning Technique. It left him in considerable torment.
Over the following days, the atmosphere in the town became increasingly strange. More and more battles broke out at night, while the number of corpses appearing during the day also continued to rise.
Fang Wang heard cultivators passing along the street below discussing how nearly all the dead had had their eyes gouged out.
Could they all have been Zhou Xue's doing?
Why was she doing this? Was she not afraid of drawing the attention of Green Cicada Valley's great cultivators?
Fang Wang believed Zhou Xue would not betray him, so he could only suppress his confusion and continue cultivating.
Five days swiftly passed.
On this day, before dawn had broken, Zhou Xue came looking for them and told Fang Wang and Zhou Xingshi to follow her.
The three quickly left the town and entered the mountain forest.
Fang Wang could not help asking, "Were all those corpses with their eyes gouged out your doing?"
He had always felt that she was not merely eliminating demons. She surely had some scheme in mind. But he worried that Zhou Xingshi would tell Guang Qiuxian about Zhou Xue's methods. If Guang Qiuxian decided Zhou Xue was a Demonic Cultivator, that would be troublesome.
"Yes. Isn't exterminating the Demonic Path what we Righteous Path cultivators ought to do?"
Walking ahead, Zhou Xue suddenly turned around and smiled at Fang Wang. Her smile sent a chill down Zhou Xingshi's spine.
"Then I'll tell you. Green Cicada Valley is cultivating a secret art called Heart Severing Evil Eyes. It requires the eyes of living people to refine evil eyes. What I'm doing is merely misleading Green Cicada Valley, making them think it was the work of their own people and driving them into internal suspicion. Meanwhile, I can gather spirit stones, pills, magical artifacts, and the like while killing Demonic Cultivators."
Zhou Xue turned back around, gazed ahead, and spoke calmly.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xingshi secretly let out a breath of relief.
The explanation was reasonable enough. Although he had never heard of Heart Severing Evil Eyes, at least this was an account he could offer up.
The three traveled through the forest at an unhurried pace. Along the way, Zhou Xue would occasionally scatter powder over the flowers and grass beside the path.
Though Fang Wang and Zhou Xingshi were puzzled, neither asked any questions.
They continued until night fell.
The three rested in the woods. Zhou Xue called Fang Wang away, while Zhou Xingshi remained beside the campfire, merely glancing at the two of them.
Fang Wang followed Zhou Xue to a river several miles away. They stood facing one another as Zhou Xue frowned and asked, "That fellow has a Myriad Poisons Spring Autumn Worm inside him. What exactly is going on? Why does he obey your every word?"
After considering it, Fang Wang still told her what had happened that day. As for the grade of his Treasure Spirit, he did not spell it out.
"So that's how it is. Those two still have some conscience, it seems. But the Myriad Poisons Spring Autumn Worm isn't controlled by incantations alone." Zhou Xue spoke in a strange, mocking tone.
Fang Wang asked, "Can you remove it?"
Zhou Xue smiled. "The Myriad Poisons Spring Autumn Worm is a Gu worm of Green Cicada Valley. I cultivated at Green Cicada Valley for fifty years, so naturally I can remove it. But it cannot be removed now, lest we startle the snake in the grass. Before you reach the Mysterious Heart Realm, you must leave Taiyuan Sect. At the very least, you cannot break through within Taiyuan Sect. When that time comes, I'll personally stand guard for you."
Hearing this, Fang Wang felt much more at ease.
"Aren't you an Immortal Venerable? Why are you interested in Jihao Sect's inheritance?" Fang Wang changed the subject. This question had been bottled up in his heart for a long time.
Zhou Xue could not have come for Fang Hanyu, could she? Fang Hanyu had only sent word to Taiyuan Sect. Since Zhou Xue had been outside, she should not have known he was in trouble.
Zhou Xue rolled her eyes at Fang Wang and said, "Though I was once an Immortal Venerable, before ascending, I had not reached the point of mastering every art beneath heaven. Do you think an Immortal Venerable can look down from above and see through every matter in the mortal world? Then you are gravely mistaken. Immortals and mortals are separated by a gulf that is difficult to cross. Living beings of the lower realm cannot reach the upper realm, and great powers of the upper realm are even less able to descend into the mortal world. They are completely different worlds. The upper realm is merely stronger."
"Besides, I did not come here seeking supreme arts, but the special magical artifacts, heavenly treasures, and top-grade spirit stones Jihao Sect left behind. Even if I am an Immortal Venerable reborn, I still have to cultivate step by step. Gathering the cultivation resources of the mortal world is something I must do. And ascension is not so simple."
At the mention of ascension, an expression Fang Wang could not understand appeared on Zhou Xue's face.
It seemed ascension was exceedingly difficult. Even Zhou Xue, who had already ascended successfully, did not have absolute confidence that she could walk that road again.
Fang Wang was not frightened. With the Heavenly Palace, there was hope for everything.
"The cultivator who attacked Fang Manor before was named Luoshang. Guess which sect he came from?" Zhou Xue suddenly stared at Fang Wang and asked, her gaze icy.
Fang Wang frowned. "Green Cicada Valley?"
He thought of Zhou Xue's vengeance against Green Cicada Valley these past few days, which was why he made that guess.
"No. Taiyuan Sect!"
"What?"
Fang Wang was thunderstruck. His hands immediately clenched inside his sleeves.
Zhou Xue sighed. "In my previous life, after I escaped by the skin of my teeth and wandered for years, by the time I entered the path of Immortal Cultivation and tried to investigate the destruction of Fang Manor, every clue had vanished. Before my rebirth, I did not even know his name. But besides Fang Manor, other Dukedom Manors and cities throughout Great Qi were also slaughtered by mysterious Qi Nurturing Realm cultivators. In my previous life, I only learned that the Prime Minister of the time had colluded with Immortal Cultivation sects. By the time I had the ability to investigate, that Prime Minister had long been dead, and his family had met no good end either, so the matter was left unresolved."
"Three months ago, I waited near another Dukedom Manor that was supposed to be destroyed next and captured another cultivator. He revealed the truth. He and Luoshang were both Outer Disciples of Taiyuan Sect's First Vein, acting for Lu Yuanjun. The two disguised themselves as Demonic Cultivators. After all, the Soul Burning Banner is a fairly common Ghost Artifact in the Immortal Cultivation world and could easily conceal their identities."
Lu Yuanjun!
Taiyuan Sect's greatest genius, possessing a Mid-grade Earth Origin Treasure Spirit!
Fang Wang frowned deeply. The blood debt of Fang Manor could not go unpaid. So many had died—how could he simply let it go?
Zhou Xue continued, "Taiyuan Sect likely knows nothing of this. Great Qi's Son of Heaven may also be involved. In my previous life, Lu Yuanjun had an excellent relationship with Great Qi's Son of Heaven. Great Qi was able to transform into an Immortal Cultivation dynasty largely because of Lu Yuanjun's support. I'm telling you this only so you will be wary of Lu Yuanjun. He treats people kindly and always draws those around him into serving him."
Fang Wang's gaze flickered. "Are you sure it was him?"
"Yes. I forced a confession from that Outer Disciple, and he revealed that Lu Yuanjun had indeed sent them to gather ghosts. Lu Yuanjun is likely nurturing a powerful Ghost Artifact." Zhou Xue nodded, killing intent visible in her eyes as well.
Lu Yuanjun!
For Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, he was an enormous mountain before them. They could not possibly accuse Lu Yuanjun. The entirety of Taiyuan Sect was building him up.
Fang Wang took a deep breath and said, "If that is the case, then I will claim the position of Taiyuan Sect Head Disciple no matter what!"
A smile appeared on Zhou Xue's face. "Good. I was not wrong about you for having such ambition. Before you become the Senior Disciple, treat this matter as though it never happened. Taiyuan Sect belongs to the Righteous Path, but that does not mean everyone in it is a good person. Zhou Xingshi's fate is the best proof."
Just then, Fang Wang had even considered going to Guang Qiuxian and using the grade of his Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit to suppress Lu Yuanjun, but he quickly dismissed the idea. It was far too risky.
Lu Yuanjun was different from him now. He was already Taiyuan Sect's banner. Could Guang Qiuxian truly suppress Lu Yuanjun outright?
Even if he could, he would likely only punish him. Would he really kill Lu Yuanjun over a group of mortals?
"Tell me, what do you want to learn? I'll teach you. Remember, you may only make one request." Zhou Xue crossed her arms and raised a brow at Fang Wang.
Upon hearing that, Fang Wang immediately said, "The Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Scripture!"
Zhou Xue could not help glaring at him. "Do you really think I know everything? I did not obtain that art in my previous life. Before ascending, I was not invincible beneath heaven. More than five people could stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Ascension also depends on fate and opportunity."
Fang Wang smiled. He had merely been testing her. Since Zhou Xue did not know it, he might as well learn a method for concealing his aura.
Upon hearing his request, Zhou Xue readily agreed.
This method was called the Breathless Natural Skill, an auxiliary internal art mainly used to conceal one's emotions.
Within the Heavenly Palace, Fang Wang needed only ten years to cultivate it to great perfection. From Zhou Xue's perspective, the instant Fang Wang finished listening to her, his aura vanished. If she closed her eyes and did not use her Spiritual Sense, she could not even detect that someone stood before her.
"With this kid's comprehension, he'll overthrow Lu Yuanjun sooner or later."
Zhou Xue revealed a gratified smile. She had long been convinced of Fang Wang's talent.
Fang Wang would compete for the position of Senior Disciple within Taiyuan Sect and seek benefits for the Fang Family, while she would nurture the Fang Family. Taiyuan Sect was merely a stepping stone in her plans.
Sunlight streamed through gaps in the leaves and scattered mottled patches of light across the grass.
A man in a green Daoist robe slammed into a massive tree trunk, making the thousand-year-old tree shudder violently. He fell to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Not far away, Fang Wang lowered his leg. Zhou Xue and Zhou Xingshi stood behind him with entirely different expressions. Zhou Xue wore an appreciative, satisfied smile, while Zhou Xingshi was filled with fear.
Ever since that night three days ago, after Fang Wang had spoken with Zhou Xue, Zhou Xingshi had always felt that Fang Wang carried a sharp killing aura. Compared with before, he was like a completely different person.
For example, a ninth-layer Qi Nurturing Realm cultivator could not withstand even a single kick from him!
Zhou Xue walked over, crouched before the heavily injured Green Cicada Valley disciple, and began interrogating him.
Over these past days, they had interrogated seven Green Cicada Valley disciples and learned that this group had been searching for a Taiyuan Sect disciple. Based on the description, it was very likely Fang Hanyu.
After a while, Zhou Xue snapped the Green Cicada Valley disciple's neck, took his Storage Bag, then beckoned Fang Wang and Zhou Xingshi over.
As he passed the corpse, Fang Wang saw that this man's eyes had also been gouged out.
He suddenly wondered whether Zhou Xue was also planning to cultivate Heart Severing Evil Eyes.
Fang Wang was not too opposed to it. Green Cicada Valley disciples were infamous. Not only did they use poison, but their actions were also vicious. They often massacred mortals in mountain villages. According to Zhou Xingshi, Green Cicada Valley cultivators were the cruelest among the Demonic Path sects; even the other Demonic Path sects hated them.
Walking ahead, Zhou Xue wiped her hands and said, "Fang Hanyu is likely hiding somewhere in the Demon Forest Mountain Range ahead. The demon aura here is heavy. There may be powerful demon beasts, so be extra careful."
Before you continue