Challenging

Li Honggang?

The surname Li immediately made Fang Wang think of the Li family behind Li Hongshuang. Could the White-Robed Startling Swan that Li Honggang was looking for be him?

He was wearing white when he used the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art.

Three and a half months had passed since Li Hongshuang's death, and Green Cicada Valley had already retreated. He hadn't expected the Li family to find this place.

The Li family had no idea what he looked like.

After thinking, Fang Wang turned to the Mountain God Tribe beast beside him to inquire about the specific details of the incident.

This beast was named Shan Xiang. He had grown up with the green-robed girl, and they had lived together like siblings since childhood. Ever since Green Cicada Valley began slaughtering the Mountain God Tribe, Shan Xiang had accompanied the green-robed girl every time they went out. This time was no different. While they were collecting medicinal herbs, they were suddenly attacked by Li Honggang.

Even when the beasts joined forces, none of them were a match for Li Honggang, and they could only watch as he captured the green-robed girl.

"Why didn't he kill you? Even if he wanted to spread the word, he wouldn't need to let all of you live, would he?" Fang Wang asked with a frown.

Shan Xiang was stunned and shook his head in confusion.

Fang Wang looked at Fang Hanyu in the distance. The green-robed girl had saved Fang Hanyu's life. Now that she was in trouble, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.

Moreover, if he let the green-robed girl remain in the hands of the Li family, she would eventually be forced to reveal the location of Fang Realm. It would be better for him to act sooner.

After thinking, Fang Wang stood up and reached out to Shan Xiang, saying, "Give me the mask."

Upon hearing this, Shan Xiang quickly handed the fox mask he was holding to Fang Wang.

Fang Wang put it into his Storage Bag, then asked for the direction of Haixia City. After Shan Xiang answered, he walked towards Fang Hanyu.

Arriving in front of Fang Hanyu, Fang Wang explained the situation. Fang Hanyu wanted to go with him, but Fang Wang refused.

"This trip might be a trap. You going will only hinder me. Since it's the Li family's doing, they must be after me. If they come looking for me after I leave, pretend you don't know me," Fang Wang transmitted mentally, still maintaining a degree of vigilance towards the Mountain God Tribe.

Hearing this, Fang Hanyu clenched his hands in his sleeves and slowly nodded.

"You must be very careful!"

"Don't worry!"

Fang Wang patted his shoulder, then turned and walked towards the cave entrance.

In the cave passage, Fang Wang took out a set of black clothes from his Storage Bag to change into, and then put on a bamboo hat.

He wasn't that foolish. He needed to investigate before taking action on this trip.

After leaving Fang Realm, Fang Wang rode his sword in the direction Shan Xiang had indicated and soon disappeared into the horizon.

Haixia City was a border city located in the western part of the Great Qi Dynasty. Since the early days of its founding, it had been isolated from the outside world and had become a city for cultivators to travel through.

The city was surrounded by mountains, and its area spanned over ten li, making it only a small city. However, its city walls were majestic and imposing.

From time to time, cultivators would fly in on their swords, landing before the north and south city gates to pay spirit stones to enter the city.

Inside the city, in a mansion.

Indoors, the green-robed girl was eating pastries. She had put on a white opera mask again, tilting it slightly upwards, revealing only her mouth. She looked like a normal person.

"Mountain God, are you eating well?"

A voice full of vigor came from a middle-aged man in a black robe who strode into the room. He moved with imposing strides, his gray hair flowing backward, his face square, with thick eyebrows and piercing eyes. There were three scars on his cheek, as if he had been scratched by the claws of some wild beast.

The green-robed girl immediately stopped and pulled the mask down, huffing, "I've already told you, I don't know the White-Robed Startling Swan. I've never seen him before. I saved the Taiyuan Sect disciple out of compassion. For this, my Mountain God Tribe has already paid a terrible price."

Li Honggang came and sat opposite her, poured himself a cup of wine, and said, "Whether you know him or not isn't important. Your Mountain God Tribe can command the mountain and wild monsters. What I want is for you to help me pass on messages. Without holding you hostage, how could those demonic creatures be forced to do their best?"

The green-robed girl was silent for a moment, then spoke after a few breaths, "Several months have passed since then. The major sects have already left, and the White-Robed Startling Swan has probably long gone."

"No, those sects are all vying for Jihao Sect's inheritance. My Li family's disciples are among them, and they haven't found any trace of the White-Robed Startling Swan. I suspect the Taiyuan Sect disciple the White-Robed Startling Swan saved was seriously injured and needs time to recover. They should be hiding nearby," Li Honggang said, shaking his head.

The green-robed girl snorted, "Your Li family is powerful. Why don't you mobilize all your family disciples to search?"

"How could that be? Li Hongshuang joining a Demonic Path sect is already a disgrace to the Li family. The Li family won't make a big fuss over this, nor will they retaliate against Taiyuan Sect. But Li Hongshuang is my son. From the family's perspective, Li Hongshuang is dead and not worth pursuing. But from a father's perspective, I must fight the White-Robed Startling Swan to settle this karma!" Li Honggang said coldly, an indescribable aura enveloping the room, making the green-robed girl afraid to even breathe.

Silence fell again in the room.

Li Honggang drained the wine in his cup, then said, "I came here to tell the Mountain God not to worry. Even if the White-Robed Startling Swan doesn't come in a month, I will let you go. I have already spread the news. If the White-Robed Startling Swan has any pride, he will come. Then you, Mountain God, will witness my decisive battle with him!"

With that, Li Honggang stood up and left.

The green-robed girl did not get up, remaining seated in silence.

She naturally knew who the White-Robed Startling Swan was – whoever saved Fang Hanyu. However, she hadn't told her clansmen about this, fearing it would bring trouble.

She could only pray in her heart that Fang Wang wouldn't act rashly.

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The sun set.

Fang Wang, dressed in black and wearing a bamboo hat, stood before the city gate, observing the passing cultivators. He was puzzled; the city didn't look like a trap.

He approached the city guards and asked about the entry fee.

"Entering the city requires ten low-grade spirit stones, or twenty Spirit Qi Pills," the city guard replied.

In Great Qi's immortal cultivation world, spirit stones were divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and supreme-grade from lowest to highest. Similar to magic artifacts, major sects would cut spirit stones into pieces of equal weight and distribute them to disciples, and trade them with aristocratic families, forming a currency. The value difference between each grade was tenfold. One mid-grade spirit stone was equivalent to ten low-grade spirit stones. As a Personal Disciple, Fang Wang received ten high-grade spirit stones monthly. Spirit Qi Pills were also a form of currency. The specifications of the pills had long been standardized. They could be used for cultivation and to restore Spiritual Energy, equivalent to spirit stones.

After paying twenty Spirit Qi Pills, Fang Wang entered the city. His attire was not unusual; most cultivators wore bamboo hats, and some even wore masks.

Walking through the streets, Fang Wang took in the sights of Haixia City. Even before he began cultivating, he had heard tales of this place.

Among the common folk, Haixia City was known as the "Vanishing Ghost City." Various legends abounded, most claiming the city disappeared because it was overrun by monsters, and any mortal who stumbled upon it was doomed to die.

So, it wasn't a ghost city after all, just occupied by cultivators.

Haixia City had an abundance of shops, and Fang Wang finally spotted street stalls, adding to the lively and prosperous atmosphere.

Cultivation methods, secret manuals, pills, rare natural treasures, magic artifacts, Talisman Paper, precious heirlooms, pet monsters – they had everything, far more prosperous than any town he had visited before.

Along the way, Fang Wang frequently heard cultivators mention names like Li Honggang, the White-Clad Startling Swan, and Jihao Sect. Soon, he understood the situation: Li Honggang had announced his intention to challenge the White-Clad Startling Swan. He was issuing the challenge as Li Hongshuang's father, and if the White-Clad Startling Swan won, the entire matter would be settled.

The city's bustling activity was largely due to many cultivators coming to witness the confrontation between the White-Clad Startling Swan and Li Honggang.

Judging by this, it didn't seem like a trap. Li Honggang was taking a straightforward approach.

As Fang Wang pondered this, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure. He looked closely and realized it was indeed Gu Li.

Gu Li stood before a crowded stall, her gaze fixed on a batch of pet monster eggs on the ground. She was dressed in a fitted purple outfit, a sword case on her back, wearing a bamboo hat and a veil, just like the first time Fang Wang had seen her.

Fang Wang immediately walked up behind Gu Li and said softly, "Miss Gu, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing his voice, Gu Li turned to look at him, a look of pleasant surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes.

Her gaze stirred something within Fang Wang, and he inwardly cautioned himself, It's an illusion, it must be an illusion. She just wants to challenge me.

"Senior Brother Fang, you... let's talk somewhere else."

Gu Li said joyfully, and before she could finish, she took Fang Wang's hand and pulled him away.

In this life, this was the first time Fang Wang had been held by a woman other than his mother, and he was caught somewhat off guard.