Internal Spy (Seeking Recommendations)

It was the fifteenth again.

The moonlight poured down like mercury.

Fang Xi stepped onto a small, dark-canopied boat and arrived at the Black Market on the islet in the middle of the river.

Inside the wooden house.

Fatty Han, still as mountainous as ever, was startled by Fang Xi's request. "What? You want more?!"

He looked Fang Xi up and down. "The ten pounds of meat from last time should be enough for an ordinary martial artist for half a year. Did you eat it all, or do you have an elder you're buying for?"

"What? Does your Black Market question where your goods go?"

Fang Xi smiled slightly and took out gold leaves.

It wasn't that he couldn't use silver leaves, but that would directly expose his identity.

"Of course not..."

Fatty Han's mountainous body shifted, and with apparent effort, he turned to the side, tearing off a large piece of Tai Sui meat from a pit beneath him. "How much do you want this time?"

"Another ten pounds!"

Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged.

"Good heavens... I see you have exceptional strength and courage. Are you interested in taking on a private job?" Fatty Han tossed ten pounds of meat over and asked.

"Oh? What kind of job?" Fang Xi asked casually.

"Go outside the city and hunt Demon Beasts!" Fatty Han flashed a ferocious grin. "Only martial apprentices at the Three Changes of Qi and Blood level can participate. If you're a True Force martial artist, even better. We'll split the spoils based on your contribution!"

"Hunting Demon Beasts?"

Fang Xi was indeed very interested in the Demon Race of this world, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.

His current strength was only at the early Qi Refining stage. If he encountered danger, it would be too much of a loss.

"What... is the Demon Meat in your shop running out?" Fang Xi countered.

"No, no, it's just that a roaming Demon Beast has been frequently harassing the trade routes... In a few days, your Martial Arts School might even receive a joint task." Fatty Han shook his head repeatedly. "As for Demon Meat, this shop will absolutely never run out... Do you want to know why?"

As he spoke, a strange smile appeared on his face.

Combined with his mountain of flesh, it was quite chilling.

Anyone with too much imagination might start to feel nauseous...

"I know, of course. Because Tai Sui meat is different from other Demon Beast meat. As long as Tai Sui is buried deep in the ground and provided with nutrients, it grows very quickly..."

Fang Xi nodded slightly.

This was also why this shop always had Demon Meat for sale.

Other shops, once their Demon Meat was sold out, would have to organize people to hunt Demon Beasts, which was not only dangerous but also unstable in terms of supply.

"Tch... Who told you that?"

Fatty Han's teasing smile vanished, and his mountain of flesh slumped back.

Fungi grow quickly, isn't that common knowledge?

You underestimate a cultivator's methods... In my eyes, you're no different from a mushroom farmer.

Fang Xi muttered inwardly, but did not answer, maintaining an inscrutable image as he walked out of the wooden house.

After browsing the Black Market, he arrived at a shed.

Compared to the previous stalls, this wooden house was much simpler. A white-haired old man sat behind the counter, seemingly reading a book.

He wore a faded blue shirt that had been washed many times, giving him an air of scholarly refinement. However, combined with his age, he looked like a failed scholar, a poor literary man.

Seeing Fang Xi enter, a smile immediately appeared on his face. "Are you here to buy information, sir?"

The Black Market sold everything, and this wooden house was famous for selling intelligence.

"Indeed."

Fang Xi was wearing a bamboo hat and had changed his attire. "How is information sold here?"

The old man leisurely put down his book. "In this shop, all information has a price, divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow. The price varies for each level. If you purchase 'Heaven' grade intelligence, it will naturally be exhaustive, but the silver... hehe..."

The next moment, he closed his mouth.

Because Fang Xi pulled out a stack of gold leaves. "I want information on martial arts forces and famous martial artists within a hundred-mile radius, as well as advanced martial arts... all at the 'Heaven' grade!"

"Of course."

The old man quickly got up, his wrinkled face almost splitting into a chrysanthemum. "Please have a seat, honored guest. Would you like some tea? Our shop has recently acquired some excellent 'Sparrow's Tongue' tips, quite famous in Dingzhou..."

Fang Xi found the old man's change in attitude entirely reasonable.

Making money!

Nothing to be ashamed of!

However, when the old man dragged out a heavy chest from behind the counter, filled with all sorts of books, Fang Xi's expression beneath his veil finally began to change drastically.

Damn it, I miscalculated...

"I didn't expect the intel to be so detailed..."

Fang Estate.

After calling a few maids to massage his shoulders and legs, Fang Xi turned on the Earth Air Conditioner and began flipping through the intel, one book after another.

"Yuan He Mountain... founded over three hundred years ago by 'Venerable Yuan He,' with one sect leader, six elders, and eight guest elders... Its ultimate technique is the 'Yuan He Five Thunder Hands'..."

"The Black Stone City branch of Yuan He Mountain is managed by 'Linghu Yang,' who defeated the Panshi Hall Master in just a few moves and easily handled a siege by several Martial Hall Masters..."

"Chunyu... defeated the Red Snake Hall Master, Lu She..."

"Qiao Wuchang, with unimpressive combat records, is insidious and prefers ambushes and encirclements..."

"Lone martial artist Zheng Tianbao, skilled in 'Flying Cloud Skill,' combat record..."

"Gold Medal Constable Shangguan Yun, has apprehended numerous great bandits multiple times, his strength is estimated to be above that of an ordinary Martial Hall Master..."

Fang Xi quickly processed the intelligence, gaining a general impression of the nearby martial arts forces.

"Looking at it this way, the strength of the martial arts world is truly... rather weak."

After a long while, Fang Xi put down the book, a hint of helplessness in his expression.

But this was normal; true masters rarely opened martial arts schools.

However, the weakness to this extent was truly beyond his expectations.

If he calculated it, perhaps a single Black Stone City branch of Yuan He Mountain could annihilate all the martial arts schools combined!

The seemingly powerful Martial Hall Masters were merely background characters for sect disciples, or stepping stones for them to gain combat experience...

'Linghu Yang... has likely surpassed the realm of a Martial Hall Master and entered a new level. He won't be easy to kill. I'll abandon the plan to target Yuan He Mountain for now...'

'Perhaps, going to other martial arts schools to learn from their strengths and compensate for my weaknesses is also a path for body refinement?'

'Before that, shouldn't I deal with the Red Snake Martial Arts School? Whether it's She Lei or Lu She, they must resent me...'

After finishing his thoughts, Fang Xi put down a secret intelligence booklet and was about to teach Bai He some leg techniques.

A fragrant breeze passed, and Moon Laurel gracefully arrived, bowing. "Young Master... Steward Fu requests an audience!"

"A Fu? Let him in!"

Fang Xi nodded.

A moment later, the old steward A Fu, with a long beard, white hair, and a rather immortal-like appearance, walked in and respectfully bowed. "Master!"

"Rise," Fang Xi waved his hand.

In the cultivation world, appearance was never a standard for strength; there were plenty of cultivators who looked like immortals but were as fragile as withered reeds.

This was even more so in Da Liang.

"Reporting, Master. This old servant has heard some news in the city recently that might be useful to you..."

A Fu bowed.

"Useful to me? Speak! If it truly is, you will be richly rewarded." Fang Xi was quite lenient with his servants.

At least, he wasn't like the noble families in the city who would occasionally drag people to be buried in mass graves.

Furthermore, once a meritorious deed was accomplished, the reward would be substantial!

This led to the high enthusiasm of the Fang Estate's servants.

"It's like this... there was a gathering in the city, attended by the wealthy and influential. It is said that during the banquet, some rare items were put up for sale to entertain the guests... Besides antiques, precious medicinal ingredients, and fine horses, there were also martial arts manuals and even Demon Mo materials!" A Fu said.

"Oh?" Fang Xi's eyes lit up. "When and where?"

"Five days from now, at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion!" A Fu replied. "If Master requires it, this old servant can procure an invitation."

"Excellent, excellent! You will be richly rewarded!"

Fang Xi laughed heartily.

Night.

The Fang Estate was silent.

Fang Xi sat at his desk, gazing at his arrangements within the room, his expression somewhat uncertain.

Although he enjoyed comfort, he retained the cautious habits of a rogue cultivator. The most crucial bedroom was always accessible only to himself.

Even when he was playing with the maids, it was in other rooms.

At this moment, he sighed. "There are traces of disturbance on several of my hair strands. Did someone sneak into my bedroom?"

In fact, Fang Xi was well aware that his servants were all purchased, not born into the family for generations, and their loyalty and indoctrination were lacking.

He could tolerate some minor embezzlement on their part, but...

But this had crossed a line!

"Who is it? Who bribed someone in my manor? Are they trying to find out why I disappeared for a few days and where my gold and silver are hidden?"

Fang Xi's expression turned completely cold.

If someone knew about this, they could carefully investigate the servants who frequently left the manor and interacted with others, and they would surely find clues!

What's more, with the methods of a cultivator, even if a mole wanted to hide, they wouldn't be able to!

"I hope it's not those few people..."

Fang Xi murmured, then suddenly sighed.

In this world, there were always many troubles, which was why some cultivators became cold and detached, abandoning love and desire for their entire lives, seeking only the Great Dao.

He was a little better, but he was also a... indifferent and unfeeling person!