Black Stone City

Black Stone City.

At the boundary between the inner city and the outer district.

Fang Xi strode down the middle of the street, like a monster-attracting beacon.

Thud, thud!

The monsters nearby seemed to have spotted some delicious delicacy and frantically converged on him.

"Die!"

Fang Xi casually struck out with one palm.

Bang!

The Cursed Person's spine bent into a terrifying bow shape after taking the blow. It was nearly smashed in two, and it flew backward before crashing to the ground, never moving again.

One had to know that these Cursed People were existences even a Martial Disciple at the Three Changes of Qi and Blood found difficult to bring down. Their bodies were incomparably tough.

Yet in Fang Xi's hands, they were as fragile as rotten wood!

Rip!

He seized a Cursed Person's arm and gave it a light tug. The arm was torn off at the root, blood gushing everywhere.

"It feels about the same as tearing apart a beggar's chicken by hand..."

Fang Xi frowned as he dodged the blood and grime.

Although he was not afraid of the poison in the demon's curse power, he still found it somewhat filthy.

"If even Cursed People are this helpless before me, wouldn't ordinary people be like paper?"

He swept out with his right leg, kicking away a whole circle of nearby Cursed People.

The next moment, he saw a Wood Person charging over. Beneath its skin, countless insects seemed to be writhing restlessly.

Puff, puff!

Just as the Wood Person reached Fang Xi, its skin burst apart. Countless plant roots emerged from its muscles and its seven apertures, lashing toward Fang Xi!

Amid the myriad whip-like shadows, several roots were especially treacherous, attempting to burrow into Fang Xi's body.

Clang, clang!

The sound of metal striking metal rang out!

Those roots, which were like diamond drills, stabbed into Fang Xi's skin, yet could only leave behind one pale mark after another before quickly dissipating.

"The Iron Cloth Skill's defense really is formidable!"

Fang Xi shaped his hand into a blade and severed several vines winding toward him.

Then, a talisman appeared in his hand.

"Fire!"

A ball of spiritual fire appeared and landed on the Wood Person.

The Wood Person let out a shriek and turned into a pile of ashes.

"Immortal cultivation techniques aren't bad against Demon Servants either!"

Fang Xi nodded, then his expression changed.

With the assistance of the Heavenly Sight Earthly Hearing Skill, both his eyesight and hearing had increased tremendously.

At this moment, he could sense several Wood People surrounding him from nearby!

"Wasting talismans is shameful."

After testing his strength, he was about to leave when the corner of his eye caught sight of something. Amid the Wood Person's ashes, he discovered a gray, dusty seed.

"It survived even the burning of a cultivator's spiritual fire?"

Fang Xi was slightly surprised. He sealed the seed inside a jade bottle, then placed several magic-power seals over it.

Only then did he leisurely use the Red Snake Leg to leave, leaving several Wood People roaring helplessly as they chased after him...

"Whew, whew!"

After shaking off the Wood People, Fang Xi gazed at the Yao Mo Tree, his expression gradually turning solemn. "This demon has more and more servants, and its aura is growing stronger. It's probably about to advance... I have to leave before it advances!"

But to leave, he needed a Forbidden Breaking Talisman. Fang Xi had deliberately asked around in the marketplace this time, and it was worth roughly thirty-five spirit stones!

Besides that, he still owed his fellow cultivator five spirit stones, accruing interest like a snowball!

"I originally wanted to temper my Martial Arts a little longer..."

"But now it seems I'd better immediately search for True Energy Martial Arts, break through to the second level of Body Tempering, and open the trade between the two worlds..."

East City Gate.

White Cloud Martial Arts School's headquarters.

"Senior Brother is back!"

When Liu Taotao saw Fang Xi, his eyes immediately lit up, and he hurried forward to salute.

"Mm!"

Fang Xi casually tossed over a sack of grain, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

With supplies gradually running short, he returned with a full load every time he went out, practically feeding half the martial arts school.

In truth, if Mu Canglong knew that Fang Xi had also given Fatty Han nearly a thousand jin of grain this time, he would certainly be even more astonished.

"Senior Brother!"

Tang Xuan and the others hurriedly took the grain sack. Its heavy weight brought smiles to every face.

Fang Xi swept his gaze around and unexpectedly spotted Hao Lan as well.

That unlucky boy's father, the Martial Hall Master, had died in battle on the day of the Demon Calamity. The Boulder Martial Arts School he belonged to had also been wiped out. After eating his fill at White Cloud Martial Arts School for a while, he had shamelessly become Mu Canglong's disciple and Fang Xi's junior brother.

Tang Xuan, on the other hand, had recently been riding a wave of success. His face glowed red, and he was clearly living quite comfortably with the young lady Bai He.

After greeting Bai He, Mu Piaomiao, and the others one by one, Fang Xi arrived at the much-smaller practice yard and began training.

There were also some targets moved over from White Cloud Martial Arts School in the practice yard.

The heaviest one was actually made of iron, with a layer of hemp rope wrapped around its exterior. It had always been Mu Canglong's personal practice post.

But now, Fang Xi used it without the slightest hesitation.

Bang, bang, bang!

His fists and palms struck the iron post, producing a grating sound that set people's teeth on edge.

Hao Lan watched this scene and swallowed. He felt that he had truly been ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth to challenge Senior Brother earlier. Fortunately, his luck had been decent...

"Wait, this is..."

After watching for a while, he suddenly opened his mouth wide.

Under Fang Xi's attacks, the hemp rope originally wrapped around the iron post broke apart, revealing the black iron beneath.

At this moment, one fist imprint and palm print after another had appeared on the iron post!

"Not enough. Still not enough!"

Suddenly, Fang Xi let out a long howl and turned one hand into a blade.

Puff!

His palm was like some divine weapon. With one hand-blade strike, he chopped into the iron post, actually cutting off and sending flying a section of the post, which was as thick as an adult's thigh.

Clang!

The enormous iron post slammed into the wall, making it tremble violently and sending quite a bit of dust falling.

Many people saw this scene, and every one of them stood there with their mouths agape.

"Fang Xi..."

Mu Canglong had appeared at the edge of the yard at some point. Gazing at the severed iron post, he was visibly excited. "Could it be... that you've already broken through the limits of the human body and become a True Energy Martial Master?"

"I'm still a little short!"

Fang Xi withdrew his hand blade and sensed the changes within his body, feeling somewhat regretful.

With the aid of the Qi and Blood Pills, breaking through the limits of the human body and producing True Energy did not seem far away.

With his current realm of refining the marrow through True Force, he would probably be able to produce True Energy and break the curse that local third-rate Martial Arts in Daliang could never advance within in just a few more months, or a year at most!

Unfortunately, that speed was still a little too slow.

So... I still need a True Energy Martial Art.

A glint flashed through Fang Xi's eyes as he looked at Mu Canglong. "Master, has anything happened recently?"

"Everything else is fine. I can handle it."

Mu Canglong hesitated before finally speaking. "Recently, an envoy from Yuan He Mountain at the South City Gate came over and demanded that we follow their orders. They said their warden might have a way to get out..."

"A way to get out?"

Fang Xi immediately became interested. "What exactly is it?"

"We don't know the specifics, but Yuan He Mountain requires us to follow their command, including handing over grain... In exchange, they can give us several spots to leave." Mu Canglong's expression was extremely conflicted.

Clearly, he thought the matter was unlikely, yet he was unwilling to give up.

A drowning person would not willingly let go of even the hope offered by a single straw.

"Our martial arts school won't participate for now. We'll observe for a while before deciding."

Fang Xi quickly made his decision.

Within White Cloud Martial Arts School, even Mu Canglong found it difficult to overturn a decision Fang Xi made.

At this moment, he accepted the handkerchief Bai He handed him, wiped his hands, and said casually, "Also... I'm planning to go out for a while."

"Go out again?" Mu Piaomiao felt somewhat downcast. "We already have enough grain to eat for many days..."

"It's not about the grain... As for the martial arts school, if any enemies come knocking, have them take a look at this iron post."

Fang Xi had decided to go out with Yuan He Mountain as his target.

Whether it was the growth of the Yao Mo Tree or the pressure of his five-spirit-stone debt, both forced him to sell Daliang's goods in the Southern Barrens Cultivation World as soon as possible in exchange for spirit stones.

To do that, he needed at least the strength of the middle Qi-Condensation stage.

Fang Xi reckoned that the Evergreen Art could not possibly break through to the fourth layer in a short time.

That left only the Martial Arts that could rapidly increase his strength.

Unfortunately, although his Martial Arts had made tremendous progress, he was still some distance away from producing True Energy.

"Of the entire Black Stone City, perhaps only Yuan He Mountain's secret-inherited Martial Arts have reached the True Energy level. They can definitely push my progress forward at tremendous speed."

Fang Xi's eyes were deep and unfathomable as he left White Cloud Martial Arts School's headquarters and quickly vanished into the desolate street.

South City Gate.

"Warden... I've contacted the Martial Hall Masters one by one. Red Rock Martial Arts School and Three Flowers Martial Arts School have both agreed to our demands. They'll soon send over a large quantity of supplies, personnel, and their sect-sustaining Martial Arts, together with the Divine Intent Diagram!"

Qiao Wuchang bowed as he reported.

Standing opposite him was Linghu Yang, whose bearing had grown increasingly profound, like a god or demon.

"I know." Linghu Yang nodded.

"Warden..." Qiao Wuchang gritted his teeth. "It's just... regarding the matter of the spots to leave the city that we promised them..."

He actually had some misgivings about this matter.

Although Qiao Wuchang was one of their own and knew very well that within the Demon Domain, even ghosts and gods could not escape!

"Are you doubting me?"

Linghu Yang stared coldly at Qiao Wuchang.

"This subordinate wouldn't dare." Although he had already entered the realm of a True Force Martial Artist, Qiao Wuchang had no doubt that Linghu Yang could kill him with ease. At once, he knelt on the ground. "Warden, please, in consideration of how I've done my utmost... point me toward a path to survival!"

"There is naturally a way out."

Linghu Yang closed his eyes. "I've already perfected my True Energy... Next, I'll charge toward the Martial Master realm. Once I achieve the Martial Master realm, perhaps I'll be able to leave..."

"Martial Master?" Qiao Wuchang's eyes widened.

Throughout all of Yuan He Mountain, perhaps only one legendary old ancestor had reached such a realm.

Not to mention...

Sure enough, the next moment, Linghu Yang continued, "Unfortunately... Yuan He Five Thunder Hands was only passed down to me up to the Martial Master portion. I still have some difficulties regarding how to achieve the Martial Master realm..."

"As expected of you, Warden."

Qiao Wuchang's eyes lit up, then a sinister look appeared on his face. "So that's why you ordered those Martial Hall Masters to hand over their Martial Arts? To gather the strengths of a hundred schools?"

"Heh. What is there in third-rate Martial Arts worth learning?"

Linghu Yang shook his head and denied it. "I merely want to give them a great gift, and then... use their flesh and blood to complete my path to the Martial Master realm. I'll give you a task. Starting today, capture people—capture those Martial Artists who refuse to submit. The more, the better!"