White Cloud (New book seeking support)

"Two masters, please!"

That evening, Fang Xi hosted a banquet to entertain the two martial arts instructors, Mu Piaomiao and She Lei.

Dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a jade crown, though his figure was somewhat slender, he carried an air of ethereal grace that drew a silent nod of approval from Mu Piaomiao, who promptly raised her cup and drank.

"Please!"

A mouthful of cool wine slid down her throat, and Mu Piaomiao couldn't help but start: "Good wine..."

She Lei let out an even more delighted cry: "Could this be the 'Autumn Dew White' from Baili Winery? I've heard the winery master only brews eighteen jars a year, each aged for three years before it's ready, worth a hundred taels..."

"Heh heh, I'm a man who loves fine wine, fine food, beautiful maids, antiques, grand mansions, and clever contraptions..."

Fang Xi poured himself a cup and sighed: "I once heard a saying—a man in this world should climb the highest mountains, drink the strongest wine, wield the swiftest sword, ride the finest horse, bed the prettiest women, and fight the fiercest foes..."

In the cultivation world, he wouldn't dare say such a thing, but in this world, it could serve as a small life goal, something to spice things up.

"Hahaha... youth is wonderful."

She Lei took a deep gulp of Autumn Dew White, suddenly feeling a flicker of his younger self.

Once, he too had been a wandering youth with dreams, until he took a knife to the knee...

"Bed the prettiest women..."

Mu Piaomiao's face flushed, and she instinctively tugged at her collar, silently cursing the little lecher, yet feeling a stir of temptation.

After all, she'd heard of female martial artists who ended up destitute, forced to sell their charms.

And this Young Master Fang was truly young, carefree, wealthy, and gentle—hardly a bad match...

"Leaving everything else aside, in this scorching summer heat, the hall holds not even a trace of swelter... truly rare, truly rare."

She Lei's gaze shifted to the wooden boxes in the hall, and he laughed: "This must be one of Young Master Fang's so-called clever contraptions, am I right?"

"Naturally, it's an Earth Air Conditioner, keeping the room cool in summer and warm in winter—a trifle that makes me look foolish..."

Fang Xi waved his hand. Combining cultivation techniques with his previous life's experience to make this air conditioner was one of his proudest achievements.

But he couldn't be bothered to promote it or make money from it; everything was for his own convenience and enjoyment.

Who would be foolish enough to become a merchant in a world with supernatural forces?

The next day.

On the training grounds.

Mu Piaomiao was absent, leaving only She Lei.

Though the martial arts school taught anyone who paid, they still had to observe propriety.

She Lei's expression grew much more serious: "The Red Snake Leg of my Red Snake Martial Arts School focuses on leg techniques. We start with footwork practice on stakes, training atop wooden posts... Later, we add weights. Let me demonstrate for you first, Young Master."

On the training grounds, several rows of Plum Blossom Stakes of varying heights had already been set up.

She Lei lightly leaped onto the stakes and walked as if flying: "Body like a pine, legs like a snake; in motion, the body moves but the mind stays still..."

After demonstrating for a while, he jumped down from the stakes and laughed: "Martial training consumes a lot of energy, best paired with medicinal meals... At first, a physician can prescribe some blood-nourishing formulas. Once you grasp the secret of Blood Qi, you'll need the school's special elixirs."

"Special elixirs?"

Fang Xi's heart stirred, thinking of his second goal: "And what is the secret of Blood Qi?"

He was proceeding step by step and would inevitably gain access to the school's elixir channels, so there was no rush.

"Blood Qi is how we rank martial artists."

She Lei began to explain: "For example, at my Red Snake Martial Arts School, new disciples start by practicing the 'Eight Snake Steps.' Once they can grasp Blood Qi, they undergo a Blood Qi transformation and become Inner Disciples... After one transformation, leg strength surges, bones and tendons grow tougher, and kicking through a wooden stake is no problem. At the Second Transformation of Qi and Blood, they're already a skilled hand in the school. As for the Three Changes of Qi and Blood... that's the level of a core inheritor."

"I see."

Fang Xi nodded, stepped onto the stakes, and began practicing the 'Eight Snake Steps.'

Though his physical aptitude was poor, his cultivation-honed sharp senses and memory remained—he could memorize texts after just a few readings.

She Lei was astonished to find that while this wealthy young master's physique seemed average, he learned everything in one go and executed it perfectly on the first try.

Though his speed was a bit slow, he completed the full footwork sequence on his first attempt, and by the third try, there were no mistakes.

'Yuan He Mountain must have misjudged him this time.'

She Lei muttered inwardly, his expression growing much more serious.

"Master She, how long do you think it'll take me to grasp Blood Qi and reach the Blood Qi Transformation One level?"

After several rounds, Fang Xi was sweating, and a maidservant quickly handed him a towel.

He wiped his face as he sighed.

This Blood Qi Martial Arts was indeed different from so-called ordinary martial arts. He'd seen a few mundane martial techniques in the Southern Barrens Cultivation World, and they were far inferior.

"Generally, ordinary disciples can sense Blood Qi within three months..."

Since it was just the basics, She Lei smiled: "Young Master, your talent is good—it might be even shorter."

"Three months, huh?"

Fang Xi nodded and continued practicing his footwork on the wooden stakes.

By afternoon, the instructor changed to Mu Piaomiao, dressed in a white robe.

"Our martial school's secret White Cloud Palm has three levels: White Cloud, Dark Cloud, and Black Cloud!"

Mu Piaomiao lightly pressed her palm against a wooden stake.

Smack!

A deep palm print immediately appeared on the stake, and at its edges, clear black marks could be seen.

Fang Xi sniffed and caught a foul, fishy odor. His expression shifted: "Poison?"

"Not bad. You're quick to react."

Mu Piaomiao smiled. "The White Cloud Palm is a poison technique from the start! In the later stages, you need to refine toxins into your palm force—one strike, and both man and beast die. Of course, at the beginning, you don't need that. Just practice your palm strength on the stakes. I'll demonstrate for you."

The basic training for the White Cloud Palm technique involved slapping the palms repeatedly, best paired with the White Cloud Martial School's secret medicated sand bags.

In this regard, Fang Xi never held back. He immediately bought ten top-grade medicated bags and kept practicing his palm strength.

And he could feel that, as he continuously slapped his palms against the bags, his skin was growing tougher, and the strength in his hands was gradually increasing...

Time passed quietly, without him even noticing.

Green Bamboo Mountain.

Fang Xi opened the door, looked at the falling snow and the sparse furniture in his dog kennel of a home, and couldn't help but exhale a large puff of white breath: "Feels like another lifetime..."

In the Great Liang World, he was the wealthy Young Master Fang, with a lavish mansion and beautiful servants in Black Stone City. Though he faced occasional setbacks, silver could handle ninety-nine percent of things.

But in the Southern Barrens Cultivation World, he was just a small fry.

At the very bottom of the cultivation world, struggling to get by.

What a miserable state!

'The Jade Green Bamboo Forest still needs tending. The identity of a Green Bamboo Mountain Spirit Farmer is pitiful, but it's still better than those rogue cultivators. At least I can use the market's channels...'

Fang Xi patted his chest and found that the Demon Insect Stone Dragon was still there.

'The top priority is to deal with that first, then buy some talismans, and ideally get a low-grade magic tool for self-defense!'

He had never forgotten what his true reliance was!

The Great Liang World was no paradise either.

Without enough power, he wouldn't be able to enjoy anything!

Still, relying on his keen senses as a cultivator and a few life-saving talismans he kept in reserve, he felt confident he could turn the tables even against She Lei and Mu Piaomiao.

Moreover, disappearing for a while now and then only made those covetous types more uncertain of his true strength, which helped maintain the facade of Fang Manor.

But Fang Xi also knew this good life wouldn't last forever.

The hyenas and vultures lurking in the shadows would eventually lose their patience.

So, he still needed to increase his power!

For a cultivator, the most convenient way to gain power was naturally to break through realms.

Besides this, there were far more ways to boost strength using external objects in the Great Liang World than here.

For example, powerful talismans, puppets, spirit beasts... and even magic tools!

'With my current mana, I can at most control one low-grade magic tool, but that's enough... After all, most of those martial masters in Great Liang can't even dodge crossbow bolts, and they still have to fear the Great Liang government.'

Magic tools!

These were the standard equipment for Qi Refining Stage cultivators, divided into four levels: low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade.

Even the cheapest low-grade magic tool usually cost around ten spirit stones.

As for true top-grade magic tools, they were the standard for Qi Refining Perfection and some Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators.

Rumor had it that above magic tools were higher-grade spirit tools, and even legendary magic treasures... but none of that was something Fang Xi could dream of now.

He put on a cotton coat, draped a straw rain cloak over it, and stepped into the heavy snow.

He could have used a spell to keep warm, but as a minor cultivator at the Qi Refining Stage, his mana was limited and needed to be conserved...

As he walked, someone approached from the opposite direction—it was Old Mai Tou.

"Little Brother Fang..."

The old man's face was ruddy as he greeted him.

"Oh, Old Mai Tou, you're glowing—must be good news." Fang Xi smiled slightly, knowing where the other had been these past few days.

"Ah, just passing the winter boredom, brewing tea by the stove, looking for a little fun..." Old Mai Tou replied with an air of pretentiousness.

But Fang Xi noticed his legs trembling slightly, with a hollow, back-from-the-brink look of exhaustion, and silently rolled his eyes.

Though cultivators generally had long, steady qi pulses, overindulgence could still lead to trouble...

Still, that wasn't for him to say.

It seems the Charm Techniques of those Dark Concealment Sect fellows are truly not bad after all.

"As for Young Master Fang, after just a few days apart, his complexion is even better..."

Old Mai Tou felt that today's Fang Xi carried a bit more masculine vigor on his person, not like his usual cautious and reserved demeanor, and could not help but ask with a smile.

"A few days in seclusion, a small gain, forget it."

Fang Xi cupped his hands in reply and headed toward the market.