Sanyuan City (Recommendations Welcome)

There must be a secret on Chen Ping!

After returning to the Great Liang World, Fang Xi's eyes glinted as he thought, Should I...

The next moment, he laughed at himself. "The cultivators in the Great Thousand World aren't the only ones with fortuitous encounters. Isn't it normal for them to have some secrets? There's no need to dig into everything, or even kill for their treasures... That would be putting the cart before the horse! No matter how great his secret is, can it really be greater than mine?"

He possessed a mountain of gold, yet still plotted to snatch a beggar's coppers. That was truly... beneath him!

Once he had figured this out, Fang Xi let go of his curiosity about Chen Ping. After identifying the direction, he spurred his horse and hurried after the caravan.

To be honest, he quite liked this position of being far from the main group, half a lone wanderer. It made it much easier to conceal certain things.

For example... Fang Xi had been searching the wilderness for traces of demonic beasts the entire time.

Unfortunately, although demons and monsters ran rampant in Daliang, they could not be found everywhere.

Ever since he killed that chameleon, all of Fang Xi's luck had been exhausted.

He had wandered through the wilderness for days, yet had not encountered a single demonic beast.

The journey passed without incident, and he caught up with the caravan once more.

"Young Master is back!"

When Bai He saw Fang Xi, her eyes filled with smiles.

"Mm, I'm back!"

Fang Xi looked at the caravan, which had grown increasingly enormous, and nodded.

As the caravan passed through other towns, it naturally replenished its livestock and carriages. It thus became larger and more unwieldy... but the hardship of traveling was reduced considerably.

After exchanging a few words with his maid, Fang Xi went to find Fatty Han.

"Oh? Brother Fang wants to know about the factions in Sanyuan City?"

Fatty Han was sitting in a carriage, eating fruit peeled by his concubine. Hearing this, he laughed. "That's simple enough..."

Since they had nothing better to do on the road, Fatty Han simply gave Fang Xi a detailed explanation of the distribution of forces in Sanyuan City.

As the capital of Dingzhou, Sanyuan City had a huge population and thriving industries. Its factions were likewise a tangled mix of dragons and snakes.

"If we're talking about the foremost faction in Sanyuan City, it naturally has to be the Dingzhou Army! The Dingzhou Army is the court's stabilizing pillar in Dingzhou... Every soldier in the army must be capable of controlling their qi and blood and reaching the first change, making them Martial Disciples! Only someone who has reached the Three Changes of Qi and Blood can become a squad leader. True Energy Martial Artists can serve as Battalion Commanders, and above the Battalion Commanders are the eight Commandants, each a True Energy Martial Master famous for many years... As for the Army Commander..." Fatty Han deliberately left him hanging.

"Could he be a True Gang Martial Saint?" Fang Xi supplied.

"If he were a grandmaster, he could naturally serve as Army Commander, but that isn't the case..." Fatty Han burst out laughing. "Being able to fight doesn't mean being able to wage war... High Martial Arts cultivation doesn't mean one can command a great army. The Army Commander of the Dingzhou Army is merely a military official appointed by the Great Liang court. His strength is hard to say, but supposedly, he has an elite force personally guarding him. Even a grandmaster might not be able to get close..."

"That does make sense." Fang Xi nodded. "The court and government are first. What about the second faction?"

"The second faction is Yuan He Mountain."

Fatty Han deliberately glanced at Fang Xi. Seeing the latter's impassive expression, he continued, "Yuan He Mountain is Dingzhou's great sect. It has dozens of True Energy Martial Masters within its ranks, with True Energy Martial Artists emerging one after another. Its web of connections is deeply rooted... It's said that the sect even has an old grandmaster ancestor, though no one knows whether that's true."

"As for the third, it's the Monster Hunter Association!"

"The Monster Hunter Association?" Hearing that name, Fang Xi suddenly felt a little more favorably disposed toward it. He was probably fated to have a connection with this organization.

Fatty Han knew nothing of this. He explained, "There are too many demonic beasts in the mountains and wilds, and they're too well hidden. Sending out the court's armies or even Divine Constables to deal with them one by one would be too troublesome. The Martial Artists among the people are also a considerable force, so the Monster Hunter Association came into being. It's equivalent to the court offering bounties. Any capable Martial Artist can hunt demonic beasts in exchange for rewards... and even make a name across the world! Which Martial Artist doesn't love fame and profit? The Monster Hunter Association is spread throughout the entire province. Whenever a Martial Artist subdues a troublesome demonic beast, it publicizes their name. There's even a ranking list every month..."

"Not bad indeed."

Fang Xi continued asking and learned that the fourth- and fifth-ranked factions were the Merchant Alliance and the Martial Alliance. He could not help feeling speechless.

The Merchant Alliance was a commercial alliance. Naturally, a people could not grow wealthy without merchants, so that went without saying.

The Martial Alliance was an alliance of martial arts schools, yet it ranked only fifth. Sure enough, nothing sold to the public was any good.

Martial Arts that could be taught for money would always be at the bottom. It was understandable that they had ended up in such a sorry state. Entirely understandable.

"Fatty Han, you seem to have left out a few factions, such as the black market?" Fang Xi thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"Haha... The black market is just a rat in a ditch. What kind of power could it have?" Fatty Han laughed humbly. "Besides that, there are the likes of the four great Aristocratic Clans. The reason they aren't ranked separately is that their influence spans every sphere. Take the Huang Household, for example. They have someone serving as a Commandant in the Dingzhou Army, while also operating businesses. Their companies hold considerable voting power in the Merchant Alliance. They also influence some martial arts schools and secretly recruit many experts as their wings. They're very difficult to deal with..."

"I never said I wanted to deal with anyone..." Fang Xi laughed awkwardly. "I only want to practice Martial Arts properly and become a grandmaster one day!"

"A grandmaster?" Fatty Han smiled bitterly. "To reach True Gang? How difficult... I only once heard an elder mention that one must 'unite spirit and energy' and achieve 'Unity of Heaven and Man' or something like that..."

"Unite spirit and energy?"

Fang Xi recalled that the manuals of Yuan He Mountain contained a similar description.

However, they explained it much more clearly.

The gap between a grandmaster and a Martial Master was enormous, and the path was divided into many steps.

The first step to becoming a grandmaster was to first cultivate Fist Intent!

As for the second step, it was to control one's energy on a microscopic level, use True Energy to refine the Spinal Dragon, and charge straight into the Heavenly Spirit, breaking through the Mud Pill Palace!

This was not recorded in the manuals. It was something Linghu Yang's master had told him.

First-step Martial Master, second-step Martial Master... There were probably a third step and a fourth step further ahead...

As for when one could become a grandmaster, even Linghu Yang did not know.

The cultivation of a Martial Master is even more difficult than that of a Martial Artist...

What a pity. The manual for the Yuan He Five Thunder Hands I have is incomplete... Perhaps I should find a way?

Fang Xi gazed at the scenery beyond the carriage and sank into contemplation.

Over the following month, Fang Xi often fell behind the caravan, heading to the Southern Barrens Cultivation World to farm and handle various social affairs.

From time to time, he darted left and right through the wilderness of Dingzhou, searching for traces of demonic beasts.

After expending tremendous effort, he finally killed a Two-headed Snake Demon, peeled off its skin, and stored away its flesh to sell later.

Fang Xi gradually came to terms with this result.

If demons could be found everywhere in the countryside, how would ordinary people farm?

This world would probably have ended long ago, and there would be no Great Liang court.

Thus, although demons existed in the wilderness, they were ultimately extremely rare.

The situation before Black Stone City had been purely because the Yao Mo Tree had emerged and driven away the other demonic beasts. It was an exception!

One day.

The caravan traveled up a hill. Looking into the distance, they saw a great city appear before them.

The great city stood where two mighty rivers converged, and a huge wharf had been built there.

Under the sunlight, the moat shimmered with rippling waves, while enormous flower boats sailed across it...

The towering ancient city carried an ancient aura. The two huge characters "Sanyuan" were clearly visible on the plaque.

"Sanyuan City! We've arrived!"

Many people in the caravan cheered.

They had finally reached the end of their journey!

"Young Master, look!"

Bai He excitedly pointed at the city in the distance. "So many people... It's so beautiful..."

"Yes!"

Fang Xi smiled and patted her head fondly. Then he said to Mu Piaomiao, "Piaomiao... I'll leave Bai He in your care."

"Please rest assured, Eldest Senior Brother. Huh?" Mu Piaomiao answered instinctively, only to realize that something was wrong. "Eldest Senior Brother... aren't you entering the city?"

"I'm only seeing you this far. Even after sending someone a thousand miles, there must still be a parting. I'm off!"

Fang Xi waved at Mu Canglong and Fatty Han, then turned and strode away.

Entering the city with so many people was absolutely not part of his plans.

After all, with so many mouths, secrets would spread easily. And he had already revealed some extraordinary abilities.

Even Mu Canglong might not trust him one hundred percent.

Moreover, the siege of Black Stone City was a major event. The government would certainly be paying attention. Once they discovered this group of survivors, who could hold out under questioning?

Human hearts likewise could not withstand testing.

Therefore, Fang Xi chose not to test them at all.

So long as he mysteriously vanished and no one knew where he had gone, no one would think of informing the government.

Thus, he decided to leave alone, without even bringing Bai He.

After all, she was merely a maidservant. He had protected her through the Demon Calamity and safely brought her all the way to Sanyuan City. That was already an immense favor.

He owed her kindness, but he did not owe her anything.

Fang Xi left in an exceptionally carefree manner.

Watching his back, Mu Canglong and Fatty Han fell silent.

Although they were grateful for Fang Xi's lifesaving favor and might not betray their benefactor, it was truly difficult to say what lay in the depths of their hearts.

But now, they no longer had even the slightest thought of doing so.

Because Fang Xi had not given them the chance!

"After reaching the True Energy Martial Master realm, further progress becomes rather difficult. My current combat strength is equivalent to that of a second-step Martial Master, but I haven't even taken the first step on the road to becoming a grandmaster... Although I have Spiritual Awareness to assist me, comprehending Fist Intent should be very quick once I reach the microscopic realm..."

"But Martial Arts is merely a means of protecting the Dao. Cultivation is the true path to longevity..."

After returning to the Cultivation World and feeling the Spiritual Energy here, which was more abundant than in Daliang, Fang Xi sighed inwardly.

He walked out of the cellar into the shed and discovered that a Sound Transmission Talisman was actually floating outside the room!

Fang Xi reached out and caught it, then infused it with a wisp of magical power.

A clear young woman's voice rang out: "Are you Fellow Daoist Fang Xi? I am Situ Qingqing, the new An Tian Envoy. After receiving this Sound Transmission Talisman, please send me a message."

"The Situ Family actually changed people?"

Holding the Sound Transmission Talisman, Fang Xi was rather surprised. Nevertheless, he followed her instructions, infused it with magical power, raised his hand, and tossed it out.

Whoosh!

The Sound Transmission Talisman transformed into a streak of fire and vanished.

Not long afterward, an Iron Leaf Boat artifact flew over.

Standing atop the Iron Leaf Boat was a young woman dressed in a green skirt.

She had willow-shaped brows and delicate makeup. Her skin was slightly pale, and although her features were not particularly striking, they were exceptionally harmonious. She also possessed an ethereal, fairy-like air. Her long hair fell to her waist, making her seem like a lady who had stepped out of a landscape painting.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Situ!"

Fang Xi hurriedly saluted.

Although, according to his senses, she was only at the middle stage of Qi Refining, she was still a member of the Situ Family!

"Fellow Daoist Fang is also an old Spirit Farmer of Green Bamboo Mountain. There's no need to be so polite!"

Situ Qingqing spoke, and her voice was unexpectedly as clear and pure as a mountain stream.