Greed (Seeking Collection)

"Thank you for the reward, Young Master!"

She Lei held the emerald green bamboo leaf, his face beaming with joy. "Congratulations on your significant progress in Martial Arts, Young Master. I'm sure it won't be difficult for you to cultivate True Force and reach the realm of a Martial Hall Master in the future!"

"Oh? After the Three Changes of Qi and Blood comes True Force? Is that the realm of a Martial Hall Master?"

Fang Xi raised an eyebrow.

To be honest, even martial artists at the Three Changes of Qi and Blood stage were nothing special in the eyes of cultivators. The mortal world of the Southern Wasteland's cultivation scene also had its martial arts, which could reach similar achievements and destructive power, just through different paths.

But the realm of a Martial Hall Master was different.

Of course, She Lei was just flattering him; he could still tell.

"That's natural!" She Lei nodded repeatedly, but inwardly he scoffed. This young master from a noble family clearly knew nothing.

The Three Changes of Qi and Blood, each change harder than the last!

If the first change only required enough resources and effort, and anyone could basically get started, it was just a matter of time, then the second change required sufficient talent.

By the third change, the requirements were even more monstrous.

In the entire Black Stone City, among the martial artists, very few young disciples had reached this stage.

As for the realm of a Martial Hall Master, it was even more of a pipe dream. Without a stroke of luck, don't even think about entering this realm.

Even he, due to an injury in his middle age, was completely cut off from the Martial Hall Master realm and was now only serving as a teacher at the Red Snake Martial Arts School.

"That's natural, but to cultivate True Force, you must truly join a martial arts school and become a core disciple to see the Divine Intent Diagram inheritance, comprehend and integrate Qi and Blood, and transform it into the path of True Force..."

She Lei stroked his beard.

This was the bait he had set. If the other party wanted to join a martial arts school and become a core disciple, wouldn't they have to continue to win him over?

"Divine Intent Diagram?"

Fang Xi felt he had touched upon some core content of this world's Qi and Blood martial arts. His eyes lit up. "Are you selling it?"

She Lei felt he couldn't keep up with the other party's train of thought. "The Divine Intent Diagrams of each lineage are secrets within secrets... they are not for sale."

"One thousand taels of silver!"

Fang Xi named his price.

She Lei's breathing suddenly became a little rapid.

Hall Master, it's not that I'm disloyal, but this person is offering too much...

"One thousand taels isn't enough? Then two thousand taels!"

Fang Xi saw She Lei waver and added with a smile.

"This... let me think about it..."

Watching She Lei's staggering back as he left, a playful smile appeared on Fang Xi's face.

The so-called Divine Intent Diagram must be the foundation of each martial arts school.

In reality, he wasn't in a hurry. As long as he followed the steps, once he reached the Three Changes of Qi and Blood, he would have a chance to come into contact with it.

He deliberately brought it up now to stir up the greed that was already in She Lei's heart!

'My Fang family is established in Black Stone City precisely because we are foolish and rich, and we are always coveted. We must show some strength to truly establish our footing.'

Fang Xi touched his chest.

Those 'Minor Lightning Talismans', 'Golden Light Shield Talismans', and 'Ice Seal Talismans' gave him a lot of confidence.

'For Qi and Blood martial artists to threaten cultivators, they must get close. Furthermore, martial artists within the Three Changes of Qi and Blood are nothing special... Only Martial Hall Masters can make one slightly wary.'

'I wonder what the strength of these Martial Hall Masters is compared to true Body Refining Cultivators?'

Of course, while he thought this, Fang Xi didn't actually want to test it himself.

After all, it was too dangerous.

Night.

Fang Xi lay on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, with ice cream by his side.

Moon Laurel looked at her young master curiously, wondering why he wasn't enjoying the air conditioner inside the house but was instead enjoying the natural breeze outside.

The summer heat was quite unbearable.

Perhaps... she should boil some Lotus Seed Soup tomorrow? To clear heat and relieve fire?

As Moon Laurel's thoughts wandered, Fang Xi sighed, "They've still come..."

Fang Manor's back garden.

A man in black climbed over the wall, his small eyes filled with sharp light.

In his embrace, he also carried a large amount of Moltian Powder and Sleeping Incense.

'Damn it, this Fang Manor has no backing, yet it's so wealthy, casually taking out thousands of taels of silver. Then I should definitely pay my respects to this master!'

She Lei was familiar with the Fang Manor and headed for the storeroom.

The next moment, just as he was preparing to light the Sleeping Incense under the cover of night.

Clatter!

Torches suddenly lit up all around.

"What?"

She Lei looked around in surprise and saw over a dozen burly guards armed with clubs.

Besides them, Mu Piaomiao was also among the guards, staring at him with furious eyes: "She Lei... how dare you?"

Stealing the employer's money was equivalent to shattering the reputation of all the martial arts schools in Black Stone City!

"Heh heh... This old man is the Sky-Mixing Kite, I don't know any She Lei!"

She Lei rasped, turning to flee!

This kind of thing was like catching someone cheating – as long as he still had a mask on, he absolutely couldn't admit it!

Even if caught, he still wouldn't admit it!

His leg technique was astonishing, and he was very fast.

In the blink of an eye, he reached two guards holding clubs. With a casual push, the two guards felt a powerful force surge towards them, and they immediately stumbled.

"Stop right there!"

Suddenly, a sharp cry rang out from behind She Lei.

It was Mu Piaomiao!

She struck out with a palm, her palm turning a shade of gray, carrying a fishy stench. It was clearly the White Cloud Palm unleashed with full force.

Heh... Mu Piaomiao isn't my match, but I can't expose the Red Snake Leg either.

She Lei's body flickered, and in an instant, he had moved a considerable distance away.

Behind him, Mu Piaomiao pursued relentlessly, while the Fang Manor guards, though ordinary, could at least delay him.

Eventually, She Lei was caught up by Mu Piaomiao.

"Don't force me!"

She Lei roared, his leg muscles bulging, lashing out like a whip!

Bang!

In mid-air, the leg shadows and palm shadows clashed. Mu Piaomiao retreated a few steps, letting out a cold snort, clearly having suffered a slight disadvantage.

Leg strength was inherently greater than arm strength, and moreover, She Lei's combat experience and overall strength surpassed hers.

But She Lei's expression turned grim as he looked at the fluttering pieces of cloth in mid-air and the three gray finger marks on his leg: "As expected, it's the Poison Palm Technique... Too bad, you can't keep me."

Even if he exposed the Red Snake Leg, as long as he escaped, he wouldn't admit to it the next day!

After all, there were quite a few disciples at the Red Snake Martial Arts School in Black Stone City!

Mu Piaomiao, injured by his kick, could no longer stop him.

Just as She Lei was about to leave, Fang Xi walked out leisurely, shaking his head and saying, "Old She, you're really out of line! I'll definitely report you to the authorities tomorrow!"

"I am not She Lei, but I will still teach you a lesson!"

Although She Lei had been poisoned by the finger strike, his movement technique remained agile and swift. In the blink of an eye, he broke through the layers of guards and reached Fang Xi.

The next moment, Fang Xi smiled calmly: "Master She, please stay."

A tall figure emerged from behind Fang Xi.

This person... looks so familiar!

A thought flashed through She Lei's mind.

The next moment, he saw the figure raise his palm and flick it as if swatting a fly.

Slap!

His leg bone snapped, and with a scream, he was sent flying backward, crashing into the wall, and collapsing limply.

"It's you... the Martial Hall Master of the White Cloud Martial Arts School, Mu Canglong!"

She Lei roared.

"Naturally, it is I. You injured my daughter and intended to harm the Young Master, truly unforgivable!" Mu Canglong, in his fifties, was burly with a ruddy face, exuding an imposing aura even without anger.

"How can you be here?" She Lei was dumbfounded.

"Naturally, this Young Master paid five hundred taels of silver to invite him."

Fang Xi picked up the conversation.

He wanted to witness the Martial Hall Master's skills, but that didn't mean he had to act himself; he could hire someone to showcase their abilities.

It turned out that money could indeed make the world go 'round, and a few hundred taels were enough to enlist the White Cloud Hall Master's services once.

At this moment, thinking about Mu Canglong's earlier move, Fang Xi was also silently calculating:

Martial artists at the Three Changes of Qi and Blood stage are like children in front of a Martial Hall Master. It truly is a qualitative leap...

"In terms of speed, strength, and physical resilience, he's no match for She Lei..."

"In terms of strength, he's barely comparable to those Body Refining First Level cultivators, right?"

This was actually quite good.

Because body refining not only required cultivation methods but also resources, all calculated in Spirit Stones. To achieve success in body refining, an investment of tens of Spirit Stones was the bare minimum.

Yet Fang Xi could buy it with silver in Da Liang!

This was what he valued most.

"Young Master Fang, how should we deal with this person next?"

Mu Canglong looked at Fang Xi. "She Lei has already been struck by my poison palm, his blood and qi can hardly circulate, and he can't escape..."

"Sigh..."

Fang Xi sighed. "I don't wish to fall out with the Red Snake Martial Arts School. Let's suppress this matter for now, no need to report it to the authorities. First, invite the Red Snake Martial Arts School's master for a chat."

At this time, the Da Liang imperial court still held some deterrent power.

For actions like She Lei's, the punishment would at least be severe, with consequences like exile or conscription.

Mu Canglong nodded upon hearing Fang Xi's words.

Immediately after, Fang Xi's voice reached his ears again. "Master Mu, tomorrow, please be a witness."

"Of course. Even for the sake of the martial arts school's reputation, I won't let this person off easily," Mu Canglong nodded solemnly.

The master of the Red Snake Martial Arts School was named Lu She. He liked to wear red robes, was short in stature, and unremarkable in appearance.

However, when he walked, he made people feel extremely uncomfortable, as if they were being stared at by a venomous snake.

The next day, Fang Xi looked at this Red Snake Martial Arts School master and coughed. "Master Lu, sigh... I didn't want this incident to happen..."

"If you didn't want it, why not release She Lei and pretend nothing happened?" Lu She asked in a hoarse voice. "Instead of saying these things, why not state your conditions!"

"This..." Fang Xi looked at Mu Canglong.

Mu Canglong coughed. "Lu She, your martial arts school was in the wrong first. We are doing this for your reputation..."

He had actually taken money from Fang Xi and had already discussed their story: "The tuition fees collected by your Red Snake Martial Arts School must all be refunded. This is the rule. In addition to this, you must compensate Young Master Fang!"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Lu She glared at Mu Canglong, then suddenly smiled. "So, it's your White Cloud Martial Arts School that's stepping in."

Secretly, he believed that the White Cloud Martial Arts School was behind this matter, setting a trap to snatch up the wealthy patron, Fang Xi!

"Think whatever you want, but what's done is done," Mu Canglong frowned. "Young Master Fang cannot go to the Red Snake Martial Arts School to learn martial arts in the future. However, since you have already learned the Red Snake Leg, your martial arts school can let Young Master Fang appreciate your Divine Intent Diagram for one day as compensation..."