Greed (Seeking Support)

"Thank you for the reward, Young Master!"

She Lei held the emerald bamboo leaf, beaming with delight. "Congratulations, Young Master, on your great progress in Martial Arts! Once you cultivate true force in the future, reaching the realm of the Martial Hall Masters shouldn't be difficult!"

"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 a Martial Artist who had reached the Three Changes of Qi and Blood was nothing special in the eyes of a cultivator. Among the mortals of the Southern Barrens Cultivation World, there were martial arts practitioners who could achieve similar accomplishments and destructive power. They merely followed a different path.

But the realm of a Martial Hall Master was different.

Of course, She Lei was only flattering him. He could still tell the difference.

"Of course!" She Lei nodded repeatedly, though he sneered inwardly. This young master from an Aristocratic Clan clearly knew nothing about the trade.

The Three Changes of Qi and Blood grew harder with each transformation!

If the First Transformation of Qi and Blood could basically be mastered by anyone as long as they had sufficient resources and were willing to put in the effort—the only difference being how long it took—then the Second Transformation of Qi and Blood required adequate talent.

As for the Third Transformation of Qi and Blood, its requirements were even more outrageous.

Throughout Black Stone City's martial arts circles, only a handful of young disciples had reached this stage.

As for the realm of a Martial Hall Master, that was even more of a pipe dream. Without some fortuitous opportunity, one shouldn't even dream of entering that realm.

Even he had been completely cut off from the realm of a Martial Hall Master after suffering an injury during middle age. Now, he merely held a teaching position at the Red Snake Martial Arts School.

"Of course. However, to cultivate true force, you must truly join a martial arts school and become a core disciple. Only then can you view the Divine Intent Diagram inheritance, comprehend and integrate your Qi and Blood, and transform it into the path of true force..."

She Lei stroked his beard.

This was the bait he had laid out. As long as the other party wanted to join a martial arts school and become a core disciple, wouldn't he have to continue winning him over?

"The Divine Intent Diagram?"

Fang Xi felt that he had touched upon some of the core principles of Blood Qi Martial Arts in this world. His eyes lit up. "Are you selling it?"

She Lei felt that he couldn't keep up with the other party's train of thought. "The Divine Intent Diagrams of every lineage are the most secret of secret inheritances... They aren't for sale."

"One thousand taels of silver!"

Fang Xi named his price.

She Lei's breathing immediately grew heavy.

Master, it's not that I'm disloyal, but he's offering too much...

"If one thousand taels isn't enough, then how about two thousand taels?"

Seeing She Lei waver, Fang Xi added another line with a beaming smile.

"Well... let this old man think about it..."

Watching She Lei's staggering figure leave, a teasing smile appeared on Fang Xi's face.

The so-called Divine Intent Diagram was undoubtedly the foundation of every martial arts school.

In truth, he wasn't in a hurry. As long as he proceeded step by step, once he reached the Three Changes of Qi and Blood, he would eventually have a chance to come into contact with it.

He had deliberately brought it up at this moment precisely to hook the greed already buried in She Lei's heart!

My Fang Manor has established itself in Black Stone City, but because we're foolishly rich, we're constantly coveted. I'll have to display some ability before I can truly gain a foothold.

Fang Xi touched his robes.

The 'Minor Lightning Talismans,' 'Golden Light Shield Talismans,' and 'Ice Seal Talismans' on him gave him considerable confidence.

For a Blood Qi Martial Artist to threaten a cultivator, they must get close. Besides, Martial Artists below the Three Changes of Qi and Blood are nothing special... Only a Martial Hall Master can inspire a little apprehension.

I wonder how the strength of these Martial Hall Masters compares to that of genuine Body Refining Cultivators.

Of course, although he thought this way, Fang Xi had no desire to test it himself.

After all, it was far too dangerous.

Night fell.

Fang Xi lay on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, with ice cream beside him.

Yue Gui gazed curiously at her young master, unable to understand why he didn't return indoors to enjoy the cool air-conditioning and instead sat outside, letting the natural breeze blow over him.

The summer heat was truly hard to endure.

Perhaps I should cook some Lotus Seed Soup tomorrow? It can clear heat and purge fire.

Just as Yue Gui's thoughts ran wild, Fang Xi let out a sigh. "It's still come..."

The rear garden of Fang Manor.

A man in black vaulted over the wall and entered, his small eyes gleaming with sharp light.

He also carried a large quantity of Moltian Powder and Sleeping Incense in his arms.

Damn it, this Fang Manor has no foundation yet is so wealthy. They can produce thousands of taels of silver just like that, so naturally they should be paying tribute to this grandpa!

She Lei knew Fang Manor like the back of his hand and soon arrived at the treasury.

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

Rustle, rustle!

Torches suddenly blazed all around him.

"What?"

She Lei looked around in astonishment and saw more than a dozen burly guards holding clubs.

Besides them, Mu Piaomiao was also among the guards. She glared at him, her eyes blazing with fury. "She Lei... how dare you?"

Stealing his employer's wealth was equivalent to smashing the signboard of every martial arts school in Black Stone City!

"Heh heh... I'm the Sky-Mixing Kite. I don't know any She Lei!"

She Lei rasped out the words, then turned and ran!

This sort of matter was like catching someone in adultery. As long as he still had a veil over his face, he absolutely couldn't admit it!

Even if he were caught, he still couldn't admit it, just as a man wouldn't admit anything after pulling up his trousers!

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

In the blink of an eye, he reached two guards holding clubs. With a casual push, he sent a tremendous force surging into them, and the two guards immediately staggered and fell about.

"Stop right there!"

Suddenly, a delicate shout rang out behind She Lei.

It was Mu Piaomiao!

She struck out with one palm. Her palm was gray and carried a foul, fishy odor. It was clearly the White Cloud Palm unleashed at full power.

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

She Lei's body swayed, and in the blink of an eye he had shifted several paces away.

Behind him, Mu Piaomiao pursued him relentlessly. Although the guards of Fang Manor were mediocre, they could still delay him.

In the end, She Lei was still caught by Mu Piaomiao.

"Don't force me!"

She Lei roared. The muscles in both his legs bulged, and they lashed out like twin snake whips!

Bang!

In midair, the shadows of leg and palm crossed. Mu Piaomiao retreated several steps and let out a cold snort, clearly suffering a minor loss.

The legs naturally possessed more strength than the arms. Moreover, She Lei surpassed her by a notch in both combat experience and strength.

But She Lei looked at the scraps of cloth fluttering through the air and the three gray finger marks on his leg, and his expression turned ugly as well. "As expected, it's Poison Palm Technique... Too bad you can't keep me here."

Even if he had exposed the Red Snake Leg, as long as he escaped, he could still deny everything the next day!

Besides, there were plenty of apprentices from the Red Snake Martial Arts School in Black Stone City!

Mu Piaomiao had been injured by his kick and could no longer stop him.

Just as She Lei was about to leave, Fang Xi strolled out and shook his head. "Old She, you're being far too unscrupulous! Tomorrow, I'll definitely report you to the authorities!"

"I'm not She Lei, but I'll still have to teach you a lesson!"

Although She Lei had been struck by the poisonous fingers, his movements remained agile and swift. In the blink of an eye, he broke through layer upon layer of guards and arrived in front of Fang Xi.

The next moment, Fang Xi smiled calmly. "Master She, you'd better stay."

A tall figure walked out from behind Fang Xi.

"This person... looks so familiar!"

A thought flashed through She Lei's mind.

The next moment, he saw the other man raise his palm and flick it lightly as though swatting a fly.

Smack!

His leg bone snapped. With a scream, he flew backward, crashed into the wall, and slid limply to the ground.

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

She Lei roared in fury.

"Of course it's me. You injured my daughter and even wanted to harm Young Master. Such actions are truly intolerable!" Mu Canglong was in his fifties, with a burly build and a purplish-red face. He possessed an imposing air that made him formidable without anger.

"How could you be here?" She Lei stared blankly.

"Of course, it's because this Young Master spent five hundred taels of silver to hire me."

Fang Xi took over the conversation.

He wanted to witness the methods of a Martial Hall Master, but that didn't mean he had to act personally. He could also spend money to have someone else demonstrate them.

The truth proved that money could make the devil turn millstones. Just a few hundred taels had been enough to buy the White Cloud Martial Hall Master's services for one strike.

At this moment, recalling Mu Canglong's attack, Fang Xi silently calculated.

A Martial Artist at the Three Changes of Qi and Blood is like a child before a Martial Hall Master. As expected, it's a qualitative transformation...

In speed, strength, physical toughness, and other aspects, She Lei can't compare at all...

In terms of overall strength, he should be barely comparable to a Body Refining Cultivator at the First Level, right?

That was already quite impressive.

After all, Body Refining required not only a cultivation method but also resources, all calculated in spirit stones. Achieving anything in Body Refining required an investment of at least several dozen spirit stones.

Yet Fang Xi could buy it with silver in Daliang!

That was what he valued most.

"Master Fang, what should be done with this man next?"

Mu Canglong looked toward Fang Xi. "She Lei has already been struck by my Poison Palm Technique. His Blood Qi is difficult to circulate, so he can't escape..."

"Alas..."

Fang Xi sighed. "I'm unwilling to become enemies with the Red Snake Martial Arts School. Let's suppress this matter for now and not report it to the authorities. First, invite the Red Snake Martial Hall Master here for a discussion."

At this time, the Daliang court still possessed some deterrent power.

For an act like She Lei's, he would at the very least face severe punishment and exile to serve in the army.

Mu Canglong nodded at Fang Xi's words.

Immediately afterward, Fang Xi's voice reached his ears again. "Master Mu, I'll trouble you to testify tomorrow."

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

The master of the Red Snake Martial Arts School was named Lu She. He liked wearing red robes and had a short, unremarkable appearance.

Yet as he moved, he made people feel extremely uncomfortable, as though they were being watched by a venomous snake.

The next day, Fang Xi looked at the Red Snake Martial Hall Master and coughed. "Master Lu, sigh... I didn't want this to happen either..."

"If you didn't want it to happen, why didn't you release She Lei and pretend nothing had happened?" Lu She spoke in a hoarse voice. "Rather than saying all this, why don't you state your conditions?"

"Well..." Fang Xi looked toward Mu Canglong.

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

He had actually accepted Fang Xi's money, and they had already agreed on their lines. "The tuition fees collected by your Red Snake Martial Arts School must all be refunded. That's the rule. Besides that, you must compensate Young Master Fang!"

"Fine, fine, fine!"

Lu She glared at Mu Canglong, then suddenly smiled. "So it's the White Cloud Martial Arts School coming to his aid."

Privately, he believed that the White Cloud Martial Arts School was behind this matter to a great extent, setting a trap to seize Fang Xi, this foolishly rich patron!

"Think whatever you like, but what's done is done." Mu Canglong frowned. "Young Master Fang won't be able to study at the Red Snake Martial Arts School in the future. However, since he has already learned the Red Snake Leg, your martial arts school's Divine Intent Diagram can be shown to Young Master Fang for one day as compensation..."