Infiltration

Morning.

Fang Yuan, clad in coarse cloth, was leisurely tending to his garden, fertilizing, weeding, and watering.

No matter who it was, they would never imagine that beneath this garden lay the corpses of two Martial Artists, now turned into fertilizer!

"The Guo Family?"

While hoeing, Fang Yuan mused silently.

Those two were no match for him. They were easily captured, and after intense torture and drug-induced interrogation, they naturally spilled everything.

"Unlike the Zhang Family, who have been accumulating strength for a long time, the Guo Family was previously unknown, just country bumpkins. This time, they managed to seize many of the Zhou Family's shares by being ruthless, overbearing, and relying on their military strength..."

A family like this, like rabid dogs, wouldn't be easily provoked even by the Lin Family.

However, them setting their sights on him now caused Fang Yuan a slight displeasure.

"Perhaps... my Secluded Valley needs a target to establish its might!"

Fang Yuan thought silently.

He had gained too much attention before. Now, all the prominent families in Qingye City knew that there was a young Divine Doctor Fang in the Secluded Valley, and that his Martial Arts were also extremely formidable.

If people came to visit and curry favor every few days, or even spy like the Guo Family, would he still have time to farm?

As for the military strength issue, a mere small family, even if their Old Ancestor seemed very powerful, Fang Yuan didn't take them seriously at all.

If such a family truly possessed terrifying foundations, why didn't they show themselves when Song Zhong or even Zhou Tong was in power?

Of course, his greatest confidence stemmed from his own improvements.

Fang Yuan's eyes flickered, and his attribute panel immediately appeared:

"Name: Fang Yuan

Essence: 3.5 Qi: 3.4 Spirit: 2.2 Age: 18 Cultivation: Martial Dao Sixth Stage

Skills: Black Sand Palm [Level 5], Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt [Level 6]

Specialties: Medical Skill [Level 2], Planting Skill [Level 3]"

"Since breaking through to the Inner Force Realm, my Essence Yuan and Qi Yuan have improved under the stimulation of internal energy... and this rate of improvement, perhaps it's due to my strong foundation?" Fang Yuan vaguely suspected that if an ordinary Sixth Stage Martial Artist were in his place, their attributes would not have improved as terrifyingly as his.

The growth of Spirit Yuan was entirely due to the effect of the Heart-Questioning Tea.

He now shared this tea with the Flower Fox Ferret once a day. Although it wasn't as effective as the first time he had an epiphany, his Spirit Yuan was still growing under its stimulation, which Fang Yuan was quite satisfied with.

The seventh stage of Golden Lock Heavy Tower, Jingmen, tested the Martial Artist's Spirit Yuan.

With his current accumulation, as long as the proficiency of the Eagle Claw Iron Cloth Shirt reached the required level, he had a sixty to seventy percent chance of directly advancing!

Such a success rate, if spoken, would undoubtedly shock many, even the Martial Ancestor Shi Yutong would be dumbfounded.

"Flower Fox Ferret, go and sprinkle the Fire-Returning Liquid!"

After pondering for a moment, Fang Yuan took out a few bamboo tubes.

The Flower Fox Ferret took them with its small paws and disappeared in a flash, a far cry from its previously timid appearance.

"This Flower Fox Ferret's strength is also slowly increasing. Now, it's not even very afraid of Realgar Powder..." Fang Yuan was quite surprised to see this.

The main ingredient of the Fire-Returning Liquid is Realgar Powder, which has always been the nemesis of the Flower Fox Ferret. However, after he reconfigured it this time, although the Flower Fox Ferret was initially wary, it was no longer fear, but more like a feeling of aversion.

Upon discovering this, Fang Yuan experimented multiple times and finally came to a conclusion: the Flower Fox Ferret's major weakness had actually disappeared unknowingly.

"That's right... For spirit beasts to grow, they might eventually break through to the Martial Ancestor realm, so how could they have such a significant flaw left?" Fang Yuan stroked his chin, guessing that it might be the credit of his Spirit Rice and Spirit Tea, or perhaps the Flower Fox Ferret's own growth and change in nature.

However, there was limited information, and even he was uncertain, not daring to make a definitive conclusion.

"Giggle!"

Not long after, the Flower Fox Ferret ran back, its small face full of appeasement.

"Your farming work... is becoming more and more skilled... I know, I know, you won't miss out on today's Spirit Tea..." Fang Yuan looked at the Flower Fox Ferret in this state, especially when a scene of the Flower Fox Ferret carrying a hoe and working in the fields on some future day suddenly appeared in his mind, his expression couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.

"One more thing!"

He stroked the Flower Fox Ferret's soft, shiny back, his eyes flashing with coldness: "I plan to go out tonight. I'll have to trouble you to guard the house. Anyone who intrudes will be killed without mercy!"

Qingye City.

Deep in the night, a patch of Dark Clouds drifted in from somewhere, completely obscuring half of the crescent moon. The light dimmed, leaving only a hazy silver-grey glow on the land as the wind howled.

"A dark night with high winds, perfect for murder... Truly fitting!"

Fang Yuan infused his legs with internal energy, his speed like that of a galloping horse as he arrived beneath Qingye City in an instant.

The city gates were already closed. Looking at the city walls, thirty-three feet high, and the slippery moss on them, Fang Yuan let out a disdainful chuckle. He took out a length of rope and a few iron nails and went to a corner.

"Eagle Claw Hand!"

He channeled internal energy into his hands, instantly generating immense strength. Grasping the protrusions on the rock face, he climbed upwards, occasionally driving iron nails into the gaps between the bricks to serve as footholds.

Halfway up, Fang Yuan swung his arm, and the rope whipped out like a soft whip, latching onto a battlement and securing itself firmly.

Whoosh!

With a slight exertion, he lightly and nimbly landed on the city wall and quickly disappeared into the darkness without attracting any attention.

"Sigh... It's only now that I still need tools. Once I learn a Lightness Skill, what is this mere city wall to me..."

Fang Yuan mused silently as he rapidly descended the wall.

He had specifically changed into a set of black, tight-fitting clothes, blending almost perfectly with the night. How could the drowsy guards at the gate possibly notice him?

"Guo Family... Guo Family..."

The last time he came to the city to buy supplies, he had taken a general tour and finally learned the Guo Family's location. He immediately crept towards it.

Guo Family Mansion.

The Guo Family were nouveau riche and still retained many of their rural ways. The mansion at this time looked like a rustic enclosure, heavily guarded. The house guards were all robust and strong, with dedicated patrols even at night. Rich servants led large, fierce Hunting Dogs, patrolling back and forth in the corridors, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

In terms of elite forces and military strength, they were perhaps truly the best in Qingye City at this time.

Seeing this, Fang Yuan couldn't help but mutter, wondering if he should say the Guo Family had unrefined habits or if they had too many enemies and had to be so cautious.

However, no matter how strict the defenses, the courtyard walls were much lower than the county walls. Fang Yuan found a gap and simply flipped over from the outside.

Crack!

Beyond the wall was a garden. Fang Yuan landed on the grass, only the faintest of two sounds being made.

His eyes darted around, and he quickly dove into a cluster of rockeries.

"Woof woof!"

Not far away, two stout house guards were patrolling with a large black dog.

The black dog had glossy fur, blood-red eyes, and sharp, white teeth, drooling slightly. It suddenly stopped, looking towards where Fang Yuan had landed, then towards the rockeries, with some suspicion.

"Big Black, what's wrong?"

One of the house guards asked with some confusion, then loosened the leash, letting the black dog approach.

The black dog sniffed around the corner of the wall and then ran towards the rockeries without hesitation.

Seeing this, the two house guards behind exchanged glances, becoming somewhat vigilant. One reached for his waist, while the other gripped a gong.

'Good beast!'

Fang Yuan, hiding in the shadows, praised the Hunting Dog inwardly as it approached. He channeled internal energy to his eyes and stared fiercely at the black dog.

In martial arts, there is the concept of "visual deterrence," meaning some senior experts could intimidate enemies with just their gaze, without even lifting a hand.

While Fang Yuan's method might be far from that of legendary experts, his Spirit Yuan was exceptional, and facing a beast with a clear mind, he naturally had a great advantage.

"Whimper..."

Big Black's fur stood on end. It felt as if two sharp swords were piercing its eyes, or as if it were walking alone in the wilderness, being targeted by some ferocious beast, a great terror overwhelming it.

It immediately tucked its tail and whimpered, running out of the rockery area.

"Huh? What's wrong with Big Black?"

The two house guards looked at each other, utterly bewildered.

"Maybe he didn't gnaw enough chicken bones tonight, or perhaps he's in heat?"

Another house guard relaxed, joking.

"What do you mean, 'in heat'? Do you think everyone is like you, thinking of the woman at the tofu shop as soon as you get your monthly pay... My Big Black is..."

The other house guard grumbled, but his suspicion lessened. He patted Big Black's head, unable to figure it out for a moment: "Let's go, let's go. We'll be changing shifts soon. Back in the room, a drink of wine, some pig's head meat... that's something even an immortal wouldn't trade..."

"Indeed! Indeed!"

His companion nodded like a pecking chicken. The two walked further away.

Once the sound of their footsteps completely disappeared, Fang Yuan transformed into a black shadow, flashing past and disappearing into the inner residence.

Instantly, the courtyards were deep, and the walls of numerous houses were like a maze, layered and overlapping, causing Fang Yuan to inwardly curse. He hadn't scouted the mansion's layout carefully beforehand; it was a miscalculation.

"But overall, the layout of courtyards is often similar. Behind the main hall is the master's bedroom. It can't be far..."

Fang Yuan climbed onto a high wall and saw a few points of light. His face lit up.

Lamp oil was expensive at this time of year. Those who dared to light lamps and discuss matters late into the night must belong to the main lineage. Even if not exactly, it wasn't far off.

As Fang Yuan crept closer, he noticed the surrounding security forces intensify. This immediately put him more at ease, knowing he had found the right place.

Orange-yellow lamplight illuminated the surroundings, shining through the fine mulberry paper pasted on the screens, revealing two dark human figures.

"Father Lord, your son is incompetent. Little Seven and Little Eighteen still haven't returned!"

Inside the study, the current head of the Guo Family, Guo Jing, knelt on the ground with utmost respect.

If an outsider were to witness this scene, their eyes would surely pop out.

When had the Guo Family head, known for his fiery temper and unreasonable nature, become more docile than a little rabbit?

"Hmm?!"

Seated on the mat was an old man with white hair and a white beard. His eyes gleamed sharply. As he turned his head, the room seemed to flash with lightning, exuding immense authority, causing Guo Jing to instinctively flinch.