Heading to the Mine

Three days later.

Fang Yuan stepped out of the Fang Family residence, with Fang Man at his side.

He was in excellent spirits now, showing none of the frailty from the day he had been severely wounded and bedridden.

Behind them followed more than a dozen elite disciples of the Fang Family, each one vigorous and imposing, ready to head beyond the city and wipe out the Bandits.

"While you're out there, remember to keep a low profile. Don't make a spectacle of yourselves," Fang Yuan warned.

Fang Yuan had originally planned to go alone, but in the end, Fang Man's relentless pestering wore him down.

But afterward, no one knew who had spread the news.

Fang Yuan's intention to leave the city and kill Bandits drew the attention of many family disciples, who flocked to the Mission Hall to sign up.

And thus came the grand procession of today.

Before they departed, the Second Elder had even clasped Fang Yuan's hand tightly and spoken with earnest gravity:

"These disciples are all the family's finest. Nurture them well and treat them equally. They will all become your wings in the future."

What else could Fang Yuan say? They were all brothers of the same clan, so they might as well come along.

"Look, those are the talented youths of the Fang Family. There are so many of them."

"Why are they all gathered together? Where are they going?"

"My heavens, look at the man leading them—it seems to be Fang Yuan!" someone cried out.

Fang Yuan's reputation was simply too great. Before he had even left the residence, he had already drawn the gazes of countless passersby.

"The Prefecture City Grand Competition will be here in a few days. I'd say the young master of the Fang Family will go on to defend his title."

"Didn't the rumors say Fang Yuan failed the Azure Cloud Sect trial? Yet he still looks as spirited as ever."

"Rumors are only rumors. Who knows how much truth there is to them?"

"Exactly. Some people even said Fang Yuan's Dantian was destroyed, and that he had already begun cultivating anew..."

Fang Yuan felt rather helpless. He had just told everyone to keep a low profile, yet this display before him was anything but small.

"Let's hurry out of the city."

Clear Sea City was the central city of Flowing Cloud County, commonly known as the prefecture city. Merchants and powerful experts came and went in great numbers.

The prefecture city was divided into the Inner City and the Outer City. The Inner City occupied over seventy percent of the land, and those who lived there were all aristocratic families and distinguished nobles.

But in terms of population and population density, the Outer City surpassed the Inner City by more than tenfold. Fish and dragons mingled there, and it brimmed with the earthy bustle of everyday life.

When the younger generation of the Fang Family entered the Outer City, the attention on them sharply diminished, and they soon left the city.

On the city wall.

A stern-faced young man watched Fang Yuan and the others depart, his gaze dark and distant.

"He has finally left the city. Deploy the deathsworn who have been waiting!"

"As you command, Young Master," the burly man beside the youth answered respectfully.

"The deathsworn we've cultivated for so many years won't make any mistakes, will they?"

"They are absolutely loyal, and every one of them is at the Ninth Layer Houtian Realm. Killing him will be as easy as turning over a hand."

The young man nodded, withdrew his gaze, and made his calculations inwardly before turning to descend the city wall.

At this moment, Fang Yuan still had no idea that someone had set their sights on him.

Their destination this time was a Mine belonging to the Fang Family, west of Falling Mist Mountain.

Falling Mist Mountain was shrouded in white mist year-round. An official road ran around its outskirts, but signs of demonic beasts appearing could be found from time to time.

Deeper within was practically a paradise for demonic beasts. Ordinary human Cultivators did not dare set foot there.

The Fang Family's Mine happened to lie along the edge of a region inhabited by vast numbers of demonic beasts, directly bordering the official road.

"Stay alert along the way. We'll rest once we reach the Mine," Fang Yuan said.

They were all Cultivators, so their stamina was excellent. There were even quite a few proud individuals among them, yet every one of them obeyed Fang Yuan's words without question.

Their journey went smoothly, with no blind fool foolish enough to block their path.

"The Mine is only a little over ten li away now."

Fang Man took out a map and compared it with their surroundings.

"You've been to the Mine before. Why do you still need to look at a map?" Fang Yuan asked doubtfully.

Fang Man glanced at the other disciples and lowered his voice. "Brother Yuan, you know... I'm a little directionally challenged."

Fang Yuan thought it over for a moment. That did seem to be the case.

The lingering light of the setting sun spilled across the earth, as though draping Falling Mist Mountain in a thin, pale garment.

A dozen or so li was not far even for ordinary people, much less these Cultivators. It could be said that the Mine was right before them.

Roar...

Just as everyone began to relax slightly.

A sudden beast roar snapped everyone's nerves taut again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Immediately after, more than a dozen blades were drawn in rapid succession.

Moments later, a huge white-browed tiger with hanging eyes emerged from the forest. Its yellow-and-black striped hide rippled over its massive body, and savage light gleamed in its beastly eyes.

"I thought we'd run into a demonic beast. Turns out it's just an ordinary tiger." Fang Man smiled.

Even the weakest demonic beasts possessed strength comparable to humans in the Houtian Realm.

As for other ferocious birds and beasts, Body Refining Realm martial artists could handle them. Thus, quite a few martial artists made their living by hunting.

"Young Master, let me handle it."

Seeing the white-browed tiger blocking their path, one disciple volunteered to kill the tiger in the road.

Fang Yuan gave a slight nod.

The disciples allowed to accompany Fang Yuan this time had all been carefully selected. Even the weakest among them was at the Houtian Fifth Layer.

The Fang Family disciple strode forward. Facing a tiger far larger than himself, there was not a trace of fear in his eyes as true qi surged forth.

He swung his longsword, his figure flashing as he prepared to slash at the tiger.

Human-like fear flickered in the tiger's huge eyes, yet it still let out a low roar and pounced straight at him.

"Something's wrong. Beasts are naturally inclined to seek advantage and avoid harm."

"The moment Fang Ping released his cultivation aura, it should have instinctively fled."

Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked toward Falling Mist Mountain. Sure enough, he spotted several figures concealed within.

Roar...

Fang Ping's battle ended quickly.

Amid the final desolate howl of the king of beasts, its life force gradually faded away.

He turned back with a smile, but at that moment, an enormous black shadow appeared behind him and directly enveloped Fang Ping.

"Watch out!"

A disciple hurriedly warned him, his voice urgent.

Fang Ping also noticed the shadow before him. He wanted to turn around at once, but what entered his sight was a Demon Tiger with its bloody maw wide open. It was incredibly fast, and its sack-sized fleshy paw was already swatting toward him.

"This is bad!"

Fang Ping had no time to react, and despair welled up in his heart.

Was he going to be buried in a tiger's jaws today?

Some disciples could not bear to watch. They had already turned their heads aside, grief written across their faces.

Whoosh...

At that critical instant—

An ice cone formed from true qi shot straight out, tearing through the air and plunging into the Demon Tiger's head, shattering its hard skull in one blow.

Looking at the Demon Tiger that had fallen before him, Fang Ping felt both the joy of being granted a new lease on life and the lingering dread of surviving a calamity.

"Thank you, Young Master, for saving me!"

Following the trajectory of the ice cone, Fang Ping quickly spotted Fang Yuan. He immediately dropped to one knee, his attitude incomparably respectful.

"When you're out training, you must remain vigilant at all times!"

After the reminder, Fang Yuan continued, "The battle isn't over yet. Watch your back."

The moment his words fell—

Four more Demon Tigers emerged from the forest, roaring thunderously without pause and sending the birds and beasts in the woods scattering in all directions.

Their pitch-black pupils, brimming with fury and killing intent, were fixed firmly on Fang Yuan.

"Two at the Houtian Ninth Layer, one at the Houtian Fifth Layer, and one at the Houtian Seventh Layer."

With a sweep of his gaze, Fang Yuan discerned the cultivation and strength of the Demon Tigers. They were truly beneath notice.

"Looks like they're one big loving family."

The Demon Tiger Fang Yuan had casually killed earlier was at the Houtian Fifth Layer, and its aura was quite similar to that of the four Demon Tigers before them.

"Demonic beasts do have some intelligence. They even know to send cannon fodder ahead to probe the situation." Fang Yuan found it curious.

Tigers were the kings of all beasts, and Demon Tigers were especially powerful among demonic beasts. Cultivators of the same realm found it difficult to kill them.

"Everyone, attack together and kill the Demon Tigers!"

The Fang Family disciples had the advantage in numbers and charged forward one after another.

After greeting Fang Yuan, Fang Man hefted an iron staff and directly faced the Demon Tiger at the Houtian Ninth Layer...