Monetizing Fame and Fortune

In the world of cultivation, inside Ye Xiu's room.

As space twisted, Ye Xiu's figure slowly emerged from within it.

Having returned to this stretch of heaven and earth, Ye Xiu first cautiously inspected the formation he had left behind. Only after confirming that there were no other disturbances in the surroundings did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Still, it's rather strange. After suffering such a huge loss, Fang Qiong actually hasn't come looking for trouble.

Ye Xiu muttered to himself in puzzlement. After all, once Fang Ye had been dealt with, there was no doubt that he and Fang Qiong had formed a deadly enmity.

Yet under such circumstances, the other party had remained entirely unmoved, not even resorting to any underhanded tricks.

That clearly did not fit Fang Qiong's ruthless style.

Perhaps he intended to wait until the advancement competition, then settle things with him in one fell swoop?

A conjecture gradually formed in Ye Xiu's mind.

It made sense. Fang Qiong had long been an established outer sect powerhouse at the ninth level of the Qi Condensation Realm.

According to the information Ye Xiu had gathered, Fang Qiong also had an inner sect senior brother backing him.

Now that the inner sect competition was approaching, Fang Qiong would naturally prioritize raising his strength by every possible means. As for grudges and vendettas, or those so-called concerns over reputation, they could all be settled together at the outer sect competition.

But Fang Qiong probably had not expected that Ye Xiu's hidden trump cards were far stronger than that so-called backing of his.

Refined cultivation at the same realm? All manner of trump cards and spells?

Before true suppression by a higher realm, all of those were nothing but drifting clouds.

At that thought, an eerie smile curled Ye Xiu's lips.

That was right. He had no intention of waiting until after the advancement competition to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

A Foundation Establishment Pill costing twenty thousand spirit stones had indeed once been an astronomical sum terrifying beyond measure to him.

Even if he had possessed the means to obtain one, it would have been utterly impossible within the mere ten days remaining before the advancement competition.

But things were different now.

Looking at the storage pouch filled to the brim with firearms, Ye Xiu smiled.

Because every outer sect disciple would become his wallet!

Ye Xiu, the man who had slapped the Fang Clan brothers in the face and recently risen to fame, even climbing several places on the predictions ranking for the advancement competition, had appeared once more.

Inside a restaurant in the marketplace, rumors about him began spreading among the disciples.

At first, the disciples found this sudden topic of discussion somewhat strange.

Truth be told, although Ye Xiu had caused quite a stir in a short period of time, in the cultivation world—especially among the outer sect disciples of this demonic sect—not everyone had the leisure to pay attention to such trivial matters every day.

Whether it was obtaining cultivation resources or simply feuds and grudges, such things occupied the greater part of most people's cultivation lives.

Thus, quite a few outer sect disciples still did not know Ye Xiu.

But that did not matter.

When they had some free time, if the fellow disciples resting beside them were all discussing this person—and were even willing to treat them to a pot of spirit wine—

Many outer sect disciples would still patiently listen, if only for the sake of that pot of spirit wine, to the other party's boasting.

And once they listened, after everyone compared notes, they increasingly felt that what Ye Xiu had done was far from simple.

"What? That man could actually face Senior Brother Zhou head-on at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, and even survive after taking his ultimate technique?"

One had to know that Zhou Xuan was a renowned figure in the outer sect.

Not only because he was an inner sect disciple with cultivation at the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, but also because he was the Alchemy Hall's showpiece alchemist—and because of the foul temper everyone avoided like the plague.

For Ye Xiu to provoke someone like that and even retreat completely unscathed was, in a sense, already proof that his cultivation was remarkable.

"He directly killed Fang Ye of the Punishment Hall, and Fang Qiong even had to come clean up his mess, admit defeat, offer compensation, and apologize?"

These were the delighted laughs of those who had been sickened by the Punishment Hall upon hearing that Fang Qiong had suffered a setback.

"Senior Sister Li Feiyu thinks highly of him? That can't be possible, right?"

These were the heartbroken cries of Li Feiyu's followers.

Within all kinds of small circles, through all kinds of different topics, every discussion eventually pointed to the key figure at their center: Ye Xiu.

After only a few days, although many people had yet to meet this famous Ye Xiu, quite a few had already learned his name.

And at that point, Ye Xiu knew it was about time to draw in the net.

After spending so many spirit stones and even treating people to drinks, he had gained at least a little reputation in the outer sect, hadn't he?

Listening to the bustling discussions, a strange smile appeared on the face of a gray-robed man in the tavern.

This man was none other than Ye Xiu.

With the power of transformation obtained from Little White, Ye Xiu's disguises had undoubtedly become much easier.

And after so many days, he had confirmed that even those with cultivation realms higher than his would find it difficult to see through this disguise.

Because when he had undergone testing at the Heavenly Secrets Tower, even the Golden Core Realm elder had taken him for an externally recruited new cultivator and had even reissued him an identification token.

That was simply perfect.

Ye Xiu—or rather, Yan Loushu, as he was now known—stretched lazily and comfortably.

Across from him sat several outer sect disciples arguing so fiercely that neither would give an inch.

"In my opinion, Senior Brother Ye Xiu's cultivation has already surpassed the ninth level of Qi Condensation."

One disciple, his face flushed red from drinking, spoke with a thick tongue.

"If he were still at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, Fang Qiong would have no reason to fear him. Fang Qiong has Senior Brother Xu backing him. At the same realm, if he dragged the other party onto the arena, could he possibly lose?"

"Besides, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Condensation simply could not face two Soul-Severing Scorpions at once."

"Once those things die, they seal the meridians. Without Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, how could anyone possibly kill them in return?"

Hearing this, the cultivators at the same table were somewhat displeased.

"By your reasoning, if Ye Xiu has already advanced, then why hasn't he gone straight to the inner sect?"

"Don't forget, his name is clearly written on the advancement competition roster."

"How do you explain that?"

Some went even further, directly speaking in mockery.

"If you ask me, Ye Xiu is nothing but an undeserved name puffed up by rumors."

"Everyone says he's strong, but I haven't seen where he's strong at all."

Where there was controversy, debate naturally followed.

And amid the increasingly loud voices of the crowd, just how strong Ye Xiu truly was remained a mystery.

Although everyone knew that his stated cultivation was at the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

A Qi Condensation cultivator, however, could absolutely not handle two Soul-Severing Scorpions at the same time.

Yet it was undeniable that Ye Xiu had indeed dealt with both of them alone.

That had already been proven when he cleared his own name.