Not long after Dou Qin left, Bai Jiang arrived as well.
He had already given Fang Ling the Bodhi Fruit earlier, so he had come to offer something else this time.
Fang Ling had originally intended to leave long ago, but hearing that Bai Jiang had another fine gift for him, he stayed.
"Please take a look, Young Master Fang!"
"I obtained this by chance."
"Though I don't know its wondrous uses, I can sense a powerful force contained within."
"Unfortunately, the White Family lacks the strength to make any use of it."
"Rather than leave it to rot in our residence, I might as well offer it to you, Young Master Fang." Bai Jiang presented a piece of amber.
Amber formed when resin dripped down and happened to sink underground.
Over time, it became a unique kind of fossil.
The piece of amber before them was quite large; Fang Ling needed both hands to hold it.
Amber was exquisitely translucent, and some pieces contained tiny insects, animal fragments, and the like.
Yet what this large piece of amber contained was unmistakably a sword.
A sword only a palm long and two fingers wide!
Fang Ling tried to probe the sword inside the amber with his spiritual sense, but the amber blocked him, preventing him from reaching it.
At his current cultivation realm, his divine soul was already considerably powerful.
Sending his spiritual sense into stone should have been as easy as turning his hand, yet now...
This stone is no ordinary thing. It can completely block my spiritual probing.
It seems to contain a great deal of Sword Qi, and that Sword Qi is exceptionally pure!
If I can refine the Sword Qi contained in this amber, my strength will surely increase greatly.
He had practiced the sword since childhood, so he was exceptionally sensitive to Sword Qi.
Seeing Fang Ling's thoughtful expression, Bai Jiang knew he recognized its worth.
The White Family had spent no small amount of effort studying this stone over the years, but unfortunately, they had never found a way to remove the barrier on the amber's outer layer.
By his estimate, breaking this stone shell through brute force would require cultivation at least at the heavenly authority realm.
Given the White Family's resources, they might never have a chance to open it.
"White Family Head, where did you obtain this?" Fang Ling put it away before asking.
Bai Jiang replied, "I found it in the Lost Ancient Mine near Dragon City roughly twenty-odd years ago."
"The Lost Ancient Mine is an abandoned mine from ancient times. Occasionally, people find objects from that era there."
"I imagine this stone has quite a few years behind it as well."
"Wouldn't a treasure like this be better kept as a family heirloom?" Fang Ling asked with a smile.
Bai Jiang shook his head. "Our ancestor said this object was dangerous and shouldn't be kept in our home for too long."
"I'm sure you sensed the Sword Qi contained within it as well."
"If that Sword Qi suddenly erupted one day, the White Family wouldn't be able to withstand it."
"Better to offer it as thanks to you, Young Master Fang. A mere Bodhi Fruit and this stone could never repay you for saving my daughter's life."
In truth, his words were only half sincere.
The Bodhi Fruit alone would have been enough to express his gratitude.
His greater reason for offering this object was to forge a connection with Fang Ling.
"You're too kind, White Family Head." Fang Ling smiled. "Now that this matter has been settled, I'll take my leave."
"Why not stay at my residence a little longer, Young Master Fang?" Bai Jiang hastily said. "At least wait until my daughter wakes up so she can thank you in person."
"The White Family may not be a distinguished clan, but we still understand basic propriety."
"She must offer you her thanks."
"Well... all right! I don't have anything to do lately anyway. Staying at your White Estate is no different from staying at an inn." After a moment's consideration, Fang Ling nodded.
"Thank you for honoring us with your presence, Young Master Fang!" Bai Jiang was delighted.
Then he asked, "Are you satisfied with this guest room? If you don't like it, I'll have the servants prepare another."
"This place is quite nice. There's no need!" Fang Ling replied.
"Oh, my mount is still at the Fortune Inn. Sorry for the trouble, but could the White Family send someone to bring it over?"
"Of course. What kind of mount is it, Young Master Fang?" Bai Jiang asked.
"A Netherworld Beast," Fang Ling replied. "There should only be one in the stables. It looks like a night leopard, with a pair of golden horns on its head. It's easy to recognize."
"Oh, a Netherworld Beast..." Bai Jiang murmured, then jolted in shock. "What? A Netherworld Beast?!"
"Yes. This fellow is pretty good. It runs very fast," Fang Ling said.
The corner of Bai Jiang's mouth twitched, and he hurriedly withdrew. "Well... I'll personally bring it over for you!"
With his cultivation and experience, he naturally knew what sort of existence a Netherworld Beast was, which was precisely why he was so shocked.
A short while later, outside the Fortune Inn's stables.
The brothers Bai Jiang and Bai Bo stared blankly at the Netherworld Beast lying beneath the shelter.
"Big Brother, it really is the one from Heavenbreak Mountain."
"When our ancestor fought it back then, it was at the middle stage of the heavenly balance realm."
"After all these years, it should have reached the Late Heavenly Balance Realm..."
Bai Bo spoke in a low voice, swallowing nervously.
Bai Jiang said, "Our ancestor wounded it back then. Look at its neck. There's still a small mark."
"Just what sort of deity is this Young Master Fang? He actually managed to subdue it."
"He must be an heir of one of the region's foremost clans," Bai Bo murmured.
"Do you think it might suddenly attack us?" he asked.
Bai Jiang gave an awkward smile. "Surely not! This fellow is intelligent too. We just need to explain things clearly."
The two cautiously entered the stables, then led the beast to the White Estate, one in front and the other behind.
Everyone who saw them along the road was utterly dumbfounded, wondering whether they were still muddled from sleep.
The patriarch of Dragon City's most powerful family and Second Master Bai were actually "leading a horse" together.
In the White Family's guest room, Fang Ling was about to refine the Bodhi Fruit when, unfortunately, someone else came calling.
This time, it was the gray-robed old man who had acted so arrogantly in the hall that day, along with his equally haughty-looking disciple.
After entering, the gray-robed old man sat down without being invited, keeping his face turned partly away from Fang Ling.
"I am Tian Quanzi. I have some renown in the medical circles of the Southern Sun Kingdom. I'm the one they call the Northern Mountain Sage Hand."
"Young man, how did you neutralize the strange poison afflicting the White Family's young lady? Could you tell me a little about it?" Tian Quanzi asked.
"Asking someone about their secret techniques seems rather improper, doesn't it?" Fang Ling said coolly.
"Brat, don't think you're so impressive just because you removed the poison from the White Family's young lady. That sort of thing mostly comes down to luck," Tian Quanzi's disciple said impatiently.
"My master holds an exalted position in the Southern Sun Kingdom. It's your honor to have him ask you."
"Ahem. Zi Sheng, don't be rude!" Tian Quanzi gave a light cough.
"I was indeed presumptuous. It's only natural that a young man wouldn't want an old codger like me to learn his signature skills."
"I mainly came to discuss something with you. I assume the White Family Head has already handed you that Bodhi Fruit?"
"I'd like to make a deal with you and buy the Bodhi Fruit."
Fang Ling said, "That's not out of the question. But what treasure do you have to exchange for my Bodhi Fruit?"
"Hmm... this is the Medical Classic I wrote. It could be called a treasure worth a city." Tian Quanzi took a book from inside his robes.
Fang Ling watched him silently without saying a word.
Tian Quanzi could no longer maintain his composure. With an awkward smile, he added, "Then I'll throw in another hundred thousand spirit stones!"
"A hundred thousand spirit stones, plus the Medical Classic I poured my heart's blood into writing, should be roughly equivalent in value."
Fang Ling scoffed. "Are you sure you're not joking with me?"
Hearing this, Tian Quanzi's disciple sprang up in fury and pointed at Fang Ling. "Brat, what are you saying?!"
"My master is sincerely offering you a deal. Don't fail to appreciate his favor!"
"Do you have any idea how influential my master is in the Southern Sun Kingdom? Usually, people scramble to give him gifts, and he won't even accept them!"
Seeing that Fang Ling wasn't taking the bait, Tian Quanzi dropped his pretense. His expression darkened as he said bluntly, "I have connections with the leaders of all the major powers. If you accommodate me, I'll remember your kindness."
"Understood!" Fang Ling said flatly, then instantly twisted his head off.
Blood gushed from Tian Quanzi's neck like a fountain. Beside him, Zi Sheng stared in stunned horror and let out a heart-rending scream.
"Spare me! Please, sir, spare me!" He hurriedly dropped to his knees and kowtowed, begging for mercy.
But what met him instead was Fang Ling's vicious stomp, which crushed his head...
Fang Ling let nothing go to waste, immediately using the corpses of master and disciple to cultivate his divine art.
Before you continue