Old Friends

Fang Yu slowly flew around the Autumn Moon Mountain spirit mine array, passively sensing the array with his Divine Thought.

Actively probing a formation with one's Divine Sense is very likely to be detected by the formation's master, but there is no such concern if one uses one's Divine Thought to perceive it.

In addition, his familiarity with the formation meant that he had seen through the entire formation in just a few days.

Although the array has been modified, the changes should focus on controlling the core array patterns. The changes to the array base are not significant; it still uses the same batch of array bases that he originally created, only the core hub has been replaced.

The third-order grand formation is extremely complex, and it is almost impossible to completely modify it. The only option is to replace the core formation pattern hub. This is sufficient to deal with the leakage of formation patterns and is not a problem against ordinary formation masters, but it is somewhat inadequate against Fang Yu.

As one of the core personnel who participated in the entire construction process, even though the formation has been modified, he can still easily break the formation by relying on his familiarity with the formation patterns and his mastery of ' External Alchemy Technique '.

"It's time to go see some old friends!"

Fang Yu murmured something, his appearance and aura changing as he transformed into a Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivator, heading towards the Autumn Moon Mountain Market.

*****

Strolling through the market, Fang Yu observed the cultivators coming and going, but didn't sense much chaos. As for the cultivators mining here, although they worried that the market might change hands again, they weren't too concerned. After all, no matter which force took over the spirit mine, they would need a large number of miners; the only difference was the amount of wages.

As for being placed under restrictions and turned into a mine slave, that was just an extreme measure used by the Cloud Spirit Sect to maintain secrecy. Now that everyone knows about this mid-grade spirit mine, there is no longer any risk of becoming a mine slave here.

"Wondrous Sound House!"

Fang Yu stopped and looked at the Wondrous Sound House in front of him. The lanterns hanging in front of the pavilion were different from those before, which meant that the pavilion had changed owners and the original Fairy Miaoyin was probably in a bad situation.

Fang Yu stepped into Wondrous Sound House, booked a private room for a long period, and invited several girls to accompany him. After more than ten days, having gotten to know the girls well, he finally asked them for information.

"I've heard that Elder Chen Cheng frequently visits your Wondrous Sound House. Is that true?"

The girl named Xiao Taohong said, "Of course, not only Ancestor Chen Cheng, but several other ancestors in the market also frequent this place. Sir, would you like to request an audience with Ancestor Chen Cheng?"

This Xiao Taohong, as expected of the top courtesan in the brothel, was instantly captivated Fang Yu flipped his hand and took out a mid-grade Spirit Stone, stuffing it into her chest. "I've heard that Ancestor Chen Cheng is fond of making friends from all walks of life. Naturally, I'd like to get to know him as well. If you can introduce me, you'll certainly be rewarded."

Xiao Taohong reached out and pressed her hand against Fang Yu's chest. "Don't worry, sir. Just wait a while, and when Ancestor Chen Cheng arrives, I will definitely introduce you."

"Alright, alright!" Fang Yu said, grabbing Xiao Taohong's waist and flipping her over to pin her down. "Come on, let me take good care of you."

Several months passed in the blink of an eye.

Fang Yu spent his days in the building mingling with different girls, watching dances and listening to music, thoroughly enjoying himself.

That day, as he was listening to music, Xiao Taohong rushed over, "Grandpa Chen has just arrived, but there are quite a few people who want to see him. If you don't prepare enough gifts, you won't be able to get an audience."

Fang Yu flipped his hand, took out a teacup, and handed it to Xiao Taohong, "Hand this over and say that a descendant of an old friend requests an audience!"

Xiao Taohong took the teacup and looked at it with a puzzled expression, but didn't ask any questions. She left with the cup, but returned a moment later, looking at Fang Yu with surprise. "Sir, you really do have a past relationship with Old Master Chen. I just handed the cup over, and Old Master Chen asked me to invite you over."

"Lead the way!" Fang Yu laughed. The cup was very ordinary; it was the same teacup he used to serve tea when he was a guest elder in Mosquito Immortal City. Chen Cheng had frequent interactions with him, so he could recognize it at a glance.

Soon, he arrived at a private room and saw Chen Cheng sitting solemnly at the tea table.

The other person glanced at him, then dismissed everyone else in the room. After casually setting up several protective barriers to prevent eavesdropping, they turned to Fang Yu and demanded, "Who sent you to find me?"

Fang Yu's face and aura changed accordingly, transforming into the appearance and voice of Lü Bu in the past, and his cultivation level was also at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Chen, how have you been?"

"Bang!" Chen Cheng suddenly stood up, his pupils shrinking, his Law Power surging, staring intently at Fang Yu, "Lü Bu, you, you actually dare to show your face again!"

"Hehe!" Fang Yu walked to the tea table and sat down leisurely. "What, you've met an old friend, and you don't even have a cup of tea?"

Seeing this, Chen Cheng pondered for a moment before sitting down and, while brewing tea, asked, "Did you really kill the Jin Guizi?"

Fang Yu flipped his hand, tossing the Jin Guizi's disciple token to Chen Cheng. "I did kill the person, but I was forced into it."

Fang Yu sighed deeply. "Back then, I accepted a mission as a guest elder to assist the Array Master Zong in building the ' Lesser Thousand-Needle Nether River Formation.' I gained his trust and participated in the creation of the array's core. Unexpectedly, this led to my death. The Jin Guizi wanted to kill me on the grounds that I might leak the array's secrets. Fortunately, I was not destined to die. I encountered True Disciple of the Heavenly Strategy Manor, who saved me. As for the Jin Guizi, it was that True Disciple who killed him; it had nothing to do with me."

Chen Cheng glanced at the token in his hand, then returned it to Fang Yu, poured him a cup of tea, and remained silent.

Fang Yu slowly sipped his tea, and only when he was almost finished with the pot did Chen Cheng say, "Since you've already surrendered to the Heavenly Strategy Manor, why did you come back? Your wanted poster is still hanging in the City Lord's Mansion. If the two Golden Core Ancestors find out, they'll definitely come to capture you."

"Sigh! I had no choice in the matter!"

Fang Yu sighed and said, "After that day, I went to the Tang Kingdom. Although my cultivation improved, I was still just following orders."

Now that Mosquito Immortal City wants to take over from the Cloud Spirit Sect and control the Chu Kingdom, the Divine Strategy Manor is also feeling uneasy.

My True Disciple above me received orders from the manor to come and seize this middle-grade spirit ore in Autumn Moon Mountain, so I've come to see you, fellow Daoist."

A glint flashed in Chen Cheng's eyes. "Mosquito Immortal City has already reached an agreement with the Heavenly Strategy Manor and the Black Sand Sect, dividing the Spirit Cloud Sect's share equally between the two. Why is it now plotting against Autumn Moon Mountain? Isn't this a breach of trust?"

Just as I predicted, in order to appease the two countries, Mosquito Immortal City divided the share that originally belonged to the Cloud Spirit Sect equally!

Fang Yu thought to himself, picked up his teacup, and said, "How could we possibly fathom the thoughts of this Golden Core Ancestor? I have come here on the orders of the True Disciple to win over fellow Daoists and the other four Daoists in Mosquito Immortal City. If you agree to work without contributing when breaking the formation, allowing the True Disciple to break the formation and seize the mine, you will receive one-tenth of the Autumn Moon Mountain Spirit Mine."

"Snort!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Cheng's face darkened, and he coldly snorted, "The person behind you, fellow Daoist, is truly cunning. They think they can turn us against us with just words? One-tenth of the spirit ore? I'm afraid I'll live to take it, but not to spend it!"