Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists

Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Making a Move (Seeking Recommendations)_1 Chapter 24: Chapter 24 Making a Move (Seeking Recommendations)_1 Great Liang, Black Stone City, now completely enveloped in dark fog.

In the corner of a dilapidated residence.

Fang Xi’s figure quietly emerged.

Not only that, but he was also carrying a sack of rice in his hand.

Indeed, it wasn’t Spirit Bamboo Rice, but rather ordinary rice for the consumption of the mortals and servants at the foot of the mountain, casually purchased with some gold and silver.

‘Taking these supplies back should be enough to fulfill my duty.’
Fang Xi stroked his chin, “If I wait a few more months, after the resources are exhausted, maybe I could trade rice for secret manuals. Just thinking about it feels wonderful…”

“Of course, no resource compares to an opportunity to save one’s life… Sigh, with Black Stone City turned into this state, I should also plan my departure as soon as possible.”

He discovered that his ability to travel had some restrictions, such as being originally in one place, and later returning to that very place.

This meant that leaving Black Stone City presented some difficulties for Fang Xi as well.

Of course, it was just a difficulty.

He had inspected the black fog outside the city and confirmed its nature as an array.

This array might trap mortals, but Immortal Cultivators have many methods.

Among the methods Fang Xi knew, the most convenient was undoubtedly the “Prohibition-breaking Talisman”!

This type of talisman is a special and rare treasure, adept at destroying various arrays.

“At present, the black fog outside the city is comparable to a first-order trapping array. Using a first-order ‘Prohibition-breaking Talisman’ could, if not destroy, at least temporarily open up a pathway for escape…”

“Of course, a Prohibition-breaking Talisman, being at least a superior first-order item and due to its extreme rarity, would be priced at least several dozen Spirit Stones…”

“I still need to increase my strength as soon as possible to start trading between the two realms.”

Fang Xi looked toward the center of the city, his face filled with worry.

The Monster Ancient Tree had visibly grown a few inches taller in just a few days’ absence.

Clearly, this Demonic Tree was still in the midst of growing.

With its current might, along with its undying nature, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would struggle to deal with it, and the black fog outside the city was only a first-order array.

If it truly grew to maturity, especially after the black fog became comparable to a second-order array, then Fang Xi would really be in trouble.

If he did not escape sooner rather than later, he might truly end up trapped here, forced to abandon this world!

…

East City Gate.

In the mansion where the people of White Cloud Martial Arts School were staying.

A white-browed man holding a stainless steel rod coldly looked at Mu Piaomiao and others: “I just want to meet with the esteemed Elder Mu Canglong. Why do you obstruct me?”

At his feet lay one person, badly beaten—it was Hao Lan.

“You’re taking advantage of the situation!”

Mu Piaomiao clenched her teeth in anger.

Ever since Mu Canglong had fallen unconscious, his condition had been very poor, and she had been worried about it for days.

Unexpectedly, early today, someone suddenly came to attack, this white-browed ‘Yuan Fei’, claiming to want to challenge Mu Canglong in a martial arts duel!

When Hao Lan stepped forward to argue, he was flipped over with a single strike from Yuan Fei’s rod.

It was then that Mu Piaomiao realized that Yuan Fei had broken through to the Master of the Martial Arts School Realm, making him a leading expert!

Among the younger generation in Black Stone City, he could be considered the first.

“Our White Cloud Martial Arts School has already admitted defeat, what more do you want?” Mu Piaomiao said, frustrated as she looked at her ineffectual junior brothers and sisters.

“Hehe, according to the rules of the martial arts schools, if I come to challenge and win, I should be entitled to everything of the loser,” said Yuan Fei as he glanced around, “Now that everyone is down on their luck, you can just compensate me with this mansion and the food.”

The White Ape Martial Arts School he belonged to had suffered heavy losses, with even their Principal dying in battle.

Now that they had barely escaped to the outer city, they realized that all the good places were already occupied, and their supply reserves were inadequate, which immediately led him to set his sights on the White Cloud Martial Arts School.

Because the White Cloud Martial Arts School had chosen a good location, and their supplies seemed quite abundant.

Most crucially… according to reliable information, Mu Canglong was severely injured and dying, and there was no second master at the level of a Martial Arts School Principal within the White Cloud Martial Arts School!

“Impossible!”

Without even thinking, Mu Piaomiao immediately refused.

To ask for these now was to ask for their lives!

“Hmph, refusing the toast, only to drink the punishment. You should know that in the city now, the law of the survival of the fittest is the natural order of things.”

Yuan Fei gripped his rod tightly, murder in his heart.

Many of his relatives had died in the Demon Disaster, and he had been harboring a belly full of fury.

Not to mention, this woman was quite beautiful…

As he was pondering, a figure rushed out, kneeling on the ground: “Wu Ji is willing to serve as your loyal servant!”

“Second senior brother, you…” Tang Xuan pointed at Wu Ji, her body trembling.

Liu Taotao had not expected that their second senior brother Wu Ji would be the first to turn traitor.

Although losing a Real Strength Warrior meant White Cloud Martial Arts School was indeed not in a good position.

This nature of heart…

“Wu Ji? Not bad, very good…”

Yuan Fei laughed heartily, “Too bad… if you can betray White Cloud Martial Arts School, you can also betray me at any time.”

“What?” Wu Ji looked up, his expression filled with horror.

The next moment.

A shadow of the rod smashed into his forehead, causing his brain to burst and killing him instantly.

Thump!

Wu Ji’s corpse thudded heavily to the ground.

Gazing upon what used to be living people now turned into corpses, Mu Piaomiao, despite having been through much over the past several days, still felt somewhat dazed.

“Well? I’m only giving you ten breaths to consider,” he said.

Yuan Fei felt immensely exhilarated in his heart.

This is the world he wanted, where fists equate to power!

If only there wasn’t that life-and-death crisis within the city, it would be even better.

“I… agree…” Mu Piaomiao was extremely unwilling. Without the protection of her house and supplies at this moment, it was almost no different from death.

But dying later is always better than dying immediately.

“We cannot agree,”
Just then, a gentle voice came from outside the door.

Fang Xi walked in and said indifferently.

“Brother Fang?” Mu Piaomiao’s expression brightened with joy. This junior brother had said he would go to search for supplies and hadn’t returned for several days, which made her worry day and night, fearing some accident had befallen him.

His appearance at this time, however, wasn’t quite opportune, filling her heart with great anxiety.

Yuan Fei, this ruthless man, was indeed capable of killing!

“You refuse to agree?” Yuan Fei’s eyes bulged with fury. “Do you want to challenge me to a duel of martial arts?”

“Haha, I never duel,”
Fang Xi’s smile gradually cooled: “I only kill!”

While talking, he had already reached Yuan Fei’s side and struck out with a palm.

Whoosh!

With the fetid wind, his hand turned pitch-black, even its palm wind carried a fierce poison!

“What rapid movement, what deadly palm strength!”

Yuan Fei tilted his staff, and his whole body leapt backward like a giant ape, keeping his distance with evident wariness.

Mu Piaomiao and the others were stunned: “The Black Cloud tier?”

“Brother Fang, you’ve broken through?”

Gazing at his palm, Mu Piaomiao’s heart was awash with indescribable complex feelings.

She, who had trained arduously in martial arts, could not make the breakthrough that he had achieved with ease. It was impossible not to feel envious and jealous.

But at a time when the school was in decline, the fact that someone could step forward and take up the mantle of the martial arts school also relieved her hugely.

“Good… I didn’t expect that apart from Mu Canglong, White Cloud Martial Arts School would have another distinguished individual!”

Yuan Fei backed away some distance, pointing his long staff at Fang Xi: “‘No Extreme Rod Skill’ Yuan Fei, I invite your instruction…”

“No Extreme Rod Skill?”

Fang Xi remembered Yuan Tiangang, who had come from his family estate to perform, probably a relative or elder from his school.

But at this moment, without a second thought, moving with the Red Snake Leg, he turned into a shadow darting forward.

Bang bang!

Yuan Fei roared repeatedly, swinging his long staff so densely that not even a splash of ink could penetrate.

But in the next moment, among the myriad staff shadows, Fang Xi’s palm, like a venomous snake, slipped through a hairbreadth’s gap and struck on his chest.

Crack!

An extremely grating sound of bones shattering rang out, and Yuan Fei flew backward, his eyes bulging with bloodshot veins protruding: “Impossible…”

“There’s nothing impossible…”

Fang Xi withdrew his palm.

His White Cloud Palm had broken through to True Power, bringing a secondary enhancement to his body.

Although it wasn’t a doubling of True Power, even a mere ten or twenty percent increase was enough to utterly crush an ordinary Principal of Martial Arts School.

After all, at the pinnacle, even extremely slight differences could be the decisive factor in victory, much like the athletes of his previous life.

With his vitality already surpassing Yuan Fei by several degrees, Fang Xi already held a significant advantage.

Plus, with his keen eyes and ears, finding a flaw in the opponent’s rod skill and delivering a fatal blow wasn’t anything extraordinary.

“Dead… Is he dead?”

Tang Xuan stepped forward to check, confirming that Yuan Fei was indeed dead.

This Principal of the Martial Arts School had received Fang Xi’s palm strike to the chest, his internal organs shattered and laced with deadly poison, naturally ensuring his certain death.

“Since the Demon Disaster, the rules of this city have long changed, you all must adapt!”

Fang Xi glared fiercely, sternly reprimanding Tang Xuan and the others as if he were scolding apprentices, much like Mu Canglong would have.

Being scolded by him, including Mu Piaomiao, everyone shrank back as if facing Mu Canglong himself.

“Please look, big brother!”

Tang Xuan rummaged through the corpse, handing a secret manual to Fang Xi.

“No Extreme Rod Skill?”

Fang Xi didn’t mind the slight change in the appellation and carefully examined the secret manual.

He had no plans to practice more of these third-rate martial arts unless he encountered something particularly suitable that did not conflict with his own martial arts.

At this moment, his main focus was still on Yuanhe Mountain.

“Greetings, big brother!”

Mu Piaomiao smiled bitterly and bowed as well, accepting the new rule where the strong are revered.

“I once promised you that I would take action for the martial arts school once…”

Fang Xi looked at Mu Piaomiao and suddenly smiled.

Just as Mu Piaomiao felt a void in her heart, thinking this junior brother intended to sever ties, Fang Xi directly said, “Dealing with this man was my own will, so it doesn’t count… Piaomiao, are you willing to ask for my help to save your father?”

“Save my father?”

Mu Piaomiao’s mouth opened wide in disbelief.