Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists

Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Planning (Seeking Collections)_1 Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Planning (Seeking Collections)_1 Black Stone City.

The junction of the inner and outer city districts.

Fang Xi strode down the center of the street, like a monster magnet.

Roaring!

The nearby monsters, as if seeing some delicious food, crazily flocked towards him.

“Die!”

Fang Xi casually slapped out with his hand.

Boom!

The Cursed Person hit by the blow had its spine bend into a terrifying ‘bow’ shape, nearly breaking in two, and was sent flying, falling to the ground motionless.

Keep in mind, these Cursed People are beings even Martial Trainees who have undergone the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood find hard to defeat, with incredibly tough bodies.

But at this moment, in Fang Xi’s hands, they were as fragile as wood!

Rip!

He grabbed a Cursed Person’s arm, gently tore at it, and the limb broke off completely, blood spurting wildly.

“Feels almost like hand-ripping a beggar’s chicken…”

Fang Xi frowned, dodging the bloodstains.

Although he wasn’t afraid of the poison from Demonic Beast curses, he found it somewhat dirty.

“If Cursed People are like this under my hand, how would ordinary people be any different from paper?”

He swept out with his right leg, kicking a circle of Cursed People into the air.

The next moment, he saw a Wooden Person charging towards him, its skin seemingly writhing with countless Insect Beasts underneath.

Puff, puff!

Just as it reached Fang Xi, the Wooden Person’s skin burst open, and from the muscles, from the orifices, countless plant roots emerged, lashing at Fang Xi!

Amidst the myriad of whipping shadows, a few particularly sneaky roots attempted to burrow into Fang Xi’s body.

Clang, clang!

Sounds of metal striking metal abruptly filled the air!

The roots, sharp as diamond drills, upon striking Fang Xi’s skin, could only leave behind futile white spots, which quickly disappeared.

“The defensive power of the Iron Shirt Skill is indeed not bad!”

Fang Xi used his hand as a blade, cutting off several vines entwining around him.

Then, a talisman materialized in his hand.

“Fire!”

A ball of Spirit Fire appeared, falling upon the Wooden Person.

The Wooden Person let out a miserable scream and turned into a pile of ashes.

“Cultivation magic spells are also quite potent against Demon Servants!”

Fang Xi nodded his head in approval, then his expression changed.

With the aid of the Heaven Earth Listening Skill, his vision and hearing were greatly enhanced.

At this time, he could sense that several Wooden People were surrounding him from nearby!

“Wasting talismans is shameful.”

Having tested his own strength, he was about to leave when, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a dull gray seed within the Wooden Person’s ashes.

“It survived even the incineration of an Immortal Cultivator’s Spirit Fire?”

Fang Xi was slightly surprised, sealed the seed into a jade bottle, and placed several magic power seals upon it.

It was then that he leisurely applied the Red Snake Leg technique to leave, leaving behind a few Wooden People futilely roaring and chasing after him…

“Huff, huff!”

After shaking off the Wooden People, Fang Xi looked at the Monster Tree with an increasingly grave expression, “This Demonic Beast’s servants are growing in number and strength, I fear it is about to advance… I must leave here before it does!”

But to leave, he needed a Prohibition-breaking Talisman. Fang Xi had specially inquired about it at the market, and it was valued at around thirty-five Spirit Stones!

Besides, he still owed a fellow cultivator five Spirit Stones for the donkey rolls!

“Initially, I wanted to refine my martial skills a bit more…”

“Now it seems I should immediately go and scavenge for True Strength Martial Arts, break through the second layer of body refining, and open up trade between the two worlds…”

…

East City Gate.

White Cloud Martial Arts School’s residence.

“The senior brother has returned!”

Liu Taotao saw Fang Xi and immediately brightened up, stepping forward to greet him.

“Hmm!”

Fang Xi casually threw a bag of grain over, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

In these times of gradually decreasing supplies, each of his expedition could return fully loaded, nearly feeding half the people in the school.

In fact, if Mu Canglong knew that Fang Xi had also given nearly a thousand kilograms of grain to Han Fatty, he would have been even more astonished.

“Senior brother!”

Tang Xuan and several others quickly received the grain bags, with the heavy weight bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.

Fang Xi glanced over and even saw Hao Lan.

This unlucky kid, whose father, the Principal of Martial Arts School, had died in the Demon Disaster, and whose Rock Martial Arts School had been destroyed, had shamelessly relied on White Cloud Martial Arts School for some time before becoming Fang Xi’s junior brother under Mu Canglong.

Tang Xuan, on the other hand, had been quite complacent recently, with a glowing face, clearly enjoying a pleasant life with Mrs. Bai.

After greeting Bai He, Mu Piaomiao, and the others, Fang Xi headed to the practice ground that had become significantly smaller to train.

On the training ground, there were some targets moved over from the White Cloud Martial Arts School.

One of the targets, particularly bulky, was even made of iron, and the outer surface was wrapped with a layer of hemp rope; this had always been Mu Canglong’s personal training post.

However, now, naturally, Fang Xi made no qualms about using it.

Bang, bang, bang!

His fists and palms struck the iron post, emitting a grating sound that set one’s teeth on edge.

Hao Lan watched this scene, swallowing hard, feeling that his previous challenge to the senior brother was pure ignorance of his own limitations, lucky that fortune was on his side…

“Wait, this is…”

He watched a while longer and suddenly his mouth dropped open.

Under Fang Xi’s relentless attack, the hemp ropes wrapped around the iron post had snapped, revealing the dark iron below.

And at that moment, the iron post was covered with fist and palm imprints!

“Not enough, still not enough!”

Suddenly, Fang Xi let out a long howl, his hand forming a blade.

Thwack!

His palm, like some divine weapon, struck the iron post with such force that it sliced off a section as thick as an adult’s thigh.

Clang!

The massive iron post slammed against the wall, causing it to tremble violently and shed a cloud of dust.

This spectacle was witnessed by many, each of them gaping in astonishment.

“Fang Xi…”

Mu Canglong, having arrived at the edge of the grounds at some point, looked at the severed iron post, his expression one of excitement, “Could it be… you’ve broken through the human limit and become a True Strength Warrior?

“Not quite yet!”

Fang Xi retracted his hand blade, feeling the changes within his body, a touch of regret in his heart.

With the aid of Qi Blood Pills, breaking through the human limit and giving birth to True Strength seemed within reach.

Given his current level of True Power Marrow Refinement, he estimated that in a few months, at most a year, he could manifest True Strength and break the Demon Curse that prevented local martial arts of Great Liang from advancing!

Unfortunately, this pace was still a touch too slow.

‘So… I still need a True Strength Martial Art.’

Fang Xi’s eyes flashed, turning to Mu Canglong, “Master, has anything happened recently?”

“Nothing much, I can handle it,”

Mu Canglong hesitated a moment but still spoke up, “It’s just that recently, messengers from Yuanhe Mountain at the Southern City Gate have come, demanding our obedience to their commands, saying their Garrison Commander might have a way out…”

“A way out?”

Fang Xi immediately became interested, “What specifically is it?”

“I don’t know the specifics, but Yuanhe Mountain requires us to follow their orders, including delivering food supplies… Then, they will grant us a few spots to leave,” said Mu Canglong, his face filled with mixed emotions.

Clearly, he thought it unlikely but couldn’t bear to let go of that sliver of hope.

A drowning man will clutch at a straw.

“Let’s not get involved with this matter for now. We’ll wait and see for a while,”

Fang Xi quickly made a decision.

Within the White Cloud Martial Arts School, his decisions, even those Mu Canglong found difficult to overturn.

At that moment, he took the handkerchief handed over by Lily, wiped his hands, and casually added, “Also… I plan to go out for a while.”

“Going out again?” Mu Piaomiao felt a pang of sadness, “We have enough food for many days now…”

“It’s not about food… If enemies approach the martial school, just show them this iron post.”

Fang Xi decided to go out, naturally setting his sights on Yuanhe Mountain.

The growth of the Monster Tree and the pressure of the debt of five Spirit Stones forced him to sell Great Liang goods in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm to exchange for Spirit Stones as quickly as possible.

To do this, he needed at least the strength of mid-stage Qi Refining.

In a short time, Fang Xi assessed that it was impossible for Eternal Spring Skills to break through the fourth level.

That left only martial arts as the means for a quick improvement.

Although he had made great progress in martial arts, there was still a distance before True Strength could be born.

“In the entire Black Stone City, perhaps only the secret arts of Yuanhe Mountain have reached the level of True Strength, surely they could rapidly propel my progress.”

Fang Xi’s eyes grew deep as he left the White Cloud Martial Arts School premises and quickly disappeared into the desolate streets.

…

Southern City Gate.

“My lord… I have already contacted each Principal of Martial Arts School. Red Rock Martial Arts School, Three Flower Martial Institute, they have all agreed to our terms, and they will soon deliver a great deal of goods, manpower, and their martial legacy, along with the Divine Intent Diagram!”

Qiao Wucha reported while bowing.

In front of him stood Linghu Yang, whose aura had become ever more profound and demonic.

“I understand,” Linghu Yang nodded.

“My lord…” Qiao Wucha steeled himself, “About the spots we promised for leaving the city…”

He actually had his doubts about this matter.

As an insider, Qiao Wucha knew that in the Demon Realm, escape was impossible.

“Are you doubting me?”

Linghu Yang gave Qiao Wucha a cold look.

“Your subordinate dares not,” though having stepped into the realm of a Real Strength Warrior, Qiao Wucha didn’t doubt for a moment that Linghu Yang could easily kill him. He immediately kneeled, “My lord, please show mercy for my dedicated service… show me a way to survive!”

“A way out… there naturally is one,”

Linghu Yang closed his eyes, “I have already achieved great accomplishments in True Strength… Next, I will strive for the Grandmaster realm. If Grandmaster is accomplished, perhaps then I can find a way out…”

“Grandmaster?” Qiao Wucha’s eyes widened.

Such a realm was likely only achieved by a legendary ancestor on Yuanhe Mountain.

Moreover…

As expected, next, Linghu Yang said, “Unfortunately… The Five Thunder Hands imparted to me were only up to the Martial Teacher level; I still have some doubts about how to become a Grandmaster…”

“You truly are our Garrison Commander,”

Qiao Wucha’s eyes lit up, then filled with a sinister look, “Is that why you ordered those Martial School Principals to hand over their martial arts? To take the best of a hundred schools?”

“Heh… What value is there in third-rate martial arts to learn from?”

Linghu Yang shook his head, denying it, “I just want to give them a big gift, and then… use their flesh and blood to pave my road to Grandmaster… I have a task for you, starting today, capture people for me, those martial artists who refuse to submit, the more the better!”