Starry Sky Professional

Fang Xing had previously opted not to purchase any Whale Elephant Ointment on Chuying Star because laundering that much money was a hassle.

However, compared to the risk of challenging a second-tier demon beast, laundering was a relatively simpler task.

This was his greatest advantage: having the freedom to choose at any moment!

If another body cultivator in the late stages of Qi Condensation were to face such a situation, they would have no choice but to be forced into taking risks.

After taking such chances many times, one's life expectancy would considerably decrease!

By refusing to gamble, one avoids ever losing!

"Fellow Daoist... won't you reconsider?"

Su Ye exchanged a somewhat bewildered glance with Fang Xing as their deal concluded. Seeing Fang Xing ready to turn and leave, even his well-cultivated composure was tested: "Actually... I have already assembled a few fellow Daoists. We have a formation laid out and have hired a demon hunter. We've tracked down an injured second-tier demon beast... If you join us, success is all but guaranteed."

"No need!"

With that, Fang Xing headed out. Yet, when he reached the door, he turned back once more: "Miss Xiaorui, Fellow Daoist Su Ye... I sincerely hope your endeavor succeeds. Once it does, you might be able to mass-produce 'Boiling Blood Elixir'. I am willing to pay a high price to purchase it!"

"Miss!"

Watching Fang Xing's retreating silhouette, Xiaorui turned to Su Ye: "Isn't Fang Xing supposed to be very brave? How could he be... like this... this..."

"I must have misjudged him. I thought he was the type who would annihilate clans over minor grievances, a daredevil without compare. Who would have thought he was so cautious... Moreover, what kind of concealing technique has he cultivated? Why can I not penetrate it with my Spirit Eye Art to perceive his power?"

Su Ye's voice carried a hint of confusion.

"Without his help, what will happen to your plan, Miss?" Xiaorui asked with some urgency.

"Our original plan was made without counting on him... At worst, we suffer more losses, but the arrow's already notched. Once the 'Azure Rock Bull' recovers, dealing with it will be even more troublesome…"

Su Ye sighed. She truly intended to hunt a second-tier demon beast.

With a body cultivator in the later stages of Qi Condensation serving as a meat shield, they would be in excellent shape.

But if not, they would still have to press forward.

Because that second-tier demon beast was tied to a matter of great importance!

Several streets away, Fang Xing adjusted his glasses, watching the surveillance sent back by the beetle.

"It's a pity I didn't catch the expression on Miss Su's face. It would have been interesting..."

"It seems they're not targeting me. They genuinely want to hunt demon beasts. But still... I won't join them."

The duo had been very cautious, but they never imagined that there would be surveillance devices without any trace of magical fluctuation, inadvertently revealing many secrets.

He returned to his dwelling and resumed his rigorous training.

The effects of the 'Boiling Blood Elixir' were extraordinary, giving him a sense of rapid advancement in the 'Dragon Elephant Technique.'

According to Fang Xing's estimation, just five or six more bottles would surely break his 'Dragon Elephant Technique' into the next level!

Even now, with each increase in proficiency of the Dragon Elephant Technique, he could feel the enhancement of his 'Dragon Scales and Elephant Armor.'

Meanwhile, he didn't cease monitoring Xiaorui and Su Ye, eventually uncovering their hidden base.

Though restricted by the formation, and thus unable to investigate deeply, monitoring their comings and goings presented no issue.

On this day, Fang Xing covered himself entirely with 'Boiling Blood Elixir,' resembling a red shrimp.

His skin was flushed, releasing steam of crimson energy and blood.

Under such a daunting tempering, Fang Xing could feel the Dragon Elephant Technique rapidly progressing.

【Dragon Elephant Technique: 20/100】

“The intent of the dragon and elephant is invincibility, strength, perfection, and flawlessness... I have attained the true artistic conception of the dragon, imitating the dragon and the elephant, so I have a method to rely on...”

After his exercise routine, Fang Xing lay in a hot spring bath.

This was created by the original owner of the dwelling, the bath built with cobblestones, surrounded by plum trees.

White mist rose in the air, and petals fluttered down around him.

In front of him, a wooden tray floated on the water, bearing warmed tiger bone wine and a platter of roasted meat.

“To drink and eat meat after sweating it out truly is the height of mortal pleasure...”

Fang Xing leaned leisurely against the stone wall, holding a wine cup in his hand. Beside the pool, there was a white egret, its eyes projecting a hologram.

...

"Miss, I'm off now!"

Xiaorui, wearing a bamboo hat and dressed in a blue outfit with a jade belt at her waist, was styled almost identically to Su Ye.

"Mm, just act as usual."

Su Ye was disguised as a maid, and with a human skin mask on her face, she looked remarkably similar to Xiaorui.

After Xiaorui left, Su Ye immediately exited through the back door, slipped into a ruin, and a talisman in her hand spontaneously ignited.

Her aura shifted, and she disappeared into the mist.

Half an hour later.

At the junction of the marketplace and the wilderness.

An imposing elder, surrounded by an aura reminiscent of fireworks, stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly gazing into the distant landscape.

"Daoist Long, I didn't expect you to arrive first."

A clear voice, pure like jade, rang out as Su Ye emerged from the dense forest.

The elder waiting there was none other than the elder with the surname Long, who had previously traded with Fang Xing in the Fire Refining Workshop!

The elder with the surname Long smiled slightly and said, "We are all affiliates of the Qingxuan Sect, sharing the same roots, so naturally, we should assist each other... It's just that I'm curious as to why you are so fixated on that second-tier Blue Rock Ox."

"Indeed, I too wish to know the reason."

Another young voice chimed in from the side.

With a flash of light and shadow, a young man with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and clad in the standard robes of the Qingxuan Sect emerged.

"Hm? It's actually Mi Zhen? Greetings, true disciple..."

Seeing this person, the elder Long quickly bowed.

This 'Mi Wei Dao' Mi Zhen was indeed a true disciple of the Qingxuan Sect!

In the Qingxuan Sect, there are thousands of Qi Cultivation disciples, but only a mere thirty-three true disciples. Each one is a genuine prodigy.

The word has it that this individual, though not yet thirty, has already reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, with a promising future in Foundation Establishment.

However, fate seemed unkind, leaving him stranded in the market town.

Even so, he stubbornly continued to wear the attire of a Qingxuan Sect disciple, indicating immense confidence in his abilities.

Upon hearing Mi Wei Dao's question, the elder with the surname Long looked curiously at Su Ye, awaiting her explanation.

“It's actually nothing much,” Su Ye replied with a slight smile. “I am currently crafting a batch of 'True Essence Pills'. They require a second-tier spiritual herb, conveniently found in the Blue Rock Ox's nest. Additionally, I have a need for this demon beast's blood and flesh essence...”

“The True Essence Pill, capable of enhancing the spiritual consciousness of late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators and slightly assisting in transforming their divine consciousness?” Mi Wei Dao's eyes brightened. “Is my junior sister planning to attempt Foundation Establishment?”

Strictly speaking, the subordinate forces of Qingxuan Sect are considered its disciples, so the title 'junior sister' wasn't entirely misplaced.

Nonetheless, using it now carried an air of coercion.

Clearly, Mi Wei Dao also had some intentions regarding the True Essence Pill.

“Brother Mi, with your extraordinary talent, securing the Foundation Establishment Pill shouldn't be out of reach. You wouldn't know the hardships we endure...” Su Ye responded with a wry smile. “I'm just taking a risk...”

“Within the sect, my success in Foundation Establishment would be assured, but now... alas...” A hint of unwillingness surfaced on Mi Wei Dao's face. “I'm afraid I must miss this major sect competition, losing my chance at the Foundation Establishment Pill... Junior sister, are you planning to... leave?”

The wilderness outside is immensely perilous, making it nearly impossible for Qi Cultivators to reach more familiar lands.

However, for Foundation Establishment cultivators, there is a slight hope.

“I've been considering it. We can't rely solely on the sect... Besides, right now the sect knows almost nothing about market intelligence, someone has to report back.” Su Ye replied calmly.

“Junior sister, I can forgo any rewards for this mission, as long as you agree that if you manage to brew more than two pills per batch, give me one.”

Mi Wei Dao exhaled slowly. Cultivators never place their hopes on others. While the True Essence Pill can't compare with the Foundation Establishment treasures, nor the Foundation Establishment Pill, it is still a barely acceptable supplement for Foundation Establishment efforts worth trying for him.

If rescue efforts were indeed hopeless, he was unwilling to waste time and had no choice but to force a breakthrough in his cultivation.

"Hmm, I believe the previous terms require some revision. If you manage to produce three pills, I would like one as well..."

The elder named Long's eyes glinted as he chuckled.

"You both sound very confident in me... I'm only seventy to eighty percent sure of crafting the True Essence Pills."

Su Ye's bitter smile deepened before she turned serious. "However, I'm willing to swear by my Dao heart. Should the results be as we say, any extra True Essence Pills would be yours. And if things don't turn out successful, I won't go back on my promise of spirit stones and resources."

"Very well!"

"Agreed!"

Mi Wei Dao and the elder named Long both nodded. "There's no time to waste. Let’s act now... That 'Green Rock Bull' is truly injured, is it? And where is Old Man Zeng, the demon catcher?"

"I'll summon him immediately."

Su Ye sent out a communication talisman.

Soon, a young man wearing coarse clothes, with a simple appearance but a dusty face, arrived.

His magical power was low, only around the second or third level of Qi refining.

"Who are you?"

The elder named Long furrowed his brow. "Where is the demon catcher, Old Zeng?"

"I am Han Qingyun..."

The young man cupped his hands. "I was ordered by the young miss to track the Green Rock Bull’s whereabouts. As for Old Zeng’s affairs, they’re unrelated to me."

Upon hearing this, Mi Wei Dao immediately looked at Su Ye.

Su Ye shook her head, "Zeng Yi has allied with the remnants of the Black Tiger, probably selling us out. That's why I had my maid act in my stead to stall them..."

"Indeed, itinerant cultivators are truly opportunists."

Mi Wei Dao sneered, "And those factions in this market, disrespecting the Upper Sect, they all deserve to be eradicated!"

Han Qingyun remained composed in the face of such insults, as if they were not directed at him at all. "I have confirmed that the Green Rock Bull's lair is in ‘Flying Stone Ravine’. Its injuries haven’t healed, and it’s been hunting other demon beasts lately..."

(The End of the Chapter)

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(End of Chapter)