Chapter 152

Huayang Mountain.

When the two returned to the Ascension Assembly, it was already the morning of the next day.

After handing over the Cloud-Stepping Colt to the disciple in charge of guarding the stables, Gu Qiu said: "You go hand in the mission; I'll go find Senior Brother Jiang to discuss some matters, then come find you later."

Fang Xu nodded.

Several disciples guarding the stables who saw this were filled with envy.

They already knew Gu Qiu's identity—she was a core disciple from the Immortal Isle, her status even higher than that of the sect's stewards.

That Fang Xu could be so familiar with a core disciple truly made them envious.

Under the gaze of several onlookers, Fang Xu directly entered the mountain gate and headed toward the Hall of Transmission.

This time, the Hall of Transmission needed to send someone to verify the mission, but because Jiang Feng had given special instructions, they had no suspicion that Fang Xu would falsify anything here, and directly approved his mission.

Fang Xu clasped his hands, turned, and left the Hall of Transmission.

The key point is that this snakeskin is still very large—enough to make many sets of inner armor.

Fang Xu nodded again with a smile.

"Take out your identity token."

He knew the skin of the Crimson Flame Winged Serpent King should be worth a considerable number of contribution points, and seeing Tieshan's expression now, he felt even more confident.

"Gu Qiu from the Immortal Isle has seen it and offered the junior two hundred thousand contribution points."

"Little Fang, long time no see." Tieshan laughed heartily.

"No!"

Inside his Qiankun bag was a large demon serpent skin, and the Kui Ox Strength secret technique seemed even more suitable for the Armament Hall steward Tieshan.

"Kid, show me a demonstration."

As a steward of the Ascension Assembly, he roughly understood the weight of two hundred thousand contribution points.

Tieshan casually glanced at it, then suddenly sprang upright!

Fang Xu smiled and shook his head: "I feel this secret technique is more suitable for you."

"Thirty thousand contribution points!" After calculating, Tieshan directly announced a price.

Gu Qiu came from the Immortal Isle; ordinary secret techniques would not catch her eye, yet she could offer two hundred thousand contribution points for this, and Fang Xu said this technique was more suitable for himself—Tieshan instantly became interested.

"Steward Tieshan, are you still satisfied?" Fang Xu smiled.

Tieshan nodded; the entire snakeskin had not a single trace of damage—this was definitely shed voluntarily by the demon of the Crimson Flame Winged Serpent.

Tieshan frowned, stunned for a moment, then said: "My old body—secret techniques are of little use to me now."

Two hundred thousand contribution points!?

Upon hearing this, Tieshan's face showed a hint of astonishment.

Fang Xu nodded.

The Crimson Flame Winged Serpent is naturally fire-attribute and contains potent poison.

Secret technique?

If I could earn more contribution points from Tieshan using these two items, then my debt could be cleared.

Tieshan is not a pretentious person; this snakeskin has already stirred his forging desire.

Snakeskin?

"Thirty thousand is fine, but you must leave me a set of excellent inner armor in return." Fang Xu said.

"Master, the snakeskin is intact—it looks like it was shed voluntarily." One disciple said.

"The third task will be confirmed by me tomorrow and then told to you." Looking at Fang Xu, the elder of the Hall of Transmission spoke.

"This Crimson Flame Winged Serpent……is a demon!?"

Making inner armor from its skin would grant excellent resistance to poison and fire-attribute damage.

"Steward Tieshan, wait a moment." Fang Xu thought, then said: "I have also comprehended a secret technique that should be very suitable for you."

Standing outside the Hall of Transmission, he hesitated briefly, then immediately turned and headed toward the Armament Hall.

"Steward Tieshan, I will directly transmit the secret technique to you—you observe and give feedback?"

Fang Xu nodded, then took out the snakeskin from his Qiankun bag and handed it to Tieshan: "Steward Tieshan, I happened to obtain a snakeskin—what do you think it's worth in contribution points?"

Inside the Armament Hall, Tieshan was leisurely sitting in a recliner drinking tea; hearing the commotion, he slightly turned his head.

"This is……the skin of the Crimson Flame Winged Serpent?"

"If you have a good secret technique, you can go find Elder Xu of the Hall of Transmission and let him give you an estimate."

Gazing at the snakeskin covered in red scales, Tieshan's face showed an expression of astonishment.

Seeing him admit it, Tieshan could no longer remain calm—he immediately summoned two disciples to help unfold the entire snakeskin in the courtyard.

After unfolding the snakeskin, Tieshan glanced at its size, then felt its aura, and suddenly realized this skin was absolutely not that of an ordinary ferocious beast!

"Done!"

The movement of the Kui Ox Strength technique is too great, and it is a technique that can serve as a trump card—capable of saving one's life at critical moments—but if unleashed, it would not be good.

Tieshan stared for a moment, then nodded: "Also acceptable."

Fang Xu extended his hand and touched Tieshan's brow, directly transmitting the Kui Ox Strength to him.

After receiving the Kui Ox Strength secret technique, Tieshan was completely stunned!

The Kui Ox is an ancient divine beast, single-legged, moving with infinite strength.

No wonder Fang Xu said this technique was more suitable for me—now it seems this technique was practically tailor-made for me!

Although Tieshan has not yet fully comprehended the Kui Ox Strength, he can already sense from the text how miraculous this technique is.

"Fang Xu, does anyone else know this technique?" Tieshan said with a solemn expression.

"Besides me and Senior Sister Gu Qiu, you are the third."

Kui Niu Jin is something he has no intention of passing on to others; this isn't due to selfishness—some things become more effective the fewer people who know of them.

If everyone knew of Kui Niu Jin's existence, they would guard against it at critical moments, and the secret technique's effect would be greatly diminished.

"Gu Qiu gives you two hundred thousand, and I also give you two hundred thousand—this secret art, you shall not pass it on to others in the future," Tie Shan said, suppressing his inner excitement.

He is a martial artist of the eighth level of Martial Venerable, and his own strength is considerable.

But because he lost a leg in his early years, though it does not affect movement, his strength has greatly diminished as a result, and these years he has remained in the Divine Weapons Hall, not to mention going out—he doesn't even bother teaching disciples.

Now, seeing Kui Niu Jin, hope has reignited in his heart.

To Fang Xu, Kui Niu Jin might merely be a secret art, but to Tie Shan, it is a great opportunity.

With the aid of the Kui Niu form, Tie Shan feels he may yet have a chance to advance further.

Such an opportunity—he feels he has given too little even for twenty contribution points.

But contribution points are something he hasn't thought about earning these years; he hardly has any left.

"How many contribution points do you still owe Elder Wu?" Tie Shan pondered and asked.

"Probably around one hundred and seventy thousand," Fang Xu mused before replying.

Before, it was over one hundred and sixty thousand; now, after more than a month has passed, including interest, it comes to about one hundred and seventy thousand.

"Very well, counting the snake skin, I give you sixty thousand; the remaining one hundred and seventy thousand you need not worry about—I will go find Elder Wu."

Tie Shan said, taking out Fang Xu's identity token and directly transferring all his remaining contribution points to Fang Xu.

"Sixty-three thousand—all given to you."

"As for the inner armor, just come get it the day after tomorrow."

Having obtained Kui Niu Jin and the entire skin of the Crimson Flame Winged Snake King, the listless aura on Tie Shan vanished instantly, and his entire being now brimmed with vigor and spirit.

Fang Xu nodded and then left the Divine Weapons Hall.

After returning to his residence, he thought of Yun Wan and immediately went to her small courtyard.

Hmm?

The dust on the door lock was gone, and the few flowers outside had been simply pruned—evidently someone had returned.

"Senior Brother Fang!"

At that moment, Long Long walked from afar, saw Fang Xu standing before Yun Wan's courtyard gate, and said: "Senior Sister Yun Wan has passed the inner disciple examination and has become an inner disciple."

"Where is she?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

Long Long shook his head: "I heard she seems to have returned to Huangzhou."

"Senior Brother Fang, I intend to apply for the inner disciple promotion examination in these two days."

Among the outer disciples of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, those with some strength will not remain outer disciples forever; Fang Xu estimates his senior sister Lu Qingluo will likely also apply for inner disciple promotion during this period.

"Keep going!"

Fang Xu patted his shoulder to encourage him.

The two left Yun Wan's small courtyard; Fang Xu thought of going to the Affairs Hall, so he did not linger with Long Long.

Besides issuing tasks to inner disciples, the Affairs Hall of the Ascension Immortal Assembly also gathers some intelligence.

He recalled wanting to check the Affairs Hall to see what exactly had happened to the Huangzhou Yun family.

"Senior Brother, are you here to take a mission or turn one in?"

Upon arriving at the Affairs Hall, a slightly plump female disciple politely asked.

These are all outer disciples of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, and they have been outer disciples for many years.

Knowing they have no hope of promotion, many choose to stay in the Ascension Immortal Assembly doing odd jobs, earning some contribution points, and trying to improve themselves as much as possible.

"I want to inquire about some news," Fang Xu said.

The female disciple paused and said: "Senior Brother, what aspect of news do you wish to inquire about?"

"About the Huangzhou Yun family's affairs—the more detailed, the better," Fang Xu replied.

The female disciple checked and said: "Senior Brother, information about the Huangzhou Yun family requires one thousand contribution points in total, allowing you to learn all information from its inception to the present."

One thousand contribution points—so expensive!?

Fang Xu was somewhat startled.

The female disciple seemed to see what he was thinking, smiled, and explained: "The Huangzhou Yun family has existed since the founding of the Yu State, with a history of over a thousand years; gathering and preserving information in the sect requires great manpower and material resources."

"Then I only need the last two years?" Fang Xu asked again.

Fang Xu does not care about the Yun family's history; he only wants to know what has recently happened to the Yun family.

"This only requires one hundred contribution points."

One hundred is one hundred then.

Fang Xu handed over his identity token; the female disciple skillfully deducted one hundred contribution points from it, then produced a stack of paper and handed it to Fang Xu: "Senior Brother, you may view it in the rear elegant chamber, or make a copy, but the original may not be taken out of the Affairs Hall."

After receiving the stack of paper, Fang Xu nodded and proceeded to the elegant chamber of the Affairs Hall.

This stack of paper records all events concerning the Yun family over the past two years.

Fang Xu began to examine it slowly.

In the summer of the seventh month, Year 1149 of the Great Yu Calendar, the Yun family patriarch Yun Hong passed away; as the mainstay of the Yun family, the death of Martial Venerable Seventh Level Yun Hong left the Yun family's highest combat power to the brothers Yun Tianming and Yun Tianhe.

In the autumn of the ninth month, Year 1149 of the Great Yu Calendar, Yun family head Yun Tianming failed to break through to Martial Venerable Seventh Level, suffering severe injury; in the same month, Yun Tianhe seemingly received some news, left Huangzhou, and entered Tilan Mountain.

In the winter of the eleventh month, Year 1149 of the Great Yu Calendar, the Great Prince and Seventh Prince of Yu State successively visited the Yun family, suggesting both sought to win over the Yun family.

In the beginning of the first month, Year 1150 of the Great Yu Calendar, news spread that Yun Tianhe of the Yun family had obtained an extraordinary cultivation method in Tilan Mountain, but also encountered trouble, prompting many Yun family members to secretly go to Tilan Mountain to seek reinforcements.

In the spring of the second month, Year 1150 of the Great Yu Calendar, Yun Tianhe seemingly encountered a mysterious Martial Venerable ambush in Tilan Mountain, his life or death unknown; in the same month, the Yun family's eldest daughter Yun Wan left the Yun family to undergo training.

At the end of the third month, Year 1150 of the Great Yu Calendar, news of Yun Tianhe's death arrived, and the relics of Tilan Mountain were exposed.

After that, Fang Xu roughly knew some of the subsequent events.

Time had now arrived at the ninth month, Year 1150 of the Great Yu Calendar, when various great clans united to hunt him down; some clan heads personally went to Huangzhou, asking Yun Tianming to join forces in setting up defenses in Huangzhou, but Yun Tianming refused.

The Yun family began to be targeted by the major clans; they first joined forces to suppress the Yun family's business, and then they even supported some second-tier clans of Huangzhou to oppose the Yun family.

Some friction occurred between the two sides, but strangely, in these frictions, it was the Yun family, as the lord of Huangzhou, that ended up suffering losses.

After suffering heavy losses among their warriors, the Yun family's position deteriorated further, and they could no longer suppress those second-tier clans of Huangzhou.

Afterwards, the Yun family's properties were gradually eaten away, Yun Tianhe died, and Yun Tianming, due to a hidden illness, could not act at all; the great Yun family was left with only Yun Jin holding it up.

Later, the Seventh Prince Li Xingchao once again proposed a marriage alliance to the Yun family, but Yun Tianming refused, saying that children's marriages should be decided by themselves.

On the last page of the intelligence, Fang Xu saw a few more strange pieces of news.

It was about the time when he and Gu Qiu were on the third layer of the ruins, when a group of warriors launched a night raid on the Yun family, Yun Jin was injured, and Yun Tianming forcibly intervened, worsening his condition.

At the same time, the originally obscure third-tier clan of Huangzhou, the Xing family, approached Yun Tianming, saying they wanted to cooperate with the Yun family to jointly govern Huangzhou.

After reading this intelligence, Fang Xu's expression became somewhat solemn.

He had already guessed that the Yun family's days might not be easy, but he did not expect it to have come to this point.

For a great clan like the Yun family, appearing prosperous on the surface, there are actually undercurrents surging beneath.

When there is a foundation within the family, others submit to you and dare not defy.

But once that foundation is lost, whenever signs of decline appear, those powers and families that once bowed in submission will all rush forward.

When the wall falls, everyone pushes; the numerous second-tier and third-tier forces of Huangzhou each harbor the idea of replacing the Yun family as the new lord of Huangzhou.

Nowadays, the Yun family clearly lacks sufficient strength to deter them.

Such a great family, relying only on Yun Jin and a Yun Tianming still unhealed from serious injury, simply cannot hold on.

Although Yun Wan is now an inner disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, the Assembly would certainly not intervene to protect the Yun family; after all, in the Assembly's view, the Yun family and the Tuoba family are no different—these clans are all the same.

The Yun family has declined!

After sighing, Fang Xu pondered for a moment and then came to the front hall of the Affairs Hall: "Can the Affairs Hall help me send a letter to Huangzhou to give to Senior Sister Yun Wan?"

The female disciple, upon hearing this, nodded and said: "Yes, ten contribution points, it can be delivered today, and it will definitely be handed directly to Senior Sister Yun Wan."

Fang Xu nodded, immediately took out paper and brush, and wrote a letter to Yun Wan.

After spending ten contribution points to send the letter, he left the Affairs Hall.

Huangzhou, the Yun family mansion.

Yun Wan was gazing at her father, who had fallen into a deep sleep, when a servant suddenly ran over holding a letter:

"Miss, your letter."

"It is said to be sent by the Ascension Immortal Assembly of Zhongzhou."

Sent by the Ascension Immortal Assembly?

Yun Wan took the letter with suspicion.

"Sister, is the Ascension Immortal Assembly planning to intervene to help us?" Yun Qing exclaimed excitedly beside her.

Yun Wan gave a bitter smile and shook her head: "The Ascension Immortal Assembly will absolutely not intervene."

As she spoke, she opened the letter and glanced at it: "It is from Fang Xu."

Fang Xu?

Yun Qing glanced at his sister with some surprise and said: "What did he say in the letter?"

After reading the letter, Yun Wan's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

"You look for yourself."

Yun Qing took the letter, and Yun Jin also came over; after the two finished reading the letter's content, both of their expressions turned grim.

"This guy!"

"Is he trying to make our Yun family rebel?"

Yun Qing angrily tore the letter in his hand to pieces.

"Wan'er, what do you think?" Yun Jin asked, still relatively calm, looking toward Yun Wan.

"Aunt, I think what Fang Xu said is correct."

"Now..."

"Cough cough..."

As the three were speaking, Yun Tianming on the bed woke up.

"What are you arguing about?" Yun Tianming struggled to sit up and asked.

"Father, it's that brat Fang Xu, who told us the Yun family must immediately leave Huangzhou and go to the northern grasslands..."

"Little Qing!"

Yun Wan glared fiercely at Yun Qing, then looked worriedly at her father: "Father, do not get angry..."

Yun Tianming waved his hand, took a slight breath, and said: "As for me, I actually think his suggestion is not bad."

"Elder Brother!" Hearing this, Yun Jin became somewhat anxious: "The Yun family has operated in Huangzhou for a thousand years, and our ancestors were founding meritorious officials of the Yu State; doing this would be..."

"Little sister, you still haven't figured it out yet?" Yun Tianming said with a bitter smile: "Kicking someone when they're down is not only done by the major clans; the one plotting all this behind the scenes is that person."

"Who?" Yun Qing asked, bewildered.

Yun Wan's expression changed, and she looked solemnly at her father: "Father's meaning, is the Yu Emperor going to act against the Yun family?"

Yun Tianming did not answer directly, but only sighed and continued:

"The imperial household has long suffered from the problem of great clans."

"During this period, I suddenly understood why the imperial household's attitude toward the so important Tai Lan Mountain ruins would be so indifferent."

"Moreover, regarding Fang Xu's comprehension of a first-rank martial technique, all the clans have gone mad in hunting him down, yet the imperial household does not intervene, letting them cause a commotion?"

"Why?" Yun Qing asked, bewildered.

Yun Tianming ignored him and looked directly at Yun Wan: "Wan'er, what do you think?"

Yun Wan furrowed her delicate brows, pondered for a long time, and then a hint of realization appeared on her face: "Borrowing a knife to kill!"

Yun Tianming smiled and nodded, saying: "Father heard from the Bureau of Astronomy that the fortune of Great Yu has recently declined, and they have yet to find a solution."

"That is why His Majesty recently issued a self-reproach edict and exempted many taxes."

"But the self-reproach edict and tax exemptions are merely treating symptoms, not the root cause. His Majesty harbors grand ambitions and has long been dissatisfied with the situation where our aristocratic clans dominate one region, like a state within a state."

"Now is the perfect opportunity to use this to stir up the great clans."

Hearing Yun Tianming's words, Yun Qingyi remained bewildered: "But how could Fang Xu possibly have the qualifications to become a blade before?"

"A mere martial apprentice, facing the pursuit of the entire Great Yu dynasty..."

"Does he not now have this qualification?" Yun Tianming said calmly: "A disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, in just one short year, has grown from a martial apprentice to a martial master, grasped a first-rank martial technique, and survived the pursuit of Yu's many forces to reach Zhongzhou."

"Such terrifying potential has already become a sword hanging over the heads of all the great clans!"

"Once he matures, all clans that participated in hunting him will suffer his revenge."

Hearing Yun Tianming's words, Yun Jin's face showed a hint of shock.

"Thus, the imperial family can effortlessly eradicate the great clans and then seize all power in Yu for themselves!"

"How deep the Yu Emperor's scheming is!"

"But elder brother, must our Yun clan truly go to the northern borders?"

The Yun clan has operated in Huangzhou for a thousand years; all our foundations lie there.

If we truly leave Huangzhou this time, the accumulated legacy of a thousand years will be utterly wasted!

"Younger sister feels that in such a vast Yu, where could our Yun clan find a foothold?" Yun Tianming said with a bitter expression: "Nowadays, even if the Yun clan yields the lordship of Huangzhou, others will still fear that one day the Yun clan will rise again and seize this position back."

"While they still harbor a hint of apprehension and have not yet torn faces completely, our Yun clan can only withdraw from Huangzhou and leave Yu to have a sliver of hope."

In struggles between great powers, there has never been such a thing as compromise.

Besides abandoning everything and departing, the Yun clan's path leaves only two options: either forcefully crush these clowns who dare provoke the Yun clan's dignity, or

wait to be exterminated by them.

"Father, must we truly do this?" Yun Wan asked softly.

Yun Tianming nodded and looked toward Yun Jin: "Younger sister, quickly have people secretly pack up. For worldly assets that cannot be moved, leave some people to handle them. All Yun clan direct descendants shall immediately be sent in batches to the northern grasslands."

"Waner, did Fang Xu mention any other arrangements in his letter?" Yun Tianming asked.

Yun Wan pondered and said: "He said that once we decide, we should inform him."

Yun Tianming nodded: "Very well, go reply to his letter."

"Our Yun clan will indeed owe him a favor, and I do not know if we can ever repay it."

"This is easily repaid—just let my sister marry him, wouldn't that do?" Yun Qing blurted out.

Bang!

Upon hearing this, Yun Wan kicked him angrily in shame: "No nonsense allowed!"

"I am stating facts!" Yun Qing rubbed his thigh and continued: "If you marry him, he becomes the Yun clan's son-in-law, and a son-in-law helping the clan a little is only natural, is it not?"

"Waner, what Xiao Qing says makes sense." Yun Jin also spoke from beside.

"Aunt!"

Seeing them speak thus, Yun Wan stomped her feet in embarrassment.

"Hehe... alright, everyone go about your business."

"Waner, Father is not yet dead, and family affairs can still be managed. Hurry back to the Ascension Immortal Assembly."

"Cultivate diligently. Once you become a core disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, our Yun clan will surely return to its peak."

"An inner door disciple—the Ascension Immortal Assembly would not care."

"But if a core disciple uses some authority to assist their own family, it is still no difficulty."

"Father, the matter of returning to the Ascension Immortal Assembly can wait until household affairs are settled." Yun Wan said.

At a time of life and death for the clan, returning to the Ascension Immortal Assembly now would not allow her to cultivate in peace.

Better to stay and help.

"Fine, then first send someone to deliver a letter to Fang Xu."

……

Ascension Immortal Assembly, early in the morning, Fang Xu arrived at the Transmission Hall, preparing to receive his third task.

Just as he reached the gate of the Transmission Hall, he saw Gu Qiu chatting idly with the Transmission Elder.

"Senior Sister, Elder." Fang Xu bowed slightly.

"Fang Xu, you came just in time." The Transmission Elder said: "Your third task is with Gu Qiu, junior sister."

"Follow her, and when you return, you will be an inner door disciple."

Fang Xu, hearing this, frowned slightly and gave a wry smile: "Elder, must you not tell the disciple the task details?"

Before his words finished, Gu Qiu stood up and said: "Senior Brother Yan Xu has already said to follow me; I will take you out to enjoy the mountains and waters, and upon return, it will count as your task completion—why ask so much?"

"Senior Brother Yan Xu, we are leaving!"

Waving at Transmission Elder Yan Xu, Gu Qiu pulled Fang Xu and rushed toward the mountain gate.

Just as the two reached the mountain gate, they saw two disciples guarding the gate stopping a man, both sides seemingly arguing.

"What happened?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

"Fang Senior Brother, you came just in time."

"This person claims to be from the Yun clan of Huangzhou, sent by Yun Wan to find you."

The Ascension Immortal Assembly has a rule: ordinary people cannot enter the mountain gate.

"Yun Wan sent you?" Fang Xu looked at that Yun clan martial artist and said.

"Young Hero Fang, the Miss sent this humble one to deliver a letter to you." The man said, producing a letter from his bosom and handing it to Fang Xu.

Fang Xu immediately opened and glanced at it.

Yun Wan said in the letter that her father Yun Tianming had made a decision, and thanked Fang Xu for his help.

"Please go back and tell Senior Sister Yun Wan that I will arrange people to meet you on the northern grasslands." After reading the letter, Fang Xu spoke to that person.

"I will go back now to tell the young lady, thank you, Young Hero Fang."

The Yun family martial artist left, and Gu Qiu glanced at him and said: "You sure have a lot of free time, still worrying about these things."

Fang Xu was stunned, not quite understanding what Gu Qiu meant by that.

"Senior Sister, the Yun family is Senior Sister Yun Wan's family, they have helped me before, so I feel I should repay the kindness..."

"Alright, hurry up and go."

Before he could finish, Gu Qiu gave him a cold look and waved her hand, directly taking two Tian Yun steeds from the stables, mounting one herself without waiting for Fang Xu, and rode straight ahead.

Watching her back, Fang Xu felt utterly confused, helplessly shook his head, mounted his Tian Yun steed, and chased after her.

"Senior Sister, where are we going?"

"Liangzhou."

"Why go to Liangzhou?"

"Just for fun, to see the desert scenery..."

"..."

After the two Tian Yun steeds left Huayang Mountain, they headed straight west.

"Shouldn't going to Liangzhou be to the north?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

"Aren't you supposed to go to the northern grasslands to deliver the letter?" Gu Qiu snapped from ahead: "Taking a detour via the northern grasslands is fine too, no need to cross the Death Desert."

"Senior Sister just said she wanted to see the desert scenery..." Fang Xu muttered.

"Horse! Stop!"

Gu Qiu suddenly shouted from ahead.

The two Tian Yun steeds obediently halted, nearly throwing Fang Xu from his saddle.

"Sister..."

Fang Xu was about to speak when he saw Gu Qiu glaring at him with puffed cheeks, her fierce gaze as if she wanted to bite him.

"Horse! Go!"

After glaring at Fang Xu for a while, she finally spoke.

The two Tian Yun steeds suddenly surged forward, nearly throwing Fang Xu from his back again.

The two traveled on, and after two hours, they left Zhongzhou's territory and entered Qingzhou's region, and only then did Gu Qiu's expression improve slightly.

"Senior Sister, what exactly are we doing in Liangzhou?" Fang Xu asked.

Until now he still had no idea what his mission this time was, Gu Qiu had been mysteriously silent, leaving him uncertain.

"To investigate a matter." Perhaps annoyed by Fang Xu's questions, Gu Qiu said: "There is an inner disciple named Yushan Tianyi at the Yu Kingdom Ascension Alliance branch, you know her?"

Yushan Tianyi!?

Hearing that name, Fang Xu's heart jolted!

Could it be that Gu Qiu came from the Immortal Island this time mainly to investigate Yushan Tianyi's disappearance?

"I've heard of her, and I've met her."

Suppressing his shock, Fang Xu spoke.

This matter I must handle carefully.

I am not clear about the Immortal Island's specific stance on Yushan Tianyi's affair.

"Yushan Tianyi is a quasi-core disciple; her disappearance has been taken seriously by the Immortal Island." Gu Qiu said, glancing at Fang Xu: "I know all about what happened between you and Yushan Tianyi."

"Now you can tell me the truth, what exactly happened between you and Yushan Tianyi in the ruins?"

Meeting Gu Qiu's gaze, Fang Xu remained calm.

"There's nothing worth hiding, she wanted to kill me, but the terrain of the second layer of the ruins shifted, and I fortunately escaped her control."

"After that, I never saw her again."

Only a few from the Yanshen Sect saw my using the Yin Yang Xuan Tuo Jing to dual-cultivate with Yushan Tianyi, and I naturally won't say it.

"Fang Xu, the Immortal Island's methods are far more formidable than you imagine, don't lie to me." Gu Qiu looked at him playfully: "Don't think I don't know."

Fang Xu smiled faintly: "If the Immortal Island's methods are so high, why do you still need to ask me?"

"Besides, in the Yushan Tianyi incident, I am the victim."

Gu Qiu heard this, blinked slightly, then changed the subject: "Forget it, let's first go to Liangzhou, we'll talk after we see Yushan Tianyi."

On the way, the two no longer mentioned Yushan Tianyi.

The two passed through Qingzhou without stopping, heading straight for Wangyue Mountain. After crossing Wangyue Mountain, they soon arrived at the Muyun Grassland.

Through the Muyun Kingdom refugees on the grassland, Fang Xu quickly found the hiding place of Nanwu and the others.

"You mean you want the Huangzhou Yun family to relocate to the Muyun Grassland?"

Hearing Fang Xu's account, Nanwu frowned and spoke.

Fang Xu nodded: "The Yun family now has no foothold in Yu Kingdom, I know there is some enmity between Yu Kingdom and Muyun Kingdom."

"The slaughter of Muyun Kingdom and the pursuit of its people were carried out by the Yu Kingdom royal family and the Qingzhou Lü clan; the Huangzhou Yun family should have no direct grudge against Muyun Kingdom, right?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Seeing Nanwu lost in thought, Fang Xu did not say more.

He knew, if Nanwu truly wanted to restore the kingdom, he would not refuse the Yun family's joining.

A dead camel is bigger than a horse; although the Yun family has declined, they still possess the foundation of a first-rate power, and with the Yun family joining, Muyun Kingdom's strength would increase greatly.

"Let them come if they want."

"I can guarantee I will not move against them, but the Muyun Grassland now belongs to Yu Kingdom..." Nanwu said with a dark expression: "The Yu Kingdom royal family and the Qingzhou Lü clan often send large armies to sweep through."

"We can't help with these things."

Fang Xu nodded and said, "Senior, there's no need for you to worry about this."

Letting the Yun family come to the Mu Yun Grassland, what he worried about most was whether the people of Mu Yun Kingdom would not tolerate the Yun family; if the Yun family were to suffer repression from both the Yu Kingdom and the remnants of Mu Yun Kingdom, it would be difficult for them to survive here.

"Fang Xu, your master is now..." After confirming the Yun family matter, Nan Wu asked again about Lu Zhiyuan.

"Senior, my master is still imprisoned in the Ascension Immortal Assembly. Once I, the junior, advance to become an inner disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, I will immediately go to storm the Ascension Immortal Platform and then rescue him."

Nan Wu listened and nodded slightly, her gaze unconsciously turning toward Gu Qiu.

"This little girl seems to be..."

"You must not reveal my identity, otherwise..." Before Nan Wu could finish, Gu Qiu directly interrupted her, even flashing a hint of killing intent in her eyes.

Seeing this, Nan Wu, being tactful, closed her mouth.

Gu Qiu's strength had reached the fifth level of Martial Venerable; she naturally felt she was no match for others and thus dared not speak further.

"Alright, the matter is settled, let's go." Gu Qiu seemed unwilling to stay with Nan Wu and the others; seeing the matter was already settled, she directly urged Fang Xu to prepare to leave.

Fang Xu rose, clasped his hands toward Nan Wu in farewell, and the two proceeded north along Wang Yue Mountain, heading toward Liangzhou.

The Steed Cloud Horse's speed was great; in just half a day, the two had already reached the borders of Liangzhou.

"Are we going to Liangzhou City?" Fang Xu asked.

"Not to Liangzhou City, but to Bei Cang City in the far north." Gu Qiu replied from atop the Steed Cloud Horse.

Liangzhou is desolate; the entire Liangzhou has only three cities, and Bei Cang City is a desert city located at the northernmost tip of Yu Kingdom.

Bei Cang is a place of exile; Yu Kingdom often exiles those who have committed serious crimes to Bei Cang City.

According to Fang Xu's understanding, Bei Cang City seems to have very few people; could it be that Yu Shan Tianyi was taken to Bei Cang City by the people of the Divine Extension Sect?

The two continued forward, occasionally seeing some shackled skeletons scattered across the desolate Gobi.

From time to time, they could also see large prison carts dragging numerous prisoners slowly across the endless Gobi beach.

Seeing these, Fang Xu slightly furrowed his brow.

"Senior Sister, do you sense that something is off somewhere?"

Gu Qiu followed his gaze toward the distant prison carts and said lightly, "Just some prisoners; what could be wrong?"

Fang Xu shook his head and said, "Not long ago, the Yu Emperor just issued a self-reproach edict and furthermore granted a general amnesty, reducing many taxes."

"Exile is for serious crimes; logically, there shouldn't be so many prisoners recently."

"Moreover, Senior Sister, have you noticed that although those prisoners are all disheveled and dirty, one can still tell that the women among them are largely young and beautiful?"

Gu Qiu seemed not yet to have realized what Fang Xu wanted to express, and directly said, "Can't young, beautiful women be prisoners?"

"Fang Xu, you wouldn't be thinking of heroically saving the beauty, would you?"

Fang Xu's forehead bulged with a black line.

"These women made me think of something." Fang Xu said.

Gu Qiu looked at him curiously, waiting for him to continue.

Fang Xu said: "There is a rumor that the commoner girls of Yu Shan Kingdom are naturally endowed with alluring bones and are born extremely handsome."

"Not long ago, when I returned from executing a mission in Fu Shan Kingdom, I happened to encounter some martial artists massively capturing commoners of Yu Shan Kingdom."

"A disciple of Yu Shan Kingdom from the Yu Shan Kingdom branch of the Canghai City Ascension Immortal Assembly outpost seems to have also been captured."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qiu's expression turned somewhat solemn as she said: "You mean, these prisoners are all commoners of Yu Shan Kingdom?"

"Just a guess." Fang Xu said.

I don't know whether the prisoners being transported to Bei Cang City are truly commoners of Yu Shan Kingdom; if they are, then this matter is probably not so simple.

Gu Qiu is going to Bei Cang City to investigate Yu Shan Tianyi's matter, and coincidentally, these Yu Shan Kingdom commoners have all been captured and brought to Bei Cang City.

In this light, there must necessarily be some connection between the two matters.

I am very clear that Yu Shan Tianyi was captured by the people of the Divine Extension Sect.

Gu Qiu does not know by what method she determined that Yu Shan Tianyi is currently in Bei Cang City; if so, it is very likely that Bei Cang City harbors a secret outpost of the Divine Extension Sect.

Thinking of this, Fang Xu couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

Since obtaining the Divine Extension Canon, I seem to have become entangled with the Divine Extension Sect.

This sinister and brutal ancient organization has repeatedly hunted me, annoying me endlessly.

Yet, each time I still manage to coincidentally run into it through sheer chance.

"Are you hiding something from me?" Seeing Fang Xu's expression suddenly shift, Gu Qiu curiously asked.

Fang Xu shook his head: "I'm just thinking, when I meet Yu Shan Tianyi, will she still want to kill me?"

In the ruins of Lan Blue Mountain, I certainly didn't show mercy to her subordinates; if we truly meet this time, Fang Xu doesn't know how to face her.

"With me here, I'll handle your matters." Gu Qiu declared firmly.

The Steed Cloud Horse's speed was lightning fast; by the time night fell, the two had quickly crossed the endless Gobi beach and arrived before Bei Cang City.

Low and dilapidated city walls, eroded by wind and sand, the city gate already swaying on the verge of collapse, the signboard above the gate almost invisible.

Everything indicates that this city called Bei Cang City fundamentally lacks the appearance a city should have.

Looking at everything before them, the two were slightly stunned for a moment, then directly rode their horses inside.

The buildings inside the city are mostly crude dwellings built from piled rubble; through the gaps in the stones, one can faintly see the interior scenes, with no privacy whatsoever.

Somewhat better are the houses built from earth bricks, with simple thatch nailed to the roofs, barely able to shield from wind and rain.

The two walked along the yellow earth streets, searching for a long time before finally finding an inn that looked somewhat decent.

The inn's door was tightly shut; Fang Xu knocked, and after a moment, a woman with sleepy eyes and disheveled hair opened the door from inside.

The woman's upper body wore only a washed-white bellyband, her loose-fitting embrace utensils faintly visible, and her white underpants still bore a joyous yellow stain, emitting a faint scent of stonecrop flowers.

"Staying at the inn?"

After glancing at Fang Xu and Gu Qiu, the woman paid no mind to her own exposed attire, turned around, and let the two enter.

There is only one guest room left, two taels of silver per day.

The woman said, tossing a shiny-polished key onto the counter.

Fang Xu glanced at it, then casually pulled out a ten-tael silver ingot and threw it over.

"Is there hot water?"

"There's a well in the backyard, one tael per bucket."

"Here, water is precious, don't waste it."

Fang Xu didn't say much either, pulling out another two taels of silver and tossing it to the woman: "Two buckets of water, send them to the room."

The woman took the silver, sizing up Fang Xu and Gu Qiu: "Wait."

After saying that, the woman walked toward the room behind the counter.

"Hurry up! Master's back in action!"

A man's voice came from inside the room, followed by a rustling sound, mixed with two women's screams, then the sound abruptly stopped.

All told, it took only a few breaths.

Things started too fast and ended too fast; Gu Qiu and Fang Xu thus witnessed the most primal activity between a man and a woman.

Gu Qiu's face flushed slightly as she gave a light spit, then stepped onto the wooden stairs toward the room, Fang Xu following behind, unable to hold back his laughter.

"What are you laughing at!?"

Gu Qiu turned around and glared at him.

Fang Xu dared not speak, using the key in his hand to unlock the door, and the two entered.

The room wasn't large; though it looked somewhat old, at least it was still clean enough.

Both being martial artists, they didn't need to sleep at night; making do was still acceptable.

They threw off the inn's bedding on the bed; Gu Qiu was about to take out her own bedding from her Cosmos Bag when the room door was knocked.

Fang Xu turned and opened the door; the woman entered carrying two buckets of water.

Setting the water aside, she glanced at the bedding Gu Qiu had tossed to one side and gave a faint smile: "Dirty?"

"Better than nothing, though if you move too much it'll chafe."

"Unless you're on top."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Gu Qiu stared blankly, not understanding the woman's meaning for a moment, until the door was shut and she finally realized.

Having understood the woman's words, she flared with anger and immediately wanted to rush out to teach her a lesson.

"Never mind, never mind." Fang Xu grabbed her: "Why bother with their level of insight?"

Saying that, he poured out some water from the buckets, and the two simply washed up.

"Can Senior Sister confirm that Yu Shan Tianyi is indeed in this North Cang City?"

Gu Qiu's hand flashed with light, producing something like a compass; after careful calculation, she said: "It should be in the west of the city; we'll go check tomorrow."

"If we find Yu Shan Tianyi, what does Senior Sister plan to do?" Fang Xu asked again.

If Yu Shan Tianyi had been taken to the Immortal Isle and made a core disciple of the Ascension Assembly, for Fang Xu it would likely be a disaster.

"She's from the Yu State branch; I don't care to bother."

"The reason we came this time to search is to bring back the Ascension Token."

Ascension Token?

Fang Xu blinked slightly: "What is that?"

"Similar to the Ascension Assembly branch's immortal gate guide."

"Each year, the Immortal Isle gives an Ascension Token in advance to inner sect disciples qualified for promotion to core disciple; the token guides the holder to the Immortal Isle."

"Over these many years, Yu Shan Tianyi is still the first person to obtain an Ascension Token without going to the Immortal Isle."

Hearing this, Fang Xu's heart suddenly leapt with joy.

He had originally thought Gu Qiu endured hardship returning from the Immortal Isle this time to bring Yu Shan Tianyi back to the Immortal Isle, so she could become a core disciple again.

Never did he expect she cared only about Yu Shan Tianyi's Ascension Token.

Viewed this way, his own danger seemed to have lessened considerably.

"If one holds the Ascension Token but does not go to the Immortal Isle to participate in the core disciple examination, does Yu Shan Tianyi still have a chance to become a core disciple of the Ascension Assembly?" Fang Xu asked tentatively.

Gu Qiu shook her head: "I don't know this matter; after all, I just said Yu Shan Tianyi is the only one absent from the examination."

"Alright, rest now; tomorrow we'll go check the west of the city."

No words all night; early the next morning, the two set out early.

Under Gu Qiu's guidance, the two quickly arrived at the west of North Cang City.

"It should be here……"

Looking at the surrounding dilapidated houses, obviously uninhabited for a long time, Gu Qiu frowned: "Why did she come here to do what?"

Fang Xu thought for a moment and said: "Given this situation, Yu Shan Tianyi likely did not come here of her own accord."

"Was she captured?" Gu Qiu asked curiously.

Fang Xu said nothing, his gaze scanning the surroundings, constantly on guard against possible attacks from the Derivation God Sect followers.

Gu Qiu could confirm Yu Shan Tianyi was here; thus this place is very likely a Derivation God Sect stronghold, and there must certainly be Derivation God Sect followers nearby!

"Little Black, go in and search!"

Gu Qiu patted the little squirrel on her body, deciding to let it sneak in first to look around.

The surrounding houses are a tangled maze; if, as Fang Xu guessed, Yu Shan Tianyi was brought here by force, then there must certainly be danger inside.

The little squirrel squeaked twice, then darted straight into the ruined debris ahead.

Whoosh!

Just then, a sound of breaking air suddenly came from the ruined civilian house in the distance!

"Be careful!"

Gu Qiu reacted swiftly, a flash of light in her hand, and the silver long sword instantly appeared in her grip, slashing toward the incoming arrows!

Bang!

The brilliant sword light, together with the ruined house and the arrows, was directly split open!

Then a black mist scattered out from the split arrows!

Boom!

Seeing this, Fang Xu quickly threw a punch!

The punch force formed a hurricane, directly sweeping those black powders elsewhere!

Gu Qiu tapped her toes, holding the silver long sword, and instantly arrived before the house she had split open, searching the ruins and finding a martial artist already miserably dead.

"Red robe, masked face—these are people of the Yanshen Sect!"

"Could it be that Yushan Tianyi was captured by the Yanshen Sect?"

Gu Qiu's face showed doubt, then suddenly seemed to recall something, her expression drastically changing!

"Now I understand!"

"Oh no!"

Fang Xu followed up and looked at Gu Qiu, saying: "What's wrong?"

Gu Qiu's face grew solemn as she spoke: "Do you still remember those prisoners we met on the road?"

Fang Xu nodded.

Gu Qiu continued: "If those prisoners truly are commoners of the Yushan State, then it proves the Yanshen Sect is plotting something great!"

Fang Xu still didn't understand.

"The Yanshen Sect has an evil method called the Blood Prison Divine Canon, which can use bloodline kinship to perform a sacrifice, turning the sacrificed into blood demons who know only slaughter."

"So Senior Sister means the Yanshen Sect plans to use the commoners of Yushan State to sacrifice Yushan Tianyi, turning her into a blood demon?" Fang Xu finally understood her meaning.

Gu Qiu nodded: "This isn't even the worst of it."

"I fear the Yanshen Sect has already discovered the existence of the Ascension Order. Once they obtain the Ascension Order on Yushan Tianyi's person, the location of the Immortal Isle will be exposed."

Immortal Isle location exposed?

Fang Xu said, somewhat puzzled: "With the strength of the Yanshen Sect, do they really dare to attack the Immortal Isle?"

Although the Yanshen Sect is strong, at least based on my current understanding, they lack the power to contend with the Ascension Assembly.

After all, back then they were destroyed by the Yu State royal family, and their overall strength is estimated to be about the same as the Yu State royal family.

"You don't understand."

Gu Qiu said solemnly: "I don't know if the Yanshen Sect has the strength to attack the Immortal Isle, but if some enemies of the Ascension Assembly learn where the Immortal Isle is, they will certainly take action."

"Hurry, we must find Yushan Tianyi quickly!"

Gu Qiu anxiously looked around, waiting for the little squirrel to arrive.

Squeak squeak squeak!

After a moment, the little squirrel came running frantically from afar, squeaking, and seemed to still have some bloodstains on its body.

"Xiaohei!"

Gu Qiu flashed her form, directly holding the little squirrel in her arms, somewhat worriedly checked it over, found its injury not too serious, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

"Found it?" Gu Qiu asked.

Squeak squeak squeak!

Squeak squeak squeak!

The little squirrel made a series of gestures, then pointed to a distant house built of piled boulders.

Gu Qiu nodded, placed the little squirrel on her shoulder, then took out a Yuanyuan Dan and stuffed it into its mouth, saying to Fang Xu: "Xiaohei says the Yanshen Sect people are hiding beneath that house; it got injured by a mechanism when it went in, and it's very dangerous inside."

"What should we do now?"

The situation inside is unknown; if we two rashly rush in, it would be inappropriate.

"Follow me!"

Leading Fang Xu to the front of that house, Gu Qiu took out a small bamboo basket from her waist, then opened the lid.

One by one, bee-like insects flew out of the bamboo basket, and in the blink of an eye, they burrowed into the house before them.

These insects burrowed into the house through the gaps in the floorboards.

After a long while——

Bang!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

One by one, individuals wearing red clothes and masks of the Yanshen Sect directly broke through the floorboards of the house and burst out!

After several of them burst out, they, while driving away the insects biting them, cautiously examined everything around them.

Gu Qiu pointed to the several people inside, then extended three fingers to point at herself, and then extended two fingers to point at Fang Xu.

The meaning was roughly: three for me to handle, the remaining two for you.

Fang Xu nodded, and the two acted simultaneously, their figures swiftly jumping into the house, and with the force of thunder before one could cover their ears, directly slew five Yanshen Sect disciples.

Gu Qiu immediately wanted to kill her way into the earth pit before her.

"Senior Sister!" Fang Xu quickly grabbed her and whispered: "We can just guard here."

"These five people haven't gone down for a long time; those below will surely send someone up to check."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qiu's beautiful eyes instantly brightened: "That's a good idea."

Thus, the two of them crouched at the cave entrance, waiting for the followers of the Expansion God Sect to come to them on their own.

(End of Chapter)