Chapter 163

The task scroll clearly stated something about the Yanshen Sect.

The task was issued by the Affairs Hall, with the destination being a place called Zhongshan Qi on the western side of the Muyun Grassland.

This task is related to the Yanshen Sect, more precisely, it is related to Yun Qing.

The task details clearly state that the eldest legitimate son of the Yun family of Huangzhou joined the Yanshen Sect and was sent to Zhongshan Qi to establish a Yanshen Sect outpost.

Combining this task issued by the Affairs Hall with what Huang Qingzhou just said, Jiang Feng wants to open up new territory, Fang Xu guessed that this Zhongshan Qi is very likely that new territory.

After thinking it over, he ultimately decided to take on all three tasks.

Because if someone else took this task, other disciples seeing Yun Qing would certainly not show mercy, and only by taking it himself first could he rush to Zhongshan Qi and then find a way to get Yun Qing to leave the Yanshen Sect.

As for the other two, it was simply because going to Zhongshan Qi happened to be on the way, so he just took them together.

"Junior sister, I've taken on all three tasks." Fang Xu spoke.

The two passed through the Death Sand Sea and directly arrived at Liangzhou City.

Yun Wan looked at him in surprise and said: "You..."

Yun Qing is her brother, and also the Yun family's sole heir now; no matter what, she must bring Yun Qing back.

Such a change likely occurred because, over countless years, the geology of this region underwent some transformation, burying everything before it.

But now, with the passage of time, this place has become a desolate Gobi.

Thinking of this, Fang Xu immediately curled the corners of his mouth slightly, the muscles on his face began to gradually change, and after a moment, the image of Hu Ertu reappeared.

Upon hearing this, Yun Wan immediately packed her belongings, and also helped tidy up Fang Xu's clothes, saying: "Let's go now."

However, I have heard of the Blood Wolf Gang; they are one of the major powers in Liangzhou City, and when I caused a disturbance there before, I had some contact with them.

Fang Xu nodded and looked at Yun Wan, saying: "I want you to go with me to carry out this task?"

"When do we depart?" Yun Wan asked anxiously, looking at Fang Xu.

Fang Xu made a silencing gesture toward her, then walked straight toward the entrance.

Carrying the three task scrolls, he left the Affairs Hall and arrived at his own small courtyard.

Moreover, for this trip to Zhongshan Qi, Fang Xu is prepared to bring Yun Wan along; otherwise, he truly would not have confidence in persuading Yun Qing to return.

Death Sand Sea, when passing through here again, Fang Xu also did not dare to linger.

Fang Xu nodded to indicate he understood.

She obviously did not understand how these relics would appear underground.

Yun Wan was stunned for a moment, then instantly understood Fang Xu's plan.

Fang Xu nodded and took out his identity token.

The two dismounted from their horses, just preparing to enter, when they discovered the entrance to the relics was being held by a group of martial artists wielding weapons.

The female disciple quickly conducted an assessment, then reminded: "Senior Brother Fang, having taken on three tasks simultaneously, if any one of them fails, there will be penalties."

"This relic belongs to our Blood Wolf Gang; to enter, each person must pay ten fourth-grade Blood Qi Pills!"

"There are quite a few people; let's go in and take a look."

Ten fourth-grade Blood Qi Pills are not cheap; this Blood Wolf Gang really dares to demand that.

After all, from the Qiankun bag of that one-eyed mountain bandit earlier, he discovered something seemingly left by the ancient water-controlling senior, enough to prove that in ancient times, this place was the territory of that tribe.

Yun Wan curiously took over the scroll and glanced at it, her face suddenly changed dramatically!

He originally did not want to tell Yun Wan about Yun Qing joining the Yanshen Sect.

Fang Xu looked around, and roughly understood in his mind that the relics appearing underground should be related to geological changes.

Looking at the sudden large pit appearing in the desert before them, Yun Wan furrowed her brows and said.

Fang Xu nodded and said: "Take a look at this task."

"Yun Qing... he... he joined the Yanshen Sect!?"

Seeing this, Fang Xu furrowed his brows.

"Ah?" The female disciple looked at Fang Xu in surprise and said: "Senior Brother Fang, are you sure you want to take on all three?"

"If there's nothing else, you can leave anytime."

But now the Ascension Immortal Assembly has already grasped this information, and hiding it from Yun Wan is obviously unnecessary.

"Back?" Yun Wan came forward and said: "Did you take on the tasks?"

Inside the Ascension Immortal Assembly's outpost, Fang Xu inquired about the clues for his other two tasks from the outpost disciples, then directly left Liangzhou City.

Based on his previous judgment, combined with what his grandfather left behind in the books, he can absolutely affirm that beneath the Death Sand Sea there is absolutely a terrifying existence.

"Hey! Hand over..."

Outside the mountain gate of the Ascension Immortal Sect, the two received two Tianma steeds and headed straight for Yinlong Pass.

"Is this that relic?"

In the endless desert, Fang Xu followed the direction pointed out by the outpost disciples and first arrived at that small relic.

The Blood Wolf Gang martial artist guarding the cave entrance was preparing to scold Fang Xu for paying the Blood Qi Pills, but upon seeing his appearance, he was suddenly stunned.

"Hu... Hu Ye?"

Obviously, this Blood Wolf Gang martial artist knows Hu Ertu.

"When did you come back?"

The Blood Wolf Gang martial artist's expression stiffened, then he spoke somewhat obsequiously.

Although Great Master Kukur left Liangzhou City, the several major powers in Liangzhou City all know that when Great Master Kukur departed, his blood and qi were like a rainbow, obviously having obtained some opportunity; this departure is certainly not due to the end of his lifespan, and it is very likely he just went to handle some affairs.

This means he might still return.

Under this speculation, Fang Xu transformed into the likeness of Hu Ertu, and was still able to dominate the major powers of Liangzhou.

"Just arrived, I heard there's a relic here, I, the young master, want to go in and take a look."

"What, I also have to pay the entrance fee?"

Fang Xu gave the martial artist a teasing glance.

The martial artist's face was a little embarrassed, and he couldn't help but recall what Huyertu had done in Liangzhou City a few years ago.

He immediately put on a smiling face and waved his hand, saying: "Master Hu, look at what you're saying!"

"You are a friend of the master, so you are a friend of our Blood Wolf Gang."

"How could the Blood Wolf Gang accept your Blood Qi Pills?"

"Please, Master Hu!"

The martial artist hurriedly extended his hand.

Seeing this, Fang Xu nodded in satisfaction and handed over the Cloud-Stepping Colts that he and Yun Wan were holding, saying: "These are the Cloud-Stepping Colts of the Ascension Immortal Assembly; take good care of them for young master."

Hearing this, the martial artist of the Blood Wolf Gang immediately became solemn, looking at the two incredibly divine Cloud-Stepping Colts with envy: "Master Hu, I've heard that only inner disciples of the Ascension Immortal Assembly are qualified to ride the Cloud-Stepping Colts, and you..."

Fang Xu arrogantly raised his chin: "Am I not like an inner disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly?"

"You are!"

"I've always thought Master Hu, you are a martial arts genius; not to mention being an inner disciple, even a core disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, if Master Hu wants it, it's as easy as reaching out and taking it!"

It must be said, this guy is quite sensible, and Fang Xu didn't make things difficult for him, directly taking Yun Wan toward the interior of the ruins.

Watching the two figures disappear into the entrance of the ruins, the martial artist of the Snow Wolf Gang wiped the sweat from his forehead, his heart still trembling: "Fortunately, this master is in a good mood today; otherwise, we would be in trouble."

Some of the other Blood Wolf Gang disciples looked at him in confusion: "Chief, who is this kid?"

"Shh!"

Hearing the disciple call Fang Xu "kid," this martial artist was so frightened his face turned pale, and he immediately gave a brief account of what Fang Xu had done when he caused a ruckus in Liangzhou City back then.

After hearing this, everyone looked disdainful: "I thought he was someone remarkable, but it turns out he's just a spoiled brat who dares to act recklessly relying on someone's backing."

"Chief, Master Kukuan has already left Liangzhou City, so you don't need to be so fearful."

"You don't understand anything!"

"Master Kukuan has left, but don't forget, he is still an inner disciple of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, and our Blood Wolf Gang can't afford to provoke him either!"

"Alright, everyone be careful, don't discuss that master's affairs."

……

Fang Xu brought Yun Wan into this small ruin.

The ruin isn't large; it's basically a huge manor buried underground, with many places covered by soil, and only less than half of it is accessible.

Many things in the ruin have been nearly scavenged by the Blood Wolf Gang, yet many martial artists are still willing to spend ten fourth-grade Blood Qi Pills to enter, because there is still a terrifying great sword inscribed with texts in this ruin.

The great sword is plunged into a testing sword stone, and many Sword Venerable-level experts have tried before, but there is no way to pull this great sword out.

Therefore, many martial artists have speculated that to pull out this great sword, one must comprehend the inscriptions on it, and then let the sword recognize its master.

Ten Blood Qi Pills are indeed a huge fortune for ordinary martial artists.

But spending ten fourth-grade Blood Qi Pills to exchange for an unparalleled martial technique, plus a divine weapon, in this martial artist's view, is absolutely worth it.

Every person who hasn't tried thinks they are the destined one, all harboring a heart of getting rich overnight.

This is typical gambler's psychology, just like those people in later generations who spend day and night in lottery shops.

No specific search is needed; the two just need to follow some of the martial artists who came in, and they can easily find that great sword.

Arriving before the great sword, Fang Xu glanced at it and immediately felt somewhat startled.

What a huge sword!

One-third of this great sword before my eyes is inserted into the huge testing sword stone below, and the exposed two-thirds are nearly three zhang long!

At a glance, Fang Xu immediately thought of that huge broken sword he saw when the Iron Mountain of the Divine Weapon Hall of the Ascension Immortal Assembly brought him to look.

These two swords are almost the same in size, just differing in material.

The broken sword in the Divine Weapon Hall is black, as if forged from black iron.

This one before me is silver, and I don't know what material it's made of.

The heavy sword has no edge; on both sides of the blade, there are some shallow and deep notches on the toughness, as if they were caused by a great battle before.

Perhaps due to the passage of time, the surface of the silver great sword is extremely dim, almost lacking luster.

Dense inscriptions are carved from the hilt to halfway down the blade, giving the entire great sword a touch of mystery.

"Can you see anything?" Yun Wan stared at the great sword back and forth for a long time, utterly clueless, and turned her head to look at Fang Xu.

Fang Xu's eyes slightly focused as he said lightly: "It feels very familiar."

Yun Wan didn't understand: "Have you seen it before?"

Fang Xu didn't speak, but he felt that this silver great sword before him was very familiar.

But where exactly have I seen it?

Frowning in thought, Fang Xu suddenly felt a slight movement from his Cosmos Bag.

Startled, he quickly pressed down on his Cosmos Bag, thinking someone was trying to steal his things.

But besides Yun Wan by his side, there was no one else.

Looking at the Cosmos Bag, Fang Xu was suddenly stunned, a flash of light in his hand, and he directly took out an ancient wooden box!

He finally realized why he felt so familiar with this silver great sword before him!

The wooden box in his hand was the one he found on the fourth layer of the Tiruan Mountain Ruins; at that time, the wooden box contained only a silver small sword, with six empty depressions beside it.

Although the silver small sword is only about an inch long, from its appearance, it looks quite similar to this great sword before him.

Could it be...

An idea suddenly popped into Fang Xu's mind.

His intuition told him that this great sword before him might be a set with that silver small sword!

Glancing at the dozens of martial artists around the great sword who were all intently staring at the inscriptions on it, Fang Xu quietly opened the wooden box.

The next moment!

The giant sword in front of them suddenly moved!

As the giant sword trembled, the entire ruin began to shake violently, as if it would collapse at any moment!

Seeing that they were about to be buried in the ruin, many martial artists fled in panic.

Of course, there were also some fearless martial artists who wanted to see if, after the giant sword underwent an anomaly, there was any way to take it away.

The scene became chaotic!

Fang Xu hid in the shadows, holding the wooden box in his hands, feeling the leaping sensation transmitted from the silver great sword before him, and he understood that his guess was correct.

The giant sword before him and the silver small sword in the wooden box were definitely a set.

Boom!

The giant sword's trembling grew increasingly severe, and the unstable earth and stone above the ruin, driven by the sword's motion, began to fall one after another.

A large amount of smoke and dust enveloped the surrounding martial artists.

"Hurry up and leave!"

"It's really going to collapse!"

"Damn it, I spent ten fourth-grade Blood Qi Pills just to get in, and now this happens—truly unlucky!"

"Someone must have fully comprehended the inscription on the sword body!"

"Quick, look and see who it is!"

The noisy voices of the martial artists mixed with the sound of falling earth and stone echoed within this narrow space.

Fang Xu held the wooden box, and his gaze suddenly caught a faint silver streak of light piercing through the smoke and dust, swiftly flying toward the wooden box in his hand. He immediately closed the box and, taking advantage of the chaos, arrived outside the ruin.

Like the many martial artists who had escaped from the ruin, the two of them were also covered in dust and dirt at this moment.

Fang Xu patted the dirt from his body and feigned ill omen, saying: "What damned ruin, almost buried this young master inside!"

As his words fell, the ground not far ahead suddenly collapsed downward!

Seeing the ruin suddenly collapse, the faces of many surrounding martial artists turned grim.

The martial artists of the Blood Wolf Gang were also stunned at this moment.

This ruin was a good thing for making money for the Blood Wolf Gang, but now it had collapsed like this—undoubtedly a heavy loss for them.

"Lord Hu, how did this ruin just collapse?"

The hall master of the Blood Wolf Gang, leading the Cloud-Stepping Steed, approached Fang Xu cautiously and asked.

Fang Xu glared: "How would this young master know!?"

"What kind of trick are you Blood Wolf Gang playing? Are you preparing to bury this young master inside!?"

The hall master's face changed, and he quickly said: "Lord Hu, it's a misunderstanding!"

"This ruin, to our Blood Wolf Gang, is a hen that lays golden eggs—we... we also don't want it to collapse!"

"Really?" Fang Xu said, suspicious, bringing up the dirt on his body.

"Absolutely certain!" The hall master said with a bitter face: "Lord Hu, did you just see what caused the ruin to collapse?"

"If I can't find the cause, I'll get skinned when I go back to the gang!"

Fang Xu glanced at him and said: "This young master didn't see clearly, just felt the ruin suddenly start to tremble, and then the trembling grew increasingly severe."

"Alright, return the Cloud-Stepping Steed to me, this young master is leaving."

Taking back his Cloud-Stepping Steed from the hall master's hands, Fang Xu and Yun Wan mounted and rode off directly toward the distant desert.

Pfft!

After the Cloud-Stepping Steed had run far away, Yun Wan immediately couldn't help but laugh.

"Fang Xu, I didn't expect you to have this talent."

"Lying so convincingly."

Fang Xu smiled faintly: "Life forces me, there's no other way."

Yun Wan didn't press further, but immediately changed the subject: "Did you get the giant sword?"

Fang Xu nodded, a flash of light appeared in his hand, and he directly took out the wooden box. After opening it, two nearly identical silver small swords lay quietly inside the box.

"This one is what I obtained in the Ti Lan Mountain Ruin."

"This one is that giant sword from just now."

Upon hearing this, Yun Wan curiously picked up the silver small sword with notches on both sides and examined it, saying: "Is this the same as that three- or four-zhang-long giant sword from just now?"

"Truly miraculous!"

Fang Xu nodded and said: "Actually, the Divine Weapons Hall also has a broken giant sword. I guess that one and these two should also be a set."

"Huh?"

Mentioning the giant sword of the Divine Weapons Hall, Fang Xu suddenly recalled that there seemed to be a strange short sword in his aperture space as well.

Won't the short sword that Ku Lun gave me also be part of this set!?

Thinking this, he immediately took out the broken sword from his aperture space.

Hum!

As soon as the bronze broken sword appeared, it directly emitted a violent vibration, then broke free from Fang Xu's hand and flew straight into the wooden box!

Good fellow!

It really is a set!

Looking at the three small swords lying in the wooden box, Fang Xu was stunned.

Yun Wan was also full of curiosity, picking up each of the three small swords one by one and studying them for a long time.

"How miraculous is the ancient martial way, really?"

"Such a forging technique—probably no one can do it nowadays."

After sighing twice, Yun Wan immediately placed each small sword back into the wooden box one by one.

Fang Xu looked at the three small swords in the wooden box, his mind slightly stirred, and immediately a large amount of black energy surged from his hand, after which he collected the three small swords one by one into his aperture space.

Since the bronze broken sword could be nurtured as a life-bound artifact, the other two should be able to as well.

In the aperture space, the bronze broken sword returned to the aperture it had previously occupied, with no movement at all.

But as soon as the two silver small swords entered the aperture space, they underwent violent trembling!

Following that, golden lightning suddenly appeared in the aperture space!

Terrifying lightning struck the two silver small swords one after another!

After enduring dozens of lightning strikes, the two silver small swords finally calmed down.

Clang!

Clang!

The two small swords that had calmed down also revealed their true forms.

The silver small sword obtained from the ruins of Tibilang Mountain had become the size of a normal longsword, its hilt and half of the blade silver, the hilt connected to one-third of the blade, the whole presenting the shape of three lotus leaves wrapping a lotus flower.

The remaining two-thirds of the treasure sword were of a cicada-wing-thin transparent appearance, looking extremely sharp!

And the small sword just obtained had reverted to the form of a silver giant sword!

The entire sword exceeded four zhang in length, uniformly silver-gray, silently hovering in the aperture space.

Both treasure swords bore numerous mysterious inscriptions, seemingly containing a miraculous martial technique or divine ability.

However, Fang Xu currently had no time to study them.

Storing the wooden box into his Qiankun bag, the two continued forward.

According to the information provided by the Liangzhou Ascension Society outpost, the location where the extraterrestrial meteoric iron for another task requirement fell was roughly in the desert eight hundred li west of Beicang City, but the exact position had not been determined by them either.

"We may need to temporarily rest in Beicang City." Seeing that the sunset had only half a head left, Fang Xu spoke.

Yun Wan nodded slightly, and the two directly rode the Cloud-Stepping Steed toward Beicang City.

On the way, the two suddenly encountered a rather mysterious group of black-clad people, but due to the Cloud-Stepping Steed's excessive speed, Fang Xu also did not see their specific appearances, only feeling from the fleeting aura that the group's strength was considerable.

When the two arrived at Beicang City, the sky had just darkened.

Having found the inn where they had previously stayed with Gu Qiu, Fang Xu led Yun Wan inside.

Still the same old proprietress, she still wore that wide dress covered in spots and smelling of stonecrop flowers.

"Staying at the inn?"

Fang Xu skillfully took out silver to pay the room fee, and also took out several taels of scattered silver to request several buckets of water.

Seeing his skilled manner, the proprietress curiously raised her head and glanced at Fang Xu:

"It's you."

After saying that, she glanced briefly at Yun Wan before her and said lightly:

"Changed person?"

"More mature than last time, but still a novice, cherish her."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu was stunned!

"Proprietress, did you mistake me for someone else?"

He dared affirm that he and this time were absolutely not using the same face.

Could this proprietress recognize him?

"Appearance can change, but scent cannot."

Saying that, she placed a certain item on the counter: "Still the same room as last time, water will be delivered later."

After speaking, she turned and lifted the curtain behind her, and shortly after, sounds of indulgence came from within.

Only this time it was clearly longer in duration.

Fang Xu secretly laughed in his heart: "You've also changed persons, last time that one couldn't even hold on for a few breaths..."

Leading Yun Wan to the room where they had previously stayed with Gu Qiu, Fang Xu was just about to lift the bedding when Yun Wan slowly said: "Is what that woman said true?"

Fang Xu's movement paused slightly, he slowly turned around preparing to speak, but Yun Wan again said: "Who came with you last time?"

Facing her strange gaze, Fang Xu was momentarily speechless.

It seemed, no matter how strong a woman, when jealous they are all the same.

The current Yun Wan is hardly different from the jealous women in those past-life film and television dramas.

"It was Gu Qiu, senior sister."

"A core disciple from the Immortal Island, we are here to carry out a mission."

Fortunately, Yun Wan was reasonably understanding, did not continue questioning because of this, and shifted the topic: "This proprietress is not simple."

Fang Xu nodded slightly.

The disguise secret technique was transmitted to him by Gu Qiu; according to Gu Qiu's meaning, even an ordinary Martial Venerable could not see through this secret technique.

He could affirm that last time when he came with Gu Qiu, he used the appearance of a handsome young man, while now he used the form of Hu Ertu, the two being worlds apart.

Yet the proprietress of this inn actually recognized him at a glance.

"Should we be a bit more careful?" Yun Wan said.

Obviously, the current Yun Wan is much more shrewd than when Fang Xu first met her in Fenglin Town several years ago.

"Mm, being cautious is good." Fang Xu nodded and said.

Although the woman had no aura fluctuations on her body and appeared ordinary, his intuition told him that this woman was absolutely not simple.

After the two tidied up their belongings and had just spread the fresh bedding on the bed, the proprietress laboriously lifted two buckets of water and knocked on the room door.

Yun Wan opened the room door, sniffed the fresh stonecrop scent on her body, and couldn't help but frown slightly.

She did not know what this scent represented, but overall felt somewhat uncomfortable.

She didn't know what this taste meant, but she always felt somewhat uncomfortable.

"Hey!"

"The water's been poured, use it sparingly."

The innkeeper finished speaking and turned to leave.

"Wait a moment." Fang Xu called out to him, pulling a golden bean from his bosom: "I have a question to ask."

The innkeeper glanced at the golden bean in his hand, yet there was little greed in her eyes as she spoke lightly: "Go ahead."

"In the western desert, a heavenly meteorite fell recently—do you know the exact location where it landed, innkeeper?"

"You're also looking for that meteorite?" The innkeeper looked at Fang Xu with some curiosity: "Don't bother—it's already been taken by someone else."

Taken by someone else?

Fang Xu frowned slightly: "Who took the meteorite?"

The woman shook her head: "To know that, this golden bean isn't enough."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu produced another: "How about now?"

The woman glanced at the two golden beans and spoke slowly: "At the beginning of last year, two major clans from Zhongzhou were exiled to Beicang City. After the meteorite fell, it was originally taken by them."

"But later, another group arrived, seemingly also intent on seizing the meteorite. They fought, and afterward, the meteorite vanished without a trace."

Having said this, the woman extended her palm.

Fang Xu was about to hand over the two golden beans when he suddenly noticed a ferocious scar on the woman's wrist!

That scar was clearly left from having her martial arts crippled.

Upon noticing Fang Xu's attention to her scar, the woman immediately retracted her hand, no longer intending to ask for the golden beans, and turned to walk out of the room.

Fang Xu narrowed his eyes, followed after her, slipped the two golden beans into her hand, and said with a faint smile:

"Beicang City truly is a place of hidden tigers and dragons."

As the woman slipped the two golden beans into her bosom, she revealed a patch of skin as white as snow—clearly not the disheveled appearance she presented on the surface.

"Hidden tigers and dragons? They're just pitiful souls waiting to die."

After saying this, she turned and walked straight toward the stairs.

Watching her retreating figure, Fang Xu fell into deep thought.

The Feng and Wang clans were exiled here—apparently, they have no intention of waiting passively for their doom.

Extraterrestrial meteoric iron generally contains some high-grade refining materials unknown in this world. After the Feng and Wang clans obtained that meteoric iron, they suffered attacks from others.

According to the woman, the meteoric iron has gone missing……

"Fang Xu?"

Seeing Fang Xu standing dazed at the doorway, Yun Wan called out:

"Hmm?"

Returning to the room, Fang Xu hesitated for a moment and said: "I plan to visit the Feng and Wang clans tonight to gather information."

I came all this way, and the meteoric iron is gone—those are thirty thousand contribution points!

More importantly, the heads of the Feng and Wang clans, Feng Dong and Wang Xiao, are both on my friend list, and they are also my enemies. I want to see if there's a way to resolve things between them.

"Want me to come with you?" Yun Wan asked.

Fang Xu shook his head: "I can go alone."

After saying that, he left the room.

Late at night, Beicang City is naturally sparsely populated, with many abandoned buildings that, in the darkness, look like a ghost town.

After leaving the inn, Fang Xu leapt onto a higher rooftop, surveyed his surroundings, and instantly spotted two brightly lit manors standing out among the sea of abandoned houses like cranes among chickens.

Those must be the Wang and Feng clans.

Fang Xu's form leapt—he flickered between several rooftops and arrived before one of the manors.

The manor was quite new, bearing a plaque reading "Wang Residence," clearly newly built after the Wang clan's exile here.

I don't know what Li Cangwu was thinking—since he decided to act against both clans, he didn't exterminate them completely, yet allowed Wang Xiao and Feng Dong to arrive in Beicang City unharmed.

Could it be that he doesn't fear the two clans accumulating power in Beicang City and rebelling?

After lingering near the Wang manor for a moment, Fang Xu leapt forward and jumped into the manor grounds.

The vast manor had few martial artists guarding it, so Fang Xu easily slipped inside.

"Cough cough!"

"Cough cough cough!"

From the room ahead came several violent coughs—Fang Xu could faintly tell they were Wang Xiao's.

It seems Wang Xiao was injured in the battle over the meteorite.

Fang Xu crept forward cautiously and appeared directly before Wang Xiao's bed.

Sensing someone approaching, Wang Xiao slowly turned his head.

"Who are you, sir?"

"Visiting at midnight—what business brings you?"

Fang Xu did not answer his question, but directly asked: "Where is that meteoric iron now?"

Wang Xiao stared fixedly at Fang Xu's face, then suddenly gave a faint smile:

"You want the meteoric iron?"

"You've come too late."

Fang Xu's brows tightened slightly—he refused to believe the meteoric iron had truly been taken.

"Given your current condition, I could kill you without wasting much effort."

Wang Xiao laughed at the words: "Killing me won't help you, sir—the meteoric iron has indeed been taken away."

Having said this, Wang Xiao suddenly smiled again and said: "Do you know how miraculous that meteoric iron is?"

Fang Xu didn't speak.

Wang Xiao continued: "That is a piece of meteoric iron filled with endless killing intent; even ordinary martial artists, if they merely approach it, will be tainted by the killing intent and turned into monsters who know only slaughter."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion suddenly came from outside again.

Immediately, shouts of killing rose up!

Wang Xiao looked at Fang Xu with killing intent on his face, preparing to strike, but Fang Xu merely frowned slightly and directly flashed out of the room!

The moment his figure disappeared, the room's door was kicked open by someone!

Immediately, several black-clad men rushed in!

Seeing the intruders, Wang Xiao's face changed abruptly!

"Are you sent by Li Cangwu, or by Zhao Wujì?"

The black-clad men who burst in were known to Wang Xiao; they were none other than the Blood General Xuetutu, the foremost of Zhao Wujì's four great generals.

Looking at Wang Xiao, Xuetutu said lightly: "Does it still matter to the head of the Wang family to dwell on this now?"

"Whether it is the order of the great general or the command of the Emperor, the head of the Wang family must die today."

The crimson long sword was slowly raised, and a flicker of coldness passed through Xuetutu's eyes, half-covered by the iron mask.

"That bastard Zhao Wujì, he stole the meteorite and now prepares to kill to silence witnesses!?"

Wang Xiao suddenly shouted loudly.

"Seek death!"

Hearing Wang Xiao dare to curse Zhao Wujì, a flash of anger passed through Xuetutu's eyes!

The next moment, his long sword flashed with a streak of blood, slashing toward Wang Xiao's body!

Although he possessed the cultivation of the fifth realm of Martial Venerable, having been previously injured and now facing the battle-hardened Xuetutu, Wang Xiao was clearly no match for him.

After barely dodging a few times, he was directly beheaded by Xuetutu!

Outside the courtyard, Fang Xu naturally heard Wang Xiao's furious shout and also understood that Wang Xiao had deliberately yelled for him to hear.

Was the meteorite taken by Zhao Wujì's people?

【Your friend Wang Xiao has died; as a friend, you may randomly inherit any one of Wang Xiao's three legacies.】

Legacy One: 【Purple Legacy (the Wang family's current estate)】 Inheritance carries great risk, as the one who struck down Wang Xiao was the Blood General Xuetutu of the seventh realm of Martial Venerable, and the Wang family's estate will surely be entirely taken by him; seeking to obtain the Wang family's estate is no different from snatching food from a tiger's mouth.

Legacy Two: 【White Legacy (Strength attribute 150 points)】 Inheritance carries no risk, but requires touching Wang Xiao's corpse.

Legacy Three: 【Orange Legacy (Mirage Dragon Star Chart)】 Inheritance carries no risk, but requires touching Wang Xiao's corpse to obtain.

The virtual panel that popped up before him made Fang Xu understand that Wang Xiao had already been killed.

From Legacy One, it can be seen that the one who struck him down was indeed the Blood General Xuetutu under Zhao Wujì; according to what Yun Wan said, Yun Tianming was also beheaded by Xuetutu.

But why did Xuetutu come to Beicang City to kill Wang Xiao—whose order was he following?

This made Fang Xu very curious.

Because only by clarifying this point could he determine whether Wang Xiao's earlier words were true or false.

If Xuetutu came on Li Cangwu's orders to eliminate Wang Xiao and Feng Dong, then it would mean the exile of the Wang and Feng families was merely for show to the world.

To let the world see Li Cangwu's benevolence, that the Wang and Feng families were guilty of countless crimes, yet Li Cangwu did not unleash a great slaughter, merely exiling them.

After doing this openly, he would secretly let Xuetutu utterly exterminate the Wang and Feng families to eliminate future troubles.

But if Xuetutu came on Zhao Wujì's orders, then it would be different.

Zhao Wujì likely wanted to kill to silence witnesses because of that meteorite.

According to Wang Xiao, that meteorite contained endless killing intent and seemed to perfectly match the path Zhao Wujì walks; to him, the meteorite is a supreme treasure.

Under these circumstances, to keep the secret, killing to silence witnesses seems quite normal.

Suppressing the doubts in his heart, he clicked to inherit.

The three legacies rolled quickly, then slowly settled.

【Congratulations on obtaining Legacy Three!】

【Touching Wang Xiao's corpse can obtain this legacy.】

Legacy Three is a special star chart; it appears to be one that Wang Xiao himself mastered.

But he is unclear how this Mirage Dragon Star Chart compares to the star chart he himself possesses.

If it is merely equivalent to the lower twelve star charts in the Immortal Ascension Assembly's Star Palace, then it would be rather useless.

Pressing his body against the courtyard wall, hearing the commotion inside fade, Fang Xu then flipped and jumped in.

The entire manor now had no living souls left; the brutal Xuetutu had not even spared the dogs inside.

As for the valuable items inside the manor, they were clearly all looted clean.

Fang Xu crept into the room where Wang Xiao was, seeing only a headless corpse lying in a pool of blood, the skull already gone.

Arriving beside Wang Xiao's corpse, Fang Xu immediately touched his corpse from behind.

The next moment!

A jumble of information instantly surged into Fang Xu's sea of consciousness!

A vast number of stars constructed an extremely complex star chart in his sea of consciousness, slowly taking shape.

Fang Xu roughly glanced at it and found the star chart looked extremely complex; its quality should not be poor.

The only shortcoming is that this star chart does not directly grant him mastery; he still needs to comprehend it himself, which is somewhat troublesome.

【Your friend Feng Dong has died; as a friend, you may randomly inherit any one of Feng Dong's three legacies.】

Legacy One: 【White Legacy (Spirit attribute 65 points)】 Inheritance carries no risk, but requires touching Feng Dong's corpse to obtain.

Legacy Two: 【Gold Legacy (Celestial Pivot Star Chart)】 Inheritance carries no risk, but requires touching Feng Dong's corpse to obtain.

Legacy Three: 【White Legacy (Strength attribute 200 points)】 Inheritance carries no risk, but requires touching Feng Dong's corpse to obtain.

Another star chart!

Looking at Feng Dong's three inheritances, Fang Xu was stunned!

He noticed that Feng Dong's inheritance was actually golden, while Wang Xiao's was only orange!

The two star charts were clearly different.

The Celestial Pivot Star Chart...

This thing seems to be one of the Big Dipper stars!

The star chart Feng Dong obtained from there?

Fang Xu curiously clicked on inherit.

Watching the three inheritances roll before him, he silently began to pray.

If he could obtain another star chart, his strength could rise to the seventh level of Martial Master.

As for Fang Xu now, his soul power is strong enough to easily open the orifice stone door; to break through his realm, the only thing lacking is a special star chart.

The three inheritances rolling before him gradually froze.

Looking at the inheritance on the virtual light curtain, Fang Xu felt somewhat disappointed.

【Congratulations on obtaining Inheritance One!】

【Please touch Feng Dong's corpse to obtain.】

Inheritance One, mental attribute 65 points, this inheritance is still acceptable.

Although it seems inferior to the Celestial Pivot Star Chart now, in the long run, mental attribute affects comprehension; with higher added mental attribute, he can fully comprehend star charts elsewhere, such as in the Star Palace of the Ascension Immortal Association.

Simply put, star charts will still appear, but mental attribute points are harder to come by.

Leaving the Wang family, Fang Xu quietly rushed to the Feng family.

Seeing with his own eyes the Blood Floating Pagoda leading a group carrying away the Feng family's belongings, Fang Xu then sneaked into the courtyard and discovered Feng Dong's headless corpse in the corridor.

He reached out and touched Feng Dong's corpse, and a refreshing energy surged into his body; in an instant, Fang Xu understood!

His thought process became noticeably faster than before, and the Mirage Dragon Star Chart in his sea of consciousness was comprehended at this moment!

Somewhat surprised, he immediately looked at his panel.

【Name】: Fang Xu

【Realm】: Martial Master Fifth Level

Added Strength Attribute: 2180

Added Vitality Attribute: 548

Added Agility Attribute: 121

Added Mental Attribute: 140

The added mental attribute was originally 75, and this time he gained another 65 points, reaching 140.

Just 140 points of added mental attribute instantly boosted his comprehension significantly.

Fang Xu glanced around, saw nothing else, and took advantage of the night to return to the inn.

In the inn, the landlady was sitting dazedly at the counter; seeing Fang Xu enter, she glanced at him and then said nothing, continuing to stare blankly.

Fang Xu directly returned to his room.

"Back?"

Yun Wan got up from the bed and asked.

Fang Xu nodded.

"Any news?"

"The Wang and Feng families were exterminated." Fang Xu said: "The perpetrator was the Blood Floating Pagoda."

"The meteorite has now fallen into Zhao Wují's hands."

Blood Floating Pagoda...

Hearing this name, Yun Wan's eyes flashed with killing intent.

But she also knew she was currently no match for the Blood Floating Pagoda; this grudge must be endured for now!

"What should we do now?"

The meteorite falling into Zhao Wují's hands means they certainly cannot retrieve it.

Not retrieving it means mission failure, and the Affairs Hall will deduct thirty thousand contribution points from him.

"No matter, let it be a loss."

"We'll go straight to Zhongshan Covenant tomorrow."

Yun Wan nodded, then turned and picked up a medicine bottle to hand to Fang Xu, saying: "This is what that woman just gave us, saying we might be able to use it."

Fang Xu took the medicine bottle and glanced at it carefully, not daring to open it.

"What's inside?"

Yun Wan shook her head: "That woman is too strange; she makes me feel uncomfortable."

Glancing at the dim sky outside, Yun Wan added: "I think we should leave as soon as possible."

Fang Xu thought it over and also felt there was no need to stay longer; he immediately gathered the bedding from the bed and then walked downstairs with Yun Wan.

"Leaving?"

The woman glanced at them both and said: "Did you bring the medicine I gave you?"

Fang Xu glanced at her and said: "What's in that bottle?"

The woman smiled faintly: "Something that could save your life; if you don't want it, return it."

"It's expensive."

Fang Xu hesitated, then bowed slightly to the woman: "Thank you."

The woman waved her hand, appearing indifferent.

"Your horses are outside, let's go."

Fang Xu nodded and left the inn together with Yun Wan.

The woman stood up, came to the inn's doorway, watched the two figures recede into the distance, and suddenly revealed a hint of a smile.

"Last time I came I didn't see clearly, this time I finally confirmed it."

"Old man, your grandson is better than you..."

Endless desert, the further west one goes, the more desolate it becomes.

The sun was high in the sky, the two had already left Bei Cang City, sunlight bathed them, yet there was not a hint of warmth.

A cold wind blew, Fang Xu furrowed his brow.

He hadn't expected the temperature here to be so much worse than in Zhongzhou.

Fortunately, both of them are martial artists, immune to cold and heat, otherwise they would surely freeze stiff.

"This journey still has one shichen to Zhong Shan Qi, let's speed up." After glancing at the map, Fang Xu spoke.

Yun Wan nodded, lightly patted the back of the Yun Cloud Steed, and shot forward directly.

After one shichen, the sky gradually began to snow, and before their eyes some strange buildings appeared.

These buildings were very low, interspersed with some felt carts and yurts.

"Let's go ask for directions."

Riding the Yun Cloud Steed, the two rushed toward a felt cart.

But before they could get close, a feathered arrow was directly nailed into the ground in front of them!

Fang Xu and Yun Wan hastily reined in the reins, looking at the wary young man before them and said: "Don't be nervous, we are not bad people, we just want to ask for directions."

Hearing his words, the young man's expression changed slightly, then he spoke in somewhat stiff Yu Guo language: "You came from the east?"

Fang Xu nodded: "We came from Yu Guo."

The young man put down the longbow in his hand, but remained wary: "Yu Guo is a great eastern nation, ten thousand li from here, why have you come here?"

Fang Xu spoke in reply: "We want to go to Zhong Shan Qi, which way should we go?"

The young man furrowed his brow: "This place is Zhong Shan Qi."

This place?

Fang Xu sat on the back of the Yun Cloud Steed, gazing into the distance.

"We are all of the Zhong Shan Qi tribe, this is the outskirts of Zhong Shan Qi."

The young man added a sentence, then asked: "Why have you come to Zhong Shan Qi?"

Seeing how wary he was, Fang Xu said: "To be frank, we are disciples of the Ascension Immortal Society, received a mission, a group of evil martial artists will come to Zhong Shan Qi to cause destruction, we are here to stop them."

"Evil martial artists?" The young man eyed the two suspiciously, then asked: "What are they called?"

"Yan Shen Sect." Yun Wan answered.

The young man's face flashed with a barely perceptible surprise, then after a moment's hesitation he said: "Then you may pass, two hundred li west from here is the tribe."

Fang Xu clasped his hands, then led Yun Wan toward the direction the young man knew.

Watching the two recede, the young man's eyes flashed with a hint of solemnity, then he came to the felt cart and shouted: "Grandfather, someone means harm to the Holy Teaching, I must hurry to inform the chieftain!"

"Hmm... go." A hoarse voice came from inside the felt cart.

The young man immediately grabbed his longbow, leapt onto the horse beside him, and ran toward the southwest.

On Fang Xu's side, he and Yun Wan walked westward for a moment, suddenly noticing something amiss.

Looking at the increasingly desolate land before them, Fang Xu gave a wry smile: "We were tricked by that guy."

Yun Wan nodded: "The Zhong Shan Qi tribe should also be a nomadic group, they follow water and grass, we should head south."

Fang Xu looked south, then directly patted the back of the Yun Cloud Steed, and the two headed toward the direction with pasture.

Gradually, more felt carts and some low buildings appeared before the two's eyes.

As the felt carts and buildings grew denser, some tall structures built of stone appeared before them.

The divine steed of the Yun Cloud Steed soon attracted the attention of the Zhong Shan Qi tribespeople, they all came out of their houses, wary eyes on Fang Xu and Yun Wan.

Suddenly, a feathered arrow shot toward Fang Xu.

Bang!

Fang Xu slapped the arrow away with one palm, yet on the road ahead appeared a large number of soldiers holding bows, crossbows, and sabers.

Although these people were mostly ordinary folk, occasionally a few were at the Martial Apprentice realm, but Fang Xu and Yun Wan did not dare to force their way through.

They could not bring themselves to slaughter ordinary people.

"Please report, we wish to pay respects to your tribe's chieftain." Fang Xu clasped his hands.

"Zhong Shan Qi does not welcome you!" His words had just fallen, a man wearing beast skin, stalwart build, head full of small braids stepped out from behind the soldiers.

The man had the cultivation of Warrior Master Fourth Realm, holding a wolf-tooth club in his hand, his eyes warning as he looked at Fang Xu and Yun Wan.

"Not welcome!"

"Not welcome!"

At that moment, the common folk and those soldiers also followed suit and shouted.

Fang Xu and Yun Wan exchanged a glance, dismounted from the Yun Cloud Steed, and walked slowly toward that man.

The man slowly raised his wolf-tooth club and said: "I said, Zhong Shan Qi does not welcome you, take one more step forward, and you will await being...... by my Zhong Shan Qi's..."

Before he finished speaking, Fang Xu's figure suddenly flashed!

The next moment, he appeared directly before the man, then reached out and grabbed his wolf-tooth club, his palm exerting slight force, directly crushing that huge wolf-tooth club!

The man's expression changed slightly.

The surrounding commoners also stopped shouting at this moment, looking at Fang Xu with fearful faces.

Seeing this, Fang Xu smiled faintly and said: "We are here to help you. Take me to see your leader."

The man said nothing, his gaze flicking to a strange mask hanging on a nearby stone hut, a flash of madness in his eyes as he swung his fist directly at Fang Xu.

Bang!

Fang Xu reached out and caught the man's fist, his brow slightly furrowed as he said: "You clearly know you are no match for me, so why do you still resist?"

The man said nothing, his other hand directly pulling a black pill from his bosom and stuffing it into his mouth!

The next moment!

Terrifying black patterns emerged from within his body, these black patterns rapidly climbing up his face!

His black-and-white eyes turned pure black in an instant!

Roar!

After letting out a beast-like howl from his mouth, the man directly broke free from Fang Xu's palm and launched another attack!

Seeing the man become like this, the surrounding commoners and soldiers were not afraid but instead all shouted madly:

"Yan Shen!"

"Yan Shen!"

"Yan Shen!"

Seeing this, Fang Xu's expression grew somewhat solemn, knowing he and Yun Wan must have arrived too late.

The Yan Shen Sect had already completely taken control of this place.

The man charged over like an enraged beast, a flash of cold light in Fang Xu's eyes as he no longer held back, kicking straight at the oncoming man!

Bang!

Crack!

The man's thigh bone was snapped directly by his kick, his body flying backward!

But the man, having fallen to the ground, showed no fear, crawling up from the ground and still limping toward Fang Xu!

Bang!

Another kick!

The man's other leg was snapped directly by the kick!

Yet the man, already plunged into madness, crawled toward Fang Xu with both hands, seemingly still wanting to attack!

Fang Xu grew angry, immediately preparing to slay the man outright!

"Stop."

At this moment, a familiar voice sounded from outside the crowd.

The commoners of Zhongshan Qi all ceased their shouting, respectfully making way and kneeling on the ground.

Fang Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, silently watching three figures in blood-red robes and strange masks walk toward him.

(End of Chapter)