Chapter 183: High Bounty, the Background of the Yan Shen Sect!

Hearing this voice, Fang Xu was also suddenly stunned.

He could hardly believe that in this remote small town of the Central Continent, someone would actually know him?

Same name?

"Fang Xu!"

At this moment, the voice behind him sounded again.

From this voice, Fang Xu felt a hint of familiarity; he hurriedly turned around and saw, amidst the bustling crowd, a short-statured figure holding a short blade, looking at him with a face full of surprise.

"Li Xun??"

Seeing the figure opposite him, Fang Xu stared wide-eyed in astonishment, never expecting to meet Li Xun here!

……

In the small tavern of Huangya Town, the two ordered a few dishes and requested two jars of the locally famous Sanhuang liquor.

"Li Xun, how did you come here?" Looking at the noticeably more mature Li Xun before him, Fang Xu asked.

Fang Xu scratched his head: "Just arrived..."

Li Xun was stunned for a moment, then lowered his voice: "Let's consider ourselves brothers; I won't hide anything from you."

"Fang Xu, can you tell me what cultivation level Elder Jiang actually has?"

This question left Li Xun somewhat dazed.

Li Xun poured full cups of wine for himself and Fang Xu; seeing Fang Xu seemed to be in a daze, he couldn't help but ask: "How did you also end up in the Central Continent?"

"That immortal island was..." Li Xun looked at Fang Xu in some astonishment, wanting to learn from him whether the immortal island had been destroyed.

Among the four, Li Xun's vitality currently remained the highest, hovering around 50%, while Li Cangwu and the other two had only 20% left each.

After three rounds of wine, the slightly drunk Li Xun suddenly asked.

"Fang Xu, that damned curse seems to have disappeared from me."

And now the immortal island is also gone; currently, no one knows its exact location.

"Fang Xu?"

Jiang Feng's strength has reached the late stage of Elemental Martial; dealing with these three early-stage Elemental Martial cultivators poses no difficulty at all.

He could tell that Li Xun now possesses the cultivation of the seventh level of Martial Venerable; though not exceptionally strong, he is certainly not weak either.

"What?!" Hearing this, Li Xun was completely dazed.

Noticing his expression, Li Xun's face darkened slightly as he said: "Did the Imperial Grandfather make a move against the Father Emperor?"

The two clinked cups and exchanged drinks, chatting casually while drinking.

Li Xun filled his own cup, raised it toward Fang Xu, then downed the wine in one gulp, looking at Fang Xu with some emotion.

"This matter involves a long story..."

"Why are you so curious about these things?" Fang Xu looked at Li Xun with a half-smile.

Fang Xu glanced curiously and said: "What is this?"

Actually, they have all along been deceived by Jiang Feng.

Speaking, he guarded his surroundings, then leaned close to Fang Xu and lowered his voice: "Recently, I heard that a great battle occurred in the Eastern Sea, possibly involving the appearance of an immortal island."

Fang Xu shook his head: "Your grandfather has taken action against the Ascension Assembly."

These four individuals are respectively Li Cangwu of the Yu Emperor, Zhao Wujie the Slaughterer, and the cultivator named Ju Yuan from the Ming Hun Dao.

Disappeared?

Fang Xu subtly directed his consciousness toward the friend list deep in his sea of awareness.

"There are rumors that this immortal island is actually the headquarters of the Ascension Assembly; this matter..."

Fang Xu nodded; the battle over the immortal island involved experts of the Phenomenon Realm taking action, and many people in the Central Continent must have sensed this.

"Fang Xu, when you left the Yu Kingdom, how is my father king... still doing well?"

Li Xun raised his cup, somewhat helplessly: "Alright, let's drink first; I'll tell you the details later."

Having spent so many years in the Central Continent, Li Xun's horizons are certainly not what they were in the Yu Kingdom; his intuition tells him that Jiang Feng's strength is far from being as simple as he previously thought.

"The Imperial Grandfather..." After a long while of shock, Li Xun forced a bitter smile and shook his head: "He still couldn't resist his own greed."

"All things considered, perhaps it's just that my fate wasn't meant to end yet."

Li Cangwu and Zhao Wujie had from the beginning misjudged Jiang Feng's strength, believing it to be at most equal to their own.

"When did you arrive at Huangya Town?"

Fang Xu shook his head, not telling him the exact cultivation level of Jiang Feng.

Speaking, he slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing a mysterious and exquisite mark on his arm.

Fang Xu estimated that this might be because the Yu Kingdom has already gone to war with the branch of the Ascension Assembly.

Fang Xu was stunned for a moment, somewhat unsure how to tell Li Xun about this.

Upon discovering that the current friend list, including Li Xun, still contains four people.

This also cannot be considered much of a secret.

It seems that in these years in the Central Continent, he should have obtained some opportunities.

"You only need to know that Zhao Wujie, together with your grandfather, joined forces, and even the entire power of the Yu Kingdom united, would still not be a match for Elder Jiang."

There is still one point Fang Xu did not mention.

As the Yu Emperor, Li Cangwu has entered his friend list; the entire fortune of the Yu Kingdom is continuously draining away, meaning the fall of the Yu Kingdom is destined.

"Alas!"

Li Xun slightly shook his head and sighed: "These matters shouldn't have been my burden to worry about."

"Fang Xu, let's go."

Taking out a thumb-sized dark crystal from his bosom and throwing it onto the table, Li Xun led Fang Xu out of the small tavern.

Inside the inn.

Li Xun briefly introduced his experiences over the past few years to him.

It turned out that after their last meeting in Canghai City, Li Xun had followed a treasure ship out to sea.

This treasure ship was originally a beast-hunting team heading to the deep sea to hunt sea beasts.

However, on the way, they were ambushed by a group of mysterious martial artists, the treasure ship was destroyed, he grabbed a small wooden raft that was escaping, managed to flee, and then drifted at sea for nearly a year before reaching the Central Continent.

At that time, his cultivation was at the second level of Martial Venerable. After entering the Central Continent, having no relatives or acquaintances, he could only rely on assassination methods, taking on some assassination missions to earn cultivation resources.

Later, he gradually gained some reputation in the assassin circles and was found by an assassin organization calling itself the Netherworld. After weighing the pros and cons, he joined the Netherworld Organization.

In the Central Continent, assassin organizations are not like street rats that need to hide in the dark.

Moreover, the Netherworld Organization can also be considered a first-rate power in the Central Continent. Relying on the rewards obtained from executing missions over these years, Li Xun's cultivation has risen to the seventh level of Martial Venerable, becoming a killing-grade assassin in the Netherworld Organization.

"Did you escape on your own?" After finishing his own account, Li Xun asked.

Fang Xu shook his head: "There are still some fellow disciples; they are now all in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains."

Speaking of these, Fang Xu then thought: "Those who attacked the Immortal Island seem to be some forces from the Central Continent. Do you, Netherworld, have any information on this?"

As an assassin organization, Fang Xu felt that Netherworld definitely had its own intelligence network.

Being a disciple of the Ascension Immortal Society, although the Immortal Island's whereabouts are now unknown, the forces that attacked the Immortal Island certainly will not let it go.

The fact that the enemy could mobilize the Minghun Dao and the Yin Corpse Sect, such strength, is enough to prove that the enemy is stronger than the Yin Corpse Sect and the Minghun Dao.

Especially that youth, who is about the same age as me but has already reached the Dharma Appearance Realm, must have an extremely terrifying force behind him.

If I don't clarify who my enemy is, wandering in the Central Continent later, I will surely run into trouble sooner or later.

"I didn't pay attention to this, but I can help you check it back."

"Do you have any clues?"

Li Xun spoke up.

Fang Xu thought for a moment, then told Li Xun all the clues he knew.

After listening, Li Xun was stunned for a long time and said: "Actually, the reason I came to Huangya Town this time is because I received a message saying that a major patron needs us to intercept and kill some people in the areas around Nanjiang."

"What's strange is that this mission has no portrait, no specific information, only telling us to come here first, saying someone will contact us later."

"You say, that major patron who approached Netherworld—could it be the mastermind behind the attack on the Immortal Island?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu immediately fell into deep thought.

Li Xun's words do make some sense.

But...

After thinking carefully, he always felt something was off somewhere.

According to my understanding, the mastermind behind the attack on the Immortal Island sought something on the island, not to completely slaughter all the disciples of the Ascension Immortal Society.

Looking at it this way, their target should be the Immortal Island, and they wouldn't spend a great cost hiring assassins to kill us disciples who escaped from the Immortal Island.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Li Xun interrupted the topic, then asked again: "What are your plans next?"

"Fang Xu, I'll give you a suggestion: regardless of whether the force that approached Netherworld is targeting you Ascension Immortal Society disciples, you'd better not let anyone know your true identity from now on."

Fang Xu nodded slightly.

He understood Li Xun's meaning.

Now, no matter who the enemy is, one thing is certain: the identity of the Ascension Immortal Society is a trouble.

"This time I left the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, originally planning to come out to gather some information."

"After all, this is my first time coming to the Central Continent, and I know nothing about everything here."

Fang Xu stated his purpose.

Li Xun nodded: "As for basic information about the Central Continent, I do know some, and later I will organize these things and give them to you."

"However, now that the Immortal Island is gone, you certainly need to establish yourself and cultivate in the Central Continent; many things still need to be planned early."

The two chatted idly for a long while, and finally, under Li Xun's persuasion, Fang Xu also temporarily stayed in this inn.

Seeing that Li Xun used to open a room for him was still that fingernail-sized gloomy crystal, Fang Xu curiously asked: "Is this thing currency?"

Li Xun nodded: "Huangya Town, being adjacent to Nanjiang, sees mostly cultivators coming and going; ordinary gold and silver do not circulate here."

"This thing is called spirit crystal marrow."

Spirit crystal marrow?

Fang Xu's heart stirred, and he directly took out a shiny, irregular crystal from his Qiankun bag.

Li Xun looked at it with some envy: "This counts as top-grade spirit crystal marrow; one piece is worth ten thousand of my kind."

Fang Xu nodded.

There are still more than ten pieces of this so-called top-grade spirit crystal marrow in his Qiankun bag, all cultivation resources distributed by the Ascension Immortal Society.

However, he himself, due to receiving punishment from the will of this heaven and earth, cannot absorb the energy of spirit crystal marrow, and has always kept it in his Qiankun bag, useless.

Now that this thing can be used as currency, he also counts as having some capital.

After staying together with Li Xun in this small inn for several days, Fang Xu also learned some things about the Central Continent from his mouth.

The entire Central Continent is vast and boundless, broadly divided into five regions.

The first is the Nanjiang Hundred Thousand Great Mountains where they landed, occupying about one-tenth of the Central Continent's size.

And in the entire Nanjiang, half of its territory is occupied by barbarian tribes; the largest force among the barbarians is the royal clan, while the remaining big and small tribes number over ten thousand.

The other half of Nanjiang is occupied by an immortal state called Liang State.

The Central Continent has a total of three immortal states: Liang State, Qi State, and Gui Seal State.

Among these three immortal states, Liang State's strength is considered the strongest.

These three states have divided the most prosperous central region of the Central Continent.

From Li Xun's mouth, Fang Xu also learned that the demon race's strength in the Central Continent is also very strong.

The demon race mainly occupies the vast and boundless territory of the Western Regions, and is one of humanity's primary enemies.

As for the northern and central parts of the Central Continent, Li Xun said he wasn't entirely clear either, only roughly knowing that the eastern region contains countless islands, borders the sea, and the situation is relatively complex.

Aside from these forces, Li Xun also told him that the strongest force on the entire continent is not the Three Immortal Kingdoms, nor the demon race, but a sect under the Tiered Expansion Dao Sect.

In the entire Central Continent, there is one sect, one palace, two gates, and two schools, after which come the Three Immortal Kingdoms and the demon race.

This so-called one sect is the Tiered Expansion Dao Sect; according to Li Xun, the Tiered Expansion Dao Sect claims to act on heaven's behalf, and their will is such that even the royal families of the Three Immortal Kingdoms dare not defy it.

Looking across the entire Tianxuan Realm, those who dare to defy the Tiered Expansion Dao Sect are probably only the Dark God Temple, which has been passed down since ancient times.

After gaining some understanding of the forces in the Tianxuan Realm, Fang Xu also felt somewhat reassured in his heart.

That day, after Li Xun wandered outside for a while and returned, his expression turned extremely grim.

After knocking on Fang Xu's door, he immediately glanced around warily, then quickly shut the door.

Seeing his actions, Fang Xu frowned and said: "What's the matter?"

Li Xun stared at Fang Xu with a solemn expression, then said: "Do you know who the major patron is looking for?"

Seeing him ask this, Fang Xu immediately had a guess in his heart.

"Is it me?"

Li Xun nodded: "Nowadays, your portrait has been posted all over Huangya Town, and even your name and basic information have already spread within the circle."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"What price did they offer?"

Li Xun extended a finger: "One thousand pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow."

So I'm actually worth this much...

Fang Xu thought to himself, then didn't take it seriously.

Seeing this, Li Xun suddenly became a bit anxious.

"Fang Xu, do you know what one thousand pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow means?"

Fang Xu said nothing.

Li Xun hurriedly added: "You know, the Ascension Immortal Society is quite strong among third-rate powers, and it's rumored that their immortal island is the dojo of some ancient powerful cultivator, possessing great wealth."

"But I estimate that the Ascension Immortal Society's immortal island, plus their savings over these years, is worth only a few thousand top-grade spirit crystal marrow."

"In other words, someone is now offering a bounty on you worth a fraction of the Ascension Immortal Society's entire fortune!"

Fang Xu remained calm: "So what? Knowing this doesn't give me any way to break the situation."

Li Xun was left somewhat speechless by his words, then said with a solemn expression: "Fang Xu, from this bounty, we can actually infer something."

"The force hunting me must be very strong, right?" Fang Xu slowly said: "Being able to produce one thousand top-grade spirit crystal marrow, according to what you said, I estimate the force hunting me is at least of the Three Immortal Kingdoms level."

Li Xun nodded, gave Fang Xu a strange look, and said:

"How did you offend a force of the Three Immortal Kingdoms level?"

Fang Xu shrugged.

Who knows why a force of this level would target me?

I've never even been to the Central Continent before.

In Yu State, including the Ascension Immortal Society's immortal island, the strongest force wanting to kill me is the Divine Expansion Sect.

Could the Divine Expansion Sect possibly have a Three Immortal Kingdoms-level force behind it?

But that doesn't make sense either.

The Divine Expansion Sect had always planned to capture me alive to obtain the Divine Expansion inheritance from me.

Yet now, the force hunting me wants me dead.

"Fang Xu, if you can't handle this, you might as well return to Yu State and hide."

"I estimate that once you reach Yu State, these Central Continent forces won't pursue you there."

Li Xun thought for a moment and said.

As a member of the Earth Net, he clearly knows how terrifying it is for a martial artist to be targeted by a Three Immortal Kingdoms-level force.

To speak frankly, unless Fang Xu now joins the two gates, two schools, or the Tiered Expansion Dao Sect, he practically has no foothold anywhere in the Tianxuan Realm.

"Even if they were disciples of the two gates and two schools, a bounty of one thousand top-grade spirit crystal marrow would be enough to move those assassins, and even some old monsters in the Phenomenal Realm."

"No need."

Fang Xu thought for a moment, then directly shook his head: "If I return to Yu State, I will inevitably draw this fire onto Yu State's land."

Although he doesn't have deep feelings for Yu State, the Ascension Immortal Society branch there still exists.

There, he has his master, Yun Wan, and Chu Mu and others.

Once people learn of this, they will inevitably be affected.

Fang Xu does not want them to suffer because of his danger, even death.

He even doesn't plan to return to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

One thousand top-grade spirit crystal marrow—anyone would probably find it hard to resist attacking him.

This also shows that Li Xun truly treats him as a brother.

"Li Xun, I will later check out and leave Huangya Town, so as not to implicate you."

After long thought, Fang Xu spoke.

"You..."

Li Xun still wanted to persuade him, but also knew his words would likely fall on deaf ears now.

"Here!"

Slapping a strange beast skin in front of Fang Xu, Li Xun said: "This is your detailed information."

"I can only help you with this."

Fang Xu picked up the beast skin, examined it closely, and his expression immediately turned solemn.

The forces that want to kill him really know him in great detail.

His appearance, cultivation, strength, and the martial techniques he excels at are all recorded.

That is to say, even if I disguise myself, as long as I engage in combat in the Central Continent, I could be recognized immediately.

Unless I use a technique I have never used before.

"Li Xun, thank you."

After putting the beast skin away, Fang Xu immediately activated the disguise technique taught to him by Gu Qiu, changing his appearance to that of Hu Ertu.

"Let's go."

"Do you still remember what you told me back then in Canghai City?"

Looking at Li Xun, Fang Xu smiled and said.

Li Xun was slightly startled, then also smiled.

Back then in Canghai City, Li Xun had said when he was leaving.

On this journey, if I do not die, I will treat you to a drink another day.

If I die, it will be your turn to treat me.

"If I cannot escape this calamity, a cup of turbid wine poured on the ground will suffice."

After saying this, Fang Xu directly left the inn.

At this moment, in Huangya Town, many cultivators passing through were indeed stimulated by the high bounty.

Fang Xu did not fully understand the value of one thousand pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow.

But when converted to a fraction of the total assets of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, Fang Xu roughly understood that such a quantity of items, as long as one's aptitude is not too poor, could completely allow a martial artist to cultivate to the Appearance Realm, or even higher.

"You!"

"Exactly you, come over for inspection!"

"And you!"

"This one looks a bit similar, try him!"

……

Under the temptation of one thousand pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow, many cultivators in Huangya Town began to rely on their cultivation to set up checkpoints everywhere on the streets, interrogating every passerby.

The disguise secret technique passed down by Gu Qiu to Fang Xu is still quite usable.

At least, when Fang Xu, with his current strength, employs it, experts below the Appearance Realm should not easily see through it.

To avoid fighting, he did not choose to evade, but honestly accepted these people's interrogations and smoothly left Huangya Town.

Tianwu Mountain.

This is a mountain range several times larger than Tiruan Mountain.

Yet, such as it is, Fang Xu learned from some passersby that Tianwu Mountain in Jiangzhou Prefecture can barely rank among the top ten.

After leaving Huangya Town, Fang Xu traveled long distances for months and finally reached the foot of Tianwu Mountain.

To go to Jiangzhou Prefecture, one must cross Tianwu Mountain; otherwise, taking a detour would be tens of thousands of li at least.

At the foot of the mountain, in Wushan City, Fang Xu, in the guise of Hu Ertu, came before a building marked with a special symbol.

This special symbol is exactly the emblem of the Di Ming Organization.

According to Li Xun, the Di Ming Organization not only undertakes assassination jobs but also sells various information externally.

As long as one can pay, the Di Ming Organization can even find out the color of the undergarments of the empresses of the Three Immortal Realms for you.

Fang Xu looked at the building before him and walked in slowly.

Many people gathered inside this stronghold of the Di Ming Organization.

As soon as Fang Xu entered, he saw a wall in the main hall hanging with a row of large characters.

"Latest updates on the ultimate bounty target Fang Xu, starting at ten pieces of upper-grade spirit crystal marrow, no haggling!"

Meanwhile, most people in the main hall at this time were gathered beneath this row of large characters, waiting to purchase the latest information about him.

Fang Xu glanced at those people; most were at the Martial Sovereign Realm to the Early Martial Warrior Realm, with even some Martial Scholar Realm warriors mixed in.

Probably servants of some big figures.

Without paying attention to these, he directly went to another counter.

Behind the counter, the elder responsible for reception was snoring loudly while asleep.

Nowadays, at various strongholds of the Di Ming Organization, the hottest-selling item is information about "Fang Xu".

Those who come to inquire about other information are basically nonexistent.

"If you want to buy information about Fang Xu, go over there."

Upon sensing someone's arrival, this elder lifted his eyelids, pointed his hand toward the counter crowded with people, and said: "Fang Xu's past information is at the first reception window, the latest information is at..."

"Senior, I do not want information about Fang Xu."

Spending money to buy my own information—isn't that a joke?

Hearing his words, the elder eyed him suspiciously and asked: "Then what do you want?"

Fang Xu clasped his hands: "Junior wants some information about the Dark Divine Temple."

Upon hearing this, the elder sneered: "Your little brain is quite nimble."

"Now the entire Tianxuan Realm is madly searching for that kid called Fang Xu, yet you take this opportunity to go stir up trouble for the Dark Divine Temple—good, you have vision."

Li Xun once said that the Dark Divine Temple was inherited from ancient times, once was the overlord of the Tianxuan Realm, but later the Great Expansion Dao Sect rose, and the two sides fought a great war.

After the Dark Divine Temple was defeated in battle, it gradually faded into obscurity.

But the Great Expansion Dao Sect seems unwilling to let them off, and for many years has been offering bounties for the capture of Dark Divine Temple members, firmly refusing to give them a chance to make a comeback.

Besides cultivation and training, seeking out and capturing members of the Dark Divine Temple has become the daily task for most cultivators in the Tianxuan Realm.

"There are many wolves but little meat; relying on my own strength and status, I naturally don't want to join in the fun."

"Besides, that Fang Xu's strength is comparable to Yuanwu's; with my little strength, going there would just be suicide."

Fang Xu chuckled.

The old man nodded in agreement: "Not bad, having this self-awareness, you will surely achieve great things in the future."

"Knowing yourself, staying grounded is most important."

"Kid, what level of information do you want?"

"The recent prices are here; pick for yourself."

The old man pointed to the wooden board behind him and spoke.

Fang Xu looked up and glanced.

The price for a first-class information is ten pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow; second-class information only needs one piece; after that, third and fourth class are even cheaper.

He really wanted to ask the old man what the difference is between each type of information.

But he feared that asking would make the old man suspicious.

After all, the matter of hunting members of the Dark Black Divine Temple has existed for who knows how many years; if I don't even know this, it would obviously tell the old man that I just came to the Central Continent.

"The price dropped..."

Fang Xu muttered.

The old man helplessly said: "That's right, now everyone is watching Fang Xu's information; no one is asking about the Dark Black Divine Temple's information."

"Give me a first-class one."

Fang Xu took out ten pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow and threw them on the counter.

The old man, seeing this, was stunned.

"Kid, are you sure you want first-class?"

Looking at his suspicious gaze, Fang Xu gave an embarrassed smile: "This isn't just taking advantage of the cheap price..."

"Wait until they find out Fang Xu isn't so easy to find, then they come back to look for the Dark Black Divine Temple, this price..."

The old man, after hearing this, laughed: "You kid really know how to loophole."

"But old man reminds you, the location of the first-class information is not somewhere a little brat like you, a Martial Venerable Third Realm, can step foot into."

"Also, you should know the rules of the Netherworld; never try to challenge the Netherworld's bottom line."

Fang Xu quickly nodded and clasped his hands: "Thank you, senior, for the reminder."

After a series of instructions, the old man took back the ten pieces of top-grade spirit crystal marrow in front of him, then turned and handed Fang Xu a package: "Off you go."

Fang Xu took the package, didn't immediately check it, and directly turned and left the hall.

Watching his departing back, the old man's eyes held a hint of doubt, then he took out a small notebook and began recording on it.

Longxing 774th year, seventh month, eighteenth day, around si hour...

Afterwards, the content is a detailed description of Fang Xu's appearance from Hulutu; not only that, the old man also sketched a rough drawing beside it, outlining Hulutu's spirit with just a few simple strokes.

Finally, he wrote a sentence at the bottom of the small notebook.

Suspected Fang Xu...

After writing these, the old man closed the small notebook, then hurriedly walked out of the hall.

Fang Xu, at this time, had no idea his identity had already been suspected, nor did he know which point had raised the other's suspicion.

At this time, after receiving the package, he found an inn in the city to stay, then took out the package about the Dark Black Divine Temple.

The reason he bought information about the Dark Black Divine Temple is because, from Huangya Town all the way here, he gathered many messages about the Dark Black Divine Temple.

In his view, this Dark Black Divine Temple is somewhat similar to a revolutionary organization beneath a prosperous age; their purpose seems to be to overthrow the status of the Great Yan Dao Sect.

In terms of conduct, the Dark Black Divine Temple's reputation among the people is mixed.

But one thing is certain: although the Dark Black Divine Temple's members have been labeled evil by the Great Yan Dao Sect, they rarely do things that provoke heaven and resentment.

Moreover, looking at the current situation, the entire Tianxuan Realm has been stirred up by that one bounty notice; I have nowhere to go.

Those who bounty me could be the Three Immortals, or two sects, two schools, or even the Great Yan Dao Sect, but definitely not the Dark Black Divine Temple.

This is one of the reasons I want to contact the Dark Black Divine Temple.

The package was opened, and the several items inside made Fang Xu feel something was strange.

A map, a short note, a nearly dried-up arm, and a stone tablet engraved with strange markings.

After glancing at the map, Fang Xu couldn't tell where the specific location shown on the map was.

Afterwards, he opened that short note.

This note looks very much like a diary recording information; it records the process of him discovering this Dark Black Divine Temple stronghold and his combat situation with the strong ones of the Dark Black Divine Temple.

Fang Xu picked up that nearly dried-up severed hand, felt it carefully, and his expression suddenly froze!

This is...

Feeling the residual aura in the severed hand, he suddenly discovered that the aura on this severed hand is extremely familiar!

It is divine blood!

It is the divine blood of the Yan God Sect!

Having dealt many times with the Yan God Sect, he is very familiar with the aura of divine blood!

Could the so-called Dark Black Divine Temple actually be the Yan God Sect!?

Fang Xu was somewhat shocked!

This discovery directly overturned his previous speculation!

If the Dark Black Divine Temple is the Yan God Sect, then the bounty on me really might be from them.

Moreover, the Dark Black Divine Temple in the Central Continent suffered persecution from the Great Yan Dao Sect, with members fleeing to the remote Yu State, which is also quite reasonable.

Furthermore, the people of the Yan God Sect have dealt with me many times, know everything about me, which also confirms why that bounty content is so detailed.

In addition to the strange marks on the stone before him, Fang Xu was reminded of the altered forms of the Yanshen Sect members he had seen before.

Examining the severed arm in his hand, Fang Xu fell into deep thought.

Almost all the evidence before him proved that there was some inseparable connection between the Yanshen Sect and the Dark Divine Temple.

But there were also doubts.

One of them was the divine blood aura in the severed arm.

After carefully sensing it, Fang Xu found that the divine blood aura in this severed arm was extremely pure and rich.

Unlike the divine blood he had seen before, it was not filled with a strange evil aura.

Secondly, if the divine blood was so rich, this severed arm should be in an altered state, that is, the kind covered in scales.

Furthermore, if the Yanshen Sect were the Dark Divine Temple, given the Dark Divine Temple's situation of being hated by everyone in the Tianxuan Realm, it would be unrealistic for them to put a bounty on him.

As memories of the Yanshen Sect kept flashing in his mind, Fang Xu suddenly thought of a possibility!

Perhaps the Yanshen Sect of Yu State was originally truly part of the Dark Divine Temple.

But with the disappearance of Yanshen, did the Yanshen Sect of Yu State possibly defect?

After all, when he was on the second level of the Yanshen Sect before, he had once seen the soul of the King of the Renxiong, and at that time the King of the Renxiong had told him that the Yanshen Sect was a group of traitors.

If viewed this way, it could perhaps explain things.

Perhaps Yanshen was originally a person of the Dark Divine Temple; when the Dark Divine Temple was hunted down, Yanshen and some of the Dark Divine Temple's people fled to Yu State and hid there.

Afterwards, Yanshen disappeared, and some members of the Yanshen Sect defected, killed the true members of the Dark Divine Temple, and took over the true Yanshen Sect.

"Ah!"

He sighed deeply, and Fang Xu felt a headache coming on.

The situation before him was complex and ever-changing, and he truly did not know what to do.

On the surface, a warrant had made him a public enemy of the Tianxuan Realm, and the only possibility he had ruled out—the Dark Divine Temple—now seemed to have some connection with the Yanshen Sect.

It seemed that he truly had no foothold in the Tianxuan Realm.

What should he do next?

Rising from the desk, Fang Xu walked to the window, looking out at the prosperous Wushan City, and a sense of helplessness rose in his heart.

"Quick! Quickly go and see!"

"I heard that a member of the Dark Divine Temple was discovered in the west of the city!"

"A person of the Dark Divine Temple? What level?"

"I heard it was a Martial Master, and I don't know how such a small fry dared to run into the city."

"A Martial Master? Not worth much—how was he discovered?"

"Naturally, by the hunting dogs..."

As Fang Xu was pondering what to do next, a noisy sound erupted in the inn.

Immediately after, the sound of room doors opening came from the surrounding rooms.

Listening to their discussion, Fang Xu also felt a stir of curiosity in his heart.

Had a member of the Dark Divine Temple sneaked into Wushan City and been caught?

Let's go and see!

Fang Xu immediately decided to go and see.

He wanted to personally confirm whether the people of the Dark Divine Temple were actually the Yanshen Sect!

Following the crowd, he soon arrived at the western part of the city.

The sound of fighting breaking out ahead indicated that both sides were engaged in combat.

Fang Xu chose a good position, from which he could clearly see the two sides fighting in the crowd.

One side was a girl only fourteen or fifteen years old.

The other side was more than ten martial artists wearing uniform attire, and behind these martial artists was a youth in luxurious silk clothing and two guards emanating the aura of Martial Sovereign Great Perfection.

The youth held a chain in his left hand, the other end of which was locked around a disheveled man.

His right hand was wrapped around a scantily clad, alluring woman, his face full of excitement.

The besieged girl had only the cultivation of a Martial Master Seventh Level; facing a group of martial artists of similar cultivation, she gradually showed signs of defeat.

"Be careful, everyone, don't beat her to death!"

"Such a water-spirit little girl, and yet a member of the Dark Divine Temple—this young master must taste her freshness before taking her to exchange for spirit crystal marrow!"

Seeing the girl struggling left and right, already on the verge of defeat, the youth shouted excitedly.

A flash of anger passed through the girl's eyes as she directly pulled out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom and then flashed forward, intending to drink the contents of the bottle.

Seeing this, a guard of Martial Sovereign Great Perfection beside the youth flicked his finger!

A precise burst of energy struck the porcelain bottle in the girl's hand.

Boom!

The porcelain bottle shattered, and a large amount of pale blue liquid scattered everywhere!

The surrounding onlookers all panicked and scattered.

"It's demon blood!"

"Be careful not to get splashed on yourself!"

……

As the crowd retreated, Fang Xu, who had originally been standing on the outskirts, found himself now in the front row.

And that so-called demon blood, after being shattered, had a drop fall onto Fang Xu's body.

The porcelain bottle shattered, and a flash of despair passed through the girl's eyes as she immediately raised her sword to commit suicide.

Boom!

A martial artist nearby took the opportunity to slap her arm with one palm, knocking the long sword from her hand.

The other martial artists then rushed forward and subdued the girl.

The young man walked over slowly, reached out to lift the girl's delicate chin, and wore a lecherous smile: "Not bad, not bad."

The girl turned her head angrily, looked at the disheveled figure being led by the man, and shouted furiously:

"Traitor!"

The disheveled figure lowered his head in shame, not daring to speak.

Because of their cultivation method, members of the Dark God Temple can sense each other's presence when they are close enough.

After being captured, this man, unwilling to die, willingly became a hound to help the young man capture his own companions—this is clearly a traitor.

The young man looked down at the girl proudly and said: "This is what it means to be wise in the times, little girl. If you are willing, I can also help you apply for a hound status."

"That way, you won't have to die."

Pah!

The girl responded to the young man's proposal with a mouthful of spit.

The young man had spit on his face, but he wasn't angry; he gently wiped his face and smiled lecherously:

"Take her away..."

The martial artists then escorted the girl away into the distance.

As they passed Fang Xu, the girl and the hound in the man's hand coincidentally stopped walking at the same time.

Both turned to look in the direction where Fang Xu was.

"Found another target?" the young man said, seeing the hound's reaction, somewhat excited.

The hound looked somewhat puzzled as he scanned Fang Xu and the people beside him, then slightly shook his head: "Feels wrong..."

The young man was somewhat displeased: "Pay attention for me!"

"If you make another mistake, I don't mind trading you for spirit crystal marrow!"

The hound said nothing, drooped his head, and allowed the man to lead him away.

Seeing them walk away, Fang Xu returned to the inn with a solemn expression.

At this point, he could be certain that the so-called Dark God Temple is absolutely related to the Yan Shen Sect!

Because just now, when that hound and girl passed by his side, he clearly felt a flicker in the Yan Shen inheritance within his body.

If it weren't for a critical moment, he would have used the Xuan Shui soul to conceal that flicker, and his identity would have been exposed for sure.

He smiled bitterly, shook his head, reached out to pour himself a cup of water, and suddenly noticed a speck of azure blue on his sleeve.

What is this?

Fang Xu pulled up his sleeve and lightly sniffed it.

Divine blood!?

This drop of azure blue on his sleeve actually emitted the same aura as the divine blood in that severed arm.

It seems that the porcelain bottle the girl previously took out must have contained divine blood.

This divine blood is indeed different from that of the Yan Shen Sect.

Judging from the current evidence, the Dark God Temple and the Yan Shen Sect of Yu State likely have some differences, and perhaps I can try something.

With a plan in mind, Fang Xu decided to go to the area indicated in the intelligence the next day to observe.

The next morning, Fang Xu checked out early and then left Wu Shan City.

The location indicated by the intelligence is north of Jiang Zhou Fu, a journey of tens of thousands of li. He spent a top-grade spirit essence to buy a black-horned flame steed for transport from Wu Shan City, and then Fang Xu headed toward Tian Wu Mountain.

Although Tian Wu Mountain covers a vast area, it is frequently traversed by martial artists, forming several fixed paths in the mountains.

Crossing the mountains via these paths is much safer.

Riding the black-horned flame steed, Fang Xu followed some early-morning caravans as they walked through the mountains.

By noon, a simple tea house appeared on the mountain path. Passing by, he smelled the tempting tea fragrance, so Fang Xu stopped, prepared to drink some tea to cool down before continuing his journey.

Under the towering ancient trees, Fang Xu chose an empty desk, poured some tea, ordered a snack, and drank by himself.

"Hurry up!"

"I'm dying of thirst, young master!"

"Old man, bring two pots of cooling tea, quickly!"

Just as the teacup in his hand reached his lips, Fang Xu heard a familiar shouting voice.

Turning his head, he saw that the approaching group was none other than the young man who had captured the girl in the city yesterday.

At this moment, he seemed to be preparing to escort the girl somewhere, and coincidentally, they were on the same route.

The caravan drew near, and that young man, leading with an iron chain, came over boldly and sat down at the desk beside Fang Xu.

At this moment, the hound beside him looked toward Fang Xu again.

After staring at Fang Xu for a while, the hound flatteringly approached the young man, cautiously whispered a few words.

Upon hearing this, the young man curiously turned his head to observe Fang Xu.

Seeing this, Fang Xu kept his expression neutral, but inside he was deeply puzzled.

I clearly used the Xuan Shui soul to conceal the fluctuation of the Yan Shen inheritance the moment I saw that young man—how could this hound still detect me?

Although the young man's group is not strong, if they were to fight, my identity would be at risk of exposure.

Being a Yan Shen inheritance holder is already troublesome enough; if both the identities of "Yan Shen inheritance holder" and "Fang Xu" were to overlap, I feel I would be found even if I fled to the ends of the earth.

Thinking this, he silently finished the tea in his bowl, then calmly turned and left.

The young man watched all this, a strange smile appearing on his face.

Time quickly passed to evening. Fang Xu rode the horned steed forward, when suddenly he felt a faint movement in the woods beside him.

Immediately, a figure stepped out from behind the trees, blocking his path.

Seeing the person's appearance, Fang Xu frowned.

He had seen this person before; he was precisely the guard of the Youth, a Martial Venerable Perfection Realm protector.

"Our young master wishes to see you." After blocking Fang Xu, this Martial Venerable Great Perfection Realm guard spoke in an undeniable tone.

Fang Xu suppressed the killing intent in his heart, clasped his hands with a bitter smile, and said: "Senior, I am in a hurry to go to Jiangzhou Prefecture; I truly dare not delay, you see..."

"What nonsense!"

"Will you go yourself, or shall I drag you there?"

"Let me tell you plainly—if I make a move, you'd better prepare to suffer."

Fang Xu's brows furrowed slightly, and the killing intent in his heart gradually surfaced.

He did not wish to entangle with this group, but he never expected the other party to be determined to seek death.

"Please, senior, lead the way."

The calm voice made the guard feel somewhat strange, but upon thinking that Fang Xu only had the cultivation of Martial Venerable Third Realm, he dismissed it and directly brought Fang Xu to the youth's location.

In the forest, a luxurious carriage was parked beneath a large banyan tree; the youth was then seated cross-legged by the campfire, quietly enjoying the feeding of a scantily clad, alluring woman.

The hunting dogs were tied to the nearby tree trunks, and as for the captured girl, she was disheveled, bound hand and foot, and thrown beside the carriage.

"Young master, the person has been brought."

The guard brought Fang Xu forward and bowed his hands toward the youth.

The youth lifted his head, gazing at Fang Xu with amusement: "You are also from the Dark Divine Temple, aren't you?"

Fang Xu said nothing, his eyes turning toward the hunting dog beside him.

He knew his identity must have been revealed to the youth by this fellow.

"The hunting dog told this young master that he could faintly sense your kin's aura, but you are very good at concealing it..."

Lightly poking the fire before him, the youth threw the wooden stick in his hand into the flames, stood up, approached Fang Xu, and whispered: "As far as I know, people of the Dark Divine Temple cannot possibly conceal their aura before their kin."

"Tell me, how did you do it."

Meeting his gaze, Fang Xu still remained silent; at this moment, he was calculating something.

Counting the guard, the youth before him totaled twenty-one people, among whom the hunting dog and the scantily clad woman could be disregarded.

I must eliminate them in the shortest time possible—how should I do it?

"Kid, interested in becoming this young master's hunting dog? As long as you're sensible, you won't have to end up like him."

Seeing Fang Xu silent, the youth spoke again.

Fang Xu slowly raised his head, looking at the youth, the corners of his mouth slightly lifting, his finger rising, and he pointed a fingertip at the youth's glabella.

His movement was swift!

So swift that even the Martial Venerable Perfection Realm guard beside him had no time to react!

Pfft!

A sharp sword qi directly pierced through the youth's glabella!

After doing this, Fang Xu did not even turn his body, directly swinging a sword qi at will toward the Martial Venerable Perfection Realm cultivator guard!

Pfft!

The guard's hand had just risen when his body suddenly stiffened, his face full of disbelief.

Gulp!

Gulp gulp!

He clutched his own throat with his palm, still wanting to say something, but ultimately could not utter a word.

Fang Xu's figure flickered, afterimages appearing among the guards!

In the blink of an eye, all the guards present had their throats slit by sharp sword qi!

Only three people remained alive in the field.

The hunting dog, the girl, and that scantily clad woman.

"Don't... don't kill me..."

Seeing Fang Xu approach her, the woman's face filled with terror as she slumped limply to the ground.

Whoosh!

Fang Xu directly flicked out a burst of qi, piercing through her forehead.

Without a word, he also beheaded the hunting dog on the spot.

Approaching the girl, Fang Xu glanced at her, reached out, and directly tore off the iron chains on her body, pulling the rag from her mouth.

"Are you from the Divine Temple?"

The girl was somewhat excited, yet also doubtful as she looked at Fang Xu.

"No, you are not from the Divine Temple..."

The girl then continued: "You bear the aura of the Derivation God Senior; have you seen the Derivation God Senior!?"

After glancing at the girl, Fang Xu directly took out the map he had previously obtained from his Qiankun bag.

"Is this place your stronghold?"

The girl glanced at the mark on the map, her expression slightly changed, then outright denied: "I have never been here."

She thought this would fool Fang Xu, unaware that her earlier expression change had already been seen by him.

After putting the map away, Fang Xu came to the youth and his guard corpses, took all valuable items from his body, and then staged the scene to create the illusion of a band of robbers killing for wealth.

Just as he prepared to turn and leave, he suddenly sensed a faint soul fluctuation from the youth's body.

Fang Xu felt a bit curious, immediately reached out and grabbed, pulling the youth's soul from his body.

"A Martial Venerable Early Realm, yet possessing a soul?"

Gazing at the youth's soul wrapped in a transparent light shield, Fang Xu felt somewhat astonished.

His palm immediately exerted slight force.

"Don't!"

Seeing this, the girl hurriedly shouted to stop it.

But everything seemed already too late.

The youth's soul, together with that strange transparent shield, was instantly crushed by it.

"It's over..."

The girl, somewhat dazed, spoke: "You've caused a great disaster."

Fang Xu asked, puzzled: "How so?"

The girl approached the youth's corpse, glanced at him, then stared at the Qiankun bag in Fang Xu's hand belonging to the youth: "There should be his identity token inside."

Hearing this, Fang Xu immediately rummaged through the Qiankun bag and indeed found a black token.

"Is this it?"

Upon seeing the token, the girl's face showed deathly pallor: "Indeed, it's someone from Garan Mountain..."

"Garan Mountain?"

"What sect is that?"

Fang Xu frowned and asked.

The girl looked at him and said: "Garan Mountain is a second-rate power; though not considered strong, their sect possesses a very troublesome method."

"In the core cultivation method of Garan Temple, there is a technique called Causality Star-Drawing Art. Those who cultivate this method and are killed will leave a resentment imprint on the killer's soul."

"This imprint is hard to remove; as long as the people of Garan Mountain wish it, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, they can still find you."

Hearing this, Fang Xu's expression changed slightly; he quickly scanned his body and indeed found a strange gray mark on himself.

This mark condensed on his flesh and blood, and there was also a faint gray line connecting it to his soul.

Seeing this, he immediately mobilized the Divine Flame fire to burn off this gray mark.

But no matter how the Divine Flame fire burned, this gray mark remained deeply imprinted in his flesh and blood.

"Can this thing really not be removed?" Fang Xu frowned and said.

After thinking for a long time, the girl finally said: "I'll take you to see someone; if even he can't remove it, then it truly cannot be removed."

After saying that, she untied a black-flame horned horse from the carriage and, with Fang Xu, rushed toward the depths of Tianwu Mountain.

(End of chapter)