Chapter 255: The Child

Linlang Linlang Fudi, central region.

On the ground, a flash of yellow light appeared as a giant yellow-furred rat burst forth, its mouth clutching a massive lingzhi mushroom.

"Is this… 'Lingsui Zhi'? Judging by its age, it's already reached a thousand years of cultivation, right?"

Meng Meng Xingyu took the 'Lingsui Zhi' and played with it fondly, then gazed at the treasure-hunting rat, now shrunk to palm-size and being rubbed by Fang Xing, lost in thought.

'Lingsui Zhi' is a primary ingredient in many pills designed to enhance cultivation for Foundation Establishment cultivators; with a thousand-year age, even a Nascent Soul True Lord outside would snatch it on the spot.

Yet in Linlang Linlang Fudi, with the treasure-hunting rat, similar treasures could be found almost every few miles.

It was as if they'd entered an easy mode.

This wasn't merely due to Linlang Linlang Fudi's extraordinary abundance of spiritual resources—it was also thanks to the treasure-hunting rat's innate 'Treasure Seeking' talent.

"Oh? You say there's another 'Zhi Fang' nearby, filled with countless 'Lingsui Zhi,' many over five hundred years old?"

"But there are cultivators far stronger than you nearby, so you dare not get too close—only pluck one and flee?"

After communicating with the treasure-hunting rat through his life tablet, Fang Xing made his decision: "Then let's take a slight detour and go take a look."

Upon his words, the four Foundation Establishment female cultivators voiced no objection.

After all, they knew their smooth and bountiful journey through Linlang Linlang Fudi was entirely thanks to this late-stage Jin Dan cultivator, 'Feng Shangren'!

To be honest, the Meng sisters had long suspected the true identity of Feng Shangren.

Had this not been Linlang Linlang Fudi, they might have guessed this was a Nascent Soul True Lord playing a prank on them!

But seeing through without speaking out—cultivators are mostly clever.

Even now, Song Song Ningjing and Die Rui Lady still addressed him as 'Feng Fang Dao You'—both are wise ones.

Fang Xing shifted his thoughts, and the flying carriage instantly turned, then ordered the treasure-hunting rat to lead the way toward the 'Zhi Fang.'

'Five-hundred-year Lingsui Zhi is the perfect main ingredient for making 'Lingzhi Dan'… if the age is high enough, it can aid Foundation Establishment mid-stage and even late-stage cultivation… Perfect—we'll take them all.'

Fang Xing's eyes narrowed slightly; barely five hundred li had passed when a swift aura of cultivation rushed toward them.

"That rat! It stole a thousand-year King Zhi!"

From within the aura, a delighted voice rang out, followed by a sharp claw artifact crashing down to seize the treasure-hunting rat.

"Squeak!"

The treasure-hunting rat, being a third-rank great demon beast, rapidly swelled in size; its countless yellow hairs bristled upward, transforming into countless earth spikes that rained down like a storm, clattering against the claw artifact.

Amidst the surging demonic aura, a yellowish-brown fingernail flickered in and out of view.

This was the treasure-hunting rat's refined, shed fingernail—a unique, one-time-use treasure.

Shh!

The yellowish-brown fingernail shot like a yellow arrow, instantly piercing the aura, followed by a muffled groan: "Damn it… I'm Master Qiao Master Qiao Wanglong of the Master Qiao family! Do you Mengs dare oppose us Qiaos? You wait…!"

"Master Qiao Master Qiao Wanglong?"

Meng Meng Xingtong gasped: "He's the favorite nephew of the Master Qiao family patriarch—condensed his Superior True Dan before turning a hundred, destined for late-stage Foundation Establishment!"

"If he's here, the rest of the Master Qiao clan must be nearby too—along with Wu Xin Tongzi…"

Meng Meng Xingyu grew anxious: "The Master Qiao family, leveraging their marital ties to our Meng family, has been secretly swallowing our assets. With new backing, they'll surely stir up trouble now…"

Here she fell silent, staring at Fang Xing.

With this late-stage Jin Dan cultivator present, the Meng family wouldn't be the ones suffering.

"This journey into Linlang Linlang Fudi, you sisters have worked hard and faithfully. How about I help you out—kill every last Master Qiao person here, then we part ways?"

Fang Xing smiled faintly.

He intended to explore Shenying Cliff, where even late-stage True Dan cultivators dared not enter lightly.

Dragging four early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators along was truly a hindrance.

Better to part ways here—let the four women head north to seek their own desired items.

"As you wish, Daoist."

Though Meng Meng Xingtong was reluctant to let go of this lifeline, she felt relieved upon hearing Fang Xing asked for nothing else; Die Rui Lady's expression, meanwhile, carried a hint of disappointment.

"I…"

Die Rui Lady bit her lip, about to propose continuing to follow Fang Xing.

She had realized—this 'Feng Shangren' was utterly unfathomable, perhaps her greatest opportunity of this journey.

Fang Xing said nothing; he gazed toward the horizon, where several cultivation auras were racing toward them.

Leading them was a childlike figure, his aura reaching late-stage Foundation Establishment, his cultivation technique exquisite—it was Wu Xin Tongzi!

"Hehe… Wherever one goes, one meets old acquaintances."

Wu Xin Tongzi's spiritual sense locked firmly onto Fang Xing and the four others, a mocking smile spreading across his face.

Soon after, the Master Qiao patriarch arrived with Master Qiao Master Qiao Wanglong and two other Foundation Establishment cultivators, standing behind Wu Xin Tongzi.

Seeing the Meng sisters, he immediately roared: "Wretched women! How dare you harm our Master Qiao family members!"

At these words, the Meng sisters' faces darkened—they knew the Master Qiao family had finally dropped its pretense, revealing its ambition to devour the Meng family.

In truth, had the sisters not cultivated a special scripture granting advantage to Foundation Establishment, and thus both condensed True Dan, the Master Qiao family would have struck long ago.

"Filthy scum! You hurt my spiritual pet—I'll slaughter your entire family… Wait, no, damn it."

Fang Xing spat. The phrase felt like a cliché from ancient novels—bad omen. He quickly switched tactics:

"Heavenly treasures belong to the worthy. My spiritual pet acquired this treasure, yet you pursue and blame us? You're unworthy to call yourselves righteous cultivators! Today, I shall act as Heaven's justice!"

Fang Xing waved his hand—five sword shadows appeared, charged with the power of sword intent and heavenly heart, instantly exploding.

Blinding sword light struck the four Master Qiao cultivators in an instant.

Whether the Master Qiao patriarch, mid-stage Foundation Establishment, or Master Qiao Master Qiao Wanglong, early-stage—every defensive artifact shattered, a crimson dot appeared on their foreheads, and they collapsed as corpses.

Only Wu Xin Tongzi shrieked, his body exploding into fragments, leaving behind a doll pierced through the chest; his form reappeared hundreds of zhang away, staring at Fang Xing with lingering terror: "You… you're not Feng Shangren! Feng Shangren couldn't possibly be a late-stage Jin Dan swordsman!"

What Fang Xing had just revealed was the combat power of a late-stage Jin Dan swordsman!

Late-stage Jin Dan cultivators already crushed ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators; if they were also famed swordsmen, their lethality was terrifying.

In other words, had Fang Xing desired it, Fu Fu Hongyi's position as 'Blood Sword Son' would have been unstable—Zhengdao Wuzi would have to be reorganized!

Even the position of 'Righteousness Son' might have been toppled!

Such was the might of a late-stage Jin Dan swordsman!

"I've secretly studied sword Dao—isn't that perfectly reasonable?"

Fang Xing merged with his sword, becoming a streak of swordlight, his speed surging—he caught up to Wu Xin Tongzi's strange evasion technique in an instant.

"Elder, spare me! I'll offer you…"

Wu Xin Tongzi shrieked, frantically activating defensive talismans and artifacts.

A black light barrier formed a shield, covering all his vital points.

But Fang Xing merely flicked his sleeve—swordlight descended, piercing through all layers of defense.

Then… Wu Xin Tongzi became a corpse riddled with holes, falling from midair.

A swordlight swept out, retrieving his storage bag: "Fool. Kill you, and everything becomes mine."

Fang Xing returned and took the storage bags of the four Master Qiao Foundation Establishment cultivators, discovering numerous 'Lingsui Zhi' and other spiritual herbs within.

"The Master Qiao family was thoughtful—already cleared the Zhi for us."

Fang Xing smiled at the four women and tossed them several unremarkable artifacts: "This matter is settled—we part ways here."

He glanced at Die Rui Lady, who seemed about to speak, then raised his hand—another pill, taken from the Master Qiao patriarch's storage bag, flew into her palm: "This 'Tianyin Dan' is suited for female Foundation Establishment cultivators seeking breakthrough. I give it to you."

In truth, the Master Qiao patriarch's storage bag also held a 'Duoming Pochang Dan'—but its value was too high; even if Fang Xing couldn't use it, he could exchange it for many rare resources.

This 'Tianyin Dan,' however, was unclear in origin—whether auctioned, stolen, or unearthed from a relic.

Since it was only usable by female cultivators, Fang Xing casually gifted it away.

"Tianyin Dan?"

Die Rui Lady's face lit up with joy—this pill was precisely what she needed to break into mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

"Congratulations, sister…"

The Meng sisters offered sincere congratulations; their own cultivation was yin-natured, requiring 'Jieli Qinlong Cao' to balance—this Tianyin Dan was unsuitable for them.

Song Song Ningjing was a swordsman; she believed that with so many resources, decades of diligent cultivation would let her sword break through her mid-stage bottleneck—she had no desire for it.

Had it been the 'Duoming Pochang Dan,' she might have entertained some thoughts of her own.

"Enough. We part ways here."

Fang Xing waved his hand, becoming a streak of swordlight, shooting straight toward Shenying Cliff.

"This man…"

Meng Meng Xingtong watched Fang Xing's swordlight vanish completely beyond the horizon, her gaze unreadable.

"This Feng Shangren… is quite an interesting man…"

Meng Meng Xingyu, seeing Fang Xing depart, grew noticeably livelier: "Every time he meets an enemy, he grows stronger… In the desert, he became late-stage Foundation Establishment; in the cavern, after facing the Hua family's three monsters, he became a Jin Dan cultivator; today, he's a Jin Dan swordsman… Do you think next time he meets an enemy, he'll become a Nascent Soul True Lord?"

"A late-stage Jin Dan great swordsman… There isn't one in all of Da Jing. Could he… be from Si Tian Gu Jian Sect? No—even Si Tian Gu Jian Sect doesn't have one, or Fu Fu Hongyi wouldn't be 'Blood Sword Son'…"

Song Song Ningjing's eyes burned with heat—if she'd known he was a late-stage Jin Dan great swordsman, she would have seized the chance to debate sword Dao with him!

"Could he… be an outsider?"

At this thought, the four women exchanged glances, sharing a quiet understanding.

…

Somewhere in the Linlang Fudi.

With a scream, a Foundation Establishment hermit turned to ash in a strange flame: "Tian Tian Chen Zi… I'll haunt you even in death!"

"Hehe… Those killed by this 'Mie Hun Mo Yan' are truly obliterated—no chance of reincarnation. How will you seek revenge, old man?"

The Daoist Tian Tian Chen Zi swept his dust whisk, exuding an aura of celestial grace—yet his eyes carried a taint of malice.

Around him lay a ruined palace, the bodies of numerous Cultivator Alliance members scattered everywhere.

He looked toward the center and saw a strange, pitch-black demonic flame burning fiercely.

Within the demonic flame was a young man with a face as pale as gold, clad in a black robe.

It was none other than Yuzhenzi of Zi Yang Sect!