Chapter 261: Bullying the Weak (Requesting Moon Tickets)

Several days later.

Northern Region, Spirit Herb Garden.

Meng sisters, Die Rui Lady, and Song Song Ningjing were jointly attacking a forbidden seal.

These four Foundation Establishment-level female cultivators now got along even better, bearing the warmth of sworn sisters.

Zing!

As Song Song Ningjing unleashed her final strike, the Autumn Water Sword became a sharp blade of light, cleaving into the golden seal.

Splash!

Countless golden fragments exploded outward; the seal that had shrouded this place vanished instantly.

"Sister Song's sword art has improved further."

Seeing this, Die Rui Lady smiled warmly.

"Sister, you flatter me…"

Song Song Ningjing knew this woman had an extraordinary connection with Feng Shangren and dared not be careless.

The Meng sisters, however, were focused on the spirit herbs; as soon as the seal dissolved, they flew in eagerly: "This is only a corner of the Northern Region's Spirit Herb Garden. Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators entered this garden with us. To avoid delays and complications, we must gather the herbs quickly…"

Beyond the seal, a biting chill struck their faces—it was an ice crystal waterfall!

"A hundred-year Cold Spring?"

Song Song Ningjing saw the waterfall flowing through the icy snowscape, her eyes brightening: "This water isn't ice, yet its frigid aura surpasses that of a thousand-year ice block… Perfect for refining my flying sword!"

The Meng sisters were also overjoyed: "This environment is ideal for the Nine Fiery Dragon-Catching Herb—it must be here…"

They had already scoured several other spots, acquiring some thousand-year herbs, but none of the coveted Nine Fiery Dragon-Catching Herb.

The four women immediately extended their spiritual senses, scanning every inch of land within several li.

"Here!"

Soon, Meng Meng Xingyu cried out joyfully and flew into the waterfall.

Inside the waterfall lay a cave.

Deep within the cave, beside a pool of cold spring water, grew several strange crimson spirit herbs.

Their roots were thick and fleshy, marked with nine crimson patterns resembling dragon shapes—precisely the Nine Fiery Dragon-Catching Herb!

"Hehe, congratulations to both of you—your cultivation technique can finally surge forward…"

Die Rui Lady grinned in congratulations.

She had interacted with the Meng sisters for years and knew they cultivated a unique mystery art. Though it aided Golden Core formation, after reaching Foundation Establishment, progress became extremely difficult, and they could not switch techniques—they had to walk this path to the end.

"This herb should be a thousand years old—more than sufficient."

Song Song Ningjing examined it, then nodded: "As previously agreed, myself and Die Rui sister will not participate further…"

"Thank you, sisters."

Meng Meng Xingtong was overjoyed, pulled out a jade box, harvested the Nine Fiery Dragon-Catching Herb, carefully stored it in her storage bag, and finally exhaled a long breath of relief.

Yet as the four women flew out of the waterfall, Song Song Ningjing's expression changed slightly; the Autumn Water Sword flashed into a blade of light and slashed at empty air.

"Hmm? You've got some wit…"

A cold chuckle echoed from midair, revealing a young man with crimson eyebrows and hair.

He stood with arms crossed, flicking a finger casually.

A fire dragon emerged, its power astonishing, as if capable of scorching heaven and earth.

In one clawed grasp, it shattered the sword light; overwhelming spiritual energy flooded all directions, exerting crushing pressure.

"Golden Core Late Stage?"

Song Song Ningjing gasped.

"It's Yan Yanzǐ!"

Seeing the young man, the Meng sisters felt their hearts plunge into the abyss, silently cursing:

'Why is this man, who should be roaming the Central Region, coming to the Northern Frontier to compete with us?'

'At least Yan Yanzǐ is a righteous cultivator. If we hand over all the herbs, he won't likely hunt us to death… My Meng family has had some ties with the Burning Heaven Valley.'

For ordinary cultivators, the difference between righteous and demonic sects was simple: righteous ones wanted money; demonic ones wanted money—and your life!

Yan Yanzǐ crushed the sword light, but inside he was furious.

This time, the Five Righteous Disciples had suffered a massive defeat—five against three, yet still lost Hunyuanzi.

After leaving, the cultivation world would spread rumors that this generation of righteous prodigies was worthless, pinning them firmly to the pillar of shame!

But… they simply couldn't win!

Especially Yu Yu Zhenzi, who had cultivated the Soul-Extinction Demon Flame—his art was the natural counter to righteous qi, making him the undisputed top Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The three righteous disciples could barely maintain a stalemate and barely secured the right to harvest the last Divine Nascent Soul Fruit.

That was how things were supposed to unfold…

But later, when Zheng Zheng Qi Zi was healing them, they received a shocking revelation.

'Feng Shangren' was a Nascent Soul Sword Monarch!

Not only that—he alone, with one sword, had slaughtered every demonic elite!

Even the four Divine Nascent Soul Fruits had been taken into his possession.

Zheng Zheng Qi Zi immediately decided: abandon the last Divine Nascent Soul Fruit and avoid this man's sharp edge.

Though 'Feng Shangren' appeared to side with the righteous by killing demonic cultivators, before the Divine Nascent Soul Fruits, even fellow sect brothers might draw their blades!

Given his willingness to kill several demonic Nascent Soul seeds without hesitation, he clearly wouldn't grant the righteous any respect.

Even he himself—if any righteous cultivator defied him—would surely be slaughtered without mercy.

Thus, the three righteous disciples parted ways: they abandoned the Divine Nascent Soul Fruit and instead scoured the Central Region for other spirit resources.

Result? An even more absurd scene unfolded!

That 'Feng Shangren' showed none of the dignity of a Nascent Soul elder—he was even fighting them over third-grade spirit herbs!

He was utterly beyond decency!

Outside the Sacred Ground, such bullying of juniors would have drawn a mob of Nascent Soul elders from both righteous and demonic sides!

But…

The three righteous disciples could only swallow their pride and traveled to the Four Regions to gather spirit resources, barely salvaging something.

Yet even this plan failed.

Yan Yanzǐ had just received word: the powerful body cultivator who had seized the Divine Nascent Soul Fruits was now ruthlessly sweeping up all spirit resources—especially spirit herbs!

He had already clashed with Zheng Zheng Qi Zi and Jin Gangzi; even the two of them together couldn't defeat him, and instead suffered a minor defeat…

Yan Yanzǐ, humiliated, chose the Northern Region because the Burning Heaven Valley's own techniques and pills were too fiery, requiring cold-natured herbs to balance them.

Given his current mood, any cultivator who stood in his way might be killed on the spot to vent his frustration.

But then, his spiritual sense noticed the Meng sisters—and the fire dragon paused.

'These are the Meng sisters from the intelligence reports… the ones who entered the Linyang Sacred Ground with that Nascent Soul monster…'

'Even if Feng Shangren is almost certainly dead—just an impostor—such a Nascent Soul elder's temper is unpredictable. If I harm his harem, he might hunt me down inside the secret realm…'

Even outside, Yan Yanzǐ wouldn't dare fully offend a Nascent Soul elder.

Unless he planned to stay in his sect his entire life, only leaving after forming his own Nascent Soul!

In the history of the Great Jing cultivation world, similar incidents had occurred.

Independent Nascent Soul True Juniors were like barefoot men—unafraid of those wearing shoes; neither righteous nor demonic sects dared provoke them.

After all, Nascent Soul True Juniors possessed exceptional escape skills—even if they lost, they could retaliate by slaughtering their enemies' disciples.

Thus, both righteous and demonic factions actively supported such independent Nascent Soul cultivators in establishing sects or families…

It was a mutual hold on each other's weak points, with unspoken rules and boundaries.

But now, this 'Feng Shangren' was unpredictable—and possibly not even from the Great Jing cultivation world. He must be handled with extreme caution!

"Enough… So it's you all. My apologies for the disturbance—I take my leave!"

Yan Yanzǐ forced a smile, then vanished in a streak of fire, disappearing into the horizon.

"Huh? I didn't expect Yan Yanzǐ to be such a model of righteousness… I thought he'd at least steal our herbs."

Die Rui Lady patted her ample chest, relieved to be alive.

The Meng sisters exchanged glances, utterly baffled: "The reports described Yan Yanzǐ as fiery-tempered—he's never been this reasonable…"

They didn't have intelligence networks on the level of the Five Righteous Disciples.

Moreover, these four Foundation Establishment women were all at the early stage—lowest on the food chain in the Linyang Sacred Ground.

When they occasionally encountered other Foundation Establishment cultivators, it was either immediate combat or distant evasion—little to no conversation.

Focused solely on hunting spirit resources in the Northern Region, they knew nothing of the events at Divine Nascent Soul Cliff—understandable.

…

In the blink of an eye, the Linyang Sacred Ground was about to close.

In a certain cave within the secret realm.

Fang Xing and his original body sat facing each other, smiling.

"This journey truly yielded abundant gains…"

Fang Xing sighed.

He alone had seized five of the most crucial Nascent Soul formation items!

Of course, one of them was taken by his original body, posing as an unknown powerful body cultivator—unknown to outsiders.

But even the four they knew about were an astonishing number.

At the same time, one could imagine how frantic the orthodox and demonic factions would be upon exiting.

"The safest option now is to teleport back to Lanxing… let them search for air…"

Fang Xing showed a faint smile, then a hint of hesitation.

Because according to the teleportation rules he had deduced for the Gates of All Realms, after he left, returning would teleport him back to the original location.

Therefore, if both the main body and the cultivation clone went to Lanxing, after the Linlang Linlang Fudi ended and they teleported back, they would still be inside the Linlang Fudi!

"But the Linlang Linlang Fudi opens only once every five hundred years; once closed, the cultivators inside would be in grave danger…"

"At least, there are no recorded cases of any cultivator surviving five hundred years trapped inside the cultivation realm…"

Five hundred years, with the resources of the Linlang Linlang Fudi, might even be enough to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

The orthodox and demonic factions only set up resource points here but never station cultivators to guard them—there must be a reason.

Fang Xing felt he could not take the risk.

Otherwise, if he became trapped inside the Linlang Linlang Fudi, he would be forever cut off from the vast cultivation world.

"Therefore, the safest course is for the main body to return to Lanxing with all the gains, while the cultivation clone stays behind; after being teleported out of the Linlang Linlang Fudi, it can adapt as needed…"

Fang Xing immediately took the storage bag filled with abundant gains into his hands.

After a brief pause, he waved his hand.

An ancient seven-stringed zither appeared, its end slightly charred.

"Spiritual Treasure—Jiao Wei Qin; if I could subdue it, my cultivation clone would possess two Spiritual Treasures, greatly increasing its combat power… but alas…"

The cultivation clone sent a strand of Nascent Soul energy into the Jiao Wei Qin, instantly sensing strong resistance.

This was the Jiao Wei Qin's sentience rejecting his subjugation!

This sensation was vastly different from the ease with which he had previously subjugated the Qing Yang Demon Lamp.