Chapter 580: Shanyin Xie

But Qingmu Ridge is a righteous sect—its subordinate forces must still mind their manners...

Even if the Fei family wants to swallow Poison Dragon Slope, they must proceed slowly; otherwise, their reputation is ruined...

And they need sufficient justification, an excuse...

For example... what if the cultivators of Poison Dragon Slope were all slaughtered by bandits? Then let Xiao Cui or Song Yunyun's child take over?

Could this also be one reason the Fei family is willing to arrange a marriage?

This is truly terrifying—I'll just keep planting trees...

Fang Xing took his leave from Song Yunqian; the woman had just married off her daughter and was clearly in low spirits.

Several months later.

Amid a thousand mu of bamboo grove, Fang Xing arrived at the wine cellar and retrieved a bottle of fruit wine.

Ever since he'd tasted monkey wine, he'd become fascinated with all kinds of fruit brews and made many attempts.

After acquiring a special spirit wine yeast, he had successfully fermented healing berries into a liquor with mild curative properties.

But the effect had become peculiar—no longer instant healing, but slow repair of bodily injuries, especially beneficial for hidden wounds.

Iron Luo the Hermit had nearly died back then; he barely retained his Qi Gathering sixth-layer cultivation thanks to drinking this wine.

"Today's autumn dew calls for 'Mulberry Brew'!"

Fang Xing pulled out a jar of liquor; its liquid shimmered like amethyst, brewed from mulberry fruit.

He poured himself a cup and sipped slowly.

Suddenly.

His natural perception drew his gaze to a spot: "Hu Liuniang... why are you here today?"

A beautiful woman emerged from the bamboo grove—it was Hu Liuniang.

Though still radiant in appearance, her brow carried a trace of weariness.

"Fang Daoist..."

Hu Liuniang smiled sweetly, took Fang Xing's cup without hesitation, drank from it, then stared intently at his face: "I often buy 'Youth-Preserving Pills,' but their effect keeps fading. How do you maintain your youth? Have you been using 'Blood River Youth-Preserving Pills'?"

The Blood River Youth-Preserving Pill was a popular formula among the Corpse Manipulation Sect, requiring the essence of sixteen-year-old girls as its main ingredient; one pill could preserve youth for ten years and was wildly popular.

Any old hag from the Corpse Manipulation Sect who still looked youthful at seventy or eighty likely used this pill.

"How could I use such a demonic pill? Probably because my Qingmu Cultivation is a health-preserving art—it naturally slows aging, and when combined with Youth-Preserving Pills, the effect is better."

Fang Xing shook his head.

This was a pretext he'd long prepared—and it was true.

Among righteous sects, cultivators who practice health-preserving or specialized arts, or who advance rapidly, simply never age as fast as their bodies decay.

"I see..."

Hu Liuniang seemed convinced—or perhaps not.

"Haha... what brings you here, Sixiang?"

Fang Xing laughed it off, smoothly deflecting.

"Can't I visit you unless I have a reason? You heartless man..."

Hu Liuniang feigned a light scolding, but seeing Fang Xing unmoved, she continued: "Yunyun is a good girl—she brought word during her visit home that the former Fei family head, Fei Tianbao, likely failed to forge his Dao Foundation and perished."

"Qi Gathering ninth-layer, Dao Foundation third-rank... even seeking a low-rank Dao Foundation is harder than climbing to heaven..."

Fang Xing sighed, then asked curiously: "Can't the Fei family exchange for Dao Foundation relics from Qingmu Ridge?"

"From what I guess, Dao Foundation relics vary—some increase success rate, others ensure survival. Fei Tianbao probably staked everything on one that boosted his chances the most."

Hu Liuniang said.

"So the Fei family has been severely weakened—our five families will face even harder times ahead..."

Fang Xing shook his head.

"Who suffers in Poison Dragon Slope? Our East Peak. What does it have to do with you, my enemy?" Hu Liuniang rolled her eyes, then grew grave: "Is your place... safe?"

"Naturally safe..."

Fang Xing sat upright: "What's wrong?"

"According to my brother's guess, the Fei family's Dao Foundation elder likely has little time left—otherwise, Fei Tianbao wouldn't have risked everything." Hu Liuniang leaned closer, her breath warm as orchid.

"Little time left?"

Fang Xing's eyes flickered—he knew exactly who she meant.

Only the Fei family's Dao Foundation ancestor could make Hu Liuniang speak so solemnly: "How old is he? Any proof?"

"No proof, only speculation..." Hu Liuniang said. "Outside the top ten orthodox and demonic sects, nearly all Dao Foundation cultivators are low-rank, with only two hundred years of life. The Fei elder has been active for one hundred and eighty years..."

"So... only twenty to thirty years left?"

Fang Xing was speechless: "If he finds a way to extend his life, who knows?"

"Extending a Dao Foundation cultivator's life differs entirely from mortals or Qi Gathering cultivators—unless it's the Zhou Shenchao, it's nearly impossible..." Hu Liuniang sighed softly.

Fang Xing now understood—these outlying cultivators felt both love and hatred toward the Zhou Shenchao, mixed with an unspoken inferiority and awe.

"Moreover, rumors say the Fei elder suffered grave injuries long ago, damaging his foundational lifespan... and now with Fei Tianbao's desperate gamble, plus the exploitation of our five families..."

Hu Liuniang said: "The odds are high. We must be even more cautious."

"I understand."

Fang Xing replied solemnly.

If the guess was true, the Fei family should now be sparing no effort to cultivate a second Dao Foundation cultivator.

But if they failed again, no one could guarantee the Dao Foundation elder wouldn't go mad before death and eradicate all threats.

'Wait... if threats are the issue, my Qi Gathering sixth-layer should be beneath their notice—at least the White Bone Alliance draws more attention...'

'And if I stay hidden, let him come—then I'll bury him.'

With this thought, Fang Xing calmed again, turned to Hu Liuniang, and his expression grew playful: "Thank you for the warning, Sixiang—I have a few more flasks of fine wine here, with youth-preserving effects. I'll gift them to you..."

No error in a single word, a single line, a single detail!

Spring passed, autumn came.

The Qiao family caravan returned to Poison Dragon Slope.

"The world changes endlessly—who can truly understand it?"

Qiao Wuyong gazed at the bamboo shadows, deeply moved.

Once thriving, the Song family's Seven Righteous Ones had collapsed utterly within just a few years.

Yet Poison Dragon Slope, quietly and without fanfare, had helped Fei Cai ascend as head of the Fei family.

Not only that—they'd married a daughter into the Fei family's direct line.

The relationship was now entirely different.

He climbed Poison Dragon Slope and found Fang Xing and Old Lv waiting—surprised: "Daoist Lv, Daoist Fang... I'm honored that you both came out to greet me."

"Haha, Master Qiao, it's been a year—your vigor remains undiminished! Please, come in!"

Old Lv ushered Qiao Wuyong into the reception hall, as usual, feasting and drinking before serving fragrant tea to discuss business.

"Your Poison Dragon Slope's 'Poison Dragon Gall' harvest was bountiful this year, along with rare herbs... Brother, give me a fair price."

Old Lv played the victim while haggling.

Fang Xing watched with a smile.

At Old Lv's request, he had appeared to show he still maintained ties with the Floating Cloud Five Friends.

After all, the outside world had grown strangely turbulent.

Qiao Wuyong skillfully responded while using his spiritual sight to scan Fang Xing.

'Indeed... just as before—no flaws at all... clearly Qi Gathering sixth-layer...'

'But Qi Gathering's later stages grow harder—will this man break through to Qi Gathering ninth-layer before his sixty-year limit and attempt to forge a Dao Foundation?'

Forging a Dao Foundation marks a cultivator's transformation—if past sixty, qi and blood begin to decline, success plummets.

Qiao Wuyong himself wasn't certain he could make it.

His family's resources might get him to Qi Gathering ninth-layer before sixty, then he'd sell everything to buy one Dao Foundation relic—that's all.

This was already the dream of many cultivators.

'Earlier, Song's eldest disappeared, then was confirmed dead... perhaps he died at this man's hands...'

Qiao Wuyong knew Poison Dragon Slope's true strength: besides the black snake, there was Qi Gathering seventh-layer Fang Xing!

Thus, even though Iron Luo the Hermit had been confirmed to have regressed, Qiao Wuyong remained extremely courteous.

Especially when discussing bamboo paper and bamboo slat trade, he gave up even more profit.

In fact, he even dropped a piece of news:

"Do either of you know the Fei family is in conflict with Shanyin Xie?"

"Shanyin Xie?"

Old Lv blinked: "The Dao Foundation clan from the Corpse Manipulation Sect?"

"Precisely... reportedly over revenue sharing from Yunlai Market—they've clashed secretly several times already..."

Qiao Wuyong spoke casually: "Who knows if it escalates—will they mobilize their vassals for open war?"

At these words, the Floating Cloud Five Friends grew grim.

After Qiao Wuyong left, Old Lv's face darkened as he turned to his sworn siblings: "Per the Opening Edict, if the Fei family calls, we must pay tribute or send manpower... Given the Fei family's current nature, they'll demand people. If trouble comes this time, I and Third Brother will go. If it happens again, Fourth and Fifth Sisters. Second Brother has already given too much—if it happens again, Third Batch goes."

"Big Brother..." Iron Luo the Hermit was moved: "If trouble comes, take my Iron Luo Umbrella—it's still a magical artifact."

Fang Xing glanced at Tie Luo Sanren, who now looked gaunt compared to before, and he sighed inwardly.

"We understand…" Song Yunqian and Hu Liuniang both agreed, but Lin Xu still seemed somewhat resentful, though he said nothing.

After these people had left, Old Lv specifically escorted Fang Xing to the western slope; only when they parted did he speak: "You are the true foundation of Poison Dragon Slope, so when trouble arises, remember to protect yourself… Third Brother is the most cunning, but as long as I'm here, I can still hold him in check. All the families of Poison Dragon Slope will rely on you to look after them henceforth."

(End of Chapter)