Chapter 585: Deliberation

"Hehe… does Green Water Wang even need to be sent?"

Fang Xing chuckled softly, gathering his cultivation energy into a green snake that slithered through the room.

"Seventh Layer of Qi Sensing?!"

Song Yunqian wasn't Yin Shou—she couldn't comprehend anything too profound, so Fang Xing could only display his strength: "Our Poisonous Dragon Hill now has two Qi Sensing Posterior Realm experts; crushing Green Water Wang is as easy as flipping your palm…"

"This… Uncle Fang…" Song Yunqian smiled bitterly: "Then what do you want?"

Fang Xing's gaze flickered—he knew that after giving birth, Song Yunqian had likely sided with the Fei family.

And indeed, the Fei family's current situation looked dire.

The matter of Poisonous Dragon Hill must be discussed collectively by our families.

He smiled, offering no clear answer.

This was both a test for the Fei family and a warning to the Yin family.

Wanting Poisonous Dragon Hill to be the first to step forward? How simple-minded! At the very least, the benefits offered must be sufficient!

…

Inside the quiet chamber.

Fang Xing glanced around and saw Tie Luo Sanren seated at the deputy's seat, followed by Hu Liuniang, Song Yunqian, and Lu Feng; he sighed inwardly: 'Of the Five Families of Dongfeng, only four remain now…'

Lin Xu was said to come from a respectable background, but he never mentioned his family.

After arriving at Dongfeng, he suddenly developed the desire to expand his lineage.

Alas… he died outside before taking much action, leaving no bloodline disciples—his line ended with him.

Of the Five Cloud Companions, two are now gone, but Lu Feng has taken Old Lu's place, giving a faint sense of generational transition.

"That's the situation… What do you think? Should Poisonous Dragon Hill preserve itself—or act? If we act, should we aid the Yin family or the Fei family?"

Fang Xing briefly explained the matter, then leaned back, closing his eyes to rest.

He would never manage affairs himself—he must let his subordinates gain experience.

"I think… the Fei family once drained us bone and marrow, and now they want to recruit us again? How could that be so easy?"

Lu Feng's face twisted with ruthlessness: "Why not cut the roots and exterminate the Fei family outright? Besides, we'd gain their countless treasures… Given time, one of us might even reach Dao Foundation!"

At these words, Tie Luo Sanren's eyes flickered—but remembering his injuries, the spark faded instantly: "Destroying the Fei family sounds easy… but if Qingmu Ridge unleashes its Thunderous Wrath, how do we respond? Don't pretend to blame it on rogue cultivators—no one's a fool. Last time, those sect disciples simply didn't want the trouble. But if the Fei family is wiped out, it's a slap in the face—Qingmu Ridge will pursue it to the end, and other Dao Foundation families, seeing their neighbor fall, will surely act too…"

Tie Luo Sanren sighed as he spoke.

How terrifying is a Dao Foundation family's centuries-old web?

Not only can it speak with influence within Qingmu Ridge, but it may also hold power among other Dao Foundation families!

That is family heritage!

"Correct—we should aid the Fei family! Fei Yong, Yunqian's son, though young, is clever; he may achieve great things one day."

Song Yunqian said.

Fang Xing turned to Hu Liuniang.

Hu Liuniang clenched her teeth: "I am lacking in insight. After you all decide, just tell me the outcome—I will carry it out faithfully…"

Seeing this, Fang Xing smiled: "So it seems you've all decided—at least Poisonous Dragon Hill must act, join this murky water. But which side to support remains uncertain?"

"Exactly. This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. Miss it, and who knows how many years will pass before another arises?"

Tie Luo Sanren nodded: "Perhaps after this, Poisonous Dragon Hill will gain the heritage of a Dao Foundation family…"

This didn't mean any Dao Foundation combat power as a hidden card—but rather profound techniques, even experience in breaking through to Dao Foundation…

Don't underestimate these. Ordinary rogue cultivators struggle their whole lives and may never encounter such an opportunity.

Even just fully understanding them could allow one to found a sect—establishing a small sect would be no problem.

"If so, let's contact both sides and wait for the best offer."

Fang Xing said: "I set a deadline—within two days, we must have a result… and once decided, we act with full force!"

"Yes!"

Tie Luo Sanren, Lu Feng, and the others solemnly replied.

After Fang Xing revealed his Qi Sensing Posterior Realm combat power, he had quietly become the core of this small group.

Previously, he'd relied on the Black Snake's borrowed authority; now, he earned genuine respect from each of them.

…

The Fei family mansion.

Fei Wu entered his study with a gloomy expression.

He bore fresh wounds, and a new cut marred his face.

"Hmph… what kind of thing is 'Flower-Picking Swarm'? Such a small band of rogue cultivators dares to target the Fei family now…" Feeling the lingering pain on his face and body, Fei Wu's heart ached.

Since the death of the Fei family's patriarch, everything had changed.

Not only did rogue cultivators keep coming, but even Qingmu Ridge, though temporarily preserving the Fei lineage, had made exorbitant demands.

I once resented how the divine power usurped the family lord's position… now I see he took the fire pit for me.

Fei Wu stared at Fei Shentong in the study.

Fei Shentong was writing a letter; the new family lord's back was slightly bent, and streaks of gray showed in his hair.

Fei Shentong had once been the Fei family's most handsome man, but since becoming lord, his spine had visibly curved.

"My lord."

Fei Wu bowed, suddenly feeling a chill along his back.

Then, with a sidelong glance, he caught sight—by candlelight—of something placed in each corner of the room…

"Paper dolls?"

Every single one was identical in form and content!

Fei Wu was slightly startled: "My lord, origami arts are heretical. Though Qingmu Ridge doesn't forbid them, practicing origami… it shortens your lifespan."

Fei Shentong finished the letter, folded it into a paper crane, and blew gently.

The crane instantly became lively, flapping its wings, hovering midair, nodding to Fei Shentong, then flying out.

"I know… but our family is in turmoil. Since the patriarch's death, Uncle Eight, Uncle Sixteen, and Uncle Nineteen have all fallen in battle… our Qi Sensing Posterior Realm combat strength is depleted."

Fei Shentong shook his head, then took out a blood-soaked paper and began folding: "This origami art is profoundly mysterious. For ordinary people or low-level cultivators, even if they exhaust themselves, they can't make powerful paper dolls. But for me, a Qi Sensing Posterior Realm cultivator, if I sacrifice my blood and lifespan—spending years or even decades of life—I can create a Qi Sensing Posterior Realm paper puppet… Don't worry, I know the stakes…"

Fei Wu studied him closely and saw that though Fei Shentong looked weary, his losses weren't severe—he was still young—so he relaxed: "Poisonous Dragon Hill is still probing… demanding more from us. How should we respond?"

"Now that external enemies have retreated, internal threats are the urgent crisis."

Fei Shentong said: "According to the patriarch's plan, we were to slowly swallow the five families, absorbing their flesh and blood… but this upheaval is too great—many plans must change. Best to let them destroy each other. Song Yunqian's husband, though a direct family member, died fighting for us—his loyalty is admirable. Fei Yong should be nurtured carefully; if he achieves cultivation later, he may be named heir."

"Thus, the remnants of Fei Cai's faction will surely submit wholeheartedly, and Song Yunqian will become utterly loyal to the family."

Fei Wu was delighted, his heart chilled: 'No wonder I couldn't outmaneuver Shentong—his tactics and cunning are far beyond mine…'

"Even if Song Yunqian gives her all, she's still an outsider by marriage. To move Poisonous Dragon Hill, we must offer what they desire. I hear Fang Xing just broke through to Seventh Layer of Qi Sensing? At his age, he might even strive for Dao Foundation—he must crave Dao Foundation scriptures. Go to him and say: if you aid our family, I'll offer three sets of Dao Foundation breakthrough experience, and later, a recommendation to Qingmu Ridge for one person from Poisonous Dragon Hill…"

Fei Shentong said.

"What? That's too much…" Fei Wu didn't know what to say.

"Hehe, personal interests sometimes conflict with family and collective interests. Take Fang Xing—he's a hardworking cultivator, utterly focused on breaking through to Dao Foundation. Dao Foundation experience is what he craves. For us, it's merely copying a document—nine parts true, one part false? No, even ten parts true, just remove a few key passages, enough to trap him in his own web!"

Fei Shentong sighed again: "And in exchange, we can make him abandon demanding other benefits—like farmland or territorial revenue… these are what our family needs most now. We can't afford to lose any more people…"

Hearing this, Fei Wu glanced at the nearby paper dolls and fell silent.

"Also… Yin Shou, that old man who refuses to die, is a thief!"

Fei Shentong gritted his teeth: "We must recuperate, but we can't let the outside world see us as a soft target. Yin Shou must be eliminated—to set an example!"

"Not only that—we must destroy the Yin family too."

Fei Wu gritted his teeth as well.

Though those rogue cultivators had struck swiftly and then deliberately leaked information to draw in pawns,

only these few witnesses had seen the Fei patriarch die at Burial Ground.

After slight elimination, suspects could be identified.

Even a mere suspicion was enough for the Fei family to act.

Fang Xing, however, operated alone—so even the Five Families of Dongfeng knew nothing of him, leaving no trace.

Even the Fei family believed their Dragon King Ginseng had been stolen by the Yin family in collusion with rogue cultivators…

"If we spread the rumor that the Dragon King Ginseng is in the Yin family's possession…"

Fei Wu ventured: "We could destroy them effortlessly."

"No. The Dragon King Ginseng is our family's heritage. If we lose it, what will we trade for Dao Foundation spiritual items?"

Fei Shentong said: "This time, I will personally kill Yin Shou!"

"No wonder you're crafting so many paper dolls."

Fei Wu understood: "So it's to ensure absolute success!"

(End of Chapter)