Chapter 611: Eat the Entire Household

"Hm? This specification..."

Fang Xing stared at the blood-red altar, a thought stirring in his mind: "It seems to be a variant of the Paper Man Curse—'Blood Soul Curse.'"

"You sneaky Fei Changnong, I thought after all these years together, even if you were just pretending to be my friend, there'd be a shred of friendship—but you actually cursed me to death?"

As for that piece of beast hide, it was clearly his old possession, carrying a trace of Fang Xing's aura.

After so many years of interaction, Fei Changnong had once had disciples serving in Qingyu Garden; obtaining such an item was simple.

"Clearly, Fei Changnong saw I was still alive and couldn't wait?"

"This Blood Soul Curse, it's said to curse one's lifespan... probably in his eyes, my lifespan was already like a candle in the wind, barely holding on, so a slight curse would kill me?"

"Then the cost would be minimal."

Fang Xing recalled what he knew about the 'Blood Soul Curse' and silently chuckled: "This curse seems even packaged—its initial cost and backlash are tiny; the backlash won't strike until the ritual succeeds or fails?"

"Fei Changnong got tricked, after all, he's not from a proper demonic lineage..."

In truth, the Origami sect's curse techniques are best used only after reaching the Yin Spirit True Person stage, when one crafts a Spirit-Paper Dwelling Heaven, or even merges Yin Spirit with the Dwelling Heaven.

At that point, the Origami sect's Yin Spirit True Person, fused with the Dwelling Heaven, can convert yang lifespan into yin lifespan—extending life by at least several centuries!

That's not even the limit!

Yin Spirits from beyond the world truly envy the Earth Deities of the Zhou Shenchao, for they too are appointed by the spiritual essences of cultivators, and convert yang lifespan into yin lifespan with the highest efficiency—extending life by at least five to six times!

Moreover, the side effects of becoming an Earth Deity are far milder than the Yin Spirit True Person abandoning the physical body and merging with a Paper Dwelling Heaven!

"But regardless, Fei Changnong used this curse against me?"

"He truly intended to eat my entire household."

"But now, it's my turn to eat his."

Fang Xing watched coldly as Fei Changnong performed the ritual, several steps clearly flawed, filling him with a sense of unbearable, almost painful incompetence.

"Heavenly spirit, earthly spirit... blood sacrifice summons all living beings..."

"First sacrifice to the Blood Sea General of the Nine Heavens, second to the Soul-Eating Essence of the Three Mountains, third to the Great Blood Origin True Lord..."

"Spirits of the Four Directions, heed my command—steal this man's heart, summon demons from the Three Mountains and Four Seas, claim this man's vital spirit..."

Fei Changnong, hair disheveled, stepped the Nine Stars and Seven Dipper pattern.

After completing the entire ritual, he bit his tongue, spitting a mist of blood toward the altar.

On the altar, the corner of the beast hide suddenly rose, faintly forming the shape of a paper man.

The blood mist transformed into a tiny arrow, shaped like a dragon or serpent, piercing straight toward the paper man!

Puff!

The next instant, the paper man seemed to grin with a sinister smile, unleashing a terrifying rebound force.

The blood-tipped arrow instantly rebounded, striking Fei Changnong's face.

"Ah!"

He screamed, blood streaming from his eyes: "Rebound?!"

"How is this possible? We're both Foundation Establishment—why is the backlash so violent from the very start?"

Fei Changnong felt injustice, utterly unwilling to accept it.

The next instant, he saw his face wrinkle deeply, his white hair beginning to fall out.

"No! My lifespan!"

For a cultivator already fallen into demonic ways, watching one's lifespan vanish before one's eyes was a torment worse than any punishment!

"I..."

He screamed continuously, trying to cast another spell, even trembling as he opened several flying-squirrel pouches.

Too late—he had aged decades in an instant, his life's end had come; under the Five Decays of Heaven and Earth, even his cultivation energy had dwindled to near nothing.

"No!"

In the end, Fei Changnong crawled a few steps, still far from the flying-squirrel pouch containing the spiritual pills, and collapsed, unwilling to die.

He died of old age!

"Evil deeds bring their own retribution."

"But still, you did die a natural death, didn't you?"

A green jade beetle crawled onto the table, its spiritual sense probing the flying-squirrel pouch, finding a pill heavy with the stench of blood.

"Zi He Pill?"

"Fei Changnong was truly insane—but such a spiritual pill, while it can extend life for mortals, and even grant a year or two to a Qi Sensing cultivator, is worth only a few days to a Foundation Establishment cultivator..."

"And the pill's toxins and accumulated hatred are excessive—cultivating it actually damages one's own primordial energy, not worth the cost."

Though Fang Xing had eaten Fei Changnong's entire household, he now felt a touch of disgust.

He looked left and right, then simply packed a flying-squirrel pouch full of texts, took the beast hide bearing his own aura, and vanished.

Several days later.

Fei Changnong's cave dwelling had been turned into a funeral hall.

His disciples gathered, the atmosphere not sorrowful but tense, edged with hostility.

"Master clearly said I was his true heir."

The young disciple previously possessed by Fang Xing cried bitterly: "You're taking advantage of his death—disgusting!"

"Nonsense, Master had great hopes for me, entrusted me with great responsibilities."

Another older disciple sneered.

The remaining disciples exchanged glances, yet all insisted they alone were Fei Changnong's true successor!

In short, whoever got the biggest share of the inheritance!

This was Fang Xing's fault—he'd only taken a few texts, leaving Fei Changnong's estate incredibly rich.

That's why Fei Changnong's disciples were now fighting tooth and nail.

"Cough... Is this how you conduct yourselves? Do you want Master Fei to rest in peace no longer?"

Fang Xing coughed, stepped into the center of the funeral hall, and respectfully lit an incense stick for Fei Changnong, then burned a few paper money offerings.

"Brother Fei... you died so... terribly!"

Fang Xing spoke with genuine emotion; the surrounding cultivators nodded in approval:

"Though Fang Xing has always been aloof, he was said to have been close to Brother Fei—apparently, it's true..."

One Foundation Establishment cultivator whispered secretly.

"Hmph, I think this was just Fei Changnong's rumor, meant to eat Brother Fang's household—but fate played a trick. Who knows who'll end up with Fei Changnong's wealth?"

Another sneered, clearly harboring a grudge against Fei Changnong.

At that moment, several beams of light descended.

Fang Xing looked over and saw the new head of the Shen Nong Hall, 'Master Min,' along with several cultivators from the Reward Good, Punish Evil Hall.

The previous head of the Shen Nong Hall had died during the Blood Shadow Sect's invasion; now replaced by Master Min, also a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"All of you, these enforcement cultivators are here to ask questions—begin."

Master Min scanned the room, primarily suppressing those cultivators who had been close to Fei Changnong.

Even Fang Xing was among them!

Most cultivators who had been close to Fei Changnong were in the Shen Nong Hall.

Thus, Master Min, as their direct superior, exerted immense pressure.

"Master, what's happened?"

As Fei Changnong's friend, Fang Xing naturally had to ask.

"Wait, Brother Fang—the sect's enforcement cultivators will give the answer soon." Master Min's expression was grim.

Then a cultivation enforcement officer in a green robe, black stripes on the sleeves, stepped before one of Fei Changnong's disciples: "Li Chengfeng... are you involved in the massacre of the Zhang family at Nanyuankou?"

"No!"

Li Chengfeng immediately shook his head.

But Fang Xing sensed a pseudo-spiritual power settle upon Li Chengfeng.

Li Chengfeng's face twisted in terror, yet his mouth spoke involuntarily: "It was Master's order—I was to exterminate Master Hong's family... I was just obeying..."

"What?"

The cultivators in the funeral hall were stunned.

The enforcement officer turned to another of Fei Changnong's disciples: "Huang Chenglong... did you personally kill hundreds of innocent civilian women to forge the 'Zi He Pill'?"

"Master Fei ordered me to do it."

Huang Chenglong collapsed to the ground: "He promised me... after it was done, I'd inherit his legacy..."

Watching these scenes, even Fang Xing couldn't help but shake his head.

"Investigation confirms... Fei Changnong fell into demonic ways, assassinated Fei Hongzi, orchestrated multiple massacres... equivalent to treason. His dwelling sealed; all disciples detained in the Reward Good, Punish Evil Hall for trial."

Several enforcement officers pulled out a command arrow, then hurled a black iron chain, linking Fei Changnong's disciples one by one.

These disciples, moments ago as fierce as fighting roosters over the inheritance, now cowered like quails, drained of all strength, like walking corpses.

"Alas... Brother Fei made one fatal misstep; even if all the iron of the Outer Realm were melted, it could not forge this error... you must take heed."

Master Min barked: "This funeral is over—go, all of you."

He dismissed the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, then added: "Brother Fang, stay behind."

"Master Min."

Fang Xing was curious—had Qingmu Ridge discovered something?

But if that's the case, sending only one Daoji Posterior Realm cultivator—isn't that a bit overconfident?

To capture him, wouldn't at least Qingmu the Old Ghost need to take personal charge?

And even whether he can be captured remains uncertain.

If he escapes back to Qingyu Garden, it will be an immediate catastrophe!

Or perhaps they merely discovered his Yinshen True Person cultivation? Then at the very least, Qingyu Zi must personally intervene to ensure safety!

"I have already applied to the sect to promote you, Brother Fang, to Deputy Head of the Shennong Hall."

Master Min smiled: "I know you prefer solitude, but the sect currently has precious few usable cultivators, and the Shennong Hall is especially dire—I hope you won't refuse."

Fang Xing thought for a moment, and immediately understood.

Indeed, there are few Daoji cultivators left in Qingmu Ridge.

Even after the sect opened its vaults and urgently promoted a batch of Daoji cultivators, all of them remain at Daoji Initial Realm.

To become Deputy Head of the Shennong Hall, one must at least be Daoji Mid Realm—otherwise, how could one command respect?

As for seniority, as for cultivation…

In the current Shennong Hall, he had somehow reached the point of "none but me"?

"Sigh… this is all Fei Changnong's fault. If he hadn't killed Feihongzi, Feihongzi would have been ahead of me. But now… I've outlived so many ahead of me—I'm now an elder of the Shennong Hall…"

Fang Xing thought for a moment, then smiled warmly: "I'm happy to assist Brother!"

"Hah! Good!"

Master Min was overjoyed. Though Fang Xing wasn't from his faction, his combat power was astonishing, and he cultivated the Origami Art—his lifespan was doomed to be short.

Crucially, his seniority was solid—perfect for filling the position!

Once his preferred candidate advanced to Daoji Mid Realm, he would naturally make other arrangements.

Besides, this wasn't unfair to the other party—at least he'd receive the Deputy Head's benefits.

For Fang Xing, Qingyu Garden was now fully planted with Changqing Trees, and he was at a loss for how to expand.

As Deputy Head of the Shennong Hall, assigning planting duties was a natural right and responsibility.

"So this is… reaping the benefits of Fei Changnong's extermination?"

A thought suddenly arose in Fang Xing's mind.