Chapter 30

In a flat area of the Xijiao Zoo,

accompanied by a tiger's roar, a huge white tiger, like a bolt of lightning, extended its two paws and fiercely swiped at Fang Ling.

Fang Ling, unarmed, remained unperturbed. At the moment the tiger's paws were about to land, he formed a sword with his fingers, and a four-foot-long air sword appeared in his hand.

The Light Splitting Sword Technique, Heavenward Slash!

This sword was as swift as lightning, outpacing the tiger's paws and directly aiming at the white tiger's neck.

Although the white tiger was reluctant, it still roared and changed the direction of its paws, fiercely slapping at Fang Ling's air sword.

"Bang!"

Fang Ling retreated seven steps, and the air sword condensed on his fingers developed dozens of cracks.

The white tiger did not pursue, but its large head revealed a mocking smile that seemed almost human.

Fang Ling understood the tiger's meaning: it was telling him that although his cultivation had advanced, he was still far from being able to subdue it.

Being ridiculed by a tiger, Fang Ling, while finding it amusing, also developed a competitive spirit. He laughed heartily and said, "Do you think that with my increased cultivation, I only have the ability to condense air into a weapon?"

As he spoke, Fang Ling pointed his finger, and five refined corpses suddenly appeared on the flat ground.

Indeed, there were five of them.

Breaking through to the fifth layer of Inner Qi, the greatest benefit for Fang Ling was that his mind could now control five refined corpses simultaneously.

The combined power of the five refined corpses was far more than just a simple one plus one!

Seeing these refined corpses, the white tiger's demeanor became more serious.

Fang Ling had fought the white tiger many times with these refined corpses in order to capture it in his Dusty Picture of Xijiao.

Although he always suffered a crushing defeat, he left a deep impression on the white tiger!

Before the refined corpses could begin their attack, the white tiger flapped its wings and flew into the air.

With the flapping of its wings, hundreds of pale blue wind arrows rained down on the five refined corpses like a storm.

Although the five refined corpses simultaneously assumed defensive postures, they were still hit, each with dozens of blood marks over a foot deep.

"Whoo!"

With a long howl, the white tiger, as if showing off, flew toward the monkey mountain.

Fang Ling looked at the five heavily injured refined corpses and smiled bitterly. He had originally thought that with these five refined corpses, he could match the white tiger, but the gap was far greater than he had imagined.

The white tiger's wind blades were not ordinary wind blades; otherwise, they would not have injured the refined corpses, which even the Shocking Rainbow Sword found hard to harm.

Performing a hand seal, Fang Ling stored the five refined corpses back into the coffin.

Fang Ling then walked into the leopard pack with his sword!

Three hours of practical training every day was Fang Ling's goal.

Although he had the Dusty Picture of Xijiao and the Black Yin Knife refined corpses, Fang Ling knew that while these external aids could be relied upon, the most fundamental thing was still his own strength.

With the fifth layer of Inner Qi activated, Fang Ling moved like a golden goose among the hundred leopards. Each of these five-foot-tall leopards had the strength of a third-layer Qi Practitioner, and their combined attack was astonishing.

At first, Fang Ling paid attention to his sword techniques, but eventually, his swordplay became instinctive.

Each sword strike would inevitably injure three attacking leopards.

Unconsciously, time passed, and Fang Ling, drenched in sweat, leaped out of the leopard pack and left this small space.

Sitting in a tub of hot water infused with medicinal herbs, Fang Ling's mind was still immersed in the training with the leopards. During these three hours, the leopards had nearly injured his vital points several times, and although he managed to dodge each time, he still had a dozen wounds on his body.

The wounds were not deep, but soaking in the hot water caused a bone-chilling pain.

Each wound gave Fang Ling a hint of his shortcomings.

He had already touched the threshold of the third layer of the Light Splitting Sword Technique, and what was missing was just that final push!

As the medicinal water gradually cooled, Fang Ling got out of the tub. The young man's body, though still slender, had gained a hint of ferocity.

"Master."

The skinny monkey had been waiting outside the courtyard for a long time. Seeing Fang Ling come out, he hurriedly bowed respectfully.

Fang Ling glanced at the skinny monkey and noticed a faint purple aura on his face. He smiled and said, "Dazhuang, you have a good talent for cultivation. In just a few days, you've already reached the first layer of the Purple Mist Technique."

"I must thank Master for your guidance," the skinny monkey said respectfully and joyfully. "Without Master's cultivation, where would I be today?"

Fang Ling smiled. His praise for the skinny monkey was partly genuine. In terms of talent, the skinny monkey was twice as strong as Fang Ling's body.

"We are not outsiders, so let's skip the formalities," Fang Ling said, waving his hand and sitting down casually. "Dazhuang, is there something you need to report?"

"Master, something has happened in Dingshang City recently," the skinny monkey, accustomed to Fang Ling's way of speaking, got straight to the point. "First, the eldest son of the Chen family, Chen Zhenghua, has gone missing. The Chen family has dispatched over a hundred people to search for him."

Chen Zhenghua's body had already become fertilizer in the Dusty Picture of Xijiao. Even with ten thousand people, they wouldn't find a trace of him.

Fang Ling nodded and, tapping his fingers, asked casually, "Where do you think this Master Chen Zhenghua has gone?"

"Master, I don't know. But there are many rumors in the city about where the eldest Master Chen has gone," the skinny monkey said with a teasing tone. "The most famous one is that Master Chen met a fox spirit that specializes in absorbing men's essence and was drained dry by it!"

Fang Ling, who had picked up a teacup to drink, almost spat out the water.

Such rumors really had a market!

"Anything else?" Fang Ling took a breath and asked.

"Some say that the eldest Master Chen was captured by a demon cultivator!" The skinny monkey, seeing Fang Ling's interest, became even more enthusiastic. "These two rumors are the most prevalent in our Dingshang City."

Although the speculations were different, the outcome was the same: a bad end. It seemed that this eldest Master Chen's character was truly terrible.

However, one shouldn't underestimate the wisdom of the people. Although they didn't guess the process correctly, they were close to the outcome.

"Anything else?" Fang Ling asked casually, not wanting to dwell on this matter.

The skinny monkey's expression became more serious. "Master, the Chen family has announced that they will hold a celebration in Dingshang City."

"To celebrate the second daughter of Chen Shengnan, Chen Qiaofei, becoming a concubine of a Golden Core cultivator!"

A concubine of a Golden Core cultivator? This made Fang Ling's heart sink.

Living in Dingshang City had made him fully realize the power of cultivators. A Foundation Establishment cultivator like Lin Mu could ensure that no one dared to provoke him openly in Dingshang City, and a Golden Core cultivator was someone even the emperor would call a True Person!

The Chen family's alliance with such a Golden Core True Person was not a good thing for him and the Fang family.

The hesitation caused by Lin Mu would also dissipate.

His gaze swept over the skinny monkey's face, and seeing his hesitation, Fang Ling said calmly, "It's not like the Chen family has produced a Golden Core True Person. Just focus on your own affairs."

As the skinny monkey left, Fang Ling sat under the moon, deep in thought.

His slightly relaxed mind became tense again. Although the Golden Core True Person would not act personally, the crisis for him and the Fang family was drawing closer.

Chen Shengnan, the head of the Chen family, wanted to establish his authority, and Fang Ling was the best tool for that.

To become stronger, I must become even stronger to change my fate of being at the mercy of others.

At this moment, Fang Ling's resolve to refine the Ninefold Enlightenment Pill became even stronger!

...

"Bang"

A teacup was smashed on the ground, and Chen Shengnan, with a fierce expression, pointed at a martial artist and scolded, "No news? After searching for so many days, you give me this answer?!"

"Before Hu'er went missing, he was still hunting outside the city. How could dozens of people just disappear without a trace?"

"Tell me, what use are you to me?"

The martial artist stood opposite Chen Shengnan, head lowered, and dared not speak.

After scolding him enough, Chen Shengnan coldly said, "Go to the Discipline Hall and take fifty lashes. If you don't have any news next time, don't come to see me!"

The martial artist carefully retreated, and the thirsty Chen Shengnan wanted to drink tea, but the teacup he had smashed was gone.

Feeling irritable, Chen Shengnan kicked over a stool.

"Ha ha ha, Lord Chen, you have quite a temper!" A calm voice came from outside the door.

Chen Shengnan, a cunning figure, instantly calmed down and quickly looked toward the door, seeing a man in a Daoist robe walking in gracefully.

Chen Shengnan recognized this man; he was the Daoist Xiaoyue from Qingyang Mountain, ten miles outside Dingshang City.

In the past, even if Chen Shengnan was unhappy, he would still greet Daoist Xingyue politely, as the latter had the cultivation of a peak seventh-layer Qi Practitioner.

But now, he didn't even want to raise his eyelids and said coldly to Daoist Xingyue, "Daoist Xingyue, entering without permission is not the way of a guest."

As a cultivator, Daoist Xingyue was always high and mighty. Now, being mocked by a mortal, his face turned red. However, he didn't dare to lose his temper and, after a moment's hesitation, said with a smile, "This is my fault. Please forgive me, Lord Chen."

Seeing Daoist Xingyue's demeanor, Chen Shengnan felt a surge of satisfaction. He had been humiliated by Daoist Xingyue not long ago.

He already understood Daoist Xingyue's purpose.

After all, the Chen family had allied with a Golden Core True Person. Although Daoist Xingyue had a Foundation Establishment cultivator as a backer, he didn't dare to oppose the Chen family anymore.

Chen Shengnan remained silent, sitting there quietly.

Daoist Xingyue stood there for a full minute before saying with a smile, "I heard that your daughter has become a concubine of True Person Lu. I came to congratulate you. Here is a gift, though it is not much."

Taking the gift list from Daoist Xingyue's hands, Chen Shengnan saw it read: "Ten thousand taels of gold, fifty jade disks, one Golden Dragon Sword, one secret manual of the Purple Slaughter Palm..."

The gift was heavy, and Chen Shengnan was increasingly satisfied with Daoist Xingyue's attitude. However, another thought flashed through his mind, and he said, "Daoist, if you want me to accept this gift, you need to help me kill someone!"

PS: My fever hasn't subsided. Brothers, your support is the best medicine for me. A click and a recommendation can make me get up and write. I need your support and encouragement!

Page break AD starts

Page break AD ends