Translator: CinderTL
Fang Qingge remained vigilant, but his expression betrayed nothing. "Heh, it's just an empty title," he said smoothly. "Which mountain gate do you cultivate at, Fellow Daoist?"
Xu Sanyan's lips curled into a smile. "Crimson Dragon Mountain," he replied. "Xu Sanyan."
Fang Qingge's smile vanished, replaced by a silent, intense gaze.
Junior Sister Yu whispered to the woman beside her, "Which sect is Crimson Dragon Mountain?"
Mo Xianxian's voice rang clear. "Ah, so you're a fellow Daoist from the Crimson Heart Faction."
"A demonic sect?" Junior Sister Yu recoiled, taking several steps back in alarm.
The Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect's reputation was infamously vile. Rumors painted its disciples as arsonists, murderers, and looters, indulging in every imaginable depravity. Rape and the slaughter of innocents were said to be commonplace.
Of course, not all the rumors were true.
Junior Sister Yu, still young and inexperienced, had never encountered members of the demonic sect before. She had come on this journey merely to broaden her horizons. Now, confronted with a practitioner of the Demonic Path, she couldn't help but lose her composure.
This was largely due to the deeply ingrained prejudices in the human heart.
Xu Sanyan remained unfazed by the reaction. "Demonic sect? What is 'demonic'? Is anything that deviates from your righteous path automatically 'demonic'?"
Fang Qingge, fearing his junior sister might be swayed by Xu Sanyan's seductive words, quickly interjected, "Fellow Daoist Xu, your words are rather biased. I believe there are three thousand great paths in this world, and it's natural for cultivation paths to differ. However, those who seek enlightenment without regard for morality, resorting to any means necessary, have truly entered the Demonic Path."
"That's a gross misrepresentation," Xu Sanyan sneered. "Attaining enlightenment and becoming an immortal is like crossing a single-plank bridge with ten thousand others. Countless cultivators walk the earth—do you think everyone can achieve enlightenment and immortality?"
Fang Qingge shook his head. "Of course not. But what does that have to do with good and evil?"
"If a child walked through a crowded market carrying gold, would anyone try to snatch it?"
Fang Qingge pursed his lips. "I suppose... some might."
"That's the way of the world. The strong naturally take precedence. Yet you call this principle the Demonic Path? How absurd!"
Fang Qingge shook his head, unconvinced. "Such extreme views are untenable."
Xu Sanyan scoffed. Their paths diverged too greatly; further debate would be futile. Neither could persuade the other.
Both were at the Dao Seeking Realm, having already chosen their paths. No amount of argument could sway them from their chosen course.
Xu Sanyan turned to Mo Xianxian, smiling faintly. "I won't disturb your leisurely pursuits any longer. Farewell."
Fang Qingge's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at his two Junior Sisters and quickly interjected, "I heard your sect recently held a Holy Son ceremony. Did you manage to secure a position, Brother Xu?"
Xu Sanyan flicked his sleeve and departed without answering. "Heh... we'll meet again in the secret realm."
Fang Qingge watched Xu Sanyan's retreating figure, a solemn expression in his eyes. "This man is not to be underestimated."
"Hmm..." Mo Xianxian nodded in agreement.
Fang Qingge suddenly smiled. "Does the Immortal Maiden also find my words reasonable?"
"Yes," Mo Xianxian replied. "His cultivation level is no lower than ours. Moreover, the demonic sect is a place of constant strife. Anyone who rises to prominence there must possess formidable skills."
"Then... how about we join forces?" Fang Qingge proposed. "The Source Worship Sect has brought two hundred and ten disciples this time, including eighteen in the Dao Seeking Realm and one hundred in the Foundation Establishment Realm. If we combine our strength, we won't need to fear even if the Four Factions of the Demonic Sect unite."
The fact that Foundation Establishment and Soul Refining Realm cultivators were in the same secret realm was no longer a secret.
Mo Xianxian lowered her gaze in thought. The Four Factions of the Demonic Sect were originally four united sects, boasting a large number of members and formidable high-level combat power. If taken individually, even the strongest among them, the Heaven's Will Demon Subduing Temple, couldn't contend with the combined might of the Four Factions.
Mo Xianxian slowly nodded. "Young Master Fang's words are reasonable. We can join forces, but we must agree beforehand: any treasure found within the secret realm belongs to whoever claims it first. The other party must not contest it. Is that acceptable?"
In her eyes, Fang Qingge might be a bit of a playboy, scattering his affections far and wide, but his heart wasn't malicious, and his character was fundamentally upright. Collaborating with him meant she wouldn't have to worry about a knife in the back.
Fang Qingge was overjoyed. He understood the principle of "first come, first served" all too well, and a smile involuntarily spread across his face. "Of course," he replied.
Mo Xianxian offered a polite smile, her beautiful eyes seeming to hold a thousand stars, momentarily stunning Fang Qingge into silence.
Junior Sister Yu grew even more irritated at the sight, but she couldn't voice her displeasure. Fang Qingge was discussing serious matters, and even though she was spoiled and willful, she wasn't entirely unreasonable.
Fang Qingge unfurled his folding fan, stealing glances between its swaying folds. He desperately wanted to lift Mo Xianxian's veil and properly behold her exquisite face.
He felt certain Mo Xianxian must be even more beautiful than Junior Sister Yu, Junior Sister Zhao, Junior Sister Yu's master, Miss Ling'er, Demoness Yi Luo, the Little Princess of the Lu Family, Luo Qingwei, and all the others...
Fang Qingge stroked the folding fan in his hand, pondering when he could present it to her.
He had already given away over twenty identical fans, and some recipients had nearly forgotten what they looked like...
But even if they forgot the appearance, the sincerity behind each gift remained preserved!
Xu Sanyan silently recalled Fang Qingge and Mo Xianxian. Their strength was considerable, and they could become formidable rivals, especially Fang Qingge, whose presence felt no less imposing than that of Little Monk Jingyi.
If these two were to join forces, even Xu Sanyan would be forced to retreat in defeat.
"Investigate how many disciples each of the other four sects has sent, and their respective realms. The more detailed the information, the better."
After a brief pause, he added, "Also, look into the major noble clans."
"Understood," Xiang Tan nodded and departed.
Jingyi, Fang Qingge, the Luo Family siblings, and Mo Xianxian—none of these five could be underestimated.
Xu Sanyan lifted his gaze to the white mist beyond the city walls, his mind churning. And then there's Qi Liang and Tu Wanshan...
As the Sect Leader's disciple and Venerable He Yu's son, respectively, Qi Liang and Tu Wanshan undoubtedly possessed hidden trump cards that warranted caution.
As for Fang Xiang and Jiang Qinqin...
Xu Sanyan shook his head. Fang Xiang posed no threat; corrupted by the Demonic Seed, he lacked even the courage to confront Xu Sanyan.
Jiang Qinqin, on the other hand, was merely mediocre. Her presence felt weak, almost negligible, and required no immediate attention.
He had yet to encounter disciples from the Lu Clan, such as Lu Wang, or the Wei Clan, like Wei Xunzhi, and remained uncertain of their capabilities.
Wandering leisurely, Xu Sanyan scanned his surroundings. Many cultivators had set up stalls along the road, most of their wares scavenged from the Mist Sea: demon beast corpses, various spirit herbs, and even deep-sea monsters.
Before him lay the corpse of an octopus-like creature, over three meters long and pitch-black. Its massive head was directly connected to its body, lacking any facial features—not even a mouth—leaving Xu Sanyan wondering how it could possibly feed.
Beneath its body sprouted countless fleshy limbs of varying lengths, now limp and lifeless, piled together in a grotesque heap.
The limbs were covered in small, dark gray fleshy spheres, densely packed together like a nightmare for anyone with trypophobia.
"What is this thing? What's it good for?" Xu Sanyan asked the stall owner, his curiosity piqued.
The stall owner, a middle-aged cultivator, was immediately identified by Xu Sanyan as being only at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage—his cultivation level was unremarkable.
Seeing a potential customer, the middle-aged man's face lit up with a smile. "Young master, you may not know this, but this creature is called a hundred-jointed fish. Don't let its ugly appearance fool you—this thing can..."
He leaned in conspiratorially. "...boost male virility."
"Good stuff!" Xu Sanyan immediately gave a thumbs-up in approval.
"Heh heh..."
The two exchanged knowing smiles, their unspoken understanding clear.
(End of the Chapter)
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