Fang Cheng was meditating in his room, cultivating.
After transmigrating, he had gradually come to love this feeling. Becoming one with heaven and earth, refining Spiritual Qi to nourish his body—it perfectly aligned with the principle of the unity of man and nature.
It brought a sense of unparalleled peace and joy.
Surpassing any form of entertainment from his past life.
He had always been a quiet person by nature. Now that he had temporarily resolved the grudge with his senior brother, he finally had some free time to enjoy the leisurely pleasures of a Cultivator.
However, a series of violent knocks on his courtyard gate shattered his meditative state.
A flicker of displeasure crossed Fang Cheng's face. He stopped his Cultivation Technique, stood up, and walked out of his house to open the courtyard gate.
Two male Cultivators stood at the entrance, looking at him with hostility. They wore dark cyan robes with tiger patterns embroidered on the collars and cuffs, and their gazes were scrutinizing.
Fang Cheng recognized their attire as that of the Yinluo Sect's Outer Disciples. His expression softened as he asked, "How may I help you two Senior Brothers?"
"Are you Fang Cheng, a Servant Disciple of this sect?"
One of the Outer Disciples took out a book, flipped it open to a middle page, and asked coldly.
Fang Cheng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, that's me."
The Outer Disciple said solemnly, "We are Law Enforcement Disciples from the Sect Marketplace. My surname is Wang, and this is Senior Brother Li."
Fang Cheng forced a smile. "Ah, so it's Senior Brother Wang and Senior Brother Li. Please, come in!"
Senior Brother Wang kept a stern face and waved his hand dismissively. "No need. We're on sect business. We came today to inform you about this year's servant task. You must submit it to Elder Feng of the Outer Sect within three days. If you're late, the sect will revoke your status as a Servant Disciple."
Fang Cheng frowned. It was only July, with less than five months until the end of the year. In the past, he had always submitted his Gu Insects to the sect at year-end.
'Why the sudden change to an earlier date?'
He glanced around the small alley. Seeing no one passing by, he took two Spirit Stones from his storage bag and placed them in Senior Brother Wang's hand, asking curiously, "Senior Brother, wasn't it always at the end of the year before? Why the change this year?"
A sneer touched Senior Brother Wang's lips as he coolly rejected Fang Cheng's gesture. "We don't know the details either. We're just here to deliver the Elder's orders. You had best prepare ten Tier One Early-Stage Gu Insects or one hundred Lower-Grade Spirit Stones and see Elder Feng quickly. Otherwise, when the deadline passes, you might just find yourself kicked out of the sect."
The tasks for Yinluo Sect's Servant Disciples were extremely demanding, ranging from hunting Demon Beasts and harvesting Spiritual Medicines to tending Spirit Fields and mining Spiritual Ore.
Disciples with slightly more strength could use Spirit Stones to buy their way out of these duties.
It was rare to find someone like the original owner of this body, who maintained his Servant Disciple status through a "craft."
Unfortunately, at this moment, Fang Cheng had neither that many Spirit Stones nor any spare Gu Insects to submit.
A troubled look appeared on his face. "Senior Brothers, could you possibly grant me a little more time?"
At this, Senior Brother Li, who had been silent the whole time, glanced at Fang Cheng and remarked, seemingly casually, "Didn't you use a Tier One Mid-Stage Gu Insect in a duel on the Seven Kills Platform a few days ago? Completing this year's task shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"
Fang Cheng's heart sank. 'So that's what this is about.'
'That Outer Sect Elder Feng must have his eyes on my Vajra Gu!'
On the day of the duel, besides that person surnamed Yu, no one else was watching. This information could only have been leaked by Fang Hen.
A smile remained on Fang Cheng's face, but his heart grew cold. He had gained a much deeper understanding of this dog-eat-dog world.
"Thank you both for the notice. I will definitely go to Elder Feng on schedule."
He stopped wasting words and said with a cheerful smile.
Senior Brother Wang glanced at him and said, "We'll take our leave."
With that, the two of them turned and left.
Fang Cheng closed the gate and returned to his courtyard, lost in thought.
The Yinluo Sect had a legacy stretching back thousands of years and was the largest cultivation force within a ten-thousand-mile radius. Its foundation was strong enough to rank among the top three in the Yun Country.
Fang Cheng truly needed his status as a Servant Disciple. Only by maintaining it for three years could he apply for the Outer Disciple trials.
Once he passed the trials and became an Outer Disciple of the Yinluo Sect, he would gain access to the sect's advanced Cultivation Techniques.
After that, he could continue to climb the ladder, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple and then a True Disciple, allowing him to cultivate the most supreme Demon Path Cultivation Methods in the Yun Country.
Once he figured out his Golden Finger, he would surely be unstoppable, and the path to the Great Dao would be open to him.
But if he were expelled from the sect and became a Loose Cultivator, obtaining advanced Cultivation Techniques would be harder than ascending to the heavens.
A golden light flashed between his fingers, and the Vajra Gu flew out, landing on his finger.
'You have to give some to get some. When it's time to endure, you endure... I'll remember this debt.'
Fang Cheng's eyes glinted as he mentally filed away Elder Feng's name.
This Elder Feng was from the Flame Demon Feng Family, one of the four great families within the Yinluo Sect. His backing was a deeply entrenched and highly influential force in the sect.
Right now, he was someone Fang Cheng absolutely could not afford to offend.
'But in the future... that might be a different story.'
Handing over the Vajra Gu now would buy him a year and a half of peace. It was worth it.
As for the Vajra Gu, he could just refine another one.
...
「A few days later.」
Abyssal Marsh, Flame Demon Island.
Inside a luxurious and elegant Cave Mansion.
A woman in a black dress lay languidly on a Jade Couch.
A maid entered and said softly, "Miss, that man has already handed the Vajra Gu over to Elder Feng."
The woman in the black dress asked nonchalantly, "Has he left the marketplace in the past few days?"
The maid shook her head. "As you instructed, Miss, I've had people watching his every move. He has been in the marketplace this whole time."
The woman in the black dress frowned. "I heard from Fang Hen that he isn't wealthy. Now that he's lost his Gu Insect, even his daily expenses should be a problem. Why hasn't he left?"
The maid's expression turned odd. "Our people say... he's been frequenting Miaoxiang Tower these past few days..."
"Miaoxiang Tower?"
The woman in the black dress was stunned, then a sneer appeared on her face. "No wonder. So he's hooked up with those vixens."
"Keep watching him. If he leaves the marketplace, come and tell me immediately."
"Yes, Miss." The maid performed a curtsy and turned to leave.
...
Yinluo Sect Marketplace.
Fang Cheng walked out of Miaoxiang Tower feeling refreshed and invigorated. He felt as though his soul, body, and Magical Power had all been cleansed and elevated.
He glanced back at the tall, extravagant building and thought, 'As expected of a major power that spans several countries... their Cultivation Techniques are truly extraordinary.'
From the original owner's memories, he knew that Miaoxiang Tower had deep connections—deep enough that they could operate right under the nose of a major sect like Yinluo, which simply turned a blind eye.
The Cultivation Techniques practiced by the Female Cultivators of Miaoxiang Tower were not simple plundering methods. If the partners were compatible, both the man and the woman could benefit greatly.
Fang Cheng hadn't come here seeking pleasure.
He was here on business.
In the entire Yinluo Sect, there was no place more suitable for him to refine a Love Gu than Miaoxiang Tower!
That's right. He was here to refine a Gu.