Fang Cheng said, "My Magical Power is currently low. This kind of reputation will only bring disaster. I must ask you all not to spread word of this."
Wang Xingzhi nodded gravely and said, "If it weren't for you this time, I'm afraid we wouldn't have escaped that calamity."
Only a small bottle of the Profound Yin Ice Fiend left behind by Cao Xuanyi remained, which was not nearly enough to support the cultivation of the *Nine Heavens Cold Ice Technique*.
Not only had they failed to obtain the Profound Yin Ice Fiend on this trip, but they had also nearly lost their lives...
If Fang Cheng hadn't displayed such unbelievable combat prowess, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Though the group was somber, they knew the cultivation path for ordinary people was just this fraught with hardship, filled with thorns.
Unless they gave up completely, retreating to the mountains and forests or returning to the mortal world, far from the schemes and deceptions of the Cultivation Realm.
Otherwise, if they continued to covet the temptations of long life or great Magical Power, they could only grit their teeth and press on.
After this incident, Wang Xingzhi and the other three had a new understanding and assessment of Fang Cheng's strength. Each had their own thoughts—a mixture of wariness, awe, and shock.
They were all secretly glad that a Cultivator like him was a friend and not an enemy.
Duan Feng's and Cao Xuanyi's storage bags naturally went to Fang Cheng. They contained quite a lot, giving Fang Cheng a huge windfall.
Xiao Mei Niang had died so suddenly that not even her storage bag was left behind.
The five of them gazed out at the vast lake, a sense of melancholy in their hearts.
They possessed top-tier Cultivation Techniques, but had no resources and couldn't cultivate them!
As for the remaining *Li Hen Demon Light* and *Joyful Zen Skill*, the slightest carelessness would lead to cultivation deviation. To practice them or not?
Wang Xingzhi sighed and forced a smile. "I'm preparing to return to my family and request a cultivation partner. What are your plans, everyone?"
Fang Cheng's expression flickered. He asked, "You're going to cultivate the *Joyful Zen Skill*?"
Wang Xingzhi nodded. "Finding some Buddhist Magical Artifacts or Talismans to calm the mind is simpler than searching for Profound Yin Ice Fiend."
Wen Qianqian sighed softly. "I plan to give the *Li Hen Demon Light* a try."
Chen Yu Yan's lovely eyes glinted. "Fellow Daoist Yang and I are going to wait a bit longer."
In her mind, the *Nine Heavens Cold Ice Technique* was still the first choice. If it really proved impossible, only then would she resort to cultivating the *Li Hen Demon Light*.
That *Joyful Zen Skill* was completely incompatible with her disposition; there was absolutely no way she would cultivate it.
Wang Xingzhi chuckled and said to Fang Cheng, "Brother Fang, with your combat prowess, you'll surely be able to win the heart of the Ye Family beauty. When that time comes, why not cultivate the *Joyful Zen Skill* as well?"
Fang Cheng smiled. "No rush. We'll see about that in the future. Everyone's Spirit Stones are still with me. Now that this matter is concluded, it's time to return them to their rightful owners!"
As he spoke, he took out the Spirit Stones and returned them to the other four.
Everyone accepted their Spirit Stones, and after exchanging a few more words, they went their separate ways.
...
「Marketplace.」
「Spirit Wind Lane, Jia Shen No. 19 Courtyard.」
Fang Cheng sat in a wicker chair, holding two storage bags in his hands as he examined the spoils from his trip.
As the old saying goes, a man can't get rich without a windfall!
There was nothing particularly special in Cao Xuanyi's storage bag, only over eight thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones glittering brilliantly, emitting a captivating light.
Adding the Spirit Stones Fang Cheng had gotten from selling the Beast Bones previously, his net worth had now broken through the fifteen-thousand-Spirit-Stone mark!
'I can try buying some pills to enhance my Magical Power and get a taste of cultivating with medicine,' Fang Cheng thought to himself.
Next was Duan Feng's storage bag.
As a Late-stage Sensing Cultivator and a Noble House Guest Elder, although the Spirit Stones in his bag weren't as plentiful as Cao Xuanyi's, there were still nearly two thousand!
There was also a First-rank top-grade magic tool, the Yin Wind Soul-breaking Needle; a First-tier Top-grade Array, the Small Gathering Spirit Formation; three bottles of Essence Supplement Pills; and a copy of the *Blood Shadow Technique*.
The *Blood Shadow Technique* was a Life Talisman Level Technique that used the devouring of a Cultivator's or Demon Beast's Essence Blood as a catalyst to strengthen one's Cultivation Body. It contained many Magic and Divine Techniques, all of them paths of slaughter.
In the past, Fang Cheng would have definitely chosen to cultivate this technique. But now that he possessed the *Li Hen Demon Light* and the *Nine Heavens Cold Ice Technique*, he naturally looked down on such a technique.
Those Essence Supplement Pills were likely the Luo Family's exclusive elixir. They had a remarkably clear effect on increasing the Magical Power of Sensing Stage Cultivators and could be ranked among the "Top Ten Luxury Pills" in the eyes of Loose Cultivators.
The Small Gathering Spirit Formation could gather Spiritual Qi to aid cultivation and increase its speed. A single set was priced at over a thousand Spirit Stones.
"This is all good stuff..."
Fang Cheng chuckled as he took out these spoils of war. After looking them over, he was quite satisfied.
'Next, I'll cultivate diligently for a few days, then go participate in the Ye Family's Sword Fighting Conference... As for the Feng Family, it's best to keep my distance!'
A cold glint flashed in Fang Cheng's eyes. The original owner of his body had a senior brother who had married into the Feng Family. Although their grievances were said to be settled, as a Demon Sect Cultivator, how could he take that seriously?
'Next time we meet, I'll have to properly test this senior brother's mettle!'
He suppressed these stray thoughts, carefully set up the Small Gathering Spirit Formation in his room, then sat cross-legged on the couch and began circulating the *One Qi Technique*.
'The Spiritual Qi is more than twice as dense as before!'
The moment Fang Cheng started cultivating, he felt a distinct change in the Spiritual Qi around him.
He then took out an Essence Supplement Pill and swallowed it.
The next moment, an incredibly dense surge of Spiritual Qi flooded his Dantian Qi Sea, then transformed into pure Magical Power and spread throughout his entire body!
He hurriedly circulated his Heart Method to refine this surge of Magical Power.
His cultivation speed was a full three times faster than before!
'No wonder some people rely on pills to cultivate...'
Only then did Fang Cheng truly appreciate the benefits of having cultivation resources.
...
...
...
「In the blink of an eye, the day of the Ye Family's Sword Fighting Conference arrived.」
Fang Cheng finished his cultivation and walked out of his small house, his spirits high. His Magical Power had once again advanced another level in just a few days!
He went straight out of the marketplace, summoned his Escape Light, and flew toward the Ye Family's Xiaocang Island.
Xiaocang Island was located in the southwest of the Abyssal Marsh, over a thousand li from the Yinluo Sect's Ancestral Court Dragon Spine Island. It possessed a Tier Two Spiritual Vein and several Tier One Spirit Veins, making it one of the most notable Spiritual Lands in the entire Abyssal Marsh!
After flying for half a day, Fang Cheng saw an island in the distance, set like a piece of jade upon the boundless, misty surface of the lake.
The island spanned a full hundred li, with several majestic peaks, lush green vegetation, and magnificent scenery.
The largest mountain on the island was called Cangwu Mountain. It was a thousand zhang tall, towering majestically into the clouds!
The Ye Family's Sword Fighting Conference was being held on the Cloud Viewing Platform, halfway up Cangwu Mountain.
Fang Cheng steered his Escape Light higher, arriving just outside the Cloud Viewing Platform. Looking out from afar, he saw a vast sea of clouds billowing halfway up Cangwu Mountain. The peaks of Xiaocang Island's other mountains bobbed in and out of the clouds, looking just like islands in the ocean.
At this moment, many streaks of Escape Light were crossing the sky and landing on the Cloud Viewing Platform.
Amidst them all, Fang Cheng was utterly inconspicuous.
The Cloud Viewing Platform was a terrace on Cangwu Mountain, surrounded by ancient pines, creating an elegant and scenic view. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down from the mountain peak, hanging beside the platform like a silver ribbon.
Just as Fang Cheng landed his Escape Light, a young servant in Ye Family attire stepped forward and asked politely, "Honored guest, are you here to observe the ceremony or to participate in the Sword Fighting Conference?"