Using the purchase of Spirit Rice and martial arts secret books as a front, Fang Xing and Ding Hongxiu got along quite well.
"Turns out Miss Hongxiu is also a Cultivator, my apologies for the oversight..."
Hearing the other's identity as a Cultivator, Fang Xing feigned a serious gesture and bowed.
"It's nothing, I only have talent for the bare minimum, barely reaching the Qi Cultivation Second Layer... Grandfather doesn't even let go out to make a living in Qinglin Square..."
Ding Hongxiu waved her hand: "He's afraid that so Martial Arts expert will cut down without a second thought..."
"Oh? Do you know what happens when an Innate expert and a Qi Refining cultivator fight, who wins and who loses?" Fang Xing beca interested.
"I'm not too clear on the details, but I've heard from Grandfather that if it's an early Qi Refining cultivator who doesn't use a Defense Talisman or a Magic Artifact in ti, they are in grave danger once an Innate expert gets close..."
"Of course," Ding Hongxiu continued, "It gets much better once you reach the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage. Once you've created so distance and are ready, a Qi Cultivation Middle Stage Cultivator can easily slaughter an Innate Martial Artist... Those at the late stage of Qi Cultivation are simply not sothing any peak Innate Martial Artist can handle."
"I see..."
Fang Xing nodded; this was an assessnt from a Cultivator and should make sense.
'So a Rough Jade Realm Martial Artist can pose a threat to early or middle stage Qi Refining cultivators? What about a Rough Jade Realm Martial Artist who has learned an A-grade Martial Art?'
'And what about a Martial Artist in the Courage Realm?'
He felt that once he advanced to the Third or Fourth Realm of Martial Arts, he would probably get so sense of security.
"I wonder what major forces are in this square..."
Thinking it over, Fang Xing felt it would be better to understand this point.
"In the square, 'Qingxuan Sect' naturally holds the highest honor, as the Sect that opened Qinglin Square. There is always an Elder in the Foundation Establishnt Stage present, and over sixty percent of the shops in the square have close ties with it..."
"In addition, the Zheng Family has an ancestor who entered the Foundation Establishnt Stage, ranking second..."
"The Black Tiger Gang is a group ford by several Qi Cultivation Perfect Loose Cultivators. Their leader, the revered 'Black Tiger,' is elusive and is said to be secretly preparing for Foundation Establishnt, making it the third biggest power in the square!"
An elderly voice rose, interrupting the conversation between Fang Xing and Ding Hongxiu.
Fang Xing looked over and saw an old man with a white beard, dressed in an ill-fitting Daoist robe that had seen multiple repairs, yet still shimred with a hint of spirit.
Getting a bit closer, one could feel a sense of coolness.
This was the 'immune to extres of cold and heat' effect of the Magic Robe.
'This Magic Robe, it must have been used for who knows how many years... it's probably around the First Rank Low Grade...'
Fang Xing observed the Daoist woman and saw an elderly man with dark skin, a lean build, and a large yellow gourd hanging from his waist, slightly emitting the scent of alcohol, but what stood out the most was his red, bulbous nose.
'Planting Spirit Rice and Brewing... quite fitting.'
A thought struck Fang Xing as he sensed the formidable Qi of the elder, knowing this person was not an early stage Qi Refinent cultivator but in the middle stage!
"Grandfather... you're back?"
Ding Hongxiu was overjoyed to see the Daoist robe-clad elder yet looked disgustedly at the wine gourd at his waist: "You went to drink again?"
"My dear Hongxiu, you don't understand, your grandfather's cultivation of the 'Drunk Immortal Technique' requires drinking. It's said, 'Drink thrice a stone a day, and in a hundred days beco an immortal!'"
The Daoist elder belched, then cupped his hands towards Fang Xing: "My young friend, I am Ding Bushan. I overheard your conversation with Hongxiu and couldn't help but interject, please don't take offence."
"Not at all, the elder is knowledgeable, and I truly benefit from what I've heard."
Fang Xing smiled and returned the gesture, then said to Ding Hongxiu, "Pack up thirty pounds of Lotus Fragrance Spirit Rice for ... give a discount..."
"Eh, sure thing, it was supposed to be three Spirit Stones, how about giving you a discount of three granules of Spirit Sand instead?"
Hearing business co her way, Ding Hongxiu's eyes lit up, feeling that the long idle chat was finally paying off.
Fang Xing took out a Low Grade Spirit Stone from today's stall earnings, adding seventeen granules of Spirit Sand, counted them out to Ding Hongxiu, shouldered his basket, waved over his shoulder and walked out of the square.
Amid the sounds of the wind, one could faintly hear the conversation between grandfather and granddaughter.
"Grandfather, you're being too ddleso..."
"My good granddaughter, do you know what kind of person this is? Soone who doesn't even rent a shack in the square is either a desperado or a pauper, does he look like a pauper to you? Avoid such people in the future..."
...
The voices faded until they were gone.
Fang Xing heard them but simply smiled and walked on, "An old fox indeed, but he's just concerned about his granddaughter..."
It was a common human sentint, one he wouldn't hold a grudge over.
Returning to the temporary camp, everything began to get back on track.
"In this world, what's most useful to right now is the environnt suitable for Cultivation, as well as various Elixirs and Spirit Rice..."
"Or those Low Rank Talismans and Blood Refining Magical Artifacts..."
Inside the cave, Fang Xing practiced the Great Dragon Stance while his mind wandered.
"In truth, these Talismans and Magical Artifacts aren't really of much use to ... after all, once I have money, just buy a Laser Gun, far more useful than any Blood Refining Magical Artifact... It's still a good idea to prepare so Low Rank Talismans as an unexpected trump card."
"In this world, that's about the most help I can get..."
"Cultivate well, once I reach the Perfect Sinew and Bone Realm, I'll imdiately go buy an 'Innate Pill'!"
Fang Xing had already inquired about the Innate Pill; it was available for sale at the Green Pill Workshop, albeit at a steep price of fifty Low Grade Spirit Stones!
In terms of value, that was comparable to a Low Grade Magic Artifact.
It was said that the price was so high because the cultivation of the Innate Pill required the use of Spiritual dicines needed for Qi Refining Stage Elixirs.
Moreover, not many Cultivators were willing to purchase Innate Pills to reward their subordinates, resulting in a small market.
But for Fang Xing.
"Fifty Low Grade Spirit Stones aren't difficult... as long as I have the support of drones and slowly gather and sell Spiritual dicines, I'll be able to obtain them."
...
Ti flew, and it was July before he knew it.
Chuying Star.
Happy Ho District.
Feeling the sowhat hot temperature outside the house, along with the cries of cicadas and birds, Fang Xing couldn't help but feel sentintal.
"It seems 'my' birthday is also approaching, isn't it?"
The bio-engineered person Fang Xing's birthday naturally took the ti he ca out of the cultivation pod as the standard, which was July 17th.
Therefore, although he really wanted to keep cultivating in the Otherworld until school started, he still had to co back now to deal with so matters, to prevent being thought of as missing and unnecessarily causing complications.
Fang Xing glanced at his attribute panel:
[Na: Fang Xing]
[Age: 16]
[Profession: Martial Artist]
[Second Realm: Sinews and Bones (Refining Muscle: 16/100)]
[Military Boxing Twelve Styles: 44/100 (Skilled)]
[Great Dragon Stance: 6/200 (Master)]
[Gate of All Heavens (Charging)]
...
"Since taking the Spirit Rice, the progress in refining muscle has basically been around one point per day. Although it's much slower than elixirs, there's a very stable feeling with no sense of energy and blood being weak and floating. It's step by step, very solid..."
"Going on like this, I should be able to get the muscle refining progress over half before school starts... That's already quite bold and fast. Improving too quickly without a teacher's guidance isn't good either..."
Thinking of having a ntor's guidance, Fang Xing sighed.
Losing Xia Long's guidance during the holidays was indeed a bit troubleso.
Not to ntion, he didn't know who to turn to for advanced martial arts after breaking through to Second Realm.
"Maybe give Teacher Xia Long a call? Or... hire a private tutor? But I don't have money..."
"So videos online can be referenced, but to fully trust them is to not know how you might die..."
"Martial Arts ntorship requires face-to-face oral and hands-on teaching to be most reliable..."
After all, everyone's physical condition is different, and teaching should be tailored to the individual.
Not to ntion, things as profound as Martial Arts Will can in no way be conveyed via the internet.
He opened his phone, replied to so ssages, and his eyes moved, pausing on Liu Wei's number, falling silent.
In the past few years, Fang Xing's birthday had never been without this trouble-making friend.
And now...
"Alas... the past cannot be pursued."
Fang Xing sighed and then saw another ssage, his eyes suddenly fixed.
After pondering for a mont, he made a callback.
Swoosh!
A 3D projection appeared, showing Gu Yun still looking like a little girl but with a much colder deanor, looking around and saying, "So this is where you live..."
"Miss Gu..."
Fang Xing nodded in greeting, then quickly realized his choice of words was a bit inappropriate, probably influenced by the language style of the Otherworld.
"Miss Gu, such an ancient address, you can call Mrs. Gu..."
Gu Yun stated frankly, "I need a sparring partner. Star Coins are negotiable. Are you coming?"
"Coming!"
...
Brilliant Jiang Residence.
Training grounds.
Gu Yun stood with a cold face, in her practice clothes, still holding that wooden saber in her hand.
No!
In Fang Xing's view, after her father Gu Renwang died in battle, this little girl's temperant had changed a lot.
Now looking at her temperant, she was like a chunk of ice!
"This ti, I want you to give it your all, get your Protective Clothing on."
Gu Yun stood with her saber pointing sideways, coldly saying, "If you get injured, I will compensate your dical expenses."
"I didn't bring the Nano Suit..."
Fang Xing smiled, "But I'm confident..."
The Nano Suit and the electric baton had both been left in the Otherworld, and he did not plan to bring them back.
What he intended to bring back were only so things from the Otherworld.
Now he was planning how to go to the black market to make so money.
'The Spirit Rice and Talismans from the Otherworld don't fit in with the specialties of Chuying Star. Even in the black market, they're hard to sell... But there's also Gold and Silver!'
In the interstellar era, gold was no longer considered a precious tal, and the price had fallen a lot, but it was still relatively valuable.
And in Qinglin Square, gold was an artifact refining material that required thousands upon thousands of kilograms to extract just a few ounces of 'Gold Essence.'
The raw gold material itself wasn't very expensive; a Spirit Stone could buy quite a bit.
After finding the sa tals existed in both worlds, Fang Xing imdiately started thinking about arbitrage.
'Sell them just once, as long as the money is enough...'
'At least, I need to buy a real self-defense weapon...'
'With my current strength being so weak, if I encounter a Qi Cultivation Middle Stage Cultivator who is well-prepared, or a great master at the Qi Cultivation Late Stage, it would be very dangerous.'
'And I'm progressing rapidly, I need an excuse, and I need to make money, even launder money... so I can use it openly to buy nutrient fluid to invest in myself...'
...
"Sparring with , you dare to be distracted?"
Suddenly, a clear rebuke ca, interrupting Fang Xing's train of thought.
Swoosh!
The saber's radiance was dazzling, coming straight down on his head!
Reviews
All reviews (0)