Chapter 191: Journey to the Five Sects

Selling forbidden items and demon-kind was indeed something deserving of death, especially when those demons were the kind of evil spirits that ate people without leaving even their bones.

But oddly enough, even knowing these demons grew powerful and would devour humans, perhaps even turning on you someday, there were always people willing to trade with them. Matters like this were something Fang Cun had seen in his past life, and in this life, they were clearly not rare either.

However, Fang Cun could tell that Young Sect Master Xu’s hatred towards such people noticeably exceeded the norm.

Although he hadn’t discussed such topics with Young Sect Master Xu, combining some old news and dossiers he learned about after joining Shoushan Sect, along with gossip Xiao Qingliu had idly picked up, Fang Cun vaguely grasped something…

Shoushan Sect must have suffered heavy losses over such matters!

Back when the Great Demon Sovereign invaded the North, its demonic flames scorched the earth for ten thousand miles. Shoushan Sect and the major sects along the southern front of Yuan Nation all rose to resist.

It was also in that great battle that Shoushan Sect ended up with their senior generation wiped out, resulting in a severed legacy.

Regarding that decisive battle, there were many rumors. Some claimed Shoushan Sect offended big shots in the Divine Palace, leading to intentional abandonment. Others said Shoushan Sect was mistrusted by the Five Prefectures of Qingjiang, who deliberately didn’t send timely aid. There were those who said Shoushan Sect sought merit greedily, advanced too audaciously, refusing to retreat when they should, and ended up completely encircled by the demons under the Demon Sovereign.

Amidst these rumors, there was also a less noticeable speculation.

That Shoushan Sect brought this disaster upon itself by being utterly tactless.

In Yuan Nation, there had always been many trafficking with the Great Demon Sovereign’s side. When the Demon Lord invaded back then, the resources consumed, even the Magic Treasures and weapons used by demon soldiers and Demon Generals under its command, were sold by those very people. Therefore, no matter how you looked at it, Shoushan Sect would never like those who secretly traded with demons. Their ancestors died at the hands of such people.

For this very reason, the first thing Young Sect Master Xu thought of now was this matter.

Precisely understanding this point, even the two Elders seemed unusually serious at this moment.

…

“Root out the evil completely!”

Young Sect Master Xu gained a bit more confidence upon seeing the three Elders hadn’t teased him, saying: “The Demon Hound brought chaos to the region, causing such bloody havoc. It naturally deserved death. But creating such a calamity might not be solely the work of demons. Now that Shoushan Sect has earned the people’s trust, we must fulfill our duty. Both publicly and privately, those daring to have secret dealings with demons should be killed!”

As he spoke, he looked at Fang Cun with some respect: “Second Young Master Fang, that’s also your meaning, isn’t it?”

“Ahem, the Sect Leader is correct!” Fang Cun nodded solemnly, his expression unreadable.

Actually, what he wanted to say was that Shoushan Sect now possessed such great renown. The most crucial thing was to mend its foundations. Fame was abstract; tangible benefits were concrete. Prestige was useful; it could make one unstoppable. But it could also easily lead to great falls. Thus, what Shoushan Sect needed to do now was use this fame to rapidly solidify its foundation. Only then could it walk the path steadily for the long haul…

For instance: establishing trade networks across regions, building relationships and mutual interests with various Academies below, placing their own people in County Mansions… Even the rescued folks from Crow Mountain could be quickly resettled around Shoushan Sect, serving as the sect’s bedrock.

After all, these commoners were naturally favorable towards Shoushan Sect, making them the most suitable foundation.

Of course, since Young Sect Master Xu’s words held weight, Fang Cun decided to temporarily shelve his own proposals for now…

Reflecting inwardly, perhaps he really needed to change his bad habit of keeping others in suspense?

…

After the celebratory feast, amidst the passionate send-off from countless citizens, the disciples of Shoushan Sect slowly departed Great Qingjiang City.

Their discussions completed; their tasks became clear.

Delivering the formal post demanding County Sect strictly investigate those who traded with Crow Mountain demons—this task naturally fell to Young Sect Master Xu.

Distributing all the rewards from beheading the demons at Crow Mountain among the County Mansion and the Five Great Sects—this was handled by Elders Green Pine and Cold Stone.

On this point, Fang Cun felt at ease. Gold, silver treasures, jade slips of spell formations, even the skeletons of great demons seized from Crow Mountain den—all were valuable goods. Normally, the County Mansion and Five Great Sects might fight fiercely over them. But now things were different.

Old Master Fan and the Five Great Sects probably viewed these treasures as a plague now, certainly unwilling to snatch them.

But bringing them back to Shoushan Sect meant they could be used to forge Magic Treasures, set up the mountain gate’s grand spell formation, or even fill the treasure vaults…

As for the citizens rescued from Crow Mountain, though Old Master Fan had promised proper resettlement, that was only Fang Cun prodding him verbally. Ultimately, bringing them to settle near Shoushan Sect remained necessary. This was intricate work. After considering, Fang Cun entrusted it to Yu Qingli—he was Shoushan Sect’s True Disciple chosen by Fang Cun himself; he should have some Merit to his name.

Fang Cun himself didn’t linger much longer. He set off immediately that night back to Shoushan Sect.

Reaching the mountain gate, he was naturally welcomed warmly by the disciples left behind.

Everyone knew that starting from this day, Shoushan Sect was different.

For these disciples, while they had guessed Shoushan Sect would usher in a day of renewed glory when the Treasure Body Method was recovered, they hadn’t expected this day to come so quickly. Merely months had passed since the treasure method’s return, yet unexpectedly, Shoushan Sect had made such a resounding splash across Qingjiang Prefecture!

Not only did the disciples who personally experienced the battle feel exceptionally proud, even those who had worried beforehand, too fearful to go along, or who were preoccupied establishing Merit elsewhere and thus couldn’t return in time, all gazed upon Fang Cun with deep envy in their eyes.

After offering a few words of encouragement to the disciples, fulfilling his Elder’s duty, Fang Cun returned to his hall.

After the Crow Mountain campaign, he also had matters needing clarity.

…

“The Demon Hound has been slain. When the Divine Queen comes back, she should tell me about my elder brother’s matters, right?”

For Fang Cun, this was the most critical issue.

Even though he knew, compared to the people and events perhaps related to his elder brother’s affairs, he seemed too feeble—perhaps not even an ant in their eyes—when such an opportunity to understand those matters arose, he was eager to seize it quickly. Slowly enduring, building strength—maybe that was the correct way. But it wasn’t his preference.

People inevitably forget. Given enough time, even the deepest hatred could fade.

Fang Cun didn’t want to make the decision only later when that happened!

And just thinking about this problem naturally led to others.

The first issue was this: his current cultivation level was still too low…

To others, he had killed the Demon Hound step by step; it seemed effortlessly easy.

But the problem was—killing that Demon Hound should have been easy in the first place…

After all, it was merely a hound belonging to the Seven Kings Hall.

In another context, it couldn’t even be called a hound—it was a pet!

A beast that could bite for its master was called a hound. This particular one had been discarded at Crow Mountain precisely because, even after consuming the Nine Qi Nine Revolutions Great Dao Miraculous Pill, it couldn’t quickly grow strong enough to bite for its Seventh Prince master…

And what about Fang Cun?

He had only recently reached the Foundation Establishment Realm embodying the Treasure Body!

He probably wasn’t even qualified to be a chess piece in this game; just dust upon the board!

Putting that aside, though, during the execution of the Demon Hound, Shoushan Sect’s methods had given him some pleasant surprises.

Especially the Divine Nether Hundred Arms technique had unexpectedly revealed deeper secrets.

He had privately practiced this divine ability countless times but never truly used it against an opponent.

Only when he unleashed it on Crow Mountain did he realize its power far exceeded his imagined limits. The profound understanding derived from pouring his entire heart and soul into it while facing a formidable enemy was something he could never gain from private practice. Subtlety told Fang Cun this technique from the Divine Nether Scriptures probably held even greater meaning…

“In my correspondence with my elder brother,” Fang Cun recalled, “he once said that any sect surviving beyond a century holds its secrets. Surviving past three centuries, those secrets are bound to be extraordinary. Shoushan Sect had maintained its founding principles for how long? A millennium?”

Fang Cun couldn’t help delving deeper.

“The highest transcendental saints ranked first. Second came Yin-Yang…Yin can be exchanged for demonic, Yang for divine!”

“Shoushan Sect was originally named Divine Nether Sect, with its Treasure Body Method named Divine Nether Body Refinement Scripture, its techniques called Divine Nether Scriptures…”

“Was the ‘divine’ character [Shen] added just to sound imposing? Or was there deeper intent?”

“…”

The more he thought, the more fascinated he grew by the Divine Nether Treasure Body unconsciously.

“Currently, my cultivation level is still too low. Relying on the Celestial Merit Record, I possess three cun, three fen, and three li of natural talent—granting me insight into cultivation paths most can’t reach. Reciting the Six Scriptures through Merit cultivation endowed me with unique aptitude for Qi Refining realms. The Formless Treasure Body Scripture derived by my elder brother granted me fundamental insights breaking through this world’s cultivation norms…”

“Therefore…I could deduce the Divine Nether Body Tempering Art and grasp faint impressions of the Divine Nether Arts’ profound mystery…”

“But my current cultivation remains too insufficient; perceiving feels like viewing through gauze!”

“I glimpse that something is there without clear sight!”

“Therefore…the threshold of Light Condensation…should I seriously consider stepping across?”

Fang Cun’s mind grew resolute inwardly.

Slaying the Demon Hound had earned him one hundred thousand Merits. Yet that wasn’t all; through shares from Shoushan Sect disciples and those previously subdued Rogue Cultivators, his accumulated Merits during this period had surpassed two hundred thousand. Regarding advancing from Foundation Establishment to Light Condensation, his foundation was arguably sufficiently strong.

After all, breaking through from Refining Breath to Foundation Establishment differed completely from pushing beyond Foundation Establishment towards Light Condensation.

Achieving Foundation Establishment required tempering a Treasure Body – particularly practicing the Formless Treasure Body like Fang Cun demanded immense Merits. In some ways, he even needed to conceal his work because establishing a foundation left no room for deceit.

However, breaking through from Foundation Establishment to Light Condensation required the greatest gift: innate aptitude!

But aptitude – he already possessed that!

As Immortal Master Fang Chi’s younger brother, during this phase, he shouldn’t hide his talent; instead, he must display it, all the more brilliantly!

“The opportunity to study ancient texts across the Five Sects has been secured—the path shattering my bottle towards Light Condensation lies clear!”

“To prevent fresh troubles, one must depart early!”

“…”

Finishing his cup of tea and bringing his thoughts into order, Fang Cun at last called the Little Fox Girl over.

“Young Master,” she submitted meekly.

Pushing towards him the stack of scriptures she painstaking copied over recent days.

Fang Cun seized them eagerly, rapidly flipping several pages before nodding satisfaction. “Four days my absence lasted! Twenty copies daily ordered! Eighty pages expected!”

He pointed towards neat scripted sheets. “Count looked worthy…yes; matched tally!”

Instantly, Little Fox Girl’s bashful smile blossomed; her feathery tail curling momentarily proud.

Fang Cun’s brow abruptly knitted sharply!

Sharply arose alert—sharp fox ears twitching nervously upright.

Fang Cun slowly riffled parchment stacks; eyes steadily settling midway…

His gaze frost descending steadily downwards.

Eyes lifted towards fox girl—found her studiously avoiding meeting them now.

“Fetch the feather duster over presently!”

Fang Cun carefully placed scriptures down; voice murderously calm.

Head hung low; tail trailing floor; she fetched requested item dreadfully.

“Extend hand!”

Signaled Fang Cun.

Obedient touch came forth—small fluffy paw unfolding submissively.

“Drop the fur coat!” He commanded.

Thus abruptly fur receding; leaving behind soft pink bare palm still meekly submitting.

«This cunning fox absolutely knew padding fur cushioned smacks!» mused Fang Cun inwardly; yet outward expressions remained disciplinary-stern;

Strongly seizing wrist; delivering rhythmic ‘thwacks!’ upon tender palm.

Reprimanded softly:

“How curled soft fox-wits sharpen towards dishonesty…”

“Observing others’ tricks learned deftly…”

“Why oh why chosen fox-spirit remained dimmest!”

“Laying clumsy deceit…”