Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists

Fang Residence.

"Rejected?"

Fang Xi's face looked somewhat ugly as he glared at Fu.

With his head lowered, Fu replied anxiously, "This humble servant has spent a fortune to find a middleman and even promised to increase the payment, but alas..."

Fang Xi took a deep breath.

As an Immortal Cultivator, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? ...Well, he was often humiliated at the Green Bamboo Mountain Market, and damn it, he was nearly getting used to it.

Better get used to it, just get used to it.

"Forget it, it seems that my talents are mediocre and I don't catch anyone's eye."

He shrugged his shoulders.

As an Immortal Cultivator, even at the lowest level, he possessed acute hearing and a photographic memory.

When he had previously sent someone to ask around, he had sensed a scrutinizing gaze upon him.

But clearly, Qi and Blood Martial Artists had their own way of assessing talent and had given him no chance to show off his remarkable memory and insight.

"In other words, martial teachers in this world probably care more about physical talents than mental aptitude, huh? No wonder it's the lower form of body cultivation..."

Fang Xi consoled himself in a manner reminiscent of Ah Q's spiritual victory, with great effect.

Then he laughed, "Oh well... since Yuanhe Mountain doesn't accept me, I'll just go to a martial arts school... They accept all kinds of disciples; surely they won't be selective about talent."

At this, Fu also smiled, "Young Master is right; a martial arts school is said to accept all comers as long as they can pay."

A satisfied smile appeared on Fang Xi's lips, "Conveniently enough, I am very wealthy!"

...

Afternoon.

The sun was high in the sky; in the Fang Residence's backyard, a makeshift training ground had been cleared.

Fang Xi lay on a reclining chair, next to him a cup of homemade fruit smoothie—the principle was the same as the air conditioning he had installed, both using the means of Immortal Cultivators to make life a little more comfortable.

On a hot summer's day, nothing beat the refreshing feeling of drinking a fruit smoothie.

And in the training ground, several martial teachers, mostly middle-aged, with a few older ones, looked at him with slight flattery in their eyes.

Fang Xi turned his head and took a sip of the smoothie Laurel had brought, then clapped his hands.

Fu stepped forward and coughed, "My master wishes to learn martial arts. All of you here are experts from martial arts schools. If you have any unique skills, please demonstrate them. Should my master be impressed, there will be a hefty reward... Even if you're not chosen, there will be a token of appreciation later."

Being wealthy, naturally, he wouldn't suffer going to a martial arts school to learn with the masses; he was looking to hire private instructors!

Hearing this, the muscular martial artists' eyes all lit up.

Since they were running martial arts schools, it was all about making money, and they wouldn't turn away from it.

And this Sir Fang was famously... a cash cow!

The group exchanged glances, and an old man dressed in black hurriedly stepped forward, bowing with a fist, "I'm She Lei from Red Snake Martial Arts School, specializing in 'Red Snake Leg'!"

He approached a wooden post and suddenly lifted his right leg high — muscles upon muscles bulged as if about to burst through his black trousers.

Whoosh!

The next moment, he delivered a high kick — his previously sturdy right leg now looked as flexible as if it had no bones, changing unpredictably, the leg's whip powerfully crashing into the post with a strong gust of wind.

Bang!

The hefty wooden post instantly shattered into pieces.

With wood chips flying, She Lei proudly introduced, "Our Red Snake Martial Arts School's leg technique mainly strengthens the legs. Once mastered, not only is it powerful, but it also enhances speed and mobility. With such agility in combat, you can at least ensure you won't be defeated..."

"Not bad at all," Fang Xi remarked, his eyes brightening.

Though the lethality of this Red Snake Leg was still inferior to the Metal Grass Mowing Sword, a minor spell technique he had mastered, he was only in the early stages of Qi Refining, with limited magic power that couldn't support casting spells too often.

Looking at the opponent's long-lasting physical strength, capable of delivering at least twenty to thirty more kicks, this was indeed valuable.

'Indeed, just as I thought, these so-called Qi and Blood Martial Arts could be considered Body Refining techniques for the Qi Refining Stage, and they're quite valuable... Moreover, if I research them deeply, I may find techniques comparable to those of a Foundation Establishment Stage body cultivator!'

Fang Xi's heart was ablaze with excitement!

Foundation Establishment!

That was the common dream of all low-level cultivators.

Unfortunately... it was an exceedingly difficult hurdle.

Just the baseline requirement of reaching the stage of Qi Refining Great Perfection before the age of sixty was enough to stump most Individual Cultivators.

Furthermore, attempting Foundation Establishment on one's own and failing meant death, while the Base-building Spiritual Objects that ensured success, especially the Foundation Establishment Pill, were tightly controlled by the major powers. Even for the Situ Family to obtain one pill, it would need a great deal of effort.

For regular low-level Individual Cultivators, even catching a whiff of it was pure luxury.

But at this moment, Fang Xi saw a shortcut to overtake the rest!

'If I can improve my body refining skills to be comparable to a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, and then gather assisting pills and techniques for breaking through the middle and later stages of Qi Refining, it would be much simpler.'

"If I can become a body cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage first, and then gather Foundation Establishment Pills, my chances will be much better, and it will be much safer," Fang Xi thought.

"The path is promising, the path is promising indeed!"

Even though he had access to the resources of two worlds, Fang Xi had not forgotten his position at the bottom of the food chain in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm; he did not dare yet to bring unique resources from Great Liang to sell in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm.

Unless... he obtained even greater power.

Now, he saw hope.

"Master She has excellent skills, here's a reward!"

Fang Xi said cheerfully.

Originally, She Lei was somewhat displeased, after all, even though he was indeed selling his skills, he considered himself a little more dignified than those performing arts in the Martial World.

But seeing Fu, grinning from ear to ear, holding out a tray of silver, any displeasure vanished, and the wrinkles on his old face seemed to blossom into a smile.

This cash cow was truly generous!

Witnessing this scene, the representatives from the other martial arts schools grew envious, and a tall woman stepped forward, "I am Mu Piaomiao from White Cloud Martial Arts School; our specialty is the 'White Cloud Palm,' which can overcome the strong with the weak, and is extremely easy for beginners..."

Clearly, this female martial teacher had carefully inquired about the client's needs, aware that Fang Xi's martial arts aptitude was not outstanding, otherwise he would not have been rejected by Yuanhe Mountain, and she hit the nail on the head with her first remark.

Moreover, when she was demonstrating the palm technique, her beautiful figure was fully displayed, her chest proud and high, with a hint of enchanting allure.

This made the other martial teachers inwardly curse "sly fox" while unable to shift their gazes away.

After Mu Piaomiao stepped down, another martial teacher came forward.

"My name is Yuan Tiangang, and I'm skilled in the 'Wuji Stick'..."

"My name is Yi Qiu Jue, proficient in 'Iron Line Fist'..."

"This 'Cyan Clothes Sword' of mine..."

...

After the last martial teacher finished demonstrating, Fang Xi pondered for a moment before asking, "All the masters have quite impressive martial skills; may I learn them all?"

After all, he had plenty of money, and it wouldn't matter if he learned them all.

"This..."

The several martial teachers exchanged looks until Mu Piaomiao stepped forward with her long legs, explaining, "Mr. Fang, Qi and Blood Martial Arts consume a lot, and practicing just one technique can exhaust one's body. It must be complemented with tonics. As the saying goes, biting off more than one can chew is not good, and several martial arts blood qi paths are mutually conflicting..."

"Oh."

Upon hearing Mu Piaomiao's explanation, Fang Xi thought carefully.

This Qi and Blood Martial Arts indeed had certain taboos.

From her explanation, it seemed there was still more to learn; knowledge that only came with true mastery.

After thinking it over, he finally said, "In that case, I'll study one leg technique and one palm technique for now... Master She and Master Mu, please stay."

The other martial teachers felt somewhat dissatisfied upon hearing this.

She Lei was perhaps understandable, daring to step forward first, he was naturally one of the strongest, with plenty of confidence.

But Mu Piaomiao, she just had a pair of long legs and a generous chest, right?

Do the hobbies of the rich indeed lack such sophistication?

...

After the martial teachers left with their complaints, Fang Xi scrutinized She Lei and Mu Piaomiao closely, "Master She, Master Mu… starting from today, the tuition will be set. How about teaching me once every three days?"

It was then that he examined them carefully.

When She Lei wasn't using his skills, he was just a nondescript old man.

And Mu Piaomiao was curvy with a heroic and athletic beauty, her facial features quite nice, though her skin was a bit rough.

"That's acceptable..."

Mu Piaomiao thought for a moment, "The blood qi movement of the 'Red Snake Leg' mainly focuses on the legs, and it doesn't conflict with our White Cloud Palm. But you must be careful not to learn too much. Otherwise, the mix of blood qi in the later stages will hinder breakthroughs..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xi felt a bit frustrated, "Blood Qi mainly trains the legs and palms… isn't there any martial technique that truly trains the entire body's Blood Qi?"

Such flaws in body refining techniques seemed rather significant, especially as they were unsuitable for defending against magic spells.

Mu Piaomiao and She Lei exchanged glances before the old man cleared his throat and spoke, "Ahem... Actually, in Qi and Blood Martial Arts, while focusing on the main body parts, there's always an effect of tempering the full body's blood qi. But to temper the entire body as one requires not the third-rate martial arts taught by our schools but top-secret techniques of the first-rate. Perhaps... hand, only the secret techniques held back by Yuanhe Mountain could achieve such a condition."

"Alright..."

Fang Xi sighed, already making a decision in his mind.

It was just the real secret teachings, right?

Perhaps one day he might be able to obtain them.

After all... the methods of an Immortal Cultivator, the martial artists of this world might not be able to withstand.

Of course, this needed to be tested slowly, he couldn't be impatient.

Anyway, he was still young; this body was only seventeen years old, and Immortal Cultivators had long lifespans, even a Qi Refining cultivator could easily live into their eighties or nineties without any major problems.