Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists

"Many thanks for your generous reward, Mr. Fang!"

She Lei, holding the emerald bamboo leaf, smiled with joy, "Congratulations to Mr. Fang on your great progress in martial arts, and it must not be difficult for you in the future to cultivate True Power and reach the realm of the principals of various martial arts schools!"

"Oh? True Power comes after the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood, so this is the realm of a martial arts school principal?"

Fang Xi raised an eyebrow.

Truth be told, even martial artists who have undergone the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood are just so-so in the eyes of Immortal Cultivators. In the secular world of the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, there's also martial world, capable of achieving similar feats and destructive power, it's just a matter of taking a different path.

But the realm of a martial arts school principal is different.

Of course, She Lei was just flattering him, something that Fang Xi could discern.

"Naturally!" She Lei nodded repeatedly, but in his heart, he sneered, the son of a noble family had no clue about the trade.

Three Transformations of Qi and Blood, each transformation is more difficult than the last!

If the Qi Blood First Transformation requires only ample resources and willingness to put in the effort, where virtually everyone can begin with only duration varying, then the Second Transformation of Qi-blood demands enough talent.

And the third transformation was even more demanding.

In the entire Black Stone City, among the younger disciples of the martial arts world, there were only a few who had reached this step.

As for the realm of a martial arts school principal, it was even more of a lofty dream, unattainable without a bit of opportunity or fortune.

Even for him, due to an injury in his middle age, he had forever lost the chance to become a martial school principal and now was merely a teacher at the Red Snake Martial Arts School.

"Of course, but to cultivate True Power, one must truly join a martial arts school and become a core disciple, only then can you see the Divine Intent Diagram and inherit the understanding of integrating Qi and Blood into the path of True Power..."

She Lei stroked his beard.

This was the bait he set, as long as the other party wanted to enter the martial arts school to become a core disciple, wouldn't he have to keep wooing him?

"Divine Intent Diagram?"

Fang Xi felt he was touching upon some of the core aspects of the Qi and Blood Martial Arts in this world and his eyes lit up, "For sale?"

She Lei felt he couldn't keep up with Fang Xi's train of thought, "The Divine Intent Diagrams of various factions are secret among secrets... they are not for sale."

"One thousand taels of silver!"

Fang Xi named his price.

She Lei's breathing became slightly rapid.

Principal, it's not that I'm disloyal, but this offer was too generous...

"If one thousand taels isn't enough, then make it two thousand taels!"

Seeing She Lei's indecision, Fang Xi added smilingly.

"This... let me think about it..."

Watching She Lei's staggering figure walk away, a playful smile appeared on Fang Xi's face.

The so-called Divine Intent Diagram was surely fundamental to each martial arts school.

In reality, however, he was not in a rush, knowing that once he reached the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood, he would have an opportunity to learn it.

Mentioning it now was only to entice the pre-existing greed in She Lei!

'My Fang Residence has established its footing in Black Stone City, prone to covetous eyes due to our reputation for being rich and foolish. Only by showing some skills can we truly secure our position.'

Fang Xi touched his chest.

The 'Minor Thunder Talisman', 'Gold Light Shield Talisman', and 'Cold Ice Talisman' in his possession provided him with a substantial amount of confidence.

'A Qi and Blood Martial Artist must close the distance to threaten an Immortal Cultivator, and those below the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood are only so effective... Only a martial school principal could warrant some concern.'

'I wonder how the power of these martial school principals compares to that of true body refining Cultivators?'

Of course, while Fang Xi pondered this, he didn't actually wish to test it himself.

After all, it was far too dangerous.

...

Night fell.

Fang Xi lay in a bamboo chair in the yard, an ice cream at his side.

Laurel looked at the young master with curiosity, wondering why he didn't return to his room to enjoy the cool air conditioning and instead was outside enjoying the natural breeze.

The summer heat was certainly taxing.

Perhaps… she should make some lotus seed soup tomorrow? To clear heat and reduce fire?

While Laurel's thoughts drifted, Fang Xi sighed, "They're here after all..."

In Fang Residence's back garden.

A man dressed in black scaled the wall, his small eyes gleaming fiercely.

Clutched in his arms were large quantities of sweat medicine and intoxicating incense.

'Damn it, this Fang Residence, without any real foundation, yet so wealthy, offering thousands of taels of silver at the drop of a hat, they should be paying their respects to me!'

She Lei, familiar with Fang Residence, made his way to the warehouse.

The next moment, as he was about to light the intoxicating incense under the cover of night.

Rustle!

The surroundings suddenly lit up with torches.

"What?"

She Lei looked around in astonishment, only to see a dozen burly guards wielding clubs.

Moreover, Mu Piaomiao was among the guards, glaring at him with anger, "She Lei... how dare you?"

Stealing the employer's money was tantamount to smashing the reputation of all martial arts schools in Black Stone City!

"Hehe... I am the Great Free Falcon, and I don't know any She Lei!"

With a hoarse voice, She Lei turned to flee!

Such things were like catching an adulterer in the act; as long as his face was covered, he could never admit it!

Even if he were caught, he still wouldn't admit it, even if he had to pull up his trousers!

His legwork was phenomenal, and he was very fast.

In an instant, he was face to face with two guards wielding clubs, and with a mere push, the two guards fell to the ground as a powerful force surged into them.

"Stop right there!"

Suddenly, there was a delicate shout from behind She Lei.

It was Mu Piaomiao!

She struck out with a palm, her palm ashen, emitting a foul stench—it was indeed the "White Cloud Palm" executed with full force.

"Heh... Mu Piaomiao is no match for me, but I can't expose the Red Snake Leg."

She Lei's body swayed, and in the blink of an eye, he had sidestepped to create some distance.

Behind him, Mu Piaomiao relentlessly pursued, while the guards of the Fang Residence were only so-so, they could still buy some time.

In the end, She Lei was still caught up to by Mu Piaomiao.

"Don't force me!"

She Lei roared angrily; his leg muscles bulging as if he were lashing out with a snake whip!

Bang!

In mid-air, as the leg shadows and palm shadows clashed, Mu Piaomiao staggered back several steps with a cold snort, clearly at a slight disadvantage.

The strength of the leg is naturally greater than that of the arm, not to mention that in both combat experience and strength, She Lei exceeded her by quite a bit.

But as She Lei looked at the pieces of cloth fluttering in mid-air and the three ashen fingerprints on his own leg, his expression turned rather unsightly: "As expected, it's a poison palm technique... Pity, you can't keep me here."

Even though he had exposed the Red Snake Leg, he merely needed to escape, and the next day he could still deny it!

After all, there weren't a few apprentices at Black Stone City's Red Snake Martial Arts School!

Mu Piaomiao, having been injured by his kick, was no longer able to stop him.

Just as She Lei was thinking of leaving, Fang Xi walked out nonchalantly, shaking his head and saying, "Old She, you've gone too far! Tomorrow, I will surely report you to the officials!"

"I am not She Lei, but I still have to teach you a lesson!"

Though affected by the poison finger, She Lei's movements were still swift and agile; in the blink of an eye, he burst through the layers of guards to face Fang Xi.

The next moment, Fang Xi said with an indifferent smile, "Master She, you should stay after all."

A towering figure walked out from behind Fang Xi.

"This person... looks so familiar!"

A thought flashed through She Lei's mind.

The next moment, he saw the other party raise their hand, as if swatting a fly, and gave a light flick.

Slap!

His leg bone shattered, he let out a scream, flew backward, crashed into the wall, and slumped down onto the ground.

"It's you... White Cloud Martial Arts School's Principal, Mu Canglong!"

She Lei roared.

"Of course, it's me. You've injured my daughter and now seek to harm Mr. Fang; heaven won't tolerate this!" Mu Canglong was in his fifties, burly, with a purplish-red face, exuding an intimidating presence without anger.

"How come you are here?" She Lei was dumbfounded.

"Of course, because this young master has paid five hundred taels of silver for his services,"

Fang Xi took over the conversation.

He wanted to witness the martial arts school principal's skill, not necessarily take action himself but could also pay to have others demonstrate.

It turned out money could indeed accomplish a lot—just a few hundred taels were enough to afford an intervention from the principal of White Cloud.

Meanwhile, as Fang Xi recalled Mu Canglong's recent move, he was silently estimating,

'A warrior at the level of the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood is like a child in front of a martial arts school principal, indeed a qualitative change...'

'In terms of speed, strength, and robustness of the body, She Lei is incomparable...'

'In terms of strength, he could presumably match those at the first level of body refinement in the Cultivation World?'

This was actually quite impressive.

Because body refining not only required cultivation methods but also resources, all calculated in Spirit Stones, and to succeed in body refining, an investment of dozens of Spirit Stones was the bare minimum.

Yet Fang Xi could buy it with silver in Great Liang!

This was what he valued most.

"Mr. Fang, how should we deal with this man next?"

Mu Canglong looked toward Fang Xi: "She Lei has already been hit by my poison palm, his qi and blood cannot circulate, he can't escape..."

"Sigh..."

Fang Xi sighed, "I do not wish to make an enemy of the Red Snake Martial Arts School; let's keep this matter under wraps for now, no need to inform the officials. Let's invite the principal of the Red Snake Hall for a chat first."

The authority of the Great Liang dynasty still held some deterrence.

Acts like She Lei's would, at the very least, lead to severe punishment and likely exile or conscription.

Upon hearing Fang Xi's words, Mu Canglong nodded.

He then heard Fang Xi add, "Principal Mu, please be a witness for us tomorrow."

"Of course, even for the sake of the martial arts school's reputation, I won't let this person off easily." Mu Canglong nodded gravely.

...

The principal of the Red Snake Martial Arts School was named Lu She, fond of wearing a red robe, short in stature, and unremarkable in appearance.

But his presence was disconcerting, as if one were targeted by a venomous snake.

The following day, as Fang Xi looked at the principal of the Red Snake Hall, he coughed and said, "Principal Lu, sigh... I didn't want this to happen..."

"If you didn't want it to happen, why not release She Lei and pretend nothing occurred?" Lu She's voice was hoarse as he spoke, "Instead of saying these things, just state your conditions!"

"This..." Fang Xi glanced at Mu Canglong.

Mu Canglong coughed and spoke, "Lu She, this incident was your martial arts school's fault initially, and we're also considering your reputation..."

He had actually taken money from Fang Xi, and had already agreed on what to say, "The tuition fees your Red Snake Martial Arts School has collected must be fully refunded; these are the rules. Apart from this, you also need to compensate Mr. Fang!"

"Alright, alright!"

Lu She gave Mu Canglong a glare, then suddenly laughed, "So it's your White Cloud Martial Arts School standing up for him."

Secretly, he suspected that this matter had the shadow of the White Cloud Martial Arts School behind it, a trap set to snatch the wealthy client Fang Xi!

"Think what you will, but what's done is done." Mu Canglong's brows knitted together, "Mr. Fang may not go to the Red Snake Martial Arts School to learn skills in the future, but since he has already learned the Red Snake Leg, your school's Divine Intent Diagram can be shown to Mr. Fang for one day as compensation..."