In a previous life, Fang Xi had also been asked by relatives and friends to lend money, and the results were not very pleasant.
When he unexpectedly heard this sentence now, a tinge of disgust welled up in his heart.
"This…"
He put on a pensive look, planning to stall for time.
Meanwhile, Wu Ji's face gradually fell during the long wait.
He considered himself to have a high status in the martial arts school, as he had reached the Second Transformation of Qi-blood realm early on, making him part of the upper echelon.
After Fang Xi joined the martial arts school, he made a deliberate effort to woo him and introduced him to his small circle.
However... it was as if the other party was stupid and couldn't understand his hints.
Now, even borrowing money was being dragged out.
Sensing Wu Ji's gaze, Fang Xi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Some people were just born petty.
Even if he agreed to lend money, as if doing a beggar a favor, the other party might still hold a grudge, merely for being slow to agree!
'Besides... is a mere Wu Ji even worth my concern?'
With this thought, Fang Xi immediately made a decision, "I apologize, but I am also short on money recently and really can't help…"
"You…"
Wu Ji's face turned red and then green, as if he ran a dye shop, which was especially amusing to see: "Junior brother, you're good, very good..."
He felt as though the gazes of the surrounding disciples were mocking him, and he couldn't bear it any longer, so he left with a flick of his sleeve.
Only after Wu Ji left did Tang Xuan come over: "Junior Brother Fang, you must be cautious. Senior Brother Wu is very petty."
Fang Xi looked at Tang Xuan with slight surprise.
This simple-looking third senior brother didn't seem as naive as he appeared on the surface.
Or perhaps, after his talent was revealed, many in the White Cloud Martial Arts School began actively approaching him.
That was normal!
After all, Fang Xi had both talent and money!
It was abnormal for others not to curry favor with him.
"What does Wu Ji's family do?"
Fang Xi asked casually.
"Senior Brother Wu's family is in business, owning a small trading company with many martial teachers as guards," replied Tang Xuan.
"In business, huh…"
Fang Xi smiled.
Though he didn't understand the art of commerce, money talks!
If he really wanted to target someone, he could hurt the enemy at the expense of even greater losses to himself – such were the sacrifices one might make when using one's own resources to harm others.
'But, wouldn't it be a bit too Long Aotian of me to bankrupt someone just for giving me a dirty look?'
'The ancient Long Aotian may have relished in such actions, but in the current environment, it surely wouldn't end well…'
Fang Xi criticized inwardly.
However, he appreciated Tang Xuan's initiative in approaching him. They chatted a bit more, eventually talking about progress in martial arts.
Like Wu Ji, Tang Xuan had also reached the Second Transformation of Qi-blood. He was not considered weak in the martial arts school.
Unfortunately, the Third Transformation of Qi and Blood was still far off.
As they discussed this, even Tang Xuan couldn't help but show a bitter expression on his face: "Actually... I'm still better off. Our fourth sister has been unable to break through to the Second Transformation of Qi-blood for a long time. Her family has repeatedly urged her to return home and get married."
Fang Xi was surprised, not expecting that the junior sister who seemed almost willing to throw herself at him had such a difficult background.
But then he thought about the disciples in the outer courtyard who had paid fees and still couldn't successfully master their Qi-blood and had to leave dejectedly, and Fang Xi felt rather balanced once more.
Indeed, martial arts training heavily depends on talent and resources.
The people from Yuanhe Mountain really hadn't been wrong about his mediocre natural physical endowment.
But thanks to the nourishment of spiritual energy and Spirit Rice from the cultivation world, he had made such progress, similar to the small geniuses in a typical martial arts school.
This is the sorrow of the commoners!
If you have talent, you can quickly turn your life around and become upper class.
If you lack talent and resources, then you're destined to be stuck in the mud for a lifetime!
"But I am different, I must fight!"
"In the Da Liang World, I will strive for as many resources as possible!"
With this thought, Fang Xi left the White Cloud Martial Arts School and returned to the Fang Residence.
"The young master is back!"
Fu and the maids, including Laurel, greeted him; the maids, in particular, had smiles in their eyes.
The young master had disappeared mysteriously for several days and finally appeared today.
"Go to the training ground, I want to practice."
Ignoring Laurel's slightly resentful look, Fang Xi went to the training ground.
Whoosh!
With a flash, he was already on top of the wooden stakes, practicing the Snake Walking Eight Methods.
As for the training of the Red Snake Leg, he hadn't neglected it either.
By now, he was also at the Second Transformation of Qi-blood realm!
"Red Snake Leg!"
In an instant, Fang Xi kicked out three times while suspended in the air.
His legs were supple and boneless, like living snakes, with the attackers uncertain of which direction the strikes would come from.
Thump thump thump!
Three wooden stakes broke with a sound!
"This Red Snake Leg is not only sharp, it's also very helpful for leg techniques…"
Fang Xi retracted his legs, muttering to himself.
After obtaining the Red Snake Leg Divine Figure, he practically had the entire core essence of this martial art, and could at least train it to the realm of the Principal of the Martial Arts School, naturally not willing to give up.
If one were to lift his trouser legs now, they could see that his legs had become thicker than before, with clearly defined muscles.
Moreover, along the major tendons, there was a snake-like, twisted pattern.
This was a distinctive sign of cultivating the Red Snake Leg to the Second Transformation of Qi-blood.
"The priority now is to break through to the Third Transformation of Qi and Blood as soon as possible and gain access to Monster Demon meat resources…"
Fang Xi finished practicing the Red Snake Leg and already had a plan in mind.
However, upon seeing those pretty maids, he decided to slightly postpone his plan.
After working so hard in the Cultivation World to harvest a field, it was time to continue enjoying life.
...
The following day.
White Cloud Martial Arts School.
Fang Xi, after all, was a man of strong resolve.
Following an evening of tasting tea and listening to music, he continued his cultivation today.
Moreover, he felt his qi-blood starting to stir restlessly.
Perhaps... the breakthrough to the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood would come today!
"Burn! Keep the fire going!"
Before the earthen stove, sensing that the intensity of the toxic medicinal soup's stimulation on his palms was dwindling, Fang Xi's expression remained unchanged as he repeatedly urged on.
"Yes!"
Several servants, having doffed their tops, were too busy sweating profusely to even wipe it off, as they piled up a large amount of firewood beneath the stove and added more poison to the pot.
Around them, a crowd of onlookers had gathered unbeknownst when.
Wu Ji was among them and, watching the scene, he raised his voice, "Junior Brother Fang is making the mistake of being reckless... Adding the venom so rashly, he might ruin his hands..."
Tang Xuan's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but Liu Taotao spoke up first, "I think Junior Brother must have accumulated enough and wants to bravely push forward!"
Her clear voice not only caused Wu Ji to freeze momentarily, but even Tang Xuan turned to look at her in surprise.
What got into this Junior Sister today, directly challenging the Second Senior Brother?
Before long, Mu Canglong and Piaomiao were alerted and both arrived, looking upon the scene with different expressions.
Half an hour later.
"Huff..."
Fang Xi withdrew his palms, revealing them to be bright red. When the redness faded, a gray color began slowly spreading across them, from the center of his palms to the edges and then to the back of his hands...
By the end, both of his hands had turned gray.
"Is this... the Cloud Layer level?"
Piaomiao exclaimed in shock.
The Three Transformations of Qi and Blood, the Cloud Layer level!
This meant that Fang Xi's mastery of the White Cloud Palm had caught up with hers, and he was now second only to Mu Canglong!
"He actually broke through?"
Wu Ji, staring at this scene, had his mouth wide open, looking like a frog.
But by then, no one was paying any attention to this clown.
"Congratulations Junior Brother Fang, your martial arts have greatly improved!"
Tang Xuan congratulated loudly.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother (Senior Brother)... for your significant progress in martial arts!" a group of disciples bowed one after another.
"Thank you!"
Fang Xi's expression was calm and collected, but as he passed by Liu Taotao, he smiled at her, "If you face difficulties obtaining cultivation resources in the future, Senior Sister, feel free to tell me..."
As these words were spoken, the facial expressions of those around changed slightly.
Many disciples looked at Liu Taotao with envy.
After all, they were well aware that Liu Taotao had not succeeded well in martial arts and was about to be forced by her family to marry!
Now that Senior Brother Fang was offering help, her days could be significantly eased.
"Thank you... Junior Brother!"
Liu Taotao's voice was choked with emotion.
"No need for politeness."
Fang Xi waved his hand dismissively.
For him, this was but a minor investment.
...
Main Hall of the Martial Arts School.
"Good, very good!"
Mu Canglong watched Fang Xi, very satisfied.
He had not expected that a mere Apprentice he had taken in for silver would show such exceptional talent in the White Cloud Palm!
"Fang Xi, now that you have achieved the Three Transformations of Qi and Blood, your next step should be to consolidate your qi-blood and step into the level of True Power," Mu Canglong said seriously, producing a scroll, "This is the secret Divine Intent Diagram of our White Cloud Palm. Take a look at it first, and remember, the emphasis is on the intent, not the form. Pay attention to the artistic conception within the painting!"
"Thank you, Master."
Fang Xi, intending to send Mu a generous gift later through Fu, unceremoniously took the scroll and unfurled it.
On the huge scroll, there were only clouds.
Clouds rolling and billowing, imbued with an ethereal intent.
He looked at it for a while, closely pondering the true meaning within.
"Not comprehending the Divine Intent Diagram right away is normal. From now on, you can spend half an hour each day with your Senior Sister Piaomiao observing it," Mu Canglong said slowly.
"Understood," Fang Xi returned the scroll to Mu Canglong.
After all, there would be plenty of opportunities to copy the scroll again in the future.
At this time, what concerned him the most were other matters, "Master... I would like to ask about the Demonic Beasts."
"I heard from Piaomiao that you are very concerned about Monster Demon meat?" Mu Canglong nodded, then shook his head, a rare trace of fear appearing on his face, "Demonic Beasts are divided into 'Demon' and 'Beast.' Beasts roam the wilds; ordinary people encountering them would have a slim chance of survival, yet they are still the easier ones to deal with... The truly terrifying ones are the 'Demons'!"
"Demons?"
Fang Xi looked inquiring, but Mu Canglong merely waved his hand, "You should know that even martial artists like me would be undoubtedly doomed when facing Demons, and in the Nine States of Great Liang, regardless of which city encounters a Demon Disaster, that place could potentially become a death ground!"
"They're that fearsome?"
Fang Xi drew in a breath of cold air—well, most of it was an act.
"As for the resource of Monster Demon meat ... a martial artist with the Second Transformation of Qi-blood can afford to consume a bit..." Mu Canglong pondered, then threw over a wooden token, "In Black Stone City, there is a black market, where Monster Demon meat is available. If you wish for it, you can buy some there."