For the entire day, Fang Wang stayed within his own guest room to practice cultivation, and Zhou Xing Shi similarly remained within his room, each respecting the other's privacy, yet both harbored their own thoughts.
Fang Wang was curious about what Zhou Xue was up to, why she would gouge out the eyes of Green Cicada Valley disciples, while Zhou Xing Shi wrestled internally, contemplating that if both Fang Wang and Zhou Xue were Demonic Cultivators, Great Abyss Gate nurturing Fang Wang would be akin to digging their own grave. However, Fang Wang treated him well, even imparting the Body-protecting Divine Barrier and Great Celestial Thunder Technique to him, which caused him much anguish.
In the days that followed, the atmosphere in Fang Town became increasingly strange; the night battles grew more frequent, and the number of corpses appearing by day likewise increased.
Fang Wang overheard Cultivators passing by in the street below, discussing how the victims were almost all deprived of their eyes.
Could it all be the work of Zhou Xue?
Why would she do such a thing, wasn't she afraid of attracting the wrath of the Great Cultivators from Green Cicada Valley?
Fang Wang believed that Zhou Xue wouldn't trap him, so he could only suppress his confusion and continue cultivating.
Five days passed quickly.
On this day, before dawn had broken, Zhou Xue came to find him, asking Fang Wang and Zhou Xing Shi to follow her and leave.
The three of them quickly left the town and entered the forest.
Fang Wang couldn't help but ask, "Were all those corpses with their eyes gouged out your doing?"
He always felt that her actions were not as simple as exterminating monsters; she must have been plotting something. But he was worried that Zhou Xing Shi would tell Guang Qiuxian about Zhou Xue's style of doing things. If Guang Qiuxian concluded that Zhou Xue was a Demonic Cultivator, that would be bad news.
"Hmm, isn't eradicating the Demonic Dao what we, the righteous Cultivators, should do?"
Zhou Xue, walking in front, suddenly twisted her head around to smile at Fang Wang, her expression sending chills down Zhou Xing Shi's spine.
"Then I'll tell you. Green Cicada Valley is practicing a Secret Technique called Absolute Heart Evil Eye, which requires live human eyes to cultivate the Evil Eye. My actions are merely to mislead Green Cicada Valley into thinking it's an inside job, leading them into internal suspicion, while I also gather Spirit Stones, Elixirs, Magic Artifacts, etc., in the process of killing Demonic Cultivators," Zhou Xue turned her head back, gazing forward, and spoke calmly.
Zhou Xing Shi heaved a silent sigh of relief upon hearing this.
The explanation seemed reasonable, although he had never heard of Absolute Heart Evil Eye, at least it was an excuse he could live with.
The trio walked through the forest, not too swiftly. Along the way, Zhou Xue occasionally scattered some powder onto the roadside flowers and herbs.
Both Fang Wang and Zhou Xing Shi were puzzled but did not ask further.
Until nightfall came.
The three of them rested in the woods, with Zhou Xue calling Fang Wang aside while Zhou Xing Shi stayed by the fire, casting them only a glance.
Fang Wang followed Zhou Xue to a riverbank several miles away, where the two stood face to face. Zhou Xue frowned and asked, "That guy has the Wondrous Spring of Ten Thousand Poisons worm inside him, how did that come to be? And why does he obey you so readily?"
Fang Wang thought for a moment before deciding to share what had happened that day, although he did not reveal the grade of his Spirit Treasure.
"So that's how it is; looks like those two still had some conscience. But the Wondrous Spring of Ten Thousand Poisons worm relies on more than just a chant," Zhou Xue said in a singsong tone.
Fang Wang inquired, "Can you solve it?"
Zhou Xue laughed, "The Wondrous Spring of Ten Thousand Poisons worm is a breed of Green Cicada Valley, and having cultivated there for fifty years, I naturally can solve it. However, I can't solve it now, to avoid alerting the enemy. Before achieving the Profound Heart Realm, you must leave Great Abyss Gate, at least you can't break through within the sect. When the time comes, I will personally guard you."
With these words, Fang Wang felt much relieved.
"Aren't you an Immortal Venerable? Why then are you fixated on the Ji Hao Sect's legacy?" Fang Wang shifted the topic, a question that had long bothered him.
Zhou Xue couldn't possibly have come for Fang Hanyu; Fang Hanyu had only sent a message to the sect, and Zhou Xue, being outside, likely didn't know he was in trouble.
Zhou Xue gave Fang Wang a sidelong glance, saying, "Although I was an Immortal Venerable before, I had not mastered all of the world's supreme arts before ascending. Don't tell me you think an Immortal Venerable can look down upon and perceive all of the Mortal Realm? You would be gravely mistaken. The Immortal Realm and the Mortal Realm are separated; it is hard to cross between them. Mortals cannot ascend to the Upper Realm, and the mighty ones of the Upper Realm cannot descend to the Mortal Realm—it's completely two different worlds, though the Upper Realm is stronger."
"Furthermore, I came here not for supreme arts but for the special Magic Artifacts, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and superior Spirit Stones left by the Ji Hao Sect. Even as an Immortal Venerable reborn, I need to cultivate step by step. Collecting the cultivation resources of the Mortal Realm is my task, and moreover, ascending is not so simple."
At the mention of ascension, Zhou Xue's face showed an expression Fang Wang couldn't understand.
It seemed that ascension was incredibly difficult, and even Zhou Xue, who had already successfully ascended once, didn't have absolute certainty in doing it again.
Fang Wang, however, wasn't intimidated; with the Heavenly Palace in his possession, there was always hope.
"The Cultivator who attacked the Fang Residence was named Luo Shang. Can you guess his sect or clan?" Suddenly, Zhou Xue stared at Fang Wang, her gaze cold as she posed the question.
Fang Wang furrowed his brow and ventured, "Green Cicada Valley?"
He thought of the revenge Zhou Xue had taken on Green Cicada Valley in the past few days, hence the guess.
"No, Great Abyss Gate!"
"What?"
Fang Wang was deeply moved, and his hands inside his sleeves suddenly clenched.
Zhou Xue sighed, "In my past life, I escaped a narrow death and wandered for many years. By the time I stepped onto the path of cultivation, I could no longer find any clues about the massacre at Fang Residence. Before my rebirth, I didn't even know his name. But in Grand Qi, besides the Fang Residence, there were other Duke's Mansions and cities that were massacred by mysterious Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators. In my previous life, I only knew that it involved a collusion between the Prime Minister and the cultivation sects. By the time I had the power to investigate, that Prime Minister had already died, and his family did not meet good ends, so the matter was left unresolved."
"Three months ago, I went to wait near another Duke's Mansion that was supposed to be destroyed and caught another cultivator. He revealed the truth. He and Luo Shang are both outer sect disciples of the first vein of the Great Abyss Gate, acting on behalf of Lu Yuanjun. They disguised themselves as demonic cultivators, since the Soul Burning Banner is commonly seen in the Cultivation World as a ghost instrument, making it easy to conceal their identities."
Lu Yuanjun!
The top prodigy of Great Abyss Gate, a mid-grade Earth Origin Spirit Treasure!
Fang Wang furrowed his brows, the vengeance for Fang Residence could not go unavenged, so many dead, how could he just let it go?
Zhou Xue continued, "I suppose Great Abyss Gate is unaware of this matter. Perhaps it even involves the Emperor of Grand Qi. In the past life, Lu Yuanjun had a good relationship with the Emperor of Grand Qi. It was with Lu Yuanjun's support that Grand Qi was transformed into a Cultivation Dynasty. I tell you these things only to caution you against Lu Yuanjun. He is kind and always manages to attract those around him to serve him."
Fang Wang's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Are you sure it was him?"
"Hmm, the outer sect disciple confessed under duress that it was indeed Lu Yuanjun who assigned him to collect ghosts, probably because Lu Yuanjun is nurturing a powerful ghost instrument," Zhou Xue nodded, a murderous intent also evident in her eyes.
Lu Yuanjun!
For Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, he was an insurmountable mountain at present. They could not possibly accuse Lu Yuanjun; the entire Great Abyss Gate was campaigning for him.
Fang Wang took a deep breath and said, "If that's the case, then I am determined to win the identity of the leading disciple of Great Abyss Gate!"
Zhou Xue smiled and said, "Good, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. Before you become the leading disciple, let's pretend this never happened. Although Great Abyss Gate is part of the righteous path, not everyone there is good-hearted. The fate of Zhou Xing Shi is the best proof."
Just a moment ago, Fang Wang even thought of seeking out Guang Qiuxian, using the rank of his Heaven Yuan Spirit Treasure to pressure Lu Yuanjun, but he quickly dismissed the thought as too risky.
Today's Lu Yuanjun was different; he was the face of Great Abyss Gate. Could Guang Qiuxian really suppress Lu Yuanjun directly?
Even if he could, it would probably only result in a reprimand. After all, could he kill Lu Yuanjun just because of a bunch of mortals?
"Tell me, what do you want to learn? I'll teach you, but remember, you can only make one request." Zhou Xue crossed her arms in front of her chest, arching an eyebrow as she looked at Fang Wang.
Upon hearing this, Fang Wang immediately said, "Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique!"
Zhou Xue couldn't help but glare at him, saying irritably, "Do you really think I know everything? In my past life, I hadn't acquired this technique. Before my ascension, I wasn't an invincible entity. There were more than a handful of people who could rival me; it's just that ascension also depends on fate."
Fang Wang smiled; he was just testing the waters. Since Zhou Xue didn't know it, he might as well learn a technique to conceal his presence.
Zhou Xue readily agreed to his request.
This technique was called Effortless Breath Technique, a supplementary Inner Strength art mainly for hiding one's emotions.
In Heavenly Palace, it only took Fang Wang ten years to reach Great Perfection. From Zhou Xue's perspective, Fang Wang's breath vanished instantly just after listening to her, and if she closed her eyes without using spiritual sense, she wouldn't even be aware that someone was in front of her.
"With this kid's comprehension, he will eventually bring down Lu Yuanjun."
Zhou Xue revealed a gratified smile; she had long been convinced of Fang Wang's talents.
Fang Wang was responsible for competing for the leading disciple position within Great Abyss Gate to further the interests of the Fang Family, while she would nurture the Fang Family. Great Abyss Gate was just a stepping stone in her plan.
…
Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, scattering mottled specks of light across the grass.
Bang!
A man dressed in a green Dao robe smashed against a huge tree trunk, shaking the ancient tree to its core. He fell to the ground, spitting out a large mouthful of blood.
A short distance away, Fang Wang retracted his leg, with Zhou Xue and Zhou Xing Shi looking on with differing expressions. Zhou Xue was full of satisfaction, while Zhou Xing Shi was shocked.
After talking with Zhou Xue three nights ago, Zhou Xing Shi always felt that there was a fierce killing intent about Fang Wang, a far cry from before.
For instance, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation Realm couldn't withstand a single kick from him!
Zhou Xue stepped forward, squatting in front of the seriously injured disciple from Green Cicada Valley, beginning to interrogate him.
Over these days, they had interrogated seven disciples from Green Cicada Valley and learned that this group was searching for a disciple from Great Abyss Gate. According to the description, it was very likely Fang Hanyu.
After a while, Zhou Xue snapped the neck of the Green Cicada Valley disciple, took his storage bag, and then signaled to Fang Wang and the others.
As they passed by the corpse, Fang Wang noticed the man's eyes had been gouged out as well.
He suddenly wondered if Zhou Xue was also trying to cultivate the Absolute Heart Evil Eye?
Fang Wang was not too opposed to it; Green Cicada Valley disciples were notorious, not only for using poison but also for their ruthless acts, often slaughtering villagers in rural areas. According to Zhou Xing Shi, the most cruel among the Demonic Sects were the cultivators from Green Cicada Valley, even despised by other Demonic Sects.
Zhou Xue, walking ahead and wiping her hands, said, "Fang Hanyu is probably hiding somewhere up ahead in the Demon Forest Mountain Range. The Demonic Qi here is very dense, and there may be powerful demonic beings. Be very careful."