"Two masters, please!"
That evening, Fang Xi hosted a banquet to entertain the two martial arts instructors, Mu Piaomiao and She Lei.
Dressed in a brocade robe and wearing a jade crown, although slightly slender, Fang Xi exuded an ethereal air that impressed Mu Piaomiao, who quickly raised a toast.
"Please."
As the cool wine flowed down his throat, Mu Piaomiao couldn't help but exclaim, "Good wine..."
She Lei, even more surprised, exclaimed, "Could this be the 'Autumn Dew White' from the Baili Winery? It is said that the owner of this winery only brews eighteen barrels a year, each aged for three years, valued at a hundred taels..."
"Hehe, I appreciate fine wine, fine cuisine, beautiful maids, antiques, luxurious mansions, and exquisite skills..."
Fang Xi poured himself a drink, sighed, "I once heard a saying, 'A man in this world should climb the highest mountain, drink the strongest wine, wield the fastest sword, ride the best horse, enjoy the most beautiful women, and fight the fiercest battles...'"
In the world of cultivation, he dared not say such words, but in this world, it could serve as a small life goal to spice things up.
"Hahaha... youth is truly wonderful."
She Lei took a sip of Autumn Dew White and suddenly felt a hint of youthfulness returning.
Once, he was a young martial artist with dreams, until a blade struck his knee...
"Enjoying the most beautiful women..."
Mu Piaomiao blushed, subconsciously adjusting her collar, cursing the lecherous fellow silently, yet feeling a bit intrigued.
After all, those female martial artists often ended up destitute, forced to sell their looks; she had heard of such things.
And this young master Fang, truly young and wealthy, gentle and charming, seemed like a good match...
"Leaving that aside, even in the scorching summer, there is no hint of heat in the hall... truly rare, rare."
She Lei's gaze fell on the wooden boxes in the hall, and he remarked, "This must be one of Master Fang's extraordinary skills, right?"
"Of course, this is a soil-based air conditioner, capable of keeping the room warm in winter and cool in summer, a generous display..."
Fang Xi waved his hand, combining cultivation techniques and past life experience to create this air conditioner, a source of pride for him.
However, he was too lazy to promote it for profit; everything was for his own convenience and enjoyment.
Being a businessman in a world with supernatural powers, how could one not be frustrated?
The next day.
At the training ground.
Mu Piaomiao was absent, leaving only She Lei.
Although the martial arts academy taught for money, it was also important to avoid suspicion.
She Lei's expression turned serious, "The Red Snake Leg of my Red Snake Martial Arts Academy focuses on leg techniques. Initially, students practice footwork, starting with stance training on wooden stakes... later, adding weights... Let me demonstrate for the young master."
Several rows of unevenly spaced plum stakes were already set up on the training ground.
She Lei leaped lightly onto a wooden stake, moving as if flying, "Body like a pine, legs like a snake, moving with the body but not the mind..."
After a demonstration, he stepped down from the stake and said, "Martial arts training is demanding, best accompanied by nourishing meals... Initially, a physician can prescribe some tonics to nourish qi and blood. Once the secrets of qi and blood are understood, specialized martial arts academy medicines are required."
"Secret medicines?"
Fang Xi's interest was piqued, thinking of his second goal, "What are the secrets of qi and blood?"
Following the steps, he would surely gain access to the martial arts academy's secret medicine channels, so he wasn't in a hurry.
"The so-called qi and blood are the basis for ranking martial artists."
She Lei explained, "For example, in my Red Snake Martial Arts Academy, when disciples first join, they practice the 'Eight Snake Techniques.' Once they grasp qi and blood, undergo a transformation, they become inner disciples... After the first transformation, leg strength increases significantly, bones and tendons become stronger, breaking a stake with a kick is no problem. After the second transformation, even within the martial arts academy, they are considered skilled. As for the third transformation... that's when they become successors."
"I see."
Fang Xi nodded and began practicing the 'Eight Snake Techniques' on the stake.
Although his physical aptitude was average, his keen senses as a cultivator allowed him to memorize texts after a few readings.
She Lei was astonished to find that despite his seemingly ordinary physique, this wealthy young master learned everything after one lesson, executing it flawlessly on the first try.
Though a bit slow, he completed the full sequence on his first attempt, with no mistakes by the third repetition.
"This time at Yuanhe Mountain, I might have underestimated him."
Thinking to himself, She Lei's expression became more solemn.
"She Lei, how long do you think it will take me to grasp qi and blood and reach the first level of transformation?"
After several repetitions, Fang Xi was sweating, and a maid quickly handed him a towel.
Wiping his sweat, he couldn't help but marvel.
This path of qi and blood cultivation was indeed different from other martial arts he had seen in the Southern Wasteland cultivation world. He had read a few mundane martial arts books and found them far inferior to qi and blood cultivation.
"Generally speaking, ordinary disciples can sense qi and blood within three months..."
Since he was just starting out, She Lei smiled, "Your talent is good, so it might be shorter."
"Three months?"
Fang Xi nodded, returning to the stake to continue practicing footwork.
By the afternoon, the instructor changed to Mu Piaomiao, dressed in white.
"My martial arts academy's secret White Cloud Palm has three levels: White Cloud, Black Cloud, and Dark Cloud!"
Mu Piaomiao faced the stake and lightly struck it.
Snap!
A deep palm print immediately appeared on the stake, with clear black marks visible on the edges of the print.
Fang Xi's nose twitched, detecting a foul smell, his expression changing, "Poison?"
"Correct, your reaction is quick."
Mu Piaomiao smiled, "The White Cloud Palm is inherently a poisonous skill! In the later stages, poison is infused into the palm force, causing death with a single strike! Of course, it's not necessary at the beginning, just practice palm force on the stake. Let me demonstrate for you."
The initial training of the White Cloud Palm involved daily palm strikes, preferably with the special medicinal sandbags from the White Cloud Martial Arts Academy.
Fang Xi spared no expense in this regard, immediately purchasing ten high-quality medicinal bags and practicing palm strikes continuously.
He could feel that with each strike on the bags, his skin was becoming firmer, and the strength in his palms was gradually increasing...
Time passed unknowingly.
...
Qingzhu Mountain.
Opening the door, Fang Xi looked at the snow falling all around and the sparse furniture in his humble abode, exhaling a cloud of white breath, "It feels like a world apart..."
In the Great Liang world, he was the wealthy young master of the Fang family, with luxurious mansions and beautiful maids in Heishi City. Although he occasionally faced setbacks, he could resolve ninety-nine percent of them with money.
But in the Southern Wasteland cultivation world, he was just a small fry.
At the bottom of the cultivation world, struggling to make ends meet.
How miserable!
"I still need to take care of the Bixue Cui Bamboo Forest and maintain the identity of Qingzhu Mountain's spiritual farmer. Although it's a pitiful role, it's better than being a wandering cultivator. I can still leverage the market channels..."
Fang Xi patted his chest and found the demonic insect Stone Dragon Child still there.
"The first thing to do is to deal with this, then buy talismans, preferably a low-grade magical weapon for self-defense!"
He never forgot his true reliance!
The Great Liang world was not a paradise.
Without enough strength, he couldn't enjoy it!
However, with the keen senses of a cultivator and a few life-saving talismans hidden away, he believed he could even counter She Lei and Mu Piaomiao.
And occasionally disappearing for a while would confuse those who coveted his position, helping him maintain the Fang family's facade.
But Fang Xi knew that such good days wouldn't last long.
The lurking hyenas and vultures would reveal themselves sooner or later.
Therefore, he needed to strengthen his power!
For cultivators, the most convenient way to increase strength was to break through realms.
Apart from that, there were many other ways to enhance one's strength using external objects.
Such as powerful talismans, puppets, spirit beasts... even magical weapons!
"With my current cultivation, I can only control one low-grade magical weapon at most, but that should suffice... After all, most martial artists in Great Liang can't even dodge a crossbow bolt, let alone fear the government."
Magical weapons!
These were standard equipment for Qi Refining cultivators, divided into low, medium, high, and the top-tier categories.
Even the lowest-grade magical weapons often cost around ten spirit stones.
As for true top-tier magical weapons, they were standard for those at the peak of Qi Refining and some in the Foundation Building stage.
Rumors spoke of even higher-grade spiritual weapons and even legendary treasures... but those were beyond Fang Xi's current aspirations.
Putting on a padded jacket and a straw raincoat, he walked into the heavy snow.
Although he could use spells to keep warm, his Qi Refining cultivation had limits, so he needed to conserve...
As he walked, a man approached from the opposite direction, it was Old Wheat Head.
"Brother Fang..."
His face flushed, he greeted Fang Xi.
"Oh, Old Wheat Head, you look quite rosy. You must have good news."
Fang Xi smiled slightly, knowing where the man had been these past few days.
"Ah, just bored in the winter, brewing tea by the stove, seeking some fun..."
Old Wheat Head replied, trying to sound impressive.
But Fang Xi noticed his slightly trembling legs and signs of Qi deficiency, rolling his eyes inwardly.
Although most cultivators had long lifespans, overexertion could still lead to trouble...
But it wasn't his concern.
It seemed those hidden enchantment skills were quite impressive.
"On the other hand, Brother Fang, you look even better after a few days..."
Old Wheat Head noticed a hint of Yang energy on Fang Xi, unlike his usual cautious demeanor, and couldn't help but comment.
"I made some progress during seclusion."
Fang Xi replied with a nod, heading towards the market.
(End of Chapter)