In the Ye Clan’s main hall…
“Father, why are we fawning on the sword cultivator? He killed the Sea Dragon Sect’s late Foundation Establishment cultivator! If the Sea Dragon Sect pursues this matter…” a middle-aged man asked.
The Ye Clan’s patriarch looked at the middle-aged man, followed by the other doubtful clansmen, before letting out a sigh. “He killed a late Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single slash. Do you think whoever’s behind him would fear a mere Golden Core cultivator?”
A mere Golden Core cultivator…
The Ye Clansmen thought that their patriarch was arrogant to say such words, but they had to admit that he made sense. The sword cultivator had to have a powerful background to possess such formidable means.
If the Sea Dragon Sect’s Golden Core cultivator learned that his late Foundation Establishment cultivator had been killed in a single slash, he would probably hesitate to avenge him.
“That sword cultivator intends to buy a huge amount of spirit materials. Reach out to the Xu Clan and the Zhou Clan and tell them to contact their suppliers. We need to secure the items as soon as possible,” the Ye Clan’s patriarch ordered.
“Yes, patriarch.” The middle-aged man quickly left.
The following day, the Ye Clan’s patriarch excitedly knocked on Fang Chen’s door and said, “Elder, we have gotten into contact with the suppliers and secured thirteen spirit materials, be it Moonsunk Gold, Crimsonfire Metal, Adamantium Jade… I made a rough calculation, and those should add up to 9000 low-grade ki stones. It’s just that…”
The Ye Clan’s patriarch suddenly revealed a conflicted look.
“Speak,” Fang Chen said.
“We aren’t able to raise enough funds to pay the suppliers…” the Ye Clan’s patriarch replied with a bitter smile.
“That’s not a problem. I’ll hand you 4000 low-grade ki stones first. Use it. I’ll pay the other half when the spirit materials are delivered to me,” Fang Chan said as he took out 4000 low-grade ki stones.
Fang Chen took out 4000 low-grade ki stones and handed it to the Ye Clan’s patriarch. “How long will it take for the goods to be delivered?”
The Ye Clan’s thumped his chest and replied, “The spirit ores will arrive at Spirit Heaven City within two days!”
“One day.” Fang Chen smiled. “I’ll only give you one day.”
“One day?!” The Ye Clan’s patriarch was startled. Then, he clenched his jaws and nodded. “Rest assured, elder. I’ll personally escort the goods with the Xu Clan’s and the Zhou Clan’s patriarchs. The spirit ores will arrive within a day.”
“Good.” Fang Chen nodded.
The Ye Clan’s patriarch humbly took his leave.
Now that he was alone in the room, Fang Chen took off his mask. He looked at his aged face in the mirror and sighed in distress. He no longer looked as spirited and dashing as he was before.
“I’m looking even though I haven’t reached 24 yet. My depleted lifespan has to be replenished via spirit fruits or pills; just cultivating won’t help,” Fang Chen murmured.
Sword cultivators tended to only have a lifespan of around a third of their peers, and he might have expended around 30 to 50 years of his lifespan from forcefully executing the Eight Barrens Immortal Subjugation Peerless Swordsmanship.
However, he had no regrets.
Had he not done that, he wouldn’t have been able to kill the Sea Dragon Sect’s late Foundation Establishment cultivator, let alone intimidate the Sea Dragon Sect.
“E-elder!” a voice echoed outside.
Fang Chen put on his mask and walked out. Ye Wenxiu and Abbess Clearlotus were standing at the entrance of his courtyard.
“Elder, this abbess claims to be acquainted with you. I thought that might be one of your sect members, so I brought her in…” Ye Wenxiu mustered his courage and reported.
That day, at the City Lord Manor, he heard that Fang Chen had a nun who appeared to be from the Moon Monastery with him. It was on this basis that he dared to bring Abbess Clearlotus in.
“Thank you.” Fang Chen nodded. He gestured to Abbess Clearlotus and said, “Come in.”
Abbess Clearlotus was afraid of exposing Fang Chen’s identity, so she refrained from greeting the latter. She also thanked Ye Wenxiu before entering the courtyard.
Ye Wenxiu was disappointed to see that Fang Chen didn’t react much. Watching as the two of them walked into the room, he gathered his courage and said, “Elder, is it possible for me to walk on the road of a sword cultivator?”
“You are?” Fang Chen halted his footsteps and turned to Ye Wenxiu.
“I am Ye Wenxiu. The Ye Clan’s patriarch is my grandfather.”
He had seen what Fang Chen was capable of, and he hoped to reach such a level one day too. His desire for power was more intense than ever after he nearly lost the woman he loved to the Flooding Dragon Island Master.
If not for that, he wouldn’t have dared to be this bold.
“The road of a sword cultivator is tough.” Fang Chen shook his head before bringing Abbess Clearlotus into the room.
Ye Wenxiu lowered his head in disappointment.
A few other Ye Clansmen had been eyeing him from the shadows. They waited for Fang Chen to close his room door before rushing over.
“Wenxiu, you should stop dreaming. It isn’t that easy to obtain a sword cultivator’s legacy.”
“You should avoid coming here lest you offend that elder.”
The Ye Clansmen advised.
Ye Wenxiu clenched his fists and hissed, “How would I know if I don’t give it a try?”
With that, he turned around and left.
One of the Ye Clansmen shook his head and said, “There hasn’t been a real sword cultivator from our Infernoblaze for many years now. Wenxiu is daydreaming.”
“Given that elder’s means, he could simply look for disciples in grade-5 or grade-4 states. The spirit ki is much richer there, so the cultivators there are more talented than us,” another Ye Clansman said.
In the room, Abbess Clearlotus noticed that Fang Chen was still wearing the mask, but she didn’t think much about it. “Young master, I think I saw your Great Xia’s ex-emperor yesterday.”
“You saw him too?” Fang Chen was surprised, but he soon nodded with a smile. “You have good eyes. That is Xia Xuanji. I didn’t expect him to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He has met you before, so you should remain in the Ye Clan for the time being. Otherwise, he might figure out my identity.”
“Young master, I fear your Great Xia’s ex-emperor really has ties with the Blood Spirit Cult. There are many vengeful ghosts following him,” Abbess Clearlotus whispered.
“How many?” Fang Chen lifted his eyebrows.
Abbess Clearlotus thought about it before replying, “I-I’m not sure, but there has to be at least hundreds of them.”
Fang Chen nodded. “He is a Blood Spirit Cultist. Those should be the ones he killed with his hands, but there are many more whom he has indirectly harmed. Do you have a communication talisman?”
Communication talisman? Abbess Clearlotus nodded. “My master gave me two before we left.”
“Send a message to your master. I need a favor.” Fang Chen walked up to Abbess Clearlotus and whispered to her.
Abbess Clearlotus hurriedly nodded. She took out a communication talisman and ignited it.
In the Moon Monastery, one of the communication talismans in Abbess Moonchaser’s possession burned to ashes.
“The Great Xia’s ex-emperor, the Blood Spirit Cult…”
A contemplative gleam flashed across her eyes.