Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Tri-element City (Seeking Recommendations) _1 Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Tri-element City (Seeking Recommendations) _1 ‘There must be a secret with Chen Ping!’
Having returned to the Da Liang World, Fang Xi’s eyes gleamed with a sharp light, ‘Should I or should I not…’
The next moment, he let out a self-mocking laugh, “In the Big Thousand World, I’m not the only cultivator who has opportunities. Isn’t it normal to have some secrets? There’s no need to dig to the root of everything, even going as far as killing for treasure. It’s unnecessary… even missing the forest for the trees! Could his secret be bigger than mine?”
To own a gold mountain and yet plot to steal a beggar’s copper plate is indeed a bit… low-level!
Having understood this point, Fang Xi then let go of his desire to investigate Chen Ping and, after determining the direction, rode his horse quickly to catch up with the caravan.
Truthfully, he actually liked being apart from the main troop, taking on a semi-lone wolf status, which made it more convenient to hide certain things.
For example… Fang Xi had been persistently searching for traces of monster beasts in the wilderness.
Unfortunately, even though Da Liang was troubled by demonic beasts, they were not found just anywhere.
Ever since he slew that color-changing lizard, Fang Xi’s luck seemed to have been completely used up.
During these days of wandering in the wilderness, he had not encountered any monster beasts.
The journey was uneventful and without risk, and he caught up with the caravan again.
“The young master has returned!”
Lily’s eyes filled with laughter upon seeing Fang Xi.
“Mmm, I’m back!”
Fang Xi nodded as he looked at the increasingly large caravan.
As the caravan passed through other towns, it naturally replenished its livestock and carriages, making it grow larger and more unwieldy… but the hardship of traveling was much reduced.
After briefly speaking with the maid, Fang Xi then went to find Han Fatty.
“Oh? Fang wants to know about the power structure of Tri-element City?”
Sitting atop a carriage, Han Fatty was happily eating fruit peeled by a concubine when he heard the question and laughed heartily, “That’s simple…”
Since they were idle on the road, Han Fatty took the opportunity to explain in detail the power structure of Tri-element City to Fang Xi.
As the state capital of Ding State, Tri-element City had a large population, a flourishing economy, and many intertwined forces.
“If we talk about the foremost power in Tri-element City, naturally it’s the Ding State Army! The Ding State Army is the cornerstone placed in Ding State by the imperial court… Every soldier in the army must have refined their qi and blood, reaching the first transformation as Martial Trainees! Only when one’s qi and blood undergo three transformations can they become a squad leader, True Strength Warriors can become battalion leaders, and above the battalion leaders are the eight major school captains, each a renowned True Strength Warrior for many years… As for the commanding officer…” Han Fatty deliberately paused for effect.
“Could it be a Real Gang Martial Saint?” interjected Fang Xi.
“If one has the stature of a Grandmaster, then naturally the commanding officer could also achieve that, but it’s not the case…” Han Fatty laughed heartily: “Being good at fighting does not mean being good at warfare… and high martial skill does not mean one can command a large army. The commanding officer of the Ding State Army is just a military officer appointed by the Great Liang imperial court. His strength is hard to gauge, but supposedly by his side is an elite force for personal protection, which even a Grandmaster may not be able to approach…”
“That’s indeed the case,” nodded Fang Xi. “The imperial government is first, so who is the second power?”
“The second power is Yuanhe Mountain.”
Han Fatty took a deliberate glance at Fang Xi, who remained expressionless, before continuing: “Yuanhe Mountain is a major sect in Ding State, with dozens of True Strength Warriors and numerous emerging True Power Warriors. Their network of connections is intricate and complex… It is said that there is a Grandmaster in the sect, but who knows if it’s true.”
“As for the third, it’s the Demon Hunting Society!”
“The Demon Hunting Society?” Upon hearing this name, Fang Xi felt a sudden affinity, probably because he was destined to be connected with this organization.
Han Fatty, oblivious to this feeling, explained, “There are too many and too elusive monster beasts in the mountains, and it’s too troublesome for the imperial army or divine constables to deal with them one by one. Hence, the martial artists from the civilians are also a significant force, and the Demon Hunting Society came into being. It’s like the imperial court issuing bounties; capable warriors can go hunt monster beasts in exchange for rewards… and even fame! Who among warriors doesn’t love fame and fortune? The Demon Hunting Society is widespread throughout the state, and whenever a warrior vanquishes a challenging monster beast, they get their fame promoted, even with monthly rankings…”
“Indeed not bad.”
Fang Xi continued to ask and learned about the fourth and fifth powers: the Business Alliance and the Military Alliance, to which he could only respond with speechlessness.
The Business Alliance was a commercial coalition, and where there is no commerce, there is no wealth – needless to say.
The Military Alliance, on the other hand, was a federation of martial arts schools, ranking only fifth; surely, the merchandise sold out was never the good stuff.
The martial arts taught for money would always be at the bottom tier. It’s understandable that they ended up in such a state… quite understandable.
“Han Fatty, it seems you’ve left some out, like the black market forces?” Fang Xi thought for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Haha… the black market is just a rat in the gutter, what kind of force could it be?” Han Fatty laughed humbly, “Besides them, there are those from the four major noble families. They haven’t been singled out because their influence spans all sectors. Take the Huang Family for instance; they have someone serving as a school captain in the Ding State Army and they also run businesses. Their commercial firms hold quite a bit of voting power in the Business Alliance. Besides that, they also influence some martial arts schools and, in the shadows, they gather many experts as their wings. They are very difficult to deal with…”
“I’m not thinking of dealing with anyone…” Fang Xi gave a self-deprecating laugh: “I just want to practice my martial arts well and aim for the Grandmaster rank in the future!”
“Grandmaster?” Han Fatty gave a wry smile: “To achieve Real Gang? How difficult that is… I’ve only heard an elder mention in passing that one must ‘unite the god and strength’ and ‘become one with heaven and man’…”
“God and Strength Fusion, huh?”
Fang Xi thought of the secrets within Yuanhe Mountain’s books, which also described something similar.
But they were more clear.
The gap between Grandmaster and Martial Teacher was vast, involving many steps.
The first step to becoming a Grandmaster was to develop the intent of one’s fist!
As for the second step, it involves the intricacy of strength, using True Strength to refine the spinal dragon and shooting straight to the Heavenly Spirit, breaking through the Niwan Palace!
This was not recorded in the secret manuals but told to him by Linghu Yang’s master.
First step Martial Teacher, second step Martial Teacher… later there might be a third step, a fourth step…
As to when one can become a Grandmaster, even Linghu Yang did not know.
‘The cultivation of a Martial Teacher is harder than that of a Martial Artist…’
‘Too bad, the secret manual I have for Yuanhe Wulei Hand is incomplete… perhaps, I should think of a way?’
Fang Xi gazed at the scenery outside the carriage, lost in thought.
…
In the month that followed, Fang Xi often strayed from the group to tend to his farming in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm and handle interpersonal matters.
He occasionally dashed left and right through the wilderness of Ding State in search of monster beasts.
After expending much effort, he finally managed to slay a two-headed snake demon, skinned it, and stored the meat for sale.
As for this outcome, Fang Xi had gradually come to terms with it.
If the existence of demons could be seen everywhere between the rural fields, then how could the commoners cultivate the land?
This world would probably have been destroyed long ago; there would be no existence of the Great Liang dynasty.
Therefore, although there are demonic beasts in the wilderness, they are ultimately few and far between.
Just like the prior situation in Black Stone City, it was purely because the Monster Tree had been born, driving away other monster beasts—truly an exception!
…
On this day.
The carriage procession made its way up a hill and, looking into the distance, a large city came into view.
This grand city was situated at the confluence of two great rivers, complete with an expansive dock.
In the sunlight, the moat sparkled, and upon it, enormous flower boats roamed…
The towering ancient city carried an air of antiquity, and on the plaques, the huge characters for ‘Tri-element’ were clearly visible.
“Tri-element City, we’ve arrived!”
Within the caravan, many people cheered.
They had finally reached the end of their journey.
“Young master, look!”
Lily pointed excitedly towards the city not far off: “So many people… so beautiful…”
“Indeed!”
Fang Xi smiled, patting her head with a hint of indulgence, and then turned to Mu Piaomiao, “Piaomiao… take care of Lily.”
“Please rest assured, senior brother, huh?” Mu Piaomiao subconsciously agreed, then realized something was amiss: “Senior brother… aren’t you entering the city?”
“I’m only here to escort you to this place, and after walking a thousand miles together, a departure is inevitable. Farewell!”
Fang Xi waved his hand toward Mu Canglong and Han Fatty, then turned and strode away.
Entering the city with so many people was not his intention.
After all, where there are many people, there are many mouths, and he had revealed some of his extraordinary abilities before.
Even Mu Canglong might not trust him completely.
Moreover, the siege of Black Stone City was a major event that surely attracted official attention. Once the authorities discovered this group of survivors, upon questioning, who would be able to withstand?
Human hearts are not always resolute in the face of scrutiny.
Thus, Fang Xi chose not to test the hearts of men.
As long as he vanished mysteriously, with no one knowing his whereabouts, there would be no one to think of betraying him to the officials.
Therefore, he decided to leave alone, not even taking Lily with him.
After all, she was but a servant girl. He had protected her through the Demon Disaster and ensured her safe passage to Tri-element City, which was already a tremendous act of kindness.
He owed her gratitude, not debt.
Fang Xi left with an air of nonchalance.
Watching his departing figure, Mu Canglong and Han Fatty were silent for a while.
Although they felt grateful to Fang Xi for saving their lives and would likely not betray their savior, what lay deep in their hearts was hard to say.
But now, they didn’t have to think about it at all.
Because Fang Xi didn’t give them the chance!
…
“After reaching the status of a True Strength Warrior, it becomes quite difficult to make progress. Right now, my martial strength is equivalent to a second-level Martial Teacher, but on the Grandmaster’s path, I haven’t taken a single step… Although aided by Spirit Sense, the realm of subtlety, understanding the essence of fist intent should be swift…”
“But martial arts are merely a means to protect the path, Cultivation is the true means to a long life…”
Fang Xi returned to the Cultivation Realm, feeling the richer spiritual energy compared to Da Liang, and sighed to himself.
He emerged from the cellar and entered the shed, where he found a Voice Transmission Talisman fluttering outside!
Fang Xi reached out to catch it, infusing a sliver of magic power.
A crisp voice of a young girl rang out: “Is this Sir Fang Xi? This is Situ Qingqing, the newly appointed officer of Andian. Please send me a message after seeing this Voice Transmission Talisman.”
“The Situ Family has changed people?”
Fang Xi, holding the Voice Transmission Talisman, was surprised. Yet, he did as instructed, imbued magic power and threw it with a lift of his hand.
Whoosh!
The Voice Transmission Talisman turned into a trail of fire and disappeared.
It wasn’t long before an Iron Leaf Ship Magic Weapon flew over.
Aboard it stood a young girl clad in a green dress.
Her willowy eyebrows were delicately drawn, her skin slightly pale; her features not particularly striking but remarkably harmonious, bearing a spirit-like ethereal quality. Her long hair reached her waist, making her seem like a lady from a landscape painting come to life.
“I’ve met Sir Situ!”
Fang Xi hurriedly gave his greetings.
Even though he felt that she was merely at the mid-Qi Refining stage, she was nonetheless a person from the Situ Family!
“Sir Fang is an old friend of our Green Bamboo Mountain’s Spirit Farmer; no need for formalities!”
Situ Qingqing spoke, her voice akin to a crystal-clear stream flowing through the mountains.