Chapter 236

Swoosh!

Fang Qing raised a hand, and a streak of sword light shot forth.

Amid the vast sea of stars, the sword qi suddenly dispersed, transforming into countless strands of sword silk.

It was none other than the supreme sword art, Refining the Sword into Threads!

"Useless! Sword cultivator, is it? It's not as though I've never killed one before!"

Heart-Eroding Wanderer revealed a savage grin.

His Black Spirit Threads carried terrifying poison. They specialized in piercing mana barriers and could even contaminate dharma treasures.

Even a sword cultivator's flying sword would rapidly lose its spirituality once entangled by the Black Spirit Threads.

Yet when the sword threads collided with the black threads, an astonishing scene unfolded.

Pfft!

The sword threads crossed one another.

The Black Spirit Threads snapped apart instantly, as though they were made of paper.

"No! Impossible!"

Heart-Eroding Wanderer's hair flew loose as disbelief filled his face.

He immediately formed another hand seal.

The flying trident transformed into a two-headed black python and lunged downward, while he himself quietly retreated.

His demonic cultivation had not yet completely eroded his Dao heart. Faced with an opponent he could not overcome, his first instinct was naturally to flee.

"Brother Bai?"

Wang Ziqin and Wang Zixuan had already fallen into despair. Seeing this turn of events, they suddenly felt as though they had escaped death itself.

"Too weak. Far too weak."

Fang Qing shook his head.

If a sword cultivator's natal flying sword could be contaminated so easily, the sword cultivators of the Sword Dao would have gone extinct long ago.

His flying sword, Wolfbreaker, had already reached the Third Revolution. It could shift between substance and insubstantiality at will. During its refinement, it had fundamentally been forged from an incomparably sharp strand of metal qi.

How could something like that be contaminated?

At that moment, his sword art changed once more.

The Heavenly Escape Sword Art flowed forth freely.

Man and sword became one.

A streak of dazzling light swept across the two-headed black python.

Crack!

Thunder boomed through the sky.

Only after the sword light had passed did the black python suddenly freeze in place.

It let out a mournful cry before reverting to its original form as a flying trident.

A perfectly smooth line appeared across its body.

The next instant, the flying trident split neatly into two halves.

Dong! Dong!

The Black Poison Bell became entangled by countless sword threads.

It emitted a sorrowful hum before completely losing its spiritual power, reverting to a small bell that floated helplessly in the air.

"Sister..."

Wang Zixuan watched as Fang Qing pursued his enemy while the Black Poison Bell simply fell from the sky as though drained of all power.

A terrifying thought surfaced in her heart.

'Could it be... that Fellow Daoist Bai Jianfeng has already killed Heart-Eroding Wanderer?'

"It is said that sword cultivators excel in battle and can kill within the span of a finger snap. Today, I've finally seen that the reputation is well deserved."

Wang Ziqin sighed softly.

Just then, a flash of sword light returned.

Fang Qing's figure appeared.

In his hand was a severed head.

Whose head could it be but Heart-Eroding Wanderer's?

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on slaying such a formidable enemy..."

Even Wang Zixuan's voice trembled slightly.

After all, Heart-Eroding Wanderer had been a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator who specialized in demonic arts and possessed tremendous combat strength.

If Bai Jianfeng could kill him so effortlessly...

Wouldn't that mean he could just as easily kill the two of them?

Wang Ziqin suddenly found the Black Poison Bell in her hands unbearably hot.

She hurriedly presented it with both hands.

"Heart-Eroding Wanderer was slain by Fellow Daoist. His dharma treasures and storage bag naturally belong to you."

A faint smile appeared on Fang Qing's face.

He accepted the Black Poison Bell and casually tossed it into his storage bag.

The two sisters exchanged a glance.

Wang Zixuan quickly added, "As for the Fish Hawk Beast and all the spiritual materials within its nest, my sister and I are willing to present them all to Fellow Daoist."

Fang Qing readily agreed.

Those spoils had belonged to him from the start.

The sisters exchanged another look.

Their attitudes suddenly became much warmer.

"Would Fellow Daoist Bai be willing to visit our Wang Family for a time?"

Wang Ziqin smiled sweetly.

"You saved our lives. My sister and I have yet to properly repay such a great favor."

"Oh?"

Fang Qing secretly performed a divination.

A trace of amusement appeared on his face.

"That is not impossible. However, I have heard of your Wang Family's scheduled duel against the Three Fiends of the Tong Clan."

"So Fellow Daoist already knows."

Wang Ziqin's expression remained calm.

Her smile never wavered.

"Then that makes things simpler. Fellow Daoist's abilities are extraordinary. If you are willing to fight on our behalf, the treasures within our Wang Family treasury will be open for your selection."

"I do happen to be lacking a few thousand-year spiritual herbs."

Fang Qing smiled faintly.

"Then why are we still standing here? Lead the way."

Several days later.

Wang Family Immortal Island.

A luxurious spirit carriage descended from the heavens.

The sound of zithers drifted from within.

"Welcome back, Ancestors!"

The Wang Family cultivators immediately opened the island's protective formation and came out to greet the return of their two Core Formation female ancestors.

The carriage came to a stop.

Wang Zixuan stepped down first, a faint blush still lingering on her face.

Wang Ziqin followed shortly after.

Only after both women had descended did Fang Qing leisurely emerge from the carriage.

Stretching lazily, he glanced across the island.

"Your Wang Family is quite prosperous indeed."

Many Wang Family clansmen watched as their two celestial-beauty Core Formation ancestors emerged from the same carriage alongside a male cultivator.

A trace of gloom inevitably surfaced in their hearts.

Yet Core Formation cultivators possessed lofty status.

No matter what they thought, they could only lower their heads and offer respectful greetings.

Before long, a streak of light descended from the sky, revealing a middle-stage Core Formation elder.

He was dressed more like a wealthy mortal landlord than a cultivator. His face was rosy, his beard and hair completely white, and he smiled warmly.

“Ziqin, Zixuan, why don't you quickly introduce this outstanding young talent?”

“Grand-uncle Feng... This is Brother Bai Jianfeng, a close friend of ours. He saved the two of us when we were in grave danger.”

Wang Ziqin briefly explained the situation.

“So that is the case. Fellow Daoist, please rest well. I shall immediately have a banquet prepared.”

This Grand-uncle Feng was clearly an important figure within the Wang Family and seemed closely connected to the late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivator. He carried an air of decisiveness and authority in both speech and action.

“Whatever Ziqin and Zixuan promised, I likewise promise. Jinyuan!”

At his call, a female cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection immediately flew over and bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, esteemed seniors...”

“Escort Fellow Daoist Bai to rest.”

After receiving a few instructions, the graceful female cultivator turned to Fang Qing and offered a charming smile.

“Honored guest, this way please.”

“Mhm.”

Following her light, Fang Qing arrived at a magnificent palace.

As expected of a cultivation clan. When it came to luxury and enjoyment, they far surpassed ordinary loose cultivators and even many sects.

“Senior...”

Wang Jinyuan spoke elegantly and with refinement, though there was unmistakable calculation hidden beneath her words.

“This junior has always admired my two aunts. Did something dangerous happen during this journey?”

“Oh?”

A faint smile appeared on Fang Qing's face.

Suddenly, he formed a hand seal and performed a karmic calculation.

“So that's how it is. I was wondering why the Wang Family suddenly became enemies with the Three Fiends of the Tong Clan. It turns out this is all the result of internal factional struggles within your family. Someone has been secretly stirring trouble behind the scenes, hoping to see several Core Formation cultivators dead.”

“A Foundation Establishment cultivator scheming against Core Formation cultivators? That truly opens one's eyes.”

“Was it for resources? Or factional conflict among the family branches? Hmm... probably both.”

“You people have gone too far. Secretly harming your own family members would be one thing, but why drag the Three Fiends of the Tong Clan into it?”

“The three of them cultivate the Childheart True Scripture. Not only do they possess the bodies of children, their minds are similarly immature.”

“You're practically bullying fools. No wonder they insisted on a life-and-death sword duel.”

“What?”

Wang Jinyuan immediately turned pale.

“Senior... what are you talking about? This junior doesn't understand at all...”

Fang Qing merely smiled and shook his head.

“The two women of your family invited me here for a life-and-death sword duel.”

“But my time is precious. I have no interest in playing your little conspiracy games.”

“I prefer flipping over the chessboard entirely.”

“The one who conceived this plan was Wang Chufang. Those who cooperated were Wang Dalu and Wang Qiao.”

“They were responsible for fanning the flames and tricking Wang Jinfeng and Wang Jinhai into forming a grudge against Tong Zhen of the Three Fiends at Flying Swallow Sea Market.”

“Am I right?”

As Fang Qing calmly recited the names, locations, and even the details of the conspiracy with perfect accuracy, Wang Jinyuan's face became deathly pale.

Looking at Fang Qing now felt no different from looking at a ghost.

Yet Fang Qing merely smiled without speaking.

Inside, however, he was quietly mocking the situation.

'Only the Qi Refining path could produce something this absurd. Foundation Establishment cultivators actually managing to scheme against Core Formation cultivators.'

'With the aid of ancient ruins or formations, it isn't even impossible for Qi Refining cultivators to trap and kill Core Formation cultivators, or for Core Formation cultivators to deceive Nascent Soul cultivators.'

'But in the Qi Ingestion world, once someone reaches Purple Mansion, they possess a divine status. They can casually calculate nearly everything concerning lower cultivators.'

'How could such nonsense ever happen there?'

'If I wasn't worried about frightening people, I could simply use the authority of the Power of Speech and make Wang Jinyuan turn herself in while confessing everything.'

'Those Core Formation cultivators of the Qi Refining path would have their eyes opened wide.'

'Unfortunately, that would be too terrifying. People would assume I had used some evil technique to control her.'

'As things stand now, I can simply claim that I belong to some great power and therefore possess extensive intelligence.'

The reason Fang Qing chose to overturn the board was simple.

He could not be bothered to participate in a sword duel.

His time was valuable.

He barely had enough time for his own cultivation and alchemy. Why would he waste it playing childish games with others?

Far better to flip the board entirely, let the Wang Family sort out the mess themselves, collect his reward, and leave.

That was by far the most efficient solution.

“Senior... You actually know all of this?”

Wang Jinyuan laughed bitterly.

“Could you be from one of the Three Islands and Four Sects? Or perhaps from that Palace or Temple?”

“Would such great powers truly be interested in a mere Core Formation family like ours?”

“Yes!”

“I envy Wang Ziqin and Wang Zixuan.”

“How am I inferior to them?”

“Why were they the ones who formed their Core Formation and not me?”

“But what benefit is there in eliminating your own family's Core Formation cultivators?”

Fang Qing deliberately pressed the issue.

“Aren't you afraid of bringing destruction upon the Wang Family?”

“Hmph.”

Wang Jinyuan sneered.

“As long as the old ancestor at late-stage Core Formation remains alive, what does it matter if a few early Core Formation cultivators die?”

“Only when the old man feels enough pain will he finally release the Core Formation Pills he keeps hoarding.”

The moment she finished speaking, her expression suddenly changed.

Her eyes landed on the talisman in Fang Qing's hand.

“That is... a Recording Talisman?”

“You can explain everything to your family's Core Formation cultivators yourself.”

Fang Qing smiled faintly.

Core Formation cultivators of the Qi Refining path might be lacking in many ways, but if they truly became ruthless, they still possessed plenty of methods for dealing with lower cultivators.

For example, the infamous Soul-Splitting Soul Search Technique.

Of course, anyone subjected to it was essentially ruined afterward.

Whether within a cultivation clan or a sect, no one could casually employ such a method without evidence.

But now there was evidence.

The recording would be more than enough.

As long as the Wang Family's Core Formation cultivators wished to investigate, every rat hiding in the shadows would eventually be dragged into the light.

Though Fang Qing suspected that, in the end, only a few scapegoats would actually die.

After all...

Both sides were still members of the Wang Family.

Even if they had colluded with outsiders, no truly disastrous consequences had resulted in the end.

A few punishments, a few sacrifices, and the matter would likely be quietly buried.

But none of that concerned him.

He was only here to watch the show and collect his payment.

With a flick of his finger, Fang Qing sent out a transmission talisman.

A short while later, his divine sense detected chaos spreading throughout the entire Wang Family estate.

A satisfied smile immediately appeared on his face.