Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 778 - 703: World’s Affair (Additional Release, Monthly Ticket Requested)_1

Chapter 778: Chapter 703: World’s Affair (Additional Release, Monthly Ticket Requested)_1

Seasons changed from spring to autumn.

For Fang Xi, even this amount of time wasn’t enough to improve his "Item Transforming" technique from Beginner to Small Accomplishments.

But for low-level cultivators, it was another year of reincarnation.

Near Widow Liang’s home, clusters of Spirit Rice in the Spiritual Field bent heavy with grain, looking exceptionally promising.

Even the Sky Brahman Gang manager, who came to collect protection fees, couldn’t help but praise it incessantly.

He walked around the Spiritual Field a few times, offering compliments: "Good field, good harvest..."

In his words, there was a tinge of sentiment.

If one could peacefully farm and cultivate, who would want to risk their life in battle? Alas... such were the times...

Widow Liang, seeing the manager’s expression, quickly said, "After the harvest, when I have paid off Zhou Sir and Mr. Fang’s shares, I will hand over half of the remaining to the gang..."

"Oh? Mr. Fang also has a share in this? I wasn’t aware of that..."

The manager stroked his mustache, smiling amiably.

"Of course, of course!"

Widow Liang responded with a forced smile, internally resolving to send Fang Xi the fresh rice once harvested.

Who would refuse rice given for free?

"That’s good then."

The manager didn’t say much more. After inspecting for a moment and bringing up another matter, "Recently, it’s not very peaceful in town... Another group of individual cultivators has fled from the wastelands, forming what they call the ’Righteousness Society.’ Their behavior is quite ugly. Although the Brahma Heaven Gang is willing to protect our eastern neighbors, we also have our limitations. You all need to be extra careful."

Upon hearing the manager’s words, the color drained from Widow Liang’s face.

Those ’Righteousness Society’ cultivators were mostly the ones who had fled into the night.

Later, unable to survive in the wastelands, they returned to the market town one after another, living poorly and forced to band together for warmth.

And because they valued their lives little, they fought fiercely, causing both Thunderfire Hall and the Sky Brahman Gang to suffer some losses.

Just the fact that the Righteousness Society hadn’t been exterminated yet was evidence of a Core Formation Master hidden behind them!

Recently, in the small Black Rock Market Town, a Core Formation Master was the sky!

If it had been in the past, with Widow Liang’s home lacking even overnight food, there would be no fear of attracting attention. But now things were different.

"The harvest season is approaching..."

The manager reminded her with a word, then leisurely walked away with hands behind his back.

Leaving Widow Liang alternating between pale and green complexions, she finally spat out, "This damned world..."

...

This night.

Inside his Dongfu, Fang Xi sat cross-legged, contemplating the "Item Transforming" technique.

Suddenly, an interested expression appeared on his face, "They’re here?"

Boom!

Thunder roared abruptly over this district!

Shadowy figures started employing light body skills and other magical techniques, infiltrating the market town, then suddenly splitting into groups, heading toward various cultivators’ Dongfus.

Another group of Qi Refining cultivators, with eyes red, rushed into the Spiritual Field, beginning to harvest recklessly.

The golden Radiance on their magical instruments flashed, and swathes of unripe Spirit Rice grains rustled and broke off.

Then, bundles of the rice were efficiently and quickly stuffed into Storage Bags.

"Damn it!"

A heart-wrenching scream from Widow Liang echoed.

In her hands were several talismans, flickering with Thunder Light, as she faced the onslaught of many individual cultivators. Array patterns lit up atop her wooden house.

A layer of Illusory Radiance emerged, resisting the attacks of numerous magical and spiritual instruments.

"Don’t be afraid, she only has one ’Rampage Thunder Talisman’!"

"Use the spiritual shield! Those who know the Wood Shield Skill, step forward!"

A masked cultivation-robber surveyed the scene, quickly made adjustments, then turned to Xiao Chong, who was clenching his teeth with a flying knife magical instrument in hand, and couldn’t help but let out a wild laugh, "Boy... do you know how your mother made a living before? By seniority, we’re all your godfathers!"

Although Xiao Chong knew these cultivation-robbers were trying to provoke him deliberately, he was still enraged, his eyes bloodshot. The flying knife in his hand turned into a dark radiance and flew out of his grip.

Thud!

But as soon as the flying knife left the protection of the array, it was intercepted in midair by a golden sword spiritual instrument.

Xiao Chong’s face turned pale, his Spirit Sense injured, a wave of dizziness overwhelming him.

"Xiao Chong!"

Seeing this, Widow Liang grew anxious, exposing a flaw.

After several spiritual instruments bombarded her, the Array Talisman’s defenses finally could not match a true array instrument.

The layer of Radiance flickered rapidly and shattered with a crash!

...

"Is this the place?"

Outside Fang Xi’s Dongfu, several figures gathered, each one possessing at least mid-phase Foundation Establishment cultivation, each also holding a strange dark green banner.

"The cultivator inside the Dongfu is in the late phase of Foundation Establishment; he won’t be easy to deal with..."

"No matter how difficult, he’ll have to succumb to our ’Heavenly Ghost Four Images Flag’..."

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators grinned fiercely.

These set of flags were a complete set of Spiritual Instruments, and when used in conjunction with the combined force of the four mid-phase Foundation Establishment cultivators, even a fully accomplished Foundation Establishment cultivator would have to willingly concede...

Whoosh whoosh!

Suddenly, the Dongfu doors opened, and a dark Sword Light emerged.

This Sword Light stirred the wind and thunder, its might astonishing, and with a single slash, it bisected the leading late-phase Foundation Establishment cultivator!

His smile still lingering on his face, the Heavenly Ghost Four Images Flag in his hand quickly plummeted to the ground.

"Big brother?"

The remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators’ eyes filled with rage, but the dark Sword Light was swift and precise. With just three strokes, it effortlessly ended their lives.

The black sword light moved erratically, turning into a small black snake, carrying a Spiritual Instrument and a Storage Bag in its mouth before burrowing back into the Dongfu, disappearing without a trace.

"What is this trash? Even Xiao Qing doesn’t want it..."

With a casual sweep of his Divine Thought, Fang Xi tossed aside the Storage Bag.

At this moment, he also saw Zhou Jun finally couldn’t hold back and made a move to save Widow Liang and her son, and he couldn’t help but smile slightly as he continued to close his eyes and rest...

...

The next day.

Early morning.

The strong scent of blood lingered, and the Spiritual Field was in complete disarray.

Widow Liang cursed as she burned the corpses of the cultivation-robbers, scattering their ashes across the Spiritual Field.

Presumably, if she planted Spirit Rice next year, there should be a bumper harvest.

When Widow Liang arrived in front of Fang Xi’s Dongfu and saw several corpses, she couldn’t help but shiver: "Indeed, this man is ruthless and cold-blooded..."

Suddenly, the door to the Dongfu opened, and Fang Xi walked out, startling Widow Liang.

"Haha, I didn’t expect Sir to be a sword cultivator!"

At this time, Zhou Jun, dressed in a kudzu robe, came over and exclaimed, "The sword was like carrying wind and thunder, truly extraordinary..."

"Alas, there were petty thieves attacking the Dongfu last night; although I managed to repel the intruders, my magic power was depleted, and I dared not venture out..."

Fang Xi heaved a sigh, "It’s good that you all are unharmed..."

"Our three families are fine, but those other ones..."

Widow Liang started to say something then fell silent.

Her home too had nearly been breached last night; fortunately, Zhou had assisted.

Otherwise, her family might have been wiped out!

She was still terrified when she thought about it.

After a while, an Escape Light zigzagged across the sky, revealing the figure of a Sky Brahman Gang manager.

"Last night, the Righteousness Society went mad and attacked many cultivators’ Dongfus. Seeing everyone safe, I am relieved..."

The manager initially had a smile on his face, but it changed upon seeing the corpses in front of Fang Xi’s Dongfu: "Heavenly Ghost Four Beasts? Well... I didn’t expect these four to die here. Mr. Fang can be said to have rid the people of scourges."

"Heavenly Ghost Four Beasts? The group of villains skilled in arranging arrays, who managed to escape from a Core Formation Master?"

Widow Liang was slightly shocked.

"A minor matter, not worth mentioning."

Fang Xi waved his hand dismissively.

It was then the manager spoke righteously, "The Righteousness Society is a scourge to Black Rock Market Town. Now, our Sky Brahman Gang and Thunderfire Hall have agreed to eradicate this gang; not a single cultivation-robber will be spared! We ask for the assistance of all sirs, and our gang will surely give a generous reward!"

"I myself am like a cloud, with no interest in fighting for supremacy or killing..."

Fang Xi shook his head lightly, outright refusing.

On the other hand, Widow Liang, looking thoughtfully at her largely destroyed Spiritual Field...

Her family’s livelihood depended on this Spiritual Field, and with it ruined, they would likely face famine next year.

The only option now was to take a risk.

After the manager left, Fang Xi and Zhou Jun exchanged glances before seeing Widow Liang clench her teeth and approach them, bowing: "I have an unseemly request, and ask for your help."

"If it’s an unseemly request, then you needn’t discuss it with me."

Fang Xi waved his hand and chose a spot to sit and drink.

Widow Liang could only look to Zhou Jun.

Zhou Jun too was helpless, sighing, "Widow Liang, you go ahead, I will help take care of Xiao Chong for a while..."

"Thank you."

Widow Liang looked at Zhou Jun gratefully before hurrying away...

"What wine is this?"

Zhou Jun had Xiao Chong sit down to practice Qi Refining as he approached Fang Xi, looking curiously at the wine gourd in his hand.

"Care for a cup?"

Fang Xi glanced at him and said with a smile.

"One must not miss a drink offered in a cup!"

Zhou Jun took out a wooden cup, filled it with Spirit Wine, and took a sip, frowning, "It’s just first-grade inferior wine, a bit bitter..."

"This is brewed by myself; you may not be accustomed to it."

Fang Xi laughed heartily, as producing Green Bamboo Wine at fifth or sixth grade... while not impossible, would no longer be the original Green Bamboo Wine.

Lately, I’ve grown fond of its original taste and have brewed a large batch.

Heterodox incarnations also carry some to enjoy occasionally.

"It does take some getting used to, but upon closer tasting, it does have its charm."

Zhou Jun’s nose turned slightly red as he looked at Xiao Chong, who was trying harder than usual, "Sir, do you also take an interest in this child?"

"A gentleman does not take what others love."

Fang Xi shook his head.

"Since that’s the case, I’ll begin..." Zhou Jun’s eyes brightened.

...

Three days later.

Widow Liang returned, her aura disturbed and her robe’s corners stained with blood.

She brought back several bloodstained Storage Bags, and it wasn’t long before she collapsed on the ground at home.

Xiao Chong hurried to call for Grandpa Zhou’s help.

After examining her, Zhou Jun used a Spiritual Pill, and Widow Liang indeed recovered from her illness.

Thus, the bond between the two families deepened, and it wasn’t long before Zhou Jun formally accepted Xiao Chong as a disciple...

Time flew by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, another twenty years passed...