Chapter 109: Scouting
Xia Ji had concealed the fact that he had become a cultivator from everyone, including Fang Chen. If Fang Chen wasn’t a cultivator himself, he wouldn't have been able to tell that Xia Ji had become one. Still, Xia Ji’s cultivation level seemed a little mediocre.
"You saw it with your own two eyes, Marshall Xiao. Xia Ji came out all on his own. You couldn't stop him, so this favor doesn't count; you still owe me one," said Fang Chen.
"Did he join a martial sect or something? Is that person from an eighth or seventh-tier empire?" asked Marshall Xiao faintly.
"How should I know?" Fang Chen cracked a smile. "Remember what I told you. When you go back, pay attention and see if there's anything wrong with the Qingsong Empire. Back on Three World Mountain, you lost quite a few men."
"I will." Marshall Xiao stared deeply at Fang Chen before leaving on horseback with Goddess Xiao. Hundreds of soldiers escorted them as they gradually disappeared into the distance.
Xu Ge was a bit puzzled and he asked, "Why didn't you deal with him, my lord?"
This seemed to have been a good opportunity to deal with Marshall Xiao. The Qingsong Empire would’ve lost their most powerful general if they had made a move now; a Qi Core Stage expert would’ve disappeared from their ranks just like that.
"What’s on the battlefield is left to the battlefield," Fang Chen said lightly. "Besides, I need him to confirm for me whether there are really Spirit Blood Sect cultivators in Qingsong or not. In comparison to the Spirit Blood Sect, Marshall Xiao is a good person."
Xu Ge nodded at that. The matter with the Spirit Blood Sect was indeed more serious.
"Too bad about the third prince.” Xu Ge sighed. “We clearly came to pick him up but he left with someone else.”
“It’s better for him. He wasted five years because of me. He can’t waste any more time,” Fang Chen chuckled. “And... it couldn’t be said that we wasted our time here, either. At least we saw him off.”
He was glad that he had been able to make it here on time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to see Xia Ji for the last time; Senior Brother Liu didn’t seem like a patient man.
If there was something unfortunate about this whole thing, it was the fact that Xia Ji didn’t inform him of which sect he had entered. If he had gotten his sect’s name, he would’ve been able to head over and exchange pointers in the future.
They took a boat... Well, that’s a clue. I’ll go back and ask Li Daoye about it. He might know where Xia Ja might’ve possibly gone with the help of a boat, Fang Chen thought to himself.
Then, the two turned around and headed back to the capital city.
Two days passed.
The news that the Grand Xia Empire intended to conduct joint military exercises with the Frost Water Empire had reached Guhe, Longdu, and Yizhou. On the same day, envoys from these countries arrived in Grand Xia with hundreds of elite troops.
Simultaneously, news about Xia Ji being killed by Marshall Xiao spread like wildfire in the capital city. When Fang Chen caught wind of this piece of news, he couldn't help but smile. He was able to guess that this was intentionally spread by Marshall Xiao, a small favor in disguise.
That way, those within Grand Xia who planned to take action against Xia Ji might reveal their intentions. It also conveniently explained Xia Ji's disappearance.
Sitting together with Li Daoye, Fang Chen casually asked, "Brother Li, do cultivators need to take boats for long journeys?"
"Sometimes they do." Li Daoye nodded slightly. "Some places are too far, and ordinary cultivators can't fly on their swords. That’s why they need to take a boat. You might see a few boats on the sea that may appear to be ordinary boats, but in fact, the people onboard might all be cultivators. Those boats can quickly reach their destinations through ancient sea formations left behind by predecessors,” he explained. “Traveling from Grand Xia to the Flame Empire requires a boat. In fact, I took several boats with the little nun back then to reach your Grand Xia."
"What about going to the Central Continent?" inquired Fang Chen again.
"The Central Continent?" Li Daoye was surprised, and he couldn't help but shoot Fang Chen a glance. "That's a first-tier empire. It’s extremely far away from us. Not to mention taking a boat, you wouldn't even know the route you need to take. There was once a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from our Flame Empire who had tried to head to the Central Continent. After a hundred years, he returned. Want to guess what happened?"
"What happened?"
"He got lost, didn't even catch a glimpse of the Central Continent, just wandered outside for over a hundred years." Li Daoye laughed. He seemed to find it quite funny. "He was only able to reach a third-tier empire, offended some people, and eventually escaped back to the Flame Empire."
Fang Chen's expression stiffened. Now that I think about it, Senior Yun He never told me how to get to the Central Continent...
According to Li Daoye, he couldn’t fulfill his promise to Daoist Yun He and enter the Three Thousand Dao Sect in the Central Continent Empire after reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm. He knew that it would be a bad thing if he failed to keep his promise.
"Lord Fang, forget about the Central Continent. That's the abodes of saints. If you are born there, it's fine, but if you're not, it's almost impossible to find your way over there." Li Daoye chuckled. "My old man said those places are filled with natural treasures, divine resonance with the Dao, countless spirit springs, and sacred mountains. It's a true land of saints."
While the two were conversing, two figures arrived at the entrance of the Fang Manor. One of them had a sturdy figure, white hair, and a bulging temple. His muscles were like marble, and he exuded an incredibly powerful aura. The other had a sly look, pointed mouth, and a monkey-like appearance. There was a hint of cunningness in his eyes.
"This is the Fang Manor, Master Immortal. My grandson said that the cultivator from the Flame Empire resides here,” said the stout man respectfully.
"Ji Congyun, I'm accompanying you because of the respect I have for you. Let me make it clear; if this cultivator has some big background, I won't get involved in your affairs," replied the man with the pointy mouth indifferently.
Ji Congyun nodded at that. "I understand.”
"Go ahead; knock on the door.”
Ji Congyun approached the door and knocked. Shortly later, a steward glanced at the two and frowned, asking, "Who are you?"
Ji Congyun showed the servant a smile. "Tell Fang Zhentian that Ji Congyun has come."
Hearing that, the steward shuddered all over, then immediately went to make the report. However, instead of looking for Fang Zhentian, he went to find Fang Chen.
"My lord! There is someone outside claiming to be someone called ‘Ji Congyun.’ He says he’s here to see the old patriarch!" reported the steward in haste.
Amusement flashed in Fang Chen's eyes. "Is it only him?" he asked.
"No, he has someone else with him."
"Let them in," Fang Chen said with a faint smile.
As the steward left, Fang Chen looked at Li Daoye. "There is a cultivator behind Ji Lengyue. They're here to scout us out. Don't mess up."
"Rest assured. As long as he's a wandering cultivator, there’s nothing I have to fear," Li Daoye said confidently. Wandering cultivators held a low status in the cultivation world because they lacked background, support, and resources. They often received offerings from some mortal families here and there. Li Daoye had always looked down on such people.
Soon, the two were escorted into the main hall by the steward. The pointed-mouth man immediately looked at Li Daoye. Li Daoye returned the gaze.
"Third level of the Qi Refining Realm?" The pointed-mouth man's lips curled upwards slightly. Both his cultivation as well as his divine soul were stronger than Li Daoye’s. He was able to see through Li Daoye’s cultivation in a glance, and the last trace of caution in his eyes disappeared.
"This guy has a higher cultivation than me," Li Daoye whispered to Fang Chen.
"Hehe, you must be Fang Chen, the grandson of Fang Zhentian?" Ji Congyun looked at Fang Chen with an ambiguous smile as a terrifying aura faintly emanated from him; although Li Congyun was no cultivator, he had reached the peak of the Earth Profound Stage.
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