Chapter 560: Longevity
Chapter 560: Longevity
Fang Xing recalled the Druid knowledge he had acquired.
A 2nd-level Druid could gain the ability of 'Wild Transformation', transforming into a small animal! Of course, only small animals were possible; insects or giant-sized creatures were out of the question.
To transform into an insect or a giant, according to Fang Xing's inherited knowledge, one must perform a special natural ritual to acquire the specialized skills of [Miniature Transformation] or [Giant Transformation].
But a small animal would suffice.
Whether it was a flying bird, a mouse, or a fish... any of them could help him escape the valley smoothly!
"Beyond the valley lies a vast and untamed forest... The forest is the Druid's domain... With their unique natural affinity, I can move through the forest without a trace, leaving no evidence behind..."
"But can I reach the 2nd level of Druid within a month?"
This was the only concern on his mind.
With a heavy heart, Fang Xing slowly fell asleep.
The next day, as usual, he ate breakfast and went to the papermaking workshop...
The intensity of his efforts surprised Tao Hong.
After all, they only needed to submit ten blood papers per month, and many paper slaves worked one day and rested for two, nurturing their bodies.
But Fang Xing could only smile bitterly in response, and Tao Hong assumed she had guessed the reason—that he had been scared by the manager disciple and wanted to complete his quota as soon as possible.
...
Several days passed in a flash.
Fang Xing found Tao Hong and handed her two blood papers.
Tao Hong took them with a dazed expression: "You wouldn't be working so hard because of me, would you? Listen to me, your life is your own, and if you push too hard, it might just disappear..."
"No... I just wanted to go to the market and stock up on some things in advance..."
Fang Xing waved his hand, and subconsciously glanced at his attribute panel:
[Age: 16/20]
'I can't keep making paper anymore, or I'll really die young...'
Hearing this explanation, Tao Hong seemed to relax, patting her chest: "Going to the market is good..."
She looked around and lowered her voice: "Remember to hide the blood papers well, those guys led by Xing San like to steal if they can't get their hands on them..."
Fang Xing's eyebrows furrowed, recalling some unpleasant memories: "The manager disciples don't seem to care about this..."
"Hmph... Xing San and his gang probably give most of their earnings to the manager disciples. Who's going to stop them?"
Tao Hong let out a cold laugh: "I've figured it out. The blood papers we submit are for the sect... Xing San is offering his own tribute. If you were in his shoes, what would you choose?"
Hearing this, Fang Xing fell silent.
He carefully observed Tao Hong, and even though only a few days had passed, his Druid senses clearly made him aware of the woman's weakening condition. A strand of grayish-white hair could already be seen at the tips of her hair: "You can run, but you can't hide... We don't know how much longer we can hold on..."
"This world..." Tao Hong sighed softly, then bit her teeth, her eyes filled with emotion: "You, a delicate young master, wouldn't want to die a virgin, would you?"
"Of course not."
Fang Xing's response was resolute, and he could see a hint of disappointment on Tao Hong's face.
...
The valley market, supposedly run by itinerant merchants, was actually backed by disciples of the Blood Shadow Sect.
As evening approached, a layer of mist suddenly emerged in an open space, transforming into walls of fog.
At the entrance, there stood two paper figures.
These paper figures were ordinary-looking, resembling ancient funeral effigies that had been burned.
They were a boy and a girl, the boy with a charming and innocent expression, and the girl looking cute. Both had two buns on their heads, and their faces were painted with bright rouge.
They stood on either side of the entrance like gatekeepers, each holding a mourning staff.
On one side of the staff was written 'Cash and Goods Paid', and on the other, 'No Credit'.
'There's an eerie sense of gloom... It feels like entering a burial ground rather than a market.'
Fang Xing walked past the two paper figures, his expression turning solemn.
With his heightened senses, he knew that these paper figures were not ordinary; their seemingly fragile bodies might be harder than steel.
If they went berserk, killing all the paper slaves in the valley would be no issue.
'Is this the strength of the valley's guardians?'
He entered the market and saw scattered stalls, each with a simple setup.
There were even paper slaves setting up their own stalls, trading with each other.
Most of the transactions were conducted using blood papers, but bartering was also common.
"Come and see, mortal supreme martial arts, just one blood paper per book!"
"Blood-Nourishing Powder, strengthens the blood..."
"Divine weapons, knives, hooks, forks, needles, and threads... We have everything!"
...
Fang Xing averted his gaze, bypassing them without a second glance.
'Buying mortal martial arts here is a scam; they all end up with depleted energy and blood, and they still want to practice martial arts. Do they want to die faster?'
'At least some health-restoring elixirs can replenish some essence.'
He walked around, stopping at a stall.
"Young man, are you interested in Qi-sensing cultivation techniques?"
The stall owner, upon seeing Fang Xing, immediately showed interest: "The entry-level cultivation techniques we were given can only sense eighteen types of blood energy. You, young man, might not be able to cultivate them successfully due to a lack of talent for our sect's techniques, but you may have talent for other techniques... I've collected the entry-level techniques of the top ten external sects, covering everything, and they're all affordable!"
"Once you successfully cultivate them, you'll surely be promoted to an outer sect disciple, escaping this slave-like existence..."
He spoke with great eloquence, and it was unclear how many paper slaves he had already convinced.
"Look, this is the 'Golden Body Qi Sensing Technique' of the Corpse-Moving Sect..."
"And this is the 'Sword Flight Manual' of the Flying Sword Sect..."
"There's something for everyone, and there's bound to be a suitable one for you, little brother."
Fang Xing flipped through the books, picking up a paper booklet with a green cover.
"Oh? Little brother, you have a keen eye for treasures. This is the secret art of Qingmu Peak, the 'Green Wood Skill'!"
The stall owner was a young man in his thirties, a skilled salesman. He praised the ordinary wooden attribute beginner's cultivation technique as if it were a heavenly treasure.
"How much is it?"
Fang Xing could only flip through the first two pages, and after a careful scan, he asked.
"Six Blood Notes!"
The stall owner smiled, "It's not expensive at all..."
"And you say this isn't expensive?"
Fang Xing glared, "And it's only a Qi sensing technique, at that."
"Hehe!"
The young stall owner suddenly let out a cold laugh, his expression turning stern. "Sensing Qi in nine layers, each layer is a great hurdle. Sensing Qi, refining Qi, transforming Qi... Each is a significant challenge. You paper slaves, if you can break through the first layer and sense the true Qi, that's already remarkable. What more could you ask for?"
Fang Xing's expression remained unchanged.
A typical paper slave would have cowered and agreed by now.
But he wasn't easily intimidated, especially since he was an old hand and knew the rules of the market.
The stall owner was only slightly higher in status within the Blood Shadow Sect, and he didn't have the power or qualifications to overturn the chessboard.
"But I only have four Blood Notes."
"I don't believe you. Fine, I'll give in... Five Blood Notes, no less." As expected, the young vendor immediately broke character, transforming from a lofty evil cultivator to a haggling merchant, negotiating with Fang Xing.
A moment later.
A hint of helplessness flashed across his face, "Fine, fine... Five Blood Notes it is. I'll also give you the 'Paper Folding Secret Art' as a bonus. This is a genuine spell! If you can make the most basic 'Paper Crane', I'll buy it for two Blood Notes."
Fang Xing nodded, took out five Blood Notes, and exchanged them for two secret manuals, carefully tucking them into his chest before quickly leaving.
"Hehe..."
The young man watched his departing figure, letting out a cold laugh. In his heart, he muttered, 'This Paper Folding Secret Art is one of the few secret arts that ordinary people can practice. If an ordinary person wants to cultivate the Dao, they must pay a price... I doubt I'll see this guy again next time. If I do, it'll be even better; I can make a big profit...'
As for the other party breaking through the first layer of Qi sensing?
That was almost impossible. After all, the Dao techniques in the world are all interconnected. Those who can't cultivate the Blood Shadow Sect's techniques likely have similar talents in other areas.
Even if they did succeed in cultivation, these non-direct disciples would only become more valuable slaves...
...
Late at night.
As usual, Fang Xing fed a few sparrows and mice, sending them out to keep watch.
He sat cross-legged in the wooden house, with the 'Green Wood Skill' and 'Paper Folding Secret Art' manuals in front of him.
He set aside the Paper Folding Secret Art and opened the Green Wood Skill.
"Sensing Qi in nine layers, the first layer, 'Sensing Qi', is the most crucial!"
"There are 129,600 types of Qi in the world, but only a few are suitable for cultivators to sense, absorb, and cultivate..."
"The Green Wood Skill mainly senses nine types of Qi, with the highest being 'Green Essence Qi', followed by 'Nine Heavens Qi', and then 'Clear Spirit Qi'... The ninth level is 'Plant Essence Qi'..."
Fang Xing looked at the entry-level visualization and hand seals... These were auxiliary methods to enhance one's sensing ability.
With sufficient talent, one could skip these steps.
He closed his eyes slightly and could feel the green light points surrounding him, seemingly endless and continuous.
"It's Plant Essence Qi... After all, I'm a Druid, with an affinity for nature... It's like my Wood attribute talent has increased."
He carefully distinguished the green light points, categorizing them into nine types.
"I can sense all nine types of Qi... This should be considered decent talent, right?"
"The next step is absorption... When my cultivation reaches perfection, I can break through the second layer, 'Refining Qi', and enter the second level of Qi sensing. Unfortunately, I don't have the technique..."
Fang Xing carefully sensed the nine different green light points, "Although I can sense Green Essence Qi, in terms of compatibility, it seems that Plant Essence Qi is the best... Sensing Qi is primarily about finding the most compatible Qi. It seems I have a strong affinity with Plant Essence Qi because of my Druid's Plant Domain."
With this thought, he no longer hesitated and began absorbing the Plant Essence Qi from the void.
Boom!
Countless Plant Essence Qi, filled with a sense of closeness and dependence, surrounded him, continuously absorbed through his skin.
[You have cultivated and gained 'Nature's Baptism'! You have obtained partial 'Nature Knowledge'!]
A prompt appeared in his attribute panel.
Fang Xing knew that his Druid experience had increased...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
