Chapter 577: The Dual Nines
Chapter 577: The Dual Nines
"Before, the five of us used some minor tricks, making us a laughing stock in front of fellow Daoists..."
Old Master Lu bowed solemnly, "But now, our Poison Dragon Slope has reached a critical juncture. Over these years, I've come to realize that the Qing Li Fei family's selection of their family head was a deliberate scheme to incite infighting among us, weakening our higher-tiered warriors. And now, they're picking us off one by one. After Green Water Wang, it's likely our turn next!"
"So, on one hand, you're trying to buy time with the Fei family and your relatives, and on the other, you're seeking my help?"
Fang Xing found this amusing, "How have I suddenly become more reliable than the Fei family?"
"To test the quality of jade, one must burn it for three days; to discern the worth of a person, one must observe them for seven years..." Old Master Lu coughed again, "Our friendship spans a decade, and I naturally trust you completely..."
"Yes, it's been ten years..."
Fang Xing couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
"Hmph! We helped Fei Cai rise, but he turned his back on us. My second brother is severely injured, and I can't even obtain a single high-level magic pill."
Old Master Lu continued, "After that incident, I realized the Qing Li Fei family wasn't worth our deep involvement. But now, we're in too deep to back out."
He turned to Fang Xing, his cloudy eyes filled with anticipation, "How much longer until you break through to the 7th level of Ganshi? You can freely use the East Peak's killing array."
Currently, Fang Xing's apparent cultivation base was at the peak of the 6th level of Ganshi.
"Old Master Lu, you're getting a bit impatient," Fang Xing shook his head.
"Indeed, especially with the ten-year deadline approaching. Moreover, Fei Tianbao has been in seclusion for nearly five years now, attempting to forge his Dao Ji. Whether he lives or dies, there will be a result. I thought that since the Fei family and mine are related by marriage, whoever rose to power would be more lenient towards us. But I never expected..." Old Master Lu sighed.
"Now I see clearly. If Fei Tianbao succeeds, the Fei family will have two Dao Ji cultivators, and they'll undoubtedly demand even greater submission from our five families. If he fails, they'll still strike us down and drain our resources."
"Isn't that the usual relationship between lords and their vassals?"
Fang Xing sighed, "I've already reached the 6th level of Ganshi, but breaking through to the later stages requires talent, opportunity, and comprehension. If all else fails, I'll need the aid of a magic pill."
At this mention, Old Master Lu's face seemed to contort, "Our families are truly unable to gather enough talismans to purchase a breakthrough magic pill."
Breaking through from the middle stages of Ganshi to the later stages was even more challenging than what Song Yunyun had faced. Old Master Lu didn't doubt the difficulty.
"If all else fails, we'll just have to hunker down and defend Poison Dragon Slope with the help of the Black Snake Guardian. We'll lie low for a while."
"As for being drained by the Fei family, there's nothing else we can do," Fang Xing said.
As a lowly cultivator, what else could one do when faced with adversity but grit their teeth and endure?
Moreover, unlike these cultivators who could only lie down and give up, Fang Xing could endure and level up.
"Sigh... Indeed," Old Master Lu said solemnly. "But although my Fu Yun Five Friends can't obtain a breakthrough magic pill for you, we can ensure that the Fei family's labor and offerings won't fall upon you."
"Yes, after I reach the 7th level of Ganshi, I'll naturally protect the East Peak. After all, we've been friends for a decade."
Fang Xing also made this promise.
"Thank you so much," Old Master Lu said, bowing once more. His departing figure seemed somewhat desolate.
"All of life's sufferings stem from love and longing, and the inability to obtain what one desires..."
Fang Xing watched this scene, feeling deeply moved.
The sufferings of life were indeed as such.
Take Song Yunyun, for example. She thought she could rebel and defy her mother, but she never expected that the path her mother had laid out for her was the best one.
In the end, she missed her chance with Qing Mu Ling, and now she could only marry.
She was a classic example of someone who rebelled to the very end, only to fall into her own trap.
His eyes flickered, scanning his attribute bar:
Name: Fang Xing
Age: 26/225
Occupation: Druid, Level 9
Cultivation: Ganshi, 9th Level
Talents: Nature Affinity, Wilderness Shapeshifting, Plant Growth, Toxin Immunity, Youth Permanence, Thorns Technique, Bark Technique, Natural Healing, Enlighten Tree Person
Skills: Wan Quan Shou (Master 336/800), Origami Technique (Proficient 5/100), Insect Control (Master 13/800), Energy Concealment (Expert 391/400)
...
"In five years of cultivation, the Druid's cultivation system has progressed rapidly..."
Fang Xing silently marveled at his attribute bar.
"My lifespan has increased to over two hundred years, a longevity usually reserved for Dao Ji cultivators. Upon reaching Level 9, the Druid gains more spells, but how are they categorized as talents? Is it because Druid spells are naturally awakened and automatically mastered, similar to a Sorcerer's innate spellcasting talent?"
"And the skills cultivated have varying levels of proficiency, from basic to advanced..."
Fang Xing had his speculations.
The effects of the four spells were self-evident. The Thorns Technique and Bark Technique were combat spells, one for offense and the other for defense.
Natural Healing was a healing ability, even more effective than the Treatment Fruit.
The final skill, Enlighten Tree Person, required a magic plant as a vessel and could turn it into a tree person.
In the cultivator's eyes, this was akin to transforming into a tree demon. With Fang Xing's current Druid level, he could create several tree people comparable to the 9th level of Ganshi.
It can be said that sweeping through the remaining four families in Qingli Marsh would not be a problem.
As for spells, needless to say, with just a little effort, he had mastered the Wan Quan Shou technique to the Wan Quan stage. Now, his paper soldiers, cranes, and kites never failed to fold.
Even without much cultivation, his origami secret technique had automatically reached the proficient stage.
Furthermore, with his master-level energy concealment, even a strong Dao Ji expert might not be able to see through his true strength.
"With my current combat power, if a lower-tier Dao Ji expert were to enter my territory, there's a chance they might fall..."
Fang Xing had a clear understanding of his own capabilities.
He possessed a dual-system power, undoubtedly making him much stronger than a single-system cultivator.
If he could enlighten a few more Treemen and combine them with his Grandmaster-level Insect Control and various spells to besiege them, ordinary Dao Ji cultivators might suffer a significant loss.
Of course, it would be a different story for late-stage Dao Ji experts or those with superior Dao Ji qualities.
"The next stage is also crucial for me."
Fang Xing looked at his attribute bar, deep in thought.
"The Qing Mu Gong has already cultivated the 'Yuan Hong Long She Qi', and there's no further progress to be made. The next step is to forge the Dao Ji... This step is extremely dangerous, and failure means death."
There was no room for error in this process.
"I've heard that within Qing Mu Ling, there is a magical item that can provide assistance, but it's extremely rare... Even the Fei family can only obtain it by trading a Jia Zi's worth of Long Wang Shen Liquid. A lone cultivator shouldn't even think about it..."
"This matter can be put aside for now... Let's focus on raising the Druid level first."
According to Fang Xing's speculation, a 10th-level Druid was equivalent to a Dao Ji expert in this world.
More importantly, compared to Dao Ji, he had a better understanding of the Druid inheritance, and there were no bottlenecks in his advancement.
As long as he gained enough experience, he could advance smoothly!
At that time, it might also be beneficial for forging the Dao Ji.
"Furthermore, when a Druid reaches the 10th level, it's time to choose between specializing in the animal or plant domain. Once I choose the plant domain, I'll gain the 'Mu Shuren' talent, and the experience gained from planting trees will skyrocket. If I choose the animal domain, I'll obtain the 'Wild Beast Master' talent, and the experience gained from planting trees will remain the same as it is now... Instead, the experience gained from herding and breeding will increase significantly."
Currently, Fang Xing's experience from planting trees was due to his Nature Affinity, allowing him to comprehend nature.
Once he acquired the 'Mu Shuren' talent, his future advancements would be faster.
"It took five years to go from Druid level 5 to level 9... It's not that big of a deal..."
Previously, it took him five years to advance from level 4 to level 5. The first reason was that Fang Xing deliberately suppressed his level, and the second was that in the following five years, the number of bamboo forests increased, naturally resulting in more experience gained.
Moreover, suppressing his level didn't mean he wasn't gaining experience.
These experiences were simply stored, and Fang Xing used them to level up in the latter five years.
"However, the experience required to go from level 9 to level 10 is quite a lot... It might take another one or two years, or even three or four years..."
Fang Xing looked towards the east peak, "I'll wait until I reach Druid level 10, and then I'll announce my breakthrough to the 7th level of Gan Qi..."
He didn't care much about this, but it would be a tough task for the Fuyun Wuyou to support him for a while longer.
...
Several days later.
Dulongpo East Peak.
Colorful lanterns adorned the area, and a long, fresh red procession was sending Song Yunyun off to her marriage.
After the procession left, a young man still stood on the hillside, staring blankly at the scene, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Lu Feng... Why aren't you going to the banquet?"
A voice suddenly came from behind him.
Lu Feng turned around, startled, "Uncle Fang... I..."
"Sigh... You and Yunyun have been close since childhood, like a pair of lovebirds... I know," Fang Xing sighed, gazing into the distance.
He rarely left the bamboo forest, but today he wanted to witness the commotion.
"Fei family!"
Lu Feng clenched his fists, clearly filled with hatred for the man who stole his wife.
Unfortunately, Fang Xing had no intention of becoming a grandfather.
After Lu Feng left, Fang Xing waited for a moment, and then he saw Song Yunqian approaching.
"You've always valued your daughter. Why did you agree to marry her into the Fei family?"
Fang Xing asked curiously.
"A parent's love for their child is deep and far-reaching..." At that moment, Song Yunqian's face was cold as frost, "Yunyun couldn't pass the entrance exam for Qing Mu Ling, and her best path was already blocked. What's wrong with marrying into a Dao Ji family? Moreover... I never thought that we could stand against the Fei family... Although there is no history in the outside world, rumors among lone cultivators say that out of a hundred who obtained the Kai Huang Ling, only one successfully advanced to become a Dao Ji family!"
'This is a complete lack of faith in Dulongpo...'
Fang Xing couldn't help but think, 'So, they're sending their daughter away, hoping for a glimmer of hope? Why not marry into another Dao Ji family?'
'Hmm, I might have overestimated them. It's already good enough to have the Fei family willing to accept her...'
Furthermore, such marriages between powerful families often served as a means of control, akin to taking hostages.
Even if the Fei family were to force the Dulongpo cultivators to their deaths in the future, they would still have to compensate the loyal ones and take care of the widows on the surface.
(End of Chapter)
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