noffsinger Chapter 11: The Re-establishment of Chen State
Chapter 11: The Re-establishment of Chen State
That night, Fang Yun told his two wives that he would be away for a while, which naturally earned him a lot of resentment.
The State of Chen is more than 40,000 li away from Ziqing Lake.
This trip and return took more than half a year.
They might miss Fang Zhiqing's due date.
Fang Yun repeatedly assured them that it was another night of hard work before she was able to calm the two sisters down.
The sun rises in the east, bathing the sea of clouds.
Fang Yun arrived at Lu Guishou's courtyard and informed him that he could leave Ziqing Lake.
Lu Guishou was overjoyed upon hearing this. He had already contacted Niu Ben, who readily agreed to meet at the Fang family's cultivation market.
Fang Yun shook his head secretly, thinking of the news that Qin Yao might become an apprentice.
In the cultivation world, profit comes first, and reality is cold. The gap between the two is too great, and it's highly likely that it's just unrequited love.
However, it wouldn't be good to pour cold water on Lu Guishou's plans.
Before leaving, Fang Yun paid another visit to the Fifth Elder.
"Take it."
The old man was very direct; he tossed over a brocade pouch, which had been deliberately aged, giving it a somewhat dull color.
"Storage bag!"
Fang Yun was immediately overjoyed.
This thing is quite expensive; even the lowest grade is comparable to a high-grade magic artifact.
The power of the Yi Wood element was easily absorbed and refined at the fingertips, leaving its own mark.
A wisp of spiritual energy probed into it, and the storage bag, about three feet square, was filled with all sorts of things.
The most abundant items were, of course, elixirs: Yellow Sprout Elixir, Bamboo Rice Elixir, and Wood Essence Elixir for cultivation; Rejuvenation Elixir for healing; Detoxification Elixir; and Corrosive Poison Elixir for scheming individuals...
Besides that, there was a stack of talismans, quite a few of them, shimmering with spiritual light.
"There's even a top-grade Tier 1 spirit talisman!"
Fang Yun's eyes widened in shock as he took out nine spirit talismans, each surging with exceptionally powerful magic.
The Golden Blade Talisman can unleash seven golden blades, each incredibly sharp and powerful, capable of killing a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator in a surprise attack.
The Golden Armor Talisman transforms into golden armor, protecting the body and even enhancing the user's physical strength.
The Hundred-Mile Speed Talisman is the most precious one. Its light transforms into a rainbow, allowing one to travel a hundred miles in an instant. It is a treasure used for escaping for one's life.
The talisman has four lines on its surface, representing the ability to travel four hundred miles before the spiritual power is exhausted.
Fang Pangen gave him three cards, enough to run 1,200 li in one go if used consecutively.
Even when facing a Foundation Establishment expert, they are confident they can escape.
The surprises didn't end there. Deep inside the storage bag, three mid-grade magic artifacts lay quietly, shimmering with a unique luster.
The Purple Bamboo Sword is crystal clear, shrouded in purple mist, and exudes an astonishing sharpness.
Forged from top-grade spiritual bamboo, the material is absolutely hard and has excellent spiritual energy conduction, making it most suitable for cultivators with wood spiritual roots.
The tortoise shell shield is a small gem among defensive magical artifacts; there's not much to say about it.
And the last ironwood boat was actually a small flying boat, which allowed Qi Refining cultivators to soar into the sky and escape the encirclement.
"Thank you, Uncle!"
After reading it, Fang Yun had mixed feelings and was deeply moved.
"According to the clan rules, members of the Fang family who break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining are entitled to this benefit. I am just trying to secure a little for you."
"Your cultivation level is not high, and these treasures are too eye-catching. You need to be careful when using them, lest you attract the attention of those with ulterior motives."
Fang Pangen waved his hand, his voice tinged with regret: "Go then. I do not wish for Zhiyu and Zhiqing to be widowed at such a young age, wasting their lives."
……
With a heavy storage bag in his hand, Fang Yun left Zizhu Mountain.
In addition to these resources, the old man also gave him a jade slip.
It contained the "Green Bamboo Fire Control Technique," which he was instructed to study and practice on his journey.
This is the Fifth Elder's most treasured fire control technique. Once mastered, becoming an alchemist will be a piece of cake.
The old man's meaning was very clear.
Once Fang Yun returns safely, we can try refining elixirs to earn money to support our family.
His ten-year apprenticeship was cut in half.
Saves a lot of time.
On the day of their departure, just as dawn was breaking, Fang Yun and Lu Guishou met up.
They planned to follow the Fang family's fleet to their family's market town, as this would be the safest option.
With a tremendous roar, the three towering ships set sail, rising hundreds of feet high like mountains, bathed in rosy light, their grandeur magnificent.
Following closely behind were a hundred small flying boats, nimble and agile, weaving like fish, protecting the caravan.
Flying boats crisscrossed the landscape, scattered like stars, vaguely forming an array, with powerful magical energy surging in the air.
The fleet was very fast, and in less than an hour, it arrived at Ziqingfang, which was two thousand miles away.
This is a cultivation market run by the Fang family for five hundred years. It only has a first-order spiritual vein, making it the lowest-level Yellow-rank market.
After stopping for half an hour to load and unload the cargo, the fleet continued its journey.
Along the way, caravans from many other families joined in one after another, slowing down their journey.
Banners fluttered, strange beasts roared, and magical artifacts pierced the air, stretching for hundreds of miles across the land, creating a magnificent sight.
As dusk fell, after traversing eight thousand miles, Fang Yun and his group finally arrived at their destination.
Liuyunfang Market.
Built more than a decade ago, it is now bustling with activity, its pavilions and towers standing side by side, like a giant beast swallowing up countless people.
Back then, a second-tier spiritual vein was discovered here, and several Foundation Establishment families fought fiercely over it.
Finally, Ancestor Fang broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, decisively suppressing the other families and jointly establishing this Xuan-level market.
I've heard that there are even lower-level markets that only powerful clans with Golden Core cultivation can operate.
Fang Yun and his companion presented their identity jade tokens and rested for one night at the Fang family's residence. They met Niu Ben, who had arrived the next day.
Five years have passed, and this former farm boy has undergone tremendous changes.
His skin was still dark, but he had become much more muscular, more than half a foot taller, and his face was oily, giving him a fierce and rugged air.
"You...you're San Niuzi?"
Lu Guishou stared in astonishment. The skinny, dark-skinned boy from back then was now even more robust than him.
"Hehe, Brother Lu, long time no see! You're still as handsome as ever. I've been eating and drinking well at the Niu family's place all these years, and I've even fathered a few big, healthy sons!"
Niu Ben nodded shyly, his massive muscles straining against his black robe, embroidered with bull's head patterns, and his piercing eyes commanding respect.
Fang Yun was not surprised. The Niu family of Funiu Mountain was a rare body-refining family in the cultivation world.
Clearly, Niu Ben was lucky enough to obtain the secret technique for body refinement.
The only thing that reassured Lu Guishou was that Niu Ben's cultivation level was the same as his, at the second level of Qi Refining.
Accompanying San Niuzi were a caravan from Funiu Mountain and a mount, the Iron-Horned Bull.
After thinking it over, Fang Yun and his companion each rented a Wind Chaser from the market.
This mythical beast has extremely fast legs, can run on the wind, travel two thousand miles a day, and is very cheap.
The three of them traveled together, following the map, under the stars and moon, and began their journey towards the State of Chen.
In the first few days, Fang Yun felt extremely insecure. His cuffs were stuffed full of bulging talismans, ready to be thrown out at anyone at any time.
The flying sword at his waist was ready to strike; with a single thought, it could snatch a person's head.
After more than ten days of peace and quiet, Fang Yun finally felt a little relieved and stopped being so anxious. He then took the time to study the Fire Control Technique.
Only when meditating and regulating his breath at night did he remain cautious, keeping the tortoise shell shield by his side at all times.
On the map, the State of Chen is 40,000 li away from Ziqing Lake.
However, this is the straight-line distance. Along the way, one needs to avoid various dangerous places. The route is rugged and winding, which naturally takes up a lot of time.
In the end, it took them two whole months to successfully reach the territory of Chen.
They returned to their former homeland.