Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Preparations Before Departure

Mo Wanfang immediately protested with grievance, "That’s utter nonsense. According to sect rules, contribution points for inner gate disciples can’t be transferred at all. What’s assigned stays with its owner—no stealing allowed."

"Oh, really?" Fang Lie furrowed his brows. "Then how do you privileged family disciples gain advantages?"

Mo Wanfang nearly choked on his anger. "The outer gate’s corrupt, I admit. But things change in the inner gate. Fairness and justice prevail there! Inner gate disciples form the sect’s backbone—nobody would sabotage their own foundation!"

"Really now?" Fang Lie smirked. "If not for that greedy fatso extorting bribes, I might’ve believed your pretty speech!"

"You—!" Mo Wanfang’s retort died in his throat.

The rotund Taoist overseeing the Jade Pool served inner elite disciples yet still demanded exorbitant fees—even brazenly asking for one hundred thousand spirit stones. This glaring example shattered any illusion of fairness Fang Lie might’ve harbored.

Perhaps the inner gate operated slightly fairer than the outer, but not from moral superiority. More likely, since all inner elites came from powerful clans where no single family could dominate others, enforced fairness became inevitable.

Defeated in the argument, Mo Wanfang sighed. "Enough. Just depart immediately. You’ve got one month to reach your destination."

"Are you mad?" Fang Lie gaped. "At my current level, flying there would take months!"

"Use the Transfer Hall," Mo Wanfang countered. "Its massive teleportation array sends people to Penglai Immortal City in the Northern Region—Wanxing Sea’s largest settlement. From there, Qingyu Island’s merely twenty days away. A month’s more than enough!"

Riding white clouds, Mo Wanfang vanished into the distance.

Fang Lie stared at his jade token, muttering, "This reeks of an assassination plot. But danger means opportunity." He touched the scripture in his robe. "The Innate Great Five Elements Nascent Fetus Classic’s stuck. Slow cultivation won’t break through to Golden Pool. I need constant battles, repeated deaths—only through life-or-death struggles can I grow stronger. Wanxing Sea’s chaos suits me perfectly!"

Soaring homeward, he admired his hidden sacred mountain before activating the Formation to enter his cave dwelling.

Three months’ absence had transformed the spiritual mansion. Ten square miles sprawled before him—stone cottages encircling a spirit spring at the center, surrounded by towering Spirit Plants and cultivated Spiritual Fields brimming with spirit pills.

Misty boundaries marked protected zones: the Arhat Immortal Fruit tree, nine Lingzhi, Five Elements Primordial Embryos, the Fang Family shrine, and the Little Xumi Paradise of the Heavens’ control altar—all veiled from ordinary sight.

Fang Lie marveled at siblings’ diligence. Barren land now flourished with century-old spirit trees and medicinal crops. Excited children swarmed him, rosy-cheeked in clean clothes—far from their former beggarly appearance.

Ice Second Brother, Fang Huo, Longxing Tianxia, and Mao Mao approached. A divine sense sweep revealed their progress: 300-zhang Qi Seas for the first three, but Mao Mao dwarfed them with 500 zhang. His spiritual light shone purer, foundations steadier.

Though aware of Mao Mao’s superior talent, Fang Lie still gaped at the disparity. That single Arhat Immortal Fruit had propelled the boy leagues ahead—proof that spiritual roots and bones dictated cultivation speed. Talent, it seemed, trumped all efforts.

At that moment, the four of them approached Fang Lie.

Ice Second Brother exclaimed excitedly, "Big Brother, your energy seems much stronger! Did you gain a lot this time?"

"Not bad~" Fang Lie replied with a smile. "Equivalent to three years of hard cultivation!"

"Wow, how are we supposed to keep up?" Ice Second Brother groaned. "I thought our 300-zhang Qi Seas would finally match yours, but the gap’s only widened!"

"Exactly, Big Brother," Fang Huo chimed in. "Give us some chance to catch up!"

"Haha, you two? You’ll never surpass me!" Fang Lie boasted. Then he turned to Mao Mao, softening his tone. "Though Mao Mao might have a slim chance."

"More than slim!" Longxing Tianxia declared. "Mao Mao’s talent is exceptional. The same Arhat Immortal Fruit boosted her cultivation several times more than ours. With your opportunities, she’d easily surpass you!"

"Even without special chances," Ice Second Brother added, "Mao Mao could catch up within five years and overtake you in ten!"

"Stop teasing!" Mao Mao protested, cheeks flushing. "I’ll never surpass my brother~"

"Nonsense," Fang Lie grasped her shoulders. "I genuinely want you to exceed me!"

"Brother, you’re mocking me~"

"Truthfully!" Fang Lie chuckled. "Though remember – while your talent surpasses mine, my opportunities are greater. Catching me won’t be simple."

"I’ll work hard!" Mao Mao vowed. "At least I won’t fall too far behind!"

"Good." Fang Lie nodded. "Now let’s head inside. I’ve matters to discuss."

After sending the children to play, he led Ice, Fire, Poison, and Longxing Tianxia to the inner chamber.

Once seated, Fang Lie cut to the chase. "The sect’s sending me on a three-year mission."

"But you’re just an outer disciple!" Ice Second Brother objected.

"They’re dangling clan assets as bait," Fang Lie explained bitterly. "Complete the mission, get them early. Otherwise wait until after Advancing in the Golden Pool."

"Then wait!" Ice Second Brother insisted. "Golden Pool advancement is certain for you!"

"That would take too long." Fang Lie’s tone turned firm. "My decision’s made."

"Where?" Mao Mao asked anxiously.

"Qingyu Island in Wanxing Sea’s Northern Region."

"Wanxing Sea?!" Longxing Tianxia paled. "That lawless place? You’re just a Qi Sea cultivator – it’s suicidal!"

"My undying nature protects me," Fang Lie countered. "More deaths mean faster cultivation growth."

"What nonsense is this?" Ice Second Brother frowned.

"Seen it yourself, haven’t you?" Fang Lie chuckled. "This stays secret. Understood?"

"Sworn to silence!" they chorused.

"Second Brother leads in my absence." Fang Lie continued. "Emergencies – shout at the Ancestral Hall. I’ll hear."

After receiving nods of confirmation, he added: "I’m taking Alchemy Cauldron Two Two Two. More materials and experts there mean better pill sales."

"But our local networks…" Ice Second Brother worried.

"Let the sect handle complaints." Fang Lie shrugged. "Baibao Zhai branches exist everywhere – I’ll deliver owed pills locally."

"Focus on closed-door training with the resources I leave," he concluded. "Millions in spirit stones should suffice. When I return, I expect you all qualified for the Outer Sect Competition’s life-and-death arena!"