Chapter 278: Hurrying Home to Harvest Crops (Average Subscription Bonus 02)

“So, what exactly do you want?!” The crowd from the Black Drake Mansion and the Nanhua Sect glared at Fang Qi, their eyes wide with indignation.

Clearly, they harbored a deep grievance over the way he had unceremoniously dragged the Nanhua Goddess down from her pedestal.

“Before you go picking any treasures, you best think carefully. Don’t you dare push your luck!” a cultivator from Black Drake City spat, his voice laced with resentment. “If our City Master hadn't held back his hand, do you honestly think you'd be having your moment of triumph right now?!”

“Uh...” Fang Qi pondered his words for a brief moment. “Have any of you seen a grayish-white stone? The energy residing within it might be a little... peculiar.”

Phrasing it that way seemed reasonable enough; it wouldn't reveal too much, yet it remained sufficiently clear.

“A grayish-white stone? A peculiar energy...?” The disciples of the Nanhua Sect and the cultivators of Black Drake City traded bewildered glances. They had fully expected the lad to select some formidable magic treasure, only for him to inquire about a worthless piece of rock.

Huangfu Tao and the Nanhua Goddess, Liu Ningyun, however, suddenly grew tense with vigilance.

Huangfu Tao scrutinized Fang Qi thoroughly, his voice dropping to a somber register. “This old man does indeed possess such a stone. But how did Your Excellency come to know of it?! It appears you came all this way specifically for this rock.”

Indeed, Huangfu Tao had chanced upon the stone years ago, but its purpose had remained an enduring mystery to him.

The power dormant within it was incredibly faint and strange, leading him to suspect it held some unknown, wondrous utility, which was why he had kept it all this time.

It was only recently that a familiar elder from the Nanhua Sect had borrowed it for study.

And today, Liu Ningyun had come precisely to return this extraordinary stone.

Evidently, even the Nanhua Sect had failed to discern its secrets.

Fang Qi had long since prepared his explanation. “If I said I could sense the aura radiating from this stone, would you believe me?”

The two elders exchanged a glance.

It was the most logical explanation. Given their status, it was virtually impossible for the news to have leaked.

Thus, Huangfu Tao naturally believed him.

He simply hadn't anticipated that Fang Qi would actually want this particular stone.

“This stone is of no use to me. There is no harm in giving it to you,” Huangfu Tao declared.

“Absolutely not!” Liu Ningyun, still somewhat frail, cast a resentful glare at Fang Qi. “I lost this battle. The wager, naturally, should be provided by me!”

“It appears this gentleman came exclusively for the stone. Trading it for anything else...” Huangfu Tao shook his head. “I doubt he would agree.”

Huangfu Tao let out a soft laugh. “If the Nanhua Goddess feels truly indebted, she can simply bring this old man two jars of the Nanhua Sect’s Fanghua Brew when she has the leisure.”

“This...” Liu Ningyun could not help but burn with vexation. She glared at Fang Qi once more, a profound loathing in her eyes. Why did he have to choose the one thing she did not possess!

When Fang Qi had initially specified taking a treasure from their persons, she had been in the heat of anger and agreed without a second thought. Reflecting upon it now, the fact that she needed someone else to pay her wager filled her with a burning desire to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.

“However, this old man has held this stone for many years and has never unraveled its purpose. Since you are searching for it, you must surely know what it does. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me, so as to fulfill a long-standing wish of mine?”

Seeing Fang Qi hesitate slightly, Huangfu Tao spoke up again. “Could it be you think a man of my standing would go back on his word to a youngster like you?!”

Huangfu Tao’s expression grew solemn. “If Your Excellency agrees to tell me, I can offer another treasure in exchange. If you adamantly refuse, then I shall say no more.”

“Another treasure?!” Fang Qi’s eyes instantly lit up. “Would a portion of drake bone suffice?!”

“Miser!”

“Money-grubber!”

Whispered curses rippled through the surrounding crowd.

Fang Qi shrugged. “There’s no harm in telling you. Even if anyone else obtained this item, it would be useless to them. I happen to possess a method that utilizes this stone to construct a private teleportation array, which is why I require one.”

“A teleportation array?!” The two elders exchanged another startled look. The methods for constructing teleportation arrays had long been lost to history. To think that in this day and age, they would hear of someone wanting to build one!

Just what kind of formidable power stood behind this youth?!

“We have yet to ask—which sect or faction does Your Excellency hail from?”

“I am Fang Qi, the owner of the Origin Internet Cafe!” Owner Fang took the opportunity to slip in a casual advertisement. He pointed a finger at Liu Ningyun. “This young lady is actually quite formidable already. If she could learn the Sword Control Technique, the Divine Lightning Sword Control True Spell, study the Heavenly Books above, and emulate the Sword Scripts below just like this owner, her strength would undoubtedly double!”

“...”

“Does Owner Fang run a shop for magic spells?!” Huangfu Tao’s brow furrowed with displeasure. “Could it be that those techniques Owner Fang displayed just moments ago are also for sale?”

He found it nigh impossible to believe. How could anyone possibly sell their own ultimate techniques?

Owner Fang replied earnestly, “...Mastery guaranteed, fair prices for all!”

The group was suddenly struck dumb, Liu Ningyun most of all. A spell of the caliber of my Nanhua Heavenly Light can be guaranteed for mastery?!

Furthermore, listening to Fang Qi’s tone, it didn't sound like a lie.

Did this mean the techniques their Nanhua Sect treasured as sacred heirlooms were nothing more than common merchandise in his shop?!

How could she tolerate this?!

With a cold sneer, she asked, “Does Owner Fang mean to say that everyone in your esteemed shop knows these techniques?!”

“Of course not.”

Her face darkened with annoyance. “Then how dare you claim mastery is guaranteed?!”

“How can I guarantee it for absolute newcomers? You still have to go through a process akin to Three Years of Gaokao and Five Years of Mock Exams, after all!”

“Hmph!” What on earth was Three Years of Gaokao and Five Years of Mock Exams?

Yet, hearing Fang Qi speak of it, it seemed like a place worth investigating.

“Where is Owner Fang’s shop located?” Huangfu Tao was exceedingly envious of Fang Qi’s Sword Control Technique. “This Master intends to pay a visit!”

“Half-City! The Thirty-Sixth Block!”

“Half-City?!” The disciples of the Nanhua Sect instantly recoiled several steps, looking as though they had seen a ghost.

“No need to panic.” As a neighbor to Half-City, Huangfu Tao naturally knew the nature of that place. “However... isn't the Thirty-Sixth Block Qin Honglin’s territory?”

He asked tentatively, “Is the great Boss Qin doing well?”

“That old demon Qin Honglin?!” The Nanhua Goddess immediately manifested a look of deep disgust.

Fang Qi replied casually, “You mean that guy? He came to my shop to cause trouble, so I crippled him.”

Huangfu Tao: “...”

At this moment, Huangfu Tao truly began to believe that Fang Qi’s shop possessed extraordinary secrets. After all, such words were not the kind anyone would dare utter lightly.

“Is the Nanhua Goddess interested in taking a look?” Huangfu Tao inquired.

He himself had no urgent matters to attend to.

“Senior Sister Liu!” a nearby disciple interjected. “We still have business...”

“We’ve already been delayed anyway!” Liu Ningyun said coldly. “What harm is there in delaying a little longer!”

She wanted to see exactly what tricks this boy was playing.

Excellent. Owner Fang had gone out for a stroll and managed to abduct two entire factions to bring back with him.

With a flick of Owner Fang’s fingers guiding a sword spell, his Grandmaster-level Thousand Sword Technique instantly split the Rune Word Broadsword into more than a dozen flying swords.

“Hopping in?” Fang Qi said. “I’m rushing home to harvest my crops. Hurry up!”

Huangfu Tao: “...”

Liu Ningyun: “...”

Everyone: “...”

Whoosh!

Leaping straight into the dense clouds!

At that very moment, in the waters of the Morning Star Ocean near Black Flood Dragon City.

A shroud of dark clouds loomed, as though transforming the entire sea into a realm of ghosts!

Deathly still and desolate!

A voice echoed as if straight from the depths of the netherworld: "Will he come?"

"Rest assured, this is his only path back to the Half-City!"

In the distant sky, several streaks of sword-light came galloping at breakneck speed!

"He is here!" From within the dark clouds, wave after wave of cold sneers erupted, "Bring back that brat's head to report to the Palace Master—!"

Fang Qi and his companions felt as though they had plunged headlong into a massive, dark cloud, and in an instant, only pitch-black darkness remained in every direction!

Several figures resembling ghosts from the netherworld drifted out of the darkness: "How utterly foolish!"

"To think they would deliver themselves right to our doorstep!"

"Since that is the case, we shall accept this gift... Jie-jie-jie-jie..."

"Do not even dream of escaping from this Dark Cloud Soul-Refining Array!"

Huangfu Tao loosened his shoulders: "This road remains as turbulent as ever..."

Boss Fang: "The highwaymen in this city are always so blind."

Liu Ningyun felt somewhat weak: "It seems a bitter struggle lies ahead."

A dark shadow materialized before them, landing right in front of the group and staring for a moment: "To think there are a few stray fish along? Then you shall all die together!"

Huangfu Tao's face darkened; he had intended to take it easy, but who would have thought someone actually wanted him to die alongside them?!

A colossal amount of spiritual energy coalesced, followed instantly by a swift slap.

In the sky, a massive black palm descended as if blotting out the sun and the sky itself!

Boom!

A violent creaking sound rang out as a huge dark cloud in the sky was squashed flat by the grand hand like a lump of dough!

Only a chorus of terrified, horrified shrieks could be heard! The entire array collapsed entirely as though crushed by a colossal mountain!

Countless ghosts and spectral souls were squeezed out, wailing as they fled!

Boom!

Blown to pieces on the spot!

Corpses rained down like dumplings into a boiling pot!

"Go to hell! You dare to rob the path of me, Huangfu Tao?!"

"..."

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