Chapter 535: Spy?

Seeing Fang Chen remain silent, the woman became even more emboldened and continued to taunt him with her cold sarcasm.

Some Greenwood Sect disciples couldn't help but advise her to stop, but she showed no fear, venting her anger. She even criticized the Greenwood Sect itself.

Before long, a man swiftly arrived and stopped the woman from speaking further. "You should hold your tongue, young lady."

The man gave Fang Chen a wary glance. Forcing a smile, he said, "My sister speaks without a filter. Please forgive any offense caused."

With that, he promptly led the woman away.

Sensing that the atmosphere had turned tense ever since the woman appeared, the Greenwood Sect disciples who had come to meet Fang Chen decided to leave too.

"Well then, we'll take our leave."

They departed quickly after bidding their farewell.

Turning around, Fang Chen saw Fairy Yu standing at the entrance of his cave, looking at him with complex emotions.

Fang Chen smiled. "What's wrong?"

Fairy Yu frowned. "You wouldn't have to endure hearing all that if it weren't for me, my lord...."

"There's nothing to feel aggrieved about. We are in the wrong after all," said Fang Chen, shaking his head lightly. "Letting her vent a bit of her frustration is harmless."

Fairy Yu fell silent.

***

Days passed, and the woman from before never returned to mock or taunt Fang Chen. Instead, the young man who had taken her away visited Fang Chen regularly. It seemed he wasn't angry about Fang Chen's attempt to acquire the Vast Origin Fruit intended for their ancestor.

Every time he visited, they would chat about interesting events in the Central Continent Empire and rumors from various sects. Their discussions avoided cultivation techniques and spells.

"Brother Xia, it's getting late. I'll take my leave now."

"I'll walk you out."

Fang Chen stood up and escorted him to the cave's door, watching as he left.

After he left, Fairy Yu walked up and stood next to Fang Chen, frowning as she watched the man's fading back.

"My lord, you once told me that anyone who offers unsolicited kindness is either up to no good or after something."

Fang Chen nodded slightly. "Li Hao does seem peculiar. Moreover, he's got a very solid level of cultivation; he's at the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. He is a step away from entering the Enlightenment Realm.”

"Could he be a member of the Spirit Blood Sect? You've disrupted their plans in the Hidden Cloud Region; they must hold a deep grudge against you," Fairy Yu mused aloud.

"When I left the Azure Cloud Empire, I already knew that one of the Spirit Blood Sect's Four Great Generals, the Azure Dragon Battle General, was coming after me. I didn't just disrupt their plans in the Hidden Cloud Region; I also killed two of his disciples." Fang Chen smiled wryly. "Regardless of his intentions, once we get the Vast Origin Fruit, we'll leave."

Back at his cave, Fang Chen projected his divine soul and entered Li Hao's cave.

"Brother, you went to see Xia Xuanji again? Why do you want to associate with him? If not for him, ancestor would have obtained the Vast Origin Fruit long ago!" the woman complained when she saw Li Hao return.

Li Hao smiled. "Little sister, you've seen Xia Xuanji's methods before. His background is profound. Building a relationship with him would greatly benefit our Li Family."

"What for?! He’s just a cultivator at the Foundation Building Realm.”

Despite the astonishing methods Fang Chen had displayed when he went crazy, some said it was just the manifestation of a master’s Divine Descent and not his true ability.

The woman frowned. "Even when he broke the Sealing Immortal Formation of the Great Expansion Dao Gate, he was possessed by a strong practitioner from the Incense Sect."

"Don't forget, he also has the support of the Void Immortal Sword Sect." Li Hao chuckled lightly. "The sect itself is also known for its sword cultivation."

With that said, Li Hao softly ruffled the woman's hair and walked toward a quiet room, evidently unwilling to continue the conversation.

The woman remained silent for a moment before getting up and heading to another room.

Fang Chen first went to Li Hao's room, where he saw him sitting quietly, before proceeding to the room where the woman was staying.

In addition to the woman, there was an old man in the room whose face was full of dark brown spots.

The old man's skin was wrinkled, and his hair was sparse, a common appearance among practitioners whose lifespan was nearly depleted. They would end up in this state when their lifespan was nearly exhausted and could no longer be maintained by spiritual energy alone.

However, the old man's aura was very powerful and imposing, giving Fang Chen the impression that he was stronger than Su Mo and Elder Chen.

That meant that this old man was in the process of passing the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. If he managed to cross it, he would be able to enter the Tribulation Realm!

"Old Ancestor, the eldest brother is not from the Killing Spiritual Division. He went to find Fang Chen just to make friends with him, hoping that the Li Family could use him in the future," the woman said with a polite and respectful expression.

Fang Chen was slightly startled. He thought that Li Hao was suspicious, but he didn't expect the woman and the old man to be the ones who were actually from the Spirit Blood Sect!

The old man was in the Dao Union Realm. Additionally, he was already undergoing the Nine Tribulations and Three Calamities, making him the strongest and highest-ranking Spirit Blood Sect practitioner Fang Chen had ever encountered. Their knowledge of his original name confirmed it, indicating they came prepared.

The old man spoke slowly. "Little Qing, you are the most reliable among the youngest generation of our family. Sometimes you must not act too hastily. The Spirit Blood Sect is crucial to our family's continuation, and there can be no room for error."

He continued, "Whether your elder brother is a member of the Killing Spiritual Division is not for discussion now. I want you to get close to Fang Chen. He has offended a significant figure in the Spirit Blood Sect. If you can capture him alive, the ancestor won't need the Vast Origin Fruit anymore, and our ancestor will surely advance to become a Profound Immortal as planned."

Fang Chen was taken aback. "Capture me?"

The significant figure the old man mentioned can't be someone behind the Azure Dragon Battle General, can he?

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Li Xiaoqing smiled faintly. "Rest assured, old ancestor. When I mocked him that day, he did not respond. He must be feeling guilty. I can use this to get close to him without him suspecting a thing."

The old man nodded. "Good, that's how it should be. The old ancestor doesn't know how many members of the Killing Spiritual Division are watching behind the scenes. It's risky to act hastily. A single misstep and we, the Li Family, could be uprooted. The success of this task depends on you."

With that said, the old man slowly closed his eyes.

Li Xiaoqing, seeing this, left the room and sat by herself, seemingly lost in thought.

After returning his divine soul to his physical body, Fang Chen took out the communication token of the Killing Spiritual Division.

The communication talisman faintly heated up, indicating that there were people already chatting.

"

The Void Immortal Sword Sect has identified a Spirit Blood Sect practitioner, proving that the actions of Gai Wu, the third son of Heavenly King Zhen, were all influenced by that bastard.

"

"

Heh, the Spirit Blood Sect truly has infiltrated everywhere. Even the Void Immortal Sword Sect couldn't avoid them?

"

"

Everyone, be careful during this period. Since the incident in The Hidden Cloud Region, the Spirit Blood Sect seems to have become more aggressive. Many of our members have been out of contact for a long time.

"

"

Could there be infiltrators in our Killing Spiritual Division?

"

Fang Chen frowned slightly as he read the third message.

It seems that the incident involving Little Yu was indeed the Spirit Blood Sect's covert retaliation.

Furthermore, the Spirit Blood Sect is employing more aggressive tactics, even targeting Killing Spiritual Division members...?

After a moment of contemplation, Fang Chen was about to send a message when a thought struck him and he projected his divine soul out, returning to the room where the old man was.

Phasing through the walls into the room, Fang Chen saw the old man holding a communication token of the Killing Spiritual Division, clearly in the midst of transmitting a message.