Break his legs? Who was he talking about?!

Before any cultivator could react, they saw He Zhongshu rush toward Lin Hai as if he had gone mad before breaking his legs.

Lin Hai was caught off guard. By the time he realized what was happening, his legs were already broken. He looked at He Zhongshu with a mix of shock and anger.

He Zhongshy whispered in Lin Hai’s ear, "Fellow cultivator Lin, I apologize for the necessity."

Lin Hai was momentarily stunned. Facing turning pale, he looked over at Fang Chen. He tentatively sent a voice transmission. "

Is this the same person from Immortal Dynasty Manor?

"

"

Yes.

"

Lin Hai nearly choked. Realizing that this person could easily deal with an Immortal Seedling from the Great Expansion Dao Sect and yet still sit here casually fishing for Black Dragon Fish, he suddenly felt uneasy about his own situation.

"Who exactly is this person?"

The people around were growing impatient. They started asking those around them for answers, but no one could provide a clear response.

An Immortal Seedling from the Moon Worshiping Dao Sect had broken the legs of a Great Expansion Dao Sect cultivator simply because of another's words. Even a Void Immortal Sword Sect identity couldn’t warrant that.

Some recalled the way He Zhongshu had addressed Fang Chen earlier.

"The Mad King... what an odd title."

The crowd exchanged puzzled looks.

However, that was the Black Dragon Manor, a considerable distance from Immortal Dynasty Manor. Only a few cultivators present were aware of the events at Immortal Dynasty Manor, and even fewer recognized Fang Chen's identity.

He Zhongshu cupped his hands toward Fang Chen. "Mad King, is this to your satisfaction?"

"You can leave now."

As Fang Chen spoke, he hooked another Black Dragon Fish. The crowd watched in amazement, noting the peculiar quality of Fang Chen’s eyes.

"An eye art?"

Many considered this possibility. Cultivators with pupil techniques often came from distinguished backgrounds.

"Well then, I shall take my leave," He Zhongshu said, bowing again before turning and leaving without hesitation.

The people with him quickly tailed behind.

"Fellow cultivator Lin, here are the 12 mid-grade spirit stones I owe you. This matter has nothing to do with me. I’m leaving now." Lin Hai’s friend handed over twelve mid-grade spirit stones, casting a wary glance at Fang Chen.

Seeing that Fang Chen hadn’t said anything, he hastened to leave the area.

Lin Hai didn’t hesitate, taking out 28 mid-grade spirit stones to make up 40 and handed them to Cheng Yuhan. "Here are the forty mid-grade spirit stones. I’ve lost the bet."

"It should have been like this from the start. There was no need to have your legs broken," Cheng Yuhan said coldly, taking the spirit stones from him.

Lin Hai sighed in relief and quickly turned to Fang Chen. "M-Master, can I leave now?"

"No rush. I have something to ask you," said Fang Chen, his eyes still focused on the dark lake surface, his tone indifferent.

Lin Hai’s eyes flashed with panic. He instinctively looked toward Meng Tianshu, hoping that he could put in a word for him. Among those present, only he could intercede on his behalf.

Meng Tianshu walked toward Fang Chen with a soft smile. "Fellow cultivator, it’s good to see you again."

Cheng Yuhan and the others saw this and began to drive away the nearby cultivators. "There’s nothing more to see. Everyone, go back to your fishing."

The crowd, now aware that these were all sword cultivators from the Void Immortal Sword Sect and fearing the prospect of being challenged, reluctantly moved away.

"Brother Meng, it seems your cultivation has improved," Fang Chen said with a smile.

Langya Wenqiu noticed the situation and offered her seat to Meng Tianshu.

"Thank you, young lady," Meng Tianshu replied gratefully, taking the seat. He looked at the surface of the lake. "Thanks to your assistance, I’ve passed the first tribulation of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations. Now I am truly at the grand completion stage, hoping to eat more Black Dragon Fish and advance to the Nascent Soul Realm in the best possible condition."

Fang Chen’s face showed a hint of envy. "You’ve already passed your first tribulation?"

He genuinely felt envious. He had no idea when his first tribulation would come or in what form it would appear. He hoped it wouldn’t come during a critical moment, such as during a battle. That would truly be unfortunate.

Meng Tianshu spoke with gratitude. "At the time of our battle, it was as if I was facing my first tribulation. If it hadn’t been for your two pieces of advice, my Dao heart might have shattered, and I wouldn’t have reached my current state."

Fang Chen nodded lightly. A Golden Core Realm cultivator could not achieve true completion and advance to the Nascent Soul Realm without external help. Wasn’t that why the former Grand Ancestor of Grand Qian had joined the Spirit Blood Sect?

Meng Tianshu chatted with Fang Chen for a while before. After a while, he stood up, ready to leave. However, before he left, Meng Tianshu couldn't help but glance at Fang Chen a few more times.

Finally, after much hesitation, he said, "When you advance to the Golden Core Realm, you might want to visit the Ancient Immortal Road. It holds great opportunities for us."

"I’ll consider it if the chance arises," Fang Chen replied, nodding.

Meng Tianshu clasped his fist and took his leave.

After Meng Tianshu left, Wang Hu dragged the previously ignored Lin Hai over to Fang Chen.

"I have some questions to ask you. Answer them to my satisfaction, and you can leave. Otherwise, I might just throw you into the lake to feed the fish," Fang Chen said.

Lin Hai breathed a sigh of relief. He had been anxious when Meng Tianshu didn’t intercede for him, but Fang Chen’s words provided some comfort.

"Please, ask away. I’ll answer to the best of my ability," Lin Hai said immediately.

"Is Ancestor Hong Qing in the Great Expansion Dao Sect?" Fang Chen inquired.

Ancestor Hong Qing?

Lin Hai was visibly confused. "I haven’t heard of this person. Is he a senior of the Great Expansion Dao Sect?"

"You may leave," Fang Chen said flatly.

Lin Hai felt a surge of relief and quickly mobilized his spiritual energy to leave through the air.

Langya Wenqiu and the others didn’t know who Ancestor Hong Qing was. Seeing that Fang Chen’s question seemed casual and of no significant importance, they didn’t press the matter further.

Now that everyone knew they were sword cultivators from the Void Immortal Sword Sect, they became fearful and didn’t linger near them anymore.

That increased Fang Chen’s fish catch rate significantly over the next two days.

Three days quickly passed, and Cheng Yuhan was on the verge of breaking his fishing rod, having caught no Black Dragon Fish at all. The only thing he caught was a few small fish. They seemed almost like a form of ridicule.

Langya Wenqiu and the others had bought a few Black Dragon Fish from Fang Chen. Even so, behind Fang Chen, there was a small mountain of around two hundred Black Dragon Fish. The fish varied in size, from 1 pound to 3 or 5 pounds, with most being the standard 2 pounds, making nearby cultivators drool with envy.

"Friend, you've struck it rich," Nan Gong said, arriving and looking at the pile of Black Dragon Fish with envy.

Cheng Yuhan's face was wreathed in displeasure, and he grumbled, "Nan Gong, I suspect the bait you provided was faulty."

Nan Gong grinned. "Fellow cultivator Cheng, everyone used the same bait. It must be that your luck was just not good this time. Come again next time, and you'll surely catch plenty."

"Yes, it may indeed be my bad luck," Cheng Yuhan admitted, then looked enviously at Fang Chen. "Junior Brother Fang, you’ve caught so many Black Dragon Fish. Are you planning to take them back to the sect, or will you sell them here?"

"I plan to sell half. Does the sect accept them?" Fang Chen asked, tidying up his fishing gear and handing it to Nan Gong.

"Of course, the sect will buy them," Cheng Yuhan answered, eyeing the fish with hungry eyes. "You could make quite a bit from these."

Seeing that Fang Chen intended to take the fish away, Nan Gong quickly suggested selling them on the spot. Nearby cultivators also approached, asking about the price and expressing their willingness to buy. However, since Fang Chen could sell the fish to the Void Immortal Sword Sect, he chose to decline the offers from the unfamiliar cultivators.

After packing up, the group left Black Dragon Lake and arrived at the Void Immortal Sword Sect after about seven or eight days.