Immortality Cultivation

The leader of the "Black Fiend Three Wolves," that Early Golden Core Stage fellow, had a truly sharp nose. Even though Fang Hao and the others were hidden quite well, he still caught a whiff of them. With a roar from him, his two Great Perfection Foundation Establishment lackeys instantly drew their weapons, their eyes fixed on the back of the stone pillar like hungry wolves.

"Damn, we’ve been spotted!" Fang Hao cursed inwardly, knowing they couldn’t hide anymore. He glanced at Mu Fenghua. The girl’s small face was tense, her hand already gripping the vermilion bird feather fan. There wasn’t much fear in her eyes; instead, she looked somewhat eager to try.

"What now? Fight or not?" Fang Hao signaled with his eyes. There were three of them, so a head-on clash held some risk. But if they ran, these three were clearly local thugs familiar with the terrain; being pursued would be even more troublesome.

Mu Fenghua tilted her chin up, returning a look that said "obviously" to Fang Hao. As the dignified Ninth Princess, how could she be scared off by a few mountain bandits?

Fine, if Her Highness wants to fight, then fight it is! Fang Hao also felt confident. The "Black Fiend Three Wolves" had an intimidating reputation, but in a real fight, he and Mu Fenghua were no ordinary Early Golden Core Stage cultivators! One was a royal Prodigy with sharp Magic Treasures, and the other was a practical fighter who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with plenty of trump cards. It wasn’t certain who would come out on top!

"Get out? I was thinking of asking you to get lost!" Fang Hao sneered. He and Mu Fenghua stepped out from behind the stone pillar, standing openly before the trio.

When the three saw them, they were delighted. An Early Golden Core Stage pretty boy with a beautiful girl at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment? Wasn’t this a fat sheep delivered right to their door?

"Oho? There’s such a succulent young lady?" The second brother, who had a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks, let his eyes wander greedily over Mu Fenghua, almost drooling. "Big brother, this girl is mine! That kid’s storage ring is yours!"

"You’re courting death!" Mu Fenghua had never been subjected to such foul language. Her pretty face turned frosty as she swung the vermilion bird feather fan violently! A blazing fire phoenix shrieked and pounced toward the insolent second brother at extreme speed!

"A Foundation Establishment dares to attack?" The second brother sneered and summoned a pitch-black shield to block his front. He thought he could stop it casually.

Boom!

The fire phoenix slammed into the shield, exploding into a mass of raging flames! With a "crack," several fissures actually appeared on the shield! The second brother was shaken, his blood and Qi churning as he retreated several steps. A look of horror appeared on his face: "This woman’s Fire Magic is so powerful!"

"This target is tough! Attack together!" The boss’s eyes turned sharp. Realizing Mu Fenghua was not simple, he didn’t dare be arrogant anymore. With a sharp shout, a pair of poisoned daggers glowing with green light appeared in his hands. His figure flickered, stabbing toward Fang Hao like a ghost! He saw Fang Hao was at the Golden Core stage and planned to deal with him first!

The other two also reacted. While the boss dealt with Fang Hao, the second and third (a short, burly man) attacked Mu Fenghua from the left and right, brandishing their blades!

"Perfect!" Fang Hao was delighted rather than surprised. The yitian sword unsheathed, starlight swirling on the blade. Carrying a sense of decisive Sword Intent he had recently grasped, he used a move from the Starfall Sword Art—Meteor Stab—pointing it at the boss’s throat! The sword speed was as fast as lightning!

"Hmm? Sword Intent?!" The boss felt that sharp, indomitable Concept. His expression changed slightly, and he didn’t dare meet it head-on. He crossed his daggers to parry the sword tip!

Clang!

Sparks flew everywhere! Both figures shook and retreated half a step simultaneously! They were actually evenly matched!

"Good kid! You’ve got some skill!" The boss’s gaze became even more solemn. He was at the Peak of the Early Golden Core Stage, yet he hadn’t gained the upper hand in a direct clash?

On the other side, Mu Fenghua was not flustered at all despite being double-teamed. Her movements were agile, like a butterfly in a fire. The vermilion bird feather fan unleashed waves of flames, leaving the second and third brothers in a frantic state. Her flames not only had an extremely high temperature but also carried a strange effect of burning the Divine Soul, making them very uncomfortable. The third brother, in a moment of carelessness, was grazed on the arm by a tongue of flame. His flesh immediately split open, and he let out a miserable scream!

"Kill this woman first!" the second brother roared, taking out a handful of poison sand and throwing it at Mu Fenghua!

Mu Fenghua snorted. The starlight on her jade pendant flashed, creating a light shield that blocked the poison sand. At the same time, she waved her fan repeatedly, and several fire birds forced the second brother back. Seizing the Opportunity, she flicked her finger at the injured third brother, and a Vermilion Bird Feather as thin as a cow’s hair shot silently toward his Dantian!

The third brother couldn’t dodge in time and was hit by the feather. With a scream, his Dantian was shattered, his cultivation was completely lost, and he collapsed to the ground!

"Third brother!" The second brother’s eyes nearly split from rage as he lunged forward madly!

Seeing one man fall in an instant, the boss was both shocked and furious. His offensive became even more frenzied, his daggers like venomous snakes, never leaving Fang Hao’s vital points! Fang Hao combined the Divine Spirit Steps with his sword techniques, his figure drifting and his sword light sharp. Sometimes he used Dividing Light Sword Shadow to confuse the boss’s vision, and sometimes he used Starfall Sword Art for a direct, powerful assault, keeping the boss pinned down so he couldn’t go to help.

After dealing with the third brother, Mu Fenghua’s pressure was greatly reduced, and she focused on the second brother. With her powerful Magic Treasures and brilliant Cultivation Technique, the second brother was no match at all. Soon, his protective spiritual light was shattered by a concentrated pillar of fire, and he was burned to charcoal!

In the blink of an eye, two of the three wolves were gone! Only the boss remained!

The boss’s heart turned cold with fear, knowing he had kicked a steel plate! These two’s strength far exceeded others of the same rank! He made a feint and turned to run!

"Want to run? Too late!" Fang Hao had long been prepared for this. Using Shrinking the Ground to an Inch, he caught up instantly. The light from the empty clarity mirror flashed, shining on the boss’s back!

The boss’s figure stiffened! In that moment of delay, Fang Hao’s yitian sword, carrying a cold killing intent, pierced through his heart from behind!

Puchi!

The sword tip emerged from his chest! The boss looked down at his chest in disbelief, his eyes full of resentment, as he slowly collapsed to the ground.

The battle started quickly and ended even faster! The "Black Fiend Three Wolves," who seemed to have a fierce reputation, were completely wiped out in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn under the joint efforts of Fang Hao and Mu Fenghua!

Fang Hao and Mu Fenghua looked at each other, both seeing a hint of relief in the other’s eyes. Their coordination was quite seamless.

The two quickly cleaned up the battlefield, collecting the three men’s Storage Pouches and Magical Artifacts. From the boss, Fang Hao searched out a yellowed beast skin map marked with the location of "Qiu the Third’s Treasure Cave," which was indeed deep within these ruins.

"Looks like we’re in luck," Fang Hao said with a smile, waving the map.

Mu Fenghua also showed a hint of a smile: "Shall we go take a look?"

"Of course!" This kind of windfall delivered to their doorstep would be a waste to ignore!

Following the map’s guidance, they wound through the ruins and finally found a cave entrance, barely large enough for one person, under a very hidden cliff covered in vines. There were faint ripples of a Restriction at the entrance, but it was old and its power had greatly diminished.

Fang Hao observed for a moment with his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes, found the weak point of the Restriction, and with a gentle stroke of the yitian sword, he broke through it.

A musty scent wafted from inside the cave. The two walked in cautiously. The cave wasn’t deep, only about a dozen yards, and inside were piles of Spirit Stones, Materials, and several Magical Artifacts with dim spiritual light—it looked like things Old Third Qiu had hidden in a hurry. The most valuable items were a Jade Slip containing a remnant Chapter of the Shadowless Evasion Technique and a thin, nearly transparent short sword called the "phantom shadow sword." Both were High Grade rank three treasures.

"The remnant Chapter of the evasion technique goes to me, the short sword to you, and we split the rest equally. How about it?" Fang Hao suggested. He had his eye on that evasion technique to make up for his lack of movement techniques.

Mu Fenghua had no interest in the short sword as she used a feather fan, so she nodded: "Acceptable."

After dividing the loot, both were in a good mood. This trip to Ten Thousand Swords Valley was truly worth it! Not only did they get a sword soul and sword intent grass, but they also stumbled upon a treasure cave!

Walking out of the cave, the sky was near dusk. More terrifying ripples of Sword Intent came from deep within Ten Thousand Swords Valley; clearly, there were even greater Opportunities, but also greater dangers.

"Are we going further in?" Fang Hao looked at Mu Fenghua.

Mu Fenghua pondered for a moment and shook her head: "I’ve already obtained a sword soul and need to find a place to refine it. The depths of the valley are too dangerous; why don’t we part ways here?"

Fang Hao had the same idea. His Sword Intent had just begun to take shape, and he also needed time to consolidate and digest it. Furthermore, acting with the Princess, while safe, made for too large a target and could easily attract unwanted attention.

"Fine! Then until we meet again! Take care, Fellow Daoist Mu!" Fang Hao cupped his hands.

"You take care too, Fellow Daoist Ning! I will remember your help this time!" Mu Fenghua also returned the gesture solemnly, then turned into a streak of red light and disappeared into the twilight.

Fang Hao watched her back disappear, then turned and sped off in another direction. This trip to Ten Thousand Swords Valley had yielded harvests far beyond expectations! It was time to find a place to properly digest these Opportunities and prepare for the upcoming Secret Realm exploration!