Hah! Worked furiously late into the night. Finally churned out a draft, a full ten thousand characters today! Vote for me with monthly passes!

This was an act of utter discourtesy. No matter who the person was, if they were both cultivators, sending a mere mortal to summon someone was clearly positioning oneself as superior in status.

Feng Zikang’s expression remained unchanged; showing no signs of annoyance, he responded casually. He got up, washed, and opened his door. The village head stood anxiously outside, grabbing his arm the moment he appeared, clearly terrified.

“Little Immortal, please come with me quickly! Immortal Elder Liu has been waiting impatiently!”

Feng Zikang didn’t mind the summons, but the little fox was highly displeased. It shot the village head a fierce glare, startling him into retreating several steps, stammering, yet still pleading earnestly.

Feng Zikang gently stroked the little fox’s head, calming it down. Unconcerned, he nodded faintly.

“Lead the way!”

The village head acted as if granted a pardon, hurrying to the front and leading Feng Zikang toward the village entrance.

It was a tiny fishing village, only a few steps to the entrance. There, amidst the drying fishing nets, stood two figures with an air of arrogance. Judging by their attire, they were cultivators, long swords strapped to their backs, and an emblem pinned to their chests—an emblem Feng Zikang did not recognize.

The person on the left wore cyan robes, clearly older, about the same age as Feng Zikang, with undeniable arrogance etched around his eyes and brows. The person on the right had a slight shadow of stubble on his chin, a bit older, and possessed a distinctly sharp, severe expression.

“Hey!”

Before Feng Zikang was even close, the younger cultivator pointed at him from a distance. “You, junior cultivator! Listen up! I’ve already accepted this Giant Beast mission here. If you wisely back off, that’s fine. But if you refuse to be sensible, don't blame me for not holding back!”

“Yue’er!”

The elder one chided, though the tone suggested no real reprimand. He sneered, offering Feng Zikang a deliberately formal nod. “Fellow Daoist, you’ve heard the news. My junior brother claimed this Giant Beast mission first. Since he’s here to complete it, I suggest you refrain from interfering and depart quickly.”

Feng Zikang snorted. Observing their robes and demeanor, he surmised they were disciples from a minor sect near the East Sea, yet they were shockingly arrogant. His expression steady, he cupped his hands. “May I ask which esteemed sect you two Daoists hail from? And your names, if you please?”

Before he could finish, the younger man stepped forward and answered proudly. “To let you know, I am Liu Yue, a genius disciple of the Mount Tai Sword Sect! This is my senior brother, Wang Shang. If you have any sense and have heard the prestige of our Mount Tai Sword Sect, you’ll scram early to save us the trouble!”

“Mount Tai Sword Sect?”

Feng Zikang paused to think, but he couldn't recall his master ever mentioning this sect.

Cultivation was flourishing now. During the time of the founding Emperor, an official census was supposedly conducted, claiming there were three thousand six hundred sects in the world. Naturally, the Three Teachings and Nine Schools held supremacy, followed by seventy-two Upper Sects, eight hundred Middle Sects, and countless Lower Sects.

The Mount Tai Sword Sect was certainly not among the Upper Sects; he couldn't be sure if it was Middle or Lower.

Seeing Feng Zikang’s look of confusion, Liu Yue scoffed. “Hmph! You don't even know the Mount Tai Sword Sect? What kind of bottom-tier disciple are you, daring to take on a Giant Beast elimination quest? Aren't you afraid of straining yourself? Go back and cultivate for a few more years before you start crying!”

The little fox was enraged. Seeing Liu Yue’s fierce attitude, it didn't hesitate, pouncing and sinking its teeth into the trembling finger. This move was something it had practiced over the past few days practicing on the bored Huo Zhongguang—even Huo Zhongguang, moving like a shadow or a ghost, couldn't entirely avoid a bite or two.

However, Huo Zhongguang was a shadow, and a bite caused no injury. Liu Yue was flesh and blood. The vicious bite, though its little teeth weren't fully grown, tore the flesh until it was bloody and ragged, revealing the white bone beneath.

“Ow!”

Liu Yue cried out in pain and hastily pulled his hand back. Seeing the exposed bone on his index finger, he was so shocked he actually started weeping.

The most frightened person was the village head. He knew Liu Yue was volatile and arrogant, difficult to deal with, unlike Feng Zikang who showed some human decency. He immediately kowtowed an apology.

“Immortal Elder Liu! Are you alright? Shall this old man fetch some medicine for you? This... this was an accidental slip; please don't be angry!”

“Not angry?” Wang Shang burst into fury. He pulled out a medicinal plaster from his robe and applied it to Liu Yue. Liu Yue seemed accustomed to luxury and had never suffered hardship; even this minor injury made him weep and fume uncontrollably.

Wang Shang’s face darkened. He turned his gaze toward Feng Zikang. “Which sect’s disciple are you? How dare you raise a demonic beast and injure the beloved son of my master? If you don't give me an explanation today, I’ll be taking this up with your sect elders.”

“Oh?” Feng Zikang slowly stroked the little fox, which was bristling with anger, and asked blandly, “What kind of explanation do you require?”

Wang Shang’s eyes lit up, and he stared maliciously at the little fox in Feng Zikang’s arms. “First, naturally, you hand over this demonic beast for us to deal with. Second, my junior brother’s hand is injured. I’ve used several precious elixirs, so I won’t ask for much—just compensate me with ten Spirit Stones, and we’ll consider it settled. Third, you get out of here immediately and never show your face again!”

Seeing Feng Zikang’s casual dress and youth, he assumed he was a disciple of a Lower Sect and felt entitled to bully him. This fox looked quite unusual, managing to bite his junior brother's finger unexpectedly; perhaps it truly was a demonic beast. Whether it was or not, they should seize it first.

As for the ten Spirit Stones, he felt it was already an exorbitant demand. Even though their Mount Tai Sword Sect ranked as a Middle Sect, he, as a core disciple, only earned a few Spirit Stones a month. Where would a mere Lower Sect disciple like Feng Zikang get so many?

The third condition was their original demand anyway.

Liu Yue was the beloved son of the Mount Tai Sword Sect Master. He had only just achieved Qi Induction this year, and through sheer luck and six months of hard training, he managed to reach the second layer—the second fastest cultivation speed in the sect’s three-hundred-year history. The Sect Master favored him greatly and indulged him.

He himself was conceited; at merely the second layer of Qi Induction, he insisted on taking on a merit mission. The Sect Master carefully selected the Giant Beast elimination quest for him—difficult, but not overly dangerous, and close enough to the sect for swift support.

Who knew that Liu Yue was all flash and no substance? He swaggered into the small fishing village, posing as a master, but after a few days of bluster, when the Giant Beast appeared, he took one look at the enormous, terrifying monster, merely slashed out one sword strike, then chickened out and fled, causing innocent suffering among the villagers.

He hid outside for several days, too ashamed to return to his father, as he had always been lauded as the Mount Tai Sword Sect’s foremost young genius. Returning now would be too humiliating. He wandered around the foot of Mount Tai until he ran into Senior Brother Wang Shang and dragged him along for assistance.

Wang Shang was generally rather reserved, but his juniors, especially the Sect Master’s favorite, were important. Perhaps the sect master’s position would eventually fall to Liu Yue. Thus, Wang Shang was currently pandering to him, readily agreeing to everything.

In his mind, dealing with a mere Giant Beast was trivial. Who knew that when they arrived at the fishing village, they found another cultivator’s disciple was already here to complete the mission.

The village head, a mere mortal, naturally couldn't explain Feng Zikang’s origins. Wang Shang and Liu Yue, seeing the world through a narrow lens and judging by appearances, naturally assumed the newcomer was nothing special either, leading them to intimidate and coerce him into retreating.

Feng Zikang smiled faintly, lifting the little fox by the scruff of its neck. “You want this one?”

The little fox flailed its tiny paws, protesting vehemently, looking up at Feng Zikang with tear-filled eyes, signaling it absolutely did not want to be handed over.

“A demonic beast like this must naturally be placed under our stewardship, to be handed over to my master for disposal. A low-level cultivator like you is easily injured by it...”

Wang Shang spoke with moral grandeur, but Liu Yue, having calmed down, was indignant.

“What damned thing dares bite me? Senior brother, let’s roast its hide in a pot! I want to taste what fox hotpot tastes like!”

Wang Shang frowned, but he didn't care much about this mere demonic beast. Since his junior brother requested it, he changed his tune. “Did you hear that, youngster? This demonic beast is extremely dangerous. We’re helping you eliminate it to prevent future trouble—it’s very beneficial for you!”

He changed his tune as easily as turning a page, the words he just spoke dismissed as if they were farts, with no concern for his own inconsistency.

Feng Zikang smiled slightly, deliberately showing a troubled expression. “Respected senior brothers, this fox was gifted to me by an elder in my sect. It cannot be given away lightly. How about this: I will compensate you with several dozen more Spirit Stones to buy its life?”

The little fox was ecstatic to hear him valuing its life so highly, wildly sweeping its tail and nuzzling against his cheek. Feng Zikang tucked it back into his embrace, stopping its fidgeting.

“Se-several dozen Spirit Stones?”

Wang Shang gasped audibly. He exchanged a glance with Liu Yue, and instantly, they both realized something: they had run into a fresh, fat sheep today!

The two brothers had a tacit understanding; a single exchange of glances was enough for them to grasp the situation. Wang Shang deliberately rested his chin on his hand, stroked his beard, and frowned. “This demonic beast is very dangerous, it’s not wise for you to keep it by your side... However, if you are willing to produce more Spirit Stones, we might be able to think of a way to help you!”

“I have Spirit Stones!”

Feng Zikang looked deeply grateful, pretending to reach inside his robe, but actually taking out a handful of Spirit Stones from his storage pouch and holding them in his hand, where they shone brilliantly.

The old village head watching nearby was stunned. As a poor villager, he had never seen such dazzling gems. This young man produced them by the handful—truly remarkable for an immortal!

Feng Zikang didn't realize his wealth had earned him the respect of the mortal. He was focused only on the reactions of Wang Shang and Liu Yue. He watched them crane their necks, eyes wide, staring intently at the Spirit Stones in his hand.

“Good... good quality!”

The Spirit Stones they usually saw lacked this kind of vibrancy and luster! This was the vast disparity in resource possession between the great sects of the Three Teachings and Nine Schools and ordinary rogue cultivator sects. In the Central Plains, where the Three Teachings and Nine Schools reigned supreme, all magical treasures and divine techniques belonged to them. Even high-grade Spirit Stones were mostly in their possession and weren't highly valued, as they were merely aids for cultivation and purchasing goods. Furthermore, the items available in the low-tier markets of the Flying Cloud Mirage Tower were often inferior to what was available within the sects. Consequently, the value of Spirit Stones was generally diminished.

But among the other thirty-six hundred sects, the seventy-two Upper Sects were slightly better off, as they possessed their own blessed domains and resources. The Middle and Lower Sects had it much harder. Forget about powerful magical treasures and divine abilities; even Spirit Stones were incredibly rare resources for them.

The Spirit Stones they managed to acquire had either passed through several hands, losing their spiritual essence, or were inherently of poor quality to begin with.

The stones in Feng Zikang’s hand, however, were brimming with spiritual vitality and of excellent quality. Let alone these two, even the Master of the Mount Tai Sword Sect might not have seen many such stones in his entire lifetime of two to three centuries.

The two men were blinded by greed, unable to comprehend the background of someone who possessed such Spirit Stones. An irrepressible avarice surged within them.

“Uh... Young brother, what is your surname and given name? Which sect’s disciple are you?”

Wang Shang still retained a sliver of lucidity. If one intended to rob someone in secret, one should at least know who the target was first.

But at this point, why would Feng Zikang tell him the truth?

“My surname is Feng, given name Zikang. My master is a rogue cultivator of the East Sea...”

“Rogue cultivator?” Wang Shang and Liu Yue exchanged another look, grinning so widely their mouths nearly split open.

Rogue cultivators were the lowest echelon in the world of cultivation. Of course, geniuses existed, as did incredibly powerful rogue cultivators, but generally speaking, compared to organized and powerful sects, the strength of rogue cultivators was like a drop in the ocean—too meager.

This wealthy youth was the disciple of a rogue cultivator.

Wang Shang and Liu Yue grinned like foxes. In their eyes, Feng Zikang seemed to have transformed into a shining, mobile bag of Spirit Stones.

“You have quite a few Spirit Stones, but to protect this demonic beast and compensate my junior brother for his injury, you’ll need at least... thirty—no, fifty Spirit Stones to suffice. Do you have that on you?”

Feng Zikang nodded and pointed out fifty Spirit Stones from his storage pouch, handing them to Wang Shang.

Wang Shang’s eyes turned green when he saw Feng Zikang casually produce fifty Spirit Stones. “This... Young brother, you... do you possess some kind of storage treasure? To carry so many Spirit Stones with you?”

Feng Zikang nodded blankly again, taking out the storage pouch he had retrieved from the White Bone Divine Lord—the one that had been nibbled by rats—from his embrace, holding it in his hand while cleverly concealing the tear.

“This is a storage pouch gifted by my master.”

The color in Wang Shang’s and Liu Yue’s eyes shifted several times over the past few moments; now, they were completely bloodshot and crimson.

A storage pouch!

Such a valuable item—the entire Mount Tai Sword Sect only possessed three! This youth carried one around so casually! Showing no appreciation whatsoever!

He casually produced fifty Spirit Stones, and who knew how many more were inside that gold-threaded storage pouch? Besides that, might there be divine abilities? Magical artifacts?

The two felt their throats dry up, their hearts pounding uncontrollably.

Fortune that comes unasked for, if not taken, will bring retribution!

Wang Shang and Liu Yue exchanged a third glance, the saying spontaneously arising in both their minds.