Chapter 64 : Fang Wuqi

Chapter 64: Fang Wuqi

Just as Long Tao was about to let out a sigh of relief, the System—silent for a long while—suddenly spoke again,

【Detected that the Host has completed a hidden side quest: Establishing a friendly relationship with native inhabitants of the Secret Realm.Reward: Soul Lamp Value +2 points】

The System’s sudden reward jolted Long Tao’s thoughts.

Rare indeed… this thing could actually give him a bit of positive surprise.

It was finally starting to resemble a proper System.

Wait! If it gave 2 points of Soul Lamp Value, then his current total… wouldn’t that make it 26 points? Even if the task failed and deducted 25 points, he would still barely survive, right? Could it be that—

Just as he was thinking that he might finally stop being forced to risk his life, the System seemed to read his little scheme and immediately poured cold water over his head with a single sentence.

【Side quest rewards will be distributed together after the completion of the main storyline task. ooThe Host’s current Soul Lamp Value remains at 24 points.】

Fine! He had known it—trying to exploit loopholes in this damn System would only ever lead to disappointment.

……

Back to reality.

These three demon plant tree spirits truly lived up to their status as local ground rulers.

Although their individual combat strength was probably even weaker than Long Tao, this Qi-Refining Fifth Layer “good-for-nothing,” their familiarity with the environment was unparalleled.

Before long, they led the three of them to a massive tree hollow that was both concealed and surprisingly clean and spacious.

“Honored lords and honored aunties from the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect,” the leading demon plant said, waving its vines enthusiastically as it introduced the place.

“This tree hollow lies within the territory of our root system. You may rest here with complete peace of mind—safety is guaranteed!”

“Root system?” That term immediately piqued the trio’s curiosity.

They truly knew very little about the ecology of such plant spirits.

“Oh, it’s like this,” another demon plant hurried to explain, its branches and leaves gesturing animatedly.

“We plant spirits usually gather around an old ancestor with a well-developed main root, forming what we call a ‘root system. It’s roughly equivalent to what you humans would call a family. For example, the three of us brothers were all nurtured together from a vine branching off a main branch of our ancestor tree.

That vine—using your terminology—would be our mother.”

“So that’s how it is. Quite an interesting structure,” Zhu Huaisu nodded thoughtfully, then immediately asked the key question.

“Then… while we are within your root system’s territory, we shouldn’t be attacked again, right?”

“Yes, yes!” the three demon plants answered in unison.

“We have already transmitted the message to the entire clan through our roots. We will absolutely not make a move against our honored guests! However…” Their voices hesitated slightly.

“If you… were to take the initiative to attack our kind, then… then don’t blame us brothers for turning hostile.”

“We would never do something so base,” Zhu Huaisu immediately assured them, though her voice unconsciously lowered, as if recalling how she had just cooperated with Long Tao in staging a “robbery.” She quickly changed the subject and asked the crucial question, “We would like to ask you for help.

Could you help us search for other people in the Secret Realm? Whether they are companions from the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect or members of the Wuyi Sect, any information would be appreciated.”

Hearing this, the three tree spirits exchanged glances.

Their leaves rubbed together with soft rustling sounds, and they seemed somewhat hesitant.

Seeing this, Zhu Huaisu immediately took out two low-grade spirit stones brimming with spiritual energy from her storage ring.

The “eyes” of the three demon plants instantly lit up.

They hurriedly extended their vines and almost snatched the stones away, the look of worry on their faces instantly replaced by fawning smiles.

“No problem! Absolutely no problem! Leave it to us! A trivial matter!” the leading demon plant thumped its chest in guarantee, its enthusiasm increasing tenfold.

As it carefully hid the spirit stones somewhere within its body, it began to complain pitifully.

“Honored guests, you have no idea—inside this Secret Realm, it’s almost impossible to find even half a naturally formed spirit stone! Every time the Secret Realm opens and connects to the main world, we hope to exchange some with the visiting cultivators. That’s why… why we couldn’t help but sell those spirit melons a little more expensively earlier…”

“You also need spirit stones?” Long Tao could not help but interject, finding this rather novel.

“Of course!” another demon plant rushed to answer, its tone filled with intense longing.

“Just a tiny piece of low-grade spirit stone contains more spiritual energy than what we can accumulate from piles of leaves and branches! And it’s absorbed incredibly fast! Don’t be fooled by how rich in spiritual energy our spirit melons seem—they took decades or even hundreds of years to slowly nurture bit by bit. How could that compare to the convenience and usefulness of spirit stones!”

Having received the benefits of the spirit stones, the three tree spirits worked with astonishing efficiency.

They did not move about but instead each extended their thickest root, plunging it deep into the soil and humus beneath their feet.

A green glow spread around their bodies, and countless imperceptible fluctuations traveled along the intricate underground root network, rapidly spreading in all directions throughout the Secret Realm.

In less than the time it took to burn half an incense stick, the leading demon plant suddenly let out a surprised “Eh?” It withdrew its root, pointed its branches toward the southeast, and spoke with a mix of amazement and ingratiation,

“Reporting to you, honored ones—about three li to the southeast, there is indeed a disciple of your Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect! Ho! Truly formidable! The area around him… seems to have just experienced a vicious battle. Two extremely sharp auras remain, though they are rapidly dissipating, and there are also two corpses.They are indeed wearing Wuyi Sect disciple robes.”

Its words were filled with incredulous awe.

Though their combat power was low, their perception of aura was extraordinarily keen.

They could clearly “see” the traces left behind by that brief yet fatal clash—precise, efficient, and utterly crushing.

The three exchanged looks, each seeing surprise and disbelief in the others’ eyes.

Even if those assassins varied in strength, they could not have been weak.

Being able to face two opponents alone was already unbelievable—killing them outright without giving them any chance to escape was simply absurd.

“It must be Senior Brother Fang.

Only he has that kind of strength.”

Zhu Huaisu’s tone carried unquestionable certainty as she gave the order,

“Take us there immediately! By the way, there is no sun in this Secret Realm—how do you determine which direction is southeast?”

“We distinguish directions by the density of spiritual energy here.

Please follow us!” The three demon plants did not dare delay.

They immediately twisted their root systems and led the way, gliding across the ground as if sliding.

Their familiarity with the terrain was exceptional, and they deliberately chose concealed and safe routes—their speed was surprisingly fast.

The closer they drew, the more distinct the faint smell of blood in the air and the lingering True Essence fluctuations became.

Even without the tree spirits’ guidance, the three could clearly sense that aura ahead—like a suppressed volcano, calm on the surface yet hiding extreme violence beneath.

Pushing through a stretch of ravaged shrubs, the scene before them caused the hurried trio to pause in slight shock.

Fang Wuqi stood quietly at the center of a devastated clearing, dressed in a cyan robe that was still neat and pristine.

His expression was calm, as if he were merely passing through and had stopped for a brief moment.

Yet at his feet lay two corpses of Wuyi Sect Assassination Unit members.

What made one’s heart clench was that the dantian of both bodies had collapsed inward deeply, as if smashed apart by an enormous force.

It was clearly the result of a fatal blow from fists, feet, or a blunt weapon—their deaths were gruesome.

Even more striking was the fact that he was holding a celadon porcelain teacup, seemingly taken from nowhere.

It formed a bizarre yet wondrous contrast with the violent aura around him that had not yet fully subsided, like a storm that had just passed.

Upon seeing Zhu Huaisu and the others arrive, a genuine smile immediately appeared on Fang Wuqi’s face.

He drained the remaining tea in one gulp, then jogged over to greet them, his voice filled with unfeigned joy,

“Junior Sister Zhu, Fellow Daoist Luo, and Junior Brother Long Tao.

It’s truly wonderful that you are all safe!”

His gaze flicked briefly over the three demon plants cowering behind them, wishing they could bury themselves into the ground.

He did not ask any questions, merely nodding gently as a greeting.

“On our side, the three of us working together barely managed to take down one…” Zhu Huaisu looked at the two corpses with shattered dantian, her shock impossible to hide.

“Senior Brother Fang, you… actually dealt with two by yourself?”

Hearing this, Fang Wuqi revealed a perfectly timed, slightly apologetic expression of humility.

His tone was gentle, as if discussing the weather.

“I had intended to leave one alive to gather some intelligence.

Unfortunately, these two were quite strong, and I could not hold back.”

His manner was incomparably modest, yet the content of his words was supremely arrogant and domineering.

But this pride and dominance, built upon absolute strength, did not provoke resentment at all.

Instead, it gave everyone present an indescribable sense of security.

As expected of the sect’s undisputed strongest prodigy of this generation.

From personal cultivation to battlefield judgment, from team leadership presence to social tact, and even to his appearance and bearing—there was not a single shortcoming to be found.

He was the living embodiment of a flawless “all-rounded warrior.”

Off to the side, the three tree spirits trembled as their leaves quivered.

The way they looked at Fang Wuqi was filled with unprecedented fear and reverence.

This lord was the true, deeply hidden peerless killing god!