Chapter 153

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Chapter 153: Fang Lie Returns Home

"Hm? What’s happening here?" The crowd froze momentarily before urgently demanding explanations.

Mo Qianxun recounted the entire sequence of events, then said bitterly, "Our intelligence failed us. We remained unaware of the additional Arhat Immortal Fruit Tree in the secret realm. Thankfully, Fang Lie’s valor enabled him to seize this treasure from two major sects’ clutches. Now—how should we reward him?"

Though Arhat Immortal Fruits weren’t supreme treasures—only effective for Qi Sea realm cultivators—they still qualified as rare wonders.

These fruits could expand one’s Qi Sea, fortify meridians, and mildly enhance spiritual roots and natural aptitude, facilitating cultivation. Limited to a single consumption per lifetime, their effects remained extraordinary.

Strengthened meridians and improved spiritual roots particularly accelerated cultivation progress. Many experts had narrowly missed breakthroughs, meeting tragic ends—a fate potentially altered had they consumed this fruit in their youth.

While a few fruits couldn’t significantly aid a major sect like Mo Sect, a well-tended Arhat Immortal Fruit Tree yielded dozens of fruits per century, accumulating to hundreds over a millennium.

Hundreds of fruits could transform hundreds of disciples’ aptitudes, potentially yielding additional Thunder Tribulation Realm experts—each substantially boosting sect strength.

For major sects, millennia meant little. Given time, this tree’s value became immeasurable. Such treasures sparked external conflicts—even Mo Sect previously possessed only two trees. A third would gradually strengthen the entire sect.

Thus, Fang Lie’s retrieval of this tree constituted monumental merit, warranting these Thunder Tribulation experts’ attention. Moreover, slaying rival sects’ elite disciples—potential future Thunder Tribulation cultivators—deserved discreet rewards, lest sect loyalty waver.

Combined with his Path Contest victory, substantial rewards became unavoidable. Yet Fang Lie remained universally despised—none wished to empower him further.

This formed Mo Qianxun’s dilemma: mandatory rewards couldn’t enhance Fang Lie’s cultivation. His ascension to Golden Pool realm as true Benevolence Token Holder would spell disaster for those present.

The assembly pondered silently but fruitlessly. Mo Qianxun finally implored, "Advise me—what reward suits him?"

"Rewards? Ridiculous!" Bai Family Head spat. "Expulsion suffices for his sectmate killings!"

"Foolish talk!" Righteous Token Lord Huo Wufang scoffed. "The Benevolence Token shields him. Opposing him invites your demise."

"Damnation!" The Bai Head slumped, defeated.

A Thunder Tribulation expert proposed, "Delegate his reward to Senior Brother Bai."

"What?" The Bai Head roared. "He murdered my cherished heir! Reward him myself? This insults me!"

"Precisely why you’re ideal," the expert countered. "Others’ generosity would displease you. Handle it as you will."

"Brilliant!" Mo Qianxun brightened. "Brother Bai, we trust your judgment."

After hesitation, the Bai Head growled, "Very well. I’ll grant him… a unique supreme material for crafting his life-bound treasure—offsetting three merits!"

"One material for three merits?" Huo Wufang arched eyebrows. "How extraordinary must it be?"

"Heh heh," the Head of the Bai Family suddenly sneered darkly, "Years ago, I obtained an ancient beast bone that’s impossibly tough. Even my inherited true fire couldn’t refine it. This thing should count as a priceless top-tier material, no? It might even forge a Ninth-Rank Treasure. That’d more than offset those three Major Merits! No one could possibly object!"

"Ah!" The crowd gasped in unison before erupting into mocking laughter.

"How cunning!"

"How devious!"

"How shameless!"

"How underhanded!"

"What utter disgrace!"

Everyone clearly saw through the Bai Family Head’s scheme. If even his inherited true fire failed to refine the material, how could Fang Lie – a mere Qi Sea realm Cultivator – possibly craft treasures with it?

This mysterious, unworkable item would find no buyers even if sold. Who’d pay fortunes for some suspicious, unrefinable bone?

Though useless to Fang Lie, this arrangement pleased everyone. Their teasing remarks about the Bai Family Head thinly veiled their approval.

Only Mo Sect Leader Mo Qianxun showed slight remorse. "Let’s not be too cruel. We’ll only nullify the latter two merits. The first merit’s promised reward – three months in the Jade Pool – must stand as agreed."

"Understood!" The Bai Family Head hurriedly complied. "I’ll handle it accordingly!"

"Good." Mo Qianxun smiled. "Since this matter’s settled, all may disperse."

Days later, Fang Lie’s group reached Mo Sect. While Ling Feng’s team reported their mission, Fang Lie headed home alone.

First stopping at the Ancestral Hall, Fang Lie retrieved treasures stored in the Cycle of Fire – particularly the Arhat Immortal Fruit tree destined for his garden.

Homecoming brought joyous chaos. Younger siblings swarmed him, crying "Brother!" repeatedly. After over a month’s absence, Fang Lie’s reunion filled him with warmth.

The Ice and Fire Poison Dragon quartet rushed out excitedly.

"Big Brother! Success?" Ice Second Brother demanded.

"Naturally! Who do you take me for?" Fang Lie grinned. "Clear our purple charm clay patch – I’m planting treasures!"

"What treasure?"

"Arhat Immortal Fruit tree!"

"You STOLE their tree?!" Ice Second Brother shrieked.

"Big Brother, isn’t this forbidden?" Fang Huo gaped.

"The major sects won’t accept this," Longxing Tianxia frowned. "This spells trouble."

"No trouble at all!" Fang Lie explained everything, earning collective understanding.

Ice Second Brother vibrated with excitement. "So we’ll eat Arhat Immortal Fruits too?!"

"Everyone shares!" Fang Lie vowed.

"YES! Preparing the soil now!" Ice Second Brother raced off. Others followed, magic energy blazing as they worked furiously.

They planted the Arhat Immortal Fruit tree first, then nine Lingzhi and dozens of precious spirit pills. The Spirit Milk Jade Pool’s Five Elements Spirit Fruits made eyes glitter.

When Fang Lie produced Spirit Marrow, the quartet forgot to breathe.

Spirit Marrow meant Spiritual Veins.

Spiritual Veins meant endless Spiritual Energy.

Only with veins could this become a spiritual mansion rather than common cave dwelling. Cultivators in spiritual mansions with spirit-gathering formations cultivated three to five times faster – sometimes more.

Fang Lie’s talent rivaled Bai First Young Master’s, yet their cultivation differed hundredfold – largely due to environment. While nobles trained in Spiritual Energy-rich mansions, Fang Lie now possessed veins to close the gap.

The exhausted group found renewed vigor seeing Spirit Marrow. Without resting, they immediately began installing it.