Chapter 191
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Chapter 191: White Jade Divine Fish
Dong, dong, dong!
A deep, resonant bell suddenly echoed through Purple Beard Villa. Everyone dropped their tasks and rushed to gather before Purple Tower—the master’s summoning command permitted no delay. Those who disobeyed faced dreadful punishment.
Within moments, hundreds from the villa stood assembled. They arranged themselves by rank: the front rows filled with Golden Pool realm cultivators, followed by Qi Sea cultivators, all ordered by cultivation level. Their swift, disciplined formation betrayed rigorous prior training.
All eyes turned to Purple Tower’s top balcony where the master typically issued commands. But today, shock rippled through the crowd—the figure standing there wasn’t Purple Beard Master, but a winged birdman.
The front-row Golden Pool cultivators recognized Fang Lie immediately. "Fang Lie?!" they cried. "Where’s our master? What have you done with Purple Beard Master?"
"Heh." Fang Lie smirked. "My presence here means I’m master now. Purple Beard? He’s done for."
"Lies!" shouted a villa retainer. "The master would never fall!"
"Get down now," another roared, "or the master will make you pay!"
The entire crowd glared hatred at Fang Lie. These were Purple Beard Master’s most loyal—generational servants who’d purged all dissenters days earlier.
Fang Lei scanned the karma-drenched crowd. Their stained souls mirrored countless atrocities committed under Purple Beard’s rule. "You want your master?" he sneered. "So be it. Purple Beard—appear!"
"Yes, master." Purple Beard Master floated upward mechanically, hovering empty-eyed beside Fang Lie.
Gasps erupted. "Master!" wailed a retainer. "Why call this whelp ‘master’? What witchcraft is this?"
"You’ve cursed him!" another accused.
Fang Lie chuckled at their outrage. "Correct. He’s my puppet now. As for you loyal dogs—" He flicked his wrist. "Purple Beard—kill every Golden Pool retainer."
"Yes, master." The puppet master raised his hands. Twin orbs—one black, one white—shot skyward.
"MASTER, NO!" the cultivators screamed as they scrambled to flee. The orbs arced overhead, unleashing crushing earth’s magnetic force that shredded a dozen Golden Pool cultivators into bloody scraps. Against fifth-rank treasures, resistance proved futile.
Fang Lie was extremely pleased and thought to himself, Purple Beard Master had decent skills—clearly a good enforcer!
With that, he waved his hand and dismissed Purple Beard Master to continue his cultivation.
The remaining hundreds of Cultivators were utterly terrified. Many sat paralyzed on the ground. If not for knowing the mountain’s protective array was active and escape impossible, they would’ve fled immediately.
However, after Fang Lie sent Purple Beard Master away, their panic eased slightly. They realized Fang Lie wouldn’t kill them—at least for now.
True to their expectations, Fang Lie declared, "Listen well. From today, this is the Fang Family estates, belonging to me—Fang Lie of the Mo Sect. You have two choices: stay with the same treatment as before, or leave unharmed. Those leaving, stand left. Those staying, stand right."
Under Fang Lie’s command, the crowd shuffled briefly before all moved to the right side.
Amused, Fang Lie asked, "How amusing. I just killed your former master. Why willingly serve me now?"
An elderly man at the front answered bitterly, "Master, our cultivation is weak and we’ve no savings. Where could we go if expelled from this estate?"
Another added, "The surrounding seas teem with demon beasts. Chartering a ship costs tens of thousands of spirit stones—far beyond our means."
"Ah, I see!" Fang Lie laughed. "But rest assured. As Mo Sect disciples from a Righteous Sect, we don’t bully the weak. Work hard here, and life under me won’t be worse than under Purple Beard Master!"
He then ordered, "Two who know the estate well—stay. The rest, disperse."
"Yes, Master!" The crowd bowed and scattered, leaving only the two elderly speakers.
Fang Lie descended from the upper floor, collecting scattered Sumeru Bags before instructing, "Have this area cleaned."
"Master needn’t worry," one elder said. "Cleaners will come once the outer gate withdraws."
"Good," Fang Lie nodded. "Your names?"
"Reporting to Master, I’m Mao San," said the left elder.
"I’m Gou Si," said the right.
Fang Lie chuckled. "What ridiculous names!"
Mao San sighed. "We grew up here serving the young master. He gave us these names."
"That worthless scoundrel!" Fang Lie spat. "Change them—they’re humiliating!"
"Thank you, Master, but we’re accustomed to them," they replied in unison.
"Suit yourselves," Fang Lie shrugged. "Now show me around. Any interesting spots here?"
"Master, our local specialty is the hot spring’s White Jade Fish," Mao San said. "There’s a large hot spring lake in that cave—the most remarkable feature here."
"Let’s visit," Fang Lie said.
The trio flew over the mountain ridge into dense woods, reaching a cave entrance barely one zhang tall. An illusion formation guarded it, making discovery impossible without guides.
Through winding tunnels spanning hundreds of zhangs, they emerged into a cavern housing a vast lake. Boiling water bubbled violently, filling the air with mist so thick even Fang Lie’s sharp eyes could barely see a hundred zhang ahead.
Using magic to part the haze, Fang Lie glimpsed hundreds of one-chi-long white fish swimming contentedly in the scalding water.
"What’s this?" he exclaimed.
"White Jade Fish—unique to this place," Mao San explained. "They die instantly in cold water. Though appearing ordinary, they’re Second-tier demon beasts. Even Golden Pool Masters would become their prey."
Gou Si added, "They feed on Spiritual Energy, making their flesh pure. Consuming them strengthens the body, expands Spiritual Veins, and slightly enhances spiritual roots. All four of Purple Beard Master’s sons became decent Cultivators thanks to these fish."
Fang Lie stiffened. He’d found it odd that all four sons had cultivation talent—normally, even large family clans only saw one in ten disciples possess spiritual roots, most barely qualifying. Yet Purple Beard Master’s sons had reached Golden Pool level, potentially advancing to Purple Palace given time.
Now he understood—these fish could grant spiritual roots!
Instantly, Fang Lie thought of his forty-plus siblings—abandoned family disciples without spiritual roots. Their envious faces watching him and Ice and Fire Poison Dragon train haunted him.
"How many fish must someone eat to gain cultivation ability?" he demanded urgently.
