Chapter 64
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Chapter 64: Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe
When Huang Mao heard this concerned his own life, he finally became serious and pressed urgently, "Father, don’t frighten me! It’s just that I didn’t befriend Fang Lie. How could this endanger my life?"
"What’s the greatest strength of our family’s Dao magic?" Huang Tianbi demanded.
"Defense, obviously! Unmatched in the world!" Huang Mao declared proudly.
"And its greatest weakness?" Huang Tianbi pressed.
"Speed, I suppose? Our techniques focus too much on steadiness and solidity, making us inflexible – especially when controlling flying treasures. Our speed becomes pathetically slow!"
"You actually realize this?" Huang Tianbi snapped with disappointed anger. "By sect rules, after advancing to the Golden Pool realm and becoming an inner gate disciple, you’ll undertake missions beyond the sect. There will be constant battles! A mere Golden Pool realm cultivator is insignificant outside. When defeated, you’ll be pursued. With our Huang Family’s turtle-like speed, could you possibly escape?"
Huang Mao’s face paled. In external conflicts, victory is never assured – defeat is common. Most rely on escape methods when overwhelmed.
Though the Huang Family’s defensive prowess was renowned, their sluggish mobility became fatal in retreat. Once defeated, escape would be impossible.
Panicking, Huang Mao pleaded, "Father, what should I do then?"
"What else? Forge true alliances!" Huang Tianbi retorted bitterly. "Historically, we compensated this weakness through the Fang Family. Their Dao magic provides explosive acceleration. When situations turn dire, they drag us to safety while we cover their retreat. That’s the perfect symbiotic partnership!"
"Dear husband," Mrs. Huang interjected, "many can accelerate. Even Huang Mao’s cousins could perform this!"
"Utter nonsense!" Huang Tianbi slapped her face sharply. "Foolish woman, you understand nothing!"
He then roared at Huang Mao, "Think carefully! If facing enemies tenfold stronger, would any of your carousing companions or cousins sacrifice their speed to drag you to safety? Name even one!"
"This…" Huang Mao froze. He wasn’t completely ignorant, aware his so-called friends and relatives only maintained relationships of convenience. In life-or-death crises, none would prove reliable – more likely abandoning him as decoy while fleeing themselves.
He knew these weren’t true comrades, merely partners for revelry without considering future decades. Huang Tianbi’s admonition made him realize years had been squandered.
Seeing Huang Mao’s silent remorse, Huang Tianbi growled wearily, "The value in befriending Fang Lie lies in the Fang Family’s unwavering principles. Despite your current estrangement and prejudice, answer me truthfully – were you true friends and you found yourself isolated, would Fang Lie risk his life to save you?"
"Absolutely!" Huang Mao answered instantly. "Though I disdain Fang Lie’s inflexible nature, his moral integrity is beyond reproach!"
"Exactly!" Huang Tianbi shouted furiously. "By ignoring elders’ wisdom and bullying Fang Lie, you’ve severed your own lifeline! Let’s see how long you survive inner gate missions with those fair-weather friends!"
"My lord!" Mrs. Huang cried in shock, "This is my fault! I kept poisoning the children’s minds against the declining Fang Family. Please reconcile with Fang Lie!"
"Silence!" Huang Tianbi struck her cheek, bellowing, "You think the Fang Family are commoners to be trifled with? Their clan’s pride tolerates no disrespect! Ordinary folk aren’t worthy to associate with them!"
"Wretched woman!" Huang Tianbi lamented bitterly. "You drove away an ideal son-in-law and alienated our children’s potential savior! Now Fang Lie’s status as a Great Pill Master makes our daughter unmarriageable, a clan-wide joke! Our son lacks comrades who’d rescue him in mortal danger – he’ll likely die abroad! My only son and daughter, both ruined by you! Are you determined to destroy our Huang Family?"
Mrs. Huang finally grasped the severity. Imagining her children’s bleak futures caused by her shortsightedness, her vision darkened as she collapsed unconscious.
Huang Mao and Huang Ying rushed to revive her through acupressure, back patting, and magic massage until she stirred.
Upon waking, Mrs. Huang knelt before Huang Tianbi, clutching his legs while weeping, "Husband, I’m wholly at fault, but the children are innocent! Beat me to death if you must, but save them!"
"You think I wouldn’t?" Huang Tianbi retorted angrily. "But the Fang Family’s stubborn honor means severed bonds stay severed! Even if I kowtowed until death at their gate, Fang Lie wouldn’t relent! Moreover, I still have dignity – how could I face him after your offenses?"
"What then? Must our children live with eternal regret?" Mrs. Huang wailed.
"Curse you all!" Huang Tianbi sighed heavily before composing himself. "Take our family’s Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe to the Baibao Zhai shopkeeper. Present it as Fang Lie’s reward for saving my life, not a gift – claim financial difficulties prevent spirit stone payment."
"The Five Elements Robe?" Mrs. Huang gasped. "Our ancestral treasure containing secret methods! How can we gift it?"
"What use are secrets if my son perishes?" Huang Tianbi countered fiercely. "I’d welcome Fang Lei learning our techniques! At least then I could wed our disgraced daughter to him!"
"Understood!" Mrs. Huang scrambled out hastily.
"You two," Huang Tianbi ordered coldly, "remain housebound until further notice."
"Yes," they mumbled dejectedly.
After the Huangs departed, Fang Lie resumed his tranquil routine awaiting the auction. Days later, the Baibao Zhai shopkeeper returned bearing an artifact.
Examining the iridescent fabric shimmering with five elemental hues, Fang Lie inquired, "What’s this?"
"The Five Elements and Eight Trigrams Dao Robe!" The shopkeeper grinned. "A fifth-rank treasure growing stronger with your cultivation, potentially reaching fourth-rank. Valued over a million spirit stones!"
"Too costly for me," Fang Lie protested.
"A gift!" the shopkeeper revealed. "The Huangs offer it as compensation for your spirit pills."
"Didn’t they pay fifty thousand stones?" Fang Lie frowned.
"A peace offering," the shopkeeper shrugged. "Huang Tianbi’s too ashamed to face you directly after regaining consciousness."
"Return it," Fang Lie insisted.
"Don’t!" The shopkeeper warned. "Rejection would provoke Huang Tianbi to vomit your pills. Stubborn men shouldn’t be cornered."
"But I’ve done nothing to merit this," Fang Lie argued.
"You saved Huang Tianbi’s life," the shopkeeper countered. "His kin were already seizing his estates and spiritual fields during his illness. Without you, his family would’ve been exiled from the main clan – such is clan politics."
"Very well," Fang Lie acquiesced. "But henceforth, the Huangs walk their own path. Never approach me for alchemy again."
"Understood," the shopkeeper nodded before changing topics. "The Fengbo Garden auction approaches. With only three spirit pills as highlights, perhaps you could craft more?"
"Abundance devalues goods," Fang Lie remarked mildly.
"True," the shopkeeper conceded, "but as a master alchemist, shouldn’t you demonstrate your skills? Golden Pool Pills and Purple Palace Pills – breakthrough elixirs only ten Mo Sect alchemists can produce. Presenting these would cement your reputation!"
"Agreed," Fang Lie nodded. "I’ll prepare both."
