Chapter 333

Chapter 333: Great Pressure

The Grand Banquet by the Sea and Sky officially concluded as attendees dispersed. Fang Lie flew toward the teleportation array alongside Mo Lanyun.

This situation highlighted the Mo Sect’s unique status among other sects.

Specializing in defense and advocating non-aggression, the Mo Sect rarely initiated conflicts while maintaining thriving trade relations with numerous factions. This earned them enough trust for the Penglai Sword Sect to directly link teleportation arrays with them, enabling instant travel between the two sects.

Other groups—including the four Buddhist sects and Kunlun’s Taoist branches—were denied such connections due to security concerns. The demonic sects and Fang Sect faced even stricter precautions from Penglai. Only the Mo Sect and the small, non-interventionist Xuan Sect enjoyed this privilege.

While other second generation immortals boarded treasure ships at the dock, Fang Lie and Mo Lanyun had already effortlessly returned to Mo Sect territory. After parting ways, Fang Lie reunited with his younger siblings for boisterous games and a family feast before retreating to his quarters for closed-door training at midnight.

Sealing his secret room’s restrictions, Fang Lie sat cross-legged on the cushion and mentally contacted Old Bird. "Bird Bro, let’s discuss merging my life-bound treasure now."

"You’ll need various materials," Old Bird replied. "Here’s a list—gather what you can and exchange with the sect for the rest."

"Got it. What’ll the merged version look like?"

"Your choice: keep the Blazing Dragon Cannon or stick with Fangtian Huaji?"

"The cannon!" Fang Lie blurted. "My dad always said a man’s true passion is artillery! I’ve dreamed of daily cannon fire since childhood!"

"Then we’ll enhance the Blazing Dragon Cannon by merging it with the Chaos Pass-Through Halberd," Old Bird decided. "I’ll also refine that Demon Sword into a proper Seventh-rank Treasure. Here’s the material list."

Hundreds of required items flooded Fang Lie’s mind. "This many? I don’t have any!" he groaned.

"I excluded what you already possess," Old Bird retorted. "Start cultivating. You’re material hunting at dawn."

Meanwhile, Mo Lanyun confronted her father Mo Wanfang after activating privacy restrictions. Her flushed silence puzzled him until she demanded: "Where’s mother’s soul-nourishing wooden core?"

Mo Wanfang winced. "Your grandfather’s plan. I merely obeyed."

"Why wasn’t I told? You know its significance!"

"As your dowry, we needed flexibility," he explained. "Your grandfather considered Fang Lie suitable but wanted deniability if his troublemaking backfired. Giving the core without explanation preserves our options."

"You made me accept his gift blindly!" she protested, cheeks burning.

"Hehe, it’s just a minor gift. Accepting it isn’t a big deal," Mo Wanfang chuckled. "If matters don’t proceed, we can simply return tenfold compensation. Since when does our Mo family lack such trifles?"

"You make it sound so simple! Look at this and tell me how we’ll compensate tenfold!" Mo Lanyun retorted, throwing the sealed Dragon Turtle at him.

Mo Wanfang caught the blue water orb. After careful examination, he gasped, "A Divine Beast descendant? A Seventh-rank great demon Dragon Turtle? This thing’s worth rivals an Eighth-rank Treasure! That boy actually gifted you this? And you accepted it?"

"In value, it surpasses repayment!" Mo Lanyun blushed. "I initially refused such an extravagant gift, but when he mentioned settling the soul-nourishing wooden core debt… I realized he might be the chosen one you mentioned! With Aunt Qing urging me, I… sort of accepted without thinking."

"This complicates things!" Mo Wanfang grimaced. "Not only is it priceless, but its compatibility with you is perfect for becoming a life-bound mount. Returning it isn’t an option now."

"Hmph! Weren’t you boasting about tenfold compensation?" Mo Lanyun scoffed.

"Ahem," Mo Wanfang flushed, "I hadn’t expected such extravagance! This does suggest potential between you two. Daughter, what’s your opinion of Fang Lie?"

Mo Lanyun ducked her head, murmuring, "Senior Brother… is kind."

"Good, kindness matters!" Mo Wanfang laughed heartily. "Now tell me about the Grand Banquet by the Sea and Sky. How many treasures did you obtain?"

Mo Lanyun’s eyes sparkled. "Father, it was incredible! Senior Brother single-handedly defeated two second generation immortals – the White Bone Sect’s True Young Master and East Kunlun’s Bailongzi both fell to him! He even won this Dragon Turtle from West Kunlun’s Young Taoist Ming Yue through a wager!"

Mo Wanfang paled. "Daughter… perhaps we should reconsider this match."

"What do you mean?" she protested.

"That troublemaker Fang Lie! Provoking the White Bone Sect is one thing, but slaughtering East Kunlun’s disciples? Seizing West Kunlun’s future guardian beast? Do you think these factions will tolerate this?" Mo Wanfang groaned. "Marry him and you’ll be widowed before the wedding robes fade!"

"Father!" Mo Lanyun stamped her foot.

"Enough. Detail everything from the banquet," Mo Wanfang sighed.

After hearing the full account, Mo Wanfang pondered. "Substantial gains, but greater troubles follow. I must consult your grandfather."

Upon reaching Mo Qianxun’s tea chamber, Mo Wanfang reported, "Father, complications arise. Lanyun accepted a Seventh-rank Dragon Turtle, realizing our soul-nourishing wooden core scheme."

"Ah, a Dragon Turtle?" Mo Qianxun grinned. "Splendid! The girl fancies him, doesn’t she?"

"Between life-saving debts and heroic demeanor, what maiden wouldn’t swoon?" Mo Wanfang shrugged. "Shall we formalize their betrothal?"

"Absolutely not!" Mo Qianxun snapped. "For a Hundred Years, maintain ambiguous relations. Support him covertly but keep public distance."

"Why?"

"Because my aged bones can’t withstand the heavens he’ll rupture!" The elder sighed. "East Kunlun’s heir dead, their White Dragon Divine Sword stolen. West Kunlun’s future guardian beast lost – both Sect Leaders demand restitution. Even I can’t defy two Semi-Immortals!"

"They’d renege on fair victories?" Mo Wanfang bristled.

"They seek repurchase, not denial. But if Fang Lie became family, they’d pressure me directly." Mo Qianxun massaged his temples. "Refusing would shame me, yet opposing the Benevolence Token is unthinkable. Best avoid entanglement."