Chapter 343

Chapter 343: When Good and Evil Meet

Fang Lie was naturally thrilled with his new warship. Together with the Great Earth General, he spent considerable time studying it before reluctantly setting sail under Mo Wanfang’s repeated urgings.

During their return journey, Fang Lie activated all the earth’s magnetic force puppets aboard to gather scattered spirit stones across the land, storing them in dedicated warehouses. Mo Wanfang winced as mountainous piles of high-grade spirit stones were hauled away by giant puppets, eventually retreating to avoid witnessing the plunder.

Within days, they returned to Mo Sect. The earth’s magnetic force warship proved astonishing under eighth-rank puppet control – despite its hulking seventh-rank frame, it outpaced the Qingyun Flying Boat without consuming spirit stones. Powered solely by the Nascent Soul Furnace and absorbed earth’s magnetic force, it navigated Earth’s Magnetic Storms effortlessly.

This superiority stemmed partly from Mo Wanfang’s limitations as a Purple Palace realm cultivator, unable to fully unleash the Qingyun Flying Boat’s potential. The warship’s ability to manipulate earth’s magnetic force for defense and acceleration proved remarkably efficient on land, though these advantages vanished over water. For an earth-element vessel typically known for sluggishness and durability, such speed was revolutionary.

Upon their return, departure time arrived. Mo Wanfang directed Fang Lie to pilot the warship to the assembly point, where dozens waited – all white-haired elders with scarcely a youth among them.

Noticing Fang Lie’s puzzlement, Mo Wanfang explained wearily: "The Lost Forest claims all who enter. For generations, none returned. Only desperate souls venture there now. These Golden Pool realm cultivators have dwindling lifespans and scant resources. The sect promises a Purple Palace Pill for each Flower Demon retrieved, granting them safe advancement and centuries more life."

"Understood," Fang Lie replied tersely. Parking the flying warship overhead, he opened its hatch and told Mo Wanfang: "I’ll bid farewell then depart immediately."

With Mo Wanfang’s approval, Fang Lie flew homeward. Returning hours later, he found the cultivators growing restless. Though awed by the warship’s might, they’d waited grounded without permission.

They crowded around as Fang Lie arrived, swallowing their irritation. None dared protest – Fang Lie’s fearsome reputation and Honorary Elder position commanded absolute respect.

"Greetings, Elder!" they chorused with bows.

"Rise," Fang Lie commanded. "The Lost Forest’s dangers leave slim survival chances, but obey me and we may negotiate terms. Should you prefer, sell me to those offering bounties – I won’t object." His glare pierced them.

Trembling denials followed. With a cold snort, Fang Lie ushered them aboard. His warning sufficed – betrayal meant sect treason punishable by death, regardless of connections. For loyal followers, he’d ensure protection and Flower Demon acquisition, or at minimum gift a Purple Palace Pill. Such trifles mattered little compared to saving comrades.

As Fang Lie’s expedition departed, Mo Wanfang visited Sect Leader Mo Qianxun’s quarters.

"Father," he lamented, "you miscalculated gravely!"

"How so?"

"That flying warship! You should’ve let me inspect it first. Now Fang Lie claims wealth worth tens of millions in small spirit pearls!"

"Tens of millions of small spirit pearls?" Hearing such a staggering sum, Mo Qianxun gasped. He immediately demanded, "How did this happen? I merely lent him a ship! I never promised to give him such wealth for free!"

"The problem lies in the flying warship," Mo Wanfang explained with a pained expression. "Its Nascent Soul Furnace operated continuously for centuries, combined with formations draining earth energy. This caused ultra-dense earth element spiritual energy to accumulate inside. Over a hundred thousand years, countless top-grade earth element spirit stones formed! At the dock area alone, we found a ten-zhang-thick layer. Other sections were several times worse." He shook his head. "My rough estimate? The total value equals ten to twenty million small spirit pearls!"

"This…" Mo Qianxun’s eyes widened. After a stunned pause, he groaned, "I never anticipated such an outcome! What disastrous luck!"

"You wanted to earn petty coin through renting," Mo Wanfang retorted bitterly. "Now you’ve essentially prepaid his rent for two millennia! That rascal’s gained an astronomical windfall!"

"Blast it! Can’t we reclaim the resources?" Mo Qianxun snapped, brows furrowed.

"Impossible!" Mo Wanfang threw up his hands. "By sect rules, the Flying Boat became his property when you handed over the control key. He owns everything inside now – we only get the empty vessel returned intact. Have you forgotten our own regulations?"

"You…" The sect leader flushed crimson. "Must you be so obtuse? When rules fail, appeal through personal bonds! The boy might wed your daughter – surely he’d concede this trifle?"

"I tried personal appeals!" Mo Wanfang complained. "He accused you of swindling him! That’s why he refuses to yield a single pearl!"

"Swindled him? Preposterous!" Mo Qianxun roared, slamming his fist.

"Regarding the rent…" Mo Wanfang coughed delicately. "Seventh-Rank Treasure Ships lease for mere hundreds annually. Yet you demanded ten thousand upfront. He considers this extortionate."

The sect leader’s ears turned scarlet. "I…I acted for his welfare! Youths shouldn’t hoard excessive wealth! Couldn’t you emphasize the sect’s past kindnesses? Press upon his family’s honorable legacy? The Fang Clan’s upright – patriotic appeals should work!"

"Tried that," Mo Wanfang sighed. "He recounted childhood sufferings – all caused by our sect’s Higher-ups! After such abuse, why should he donate anything freely?"

"Damnation!" Mo Qianxun slumped, defeated. "What possessed those fools? Fang Lie’s a martyr’s son with High-grade Spiritual Root! How was such persecution tolerated?"

"Many families lost children during the demon invasion," Mo Wanfang reminded. "They blamed Fang Gang’s strategic errors. Fang Lie became their scapegoat."

"Their vengeance bred his resentment!" Mo Qianxun massaged his temples. "Now we face millions in losses! Even as Sect Leader, I can’t justify this blunder!"

"Fear not," Mo Wanfang assured. "I compelled Fang Lie to secrecy. Once pledged, he’ll never talk. Only we two know this matter."

"Small comfort!" Mo Qianxun grimaced. "I, who prided myself on cunning, felled by oversight! Let this lesson chastise us both!"

"Understood." Mo Wanfang bowed. "Still, Fang Lie’s no outsider. The wealth stays within…potential family."

"Oh?" The sect leader’s eyes narrowed. "So you truly betroth Lanyun to him?"

"What choice remains?" Mo Wanfang spread his hands helplessly. "She accepted his Dragon Turtle as Token! Even if I objected, her heart’s decided."

"Heaven’s jest?" Mo Qianxun chuckled mirthlessly. "Enough speculation. We’ll revisit this when Fang Lie matures enough to shoulder responsibilities."

Days later, above a desolate desert oasis spanning hundreds of acres – a place untouched by life for centuries – a thousand-zhang huge sword materialized. Upon it sat dozens of blue-robed Taoists from East Kunlun, swords strapped to backs. These sword cultivators maintained tomb-like silence, resembling stone statues.

Suddenly, the lead Taoist twitched. His gaze snapped westward where dark clouds coalesced. The approaching mass resolved into a nightmarish vision – a skeletal treasure ship wreathed in black Hatred, its bone-white hull stretching hundreds of zhang.