Chapter 654

Chapter 654: Preparing for Treasure Hunting

At the banquet, Fang Lie sat with beauties flanking both sides, basking in their company.

Originally, Mo Lanyun had been undergoing closed-door training to break through to the Golden Pool realm and shouldn’t have been disturbed. Yet Mo Qianxun had forcibly dragged her out. When she learned it was to welcome the hero Fang Lie, she rejoiced—her breakthrough could wait.

But then Mo Qianxun revealed Fang Lie’s plan to explore the Dragon Palace ruins in search of the legendary Dragon Soul Grass. Obtaining it could expand one’s Qi Sea by over ten thousand miles. Only then did Mo Lanyun grasp Mo Qianxun’s true motive: to let her seize this opportunity alongside Fang Lie.

Though her forty-thousand-mile Qi Sea seemed vast, it paled compared to Fang Lie and Mao Mao’s. The Qi Sea formed the foundation of cultivation—its size determined the Golden Pool’s capacity, which in turn influenced the Purple Palace’s potency. Every subsequent realm hinged on this foundation. Thus, the Qi Sea realm dictated a cultivator’s ultimate potential.

Mo Lanyun’s Qi Sea had already hit its limit. Her body and soul could endure no more expansion, and she’d consumed all available treasures from heaven and earth. With no remaining methods to grow her Qi Sea, she’d begun her breakthrough. Yet Fang Lie now offered her a chance to expand it further. Another ten thousand miles would at least double her strength!

That’s why Mo Qianxun risked disrupting her cultivation to pull her from seclusion. Unaware of this, Fang Lie assumed Mo Lanyun had willingly paused her advancement to greet him, moving him deeply. The poor fool never realized Mo Qianxun’s scheme—though Mo Lanyun’s sincerity shone through clearly.

The two women flanked Fang Lie, one serving food, the other pouring wine, their cheerful chatter leaving him pleasantly flustered. As the guest of honor, he drank every toast, even accepting cups from the Bai and Jin family heads—former enemies. Despite past conflicts, all remained Mo Sect Elders, and public decorum had to be maintained.

Fang Lie sensed genuine goodwill from both family heads. It made sense—he’d crushed the Ximen family clan. What hope did the Bai and Jin have? Better to submit early than face destruction later. As Mo Sect disciples, they couldn’t be casually slaughtered anyway.

Fang Lie recognized their motives but nursed lingering resentment, especially toward the Jin family for persecuting the Green Fox Clan. Many were still missing. A single drink wouldn’t erase his grudge, but he’d watch their actions. True repentance might spare them; hypocrisy could reduce the Five Great Family Clans to three.

The banquet lasted till dawn. While many revelers drunkenly staggered away, more used the event’s abundant spiritual energy to boost their magic. Though costly, the feast elevated Mo Sect’s overall strength through improved cultivations.

As protagonist, Fang Lie couldn’t appear stingy. Despite his modest cultivation level, his wealth flowed freely. A million outer disciples each received a thousand low-grade spirit stones—a fortune compared to their usual five-stone monthly stipend. Higher-ups got spirit pearls or fifth/sixth-grade pills, while even Thunder Tribulation Immortals shamelessly demanded gifts. Fang Lie obliged each with a ninth-rank spirit pill from Xuan Sect, delighting the stubborn old men.

Even Mo Qianxun extended his hand, grinning cheekily for his share.

Fang Lie was so furious he nearly slapped the man. As a Semi-Immortal, Mo Qianxun’s resources utterly dwarfed Fang Lie’s – not by mere thousands, but tens of thousands of times. What kind of wealthy landlord shamelessly demands gifts from impoverished farmers? The sheer audacity of stretching out his hand and voicing such demands!

Even Mo Lanyun couldn’t bear it, forcing a bitter smile. "Grandpa, why are you causing trouble? Since when do grandfathers demand red envelopes from their grandsons?"

"Why not? Shouldn’t grandchildren honor their elders?" Mo Qianxun retorted. "You’re not even married yet and already siding with outsiders! Mark my words – if you don’t satisfy me today, I’ll make trouble during your wedding!"

"Hahaha!" The crowd erupted in laughter.

Mo Lanyun flushed crimson while Fang Lie grimaced helplessly. Ultimately, Fang Lie surrendered ten ninth-rank spirit pills to appease him.

The stubborn old man’s petty vindictiveness left no choice. Offending a scheming Semi-Immortal meant certain retaliation. After the festive banquet concluded, Fang Lie stumbled home and collapsed into bed.

Ordinary spiritual wine meant nothing, but Mo Qianxun’s Century Spiritual Wine proved overwhelming. The potent brew knocked Fang Lie out cold for two days. Upon awakening, he discovered his Qi Sea had expanded over a hundred miles.

"If one drinking session does this," Fang Lie marveled, "a year’s worth could expand my Qi Sea by tens of thousands of miles!" Eagerly seeking more wine, he rushed outside only to encounter Mao Mao and Mo Lanyun.

"Brother Fang Lie! We were about to fetch you!" Mo Lanyun greeted him.

"How did you get so drunk?" Mao Mao fretted. "With your cultivation level…"

"Endless toasts – gallons consumed!" Fang Lie admitted. "But that wine boosted my Qi Sea! Lanyun, how much does your grandfather have? I’ll buy it all!"

"Don’t fantasize," Mo Lanyun sighed. "Grandpa spent centuries gathering materials for mere dozen barrels – his precious hoard. Even I rarely get any."

"Cheapskate!" Fang Lie grumbled before shifting topics. "Let’s address business. My Netherworld warship lacks observation attachments, causing my accidental trespass into Ximen family clan territory. We need solutions."

"Simple," Mo Lanyun suggested. "The sect warehouses have warship observation treasures. Let’s consult Father at the treasure vault."

The trio flew to a serene pavilion where Mo Wanfang sipped tea. "Join me first," the treasure keeper insisted. "Then state your purpose."

Fang Lie gulped the offered tea. "Not as good as banquet wine."

"Grandpa’s private stock!" Mo Wanfang snorted. "Only your achievements loosened his grip. Now speak."

"We seek observation attachments for my warship," Fang Lie explained. "Other quality components too."

Mo Wanfang nodded. "Mechanical Cannons? Divine Lightning Towers? Core energy pools? Dao soldiers’ quarters? Pill Rooms?"

"Essentials first," Fang Lie confirmed. "Observation gear, energy reserves, living quarters. The warship conjures empty shells – no beds, no comforts. We’re voyaging to Dragon Palace ruins for years! Can’t rough it forever."