Chapter 286

: Alliance
Translator: 
Myriea_ActiasLuna 
 Editor: 
Nou
Not only had these two bandits decided to fight against each other, but it seemed they were pulling out their most powerful spells to do so. When the four other Foundation Stage cultivators saw this, their hearts clenched with worry before the short plump one suddenly yelled out,
Quick, go, go!
The plump one set about running on his stubby legs, and the other three quickly came to their senses and started rushing close behind. As they fled, the eagle-eyed cultivator remembered to yell up towards the Spirit Stage disciples still on the mountain,
You all stay within the mountain; do not 
come down!

The mountain had a formation around it similar to the small stone bridge, and the four Foundation Stage cultivators’ methods had been rather similar to Jing Guang’s. The path into the mountain only allowed Spirit Stage cultivators to enter, and the Foundation Stage cultivators stayed at the entrance to drive away competitors for their own fellow disciples. As long as the disciples didn’t leave the mountain, however, it didn’t matter how vicious and powerful these two bandits were, they still wouldn’t be able to do anything to them—the Mysterious Domain had its own rules and protections.
Furthermore, even if these two Foundation Stage bandits decided to wait at the mountainside, they still wouldn’t be able to do much to the disciples within. Each mountain like this had a teleportation altar that could allow these Spirit Stage disciples to leave the Mysterious Domain. That was why in these Foundation Stage cultivators’ minds, they were the ones in the most trouble and there wouldn’t be anything to worry about as long as they managed to flee.
When the blue-clothed bandit and Fang Xing saw the four cultivators start to flee, they began to hesitate. Although this blue-clothed bandit was the strongest opponent Fang Xing had ever met so far, he was confident his chances of winning were still rather high if he used the Yin Yang Sanding Disc—it was an apex skill and incredibly powerful, after all. With his current cultivation level, however, he would hardly have any Qi left over and wouldn’t be able to do much of anything once he used it. It wouldn’t be an issue if his enemy was someone he’d risk his life to defeat, but with the current situation as it was….
Fang Xing noticed the blue-clothed bandit also hadn’t released the Ancient technique he’d readied, and Fang Xing could tell he was harboring the same thoughts.
Brother, who do you think would win if we test each other out now?
he asked with a grin.
The blue-clothed bandit rolled their eyes and cleared his voice.
I would say both of us would end up wounded in a stalemate!

Fang Xing laughed.
Indeed! You agree with me that we’d both end up hurt and this would allow the others to easily get away. Wouldn’t that be too stupid of us?


It is 
stupid!


So, are you stupid?


This young mi— master is extremely clever, how can I be stupid?
the blue-clothed bandit yelled out in anger.

I’m not stupid either, so how about we return our apex skills?


Sure!

The two agreed, but even after a long while had passed, neither of them had actually ended their skill.

You’re not really being sincere here,
Fang Xing called out, dissatisfied.
Didn’t we agree on stopping the skills?


Well, I’m waiting on you to stop it first.


You were the first to activate it, so you will have to end it first….


I activated it first because you’re too vicious. If I hadn’t done this, I would have been heavily disadvantaged, so you do it first….

Stunned, Fang Xing replied,
If we keep stalling, our Qi is going to all go to waste and those four bastards will get away without a trace. Let’s stop with the doubts and suspicions and be honest with each other. I will count to three, and we all return it together. What do you say?


This could work….

The pair exchanged glances while Fang Xing started to count. Once he reached the count of three, both of them returned their skills almost at the same time and instantly backed off a hundred feet away in fear of the other’s sneak attack, only to let out a sigh of relief when nothing suspicious happened. Fang Xing looked towards where the four cultivators had fled and yelled out,
Two each?

The blue-clothed bandit nodded.
Very well, this is fair!

Since the two agreed with each other, they both flew towards where the four cultivators had escaped, one flying with a pair of wings formed through the Hundred and Eight Thousand Swords’ feather blades while the other stood atop a bird of lightning. Both of them flew just slightly above the ground, and the four cultivators had the extreme misfortune of being snatched up as the bandits passed them by. The two bandits looked at each other, and it actually seemed as though there was a rapport between the two before they went off to collect their own share.

Quick, give me all the spirit herbs and fruits you got from the Mysterious Domain!
Fang Xing loudly commanded the two Foundation Stage cultivators who’d fallen into his hands. The two exchanged glances, but there wasn’t much to say; what other option did they have after falling into the hands of these two? Even if they didn’t want to hand anything over, Fang Xing simply had too many methods to force the issue. Simply put, after falling into Fang Xing’s hands, these two were nothing more than fat sheep already sheared and cleaned, just waiting to be made into mutton. In less than a burn of incense, both of them willingly gave everything up to him.

Call out all your disciples who entered the mountain and show me what they found!
Fang Xing yelled once more, causing the two Foundation Stage cultivators to become stiff—this was something they didn’t know how to react to.
Hm? You’re not listening to me?
Fang Xing asked, growing more and more annoyed before he turned and called towards the Flag of Ten Thousand Spirits,
Old Peng, lend me some might!

More than willing to cooperate, the Peng King snickered before sending over a strand of black smoke that began to form itself into a small collection of beast spirits. A giant sparrow with broken wings, a beast snake with its head separated from its neck… all of them were terrifying and as large as small mountains, with a vicious aura that would cause one’s heart to skip a beat. They surrounded these two Foundation Stage cultivators as though they would swallow them whole in an instant….

Don’t…. Don’t kill us….
The two cultivators were scared out of their wits and began yelling for their Spirit Stage disciples to come out.
These were Foundation Stage cultivators. They had quite an extraordinary status within their respective sects and clans. Although the Spirit Stage disciples on the mountain showed some hesitation, they didn’t dare to disobey and it didn’t take long before they all came out to hand over the herbs and fruits they’d just picked.
Fang Xing was overjoyed. Without caring about the quality, he simply opened his storage sack wide and shoved everything inside.
The two groups of disciples all helplessly looked on without anywhere to shed their tears. The Foundation Stage cultivators had acted as guardians of a sort, and their actions of blocking off the mountain from others and robbing passersby had been incredibly helpful. Today, however, despite being in Foundation Stage, they’d been threatened and robbed themselves and all those fortunes they once had were now all gone.
Since this group of bastards had used the same method as Grand Elder Jing Guang—abusing their power to disturb the natural order of the Mysterious Domain—Fang Xing didn’t go easy on them, either. The Mysterious Domain had set aside areas allowing only Spirit Stage cultivators to enter, yet this group had blocked the path to prevent anyone but who they chose. They were normally very domineering, but running into Fang Xing was like picking up a rock and throwing it down at their own feet.
Once this was finished, Fang Xing folded his hands and walked over to watch the blue-clothed bandit.
The two cultivators wore sulky expressions as they placed all of their findings in front along the ground, choosing to willingly abide by the bandit’s demands. This blue-clothed bandit was extra careful as well and continuously looked at a jade scroll in his left hand, seemingly referencing it while closely checking all of the plants one by one. Once a plant had been studied, it was tossed uncaringly to the side as though the bandit was searching for something specific.

Stellar Grass…. Nine leaves, one light purple flower…. Stems with the pattern of a cloud, root like a horned baby dragon….
Words filtered through his mouth as he muttered, and he continuously placed the herbs he’d examined to the side. It seemed as though the bandit had some high expectations, too; there were some things even Fang Xing wanted that the bandit wouldn’t even spare a second glance at. It was almost as though this grandiose pile of items had all been put in front of him for that single Stellar Grass….
Suddenly the blue-clothed bandit saw a delicate herb that caused his eyes to light up.
This…. This….
He raised it carefully and began to examine it closely. This herb was very similar to the legendary Stellar Grass, making him waver.
When Fang Xing saw the bandit wavering like this, he came closer and squatted down as well.
That’s a weed called ‘Pig’s Tail’; it’s not the Stellar Grass you’re looking for.

The blue-clothed bandit jumped at this and—seeing Fang Xing so close—he reflexively moved to the side.
Stellar Grass is a kind of spirit herb that’s been extinct on Tianyuan for over tens of thousands of years. Its magical properties are very potent and it’s used in a large number of ancient pellet recipes. It is one of the most treasured spirit herbs in the entire history of cultivators, but there’s less than a handful of people who’d be able to recognize it within all of Tianyuan, so how would you know?


Even if I don’t recognize it, I know what Pig’s Tail is! The roots are sweet; go give it a try!
Fang Xing looked at the blue-clothed bandit with a gaze full of disdain, as though he were looking at an idiot. He couldn’t just sit by and hold it in; the plant in the blue-clothed bandit’s hands wasn’t even a spirit herb, it was simply a weed called Pig’s Tail that could be seen all over the northwestern part of Chufung along the grass and mountains. Children from poor countrysides would often pick one and chew on its roots like candy. Fang Xing had eaten enough of his share back in Guiyan Valley and was able to recognize it straight away, so he couldn’t help but to interrupt from the side.
The blue-clothed bandit naturally wouldn’t put it in his mouth for a taste, but after some more careful examination, he did begin to feel it was a bit different from the Stellar Grass he’d been looking for. He placed it to the side and continued his examination of the remaining herbs, but Fang Xing became impatient and tapped on his shoulder.
You don’t need to look for it anymore, the Stellar Grass you’re looking for isn’t here. Look at this….
As he spoke, he picked up the herbs one after another and waved it in front of the bandit’s face.
This is Purple Bell Flower, it’s bitter and used to wash the skin of impurities. This is Aqua Snake Ivy, extremely poisonous, but it can be used to shut off blood flow. This is….

The blue-clothed bandit was struck speechless for a while before he said,
It’s hard to tell just by looking at you, but you’re actually a genius in herbology?

Fang Xing gave a proud nod.
Of course I am. There aren’t many spirit herbs in this world I don’t recognize. Let’s form an alliance?


An alliance?
the bandit asked in confusion.