Free Web NovelChapter 313: Chapter 263: Identity Speculation (2)
"Let’s take the simplest point: can you give me a single reason to believe otherwise? If I were a Core Formation cultivator from the Celestial Cloud Sect, I’d have Fang Yun focus entirely on alchemy and artifact refining, nothing else. Even if the current Fang Yun reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, his strength shouldn’t be much different from that of any ordinary mid-stage Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner."
"This..."
A few of the Elders thought it over but couldn’t immediately find a reason to refute the point.
It was a very reasonable argument.
Besides, Fang Yun only has so much time. Outside of artifact refining, alchemy, and cultivation, it would be difficult for him to find the time to improve his combat strength.
Yet the strength of this mysterious mid-stage Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner was more than just a little impressive.
Once the idea of Fang Yun being the mysterious Spirit Refiner was dismissed, they began to discuss other mid-stage Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiners.
Everyone had a different opinion. An Elder would suggest a certain Spirit Refiner might be the mysterious one, only for another Elder to raise an objection.
The discussion went on and on, but they couldn’t reach a conclusion.
「As time passed.」
The Spirit Destruction Hall Master thought, ’It’s been this long and there’s still no news from the Foundation Establishment cultivators at Vortex Cave. This most likely means the mysterious Spirit Refiner has killed them all.’
The Cave Master of Vortex Cave was at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment.
This mysterious Spirit Refiner is just too deadly.
’A Spirit Refiner like this absolutely cannot be allowed to develop any further.’
The Spirit Destruction Hall Master’s head throbbed. This was a massive headache.
They still couldn’t be one hundred percent certain that this mysterious Spirit Refiner was an Elder from the Celestial Cloud Sect. If he wasn’t one of their Foundation Establishment cultivators, but from another power, then even if they had the ability to destroy the Celestial Cloud Sect, they still wouldn’t be able to kill the mysterious Spirit Refiner.
If they could confirm this with absolute certainty, formulating their subsequent plans would be much easier.
And then there was the matter of this news.
After the meeting concluded, all this information would have to be reported to the Supreme Elders. The general direction of the sect’s plans would need to be determined by them.
...
Fang Yun had already departed the Vortex Cave’s headquarters.
All five of Vortex Cave’s Foundation Establishment Demons had died at his hands. Not a single one was spared.
As for Vortex Cave’s Qi Refining Demons, while he had killed many, a good number had also managed to escape.
The main reason was that the alarm at Vortex Cave had sounded too quickly. By the time he had dealt with the Foundation Establishment Demons, some of the Qi Refining Demons had already fled.
Naturally, he saw no need to pursue the Qi Refining Demons who had scattered in all directions.
If he wasted time on them, it would be a disaster if a Core Formation Demon from the Celestial Demon Sect arrived.
He no longer feared Demons at the Foundation Establishment Stage, but as for those at the Core Formation Stage, he wasn’t sure if he could handle them yet.
There was an eighty to ninety percent chance that any reinforcements the Celestial Demon Sect sent to Vortex Cave would just be their Elders. But Fang Yun wasn’t willing to gamble on that. Never mind a ninety percent chance—even if it were ninety-five percent, he wouldn’t take the risk.
’I still have other chances to get stronger. It’s not like my progress has completely stalled, forcing me to kill these Celestial Demon Sect Foundation Establishment Demons to move forward.’
The haul from this trip into the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory was already more than enough.
’From now on, the Celestial Demon Sect’s subordinate Foundation Establishment factions will definitely be on higher alert for me.’
With another Foundation Establishment Demon faction annihilated, it was only natural for the others to react this way.
However, that wouldn’t stop Fang Yun’s future plans. As long as an opportunity presented itself, he would definitely strike again to harvest more Combat Talent Points.
Activating his eight-spirit-pattern Half-Hidden Spirit Boots to their full potential, the concealed Fang Yun headed back to the sect at top speed.
On his way back, if he happened to encounter any fleeing Qi Refining Demons from Vortex Cave, he would dispose of them as he went.
He smoothly entered Celestial Cloud Sect territory.
He had no intention of taking off the Half-Hidden Spirit Boots, instead continuing onward.
He had more than enough Spiritual Power left in his Qi Sea.
Consuming a bit more Spiritual Power was nothing to him.
The moment he was back in the sect, Fang Yun went straight to the Evil Extermination Hall.
Yang Yingjie was already there, waiting for him.
During a previous conversation, Yang Yingjie had told him to be sure to let him know before he took action. Yang Yingjie had said he would be waiting in the Evil Extermination Hall to welcome him back and help calculate his Sect Contribution Points.
So, before he set out, Fang Yun had sent word to Yang Yingjie.
"Senior Brother Fang, you’re back! Was the mission successful?" Yang Yingjie asked, approaching Fang Yun the moment he saw him.
"It went well enough."
’He’d managed to kill all of Vortex Cave’s Foundation Establishment Demons, so overall, the mission was a success. If he hadn’t been discovered, it would have been a perfect success.’
"Did you kill all of the Foundation Establishment Demons at Vortex Cave?" Yang Yingjie asked the question that was foremost on his mind.
’Five Foundation Establishment Demons, one of them a late-stage cultivator at that. It wouldn’t be easy to kill all of them.’
’Even if Fang Yun was powerful, Foundation Establishment Demons weren’t fools. Faced with a mysterious and formidable cultivator, they would surely try to flee.’
’Many Demons had decent escape techniques, too.’
"Yes. I killed them all."
As he spoke, Fang Yun took out a Storage Pouch and handed it to Yang Yingjie.
The Storage Pouch was filled with the heads of Demons—both from the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stages.
"Incredible!"
Yang Yingjie accepted the Storage Pouch, still somewhat astonished that Fang Yun had managed to kill all of Vortex Cave’s Foundation Establishment Demons.
The overall strength of the Vortex Cave, a Foundation Establishment Demon faction, was a far cry from that of the Feng Family.
Yang Yingjie had expected Fang Yun to kill three or four Foundation Establishment Demons, and that was without even counting the late-stage one.
Yang Yingjie took inventory quickly.
Before long, he had calculated the Sect Contribution Points Fang Yun had earned.
The Contribution Points for killing Foundation Establishment Demons were easy to calculate; it was tallying up the Qi Refining Demons that took time.
Based on the number of Qi Refining Demons, it wasn’t difficult for Yang Yingjie to deduce that Fang Yun had cleared out the majority of Vortex Cave’s Qi Refining Level Demons as well.
Yang Yingjie was immensely pleased.
In the war against the Celestial Demon Sect, Fang Yun’s achievements had scored a major victory for their side.
Fang Yun had done an excellent job, but Yang Yingjie knew that a feat like this could only be shared among the middle and upper echelons of the sect.
If the disciples all found out, it wouldn’t be difficult for the Celestial Demon Sect to learn that Fang Yun was operating in their territory.
With the Contribution Points secured, Fang Yun returned to the Artifact Refining Room in his cave residence.
First, he laid out all the Storage Pouches he had acquired.
He focused on examining the Storage Pouches of the Foundation Establishment Demons.
’Hopefully, these Storage Pouches contain some decent Spiritual Materials. That would be quite important for me.’
"A huge piece of Demon Vulture Stone! Excellent!"
Fang Yun’s heart leaped with joy upon seeing a dark red, transparent crystal. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Demon Vulture Stone was a top-tier Spiritual Material used for refining Spiritual Artifacts specifically designed to counter Demons—exactly what he needed.
At present, he only had one Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact specifically designed to fight Demons.
’With this piece of Demon Vulture Stone, it might not be long before I can refine another Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact for fighting Demons. This time, it definitely won’t be just four Spirit Patterns. It’ll have five at a minimum, and ideally, I’ll be able to forge it with six.’
Before long, Fang Yun had opened all the Storage Pouches he had collected.
Aside from the large piece of Demon Vulture Stone—his greatest find—the rest of the loot was rather ordinary.
"Still, not bad."
Fang Yun himself was quite content.
By wiping out another Foundation Establishment Demon faction, his biggest gain was still the kills themselves. The base Talent Points he’d receive from these Foundation Establishment Demons had already reached six hundred and ten thousand.
At next month’s settlement, the Talent Points he’d obtain would surely break three million with ease.
At his current average rate of acquiring Talent Points each month, over three million points would be enough to shorten the time needed to upgrade his seven-star Life Talent to eight stars by more than two years. freewebnøvel.coɱ
For him, whether it was Life Talent or Combat Talent, the sooner he could upgrade them, the better.
’Time to cultivate.’
After sorting and storing all his spoils of war, Fang Yun left the Artifact Refining Room and entered his Cultivation Room.
He swallowed an Upper Grade Spirit Ascension Pill and immediately entered a state of cultivation.
