208: meaning

On the street, Zuoqiu Shu looked at the group behind her and offered a bitter smile. "Now do you all realize the gap between yourselves and them?"

Zuoqiu Hui nodded, her expression melancholy. "We are all in the Mi Dao Realm, so why is the gap so large..."

Zuoqiu Xin chimed in, "Indeed. That Xu Sanyan is so strong he's practically not human; it's terrifying. Just thinking about how I traveled with him for so long and am still alive makes me feel fortunate."

"Then you really should feel fortunate." Zuoqiu Hui agreed. Given the things she had said, Xu Sanyan would have been justified in beating her to death.

"Eldest Sister, why are they so strong despite being in the same Realm?" Zuoqiu Yi wiped the sweat from her palms and asked, looking up.

"Concept." Zuoqiu Shu thought for a moment and nodded affirmatively.

"Concept? What does that mean?"

Zuoqiu Shu did not answer directly, instead turning her head to ask, "Among them, which few do you think are the strongest?"

"Hmm..." Zuoqiu Yi pondered. "Xu Sanyan, Fang Qingge, Net Intent, Mo Qianqian, Qi Liang, and Luo Qingwei are all very strong."

"Then, if you were to rank them, how would you do it?"

Zuoqiu Zhen stepped forward to interject. "Xu Sanyan is obviously first, followed by Fang Qingge, Net Intent, Mo Qianqian, Qi Liang, and Luo Qingwei, right, Eldest Sister?"

Zuoqiu Shu shook her head. "No, let's set aside who is first for now, but Qi Liang is stronger than Mo Qianqian."

"Why?"

"Concept. Qi Liang has already grasped a Concept, while Mo Qianqian has not yet."

Zuoqiu Shu gazed up at the sky and sighed softly. "Fang Qingge's Sword Intent is solemn and murderous, Xu Sanyan's is as aggressive as fire, Qi Liang's heart is as dead as ash, and Net Intent is as still as a calm lake. These are their Concepts."

Zuoqiu Yi still did not understand. "So what exactly is a Concept?"

A sense of loss welled up in Zuoqiu Shu's heart. She turned and walked forward. "I don't know. Perhaps one can only know once they have grasped it."

"And what purpose does a Concept serve?"

Zuoqiu Shu's tone carried a hint of self-mockery. "How would I know? But I suspect that a Concept must significantly boost one's strength."

"Oh..."

Fang Qingge looked at the unconscious Luo family siblings beside him and offered a helpless smile. "Brother Luo, oh Brother Luo, you've really done me in. Not only did we fail to protect the item, but I've also ended up covered in injuries. Sigh..."

Junior Sister Yu felt a pang of heartache. She stepped forward to embrace Fang Qingge and comforted him. "Senior Brother, it's not your fault. You did your best. It is that Demonic Path fiend who is too vicious; they actually ate people."

Fang Qingge patted her little hand and smiled gently. "I did indeed do my best, and they are indeed formidable..." In his mind, he recalled Xu Sanyan and Qi Liang, acknowledging their strength in his heart.

At this moment, Wei Xunzhu walked over and cupped her hands slightly, a complex expression on her face. "Senior Brother Fang, the Secret Realm has only just opened and there is still plenty of time left. There will be opportunities to take it back, so there is no need to be vexed."

"Junior Sister Wei is right. There is plenty of time, no need to rush." Fang Qingge smiled and nodded, his politeness tinged with a hint of distance.

Wei Xunzhu sighed inwardly. She knew that her failure to intervene earlier would inevitably have consequences, but it was unavoidable; she could not risk the lives of her own people.

Fang Qingge naturally understood this logic, but understanding was one thing, while harboring resentment was another. In the end, they were not people of the same path.

"Farewell." Wei Xunzhu said nothing more, turned, and left with the Wei Family members.

Fang Qingge sent them off with a smile. From this day forward, they would have no further ties.

Junior Sister Yu was actually quite happy; that tag-along had finally left.

Suddenly, an exclamation of surprise came from the distance, filled with worry. "Oh! Brother Fang, what happened to you?"

Fang Qingge turned his head to look and saw a young girl in a white dress running over quickly. She had a delicate pink flower tied in her hair and looked youthful and lively.

Seeing this girl, he immediately felt a headache. The person who arrived was none other than the little princess of the Lu family, Lu Wang's sister, Princess Lu WanZhe, and also one of the seeds of affection he had planted.

Fang Qingge secretly resolved once again that in the future, he must keep his little brother in check and absolutely must not go around leaving affection everywhere. Debts of affection are truly headache-inducing...

Junior Sister Yu also glared at the newcomer with an unkind expression, her face looking even worse than when she had faced Wei Xunzhu, which showed her annoyance toward this girl.

"Brother Fang, are you alright?" Princess Lu WanZhe looked at the bloodstains on Fang Qingge, touched his pale cheek, and felt immense heartache. "Who hurt you like this? I'll go help you take revenge!"

"Pfft..." An ill-timed scoff came from Junior Sister Yu. "Help Senior Brother Fang take revenge? With just you?"

This Princess Lu WanZhe's cultivation was only about the same as hers, both merely in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Yet she dared to make such a boast about avenging Senior Brother Fang without even weighing her own worth.

Princess Lu WanZhe wrinkled her nose, looking completely unconvinced. "If I can't, there's still my brother, and my Lu Family Elder. They can definitely help Brother Fang take revenge!"

Junior Sister Yu rolled her eyes. "Fine, then tell your brother to go kill Xu Sanyan. Just don't end up losing your brother's life without having avenged anyone."

"Who is Xu Sanyan?" Princess Lu WanZhe had never heard this name and did not take it to heart. "Just a nobody. I don't believe he can beat my brother."

"I'm afraid even if everyone in your Lu family added together, they couldn't beat him..." Junior Sister Yu remarked sarcastically.

Seeing that the two were about to argue, Fang Qingge hurriedly interrupted. "Alright, stop arguing. Junior Sister Yu is just joking; Princess Lu WanZhe, don't take it to heart."

He then earnestly instructed, "But if you do encounter Xu Sanyan, remember to keep your distance. This person is the Demon Sect Saint and possesses immense strength, not below my own. You must not be careless."

"Oh." Princess Lu WanZhe didn't take it too much to heart; her mind was entirely on Fang Qingge. She hurriedly took a porcelain bottle from her Storage Pouch. "Brother Fang, this is a Medicinal Pill refined by my great-grandfather, meant for me to save my life. It's very good, hurry and eat it."

A sense of being moved welled up in Fang Qingge's heart. Although she was a bit troublesome, she was genuinely good to him, so he declined. "I cannot. Since it was given to you by the Old Master Lu, I absolutely cannot eat it."

"No, you must eat it. If I need more, I can just ask my great-grandfather for more. Hurry and eat it."

After some back-and-forth, Fang Qingge could not refuse her and had to consume it. The effect was indeed excellent; it was worthy of coming from a master of Alchemy.

From the Qi Dao Sect side, someone stood up and cupped their hands. "Many thanks for your assistance, Young Master Fang. We will take our leave with our Senior Brother and Senior Sister."

"This..." Fang Qingge frowned slightly. "Brother Luo has not yet regained consciousness. Why not travel with me for the time being? It would be good to have mutual support, how about it?"

He feared that if the Qi Dao Sect members encountered Xu Sanyan again, with the Luo family siblings still unconscious, these Disciples alone would likely be unable to resist.

"This... very well, then we shall trouble you, Young Master."

"You are welcome."

On the other side, Net Intent led his people away without greeting Fang Qingge and the others. The two sides had no friendship to begin with and even had some friction; if not for the Demonic Path, they certainly would not have joined forces.

The Central Continent Five Great Sects have always harbored mutual resentment.