164: Fellow Daoist Fang, please stay.

The more Liu Xuan thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Recalling the past, True Person Xiao gave him a Third-Grade Pine Spirit Fruit and said that he had awakened some Demon Clan Bloodline.

The Demon Clan Bloodline grants a powerful Physical Body. When he was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, he could already withstand a Third-Grade Pine Spirit Fruit. If he were to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, he would definitely become a good target for Possession.

If True Person Xiao’s injuries happened to require a powerful Physical Body to recuperate, then everything made sense!

The drawback of Possession, which prevents further Breakthrough, had no impact on True Person Xiao anyway, as he couldn’t Breakthrough further.

Being able to use Liu Xuan’s awakened Demon Clan Bloodline Physical Body to recuperate his injuries and restore his Lifespan to normal would allow him to live for another hundred years. Anyone would know how to choose.

“No wonder this Old Ancestor valued me so much but didn’t give me a Xiao Family woman. So he really coveted my body!”

Although these were all Liu Xuan’s speculations, he was eighty percent certain that the truth was not far off.

Liu Xuan estimated that Xiao Changfeng’s closed-door Cultivation was to prepare for the Possession. Once he Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, he would probably be controlled immediately, and then Possessed.

“Damn it!”

“Fortunately, I was cautious and also had the illusory god treasure robe to conceal my Cultivation, otherwise I might have already fallen prey to this Old Ancestor Xiao Changfeng!”

“The Old Ancestor doesn’t play fair, trying to trick and bully a junior like me. How shameless!”

After cursing inwardly for a while, Liu Xuan began to think about how to respond next.

With the illusory god treasure robe concealing his Cultivation, under normal circumstances, it would take him at least fifteen to twenty years to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. True Person Xiao would definitely not attempt Possession before he Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, so in this light, the situation wasn’t particularly bad.

In twenty years, Liu Xuan was confident he could Breakthrough to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment or even Late Stage Foundation Establishment.

By then, even if he hadn’t found a way to deal with Xiao Changfeng, he could at least escape if he couldn’t win. No big deal!

“Senior Brother Xu Bin, Senior Sister Liu Hong invites you to come over.” A subordinate reported from outside the door.

“Understood!”

These days, Liu Xuan used Xu Bin’s network to send letters to many Nether Fire Sect Cultivators, inquiring about purchasing Soul Seizing Secret Arts.

He even sent a copy to his Revered Master, Three Poisons Ancestor, but unfortunately, there was no response.

Some others did reply, but Soul Seizing Secret Arts were of too high a grade, and ordinary Qi Refining stage Disciples simply couldn’t access them. All the replies were useless information.

Liu Xuan didn’t insist, as he had plenty of time. He planned to go back first and let Xu Bin send people to slowly gather information about the Soul Seizing Secret Art.

Before leaving, he told his Dao Companions that he would be in closed-door Cultivation for a few days. If he didn't return for too long, they would worry.

Since the crisis with True Person Xiao’s Possession was not urgent, his focus should return to the great task of having children.

Something he had struggled with for a long time might be solved by the System’s random gift.

Before leaving, Liu Hong sent someone to invite him. After a moment of hesitation, he still decided to go and see, perhaps he might gain something… at the Linlang Pavilion.

“Fellow Daoist Fang, we meet again! Seeing you fills my heart with joy. I wonder if Fellow Daoist shares this feeling?”

Liu Hong had specially changed into a pink long dress today. The wide skirt concealed her plump body, making her appear not so repulsive.

“Fellow Daoist, please get to the point. I am very busy and have important matters to attend to!” Liu Xuan said indifferently.

“Alright, alright!”

“Then let’s get to the point!”

Liu Hong took out a grayish-white Jade Slip, “This is a copied version of a Soul Seizing Secret Art that I found in the Family’s treasure vault. Although it can’t compare to the Third-Grade original recorded by a Golden Core Cultivator, it can still be considered a High Grade Second-Grade Secret Art.”

Complete versions of High Grade Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts could only be recorded on Jade Slips. Ordinary text could not carry the vast amount of information and the profound Concept within them.

Moreover, such Jade Slips had to be inscribed by High Grade Cultivators who had achieved success in their Cultivation, expending their Divine Soul power.

The complete versions were very valuable. A Third-Grade Secret Art Jade Slip was comparable in value to an ordinary Third-Grade Magic Treasure, something even a Foundation Establishment Ancestor couldn’t afford.

Copied versions were different. They were usually inscribed by Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had seen the Secret Art, based on their own understanding, and their value was greatly discounted.

Liu Hong’s claim that it could be considered a High Grade Second-Grade Secret Art actually contained an element of exaggeration, because the information was incomplete and the quality could not be guaranteed. Such copied versions generally had a price similar to ordinary Second-Grade Secret Arts.

Liu Xuan didn’t waste words. He took out a Top-Grade Spirit Stone, “A copied version is only worth an ordinary Second-Grade Secret Art. How about selling it to me for one Top-Grade Spirit Stone?”

One Top-Grade Spirit Stone was worth two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. An ordinary Second-Grade Spiritual Artifact, like a Second-Grade Storage Pouch, was also worth about two thousand Spirit Stones. The price Liu Xuan offered was very reasonable.

Seeing Liu Xuan take out a Top-Grade Spirit Stone, Liu Hong was slightly surprised.

‘This Fang Li’s Cultivation aura is only at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, yet he can produce a Top-Grade Spirit Stone. This person indeed has a significant background.’

She slowly shook her head, “I said, this Secret Art is comparable to a High Grade Second-Grade Secret Art. I’ll sell it to you for twenty thousand Spirit Stones.”

“Of course! I can also forgo the Spirit Stones. It’s the same condition I mentioned before: you become my Dao Companion for three years!”

“I, Liu Hong, have countless Dao Companions. You can go and inquire; not a single person who has Dual Cultivated with me has ever regretted it!”

“And also…”

Liu Xuan raised his hand to interrupt her from continuing, then took out another Top-Grade Spirit Stone from his embrace, “I only have two Top-Grade Spirit Stones. If you still won’t sell, I can only take my leave!”

Liu Hong slowly shook her head. She was certain that this Secret Art was extremely important to Fang Li, and he definitely wouldn’t give up.

“Farewell!”

Liu Xuan put away the Spirit Stones and left with Xu Bin, without a hint of hesitation.

He could actually afford twenty thousand Spirit Stones, but if he really spent that much to buy a copied Secret Art, he would be a fool.

Moreover, exposing a large amount of Spirit Stones might attract more trouble, which wasn’t worth it.

The crisis from True Person Xiao was temporarily not a big issue. Liu Xuan’s demand for the Secret Art wasn’t that urgent now, let alone an incomplete copied version!

He didn’t want to get entangled with Liu Hong. Once the sub-gu finished digesting Xu Bin’s memories, he would let him deal with this woman.

“Hmm?”

On the way back to Luoye Market in the direction of Yongning, Liu Xuan suddenly sensed a presence following him from behind.

His Foundation Establishment-level Divine Sense swept out, and Liu Xuan immediately recognized that the trailing presence was Liu Hong.

‘It can’t be! Someone wants to rob even for a mere two Top-Grade Spirit Stones? Or is it that she genuinely fancies me and won’t give up until she gets me?’

Two Top-Grade Spirit Stones were only four thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Most Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivators… probably couldn’t produce that much.

Accustomed to a wealthy life, Liu Xuan had over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones when converted, so he subconsciously felt that one or two Top-Grade Spirit Stones were no big deal.

Pretending not to notice the other party, Liu Xuan subtly changed direction, flying towards a secluded mountain valley.

This location was deserted, and shielded by tall trees. Liu Hong’s heart filled with joy, and her figure suddenly accelerated, instantly catching up to Liu Xuan and Xu Bin.

Her Cultivation was at Qi Refining Perfection, and she also Cultivated a superior Joyous Union Sect Cultivation Technique, making her combat power top-tier among those at Qi Refining Perfection. In an instant, she arrived behind the two.

“Fellow Daoist Fang, please stop!”

A magnetic and alluring voice echoed through the valley.