154: Chapter 154: Mikano Castle

"What are Dao Companions supposed to do together?"

Li Zhu was still draped over Fang Huai's body. Seeing Luo Yao's face turn red, she couldn't help but ask Fang Huai through a voice transmission.

Fang Huai also replied via voice transmission, "I almost forgot about you. Get back into the Spirit Pet Bag."

With a wave of his hand, Li Zhu disappeared.

Inside the Spirit Pet Bag, Li Zhu transmitted frantically: "Brother, let me out! Let me see what Dao Companions are supposed to do!"

Fang Huai tapped his finger, injecting a trace of spiritual energy into the Spirit Pet Bag, instantly sealing Li Zhu's mouth. At the same time, with a sweep of his hand, he turned the spiritual light barrier opaque.

A quarter-hour later.

"The Chamber of Commerce Cultivators are wrapped in membranes; will they be in danger? Should we release them first?"

"No need. The Law-Breaking Demon's membrane only causes unconsciousness; it won't take their lives."

Half an hour later.

"Then the outside... the outside Cultivators have been poisoned by this Law-Breaking Demon's toxin. Should we save them first?"

"No need, that kind of fiendish poison won't kill them either."

An hour later.

"I have to go out and check. I really need to go out and check. I'm afraid some villains might steal the caravan's goods."

"Alright, it's time to take a rest."

Luo Yao's face still held a lingering flush. Seeing Fang Huai still looking at her, she awkwardly straightened her clothes and said, "It was truly too hot inside that Law-Breaking Demon's abdominal cavity; it made my face turn a bit red."

Fang Huai said indifferently, "Fine, the necessary ritual has been performed. Now, let's talk about your plan."

Cultivating the demonic path should be done according to one's will, keeping the Dao Heart clear. Since a choice piece of meat had been delivered to his mouth, Fang Huai saw no reason not to take a bite.

strange fiends, ordinary Five Elements spiritual items, exotic Five Elements spiritual items—if he relied on his own means to collect these things, it would take forever.

Since Luo Yao wanted to gain benefits for herself, he could use her to collect these spiritual items.

Since she had assigned him the identity of a Dao Companion, he would make that identity even more real. Moreover, physical union would make their cooperation tighter.

The Changfeng Chamber of Commerce had gained a hero.

When everyone was attacked by the Law-Breaking Demon—half fainting and the other half swallowed into its belly—an Early Foundation Establishment Cultivator had repelled the Law-Breaking Demon with thunderous force, saving everyone from their plight.

These words came from Luo Yao's mouth, so the Chamber of Commerce Cultivators believed them without a doubt.

As for why an Early Foundation Establishment Cultivator could defeat a Law-Breaking Demon that the entire caravan couldn't?

Luo Yao's explanation was that the aftershock of the spirit meteor cannon hit the Law-Breaking Demon, then Luo Yao heavily injured it, and finally, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who arrived drove away the nearly incapacitated Formation-Breaking Demon.

It was reasonable, after all, not a single person or piece of property was lost.

"Everyone, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator's name is Fang Ju. To repay his life-saving grace, I have decided to invite him to stay in Jinyu City as my Dao Companion."

Fang Ju was Fang Huai's new alias.

After Luo Yao spoke, the crowd felt doubtful. They hadn't expected the Luo Family's Young Miss to choose an Early Foundation Establishment Cultivator as her husband.

But considering Luo Yao's current status in the Changfeng Chamber of Commerce, it also seemed reasonable.

Luo Yao knew she couldn't compete for the position of Family Head, so she prepared to have this man marry into the Family to show weakness to Luo Hui, avoiding his future retaliation.

The Changfeng Chamber of Commerce was based in Jinyu City.

Jinyu City was located at the intersection of five Sects: the Profound Sword Sect, Danxia Sect, Heavenly Demon Sect, and Huangfeng Valley. Its nature was similar to Sanxian City.

Jinyu City was not under the jurisdiction of any immortal Sect; the actual person in power was the head of the Changfeng Chamber of Commerce, Former Family Head Luo Tianji.

In recent years, with the war between the righteous and demonic paths, many Loose Cultivator gathering places had suffered. Although Jinyu City had Former Family Head Luo Tianji, a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, guarding it, it was extremely insignificant before the great Sects.

To survive, the Chamber of Commerce paid nearly sixty percent of its annual income as tribute to the surrounding five Sects to seek protection.

In addition to presenting wealth, members of the Luo Family used various spirit-extraction methods from birth to force their cultivation growth, quickly training into combat-capable Cultivators at the cost of their potential and Lifespan.

As for the position of Family Head, it didn't distinguish between genders. As long as one had enough combat power, the support of the people, and sufficient wisdom, they could ascend.

Fang Huai and Luo Yao sat together on the foremost transport beast.

The transport beast was massive in size, but it moved exceptionally smoothly; sitting on it, there wasn't even a hint of a bump.

Most surprising was their speed, which was not inferior to ordinary flying Spirit Beasts.

There was still over a month left in the journey. During this time, they would purchase supplies in Ningyun City, the largest city under the Danxia Sect's rule, and return to Jinyu City via the Purple Desert Sea.

Over at Sanxian City, things were in a mess because of the trouble Fang Huai had caused. Under such circumstances, hiding outside for a while was also a wise choice.

After arriving in Ningyun City, Luo Yao was busy purchasing supplies with local merchants and no longer minded Fang Huai.

Inside the inn, Fang Huai was sitting cross-legged in meditation to stabilize his cultivation when he heard a knock on the door.

"Young Master-in-law, may we come in?"

The ones speaking were the two Foundation Establishment guards under Luo Yao, who were also her relatives from the same branch and her confidants, Luo Xiao and Luo Wei.

Although they were called guards, they also carried the Luo Family Bloodline and were brothers. However, their Aptitude was too poor; no matter how they stimulated their potential, their cultivation ultimately stopped at Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Young Master-in-law?"

Fang Huai was not yet used to this title. After thinking for a long while, he finally realized they were calling him.

"Come in." Fang Huai was curious about what these two wanted with him.

The two pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Fang Huai in a cultivation posture, they immediately smiled and said, "Young Master-in-law, we've already arrived in Ningyun City, yet you are still so devoted to Cultivating. No wonder you've achieved Foundation Establishment despite being sixty years younger than us."

Although the two looked young, it was the effect of youth preservation pills.

Their actual age had reached a hundred years, and with the long-term consumption of Spirit Medicine to stimulate their potential, their remaining Lifespan was less than thirty years.

Fang Huai raised an eyebrow and said, "From what you two are saying, is there somewhere special to visit in Ningyun City?"

Luo Wei showed a meaningful smile: "Young Master-in-law is indeed clever. This Ningyun City isn't just an ordinary city; it also has a nickname called Mixiang City."

"Mixiang City?" Fang Huai asked in confusion.

No matter how he heard it, this name didn't sound like a proper one. Why would it appear under the rule of the Danxia Sect, one of the three leaders of the Righteous Path?

Luo Xiao explained: "The reason Ningyun City is called Ningyun City is that it gathers the top Alchemists of the State of Chen. The Pill Clouds formed from daily Alchemy soar straight into the sky, hence the name.

Where there are Pill Clouds, there is naturally Pill Fragrance. The Pill Fragrance pervades the entire city, so it is also called Mixiang City."

So that was the meaning of Mixiang City.

Fang Huai suddenly understood, then said, "Brothers, what business do you have with me?"

Luo Wei said, "The two of us don't have much Lifespan left, so Young Miss Yao forbids us from taking Medicinal Pills recklessly. Every time we use a pill, it must be with her consent. But with you here, Young Master-in-law, Young Miss Yao probably won't make things difficult for us anymore."

Fang Huai finally understood that these two wanted to rely on him to indulge in pills and desires here in Ningyun City.

Medicinal Pills can nourish a person, but they can also harm them. They can nourish the spirit, but they can also fuel indulgence.

The two Foundation Establishment Cultivators before him didn't have much Lifespan left. To them, things like pill toxins no longer mattered; they only wanted to indulge in pleasure and enjoy the rest of their lives.

Even if Fang Huai refused them, they would find other ways. It was better to be a good person and build some connections to facilitate his future plans.