Fang Ren grabbed the phoenix in his palm carefully, trying his best not to let it fly away. The tiny bird chirped softly as it settled into his hand, its feathers still damp from earlier.
"I'm happy that the system is doing something for my loneliness, but this guy woke me from my dream of jade beauties. I'll have to train him well so something like that doesn't happen again," he muttered, looking down at the small creature.
After cultivating for several days since the phoenix's arrival, Fang Ren's primeval sea had undergone significant changes.
What was once just a grain of sand had now grown into something much larger—an actual space, like land that someone could barely stand on. It was a concept he'd never heard of before and couldn't ask anyone about, especially since the system had revealed it could even reward demonic sect techniques.
He decided to delve deeper into understanding this new development. Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and focused his consciousness inward, diving into the vast space of his primeval sea.
Apart from this land, there seems to be nothing in this infinitely large space. I wonder what it will become if I keep cultivating.
But his meditation was interrupted by a sudden poke on his cheek. His eyes snapped open from the shock.
"Aah! What are you doing?" he exclaimed, rubbing his face where the phoenix had poked him.
The small bird continued poking his face repeatedly, seemingly intent on getting his attention. Fang Ren's annoyance showed on his face as he looked at the creature.
"You fucking bird, don't think just because you're a bit cute you can do anything you want," he said irritably.
The phoenix opened its beak and let out a soft cry. Realization dawned on Fang Ren's face.
"Oh... are you hungry? I didn't know birds could communicate like that. Haha, sorry, I guess it's my fault this time."
He asked the system what the phoenix ate, and the answer came back: spirit pills, medicinal pills, and spiritual herbs. Fang Ren couldn't help but laugh at this.
"Hmm, so you're like a top-class animal. Not eating bugs and worms like normal birds," he said with amusement.
Since he had accumulated a massive amount of pills from his system rewards anyway, he put several into a small tray and placed it in front of the phoenix. The tiny bird immediately began breaking them with its beak and eating them hungrily.
Fang Ren stared at the phoenix the entire time it ate, waiting for some sign of gratitude or acknowledgment. The bird completely ignored him and continued eating.
"So you don't even look at me with thankful expressions."
A knock at the door interrupted the moment. Fang Ren's eyes narrowed slightly as he heard it.
Who is it now? I already told the servants to come inside by themselves and call out. If there's no answer, they should leave the food there. And no assassin would reveal its presence so easily, he thought, standing up with slight irritation.
He opened the door with a frown on his face.
"So who is it now?"
The figure standing at the entrance was someone he recognized immediately. It was Zhuang Jian, wearing his characteristic cold expression. His hair was neatly tied, and his cultivator's robes were impeccably maintained.
"Long time no see," Zhuang Jian greeted.
"You? Why are you here?"
After staring for a moment, Zhuang Jian raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Oh... yes, yes, come inside," Fang Ren replied, gesturing him in.
Both of them walked into the open cottage—a structure with only pillars and no walls, perfect for those who liked fresh air. They sat down on cushioned seats, and Fang Ren quickly prepared tea.
"Here, some tea," he offered, handing over a cup.
Zhuang Jian drank it slowly, savoring the taste before speaking again. Fang Ren noticed his slightly annoyed expression as he waited.
"Sister did say you were going to visit, but I didn't expect you to come so early," Fang Ren said.
"I should have visited long ago, but I've been quite busy with many things."
Fang Ren wondered what this visit was actually about. Zhuang Jian wasn't the type to just drop by for casual conversation.
"After our fight and after we conducted a thorough search throughout our clan's branch, we found many cultists embedded within our ranks," Zhuang Jian began, his expression becoming more serious. "If not for your involvement in exposing them, more than four hundred of our clan members would still be unaware of the danger. If an incident had occurred, it would have led to disaster."
How rare of him to come and thank me.
He was slightly surprised by this gratitude.
"Haha, I didn't do much. You don't have to praise me," he said, waving off the compliment.
But then Zhuang Jian's expression became even more serious, and he leaned forward slightly.
"You need to come with me down the mountains."
Fang Ren blinked, completely caught off guard.
"Wait, why? Don't you know I don't have much time left before I leave for the sect?" he asked, confused.
"Yes, I know, but we three families—the Li, Zhou, and Bai clans—have decided to launch a coordinated attack on a cult base that we discovered through interrogation. It won't defeat them entirely, but it will give them a significant blow," Zhuang Jian explained. "This way, you won't be targeted by them for at least one or two years. And since the Mo family is already eyeing you, having military achievements from this expedition would help establish your position."
Fang Ren remained silent, considering the proposal. Part of him wanted to go, knowing that he could use the Demonic Body Assimilation Technique to absorb many villainous cultists without anyone questioning it. But another part of him knew the truth—he didn't need to go anywhere to get stronger.
"But is my cultivation high enough? All we've encountered so far are lowly foot soldiers," Fang Ren said, testing the waters.
"We can issue you a military order that will match your level appropriately," Zhuang Jian replied.
But Fang Ren still couldn't shake the fact that he could easily get exponentially stronger just by staying here and cultivating. He didn't actually need more techniques or external achievements.
"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm suitable for this expedition."
Zhuang Jian sighed, a small sound of resignation escaping his lips.
"Well, alright. Since that is your decision, I will respect it."
Fang Ren walked Zhuang Jian to the door to see him off. As they reached the entrance, Zhuang Jian turned back one last time.
"You know, I don't hold any grudge against you. I was crude some time back, but after thinking about it, I don't think I'm suited to be someone's master. That's something I've come to realize," he said quietly.
Then he left, disappearing into the night.
Heh, even someone like him can speak like that, Fang Ren thought, watching him go.
He wasn't particularly invested enough in fighting the cult to join an expedition. He had his own path to follow.
"Phew, well at least he left without arguing further," he said to himself as he walked back inside.
But what Fang Ren didn't know was that someone had been watching the entire time. As soon as he entered his chamber and closed the door, a figure dropped silently from a nearby tree. It was Wei Du, a vice sect leader of one of the small sects controlled by the cult's branch organization.
Wei Du had been waiting in hiding for the right moment. He'd observed Zhuang Jian—a master praised throughout the clans—leaving the seclusion grounds. Now was his chance.
"We've been ordered to slowly eliminate all higher-level cultivators and beasts, so our masters can make their moves freely," Wei Du whispered to himself, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "And however much his father wanders away, he would definitely come back if his child was kidnapped."
The cult had already gathered intelligence convincing that Fang Ren's father wasn't actually missing, but was instead in hiding. They knew the demonic sects, cultists, unorthodox factions, and supreme being forces were all making moves across the continents, and the Divine Sword was avoiding the chaos.
Wei Du swiftly moved toward the cottage, using his concealment techniques and artifacts to mask his presence completely. He'd been chosen as a vice sect leader specifically because of his exceptional concealment ability—with it, he could disappear in the same spot for up to three years if needed.
"Hehe, there's not even a single barrier cast," he whispered as he slipped inside undetected.
The game had changed. A new threat was moving in the shadows.