Fangxian Heretical Path

Chapter 186 Jinmao Inner Sect Ancient Treasures (5 words)

"Cheers! Cheers!"

Fang Shu sat among a group of monsters, drank several cups of wine, and immediately felt his ears burning and his mind and spirits refreshed.

And just like at the last party, he felt his internal energy growing, which was quite helpful for his cultivation, but it wasn't growing as rapidly as it had been last time.

Someone next to him recognized him.

"You, you little rascal, you look somewhat familiar."

A silver-furred, rat-faced, human-bodied man leaned close to him, drunkenly pointing and talking at him.

Fang Shu, also looking at the scene with drunken eyes, smiled and said, "Your face looks familiar, could it be the Golden-haired Gentleman?"

The man with a rat-like face and a human body immediately puffed out his belly, gave Fang Shu a fat bow, and sang, "That's me!"

It tugged at a few long whiskers at the corner of its mouth and smugly said to the other monster drinkers around it:
"Look, I've been traveling around for ten years as a wandering god, and it hasn't been for nothing. Even these disciples in the Five Digestion Temple know me."

The monster drinkers either praised it or hissed at it.

One of them even shouted, "If I gave you the chance to be the procession god again, would you accept it or not?"

Upon hearing this, for some reason, Jinmao Langjun's expression instantly drooped, and his long beard seemed to hang down. He listlessly picked up his wine cup and drank three large cups in one go, muttering things like "I should have regretted it" and "I fell for their trap."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu became curious.

He sized up the young man, clearly remembering how spirited and arrogant the demon had been when they first met. Among the group of demon drinkers, apart from the old mountain lord, this fellow was the most smug.

Moreover, the young man with the golden hair had the demeanor and appearance of a scholar. When he drank wine, he would put on a dashing and debonair manner, not mixing with other monsters, which made him extremely eye-catching.

But now, the other party looks like an ordinary monster or a drunkard on the street.

Fang Shu was puzzled and secretly wondered if he should ask a demon, since this guy was really down on his luck.

At this moment, the old mountain lord beneath them spoke with a smile: "The new little fellow, we are here tonight to bid farewell to Jinmao. He's just a bit arrogant, but his nature as a demon is actually quite good."

If you have offended him, don't stoop to his level.

Upon hearing this, Jinmao Langjun suddenly shouted, "Seeing you off? What's there to see off? I'm not leaving!"

The monster drinkers, upon hearing this, began to chatter amongst themselves:
"If you don't leave, be careful of the expert in your stomach who might capture you and roast you."

"Alas, Brother Jinmao, let's just accept our fate. It's just that we fell off our horses. At least we've saved our lives. Once we get to Fudang Mountain, we can still make a living."

"That's true, but once you get to Fudang Mountain, you'll be a wild demon, no longer as safe and secure as you are under the protection of this immortal sect. Brother Jinmao, you're in for a tough time..."

Fang Shu, who was among them, listened carefully and immediately understood the cause and effect.

It turns out that ten years ago, this handsome young man was appreciated by the immortals in the temple of the five internal organs. While serving as the god of Little West Mountain, he also served as the so-called wandering god of the mountains.

He held two positions, receiving an extra salary, and could freely roam Mount Lu. He could even occasionally sneak into the mortal world to freeload, making him much more comfortable than other demons and gods, which made all the demons extremely envious.

However, his success was also due to his wandering spirit.

Jinmao Langjun had only worked for a few years when he was unable to take care of the work at Xiaoxishan, which led to the proliferation of monsters in the mountain and the loss of several lives. He almost ended up being skinned alive and stripped of his demonic status by the immortal sect.

It was only after it made some serious efforts to bribe the sect, and because the Immortal Sect took pity on the old Mountain Lord, that the matter was handled leniently, with only its Little West Mountain Godhood being stripped away.

As a result, Jinmao Langjun was left with only the position of a wandering god, and he lost the Xiaoxishan property passed down from his ancestors. His life suddenly became more restrictive, but he could still make ends meet.

Unexpectedly, now that the ten-year term has just passed, the temple has begun to dismiss the processional deities and ordered the demons who served as processional deities to return to their original places. Moreover, the dismissal quota has fallen on Jinmao Langjun's head.

After all, it no longer has enough money and supplies to maintain its position, and having lost its foundation in Xiaoxishan, it has no foothold and can be easily moved by the deities within the temple.

The monsters at the banquet kept sighing, "What bad luck!"

"If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off just staying put and living off the family property."

These monsters apparently have some connections in Mount Lu.

The divine positions they hold are often occupied when they become spirits, and after years of operation, they have established themselves like the old mountain king's demon market, which is a source of income. They can sell medicinal herbs, produce spiritual liquids, and so on.

Among them, those like Jinmao Langjun, whose cultivation began as early as when its ancestors became spirits, are even more rare and precious. It is also because this fellow is a second-generation demon that he has the title of "Langjun" among the demons.

During the banquet, Fang Shu listened to the demons' discussion.

He sipped his wine, his eyes flickering.

In his view, this young man with the golden hair was clearly not just unlucky, but more like someone was targeting him, and that person was targeting the other party's position as a deity in Xiaoxishan.

However, Fang Shu did not speak recklessly, nor did he join in the conversations that were either pitying or mocking the young man, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

For some reason, the quieter he was, the more interested the young man with the golden hair seemed to become in him.

After joking around with everyone, this guy even squeezed in front of Fang Shu and sat down to chat with him.

Fang Shuben was just going through the motions with the other party until he realized that the other party was indeed a second-generation demon from Mount Lu, and knew a lot.

"We had a drink together ten years ago. After a couple of times, we've become quite familiar with each other."

The Golden-Haired Gentleman said familiarly, "So, Fellow Daoist Fang is an outer disciple of the mountain, and has just finished listening to nine years of lectures, and has come down the mountain to visit relatives?"

Fang Shu looked up at the other person and nodded.

The rat demon then asked, "Have you ever considered competing for a place among the inner disciples?"

After a moment of contemplation, Fang Shu uttered a single word: "Want."

*Smack!*

The handsome young man clapped his hands, not in jest, but in excitement, and said:
"That's how it should be! Fellow Daoist, listen to my advice: the status of an inner disciple is a valuable thing."

For example, if we had this identity, we wouldn't have to worry about being arbitrarily removed from the demon register and expelled from Mount Lu.

"Hmm?" Fang Shu immediately became interested.

Although he already knew the benefits of being an inner disciple, according to this demon brother, this status clearly had even more advantages, which he was unaware of.

He immediately cupped his hands and asked the rat demon, "Please explain in detail, sir."

The rat demon stroked his long whiskers and said politely and reservedly, "Why call me 'young master'? I'm just a penniless nobody. Just call me Jinmao, or if you're so great, call me 'Brother Mao'."

Without further ado, it immediately began to show Fang Shu the benefits of being an inner disciple by pointing with its fingers.

Fang Shu knew about several of these things, such as having his own salary, access to the library, and being served by Daoist soldiers. However, he was unaware of the most important points and had never considered their underlying meanings.

"Don't be fooled by its seemingly decent appearance; this place, the Five Stomachs Temple, is still incredibly dark."

The handsome young man shouted:
"If you kill a servant or two now, nothing will happen to you; you'll just have to pay some money and that'll be it. Similarly, if an inner disciple kills an outer disciple, they won't have to pay with their life; they'll just have to pay money."

Furthermore, the so-called outer disciples are actually just domesticated cattle and horses, not even allowed to easily leave the mountain, all so that you can work properly inside the temple.

But becoming an inner disciple is a different story. It represents the sect's reputation, and one can leave the sect at any time. This is extremely beneficial, whether for doing business, trading, or seeking opportunities for advancement.

After taking a large gulp of wine, this fellow shook his head and said:
"Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality, locking yourself inside the mountain gate all day long, what kind of immortality is that?"

A nearby monster overheard this and immediately began to mock them:

"Jinmao, are you trying to comfort yourself because you know you're about to be kicked off the mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Jinmao Langjun's face immediately turned red, but fortunately, his face was covered in fur, so the other demons couldn't tell.

However, Fang Shu took the other party's words to heart and quickly thought of something else, which made him calm down.

During the nine years he spent in the Five Internal Organs Temple, he became a disciple of the Immortal Sect due to timely Qi cultivation, and thus lived a peaceful nine years.

This made him subconsciously think that life in the temple was like this. Although the rules were strict, as long as you were honest, even if it was miserable, you could survive and wouldn't face so many life-or-death problems like a servant.

But who would have thought that, according to this young man with the white hair, the disciples in the temple could kill each other, and that they could simply pay a fine instead of paying with their lives.

This made Fang Shu think:

"Could it be that the first nine years of the outer sect are like the first hundred days when the immortal seed ascends the mountain... a period of protection, and once that's over, it won't be so peaceful anymore?" If so, then the status of an inner sect disciple is even more important, and must be obtained!
But suddenly, Fang Shu narrowed his eyes and thought of something, and immediately asked:

"Brother Jinmao, if inner disciples can kill outer disciples and only need to pay money to pay for their lives, then can those of higher status also kill inner disciples, such as Foundation Establishment cultivators killing inner disciples?"

Upon hearing this, Jinmao Langjun, who was arguing with the monster next to him, paused for a moment, turned his head, and nodded dejectedly: "That makes sense."

These words made Fang Shu frown even more.

Fortunately, at that moment, a buzzing laugh suddenly rang out: "You little rascal, don't scare this little guy. I've finally found a customer I like."

The voice came from beneath the crowd; it was the old mountain lord speaking again.

The old mountain lord said:

“Little fellow, the inner disciples of the five sects of Mount Lu are, according to the rules, the private property of the temple masters. Although you don’t have to pay with your life if you kill the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the temple, the matter will at least have to be brought up to the ‘Three Capitals’.”

These guys won't let go of the opportunity to plunder; once they open their mouths, they can make ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators lose everything and regret their actions.

Furthermore, the higher the disciple's cultivation level and the more outstanding their talent, the more expensive it is to kill.

Fang Shu then heard the old mountain lord laugh at him:
"If you can become an inner disciple, then do so. Remember to earn as much Dao merit as possible, so that even if someone is watching you, you'll have room to maneuver."

These words brought a slight sense of relief to Fang Shuxin.

Although he had not yet offended the Foundation Establishment Immortals and had no such worries, he was somewhat relieved to know that his inner sect status was still somewhat protected within the temple.

However, the words spoken at the banquet today instantly alerted him, making him realize that even though he was in a celestial sect and a disciple, he was still not safe and sound.

Ultimately, this world is one where great power belongs to oneself. No matter how good the rules are within a sect, one should still recognize this!

In an instant, thoughts of "inner sect" and "foundation building" swirled in his mind, giving him a sense of urgency.

Fang Shu, without any hesitation, immediately turned urgency into motivation and stopped caring about appearances.

At the banquet, he would frequently and proactively raise his glass to the various monsters, drinking one cup after another.

His hearty drinking drew sidelong glances from the other drinkers. Those who didn't know better might have thought he was about to be kicked out of the Immortal Sect, rather than the handsome young man with the golden hair.

When Jinmao Langjun saw this, he thought Fang Shu was seeing him off. He was immediately moved and shouted, "I'll risk my life to accompany you, sir!" He accepted all offers and drank heavily with Fang Shu.

This banquet lasted for two or three days, and including the days before Fang Shu arrived, it should have been a full seven days.

Fang Shu was still in high spirits, but the other demon drinkers were really unable to withstand the alcohol, either retreating or collapsing drunk on the Lingzhi platform.

So for a moment, only Fang Shu remained on the stage, holding a wine glass in his hand.

He exhaled and secretly examined the Dao talisman within his body; characters immediately appeared on the talisman:

[Magic Power: Thirty-One Toads]

These spirit wines were indeed not for nothing; in just two days, his true energy increased by a full toad's worth. If he were to fully digest them, it should increase by another half toad's worth.

A sense of exhilaration rose in his heart.

Being shameless does indeed bring more benefits.

Fang Shu's gaze then shifted and landed on the leftover wine at the banquet, as well as the wine in the vat.

Someone noticed his behavior and said sullenly, "Are you the only one left? How boring. If you still want to eat, then go ahead and eat."

Fang Shu immediately cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for the wine, Elder Shan."

Without any hesitation, he began clearing away the drinks on the table.

As Fang Shu was tidying up, another blurry figure appeared in front of him. The figure had a head like a lingzhi mushroom and was the manifestation of the old mountain lord.

He walked up to the blond-haired young man and muttered to himself, "I've watched this blond fellow grow up. Now that I'm sending him down the mountain, I really can't bear to part with him."

Fang Shu listened quietly without interrupting.

Suddenly, he heard the old mountain lord in front of him sigh again: "Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be a harbinger of good fortune."

"Oh, and little one, remember Jinmao's advice: an inner sect identity is a valuable thing, don't miss it."

There seemed to be a hidden meaning in the old mountain lord's words.

However, after chewing for a few moments, Fang Shu couldn't figure out what was going on, and judging from the other party's attitude, it didn't seem like they wanted to reveal anything more.

So he could only bow and reply, "This disciple humbly accepts your instruction."

As soon as the words were spoken, the figure of the Ganoderma lucidum head began to slowly disappear.

At this moment, Fang Shu remembered his true purpose for coming to the "banquet," and he immediately spoke up:
"Mountain Lord! I have come not only to ask for wine, but also to do business with you."

Upon hearing this, the old mountain king, who had been rather lazy and drunk, instantly became interested.

Its phantom instantly solidified, causing its true form to tremble, which made the group of paralyzed demon guests curse and grumble.

Old Mountain Lord said, "Of course! Of course!"

Immediately, Fang Shu asked the other party if they had any books on Gu techniques, formations, or other ancient Taoist treasures that had been tainted with evil energy, as he wanted to buy them all.

And this benefactor certainly did not disappoint Fang Shu.

With a snap, the center of the Lingzhi Platform cracked open, forming steps and revealing the treasure hidden inside.

Fang Shu boldly stepped inside, and his eyes were met with a dazzling array of objects of all kinds, including magical artifacts, books, ancient treasures, elixirs, and magical treasures.

As for the evil ancient treasures he wanted most, they were piled up in a corner by the old mountain lord and covered with talismans, there were as many as five or six of them.

"I'm just waiting for a passing peddler to buy this pile of stuff. If you're interested and want to browse through it, I'll only charge you the cost price."

The old mountain lord said, "However, these are all my collections. I don't accept spirit stones. You'll have to bring something rare to exchange with me."

Fang Shu immediately understood that this old mountain lord was indeed as rumored, with a hobby of collecting objects, which was why he wanted to barter.

After a moment of contemplation, he rummaged through his storage bag and found the items he considered acceptable.

Unfortunately, most of what he had was ordinary and insignificant in the eyes of the old mountain lord.

Only four items barely caught the other party's eye: the array flag above his head, the tomb raiding token in his bag, and the Yin-Yang dual-flavor Gu worms.

Fang Shu naturally didn't want to exchange the first two items; he was only willing to exchange the Gu worms he had refined.

Fortunately, the old man didn't intend to force a sale and readily agreed:

"The Gu worms on the Day After Tomorrow's Rare Insect List, though of inferior quality, can still serve as part of my collection. You can exchange three pairs for three of my equivalent Qi-refining items."

Immediately afterwards, Fang Shu feigned hesitation, then skimmed over the cultivation manuals, Gu formulas, and formations one by one, finally landing on the pile of ancient Taoist treasures, from which he pulled out three ancient treasures with the most concentrated evil energy.

As he pondered what reason to come up with to explain his choice, Old Mountain Lord chuckled and said:
"Good lad, you have quite the gambling spirit, truly to my liking."

So this guy thought Fang Shuxuan was gambling on whether these three ancient treasures could be exorcised of evil spirits, and whether they could be sold for a high price after the evil spirits were exorcised.

Fang Shu naturally wouldn't refute it. He obediently cupped his hands and secretly rejoiced as he pocketed the three ancient treasures.

With the business completed and the money secured, Fang Shu was overjoyed. He bowed and returned to the Lingzhi Terrace.

At this moment, some of the monsters on the stage began to awaken.

The first to wake up was the handsome young man with the golden hair. He took out a gourd and quickly poured the leftover wine from the banquet into it.

Upon seeing Fang Shu, this guy even winked at Fang Shu, but his hands kept moving.

Fang Shu raised an eyebrow and quickly stepped forward to clean up the leftover wine at the banquet.

Soon, when the monsters woke up again and wanted to rinse their mouths with wine, they found that the wine was all gone, not a single drop left, and assumed that everyone had finished drinking.

　Note: The Langdang Mountain mentioned earlier has been changed to Fudang Mountain.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)