The Three Religions and Five Sects, not only capable of producing Nascent Soul cultivators generation after generation, maintaining their dominance for over a hundred thousand years, but also possessing Nascent Soul formations within their sects, comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators.
Just like the Lingxiao Sect, which possessed a supreme treasure called the Divine Soul Jade. Any cultivator at the Golden Core stage, upon holding and refining this Divine Soul Jade, could wield the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator with their Golden Core body, matching that of a Nascent Soul ancestor.
Among the Three Religions and Five Sects, the Beast Taming Sect housed Nascent Soul demonic beasts with exceptionally long lifespans, serving as long-term guardians of the sect. One Nascent Soul demonic beast, with dragon turtle bloodline, left behind by the first sect leader, had lived for a hundred thousand years and showed no signs of decline, potentially living for another two hundred thousand years. If it were to break through from the late Nascent Soul stage to the Ascension realm, its lifespan could surge to the extreme limit below immortality, measured in millions of years.
This was the true foundation of the Three Religions and Five Sects, far more profound than it appeared. Even the Lingxiao Sect, seemingly ordinary among them, possessed several such profound assets.
Listening to these explanations, Fang Ming felt his decision to join the Lingxiao Sect was indeed correct.
Time always passed quickly during conversations.
Fang Ming realized that he had been brought out of the Taihang Mountain Range by True Person Daoxuan.
After leaving the Taihang Mountain Range and arriving at Liangchen County, they parted ways.
Fang Ming had spent three days and nights in the Taihang Mountain Range. By the time he returned, the Jade Rabbit had risen, indicating it was already evening.
Night had fallen.
As darkness enveloped the streets of Liangchen County, Fang Ming walked along the quiet thoroughfares, feeling exceptionally pleased. This excursion had not only allowed him to successfully cultivate the Profound Technique "Hengxing Sword Art" but also earned him a favor from a Golden Core True Person. He had secured a spot as a core disciple of the Lingxiao Sect.
The prodigies of Liangchen County, in their desperate struggles during the grand martial competition, could at best secure an inner disciple spot, a rank below his. This feeling of having a shortcut, of relying on connections, was incredibly satisfying.
Just then, Fang Ming suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Hmm? Something's not right! That sound..."
"Is that fighting?"
"And, one of the voices... it sounds familiar..."
Fang Ming's cultivation was on par with the early Dao Foundation stage, granting him exceptionally keen hearing. At this moment, he detected the sounds of a struggle emanating from a small alley several dozen feet away.
The voice of one of the combatants was remarkably familiar to Fang Ming.
"Your Lei family is truly despicable and shameless!"
This was a woman's voice.
"It's Lin Zhuyu's voice."
Fang Ming immediately recognized the voice of a familiar acquaintance.
It was Lin Zhuyu.
Lin Zhuyu, Lei family, despicable and shameless...
Fang Ming's expression shifted. Upon hearing these words, even without witnessing the scene directly, he could vividly imagine what was happening in his mind.
He had a rough idea of the situation unfolding.
Lin Zhuyu's cultivation was low. Although Fang Ming's improved circumstances had allowed her to benefit from many elixirs, in the past month or two, her mana had only reached the third level of Vein Condensation.
Even with the gene-enhancing potions and the Cold Moon Whip technique that Fang Ming had given her, her current cultivation would only allow her to contend with someone at the fifth level of Vein Condensation.
Now, hearing her voice, Lin Zhuyu had apparently clashed with the Lei family. With so many experts in the Lei family, she was clearly at a disadvantage. Could she be injured? Humiliated?
"No, I must hurry!"
Lin Zhuyu was the person Fang Ming, in this life, was closest to. During their difficult times, they had supported each other, forging a deep friendship.
Fang Ming, at this moment, was almost equivalent to Lin Xuan. Therefore, upon hearing Lin Zhuyu's cry, he became utterly enraged!
"Very good, very good. If your Lei family dares to harm even a single hair on Zhuyu's head, the Lei family will cease to exist!" Fang Ming's icy gaze seemed to pierce through one's soul.
Although his strength was far inferior to the Lei family's, Fang Ming possessed such confidence!
Since arriving in this world, Fang Ming's cultivation had only reached the early Dao Foundation stage. Even the Lin family was a colossal entity to him, possessing at least ten Dao Foundation realm experts and a patriarch at the peak of Dao Foundation.
The Lei family, as the foremost family in Liangcheng County, not only had twice the number of Dao Foundation realm experts as the Lin family, with four masters at the peak of Dao Foundation, but also possessed an existence at the Pseudo-Core realm.
To put it bluntly, the Lei family was indeed a behemoth to the current Fang Ming.
With his early Dao Foundation cultivation, even with the second realm of sword cultivation, flying with a sword, he could hardly shake such a colossal power.
However, Fang Ming's current strength was insufficient, but he could seek external help!
True Person Daoxuan owed him a favor. If anything happened to Zhuyu, he would discard his coveted core disciple status and compel True Person Daoxuan to utterly annihilate the Lei family.
The Lei family's highest cultivation was at the Pseudo-Core realm. While they dominated Liangcheng County, what were they compared to a Golden Core True Person? How could Pseudo-Core compare to True Core?
As for whether True Person Daoxuan would fear the Lei family – her unhesitating act of abolishing the cultivation of Lei family disciples was proof enough that she did not fear them.
Fang Ming was almost certain that as long as he asked, True Person Daoxuan would definitely help.
Of course, it would consume his favor – but even with such a great sacrifice, it would be enough if he could exact revenge!
Deep within Fang Ming's consciousness, Lin Xuan's awareness was influencing Fang Ming's thoughts with an intensity never before experienced.
It influenced Fang Ming to regard Lin Zhuyu as a vital interest, shifting Fang Ming's rationality from self-centeredness to that of a person who valued relationships.
It was a transformation from the path of emotionlessness towards the path of emotion.
What was terrifying was that Fang Ming himself was completely unaware of this shift, showing no resistance.
He leaped into the air, covering four to five zhang with each step, swiftly heading towards the alley.
...
"You, don't come any closer!"
Lin Zhuyu had not expected that a simple outing would lead to her being surrounded by several individuals who clearly looked ill-intentioned.
Her current cultivation was only at the third level of Vein Condensation. Most of the people before her were at the fourth level, with even one at the fifth level. Although she was now employing the Cold Moon Whip technique taught by Fang Ming and possessed the refined perception granted by the gene-enhancing potions, she was still being pushed back after only a few rounds.
"Brother Lei Qing, this is Lin Xuan's friend. If we capture her and present her to Brother Lei Jian, it will be a great merit!" a young man with shifty eyes said.
"Lin Xuan almost eliminated all our Lei family members from the arena during the grand competition. He is unforgivable!" the youth named Lei Qing declared. "This is a perfect opportunity to vent our anger by killing this girl!"
"Brother Qing, that would be too wasteful. Presenting her to Brother Lei Jian is the best option!" the young man said with a sinister gleam in his eyes.
This young man was the same white-clothed youth Fang Ming had encountered at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. That day, he had been arrogant, assuming he could arbitrarily seize others' spiritual herbs using the Lei family's name as before. He had not expected to run into Fang Ming, a formidable obstacle.
After being driven away by Fang Ming, he had no thoughts of retaliation. After all, he was merely a disciple from a collateral branch of the Lei family. Fang Ming's backing and personal strength were far superior to his. He couldn't even defeat him in a fight, so how could he seek revenge?