Chapter 56: Not Quite Satisfied (Please Add to Favorites)

At that moment, Li Guanxuan truly entertained the idea of killing Fang Xingzhi.

Yet, after reconsidering, he realized that if Fang Xingzhi were to die, the Yu Beast You clan’s Foundation Establishment master would likely come to investigate the cause. Wouldn’t he, Li Guanxuan, also be implicated? After all, he was present at the scene—not intervening, but not assisting either. Given the temperament of cultivator clans, they would probably treat him as an accomplice and ultimately take their anger out on him.

Thus, it was preferable to let Fang Xingzhi live, allowing him to deal with the Yu Beast You clan. Moreover, Fang Xingzhi was a peak ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator. Though he was a demonic cultivator, gratitude exists in every heart, no matter how corrupted. Otherwise, he would have left not ten, but one hundred top-grade Explosive Spirit Talismans just now. A hundred top-grade Explosive Spirit Talismans… Even a ninth-level Qi Refining expert would barely survive, stripped of all dignity.

If, in the future, Fang Xingzhi managed to achieve Foundation Establishment, he might create considerable trouble for the Yu Beast You clan.

Li Guanxuan glanced behind him, noticing Fang Xingzhi still following. He couldn’t help but smile and say,

“Are you not afraid the demonic cultivators of Silver Maple City will slaughter you?”

“What’s there to fear?” Fang Xingzhi laughed heartily. “I’ve roamed the world for years—death does not frighten me. Instead, it’s people like you, my friend, that intrigue me. I’ve never seen someone quite like you in all my decades.”

He truly had never met such a cunning and generous cultivator. If he were in Li Guanxuan’s place, he would have killed everyone and taken all the treasures for himself. Who would leave behind a talisman worth five hundred spirit stones, or a first-tier flying boat, for no reason?

“Golden Vine and Purple Ginseng—if you can acquire three-hundred-year-old specimens of both, I can refine a Foundation Establishment Pill for you,” Li Guanxuan replied calmly.

Fang Xingzhi was deeply shaken by these words and pressed, “Are you an alchemist?”

“A second-tier alchemist, genuine and without pretense. My surname is Li.”

Li Guanxuan casually tossed him a Spirit Marrow Pill, its quality reaching the peak of first-tier.

Fang Xingzhi caught the pill and examined it carefully, suppressing his greed and returning it to Li Guanxuan.

Li Guanxuan took the pill, channeled his mana, obliterated the tracking mark upon it, and tossed it back to Fang Xingzhi, smiling, “Don’t bother with petty tricks on me. I’ve shown you sincerity; you should act honestly as well. Otherwise, seek someone else for your Foundation Establishment Pill.”

“My apologies for being rash, brother. Please forgive me,” Fang Xingzhi laughed, catching the pill and stowing it away without further ceremony.

But after years of wandering the world, he was no fool. This Alchemist Li would never help him out of pure kindness; there must be something he wanted, or perhaps something he needed done.

---

Or, more precisely, a task he wished Fang Xingzhi to perform.

Fang Xingzhi narrowed his eyes and asked, “You’re helping me with Foundation Establishment so I’ll deal with the Yu Beast You clan for you, isn’t that it?”

Li Guanxuan, seeing his thoughts uncovered, smiled openly, “You couldn’t deal with them yourself. I simply don’t want the Yu Beast You clan coming after me, so I’d rather you tangle with them and cause a little trouble.”

Hearing Li Guanxuan confess so frankly, Fang Xingzhi’s expression darkened.

He had thought this was a kindly, good-natured friend; he did not expect so many hidden intentions.

“How can I contact you, Brother Li?” Fang Xingzhi asked.

“Wanxiang Pavilion, Shop No. 3, Silver Maple City’s market.”

With this information, Fang Xingzhi stopped following Li Guanxuan and set off to seek three-hundred-year-old Golden Vine and Purple Ginseng.

Demonic cultivators usually practiced certain arts that altered their temperament, making them unstable and bloodthirsty—hence their notorious reputation. They were generally barred from spirit cities, as the guards feared they’d disrupt the peace. Thus, demonic cultivators were not like bandit cultivators: the latter could disguise themselves and enter cities, while the former had to rely on others or resort to highway robbery in the wilderness. No alchemist would ever help them.

Fang Xingzhi recalled Li Guanxuan’s words and muttered to himself,

“If you truly help me reach Foundation Establishment, why shouldn’t I help you slaughter the entire Yu Beast You clan someday?”

---

Along the way, Li Guanxuan encountered no further bandit cultivators. Perhaps his earlier display of power deterred them all, and the road became clear.

He arrived smoothly at Silver Maple City, entered the inner city, changed his attire, and returned to the rented house, where he found Wen Rongxin and Qin Jiyue already waiting.

“H-husband…”

When Wen Rongxin saw Li Guanxuan, her face bloomed like a peach blossom, and her worries finally eased.

“Sigh, if you hadn’t come back, sister would’ve gone out to look for you,” Qin Jiyue complained from the side.

During his absence, Wen Rongxin had fretted every quarter hour about his whereabouts and sent Qin Jiyue to search for him and offer support.

Qin Jiyue, unable to focus on cultivation, had stayed by her side to comfort her.

“Silly girl, I told you nothing would happen. What’s there to worry about?” Li Guanxuan hugged Wen Rongxin, feeling her concern for him.

---

“Mm.” Wen Rongxin nodded gently, her tone soft. “From now on, I’ll work hard at cultivation, so I can help you more.”

“You—just take better care of yourself and worry less about others. That’s the greatest help you could give me.” Li Guanxuan pinched her delicate nose, smiling.

After ten years of marriage, he knew Wen Rongxin all too well.

She was a woman of utmost gentleness, kindness, devotion, and selflessness.

In her world, she never wished to hurt anyone; she reserved the best for herself and Qin Jiyue, always giving quietly without complaint.

Qin Jiyue stood nearby, watching Li Guanxuan embrace Wen Rongxin. She felt no hint of jealousy, only the sense that this was the love her sister deserved.

After dinner, the three tidied and cleaned their home together.

This apartment was larger than the one they had rented in Shanggu City, with a more spacious courtyard. The spiritual energy condensed by the mid-tier second-level spirit vein was invigorating.

After a night of tender affection and seeking the Dao, Li Guanxuan retreated into the cultivation chamber.

Just as Wen Rongxin, exhausted, lay down, she saw Qin Jiyue open the door and crawl into her bed, her face flushing as she whispered,

“S-sister, what are you doing?”

“I’ve come to sleep with you!” Qin Jiyue giggled, reaching out to grasp her hand. She marveled, “No wonder husband says your hands are so soft. It seems body cultivators’ skin is much more supple than regular cultivators’.”

“Don’t… don’t do that…” Wen Rongxin’s face burned.

She had always been a bit reserved with Li Guanxuan, letting him guide their intimacy. Now, with another woman beside her, she felt even more constrained.

“Oh, what’s the harm? You should try touching me, too—husband always says I’m made of water.”

Qin Jiyue began to explore, occasionally commenting on the flexibility of body cultivators, lamenting that her husband was a lucky scoundrel.

Wen Rongxin, too exhausted to resist, finally surrendered, asking gently,

“Sister, did you come to me for something?”

At her words, Qin Jiyue remembered her purpose. She whispered,

“Sister, have you noticed… husband’s appetite for intimacy has increased lately? And… he still seems unsatisfied.”