Fang Xing studied the message given to him by the lotus girl several times since entering the Guixu Ruins, and he understood where she was trying to guide him by now.

　　With Fang Xing’s current mastery of Foundation Stage, it wouldn’t be very difficult for him to form a golden core. He already had plenty of the necessary pellets and it wasn’t difficult to find more inside the Guixu Ruins, either. As for the techniques necessary to study the Dao of the golden core, there was even less for him to worry about; even disregarding all of the others, the technique inside the Huangfu clan’s young master was the profound technique known as the Script of Ravaged Tapestry.

　　It could be said if Fang Xing wished to form a golden core, his full mastery of the Foundation Stage meant all he had to do was want it. A golden core formed like this was completely unreasonable, however, and would give an unstable foundation. In the lotus girl’s words, “It would make it difficult to seek the great Dao in the future!”

　　Fang Xing also understood that even though he had the Script of Revered Spirit, Script of Revered Sense, the black sword’s unnamed technique, and the Yin-Yang Sanding Disc, they weren’t suitable for this. The first technique only turned the heavens and earth into Qi, the second helped increase spirit sense, the third was a method of killing, and the fourth was nothing more than an apex skill.

　　His current technique to increase cultivation level was based upon the Qing-Yun’s Qi Formation that Bai Qianzhang had improved, which Fang Xing had further adjusted using his own experience and understanding to better suit him. It had helped him push to complete the full mastery of Foundation Stage, but it wasn’t enough to help him form the golden core. Forming a golden core required a higher-level Dao technique to serve as a guiding light—it couldn’t be achieved with just the accumulation of resources. The technique studied during the formation of the golden core would determine the direction one’s cultivation took in the future, making it incredibly important and warranting great caution..

　　Even if Fang Xing formed the golden core by studying the Script of Ravaged Tapestry, the information inside the Huangfu clan’s young master only went so far as the Golden Core Stage; how would he be able to cultivate with it beyond that point without the completed later stages? Furthermore, although the Huangfu clan was extremely well-known within Jambu, they’d still been exiled from Videha in the end—they were probably just average at most. Fang Xing disdained this technique from the Huangfu clan, and after giving it lots of thought, the only thing that moved him was the Dao left behind by the Taishang Daoism, something even the lotus girl had paid particular attention to. The Taishang Daoism had been so great that heaven’s thunder struck it down—only a technique like this was worthy of him.

　　For this reason, Fang Xing needed to seek out the Dao treasure to study it and form his golden core, but doing so required searching through the depths of the Guixu Ruins and exploring its secrets which meant he needed to join a team searching for spirit veins. Such teams would search for safe spirit mountain mines amidst the nests of vicious beasts and dangerous landscapes, but they’d also study the secret lands within the depths of the ruins to find a safe way inside.

　　Of course, the clan most suitable for Fang Xing to seek out the Dao treasure was still the Xunlong clan. Unlike the large Guixu Ruin clans—the Hentian, Fengtian, Baiyue, and Yushou clans ¹ —the Xunlong clan was incredibly elusive and even their gathering location was unknown. The only thing known about them was that they’re a bunch madmen, and the reason they entered the Guixu Ruins in the first place was for the sake of finding the Dao treasure left behind by the Taishang Daoism. The clan had appeared thousands of years ago and had been searching ever since, yet they hadn’t given up on it even once and continued to persevere.

　　The other clans inside the Guixu Ruins simply forget the Xunlong clan existed most of the time. The most recent impression of them had been three years ago, when someone infiltrated the secret pavilion within the Hentian clan to try to steal a secret treasure left behind by the Hentian clan’s great ancestor. A few Exalts and elders had discovered the would-be thief in the end, and after the trespasser was defeated in combat and captured, someone recognized the mark on their body.

　　Unfortunately, the trespasser didn’t hesitate to commit suicide during a brief window of opportunity, and even went so far as to destroy their own soul to prevent the Hentian clan from being able to interrogate them. They were unable to determine the true purpose behind the Xunlong clan entering their secret pavilion, but they’d been on high alert ever since and had prevented others from entering the Hentian clan’s gathering spot. Even Fang Xing had been under suspicion as someone from the Xunlong clan at first given how abruptly he’d appeared.

　　Regardless, the Xunlong clan should have the greatest understanding towards the secrets in the depths of the Guixu Ruins, it was just a pity Fang Xing didn’t know their whereabouts. He wouldn’t be against causing a serious calamity in the Hentian clan before running over to join the Xunlong clan if he knew where they were, but right now he didn’t have any other choice; if he wanted even a glimpse of the secrets in the ruins’ depths, he had to join the team that searched for spirit veins.

　　After making his decision, Fang Xing went over to the managing elder who was as thin as a withered tree branch yet extremely greedy and lecherous. When he saw Fang Xing’s choice, he let out a snorting laugh and said, “Exalt Xing, just how easy would it be to join the beast-hunting team given your circumstances? With that red dragon following you, would any peril beast even require you to lift a finger? Yet you want to join the spirit-vein-searching team; you also want to search for that Dao treasure?”

　　Fang Xing had gotten used to this long ago. He’d originally believed the Dao treasure was a great secret when he first entered the Guixu Ruins, but he later realized he’d been giving it too much thought—nearly everyone inside the ruins knew about it. It only made sense, though; an entire clan dedicated to searching for it had been formed, so how could it stay a secret? It was simply that no one had found it in the past thousands of years and desire towards it had greatly waned.

　　Fang Xing sighed before laughing. “Since I’ve come to this damned place, I should find something to do, right?”

　　The managing elder laughed. “True. Every newly joined Exalt is very interested in that Dao treasure regardless of why they entered the ruins, and so nearly everyone tries to get into the spirit-vein-searching team, but most of them usually get bored and leave it after some time. My friend, you are very generous, so I—Hentian Hao—would like to see you as a friend. To tell you the truth, there really is no use. The Dao treasure exists within stories and legends, but who’s actually seen it with their own eyes? Besides, within the Guixu Ruins, the heavens and earth are restricted and the highest level of cultivation is the Golden Core Stage; what use is there in finding the Dao treasure? Why not devote more time to working for the clan in order to gather more resources and increase your own cultivation…?”

　　Fang Xing was silent at first before he bitterly smiled and replied, “The Dao treasure aside, have you not thought about leaving?

　　Hentian Hao showed a bitter smile in return. “I always hear you Exalts talk about the outside world. Who wouldn’t want to go? But leaving is even more impossible. We the Hentian clan can be considered as one of the oldest and largest clans within the ruins. Our ancestors have lived here for generations upon generations, and aside from the sudden changes in the heavens and earth three thousand years ago when someone managed to escape, who has ever seen an exit? So I say you’d best forget such thoughts. Once you’ve entered, you’d best prepare to be buried in here. If you truly want to know more about the secrets of the ruins’ depths, you’ll have plenty of time to view the secret pavilion all you want once you become the good son-in-law of the clan master….”

　　Hentian Hao let out a laugh. News of Fang Xing’s admiration towards the female young master had spread through the clan like wildfire, yet everyone was also aware the numerous gifts Fang Xing sent over had all been thrown out without hesitation. Fang Xing had become a laughingstock and was openly mocked by people from time to time.

　　Fang Xing’s eyes lit up at such words. “What you said indeed has some sense to it….” With that, he snickered and began walking away with his hands resting against his back.

　　“I will put you on on the beast-hunting team!” Hentian Hao’s loud voice called after him, “You’d better give me a couple Spirit Stones as a thank you gift!”

　　Fang Xing didn’t even turn around. “Come and have some wine with me next time; I’ll give you three!”

　　Hentian Hao was overjoyed. ‘This Exalt Xing is such a good person. So much better than that venerated youth who always wears a grey face….’

　　Little did Hentian Hao know, he’d inadvertently given a reminder and Fang Xing was currently regarding him positively as well. Fang Xing had acted as though he admired that female young master for the sake of disgusting her; he wasn’t able to directly kill her given the current situation, so he decided he’d at least collect a bit of interest in the meantime. After Hentian Hao’s words, however, he actually began to think a bit more; why not actually go through with it…?

　　That secret pavilion was the most guarded location in the Hentian clan. Ordinary clansmen couldn’t enter, and even someone with a status as high as Fang Xing’s couldn’t get within a hundred feet. The only ones who could enter inside were the clan master, the Head Exalt, and a few other elders. Given Fang Xing’s current status, he wouldn’t be eligible even if he remained in the Hentian clan for a hundred years—he’d have to use alternative methods.

　　Among other things, the Hentian clan master didn’t have any sons, and someone who married his daughter would become a son-in-law and treated as a son to the point they’d even be eligible to succeed the position of clan master.

　　Although it was a bit strange, once someone married into the Hentian clan, their children would inherit the surname Hentian. It was impossible for others to pass on their original surname, thus no matter who succeeded the position of clan master, the power would still remain within the Hentian clan. Although the person was called the clan master, they were actually a capable and powerful person who worked for people like the head elder and Head Exalt to sort out more trifling matters the others didn’t want to be bothered with. The delegation of chores was different in the Guixu Ruins than on the outside.

　　Due to the large number of Exalts who’d joined the clan after so many years, the concept of “bloodline” had been muddled since long ago. If he was able to get this young master settled, obtain the trust of the Hentian clan, and even gain the status as the clan master’s successor, entering the secret pavilion wouldn’t be a challenging task any longer. Even if all else failed, he’d have lots of contact with the people in the inner circle of the Hentian clan, and he could use it to search for more information regarding the secret pavilion to see if there was a chance to do something.

　　Fang Xing took out a few Spirit Stones and wrapped them up once he’d returned to his courtyard, but after giving it some more thought, he added a few more. He’d been sending two or three Spirit Stones with the express purpose of disgusting her, but now it was different and he truly wanted to settle her for good. He placed two more to show he was very genuine, and rather than sending it over using a maid, this time he walked excitedly over to deliver them himself.

　　When it came to dealing with young ladies, Uncle Fang had plenty of methods thanks to his fourth uncle’s tutelage, and he was already starting to ponder on the way over. ‘Should I drug her or knock her unconscious in order to take her back?’