Chapter 07 - A year worth of scheming (1/10)

Turning time back a little before Yun Che's death.

«．．．☾ During the time skip's year ☾ ．．．»

After that day at Xia's manor, Fang Yuan's life changed a lot as he began to lay the foundations for his future as a cultivator.

Thanks to his collaboration with the Xia Clan and his revealed status as Farmer Saint, he no longer needed to work in the fields.

In Floating Cloud City, his name began to be known everywhere, not only with his former title but also as the Peerless Inventor Yuan. Once his inventions became public, and his new connections with the Black Moon Merchant Guild, purple profound coins started to pile up in his violet Profound Currency card.

Due to his new status, various nobles of the city began approaching him.

«．．．☾ ．．．»

One morning, Fang Yuan was going alone to the Xia manor, in which he had now become a regular guest.

'It's kind of strange that the little lass Ying Yue is not here with me.'

Fang Yuan was alone since Ying Yue had started to put her cultivation plan into action.

Following the advice of Brother Ox, she reluctantly entered close door cultivation to get closer to her Immortal Physique's Minor Completion, as she doesn't want to be a burden to her dear brother.

Profound Way-wise, on the other hand, reaching the Nascent Profound Realm in a year would be nothing for her.

In that timeframe, she could easily attain the True Profound Realm without too many problems if she devoted herself to it one hundred percent.

In regard to her Divine Veins, even though Brother Ox doesn't know their name, it still could easily understand how to set them in motion and use their potential.

Upon learning how to activate them, Fang Yuan was initially perplexed but then laughed heartily, while Ying Yue simply smiled at him in complete disregard.

To trigger and fully use her Divine Veins, she had to absorb the vital energies of those she killed.

But also, the negative ones they release upon their death, sprout by feelings like resentment, vengeance, hatred, and many others which fall under the Darkness laws.

Thinking back to the events that occurred a few months earlier, Fang Yuan could not help but laugh wryly and shake his head.

'Damn, I need to wait to gain power... The time isn't ripe yet.'

His plan was currently underway, and now he could only sow the seeds and wait patiently to later have an abundant harvest.

While he was thinking he had already arrived at his destination, the manor's maids and stewards welcomed him with great respect, and shortly after, he came to greet a young man with big stature followed by a handsome fellow next to him.

"Senior Brother Yuan, when will we go hunting next time?"

In the months following their acquaintance. Slowly, Fang Yuan gradually arrived to put a subtle but evident change in this person through psychological means.

'I need him to activate his Divine Veins.'

"Little brother, we'll go in the next few days. Today I dropped by as your father said he will introduce me to someone.

Once this is done, I'll come by your compound so that we can start planning everything."

Xia Yuanba hit his chest while smiling.

"That's perfect, Senior Brother! And as usual, you pay attention to every little detail."

Fang Yuan slightly smiled at his remark.

"Otherwise, I will have to make another blood path out of the forest like the first time we went hunting."

The first time they went hunting, they were surrounded by a wolf pack of more than thirty wolves. One must know that any beast training in the Profound way is a tremendous existence for the Blue Wind Empire's cultivators. Still, though the wolf pack was an ordinary one, simple beasts still can prove dangerous since compared to Fang Yuan's past world, they are bigger and stronger because of the passive absorption of Profound energy.

Had he been alone, Fang Yuan, even with his cultivation of the initial stage of the fourth level of the Elementary Profound Realm, could have effortlessly dispatched them.

However, he had to save Yuanba on many occasions since it was the big fellow's first time being confronted with such a dangerous situation.

A situation that Fang Yuan created voluntarily to demonstrate, once again, his dominance and inspiring image to follow in Yuanba's mind and make him gain experience and courage.

Hearing his Senior Brother recall their first hunt, Yuanba got a little embarrassed, so he started to laugh while scratching the back of his head.

"Hehe, sorry Senior Brother! I didn't know how to react at that time, but after many hunts with you, I got stronger and I won't react in the same way!"

Fang Yuan patted the big guy's shoulder.

"Don't worry, that's normal! You never hunted before at that time, and now you're getting better from time to time! I know you can keep up with me someday, you know?"

Xia Yuanba clenched his fist while nodding.

'I want to be as strong as Senior Brother. I need to become stronger!'

Fang Yuan subsequently directed his gaze behind Yuanba toward the young man who had come with Yuanba to welcome him, whose existence he had completely ignored, and then returned his eyes to his little brother to hint him to introduce this person.

"Ah! I completely forgot to introduce you!

He's another good brother of mine! His name is Xiao Che, and he's my brother-in-law!"

Without saying, Fang Yuan already knew who he was, a mysterious light flashed in his eyes but rapidly subsided, and he pretended to be surprised.

"Oh? You are sister Qingyue's future husband!

I am happy to make your acquaintance. I'm Fang Yuan. A brother of Yuanba is also a brother to me!"

Xiao Che initially fidgety smiled at him and cupped his hand.

"I, too, have heard a lot about brother Yuan. Junior brother Yuanba never stops talking about you!" Saying that, he turned in Yuanba's direction, who started to laugh wryly.

They then chatted for about ten minutes, recalling past anecdotes of how Yuanba and Che met and other things.

During the conversation, Fang Yuan felt some peculiar glances on him which he pretended not to notice.

Fang Yuan, then asked Xia Yuanba.

"Is your sister home?"

The big guy began to scratch his head thinking about it for a moment before answering him.

"Um, she was here this morning for breakfast. By now she will surely be cultivating in her compound."

"That sounds like her. I'm sure she would even forget to eat if your father hadn't forced you and her to always have a meal together as a family a few years ago, as you told me."

Fang Yuan then placed a hand on his chin, taking a pondering position.

"Well, if it weren't for that wise father of yours, I don't think she would have been able to grow in different areas so bountifully."

His bold statement dumbfounded both Yuanba and Xiao Che for an instance before they started laughing uncontrollably.

As Fang Yuan said that one of the gazes he perceived before seemed as if it was about to pierce his back, he couldn't help but grin.

'Heh! Little girl, you dare spy on me, and listen to my conversations, and you can't take even a little tease?'

Once he caught his breath, Yuanba directed his gaze back to him.

"By the way, I'm surprised by how well you guys have hit up."

"Well, brother Che is a person of excellent company."

"Huh? I was talking about you and my sister. You must know that I've never seen her interact so frequently with anyone. How did you do it?"

Fang Yuan only smiled and didn't answer for a while as he thought about the past few months.

Over the months, he has gradually managed to break the wall of apathy created by Xia Qingyue's Frozen Heart Art around her heart.

Strengthening the connection between them created during their first meeting, which Qingyue has not yet noticed because of the young man's approach method.

Initially, whenever she had met with Fang Yuan, it was 'casually' when he visited her brother. It was an obvious approach planned by him.

Later, they began to see each other on other occasions secretly to avoid spreading gossip in Floating Cloud City.

So how did Fang Yuan manage to create such interest in her?

'How did I do it, huh? Mixing truth with lies.'

"Little brother, your sister and I found we have a lot that we share in common, and even if my cultivation level is far behind her, we exchanged notes."

Xia Yuanba, at first, was a little perplexed hearing his explanation, but as he heard that they talked about cultivation, he didn't find anything strange.

"Huh? There was such a thing? I'm glad to hear about it!"

'Big brother Yuan is strong. I saw it well during hunting, and I think he can contend with anyone in the same realm.'

If he knew that his sister was at the True Profound Realm, he would be quick to call bullshit.

At the same time, Xiao Che who was listening on the side was stunned by what he heard.

'He's able to talk at ease with Xia Qingyue?!'

They continued to chat for a while until Fang Yuan said goodbye to both of them and headed to Lord Xia's office.

As he was leaving, a conversation was ongoing between two breathtaking beauties in an adjacent compound filled with a bright icy aura.