Chapter 14 - A year worth of scheming (8/10)

«．．．☾ Five months to Xiao Che's death ☾ ．．．»

In the last months, Fang Yuan started nurturing his force without minding the cost, using the Purple Veined Divine Crystal as he told Xia Qingyue.

Unfortunately, at the moment, it would be unwise for Fang Yuan to use those resources for himself since, as he has already planned, his profound veins will be destroyed by the Heretic God's Indestructible Blood in a couple of months. So for him cultivating the Profound Way would be a waste of time and resources.

Therefore, why don't look like a magnanimous leader and gain more points with his followers? In any case, being good with them could only bring him more benefits. Once Fang Yuan received the dozen Pearl of Frozen Deception treasures, he distributed them to his clan Elders, Xiao Lie, Xia Hongyi and Ying Wu and also gave them a kilogram of Purple Veined Divine Crystal to split among them.

Obtaining such fat resources, the elders had significant breakthroughs.

Uncle Wu, which was only at the peak stage of the second level of the Nascent Profound Realm, had his cultivation soaring up into Half-step Spirit Profound Realm in some weeks.

In his mid-twenties, with an ordinary background, it was something unthinkable to attain for him before.

At first, the older men wanted to give their share to their daughters, but Fang Yuan assured he would help the girls with their cultivation in less than a year, and so they don't have to worry about it but cultivate otherwise, they will become the Ancient Moon clan's weak link. Therefore, Xiao Lie reached the late stage of the eighth level of the Earth Profound Realm. His appearance rejuvenated now reflected his actual age. Whereas Xia Hongyi, which had never cultivated, landed in the initial stage of the fourth level of the Nascent Profound Realm.

If they weren't wearing the Pearl of Frozen Deception, their breakthroughs would have caused a commotion in the city and disturbed the growth's plan Fang Yuan conceived for the clan.

«．．．☾ ．．．»

When Fang Yuan wasn't present, Elder Lie monitored the Purple Crystal mine, given he was the strongest expert on hand. In the last weeks, Xia Hongyi and Ying Wu were busy extending the clan connections beginning with the Four Major Sects. Especially the Burning Heaven Clan under the explicit request of their Clan Master.

During his watch, Xiao Lie easily captured those who approached the mine and locked them in cells laid in the proximity, concealed by the mountainous region and other methods, waiting for the Fang Yuan's presence to deal with them.

Elder Lie didn't really approve of such a method, but alas, there was the necessity and thinking back to the possible repercussions brought up flawlessly by his son-in-law, the old man could only sigh.

He helplessly shook his head in self-contemplation.

'For the greater good, huh?'

Next, the old man directed his gaze to the forest, which was on the opposite side of the mine.

Fang Yuan, Xia Yuanba and even Xiao Che were hunting into those woods; nowadays, they were like brothers in the elder eyes, and that delighted him.

In fact, one could say that their relation further removed a load off his mind.

'Maybe right now I could tell Che'er about his true origin?'

Xiao Lie has pondered about it much time in the last months.

The old man couldn't pinpoint when and why such a thought came to his mind, but he doesn't find it strange.

'Everything is going well, Xi'er has someone to rely on, and even I have retrieved the will to live and cultivate, accepting to join the Ancient Moon clan.

Che'er has started to change influenced by Fang Yuan...

He can bear to know that truth.'

«．．．☾ ．．．»

With dark grey fur that carried a murderous aura, a monstrous wolf was eyeing the throat of a good-looking young man who was overshadowed by its 2 meters size.

The latter was walking backwards in fear until a three blocked his escape path.

'I-I'm going to die like this?! Damn, I knew I didn't have to accept Brother Yuanba and Brother Yuan's invitation…

Ai, so at least I will no longer be a burden for Little Aunt and Grandpa...'

When the young man was already prepared for the worst as he closed his eyes, he heard the sound of something tearing apart, but it didn't follow the pain he was expecting.

He opened his eyes and saw the hideous wolf responsible for his fears impaled, a hand covered in blood coming out its torso.

The hand in question was holding something that was shaking until its moment halted.

[Tiger Demon Digs out the Heart]

Fang Yuan said in his mind as his right hand tore up the prey and got out from its torso, holding a still-beating bloody heart.

'Those weaklings aren't worthy to let me draw my sword, much less to make my hands dirty.'

The young man clutched the heart so hard that it was torn to pieces. He then swung casually his reddened hand dispersing all the blood.

'Huh? I could reutilize this wuxia protagonist line with some young master in the future.'

If it weren't for some little bloodstains on his dark robe's sleeves, no one could notice he had just killed a beast, let alone so gruesomely.

Fang Yuan then directed his gaze to the young man who was glaring at him in shock.

'B-Brother Yuan is so strong!' In the last eight months, Xiao Che developed great respect toward Fang Yuan, the young man helped him and his family, Grandpa Lie almost returned to look his age, and Little Aunt was the happiest when she spent time with her fiancé.

And the young man even treated him well. No one apart from his family and the Xia's had before.

"Brother Che, are you okay? If it were to happen something to you, Father-In-Law and Xi'er will nag at me." Xiao Che came to his senses and bowed his head.

"I-I'm sorry, Brother Yuan! I'll try not to be a burden and truly help in the rest of the hunt."

Fang Yuan approached him and patted his shoulder.

"Hahaha, don't worry! You've got nothing to prove."

He then gestured to Xiao Che to raise his head, and he looked around, searching for someone.

"Now, where is that battle maniac of brother Yuanba...? Oh, there he is."

As Fang Yuan said that, the ground started to tremble, and from the direction he was gazing, three started to fall left and right.

A gigantic figure was approaching the duo. It was a man which absurdly about three meters tall(9.8'ft).

He had on white pants, an ordinary black accessory around his right arm visible due to his sleeveless blue robe that was opened and showed that his entire body was as robust as a monster and glistened with a lustre only metals could have.

He was carrying on his back a likewise colossal wolf, which fur was dark as obsidian.

"Brother, I took care of the mutated one of the pack, let's organize a feast tonight, HAHAHAH!"

Xiao Che looked at him incredulously, mouth agape.

"H-How did you took care of it?!"

Fang Yuan simply nodded but inwardly facepalmed.

'I told him to not show off… Well, couldn't help it, is stronger than him now.' With his soul path's breakthroughs and psychological knowledge learned back on Earth, Fang Yuan helped Xia Yuanba awaken his Tyrannical Emperor's Divine Veins.

Without cultivating, he reached the middle stage of the sixth level of the Emperor Profound Realm.

Nobody apart from Fang Yuan knew about it, not even his father and sister, but they know it was thanks to the former.

It was possible because, under his Big brother's advice, Xia Yuanba started wearing on his right arm an ordinary accessory which was a Pearl of Frozen Deception.

Nowadays, Xia Yuanba displayed the profound strength level at the peak stage of the fourth level of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Unfortunately, the accessory in question suppressor couldn't hide his level due to the young man's abnormal veins, and his breakthrough caused an uproar in Floating Cloud City.

Fang Yuan couldn't help to sigh as he moved the last prey in his spatial ring.

"Tonight we'll have a fest!"

Hearing him, Xia Yuanba and Xiao Che looked at each other before raising their fist in the air.

""YES!""

Seeing their reaction, Fang Yuan chuckled.

"I was about to forget it, but before I need to go at the mine, I'll join you as soon as possible brothers."

He then passed transferred the hunt's prey to Xia Yuanba as he patted the latter's shoulder.

The duo nodded at him, then directed to the Xia manor while Fang Yuan headed to the Purple mine to monitor the situation.

Once there, the young man was greeted by Xiao Lie.

"Greeting Clan Master."

Fang Yuan smiled as he cupped his hand in response.

"Father-In-Law, did nothing happened today?"

The old man shook his head, then put his hands behind his back, with his eyes directed to the mine.

"No, there wasn't any disturbance and actually I think we'll done in about a month as scheduled."

The young man nodded and then followed his father-in-law's action, gazing at the mine in contemplation.

'And with this, I've plundered one of the best opportunity I could before the start of the story.

Next, I'll have to take care of Scum Che...'

Thinking about him, he sighed inwardly.

'I could have made a good minion out of Xiao Che at his current state.'

During the time they passed together, Fang Yuan has thought of several possibilities, even one in which he could have controlled him.

'Unfortunately, once returning from death, Xiao Che will "awake" as Scum Che.

Not counting that the power I could take from the fucker is of utmost importance, he'll become an unreliable trash with plot armor.'

How could Fang Yuan let run such an unmanageable variable?

While the young man was deep in thought, Elder Lie remained silent, understanding that he pondered something important.

After a while, Fang Yuan addressed him smiling.

"Father-In-Law, if there isn't anything else, we can head to the Xia manor. Tonight there will be a fest!"

In their way, the young man explained in vivid detail what happened during their hunt and the great harvest they obtained.

The old man had a big fright hearing about his nephew's predicament before chuckling at Xia Yuanba behaviour.

As they were about to enter the manor, Xiao Lie stopped in his steps. In less than a year, the Fang Yuan has brought vast changes in the life of those around him, positive ones that improved it.

'Maybe he'll be able to help Che'er?'

His sudden stop didn't escape Fang Yuan, which also stopped.

"Are you fine Father-In-Law?"

The latter nodded quickly. The young man understanding Elder Lie didn't want to talk he resumed his steps.

"Wait... I have to ask you something..."

He then knelt, bending his head.

"Can you help Che'er to fix his Profound Veins?"

The young man stopped, then turned to him and helped to get up.

"Father-In-Law, I will try with any means to help him, we're family after all. You didn't even have to ask, I'm already on it."

"W-What?! Did you find a method to..."

The old man was shocked by this revelation and couldn't help to rejoice until he thought of a particular matter.

"I have let you know about something, to be fair.

I didn't tell Che'er yet, but I will soon...

Che'er isn't my blood-related grandson."

Fang Yuan showed a shocked expression, but he was laughing inwardly.

'Heheh, finally it worked!'

He was the young man that "suggested" this idea to Xiao Lie, in an unorthodox method, through his soul.

It wasn't something easy to do at his current level, he had to carefully make the target think it was its own progressively.

'The board is set.'

«．．．☾ Three months to Xiao Che's death ☾ ．．．»

Alternative titles:'A lone chess master', 'Did Xia Yuanba takes steroids?!'