I Can Strengthen Everything

Chapter 166: Chapter 105: Great Success, Zongyi Ascension Step

"True Qi Fifth Layer. And this is what you call ’a slight improvement’?" Shen Ye carefully sensed his cultivation, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

How long has it been?!

’He’s broken through another realm!’

’Isn’t it supposed to get harder to advance the higher your cultivation is?’

’But for Fang Xing... it felt like the guy was advancing even faster than before he’d reached the True Qi realm.’

’Give a guy a break...’

As expected, geniuses make everyone else jealous. He’d never given that saying much thought before, but now, Shen Ye knew exactly what it meant.

He had practically witnessed Fang Xing’s growth.

From Bright Force to his current cultivation level in just one or two years... the change was nothing short of earth-shattering.

"Got any tea? I could use some tea!" Shen Ye blurted out after a moment, trying to change the subject.

Fang Xing: "..."

"Of course. Please, come in, Brother Shen." Fang Xing nodded with a smile. Shen Ye walked into the residence and plopped down at the stone table in the courtyard.

Fang Xing brought over a teapot and poured him a cup. He set the cup down and looked at the dejected Shen Ye before sitting beside him. "Brother Shen, I doubt you came all this way just for a cup of tea. Is there a mission?"

Shen Ye downed the tea in one gulp, then refilled his own cup before looking at Fang Xing. "No mission, actually. The results for the quarterly assessment just came in. We took second place. The reward is fifty thousand Merit."

"Fifty thousand Merit..."

"That’s not bad," Fang Xing said with a smiling nod.

Shen Ye glanced at him and said, "Let’s stick to our usual split. I figure twenty thousand for me and thirty for you? Hmm, if you’re not satisfied, you can take another ten thousand. After all, I’m just riding your coattails on this one."

"’Riding my coattails?’" Fang Xing paused for a second, but then he quickly understood.

’It was probably because of the Qingfeng Pass mission.’

He snapped out of it and said with a smile, "No need. The usual split is fine."

Shen Ye nodded. Without any fuss, he directly transferred Fang Xing’s thirty thousand Merit to him.

Seeing the one hundred and twenty thousand Merit on Fang Xing’s waist token, Shen Ye’s heart twitched again.

One hundred and twenty thousand Merit!

’This guy’s quietly become a tycoon.’

Shen Ye took another large gulp of tea, then set his cup down and looked at Fang Xing. "There’s something I want to ask. You don’t have to answer if you’re not comfortable."

Hm?

Fang Xing put his waist token away. He was a bit surprised by Shen Ye’s words.

"What is it you want to ask, Brother Shen?"

"’Has a certain powerful figure taken an interest in you?’" Shen Ye asked, staring intently at Fang Xing.

’Me?’

’A powerful figure has taken an interest in me?’

Fang Xing looked completely baffled by the question.

Seeing Fang Xing’s baffled expression, Shen Ye was taken aback.

’Is it possible he doesn’t even know?’

"Brother Shen, what makes you think a powerful figure has taken an interest in me? What do you mean?" Fang Xing asked, looking utterly confused.

Shen Ye: "..."

"You don’t know?"

Shen Ye asked again, probing.

Shen Ye’s probing question only left Fang Xing more confused.

"I don’t know. I haven’t met anyone important recently."

Shen Ye’s brow furrowed. He took a sip of tea and looked at Fang Xing. "What about before? Have you met anyone? Someone from the Observatory, perhaps, and not at Lord Duan’s birthday party?"

At that, Fang Xing thought for a moment. "Well, now that you mention it," he said, "there was one person."

"Who?" Shen Ye’s eyes lit up.

Fang Xing looked at him. "A Marshal from Cang Province. Her surname is Hong."

"Hong... you mean Marshal Hong Miaojin?!" Shen Ye stared at him in disbelief.

Fang Xing nodded. "Yes, that’s the one. Lord Hong."

"I met her once, after finishing a mission with Commander Zhuang."

"I see..." Shen Ye murmured, lowering his head in thought.

Seeing Shen Ye’s reaction and connecting it to his earlier questions, Fang Xing suddenly put it all together. "Brother Shen, the powerful figure you’re talking about... it’s not Lord Hong, is it?"

Shen Ye looked up at Fang Xing and countered, "Do you think it’s a possibility?"

"Brother Shen, I think you’re overthinking it. I only met her once," Fang Xing said.

"Once could be all it takes," Shen Ye insisted, his expression serious.

"..."

Looking at Shen Ye, Fang Xing was speechless.

"If she *has* taken an interest in you, what’s your plan?" Shen Ye asked.

Fang Xing was silent.

’Plans...’

’I’ve never even considered it.’

"I haven’t considered it," Fang Xing answered honestly.

Shen Ye watched him, remaining silent for a moment before speaking again. "If this is a chance for you to advance, I won’t stand in your way. Marshal Hong’s backing is considered top-tier, even within the Great Jing. If she has her eye on you, then with your talent and strength, you could have a much brighter future."

Fang Xing was silent.

’He didn’t know how to respond to that.’

Shen Ye’s sudden questions had left him completely blindsided.

"I’ll just let things happen as they may. I haven’t given it much thought," Fang Xing said.

’It was the only thing he could say.’

’He really hadn’t thought about it.’

For him, having the Observatory as his backer was enough.

Slay some demons, exterminate some fiends, and steadily increase his strength. He hadn’t thought much beyond that.

’This world is too dangerous. The higher you climb, the greater the dangers you face!’

Shen Ye finished his tea, then rose to his feet. He looked at Fang Xing and smiled faintly. "This is all just my personal speculation, anyway. Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way."

After speaking, Shen Ye turned and left the residence.

Watching Shen Ye’s departing back, Fang Xing fell into deep thought.

’Personal speculation, huh...’

’I doubt it’s just that.’

’He wouldn’t bring it up for no reason. Could it be that Shen Ye knows something I don’t?’

"’Whatever. No point overthinking it. Improving my Martial Arts is what’s most important.’"

Pushing aside the distracting thoughts, Fang Xing put away the teapot and cups, then left his residence and headed for the Merit Hall.

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