Chapter 37: Feng Ling's Breakthrough

Five days later, Feng Jiutian opened his eyes and regained some of his senses. However, he was only familiar with Fang Xian’s presence and refused to leave his side for even a moment, much to the helplessness of Feng Ling and the others. The child had grown attached to Fang Xian alone.

Another five days passed, and Feng Jiutian began to speak. The damage to his mind had largely healed under Fang Xian’s meticulous care, but he remembered nothing of his past. When he spoke, he called Fang Xian “Father,” which left Feng Ling both amused and exasperated.

During this time, Feng Ling had also stayed with him, so Feng Jiutian gradually became familiar with her as well, realizing she was his mother. From then on, he clung to both Fang Xian and Feng Ling, unwilling to let either of his parents leave his side.

“Brother Fang Xian, thank you for saving Tian’er. If not for you, I wouldn’t know how to go on with the rest of my life,” Feng Ling said tearfully, bowing to Fang Xian after Feng Jiutian had fallen asleep.

“There’s no need for this, Chief. I like Tian’er as well. Saving him was fate. Besides, now that he calls me ‘Father,’ I’m truly happy.” Fang Xian helped her up as he spoke.

“Would you really be willing to be Tian’er’s father?” Feng Ling asked suddenly. She was a woman of the martial world—direct and unabashed, unlike those genteel ladies of noble families.

Fang Xian looked at her and noticed her cheeks flush, her eyes darting shyly—so different from her usual forthrightness, making her all the more alluring.

Unable to resist, he embraced her, and the two, like kindling set alight, quickly lost themselves in passion. Still mindful of Tian’er nearby, they slipped into another room to indulge in their desires.

Fang Xian had been away from the mountain for over half a month and longed for intimacy, while Feng Ling, too, had been solitary for years. The union of their powerful constitutions made for a night of thunderous passion, and it was only before dawn that they finally rested, satisfied.

After this, they hid nothing, openly declaring their relationship to everyone. Fang Xian also confessed he was the son-in-law of Greencloud Stronghold, with a wife named Ye Hongxiu whom he had formally wed there.

Yet Feng Ling cared little for such titles. As long as she and Feng Jiutian held a place in Fang Xian’s heart, she was content. Thus, for a time, the two were inseparable, their days filled with joy and intimacy.

“Though you don’t care for status, I must consider your future. Tonight, I’ll give you a helping hand,” Fang Xian said to Feng Ling the night before he was to leave Flying Phoenix Ridge. He gave her a strengthened Body-forging Pill, and together they cultivated, mysterious energies enhancing her constitution and helping her absorb the pill’s power.

As the night deepened, a powerful aura suddenly surged in the room—Feng Ling, with Fang Xian’s aid, had broken through to become a Grandmaster of the Transformation Realm. She was both shocked and delighted.

By her own estimation, it would have taken another year to reach this realm, even as a core disciple of Hundred Blossoms Abyss with her powerful techniques. To become a Grandmaster at twenty-five was already a rare feat.

But Fang Xian had helped her advance a year ahead of schedule. With the formidable arts and weapons of Hundred Blossoms Abyss at her disposal, she could now contend with veteran Grandmasters despite just breaking through.

“You truly are my lucky star,” Feng Ling said with a playful smile, entwining herself with Fang Xian once more after stabilizing her cultivation.

“There’s something you may not know—the Great Bashan Range has caught the attention of the Ninth Prince of Martial Dynasty. He’s already sent men to Qingyang County, some have even entered the mountains. He seeks to unify all the strongholds here, and I fear a period of bloodshed is coming,” Fang Xian told her.

“Fortunately, I’ve broken through just in time. Now Flying Phoenix Ridge at least has some strength to defend itself,” Feng Ling replied with a nod.

“With the strength you have, you can barely protect yourselves, but if the tides shift, you may not remain untouched. I hope you’ll keep your breakthrough a secret for now. Don’t get involved in the struggles of other strongholds, close your gates, and focus on nurturing your elites.

I’ll leave you a supply of Body-tempering and Body-forging Pills—enough to cultivate several top experts and a group of second-rate warriors. If time allows, you may even nurture another Grandmaster.

In the future, Flying Phoenix Ridge must merge with Greencloud Stronghold to vie for dominance in the Bashan Range. Soon, Greencloud Stronghold will have a second Grandmaster as well.

Also, a year’s time is enough for me to reach the Grandmaster level. With Flying Phoenix Ridge at our side, uniting the Bashan Range won’t be difficult. Only then can we carve out a place for ourselves in these troubled times, so Tian’er may grow up safely,” Fang Xian shared his plans with her.

“For Tian’er’s sake, I’ll listen to your arrangements,” Feng Ling agreed.

Though he was about to leave, Fang Xian stayed three more days, using most of Flying Phoenix Ridge’s medicinal stock to prepare pills for Feng Ling, so she could cultivate trustworthy talents.

At noon one day, a thunderous roar echoed beside the ridge, quickly joined by the calls of the tiger cubs. The entire stronghold was thrown into a commotion.

“It’s a tiger!”

“It must be the mother, coming for her cubs!”

Fang Xian and Feng Ling came out as well. Fang Xian said excitedly, “Let’s capture this tigress alive—I want to tame her as a pet.”

“That’s impossible. Adult tigers, let alone this cub, are almost impossible to tame. I’ve only raised the cub out of curiosity,” Feng Ling replied, shaking her head.

“Trust me. I’ll find a way for you to tame the cub as well,” Fang Xian said mysteriously.

Choosing to trust him, Feng Ling personally subdued the mother tiger. Its strength was that of a top-tier expert, but before a Grandmaster, it was no match.

“Behave, or I’ll skin you alive and kill your cub as well. But if you’re obedient, you’ll get to see your child often,” Fang Xian said, stroking its head before feeding it a Blood Pact Pill.

Once the tigress swallowed the pill, it quickly fused with her bloodline, altering her at a genetic level to recognize Fang Xian as her master, bound to obey his commands from that moment on.

Soon the tigress bowed her head before Fang Xian, leaving Feng Ling utterly perplexed. Fang Xian then mounted the tiger, and it rose with a thunderous roar.

“My heavens! Doctor Fang has tamed a tiger—how incredible!”

“The young master is amazing—he not only has a giant bird, but now he rides a tigress!”

Fang Xian brought the tigress to see her cub, finding it healthy and well-fed. After a few roars to reassure it, the tigress followed Fang Xian away.

“This pill is called the Blood Pact Pill. Each day, drip a drop of your blood on it. In seven days, feed it to the tiger, and it will recognize you as its master,” Fang Xian explained to Feng Ling, having spent five hundred reputation points to obtain it for her.

“Can I give it to Tian’er? Let him have it as a pet to protect him in the future?” Feng Ling asked hesitantly.

“Of course, we’ll give it to our son. Later, I’ll find you a pet as well. That way, our whole family will have one,” Fang Xian replied with a nod.

After a heartfelt farewell to Feng Ling and their son, Fang Xian rode the mighty tiger down the mountain. Da Niu and the others followed behind, their horses too intimidated by the king of beasts to even snort.

However, Da Niu, Scarred Gan, Bearded Yang, and Bald Chen were all top experts. The aura they exuded helped their mounts resist some of the tiger’s oppressive presence, so the four of them rode up front.

Liu Erleng, Half-blind Xiong, Half-penny Zhao, and Big Banner Li followed behind. Though not yet top experts, they were on the verge of breaking through.

During the ten days at Flying Phoenix Ridge, Fang Xian had kept them busy, having Da Niu and Bearded Yang spar with them in earnest combat each day.

“Give it your all against them—so long as you don’t kill anyone outright, I can bring them back. And if you want to stop getting beaten, break through soon—then you can join in beating those who haven’t,” Fang Xian had encouraged them in his own words.