Illusion Realm Assessment

"Not yet. I didn't expect Miss Gu's cave dwelling to be right next to mine."

Fang Wang looked at Gu Li, who was standing at the entrance of her cave dwelling, and replied with a smile. In the sunlight, Gu Li, now wearing a Taiyuan Sect robe, had her veil off and looked exceptionally beautiful, like an immortal from the mortal world.

Fang Wang's cave dwelling had a set of disciple robes, which looked similar to Gu Li's. Could it be that Gu Li had also become a personal disciple?

Gu Li stared at Fang Wang and said softly, "I deliberately chose to be next to you. I have already succeeded in Spirit Sculpting and become a personal disciple. From now on, you will be my senior brother."

A personal disciple?

So soon?

Fang Wang was surprised internally, but he maintained his composure outwardly.

Seeing his indifference, Gu Li's fair hand in her sleeve tightened slightly. She tried to calm her emotions, telling herself not to rush.

"Master told me that your cultivation was only at the seventh level of the Qi Nurturing Realm when you joined. It's only been a few months, and you've already reached the ninth level. It seems you'll be sculpting spirits soon. Before you do, can we spar again?" Gu Li's pretty face flushed slightly as she finished speaking.

Fang Wang looked at her suspiciously.

A Spirit Sculpting Realm cultivator fighting a Qi Nurturing Realm cultivator?

What nerve!

So shameless?

Just as Fang Wang was about to refuse, he heard Gu Li continue, "I won't use my Natal Spirit. It's just that my Five Saints Sword Technique has made a breakthrough, and I want to spar with you. Don't worry, we'll find a secluded spot to spar, and it won't be spread around."

Fang Wang was initially annoyed by the trouble, but now he suddenly wanted to experience the power of the Spirit Sculpting Realm. Within the Taiyuan Sect, there shouldn't be any killing intent.

"Where?" Fang Wang asked.

Gu Li's eyes lit up. "Let's go to the woods at the foot of the mountain. Sparring and duels are common. As long as no grudges are formed, the Taiyuan Sect won't forbid it. We won't use magic artifacts, just wooden swords for sparring."

Fang Wang really wanted to say that both wooden swords and magic swords could kill, but he didn't want to waste words. It was a good opportunity to test the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art!

"Let's go, to the woods!"

"Okay!"

The two immediately walked down the mountain, with Gu Li leading the way. They didn't fly on their swords. From high above, they looked like a pair of immortal lovers walking side by side on the mountain path.

Along the way, Gu Li chatted with Fang Wang. Hearing that Fang Wang had been cultivating since he joined, she started talking about recent interesting events in the Taiyuan Sect.

Fang Wang had just experienced two hundred years of darkness and was very interested in these anecdotes. So, he listened to her, occasionally interjecting with questions.

"By the way, is Zhou Xue one of your clansmen?" Gu Li suddenly asked.

Fang Wang nodded. "Yes, she is. What about her?"

He wasn't worried about Zhou Xue getting into trouble. She was a reincarnator; it would be good if she didn't cause trouble for others.

"She passed the sect's Illusion Realm Assessment and received the inheritance of the previous sect leader. She's become very famous. Once she sculpts her spirit, even if her Natal Spirit's aptitude is ordinary, she can become a personal disciple," Gu Li said with emotion.

Illusion Realm Assessment?

Fang Wang hadn't heard Zhou Xue mention it, but it was reasonable for her to get such an opportunity. Reincarnation was her greatest advantage. Zhou Xue's mind contained too many opportunities; she would surely be able to choose a path stronger than in her previous life.

Since entering the Taiyuan Sect, their contact had been cut off. However, Fang Wang remembered the lineage she had chosen for herself: the First Lineage.

And so, Fang Wang and Gu Li walked towards the woods, chatting along the way.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The two entered the woods. The trees inside were sparse, making it easy to fight, while the dense leaves above blocked the sky, concealing them from the prying eyes of passing disciples.

Fang Wang and Gu Li stood three zhang apart. He raised his right hand and said, "Come on. This time, I won't use the Sword Control Technique."

Sword Control Technique!

Hearing these three words, Gu Li's expression became unnatural. So, the move that defeated her back then was indeed the Sword Control Technique.

She could accept being defeated by a profound sword technique, but being defeated by the Sword Control Technique…

And he was only at the seventh level of the Qi Nurturing Realm back then!

Gu Li took a deep breath and immediately took out two wooden swords, throwing one to Fang Wang and holding the other in her right hand.

Fang Wang took the wooden sword and examined it. He initially wanted to refuse to use a sword, but he was afraid of insulting her, so he thought, Fine, I'll play along.

This was a good idea. He had always pretended to be a swordsman, but in reality, he didn't need a sword to perform the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art. It might save his life at a critical moment in the future.

Fang Wang held the wooden sword with his right hand, pointed it at Gu Li, and then extended two fingers of his left hand, drawing them across the blade of the wooden sword. Three streams of sword energy overflowed and quickly condensed into three sword shapes that floated in front of him.

Gu Li frowned at this scene, secretly alarmed. What sword technique was this?

Gu Li took a deep breath and immediately unleashed her family's ultimate technique, the Five Saints Sword Technique. She swung her sword rapidly, her moves sharp and her posture so fast that afterimages appeared. In an instant, it was as if five people were swinging their swords simultaneously, and visibly domineering sword energy swept towards Fang Wang like a storm.

The surrounding trees were covered in dense, fine scratches, extremely sharp.

Fang Wang held his sword in his right hand, twirled his wrist, and suddenly thrust forward. The three sword shapes transformed into three streaks of cold blue light that shot out.

The two streams of sword energy clashed. The seemingly powerful Five Saints Sword Qi was directly torn apart by the three blue lights. Gu Li's hair was blown into disarray, and she widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief.

At this moment, she felt the same sense of dread she had experienced when competing for personal disciple.

Fortunately, the three blue lights dissipated just as they reached her. Even so, the powerful sword energy made her heart pound with fear.

Fang Wang sheathed his sword, sighing inwardly. Fortunately, my Startling Swan Divine Sword Art has reached Grand Perfection. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to retract my sword just now.

The surrounding forest shook violently, leaves falling like rain. Bathed in this shower of leaves, Gu Li fell into a daze.

Fang Wang, worried she might make further demands, spoke up. "Miss Gu, your swordsmanship is formidable. You're the strongest sword cultivator I've ever sparred with. Let's spar again another time. I need to go back to my cultivation."

With that, he leaped into the air, stepped onto his wooden sword, and flew away, quickly disappearing from the forest.

Meanwhile.

A male disciple flew by. He noticed the commotion in the forest below and was about to investigate when he saw Fang Wang flying out on his sword. He was immediately delighted and hurried to catch up.

"Senior Brother Fang, it's rare to see you!" the male disciple intercepted Fang Wang, saying enthusiastically.

Fang Wang found him somewhat familiar and replied politely, "I was in seclusion cultivating before. I just came out for a stroll today."

"Senior Brother Fang, do you remember me? I'm Zhou Bo!"

"I remember, I remember..."

In the forest.

Gu Li took a deep breath. It wasn't the first time she had been defeated, so the blow wasn't as severe as before. Moreover, she had received Fang Wang's acknowledgment.

Wait!

That kid had been cultivating for less than a year. How many sword cultivators could he have encountered?

Gu Li recalled her master Yang Yuanzi's sigh, and her expression instantly turned grim. She felt no resentment, only endless confusion.

She took another deep breath and then flew away on her sword.

Fang Wang quickly dealt with Zhou Bo and left. Just as Zhou Bo was marveling at how Senior Brother Fang was such a dedicated cultivator, he then saw Gu Li flying out of the forest.

Her hair was slightly disheveled from the impact of the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art, which left Zhou Bo utterly bewildered.

Gu Li completely ignored him and quickly flew towards the mountain.

Zhou Bo retracted his gaze, stood on his flying sword, and murmured with emotion, "Senior Brother Fang truly has a good disposition."

Upon landing, Fang Wang leaned his wooden sword against the entrance of Gu Li's cave dwelling and then quickly returned to his own.

After repeatedly striking down the proud daughter of heaven, he feared endless trouble. But there was nothing he could do; Gu Li had come to him.

Sitting cross-legged on the white jade bed, Fang Wang reviewed the previous battle. He felt that the Spirit Sculpting Realm wasn't all that impressive; at least, the gap between it and him wasn't significant.

Perhaps the Natal Spirit provided a significant combat boost for those in the Spirit Sculpting Realm.

Fang Wang stopped thinking and continued his Qi Nurturing cultivation. Reaching the ninth level of the Qi Nurturing Realm didn't mean he could directly break through to the Spirit Sculpting Realm. There was an unnamed realm between the ninth level of Qi Nurturing and the Spirit Sculpting Realm. In martial arts, some called it a 'turning point,' while others called it 'perfection.' In any case, he just wanted to reach the Spirit Sculpting Realm as quickly as possible.

Outside the cave dwelling.

Gu Li gazed at the wooden sword leaning against the entrance of her mountain gate. She bit her lip lightly, picked up the wooden sword, and then walked back into her cave dwelling.

In the blink of an eye.

Another month passed.

Fang Wang's Spiritual Energy had doubled. In the depths of his being, he vaguely sensed the signs of a breakthrough, but he found that his cultivation could still increase, so he continued practicing. He wanted to wait until his cultivation could no longer advance before attempting to break through.

One day, a voice called out from outside his cave dwelling:

"Fang Wang, are you there?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Wang immediately got up and went to open the cave dwelling's entrance. As sunlight streamed in, he saw a face he hadn't seen in a while.

Zhou Xue!

After several months apart, Zhou Xue, dressed in the Taiyuan Sect's disciple robe, was even more beautiful. The spirited aura in her eyes was something Gu Li lacked. Zhou Xue was spirited and sharp, while Gu Li merely had a cool demeanor.

Zhou Xue strode directly into the cave dwelling, passing by Fang Wang. She waved her hand and said, "Close the door!"

Fang Wang immediately closed the entrance to his cave dwelling and then followed Zhou Xue.

"Why are you here?" Fang Wang asked, surprised.

Zhou Xue snorted. "You've been in seclusion all this time. Do you want to sever ties with the Fang Family? The other Fang Family disciples have already met and established connections, but you've remained in the third lineage. I had to come find you."

Fang Wang explained, "I just want to reach the Spirit Sculpting Realm as soon as possible."

"Ninth level of Qi Nurturing, not bad. It seems you haven't neglected your cultivation. I was worried that girl from the Gu Family might pester you, and you might not be able to resist the restless heart of youth and get entangled."

Zhou Xue spoke as she walked to the stone table and sat down.

Fang Wang said helplessly, "How could that be? I am the Thirteenth Young Master of the Fang Family. If I were so easily swayed, those beautiful maids in the mansion and the young ladies from the city would have already been taken by me."

Zhou Xue snorted. "I hope so. I've come today to say goodbye. I'm planning to leave, and I probably won't be back for three to five years."

"So long? What are you going to do?"

Fang Wang sat down, asking curiously, while inwardly calculating how to snag some ultimate techniques.

Zhou Xue looked at him and said, "I'm going to seize a great opportunity, and also investigate the Soul Burning Banner I have. I won't feel at ease until this matter is resolved."

"Take me with you?"

"Your aptitude is so good, just focus on your cultivation. Geniuses like you need to settle down and cultivate. I've seen too many geniuses with peerless potential who thought they were already strong enough, only to be killed by old monsters and those with great destiny, becoming pitiful figures in others' legends. Besides, it's easier for me to act alone."

"Alright..."

Fang Wang merely gave a perfunctory reply. He couldn't shamelessly beg Zhou Xue to take him, and he genuinely didn't want to go out. He wasn't at a stage where he needed to go out and seek opportunities yet.

It's just...

How should he phrase it?

Zhou Xue chuckled playfully. "What? You want to ask me for cultivation methods or spells again?"