The Next Taiyuan Sect Master

A High-grade Mysterious Origin Treasure Spirit should have been something Taiyuan Sect treasured like a precious jewel. That was also why Guang Qiuxian had allowed Zhou Xingshi to stay and watch the excitement. In his view, Fang Wang being able to mold an Earth Origin Treasure Spirit was already a lofty hope. Even if he succeeded, it would be a perfect chance for these two geniuses to meet, support one another, and grow together in the future.

But once Fang Wang's Treasure Spirit surpassed an Earth Origin Treasure Spirit, everything changed.

A High-grade Mysterious Origin Treasure Spirit was not worth mentioning before a Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit!

Guang Qiuxian understood one thing: once news of Fang Wang's Treasure Spirit spread, the other Eight Great Sects would surely rack their brains to eliminate Fang Wang. Therefore, he absolutely could not allow this matter to spread.

The look he gave Zhou Xingshi grew increasingly cold, while Yang Yuanzi made no effort to conceal his killing intent.

Faced with the killing intent of two sect powerhouses, Zhou Xingshi was so frightened that he dropped to his knees and begged bitterly. "Sect Master! I will never tell anyone, truly! You must believe me! I am, after all, a High-grade Mysterious Origin Treasure Spirit. I will certainly be able to make no small contribution to Taiyuan Sect in the future!"

By the end, his forehead was pressed tightly against the ground.

He understood that he had no chance of escaping. He could only beg for mercy.

Yang Yuanzi looked at Guang Qiuxian and said coldly, "Sect Master, this matter cannot tolerate the slightest variable. If you cannot bear to do it, I will!"

Guang Qiuxian fell silent.

Yang Yuanzi raised his right hand, and spiritual energy condensed into a streak of Sword Qi above his palm.

Seeing this, Fang Wang, who held the Celestial Palace Halberd, asked, "Is there no way to control him? Make it impossible for him to speak of what he saw and heard today."

He was not that kindhearted. This concerned his life, so he would not beg Guang Qiuxian and Yang Yuanzi to spare Zhou Xingshi. If Zhou Xingshi could be controlled, then he could live. If not, then he could only die.

The Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit had delighted Fang Wang beyond measure, but after the surprise came endless worry. An Earth Origin Treasure Spirit alone was enough to let Taiyuan Sect soar into the sky. Now there was a Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit as well...

Most crucially, Guang Qiuxian still could not determine the exact grade of his Celestial Palace Halberd.

At that moment, Fang Wang even worried that Guang Qiuxian and Yang Yuanzi might harbor evil intentions.

After hearing Fang Wang's words, Yang Yuanzi could not help looking at Guang Qiuxian. Guang Qiuxian drew a deep breath and said, "A Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit is a matter of grave importance and must be handled cautiously. But Taiyuan Sect is not the Demonic Path. We shall do as Fang Wang says."

Yang Yuanzi could not help shaking his head, feeling that Guang Qiuxian was too merciful.

Then Yang Yuanzi stepped forward, dispersed the Sword Qi in his hand, and took a small bottle from his Storage Bag. Squatting before Zhou Xingshi, he seized Zhou Xingshi's jaw with his left hand, forced open his mouth, and poured the contents of the bottle inside.

Throughout the entire process, Zhou Xingshi did not resist in the slightest, because he understood this was his only path to survival. He even cast Fang Wang a grateful look.

Fang Wang saw that the bottle contained deep crimson worms, and the sight made his scalp prickle.

"These are Myriad Poisons Spring Autumn Worms. There is no cure. When the person dies, the worms die. They are tamed from birth. As long as someone recites the incantation before the worm-taker, the Myriad Poisons Spring Autumn Worms will destroy themselves, and their poison will spread through the body, causing the worm-taker to die suddenly within three breaths."

Yang Yuanzi rose to his feet and looked down at Zhou Xingshi as he spoke, his expression indifferent, as though he were looking at a crawling insect.

Then he transmitted his voice to Fang Wang and told him the incantation.

Fang Wang's expression remained calm, but he found it strange inside. No matter how he looked at it, this master of his did not seem like someone from the righteous path. He actually kept such a venomous thing.

Guang Qiuxian turned to Fang Wang and said, "The matter of your Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit must be concealed. In the future, I will not openly give you special treatment. I can only treat you as an ordinary disciple. But if you encounter any trouble, you may come find me at any time. I will help you resolve it in private. I guarantee you this: you will be the next Taiyuan Sect Master!"

Regardless of character or background, he directly designated Fang Wang as the next sect master.

Only then did Fang Wang truly sense the importance of a Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit. He hurriedly replied, "Whether I become sect master or not means nothing to me. Since I have entered Taiyuan Sect, I will forever be a disciple of Taiyuan Sect. In the future, I will certainly brave fire and boiling water for Taiyuan Sect!"

Who could not say pretty words?

At the very least, he had to smooth over the current situation so Guang Qiuxian would not grow suspicious.

"This matter may only be known by the four of us. Fang Wang, do not tell your clansmen either. A Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit is indeed powerful, but you have not yet grown strong. You must keep a low profile. From now on, your Life-Bound Treasure Spirit will be considered a High-grade Mysterious Origin Treasure Spirit."

As Guang Qiuxian spoke, his gaze shifted to Zhou Xingshi, who had just risen to his feet. He said in a deep voice, "Zhou Xingshi, from now on, your task is to protect Fang Wang and obey his commands. Your treatment will be directly calculated according to that of a Single-Vein Head Disciple!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xingshi hurriedly bowed in thanks to Guang Qiuxian, then thanked Fang Wang as well.

Yang Yuanzi added, "Sect Master, I shall take Fang Wang away first. Many people have gathered outside. They cannot be allowed to see Fang Wang."

Guang Qiuxian nodded. Yang Yuanzi then took another set of clothes from his Storage Bag and tossed them to Fang Wang.

Fang Wang hurriedly put them on and followed Yang Yuanzi.

There was actually a tunnel leading underground within Shiyuan Hall. Along the way, Fang Wang kept sensing the Celestial Palace Halberd inside his body.

Within him, the Celestial Palace Halberd rested in an independent space above his dantian. It was pitch-black inside. He could not tell whether it was an alternate-dimensional space or a soul space, but he could sense the Celestial Palace Halberd's presence and summon it at any time.

Yet one thing puzzled him. Compared to the entire dark space, the space occupied by the Celestial Palace Halberd was very small, and it was not located at the very center.

Could there be a second Life-Bound Treasure Spirit?

The tunnel was silent. Just as Fang Wang was consumed by curiosity and confusion, Yang Yuanzi's voice came from ahead. "Fang Wang, remember this: from now on, you cannot trust anyone completely. You cannot trust the sect master, and even your master cannot be completely trusted."

Fang Wang raised his eyes and looked at Yang Yuanzi's back, unsure how to respond.

“Human hearts will eventually change. The sect master is willing to train you as the next sect master now because he has not yet reached the end of his lifespan. But when he faces that final limit, what evil thoughts might arise? Even I cannot imagine it. In the Immortal Cultivation world, there are no few cases of seizing Treasure Spirits and taking over bodies. To be honest with you, your master had evil thoughts earlier as well.”

Yang Yuanzi's tone was distant and faint, making it impossible to see through what he was thinking.

Fang Wang said, "Thank you for the reminder, Master. This disciple will keep it firmly in mind. This disciple will never forget Master's grace for all eternity, and will surely repay it in the future."

"Is that so?"

Yang Yuanzi chuckled. From beginning to end, he never turned around, nor did he stop walking.

For the rest of the journey, he said nothing more. Fang Wang, meanwhile, grew uneasy, fearing Yang Yuanzi might suddenly attack him.

Fortunately, there was danger but no disaster. When they emerged from the tunnel, Yang Yuanzi told him to return to his cave dwelling first.

Fang Wang flew away on his sword. During the flight, he noticed many disciples gathered at every peak, apparently discussing something. Since entering the sect, this was the first time he had seen such liveliness.

Could it be the disturbance caused by the Celestial Palace Halberd?

Fang Wang's heart tightened, and he accelerated.

After returning to the Third Vein, he landed before the gate of his cave dwelling and saw Gu Li standing there, gazing into the distance.

Gu Li turned to look at Fang Wang and asked, "Where has Senior Brother Fang returned from?"

Fang Wang replied, "I took a trip to the Dao Law Pavilion. Something seems to have happened in Taiyuan Sect. If Miss Gu is interested, you may speak with the other disciples."

With that, he entered his cave dwelling.

Gu Li looked suspicious, but she did not think too much of it. Her heart was filled with confusion. What had happened that made her Life-Bound Treasure Spirit go out of control?

Once the gate to his cave dwelling closed, Fang Wang went straight to the open space within. He summoned the Celestial Palace Halberd and carefully examined his Life-Bound Treasure Spirit. The more he looked, the more he liked it.

Holding the Celestial Palace Halberd gave him a powerful feeling of looking down upon everything beneath heaven. No wonder Spirit Molding was so important to cultivators.

Then he withdrew the Celestial Palace Halberd, sat cross-legged on the large white jade bed, and began consolidating his cultivation.

His realm had already reached the first layer of the Spirit Sculpting Realm. The Spirit Sculpting Realm was likewise divided into nine layers. Next, he intended to cultivate peacefully while waiting for the storm to pass.

The appearance of the Celestial Palace Halberd forced Fang Wang to change his plans. He could no longer focus solely on sword arts in the future; he needed to learn supreme arts for long weapons as well.

The Startling Swan Divine Sword Art had not been learned in vain, since this Sword Formula did not require a sword. He made up his mind not to use the Celestial Palace Halberd lightly within Taiyuan Sect. The Startling Swan Divine Sword Art should be enough to sweep aside competitors of the same realm.

Mm, I'll pretend to be a sword cultivator!

Thus, two months passed in the blink of an eye.

After entering the Spirit Sculpting Realm, Fang Wang's cultivation progress began to slow. In two months, even with the Mysterious Sun Scripture at Great Perfection, he had only barely broken through to the second layer.

Until this day.

Fang Hanyu came to visit Fang Wang, interrupting his cultivation routine.

After inviting Fang Hanyu into his cave dwelling, the two brothers exchanged pleasantries. Fang Hanyu brought up a major event that had recently occurred in Taiyuan Sect. It was said that the Life-Bound Treasure Spirits of every Spirit Sculpting Realm disciple in the sect had gone out of control at the same time, giving rise to a speculation within Taiyuan Sect.

A supreme treasure had been born!

Hearing that speculation, Fang Wang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Before becoming sufficiently strong, he did not dare reveal the grade of his Life-Bound Treasure Spirit.

"Fang Wang, I actually came to see you today because of something..." Fang Hanyu said hesitantly.

Fang Wang rolled his eyes and said irritably, "I cannot stand that hesitant, coy manner of yours. You came all this way, yet you still want to hold it in? Go on, say it. We are brothers, after all."

Mm, not blood brothers. Don't make excessive demands.

Fang Hanyu visibly relaxed and said, "I am preparing to go out and gain experience, but Zhou Xue told me to take care of the other clansmen and trouble you as little as possible. Yet if I remain in Taiyuan Sect, it will be difficult for my cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds. After all, I am only an Inner Disciple. I want to go out and seek opportunities."

"Is that all? Have you made any plans?" Fang Wang asked.

Everyone had their own fate. The other Fang Manor disciples did not possess his talent or treatment. It was only right for them to seek their own opportunities.

Fang Hanyu nodded and said, "A senior sister from the Second Vein obtained a map to a secret realm. It is said that a great cultivator passed away there. Twenty-three disciples from our vein have already decided to go together. I do not want to miss it."

After thinking for a moment, Fang Wang still nodded. "Then go. I will look after the other clansmen."

Fang Hanyu smiled and hurriedly thanked him. The two brothers spoke for a few more moments, then Fang Hanyu took his leave when there was nothing more to say.

No sooner had he left than, just as Fang Wang sat down, someone else came to visit.

Zhou Xingshi!

Fang Wang held the incantation that could kill Zhou Xingshi, so he naturally did not fear him. He invited him into the cave dwelling.

Although Zhou Xingshi wore the Daoist robes of a Taiyuan Sect disciple, he wore his own bamboo hat, giving him a travel-worn appearance. Sitting before the stone table, he took two jade slips from his robes and said, "The sect master asked me to bring you these High-grade spells. They suit your Treasure Spirit and must not be passed on to others."