Jihao Sect's secret realm...
Fang Wang's heart raced. Could this be the inheritance of a great cultivator from Jihao Sect?
He was not the only one. Fang Hanyu realized it as well, his breathing quickening. He said in a low voice, "Fang Wang, examine it carefully. If it truly is an extraordinary cultivation art, learn it first."
Fang Wang snorted. "Do you need to tell me that? Once I learn it, I'll teach you."
The corners of Fang Hanyu's lips lifted, his heart soaring. At last, he was no longer dead weight. At last, he had helped Fang Wang.
Fang Wang read carefully. The Fang Realm's little world fell silent, while the lake beside them shimmered with rippling light, reflecting their figures along its shore.
Once Fang Wang had memorized every word, his consciousness suddenly exploded, entering the Heavenly Palace.
He opened his eyes and looked upon the spacious hall of the Heavenly Palace, drawing a deep breath.
As he began recalling that supreme art, insights gradually surfaced in his mind. The portions that had confused him became clear, and he felt as though the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.
This time, he truly felt the Heavenly Palace's might. It was not merely capable of cultivating something to great perfection—it could master any cultivation method!
After fully grasping it, Fang Wang learned the name of this art from between its lines.
Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art!
The Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art was a powerful offensive spell. Its wielder transformed into a dragon and gained terrifying destructive power. This art had nine levels, from low to high: Qi Dragon, Form Dragon, White Dragon, Azure Dragon, Yellow Dragon, Purple Dragon, Red Dragon, Golden Dragon, and Black Dragon!
Why was the Black Dragon above the Golden Dragon? Because this art brought destruction, not hope.
Once Fang Wang understood the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art, his interest was immediately piqued. He began cultivating according to its method.
However, the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art was even harder to cultivate than he had imagined.
Merely condensing a Qi Dragon took him nine years.
Cultivating it to the Form Dragon stage took seventeen years!
This time, he was not impatient. Instead, he was filled with an intense fighting spirit for cultivation.
The Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art was simply too powerful. A Form Dragon's destructive force was several times that of a Qi Dragon. Most crucially, the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art did not merely rely on one's own Spiritual Energy; it could also be used in conjunction with magical artifacts. The stronger the artifact, the greater the increase in the transformed dragon's destructive might.
Fang Wang became immersed in the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art, unable to pull himself free as time sped by.
By the time he cultivated the ninth-level Black Dragon to Grand Perfection, he had spent a total of two hundred and seventy-three years!
This surpassed the time he had spent cultivating the Mysterious Sun Scripture, making it the supreme art that had taken him the longest. Yet the gains were immense. When he transformed into a Black Dragon, he felt as though he could destroy everything. If he wielded the Celestial Palace Halberd while transforming into a Black Dragon, it would be even more terrifying!
Once he completely reached the realm of Grand Perfection, the surroundings shattered, and his consciousness returned to reality. Before his eyes was Fang Hanyu's shocking bare back.
Fang Wang smiled, patted Fang Hanyu on the back, and said with a laugh, "This art is extraordinary. Once your eyes are healed, I'll teach you how to cultivate it."
The moment Fang Wang patted his back, Fang Hanyu shuddered all over, goosebumps rising across his skin. He hurriedly put on his clothes, then stood and asked, "Did you memorize it?"
"Of course. I never forget anything I see."
"Then cultivate it first. I hope that once my eyes recover, I'll be able to watch you use this art."
"I'll definitely leave you stunned."
Fang Wang raised his brows with a smile. Learning the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art had put him in an excellent mood. This art was undoubtedly the strongest offensive method he currently possessed.
The Startling Swan Divine Sword Art was good, but compared with the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art, it fell short by far more than a single star and a half.
With Li Hongshuang as a reference, he suddenly felt that he might not be incapable of challenging someone in the Spirit Pill Realm.
No, I can't get carried away!
Fang Wang cautioned himself inwardly as he watched Fang Hanyu stagger away.
Taiyuan Sect, Shiyuan Hall.
Guang Qiuxian sat in meditation. More than a dozen people stood in the hall, Yang Yuanzi among them, every face grave.
Zhao Chuangan, the Inheritance Elder who had previously brought Fang Wang into the Third Vein, spoke up. "Sect Master, the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art has stirred up a tremendous uproar in the Western Region. It is not just the Demonic Path—even every sect of the Righteous Path has joined the struggle. Are we truly not going to take part in the search?"
As soon as he said this, the other peak masters and elders began speaking one after another.
"Xuanhong Sword Sect's Senior Disciple, Xu Qiuming, has already clashed with an elder from Yellow Prison Mountain."
"First the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Scripture, and now the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art. Why does it feel as though someone is plotting behind the scenes?"
"Whether it is a plot or not, we must participate. At the very least, we need to learn whether it is real and who ultimately obtains it. This concerns the future balance among the Nine Great Sects."
"This matter is not easy to involve ourselves in. Many of our disciples have encountered assassination attempts by Green Cicada Valley. If we are drawn into this, Green Cicada Valley will certainly retaliate against us like mad."
"By the way, Senior Brother Yang, when did you nurture such a genius? Who exactly is he? He actually cultivated the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art to the level of thirty-two swords. How many swords have you reached now?"
A peak master shifted the subject to Yang Yuanzi. Yang Yuanzi remained expressionless and did not respond.
Guang Qiuxian said, "Enough. Do not investigate the identity of that White Clad Startling Swan any further. It is enough for you to know that Taiyuan Sect has such a disciple. Li Hongshuang is dead, and Green Cicada Valley will certainly send spies to infiltrate us. We must protect him."
His heart was brimming with excitement because he knew who had inherited the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art.
That brat!
How long had he been cultivating? Yet he had already brought the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art to the level of thirty-two swords, directly surpassing Yang Yuanzi. It left him astonished.
Perhaps this was the terrifying aspect of the Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit.
"Let the First Vein investigate the whereabouts of the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art. Remember, investigation is the priority. Do not act rashly," Guang Qiuxian continued, then waved his sleeve to signal everyone to withdraw.
Only Yang Yuanzi remained behind.
Once the doors of Shiyuan Hall closed, Yang Yuanzi frowned and said, "I am worried about Fang Wang. Although he is with his clansmen, they are all juniors."
Guang Qiuxian nodded. "I share that concern. Send a Personal Disciple in the Spirit Pill Realm to find him."
Yang Yuanzi shook his head. "A Personal Disciple will not be enough. Let Lu Yuanjun go. It will also allow the two of them to become acquainted ahead of time. If Lu Yuanjun can save Fang Wang's life when he is in danger, it will be difficult for the two of them to have any conflict in the future."
Hearing this, Guang Qiuxian pondered for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Junior Brother, do you think the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art has truly appeared in the world?"
"How would I know? And even if it has, so what?"
"Rumor has it that the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art possesses enough destructive force to level an entire dynasty. Jihao Sect was able to dominate vast territory, and the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art deserves no small share of the credit."
"Just legends. Who has seen it with their own eyes? Besides, we have Fang Wang and Lu Yuanjun. Even if the other sects obtain the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Scripture and the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art, the future will still belong to us!"
"That is true. Fang Wang actually cultivated the Startling Swan Divine Sword Art to thirty-two swords. Looking at it this way, Junior Brother, your aptitude is truly mediocre!"
"Heh. If my aptitude is mediocre, then what the hell are you?"
After learning the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art, another month and a half passed before Fang Wang finally broke through to the fourth level of the Spirit Sculpting Realm.
During this period, Fang Hanyu's cultivation advanced faster and faster. He had already reached the fifth level of the Qi Nurturing Realm and could even spar with Monster Beasts.
That brat had his eyes covered, yet he could predict his opponents' attacks as though he were not blind at all. This made Fang Wang look forward to the Heart Severing Evil Eyes even more.
As more and more transformed Monster Beasts of the Mountain God Clan appeared, the Fang Realm grew livelier. These transformed Monster Beasts were very friendly toward Fang Wang and Fang Hanyu, even building houses for them.
One day.
Fang Wang found Fang Hanyu and began teaching him the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art. Though Fang Hanyu had yet to remove the white cloth over his eyes, he could already cultivate spells. In his own words, he could judge an opponent's movements through their aura and the flow of air around him.
Fang Hanyu's comprehension was good. Fang Wang taught him for only half an hour before allowing him to cultivate on his own.
Although the cultivation method of the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art was profound, the specific way of circulating energy was not overly complicated. After memorizing it, Fang Hanyu could comprehend it himself.
At noon.
Fang Wang was meditating beside the lake when a Mountain God Tribe Monster Beast with a human body and fox head ran over. It knelt beside him and cried out, "Young Master Fang, you must save my younger sister!"
Fang Wang opened his eyes and saw a mask clutched in its hand. It was the green-robed girl's fox mask.
Nearly all the surviving members of the Mountain God Clan had moved into the Fang Realm. To repay the Fang Family for taking them in, they had begun gathering spirit flowers and spirit herbs from all around and transplanting them into the Fang Realm. They had been doing this for a month without incident, and they had not encountered any Demonic Cultivators again.
Fang Wang frowned and asked, "What happened to her?"
"A human cultivator named Li Honggang captured her. He ordered us Mountain God Tribe beasts to find that White Clad Startling Swan. If White Clad Startling Swan does not go to Haixia City within a month, he will kill my younger sister... But our clan has been reduced to less than one in ten. Where are we supposed to find White Clad Startling Swan?" the Mountain God Tribe Monster Beast sobbed.
The Mountain God Clan's advantage over other Monster Beasts was that they could assume human form early. At present, the strongest Monster Beast in the Fang Realm was only comparable to the fourth level of the Spirit Sculpting Realm.
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