Whether Great Qi's Son of Heaven had chosen to sacrifice Fang Manor, whether Lu Yuanjun had chosen to slaughter Fang Manor, or whether it was merely their subordinates who had set their sights on Fang Manor—none of that mattered.
They could not absolve themselves of Fang Manor's danger of extermination.
Fang Manor still stood, and Fang Wang was in no hurry to seek revenge. What he needed to do was cultivate diligently. Once he was strong enough, no one would be able to shelter his enemies.
After chatting for a while, the Fang Manor descendants began discussing the immortal cultivation world. The uproar caused by Jihao Sect had already died down. Neither the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Scripture nor the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art had fallen into anyone's hands, at least not openly. The major sects involved had all suffered casualties.
"Recently, a mysterious sect called the Golden Firmament Sect emerged in the immortal cultivation world. It was said that when Taiyuan Sect, Taiqing Sect, Green Cicada Valley, and Ancient Demonic Mountain fought over a magical artifact, the Golden Firmament Sect forcibly entered the fray. That Golden Firmament Sect expert held off the elders of all four sects alone, seized the treasure, and strode away. Tsk, tsk. People outside were now joking that Great Qi's immortal cultivation world would no longer have merely the Nine Great Sects, but ten great sects."
Fang Mo clicked his tongue in amazement, his face full of longing.
They were all hot-blooded young men and women. Who did not wish to make a name for themselves? Who did not wish to become a towering figure worshipped by the countless masses?
Fang Wang listened with great interest as well.
Two hours later, the clan members prepared to leave. Before they departed, Fang Wang gave them all the spirit stones and Spirit Qi Pills he had collected, moving them deeply.
After leaving the cave dwelling's mountain gate, Fang Wang watched them fly away on their swords.
Although only half of them had mastered sword flight, it was enough for them to take the other half down the mountain.
The last time they had parted, they had still needed to walk down the mountain.
Fang Wang felt even more deeply than the Fang Manor descendants, for to him, it had been far more than a year since they last met.
Boom—
The mountain gate of the cave dwelling beside his opened. Fang Wang cast a sidelong glance and saw Gu Li emerge. Yet from her attire, she was clearly heading out, not coming out to see him.
"You've finally returned."
Gu Li, carrying a sword case on her back, walked up to Fang Wang with a smile. She looked him over, her eyes shining with wonder.
Fang Wang smiled and asked, "Miss Gu, are you going on a long journey?"
Gu Li nodded. "There is a matter in my family, and they have summoned me back."
Fang Wang suddenly remembered that when he had first entered the sect, Zhou Xue had mentioned that the Gu Family would cease to exist twenty years later...
He would certainly not have cared before, but they had known one another for so long now, and Gu Li had even gone out of her way to find him. Naturally, he understood the feelings behind that gesture. Thinking that Gu Li might die alongside her family, his heart could not help sinking.
Fortunately, it was twenty years from now. When Zhou Xue returned, he could ask her about it in detail.
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while. Gu Li then flew away on her sword, swiftly vanishing into the vast fog surrounding Taiyuan Sect.
Fang Wang remained where he was, gazing blankly at the horizon.
If Zhou Xue had not been reborn, he might already have died and never met Gu Li. Gu Li might likewise have perished with her family. Their fates had originally been two lines that never intersected, yet now they had become entangled. That proved fate could be changed.
Yet even Zhou Xue, powerful enough to ascend and become an Immortal Venerable, had ended up dying and being forced to cultivate anew. Could cultivation truly bring freedom?
Could immortality truly be attained?
A long while passed.
Fang Wang withdrew his gaze and turned back into his cave dwelling.
He would have to explore the path of immortality himself and seek its true meaning.
Spring passed into autumn, and in the blink of an eye, two years went by.
Taiyuan Sect welcomed another heavy snowfall. Snow filled the sky as disciples came and went through the snowy mist, tiny and frail amid the boundless blizzard.
Inside the cave dwelling.
Fang Wang was circulating his cultivation. Two years had passed, and he had already reached the Eighth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm. At this moment, he was attempting to break through to the Ninth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm.
True Mysterious Sun Fire coiled around his body, while the Celestial Palace Halberd flickered in and out of sight above his head.
Suddenly.
He abruptly opened his eyes. Blazing flames burst from them, and a powerful wave of air erupted, shaking everything within the cave dwelling.
Gu Li, who lived in the neighboring cave dwelling, seemed to sense something and opened her eyes as well.
"Did he break through again?"
Gu Li was secretly startled. She had returned last year, but she had not seen Fang Wang at all during that year. Seeing that he was in seclusion, she had begun cultivating in seclusion as well, unwilling to be left too far behind.
She marveled at Fang Wang's talent, then suddenly recalled her father's words. Her expression darkened.
Elsewhere.
Fang Wang had successfully broken through and entered the Ninth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm. He began circulating his cultivation to regulate his aura.
A full seven days passed before his aura finally stabilized completely. His spiritual power was now roughly ten times what it had been when he faced Li Honggang, and his confidence surged.
Wonderful!
Fang Wang did not rise to rest. Instead, he continued cultivating.
Upon reaching the Ninth Layer of Spirit Sculpting Realm, he vaguely sensed a change within his Treasure Spirit Space. He did not know exactly what it was, so he wanted to study it further.
When he had first entered the Spirit Sculpting Realm, he had suspected that he could condense a second Life-Bound Treasure Spirit, but he had been unable to confirm it.
Half a month later.
The bell of the Third Vein suddenly rang. Not only the Third Vein—bells rose and fell across the other peaks as well, awakening every disciple in cultivation.
Fang Wang took out his Disciple Token, and Yang Yuanzi's voice came from within:
"All disciples, including Personal Disciples, gather immediately before Pure Heart Hall!"
Fang Wang promptly put away his Disciple Token in his Storage Bag, rose to straighten his robes, then took up the Qing Jun Sword and left his cave dwelling.
The moment he stepped outside, he saw Gu Li.
Gu Li gave him a slight nod, then rose into the air on her sword.
Seeing her leave without saying a word made Fang Wang feel somewhat unaccustomed to it. Then he saw Gu Li stop in midair, turn back to look at him, and ask, "Senior Brother Fang, why aren't you leaving?"
Fang Wang shook his head with a laugh, then flew after Gu Li on his sword.
The two flew side by side toward the mountaintop. Figures shot out one after another from the entire Third Vein, all flying toward the summit. The sight was spectacular.
The two moved quickly and did not speak along the way. They soon arrived before Pure Heart Hall. Just as they landed, a group of disciples gathered around them, led by Senior Disciple Li Yu.
The disciples teased Fang Wang and Gu Li. Gu Li unexpectedly did not refute them, so Fang Wang found it difficult to explain himself and embarrass her.
"Senior Brother, what exactly is happening for there to be such a huge commotion?" Fang Wang found an opportunity to ask.
Li Yu said, "It should be the Nine Meridians Martial Competition. It was originally scheduled for three years from now, but because the Great Qi Dynasty is about to transform into an immortal cultivation dynasty, it has been brought forward. I hear there is a great opportunity after the Nine Meridians Martial Competition ends."
Those words made the disciples even more curious.
A great opportunity?
Fang Wang was very interested in the Nine Meridians Martial Competition. The general outline of cultivation had recorded that every ten years, disciples of the Nine Peaks would compete in martial arts to contend for the rankings of their peaks. The higher the ranking, the more cultivation resources they would receive. Many Senior Disciples had once been the strongest of a given Nine Meridians Martial Competition.
As one of the Nine Great Sects, Taiyuan Sect had spies from every sect and Aristocratic Clan stationed within it. Whoever stood out in the Nine Meridians Martial Competition would rise to fame in the immortal cultivation world. Lu Yuanjun had become famous in this manner as well. Only after he became famous did Taiyuan Sect announce that he possessed a Mid-grade Earth Origin Treasure Spirit, raising his prestige another level.
More and more disciples arrived. None dared join the conversations among the sword-bearing disciples and Personal Disciples, and clusters of groups formed across the open space before Pure Heart Hall.
"The Son of Heaven is here!"
Someone said it, drawing everyone's gaze. Fang Wang turned to look as well.
Great Qi's Son of Heaven arrived flying on his sword in the robes of a sword-bearing disciple. He was tall and upright, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. Heavy snow draped over him, yet it could not conceal his bearing. He seemed to carry an aura of dragons about him, making him appear different from the surrounding disciples.
The Son of Heaven was named Zhao Zhen. He had ascended the throne at thirteen and was the third Son of Heaven of the Great Qi Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu of Qi had died of illness less than ten years after founding the dynasty. Zhao Zhen's father ascended the throne at thirty, yet died less than two years after becoming emperor. Thus, although Zhao Zhen was young, he was already the longest-reigning Son of Heaven of the Great Qi Dynasty.
Under the gazes of the disciples, Zhao Zhen walked forward at an unhurried pace until he reached Li Yu, Fang Wang, and the others. He raised his hand in salute and smiled. "Zhao Zhen greets all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."
His gaze swept across the crowd without lingering when it passed Fang Wang.
Li Yu smiled warmly. "Junior Brother Zhao, there is no need for such formality. Right, this is your Senior Brother Fang Wang. He comes from Duke Fang's Estate in Nanqiu City. The two of you should grow closer, after all, there was once the bond of ruler and subject between you."
Zhao Zhen turned his gaze toward Fang Wang, revealing a gentle smile. "Duke Fang has rendered Great Qi countless meritorious services, and I deeply respect him. Now that Duke Fang's Estate has produced such a heaven-blessed prodigy as Senior Brother Fang Wang, Fang Manor will surely become an immortal cultivation Aristocratic Clan and pursue the Dao of longevity."
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