Jin Xiao Sect, Nine Meridians Dou Fa

Whether it was the Great Qi's Son of Heaven choosing to sacrifice the Fang Manor, or Lu Yuanjun's slaughter of the Fang Manor, or if it was simply people under their command who targeted the Fang Manor, none of that mattered.

The Fang Manor's crisis of annihilation was undeniably linked to them.

For now, the Fang Manor still stood, and Fang Wang had no immediate desire for revenge. What he needed to do was cultivate diligently. When he became strong enough, no one would be able to protect his enemies.

After chatting for a while, the Fang Manor disciples began to discuss matters of the immortal cultivation world. The storm stirred up by the Jihao Sect had subsided. Neither the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Scripture nor the Nine Dragon Divine Transformation Art had been obtained, at least not openly. The major sects involved had all suffered casualties.

Recently, a mysterious sect called the Golden Cloud Sect has appeared in the immortal cultivation world. It's said they forcefully entered when the Taiyuan Sect, Taiqing Sect, Green Cicada Valley, and Ancient Demonic Mountain were competing for a magic artifact. A Golden Cloud Sect expert single-handedly held off the elders of the four sects, seized the treasure, and left. Tsk tsk, now the outside world jokes that the Great Qi's immortal cultivation world will no longer have nine major sects, but ten.

Fang Mo exclaimed with wonder, his face full of longing.

They were all young men and women full of vigor. Who wouldn't want to make a name for themselves, who wouldn't want to become a renowned figure admired by the masses?

Fang Wang also listened with great interest.

Two hours later, the clansmen prepared to leave. Before departing, Fang Wang distributed all the spirit stones and Spirit Qi Pills he had received to them, which moved them deeply.

After walking out of the cave dwelling's mountain gate, Fang Wang watched them fly away on their swords.

Although only half of them had mastered the art of sword flight, it was enough to carry the other half down the mountain.

The last time they parted, they had to walk down the mountain.

Fang Wang felt more profound emotions than the Fang Manor disciples because, for him, it had been far more than a year since they last met.

Boom—

The mountain gate of the adjacent cave dwelling opened. Fang Wang glanced over and saw Gu Li emerging. However, judging by her attire, she was clearly going out and not coming to see him.

"You're finally back."

Gu Li, carrying a sword box on her back, walked up to Fang Wang and smiled. She sized him up, her eyes shining with brilliance.

Fang Wang asked with a smile, "Miss Gu, are you going on a long journey?"

Gu Li nodded and said, "There's a family matter, they're summoning me back."

Fang Wang suddenly remembered that Zhou Xue had mentioned when they first joined the sect that the Gu Family would cease to exist twenty years later...

If it were his previous self, he would have paid no mind. But now that they had known each other for so long, and Gu Li had specifically sought him out, he naturally understood her affection. The thought of Gu Li potentially dying with her family made his heart sink.

Fortunately, it was still twenty years away. When Zhou Xue returned, he could inquire in detail.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while. Gu Li then flew away on her sword, quickly disappearing into the dense fog surrounding the Taiyuan Sect.

Fang Wang stood in place, gazing at the horizon in a daze.

If Zhou Xue had not been reborn, he might already be dead and would not have met Gu Li. Gu Li might also have perished with her family. Their fates were originally two unconnected lines, but now they were intertwined, indicating that destiny could be changed.

Yet, even Zhou Xue, who had become an Immortal Venerable through ascension, ended up dead and had to cultivate anew. Could cultivation truly lead to freedom?

Could immortality be achieved?

After a long while.

Fang Wang withdrew his gaze, turned, and returned to his own cave dwelling.

The path of immortality was something he had to explore himself, to seek its true meaning.

Spring turned to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

The Taiyuan Sect was once again blanketed by heavy snow. White flakes danced in the sky, and disciples shuttled through the snowy mist, appearing small and insignificant against the vast blizzard.

Inside the cave dwelling.

Fang Wang was circulating his energy. Two years had passed, and he had already reached the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Sculpting Realm. He was currently attempting to break through to the Ninth Layer.

The True Mysterious Sun Fire enveloped him, and the Celestial Palace Halberd flickered faintly above his head.

Suddenly.

He abruptly opened his eyes, flames erupting from them. A powerful wave of energy exploded, shaking everything within the cave dwelling.

Gu Li, who lived in the adjacent cave dwelling, seemed to sense something and also opened her eyes to look.

"He broke through again?"

Gu Li was secretly startled. She had returned last year, but she hadn't seen Fang Wang in the past year. Seeing that Fang Wang was in seclusion, she had also entered seclusion, not wanting to fall too far behind.

She marveled at Fang Wang's talent, but then suddenly thought of her father's words, and her expression dimmed.

On the other side.

Fang Wang successfully broke through, entering the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sculpting Realm. He began circulating his energy to regulate his breathing.

It took a full seven days for his aura to completely stabilize. Now, his Spiritual Energy was about ten times what it was when he faced Li Honggang, greatly boosting his confidence.

Exhilarating!

Fang Wang did not get up to rest but continued to cultivate.

Upon reaching the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Sculpting Realm, he vaguely felt a change occurring within his Treasure Spirit Space. He wasn't sure what it was, so he wanted to investigate.

When he first entered the Spirit Sculpting Realm, he had suspected that he could condense a second natal treasure spirit, but he couldn't be certain.

Half a month later.

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The bells of the third脉 suddenly rang out. It wasn't just the third脉; bells echoed from the other peaks as well, startling all the disciples who were cultivating.

Fang Wang took out his disciple token, and Yang Yuanzi's voice came from within:

"All disciples, including personal disciples, gather immediately in front of the Pure Heart Hall!"

Fang Wang immediately put the disciple token into his storage bag, then stood up and tidied his robes. He then took the Qing Jun Sword and walked out of his cave dwelling.

As soon as he exited the cave dwelling, he saw Gu Li.

Gu Li nodded slightly at him and then ascended into the air on her sword.

Seeing her leave without a word made Fang Wang feel a little unaccustomed to it. Immediately after, he saw Gu Li stop in mid-air, look back at him, and ask, "Senior Brother Fang, why aren't you coming?"

Fang Wang shook his head and chuckled, then followed Gu Li on his sword.

The two flew side by side, soaring towards the mountaintop. Figures flew out from the entire third lineage, all heading towards the summit, creating a spectacular scene.

Their speed was fast, and they didn't exchange any words along the way. They quickly arrived in front of the Pure Heart Hall. As soon as they landed, a group of disciples surrounded them, led by the eldest disciple, Li Yu.

Fang Wang and Gu Li were teased by the disciples. Gu Li didn't retort, making it awkward for Fang Wang to clarify and potentially embarrass her.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what is the matter that has caused such a commotion?" Fang Wang seized an opportunity to ask.

Li Yu said, "It should be the Nine Meridians Martial Competition. It was originally scheduled for three years later, but because the Great Qi Dynasty is about to transform into an immortal cultivation dynasty, it has been moved up. It is said that there is a great opportunity after the Nine Meridians Martial Competition."

These words made the disciples even more curious.

A great opportunity?

Fang Wang was very interested in the Nine Meridians Martial Competition. The cultivation manual mentioned that every ten years, the disciples of the nine meridians would compete to determine the ranking of the peaks. The higher the ranking, the more cultivation resources they would receive. Many of the top disciples had once been the strongest in a Nine Meridians Martial Competition.

As one of the nine great sects, Taiyuan Sect had informants from various sects and aristocratic families. Whoever could stand out in the Nine Meridians Martial Competition would gain fame in the immortal cultivation world. Lu Yuanjun had become famous in the same way. After he became famous, Taiyuan Sect announced that he was a Mid-grade Earth Origin Treasure Spirit, which further elevated his prestige.

More and more disciples arrived, not daring to participate in the exchanges between the sword-wielding disciples and personal disciples. The open space in front of the Pure Heart Hall formed several circles.

"The Son of Heaven has arrived!"

Someone exclaimed, causing everyone to turn their heads. Fang Wang did the same.

The Son of Heaven of Great Qi arrived on his sword, wearing the robes of a sword-wielding disciple. He was tall and imposing, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. Snow fell on him, but it couldn't conceal his figure. He seemed to exude a dragon's aura, making him appear different from the surrounding disciples.

The Son of Heaven's name was Zhao Zhen. He ascended the throne at the age of thirteen, making him the third Son of Heaven of the Great Qi Dynasty. The founding emperor of Great Qi, Gao Zu, died of illness less than ten years after establishing the dynasty. Zhao Zhen's father ascended the throne at the age of thirty, but he died less than two years after becoming emperor. Therefore, although Zhao Zhen was young, he was already the longest-reigning Son of Heaven of the Great Qi Dynasty.

Zhao Zhen walked slowly under the gaze of the disciples and came before Li Yu, Fang Wang, and the others. He raised his hand in a salute and said with a smile, "Zhao Zhen greets all Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

His gaze swept across them, and it did not linger when it passed Fang Wang.

Li Yu smiled warmly, "Junior Brother Zhao, there's no need for such formality. By the way, this is your Senior Brother Fang Wang. He comes from the Duke Fang's Estate in Nanqiu City. You two can get to know each other better, as you were once subjects."

Zhao Zhen's gaze then turned to Fang Wang, and he smiled gently. "Duke Fang has made numerous contributions to Great Qi, which I deeply respect. Now that the Duke Fang's Estate has produced a prodigy like Senior Brother Fang Wang, the Fang Manor will surely become an immortal cultivation family in the future, pursuing eternal life."