Untouchable

Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven lay beyond the western border of the Great Qi Dynasty, in a land of chaos nestled in the gap between Qi and Wei. Immortal cultivators traveled through it year-round, so it did not fall under any dynasty's control.

In the past, cultivators had been drawn here by the abundant spiritual energy. No one had imagined that a grotto-heaven had been hidden behind it all.

At dawn, sunlight swept over the ship and fell across everyone aboard.

Vice Sect Master Chen Anshi stood on the deck and introduced Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven. "Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven is a dwelling left behind by an ancient Great Sage. It forms a small world of its own and was later controlled by the Jihao Sect. The Jihao Sect has now vanished, but the grotto-heaven's artifact spirit remains. It maintains the rules of Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven. During this exploration, none of the great cultivators from the Nine Great Sects can accompany you. You can only rely on yourselves."

"This exploration will last six months. Everything you obtain belongs to you; there is no need to hand it over to the sect. Six months from now, I will wait for you at the entrance. None of the grudges within may be brought outside. In other words, competition exists inside. You represent Taiyuan Sect's greatest talents. Not only must you strive to survive, you must also win glory for Taiyuan Sect. Do you understand?"

Chen Anshi spoke sternly, his sharp gaze sweeping over every disciple.

Fang Wang inwardly marveled that undercover agents truly had incredible acting skills. If Zhou Xue had not warned him, he genuinely would never have seen that Chen Anshi was a spy of the Demonic Path.

Tsk, tsk. This fellow had surely already leaked their information to the Chimo Sect. Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven would undoubtedly be fraught with murderous danger!

The disciples listened attentively.

According to Chen Anshi, the artifact spirit had restricted entry into Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven to those below the fifth level of the Mysterious Heart Realm. Furthermore, each sect could only send nine people. As for whether there were truly only nine sects, the artifact spirit had been evasive. Thus, Chen Anshi warned the disciples that they might encounter cultivators from Great Wei's immortal cultivation world.

Fang Wang had defeated Xu Lang at the ninth level of the Spirit Pill Realm. Though he was wary of Mysterious Heart Realm cultivators, he was not yet afraid of them. His strongest spell had never been used before!

Half an hour later.

The dharma ship flew into a wilderness. The earth was crimson, with sparse flowers, grass, and trees. Cracks covered the ground, forming a maze of winding canyons.

Two sheer mountain peaks appeared ahead, separated by roughly ten zhang. They looked as though a sword cultivator had split one mountain in half with a single slash, a spectacular sight beyond compare.

The dharma ship descended. Fang Wang and the others followed Chen Anshi off the vessel, while Zhao Chuangan and the elders walked behind them.

Fang Wang focused his gaze and saw cultivators already gathered at the foot of the mountains. Judging by their clothing, they belonged to six different sects, numbering more than a hundred people in total.

Taiyuan Sect's arrival drew the attention of the other sects. Fang Wang felt many Spiritual Senses sweep across him, making him rather displeased.

"Humph!"

Chen Anshi snorted coldly, like a muffled thunderclap exploding through the air. The Spiritual Senses on Fang Wang immediately vanished, and the expressions of the other disciples improved as well.

"Hahaha, isn't this Taiyuan Sect's Vice Sect Master? Chen Anshi, when will you finally enter the Spirit Condensation Realm?" An old man laughed, his booming voice instantly easing the tense atmosphere. The elders from the other sects followed suit and greeted him.

"Vice Sect Master Chen, this batch of Taiyuan Sect disciples is extraordinary!"

"Which one is Fang Wang? To defeat someone at the ninth level of the Spirit Pill Realm after cultivating for only three years—truly incredible!"

"With Fang Wang and Lu Yuanjun, along with three Earth Origin Treasure Spirits, it seems Taiyuan Sect will hold the foremost seat among the Nine Great Sects in the future."

"Ah, what a pity. Why does my Taiqing Sect lack such tremendous fortune? Clearly, we and Taiyuan Sect originated from the same lineage."

The great cultivators from the various sects gathered together and praised Taiyuan Sect in unison.

Xu Lang, Ye Xiang, and the other Taiyuan Sect disciples could not help looking at Fang Wang, their gazes equally complicated.

Fang Wang had not expected his reputation to spread so quickly in only a month. It seemed Taiyuan Sect had quite a few spies.

When Lu Yuanjun heard others putting him down to elevate Fang Wang, he remained unmoved. Instead, he wore a harmless smile.

Chen Anshi snorted. "No matter how outstanding Fang Wang's talent is, he is still young. I hope the various sects will show him some consideration. After all, the Nine Great Sects must join hands to develop Great Qi's immortal cultivation world in the future. Our opponents are the immortal cultivation worlds of Wei, Chu, and Zhao."

Once he said that, the great cultivators from the other sects could no longer continue teasing them and shifted the topic to Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven.

"Looks like your troubles are only beginning. Take care of yourself."

Zhou Xue's voice entered Fang Wang's ears. He could not help glancing at her, giving her a look that told her to figure it out herself.

Seeing this, Zhou Xue pursed her lips in a smile, walked to his side, and took a secret manual from her Storage Bag before handing it to him.

Fang Wang glanced at it. Four words were written on its cover: Spirit Sculpting Manual.

Joy rose in his heart, and he immediately put the Spirit Sculpting Manual into his Storage Bag.

Not far away, Gu Li noticed the scene. Through her veil, Fang Wang could vaguely see her lightly biting her lip.

An hour later, the remaining two sects arrived.

The Xuanhong Sword Sect caught Fang Wang's attention. His gaze swept through their ranks as he tried to find Xu Qiuming.

Zhou Xue had said that Xu Qiuming of the Xuanhong Sword Sect was someone he absolutely could not provoke. Taiyuan Sect would become the strongest sect in Great Qi's immortal cultivation world, but Xu Qiuming would become the strongest person. Only after Xu Qiuming left Great Qi's immortal cultivation world and crossed the seas in search of opportunities would Lu Yuanjun rise to the summit.

According to Zhou Xue, Lu Yuanjun was formidable, but he was merely a towering figure within the small pond of Great Qi's immortal cultivation world. Xu Qiuming, however, was someone who could truly pursue the immortal path. By the time Zhou Xue reached the highest realm in the mortal world, Xu Qiuming would have done the same. He simply lacked the fate to ascend.

"The youngest-looking boy is Xu Qiuming," Zhou Xue transmitted to him.

Fang Wang's gaze landed on a black-clad youth who appeared fourteen or fifteen. His features were not especially handsome, merely passably delicate. The other Xuanhong Sword Sect disciples all wore treasured swords, but he had nothing at his waist and carried no sword on his back. He possessed none of an expert's imposing aura.

Sensing Fang Wang's gaze, Xu Qiuming looked at him and flashed a toothy smile, appearing somewhat shy.

Fang Wang immediately nodded to him, then withdrew his gaze.

The vice sect masters and elders of the various sects conversed, while their disciples stood separately, the boundaries between them distinct.

This continued until noon.

The two sheer mountain peaks ahead suddenly trembled, drawing everyone's attention.

"Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven has opened! Each sect, prepare to enter!"

An elder from Taiqing Sect shouted loudly. At once, the disciples rose to their feet.

A brilliant light appeared between the two peaks, dazzling beyond measure and making it impossible to see the canyon beyond.

The nine disciples of Green Cicada Valley entered the light first, and their auras vanished with them. Taiqing Sect followed, then the Chimo Sect.

Chen Anshi turned around and instructed them, "Remember, be careful in all things! Do not trust others easily. Your goal is to search for heavenly treasures and inheritances. Do you understand?"

All the disciples nodded in unison. Apart from Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, everyone felt that this vice sect master seemed stern on the surface but possessed a warm heart.

Soon, it was Taiyuan Sect's turn. Lu Yuanjun took the lead and entered the canyon.

Fang Wang followed behind Zhou Xue, while Gu Li came behind him.

No one spoke along the way.

When Fang Wang stepped into the brilliant light, an unimaginable force wrapped around him. Then he felt his body slip beyond his control, as though he had suddenly fallen. The intense sensation of weightlessness made him uncomfortable, yet he could not open his eyes.

A full ten breaths passed.

Fang Wang finally felt his feet touch the ground. The powerful dizziness nearly made him fall, but he forcibly steadied himself.

As control over his body gradually returned, Fang Wang felt Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy even denser than that in Taiyuan Sect's dwelling surge toward him. He immediately felt refreshed and instinctively opened his eyes.

Before him stretched a rolling mountain forest. Thunderclouds churned at the horizon, and enormous demonic beasts could vaguely be seen circling in the distance. He stood atop a cliff, and another five steps forward would send him plunging over the edge.

He immediately turned around and looked out, but he could not see anyone. He spread out his Spiritual Sense and likewise detected no trace of another person.

Sure enough, just as Chen Anshi had said, they would be scattered after entering. Where they landed depended entirely on Great Sage's Grotto-Heaven's artifact spirit.

Half a year later, the artifact spirit would send them out, so there was no need to search for an exit.

Fang Wang did not rush to begin searching. Instead, he sat down cross-legged beside the cliff and took out the Spirit Sculpting Manual Zhou Xue had given him.

Spirit Molding required Heavenly Dao Spirit Stones, and only the Nine Great Sects possessed them in Great Qi's immortal cultivation world. Even if Aristocratic Clans had them, they had to keep them hidden, or they would bring about a fatal disaster.

Fang Wang had originally planned to return to Taiyuan Sect and perform Spirit Molding after this was over. Now, however, there was no need, because the first page of the Spirit Sculpting Manual explained how to create temporary Heavenly Dao Spirit Stones!

Besides the method of creation, Spirit Molding could also be performed in certain special locations, though such places had not yet been discovered by Great Qi's immortal cultivation world.

Though it was called the Spirit Sculpting Manual, most of its later contents concerned how to condense a Spirit Pill. Fang Wang suspected Zhou Xue had written it specifically for him.