Leaving the Sect

Fang Xiao felt that he might break through to the late stage within a year, but doing so would inevitably make him miss the opening of the Taibai Ruins. Thus, he decided that after meeting his Master early the next morning, he would head for the Taibai Ruins.

Early the next morning, Fang Xiao left his Cave Dwelling at daybreak and arrived at the Main Hall. Qing Feng still stood to one side like a stone statue.

"Martial Uncle?"

"You're here. What is it?"

Qing Feng opened his eyes and looked at Fang Xiao.

"May I ask whether Master is inside the hall? This disciple intends to leave the sect and travel abroad, so I have come to inform Master."

"The Taibai Ruins? That makes sense. If you leave any later, and are delayed on the road for a few days, you may miss the entry window. Go in. Master is in the hall."

Qing Feng had also guessed that he was heading for the Taibai Ruins at Pillar of Heaven Peak.

Hearing that his Master was inside, Fang Xiao cupped his hands to Qing Feng and walked in.

"Master," Fang Xiao said respectfully as ever.

"Xiao'er, you've come. I already heard. Since you intend to set out, let me tell you about the opponents you will face this time. Whenever the Taibai Ruins open, sword cultivators from the Five Domains and Four Seas, other than the Demon Race, never miss the opportunity. This time will naturally be no exception."

"Master means there are people I should watch out for."

"That's right. Setting aside the Demon Race of the Southern Wilderness, the Buddhist sect of the Western Desert and the Demon Sect of the Northern Plains currently have no proper sword cultivation sects. However, Shangqing Sect of the Central Holy Land is a sacred land founded upon the Sword Dao. People will certainly come, and their strength will surely be formidable. Among the Four Seas, the sword cultivators of the East Sea Qingyun Sword Sect and the North Sea Beiming Sword Sect also possess unique strengths. As for rogue sword cultivators, that is uncertain. The Taibai Ruins are, on one hand, a place to explore the ancient Taibai Sword Sect, and on the other, a Sword Testing Ground for sword cultivators like us."

"Master means only sword cultivators enter the Taibai Ruins?"

"That's right. Cultivators other than sword cultivators gain practically nothing from entering the Taibai Ruins, and they will even be targeted by many sword cultivators. As time passed, no cultivators other than sword cultivators participated. On this journey, the sect stands behind you, so there is no need to care about your opponents' identities. You may act freely. A sword cultivator must contend with Heaven, contend with Earth, contend with men—contend for victory and defeat, contend for fortuitous opportunities, contend for destiny, contend for that thread of the Great Dao. But if things cannot be done, you must also withdraw bravely from the rapids and preserve your useful body."

"This disciple has remembered every word Master said."

"Rest assured. When the time comes, I will wait for you outside the Taibai Ruins. Go."

"Thank you, Master. Then this disciple shall depart."

Ling Taichu's protective intent moved Fang Xiao deeply. Before leaving, he gave another deep bow.

"Catch."

Just as Fang Xiao left the main hall, Qing Feng beside him tossed him a Storage Bag.

"Martial Uncle, this is...?"

"By my reckoning, your pills should be nearly used up. These will be enough for you for some time. Do not delay your cultivation while outside."

"Many thanks, Martial Uncle. Fang Xiao will remember."

After bidding farewell, Fang Xiao transformed into a Sword Rainbow and left Heavenly Outer Peak.

On the way to the Teleportation Hall, he tried pushing it to the limit. He moved so fast that even the Spiritual Sense of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator could only catch an afterimage. Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Late Stage might sense something, but their reaction speed likely could not keep up.

He knew very well that he had reached the limit of the Sword Qi Like Rainbow realm. His Sword Dao Realm was still constrained by his cultivation. This time, he had clearly sensed the next realm of the Sword Dao—Sword Light Differentiation.

He even had a premonition that once he reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, he would naturally master Sword Light Differentiation without any bottleneck. He believed it was most likely because of the Primordial Sword Body.

Every realm of the Sword Dao was as different as Heaven and Earth. His previous cultivation speed in the Sword Dao had already been extremely fast, but ever since obtaining the Primordial Sword Body, he understood every Sword Principle at a glance and mastered every sword technique after a single practice. It felt as though he had unlocked a cheat.

From his Master's insights into the Sword Dao, he had also learned of the next realm—Sword Light Differentiation. It was not the sword light normally released through mana, but sword light transformed from the sword itself. Naturally, their power differed as clouds and mud.

Sword Light Differentiation meant differentiating the sword light transformed from one's own sword weapon: one into two, two into four, until the sword light underwent nine transformations and could become five hundred and twelve sword lights. Every single sword light possessed the power of the sword light transformed from the original sword weapon.

Of course, not every sword cultivator could transform sword light nine times. In theory, even a single transformation allowed one to attempt breaking through to the next Sword Dao Realm, but that was only theory. The fewer transformations one achieved, the more difficult the breakthrough became. Yet once one completed all nine transformations, there was no need to force a breakthrough—the next realm would naturally fall into place like water flowing into a channel.

On this journey to Pillar of Heaven Peak in Donghua Prefecture, he could not delay his cultivation. Since there was no bottleneck, as long as he smoothly pushed his spiritual power to two hundred and ten drops, he could enter the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. His Sword Dao Realm would then naturally reach the first transformation of Sword Light Differentiation—the level of two sword lights.

At that point, even against a False Core cultivator in a one-on-one fight, even if they had achieved Gang Sha Fusion and formed a Divine Ability Seed, it would remain uncertain who would win until they fought.

That was still his combat strength before condensing Sha Qi. Sword Fiend was scarce by nature, so he would never let go of the Sword Fiend within the Sword Mound. Every hundred years, the Sword Mound in the Taibai Ruins condensed a top-tier Sword Fiend. As for what kind, it was random. He only hoped it would suit his divine ability—the Nine Heavens Divine Fiend Sword Light.

Then he could head Above the Azure Sky to submit the Gang Qi required for the Nine Heavens Divine Fiend Sword Light and condense a Divine Ability Seed. A False Core would be within easy reach, and forming a Golden Core would pose no problem at all.

Unfortunately, he had no clue at all about the Five Elements True Malevolence required by the Five Qi Cultivating Immortal Scripture. Many famous great divine abilities were formed from Five Elements True Malevolence. Once discovered, very few could likely remain preserved. Otherwise, with Dual Divine Abilities and his own Foundation, attaining a First-grade Golden Core would be as easy as plucking something from his hand.

He also understood that rare types of Sha Qi could not be found merely by wanting to find them. Even if he found one, it might not necessarily suit him. He could only see whether he possessed that Blessed Fate.

By the time he finished thinking, Fang Xiao had arrived at the Teleportation Hall. He planned to find Xiao Yan first and ask whether he wanted to return to Golden Jade City with him.

Unfortunately, he had made the trip for nothing. The period for exchanging Foundation Establishment Pills from this demon extermination mission had ended, meaning Xiao Yan had obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill. According to Yan Tingyun, Xiao Yan and some of the disciples who had received Foundation Establishment Pills had chosen to return to the Outer Court to attempt Foundation Establishment.

He could only hope Xiao Yan would successfully achieve Foundation Establishment. Still, he made a trip to the Outer Court to see Fatty Han.

Fatty Han had already reached the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. It had to be said that although his aptitude was ordinary, his mind was very clear. He enjoyed doing business and trading, but he would never let it delay his cultivation.

"Martial Uncle Fang, I thought you had already given up on me."

Although Fang Xiao had instructed Xiao Yan to look after Fatty Han, Fang Xiao had achieved Foundation Establishment and then gone several years without seeing him, causing worry to grow in Fatty Han's heart.

"How could that be? I'm still counting on you to handle matters for me."

Fang Xiao had already decided that if Fatty Han could successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, he would bring him into Heavenly Outer Peak. After all, he could not have Qing Feng do everything; Qing Feng was a Transforming Spirit Treasure.

Heavenly Outer Peak had so many empty Cave Dwellings. If he informed his Master of this matter in advance, his Master presumably would not object.

Fang Xiao also reassured Fatty Han and gave him a promise: if he cultivated to the Qi Refining Peak within two years, Fang Xiao would provide the Foundation Establishment Pill he needed when attempting Foundation Establishment.

The Foundation Establishment Pill he had won at the Auction had been kept for emergencies. Now that he had long since achieved Foundation Establishment, that pill had remained in his Storage Bag for quite some time. He could give it to Fatty Han. The cultivation requirement was merely a pretext, while the Foundation Establishment Pill had been left with Yan Tingyun, who was still worthy of trust.

After arranging these matters, Fang Xiao examined the Eastern Domain Map, chose a teleportation array closest to Golden Jade City, and set foot upon his Road Home.