Fang Yang had endured eight thousand years in the Oil Pot, every day like a descent into hell. His suffering had not been in vain; the third level of the Immortal Demon God Art had allowed him to fully master his explosively increased mana.
His realm had not broken through, yet his strength had surpassed that of an Early Taiyi Golden Immortal.
There was nothing unreasonable about this. Golden Immortal and Taiyi Golden Immortal had originally been the same realm. Advancing directly from Golden Immortal to Great Luo Golden Immortal was too difficult, which was why Old Ancestor Hongjun had created the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm as a transitional stage.
Fang Yang was very satisfied with his improvement. As he was now, breaking through to Taiyi Golden Immortal was entirely possible. He had not done so because he had yet to find his own Dao!
If he rashly broke through to Taiyi Golden Immortal without his own Dao, the cultivation he had worked so hard to attain would become a castle in the air, and he would lose the possibility of advancing further.
However, Fang Yang had long had an idea about his own Dao. He merely needed time to sort through his thoughts and elevate them into Dao.
Matters of cultivation realms could not be rushed.
Fang Yang planned to spend more time consolidating himself in the Early Taiyi Golden Immortal stage. Once he had taken nearly all he could from the River of Destiny, he would break through in one stroke and charge toward the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.
Only then could he catch up to, or even surpass, people like Daoist Duobao and Grand Master Xuandu in the shortest possible time.
"Your teacher said back then that once you advanced to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, I would bestow Innate Spiritual Treasures upon you. When your senior brothers and senior sisters entered the sect, I gave each of them three Innate Spiritual Treasures. You joined later, and there are not many Innate Spiritual Treasures left in my possession, so I can only give you two."
Sect Master Tongtian had never imagined that he would one day feel short of funds.
Back then, he had collected over six hundred Innate Spiritual Treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff, making the other great powers green with envy. Who could have imagined that he would end up in such a state?
Of the three methods of Proving Dao, Proving Dao through merit and Proving Dao through force could only be dreamed of; the hope of succeeding was far too slim. Nearly all disciples of the Mystic Gate would take the path of Slaying the Three Corpses to enter the Quasi-Saint Realm, then pursue the supreme realm of sainthood.
When Sect Master Tongtian bestowed treasures upon Daoist Duobao and the other three, he had specifically selected three Innate Spiritual Treasures for each of them that could be merged into one.
By the time it came to Fang Yang, Sect Master Tongtian had only a few Innate Spiritual Treasures left. He had only two worthy of being bestowed. Yet these two Innate Spiritual Treasures could not be used to merge the Three Corpses into one.
Fang Yang did not have such concerns. He was still far from the Quasi-Saint Realm. Perhaps he might even have a chance to embark on the path of the Chaotic Yuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Sect Master Tongtian flipped his right palm, and two masses of treasure light rose up. The sound of the Great Dao rumbled through the void—it was precisely two Innate Spiritual Treasures.
Although it was not Fang Yang's first time seeing Innate Spiritual Treasures, he was still drawn in by the dense Dao Charm upon them. No wonder those who possessed Innate Spiritual Treasures could often take on Level-Up Challenges.
Innate Spiritual Treasures were simply too formidable. They represented not only power, but justice as well!
Seeing Fang Yang's undignified expression, Sect Master Tongtian found it rather amusing. Fang Yang's temperament was too steady; it was truly rare for him to lose composure over Innate Spiritual Treasures.
"This treasure is called the Yin Yang Two Forms Gourd. I plucked it from the Innate Gourd Vine. It possesses the power to reverse life and death, evolve the Four Symbols, and destroy the Five Elements. Once activated, even countless worlds of dust would be annihilated."
"This treasure is called the Purple Lightning Hammer. I obtained it from Treasure Distribution Cliff. It possesses the profound ability to command all heavenly lightning arts. Divine lightning, immortal lightning, demon lightning, and devil lightning can all be manifested through it."
"These two treasures are both Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. With your cultivation, it will be difficult for you to refine them. Now, take two drops of your essence blood and give them to me."
The moment Fang Yang heard this, he understood Sect Master Tongtian's intention. Sect Master Tongtian intended to help him refine the two Innate Spiritual Treasures, sparing him the time needed to do so himself.
With a thought, Fang Yang opened a cut in his palm. Two drops of pale golden essence blood flew out and slowly drifted before Sect Master Tongtian.
Sect Master Tongtian pointed a finger at the two drops of essence blood. They transformed into two blood talismans and fell respectively into the Yin Yang Two Forms Gourd and the Purple Lightning Hammer.
In an instant, Fang Yang formed a connection with the two Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. At a thought from him, the two treasures leaped into the air and flew according to his will.
In no more than a moment, Sect Master Tongtian had helped him refine the two Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures!
"Put away your magic treasures. Although I have helped you refine them, if you wish to wield them freely, you must contemplate them more deeply."
Suppressing his excitement, Fang Yang drew the two Innate Spiritual Treasures into his body.
"Master's grace toward this disciple is as heavy as a mountain. This disciple will remember it with all his heart!"
In truth, Fang Yang's life had been saved by Sect Master Tongtian. Without the opportunity Sect Master Tongtian had left behind, Fang Yang would have died in that mudslide.
Still, Fang Yang would not shamelessly say that he wanted to repay such grace. What was Sect Master Tongtian's status, and what was his own? He was simply not qualified to say such things. The best way to repay Sect Master Tongtian was to cultivate diligently, increase his strength, and grow into a great power of heaven and earth as soon as possible.
Without strength, no matter how loudly he shouted his slogans, they would be empty words and idle boasts.
Sect Master Tongtian nodded slightly, his gaze resting on Fang Yang. "A disciple's responsibility is to inherit his teacher's Daoist arts and carry forward his teacher's lineage, not to risk his life for his teacher. Remember this: I am a saint and will never perish. Protect yourself well. Cultivate the Great Dao in the future—that will be the best repayment you can offer me."
These words were clearly Sect Master Tongtian's sincere thoughts. Fang Yang could not help but feel profound respect for this Graceful Teacher who had saved his life.
Fang Yang bowed deeply. "This disciple will remember Master's teachings."
Sect Master Tongtian waved his hand and instructed, "Myriad Phenomena Pavilion is this sect's treasure vault. You may go there and test your fortune."
"This disciple takes his leave!"
Fang Yang bowed once more and withdrew from Biyou Palace.
As soon as he left the main hall, he saw a Daoist as broad as a door approaching him. The Daoist's gaze was gentle, and his face bore a kind, amiable smile. Had it been someone else, Fang Yang might not have been able to name him. But the moment Daoist Duobao stood before him, Fang Yang recognized him immediately.
"Junior Brother Fang Yang pays respects to Eldest Senior Brother!"
Smiling, Fang Yang cupped his hands toward Daoist Duobao.
Fang Yang's impeccable manners greatly improved Daoist Duobao's impression of him. Daoist Duobao had originally thought Fang Yang would rely on Sect Master Tongtian's favor and disregard him, his eldest senior brother.
"So you are Junior Brother Fang Yang. Congratulations on becoming a Core Disciple. This elder brother must seek an audience with our teacher and ask him about matters of cultivation, so I cannot speak with you for long. Junior Brother, please make yourself at home!"
Even when facing a mere Golden Immortal, Daoist Duobao was exceedingly approachable and carried none of the airs of a great power of heaven and earth. Fang Yang could not help but admire Daoist Duobao's bearing.
Of course, Fang Yang knew that Daoist Duobao was very likely putting on an act.
That Prince Asan who pointed one hand to heaven and one hand to earth, proclaiming, "Above heaven and below earth, I alone am supreme," and that Shakyamuni seated upon a lotus platform, worshipped by three thousand Buddhas and countless living beings, were the same person!
Still, so long as Daoist Duobao did not come after him, Fang Yang could not be bothered by what sort of person Daoist Duobao truly was. If a hypocrite could keep up the act for a lifetime, what difference was there between him and a true gentleman?
"Eldest Senior Brother, please."
Fang Yang nodded with a smile before finally taking his leave.
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