The Reborn

In the pavilion, the heads Fang Can had borrowed from Li Qunfan and the others' shoulders lay at his feet.

Watching the blood spread across the floor, Fang Can still frowned slightly, feeling a little uneasy.

After all, this was his first time killing someone. It was only natural to feel uncomfortable.

But it didn't matter. He'd have plenty more people to kill in the future. The more he killed, the more he'd get used to it.

He kicked the heads aside, changed into the Golden Silk Soft Armor, slung his sword over his back, grabbed a stack of notes, then used strips of cloth to tie up the suitcase and some provisions. Finally, he memorized the map and entered the pitch-black tunnel.

After he left, the pavilion was empty once more. Only a few lifeless corpses lay on the cold floor, surrounded by congealing blood.

Meanwhile, in the Tiger Fiend Sect's tunnel, Fang Can made his way toward the exit through the darkness.

A few minutes later, he reached the end and pushed open the stone slab above him. The brilliant stars filling the night sky met his eyes.

Even he couldn't have imagined that in just one day, he'd been forcibly graduated from the Tiger Fiend Sect.

As for the reason... since he hadn't been there to witness it, he still couldn't quite understand.

But he knew one thing: he'd have to repay this debt of gratitude when he got the chance. Otherwise, he'd be letting down the person who'd done so much to help him.

In the pitch-black late-autumn night, the evening breeze brushed past Fang Can as he stopped thinking about it and headed out of the city, following the map he'd memorized.

After all, now that he'd run away, the Tiger Fiend Sect would probably issue a wanted notice for him. If he were caught and dragged back, things might be awkward when the two of them met again.

A few hours later, as dawn broke on the following day, four guards were already kneeling before Yang Duan.

"Master, this subordinate failed to keep watch. That thief Fang Can killed three of the disciples on guard, then stole the sect's valuables and escaped."

"Leave him be."

Yang Duan waved his hand and said dismissively, "The fighting against the Shape-Shifting Sect along the border is urgent, and a battle could break out at any moment. A mere little thief won't amount to anything."

"Once things have calmed down, we can issue a bounty and hunt for him within the Tiger Fiend Sect's territory."

"Besides, the All-Kingdoms Grand Competition starts in two months. If we can secure a decent ranking, it'll help clear the Tiger Fiend Sect's name."

"Yes, Sect Master!" the four guards answered in unison.

Within the borders of Great Yan Kingdom, in Tribulation Sword Mountain, Jiang Ning'an had returned to the sect after traveling through the night despite her injuries.

In a pavilion atop a lofty peak, surrounded by clouds and mist, the current head of Tribulation Sword Mountain, Liu Qingmeng, emerged from seclusion. Looking at her most gifted disciple, she furrowed her delicate brows and asked:

"Ning'an, were you only sent to Mist Cloud Pavilion? How did you get hurt?"

"Reporting to Master, this disciple encountered two strange things on her journey. Her injury is related to them." Jiang Ning'an solemnly recounted, in broad strokes, everything that had happened in the present world.

Knowing her disciple's temperament and that she wouldn't joke about such things, Liu Qingmeng's expression grew even more grave.

But looking at her, Jiang Ning'an asked, "Master, you don't seem surprised?"

Liu Qingmeng didn't answer. She merely lifted her chin slightly, acknowledging that she'd expected this.

After all, if modern precision instruments could detect it, how could all the strange people and events in this idealist world escape notice?

Could Idealist Martial Dao really be so inconvenient?

"For now, stay here and focus on recovering. As for that other world..."

Clad in white, Liu Qingmeng's eyes seemed to brim with sword intent that soared to the heavens. "Wait here while I give it a try!"

"Heavenly Emperor Fang! I'll kill you for sure!"

Inside Blazing Sun Martial Hall, beneath the gentle morning sunlight, a young man sprang up from his bed, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

But when he saw everything around him, he froze.

The room before him was familiar. Its furnishings were exactly as they'd been years ago.

"Have I... been reborn?" the young man murmured, staring at his hands.

They were rough hands, covered in calluses from years of diligent sword practice. They were nothing like the pristine hands he'd had after his body was remade upon reaching the Heaven Ascending Path.

Everything before him felt like a dream, as if he were living inside one.

"But if all of this is real!" The young man clenched his hands, trembling all over with excitement.

His name was Yuan Dang. In his previous life, at his peak, he'd been a martial arts expert who had taken three steps along the Heaven Ascending Path. Unfortunately, he'd encountered the even more monstrous Heavenly Emperor Fang—Fang Can!

That guy had appeared out of nowhere like a comet, then loomed over the ages like the Great Sun, leaving countless prodigies struggling to breathe.

If that had been all, it might have been bearable. After all, as long as they lived their own lives, they'd have almost nothing to do with him.

But Heavenly Emperor Fang was lecherous by nature. He'd kept up a good front while in the Mortal Shedding Body realm, but after stepping onto the Heaven Ascending Path, his growing power had caused his wicked desires to consume his mind.

Led on by those boundless desires, that man built the Crystal Palace, forced the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to create the Beauty Ranking, and brought the top three thousand women on the list into his harem.

In the year of the solar eclipse, for seven days, all three thousand beauties in the Crystal Palace lost their virginity.

And his senior sister... she, too...

At the thought, Yuan Dang was overcome with grief and outrage. He barely managed to suppress the emotions churning inside him.

As for how he'd died before being reborn? His senior sister had been captured, and the rage had destroyed his cultivation. He'd died with blood streaming from all seven orifices.

"Heavenly Emperor Fang... hehehe. Now that I've been reborn, I, Heavenly Emperor Yuan, will rule over this age! If you can build the Crystal Palace, why can't I?" Yuan Dang laughed like a madman.

But as he laughed, a small detail came to mind, and his face froze.

Sure enough, when he reached down, the manhood that should have grown back in the future was nowhere to be found.

"Gah! My little brother!"

With a cry of anguish, Yuan Dang remembered that when he was young, he'd chosen to castrate himself so he could advance further in martial arts.

Unless he set foot on the Heaven Ascending Path, he'd spend the rest of his life unable to get it up—let alone build a Crystal Palace.

After standing there dazed for a while, Yuan Dang finally regained his composure.

"No need to panic. I still remember that bastard Fang's Everyone Has Kung Fu to Practice. Even an average person can reach the Heaven Ascending Path after just a year of hard training. And I'm far from average, aren't I?"

At that thought, Yuan Dang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then he suddenly heard gongs and drums going off inside the Martial Hall, where an unusual commotion had broken out.

With a bang, the door was shoved open, and a young man called out:

"Junior Brother Yuan, you're awake! Hurry and come out. The Tiger Fiend Sect's disciples have come to collect rent again. Master says we should seize this rare chance to line up and welcome them, then spar with them and ask for their guidance."

"Tiger Fiend Sect... disciples?" Yuan Dang's expression stiffened. At the young man's words, he finally remembered what day it was.

Today was the day he'd first met Fang Can—and the only time he ever had.

After today, he wouldn't even be qualified to meet Fang Can again. He'd only hear news of him from others.

As Fang Can rose from Fang the Hero to Fang the Saint and then Heavenly Emperor Fang, his status climbed higher and higher, while Yuan Dang sank ever further into the dust.

If that's how it is, then I'll start changing things today! Yuan Dang swore to himself.