Guardian and the Five Emperors Dharma Assembly

Peng Xiaochuan, seeing that the Divine Abomination was captured, stepped across the waves and approached Fang Heng.

"Your Highness, please hand the Divine Abomination over to me. After severe interrogation, we will surely get to the bottom of this case."

Peng Xiaochuan looked at the Divine Abomination's soul with great interest and eagerness.

"Chief Peng, can't you just use soul-searching techniques directly?" Fang Heng asked in return.

"Your Highness, you may not know this, but Divine Abominations cultivate divinity, which originates from evil gods. If a soul-searching method is used, the soul of the searcher will be contaminated by the divinity."

Peng Xiaochuan patiently explained to Fang Heng.

"I see."

"In that case, the Divine Abomination's soul is yours, Chief Peng."

After Fang Heng and Chief Peng completed the handover, he looked up at the river.

He saw that the divinity permeating the river was being continuously drawn away by the God Slaying Grand Array above Yujing City.

Seeing Fang Heng's curious expression, Peng Xiaochuan said with a smile.

"Your Highness, divinity cannot be destroyed; it can only be transferred."

"The divinity on the river surface is a great tonic for other Divine Abominations."

"If it's not dealt with, it will certainly attract many Divine Abominations."

"The God Slaying Grand Array above Yujing City, besides monitoring and suppressing, is primarily used to seal divinity."

"So, the God Slaying Grand Array has sealed countless divinities, and I'm afraid many Divine Abominations are eyeing them."

"Hahaha—Your Highness is right."

"Divine Abominations eyeing the God Slaying Grand Array are as numerous as carp crossing the river."

"However, those who dared to act have long become lost souls under the God Slaying Grand Array."

While Fang Heng and Peng Xiaochuan were conversing, Yin Tingshu helped the severely bleeding young fisherman, gave him a pill, and the boy's breathing stabilized.

He then ordered someone to send the boy home.

Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Eunuch Su walked respectfully into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

His respectful demeanor showed none of the domineering presence he had displayed earlier when facing the Divine Abomination.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Divine Abomination has been captured, and the God Slaying Department is currently interrogating it," Eunuch Su reported.

"Tell me what happened."

Emperor Yuanchu said indifferently, not even looking up, his gaze fixed on the memorial in his hands.

Eunuch Su recounted the entire process, from his trip to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to deliver the imperial decree, to capturing the Divine Abomination on the river.

He told everything, holding nothing back, and without adding his subjective opinions.

"That old scoundrel, the Director, finally decided to let his closed-door disciple act?" Emperor Yuanchu said with a smile, then changed the subject.

"Is Heng'er's mastery of Thunder Arts really as impressive as you say?"

"How dare this old servant deceive Your Majesty?"

"If this old servant speaks half a lie, may I be struck by lightning."

Eunuch Su swore, which amused Emperor Yuanchu.

"In just over a month, Heng'er has achieved such mastery in Thunder Arts. Daoist Xuanqing deserves great credit."

"Your Majesty, Daoist Xuanqing's credit cannot compare to yours."

"Oh?"

"How so?"

"If the Ninth Prince were an unpolished stone, then even the most skilled craftsman could not carve him into a beautiful jade."

"The Ninth Prince has such astonishing talent in Thunder Arts because he is Your Majesty's son."

"Hahaha—Well said!"

Eunuch Su's words resonated deeply with Emperor Yuanchu.

Heng'er is my blood.

How could he be anything less?

Ding ding ding—

The sound of scales clashing echoed outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your Majesty, Chief Peng requests an audience."

"It seems there's a result. Let Peng Xiaochuan in."

"Your Majesty, your humble servant Peng Xiaochuan bows to you. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."

Peng Xiaochuan knelt on one knee, performing a grand salute.

"Rise," Emperor Yuanchu said slowly. "Have you thoroughly investigated the case?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your humble servant has already uncovered the Divine Abomination's plot."

"A few days ago, the Blood Venerable sent down a divine oracle, instructing the Divine Abomination to spread blood lotuses across the Divine Land by promoting Sacred Emperor Rice."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanchu immediately understood, a cold sneer playing on his lips.

"So, the Blood Venerable was scheming this."

Hiding blood seeds within the Sacred Emperor Rice seeds.

As Sacred Emperor Rice was planted throughout Great Qian's Seventy-Two Commandery, the Blood Venerable's blood lotuses could also bloom across the Seventy-Two Commandery.

Truly a clever scheme.

"You may leave."

"Your humble servant takes his leave."

After Peng Xiaochuan departed, Emperor Yuanchu fell into deep thought.

After pondering for a while, he finally made a decision.

"Have Old Huang secretly protect Heng'er."

"Understood, Your Majesty!"

Eunuch Su's heart was in turmoil upon hearing Emperor Yuanchu's command.

His Majesty actually wanted Old Huang to be the Ninth Prince's protector.

Protectors were extremely difficult to find.

They not only needed to be powerful but also fiercely loyal.

Most importantly, they had to be willing to serve as a protector and guard a junior.

There was no shortage of powerful individuals.

But these powerful individuals were either obsessed with cultivation, solely pursuing Eternal Life, Or they were engrossed in pleasure, acting as local tyrants, lording over others.

Strong individuals willing to protect juniors were very few.

For example, among prominent noble families, only the legitimate eldest son or the most talented young generation typically had a protector secretly guarding them.

Even within the imperial family, not every prince had a protector.

"The Ninth Prince is clearly more than just in His Majesty's good graces," Eunuch Su thought to himself.

The Prince's Manor.

"Your Highness, Her Ladyship sent the wondrous item, the Exquisite Umbrella," Yun Menglan said softly.

Fang Heng played with the small yellow umbrella in his hand, his dark eyes lighting up.

A look confirmed it; this was definitely from his mother.

Consort Ning, upon learning she was targeted by a Divine Abomination, immediately sent the wondrous item, the Exquisite Umbrella.

Daoist artifacts were divided into five levels:

Artifacts, Wondrous Items, Precious Treasures, Spirit Treasures, and the legendary Immortal Treasures.

Artifacts were the most common treasures for Daoist cultivators.

They could be wielded after entering the Object Manipulation realm.

Unless one was truly impoverished, they would have one or two artifacts with them.

As for Wondrous Items, they were very rare; the entire Evergreen Temple had fewer than thirty Wondrous Items.

Besides the Abbot and a few elders, only core disciples could obtain one.

As for Precious Treasures, there were fewer than a handful in Evergreen Temple.

Moreover, Precious Treasures had spirits, and to refine one, the spirit of the Precious Treasure needed to approve.

As for Spirit Treasures, across the Divine Land, without exception, they were all renowned.

Every time a Spirit Treasure emerged, it would stir up a storm of bloodshed and fierce competition.

The Wondrous Item, Exquisite Umbrella, sent by Consort Ning was different from the Wondrous Item, Spirit Calming Pearl, sent by the Left Prime Minister.

The Exquisite Umbrella was a defensive Wondrous Item that could withstand attacks below the Sixth Realm.

Unfortunately, Fang Heng was currently only in the Object Manipulation realm, and the Exquisite Umbrella consumed a great deal of his energy.

Casting it twice in a row would completely deplete his magical power.

Evergreen Temple.

Seven chi-patterned glazed lamps flickered.

The silver needles on Fang Heng's back trembled incessantly.

It continued for a full quarter of an hour before finally stopping.

"Thank you, Master!"

Fang Heng opened his eyes and exhaled a turbid breath.

Daoist Xuanqing glanced at Fang Heng, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"There are still a few lingering feminine energies in your dantian that haven't been refined."

"You're still young, take it easy."

"Cough, cough!"

"This disciple understands!"

Fang Heng coughed twice, his old face reddening, a bit embarrassed by Daoist Xuanqing's words.

Ever since he took Aunt Yun into his room, he had indeed been a bit indulgent these past few days.

Knowing the taste of the marrow, day and night.

"My disciple, your master has been thinking for a long time today."

"The Ten Absolute Poisons in your body might not be incurable."

Daoist Xuanqing stroked his beard and said slowly.

Fang Heng's eyes immediately lit up, his face beaming with joy.

Although he had already embarked on the path of cultivation, The Ten Absolute Poisons were, after all, a hidden danger.

No one knew when they might erupt.

"Please enlighten me, Master!"

"My disciple, do you know the origin of our Evergreen Temple's lineage?"

Daoist Xuanqing did not directly state the solution but changed the subject.

"I heard it's related to the ancient Azure Emperor!"

"Exactly!"

"After our founding ancestor entered the Dao many years ago, he and four other friends stumbled into Five Emperors Valley and each received a legacy."

"The legacy our ancestor received was that of the Azure Emperor, which is why our Evergreen Temple lineage exists."

"Besides our Evergreen Temple, the ancestor's friends also established their own sects."

"The other four lineages are Burning Heaven Valley, Seven Kill Pavilion, Profound Nether Hall, and Thick Earth Sect."

"The ancestors of the five sects were already good friends, so our five sects are considered to be of the same spirit, connected by destiny."

"They agreed to open Five Emperors Valley every ten years, allowing disciples to enter and seek opportunities."

"Our ancestor left a dying wish: when he entered Five Emperors Valley, he once saw an immortal lotus that had the miraculous effect of reshaping the physical body."

"If you can obtain that immortal lotus, my disciple, you can abandon your original body and use the immortal lotus as your new body, living a new life."

"Without your original body, these Ten Absolute Poisons will naturally heal themselves without medicine."

Daoist Xuanqing's idea was incredibly unconventional.

Since the poison couldn't be cured, he might as well just get a new body.

Fang Heng couldn't help but think of Nezha after hearing Daoist Xuanqing's method.

This was telling him to follow Nezha's path!

Fang Heng kept this method in mind.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"However, my disciple, it's not so easy for you to enter Five Emperors Valley."

"Five Emperors Valley opens once every ten years, and the spots are limited, with 500 people each time."

"The allocation of these 500 spots is decided by the Five Emperors Dharma Assembly."

Fang Heng immediately understood upon hearing this.

"So, the Five Emperors Dharma Assembly involves a competition?"

"Exactly!"

"The competition at the Five Emperors Dharma Assembly isn't limited to combat; it also includes alchemy, talisman crafting, artifact refining, puppetry, and more."

"Though you are my disciple, I cannot give you special treatment."

"Only by excelling at the Five Emperors Dharma Assembly can you secure a spot."

"And to enter Five Emperors Valley, you need to be at least at the fifth realm of cultivation."

Fang Heng blurted out, "Master, when is the next Five Emperors Dharma Assembly?"

"In one year!" Daoist Xuanqing explained slowly.

Cultivating to the fifth realm within a year.

If it were anyone else, he would think it was a madman's fantasy.

But his monstrous disciple couldn't be judged by common sense.

Perhaps, he truly could achieve it.

Fang Heng nodded slightly after listening.

Reaching the fifth realm within a year.

And standing out at the Five Emperors Dharma Assembly.

Entering Five Emperors Valley to find the Immortal Lotus.

Though difficult, Fang Heng was confident he could obtain the Immortal Lotus.

After putting on his top and recuperating for a bit, Daoist Xuanqing said to Fang Heng, "Follow me to the sword practice arena."

"Is Master finally going to teach me sword arts?!" Fang Heng's eyes lit up.

A moment later, the two arrived at the sword practice arena in Evergreen Temple.

Besides them, Senior Disciple Brother Lin Yichen was also there, holding a cyan longsword, exuding the aura of a chivalrous swordsman.

Clearly, teaching one was teaching, and teaching two was also teaching.

Daoist Xuanqing intended to teach both of his disciples together.

"Greetings, Senior Disciple Brother."

"Junior Disciple Brother, how's your health?"

"Just so-so. Thankfully, after entering the Dao, I can live a few more years."

After exchanging pleasantries, Daoist Xuanqing interrupted their conversation and said calmly, "Heng'er, today, your master will teach you one of our temple's Four Absolutes, the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword."

With that, Daoist Xuanqing pressed two fingers together, using them as a sword.

A sword qi shot out from his fingertips.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

The sound of something tearing through the air echoed in the sword practice arena.

Daoist Xuanqing used his fingers as a sword, demonstrating the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword for Fang Heng and Lin Yichen.

Sword qi crisscrossed, and the entire sword practice arena instantly transformed into an ocean of sword qi.

Lin Yichen nodded slightly, watching his master perform the sword art.

Although it wasn't his first time receiving guidance from his master, each time he watched his master perform the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword, he gained new insights.

The Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword was a sword art derived from the Big Dipper.

The seven stars of the Big Dipper guarded the Ziwei Star.

Therefore, the location of the Ziwei Star was also the core of the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword array.

Ziwei was the Emperor, and the Big Dipper was the General.

Only by the Emperor commanding the Generals could its full power be unleashed.

A quarter of an hour later, the sword qi receded.

The sword qi in the practice arena also vanished in a flash, as if it had never appeared.

Daoist Xuanqing stood with his hands behind his back, his sword-like brows and star-like eyes fixed on Fang Heng.

"Did you understand?"

"Mostly, about seventy to eighty percent."

Fang Heng stroked his chin, nodding and murmuring to himself, replaying the sword technique his master had just demonstrated in his mind.

"Show me. Perform it once."

Daoist Xuanqing looked at Fang Heng with anticipation and hope.

During the previous teaching session, Fang Heng's talent in Thunder Arts had been astonishing, startling Daoist Xuanqing.

He hoped that Fang Heng would also show talent in swordsmanship.

Even if it wasn't as good as his Thunder Arts talent, achieving seventy or eighty percent of that level would be enough to become a top-tier sword immortal in the world.

Fang Heng didn't hesitate, cupping his hands towards Daoist Xuanqing and his Senior Brother.

"Please guide me, Master and Senior Brother."

With a light step, he moved as nimbly as a swallow.

Fang Heng stepped onto the practice field and casually picked up a wooden sword.

These wooden swords were used by the disciples of Evergreen Temple for their sword practice.

Even if a mistake was made, it wasn't likely to be fatal.

"Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword!"

Fang Heng performed the Big Dipper steps, his sword moving like the seven stars.

The Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword flowed smoothly from his hands, without a hint of awkwardness.

It looked completely unlike someone practicing it for the first time.

Daoist Xuanqing watched, nodding slightly.

As expected of me, I teach so well!

Lin Yichen watched Fang Heng perform the Big Dipper steps, clicking his tongue.

He had long heard that his junior brother's talent was somewhat monstrous.

Seeing it today, it truly lived up to its reputation.

A quarter of an hour later.

Fang Heng finished his sword demonstration, yet still felt a sense of wanting more.

"Master, may I spar with you?"

A sword spar, or doujian, was a form of friendly combat within Evergreen Temple.

Both parties would suppress their cultivation to the same realm, purely competing on their swordsmanship.

Daoist Xuanqing was somewhat tempted, but upon remembering the disadvantage he'd faced when teaching Thunder Arts last time, he immediately dismissed the idea of sparring with Fang Heng.

This disciple of mine cannot be measured by ordinary standards.

Yichen is also here. What if… I stumble?

It would be unbecoming of a master.

No, no!

"Yichen, you spar with Heng'er."

Lin Yichen didn't overthink it. He leaped onto the practice field, grabbed a wooden sword, and cupped his hands towards Fang Heng.

"Junior Brother, be careful."

"Senior Brother, please!"

In an instant, both moved simultaneously.

Performing the Big Dipper steps, their swords moved like the seven stars.

The same sword technique was executed by both of them at the same time.

Though it was the identical sword form, it somehow gave off two distinctly different styles.

Lin Yichen's sword aura was continuous and endless, like a surging river with immense momentum, giving one a feeling of no end in sight.

Fang Heng's sword aura was broad and sweeping, like the brilliant sun in the sky; no matter how many paths you came from, he would meet you with one direct path.

Two distinctly different styles of the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword collided head-on in the practice field.

Sword qi rained down like meteors.

Clang—

Clang—

Clang—

The sword qi continuously clashed.

Annihilating in the void.

On the surface, it looked like an evenly matched fight.

However, an outsider sees the spectacle, while an expert sees the skill.

Fang Heng and Lin Yichen kept their cultivation levels at the same standard.

When sword qi clashed, it was impossible to determine a winner.

The outcome of an internal Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword battle hinges on the struggle for the Ziwei Emperor position.

The Big Dipper serves as the general, while Ziwei is the emperor.

Only by seizing the Ziwei Emperor position can one gain the upper hand.

On the training field, Fang Heng and Lin Yichen moved swiftly.

Their footwork, a series of powerful steps, constantly shifted.

It seemed chaotic, but in reality, all their movements revolved around the contest for the Ziwei Emperor position.

After a moment of sparring, Lin Yichen suddenly launched an attack.

His footwork changed, as if he instantly had nine legs.

His speed was incredible, leaving a series of afterimages in the air.

He had seized the Ziwei Emperor position.

Lin Yichen's footwork settled, landing precisely on the Ziwei Emperor position, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He had won this battle.

In a Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword duel, seizing the Ziwei Emperor position was tantamount to victory.

Unless other methods were used, there was no possibility of a comeback.

"Junior Brother, I've won!" Lin Yichen said with a smile.

"Senior Brother, the outcome is not yet decided."

Fang Heng's expression was calm; he didn't seem disheartened at all by Lin Yichen forcefully taking the Ziwei Emperor position.

Instead, he looked ready to continue the fight.

Seeing that Fang Heng refused to concede, Lin Yichen held nothing back.

He pointed his wooden sword towards the sky.

Innumerable streams of sword qi surged forth, like schooling fish.

The sword qi descended upon Fang Heng like a torrential downpour, overwhelming him.

It seemed as if it would completely engulf Fang Heng.

If viewed from above, one could see that Lin Yichen's sword qi formed the shape of the Big Dipper.

And where he stood was the location of the Ziwei Star.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

Whoosh—

Sharp sword qi descended.

Sword light rained down, sword qi like a rainbow.

Just as the sword qi was about to engulf him, Fang Heng's footwork suddenly changed.

Immediately after, the sword technique he was performing underwent a drastic transformation.

The Southern Dipper governs life, the Big Dipper governs death!

As his sword stance shifted, Fang Heng's figure suddenly vanished from Lin Yichen's sight.

Daoist Xuanqing, observing from the side, had two beams of light burst forth from his eyes.

"This is the Southern Dipper Rebirth Sword, which our patriarch had not yet perfected."

"Heng'er actually comprehended it himself."

On the training field, Lin Yichen only felt a blur before his eyes as Fang Heng's trace disappeared.

Before he could react, the tip of a wooden sword pressed against his back.

He lost!

He had lost!

He lost to his junior brother, who was practicing the Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword for the first time.

Most importantly, his junior brother's final sword strike had stunned him.

The Big Dipper Heavenly Gang Sword could be used this way?