Chapter 122: Overseas Eternal Life Pavilion, Ninth Level of the Concentration Realm

Faced with Fang Wang’s well-wishes, a flicker of disappointment crossed Gu Li’s eyes. She asked softly, "When will you set out to seek your immortal destiny? Will you be heading south?"

Fang Wang still remembered the Sword Saint’s entrustment. He possessed a Yellow-grade Sword Lord Token, and Zhou Xue had also suggested he head south in the future. He himself was eager to see a broader world.

"I do not know exactly when, but I will go," Fang Wang replied.

Gu Li looked at him, words hovering on the tip of her tongue, yet she remained silent.

After a moment of thought, Fang Wang said, "What man would not admire a beautiful woman like you? But I am different. My heart is set on the path of immortality. I hope you feel the same, Miss Gu. Would you rather spend a few hundred years with me, or seek eternal life together?"

The implication should have been clear enough, and it wasn't hurtful, he reasoned. Fang Wang mentally patted himself on the back. He could not read Zhou Xue’s mind, but he could easily see through Gu Li’s thoughts; the girl’s feelings were impossible to hide. However, he did not believe Gu Li’s feelings were necessarily love—perhaps it was simply the admiration born from being defeated by him. Moreover, he did not want her to prioritize romance above all else. A cultivator should make the pursuit of immortality their ultimate goal.

"Who wants to seek eternal life with you?" Gu Li huffed, her tone carrying a hint of bashful annoyance.

Before Fang Wang could explain, she stared straight at him and asked, "Can I write to you in the future? Once we part ways, I fear it may be a century before we meet again."

Fang Wang asked in surprise, "Can letters from overseas reach the Taiyuan Sect?"

Gu Li replied, "My Gu family has been venturing overseas for a long time and has business dealings there. As long as I give the letters to my family’s subordinates, they can deliver them. It is just that your replies might not reach me."

That’s fine, I have no desire to write back anyway, Fang Wang thought to himself. Aloud, however, he praised, "My Brother Gu certainly manages things well."

"What Brother Gu?" Gu Li widened her beautiful eyes.

Fang Wang laughed, "My Brother Gu Tianxiong, of course. He was the one who insisted on becoming my sworn brother."

"Really? My father doesn't seem like the type to be so frivolous."

"Ahem, what would you know? We are soulmates." Fang Wang would have loved to say that her father was quite an interesting character, but he held his tongue.

Gu Li blinked, suddenly struck by a thought, and her earlobes turned red. She left him with a final remark: "If fate allows, we shall meet at sea. Wait for my letter."

She fled toward her cave dwelling like a startled animal, and the stone gate quickly slammed shut.

Fang Wang looked at Xiao Zi on his shoulder and asked, "What’s wrong with her?"

Xiao Zi flicked its snake tongue and said, "In the language of our demon realm, she wants to reproduce."

"Hm?"

Fang Wang grabbed Xiao Zi and tossed it off the cliff.

***

The departure of Fang Zigeng and Gu Li was merely a microcosm of the changes sweeping through the Great Qi. Geniuses from the nine major sects began heading south one after another to seek their immortal destiny. The cultivation world of the Great Qi did not turn desolate because of this; instead, as the Great Qi transformed into a cultivation dynasty, it became even more vibrant.

The nine sects collectively changed their rules: the recruitment of disciples was no longer restricted by time. Anyone who demonstrated the aptitude for cultivation could join at any moment.

Furthermore, an increasing number of cultivators flooded into the Great Qi’s imperial capital. It was said that even the Emperor and his court officials had begun practicing qi-gathering. To the common people, cultivation had once been an ethereal, distant concept, but now it had aggressively intruded upon their daily lives. With more cultivators entering the secular world and displaying their arts, the Great Qi stood at the threshold of an unprecedented shift in fortune.

Fang Wang continued his seclusion. Every five years, he would emerge for a few days to visit the Fang estate and his family. During one of his absences, Fang Yin had given birth to a son and a daughter. When Fang Wang returned, he met his younger brother and sister, who were already growing into fine teenagers. He was quite pleased; it was a weight off his mind, knowing they would be there to see their parents through their final days. He gifted each of them a magical artifact as a welcoming present.

He knew he would eventually have to wander the world. Decades passed, and members of the Fang family were now scattered across the nine major sects. The Fang estate had moved to the capital, becoming the most powerful ducal mansion under the Emperor’s feet. This had once caused an uproar in the imperial court, but Zhao Qi had suppressed it with his own authority; he even visited the Fang estate personally on several occasions.

***

In the blink of an eye, twelve years had passed since Gu Li headed south. That year, Fang Wang’s cultivation reached the eighth level of the Condensed Spirit Realm, not far from the ninth. No one knew his exact cultivation level, but the cultivation world knew that the Sword Saint, Fang Wang, was in seclusion. When he emerged, the heavens of the Great Qi cultivation world would surely rise even higher.

On this day, the voice of a disciple came from outside the cave: "Senior Brother Fang, there is a letter for you."

The Affairs Hall of the Taiyuan Sect had a dedicated department for receiving mail. They only sent disciples to deliver letters once they confirmed the recipient was within the sect; otherwise, mail was held at the hall. Delivering mail was also a task disciples could perform to earn contribution points.

Fang Wang gave Xiao Zi a look, and it immediately darted over. As the gate opened, the disciple let out a shriek—clearly a newcomer who had never seen Xiao Zi before. The gate closed again, and Xiao Zi brought the letter to Fang Wang, holding it in its mouth.

"Could it be that Miss Gu? She was the only one who said she would write to you," Xiao Zi said, sounding jealous.

Fang Wang took the letter and tore open the envelope, extracting seven sheets of paper. The first sheet began with, "Senior Brother Fang, how have you been lately?"

It was indeed Gu Li. It was rare for anyone to write to him, so Fang Wang was quite interested and curious to see what she had written.

In the letter, Gu Li recounted her experiences since going to sea. She and the Gu family members had drifted on the ocean for three full years before reaching an archipelago inhabited entirely by cultivators. The first two pages were filled with her sights and sounds—a heavenly river surging into the clouds, ghosts and monsters larger than mountains, ghost ships drifting in the night, and more. It stirred a strong sense of interest in Fang Wang.

According to Gu Li, the largest cultivation power she had encountered at sea was called the Eternal Life Pavilion. It was said that the Pavilion comprised hundreds of cultivation sects, and the Canglan Academy she had joined was one of them. A Yellow-grade Envoy from the Eternal Life Pavilion had visited their academy and actually forced their reclusive elders to emerge from isolation. Gu Li mentioned that their Dean was at the ninth level of the Condensed Spirit Realm.

A Yellow-grade Envoy? Seeing this, Fang Wang could not help but think of his own Yellow-grade Sword Lord Token. Could this token also originate from the Eternal Life Pavilion? He wondered who held higher status: a Yellow-grade Sword Lord or a Yellow-grade Envoy.

The rest of the letter described her daily life and observations. Everything was going smoothly for her, and she had encountered no trouble—or at least, she wouldn't have mentioned it if she had.

The final paragraph read: "In the vast, blue sea, sects are as numerous as trees in a forest, and geniuses are as abundant as the stars in the outer heavens. If you were to come, Senior Brother, you would descend like the brilliant sun, causing all the other stars to pale."

Fang Wang smiled. He folded the letter and tucked it back into the envelope. He initially intended to burn it, but changed his mind and stored it in his Dragon Jade Ring instead.

Xiao Zi was literate and had read the entire letter while perched on Fang Wang’s shoulder. It said excitedly, "Young Master, the sea seems very interesting. When shall we go?"

Fang Wang said calmly, "Wait a little longer. No rush."

He had yet to reach the Void Severing Realm, so there was no hurry. The cultivation environment at sea was bound to be more dangerous than in the Great Qi. If he were to go, he needed at least the strength to sweep through levels even higher than the Void Severing Realm.

Zhao Zhen floated over and remarked with emotion, "My Master is so gifted and yet so cautious; one day, you will surely attain eternal life."

"Flattery again! Go practice!" Xiao Zi scolded, widening its snake eyes.

Zhao Zhen was furious, but it obediently retreated. Since returning from the Falling Sky Secret Realm, Xiao Zi had learned a technique from somewhere that allowed Zhao Zhen to cultivate. It grew stronger by absorbing Zhao Zhen’s ghostly energy, which caused its own demonic aura to become tainted with ghostly energy. Thus, Zhao Zhen had become Xiao Zi’s training tool, working hard every day.

Fang Wang occasionally put in a good word for Zhao Zhen. If not for Xiao Zi’s intervention, he would have crushed Zhao Zhen’s soul long ago. Besides, he could feel that Zhao Zhen was also growing stronger, which meant Xiao Zi was still leaving room for its progress.

Fang Wang returned to his practice. He now had only one goal: to break through to the Void Severing Realm!

***

Time flowed like water. The disciples who had gone out to temper themselves all had their own exciting stories, while Fang Wang, who remained in his cave, knew nothing of the world, only of cultivation.

Three years later, Fang Wang finally reached the ninth level of the Condensed Spirit Realm. He was seventy-four years old!

A seventy-four-year-old at the ninth level of the Condensed Spirit Realm—Fang Wang wanted to ask the world: Who else could compare?

That day, just as he was about to make a push for the Void Severing Realm, his Head Disciple token vibrated with spiritual sense. He immediately retrieved it.

"Fang Wang, come here."

Guang Qiuxian’s voice came through, sounding exceptionally weak.

Fang Wang silently tucked the token into his Dragon Jade Ring, stood up, and walked toward the gate. Xiao Zi had heard the message and did not follow.

Not long after, Fang Wang entered the Shiyuan Hall. The hall was silent; even his own footsteps made no sound. He walked up to the dais and looked at the meditating Guang Qiuxian.

Eighteen years had passed, and Guang Qiuxian was a changed man. He was gaunt and hunched, his long beard covering his face, looking every bit the candle flickering in the wind.

"Greetings, Sect Master," Fang Wang bowed. His gaze remained unchanged.

Guang Qiuxian lifted his eyes to look at him, his gaze murky and devoid of its former luster. He asked feebly, "Fang Wang, what is your current realm?"

Fang Wang hesitated for a moment before saying, "The ninth level of the Condensed Spirit Realm."

Guang Qiuxian’s time was running out, and Fang Wang wanted to give him a moment of joy. The demonic invasion years ago had caused irreparable damage to Guang Qiuxian, and combined with his advanced age, there was no turning back.

"The ninth level of the Condensed Spirit Realm... Good... That is good... I am over four hundred years old. After breaking into the Condensed Spirit Realm, I stalled at the third level, unable to progress further... Truly, everyone has their own fate. The third level was my limit, but your destiny is yet to be written..."

Guang Qiuxian spoke with a tone of reflection, relief, and happiness. Facing death, he no longer held so many regrets. He raised his right hand, and three wooden tablets flew from his sleeve. Fang Wang caught them and saw that each bore a name. Two were surnamed Fang, and one was surnamed Zhou.

"Choose one to be the next Sect Master... Perhaps their cultivation is not yet enough, but the Taiyuan Sect will do its best to nurture them," Guang Qiuxian said with a soft laugh.

Fang Wang hesitated. "Sect Master, there is really no need for this..."

Guang Qiuxian replied, "Fang Wang, we both know the truth. It just depends on whether you acknowledge the investment the Taiyuan Sect has made in you."

Fang Wang took a deep breath, held up one of the wooden tablets, and said, "Then let us choose her."