Chapter 62: The Legendary Ranks

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"Who did it? Any news?" Fang Wang asked with a frown. Upon hearing of Zhao Zhen's calamity, he felt no delight; on the contrary, he instinctively sensed something amiss.

Fang Hanyu shook his head. "It's precisely because there are no leads at all that it can only be the work of a cultivator sect. But the nine great sects are currently conspiring to transform the Great Qi into a dynasty of cultivators—they need peace in the realm. Why would they do such a thing? It must be a sect from another kingdom."

"If you insist on saying it's someone within Great Qi, then it can only be the Golden Skies Sect. Their origins are mysterious, they come and go like ghosts, impossible to pin down as good or evil."

The Golden Skies Sect?

A sudden suspicion arose in Fang Wang's heart. Could it be Zhou Xue who acted? Indeed, she had mentioned before that upon her return she would take care of Zhao Zhen.

Fang Wang pressed on, "And Zhao Zhen?"

"He's fine. He's been hiding in the Taiyuan Sect, narrowly escaping disaster. Still, I doubt he's faring well. Who would have thought, when we were young, that the Duke's manor and the royal family would suffer such calamity?" Fang Hanyu sighed deeply, truly sympathizing with Zhao Zhen. Had Fang Wang not concealed his strength and turned the tide that night, the Duke's house would already be in ruins—and he himself would be dead.

Fang Wang grew even more uneasy at these words. If the goal had truly been the destruction of a dynasty, why not kill the emperor, why not besiege the cities? What use is the death of some princes and nobles?

Fang Hanyu took a seat. "Whatever the case, the Taiyuan Sect will certainly intervene. You needn't worry. I already asked Zhou Xue: more and more of our clan's disciples are heading to the Fang Domain to train. She even hired two Spirit Shaping realm cultivators to guard the family estate."

Fang Wang shot him a glare. "I wasn't worried. You're the one who rushed over in a panic."

Fang Hanyu wasn't embarrassed, and began questioning Fang Wang about his experiences in the Great Sage Grotto. Fang Wang gave a brief account, focusing on the enemies he encountered and the dangers he braved, leaving Fang Hanyu yearning for adventure.

He himself had always had a taste for risk—else he wouldn't have lost an eye and nearly his life. But after that brush with death, he understood the importance of cultivation and had focused on training ever since, no longer courting danger recklessly.

"As for the Great Sage Grotto, rumors abound in the sect. Now every lineage is full of expectations for you. Ye Xiang, Yan Feiyue, and Xu Lang all praise your strength, claiming your natal spirit is not merely of the Profound Origin, but higher than theirs," Fang Hanyu said with emotion.

Fang Wang hadn't expected those three to speak so highly of him—his saving them had not been in vain.

As his cultivation advanced, he knew he should also raise the grade of his natal spirit. At the very least, he must make the nine lineages of the sect take notice, perhaps even surpass Lu Yuanjun in talent.

Fang Wang advised, "Your Severed Heart Evil Eye, and the peerless art on your back, are far from ordinary. As long as you devote yourself to cultivation, you'll make a name for yourself in time. From what I know, the so-called geniuses of the sect are nothing special—not in my eyes, not even Lu Yuanjun."

"How could that be? My talent isn't that exaggerated..."

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"You don't believe me? Do you not believe your own eyes?" Fang Hanyu fell silent, his heartbeat quickening.

Have I really underestimated myself? He couldn't help touching his own eye.

Fang Wang shifted the topic. "Any confusions lately about the peerless art on your back?"

His own Nine Dragons Divine Transformation was already perfected; guiding Fang Hanyu was more than within his means.

Fang Hanyu didn't hesitate—this was his main reason for coming. The two brothers began exchanging insights on the Nine Dragons Divine Transformation Art.

Little Zi listened quietly at the side, flicking her tongue from time to time.

...

Within a secluded cave residence, the walls were covered in green vines. Beside them, a small waterfall poured into a pond, sending up sprays of water—yet making no sound at all, an eerie silence.

By the pond, Lu Yuanjun sat at a stone table, his right arm resting on its surface, his expression dark as the night. Across from him sat Zhao Zhen, the Son of Heaven of Great Qi, face calm and unreadable.

Lu Yuanjun's voice was cold and heavy. "Did you really have to go so far? Those people were your blood kin—your own sons!"

Zhao Zhen remained impassive. "If I hadn't, would we just wait for death? When Fang Wang learns the truth and comes for my life, would you oppose him for my sake?"

"It's not so dire. He survived, didn't he? Most of those who died in the Fang estate were servants. Our enmity hasn't reached the point of no return. Besides, my actions weren't aimed at him. I will make amends, restore our ties, resolve the hatred. Why the rush?" Lu Yuanjun's tone was icy, his eyes devoid of their usual warmth, brimming instead with killing intent.

Zhao Zhen mocked himself. "He lived because of his own abilities. If you were in his place, could you bear it? But then, you can't understand the bonds of kin—after all, you were an orphan from childhood."

"Are you provoking me?" Lu Yuanjun narrowed his eyes.

Zhao Zhen took a deep breath. "Lu Yuanjun, let me say again: I didn't frame you. You had people soul-search my clan—there were traces. Even if they can't trace it to you directly, by having my own relatives' souls extracted, I made it easier to handle. Now I share the same fate as the Fang estate; we have a common enemy. Fang Wang would never suspect me. Besides, I handled this myself, didn't trouble you. Aren't you the greatest beneficiary?"

"Absurd! This affair is enormous. Not just the Taiyuan Sect, but all the eight other sects will investigate. Do you really think the truth won't come out?" Lu Yuanjun slammed his hand on the table, cracking the stone.

Zhao Zhen's gaze was dark. "Cultivation is about severing mortal ties. This way I rid myself of hidden calamity, and attain true detachment—what's so wrong? Henceforth, the karma of the mortal world is no concern of mine. And to keep the realm from turmoil and safeguard the nine sects' plans, the Taiyuan Sect will value me more, fearing anything should happen to me. Even if Fang Wang learns the truth, he won't dare touch me."

Lu Yuanjun stared coldly, his killing intent barely contained.

No matter how Zhao Zhen tried to justify himself, Lu Yuanjun knew the man was deliberately casting suspicion on him. It was his own men who slaughtered the demon cultivators in the cities; now the massacre of the royal clan was also being pinned on him. Should the truth come out one day, how much greater would his own guilt appear?

Clearly, Zhao Zhen resented his efforts to curry favor with Fang Wang.

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Lu Yuanjun now truly had murder in his heart toward Zhao Zhen. In his mind, his own enmity with Fang Wang had not yet reached a point of mutual destruction. In the world of cultivation, the pursuit of immortality trumped all—if he could aid Fang Wang in cultivation, then even if Fang Wang learned the truth, he would let go of revenge.

What could be more important than the path to immortality?

That was his view, and coincidentally, Zhao Zhen thought the same. Thus, for the sake of longevity, Zhao Zhen had sacrificed his own blood kin—their positions simply differed.

Watching Zhao Zhen, who calmly poured him tea, Lu Yuanjun suddenly felt that if this man were to mature, he would surely stir up storms throughout the world.

"Enough. My affairs are none of your concern. You need only make sure those disciples who helped you disappear. Let's talk about Fang Wang. You've invited him many times—has he ever visited your lineage?"

Zhao Zhen looked up at Lu Yuanjun. At the mention of Fang Wang, his tone was utterly flat.

Lu Yuanjun frowned.

Zhao Zhen's lips curled in a half-smile. "Perhaps he already knows the truth. How could one with his rate of progress possess only a Profound Origin spirit? I heard that in the year Fang Wang joined the Taiyuan Sect, the natal spirits of every disciple in the sect were affected on the same day. Afterwards, the heads of the various peaks and elders sought out the sect leader, who excused himself with talk of forging a magical artifact. But what artifact could cause such a disturbance?"

At this, Lu Yuanjun's brow furrowed even tighter. "What are you suggesting?"

"Is it not possible," Zhao Zhen said in a voice calm to the point of coldness, though his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, "that Fang Wang's spirit is not merely of Earthly Origin, but has reached the legendary Heavenly Origin grade? Every grade of spirit manifests differently during its shaping, but no one knows what marvels the Heavenly Origin might cause. Considering its exalted status, could it not overlook the multitudes, causing their spirits to tremble? Seems reasonable, doesn't it?"

"Don't be so quick to deny it. Think carefully—could an Earthly Origin spirit allow one to defeat a ninth-level Spirit Pill cultivator in three short years? Perhaps the sect leader feared the news leaking out, drawing the eight other great sects down upon us, so deliberately concealed his true grade."

Lu Yuanjun's face grew ever more somber, his right hand clenching into a fist upon the table.

Zhao Zhen continued, "With his talent, in twenty years—no, perhaps only ten—he could surpass you. If we wait another ten years, and he becomes the strongest in the Taiyuan Sect, then when he learns the truth, do you think he will spare you? If he wants you dead, who could stop him?"

Lu Yuanjun's eyes flickered as he recalled every exchange he'd had with Fang Wang.

Though Fang Wang always greeted him with a smile, there was indeed a certain distance. Half a year ago, for instance, he'd tried to win him over with the secret art of Yin-Yang Profound Nether True Skill, telling the other disciples Fang Wang was his chosen successor, but Fang Wang had politely declined in his own way. He'd thought at the time that Fang Wang merely feared gossip—but now it seemed Fang Wang intended to embarrass him.

In truth, ever since learning his own men had slaughtered the Fang estate, Lu Yuanjun had harbored the desire to kill Fang Wang. Yet Fang Wang had already become the disciple of Master Yang Yuanzi, and he dared not act, so could only think positively and try to win him over, to make amends.

But the thought that Fang Wang might surpass him filled Lu Yuanjun with profound unrest.