Chapter 92: Peering into the Sun, Seeking Life and Death; Promotion to First Disciple

Besides the Black Nether Seal, the Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art contained many other spells, even soul-possession arts. Its varieties were so numerous that, without exaggeration, it was like an encyclopedia of the Dao of yin and yang.

Fang Wang could now discern the yang energy of living beings, and the amount of yang energy revealed the span of their remaining life.

Take Little Purple, for example.

Its yang energy showed that it still had eight hundred years to live.

The yang energy of demons differed from that of humans and was difficult to see, obscured by dense and frigid yin energy. Yet for Fang Wang, whose Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art had reached perfection, a demon’s yang energy was still easy to distinguish.

Human yang energy burned more fiercely, which was why demons liked to devour it, using it to restore the balance of yin and yang within themselves and better pursue the Heavenly Way. If a demon’s cultivation was insufficient and it faced a human whose yang energy was too scorching, it would suffer backlash from that energy.

Fang Wang rose and prepared to go out for a walk, and Little Purple immediately followed after him.

After leaving the cave dwelling, Fang Wang first went to visit Zhou Xue. Unfortunately, she was not there. He then visited Fang Hanyu, who was also absent, and could only go looking for other members of the clan.

Aside from Fang Zijeng, there were two other clansmen present. Fang Wang looked at their yang energy; both had about two hundred years of life left.

The lifespan represented by yang energy was not fixed. It merely reflected one’s present physical condition. An increase in cultivation, as well as certain heavenly materials and earthly treasures, could raise it.

Thus he wandered outside for several days before finally returning to his cave dwelling with Little Purple.

When he reached the mountain gate, Fang Wang felt that something was not quite right. His gaze involuntarily drifted to the neighboring cave dwelling’s gate.

Gu Li had not come looking for him in a long while.

That was fine. A genius like her ought to focus on cultivation.

Fang Wang shook his head with a smile, then entered his own dwelling to cultivate.

The fifth level of the Profound Heart Realm was not enough. He had to reach the Spirit Condensation Realm as soon as possible, and then obtain the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body True Art. Only then could he truly become the number one cultivator in the Great Qi world!

At the same time.

Gu Li sat in meditation within her cave dwelling, her eyes open and her lower lip lightly bitten. She drew a deep breath and continued cultivating.

Ever since their parting at Sword Heaven Marsh, whenever she heard any movement from the neighboring cave dwelling, she had forced herself not to go out.

She felt that she was close to success.

Only by temporarily breaking her attachment to Fang Wang could she have any hope of catching up to his pace.

...

In the dim cave chamber, Lu Yuanjun sat cross-legged on the ground. The floor beneath him was covered in dead grass. As he channeled his power, three black ghostly shadows formed behind him, their features indistinct.

Before him floated a black gourd. A wisp of ghostly energy seeped from it and condensed into the shape of Zhao Zhen.

Zhao Zhen looked quietly at Lu Yuanjun, his expression calm.

After some time, Lu Yuanjun suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His face instantly went pale, and both hands trembled.

Zhao Zhen sighed. “That Demon Lord is truly formidable. I do not know where he came from, but it seems that from now on, the Golden Sky Cult will dominate the currents of the cultivation world.”

Lu Yuanjun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said coldly, “One day, I will slaughter the entire Golden Sky Cult and refine the Demon Lord into a ghost soldier.”

Zhao Zhen smiled but said nothing. His smile was icy to the extreme.

Lu Yuanjun lifted his eyes toward him and asked, “How far have you cultivated in the Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art?”

Hearing this, Zhao Zhen gave a helpless smile. “This art is unfathomably profound. I cannot master it.”

Lu Yuanjun’s expression shifted restlessly, as if weighing something.

“You aren’t already finished with it?” Zhao Zhen asked. “You’ve already begun absorbing the souls of the sect master and Yang Yuanzi.”

Lu Yuanjun took a deep breath. “I have only just begun. I still cannot fully control it. The Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art is vast and profound, and there are many places I have yet to comprehend. The same is true of the Black Nether Seal. I barely managed to imprint it onto the two of them; who knows how many years it will take before their souls are completely transformed into my ghost soldiers.”

Zhao Zhen mocked him. “Then why not flee at once? Be careful you are not found by the Golden Sky Cult. Besides, your ghost artifact has already been seen by the sect master, the vice sect master, and Yang Yuanzi. It may already have reached Fang Wang’s ears. Give it ten more years, and Fang Wang will surely dominate the Great Qi realm without a single rival. With his temperament, he will certainly come after you then.”

Lu Yuanjun said coldly, “Run? Where to? Besides, I may not necessarily lose. If I can refine Fang Wang into a ghost soldier, his Heaven Origin Treasure Spirit and his swordsmanship will all belong to me!”

“Tsk, ambitious enough. But if you truly succeed, it would indeed count as defying fate and changing your life. Worth the gamble,” Zhao Zhen said with feeling.

Lu Yuanjun said with confidence, “I have cultivated the ghost path since childhood. No matter how difficult the Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art may be, given enough time I will surely master it. Let Fang Wang live for now. As for the Golden Sky Cult, even the Demon Lord could not keep me here, so it is of no concern.”

Zhao Zhen smiled and said no more.

Lu Yuanjun continued practicing the Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art.

The chamber fell silent. Zhao Zhen drifted above the black gourd, his gaze distant, as though lost in thought.

...

Time flowed on.

Since Zhao Qi’s departure, Fang Wang spent another two years in seclusion. His cultivation had reached the sixth level of the Profound Heart Realm, and he was already very close to the seventh.

One day, a wave of spiritual power came from his disciple token. He opened his eyes, drew the token from the table into his hand, and then Guang Quxian’s weary voice sounded from within it:

“Fang Wang, come at once to the Hall of Origin Abyss.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Wang immediately stood. This time, he did not bring Little Purple, instructing it to cultivate properly inside the cave dwelling.

Not long after, he had swiftly arrived before the Hall of Origin Abyss on the main vein.

As soon as he landed, the great doors opened, and he stepped inside.

He noticed many elders standing in the hall, as well as the masters of the nine peaks, including Yang Yuanzi.

Having cultivated the Yin-Yang Black Nether True Art, Fang Wang habitually examined their yang energy, seeing how many years of life they had left.

One hundred and twenty years.

Ten years.

Three years.

Eighty-seven years.

One hundred and one years.

With a single glance, life and death, fate and destiny all lay before Fang Wang’s eyes. Then his pupils suddenly contracted, and his gaze fell upon one woman.

Tu Caiyi!

She was actually wearing the robes of an elder of the Taiyuan Sect, her bearing solemn and dignified, unlike her former seductive self. Her expression was chilly, and the look she gave Fang Wang was exceedingly cold.

Guang Quxian sat in meditation on a cushion. Noticing Fang Wang’s gaze, he smiled and introduced her: “This is the newly appointed vice sect master, Chai Yi. She is a great cultivator of the Spirit Condensation Realm.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Wang immediately cupped his hands and bowed to Tu Caiyi.

Caiyi, Chai Yi...

The previous vice sect master was a spy from the demonic path, and now she had been replaced by a spy from the Golden Sky Cult?

Fang Wang did not expose her. Instead, he asked curiously, “Where is Uncle-Master Chen?”

At this, everyone in the hall wore subtle expressions. Guang Quxian sighed and said, “Chen Anshi has already defected to the Chi Demon Sect and betrayed the Taiyuan Sect. From now on, if we meet again, he will be our enemy. Junior Sister Chai was taken in by the former sect master in the northern frontier, and she is worthy of trust.”

Tu Caiyi remained perfectly composed, wearing an expression that kept strangers at a distance.

She was certainly convincing.

Fang Wang then asked, “May I ask why the sect master summoned me here?”

At his question, all save Chai Yi smiled.

Although the Taiyuan Sect had suffered one upheaval after another, the sight of Fang Wang filled everyone with hope.

Zhao Chuanqian said with a dry laugh, “Fang Wang, from this day forth, you are the Taiyuan Sect’s chief disciple, responsible for the affairs of the main vein as well as the chief disciples of all the other veins.”

Fang Wang raised his brows slightly and looked toward Guang Quxian.

Guang Quxian stroked his beard and nodded with a smile. The other elders and peak masters all praised Fang Wang in turn.

“Whether in cultivation or in merit, you are more than worthy of the position of chief disciple.”

“Fang Wang, the future of the Taiyuan Sect rests on you.”

“Hahaha, Fang Wang, once you break through to the Spirit Condensation Realm, the sect master’s seat ought to be passed to you, right, Senior Brother?”

“Having Fang Wang as chief disciple will surely attract more geniuses to join the Taiyuan Sect. I support this.”

Fang Wang feigned flattery and looked bashfully at the elders, while Tu Caiyi remained expressionless, though a trace of barely perceptible amusement still lingered in the depths of her eyes.

“This is your new disciple token. Through it, you may address everyone in the Taiyuan Sect. Your contribution points have already been transferred to it, including your merits in repelling Green Cicada Valley and slaying Pang Tun Tian.”

Guang Quxian raised a hand, and a gold-edged azure jade token flew toward Fang Wang.

Fang Wang reached out and caught it. Holding the chief disciple token, his mood was deeply touched.

At last, he had fought his way to it.

After twenty-one years in the sect, he had risen to the position of chief disciple. Looking at the history of the Taiyuan Sect, who knew where such speed might rank?

“My disciple,” Yang Yuanzi said earnestly, “now that you are the Taiyuan Sect’s chief disciple, you must set a proper example and never stray from the righteous path.”

Looking at Fang Wang, his eyes were full of gratification and pride.

Fang Wang’s brows rose slightly. He had noticed a clue in Yang Yuanzi, but he did not mention it now. Instead, he nodded to Yang Yuanzi, then swept his gaze over the elders and peak masters before looking back to Guang Quxian.

“Sect master, uncles and masters, I have one request. Let it be the first thing I do upon becoming chief disciple.”

Fang Wang paused, his tone solemn.

The Sleepy-Immortal Daoist could not help but laugh. “You don’t mean to recommend someone from your clan, do you?”

The peak masters and elders all smiled. There was no mockery in it; such a thing was only natural.

Guang Quxian quite admired Fang Wang. At the very least, Fang Wang was not timid or hesitant. A chief disciple should have his own judgment, should be able to change the Taiyuan Sect and accomplish things, rather than merely sit in the position and enjoy its privileges.

Fang Wang shook his head. “Zhao Zhen has been missing for many years and should already be dead. The Great Qi cannot be without a ruler for even a single day. I know a descendant of the imperial clan, and I wish to recommend him as the Son of Heaven of Great Qi. My Fang family is, after all, a duke’s household and bears some responsibility toward this realm. Though the empire appears stable, the common people are still mired in suffering and need a Son of Heaven to govern the land. This person has already joined the Taiyuan Sect, and he has a way to prove his imperial bloodline.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at him in surprise, having not expected him to make such a request.

Yang Yuanzi frowned slightly, thinking of the question Fang Wang had once asked him, but he said nothing.

“The Great Qi truly cannot be without a ruler for a single day. And since the Taiyuan Sect is an orthodox sect, it has the duty to protect the common people of the world. I agree. Junior Sister Chai, this matter will be arranged by you. What do you think?” Guang Quxian said after a moment’s thought. He did not even bother to judge whether that person truly belonged to the imperial clan of Great Qi. To him, that was not important.

What mattered was sending a signal: that he supported Fang Wang without condition.

Tu Caiyi gave a slight nod. “Very well. When the time comes, I will personally escort him to the imperial capital, enthrone him as Son of Heaven, and then arrange for a group of disciples to assist him.”