Chapter 96: How Could One Person’s Strength Reach Such Heights?

It took seven days for Fang Wang to solidify his cultivation base. He began packing his belongings, preparing to head out, and seeing this, Xiao Zi became instantly excited.

"Young Master, where are you planning to go?" Xiao Zi asked.

Fang Wang replied nonchalantly, "To Sword Heaven Marsh."

He intended to keep his ability to forge multiple Destiny Treasures a secret; it was a good thing that the world currently regarded him merely as a sword cultivator. Only enemies on the verge of death would ever get the chance to witness the full extent of his treasures!

Upon hearing they were leaving the Taiyuan Sect, Xiao Zi was thrilled and immediately coiled onto Fang Wang’s shoulder. Once packed, Fang Wang hung three storage bags at his waist, equipped his Qingjun Sword, and walked out of his cave dwelling. He could have stored the Qingjun Sword in a storage bag, but he felt it looked more dashing worn at his waist.

He first went to visit Guang Qiuxian to inform him of his departure.

"I won't ask where you are going, but there is one matter that requires your intervention," Guang Qiuxian said with a chuckle, looking at Fang Wang with eyes full of anticipation.

Fang Wang laughed. "Please state it, Sect Master. After being in seclusion for so many years, it is time for me to display some of my prowess."

Guang Qiuxian nodded and said, "A year ago, we learned that the Chi Demon Sect had obtained a supreme treasure—a relic unseen in the Great Qi cultivation world for over a thousand years. However, the sect seems to be in trouble; they cannot make the treasure recognize its master. Consequently, they have summoned their followers to prepare for a grand sacrifice, intending to offer up a million living souls to awaken the spirit of the treasure."

"I have discussed this with the Xuanhong Sword Sect and the Heavenly Pivot Sect. We plan to seize this opportunity to eradicate the Chi Demon Sect. Calculating the days, the sacrifice should be starting soon. My informants could not confirm the exact date, but you carry the First Disciple token. You should search for the location where the majority of the people on this list are gathered."

With that, Guang Qiuxian flicked his sleeve, and a piece of yellow paper flew into Fang Wang’s hand. Fang Wang glanced down, his expression unchanging, but he had already captured three names: Fang Hanyu, Fang Zigeng, and Gu Li.

Fang Wang immediately tucked the yellow paper into his storage bag, bowed to Guang Qiuxian, and turned to leave.

Guang Qiuxian watched Fang Wang’s back and, as if possessed by a sudden impulse, asked, "If you encounter Lu Yuanjun, what will you do?"

Fang Wang stopped, not turning his head back, and replied, "A traitor to the sect must be killed."

Guang Qiuxian frowned slightly, sighed, and said, "Go then. Remember, you are the First Disciple of the Taiyuan Sect, and you will be the next Sect Master."

Fang Wang turned his head and smiled at Guang Qiuxian. "Sect Master, I will certainly not bring shame upon the Taiyuan Sect."

He then stepped out of the Shiyuan Hall. Guang Qiuxian’s gaze drifted, as if he were recalling the past, his eyes filled with a trace of sorrow.

...

After leaving the main peak, Fang Wang flew straight toward the sect’s main city. Along the way, he donned a bamboo hat and lowered his head slightly, concealing his face.

Upon arriving at the Dao Law Pavilion, he presented his First Disciple identity and ordered someone to lead him to the highest floor; he intended to study sealing techniques. Only a few people wandered the top floor—elders and peak masters. Seeing Fang Wang, they nodded with smiles, none speaking, and Fang Wang returned the gesture.

A First Disciple is permitted to study all the techniques of the Taiyuan Sect, provided they have earned sufficient contributions. Rows of bookshelves stood here, each with a wooden plaque labeling the type of Dao law. Fang Wang went directly to the section for sealing techniques, where jade slips were laid out, each accompanied by a yellow paper describing the technique within.

Two hours later, Fang Wang walked out of the Dao Law Pavilion. He tilted his head slightly, the sunlight hitting his face, making him appear weary and aged. He leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of white light heading out of the Taiyuan Sect.

"Young Master, you read so many techniques—can you remember them all?" Xiao Zi poked its head out from Fang Wang’s robes, looking up at him and asking cautiously.

It was happening again—that strange state!

Fang Wang’s eyes were vacant as he stared at the horizon. He replied faintly, "Yes."

"Yes" was an understatement! Damn it, he had already cultivated all of them to the Great Perfection! Five hundred and twenty years of effort! Fang Wang felt he had been ruthless with himself, but there was no help for it; since it concerned the forging of his fourth Destiny Treasure, he had to be strict.

The Taiyuan Sect’s sealing techniques were not as numerous or as refined as those of the Heavenly Pivot Sect, but they were sufficient for Fang Wang to achieve profound mastery. Five hundred and twenty years was not the time spent on a single technique, but on all seven, with the most complex one taking him one hundred and six years.

As he left the sect, Fang Wang collected his thoughts. "By the way, what was I planning to do before entering the Dao Law Pavilion?"

Xiao Zi’s snake eyes widened as it hurried to reply, "Go to Sword Heaven Marsh."

"Anything else?"

"The Sect Master asked you to go to the Chi Demon Sect."

Fang Wang remembered, satisfied. "Good memory. I was just testing you. Keep it up."

"Young Master, it hasn't been that long, how could I possibly forget..."

"I’m just making sure you were listening. You and I are in this together now; my business is your business, understand? You must view us as a single entity."

Fang Wang spoke earnestly. Upon hearing this, Xiao Zi became so excited that it instinctively stretched upward, its snake tongue nearly touching Fang Wang’s lips, startling him into quickly stuffing it back. This wretched snake, trying to overstep its bounds again!

"Young Master, don't worry, I will be focused from now on!" Xiao Zi said excitedly, its delicate, feminine voice stirring the imagination.

Fang Wang didn't respond. His mind was still numb; he needed time to recover.

Soon, he left the Taiyuan Sect and had Xiao Zi grow in size to carry him. Xiao Zi had mastered a flight spell, also inherited from the Great Sage’s Grotto-Heaven. Sitting cross-legged on the snake’s head, Fang Wang projected his divine sense into his First Disciple token to locate Fang Hanyu, Fang Zigeng, and Gu Li. Their light points were concentrated in one spot, surrounded by over a hundred disciples in the southwest.

Fang Wang had an idea and immediately sent a voice transmission to Fang Hanyu’s token: "If you need my help, make a wide circle." He then kept his divine sense locked on Fang Hanyu’s light point. Ordinary disciple tokens could not send transmissions to the sect or higher-tier tokens; they could only receive orders.

A moment later, Fang Hanyu moved, his trajectory indeed forming a circle. Fang Wang smiled and sent another transmission: "I will come to find you in a few days." With that, he placed the First Disciple token back into his storage bag.

...

Thunderclouds rolled across the sky over the endless, desolate mountains, and flocks of crows swept over the peaks from time to time. In a patch of forest, the Taiyuan Sect disciples gathered, each meditating. Hovering above their heads were twelve large banners forming an array that masked their presence and figures.

Fang Hanyu returned to Fang Zigeng’s side with a smile on his face. Fang Zigeng opened his eyes and asked, "Where did you go?"

Fang Hanyu sat down and replied softly, "The First Disciple sent a message saying he will arrive in a few days."

"The First Disciple?" Fang Zigeng was stunned, then suddenly realized. His eyes lit up as he whispered, "Fang Wang?"

"Yes." Fang Hanyu nodded gently. Although his eyes were covered by a cloth strip, he looked visibly pleased.

Fang Zigeng let out a sigh of relief. He had been here for over half a month, constantly on edge; his cultivation was at the bottom of the group, and if they were to encounter a siege by the Chi Demon Sect, he would be the most vulnerable. He looked up and muttered, "I wonder how much longer until we can act."

Fang Hanyu began to circulate his energy, calm and collected. "Just wait. This matter cannot be rushed; we must wait for all three sects to act together."

Meanwhile, in a cave hundreds of miles away, Lu Yuanjun sat on a stone bed with a black gourd hanging at his waist. Zhao Zhen’s ghost floated out and hovered on his shoulder. They were frowning at the person before them: the former Vice Sect Master of the Taiyuan Sect, Chen Anshi!

"Fang Wang still hasn't come out of seclusion?" Lu Yuanjun asked in a low voice, his expression grim. How many years had it been! How could that boy be so patient?

Chen Anshi’s expression was complex. "According to my informants, Fang Wang has already broken through to the Condensation Realm and is in seclusion solidifying his cultivation. Whether he will emerge soon is uncertain."

"Condensation Realm!" Lu Yuanjun’s face darkened further.

Zhao Zhen sighed, "How old is he? Forty-three, I believe. To reach the Condensation Realm at such an age is terrifying. In fifty years at most, he will surpass the Condensation Realm. By then, would his power alone be enough to sweep through the entire Great Qi cultivation world?"

Chen Anshi nodded. "It is indeed highly likely. However, the Great Qi cultivation world lacks techniques to advance further. If he wishes to pursue a higher realm, he will have to leave."

Not all techniques allowed for continuous breakthroughs; each had its limit. The most profound cultivation techniques of the nine great sects only reached the Condensation Realm, and the methods were so scarce that few reached that level. Those who did were all geniuses among geniuses.

"If he leaves the Great Qi cultivation world, the next time we meet him, he might already be a True Immortal of the mortal realm," Zhao Zhen lamented. "Why did we have to encounter such a genius? Heaven loves to toy with us. If not for Fang Wang, I would continue my cultivation for longevity, Lu Yuanjun would have smoothly become the Sect Master of the Taiyuan Sect and eventually the number one in Great Qi, and Senior Chen could have returned to finish his task—everyone would be happy. Alas, the variable of Fang Wang appeared. How can one man’s power reach such a level? Sigh! The heavens are unfair!"

Zhao Zhen’s words touched both Lu Yuanjun and Chen Anshi. Indeed! If they set aside Fang Wang, all their plans would have proceeded smoothly!

Chen Anshi sighed. "And then there’s the Golden Firmament Sect. I don't know where that Demon Lord popped out from, saving so many who should have died and forming a force that cannot be underestimated. It seems power from outside Great Qi has already infiltrated, and I wonder what they want."

Lu Yuanjun said coldly, "Regardless, we must wait for Fang Wang to emerge. If he doesn't, we will find a way to force him out. The Taiyuan Sect people must be nearby; find a way to capture them."

Chen Anshi narrowed his eyes. "Should we kill a few of the Fang family members? He will surely be anxious."

"No, that would only enrage him. Given his cultivation, if he loses his sanity, it is hard to imagine what might happen. If he remains under no pressure, he might become careless instead," Lu Yuanjun shook his head and said.