Chapter 104: Minor Miracles, the Complete Mastery of the Heaven-Seizing Palm
“I certainly encountered the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect in my previous life, and I was a member of it,” Zhou Xue said with a gentle smile. As she spoke, she took two steps back and rolled up her sleeves to sit cross-legged.
Fang Wang followed suit and asked, “You joined the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect as well? But didn’t you say Lu Yuanyun would become the pinnacle of the Great Qi cultivation world? Doesn’t that mean the Great Qi cultivation world wasn’t destroyed by the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect?”
Zhou Xue replied, “Of course. Without you or me, the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect wouldn’t have wanted to destroy the Great Qi cultivation world. The plans of Lu Yuanyun and Chen Anshi succeeded. It seems they were secretly serving the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect all along. In my previous life, they succeeded, and with the Sect’s support, Lu Yuanyun became the foremost cultivator of Great Qi.”
“In that past life, three centuries later, the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect marched south, conquering the realms of the Forty-Nine Dynasties, becoming the mightiest cultivation faction on this continent. Great Qi also belonged to the Sect, but because Lu Yuanyun surrendered voluntarily, Great Qi was spared massacre.”
Fang Wang frowned. “So it was me who prematurely triggered the rise of the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect, possibly bringing disaster to the Great Qi cultivation world?”
Zhou Xue reassured him, “Don’t think that way. It was Lu Yuanyun who set the trap to lure you in. The news about the Chimo Sect's treasured artifact was spread by their own people, and Lu Yuanyun’s presence means he intended to kill you.”
“As for the so-called catastrophe, even if it occurs, only the victims differ. In the previous life, countless mortals died during Great Qi’s transformation into a cultivation dynasty. Now, even if the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect moves southward, it only targets the cultivation world. In terms of deaths, this lifetime won’t come close to the last. Back then, Great Qi was strewn with corpses, the land fell silent, and barely one in ten citizens survived.”
“I used to think it was the rivalry among the Nine Great Sects, but now it seems Chen Anshi and the Chimo Sect were collecting souls for the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect.”
Zhou Xue sighed deeply at the mention of this.
She spoke gravely, “The Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect is formidable; never provoke them on your own. However, their strength is limited to this continent. The Yellow-Character Sword Command in your hands belongs to an even more powerful force. Once you reach the Void-Transcending Realm, you can journey southward to seek opportunities overseas.”
Void-Transcending Realm!
Fang Wang asked, “Why must I go overseas?”
Zhou Xue looked at him and said, “You might think your talent is exceptional, but the difficulty of cultivation at higher realms will far exceed your current imagination. Going southward lets you train in cave dwellings rich in spiritual energy. The Yellow-Character Sword Command you hold grants you access to cave dwellings with spiritual energy ten times that of the Taiyuan Sect’s caves. That’s just one advantage.”
Ten times!
Fang Wang felt tempted.
“Do you have the Sacred Spirit Soul Jade?” Zhou Xue suddenly asked.
Fang Wang nodded and took out the yellowed ancient jade he had obtained at the sacrificial altar. The Taiyuan Sect, Tianxu Cult, and Xuanhong Sword Sect were all searching for it, but he hadn’t revealed it before.
He tossed the Sacred Spirit Soul Jade to Zhou Xue.
She caught it with one hand and sighed, “This is a precious treasure. There are many such soul jades, each requiring immense soul power reserves. As long as the soul power is sufficient, the Sacred Spirit can be resurrected.”
Fang Wang curiously asked, “What is a Sacred Spirit? Is it powerful?”
He recalled the mysterious soul form he saw at the altar, its terrifying figure unsettling to even imagine.
Zhou Xue answered, “It was a demon from ancient times, each possessing unique abilities. In my previous life, the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect resurrected one Sacred Spirit. Unfortunately, they couldn’t control it, and it brought about a catastrophic disaster on this continent, leading to the Sect’s destruction. Afterward, I traveled overseas seeking immortal fate.”
Fang Wang furrowed his brows and asked, “Wouldn’t that lead to the extinction of all living beings on this continent?”
“Of course not. The Sacred Spirit was eventually subdued by a supreme mortal. That person later ascended alongside me. Before I died, his accomplishments were still something I admired.”
Zhou Xue’s tone grew reflective as she spoke of the past.
“What about this Sacred Spirit Soul Jade? Will you take it?” she asked, staring at Fang Wang.
He nodded, “You can have it. I was holding it for you anyway.”
Zhou Xue raised an eyebrow, “Really?”
Fang Wang smiled and nodded again.
He had wanted to say, “You’re my fiancée after all; what’s wrong with giving you a treasure?” But the words caught in his throat. For some reason, he found it hard to tease Zhou Xue.
She looked at him deeply, then stored the Sacred Spirit Soul Jade in her storage pouch and smiled, “What do you want to learn? Tell me.”
Fang Wang shook his head, “Not this time. I won’t learn.”
He was about to seek the Heavenly Gang Sacred Body True Skill and didn’t want extra trouble.
The Heavenly Gang Sacred Body True Skill alone would require at least two hundred years, and he had just spent five hundred years cultivating in the Taiyuan Sect. No more learning for now.
Zhou Xue stared at him intently, as if trying to see through him.
“You don’t want to learn? Then I insist on teaching you.”
“Hm? Why?”
“Because I want to. Listen carefully. This is a minor divine technique called the Sky-Capturing Palm!”
Zhou Xue smiled and began instructing him on the method.
Fang Wang groaned inwardly. He wanted to get up and leave but his body wouldn’t obey.
Sigh!
He might as well go along with it.
He started listening attentively.
The Sky-Capturing Palm was a minor divine technique resembling a sealing art. Any being caught by it would be immobilized, unable even to escape with their primordial spirit. It could even capture massive entities, hence its name.
After burning two incense sticks’ worth of time, Zhou Xue finished teaching.
She noticed a change in Fang Wang’s eyes.
He also noticed her gaze and closed his eyes, pretending to concentrate, but in truth, he was calming himself.
“This minor divine technique is no trivial matter. If you master it, killing enemies will be easier. Once perfected, when you ascend with me to immortality, capturing an entire realm will be effortless.”
Zhou Xue smiled softly, but Fang Wang gave no response.
She was patient, studying him carefully.
The more she looked, the more she admired him. Fang Wang’s image in her heart began to overlap with those destined individuals from her previous life.
“I look forward to your future. I wonder what it will be like when you compete with those destined ones and peerless prodigies,” she thought.
Fang Wang, eyes closed, felt utterly devastated with no joy.
Despite having five hundred years’ experience in sealing arts, mastering the Sky-Capturing Palm took him two hundred and eighty years.
Sealing cultivation was truly dull; the Sky-Capturing Palm had no flashy moves, and he had been meditating all those years.
After a long time, Fang Wang opened his eyes, exhaled, and said, “No wonder it’s a minor divine technique. Quite remarkable.”
Zhou Xue asked, “How many years do you think it’ll take to master it fully?”
“Hopefully less than a century,” Fang Wang hesitated.
He tried hard to appear unchanged from two hundred and eighty years ago and even forced a smile.
Zhou Xue thought he found it difficult, hence his awkward expression. She comforted him, “You have many years ahead. No need to rush. Just spare some time for practice later.”
Fang Wang nodded.
Zhou Xue then resumed talking about the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect. Fang Wang listened earnestly. Stories from her helped lift his spirits.
…
At noon the next day, Fang Wang found Zhao Chuanqian and told him he planned to be away for some time.
Zhao Chuanqian was unconcerned and agreed immediately.
Fang Wang then left with Xiao Zi without even bidding farewell to Zhou Xue, Fang Hanyu, or others.
He flew with sword technique. Wherever he passed, disciples of the three sects cast burning gazes toward him.
Yesterday’s great battle would surely become legendary throughout the Great Qi cultivation world. The long-silent Fang Wang would once again be a tale on every cultivator’s lips.
Racing swiftly onward.
After leaving the battlefield far behind, Fang Wang raised his arms and let out a long howl.
Refreshing!
He had been holding it in all night!
It was unbearable!
The little snake in his arms, Xiao Zi, poked out its head, emitting a shrill scream—not a snake’s hiss but a woman’s scream.
Frankly, it was quite theatrical, clearly using a falsetto voice.
“Master, where to next?” Xiao Zi asked excitedly. It had long wanted to explore rather than stay cooped up training.
Fang Wang replied, “First, find a place to train for a few days. Once my spiritual power recovers, we’ll seek the Heavenly Gang Sacred Body True Skill, traveling and enjoying the scenery along the way.”
“Heavenly Gang Sacred Body True Skill? Master, you want to acquire all three great true skills!” Xiao Zi exclaimed enthusiastically, fully supportive.
Fang Wang rubbed its serpent head and said no more.
After flying several hundred miles, Fang Wang landed in a forest by a meandering stream flowing through the woods into a river.
The trees were tall and straight; sunlight poured in, forming visible shafts of light. A faint mist drifted among the trees, and occasionally a deer darted by.
Fang Wang cultivated, absorbing energy.
No one disturbed him, and no one could assassinate him at this stage—he was strong enough.
Several days later, his spiritual power was fully replenished.
He formed the Reincarnation Bell, within which the two primordial spirits had turned to dust. He had no intention of questioning further, so he let the primordial spirits of Lu Yuanyun and the white-haired man be suppressed.
He then took out Lu Yuanyun’s black gourd.
This ghostly artifact had absorbed millions of souls, exuding a chilling aura. Even sealed, ghostly energy seeped out. Inside, a force surged, as if trying to break free.
Fang Wang used the Reincarnation Bell to suppress this ghostly power.
He placed the black gourd before him and unsealed it.
In an instant, ghostly energy poured out from the gourd’s mouth, quickly forming a human figure.
It was none other than Zhao Zhen!
Seeing Fang Wang, Zhao Zhen immediately raised his hand, “Fang Wang, I won’t resist. Calm down, don’t attack!”
Fang Wang looked at him with interest, surprised he had become the spirit of a ghost artifact forged by Lu Yuanyun.
Seeing Fang Wang didn’t attack, Zhao Zhen smiled bitterly, “I’m already the artifact’s spirit, no chance of transcending or reincarnation. I’m not even a proper soul anymore. There’s no need to kill me; I’m already dead. My karmic debts are settled. Better to keep this ghostly body to serve you.”
“I have completely merged with the Soul-Devouring Gourd and can control its power. I can help you break its seals.”
Fang Wang said calmly, “I’m not interested in ghost artifacts, nor do I want to keep ghosts.”
As he spoke, he slowly raised his right hand.
Zhao Zhen panicked, immediately dropping to his knees and bowing desperately, displaying no trace of imperial dignity.