Chapter 108: Entry, Rules of Life and Death
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Fang Wang sat down with Fang Hanyu and Fang Zigeng for a chat. After so many years apart, seeing members of his clan in a foreign land put Fang Wang in an excellent mood, easing the irritation he had felt at failing to break through to the third level of the Soul Condensation Realm.
Had he been given another two months, he would certainly have reached the third level. Unfortunately, the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm was about to open.
Fang Hanyu began explaining the Supreme Abyss Sect’s attitude toward the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm.
It turned out that ever since the great battle with the Crimson Demon Sect, the cultivators of Great Qi had grown wary of the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Cult and cultivators from beyond their borders. How formidable had the white-haired man and the violet-robed man been? If Fang Wang had not intervened, the two of them alone might have swept across the entire cultivation world of Great Qi.
Thus, the major sects had discussed the matter and decided to send their disciples out to gain experience. As luck would have it, news of the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm reached Great Qi around the same time, and the various sects immediately set their sights on it.
Their first objective was to compete for its opportunities. The second was to test how Great Qi’s cultivation world compared with those of the other dynasties.
Fang Hanyu and Fang Zigeng had already been here for more than a month. According to them, geniuses from all seven dynasties had gathered here, making Fallen Heaven City more lively than ever before. To ensure the city’s safety, all the major sects and clans of Great Wei’s cultivation world had arrived as well. It was no exaggeration to say that Fallen Heaven City now contained seventy percent of Great Wei’s strength.
“City Lord Hu Pomou has announced that he will also enter the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm,” Fang Zigeng said anxiously. “That means the great cultivators from all seven dynasties may take part too.”
He felt that competing with great cultivators for opportunities would be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, Zhou Xue had insisted that he come.
Fang Hanyu was not afraid. “They say the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm is even more vast than the Great Sage’s Grotto-Heaven. We simply need to avoid contending with the great cultivators.”
Little Zi leaned over and asked curiously, “What are the great cultivators of the seven dynasties after? Has any news gotten out?”
Fang Hanyu pondered for a moment before replying, “It seems the Great Chu Dynasty intends to search for a treasure that surpasses even a supreme-grade magical artifact. Other than that, I haven’t heard anything.”
Fang Wang was unconcerned. He teased them, “Once we enter the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm, I’ll be acting alone. Don’t get yourselves killed in there. Be careful in everything you do, and don’t overestimate your abilities.”
Fang Hanyu nodded. “Don’t worry. Zigeng and I aren’t like you, always secluded in meditation. We often venture out and make our way through the world. Zigeng in particular is far better at staying alive than I am.”
At that, Fang Zigeng offered an awkward smile. He was clearly unaccustomed to being praised.
The three brothers continued chatting.
Two hours later, Fang Hanyu and Fang Zigeng took their leave. Fang Wang had wanted them to stay, but they were unwilling to disturb his cultivation.
After the door closed, Zhao Zhen emerged from the Soul-Swallowing Gourd, his expression grave. “That man called Fang Zigeng possesses an extremely powerful soul force. Perhaps the strange treasure he mentioned is a ghostly artifact even stronger than the Soul-Swallowing Gourd.”
Fang Wang resumed his meditation on the bed and chuckled softly. “Isn’t that a good thing? It means my clansmen have opportunities of their own.”
He had always held great hopes for Fang Zigeng.
Fang Zigeng was the most diligent and hardworking of the Fang clan’s younger generation. He was humble, reserved, and modest. Fang Wang felt reassured knowing that a clansman like him could grow powerful.
If the Fang clan wished to become a truly formidable cultivation family, it could not rely on him alone.
Zhao Zhen could not help but regard Fang Wang with greater respect. Perhaps this was the confidence of a Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit—he was not afraid of being surpassed by those around him.
Fang Wang then closed his eyes and waited for the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm to open.
…
Two days later, deafening drumbeats rang out across Fallen Heaven City. They sounded like drums of war, striking directly at the heart and jolting awake everyone who had been cultivating or sleeping.
Fang Wang was no exception. He began packing his belongings.
Little Zi was already growing excited. “Young Master, will you conceal your identity after entering the secret realm?”
“How could I? A true man neither changes his name nor conceals his surname. Besides, this is such a grand occasion—I intend to win glory for Great Qi,” Fang Wang replied casually.
“White-Clad Startling Rainbow” had not been a name he had chosen for himself. In the past, he had worn a mask simply because he had been weak.
Now that he was powerful, if he still acted timidly and cautiously, then even if he attained immortality in this life, what meaning would it have?
Zhao Zhen sighed with emotion. “I’m beginning to look forward to watching you sweep across the cultivators of the seven dynasties.”
He had once been the Son of Heaven of Great Qi. Naturally, he was delighted to hear Fang Wang say that he intended to win glory for their homeland.
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Before long, Fang Wang stepped out of his cave dwelling.
The moment he emerged, he saw his next-door neighbor, Hu Poxie.
The city lord was called Hu Pomou. Could this Hu Poxie be his brother?
No wonder he could afford to live in such a luxurious cave dwelling.
“Brother Fang, shall we go together?” Hu Poxie asked with a smile.
This time, Fang Wang did not refuse. It happened that Hu Poxie could lead the way.
Just then, the door of another cave dwelling opened, and a girl in yellow stepped outside. She was petite, with long hair tied into two braids that fell over her shoulders. Her face was lively and adorable. She stretched lazily, revealing snow-white wrists adorned with a red jade bracelet each.
“Miss Yang, shall we go together?” Hu Poxie asked with a smile.
The girl in yellow glanced at him and nodded. Then she turned to Fang Wang. “My name is Yang Jiner. What’s yours?”
“Fang Wang,” he replied.
He could not see through Yang Jiner’s cultivation. It seemed she possessed some technique for concealing her aura. At the very least, she did not give him any sense of danger.
“Oh.”
Yang Jiner answered briefly, then closed her door and urged Hu Poxie to lead the way.
Hu Poxie suddenly broke into a grin, though it was unclear what amused him.
Fang Wang followed the two of them out of the cultivation tower and toward the riverside.
Both banks of the Wei River were packed with people, creating a scene of extraordinary bustle. It was the first time Fang Wang had seen so many cultivators gathered in one place. It was even more spectacular than the previous battles against Green Cicada Valley and the Crimson Demon Sect.
Yang Jiner clicked her tongue in wonder. “There are so many people. Have all the cultivators of Great Wei come out?”
“This exploration is indeed different from those of the past,” Hu Poxie replied with a smile. “With cultivators from the other six dynasties arriving, Great Wei has no choice but to take it more seriously.”
Yang Jiner teased him. “Aren’t you afraid of letting the other dynasties steal the limelight?”
“Regardless, the spectacle has made the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm famous. That is a good thing for all of Great Wei,” Hu Poxie answered.
Fang Wang did not join their conversation. Wearing a bamboo hat, he swept his gaze across the crowd and soon found the group from the Supreme Abyss Sect.
Fang Hanyu and Fang Zigeng were among them. Fang Wang had not asked them to conceal his arrival, so the disciples of the Supreme Abyss Sect were now looking around in every direction, clearly searching for him.
Before long, Hu Poxie and Yang Jiner began discussing the talented figures taking part in the exploration of the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm.
The names Liang Xunqiu and Xu Qiuming came up repeatedly. Yang Jiner seemed unfamiliar with the famous figures of the seven dynasties and kept asking questions.
Hu Poxie did not mention Fang Wang. That alone told Fang Wang that the man had already guessed he was the Fang Wang of Great Qi. After all, the surrounding cultivators were discussing him as well; the name Fang Wang had hardly been left unmentioned.
The more powerful Xu Qiuming appeared, the more extraordinary Fang Wang seemed by comparison.
Xu Qiuming was publicly acknowledged as Great Qi’s second-greatest genius. Even he himself had admitted that he could not compare with Fang Wang in the slightest.
Fang Wang’s reputation in Fallen Heaven City owed a great deal to Xu Qiuming.
“Fang Wang? Could they have been talking about you?” Yang Jiner suddenly turned to ask him. Her eyes were large and limpid, and when she widened them, they appeared even more lively.
Fang Wang smiled but did not answer.
Yang Jiner said nothing more. She merely rolled her eyes about, apparently lost in thought.
Hu Poxie looked at Fang Wang and asked with a smile, “Brother Fang, what are your plans once we enter the secret realm?”
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Fang Wang smiled. “I’m used to being on my own, so I plan to act alone. If you happen to run into trouble, Brother Hu, I’ll lend a hand. Consider it my thanks for showing me the way.”
Hu Poxie did not seem slighted. He waved his hand and laughed. “It was only a small favor, nothing worth mentioning. Still, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. If we were merely competing with the geniuses of the various dynasties, I naturally wouldn’t be afraid. But now that even the great cultivators of the older generation are taking part, this exploration of the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm will likely be very troublesome.”
Fang Wang nodded and gave a casual reply.
He could hardly wait any longer.
What were fame and opportunities compared with the true art of the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body?
The longer he yearned for it, the more eagerly he anticipated the effects of assembling all three true arts.
Time continued to pass.
Hu Poxie and Yang Jiner kept up their intermittent conversation, but their interest gradually waned. Like Fang Wang, they were clearly looking forward to the opening of the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm.
The mysterious drumbeats echoed without end, rising and falling along both sides of the river.
After less than half an hour, figures began flying over from the direction of the city lord’s residence. There were several dozen of them. The man at their head possessed an imposing aura. From Fang Wang’s perception, he should have been at the fourth or fifth level of the Soul Condensation Realm—the strongest among them all.
Listening to the discussions around him, Fang Wang learned the man’s identity.
The city lord, Hu Pomou.
The moment Hu Pomou appeared, Hu Poxie beside Fang Wang fell silent. The displeasure in his gaze as he looked at Hu Pomou was unmistakable.
Hu Pomou stopped in midair above the Wei River. The cultivators behind him spread out, standing in formation like a disciplined procession.
“Fellow Daoists from the seven dynasties, there is still one incense stick’s time before the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm opens. I am Hu Pomou, the city lord of Fallen Heaven City, and I will be overseeing this exploration of the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm.”
Hu Pomou’s voice was loud and resonant, like a lion’s roar. His bearing was imposing.
“Since this is the first time the secret realm has been opened to the other six dynasties, and to prevent the friendship among the seven dynasties from being damaged, I have taken the liberty of establishing several rules.”
Upon hearing that he intended to impose rules, the vast majority of cultivators revealed disdainful expressions.
Such tricks were commonplace. The words might sound pleasant, and the rules might appear to serve the greater good, but in truth, they were merely a means of avoiding responsibility. By establishing the rules in advance, Hu Pomou could claim that any deaths had nothing to do with Fallen Heaven City.
Afterward, he could simply say that the casualties had been too great for the city to manage.
Fang Wang listened. The rules were much the same as those established during the previous exploration of the Great Sage’s Grotto-Heaven.
In short, no matter what happened within the secret realm, no one was permitted to bring their grudges back outside. The struggle for opportunities would be decided entirely by strength.
After announcing the rules, Hu Pomou began introducing the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm.
The time needed to burn an incense stick passed quickly.
At the end of the cliff, the river suddenly filled with seven-colored radiance. Hu Pomou raised his voice. “Everyone, follow me into the realm!”
Nearly a hundred thousand cultivators immediately took flight. The sight was magnificent beyond words. The cultivators spontaneously followed Hu Pomou and the others, flying toward the Fallen Heaven Waterfall.
They flew downward along the cliff. In the middle of the Fallen Heaven Waterfall, seven-colored light appeared, brilliant and dazzling.
Hu Pomou was the first to plunge into the waterfall. The other cultivators followed close behind, streaming in like fish crossing a river.
Fang Wang flew amid the surging crowd. Looking down, he could sense a vast tide of spiritual energy pouring out from within the Fallen Heaven Secret Realm.
This spiritual energy was purer than that which he had absorbed in the cultivation tower or at the Supreme Abyss Sect. Even from afar, sensing it caused his spirit to lift. He was not the only one who felt this way—the other cultivators had the same reaction, and one by one, they began to accelerate.
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