Chapter 117: The Taicang Immortal Mansion, Sole Disciple of the Dragon-Subduing Great Sage

The Immortal Fate of Longevity!

Xiao Zi and Zhao Zhen both brightened at the news. They followed Fang Wang, and if he could attain immortality, they would naturally benefit as well. Thus, they felt no jealousy, only excitement and anticipation.

When Xiao Zi pressed for details about the nature of this opportunity, the white-haired elder merely smiled in silence, his gaze fixed on Fang Wang from afar.

Days turned into nights, and the cycle of time continued. Another half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Fang Wang’s physical form finally transformed into the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body, and his cultivation base reached the third level of the Spirit Condensation Realm. While he could continue to temper his physique to further enhance the blood energy and strength of the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body, he did not intend to remain here any longer. It had been three years since he left the Taiyuan Sect, and it was time to return.

Fang Wang stood up and donned a set of black robes from his storage bag. His appearance had not changed much, but a keen observer would notice that his frame had become significantly more robust—the kind of build that, while slender, clearly radiated immense power.

As he finished dressing, the white-haired elder, Xiao Zi, and Zhao Zhen approached. Their gazes were filled with fervor as they looked at him.

Fang Wang bowed to the white-haired elder and said, "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance. I hope you will forgive my previous rudeness."

The white-haired elder had not expected an apology and felt his opinion of Fang Wang shift for the better. "It is of no consequence. The Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body is a sacred physique of the mortal realm; I understand the influence it had on you. Before you depart, I intend to bestow upon you a final opportunity."

It was time! Even after spending over twelve hundred years in the Falling Sky Secret Realm, he had not forgotten his goal: to collect the three great true arts and attain the Immortal Fate of Longevity.

The white-haired elder raised his right hand and made a gesture into the void. A rift opened in the sky above, revealing the vast expanse of the cosmos and its stars. A long wooden box flew out, and with another wave of his hand, it landed in Fang Wang’s grasp.

"This is?" Fang Wang asked, his heart skipping a beat. He prayed it wasn't another map.

The white-haired elder stroked his beard and smiled. "Inside is the key to the Taicang Immortal Mansion. It manifests in the mortal realm once every ten thousand years, and I estimate it will appear again in about a millennium. With this key, it will guide you to the mansion. His Majesty spent his entire life striving for the Taicang Immortal Mansion, which is why he created the three great true arts. Alas, he did not succeed. He tasked me with passing this key to someone whose talent surpassed his own, in hopes of bringing an immortal to the mortal realm."

"Though Zhu Changsheng mastered the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body true art, he was far inferior to His Majesty. Furthermore, before his passing, His Majesty proposed a concept: that the three great true arts could be fused into one divine art, though he failed to achieve it. If you succeed, I hope you will return and share your insights with me. How about it?"

Upon hearing that there was still a millennium of time, Fang Wang was in no rush. As for the request, he had no objections.

"That is only natural. The three great true arts were created by the Great Saint, who can be considered my master. It is my duty to repay him," Fang Wang said sincerely. Although his own efforts played a part, the Great Saint's legacy had helped him immensely, earning him his deep respect.

"Master?" The white-haired elder paused, then burst into laughter.

Fang Wang looked at him in surprise, as did Xiao Zi and Zhao Zhen.

The elder looked at Fang Wang and smiled. "In that case, why not formally take His Majesty as your master?"

Fang Wang hesitated. "That wouldn't be appropriate, and since the Great Saint has passed, it might be seen as an offense..."

"His Majesty had this very intention before he died. Let it be settled: from this day forward, you are the sole disciple of the Dragon-Subduing Great Saint. This is your proof of identity."

As he spoke, the elder waved his hand, and a golden ring fell into Fang Wang’s palm.

The ring was inlaid with a piece of red jade, surrounded by two intricately carved golden dragons that appeared to be playing with a pearl. Faintly, Fang Wang could see a liquid-like substance flowing within the jade.

"This is the Dragon Jade Ring, a symbol of His Majesty. It is also a Profound-grade storage artifact, the only one of its kind in the world. If you encounter the descendants of His Majesty in the future, they will not dare to slight you, and may even assist you," the elder said with a chuckle.

Fang Wang was pleasantly surprised and thanked the elder immediately. A Profound-grade artifact? Could it be that above the Supreme-grade artifacts were Yellow-grade and then Profound-grade?

The elder continued, "I am about to send you out. Do not resist."

Fang Wang promptly placed the wooden box into his storage bag and slid the Dragon Jade Ring onto the index finger of his right hand. Xiao Zi climbed onto his shoulder, and Zhao Zhen retreated into the Soul-Devouring Gourd.

The elder smiled knowingly, finding their group somewhat amusing. He did not say more, his gaze sharpening. Fang Wang felt a surge of immense power; had it been the old him, he would have had no way to resist, but with the Heavenly Dipper Sacred Body, he felt he could now break free.

In an instant, Fang Wang and Xiao Zi vanished into thin air.

The white-haired elder stood by the lake, stroking his beard as he looked toward the horizon, his face filled with emotion.

"To think such a genius has been born in the mortal realm. The future will be fascinating. I look forward to our next meeting," he murmured to himself.

He turned and waved his hand. Instantly, soul forms emerged from the ground—among them, Liang Xunqiu and Fairy Lan Xin, whom Fang Wang had killed. Most of the souls looked around in confusion, unaware of what had happened.

As the elder looked at them, his benevolent expression shifted. His eyes opened wide, turning cold and sharp, radiating a sense of untamed pride.

***

When Fang Wang felt his feet touch the ground, he immediately opened his eyes. He realized he had not appeared within the Falling Sky Waterfall, but on the banks of the Wei River. Looking up and down the river, there was no sign of the waterfall at all.

Zhao Zhen emerged, noting the same. "It seems the Falling Sky Secret Realm does not exist solely within the waterfall; that was merely the entrance."

Fang Wang sat down to refine the Dragon Jade Ring, while Xiao Zi dived into the river to hunt for fish. Zhao Zhen hovered in the air, watching Fang Wang with anticipation. The fortune Fang Wang had gained this year was immense. He was eager to see what Fang Wang would do next. The Seven Dynasties? The Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect? It would not stop there. Fang Wang was destined to traverse this continent and head toward even broader horizons. Following him, he would surely witness sights no mortal had ever seen.

The restrictions on a Profound-grade artifact were far superior to those of Supreme-grade ones, but fortunately, Fang Wang possessed the Heart of Battle. Nine days later, he fully refined the ring, making it his own. When he projected his divine sense inside, he was moved. The space was enormous! It felt as if it could contain the entire Taiyuan Sect; it was essentially a small world of its own, though it lacked spiritual energy and could not house living creatures.

He would have time to study it later. Fang Wang put the ring back on; in the sunlight, it shimmered with an exotic light that he found increasingly appealing. He stood up and said, "Let’s go. It’s time to return."

Once back at the Taiyuan Sect, he would need to focus on his cultivation and push for higher realms. Furthermore, he needed to make time to visit the Fang Territory. A human lifespan was but a century; his parents' aptitude for cultivation was average, meaning they were unlikely to live past two hundred. Though they were well cared for at the Fang estate, as their son, he felt obligated to visit.

Xiao Zi immediately expanded, demonic aura swirling around her serpentine body, which now vaguely traced the outline of a dragon. Fang Wang raised an eyebrow—it seemed Xiao Zi had learned something in the secret realm as well, likely related to the white-haired elder. He did not ask, simply leaping onto the snake's head and departing.

"Young Master, surely you can sweep through the cultivation world of Great Qi now, can’t you?" Xiao Zi asked with a laugh.

Fang Wang smiled but did not answer.

Zhao Zhen analyzed the situation seriously. "The Ghost King of the ninth level of the Crossing Void Realm and his demonic army were easily suppressed by you, Master. Let alone the Great Qi cultivation world, I doubt anyone in the Seven Dynasties could stand against you."

"Your words are..." Fang Wang shook his head. They were very eloquent!

Zhao Zhen, thinking Fang Wang was underestimating his own power, said sternly, "Master, to my knowledge, among the Seven Dynasties, aside from Chu and Zhao, the strength of the other five is not significantly different. If Chu and Zhao had the power to sweep through the other five, they would have acted long ago."

Fang Wang chuckled. "Don't think too much into it. I don't need to sweep through the Seven Dynasties. What is the point of constant killing? Cultivation is about cultivating the heart."

"Master is wise," Zhao Zhen replied, though he couldn't help but think: *Have you really killed that few people? You’re practically a slaughterer!*

As they flew, Xiao Zi questioned Zhao Zhen about the strength of the Chu and Zhao dynasties. Though Zhao Zhen had never been there, having followed Lu Yuanjun, he knew a thing or two.

***

In a courtyard halfway up the main peak of the Taiyuan Sect, a man in white sat meditating under a tree. He slowly opened his eyes and looked toward an old man in gray robes sitting on the eaves.

"Master, could Fang Wang have died in the Falling Sky Secret Realm? How much longer must we wait?" the man in white asked, his handsome face filled with impatience.

The gray-robed elder chuckled. "He possesses the Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit and has the strength to sweep through the Spirit Condensation Realm. How could he die in the Falling Sky Secret Realm? Xiao Chen and Liang Xunqiu are likely in the same boat; they are probably just trapped by some opportunity. Do not overthink it."

"If he is trapped in the Falling Sky Secret Realm, doesn't that mean we have to wait another nineteen years for him to emerge?" The man in white frowned, thinking his master had grown senile.

The gray-robed elder opened his eyes and smiled. "It is said the secret realm only opens every twenty years, but that is not the case. There are spiritual entities within that control the realm. Sixty years ago, I entered the secret realm under an alias and accidentally stumbled into a forbidden area, where I was trapped for five years. When I was released, I did not emerge from the waterfall."

The man in white raised an eyebrow. "Master, why didn't you take me with you then?"

The gray-robed elder coughed and changed the subject. "Think about it: if Fang Wang returns, do you intend to challenge him? My advice is to restrain yourself and let me handle it."

The man in white scoffed. "He is in the Spirit Condensation Realm, and so am I. He has slain great cultivators of that realm, and so have I. Why should I fear him? Let me test his strength first. If he can defeat me, I have no objection to making an exception and accepting him as an inner-sect disciple of the Haoran Sect."