Chapter 123: Divine Capture of the Seven Dynasties, The Fated Adversary

After returning from the Origin Abyss Hall, Fang Wang resumed his secluded cultivation.

Knowing that Guang Qiuxian had only a few years left to live, he did not feel overly sorrowful. Their relationship was not that close, and besides, he himself had died once before. All he could do was silently wish that Guang Qiuxian would be reborn on Earth to enjoy a better life.

However, just half a year into his cultivation, someone came to visit him.

Zhou Xue!

After Xiao Zi opened the door for Zhou Xue, she was, as usual, promptly sent away, left outside to curse Zhou Xue under her breath, not daring to raise her voice.

Zhou Xue sat before the table, smiling as she asked, “I heard you personally chose me as the sect leader? Senior Brother Fang, you truly have a commanding presence.”

Fang Wang asked calmly, “Why? Don’t you want the position?”

He had considered the Jin Xiao Sect and thus decided to pass the mantle to Zhou Xue.

“It’s not that I don’t want it. Give it to me first, and I will select someone from Fang Mansion’s disciples to train intensively as the next sect leader. With me and Tu Caiyi here, the choice of the next leader will be in our hands,” Zhou Xue said with a smile.

Tu Caiyi, the deputy sect leader Chai Yi...

Fang Wang had heard from Fang Hanyu that Chai Yi had repeatedly distinguished herself, rising in rank. Her disciples were spread across the sect’s main city halls, giving her considerable influence.

Of course, within the Taiyuan Sect, no one held more sway than Fang Wang himself.

If Fang Wang wished to become sect leader now, no one would dare oppose him.

“Whomever you choose, you must not betray the disciples of Taiyuan Sect,” Fang Wang reminded her.

Zhou Xue had intended to tease him but saw the seriousness in his eyes and nodded in agreement.

“Did you come all this way just for this matter?” Fang Wang shifted the topic.

Zhou Xue rolled her eyes at him and said, “This is no trivial matter. Besides, there is another issue—your tribulation may be approaching.”

Tribulation?

Fang Wang narrowed his eyes, unsure what Zhou Xue meant.

She explained, “Ever since the Haoqi Sect came, I sent people to investigate them in Great Chu. We found that the sect leader had been replaced, and the cultivation world in Great Chu is full of criticism toward Haoqi Sect for losing their backbone and failing to avenge Sword Venerable Liang Xunqiu. Haoqi Sect took no action for many years afterward, but I was uneasy and continued investigations.”

“Last year, I received information that someone from Haoqi Sect went north and spread news that you possess the Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit. Now the northern continent knows that a Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit was born in the southern Qi Dynasty.”

Hearing this, Fang Wang felt it was somewhat trivial and asked, “Is that all?”

Zhou Xue’s expression grew serious as she said, “If I’m not mistaken, Haoqi Sect invited that person to come out of hiding. Before the Qietian Holy Sect unified the continent in the previous life, a great cultivator who called himself an Immortal came south, capturing seven emperors and seeking the Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit. Back then, he was likely after Ji Rutian. Now that Ji Rutian’s presence is no longer manifest, it’s feared that this person will come after you.”

Fang Wang squinted and asked, “This self-proclaimed Immortal—how powerful is he?”

Zhou Xue replied, “I don’t know. At that time, my cultivation was low. By the time I joined the Qietian Holy Sect, that person had already disappeared. I never inquired further since he had no ties to me. If not for Haoqi Sect’s actions, I might have completely forgotten him.”

Fang Wang fell into contemplation.

An Immortal?

Intriguing!

“Since Ji Rutian survived until the end and that person did not, does that mean Ji Rutian killed him?” Fang Wang asked curiously.

Zhou Xue nodded, “That’s quite possible.”

Fang Wang then pondered, “Ji Rutian hasn’t appeared in this world. Could it be possible that he was reborn as well? After all, you and I operate within Great Qi, unlikely to affect his fate.”

Zhou Xue retorted with some impatience, “Impossible. Before I died, Ji Rutian shone brilliantly in the Upper Realms. I suspect it has something to do with the Ji family. The Ji family has someone who can perceive destiny. When I cultivated for seven hundred years in my past life, I met a Ji family descendant who said that besides Ji Rutian, the family has someone who can foresee destiny. If the destiny changes, they retreat. That’s the reason for the Ji family’s millennia-old legacy. But that person never ascended, so I didn’t take it seriously. Regardless, Ji Rutian and I never crossed paths in either life, so I have no concerns about him or the Ji family.”

Fang Wang found it far-fetched and asked, “Ji Rutian and I have never met. We can’t possibly be fated enemies, can we?”

Zhou Xue pinched her chin, as if recalling something, and murmured, “Now that you mention it, it could be. Ji Rutian is said to have been born under extraordinary celestial phenomena, causing the continent to tremble. It rained continuously for seven days, and disasters struck all over the realms, including Great Qi. People said it was the heavenly phenomenon marking the birth of a Heavenly Origin. I wondered then how a mere Heavenly Origin could cause such upheaval…”

She trailed off.

A mere Heavenly Origin?

Fang Wang was about to question this when he suddenly recalled that period from his childhood.

He had memories from birth. The first sound he heard was thunder, followed by seven days of rain. The household once whispered that he might be a reincarnated demon, but his grandfather sternly forbade such talk, and the matter was soon forgotten.

If Zhou Xue’s story was true, then he and Ji Rutian were born around the same time, possibly even on the same year, month, and day.

Born on the same day, the destiny calculations would make sense.

Fang Wang’s eyes shifted, a new thought dawning. “If the Ji family has someone who knows destiny, and Ji Rutian himself knows it, he came south before twenty years old to Great Qi. Could it be that he came looking for me? Because I died, he seized his chance in the Great Saint Cave Heaven to seek his fortune.”

“Think about it—how far the Ji family is from Great Qi. Why would he come here? Is the legacy of the Great Saint Cave Heaven really that important? And he came alone.”

Zhou Xue fell silent at this.

At that moment, Fang Wang truly felt the force of destiny.

The name Ji Rutian transformed in his heart.

After a long silence, Zhou Xue broke it, “I will investigate the Ji family. I cannot just wait for that self-proclaimed Immortal to arrive. Take care of yourself. Everyone has their tribulation. If that Immortal truly died by Ji Rutian’s hand, then in this life, you’re the one he’s destined to die by.”

With that, she stood up abruptly.

“Where are you going?” Fang Wang called after her.

Without looking back, Zhou Xue replied, “To arrange some matters, then head north to the Qietian Holy Sect.”

She strode away quickly. Before the mountain gate closed, Xiao Zi darted in.

“Young master, did you two have a fight?” Xiao Zi asked curiously, barely hiding her delight.

Fang Wang ignored her, still pondering Ji Rutian.

After the conversation with Zhou Xue, he was certain Ji Rutian was already watching him.

Heavenly Origin against Heavenly Origin?

A battle of destiny?

Fang Wang felt no fear, only burning determination.

“In my past life, I died early, my fame and fate given to you. If you come to provoke me this life, I will shine even brighter than you!”

...

After Zhou Xue left, Fang Wang continued his cultivation. Yet by the end of the year, Guang Qiuxian passed away peacefully at the age of 445, and the entire sect mourned his loss.

Taiyuan Sect was a cultivation school and did not have many mourning rituals. The nine Veins' direct disciples gathered to pay respects at Guang Qiuxian’s grave, and Fang Wang attended as well.

Before leaving, Deputy Sect Leader Chai Yi approached Fang Wang and said that Zhou Xue was away on business and asked him to stay temporarily at Origin Abyss Hall to act as the sect leader. This time, Fang Wang agreed.

He agreed because he was about to break through and, after doing so, would forge his fifth Life Treasure Spirit!

Origin Abyss Hall housed the Heavenly Dao Spirit Stone!

That day, Fang Wang moved into Origin Abyss Hall. News spread quickly within Taiyuan Sect. Though the disciples lamented the inevitability of fate, they were mostly uplifted. With the older generation gone, and Fang Wang leading them, Taiyuan Sect was bound to thrive.

Inside Origin Abyss Hall, Xiao Zi scurried about all day. The hall was far larger than it appeared from outside, even connecting to the mountain’s interior. Secret rooms and hidden manuals were stored within.

The year ended, and a fresh year dawned, with white snow blanketing Taiyuan Sect.

Two months into the new year, Deputy Sect Leader Chai Yi arrived at Origin Abyss Hall with the nine Veins’ peak masters and many elders. Fang Wang had no choice but to let them in.

Sitting cross-legged on his meditation cushion, overlooking the Taiyuan Sect’s leaders, the scene felt quite fitting.

Fang Wang felt moved. When some elders attempted to bow, he quickly said, “Senior masters, no need for formalities. I am only acting as sect leader temporarily, not the true leader.”

Hearing this, the crowd smiled. Fang Wang noticed Yang Yuanzi looked distracted, evidently shaken by Guang Qiuxian’s death.

Zhao Chuanqian stepped forward, “Emperor Zhao Qi has requested aid from Taiyuan Sect, claiming someone threatened him, saying the emperors of Chu, Zhao, and Wei have been captured, and he will be next.”

Fang Wang narrowed his eyes.

This was the tribulation Zhou Xue had mentioned.

Chai Yi added, “Since the battle with the Chim Demon Sect, I have placed disciples throughout the seven dynasties. They report that the three emperors were indeed captured by a mysterious cultivator claiming to be a godly Immortal. The reason remains unknown.”

“One thing is certain: that cultivator is unfathomably profound and unstoppable.”

In the main hall, Taiyuan Sect’s leaders unintentionally formed two groups led by Chai Yi and Zhao Chuanqian, respectively.

Fang Wang pondered, “What if we bring the emperors here to Taiyuan Sect?”

Chai Yi replied, “No need. The Xuanhong Sword Sect has also learned of this and sent Xu Qiuming to protect the emperors. Since the emperors respect you, this is a goodwill gesture from Xuanhong Sword Sect. Xu Qiuming has reached the Condensation Spirit Realm. With him here, we can gauge the mysterious cultivator’s strength.”

Fang Wang asked curiously, “Has he not gone south seeking Immortal opportunities?”

Going south and venturing overseas had become the trend in the last twenty years, not just for Taiyuan disciples.

Zhao Chuanqian answered, “He is refining his sword Dao, declaring he will not leave Great Qi until he ‘enters the Dao.’”

Enter the Dao?

Interesting.

Fang Wang did not think Xu Qiuming was bluffing; rather, he believed Xu Qiuming would succeed.

It seemed Xu Qiuming, like himself, wanted to have overwhelming strength before venturing south, otherwise going and dying on the way would be a betrayal of his talent.