Chapter 126: The Fifth Natal Spirit Treasure [Seeking Monthly Votes]

Fang Wang heard Zhao Zhen’s words, but he remained indifferent. The world was vast, and there were many with great destiny, not to mention the existence of the Upper Realm. Therefore, in his eyes, the Void-Crossing Realm was nothing to boast about.

He focused on consolidating his cultivation.

The Xuanyang Nerve recorded methods for breaking through each stage of cultivation, though it did not specify the names of these realms. Fang Wang speculated that this technique’s lineage was ancient and disconnected from the current era, but judging by the later breakthrough methods, he was still far from reaching its end. Furthermore, it was uncertain whether the end of the Xuanyang Nerve was the ultimate end for mortals.

And so, day by day passed.

A full month elapsed before Fang Wang finally finished consolidating his cultivation.

He took out his Grand Disciple token and summoned the senior leaders of the Taiyuan Sect. For the past few days, people had frequently hovered outside the Shiyuan Hall, only to refrain from disturbing him, which made him realize the leadership had matters to discuss.

Everyone entered the Shiyuan Hall one by one and bowed to Fang Wang.

"Zhao Qi has been captured. Xu Qiuming suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Xiaoyao Immortal and was also captured; his life or death remains unknown. The Xiaoyao Immortal has declared that you must go to the Summit Mountain in the Northern Territory within a year, or he will slaughter the entire Great Qi dynasty," Zhao Chuangan said quickly, his tone heavy.

The Xiaoyao Immortal?

What an arrogant title!

Fang Wang asked, "Why doesn't he come for me directly?"

Zhao Chuangan shook his head, and Chai Yi replied, "I have already communicated with other sects, and we are preparing to join forces to go to Summit Mountain to encircle and suppress the Xiaoyao Old Demon."

The Xiaoyao Old Demon?

They really knew how to pick names. Fang Wang almost laughed, but he held it back.

Yang Yuanzi frowned and said, "It is clear that the Xiaoyao Immortal is calculating something. This one-year deadline may seem arrogant, but he is likely preparing something as well. As far as I know, Summit Mountain is the highest peak among the Seven Dynasties, the place closest to the heavens. It is bitterly cold there; choosing such a location is certainly no coincidence."

The other peak masters and elders began to speculate.

"Could he be preparing a formation?"
"It’s possible. Is the formation related to ice?"
"If Fang Wang does not go, wouldn't his scheme fail?"
"After all, our sect master is already the number one cultivator in Great Qi and possesses the Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit; how could he fear battle? He is banking on exactly that."
"It’s fine. If he can prepare for a year, why can't we?"

Listening to their discussion, Fang Wang reflected on how the Xiaoyao Immortal had targeted Ji Rutian in his previous life. Ji Rutian had nothing to do with Great Qi, so the Xiaoyao Immortal naturally wouldn't have used the dynasty as a threat. Yet, why did the Xiaoyao Immortal capture the monarchs of the Seven Dynasties in his previous life as well?

Monarchs...

Fang Wang always felt that the monarchs and the Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirits held some special significance for the Xiaoyao Immortal.

"Since he said a year, let's wait half a year. It will give you time to investigate. Since he dares to call himself the Xiaoyao Immortal, he is surely arrogant and must have left a trail of deeds in other territories," Fang Wang said.

Although he did not fear the Xiaoyao Immortal, he wanted to wait a little longer to forge his own natal treasure spirit!

The senior leaders had no objections. They then discussed sect affairs. The Taiyuan Sect had over 200,000 disciples, with more than half stationed abroad, while others lived long-term near various spirit veins or guarded the sect’s precious treasure zones. All matters were funneled to the main peak.

Another hour passed.

After sending them away, Fang Wang took out his Grand Disciple token and sent a telepathic message to Zhou Xue: "Come back quickly to support the new sect master; I can't hold on anymore."

***

In a ruined palace, Zhou Xue lay on a long chair, one hand propping up her head, the other holding the Taiyuan Sect disciple token. She wore a red and black gown, her long hair styled solemnly, and her makeup was vibrant, exuding both charm and authority.

Hearing the message from the token, the corners of Zhou Xue’s mouth curled up. Then, the token in her hand suddenly vanished, and a ring on her right hand flashed.

Zhou Xue closed her eyes and began to feign sleep, though her fingers tapped gently against her leg.

After a long while, a woman in black walked quickly into the hall, knelt before her, and said in a low voice, "It has been completely cleaned up. No survivors."

Zhou Xue rose, stood up, patted the woman in black on the shoulder, and walked out of the hall. The woman in black quickly stood and followed behind her.

***

Northern Territory, Summit Mountain.

Ten thousand miles of ice mountains stretched endlessly. The sky here was dim, and cold winds and snow swept wildly. The rugged peaks stood between heaven and earth like sharp swords, piercingly cold.

Among the peaks was a cliff that looked as if it had been sliced flat by a blade. Atop the cliff sat a circular stone platform surrounded by eight iron cages, each covered with numerous talismans.

Xu Qiuming and Zhao Qi were inside, the pride of the Xuanhong Sword Sect and the True Dragon Monarch of Great Qi now mere prisoners in wretched states. The monarchs of other dynasties were in similar conditions, all bearing injuries and clearly having been tortured.

Xu Qiuming was meditating, though his brows were tightly locked.

"Xu Qiuming, what do you think he is actually doing?" Zhao Qi’s voice came from the side, causing Xu Qiuming to open his eyes and look into the distance.

On a sharp peak beside the cliff, the Xiaoyao Immortal was holding a bizarre posture, crouching like a wolf on the tip of the mountain. One hand was pressed against the cliff, while the other was curled into a claw, both directed toward the dark, turbulent sky.

"Is he some kind of monster?" the monarch of Great Wei couldn't help but mutter, his tone unable to hide his fear.

On the other side of the stone platform, the monarch of Great Chu snorted, "He is indeed absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. A human practicing demonic arts; it is truly rebellious."

The monarch of the Northern Territory said anxiously, "In this bitter land, what is he trying to do? I fear he is planning something heinous."

The various monarchs spoke up one after another, their voices not particularly loud for fear of being swallowed by the wind and snow, yet they did not disturb the Xiaoyao Immortal.

Xu Qiuming gazed at the Xiaoyao Immortal, his numb eyes filled with unwillingness. Since the battle at the Chimo Sect, he had firmly believed he would never lose again—or if he did, it would only be to Fang Wang. He had not expected reality to teach him such a harsh lesson.

"Am I truly that mediocre... am I not one of those born to be extraordinary?"
"Father, do I really have a destiny?"

Thinking this, Xu Qiuming’s hands tightened into fists. He suddenly thought of Fang Wang. He wondered how Fang Wang faced failure.

No, wait—had he ever failed?

***

The news of Fang Wang’s tribulation spread like wildfire through the Great Qi cultivation world. The term "Void-Crossing Realm" was, for the first time, forcefully thrust into the consciousness of Great Qi’s cultivators. The title of "Number One Cultivator in Great Qi" was firmly placed upon Fang Wang.

Within the Taiyuan Sect, another major event occurred: less than two months after Fang Wang’s successful tribulation, a terrifying aura erupted from the main peak once more. No one knew what Fang Wang was doing, but such power gave the entire sect more confidence in its future.

Inside Shiyuan Hall, Fang Wang toyed with a jade seal with golden edges. The seal was square, topped with a sculpture of four intertwined qilin. It wasn't too large, easily held in one hand.

Xiao Zi leaned in to observe closely, and Zhao Zhen, hovering in the air, watched the golden-edged seal with curiosity.

"What is the name of this seal?" Xiao Zi asked curiously.

Fang Wang smiled. "The Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Seal."

Xiao Zi was confused. "Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations?"

"The Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations are vast, and this seal of mine can cover a vast space as well," Fang Wang said meaningfully. He grew more fond of the seal the more he looked at it; it was his fifth natal treasure spirit.

Zhao Zhen asked, "Master, what power does this treasure possess?"

Fang Wang raised an eyebrow. "When we deal with the Xiaoyao Immortal, you will see."

Hearing this, Zhao Zhen smiled. "Then I should mourn for the Xiaoyao Immortal in advance. He may be about to face the most miserable suppression in the world."

Fang Wang flipped his right hand, and the Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Seal vanished.

He stood up, intending to go for a walk. By now, the number of Fang family descendants in the Taiyuan Sect exceeded thirty. Some were already his grandchildren, though Fang Wang did not seek them out; he only looked for the original seven disciples who had joined the sect.

Fang Hanyu, Fang Zigeng, Fang Ziqing, Fang Mo, Fang Xin, Fang Chen, and Fang Lin.

Among these seven, Fang Hanyu had fared the best, achieving the highest cultivation, followed by Fang Zigeng. Although the other five were mediocre, they had all risen to the level of sword-wielding disciples thanks to the prestige of Fang Wang and his companions. Even if they struggled to reach higher realms in their future practice, they could at least help the Fang family.

This time, Fang Wang was pleased to find that his clansmen were no longer so constrained in his presence. The reason for their ease was largely their overwhelming curiosity. Being of the same generation, they were curious about just how strong Fang Wang had become, what the world looked like through his eyes, and whether he was prepared to accept the Xiaoyao Immortal’s challenge.

***

Three months later, Zhou Xue finally returned. Fang Wang remained in the Shiyuan Hall, in no rush to act—a sentiment shared by the senior leaders of the Taiyuan Sect, who wanted to investigate first.

Inside Shiyuan Hall, Zhou Xue stood on the platform, eyeing Fang Wang with a smile. "You look quite the part of a sect master. Why don't you just keep sitting there?"

Fang Wang rolled his eyes. "I have no desire to. You’d better find someone to replace me."

Zhou Xue chuckled and changed the subject. "That Xiaoyao Immortal should be at the Golden Body Realm. Are you ready to face him?"

"Golden Body Realm?"

"Yes, the stage above the Void-Crossing Realm is the Golden Body Realm. I have investigated; the Xiaoyao Immortal is a traitor to the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect. He changed his name and called himself the Xiaoyao Immortal. He is likely trying to offer sacrifices to the heavens to alter his fate, hoping to obtain the monarch's dragon aura and your Heavenly Origin Treasure Spirit to forge a treasure spirit that transcends the Heavenly Origin. The reason he set a one-year deadline is likely because he is setting up the 'Trapped Dragon Heaven-Changing Formation,' one of the three great sacred formations of the Heaven-Stealing Sacred Sect."

As Zhou Xue shared this intelligence, a faint smile played on her lips.

Fang Wang raised an eyebrow. "Do you know this formation?"

Zhou Xue smiled without answering.

Fang Wang snorted. "Trying to take my life? A pipe dream. I will make him regret this."

Zhou Xue laughed. "This matter has spread throughout the Seven Dynasties. Cultivators are already heading toward Summit Mountain. Since that is the case, I will not accompany you. You shall face your tribulation alone and prove to the world just how powerful your destiny is."

Fang Wang looked at her calmly. "I will take his head and hang it on the gates of the Great Qi imperial city as a warning to all the dynasties and sects in the world."