Chapter 135: The Imperial Envoy, The Style of the Longevity Pavilion

Sunlight streamed brightly as a lone dharma boat sailed across the boundless ocean, looking as tiny as a fallen leaf and seemingly on the verge of being swallowed by the vast expanse of water at any moment.

Sitting inside the pavilion, Fang Wang looked at Xiao Zi on the table and asked, "Have you mastered it?"

"This Breathless Natural Art is a bit tricky, but I’ve memorized it. Young Master, just give me a little time," Xiao Zi replied.

Xiao Zi naturally possessed a certain qi-concealment technique, but it proved useless out here on the sea. Therefore, Fang Wang had passed on the Breathless Natural Art taught to him by Zhou Xue, hoping to test whether it could mask the aura of a true dragon.

To be honest, the more Fang Wang looked at Xiao Zi now, the less it resembled a true dragon in any way.

Or perhaps, true dragons differed significantly from what he had imagined?

Fang Wang nodded. Time was abundant, as long as Xiao Zi practiced diligently.

"By the way, Young Master, are you really going to take that kid as your disciple?" Xiao Zi asked curiously.

The Chu family fleet had already parted ways with them, heading in a different direction.

Chu Yin was going to cultivate at the Canglan Academy first. Speaking of which, Fang Wang remembered that Gu Li was also at the Canglan Academy.

Tossing the demonic core of Monarch Heizhan around in his hand, Fang Wang answered casually, "We shall see. If he truly possesses the talent of the Heavenly Origin, it wouldn't hurt to take him in. If not, the Chu family will likely abandon the idea before he ever reaches me."

He held a glimmer of expectation for Chu Yin, though not much, primarily because Zhou Xue had never mentioned that name.

Naturally, the pinnacle powerhouses of the mortal world were by no means few. Zhou Xue's omission did not mean that Chu Yin might not achieve supreme heights.

Xiao Zi sighed with emotion, "If he really is a Heavenly Origin talent, even if he can't compare to you, Young Master, he'll still be stronger than Xu Qiuming."

Because Fang Wang frequently expressed his appreciation for Xu Qiuming, Xiao Zi had come to view Xu Qiuming as the benchmark for innate talent.

"If you want to eat that demonic core outside, go ahead. Grow stronger sooner so you can handle those troubles yourself in the future." Fang Wang had no desire to continue chatting with it.

Hearing this, Xiao Zi bolted outside instantly.

Fang Wang began to project his divine sense into Monarch Heizhan's demonic core. The beast's primordial spirit resided within, and he intended to employ certain methods to gather intelligence on the Demon Palace.

The Demon Palace had lost a monarch, and coupled with Xiao Zi's involvement, Fang Wang anticipated that dealing with the Demon Palace would be inevitable in the future.

Such was the way of the world. Even if Fang Wang wished to hide, trouble would always find its way to him. Blind evasion was useless; only by breaking enemies one by one could one walk the righteous path!

***

Days and months flowed like a stream. Since the ordeal with Monarch Heizhan, Fang Wang and his companions had encountered no further major troubles. Occasional encounters with sea beasts or maritime bandits were resolved without requiring Fang Wang to lift a finger.

A month passed.

During this period, they encountered an increasing number of cultivators. Some flew on swords, others traveled by boat, and some even took the initiative to socialize with Fang Hanyu. Fang Hanyu did not refuse, using the opportunity to learn more about the ocean.

This expanse of sea was known as the Southern Vault Ocean, and it was extraordinarily vast. Even cultivators at the Spirit Condensation Realm would find it difficult to traverse the entire area in a lifetime. It was said that the surface in the center of the sea rose to such heights that it could touch the sky—it sounded quite mystical, though Fang Hanyu could not quite comprehend it.

Inside the pavilion.

The two brothers sat facing each other.

Fang Wang spoke up, "Master's immortal cave is almost within reach. Afterward, will you accompany me to tour the ocean, or head straight for that sword cultivation domain?"

Fang Hanyu thought for a moment and said, "Let's part ways directly. Traveling with you is reassuring, but it makes me too prone to complacency. I don't want to develop that kind of mindset."

Fang Wang smiled and did not press further.

Fang Hanyu asked, "Are you planning to find an archipelago to settle down on? The atmosphere for immortal cultivation among the ocean archipelagos is very rich, and since you're not short on spirit stones, you'll surely find a top-tier immortal cave. Doing so can also help you avoid the Demon Palace tracking you down."

Monarch Heizhan's demonic core had already been devoured by Xiao Zi, and Fang Wang had learned of the Demon Palace's sphere of influence. The Demon Palace definitely ranked among the top three demon factions in the Southern Vault Ocean. Each of the seventy-two monarchs commanded a million demon soldiers, and above them existed a Demon Emperor.

"We'll see," Fang Wang said with a soft smile. His desire to find an island stemmed from a wish for prolonged seclusion.

Currently, his mastery of supreme arts was rather eclectic, and he wanted to attempt fusing them. The three true cultivation methods could be fused, and the Nine Dragons Divine Transformation Art alongside the Mountains and Rivers Heaven-Suppressing Fist could also be tested for integration.

Punching out a true dragon—now that would be majestic!

While the Mountains and Rivers Heaven-Suppressing Fist felt immensely satisfying, Fang Wang always felt that such a flesh-and-bone combat style clashed with the demeanor of an enlightened master, appearing somewhat out of place for an immortal cultivator.

Fang Hanyu did not dwell on the matter further, instead resuming his recount of the intelligence he had gathered from socializing with others that day.

On the deck, Xiao Zi coiled its body, darting its forked tongue out from time to time. While it appeared to be resting, it was actually cultivating the Breathless Natural Art.

Time continued to flow.

Guided by the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token, five days later they sailed into an archipelago numbering over a hundred islands. The population of cultivators was massive, featuring numerous ports.

Upon landing, Fang Hanyu directly stored his dharma boat away into a storage bag.

Proceeding all the way, they eventually located the Sword Sage's immortal cave on a towering mountain. Relying on the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token, Fang Wang directly unsealed the gates of the immortal cave.

This immortal cave was exceptionally vast, spanning at least a thousand square meters inside. It was lush with various flowers and plants, suffused with swirling spiritual Qi, forming a self-contained natural ecosystem.

"Pick whatever you like, I'll take the rest," Fang Wang said directly, too lazy to even inspect the contents.

Fang Hanyu stood on no ceremony and immediately went into action. Xiao Zi and Zhao Zhen also rushed over to join in the excitement.

Fang Wang walked out of the mountain gates and stood at the edge of a cliff, admiring the scenery of the archipelago.

Countless avian beasts circled in the sky, and pavilions dotted the various islands, forming small towns, markets, and even a city. Looking out as far as the eye could see, figures of cultivators could be seen coming and going in every direction.

The Fallen Sky City of Great Wei fell far short of this prosperity, let alone Great Qi.

Putting aside the degree of prosperity, the scenery alone was breathtaking, leaving Fang Wang refreshed and full of anticipation for his future years of cultivation on the sea.

After a while.

A cultivator flew over riding a gourd. It was a man in gray robes, wearing a scholar's cap and carrying two swords on his back. He landed beside Fang Wang, glanced at the immortal cave, and then cautiously approached Fang Wang to bow in salute.

"May I ask what relationship Your Excellency has with the Sword Sage?" the gray-robed man asked.

Fang Wang glanced at him sideways and said, "I am the Sword Sage's disciple."

Although he did not know the other party's background, Fang Wang had no fear of anyone seeking trouble—surely an enemy wouldn't have been lingering here for decades, right?

Hearing this, the gray-robed man stated, "This one is called Qu Xunhun, an emissary of the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign. The Sword Sage has been gone for many years; might I ask how his senior is doing recently?"

Fang Wang raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Qu Xunhun, only to see him raise his right hand and produce a Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token.

Qu Xunhun's expression changed drastically. He immediately dropped to his knees, pressing his forehead against the ground, and proclaimed, "Qu Xunhun pays respects to the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign!"

Fang Wang said, "Rise. My master has passed on, and he bestowed the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token upon me."

The emissaries of the Pavilion of Immortality were divided into two categories: one kind served only the Pavilion, while the other served the Twenty-Four True Beings and the Seventy-Two Military Sovereigns. A True Being was entitled to four assisting emissaries, while a Military Sovereign was limited to one. The lowest cultivation level for an emissary was the Void-Crossing Realm.

"From now on, the Sword Sovereign may command me at will," Qu Xunhun said as he stood up, asking no further questions about the Sword Sage.

The Pavilion of Immortality recognized the token, not the person!

Fang Wang felt a wave of inner emotion. Before revealing his identity, he had assumed Qu Xunhun harbored deep loyalty toward the Sword Sage. Yet, upon hearing that the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token had changed hands, Qu Xunhun ceased mentioning the Sword Sage altogether.

Was this simply the style of the Pavilion of Immortality?

Splendid, I like it!

Standing on ceremony, Fang Wang said, "I wish to find an island suitable for cultivation among the islands here, preferably far away from the sphere of influence of the Demon Palace. Do you have any suggestions?"

Qu Xunhun said with a solemn expression, "Although the Southern Vault Ocean contains numerous undiscovered domains, those places are overly perilous, frequently plagued by natural disasters and demon calamities. The Sword Sovereign can entirely purchase an island suitable for establishing a daoist sanctuary far away from the Demon Palace. I can handle this matter."

Fang Wang pondered for a moment and asked, "What is the price of an island?"

"At the very least, ten million high-grade spirit stones. However, since you are the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign and I will be acting on your behalf, the price can be cut by at least half. With good fortune, we might even acquire an island for free, though human favors will be involved..." Qu Xunhun mused.

Ten million high-grade spirit stones!

Good grief!

A core disciple of the Taiyuan Sect only received ten high-grade spirit stones per month. Without performing missions, a core disciple would have to toil for at least eighty-three thousand years to barely afford an island?

Fang Wang was merely sighing at the vast disparity between land and sea. He was certainly not short on spirit stones; his spoils of war were so numerous, encompassing various treasures and heavenly materials, that he couldn't even calculate their worth, but ten million high-grade spirit stones meant nothing to him.

"Use your own discretion. I am not lacking in spirit stones, and I would like to see how you handle things," Fang Wang said with a light smile.

"Understood. Within a month at the latest, I will surely select a suitable island for you."

Hearing this, Qu Xunhun immediately accepted the task, bowed, and departed.

Fang Wang watched him leave, then swept his divine sense into the Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token, confirming that his emissary was indeed Qu Xunhun, and that the other party possessed the corresponding token. The distance between the two was already increasing.

He suddenly felt a surge of gratitude toward the Sword Sage.

Without this Yellow-Rank Sword Sovereign Token, arriving on the sea would have indeed plunged him into numerous troublesome affairs.

As it turned out now, he had someone to run errands for him!

An hour later, Fang Hanyu finished packing and came to bid farewell to Fang Wang.

Fang Wang removed a storage bag and handed it to Fang Hanyu, saying, "Be careful out there on your own. The ocean is vast; don't make me come rescue you again."

Fang Hanyu initially wanted to refuse, but hearing those words warmed his heart, and he could only nod in agreement.

"Just wait, you will definitely hear the name Fang Hanyu!" Fang Hanyu declared with high spirits.

Fang Wang smiled. "Why not Zhuge Liang?"

"That was merely an alias. If one wishes to spread their prestige, they must use the surname Fang!"

"Then I shall wait and see."

Fang Hanyu smiled, then turned and left.

Fang Wang watched him depart for quite a while before returning to the immortal cave, where the stone gates closed shut.

Next, he prepared to cultivate within the immortal cave while awaiting Qu Xunhun's return.

A month passed quickly.

Qu Xunhun arrived right on schedule, timing it impeccably.

The gates opened, Qu Xunhun walked into the immortal cave, and Fang Wang invited him to be seated.

Approaching the table, Qu Xunhun remained standing. Raising his hand, he placed three jade slips onto the table and spoke softly, "These are the three islands I have selected for you. All of them lie within the domains governed by righteous sects whose duty is to slay demons and eliminate devils. If the Demon Palace comes to attack, they can also help you fend them off. Their prices respectively are..."