Chapter 148: Fang Wang, save me! [Third update, requesting monthly votes]

The cool night air carried a sea breeze through the heavy fog, sweeping into the depths of Biyou Island.

A lantern flickered outside the pavilion in front of the Spiritual Eye Lake, casting an ethereal, dreamlike glow over the surrounding scenery.

As Fang Wang was meditating, he suddenly sensed something and retrieved the Yellow-grade Sword Monarch Token. Qu Xunhun’s voice echoed from within: "Sword Monarch, I have tracked down Fang Hanyu's whereabouts. Right now, sixteen sword-cultivation sects are hunting him down, along with countless rogue sword cultivators. He is fleeing in the direction of the Heavenly Sect, likely attempting to seek asylum with you. He is expected to arrive at Biyou Island in two days."

Hearing this, Fang Wang immediately replied, "Very well, I am aware."

So many people were hunting Fang Hanyu?

Fang Wang was not afraid of Fang Hanyu bringing trouble to his doorstep. To have driven Fang Hanyu to such desperation that he had to seek him out meant the young man must have truly run out of options.

Only half a year had passed since Zhu Li's departure. Fang Wang was still quite a distance away from the ninth level of the Crossing Void Realm, yet he was confident he could冲击 the Golden Body Realm within a decade. After all, he was only one hundred and twelve years old.

He closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.

Early the next morning, Fang Wang rose and walked down to the shoreline. Summoning the Heavenly Rainbow Sword, he held it in his hand, gazed out at the sea, and closed his eyes.

He began to contemplate the integration of his sword techniques.

He wanted to fuse the Heaven and Earth Sword Intent with the Stunning Hong Divine Sword Art. He might not succeed before Fang Hanyu's arrival, but Fang Hanyu's troubles had rekindled his desire to further explore the path of the sword.

Zhu Yan soared through the sky, gazing off into the distance at Fang Wang's figure. After watching for a moment, he returned to the side of Xiao Zi, who was currently instructing a group of spirits and monsters on the beach on the other side of the island.

"How is Master's swordsmanship?" Zhu Yan asked out of curiosity.

Xiao Zi snorted softly and said, "Young Master's swordsmanship is naturally peerless in this world. His greatest asset has never been his fists, but the sword in his hand. Only when he draws his sword is he truly serious."

Hearing this, Zhu Yan felt a mix of shame and exhilaration.

The stronger Fang Wang became, the more it proved that his own choice had been the right one.

"Forget it, I'd better go practice the True Combat Arts first."

Zhu Yan chuckled, shook his head, and turned to leave.

...

Above the boundless ocean, a massive jade sword streaked across the sky, passing over island after island, leaving behind thousands of strands of sword Qi in its wake.

The man in plain robes was still steering the sword, while his daughter—a woman in blue—stood behind Fang Hanyu, manipulating five swords at once. As the five blades danced through the air, countless sword phantoms crisscrossed the firmament, their surging, violent Qi sweeping through the vast group of pursuing sword cultivators according to an uncatchable pattern.

Thousands of sword cultivators pursued them in a mighty torrent. Some stepped on flying swords, while others were shrouded in swirling sword Qi. The cultivators at the very vanguard cast their sword techniques even as they chased, though their Qi was temporarily unable to breach the barrier formed by the blue-robed woman's sword array.

"Father, my spiritual power is almost exhausted!"

The woman in blue cried out anxiously, her face etched with deep fatigue.

Before the plain-robed man could reply, Fang Hanyu stood up and said, "Let me take over!"

The woman in blue glanced sideways at him and rebuked angrily, "Don't be reckless! Your injuries haven't healed yet. Be careful of a backlash from the sword soul!"

With his Evil Heart Eyes wide open, looking like a malevolent ghost brought back to life, Fang Hanyu smiled and said, "Lady Qin, we have already entered the territory of the Heavenly Sect. Biyou Island should not be far now. According to what Senior Qin's captive said earlier, we should reach Biyou Island in at most two hours. Let me switch with you; once we reach Biyou Island, we will be safe."

"But—"

"Let him do it!"

The plain-robed man interrupted his daughter, his tone heavy.

Hearing this, the blue-robed woman had no choice but to step back behind Fang Hanyu. Fang Hanyu's gaze hardened, and a massive sword shadow condensed from pure Qi erected itself in front of them, blocking the countless incoming attacks.

The plain-robed man cast a deep, meaningful glance back at Fang Hanyu, thinking to himself: *A sword Qi treasure spirit, a ten-thousand-year-old sword soul... If this boy manages to survive this ordeal, he might truly become my greatest pillar of support as Qin Hong in the future...*

Fang Hanyu raised his right hand, and wisps of sword Qi overflowed from his palm. Looking closely, they resembled tiny sword phantoms spiraling around each other, rapidly coalescing into a broad, blood-red sword.

Grasping this blade, Fang Hanyu's right hand trembled violently, as if he could barely maintain his grip.

"You've only just stepped into the Spirit Condensation Realm. Trying to borrow the power of the sword soul is extremely dangerous!" Qin Tang glared at him, her blue robes whipping violently in the wind, her hair tossed into disarray.

Cold sweat beaded on Fang Hanyu's forehead. He gritted his teeth and said, "Since it has submitted to me, it ought to serve me!"

With a fierce heave, he lifted the sword, pointing it directly at the swarming pursuers behind them. The blood-red broadsword erupted with a crimson rainbow that slashed across the sky, instantly shattering the densely packed vanguard of the pursuing army.

Yet he could no longer retract the blade, forcing him to grip it with both hands.

"Absolute madness!"

Qin Tang muttered under her breath. She immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating her cultivation technique. Having been hunted for so long, her medicinal pills had long since run out; now, the only way to recover her spiritual power was through meditation.

"Impudent! Whose territory do you think this is? How dare you trespass!"

An explosive roar echoed out as several figures charged toward them from ahead of the jade sword, exuding formidable imposing auras.

Qin Hong immediately shouted, "We are close friends of the Yellow-grade Sword Monarch, and we wish to pay him a visit!"

He was unsure of the relationship between the Yellow-grade Sword Monarch and the Heavenly Sect, but given that the Sword Monarch had chosen to seclude himself in the Heavenly Sect's waters, their relationship couldn't possibly be poor.

Hearing this, the group of Heavenly Sect cultivators immediately parted the way, not daring to obstruct them.

They attempted to block the massive army of pursuers trailing behind, but those pursuers did not announce their sects and instead attacked directly, attempting to force their way through!

Along the remainder of their journey, the trio encountered Heavenly Sect cultivators from time to time. Using his claim of knowing the Yellow-grade Sword Monarch, Qin Hong drove straight through without stopping for even a moment. Relying on the obstacles posed by the Heavenly Sect disciples, they temporarily shook off their pursuers.

Qin Hong did not slow down, terrified of being overtaken.

Fang Hanyu tried to put the sword away, but it was utterly impossible. He could only grip the handle with both hands, the tip pointing diagonally downward to conserve his spiritual power as much as possible.

"Since you recognized me as your master, why won't you obey me?"

Fang Hanyu roared inwardly, burning with fury.

A sinister voice echoed in his mind: "I have existed for ten thousand years and seen countless sword cultivators. You want me to submit to you, boy? You're not worthy yet! Release your killing intent and slaughter everyone you see—why not start with the father and daughter behind you? The five sword spirits of that woman are quite delectable; let me devour them!"

"Impossible!"

Fang Hanyu mentally rejected the notion. He had long since noticed that a hard-to-control killing intent was taking root within him, but that bloodlust had not fundamentally altered his character.

Qin Hong and his daughter had saved him from the brink of death; even if he were to kill himself, he could never harm his benefactors!

"Indulge your killing intent, and you can become the greatest sword cultivator in existence. The sword is a weapon, and weapons are meant for slaughter. The sword cultivator who created me took the lives of countless living beings throughout his lifetime. You have the chance to become the next him—don't waste your innate talent, do it!"

The sword soul continued to tempt Fang Hanyu. Gritting his teeth, Fang Hanyu offered no further mental response, throwing all his effort into suppressing the treasure spirit.

"Hold on a little longer! Once we reach Biyou Island, I will help you suppress him!"

Qin Hong urged without looking back, accelerating once more as the jade sword's velocity surged abruptly.

His spiritual power was already running critically low; now, his only option was to trust Fang Hanyu and make it to Biyou Island as fast as possible!

An hour passed in the blink of an eye.

There were no pursuers behind the jade sword—only the atmospheric distortions left in the wake of its passage, and the lingering blood-red sword Qi of Fang Hanyu's treasure spirit.

In the span of a single hour, Fang Hanyu's spiritual power had been drained to the point of exhaustion, and his physical form was already swaying precariously.

"Is that Biyou Island ahead? The man we captured earlier said Biyou Island was surrounded by thick fog."

Qin Hong's voice rang out, causing Fang Hanyu's eyes to widen. Gritting his teeth, he roared at the top of his lungs, "Fang Wang, save me!"

That thunderous roar shook the heavens, startling even Qin Tang, who was in the middle of drawing in spiritual breath.

Before Qin Tang could speak, Qin Hong's voice sounded again: "The fog has dispersed; it seems this truly is Biyou Island!"

Hearing this, Qin Tang immediately turned her head to look.

Ahead lay an island shrouded in mist. As the fog parted, the contours of the island revealed themselves.

Qin Hong opened his mouth to question Fang Hanyu, when suddenly a fierce gale swept past, causing his eyes to widen in shock. Vaguely, he caught sight of a streak of white rainbow light. Instinctively turning his head toward it, his pupils constricted sharply, and he immediately ordered the jade sword to slow down.

Noticing her father's expression, Qin Tang turned her head as well. Before she could complete the motion, she heard a voice: "Why are you shouting so loudly? Are you afraid I was asleep?"

Following the direction of the voice, Qin Tang saw a man in white standing beside Fang Hanyu. His white garments fluttered, his dark hair danced wildly in the wind, and his profile was breathtakingly handsome, wearing a faint, easygoing smile.

Who else could it be if not Fang Wang?

Fang Wang reached his right hand across Fang Hanyu's chest, grasped his hands, and pressed them down onto the blood-red broadsword.

Hm?

Fang Wang seemed to sense something, his gaze shifting slightly.

Fang Hanyu gritted his teeth and labored to say, "My treasure spirit has been possessed by a ten-thousand-year-old sword soul and is out of control. Be careful... it will..."

With a stern look in his eyes, Fang Wang applied a slight pressure with his right hand. In an instant, the blazing aura of the blood-red broadsword vanished utterly, dissolving into an illusory phantom before fading away entirely.

Before Fang Hanyu could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt his hands grow light. The terrifying sword soul power that had been crushing the breath out of him abruptly retreated back into the depths of his body, leaving him feeling immensely relieved.

His eyes widening in disbelief, he looked toward Fang Wang and stammered, "You..."

Fang Wang raised an eyebrow and said, "A mere sword soul has you in such a miserable state? It seems your swordsmanship isn't strong enough yet. When on earth are you going to catch up to me?"

Fang Hanyu opened his mouth, words failing him.

Qin Tang's eyes bulged, utterly unable to believe what she was seeing. Having traveled the entire way right beside Fang Hanyu, she was acutely aware of just how terrifying the ten-thousand-year-old sword soul was.

Yet the moment this man appeared, he had simply subjugated it?

Qin Hong also turned his head, staring at Fang Wang in profound shock.

Fang Wang glanced at Qin Hong and chuckled softly, "Come onto the island. You can rest and recover there for a while."

Coming back to her senses, Qin Tang blurted out, "There are countless sword cultivators hunting us down!"

Fang Wang casually supported Fang Hanyu's arm, pulling him around as he replied with utter nonchalance, "Countless? I wonder if their bones will be enough to fill this sea?"

Hearing this, Qin Tang didn't know how to respond, thinking only that this man was impossibly arrogant.

As Qin Hong sized Fang Wang up, he noticed a faint resemblance between Fang Wang and Fang Hanyu. He had previously considered Fang Hanyu to possess the aptitude of a supreme prodigy, yet standing beside Fang Wang—even with the terrifying Evil Heart Eyes—Fang Hanyu's presence was entirely overshadowed.

There was a quality to Fang Wang that he could neither comprehend nor describe, but it was an aura that made it impossible to look away once your eyes met him.