Chapter 61: A Major Incident

After hearing Lu Yuanjun’s words and feeling the gazes of the other disciples, Fang Wang’s expression remained unchanged. He replied softly, “Senior Brother Lu, we are all the future of the Taiyuan Sect. Since you wish to instruct me, why not say it openly and let everyone learn together?”

Trying to set me up?

Then don’t blame me for leaving you with no way out!

If Lu Yuanjun really wanted to teach him, he could’ve used the art of voice transmission to ask. But instead, Lu Yuanjun spoke aloud. If Fang Wang accepted, it would confirm that he intended to side with Lu Yuanjun and serve him, which also meant he’d be giving up his claim to the sect master’s seat.

Fang Wang thought Lu Yuanjun was getting impatient. In the past, he had always been meticulous in his actions, but now his intentions were all too obvious.

Lu Yuanjun’s face grew slightly awkward at Fang Wang’s words, but it lasted only a moment before he said in a measured tone, “Junior Brother, you have a point. In that case, when I return, I will write down the Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art and submit it to the sect.”

“That cannot be allowed. The Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art is one of the three great true arts of the Supreme Hao Sect. If it spreads, it will bring endless trouble. This art cannot be placed in the Daoist Law Pavilion!”

A voice sounded. Fang Wang turned and saw Chen Anshi standing at the doorway on the second floor, overlooking them.

Chen Anshi’s face was expressionless. “Lu Yuanjun, since you wish to teach your fellow disciples, why not do so now, right here on the ship? The rest of you must remember that Senior Brother Lu’s favor is not easily repaid. You must keep this secret. To obtain the true art of the Supreme Hao Sect is a rare and great fortune.”

At these words, Xu Lang, Ye Xiang, and the others all rose, bowing to Lu Yuanjun in thanks for his instruction.

Fang Wang also cupped his fists, though inwardly he could only marvel.

So Chen Anshi, the undercover demonic cultivator, was actually one of Lu Yuanjun’s backers!

With these words, the other disciples now owed Lu Yuanjun a debt of gratitude—whether they wanted to learn or not, they had little choice.

Lu Yuanjun nodded. “Very well, I will now impart the method to you all.”

As he spoke, he shot Fang Wang a look, signaling him to come closer.

All the disciples gathered around, sitting cross-legged around Lu Yuanjun. Fang Wang sat next to Zhou Xue, who, from start to finish, did not send him any secret messages.

Fang Wang was quietly curious—would Lu Yuanjun really be willing to teach the Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art? His Heavenly Palace could discern the authenticity of any cultivation method; only if it was genuine would his consciousness enter the Heavenly Palace.

Wait!

If it was genuine, wouldn’t he be trapped in the Heavenly Palace again for at least two hundred years?

It had taken him four hundred and twenty-six years to achieve perfection in the Battle True Art; the Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art, being of the same level, would likely take a similar amount of time—another four hundred years at least.

Fang Wang’s heart sank, and he suddenly felt as if he had hoisted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed that Lu Yuanjun might actually be teaching the real thing. If it was fake, it was just a trap for him; but if it was real, how would he face the other disciples?

Even if it was real, Lu Yuanjun probably wasn’t afraid of it spreading; such a supreme art could not be mastered just by obtaining it.

Lu Yuanjun began to expound on the Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art, and the disciples listened intently. The elders, though on alert for danger from all directions, kept their attention on Lu Yuanjun as well.

“Heaven and earth, yin and yang, let the spirit enter the body, transform into dual extremes, yin as substance, yang as void, cycles of stars, from virtue to evil, from strength to weakness…”

Lu Yuanjun explained the incantations and principles of the Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art. At first, Fang Wang thought it sounded plausible, quite possibly authentic.

Previously, when he had studied the Battle True Art and the Nine Dragons Divine Change Formula, their incantations had also been profoundly mysterious—just memorizing them was not enough to immediately understand them.

Time slipped by.

Lu Yuanjun spoke for as long as it takes an incense stick to burn, and when he finished, everyone was frowning in deep thought.

Fang Wang also wore a frown—but his was feigned.

He had not entered the Heavenly Palace, which meant that the art Lu Yuanjun had imparted was either fake or incomplete. After all, Lu Yuanjun didn’t have a Heavenly Palace himself and couldn’t tell real from false.

Lu Yuanjun glanced around and said, “This art is extremely profound. After a month of diligent study, I myself understand only a little and have not truly begun to practice it. In the future, let us all study it together and discuss the Dao, so that we may learn from one another and advance together.”

His words were gracious and magnanimous.

Yan Feiyue immediately laughed, “Thank you, Senior Brother Lu. Such supreme arts are not easily mastered. Merely receiving the method is already a great favor.”

Ye Xiang, Gu Li, and Xu Lang all nodded in agreement.

“In the end, we’ll still need your guidance, Senior Brother. We hope you won’t withhold your wisdom in the future,” Zhou Xue said with a smile.

“Of course, of course. Your own talent and comprehension are no less than mine. Who can say what the future holds?” Lu Yuanjun replied with modest laughter. The atmosphere was harmonious, and in the distance, Zhao Chuanqian nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile.

With such unity among the disciples, how could the Taiyuan Sect not flourish?

After this incident, the disciples grew even closer—at least on the surface—and began sharing stories of their own experiences.

When Xu Lang spoke of being rescued by Fang Wang, Lu Yuanjun took the opportunity to praise Fang Wang again. Fortunately, Xu Lang and the others did not mention the details of the underground chamber.

The atmosphere was subtly charged; Xu Lang, Ye Xiang, and Yan Feiyue were grateful to Fang Wang for saving them, Zhou Xue was his clanswoman, and Gu Li was his close friend. All of them were trying to figure out the relationship between Fang Wang and Lu Yuanjun.

They appeared to know nothing, but in truth, they were well aware that Lu Yuanjun was trying to win Fang Wang over, while Fang Wang clearly had no intention of submitting, at least not as a subordinate. Otherwise, he would not have suggested that Lu Yuanjun teach the Yin-Yang Xuanming True Art to everyone.

Chen Anshi had spoken graciously, but in reality, Lu Yuanjun had not wanted to share the art with them at all—a fact that Ye Xiang and the others saw clearly.

Still, even if their motives differed, they had indeed received a favor from Lu Yuanjun, so the outward forms had to be observed.

...

After leaving the Grand Sage Cave Heaven, the magic ship carrying Fang Wang and the others sped swiftly through the air. In less than half a day, they reached the heart of the Great Qi Dynasty, returning to the territory of the righteous path, and only then did the ship slow down.

Along the way, they encountered no attacks from other sects.

Fang Wang suspected this was due to Chen Anshi’s influence. After all, he came from the demonic Chimo Sect and now, both openly and covertly, supported Lu Yuanjun, so naturally he would not allow demonic sects to attack them.

Thus, the Taiyuan Sect party returned safely to their sect, just as dawn broke.

After dispersing, Zhao Chuanqian reminded Fang Wang to register his beast companion at the Administration Hall. Although Little Violet had hidden in his robes the whole time, everyone had noticed its presence, though none had spoken of it.

So, Fang Wang flew to the sect’s main city.

After a half-hour’s errands, he finally returned to his own cave residence.

Once the stone door closed, Little Violet darted from his robe and began exploring the cave excitedly.

Fang Wang let out a long breath, a smile breaking across his face. For the other disciples, it had only been half a year since they’d returned; for him, it had been six hundred years!

Looking at the grass and flowers in his abode, he felt as if he were dreaming.

He stepped forward, placed two storage pouches on the table, and then sat cross-legged on the white jade bed.

His mind turned to Chen Anshi and the elders’ attitude toward Lu Yuanjun; no wonder Zhou Xue had told him not to rush—Lu Yuanjun’s backing was far more complicated than he’d imagined.

He needed to do something—at the very least, to increase his own standing in the Taiyuan Sect.

Guang Qiuxian, under the pretense of acting in his best interest, had concealed the true grade of his life-bound spirit treasure, so that no matter how well he performed in the Nine Veins Competition, he could never shake Lu Yuanjun’s position.

The grading of spirit treasures was the most important measure in this world.

The higher the grade of one’s spirit treasure, the greater one’s potential for cultivation!

He would focus on cultivation for half a year first!

Fang Wang closed his eyes and began meditating.

…

Half a year later, Fang Wang broke through to the third level of the Spirit Pill Realm. On this day, he was sorting heavenly materials and treasures in his cave, planning to donate some to the sect to increase his contribution points.

“Fang Wang, are you there?”

A voice came from outside the cave. Reaching out with his divine sense, Fang Wang saw it was Fang Hanyu.

He immediately sent Little Violet to open the door.

As the mountain gate opened, Fang Hanyu, blindfolded, stepped inside—only to see a blue-violet snake floating before him, causing him to instinctively grip his sword hilt.

“My beast companion,” Fang Wang’s voice drifted over. Hearing this, Fang Hanyu relaxed his grip.

He skirted around Little Violet and approached Fang Wang, as Little Violet closed the mountain gate behind him.

“Something major has happened,” Fang Hanyu said gravely as he reached Fang Wang.

He glanced at the heavenly materials and treasures on the table, but remained unmoved.

Without looking up, Fang Wang asked, “How major?”

Fang Hanyu took a deep breath. “The imperial family of Great Qi has been slaughtered. All royal kin have been wiped out. Even both of Emperor Zhao Zhen’s sons are dead. Now Great Qi is in turmoil. The sect master has summoned all the elders to discuss the matter. Before this, several city-states with ducal mansions—including our own Fang Duke’s Mansion—were also massacred. Now, even the imperial family has suffered this calamity. Do you think the immortal cultivators of other dynasties might be about to invade Great Qi?”