Chapter 64: The Heavenly Origin Shocks the World

"It's hard to say. After all, I've never fought someone at the ninth level of the Profound Heart Realm. Do you know the strength of someone at that level? In my view, strength isn't determined by the realm, but by who your opponent is," Fang Wang replied, weighing his own power in his mind.

Despite being only twenty-six years old, he had spent over fifteen hundred years cultivating those ultimate arts. His strength could no longer be defined by mere realms.

His current goal, however, was to break through to the Profound Heart Realm.

Having already reached the eighth level of the Spirit Pill Realm, it was only natural to push onward to the Profound Heart Realm in one go. Then, in the face of formidable enemies and dangers, he would have confidence.

Afterward, he could devote time to completing tasks, increase his contribution beyond Lu Yuanjun's, reclaim the position of chief disciple, and become a candidate for sect leader.

This wouldn't just serve his revenge but would bring greater benefit to his family.

Cultivation, besides talent, depended even more on fortune. What is fortune? Resources are fortune!

Little Zi flattered him, saying, "You're absolutely right, young master. With your talent, another hundred years of cultivation will see you sweep across this world with ease. But now, we must not be complacent."

After leaving the Great Sage's Cave Heaven, it had learned Fang Wang's age and cultivation time, which greatly astonished it.

When it had practiced for ten years, it couldn't even defeat a spirit beast, let alone a demon king.

Because of this, it now had immense expectations of Fang Wang.

It had read many ancient stories in the secret realms of the Great Sage's Cave Heaven, knowing well how difficult it was to become immortal—one in a thousand years. Those who succeeded were all peerless talents blessed with boundless fortune.

Fang Wang's talent had shocked it, and his fortune was beyond doubt. The gains from the Cave Heaven alone were extraordinary.

The golden-scaled, white-feathered robe, the demon king's demon pill, and that mysterious wall—it strongly suspected that Fang Wang had mastered the secret legacy written on the wall.

Such a powerful figure, it had to cling tightly to him. If Fang Wang became immortal one day, wouldn't it be elevated alongside him?

Fang Wang took out the demon pill of the black flood dragon from his storage pouch and handed it to Little Zi. "I don't need this demon pill for now. When I want it, killing another demon king won't be hard. It would be better for you to have it. While I cultivate, you should strive to grow stronger as well. In a few years, the two of us will roam the world, becoming legends living in this age."

"Thank you, young master! I will go through fire and water for you in the future!" Little Zi was so excited that it wrapped its tail around the demon pill, licking it twice, utterly enchanted.

"Try to transform into a dragon. Then I will be the Dragon Immortal Lord."

"Dragon Immortal Lord? That sounds so imposing! I will definitely work hard in cultivation, and one day you will ride me!"

"It's riding a dragon, not riding on a dragon!"

"What's the difference?"

The man and the snake conversed, dreaming of the future.

Zhou Xue had told Fang Wang to set aside his hatred for now and focus on cultivation. Fang Wang had listened, and now it seemed Zhou Xue was right. His greatest advantage was his speed of cultivation. If he kept getting stronger, not only would revenge be within reach, but running the Taiyuan Sect would be no trouble.

So long as he was strong enough, Lu Yuanjun, Zhao Zhen—righteous or evil—would all be subject to his judgment.

...

Time flew by. Fang Wang remained in seclusion, never leaving his abode. Since Fang Hanyu had departed that day, he had not visited again, and the other disciples of the Fang residence dared not disturb him.

Another two years passed.

Fang Wang finally reached the ninth level of the Spirit Pill Realm. The last stage of this realm was far harder than the ones before, but his Xuan Yang Divine Sutra was a supreme art.

The Profound Heart Realm was different from the Spirit Pill Realm. It required no external aids, focusing instead on attuning oneself to the natural world, condensing the heart into a Profound Heart—what is a Profound Heart? A heart that comprehends the mysteries of the Dao.

The Profound Heart Realm was one of the top realms in the Daqi cultivation world. As for the higher Concentrated Mind Realm, that was as rare as a phoenix feather, seldom encountered.

Breaking through to the Profound Heart Realm depended on enlightenment and fortune.

On this day, Fang Wang finally stepped out of his cave dwelling. He walked to the edge of the cliff, admiring the magnificent scenery of the Taiyuan Sect. Little Zi slithered across his shoulder, nestled into his chest, poking out its snake head.

After eight years of cultivation, Little Zi had fully transformed into a purple serpent. Its scales glimmered with a strange cold light under the sun.

It was now summer, the blazing sun high in the sky. The ten peaks of the Taiyuan Sect were not shrouded in fog; their towering forms rose into the clouds, grand and majestic, filling the eyes and refreshing the spirit.

The ten peaks encircled the sect's main city like a pair of hands cupping it. Fang Wang gazed out, seeing disciples from different branches flying on swords and flocks of white cranes sweeping across the sky.

"To keep cultivating like this is quite pleasant," Fang Wang sighed, distancing himself from worldly affairs, temporarily forgetting his hatred, and immersing himself in cultivation. Wasn't this the immortal life he had dreamed of?

Little Zi turned its head to look up at Fang Wang and asked, "Young master, don't you want to be the Dragon Immortal Lord anymore?"

For it, staying in one place too long became tedious—perhaps its three hundred years in the Great Sage's Cave Heaven had shaped this mindset, making it long for change.

"Of course not; I was just sighing," Fang Wang replied, smiling gently.

In his previous life, he hadn't traveled the world and lived an ordinary life. In this one, he had decided from childhood to traverse every mountain and river. To avoid exposing his talent and being burdened by the Fang family's expectations, he secretly trained in martial arts. Now that he was cultivating, his desire to explore the world remained unchanged.

Once he helped the Fang family fully embark on the path of cultivation and eliminated their enemies, he would venture beyond Daqi to see the wider world.

Just then.

Fang Wang heard the thunderous sound of the mountain gate opening behind him. Glancing over, he saw Gu Li emerge from her cave dwelling, walking over to his side and asking, "You've finished your seclusion?"

"Just came out for some fresh air. It's been years—how is your cultivation, Miss Gu?" Fang Wang smiled as he spoke.

Gu Li had clearly cultivated some profound art of concealing her aura—Fang Wang couldn't discern her realm.

As expected of the Bei Luo Gu family.

Gu Li looked at him with a subtle expression and said softly, "Not bad, but I certainly can't compare to you... Fang Wang, is your life-bound treasure spirit really of the Heavenly Origin grade?"

Heavenly Origin grade?

Fang Wang was caught off guard by her words and feigned confusion, "How could that be? Why do you ask?"

Had something happened in the past two years?

He instantly thought of Guang Qiuxian—had Guang Qiuxian trusted Vice Sect Leader Chen Anshi too much and revealed the grade of his treasure spirit?

"Now the entire Daqi cultivation world is abuzz with this rumor, saying that someone in Taiyuan Sect possesses a Heavenly Origin treasure spirit, a peerless genius named Fang Wang," Gu Li replied, her gaze growing increasingly fervent.

She wanted to hear Fang Wang admit it himself.

Fang Wang showed a helpless, wry smile and asked, "Who said that? How come I don't know my treasure spirit is Heavenly Origin grade?"

Gu Li stared at him intently. "No one knows how the rumor started, but it has been circulating for a year. Last month, Elder Fu Xuanji of the Celestial Pivot Sect declared that, after divining fate, he confirmed that Taiyuan Sect had indeed produced a destiny-bound genius with a treasure spirit surpassing Earth Origin grade..."

Celestial Pivot Sect, one of the nine major sects, part of the righteous path, whose relationship with Taiyuan Sect was neither good nor bad.

Upon hearing this, Fang Wang seemed calm, but inwardly he was bewildered.

The grade of his treasure spirit had spread across the land?

Although he had intended to raise its grade a bit, he had never meant to expose it as Heavenly Origin grade.

Zhou Xue had previously said that in the last life, Taiyuan Sect had produced several Earth Origin geniuses, which led to an invasion by the demonic path and nearly destroyed the sect. Only after surviving that ordeal did Taiyuan Sect transform and become the strongest sect in Daqi.

Now that his Heavenly Origin treasure spirit was exposed, would that calamity come sooner?

"You have no idea how much of a stir your treasure spirit has caused. Even my father wrote to me, insisting I must stay on good terms with you..." Gu Li sighed. At the end, for some reason, her ears turned red.

"Wow, young master, your treasure spirit is Heavenly Origin grade!" Little Zi poked its head out of Fang Wang's chest, excitedly asking.

Fang Wang pressed the snake's head back down and asked, "What did Master say? What about the sect leader—what's his attitude? He didn't believe it, did he?"

Gu Li replied, "Master instructed us not to disturb you, and forbade disciples from other branches to visit you, fearing it would affect your cultivation. As for the sect leader, I don't know his stance, but all nine branch leaders were summoned by him. What was discussed, none of the personal disciples know. If you hadn't come out yourself, I wouldn't have disturbed you."

She looked at Fang Wang with wonder.

Heavenly Origin treasure spirit!

A living Heavenly Origin treasure spirit!

Her first reaction on learning this was disbelief, then realization, and finally she regained her confidence.

No wonder she could never surpass Fang Wang—the gap in treasure spirit grade was too vast.

Without comparing herself to Fang Wang, she was still a once-in-a-century talent.

Fang Wang fell silent.

Many consequences flashed through his mind, but thinking of his cultivation and Zhou Xue's existence, he felt reassured.

As long as he broke through to the Profound Heart Realm, even if someone at the Concentrated Mind Realm attacked him, he might still have the power to counter.

"Since things have come to this... I can only lay my cards on the table. My treasure spirit is indeed Heavenly Origin grade. I had intended to get along with you all under the guise of Earth Origin grade, but..."

Fang Wang took a deep breath, wearing a troubled expression, exuding the aura of one lonely at the heights.

Gu Li found his words odd, but didn't mind. She said excitedly, "Now you've surpassed Lu Yuanjun in reputation. Everyone in the sect considers you Taiyuan Sect's number one genius. Some even say you should be groomed as the next sect leader!"