Chapter 162

After returning to the Ascension Immortal Assembly the next day, Fang Xu came to the Affairs Hall.

This time, for the exploration of the Crimson Azure Mountain ruins, each person's reward was thirty thousand contribution points, plus a temporary task issued on the fourth layer of the Wuling ruins to find the entrance to the fifth layer, totaling one hundred and thirty thousand contribution points.

Additionally, Fang Xu spent the night organizing the items he had gathered from the Crimson Azure Mountain, preparing to exchange the useless ones for contribution points at the Affairs Hall.

His Qiankun bag now resembled a miscellaneous storage room, filled with all kinds of chaotic items.

"Fang Xu, you've come at just the right time."

As soon as he entered the Affairs Hall, he encountered Yanwu walking out from inside. Seeing Fang Xu, Yanwu directly pulled out several tokens of different colors and said: "This is your reward."

"Thirty thousand contribution points for the exploration mission, and this one hundred thousand contribution points were sent by the Wuling Elder, and I'm handing them over to you as well."

Fang Xu took the tokens and then said: "Yanwu steward, I have some items here I wish to exchange for contribution points; please arrange it for me."

"Oh?" Yanwu paused for a moment, then said: "Certainly."

After agreeing, she summoned an inner-door disciple from the Affairs Hall and led Fang Xu to a quiet chamber beside the Affairs Hall.

Fang Xu helplessly employed the Dragon Roaming Secret Technique, the Kui Ox Strength, and even finally used the Demon Ape Three Transformations Divine Ability.

Endless loneliness, an unchanging environment accompanied by the passage of time, gradually wore down Fang Xu's irritability and temperament.

Yet nothing proved effective.

After waiting a moment in the quiet chamber, several more people arrived one after another.

This discovery made his heart sink involuntarily.

No matter how he attacked with the great cauldron of the Casting Cauldron Star Chart, the black water surface beneath his feet would instantly neutralize all force, rendering it completely ineffective.

Water!

Black water!

Disciples of the Ascension Immortal Assembly who gained something outside but had no use for it themselves had two ways to exchange it for contribution points.

He tried to project his consciousness outward, but found no response whatsoever—his consciousness seemed trapped here.

At this moment, he seemed to have abandoned the idea of finding an exit, lying silently asleep on the black water surface.

In this exchange, Fang Xu gained nearly another one hundred thousand contribution points.

His consciousness soon appeared in a strange space.

After the exchange was completed, Fang Xu's contribution points had already reached two hundred and forty thousand, still sixty thousand short of another entry into the Star Palace.

These items included what he obtained in the Crimson Azure Mountain, as well as some scavenged from the bodies of martial artists he had killed.

He was desperate.

First, since he clearly knew what he had obtained—whether it was alchemy-related, he could go to the Hundred Herbs Hall himself; if it was weapon-related, he could go to the Divine Arms Hall...

After returning from the Affairs Hall, he directly hung lanterns at his courtyard gate, preparing to deeply contemplate the gains from this journey.

Stepping on the black, soft water surface, unaware of how long he had walked, the surrounding scenery remained unchanged.

The space Fang Xu now occupied was entirely an endless black ocean stretching to the horizon.

In short, he had no intention of keeping anything useless.

These people included Huang Qingzhou from the Hundred Herbs Hall, a personal transmission disciple of Tieshan from the Divine Arms Hall, an inner-door disciple of the Wanfa Stone Pagoda, and disciples from places like the Puppet Hall.

Fang Xu's consciousness-body gradually became irritable.

But Fang Xu had no intention of selling these items.

If his consciousness were completely trapped, his physical body would rapidly age; if he were stuck here for hundreds or even thousands of years, by the time his consciousness returned, his physical form would likely have rotted away.

According to the Five Elements theory, water is black.

Pitch-black sky, pitch-black water surface, aside from the faint rippling sounds when he walked, he heard nothing else.

Day by day passed, and Fang Xu also did not know how long he had been trapped here.

Fang Xu, on his part, took out all the items he had organized.

Such as that demon pill, that black jade tablet, and that small sword, etc.

Actually, forty thousand contribution points were not particularly difficult for Fang Xu to obtain.

Although Fang Xu did not know what they were, noticing the reaction of that senior brother from the Divine Arms Hall upon seeing the three ore stones, he knew they must be some extremely rare refining material.

Second, since the items were quite mixed, he could directly come to the Affairs Hall, which would coordinate with other halls for unified appraisal.

Disciples from each hall began carefully examining the items Fang Xu had taken out, eventually issuing quotations.

The position where the black jade tablet was placed was sufficient to prove its extraordinariness; placing the black jade tablet before him, Fang Xu carefully contemplated it.

Among these, the most valuable turned out to be the three strange ore stones he discovered in the hidden compartment.

What should be done?

Standing silently on the black water surface, Fang Xu attempted to activate his Casting Cauldron Star Chart, hoping to break open this strange space.

In the room, Fang Xu took out that black jade tablet.

What was he supposed to comprehend?

Fang Xu looked around doubtfully, then casually chose a direction and slowly advanced.

Standing silently on the water surface, he could barely see any light, nor anything besides the black ocean.

After everyone arrived, seeing it was Fang Xu, figures like Huang Qingzhou and that disciple from the Divine Arms Hall warmly greeted him.

His Qiankun bag still contained many other fine items; taking any one out at random would be worth more than forty thousand contribution points.

……

Outside.

Yunwan stood outside Fang Xu's small courtyard, her gaze fixed on the lantern already covered with much dust, a flicker of worry crossing her eyes.

"It's been a year— are you still in seclusion?"

Muttering a sentence, Yunwan's eyes flashed with resolve as she directly went to the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Do you want to go in and take a look?"

In the Law Enforcement Hall, Chu Ren Di looked at Yun Wan before him and frowned, saying.

"Chu steward, it's been a year already, the disciples are worried..."

Chu Ren Di nodded slightly; over this past year, he had also visited Fang Xu's small courtyard several times.

But seeing that Fang Xu's courtyard gate had a lantern hanging, indicating he was in seclusion.

Chu Ren Di also did not go to disturb him.

But for a martial cultivator, one seclusion lasting over a month is still normal; exceeding three months counts as a long time.

Fang Xu has now been in seclusion for a year, and Chu Ren Di also felt he should go in to take a look, lest Fang Xu encounter some mishap in his cultivation.

"Good, I will go with you."

Leading Yun Wan, Chu Ren Di arrived before Fang Xu's small courtyard, directly reached out and shattered the bolt on the back of the door, and the two walked in slowly.

The room's door already had some dust on it; the two pushed the door open and entered, and at a glance saw Fang Xu at that moment sitting cross-legged on the bed.

But his appearance at this moment looked somewhat terrifying.

Martial cultivators, because their Blood Qi Power is abundant, can achieve short-term fasting from grains.

But Fang Xu's seclusion this time has already lasted a year; even if his Blood Qi Power merely maintained the body's most basic consumption, it has already been nearly exhausted.

Now he looks like a corpse wrapped in skin around bones, with not a trace of breath all over his body.

Yun Wan seeing this scene, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Chu steward, I... I cannot sense Fang Xu's breath..."

"Fang Xu..."

Bean-sized tears slid down from Yun Wan's eyes.

Chu Ren Di at this moment also panicked; as a martial cultivator at the peak of Martial Venerable, he also could not sense any sign of life in Fang Xu at this moment!

Trembling, he came before Fang Xu, Chu Ren Di carefully extended his palm, lightly touched Fang Xu's body, and slowly closed his eyes to feel.

Under the perception of soul power, Chu Ren Di suddenly discovered that there was still a faint, almost imperceptible soul fluctuation within Fang Xu's body!

"Not dead!"

"Fang Xu is not dead!"

Chu Ren Di hurriedly opened his eyes, looked toward Yun Wan beside him and said: "You stay here and watch, do not let anyone approach him; I will go find Elder Xu Changqing and Senior Brother Jiang!"

Yun Wan hurriedly nodded.

After a moment, Yun Wan's small courtyard was filled with people.

These included Elder Jiang Feng, the overseeing elder of the Ascension Immortal Society, Steward Xu Changqing of the Hundred Herbs Hall, Steward Tie Shan of the Divine Weapons Hall, Jiang Lu of the Ascension Immortal Platform, as well as Huang Qingzhou, Chu Mu, and many other disciples.

"Senior Brother Jiang, Elder Xu, you may go in; the rest of you, do not enter to disturb for now."

Chu Ren Di glanced at the crowd, then led Jiang Feng and Xu Changqing into Fang Xu's room.

Seeing Fang Xu's current appearance, the two were stunned for a moment.

Jiang Feng's attention was drawn to the black jade tablet held in Fang Xu's arms; noticing the patterns on the tablet, his expression suddenly changed.

"Senior Brother Jiang, what's wrong?" Chu Ren Di asked.

Jiang Feng shook his head, daring not to look again at that black jade tablet, saying: "What a strange power; I merely wanted to see clearly what the patterns on this jade tablet are, but my soul felt a terrifying suction, and my consciousness was almost drawn in."

Hearing this, Chu Ren Di felt somewhat alarmed in his heart.

Jiang Feng's current cultivation is half-step Elemental Martial, his soul is about to be fully formed; with his soul strength, he actually almost had his consciousness sucked away by that jade tablet?

"Changqing, you check Fang Xu's body."

"Be careful, do not touch that black jade tablet."

The strangeness of the black jade tablet made Jiang Feng immediately realize that Fang Xu's consciousness should have been sucked into the black jade tablet.

Xu Changqing nodded, carefully examined Fang Xu's body, and said: "The body has no problems; it's just that due to the consciousness being long detached from the body, the Blood Qi Power has been severely depleted."

"Changqing, is there any way to wake him up?" Chu Ren Di asked anxiously.

He only knows killing and fighting; in saving people, Xu Changqing is still better.

Xu Changqing's face turned serious as he shook his head: "I am merely a sixth-rank pill master; I fundamentally do not understand matters concerning the soul."

"But I feel that under these circumstances, we had better not rashly attempt to wake him."

"When I examined earlier, I found that his consciousness and body still have a faint weak connection."

"If we rashly intervene and break this faint connection, his consciousness will likely be completely lost; by then, even immortals would find it hard to save."

His words left several people present stunned.

"Then... then we can only just watch like this, with no other way?" Chu Ren Di grew anxious.

He looked toward Jiang Feng, seeing Jiang Feng gently shake his head, then looked toward Xu Changqing, who also shook his head.

Looking at Fang Xu before them, now like withered wood, Chu Ren Di's eyes flashed with a trace of resolve as he said: "Since you both have no way, then I will take him to the Immortal Isle!"

Saying this, he was about to go lift Fang Xu's body.

"Chu junior brother!"

"Old Chu!"

Jiang Feng and Xu Changqing hurriedly grabbed hold of him.

Chu Ren Di looked at the two and said: "Fang Xu is my disciple; I cannot watch him just slowly die like this!"

Jiang Feng said: "Given his current physical condition, it is fundamentally impossible for him to reach the Immortal Isle alive."

"Besides, you and I both know, the Immortal Isle may not necessarily have a way to save him."

Chu Ren Di was stunned.

Xu Changqing at this moment spoke to comfort: "Old Chu, Fang Xu's body, this old man has just examined; it's merely that his Blood Qi is exhausted."

"What we urgently need to do now is to find a way to preserve his physical body."

"I will now go back to think of a way to turn the Blood Qi Pill into medicinal liquid, then try to replenish his body's Blood Qi Power."

Chu Ren Di heard the words, glanced at Fang Xu's emaciated figure, and nodded slightly, saying: "Then I shall return now to consult the ancient texts and see if I can find a good solution."

"Master, I will stay behind to attend to Fang Xu."

Behind the three, Yun Wan, who had remained silent until now, spoke.

Jiang Feng turned his head, glanced at her, and nodded: "Very well, inform us promptly of any matter."

Yun Wan clasped her hands, gazing at Fang Xu before her, her eyes full of pity.

Everyone left.

At this moment, Chu Mu and Huang Qingzhou and others outside the door also entered to look at Fang Xu, but because Xu Changqing had instructed that no one was to touch Fang Xu's body, they could only glance at him from afar before being escorted out by Yun Wan.

After everyone had departed, Yun Wan sat quietly beside Fang Xu, gently wiping the dust from his body.

"Fang Xu, you must pull through."

"You promised me you would accompany me to find Yun Qing."

Her delicate hand brushed over Fang Xu's face, now reduced to little more than skin stretched over bone; Yun Wan's movements were exceedingly gentle, yet her eyes welled with tears.

After a long while—

Yun Wan slowly rose to her feet and began tidying everything in the room.

From inside the house to outside, from within the courtyard to beyond, she wiped everything until it was spotless.

After she had finished wiping everything clean, she returned to Fang Xu's side and simply sat there, quietly watching him.

As the sky gradually darkened, Yun Wan lit the oil lamp indoors, fetched a basin of clean water, and wiped Fang Xu's dust-covered face, neck, and palms...

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

On this day, Chu Mu brought the improved Blood Qi Pill prepared by Xu Changqing to the small courtyard.

"Elder Sister Yun, Master said this medicinal liquid should help Fang Xu Brother replenish his Blood Qi."

Yun Wan received the medicinal liquid, glanced at the motionless Fang Xu, and slowly sat down beside him.

Chu Mu hurried forward, preparing to help her pry open Fang Xu's mouth and pour the liquid in.

But Fang Xu now lay like a corpse, unable even to perform the most basic swallowing motion; the liquid poured into his mouth immediately flowed out again.

The two women looked on, somewhat anxious.

"This simply won't go down!" Chu Mu exclaimed anxiously.

Yun Wan looked at Fang Xu, then at the medicinal liquid in her hand, slowly drank it herself, then gently pinched Fang Xu's mouth and kissed him in this manner.

This method proved effective—the medicinal liquid trickled bit by bit into Fang Xu's body, then transformed into pure Blood Qi Power, irrigating his meridians that were about to dry up.

Thereafter, Chu Mu brought the improved Blood Qi Pill liquid each day, and Yun Wan likewise fed it to Fang Xu mouth-to-mouth each time.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Having received the Blood Qi Power supplement, Fang Xu's body gradually regained some color; his formerly emaciated frame now appeared to have a bit more flesh.

Yet, on his body, Yun Wan still sensed little trace of vital breath.

On this day, after feeding him the medicinal liquid, Yun Wan noticed Fang Xu's body had relaxed slightly, and the black jade tablet in her hand slipped off on its own.

"Fang Xu!!"

The sudden movement startled her into thinking Fang Xu had awakened.

Picking up the black jade tablet, Yun Wan realized she had been overthinking.

Fang Xu still had not awakened, but his body was now able to lie down.

In the days that followed, Yun Wan changed his clothes, wiped his body, and combed his hair for him.

Like a virtuous wife tending to her bedridden husband, Yun Wan's every movement was exceedingly gentle.

Such days passed for another half year.

During this period, Lu Zhiyuan, Tong Tong, Long Long, Ning Xiang, and many other friends and mentors of Fang Xu came to the small courtyard.

Ning Xiang even offered to take over Fang Xu's care, so Yun Wan could focus on her cultivation.

But at this moment, Yun Wan was utterly unwilling to entrust Fang Xu to anyone, and simply remained here, quietly keeping watch.

……

In the dark space, upon the black water's surface, Fang Xu remained asleep.

His conscious form lay thus upon the black water's surface, utterly still.

He did not know how long he had slept, nor did he know how many people outside were worrying about him.

At this moment, he found himself in a wondrous state.

As his conscious form breathed, the surrounding black water, originally still as an ancient well, gradually rippled with faint undulations, these ripples perfectly synchronized with his breathing rhythm.

Ripple after ripple spread outward, until finally, the entire black ocean was covered by these undulations.

The tranquil black water began to sparkle.

Thereafter, the splashes turned into waves, gently lapping against Fang Xu's conscious power.

Rising and falling, high and low...

Fang Xu's conscious form seemed like a tiny boat upon an endless ocean, rising and falling with the waves' motion.

After an unknown span, a wave surged forward, and his tightly closed eyes seemed to twitch.

Thereafter, he slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were filled with confusion.

Sitting up on the black water's surface, Fang Xu glanced around, then stretched lazily, and slowly rose to his feet.

"That sleep... I've slept for a very, very long time..."

Muttering those words, he lowered his gaze to the black water beneath his feet, saw no movement, and his body slowly sank back down.

The outside world.

Yun Wan sat quietly on the room's threshold, chin resting on her hand, gazing at the sunset on the horizon.

In the room, the black jade stele placed beside the bed suddenly emitted a faint humming sound.

Afterwards, under Yun Wan's gaze, the jade stele flew up into the air on its own and then hovered silently above Fang Xu's head.

Black radiance burst forth, completely enveloping Fang Xu's body.

Yun Wan rushed over, her face filled with astonishment and joy as she watched everything unfolding before her.

Two years!

Finally, there's movement!

In her view, as long as there's movement, it's a good thing!

The black radiance on the black jade stele grew stronger and stronger, eventually turning into a black curtain that directly enveloped Fang Xu.

Afterwards, these black radiance surged toward Fang Xu's body and rushed inside!

In just a few breaths, the black radiance vanished, and the black jade stele also disappeared.

Yun Wan looked expectantly at Fang Xu on the bed, awaiting the next moment when he might suddenly wake up.

But she kept watching for half an hour, and Fang Xu still showed no movement.

She sat down slowly at the edge of the bed, gently stroking Fang Xu's face and softly said: "Two years have passed, Fang Xu, you should wake up now."

……

In the endless black ocean, Fang Xu simply floated silently in the black seawater, eyes slightly closed.

The seawater gently caressed his body, and he seemed to hear voices calling out near his ears.

In the next moment, within the black seawater, Fang Xu suddenly opened his eyes!

Huh—

He exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, shot straight out of the water surface, then tilted his head to gaze at the pitch-black sky.

"It's time to leave."

With a flash of his conscious form, his figure vanished.

Hmm?

As his consciousness returned to his physical body, Fang Xu felt a soft sensation on his lips.

His eyelids twitched slightly, and a somewhat weary beautiful face came into close view.

Feeling the warmth on his lips and gazing at the face before him, Fang Xu slowly raised his arms—which had not been lifted in two years—and directly embraced the person before him tightly.

Yun Wan, who was just feeding him medicine, suddenly felt a pair of strong arms encircle her waist; her body lost support and she fell directly onto Fang Xu's body.

Her beautiful eyes widened as she watched Fang Xu's eye corners twitch, as if he were suppressing a smile, and she froze.

She allowed a domineering tongue to pry open her teeth, completely forgetting to struggle.

Long—

One tear after another slid down from her eyes.

Scorching tears fell onto Fang Xu's face.

He slowly opened his eyes, sat up his body, and looked at the person before him.

"Why are you crying?"

Yun Wan said nothing, merely gazing at him foolishly, her tears like broken beads continuously streaming out.

Fang Xu slowly raised his hand to wipe her tears, then quietly pulled her into his embrace.

At this moment, Yun Wan could no longer hold back; she tightly wrapped her arms around Fang Xu's body and burst into loud sobs.

Fang Xu simply held her quietly, listening to her crying, allowing her tears to soak his clothes.

Long time, long time—

Yun Wan released him, then sat down on one side to wipe her own tears.

Fang Xu slowly extended his hand, wiped the tears from her face, and softly said:

"I've made you worry."

"I... did I sleep for a long time?"

Yun Wan stopped her sobbing and choked out: "One year, eleven months, and twenty days."

After hearing this, Fang Xu felt a slight emotion: "Almost two years."

"Have you been taking care of me all these two years?" Looking at the spotless room and his clean clothes, Fang Xu said softly.

Yun Wan nodded slightly, her somewhat swollen eyes fixed on Fang Xu as she said foolishly: "I thought..."

"Thought I was dead?" He gently pinched her jade nose, then got down from the bed, his body emitting a series of crackling sounds.

Yun Wan looked at him, then suddenly exclaimed: "Hurry up and tell Steward Chu! I heard Steward Chu is preparing to go to the Immortal Island these few days for your matter."

Immortal Island?

Fang Xu frowned, then looked at Yun Wan and said: "Then you wait for me here; I'll go see my master."

Yun Wan nodded.

Hall of Law Enforcement.

Seeing Fang Xu standing unharmed before him, Chu Ren Di's face rarely showed a smile.

"Master, I've made you worry."

Chu Ren Di laughed: "Waking up is good."

"How is it? Is your divine soul injured?"

Injured?

Fang Xu looked at his divine soul, which appeared substantial within his sea of consciousness, shook his head and said: "Turning misfortune into blessing, my divine soul power is now very strong."

"It's good that your divine soul is unharmed." Chu Ren Di nodded reassuredly.

Fang Xu's potential is great; he still feared that these two years of sleep might have caused irreparable damage to his divine soul, thereby affecting his martial cultivation.

"Nothing much, go back and cultivate properly."

"In these two years, your cultivation has fallen even further behind."

Chu Ren Di spoke slowly.

Fang Xu nodded, bowed to Chu Ren Di, then directly returned to his own small courtyard, and then took Yun Wan together to the villa at the foot of the mountain.

He knew that during these two years of his unconsciousness, Lu Zhiyuan and the others must have been worried sick.

And Old Yuan, two years have passed, I don't know if he has successfully broken through.

When the two arrived at the villa at the foot of the mountain, everyone was still awake.

Fang Xu pushed the door open and entered; upon seeing him, several people in the courtyard froze.

"Brother Fang Xu!"

Tong Tong reacted first, directly flying into Fang Xu's embrace.

"Hehe..." Fang Xu embraced her with a light smile: "You've grown into a young lady, you can't do that."

Tong Tong pouted: "I'm only sixteen..."

After releasing Tong Tong, Fang Xu approached Lu Zhiyuan and bowed: "Master."

Lu Zhiyuan smiled and nodded: "How do you feel?"

"Quite good." He replied, then looked toward Old Yuan's secluded chamber: "Has Yuan Bo not broken through yet?"

Lu Zhiyuan shook his head: "How could it be that easy?"

"Please have a seat."

"Miss Yun, please have a seat as well."

The two sat before Lu Zhiyuan, and Fang Xu spoke: "Master, have there been any major events these past two years?"

Having been detached from reality for two years, he must understand what has happened during this time.

Lu Zhiyuan seemed to have an intelligence organization at his disposal; taking this opportunity, he could well inquire.

"Many things have happened; as your teacher, I will pick a few important ones to mention."

Lu Zhiyuan pondered, then spoke: "First, the Wang and Feng families of Wu City, after being judged by the Yu State Surveillance Bureau, had their direct lineages entirely exiled to Bei Cang City in the northern borders."

"Now the lord of Wu City is the Chu family; the Chu family has already sworn allegiance to the imperial household, surrendered their private troops, and the head of the Chu family now serves in the imperial court."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu nodded; he had already anticipated this matter.

In the friend list, the life values of Wang Xiao, head of the Wang family, and Feng Dong, head of the Feng family, remain only a few percent; even if exiled, they surely would not fare well.

After all, every rise of a power is built upon countless corpses; now that the Feng and Wang families have declined, those who kick them when they're down will surely not be few.

"Not long after the Wu City affair, the Yu Emperor also acted against Li and Ji Provinces."

"Now among the seven provinces, excluding Liangzhou in the northern borders, Li, Zhong, Ji, and Huang Provinces have all been completely brought under imperial control."

"What about Qing and Yu Provinces?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

Since the Yu Emperor chose to act, he surely would sweep with thunderous force to subdue all powers of the seven provinces and grasp all authority in his own hands.

"Yu Province is still wavering."

"Qing Province... has rebelled."

Upon saying this, a gleam flashed in Lu Zhiyuan's eyes.

"Qing Province has rebelled!?" Fang Xu expressed some surprise: "Qing Province's strength is considerable, but it is no match for the imperial household; how dare they rebel?"

"Qing Province's strength naturally does not match the imperial household's, but if we count in the Yan Shen Sect?" Lu Zhiyuan said with a light smile.

Seeing his expression, Fang Xu suddenly realized this matter might not be so simple.

"Master, should the remnants of the Mu Yun Kingdom also have participated?" Fang Xu asked slowly.

Lu Zhiyuan gazed at him silently, then sighed: "Nan Wu and the others merely seized the opportunity to gather all the remnants of the Mu Yun Kingdom, preparing to reclaim the Mu Yun Grasslands, and have not collaborated with the Yan Shen Sect."

Regarding this statement, Fang Xu also did not know whether to believe it.

But now is clearly not the time to dwell on this matter; he still wants to know what comes next.

"Qing Province has rebelled; how did the Yu State imperial household respond?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

"Naturally, they dispatched troops to suppress it." Lu Zhiyuan said with a somewhat strange expression: "Zhao Wuji, the Slaughterer, personally led men to kill their way to Qing Province; the two sides erupted in a great battle, but Zhao Wuji was wounded by a mysterious person of the Yan Shen Sect."

Zhao Wuji wounded!?

Fang Xu was somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, he also understood.

Qing Province dared to rebel in league with the Yan Shen Sect only because Lü Sheng Ren must have seen that the Yan Shen Sect possesses experts capable of matching Zhao Wuji and Li Cang Wu; otherwise, facing absolute strength, rebellion would be tantamount to seeking death.

"Did Emperor Li Cang Wu not appear in person?" Fang Xu asked curiously.

Given Li Cang Wu's overbearing nature, Qing Province's rebellion, he surely could not tolerate it.

"Li Cang Wu is in seclusion; it is said he is about to take that step." Lu Zhiyuan's face showed a hint of worry.

When Qing Province rebelled, Nan Wu once sent people to contact him, indicating they wished to take the opportunity to restore the kingdom.

He also repeatedly dissuaded them, believing that choosing to restore the kingdom now is too risky; if Li Cang Wu succeeds in breaking through, whether it is the Lü family of Qing Province or the Yan Shen Sect, they will inevitably suffer a devastating blow.

And the remnants of his Mu Yun Kingdom taking advantage of the chaos to loot will inevitably provoke Li Cang Wu's killing intent; by then, the entire Mu Yun Grasslands might not have a single survivor.

"Is this also the reason Yu Province is wavering?" Fang Xu asked.

Yu Province's strength among the seven provinces is in the lower-middle tier, only slightly stronger than Huang and Li Provinces.

The lord of Yu Province is now presumably observing, waiting to see whether the Yu Emperor breaks through first, or Qing Province and the Yan Shen Sect first break through the imperial capital of Zhong Province.

"Any other matters?"

Lu Zhiyuan pondered, then spoke: "There is also this: the foremost person of Liangzhou, Ku Lun Da Shi, has gone missing."

Ku Lun Da Shi missing?

Fang Xu's expression changed slightly.

To him, Ku Lun Da Shi is a venerable elder, and his relationship with his own grandfather is quite deep.

Two years ago, when I passed through Liangzhou, I gave him some Fortune Immortal Liquid, waiting for him to break through to the Yuanwu Realm—how did he suddenly go missing?

"Master, do you have any news of the Grand Master?" Fang Xu spoke.

Lu Zhiyuan shook his head: "I only know the Grand Master seems to have left Liangzhou on his own; he should be preparing to do something."

Hearing this, Fang Xu felt somewhat relieved.

The Bitterness Wheel Grand Master left Liangzhou on his own—at least it proves his safety should be fine.

After chatting a while longer with Lu Zhiyuan, confirming that most remaining matters were unrelated minor affairs, he bade farewell to everyone and returned to the Ascension Immortal Assembly with Yun Wan.

In the small courtyard, Yun Wan naturally followed Fang Xu into his small courtyard; seeing this, Fang Xu smiled slightly and said nothing.

After washing up, Yun Wan came before Fang Xu, frowning: "These days, the world is in chaos—Yun Qing..."

Seeing her worried expression, Fang Xu comforted: "It's fine. With the world in chaos, the Yu Kingdom royal family has even less mind to attend to Yun Qing."

Knowing Yun Qing had joined the Divine Extension Sect, and that the current Divine Extension Sect is allied with Qingzhou in rebellion, with a powerful expert capable of injuring Zhao Wuji holding the fort, Yun Qing's safety should be assured.

Yun Wan nodded, then added: "During your two years of unconsciousness, some things have happened within the Ascension Immortal Assembly."

Fang Xu asked curiously: "What kinds of things?"

Yun Wan tilted her head, thinking: "I'm not entirely sure either—I've rarely gone out these two years; everything I know comes from what Huang Senior Brother and Mu and others told me."

Hearing this, Fang Xu said with some guilt: "These two years have been hard on you."

Yun Wan's cultivation remains at the Martial Sovereign Realm to this day—clearly, she hasn't practiced much these two years.

Thinking this, Fang Xu's hand flashed with light as he directly took out a jar of Fortune Immortal Liquid and handed it to Yun Wan: "Here, take this—quickly make up for your lost cultivation."

Yun Wan took the wine jar, curious: "What is this?"

"Something good." Fang Xu smiled faintly.

Yun Wan suspiciously opened the wine jar, and instantly a rich surge of life energy filled the entire room.

"Such rich energy!"

"Fang Xu, what is this thing?"

Yun Wan exclaimed in surprise.

"Fortune Immortal Liquid." Fang Xu smiled: "Drink slowly—I still have more."

Yun Wan nodded, picked up the wine jar, and walked to the futon beside the room, then sat cross-legged.

Fang Xu glanced at her, said nothing more, and sat cross-legged on the bed, preparing to break through properly.

These two years, his strength remained at the Martial Master Third Realm, but this time his soul strength greatly increased, giving him the foundation for breakthrough.

His consciousness sank into the orifice aperture space; seeing the stone gate before him, Fang Xu reached out and grasped the stone long spear nurtured in this orifice aperture world.

The next moment, the stone long spear in his hand thrust violently at the stone gate!

Boom!

The massive stone gate trembled violently, then slowly opened a crack.

Seeing this, the corner of Fang Xu's mouth curled into a hint of a smile.

Indeed effective!

The black jade tablet obtained from the ruins of Ti Lan Mountain is actually the second inheritance of the Divine Extension, also a method specifically for the soul, named simply the Profound Water Classic.

The first part of the Divine Extension inheritance is the Divine Extension Canon; the Divine Extension Canon alters his orifice apertures, causing a stone gate to appear within them.

While this second part inheritance, the Profound Water Classic, alters his soul—Fang Xu's soul power at this moment is like an endless ocean, possessing all the qualities of profound water.

That spear thrust earlier was merely a simple attempt; next, Fang Xu's expression turned solemn, and the stone long spear in his hand gradually became wrapped in a thick layer of black liquid.

Within the orifice aperture space, Fang Xu's mental power also became as deep as an abyss and vast as the sea; the terrifying force had not yet erupted, but already could cause vibrations in the orifice aperture space.

Following this, Fang Xu's figure suddenly surged upward!

The profound water spear in his hand directly transformed into a spear piercing heaven and earth, thrusting toward the stone gate before him!

The sharp spear tip struck the stone gate, making no sound, yet the massive stone gate gradually showed dense, fine cracks.

Next, strands of golden light surged from the cracks in the stone gate, and afterward the entire stone gate turned golden!

Having experienced breaking open the stone gate twice, Fang Xu understood this was the stone gate's protective mechanism.

He noted down that he still needed to withstand a wave of counterattack from the stone gate.

As expected, once the entire stone gate turned golden, countless golden lights transformed into a sky-full of golden arrows shooting toward him!

Fang Xu continuously blocked with his long spear!

But these arrows seemed extremely sharp; the profound water stone spear in his hand soon became pitted and dented.

Seeing this, Fang Xu furrowed his brow tightly.

This stone spear is my life-bound weapon—if destroyed, I would suffer severe injury.

Seeing the stone spear continually struck by golden arrows, Fang Xu simply stopped using it to block; his form shifted slightly, and his consciousness body directly turned into a pool of black water.

Subsequently, vast amounts of seawater gradually filled the entire orifice aperture space; those black arrows shot into the black water, having absolutely no effect.

Thus, offense and defense continued endlessly within the orifice aperture space.

Fang Xu could do nothing to the golden stone gate, and the golden stone gate's arrows could do nothing to him.

Just as the stalemate continued, a bolt of golden thunder appeared in the orifice aperture space; Fang Xu immediately gathered all the black water back.

He handed over the battlefield to the golden thunder and the golden stone gate.

The black water vanished; the golden thunder instantly expanded, countless terrifying thunderbolts blasting toward the golden stone gate!

Although encountering some obstruction from golden arrows along the way, the thunder's quantity was truly immense—in the blink of an eye, it blasted the golden stone gate into dim darkness.

As a bucket-thick bolt of golden thunder fell, the golden stone gate shattered inch by inch, vanishing within the orifice aperture space.

Vast primordial energy surged out the moment the stone gate disappeared.

This energy passed through the Divine Bridge, following the structure of the Divine Blaze Star Chart, and soon lit up the nine orifice aperture points.

At the moment the Divine Blaze Star Chart was lit up, Fang Xu's soul suddenly shuddered!

The next moment, the strange sight of water and fire coexisting appeared before him!

On the Xuan Water, a purplish-black flame burned silently, looking extremely eerie.

Fang Xu slowly opened his eyes, and a purplish-black flame flashed in his pupils.

When his gaze fell on the vase beside him, his soul stirred slightly, and a purplish-black flame appeared out of thin air on the vase!

The flame burned, and the porcelain vase was quickly devoured by the fire, turning to nothing in the blink of an eye!

Seeing this, Fang Xu frowned.

This is a method of soul attack, so bizarre that it is hard to guard against; the only drawback is that this attack consumes a great deal of soul power.

It belongs to the kind of technique that inflicts a thousand wounds on the enemy while suffering three thousand in return.

To burn away another's soul, one must at least expend three times the soul power.

Fortunately, after being refined by the Xuan Water Scripture, my soul has become very powerful.

Judging by my current soul power, burning an ordinary Martial Venerable below the fifth level of Martial Venerable should pose no problem.

Having successfully broken through to the fourth level of Martial Scholar, Fang Xu did not linger, and closed his eyes once again.

What he needs to do now is to first comprehend the Kui Ox Star Chart that he had not fully grasped in the Star Palace.

Then, in one go, break through to the fifth level of Martial Scholar.

His consciousness sank into the sea of awareness, and the huge Kui Ox Star Chart appeared in his sea of awareness.

Most of the stars in the Kui Ox Star Chart are concentrated in the Kui Ox's single leg. Fang Xu focused his mind to comprehend it, and after repeated attempts, he finally fully grasped the Kui Ox Star Chart.

Following the same method, his consciousness body appeared once again in another aperture space, and with an overwhelming posture, he directly blasted the stone gate apart!

The next moment, a large number of vines suddenly appeared in the crack of the stone gate!

These vines were like giant pythons, growing out from the stone gate, and then quickly binding the entire stone gate tightly!

Moreover, after binding the stone gate, these vines quickly seized the entire aperture space!

Under Fang Xu's astonished gaze, they all turned into sharp spears, thrusting toward his position!

Their number was so great that Fang Xu even felt his scalp tingling!

Unable to dodge, he once again resorted to his old trick, transforming his soul power into surging Xuan Water!

But this time, he miscalculated!

The vines transformed into spears could not harm him, yet these vines plunged headfirst into the endless Xuan Water and began to gulp down the Xuan Water formed by his consciousness!

Feeling his soul power being rapidly devoured, Fang Xu was terrified, hurriedly recalled the little remaining Xuan Water, and began to dodge the vines' attacks.

But these vines seemed to have acquired a taste for it; after trying the delicious Xuan Water, they went mad and rushed at Fang Xu, vowing to devour his soul completely!

Fang Xu desperately dodged while praying for the golden thunder to descend quickly!

Finally, after his long anticipation, the golden thunder arrived!

The terrifying thunder directly smashed those vines into fragments!

Along with it, the entire stone gate was shattered by the thunder!

The stone gate vanished, primordial energy surged out, and Fang Xu broke through again!

At the moment the Kui Ox Star Chart was formed, Fang Xu felt his body suddenly sink, directly crushing the bed beneath him!

At the same time, the secret technique Kui Ox Strength underwent a great change.

As for the specific effects of this change, without personally trying it, Fang Xu is still not clear.

"Fang Xu, what's wrong with you?"

The noise from the collapsing bed woke Yun Wan opposite, who looked at the somewhat disheveled Fang Xu with a puzzled expression and asked.

"I couldn't control my power." Fang Xu gave an embarrassed smile, looking at the bright sky outside and said: "How long have I been cultivating?"

"Less than a month." Yun Wan said, standing up from the futon: "Junior Sister Lu came to see you, saw you in seclusion, and left again."

Fang Xu nodded, turned around, glanced at the bed already shattered into wood chips, and prepared to ask the outer disciples of the Affairs Hall to help him get a new one.

Having broken through to the fifth level of Martial Scholar, having exhausted the star charts he mastered, he does not intend to continue breaking through.

"I plan to go out and wander, see if I can take on a mission, do you want to come along?" Fang Xu said.

Yun Wan thought for a moment and shook her head: "I don't need contribution points now; it's more important to seize the time to break through my cultivation."

Saying this, she handed her identity token to Fang Xu: "I still have twenty thousand contribution points here; if you need them, take them first."

Fang Xu shook his head and declined.

Entering the Star Palace requires three hundred thousand contribution points; he is still short of forty thousand, so Yun Wan's contribution points should remain for her own use.

"Then you stay here to cultivate; I'll go to the Affairs Hall to check."

Leaving the small courtyard, he first went to the Law Enforcement Hall to pay his respects to Chu Ren Di.

After the master and disciple chatted for a while, Fang Xu then came to the Affairs Hall.

Upon entering, he saw Huang Qingzhou chatting enthusiastically at the front desk with a petite female disciple.

Fang Xu originally did not want to disturb, but Huang Qingzhou saw him and immediately greeted: "Junior Brother Fang!"

Fang Xu walked over, glanced at the female disciple, and realized he did not know her.

"Let me introduce, Fang Xu of the Law Enforcement Hall."

"The champion of the previous previous newcomer competition."

"Fang Xu, this is Ji Zhi, a new disciple who just joined this year."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Fang!" Ji Zhi greeted openly.

Fang Xu smiled and nodded, then said: "Junior Sister Ji, I happen to have a matter that needs your help."

Ji Zhi quickly nodded: "Senior Brother Fang, please speak."

Fang Xu said: "The bed in my courtyard is broken; help me post a mission to find a disciple to make me a new one."

After he finished speaking, Ji Zhi also wrote it down.

Tasks like running errands and doing odd jobs are exactly what outer sect disciples need to handle on a daily basis.

"No problem, it can be posted shortly."

"Senior Brother Huang, Senior Brother Fang, you two chat first, I'll go attend to my duties." Ji Zhi left sensibly.

Fang Xu, however, pulled Huang Qingzhou to sit down at a nearby desk.

"Senior Brother Huang, during the time I was in a coma, did anything happen within the Ascension Immortal Assembly?"

Huang Qingzhou pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and said: "Indeed, some things have occurred."

"In the first year of your coma, a disciple of Jiang the Steward from the Ascension Platform passed the core disciple examination and went to the Immortal Island."

Jiang Lu's disciple?

Fang Xu asked curiously: "Do I know him?"

Huang Qingzhou smiled faintly and shook his head: "Don't say you, I haven't really seen that senior brother either."

"I only heard that this senior brother has been a member of the Ascension Immortal Sect for several decades, but he has always lived in seclusion, rarely going out on missions. During the day, he chops wood and grows vegetables behind the Ascension Platform, and at night, he cultivates there."

"For so many years, not to mention us disciples from other halls, even the disciples of the Ascension Platform are almost forgetting his existence."

Fang Xu nodded.

Such a person should be of the late-blooming type—usually obscure and unknown, quietly focusing on his own affairs.

Once he rises, he will soar to the nine heavens!

"Moreover, I heard from my master that the Immortal Island seems to have encountered trouble, and twenty disciples with the strength of Martial Sovereign realm were temporarily dispatched from our Yu State branch to follow that senior brother to the Immortal Island."

"Do you know the Mountain Lord of the Star Palace?" Huang Qingzhou whispered.

Fang Xu nodded, having visited the Star Palace and knowing the mysterious Mountain Lord who guards it.

"I heard the Mountain Lord has also returned to the Immortal Island." Mentioning this, Huang Qingzhou's expression turned somewhat solemn: "The Mountain Lord is the foundation of the Yu State branch, and it is said his strength surpasses even that of the one in charge."

"I once heard my master say that the Mountain Lord is very likely to have stepped into that step of power."

"Elemental Martial?" Fang Xu said somewhat startled.

Huang Qingzhou nodded: "Think about it—the Mountain Lord is the foundation of the Yu State branch, and even he has been recalled to the Immortal Island. It's estimated that whatever trouble the Immortal Island faces won't be minor."

Fang Xu said nothing.

He roughly guessed that the trouble the Immortal Island encountered should be related to the Ascension Token that was on Yu Shan Tianyi's body back then.

Gu Qiu said before that the Ascension Token has the function of guiding the location of the Immortal Island.

But the Ascension Token that Yu Shan Tianyi possessed was taken by the people of the Derivation God Sect, which means the Derivation God Sect has already mastered the location of the Immortal Island!

But the question is: does the Derivation God Sect really possess such strength?

On one hand, they support the rebellion in Qingzhou; on the other hand, do they really have the strength to launch an attack on the Immortal Island?!

That is the headquarters of the Ascension Immortal Assembly, which has Elemental Martial experts, and even beings above the Elemental Martial realm holding the fort.

Fang Xu couldn't quite understand.

"Moreover, in the past two years, Yu State has experienced turmoil, and the number of disciples recruited has sharply declined. I heard my master say that the one in charge is now seeking instructions from the Immortal Island, preparing to open up a new territory."

Open up a new territory?

Fang Xu asked curiously: "Aren't all the countries surrounding Yu State now within the sphere of influence of the Ascension Immortal Assembly?"

"Opening up a new territory—where to?"

Huang Qingzhou shook his head: "I don't know about this, but if the Immortal Island truly intends to open up a new territory, I would like to go and try."

"Fang Xu, when the time comes, let's go together!"

"By then, I will be the Steward of the Hundred Herbs Hall, you will be the Steward of the Law Enforcement Hall, and you will bring along Yun Junior Sister, letting her serve as the Steward of the Affairs Hall!"

Huang Qingzhou spoke with longing.

Fang Xu couldn't help but retort: "Just us? Becoming Stewards?"

"Forget it."

"Alright, Senior Brother Huang, I won't keep you company any longer—I have to go accept a mission."

Fang Xu said as he slowly stood up and walked to the front desk of the Affairs Hall.

"Senior Brother Fang, would you like to accept a mission?"

The female disciple at the front desk asked enthusiastically.

Fang Xu nodded: "Help me find if there are any missions with higher value."

"Senior Brother Fang, please wait." The female disciple said, hurriedly searching.

After a long while—

"Senior Brother Fang, here are three missions: one offers a reward of thirty thousand contribution points, another twenty thousand, and another fifty thousand. Please take a look."

Taking the mission scroll handed over by the female disciple, Fang Xu opened and glanced at it.

Divine Arms Hall Mission: Half a year ago, a piece of extraterrestrial meteoric iron fell in the desert near the Northern Wasteland.

Mission Requirements: Find the meteoric iron and keep it safe; reward: thirty thousand contribution points.

Meteoric iron?

This mission could be taken, but the Northern Desert is sparsely populated, and finding that piece of meteoric iron in the vast desert is probably not easy.

After placing that mission scroll aside, Fang Xu opened the next one.

Myriad Laws Stone Pagoda Mission: A small ruin has appeared in the desert of Liangzhou in the Northern Border; it is said to be the secluded place of an ancient family's ancestor, and according to reliable information, that ancient family possesses numerous martial techniques and skills, even inheriting divine abilities.

Mission Requirements: Find and safeguard the divine ability inheritance to obtain fifty thousand contribution points; other martial skills are valued accordingly.

Again, Northern Wasteland Liangzhou?

And there's a divine ability inheritance?

Fang Xu has developed some interest in this mission.

He then opened the third mission scroll.

Seeing the content on the scroll, Fang Xu froze in an instant.

This mission... I must take it!

(End of chapter)