Chapter 188

On the back of the long dragon, Fang Xu saw none of this, nor did he know when he might return after this parting.

Huayang Mountain.

When the long dragon arrived, it had not yet entered the mountain gate, but Chu Ren Di was already waiting there.

Seeing Fang Xu, Chu Ren Di did not wait for him to speak, but directly said: "Let's go."

Fang Xu was somewhat puzzled: "Master, shouldn't we go in and say goodbye?"

Chu Ren Di shook his head, then looked with a complex expression at the mountain gate behind him: "Let's go."

Although Fang Xu was puzzled, his own time was also somewhat urgent now, so he did not dwell on it and directly had the long dragon transform into its dragon body, flying toward the direction of the Death Sand Sea.

"Where are you preparing to go?" Seeing the long dragon head straight for the northern wasteland, Chu Ren Di was somewhat curious.

Fang Xu spoke up to explain: "Master, when I passed through the Death Sand Sea multiple times in the past, I once sensed that this desert had problems, and this time I also want to go explore it."

As he spoke, he also took out from his Qiankun bag the notes left by his grandfather back then, as well as those four mysterious maps.

On the back of the long dragon, several people studied the map and the notes left by Fang Yuan Shan, their expressions varied.

"The Death Sand Sea has always been strange; looking at it now, there seems to be another universe below." Chu Ren Di murmured.

Seeing his expression, Fang Xu asked curiously: "Master, do you know something about the Death Sand Sea?"

Chu Ren Di nodded.

"You know about the Iron Mountain steward, right?"

Fang Xu slightly nodded without speaking.

Chu Ren Di continued: "His leg was lost in the Death Sand Sea's killing."

"Back then, Iron Mountain went to the northern wasteland to search for some smelting materials, and while passing through the Death Sand Sea, he happened to encounter the outbreak of the Death Sand Storm, and was directly trapped in the Death Sand Sea."

"Later, I and Jiang Feng came to rescue him, and when we found him, he had already lost one leg, with a strange fierce beast lying beside him."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu frowned slightly, looking at Chu Ren Di with some strangeness.

He had just noticed that when his master addressed Jiang Feng, he no longer used "Jiang senior brother" or "the one in charge," but directly called him by name.

This...

"What is that fierce beast?" Chu Mu's voice interrupted Fang Xu's thoughts.

Chu Ren Di spoke: "Unclear; I had not seen such a thing before either."

"It should be a desert worm." Kong Jie suddenly spoke: "There were such things in the desert beside the Chiyan tribe back then."

"The desert worm's body is like a giant python, without eyes or nose, with a huge mouth full of sharp teeth, extremely sensitive to sound waves, and very ferocious."

Chu Ren Di quickly nodded: "Just as Kong senior sister said."

"It seems that what Iron Mountain encountered back then was indeed a desert worm."

Kong Jie looked at Fang Xu, her face full of worry: "If what you said about the Death Sand Sea truly contains desert worms, then we should still be more careful on this trip."

Fang Xu did not understand.

Kong Jie continued: "Desert worms are gregarious fierce beasts; a group often has thousands or even over ten thousand."

"These things usually hide in the desert, not easily noticed."

"Once they erupt, moving through the desert is like fish entering water, with extremely high speed."

Fang Xu nodded, but did not take the so-called desert worm to heart.

"You all look at this map again."

While speaking, he also took out another map left by his grandfather Fang Yuan Shan.

"What place is this?"

Everyone was somewhat puzzled, and Chu Ren Di spoke directly.

Fang Xu shook his head.

The map before them was left by his grandfather Fang Yuan Shan in that small box back then; the map depicted a vast and boundless continent, with a particularly conspicuous mark in the center.

It was a stone tower.

Fang Xu had previously guessed whether this map might be a topographical map of the central continent.

But after going to the central continent, he found that this map was not of the central continent.

Because the terrain on it did not match the central continent at all.

"Master, I suspect this map might be of a secret realm hidden beneath the Death Sand Sea."

Fang Xu voiced his guess.

Upon hearing this, Chu Ren Di's expression slightly startled.

Kong Jie, however, shook her head: "Not likely."

"As everyone knows, a secret realm cannot be this large."

"Judging from the magnificent momentum on this map, the region shown should be larger than the central continent."

Although the map in Fang Xu's hand had no scale markings, the person who drew it had great skill, enabling one to see at a glance how vast the world depicted on the map is.

"Where did you get this?" Chu Ren Di asked curiously.

"Left by my grandfather." Fang Xu did not conceal it, and said it directly.

"Your grandfather?" Chu Ren Di asked, somewhat puzzled: "Didn't you previously tell me that your grandfather was just an ordinary carpenter in Maple Forest Town?"

Fang Xu gave a bitter smile and clasped his hands: "Master, please forgive me; regarding my grandfather's identity, I did not intentionally conceal it."

"To be honest, if it weren't for the bitter wheel telling me about past events, and after I arrived at the central continent and learned from Xuan Ji about my grandfather's true identity, I would not have known that my grandfather had such a background."

"Fang Xu elder brother, there is an omen ahead!"

Everyone was studying the map when the long dragon suddenly spoke.

Fang Xu stood up, his gaze noticing the distant Death Sand Sea, a flash of surprise crossing his face.

"What time is it now?"

"It's already October..." Yun Wan was stunned for a moment before replying.

October... the day the death sandstorm erupted.

He didn't expect that he had chosen such a good day to explore the Death Sand Sea.

The Death Sand Sea in the distance had already kicked up a sandstorm that blotted out the sky and sun!

From high above, everyone could clearly see that this terrifying sandstorm resembled a wall connecting heaven and earth, sweeping in from the other side of the Death Sand Sea!

"This..."

Kong Jie had never seen such a sandstorm before and was instantly stunned.

"Back when we were in the Chiyan Tribe, we often encountered sandstorms."

"But I've never seen one this terrifying..."

"Fang Xu, let's give up."

Kong Jie suddenly turned around and spoke.

Chu Ren Di also looked solemnly at the sandstorm that seemed to embody the power of heaven and earth: "This sandstorm is far stronger than before; entering it would likely be dangerous."

Fang Xu said nothing.

At this moment, he also noticed a faint, unusual aura.

How could there be a faint aura of heaven and earth's will within this sandstorm?

It seemed...

This sandstorm is charging straight at me!?

Looking up at the sky, Fang Xu curled the corner of his mouth into a faint cold smile.

Isn't this just "no silver here, three hundred taels"?

The more you try to stop me from exploring the Death Sand Sea, the more you prove that there must be some unknown secret beneath this sand sea.

But the terror of this sandstorm is truly something I cannot recklessly charge into.

"Long Dragon, wait aside for now."

Now there's still over a year until the Divine Son selection; I'm not in a hurry.

Under normal circumstances, the sandstorm in the Death Sand Sea lasts for one month.

One month's time—I can wait.

Long Dragon obeyed his command and flew directly down to land on the ground.

"The sandstorm in the Death Sand Sea only lasts one month; we'll wait here." Fang Xu stated his plan.

Everyone didn't object either; to them, a month's time was hardly a problem.

But the situation developed somewhat beyond Fang Xu's expectations.

Time quickly passed a month, and the sandstorm that had swept across the entire Death Sand Sea did not dissipate—instead, it showed a trend of intensifying!

Even the surrounding Gobi deserts were affected to some extent.

The terrifying sandstorm swept up the gravel from the surrounding Gobi deserts, creating a sky-covering, earth-engulfing scene that was utterly terrifying!

Wind and sand carrying gravel—this sandstorm instantly turned into a massive meat grinder; anything sucked in would be instantly shattered by the high-speed rotating gravel!

"Something's not right!"

As people of Yu State, whether Yun Wan or Chu Ren Di, they seemed to clearly understand the nature of the Death Sand Sea.

In past years, the sandstorm of this Death Sand Sea would last only one month before subsiding.

But now it's already mid-November, and this sandstorm hasn't stopped—it's only getting worse!

Fang Xu could only helplessly shake his head at this moment.

He knew that behind all this, the will of heaven and earth must be playing tricks.

By waiting here, he might just let this sandstorm continue indefinitely.

Once I dare to force my way in, this sandstorm will surely take my life.

Moreover, Fang Xu also speculated that, due to the agreement's existence, even if he encountered danger in this sandstorm—whether it was the past body of the Yan God or some mysterious existence in the void—they would likely not intervene.

"Long Dragon, let's go." Having figured this out, Fang Xu knew there was no need to waste time here anymore.

But precisely because of this, the Death Sand Sea has already been deeply etched into his heart.

This place—once my strength grows stronger, I will surely come back to explore it.

"Where to?" Long Dragon asked.

"Back to the Central Continent."

Southern Border, the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

When Fang Xu and his group arrived, it was already near the Year's End Sacrifice.

Everyone found the old ape and Gu Qiu and others they hadn't seen in a long time in the Hun Yu Tribe.

Without lingering too long in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Fang Xu directly brought them to the secret stronghold of the Dark God Temple in Jiangzhou Prefecture.

Seeing Fang Xu, Xuan Ji was very eager: "Fang Xu, you've finally returned!"

Fang Xu felt a bit apologetic as he clasped his hands toward Xuan Ji: "I've troubled you, Senior Uncle, during this time."

Xuan Ji waved his hand, then spoke directly:

"The Elder Council has issued an order: since the Great Expansion Dao Sect has recently shown abnormalities, the Divine Son selection may have to be moved up."

Moved up?

Fang Xu frowned slightly: "Moved up to when?"

"Early next summer, the day of the Gu Tu God Sacrifice."

Early summer... it's already the winter month of the Year's End Sacrifice now; from now until early next summer, there's only half a year left!

But I haven't even gone to challenge the Three Gods Trial yet, and I haven't had enough time to grow stronger while competing with the Ghost Face Army...

"Uncle Master, I plan to go challenge the Three Gods Trial now!"

Time is urgent, he must go challenge the Three Gods Trial!

Only by passing the Three Gods Trial and entering the Godfall Land can he and the Ghost Face Army use the time flow speed of the Godfall Land to gain more time for themselves.

"Now?" Xuanji looked at Fang Xu's cultivation with some surprise.

After going to Sanshan Island this time and wasting over a year, he felt that Fang Xu's cultivation had not improved much.

In Xuanji's view, going to challenge the Three Gods Trial now is completely a waste of opportunity.

After all, each God Temple disciple can only challenge three times in a lifetime.

After three attempts, if one still cannot pass the Three Gods Trial, there will be no more chances.

"Uncle Master, please arrange it for me."

Fang Xu did not explain much; at the last layer of the Ti Lan Shan ruins, Yan Shen had already imparted all his lifetime insights to him.

In Fang Xu's mind now, the first layer of the White Jade Gui has been almost comprehended by him.

Now he has grasped many of Yan Shen's special abilities, so the problem of passing the Three Gods Trial should not be significant.

Seeing this, Xuanji did not ask further and immediately said: "Alright, I will help you apply right away."

The Three Gods Trial and the Godfall Land relate to whether Fang Xu can become the God Son of the God Temple.

In Xuanji's heart, he naturally hopes Fang Xu can become the God Son of the God Temple, after all, Fang Xu's grandfather is his junior martial brother.

Moreover, the Xuan Sect back then was also of the Yan Shen lineage; Fang Xu, as the inheritor of Yan Shen, becoming the God Son would bring glory to their Yan Shen lineage.

Xuanji left, and the Night Guard Yu Xiang Ling beside him observed the old ape and others behind Fang Xu, slightly surprised and said: "Fang Xu, where did you find these people? They're really interesting."

"One Earth Fiend Demon Ape, one Dragon Clan... the Way of Slaughter, the Xuan Yang Sacred Body..."

"Is this the Dan Xiang Sacred Body?"

To Yu Xiang Ling, the few people behind Fang Xu each have their own characteristics.

"Aunt Yu, these are my friends, fellow disciples, and elders."

After introducing everyone behind him one by one to Yu Xiang Ling, Fang Xu directly said: "I have a matter I want to ask Aunt Yu for help with."

Yu Xiang Ling replied unhappily: "Just knew you little brat calling me 'aunt' wasn't for nothing, speak up."

Previously when they met, Fang Xu had never called her aunt; this time he does, so he must have some ulterior motive.

Fang Xu gave an embarrassed smile, then said: "I want Aunt Yu to help me find two people."

"Find people?" Yu Xiang Ling said curiously: "What kind of people?"

Fang Xu turned to look at Chu Mu, then said to Yu Xiang Ling: "Find a pill master of seventh rank or above, and then find an artificer who can forge spiritual artifacts."

Yu Xiang Ling looked at him strangely and said: "You little brat sure like to give me tough problems."

"Although seventh-rank pill masters in the Central Continent are not exactly rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, they are also hard to find."

"As for artificers who can forge spiritual artifacts, the God Temple does have them; I can help you request their presence."

Can't find a seventh-rank pill master?

Fang Xu frowned slightly.

Chu Mu's pill master identity is one of his major reliance.

In the Ti Lan Shan ruins, everyone obtained a large amount of medicinal herbs; Chu Mu can now only refine pills up to the peak of sixth rank.

Although such pills are also quite useful for Martial Sovereigns, they are definitely not as good as seventh-rank pills.

"Brother Fang Xu, don't look for a seventh-rank pill master; as long as we have a seventh-rank pill formula, that's enough."

At this moment, Chu Mu suddenly spoke.

Yu Xiang Ling looked at Chu Mu curiously: "Little girl, with just a pill formula, can you refine a seventh-rank pill?"

Chu Mu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "We can try."

As her words fell, Yu Xiang Ling's hand flashed with light, and an ancient scroll appeared in her hand.

"Seventh-rank pill: Lieyang Chilin Dan."

"This pill formula I obtained from an ancient site; I originally planned to find a time to send it to Duobao Pavilion to sell, but since you have confidence, I'll give it to you."

Looking at the ancient scroll in Yu Xiang Ling's hand, Chu Mu's beautiful eyes were already about to reach out for it.

But she did not take it, because Fang Xu had not yet spoken.

"Aunt Yu, this thing should be very precious, right?"

The inheritance of pill masters is mostly passed down from ancient times; after the recent ancient era, whether it be martial arts, pill and artifact formations, or feng shui, these inheritances have long since declined.

"There is a saying in the pill master world: 'One formula, worth a hundred pills.'" Chu Mu said: "This means the value of a pill formula is often equivalent to a hundred pills of one rank higher than the formula."

"The value of the Lieyang Chilin Dan formula is equivalent to a hundred eighth-rank pills."

Fang Xu was somewhat shocked.

Yu Xiang Ling herself also showed a hint of surprise.

She knew this seventh-rank pill formula should be very precious, but she didn't expect it to have such great value!

A hundred eighth-rank pills would require at least thousands of top-grade spirit crystal marrow!

"Did Aunt Yu regret it?" Looking at Yu Xiang Ling's expression, Fang Xu laughed and said.

Yu Xiang Ling was stunned for a moment, then said stubbornly: "How could that be!?"

"However, if this girl really refines the Lieyang Chilin Dan, she must give me a few pills."

As an elder, having spoken out to give something away, even if it's very precious, Yu Xiang Ling would feel embarrassed to go back on her word, so she can only try to find a way to compensate later.

Fang Xu said nothing, turned his head to look at Chu Mu.

"No problem." Chu Mu readily agreed.

Only then did Yu Xiang Ling stuff the scroll into Chu Mu's hand: "Put it away quickly, in case I really regret it."

Chu Mu happily put the scroll into his Qiankun bag.

"The matter of the blacksmith still needs to trouble Aunt Yu to hurry up," Fang Xu said.

The blacksmith is key to enhancing the strength of the Ghost Face Army; only by finding a blacksmith capable of forging spirit artifacts can he completely combine the remaining Ghost Face Army soldiers with the Divine Servant Gu worms, making them much stronger.

"Leave it to me."

"However, you brat need to be mentally prepared."

Fang Xu asked doubtfully: "What mental preparation?"

Yu Xiangling glared and said: "Naturally, the mental preparation for losing a lot of blood!"

"Do you think everyone in the Divine Temple is like me and Old Xuanji, able to dispatch you for free?"

"Any blacksmith capable of forging spirit artifacts, if they make a move, without a labor fee of several hundred top-grade spirit crystal marrow, who would work for you?"

Fang Xu smiled wryly and said: "I understand, Aunt Yu, you may go."

After Yu Xiangling left, the people behind Fang Xu then gathered around.

"Fang Xu, what are you preparing to do?" Yun Wan asked.

Fang Xu looked at the crowd, knowing he should also explain things to them.

He immediately briefly explained his joining the Dark Divine Temple and his participation in the Divine Son selection, among other matters.

The crowd did not have any objections due to the Dark Divine Temple's current situation.

On the contrary, because of Fang Xu, they all felt that the various forces opposing the Dark Divine Temple must have some problems.

Especially the Great Expansion Dao Sect.

"Alright, Mu, Gu Qiu, you two go research the seventh-grade pill formula."

"By the way, this is for you."

Fang Xu said as he took out all the Creation Immortal Liquid from his Qiankun bag.

The Creation Immortal Liquid is now useless to him; it would be better to give it to Chu Mu to figure out how to refine pills, to enhance the strength of the Ghost Face Army.

Moreover, he also dumped all the items he had organized from the Divine God Qiankun Ring onto Yun Wan.

"These were given by a senior; I haven't had time to sort them out in detail—you organize them."

Yun Wan took the Qiankun bag and nodded: "Leave it to me."

"Yuan Bo, this is for you." Fang Xu said, taking out a dark gold heavy staff.

This item is also from the Divine God Qiankun Ring; Fang Xu couldn't determine its quality, but it should be a decent weapon, perfect for Old Yuan to use.

Old Yuan took the staff, swung it a few times, and was obviously very satisfied.

"Chang Long, this is for you." Fang Xu said, then took out a long whip with faint electric light flowing across its surface.

This item perfectly matches his Thunder Power.

Chang Long took the whip and happily put it into his Qiankun bag.

"Senior Liu Xin, this is yours." Fang Xu said, handing over a giant axe.

But Liu Xin glanced at the giant axe and did not take it.

"This giant axe is not suitable for me." Liu Xin smiled, taking out his own axe: "Take a look."

Fang Xu suspiciously took Liu Xin's axe, suddenly discovering that this axe, which looks like a mundane object, actually has a strange aura flowing on it.

"Well then." Returning the axe to Liu Xin, Fang Xu also put away his own giant axe.

Yun Wan, Gu Qiu, and Chu Mu came to a secret room and began to busy themselves.

Liu Xin, Kong Jie, and Chang Long each found a place to cultivate.

Only Old Yuan and Chu Ren Di seemed unhappy that Fang Xu had not assigned them tasks.

"You stinky brat, are you despising this old man for being old?" Old Yuan said unhappily.

Fang Xu quickly waved his hands to deny, but in the end he couldn't argue with the two, so he took out some spirit crystal marrow, letting them try to gather information outside.

If possible, it would be best to gather some people, constantly paying attention to the movements of the Great Expansion Dao Sect and various other forces.

For Chu Ren Di, this matter is actually second nature.

Because during the Ascension Assembly, the Law Enforcement Hall had a secret intelligence organization in its hands.

After everyone was arranged to go out, Yu Xiangling also brought over a burly, gray-haired elder.

Upon seeing Fang Xu, that gray-haired elder actually furrowed his brows:

"Is this brat the grandson of that old thing?"

"Xiangling, have you been deceived?"

Yu Xiangling was stunned for a moment, then noticed that Fang Xu still looked like Hu Ertu at this time.

"Fang Xu, face..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xu quickly withdrew his disguise technique, revealing his original face.

When the gray-haired elder saw his true appearance, his expression first became somewhat complex, then he coldly snorted: "Indeed, just like that guy, equally annoying."

Fang Xu: "..."

"Aunt Yu, who is this senior?"

Yu Xiangling hurriedly introduced: "Let me introduce, Spirit-grade blacksmith Sun Xiu, Elder Sun."

"Junior pays respects to Elder Sun." Fang Xu quickly clasped his hands in salute.

He could feel that this Sun Xiu and his grandfather should have some past grievances.

"No need."

"Because you are the grandson of Sun Yuan Shan that old thing, the price I mentioned earlier needs to be adjusted."

On the side, Yu Xiangling was completely dazed.

"Elder Sun, you..."

"How?"

"You don't know that back then, it was that old thing that killed Fu Ying?"

Yu Xiangling frowned slightly and said, "I know about this, but Senior Fu Ying..."

"That's my sister!" Sun Xiu said angrily!

Yu Xiangling was stunned again.

She never imagined there was such a relationship between Sun Xiu and Fu Ying.

Fang Xu, standing nearby, looked at Yu Xiangling with a blank expression: "Aunt Yu, Fu Ying is..."

"He's your grandmother." Yu Xiangling said somewhat helplessly.

Grandmother???

Fang Xu involuntarily opened his mouth wide.

Fu Ying is my grandmother, Sun Xiu is my grandmother's brother, so is this old man in front of me my great-uncle?

"Young man Fang Xu, greetings, great-uncle!"

After a moment of daze, Fang Xu quickly clasped his hands and bowed again.

No matter what the conflict between Sun Xiu and my grandfather was, he is still my elder after all.

Moreover, judging from the previous situation, when Yu Xiangling went to invite him, she must have revealed her identity.

Upon learning his identity, Sun Xiu still agreed to come, which proves that the conflict back then was not a major issue.

"Stop!"

"What great-uncle not great-uncle!?"

"I have never acknowledged that old thing!"

Sun Xiu shouted with his neck stiff, but the slight downward turn of his eye corners let Fang Xu know that his address of "great-uncle" had eased the old grudge.

"Great-uncle, how did my grandfather and grandmother come to be back then?" Fang Xu seized the moment and quickly spoke.

He wanted to learn about his grandfather's past from these informed people.

"Hmph!"

Sun Xiu clearly did not want to say.

Yu Xiangling beside him sighed and said: "Let me tell this story."

"Back then, your grandfather and Senior Fu Ying were in love, and Sun Lao was the one who opposed it most fiercely."

"At that time we all thought..."

Yu Xiangling glanced at Sun Xiu somewhat embarrassedly, not daring to say it directly, and only said tactfully: "Once cultivators reach a certain realm, age is no longer considered a barrier."

Fang Xu understood Yu Xiangling's meaning.

They all thought my grandfather and Sun Xiu were rivals in love.

They thought Sun Xiu was an old man eating tender grass, never imagining that my grandmother was actually Sun Xiu's sister.

"Later, your grandfather's stronghold was exposed and besieged by multiple forces. When we arrived, Senior Fu Ying had already died, and your grandfather was severely wounded."

"After your grandfather recovered from his wounds, he directly took his newborn son and your grandmother's corpse and left the divine palace, vanishing without a trace thereafter."

When Yu Xiangling finished speaking, it seemed to ignite the anger in Sun Xiu's heart.

"If Fu Ying hadn't insisted on following that old thing to the Qiyang stronghold back then, she wouldn't have died!"

"Also, tell me, old man, where did that old thing take Fu Ying's corpse?"

Facing Sun Xiu's questioning, Fang Xu let out a slight sigh.

"Great-uncle, please don't get agitated first."

As he spoke, he took out the notebook left by his grandfather and said: "This is what my grandfather left behind."

"He must have discovered some method possibly capable of resurrecting my grandmother back then, which is why he resolutely took my father and grandmother to Sanshan Island."

"As far as I know, my grandfather waited for decades in the desolate outskirts of Sanshan Island in search of a way to resurrect my grandmother."

Sun Xiu took the notebook somewhat suspiciously, flipped through it, and his expression eased slightly afterward.

"Hmph!"

"People are dead, what's the use of fussing over these empty formalities!?"

Though he said this with his mouth, his heart had actually already somewhat forgiven Yuan Shan.

"Great-uncle, I don't know what you think, but... but my grandfather is already dead, so please calm down."

"That old thing died!?" Sun Xiu looked somewhat startled.

Fang Xu nodded: "He's been dead for over ten years."

Sun Xiu felt somewhat lost, his face even showing a hint of sorrow.

After a long while—

"Alas!"

He sighed deeply and looked at Fang Xu: "What about your father?"

"Also dead, for nearly thirty years."

"This..." Sun Xiu's steps staggered slightly, and in his mind he vaguely recalled the infant from back then still in swaddling clothes.

"How did your father die?"

Fang Xu shook his head: "According to my grandfather, he was killed by a fierce beast while hunting in the mountains."

"A fierce beast killed your father!?"

"Did your grandfather not teach your father to cultivate martial arts?"

Sun Xiu said somewhat unwillingly to accept.

Fang Xu smiled bitterly and shook his head; in his memory, his father seemed to be just a martial practitioner.

"The old bastard really deserves to die!"

"He deserves to die!"

Sun Xiu cursed angrily, but a turbid tear streamed from his eyes.

"And you?"

"These years of yours..."

Fang Xu shook his head: "I'm fine, Uncle, you don't need to worry."

"Good... good..."

At this moment, Sun Xiu no longer objected to the title "Uncle."

This proved that he had accepted Fang Xu's identity from the bottom of his heart.

After chatting for a while, Sun Xiu then said: "I heard from Xiangling that you're running for Divine Son?"

Fang Xu nodded: "I want to become stronger."

Sun Xiu's expression grew somewhat solemn: "This matter is more complicated than you imagine."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiangling, then lowered his voice: "The Palace Master's hidden illness has flared up again; this is also one of the reasons the Elders' Council hastily decided to hold the Divine Son selection."

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiangling was somewhat startled: "The Palace Master..."

Sun Xiu shook his head: "This old man estimates that the Divine Son of this term won't need long before having to inherit the Palace Master's position."

"In the past, the various factions of the Divine Palace have mostly held conservative attitudes toward the Divine Son's position."

"After all, everyone knows that becoming the Divine Son also means becoming the primary target of the Great Expansion Dao Sect."

"Over these many years, not a few Divine Sons have died at the hands of the Great Expansion Dao Sect in my Divine Palace."

"But now it's different."

Yu Xiangling's expression grew somewhat solemn.

Fang Xu asked, puzzled: "What impact does this have?"

Yu Xiangling and Sun Xiu exchanged a glance and said: "Naturally, there is."

"Let me tell you this: in the past, Divine Sons were closely watched by the Great Expansion Dao Sect, and even before that, more than ten Divine Sons had already been assassinated."

"Therefore, although each Divine Son selection is taken seriously by all major powers, none would go all-in."

"But this time is different."

"The Palace Master's hidden illness has flared up, his lifespan is nearing its end, and he likely won't last much longer."

"And this time's Divine Son is obviously very likely to become the next Palace Master of the Divine Palace."

"For the Palace Master's position, all major factions will surely exhaust their foundations, cultivate their own disciples, and have them compete for this Divine Son's position."

"Thus, your pressure will be greater."

Fang Xu more or less understood Yu Xiangling's words.

In past Divine Son selections, the major factions were never sure whether their own Divine Son could live to the moment of inheriting the Palace Master's position.

Thus, their cultivation of Divine Sons had been held back.

But this time is different.

The Divine Palace Master's lifespan is nearing its end, and this term's Divine Son has a high probability of becoming the Divine Palace Master.

For the Palace Master's position, all major factions are highly likely to choose to go all-in!

Know that these factions are mostly legacies passed down from ancient times; although targeted by various major powers of the Tianxuan Realm, their foundations are not to be underestimated.

To pour ten thousand years of resources into cultivating a single person— the terrifying extent absolutely far exceeds what one might imagine.

"Fang Xu, you might as well give up."

Yu Xiangling hesitated for a moment, then spoke:

She is merely a Night Watch Guard, with little foundation behind her.

And the Xuangmen faction, these past years, due to weak combat strength, has been harshly suppressed by the Great Expansion Dao Sect, its foundation nearly exhausted.

Overall, when it comes to competing in foundations, Fang Xu basically has no chance of winning.

Sun Xiu also said nothing, merely silently watching Fang Xu, wanting to see how he would choose.

"Give up... no." Fang Xu shook his head and smiled: "Aunt Yu, Uncle, there's still something I haven't said."

"This time, when I went to Sanshan Island, I met the Divine Lord Yan."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Yu Xiangling and Sun Xiu were stunned.

Afterwards, Sun Xiu exclaimed excitedly: "You really met the Divine Lord Yan!?"

Fang Xu nodded: "The Divine Lord Yan bestowed upon me his lifetime's insights and accumulations."

"Does... this count as my foundation?"

Seeing his confident smile, Yu Xiangling and Sun Xiu were stunned.

The Divine Lord Yan's lifetime insights and accumulations— this certainly won't be inferior to those factions' foundations.

After all, the Divine Lord Yan back then was an existence of the level of the Dark Divine Palace Master.

"If that's the case, then let's give it a try!" Sun Xiu came to his senses and directly said: "Fang Xu, tell me, what should I help you do?"

Fang Xu immediately explained the method of remodeling the Ghost Face Army to Sun Xiu.

And he also handed over the method left by Elder Ou Zhang to him.

After receiving Ou Zhang's refining insights, Sun Xiu couldn't help but exclaim: "Too crazy!"

"I never thought..."

"I never thought!"

"Such a method combining poison insects, refining, and witchcraft— I, this old man, have never heard of or seen before!"

"However, this method can still be improved."

Obviously, Sun Xiu's artifact refining level is higher than Ou Zhang's; just by taking a glance, he knew this method still had room for improvement.

"Uncle, then I'll leave this matter to you."

Fang Xu clasped his hands, then handed a Qiankun bag to Sun Xiu: "Inside are all kinds of artifact refining materials."

"Some of these I collected, and some were left behind by Elder Yan Shen."

"You use them as you see fit."

Sun Xiu took the Qiankun bag and nodded.

Knowing the number of the Ghost Face Army, he also understood that he could not possibly produce that many top-grade materials in a short time.

"Fang Xu, immediately send people to fetch those Ghost Face Army soldiers; I will help them remodel their armor as soon as possible."

Fang Xu nodded.

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.

At the year-end sacrifice, Xuan Ji also returned, weary from travel.

The news he brought was roughly the same as what Sun Xiu had said.

Because the Divine Temple Master's lifespan is nearing its end, the various factions of the Dark Divine Temple can no longer sit still; they are now exhausting their foundations to boost the influence of their respective candidates.

Moreover, candidates who previously had no intention of challenging the Three Divine Trials before the Divine Son selection are now all setting their sights on the God-Fallen Land.

After all, there are only half a year left until the Divine Son selection.

They want to raise their strength as much as possible in such a short time.

The God-Fallen Land is the best choice.

"Uncle Master, when can I participate in the Three Divine Trials?" Fang Xu asked.

"In ten days."

"We must set out at the latest the day after tomorrow."

Fang Xu nodded; ten days later is still acceptable.

If we set out the day after tomorrow, I might as well try to break through again tonight. (End of chapter)