Chapter 225: Above the Laws

As the four vortices appeared, the entire hall was instantly shrouded in a terrifying pressure.

Thump!

Thump!

……

Before them, the weaker Chu Ren Di and several Divine Hall Elders including Zhongli Hui were instantly pressed to the ground by this terrifying might.

Only Qi Shaoyu and Gu Yuxi could barely remain standing.

At this moment, a sharp longsword phantom appeared on Qi Shaoyu's body.

Under this terrifying pressure, the longsword phantom trembled continuously, emitting wails.

"Don't push yourself any further, or your sword soul will be crushed."

Gu Yuxi glanced at her and spoke.

Hearing this, Qi Shaoyu hurriedly retracted the longsword phantom into her body.

Thump!

At the moment the longsword phantom vanished, she also collapsed straight onto the ground.

At this point, only Gu Yuxi could still stand.

Gazing at the four vortex phantoms behind Fang Xu, Gu Yuxi's expression grew solemn.

"Even with my knowledge, I don't know what this thing you cultivated is."

"But just its pressure makes even a God-Communion Realm expert struggle to bear it; it must be something of Grand Dao level."

As Gu Yuxi's words fell, the four vortex phantoms behind Fang Xu flickered a few times and then vanished.

Whoosh——

He let out a long breath, and Fang Xu's face turned somewhat pallid.

Maintaining the vortex phenomenon places a great burden on him.

"Senior, what is Grand Dao level?"

Gu Yuxi sighed and said: "Whether it's the Heavenly Brilliance Realm or the Mysterious Heaven Realm, all cultivators' practice ultimately aims to comprehend heaven and earth."

"For cultivators of the Mysterious Heaven Realm, the Dharma Appearance Realm begins to grasp the power of laws."

"Of course, there are also those with extraordinary talent who can comprehend the laws of heaven and earth even at the Origin Martial or Martial Sovereign Realm."

"By condensing laws into divine fire, one achieves the God-Communion Realm."

"But laws are not the ultimate power of a world."

"Above laws lies the Dao."

"Only by transforming divine fire into Dao can one become a True God."

"In my view, after achieving True Godhood, cultivators spend their entire lives comprehending their own Dao."

"The Dao is endless."

"A True God Realm expert can destroy a great world like the Heavenly Brilliance Realm with a flick of a finger."

"Slaying an ordinary True God Realm expert is as easy as crushing an ant."

"Such experts are so powerful because they have already traveled far along their own Dao."

Gu Yuxi expounded a realm system that transcends the God-Communion Realm.

Everyone present was astonished.

Although they are all God-Communion Realm experts, they have not yet reached the end of the path of laws, let alone the more illusory and elusive Dao beyond laws.

"So, have I comprehended my own Dao?"

Fang Xu asked doubtfully.

Gu Yuxi shook his head: "It is the Dao that has chosen you."

"However, the Grand Dao is countless, and I also do not know what the phenomenon behind you represents."

"The so-called Three Thousand Grand Dao merely denotes a magnitude; it does not mean there are only three thousand Grand Daos."

Gu Yuxi, considering his past and present lives, has not traveled far along his own Dao, let alone understood other Daos.

"This is a good thing."

"Keep cultivating diligently, perfect that phenomenon, and you will ultimately go further on your own Dao."

Gu Yuxi looked at Fang Xu with a hint of envy.

"Being chosen by the Grand Dao and choosing the Grand Dao are completely different."

"It is like a mutual pursuit of love versus chasing an unrequited goddess."

"The former, if persisted in, comes naturally."

"The latter, after pursuing to the end, may only then realize the goal is still far away."

Fang Xu nodded.

In his cultivation within that broken world, aside from the vortex phenomenon, his sea of consciousness also gained a black seal.

However, he currently cannot control the black seal, so he cannot ask Gu Yuxi to help identify what it is.

Yet, in the dark, he feels that the black seal is related to the vortex phenomenon.

And the vortex phenomenon arises from his absorption of the four bloodline essences.

Therefore, behind all of this are the four powers absorbed by the Xieyu King.

"Senior, have you seen a Funeral Attendant?" Suppressing his thoughts, Fang Xu suddenly looked at Gu Yuxi and asked.

Gu Yuxi nodded: "It is a very strange existence."

"Strictly speaking, he seems not to be a living being."

Fang Xu was curious.

Gu Yuxi, however, did not continue speaking.

"I have some guesses about him, but I still need to wait until later to confirm."

Obviously, Gu Yuxi has obtained some clues about the mourner's identity.

"What does that senior think of his cultivation?"

Facing Fang Xu's gaze, Gu Yuxi gave a stiff smile: "Stronger than me, even stronger than I was at the peak of my previous life."

"I know you plan to use him to deal with the Heaven and Earth Will of the Great Expansion Dao Sect and the Heavenly Mystery Realm, right?"

Fang Xu nodded somewhat embarrassedly.

Keeping Gu Yuxi by his side, he also had this plan.

"Just him and me is still far from enough."

"However, once you reach the Divine Communion Realm and fully master that Dao-level power, perhaps you can try."

As a former apostle of the Celestial Radiance Realm, Gu Yuxi clearly knows how strong the Heaven and Earth Will of a major world is.

Furthermore, the Heaven and Earth Will of the Heavenly Mystery Realm is likely controlled by a terrifying existence.

Their strength is considered a terrifying existence even among True Gods.

"I understand."

Regarding the matter of going to war with the Great Expansion Dao Sect, Fang Xu is not in a hurry.

He now wishes the Great Expansion Dao Sect would leave him alone.

That way he would have more time to cultivate and increase his strength.

"Alright, nothing else, everyone go attend to your affairs."

Although I didn't get any useful information from Gu Yuxi, knowing about the Dao is also not bad.

"By the way, Elder Qi, take Xiao Long down and arrange a place for her to stay."

Qi Shaoyu clasped his hands, leading Xiao Long away from the main hall.

After everyone left, Fang Xu came to the outside of the hall, looking at the busy divine palace disciples, a feeling rose in his heart.

If not for the Great Expansion Dao Sect's targeting and the Heaven's Will's targeting, these people should be able to stay peacefully in the Heavenly Mystery Realm, living and cultivating.

But because of the existence of the Great Expansion Dao Sect and the Heaven and Earth Will, they can only hide in this damaged Celestial Radiance Realm.

Wanting to return to the Heavenly Mystery Realm and stand in the sunlight, I don't know how much longer we must wait.

Moreover, once the two sides go to war, these people still don't know how many will survive to the end.

He himself has no choice, as his conflict with the Heavenly Mystery Realm's Heaven's Will has reached a point of no return.

But these people do have a choice.

They could have abandoned their sect, declared no relation to the Dark Divine Palace, and thus been like ordinary people, but they did not choose that path.

Walking among the divine palace disciples, feeling their reverent gazes, Fang Xu smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

When he arrived at the entrance of the Celestial Radiance Realm, he suddenly saw a figure standing dazed on a broken cliff.

Seeing that figure, Fang Xu froze for a moment, then slowly walked over.

"How did you end up here?"

Coming behind that figure, Fang Xu spoke gently.

Yun Wan turned around, gave a gentle smile: "I like the scenery here."

"Scenery?"

Fang Xu stood before the mountain cliff, looking at the distant shattered landscape, somewhat curious:

"Beautiful?"

"Your taste is strange."

Yun Wan turned her head, gave him a white-eyed glance, and let out a cute huff without speaking.

Fang Xu, seeing this, moved closer to her and directly put his arm around her shoulders.

Yun Wan's body first stiffened, then she lightly rested her head on Fang Xu's shoulder.

"A hundred years."

"Huh?"

"I thought you wouldn't come back."

"How could that be?"

"Here there is you, and there are you all."

Hearing those words, Yun Wan's heart warmed, she slowly lifted her head, turned Fang Xu's body toward her, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

The sudden initiative made Fang Xu somewhat surprised.

But feeling Yun Wan's fervor, he also tightly embraced the person before him.

After a long while, Yun Wan's pretty face turned red, she lowered her head.

"Let's get married."

Fang Xu suddenly spoke.

Yun Wan, somewhat startled, raised her head and looked at him in disbelief.

"Why... suddenly say this?"

Fang Xu slightly lowered his head, smiling at her: "What, you're not willing to marry me?"

"Willing!"

Yun Wan's voice was somewhat panicked, urgent, and she blurted out.

But after saying that, she felt she was not reserved enough, and immediately punched Fang Xu angrily.

"You propose like this?"

Marriage is a major matter; the matchmaker's words, the parents' command?

Speaking of this, Yun Wan's face suddenly grew somewhat dim.

She suddenly realized that neither she nor Fang Xu seemed to have any living parents.

Moreover, it seemed they didn't even have a true relative left.

Sensing Yun Wan's sorrow, Fang Xu gently pulled her into his embrace.

Don't be sad; from now on we'll be a family.

And there's your Senior Sister Gu Qiu.

Yun Wan said with a hint of sourness.

Fang Xu gave an embarrassed laugh.

Forgot, there's also Mu...

"She's my sister!" Fang Xu hastily explained.

Yun Wan pursed her lips: "You treat her as a sister, but she doesn't see it that way."

For a hundred years, I've been clear about Mu's feelings toward you.

During Fang Xu's hundred-year disappearance, as longing deepened, Yun Wan could easily sense that Chu Mu's feelings for Fang Xu were anything but sibling love.

Perhaps unbeknownst to when it started, Chu Mu had already stopped regarding Fang Xu as a brother.

How do you plan to handle this?

Faced with Yun Wan's question, Fang Xu didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Speaking from the heart, he also didn't know whether he still regarded Chu Mu as a sister.

When they first met, he merely pitied Chu Mu and was a bit tempted by her special constitution, which is why he brought her along as a sister.

But as time passed, Fang Xu also felt he could no longer regard her as a sister.

Especially at the thought of one day marrying her off to someone else, he felt very uneasy.

But if he only regarded her as a sister, he couldn't just let her suffer alone for the rest of her life, could he?

That would be too selfish; he couldn't do it.

I'll think about it later.

Feeling his heart in turmoil, Fang Xu could only give a perfunctory reply.

You!

Yun Wan let out a sigh.

I'll go talk to Mu about this.

If she agrees, I'll make the decision for you.

The usually gentle Yun Wan suddenly became firm at this moment.

You...

Fang Xu felt somewhat helpless.

But thinking that perhaps it really needed Yun Wan to speak up.

I'll also talk to Senior Sister Gu Qiu about that.

Since we're getting married, let's just do it together.

Yun Wan pondered for a moment and said: 'But there's one thing I hope you can promise me.'

Go ahead.

Besides the three of us, you must not fool around anymore.

Flirt around? Fang Xu exclaimed: "That word is an insult!"

Am I that kind of person?

Yun Wan wrinkled her nose: 'Whether you are or not, you know it yourself.'

Alright, I'll go ask Mu first; you go about your business.

Yun Wan, in a good mood, turned to leave, but suddenly added: 'There's one more thing.'

Fang Xu looked at her curiously.

Maple Forest Town, Madam Wang.

Having said that, she left directly.

Fang Xu, however, stood frozen in place.

Maple Forest Town...

How could I have forgotten this?!

He had stayed a hundred years in that deficient world.

Yun Wan and the other cultivators might not think much of it, but Lady Wang is merely an ordinary person.

Counting the time, she is now at least one hundred fifty years old.

Perhaps she is no longer alive.

Fang Xu remembered that when he last left, Lady Wang should have been under thirty.

How did she spend the rest of her life?

I really am not a decent person!

Thinking of this, his form flickered and he directly left the exit of the Heavenly Brilliance Realm.

Above the Sea of Death, after determining his direction, Fang Xu flew straight toward Maple Forest Town.

With his current cultivation, reaching Maple Forest Town in Yellow Prefecture from Cool Prefecture took only an instant.

His form appeared above Maple Forest Town; looking down at the still lush ancient maple tree, Fang Xu felt somewhat moved.

Falling from the sky, he walked slowly to the village entrance, looking at everything around that was both familiar and strange.

At this moment, he finally understood what "things remain but people are gone" truly meant.

"Huh?"

When Fang Xu approached his family's small courtyard, he suddenly realized that the courtyard, which should have been desolate and collapsed in his thoughts, was still standing far away.

Judging by the appearance, the courtyard seemed to be frequently repaired and carefully tended.

Approaching the courtyard gate, he peered through the crack and found that everything inside remained as it originally was.

The courtyard was spotless, not a single weed in sight.

This is……

"Young sir, do you need something?"

Just then, an old man with white hair carried a hoe and came up behind Fang Xu, asking curiously.

Fang Xu turned around, glanced at the old man, and realized he did not know him.

"Elder, this is……"

The old man set down his hoe, took out a key from his satchel, and opened the courtyard gate.

"This place, sir, was once the residence of a prominent figure."

"Later, that prominent figure left Maple Forest Town, and the courtyard was left empty."

"It has been looked after all this time by the manager of the Wang clan's tea house in town."

The old man said this while picking up his hoe, walking around the courtyard, and cutting down the weeds that had sprouted.

Then he picked up the broom nearby and swept the courtyard clean.

"The manager gives me one tael of silver each month to help weed and repair the courtyard."

"I have been doing this for eighty years."

"The manager of the Wang clan's tea house?"

"Could it be the Wang clan's sister-in-law?"

Fang Xu quickly asked, "Elder, is the manager of the Wang clan's tea house still alive?"

The old man stopped his work, his face troubled, and said, "I don't know either."

"I've only heard that someone saw her last year, but from now until this year, I haven't seen her show her face."

"By my reckoning, she must be over a hundred forty or fifty years old."

"I also heard that over a hundred years ago, the manager of the Wang clan and the prominent figure who lived here were lovers; she kept this courtyard in hopes that one day that prominent figure would return."

"Alas, the old manager is also a person of hard fate."

"People say she waited for that lord for a hundred years."

After hearing the old man's words, Fang Xu felt a mixture of emotions.

He did not know what a hundred years of longing meant for the Wang clan.

"Elder, is the Wang clan's tea house still open?"

"It's open!"

"Business is booming; many people from the prefecture often come to drink tea."

Upon hearing that, Fang Xu could no longer restrain himself and directly vanished into the courtyard.

This greatly frightened the old man.

"He… he couldn't possibly be that lord, could he!?"

Watching the direction in which Fang Xu disappeared, the old man exclaimed in astonishment. (End of chapter)