Chapter 341: Thirty Years (Bonus Chapter—Request Monthly Tickets)

"Fang Xing, your teacher awaits the day you break through to Wu Shen and cast off all your ailments!"

Before leaving, Nie Ying gripped Fang Xing's hand tightly, his words earnest.

Lanxing University, having first lost Ye Ye Liuyun, its peak Wu Shen, then the Twin Jewels of Lanxing—two promising new stars—is seen as a symbol of decline.

For the past decade, its enrollment has sunk to the bottom of the three super-premium universities, even facing challenges from first-tier institutions like War University.

Fang Xing's possible recovery is a powerful boost.

…

"Old Nie…"

On the spaceship, several professors gathered around.

Nie Ying nodded and handed out an unusual dark red stone tablet.

Upon the tablet was precisely the "Fire Meteor Mystery" carved by Fang Xing through his own insight!

"The Mystery of Fire cannot be carried by ordinary paper or virtual space—it requires cosmic rarities…"

Nie Ying said: "Take a look at this Mystery of Fire. What do you feel?"

"Though the cub is small, it already carries the aura of a beast that devours oxen… This path, even just from its beginning, is utterly brilliant—it could become an entirely new 'profession,' even a perfect system surpassing all others."

A professor specializing in new professions adjusted his glasses: "Unfortunately, this is precisely what makes it both triumph and failure… Such a complete and vast system—even if Lanxing University pooled all its strength and spent centuries of computation, progress might still be minimal… To rely solely on Fang Wu Sheng's personal enlightenment? Who knows how many years or centuries it would take."

"Still, it's a hope! And… we can release partial information."

Nie Ying made his decision.

When he returned to his cabin, he gazed at the shrinking White Bird Star, his expression complex: 'Is this… your choice?'

"Liehun!"

Nie Ying suddenly spoke.

"Master, what are your orders?"

Nie Ying's artificial intelligence immediately responded, projecting the image of a stern-faced middle-aged man.

"Covertly modify White Bird Star. Deploy the highest-class Candle Dragon III surveillance devices! Remember… follow the highest secrecy level—answer only to me."

Nie Ying spoke.

"Understood!"

Liehun was about to act when Nie Ying added: "Wait—cancel all previous operations."

"Yes!"

Liehun saluted.

'They destroyed our university's Twin Jewels… the mastermind hides too deeply… even able to interfere with Wu Sheng mission assignments in the virtual space… the 'Omniscient Brain' may have been breached…'

'If the 'Omniscient Brain' has become the enemy's eyes, nothing I do is safe…'

'Fang Xing… I leave it to you.'

Nie Ying stared at White Bird Star, his eyes deep.

…

Since exposing the "Mystery of Fire," Fang Xing's communication device received another small surge of calls.

But he didn't care—he left most of it to Xiao Lan to handle.

He cultivated an air of detached world-weariness.

Each day, he meditated on the Fire Principle, occasionally inspecting his company.

Nan Gong Xue no longer mentioned the ten-year pact, as if she'd permanently rooted herself there.

Fang Xing was puzzled: this woman was so lazy, even poorer than him—how would she ever get a Wu Sheng exosuit?

Was she planning to become a 'barebone Wu Sheng'?

—Due to the scarcity of exclusive exosuits and the difficulty of cultivating will runes, many Wu Shengs die without ever obtaining their own, earning the title 'Barebone Wu Sheng'!

But he didn't mind—he simply produced a newly copied "Mystery of Fire" every few years, claiming it as his own discovery, gradually solidifying his reputation as a fire genius.

A common genius might, through a flash of inspiration, enter the Mystery of Fire.

But to comprehend a new Mystery every few years? That's the mark of a true 'Pathbreaker.'

As research into the Mystery of Fire deepened, the Lanxing Federation grew increasingly attentive, and even White Bird Star itself became quieter, facilitating his 'creation of law.'

No one knew Fang Xing wasn't the creator—he was merely a carrier of the Mystery.

He had long since fully comprehended the Mystery of Fire; now he was simply searching for suitable cosmic rarities to imprint it upon…

'That mastermind truly has patience!'

'Fine. Time is on my side. Let's see if you can still hold out when I break through to Wu Shen.'

…

In a mysterious space.

A spindle-shaped device spun rapidly.

Then, on a connected heavy screen, new lines of text appeared:

【Target 2 ■■, recovery confirmed. Dispatch Wu Shen ■■■ for assassination…】

【Due to the emergence of the 'Mystery of Fire,' the Federation has intensified surveillance of White Bird Star. To evade detection, covert operations must be masked—estimated time required: 20–30 years.】

Above the screen, other lines of text had long been displayed:

【Confirmed mental state of Target 1 ■■■. Begin guidance… estimated assassination time: 40 years!】

【Interference deployed. Confirmation of the Great Day's successor in progress…】

【Intervene with 'Omniscient Brain' ■■■, disrupt chaotic algorithms, push targeted missions…】

【First push: failed!】

【Second push: failed!】

【Third push: successful!】

【Confirmed survival of Target 1 ■■■ and Target 2 ■■. Chaos disturbance detected… Monitoring…】

…

Fang Xing did not know that a plot to kill him had already begun.

But he had long been waiting silently.

What he hadn't anticipated was how long the wait would be.

Yet compared to the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Immortal Realm, who often sealed themselves away for sixty years, the Main Universe and Great Xia World were actually quite efficient.

Twenty years later…

【Gate of All Realms: 100/100】

…

Fang Xing glanced at his status bar, took a deep breath: "Begin!"

…

Great Xia World.

Bai Ying Combat Zone.

Soha Desert.

Fang Xing rubbed his forehead, slightly dazed.

In his consciousness, Li Ying's thirty years of memories surged forth.

Great Xia Combat Zones, Bai Ying Combat Zone…

Consolidated the Global Martial Association into its Grand President!

Launched the Great Cultivation Era, single-handedly fighting countless borderland beasts, beast kings, and beast emperors… hailed as a human hero…

For Li Ying, it was a tumultuous, grand first half of life.

But Fang Xing paid more attention to the inheritance he received: the 'Grey Robe Marquis' legacy!

"Eighteen Spears of Fiery Soul!"

"Star Palace Scroll!"

Before Fang Xing could delve into them, he suddenly remembered something critical—and a cold sweat broke on his brow.

Then, beneath him…

BOOM!

Infinite light and heat erupted, forming a colossal mushroom cloud!

The mushroom cloud rose slowly, piercing the atmosphere.

Blinding light and electromagnetic pulses ravaged the surrounding dozens of kilometers…

Long after, Fang Xing hovered above the desert, now glassy and still scorching hot, recalling:

"So… Li Ying's inspection of Bai Ying Combat Zone, invited by Commander Kaiyou, was meant to demonstrate the power of new-era martial artists!"

"His demonstration… was a human nuclear explosion experiment!"

Fang Xing was speechless: "I've never seen anyone willingly strap a nuke to themselves… Fortunately, though Li Ying was a fool, he'd at least reached Star Lord Realm! Even the lowest Satellite Level grants eight-stage combat power."

He carefully sensed his body—this vessel was astonishingly strong, nearly matching his own Wu Sheng physique.

Somewhere deep within, a star-mandala rotated along an odd path, blazing with radiance!

Even more astonishing: the Mystery of Fire in the void was ten times clearer than what he'd perceived in his original body!

'Is Li Ying a genius? No… his profound comprehension of the Principle came from becoming Lord of Yuanzhong Divine Palace, gaining first-stage resource support—including an extremely precious 'Flame Heart Fruit'—which reshapes the body and enhances Fire Principle insight. A priceless treasure… even better than the Solar Relic!'

Fang Xing silently recalled Li Ying's past.

Since leaving thirty years ago, Li Ying's path was smooth—he became Lord of Yuanzhong Divine Palace, then… tragedy struck.

After all, the understanding of the Dao is Fang Xing's, not Li Ying's.

At that time, he was at best a True Force Master in body alone, forced to flee from the Great Xia authorities.

But!

Li Ying soon reversed his fate, for he had already preliminarily claimed the Yuanzhong Divine Palace as his own and gained first-stage resource support!

Besides the cultivation method for the Star Lord Realm, the Star Palace Scroll, there was also a spear technique, the Eighteen Fire Spears, which synergized perfectly with the Fire Dao, unleashing boundless power; through constant practice of its forms, one could gradually comprehend the Fire Dao—truly complementary.

In addition, there were vast cultivation resources: a defensive battle robe, a Star Lord-level spear, a Dao-comprehension artifact, and the Flame-Heart Fruit for body transformation, among others…

Yet, Li Ying soon discovered with sorrow that his understanding of Fire's Mystery was still incomplete—he could not even begin practicing the Star Palace Scroll!

Thus, he spent over twenty years, aided by abundant resources, and despite the Yuanzhong Divine Palace's spirit nearly rolling its eyes, he barely completed his mastery of Fire's Mystery and entered the Fire Dao… then began cultivating the Star Palace Scroll, ascending to the rank of Satellite-Level Star Lord.

In terms of Dao comprehension, even today's Fang Xing far surpasses him.

Then, he tragically stalled before the second trial of the Yuanzhong Divine Palace.

After all, Li Ying's first trial was completed with Fang Xing's cheating assistance.

To have forced growth to this extent was unprecedented, and it had seriously deceived the Gray Robe Marquis.

As Fang Xing pondered, a piercing sonic boom suddenly tore through the sky!

Two missiles, traveling at supersonic speed, slammed toward Fang Xing—clearly armed with nuclear warheads.

Moreover, their yield appeared far greater than the first nuclear blast, augmented by additional technologies!

'Earlier… no one mentioned this part.'

Fang Xing's mind stirred—he had no intention of taking the hit head-on.

Li Ying got tricked into catching a nuclear blast? That was his own stupidity!

But I'm not him!

He shifted his step, and his Star Palace erupted violently, his body exploding into a mass of flame.

Amplified by the Fire Dao, his speed was astonishing—he instantly fled kilometers away from the nuclear blast center!

Beyond this range, though still lethal to ordinary people, it was as harmless to his physique as a gentle breeze brushing his face.

BOOM!

Watching the two colossal mushroom clouds rise into the atmosphere, Fang Xing sneered: 'What an idiot!'

He became a streak of fire and vanished in an instant.

…

Dozens of kilometers away, inside a command room.

Dozens of screens flickered, displaying the nuclear blast site and the image of 'Li Ying'!

'The target dodged!'

'His speed far exceeds his previous performance—by at least three times!'

A white officer stared at the screen and shouted.

'How is this possible?'

Jones, the highest commander here, stared in disbelief: 'Didn't those psychological experts swear to me the target was arrogant and wouldn't deliberately dodge? And all those team analyses—how could they all be wrong?'

'Worse—the target is heading straight for us! Estimated arrival in six seconds!'

Another female operator shrieked.

'Prepare… Plan Three immediately!'

Jones had just shouted when a figure descended from the sky—it was Li Ying!

'Chairman Li, congratulations on achieving this unprecedented human feat!'

General Jones stepped forward with a beaming smile: 'You are truly humanity's greatest warrior!'

'Fine, the first one I'll let slide—but what was the point of the subsequent attacks?' Fang Xing's gaze flashed like lightning.

'I gave the order,' Jones replied. 'I believed Chairman Li, as Great Xia's supreme transcendent, possessed strength beyond imagination and could certainly…' He was cut off mid-sentence.

'Good. You admit it.'

Fang Xing nodded: 'When the nuclear test plan was drafted, there was no mention of additional attacks… So you deliberately did this to kill me. Don't pretend it was an accident—you're insulting my intelligence. I won't accept an apology. I demand that everyone involved in this experiment—from you at the top down to the fighter pilots and surveillance operators here—all be brought before a military tribunal and executed immediately!'

At these words, General Jones's face darkened: 'You dare?'

'You're trying to kill me—what am I afraid of?'

Fang Xing stared at a surveillance camera: 'I'm giving you the courtesy of acting first. If you don't move, I'll act myself—starting with Kayu, then killing one by one from top to bottom!'

Li Ying was merely an ordinary man, suddenly elevated to power, utterly lost.

Even worse, he'd been blinded by the empty title of Chairman of the Martial Artists Association and committed countless foolish acts.

He nearly got himself killed.

'Chairman Li…'

A voice, aged yet confident, crackled from a speaker: 'Please don't be angry. We're willing to offer you the compensation you demand… but as a human hero, please refrain from speaking so recklessly.'

'Heh. I am the big picture. Earlier, I didn't seize the opportunity to become Planetary Governor and claim a status befitting my power—that was Li Ying's stupidity, and he deserved to be manipulated. But don't you dare manipulate me...'

Fang Xing sneered: 'Add you to the list—I want your life. Even if this war collapses and the entire Eagle War Zone becomes a monster paradise, so what?'

'Chairman, that's too much!'

At that moment, a streak of light shot in—it was another Satellite-Level warrior!

He wore a tight combat suit, with deep features, blue eyes, and brilliant golden hair.

He was Gavi, the Eagle War Zone Division Head of the Martial Artists Association.

As for how he broke through?

Uh… the Mystery Diagrams and the Star Palace Scroll were personally taught to him by Li Ying.

'Damn it… Li Ying really is an idiot, training nothing but traitors.'

Fang Xing looked at Gavi: 'You once called me Master—now are you also going to oppose me?'

'I'm sorry, Chairman,' Gavi replied solemnly, 'but first and foremost, I am a man of the Eagle War Zone!'

'I won't let you harm anyone in this zone. I must stop you from descending into the abyss of crime!'

In his heart, he held utter contempt for Li Ying:

'This Li Ying's Dao talent is far inferior to mine—he's certainly no match for me now... He's just a lucky fool who stumbled upon the legacy of an ancient civilization. If I weren't wary of his hidden secrets, I would have challenged and defeated him long ago.'

(End of Chapter)