Chapter 402: The Great Sun (In Celebration of Jian Shan Gen

Outside the palace.

Fang Xing's cultivation avatar bore a hint of solemnity, his hands continuously forming a series of hand seals.

One after another, runes flashed, transforming into colorful prohibitions, infused with faint strands of silver void energy, sealing the entire palace.

"My main body still needs a long period of seclusion to fully digest even a fragment of an extraterrestrial demon god's essence…"

"Fortunately, the main universe believes I'm lying low and traveling through the Fire Luo Star Cluster—disappearing for a while is perfectly normal."

As for destroying the military communication device on my person?

Accidental destruction during battle, or suspicion of tracking devices—deliberately destroying it and then enforcing silence in operations are all excellent excuses.

Fang Xing felt this was a massive windfall: not only had he avenged himself, but he now had access to the Fate Law—let's see how much my main body can comprehend.

"But… if I absorb too much law insight, won't it hinder my future comprehension of the Dao?"

"Though it doesn't seem too serious—I can just have children and expel it… like expelling contamination. Is that really so strange?"

"Is this a unique right of the Creator, or some ritual technique? Must one create an inner universe to transfer law insights to descendants?"

…

"Venerable."

Fire Dragon Zhenjun and Heavenly Sword Zhenjun arrived together, and upon seeing Fang Xing, immediately bowed respectfully.

"From today onward, this palace is designated a forbidden zone—any unauthorized entrant shall die!"

Fang Xing issued the order calmly, then proceeded to his meditation chamber.

Inside the chamber, a palm-sized black palace floated in midair—it was the "Ultimate Demon Palace!"

Though a sixth-rank treasure, Fang Xing had never fully trusted artifacts that birthed sentient spirits.

Even knowing it would prove immensely useful in this battle, he had refused to bring it.

Even true treasures like the Ten-Thousand Transformations Cauldron were kept on his person, never stored within the vast interior of the "Ultimate Demon Palace."

After all, this artifact had a prior record of defection—it simply wasn't trustworthy.

He cast a spell, and the black lotus base slowly bloomed, releasing astonishing sixth-rank spiritual energy.

The cultivation avatar sat upon it, beginning to activate the techniques from the "Spirit Void Sword Scripture," using his soul to slowly refine pure heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, replenishing his depleted power and advancing his cultivation.

Time slipped away, drop by drop.

In the void, silvery petals seemed to materialize, swirling and dancing around his main body…

Only upon closer inspection could one see that each petal was formed from countless silver seal-characters.

During cultivation, Fang Xing's soul extended boundlessly, probing into the void.

He had sensed deeper layers of space above the Grand Void, layered like a thousand-layer cake.

It seemed that unknown, inexplicable radiance was piercing through these layers of void, transmitting inward!

And the radiance was not just one source—it was multiple!

Alas, it remained hazy, indistinct… and limited by his current cultivation level—only Nascent Soul early stage—he could not yet directly draw spiritual energy from the Grand Void.

After a long while,

Fang Xing opened his eyes and sighed: "To gain the ability to refine the Void ahead of schedule is indeed difficult. Either I must deepen my space law insight further and condense a Space Heart, or raise my cultivation level—only then can I directly channel spiritual energy from the Grand Void…"

Void-refining experts can draw spiritual energy endlessly from the Grand Void, never suffering depletion regardless of location.

This does not mean the void of the main universe contains spiritual energy.

Rather, Void-refining experts can channel the radiance of a certain Dao from the infinite depths of spacetime within the Grand Void!

A single thread of Dao power, piercing through countless layers of space, transforms into boundless immortal spiritual energy—an eternal engine, infinite energy.

This is the terror of the "Dao!"

"At my current cultivation pace, with a sixth-rank spiritual vein, the 'Spirit Void Sword Scripture,' the 'Ethereal Void Scripture,' and the 'Nine Celestial Demonic Strategies'—it will take roughly three to five centuries to reach the peak of Nascent Soul early stage power… As for breaking into Nascent Soul mid-stage, I have no idea…"

"Too slow! Too slow!"

Fang Xing grumbled: "If I add the fifth-rank pills and numerous fifth-rank resources looted from the Ultimate Palace, I might compress it to around two hundred years…"

"But that's because the pills will run out quickly—if I had unlimited fifth-rank pills, aided by the Great Sun Tathagata Spell for digestion, I could do it in about ten years."

"Too bad—even if I annihilated the Ethereal Immortal Palace, I couldn't find this many fifth-rank resources; it's like a drop in the ocean…"

This is the limit of the Qian Yuan Great Realm—how rare are fifth-rank pills?

Even Nascent Soul elders in sacred sects cannot consume them daily like rice—they only attempt pill assistance when hitting a bottleneck.

Even so, the speed of power advancement leaves many Nascent Soul elders despairing, causing them to completely abandon the orthodox path of advancing to Void-refining and ascending to the Spirit Realm.

Some sink into other arts, establish families, or promote their sects.

Others… actively cultivate void techniques, scavenge void treasures… and attempt heretical paths—crossing the Grand Void as a Nascent Soul cultivator to reach the Spirit Realm!

This is, of course, extremely difficult—extremely dangerous!

Even Fang Xing, with his current space law insight and the sixth-rank void treasure "Ultimate Demon Palace," cannot guarantee safe arrival in the Spirit Realm.

Unless… he finds natural void pathways or remnants of ancient "Ascension Platforms" left by the higher realms.

"Ascension?"

"When my cultivation is higher, the Qian Yuan Great Realm will indeed be insufficient—but for now, it's still adequate… after all, it's a realm capable of producing Void-refining cultivators."

The Qian Yuan Great Realm is vast—immensely vast!

The Haihai Cultivation Realm is only a part of the Qian Yuan Great Realm, possibly not even its center.

Even the so-called barbaric Dahuang Cultivation Realm, with its myriad cultivators and ten major Golden Core sects, has only developed one in ten thousandth of its territory.

"Resources are like water in a sponge—keep squeezing, and you'll find more."

"For example, deep within Dahuang Cultivation Realm, some dormant Nascent Soul ancient beasts… kill them, extract their pills—definitely enough to brew a batch of pills to enhance Nascent Soul elders!"

"And other cultivation realms—take them one by one, obliterate their Nascent Soul factions, and gain another batch of fifth-rank resources."

"Though it's somewhat draining the pond to catch the fish, it should suffice to sustain my cultivation to Nascent Soul peak, even break into Void-refining…"

"Worse still—unify the Qian Yuan Great Realm, introduce the scientific concepts of the main universe, construct various breeding bases… perhaps we could produce fifth-rank spiritual herbs endlessly? Even sixth-rank resources?"

Unfortunately, such continuous production would take a century—or even a millennium.

Efficiency might be slightly higher than the Sword Realm of the Yuan Shen Sword Sect, but not by much.

A thousand years?

My main body reached Martial God status in a hundred years, possessing Void-refining combat power.

How could I possibly wait a thousand years?

"Looks like… next, I shouldn't focus on cultivating power—I should train auxiliary techniques and spells, then head to Dahuang Cultivation Realm to hunt demons…"

"A sword cultivator should advance boldly and fiercely—what kind of sword cultivator just holed up in the sect, grinding away?"

Fang Xing's eyes turned icy.

Cultivation speed is too slow—it must accelerate!

He touched the storage ring on his finger, and a massive bronze cauldron materialized.

To perfect a task, one must first sharpen one's tools!

Since I've decided to continue pill-cultivation, I must pay attention to the Ten-Thousand Transformations Cauldron.

He had long studied this cauldron, with little progress.

Still, he daily habitually contemplated the "Treasure Cauldron Scripture": "The Ten-Thousand Transformations Cauldron is a marvel of the Immortal Mansion… said to contain law power, its abilities boundless—it can create all things or destroy heaven and earth."

"Law insight is one thing; how to apply it is another!"

"Like my Fire Law—reached Stage Three, Proficient level, condensed a Flame Heart… yet my instinctive use still lacks the power of the Eighteen Fire Spears technique!"

"The enhancement from the Black Death Ship only provides base power of the Tenth Realm—using its death law through the mecha still feels inferior to my spear strikes!"

"Once law insight reaches the stage of condensing a Law Heart, one should be able to preliminarily manifest Rule power."

As Fang Xing waved his hand casually, crimson threads of fire rule energy curled around his fingertips—and even the rusted sword.

"Good… next, I'll integrate the movements of the Eighteen Fire Spears into my flying sword techniques!"

The Eighteen Fire Spears is a spear art, vastly different from flying sword thrusting techniques.

But since both merely use weapons to express law, as long as the core law remains unchanged, the application method can be modified—it's still achievable.

This boosts combat power far more than cultivating Nascent Soul spells or refining fifth-rank treasures!

Once the sword techniques are revised, Fang Xing planned to venture out to hunt fifth-rank demonic beasts.

"Perhaps… I could also pay a visit to the Ethereal Immortal Palace for some 'borrowing'…"

"Hmm, the Ten-Thousand Transformations Cauldron's purification of pills… must also be an application of Rule power—Purification Law? Does such a law exist? Or does the Spirit Realm have another name for it—perhaps 'Celestial Purification' or 'Pure Origin'?"

…

Several days later.

The Ethereal Immortal Palace.

Within the grand, boundless Lingxiao Palace.

The palace master idly stroked the feathers of the nearby qilin bird.

Below the imperial throne, in the first seat on the left, sat a disheveled old beggar, clad in garish multicolored robes, gnawing on a roasted chicken leg, grease dripping from his lips.

"Divine Beggar Venerable, to your health!"

The Ethereal Palace Master's voice was smooth yet authoritative as he raised his jade goblet.

"Heh… drink."

The Divine Beggar Venerable mumbled indistinctly, downing the nectar in one gulp, like a cow devouring peonies.

After eating and drinking his fill, he wiped his greasy lips with his shiny sleeve, slumping lazily in his seat: "Hey, little Qiong… I've eaten, I've drunk—why haven't the two other elders shown up? Do they look down on this old beggar?"

The Divine Beggar Venerable was famous for disguising himself as a beggar while wandering the mortal world, and for his unpredictable temper.

He had visited the Ethereal Immortal Palace before, even when the palace master was a boy, and had always spoken bluntly.

The Mistress of Piaomiao Palace raised an eyebrow, then spoke as if nothing had happened: "The Heavenly Sovereign arrived at an inopportune time… both my senior uncles are currently in seclusion, cultivating a divine technique."

"Heh… the old beggar heard differently. Didn't you two get humiliated by the Mingkun Zunzhe and Fang Yun Zun'er, lose face… and now dare not show yourselves to fellow cultivators?"

The old beggar rolled up his sleeves in anger: "You two are too formal! The old beggar took to you at first sight—just say the word, and I'll immediately recover your honor for you, how about that?"

"No need. The Piaomiao Immortal Palace and the two Zuners of Death Island have already become acquainted through conflict…"

The Mistress of Piaomiao Palace refused outright.

How could a Shenhuan Heavenly Sovereign possibly be manipulated?

This old fellow is the number one cultivator of the Great Yang Immortal Realm—only someone with exceptional cunning and skill could have reached this position.

The Great Yang Immortal Realm lies within the Qianyuan Great Realm as well, separated from the Hanhai Immortal Realm by an immense distance, and further blocked by the terrifying Xuanming Sea.

Only a few ancient teleportation arrays remain functional.

Among them, the teleportation array in the Hanhai Immortal Realm is naturally controlled by the Piaomiao Immortal Palace.

The ancient teleportation array of the Great Yang Immortal Realm lies within the "Rising Sun Palace" where the Divine Beggar Heavenly Sovereign resides.

Activating an ancient teleportation array demands immense energy and carries extreme danger from spatial pressure.

Only a Shenhuan Zuner who has mastered even a trace of spatial power can successfully teleport.

It has always been used exclusively by Shenhuan Zuners for travel.

This Divine Beggar Heavenly Sovereign has already traveled to the Hanhai Immortal Realm before—yet he has returned again, clearly with ulterior motives.

"Enough… it seems the two of you have made up your minds and refuse to meet the old beggar."

The Divine Beggar Heavenly Sovereign pulled out the wine-red gourd at his waist, gulped down another large mouthful of his own spirit wine, and smiled at the Mistress of Piaomiao Palace: "You know why I've come, Xiao Qiong… the celestial sects above are especially keen on the treasures of the Immortal Mansion… where exactly is that artifact?"

"On our last journey to the Spirit Sword Sect, my palace lost Yu Tianzun…"

The Mistress of Piaomiao Palace spoke with a face like ice: "Only the two from Death Island returned—and one of them immediately broke through to Shenhuan…"

She said no more; the rest needed no explanation.

"So it really was those two who gained the greatest benefit… sigh."

The Divine Beggar Heavenly Sovereign sighed deeply: "The Mingkun Zuner is one thing, but that Fang Yun Zuner… is suspected to be a body-cultivation Heavenly Sovereign… he even slew Master Meng. This old beggar's bones are too frail to withstand his dismantling… no matter how noble the celestial mission or how generous the sect's rewards, they're useless now…"

At that moment, the Mistress of Piaomiao Palace paused, as if receiving a mental message, then smiled sweetly: "Please, Heavenly Sovereign, drink more… what rewards have the celestial sects above offered?"

"Heh… only a few things can make us Shenhuan Zuners risk our lives."

The old beggar waved his hand carelessly: "Just a few Void-Breaking Talismans, and the coordinates of a spatial passage…"

As he spoke, a glint of sharp light flashed in his eyes.

After a long silence…

The hall was littered with cups and plates; the Divine Beggar Heavenly Sovereign had vanished. The Mistress of Piaomiao Palace sat in thought, then clapped her hands.

Several maids immediately entered the hall and carefully began cleaning up.

The Mistress of Piaomiao Palace rose and walked deep into the Immortal Palace, to a jade pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, the Ancient Zuner and the Jin Zuner sat facing each other, playing chess.

"Did that old monster leave?"

The Ancient Zuner picked up a white stone and asked casually.

"Of course he left. If we'd been outside, he might have killed us… but within the Immortal Palace, with the sixth-rank grand array supporting us, we need not fear a Shenhuan Heavenly Sovereign."

The Jin Zuner placed a stone.

"Whenever Immortal Mansion treasures surface, nothing good follows… every demon and ghost comes crawling out."

The Ancient Zuner sighed: "Men die for wealth, birds die for food—it's always been this way!"

"But… brother, our talent among Yuan Ying is exceptional, yet among Shenhuan Zuners, we're ordinary."

The Jin Zuner smiled bitterly: "We were lucky just to reach Shenhuan in this lifetime. Shenhuan Late Stage is like the moon reflected in water, the flower in the mirror… but with a spatial passage, plus Void-Breaking Talismans and a few spatial treasures, perhaps we could attempt to sneak into the Spirit Realm! Once there, with its abundant resources, our chances of reaching Liang Xu would surely increase greatly."

The Ancient Zuner sighed and fell into deep thought…

(End of Chapter)