Chapter 449

"You guessed right, but there's no reward!"

Fang Xing pressed down another palm strike, striking squarely upon the black imperial armor.

Though that previous punch had severely wounded the black-armored man, it had not killed him outright.

Fang Xing marveled at the imperial armor's resilience, yet without hesitation delivered another palm strike.

BOOM!

A terrifying piercing force struck the black-armored man; though the imperial armor remained unscathed, the man inside exploded instantly into a pulp of flesh.

"Thirty-two Pangu Tokens—what a windfall… Win one more round, and I'll nearly have enough for an imperial weapon."

Fang Xing felt excited, and even more eager.

Imperial weapon!

It may seem common here in the Pangu Secret Realm.

But in the outside world, it's a treasure worth killing for—even for celestial immortals and celestial demons!

I'm already a Nascent Soul overlord, comparable to a Level One Celestial Demon. Ordinary royal weapons no longer satisfy my needs.

But if I wield an imperial weapon, even a Level Three or Four Celestial Demon would be a match I could face with confidence!

"Seventh Level!"

Fang Xing's vision blurred, and he appeared in a grand hall.

The hall was majestic, boundless… all around, a deep azure hue stretched endlessly, while chaotic energy swirled at its edges, radiating a terrifying pressure.

An old man with white hair and beard, his face covered in black scales, materialized before him.

"Nascent Soul overlord? No… at least a Celestial Demon peak."

Fang Xing was stunned: "Is the guardian of the Seventh Level really this strong? The Dou Tian Hall is rigged!"

"Cough… cough…"

The black-scaled elder's face twitched: "I am not the guardian of the Dou Tian Hall—I am the guardian of the Pangu Secret Realm. You may call me 'Wu Lao'."

"Then so it is…"

Fang Xing looked around: "Is this the core region of the Pangu Secret Realm?"

"Correct," the black-scaled elder smiled. "Having refined your body to rival a Celestial Demon's at the Nascent Soul stage, you've passed the Ancient God Hall trial and been transported here."

"Then what about my Pangu Tokens?" Fang Xing asked, thinking of other matters. "Are they all voided? I was this close to exchanging them for an imperial weapon after clearing the Seventh Level…"

"Heh… if you wish to return, I can certainly fulfill that wish."

Wu Lao's expression held a hint of mockery.

"Hehe... if you wish to return, the old man can certainly fulfill this wish of yours."

Fang Xing's expression turned solemn. He bowed deeply: "Black Dragon… greets Wu Lao."

"Hmm. Your talent—especially your physique—fits my master's requirements perfectly. You've met the threshold to become a provisional disciple."

Fang Xing's expression turned solemn; he bowed deeply: "Black Dragon... greets Master Wu!"

"May I ask the name of that great being?" Fang Xing asked.

"My master is an eternal existence," Wu Lao said. "His realm is beyond your current comprehension. Remember only this: my master, through sheer physical might, forced infinite worlds and boundless universes to acknowledge his Dao. Then he severed his Dao, appeared before me, and forged the 'Pan Wu Dao' himself. He often said: 'Why should I seek to comprehend the Dao? Why not make the Dao acknowledge me?'"

"Through physique… to make the Dao acknowledge him? And even forge a new Dao across all realms?"

Fang Xing suddenly understood. No wonder the Pangu Secret Realm favored body cultivators.

Because his master was a body cultivator.

"Chaos Realm requires full comprehension of one Dao… so does Eternal Realm mean creating one's own Dao?"

A flicker of doubt crossed his face.

"Precisely. How can an external Dao compare to one's own? Without this, one cannot achieve eternity," Wu Lao said with deep emotion. "Without eternity, how can one transcend?"

"Enough…" His expression grew somber. "Will you become my master's disciple—Pan Gu Wu?"

"What responsibilities would I bear by becoming a disciple of that being?" Fang Xing asked carefully.

He was no longer the man he'd been in Great Xia. Vows tied to the Dao and karmic bonds now carried real weight.

After all, such oaths acted directly upon the true spirit!

"Heh… do you know what I see when I look at you? A summer insect cannot comprehend ice. My master is infinitely great, wielding boundless power—what could he not accomplish? Why would he need you, his disciple, to bear any responsibility?"

Wu Lao sneered. "Even this Pangu Secret Realm? Merely a small game my master set up on a whim. You little ones who've gained benefits here—if you must bear responsibility, then it's simple: cultivate hard. Should you one day break through to the Eternal Realm, or even transcend… my master will be overjoyed."

'According to Wu Lao… that 'Pan Gu Wu' is still alive?' 'Of course… Celestial Demons have no lifespan limits, let alone demonic emperors… and the Eternal Realm? Of course they don't perish. Eternal means eternal existence—otherwise, what's the point?'

Fang Xing's heart stirred, yet he remained cautious: "Then I accept. I will become your master's disciple."

After all, these oaths act directly upon the True Spirit!

Wu Lao nodded. "After achieving eternity, my master has wandered beyond the Qing Yuan Great Realm. Taking a disciple is not worth his attention. You need only bow before his portrait to complete the provisional disciple ritual."

He waved his hand, and suddenly a Dao Stele appeared in the ancient hall.

"Hearing Master Wu say this... that 'Pangu Wu' is still alive?" "Of course... Heavenly Demons have no lifespan limits, let alone Demon Emperors... and the higher Eternal Realm would naturally never perish... Eternal, eternal—what does 'eternal' mean? At the very least, it must mean eternal existence... otherwise, what's the point of calling it 'eternal'?"

It was an entirely new Dao—one that, at a single glance, made Fang Xing's entire body tremble: the Pan Wu Dao!

Upon the stone tablet stood only one figure.

His back supported the heavens; he himself was the perfect embodiment of the Pan Wu Dao!

Even faintly, Fang Xing glimpsed a possible path for his own martial Dao.

Yet his face remained blurred, indistinct.

He forced himself to calm his spirit and bowed deeply.

"Hmm. My master has not objected—so he acknowledges your status as a provisional disciple."

Wu Lao smiled. "My master has thirteen provisional disciples. Ten have perished. Including you, three remain… though I won't tell you who they are."

Fang Xing rolled his eyes. This guardian had a rather mischievous streak.

"As my master's disciple, you may choose three items from these options."

Wu Lao waved his hand, and nine glowing screens appeared, each holding a mysterious artifact.

Fang Xing looked at the first screen and saw a strange, chaotic-colored ancient scroll. The moment his gaze touched it, information automatically surfaced in his mind:

【Pan Wu Scripture: Contains the cultivation method of the Pan Wu Dao, thirty-six external arts, and seven thousand six hundred ninety-two minor techniques… Note: Studying this scripture caps your progress at the Chaos Realm at best—and its intense martial will may permanently hinder your ability to sever your Dao…】

"Capped at Chaos Realm? I suspect Pan Gu Wu placed this here precisely to have students master the Pan Wu Dao, then sever it to achieve eternity."

Fang Xing immediately saw through Pan Gu Wu's plan—it was an open strategy.

If a disciple severed the Pan Wu Dao, they'd inevitably uncover its weaknesses and flaws—offering Pan Gu Wu priceless material to refine his own Dao.

He nodded, then looked at the second screen: a strange liquid constantly shifting into the shapes of weapons and armor.

【《Pangu Wu Scripture》: Contains the cultivation methods of the Pangu Wu Dao, along with thirty-six external arts and seven thousand six hundred ninety-two minor techniques... Note: Studying this secret scripture allows one to reach at most the 'Chaos Realm,' and one may be profoundly influenced by its intense martial will, making it nearly impossible to sever the Dao...】

He nodded again, then looked at the third screen: a peculiar pill, inside which sat a white-bearded elder, meditating and expounding Dao principles.

【Wu Dao Pill: Assists Nascent Soul Level Nine cultivators in their final step of Dao comprehension. Grants a fifty percent chance to breakthrough to the Celestial Immortal Realm!】

"This… if Nascent Soul overlords knew of this, they'd risk everything to obtain it."

Fang Xing thought of Shi Guang, who was just a hair's breadth from fully comprehending the Time Dao.

With this Wu Dao Pill, his talent would give him a 99% chance to break through and become a mighty Time Celestial Immortal!

Alas… no such fortune awaited him. The regret dissolved into ash.

【Mystic Artifact: 'Mirror of Ages'… contains Time Dao principles, aids comprehension, and enhances time-based techniques…】

【Mystic Artifact: 'Yu Yuan Cauldron'… contains Void Dao principles, aids comprehension, and can be used in battle…】

【One drop of 'Source Blood': Can transform demonic bloodlines into 'Imperial Blood,' or grant a chance through its unique properties…】

If one obtains a single 'Enlightenment Pill,' with such talent, there is a 99% chance of breaking through to become a mighty Time Immortal!

【Karmic Token: The Qing Emperor once owed a favor—promised one action or one full-power strike. This token was forged from severed karmic ties; holding it allows you to claim that debt…】

【True Spirit Charm: Upon cultivation, if you perish, you may reincarnate, preserving a sliver of true spirit—even Chaos Realm cultivators cannot prevent it…】

【Miracle Artifact 'Yu Yuan Ding'... contains the principles of Void Dao, aiding contemplation and usable in battle...】

Fang Xing's gaze moved downward, seeing all nine options—each truly exceptional.

The 'Realm Token' stood out as most mysterious, with no description at all.

Whether imperial weapons, mystic artifacts, life-saving items, or breakthrough pills—all were treasures beyond the imagination of even Celestial Immortals and Celestial Demons.

"Well? Which three have you chosen?"

Wu Lao asked with a sly smile.

These nine options were clearly tailored to Fang Xing.

He loved watching these younger generations turn red-eyed, agonize over choices, and ultimately be forced to sacrifice.

Fang Xing fell into deep thought:

'My Black Dragon body follows the Time-Space Dao—the Pan Wu Dao holds little use for me… but Pan Gu Wu clearly follows a martial body cultivation path. It might be useful to my self in the main universe—worth studying as reference…'

'As for the imperial weapon—I can't take it out. The Wu Dao Pill? Same issue. I have my attribute panel—if my proficiency reaches the threshold, I break through naturally. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen top-tier Dao comprehension in the first place. This pill might be a death wish for other Nascent Soul cultivators, but to me? Useless.'

'The two Dao-comprehension aids are worth considering. The Realm Token is too mysterious—clearly a gamble. I'm not a gambler. As long as I don't gamble, I never lose.'

'The Source Blood is good too—but same problem: can't take it out, and I won't gamble on its hidden potential…'

'The Karmic Token grants one chance of a Chaos Realm cultivator's intervention—very useful in Qing Yuan Great Realm… and the True Spirit Charm…'

My Black Dragon body walks the path of space-time; the Panwu Path is of little use... but Pan Gu Wu clearly follows a body-refining path similar to martial arts, which might be very useful for my self in the main universe—at least as a reference...

As for imperial weapons, I simply cannot take them away... and the Enlightenment Pill is even worse—I have my attribute panel, and as long as my proficiency reaches the threshold, I naturally break through; otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen to study the top-tier Dao principles in the first place... this pill might be desperately sought after by countless Nascent Souls, but to me it's useless...

The two auxiliary Dao-enlightenment treasures might be worth considering, but the World Order is too mysterious—it's clearly a gamble on fortune... I'm not a gambler; as long as I don't gamble, I never lose.

The Source Blood is decent, but for the same reason, I cannot take it away, nor will I gamble on the fortune it might hold...

The Card of Cause and Effect is equivalent to one action in the Chaos Realm, and it's very useful in the Qingyuan Great Realm... as for the True Soul Talisman...

(End of chapter)