Chapter 489: Homecoming

Time flies.

For the mechanical metropolis of Heihuan City, the destruction of a tiny "Mystic Ring" was hardly even a splash.

And Fang Xing lived in utter ease.

After all, his daily life was supported by the Shi family; as long as he didn't cause trouble in the real world, no one bothered him.

If he were content with mediocrity, life could go on like this forever.

The only annoyance was that he couldn't find the Creator's trail.

After all, in such a vast world, who knew what form the other had been reborn into—or whether they had awakened their memories?

The only certainty was that the other had not died!

One day.

In the villa's training ground, Fang Xing sat cross-legged, his gaze sweeping over his attribute panel:

"Hmm… has the secret martial art I envisioned to command the Six Departments finally been completed?"

Back then, after subduing that marketplace, he had gathered numerous secret transmissions, including those of "Shi" and "An."

Thus, the Six Secret Sects were no longer just a prototype—they now had bones and flesh.

And Fang Xing had sought to craft the ultimate Secret Sect martial art, unifying all six branches.

At this moment, a line of information on his attribute panel suddenly changed:

【Six Void Art: Proficient → Master!】

The "Six Void Art" naturally derived its name from the full mastery of the Six Secret Sects' martial arts.

Fang Xing possessed an attribute panel; he merely occasionally boosted his proficiency, and the Six Void Art's skill surged to the Master realm.

BOOM!

His vision blurred, and a door beyond description appeared before him.

This door was both emerald and withered yellow, radiating an aura of decay and life, as if existing beyond the Aether Realm and capable of descending into the mortal world!

"Gate of Longevity—Break!"

Fang Xing activated the Six Void Art and punched forward.

The Gate of Longevity shattered violently, causing tremors in the mortal world, making the Mystical Realm aware that a "Living Longevity Being" had been born!

After the Gate of Longevity shattered, pure Aether surged forth, carrying with it an inexplicable vitality.

"The so-called 'Longevity' of a Longevity Being feels rather primitive… it only grants a few hundred years of life. Well, compared to ordinary people who barely live decades, it's still 'Longevity'…"

Fang Xing sighed, his consciousness retreating into the Aether Realm.

After breaking the Third Limit, he could now enter the depths of the Aether Realm.

A slight upward glance revealed six brilliant beams of pure light, forever stationed at the highest tier of the Aether Realm—seemingly within reach, yet impossibly distant.

"The deities of the Six Paths?"

Fang Xing murmured.

Having read countless secret transmissions, he knew that above the Longevity Being rank lay two higher tiers.

They were "Angel" and "Deity!"

And "Angel" could not be attained through cultivation—it required the recognition and elevation of a specific deity.

As for deities?

The six deities seemed to have always existed; there was no method to achieve godhood.

"The Creator…"

Fang Xing murmured.

"Did the Creator reincarnate as an ordinary person—or… as a deity?"

He fell into thought.

Though this reincarnation technique was terrifying, the Creator had once been higher than him and seemed to have invested deeply in this world.

Reincarnating as a deity with certain limitations was not impossible!

"If the Creator truly reincarnated as a deity, has He regained His past memories? I suspect He has not."

Not even the mystery of the womb had been fully overcome by Fang Xing—he had barely broken through thanks to his golden finger. The Creator might still be sleeping for an unknown duration.

If the other truly awoke, became a deity, and regained His memories, He would surely erase Fang Xing the instant He did.

"Perhaps… I'll know when I kill a god."

Fang Xing raised his gaze once more at the six pure beams, then returned his consciousness to the mortal world.

…

"Master."

Several hours later, Shi Lei entered—having broken the Third Limit, having received the "Immovable Vajra Body Secret" initiation from Fang Xing, now a Secret Sect Master who had already taught many disciples.

His expression reverent and fervent, he held out a plain letter with both hands: "A letter for you, from 'Cuiting City'…"

"Cuiting City… such a distant name."

Fang Xing sighed, but he had not forgotten—it was the body's hometown, where many relatives still lived.

In memory, the original body's parents were employees of a geological survey company, constantly traveling the world.

His older brother was apparently a regular civil servant, working long hours every day.

His older sister worked odd jobs for an archaeological team, whose financial situation was said to be dire.

His younger sister was still in school, likely studying high school curriculum now.

Fang Xing took the envelope, opened it, and glanced inside—his brow furrowed: "Huh? My sister… Fang Qiong… is dying?"

The original body had a good relationship with this sister; she had even sent him living expenses.

"Yes…"

Shi Lei knelt respectfully on the ground: "Following your orders, I've always had personnel secretly monitoring and caring for them… This incident came suddenly. After the archaeological team excavated an ancient tomb, they all suddenly fell gravely ill, publicly claiming exposure to ancient viruses and bacteria… but I suspect the tomb's ancient extraordinary being spread a curse. Currently… over half the team is dead or injured, quarantined… Our people tried extraordinary remedies, but they only slowed the decay—no real effect…"

As Shi Lei spoke, his voice grew weaker, his confidence fading.

Even though he was a Secret Sect Master who had broken the Third Limit, known in the outside world as the "Machinery Sect Dharma King," even one who dared to fight and defeat Longevity Beings in both the Aether Realm and mortal world—in front of the Secret Sect Lord, he felt himself grow ever smaller, ever more insignificant… as if a single word from the Secret Sect Lord could strip him of everything.

"I will go to Cuiting City myself and resolve this."

Shi Lei pressed his forehead to the ground, his voice trembling.

"No need. Think carefully… if I were still in school, I'd have graduated by now. It's time to go home and see them."

Fang Xing said indifferently.

Though this world had flying machines and steam trains, they were clearly still experimental toys for nobles and merchants.

Ordinary people still found long-distance travel extremely difficult.

And his original family was far from wealthy—otherwise, the original body wouldn't have been lured by a full scholarship to travel thousands of miles for education.

"Yes!"

Shi Lei exhaled a long breath: "Our Shi family monopolizes most transportation in Heihuan City—private flyers will arrive shortly…"

"Hmm. Tomorrow then… remember to prepare a gift for each of my family members."

Fang Xing nodded, his gaze drifting far away.

…

Cuiting City.

A small agricultural town, not on any major trade route, with no famous scenery.

Its only notable product was "Cuiting Champagne."

The Fang family lived in a two-story concrete building in Cuiting City's East District.

Downstairs, in a modest restaurant.

Fang Xing cut a piece of steak and placed it in his mouth—the rich juice burst forth.

He nodded, then sipped a mouthful of Cuiting Champagne.

A crisp flavor exploded across his tongue, making him feel as if he stood in a morning forest, sipping sweet dew…

"Tastes good."

After eating and drinking his fill, Fang Xing wiped his hands with a napkin.

Beside him, Shi Lei never left his side, reporting: "Master… your sister remains in the isolation ward at Orwell Hospital—her condition is grim… Additionally, your brother, though officially employed in government administration, is clearly a cover—he actually works in 'Public Security Bureau Division Six,' a department specializing in extraordinary events and mystics… Also, your sister's interest club at Cuiting High School appears linked to a secret society…"

As Shi Lei spoke, sweat beaded on his forehead.

He had put in tremendous effort, personally investigating each clue, to uncover these traces.

"My sister's archaeological team is suspected of tomb raiding and uncovering mysteries; my brother works in a special department; my sister has contacted a secret organization on campus…"

Fang Xing spoke slowly: "If my parents, under the guise of ordinary citizens, have long been engaged in occult research, then it becomes even more interesting… What is an extraordinary family? This is it."

After delivering his utterly uncool joke, he stood, donned a brown trench coat, and placed a black silk top hat on his head: "Let's go… first, visit my sister."

…

Orwell Hospital.

Isolation ward.

Inside a single room.

Fang Qiong wore a blue-and-white striped hospital gown, her cheeks sunken, eyes vacant as she stared at the ceiling.

Across her body and face were dense, chilling black spots.

These spots seemed alive, expanding relentlessly, devouring her life force.

Fang Qiong now felt like a mummy—each breath a struggle.

"If I ever get another chance, I'll never set foot in that damned tomb again…"

She breathed heavily, her eyes filled with regret.

She thought again of that ruin, and the nightmare experience.

At the beginning of the exploration, everyone in the archaeological team was excited, because inscriptions on some burial artifacts found at the periphery suggested the tomb's occupant might have been a noble of the Gu Lan era.

The Gu Lan era was over five thousand years ago, a dazzling age beyond imagination!

But no one expected that after entering the actual tomb, they found nothing!

Worse still, after leaving, they immediately contracted a terrifying virus, one by one falling ill and dying…

Fang Qiong didn't know how she had managed to hold on this long.

The strongest member of the team had died, and before he died, he weighed less than a child!

"But… I'm probably not far behind, am I?"

Fang Qiong thought to herself.

"What are you doing?"

"This is the isolation ward—no entry allowed!"

Suddenly, a nurse's shocked and angry voice came from outside.

Then the ward door burst open, and a figure appeared.

"You're… A Xing? You came to see me? No no… get out quickly!"

Fang Qiong recognized the visitor and her face turned pale.

"Don't be afraid. I came to see you."

Fang Xing stared at the black spots on Fang Qiong's body, deep in thought: "The influence of the Dark Path?"

(End of Chapter)