Chapter 704

“Hah… all that is past now…”

“The old Xia Mang was merely a top-third-rank martial artist… and Xun Heihu was only at the Void Realm—his strength even fell short of yours…”

Fang Xing smiled: “Since Xun Heihu, I have slept until I sensed changes in the external world’s heavens and earth… I do not know how much time has passed—what has happened outside? Can you enlighten me?”

“Of course, Elder…”

Gui Yannian paused, then began recounting from the Jiuzhou Calendar.

For some reason, hearing that this spirit had slept for hundreds of thousands of years and knew nothing of the outside world, he felt unexpectedly at ease.

Otherwise, if a powerful being dwelled within his sect’s treasured artifact—and could still sense the outside—it would be far too terrifying.

“So much time has passed? The Daluo Dynasty has reached its twilight, the imperial family’s martial experts scarce… regional warlords are rising.”

Fang Xing murmured: “This is the worst of times—and the best.”

“What do you mean by that, Elder?”

Recalling the Elder’s mention of cosmic upheaval, Gui Yannian felt a flicker of unease.

Isn’t there a saying: When a nation is about to fall, monsters emerge?

“The cosmic upheaval will erase the barriers that bind all Void Realm cultivators… Above the Void Realm, it will no longer be a fleeting phenomenon—it will become abundant. The strong will ascend the martial ladder endlessly—this is the golden age of martial cultivation…”

Fang Xing uttered his prophecy: “Simultaneously, the world will undergo massive changes. Go observe the trends across the lands and report the latest news to me…”

“Yes…”

Gui Yannian immediately agreed, asking for no reward or benefit whatsoever…

This ancient being, even if he merely dropped a crumb from his fingers, would be enough to last Gui Yannian a lifetime.

Not to mention, the myriad wonders of the True Martial Talisman—are they not benefit enough?

After Gui Yannian departed, Fang Xing’s expression turned cold, his gaze drifting.

Boom!

Before him, a chaotic, indescribably colored sea of primordial void seemed to rise.

Within this ocean floated countless blue specks of light, like blue tears of the sea, each radiating a unique glow.

Thin, mysterious threads of cause and effect connected him to these specks—just as his faith-lines had been in the world of gods—allowing him to perceive, through each speck, hazy or clear images.

“Sigh… I’ve told you all countless times—the True Martial Contemplation must center on me. Why do so many martial artists still seek shortcuts?”

“Contemplating me—the True Martial Origin—can bring disaster…”

Fang Xing’s lips curled in a faint smile as he flipped through scenes like a TV channel, observing the landscapes and customs of distant lands… and found it oddly enjoyable.

“Hmm… those who have strayed into false paths while practicing the True Martial Contemplation vary in strength—but none can yet bear my consciousness to descend…”

This talent can be directly observed through the faith-lines.

Generally, the clearer and longer the image, the greater the talent.

Yet even the best among them still falls short of being a true “vessel for descent.”

“My descent should be slightly easier than Pan Wu’s consciousness revival…”

Fang Xing closed his eyes: “Occasionally waiting for a surprise is amusing… perhaps the very next moment, a genius will stumble onto the wrong path and become my vessel?”

In truth, even if he needed a vessel, it would merely be for amusement.

His true target was unquestionably the revival body Pan Wu would one day prepare.

When Pan Wu’s revival reached half-completion, he would surely join in—and turn it into chaos…

“I hope it never comes to this… it’s the last resort… nearly a sign of failure…”

Fang Xing silently closed his eyes.

Years later.

Within the True Martial Space.

Gui Yannian bowed deeply: “Elder…”

In his eyes still burned intense shock.

Every time he met this spirit, the feeling was profoundly terrifying.

Perhaps…

Only the legendary “Evil God Pan Wu” could rival it?

This time, he had researched extensively—though the Great Xia Dynasty was lost to history, fragments of the True Martial lineage remained. Indeed, he had found scattered records: the True Martial Ancestor had once said the True Martial Talisman possessed a spirit!

Thus, seeing Fang Xing again and confirming he was an ancient being who had lived hundreds of thousands of years, Gui Yannian naturally draped him in reverence, his awe swelling.

“What have you learned?”

Fang Xing asked casually.

“A year ago, a ‘Black Ship’ landed in Haizhou… that massive iron vessel was enormous, carrying foreigners with golden hair and blue eyes—utterly unlike any human…”

Gui Yannian’s face still bore disbelief: “According to these foreigners, they came from another continent across the sea—larger than all of Jiuzhou… This is strange. In past ages, Void Realm masters could walk through the air, and some had sailed far into the ocean seeking the ends of the earth—yet none ever found such a foreign continent. Now it simply appears.”

“Of course—the realm is expanding. Do you think I’m joking?”

Fang Xing chuckled: “And then?”

“Realm expansion?” Gui Yannian mused the term, pouring out all he knew: “These barbarians fear power but lack virtue. Among them are martial artists who call themselves ‘Knights,’ divided into stages: Squire, Knight, Grand Knight, Earth Knight, Heaven Knight—apparently, a Heaven Knight can stand in the sky, roughly equivalent to a Void Realm master. They’ve also invented steam-powered armor: a Squire, originally only third-rank strength, becomes capable of fighting mid-third-rank when clad in it…”

“They stepped ashore and declared this land the territory of the ‘White Eagle King’—and were immediately trampled into pulp by furious dockworkers. Later, Grand Knights and Earth Knights intervened, but were suppressed by the dock guild’s Void Realm elder. Hmph. These barbarians think Void Realm is impressive? Our Daluo has beings beyond the Void Realm… that great…”

“The Black Ship was seized. Some of its steam rifles and armor are intriguing—after reporting it, the court plans to build a fleet to launch an expedition to the White Eagle Continent…”

…

“Hmm. You’ve done well.”

Fang Xing offered mild praise, then fell into thought.

This time, the world had expanded violently—nearly doubling in size.

“Your strength is too low… with the True Martial Talisman’s aid, you should have long since broken beyond the Void Realm…”

Fang Xing looked at Gui Yannian, dissatisfied.

Though the True Martial Talisman aids breakthroughs, the prerequisite is full mastery!

In other words, Gui Yannian simply hasn’t worked hard enough.

“Enough. I’ll grant you the Xuanwu True Art as your reward…”

Without waiting for Gui Yannian’s reaction, Fang Xing flicked his finger.

A beam of light shot into Gui Yannian’s mind: “After you leave, investigate the whereabouts of the old True Martial lineage—especially… the heir of the True Martial Sacred Body!”

“The True Martial Sacred Body? So the great age of contention is truly coming…”

Gui Yannian was stunned and elated.

The legend of the “True Martial Sacred Body” had endured for ages within the True Martial lineage.

It was said the True Martial Ancestor had opened the Void Realm and become the greatest under heaven because he awakened the True Martial Sacred Body!

Even during the Dark Ages, the True Martial Sacred Body had emerged, shining brilliantly!

A new continent discovered!

A new race! A new civilization! A new martial system!

All martial artists of the Daluo Dynasty went mad.

At the docks, tickets for oceanic fleets sold out instantly; powerful martial sects prepared to build their own giant ships to sail to White Eagle.

At the dock, tickets for all ocean-going fleets were sold out, and powerful martial sects were preparing to build massive ships independently to sail to Bai Ying.

Which powerful martial force still heeded court orders?

In the blink of an eye, decades passed.

The Daluo Dynasty and the White Eagle Federation clashed in naval wars, countless dead…

Yet civilian exchanges grew ever more frequent: martial masters crossed the Eastern Sea to reach White Eagle Continent; White Eagle martial artists crossed the ocean to teach knightly arts and combat styles, founding schools and lineages…

Meanwhile, civilian exchanges became increasingly frequent: martial masters crossed the East Sea to set foot on the Bai Ying Continent, while Bai Ying martial artists crossed the ocean to teach knightly arts and various combat techniques, founding schools and lineages…

Gui She Sect, secret chamber.

Gui Yannian entered the chamber, glanced around, then suddenly struck out with his palm.

Gui Yanian entered the secret chamber, glanced around, and suddenly struck out with a palm.

The crimson altar shattered; a gray-white stone fragment flew out—the True Martial Talisman!

Gui Yannian seized the fragment, his face flushed with excitement: “Finally… the eternal treasure, the symbol of the True Martial lineage, the supreme divine artifact of martial artists…”

Before he finished speaking, his skin melted like wax, revealing another face: “Yet… though I impersonated Gui Yannian and gleaned clues from countless mouths, I must still verify whether this is genuine…”

The fake Gui Yannian split a thread of spirit from his brow and plunged it directly into the True Martial Talisman.

“No mistake! This is it! The True Martial Space!”

“Hah… I never imagined the True Martial Talisman was truly in the Gui She Sect! Heaven itself rewards me with this great deed—the Sect Lord will reward me lavishly; perhaps I’ll even ascend a rank! Wait—why are there stairs here?”

His gaze lifted—and suddenly saw a figure seated upon a throne, expression cold and detached.

“The ‘Poison of Pan Wu’ Cult… a fourth-rank ‘Thousand Faces Lord’?”

Fang Xing gazed down at the impostor, speaking coolly.

Through countless True Martial practitioners, he had already achieved awareness of all things without leaving his domain.

Through numerous Zhenwu heritage practitioners, he had already achieved the ability to know all that happened under heaven without the spirit vessel leaving his side.

The remnants of the Black Lotus Sect, which had played a major role in the downfall of True Martial Mountain.

Within the cult, there was a unique lineage: starting from ninth-rank “Peeping Guest,” who peered into darkness and touched the mysteries of the spirit.

Then Bone-Eater, Delusional Monk, Blind Seer, Blood Glutton Guard, Thousand Faces Lord!

Each rank possessed miraculous abilities—and crucially, they were compatible with martial artists.

Each rank possesses miraculous abilities, and crucially, they are compatible with martial artists!

A ninth-rank part-timer can fight eighth- and seventh-rank opponents!

“This system must be one of Pan Wu’s pawns.”

Fang Xing thought to himself, then turned to Gui Yan Nian: “It seems you’re also a discarded pawn of the Demon Cult. If you were a high-ranking member of the Demon Cult, the third-rank ‘Eternal Darkness Marquis’ would know that demon brats cannot touch the True Martial Sacred Objects…”