Chapter 262

In just a few breaths, Fang Can's body shifted from vibrant blood qi to noticeably withered.

To convince those martial artists, especially to deceive the fourth-transformation, he naturally had to make it real.

Under the force field's influence, most of Fang Can's bones were twisted and broken, and he deliberately tore off his left arm.

Under the terrified gazes of these devotees, Fang Can had slipped into a near-death state, suspended midair by the force field.

The second-transformation martial artist respectfully used his true qi to support Fang Can's body and said: "My lord, I shall now take you to the Inverted Gate."

After receiving Fang Can's weak affirmation, the two quickly departed Jingcheng heading south.

The Inverted Gate, as one of the Sida Sect, holds a very high status in Dayan.

Its main base lies beside Guangling City in Yangzhou, thousands of li from the capital.

But with a second-transformation martial artist's pace, even hurrying as much as possible, they could reach it within two hours.

Yet along the way, as the journey progressed, he noticed some other things.

Players!!!

'Almost forgot about these guys.'

Fang Can squinted at the chaotic scenes below as cities flashed past.

Even with the Interstellar Federation's laws in place, players ultimately could not suppress their innate nature.

By observation, he saw some newly entered players dying for fun.

By bleeding out in busy districts until they bled to death, causing panic, then respawning elsewhere.

Others constantly spoke to those around them, trying to probe for game bugs or quests.

Some even ignored Federation laws, going on killing sprees to level up crazily.

…

Because players possessed infinite resurrection, pain immunity, level-up by killing monsters, and other traits, their behavior was inherently far harder to control than pure natives.

Moreover, in his understanding of players, Fang Can found that their talent in Dayan was astonishing.

One hour of cultivation granted 1 experience point.

The basic requirement for mastering the ordinary technique "Five Elements Nourishing Art" was only 100 experience points.

Even without killing monsters, full-force cultivation would let them draw qi into their bodies in just four or five days—its speed was utterly unmatched.

Given time, if this group of players with infinite resurrection were allowed to develop, the entire Dongfang Wujie's balance would be altered, truly making martial artists feel the terror of the Fourth Catastrophe.

'But it doesn't matter… these people don't amount to half of me.' Fang Can closed his eyes to rest, ignoring the scenes below.

The fourth-transformation ones now dominate the world only because he has just stepped onto the starting line.

Even the so-called Fourth Catastrophe, Fang Can did not believe he would be surpassed by this group.

After all, he firmly believed the one who would ultimately reach the finish line was himself.

After a long journey, two hours later, as evening stars gradually rose, the two arrived at the Inverted Gate in Yangzhou.

In fact, from far away, Fang Can could not help but notice the Inverted Gate's massive gate.

Hundreds of kilometers away, a colossal mountain peak hung upside down, rootless and suspended in midair.

Its black body resembled the shattered tip of a sword cleaved by heavenly lightning, vertically descending from the ninth heavens.

Countless thick ancient trees grew downward; the dragon-claw rock roots that should have anchored into the earth's veins now snarled upward into the sky.

The spot that should have touched the ground, now inverted, became the Inverted Gate's foundation—a giant inverted cone.

Beneath the inverted mountain lay an endless lake, its mirror-like surface reflecting the upside-down peak, creating the illusion that the world was reversed and water was the sky.

According to ancient texts, the Inverted Gate was originally founded by a fifth-transformation.

Merely by altering geomagnetic rules, they forcibly lifted a mountain peak as their gate, maintaining its inverted position through moonrise and sunset for centuries—evidencing the fifth-transformation's might.

To the people of Yangzhou who had lived there for generations, the Inverted Gate was unquestionably the very symbol of divine miracle.

Led by the second-transformation, the two soon leapt onto the upside-down mountain peak.

When the gate guards saw the second-transformation, they immediately assumed respectful postures, daring not to block their entry.

The second-transformation, meanwhile, wore his usual arrogant expression, striding boldly into the gate, receiving the bowed salutes of all disciples.

Along the way, countless muscular disciples sparred in corners, diligently honing their vibrant muscles.

Sensing the two pass by, the disciples paused their training and respectfully bowed to the second-transformation, secretly glancing at the near-dead Fang Can.

Only after they passed did whispers begin among them.

'Is this Fang Can the sect master mentioned? Indeed, he radiates extraordinary aura—but without fourth-transformation, he's still an ant.'

'What can you do? Becoming first-transformation in three months means nothing—potential can't be turned into power.'

'I heard eating one hot dog grants massive power gains—is that true?' asked one disciple curiously.

'Of course it's true! The hundred women on the Ascending Dragon List are already at fourth to fifth level—could they lie?'

Another muscular disciple sighed enviously: 'If it's true, I'd pay to slurp down hot dogs.'

'Exactly! Exactly! I even castrated myself for martial arts—hot dogs? I must taste them well!'

…

Ignoring the voices behind him, they walked another half incense stick's time.

When the second-transformation finally stopped, the two reached the main reception hall at the heart of the Inverted Gate.

In the spacious, minimalist hall, the current sect master of the Inverted Gate regarded the boy, supported by true qi and floating weakly before him, with a mocking smile:

'Young Master Fang, long time no see. I never expected us to meet so soon.'

Facing the middle-aged man with a broad back and muscular frame, dressed in a simple dark-blue satin arrow-sleeve robe, Fang Can recalled meeting him just days ago.

Fang Can's voice was hoarse: 'I didn't expect the first fourth-transformation to hunt me would be Master Sha of the Inverted Gate.'

'Hahaha, what can I say? I was asked to do it.'

Sha Jing laughed loudly twice, then fixed his piercing gaze on Fang Can: 'Young Master Fang, I must say—I'm deeply intrigued by you.'

"Your talent, your performance in the great competition among the nations—no matter which aspect you look at, it fits my taste perfectly."

"But the trouble is, your talent is too good. It's so good that I can't protect you. Otherwise, I would truly want to take you as my disciple; if you followed me, reaching the Fourth Turn within ten years would be no problem."

Fang Can spoke in a cold tone: "What is the point of Master Sha saying all this? Just imprison me directly. It's a bit too talkative for a prisoner."

"Has Fang Shaoxia Fang forgotten something?"

A playful look appeared in Sha Jing's eyes: "I mentioned earlier that I was entrusted by someone. Therefore, for the next three days, you do not need to stay at the Diandao Gate, because there is a more suitable place for you to recuperate."

Fang Can frowned: "Where?"

A mocking smile appeared on Sha Jing's face as he spoke word by word: "Su——Xin——Zhai?"

'Su Xin Zhai?'

As Sha Jing spoke, Fang Can's originally furrowed brows widened bit by bit: "Where did you say?"

Just as Fang Can was filled with questions, an incredibly soft and seductive voice, carrying a soul-stealing charm, came from the corner:

"Fang Shaoxia need not doubt... it is indeed the Su Xin Zhai you are thinking of."

While Fang Can stiffly turned his head, he saw a fiery red figure standing beside him at some unknown time.

In Fang Can's observation, the newcomer looked like a carefully dressed doll in a shop window.

Her flawless and enchanting face was porcelain-white and translucent, with a tear mole at the corner of her right eye. She wore a fiery red gauze skirt, like flowing lava formed from the sunset.

Her waist-length hair was spread over the long skirt. A thin red-gold chain was wrapped around her bare ankles, and her ten round and jade-like toes were painted with cinnabar nail polish.

'He... Hehuan Sect...'

Looking at the enchanting young girl before him who could captivate the soul, Fang Can thought of the notorious reputation of her sect.

Completely opposite to the Jie Jian Mountain, which almost only produced female knights, this Su Xin Zhai, in Fang Can's understanding, was the Hehuan Sect of the Martial World.

In Fang Can's impression, this Su Xin Zhai kidnapped vigorous young men everywhere for its disciples to cultivate, harming countless martial artists; it was simply terrifying.

Moreover, according to what Yuan Dang said, in the future, he would be kidnapped by this Su Xin Zhai?

Noticing Fang Can's widened eyes, the young girl of Su Xin Zhai spoke in a low, melancholy tone: "It seems Fang Shaoxia holds some prejudice against Su Xin Zhai, which truly makes me sad."

Hehuan... The young girl of Su Xin Zhai curled her charming lips and walked barefoot towards Fang Can.

With each step, the bell hanging from the red-gold chain on her ankle swayed gently, emitting a crisp ringing sound.

As she approached a few steps, Fang Can felt a faint, rose-like fragrance waft towards him, followed immediately by his face being cupped by a cold palm.

"This figure, this beauty, truly brings joy. Tsk tsk, even compared to me, you are not inferior."

The girl in the red skirt examined Fang Can's appearance with the gaze one would give a work of art, her eyes filled with pure appreciation.

With a slightly panicked look, Fang Can glanced at Sha Jing and hurriedly asked: "Wasn't it agreed that I would be assigned in three days? Why hand me over to Su Xin Zhai?"

"Anyway, these three days are idle anyway. Su Xin Zhai said they wanted to test the quality of you, this furnace. Since they have experience in this aspect, it is more professional for them to conduct the evaluation, so I simply handed you over to them."

Master Sha Jing's words were reasonable and well-founded.

It is common knowledge that when evaluating a product, it should be done by experts in the relevant field.

Su Xin Zhai has cultivated the path of Hehuan for many years; they are absolutely the masters in the field of Hehuan!

Letting this group of professionals thoroughly evaluate this product of Fang Can, surely a detailed parameter report will be obtained after three days!

Just as Fang Can's emotions fluctuated, the girl in the red skirt lightly bit her lower lip with her pearl-like teeth, a flush of drunken red appearing on her cheeks. She lowered her eyes with a hint of shyness and said: "For these three days, Master, please be gentle with me."

Fang Can: Heh... I'm done for.

At this moment, the young man already felt a trace of worry about the future of these three days.

Once inside Su Xin Zhai, he feared he would have to shed a layer of skin just to get out.

Entering the Hehuan Sect, what difference is there between this and a Saintess accidentally entering a goblin nest?

Before coming, he only divined whether he would be raped; the divination showed no need to worry, as long as he kept his heart steady, everything could be endured.

But the divination didn't say he would be ruthlessly drained of his essence!!!

He thought that since everyone in the Diandao Gate of the sports school was male, there was no need to worry about being raped.

But then he was immediately sent to the neighboring technical school's electromechanical department for further study; who could stand that?

Even Sha Jing, looking at Fang Can, couldn't help but add: "Don't evaluate too harshly; don't damage the foundation."

"Of course I know. Does Master Sha not know the skills of my Su Xin Zhai?" The girl in the red robe used true energy to lift Fang Can, then said with a flushed face:

"You have helped the sect such a great favor. Why not have Master Sha return to Su Xin Zhai with me? At that time, the sect will definitely host a welcome banquet for you. If the Master is willing, even I, a humble woman, am not..."

Before she finished speaking, Sha Jing waved his hand with a look of disgust and interrupted:

"Get out, get out, get out! Do you think I haven't heard of the lineage of your Su Xin Zhai's main branch? It's no wonder the entire main branch are all virgins, just thinking of gaining without working."

'Su Xin Zhai? Virgins?' Hearing Sha Jing's statement, a look of surprise flashed across Fang Can's face.

How could these two words possibly go together?

Seeming to notice Fang Can's confusion, Sha Jing revealed a hint of mocking smile on his face and said:

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand now, Young Man. During your three days in Su Xin Zhai, you will slowly understand. Ahead lies hell."

"Master Sha, do not put too much pressure on the Fang Shaoxia. Moreover, those are all rumors; Master Sha should not hold such strong prejudices."

The girl in the red skirt smiled, lifted Fang Can, and walked towards the door, her steps light, the crisp sound of bells ringing along the way.

Watching the two figures gradually disappear before him, Sha Jing gently patted his disciple's shoulder and said: "Yan Miao, you did well this time."

Being praised so highly, Yan Miao instinctively felt a trace of guilt.

He had agreed to bring Fang Can back, but he never expected Fang Can to be taken away by the Hehuan Sect. But since it has come to this, he can only hope that Lord Fang can withstand it.

Then, with a hint of confusion, Yan Miao looked at the Master and asked: "Master, why did you say that Saintess of Su Xin Zhai is a virgin? That should be false, right?"

"Hmph, I certainly would not lie. The main branch of Su Xin Zhai in the recent generations has absolutely all been virgins," Sha Jing stated with certainty.

"It is normal for you to have this thought now, but once you know how terrifying their cultivation method, the Great Joy Bodhisattva Heart Sutra, is, you will understand."

Sha Jing spoke with great mystery: "Hehe, Yan Miao, have you heard the story of Su Xin Zhai?"

"This disciple does not know; please instruct me, Master," Yan Miao asked with great curiosity.

"Every generation of the main lineage's Holy Maiden of the Pure Heart Sect must cultivate a technique called the 'Great Joy Bodhisattva Sutra,' a supreme technique for essence-draining unlike any before."

"What does 'unlike any before' mean? What does 'supreme' mean? It means that once the conditions are met, one can easily break through the shackles of the realm."

"There is even a legend that the Sect Master of the second generation of the Pure Heart Sect, at the moment of success, could leap from the First Transformation directly to the Fifth Transformation."

"What!!!"

Yan Miao sucked in a sharp breath, staring at her master in shock, unable to speak from astonishment.

In a world where breaking through from the Third Transformation to the Fourth is already incredibly difficult, leaping from the First Transformation to the Fifth—what kind of terrifying technique is this?

Fully understanding Yan Miao's shock, Sha Jing slowly said, "To cultivate the Great Joy Bodhisattva Sutra, the primary condition is to remain intact."

"Once the state of being intact is lost, that is the moment of success."

"At the moment of losing one's virginity, this Great Joy Bodhisattva Sutra will forcibly devour half of the target's cultivation."

"Even if you are merely in the First Transformation, you can go against the flow and forcibly swallow a Fifth Transformation."

(End of this chapter)