Chapter 40: Reborn

In the pavilion, Fang Can’s feet lay the heads borrowed from Li Qun and the others.

Watching the blood stain the ground, Fang Can still frowned slightly in discomfort.

After all, this was his first time killing someone; discomfort was inevitable.

But it didn’t matter—there would be many more to kill; he’d grow used to it with practice.

He kicked the heads aside, changed into a golden-thread soft armor, strapped the treasure sword to his back, grabbed a stack of receipts, tied a cloth bundle with a suitcase and some dried rations, then slung the map over his shoulder and entered the dark tunnel.

With his departure, the pavilion stood empty once more, leaving only several lifeless corpses stuck to the cold ground, caked in blood.

Inside the Tiger Demon Sect’s tunnel, Fang Can groped his way forward through the darkness.

After several minutes, he pushed open the stone wall above him, and a night sky blazing with stars filled his eyes.

Even he couldn’t imagine that in just one day, he had already forcibly graduated from the Tiger Demon Sect.

As for the reason… he, not being the one involved, still didn’t fully understand.

But one thing he knew: this favor must be repaid someday, or he’d be unworthy of their earnest help.

In the dark depths of autumn, with the evening breeze brushing his face, Fang Can stopped thinking further and followed the memorized map toward the city’s edge.

After all, having escaped this time, the Tiger Demon Sect would likely issue a warrant for his capture; if he were caught again, meeting them would be awkward.

…

Several hours later, as the morning light of the next day shone, Yang Duan knelt before four guards.

“Master, we failed in our duty—Fang Can, that thief, killed three guarding disciples and stole the sect’s valuables before fleeing.”

“Don’t bother with him.”

Yang Duan waved his hand dismissively: “The war with the Borderline Transformation Sect is urgent—we could clash at any moment. A petty thief like him won’t cause any real trouble.”

“After this period of chaos, we’ll issue a bounty to capture him within Tiger Demon Sect territory.”

“Besides, the Great Nations Competition begins in two months; if we can secure a decent rank, it’ll help the Tiger Demon Sect’s reputation.”

“Yes, Master!” the four guards replied in unison.

…

Within Jiejian Mountain in Liangzhou of Dayan Kingdom, Jiang Ningan, ignoring his illness, had returned to the sect after racing through the night.

In a pavilion atop a peak, shrouded in mist, the current Jiejian Mountain sect leader, Liu Qingmeng, emerged from seclusion and looked at her most gifted disciple, her slender brows knitting:

“Ning’an, I only sent you to Yunyun Pavilion—how did you get injured?”

“Master, I encountered two strange events on this journey, and my injury is tied to them,” Jiang Ningan said solemnly, summarizing everything that had occurred.

Liu Qingmeng, knowing her disciple’s nature and that he never joked, grew even more grave.

But seeing her expression, Jiang Ningan said: “Master doesn’t seem surprised?”

Liu Qingmeng didn’t answer, only slightly lifted her chin, acknowledging she had foreseen it.

After all, if modern precision instruments could detect it, how could such strange phenomena in this mind-reliant world go unnoticed?

Could mind-based martial arts be so easily deceived?

“Rest here and heal for now. As for the other world…”

Dressed in white, Liu Qingmeng’s eyes faintly shimmered with a sword intent piercing the heavens: “Let me test it myself!”

…

“Fang Tian Di! I will kill you!”

Inside the Liyang Martial Hall, beneath the morning’s gentle sunlight, the boy leapt from his bed, his eyes thick with murderous intent.

But when he saw his surroundings, he froze.

Before him was the familiar room, its furnishings unchanged from years ago.

“I’ve… been reborn?” The boy stared blankly at his own hands.

They were rough, covered in calluses—result of years of relentless sword training—nothing like the pure, flawless skin he’d gained after reshaping his body on the Ascension Path.

Everything before him felt dreamlike, as if he lived within a dream.

“But if all this is real!” The boy clenched his fists tightly, trembling with excitement.

The boy’s name was Yuan Dang. In his past life, he had reached the peak of martial cultivation, having taken three steps on the Ascension Path—but unfortunately, he met the even more prodigious Fang Tian Di: Fang Can!

That man had emerged like a comet across the sky, blindingly radiant like a great sun, crushing the breath from countless prodigies.

Had he merely been powerful, it would’ve been fine—after all, as long as he lived his own life, they had virtually no connection.

But Fang Tian Di was depraved by nature. In the Transformation Stage, he hid it well—but after stepping onto the Ascension Path, as his power swelled, his lustful desires consumed his mind.

Under the guidance of endless lust, he built the Crystal Palace, forced the Heavenly Mechanism Tower to create the Most Beautiful List, and seized the top three thousand women on it for his harem.

That year, the Dog Devoured the Sun; within seven days, all three thousand beauties in the Crystal Palace lost their maidenhood.

And his senior sister… also…

Thinking of this, Yuan Dang was consumed by grief and rage, barely suppressing the storm within him.

As for how he died before rebirth? His senior sister was captured; he was so enraged his cultivation collapsed, blood gushing from all seven orifices.

“Fang Tian Di… hehehe… since I’ve been reborn, I, Yuan Tian Di, shall dominate this age! You built the Crystal Palace—can’t I?” Yuan Dang laughed maniacally, as if possessed.

But as he laughed, a small detail surfaced in his mind, freezing his face.

Indeed, as he reached downward, the organ that should have grown in his future was entirely absent.

“Gah! My second brother!!”

With a cry of anguish, Yuan Dang remembered: in his youth, to advance further in martial cultivation, he had chosen to castrate himself.

Unless he stepped onto the Ascension Path, he’d remain forever useless—let alone dream of a Crystal Palace.

After a long spell of shock, Yuan Dang regained his composure:

No rush, no rush—I still remember that dog’s “Everyone Can Train,” where even the most mediocre can reach the Ascension Path after a year of hard work—how much more so can I?

Thinking this, Yuan Dang finally exhaled—then suddenly heard loud gongs and drums erupting within the martial hall, unusually lively.

With a crash, the door burst open and a young man shouted:

“Brother Yuan, you’re awake? Hurry out—the Tiger Demon Sect’s disciples are here to collect rent. Master wants us to set up a formation to welcome them and spar to show our strength.”

“Tiger Demon Sect… disciples?” Yuan Dang’s expression stiffened; only now, hearing the young man’s words, did he recall what day it was.

Today was the very day he first met Fang Can—and the only time.

After today, he would never again have the right to see him face-to-face, only hear rumors of Fang Can’s deeds.

From Fang Can becoming Fang the Hero, then Fang the Saint, then Fang Tian Di, as his status rose, Yuan Dang sank deeper into obscurity.

‘Then let change begin today!’ Yuan Dang silently vowed.

(End of Chapter)