Chapter 729: A Related Household [Combined]

Chapter 729: A Related Household [Combined]



Dong Sansan looked at Xue Fumiao with some surprise.

"With so many color crystals, our Star Spirit Temple is already usable and can accommodate thirty people simultaneously for cultivation."

Dong Sansan said, "It’s the original plan: one year in the Mystic Realm, then one month back in the Star spirit temple, and then back to the Mystic Realm for another year, then another month back in the Star Spirit Temple. You forgot?"

Xue Fumiao was taken aback: "How long has it been? How could I remember?"

"Moreover, how long has the Star Spirit Temple been out of use? I had long forgotten."

"What about Fang Che?"

Dong Sansan replied, "Fang Che... let him out after a year or half a year. That guy, I’m worried he might get too carried away in there, charging forward without a second thought..."

Sighing, he continued. After the last conversation, the feeling of 'always rushing forward to be a martyr' in Fang Che has faded a lot. He knows how to use his head now and has become more cunning. But he’s still somewhat impulsive. That feeling of 'always being ready to be a martyr' still exists. This makes me somewhat uneasy."

For instance, during the last sudden rescue of Wuxian Sword Wang Zijing, Dong Sansan was very dissatisfied: "Don’t you know who you are? You’re a night demon. You’re leading the Night Demon Sect to establish a temple foundation."

"Yet, you rushed out to save him. And you faced six Sage Kings! If even one of them got away..."

"If you were killed in return... what would we do? Don’t you know how important your mission is?"

However, Dong Sansan couldn’t say this, because... as a Guardian, regardless of the task, in such a situation, it’s impossible not to act—this is the most precious aspect of a Guardian, what sets them apart from the Only Righteous Sect! He completely understood and empathized, but there was also a sense of blame in his heart.

But this blame couldn’t be voiced: how could he blame a Guardian for risking their life to save a comrade?

If he truly ignored his comrade’s life and death, and watched them die in a situation where he could have saved them, could he really shoulder such a mission?

Therefore, it was a huge contradiction.

Afterward, Dong Sansan specially called Wang Zijing to the headquarters, reprimanded him, and arranged a special training: Yu Tian Qi was made to beat Wang Zijing for half a month!

It couldn’t go on any longer.

Because Dong Sansan found that after half a month, Yu Tian Qi’s words became like this: "He can’t do what Grandma did, like Xue Fumiao, he can’t do it... I really have to find something to do, or I’ll be paralyzed by idleness..."

Dong Sansan urgently called a stop and sent Wang Zijing away from the mountain.

Then, he, Fengyun Qi, Dongsanjiu, and his sister, along with a few other female experts, took turns sparring and talking with Yu Tian Qi for a few days...

Only then did he pull Yu Tian Qi back from the edge of the cliff. Although the words were a bit more preachy, it didn’t get any worse.

For this, Dong Sansan broke out in a cold sweat.

It was... really close! Regarding this, Dong Sansan was truly impressed: the influence of this kind of thing was unparalleled! These guys might not learn good things in ten thousand years, but for this... they only needed a bit of guidance to pick it up easily!

"Just a stutterer, and he can bring out several more stutterers. They really don’t lie about this."

Dong Sansan could only sigh. The only solution was to list Wuxian Sword Wang Zijing as a prohibited contact for the Guardian Headquarters.

Fortunately, he only stayed for half a month. If it had gone on longer, probably everyone in the Guardian Headquarters would be speaking like that, their mouths paralyzed...

"Xue."

Dong Sansan called out with a pleasant expression.

"Is there something else you need me to run an errand? Just say it, no need to beat around the bush, I’m already prepared."

Xue Fumiao replied extremely straightforwardly.

"Then you go find Fang Che, and bring the remaining Jade Sky Flowers."

Dong Sansan said, "The ones we have now are far from enough."

"Alright."

Xue Fumiao was already used to such arrangements.

"By the way, where is Wu Dao Tian?"

Dong Sansan asked.

After the snow disaster lasting over twenty days, Wu Dao Tian actually reported to the Guardian Headquarters on his own.

This surprised Dong Sansan greatly.

Gaining such a super expert was a pleasant surprise.

Wu Dao Tian’s only requirement was: "My hideout in Donghu City cannot be exposed. Not even my sons know my identity."

For Dong Sansan, this wasn’t even a requirement.

But Dong Sansan probed, "Where is your sixth brother? I miss him."

Wu Dao Tian stared with round eyes: "What sixth brother? I don’t know. Didn’t Sixth Brother already perish over three thousand years ago? If you’re looking for Ninth Uncle, is he still alive? I miss him..."

Dong Sansan was relieved.

If this guy could still be so tight-lipped in front of him, nothing would go wrong.

So, he said with a single sentence, "Really don’t know?"

"Don’t know!"

"Go do your thing."

"Alright."

Now, Wu Dao Tian was sparring and training with several Grand Elders of the White Cloud Palace every day, engaging in intense battles. Everyone’s cultivation was about the same, but Wu Dao Tian’s was a step above, making those elders lose their teeth and noses, their faces swollen.

But... there was nowhere to voice these thoughts.

After all, your White Cloud Palace had just arrived, and Wu Dao Tian had just arrived as well. It was only natural for you to interact and bond, and in a certain sense, you were all part of the same group.

So, it was only natural for Wu Dao Tian to follow Dong Sansan's prediction and take on the role of the 'veteran among the newcomers.'

This allowed Dong Sansan's plan to progress silently and significantly—in the future, when arranging things for White Cloud Palace, he could simply assign Wu Dao Tian.

After all, he had once been the leader of the Eighteen Heavenly Kings. He still possessed those leadership skills.

But the first thing Wu Dao Tian did after becoming the leader was to have the people of White Cloud Palace bring out their resources to brew wine...

This excited Yu Tian Qi, Dong Chongming, and the others.

And so, their bond... grew rapidly.

"Wu Dao Tian is supervising the wine-making... Do you have something for him?" Xue Fu asked.

"Gu Changhan will be back soon. When he returns, have Wu Dao Tian spar with him. Regardless, have Gu Changhan thoroughly defeat him and bring him into the newcomers' camp... It will be easier to manage them together. First, let the Cold Sword Sect and White Cloud Palace members merge."

Dong Sansan said, "This will facilitate the complete integration that follows."

"So, your method of integration is to have them get beaten up together?"

Xue Fu couldn't help but be speechless at Dong Sansan's twisted sense of humor, and even felt a bit unconvinced, "I can do this too. Yu Tian Qi can also do it. Why does it have to be Wu Dao Tian?"

"Neither of you is suitable. If you step in, it will only suppress them..."

Dong Sansan frowned, "When it comes to people's psychological thoughts, you should be careful... Forget it, don't be careful. Just tell Wu Dao Tian, and you can go directly to find Fang Che."

"Okay."

"Wait, do you know where to find Fang Che?"

"Donghu Continent."

"...Go to the Northern Frontier and find Yan Xi Feng!"

Dong Sansan sighed.

"I know... I intentionally said it..."

"Get lost!"

Fang Che had already left the forest and stepped into an endless desert!

The wind and sand rose everywhere, blowing for thousands of miles; looking up, the sky was invisible, and looking down, the ground was bottomless.

Upon entering the desert, he continued to walk amidst the swirling sand, and the desert wind never ceased.

Whirlwinds never stopped.

Every moment, Fang Che was alone, walking by himself, surrounded by hundreds of whirlwinds dancing in the environment of the Yellow Dragon Whirlwind.

Directly above, hundreds of feet high, the wind and sand still swirled!

This environment was something he had never encountered before, and it intrigued him.

So, he deliberately walked through the sandstorm, experiencing the constant abrasion of the sand, feeling the sensation of the fine sand constantly hitting his body.

Under his feet, the yellow sand was soft, and whirlpools constantly formed and disappeared.

If an ordinary person were to enter here, they would likely be buried by a thousand troops and ten thousand horses in an instant.

Various demonic beasts would also leap out of the yellow sand from time to time.

Along the way, Fang Che traveled a thousand miles, slaying thousands of yellow sand demonic beasts, but not a drop of blood was left on the ground. It was instantly covered by the sand, then dried and blown away, disappearing without a trace...

The corpses of the demonic beasts were constantly swallowed by the desert whirlpools, never to be seen again...

This place was like a natural barrier.

It separated martial artists from ordinary people.

"The Ninth Master must have intentionally preserved this desert... Because beyond this desert lies the true main battlefield, the border."

"Ordinary people are not suitable to come here. But their curiosity is no less than that of martial artists... So this desert is necessary."

Fang Che guessed in his heart.

Alone in the swirling sand, Fang Che didn't feel lonely at all.

Instead, he felt comfortable.

The endless wind and sand seemed to conceal everything, leaving only his true self.

He walked quietly.

"Holding a sword, wandering the world, the vast desert becomes home;

In the Extreme Realm, the Snow Mountain flies with the demon's skull; East, West, South, and North, the blood flowers bloom."

As he walked, Fang Che's poetic spirit soared, and he composed a poem.

He searched everywhere, but it was all desert, and there was no place to inscribe his poem. So, he gave up.

He walked for three thousand miles amidst the swirling yellow sand.

Finally, he faintly saw what seemed to be mountains ahead.

He soared into the sky for a look and couldn't help but exclaim.

In the distance, directly in front of him, were towering mountains reaching into the blue sky, connected in a continuous range, like heavenly pillars.

Even on the clearest of days, the mountain peaks were invisible. Too high!

He could only see the mountain tops, where circles of golden light flashed, dazzling under the sun's rays, they were exquisitely beautiful.

Fang Che finally understood the origin of the desert's whirlwinds. These mountains had countless peaks, and the wind, blocked by the mountains, howled madly from each peak.

Then, in the desert sky, they converged, entangled, and naturally formed numerous whirlwinds...

The whirlwinds kept rising, moving, and a way to pass the time.

Fang Che simply unleashed his movement technique and sprinted forward at full speed.

He traveled at extreme speed and even sprinted for an hour before reaching the foot of the mountains.

As they continued their journey north, the weather gradually grew colder, and by the time they reached the foot of the mountain, it felt like they had left the scorching summer and entered a harsh winter once again.

After a careful search, they descended.

Before them stood a massive mountain with a towering boulder at its base, standing tall and proud.

Inscribed on the boulder were several large characters.

"Glory, wealth, and honor, turn back here.

Fearful of death, do not ascend this mountain!"

Each character was imbued with the essence of a golden weapon, its sharpness exposed, radiant with blood, and its murderous aura soaring into the sky.

Fang Che's heart filled with reverence as he gazed upon these sixteen characters.

His heart raced, and his blood seemed to burn within him as he read these words.

Beside the boulder was a pristine path leading up the mountain.

It was a straight and narrow ascent.

Each stone slab was polished and gleaming.

On both sides, towering stone walls rose over ten zhang high, covered in dense and intricate inscriptions.

"A man's journey ends here! Xue family, Xue Shangyunliu!"

"A sword that draws the wind reaches this place, never turning back from the endless calamities! Feng family, Feng Jue!"

"Severing the mortal world, I ascend this mountain, with no regrets in my life! Yu family, Yu Mengliu!"

"..."

As Fang Che climbed to the third level, he spotted a familiar name.

"Severing emotions and righteousness, I enter this mountain. This sword vows to slay Yan Nan! Xue family, Xue Fumiao!"

"Oh, Master Xue."

Fang Che paused to admire the inscriptions for a moment. He couldn't help but notice that even Master Xue's words carried a hint of youthful exuberance.

The inscriptions on both sides of the stone walls were haphazard, dense, and intricate. Through these inscriptions, Fang Che could envision countless predecessors who had climbed this mountain with resolute determination, never to return.

Their robes billowed in the wind, their faces filled with valor, as they ascended the mountain with unwavering resolve, never looking back.

In Fang Che's eyes, he could see the silhouettes of countless predecessors who had left their inscriptions on the stone walls.

Before him, step by step, they ascended the mountain, some with swords and others with knives. Their bodies exuded righteousness, and their hearts burned with passion and hot blood.

As Fang Che carefully examined the inscriptions left by these predecessors, he continued his ascent.

He knew that among those who had carved their words here, only a very small number had managed to break through to the Sage Emperor stage and leave this place. The vast majority had already found their eternal rest on this mountain.

Those who could leave their names here were all formidable individuals capable of dominating their respective regions. Yet, they had chosen to die here in silence and obscurity.

The only record of their names was on these stone walls.

Some names had already faded away, leaving only traces on the stone walls. How many names could be inscribed on these thousands of zhang of the mountain path? As Fang Che climbed, he realized that there were no blank spaces left. Each name and phrase represented a valiant figure, an immortal spirit that would endure for eternity.

Fang Che counted as he climbed past the four-thousandth step, but the inscriptions on both sides remained dense and intricate, becoming even more crowded and leaving no empty spaces.

Moreover, the characters were getting smaller.

Fang Che understood the mindset of these predecessors. They had ascended the mountain, saw the inscriptions, and wanted to find a blank space to carve their own names.

But as they climbed and discovered no empty spaces, they became more cautious when they finally found a blank spot, wanting to leave room for future generations.

So, they carved their names neatly and in small characters.

At the six-thousandth step, the walls were still filled with names. As the mountain path became steeper and the height increased, some walls reached thirty zhang, yet they remained densely covered in inscriptions.

Fang Che counted each step as he climbed.

Finally, he spotted a blank section, a stone wall not yet filled with inscriptions.

From that point upward, the walls were blank.

He saw a familiar name.

"Feng family's descendant, eternal and immortal! Feng Xiangdong!"

It was a solemn declaration.

Next to it were numerous names, all starting with 'Feng,' totaling over a thousand.

Each name was accompanied by the same inscription: "Feng family's descendants, eternal and immortal!"

Then came their individual names, row after row, each filled with the spirit of battle, like an army ready to charge into the fray.

The inscriptions were fresh, and one could even see the white stone imprints where they had been carved.

Clearly, they had been inscribed recently.

Calculating the time, it seemed that after leaving Donghu, they had rushed back to the Feng family's gathering point without any delay and then set off on their journey without rest.

Fang Che took a deep breath and drew his longsword with a resounding clang.

"Fang Che from Verdant Wave City!"

He had originally planned to inscribe fourteen characters: "The valiant spirits stand tall for eternity, and I join them here."

But thinking of his mission and his identity as a Night Demon, he feared that leaving such a mark might expose him.

So, he swallowed those fourteen characters and simply carved his name neatly.

Then he realized that the stone wall had been reinforced with divine power, making it incredibly hard. Even with the strength of a Shadow Emperor, one would need the power of a Sovereign to leave an inscription on it.

Looking at his own name, Fang Che's face revealed a bitter smile.

His inscription was slightly shallower than the others.

If his identity were ever exposed, someone might come to erase his name, saving them some effort.

He composed himself and continued his ascent.

The stone walls ahead were already blank.

Fang Che couldn't help but turn back to look.

As far as his blurred vision could see, the stone walls were filled with names.

It was as if a hundred million valiant spirits were watching him, their faces bearing smiles.

A smile also appeared on Fang Che's face.

Then, he turned and headed upwards.

Not far away, he climbed a misty hill and saw a flat area ahead, with a building standing on it.

This building could not be described as grand, but it was undoubtedly majestic.

It was constructed entirely of stones weighing tens of thousands of pounds.

However, there were no tall buildings; instead, it was a series of interconnected bungalows that seamlessly blended with the entire mountain.

The entrance was simple, with two guards standing on either side.

Upon seeing Fang Che approaching, they immediately stepped forward to inquire.

"Which family are you from?"

"I don't belong to any family. I'm here to report to General Coordinator Yan Xifeng and await his arrangements."

The two guards remained expressionless as they examined Fang Che's medal and the letter from the southeast headquarters. Then, they proceeded with their duties: "Yan Xifeng is in the middle door. You can wait inside."

Apparently, these two were completely unaware of the significance of Fang Che's words.

They didn't even know about Fang Che, the renowned figure who shook the world.

But Fang Che quickly understood: Even if they knew, what could they do?

Your reputation outside might be impressive, but to the people here, it's nothing but disdain: Is this all the achievement you have? Those who rule the inland as kings and emperors are all obedient here. Whose merits are not greater than yours? The pride in the bones of the people here is truly unparalleled.

But this kind of pride is something that anyone would have to acknowledge: They deserve this pride!

Entering the building, Fang Che found himself in a vast hall with many people already waiting inside.

Fang Che presented his documents, and someone promptly came forward to receive them and arranged for him to sit in a corner chair.

A man with a cold and sharp face, like a chiseled sculpture, sat next to him.

Seeing Fang Che's youth, he asked, "Which family are you from?"

Fang Che understood that this was probably the standard greeting for strangers here: "Which family are you from?"

"I don't belong to any family. I'm a wandering cultivator." Fang Che introduced himself again, "Verdant Wave City, Fang Che."

"Oh, Fang Che? Haven't heard of Verdant Wave City. Is it the one in the southeast?"

"Yes."

"The Fang family... It's been a long time since I've seen anyone from the Fang family."

The man asked, "What's your cultivation level?"

"Venerable Fourth Rank Peak. I'm about to break through to the Fifth Rank."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile of ridicule appeared on the man's face: "This cultivation level... tsk, do you have connections in the Guardian Headquarters? Are you here to get some gold?"

Fang Che coughed, "I have a little connection."

"Hehe..."

The man said indifferently, "When you enter the Mystic Realm for battle, your connections... are useless. They won't prevent you from becoming an ice sculpture corpse... But it doesn't matter. You're a Venerable Rank cultivator, and coming here to exchange it for a family honor badge is worth it. Just die if you must."

Fang Che's mouth twitched at the man's words.

Indeed, the people here sure knew how to talk.

"Senior, may I ask for your esteemed name?"

The man chuckled and said, "I doubt you've heard of it."

"Maybe I have?"

Fang Che asked.

"I'm Feng Dao."

Feng Dao's eyes, sharp like his namesake, looked at Fang Che with disdain, "Have you heard of me?"

"Of course."

After spending so much time with Feng Xiang Dong and the others, Fang Che was well-acquainted with the renowned members of the Wind, Rain, and Snow families.

"The Feng family's third-to-last generation's genius, who entered the Mystic Realm at the age of twenty-five and emerged victorious from every battle, eventually reaching the Sage King Ninth Rank Peak. He is now one of the leaders of the Feng family in the Mystic Realm. Who hasn't heard of his illustrious name?"

Fang Che spoke with ease, having become very familiar with the subject.

"Who hasn't heard of his illustrious name?"

Feng Dao's chiseled face showed confusion: "Are they starting to promote this place now? How can that be? Won't the continent be in panic?"

"..."

Fang Che fell silent.

"You, a little kid at the Venerable Rank, what are you doing here? Isn't your family being too unscrupulous in their pursuit of merits?"

Feng Dao continued his tirade.

Fang Che: "..."

"It's truly..."

Feng Dao clicked his tongue and said, "Nonsense! You ants come here, and someone has to be assigned to take care of you. There have been countless times when the caretakers died together with those they were supposed to protect, all because of people like you with special connections. It's a huge loss for a veteran who has survived a hundred battles!"

Feng Dao looked at Fang Che with disdain in his eyes.

Fang Che was speechless.

Because from Feng Dao's words, he could tell that there had indeed been many such incidents in the past...

Fortunately, just then, the messenger's voice rang out: "Fang Che! General Coordinator Yan Xifeng summons you!"

Upon hearing Fang Che's name, only two or three people in the entire hall looked up in surprise.

Everyone else remained unmoved.

Feng Dao, standing behind Fang Che, spat, "As expected of a connection holder! Going straight to see Yan Xifeng, pfft! A soft bone... He'll definitely stay here for logistics."

Several iron-blooded, cold-eyed veterans sitting nearby also spat in disdain.

"These days, people are so profit-driven."

Another person spoke up: "Old Dao, aren't there already a bunch of people from the Feng family here? Why are you sitting here again?"

Feng Dao sighed, "My deputy captain sacrificed himself. I have to come and see when they'll assign me a replacement."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end