Chapter 737: Sworn Brothers [Wise Sea Morning Additional Chapters 84 & 85]

Chapter 737: Sworn Brothers [Wise Sea Morning Additional Chapters 84 & 85]



Inside the cave, over three hundred members of the Only Righteous Sect turned pale.

Even the several Sage King experts among them had their faces slightly changed.

Using flying blades to whistle and communicate was an incredible divine skill!

Dodging over a dozen flying blades at once was one thing, but could he really block a single blade? They couldn't help but break into a cold sweat, their eyes intently following the flying blade's every movement, their hearts pounding rapidly.

It was as if they had seen the God of Death.

The flying blades were unleashed without any visible control from the Deputy Captain, yet they autonomously flew in a swift and intricate manner, circling up and down within the mansion over a dozen times.

Bi Fangdong also watched the flying blades, his eyes almost bleeding.

He frantically thought of countermeasures in his mind, considering the possibility of taking direct action and killing this person, but in the end, he sighed.

It was not possible.

Currently, it was a ceasefire period, and the other party had come to borrow something. Moreover, his side was in an absolute disadvantageous position.

If they took action, all three hundred of them would surely die.

Furthermore, if the other party immediately killed a few people with their flying blades and left, there would be nothing to hold them back.

As for the Grand Elder's strike... Bi Fangdong was clear that the jade pendant was indeed a protective talisman given by the Grand Elder, but it definitely did not contain any power of the Grand Elder's strike.

If it did, he would have activated it long ago. Killing this person would have been a great achievement.

This was undoubtedly the other party's hidden genius.

But... there was none.

In other words, his current weakness was evident, and he had only bluffed and intimidated the other party.

However, if they took action, it would be a situation where both sides would suffer. The other party would no longer have any reservations and would directly charge in...

Bi Fangdong's mind continuously considered various assumptions. Was it worth sacrificing the lives of over three hundred people, including his own, to avoid humiliation?

Or should he consider the bigger picture and maintain the current peace? This way, not only could he temporarily preserve the Mystic Realm, but also his own life.

But once it came down to these two choices involving 'lives,' there was basically no need to deliberate.

The flying blades whistled around for a while longer before finally returning to Fang Che's palm like tired swallows returning to their nest.

The two flying blades merged in his palm, emitting a crisp 'clang' sound.

"I'll ask again, do you have the Heavenly Path Fragrant Peppers?"

Fang Che glared at Bi Fangdong, and the flying blades in his hand transformed from two into one.

Everyone knew that if anyone dared to say no again, this flying blade would start killing.

Bi Fangdong was so furious that his vision darkened. The combination of rage and the insult caused a stream of blood to flow from his nose.

Gritting his teeth, he suppressed his anger and said, "Who has the Heavenly Path Fragrant Peppers?"

Several people behind him quickly spoke up, "I do..."

"Give him a pack!"

"Pfft..."

At least five people simultaneously threw out a pack, and they were all tightly sealed, large packages.

Fang Che caught one with a smile, "Thanks! If you need anything in the future, you can come to me."

Nodding, he said, "When it comes to life-and-death battles, it's one thing, but when we haven't even crossed blades, we can still share resources. As long as everyone is willing, we're all friends."

He waved his hand.

Turning around, he casually strolled out.

Inside the cave of the Only Righteous Sect, silence prevailed.

Several Deputy Squad Leaders lowered their heads, feeling extremely ashamed.

Throughout the cave, only the rapid breathing of the Squad Leader with the tiger-like aura could be heard, reverberating back and forth.

Everyone could sense the Squad Leader's anger, as if it were about to explode.

But what could they do?

Fang Che held the packages of Heavenly Path Fragrant Peppers, feeling as if he had just purchased a pack of thirteen spices at a market, and casually strolled out.

Upon exiting, he saw Feng Dao and the others staring at him with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

Fang Che looked at them in confusion and said, "I borrowed it, and we're going to roast meat. Why are you all standing there in a daze?"

He gestured to the six packages in his hand, "He's quite generous, giving us so many at once. So, you guys are too straightforward, only knowing how to fight and kill."

"When it's time to fight and kill, our subordinates must not hold back. But when it's time for human relations, you should also understand some social etiquette. For example, if we're lacking something, we can come to this side and borrow a little. We've all been fighting for life and death for so many years, and we don't even have this little face?"

"We need to maintain good relationships."

"When doing things, we should be more tactful. Come on, let's go back and roast the meat."

The group watched as Fang Che walked back.

Their faces were filled with incredible expressions.

How could he have done that?

How far did you push them to humiliate them?

Even after returning to the cave, Fang Che generously distributed five packs of Heavenly Path Fragrant Peppers. "Everyone, have a taste. Rest assured, it's definitely not poisoned."

With the addition of the peppers, the roasted meat indeed became more fragrant.

But as everyone ate, they could hardly taste anything.

Their minds were still in a daze.

"This move... it's truly..."

Someone whispered, struggling to find the right words for a long time, unable to describe it in a single sentence.

"This move, I can't even imagine doing it in this lifetime, let alone actually accomplish it. But the Deputy Captain just walked past, and on top of that, he's really coming... right after killing over three hundred of their people! I'm so shocked!"

"... A genius! I can only call him a genius! Too incredible."

"This matter, not only has left the Feng family in shock, but even Feng Dao is still reeling from the news, his eyes wide with disbelief.

After a delicious yet unsatisfying meal of grilled meat, the group was still in awe.

Feng Dao pulled Fang Che aside.

"Can't you reveal your name?" Feng Dao asked anxiously.

"Why reveal my name?" Fang Che shrugged, unconcerned. "It's just a name, and it sounds good. I like it."

"But I'm suffering," Feng Dao growled softly. "Just hearing those two words makes my head spin."

"Then leave!" Fang Che retorted without sympathy, rolling his eyes. "You're about to break through to the Holy Emperor, right? Hurry up and break through, then scram."

Feng Dao clenched his fists, "I..."

Fang Che gestured outward and said, "Do you feel like you're still needed here? Or is there even a difference between you being here and not being here?"

Feng Dao stared straight ahead, speechless for a long time.

Because... he realized that he might not be needed anymore. Deputy Squad Leader Guanxi had already established his authority, won over the hearts of the group, and possessed unparalleled prestige!

He had become a legendary idol in everyone's hearts. Staying here would not only be pointless but would also hinder the group from flattering the deputy squad leader.

Feng Dao felt lost, "Damn it, I've been here for so many years, and you've achieved more in just a few days?"

"This is a battlefield!" Fang Che emphasized. "Strength is respected."

He sighed, "Every breath on this battlefield is the blood of ancient heroes. An useless person like me is just an obstacle here... Don't you feel ashamed?"

These were the exact words Feng Dao had said to Fang Che when he first arrived.

Feng Dao's face twisted, "Brother, you're not willing to take even a little loss. It was just a joke, and you have to take it so seriously?"

Fang Che glared at him, "You made it so I can't even reveal my name, and you have the nerve to talk to me?"

Feng Dao, caught off guard, could only bow his head in surrender, "I beg for forgiveness."

"Hmph," Fang Che snorted. "How much longer until you break through to the Holy Emperor?"

"I can break through at any time. I'm holding back my cultivation," Feng Dao explained.

"Then give me one more day," Fang Che requested.

"One day?" Feng Dao frowned.

"I need to enter seclusion to break through," Fang Che said. After entering the room, he had already gotten used to the rich spiritual energy, and his dantian was now filled to the brim.

With his Fifth Rank Venerable cultivation, he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Although his Venerable Fourth Rank Peak cultivation was not enough to defeat Bi Fangdong, Bi Fangdong would be at a disadvantage in a prolonged fight. However, the longer the battle lasted, the more it would favor Bi Fangdong.

Bi Fangdong's overwhelming strength made Fang Che uncomfortable. Therefore, he had to break through to the Fifth Rank Venerable before Feng Dao left.

He needed to raise his strength by one level.

"Alright," Feng Dao agreed, nodding.

With his experience, Feng Dao could see Fang Che's weakness, but it was an unavoidable issue. The cultivation gap was not something that could be closed in a short time.

Moreover, Feng Dao firmly believed that if Fang Che could reach the Ninth Rank Saint King, he would likely be able to slay the Holy Emperor and ascend to the Cloud Weaponry Ranking!

"Hey, didn't you say you wanted to become sworn brothers?" Fang Che remembered this matter. With Bi Fangdong about to break through and be expelled, he had to hurry and said, "I want to be the older brother!"

"You want to be the older brother?" Feng Dao exclaimed, his anger rising. "How old am I to have you as my older brother?"

"On the battlefield, strength is respected," Fang Che asserted confidently.

"Your strength isn't even a match for mine," Feng Dao retorted.

"But I can kill you," Fang Che replied.

Feng Dao fell silent.

"Furthermore, we don't follow age or seniority here. Otherwise, would you have been chosen as the commander? How many elders and seniors would have to call you their leader?" Fang Che argued.

Feng Dao pondered, and Fang Che's words seemed to make sense. Fang Che then delivered a fatal blow, "Also, you've wronged me. You gave me the name 'Guanxi,' making me a laughingstock. What's wrong with me being the older brother?"

Feng Dao was overwhelmed once again.

"If you acknowledge me as your older brother, in the future, when others mention this, you can say it was just a joke between brothers... You won't lose face. After all, the one with the nickname is your older brother, what's there to laugh about?"

"But if you become the older brother, you're insulting your own brother by giving him such a name?" Fang Che reasoned.

Feng Dao felt increasingly convinced, hesitating.

"Moreover, the wise adapt. Take the example of the high-level Snow Condensing Sword and the group that killed the Love Sword. Who followed age there? Everyone was ranked according to strength, right? Don't break the rules," Fang Che said earnestly.

Feng Dao was moved by his words.

"You're right..." Feng Dao conceded.

"Then..."

"Let's become sworn brothers."

"I'll be the older brother?"

"I'll be the younger brother."

"It's settled!"

Having successfully avoided the future embarrassment of calling Feng Xiangdong 'Grandpa' in front of everyone, Fang Che was delighted. The two of them then walked out, and in full view of the crowd, they ignited their spiritual power, creating a blazing flame.

"Under the vast sky and above the thick earth, today, I, Feng Dao..."

"I, Guanxi..."

"Swear to become sworn brothers, sharing blessings and enduring hardships together..."

The ceremony was complete.

Amidst the stunned silence of the crowd, Feng Dao bowed, "Big Brother!!!"

"Second Brother!"

Fang Che smiled.

Clap, clap, clap, clap...

Eyes dropped to the ground.

What... What just happened? Everyone was bewildered.

It turned out that the deputy captain's true age was older than the captain's!

Although he looked young, one could tell from his appearance that he was a martial artist, and his age couldn't be judged by his looks.

Suddenly, everyone whispered among themselves in the cave, creating a cacophony like a silkworm farm.

"Big Brother, you were just using the name 'Relationship' earlier."

Feng Dao was very dissatisfied.

"Shut up! You, the second brother, dare to meddle in your big brother's affairs?!" Fang Che rebuked, immediately assuming the demeanor of an elder brother.

"..."

Feng Dao was furious but dared not speak.

He suddenly realized that he had given Fang Che another handle to clean him up.

He muttered angrily, "When are you going into seclusion? Hurry up and break through, then I'll leave!"

"So eager to leave the battlefield... Tsk tsk... Second Brother, you have no conscience. I despise you!"

Feng Dao: "..."

Why does it sound like he's calling me a deserter? I have to break through the boundary, right?

But he didn't have time to explain.

After Fang Big Brother finished speaking, he immediately announced his seclusion.

He asked the second brother to guard the entrance.

He entered a small dark room.

Seeing the deputy captain in seclusion, the crowd surrounded Feng Dao, "What's going on?"

Feng Dao was currently in a state of confusion, feeling like he had been set up, and impatiently dispersed the crowd.

"What's so special about sworn brothers? Don't you guys understand? Go away, all of you."

Feng Dao impatiently shooed everyone away like herding ducks.

Two hours later.

A misty aura of breakthrough suddenly permeated through the thick curtains.

At the same time, a faint, indescribable fragrance began to spread.

"Chi chi..."

Feng Dao's nose twitched twice, and his face suddenly changed.

The fragrance of the Great Dao?

How could there be such a fragrance during a Venerable's breakthrough?

But there was no time to think too much, he lowered his voice and roared, "Everyone, come over and sit around here! Experience the rhythm of the breakthrough!"

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Only a true genius, breaking through after the Holy Emperor's rank, would have the fragrance of the Great Dao appear!

This atmosphere could even enhance one's comprehension and innate talent, opening the doors to the divine orifices.

Fang Che's current breakthrough, though the fragrance of the Great Dao was still faint, could still benefit those at the Holy rank.

The crowd dared not delay, and one by one, they gathered and sat down.

Entering a tranquil cultivation state.

The fragrance of the Great Dao became increasingly rich.

And with the emergence of the fragrance, suddenly, there was a 'dong' sound, as if in the deepest part of one's soul, a distant shore, a clear and ethereal sound was emitted.

"Transforming Qi into liquid, falling into the Dan Lake!"

Feng Dao had a sudden realization.

He carefully comprehended.

Everyone felt this strange sound echoing in their Dantian, causing it to gently vibrate.

Dong, dong...

Later, it became continuous, dong dong dong dong...

Then it turned into a swishing sound, swish swish swish...

So fast!

Feng Dao stared in surprise, but his Dantian's Qi became chaotic, and he quickly gathered it again, following the rhythm of the sound within to refine the Qi.

The one inside, Fang Che, also felt the difference.

This breakthrough to the Fifth Rank Venerable was a long-awaited one for him, as he had already stayed at the Fourth Rank for a long time.

But he never expected this breakthrough to be so different, with the Qi in his Dantian constantly transforming into clouds and rain, falling continuously. As time went on, the cloud mist in his Dantian became denser, and the raindrops more intense.

It was like a torrential downpour.

The Dantian didn't seem to fill up, and the cloud mist continued to accumulate.

This process continued.

The spiritual energy of the secret realm howled like a silent hurricane, filling the entire cave, and then gushed into Fang Che's stone chamber.

The entire process lasted for five hours.

Finally, with a loud rumble, Fang Che's body trembled.

A mouthful of pale golden congealed blood was spat out by him.

It was as if a bridge had formed within his body, connecting heaven and earth.

And the cloud mist in his Dantian had completely filled and compressed into a mass. With the breakthrough to the Fifth Rank, it suddenly expanded, and the thick mist thinned.

Spiritual energy rushed in, but it still couldn't fill the new, vast spiritual energy deficiency.

The Dantian's spirit lake, which had already been half-filled, transformed into a small puddle.

But the Dantian space had increased in size significantly.

This change was related to the Infinite True Scripture. This breakthrough, though Fang Che's Infinite True Scripture didn't advance to the third layer, he clearly felt that he had taken a significant step forward!

The feeling of "I've taken a huge leap forward" was incredibly evident!

And with the advancement of the Infinite True Scripture, the Dantian reached an unimaginable level.

As he recalled the words of his father on the way back, Fang Che sighed. What does it mean to slow down the speed of advancement? How can I possibly speed up when my dantian is as vast and empty as the ocean? How can I possibly fill it quickly?

Feeling the emptiness of his dantian, it was as if he stood alone in the wilderness, feeling the cold wind blow past him.

No one before, no one after;

The vastness of heaven and earth belongs to me, yet it remains unfulfilled...

Fang Che's heart suddenly realized: When will I fill this place with spiritual energy, and when will I truly break through to the Sage Rank?

Now, this place is merely a puddle, and the journey to fill it seems endless.

It requires day after day of accumulation.

Or perhaps, upon reaching the Sixth or Seventh Rank, there will be new realizations, but Fang Che is already very satisfied with his current progress.

After breaking through to the Fifth Rank, the spiritual energy he could manipulate became more abundant, and the feeling of 'control over power' made Fang Che's body and mind feel at ease.

Slowly inhaling and exhaling spiritual energy, he calmed the spiritual energy in his meridians and stabilized his realm.

Feeling his dantian, Fang Che couldn't help but feel amazed.

In the past, during breakthroughs, the spiritual energy would suddenly break through the barrier and enter a new realm. With the spiritual energy gushing in, one could instantly reach the early stage of the next rank, especially with the assistance of heavenly materials and treasures, sometimes even approaching the middle stage!

But upon reaching the Fifth Rank Venerable, after breaking through the bottleneck, he couldn't even reach the early stage!

It was as if... a full lake suddenly broke its dam and flowed into the ocean, only to find that... its vastness in the ocean was like a drop in the sea.

Fang Che truly understood: The path of martial arts is beyond words.

This realization could only be understood through personal experience.

A river doesn't become a river without merging with other rivers, and it will forever boast about its greatness.

A lake doesn't become a sea, and it will forever be self-satisfied.

Just as one doesn't become a strong person without encountering stronger individuals, and they will forever say, "Impossible! Nonsense!"

Fang Che opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

Then, he felt his body and asked, "How is it? How do you feel?"

Fang Che closed his eyes, filled with emotion, and said, "As a speck in the vastness of heaven and earth, today I finally see the vastness of martial arts."

Feng Dao's body trembled.

This was the same realization he had when he broke through to the Seventh Rank Sage!

It was from that moment that he truly realized his insignificance.

But now, Fang Che has broken through to the Fifth Rank Venerable?

The rest of the crowd still had their eyes closed, carefully contemplating the realm they had just experienced.

Feng Dao pulled Fang Che aside, his face serious. "I might be about to break through. When I sensed your breakthrough aura just now, I had a faint realization..."

As he spoke, Feng Dao felt a bit ashamed.

His face turned bright red.

He, a Ninth Rank Sage, was inspired by the breakthrough of a Venerable. What a strange occurrence!

Fang Che never imagined such an awkward situation would happen.

"You can't break through now. I'll tell you what to do," Fang Che said with a frown.

Feng Dao listened with a furrowed brow. "Then, aren't you worried about that...?"

"I want him to... that..."

"Okay, then. So, I'll do this and that?"

"Yes, you must be careful to..."

"I understand."

...

This day was a day of celebration for the Feng family's secret realm team. Three people broke through their original realms, and although they were a small number among the seven hundred, the cultivation of the others had also advanced to varying degrees.

Everyone was overjoyed, filled with happiness and excitement.

Only a small group of elders had slightly somber expressions.

They were the earliest batch to enter this place, and they had fought here since then. However, after so many years of fighting, their foundation had been severely depleted.

Moreover, their innate talents weren't exceptionally outstanding; they had relied solely on accumulation through battles.

The difference in martial arts talent was most evident in their ability to comprehend.

Some, with a single realization, could open new doors in martial arts, directly ascending one or more ranks, or suddenly becoming proficient in a specific technique.

But for others, even with the same realization, they could only inch forward with great effort.

Others could travel thousands of miles, while they couldn't even take a single small step. This was the difference!

Hence, there's the saying, 'One morning's enlightenment, and you become an immortal.'

But those with inferior talents would never understand this.

To illustrate this point, let's use a simple example: In middle school, some students grasp quadratic equations in the first lesson, while others struggle until graduation.

It's the same principle.

That's the difference in learning abilities! This gap determines the difference between top-tier universities and dropping out!

And now, these elders of the Feng family are in such a situation.

Relying on their family's strength and their own relentless efforts, they have reached this point, but they are already nearing the end of their martial arts journey.

Most of them are of a higher generation and older than Feng Dao, but in terms of martial arts talent, they are of no help.

They smiled and laughed, blending in with the crowd, trying to hide their inner disappointment.

But the melancholy from within couldn't be entirely concealed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end