Chapter 742: The Fortune Spirit Stone (Part 2)

Chapter 742: The Fortune Spirit Stone (Part 2)

"

Instantly, everyone's expression turned serious.

This was no small matter.

If anyone were to let slip the news and endanger the life of the Feng Clan's greatest benefactor, how could they ever show their face in this world again?

Wolf Fang roared, "Feng Clan disciples!"

"Yes!"

"Swear upon the Feng Ancestor! If we break this oath, reveal the secret, the Feng Clan will be destroyed, and our descendants will bear eternal shame!"

This oath was as serious as it could be.

They swore upon the family and their descendants!

This was the ultimate seal of secrecy for the three great families!

If one person spoke out of turn, the entire family would be destroyed! But none of those present hesitated. Because the Commander deserved it, and they truly understood the great risk the Commander had taken.

What was most admirable was that the Commander only asked for secrecy from the great families after he had done everything. This heartfelt gesture moved everyone.

To say a cold-hearted thing: even if he had never said anything, never cared, who would know? Who could blame him?

These people were constantly fighting, and they were ready to die in battle. Once they were all dead, the secret would be kept forever.

But the Commander didn't do that!

Since the Commander had done so much, then keeping a secret was nothing difficult. Everyone knelt down in unison and swore to the heavens.

Fang Che didn't stop them.

After they finished, he smiled warmly, "Everyone, work hard on your cultivation and break through as soon as possible."

Fang Che descended from the platform and headed deeper into the cave.

Everyone looked at his back with respect, full of admiration.

This Commander had considered every aspect, leaving no stone unturned, and even took care of everyone's psychological needs.

He was as strong as could be.

But he was also as warm-hearted as could be.

He was as ruthless as could be to his enemies.

But to his own people, he was as caring as could be.

How could anyone not respect such a person?

Fang Che arrived at the innermost part of the cave, where there was a triangular indentation.

A faint, gentle light emanated from it.

In the center of the indentation, a small white dot was shining, gradually forming.

This was where the Fortune Power Stone was condensing. In two months, a Fortune Power Stone would form here.

This phenomenon was extremely mysterious.

Every Mystic Realm space had this setting, and it formed naturally. It was incredibly enigmatic!

Fang Che stood at the triangular spot, focusing on the Fortune Power Stone forming within, but he couldn't understand how this thing was formed.

Just then, the faint flash of light in the indentation suddenly flickered.

It slowly rose like a mist and enveloped Fang Che.

Fang Che was startled.

What was happening?

Then, he felt that the small iron piece at the bottom of his sea of consciousness, which seemed to have no use, had turned into two pieces, and they slowly floated up in his consciousness.

The misty light responded and enveloped the Fortune Power.

Then, Fang Che's hand flashed, and two small iron pieces appeared.

They were gray and ordinary, just like regular iron.

The moment the iron pieces appeared in Fang Che's hand, the Fortune Power suddenly converged towards the two pieces.

Moreover, the speed seemed to be increasing.

Could there be a connection between this iron piece and the Fortune Power?

Fang Che couldn't help but widen his eyes, staring at the iron pieces in his hand, deep in thought.

He felt the pulling force between the two.

Fang Che furrowed his brows and made a bold decision.

He tried placing the two iron pieces into the triangular groove of the indentation.

He placed them on the inner side of the forming Fortune Power Stone.

The moment he put them down, the iron pieces seemed to melt away like ice in water.

But if he reached out to touch them, they were still there.

The slowly flowing Fortune Power, that misty light, suddenly accelerated.

It kept pouring out, enveloping the Fortune Power Stone like before, but Fang Che could clearly sense that the Fortune Power Stone could no longer absorb any Fortune Power.

All the Fortune Power had merged into the iron pieces.

From the side, it seemed no different from before, but the speed at which the Fortune Power flowed towards the iron pieces had increased by more than double.

Fang Che furrowed his brows, looking at the indentation, deep in thought.

Then he placed the iron pieces inside, turned around, and left.

He couldn't understand it, but he knew it was beneficial for his small iron pieces.

So he left the iron pieces there to absorb the benefits.

"It will definitely be useful in the future."

Fang Che had a big heart and was very open-minded, "Even if it's useless, it's fine. It's not like it was ever useful to begin with."

That evening, he came back to observe.

To his surprise, the speed of the Fortune Power flowing out had increased again, doubling once more.

After a night, Fang Che checked again, and the speed of the Fortune Power flowing out had increased even more! It had reached ten times the original speed.

But from the outside, it still looked like a slow, misty light.

Only Fang Che, who had a soul connection with the iron pieces, could truly sense the difference.

Wolf Fang watched as the Commander began to study this, and he smiled as he walked over, leaned in to take a look, and said, "By tomorrow, our Fortune Power Stone should be formed. It always forms on the 9th day of the month. It's never changed."

"Mhm, I'll come to collect it tomorrow."

Fang Che nodded.

"Speaking of which, now that we have this one, we have seven in total... Haha, life is getting more comfortable."

Wolf Fang laughed happily.

"Yes, seven pieces, is that a lot?" Fang Che asked, "It's not even ten yet."

Wolf Fang's face twisted, "Commander, I don't know how to respond to that. Almost all the remaining Fortune Power Stones produced this year are in your hands!"

"This is an unprecedented miracle!"

"Perhaps."

Fang Che said.

As the Fortune Power increased, something else happened that none of them noticed: cultivation breakthroughs in this cave became easier.

That afternoon, an old man who was meditating suddenly trembled, and his eyes widened in astonishment.

A surge of breakthrough energy emanated from his body, but he himself was utterly bewildered. "Did I break through to the Sage King level? How could it be this easy? This shouldn't be the case."

The onlookers burst into laughter. "Uncle, it's been so many years since your last breakthrough. With such accumulation, what's so surprising about this?"

"But it shouldn't be this fast," the elder said, perplexed. "I had just started my attempt to break through, and suddenly, I've made it..."

"Then try to sense the power. Does it feel like the Sage King level?"

"I sense it. It's definitely a breakthrough," the elder said, his face contorted. "But it feels so effortless..."

"Hahaha..."

The crowd thought he was just being silly with joy.

Even Fang Che didn't realize there was another reason, and he couldn't help but laugh, exclaiming, "You've gone battle-crazy!"

As the crowd was still laughing, another surge of breakthrough energy emerged.

A white-haired female expert from the Feng family looked bewildered. "Did I break through to the Sage King level? How could it be this easy?"

After these two breakthroughs, they both spoke the same words.

Only they themselves knew that although their foundations had recovered, their meridians had been dry and withered for so long that they needed some time to break through.

This time could be as short as three months, or as long as half a year, or even a year.

It could even take longer, as some might get stuck at this point. After all, meridians have their limits.

But...just like that, with a single attempt, they broke through. This surprise was truly shocking.

It was as if they had exerted all their strength to push open a door, only to find that the door was already open, and they stumbled into it without even realizing it was unlocked! But this feeling could only be known to themselves; others couldn't sense it.

With two breakthroughs in quick succession, a surge of rule power suddenly reverberated through the cave.

The number of Sage Kings had reached ten.

Everyone's eyes widened, and they held their breath, wondering who would be expelled next.

A light circle flashed.

The female expert who had just broken through suddenly cried out.

"Take care, everyone! You must take care!" she sobbed, her voice choked with emotion, tears streaming down her face.

A light circle enveloped her body, and in an instant, she disappeared without a trace.

She was the last of the ten Sage Kings to break through, yet she was the first to be expelled.

"San Gong Nai is gone! Hahaha..."

Lang Mao was overjoyed. "This is great!"

Everyone wore smiles, beaming with excitement, and they all cheered.

San Gong Nai had been stationed in the secret realm for one hundred and thirty years. She entered as an Eighth Stage Venerable at the age of thirty-five and had spent her best years in this secret realm.

When she entered, she was still unmarried. After breaking through to the Ninth Stage Sage level in the secret realm, she was besieged in a major battle and almost lost her life. Since then, she had been unable to conceive.

Now that she could finally leave, everyone was happy for her. A Feng family woman could finally embrace her happiness, return to her family, and enjoy her life!

Amidst the cheers, a burly man suddenly leaped into the air, shouting, "Damn!"

No explanation was needed for his exclamation.

Another surge of breakthrough energy emanated from him, and in his excitement, he had broken through.

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise. When did breakthroughs become so easy?

Then, the rule power came again.

This time, the one expelled was not the newly broken-through burly man but a Fourth Stage Sacred King from the Feng family.

As he was taken away, his face was filled with bewilderment, never expecting to be expelled.

Could it be that this secret realm's rule was to expel those who had just broken through?

He only had time to say, "I didn't think I'd be...everyone, take care! Take care, take care!"

And he, too, disappeared without a trace.

Within half an hour, two people had left.

Everyone was stunned, so surprised that they didn't even have time to celebrate.

So fast? But one after another, well into the night, they kept disappearing. Those who had been stuck at the peak of the Ninth Rank Sage level were breaking through one by one!

The rule seemed to expel people at random.

Even Lang Mao was expelled.

After all those at the threshold had broken through, everyone was left bewildered.

Seven hundred and three people, and now only six hundred and sixty-five remained.

Including the captain's connections, it was exactly six hundred and sixty-six.

"Six!" Fang Che said.

Lang Mao was bewildered, and even late into the night, he ran to Fang Che's room. "Captain, this...what's going on?"

Fang Che was also bewildered. "You're asking me? Aren't you the one who's been here the longest? Why are you asking me, a newcomer?"

Lang Mao's face contorted. "The spirit energy hasn't increased. How could it be...how could those at the threshold all break through?"

Fang Che replied, "Those at the threshold, when good things happen, their spirits soar, and breaking through isn't surprising, right? Besides, they've been accumulating for so many years. Isn't breaking through normal?"

Fang Che himself couldn't wrap his head around this matter.

He acknowledged that his Boundless Dharma Sutra had played a role in restoring everyone's foundations, but...no matter how you looked at it, it shouldn't be that so many people broke through all at once, right?

And it shouldn't be as easy as drinking water, right?

His Boundless Dharma Sutra definitely didn't have such an effect. Fang Che was certain of that!

So, what was going on?

The two men stared at each other, both bewildered, their eyes filled with incomprehension.

"This is truly bizarre!"

Lang Mao scratched his head, unconsciously pulling out a strand of hair without realizing it.

"But it's a good thing, isn't it?" Fang Che said.

"It's a good thing, but it's a bit eerie how good it is..." Lang Mao said, gnashing his teeth, his face contorted.

"I also think it's a bit eerie. Using the explanation of accumulation and sudden breakthrough doesn't seem to make sense, does it?"

"Could it be that your Feng family has such a bloodline?"

"That's impossible!" Lang Mao exclaimed, jumping up.

The two discussed the matter for an hour but couldn't come to a conclusion. They left with bewildered faces, still in a daze.

That night, no one slept.

Fang Che himself didn't understand the reason, and of course, he had no idea that during his time as captain, he had created a group of such freaks for the Feng family...

All the Feng family members who had left Fang Che's command would find it easier to break through to higher levels than others...

At dawn, the time had come.

Wolf Fang had arrived.

"Boss, it's time to collect the Fortune Spirit Stone."

"Alright."

Fang Che went outside.

He approached the concave area, took a look, and touched it.

The inside felt illusory.

"It hasn't formed yet."

Fang Che was once again bewildered.

"How is that possible!"

Wolf Fang was utterly shocked. "It must have formed! It's the ninth day of the month! How could it not have formed?!"

He reached out to touch it.

"I swear it hasn't formed?!"

Wolf Fang was completely dumbfounded. "How could it not have formed this month?"

Fang Che glared at him. "Did you remember wrong?"

"How could I have remembered wrong!"

Wolf Fang was so anxious that his lips twitched as he swore, "If I remembered wrong, I'm a damn fool..."

"Then what's going on?"

Fang Che, furious, said, "It makes no sense! For hundreds, even thousands of years, it's always formed on the ninth day, but this month, right when I became the commander, it didn't?"

Wolf Fang blinked and mumbled, "Well... maybe it's just a coincidence..."

"Nonsense!"

Fang Che roared, "Shut up!"

Wolf Fang closed his mouth, not daring to speak.

Then Fang Che noticed something—the two iron pieces were gone. He quickly reached in again, feeling around, and could touch them at the bottom.

But no matter how Wolf Fang tried, he couldn't seem to touch them.

Could it be because of the iron pieces?

Fang Che pondered.

The two of them stared at each other, waiting, and after half an hour, they checked again, but it still hadn't formed.

Wolf Fang was devastated.

He rushed out, calling for help, "Everyone, come and touch it!"

Everyone gathered.

"The Fortune Spirit Stone hasn't formed? How is that possible?"

No one believed it.

Seeing it glowing inside with their own eyes, they reached in, and a chorus of surprised exclamations filled the air.

"It really hasn't formed? Is today not the ninth day?"

"The timing is right, but what's going on?"

"This is unbelievable!"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. "This is so strange! After countless years of continuous formation, the Fortune Spirit Stone didn't form this month!"

Everyone tried to scoop it out, but Fang Che wasn't worried at all.

Because they couldn't even touch the two small iron pieces.

Finally, everyone stopped, looking a bit lost.

No one could understand why the Fortune Spirit Stone hadn't formed.

They began discussing the future, feeling a bit pessimistic, wondering how they would manage without the Fortune Spirit Stone.

This situation was happening simultaneously in countless mystic realms across the entire battle zone, whether it was the Only Righteous Sect's mystic realm or the Guardian's mystic realm, all were in chaos.

The Fortune Spirit Stone, which usually took two months to form and was as solid as a rock for hundreds of years, hadn't formed this month!

Whether it was a Sage's mystic realm or a Sacred King's mystic realm, everyone was bewildered.

"Where's the Fortune Spirit Stone? How could it not have formed this month? What's going on!"

"The Fortune Spirit Stone didn't form? I'll go check!"

"What the hell is going on? Is the heavens changing?"

"..."

That day, all the mystic realms in the battle zone were in turmoil.

Because none of the Fortune Spirit Stones had formed.

Fang Che glanced at the iron pieces, and the speed at which they were absorbing the Fortune Power had already increased by hundreds of times compared to when he had placed them there the previous day.

They were devouring the Fortune Power!

...

In a distant mountain range,

A cute little bear sat in front of a rock wall, its paw in its mouth, drooling as it looked at a giant beehive high up on the cliff.

Suddenly, the little bear stood up.

As if it had sensed something...

Then, from the distant starry sky, a thin stream of Fortune Power descended and connected with the little bear's head.

The little bear's spirit shook, and it danced with joy.

Its adorable eyes were filled with happiness.

Then, the stream of Fortune Power became thicker...

The little bear was excited. It pressed its head against the stream, continuously absorbing the Fortune Power, feeling its whole body filled with energy. It climbed onto the rock wall, extending its paw to strike the beehive.

A swarm of giant bees flew out, stinging and attacking fiercely.

The little bear was like a punching bag, covered in bumps and bruises all over its head and body. It covered its eyes and face, rolled on the ground for several dozen rounds, then got up and ran.

Behind it, the giant bees pursued relentlessly...

The little bear ran for its life, pleading for mercy.

But the stream of Fortune Power followed it wherever it went...

...

At noon,

Fang Che was grilling meat.

From outside, a long howl echoed, "Relationship! Come out and play!"

It was Bip Fangdong's voice.

Fang Che smiled wryly, "Listen to that. You all listen. Just from that voice, you'd think I have a great relationship with him. Now he's inviting me out to play."

Everyone burst into laughter.

The Tiger Head on the opposite side seemed to be addicted.

Fang Che led his men out, a grand procession, with him at the center, exuding the demeanor of a true leader.

"Tiger Head, big brother is here! Did you miss me?" Fang Che laughed, feeling refreshed and proud.

He didn't show any signs of having lost so many days in a row.

Bip Fangdong laughed, "I missed your Supreme Spirit Crystal!"

The Only Righteous Sect's side also burst into laughter.

Judging by their behavior, it seemed like others might think they had a harmonious relationship.

Bip Fangdong asked, "Relationship, did your Fortune Spirit Stone condense today?"

This question seemed casual.

But who was Fang Che?

He immediately realized that Bip Fangdong's Fortune Spirit Stone probably hadn't formed either!

He laughed and said, "It condensed. Yours did too, right?"

As he spoke, he tossed a Fortune Spirit Stone in his hand.

Bip Fangdong laughed, "Yes, mine condensed too!"

Fang Che said, "I've been wanting to play this. Playing with Spirit Crystals isn't satisfying enough. Come, come, this time, let's each send five people for a life-and-death battle, betting on the Fortune Spirit Stone!"

"Finally, we have a stake! Come, come."

Fang Che was thrilled. "Bring out the newly condensed Fortune Spirit Stone. These days, you couldn't afford to lose, so I didn't dare mention it. A big shot like you, the young master of the Only Righteous Fang family, couldn't even bring out a stake. Today, you have it."

Bip Fangdong's face twisted.

He didn't have any.

He couldn't produce any.

The Fortune Spirit Stones in his Mystic Realm hadn't taken shape yet.

The previous ones had all been wagered or used up.

At this awkward moment, Bi Fangdong's toes were curling inward, as if he wanted to dig a hole in the ground.

Just then, Fang Che spoke solemnly, "Since I took up the role of commander, I haven't engaged in a life-and-death battle. Now that both sides have formed their Fortune Spirit Stones, it's a heaven-sent opportunity. Today will be my first true battle as a commander!"

"Tiger Head, come, send someone quickly."

Fang Che shouted, "Who from our side will fight? Step forward and volunteer! This is a life-and-death battle, so think carefully before volunteering!"

"Boom!"

In an instant, 665 people stepped forward in unison, without a moment's hesitation.

"Five will do!"

Fang Che hurriedly stopped them.

In truth, he didn't need anyone, as Fang Che knew the other side couldn't produce a stake.

Bi Fangdong was at a loss.

The other side's reason was straightforward and the timing was perfect, as both sides had their Fortune Spirit Stones ready. It was a fair and square battle!

Regardless, Fang Che's side had no reason to refuse. But his own Fortune Spirit Stones hadn't taken shape, and he couldn't even produce a stake.

A thought crossed his mind: If we fight, I've been winning consecutively. As long as I don't lose, it's fine.

With a determined mindset, he said, "Fine, give me five people!"

"Wait!"

Fang Che said, "Don't call anyone yet. Where's your stake?"

Bi Fangdong was furious, "Am I supposed to owe you a stake?"

"If you don't owe me, then show me what you have."

"Since the Fortune Spirit Stones are formed, why insist on seeing them?"

"How can I know you have them if I don't see them?"

"How can I not have them if they're formed?"

"Then show them!"

Their exchange was hurried and tense.

Then, both fell silent.

Bi Fangdong's face turned awkward, while Fang Che's face gradually turned into a mask of fury. Suddenly, he exploded with rage, "You don't even have them?"

"I do!" Bi Fangdong instinctively refuted.

"Then show them!"

"I won't!"

"..."

Fang Che took a deep breath, "Bi Fangdong, you want to swindle me barehanded?"

Bi Fangdong, feeling guilty, replied, "Don't try that on me. Your Fortune Spirit Stones aren't formed either. What you have in your hand is what I lost to you before!"

Fang Che, enraged, said, "Are the ones I won not Fortune Spirit Stones? You don't have a single one, and the new ones aren't formed yet. You're playing a swindling game here?"

"If I win, I won't need to produce a stake!"

"Bullshit! You can't even produce a stake, and I won't let you sit at the table. You can't win anything!"

Fang Che dismissed him with a wave, "Bi Fangdong, you're not even human today!"

Bi Fangdong, furious, retorted, "I've already lost everything to you, and the new ones aren't formed yet. What do you expect me to do?"

On the other side, the 300 members of the Only Righteous Sect all felt ashamed.

They had agreed to a life-and-death battle, but they couldn't produce a stake. Not only that, but their commander had lied, and his lie had been exposed, caught red-handed.

It was utterly humiliating.

Bi Fangdong knew he was in the wrong, and no matter how he tried to explain, he was in the wrong.

But he didn't want to apologize. They were life-and-death enemies, and he didn't feel the need to apologize for failing to deceive them. Were they friends?

However, Fang Che wouldn't let it go. Bi Fangdong had done something so despicable, and he had to apologize!

"Apologize!"

"I'll apologize to your mother!"

"Will you apologize or not?"

"I won't!"

"Swish..."

Fang Che's hand, which had been behind his back, moved, and five flying blades shot out with a hiss.

Clang... Thud, thud, thud!

Two flying blades were blocked, but the other three, with their tips pointing straight ahead, pierced the skulls of their targets.

The blades were embedded so deeply that their handles were no longer visible.

It wasn't a matter of accuracy, but Fang Che had exerted more force. It was the beginning of the month, and the Divine Formula of the medicinal pills that the other side was using also benefited Fang Che.

If the blades had only pierced their throats, they might not have been fatal. Pulling them out immediately and administering the pills theoretically could have saved them.

But with the blades directly penetrating their skullcaps, the blade energy turned their brain matter into a pulpy mess, leaving no chance of survival.

So, Fang Che's targets this time were different. However, the difference between aiming for the throat and the skullcap was significant, and the difficulty was much higher.

Fang Che was dissatisfied that two of his blades had been deflected.

He reached out, and the five blades returned to him, trailing three lines of blood.

Bi Fangdong's anger surged like a mountain, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. "You...!"

The five blades spun in Fang Che's hand, and two of them disappeared, leaving only three.

The 300 people on the other side took a step back, their eyes filled with caution and hatred as they watched the spinning blades in Fang Che's hand.

Everyone knew one thing: The fewer flying blades, the greater their power. The other side had five blades, and three corpses lay on the ground. They had also realized that five blades couldn't guarantee a kill, so they retracted two, leaving three.

Clearly, they had also considered the issue of medicinal pill replenishment. This time, they hadn't chosen the throat but the skullcap, denying any chance of recovery.

Their move was a decisive kill.

The three blades transformed into a white light, and Fang Che coldly said, "Apologize!"

"I..." Bi Fangdong almost bit his teeth into pieces.

The other side's strategy was simple: threat and coercion.

Apologize, or I'll kill your people!

Will you apologize?

Fang Che's eyes turned cold, his steps closing in.

He was determined to shatter Bi Fangdong's authority.

If a leader in a team lost their authority, the combat strength of that team could drop by at least 10%, and in severe cases, up to 90%.

Bi Fangdong was in a dilemma, his face turning purple with rage, ready to fight to the death.

"Swish!"

Another sharp gust of wind sounded, and on the Only Righteous Sect's side, those standing at the front and in the middle were unharmed, but the one at the very back fell to the ground.

The flying blade on his skullcap was still spinning, and then, with a flash of blood, it flew back.

The man's head spewed out a mixture of red and white blood from the center.

He collapsed to the ground, twitched a few times, and became still.

This time, there was only one flying blade.

Everyone felt a chill, as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

It was an obvious fact that, within this space, except for the commander and a limited number of Sacred Kings, anyone targeted by Fang Che's flying blades would die.

Pick anyone!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end