https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-801-Fang-Che-s-Intelligence-Part-2-/12982912/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-803-The-Despicable-Sword-is-Also-Despicable-Three-in-One-Part-1-/12982914/
Chapter 802: The Path of the Divine, The Struggle of the Non-Divine
Chapter 802: The Path of the Divine, The Struggle of the Non-Divine
That very afternoon, the Only Righteous Sect's Southern Headquarters held a ceremony to worship the Tianwu Shen, followed by a meeting to discuss the arrangements for the actions of the Young Master of the Feng Clan. The Southern Governor-General personally presided over the meeting.
That night, the Southern Governor-General of the Only Righteous Sect mysteriously died in his bedroom.
The doors and windows were intact, and the room was undisturbed, not a single thread out of place.
Even the shoes by the bed were neatly arranged, and the concubine beside him was still sleeping peacefully.
However, the Southern Governor-General's body was strangely decapitated. His head and body were separated, yet they remained connected without a trace of blood. Not even a hint of bloodstain could be detected in the air.
No wonder the concubine slept soundly, cuddling the cold corpse until morning. When she gently pushed her sleeping partner, only to find that he wouldn't wake up, she playfully nudged him, causing his head to fall off...
The concubine let out a shrill scream, her soul seemed to have left her body as she stumbled out in a daze, almost driven to madness.
This assassination was bizarre beyond measure.
When the people from the Southern Headquarters arrived to investigate, they all felt something was amiss.
It was as if a ghost or a god had carried out the deed, leaving no trace behind.
After reporting to Feng Yun, he ordered the scene to be sealed off. Then, he immediately dispatched experts to the site. Even after using their spiritual beasts to carefully examine the area, they found no clues. They only detected a faint, almost imperceptible foul odor in the air.
"The Divine Weasel Sect!"
Feng Yun immediately reported this to Yan Nan, who became furious.
Yan Nan's anger was not without reason. The great war had just ended, and they were still working on developing the tracking elixir.
The Divine Weasel Sect had once again gone completely underground.
On the side of the Only Righteous Sect, Feng Yun reported his plan, which Yan Nan approved.
But before he could even finish approving it, the Southern Governor-General had already died.
And it happened right after the ceremony, just like the previous time!
This was a blatant provocation!
"Speed up the operation!" Yan Nan felt like he was choking on his own anger, unable to even speak. He was so furious that he seemed on the verge of exploding.
Then, he went underground.
The Xingshen Dian.
Inside, Duan Xiaoyang was in closed-door cultivation, clearly at a critical juncture.
Yan Nan stood silently at the temple's entrance, sensing two terrifying forces clashing within.
It was a level beyond his comprehension.
One of the forces, Yan Nan could clearly feel, was the power of the Tianwu Shen, summoned by the Bai Gu Qiang.
The other force was even more mysterious.
Yan Nan could almost guess that under the pressure of these two forces, Duan Xiaoyang must be enduring unimaginable agony.
However, this was necessary.
Duan Xiaoyang had finally detected a trace of divine power, so he had to summon the power of the Tianwu Shen, allowing the two divine forces to clash within his body.
Amidst excruciating pain, he was slowly finding his way forward.
At this very moment, Duan Xiaoyang in the grand hall was teetering on the brink of annihilation with every passing second. Each collision of divine power brought countless life-and-death crises.
Duan Xiaoyang was navigating through tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of brushes with death to find that faint glimmer of hope.
At such a critical juncture, even someone as powerful as Yan Nan would face immense danger. If a child who knew no martial arts suddenly cried out, it would be enough to send Duan Xiaoyang into a state of internal chaos, leading to his immediate demise.
That's why Yan Nan didn't feel at ease with Duan Xiaoyang cultivating elsewhere. Instead, he arranged for him to cultivate right here, and even moved his own office to personally guard the law.
There must be no room for error.
"The path to the Great Dao..."
Yan Nan's white eyebrows furrowed as he sighed inwardly. He knew that he, too, had reached the limits of martial arts, just like Duan Xiaoyang.
If he wanted to break through, he would have to undergo a similar trial.
However, Yan Nan also understood that while Duan Xiaoyang might succeed in this crisis, he himself would never be able to do the same.
He knew he could never match Duan Xiaoyang's purity of mind. In such a situation, a single stray thought could lead to instant death.
Moreover, he was well aware that the two divine powers Duan Xiaoyang was utilizing were both malevolent gods. Whether it was the Tianwu Shen or the unfamiliar Divine Weasel God, their divine wills were filled with destructive malice.
If Duan Xiaoyang couldn't maintain balance, he would be devoured by both divine wills instantly, without a shred of mercy.
"My eldest brother emerged from here, achieving invincibility."
Yan Nan felt the surging power within and silently thought, "My third brother entered and barely managed to survive, but he sustained severe injuries... and has yet to recover."
"I wonder how long Old Duan can hold on..."
Sensing the howling divine will within, Yan Nan stayed for a while before leaving.
As long as the divine will continued to howl, Duan Xiaoyang was still alive.
"Old Duan, I hope you succeed!"
...
High above the clouds, at an unknown altitude over the Guardian Headquarters.
Xue Fu Xiao sat cross-legged in mid-air, wearing a white robe.
On his knees rested a sword.
The Zhanqing Dao.
He sat there in the void.
After a long while, suddenly, a blade of light shot towards the sky, slicing through the void above.
His body remained seated, and the Zhanqing Dao was still on his knees.
But the blade of light had already soared into the sky.
Wherever the sword energy passed, the Nine Heavens Gale paused momentarily, as if severed by a sword.
After a brief pause, the gale resumed its howling.
Xue Fu Xiao's face remained calm as he continued to sit.
The sword energy continued to surge towards the sky.
Xue Fuxiao continued her practice, a routine she had been doing for a long time.
Fengyun Qi and Dongfang Sansan stood at a distance, watching Xue Fuxiao's sword practice.
"Xue's Cultivation Level can be said to be astonishing, shaking the ancient and modern world!" Fengyun Qi praised sincerely.
"Not enough!"
Dongfang Sansan shook his head lightly.
On his thin face, there was a hint of worry.
"Still not enough?"
"Yes, not enough."
Dongfang Sansan sighed, "Xiao Xue's current sword technique faces its greatest obstacle—there's no opponent! No response!"
"Just slashing at nothingness... it won't work."
Fengyun Qi was taken aback, "Do you want some existence in this vast sky to suddenly appear and strike back at her?"
"That would be the best."
Dongfang Sansan spoke.
"!!!"
Fengyun Qi was shocked. He never expected Dongfang Sansan to agree with such sarcasm.
"Do you know why Xiao Xue slashes towards the sky?" Dongfang Sansan asked.
"I don't know."
"Hehe, Xiao Xue is using her own expanding sword energy to attack any divine being in the void."
Dongfang Sansan's eyes narrowed like a hawk, "Without the conditions of the Only Righteous Sect, we can only use such a foolish method."
"Xiao Xue's intention with her sword is to initiate an attack, a provocation. As long as any divine being passes through the void during her strike or senses her sword energy, and casually strikes back or glances at her... that's considered a response."
"Just one such instance is enough!"
"Unfortunately, Xiao Xue has swung her sword billions of times, but she hasn't encountered a single response. But she has no other choice; she can only use this most foolish method to practice her sword!"
"We don't know if there are any divine beings in this void, or if any will pass by. Moreover, we don't even know if Xiao Xue's sword energy can reach a level where a divine being can notice it."
"Every time Xiao Xue practices, she makes progress, but each time, she doesn't achieve the progress she truly desires."
Dongfang Sansan sighed deeply.
"I understand. Is this the final transformation of the martial path? But this... is too foolish."
Fengyun Qi said.
"There's no other way. Moreover, there's a predecessor who succeeded this way."
Dongfang Sansan spoke.
"Who?"
"The Headmaster of the Only Righteous Sect, Zheng Yuandong, defied the heavens and struck down a god!"
Dongfang Sansan said with reverence.
"That time was clear proof!"
"Then..."
Fengyun Qi wanted to say that Zheng Yuandong's situation was different from Xue Fuxiao's, but he thought about it and kept quiet.
Because right now, there was no other way.
Xue Fuxiao could only continue like this.
Because they didn't have a divine being!
Moreover, Xue Fuxiao's actions were also a form of practice. Even if she didn't achieve the best results, her daily efforts and hard work in cultivation would still be beneficial.
He could only sigh, "If a divine being passes by and strikes back or takes a glance, Xiao Xue might not be able to withstand it."
"That's what I'm most worried about."
Dongfang Sansan said calmly, "This is what I'm most looking forward to, and also what I fear the most."
He sighed and said lightly, "With divine beings, there's a path; without them, one must struggle."
The meaning behind these words caused both of them to fall silent.
After a long while, they watched as Xue Fuxiao sat quietly in the distant sky, like a peaceful rock. Her sword light continuously surged, slashing towards the blue sky! One slash after another.
Struggling for her future, struggling against fate.
They silently returned.
Only Xue Fuxiao remained, tirelessly practicing her sword in the unknown sky, slashing again and again...
This was an unimaginable effort, an unimaginable boredom, and a hope so slim it bordered on despair!
But Xue Fuxiao persisted... never slacking, not even in despair. After all, there was still 'hope' in despair!
Because the continent needed this sword!
Fang Che received a response, and his heart immediately settled.
"It's indeed Ninth Master's arrangement."
"It's no wonder he's the Old Silver Coin, he actually buried such a huge hidden trap here!"
"No wonder Yan Beihan got stuck here. The key to this situation is actually on me. As long as I don't come, Yan Beihan will never pass this hurdle in his entire life! So, Dongfang Junshi only needs to wait. When Yan Beihan has searched for everyone and still can't pass, then he'll come to me."
"Then, whether I seek instructions or not, as long as I appear, this hurdle will be overcome. It's inevitable... truly cunning."
"But from what I see now, the only challenge for me is to defeat Shi Changjian."
Fang Che lay on the bed, frowning in deep thought, "According to Shi Changjian's Cultivation Level in the Yin-Yang Realm, defeating him should be effortless for me. However, it's said that this guy has entered the Sword Crypt and received Guanding... so it's hard to predict."
"The key is that Yan Beihan and the others haven't figured out Shi Changjian's current Cultivation Level either. In simple terms, the younger generation on this side hasn't been able to do it."
"It shouldn't be like this according to reason. If Shi Changjian's own Cultivation Level allowed him to reach a level where even a super big demon like Bing Tianxue couldn't see through him, then what's the point of this battle for me?"
"So, there must be some other strange circumstances."
As Fang Che thought about it, he decided to meditate.
He cultivated for the entire night.
Yan Beihan's Room.
Yan Beihan was reading, his face gentle and his eyes filled with a soft smile.
Bi Yunyan and Feng Xuechenxue were sprawled out on Yan Beihan's bed, refusing to leave.
The three women sat cross-legged on the bed, playing a card game popular among the Only Righteous Sect.
The stakes were simple: the loser would remove an article of clothing.
If they lost all their clothes, they'd get spanked.
"A pair of rabbits!" Bi Yunyan played her cards.
"A pair of foxes to beat you!" Feng Xuechenxue countered.
"A pair of wolves!" Chen Xue didn't back.
"A pair of tigers!"
"A pair of dragons, boom!"
"Three sheep with two rabbits, you lose!"
Feng Xuechenxue burst into laughter, mimicking a man's voice as she said, "Take it off for me!"
Bi Yunyan and Chen Xue undressed while complaining, "You have such bad luck!"
Then, "Again!"
Yan Beihan had only read for a while when he noticed three little white sheep had appeared on his bed.
Bi Yunyan, who had lost the most, had her buttocks turned red from the spanking. Feng Xuechenxue showed no mercy, and each slap caused her buttocks to jiggle.
It was clear they had used Qiong Xiao Hua, making the spanking especially enjoyable.
"Kneel and lie down! Stick it out!"
Chen Xue and Feng Xuechenxue shouted together.
"Little Yan, save me..."
Bi Yunyan pleaded for help as she knelt and lay down, then screamed, "Ahhhh!"
Yan Beihan sighed, using his Cultivation Level to remove the ear barrier, "Didn't you three swear yesterday that you'd focus on cultivation?"
The three women sheepishly replied, "Playing this game is more fun than cultivation..."
"Honestly..."
Yan Beihan never participated in their games, maintaining his leadership dignity.
With a pained expression, he said, "You three, always acting so cool and aloof outside, but privately, you're all crazy. If someone were to see you like this, what would they think?"
"With the Shen Nian Suo Ding created by Xue Jie herself, how could anyone see us?"
The three women didn't care.
Yan Beihan sighed and was about to speak when a knock sounded at the door.
Bing Tianxue's voice came from outside, "Little Yan?"
The three women cried out in surprise, threw off their blankets, and huddled together on the bed, barely covered by a single blanket.
Only their heavenly faces were visible, their eyes tightly shut as if they were asleep.
Yan Beihan opened the door, "Aunt Bing?"
Bing Tianxue entered, "Oh, are all three of you asleep? Why are you sleeping so close together? Such strong emotions."
"Yes, yes."
Yan Beihan forced a smile, "They do have strong emotions."
"Little Yan, this Night Demon, he has something on him."
Bing Tianxue leaned against the table and transmitted her voice to Yan Beihan, "I just used my Divine Perception to monitor the entire camp, and I found a place I couldn't enter. After investigating, I realized it was the Night Demon, and I couldn't monitor him."
Yan Beihan was taken aback but quickly responded, "Aunt Bing, he practices the Hentian Dao."
"So he's the successor to the Chief Guardian?"
Bing Tianxue was genuinely surprised.
"Yes, but he's changed his appearance. You'll understand the characteristics of the Hentian Dao. Without the raging hate, no one can recognize him."
Yan Beihan explained.
"I see."
Bing Tianxue was relieved, "Then we'll see how he fares tomorrow. If the younger generation can't get through, they'd be frustrated. If it were up to me, I'd just push them aside."
"Then our plan wouldn't be able to proceed."
Yan Beihan sighed.
"That's true."
Bing Tianxue said, "You should rest early too. Tomorrow, you need to be alert. As the leader, your performance is crucial."
"I understand." Yan Beihan nodded.
Bing Tianxue glanced at the bed, where the three women were still pretending to sleep, huddled close together.
She extended her hand, and the air around her began to condense into water, forming a large water ball the size of a watermelon in her palm.
Yan Beihan was speechless.
The three women, unaware, continued to feign sleep with their eyes closed.
White mist rose from Bing Tianxue's palm, and the water ball instantly turned into several small ice lumps.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Bing Tianxue's body silently floated to the bed, and in a flash, she threw off the blanket, sending the ice lumps into the bed.
The bed was instantly filled with ice.
"Ahhh!"
The three women cried out in surprise and jumped up like little white sheep. Their bodies undulated and bounced in an instant.
Bing Tianxue burst into laughter and left.
Yan Beihan couldn't help but laugh...
The three women pouted in annoyance but dared not scold her. They quickly tidied themselves up, and the worst off was Feng Xuechenxue, who had the largest and most prominent ice lump...
...
The next morning, Fang Che woke up early.
Although he was a guest invited by Yan Beihan, his status was the lowest in the group.
Fortunately, Fang Che had a good memory and remembered all the names Yan Beihan had introduced the day before.
He greeted everyone, but the responses were lukewarm, and the older demons ignored him as they passed by.
Bing Tianxue's appearance was different, "Night Demon, how was your rest last night?"
"It was fine, thank you for your concern, senior."
"I care about you? Not at all!"
Bing Tianxue said, "In this place, you have many enemies from your family. I was worried that someone would come and take your head last night."
"..."
Just then, Yan Beihan appeared.
A tall and slender figure, cloaked in a deep purple robe with intricate white patterns, was followed by three women—Bi Yunyan, Feng Xuechenxue, and Bing Tianxue—each exuding an aura of unapproachable beauty, like three blocks of ice.
Anyone could sense the coldness, haughtiness, and pride emanating from these four beauties, making them seem unattainably lofty.
The presence of these four stunning women caused the vibrant colors of the day to fade, leaving only a dull landscape.
Zhou Meier followed closely behind them.
She was accompanied by a team of female experts, each with their own captivating beauty, but as cold as frost.
"Night Demon, come to my side."
Yan Beihan's voice carried a commanding tone.
"Yes," replied a man with a full beard, surrounded by a group of female experts.
Bing Tianxue led the way, with Yan Beihan closely behind, followed by Fang Che, Feng Xuechenxue, and Bi Yunyan.
The bearded man, named Qu Wuhui, was part of the Night Demon Sect.
They soared into the sky, with various demon leaders following suit.
Bing Tianxue took the lead, her delicate hands wielding her weapon with abandon, charging forward without a care in the world.
Her demeanor exuded a sense of domineering arrogance.
Outside, the mountains and valleys were blanketed in snow, creating a serene winter wonderland.
The previous night's snowfall had dressed the entire world in white, but the sky remained hazy.
Fang Che couldn't help but think of summer blizzards, feeling a surge of annoyance.
"I don't want to see snow right now!" he thought to himself.
Ahead, a group of mountains rose, their peaks resembling a giant embrace, standing tall and orderly.
The scenery was breathtaking.
This was the Pagoda Sect.
Due to the presence of the Only Righteous Sect in the area, tensions between the two sects had escalated, leading the Pagoda Sect to remove the deceptive array from their mountain gate.
The situation was now clear—a standoff with no room for negotiation.
The message was simple: "Do as you please, we're ready for anything!"
This attitude permeated the mountains, exuding a sense of lawlessness.
In front of them, a small mountain had been completely flattened, and on it, four large characters:
"Pagoda Sect!"
These characters carried an intense killing intent and an air of arrogance, as if challenging the heavens and dominating the world with their blades.
Then, a section of the mountain, twenty zhang wide, had been cut away, leaving smooth and polished sides.
A grand gate was erected within this twenty zhang-wide opening, serving as the mountain gate of the Pagoda Sect.
"Impressive!" Fang Che couldn't help but praise inwardly.
He had to admit that the name 'Mountain Gate' was indeed fitting for this sight.
So, this was what it meant to open a mountain and create a gate!
He was truly amazed.
Stepping through the mountain gate, they walked forward for several hundred zhang.
A spacious area appeared before them, with a raised platform blocking their path.
On both sides of the platform, stands were arranged in ascending order, sending a clear message: "No passage without victory!"
The Pagoda Sect's determination was evident without a single word spoken, conveyed solely through their setup.
From the mountain gate to the platform, not a single person had greeted them, clearly indicating the Pagoda Sect's lack of welcome.
Bing Tianxue shouted, "Qu Changkong! An old friend has arrived, come out and greet us!"
Her words echoed through the mountains.
Snow began to fall from the trees and mountainsides, creating a rustling sound.
A refined voice from across the platform responded, "Honored Elder, we've made it clear that if none of your younger generation can defeat us, there's no need for further discussion or meetings."
"As for the platform, someone will naturally handle the arrangements. There's no need for me to personally intervene."
The speaker, Qu Changkong, was unwavering.
Bing Tianxue replied, "I didn't call you for any other reason but to spar with you once more. How about it?"
"Hahahaha..."
Qu Changkong's laughter filled the air before he spoke, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Honored Elder, but I have a habit since childhood—I never leave my abode when it snows."
"..."
Bing Tianxue's nose twitched in anger.
Her plans had fallen apart.
She had hoped to take advantage of this opportunity to give Qu Changkong a thorough beating, but he seemed well-prepared for her unique martial arts style.
Ever since welcoming Fang Che the previous day, Bing Tianxue had been eagerly preparing for a battle.
However, Qu Changkong refused to show up, citing a ridiculous reason—a childhood habit.
Bing Tianxue couldn't hold back her anger, "You dared to ambush the Deputy Headmaster in a blizzard, yet you claim to follow a childhood habit!"
Qu Changkong's voice carried through the air, "That's why you were severely injured that time."
"..."
Bing Tianxue was at a loss for words, her beautiful face turning dark.
She could only mutter under her breath, "Old fox."
With no other choice, she gave up.
Just as the conversation between the two ended, a team of over two hundred people from the Pagoda Sect approached, led by a middle-aged man with a long beard.
Their formation was precise, and their steps were in perfect harmony, giving the impression of a sharp and deadly sword formation.
Yan Beihan's gaze fixed on the middle-aged man, the current Sect Leader of the Pagoda Sect, known as Qu Wuhui, or 'No Retreat Sword.'
It was said that his sword technique only knew advancement, never retreat.
Fang Che's attention shifted to Shi Changjian, who followed closely behind Qu Wuhui.
This was his opponent.
(End of Chapter)
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