Free Web NovelChapter 298: Chapter 62: Outer Heaven Sand, A Son-in-law’s Filial Piety
The duel between Fang Cheng and Wu Mingshou might seem complex in the telling, but to any onlookers, it was over in a matter of moments.
Many Cultivators couldn’t even bear to watch the duel directly. They could only sense an earth-shattering collision of auras, as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.
When everything settled, only Fang Cheng remained in the sky.
He stood in the air, his expression calm as he mentally reviewed the battle between his Dream Spirit and Wu Mingshou.
This one glimpse was enough to understand the whole picture.
Wu Mingshou’s strength was a testament to the sheer depth of the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio’s resources.
He possessed the Divine Punishment Banner, a third-grade top-grade magic tool, and the Cold Blade, a Tier Three Lower Grade magical artifact. He had also used a Spirit Pill to temporarily boost his Magical Power to the Life Soul Realm.
Although his overall strength was inferior to Supreme Elder Zi Kuang of the Rakshasa Sect, he possessed genuine Life Soul Battle Power.
Furthermore, with two Third-tier Magical Artifacts, he could both attack and defend. If Fang Cheng had relied solely on his Mechanical Battle Armor, he probably would have struggled to win quickly.
In comparison, a Tier Three Celestial Demon with only its Lifebound Divine Techniques and no magical artifacts for support was much easier to deal with.
The reason Human Race Cultivators became the Masters of Heaven and Earth was their endless and incredibly powerful creations: magical artifacts, talismans, puppets, arrays, and more...
Suddenly, Fang Cheng’s expression shifted as he looked into the distance.
A beam of Demonic Light appeared, gliding gracefully toward him and arriving in an instant.
Within the Demonic Light was a hazy figure, its features indistinct.
Fang Cheng’s expression turned serious. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "Greetings, Grandmaster."
The newcomer was none other than the Yinluo Sect’s number one expert, Supreme Elder Su Miao.
However, judging by his current appearance, it seemed his old injuries had still not healed.
Su Miao glanced around and said, "I arrived a step too late. Fang Cheng, are you alright?"
Fang Cheng smiled faintly. "Thank you for your concern, Grandmaster. I am fine."
Su Miao snorted coldly, his displeasure clear. "The Ten Thousand Treasures Studio is truly getting more and more arrogant. They knew I was injured and that your master is in seclusion attempting a breakthrough, so they thought they could bully our Yinluo Sect! If they hadn’t run into an iron wall like you, the Yinluo Sect would have lost all face today."
Anyone else might not have been able to hold out until his arrival.
And just like last time, Su Miao didn’t press for details about the origin of Fang Cheng’s Dream Spirit.
Fang Cheng’s voice was grave. "Grandmaster, this matter started because of me. If the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio sends more people, and they are Life Soul Cultivators, I have my own ways of dealing with them. But if they send someone from the Dharma Realm... I wonder, can the sect’s Grand Array hold them back?"
His confidence stemmed entirely from Hua Yutang’s Ninth-Grade Golden Lotus and that bottle of Jade Dew Golden Lotus Pills.
Without those two treasures, he could have refined two Dream Spirits at most before needing over a year of recuperation to restore his soul.
Moreover, during that time, he wouldn’t have been able to practice his cultivation techniques or do anything else, causing even greater delays.
In that scenario, his situation would have been completely different, let alone being able to confidently face a Life Soul Guest Elder from the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio.
’Looks like I’ll have to visit the Celestial Traveling Immortal Pavilion in the Wilderness Domain a few more times in the future.’
As for a Dharma Realm Guest Elder from the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio...
During the last war between the Yinluo Sect and the Flame God Palace, the Yinluo Sect’s Sect Protection Array had its power greatly diminished because it lacked the Bone Daoist Palace and the Netherworld Banner—two Fourth-rank Magical Artifacts—to anchor its core. As a result, it failed to stop the Flame God Palace’s Red Sun Divine Tree.
At that time, the power of the Red Sun Divine Tree, a Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, was comparable to that of a Dharma Realm cultivator.
If the incidents at the Earth Abyss and the Dong Family’s Ao Mountain Island hadn’t happened at the same time, Yinluo Island’s defenses certainly wouldn’t have been in such a sorry state.
Hearing this, Su Miao chuckled. "Do you think Dharma Cultivators are so easy to hire? After what happened today, the Chief Shopkeeper at the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio’s Jin Country headquarters will definitely face punishment. If they want to make a move against you again, they’ll have to think twice... I’ll personally pay the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio a visit another day. I’d like to see what kind of explanation they can offer me."
"And even if you do end up provoking a Dharma Cultivator someday, as long as you make it back to Yinluo Island, I can guarantee your safety."
His tone was firm, and his words carried the bearing of a man at the helm of a great sect.
Fang Cheng felt reassured and smiled. "With your words, Grandmaster, I can rest easy."
Su Miao shot him a sidelong glance. "You’re not really going to provoke a Dharma Realm-level enemy for me, are you?"
"I wouldn’t dare," Fang Cheng said quickly.
Su Miao sighed softly and said, "I never thought you’d reach the Mid-Life Talisman Stage so quickly. In the future, this Abyssal Marsh will be yours."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "That Divine Punishment Banner is part of a set from the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio. It’s actually of some use to me. How about I trade you some other treasures for it?"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Fang Cheng took out the Divine Punishment Banner and offered it to Su Miao. "Grandmaster, you have treated me exceptionally well. Please consider this treasure a gift to show my respect."
Su Miao laughed heartily. He took the Divine Punishment Banner, glanced at it a few times, and put it away with a satisfied nod. Then, he took out a Bronze Hu filled with glittering, translucent grains of sand that shimmered with a dazzling divine light.
He said, "How could I take advantage of you? This is a hu of Outer Heaven Sand, which I found inside a Celestial Demon in my early years. It’s considered a Fourth-rank Artifact Refining Material. Take it."
Fang Cheng didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it directly.
Su Miao pondered for a moment, then added, "Regarding the matter of the Demon Buddha Inheritor you mentioned the other day, I already have some leads. In a few more years, once your master breaks through to the Life Soul Realm, I will make my own arrangements. Do not act on your own."
Fang Cheng nodded in agreement.
While the two were talking, several more streaks of Escape Light flew over from the direction of Yinluo Island. Upon seeing Su Miao, they all stopped and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Supreme Elder."
Su Miao waved his hand dismissively and looked at one of them. "Yuan Chu, the matter here is concluded. There is no need for any of you to ask questions."
With that, the Demonic Light around him dissipated, and he vanished.
"As you command, Master."
This middle-aged Cultivator had the ethereal air of an immortal and a dignified, majestic bearing. He was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Yinluo Sect, Xun Yuanchu.
Only after Su Miao had left did he turn to Fang Cheng. He sized him up briefly and, upon noticing that Fang Cheng’s Cultivation had reached the Mid-Life Talisman Stage, could not help but show his surprise.
"It seems Demon Lion Peak has gained another Inner Sect Elder. To have such a disciple... Senior Brother Sun is truly to be envied." Xun Yuanchu smiled faintly and greeted Fang Cheng as a peer. "Congratulations, Elder Fang, on slaying a great enemy."
Fang Cheng replied politely, "Thank you, Sect Leader."
The three people behind Xun Yuanchu, also Peak Masters from Yinluo Island, now stepped forward to greet Fang Cheng as well.
They had all been drawn over by the fluctuations from the duel. They had prepared a Tier Three Array and even brought the Hundred Weapons Pavilion’s Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, the Netherworld Banner, ready to act at a moment’s notice.
Many emergency arrangements had also been made back on Yinluo Island.
If the situation had gotten out of control, they could have immediately summoned the true disciples and Inner Sect Elders from every peak in the Yinluo Sect to lay down a Grand Array and repel the enemy.
But who would have thought that by the time they arrived, the duel was already over, with only the Supreme Elder and Fang Cheng left talking?
The four of them recalled the tale of Fang Cheng suppressing and killing a Tier Three Celestial Demon back then, and understanding suddenly dawned on them.
Although they had many questions, the Supreme Elder had already spoken, forbidding them from asking. Thus, they could only suppress their curiosity.
After exchanging a few more words, Xun Yuanchu and the three Peak Masters took their leave and returned to Yinluo Island.
Only then did Fang Cheng have a moment to enter Xiaocang Island’s Grand Array and arrive at the Star-picking Platform on Cangwu Mountain.
Madam Ye had also dismissed the various Ye Family elders, leaving only her daughter and son-in-law. The three of them returned to the main hall before speaking of what had just happened.
Fang Cheng briefly explained the whole story of how he had come into conflict with the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio, concluding, "According to my Grandmaster, the matter will most likely be dropped."
He had long since come to see Ye Yan and Madam Ye as his closest family, so he held nothing back in his explanation.
After listening, Madam Ye spoke in a soft voice, "The Ten Thousand Treasures Studio has always put profit above all else. I’ve also heard that it’s riddled with internal factions. Since the Supreme Elder has personally stepped in to resolve this, there shouldn’t be any further problems."
Her beautiful eyes studied Fang Cheng as she said with a sigh, "It’s just that the speed of your progress, both with your divine techniques and your cultivation, is simply too incredible. In the entire history of the Yinluo Sect, I doubt there has ever been anyone like you. For Yan’Er to be with you... I don’t know what good fortune she must have cultivated over how many lifetimes."
Fang Cheng’s expression was calm as he smiled humbly. "I never could have achieved what I have today without the support and sacrifice of Yan’Er and you, Mother. This is my good fortune as well."
And he meant every word of it.
’Without the Ye Family’s support, even with the Creation Golden Talisman, I might have achieved some success, but it never would have been this fast or this smooth!’
A gratified look appeared on Madam Ye’s face. This son-in-law of hers was now well on his way to greatness. Aside from being a bit of a womanizer, his character and disposition were truly flawless, which brought her great relief.
Having experienced much in her life, she understood just how difficult it was for someone to remain grateful after they had begun their rise to power.
She could faintly see in Fang Cheng the bearing and vision of a future titan of the Cultivation Realm, a great power in the making.
It was an indescribable masculine charm that could easily win over any woman who revered strength.
Fang Cheng took out the Third-tier Magical Artifact he had obtained from the Wilderness Domain, the Miaoyin Bracelet, and offered it to Madam Ye. "I came across this bracelet by chance. I heard that Mother encountered a small setback while trying to break through recently. Today, I offer this treasure to you, Mother, as a small token of my filial piety."
A flicker of curiosity crossed Madam Ye’s beautiful eyes. She took the bracelet, and one look was enough to bring a shocked expression to her dignified and lovely face. Her brow furrowed. "This is... a Third-tier Magical Artifact?!"
Ye Yan smiled sweetly and linked her arm with Madam Ye’s. "This treasure is quite spiritual. After you refine it, Mother, the Profound Mechanism within might nourish you and help you break through the barrier to the Late Stage all at once!"
Madam Ye was instantly fond of the Miaoyin Bracelet, but she also felt it was far too valuable, leaving her with mixed feelings.
A Third-tier Magical Artifact was in a completely different league from a Second-Order Magical Artifact. These were items personally refined by Life Soul Cultivators, and very few of them existed in the world.
Their price was also dozens of times higher than that of a Second-Order Magical Artifact!
With this treasure, her combat power could probably leap several levels overnight!
More importantly, if she were to refine and nourish this treasure day and night, she might truly comprehend its Profound Mechanism and gain the inspiration needed to break through to the Late-Life Talisman Stage.
As the Patriarch of one of the four great families, she was used to seeing treasures, but even she couldn’t help but be deeply moved by this bracelet.
She truly couldn’t figure out this son-in-law of hers anymore.
The price of this Third-tier Magical Artifact was likely at least three million Spirit Stones, and even with the money, one might not be able to buy it.
And now, this son-in-law of hers had just casually given it to her.
Madam Ye looked at her daughter and son-in-law, her expression complex. "Mother will accept this gift."
...
