“Young Master,” Fang Xia began, “All we need at present is an overarching objective, which we will achieve one step at a time.” His smile grew wider as he continued, “For now, your cultivation is of utmost importance. I suggest you start by becoming an eldritch warrior. If you still have spare time and mental capacity thereafter, unlocking your qi sea to become an eldritch mage is not out of reach. However, there is one thing you must take note of.”
Wu Yuan listened attentively, knowing that Fang Xia, who had cultivated for over a century, possessed far more cultivation experience than himself.
“It is said that the three dantian lobes – upper, middle, and lower – can accommodate the cultivation of three lifebound objects, one in each lobe,” Fang Xia explained. “Of course, the upper dantian lobe, wherein the soul resides, is the most mysterious. I must admit, my understanding of it is limited. However, if you can truly cultivate two paths simultaneously, you will be able to cultivate an additional lifebound object. You must choose wisely.”
“My suggestion is to select an object that specializes in offense for the middle dantian lobe!”
“An object that specializes in offense?” Wu Yuan was taken aback. “But don’t you cultivate a lifebound gu?”
“Young Master, you will soon have a lifebound eldritch beast. There is no fundamental distinction between an eldritch beast and a gu. Furthermore, gu are not particularly proficient in offense,” Fang Xia explained, shaking his head. “Given the limited time available for cultivating both paths, I estimate that your proficiency in refining pills, array formations, and other qi refining disciplines may not reach impressive heights.”
“Instead of being a jack of all trades, focus primarily on the eldritch warrior cultivation path, striving for strong close combat abilities! As for the qi refining path, cultivate a lifebound flying sword or throwing knife, granting you an additional long-range attack option.”
“Specialize in offense. There are plenty of disciplines for qi refiners to specialize in. The immortal path is closely intertwined with qi refiners,” Fang Xia said with a chuckle. “However, among all virtues, might reigns supreme! Among all paths, the path of killing holds the highest authority.”
Might made right.
“Of course, this is merely a suggestion. It is entirely up to you, Young Master, to decide how you wish to proceed,” advised Fang Xia.
“Very well, I will take your advice into consideration. It’s still not too late to contemplate my options as a qi refiner after becoming an eldritch warrior,” Wu Yuan smiled.
Without hesitation, Wu Yuan flipped his palm to reveal several storage rings and belts, extending it toward Fang Xia. “Old Fang, these are the spoils of my treasure hunt in the Fourth Eldritch Realm. Take them.”
Among the treasures were two first-grade divine swords, etherstone, spiritual liquid, and spirit fruits. Wu Yuan had crammed the remaining ordinary divine weapons, including Jin Qing’s spirit battle armor, as well as bottles and jars, into the storage artifacts.
“Use them as you see fit, whether on yourself or the martial artists of our sect,” Wu Yuan laughed.
“Very well,” Fang Xia accepted them with a smile. “You need not concern yourself with these trivial matters. I’ll handle them. You should concentrate on your cultivation.”
He quickly examined the various storage artifacts.
“Ah, a suit of spirit battle armor? Excellent, I shall make use of it. The realm master only provided me with basic treasures,” Fang Xia’s eyes gleamed as he carefully inspected it. “Hmm, it’s a suit of ninth-grade spirit armor, but it seems to be slightly damaged. After repairing it, it’ll be as good as new. For now, I’ll just use it as it is.”
“Reforging spirit battle armor is a more complex task than repairing any sword or saber!” Fang Xia glanced at Wu Yuan.
“As long as it is functional,” Wu Yuan replied.
A cultivator only required a certain number of artifacts. The surplus? They merely sat there gathering dust, unused.
“As for these ten Redwood Spirit Fruits, aside from Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng, I shall select a few talented experts from our sect to consume them,” Fang Xia declared. “Having a few more Grandmaster martial artists, even if they rank at the bottom of the Land Rankings, will greatly facilitate our unification of the Jiang Continent.”
“Mm,” Wu Yuan nodded.
During his exploration of the Fourth Eldritch Realm, Wu Yuan managed to gather a grand total of sixteen Redwood Spirit Fruits and eight Purplewood Spirit Fruits. He gave ten Redwood Spirit Fruits to Fang Xia. As for the remaining six, he had other uses in mind for them. He had no immediate plans to make use of the eight Purplewood Spirit Fruits. If one was unable to reach the Integration level on their own, it would be pointless to consume Purplewood Spirit Fruits. Moreover, there were no martial artists at this level in the Cloudstride Sect.
…
After several hours, the sun was at its peak. Despite the sweltering heat in the height of summer, the members of the Cloudstride Sect gathered at the Cloud Hall on Cloudhill, their faces brimming with excitement.
“We pay our respects to Ancestor Fang Xia. We pay our respects to Hierarch Huan Jian!” The words reverberated in the air, spoken in unison by more than ten Savant experts, including Sect Leader Lu Feng, Gu Wang, Yan Hong, Zhang Changsheng, the Instruction Hall’s Sect Elder Tian, Huan Zidong, and others. Dozens of trusted first-rate Adepts like Zhao Baifan, Gao Yu, Si Longliang, Xu Hui, and many more filled the hall as well. It was a sight to behold, all the core members of the entire Cloudstride Sect gathered in one place.
“Everyone, I trust you have all familiarized yourselves with the document provided earlier.” Huan Jian addressed the crowd. “Ancestor Fang Xia’s strength rivals, if not exceeds, that of the legendary Imperator Jin! Senior Shadow Blade and I are on the cusp of entering the Heavenly Rankings. Furthermore, The Rain Hierarch is currently in closed-door seclusion, attempting to break through.”
“In other words,” Huan Jian’s gaze swept over the assembly, “After three long centuries, our Cloudstride Sect is poised to enter an era of true prosperity!”
The atmosphere in the hall was a mixture of astonishment and barely contained jubilation. Heavens! After their defeat at the Battle of Hillstride, the upper ranks of the Cloudstride Sect had been filled with pessimism, weighed down by the immense pressure from Great Jin. But in a sudden turn of events, the sect was on the verge of producing several Heavenly Rankers.
On top of that, Ancestor Fang Xia, someone who held an irreplaceable status in the hearts of the Cloudstride Sect’s disciples, had returned! The level of reverence most disciples felt towards him far outweighed their respect and admiration for Bu Yu.
“Prepare for war!” Fang Xia, dressed in flowing white robes, took his seat at the head of the gathering. His gaze swept over the eager eyes before him. “During my youth, I shook the world, securing four provinces for our Cloudstride Sect. Now that I have returned, the Cloudstride Sect shall expand its territory once more.”
“Our first step is to conquer Yuanhu Province and unify the central region of the Jiang Continent. Our second step is to seize the Four Provinces of Baijiang, as well as the Guangping and Dalong Provinces, thereby controlling the six provinces in the eastern region of the Jiang Continent. Our third step, once we have consolidated the central and eastern regions, will be to gather our armies and march towards Hillstride, Eastdream, and Westdream in the western region of the Jiang Continent, completing the unification of the Jiang Continent, and making sure the whole world recognizes the name of Cloudstride.”
Fang Xia continued, addressing Lu Feng, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng. “You three, heed my orders.”
“Disciples are present,” the trio stepped forward.
“Sect Leader Lu Feng, the efforts and sacrifices you made for the sect have not gone unnoticed. Gu Wang, Zhang Changsheng, your contributions in the Chu-Jiang Immortal Realm were significant.” Fang Xia declared, “Each of you shall receive a Redwood Spirit Fruit as a reward.”
“Savant experts who consume a Redwood Spirit Fruit will immediately reach their human limits and reach the level of Grandmasters!” Huan Jian chimed in at that moment.
His words left the numerous assembled Savant experts green with envy. Heavens! How difficult was it to progress from the Savant level to the Grandmaster level? Yet a single fruit was all it took? Their evaluation of Ancestor Fang Xia immediately rose a notch.
“All disciples, listen carefully,” Fang Xia spoke slowly. “I have more than three Redwood Spirit Fruits in my possession, but treasures will only be granted to those who earn them. In the upcoming wars to unify the Jiang Continent, failure will be met with punishment, while success will be rewarded.”
“Remember, the Redwood Spirit Fruit is just the beginning. Your goal should not be to become a Grandmaster. The Heavenly Rankings is what you should strive for! With me and Shadow Blade, the era before us is destined to witness the rise of the Cloudstride Sect,” proclaimed Fang Xia with an air of authority, his voice resounding through the hall.
“First-rate Adepts,” he continued, “those of you who perform significant meritorious deeds will also be rewarded with treasures.”
Looking out at the gathered disciples, Fang Xia’s deep voice echoed with determination. “From this day forward, whether it is becoming a Grandmaster or a Heavenly Ranker, these feats will become ten times easier for the disciples of the Cloudstride Sect. I envision a future, a thousand years from now, where the Cloudstride Sect stands proudly atop the Middle Land, our names forever etched in the annals of history.”
He paused, his piercing gaze sweeping over the hall. “Do you have the confidence to reach these heights?” Fang Xia, dressed in a flowing white robe, emanated an otherworldly aura, his words igniting a fervor within everyone present.
“Yes!” they chorused, their conviction ringing through the air.
Fang Xia’s tone shifted, a chill creeping into his voice. “Let me make this clear upfront. For those who may have previously engaged in personal dealings with Great Jin, I will let it slide. But from this moment on, should anyone dare to betray the sect and their treachery is confirmed, do not blame me for being ruthless.”
“Remember this,” Fang Xia declared. “My abilities far surpass anything you can fathom. I am at least ten to a hundred times stronger than your imagination can conceive.”
His gaze turned icy cold, sending shivers down the spines of the Cloudstride Sect’s experts. For a brief moment, the world seemed to darken, Fang Xia standing as the absolute center, a god-like figure radiating absolute dominance and invincibility. Even the Savant experts and first-rate Adepts felt a chill, like ants in the presence of a colossal dragon.
Then, as quickly as it came, the atmosphere shifted, returning to normal. But the experts in the hall were left in awe, their eyes wide with shock. Fang Xia had vanished without a trace, along with Xu Hui. Only the quasi-Heavenly Ranker, Huan Jian, remained composed throughout. He silently marveled at Ancestor Fang Xia’s power.
Whether one was young or old, or even a Grandmaster, everyone ultimately sought fame and fortune. With Fang Xia leading the way, the members of the Cloudstride Sect were filled with newfound courage, ready to face whatever challenges came their way. On top of that, he enticed them with promises of renown and riches, then displayed unmatched might in the end, instilling fear in those who dared to defy him!
One could say that although Fang Xia’s meeting with the core circle of the Cloudstride Sect lasted only a few moments, he had already established unshakable authority within their hearts!
“Everyone!” Huan Jian slowly began. “Save for Lu Feng, Gu Wang, and Zhang Changsheng, all others are to prepare for battle. Assemble the Cloudstride Army and summon those who have retired from service.”
“In three days’ time, Lu Feng shall assume the role of commander, with Gu Wang and Zhang Changsheng as his deputies, leading a force of 4000 Cloudstride soldiers. They shall join forces with the armies of Southdream and Baihu, beginning a campaign towards the South!”
“We shall launch a direct assault on Yuanhu!” Huan Jian’s tone grew grave.
“Understood!” Came the resounding response.