Chapter 1777: The Introduction
"Wang Er, how much of your original memory remains?"
"Your Excellency, what I can recall now is limited to that final battle and a few scattered fragments of memory."
"Your opponents back then were also Yin Guards, weren't they?"
"They were. However, those Yin Guards were not rebels of our kind. They were born of the demon race."
Wang Er stole a glance at Fang Chen, who was walking ahead of him, and bolstered his courage to ask, "My Lord, does the demon race currently rule the Mortal Realm?"
"No. After the Three Realm Upheaval, the foundations of the demon and demonic beast races were nearly annihilated," Fang Chen replied calmly. "There was a long period of peace afterward, and the Nine Realms remain under human dominion. However, as of now, the demons have reignited the fires of war."
Hearing this, a flame seemed to ignite within Wang Er's eyes. "My Lord, I am willing to take this tattered armor and broken blade back onto the battlefield!"
"The fight will come ultimately. But we must change our methods." Fang Chen chuckled. "You are no longer a small fry. With the cultivation of an eighth-transformation immortal, your fighting techniques must evolve too."
Wang Er was stunned. Evolve?
"When striking a snake, strike its vital point. You must use the smallest cost to obtain the best results," Fang Chen smiled. "From now on, you shall be responsible for decapitation strikes."
Wang Er instantly understood Fang Chen's intent. He bowed deeply and clasped his hands. "Understood."
Fang Chen looked toward the path before them. "Ahead lies Lone Light Star."
With a thought, both were instantly enveloped in a vast, swirling white mist.
***
Compared to when Fang Chen first arrived, Lone Light Star seemed to have gradually restored its former order. Within the vast expanse of Qingming, two Immortal Boats shaped like white lotuses circled the star and guarded the Qingming border.
This was the Immortal Boat Formation of the Wandao Immortal Sect, signaling that their reinforcements had finally arrived. Fang Chen's Black Dragon Boat was highly conspicuous. Not long after it appeared, a White Lotus Boat accelerated toward them.
As the White Lotus drew near, Fang Chen reduced the speed of the Black Dragon.
Core Disciple Xuan stepped out from the White Lotus and offered a distant but respectful salute. "May I ask which core disciple of the Enlightenment God Palace has graced Lone Light Star with their presence?"
She was curious as she hadn't received word that any Enlightenment Core Disciple was scheduled to visit. The front line here had already been pushed back tens of thousands of miles. The Wandao Immortal Sect held the absolute advantage, while the Demonized Alliance was in retreat. In such a situation, no further reinforcements were needed.
"Core Disciple Xuan, it has been some years," said Fang Chen as he walked out of the Black Dragon with Wang Er, cupping his hands in a smile.
When Core Disciple Xuan realised it was Fang Chen himself, a look of shock crossed her face. She hurriedly bowed again, deeper this time. "Greetings, Monarch Fang!"
Since the heavenly omens of years past, she had become aware of his true identity. Seeing him here made sense. After all, his Expedition Team was still recuperating on this star.
"Core Disciple Xuan, where is my Expedition Team now?" asked Fang Chen.
He hadn't originally intended to meet her, but upon returning to Lone Light Star, he sensed that while Old Sheng's aura remained, Ji Gang and the others had vanished. He needed to know why. Under normal circumstances, the team he led would not depart without his orders.
Core Disciple Xuan replied quickly, "Monarch Fang, not long after you left, several other core disciples from the Enlightenment God Palace arrived. They conscripted your Expedition Team for the frontline."
Fang Chen nodded thoughtfully. "I see."
Core disciples of the Enlightenment God Palace did indeed have the authority to conscript teams that were currently without a leader. After all, cultivators in the Expedition Teams were maintained by the Palace and not the private army of a single individual.
"Has Monarch Fang come to Lone Light Star because there is some new danger afoot?" Core Disciple Xuan asked, a trace of worry touching her features.
"There is likely no danger. I am merely passing through." Fang Chen smiled before cupping his hands. "Core Disciple Xuan, I shall take my leave."
Before she could respond, the Black Dragon vanished into the shadows and disappeared from sight. Core Disciple Xuan stood dazed for a moment, then let out a breath of relief. As long as Lone Light Star was safe, that was enough.
***
On Mingwang Star, Fang Chen arrived at Old Sheng's seclusion place. He had waited five years.
On the day Old Sheng emerged, his appearance had shifted significantly. The decrepit, aged look of a dying old man had vanished and was replaced by the vigorous frame of a man in his prime.
"Core Disciple Fang!" Old Sheng's voice trembled with excitement as he bowed deeply. "This old servant has not failed your expectations. I have successfully ascended to the seventh transformation!"
Only after crossing the seventh transformation did he understand why a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal was vastly stronger than a sixth-transformation Immortal Sovereign. This was a threshold. Only when it was crossed could a person fully comprehend the scenery behind it. Only by becoming an Ancient Immortal can a person truly master the specialised divine abilities of this immortal path.
"It is good that you succeeded. Let's go, our business in the Taicang Realm is finished for now," said Fang Chen.
Old Sheng was stunned. Finished? Had the war in the Taicang Realm ended while he was in seclusion?
He hurriedly asked, "Core Disciple Fang, has a victor been decided?"
Fang Chen smiled. "A victor has not been decided yet, but the end is likely not far off."
Old Sheng nodded thoughtfully and did not pry into the details. He might have been a seventh-transformation Ancient Immortal, but he was only a slightly stronger pawn in a war of this scale.
"Core Disciple Fang, are we returning to Enlightenment Star?"
"Before that, there is a place I must visit." Fang Chen retrieved the Yang Gourd. "Get inside. This time, we shall travel in a different manner."
Old Sheng's eyes sparked with curiosity as he examined the gourd before transforming into a streak of light and vanishing within. Tucking the gourd away, Fang Chen's form dissolved into the white mist.
When he reappeared, he was at Tuxiong Star.
Fang Chen stood in the void as sunlight bathed him and cast a tiny shadow upon Three World Mountain below. Looking back at this place, memories of the battle at Three World Mountain surfaced, bringing a wave of nostalgia. Back then, could he have ever imagined he would stand where he was today?
With a thought, Fang Chen looked up at the blazing sun high in the sky. The sun, like a rolling ball of fire, radiated blinding light. Fang Chen's grey-white pupils stared directly into it without blinking. He watched for a long while, but he did not see the fairy he had seen once before.
Suddenly, white mist swirled around him again.
"Kong Lin, introduce me to your Sect Ancestor of the Spirit God Sect," requested Fang Chen flatly.
Kong Lin, an Elder of the Spirit God Sect and an eighth-transformation Ancient Immortal, stepped out from the mist. Hearing Fang Chen's request, a bitter smile touched his lips as his gaze fell upon the Three World Mountain below.
"I would like to seek an audience with the Sect Ancestor," said Kong Lin earnestly.
He clasped his hands and bowed toward the direction of Three World Mountain.