Chapter 124: The Bottomless Realm of Light
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“Can it be done or not? What do I need to do?”
Fang Junmei paid no attention to Song Shede’s affected profundity or the faintly lecturing tone in his voice.
Song Shede coughed dryly, pointed at Fang Junmei’s heart, and said solemnly, “Once the Heart-Linked Gu enters your heart and successfully fuses with it, it becomes part of your heart. Unless your entire heart is cut out and discarded, there is no way to dispel this Gu art. But if that happened, you would die!”
Fang Junmei nodded in sudden understanding. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “In that case, doesn’t it mean this Gu art can never be dispelled?”
Hearing the question, Song Shede scratched his head. “Junmei, you must understand that my conclusion is based on the limits of my knowledge of Gu arts. At most, my understanding reaches the late Dragon Gate realm. Beyond that, there are certainly more profound branches of Gu cultivation. Perhaps, in the future, someone may be able to undo it without dying. Who can say?”
Fang Junmei nodded in agreement. He had to admit that the other man had thought more deeply about the matter.
In other words, before reaching the Mortal Transcendence realm, he could stop worrying about it.
Since that was the case, there was no need to ask further.
Clink—
The two men knocked their wine pots together.
“During my trip to the Savage Forest, I came to appreciate just how formidable poison-based abilities can be. They may cause us great trouble in the future. Do you have any method for refining a body immune to a thousand poisons, or even ten thousand? Give me one.”
Fang Junmei was genuinely not holding back with him.
“Stop dreaming!”
Song Shede grimaced. “If such a wonderful thing existed, would it be your turn to have it? My master spent more than a hundred years stewing this body of mine in medicinal baths made from secret elixirs, and even so, it can only withstand nearly a hundred of the weaker and middling poisons in the cultivation world.”
Fang Junmei found his words amusing and burst into laughter.
Song Shede laughed as well.
With nothing else of importance to discuss, the two devoted themselves to drinking, chatting casually about matters within and beyond the sect. Fang Junmei gained yet more knowledge.
…
That drinking session lasted until noon before they finally parted.
When Fang Junmei returned to Unmoving Peak, he asked about Daoist Cudgel of Time, Fan Lanzhou, Linghu Jinj iu, and Yang Xiaoman. The three of them were all cultivating, so he did not disturb them and went off to cultivate himself.
In less than a year, Fang Junmei began cultivating the primordial-spirit technique that Daoist Cudgel of Time had recently passed on to him—the Secret Canon of the Divine Treasury Sea.
This method was far more profound than the Peach Spring Fundamental Wisdom Scripture. According to Daoist Cudgel of Time, if one persevered in its cultivation, it was sufficient to condense a humanoid primordial spirit.
Only cultivators who possessed a humanoid primordial spirit could send their spirits out of their bodies and seize another person’s body when faced with a danger they could not resolve. Otherwise, they would face complete extinction.
A humanoid primordial spirit was also one of the prerequisites for using primordial-spirit self-detonation. Some powerful primordial-spirit techniques likewise required one to possess a humanoid primordial spirit.
Ordinarily, a cultivator with a normal cultivation speed could not refine a humanoid primordial spirit until reaching the Dragon Gate realm.
At present, the primordial spirit within Fang Junmei’s head was no more than a pool of water.
…
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, more than half a year had passed.
One day, Fang Junmei was awakened by Daoist Cudgel of Time. When he stepped outside, he saw that Linghu Jinj iu and Yang Xiaoman were already waiting beyond the door.
“That secret realm is about to open. Our Unmoving Peak will be sending the three of you. Before you leave, Senior Brother has something to tell you. Follow me, all three of you.”
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Daoist Cudgel of Time looked unusually solemn that day.
The three nodded and followed him.
At the last grand competition, Daoist Heavenly River had already announced that the top three of the Floating Dust Group would receive the opportunity to go.
Yang Xiaoman had taken first place and naturally qualified. Fang Junmei had received an additional place. As for how Linghu Jinj iu had obtained permission to go, Fang Junmei had no idea. Tactfully, he did not ask, lest he embarrass Linghu Jinj iu.
Daoist Cudgel of Time did not say a word along the way.
Soon, they entered the sect’s grand council hall.
People were already waiting there: Daoist Heavenly River, Duan Qingkuang, and elders and fellow disciples from the other peaks. As for the elders, there was nothing unusual about their presence. Among the younger generation, apart from Zhang Qiuchi, who had placed third in the Floating Dust Group, several cultivators from the top eight of the Dao Embryo Group were also present.
Gu Xijin, however, was nowhere to be seen.
When everyone saw that Fang Junmei and Linghu Jinj iu had come as well, they could not help feeling surprised, but no one asked any questions.
Daoist Heavenly River seemed somewhat strange that day, as though his mind were weighed down by grave concerns.
After a while, several more people arrived one after another. Daoist Heavenly River closed the hall’s main doors and activated the restrictions.
…
“You old fellows need no explanation from me. You all know that today I intend to speak mainly to the younger generation.”
Daoist Heavenly River’s voice was solemn and authoritative.
“This time, the number of cultivators from our Peach Spring Sword Sect going to that secret realm to seek their opportunities is the same as usual: twelve in all. They are Feng Jianmei, Ji Nu jiao, You Da, Yue Yu, Fang Henqiu, Feng Wanhai, Yang Xiaoman, Duan Qingkuang, Zhang Qiuchi, Linghu Jinj iu, and Fang Junmei, along with Xijin. He did not manage to return in time, but I instructed him that if he could not make it back, he was to go there directly and meet up with you.”
Upon hearing that Gu Xijin had failed to return in time, several people’s eyes flickered as they secretly speculated whether he had gone to meet that mysterious sword-path expert and seek guidance.
“Senior Brother, I remember that the rewards for the grand competition were stated clearly at the time. Why are Linghu Jinj iu and Fang Junmei qualified to go?”
The question came from Daoist Heavenly Bamboo, Fang Henqiu’s master. The Outer Sect’s Grand Elder Ning Jiuyi was not present in the hall. There was no sarcasm in Daoist Heavenly Bamboo’s voice, only what seemed to be genuine confusion.
Daoist Heavenly River said, “Lanzhou cannot conveniently go, so after discussing it with Junior Brother Cudgel of Time, I decided to have Linghu take his place. As for Junmei, there is another reason. I granted him special permission. I cannot disclose the precise reason. That is all.”
“Senior Brother, you should know how important the opportunities there are to all of us. Even if someone had to replace Lanzhou, should you not have chosen a cultivator in the Dao Embryo realm?”
Daoist Heavenly Bamboo began to show his displeasure.
“Indeed. My newly accepted disciple, Tie Yi, has already entered the sword path to the marrow. If Senior Brother is short of a person, you could send him in his place.”
The expressions of several other elders also grew strange. The speaker was Daoist Heavenly Wind, Lord of Sunward Peak. After saying this, he turned awkwardly toward Daoist Cudgel of Time.
“Junior Brother Cudgel of Time, I did not mean to target you. I only hope they can return with greater opportunities.”
Daoist Cudgel of Time smiled, nodded, and said nothing.
Linghu Jinj iu naturally felt extremely awkward, but he had no standing to speak.
“This place belongs to Lanzhou, and it was Lanzhou who requested that it be given to Linghu. If you have objections, go and speak to him.”
Daoist Heavenly River delivered the rebuke with evident irritation.
The elders’ expressions all darkened. Naturally, none of them went to find Fan Lanzhou. That foul-tempered scholar’s disposition was notorious.
…
After waiting for quite some time and seeing that no one had anything else to say, Daoist Heavenly River swept his gaze over the younger cultivators and continued, “Some of you have probably already heard the name of that secret realm. It is called the Bottomless Light Realm.”
Many people, Fang Junmei included, reacted with sudden understanding. It was their first time hearing the name.
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“This secret realm opens once every thousand years. The last time it opened, it was we old fellows who entered. You are fortunate enough to have arrived at this thousand-year turning point.”
A look of reminiscence appeared in Daoist Heavenly River’s eyes. Daoist Cudgel of Time and the others likewise sighed with emotion.
“Grand Uncle-Master, judging from your words and arrangements, it seems that only cultivators of the Dao Embryo and Floating Dust realms can enter that secret realm. You are no longer able to go in?”
Zhang Qiuchi asked.
Daoist Heavenly River nodded. “That is correct. But do not ask me why, because I do not know either. Perhaps, somewhere beyond our perception, there truly is an existence we cannot comprehend manipulating all of this.”
At those words, everyone’s gazes grew profound.
“For this reason, nearly every time, the various sects send their strongest Dao Embryo cultivators. Occasionally, one or two exceptionally powerful Floating Dust cultivators are included. But this time, our Peach Spring Sword Sect will be sending four Floating Dust cultivators.”
Duan Qingkuang, Linghu Jinj iu, Zhang Qiuchi, and Fang Junmei.
At this point, Daoist Heavenly River swept his gaze across the elders, whose expressions had darkened once again, and said, “You old fellows should not lose confidence because of this. I have seen through the matter already: the struggle for these opportunities depends not only on strength, but also on destiny. Those four may be somewhat lacking in strength, but their fortunes are extraordinary. Perhaps they will return with surprises beyond our expectations.”
After these words, a number of the elders’ eyes brightened, and thoughtful expressions appeared on their faces.
“This time, those entering the Bottomless Light Realm will not consist only of you. There will also be cultivators from the other eight sects of the Dao and Demon paths. The competition will be extremely fierce, and those who enter never all return. Once inside, conduct yourselves with care.”
Daoist Heavenly River continued.
A mere few sentences were enough to fill the grand hall with an aura of bloodshed and carnage.
“Grand Uncle-Master, if conflicts arise among us, how should we deal with them?”
Feng Wanhai asked.
Every elder, including Daoist Heavenly River, wore a troubled expression. The leaders of the other sects were probably facing the same dilemma.
Daoist Heavenly River said, “Although I hope you will unite as one and return with your opportunities, I also know that is impossible. So once you enter, handle matters yourselves. Whatever happens inside, I will not interfere, nor will I punish you afterward under the sect’s rules. That is my answer!”
There was no mistaking the meaning: inside, they could do as they pleased.
“But only by joining together can you better withstand attacks from cultivators of the other sects. Therefore, think carefully before you act.”
Daoist Heavenly River added this final warning.
The group exchanged glances, looking at one another in silence.
“Does anyone have any other questions?” Daoist Heavenly River asked.
“Grand Uncle-Master, are the opportunities we obtain ours to keep, or must we hand them over to the sect?”
Yue Yu’s voice was somewhat cold as he asked the question.
It was an extremely pertinent question. All the younger cultivators listened intently. If everything they gained was ultimately only for the sect’s benefit, there would be very few willing to fight to the death for it.
Daoist Heavenly River seemed to have anticipated the question. He smiled cryptically and said, “There are only two things that you must hand over to the sect after obtaining them. As for everything else, no matter what you acquire or how much you acquire, the sect will neither interfere nor demand it from you!”
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