Chapter Fifty-Four: In His Eyes, There Is Only First Place

Chapter Fifty-four: In His Eyes, Only the First

Neither of these techniques was particularly difficult. In no time, Fang Junmei first mastered the Cloud Riding Art. Standing in the courtyard, Fang Junmei silently channeled his magical power; the force within his star sea in the dantian surged down to his feet, and soon a cloud formed, slowly lifting him off the ground. The sensation was exhilarating, causing his whole body to tremble.

Unless one had reached the Floating Dust stage, with power so abundant as to open the star sea, it would be impossible to lift oneself, let alone traverse the skies. Though the effect seemed focused on the feet, the true source was always the star sea in the dantian.

Watching silently, Fan Lanzhou nodded to himself; there was really nothing to fault in Fang Junmei’s comprehension and courage.

After Fang Junmei had circled steadily in the sky a dozen times, Fan Lanzhou finally called him down and said, “The Cloud Riding Art is just this simple. Take your time to get used to it. As for the Sword Riding Wind Art, it adds another layer—riding the sword. You still can’t fully command the Sword of No Concern, but you may practice with the peachwood sword. I’ll only remind you: when you have a good sword in the future, don’t casually use it as your flying sword, lest you attract envy.”

“Thank you, Second Senior Brother.” Fang Junmei bowed respectfully.

“Practice well. I must go cultivate now.” Fan Lanzhou strode away.

“Second Senior Brother, the sect’s major contest—there shouldn’t be many years left, right?” Fang Junmei suddenly asked.

Fan Lanzhou halted and looked at him, nodding.

Fang Junmei continued, “What kind of results do the elders expect from us, those of Unmoving Peak, for us to keep our mountain?”

Hearing this, Fan Lanzhou’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’ve been notified: this time, at least two from Unmoving Peak must enter the top four in both the Dao Embryo and Floating Dust groups. Only then do we pass.”

“At least two in the top four of Dao Embryo and Floating Dust groups? Isn’t that too harsh? Was it always so difficult?” Fang Junmei was surprised.

Fan Lanzhou replied, “Before… when that person was here, he never cared about the sect’s requirements, because in his eyes, only the first mattered. The first—he alone could achieve it.”

That person was obviously Senior Brother Long Jinyi.

“Was he always first?” Fang Junmei asked.

Fan Lanzhou shook his head. “After the master fell into slumber, we faced two challenges. He took first place once, second place the other time.”

“The time he was second—did he lose to Gu Xijin?” Fang Junmei quickly responded.

Fan Lanzhou nodded.

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Goodness, those two truly split the honors evenly. Fang Junmei’s heart was stirred, regretting he hadn’t been born a few centuries earlier to witness the confrontation between Long Jinyi and Gu Xijin.

Thinking of Long Jinyi, Fan Lanzhou soon fell silent.

…

After a dozen breaths, Fang Junmei pondered aloud, “There are ten peaks in the inner sect. Having two enter the top eight would suffice to prove Unmoving Peak’s strength. This requirement still feels too strict.”

Fan Lanzhou gave a bitter smile. “I heard that was the original requirement—two in the top eight. But it was changed, apparently due to… the matter of Xiao Yunyu. The elders perhaps suspect we were involved.”

Fang Junmei understood, feeling a pang of guilt. If not for his mistake, Unmoving Peak wouldn’t be in such dire straits.

But now, even if he stepped forward to admit it, he could not reverse Unmoving Peak’s situation; it would only bring more scorn.

“Second Senior Brother, do you have confidence?” Fang Junmei asked.

“We’ll do our best and leave the rest to fate,” said Fan Lanzhou calmly, his expression serene.

Fang Junmei nodded slightly, then added, “Second Senior Brother, count me in. Please help me sign up; I want to participate too.”

“Junmei, with your strength just entering the Floating Dust stage, it’s impossible to break into the top four of the Floating Dust group. I suspect this time, Uncle Ning’s disciples will be ruthless. Though killing is forbidden in the contest, severe injury is not strictly prevented. Junmei, let it go. No need to get hurt for nothing,” Fan Lanzhou said coolly.

“No, I must participate!” Fang Junmei’s expression grew solemn and earnest. “I must!”

Fan Lanzhou stared at him, puzzled by his persistence.

Their gazes met; Fang Junmei’s eyes were unwavering.

After several breaths, Fan Lanzhou nodded. “Since you insist, do as you wish. I’ll help you sign up. But if things turn dangerous during the contest, you must concede immediately—no stubborn resistance.”

“Thank you, Second Senior Brother.” Fang Junmei gave his thanks.

Fan Lanzhou left the courtyard, and soon the sound of swords echoed.

…

The peachwood sword had already been refined; Fang Junmei used it to practice the Sword Riding Wind Art. Soon, his feet treaded upon sword-light, darting through the skies.

He trained for several hours straight, until he was proficient, then entered his room.

Once inside, Fang Junmei began to deliberate.

He would not participate in the great sect contest just for show; he meant to make a mark. Besides the Three-Breath Divine Stone and the Nether Rain Sword Art, Fang Junmei needed to find a way to further strengthen his abilities.

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First, the Sword of No Concern—having such a treasure, how could he not use it? To wield it, though, required enhancing his spiritual sense.

“With a few years left, I’ll devote all my time to cultivating spiritual sense!” Fang Junmei’s pupils contracted as he resolved.

“Elder Chunyu once said that ultimate pill—if I can endure it, it will greatly boost my abilities… Before the contest, I must take it too,” Fang Junmei thought.

Having settled his plans, he immediately began cultivating—using the Fundamental Wisdom Scripture of Peach Blossom Source.

…

Within Peach Blossom Source, rumors about the people of Unmoving Peak killing Xiao Yunyu grew increasingly rampant. With certain individuals fanning the flames, it even became an emblematic case of inner disciples oppressing outer disciples. This situation aroused the discontent of young disciples from the other nine peaks of the inner sect against Unmoving Peak.

For a time, Unmoving Peak became the target of all. The lineage of Ning Jiuyi, challenging Unmoving Peak, rose swiftly, winning both the support of outer disciples and their sympathy.

Led by the Celestial River Daoist and other authorities, the powers could only come forth to calm the unrest, saying there was no evidence that Xiao Yunyu had been killed by Unmoving Peak. At the same time, they announced the requirement for Unmoving Peak to keep its mountain: two in the top four.

With this requirement, the outer disciples cheered, convinced that Unmoving Peak was bound to lose its place.

The turmoil within the sect was temporarily quelled.

Everyone waited for the major contest, eager to see Unmoving Peak’s humiliation.

…

Time passed swiftly—another four years went by.

One day, Fang Junmei finally stepped out of his room.

In the past four years, except for the increasingly long intervals of hunger when he occasionally emerged, Fang Junmei had devoted himself entirely to cultivating spiritual sense.

Having not gone out for so long, Fang Junmei’s skin had grown even paler, and the dark side of his heart, unprovoked by challenge or outbreak, had further receded.

Leaving the courtyard, he willed his spiritual sense to spread like water in all directions, reaching a distance of nearly two hundred yards—a remarkable improvement.

“At such a distance, it’s almost impossible for anyone to ambush me from behind in battle,” Fang Junmei thought.

He realized that in the world of cultivation, thanks to spiritual sense, ambushing others was nearly impossible—unless the opponent could evade spiritual sense detection or the environment rendered it ineffective.

His thoughts raced, and he nodded to himself.

Taking out the already refined Sword of No Concern, he flew around the mountain a few times before feeling satisfied enough to put it away.

Seeing that others were either absent or in seclusion, Fang Junmei did not disturb them. He stepped onto his peachwood sword and flew toward Medicine King Peak, finally ready to face the trial of the ultimate pill.

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