Chapter 22: Chapter 20: Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique
Faced with the disciples' confusion, Li Yu explained, "This matter pertains to the Second Vein, and they naturally must participate, but their task is different from ours. Their mission is to confront the Demonic Sect, while our task is to rescue the disciples of the Second Vein. Those disciples were scattered after being attacked by demonic cultivators, so the tasks allocated to us are quite scattered."
Zhou Bo spoke up, asking, "Why did the disciples of the Second Vein go to the land of the Demonic Dao?"
Li Yu didn't conceal anything and answered, "They discovered the secret realm of a Great Cultivator from Ji Hao Sect, so the disciples organized an expedition to explore it on their own. Unfortunately, they encountered an attack by demonic cultivators."
Ji Hao Sect!
The gathered disciples from the Third Vein immediately buzzed with conversation at the mention of the name, all evidently having heard of Ji Hao Sect before.
Fang Wang whispered to Gu Li beside him, "What is the origin of Ji Hao Sect?"
Upon hearing this, he was sure that it was Fang Hanyu and his group of disciples who were in trouble.
"Ji Hao Sect was a major sect a thousand years ago, with Grand Qi and the surrounding dynasties all once under its dominion. However, for some unknown reason, Ji Hao Sect disintegrated. The Nine Great Sects that stand today all rose after its collapse. All things related to Ji Hao Sect are still pursued by various sects and noble families, especially the inheritance of Ji Hao Sect." Gu Li replied.
Being from a great family, she sure knew a lot.
Just as Fang Wang was hesitating, Li Yu's voice reached them, "According to the intelligence sent back by the disciples of the Second Vein, they discovered the legendary Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique. The task of investigating the Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique has the greatest reward. Anyone who obtains this Divine Skill can be directly promoted to a Direct Disciple. It is a common mission for all the disciples of the Nine Veins, but there are few clues regarding this Divine Skill, making the task extremely difficult."
Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique?
That sounds so domineering!
Fang Wang's Lifespirit Treasure was a polearm, so he decided to focus on enhancing his physical body in the future, and this Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique sounded exactly like the type of teaching he sought.
He asked Gu Li again, "Is the Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique very powerful?"
Gu Li nodded, her face showing longing, and said, "Legend has it that the Heavenly Body possesses the power to move mountains and seas. In ancient mythology, the Heavenly Body was also one of the ancient gods, symbolizing strength. The Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique is the cultivation technique to develop the Heavenly Body and it is one of the most powerful techniques in Ji Hao Sect. In the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm, the legend of the Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique has always been passed down."
Move mountains and seas!
Fang Wang felt his heart stir upon hearing this, and so did the other disciples. However, none had stepped forward to take on the task just yet.
After pondering for a moment, Fang Wang stepped forward towards Li Yu.
Hmm, not for Fang Hanyu, but for the Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique.
"Elder martial brother, I want to take on the mission!"
Fang Wang came before Li Yu and said. Upon hearing this, Li Yu hesitated somewhat but, seeing all the disciples' gazes turn towards them, he could only use Sound Transmission Technique to remind, "Brother Fang, this task might be simple, but it could also be very dangerous. As for that Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique, it's even more elusive. As a Direct Disciple, you need not take such risks. It's better to let other disciples gain experience."
Fang Wang did not use the Sound Transmission Technique to reply. Instead, he spoke openly, "I have a family member in the Second Vein who may be involved in this matter. His name is Fang Hanyu. I wonder, elder martial brother, if you have any leads on him; I must go to his rescue."
Upon hearing this, Li Yu could only relent. He sent his divine sense into his storage bag to search, and soon, he raised his right hand to reveal a piece of Green Jade in his palm.
"The last time Fang Hanyu's disciple Token transmitted Spiritual Power to the sect was recorded in this Guide Jade. It will lead you to that place. There are no more clues for the moment," Li Yu spoke.
Fang Wang took the Green Jade, thanked him, and then turned to leave.
Seeing Fang Wang take up the mission, other disciples rushed forward to receive tasks from Li Yu.
Gu Li approached Fang Wang and asked, "Do you need my help?"
Fang Wang shook his head and said, "I am not solely after the mission, so you shouldn't get involved. Just focus on your cultivation. I'll be waiting for you in the ninth layer of the Soul Sculpting Realm to challenge me."
Gu Li nodded, not wasting any more words, and the two flew towards the cave dwelling.
When he returned to his dwelling, Fang Wang began to pack his belongings. Once done, he sent his divine sense into the Green Jade. His consciousness was instantly enveloped in darkness, and instinctively he scanned his surroundings, spotting a distant light.
This was the direction to follow!
He had read about this jade in the scriptures, known as Guide Jade, and it was Fang Wang's first time using one, sparking his curiosity.
He didn't delay for long. Confirming the direction, he placed the Guide Jade into his storage bag and rose to leave.
After exiting the dwelling, he didn't immediately leave the Great Abyss Gate but headed for the Elixir Hall first, planning to claim all the sect's elixirs for the last half year, and also to purchase some healing medicines, just in case.
Half an hour later.
Fang Wang left the giant city on his Flying Sword, ready to descend the mountain.
"Wait up! I'll come with you!"
A voice called out, and Fang Wang turned his head to see Zhou Xing Shi approaching.
Knowing he appeared, Fang Wang realized he had been monitored. Yang Yuanzi must have instructed other disciples to watch his movements; it might be well-intentioned, but he still had to be cautious.
"Who sent you?" Fang Wang asked.
Zhou Xing Shi flew on his sword, keeping pace with Fang Wang and replied, "It was your master. He's worried about you encountering trouble on your first trip down the mountain. Together, the two of us can at least look out for each other."
Fang Wang nodded and, without further questions, continued on his way.
The two cut through the vast expanse of white snow and quickly vanished from sight.
...
In the western territories of Grand Qi, beneath a sky of blue and white clouds, green mountains and clear waters merged into a beautiful landscape.
In a valley, where flowers and grass flourished and branches and leaves thrived in density, Fang Hanyu leaned against a tree trunk, his body shaded by the canopy. His robes were dirty and tattered, and his eyes were bound with a cloth, covering his sight.
He wanted to exercise his inner strength, but couldn't help coughing violently and even coughed up blood.
"Don't move around so much, you've been poisoned by the Green Cicada Valley, and even with my treatment, you need years of rest," a female voice said.
There on a nearby tree crouched a young girl, dressed in green, her face concealed with a fox mask, her physique suggesting she was only about fifteen or sixteen.
Fang Hanyu, unable to see, asked, "When will I be able to walk?"
"Wait another three months. Your bones and sinews were severely injured, and it's already fortunate that you survived. Stop rushing me, okay?" said the girl in green with an impatient huff.
Fang Hanyu fell silent.
His fists clenched tightly inside his sleeves, filled with extreme frustration.
At that moment, he thought of Fang Wang, Zhou Xue, and others at the Great Abyss Gate and then of the Fang Residence in Southern Hills City. He fought to calm his emotions and motivate himself; he couldn't just collapse here.
A screeching noise swept across the firmament, startling the birds and animals in the forest.
Looking up, the girl in green saw a massive magical bird soaring above the valley, and she marveled, "What in the world is it that brings so many demonic cultivators to arms? They seem to be searching for something. Could it be you they're looking for? Do you carry something they want?"
Fang Hanyu didn't respond, resting against the trunk as if he had fallen asleep.
"Tch, if you won't talk, then don't. I don't want to attract trouble. Just pray they don't discover this place. If they find us, I can't protect you, and I'll certainly leave you behind."
The girl in green grunted and lay down on the tree branch to rest.
Fang Hanyu slightly lifted his head, as if attempting to look at the sky, but it had been a long time since he had seen any light.
...
Night fell.
In the woods, Fang Wang and Zhou Xing Shi sat in front of a campfire, their shadows elongated by the flames.
"The seasons within the Great Abyss Gate vary so greatly from the mortal realm," Fang Wang remarked.
Five days had passed since they descended from the mountain, and they were nearing the direction indicated by the Guide Jade. Fang Wang strove not to consider the possibility that Fang Hanyu was dead.
Zhou Xing Shi nodded and said, "Each of the Nine Great Sects have their own spiritual arrays. With more of nature's spiritual energy congregating, their celestial phenomena will also appear more drawn out than those of the mortal world."
Fang Wang asked, "Have you cultivated the Body-protecting Divine Barrier or the Great Celestial Thunder Technique?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xing Shi gave a bitter smile and said, "Both these divine skills are extremely profound; I fear without decades of arduous cultivation, it would be hard to master them."
Fang Wang, intrigued, pressed on, "How many spells have you mastered, and among them, how many have reached Great Completion?"
"There are seven spells, but only one truly reached Great Completion, passed down from my family lineage. The path of cultivation, just the gathering of Qi to build one's strength takes a great deal of time. To have one spell reach Great Completion is already quite an achievement," Zhou Xing Shi replied truthfully, looking at Fang Wang.
He couldn't forget the scene of Fang Wang fighting against fifty-one cultivators alone; that sword strike that subdued Gu Li must definitely be of Great Completion in swordsmanship, and his cultivation technique, the terrifying flames, had apparently also reached the level of Great Completion.
Hearing this reassured Fang Wang—he had the advantage of tactics, in addition to the Heavenly Palace, even Soul Sculpting Realm cultivators could only achieve Great Completion with a few techniques, aside from the grade of their Lifespirit Treasure.
He had mastered the Great Perfection of Solaris Scripture, Jinghong Divine Sword Art, White Rainbow Evasion Technique, Body-protecting Divine Barrier, Great Celestial Thunder Technique—capable of attack, defense, and escape—making him well-rounded.
"Following this direction, we might encounter Green Cicada Valley and Huangyu Mountain. Green Cicada Valley uses poison and is a Demonic Sect, while Huangyu Mountain is more general. These two sects are neighbors and in constant conflict; we must act cautiously and avoid revealing our identities," Zhou Xing Shi reminded.
Fang Wang nodded, "I just want to find my kin; I won't do anything reckless."
He wondered just how powerful the Heavenly Gang Saint Body Technique was?
With Solaris Scripture being an inner cultivation technique and Heavenly Gang Saint Body technique likely being an external one, pairing internal and external techniques, his strength would leap dramatically.
Without saying more, Zhou Xing Shi began to sit and gather Qi.
Fang Wang did the same.
As the night grew deeper, occasional howls of wolves could be heard.
Before long...
Three days later, Fang Wang and Zhou Xing Shi arrived at a town in the wilderness, changing into the clothes they wore before entering the Great Abyss Gate. Fang Wang, dressed in snug white robes, wearing a bamboo hat provided by Zhou Xing Shi, resembled a heroic traveler.
Through Sound Transmission Technique, Zhou Xing Shi whispered, "The spiritual energy here is denser than in other places; it's likely a marketplace established by cultivators. When inquiring about information, only mention Fang Hanyu's physical characteristics. I have a feeling that something is amiss; this place is unusually crowded."
Fang Wang, who had learned the Sound Transmission Technique in his cultivation principals, responded and then began to observe the people along the way.
Almost everyone in the town had an aura of spiritual power, most being below the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, posing no threat.
They proceeded in the direction indicated by the Guide Jade; the last time Fang Hanyu used his disciple's token to contact the sect was in this town.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone