Chapter 339: Breakthrough
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"Get lost!"
Fang Yuan hollered.
"Hmph! Please, know your place and don't get in the way of the alliance!"
Zhou Hun knew that he was at his wits' end. He stood up, paid his respects and left, depressed.
Although he was still responsible for investigating Fang Yuan's background, the fact that the entire Golden Sun Prosperous Land was under the protection of the 99 Golden Suns Gigantic Array as well as Fang Yuan's own additional array meant that unless he had to ability to completely destroy the prosperous land, there was nothing he could do. Of course, he wouldn't be so dumb as to court his own death.
"Lord..."
Witnessing this scene, both Meng Tian and Meng Guang were stunned.
Even the previous guardian would show some respect whenever a messenger would come. Why was their new guardian, Fang Yuan, so daring?
"Relax... he is just an insignificant person. There won't be any severe consequences!"
Fang Yuan flipped the scroll. Without looking, he could already guess that the figure they were demanding would be an astronomical value.
"What... 3,000,000 catties of spiritual rice and 800 catties of aged gold?"
Meng Tian squinted his eyes and examined the scroll as well. "Are they crazy? Why would the treasurer do this to us?"
As he looked at Meng Guang, both of them could roughly guess that this was likely to be related to the fact that Fang Yuan was now the guardian of the prosperous land.
"This... I will settle it. Carry on with your duties!"
Seeing that these two servants were struck with fear, he laughed inside as he waved his hand and dismissed them.
To think about it, he could tide over this relatively easy. He just had to fork out resources from his own storage.
However, only a fool would use their own resources to cover up for official resources!
Furthermore, by acceding to their demand and revealing his wealth, he would attract more unwanted attention and pressure from onlookers. Next time, the treasurer would then be able to demand 30,000,000 catties of spiritual rice and 8,000 catties of aged gold!
"However... I would also be a fool to resign and put myself against the alliance just because of this unreasonable demand!"
Fang Yuan sighed as he suddenly realised the power of such an organisation.
It was true that an official would be able to oppress the weak!
"Against such a problem, no matter how talented one would be, if one does not have a backing, one would still be toyed around like a fool and remain trapped by the rules! This is like dancing while being chained up!!!"
Fang Yuan rubbed his chin, closed his eyes and arrived at the Dream Realm.
"It seems... a little different!"
As arrived at the rock tablet of the Realm Alliance before walking out on the public streets. "The dream masters are all rushing about. Every mission's payout is now 10 times more, and the prices of war supplies seem to have gone up... is a war about to break out?"
Before the advancement of troops, their rations would have to go first.
Even dream masters were not spared from such ideologies.
From the tense atmosphere, Fang Yuan could sense that something was about to go wrong.
"The alliance is forcing us to take up even more missions! Furthermore, most of them are assassination missions..."
Fang Yuan licked his lips. "I'm fortunate... If it was a little later, I'm afraid I would not have a chance to get this appointment as guardian!"
With this appointment, he could officially be inactive. Even if there were no more resources for him to loot, he would still not give up this appointment!
"No wonder the treasurer is demanding me for my supplies. Of course, the alliance wouldn't be against his decision! It seems like my appointment has gotten some jealousy..."
Fang Yuan's eyes glistened as he contacted Feng Xinzi.
However, he was informed that Feng Xinzi was in isolation. With that, Fang Yuan had come to a conclusion. "I've used up my friendship with him... Or should I say, he has deemed that our friendship is over. Unless I can perform and show him that I am valuable to him, I would no longer receive preferential treatment from him!"
With this thought, he disappeared from the Dream Realm.
Since he could not rely on others, he had to prepare himself!
"Elder!"
Feng Xinzi got up and walked to the hall. "Fang Yuan has attempted to contact me, but I had rejected him!"
"Mmm, the compensation that we've given him is enough. We should not spend any more effort on him!"
There was a serious look on Elder Smelter's face. "This kid is indeed lucky... In fact, I don't even think I might be able to smoothly get the appointment of a guardian for myself!"
"Is it... really about to start?"
Feng Xinzi shuddered.
"Mmm... as the alchemy master of our realm, you have an important role to play. Give it your best!"
Elder Smelter continued. "I have already ensured that higher authorities would not be able to get involved and personally deal with Fang Yuan. As for the internal conflicts, whatever he can guard will be his, and if he fails to do so, it is none of our business..."
"Yes, Sir!"
Feng Xinzi took a bow.
Thinking about the heavy responsibility of producing large quantities of spiritual pills and comparing it with those who could enjoy their lives behind the scenes, it was understandable why Feng Xinzi would be jealous of Fang Yuan.
"This is indeed a challenge for you, Fang Yuan. How do you plan to deal with it?"
Feng Xinzi suddenly felt a hint of worry. Before the impending war, even he had started to feel the jitters.
...
In the Golden Sun Prosperous Land.
"If others are unwilling to help me, I can only rely on myself!"
In his meditation room, Fang Yuan was sitting cross-legged. It seemed like he had understood something. "It seems... my role as guardian is a lucrative job in peacetime, but in troubled times, it becomes a piece of meat that everyone is jealous of and would want... there is an impending chaos! Could the Changli Mountain Hollow be the cause of all this?"
Although his appointment was something small, it was a haven of peace!
"All the more I should not accede to their demand! Although the Realm Alliance is nothing, at least I can gain protection there and benefit from it..."
"It's time to achieve another breakthrough!"
All of this had made him determined!
Within his actualised dream world.
Mercury-like dream elemental force was flowing about. It seemed heavy and dense, giving him a sense of security.
After completely eradicating the evil force, the entire actualised dream world felt as though the shackles on it were removed. With that, it expanded once more.
"Ultimately, this place will become a real hollow in the real world!"
Fang Yuan's glistening eyes could not conceal his greed. With that, he looked at this 8 Gates Sword Arry.
4 pillars of sword rose up towards the sky. The fire was blazing, the ice was freezing and the thunder was grand... The elements were fighting. As the 3 magical swords glowed, a hint of spiritual wind was in the centre.
On the green sword pillar, the tip of the sword was still lacking and the sword could not form completely.
However, this was done intentionally by Fang Yuan.
"Breakthrough!"
With this thought, the green ball of energy in the centre of the 8 Gates Sword Array, which was untouched throughout the many times he had fought, started to spread out.
This was energy from the source of a realm and was exchanged using karma from the Water Realm. It was extremely beneficial to the cultivation of dream masters.
Furthermore, this amount of energy was already enough for Fang Yuan to become a dream masters in the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage, but it was forcefully contained.
After all, if Fang Yuan could not rid the evil force from his body and went on with the breakthrough, there might be repercussions in the future. However, now that the evil force was gone, there was nothing holding him back.
"Buzz! Buzz!"
Huge amounts of green glow gathered around the green sword pillar. The lightweight Modest Wind Sword started to form. Green runes glittered on the surface of the sword and finally, they were engraved on the sword.
The Wind Sword! Formed!
"Rumble!"
In an instant, 4 sword pillars glowed and their radiance shot up into the sky!
Red, blue, purple and green... They represented the power of fire, ice, thunder and wind. As a stable foundation formed in the centre, the actualised dream world started to expand.
The actualised dream world shook and trembled as though the ground was splitting. Fog rose up into the air, and the entire space was now increased to twice the size!
"Fire, water, wind and thunder... the 4 Emblems are finally formed!"
Seeing this, Fang Yuan was filled with satisfaction. "Although it is still incomparable to the most basic earth, fire, wind and water, it is still alright, for I will not be able to harness such power. Instead, with these 4 Emblems coming together, it will be something I can manage and something that is suitable for me! This is the best!"
With this, his stats started to change:
"Name: Fang Yuan
Essence: 48
Spirit: 48
Magic: 60
Profession: Dream Soldier Master
Cultivation: Illusionary Divine (4th Tier), Wu Zong (5th Meridian)
Technique: [Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique (Grade 6) (1%)], [Hundred Poison Golden Body (1st Refining)], [8 Gates Sword Array (5th Sword) (1%)]
Skill: [Medicine (Level 3)], [Botany (Level 5)]"
"Finally... the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage!"
Fang Yuan heaved a sigh.
Being at the 4th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage meant that he would be able to create spirituality. He was now a dream master to be reckoned with, even in the Realm Alliance.
In fact, the dream master who had troubled him, Li Qin, and even the treasurer of Cloud Region was only at this stage.
In terms of combat power, he would be on par with them, if not even stronger!
"Activate your spiritual property!"
Using his magical energy, he could control the space in mid-air. Immediately, he could feel a mighty force in him as though the heavens had bestowed him with power.
With the point of his finger, an illusionary figure appeared on the Leaving Fire Sword. It was blurred and appeared confused but curious. "Master?"
"Is it intellectually similar to that of a 9-year old kid?"
Fang Yuan sighed. As he waved his hands once more, vibes of intellectual waves were given off from the 3 other spiritual swords.
"The ability of a dream master in the 4th Tier of Illusionary Divine to create spirituality is extremely limited... Of course, it is enough for the sword spirits to be able to have such an intellectual level! In the future when my cultivation improves, the spirituality and wisdom of the sword spirits will improve as well. Once I reach the 7th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage, I should be able to create the Fire Sword Child, Water Sword Child and more..."
In reality, as a sword spirit, they did not need to be very wise. It would be enough as long as they could kill enemies!
"Who should I look for to test out the 4 Emblems Sword Array?"
With a new powerful weapon in his hands, Fang Yuan wanted to kill.
With a snicker, he looked at his sword array.
The 4 Emblems Sword Array appeared sturdy. At the west of the array, a mysterious black sword was beginning to form. Spiritual aura began to disperse as the black sword complemented the array like a puzzle piece.
"This is the Lake Sword. It is graceful on the outside but brute on the inside. It is most suitable to be the heart of the array as it would be able to amplify the power of all the other 4 swords..."
As the 4 Emblems Sword Array formed outside, the next would be to form the array within.
Heaven, Earth, Mountain and Lake, followed by Water, Fire, Wind and Thunder!
"At Master's peak, he should have formed the Heaven Sword at the 8th Tier of Illusionary Divine..."
Fang Yuan knew the power of the 8 Gates Sword Array, and his fear for his master's enemy started to build up. "This is similar to martial arts. After the 7th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage, I would have the chance to achieve a breakthrough to the Prominent Divine stage. Master must have been close to invincible as a Prominent Divine stage dream master! However, he was not a sage!"
"In the 8 Gates Sword Array, could there be... a 9th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage?"
Suddenly, he realised what his Master's resolution and regret. Thinking about it, his heart shook.