Chapter 375: An Agreement
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
"This Elemental Refining Fruit is indeed a treasure for Wu Zongs! It is highly beneficial for one cultivating in the Meridian Opening Realm!"
After consuming the spiritual fruit and cultivating for a few days, Fang Yuan's martial arts progress had skyrocketed.
After all, he had a strong foundation in martial arts to begin with and had the special ability to view his stats and experience bar. Together with the spiritual fruit, his cultivation in martial arts quickly advanced and not long after, he was already about to form the 8th spiritual meridian.
"The spiritual fruit and the experience bar are just assisting in my cultivation. The most important factor is my extremely strong physical body. With it, there would be no more bottlenecks and cultivation will become extremely smooth!"
Fang Yuan knew that his strong physical body was already comparable to that of a True Divine. His journey of cultivation from then on was a smooth one.
He had quickly advanced through the various meridians in the Meridian Opening Realm.
As soon as he noticed that the experience bar for his Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique was 90% filled, he became hasty and as his eyes glistened, he quickly ate an Elemental Refining Fruit.
"Burp!"
As soon as he finished his last spiritual fruit, he could feel an immense warmth filling up his dantian. The energy which gathered there felt like a river which was about to overflow.
Normal Wu Zongs, when faced with such a situation, would not be able to withstand it for their dantians would not be able to hold up against such stress. This was even so for 8th and 9th Meridian Wu Zongs. If they were to forcefully let it happen, their bodies would explode.
However, to Fang Yuan, his body was extremely hardy. He would at most experience the popping of his veins before everything would revert back to normal.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
On his back, the 8th spiritual meridian was completely formed. Together with the other meridians, they formed a mysterious illusionary figure.
This figure was extremely large like a giant. However, it had a weird shape as it had a pair of wings on its arms, as though it was about to fly.
Furthermore, there were faint grey inscriptions forming all around his body like feathers, giving his physical body a layer of spiritual armour.
"The Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique is now at its peak!"
Fang Yuan clenched his fist and immediately, the illusionary figure behind him did the same. "I can feel that as long as I am willing, I will be able to form the Giant Spiritual Divine Body and enter the realm of True Divine!"
The Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique has its foundations in the Yang Family's Qian Kun Giant Spiritual Technique. It had the potential to form 8 spiritual meridians and form the Giant Spiritual Divine Body!
Both martial artists and spiritual knights alike would be able to attempt to breakthrough to True Divine or True Elemental respectively once they had formed the 7th Meridian or at the 7th Tier. However, the potential of the prematurely-formed Divine Body would be much lower than if they were to attempt the breakthrough with the 8th Meridian or 8th Tier. Most importantly, the chances of forming the Divine Body prematurely were extremely low!
"With a strong foundation, it is only a matter of time one will be able to attain True Divine... However, the Giant Spiritual Divine Body does not seem satisfactory enough..."
Fang Yuan took a quick glance at his stats window:
"Name: Fang Yuan
Essence: 96
Spirit: 76
Magic: 60
Profession: Dream Soldier Master
Cultivation: Illusionary Divine (4th Tier), Wu Zong (8th Meridian)
Technique: [Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique (Grade 8) (100%)], [Hundred Poison Golden Body (10th Refining)], [8 Gates Sword Array (5th Sword) (1%)]
Skill: [Medicine (Level 3)], [Botany (Level 5)], [Fiery Golden Eyes (Level 1)]"
"I must form the strongest possible Divine Body by advancing only when I have formed the 9th Meridian!"
He came to a conclusion as soon as he glanced at the stats of his Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique and Hundred Poison Golden Body technique.
After combining Sage Changli's inheritance and the theory of witchcraft, Fang Yuan had gained enough knowledge to understand his path to breakthrough the limitations of the Giant Eagle Metal Body Technique.
"The next step... I shall gather some resources from the Dream Realm before attempting to combine these two techniques to push it to the 9th Meridian!"
Fang Yuan sat on a piece of rock, shut his eyes and arrived at the Dream Realm in an instant.
"Cultivator Fang!"
As soon as he entered, his inscription plate started to flash continuously as it received countless messages. The first was from Feng Xinzi. "I'm sorry for what happened previously. However, Elder Smelter would like to see you to discuss about future plans!"
"Elder Smelter... It seems like my treatment is getting better!"
Fang Yuan smiled and quickly arrived at Realm Alliance Mountain and stood outside of Elder Smelter's hall. "I'm Fang Yuan, requesting to see Elder!"
"Please enter!"
As soon as Fang Yuan made his request, two children in red robes came out of the hall and greeted him with smiles. "As soon as my master knows you're here, he immediately started to meditate to enter the Dream Realm!"
"I'm sorry to trouble him!"
Fang Yuan replied before entering the hall.
"Buzz! Buzz!"
A flash of fiery glow gathered, forming Elder Smelter's body. A few Fiery Dragon Children were standing around.
"Greetings, Elder!"
Fang Yuan properly paid his respects, not allowing anyone to fault him for disrespect.
"It is the good fortune of our alliance to have such a talent like you!"
Elder Smelter smiled as Fang Yuan humbly denied the compliments.
After all, Fang Yuan knew where he stood. Although he was not afraid to take on a True Divine, he would still lose in the war if he was all by himself.
This Elder from the Realm Alliance was a dream master in the 7th Tier of the Illusionary Divine and had once fought with Venerable Longhu, the True Divine!
Of course, although Fang Yuan seemed respectful , he had no fear for Elder Smelter.
After all, his existence in the Dream Realm was only his mind. If he were to anger this Elder, his actual physical body could immediately escape into the 9 Extremes Mountain!
Within the area affected by the Ultimate Segregation, even Elder Smelter might not be his match!
"Considering your cultivation level, I shall come straight to the point and be honest with you. As long as you wish, I can immediately increase your level of rights to that of a 7th Leaf Cultivator, which is only one level lower than us few elders. You can also deal with Feng Xinzi however you like!"
Elder Smelter's eyes glistened as he calmly spoke.
Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan remained silent.
This seemed like a favourable deal, but if he were to accept it, he knew that he would have to put his life on the line and get himself involved in the war.
"I only want to know how much I will earn from the previous mission and the status of my appointment as the guardian of Golden Sun Prosperous Land."
After a while, Fang Yuan smiled and enquired.
"The guardian of Golden Sun Prosperous Land?"
Elder Smelter gave a weird look. "This job is too lowly for you. You can at least be appointed as the baron of a land!"
"Hmmm..."
Fang Yuan shook his head and looked at Elder Smelter.
Elder Smelter's face started to turn red. He knew that Fang Yuan was still asking about the promise of not being required to take up missions for the next 10 years to come.
With that, he started to regret.
Previously, Fang Yuan was only a dream master in the 3rd Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage and there was no war going on. Therefore, Elder Smelter had allowed Feng Xinzi to promise Fang Yuan of this privilege.
Never would he have thought that Fang Yuan's progress would be so quick!
How could they afford to waste such a powerful person? Even Elder Smelter himself would have to get his hands dirty if the war would continue.
'This kid... He's smart!'
Feng Xinzi's attempt to convince Elder Smelter was starting to work. A thought began to grow in Elder Smelter's mind.
"This mission at 9 Extremes Mountain was a complete failure. However, you have accomplished much and that is notable... However, it is still a fact that the mission remains incomplete!"
Elder Smelter had contemplated, but still decided to deny Fang Yuan anyway.
"Oh? Then what would you like me to do, Elder?"
Fang Yuan's eyes glistened.
To speak the truth, although the Golden Sun Prosperous Land was good, Fang Yuan was not insistent on it. Since he had already decided to test Elder Smelter on his stance with regards to this, he would naturally have a response to rebut him.
"Hmmm... I have a few minute stuff to settle in 9 Extremes Mountain. If you complete those, we can consider this mission completed. I'll let you keep the Golden Sun Prosperous Land!"
Elder Smelter held himself back as he proposed the plan to Fang Yuan.
"Alright!"
Fang Yuan nodded his head and took his leave.
Although the 9 Extremes Mountain was a dangerous place for other dream masters to go, it was merely a walk in the park for Fang Yuan.
...
In the Green Bronze hall, as soon as Fang Yuan took his leave, Elder Smelter remained motionless as though he was lost in his thoughts.
"Elder?"
After a while, Feng Xinzi entered and knelt down.
"Mmm, you've heard our conversation. If there is nothing else, this will be how things are!"
Elder Smelter waved his hands.
"Yes, Sir!"
Feng Xinzi gritted his teeth, unwilling to resign to what had happened.
"Don't harbour any evil thoughts..."
Seeing Feng Xinzi's expression, Elder Smelter laughed. "Although it is only our minds that enter the Dream Realm, I have already used to a secret technique to test the kid out. He has a strong Essence and Spirit and has a red glow of spiritual light around him. This means that his physical body is extremely strong and even normal dream masters in the 6th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage are no match for him! Don't be too hard on yourself."
"I wouldn't dare!"
Feng Xinzi turned pale and lowered his head. "I just cannot believe it! Although this person is talented, he was obviously much weaker than me before..."
"Hehe... By dream-traversing to different realms, anything can happen!"
Elder Smelter seemed as though he was not surprised at Fang Yuan's progress. After all, the Sage of Realm Alliance had once gained plenty of rewards from the Ancient Realm to finally become a Sage!
Compared to such an encounter, Fang Yuan's situation was nothing.
"As for you... Your stubbornness in cultivation and the dao of alchemy will get you nowhere!"
Elder Smelter chided Feng Xinzi before stroking his beard in confusion. "However... this kid's previous mission seems to be the Ancient Realm….. It seems like he had benefited from the final chaos! Could he have collected large amounts of witch blood? Hmm, this seems possible."
At that point in time, the situation was chaotic. Many highly-skilled dream masters of the Realm Alliance were killed, and similarly, the people of the Jiuli Tribe including Chi, Xing and many other highly skilled witches were killed as well. The opportunities were boundless.
If Fang Yuan were to collect a lot of their blood essence and used it to refine his own blood, then it would be logical for his martial arts to improve by leaps and bounds.
Elder Smelter was a cunning man. With a few guesses and predictions, he could roughly understand the reason behind Fang Yuan's great improvement.
Never would he know that Fang Yuan paid no attention to the blood essence of the normal witches. Instead, Fang Yuan went for the leader of the Jiuli Tribe - Xing! With that, he had obtained the purest form of the witch's blood essence and even the inheritance of the study of witchcraft from the Jiuli Tribe!
....
"Who would know that there are still things to settle in the 9 Extremes Mountain!"
In the Da Qian world, Fang Yuan's mind returned from the Dream Realm as he woke up.
Regardless if it was the Dragon Searching Acupuncture Technique or just destroying things, there was no point of return.
"Wait a minute... The 9 Extremes Mountain stretches over 350 miles and yet my map has only charted the mountain up to 130 miles and is therefore incomplete. Could there be other nodes?"
Fang Yuan's eyes glittered. He had no fear.
After all, the 9 Extremes Mountain was his homeground! In the outside world, against a powerful being, Fang Yuan could only hold on for a few moments but would ultimately lose the fight. However, under the influence of the Ultimate Segregation in the 9 Extremes Mountain, a dream master in the 7th Tier of the Illusionary Divine stage could still be exhausted and be killed!
"Hmm, maybe I should apply to be the guardian of this place and replace Xing Yunzi."