Chapter 139: Chapter 129: Celestial Ghost, Breakthrough to the Ninth Level

The *Netherworld Sword Technique* was divided into two parts. The first was the Heart Method, which focused on cultivating Nether River Magical Power. The ultimate goal was to form a vast, unending river of magical power within one’s Qi Sea and then condense it into a Sword Talisman, allowing one to break through to the Life Talisman Realm!

The second part was the Sword Scripture, which contained a total of four sword forms:

Celestial Ghost, Cold Moon, Nether Diagram, and Immortal Slayer!

These four sword forms could in turn evolve into thousands of variations, ranging from the simple to the complex, truly without end.

With Fang Cheng’s current Sensing Realm Cultivation, he could only just barely manage to execute the first two forms: Celestial Ghost and Cold Moon.

The true power of this Sword Technique would only fully manifest upon reaching the Life Talisman Realm.

On the third day of his secluded cultivation, Fang Cheng refined his first drop of Nether River Magical Power. After that, the conversion speed gradually picked up, and the sound of a rushing, surging river began to emanate from within his body.

By the thirteenth day of his seclusion, all the Cyan Yuan Demon Tree Skill magical power he had painstakingly cultivated for years had been completely converted into eighty-eight drops of Nether River Magical Power.

The flowing magical power formed a Nether River that coiled within his Qi Sea, continuously refining and strengthening his physical body, blood and qi, muscles and bones, and divine soul.

The quality of the Nether River Magical Power far surpassed that of the Cyan Yuan Demon Tree Skill, and it was countless times stronger than the One Qi Technique.

Whether in terms of circulation speed or sheer might, it surpassed ordinary cultivation techniques by an immense degree, leaving Fang Cheng feeling incredibly invigorated.

Using Nether River Magical Power to fuel the Li Hen Demon Light or his Escape Light produced results far superior to before.

Fang Cheng spared no expense, using Upper-Grade Spirit Stones to fuel his Heart Method. The Nether River in his Qi Sea swirled and flowed, seeming to transform into a giant vortex that devoured the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

The light from the Upper-Grade Spirit Stone dimmed at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Pure Spiritual Qi surged into his body and was rapidly refined. Over time, a brand-new drop of Nether River Magical Power would slowly form in the center of his Qi Sea before merging into the Nether River.

Three days later, one Upper-Grade Spirit Stone was depleted.

Fang Cheng took out another and continued his cultivation...

Before he knew it, he had used up ten Upper-Grade Spirit Stones!

That was equivalent to one hundred thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.

The Nether River Magical Power in his Qi Sea had also accumulated to ninety-nine drops.

Meanwhile, Fang Cheng’s cultivation realm had quietly broken through to the Ninth Layer of Sensing, and a natural sense of completion washed over him.

Logically speaking, ninety-nine drops of Nether River Magical Power should have been the peak for the Sensing Stage.

But Fang Cheng sensed that after cultivating with Wen Qianqian, his Qi Sea had expanded significantly and seemed capable of holding even more Nether River Magical Power...

In other words, his reserves of magical power would be far more abundant than other cultivators who practiced the Netherworld Sword Technique!

...

「One day.」

Fang Cheng was meditating in his Cave Mansion when he suddenly heard the sound of a Jade Chime from outside.

He rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the restrictive spell on the door and opened the stone door.

A tall, slender, and graceful figure stood before the entrance, a pair of beautiful eyes peering inside.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither spoke.

The visitor was none other than Feng Ling.

To eliminate any future trouble, Fang Cheng had not only planted a Heart Demon in her, but had also left behind the Magic Control Technique. If he wished, he could trigger the Heart Demon within Feng Ling at any time, causing her to suffer a cultivation deviation and transform into a Demon Fiend.

In other words, Feng Ling had become his Demon Servant; he now controlled her very life and death.

Normally, Feng Ling should have been avoiding him like the plague. For some reason, however, she had become his first guest since his promotion to Inner Sect Disciple.

Fang Cheng calmly took the main seat in the hall of his Cave Mansion. Resting his chin on one hand, he said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist Feng, please come in."

Without a word, Feng Ling slowly walked into the Cave Mansion, her expression complex as she looked at Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng waved his hand, closing the Cave Mansion’s great door and sealing the restrictive spells. He then looked Feng Ling up and down and asked, "Shouldn’t you be cultivating diligently on Flame Demon Island, Fellow Daoist? What brings you here?"

Feng Ling bit her lip, a faint blush creeping across her cold, proud face. Her gaze became direct and bold as she met his. "Fellow Daoist Fang, I came to congratulate you on your promotion to Inner Sect Disciple."

Fang Cheng nodded. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. I wish you a smooth path on the Great Dao as well. May you overcome all obstacles and become a True Disciple soon."

Feng Ling bit her lip, her lovely face filled with resentment. "Ever since you defeated me, my cultivation has barely progressed an inch. As for becoming a True Disciple... I used to be seventy or eighty percent confident, but now..."

Fang Cheng chuckled lightly. "It seems you still haven’t accepted your fate, Fellow Daoist. You didn’t come all this way today just to offer congratulations, did you?"

Feng Ling looked up and said through clenched teeth, "There is another matter for which I need your help, Fellow Daoist."

Fang Cheng stated calmly, "Fellow Daoist Feng, you are my Demon Servant. If you need anything, just ask."

Feng Ling’s full chest rose and fell erratically. Her beautiful eyes stared directly at Fang Cheng before she finally said, "I ask that you help me refine the Heart Demon, Fellow Daoist."

Fang Cheng’s gaze fell upon her slender, graceful form. He took a moment to carefully sense her condition, then asked in surprise, "Why have you developed so many new Heart Demons since I first planted one? Don’t you know that the more this happens, the deeper you will fall into its grasp?"

A self-mocking smile touched Feng Ling’s exquisite face. "You can say I brought this on myself. But if you truly see me as your Demon Servant, you should be more attentive. I’d like to think I’m far more useful than a simple decoration..."

Fang Cheng watched her quietly. After a moment’s thought, he asked, "Am I to understand that you now genuinely accept me as your master?"

Feng Ling nodded silently. "I was raised to believe that the strong devour the weak. Given your potential, you are worthy of my willing submission."

"For the next two hundred years, the Yinluo Sect will undoubtedly belong to Wang Yuntian, you, and a handful of others. If you help me take control of the Feng Family, I will do everything in my power to help you claim the position of a Peak Master, or even the Sect Leader!"

Fang Cheng laughed. "You’re quite ambitious, Fellow Daoist Feng."

Feng Ling replied calmly, "In this world, the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker. I simply refuse to be one of the weak."

Upon hearing her words, Fang Cheng’s expression turned serious. "Very well. I agree."