Chapter 163: Chapter 2: Taking a Master, Imparting the Arts, Receiving Gifts

After many days in seclusion, Fang Cheng had finally broken through to the Life Talisman Realm. With such a joyous occasion, he naturally indulged in every pleasure with his beautiful wife, savoring all her sweetness.

The love between the couple grew daily, filling their nights with endless tenderness.

Completely relaxed in body and mind, Fang Cheng slept until the sun was high in the sky before leisurely waking.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Die’Er standing by his bedside. She was dressed to be captivatingly beautiful, as lovely as a flower. With a giggle, she said, "Young Master, aren’t you getting up yet?"

Fang Cheng stretched lazily and asked, "Where’s Yan’Er?"

"A guest has arrived," Die’Er replied. "The Mistress is with them."

"I want to sleep a little longer," Fang Cheng said languidly. "Come back and get me before dusk."

"That won’t do," Die’Er said with a chuckle. "The Mistress insisted that I wake you."

As she spoke, she leaned down, her slender waist bending gracefully, and slipped the tip of her tongue into Fang Cheng’s mouth, swirling it around playfully.

How could Fang Cheng possibly resist? A fire ignited within him at once, and he gave the charming handmaiden a proper ’disciplining’.

Afterward.

He changed into a magnificent Magical Robe with broad, flowing sleeves that gave him an elegant and poised air. He then strolled out of the bedroom and into the main hall on the top floor.

There, he saw Ye Yan chatting and laughing with an exceptionally beautiful woman in a black dress who carried herself with a noble air.

The two sat leaning against the railing, their conversation filled with bright laughter. They were both beautiful beyond compare. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The woman in the black dress was none other than Feng Ling!

When Fang Cheng came up, their eyes met for an instant before they both looked away, pretending not to know each other.

Ye Yan smiled and said, "Husband, this is my cousin, Feng Ling, from Flame Demon Island. She broke through to the Life Talisman Realm last year and is now cultivating on Golden Furnace Peak."

Fang Cheng chuckled and offered a cupped fist salute. "So you are the renowned prodigy of the Inner Sect, Fellow Daoist Feng. I have long admired your name."

Feng Ling rose and gave a curtsy, saying calmly, "In your presence, Fellow Daoist Fang, I wouldn’t dare claim the title of prodigy."

Golden Furnace Peak was responsible for managing and maintaining the Sect Protection Array. It held a special status among the Nine Peaks, worked closely with the Sect Leader’s faction, and was highly regarded by the Supreme Elders.

The fact that Feng Ling could cultivate on this peak was surely a path arranged for her long ago by the Feng Family.

Ye Yan pulled Fang Cheng down to sit, her expression turning serious. "Husband, Cousin is here to share a rumor with you. They say the Demon Lion Peak Master sent a message to the other eight Peak Masters: anyone who wants to take you as a Disciple must first go to Demon Lion Peak and challenge him to a sword duel. Now, all eight have sent back their reply... they’ve all given up."

Fang Cheng nodded. "So, I have no choice in the matter."

Feng Ling looked at Fang Cheng, her voice clear and melodious. "The Demon Lion Peak Master is the Cultivator in the Abyssal Marsh most likely to break through to the Life Soul Realm. Taking him as your master is without a doubt the best choice. While the Sect Leader is powerful and holds great authority, he is distracted by the sect’s affairs. In terms of cultivation, his path may not reach as far as the Demon Lion Peak Master’s."

"Peak Lord Sun’s Sword Technique is extraordinary," Fang Cheng said. "To be able to study under him is a true blessing. Moreover..."

His gaze shifted to the sky outside the tower. "On the path of cultivation, one might rely on external aid, but in the end, you have to rely on yourself. That’s why I never waste my energy worrying about such external choices."

...

...

...

「Three days later.」

A True Disciple arrived on Xiaocang Island, met with Fang Cheng, and explained his reason for coming.

This man was a Disciple on duty at the Yinluo Sect’s Ancestral Hall. He had come under the orders of the Hall Master to summon Fang Cheng to the Ancestral Hall to undergo the proper ceremony.

Fang Cheng changed his clothes, left with the True Disciple, and headed straight for Yinluo Island.

By the time the two arrived at the Ancestral Hall, many Inner Sect Elders were already waiting inside.

The Ancestral Hall was towering and majestic. It enshrined the founding patriarch of the Yinluo Sect, as well as all the past Supreme Elders and Sect Leaders.

Whenever a Disciple was promoted to the rank of True Disciple, they were required to come here to venerate the forebears and perform the ceremony.

All Nine Peaks had sent representatives to observe the ceremony.

After Fang Cheng completed his obeisance, a melodious bell chimed outside the hall, ringing six times in total!

The chimes could be heard far and wide, all across the Abyssal Marsh.

This officially marked Fang Cheng’s ascension as a True Disciple of the Yinluo Sect!

Next was the consecration of his Soul Lamp.

A Soul Lamp engraved with his name was placed at the back of the Ancestral Hall. If this lamp were ever to go out, the Disciple on duty would discover it at once and report it to the sect.

This was followed by the formalities of receiving a True Disciple’s Magical Robe, Identity Token, and Inheritance Jade Scroll, as well as a reiteration of the sect’s commandments.

In the end, all the Cultivators from the various peaks departed, leaving only a single middle-aged Daoist. He had a scholarly, refined face, a three-stranded black beard beneath his chin, wore a tall coronet, and was dressed in a Daoist’s Brocade Cloud Robe.

In the Ancestral Hall, the middle-aged Daoist stood before the enormous portrait of the Yinluo Sect’s founding patriarch, his hands clasped behind his back. "Fang Cheng," he asked calmly, "do you know how vast this world truly is?"

Fang Cheng was slightly taken aback. Truthfully, ever since he had transmigrated into this world, he had been quite curious about its geography.

He had spent the last few years gathering quite a bit of information. Between the encyclopedic jade scrolls available to Inner Sect Disciples and the knowledge he gained from Madam Ye, he had access to information far beyond the reach of any Loose Cultivator.

At this moment, he had already guessed the identity of the middle-aged Daoist before him. "The Red Profound Realm is boundless," he said, bowing low. "The lands of the Human Race are divided into seven domains, and the untamed wilds beyond them are even vaster still."

Yun Country is one of the nine countries in the East Cyan Domain, and the East Cyan Domain is one of the seven domains in the Red Profound Realm.

"You are correct," the middle-aged Daoist said, his voice solemn. "But do you know how many Cultivators spend their entire lives without ever leaving Yun Country? Not to mention the East Cyan Domain, or even the Red Profound Realm itself?"

"The world is vast, yet most people are trapped in their own little Land of the Elixir, viewing the heavens from the bottom of a well. Their lives are spent in mediocrity!"

"’To touch the heavens across ten thousand miles, one needs a long sword.’ Fang Cheng, since you have chosen the path of the Sword Cultivator, you are not one to resign yourself to mediocrity. So... are you willing to come with me and see the world outside?"

The middle-aged Daoist turned, his gaze burning as it fixed on Fang Cheng. A formidable Sword Intent radiated from him, carrying a momentum that seemed capable of piercing the firmament and shattering the heavens.

Fang Cheng bowed deeply. "Disciple Fang Cheng pays his respects to Master. I wish Master a long life."

As he finished speaking, his own Sword Intent emerged. It was lofty and sharp, yet it also held a faint but immense and awe-inspiring presence that seemed to fill the heavens and the earth.