After Changing to the Ruthless Way, the Brothers Cried and Begged for Forgiveness-Chapter 466: As Formidable As They Are, Can They Outdo Yu Zhao?
Lingyin Sect’s Small World was called the Bifang Realm.
As for why it bore the name Bifang, it was because the Bifang Realm had once been the former abode of the Divine Beast Bifang.
Every five hundred years, an Otherworldly Flame would descend upon the Bifang Realm like fire from the heavens.
Wherever the Otherworldly Flame passed, it burned all to ash and left not a single blade of grass alive.
Yet precisely because of the Otherworldly Flame, the Bifang Realm’s Spiritual Power was more abundant than that of other Small Worlds, and cultivation there progressed a little faster.
Recalling all she had seen along the way, Yu Zhao found it rather strange. The Bifang Realm did not appear much different from the other Small Worlds she had visited, and the existence of the Otherworldly Flame seemed to have had little effect on the cultivators living there.
Seeing Yu Zhao’s confusion, Senior Qun Fang shook her head and explained: “The Bifang Realm’s Otherworldly Flame is no ordinary fire. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator who touches it by accident will be immediately scorched and find it hard to recover, and any place burned by the Otherworldly Flame will not see spiritual flora grow again for centuries. The reason you cannot see the marks it leaves is that the cultivators of the Bifang Realm, though harmed, are also under the Bifang’s protection.”
There was, in fact, a wondrous place within the Bifang Realm known as the Eye of Bifang. Every five hundred years, the Eye of Bifang would produce ten Bifang Pearls.
The pearls’ greatest function was to resist the Otherworldly Flame from beyond the sky, and ten Bifang Pearls happened to be enough to cover the entire area of the Bifang Realm.
In theory, with ten Bifang Pearls present, the cultivators of the Bifang Realm did not need to worry about perishing under the Otherworldly Flame when it descended. But where there is profit, there is struggle. The question of who should safeguard the ten Bifang Pearls became a matter of endless contention across the realm. A Bifang Pearl was tantamount to a protective talisman; no one wished to entrust their own life to another’s hands.
Thus there arose a once-every-five-hundred-years Sect Dao Debate. The sect that won earned the authority to administer the Bifang Pearls, and when the Otherworldly Flame descended, it was obliged to cooperate with the rest to shield the entire Bifang Realm.
Of course, there were many who violated that duty midway. For example, when the Otherworldly Flame descended, some deliberately neglected a certain region, allowing the sect there to be ravaged by the fire, causing countless deaths and injuries and leaving the sect ruined from then on. Even if the offender was dealt with afterward, the harm could no longer be undone. Consequently, the various sects treated the Bifang Pearls as prizes that must be won; each Sect Dao Debate was effectively a ranking among the sects, and only the victors could hold power over life and death.
By coincidence, the five-hundred-year cycle was about to come due, and Lingyin Sect would be participating.
Senior Qun Fang said with a dim look: “Five hundred years ago, Lingyin Sect placed ninth at the cost of one dead and one wounded. This time…”
Ancestor Sui Bian suddenly understood and said: “You invited Fei Hong to have him fight on Lingyin Sect’s behalf in the debate!”
Senior Qun Fang replied: “No, the one I truly wished to invite is his son, Du Wu Xiang.” She elaborated: cultivators like Senior Qun Fang and Ancestor Fei Hong were already the sea-calming pillars of their respective sects; if an accident befell them during the matches, the stability of the entire sect would be affected. For this reason, the Bifang Realm’s Sect Dao Debate did not send sect ancestors to compete, but rather each sect’s elite disciples, none older than two hundred years.
She continued: “In recent years Lingyin Sect has suffered a gap between generations, and it has been a long time since any stunningly gifted disciple appeared. Du Wu Xiang, however, became famous young; before a hundred years of age he had already broken through to Divine Transformation. His command of Illusory Beasts is exquisite, and I have heard even the Great Thousand Alliance has extended him an invitation. I believed that with him present the outcome would be virtually assured, so I sent a letter to Fei Hong, asking him to have his son fight under Lingyin Sect’s banner.”
Ancestor Sui Bian frowned at first, then could not help grinning as he pushed Yu Zhao forward and said: “Isn’t this perfect? My Yu Zhao also cultivates Illusion Arts, and she too has received an invitation from the Great Thousand Alliance.”
Senior Qun Fang showed a hint of surprise. When Ancestor Sui Bian pleaded with her previously, he had mentioned Yu Zhao and praised her to the skies; she had assumed it was merely an elder’s fondness for a junior and had paid little heed, treating Yu Zhao more as a pleasing junior in her eyes. Now, hearing this introduction, she truly took a closer look at Yu Zhao. Casting a glance at Yu Zhao’s cultivation, she said with some regret: “Her talent is indeed fine, but compared to Du Wu Xiang she still falls a little short.”
Du Wu Xiang was at the peak of late-stage Divine Transformation, just one step away from attempting the Void Refinement Stage, whereas Yu Zhao had only just stepped through the gate of Divine Transformation. The gap was obvious.
Ancestor Sui Bian, however, had great confidence in Yu Zhao. With a mind to needle his old rival a bit more, he was itching to step on Du Wu Xiang’s reputation as well. Yu Zhao then asked calmly: “Senior Qun Fang, may I ask what connection there is between the Sect Dao Debate and the Jade Ruyi?”
Senior Qun Fang answered: “After the debate concludes, one can enter the Eye of Bifang to obtain the Bifang Pearls, and in the process receive the Bifang’s blessing. That blessing is to scorch the soul with the Otherworldly Flame, thereby driving out stray thoughts.”
Yu Zhao understood at once. The Jade Ruyi was bound to her soul; it could be counted among those stray thoughts. If she used the opportunity properly, she really might borrow the Otherworldly Flame to sever her link with the Jade Ruyi.
Ancestor Sui Bian beamed so broadly his old face looked like a morning-glory and said: “What a fine idea! Qun Fang, you are not only beautiful and kind but clever as well; to make your acquaintance is a blessing of three lifetimes for me!”
Senior Qun Fang’s lips curved with restrained poise, but she soon showed a troubled expression and said: “I reached an agreement with Fei Hong. If Du Wu Xiang represents Lingyin Sect and secures victory, then the slot to enter the Eye of Bifang will be his.” Her friendship with Ancestor Fei Hong ran deep, yet she still had to place interests first; she could not let Fei Hong and Du Wu Xiang make the trip for nothing, so the reward had been arranged in advance. Though she liked Yu Zhao, she did not wish to break her word for Yu Zhao’s sake.
Ancestor Sui Bian said with total confidence: “That’s easily solved. Have Du Wu Xiang and Yu Zhao compete. Whoever wins will represent Lingyin Sect.”
Yu Zhao nodded.
Senior Qun Fang, seeing that the two did not seem to be joking, was even more taken aback and said: “Du Wu Xiang’s name is known abroad; he is by no means ordinary.”
Ancestor Sui Bian tossed his head with assurance and said: “Yu Zhao will only be stronger!” As formidable as Du Wu Xiang was, could he really outdo Yu Zhao? He had yet to see anyone who comprehended more facets of Dao intent than she did. Besides, Yu Zhao was his junior, while Du Wu Xiang was Fei Hong’s son; if Yu Zhao defeated Du Wu Xiang, rounding it up, it would be the same as Ancestor Sui Bian defeating Fei Hong. The thought excited him so much he could barely keep still, and he almost wanted to drag Du Wu Xiang over on the spot to have him spar with Yu Zhao then and there.
Still worried, Senior Qun Fang looked at Yu Zhao and said: “Yu Zhao, do not mind him. Have you truly thought this through? Do you really wish to pit yourself against Du Wu Xiang?”
Yu Zhao answered evenly: “Senior, this is presently the only method by which I can shake off the Jade Ruyi. I want to give it a try.” [Compete.]
Senior Qun Fang gave her a complicated look and said at last: “Very well. I will go speak with Fei Hong. If he agrees, you may have a match with Du Wu Xiang.”
.
!
Chapter 466: As Formidable As They Are, Can They Outdo Yu Zhao?
Comments