Zhong Yue walked past the side of the burning divine gold mine away from the city, thinking, Patriarch Nature, the day I come back will be the day I sacrifice your mortal body to the heaven and earth. I will turn this cit into a grand celebration to the humans of Ancestral Star!
Jun Sixie and Fang Jiange had already returned to Swords Gate after a month. The two of them had increased their strength by a considerable degree, even cultivating to the state of extremity in the Heavenly Dharma level. They were now both at the Imminent Deity stage, just a step away from a deity!
Especially Fang Jiange; his cultivation progress was faster and his attainments in the Imminent Deity level were stronger than Jun Sixie’s. Not only did he succeed in cultivating the state of extremity in the Heavenly Dharma level, but he also achieved the state of extremity at the Imminent Deity level!
This wasn’t too surprising. After all, Fang Jiange had no distractions in his cultivation path. Even back when he was still a Heavenly Dharma practitioner, he had already crafted a stunning sword of his own. It was only natural for his soul weapon to ascend into the level of Extreme Dao Soul Weapon. Since then, he was now the strongest existence in the whole of Swords Gate.
On the other hand, Jun Sixie was the Swords Gate headmaster. It was impossible for her to wholly dedicate her time and effort into cultivation. All these years as the headmaster had ended up with her cultivation progress being lackluster when compared to Fang Jiange.
The Heavenly Dharma’s state of extremity was the Chaotic Origin True Spirit, while the state of extremity in the Imminent Deity level was known as the Extreme Dao Soul Weapon.
Over the thousands of years of Swords Gate’s history, there had only been ten Extreme Dao Soul Weapons to have ever existed — they were collectively known as the Ten Malefic Weapons; one of which came from Shui Zian.
However, Swords Gate didn’t have much knowledge on the Imminent Deity’s state of extremity, causing the Ten Malefic Weapons to be flawed, leaving the wielder susceptible to their deadly side-effects.
But the same could not be said to Fang Jiange’s Extreme Dao Soul Weapon. His state of extremity was flawless and complete, he was able to forge his divine sword in the best and most perfect conditions. As such, not only was his Extreme Dao Soul Weapon stronger than the Ten Malefic Weapons, but it also resulted in no adverse effects to its wielder.
The both of them were innate spirit bodies, one having cultivated on the Celestial Water Star with the other doing the same on the Celestial Gold Star. These two places were the most optimal cultivation paradises for them, and it was incredibly beneficial for them, more so than what any divine herb could do.
There was even a hope that they could awaken their innate True Spirit, bestowing them with even stronger attainments!
But it was truly difficult to awaken the innate True Spirit, and they were still quite a distance away from doing so. Even so, the benefits they had enjoyed from this trip were still unimaginable.
Meanwhile, Qiu Jin’er was still cultivating on the Celestial Wood Star. Zhong Yue had told Shui Zian to not inform her as he wasn’t sure if he could ever return alive.
As the Innate Moon God, she was still in Swords Gate, sitting quietly inside the little pavilion like a stone statue.
As soon as Fang Jiange and Jun Sixie arrived back at Swords Gate, Shui Zian explained to them the series of events that led up to everything that happened, including the moon god. Both tried to approach the moon god later but stepped back as soon as they saw the goddess.
“What a beauty… But did she say that Junior Martial Brother Zhong is not dead?” Jun Sixie mumbled.
The havoc in the insect race temple was known by the whole Ancestral Star now. The insect race had suffered huge losses, and there was even word of the Xiao Mang grand ancestor’s death, although some said that his spirit had managed to survive and was hiding deeply somewhere in this world.
Whatever the outcome was, and however the battle ended, it was impossible for Zhong Yue to still be alive.
But with more of the same news coming in, Swords Gate was given hope again.
One of the rumors said that an innate god had emerged from within a pearl of the moon core and killed Xiao Mang grand ancestor just the swing of a hand.
The strength that such a feat implied gave everyone that heard it chills!
But while innate gods were strong, they were incredibly rare as well. It was a surprise that the Ancestral Star had given birth to an innate god, it was virtually impossible for it to have two. Thus, this moon god that was sitting in Swords Gate now could only have been the same one who killed the Xiao Mang grand ancestor!
And if she said Zhong Yue wasn’t dead yet, then he might really still be alive!
Right now, Swords Gate was enjoying its long-lost peace while the whole Ancestral Star was in turmoil. The death of the insect race gods and Xiao Mang grand ancestor had greatly shaken the world, causing the factions that were planning to take advantage of Swords Gate to retreat.
Months later, Feng Wuji also arrived back from the Celestial Earth Star.
He was summoned by the Xiao Mang grand ancestor’s spirit to return immediately. The cultivation trip to Celestial Earth Star had benefited him greatly as he returned as an Imminent Deity magnate.
When Feng Wuji returned, he rushed to the Xiao Mang supreme temple and saw the white-robed priests surrounding the Xiao Mang grand ancestor’s statue.
Then, Feng Wuji saw the Xiao Mang grand ancestor’s spirit attaching himself to the godly statue. Feng Wuji was startled.
Without the mortal body, even the god’s spirit had to find a container to protect itself. And the godly statue that was worshipped by his descendants was the best vessel to contain his spirit for now.
This was why the mortals had always said that some of the temples had gods residing in the statues and that these gods would often appear to give their blessings.
But of course, the gods’ spirits must be residing in the statues first before anything else; otherwise, the statues would always be just statues.
Furthermore, the godly spirits must be worshipped continually so that they don’t disperse over time.
Feng Wuji quickly bowed and kowtowed to the godly statue, he said humbly, “Grand ancestor, what is the matter?”
The Xiao Mang grand ancestor’s spirit emerged from the godly spirit, he looked stern and solemn but said nothing. One of the white-robed priests cleared his throat and said hoarsely, “High priest, the grand ancestor has a need for you, he has summoned you for a great mission.”
Feng Wuji bowed again and said, “If it weren’t for the grand ancestor, there will be no Feng Wuji. No matter what you desire, Wuji will do whatever to make it happen!”
The priests praised and one of them said while smiling, “High priest, your loyalty is really inspiring, no wonder the grand ancestor has chosen you as his successor! The grand ancestor has summoned you to give you some celebrated news!”
Another priest said solemnly, “It is good news, an utmost honor for you!”
Feng Wuji hesitated, he had rushed back right after returning from the Celestial Wood Star, he was still oblivious to what happened. Thus, he was left puzzled and clueless when he listened to the priests’ words.
An old priest laughed, “High priest, it is time for you to receive the greatest blessing of the Xiao Mang Celestial Race. Grand ancestor’s mortal body is no more, but his spirit shan’t linger like a lone soul in this world anymore. Hence, the grand ancestor has personally selected you as his second vessel! Quick, what are you waiting for? Thank the grand ancestor!”
Me as his second body? Feng Wuji was shocked but was able to figure it out soon enough, The Xiao Mang grand ancestor is dead, he has summoned me to snatch my mortal body!
If the mortal body was taken away from him, his soul and spirit couldn’t have lived for long!
Endless anger burned inside of him as he knew he had been plotted against by the priests. The Xiao Mang priests knew about this but none of them told him anything at all!
He traveled all the way from the Celestial Earth Star back to the Ancestral Star, a journey that took him months, only to find out that he was to die?
Although furious, Feng Wuji maintained a calm exterior. Instead, he seemed to became joyful at the news as he bowed and kowtowed again, “Wuji is flattered, I am so honored to have your trust, grand ancestor! I have heard of the West Barren Bi Xie who sacrificed himself to his ancestor, I have admired him a lot and wished for the same. But I never thought that I will one day be like him too, I thank the grand ancestor for fulfilling my dream! But I am worried that my body is too weak to contain the almighty grand ancestor’s blessing!”
The Xiao Mang grand ancestor stared at him intently, looking closely at every change in his face and expression. Moments later, the Xiao Mang grand ancestor sighed and said, “Your loyalty gratifies me. Wuji, you stay; the others can leave now. Wuji, I will restructure your mortal body to the perfect condition before I give you my blessing. Don’t worry, it will only take half a year’s time at the longest.”
Feng Wuji kowtowed again and said humbly, “Wuji can’t wait for it happen!”
Xiao Mang grand ancestor nodded softly, and the other white-robed priests left, shutting the temple doors tightly.
The priests exchanged a look and heaved a deep breath of relief each.
“High priest? Huh, even more like a dog than us!”
…
Meanwhile, in the demon continent across the sea.
A young, handsome demon stood beside the Demon Queen. He suddenly sneered frigidly and said, “You really think I am a dog at your mercy? Swords Gate, humans, Xiao Mang grand ancestor, Xiao Mang Celestial Race, all these are just platforms I use for my own benefit. You want to possess me? What qualifications do you have!”
This handsome demon was undoubtedly Feng Wuji’s demon incarnation. In the demon race, he had teamed up with the Demon Queen, joining her inner circle as her stragegist.
He mumbled softly, “This is a good chance to snatch power from him instead. His power will save me over a hundred years of hard work. I will be able to ascend to deityhood in just days! By that time, nothing can stop me from conquering the Ancestral Star anymore!”
He cast out a little altar on his hand and it enlarged into an altar in front of him
There was a little incense burner in the middle with half an incense stick on it. Feng Wuji lit it up and chanted softly. The smoke from the incense stick rose to the sky and seeped into the void, oddly disappearing from the middle.
Moments later, the space around the altar shuddered, and the dimension above the altar cracked open like eyelids opening.
Then, a huge eye appeared above the altar, a powerful voice reverberated the surroundings as it said, “Wuji, what’s the matter waking me up? Have you been cultivating the【Skills of Diction】 I taught you?”
“I have made some progress in it." Feng Wuji knelt down and kowtowed while saying humbly, “But it is too profound, my progress is slow. Regretfully, I have awakened teacher today to tell you that I can no longer worship and follow your footsteps anymore. A life-threatening danger is falling upon me.”
The strange eye was puzzled, it said, “Huh? What danger?”
Feng Wuji kowtowed again, “Xiao Mang grand ancestor is dead, he wants my mortal body for his second life. He is a Deity Overlord, I can never be able to fight him off. Death is the only way…”
“Xiao Mang grand ancestor? Just a mere Deity Overlord with only his spirit left." The strange eye sneered coldly, “I am ordered to watch over the waste star for eighty thousand years, it is hard to come by a disciple like you. He dare tries to kill you? Let him then, let him do whatever he wants. I really want to see who will end up possessing who!”