Chapter 567 80: World's First True Monarch

Inside a magnificent hall within the manor.

Thirty-six Glazed Jade Marrow Lamps hung high from the dome, their light making the cloud patterns on the Coiling Dragon Golden Pillars shimmer with a crimson glow, like flowing fire.

A wisp of blue-green smoke rose from gilded incense burners in the southeast and southwest corners of the hall. It formed the spectral image of a Cyan Simurgh beating its wings before suddenly dissipating.

On the jade table, three plates of Spirit Fruits were arranged. One of the Vermilion Jade Dates suddenly cracked open with a soft POP, releasing a shower of Spiritual Qi that sparkled like stardust.

The sisters Qiu Wen Si and Qiuyu Tan were enjoying tea with a young woman dressed in a goose-yellow, jade-adorned robe.

"Excellent tea."

The young woman set down her Jade Tea Bowl, its surface covered in a fine crackle glaze. Ripples spread across the emerald tea within. "This Cloud Bud Mist Core, brewed with a Moon-Clasping Branch... it must be steeped in Celestial Palace Spring Water to draw out all twelve layers of its sweet aftertaste. I am truly fortunate today."

Qiu Wen Si smiled warmly. "Ever since my master took first place in the Spirit Ruins Magic Competition, we've had a constant stream of guests bearing gifts. This tea was one of them. I'd heard it was excellent, but I had no idea there was so much to it."

Although the young woman before them was only in the Life Soul Realm, Qiu Wen Si treated her with the utmost courtesy. This was because she was the youngest daughter of the Celestial Treasure Sect's Sect Leader, and the Celestial Treasure Sect ranked among the top three sects in all of Qianyu Heaven.

The sect controlled the four largest market cities in Qianyu Heaven, with its shops scattered throughout the realm. It even had branches in more than a dozen other World Heavens.

In the nearly nine thousand years since its founding, the Celestial Treasure Sect had only ever recruited cultivators from the ten great academies. As a result, the sect was teeming with geniuses and possessed an incredibly deep foundation.

The current Sect Leader, Ascendant Xuanyang, hailed from the Celestial Secret Academy. His cultivation had reached the Tribulation Realm Seventh Layer, making him a titan in Qianyu Heaven. Even the Ji Jiu of the various academies had to show him deference.

The young woman in yellow tapped her slender fingers on the jade table. Her Ink Jade Bracelet, inlaid with Celestial River Star Sand, clinked against the jade surface with a crisp, pleasant sound. A golden Pixiu embroidered on her sleeve shimmered with a faint light.

The young woman asked, seemingly offhandedly, "Has School Principal Fang not yet emerged from his seclusion?"

Qiu Wen Si smiled. "I've already sent a message to my master. He must be concluding his session. Miss Zhenzhen, if you wouldn't mind waiting just a little longer."

The young woman's brow furrowed slightly in impatience, but she suppressed it and gave a small nod.

She fell silent for a moment. Then, her bright, clear eyes flickered over to the two Qiu sisters. "Is School Principal Fang's Dual Cultivation Secret Method truly as miraculous as they say?"

Qiu Wen Si maintained her graceful and composed expression, but Qiuyu Tan, standing beside her, blushed, unsure of how to answer.

Qiu Wen Si said gently, "My master gives a seven-day lecture at the academy each year. If Miss Zhenzhen is interested, you are welcome to attend."

The young woman in yellow smiled, and faint dimples appeared on her lovely face. "Then when the School Principal gives his lecture, Sister Wen Si, please remember to let me know ahead of time."

Just as she finished speaking, a tall, handsome figure strode into the hall.

The young woman in yellow turned to look. She saw a man in voluminous robes with a dashing and spirited air about him. He looked quite young, yet he carried himself with a solemn authority that naturally inspired awe.

She recognized him at once. This was "Jade Furnace Golden Cauldron," the man who had swept aside all other cultivators to take the top prize in the Spirit Ruins Treasure Realm. She quickly rose and curtsied gracefully. "This humble one, Lu Zhenzhen of Taiqing Academy, pays her respects to the True Monarch."

Dharma Cultivators were respectfully addressed as True Monarchs.

And the man before her was the number one True Monarch in all of Qianyu Heaven!

The number one cultivator below the Tribulation Realm.

She was good friends with Jiang Zhiruo of Taiqing Academy. After Jiang Zhiruo's defeat, she and many of the other female students at the academy began to follow Fang Cheng's progress.

She had witnessed nearly every step of Fang Cheng's rise from obscurity to stardom. Now, seeing this legendary figure up close, her excitement washed away any annoyance she'd felt from the long wait.

Fang Cheng casually took the main seat, leaning back into the dragon-carved chair. He sized up the young woman in yellow with great interest and chuckled. "To get Xiao Yunyi to personally write a letter of introduction for you... your Divine Techniques must be something else."

Before her arrival, Xiao Yunyi had sent a letter ahead, forcing Fang Cheng to interrupt his cultivation and personally come out to meet her.

The young woman in yellow stifled a laugh. "It was all my father's doing. I am merely an errand girl, here to deliver a gift to you, True Monarch."

As she spoke, she waved her wide sleeve, and a Sword Box adorned with gilded, roaming dragons landed gently on the jade table. At once, three sword-cries rang out, shooting toward the hall's ceiling and causing the Jade Marrow Lamps on the dome to tremble.

"'Profound Wind' was forged from Blood Jade Marrow, tempered for three thousand years at the bottom of the Trapped Dragon Abyss. It was created with a Sword Nurturing Technique. The two-inch aura of flowing wind around its blade is condensed and never scatters." She opened the first compartment of the Sword Box, and a streak of cyan sword light shot out, circling rapidly around a Coiling Dragon Golden Pillar.

Fang Cheng pointed a finger, and the streak of sword light immediately grew docile, hovering motionless in mid-air.

The young woman tapped the second compartment with a slender finger, and a streak of crimson light soared up with the cry of a phoenix.

"'Red Phoenix' contains the Southern Mang Separation Fire True Intent. Its spine is inlaid with three Fire Marrow Beads, which were refined from Phoenix Tail Feathers..."

Before the lowest compartment of the Sword Box was even opened, a chill spread out, and patterns of frost formed across the hall's floor. The young woman's voice was melodic as she said, "This last sword, 'Cold Abyss,' comes from the Outer Void. It was left behind after a certain Tribulation Realm Great Power perished."

These three were all Tier Five Flying Swords. Among Fang Cheng's considerable collection, they would rank in the upper-middle range.

"The Celestial Treasure Sect is certainly generous." Fang Cheng looked at the three Flying Swords and accepted them with a pleased smile.

The young woman's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "On my father's behalf, I would like to ask you, True Monarch: would you be willing to become the Vice Sect Leader of the Celestial Treasure Sect?"

Xiao Yunyi's letter had also mentioned this. The Celestial Treasure Sect was interested in Fang Cheng's title as the "World's First True Monarch" and wished to recruit him to further increase their influence.

All Fang Cheng would have to do was preside over some large-scale auctions for the Celestial Treasure Sect or receive certain distinguished guests.

Of course, as payment, Fang Cheng would be allowed to select and purchase two items from the Celestial Treasure Sect's main Treasure Vault for just thirty percent of their value.

Furthermore, he would be granted many of the exclusive privileges enjoyed by the Celestial Treasure Sect's top leadership.

To be honest, it was an offer Fang Cheng found hard to refuse.

Plenty of other sects and prominent families had also made tempting offers, but they all paled in comparison to the Celestial Treasure Sect, whose wealth was said to "span the heavens."

This was one of the reasons Fang Cheng had agreed to meet with Lu Zhenzhen personally.

With the Celestial Treasure Sect's platform, collecting Dao Pattern Spirit Jade and Tier Five Flying Swords would become much easier for him.

He might even be able to obtain other Spirit Immortal inheritances through them!

He said in a deep voice, "I can agree, but your father should know that I am not a native of this realm. I will have to leave eventually. I can stay here for another ten-some years at most, then I must return home to break through to the next realm."

The young woman was inwardly startled. 'Even Xiao Xuezhen wouldn't dare claim he knows when he'll break through to the Tribulation Realm, yet this man is so certain!'

She looked at Fang Cheng, and after a moment's thought, said softly, "I can make this decision on my father's behalf. Ten years is acceptable."

Fang Cheng was a little surprised.

The young woman produced a scroll. "Then I must ask you, True Monarch, to establish a Magic Contract on this scroll, promising not to accept any similar offers from other sects for the next ten years."

Fang Cheng readily agreed.

The young woman unrolled the scroll, revealing an esoteric star chart that shimmered with brilliant light.

Fang Cheng flicked a drop of his essence blood onto the scroll, and in an instant, the Magic Contract between them was formed.

With the matter settled, the young woman gracefully rose to take her leave, her every word and gesture poised, elegant, and full of charm.

Watching the young woman's lithe and graceful retreating figure, Fang Cheng found his mind beginning to wander.

'Perhaps I should leave a bloodline in this world. If the Red Profound Realm's ascension fails, I'll have a place to be reborn.'

'With the pill formula for the Four Symbols Divine Pill, I could support a mid-tier family. If I leave them a few other assets, the family is certain to prosper...'