Chapter 568 81: Return to Chixuan

The azure sky was clear and bright, dotted with ethereal white clouds.

A flawless, auspicious cloud drifted amidst a sea of clouds, blending seamlessly with its surroundings.

This auspicious cloud trembled unceasingly, drifting farther and farther away with the currents of the cloud sea.

Above the sea of clouds, waves of vapor billowed, gathering and dispersing like mountains and tides. From time to time, a soft, beautiful voice could be heard, sounding like a sorrowful plea, as if its owner had lost her soul.

Below the sea of clouds lay a boundless, turquoise ocean, its surface shimmering with golden waves.

A green bamboo rod hung silently in the void, a transparent fishing line dropping hundreds of feet deep into the sea.

After a long while, a lazy, charming voice spoke. "My lord, haven't you caught a Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragon yet?"

"It should be soon. I've spread more than enough bait this time. I should be able to catch at least a few."

The man replied lazily.

A gentle breeze blew past, scattering the mist and revealing the figures of a man and a woman on the auspicious cloud.

It was none other than Fang Cheng and Qiuyu Tan.

Qiuyu Tan was nestled in Fang Cheng's embrace, her fair cheeks flushed. With a flick of her delicate hand, she summoned her scattered bodice and long skirt from the nearby clouds and quickly dressed, concealing her graceful, alluring figure and her pair of long, perfectly proportioned, snow-white legs.

After dressing, she walked over to the green bamboo fishing rod. Her beautiful eyes shifted, and she glanced at Fang Cheng. Her fair, lovely face was pure and demure, but her gaze was utterly enchanting.

She had originally come to accompany Fang Cheng as he fished for flood dragons, but who would have expected her lord's passion to flare up, leading them to fool around right here.

'If a passing Cultivator saw us…'

Ten years had passed since the Spirit Ruins Magic Competition.

In those ten years, Fang Cheng's fame had spread throughout the world. He had used the resources of Qianyu Heaven to cultivate assiduously without rest, and his strength had improved even more.

At this moment, he casually strolled to the edge of the auspicious cloud. With a flick of his hand, he formed a Spell and channeled his Magical Power. A stream of light instantly bloomed from the green bamboo fishing rod and traveled down the line into the vast turquoise ocean below.

Immediately, a massive, tide-like roar erupted from the sea's surface below.

The surface of the sea within a hundred-li radius began to slowly rotate around the fishing line, forming an immense whirlpool!

Moreover, the whirlpool was constantly expanding outward, its scope growing larger and larger.

Looking down from high above, one would discover that the sea's surface within a thousand-li radius was undergoing a strange transformation. As the whirlpool expanded, the currents across the entire expanse of sea began to gradually rotate in the same direction.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was also affected, coiling into invisible waterspouts that connected the sea and sky.

Qiuyu Tan leaned against Fang Cheng, gazing into the distance, stunned by the magnificent and spectacular sight before her.

Within the massive whirlpool, she saw many large fish hundreds of feet long, such as jiao-merfolk and whales, swimming about in the vortex. The waves they stirred were like mountains, and their breaths formed clouds.

Suddenly, her beautiful eyes lit up. She spotted a peculiar, slender, Red Gold flood dragon flashing through the vortex.

"A Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragon!"

she exclaimed, her lovely eyes shimmering with a strange light.

Fang Cheng chuckled softly. He pointed a finger, and a beam of dark sword light shot into the sea. With a gentle twist, it shattered the Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragon's Protective Divine Techniques and placed a restriction upon its body.

Then, the sword light wrapped around the flood dragon and carried it up to the clouds.

The beast was a thousand feet long, its red scales marked with golden Profound Patterns. Its aura was incredibly fierce, but before Fang Cheng, it was like a fish on a chopping block.

This was a Tier Four Golden Flood Dragon, an existence that was an absolute overlord in this part of the sea.

Fang Cheng waved his wide sleeve and summoned a Jade Bottle. A spiritual light shot from its mouth, sweeping up the Golden Flood Dragon and pulling it inside.

Fang Cheng's method of fishing for flood dragons involved using his vast Magical Power to stir up a thousand li of the sea. More importantly, he had scattered a special "bait," causing many of the sea's creatures to stir restlessly.

Within the vortex, countless Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragons drifted with the currents, rising from the seabed to the surface. They gathered in a stream, likely numbering in the hundreds or even thousands, their iridescent scales causing the sea's surface to ripple with fantastical colors.

Fang Cheng activated his sword light and got to work.

Unfortunately, the most powerful of the Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragons in this sea were only at the fourth tier; most of the others were third or second tier.

He was catching these Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragons as gifts for his Dao companions and children back in the Red Profound Realm.

For Cultivators, the flesh and blood of a Red-Scaled Golden Flood Dragon was a great tonic. It could be considered a rare treasure, a form of Spiritual Cuisine, and an unparalleled delicacy.

If Fang Cheng hadn't obtained a special "bait" from the Celestial Treasure Sect, it would have been impossible to lure so many Golden Flood Dragons.

「Three days later.」

Fang Cheng had nearly caught every last Golden Flood Dragon in the sea, and he had collected many other giant Spirit Fish along the way. It was a bountiful harvest.

He was ready to return.

Over the past ten years, he had used the high tower of Chongxuan Academy to enter the Outer Void and had hunted nearly a hundred Tier Five Celestial Demons!

Afterward, he had the Celestial Treasure Sect convert his spoils into wealth, using it to amass a huge collection of Tier Five Flying Swords and Dao Pattern Spirit Jade.

Qianyu Heaven was rich in resources and filled with masters, so Tier Five Flying Swords were not particularly rare. Coupled with his status as the Vice Sect Leader of the Celestial Treasure Sect, a single order was enough to gather forty-nine Tier Five Flying Swords in just a few years!

The Great Inference Celestial Net Sword Array was finally complete.

As for Dao Pattern Spirit Jade, thanks to the Celestial Treasure Sect's powerful network, he had nearly exhausted the supply in Qianyu Heaven and several nearby World Heavens.

While his creation points skyrocketed, he spent them all without a second thought to upgrade several Spirit Immortal legacies.

Now, his Heavenly Return Sundial and Primordial Celestial Demon Strategy had both reached the "Major Accomplishment" stage.

His Mixed Element Seven Tribulations Diagram had even reached the "Perfection" stage.

In addition, he had personally refined several batches of the Cyan Dragon Divine Pill, producing a total of thirty-three pills.

All that remained was to return to the Red Profound Realm, take the pills, and then attempt to break through to the Tribulation Realm.

...

The auspicious cloud streaked across the sky, coming to a halt high in the air in just a few hours.

Fang Cheng summoned a three-foot-long golden Talisman Decree. Countless intricate and exquisite Spirit Patterns on its surface lit up in sequence, emitting a brilliant golden light and a mysterious aura.

Then, the sea of clouds churned, and the celestial music of chimes and bells drifted out. A spray of Lingyun erupted as nine palace halls of an Immortal Mansion slowly revealed themselves. Each hall had bronze pillars, golden roofs, and glazed tiles, all connected by long-corridored bridges. Golden-red rays illuminated the heavens, auspicious purple mist supported jade steps, and mythical beasts on the roof ridges all spewed forth a vibrant haze.

The nine palace halls were solemn and majestic, with bronze pillars, golden roofs, jade steps, and glazed tiles. Amidst groves of jade trees, a spiritual light suffused the interior, which was filled with exquisite furnishings.

Fang Cheng and Qiuyu Tan flew into the Immortal Mansion.

Each of the nine halls had its own wondrous purpose. Some were for helping Cultivators in their meditation and comprehension of the Dao, while others were for receiving guests, holding discussions, Artifact Refining, Alchemy, or cultivating Spirit Plants.

This Immortal Mansion was one of the treasures Fang Cheng had chosen from the Celestial Treasure Sect's Treasure Vault all those years ago.

Over the years, it had become his private retreat for cultivation, which he kept permanently stationed above this stretch of sea.

"My lord has returned."

A charming and Beautiful Female Cultivator walked out from one of the palaces, greeting him with a smile.

She wore her hair in a Cloud-Pile Palace Bun, with jade pendants hanging from her ears. A Purple Girdle was tied around her forehead, from which a Waterdrop Purple Jade hung between her brows. She had a face as beautiful as a jade flower. Her chest boasted a pair of proud, plump, and rounded jade peaks that trembled majestically, drawing all attention.

Her starry eyes were as clear as autumn waters, and every glance was filled with endless charm. Her bearing was elegant and noble, the very definition of a top-tier beauty.

This woman was one of the nine concubines Fang Cheng had taken in Qianyu Heaven.

In these years, aside from his assiduous cultivation, he hadn't forgotten to balance his body and mind. He had also taken the opportunity to leave his bloodline in this world, so that his family could branch out and flourish in the future.

All nine concubines had been handpicked by him. Their talent, intelligence, and background were all impeccable.

Now, all nine women had borne him sons and daughters, who were cultivating here.

"Qingyi, call the others over."

Fang Cheng said to his concubine, Meng Qingyi, before leading Qiuyu Tan into the main hall.

Before long, the nine concubines and Qiu Wen Si entered the hall together.

Fang Cheng sat on the main seat, looking at the women. His gaze finally came to rest on Qiu Wen Si.

Over the years, under his careful guidance, Qiu Wen Si had fully unleashed the heaven-defying potential of her Spirit Vortex Dharma Body. She had refined nine Tier Five Celestial Demon Souls, and her own strength had reached the Peak of Dharma Form.

Such a cultivation speed was an unprecedented achievement, even in Qianyu Heaven, a place teeming with geniuses!

Fang Cheng had refined a new Tier Five Feather Divine Soldier for her. With this treasure, Qiu Wen Si could unleash combat strength comparable to a Three Tribulation Cultivator.

With her guarding the Immortal Mansion, Fang Cheng was completely at ease.

Moreover, he had also left behind several Dream Spirit Incarnations in the Immortal Mansion. If a crisis arose, they could also intervene.

However, Qianyu Heaven was far more peaceful than other World Heavens. This prosperous age of cultivation did not lack resources, and most conflicts took place within the Spirit Ruins Treasure Realm, making the general environment very stable.

"I will be leaving this world for a while. The Qianyu Heaven branch of the Fang Family will be in your hands to protect, Wen Si."

Fang Cheng said in a deep voice.

The women had long known about Fang Cheng's life in the Red Profound Realm, so their faces now showed their reluctance to see him go, but they also knew it was unavoidable.

At this moment, the women all urged Fang Cheng to be careful.

"If things don't go as planned, I will return as soon as possible," Fang Cheng reassured the women. Then he said to Meng Qingyi, "Qingyi, prepare a banquet."

Soon, the women had the banquet ready. They drank and talked with Fang Cheng, sharing their heartfelt feelings.

...

After the banquet, Fang Cheng summoned the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass. The thousand-foot-wide Compass shot out of the Immortal Mansion like a golden sun, hanging high in the sky and emitting an immense, heart-pounding aura.

As the women watched, Fang Cheng walked out of the Immortal Mansion and cast several Spells at the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass.

The golden Compass hanging high in the heavens began to rotate slowly, revealing a profound and dazzlingly bright star chart on its surface.

Fang Cheng stood in the void with his hands behind his back, looking at the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass with slightly mixed feelings.

「The next moment.」

A blinding golden light shot out from the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass and fell directly upon him.

A flash of gold suddenly lit up the space between heaven and earth.

Then, the Ten Thousand Worlds Compass and Fang Cheng both vanished without a trace!

...