NOVEL NEXT Chapter 612: Be Ready to Escape
In the early hours of the second day, Fang Zhou released Xuan Ling from the gourd.
After regaining her freedom, she left in a hurry, without saying harsh words or giving Fang Zhou any kind of glance.
By the time the sun rose in the east and everyone was preparing to leave Luofu Mountain, Xuan Ling had already quietly left, presumably too embarrassed to travel back home with Fang Zhou.
Yu Qing and Gou Cheng were not surprised by this. Xuan Ling was the most restless among the three true disciples, often playing the vanishing act. It would actually be strange if she followed them back obediently.
Only Chang Kong cast a meaningful glance at Fang Zhou. Last night, her Divine Sense detected Xuan Ling sneaking into Fang Zhou's room and not coming out until the early morning.
Under Chang Kong's gaze, Fang Zhou remained calm, his expression unchanged, as he hadn't done anything shady.
Chang Kong also had no interest in asking further questions, especially since Fang Zhou's cultivation level was now the same as hers, and he no longer needed her protection.
On the way back, Fang Zhou parted ways with the group to escort Luo Jingsong and the others back.
The three members of the Alliance of Avenging Women also benefited greatly from this trip to Refining Immortal City, especially from the gifts from the Demon Suppression Saint. Once they fully absorbed it, advancing to the Innate Realm would not be impossible.
After separating from the three, Fang Zhou didn't hurry back but found a place where no one was around and released Ling Xiaoyue and Ya Zi from the gourd.
Ling Xiaoyue stretched lazily: "Finally out, I was stifled to death as a master."
Ya Zi stood on the side with a displeased look.
"Where are you going next?"
Fang Zhou asked Ling Xiaoyue, knowing that she would definitely not follow him back obediently.
"Naturally, this master still has to continue searching for Tai Chu's Sun."
Ling Xiaoyue wrapped an arm around Fang Zhou, smiling: "Don't miss me, you've grown up now and need to learn to be independent. I'll come back to visit you in a while."
Fang Zhou couldn't help but roll his eyes at her. You're just thinking about coming back to see my money, aren't you?
The master and disciple had already agreed that Ling Xiaoyue would receive two million taels as a dividend every day; she had always kept this sum of money in mind.
Ya Zi also didn't plan to return to the Demon Sect. Originally wanting to return to the Heavenly Sword Sect with Fang Zhou, but her identity was too sensitive, and high-ranking members of the Heavenly Sword Sect recognized her, which would be bad if exposed.
It's best to turn and go with Ling Xiaoyue to find Tai Chu's Sun, although Ya Zi was not too willing, as a servant, he couldn't leave his master behind.
Under Ling Xiaoyue's urging, Ya Zi reluctantly revealed his true form, transforming into a Dragon Child with a dragon's head and a leopard's body.
"Then, see you next time, disciple."
Ling Xiaoyue mounted Ya Zi's back and waved her hand freely at Fang Zhou, then flew off into the distance with Ya Zi.
Just like the first time Fang Zhou met Ling Xiaoyue, free and unrestrained, appearing occasionally but then swiftly disappearing, like a breeze, elusive.
Although Ling Xiaoyue didn't say it, Fang Zhou suspected that the Tai Chu's Sun she was searching for might be related to repairing Tianscar.
Tianscar is the rupture of this world.
Fang Zhou suspected that Ling Xiaoyue was working to repair Tianscar, not leaving this world like others to explore a new one.
After separating from his unreliable master, Fang Zhou went to the designated location and met Ming Aoshuang.
Fang Zhou accompanied her to choose a safe place for her parents to live in seclusion, then spent a few days alone with Ming Aoshuang before returning to the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Everything at the Heavenly Sword Sect was as usual. After Yu Qing and Gou Cheng returned, they hurriedly went into seclusion to absorb the gifts from the Demon Suppression Saint.
Fang Zhou met with the senior members of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Currently, no one doubted that he was reincarnated from a powerful figure, not an ordinary one, otherwise, how could he have cultivated to the Golden Core Realm in such a short time? This speed was many times faster than someone riding a Flying Sword.
Although the real reincarnation of a powerful figure was Ling Xiaoyue, whom everyone called to attack, Fang Zhou didn't clarify this misunderstanding, which was just as well, as otherwise, he himself would find it hard to explain his rapid cultivation speed.
The cooperation between the two in the past had been pleasant, without any dirt or conflict, so even after Fang Zhou's realm increased, the two sides maintained an intimate relationship, even progressing further.
The Heavenly Sword Sect's attitude towards Fang Zhou naturally rose several levels. Fang Zhou didn't mind maintaining a close relationship with the Heavenly Sword Sect, having taken their true disciple. How could he not consider it his in-laws?
After returning to the Heavenly Sword Sect, Fang Zhou began to cultivate diligently, leaving worldly matters to subordinates.
Originally, Fang Zhou just wanted to live a peaceful life in this world, but the more he understood, the more urgent he felt.
The appearance of Tianscar had affected the Immortal World, even compelling someone as high-status as Ling Xiaoyue to reincarnate; the fate of other immortals would not be better than hers.
The Cultivation World was currently only affected by the upheavals of heaven and earth, the imbalance of Yin and Yang, but if one thought it ended there, it would be too naïve.
Thousands of years ago, only a few Ascenders left the Cultivation World, being hopeless in ascending within it, forcing them to leave and seek new paths.
But as time passed, more cultivators chose to leave, with even those in the Yin Yang Realm and Divine Soul Realm following, despite their long journeys towards Ascension. So why did they leave too?
The new world is dangerous, unpredictable, even forcing Ascenders like the Demon Suppression Saint to leave for adventure. Why should lower realm cultivators follow?
Fang Zhou suspected there was an unavoidable reason for their choice to leave their homeland and venture, which was that the Cultivation World was no longer safe.
Tianscar's influence was likely deepening not just in the Immortal World, but in the Cultivation World as well, forcing many cultivators to abandon a world on the brink of destruction and explore new frontiers.
Otherwise, in such an expansive Cultivation World, it was improbable that there would be not a single Divine Soul Realm left, only a few Golden Core Realms holding the fort.
These were merely Fang Zhou's speculations, but he remembered the Black Soul World—it was a living example, wasn't it?
Thus, Fang Zhou experienced an indescribable sense of urgency; if the Cultivation World became unsafe, he needed to prepare in advance, at least cultivate until he had the capability to escape with others.
Otherwise, if he realized too late that he couldn't escape, it would be too late.
So, Aya and the gourds saw Fang Zhou practicing diligently for the first time.
He shut himself in the gourd, utilizing its thirty-five times time flow rate, dedicating himself to cultivation, untouched by worldly matters.
Under his influence, the gourds were also compelled to focus on cultivation. They had gained gifts from the Demon Suppression Saint and with Fang Zhou constantly feeding them elixirs, their potential was fully unleashed.
Yu Qing was the first to completely absorb the gifts from the Demon Suppression Saint, then took the sword pill under True Master Yu Jian's protection and successfully ascended to the Innate Realm.
When Yu Qing ascended to the Innate Realm, Fang Zhou only accompanied her for a day before diving back into cultivation.
As time passed quietly, Fang Zhou suddenly received a secret message from Gu Caiwei.
The True Mother God Sect found the whereabouts of that female alchemist.