Chapter 1011: Crisis
“There are no magical powers or spiritual techniques in this world. Only martial arts reigns supreme!
“And in all of martial arts, the strongest are Martial Dao True Intents!”
In theory, this was a strength that only Connate perfection martial artists could master. Once mastered, they would no longer fear lower-level attacks.
After all, after mastering the power of intent, it was equivalent to using magical powers and spiritual techniques against ordinary people. The difference in strength was just too immense.
However, because comprehending intent was difficult, even the spirit could undergo damage if you were not careful. ‘Sheer Cold Dive Formula’ had countless reminders to not even try to comprehend the snowflake pattern without being at peak Connate.
“According to the secret history of the Pugilistic World, there were a few geniuses that successfully comprehended intent when they were still at the intermediate Connate realm. They were peerless afterward.”
Fang Yuan looked at the snowflake pattern, and his eyes grew brighter and brighter. “This snowflake pattern has a portion of the nomological rules of cold! Is this intent?”
The so-called intent was actually a minor Great Dao, an external representation of nomological power.
This world had been difficult to deal with because it was a mix of reality and fantasy, merging a dream world with another world. All the Great Daos had changed correspondingly, and he did not know where to start.
However, Fang Yuan discovered that Martial Dao True Intents were the extension of nomological power!
“Once I comprehend more intents, I will be able to touch the Heavenly Dao of this world… and thus break through the seal!”
His eyes grew even brighter as he found the way to break through the dream world.
While pondering, the snowflake pattern became even clearer in his eyes.
The temperature in the room plummeted, and even a layer of frost appeared on the surrounding vases.
“Sheer Cold Intent!”
Fang Yuan opened his eyes, and a glimmer of white frost seemed to flash in his eyes. He raised his hand. “After comprehending intent, it serves as a complement to martial arts. Although my strength has not increased, the effectiveness in dealing with enemies has more than doubled… Of course, the most important thing is that I’ll have no bottlenecks when cultivating the Sheer Cold Divine Formula to the perfection stage. Once my cultivation power reaches the required amount, I can increase my level!
“Of course, the comprehension of intent has different levels as well. This is the difference between martial artists at the perfection stage.”
Fang Yuan roughly estimated his strength. “With my current strength, Acquired and initial Connate martial artists would be courting death if they fought me. Even those at intermediate Connate would be no match for me. As for those at peak Connate, although they have much more cultivation power than me, I’d be able to protect myself.”
This kind of strength was enough to enter the ‘Martial Roll’.
However, Fang Yuan did not look the least bit delighted.
This bit of achievement was nothing to a Demon God who had dominated numerous worlds.
“Furthermore, the attack of the world should be coming soon!”
This kind of attack was similar to the backlash of providence. It would not be a direct attack like a bolt of lightning, but it would instead be more like a guidance of everything toward the worst possible outcome.
To ordinary people in this world, this was a terrifying matter. It would be like having death staring at you all the time.
Furthermore, this misfortune would spread!
“Young Master! Young Master!”
Urgent knocking came from outside.
Fang Yuan frowned slightly and ended his training.
If ordinary experts encountered interruptions during training, it would range from having their mind disturbed to cultivation deviation!
He opened the door and saw Zhang Long with a face full of anxiety. “What happened? Didn’t I order that no one was to disturb me when I’m training?”
“Reporting to Young Master!” Zhang Long swallowed, feeling that the young master was more majestic than usual. “Something terrible happened. Madam is seriously injured!”
“Oh, take me to her!”
Fang Yuan’s expression was calm. He knew that the backlash of the world had come.
Naturally, madam did not refer to his wife but to Fang Tianhan’s wife, Fang Xu’s mother, Jiang Lanxin.
Speaking of which, this madam had the title of Fire Phoenix Fairy when she was young and had been a famous heroine of the Pugilistic World.
After arriving in a courtyard, Fang Yuan saw the personal maid of Jiang Lanxin. He immediately asked, “What happened?”
“Reporting to Young Master!” A man who looked like an old servant knelt on the floor. “Master and Madam were sightseeing on Mount Sky Pillar and found a thousand-year Cold Heart Vine that was about to mature. It is very precious, and they wanted to obtain it for Young Master. However, Demon Sect experts attacked them. Master is trapped, while Madam managed to escape. But she was poisoned, and her breath is shallow. I am useless…”
Sure enough… is this the backlash? Fang Yuan sneered in his heart. “Take me to her!”
Inside the bedroom, a beautiful middle-aged woman was lying on the bed. Her forehead was black, obviously poisoned by an extremely formidable poison.
He sat at the bedside and asked, “Which Demon Sect expert is besieging my father?”
“The one in conflict with Master is the Demon Sect’s grand guardian, Poison Fire Demon Lord Sun Yan!”
The most powerful in the Demon Sect was the Unparalleled Demon Emperor, who dominated the Pugilistic World. He seemed to hold the title of the world’s first expert.
Immediately below the Unparalleled Demon Emperor was the vice sect master and the grand guardian. The Poison Fire Demon Lord ranked twenty-seventh on the Martial Roll, above Fang Tianhan.
“Reporting!” Zhao Hu, Zhang Long’s sworn brother, came in running and knelt on one knee. “Young Master… bad news, I heard the elders convened a meeting and relieved Master of his position as sect master!”
Everyone’s expression changed upon hearing the news.
“When it rains, it pours!” Fang Yuan sneered.
Naturally, there were power struggles within the Noble Mountain Sect, as well as different factions.
Of course, Fang Tianhan had used his perfection-stage cultivation to dominate over everyone, and no one dared to rebel against him.
As a result, those in the sect master’s faction behaved arrogantly, causing a lot of resentment. Fang Xu had been the worst offender.
Now that Fang Tianhan was trapped and would likely die, and the Fire Phoenix Fairy was poisoned, they started their attack immediately.
“Grand Elder Zhang Hanzhen! Great, awesome!”
A cold light flashed in Fang Yuan’s eyes.
If it had been the original Fang Xu, there was no question that this was a critical situation, a fatal situation!
The only way to stay alive would have been to escape immediately. And even then, there was no guarantee that he would survive!
With my current cultivation, I could certainly escape. But I can’t do that! Fang Yuan sighed in his heart.
His predecessor, Fang Xu, owed a lot of karma here, so how could he just leave?
Perhaps everything in this dream world was illusory, but at times it was hard to differentiate between reality and fantasy. Who knew if this was not a trap to prevent Fang Yuan from unraveling the dream world by putting kinship and regret in the way?
Therefore, he had to resolve this.
Fang Yuan stepped forward, held Jiang Xinlan’s wrist, and slowly channeled a stream of inner force into her.
“Fire poison? So the culprit really is the Poison Fire Demon Lord.”
His eyes flashed with a layer of frost, and the power of cold True Primordial Qi started circulating quickly along his meridians.
The power of cold ice was the natural nemesis of poison fire.
“Oh!” Before long, Jiang Xinlan groaned on the bed and woke up.
“Madam!” Everyone, including the maid Xiao Mei, the old servant, and even the Long-Hu brothers, was overjoyed. “You’re finally awake?”
“Tianhan?” Jiang Xinlan mumbled. She was well aware that she had been poisoned by the poison palm of the Poison Fire Demon Lord, and in the entire Noble Mountain Sect, only Fang Tianhan had the ability to suppress the poison using the inner force of supreme cold.
“No… the sect master is still trapped. It was Young Master who saved you!”
“Xu’er? Impossible!” Jiang Xinlan’s eyes became clear, but she was still extremely weak. “Tianhan… i-is at Eagle End Peak. He should be able to endure for a period of time using the geographical advantage. Hurry up and seek help from the experts on the Martial Roll!”
After saying a few sentences, she immediately lost consciousness.
“No need to be alarmed. Madam has expended much of her vitality and needs to rest…”
The old servant checked her pulse and looked at Fang Yuan full of disbelief. “Young Master… your inner force?”
“Stay here. I will be back soon!” Fang Yuan did not say much and immediately left.
…
Noble Mountain Sect, main discussion hall.
“Grand Elder… How could you do this, giving no way out for the sect master?” said a voice filled with grief and anger. “The sect master is only under siege. He might still be alive.”
“He’s facing the grand guardian of the Demon Sect. The Poison Fire Demon Lord is a perfection-stage expert. Most of us are only at the intermediate stage. How could we fight him? As for asking outsiders for help, is there anyone on the Martial Roll who would be willing to make enemies of the Demon Sect for our sake?”
The aged voice said confidently, “Fang Tianhan is definitely dead. There is no use thinking about it any further. Moreover, when he was the sect master, his behavior was atrocious, and we have suffered for a long time. We should elect a new sect master!”
“So… who do you have in mind?” Fang Yuan arrived outside the hall and sneered when he heard the grand elder’s words. He strode inside.
“Young Master!” An elder in his thirties immediately greeted. “Th-they…”
He was already choking on his words.
Fang Yuan looked at these elders and sighed in his heart. Rats leaving a sinking ship!
When Fang Tianhan was around, they treated him with respect and courtesy, but now there was only enmity and indifference!
Only Xu Yu, who had been raised by Fang Tianhan, had a shred of loyalty.
“Fang Xu, why are you here?” One of the elders frowned when he saw Fang Yuan.
He was the grand elder of the Noble Mountain Sect, ‘Zhang Zhenhan’. He was the most senior in the Noble Mountain Sect and had already reached intermediate Connate, only one step away from reaching the peak stage.
“I’m also at the Connate realm, so why can’t I come here?” Fang Yuan smiled as he took a step forward. “The sect master isn’t dead yet. Are you trying to revolt?”
Many elders turned pale upon hearing the question.
“Hmph. Revolt? That’s right, we’re revolting!” The grand elder was hostile. “You father and son have done countless ill deeds in the Noble Mountain Sect. Today, this is karma and appropriate retribution!”
“Is that so?” Fang Yuan shook his head. “How forgetful of you, Grand Elder. Just three months ago, your grandson killed the beloved son of the head of the Smooth-Sailing Express on the streets. It was the sect master who shouldered the consequences on your behalf. As for you, Elder Sun, you are responsible for the procurement of goods for the sect. I believe you’ve embezzled no less than fifty thousand tales of silver in total, right?
“And you… you…”
After he casually mentioned the misdeeds of a few elders, whose faces were all flushed with embarrassment, they shouted angrily, “What a bunch of nonsense!”