Chapter 1885: Ascension

Fang Chen's breakthrough to the seventh transformation was completely different from his advancement from the fifth transformation to the sixth transformation.

As the decrees continuously merged into Fang Chen's body, he discovered that even his bones had become covered in a faint golden sheen.

The increase in his immortal essence had become secondary. The true transformation lay in the strengthening of his Sword Body. From the initial two-fold, five-fold, ten-fold, it ultimately became a full hundred-fold increase.

Just as the strengthening of his Sword Body was nearing its limit, Fang Chen's Nine Heavens Profound Mother Primordial Spirit underwent an even more profound and wondrous transformation. The phantoms of the Candle Dragon coiled around his body, as well as the ones trodden beneath his feet, were becoming increasingly solid. Monarch Yan's Seal, which he had always believed could not be used in the Nether Ruins, unexpectedly began to pour vast amounts of Yin Lifespan into the Nine Heavens Profound Mother Primordial Spirit.

Ten thousand years.

One hundred thousand years.

One million years!

An immeasurable, endless ocean of Yin Lifespan poured onto the Nine Heavens Profound Yin Primordial Spirit, forcing its strength to expand at a pace that was visibly terrifying to the naked eye. First it was a tenfold increase, then it reached a staggering hundredfold!

It was as if the sound of the flowing Forgotten River echoed in Fang Chen's ears. For a fleeting instant, he felt as though he were sitting deep within the Forgotten River, its water flowing and surging all around him.

His left eye flashed with the brilliance of the Radiant Divine Eyes. His right eye shimmered with the extraordinary splendor of the Primordial Immortal Eyes.

In an instant, the various techniques he had painstakingly studied and deliberated upon all advanced alongside his breakthrough.

The Eighteen Heavens Prison Tower seemed to sense something and flew out, spinning rapidly a mere three inches above Fang Chen's head. Immediately following was the Sin Mace, which Fang Chen had hidden within the Nine Heavens Profound Mother Primordial Spirit. Then came Monarch Yan's Seal. These three supreme treasures of the Underworld all emitted a hazy grey brilliance, establishing a bizarre connection with the Nine Heavens Profound Mother Primordial Spirit.

***

"Again!"

Wang Chongsong suddenly snapped awake and launched another attack at Lang Daochun.

Unsurprisingly, he was easily knocked unconscious by Lang Daochun once more.

"Again!"

"Again!"

Once, twice, three times, four times.

After an unknown number of repetitions, Wang Chongsong never managed to hold out for even half a move against Lang Daochun.

"This..."

Fang Cangyou was truly surprised. "I thought this kid from the Wang Family could at least hold out for two or three moves..."

Fang Ding said subconsciously, "It seems you overestimated him."

Fang Cangyou glanced at him. "It is not that he was overestimated, but I underestimated his opponent."

He pointed toward Lang Daochun. "If he hasn't broken the limit, there are probably very few among the ninth-transformation who can defeat him."

Fang Ding murmured, "How about... I give it a try?"

Everyone looked at him with strange expressions. Fang Ding was at the First Step of Limit Breaking, and he hadn't been in this realm for long. But even then, a Limit Breaking expert fighting a ninth-transformation cultivator was considered bullying.

Fang Cangyou nodded. "That works too. This is a rare opportunity today. Let the divinity cultivators of the Fang Clan see just how strong a ninth transformation of the God Race really is."

Both Wang Chongsong and Lang Daochun heard their conversation.

"Forget it, I am no match for you."

Wang Chongsong smirked. Though a smile played on his face, a faint look of desolation flashed deep within his eyes. Only when one truly realized the massive gap between themselves and a peer of the God Race would they understand the meaning of despair.

Lang Daochun said with a serious expression, "Actually, you are not weak. Within the God Race, I am already considered top-tier. According to my observations, your strength is already infinitely close to the weakest peer of the God Race. However, their Supreme Bones are far more numerous than yours."

Infinitely close to the weakest peer of the God Race?

Was that supposed to be comforting... or was it meant to stab him straight in the heart?

Wang Chongsong waved his hand listlessly and left the martial arts arena.

The next moment, Fang Ding stepped into the arena, cupped his hands, and smiled at Lang Daochun. "I wonder if fighting you would be considered bullying the weak. If you are unwilling, I shall leave the arena."

Lang Daochun smiled back. "No matter. I came here to ask for a favor.. If fighting allows the cultivators of the Fang Clan to gain a better understanding of divine abilities, then it can be considered paying back a part of the favor in advance."

"Then... I shall not be polite."

"Come."

This time, Wang Chongsong became a spectator. Only as a bystander did he clearly realize how terrifying Lang Daochun's methods were. As a ninth-transformation cultivator, Lang Daochun actually fought Fang Ding on equal footing for the first five hundred moves. The clash between the two was a dazzling display, with one power after another being unleashed from their hands.

At first, Fang Ding held back some of his strength, but when he realized he could not defeat Lang Daochun even after a long time, he gradually began to exert his full power.

"The top-tier of the God Race can actually fight a Breaking Limit as a ninth transformation. If such an existence advanced to a Saint in the future, they will surely rank among the foremost of all Saints."

A look of admiration appeared in Wang Chongsong's eyes, and the confidence he had lost during his fight with Lang Daochun slowly recovered—but only a little. He felt he couldn't compare himself to the God Race.

"For now, I'll just take the Flame Race or the Vajra Race as my opponents. As for the God Race, forget it."

As this thought crossed his mind, the victor had already been decided in the arena.

Lang Daochun was panting heavily as he leaned against the edge of the arena, having been prevented from flying out of the arena by the barrier. Otherwise, he would have been knocked out by Fang Ding just now.

Lang Daochun calmed his breathing. He remarked with deep emotion, "The power of Limit Breaking is indeed an insurmountable gap."

Immediately after saying that, an aura completely different from immortal essence suddenly surged from his body.

Everyone was stunned.

"Breaking Limit power?"

They watched as Lang Daochun's aura broke past the absolute limit of the ninth transformation.

That meant that during his fight with Fang Ding, he had actually taken that crucial step and entered the Breaking Limit realm!

"Let's fight again!"

A fervent battle intent blazed in Lang Daochun's eyes. Though he had just lost to a higher-realm opponent, he was still somewhat unresigned. Now that he had just advanced, how could he miss such an opportunity!

"Good!"

Fang Ding showed no fear either and resolutely chose to face the challenge!

After ten moves, Fang Ding crashed right through the barrier and fell wretchedly in front of Fang Cangyou.

With an embarrassed look on his face, Fang Ding stood up, dusted off his clothes, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and stared blankly at Lang Daochun.

"This..."

"The God Race is simply too powerful..."

Someone who had only just entered the Limit-Breaking Realm, whose aura had not even stabilized yet, had effortlessly defeated Fang Ding, who had been at that level for several decades.

The gap between the two was like a massive chasm.

"Let me try."

After saying this, a Limit Breaking ancestor flew straight into the arena.

He had stayed in the First Step of Limit Breaking or over a thousand years, making him an extremely senior figure. It was only due to his lack of natural talent that it was difficult for him to take the Second or even the Third Step. Now that he had the chance to fight someone from the God Race, a flame of passion naturally ignited in his heart.

This time, the two sides exchanged over a thousand moves.

Along the way, Fang Cangyou continuously reinforced the barrier. Otherwise, the two would have fought right out of this space.

After more than a thousand moves, the Limit Breaking expert of the Fang Clan was defeated. Regrettably, he failed to break through during the fight. His eyes were filled with disappointment.

Right at that moment, a golden light suddenly shot into the sky in the distance. A terrifying sword intent seemed to condense into a divine sword within the void. When this divine sword manifested, even those at the martial arts arena felt a highly oppressive spiritual pressure bearing down from above.

Fang Ding muttered to himself, "Is this Ancestor Chen breaking through? How can the commotion be this massive?"

Fang Han was publicly acknowledged as the number one seventh-transformation expert of the Fang Clan. Yet at this moment, merely sensing the presence of that enormous divine sword left him with the feeling that it was something he could not possibly resist...