Plundering the Heavens Chapter 257

Despite not using Wanluo's methods, Fang Xing had still achieved the same results.

Wanluo's methods had involved straightforwardly using the True Spirit to suppress the demonic spirit before adding a seal mark to its body, which was the correct and most righteous path according to his theory. Fang Xing had instead used the True Spirit to take over the demonic spirit using methods similar to the dark path, yet at the end of it all, it did seem as though this had achieved the same desired outcome. "Outer demon, inner saint" was still in line with the old Wanluo's theory in regards to his Dao.

Wanluo wasn't an inflexible person. After he investigated and found the current situation was better than he expected, he no longer dwelled on the issue and even noted down Fang Xing's method for future reference. If a similar situation occurred in the future and the same theory be applied, Wanluo would mention the method Fang Xing used here as well.

As for the "Yin-Yang Sanding Disc", Fang Xing officially began to train in it.

"Child, although you've taken control of the demonic spirit's power, that only means you've completed the very first step; your final goal is ultimately still to master this skill. That 'grand opportunity' you seek is simply too dangerous, so dangerous even old farts like us are feeling quite pressured without any guarantees of what kind of outcome there will be. The only thing we can do is help you increase your battle prowess….

"A little more battle prowess means a little more chance…. This is also the reason why the Snowy Mountain opened up the Court of Enlightenment—to help you all learn your own path of Dao. Unfortunately, you can't borrow the powers of the Court of Enlightenment to study this skill and will only be able to rely on yourself. With this in mind, perhaps the time you have available to you is just a bit too lacking. Mastering this skill in such a short time frame is a rather difficult task…."

After speaking, the old Wanluo suddenly grew quiet, as though trying to decide upon something. After a few moments of silence, he suddenly threw over a jade talisman. "Mastering a skill is ultimately up to one's own ability. I may be able to point you in the right direction, but I can't study it in your place. There are nine other Spirit Stage elites within the Wanluo Court that I'll need to be teaching directly, so I won't be able to keep an eye on you all the time. It's best you keep track of your cultivation on your own and come to me if you have any questions….

"This jade has records of the formations within the Snowy Mountain. If you are unable to master this skill, that 'grand opportunity' will simply be too dangerous for you and it would be best if you didn't join in. If you can't master the skill, just follow the path outlined in this talisman to find your way out."

Fang Xing accepted the jade talisman with surprise. The reason Wanluo had accepted him in the first place was because they wanted strong youths to compete on their behalf. It was precisely because of their desires that this traitorous, bandit-like brat in the eyes of others had become a "good sprout" in the eyes of these Golden Cores.

The reason Fang Xing had acted so boldly within the Snowy Mountain was also because he thought of all this as an equal trade, yet for the old Wanluo to show such concern—even so much as letting him go—left Fang Xing rather surprised. As he took the jade talisman, he looked at the old Wanluo in disbelief before laughing, "Don't blame me if I run off halfway through, then!"

The old Wanluo let out a bitter laugh. "The 'Yin-Yang Sanding Disc' was created from the principles of an Ancient skill, but after adding in my own Dao's theories as well as the secret skills of the Chu royal clan and the top technique of the Ephemeral Butterfly, the quality of this skill has perhaps already passed the rank of Ancient and moved into Divine. To study a Divine skill, one must understand and appreciate one's theory of Dao, and only upon understanding one's Dao would one be able to master a Divine skill. Appreciating Dao is the most difficult task; someone might be able to understand it in a single day, while others might take years and still not understand even a strand of it. Even during my youth, I did not dare to say I understood this theory of Dao within a year, so naturally there is no need for me to expect the same of you. If you find it too difficult, you are free to leave—I will not fault you!"

Fang Xing nodded with a smile. "Wouldn't that mean I've taken advantage of you, then?"

The old Wanluo snorted. "Do you think you haven't taken advantage of me already?" Then, with that, he folded both of his hands against his back and stopped paying Fang Xing any further mind.

At this moment, however, Fang Xing's fists clenched tightly and his gaze became cold and determined. 'Whatever it is, theory or Dao, Divine skill or not, I will master it. You make that 'grand opportunity' sound so important, so it must be exciting and lively. Where's the fun in such a huge event if I'm not there to take part?'

A sacred peace had finally arrived within the depths of the Snowy Mountain. All the elite youths who'd entered began to start their own seclusions one by one.

On the twenty-third day after the Snowy Mountain's opening, Prince Chu Huang broke into mid-Foundation Stage before formally entering the Court of Enlightenment for seclusion, catching the interest of everyone. Rumor had it he was going to study a skill no one in the Chu royal court had successfully mastered in the past hundred years.

Day twenty-five, the eldest shijie of the Sword Cleansing Court—Xiao Xue—went into seclusion to study a supreme sword technique passed on from her shifu.

Day twenty-nine, from the Grand Melody Court, Ye Gu'yin had successfully formed her foundation. She didn't leave the Court of Enlightenment immediately, however, and instead remained in seclusion to study an Ancient technique the old man Hu Qin had taught her. Rumor had it that if she were to achieve mastery, she would be able to surpass what Hu Qin had been like in his youth.

Day thirty-one, Hou Guimen received another chance to enter the Court of Enlightenment and prepared to study the Ephemeral Demon God Technique until complete mastery….

As for all the elite youths within Snowy Mountain, they'd all chosen techniques and skills that could increase their battle prowess and entered seclusion within the Court of Enlightenment one by one. Spirit Stage elites were different from Foundation Stage elites; each Spirit Stage elite would only have ten days in seclusion, and so they were particularly appreciative of this chance.

While everyone was entering the Court of Enlightenment, Fang Xing was just sweeping the floor.

The old Wanluo was correct; studying the Yin-Yang Sanding Disc was no easy task. It had already surpassed the tier of an Ancient technique and now had its own theory of Dao, making it considered a Divine skill. Studying a Divine skill required clearing and calming one's mind to quietly appreciate Dao, yet Fang Xing's temperament was the polar opposite of this.

He first had to clear his mind… but how to do so?

Fang Xing loved fighting and causing trouble, and he'd become excited whenever he got himself involved. It was only natural someone like him couldn't calm down and clear his mind completely, so the old Wanluo had suggested he sweep the floor. Such a mundane task as sweeping from time to time would calm and clear his mind, allowing him to appreciate Dao.

And so...

When the Foundation Stage elites were entering seclusion within the Court of Enlightenment, he was sweeping.

When the Spirit Stage elites were entering seclusion within the Court of Enlightenment, he was sweeping.

When the Spirit Stage elites gradually left the Court of Enlightenment, he was sweeping even still….

Unlike before, the grand elder Wanluo no longer advised him, as though he'd forgotten about Fang Xing entirely. It was during this period of time that another somewhat large event happened within the Wanluo Court.

The Melodic Ice Palace Master—Xiao Changqing—had personally pled to have one of the Melodic Ice Palace's Foundation Stage elite enter the Wanluo Court. This person was called Leng Ziyang and wasn't a direct disciple from the old man Hu Qin's branch. He'd formed the foundation when he was twenty-three years old and his foundation had only been blue, preventing him from meeting the five Golden Cores' prerequisites or being chosen for the Snowy Mountain.

All five Golden Cores had around ten Spirit Stage elites to teach and one Foundation Stage elite, yet the old Wanluo was a special case. Others didn't know about Fang Xing, and so they believed there were only Spirit Stage elites within the Wanluo Court without any Foundation Stages. Xiao Changqing had taken the opportunity to improve Leng Ziyan's foundation with a secret medicine before sending him into the Wanluo Court.

Once Leng Ziyan arrived, it seemed as though Fang Xing was even more likely to be forgotten. Every Foundation Stage elite had the status of being head of the court—they were born to be the center of attention.

Rumors began to spread from within as well. "Apparently Grand Elder Wanluo took a liking to the innate talent of the Myriad Beasts Sect servant. He wanted to personally teach him to turn him into a Foundation Stage elite and be on par with the remaining four courts, but this boy was just too difficult and Grand Elder Wanluo finally gave up on him. That's why the Melodic Ice Palace chose another Foundation Stage elite to be accepted under the Wanluo Court's care…."

"Heh, too difficult? You are being too naive! At Grand Elder Wanluo's current stage, how could he mind whether someone was difficult or not? In truth, Grand Elder Wanluo thought this person had great innate talent, but after testing, he found it had all been illusory and this servant's innate talent didn't reach his requirements at all. That's why he was given up on and lost his status; he's now the same as us!"

"Us? Heh. We've all been inside the Court of Enlightenment. How can he be the same as us?"

Fang Xing could hear such mutterings nearly every day.

At first, he'd been a legend-like existence in the eyes of outsiders. He came from humble beginnings, but his battle prowess was nearly invincible within Spirit Stage and his guts were so large they covered the heavens. He'd passed the trials of the Snowy Mountain together with the princess from the Myriad Beasts Sect and had been taken into the Wanluo Court as an exception. Wanluo even offered protection and showed care towards him as events played out afterwards; it can be said he'd taken an extremely great opportunity and leapt into the heavens with a single step.

And yet, he'd also quickly fallen, becoming someone who was completely forgotten by Grand Elder Wanluo. While all the young elites were busy increasing their battle prowess, he was sweeping the floors within the Wanluo Court. This floor sweeping went on for over a month, and Fang Xing himself had even become rather sentimental and was often in a daze, as though he'd become an idiot. Such a scene did indeed make it seem like he'd been given up on and had received a huge shock that left him completely discouraged. He looked as though his life no longer held any meaning….

One time, someone remembered how Fang Xing had scolded them before. They'd just returned from the Court of Enlightenment and—believing their battle prowess had increased by a great amount—decided to seek revenge. A few people surrounded Fang Xing as he swept the floor, preparing to teach him a lesson.

It was a youth in a bright blue robe who lent his aid this time around. He calmly scolded these Spirit Stage elites before sending his cold gaze towards Fang Xing. "Opportunities are abundant in life, and there is no need to be so disheartened just because you have lost the opportunity this time. Since the Snowy Mountain no longer has your opportunity, why not leave and continue your own path elsewhere?"

Fang Xing could only let out a half-laugh towards this man. "You really think I don't know these people came here because you told them to?"

The man in the bright blue robe was surprised. His eyes became even colder as they settled on Fang Xing's face.

Fang Xing held the broomstick and began to return back to his own cave estate. Before leaving, however, he turned to the bright-blue-robed man and said, "You must be that Leng Ziyan from the Melodic Ice Palace, right? There's nothing for you to worry about; I won't take your opportunity, but you can't take my opportunities either!"

Chapter end