Eternal Life through Drawing Lots

"...Murong Chengfeng, known as the Qilin of the Murong Race, holds a lofty status."

"...Before awakening his Xuanwu Spirit Body, he was a gentle and kind soul, a true gentleman. But after awakening it, he became tyrannical, cruel, and capricious."

"...He is a Water Dao Master, and some even quietly refer to him as a Quasi-Master."

"...His ’Xuanwu Transformation’ art is considered the pinnacle of mastery, earning endless praise from even his distant ancestor, the ’Water Marsh Great Saint’..."

Aboard a pleasure boat gliding across the lake, Sen Yuanyuan’s ruby lips parted.

She was currently explaining to Fang Yang everything she knew about Murong Chengfeng.

Detail by painstaking detail.

Fang Yang nodded silently, occasionally interjecting with a question or two to voice his own doubts.

Through this process, the image of Murong Chengfeng grew ever clearer in his mind.

Just then, a flicker of confusion crossed Sen Yuanyuan’s fair face:

"For some reason, though, Murong Chengfeng absolutely hates it when people attack the sides of his chest. Perhaps that’s his fatal flaw?"

’He hates it when people attack the sides of his chest?’

Fang Yang was also puzzled when he first heard it.

For a cultivator with a Xuanwu Spirit Body, the sides of the chest should be one of their most heavily defended areas.

"Okay, I’ll remember that," Fang Yang nodded.

He hadn’t figured out the reason, but that didn’t stop him from planning to exploit this information against Murong Chengfeng.

The lake rippled as the pleasure boat drew ashore.

Accompanied by Sen Yuanyuan, Fang Yang once again arrived at the Phoenix Book Collection Pavilion of the Thunder Saint Academy.

The Phoenix Book Collection Pavilion was an ancient, nine-story structure, filled with classic charm.

Inside, countless Inheritance Jade Scrolls lined the shelves in a dazzling display.

Fang Yang wandered slowly through the aisles, picking up one jade scroll after another, only to quickly set them down again.

’Blank, blank... still blank...’ Fang Yang sighed to himself.

He had visited the Phoenix Book Collection Pavilion many times during his time in this Dream World.

But each visit yielded next to nothing.

He discovered that while Sen Yuanyuan could read most of the scrolls with great interest, they appeared completely blank to him.

When he asked Sen Yuanyuan about it, she was unable to fully articulate the profound truths contained within the scrolls.

From this, he immediately understood. It was likely a restriction of the Dream World; things like these Inheritance Jade Scrolls simply wouldn’t allow him to view them.

’He suspected it was highly likely because his own ancestor, that scoundrel Fang Nian, hated reading!’

He held such behavior in utter contempt.

Fortunately, while he couldn’t view most of the jade scrolls, he could still access a small number of them.

"Profound State, open."

When he finally found a scroll on which characters materialized, Fang Yang unhesitatingly activated his Profound State to enhance his comprehension.

Day after day.

As the day the ranks would be decided drew near, Fang Yang remained immersed in the Phoenix Book Collection Pavilion, silently building his strength.

Half a month before the final ranking day, black and white energies began to circulate around Fang Yang’s body, and a Yin Yang Dao Fish Diagram materialized behind him.

Then, a Thunderfire Chain erupted from his body, weaving itself into a suit of battle armor that made him look magnificent and imposing.

Before Sen Yuanyuan’s disbelieving eyes, the two phenomena merged into one.

The Dao Fish and the Fire Eagle began to frantically intertwine and spiral around each other.

Finally, the image of a Golden Tai Chi Diagram formed behind Fang Yang.

The Golden Tai Chi Diagram!

His ultimate move had evolved once again!

’The Dao Fish, the Fire Eagle... I didn’t expect them to evolve now. This is two days faster than I anticipated,’ Fang Yang mused, his eyes lowered in thought.

’Coupled with the immense vital energy and power I gained from refining the Sacred Material, the Heart of the Black Kun’s Water Moon... I should be able to shatter Murong Chengfeng’s wretched turtle shield now.’

...

Before long, Fang Yang arrived at the martial arts arena once more.

He submitted the formal writ, officially challenging Murong Chengfeng.

The sky was dim, choked with dark clouds.

That day, the martial arts arena was buzzing with excitement.

All eyes were on Fang Yang, who stood clad in battle armor, a war spear in hand.

Across from him, Murong Chengfeng held a shield in one hand and a saber in the other.

Murong Chengfeng’s face twisted into a savage sneer. "I’m surprised you had the guts to challenge me. Don’t worry, I’m going to take this blade and chop your pretty face into mincemeat, slice by slice."

As he spoke, he swung the large, golden-ringed saber in his right hand, the air whistling with its power.

Combined with his enormous frame, he was a fearsome sight, enough to make children stop crying in terror. A true tyrant reborn.

"Mincemeat?"

Fang Yang smiled coolly. "Why don’t you try chopping up your own turtle meat first?"

Instantly, a sharp aura erupted from his body.

To the naked eye, waves of crimson light rippled from his spear tip, spreading outward in a vast, domineering tide!

This display instantly sent Murong Chengfeng into a speechless rage.

Murong Chengfeng roared and unleashed his own aura, sending out a wave of azure light in an attempt to suppress the crimson flames.

But no matter how hard he tried, the two auras remained evenly matched. In fact, the crimson light seemed a sliver stronger.

In other words, Fang Yang held the slightest of advantages!

This development left the crowd utterly dumbfounded.

"Th-this... Murong Chengfeng can’t even suppress him? This is insane!"

"It might seem strange, but it’s actually logical. He’s a master of both the Fire Dao and the Thunder Dao, two paths known for their supreme offensive power."

"Logical? Logical my ass! Murong Chengfeng has a Xuanwu Spirit Body—a *perfect-grade* Spirit Body!"

In that moment, the crowd was shocked as they witnessed a direct, visceral demonstration of Fang Yang’s growth.

Muri Xining, her face deathly pale, stared blankly at Fang Yang. ’Don’t tell me... I didn’t even make you try your best that day?’

’Muri Xining was completely numb. ’Just who is the direct descendant of a Great Saint here?!’’

GONG—

Just as the crowd’s clamor reached a fever pitch, the thunderous sound of a gong reverberated through the arena.

Then, as everyone watched, Fang Yang and Murong Chengfeng charged each other simultaneously.

Fang Yang lunged, his spear transforming into phantoms of a Thunder Carp and a Fire Eagle as it erupted with an incredibly fierce and violent power of thunder and fire.

Seeing this, Murong Chengfeng’s gaze hardened. A phantom of a Xuanwu appeared behind him.

He immediately met the attack with the shield in his left hand, pulling back his saber to gather power. A torrential wave of water energy surged before him, forming a barrier.

BOOM!

The crimson war spear slammed into the Xuanwu shield, thunder and fire clashing endlessly with surging water.

But to everyone’s astonishment, Fang Yang’s blow was so powerful it drove Murong Chengfeng back, forcing him to switch from offense to defense and use his golden-ringed saber to break free.

This unexpected turn of events left the spectators utterly aghast.

’Fang Yang’s physical strength... was actually greater than Murong Chengfeng’s?!’

"This is ridiculous! How can a Xuanwu Spirit Body be so pathetic?" a Celestial Ranking expert exclaimed in astonishment.

He wasn’t alone; many in the crowd rubbed their eyes, convinced they were hallucinating.

But the reality was this: Fang Yang, relying on his incomparably tyrannical vital energy and physical power, had completely erased the vast gap that should exist between a high-grade spirit body and a perfect-grade one.

For a moment, the fight hung in a delicate balance, with every single move a fatal blow.

In fact, Fang Yang even seemed to hold a slight advantage!

"Mother!"

Sen Yuanyuan’s face was a mixture of joy and worry. "Now do you believe in Mr. Fang?"

Mrs. Sen gently waved the sleeve of her courtly gown, gathering a cluster of clouds to keep herself and her daughter concealed.

She watched Fang Yang’s powerful, dragon-like form and nodded slightly. "He is indeed quite good. But it is far too early to speak of victory."

Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flickering within them.

For on the field, the situation had changed again in a flash!