Chapter 42
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Chapter 42: Mo Ancestor’s Pill Scripture
"Big brother, you’re seriously underestimating yourself!" Ice Second Brother said earnestly. "In terms of talent, your fire-element Flame Dragon spiritual root is top-tier. As for fortune, you now possess an undying nature—even the Great Heaven Fierce Fire Formation couldn’t kill you. The Cycle of Fire was left by our sect’s founder. If it can’t propel you to greatness, what would that say about our founder’s legacy?"
"Exactly!" Fang Huo chimed in with a grin. "And let’s not forget—you’re Mo Sect’s undisputed champion of hand-to-hand combat! You once defeated disciples from prestigious clans bare-handed. With such extraordinary luck now, shouldn’t you be *more* confident?"
"This…" Fang Lie forced a bitter smile. "Calling me the ‘top fighter’ is a joke. Do you really think fists alone can conquer Mo Sect’s elites?"
Years ago, Fang Lie had sold his only magical tool to pay for Mao Mao’s treatment, leaving him weaponless. Yet conflicts within the sect were unavoidable. His siblings needed protection, and bullies didn’t care if he lacked treasures. He had no choice but to fight.
So Fang Lie threw himself into martial arts. Leveraging his cultivator’s physique and sharp instincts, he quickly mastered close combat.
But to cultivators, hand-to-hand fighting was laughable. What good were fists against spells that struck from hundreds of meters away? Even a Qi Sea cultivator could unleash attacks from a distance, while treasures could strike from even farther.
At best, Fang Lie’s skills let him scrape by against weaker opponents. Against anyone with decent treasures? Hopeless. Reaching the top ten in the sect competition? A pipe dream.
Even Fang Lie himself dismissed his martial prowess and had little hope of ranking high.
Just then, Longxing Tianxia spoke up. "Big brother, I actually think you *could* rival those elites now."
"How?" Fang Lie frowned. "You expect me to punch through treasures with bare hands?"
"Why not?" Longxing Tianxia countered. "You’re stuck in old thinking. True, martial arts alone are limited—you need to close the gap. But before, you lacked the speed to do so! Spells, Flying Swords, and treasures attack instantly across vast areas. Dodging on the ground was impossible. But now?" He gestured at Fang Lie’s wings. "You can *fly*. And those Divine Phoenix Wings make you faster and more agile than any Golden Pool realm cultivator!"
Fang Lie’s eyes lit up. "These wings—the Divine Phoenix Wings—contain 108,000 feathers, each enhancing speed. At full power, they grant unmatched velocity. Even now, my speed rivals Golden Pool experts!"
"Exactly! You can dodge attacks and get close enough to pummel them!" Longxing Tianxia exclaimed. "This strategy is yours alone—a revolution in the cultivation world!"
"This… could work!" Fang Lie’s excitement grew. "If I succeed, I might crack the top ten, earn inner gate disciple status, and claim the Benevolence Token outright!"
Securing a top-ten rank would bypass the need to reach Golden Pool realm. As Benevolence Token Lord and head of the Five Great Token Lords, Fang Lie’s authority would soar. No one would dare harass his siblings, freeing them from their sheltered life.
Previously unthinkable, this path now seemed possible. With Divine Phoenix Wings and his combat skills, closing the distance meant total domination. Yet doubts lingered. For reassurance, Fang Lie turned to the wise old bird.
"I need to meditate. Don’t disturb me unless necessary." He retreated to the Fang Family’s austere stone chamber—its walls etched with reinforced runes, containing only a frayed sitting cushion.
"Old bird," Fang Lie began mentally, "you heard Longxing Tianxia. Thoughts?"
"Brilliantly unorthodox!" the old bird cackled. "Using speed to enable close combat? Even demon beasts rely on magic, not brute force. Pull this off, and you’ll pioneer a new school of battle!"
"So it’s feasible?" Fang Lie pressed.
"Possibly, but two hurdles remain." The old bird sobered. "First: while fast, you can’t dodge everything. Divine sense attacks ignore evasion. Flying needle treasures swarm like locusts. Second: even if you reach opponents, how will you bypass their defenses? Talismans, protective treasures, techniques—you’re unarmed."
Fang Lie groaned. "There goes my confidence. I’d be lucky to crack the top *hundred*."
"Patience!" the old bird chided. "First, master the *Exhale Energy Technique*. It’ll amplify your magic power, boosting speed and striking force enough to shatter mediocre defenses. Second—acquire treasures! For low-level cultivators, treasures decide eighty percent of battles. You need ones that complement your style."
"Treasures?" Fang Lie scoffed. "If I had good ones, I wouldn’t be brawling bare-handed!"
"Fool!" the old bird snapped. "You wield *Nirvana fire*! With it, you could dominate alchemy—the most lucrative cultivation art!"
"Alchemy?" Fang Lie recoiled. "Our Flame Dragon techniques are too volatile! We *explode* pill furnaces!"
"You’re not using Flame Dragon anymore," the old bird reminded. "The *Divine Phoenix Nirvana Scripture* transforms your inherited true fire. And our founder left you the *Mo Ancestor’s Pill Scripture*—it holds the key to precise flame control."
