Chapter 623

Chapter 623: Tremendous Transformations

Though Mo Qianxun had flung Fang Lie out, leaving him dizzy and nearly stumbling, the young man’s heart brimmed with exhilaration. Throughout their interactions, Fang Lie had always been outmaneuvered and mocked—this marked his first successful counterattack, leaving the older man fuming. The satisfaction was indescribable.

Departing the Mo family estate, Fang Lie even found himself humming as he journeyed toward his home after a 25-year absence.

His current cultivation showed staggering progress. The Qi Sea within him now spanned over sixty thousand li, and his magic reserves had multiplied beyond measure. His physical body had undergone terrifying enhancement—a mere flex of his arms could topple mountains, while ordinary treasures struggled to leave scratches.

The most dramatic improvement lay in his Divine Phoenix Golden Wings. Inherited from the ancient Divine Phoenix bloodline, these wings had gradually awakened, multiplying their potency dozens-fold.

These golden wings granted peerless velocity. At lower cultivation levels, their speed advantage had been modest, merely matching practitioners one tier higher. But now, as a Qi Sea realm cultivator, Fang Lie’s wings surpassed even Thunder Tribulation Immortals in swiftness. With each beat, his body transformed into a radiant streak, traversing thousands of li in moments.

What once required two to three hours’ travel from Mo Sect to his cave dwelling now took less than fifteen minutes. As he approached, the transformed landscape astonished him.

Twenty-five years had wrought miraculous changes. Before him stretched a sacred Buddhist territory radiating solemnity. The ground hosted temple complexes spanning thousands of li—hundreds of exquisite shrines interconnected. Above floated seven or eight Buddhist Flying Peaks, each radiating stern dharma manifestations through golden halos. The heavens themselves shimmered with sacred light, distant scripture chants permeating the air with holiness.

Peering closer, Fang Lie discerned a faint colossal Buddha image in the void, gazing compassionately downward. Though no Buddhist disciple, he recognized the significance—this phenomenon indicated overwhelming devotion attracting divine attention. Such recognition meant eventual sanctification as a Buddhist sanctum through persistent worship.

The Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword’s influence proved staggering. Within mere decades, it had summoned countless high monks across vast distances—even Fang Lie felt awestruck. Yet upon reflection, this made perfect sense.

Both Buddhist and Taoist practitioners ultimately sought immortality. For thousands of monks stranded by inadequate talent, the sword offered salvation. Normally condemned to uncertain reincarnation—perhaps as beasts—they now gained an alternative: weapon dissolution ascension under Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s protection. Though granting lower status, this path ensured eternal refuge in the Bodhisattva’s Buddha kingdom.

Thus, the blade became the sole immortality route for failed ascendants. Its revelation drew suitable monks worldwide. Though the Four Great Buddhist Sects dominated, their numbers represented mere tenth of global practitioners. Hence arrivals included diverse Buddhist traditions, prioritizing personal salvation over sect interests.

Fang Lie demanded no sect betrayal—merely Mo Sect assistance as payment for blade access. While sects grumbled, individual monks raised few objections.

Within twenty-five years, the area amassed astonishing numbers of high monks, including unaffiliated Thunder Tribulation Immortals. Solitary practitioners and those lacking fixed abodes relocated entire resources, explaining the Flying Peaks’ presence.

Projecting current trends, a genuine Buddhist sanctum would emerge within centuries—precisely Fang Lie’s objective. A Mo Sect-controlled holy land offered immense advantages. Such sanctums naturally suppressed foreign energies and laws, halving Tao Sect practitioners’ combat effectiveness. Demons fared worse—even Semi-Immortal-level fiends would perish under overwhelming Buddhist suppression.

Moreover, the gathered monks owed Fang Lie personal debts, ensuring their support during crises. This sacred bastion would render his residence impregnable while providing loyal allies—an invaluable safeguard.

Opposite the Buddhist territory lay the Ancient Heroic Souls Temple. Spanning thousands of li, this area bustled far more than the Buddhist sacred grounds.

The Buddhist sanctuary only welcomed Buddhist disciples. Though Mo Sect had a few ordained members, their numbers remained small. Thus the Buddhist lands stayed quiet, inhabited mainly by high monks in deep meditation.

The Ancient Heroic Souls Temple presented stark contrast, receiving tens of thousands of daily worshippers bearing offerings.

During Fang Lie’s 25-year absence, the Ancient Heroic Soul had absorbed vast blood essence to reach Ninth-Rank, restoring part of its former divine abilities.

Now possessing sufficient strength, it began teaching Mo Sect disciples deeper blood-based divine skills.

The Ancient Heroic Soul currently offered over a dozen skills, some attracting Thunder Tribulation Immortals’ interest. The Essence Concealment Technique particularly caused uproar.

This auxiliary divine skill doubled one’s blood essence reserves – tongue-tip blood, heart blood and Third Eye Blood all multiplied twofold.

This proved immensely valuable. Blood essence often served critical purposes, especially when exhausted cultivators needed to activate skills or treasures through blood sacrifice during desperate battles. Doubled reserves meant twice the life-saving options.

Requiring minimal effort with permanent effects and no drawbacks, none except freaks like Fang Lie could resist it. Even Mo Qianxun reportedly sought this skill immediately.

The steep price – ten drops of each blood type plus tributes – sparked outcries. Many cursed the Ancient Heroic Soul for inheriting Fang Lie’s "ruthless" traits.

Some considered reselling the skill cheaply after learning it, but soon abandoned such plans. The technique required unique talisman seeds only the Ancient Heroic Soul could produce, making resale impossible.

This exclusive trade fueled continuous temple expansions and thriving worship.

Longxing Tianxia, overseeing operations, rose alongside the temple’s prominence. Alongside Ice Second Brother and Fang Huo, they became known as Fang Lie’s Three Loyal Hounds – though none dared say this openly. Their authority now rivaled Thunder Tribulation Immortals.

Ice Second Brother controlled procurement, spirit pills/liquids, White Jade Divine Fish and Nirvana Fire Seed sales. None risked his displeasure.

Longxing Tianxia managed both Ancient Heroic Souls Temple and Kṣitigarbha Vow Sword – twin sacred sites near Fang Lie’s residence. Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals curried favor for access.

Fang Huo, master alchemist, produced thousands daily via spirit furnace Two Two Two. Controlling 70% of sect pill supplies and all external sales, his influence surpassed most Thunder Tribulation Elders.

These three with mediocre talents originally couldn’t qualify as inner disciples. Through Fang Lie’s patronage and massive resources, they condensed Golden Pools with Qi Seas spanning six-seven thousand li – matching inner elites though paling against geniuses like Fang Lie or Mao Mao.

Their progress sparked intense envy. Even Five Great Clans’ middle-grade heirs rarely achieved thousand-li Qi Seas. Their Thunder Tribulation qualifications consumed resources rivaling Mo Lanyun’s expenditures, earning them the "Three Loyal Hounds" nickname.

Yet another Fang Lie associate drew universal praise – Mao Mao. Previously known only as Fang Lie’s sister and Mo Qianxun’s Core Inner Disciple, her years of seclusion had faded her from public memory until recent events propelled her to leadership status, nearly overshadowing Fang Lie himself.