“When will the Hongmeng Space open?” Jiang Wang asked.

Zhen Wudi curled his lip. “Before, they were saying the Taixu Illusion Realm wouldn’t surface for at least a hundred years. Who can say for sure the exact time?”

Jiang Wang nodded thoughtfully.

Perhaps the Taixu Illusion Realm wasn’t a secret to people of a certain level. Humanity’s ignorance often stemmed from standing too low.

Just like ordinary people who couldn’t achieve transcendence, they probably wouldn’t know the secrets of fierce beasts in their entire lives.

And what he needed to do was to become stronger as quickly as possible. To welcome that infinitely vast future, filled with countless opportunities, and inevitably countless challenges!

“Brother Dugu, we’re friends now, right?”

The plump Zhen tried to put an arm around Jiang Wang’s shoulder, but Jiang Wang evaded it.

“Brother Zhen, if you have something to say, please speak frankly.”

“Hehe.” Zhen Wudi chuckled obsequiously, and said, “About my use of the Chongxuan clan’s secret art during our sword duel, don’t spread it around if you meet others in the future.”

*So he comes from a clan named Chongxuan, a clan that seems quite famous,* Jiang Wang thought.

In fact, when he reviewed the battle, he had already realized that the so-called heavy water shield was a lie. Zhen Wudi’s secret art wasn’t about condensing heavy water, but about adding gravity to his Dao techniques!

Like the water shield in their first battle, and the fireball that nearly killed him the second time.

Such a powerful secret art, it was understandable that a family might rise to fame through it.

“If Brother Zhen doesn’t wish it, I naturally won’t be talkative,” Jiang Wang said. “However, you have to spar with me a few more times.”

Zhen Wudi’s face first showed joy, then bitterness, and he couldn’t help but dissuade, “What’s the point of being a champion in the Youmai Realm? In this realm, the most important thing is to perfect the Three Talents, to lay a solid foundation for the future Dao path. Dao techniques are protective measures, the Dao path is the core.”

“You’re right, but I won’t listen to you.”

“…” Zhen Wudi’s chubby face twitched. “Even if you beat me, you won’t be a champion in the Youmai Realm. I haven’t even made it into the top hundred.”

“Beating you is enough.”

“Brother Dugu, your vindictiveness is really strong…”

“Brother Zhen,” Jiang Wang said earnestly, “Anyway, you’ve already exposed yourself in front of me, so you can use your secret arts without restraint. Isn’t that better than fighting others, where you have to hide things and can’t fight comfortably? Why not have me as a training partner?”

…

Thus, Dugu Wudi and Zhen Wudi’s continuous battles in the Taixu Illusion Realm began, while in the real world, things were also far from calm.

Nearby, Li Jianqiu’s reputation was rising in the county Dao Academy, almost the most dazzling figure among the new students. His combat system was analyzed in front of everyone, revealing that he mainly cultivated the Dao Sword technique. The Maple Forest City Dao Academy didn’t have this technique, so it was unknown where he learned it from.

And “Wang Yichui” was not to be outdone. The reputation of the Maple Forest City Dao Academy was boosted by this, rising steadily.

For the people of Maple Forest City, they were more affectionate towards Wang Changxiang. Li Jianqiu was already low-key, and after entering the county Dao Academy, he cultivated even more diligently. He had no attachments in Maple Forest City, and rarely returned.

Wang Changxiang, on the other hand, went back to his clan every few days to visit, and was very popular with the villagers.

Far away, the leftist giant Ouyang Lie reappeared in the world, wielding the phantom of the Ghost Gate Pass to overwhelm Cloud City, defeating several council elders in a row with terrifying ferocity, vowing to control Cloud City, and declaring death to all who refused to submit.

At this time, Pavilion Lord Ye Lingxiao of Lingxiao Pavilion broke through his seclusion, crushed Ouyang Lie with overwhelming force, and severely injured him, forcing him to flee.

Now the entire Yun Kingdom was under martial law, searching everywhere for Ouyang Lie and his disciples.

Ouyang Lie also had another identity: the Grand Elder of the White Bone Dao.

This evil cult, which had nearly overthrown the Zhuang Kingdom in history and committed countless evils, now showed signs of resurgence, causing everyone to feel uneasy.

Then someone revealed that the destruction of Xiaolin Town in the Maple Forest City region of Qinghe County, Zhuang Kingdom, was led by the demons of the White Bone Dao. The Ghost Gate Pass phantom that Ouyang Lie relied on to rampage through Yun Kingdom was condensed during that sacrifice. And Wei Quji, in order to cover up his dereliction of duty, did not publicize the situation of the White Bone Dao, allowing the White Bone Dao to expand its gains.

As soon as this news came out, the whole country was in an uproar. Following Zhu Wei’s fame spreading throughout the world, the Maple Forest City region once again became the focus of attention, but this time, the reputation was completely different.

Afterwards, Wei Quji, as the city lord, personally submitted a letter of apology.

Of course, Dong A also signed his name on that letter of apology.

…

Jiang Wang was immersed in the battles of the Taixu Illusion Realm until two days later, when he learned of these events.

Other things aside, the news of the White Bone Dao made his heart skip a beat.

He had finally learned about the White Bone Dao, but he never expected it to be in this way.

Late at night, he looked at himself in the mirror, feeling terrified by the white bone lotus flower on his back.

He absolutely did not approve of any leftist evil cults, and he absolutely refused to admit that he was involved in one.

But that suddenly appearing white bone lotus flower made him unable to ignore the possibility.

And the mysterious black candle in the Tongtian Palace, and the flesh-soul regeneration technique transmitted by the black candle…

All of this made Jiang Wang uneasy.

It seemed he could only ask Bai Lian about this matter.

But Bai Lian hadn’t appeared for a long time, and he didn’t know where to find her.

Bai Lian… Bai Lian…

The name the woman had casually made up now gave him endless associations. He still owed Bai Lian a favor. He hoped that matter would end soon, but he also hoped that it would never come.

From Jade Balance Peak to Clear River Shore, he began to struggle again with the role he was playing, feeling confused and conflicted.

Fortunately… there was still battle.

Fighting with all his strength in the Taixu Illusion Realm was his antidote.

Fearless of life and death, releasing everything.

The improvement of his combat power was his courage.

Only by constantly growing and becoming stronger could he feel capable of fighting against those things that made him uneasy.

In his sparring sessions with Zhen Wudi, he could finally win a match occasionally.

Out of ten battles, he could win one or two.

There was no helping it, Zhen Wudi, freed from restraint, was truly invincible.

The Chongxuan clan’s secret arts, whether the pseudo-instant cast state or the manipulation of Dao technique gravity, were monstrous. When fighting others, Zhen Wudi had to make some disguises to avoid being seen through. He didn’t need to do that when fighting Jiang Wang.

As soon as this fatty entered the pseudo-instant cast state, instantly throwing a gravity-enhanced Dao technique, Jiang Wang would be killed if he wasn’t careful.

Jiang Wang estimated that if he wanted to truly gain an advantage in head-on combat, he would have to master the Four Spirits Body Refining Art and imprint an instant-cast Dao technique in the Tongtian Palace. But by then, he would no longer be in the Youmai Realm.

This wasn’t his problem, but the difference in their innate foundations.

The loss of merit points was like flowing water, making the fat Zhen grin from ear to ear.

But the improvement of combat power was a never-ending matter.

When his merit points were down to three thousand, Jiang Wang encountered a bottleneck.

The Purple Qi East Arrival Sword Art could not be upgraded any further unless he had a breakthrough understanding of swordsmanship. The Four Spirits Body Refining Art was a slow and steady process, and couldn’t be rushed. He naturally turned his attention to the Dao technique passed down by Dong A – Flame Flower.

But this Dao technique was truly difficult. As a top-grade C-level Dao technique, it was originally the level of Dao technique used by Zhou Tian Realm cultivators.

It was a bit difficult for Jiang Wang to use with his Youmai Realm cultivation. But after the Azure Dragon chapter of the Four Spirits Body Refining Art, he chose to cultivate the Vermilion Bird chapter first, in order to improve his affinity and control over fire-attribute vital energy, so as to achieve the purpose of mastering the Flame Flower in advance.

This was the strongest Dao technique he could master at this stage.

However, even with the help of the Essence Control Art, he could complete the initial preparations for the Flame Flower, but he was stuck every time at the “flower blooming” stage.

Jiang Wang flipped through Dong A’s notes to find the reason, his gaze suddenly stopping on a sentence. He had read it many times, but had always ignored it before, because it seemed like a casual sigh.

The sentence was: Every flower has a unique beauty.

Jiang Wang tried to understand this sentence.

Then, why can every flower have a unique beauty?

Because they are naturally formed, they can break away from uniformity.

Jiang Wang closed the notes.

He had found the problem.