“I don’t really know,” Vicious replied. “However, after coming to the Firmament, I can clearly feel that my rate of cultivation has become faster than before. It feels like my meridians and bloodline are thriving in this environment…”
Previously, in order to reconstruct Zhao Ya’s meridians, Zhang Xuan had studied many meridian networks, and eventually, he had found that there were very few flaws in the meridian network of the Otherworldly Demonic Tribe.
After coming to the Firmament, he had also noticed that their meridian network was very similar to that of the Gods.
The meridian network of the Gods was indubitably the most aligned with the heavens and the nature of the myriad worlds. It was based on this foundation that they were able to raise their cultivation far beyond the lifeforms on the Master Teacher Continent and the Azure.
It was also for this same reason that the Otherworldly Demons were blessed with superior strength and greater longevity, putting them at a decisive advantage over the humans.
If not for Kong shi’s ascendance, the cultivators of the Master Teacher Continent would never have been able to drive them back to the otherworldly battlefield by themselves.
A thought suddenly came to Zhang Xuan. “If your rate of cultivation has increased after coming here… is it possible that your predecessors were also afflicted with the same problem as Feng Jiuge, resulting in their cultivation gradually falling with time?”
If the reason Feng Jiuge’s cultivation had started falling was because he had come in contact with something in the abyss, perhaps the original population of Spirit Origin Royal City had also been afflicted with the same thing, resulting in their cultivation falling further and further. From Semi-Divinities, they fell through the ranks to become High Immortals, True Immortals, Pseudo Immortals, Ancient Sages, Great Sages, Saints…
“This… I don’t really know,” Vicious replied.
“I guess I’ll have to find a way to enter the abyss in order to know the results,” Zhang Xuan murmured.
Having come to a decision, he raised his head to look at Feng Jiuge. “Can you bring me to the place that you mentioned earlier?”
“This…” Feng Jiuge hesitated.
That place was simply too dangerous! Even with his current strength, he still felt apprehensive about getting close to the abyss.
“There’s no need to worry. We can retreat right away as soon as we encounter any danger. Furthermore, your condition is a little unique. I’ve managed to suppress the issue in your body for the time being to prevent it from devouring your energy, but a relapse is always possible. If you wish to completely cure your affliction, we’ll have to head to the place where everything started and search for the root cause!” Zhang Xuan said.
He knew that he had to pay a visit to the abyss regardless of the cost. He knew that Feng Jiuge would be hesitant to approach the area once more, so he could only phrase it in such a manner.
Strictly speaking, he had not lied. Till now, he still had not figured out what that gray congregation of energy was. As long as they could not get to the bottom of the matter, there was no saying that the gray congregation of energy would not make a comeback.
“Alright then. I’ll take you there…” Feng Jiuge bit his lips as he agreed reluctantly. “However, in order to enter the abyss, you will need a certain object, and that object can only be found within the clan. I’ll have to make a trip back to my clan to fetch it.”
“An object?” Zhang Xuan asked.
“The abyss is fraught with danger. Even Conferred God Kings aren’t able to venture to the bottom of it. To avoid any accidents from occurring, the Three Conferred God Kings devoted a tremendous amount of energy to seal up the passageway, such that only those who possess their token can enter the area,” Feng Jiuge replied. “Without the token, even if you stand before the abyss’ entrance, you will have no way of entering it!”
Zhang Xuan nodded in response.
Even though he had managed to raise his cultivation considerably over the last few days, it would indeed still be difficult for him to bypass a formation set up by the Three Conferred God Kings.
Rather than courting trouble, it would be more convenient if he followed Feng Jiuge back to his clan. Anyway, it just so happened that he needed to complete his disguise as a member of the Inferno Phoenix Clan anyway, and he would appear much more credible if he had Feng Jiuge by his side.
Having made up their minds, the two of them quickly left the tavern and walked over to the manor opposite it.
“Are you still unwilling to leave? Do you need us to get Lord Feng Chao and Feng Xiang again before you are willing to give up?”
Seeing how the youth who had just been driven out like a beggar had returned, the two guards standing in front of the entrance frowned in displeasure.
“You’re right. I have decided that I am not going to leave after all. Get Feng Chao and Feng Xiang out here to meet me!” Feng Jiuge replied smugly.
His confidence had returned along with his cultivation.
“You are just making things harder for yourself.” One of the guards harrumphed before entering the manor.
Not too long later, Feng Chao and Feng Xiang, the two people who had insulted Feng Jiuge earlier, walked out.
Feng Chao sneered coldly as he pointed right in Feng Jiuge’s face. “I was wondering who’s looking for us, and it turns out to be the trash of the Inferno Phoenix Clan! Was the beating earlier not enough for you? Do you need us to go for another…”
Ever since Feng Jiuge’s cultivation began regressing, he had become a sandbag for the two of them to vent their anger on, and they did whatever they wanted to him.
Peng!
But before Feng Chao could finish his words, he was suddenly blasted right into the doors of the manor. The impact caused his face to turn pale, and he spewed huge mouthfuls of blood.
“You’re right. The beating earlier wasn’t enough. But this time around, we’ll be swapping positions!” Feng Jiuge sneered as he flitted right up to Feng Xiang.
“You…”
Feng Xiang had never thought that the trash they had been bullying for the past two years would be able to send his brother flying with a mere kick. Realizing that Feng Jiuge might have regained his cultivation, he immediately retreated fearfully.
It was a pity that his speed was nowhere close to that of Feng Jiuge. A slap flew in his direction faster than he could dodge it.
Pah!
With a resounding echo, the arrogant Feng Xiang collapsed to the ground as his teeth scattered all over the floor.
“Feng Jiuge, you regained your strength? This is impossible… Wait a moment, what are you trying to do?”
Feng Chao, who had regained his consciousness, exclaimed in disbelief as he slowly backed away in fright.
Two years ago, this youth was the one person that everyone in the younger generation had looked up to and respected. So, when he fell from grace, those who had been envious of him made full use of the opportunity to trample on him, including those who had been close to him.
Everyone thought that Feng Jiuge’s era was long gone and that there was no way he could make a comeback. Who could have known that in a short hour, not only did he regain his cultivation, he even became more powerful than before!
“What am I trying to do? Nothing much. I’m just picking up the pieces of my dignity that have been robbed from me,” Feng Jiuge replied with a chilling voice as he looked at Feng Chao with hostile eyes.
It had not been easy for him to recover from his downfall, so naturally, the first thing he needed to do was pay back those who had put him down. He would make them know that they had chosen the wrong person to mess with!
The man whom they had betrayed and callously spat on had returned to haunt them!
Seeing how Feng Jiuge’s aura was growing stronger and stronger by the moment, Feng Xiang gritted his teeth and bellowed, “You… You no longer have our bloodline in your veins. You have already been exiled from the clan! If you dare make a move on us, the Inferno Phoenix Clan will severely punish you!”
So what if Feng Jiuge had regained his cultivation?
Earlier, when they checked his bloodline, they had found that his bloodline had nearly vanished. Even if he had regained his cultivation, there was no way he would be reaccepted into the Inferno Phoenix Clan as a member of the core lineage without their bloodline!
This would make him no more than an unaffiliated cultivator. With limited resources on hand, what he could achieve in the future would be capped as well.
The God King realm would be a huge hurdle that he would never be able to overcome!
“This…”
Those words made Feng Jiuge stall.
Feng Chao and Feng Xiang were right. It was unheard of for a person’s bloodline to disappear just like that, but that was indeed the result of the test that he had taken earlier.
Fearing that he would land his teacher in unnecessary trouble, he turned to look at Zhang Xuan hesitantly, only to see the latter replying with a smile.
“Since you have regained your cultivation, you might have regained your bloodline as well. Just do what you need to. I’m here anyway.”
