The Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven was located outside the western territories of the Qi Dynasty, an area of chaos that lay between Qi and Wei, uncontrolled by any dynasty due to the frequent comings and goings of Cultivators.
In the past, Cultivators were attracted to this region because of the abundant Spiritual Energy, but no one could have imagined that a Cave Heaven was hidden behind it.
At dawn, the sunlight streaked across the deck, shining on every person aboard.
Vice Sect Leader Chen Anshi stood on the deck, introducing the Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven, "The Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven is a cave dwelling left by an ancient Great Saint, forming a small world unto itself. It was once under the control of Ji Hao Sect, but now that the sect has dissipated, the Artifact Spirit of the grotto still remains, maintaining the rules of the Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven.
During this exploration, the Great Cultivators from the Nine Great Sects won't be able to accompany you, so you'll have to rely on yourselves."
"The exploration will last for six months, and whatever you obtain will be yours to keep, with no need to contribute to the sect. After six months, I will wait for you at the entrance. Any enmity formed inside must not be brought out. In other words, there will be competition inside.
You represent the best talents of Tai Yuan Sect, and you need to not only strive to survive but also to win glory for Tai Yuan Sect, understand?"
Chen Anshi spoke seriously, his gaze sharply scanning all the Disciples.
Fang Wang felt in his heart that being an undercover agent required impressive acting skills. If it weren't for Zhou Xue's reminder, he truly wouldn't have realized Chen Anshi was a spy from the Demonic Dao.
Tsk, this fellow must have already leaked their information to the Chi Devil Sect, indicating that the Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven will be fraught with deadly peril!
The Disciples listened attentively.
According to what Chen Anshi had said, the threshold to enter the Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven was limited by the Artifact Spirit to those below the fifth level of Profound Heart Realm, and each sect could only enter with nine people.
As for whether there were only nine sects, the Artifact Spirit was ambiguous, so Chen Anshi reminded his Disciples that they might encounter Cultivators from the Grand Wei Cultivation World.
Having defeated Xu Lang, who was at the ninth level of the Spirit Elixir Realm, Fang Wang faced the Profound Heart Realm with wariness, but not outright fearβhe had yet to employ his strongest Spells!
Half an hour later.
The Law Ship flew into a desolate wilderness, where the land was crimson red, with sparse flowers, grass, and trees, and fissures crisscrossed the ground, forming a complex network of canyons.
Two towering peaks appeared up ahead, about thirty feet apart, as if cleaved in two by a Sword Cultivator's strikeβan awe-inspiring sight.
The Law Ship descended, and Fang Wang followed Chen Anshi off the vessel, with Zhao Chuanqian and the Elders trailing behind.
Fang Wang fixed his gaze and saw that Cultivators had already gathered at the base of the mountains, their attire indicating they were from six different sects, numbering over a hundred in total.
The arrival of the Tai Yuan Sect drew the attention of the various sects, and Fang Wang felt annoyed by the many divine senses sweeping over him.
"Hmph!"
Chen Anshi let out a cold snort, sounding like a peal of thunder, and the divine senses that surrounded Fang Wang immediately dissipated, with the complexions of the other Disciples also improving.
"Hahaha, isn't that the Vice Sect Leader of Tai Yuan Sect? Chen Anshi, when will you step into the Condensation Spirit Realm?" an Elder called out with a laugh, his voice booming and easing the tense atmosphere as other sect Elders greeted him.
"Vice Sect Leader Chen, this batch of Tai Yuan Sect Disciples is extraordinary!"
"Who is Fang Wang? In just three years of cultivation, to defeat someone at the ninth level of the Spirit Elixir Realm, that's truly remarkable!"
"With Fang Wang and Lu Yuanjun here, plus the three Earth Origin Spirit Treasures, tsk tsk, the primary seat among the Nine Great Sects will belong to Tai Yuan Sect in the future."
"Alas, it's a pity that Taiqing Gate doesn't have such good fortune, even though we share the same origins as Tai Yuan Sect."
The Great Cultivators from various sects gathered together, all praising Tai Yuan Sect.
Xu Lang, Ye Xiang, and other Tai Yuan Sect Disciples couldn't help but look towards Fang Wang, their gazes equally complicated.
Fang Wang didn't expect that in just a month, his reputation would spread so quickly. It seemed that there were quite a few spies within Tai Yuan Sect.
When Lu Yuanjun heard someone step on him to boost Fang Wang, he remained indifferent, even wearing a harmless smile on his face.
Chen Anshi snorted, "No matter how impressive Fang Wang's talent is, he is still young. I hope the other sects will be more accommodating, after all, in the future, the Nine Great Sects will work together to develop the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm. Our opponents are the Cultivation Worlds of Wei, Chu, and Zhao."
With that said, the other sect's Great Cultivators refrained from teasing and steered the conversation towards the Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven.
"Seems like your trouble has increased. Take care," Zhou Xue's voice reached Fang Wang's ears. He couldn't help but glance at her and shot her a look that told her to figure it out on her own.
Seeing this, Zhou Xue pursed her lips into a smile and moved beside him, taking out a secret manual from her storage bag and passing it to him.
Fang Wang glanced at it and saw four characters on the cover: Spiritual Refinement Compendium.
His heart leaped with joy, and he immediately placed the Spiritual Refinement Compendium inside his storage bag.
Gu Li, not far away, noticed this scene; she could vaguely see the girl biting her lip behind her veil.
An hour later, the remaining two sects arrived.
Fang Wang's attention was drawn to the Suspended Vast Sword Sect. His gaze swept over them as he tried to identify Xu Qiuming.
Zhou Xue had said that Xu Qiuming of the Suspended Vast Sword Sect was absolutely not to be provoked. The Tai Yuan Sect would become the strongest sect in the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm, but Xu Qiuming would become the strongest individual. It was only after he left the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm and journeyed overseas in search of opportunities that Lu Yuanjun could finally ascend to the top.
According to Zhou Xue, Lu Yuanjun was formidable, but only a significant figure within the pond that was the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm, while Xu Qiuming was someone truly in pursuit of The Path of Immortality. When Zhou Xue reached the human realm's highest echelon, Xu Qiuming had already done the same, only he didn't have the fate to ascend to immortality.
"It seems the youngest-looking boy there is Xu Qiuming," Zhou Xue conveyed through a message.
Fang Wang's gaze settled on a black-clad youth who appeared around fourteen or fifteen years of age. His features weren't exactly handsome, but could be considered delicate. Unlike other disciples of the Suspended Vast Sword Sect who all wore treasured swords, he had nothing at his waist and did not carry a sword on his back, lacking the aura of a strong cultivator.
Feeling Fang Wang's gaze, Xu Qiuming looked towards him and offered a toothy smile that seemed somewhat shy.
Fang Wang nodded at him immediately, then withdrew his gaze.
Vice Sect Leaders and Elders from each sect were conversing while the disciples of each sect stood to aside, clearly demarcated.
Until midday.
The two straight mountain peaks in front suddenly trembled, diverting everyone's attention.
"Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven has opened, each sect prepare to enter!"
An Elder from the Taiqing Gate called out loudly, and instantly, the disciples got to their feet.
A bright light appeared between the two peaks, so dazzling that it was impossible to see what lay beyond the canyon.
The nine disciples from Green Cicada Valley were the first to enter the bright light, their presence vanishing after them, followed by Taiqing Gate and Chi Devil Sect.
Chen Anshi turned around and admonished, "Remember, be cautious in all things! Trust no one lightly; your aim is to seek Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as well as legacies, understood?"
All the disciples nodded in unison. Aside from Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, they all felt that this Vice Sect Leader, though seemingly strict, had a warm heart.
Soon, it was the turn of the Tai Yuan Sect, with Lu Yuanjun leading the entry into the canyon.
Fang Wang followed behind Zhou Xue, and Gu Li was behind him.
Silence reigned throughout the journey.
As soon as Fang Wang stepped into the bright light, he was enveloped by an unimaginable force. He then felt his body out of control, as if suddenly plummeting, the sensation of weightlessness making him quite uncomfortable, but he couldn't open his eyes.
A full ten breaths passed.
Fang Wang finally felt his feet touch the ground, and the intense dizziness nearly made him fall, but he managed to stabilize his body.
Regaining control over his body gradually, Fang Wang felt nature's spiritual energy, richer than what was in Tai Yuan Sect's grotto-heavens, rushing towards him. He felt invigorated and reflexively opened his eyes.
A range of undulating hills stretched before him, with thunderclouds rolling at the horizon, the vast figures of demons circling. He stood on the brink of a cliff, just five steps away from taking a fall.
He immediately turned around, looking into the distance, but saw no one. Spreading his consciousness, he similarly detected no trace of others.
Indeed, just as Chen Anshi had said, upon transmission, they would be dispersed, and where exactly they landed was up to the will of the Great Saint's Grotto-Heaven's Artifact Spirit.
After half a year, the Artifact Spirit would send them out, so there was no need for them to find an exit.
Fang Wang did not rush to search but instead sat at the edge of the cliff, taking out the Spirit Refinement manual Zhou Xue had given him.
Spirit Refinement required Heavenly Dao Spirit Stones, and within the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm, only the Nine Great Sects had access to Heavenly Dao Spirit Stones. Even if a noble family had any, they had to hide it, or else it would bring about a deadly calamity.
Fang Wang had originally planned to return to Tai Yuan Sect for Spiritual Refinement after concluding his journey, but now it seemed unnecessary since the first page of the Spirit Refinement manual detailed how to create temporary Heavenly Dao Spirit Stones!
Apart from the manufacturing method, there were also some special locations suitable for Spiritual Refinement temporarily undiscovered by the Grand Qi Cultivation Realm.
Even though it was called the Spirit Refinement manual, most of its content was about how to condense Spirit Pills. He suspected that this was specially written for him by Zhou Xue.