Chapter 201 - 199: Reincarnation for Re-cultivation and the Sacrificial Artifact Set

Chapter 201: Chapter 199: Reincarnation for Re-cultivation and the Sacrificial Artifact Set

Xiang Ziyu emerged from Fangcun Mountain, still dressed in snow-white robes.

As the second-place finisher, she naturally wasn’t expelled from Fangcun Mountain. Instead, she received a reward of the Light of the Mind.

Although the amount was only half of the first-place winner’s, it was still greatly beneficial to her cultivation.

When the time came to break through to the Second Turn, she could use it to strengthen the foundation of her Light of the Mind.

’Oh, I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Fang Can.’ The young woman felt a little dejected. She then saw everyone’s gazes converging on him, her expression turning complex.

In the past, even if she hadn’t won first place, taking second was still worthy of congratulations.

But Xiang Ziyu’s title as second place among the nations was entirely because she was carried by Fang Can, that enemy of Great Yan. In short, she was a freeloader who’d been carried to victory, and her achievement held no real weight.

"Why is everyone looking at me?" Xiang Ziyu asked with a faint smile. "Could it be that you’re all still holding a grudge because I composed a poem for Fang Can?"

"We wouldn’t dare. If not for Your Highness’s delay, Fang Can would have already reached the First Turn, and we would have likely suffered an even more miserable defeat," a contestant who learned the truth afterward said, shaking his head and sighing.

"I wonder where my imperial... brother is?" Xiang Ziyu asked hesitantly, momentarily unsure of her own sibling’s gender.

"His Majesty has already taken the Prince away. He is likely preparing to help him recover his true self," someone in the crowd guessed.

Meanwhile, in an inner courtyard of the Great Yan Imperial Palace, Xiang Longtao said with a solemn expression:

"Father Emperor, I will definitely re-cultivate my invincible mindset, cure this madness, and change back to my original self."

Looking at the cool, cute, and charming young woman before him, then comparing her to his formerly bald, pointy-headed self, Xiang Hongtu subconsciously shook his head and said, "My child, you absolutely must not."

"Why?" Xiang Longtao asked, confused.

"It was precisely because you went astray in your cultivation that you ended up in this state. But this turn of events can be considered a blessing in disguise," Xiang Hongtu said slowly. "Try to use your inheritance again."

’Use my inheritance?’ Puzzled, the young woman looked inward, preparing to activate [Nine Dragons Converge].

But she discovered that her inheritance and True Qi had completely vanished.

"What’s going on?" Xiang Longtao’s face paled in shock. ’Does a shattered Dao heart not only change the body, but also erase one’s inheritance and the energy it generates?’

"Do not panic. All of your inheritance and energy have regressed into the primordial Light of the Mind," Xiang Hongtu said calmly.

’The primordial Light of the Mind?’ Xiang Longtao looked inward and, sure enough, she could feel that the Light of the Mind she thought had been exhausted still existed deep within her spirit.

"Father Emperor, why is this?"

"Compared to forging a Transcendent Body, the Heaven-Ascending Road places more importance on cultivating the mind. The physical body is a manifestation of the mind. Both inheritance and energy are born from nothing, created by the Light of the Mind."

Xiang Hongtu gazed at the young woman before him and said:

"You changed from male to female. Your mind and body have both been completely transformed. It’s equivalent to being reincarnated and starting your cultivation anew. Naturally, your original inheritance could not be maintained."

"If you let it be, your Light of the Mind will settle and re-form into a new inheritance and energy that best matches your way of thinking."

"But if you actively intervene, you can refocus your Light of the Mind into the [Thick Accumulation, Thin Release] inheritance, abandoning your original [Nine Dragons Converge]."

"It can be done like that?" After hearing Xiang Hongtu’s explanation, Xiang Longtao was utterly shocked. She had never heard of such a thing before.

After all, this sort of madness was not a good thing. Especially after the Heaven-Ascending Road, when one’s spirit and body were meant to be one, this madness was akin to killing off the old self to allow a new one to grow from the original body. Consequently, few ancient records on the subject had survived.

"This time, with this cultivation deviation, you shouldn’t think about becoming your old self. Instead, you must forge a new path."

As Xiang Hongtu spoke, he gently placed a large hand on the young woman’s shoulder. His tone became inscrutable as he said:

"You know, you’re becoming more and more like your mother."

...

Meanwhile, Fang Can was walking through the imperial palace with Prince Qing.

They quickly passed by one jade pavilion after another before stopping in front of a particular building.

"Young Hero Fang, please enter. Suitable clothing has been prepared for you inside."

Seeing Prince Qing’s mysterious smile, Fang Can didn’t understand what trick was afoot, but he pushed open the building’s doors and stepped inside anyway.

The moment he entered, he was dazzled by the garments displayed inside. He instinctively stepped back out and said, "Your Highness, are you sure this is for me?"

"Of course. Good armor needs a good man to wear it. Young Hero, you have made a name for yourself among the nations and brought great honor to Great Yan. It is only natural that we, the imperial family, show our appreciation."

Prince Qing smiled faintly. "Although the treasury of Yan Country is empty, we can still manage to put together a suit of armor for a young hero like you."

"Therefore, you should consider this a prize you have rightfully earned."

Hearing Prince Qing’s words, Fang Can bowed seriously in thanks, genuinely accepting this favor.

He turned and strode into the building. Before him was a complete, glittering set of Sacrificial Artifacts, each with a different function.

From the crown, armor, bracers, boots, belt, inner shirt, and cloak, each piece had a unique effect. The mere sight of them made Fang Can’s heart race.

He took some time to change into the set of attire. Amidst Prince Qing’s repeated praises, Fang Can returned to the banquet.

The moment he stepped back in, everyone present, man or woman, found themselves unable to look away.

They saw Fang Can:

His inner shirt, the Cold Silk Cloud Shirt; his crown, the Thousand-Feather Moon-Embracing Plume.

His body, clad in Thousand-Tribulation Flowing Cloud Armor; his shoulders, draped with the Great Void Scorching Sky Cloak.

His hands, bearing the Dragon-Binding Star-Plucking Gauntlets; his feet, shod in the Firefly Wind-Rider Boots.

Even his waist was wrapped with a Mustard Seed Star-Containing Sash forged from ten-thousand-year-old profound jade. Combined with his impeccably handsome features, he looked for all the world like an Immortal descended to the mortal realm, radiating infinite divine might.

His appearance alone was enough to make Immortals envious, Divine Maidens linger, pure maidens stop in their tracks, and even the most resolute women’s hearts flutter.

During the remainder of the banquet, Fang Can became the center of attention, receiving an endless stream of flattery.

Even the Sect Leaders of the other three great Sects indirectly inquired if Fang Can had any intention of joining a Sect, but he dodged all their advances.

Staying at the banquet until nightfall, Fang Can grew a little bored and quietly slipped away.

Seeing Fang Can disappear from the banquet, Jiang Ning’an instinctively wanted to take her leave as well, but was stopped by the sound of Liu Qingmeng lightly tapping on the table.

Meanwhile, after leaving the banquet, Fang Can appeared on the shore of a deserted lake.

He was now dressed in simple white robes. The ridiculously cool armor had been stored away in the ten-cubic-meter space within the Mustard Seed Star-Containing Sash at his waist.

After the clamor of the past three days, he imagined his own residence was now in a state of uproarious celebration. Fang Can decided to enjoy some peace and quiet here by himself.

After all, if he went back, he’d be dragged away by the 101 flower-like beauties in his manor to go at it for three days and three nights.

’The grand competition of the nations, this main story quest, is finally complete. I can finally get some rest.’

Just as Fang Can was reflecting on this, he sensed a flicker of electric light beside him, and a woman with skin like ice and bones like jade appeared at his side.

’I almost forgot about that. There’s still that Sixth Turn secret realm coming up,’ Fang Can thought.