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Chapter 205 A life-saving grace should be repaid with some interest, shouldn't it? (2 words, update 25)

Fang Qingyu's words, "I need to pay more," sounded particularly clear on the riverbank.

Hong Qitian, who was rolling up his trouser legs, suddenly stopped, his cloudy eyes widening as if he had heard something unbelievable.

He suddenly turned his head and looked Fang Qingyu up and down, his eyes like those of someone looking at a daring little thief.

"Hey! You brat!" Old Hong laughed angrily, pointing at Fang Qingyu's nose and cursing, "You just swallowed a core, and you're still getting Qi and Blood Crystals and Life Pearls every month. You even have a divine weapon in your hand, and you've practically turned the Martial Arts Pavilion upside down! You have no shortage of resources, no shortage of martial arts, and you still dare to ask this old man for more money?!"

He grew angrier and angrier, forgetting to roll up his rolled-up trouser legs, and pointed his withered fingers in the air: "Have you no shame?!"

Faced with this "furious" elder, Fang Qingyu's serious expression vanished instantly, replaced by an almost roguish grin. He rubbed his hands together and leaned closer: "Grandpa, you see how risky this job is, and the opponent is a reincarnated god with spatial abilities. Shouldn't we have more safeguards? How about you spare me another divine weapon?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Qitian's expression froze instantly.

As if choked, the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and his feigned anger completely turned into a wry smile.

"I...you..." Old Hong pointed at Fang Qingyu, his fingers trembling. He couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time. Finally, like a deflated balloon, he sighed heavily, his old face contorted with worry, and waved his hand impatiently, "We'll see! We'll see! It's not even close to being settled yet! You brat, you better break through to Martial Arts Grandmaster within a month! Get lost! I hate just looking at you!"

The moment the words fell.

Fang Qingyu felt the scene before him shaking violently like waves, and becoming blurry!

Riverbank, small stools, murky river water, hunched old man.
All the images instantly stretched and distorted, transforming into a dazzling display of light and shadow.

next second.

The surrounding noise of people, car horns, and shopkeepers' calls flooded my ears like a tide.

Fang Qingyu found himself standing steadily on the bustling commercial street outside the entrance of the ancient street. The afternoon sun was a bit dazzling, and there was a crowd of people all around.

It was as if the conversation just now, which concerned the future of the gods and the abyss, was just a brief dream.

Looking down, he saw the old, animal-skin-covered book and the icy-cold fixing stone lying quietly in his hands, reminding him that everything that had just happened was incredibly real.

"Hmm, there's a chance."

Fang Qingyu weighed the booklet and the stone in his hand, savoring Old Hong's words "we'll talk about it later" and his attitude of not completely refusing, and a smile appeared on his lips.

One last, deep look at the entrance to that quiet, ancient street.

He turned around, hailed a taxi, and returned to Longyuan Building.

Back at the Bamboo Creek Courtyard in the idyllic paradise, Jiang Wei was sitting cross-legged on a stone bench in the courtyard, her small body huddled up, intently staring at the screen of the phone she was holding, her fingers occasionally tapping and clicking, her little face completely focused.

Fang Qingyu walked over and sat down on the stone bench next to her, casually asking, "Little Jiang, I have a question for you. Do you think it's possible for gods, or spirits of fate, to fully descend into the real world?"

Jiang Wei's gaze remained fixed on her phone screen, without even looking up, her tone as calm as if she were discussing what to have for dinner: "It's not possible."

She paused, swiped her finger across the screen, and then slowly added:

"It definitely will."

"Huh?" Fang Qingyu's casual expression froze instantly, and he sat up straight instinctively. "Definitely? Why?"

Jiang Wei finally looked up from her phone screen, raised her small face, and her clear eyes showed a hint of helplessness: "Didn't we talk about this in the meeting before we went into 'Abyss' last time?"

She counted on her little fingers, explaining clearly and logically:
“The real world, the ‘Abyss,’ and the filthy dimension from which the Fate Demon was born. Although these three seem to be on different levels now, separated like sandwich fillings, they are actually slowly merging.”

"Otherwise, how do you think those ghosts in real life come to be? Do you think they just pop out of thin air?"

She paused, looking at Fang Qingyu's somewhat solemn expression, and continued:

"As for the dimension where the gods reside, it's more like some 'small bubbles' or 'small pockets' attached to the 'skin' of the real world. It's like opening a hole next to the skin of reality and squeezing in an independent space. The passage connecting these 'small bubbles' to reality is the Jianmu Divine Ladder."

"The Jianmu Divine Ladder is something born of heaven and earth. Although Jiang Zu and his people cut off its main trunk back then, temporarily blocking the passage for large-scale descent, it is like a tree whose main trunk has been cut off."

A serious expression appeared on Jiang Wei's face: "The roots are still there, and the vitality is still there. Sooner or later, it will repair itself, grow new branches, and reconnect."

"Therefore, the dimensional fusion of the Fate Ghosts, coupled with the reopening of the divine dimensional channels, will lead to their full-scale arrival. However, no one can accurately predict this time; it may be ten years, a hundred years, or even less."

Fang Qingyu listened, his brows furrowing: "What if they go and completely cut down the Jianmu Divine Ladder and destroy the tree roots? Can we stop them?"

After listening, Jiang Wei rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head, and thought about it seriously for a while. Then she slowly shook her head, her tone carrying a calmness that seemed to understand the essence of things:

"That's impossible."

"The fact that the main trunk of the Jianmu Divine Ladder was successfully cut off back then was not solely due to the efforts of Jiang Zu. It cannot be replicated now."

As she spoke, it was as if she had suddenly recalled some unpleasant memory.

Her little brows furrowed slightly, and a complex and unfathomable emotion flashed across her eyes. Then she closed her mouth and said no more.

She looked down at her phone again, as if to say, "Don't ask anymore, I don't want to talk about it."

Seeing this, Fang Qingyu knew that she had touched on some past events or secrets that she was unwilling to talk about, so she wisely stopped asking.

The information Jiang Wei revealed weighed heavily on my heart like a stone.

The shadow of the future seems larger and closer than imagined.

Fang Qingyu reorganized his thoughts and briefly explained to Jiang Wei the task that Elder Hong had given him, including the existence and abilities of "Nether Erosion" and the function of the Fixing Stone.

I want to see if this "veteran deity" has any inside information.

"You Shi? The reincarnation of a corrupt and empty authority?" Jiang Wei's delicate brows furrowed even more upon hearing this, a thoughtful expression on her face as she carefully searched her memory. After a moment, she shook her head regretfully: "I don't recall. There were a few gods who wielded similar authority in ancient times, but I don't recognize the one with the codename 'You Shi.' Perhaps it's a later arrival, or... using an alias?"

Fang Qing wasn't disappointed after hearing this.

After all, there are so many gods, it's impossible for Jiang Wei to know them all.

However, just as Fang Qingyu was about to give up on this lead, Jiang Wei seemed to have thought of something. Her big eyes suddenly lit up, and a sly yet confident smile appeared on her small face as she added:
"But I have a way to make him..."

"They took the initiative to attack you."

Fang Qingyu's eyes lit up: "What method?"

Jiang Wei winked mysteriously, keeping him in suspense: "I'll tell you when you break through to the Grandmaster level and are ready to go find him. It's no use telling him now; it might just alert him."

The days that followed seemed to return to the previous rhythm.

Although he accepted the seemingly unattainable yet urgent task, the threshold of the second tier cannot be crossed immediately by the pressure of the task.

The main theme of life remains the same: the line between the "abyss" and the blessed land.

They hone themselves amidst thunder and storms, solidified their foundations in blessed lands, and accumulated every bit of strength necessary to reach the realm of a grandmaster.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan are also making progress in their cultivation and exploration.

We occasionally exchange ideas and share information.

Jiang Wei spent most of her time holding her phone and tablet, quietly staying by Fang Qingyu's side like an ordinary little girl. Only the occasional words or glances revealed her extraordinary nature.

Time slipped away quietly during the practice, and another week passed.

late at night.

The training grounds of this blessed land were completely silent, bathed in soft, simulated moonlight.

In the vast space, there were only two figures at this moment.

Fang Qingyu sat cross-legged in the center of the arena, his body enveloped in a blazing, crimson aura.

The air was scorched and distorted, producing tiny crackling sounds.

His bare upper body had skin that was a dark reddish-brown, like lava, and his muscles looked like cast steel under the firelight.

At this moment, fine, winding lines were slowly appearing on the surface of Fang Qingyu's skin!

However, these lines are not wounds.

There was no blood seeping out from inside; instead, it flowed with an even more dazzling light, like molten gold!
It was as if a volcano was about to erupt inside his body, and terrifying energy was forcibly bound and compressed by his tough physique, emanating from these lava cracks!

This is precisely the moment when the powerful technique of the Annihilation Transformation Body is about to break through to the perfect realm!
Fang Qingyu closed his eyes tightly, his brows furrowed, and the veins on his forehead bulged. Large beads of sweat had just seeped out of his pores when they were instantly evaporated into white vapor by the high temperature on his body.

The blood and qi within the body surged like boiling magma, frantically washing over the muscles, bones, and skin.

Each impact brings excruciating, tearing pain, but after each pain subsides, there is a transformative feeling of the bones and muscles becoming denser and the skin and membranes becoming more resilient!
The experience points for [Ember Transformation Body] are climbing at a visible rate on the [Graphic Map]: Lv.4 (987/1000) → Lv.4 (998/1000) → Lv.4 (999/1000)!

boom--! ! !
The moment when the experience points finally break through the limit!

The crimson tribulation flames burning around Fang Qingyu suddenly contracted inward, as if swallowed by a black hole, and instantly all of them were absorbed into his body!

Immediately afterwards, a dark golden flame, far more intense and violent than before, burst forth from every pore and every crack in the lava within his body!

Fang Qingyu seemed to have transformed into a fire god who had just been born from the earth's core furnace!
The lava cracks on the body surface, which were flowing with molten gold, suddenly shone brightly, and then the light quickly receded and solidified!

The cracks did not disappear; instead, they appeared as if they were naturally formed, creating a powerful and beautiful golden tattoo.

Deeply imprinted on his bronze skin!
These patterns intertwine, subtly forming a totem.

A powerful and resilient aura, seemingly capable of burning away all the calamities of the world, erupted from Fang Qingyu like a dormant volcano awakening!
The specially designed ground of the training ground was melted and collapsed into a shallow, charred pit several meters around the seated area!

Congratulations! Your advanced skill "Annihilation Body" has reached Lv.5 (Max)!

[Golden Body: 40→46!]

The Extinction Transformation Body has finally reached its perfect state!
At this moment, Fang Qingyu, with his physical body alone, was more than capable of easily crushing a Transcendent Martial Artist!
And the previous guess was indeed correct.

Even when the Golden Body value surged to 46 points, I still didn't feel any upper limit.

The dark golden flames that had been entrenched on Fang Qingyu's body slowly receded, leaving only the mysterious lava-gold patterns on his skin, which emitted a faint glow under the moonlight.

Slowly opening his eyes, two tiny clusters of golden flames seemed to flash briefly deep within his pupils before returning to a profound calm.

An indescribable sense of power and security filled my entire body.

"call"

Fang Qingyu let out a long breath.

Jiang Wei, who had been quietly watching from the stone steps not far away, finally nodded slightly. In a voice only she could hear, with a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction, she muttered, "Hmm, that's starting to look like a Great Sun-level Hard Technique at its peak. The defense is finally decent."

Fang Qingyu stretched his muscles and bones, and his joints emitted a series of crisp, popping sounds, full of explosive power.

Feel the surging blood and energy within my body and my physique as strong as steel.

I was just about to share my joy of this breakthrough with Jiang Wei.

at this time!

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz—! !!
A piercing, rapid whistling sound erupted simultaneously from the black communicator at his waist and the communicator carried by Jiang Wei, without warning! Sharp, rapid, and extremely penetrating, the silence in the training ground was instantly torn apart!

The alloy gate of the training ground was suddenly pushed open with a "bang"!

"Aoko!"

A cold, aloof figure rushed in like a gust of wind!
It's Wei Banmeng!

Her usually calm face now showed a rare hint of excitement and surprise, and her gaze instantly locked onto Fang Qingyu in the arena.

"Come on!"

Wei Banmeng's voice was filled with an undeniable urgency, her words flowing rapidly: "Starfire Fortress! Signs of a large-scale lightning source tide forming have been detected!"

Thunderous Origin Essence!

finally come!

Deep within Fang Qingyu's pupils, it was as if two dormant thunderbolts were instantly ignited!
No hesitation!

He suddenly stood up, grabbed the Dragon Sparrow Slayer Sword that was placed at his feet, and moved so fast that only a blur remained.

"go!"

In short, decisive!
Jiang Wei had already put away her tablet, and her small figure leaped up like a wisp of smoke, landing steadily beside Fang Qingyu.

Without the slightest delay, the three of them shot out of the training ground like three arrows released from a bow, and crossed the simulated starry plain inside the blessed land.

At the edge of the plain, they met up with Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan, who had been waiting there and had also received the news. Their expressions were solemn but also excited!

"go!"

The five of them met, and without any unnecessary words, a tacit understanding was formed in the exchange of glances.

Quickly step into the high-speed elevator!
With a humming sound, the elevator descended rapidly.

Stepping into the familiar teleportation area hall once again, a tense atmosphere filled the air.

A massive, dark blue spatial vortex slowly rotated in the center of the teleportation zone.

At this moment, many members of Project Hidden Dragon, who had also received the emergency notice, had gathered in the hall.

Many people wore expressions of nervous anticipation or eagerness.

Ignoring the gazes around them, Fang Qingyu and his group of five walked straight toward the vortex.

Take a step in!
The familiar feeling of weightlessness and spatial pulling instantly came over me.

The bizarre and fantastical scene before my eyes shattered and reformed.

The solid feel of charred black rock beneath my feet.

The raging wind and rain, mixed with icy cold raindrops, pounded on my face like countless steel needles!
The air was thick with the smells of sulfur, rust, and a faint, chilling aura of violent electrical charge!
"deep"!
They're back!
But the five of them were already used to it.

His face showed no discomfort with the harsh environment, only an icy calm.

"map!"

Wei Banmeng's voice rang out in the wind and rain.

Fang Qingyu immediately unfolded the map, his vision penetrating the thick fog to quickly pinpoint the location.

"This way!"

Pointing in one direction, the sound pierced through the wind and rain, clear and powerful.

Without a single pause.

The five of them, like five swift shadows blending into the wind and rain, raced towards Starfire Fortress, braving the fierce wind and rain, and ran wildly across the rugged, scorched wasteland!

Their speed was so fast that they instantly left everyone else near the teleportation point, who were still adjusting to the environment, behind.

Shortly after Fang Qingyu and his group of five left the teleportation point.

Several more figures emerged from the dark blue vortex.

One of them was a wiry man, dressed in a dark gray combat uniform, with a strangely shaped metal staff slung across his back.

His gaze swept over the devastated wilderness, and without pausing, he strode toward Starfire Fortress.

"Deng Jia?"

A young martial artist standing nearby, who recognized him, asked with slight surprise, "You...you're going to Starfire Fortress too?"

Deng Jia didn't stop walking, didn't even turn her head, and replied irritably, "What? Can't I go?"

The young martial artist's tone became even stranger, tinged with disbelief: "You can go, but you wouldn't be... planning to compete with Fang Qingyu for that Thunder Origin Essence, would you?!"

He deliberately emphasized the three characters "Fang Qingyu".

The surrounding air seemed to quiet down for a moment.

Many people who had just been teleported out instinctively focused their attention on Deng Jia.

During this period, the name "Fang Qingyu" in the Hidden Dragon Project circle was no longer simply "newcomer".

His legendary feats, such as cleaving the Chosen One with a sword in the ruins, overpowering all others to seize the core, and confronting a Grandmaster, have long been known.

Go and argue with him?

This is no longer a matter of courage.
Deng Jia abruptly stopped, turned around, and gave a sneer as if looking at an idiot.
"Thunder Origin Essence?"

His voice rose, filled with sarcasm and a sense of unquestionable incredulity:
"I wouldn't even want a dog!"

After saying that, he ignored the young man's astonished expression, accelerated suddenly, and his figure quickly disappeared into the wind, rain, and thick fog.

The young man was left standing there, bewildered in the wind.

What does he mean?

The young man looked blankly at his companion who was organizing his equipment.

"mean?"

The companion looked up, a knowing smile on his face, and said as he deftly fastened the tactical pack buckle:
"Don't you understand? You're going to repay a debt of gratitude!"

"Repay a favor?"

“That’s right!” His companion nodded, his tone tinged with emotion. “Before the ruins were formed last time, the tide of vengeful spirits raged. Fang Qingyu was in a cave, blocking the entrance all by himself. How long did he fight? How many people did he save? Don’t you know?”

The young martial artist suddenly realized, slapping his forehead: "Oh! You mean..."

"You think Deng Jia is the only one?"

His companion finished tidying up his gear, patted the young man on the shoulder, and gestured with his chin toward the surroundings.

Near the teleportation point, there were seven or eight more figures, men and women, with different equipment, from different martial arts schools and families.

They didn't exchange many words, but their eyes were all fixed on the direction of Starfire Fortress.

Then, one after another, they silently rushed into the wind and rain.

"Look, do you see that? They're all there."

His companion smiled, but his expression turned serious. "Whose territory is Starfire Fortress? What are those people's modus operandi? This time, the Thunder Source Essence appeared near Starfire Fortress."

His companion paused, then looked at the young man meaningfully:

"Do you think they could just stand by and watch a 'stranger' take the meat from their pot?"

The young man finally understood and gasped, "So...they went to help?"

"Who says it isn't?"

His companion gave the weapons a final check and then started walking towards Starfire Fortress, his voice carrying through the wind and rain, "A life-saving debt should be repaid with some interest, shouldn't it?"

The young man watched his companion's departing figure.

He glanced again at the blurry figures that kept emerging from the teleportation point and rushing headlong toward Starfire Fortress, his expression becoming extremely complicated.

He gritted his teeth, as if making up his mind, then stomped his foot and chased after them, shouting from afar:

"Hey! Wait a minute! You...you were also saved by Fang Qingyu?"

In the wind and rain, his companion paused, but didn't turn around. He simply waved vigorously with his back to him.

The waving gesture sounded particularly powerful in the gloomy wind, rain, and thick fog.

Without further hesitation, the young man sped up and chased after them, his figure quickly blending into the storm-shrouded wilderness leading to Starfire Fortress.

And behind them.

The azure vortex at the teleportation point continued to slowly rotate.

One figure after another emerged from it.

After learning about the situation in the direction of Starfire Fortress and the intentions of those pioneers.

Many people showed expressions of understanding, admiration, or complexity on their faces.

Then, after a brief silence and hesitation, some of them also quietly adjusted their direction.

Like a stream flowing into a river, it flows toward that land where storms and strife are brewing.

They walked away silently and resolutely.

The wind and rain intensified.

　Just a heads-up!
　　Although the daily output is said to be 20,000 words, in reality it starts at 23,000 words per day, and sometimes even reaches 27,000 words.
　　Then it's five chapters a day.

　　This is why my average subscriptions have been unable to increase.

　　Once the book is on the shelves, average daily subscriptions are a key metric for making recommendations.
　　So the current problem is how to maintain such a large volume of updates.

　　It seems I need to come to the conclusion.

　　Therefore, starting July 1st, I will be posting three chapters a day, each chapter containing 8,000 words.

　　I hope you can all understand.
　　Finally, I'd like to ask for your monthly votes! ~Hehe!~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)