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Chapter 223 Divine Judgment and Heavenly Guidance, Fireworks in the Capital! (Update 55 of 2 words)

"Well!"

An indescribable feeling instantly swept over my entire body.

It had no taste, no texture, as if I had swallowed a mouthful of cold nothingness.

But then, the space essence that had been compressed to the extreme exploded the moment it entered his body, just like a drop of water thrown into a pot of boiling oil!

Boom——! ! !
It was as if a nuclear bomb of spatial storm had exploded deep within Fang Qingyu's consciousness.

Countless invisible spatial blades were frantically cutting and piercing through his body!
Every cell, every meridian, every bone felt as if it had been thrown into a shredder, enduring extreme pain like being sliced ​​into a thousand pieces.

The pain was similar to that when he fused with the Bone-Corroding Lightning, the Crimson Python Scales, and withstood the heavenly lightning in the storm clouds.

The body trembled violently at the level of consciousness.

If not for being restrained by the power of the Candle Dragon, they would have already curled up into a ball.

However, within this extreme pain, a more magnificent and profound power emerged.

The primordial power belonging to Zhulong, like a cold torrent, surged into his body immediately afterward!

This force is guiding and reshaping!

It guided those violent and rampant spatial abilities, forcibly incorporating them into a core framework that already existed deep within Fang Qingyu's body and belonged to the Candle Walker.

The primal power of darkness acted as both an adhesive and a forging hammer, relentlessly forging, melting, and forcibly embedding those unruly fragments of space into the power system of the Candle Walker!

Fang Qingyu felt like an observer.

He watched helplessly as the "Candle Walker" class template within his body was brutally dismantled, transformed, and integrated into countless silver-white spatial runes by an unparalleled power.

Intense pain and icy coldness intertwine, destruction and rebirth coexist.

The whole process was silent, yet thrilling.

From beginning to end, Zhulong did not utter a single word.

When the excruciating pain of the transformation receded like a tide, and when the raging spatial energy within his body was finally tamed and a delicate balance was achieved with the source of darkness, Fang Qingyu felt as if his vision was once again filled with the frantically rotating cycle of day and night.

"Shh!"

Consciousness was suddenly pulled back as if by a rubber band.

Fang Qingyu suddenly opened his eyes, his body jolted violently, and he gasped for breath, cold sweat instantly soaking through his clothes.

He was still sitting cross-legged on the bed in the Bamboo Creek Courtyard.

Outside the window, bamboo shadows sway gently, and sunlight filters through the window lattice, casting dappled patterns of light.

The terrifying experience I just had, which felt like being torn apart and then reassembled by a spatial storm, was like a nightmare that was all too real.

But the completely different sense of power within his body, and the clear prompts from the diagram, all proclaimed that it was not an illusion.

Fang Qingyu immediately focused his mind on the diagram.

Congratulations on your advancement from [Candle Bearer★] to [Border Patrol★★★]!

As expected, the advancement was successful.
Recently, Fang Qingyu has been focusing on cultivating the martial arts system.

He never missed his daily meditation sessions or cultivation of the Life Beads.

They devoted themselves entirely to the profession of the candle-bearer.

Similarly, after reaching the maximum experience level, Fang Qingyu did not choose to directly advance to the second tier.

Firstly, after acquiring the Crimson Python Scale, I wanted to check on the progress of martial arts advancement.

Anyway, a few more days won't make a difference.

The old man's task naturally became the second opportunity.

That's why Fang Qingyu only advanced to the next level today.

Suppressing his slightly excited feelings.

Turn to the page of the Night Patrolmen.

The information on professions and skills has been completely updated.

【Occupation: Border Patrol Lv.1 (0/1000)】

【Ultimate Skill: Divine Judgment and Heavenly Pull Lv.1 (0/1000)】

【Core Skill 1: Eternal Night Territory Lv.1 (0/1000)】

【Core Skill 2: Eternal Night Blazing Armor - Shadow Candle Lv.1 (0/1000)】

【Core Skill 3: Night Warp Lv.1 (0/1000)】

【Core Skill 4: Eternal Night Rift Lv.1 (0/1000)】

[Core Skill 5: Eternal Calamity Annihilation Lv.1 (0/1000)]

Sure enough, after the cultist broke through to the second tier...
Furthermore, after using precious essence to advance their profession, this page also gained an additional ultimate skill!
However, the career advancement system for followers of the gods differs from that of martial artists.

When a martial artist advances to the Dragon Fist Grandmaster level, the skills they have learned do not change.

For believers, almost all of their skills have changed.

Therefore, Fang Qingyu was not in a hurry to see what the ultimate skill was like.

Instead, they first look at these "new" skills.

First is the Eternal Night Territory, which includes the Night's Awakening ability. Its diameter, which was originally 100 meters, has now doubled, and it has gained a new characteristic compared to before.

It can slightly disrupt spatial fluctuations, causing enemies' short-range spatial teleportation abilities to be consumed more quickly and their effects to be weakened.

It's designed for enemies with spatial abilities!?
Fang Qingyu scratched his head and continued reading.

The Eternal Night Blazing Armor: Shadow Candle replaces the original dark essence covering the body with Shadow Candle Black Flame, greatly enhancing both its defensive capabilities and the power of the black flame.

The new feature allows the incandescent surface to be integrated into spatial folds, causing an automatic deflection effect against directional ranged attacks.

It's like you think you've hit it.

But actually, no.

This aspect has been significantly improved!

Next is Eternal Night Warp, the skill Fang Qingyu most anticipated to see change.

It can instantly detonate the "Shadow Candle Black Flame" covering itself, transforming it into a pure flow of shadow and spatial energy.

The user transforms into a "shadow candle" that ignores physical obstacles.

It can perform short-distance, high-speed displacement at speeds exceeding conventional limits.

Teleportation!?
Fang Qingyu stared in surprise.
This can ignore physical obstacles, isn't that equivalent to teleportation?!

Suppressing his urge to try it out on the spot, Fang Qingyu looked at the next one.

The original trump card has been changed to the Eternal Night Rift, which is not much different, except that some spatial properties have been added.

But there are two new skills.

Fang Qingyu took a deep breath and looked at the new skill.

First, there are new core skills.

Eternal annihilation.

Simply put, it is the condensation of a "fire wick of calamity" within the Eternal Night Realm, which transforms into an annihilation beam upon release.

The potential impact is quite optimistic.

Fang Qingyu stared in surprise.
Unexpectedly, I unlocked the new abilities of the Candle Dragon at the second stage.

Daytime!

Fang Qingyu had considered this when he first encountered the power of darkness.

As expected, things are exactly as I predicted.

And the final ultimate move
Divine judgment and divine guidance.

Fang Qingyu's pupils contracted slightly after reading it.
This ultimate move was a bit beyond my expectations.

But there's no way to try it here, not even at the training ground.

Fang Qingyu then stood up and stretched.

Suppress the overwhelming excitement in his heart.

A transformation! A true transformation!

From "Candle Bearer" to "Boundary Patrolman," it's not just a change of name, but a sublimation of the essence of power!
In the depths of Fang Qingyu's eyes, which were like molten gold, countless fine, dark gold spatial patterns seemed to flash by before disappearing into a deep calm.

Deep within his body, the core of power belonging to the World Patrolman, like a newly born star, slowly rotated, emitting a strange rhythm that was both cold and profound, yet also carried a trace of spatial fluctuation.

The injuries sustained during the fierce battle with the Eclipse within the Abyss.

Nourished by both the Crimson Blaze and the Dragon Blood, it had already recovered most of its strength and was now completely soothed by the newly generated power.

Fang Qingyu suppressed the urge to rush out and find a place to test the experiment. He took a deep breath, stretched his muscles and bones, and his joints made a slight crackling sound, like a sleeping dragon awakening.

A genuine smile appeared on his face; this "meeting" with his elder sister had yielded far more than he had expected.

Not only did they successfully advance in their careers, but they also gained invaluable spatial origin abilities, completely making up for the shortcomings in the combat power of the God Cultists.

Pushing open the door, the afternoon sun shone warmly into the courtyard.

Jiang Wei was still sitting on that stone bench, her small body curled up, intently staring at the tablet screen, which was playing a brightly colored, fast-paced cartoon.

There were already several lollipop wrappers piled up beside her.

Hearing the door open, Jiang Wei raised her head and looked at Fang Qingyu with her clear eyes.

However, the moment his gaze fell upon Fang Qingyu...

On that usually expressionless face, her brows furrowed very slightly.

Her small, delicate nose twitched slightly, as if she had caught a peculiar scent in the air.

Immediately, a look of understanding flashed in those clear eyes.

"You have the scent of your elder sister," Jiang Wei's voice was still soft and sweet, but with a hint of certainty.

Upon hearing this, Fang Qingyu was slightly taken aback, but then understood.

Having just returned from the "palace" of the Candle Dragon Empress, he still carried her cool and vast aura, which was particularly noticeable to Jiang Wei, who knew her well. Fang Qingyu walked to the stone bench next to Jiang Wei and sat down. Looking at the little girl's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, he smiled and said with a sincere sigh, "Your older sister is still a good person."

Fang Qingyu spoke these words sincerely.

Although the process was a bit painful, every transaction was genuine and fair, and could even be described as "honest".

Compared to those high and mighty gods who regard mortals as ants.

This older sister is indeed considered "good".

However, Jiang Wei's reaction was unexpected as soon as Fang Qingyu finished speaking.

"puff"

A very faint sound, as if a suppressed laugh escaped from the little girl's mouth.

She suddenly lowered her head, her small shoulders began to tremble slightly uncontrollably, her previously expressionless face instantly turned bright red, and her clear eyes were filled with an indescribable strange look, as if she had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

Fang Qingyu was completely bewildered by her sudden reaction: "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

Jiang Wei tried to suppress her laughter, raised her head, her face still flushed from holding back her laughter, and the strange look in her eyes was almost overflowing.

She looked at Fang Qingyu and said softly, with a tone full of teasing and disbelief:
"Nothing, nothing."

"only."

"Over all these years, you're the first person I've met who said my older sister is 'a decent person'."

Fang Qingyu: "."

He instantly understood what Jiang Wei was laughing about.

In the eyes of the world, in those ancient legends, and even in the understanding of these reincarnated gods, how majestic, how indifferent, and how unfathomable was the Candle Dragon Empress, who controlled day and night and whose opening and closing of her eyes marked the change of eras?
The evaluation is something like "a nice person".

It's as absurd as saying that a sun that destroys stars is "good-tempered"!
Fang Qingyu looked at Jiang Wei's face, which was struggling to suppress her laughter, and then thought of the cold, aloof gaze beneath the crown, as if it were solid ice.
He couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

Something seems a little off?

Time slipped by quietly amidst the tranquility of the blessed land and the intense preparations of the members of the Hidden Dragon.

A few days later, the elevator doors leading to the underground teleportation hall slid open, and two figures, travel-worn and disheveled, but with surprisingly bright eyes, stepped out.

It was Chu Kuanglan and Lu Jiuyuan.

The combat uniforms worn by the two men were practically strips of cloth, covered in stains of various colors.

The area was covered in charred marks, grayish-white bone powder, dark green mucus, and large patches of dried, blackened blood.

Her hair was sticking messily to her forehead.

His face was streaked with black and white, making him look exactly like a refugee who had just crawled out of a mud pit after rolling around in it for three days and three nights.

However, in stark contrast to their battered appearance was the sharp, burning light in their eyes, and the powerful aura emanating from them—exhausted yet unusually composed, subtly resonating with their surroundings!
Martial arts master!

The aura emanating from the two of them, as solid as mountains yet each possessing their own unique sharpness, clearly demonstrated that they had successfully crossed that threshold!

"Hahaha! That's great! That's fucking great!"

Chu Kuanglan's voice was still loud and clear, filled with the ecstasy of surviving a disaster and the pride of breaking through. He slapped Lu Jiuyuan's shoulder hard, making the other man stagger.

"Old Lu! We've succeeded too! Now let's see who dares to look down on us brothers!"

Lu Jiuyuan grimaced as he was slapped, and slapped his large hand away in annoyance, but the excitement and sharpness between his brows were equally undisguised.

He wiped the longsword in his hand, which seemed to have undergone tempering as well, its cold gleam even brighter. He nodded, his voice steady yet powerful: "Hmm, it's done. That 'Ten Thousand Ren Gorge' wind blade almost scraped me to the bone, but it was worth it!"

Wei Banmeng and Fang Qingyu, who had been waiting there, went to greet them.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Chu and Senior Brother Lu!"

A slight smile appeared on Wei Banmeng's usually cold face.

Looking at his two senior brothers, who were disheveled but still full of vigor, Fang Qingyu's golden eyes flashed with a hint of emotion and sincere congratulations: "Congratulations on becoming martial arts grandmasters! May your future be bright!"

Chu Kuanglan grinned and said, "Congratulations! Fang Shen, we're both Grandmasters now! The battle for the spots in a few days... hehe, just thinking about it gets my blood pumping!"

Lu Jiuyuan also looked at Fang Qingyu, his eyes filled with intense fighting spirit: "God Fang, this time, I will definitely experience the power of your blade!"

Fang Qingyu smiled and nodded in agreement.

Looking at these three newly promoted grandmasters, and then thinking about the equally brilliant names in Project Hidden Dragon.

Jing Wuyai, Liu Hanyan, Shi Kong
A strange feeling arose in Fang Qingyu's heart.

Once upon a time, in Qingjian City, martial arts masters were legendary figures.

They are high-ranking figures, powerful enough to rule over a region, a peak that countless martial artists can never reach even after a lifetime of hard work.

However, in this blessed land of Longyuan Pavilion, in the Hidden Dragon Project which gathers the most outstanding geniuses of the Federation and even the entire human world, the Grandmaster realm seems to have become a basic ticket to compete for a higher stage.

Young faces made this astonishing leap in just a few months.

Resources, talent, inheritance, pressure.
All of this is like a giant furnace, refining rough jade into a sharp edge.

This is a fertile ground for geniuses and a cradle for the strong.

"Yes, it's all done."

Fang Qingyu muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming.

The next two days.

Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, and Lu Jiuyuan have completely entered a state of seclusion.

They need to race against time to solidify their realm, familiarize themselves with the Grandmaster domain, and adjust their own state in order to make a final sprint for the upcoming brutal battle.

Inside the training ground, powerful energy fluctuations and true intent auras rose and fell.

Fang Qingyu, after confirming that his injuries had fully healed and that he had initially mastered the newly acquired power, then...

But he made a decision that even made Jiang Wei take notice.

"Hey, Xiao Jiang."

Fang Qingyu changed into a simple casual outfit and asked Jiang Wei, who was curled up on the sofa watching a tablet, "I've been in the capital for a few months now, and I'm either cultivating or fighting to the death in the 'Abyss' all day long. I haven't had a proper chance to see this ancient capital. How about taking a break these next couple of days?"

Jiang Wei raised her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her clear eyes, before she calmed down, seemingly finding the suggestion acceptable.

Then nodded.

"Ah."

The following morning, the sunlight bathed the ancient capital in a golden glow.

Fang Qingyu changed into a simple dark casual outfit, and led Jiang Wei, who had also changed into a brand new light yellow dress, out of the building where the blessed land was located. Her face was expressionless but her eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

We truly stepped into the bustling streets and alleys of Shangjing City.

Shangjing City, as the ancient capital of the Great Xia Federation for thousands of years, has a history and prosperity that far surpasses that of Qingjian City.

It carries a rich history, exudes the vitality of a modern metropolis, and as the core of the federation, it gathers countless extraordinary forces and resources, making it extraordinary in every aspect.

Without a specific destination, the two strolled along with the crowd like ordinary tourists.

I visited Zichen Pavilion.

This is a vast palace complex left over from the previous dynasty, which remains majestic and magnificent after hundreds of years of weathering.

Standing there are the armillary sphere and sundial, symbolizing "receiving the mandate of heaven".

Fang Qingyu led Jiang Wei on a stroll through the empty square, feeling the weight of history.

Jiang Wei tilted her head back, looking at the huge bronze cranes and coiled dragon stone pillars. Her clear eyes were calm, as if she were looking at a bunch of rather special stones.

I became interested in an old craftsman making dough figurines in the corner of the square and stared at him for a while.

I also visited the Langhuan Book Sea.

Located in a quiet garden in the west of the city, it is said to be one of the largest royal libraries of the previous dynasty, and has now been converted into a large library and ancient book museum.

The two of them strolled around inside for a while.

However, there were no particularly interesting books or antiques.

And Suzaku Avenue, the oldest and most bustling commercial street in Kamijō City.

This is probably the place Jiang Wei likes the most after visiting these past few days.

Because this place has the most snacks.

As for modern landmark buildings in Beijing, like the Cloud Pavilion and such.

Jiang Wei, however, was not interested.

Fang Qingyu originally thought she would be slightly surprised by such a tall modern building.

Unexpectedly, she said...
Such a tall building is the hardest to escape from when the army of ghosts comes.

A few days down.

From symbols of imperial power to everyday life in the city, from the fragrance of ancient books to modern prosperity, from climbing high to enjoy the view to boating on the lake.

Fang Qingyu, with Jiang Wei in tow, explored the pulse and breath of this ancient capital in an almost frenzied manner.

As I walked, my tense nerves gradually relaxed, and the surging energy within me seemed to settle down amidst the weight of history and the vitality of modernity.

Although Jiang Wei appears quiet and unassuming most of the time.

But Fang Qingyu could sense that the scenery reflected in her clear eyes seemed to have a subtle but vivid quality compared to when she was holding a tablet.

As night falls, the lights are on.

The two enjoyed an authentic Beijing-style meal at a private restaurant with red lanterns hanging on the shore of Shichahai.

Jiang Wei had a particular fondness for the crispy roast duck skin, and her lips were glistening with oil as she ate it.

When I returned to Zhuxi Courtyard, the sky was full of stars.

Fang Qingyu placed a small, adorable clay tiger sculpture he had bought for Jiang Wei on her windowsill before returning to his own room.

He stopped practicing.

Instead, sit cross-legged, adjust your breathing, and let your mind completely calm down.

Because of tomorrow.

It's time for the battle to secure spots in the special team of Project Hidden Dragon!

(End of this chapter)