Chapter 442: Chapter 425: Netherworld Dark Emperor Body
At this moment, all that was expected was for Wang Meng to accept with wild joy. The others were still savoring the feeling of the Path of Immortality and Mortality and paid no attention to what was happening over here.
Wang Meng smiled faintly. "Thank you for your high regard, Senior, but I’m doing just fine in the Holy Hall."
Lu Chenfeng was quite surprised—not by Wang Meng’s refusal, but by his composure. It seemed he had no interest at all in the Cyan Cloud Sect.
"Haha, our meeting is fated. The gates of the Cyan Cloud Sect will always be open for you. You don’t need to answer right away; you can think it over carefully."
Lu Chenfeng wasn’t disappointed by Wang Meng’s refusal. If the moment he made the offer, the other party had accepted with wild joy, then no matter how talented the person was, their character would be merely average.
"Haha, Wang Meng, Sect Leader Lu has truly taken a liking to your talent. In all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen him personally make an offer. I can go talk to Xuee Zhongnan on your behalf," Fan Ru said.
Wang Meng gave a wry smile. "That’s really not necessary."
’Is this what they call an offer too good to refuse?’ He felt the Holy Hall was great—very free and more suited to his style. Going somewhere else might not be the same. ’The Cyan Cloud Sect... isn’t that Bu Qingyun’s turf?’
After a while, Bu Qingyun and the others awoke from their meditation. Judging by their expressions, it seemed they had all gained a lot. Just then, the Immortal and Mortal Gate opened, and Fan Hong practically stumbled out. The moment he landed, he immediately sat down cross-legged.
He was actually on the verge of Minor Perfection. Fan Ru slapped the empty air, and Fan Hong’s expression eased a little.
"Focus your Heart Spirit and push for the breakthrough with all your might!"
Fan Ru roared, simultaneously channeling a continuous stream of Elemental Power of the same origin into Fan Hong.
Fan Hong sat cross-legged, the Elemental Power around his body forming a massive field.
Hann Yun had been feeling quite pleased with himself, so seeing a good-for-nothing like Fan Hong about to reach Minor Perfection shocked him. But then he reconsidered. ’So what if he enters Minor Perfection? A good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing.’
On the Path of Immortality and Mortality, Fan Hong finally understood why he had always been so weak. The Marriage Robe Divine Technique had kept his talent and abilities in a state of chaos. For a time, he had even suffered from constant memory loss, a thought that still filled him with lingering fear. And yet, in this muddled state, he had somehow made it this far.
The Path of Immortality and Mortality was undoubtedly an excellent place to awaken one’s soul, even better than the place where Fan Ru had been awakened all those years ago. In an instant, Fan Hong reached the verge of Minor Perfection.
Reaching Minor Perfection wasn’t the issue. The real question was what he could comprehend in the process. If Fan Hong only wanted to get by and enjoy some ordinary glory, Fan Ru, as the Sect Leader of the Dharma Flower Sect, could arrange that. But he hoped for Fan Hong to surpass him!
And this was something only a Holy Statue could achieve; a Life Artifact was not enough.
Yun Potian and Mu Jiuling both saw it. They never expected the normally easygoing Fan Ru to be so ambitious. His efforts were truly painstaking. It wasn’t easy for Cultivators to have children, yet he was this ruthless even to his own son.
Hann Yun was even more astonished. After hearing Bu Qingyun’s explanation, he was filled with shock and doubt. ’That piece of trash actually practices the Marriage Robe Divine Technique? And he’s delusional enough to aim for a Holy Statue?’
’If someone like him can get a Holy Statue, what’s the point of me even being alive?’
Song Yifan was indeed very curious after hearing this and asked Wang Meng about Fan Hong’s past. Wang Meng had a good impression of her and thought she and Fan Hong would be a good match. If he could help bring them together, that would be a fine thing. So, he told her some of Fan Xiaoniao’s old, embarrassing stories, specifically picking out the most interesting ones, which made Song Yifan break into a knowing smile from time to time.
Meanwhile, Fan Hong had reached the most critical juncture.
His life up to this point could only be described as tragic. As a Sect Leader’s son, his performance had always been average, and he grew up being ridiculed. He finally met a girl he liked, a bright spot in his life, but it turned out she only saw him as a money bag and easily abandoned him. Compounded by the confusion caused by his Cultivation Technique, he lived in a daze, never truly understanding his purpose in life.
Until he met Wang Meng. From that moment on, Fan Hong found himself. He was no longer dispensable.
The Marriage Robe Divine Technique, being the Sect Leader’s son—none of it mattered. In truth, he didn’t want much.
This time, he had to prove himself!
Above the Divine Hall, the Celestial Tribulation had already begun to gather, though its scale wasn’t very large. It all depended on whether Fan Hong could awaken something.
Fan Hong was enduring, struggling, trying to forge something from his ordeal, but the process was excruciating.
Those destined for greatness will achieve it, just like Mingren, for whom everything was so easy. It was effortless, to the point he could even destroy the Celestial Tribulation.
But for the vast majority of Cultivators, that was nothing but a dream.
But Fan Hong refused to give up. If he did, all his efforts would be for naught. Everything he had suffered—the scorn, the abandonment, the helplessness... Most importantly, he wanted to become stronger, to make himself more useful!
Watching Wang Meng stride forward, he didn’t want to be left behind. He didn’t want to become a burden!!!
This was his bottom line!
In truth, he could already push for the breakthrough; the perfect moment had even arrived. But Fan Hong hesitated, refusing to make the final push because neither an Artifact Soul nor a Holy Shadow had appeared.
Everyone present was an expert; they all saw what was happening. Fan Ru sighed internally. Although he was continuously supporting Fan Hong, he was afraid it would all end in failure.
In the past, reaching Great Perfection was enough to enjoy limitless glory. But the world had changed. With the current level of competition, Great Perfection was not enough. Only a Great Perfection Cultivator who possessed a Holy Statue, or at the very least a Life Artifact, was qualified to contend for supremacy in the future.
Some people were destined to be kings, while others had to pay an enormous price.
...And even then, success wasn’t guaranteed.
Fan Hong... had failed.
But Fan Hong still refused to give up. Fan Ru continued to support his son without reservation. Everything in the past had been arranged by him, but this moment belonged to Fan Hong alone. No matter which path he chose, Fan Ru would support him to the very end.
Lu Chenfeng shook his head slightly. On the path of Cultivation, one couldn’t be too obstinate. If this continued, he would miss the window of opportunity. Forget about comprehending the Celestial Dao; he might not even succeed in reaching Minor Perfection.
The Celestial Tribulation even seemed to be dispersing.
With the accumulation from Fan Hong’s Marriage Robe Divine Technique, he would still receive a significant boost even without forming a Life Artifact. His constitution would be cleansed, allowing him to progress twice as fast with half the effort in his future Cultivation and reach a very high level. But being too stubborn... the losses would always outweigh the gains.
Having experienced Minor Perfection himself, Wang Meng knew this clearly as well. Fan Hong needed to seize the opportunity.
A relaxed and triumphant smile appeared on Hann Yun’s lips.
But Fan Hong’s expression remained grave. It was rare in life to make such a gamble. He had already lived in a daze for over twenty years; he wasn’t afraid of being muddled one more time.
’At least this time, it’s my own choice!’
Wang Meng knew this couldn’t go on. He slowly spread out his Heart Spirit, intending to use his Divine Sense to attract the Celestial Tribulation. If it disappeared, Fan Hong would be completely finished.
It was extremely dangerous, but Wang Meng had to do it!
When it came to his friends, he never considered the consequences.
The moment his Divine Sense emerged, the Celestial Tribulation instantly went into a frenzy, roaring back into existence. In that same instant, Fan Hong was also greatly stimulated, and the Elemental Power around him erupted.
Wang Meng quickly hid his Divine Sense. If the Celestial Tribulation tracked him, he’d surely be struck until he was blasted into oblivion.
But the appearance of that Divine Sense had changed the trajectory of fate.
When facing Minor Perfection, everyone has a chance, no matter who they are. Some have a higher probability, others lower, but the chance is always there. Fan Hong’s ability wasn’t poor; there had been several paths laid out before him, but he had simply chosen the wrong one.
Just as he was about to fall into despair, he felt a familiar Heart Spirit. Fan Hong knew it was Wang Meng.
At that moment, courage from an unknown source welled up, and power surged from the depths of his being.
Another path. He had truly discovered another path!
OMMMM~~~
A blurry image suddenly appeared behind Fan Hong. The three Sect Leaders looked on with grave expressions, Bu Qingyun with astonishment, Song Yifan with joyful surprise, and Hann Yun with a stupefied gape—it was like a painting.
Wang Meng fiercely pumped his fist. "Fan Xiaoniao, you can do it!!!"
Wang Meng didn’t know if Fan Hong could hear him, but in fact, he did.
The blurry Holy Statue looked like it was about to dissipate, but with Fan Hong’s explosive roar, Elemental Power surged out and poured into the Holy Shadow. A ripple of power spread out, pushing Fan Ru away.
’I’ll walk this final path myself!’
The blurry Holy Statue gradually became clear. It was a dark figure wreathed in nether flames, a strange smile playing on its lips. It wore a small, tattered felt hat and carried a giant scythe, its gleaming blade seeming to mock the entire world.
—The Netherworld Dark Emperor Body!
The moment the Holy Statue formed, the Celestial Tribulation arrived. Streaks of Celestial Thunder blasted down toward Fan Hong.
The Netherworld Dark Emperor Holy Statue immediately rose to meet the assault. As the Celestial Tribulation struck its body, the Holy Statue’s smile seemed to grow even more vivid. It was blatant mockery.
Fan Hong’s eyes snapped open. He swung his hands out, and in perfect sync with the Holy Statue, sent streaks of dark light shooting into the sky.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...
The Primordial Divine Hall shook. Accompanied by Fan Hong’s roar, the Netherworld Dark Emperor Holy Statue unleashed all its power, sending countless beams of light surging toward the Celestial Tribulation.
BOOM...
When the tumult subsided, the Celestial Tribulation had vanished. Fan Hong stood there, the colossal Netherworld Dark Emperor Holy Statue behind him still wearing its world-mocking expression.
In this world, who was the fool?
Hann Yun looked as if he had eaten a bowl of flies, so utterly disgusted and sickened he couldn’t even vomit. Fan Hong, the very person he had been mocking this whole time, had actually cultivated a Holy Statue???
Hann Yun rubbed his eyes with all his might. ’Goddammit, it’s really a Holy Statue!’
The Netherworld Dark Emperor Holy Statue, a Holy Statue specializing in assassination.
Can you believe it?
Do you dare believe it?
Fan Hong, *that* Fan Hong, that piece of mud you could squash with a single slap, had now actually formed a Holy Statue!
The Holy Statue slowly faded, and the imposing aura around Fan Hong vanished. Finally, his day had come.
Fan Ru was so excited he was speechless. ’The Netherworld Dark Emperor Holy Statue! The future of the Dharma Flower Sect will be glorious!’
But the first person Fan Hong walked toward was Wang Meng.
Wang Meng broke into a smile. The two exchanged a heavy fist bump, and then Fan Hong fiercely pulled Wang Meng into a bear hug.
"Brother!"
"Brother!"
No more words were necessary. Fan Hong had been reborn.
Fan Ru truly didn’t know what to say. He was at a complete loss for words when it came to Wang Meng. For such an anomaly to exist in the Cultivation World—so full of human warmth, so utterly heaven-defying.
But so what?
"Thank you, Father."
Fan Hong hadn’t forgotten Fan Ru. The bitterness was finally over, and Fan Ru’s painstaking efforts had truly paid off.
"You brat! Haha, well done! You did yourself proud!"
Fan Ru didn’t praise Fan Hong excessively; there was no need. In the days to come, Fan Hong would hear plenty more. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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