Capturing Fang Zheng in Public
In his previous life, Fang Yuan spent more than eighty years preparing for the Refinement Path Convention, studying every past task until the practice built his refinement path foundation and left him remembering not only this competition’s contents but many past and future ones. Leaning on that foreknowledge carries one risk, since his rebirth has altered many events. He takes the risk and the contents prove unchanged. ch. 842
Fang Yuan takes a wide, calm lead over Firesmith Dragon Chief, having trained this exact keep silent Gu procedure at least two hundred times beforehand in Hu Immortal blessed land. He wins the round by a huge lead, exactly as expected. He unquestionably suppresses every competitor, Firesmith Dragon Chief included, who loses to him by a great gap. ch. 842
Myriad Dragon Dock’s spectators can hardly believe their eyes, and Immortal Crane Sect cheers. Firesmith Dragon Chief, unable to accept the loss, admits Fang Yuan’s mind is very sharp and fast, and doubts Fang Yuan is truly an immortal zombie. ch. 842
Fang Yuan walks off without mocking Firesmith Dragon Chief, who relaxes slightly and leads Myriad Dragon Dock away with his regret intact. Fang Yuan collects the victor’s reward, a huge variety of immortal materials each in small quantity, rewards from the eighth round onward far outstripping the first seven. He declines Demon Expelling Sect’s invitation and heads for the exit. ch. 842
At the mountain gate, Immortal Crane Sect’s group is waiting. Elder Yan Tang and another elder greet him warmly, while Fang Zheng stands silent and blank-faced behind them. Fang Yuan answers warmly under his mask, surprising the group, who expected his arrogance to carry over to his own sect. ch. 842
Fang Yuan turns first to Elder Yan Tang, pointing out that his attainment is not low but his plan carried flaws, and walking him through the fix. Yan Tang thanks him with great admiration. ch. 842
Fang Yuan then turns to Fang Zheng, his voice going cold. He calls Fang Zheng’s performance as disappointing as ever, since he failed even the convention’s first round and made the sect lose face. The sect’s elders are stunned at how cold the two brothers’ relationship seems. ch. 842
Fang Zheng, hatred in his eyes, snorts and starts to answer back. Fang Yuan waves his hand, moving to attack him in public. Fang Zheng, a rank five Gu Master, never expects his brother to strike him publicly. The attack is premeditated: Fang Yuan combines several mortal killer moves, among them a wisdom path move belonging to Dong Fang Chang Fan, and strikes, immobilizing Fang Zheng at a distance. ch. 842
Fang Yuan chides him for chasing attention outside instead of cultivating. He reminds him that with their parents gone, an elder brother owes him a father’s discipline. Fang Yuan rules that Fang Zheng will stay at his side from today, learning refinement path until Fang Yuan is satisfied. ch. 842
Fang Zheng screams that he wants no looking after, sounding like a rebellious youth refusing discipline. But inwardly he feels an icy chill: the words are not his own. It is Dong Fang Chang Fan’s own wisdom path killer move, planting false thoughts in his mind and forcing him to act on them. ch. 842
Fang Zheng screams inwardly for help, calling for anyone, for his master. No answer comes from the spirit incubating flea, since Fang Yuan has already cut Fang Zheng off from his own aperture. Fang Zheng can only stare at Fang Yuan with fury, unable to believe his brother would be so crazy as to attack him here. ch. 842
