Chapter 17: Return to the Temple of the War God

What Wang Lin had not expected was that the person who came was the very same one whom Fang Zhiyi had just released at the Douxie Sect.

This man certainly had nerve—though only at the Foundation Establishment stage, he still dared to follow them now, seemingly unafraid of being shattered to pieces.

Having followed Fang Zhiyi all this way, he was now quite certain who the true leader among the three was. He quickened his pace, approaching Fang Zhiyi directly. “I am Jiang Ziqi. Back at the Douxie Sect, I was complicit with them in their vile deeds, acting as their accomplice and doing unseemly things. Now, I wish to reform and start anew. I beg the fair maiden to grant me this chance.”

Fang Zhiyi merely cast a cold glance his way. She had initially intended to refuse outright, but when her eyes fell upon the waist of Jiang Ziqi, she hesitated for a moment.

“Follow.”

At these words, Jiang Ziqi’s face lit up with joy, but Wang Lin’s expression darkened. He looked at Fang Zhiyi in disbelief.

Wang Lin knew full well that Fang Zhiyi was no kind-hearted soul. How could she so simply extend a helping hand with just a word? There had to be something he did not know.

Yet, no matter what, Wang Lin would never defy Fang Zhiyi’s command.

The Demonic Cultivation Sea was notoriously difficult to enter and exit, especially to leave. For many years, few had ever emerged from it, underscoring its formidable nature.

But for Fang Zhiyi, it was as simple as a breath.

She extended her hand, holding a long sword, and with a gentle push at Jiang Ziqi’s garment, sent him flying out.

Meanwhile, Wang Lin and Li Muwan, holding onto the ropes Fang Zhiyi had given them, also emerged.

Nearby, a cultivator saw the three people emerge from the Demonic Cultivation Sea and trembled in terror.

“Seize them!”

Fang Zhiyi turned her head to look at Wang Lin, who vanished in an instant, only to reappear before the cultivator moments later.

In a flash, Wang Lin grabbed the cultivator and brought him before Fang Zhiyi. “Master.”

“How fares the Fireburn Kingdom now?”

Before entering, Fang Zhiyi had noticed that time within the Demonic Cultivation Sea seemed to pass more swiftly. She wondered how many years had slipped by.

When they left, the people of Fireburn Kingdom were still battling the Fire Beasts; now, their fate was uncertain.

The cultivator replied, “The Fireburn Kingdom no longer exists. Three hundred years ago, it was devastated by a Fire Beast assault and volcanic eruption. The entire kingdom has since relocated.”

“Where did they migrate to?”

Jiang Ziqi understood what Fang Zhiyi implied, but the cultivator did not catch on and continued to answer each question earnestly. Jiang Ziqi felt weary listening and quickly interjected, fearing Fang Zhiyi might lose her temper.

Upon hearing this, the cultivator hurriedly explained, “The whole population of Fireburn Kingdom moved to the Xuanwu Kingdom and is now part of it.”

“What of the War God Hall?” At last, Fang Zhiyi voiced the question that troubled her most.

The cultivator pondered for a moment before speaking, “The War God Hall is no longer what it once was. It is said that within Xuanwu Kingdom, the War God Hall faces considerable ostracism and has been in decline these past few years.”

Though Fang Zhiyi's gaze grew increasingly severe, the cultivator could tell these were precisely the words she wished to hear.

The cultivator’s expression turned grave. “It’s said that the powerful Divine Transformation stage warrior of the War God Hall, who had once pacified the Fire Beasts, was driven to an unknown fate by them.”

He fell silent briefly. “The people of Xuanwu Kingdom speculate that the Divine Transformation cultivator is dead. At first, they thought he dared not act too recklessly.”

“But over the years, with no sign of his return, their boldness has grown, and their misdeeds have become ever more outrageous.”

Fang Zhiyi understood the import of these words all too well. The thought of what Feng Luan might have endured filled her with boundless fury. She wished she could storm into Xuanwu Kingdom and tear its people limb from limb.

Closing her eyes briefly, Fang Zhiyi resolved that today’s matter was no concern of this cultivator’s. He was but a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, limited in strength and likely to remain so for life. Besides, they had only asked for directions.

“Let us go,” Fang Zhiyi said coldly, clearly dismissing the cultivator outright.

The cultivator finally breathed a sigh of relief. Usually slippery with words, today he had been lucky to be spared. Fortunately, he had seen these few emerge from the Demonic Cultivation Sea.

But those few were formidable indeed, capable of escaping the Demonic Cultivation Sea. He wondered if they might be Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

No, even for Nascent Soul stage, that would be excessively powerful.

Soon, Fang Zhiyi led them to the War God Hall outside Xuanwu Kingdom.

As the cultivator had said, the War God Hall was a shadow of its former glory compared to its days in Fireburn Kingdom.

Its disciples were noticeably fewer, and the frugality in their food and clothing betrayed their reduced resources.

Fang Zhiyi made no effort to conceal her presence, and before long, many disciples inside the hall spotted her and the others.

A Foundation Establishment stage disciple soared up on his sword, hovering in the air and fixing them with a sharp gaze. “What brings you here?”

Fang Zhiyi answered slowly, “I seek Feng Luan.”

“How dare you! The name of our Elder Feng is not for you to utter. Surrender swiftly or face death.”

With that, the disciple drew a magical weapon, clearly ready to fight to the death.

Just as Jiang Ziqi feared that disaster would befall him and that the entire War God Hall would suffer the same fate as the Douxie Sect, reality delivered a lesson: sometimes it is best not to let one’s imagination run wild.

Fang Zhiyi patiently explained, “I seek your Elder Feng on urgent business. You would do well not to waste time.”

Her expression was solemn, her entire demeanor noble and imposing, her strength inscrutable—clearly a cultivator of profound skill.

Yet despite this, she treated them with courtesy rather than reckless aggression, showing her genuine intent.

The disciple asked, “May I know your name?”

“Fang Zhiyi,” she said, enunciating each character with a calm tone, yet from her voice, the cultivators sensed an overwhelming authority and formidable aura.

The disciple froze, then immediately knelt before her, bowing respectfully. “Elder Fang—welcome home.”

Once it was known that Fang Zhiyi was the legendary Elder Fang, everyone knelt in unison.

“Elder Fang—”

For a moment, the entire War God Hall echoed with those words in unison.

Jiang Ziqi forced a bitter smile, one more painful than tears. Indeed, not all sects were as pitiful, tragic, and hateful as their Douxie Sect.

Just as the words left his mouth, a tremendous force swept toward them.

Fang Zhiyi lifted her eyes, unwavering.