I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 698: Chapter 645: A New Path

”Do you know what I’m afflicted with?” Fang Ruyan asked calmly.

What she was afflicted with was a curse, not poison.

Poison is tangible and traceable.

But a curse is elusive, a vicious secret technique that gathers a person’s entire lifespan and essence blood, at the cost of sacrificing one’s soul, with extremely stringent conditions for casting.

This curse now clings to Fang Ruyan’s divine soul, leeching her soul power like a water leech, emitting a bone-chilling cold, gradually freezing her spiritual energy and blood.

Unless her divine soul is completely extinguished, this curse cannot be lifted.

Fang Ruyan indeed underestimated the foundation of the Fang Family and had little understanding of their power in the Upper Realm in the past.

It wasn’t until she became the Fang Clan Leader that she realized the vast influence of the Fang Family in the Upper Realm.

The Fang Family in the Earth Spiritual Realm is their root; it need not be powerful but must exist.

The annihilation of the Lu Family happened so suddenly that Fang Ruyan didn’t anticipate it. Initially, she only intended to superficially suppress the Lu Family, just for appearances.

Unexpectedly, the Old Ancestor from the Fang Family in the Upper Realm acted directly, and those old folks of the Fang Family controlled ways to contact the Upper Realm Old Ancestor but didn’t inform her.

This time, her curse was also orchestrated by the Fang Family in the Upper Realm. Had it not been for the Lu Family incident attracting the Star Alliance’s scrutiny, those people would have directly killed her upon finding Fang Family’s illegitimate child to restore the ’orthodoxy’ of the Fang Family.

Absurd!

Although Fang Ruyan knows who cursed her, she is helpless, which makes her very uncomfortable!

But Fang Ruyan did not sit and wait for doom; she has already entrusted Xie Tianbao to help her find a way to break the curse once she reaches the Upper Realm.

Before the curse is lifted, as long as she remains in seclusion, those old relics won’t dare to act rashly if they can’t see her and know her true condition.

They want to elect a new Clan Leader? Then they must pass the Feiyan Pavilion first.

Fang Ruyan knows that Jiang Yuebai, returning from the Upper Realm, must have some resources, but she doesn’t want to be used by that young rogue.

Moreover, if she owes such a lifesaving favor, wouldn’t she have to repay it for a lifetime?

What wishful thinking!

So while she can still hold on, exchanging interests with Xie Tianbao is better than boarding that young rogue’s pirate ship.

Moreover, completely resolving this matter is not as simple as breaking the curse...

”Enough, my poison is none of your concern. Today’s meeting with you is merely to inquire about Nanzhi’s current situation, to thank you in person for exterminating the Three Elements Sect—nothing more needs to be mentioned.”

Jiang Yuebai had anticipated Fang Ruyan’s attitude, and although disappointed, she wasn’t in a hurry. Immortal Monarch Chongmin gave her ten years to settle matters—if this path is blocked, she’ll find another way.

Jiang Yuebai recounted some trivial, non-critical experiences of Lu Nanzhi to Fang Ruyan. Observing her demeanor and inquiries, Jiang Yuebai realized that Fang Ruyan still has some genuine affection for Lu Nanzhi.

After chatting for two hours, Fang Ruyan’s cold poison flared up, and she needed to retreat and receive no visitors. She gave Jiang Yuebai a personal token to collect three million top-grade spirit stones from the lnner Affairs Hall of the Feiyan Pavilion as gratitude.

Out of consideration for Lu Nanzhi and the spirit stones, Jiang Yuebai softened her stance temporarily, without any ulterior motives or designs.

She plucked a feather from the Taihe Umbrella, removing the power of One Yuan Heavy Water, infusing it with Phoenix True Fire, and left it on the nearby tea table.

After Jiang Yuebai left, Fang Ruyan could no longer hold on, collapsing onto the soft couch, groaning in pain, covered entirely in icy frost.

The temperature inside the grand hall rapidly dropped, frost quickly spreading outward from Fang Ruyan, covering every corner of the hall, even turning the soft drapes on the window sills into hard blocks.

However, when the frost touched the feather left by Jiang Yuebai, it suddenly ignited a golden-red blaze, quickly unfurling into a wave of heat.

In an instant, the frost thawed, and Fang Ruyan felt as if she had plunged into a hot spring, her whole body warm and wonderfully comfortable.

But the warmth was soon again supplanted by the internal chill, and Fang Ruyan, enduring it, refrained from touching the feather.

To touch it might mean never letting go!

This cold poison is merely unbearable, not life-threatening for now—having one’s will erode is the most terrifying part!

*

Garden corridor.

”True Monarch Wangshu, please wait!”

Just as Jiang Yuebai emerged from Fang Ruyan’s hall, she was stopped by Kong Jingyan, with Wenn Jian accompanying her.

Kong Jingyan hurried up to Jiang Yuebai, bowed, and deeply saluted.

Jiang Yuebai raised an eyebrow, sensing something was at hand.

”Dare I ask, what would it take for the senior to be willing to take Jingyan to the Upper Realm?”

Wenn Jian was somewhat anxious beside her; she too wanted to go to the Upper Realm, but she didn’t dare directly ask Jiang Yuebai.

The boldest thing Wenn Jian ever did was escape from the Kong Family, but that was under the encouragement and plan of her two elder brothers and her fourth brother.

Kong Jingyan, however, is different. Once she sets her mind on something, she proceeds without hesitation, never shrinking back from difficulties, and actively solves problems.

If unresolved, she calms her mind, studies and cultivates, accumulates strength before tackling the earlier issues again.

Thus, although Kong Jingyan is more than forty years younger than Wenn Jian, she has surpassed her, reaching the same great realm as a Golden Core Master.

Just now, Wenn Jian told Kong Jingyan about Jiang Yuebai’s return from the Upper Realm. She immediately analyzed that it was impossible for Jiang Yuebai to have come to the relatively impoverished Earth Spiritual Realm from the superior Upper Realm without reason.

It must be due to some matter, and she is sure to return to the Upper Realm afterward.

Therefore, Kong Jingyan seized the chance to go to the Upper Realm without hesitation.

The earnest and determined look in Kong Jingyan’s eyes reminded Jiang Yuebai of her past self, who would rather forgo small fish stakes and charge up the Ascension Stairs.

She then looked at Wenn Jian, who also had a glimmer of desire in her eyes, albeit not as resolutely as Kong Jingyan.

However, in their eyes, Jiang Yuebai had become the ’big figure’ capable of changing their destinies.

Taking just two more people wasn’t difficult for Jiang Yuebai, who had a ship. Yet, how could a big figure not maintain some stature, not challenge others?

Things too easily obtained would not be cherished by others, would they?

She mainly couldn’t ruin her status!

With a sidelong glance at Fang Ruyan’s hall, Jiang Yuebai waved her hand, using the Michen Seal to bring the two directly to the seaside of Biya Island.

The night was deeply shrouded; the starry sky spanned vast.

Facing the sea breeze, Jiang Yuebai, with her back to the two, called out, ”There are many who wish to join me to the Upper Realm; it’s impossible for me to take everyone.”

Kong Jingyan and Wenn Jian exchanged a glance, brows furrowed.

”However,” Jiang Yuebai shifted her tone, ”I’ve returned this time to select elites for the Heavenly Interence Sect.” 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Turning around, Jiang Yuebai looked at the two. Kong Jingyan remained composed, while Wenn Jian appeared slightly nervous.

”Currently, I plan to hold a grand competition within the Heavenly Interence Sect, inviting disciples from major sects across the Earth Spiritual Realm to participate. If you can untangle the complex powers behind you and join the competition cleanly, you’re welcome to participate,” Jiang Yuebai continued.

”But,” she added, ”only disciples who perform best in the competition and are willing to enter the Upper Realm Heavenly Interence Sect gate will have the opportunity to board my ship. You’d best consider this clearly.”

Wenn Jian lowered her gaze in thought, weighing the pros and cons.

Kong Jingyan’s gaze flickered slightly. Looking into Jiang Yuebai’s eyes, she asked again, ”Dare I ask, True Monarch, apart from the two of us, if other disciples from cultivation families meet the qualifications, can they also participate in the Heavenly Interence Sect competition?”

Jiang Yuebai chuckled, ”Trying to poach from the cultivation families, are you trying to make Heavenly Interence Sect many enemies?”

Kong Jingyan’s eyes glinted with a smile, ”How could that make enemies! If True Monarch is willing to accept a few disciples from each family, I’m sure, given the ’traditions’ of the cultivation families, they will undoubtedly uphold Heavenly Interence Sect through the ages.”

Jiang Yuebai’s eyes widened slightly, a spark of insight flickering.

Indeed!

Previously, she only thought of uniting the major sects and opposing cultivation families, failing to consider that enemies can also become friends.

If she could draw in all families, except the Fang Family, from the Earth Spiritual Realm, bringing their people into the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Upper Realm, then as ’disciples’ of the Heavenly Interence Sect, these families would surely strive to uphold the sect within the Earth Spiritual Realm.

No matter how strong the Fang Family is, they cannot annihilate all cultivation families, right? With the nature of cultivation families, each family causing the Fang Family trouble monthly would keep them busy.

Jiang Yuebai gave Kong Jingyan a long, meaningful glance—indeed worthy of being the former female prime minister of Yun Country, adept in the art of strategy!

This way, Kong Jingyan’s proposed ’extermination’ of the noble families to Fang Ruyan could gradually be accomplished within Heavenly Interence Sect.

As people from cultivation families adapt to the Heavenly Interence Sect’s practices and develop a stronger sense of belonging to the sect than to their families, the cultivation families would become nominal.

Such a commendable mind, Jiang Yuebai was determined to recruit Kong Jingyan into Heavenly Interence Sect—to have her manage sect affairs, potentially making the Heavenly Interence Sect the foremost in the Upper Realm!

Having agreed on a time for the competition at Heavenly Interence Sect with Kong Jingyan and Wenn Jian, Jiang Yuebai retrieved the spirit stones from the Feiyan Pavilion and returned directly to Kongfang City via the Transmission Array used for her arrival, and from an outside Transmission Array in Kongfang City, she headed to the Fengxian Domain.

Afterward, she rushed to the Heavenly Interence Sect without delay.

With her heart set on returning, it was like an arrow released!