Chapter 350 - 177: Chaotic Stone Forest
Along his journey, Fang Shuwen had already cultivated the Sea-Shaking Divine Fist to an extremely high level, just a hair’s breadth away from the realm of Great Perfection.
The might he displayed now with Hammer Sea Shocking Heaven was far greater than anything he had shown before.
This earth-shattering punch didn’t just smash a huge crater into the bluestone ground.
The powerful Fist Force swept out in all directions.
Fortunately, for all his arrogance, Young Master Tinghua had no commoners around him. Otherwise, Fang Shuwen would have been hesitant to strike with such power, for fear of injuring bystanders.
Master Wangxing, on the other hand, was extremely close. With his palms pressed together, he was sent flying more than thirty feet before he barely managed to regain his footing.
Fang Shuwen’s gaze fell upon the gray-robed monk.
"An expert from the Ascetic Sect?"
Master Wangxing bowed slightly.
"I am Wangxing of the Ascetic Sect. Greetings, Donor Fang."
"What brings you here?"
Fang Shuwen didn’t waste any words.
Master Wangxing replied:
"I am here for the Celestial Martial Grand Assembly."
Fang Shuwen nodded. Just as he was about to go back, Master Wangxing hastily spoke up.
"Donor Fang, do you know who that Young Master Tinghua was?"
Fang Shuwen glanced back at him.
"Tell me."
Master Wangxing nodded slightly.
"That man was Mu Chengjin, the blood brother of the Pavilion Master of Thousand Snow Pavilion. Now that you’ve killed him, Donor Fang, I fear this matter will not be easily resolved."
It all clicked for Fang Shuwen. ’No wonder Young Master Tinghua was so arrogant.’ The Ascetic Sect was one of the Five Great Forces. Though its rules were unique and its members did not seek conflict, they should not have been treated with such contempt.
It was clear now. Young Master Tinghua had been using his status as the brother of the Thousand Snow Pavilion’s Pavilion Master to run rampant.
"In that case, the Pavilion Master of Thousand Snow Pavilion owes me a favor."
Fang Shuwen’s words were shocking.
Master Wangxing was taken aback.
"Donor Fang, what do you mean by that?"
"A creature so arrogant and reckless, who didn’t know when to quit, would have brought disaster upon the Thousand Snow Pavilion sooner or later."
Fang Shuwen chuckled.
"His death at my hands today means the Thousand Snow Pavilion has one less liability.
"Who’s to say this won’t save them from the annihilation of their entire sect one day?"
"This..."
Master Wangxing initially felt Fang Shuwen was twisting logic to suit his needs, but after a moment’s thought, he realized there was some truth to it.
Young Master Tinghua had acted with extreme arrogance. While the Thousand Snow Pavilion was indeed a dominant force in the Northern Domain, and he himself had the backing to be presumptuous...
...but the Jianghu was vast and deep. There was always a higher mountain, a greater power.
With a personality like Young Master Tinghua’s, it was inevitable he would eventually provoke an existence he couldn’t afford to offend... and hadn’t he just done so with Fang Shuwen?
And in the end, he had provoked his own death.
Thinking of this, Master Wangxing chanted:
"Amitabha Buddha. ’Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.’ Donor Fang, your virtue is immeasurable."
Fang Shuwen let out a hearty laugh. Without another word, he tapped his foot and shot back into the inn.
Master Wangxing didn’t linger either. He turned, left the scene, and continued his journey toward Celestial Martial Peak.
He had stayed behind not because of Fang Shuwen, but because he had realized Young Master Tinghua was the one who spooked the horse. That was why he had waited.
He had intended to offer some admonishment, but it was no longer necessary.
Young Master Tinghua and Guang Tongchen would no longer require anyone’s counsel.
...
...
Long Qingzhi poured Fang Shuwen a cup of tea.
"Brother Fang, is that monk also going to the Celestial Martial Grand Assembly?"
Fang Shuwen nodded.
"He’s likely not the only one. Young Master Tinghua was from Thousand Snow Pavilion, and that monk is an expert from the Ascetic Sect. It’s possible the Saintess Sect, the Heaven-Slaying Sect... and even Sword God Palace will be going."
"Sword God Palace... Ye Wufeng."
Long Qingzhi’s expression changed slightly.
"Brother Fang, his Martial Arts are said to be supreme. He’s a living legend in the Jianghu."
"Even myths must come to an end."
Fang Shuwen said coolly.
"It’s about time Ye Wufeng was knocked off his pedestal."
"Mm!"
This small interlude didn’t change anything.
Any malice lurking in the town had been shattered to pieces by Fang Shuwen’s punch.
The night passed peacefully. The next day, they resumed their journey.
About fifty li north of the town lay the Chaotic Stone Forest.
Here, under the influence of the Northern Domain’s Great Ice Glacier, any trace of warmth vanished. Snowflakes even began to drift down from the sky.
Massive boulders, each twenty to thirty feet high, were scattered across the landscape like chess pieces.
The forest of stone seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Seated atop Fang Dabao, Fang Shuwen gazed at the Chaotic Stone Forest but didn’t enter right away. Instead, his eyes drifted upward to the top of a massive boulder.
Something about it was odd. The snow piled on top was thicker than elsewhere, and dangling over the edge was a pair of feet shod in white embroidered slippers.
Long Qingzhi followed his gaze, and her expression immediately changed.
"A corpse?"
"No."
Fang Shuwen shook his head.
"A living person."
"A living person?"
Long Qingzhi was puzzled.
"If a living person were buried under that much snow, wouldn’t their chances of survival be slim?"
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"For an ordinary person, yes, their chances would be slim.
"But for an Inner Martial Arts Master, whose True Qi circulates naturally, unifying their inner and outer bodies, snow landing on them wouldn’t even melt.
"This person here... is likely just taking a nap."
Long Qingzhi’s eyes widened. ’What kind of person sleeps in a place like this?’ she wondered.
Before she could ask, the mound of snow suddenly bulged. Then, with a shake of her arms, the person within sent the snow scattering into the air.
A woman dressed in white gave an impossibly charming yawn, then looked down at Fang Shuwen and Long Qingzhi with a languid, imperious gaze.
"You two. If you’re going to pass through the Chaotic Stone Forest, then pass through it. If not, take a detour.
"What are you doing standing around gossiping with nothing better to do?"