Chapter 152: Elder Brother Wan Fang
Chapter 152: Elder Brother Wan Fang
Cheng Lingyu stood up, gazing at his master Han Cang with lingering nervousness.
This being their first meeting, neither knew the other well. Cheng Lingyu hadn’t prepared mentally beforehand, leaving him unsettled.
“Your elder brother is named Wan Fang. Only the two of us reside in the Supreme Spirit Palace. When he returns, ask him anything unclear. For now, explore the two outer palaces.”
“As you command.”
Cheng Lingyu exited the hall, feeling dreamlike disbelief.
Han Cang sat alone, a complicated smile crossing his handsome features.
“The legendary Fallen God Palace has awakened. Does this herald glory… or ruin?”
His decision to accept Cheng Lingyu as a disciple clearly tied to the Fallen God Palace’s emergence – yet he couldn’t discern whether this choice was wise.
Emerging outside, Cheng Lingyu pondered the same dilemma. Was becoming Han Cang’s disciple truly the right path?
Life’s uncertainties obscure right from wrong until consequences unfold.
Lan Xiaozhu’s fervent recommendation brought Cheng Lingyu to Lou Ri City, trusting her Celestial Cataclysm Divination. Yet what fate awaited him here remained shrouded.
…
Lou Ri City admitted eight hundred and one disciples this cycle. Seventy-two passed through the left portal, including Qu Wei and Lan Xiaozhu.
The two friends found themselves separated, assigned to different palaces.
Qu Wei materialized in Anmoon Ridge’s Second Palace – the Sixth Palace among Anmoon’s Twelve Palaces.
Lan Xiaozhu appeared in Youxing Ridge’s Third Palace – the Seventh Palace of Youxing’s Twelve Palaces.
Though middling in status, Anmoon and Youxing Ridges still surpassed Yunjir and Fallen God Ridges. Both women counted themselves fortunate entering the Middle Four Palaces directly.
Lou Ri Ridge remained most prestigious among Western Fallen Nine Ridges. Sixteen of the seventy-two chosen disciples entered Lou Ri’s Twelve Palaces, some halls receiving multiple initiates.
Feixing Ridge, Xuanmoon Ridge, Mingmo Ridge, and Xingyun Ridge also welcomed over ten disciples each.
The right portal selected two hundred disciples, predominantly from Lou Ri, Feixing, Xuanmoon, Mingmo, and Xingyun Ridges – claiming the choicest resources.
Remaining ridges fared poorly, particularly Fallen God Ridge which accepted merely two disciples from the seventy-two. The right portal’s ten selections seemed halfhearted.
Officials tallied portal selections while five hundred remaining candidates awaited assignment in two days.
Qu Wei and Lan Xiaozhu adjusted to new surroundings, their beauty attracting warm welcomes from palace brethren.
Cheng Lingyu wandered the Supreme Spirit Palace’s vast emptiness alone, three interconnected halls amplifying his solitude.
The colossal structure dwarfed him, its atmosphere thick with hidden mysteries. Every corner offered fresh wonders to the wide-eyed newcomer.
Time slipped away unnoticed until movement caught his eye at the palace doors – a distant figure approaching.
“Elder Brother Wan Fang?”
Cheng Lingyu froze in the doorway, studying the advancing silhouette.
The man in green approached, appearing around thirty with average height and plain features—neither handsome nor ugly. His face held a relaxed, contented expression. Upon seeing Cheng Lingyu, his eyes crinkled into slits, brows lifting with faint delight.
“Are you Elder Brother Wan Fang?”
Cheng Lingyu’s voice wavered slightly, his handsome face tinged with unease.
“That’s me. And you…?”
“Master’s newest disciple. I’m Cheng Lingyu. Greetings, Elder Brother Wan Fang.”
The man in green beamed. “Junior apprentice! Splendid—finally someone to share this solitude!”
Wan Fang appeared delighted, landing beside Cheng Lingyu and giving his shoulder a friendly pat while showering him with praise.
“Impressive! Mesmerizing looks, rock-solid foundation. Your age?”
“Eighteen.”
“Years of cultivation?”
“Nearly two.”
“What? Less than two years?!”
Wan Fang’s eyes widened, doubt clouding his features.
Cheng Lingyu scratched his neck awkwardly. “Truth is, I started young—practiced till ten without progress. Gave up martial arts for studies until sixteen…”
Ruo Xue’s delicate face flickered through his mind, dragging his mood downward.
Noticing the shift, Wan Fang clapped his back. “Master first. Stories later.”
With a tug, Wan Fang vaulted them past three palace doors into the grand hall.
“Master, I’m back.”
Wan Fang lounged casually before Han Cang’s glowing form.
“Disciple greets Master.”
Cheng Lingyu bowed stiffly, reverence etched in his posture.
“Skip formalities. Report on Lou Ri City’s disciple recruitment.”
“Got the numbers—801 total recruits. 81 at Blood Martial Realm. Divine Trees’ Portal claimed 72, while Fallen God Ridge only got two. Tianmu Portal selected 200+ across palaces—just ten for us.”
The left portal was Divine Trees’ Portal, the right Tianmu Portal—standard Lou Ri City selection paths.
“Lou Ri Ridge leads with 16 of the 72. Feixing, Xuanmoon, Mingmo, Xingyun Ridges took ten each. Youxing and Anmoon got five. Yunjir Ridge four. We’re last with two.”
Han Cang sat motionless, aura shimmering. As Lou Ri City’s weakest branch, Fallen God Ridge long abandoned pride.
“Noteworthy candidates?”
“Still verifying, but Mingmo Ridge reportedly sent someone straight to upper four palaces. Accurate news needs days—Nine Ridges always bicker before confirming.”
“Divine Trees’ Portal’s direct entries aren’t ordinary. Monitor this. Conceal Cheng Lingyu’s background until we assess other branches.”
“Understood. I’ll show junior apprentice around first.”
“Proceed.”
Wan Fang yanked Cheng Lingyu’s arm—suddenly they stood outside, having crossed hundreds of feet unnoticed. Cheng Lingyu gaped at the speed.
Beyond Supreme Spirit Palace, Wan Fang led to a cliffside perch above swirling clouds.
“Where’re you from, junior?”
“Yunyang City, southern Tianyang Empire. My birthplace—Shiyang Town—lies a thousand miles beyond. You?”
“Lou Ri City native. Nothing exotic.” Wan Fang’s earthy grin radiated warmth.
“You seem content here.”
“Peaceful place. Lonely, but few troubles—good for tempering resolve.”
“Fallen God Ridge and Fallen God Mountain—connected?”
Cheng Lingyu’s second attempt—Elder Shi had dodged the question last time.
Wan Fang glanced furtively. “Careful. Legends say a God King died here long ago.”
“When?!”
“Tens of millennia back? Found in Xiyun Divine Mountain ruins. Folks think Fallen God Mountain’s name stems from that.”
His hushed tone made Cheng Lingyu drop the subject.
“Isn’t Lou Ri City among the 108 palaces?”
“Lou Ri Ridge’s mountainside—between Middle Four Palaces’ Second and Third. Ancient miracle-site. Our ridge breeds unparalleled geniuses every generation—city’s pride.”
“Others never surpass?”
“Not always. A millennium back, Mingmo Ridge’s unparalleled genius crushed Lou Ri’s talents. Represented us against Three Saints and Four Peerless—till his… disappearance.”
“Pity. Had he lived, Lou Ri’s fame’d shine brighter. How did Xiyun’s 108 palaces form?”
Wan Fang snorted. “You dig too deep into old tales.”
“I’m new here. Must start somewhere.”
“Few palaces existed originally. Most were rebuilt. What matters are upper four palaces. Mingmo’s genius came from Twelve Palaces’ First—another Divine Trees’ Portal direct entry. Rare in our history.”
Cheng Lingyu’s breath hitched—now grasping the First Palace’s monumental status.