Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin: I Set Taboos in the Heavens

After the illusory image of the Five Elements Venerables dissipated, the summit of Saint King Peak returned to tranquility.

Fang Qing did not immediately emerge from seclusion to wreak havoc; instead, he became increasingly calm.

His master had already made it clear that no one above the Legendary Realm would dare to bully the weak, so he had no worries and could simply proceed steadily at his own pace.

So, in the days that followed, Fang Qing continued to live a secluded life, spending most of his time in seclusion deep within the Holy King's Palace. When he occasionally appeared, it was only to preach within the peak, instruct the disciples of the sect, or handle some necessary sect affairs.

His aura became increasingly harmonious and restrained. If he did not deliberately release it, he would be almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person. However, if a master were to probe him with their divine sense, they would feel that beneath that calm exterior lay a terrifying power as deep and unfathomable as an abyss.

His reputation did not diminish due to his low profile; on the contrary, it grew louder both inside and outside the academy as the Holy King Sect grew stronger and his terrifying skill of "nine times taking lives" became increasingly prominent.

Many disciples and even elders spoke of Fang Qing with reverence and admiration.

This "sitting calmly on the sidelines" attitude is making some people anxious and restless.

Inside the Lingxiao Villa, Xie Feng's face grew more and more gloomy each day.

His informants reported that Fang Qing almost never left Saint King Peak and acted without leaving a trace.

He tried several times to provoke a conflict or send people to test the waters, but he could not find a suitable opportunity.

Forcing his way into Saint King Peak? That would be tantamount to openly breaking with tradition. Although the Five Elements Venerable does not interfere in battles among peers, if Xie Feng were to directly break the rules and force his way in, that legendary expert would definitely not stand idly by.

"Coward!"

Xie Feng slammed his palm down, shattering the black iron table beside him, his eyes blazing with fury. "I refuse to believe you can hide on this mountain forever! There will come a time when you have no choice but to come out!"

He waited anxiously, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, flicking its tongue, searching for an opportunity to strike a fatal blow.

The opportunity soon arrived in a grand manner.

The annual "Four Great Academies Competition" is being held at Tianwei Academy this year.

This is a grand event in the cultivation world of the Abundant Continent, aimed at exchanging ideas and showcasing the talent and strength of the younger generation from various academies.

In an instant, the area where the Celestial Academy was located became a hub of activity and excitement.

The main venue for the competition was located in the central square in the center of the college.

On this day, flags fluttered all around the square, the stands were high, and the place was bustling with activity. Elite students, core disciples, and even the elders leading the teams from the four academies gathered together, creating a magnificent spectacle.

The students of True Dragon Academy wore bright yellow outfits, with lifelike five-clawed dragons embroidered in gold thread on their chests, cuffs, and even hems, displaying royal nobility and domineering majesty.

Their auras were connected, and a faint dragon's might permeated the air, drawing attention from onlookers.

The disciples of Sun Moon Academy wore moon-white robes, with a golden sun embroidered on the left chest and a silver crescent moon on the right.

The sun and moon shining together symbolize the cycle of yin and yang, and the coexistence of light and darkness.

Most of them possess either a cool or fiery temperament, clearly distinct yet harmoniously unified. In particular, several core female disciples, like bright pearls and beautiful jade, attract countless eyes.

As the host, Tianwei Academy embroidered the ancient Chinese character "天" (tian, meaning heaven) on the cuffs and hem of its disciples' robes, symbolizing "receiving the mandate of heaven and nurturing all things."

They had the advantage of playing at home, had a large number of players, and were in high spirits.

The visitors from the Sea God Academy were all dressed in light blue robes, with what appeared to be ripples of water flowing across them, bringing with them a sense of moisture and a faint ocean scent as they walked.

Most of them had peaceful expressions and deep eyes, as if they contained the boundless mystery of the sea.

The four formations, each with its own unique characteristics, exuded the aura of powerful figures, filling the entire Sky Battle Square with an invisible pressure and a fervent fighting spirit.

Meanwhile, Xie Feng, the core figure of the Crown Prince's faction, dressed in black, coldly surveyed the crowd before his gaze shot towards Fang Qing like a poisoned arrow.

"Finally... out."

Xie Feng's lips curled into a cruel smile. "In the grand competition, on the arena, swords have no eyes, and life and death are left to fate... Fang Qing, let's see how you hide this time!"

He had already made up his mind to "legitimately" cripple or even kill Fang Qing in the arena battle, in order to eliminate future troubles and restore the prestige of the Crown Prince's faction.

Fang Qing naturally sensed Xie Feng's undisguised malicious gaze, but he didn't care.

He appeared calm, even somewhat absent-minded, as his mind was currently immersed in deducing and contemplating a higher realm.

With the guidance of the Five Elements Venerable, the profoundness of his own "Great Five Elements Technique," and the assistance of resources such as the Fountain of Life, his path to breaking through to the legendary realm has become increasingly clear.

The Legendary Nine Transformations: Each step a new level. The first transformation, the Blood Soul Transformation, involves reshaping the meridians, dantian, flesh, and bones, strengthening the blood and physique—the foundation of a towering building.

The human body is a precious raft for crossing the world, and the foundation for carrying all supernatural powers and magic.

The second transformation, the transformation of the soul, focuses on strengthening the spirit, refining the divine will, and enabling thoughts to reach the heavens and earth, thus beginning to communicate with and comprehend the laws of the universe.

Fang Qing said that this seemed to be nothing difficult.

The third transformation is the transformation of emptiness.

When the physical body and soul become powerful enough, one can begin to perceive and utilize superficial spatial laws, creating unstable spaces or traversing small parallel spaces. This requires an extremely keen perception and control over space.

This realm seems comparable to the Longevity Triple Heaven Realm of the Eternal Life Realm, but there is no need for a one-to-one correspondence.

The fourth change is the change of the Five Elements.

This might be a major hurdle for other cultivators, requiring them to painstakingly collect the five elements and comprehend their interactions, but for Fang Qing, who had cultivated the "Great Five Elements Technique" to a certain level, it was as easy as going home.

The extreme changes of the Five Elements, their mutual generation and restraint, are one of the core elements of his supernatural powers.

The fifth change is the change of Yin and Yang.

By integrating and transforming the Yin and Yang energies of Heaven and Earth with the energies of the Five Elements, one can comprehend the true essence of Yin and Yang.

Only when Yin and Yang are in harmony can all things be created.

Fang Qing remained unconcerned about this level of attainment, and could even reach it easily.

The Nine Transformations of Legends seems somewhat similar to the Longevity Secret Realm in the Eternal Life Realm. However, the Eternal Life Realm does not have variables such as the Five Elements Transformation or the Yin-Yang Transformation. Such variables can be completely transformed through Taoist magic and supernatural powers.

These are the cultivation methods of different worlds. In comparison, the Saint King's Method has the meaning of making cultivators more well-rounded.

As Fang Qing pondered these matters, the Five Elements Qi constantly arrived from all directions, silently merging into his limbs, bones, and internal organs, undergoing the most subtle yet thorough tempering and replenishment.

This is not something that is deliberately cultivated, but rather an instinct that arises after the "Great Five Elements Technique" has been cultivated to a high level, as natural as breathing.

His calm demeanor stood out remarkably in the bustling, competitive Tianzhan Square.

"Is that Fang Qing, the newly rising star of the Heavenly Academy? Indeed, he has an extraordinary bearing, profound and unfathomable."

"Nine times the life-snatching technique! I heard he only recently started, this cultivation speed is simply mythical! Judging from the harmonious aura around him, he seems poised to step into the legendary realm at any moment!"

"The leader of the Holy King Sect... He has managed to gather such influence in such a short time, and even took a legendary giant like the Five Elements Venerable as his personal disciple. This child's future is limitless!"

Many disciples from other academies, and even the elders leading the teams, all focused their attention on Fang Qing, whispering among themselves, their tone filled with amazement, curiosity, and assessment.

The disciples of the main academy of the Heavenly Academy mostly wore expressions of reverence, while the members of the Holy King Faction stood up straight, feeling honored.

Of course, not everyone is well-intentioned.

Within the Crown Prince's faction, cold, jealous, and even undisguised murderous gazes were fixed on Fang Qing like leeches.

Xie Feng had a cold smile on his lips and his eyes were as sinister as a venomous snake, as if he could already see Fang Qing being torn to pieces by his own hands on the stage.

Among the various factions, including Poseidon Academy and True Dragon Academy, a few top talents scrutinized Fang Qing's "latecomer" reputation with dissatisfaction and were eager to test his mettle.

Fang Qing accepted these gazes, whether admiring or hostile, without showing the slightest fluctuation in his expression.

Praise does not make him arrogant, nor does hostility make him fearful. This detached state of mind, when viewed by some truly wise elders, earns them even more admiration.

"clang--!"

Just then, a magnificent and resounding bell, seemingly coming from the heavens, echoed throughout the entire Tianzhan Square, instantly silencing all the noise.

An elderly man dressed in the robes of a celestial academy elder, with an aura as deep and boundless as the sea, slowly ascended to the center of the plaza, his voice booming and clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"The Grand Competition of the Four Academies shall now begin! The main purpose is friendly sparring, stopping when the point is reached. However, swords have no eyes, and supernatural powers are merciless; if there are any injuries, let fate decide! Now, all participating disciples, prepare to draw lots!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, and the fighting spirit soared to the sky.

The storm has officially arrived. (End of Chapter)