The First Venerable of All Paths

Fang Xuan was unaware of this.

Not long after he left, a faint green light drifted up from a withered leaf.

In an instant, it transformed into a streak of light, piercing the night sky and shooting off into the unknown distance.

Several days later.

The wisp of green light finally disappeared into a hidden mountain cave.

The cave was deep and silent, filled with the smell of decay and dust, as if no one had set foot there for thousands of years.

The green light swayed gently in the air and slowly fell to the ground onto a withered old vine.

"Snap!"

A faint cracking sound quietly arose.

Immediately afterwards, streaks of green light flew in from all directions.

The faint light spread, and in an instant, it illuminated the entire cave in a shimmering green.

The withered vines on the ground snapped and fell, revealing an ancient and majestic blue stone throne.

On the throne lay a long-forgotten skeleton.

At that moment, the skeleton's fingers trembled slightly.

As if summoned from the heavens, the countless green rays flowed and converged, continuously pouring into the skeleton's body.

The first wisp of green light to fly into the cave also merged into it.

"Wow, what a domineering sword intent..."

A hoarse, piercing sound echoed in the cave, like the scraping of broken porcelain, making one's eardrums feel cold and raw.

"Sword cultivator Fang Xuan? Very good."

The voice rang out again, carrying a chilling, sinister tone.

"If I can control this person, the opportunities within the Azure Lotus Secret Realm will be mine for the taking."

As soon as he finished speaking, the green light in the cave gradually faded, and it returned to its deep darkness, remaining silent as ever.

All of this is a story for another time.

......

More than half an hour after Fang Xuan left the village.

A figure burst through the air, standing proudly in the void.

His spiritual energy surged endlessly, and a chilling killing intent swept across the land.

The newcomer was none other than Ming Yong, the head of the Ming family, a top expert whose cultivation had reached the peak of the third level of the Divine Intent Realm.

"Fang Xuan, you truly deserve to die!"

Ming Yong clenched his fists tightly, his face was grim and twisted, and his eyes were filled with raging fury.

The divine sense sealed in the summoning jade talisman was forcibly erased, and he, who was far away in Mingyang County, immediately set off to come.

In the end, it was still too late.

His son, Mingyang, has already died.

"Fang Xuan, you brat! If I don't tear you to pieces, I, Ming Yong, swear I'm not human!"

As the head of the Ming family and a cultivator at the Divine Realm, Ming Yong held a high position and great power in Mingyang County and had never suffered such humiliation.

No one has ever dared to openly trample on the dignity of the Ming family and kill members of the Ming family!

"Master, we have searched the entire area within hundreds of miles, but have not found any trace of that person."

A figure rode up on horseback and bowed to Ming Yong.

He was another elder of the Ming family, Ming Zhang.

Both are at the half-step Divine Realm cultivation level, but they are from the direct line of the Ming family and their status is far above that of Zheng Chu and his ilk.

"Then expand the search area!"

Ming Yong spoke in a deep, cold voice, his killing intent chilling to the bone.

"Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find that little beast!"

"Don't worry, Master, I have already sent people to seal off all entrances and exits to Mingyang County."

Mingzhang cupped his hands and replied, "As long as that brat remains within the territory of Mingyang County, he will be unable to escape."

With the Ming family's immense power in Mingyang County, mobilizing manpower to blockade all the passes and checkpoints in the region would be a piece of cake.

This is the fundamental reason why countless forces in the world dare not easily provoke the Ming family.

"it is good."

Ming Yong's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his tone became extremely ruthless.

"Remember, capture him alive at all costs!"

"I will personally crush that little bastard's bones, inch by inch, to appease my son's spirit in heaven!"

The pain of losing a child is like a burning, bone-deep wound.

Regardless of who is right or wrong, as a father, he must make Fang Xuan pay a bloody price.

"Yes, sir!"

Mingzhang bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left, immediately relaying Mingyong's instructions to conduct a full-scale search.

......

the other side.

Inside a deep, secluded mountain cave.

Fang Xuangang had just sat down cross-legged when his face suddenly turned pale.

"The forced eruption of reversed essence blood can temporarily boost cultivation, but the drawbacks are ultimately too great."

He felt the emptiness and depletion of his vital energy and blood within his body, and sighed helplessly in his heart.

Whether it was erasing Ming Yong's divine sense or killing Ming Yang and the old monster Ku, with his original true cultivation level, he would have found it difficult to do such a thing.

Fortunately, he had many trump cards: the Undying Phoenix Flame, his martial arts techniques, and his identity as a sword cultivator, all of which were precisely what allowed him to counter his opponent and barely succeed.

Even if one thing were missing, it wouldn't be this easy.

After all, his cultivation level was ultimately too low.

And he was very clear about it.

The Ming family will never give up easily and will definitely do everything in their power to find him.

"This place is still within the territory of Mingyang County. Once the Ming family finds our trail, we will inevitably face a lot of trouble."

Fang Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly, his mind calm.

"However, the most urgent task is to restore our cultivation level first."

He suppressed his distracting thoughts and focused on regulating his breathing and resting quietly.

Next, Fang Xuan took the pills and circulated his cultivation technique to slowly nourish his qi and blood, replenishing the deficiency of his essence and vital energy.

It took him three whole days to finally get himself back to peak condition.

The body is filled with vital energy, the blood and qi are stable and full, and there is no feeling of depletion in the spirit and soul.

"It's time to leave."

Fang Xuan slowly stood up, carrying the sword box on his back, and walked out of the cave.

Half a day later, Fang Xuan frowned deeply.

He discovered that all the mountain roads and passes leading to the outer prefectures were guarded by layers of martial artists.

Security was tight, and all passersby were strictly checked, with no one spared.

These martial artists, dressed in Ming family attire, were clearly members of the Ming family.

What made his heart sink even more was that these people were holding his portrait.

Including the innate sword box on his back.

The Ming family has already sealed off the entire prefecture and posted reward posters everywhere, clearly intending to trap him within Mingyang Prefecture.

Fang Xuan glanced around coldly and quickly figured out the trick.

All exits leading out of the county were strictly guarded, leaving no room for error.

The only passages leading into Mingyang County appear to be poorly guarded, with deliberate loopholes left open.

It was clearly a deliberately set trap to lure the prey into a snare.

Forced into a corner, he voluntarily entered Mingyang County.

The Ming family's move was based on the assumption that he would not dare to force his way through the blockade, and that he could only sneak into the county by taking advantage of the flow of people, and then slowly tighten the net to trap and annihilate him step by step.

"A clever plan."

A cold glint flashed in Fang Xuan's eyes.

Mingyang County is the territory of the Ming family.

If they enter Mingyang County, their lives will be decided by the Ming family.

But this only applies to ordinary people.

Touching the crimson bracelet on his wrist, Fang Xuan murmured to himself, "Since you want to lure me into a trap, wouldn't it be disappointing if I didn't go?"

Then, Fang Xuan went to a deserted place.

After a quick mental search, he found a little-known secret technique.

A hundred different appearances.

It is a minor secret technique created by the Soul Dream Empress herself.

Using the power of the soul, one can alter one's facial features and appearance.

Of course, Fang Xuan's current spiritual power can only change slightly and cannot completely transform him into another person.

As for the Innate Sword Box, since it couldn't be stored in a storage ring, Fang Xuan had no choice but to wrap it in a piece of black cloth.

After changing his clothes and putting on a bamboo hat, Fang Xuan walked toward a slightly loose entrance.