The First Venerable of All Paths

"Alright, you can all go out now."

After sending Granny Yin and the others away, Lu Zhaochao said to Fang Xuan, "Let's just leave it at that. Since that thing is with you, you can keep it for yourself."

"Thank you, Sister Lu Zhao."

Fang Xuan chuckled, quite satisfied with the result.

"If anyone should be thanking someone, it's me who should be thanking you."

Lu Zhao said, "Refining fifth-grade pills is not easy. I will do my best to find the medicinal materials, but you will have to rely on yourself for everything else."

"Don't worry, Sister Lu Zhao. I won't go back on my word since I promised."

Fang Xuan nodded seriously and said, "The Essence Pill is only the first step. To extend one's lifespan, other higher-grade pills are needed. I'll have to trouble Sister Lu Zhao to wait a little longer."

"These things can't be rushed."

Lu Zhao said, "It would be best if it could work out, but if it doesn't, I won't blame you."

Fang Xuan nodded, chatted with Lu Zhao for a few more minutes, and then left the room.

"It's finally resolved."

Fang Xuan touched his back, his face full of helplessness.

"What a mess this is."

At this very moment, within his sword bone, a palm-sized stone platform is frantically devouring Fang Xuan's innate sword energy.

Fang Xuan never expected that when he left the Blood Pool Secret Realm, this Enlightenment Platform would actually voluntarily burrow into his sword bone.

Since it was something from the Lu family's secret realm, Fang Xuan felt ashamed to take it, so he took the initiative to mention it to Lu Zhao.

In return, he agreed to help Lu Zhao repair his depleted vital energy and extend his lifespan.

"But why choose sword bones for this?"

Fang Xuan was somewhat puzzled.

The sword bone is where Fang Xuan nurtured his original flying sword, and it is also the foundation of Fang Xuan's swordsmanship.

But Fang Xuan had never heard of any necessary connection between the Enlightenment Platform and the Way of the Sword.

"Hopefully, nothing unexpected will happen."

A light flickered in his eyes as he continued to channel his innate sword energy into his enlightenment platform.

He also wanted to see what this thing was for.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

Just then, a gentle voice rang in my ears.

Fang Xuan turned his head and saw Li Guanlan looking at him with a half-smile.

"What's good or bad looking?"

Fang Xuan was completely confused.

"Pack."

Li Guanlan rolled his eyes and said, "Don't think I don't know what you're doing in there."

Fang Xuan immediately looked embarrassed.

Li Guanlan knew some of his secrets and naturally guessed that he was using the Chaos Origin to heal Lu Zhao's injuries.

Seeing Fang Xuan's extremely embarrassed expression, Li Guanlan decided to stop while he was ahead.

"Let's go, let's go to your place for a while."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan nodded slightly.

Soon, the two arrived at the room that Lu Zhao had arranged for Fang Xuan.

Li Guanlan used his spiritual power to create a small barrier to protect the room and prevent outsiders from spying on it.

"Now, ask whatever you want."

Fang Xuan didn't rush to speak, but first poured Li Guanlan a cup of tea before asking, "You've broken through to the fourth-grade Soul Master level?"

"Almost there."

Li Guanlan did not hide anything, and shook his head softly, saying, "However, I am not in a hurry to break through to the fourth rank right now."

"Because of the Devouring Soul Jar?"

"right."

Li Guanlan bluntly stated, "This thing is extremely extraordinary. I have only just begun to refine it, so my spiritual realm cannot be too high."

Why?

Fang Xuan asked in confusion, "When refining a soul weapon, isn't it better to have a higher level of spiritual power?"

"That applies to ordinary Horcruxes."

Li Guanlan said, "The Devouring Heaven Soul Jar is the Devouring Heaven Soul Master's original soul weapon. It is a growth-type soul weapon. The two are not in a master-servant relationship, but rather coexist.

Growth-type Soul Weapon?

Fang Xuan was startled.

This kind of soul weapon is comparable to the sword cultivator's original flying sword.

Because growth-type soul weapons will continuously increase in power as their master's cultivation level improves.

The two sides complement each other and achieve mutual success.

It is conceivable how terrifying the power of this soul weapon would be if Li Guanlan were to grow up one day.

"Understood."

Fang Xuan suddenly realized, "You need to keep your divine soul power consistent with the Devouring Soul Jar, otherwise, the connection between you and this soul artifact will not be strong enough."

That's exactly the point.

Li Guanlan said, "I am currently at the peak of the third-grade Soul Master, which is just enough to achieve a stable state with the Devouring Heaven Soul Jar."

"Once I further refine this jar, my spiritual power will also break through."

"It seems you've secured a remarkable opportunity, which is a good thing."

Fang Xuan smiled and then whispered, "Does this jar truly contain the legacy of that Devouring Heaven Soul Master?"

"I don't know."

Li Guanlan shook his head and said, "At least for now, I haven't received any information."

Fang Xuan stroked his chin, looking thoughtful.

"Do you think those people came for this item, or for the legacy within?"

Li Guanlan flipped his hand, and the Devouring Heaven Soul Jar appeared in his palm.

The jar was small, completely black, but without a single character or pattern.

It's extremely ordinary; the kind of trash that no one would even glance at if thrown on the roadside.

Unfortunately, this was the original soul weapon of a powerful soul cultivator, a treasure with the potential for growth.

"When you first see this thing, who would dare to associate it with a soul weapon?"

Fang Xuan reached out and gently touched the jar; it felt cold and had a rough texture.

"The product is indeed a good product, but it also brings a lot of trouble."

Li Guanlan said, "Those guys won't give up."

Fang Xuan's expression also tightened, and he said, "Do you know which faction they come from?"

Lu Zhao remained tight-lipped and unwilling to say much, which made Fang Xuan feel somewhat uneasy.

"I can roughly guess some of it, but I'm not sure."

Li Guanlan said, "I once heard my master say that in Qingzhou, besides top sects like the Dao Asking Sect, there are some hidden super forces. They usually keep a low profile, but their foundation is extremely deep, no less than that of the Dao Asking Sect."

Fang Xuan nodded; Lu Zhao had also mentioned this point.

"If I'm not mistaken, those people should come from a hidden force, the Hundred Souls Hall."

"The Hall of a Hundred Souls?"

This was the first time Fang Xuan had heard this name.

"I don't know anything about this force; I've only heard my master mention it once."

Li Guanlan said, "The Hundred Souls Hall was originally formed by a hundred Soul Dao experts, which was equivalent to an alliance, but its power was extremely fragmented."

"A hundred Soul Path experts?"

Fang Xuan gasped.

How many Soul Path warriors are there in the entire Qingzhou?

However, the Hundred Souls Hall is composed of a hundred Soul Dao experts, which shows how terrifying this force is.

"Although they are said to be a hundred Soul Dao experts, their individual strengths vary greatly."

Li Guanlan continued, "Moreover, because this force acted too aggressively, it also suffered some targeting and suppression, resulting in heavy losses."

"Later, at the suggestion of one of the hall masters, the Hundred Souls Hall went from the open to the covert, developing quietly."

Li Guanlan's expression grew increasingly serious, and he said in a deep voice, "To this day, no one knows how far the Hundred Souls Hall has developed, but anyone who has been targeted by this organization has never survived."

"Soul Path Alliance, Hundred Souls Hall".

Fang Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "It makes sense that they are looking for this Devouring Soul Jar."

"They came for the Devouring Heaven Soul Jar, and also for the inheritance of the Devouring Heaven Soul Master."

Li Guanlan said, "Over the years, the Hundred Souls Hall has been searching everywhere for the caves and ruins of various Soul Dao experts, and collecting all kinds of Soul Weapons and Devouring Soul Jars. They certainly won't let them go."

That's all I know.

Li Guanlan looked at Fang Xuan and said, "What do you want to say?"

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan smiled and said calmly, "Should I say I don't want to be implicated by you and we part ways? Or should I knock you out and hand you over to the Hundred Souls Hall?"

Upon hearing this, Li Guanlan rolled his eyes.

"I'm talking to you about serious business."

Fang Xuan put away his joke and said seriously, "Li Guanlan, although I, Fang Xuan, dare not call myself a good person, I am definitely not a two-faced villain."

"You are my friend, Fang Xuan. Anyone who dares to touch you, I will kill them."

A cold glint flashed in Fang Xuan's eyes, his killing intent surging.

"It's just a Soul Master Alliance. Even if they've been secretly developing for years, how strong can it really be?"

Fang Xuan smiled, his expression changing, and said, "You don't think that just because a few experts at the Divine Intent Realm have arrived, it means that everyone in the Hundred Souls Hall is at least at the Divine Intent Realm, do you?"

"If that's the case, wouldn't they be in charge of the entire Qingzhou?"

Li Guanlan nodded in agreement.

A master of the Divine Realm isn't something you can just pick up anywhere.

Even among top sects like the Dao Seeking Sect, a Divine Intent Realm expert is considered an extremely powerful force.

"That being said, we must still be on guard."

Li Guanlan cautioned, "We were lucky this time; the Lu family brought out their ancestral artifact and repelled them. But next time, things might not be so simple."

"I do know that."

Fang Xuan said, "We still need to be careful, but you don't need to worry too much. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

The two chatted for two hours before Li Guanlan got up to say goodbye and leave.

"Fang Xuan."

As Li Guanlan reached the door, he suddenly stopped.

"What?"

"Thanks."

Looking at Li Guanlan who had just walked out of the door, Fang Xuan was at a loss for words, feeling both amused and exasperated.

Why are you all being so polite?

"The Hall of a Hundred Souls..."

Fang Xuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought.

"Red Scale, are you aware of this faction?"

After a long while, the voice of the Crimson Scale Demon Emperor echoed in his mind.

"You guessed it?"

The Crimson Scale Demon Emperor's tone was somewhat complicated, even carrying extreme hatred.

"That's right. I not only know about them, but they also have something to do with why I was sealed under that lake."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan's expression suddenly changed.

"You mean, you were sealed away in the Mysterious Realm by them?"

You should know that the Mysterious Realm now belongs to the Fang family.

If the Crimson Scale Demon Emperor was sealed within by the Hundred Souls Hall, it means that the Hundred Souls Hall knew of the existence of the Mysterious Realm and also knew of the Fang family's existence.

"Don't overthink it. The Hundred Souls Hall is unaware of the existence of the Mysterious Realm. Otherwise, such a good thing wouldn't be available to you."

The Crimson Scale Demon Emperor said, "I was injured by a purple-robed figure from the Hundred Souls Hall. While fleeing, I inadvertently stumbled into the Mysterious Realm."

"I see."

Fang Xuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The Fang family is his Achilles' heel; if the Hundred Souls Hall really targets him, that would be the biggest problem.

"So, this Hundred Souls Hall is even more troublesome than I imagined."

"With your current strength, they could wipe you out with a single finger."

Chi Lin sneered, "Boy, I must remind you, you'd better cut ties with that woman as soon as possible, otherwise..."

"Red Scales!"

Fang Xuan's tone turned cold as he said, "I don't want to hear those words again. Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to reseal you, or even eliminate you!"

"You should know I'm capable of doing it!"

Red Scales fell silent.

But I felt inexplicably relieved.

At least this time, he didn't misjudge the person.