Chapter 1156: Different Paths, Same Destination

Everyone fell into quiet contemplation and pondered the key point.

After a while, someone showed a look of amazement. If the Void Immortal Sword Sect truly stood in opposition to Fang Chen and became a sword that was perpetually pointed at him yet could not be broken, it would always cause him trouble in the future, even if not fatal.

Public opinion can be frightening. If even the Void Immortal Sword Sect openly opposed Fang Chen, who else in the Central Continent would still believe his words?

"You brat, did you already foresee all of this before coming here?" said Wang Zhenlong, cracking a smile for the first time since Fang Chen's return to the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

Fang Chen let out a quiet breath of relief. He knew that at least for now, his master had forgiven him and had gotten out of this sticky situation.

Fang Chen nodded. "Back in the Immortal Demon Sea, Wang Chongsong knew he was doomed, so he destroyed that bone destiny. From that moment, I began to anticipate this day might come. But what he didn't expect was that the sword cultivators he planted in the Void Immortal Sword Sect, though nominally members of the Spirit God Sect, held the Heavenly Sword Division as their true priority in their hearts. So Qin Hucheng and Zhang Ling were willing to speak the truth, without needing much effort from me."

Everyone turned to look at Qin Hucheng with complicated gazes.

Langya Wenqiu murmured, "I just wanted to practice the sword.... Why is everything so complicated..."

Everyone heard this but could not answer. Indeed, wasn't their purpose the same as Langya Wenqiu's? Having become sword cultivators, ninety-nine percent of their obsessions now resided in this sword.

Wang Zhenlong was slightly taken aback. "You just said that my rebellious son severed his own bone destiny?"

Fang Chen nodded. "I hadn't even had a chance to act before he did it himself."

The last bit of unease in Wang Zhenlong's heart disappeared. He smiled and nodded. "Don't mind that some people were dissatisfied with you earlier. We are reasonable people and won't be manipulated into opposing you."

Everyone nodded. By this point, they completely believed Fang Chen's words. Even if there were still some doubts, the scene shown earlier in the Heaven Profound Mirror was enough to explain them. It was simple. The fact that Fang Chen was willing to stand here today and explain everything was proof enough that he bore no ill will toward the Void Immortal Sword Sect.

The bearded sword cultivator muttered to himself, "Chaotic Star, Prison Wind Lands, I really want to go and see for myself. Is the situation for sword cultivators over there truly so dire?"

Wang Zhenlong's face darkened. "Just focus on practicing your sword. What does all this have to do with you?"

The bearded sword cultivator replied awkwardly, "I'd love to just bury myself in training, but now that this fire has reached our sect, do you really think we can stay uninvolved?"

Wang Zhenlong said no more, his eyes flickering as if considering the future direction of the sect.

"Master, I have another suggestion for you. If you think it's feasible, even if the Spirit God Sect has more tricks up their sleeve, the Void Immortal Sword Sect can still take the initiative and won't have to act passively," said Fang Chen.

Wang Zhenlong asked casually, "What suggestion?"

Fang Chen replied, "I hope the Void Immortal Sword Sect can cultivate the Ghost God Dao."

Ghost God Dao?

Everyone looked confused. Even Wang Zhenlong didn't quite understand.

Qin Hucheng suddenly said, "Junior Brother Fang's suggestion... Everyone should really consider it. For us sword cultivators, the Ghost God Dao might be a new path."

The bearded sword cultivator frowned. "What is the Ghost God Dao?"

Qin Hucheng asked, "Do you all think I am alive or dead right now?"

"You're standing here alive and well, so why are you even asking us?" someone snorted, feeling as if they were being toyed with.

"Everyone, I really am dead. It was Junior Brother Fang who personally sent me on my way," said Qin Hucheng with a smile.

"Now I'm just a wandering soul that is able to appear here because Junior Brother Fang let me walk the Ghost God Dao. Though you are not colleagues from the Heavenly Sword Division, in my eyes, all sword cultivators under heaven are one family. This path is possible. It can be walked."

"Tell us. What exactly is this Ghost god Dao?" asked Wang Zhenlong, not really listening to Qin Hucheng but instead looking at Fang Chen.

He wanted to hear the reasoning for this suggestion directly from Fang Chen.

"From ancient times to now, everyone has sought immortality. But now, the gates to the Immortal Realm are closed. It is extremely difficult to become a true immortal in the Nine Realms of today. We sword cultivators walk the offensive path, a path of conquest. But ultimately, all paths lead to the same destination. In the end, we all hope to join the ranks of the immortals, right?" said Fang Chen.

Everyone nodded. Wasn't that obvious? Cultivation is about seeking immortality. All paths aimed for the same goal.

"The Ghost God Dao is equivalent to the path of true immortals, except the former is achieved in the Underworld, while the latter is achieved in the Immortal Realm," Fang Chen explained. "If you walk the Ghost God Dao, you don't need to go through the troublesome processes of tribulation and ascension. You can directly become a Ghost God, which in ancient times was considered equal to a true immortal."

The crowd was stunned, seemingly digesting Fang Chen's words.

Wang Zhenlong was silent for a few moments, then asked suspiciously, "If we walk the Ghost God Path, does that mean we'll end up dead like Qin Hucheng?"

Qin Hucheng sheepishly rubbed his nose.

Fang Chen smiled. "Qin Hucheng became a Ghost God after he died. But it is possible to become a Ghost God as a living person. Be it a cultivator or an ordinary person, all are equal after death. They become lonely wandering spirits, with no special means. But walking the Path of Yin is different. If you walk the Path of Yin, your cultivation in the Underworld will match your cultivation in the mortal world, with only some minor differences.

"Once you become a Ghost God while alive, even if you die later, you won't just be a lonely wandering spirit. All your cultivation will be preserved, and you can continue cultivating the Ghost God Dao."

The crowd was dumbfounded. Someone thought it through and asked in shock, "You mean... if we switch to cultivating the Ghost God Dao, even if we die in the future, we'll retain our former strength and can move about the mortal world like Qin Hucheng?"

Fang Chen nodded. That was basically the idea.

Everyone looked at each other. Perhaps... That was a viable path after all.

Wang Zhenlong pondered, "Are there any drawbacks?"

"If you walk the Ghost God Dao and your physical body dies in the mortal world, you might need to find a way to forge a new flying sword in the Underworld," said Fang Chen.

"That's not much of a drawback..." said Wang Zhenlong.

He thought for a moment before saying, "How about this? We'll go with you to the Underworld to take a look before deciding."

Fang Chen smiled, immediately taking out a series of Soul Guiding Lanterns. Seeing that, everyone realized Fang Chen had long prepared for this and wasn't making a sudden suggestion.

Two hours later, after the last person successfully crossed into the Underworld, Fang Chen's physical body entered the vast Yellow Springs, leading everyone to the banks of the Forgotten River.

It was Wang Zhenlong and the others' first time entering the Underworld. They were both curious and a little apprehensive. They crossed the Forgotten River, arrived at the capital of the underworld, and finally reached the Killing Spiritual Division.

Bai Qingming had been waiting there for some time. Upon seeing Wang Zhenlong and the others, he immediately approached with a beaming smile, "Supreme Emperor Wang, peak masters, you've all finally arrived."