The next day, Fang Cheng and Cen San Niang went to the Earth Palace of the Library Pavilion to see the Rock Inscription that Cen San Niang had retrieved.

The Earth Palace was grand and imposing, enveloped by a Second Order Array with its restrictive seals constantly active. Cen San Niang would be alerted to the slightest disturbance.

Cen San Niang had placed the Rock Inscription at the front of the Earth Palace. When Fang Cheng went closer, he saw that the cliff face was composed of over a hundred stone slabs, each about ten feet wide!

Cen San Niang had carved out the inscribed cliff face, stone and all, brought it back, and neatly reassembled it.

Thousands of words flowed across the stone wall, thoroughly recounting the deeds of the Demon Buddha.

The calligraphy was wild and flamboyant, yet it radiated a chilling killing intent and intense hatred. A terrifying Saber Intent was embedded between the lines; if one could comprehend it, they would surely obtain a top-tier Saber Technique!

Within these texts were detailed descriptions of the Demon Buddha’s major legacies, with the Li Hen Demon Light and the Nine Heavens Cold Ice Technique naturally listed among them.

"Dharma Realm cultivators have a lifespan of twelve hundred years. The Demon Buddha has probably died of old age by now," Fang Cheng said to Cen San Niang after they finished reading the inscription.

Cen San Niang’s expression turned grave. "Not necessarily. With the Demon Buddha’s power, it’s also possible he broke through to an even higher realm. Not long ago, I saw a Demon Buddha Inheritor who cultivates the Nine Heavens Cold Ice Technique right here in the Immortal City. If someone like that were to appear in the Yun Country..."

Fang Cheng didn’t reply, his mind racing. There were two questions he still couldn’t answer.

’First, the Dragon Elephant Wanderer’s legacy concealed a Visualization Diagram for entering the Void Ghost Marketplace. I don’t know what his relationship with the Demon Buddha is...’

’Second, from what Lady Qinxue said, it seems the Dragon Elephant Wanderer and the orthodox Demon Buddha Inheritors are like fire and water. This matter needs further investigation, but as for Chen Yu Yan and Wang Xingzhi... if they run into a Demon Buddha Inheritor, their chances of survival are slim.’

’After I get back, I have to warn them.’

...

After seeing the Rock Inscription, Fang Cheng decided it was time to leave.

One day, he deliberately invited Tang Mengru to the Cen Mansion. Under the pretext of discussing the Dao with a friend, he engaged in some clandestine affairs.

At the same time, he secretly had a maid go and invite the Third Lady over.

When Cen San Niang arrived, she naturally walked in on their affair. She was both furious and enraged, overcome with jealousy, but couldn’t lash out in front of her good friend, Shopkeeper Tang. She decided to wait until that night to settle things with Fang Cheng.

Unexpectedly, Fang Cheng pushed his luck even further, forcefully pulling the Third Lady in to join their "cultivation" session.

Tang Mengru was so shocked she was left speechless.

However, once that final barrier was broken, the three of them found their dynamic surprisingly harmonious, like fish in water.

Fang Cheng dallied with his two beauties, enjoying a carefree life in Divine Pillar Immortal City for another month before leaving a letter and departing in secret.

Thanks to his Celestial Ghost Sword Escape, Cen San Niang didn’t notice the slightest sign of his departure.

He left Divine Pillar Immortal City, reverted to his original appearance, summoned a Tier Two Flying Ship, and headed north. Before long, he was in the skies above the Southern Mang Mountains.

Suddenly, a vast and ancient dragon’s roar echoed from the heavens.

Fang Cheng looked up and saw that, at some unknown point, a flood dragon over a hundred feet long and deep blue in color had appeared behind him in the sky.

The massive flood dragon had six Dragon Horns on its head and radiated an icy, nether-like cold. Strange, swirling patterns grew naturally on its Dragon Scales, mesmerizing and disorienting anyone who looked at them.

"A Nine Nether Flood Dragon!"

Fang Cheng recognized the beast’s origin at a glance. His gaze narrowed, focusing on the top of the massive flood dragon’s head.

There, a young man of about twenty, dressed as a scholar, was looking at him with a faint smile.

Their eyes met, and they both recognized each other.

"Ren Yan..." Fang Cheng’s expression darkened, and Sword Intent began to circulate around him.

"So, you’re the one Senior Sister mentioned... Cyan Profound Sword, Fang Cheng." Ren Yan looked at Fang Cheng and sighed with emotion. "Back at the Xiao Family’s estate, you only had a Mid-stage Sensing Cultivation. To think you’ve grown this powerful in just a few years."

Fang Cheng sneered, "And you actually remember my name."

Ren Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back and smiled. "I have a photographic memory. Besides, Fellow Daoist Fang’s fame has skyrocketed. Your name is known far and wide throughout the Abyssal Marsh. How could I not know of you?"

Fang Cheng put away his Flying Boat and stood in the void, facing Ren Yan and the giant flood dragon without a trace of fear. He asked, "You’ve been tailing me. For what reason?"

He secretly gripped the Sword Light Talisman Cai Li had given him, waiting for the right moment to activate it and slay Ren Yan!

’This man’s cultivation was profound, and his techniques were strange; even Gao Chong hadn’t been able to take him down. Though Fang Cheng was proud of his own progress, he knew he still wasn’t on par with the Gao Chong from their time at the Xiao Family’s estate.’

’What’s more, Ren Yan had instigated a fight between the Southern Mang Demon King and the Yinluo Sect’s Supreme Elder, forcing both Life Soul Realm masters into seclusion. That alone spoke volumes about his cunning.’

Ren Yan toyed with a string of skull beads in his hand and said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist Fang, you and I are bound by fate, it seems. Not long ago, you destroyed my Senior Sister’s incarnation. Now, you will come with me."

’Lady Qinxue was the Demon Dao incarnation of Ren Yan’s Senior Sister?!’

A chill ran down Fang Cheng’s spine.

’This Ren Yan is a Demon Buddha Inheritor!’

’No wonder...’

Though his mind was in turmoil, he said aloud, "And what if I refuse?"

Ren Yan gave a lazy smile. "If you refuse, there’s nothing I can do. It’s just that my Senior Sister wanted me to give you this Celestial Demon Buddha Bead."

As he spoke, he tossed the ghastly white skull bracelet forward.

At the same instant, Fang Cheng activated the Sword Talisman in his hand. His figure blurred as he executed the Celestial Ghost Sword Escape and vanished without a trace.

The moment Ren Yan saw the Sword Talisman, his expression changed dramatically.

A blinding flash of sword light appeared from thin air and slashed toward him.

The sword light was incredibly pure, carrying only a powerful, Heaven-Slaying Earth-Cracking Sword Intent. It ignored all obstacles, appearing instantly before Ren Yan’s forehead.