"Wanli Jing... the emperor on the throne?"

Zuo Qingshuang’s expression turned somewhat grave after hearing what Fang Shuwen and the others had to say.

"It seems this matter isn’t over yet."

"I will report this to the Pavilion Master. You don’t need to worry."

Fang Shuwen was happy to hear that. His mission was over, and he had no intention of getting involved in what came next.

He figured he could take his leave now and depart from Zhuji Pavilion.

However, Zuo Qingshuang insisted he stay. Unable to refuse, Fang Shuwen could only agree.

A banquet was to be held in the evening, but there were still many things to do before then.

For instance, cleaning up the battlefield, preparing for the banquet... Fang Shuwen wasn’t needed for any of that.

He was arranged to rest temporarily at the Little Frost Cold Courtyard on Cyan Beauty Peak of Jiuning Mountain.

This was Zuo Qingshuang’s and her disciples’ residence. There had never been a precedent for a man to stay overnight, so an exception was being made for Fang Shuwen.

Fang Shuwen, for his part, was completely unaware of this. As a guest, he’d follow his host’s arrangements. Wherever they put him was fine. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Zhou Qingmei had just returned to the sect and had much to do.

After saying a brief farewell to Fang Shuwen, she went out to help Zuo Qingshuang.

Seeing that everyone had left, Fang Shuwen’s thoughts stirred, and he summoned the system.

He hesitated for a moment at the [Claim?] interface before finally choosing to claim his reward.

’Since it’s a reward from the system, it probably won’t kill me,’ he thought. ’Let’s see what happens when I claim the North Nether Divine Technique while keeping the Muscle Strengthening Scripture.’

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the North Nether True Qi surged from his Dantian.

As expected, the two streams of True Qi began to tangle together within his body.

[Conflict detected in host’s Inner Strength. Commencing automatic fusion!]

Fang Shuwen felt relieved upon seeing the prompt.

’Just as I thought. The system wouldn’t let these two types of Inner Strength fight it out. It might be a silent system, but it still has after-sales service...’

The fusion process was even faster than Fang Shuwen had imagined.

At the same time, a short Mental Method, distinct from both the Muscle Strengthening Scripture and the North Nether Divine Technique, appeared in his mind.

As this Mental Method circulated, it suddenly created a connection between the two completely unrelated Martial Arts.

The two types of Inner Strength, which had been warring incessantly, began to separate distinctly under the harmonizing effect of this Mental Method.

With a thought, Fang Shuwen sent the Inner Strength from the Muscle Strengthening Scripture back into his Dantian, leaving only the North Nether True Qi to course through his meridians.

At that moment, another system prompt appeared.

[Fusion successful!]

’That’s it?’

Fang Shuwen was a little surprised, but he didn’t have time to investigate further. He closed his eyes and allowed the North Nether True Qi to circulate within him.

A full hour later, he finally guided the True Qi back into his Dantian.

The next moment, with a flicker of intent, the Muscle Strengthening Scripture’s True Qi dormant in his Dantian instantly transformed entirely into North Nether True Qi.

Then, in the very next instant, all the North Nether True Qi converted back into the Inner Strength of the Muscle Strengthening Scripture.

He slowly opened his eyes, a strange light glinting within them.

’So that’s how it is. The fusion of the two Inner Strength techniques wasn’t about forcibly mashing them together. Instead, it used them as a foundation to build a new bridge connecting the two.’

’Through this new Mental Method derived from the two, I can freely switch between them to handle different situations and needs.’

’What’s more, the Muscle Strengthening Scripture Divine Technique can purify the North Nether True Qi. In the future, if I absorb Inner Strength using the North Nether Divine Technique and then convert it with the Muscle Strengthening Scripture, my Inner Strength will become exceptionally pure, leaving no hidden dangers whatsoever!!’

At this thought, Fang Shuwen stood up.

He felt the changes in his body, a subtle excitement rising within him.

The system had rewarded him with the complete North Nether Divine Technique, all thirty-six diagrams. In other words, he could absorb others’ Inner Strength not just with his hands, but with every acupoint on his body.

’Although the North Nether Divine Technique is a Martial Art for the strong to bully the weak, if my opponent’s Inner Strength is greater than mine, it could cause the river to flow backward.’

’But with my current level of Inner Strength, that’s unlikely to happen.’

’In that case, the practical use of this Martial Art might be far greater than I anticipated.’

Fang Shuwen stroked his chin.

’My Guard System doesn’t sound very impressive by its name... but judging from these rewards, it seems intent on turning me into a monster.’

The Muscle Strengthening Scripture was already nearly impossible to find in this world.

Adding the North Nether Divine Technique to that, the growth of his Inner Strength was now practically limitless.

Fang Shuwen couldn’t even imagine what level he might reach in the future.

’Still, I can’t get arrogant or complacent because of this. The Jianghu is vast, and experts are everywhere. The sea of martial arts is boundless, its far shore impossible to see.’

’True masters don’t show off their abilities. I absolutely cannot underestimate anyone in the Jianghu.’

Fang Shuwen quickly admonished himself, lest he get carried away and become arrogant just because he possessed two Divine Techniques.

Only by being cautious could he walk farther on the path of the Jianghu!

He practiced the Great Black Heaven God Palm one more time in his room before Zhou Qingmei came to invite him to the banquet.

The banquet was held in the main hall on the front mountain.

The place had been cleaned. All the severed limbs had been cleared away. Aside from the hole Feng Mantian had smashed in the wall, you could hardly tell what had happened here earlier.

During the banquet, Zuo Qingshuang didn’t look very happy. Only after asking did Fang Shuwen find out why.

In the afternoon, she had gone to the Profound Secret Cave, hoping to get Lou Yuxiao and the others, who had just entered seclusion, to come out and take charge of the situation.

She had thought Lou Yuxiao would emerge immediately upon hearing about Li Nanchen’s betrayal and the Black Death Sect’s attempt to usurp them.

But he had remained unmoved.

Only after hearing the six words the hooded man had spoken before his death did he give the response that he would continue his seclusion.

Of course, the Pavilion Master of Zhuji Pavilion also expressed his gratitude to Fang Shuwen for saving the Pavilion at such a critical moment.

He offered him a Jade Pearl Order and allowed him to choose any gift he wished from Zhuji Pavilion’s Treasure Pavilion.

The Jade Pearl Order was an extremely important item in Zhuji Pavilion, granting the holder authority to command its disciples.

While the holder’s status couldn’t be compared to the Pavilion Master’s, the authority it granted was immense.

And any one of the rare treasures in the Treasure Pavilion was priceless.

Fang Shuwen accepted the Jade Pearl Order without hesitation and said he would go to the Treasure Pavilion the next morning to select his gift.

Seeing this, Zuo Qingshuang was delighted. The more she looked at Fang Shuwen, the more she liked him.

Xu Chongshan was also happy, but not being good at expressing himself, he simply kept toasting Fang Shuwen.

The meal was a lively affair with plenty of food and drink, and by the end, both guests and hosts were thoroughly pleased.

The next morning, Zuo Qingshuang personally took Fang Shuwen to the Treasure Pavilion.