Volume One: Heavenly Dao Sect Chapter Nine: A New Journey

On the way back, Chen Fangyu once again passed by the small hut where he had stayed the night before. He stopped his hurried steps and knocked on the door for a long time, but it wouldn’t open. Peering through the cracks of the window, he saw the interior covered in dust; even the woodshed where he had stayed was locked. The family that once lived here had long since disappeared.

Taking up his bag once more, Chen Fangyu set off again. Along the way, he came across a blacksmith’s shop. He stopped and handed over the large iron sword he carried to the smith, requesting it be polished and refurbished. After the smith’s work, the great iron sword gleamed anew, transformed into a splendid golden longsword.

Chen Fangyu also had the smith craft a scabbard for the sword. Once sheathed, he felt much more satisfied. He thought about how this sword had been abandoned among the discarded artificial intelligence machines, like a gem covered in dust, buried like the past. He had many stories as scattered as the dust. Now, facing new challenges, he named the sword “New Dust.”

Having paid and thanked the blacksmith, Chen Fangyu took New Dust and the sword of the Celestial Dao Sect back to the sect, which was currently bustling with the training of newcomers.

He knocked on the gate of the Celestial Dao Sect, and a young man with delicate features named Liu Wu opened it. Chen Fangyu showed him his identification plaque. After verifying his identity, Liu Wu allowed him inside.

Back at the sect, Chen Fangyu actively participated in the sect’s missions amid a flurry of activity.

“How do fellow disciples address you?” Chen Fangyu asked, seeing Liu Wu’s appearance. He didn’t look down on his low status in the sect but instead engaged him in friendly conversation.

“Senior Brother, I am Liu Wu,” Liu Wu replied, closing the sect’s gate behind them.

“No need for senior brother—just call me Chen Fangyu. Brother Liu, may I ask if the sect has any activities coming up?” Chen Fangyu inquired.

“Oh, it’s Brother Chen! I’ve heard much about you. Judging from your attire, you’ve just returned from outside and might not know the recent happenings here. No worries—the sect will hold the Great Competition in a month, and all new disciples must participate,” Liu Wu explained.

“I see. Thank you for letting me know, Brother Liu.” Chen Fangyu thanked him and returned to the quarters originally assigned to him to rest. At this time, Elder Liaocheng of the Celestial Dao Sect was already in seclusion, and the Great Competition was some time away.

“Since the Great Competition is over a month away, why not take this opportunity to accept more sect missions and raise my cultivation level?” From his conversations, Chen Fangyu learned that among the disciples personally taught by Xuan Sect and Dao Sect masters, several had reached the rank of warrior. Among them, swordsmen, Taoists, and Qi refiners stood out the most, with a few nearing the grandmaster level.

Chen Fangyu grew eager; he wanted to take on more tasks to advance his cultivation.

Without hesitation, he went once again to the mission dispatch point to accept tasks and gain experience.

“Celestial Dao Sect high-grade mission: A beast is wreaking havoc in the Northern Sea, often stirring up storms and disturbing passing ships. The beast resides on Northern Sea’s Limitless Isle. Knowledgeable individuals may form teams of five to suppress it.”

After reading the mission, Chen Fangyu felt it was time to face this challenge. As he turned to prepare his bag, the sect steward, Lu Daoyi, approached him and asked, “Are you Chen Fangyu, the personal disciple of Elder Liaocheng?”

Chen Fangyu paused slightly and replied, “That is me. May I ask what you need, Steward?”

Lu Daoyi requested to see Chen Fangyu’s identification. After confirming his identity, he said, “Before entering seclusion, Elder Liaocheng entrusted me with an item for his personal disciple, Chen Fangyu, to receive upon accepting a mission here.” With that, Lu Daoyi handed Chen Fangyu his identity plaque and a bundle, saying, “Don’t take it to heart; these are some small rewards you earned on previous missions. Your master, Elder Liaocheng, left them for you out of goodwill. He hopes you will cultivate diligently and not fail his teachings.”

Chen Fangyu carefully stored the plaque and opened the bundle. Inside were three pills, each in a small porcelain bottle labeled “Beginner’s Advancement Pill,” “Essence Cultivation Pill,” and “Breakthrough Pill.” There was also a set of spare clothes—uniforms for sect laborers.

Lu Daoyi then took a letter from his pocket and handed it to Chen Fangyu. The envelope bore the words “For Chen Fangyu’s eyes only.” Chen Fangyu opened it and read that, as Elder Liaocheng’s disciple, he was assigned this work uniform to help him integrate fully into the Celestial Dao Sect. He was to represent the Sword Sect disciples as a guard and undertake duties at a secret location after the Great Competition.

After reading, Chen Fangyu folded the letter and placed it in his chest. Lu Daoyi, seeing all had been handed over, relaxed slightly and gracefully departed.

Just then, several of Chen Fangyu’s soon-to-be teammates, drawn by his acceptance of the high-grade mission, arrived at the mission point.

“Brother Chen, are you really going to face the beast on Northern Sea?” asked Lu Youdao, who had accompanied Chen Fangyu on a mission near Jiangshui Lake.

“Senior Brother, don’t forget me—I, Liu Yu, want to join too!” Liu Yu, dressed as usual, once again sought out Chen Fangyu. Together, they planned to confront the beast on Limitless Isle.

“Brother Chen, and me as well...”

...

Once the five-person team was assembled, Chen Fangyu counted the members and their names. He now stood clearly as the team leader, responsible for the lives of all five.

Following the roster, he called out:

“Liu Yu!”

“Here!”

“Lu Youdao!”

“Here!”

“Fang Youwu!”

“Here!”

“Xu Zhiqiu!”

“Here!”

“To all called, come with me on this mission. When the mission is done, we will discuss everything else. Now, immediately pack your belongings and prepare to depart,” Chen Fangyu commanded, taking the lead in gathering his gear.

The others, hearing this, returned with curiosity and set about preparing.

About half an hour later, Chen Fangyu and his team regrouped, ready with their daily supplies. A calm resolve showed on Chen Fangyu’s face, mingled with curiosity for the task ahead. The dangers before them were numerous and grave. This was no longer the carefree laughter by Jiangshui Lake, nor the cautious planning against local bandits, nor was he alone facing the loneliness of the deep mountains.

Now, beside him, were comrades to share hardships, brothers to support each other, and even a delicate beauty.

The road ahead stretched for countless steps; each step a fight between life and death.

Northern Sea’s Limitless Isle soared thousands of feet high—one stroke of fate, one cycle of rebirth.