Chapter 443: Flying Star
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
From the air, it seemed like the whole Huiming City had become an army camp.
Most of the structures were lined up in rows. The layout of the buildings reminded one of collective dormitories. The living conditions were probably not the best.
But this organisation made the most sense, considering that there were millions gathered in the city.
The good thing was that the hierarchy remained intact.
Xing Hezi was a Calamity-grade cultivator of the 4th tier, and was also appointed as one of the national consultants. Thus, he was given a villa to stay in.
Outside, a small stream gurgled underneath a little bridge.
“Please take a seat!”
Xing Hezi showed Fang Yuan to a stone chair underneath a pine tree, and poured a cup of clear tea for him.
“My friend, would you care for some of the Cloudy Mountain Tea that I’ve brewed?”
“Many thanks!”
Fang Yuan picked up his patterned teacup and took a small sip. His eyes lit up instantly.
“Fragrant and refreshing. The aftertaste lingers and carries a sort of worldliness…”
“Worldliness…well said!”
Xiang Hezi stared at the pond, and suddenly laughed bitterly.
“A dream that lasts a thousand years. The next time I wake up, I will be the only person left in the whole Flying Star Sect. Even now, in this country, I’ve managed to contact only a few…sigh, friends and enemies of the past are long gone. This feels so strange! But I’m thankful for you. I am heartened to know that I have a successor…”
He was experienced enough to tell that Fang Yuan was not simply a talented chap, but a legend who attained all that he had through hard work.
Fang Yuan achieved the unthinkable without proper guidance and in an environment lacking in spiritual energy. He was one of a kind, a prodigy that only appeared once in a hundred thousand years.
“You flatter me…”
Fang Yuan took another sip of the spiritual tea and exchanged more niceties with Xing Hezi. Through conversation, he managed to learn more about Xing Hezi’s background.
Xing Hezi was the founder of the Flying Star Sect. In the last thousand year cycle where spiritual energy ceased to flow, he sealed himself up in ice and moved to his Sect’s Prosperous Land.
The Flying Star Sect’s external influence had not declined and was developing even up till the present. It was still a force to be reckoned with.
Through his social connections, he was able to communicate with the government hierarchs and was given the position of national consultant.
Of course, it was but a case of mutual benefits.
“Are there many people like you in the Chinese country, my friend?”
Fang Yuan asked his question after a moment of silence.
“To unlock the Prosperous Land, one has to be able to expend an enormous amount of energy. During my time, not many people could do that…of all the factions and organisations in the pugilistic world, there was only a handful. Even among those who did make it to the Prosperous Land, only a few made it…”
Xing Hezi looked slightly lonely.
“Only about three to five individuals are truly formidable in the Middle Continent…it’s the same for the West.”
He went on to explain in great detail the layout of the world.
True experts of the Divine Refining Grade were Area Beings with mutations of the 5th Grade.
As for Fang Yuan and Xing Hezi, they were both at the peak of Divine Returning Grade, the 4th Calamity Grade.
The layout of the Western world was no different to that of he Middle Continent. Common deities were of 4th grade, and more powerful deities were of the 5th!
‘So it seems that Farquhar was once of the 5th grade…but his faith suffered a declined after having been sealed up for years, and now, he has barely made it into the 4th grade…’
There was a glint in Fang Yuan’s eye as he turned to look at Xing Hezi.
Who knew, but Xing Hezi might actually be concealing his true abilities. He could have been a master of the Divine Refining Grade once, but fell to the Divine Returning Grade because he had been weakened by his seal.
In this world, there were only theoretical realms that will remain myths forever.
“Right…have you obtained the array techniques of the Jade Palace faction?
Xing Hezi breached the question in the middle of their hearty conversation.
“Yes…Farquhar told you?”
Fang Yuan glanced at him.
“In terms of maintaining the world order, we share a common objective with him!”
Xing Hezi replied blandly, which made him hard to read.
“Of course, we are in charge of operations over here in the Middle Continent! The Jade Palace Faction is one of the most prominent sects around. How can its succession fall into the hands of an outsider. If you take over, it would be your destiny.”
“Oh, so this is how it is.”
Fang Yuan gave a flicker of a smile.
“Of course, this is the only arrangement. We need your help!”
Xing Hezi snapped his fingers, and an array that enveloped everything materialised in the courtyard.
Fang Yuan became more serious after seeing this secretive attitude from Xing Hezi.
“Please go on!”
“Farquhar has told you about Operation Grabstar?”
Xing Hezi smiled.
“They have assigned their people in the Eastern and Western Continents. As for the Middle Continent, it is up to us…I have designed a 9 Halls Flying Star Array, and all you have to do is to help me revise it!”
Xing Hezi then produced a piece of jade.
Fang Yuan received it and pressed it to his forehead. He saw a map of the Middle Continent that had shimmering dots and connecting lines drawn all over it. It was all very mysterious.”
‘It is exactly as we thought…’
When he inspected the dots in greater detail, he gave a sour laugh.
‘The 72 cities of the Chinese country were all included. Had it been part of the plan all along? Offering to help out with the defence systems and secretly hiding the arrays within…wait a minute, they began work 10 years ago. Seems like these people had a level of influence that was deeply entrenched. They were playing the long game!’
It took no guessing. He knew the people who were responsible for all of these. It must be the work of the cultivators and supernormal beings.
These people were willing to pay any price in order to bring spiritual energy levels to what they were in mythical times!
“What do you think, my friend?”
Xing Hezi asked with a smile.
“Very interesting. I’ll have to go back and study it in greater detail before I can give you an answer!”
Fang Yuna replied earnestly.
“Yes, yes. Please do!”
Xing Hezi was satisfied and waved his hand happily.
This had implications for the entire world. Harnessing the power of the comet and designing an array that would be compatible with those of the other two continents. This was an enormous yet intricate task. Fang Yuan did not want to jump to an opinion quickly for fear of giving the wrong advice.
He had to go back and do some further research to demonstrate his sincerity.
Of course, Xing Hezi had never doubted Fang Yuan’s loyalty to the plan.
After all, if Operation Grabstar fails and spiritual energy levels fall, the world would become a lifeless place again. The experts of the Divine Returning and Divine Refining grades would have to go into a deep sleep, or they would age rapidly and die. By maintaining the current situation, all the supernormal beings could live like kings.
One could betray their status, but not their interests!
________
They were both experts of the 4th Calamity Grade, and were famous scientists, authorities on mutant research. Fang Yuan enjoyed a treatment that was even better than Xing Hezi’s.
When he arrived at Huiming City, the authorities gave him a villa to stay in as well as guards that worked for him round the clock. They accommodated every request of his.
If there was not a possibility of Fang Yuan being transferred to the capital, they would have built a research lab for him.
“Wow! Father, have you thought through it?”
Lorita examined the modernist villa and the servants around her. She nodded in satisfaction.
“This is how the nobles live.”
“Sigh…how would we know if we are not one of them?”
Fang Yuan shook his head and let Angel and Lorita choose their own rooms. He then walked over to the study and immersed himself in research.
Armed with the knowledge of Sage Changli and the legacy of the Jade Palace Faction, Fang Yuan was the ultimate authority of array techniques in this world.
“Interesting…all paths lead to Rome indeed!”
After a sweeping glance, Fang Yuan could confirm that the 9 Halls Flying Star Array designed by Xing Hezi was similar to some of Sage Changli’s ideas.
“The foundations of the array lie in the Middle Continent and there were 81 array eyes, 59 of them lying within the Chinese Country…”
On the Middle Continent, although the Chinese Country was the hegemon, it was not the only country.
There were some details that had to be address outside of the country.
“There are no more major alterations to be made, just a few little tweaks here and there.”
Fang Yuan had discovered that the greatest limitation of the 9 Halls Flying Star Array was that it was unable to cooperate seamlessly with the arrangements in the other two continents and operate at its maximum potential.
This chink could potentially lead to the failure of the entire plan.
It was fortunate that Fang Yuan was talented and well-learned. He casually altered the array and offered a few suggestions. This was enough to impress Xing Hezi, who had nothing but praise for him.
Before they knew it, five days had passed.
During this time, refugees streamed continuously into Huiming City. It was said that half of the Chinese Country had fallen and become part of the wilderness.
Of course, the Golden Eagle Federation suffered even more. The marine beasts had invaded the country via the rivers and allied themselves with the spiritual beasts on land. The government was broken and reduced to guarding a few key cities.
The Blue Star Alliance was not doing well either. The 9 Headed Cerberus responsible for the spread of the plague had appeared. The government had joined forces with the Curia and sent out their elite soldiers, and even Farquhar himself turned up. But they only managed to injure it and were unable to prevent its escape. Now, it was taking revenge and laying waste to cities in the Eastern Continent.
This information was provided by Zhao Daniu, and Fang Yuan remained indifferent.
Today, however, Ye Yingzi and Zhao Daniu had brought him a special guest.
