Chapter One: Fang Che

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The summer morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, streaming through the window and casting mottled patterns on the headboard. Tiny dust particles drifted within the beams, swirling and rising like tangible arrows descending from the heavens, striking Fang Che’s face. Gradually, he felt the warmth upon his skin and awoke leisurely. He opened his eyes, then closed them instantly. His eyelids still sensed the light’s touch. He exhaled contentedly. He was truly alive.

A blink spanned the entirety of past and present lives: closing his eyes symbolized the soul’s boundless descent into darkness at death, while opening them embodied the infinite wonder of rebirth and touching the world anew. The faint burn from the sunlight was the sensation of living.

He rose, dressed, tidied up, and washed his face. He laid out paper, ground ink, moistened his brush, and began to write.

“Silence is golden.”

With a few sharp knocks, a plaque was nailed to the wall opposite his desk. Fang Che stepped back a few paces, glanced up, and nodded slightly. Behind his chair hung another plaque: “Speak cautiously, act prudently.” On the desk stood a wooden frame holding yet another phrase: “Cherish words as gold.”

In the living room: “Too many words lead to mistakes.”

Fang Che nodded earnestly. “From now on, I must always remember to be a person who neither smiles lightly nor speaks carelessly, one who acts with caution and restraint.” Then he fell silent. Soon after, he frowned, questioning himself: “Why must I think this way? Who was I in my past life?”

He tapped his forehead. It had been three days since he was reborn into this body. During these days, he had sorted through memories and merged with the soul, but the strangest thing was this: he knew he was a reincarnated soul occupying this body; he remembered many events; he knew it was six hundred years after his original era. Every detail of his past life was clear—except one thing: he had forgotten who he truly was.

Fang Che was baffled. Yet, strangely, he felt no resistance to having become another person. Acceptance had come almost instantly. What more could one ask for than a second chance at life?

Squinting against the penetrating sunlight, a trace of melancholy flickered across his face as he sighed softly, “Ah, I wonder how those girls are doing.”

This body’s name was Fang Che.

Personal details as follows:

Fang Che—neither fat nor thin, handsome and robust. Standing one meter seventy-eight tall, weighing one hundred fifty-six jin, with a straight and upright posture. His eyebrows were thick and slightly upturned at the ends; lips a little full; eyes somewhat sunken with faint double eyelids that only appeared distinctly when smiling. Yes, inner double eyelids. His gaze was sharp and cold.

Judging from his features, Fang Che instinctively assessed his former self: this person was surely extreme and prone to radical behavior. Fortunately, he was not like that.

This cold and defiant demeanor suited the silent, reserved, and solitary character he planned to embody this lifetime.

Clad in white robes—Fang Che frowned. He disliked them and decided they had to be changed.

Seventeen years old.

Ranked ninth-grade Martial Disciple.

Healthy body, excellent aptitude.

A maternal relative of the Fang family, bearing his mother’s surname and raised within the Fang household—this detail puzzled Fang Che somewhat.

He had died attempting to break through from Martial Disciple to Martial Warrior.

Breaking through to Martial Warrior allowed one to participate in the Martial Academy’s assessments—considered the first “Dragon Gate” test in a warrior’s life.

It was well known that the best way for a Martial Disciple to break through was to engage in continuous combat with someone of higher cultivation, refining one’s realm through battle. Typically, one would successfully break through during these fights, then consolidate the gain through further combat until the breakthrough was complete.

This was basic common sense—no one ever died during this process.

Thus, the family sent their most talented elder cousin, the legitimate eldest son of the clan head, back from the Martial Academy specifically to help Fang Che by refining his cultivation through battle.

This was the safest approach.

The elder cousin, Fang Qingyun, was already a high-ranking Martial Warrior, deeply familiar with the Martial Disciple and Martial Warrior realms, ensuring Fang Che’s smooth transition.

But something unexpected happened.

The original body died because of this.

During the process, the enthusiastic elder cousin struck Fang Che’s dantian with a palm charged with his own cultivation to stimulate the energy. Fang Che made no sound, then suddenly fell dead with a thud.

The elder cousin was stunned on the spot: “I killed my own cousin?!”

The Fang family mobilized everyone, begging and pleading, summoning all the city’s top healers to bring Fang Che back to life. And so, Fang Che returned.

Though seemingly alive, the elder cousin was now being severely punished by his uncle—rumors said it was brutal.

Using his meager spiritual power, Fang Che carefully examined his meridians and finally discovered an anomaly in his dantian. Though his current power couldn’t reveal specifics, based on experience, it was likely the Five-Spirit Gu worms from the One-Heart Sect.

The Five-Spirit Gu were vicious parasitic worms targeting the five elemental spiritual energies—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They were poisonous but also a secret technique: if one did not die from the parasitism, they gained a qualification and could even aid cultivation.

In short, if you survived, you became stronger.

This was a form of selection, but at the cost of life and death.

It was a common tactic of a certain sect.

Once the Five-Spirit Gu entered the body, no cultivation could purge them.

Where had these worms come from?

Fang Che searched his memories—apparently from that person.

He recalled that before the breakthrough, a so-called “good friend” had given him a bottle of “advanced” blood and qi pills, which the original self had consumed entirely in pursuit of the breakthrough. Aside from that, nothing else unusual.

It was almost certain.

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“Such a good friend indeed!”

Thousands of miles away, a man dressed in white hurried toward this place.

“Three hundred Five-Spirit Gu worms, and all died except one? Only this one survived and thrived? Which one was it? This direction… Bibo City?”

“A casual little arrangement, yet an unexpected bonus.”

He smiled with delight and quickened his pace. It seemed that not only would the sect’s task be completed, but he might also recruit an heir disciple.

Fang Che compiled a basket of questions.

Undoubtedly, countless conspiracies and interests unknown to the original self intertwined, impossible to unravel.

“The waters run deep here, brother; you can’t grasp it all.”

Fang Che sighed softly.

Looking up at the freshly hung plaque bearing “Speak cautiously, act prudently,” he whispered, “Let me handle this.”

What could a seventeen-year-old know? But now, he was here.

“I am Fang Che.”

He narrowed his eyes, gazing at the dazzling sunlight outside, his expression calm.

This omnipresent, inescapable sunlight resembled the spear that had fallen from the sky in his past life.

Once seen, it was unstoppable, with nowhere to hide.

Bibo City, where he now resided, lay five thousand li southward within the vast and boundless Cloud Peak Mountains on the eastern continent.

He seemed to have spent a long time roaming within tens of thousands of li around this area.

He recalled that he had once hunted the Thousand-Toxin Demon King here, defeating him on the Hundred Miasma Peak about a thousand li outside Bibo City.

It was said that this was the demon king’s cave dwelling, but Fang Che never entered, uninterested in such trivial treasures, and left immediately.

But now, such treasures were desperately needed.

According to his memories, this region belonged to the Dayong Dynasty, but now it was the Dazhao Dynasty.

It seemed the Dayong Dynasty no longer existed, replaced by Dazhao.

Apparently, this change had occurred without his consent.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Brother Fang, feeling better?”

A young man entered with a smiling face but eyes that concealed a sharp scrutiny. Handsome, yet his brows and eyes carried a sinister air.

To Fang Che, there was an indescribable malice in his gaze.

“Mm, thank you,” Fang Che replied with a flicker in his eyes, concealing his emotions.

This was Su Yue, the second son of the Su family in Bibo City.

He was the one who had given Fang Che the blood pills laced with the Five-Spirit Gu worms.

He was the true culprit behind the death of the original Fang Che, the so-called “best friend and brother.”

Fang Che had doubted before, but seeing Su Yue’s face and eyes now, the memories aligned.

“Gotta say, your elder cousin is ruthless—he really didn’t treat you like family,” Su Yue said casually as he sat opposite Fang Che, inwardly thinking how the Fang family was surprisingly kind to this maternal grandson, even suppressing the deadly poison in him.

He sat relaxed, clearly indicating a developed relationship with the original Fang Che.

Fang Che coldly snorted and said darkly, “Yeah, quite bold to strike.”

Su Yue replied, “But it was expected. After all, you’re just a maternal grandson, with a different surname, not of the direct bloodline. And... heh, it’s normal for them to treat you badly—we anticipated as much.”

Fang Che’s face darkened. Looking directly at Su Yue, he calmly said, “...I really didn’t expect some bastard to try to kill me!”

Yet in his heart, he was already plotting how to kill this scoundrel quickly and ruthlessly.

Life and death grudges must be resolved swiftly and venomously—that was the truth of life.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you get revenge,” Su Yue said enthusiastically.

Fang Che returned a sincere smile, speaking slowly, “Brother Su, your kindness is deeply appreciated. I will never forget it and will repay it fully someday.”

Su Yue laughed heartily. “We’re brothers—no need for thanks!”

Yet inwardly he felt something was off about that phrase.

Looking around to ensure no one overheard, Su Yue lowered his voice, “Fang Che, remember that earth-level cultivation method I mentioned that suits your physique?”

“Hm?” Fang Che narrowed his eyes. What was so special about some earth-level technique? So mysterious? Well, I’m reincarnated now, so no matter.

“Yep, I’ve already tracked it down for you.”

Su Yue’s voice dropped. “I got you the One-Heart token. If you complete one condition—finding the Fang family’s treasure map or even knowing a bit about it—you’ll get the earth-level technique. Moreover, it can lead you into the Divine Sect, becoming a seed disciple.”

He spoke eagerly, “Brother, this is your future. Becoming a seed means all sect resources open to you!”

“A one-step leap to the top. Then what’s the Fang family? Just yours to command. Besides, with how they treat you...”

Fang Che frowned. “Treasure map?”

“Yes, the legendary treasure map of the Golden Blade Martial Commander, hidden by the Fang family.”

Su Yue pressed, “Don’t you remember?”

His eyes revealed impatience.

Rumors?

Hidden?

Fang Che’s mind raced, and without hesitation, he smiled slyly, “The Golden Blade Martial Commander? You’ve all been fooled.”

“Hm?”

Su Yue’s eyes widened.

Fang Che leaned in, lowering his voice mysteriously, speaking smoothly as if no effort was required: “When I was severely injured and unconscious, I overheard... my grandfather talking. It’s not the Golden Blade Martial Commander’s treasure at all—it’s someone else’s.”

“Someone else?” Su Yue’s eyes went round.

“Of course!”

Fang Che was calm, recalling the Thousand-Toxin Demon King he had killed in his past life.

He suddenly understood.

At the demon king’s cultivation, the area around Bibo City, spanning thousands of li, was utterly invincible territory. Releasing just a trace of poison could devastate the land.

That was why the demon king set his lair here—no threats.

But now... heh heh...

My repayment to young master Su is about to come.

Poison.

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Marvelously so!

Su Yue suddenly perked up. Fooled? Not the Golden Blade Martial Commander? The Fang family proved to be a master of deception!

No wonder nobody had obtained concrete information all these years.

“The location isn’t the rumored Broken Sword Gorge three thousand li away? Then what is it...?”

Su Yue spoke with confusion, but in truth, probing further.

“No! You’ve all been tricked. It’s not that either!” Fang Che said decisively.

“...”

Waves of turmoil surged in Su Yue’s heart. Was this false as well?

“What exactly is going on?” he pressed urgently.

“I don’t fully understand either, but I vaguely heard it’s somewhere within a thousand li...”

Fang Che feigned deep thought, “Seems to be the legacy of the Absolute Sword Monarch, not a treasure. They say it’s been searched for multiple times without success. The place is full of deadly poisons and extremely dangerous. Once, someone even encountered a master-level venomous python, forcing a retreat.”

Su Yue’s joy surged.

A legacy!

Far more precious than treasure.

And from the Absolute Sword Monarch.

More importantly, Fang Che’s words alone practically revealed everything: Absolute Sword Monarch, legacy, within a thousand li, deadly poisons, extreme danger, master-level venomous python.

To an old hand, this practically pinpointed the location.

“Are you sure?” Su Yue asked excitedly.

“I don’t know. I only overheard my grandfather when I was unconscious, so I can’t guarantee truth. He stopped talking when I woke up.”

Fang Che shrugged vaguely. “We’ll need to investigate carefully and gather information.”

He thought, I’ve said it so clearly—if you can’t find it, you’re useless.

Su Yue felt increasingly convinced and excited. Looking at Fang Che, he felt proud.

This fool probably had no idea how big a secret he’d just revealed.

Ha ha ha...

This trip was worth it.

He was about to leave.

But Fang Che wasn’t about to let him go so easily.

Five-Spirit Gu plus One-Heart token—what did that mean? This old hand knew.

Fang Che casually said, “Hey, that One-Heart token... is it really found?”

“Can I lie to you?” Su Yue pulled out an iron token from his bosom.

Fang Che reached out naturally to take it.

Su Yue was bewildered. How did he just take it?

Seeing the iron token, Fang Che instantly understood.

It was the low-level recruitment token of the One-Heart Sect, affiliated with the notorious One-Self Orthodox Sect.

Damn it, I’ve reincarnated and run into my old nemesis?

Is the One-Self Orthodox Sect trying to recruit me? Or is there a scheme?

In his past life, he had fought the One-Self Orthodox Sect with his brothers all his life and knew their strength well.

Their hardest aspect was their secrecy: no one knew who was among them.

They could appear as warriors, scholars, alchemists, or ordinary people.

Their disciples were scattered everywhere; once revealed, disaster followed.

The continent’s history was nearly a chronicle of war against the One-Self Orthodox Sect.

Their faith was unshakable, their experts numerous, making them impossible to eliminate.

Even the Guardian Triumvirate’s leader Xue Fu Xiao once lamented that without internal collapse, the One-Self Orthodox Sect could never be fully eradicated.

Not only impossible—they were growing stronger.

Over the years, the sect’s power expanded, evolving from hiding in the shadows to rivaling the Guardians openly, even surpassing them subtly.

If one day they turned overt, disaster would ensue overnight.

The Guardians had sent countless spies and elites in vain, and exposure always led to harsh reprisals.

No matter how skilled, no spy could infiltrate their upper echelons.

The One-Heart Sect was a subordinate branch of the One-Self Orthodox Sect.

Fang Che’s mind flashed: internal collapse? Internal strife?

Suddenly, realization dawned.

One-Heart token? Five-Spirit Gu?

He pocketed the token and said, “Thanks, Brother Su.”

Su Yue would surely report the Absolute Sword Monarch’s legacy location to his family and accompany the search.

Such a great achievement could not be overlooked.

Those who went would never return.

Better I keep this token myself, lest I lose the chance.

Su Yue, seeing Fang Che pocket the token, was puzzled but thought, since he’d eventually recruit him into the sect, it didn’t matter.

Besides, he was eager now.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Brother Fang, take care. I’ll visit again in a few days.”

“Good.”

Fang Che mused, “I’ll gather more detailed information, then we’ll search for the legacy together next time.”

“Great! I’ll be waiting,” Su Yue laughed.

Yet inwardly, he sneered.

You still want to go find it? Within three to five days, it’ll be mine!

You fool! The Fang family treats you so well, yet you’re already turned against your grandfather’s family because of a few words from me. Deservedly used!

“Safe travels, Brother Su.”

“No need for farewells. Today’s news was useful.”

“You’re welcome. Just a small repayment for your many years of care,” Fang Che smiled faintly.

Su Yue laughed and left.

Fang Che smiled, watching him depart, his eyes mysterious, the corners of his mouth slowly curling upward.