Chapter 498

Chapter 498: Goal: Divine Transformation in Three Years!
Inside Bei Ming Palace, Fang Cheng Lang sat in a corner of the Secret Pavilion, holding a bamboo slip in his hands, his expression focused as he read the records written on it.

The huge Secret Pavilion held only his lone figure, but he had long since gotten used to this loneliness. After spending years with these bamboo slips for company, even his body carried a faint scent of bamboo.

At some unknown point, a figure appeared at the doorway, blocking the slanting sunlight.

Fang Cheng Lang belatedly lifted his head, and when he saw Nan Gong Yu’s thin face, his heart gave a fierce jolt and the bamboo slip in his hand almost slipped to the floor.

Nan Gong Yu said calmly: “Have you grown impatient from waiting?”

Fang Cheng Lang quickly stood up and bowed respectfully: “Senior Nan Gong, this disciple would not dare.”

He tried his best to stay calm, but the joy in his heart was beyond words.

It had already been six years since Nan Gong Yu last appeared.

During those six years, he had doubted countless times whether he had been tricked. Even Su Ming and Cui Jue had urged him to give up, saying that Nan Gong Yu had only spoken casually and had never truly meant it.

But he stubbornly believed that Nan Gong Yu would definitely keep his promise.

Because of this, he had turned down three chances to leave the Secret Pavilion.

At last, he had waited long enough and the day had come.

Nan Gong Yu explained lightly, his tone a bit tired: “In these years, the Daqian Alliance’s selection has changed, so that is why I was delayed so long. The selection, which should have been held in another thirty years, has been moved forward. It is inconvenient to say more about the exact reason. You only need to pack a few things and leave with me.”

Fang Cheng Lang’s heart tightened. He nodded at once: “Yes, this disciple will go prepare right away.”

He rushed back to his rooms and left a jade slip for his junior brothers, briefly explaining where he was going.

He knew that this might be his only chance to leave, so he could not waste any time.

When he returned to the Secret Pavilion, Nan Gong Yu was already waiting at the door. Several disciples stood beside him, each with a harsh expression and a hint of hostility in their eyes.

Nan Gong Yu said simply: “Let’s go.” He did not say anything more and turned to walk out.

Fang Cheng Lang hurried after him, his heart both excited and uneasy.

Since coming to the Bei Ming Realm, this was his first time leaving Bei Ming Palace.

And the place he was going to was the Middle World he had dreamed about day and night.

His mood was especially nervous, but he did not dare show it. He could only dig his nails into his palm.

On the way, Nan Gong Yu seemed very cold and said almost nothing to anyone.

The disciples traveling with them kept sizing Fang Cheng Lang up with critical looks and even let out soft snorts of contempt.

Fang Cheng Lang could feel their hostility, but not a trace of it showed on his face. He even wore a calm, just-right smile.

As long as Senior Nan Gong valued him, he did not care how the others treated him.

The passage to the Middle World was not inside the Bei Ming Realm. They had to pass through several small worlds before they finally arrived at a teleportation channel guarded by many cultivators.

At the entrance of the passage stood a huge stone stele with a few lines of ancient characters carved on it.

When he was in the Secret Pavilion, Fang Cheng Lang had specially studied ancient script, so he knew that the inscription described the rules that had to be followed when going to the Middle World.

Nan Gong Yu also stopped in front of the stele, turned to them and said: “To enter the Middle World, you need a special medium and you must register it. When you return, you must also carry the matching medium, or you will not be able to pass. So you must stay close to me and not move around on your own, understand?”

Fang Cheng Lang and the others all nodded to show they understood.

Nan Gong Yu then led them toward the entrance of the passage.

The guard cultivators saluted Nan Gong Yu with respect first, then checked their identity tokens. Only after they confirmed everything was in order did they let them pass.

The teleportation channel was actually a whirlpool of spirit power.

As he stepped into it, Fang Cheng Lang felt his vision blur and the scenery around him turned vague.

A strong wave of dizziness hit him. His body swayed without him meaning to, but his eyes stayed locked on Nan Gong Yu’s back in front of him. He did not dare relax even a little.

It felt like only a few breaths passed, yet also like a long time. At last, the dizziness faded.

When Fang Cheng Lang came back to his senses, he found that he was already standing in a strange place.

In front of him stood a stretch of ancient, grand buildings that covered a huge area, but he did not see a single Daoist figure. The place felt especially empty.

He did not know if it was because he had stayed in the Bei Ming Realm too long, but he could clearly feel that the spiritual energy here was not as dense as in Bei Ming Palace.

At this time, Nan Gong Yu’s voice sounded by his ear: “This is the Daqian Alliance’s base.”

He led Fang Cheng Lang and the others to an empty courtyard, gave a few simple instructions, and then turned to leave without assigning them any tasks.

For the next few days, Fang Cheng Lang almost never went out and stayed in his room cultivating.

Even when the disciples who had come with him showed up now and then to provoke him, he stayed calm, kept his door shut, and ignored them.

On the seventh day, Nan Gong Yu finally appeared in the courtyard again.

Nan Gong Yu called: “Fang Cheng Lang.”

Fang Cheng Lang, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly opened the door: “Senior Nan Gong.”

Nan Gong Yu asked: “Have you gotten used to things these past few days?”

Fang Cheng Lang answered respectfully: “Reporting to Senior, this disciple is quite well.”

Nan Gong Yu glanced at him and nodded in satisfaction: “Not bad, you can keep calm.”

Fang Cheng Lang secretly let out a breath of relief.

So this cold treatment over the past few days had indeed been a test.

Luckily, he had passed.

Nan Gong Yu said: “Your temperament is good, but your cultivation level is too low. Even if you help me with matters, the other disciples will complain.”

Fang Cheng Lang’s heart sank and his eyes grew a little more uneasy.

Nan Gong Yu continued: “Since you chose to follow me, of course I will give you a chance. Your current cultivation level is only at the Late Nascent Soul Stage. There is still quite a gap between you and Divine Transformation. I will prepare some cultivation resources to help you break through. Do you have the confidence to reach Divine Transformation within three years?”

[Break through to Divine Transformation within three years?]

Fang Cheng Lang’s pupils shrank, but he still grit his teeth and said: “This disciple has confidence!”

Nan Gong Yu said: “Good. I will arrange a place with rich spiritual energy for you to cultivate, along with the proper pills. You only need to focus on your cultivation and not worry about anything else.”

Fang Cheng Lang bowed deeply: “Thank you for Senior’s guidance. This disciple will give his all and will not let Senior down!”

Nan Gong Yu said: “I will have someone send the things over later. Three years from now, I will be waiting to see your results.”

After leaving those words, Nan Gong Yu walked away gracefully.

Fang Cheng Lang stood where he was, his fists clenched tight. In the end he could not hold back his excitement and punched the air hard.

The next three years would be the most important time of his life.

He had to seize this chance and break through to Divine Transformation. Only then could he truly stand by Nan Gong Yu’s side and become someone Nan Gong Yu trusted.

Only then would he have a chance to meet more cultivators from the Middle World.

Not long after, the people arranged by Nan Gong Yu arrived at Fang Cheng Lang’s residence and led him to a room where the spiritual energy was much denser.

Inside the room, there was nothing but a meditation cushion and dozens of jade vials.

There was nothing else.

Fang Cheng Lang poured all of his mind and heart into cultivation.

His goal was Divine Transformation in three years!