Chapter 308: Black Altar

Fan Zheng saw that no one was taking action, and he grew anxious. Without hesitation, he took the lead, sitting cross-legged before a statue to begin comprehending it.

Seeing this, Han Qiuyi hesitated for a moment but then also sat down in front of a statue to meditate.

Moments later, Han Qiuyi suddenly opened his eyes with joy and said:

“No problem! It’s true—we can actually comprehend a wondrous cultivation method from this!”

At this, the Six Sons of the Blood Blade and Fairy Hua Ling no longer hesitated either.

Gu Fan, seeing this, also immediately followed, each of the three finding their own statue to meditate upon.

However, when Gu Fan sat down, he noticed Fan Zheng on the side. When Fan Zheng saw everyone seated, his face finally showed relief.

At that moment, Gu Fan was almost certain—Fan Zheng was up to something!

Still, things were not yet clear, and there was no need to act rashly. Better to wait until his true intentions were revealed before striking.

Thus, the five of them, each harboring suspicions, began comprehending the statues.

Since Gu Fan had already mastered the first five layers of the technique, he followed the statue’s guidance and circulated the third layer several times again.

Finally, after four successful circulations, the statue’s mysteries gradually faded, as if confirming that Gu Fan had already mastered it.

At the same time, Fan Zheng also opened his eyes. It seemed he, too, had completed four circulations to meet the statue’s requirement.

Not long after, Han Qiuyi, Fairy Hua Ling, and the Six Sons of the Blood Blade also completed their circulations. With the statues’ deliberate guidance, their speed was unusually fast.

“I think I know what we’ve been comprehending—it’s one of the Four Ultimate Combat Techniques! The Domain Suppression of Myriad Phenomena!”

Han Qiuyi said in shock, his gaze turning wary as it swept over the others.

The Six Sons of the Blood Blade were also shaken. He then asked:

“Which layer did each of you learn?”

Fairy Hua Ling was the first to speak after a short silence:

“I comprehended the second layer.”

“The first layer,” Han Qiuyi said.

Gu Fan did not hide the truth.

“The third layer.”

The Six Sons of the Blood Blade frowned and said unhappily:

“I only comprehended the first layer. That means Old Fan here must have gotten the fifth?”

Fan Zheng nodded and then continued:

“No need to rush. Each of us has mastered one layer. As long as we cooperate, won’t we all be able to obtain the first five layers together?”

“In that case, you all share what you’ve comprehended of the first through fourth layers with me. I’ll piece together all five layers, and then I’ll pass them back to you in full.”

The Six Sons of the Blood Blade immediately sneered:

“Doesn’t that seem suspicious? Why should we give it all to you? What if your strength skyrockets after learning them all, and you decide to go back on your word?”

Han Qiuyi and Fairy Hua Ling stayed silent, but it was clear they shared the same concern.

After all, they weren’t friends bound by trust. Falling out over benefits was far too common.

At this, Fan Zheng changed from his earlier anxious demeanor and patiently explained:

“You misunderstand. The real reason we were able to learn these techniques so quickly is because of the statues’ guidance.”

The Six Sons of the Blood Blade nodded in agreement.

“Now, the five of us each learned one layer—the first being the simplest, and the fifth being the hardest!”

“I was guided to comprehend the most difficult fifth layer. If you give me the first through fourth, I can integrate them faster than any of you. Then, I’ll return them as a complete set, making it easier for you to learn.”

“More importantly, this technique is definitely more than just five layers. Once I master the complete set, perhaps I’ll even unlock what comes after!”

After hearing this, everyone fell into thought.

Gu Fan listened quietly, admiring how convincing Fan Zheng’s reasoning sounded.

He mixed truth with lies, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to tell what was genuine and what wasn’t.

Fairy Hua Ling then voiced her doubt:

“But what if you refuse to pass it back to us after you master it?”

Fan Zheng gave a bitter smile.

“Everyone here except Brother Gu has worked with me before. You know me—I’m greedy, sure, but I’ve helped bridge connections more than once over the years.”

“Besides, even if you don’t trust my character, surely you trust your own strength? No matter how powerful the technique is, it can’t instantly multiply my strength several times over.”

“If I go back on my word, couldn’t the four of you join hands to deal with me? Do you think I could defy the heavens and win against all of you?”

Fairy Hua Ling nodded slightly. What he said wasn’t untrue.

Any one of them alone might not be able to subdue Fan Zheng once he mastered the technique, but four together? That was certain victory.

At this, the Six Sons of the Blood Blade said straightforwardly:

“I have no objections. If Old Fan breaks the agreement, I’ll show no mercy.”

Han Qiuyi and Fairy Hua Ling both nodded as well, and finally, all eyes turned to Gu Fan.

“I don’t object either, as long as no one regrets it later.”

Fan Zheng frowned slightly, but upon hearing Gu Fan’s agreement, he stretched out a finger and sent out a stream of divine sense.

In an instant, he obtained the third-layer technique!

Han Qiuyi and the others followed suit, soon allowing Fan Zheng to collect all five layers.

“Excellent! Excellent! Now, protect me while I cultivate!”

With that, Fan Zheng sat cross-legged again, quickly entering meditation.

The four stood guard for him for a full day. During this time, they heard the roars of giant elephants echoing from within Fan Zheng’s body, the clear sound of cultivation at work.

Finally! After a day and a half, Fan Zheng slowly opened his eyes.

“Powerful! As expected of one of the Four Ultimate Combat Techniques!”

The Six Sons of the Blood Blade were the first to rush forward, asking excitedly:

“Well? How did it go?”

Fan Zheng smiled calmly.

“The five layers have all been integrated. But I’ve only broken through to the second layer so far.”

“Then hurry and hand it over. The four of us are still waiting to cultivate!”

Fan Zheng chuckled softly.

“Don’t be hasty. Let me first activate the inheritance of the subsequent layers. Then you can learn them all in one go.”

Han Qiuyi instinctively felt that something was wrong, frowning but unable to pinpoint it.

At that moment, Fan Zheng began circulating the first through fifth layers all at once. After four full circulations, the great hall shook violently.

The five statues simultaneously shifted, each firing a beam of spiritual power toward the center.

Then, under everyone’s astonished gaze, the ground cracked open to reveal a massive pit.

From it, a black altar slowly rose into view!

The Six Sons of the Blood Blade, thrilled, rushed forward, attempting to step onto the altar—only to be violently repelled by an invisible barrier.

“What’s going on? Why can’t we enter?”

He cried out in shock.

Han Qiuyi also attacked the altar immediately, only for the barrier to reflect his strike without leaving a scratch.

“Hahahaha!”

A wild, triumphant laugh rang out.

Fan Zheng’s figure blurred as he flew straight into the altar.

To the horror of Han Qiuyi and the Six Sons of the Blood Blade, the altar did not resist him. He passed through the barrier effortlessly and landed atop it!

“Hahaha! Finally! I’ve succeeded!”

“Daoist Kuishan, Kuishan! You plotted for so many years, but in the end, I was the one a step ahead!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep