In those days, Fang Yuan was akin to a rising star, maizing the attention of all around him.


    Some visionaries even spected his imminent progression into the Third Step of the Cultivation Path.


    Such was his radiance that even the esteemed Purple Heaven Holy Lord, Ji Mingxiu, exhibited a significant interest in him, going as far as to probe Ji Ruxue about her potential attraction towards him.


    Yet, Ji Ruxue held an aloof attitude, treating the unfamiliar Fang Yuan with casual indifference.


    Rumors of Ji Mingxiu''s interest, however, spread like wildfire.


    The general assumption was that Ji Mingxiu intended to betroth Ji Ruxue to Fang Yuan.


    To the wider popce, Fang Yuan and Ji Ruxue embodied the quintessential golden boy and jade girl couple.


    This perception was further solidified in the minds of the masses as Fang Yuan''s cultivation base ascended rapidly, reaching its peak when he broke through to the Heavenly Origin Realm on his eighteenth birthday.


    In light of these developments, Ji Ruxue was beginning to feel somewhat vexed.


    However, in the aftermath of Fang Yuan''s advancement to the Heavenly Origin realm, an unexpected event urred.


    Merely a day after his milestone breakthrough, his cultivation base took a direct dive, plummeting to the Late-stage Mysterious tform realm!


    This unforeseen catastrophe was a massive blow to Fang Yuan, triggering an upheaval across the whole of the Purple Heaven Holy Land!


    Despite it all, Fang Yuan remained oblivious as to why his cultivation base had regressed so dramatically.


    Even Ji Mingxiu was unable to decipher the cause of this anomaly.


    Ultimately, the consensus was to attribute it to Fang Yuan''s hasty pursuit of swift sess, which they spected had led to Qi Deviation.


    Consequently, Ji Mingxiu counseled Fang Yuan to exercise patience, cultivate at a steady pace, and build a robust foundation for his future rise.


    However, just as everyone had started to believe that Fang Yuan would once again rise from the ashes, making a fresh breakthrough into the Heavenly Origin realm, an unforeseen development took ce.


    Shockingly, Fang Yuan''s cultivation base had taken a further dip, sliding into the Middle-stage Mysterious tform realm!


    Moreover, the regression of his cultivation base showed no signs of halting.


    Despite Fang Yuan''s frantic attempts at cultivation, including the consumption of a substantial quantity of pills, the decline in his cultivation base persisted unimpeded.


    This spectacle left the disciples of the Purple Heaven Holy Land at the foot of the mountain aghast in horror.


    Regardless of the measures taken, none could stem the ebb of Fang Yuan''s cultivation base.


    After enduring countless tribtions, nearly everyone in the Purple Heaven Holy Land hade to believe that Fang Yuan had faded into the background, blending into the crowd.


    In fact, his condition was deemed worse than themon lot.


    Others, at the very least, were making some progress in their cultivation journey.


    Whereas Fang Yuan, in stark contrast, was experiencing an unabated regression in his cultivation base!


    As time unfurled, the once radiant halo of genius hovering over Fang Yuan''s head began to gradually dim, transforming the once celebrated title of ''genius'' into a point of public mockery.


    Many who had initially harbored envy began to sneer at him, their taunts a caustic cocktail of icy ridicule and fiery derision.


    As this sentiment spread like a harsh gust of wind, it intensified, filling the Purple Heaven Holy Land with numerous individuals eager to scoff at Fang Yuan.


    Upon sighting Fang Yuan, they would step forward, seizing the opportunity to mock him.


    Some, bolder than others, went so far as to approach the entrance of Fang Yuan''s cave mansion, aiming to castigate and belittle him directly.


    Fang Yuan was left with no alternative but to weather this storm of humiliation.


    He remained resolute, persisting in his cultivation.


    But now, his cultivation base had plummeted further, sinking to the Late-stage Spiritual Awakening realm.


    This decline was so severe that he no longer warranted the revered title of a true disciple.


    This stirred discontent among numerous disciples coveting the prestigious position of a true disciple, thereby exacerbating Fang Yuan''s predicament.


    ...


    At this juncture, Jiang Chen, under the guidance of Rong Liangcai and his entourage, arrived at his provisional abodea secluded manor nestled between two imposing mountains, the surroundings imbued with tranquility.


    The location was appealing, suffused with a rich concentration of spiritual Qi and an aura of serene peace.


    Shortly thereafter, Rong Liangcai and hispanions courteously took their leave.


    Upon entering the manor, Jiang Chen promptly activated the protective formation.


    His gaze swept across the expanse, taking in its basicyout and design.


    He proceeded to a centrally located table and took a seat.


    First on his agenda was to reach out to his wives via the Eternal Vows Binding Ring, reassuring them of his safe arrival at the Purple Heaven Holy Land.


    Once the message was conveyed, he resumed his contemtions, simultaneously tallying the weing gifts bestowed by Ji Mingxiu.


    ''Fang Yuan''s cultivation base has plummeted.''


    ''He has be a shadow of his former self, widely ignored and often tantly overlooked.''


    ''In the uing selectionpetition for the Holy Son''s position, he is likely to stage a spectacreback!''


    ''Fang Yuan, having once reached the Heavenly Origin realm, and being the protagonist, must surely have an ace up his sleeve. I must tread carefully, or I stand the risk of foundering.''


    ''Furthermore, Ji Ruxue, in the original narrative, might have be intrigued by Fang Yuan''s unexpected ascendancy in the selectionpetition for the Holy Son''s position, kindling a nascent affection towards him.''


    ''If this woman starts showing interest in the protagonist, it would spell trouble.''


    ''I must endeavor to pique Ji Ruxue''s curiosity about me, outshining Fang Yuan.''


    ''...''


    Jiang Chen''s eyes sparkled as various thoughts vied for attention in his mind.


    All the while, his divine sense was actively probing the storage ring he held.


    The ring wasn''t particrlyrge in size.


    Nor was it bursting with an abundance of contents.


    However, if others were to behold its contents, they would be struck with disbelief.


    For housed within it was a staggering hundred high-grade spirit jades!


    These high-grade spirit jades were perfectly transparent, resembling the finest jade in the world, each one pulsating with an iparably pure spiritual Qi.


    The total value of these one hundred high-grade spirit jades amounted to a whopping one million low-grade spirit jades, equivalent to a staggering one billion top-grade spirit stones.


    It''s worth noting that, until now, not a single top-grade spirit stone graced Jiang Chen''s collection.


    With the sudden influx of a billion, he could only be described as having struck a fortune!


    ''Such generosity truly befits the Holy Lord!''


    ''With these spirit jades at my disposal for cultivation, or by exchanging them for spiritual nts to consume, I can expect a rapid surge in my power level!''


    Jiang Chen was thrilled and promptly shifted his attention to the remaining treasures.


    Among the other items, there were several vials filled with pills intended for cultivation.


    These pills were all top-grade quality, potent enough to catapult a cultivator at the Heavenly Origin realm straight into the Inquiring Journey realm!


    Even if Jiang Chen didn''t require them immediately, they would fetch a handsome number of spirit stones if sold.


    Moreover, he was also in possession of a top-grade flying artifact at the Heavenly Origin realm, known as the ''Unbroken Thousand Strings Rainbow Boat''!


    ''This Unbroken Thousand Strings Rainbow Boat renders the ck Crystal Sky Piercing Shuttle obsolete.''


    A smirk yed on Jiang Chen''s lips as he drew out the Unbroken Thousand Strings Rainbow Boat for a thorough inspection.


    The boat, slender and sharp, emitted a soft blue hue.


    Once activated, it transformed into a dazzling streak of multicolored radiance.


    This flying artifact boasted the potential to briefly exceed the speed of the Heavenly Origin realm, lending it remarkable practicality.


    ''Truly remarkable!''


    With delight shing in his eyes, Jiang Chen safely stored the Unbroken Thousand Strings Rainbow Boat, a subtle smile adorning his face.


    Without dy, he extracted the jade slip etched with the ''Purple Heaven Dark Star Heavenly Scripture'', and started to scrutinize it.


    The content withinid out the route to reach the final realm of the Second Step of the Cultivation Path, the Dao Pce realm.


    Swiftly, Jiang Chen imprinted the entire version of the ''Starry Abyss Heavenly Scripture'' onto his mind and began tailoring his cultivation practice.