127: Chapter 127 New Year's Fireworks Night, the Path to Heaven Appears!

For the next few days in a row.

Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei rested in the Federation's resettlement housing at night, cultivated in the cultivation room of the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall during the day, and returned to The Fang Family's home to "mooch meals" at dinner time.

During this period, Fang Zhuo successively gave all the cultivation resources he had on hand to Bai Shiwei.

This included nine stone milk crystals and the diluted red jellyfish fluid given by Director Xiao Yuan.

After the rebate, it became 72 stone milk crystals and eight portions of diluted red jellyfish fluid.

This made Bai Shiwei's heart feel heavier and heavier; she felt like she had become a martial arts glutton, wasting so many resources for nothing.

"Hubby, before I break through to Transcendent, you'd better not give me these treasures anymore...! Also, after your Life Level reached Grade 45, has the source power required to strengthen your body become this terrifying?"

Bai Shiwei and Fang Zhuo came out of the Shanhe Martial Arts Hall, preparing to go home for New Year's Eve dinner.

Bai Shiwei was somewhat curious.

When Fang Zhuo had previously urged her to consume the phoenix essence blood, he had explained that his Martial Aspect was special and could absorb the source power dissipating around him, with an effect not much different from direct absorption.

These days, Fang Zhuo had her vigorously absorb the stone milk crystals to temper her body, so Bai Shiwei assumed that Fang Zhuo was also cultivating to strengthen his physical body.

"Yeah."

Fang Zhuo gave a vague answer, then changed the subject: "Today, as we ring in the new year, the Martial Arts Hall will announce the list of Transcendents representing the Xia Nation."

"Do you think Fang Jing will blame us for not telling her earlier when she hears the news?"

Bai Shiwei's beautiful eyes rolled, and her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Definitely!"

"But Xiao Jing won't get mad at you. She'll only complain to me. Sigh, I'll have to coax her well tonight."

The young couple chatted and laughed as they walked through Jinhe City, arriving at The Fang Family's home before dinner time.

The Fang Family could barely be called a martial arts family, with three generations of martial artists. They didn't have too many rules for the New Year, only pasting a couplet and hanging two big red lanterns in front of the door.

Li Ru made a huge table of dishes.

After the family had a lively dinner together.

Fang Zhuo drank tea with Fang Dawei, while Bai Shiwei helped Li Ru clear the table. Zhou Hui also wanted to join in, but how could Li Ru dare to let this stepmother help?

Fang Wu was still on the balcony pruning his Civilization Flower, treating it like a precious treasure and not letting anyone near it, saying they would steal the Civilization Flower's oxygen...

Fang Hu was curled up in a corner, swiping away on his phone.

This kid had been tag-teamed and scolded by his grandfather and parents for doing nothing but playing on his phone, but he only giggled and didn't argue back.

"Grandpa, you and my parents shouldn't worry too much about Fang Hu. He doesn't do anything bad, just plays on his phone. After he graduates, I'll arrange for him to work at a company under the Starry Sky Group. Living a carefree life is also good."

Fang Zhuo took a sip of tea and looked at Fang Hu, who was huddled in the corner.

"This kid... has no ambition at all. Forget it, he won't listen anyway. Since you're successful now, no matter what happens to Fang Jing and Fang Hu, I can rest easy knowing you've got their backs."

Fang Dawei was somewhat exasperated by his lack of ambition, but hearing Fang Zhuo say this, he felt more relieved than anything.

A few months ago, he had thought that The Fang Family would have to rely on the money Li Yu had left behind.

He never expected that Fang Zhuo would grow so quickly. In less than half a year, he had not only become a Transcendent Martial Artist but was also going to represent the Xia Nation in the Ocean Gathering in just over half a month!

As the old and the young chatted, time flew by.

Soon, it was eleven o'clock at night.

Bai Shiwei leaned over, repeatedly giving Fang Zhuo looks.

Zhou Hui was also at the edge of the sofa, glaring at Fang Dawei from time to time.

Fang Dawei smiled and said, "Alright, you and Shi Wei go out and set off fireworks. Your Grandma Zhou and I will also go for a walk. I ate too much for dinner and feel a bit bloated."

"Yeah..."

Fang Zhuo nodded.

It had already been digesting for several hours, and he was still bloated...

"Fang Hu, help your sister-in-law carry the fireworks," Fang Zhuo said, looking at Fang Hu.

"Oh, coming."

Fang Hu responded and immediately stood up, but his fingers still didn't stop swiping across his phone screen.

"Forget it, if you don't want to set them off, just stay home."

...

When Bai Shiwei and Fang Zhuo carried the fireworks downstairs.

The night was deep, and the moonlight was bright and clear.

Both inside and outside the residential area, the air was filled with the sounds of firecrackers, fireworks, children running and shouting, accompanied by the whistling of the dry, cold winter wind.

*Sssss—*

A puff of white smoke rose as the fuse was lit.

In a rare display of childlike innocence, Bai Shiwei grabbed Fang Zhuo's hand, squeezing it tightly, and looked up at the sky with an expectant face.

With a *whoosh*, a firework shot into the sky, exploding and blooming into gorgeous sparks.

"So beautiful!"

"Happy New Year, hubby~"

Bai Shiwei smiled sweetly, and when she turned to look at Fang Zhuo, two shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.

"Happy New Year, Shi Wei."

Fang Zhuo smiled as well.

In the night sky, blooming fireworks exploded one after another, gorgeous and colorful.

Reflected by the moonlight and the glow of the fireworks, the shadows of Bai Shiwei and Fang Zhuo holding hands stretched long on the ground.

At this very moment, the lights of ten thousand homes in Jinhe City shone brightly, and the entire city was filled with a warm, festive atmosphere.

Feeling the warmth coming from his palm, the tension from being immersed in martial arts for over a month quietly melted away, and his body and mind instantly relaxed.

He became serene and gentle.

A sudden wave of enlightenment flooded his mind.

"The Path to Heaven... So, communicating with heaven and earth through the physical body cannot be done by brute force alone. Alternating between tension and relaxation is the right way. The key lies in clever force and guidance...!"

Fang Zhuo murmured to himself. In an instant, he felt all the sounds around his ears vanish, including the continuous crackle of fireworks in the sky, the whispers of Bai Shiwei beside him, and the hustle and bustle of Jinhe City...

All sounds entering his ears were completely blocked out.

"Hearing... Control!"

Fang Zhuo was overjoyed, actively using the force in his hands to "listen."

Instantly, he heard the drum-like thumping of Bai Shiwei's heartbeat, the rushing river-like flow of her blood, and the landslide-like tremors of her muscles.

The strange sounds belonging to a Grade 39 Advanced Martial Artist's body, like evening drums and morning bells, majestic and grand, were all transmitted through her skin.

"Fang Zhuo?"

"Are you even listening to me!"

Bai Shiwei gave Fang Zhuo's hand a tug, shifting her beautiful eyes away from the night sky and turning her head to look at Fang Zhuo beside her.

In the light of the occasionally exploding fireworks, one could see that Bai Shiwei's face was flushed red, revealing a rare girlish shyness.

"Hmm...?"

Fang Zhuo actively restored his hearing, looked at Bai Shiwei, and said, "I'm listening. I just spaced out for a bit. Say it again."

"You're bullying me!"

Bai Shiwei puffed up her cheeks. "I'm going back to tell Grandpa."

Helpless, Fang Zhuo had to be honest: "I just had a sudden realization and opened the Path to Heaven of Body Control, blocking out my hearing."

"Ah?"

"Hubby, you've already opened the Path to Heaven?!"

Bai Shiwei forgot her embarrassment at not getting a response to her sweet words just now. Her beautiful eyes stared blankly at Fang Zhuo, filled with disbelief.

The so-called Path to Heaven was the process of stepping into the next realm, the Heaven-Reaching level, after achieving Inner Scene Perfection in Body Control.

The Heaven-Reaching level of Body Control was not something achieved overnight, nor could it be entered through a single moment of realization.

It was qualitatively different from the first three Body Control realms—Perfect, Micro-Perception, and Inner Sight. It required a martial artist to strip away their five senses time and again, using their body and mind to sense heaven and earth, gradually strengthening the communication between their physical body and the power of heaven and earth.

Only when one could casually channel the power of heaven and earth could they be considered to have completely stepped into the Heaven-Reaching level!

"Just good luck."

Fang Zhuo smiled.

"Hubby, you're too abnormal!"

Bai Shiwei was both happy and sorrowful.

Fang Zhuo had grown stronger again. Once his Body Control officially entered the Heaven-Reaching level, it would mean he had half a foot in the Flying Sky realm.

Meanwhile, her own Body Control had not even reached Micro-Perception Perfection, and she had been unable to break through to Transcendent for the longest time.

"Shi Wei, there's no need to compare yourself with me. You are actually very outstanding. A 21-year-old Grade 39 Advanced Martial Artist would be considered a genius anywhere in our Federation."

Seeing Bai Shiwei's pretty face alternate between joy and depression, Fang Zhuo couldn't help but smile and comfort her.

"Thank you, hubby."

Bai Shiwei pursed her lips. Indeed, perhaps comparing herself to her husband all day had truly disrupted her state of mind.

A Transcendent Martial Artist was already an insurmountable chasm for Federation martial artists.

Countless geniuses were stopped right before the Transcendent stage.

She had nothing to worry about. Cultivating calmly with her husband's help, her physical foundation was now incredibly solid, and breaking through was only a matter of time!

"By the way, hubby, about how long will it take for you to finish the Path to Heaven and completely enter the Heaven-Reaching level of Body Control?" Bai Shiwei's beautiful eyes flickered with excitement and curiosity.