In the darkness, the satchel lay quietly on the damp steps.
Its soot-blackened surface was covered with droplets of water, the result of the hot air in the cave cooling and condensing.
Fang Cheng reached out to take it, and as soon as his fingertips touched the bag, his expression changed slightly.
The feeling was not the usual toughness, but rather a charred and brittle texture.
With a light touch, the surface of the satchel crumbled, as if it were an ancient relic that had withstood centuries.
Come to think of it, it made sense.
He had visualized the True Sun Fire here, operating the "Thunder Fire Cauldron" cultivation technique for several days, almost turning the entire Water Prison into a giant furnace.
This old companion, though made of durable canvas,
had miraculously retained its shape under such prolonged high temperatures, without turning directly into ashes.
"Alas, you really served your purpose to the utmost."
Fang Cheng shook his head, sighed, and said: "Time for a new one."
He gently pinched the zipper and carefully pulled it open to reach inside.
The spare clothes inside the bag fared no better than the bag itself; they disintegrated upon touch, turning into a handful of gray powder.
Fang Cheng carefully searched and finally found a trace of relief on his face.
At the bottom of the clothing remnants, he found a pair of normal-feeling boxer shorts.
The entire pair was bright red, with an ordinary style, yet made from a special fireproof fiber blend.
In the past, having too many clothes torn apart or burned due to uncontrolled strength led him
to specifically search the market for such a treasure.
It’s said that this brand of underwear uses aerospace-grade innovative materials, widely used in the clothing of astronauts, firefighters, air force pilots, and other specialized professions.
While not bulletproof, its durability under wear and high temperatures, and excellent elasticity are its biggest selling points.
Fang Cheng dusted off the ashes on top, confirmed it was basically intact, and could still be worn with effort.
"After this practical test, it seems the advertisement wasn’t too exaggerated..."
Muttering a bit, he quickly put on the underwear and straightened his back again.
With the most critical problem of modesty resolved, Fang Cheng felt much more confident, his eyes once again becoming sharp.
It was time to leave.
He scanned his surroundings, his gaze landing on the stone wall engraved with poems from predecessors. Official source ıs NoveIＦire.net
Many martial arts predecessors had once secluded themselves here for enlightenment, leaving behind poems as remembrance.
Having luckily condensed his True Self and undergone a metamorphosis here, it seemed improper not to leave something behind.
After a moment of contemplation, Fang Cheng brought his index and middle fingers together, a wisp of impeccably refined golden True Qi swirling at his fingertips.
He then walked to a blank spot beside the dragon-like poetry, swinging his arm.
Where his fingertips passed, stone chips flew, and the hard rock wall was easily cut like tofu.
An inscription, starkly different from the proud brush strokes of the predecessors but equally full of individual style, was deeply carved upon it:
"Ignite a sun in my heart, beyond my body lies no sky."
"Fang Cheng achieved mastery here, embarking on the martial path, quite hungry, leaving first."
After writing, Fang Cheng nodded in satisfaction.
This inscription not only paid homage to the predecessors and recorded the joy of his success but also humorously expressed his most genuine current craving, marking it as a masterpiece.
If his elementary school language teacher were here to see such a blend of grandeur and realism, they’d surely praise it immensely and award full marks without hesitation.
Fang Cheng narcissistically admired it for a moment.
Then without delay, he grabbed the charred satchel and strode towards the stone steps he had come from.
With a casual push, the heavy stone gate that isolated the Water Prison emitted a dull roar and slowly began to open.
Fang Cheng swiftly ascended the damp, dimly lit steps.
His footwork was so light it seemed he had no weight at all, touching the steps briefly with his toes, leaving only a series of blurred afterimages.
Within a few breaths, he reached the entrance of the cave, standing before the final stone gate leading to the outside world.
He paused, took a deep breath,
then pushed the stone gate open.
A wave of fresh air mingled with the scent of rain and earth rushed at him, making every pore on his body expand.
Fang Cheng squinted, adjusted to the external light, and raised his eyes.
The sight before him made him pause slightly.
The sky above his head had unknowingly turned densely cloudy, so thick it seemed impenetrable.
The heavy cloud cover pressed down on the mountain top, seemingly within reach.
Large raindrops pattered down from the clouds, splashing into tiny water flowers on the cave entrance ground.
However, as Fang Cheng’s gaze extended beyond the hill, crossing the fields and villages towards the farther distance,
the scene was utterly different.
A city several kilometers away was basked in radiant sunshine.
Golden light slanted across the high-rise buildings, with the glass curtain walls even reflecting dazzling brilliance.
It formed a sharp contrast with the pouring rain over his head.
It was as if an invisible line divided the world into two.
This side had stormy rain, while the other had clear skies.
The entire Tianxin Village seemed to be covered by a giant glass dome, enacting a solo drama.
"What the heck is with this weather?"
Fang Cheng stood at the cave entrance, observing the strange phenomenon of the sunshower, his face showing a hint of a peculiar expression.
He scratched his newly grown, still a bit stubbly short hair, and finally just shrugged nonchalantly.