Chapter 219 - 218: 64x Step Technique and Secret Technique Amplification
Chapter 219: Chapter 218: 64x Step Technique and Secret Technique Amplification
’Stepping Talent...’
Fang Han’s gaze first fell on the option next to [Stepping Talent Amplification]: "Level 6 Amplification requires 1,000,000 silver."
The importance of a Body Technique was beyond doubt, affecting life and death, mobility, and even the suddenness of one’s attacks.
Previously, due to financial constraints, he had only upgraded his Stepping Talent to a 32x multiplier, which already lagged behind the 64x multiplier of his Root Bone and Swordsmanship.
Now that he had ample funds, it was only natural to prioritize shoring up this weakness.
’Activate Level 6 Amplification for Stepping Talent!’
Fang Han focused his mind, not hesitating in the slightest.
In an instant, the amount of wealth on his panel plummeted by one million silver!
[Wealth: 415,000 silver]
The [Stepping Talent Amplification] section changed accordingly.
[Stepping Talent Amplification: 64x (Level 7 Amplification requires 10,000,000 silver)]
’A 64x Stepping Talent Amplification!’
There was no earth-shattering phenomenon. Instead, Fang Han felt as if all the profound essences of the Flowing Wind Shadowless Step, the key to its transformations, and the subtleties of combining it with Wind Momentum were being processed in his mind.
It was as if they had been thrown into an invisible crucible, rapidly melting, restructuring, and sublimating.
Many subtle points that he had previously found obscure were now instantly clear with a mere thought. All his previous difficulties and blockages were resolved with ease.
A deeper sense of insight and control over the very essence of step techniques spontaneously arose within him.
A flicker of satisfaction passed through Fang Han’s eyes.
Immediately after, his gaze moved down, landing on [Secret Technique Talent Amplification].
’Secret Technique Talent... should I activate the Level 6 Amplification?’
A contemplative look appeared in Fang Han’s eyes as he unconsciously tapped his fingers on his knee.
Compared to the other talents, the Secret Technique Talent seemed slightly less important. The Root Bone Talent could directly and significantly raise his Cultivation Realm, the Swordsmanship Talent boosted his Attacking Power, and the Stepping Talent determined life-or-death mobility and overall combat strength.
It was more of an auxiliary tool, unable to provide an immediate boost to his strength in a direct confrontation.
Activating the Level 6 Amplification required one million silver, which was no small sum.
’Is it truly worth spending this money to upgrade a talent that won’t directly increase my combat power?’
’Secret Technique Talent is also extremely important!’
Fang Han fell silent for a moment before a look of determination flashed in his eyes.
He recalled his recent operation.
If not for the Great Success Level Spirit Nose Technique allowing him to precisely track Deng Xiong’s scent trail, he would have never found the secret room so quickly and accurately.
If not for the extraordinary effects of his Mastery Level Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique, he couldn’t have moved freely through the heavily guarded Deng Mansion, even managing to subdue Deng Xiong without alerting anyone else.
It could be said that these two Secret Techniques had played a crucial role in the operation.
His ability to cultivate these two Secret Techniques to such a high Realm so quickly was all thanks to the 32x Secret Technique Talent Amplification.
In the future, he would inevitably have to move against Chu Feng’s other subordinate forces.
After suffering such a huge loss, Chu Feng’s defenses would surely be even tighter, and the contest of Tracking and counter-tracking would only become more intense.
The higher the Realm of his Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique, the stronger its Breath Concealment Effect, the lower the chance of him being tracked, and the safer his operations would be.
Conversely, if he fell behind in Secret Techniques and left even the slightest clue for an expert to track, the consequences would be unimaginable.
This one million silver, spent on Secret Technique Talent, was by no means a waste. It was a necessary investment.
’Activate Level 6 Amplification for Secret Technique Talent!’
His mind made up, Fang Han no longer hesitated.
He focused his consciousness on the "Level 6 Amplification requires 1,000,000 silver" option next to [Secret Technique Talent Amplification].
As his will descended, the wealth value on his panel once again plummeted by one million silver!
[Wealth: 415,000 silver]
The text in the [Secret Technique Talent Amplification] column blurred for a moment before becoming clear again:
[Secret Technique Talent Amplification: 64x (Level 7 Amplification requires 10,000,000 silver)]
The 64x Secret Technique Talent Amplification was active!
In an instant, Fang Han felt his comprehension, understanding, and deductive abilities regarding the Spirit Nose Technique and the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique take another qualitative leap!
Many key aspects of the Secret Techniques that he had previously found profound and difficult, requiring painstaking effort to slowly comprehend, were now perfectly and clearly understood with a mere thought.
A deeper sense of understanding of the essence of Secret Techniques filled his heart.
"Excellent!"
Fang Han slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, a sharp light contained within his eyes.
Root Bone, Swordsmanship, Stepping, and Secret Technique—all four of his major talents had been raised to a 64x amplification!
His cultivation efficiency and comprehension had reached an unprecedented height.
Next, he would use this terrifying amplification to improve himself with all his might, transforming his talent into tangible combat strength!
...
「A few days passed in the blink of an eye.」
Inside Room C-7, Fang Han gently sniffed the air.
BUZZ...
A feeling of flawless integration and effortless control spontaneously arose within him.
The scent information of the surrounding world was clearer, more three-dimensional, and more distinct than ever before.
Many extremely faint scents that previously required deliberate concentration to capture could now be clearly perceived by his "sense of smell" with a mere thought.
Scent information from the surrounding world rushed into his perception like a tide, its clarity and resolution significantly improved compared to a few days ago.
With a mere thought, he could focus his olfactory senses on a specific scent, magnifying and analyzing it with perfect clarity.
Meanwhile, other irrelevant scents were naturally filtered out, eliminating the previous feeling of being overwhelmed by complex information that required effort to sort through.
"The Spirit Nose Technique... I’ve reached Perfection!"
Fang Han muttered to himself, a hint of joy in his tone.
Although he hadn’t focused his main efforts on cultivating Secret Techniques, under the 64x Secret Technique Talent Amplification, he had cultivated the Spirit Nose Technique—a Low Grade Tracking Secret Technique of no particularly high standing—to the Perfection state in just a few days.
’Should I exchange for a new Tracking Secret Technique?’
Fang Han’s eyes showed that he was in thought. His Spirit Nose Technique had reached Perfection and could not be advanced further.
To improve his scent-tracking abilities further, he would need to exchange for and cultivate a higher-grade technique, either a Middle Grade or even a Top Grade Tracking Secret Technique.
After a moment of contemplation, he gently shook his head, temporarily dismissing the idea.
It wasn’t because he was stingy with his Contribution Points.
A Middle Grade Tracking Secret Technique only cost a little over a hundred Contribution Points, and even a Top Grade one was only a little over a thousand.
For him, who now had a stable and massive income of Contribution Points each month, this was nothing.
The reason he decided against it for now was that a Perfection Level Spirit Nose Technique was already sufficient for his current stage.
After all, his main focus in the future would still be on Cultivation, not on joining the Law Enforcement Hall to deal with tasks like tracking down enemies.
Investing energy into a more profound Tracking Secret Technique would yield limited short-term benefits. It would be better to spend that time on improving his Cultivation, Swordsmanship, and Body Technique, which could directly enhance his strength.
’This is enough for now. If I feel it’s insufficient in the future, I can just exchange for and learn a new one then.’
His mind made up, Fang Han put the matter aside.
Seeing that it was nearly dusk outside the window, he stood up, straightened his robes, picked up his Flowing Wind Sword, pushed open the door, and headed for the dining hall.
Along the blue-stone path, there were quite a few disciples coming and going, and the atmosphere seemed a bit more lively than usual.
Faintly, fragments of words like "Celestial Pride List," "challenge," and "tomorrow" drifted into his ears on the wind.
Fang Han’s interest was piqued, but he didn’t stop to inquire.
As he stepped into the dining hall, a wave of noise washed over him.
His gaze swept the room, and he saw Xiao Chen already sitting at their usual spot by the window, waving at him.
Fang Han got his food and walked over to sit down opposite Xiao Chen.
"Fang Han, have you heard? There’s going to be a huge event to watch tomorrow!"
Before Fang Han could ask, Xiao Chen leaned closer, his face filled with irrepressible excitement, and said in a low voice.
"What event?"
Fang Han picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and asked casually.
"It’s a challenge between prodigies on the Celestial Pride List!"
Xiao Chen’s voice was tinged with excitement.
"You Xin, the head disciple of Netherworld Pavilion and number seven on the Celestial Pride List, has challenged our Qingxuan Sect’s head disciple, Luo Yuntian, who is number six! It’s set for tomorrow morning at the White Jade Plaza, the same place as the entrance exam!"
"The seventh on the Celestial Pride List challenging the sixth?"
Fang Han’s chopsticks paused mid-air, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
A battle between two of the top ten on the Celestial Pride List could be called the highest level of confrontation among the younger generation of Qingyang County. It was an absolutely rare sight.
Especially since it involved their own sect’s head disciple, the level of attention was bound to be extremely high.
"So, what do you say, Fang Han? Want to go watch it together tomorrow?"
Xiao Chen’s eyes were full of anticipation.
"Observing a battle of this caliber will be greatly beneficial for broadening our horizons and comprehending the Martial Dao. We can’t miss it!"
"Alright."
Fang Han thought for a moment, then nodded.
Watching experts clash was indeed a rare opportunity to validate his own learning and gain inspiration for his Martial Technique cultivation.
...
「The next morning.」
Fang Han and Xiao Chen went together to the spacious plaza near the sect gate, which was paved with enormous slabs of White Jade Stone.
This was the very place where they had taken their entrance exam. The view was open, and the ground was solid enough to withstand the aftershocks of a high-intensity battle.
At this moment, the plaza was already surrounded by a dense crowd of disciples, several hundred strong.
The low hum of conversation buzzed like a tide, and the air was thick with excitement and anticipation.
Many disciples from the Sub-Branches had come. Fang Han’s gaze swept across the crowd, and he saw many familiar faces.
The purple-veiled Yun Qianyue stood alone on a slightly elevated stone step, her posture elegant and her cold gaze fixed on the center of the plaza.
Li Feng stood at the edge of the crowd with his long saber cradled in his arms, his eyes as sharp as an eagle’s and his aura heavy and condensed.
Huang Ling’er stood with a few of her close female disciples, whispering about something and occasionally glancing toward the plaza entrance.
Shi Meng and most of the other high-ranking disciples were also present.
There were even more disciples from the other branches, their auras varying in strength. Among them were many powerful individuals who ranked high on the overall list.
Most of the faces were unfamiliar to Fang Han, but there were also some he recognized.
For example, Chu Feng and Song Xiang, with whom he had a conflict.
Chu Feng wore a Silver-Striped Cyan Robe. He stood with his hands behind his back, his figure tall and straight, his face handsome, and his expression arrogant.
Song Xiang stood respectfully just behind and to his side, his gaze sweeping the crowd with a hint of vicarious pride.
As if sensing Fang Han’s gaze, Chu Feng suddenly turned his head, his line of sight cutting through the crowd to land precisely on Fang Han.
Their eyes met. The corner of Chu Feng’s mouth curved into an undisguised arc of contempt and coldness. He then turned back as if nothing had happened, as if he had just glanced at an insignificant ant.