Chapter 224 - 223: 30th Place
Chapter 224: Chapter 223: 30th Place
As he drew closer to the plaza, the number of disciples along the path gradually increased.
Fang Han had already made a small name for himself within the Sect. His leap to 57th place last month—a 30-rank climb in a single month—had drawn considerable attention.
Now, upon seeing him, many disciples cast curious and probing glances his way, and a low murmur of discussion arose.
"It’s Fang Han. Is he here to test again?"
"Has it only been a month? Did he make another breakthrough?"
"He climbed a full thirty ranks last month. I wonder how many he’ll climb this time?"
Fang Han seemed oblivious to the surrounding stares and chatter. His expression was serene, and the rhythm of his steps remained unchanged as he soon arrived at the massive plaza paved with white jade.
The colossal Overall Martial Arts Stele stood in the center, shimmering with a soft luster in the twilight of the setting sun.
The densely packed names on its surface were arranged in silent rows, a record of competition and hierarchy.
Since it was the end of the month, the plaza was filled with disciples queuing up to be tested, creating a somewhat boisterous atmosphere.
Fang Han’s arrival immediately drew a great deal of attention.
Many disciples recognized him, their faces showing a mixture of surprise and anticipation.
After all, the scale of Fang Han’s rank increase last month had been astounding. Everyone wanted to see if he could perform another miracle.
Fang Han silently walked to the end of the line. With his eyes slightly lowered, he calmed his mind and regulated his breathing, bringing himself to his optimal state.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, it was his turn.
He strode forward and stopped about ten feet before the massive stele.
In an instant, every eye in the plaza fixed upon him. The clamor died down immediately as everyone held their breath in anticipation, waiting for the result.
"HUUUU..."
He took a deep breath, suppressing the faint ripple of nervousness caused by the countless gazes upon him. In a flash, his eyes became serene and focused.
He slowly circulated the Inner Qi of his Profound Wind Technique, which was at the Middle Stage of the Sixth Grade. The aura around him began to recede inward.
SHING!
The Flowing Wind Sword sang from its sheath. Its dark cyan blade gleamed with a muted luster under the setting sun.
His Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword technique, at the Great Success Level, activated on its own. The air currents around him, as if summoned by an unseen king, began to silently converge and compress around the longsword in his hand!
Twenty percent of his Wind Momentum coiled around the blade, making the Flowing Wind Sword seem as if it had become the very embodiment of wind.
With a silent shout in his heart, he flicked his wrist, and the Flowing Wind Sword transformed into a faint, barely perceptible cyan thread.
It did not travel in a straight line, but rather followed a strange arc, vibrating at a high frequency.
As if it had completely merged with the path of the wind, it silently, yet with incredible speed, stabbed toward the stele’s surface!
HISSS—BOOM!!
The moment the sword tip touched the stele, the highly condensed Wind Momentum and his vast Inner Qi erupted violently.
A sharp, piercing shriek was followed by a muffled, thunderous detonation.
The Overall Martial Arts Stele burst into brilliant light, instantly illuminating the entire plaza. Its surface trembled violently as ripple-like waves of energy spread out in a frenzy.
The entire stele began to emit a low, deep hum!
Fang Han’s name suddenly lit up, and the number representing his rank began to jump wildly!
Fifty-seven... fifty... forty-five... forty... thirty-five... thirty-three... thirty-two... thirty-one...
The numbers climbed at a dizzying pace, instantly breaking past key thresholds like fifty and forty without any loss of momentum!
Finally, under the watch of countless gazes, frozen in utter shock, the jumping number abruptly stopped—
Thirtieth!
The light gradually faded, and the Martial Arts Stele returned to its tranquil state.
Fang Han’s name was now displayed prominently in the thirtieth position on the overall list.
He had forcefully pushed down the previous occupant of that rank, "Li Qinghong," who now fell to thirty-first!
The entire plaza fell into a dead silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared intently at the newly updated ranking on the stele, their faces etched with absolute shock and disbelief.
The brief silence was shattered by an explosive uproar. Cries of alarm, sharp gasps, and incredulous murmurs intertwined, threatening to overwhelm the plaza.
"From fifty-seventh to thirtieth... he jumped a full 27 ranks!"
"Thirtieth place! He actually... he actually broke into the top thirty! He’s reached the threshold for a True Disciple!"
"A monster! He’s an absolute monster!"
Countless gazes, filled with shock, awe, jealousy, and even a trace of bewilderment, focused on Fang Han as he stood with his sword sheathed.
He had leaped from fifty-seventh to thirtieth, climbing a total of twenty-seven ranks in one go!
Although this jump wasn’t as large as last month’s thirty-rank climb, it was only three ranks shy. And one mustn’t forget that the higher the rank, the harder it is to advance.
In terms of difficulty, this 27-rank climb was even more challenging than last month’s 30-rank climb.
But that wasn’t what shocked them the most. The most shocking thing was this:
Thirtieth place was an extremely special position. It represented the threshold to becoming a True Disciple!
Fang Han, a disciple who had joined the Sect just over a year ago, had brazenly stepped into the ranks of the True Inheritors—a status countless disciples dreamed of but could never attain.
According to Sect regulations, as long as the original True Disciple, Li Qinghong, failed to reclaim a spot in the top thirty within three days, Fang Han would automatically replace him and gain the status of a True Inheritor!
’Exactly 30th place.’
Fang Han slowly sheathed his sword, oblivious to the massive uproar behind him.
He looked up, his gaze calmly fixed on the number "Thirty" on the stele. Deep in his eyes, a faint trace of satisfaction flickered past.
Thirtieth place. Right on the threshold of the True Inheritors.
Although he had guessed his rank would improve significantly, he hadn’t been absolutely certain he could break into the top 30.
After all, the higher the rank, the greater the difficulty in advancing.
Fortunately, the result wasn’t bad. Even though he had just scraped by, he was still in the top 30.
He lingered no longer, turning and parting the still-shocked crowd as he left with steady steps.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long across the white jade ground, casting a serene and upright silhouette.
Meanwhile, the news of him entering the top thirty of the overall list spread like wildfire through the Twelve Courtyards of the Qingxuan Sect, causing an even greater sensation.
...
In the study of Chu Feng’s Villa in the True Inheritance Courtyard, the scent of sandalwood wafted through the air, yet it failed to disperse the formless, oppressive atmosphere.
Chu Feng sat in a grandmaster’s chair made of red sandalwood, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the smooth armrest.
The dull TAP, TAP sound echoed as he stared out the window with deep, dark eyes at the encroaching twilight, lost in thought.
First, there was the thief, and then the appearance of Zhang Yuan, a True Inheritor who openly opposed him. The troubles of the past few days hung over his heart like a dark cloud, and an irremovable layer of hostility had settled between his brows.
CREAK—
The study door was pushed open gently. Song Xiang hurried in, his face etched with an unconcealable panic and urgency, his breathing slightly ragged.
He stopped about ten feet from the desk, bowed, and spoke in a low voice.
"Senior Brother Chu..."
"What has you so flustered?"
At the sound, Chu Feng slowly turned his head. His gaze fell upon Song Xiang’s somewhat pale face, and his brow furrowed imperceptibly. His voice was heavy with a trace of displeasure.
"Senior Brother, a short while ago, Fang Han... Fang Han went to test at the Overall Martial Arts Stele. His rank... his rank rose to thirtieth!"
Song Xiang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. His voice trembling, he said urgently,
CRACK!
Chu Feng’s tapping finger froze, making a sharp, crisp sound.
He leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes instantly locking onto Song Xiang.
A flash of disbelief flickered in the depths of his pupils, and his tone was laced with an icy doubt.
"Thirtieth? Are you certain he entered the top thirty?"
"It’s absolutely true! I went to the Overall Martial Arts Stele to confirm it myself. Fang Han’s rank on the overall list has indeed risen to thirtieth!"
Song Xiang quickly affirmed, a fine sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his temples.
Upon receiving confirmation, the muscles in Chu Feng’s face tightened instantly. The disbelief in his eyes was swiftly replaced by utter shock and humiliation.
He shot up from his grandmaster’s chair, his chest heaving slightly. An irrepressible rage, mixed with the humiliation of having been brutally slapped across the face, rushed to his head.
Thirtieth place!
This meant Fang Han had stepped over the threshold to become a True Inheritor!
Two months ago, Fang Han’s rank had been a mere eighty-seventh. Although his progress was fast, in Chu Feng’s eyes, he was still just a "nuisance" that could be crushed with a bit of effort.
Because of the thief and the matter with Zhang Yuan, he had been overwhelmed for the past two months, with no time to spare for anything else.
He never imagined that in just two months, Fang Han would leap fifty-seven ranks to step into the circle of True Inheritors—a position that even many senior disciples could only dream of!
Such a promotion speed was simply unheard of, far exceeding his expectations!
What displeased him even more was that once Fang Han obtained the status of a True Inheritor, it would be difficult to suppress him as openly as before.
A powerful wave of regret bit at his heart like a venomous snake.
’If I had known Fang Han’s growth would be this terrifying, I should have used more drastic and thorough methods to destroy him before his power had fully formed.’
"Senior Brother, there’s... there’s one more thing..."
Seeing Chu Feng’s ashen face and the bone-chilling aura radiating from him, Song Xiang felt a deep unease, but he steeled himself and added in a small voice,
"The one Fang Han pushed out of thirtieth place... was Senior Brother Li Qinghong."
Those words struck Chu Feng’s heart like another heavy hammer blow.
Li Qinghong!
He was one of the three True Inheritors Chu Feng had paid a considerable price to station at his subordinate factions!
Of all the people Fang Han could have displaced, he just had to push out Li Qinghong, who was currently carrying out a mission for him?
It was like a silent but resounding slap, delivered right across his face.
It was the most direct and scathing counterattack and mockery of all his previous attempts to suppress Fang Han!
Chu Feng’s face was ashen. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, forcefully suppressing the churning rage and regret inside him. He ordered Song Xiang,
"Send a message to Li Qinghong immediately! Tell him about the ranking and that he must return to the Sect as soon as possible to try and reclaim his spot!"
He had to inform Li Qinghong and have him return!
If he concealed the news and caused Li Qinghong to lose his status as a True Inheritor, then given Li Qinghong’s temperament, he would surely become Chu Feng’s bitter enemy. Needlessly making a powerful foe would be like pouring salt on the wound!