Chapter 249 - 248: The Entry Level of the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting
Chapter 249: Chapter 248: The Entry Level of the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting
The next day, early in the morning.
Fang Han had just finished his meditative cultivation when his maid, Qiu Lan, walked in carrying an exquisite food box and a beautifully bound book.
"Senior Brother Fang, this is the Blood Rice breakfast from the dining hall. And this is the monthly booklet for the Celestial Pride List and the Martial Artist Ranking, just delivered from the True Inheritance Courtyard."
Qiu Lan gently placed the food box and the booklet on the table.
"The booklet for the Celestial Pride List and the Martial Artist Ranking?"
Fang Han’s gaze fell upon the booklet, which gave off a faint scent of ink.
In the past, he had to learn about updates to the Celestial Pride List and Martial Artist Ranking by overhearing other disciples’ conversations or buying the booklets himself.
Now that he was a True Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect, he no longer had to purchase it; the Sect delivered it directly to him every month on schedule.
"Mm, just leave it there."
Fang Han nodded slightly.
Qiu Lan bowed and retreated.
Fang Han first opened the food box. Inside was a steaming bowl of porridge with plump, glistening grains that had a faint, bloody hue. Alongside it were several exquisite side dishes and a steamer of large, thin-skinned meat buns.
This was the "Blood Rice Porridge," an exclusive meal for True Disciples. It was made by simmering the special Spirit Plant, "Blood Tooth Rice," with various nourishing medicinal herbs. Long-term consumption could gently nourish one’s qi and blood, strengthen the body, and it was quite valuable.
He began eating his breakfast while casually picking up the booklet to flip through it.
He only gave the Martial Artist Ranking a passing glance. It wasn’t that he was uninterested, but the rankings on that list changed very little. Often, they wouldn’t change at all for half a year, or even a full year.
The Celestial Pride List, on the other hand, was much more dynamic.
His eyes shifted to the Celestial Pride List rankings.
He scanned the list from top to bottom.
The Qingxuan Sect had a total of nine people on the Celestial Pride List, and the rankings of the other eight hadn’t changed.
However, when his gaze swept over the ninety-fourth position, his pupils suddenly contracted, and the fingers holding the booklet paused for a moment.
[Ninety-fourth: Chu Feng (Qingxuan Sect)]
Chu Feng’s ranking had actually risen!
From ninety-eighth place to ninety-fourth!
’He jumped four spots at once!’
Fang Han’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a faint ripple passed through the depths of his eyes.
Climbing the Celestial Pride List was extremely difficult. Every single rank was a challenge to gain, with the exception of those monstrously talented geniuses, of course.
For Chu Feng to jump four spots was no fluke. He must have had a significant breakthrough in either his cultivation or his Martial Techniques.
’After all, he’s a True Inheritor who can make it onto the Celestial Pride List. He’s not to be underestimated...’
Fang Han put down the booklet, picked up the Blood Rice porridge, gently blew on it to cool it down, and took a spoonful.
The porridge was fragrant and soft, carrying a unique warmth that spread through his stomach as he ate.
His original plan was to leverage his rapid improvement in cultivation and swordsmanship to surpass Chu Feng in the True Disciple rankings within the month.
But now, it seemed that plan would need to be adjusted.
Chu Feng was not an ordinary True Disciple like Li Qinghong. He was a True Inheritor capable of getting on the Celestial Pride List, possessing extraordinary potential and a rapid pace of improvement.
He couldn’t just breeze past Chu Feng as effortlessly as he had with Li Qinghong.
’I guess I underestimated him a little...’
Fang Han gently stirred the porridge in his bowl. The emotion vanished as quickly as it came, and his expression once again became as tranquil as an ancient well.
Chu Feng’s progress had certainly surprised him, but it wasn’t enough to make him feel defeated or discouraged.
With his system panel and its absurd talent amplification multipliers, his growth rate was far beyond what any ordinary person could imagine.
Surpassing Chu Feng was inevitable; it was only a matter of when.
He had originally planned to surpass him in a month. Now, it looked like it might take an extra month or two.
But that was fine, too. If he surpassed Chu Feng too easily, it wouldn’t be as satisfying. Extending the timeline a bit, letting Chu Feng stew in his anxiety, was its own form of revenge.
Putting the matter of Chu Feng out of his mind, Fang Han quickly finished his breakfast.
He stood up, took his Flowing Wind Sword, and walked toward the familiar training clearing in his courtyard.
Today, it was time to begin practicing the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting*.
In the clearing, nestled within the bamboo grove, the air was fresh and clean.
Fang Han stood silently in the center, once again meticulously reviewing the nine sword techniques, the Heart Method, and the Qi Circulation Acupoints of the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* in his mind.
After confirming he hadn’t missed any details, he slowly drew the Flowing Wind Sword.
He began to practice, again and again.
At first, his swordsmanship was stiff and clumsy, full of stops and starts.
Fang Han focused his mind, relying on the extraordinary comprehension granted by his 128-fold Swordsmanship Talent to constantly make adjustments during his practice.
Fail, adjust, try again...
Time slipped by quietly, and the sun climbed higher in the sky.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Fang Han’s forehead, but his eyes only grew brighter.
He wasn’t discouraged. His mind was as calm as still water as he repeated, corrected, and comprehended, over and over again.
Under the effects of his 128-fold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, he could keenly perceive the slightest errors with every sword strike and adjust them in time.
Many obscure and difficult points often became clear after just a few practice runs, as if by a stroke of inspiration.
If any other True Disciples who were cultivating top-level Martial Arts saw this efficient rate of correction and comprehension, they would probably be left speechless.
One day, two days, three days...
Fang Han became completely immersed in the cultivation of the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting*.
Aside from the necessary time for eating, resting, and cultivating his Inner Qi, he devoted almost all his time to practicing the nine sword techniques.
On the fifth day, in the afternoon.
In the clearing, Fang Han stood as firm as a mountain and as still as a deep pool, his Flowing Wind Sword pointed diagonally at the ground.
Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and the aura around him changed abruptly!
The Inner Qi in his body surged into the Flowing Wind Sword with unprecedented smoothness.
The Flowing Wind Sword let out a clear, piercing ring. A cyan light flowed across its blade, as if the sword had come to life.
Then, he thrust the sword forward!
The strike seemed ordinary, and it wasn’t particularly fast, but it contained an utterly terrifying power.
Everything in the path of the sword’s tip was silently pulverized.
HISSS...
A massive, dark green rock used for testing Sword Qi was grazed by the attack. Silently, it disintegrated into fine powder.
Fang Han slowly sheathed his sword. As he looked at the dark green rock that had been reduced to dust, a brilliant light erupted in his eyes.
Success!
He had finally reached the Entry Level for the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting*!
Feeling the sharp, destructive power in that last strike—a power comparable to the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword* at the Perfection realm—the corners of his mouth lifted into a slight smile.
Five days!
From receiving the manual to successfully cultivating it to the Entry Level, he had spent a mere five days!
If word of this speed got out, it would be enough to shock the entire Qingxuan Sect!
It might seem slower than the single day it took him to reach the Entry Level of the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword*, but the two couldn’t be compared.
When cultivating the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword*, he spent one day to reach the Entry Level, but its power was only comparable to a Middle Grade Sword Technique at the Great Success realm.
To achieve a power comparable to a Perfection Middle-grade Sword Skill, he would have had to continue cultivating it to the Minor Achievement Realm.
And the time required for that would have been far more than five days.
’A 128-fold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification is truly terrifying...’
Fang Han gently stroked the cool blade of his Flowing Wind Sword.
In just five days, his newly cultivated *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* already possessed a power comparable to the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword* at the Perfection realm.
Choosing to unlock the Level 7 amplification for his Swordsmanship Talent first was the right decision.
After five consecutive days of high-intensity training, having finally reached the Entry Level of the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting*, Fang Han didn’t immediately dive back into cultivation. Instead, he strolled out of his courtyard and began to walk slowly through the True Inheritance Courtyard.
The True Inheritance Courtyard had a quiet and secluded atmosphere. Pavilions and towers were nestled among verdant, ancient trees, and occasionally a True Disciple in a silver-striped cyan robe would hurry past.
Most of them would nod in acknowledgment upon seeing Fang Han.
As he walked near an elegant courtyard where a few stalks of rare Ink Jade Bamboo were planted, Fang Han’s gaze shifted. He saw a familiar figure in purple.
Yun Qianyue was walking out of the courtyard. She seemed to have just finished her cultivation, as her aura was slightly unstable.
She saw Fang Han as well. Her steps faltered for a moment, and a trace of surprise flashed in the bright eyes visible above her purple veil before she gave a slight nod.
"Senior Brother Fang."
"Junior Sister Yun."
Fang Han returned the greeting with a cupped-fist salute, his tone calm.
Although they both came from the Sub-Branches, Fang Han was now a True Disciple. His status was different from that of an ordinary disciple, so it was appropriate for Yun Qianyue to address him as "Senior Brother."
"My sister mentioned before that Senior Brother Fang was the one who traded an Earth Spirit Pill for her Vajra Pill a few days ago."
Yun Qianyue’s voice, carrying a faint trace of gratitude beneath its coldness, came from behind her veil.
"Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Fang. That Earth Spirit Pill has been very beneficial for my recent cultivation."
"You’re too kind, Junior Sister Yun. It was a fair trade. Besides, Senior Sister Yun has also helped me in the past."
Fang Han shook his head slightly.
The two exchanged a few more words, mostly on the topic of cultivation.
Yun Qianyue would occasionally glance at Fang Han, her eyes holding an imperceptible complexity and a hint of admiration she herself hadn’t noticed.
Once upon a time, she was number one in the Sub-Branch, and Fang Han had to look up to her.
Yet in just over a year, he had skyrocketed, not only leaving her far behind but also becoming a True Disciple whose name was known throughout the Sect.
Even with her cool and detached nature, she couldn’t help but feel a stir of emotion at this disparity.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Yun Qianyue, Fang Han cupped his fist in farewell and took his leave.
Watching Fang Han’s calm and upright figure as he departed, Yun Qianyue stood stunned for a moment. She took a light breath, and determination and coldness returned to her eyes.
After parting ways with Yun Qianyue, Fang Han wandered around the True Inheritance Courtyard for a while longer before returning to his own Courtyard No. 35.
The walk had made his mind even more tranquil.
He returned to his Quiet Chamber, sat down cross-legged, and prepared to continue his cultivation.
’The Inner Qi in my Zhangmen Acupoint is nearly full. I’m just one step away from breaking through to the Fifth Grade...’
He looked within himself through introspection. The Inner Qi in his Zhangmen Acupoint was swelling and full, not far from touching the bottleneck of the Fifth Grade.
He planned to press on and try to fill the Zhangmen Acupoint with Inner Qi tonight, to finally reach the bottleneck.
’Oh, right. I haven’t taken the Earth Spirit Pill yet.’
At that thought, Fang Han took out the Jade Bottle containing the Earth Spirit Pill.
He uncorked the bottle. A medicinal aroma, purer than that of a True Spirit Pill and carrying the faint, fresh scent of plants, wafted out. Just a slight sniff made the Inner Qi in his body stir with activity.
He tipped out a longan-sized elixir, pearly white in color with natural, cloud-like patterns on its surface, and placed it in his mouth.
The Earth Spirit Pill dissolved the moment it entered his mouth. A gentle yet vast and majestic wave of pure medicinal power instantly spread, surging into his limbs and bones.
This medicinal power was like a warm, jade-like fluid, bringing a soothing sensation to his meridians wherever it passed.
’*Profound Wind Technique*.’
Fang Han didn’t dare to be complacent. He immediately focused his mind and began circulating the *Profound Wind Technique* with all his might.
His Root Bone, improved by the Earth Core Stone Milk, refined the medicinal power at an astonishing speed under a 64-fold amplification.
On top of that, the effects of the Earth Spirit Pill made it much easier to absorb and convert than a True Spirit Pill.
The vast medicinal power was efficiently captured and refined, transforming into wisps of pure, condensed Inner Qi from the *Profound Wind Technique*, so deep in color they were almost ink-blue.
The newly generated Inner Qi flowed into the rushing river of Inner Qi within him, pushing it to grow at an unprecedented speed as it poured into the Zhangmen Acupoint.