Chapter 253 - 252: Tenth on the Overall Ranking
Chapter 253: Chapter 252: Tenth on the Overall Ranking
"3.2 million taels!"
A hint of joy appeared on Fang Han’s face.
His wealth had increased from 963,000 taels to 3.2 million taels. In other words, these fifteen chests had brought him a fortune of 2,237,000 taels.
Just half of the treasure amounted to over two million taels, making his heart burn with excitement. He desperately wanted to deposit all of it into the system panel.
But doing so would surely seem too strange, so he could only force himself to hold back.
’I’ve taken a huge step toward saving up another 10 million!’
Fang Han closed the system panel, satisfied.
Although he still had a long way to go to collect another 10 million taels, he had already taken a huge step forward.
Unfortunately, the forces under Chu Feng had either scattered or gone into hiding. It was no longer possible to "plunder" them as easily as before.
He had no idea where he was going to get the rest of the money to reach 10 million.
"A secret chamber has been found over here!"
Fang Han stopped thinking about it. He erased any traces left by the fifteen vanished chests, exited the secret chamber, and called out to the other disciples.
His goal was to have the other disciples witness that he hadn’t moved any of the treasure, thus avoiding any suspicion from the Sect if they discovered something amiss later on.
...
A few days later, Fang Han and his group returned safely to the Qingxuan Sect, escorting the confiscated wealth.
Inside the main hall of the Law Enforcement Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.
Elder Zhou Jin sat in the seat of honor, listening as Yang Zhe gave a detailed report of the operation to eliminate the Celestial Eagle Gang.
When he heard that Qian Yong had appeared, that Yang Zhe was no match for him, and that Fang Han had ultimately turned the tide and slain Qian Yong, Elder Zhou Jin’s impassive face showed a clear hint of surprise for the first time.
His gaze, sharp as lightning, fell upon Fang Han, who was standing quietly to the side. After examining him carefully, he slowly spoke.
"Not bad. To think you could kill the traitor Qian Yong, a Late Stage of Fifth Grade, while only at Early Stage Fifth Grade Cultivation."
"I was merely lucky to succeed."
Fang Han cupped his hands, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.
A trace of admiration flashed in Elder Zhou Jin’s eyes, and he nodded slightly.
"Neither arrogant nor rash. Very good. For this mission, you shall be credited with the highest merit!"
He paused for a moment before instructing a Steward beside him.
"Allocate the Contribution Point rewards for Team Three. Fang Han receives three thousand for the mission and an extra five thousand for killing the traitor Qian Yong. Yang Zhe receives..."
"Yes, Elder."
The Steward accepted the order, took the Identity Tokens from Fang Han and the others, and swiped each one across the Inheritance Jade Inkstone.
Fang Han took back his Token. He infused a sliver of Inner Qi into it and saw that the number on it had changed from 6,450 points to—14,450 points.
His Contribution Points were over ten thousand again!
"Thank you, Elder!"
Fang Han said with a cupped-fist salute.
With over ten thousand Contribution Points, he had enough to exchange for another top-level Martial Technique. He no longer had to worry about not having enough points to get a High Grade, top-level Body Technique after he reached Perfection in Flowing Wind Shadowless Step.
As Fang Han’s group returned to the Sect, the other teams sent on elimination missions also began to arrive back at the Law Enforcement Hall.
Leaving the Law Enforcement Hall, Fang Han’s group ran into a disciple from the hall, Zhao Ming.
Curious about the other teams’ situations, Fang Han inquired.
"Junior Brother Zhao, how did the other teams fare?"
"The few teams that have returned so far all completed their missions successfully. But I heard that Team Two and Team Five both ran into tough opponents. Team Two lost two senior brothers, and Team Five... three senior brothers didn’t make it back."
Zhao Ming said, his face showing a trace of lingering fear.
Hearing this, everyone’s mood sank.
The deaths of five fellow disciples cast a shadow over the otherwise successful operation.
They all looked at Fang Han in unison, their eyes filled with gratitude.
If Fang Han hadn’t turned the tide, their team probably wouldn’t have escaped unscathed either.
Back at Villa Thirty-Five in the True Inheritance Courtyard, Fang Han dismissed the Maids and servants. He rested for half a day to shake off the fatigue from days of travel.
Recalling the battle with the Celestial Eagle Gang, Fang Han felt a sense of peril.
The Sect had not anticipated the sudden appearance of Qian Yong, who was in the Late Stage of Fifth Grade. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have just sent Yang Zhe, who was only at the Early Stage of Fifth Grade, to be the team leader.
Fortunately, he hadn’t slacked off in his Cultivation before receiving the Sect’s assignment and had broken through to the Fifth Grade.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
’On the path of the Martial Dao, the slightest bit of negligence can mean the difference between life and death.’
The thought served as a stark warning to Fang Han, and he didn’t dare to relax his Cultivation in the slightest.
Once he had rested, he once again threw himself into the tedious yet fulfilling process of Cultivation.
...
On the last day of the month, sandalwood incense curled through the Quiet Chamber.
Fang Han slowly withdrew his power and opened his eyes. A deep cyan light swirled in their depths as the surging, majestic Inner Qi around him gradually calmed.
After this recent period of arduous training, he had made great strides in both his Swordsmanship and his Cultivation.
But the greatest progress was in his Cultivation.
The Inner Qi within his Qichong Acupoint was already eighty percent full. He was not far from reaching the Middle Stage of Fifth Grade and expected to break through early next month.
Even though his Swordsmanship had improved first, his Cultivation was now poised for a breakthrough ahead of it.
The reason for this was that his Root Bone Talent, enhanced by the 64-times-multiplied Earth Core Stone Milk, was now stronger than even his 128-times-multiplied Swordsmanship Talent.
’If there’s Earth Core Stone Milk that can improve Root Bone, there must be Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that can improve Swordsmanship Talent...’
After becoming a True Inheritor, the Sect had given Fang Han access to a great deal of information not available to ordinary disciples.
This included information about Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
According to the records, there was a type of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure called Sword-shaped Grass that had the miraculous effect of improving one’s Swordsmanship Talent.
’Unfortunately, such Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are incredibly difficult to find due to their harsh growing conditions. Even if I did find one, I couldn’t afford it with my current wealth.’
As far as Fang Han knew, a stalk of Sword-shaped Grass had appeared at an auction in the Ten Thousand Treasures Building in Qingyang Commandery City a few years ago.
On the day of the auction, many masters of Swordsmanship were drawn in, all competing fiercely for the Sword-shaped Grass.
In the end, the Sword-shaped Grass was sold for the sky-high price of twelve million taels to Liu Bai, who was currently ranked second on the Celestial Pride List.
Liu Bai’s ability to hold the second-place spot on the Celestial Pride List was surely thanks to that stalk of Sword Heart Grass.
Twelve million taels. That was a colossal sum that neither he nor the entire Fang Family could produce.
Even if he tried to borrow money, it would be difficult to scrape together such a huge amount.
The morning sun was just right, carrying a lazy warmth.
Fang Han pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber and walked out slowly.
He was dressed in an immaculate, cyan, Silver Patterned True Inheritance Robe with the Flowing Wind Sword hanging from his waist. His gaze was calm, his aura restrained, and his steps steady as he headed toward the plaza where the Overall Martial Arts Stele was located.
It was the end-of-month test, which determined the resource allocation for the next month. Naturally, he wouldn’t miss it.
In the plaza, the White Jade Stele stood tall, its surface glowing with a gentle luster in the sunlight.
Many disciples had already gathered. Figures milled about, talking in low voices, creating a slightly boisterous atmosphere.
This last-minute scramble for rankings at the end of the month was a common sight in the Sect.
When Fang Han’s figure appeared at the edge of the plaza, the clamor seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, suddenly dying down.
Countless gazes focused on him, a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, awe, and envy.
"It’s Senior Brother Fang!"
"I wonder how much his rank will rise in today’s test?"
"Last month he shot up to sixteenth place in one go, shocking the entire Sect. This time..."
Low murmurs spread like a tide.
Fang Han seemed oblivious to the surrounding stares, his expression calm as he walked straight toward the Martial Arts Stele.
In front of the stele, a disciple who was about to take his test saw Fang Han approaching. A look of nervousness and respect instantly appeared on his face as he quickly stepped aside to clear the path, bowing as he spoke.
"Senior Brother Fang, after you."
His attitude was humble, filled with a heartfelt reverence.
This was the change brought by strength and status.
"Thank you."
Fang Han nodded slightly and didn’t refuse, stepping forward to stand about ten feet before the massive stele.
His eyes swept over his name on the stele’s surface, where the number "16th" was clearly visible after it.
He slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The aura around him began to retract, like the calm before a storm.
A few breaths later, his eyes snapped open, a sharp light glinting within them!
CLANG!
The Flowing Wind Sword sang as it left its sheath. Its dark cyan blade reflected the sunlight, gleaming with a restrained sharpness.
The Inner Qi from his Profound Wind Technique, which was at the Early Stage of Fifth Grade and approaching the Middle-stage, surged into the blade. The profound meaning of the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting—a technique more powerful than the Perfection-level Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword—erupted forth!
The sword’s blade trembled, emitting a low, pleasant hum. The surrounding air seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, beginning to converge and compress at the sword’s tip.
A Sword Momentum—more condensed, sharper, and seemingly capable of tearing through the void—spread out, far surpassing that of the Perfection-level Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword.
FWOOSH—BOOM!!
Without any flashy moves, Fang Han flicked his wrist. The Flowing Wind Sword transformed into an extremely condensed, almost transparent, fine line of pale cyan light, striking the stele’s surface at a speed beyond what the naked eye could follow.
The moment the sword tip touched the stele, the highly condensed Sword Momentum and majestic Inner Qi erupted with a bang!
A sharp, strange noise was followed by a dull explosion that cracked like thunder.
The entire Overall Martial Arts Stele burst into brilliant light, instantly illuminating the whole plaza. The stele’s surface vibrated violently as ripple-like waves of energy spread out frantically.
The entire stele let out a deep, immense hum, the display far grander than last month’s.
Fang Han’s name suddenly lit up, and the number representing his rank began to jump wildly!
Sixteen... fifteen... fourteen... thirteen... twelve... eleven... ten!
The number jumped with extreme speed, instantly breaking past eleventh place. Finally, under countless gazes, it abruptly stopped—
Tenth!
The light gradually faded, and the Martial Arts Stele returned to its calm state.
Fang Han’s name rested in the "10th" position on the overall list.
It had pushed Yang Zhe, who was originally tenth, down to eleventh!
Everyone in the plaza stared intently at the newly updated ranking on the stele’s face.
The news that Yang Zhe had been defeated by the rogue Steward Qian Yong during the Celestial Eagle Gang battle, and that it was Fang Han who had ultimately killed him, had long since spread throughout the Sect. Everyone had some expectation of where Fang Han might rank.
But seeing the "10th" rank with their own eyes still sent a powerful shock through their hearts.
In just two months since becoming a True Inheritor, he had risen to tenth on the overall list, becoming the tenth True Inheritor.
He was now second only to the nine senior brothers and sisters on the Celestial Pride List!
"He really did surpass Senior Brother Yang Zhe to become the tenth True Inheritor!"
"To go from the bottom of the True Inheritors to the tenth in just two months... that speed of improvement is..."
"So Senior Brother Fang defeating the rogue Steward Qian Yong really wasn’t a fluke!"
...
Countless gazes focused on Fang Han, who stood with his sword sheathed, their words filled with awe.