Chapter 255 - 254: Ascending the Celestial Pride List
Chapter 255: Chapter 254: Ascending the Celestial Pride List
The next day, the morning sun had yet to grace the Qingxuan Sect, but the sect was already stirring far earlier than usual.
For many disciples, the first thing they did after waking was not to head to the dining hall or for Cultivation, but to hurry to the Sect’s Tingyu Hall.
At the beginning of each month, the books recording the latest rankings of the Celestial Pride List and the Martial Artist Ranking would be delivered to Tingyu Hall for sale.
For these ordinary disciples, most of whom had no hope of ever appearing on the lists, buying and passing around the ranking books to discuss the rise and fall of the geniuses on them was their primary way of participating in this premier event of Qingyang County.
"They’re here, they’re here! The new edition of the Celestial Pride List and Martial Artist Ranking books has arrived!"
Outside Tingyu Hall, disciples had long been craning their necks in anticipation. When they saw the Steward in charge of sales appear with a stack of new books exuding the fresh scent of ink, they immediately swarmed forward.
"Give me one!"
"I want one too!"
The books were quickly snatched up.
The disciples who bought a book eagerly began to flip through it, while those who hadn’t managed to get one hurriedly crowded around those who did.
"Quick, look at 100th place!"
A tall, thin disciple decided to check the Celestial Pride List from back to front. When he flipped to the book’s final page and saw its contents...
The next moment, his pupils constricted sharply.
His breath caught in his throat. His face was instantly filled with utter shock and disbelief as he cried out involuntarily:
"Senior Brother Fang Han! Senior Brother Fang Han is on the Celestial Pride List!"
This cry was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing an explosion in the crowd.
"What? Senior Brother Fang Han is on the list?"
"Really? Senior Brother Fang Han really made the list?"
"The 100th place was originally Qin Xiaoran from the Netherworld Pavilion. Did he get knocked off the list?!"
"Let me see!"
The crowd immediately erupted into a commotion. Countless gazes focused on the tall, thin disciple, seeking confirmation of this shocking news.
[100th Place: Fang Han (Qingxuan Sect)]
These few simple words seemed to carry immense weight, causing the hearts of all the disciples who saw them to pound with excitement.
The news spread like wildfire, sweeping through the entire Qingxuan Sect at an astonishing speed.
The Disciple Residences of the Twelve Courtyards, the Inheritance Hall, the dining hall, the Cultivation grounds... wherever disciples gathered, the words "Fang Han" and "100th on the Celestial Pride List" echoed relentlessly.
Cries of shock, shouts of admiration, and disbelieving discussions intertwined, merging into a massive wave of sound.
The faces of those disciples who had distanced themselves from Fang Han out of fear of Chu Feng were now filled with complex, indescribable emotions.
Shock, envy, awe... and a thick, lingering trace of regret.
’If we’d known Fang Han could make it onto the Celestial Pride List, why were we so opportunistic back then? Trying to get close to him now will probably be as hard as ascending to the heavens.’
In the Sub-Branch, Wang Meng sat alone by a window, also holding a newly purchased ranking book.
"He made... the Celestial Pride List?!"
Her gaze was fixed on the name "Fang Han," her fingertips turning white from how hard she was gripping the book. All the color drained from her lovely face, leaving only shame and regret.
Back then, her family had intended to match her with Fang Han, but she had been proud and arrogant. She believed that Fang Han, who came from a small family in Liangshui City, was not worthy of her and would have limited future achievements, so she had flatly refused.
Now, the young man she had looked down upon had ascended to the heavens in a single step, landing a spot on the Celestial Pride List—the pinnacle for the younger generation of the entire Qingyang County!
Yet she, who dreamed of finding a prodigy from the Celestial Pride List as her future partner, hadn’t managed to catch the eye of a single one.
The immense disparity and regret gnawed at her heart.
"To think he made the list so quickly!"
In another quiet residence, Yun Qianyue stood against the wind, clad in a purple robe.
She wasn’t holding a book, but a female disciple had already brought her the news.
At this moment, behind her veil, her bright eyes, usually as cold and clear as a winter pool, were churning with monstrous waves of utter shock.
Although she had long expected that with Fang Han’s Talent, it was inevitable he would ascend to the Celestial Pride List, she had never imagined this day would come so soon!
So soon that it had caught her completely off guard.
The gap between her and Fang Han had not only failed to shrink, but had instead grown so vast that she could barely even see his back anymore.
An indescribable mix of emotions spread through her heart: admiration, disappointment, and above all, the desolate feeling of being left far behind.
’Can I really catch up to him again?’
Li Feng stood before a whetstone, rhythmically sharpening the long blade in his hand, which made a SHHHK SHHHK sound.
He heard the discussions of the disciples beside him and his movements paused for a moment. Then he resumed as before, only his gaze grew even sharper, as if he wanted to slice through everything before him.
However, beneath that sharpness was a trace of powerlessness that even he was unwilling to admit.
He had made it his goal to surpass Fang Han, striving to catch up, but the distance between them only grew larger and larger.
It was the kind of gap that could no longer be closed by effort alone.
Inside the Sub-Branch Steward Hall, Elder Chen Xuan sat in the seat of honor. Below him, the faces of several Stewards were beaming with irrepressible joy.
"Excellent! Fang Han’s ascension to the Celestial Pride List is a great honor for our Sub-Branch!"
"The Sect’s rewards will be announced soon. We’ll all benefit from his glory!"
"Elder Chen went against the popular opinion before and looked after Fang Han. What a keen eye for talent!"
Elder Chen Xuan sat stroking his beard, his expression seemingly calm, but the unconcealable relief and joy in his eyes betrayed his inner elation.
Back then, he had endured considerable pressure to protect Fang Han, even to the point of opposing Chu Feng, a Celestial Pride True Inheritor.
Now, it seemed it had all been worth it.
This boy, Fang Han, truly had not disappointed him!
「In the study of Chu Feng’s Villa, True Inheritance Courtyard.」
Chu Feng gripped the book, his knuckles turning white from the force.
The words "100th Place: Fang Han" on the page stung his eyes.
His expression was so dark it looked like it could drip water. His chest heaved slightly as a mixture of jealousy, rage, and a strong sense of crisis churned within him.
"He actually... actually made it onto the Celestial Pride List!"
He gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse.
Although his rank was at the very bottom, the significance was entirely different.
Being on that list meant Fang Han’s status was now equal to his own. He now had the qualifications to stand on equal footing with him, Chu Feng!
This made him feel greatly threatened and humiliated.
BANG!
He slammed the book down on the table, a cold light flickering in his eyes.
"Fang Han... just you wait!"
...
「True Inheritance Courtyard, Villa Number 35.」
Fang Han finished his morning Cultivation and pushed open the door to his Quiet Chamber. The morning sunlight spilled over him, carrying a gentle warmth.
His Maid, Qiu Lan, who had long been waiting outside, immediately came forward. Her face was flushed with excitement, and her voice trembled uncontrollably:
"Senior Brother! Great news! Wonderful news! You... you’ve made it onto the Celestial Pride List! You’re in 100th place!"
Hearing this, Fang Han stopped in his tracks, a look of surprise on his face.
’I made the Celestial Pride List?’
He was a little surprised.
He had never doubted his ability to make the Celestial Pride List, but by his own estimates, he had thought it would take at least another month or two.
He didn’t expect to succeed this month.
Regardless, this was a huge, pleasant surprise and a great affirmation for him.
Fang Han quickly regained his composure. He took out a thousand-tael silver note and handed it to Qiu Lan. "Reward everyone in the villa with one hundred taels each," he said. "Go and distribute it."
He walked toward the living room, ready for breakfast. Although making the Celestial Pride List made him happy, he still had to eat.
"Thank you for the reward, Senior Brother!"
Qiu Lan looked at Fang Han’s calm, impassive profile. Her excitement subsided slightly, replaced by a deeper sense of reverence.
’Making the Celestial Pride List and becoming famous throughout Qingyang—how many genius disciples dreamed of such an honor?’
’Yet Senior Brother Fang is so calm. This kind of temperament is beyond that of an ordinary person.’
Fang Han ate his breakfast: a bowl of steaming, fragrant beast-meat congee, a few plates of refreshing side dishes, and a basket of thin-skinned, plump dumplings.
He chewed slowly and deliberately, his movements unhurried, as if the sensational news of his ascension to the Celestial Pride List that had just swept the Sect had nothing to do with him.
After finishing his meal, just as he was about to rise and head to the courtyard for his morning Swordsmanship practice, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps from outside.
Qiu Lan walked briskly into the living room, her face a mixture of nervousness and respect, and reported:
"Senior Brother, Steward Zhao from the Sect Leader’s Hall is here to see you. He says that by order of the Sect Leader, he is to request your presence at the Sect Leader’s Hall."
’The Sect Leader is summoning me?’
Hearing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Fang Han’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
’It’s reasonable for the Sect Leader to summon me now that I’ve made the Celestial Pride List.’
’And if I’m not mistaken, there’s a high chance I’ll receive a reward on this trip, and a substantial one at that.’
"Please ask Steward Zhao to wait a moment. I will be right there."
Fang Han straightened his robes, hung the Flowing Wind Sword from his waist, and walked out with a steady gait.
Outside the villa gate, a middle-aged man in a dark cyan Steward’s Robe with a composed aura stood with his hands at his sides. It was indeed Steward Zhao from the Sect Leader’s Hall.
Over two months ago, it was Steward Zhao who had handled the paperwork for Fang Han to become a True Inheritor.
"True Inheritor Fang, we meet again."
Seeing Fang Han emerge, Steward Zhao immediately put on a perfectly polite smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
"The Sect Leader has summoned you and ordered me to lead the way."
"I’ll have to trouble you, Steward Zhao."
Fang Han nodded slightly, his tone calm.
One in front and one behind, the two of them left the True Inheritance Courtyard and once again headed up the main bluestone path toward the Sect Leader’s Hall at the peak of Qingxuan Mountain.
The disciples and Stewards they encountered along the way all stopped to bow when they saw Fang Han and the guiding Steward Zhao, their eyes filled with awe and curiosity.
Now that the news of Fang Han making the Celestial Pride List had spread, his prestige and status within the Sect were completely different.
Stepping into the magnificent, solemn, and imposing Sect Leader’s Hall once more, Fang Han’s state of mind was different from when he had come two months prior.
There was less of the subtle apprehension he felt on his first visit and more composure and self-assurance.
At the far end of the great hall, Sect Leader Chen Tianyuan sat peacefully upon a throne of purple sandalwood.
He was not wearing his formal robes today, only a simple, deep purple casual outfit, but his aura—as profound as an abyss and as imposing as a mountain—was all the more captivating.
A pair of eyes that seemed to hold the flow of stars fell upon Fang Han, carrying a hint of indescribable scrutiny and inquiry.
"Disciple Fang Han pays his respects to the Sect Leader."
Fang Han took a few steps forward, stopped at the foot of the jade steps, and bowed, his voice clear and bright.