Chapter 256 - 255: Swordform Grass and Fortune
Chapter 256: Chapter 255: Swordform Grass and Fortune
"At ease."
Chen Tianyuan’s voice was calm, yet it carried a natural air of authority.
His gaze lingered on Fang Han for a moment, and he slowly began to speak.
"Fang Han, I recall that two months ago, you had just been promoted to a True Inheritor and received your reward in this very hall. I never imagined that I would be summoning you here again after a mere two months."
His tone held a hint of wonder and praise.
"The speed of your progress is truly astonishing."
"You praise me too highly, Sect Leader. I am unworthy. What little progress I’ve made is all thanks to the Sect’s nurturing."
Fang Han lowered his head, his tone humble but neither servile nor arrogant.
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly, an imperceptible flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
’To find success at such a young age, yet remain free of arrogance and impatience... his temperament is so steady. This young man is truly a rare, uncut gem.’
"When a disciple of our Sect ascends to the Celestial Pride List, it is a grand occasion for the Qingxuan Sect. As is tradition, every disciple who makes the list receives a generous reward as encouragement."
Chen Tianyuan wasted no more words and got straight to the point.
Fang Han felt a stir of anticipation and waited for the Sect Leader to continue.
"I know you’ve previously received a reward from the Sect and consumed Earth Core Stone Milk to improve your Root Bone and aptitude."
Chen Tianyuan’s gaze was deep as he looked at Fang Han.
"While Earth Core Stone Milk is excellent, the effects of such Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are always most potent the first time they are consumed. Taking it again will yield greatly diminished results."
He paused before continuing, "Therefore, for this reward, I have decided to retrieve a stalk of ’Sword-shaped Grass’ from the Sect’s private collection and bestow it upon you."
"Sword-shaped Grass?"
Upon hearing this, even with his steady temperament, Fang Han’s breath hitched, and an irrepressible light of joyous surprise erupted in his eyes.
Only a few days ago, he had been lamenting that a rare treasure like Sword-shaped Grass—which could directly enhance one’s Swordsmanship Talent—was the kind of thing one could only hope to encounter by chance, not actively seek. Even if one were to appear, it would be far beyond what he could currently afford.
He had never imagined that the Sect would actually give him such a precious treasure as a reward for making the list!
"Disciple... thank you, Sect Leader, for this generous gift! I will be sure to cultivate diligently and not disappoint the expectations of the Sect and yourself!"
Fang Han bowed again, a thread of genuine excitement in his voice.
Chen Tianyuan took in Fang Han’s reaction. Seeing his surprise, yet noting he hadn’t lost his composure, made the Sect Leader feel even more satisfied. He spoke in a warm tone.
"This item is a perfect match for you. I hope you will make good use of this treasure and walk even farther on the path of the Sword Dao."
Then, his tone shifted. His gaze grew distant as he asked.
"Fang Han, do you know why the Sect places so much importance on the Celestial Pride List? Why does every disciple who makes the list receive such preferential treatment and a greater share of resources?"
Fang Han’s heart stirred, sensing a deeper meaning in the Sect Leader’s question.
He pondered for a moment, then answered cautiously.
"In reply to the Sect Leader, I believe that a disciple ascending to the Celestial Pride List greatly enhances the Sect’s prestige and serves as a deterrent to others."
"Furthermore, those who make the list are the future pillars of our Qingxuan Sect. It signifies they have immense potential and are worthy of the Sect’s full investment in their development."
After listening, Chen Tianyuan remained noncommittal, simply stating, "Prestige and potential. Those are indeed reasons, but they are not the primary one."
A look of confusion appeared in Fang Han’s eyes. "Please enlighten me, Sect Leader," he said respectfully.
Chen Tianyuan’s gaze seemed to pierce through the great hall’s ceiling, staring into some distant, unknown void. His voice carried a hint of both the ethereal and the solemn.
"The primary reason is that the Celestial Pride List... is not merely a list. It is connected to something mysterious and profound—providence."
"Providence?"
Fang Han’s heart trembled, the shock in his eyes impossible to hide.
The concept of providence, even in this Martial Arts World, was considered exceptionally abstruse and intangible.
He never expected the Sect Leader to claim that the Celestial Pride List was connected to it.
Chen Tianyuan spoke slowly.
"The way of providence is abstruse and unfathomable. As for whether it truly exists, even at my Realm, I would not dare to say for certain."
"However, throughout history, those who ascend to the Celestial Pride List tend to have extraordinary fortunes. They often find a sliver of hope in the most perilous situations and stumble upon astonishing opportunities in the most mundane of places. These are well-documented facts."
"The Sect’s forebears speculated that ascending to the Celestial Pride List might attract and gather this unseen providence, bestowing it upon oneself."
"When a disciple’s providence flourishes, the Sect benefits as well; the two are intertwined. Therefore, the Sect’s generous treatment of disciples on the list is in accordance with this principle, intended to help their momentum grow."
Fang Han’s mind reeled. What he had heard today completely overturned his previous understanding of the world.
’The Celestial Pride List is actually connected to something as mystical as providence?’
But on second thought, the Martial Dao itself was something that defied common sense. Items like the Identity Token and the Overall Martial Arts Stele were already beyond the scope of ordinary martial understanding.
’Since those things exist, the existence of providence doesn’t seem so impossible to accept.’
"Disciple... has learned a valuable lesson."
Fang Han took a deep breath, calming the turmoil in his heart, and spoke with renewed gravity.
Seeing that Fang Han was startled but not panicked, and was able to quickly accept and process the information, the appreciation in Chen Tianyuan’s eyes deepened. He waved his hand and said,
"Go on. Steward Zhao will take you to the Sect Treasure Vault to retrieve the Sword-shaped Grass. Cultivate diligently, and do not squander this opportunity."
"Yes! This disciple takes his leave!"
Fang Han bowed in salute again and slowly exited the Sect Leader’s Hall.
Only after he stepped out of the hall and felt the daylight and fresh air on his skin did he let out a slow breath. A trace of shock still lingered in his eyes.
’Providence... The Celestial Pride List...’
What he learned today had opened a new door for him, giving him a deeper understanding of this world.
"True Inheritor Fang, please follow me."
Steward Zhao, who was waiting outside the hall, came forward and said with a respectful attitude.
"Thank you for your trouble, Steward Zhao."
Fang Han collected his thoughts and nodded.
Under Steward Zhao’s lead, the two did not go down the mountain, but instead turned towards a huge stone hall on Qingxuan Mountain that was carved directly into the mountainside.
The stone hall was heavily guarded. Not only were there many disciples on watch, but several Elders were also stationed there, making the security exceptionally tight.
This was the location of the Qingxuan Sect’s Treasure Vault!
Steward Zhao presented the Sect Leader’s Token to prove his identity. Only after several more inspections was he finally cleared.
The heavy stone door slowly slid open, revealing a deep and dark passage behind it.
Steward Zhao entered the treasure vault alone. About fifteen minutes later, he emerged holding a Cold Jade Box that was about a foot long and half a foot wide.
"True Inheritor Fang, this is the Sword-shaped Grass bestowed by the Sect Leader. Please inspect it."
Steward Zhao solemnly handed over the Jade Box.
Fang Han took it with both hands. As soon as it was in his hands, he felt a chill seep into his skin. The Jade Box was unusually heavy.
He carefully opened the lid of the box.
Instantly, a cool, sharp aura washed over him.
Just a single whiff was enough to invigorate his spirit, and the various thoughts about swordsmanship in his mind seemed to become a touch clearer and more agile.
Inside the Jade Box, laid on soft, silver velvet, a peculiar plant lay quietly.
The plant was about a foot long and pale gold in color. It wasn’t shaped like an ordinary plant, but rather like a collection of miniature, sharp swords.
It had nine leaves in total, each one long, narrow, and straight, with edges as sharp as blades. Within the veins of the leaves, a faint light seemed to flow and flicker, as if countless tiny wisps of Sword Qi were circulating inside.
It was precisely the legendary rare treasure of the Sword Dao—Sword-shaped Grass!
"It’s correct. Thank you, Steward Zhao."
Fang Han suppressed the excitement in his heart and carefully closed the lid.
"You’re too kind, True Inheritor,"
Steward Zhao said, cupping his hands.
Leaving the heavily guarded treasure vault, Fang Han and Steward Zhao parted ways.
Clutching the Jade Box that held the Sword-shaped Grass, Fang Han was in no mood to admire the scenery. He pushed the Flowing Wind Shadowless Step to its absolute limit, his body becoming a blur of green smoke as he returned to Courtyard 35 in the True Inheritance Courtyard at the fastest possible speed.
"I’m going into seclusion. No one is to disturb me!"
After giving a hurried instruction to Qiu Lan who had come to greet him, Fang Han went straight into the Quiet Chamber and bolted the door shut behind him.
Inside the Quiet Chamber, sandalwood smoke curled up, isolating it from all outside sounds.
Fang Han sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, placing the Cold Jade Box before him.
He took several deep breaths, letting his turbulent emotions settle completely and adjusting his condition to its absolute peak.
Then, he opened the Jade Box again and took out the Sword-shaped Grass.
As his fingertips touched the grass leaf, a cool, sharp energy faintly traveled up the meridians of his arm.
He no longer hesitated and put the Sword-shaped Grass into his mouth.
The Sword-shaped Grass did not melt in his mouth like an Elixir, but instead seemed to transform into countless fine, cool streams of Sword Qi.
It flowed down his throat and into his body, instantly scattering to his limbs and bones. Finally, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, it all converged, surging toward the sea of consciousness between his brows.
HUMMM—!
Fang Han felt as if ten thousand swords were singing in his mind at once, like a sudden clap of thunder exploding within him.
A cool, yet vast and majestic, energy flooded his sea of consciousness like a burst dam, cleansing his very soul.
Under the influence of this strange energy, his affinity for the sword, his comprehension, and his deductive abilities began to skyrocket at an unprecedented rate.
Even more incredibly, just as when he had consumed the Earth Core Stone Milk to improve his Root Bone, the Talent enhancement from the Sword-shaped Grass was also boosted by his system’s Swordsmanship Talent Amplification multiplier.
Time flowed by unnoticed amidst this profound metamorphosis.
More than two hours later, the meditating Fang Han slowly opened his eyes.
Deep within his eyes, two beams of sword light, condensed to their absolute limit, flashed and vanished. They were so sharp it was impossible to meet his gaze.
He gently exhaled, and even the air he breathed out seemed to carry a faint, sharp intent.
’I wonder just how much of an improvement a single stalk of Sword-shaped Grass has brought me...’
With a mere thought, Fang Han began to mentally walk through the techniques of the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting.
Instantly, the myriad variations of its Sword Techniques and the transitions of its Sword Momentum flowed through his mind as clearly as a mountain stream, each one understood intuitively.
Even though the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting was a top-level Swordsmanship and exceedingly difficult to cultivate, everything now felt natural and flowed smoothly, with no more hitches.
’This effect... is astonishing!’
Fang Han gently clenched his fist, feeling a much deeper level of insight and control over the very essence of the Sword Dao. His heart swelled with shock and joy.
The miraculous effects of the Sword-shaped Grass, stacked with the terrifying boost from his one-hundred-and-twenty-eightfold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, had pushed his talent for the Sword Dao to an unimaginable level.
At this moment, he seemed to have been born for the sword!
’I can’t waste this heaven-sent opportunity!’
Fang Han suppressed his turbulent emotions, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
He rose to his feet, drew the Flowing Wind Sword from his waist, and began practicing the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting—which he had already reached the Entry Level with—right there in the Quiet Chamber.
As his sword flashed, its movements were fluid and seamless, its intent arising naturally.
Every strike carried a fierce, profound quality, as if it could pierce the very void.
His rate of cultivation was now several times faster than it had been before he consumed the Sword-shaped Grass.
Within the Quiet Chamber, sword shadows danced, and the air crackled with chilling Sword Qi.
Fang Han became completely immersed in his Swordsmanship practice, his comprehension of the Sword Dao ascending toward a higher Realm at an unprecedented speed.