Chapter 447 - 444: Plan

Chapter 447: Chapter 444: Plan

’It’s highly feasible.’

Fang Han weighed his options over and over, gradually making up his mind.

’The time is ripe. It’s time to start my revenge.’

’But...’

Fang Han frowned as another problem came to mind.

’Raiding the Netherworld Pavilion’s properties, if I’m discovered, will inevitably lead to a frantic pursuit.’

’That’s why having a sufficiently strong method of concealing my presence is essential.’

"My Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill... it feels like it’s still not quite enough," Fang Han murmured to himself.

He had already cultivated this Top Grade Stealth Secret Technique, the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill, to the Great Success Realm.

The Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill at the Great Success Realm was enough to block the Spiritual Perception of a Third Grade Martial Artist, but it wasn’t so reliable against a Second Grade Martial Artist.

An ordinary Second Grade Martial Artist couldn’t see through the Concealing Breath of the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill, but that wasn’t necessarily true for a top-level one.

’I have to cultivate this Secret Technique to Perfection...’

A decisive glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes.

Before he made his move, he would first cultivate the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill to Perfection to give himself a stronger Breath Concealment Ability.

’Before that, I’ll relax for a bit.’

Fang Han stood up and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.

The continuous, high-intensity cultivation had kept his mind in a constant state of tension.

The path of cultivation required a balance between exertion and rest.

Only training relentlessly wasn’t always effective; a proper break could allow his mind to rest and gather energy for the next sprint.

Lately, it had been nothing but cultivation and missions without a moment’s rest. He decided to take half a day off.

He changed into a clean green robe, hung the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist, and left his residence.

The morning light was perfect, and the early summer wind, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, brushed across his cheeks, dispelling the stuffiness that had accumulated in the Quiet Chamber.

Strolling along the bluestone path, Fang Han walked at an unhurried pace.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the Sub-Branch.

He had rarely returned to the Sub-Branch since being promoted to True Inheritor and moving out.

The Sub-Branch was located on the lower part of the mountainside, the place where ordinary disciples lived and cultivated.

The Sub-Branch was one of the Qingxuan Sect’s Twelve Courtyards, and it was where he had first stayed upon joining the Sect.

As he walked along the familiar bluestone path, the ancient trees on both sides were even more lush than two years ago, their branches and leaves weaving into a dense green canopy that sifted the sunlight into mottled patterns of light and shadow.

The disciples he met along the way stopped in their tracks, their expressions a mixture of awe and worship as they bowed respectfully.

"Senior Brother Fang."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Fang."

These were all disciples who had joined the Sect in the same year as him, but they still had to address him as "Senior Brother."

This was a rule of the Sect.

True Disciples held a revered status. Ordinary disciples, regardless of how early or late they had joined, had to address True Disciples as Senior Brother or Senior Sister.

Fang Han gave a slight nod in response but did not stop to chat with them.

Back when he had offended Chu Feng, most disciples had chosen to distance themselves from him. He had only been truly close with a few people in the Sub-Branch.

These disciples watched Fang Han walk past, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

They had joined in the same year, but now he was number one on the Celestial Pride List, the leading senior brother among the True Disciples. The gap was so vast that it extinguished any thought of jealousy.

If only they hadn’t chosen to distance themselves from him then, if only they had gained his friendship—how wonderful that would have been.

Passing a few rows of houses, Fang Han’s pace gradually slowed.

The layout of the Sub-Branch hadn’t changed much from what he remembered.

The houses he had once lived in, the paths he had walked countless times, the clearings where he had practiced his Swordsmanship in the early mornings—everything was still there.

He had spent more than a year here.

In over a year, he had gone from an ordinary disciple just entering the Sect to gradually making a name for himself.

Thinking back on it now, those events felt like they had happened a long, long time ago.

Fang Han reined in his thoughts and followed his memory toward a clearing in the woods behind the Sub-Branch.

It was where he had often practiced his swordsmanship, and a place Yun Qianyue also frequented.

The clearing wasn’t large. It was surrounded by ancient trees, and the ground was covered in soft, green grass that muffled his footsteps.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

A slender figure was practicing with a sword in the middle of the clearing.

Yun Qianyue was dressed in a pale cyan disciple’s uniform, her long hair tied back, her face veiled by a familiar light purple gauze.

The longsword in her hand danced, its light a streak of silk that flowed with a cold brilliance in the sunlight.

Her Swordsmanship was completely different from Fang Han’s.

Fang Han’s sword was fierce and sharp, pursuing the ultimate Power of Attack.

Yun Qianyue’s sword, on the other hand, possessed a gentle beauty, like ripples on water.

Her Sword Momentum was continuous and unbroken, like a gurgling stream or a steady drizzle. It looked gentle, but it concealed a deadly intent.

Her Body Technique was light and nimble. As she moved and dodged around the clearing, her robes fluttering, she looked like a dancing butterfly.

As her Sword Momentum unfolded, a hazy mist began to spread out from around her.

The mist was extremely faint, almost intangible, refracting tiny specks of light in the sun and enveloping her completely.

Within the mist, her figure flickered in and out of view, dreamlike and illusory.

But the seemingly beautiful mist was, in fact, lethal.

The Martial Technique Yun Qianyue cultivated was of the Water Attribute. The mist was filled with sharp Sword Qi; anyone who rashly entered would be instantly shredded to pieces.

’I’m not the only one making rapid progress!’

A faint smile touched Fang Han’s lips.

He didn’t make a sound to disturb Yun Qianyue, simply standing with his hands behind his back under an old tree at the edge of the clearing, quietly watching the figure weave through the mist.

The sword light flowed like water, her figure moved like a swallow, and the purple veil fluttered gently in the wind.

Compared to when they had hunted Demon Beasts in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, Yun Qianyue’s Swordsmanship Realm was now more profound, and her control over Water Momentum was more refined.

Time passed without them noticing.

The sunlight shifted through the gaps in the leaves, and the shadows cast on the ground slowly lengthened.

Yun Qianyue finally brought her sword to a rest.

The sword light faded and the mist dissipated. She stood in the center of the clearing, breathing lightly.

Fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and a few strands of dark hair, damp with perspiration, clung to her cheeks.

She raised a hand and gently wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve.

Then, she turned around.

Their eyes met.

Yun Qianyue paused, a faint light flickering for an instant in her cool, clear eyes.

The light was fleeting, gone so quickly it was almost impossible to catch.

She sheathed her sword and walked over to Fang Han.

Her steps were light, carrying an almost imperceptible hint of joy that wasn’t usually there.

"When did you get here?"

She stopped in front of Fang Han, tilting her head up to look at his face.

Her cool, clear eyes now held a hint of softness.

"I’ve been here for a little while."

Fang Han’s gaze rested on her face as a smile touched his lips.

"You looked so absorbed in your practice, I didn’t want to disturb you."

Yun Qianyue hummed softly in response but didn’t say anything more.

She turned, walked over to an old tree at the edge of the clearing, and sat down on the grass in its shade.

Fang Han walked over and sat down beside her.

They sat shoulder to shoulder, barely half a foot apart.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows over them.

A light breeze drifted by, carrying the fresh scent of grass and the faint, orchid-like fragrance from Yun Qianyue.

"What have you been busy with lately?"

Yun Qianyue asked, turning her head to look at Fang Han.

"I took on two missions, so I was away for a couple of trips."

Fang Han answered simply, not going into detail about the dangers of the missions.

"What about you?"

"Cultivation, and then I took on a small mission."

Yun Qianyue looked away, her gaze drifting toward the distant, sunlit forest. Her voice was cool, yet held a hint of softness.

The two of them just sat there, chatting idly.

Yun Qianyue spoke of her recent progress in cultivation and the small mission she had taken.

Her voice remained cool, but underneath, there was a distinct and rare note of relaxation.

Fang Han listened, a faint smile ever-present on his lips.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, the sun was high in the sky.

The sunlight grew more intense, casting bright patches of light on the ground through the gaps in the leaves.

"It’s time for lunch."

Yun Qianyue stood up, brushing the grass from her skirt.

"You haven’t been to the Sub-Branch in a long time. Want to try the food at the dining hall here?"

She turned to look at Fang Han, her cool eyes holding an almost imperceptible trace of expectation.

"Alright."

Fang Han stood up and nodded.

The two walked out of the woods side by side.

The Sub-Branch’s dining hall was different from the one in the True Inheritance Courtyard. It wasn’t as refined or as quiet.

The food was cooked in large woks. It wasn’t particularly refined, but it had a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere that the True Inheritance Courtyard lacked.

It was now lunchtime, and the dining hall was already filled with disciples.

When they saw Fang Han and Yun Qianyue walk in together, the clamor in the dining hall suddenly fell silent.

All eyes were on them.

Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged as he walked to an empty table in the corner and sat down.

Yun Qianyue sat down across from him.

The buzz of conversation in the dining hall gradually returned, but at a much lower volume than before.

Glances were frequently cast toward the corner table, their eyes filled with unconcealed curiosity.

Fang Han, number one on the Celestial Pride List, had actually come to eat at the Sub-Branch dining hall—and with Yun Qianyue, no less.

What exactly was their relationship?

Their food was served quickly. Fang Han and Yun Qianyue ate with their heads lowered, occasionally exchanging a few words in voices too low for anyone else to hear.

After lunch, Fang Han returned their bowls and chopsticks to the collection point, and he and Yun Qianyue walked out of the dining hall together.

The afternoon sun stretched their shadows long, making them overlap on the path.

"I should be getting back."

When they reached the entrance of the Sub-Branch, Fang Han stopped and turned to look at Yun Qianyue.

"Mm."

Yun Qianyue hummed in acknowledgment, her cool eyes lingering on Fang Han’s face for a moment.

Fang Han gave a slight nod, then turned and headed in the direction of the True Inheritance Courtyard.

Behind him, Yun Qianyue watched the green-robed figure recede into the distance until it disappeared around a bend in the mountain path.

She lowered her eyelids, her lashes casting faint shadows in the sunlight.

A moment later, she turned and walked back into the Sub-Branch.

...

In the days that followed, Fang Han once again threw himself into high-intensity cultivation.

But unlike before, his focus had shifted.

His cultivation of Inner Qi remained an unshakable routine—two hours every morning, without interruption.

His Swordsmanship training did not fall behind either. The Sky-Splitting Sword Technique became increasingly fluid in his hands, and his Wind Sword Intent grew stronger by the day.

The cultivation of his Horizontal Training was a slow, grinding process that could neither be rushed nor stopped. Every afternoon, he would spend time circulating the Xuanwu True Skill to temper his physical body.

His Body Technique training was the same. After reaching the Entry Level with the Wind God Step, he needed a great deal of practice to consolidate and deepen his understanding.

Beyond all that, he devoted most of his time to cultivating the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill.

He had already cultivated this Top Grade Stealth Secret Technique to Great Success and was only one step away from Perfection.

And that single step was the key to whether his plan could be carried out successfully.