Chapter 489 - 485: Taking the Sword-shaped Grass Again

Chapter 489: Chapter 485: Taking the Sword-shaped Grass Again

"True Inheritor Fang, in last year’s tournament for new disciples of the Seven Sects, our Qingxuan Sect ranked last. We didn’t receive much Earth Core Stone Milk."

Han Qing’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly upon hearing this, and he said,

"Furthermore, a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure like Earth Core Stone Milk, which can improve one’s Root Bone, has always been in high demand. Many Steward Elders have exchanged for it, and now... there is none left in stock."

Fang Han hadn’t expected this outcome, and his brow furrowed slightly.

"If you wish to exchange for Earth Core Stone Milk, you’ll have to wait until November of this year, after the new disciples’ tournament for the Seven Sects concludes and the Sect receives a new supply."

Han Qing’s voice remained level, carrying a calm, businesslike tone.

"At that time, if True Inheritor Fang still requires it, you may return to the treasury to make an exchange."

Fang Han fell silent.

It was only early July. November was still a full four months away.

Four months wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t short, either.

But he was unwilling to wait for four months.

"Elder Han."

He looked up, meeting Han Qing’s gaze.

"Since the Earth Core Stone Milk is temporarily out of stock, this disciple will exchange for other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures."

He paused for a moment before asking,

"Does the treasury have any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that can improve one’s Swordsmanship Talent?"

"Yes."

Han Qing nodded slightly upon hearing this.

He turned and walked toward a row of purple sandalwood shelves in the depths of the stone chamber.

Fang Han followed behind him.

Han Qing stopped in front of a Cold Jade Box about a foot long. He reached out, took the Jade Box down, and placed it on a nearby table.

He opened the lid.

A cool, sharp aura rushed toward them.

Fang Han’s gaze fell upon the box’s contents.

Inside the Jade Box, nestled on a bed of soft, silver velvet, lay three peculiar plants.

Each plant was about a foot long, pale gold in color, and shaped not like ordinary grass but like a miniature, sharp sword.

Each had nine leaves, long and slender, with edges as sharp as blades. Within their veins, a faint light shimmered, as if countless minuscule streams of Sword Qi were flowing through them.

It was Sword-shaped Grass.

"Sword-shaped Grass, a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that can improve Swordsmanship Talent."

Han Qing’s voice echoed in the silent stone chamber.

"Currently, the treasury has three stalks in stock."

"Elder Han, how many contribution points are needed to exchange for one stalk of Sword-shaped Grass?"

Fang Han asked, his gaze fixed on the three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass.

"One great merit."

Han Qing’s answer was concise and direct.

Fang Han was silent for a moment.

’One great merit for a single stalk of Sword-shaped Grass.’

’The price is exorbitant. After all, one great merit can be exchanged for a Grandmaster Technique.’

’However, a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure like Sword-shaped Grass, which can improve Swordsmanship Talent, is exceptionally rare and can only be chanced upon, not sought.’

’Besides, with the Swordsmanship Talent Amplification from my system panel, the effect of consuming Sword-shaped Grass will be far greater for me than for anyone else.’

’Exchanging contribution points for Sword-shaped Grass is undoubtedly a worthwhile trade for me.’

"Elder Han."

He looked up, meeting Han Qing’s gaze.

"This disciple will exchange for all three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass."

Han Qing’s brow twitched slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass would require a total of three great merits.

He glanced at Fang Han but didn’t say anything more, merely nodding slightly.

"Very well."

He turned and took a wooden box, about a foot long, from a nearby shelf.

The box was made entirely of purple sandalwood, its surface carved with intricate cloud patterns and its interior lined with soft velvet.

He carefully removed the three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass from the Cold Jade Box, placed them in the wooden box, closed the lid, and presented it to Fang Han with both hands.

"True Inheritor Fang, three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass for a total of three great merits."

Fang Han accepted the wooden box and tucked it away.

"True Inheritor Fang, please give me your Identity Token."

Han Qing nodded slightly and retrieved a simple, ancient Inheritance Jade Inkstone from his sleeve, placing it on the table.

Fang Han took out his Token from his robes and handed it over.

Han Qing took the Token and placed it in the groove in the center of the Jade Inkstone. A faint light glowed at his fingertips as he rapidly tapped several specific runes on the inkstone’s surface.

The Jade Inkstone emitted a nearly inaudible hum, and a flash of light streaked across its surface before vanishing.

"Three great merits have been deducted."

Han Qing handed the Token back, his voice as level as ever.

Fang Han accepted the Token and tucked it away.

His heart ached at the cost of three great merits for three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass, but he had no regrets.

’Contribution points can always be earned again.’

’But if I miss out on a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure like Sword-shaped Grass that can improve my Swordsmanship Talent, I don’t know when I’ll ever encounter it again.’

"True Inheritor Fang, is there anything else you wish to exchange for?"

Han Qing’s voice sounded again.

Fang Han pondered for a moment. Despite the sting of the previous expense, he decided to exchange for a few more things. He said,

"Elder Han, this disciple would also like to exchange for some Elixirs to speed up my Cultivation."

"Follow me."

Han Qing nodded slightly and turned to walk out of the stone chamber.

Fang Han followed Han Qing through the cavern and arrived at the door of another stone chamber.

On the Jade Token by the door were carved two words in ancient seal script: "Elixir Room."

Han Qing took out a key, unlocked the stone door, and pushed it open.

Inside the stone chamber, several rows of purple sandalwood shelves were stacked neatly against the walls.

The shelves were filled with Jade Bottles and Porcelain Bottles of all sizes. Each bottle had a label indicating the name, quantity, and effects of the Elixir it contained.

A faint medicinal aroma filled the air, mixed with the unique, refreshing fragrance of some herb, invigorating the senses.

"For Elixirs that speed up Inner Qi Cultivation, the most suitable one for you in the treasury right now is the Earth Spirit Pill."

Han Qing walked to a row of shelves, stopped, and turned to look at Fang Han.

His voice was still level, carrying a calm, businesslike tone.

"Earth Spirit Pills cost one small merit for five bottles."

Fang Han was inwardly astonished. ’One small merit can only be exchanged for five bottles of Earth Spirit Pills? These pills are even more precious than I expected.’

From this, it was easy to see the high value of the special resources the Sect awarded each month.

"For Elixirs that speed up Body Hardening Cultivation, the most suitable one for you in the treasury right now is the Vajra Pill."

Han Qing continued,

"Vajra Pills also cost one small merit for five bottles."

"Elder Han, this disciple will exchange for fifteen bottles of Vajra Pills."

Fang Han said after a moment of thought.

For his Inner Qi Cultivation, he had the ten bottles of Celestial Essence Pills he’d acquired earlier. Those were more effective than Earth Spirit Pills, so he didn’t need to exchange for any right now.

In contrast, his Body Hardening Cultivation urgently required the aid of Elixirs like the Vajra Pill.

"Fifteen bottles of Vajra Pills will be three small merits in total."

Han Qing nodded slightly, turned, and took fifteen Jade Bottles from the shelf. He placed them in a cloth bag and handed it to Fang Han.

Fang Han accepted the bag carefully, afraid of breaking the bottles. After all, they were worth a total of three small merits.

Han Qing once again took the Identity Token from Fang Han’s hand and brought out the Inheritance Jade Inkstone again.

After a moment’s work, he deducted three small merits, the equivalent of one great merit, from Fang Han’s Token.

"True Inheritor Fang, is there anything else you wish to exchange for?"

Han Qing asked, handing the Token back.

Fang Han took the Token and tucked it away. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"Thank you, Elder Han. That will be all for now."

Having spent four great merits, he now had two left. He decided to save them for emergencies so that he wouldn’t be caught short if he needed to exchange for something else in the future.

"Let’s go, then."

Han Qing nodded slightly and turned to walk out of the stone chamber.

Fang Han followed him, passing through the cavern and along the deep, dark corridor, heading out of the treasury.

Behind them, the treasures that had been collected for hundreds of years lay quietly on display in the cavern, waiting under the cold light of the Luminous Pearls for the next person of destiny to arrive.

RUMBLE—

The heavy stone door slowly closed, sealing the treasury off from the outside world.

The morning sunlight spilled in, dispelling the gloom of the corridor.

Fang Han squinted slightly, adjusting to the change in light.

"True Inheritor Fang, take care."

Zhao Tie’s deep voice sounded from behind him.

"Thank you, Elder Zhao, Elder Han. This disciple will take his leave."

Fang Han turned and bowed to the two Elders with his hands clasped.

He turned and walked down the mountain, following the same stone path he had taken to get there.

Returning to Villa No. 35, Fang Han crossed the courtyard and headed straight for the Quiet Chamber.

He pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber. Blue smoke curled up from the Sandalwood Incense Burner, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.

He bolted the door shut behind him and walked to the cattail-leaf cushion, where he sat down cross-legged.

He took out the Purple Sandalwood Box from his robes.

The box was made entirely of purple sandalwood, its surface carved with intricate cloud patterns, and it felt smooth and warm to the touch.

He placed the box on his lap and gently pried open the lid with his fingertips.

Three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass lay quietly on the soft velvet. They were pale gold in color, with long, slender leaves as sharp as blades and veins that faintly shimmered with flowing light.

’I wonder how much of an improvement this will bring me?’

Fang Han’s gaze lingered on the three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass for a moment.

Three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass for three great merits.

The price was undeniably steep.

But if it could be exchanged for a significant boost in his Swordsmanship Talent, then it was nothing.

He reached out and took the leftmost stalk. As his fingertips touched the leaf, a cool, sharp energy faintly traveled up the meridians of his arm.

Without hesitation, he put the Sword-shaped Grass into his mouth.

Just like the first time he’d consumed it, the Sword-shaped Grass didn’t melt like an Elixir. Instead, it seemed to transform into countless fine, cool streams of Sword Qi.

They surged down his throat and into his body, instantly spreading to his limbs and bones before converging like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, rushing together toward the sea of consciousness between his brows.

BUZZ—!

It was as if ten thousand swords were ringing in his mind at once, or as if a clap of thunder had exploded.

A strange, cool, yet vast and majestic energy, like a bursting flood, washed over his sea of consciousness, cleansing his very soul.

Under the influence of this strange energy, his affinity for the sword, his comprehension, and his deductive abilities all soared at an unprecedented, frantic pace.

The sensation was identical to the first time he had taken Sword-shaped Grass.

Fang Han’s mind was calm as he allowed this energy to circulate within his sea of consciousness.

Time slipped by quietly during this profound transformation.

「More than two hours later.」

The cool torrent finally subsided, receding slowly from his sea of consciousness like an ebbing tide, leaving behind a refreshed and renewed clarity.

WHOOSH—

Fang Han slowly opened his eyes.

From the depths of his eyes, two beams of sword light, condensed to their absolute limit, seemed to flash and vanish, so sharp that one would not dare to look directly at them.

He gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, and this breath actually carried a faint, almost imperceptible sharpness.

’I wonder what the effect was...’

Fang Han stood up, pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber, and walked out into the courtyard.

He walked to the center of the open space and placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword.