Chapter 490 - 486: Greatly Improved Swordsmanship Talent

Chapter 490: Chapter 486: Greatly Improved Swordsmanship Talent

CLANG—

The Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath. Its dark cyan blade gleamed with a restrained light in the twilight.

Fang Han thrust his sword.

The gleam of the sword was like a silk thread, tracing a faint, almost invisible arc through the twilight.

However, the moment he thrust the sword, a faint ripple appeared in the air. It was barely there, yet it was more solid and lasted longer than before.

In Fang Han’s mind, the principles of the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique slowly flowed.

The transformations of the Sword Techniques and the methods of circulating Inner Qi, all of which he knew by heart, now seemed to flow a bit more smoothly as he mentally rehearsed them.

The feeling of smoothness was not intense, almost imperceptible, but it was definitely real.

He struck with his sword again.

One strike, two strikes, three strikes...

The light of his sword flickered in the courtyard. At times, it was like a gentle breeze on the face, soft and silent. At others, it was like a sudden clap of thunder, sharp and peerless.

He practiced the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique over and over, carefully savoring the subtle change.

He didn’t practice for too long. After all, he was currently injured and not in a condition to train in Martial Techniques for extended periods.

After dozens of strikes, he sheathed his sword and stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. He closed his eyes and began to calculate silently.

’If I say my initial Swordsmanship Talent was a one...’

Fang Han muttered to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear.

Previously, after consuming the Sword-shaped Grass for the first time, his Swordsmanship Talent had taken a qualitative leap.

Judging by his perception of his own comprehension speed in the Sword Dao, that improvement had increased his Swordsmanship Talent by four times his base talent, taking it from one to five.

And this time...

He recalled the feeling from his practice just now, comparing it to his state after consuming the first Sword-shaped Grass.

’It increased by about three times my base talent.’

A moment later, Fang Han opened his eyes, having reached a conclusion.

This time, consuming the Sword-shaped Grass increased his Swordsmanship Talent by three times his base talent, raising it from five to eight.

The effect of the increase was diminishing.

This was normal.

He had read about it in the Sect’s records—for the same type of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the first time one consumed it yielded the best results. Afterward, the effects would diminish with each subsequent use.

This was true for Sword-shaped Grass, for Earth Core Stone Milk, and most likely for all other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that could improve one’s aptitude.

It wasn’t a problem with the Sword-shaped Grass itself. Rather, his body had developed a "tolerance" to this type of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that improved Swordsmanship Talent.

’This is within my expectations!’

Fang Han’s expression was calm, showing no disappointment.

This outcome was exactly what he had anticipated.

He sheathed his sword, turned back to the Quiet Chamber, and sat cross-legged on the cattail mat again.

His gaze fell upon the Purple Sandalwood Box on his lap, where two more stalks of Sword-shaped Grass lay.

He reached out, took the second stalk, and placed it in his mouth.

The Sword-shaped Grass dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into countless fine, cool streams of Sword Qi that surged into the sea of consciousness between his brows.

This time, the impact of the cool energy was much gentler than the first, like a calm stream rather than a bursting flood.

「An hour later.」

The medicinal effects wore off.

’It increased by about two times my base talent.’

Fang Han opened his eyes and walked out into the courtyard.

The Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath, its light glinting in the sun.

He practiced the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique over and over, carefully observing the changes in his Swordsmanship Talent.

After dozens of strikes, he sheathed his sword, closed his eyes, and calculated silently in his mind.

His Swordsmanship Talent had increased by two times his base talent, going from eight to ten.

The effect had diminished again.

’One last stalk left!’

Fang Han turned back to the Quiet Chamber, sat on the cattail mat, and took out the third Sword-shaped Grass.

When the third Sword-shaped Grass entered his mouth, the cool energy was even gentler, seeping into his sea of consciousness like a silent, trickling stream.

「An hour later.」

The medicinal effects wore off.

’It increased by about one time my base talent.’

Fang Han went out to the courtyard again.

The Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath, its light flowing like water.

He practiced the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique repeatedly. His Sword Techniques were fluid and seamless, and with every thrust, a faint ripple spread through the air.

After dozens of strikes, he sheathed his sword and stood still.

It had increased by one time his base talent. His Swordsmanship Talent went from ten to eleven.

The effect was even weaker now.

’I’m afraid it will be difficult to improve my innate Swordsmanship Talent any further in the short term!’

Fang Han sheathed his sword, clasped his hands behind his back, and stood silently in the courtyard for a moment.

He had consumed all three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass.

His innate Swordsmanship Talent had risen from the initial five to the current eleven.

It had basically reached its limit.

Even if he had a fourth or fifth stalk of Sword-shaped Grass, the effects of consuming them would be negligible.

The same would be true even if he switched to another type of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that could improve Swordsmanship Talent.

His body hadn’t just developed a tolerance to Sword-shaped Grass, but to all Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures of this type that improved Swordsmanship Talent.

If he wanted to continue to significantly improve his Swordsmanship Talent, his only option was to find a High Grade Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that could do so.

Just like Cultivation Techniques and Elixirs, Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures also had different grades.

Low Grade, Middle Grade, Upper Grade, top-level...

Most of what could be found in Qingyang County was only Low Grade.

Middle Grade items were already extremely rare, often available in name but not in market.

As for Top Grade items, they were like things of legend, and it wasn’t even certain they existed.

And as for top-level, perhaps such Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could have been born in ancient times, but the conditions for them to appear no longer existed in the present day.

’I really want to start training my Swordsmanship right now!’

With all three stalks of Sword-shaped Grass consumed, Fang Han’s innate Swordsmanship Talent had leaped from five times his base to eleven times.

Combined with the massive 256-fold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, the improvement was enormous.

Standing in the courtyard, he felt an unprecedented clarity in his mind.

All his various thoughts about the Sword Dao seemed to have been organized by an invisible hand, becoming well-structured and clear.

He raised his hand and placed it on the hilt of his sword, an irrepressible urge welling up within him—

He wanted to draw his sword, to see what kind of progress he could make in his Cultivation of the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique with his current Swordsmanship Talent.

However, the wound on his left shoulder, grazed by Xue Yuanlang’s Palm Wind, began to throb faintly, like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.

’A shame. I’m injured and shouldn’t be training in Martial Techniques.’

Fang Han’s hand slowly loosened its grip on the sword hilt.

In the practice of the Martial Dao, impatience was the greatest taboo.

Forcing himself to practice Swordsmanship before his injuries had healed would not only be unhelpful but could also aggravate the wound and leave behind a hidden ailment.

He understood this principle.

’Still, there’s no reason to waste time because of this!’

Fang Han turned, walked back to the Quiet Chamber, and sat cross-legged on the cattail mat.

Since he couldn’t practice Swordsmanship, he would focus his energy on Inner Qi Cultivation. ℴℴ𝘮

The Cultivation of an Inner Power Cultivation Technique did not require physical movements; it only needed one to sit still, regulate one’s breathing, and guide the Inner Qi through its Circulations.

It was perfectly suited for recovering from an injury.

’Celestial Essence Pill.’

Fang Han took a Jade Bottle containing the Celestial Essence Pills from his robes and uncorked it.

Inside the bottle were ten Elixirs, each the size of a longan fruit.

They were lustrous and white as jade, with faint cloud-like patterns swirling on their surfaces. Their medicinal fragrance was crisp and clear, invigorating him with just a sniff.

GULP—

Fang Han tipped out a Celestial Essence Pill and put it in his mouth.

The Elixir dissolved instantly, and a surge of Medicinal Power—far more vast and gentle than that of a Yunling Pill—spread through his abdomen like a surging river, rushing into his limbs and bones.

The purity and potency of the Medicinal Power far surpassed the Yunling Pill he had taken before.

RUMBLE—

Fang Han focused his mind and slowly circulated the Cyan Profound Technique.

Cyan-gold Inner Qi coursed through his meridians like a long-awaited rain filling a dry riverbed, greedily absorbing and refining the pure Medicinal Power from the Celestial Essence Pill.

With the aid of the Celestial Essence Pill, the growth rate of his Inner Qi increased sharply.

Wisps of new Inner Qi merged into the circulation path, then poured into the Shenmai Acupoint.

The feeling was like trudging along a muddy path and suddenly stepping onto a wide, flat road.

Every step forward was more solid and faster than before.

The Quiet Chamber was silent, save for Fang Han’s long, steady breaths and the faint, almost inaudible hum of his Inner Qi circulating.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

When the Medicinal Power of the Celestial Essence Pill was finally refined and absorbed completely, Fang Han slowly opened his eyes. A faint golden gleam of Essence flashed in their depths and vanished.

He gently exhaled a breath of turbid air and felt his Inner Qi was full and vibrant. The Inner Qi within his Shenmai Acupoint was noticeably denser than before he took the pill.

’Its effects are even better than the Earth Spirit Pill’s. The Celestial Essence Pill truly lives up to its name!’

Fang Han murmured to himself, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

At this rate, it would take a month at most for his Shenmai Acupoint to reach complete Perfection. Then, he could attempt to break through to the Late Stage of the Third Grade.

He stood up, stretched his slightly stiff muscles, and pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber.

In the courtyard, the bamboo grove rustled in the afternoon breeze. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

When Qiu Lan saw Fang Han come out, she quickly put down her work and came over to greet him.

"Senior Brother, would you like to eat?"

"Bring it in."

Fang Han nodded slightly and walked into the side hall.

After his meal, Fang Han returned to the Quiet Chamber and once again sat cross-legged on the cattail mat.

He did not continue to cultivate the Cyan Profound Technique. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to circulate Thousand-Mile Soul Lock.

A Tracking Secret Technique, like an Inner Power Cultivation Technique, did not require physical movements. One could cultivate it simply by sitting still and focusing the mind.

This also made it an excellent choice for training while injured.

Moreover, the Sect Leader Chen Tianyuan’s warning was still fresh in his mind.

He was taking it quite seriously.

The Sect suspected that the Demon rampaging through Qingyang County was being manipulated by a Grandmaster-Level Demon that had escaped from the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. If that was true, then tracking down that Demon would be the key to solving the problem.

And he was one of the people most likely to track down the Grandmaster-Level Demon.

VMMMM—

The technique for Thousand-Mile Soul Lock slowly flowed through his mind.

Ever since he broke through to Great Success, his perception with this Top-Grade Tracking Secret Technique had become immeasurably stronger.

At this moment, he immersed his mind in it, repeatedly activating the technique and letting the mysterious aura circulate between his nasal passages and meridians.

With every cycle, his understanding of the Secret Technique deepened.

Thousand-Mile Soul Lock was, after all, only a Top-Grade Tracking Secret Technique. On top of that, he had a 128-fold Secret Technique Talent Amplification.

His progress was like riding a rocket, advancing a thousand miles a day.

「On the first day.」

His perception range, which was about one and a half miles at his breakthrough to Great Success, extended by over a thousand feet.

His speed at discerning auras had increased by nearly ten percent.

「On the second day.」

His perception range extended again, now approaching nearly two miles.

The faint auras left behind from half a month ago could now be clearly perceived with just a thought.

The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day...

Fang Han’s progress never stopped.

He could feel himself getting closer and closer to the threshold of the Perfection realm.

It felt as if he were walking through a long tunnel, the light of the exit already faintly visible in the distance.