Chapter 148 - 147: Karmic Repayment

"Young Hero Fang, did you know that an ancestor of the Fang family once followed the first Great Derivation Monarch? He served as a humble flag-bearer under his command and was rewarded for his part in the dragon's ascent."

"Later, through the diligent struggles of generations of ancestors, over dozens of generations, we painstakingly climbed to where we stand today."

"The achievements I, Fang Yanbei, have today are not only due to my own efforts and talent, but also inseparable from the foundations laid by my ancestors, generation after generation."

"Today, our Fang family line has grown to over ten thousand members through years of management, and we have amassed the treasured collections of every generation in our trove."

"Although our collection is far from comparable to that of Jiejian Mountain or the Supreme Profound Sect, we still have some rather nice things."

...

On the way to the treasury within the Fang Mansion, Fang Can was pulled along by the Minister, who spoke with sincere and heartfelt emotion as he recounted everything from the Fang family's ancestors to the present day.

Fang Can could only listen awkwardly as the man rambled on.

Fortunately, they were both fast walkers. The estate covered dozens of acres, but they arrived at their destination in just a few minutes.

After following a quiet, winding path that led to a secluded spot, the two arrived before a blank stone monument on a hill behind the Fang Mansion.

"Young Hero Fang, this monument before you is the passage to the treasury."

As he spoke, Fang Yanbei gave a slight wave of his hand. A complex Array, pulsing with a mysterious aura, flashed before them, and a staircase leading inside appeared.

Although the area behind the stone monument was clearly empty, looking at it from the front revealed an upward-sloping staircase that stretched on and on from an opening in the stone.

'Is this an Anywhere Door...'

Gazing at the path inside the monument, which was just wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side, the pair entered one after the other.

Inside the pitch-black corridor, as the two of them stepped in, the unlit oil lamps on both sides lit up one by one, quickly illuminating the interior.

In the light, Fang Can discovered that the walls of the entire treasury were made of white jade. Every step he took was like treading on worldly fortune.

After ascending several dozen white jade steps that seemed to represent worldly desires, the view suddenly opened up. Before them floated objects of all different makes and models.

There were weapons glinting with a cold, sharp light; armor carved with dragons and phoenixes, inlaid with gold and silver; and also a variety of strange and unique items.

But most numerous were the books—ancient tomes of all kinds, imbued with the weight of ages, floating in the air.

"Young Hero Fang, before you is the accumulation of my Fang family's many years. There are twenty-one First-Grade Sacrificial Artifacts, five Second-Grade Sacrificial Artifacts, and one Third-Grade Sacrificial Artifact. Besides those, there are seventy-five volumes of Secret Skill Prohibitions, each containing the spiritual essence of a Heaven-Ascending Road expert."

Yanbei watched Fang Can's careful inspection and said with a proud expression, "Feel free to browse, Young Hero. If you find something you like, you may choose it as you wish."

Fang Can nodded and walked forward. He saw that beneath each floating object was an engraved plaque with a description of the item.

He took a few steps closer to a book and looked at the detailed description below it.

[Heretical Scripture of Maddening Self-Restraint]: Cultivation requirement: First Turn. Once cultivated, one's heart will be seared by poisonous fire daily. It is a defiled inheritance, inflicting the agony of death by a thousand cuts every day. Furthermore, one cannot use power above the Profound Gate Fifth Layer, or they will die from the force leaking out.

All this suffering is for a single day of bloom. After ten years of self-restraint, upon release, one's power can rival a Third Turn expert.

"Who created this Cultivation Technique? It's completely self-destructive," Fang Can asked subconsciously. "Why would anyone learn a technique like this? Are they a masochist?"

Seeing Fang Can's question, Fang Yanbei, who was standing to the side, explained:

"This is a Cultivation Technique practiced by the death warriors of the Great Chu Imperial Guard. Normally, these First Turn cultivators stay in ice cellars to resist the fire in their hearts, all for the purpose of defending against a great enemy at the cost of their lives should that day ever come."

"Other Martial Artists do not possess your level of talent, Young Hero. Just reaching the First Turn exhausts all their potential. Without a fortuitous encounter, they might never advance another inch in their entire lives."

"For most people, how far they can go can be glimpsed from their birth, status, mindset, and talent. If they wish to obtain power beyond their capabilities, they must pay a corresponding price."

"A supremely talented Martial Artist can spend ten years and easily reach the Third Turn, basking in their success."

"But if those with mediocre talent cultivate this technique, they can trade ten years of pain and accumulation for a single moment of glory that surpasses a genius. Whether it's worth it or not is a matter of perspective."

"To obtain power that exceeds one's limits, one must pay a price that exceeds those limits."

Fang Yanbei looked at the thoughtful Fang Can and said, "If you, Young Hero Fang, were to practice this kind of all-or-nothing Demon Skill at the Third Turn Realm, I'm afraid even Fourth Turn experts would have to give you a wide berth."

"I think I'll pass," Fang Can said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "If I can steadily climb to the top, there's no need to resort to extremes. A slow and steady approach is more than enough."

"Haha, it was just a joke. Please, continue looking, Young Hero."

Bypassing the Heretical Scripture of Maddening Self-Restraint, Fang Can looked at a suit of chainmail behind it that emanated a bone-chilling aura. It was woven from golden threads.

[Barbarian Dragon City Armor]: Second-Turn Sacrificial Artifact.

First Turn Inheritance [Guardian]: A single hit can be reduced by at least fifty thousand *shi* of force.

Second Turn Inheritance [Enemy Breaker]: The force absorbed from the last hit can be fully returned with your next attack.

Looking at the armor's description, Fang Can did a quick calculation. Ten thousand *shi* was about 6,000 tons of force.

'What is this, armor with damage reduction and damage reflection?' Fang Can thought to himself, looking at the chillingly glinting armor.

"This Sacrificial Artifact was also once used by a general of Great Chu. After his defeat, it was seized by our army. It was awarded to my father for his merits in battle against the enemy. Among Second-Turn Sacrificial Artifacts, it's considered quite a fine piece."

Fang Yanbei explained, "That fifty thousand *shi* reduction doesn't just apply to taking a direct hit. It also works when trading blows, which is equivalent to making your opponent lose fifty thousand *shi* of force out of thin air, while you gain fifty thousand *shi* of destructive power."

"Then how did the original owner die?"

"The story goes that he was beaten into a paste by a Third Turn Body Refining expert using sheer brute force. Afterward, the attendants had quite a time just scraping the paste out of the armor."

Fang Can nodded lightly and continued to browse, discovering that besides being intrinsically hard and sharp, all these weapons came with special effects.

There was a lifesteal sword, attack speed boots, a spell-breaking tome, a Magic Amplification Staff... The effects were all so flashy and convoluted that Fang Can's head was spinning.

As for the Secret Skill Prohibitions, Fang Can glanced over them and saw that most required a significant price to master, and some of those prices were too steep for him to even consider.

"What is this thing..."

Fang Can looked at a two-foot-long, jade-green shortsword.

[Little Green Onion Sword]: Second-Turn Fate Path Sacrificial Artifact

First Turn Inheritance [Karmic Retribution]: People close to the wielder will inevitably be tempted by fate to betray them.

Second Turn Inheritance [Enhance]: Further strengthens the effect of the First Turn Inheritance, Karmic Retribution.

...

Looking at the Little Green Onion Sword, Fang Can was completely floored. What kind of self-cuckolding divine artifact was this? Both of its inheritances were dedicated to getting yourself cuckolded. Talk about dedication!

Noticing Fang Can's expression, Fang Yanbei chuckled knowingly. "Don't be so shocked, little friend Fang. I was just as astonished when I first saw this shortsword, but this was once the ultimate treasure of the Asura."