Chapter 366 - 363: Celestial Pride List Rank 36, The Summon
Chapter 366: Chapter 363: Celestial Pride List Rank 36, The Summon
「The first day of the second month. Early morning.」
A thin mist veiled Qingxuan Mountain like a light gauze. The occasional chirp of a bird only accentuated the mountain’s tranquility.
Fang Han had just finished his morning cultivation and was regulating his breathing in the Quiet Chamber.
Qiu Lan’s respectful voice came from outside the door.
"Senior Brother, Steward Zhou Heng is here to see you."
Fang Han opened his eyes and gave a slight nod.
"Please have him wait in the living room. I’ll be right there."
A moment later, Fang Han stepped into the living room.
Steward Zhou Heng was already waiting. Upon seeing Fang Han, his face immediately broke into an enthusiastic smile. He rose and cupped his hands in greeting.
"True Inheritor Fang, congratulations on rising to third place on the Overall Ranking!"
Fang Han returned the gesture.
"You’re too kind, Steward Zhou. Please, have a seat."
The two sat down. A maid served fragrant tea before withdrawing.
Zhou Heng took an antique Inheritance Jade Inkstone from a tray held by an accompanying disciple and said with a smile,
"True Inheritor Fang, this month’s resource allocation has been confirmed, and I’m here to distribute it to you. Please take out your Identity Token."
Fang Han took the token from his robes and handed it over.
Zhou Heng took the token and placed it in the central groove of the Jade Inkstone. A faint light glowed at his fingertips as he deftly manipulated it for a moment.
The Jade Inkstone emitted a nearly inaudible hum, and a flash of light streaked across its surface before disappearing.
"For third place on the Overall Ranking, this month’s reward is twenty-seven thousand Contribution Points. They have been transferred to your token. True Inheritor Fang, please verify."
Zhou Heng handed the token back, his face all smiles.
Fang Han took it and infused a wisp of Inner Qi. The token faintly glowed, displaying a number: 65,000.
He had over 20,000 Contribution Points left from last year, received 23,000 last month, and with the addition of this month’s 27,000, his total reached 65,000.
’To think I’ve saved up so many Contribution Points without even realizing it.’
For an ordinary disciple, this was an almost unimaginable sum. Even years of accumulation might not amount to so many Contribution Points.
But for him, it was merely the result of a few months’ work.
"True Inheritor Fang, this month’s special resource allocation is here."
Zhou Heng’s voice broke Fang Han out of his thoughts.
He took four antique-styled jade bottles from the tray held by the disciple behind him and placed them on the table.
The four jade bottles were arranged in two pairs.
The characters on one pair of bottles had a dark golden luster—they contained Vajra Pills.
The other pair was a lustrous white, the bottles themselves smooth as jade, their mouths sealed with sealing wax—these were Earth Essence Pills.
"Because you’ve risen to third on the Overall Ranking, your special resource allocation for this month has been increased to two bottles of Vajra Pills and two bottles of Earth Essence Pills."
Zhou Heng explained.
’It’s not just the Contribution Points; my special resources have increased too!’
As his rank on the Overall Ranking rose, his special resource allocation had followed suit, increasing from three bottles to four.
"Thank you, Steward Zhou."
Fang Han put away the four jade bottles and thanked him sincerely.
"You’re too kind, True Inheritor Fang. It’s my duty."
Zhou Heng smiled, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, he rose to take his leave.
"True Inheritor Fang, you’re a busy man, so I won’t disturb you any longer."
Fang Han personally escorted him to the courtyard gate. After watching Zhou Heng depart, he turned and returned to his Quiet Chamber.
’Both the Vajra Pills and the Earth Essence Pills will be of immense help to me right now. With the aid of these two elixirs, my cultivation in both Horizontal Training and Inner Qi will surely progress even faster.’
...
「The second day of the second month, the Longtaitou Festival.」
As dawn broke, a light mist drifted through Qingxuan Mountain like gauze. The morning wind, carrying the sharp chill of early spring, swept past the upturned eaves of the palace halls on the summit.
In the Quiet Chamber of courtyard number thirty-five, Fang Han sat cross-legged, his aura as tranquil and deep as still water.
A soft knock came from the door, followed by the respectful voice of the maid, Qiu Lan.
"Senior Brother, the new edition of the Celestial Pride List and Martial Artist Ranking booklets have arrived."
Fang Han slowly opened his eyes, the sharp glint within them now subdued.
"Come in."
Qiu Lan entered, holding a booklet that still smelled faintly of fresh ink. She respectfully placed it on the low table beside Fang Han, then bowed and withdrew.
Fang Han picked up the booklet and turned to the section for the Celestial Pride List.
His eyes scanned up from the bottom of the list. Soon, at the thirty-sixth position, he saw a familiar name—
Thirty-sixth: Fang Han (Qingxuan Sect).
"Thirty-sixth."
Fang Han repeated in a low voice.
Fifty-fifth last month, thirty-sixth this month. He had jumped a full nineteen places at once.
He could imagine the considerable stir his new ranking would cause within the Sect.
’I originally hadn’t wanted to be so conspicuous; I’d planned on hiding some of my strength as a trump card.’
’Unfortunately, after Duan Wuya’s attack, revealing some of my power was unavoidable.’
’Fortunately, soon after that, I reached the Entry Level with my Xuanwu True Skill. I now possess the physical strength of 100,000 catties and a physical defense that’s difficult for an ordinary Late-Fourth Grade Martial Artist to injure, giving me a new trump card once more.’
He closed the booklet, rose to his feet, and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.
As expected, the news of his rise to thirty-sixth on the Celestial Pride List spread like it had grown wings, radiating out from Tingyu Hall’s booklet distribution points and sweeping through the entire Qingxuan Sect.
"Did you hear? Senior Brother Fang Han’s ranking on the Celestial Pride List has gone up again!"
"How high? What’s his new rank?"
"Thirty-sixth! He jumped nineteen places at once!"
"He jumped that many spots?"
"It’s absolutely true! I just came from Tingyu Hall and saw it with my own eyes!"
Similar conversations were taking place in every corner of the Inheritance Hall, the Martial Arts Arena, and the Twelve Courtyards.
Although everyone had anticipated a significant jump in Fang Han’s Celestial Pride List ranking due to his rise on the Overall Ranking, seeing the actual number—"thirty-sixth"—still left them deeply shaken.
Thirty-sixth.
What did that mean?
It meant that among the entire younger generation of Qingyang County, Fang Han’s strength was ranked thirty-sixth.
"Thirty-sixth on the Celestial Pride List just two years after joining the Sect... That kind of speed is simply unheard of."
"I’ve been in the Sect for five years and I’m still hovering outside the top hundred on the Overall Ranking, yet Senior Brother Fang Han has already..."
"To be born in the same era as Senior Brother Fang Han... I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse."
Some were amazed, some were envious, and some were utterly dejected.
...
In the True Inheritance Courtyard, at Kuang Tu’s residence.
The massive bluestone boulders in the courtyard were covered in many new fist and palm imprints today.
Kuang Tu stood in the courtyard, holding the newly delivered Celestial Pride List booklet. His gaze was fixed on the thirty-sixth position, unmoving for a long time.
On his rugged, square-jawed face, there was no anger, no unwillingness—only an indescribably complex emotion.
After a long while, he broke into a grin, a smile tinged with both bitterness and acceptance.
"So he really surpassed me."
He closed the booklet, casually placed it on a nearby stone table, took a deep breath, and turned toward another intact bluestone boulder.
"But, Fang Han, don’t think this is the end."
He raised his right fist and threw a sudden, violent punch!
"BOOM!"
The bluestone shattered, sending fragments flying.
"I’ll catch up."
...
「Several days later.」
In the early morning, Fang Han had just finished cultivating the Profound Wind Technique and was about to practice his swordsmanship in the courtyard.
Qiu Lan’s voice came from outside the gate.
"Senior Brother, a disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall has come with a message. They request your presence at the Law Enforcement Hall immediately."
Fang Han’s brow twitched.
’The Law Enforcement Hall?’
He pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Understood."
After tidying up briefly, he pushed the door open and followed the messenger disciple toward the Law Enforcement Hall.
He walked along the mountain path and entered the main hall of the Law Enforcement Hall. A disciple on duty came forward and said respectfully, "True Inheritor Fang, please follow me."
Fang Han followed him through the main hall, down a corridor, and arrived before the door of a side hall.
The disciple on duty stopped and stepped aside. "True Inheritor Fang, please enter."
Fang Han nodded slightly and stepped into the side hall.
There were already seven people inside.
His eyes swept across them, and his heart tightened slightly.
Seated in the seat of honor was a handsome young man with a calm and steady demeanor.
He wore a simple green robe, his long hair tied up with a wooden hairpin. His aura was restrained, yet he exuded a pressure that no one would dare to underestimate.
Ranked seventh on the Celestial Pride List, the number one True Inheritor of the Qingxuan Sect—Luo Yuntian.
To Luo Yuntian’s left sat a powerfully built youth with a burly frame—Kuang Tu, currently fourth on the Overall Ranking.
Beside Kuang Tu was a young man with delicate features and a refined, scholarly air—Chen Wuhen, currently fifth on the Overall Ranking.
Across from Chen Wuhen sat a woman in a plain white dress with a clear and beautiful face—Su Yuwei, currently sixth on the Overall Ranking.
Beside Su Yuwei were three others: Liu Ruyan, eighth on the Overall Ranking; Wang Miao, ninth on the Overall Ranking; and Yang Zhe, tenth on the Overall Ranking.
Of the top ten on the Overall Ranking, everyone was present except for Mo Chen and Yun Muyao, who were away on missions.
The moment Fang Han stepped into the hall, seven pairs of eyes fell upon him in unison.
Their gazes held appraisal, scrutiny, complexity, and other hard-to-describe emotions.
After all, this "junior brother," who had been in the Sect for merely two years, had now surpassed everyone present on the Celestial Pride List, save for Luo Yuntian.
Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged as he gave a slight bow of his cupped hands in greeting.
Luo Yuntian gave a slight nod in response.
Kuang Tu grinned, his smile filled with fighting spirit.
A wry smile touched the corners of Chen Wuhen’s lips.
Wang Miao, however, offered a sincere smile; of everyone present, he was the one most familiar with Fang Han.
Fang Han took a seat in the empty chair.
"To call all eight of us here, what on earth is going on?"
Kuang Tu was the first to speak, his voice gruff.
"The entire top ten of the Overall Ranking, except for Mo Chen and Senior Sister Yun, are all here."
Su Yuwei’s cool voice sounded as her gaze swept over the group.
"Whatever requires all eight of us to act at once is probably no small matter."
"What kind of mission could it be? To actually need the top ten to mobilize together..."
Wang Miao said, his tone speculative.
Luo Yuntian remained silent, simply sitting there, his gaze as calm as still water.
Fang Han was also silent.
’He, too, was wondering what could be so important that the Sect would summon all eight of the top ten disciples who were currently on-site.’
’With his current status, he already had access to many of the Sect’s secrets, but even so, he couldn’t think of any mission that would require such a lineup.’
Just then, the sound of steady footsteps came from outside the door.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
A figure strode in.
The newcomer was an old man with a gaunt face, his wrinkles as deep as if carved by a knife, but his eyes were as bright as the morning stars.
He wore the robes of a Qingxuan Sect Elder, but unlike the deep green of an ordinary Elder, his robes were embroidered with unique patterns in gold thread, signifying his special status.
It was the Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Chen Wanjun.
All eight rose in unison and bowed with cupped hands.
"Vice Hall Master Chen."
Chen Wanjun nodded slightly, gesturing for them to sit.
He walked to the head seat and sat down. His gaze swept over the eight people present, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Good, you’re all here."
He got straight to the point without any unnecessary pleasantries.
"I’ve called you here today because there is a mission that requires your participation."