Chapter 389 - 386: The Gathering of Grandmasters
Chapter 389: Chapter 386: The Gathering of Grandmasters
"Thank you, Vice Hall Master Chen! Thank you, Sect!"
The eight of them thanked him in unison, their voices filled with sincere gratitude.
Chen Wanjun nodded slightly and continued,
"Your merits have been recorded under your names. When you wish to redeem them, you may go to the Library Pavilion or the relevant halls yourselves."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the eight of them, his tone growing more solemn.
"There is one more matter I must inform you of."
The eight disciples’ expressions turned serious as they listened quietly.
"Regarding the potential Grandmaster-Level Demon in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, the Seven Sects have decided to dispatch Grandmaster-Level experts to enter the mountains and eliminate it."
Chen Wanjun said slowly.
"This matter does not concern you, but you must remember—do not spread this information, to avoid causing unnecessary panic."
"Yes, sir."
The eight of them replied in unison.
Chen Wanjun nodded slightly, a hint of gratification in his eyes as he looked them over.
"You eight are the most outstanding disciples of this generation in the Qingxuan Sect. After this battle, you should have a better understanding of the perils of the Martial Dao."
"Remember, on the path of Cultivation, if you do not advance, you will fall behind. Do not grow complacent from a moment of success, nor despondent from a temporary setback. The Martial Dao is a long and arduous journey; only through perseverance can one reach the summit."
The eight of them wore solemn expressions. They rose in unison and bowed.
"We will heed Vice Hall Master Chen’s teachings."
Chen Wanjun gave a slight nod and waved his hand.
"You may go."
The eight disciples withdrew from the side hall.
As they walked out of the Law Enforcement Hall, warm sunlight bathed their bodies. The eight of them walked side-by-side along the stone path toward the True Inheritance Courtyard.
None of them were in the mood to talk. Without exchanging a word, they soon arrived at the entrance to the True Inheritance Courtyard.
"We’ll part ways here."
Luo Yuntian was the first to speak. He gave a slight nod to the others and turned to walk toward his own courtyard.
Kuang Tu, Chen Wuhen, Su Yuwei, and the others also bid their farewells and went their separate ways.
Fang Han walked alone toward Courtyard Thirty-Five.
When he returned to his courtyard, Qiu Lan came to greet him.
"Senior Brother, would you like breakfast?"
Fang Han nodded slightly. "Just something simple."
Qiu Lan acknowledged his request and turned to give the orders.
Before long, several exquisite side dishes and a bowl of steaming rice porridge were placed on the table in the side hall.
Fang Han sat down and began to eat slowly.
The merits he now possessed were enough to redeem a Grandmaster Level Technique.
A Grandmaster Level Technique, regardless of its type, was a treasure on par with a sect’s most prized possession. It was a dream opportunity for any Martial Artist.
’Which type of Cultivation Technique should I use this precious opportunity to redeem?’
Fang Han fell into thought.
The *Profound Wind Technique* he currently cultivated was a Top-Grade Inner Power technique, and a decent one at that.
The *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* was a top-level Swordsmanship, already at the Great Success Realm and not far from Perfection.
The *Wind and Cloud Escape* was a top-level Body Technique at the Mastery stage, with significant room for improvement.
The *Xuanwu True Skill* was a Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique. He was at the Entry Level and making steady progress.
As for Secret Techniques, the Middle Grade Secret Technique *Spirit Smelling Technique* was at Great Success, and the Top-grade Secret Technique *Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill* was at Minor Achievement.
Originally, he had been leaning toward choosing a Grandmaster-Level Inner Power technique.
After all, since there were no top-level Inner Power Cultivation Techniques, the only way to obtain a better one was to redeem a Grandmaster-Level Inner Power Cultivation Technique.
However...
Fang Han’s brow furrowed slightly.
His *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* was already at Great Success, not far from Perfection.
Once it reached Perfection, there would be no room for further advancement. If he wanted to continue deepening his Swordsmanship, his only option would be to redeem a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique.
He only had one chance to redeem a major technique. He had to be careful in choosing between Inner Power and Swordsmanship.
He closed his eyes, weighing the options repeatedly in his mind.
Inner Power was the foundation; it determined the upper limit of one’s Cultivation and the quality of their Inner Qi.
Swordsmanship was an Attack Technique; it determined the level of one’s combat power and the efficiency of killing enemies.
Both were indispensable, but given his current situation, which was more pressing?
Although the *Profound Wind Technique* was only Top Grade, he could continue to cultivate it even after breaking through to the Upper Three Grades.
His cultivation speed would just be slower than with a Grandmaster-Level Inner Power Cultivation Technique.
But his Swordsmanship...
He opened his eyes, a flash of understanding in their depths.
His *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* was at Great Success, not far from Perfection.
Once he perfected it, he would have completely mastered this top-level Swordsmanship, leaving no more room for improvement.
At that point, without a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique to follow up with, his Cultivation in Swordsmanship would stagnate.
In comparison, even if he broke through to the Upper Three Grades in the future, his current Inner Power Cultivation Technique would still be usable.
’I’ll redeem the Grandmaster-level Sword Technique first!’
Fang Han made his decision.
His Swordsmanship was on the verge of Perfection. After he achieved it, he could seamlessly transition to a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique.
As for Inner Power, the need wasn’t as urgent as it was for Swordsmanship. He could wait until he had accumulated enough merits in the future to redeem it.
’I won’t rush to redeem it just yet.’
Fang Han muttered to himself, not in a hurry to head to the Library Pavilion to make the exchange.
His Swordsmanship had not yet reached Perfection. Even if he redeemed a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique now, he wouldn’t be able to cultivate it.
It would be better to focus all his efforts on breaking through to the Realm of Perfection with the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting*. Once he achieved that, he could go to the Library Pavilion and make the exchange.
With his mind made up, Fang Han thought no more of it.
After breakfast, Fang Han rested for a short while before heading to the open space in the courtyard where he usually practiced.
The Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath, its dark cyan blade glinting with a reserved luster under the sunlight.
He didn’t immediately execute any Sword Techniques. Instead, he stood holding his sword, closing his eyes to focus his mind.
The sword technique of the *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* flowed through his mind. The Sword Techniques and their Transformations, which he already knew by heart, now unfolded in his mind’s eye like a scroll.
He felt as though only a thin veil separated him from Perfection.
If he could just break through that veil, his Swordsmanship would undergo a qualitative transformation and reach Perfection.
And the key to breaking through was his comprehension of the Wind Momentum.
Wind Momentum was formless and shapeless. It could be gentle or firm, concentrated or dispersed.
And the Sky Splitting Momentum was about finding the "sky-splitting" intent—that which could tear through everything—within this formless, shapeless essence.
He opened his eyes and slowly thrust the Cloud Splitting Sword forward.
The sword strike was extremely slow.
It was so slow that every inch of its movement was clearly visible, so slow that as the tip cut through the air, one could even see the subtle ripples of displaced air.
But strangely, though the strike was slow, it gave off an inescapable feeling.
It was as if no matter how you dodged, the sword would ultimately land on you.
The sword tip froze in mid-air. Fang Han’s brow furrowed slightly.
’That’s not it.’
He withdrew the sword and thrust again.
This time, it was slightly faster.
’Still not it.’
He thrust and retracted the sword again and again, his speed shifting from extremely slow to extremely fast, and then back again.
The sun rose higher, then gradually began to set in the west.
Fang Han stood motionless in the courtyard.
He was no longer striking, merely standing with his sword, his eyes closed in deep contemplation.
In his mind, countless images of Sword Techniques flickered, and countless insights about "wind" and "sky splitting" collided.
Suddenly—
He opened his eyes.
The Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath.
This strike was neither fast nor slow, neither hard nor soft. It was just an ordinary thrust.
Yet, where the tip of the sword passed, the air silently split open, leaving a thin tear.
The tear was extremely faint, almost invisible, but it was real.
Only when the sword tip stopped did the tear slowly close, having existed for a surprisingly long time.
Fang Han stood holding his sword, a flash of understanding in his eyes.
Although he hadn’t broken through to Perfection, he knew he was another step closer.
...
「Cloud Mist Mountain Range.」
The setting sun stained the horizon a dark, crimson gold. In the twilight, the rolling mountain ranges looked like crouching beasts, silent and oppressive.
On a wide, open flatland at the outskirts of the mountain range, seven figures stood with their hands behind their backs.
Some stood, some sat, their demeanors varied, but the aura emanating from each of them was enough to make an ordinary Martial Artist’s heart pound in terror.
That was the imposing pressure unique to Grandmaster Level experts.
Seven people, from the Seven Sects, one Grandmaster from each.
Representing the Qingxuan Sect was an old man who appeared to be around sixty years old.
He had a lean build and a gaunt face, his skin a pale white from long years of secluded Cultivation away from the sun.
He wore a simple, dark cyan robe without any extra adornments; even the jade belt at his waist was plain and uncarved.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. His eyes were as deep and placid as an old well.
But on closer inspection, one could see an occasional gleam of Essence flash and vanish in those depths, like a flood dragon lurking in a dark pool—the moment it opened its eyes would be the moment monstrous waves were unleashed.
This was the Supreme Elder of the Qingxuan Sect, Gu Changqing, known as the "Qingxuan Sword."
He had risen to fame sixty years ago, his Qingxuan Swordsmanship reaching a level of divine mastery that struck awe throughout Qingyang.
Now, he lived in seclusion, focusing on the Martial Dao and rarely involving himself in the Sect’s worldly affairs. If not for the appearance of a suspected Grandmaster-Level Demon in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, he would not have personally emerged.
From the Netherworld Pavilion stood another old man.
This man was of medium height and build, dressed in a loose black robe. The hem was embroidered with the Netherworld Pavilion’s unique flame pattern in dark gold thread, which shimmered faintly in the twilight.
His eyes were a strange, grayish-white. As he blinked, an eerie light flickered within them, as if they could steal one’s very soul.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze not on the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, but fixed on Gu Changqing.
In that gaze was scrutiny, assessment, and a faint trace of hostility.
This was the Supreme Elder of the Netherworld Pavilion, Li Hanjiang, known as "Ghost Eye."
He was from the same generation as Gu Changqing. Back in their youth in Qingyang County, the two had been rivals, fighting both openly and covertly for decades, but neither had ever truly managed to suppress the other.
Though they had now retreated from the forefront, this old grudge had never faded.
From the Vajra Temple was an old monk in a golden kasaya.
He had a kind face and drooping eyebrows, his eyes half-open as if he might fall asleep at any moment.
But on closer inspection, one could see a flash of golden light flicker in the depths of those half-open eyes, like a slumbering, wrathful Vajra that, upon awakening, would unleash thunderous fury.
He sat cross-legged atop a large green rock, his hands forming a Sealing Technique. The aura around him was as placid as an old well, yet it faintly exuded a weightiness like that of a mountain.
This was the Supreme Elder of the Vajra Temple, with the Dharma name "Hui Ming." He was famous throughout Qingyang for his Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill. It was said that his Body Hardening Skills had already reached the Mastery Realm; an ordinary weapon striking his body wouldn’t even leave a white mark.
From Baihua Valley was a woman who looked to be no more than thirty.
She wore a pale pink long dress, its hem embroidered with intricate floral patterns. A silk ribbon of the same color was tied around her waist, from which hung a small, delicate sachet.
Her face was stunning, her features as if painted. Her eyes shimmered like water, seemingly filled with infinite tenderness.
She stood casually under a flowering tree, twirling a small flower condensed from Gang Qi between her fingers. She was admiring it—or perhaps, cultivating.
This was the Supreme Elder of Baihua Valley, Liu Meiniang, known as the "Flower Fairy." She had become famous forty years ago, her Hundred-Flower Flying Immortal Swordsmanship being utterly masterful.