Chapter 433 - 430: Great Success in the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill
Chapter 433: Chapter 430: Great Success in the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill
After seeing off Yun Qianyue, Fang Han returned to Courtyard No. 35.
Qiu Lan was waiting under the veranda with a maid. Seeing him return, she hurried forward. "Senior Brother, dinner is ready. Shall I serve it now?"
"Bring it in."
Fang Han nodded.
Before long, a few exquisite side dishes and a steaming bowl of Blood Rice were placed on the table in the side hall.
Fang Han sat down and ate slowly.
After dinner, he rose and walked toward the Quiet Chamber.
Pushing open the door to the Quiet Chamber, the lingering fragrance from the Sandalwood Incense Burner drifted up in the dim light.
Fang Han sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, closed his eyes, and steadied his breathing.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, took out a Jade Bottle from his robes, and tipped an Earth Spirit Pill into his mouth.
The Elixir entered his stomach, dissolving into a gentle Medicinal Power that spread through his body.
He closed his eyes and slowly circulated the Cyan Profound Technique. A cyan-gold Inner Qi surged through his meridians, absorbing and refining the Medicinal Power, replenishing the Inner Qi he had expended traveling during the day.
The Quiet Chamber was silent, save for the sound of his long, steady breaths and the faint hum of his Inner Qi coursing through him.
An hour passed.
Two hours passed.
Fang Han slowly opened his eyes, a faint cyan glint flashing within them before disappearing.
Not only had he fully recovered the Inner Qi he’d used up while traveling, but it had even increased slightly.
’Panel.’
Fang Han exhaled a breath of turbid air. Without getting up, he called out with a thought, summoning the system panel that only he could see.
A translucent screen of light appeared before his eyes.
[Host: Fang Han]
[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 256x (Ninth Level Amplification requires 10,000,000 gold)]
[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]
[Stepping Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]
[Secret Technique Talent Amplification: 64x (Level 7 Amplification requires 100,000 gold)]
[Body Hardening Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]
[Wealth: 101,000 gold]
’Secret Technique Talent Amplification...’
His gaze fell on the "Secret Technique Talent Amplification" line, and a thoughtful look crossed his face.
A few days ago in Celestial Swan City, he had tried to ambush Yuan Ye, a Second Grade Martial Artist, but was discovered beforehand due to the man’s keen Spiritual Perception.
Clearly, his Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill at the Mastery Level was no longer sufficient for his current needs.
To prevent what happened a few days ago from happening again, he had to improve his Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill.
And the fastest way to improve the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill, besides investing a great deal of time, was to increase the amplification multiplier for his Secret Technique Talent.
’101,000 gold.’
Fang Han’s eyes landed on the "Wealth" line.
The amount was far from the 1,000,000 gold required for the Level 8 Amplification, but it was just enough to activate the Level 7 Amplification once—100,000 gold.
Just enough to upgrade his Secret Technique Talent’s amplification multiplier.
He fell silent for a moment, then a look of decision flashed in his eyes.
’Activate Level 7 Amplification for Secret Technique Talent.’
The moment the thought formed, the numbers on the system panel jumped.
[Wealth: 101,000 gold → 1,000 gold]
The numbers in the Secret Technique Talent Amplification line changed accordingly.
[Secret Technique Talent Amplification: 64x → 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]
Fang Han carefully savored the change.
The change was extremely subtle, barely perceptible, as if some invisible shackles had been unlocked, or as if something dormant had been awakened.
When he tried to recall the mnemonic for the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill, the change became clearer.
The key points of its cultivation became much more transparent in his mind.
It was as if a thin veil had been covering them, and now a corner of that veil had been lifted.
’I should test it.’
Fang Han focused his mind, closed his eyes, and let the Technique for the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill flow through his thoughts.
Within him, that mysterious aura began to circulate.
Unlike his previous cultivation sessions, the circulation was now exceptionally smooth.
This smoothness wasn’t just an increase in proficiency; it was a deeper, indescribable sense of fluidity.
It was as if a once-stagnant river channel had suddenly been dredged, allowing the water to rush forward freely.
He immersed his mind in it, circulating the Technique again and again.
Each circulation was more harmonious and fluid than the last.
Guiding his Inner Qi, which had once required conscious effort, now felt natural and effortless.
He could feel his understanding of this Secret Technique deepening at a much faster rate than before.
’The effect is immediate.’
Fang Han took a deep breath, suppressed his delight, and circulated the Technique once more.
Inside the Quiet Chamber, the mysterious aura swirled around him, faint and elusive, as if it had merged with the surrounding air.
Time passed quietly as he cultivated.
After an unknown amount of time, Fang Han slowly ceased his cultivation and opened his eyes.
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a cool, silvery-white glow on the floor.
He gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. The fatigue from days of travel had vanished completely.
’Time to rest.’
Fang Han stood up, stretched his slightly stiff limbs, and pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber.
The night wind swept past, carrying the fresh scent of the bamboo forest and the unique coolness of the mountains.
He crossed the courtyard and returned to his bedroom.
...
In the days that followed, Fang Han’s life returned to a state of peace.
Every morning, without fail, he practiced the Cyan Profound Technique. Cyan-gold Inner Qi surged endlessly through his meridians, and his Early Third Grade cultivation grew slowly but steadily with each passing day.
SWISH, SWISH!
After breakfast, in the morning, he studied the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique.
This Grandmaster-level Sword Technique was extremely difficult to cultivate, and his progress was far slower than it had been with the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting, but every bit of improvement was tangible.
His Wind Sword Intent grew more condensed under his repeated practice, and he was gradually learning to control its all-rending sharpness at will.
SPLASH!
In the afternoon, he tempered his physical body.
Cultivating the Xuanwu True Skill was a task that required patient, persistent effort; it could neither be rushed nor stopped.
Inner Qi surged through his body, washing over his muscles, bones, and skin again and again. Each complete Circulation of Meridians made his physical body a fraction tougher.
WHOOSH, WHOOSH!
In the evening, he practiced the Wind and Cloud Escape.
Supplementing his training with the Wind Realm produced remarkable results.
His figure flickered unpredictably in the courtyard, sometimes like a fierce wind, other times like a flowing cloud, changing direction without the slightest hesitation.
In addition, he specifically set aside an hour each day to cultivate the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill.
OMM—
Inside the Quiet Chamber, Fang Han sat cross-legged as the Technique for the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill flowed slowly through his mind.
That mysterious aura within him circulated through his meridians along a specific path, each cycle more harmonious and fluid than the last.
The 128x amplification of his Secret Technique Talent was now on full display.
The key points were crystal clear in his mind, like the sun breaking through the clouds.
Guiding his Inner Qi now felt natural and effortless.
He could feel the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill improving at an extremely fast pace.
One day.
Two days.
Three days.
...
「On the afternoon of the tenth day.」
In the Quiet Chamber, Fang Han sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, his eyes slightly closed, his aura as still as water.
The Technique for the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill flowed through his mind, and the mysterious aura circulated within him, each cycle smoother and more natural than the last.
Suddenly—
OMM...
A soft hum that only he could perceive resonated from deep within his body.
The sound was so faint it was almost imperceptible, yet it seemed to have opened some invisible door.
In that instant, the aura around him underwent a qualitative change.
The feeling of "emptiness" was several times more profound than it had been at the Mastery Realm.
If before he was like a rock or a tree, now it was as if he had truly become a rock or a tree.
Fang Han opened his eyes, a trace of joy flashing within them.
’The Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill... Great Success.’
He stood up and, with a thought, activated the Secret Technique with his full power.
The feeling of merging with his surroundings grew stronger, as if he were truly a lifeless decoration.
He pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.
It was afternoon, and sunlight filtered through the leaves of the bamboo forest, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Qiu Lan was resting under the veranda with two maids, chatting in low voices, completely unaware of his presence.
Fang Han stood in the courtyard, remaining perfectly still for a moment.
He concealed his aura and walked past Qiu Lan, not far from her side.
Qiu Lan continued to talk with the maids, her gaze never once shifting in his direction.
He took a few more steps and deliberately snapped a dry twig underfoot.
SNAP.
Only then did Qiu Lan turn her head. Seeing it was him, she was slightly startled and quickly bowed. "Senior Brother."
She paused, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She seemed to want to say something but held her tongue.
Fang Han gave a slight nod and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
He left the courtyard gate and strolled along the green stone path.
Disciples passed him along the way. Some glanced at him, but it was as if their perception was blocked; they didn’t recognize him, mistaking him for an ordinary servant disciple.
Only when he drew near did they realize who he was with a start, quickly bowing in greeting with a mixture of confusion and apology in their eyes.
Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged, but he was already assessing the situation in his mind.
’The aura-hiding effect of the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill at the Great Success Realm is far superior to Mastery.’
He stood on the Listening Wind Platform with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant mountain range as he mused to himself.
’If I were to encounter a Second Grade Martial Artist like Yuan Ye again, with my current concealment methods, he might not be able to detect my presence with his spiritual power.’
"But it’s not a guarantee..." Fang Han mused aloud.
The Great Success version of the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill could only *potentially* block the perception of a Second Grade Martial Artist. Only by reaching Perfection in the skill could he be truly foolproof.
His cultivation of the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill still couldn’t stop.
He turned, retraced his steps back to the courtyard, and resumed his cultivation.
While cultivating the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill daily, Fang Han didn’t neglect his other training.
Inner Qi, Swordsmanship, Body Hardening, and Body Technique—each had a fixed training time every day, which he followed without fail.
The one with the fastest progress was the Wind and Cloud Escape.
On one hand, this was because the Wind and Cloud Escape was a Top Martial Arts technique, less difficult to cultivate than the Grandmaster-level Sword Technique, Sky-Splitting Sword Technique, or the Grandmaster-level Body Hardening technique, Xuanwu True Skill, making it relatively easier to improve.
On the other hand, he already had a high 128x amplification for his Body Technique Talent, and supplementing his practice with the Wind Realm naturally produced significant results.
’Soon!’
Fang Han had a premonition that he was not far from reaching Perfection in Wind and Cloud Escape; a breakthrough could happen at any moment.
However, a problem also surfaced.
He was still one minor merit short of being able to exchange for a Grandmaster Body Technique.
But when he went to the Task Hall to inquire recently, he found that while there were many tasks that offered a "minor merit" as a reward, they were all long-term garrison missions with a minimum duration of half a year.
There were no short-term tasks that would allow him to quickly earn the reward, which was obviously unsuitable for him, as he urgently needed a "minor merit" to exchange for a Grandmaster-level Body Technique.