Chapter 434 - 431: Perfection of the Wind and Cloud Escape
Chapter 434: Chapter 431: Perfection of the Wind and Cloud Escape
As evening fell, the lingering rays of the setting sun bathed the True Inheritance Courtyard in a warm, golden light.
Inside Courtyard 35, the bamboo grove rustled in the evening breeze. A few bamboo leaves spiraled downward, tracing graceful arcs through the twilight.
Fang Han stood in the center of the clearing, his eyes closed in concentration.
The Heart Method of the Wind and Cloud Escape flowed through his mind. The incantations, Step Techniques, and Force Manipulation Methods—all of which he knew by heart—now unfolded slowly in his mind’s eye like a painted scroll.
He activated his Wind Realm, using it to verify every key aspect of the Body Technique.
He opened his eyes.
His figure blurred into motion.
SWOOSH—
In the courtyard, the figure in the green robe seemed to transform into a wisp of invisible wind.
There was no sound of rushing air, no rustle of fabric, and even his afterimage was too faint to be seen.
He simply "vanished."
Not a true disappearance, but a speed so great the naked eye couldn’t track it, a movement so erratic it was impossible to lock onto.
In the next instant, he reappeared at the opposite corner of the courtyard, a good hundred feet from where he had just been standing.
It was as if he hadn’t moved at all, but had been carried there by the wind and clouds, drifting naturally to that spot.
Without pausing, he took another step.
This time, his figure flickered to various points around the courtyard.
One moment he was at the edge of the bamboo grove, the next beneath the courtyard wall, and then before the door of the Quiet Chamber.
Each appearance was without warning, as if he had always been meant to be there.
The branches and leaves of the ancient trees in the courtyard remained perfectly still as he passed, stirred only as if by a common evening breeze.
On the ground, the withered leaves lay undisturbed, not a single one lifted by his passage.
His movements grew faster and more erratic, yet his "presence" grew fainter and fainter.
It was as if he were no longer a person, but a wisp of free-blowing wind, a transient cloud between heaven and earth.
HUMMM...
A soft hum, audible only to him, resonated from deep within his body.
The sound was so faint it was barely perceptible, yet it seemed to have opened some invisible door.
In that instant, his understanding of the Wind and Cloud Escape underwent a qualitative leap.
The Transformations that once required conscious effort were now effortless, executed at will.
The speed and agility he once thought had reached their peak, he now realized, could be even faster, even more fluid.
At that moment, the Wind Realm and the Body Technique merged completely, without the slightest barrier between them.
’The Wind and Cloud Escape... Perfection.’
Fang Han came to a stop, standing in the courtyard.
His green robe was perfectly still, his aura as calm as water.
He stood with his hands behind his back, savoring the changes brought by his breakthrough in the Body Technique.
His speed was more than twice as fast as it had been at the Great Success stage.
His agility had reached an indescribable Realm.
He could change direction without the slightest hesitation, as if his body were completely free from inertia. Wherever his mind willed, his body would follow.
But what satisfied him most was the feeling of being "untraceable."
After achieving Perfection in the Wind and Cloud Escape, his form could truly merge with the wind and unite with the clouds.
When he moved, there was no sound of rushing air, no rustle of fabric, and even his afterimage was imperceptibly faint.
Even Upper Three Grades Martial Artists would find it difficult to track him using only their Eye Power and hearing.
’With my current Body Technique speed, even an average Second Grade Martial Artist would have trouble catching me!’
Fang Han muttered to himself, a faint smile gracing his lips.
The Wind and Cloud Escape at the Realm of Perfection was enough to let him come and go as he pleased before a Second Grade Martial Artist.
Even if he couldn’t win, escape should be no problem.
’If I combine this with my Swordsmanship, my power will surely rise to another level!’
Fang Han raised a hand and placed it on the hilt of the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist.
The sword remained sheathed, but his Wind Sword Intent was already circulating within him.
After breaking through with his Body Technique, and now combining it with the sharpness of the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique—
His strength had undeniably risen by another step.
He could advance to attack and retreat to defend.
His offense had the sharpness of Sword Intent, his defense the agility of his Body Technique. If he encountered a Second Grade Martial Artist like Yuan Ye again, he was confident he could find an opportunity to counter-kill.
’However—’
Fang Han slowly released the hilt of his sword and stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the last sliver of sunset on the horizon.
The bamboo grove rustled in the evening wind. A few leaves spiraled down beside him, eventually settling on the ground.
The joy of his breakthrough gradually gave way to another emotion.
’The Wind and Cloud Escape is at Perfection. There’s no room for further progress.’
Fang Han muttered to himself, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
Now that his top-level Body Technique had reached its limit, the only way to continue improving was to switch to a Grandmaster-level Body Technique.
But to exchange for a Grandmaster-level Body Technique, he needed one great merit—the equivalent of three minor merits.
He currently had only two minor merits and needed one more to get the Grandmaster-level Body Technique.
He didn’t know when he would be able to take on a suitable mission to earn the last merit he needed.
He hoped it wouldn’t take too long, or his Body Technique would stagnate for an extended period.
Fang Han turned, about to head back inside.
"Senior Brother Fang, the Sect Leader summons you to the Sect Leader’s Hall immediately."
Qiu Lan arrived, leading a disciple on duty from the Sect Leader’s Hall. Upon seeing Fang Han, the disciple spoke in a hurry.
Fang Han was slightly taken aback.
’The Sect Leader is summoning me? And at this hour?’
A thought stirred in his mind, and he nodded.
"Understood."
He straightened his robes, pushed open the gate, and walked along the stone path toward the mountain’s peak.
As evening settled, the ancient trees lining the mountain path cast dappled shadows under the sunset. The occasional chirp of an insect from the grass only accentuated the mountain’s tranquility.
The Sect Leader’s Hall stood majestically. The wind lanterns before its doors were already lit, brightly illuminating the three large words: "Sect Leader’s Hall."
At the entrance, the disciple on duty saw Fang Han approaching and quickly bowed. "Senior Brother Fang, the Sect Leader is waiting for you inside."
Fang Han nodded slightly and stepped into the hall.
The hall was brightly lit, and Chen Tianyuan was seated at the head.
Hearing the footsteps, he looked up, a gentle smile on his face.
"You’re here."
"Disciple Fang Han pays his respects to the Sect Leader."
Fang Han took a few steps forward and bowed.
"No need for formalities. Sit."
Chen Tianyuan gestured for Fang Han to take a seat below.
Fang Han sat down and glanced to the other side of the hall. Besides himself and the Sect Leader, there was one other person present.
She was an old woman with graying hair tied in a neat bun, held in place by a plain silver hairpin.
Her face was gaunt with high cheekbones, her skin a pale white from a lifetime spent out of the sun. Her wrinkles were as deep as if carved by a knife.
She wore a dark cyan Elder Robe, its collar and cuffs embroidered with cloud patterns in silver thread. A sheathed Short Sword hung at her waist, its Sword Scabbard simple and unadorned.
She sat upright in her chair, her back ramrod straight, and stared ahead. Her aura was as heavy as still water, exuding a sternness that commanded respect without any sign of anger.
Fang Han’s gaze swept over her, and his heart stirred.
’Jin Han.’
’A Second-Grade Elder of the Qingxuan Sect. She’s said to be old-fashioned and extremely strict about rules, notoriously difficult to get along with in the Sect.’
He had never had any dealings with her, having only seen her from a distance on a few occasions. They had never even spoken.
"Elder Jin."
Fang Han cupped his fists in greeting.
Jin Han’s gaze fell on Fang Han. She gave a slight nod in response, her face expressionless, betraying no emotion.
Chen Tianyuan observed their interaction, cleared his throat, and began to speak slowly.
"I’ve summoned you both today to discuss a certain matter."
Fang Han and Jin Han both looked up, waiting for him to continue.
"According to our intelligence."
Chen Tianyuan stood up and walked over to a map of the counties hanging on the wall, his hands clasped behind his back. His voice was steady.
"The Netherworld Pavilion recently procured a batch of precious medicinal herbs and ores from Donglu County. The shipment is quite valuable and is currently being escorted back to Qingyang County by a Second-Grade Elder."
He turned around, his gaze falling upon Fang Han and Jin Han.
"These supplies are extremely important to the Netherworld Pavilion. If we can intercept them, it will undoubtedly be a major blow to them."
Fang Han’s heart stirred. He had already guessed the Sect Leader’s intentions.
"Elder Jin."
Chen Tianyuan looked at Jin Han, his tone grave.
"You will lead this matter."
Jin Han nodded slightly, saying nothing.
"Fang Han."
Chen Tianyuan then turned to Fang Han and instructed him.
"You will accompany Elder Jin and assist her in ambushing and killing that Second-Grade Elder from the Netherworld Pavilion."
He paused before continuing.
"This mission will be recorded as one minor merit."
One minor merit.
Those three words fell on his ears, and Fang Han’s heart stirred.
He had just been worrying about where to earn that final merit, and now an opportunity had presented itself.
"Yes."
He stood up and cupped his fists in acceptance, his voice steady.
Just then, Jin Han’s gaze fell on Fang Han, lingering for a moment as her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
She spoke, her voice raspy and carrying a hard, unyielding quality.
"Sect Leader, I have some reservations about this mission."
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly.
"Please speak, Elder Jin."
Jin Han’s gaze remained on Fang Han. Her tone was flat, yet carried a bluntness that offered no courtesy. "The one escorting the supplies for the Netherworld Pavilion is a Second-Grade Elder. I’m afraid it will be very difficult for myself and True Inheritor Fang to ambush and kill him alone."
Her words were direct, sparing Fang Han no face. It was clear she didn’t trust his strength.
It wasn’t a personal attack on Fang Han; she was simply stating what she believed to be a fact.
An Early Third Grade Fang Han had too great a power gap with a Second Grade. His strength was insufficient to join forces with her to ambush and kill a Second-Grade Elder of the Netherworld Pavilion.
Chen Tianyuan seemed to have anticipated Jin Han’s question. A faint smile touched his lips as he slowly began to speak.
"Elder Jin, there is something you may not know. Although Fang Han is only at Early Third Grade, he recently fought head-on against Yuan Ye, the Netherworld Pavilion’s newly promoted Second-Grade Elder, and did not lose."
As soon as these words were spoken, a brief silence fell over the hall.
A ripple passed through Jin Han’s eyes, which had been as placid as an old well.
She looked at Fang Han again, her gaze now filled with scrutiny, but even more... with doubt.
’An Early Third Grade fought a Second Grade Martial Artist head-on and didn’t lose?’
She had lived for most of her life and seen many geniuses. In her youth, she too had been a figure on the Celestial Pride List.
But she had never seen anyone who could contend with a Second Grade practitioner right after entering the Third Grade.
"Sect Leader, contending with a Second Grade practitioner right after entering Third Grade... I have never heard of such a feat. I dare not believe it so easily."
Jin Han spoke, her voice still hard, carrying an almost rigid forthrightness.
She paused, her gaze falling on Fang Han, her tone still flat and direct.
"True Inheritor Fang, I am not targeting you. I am merely being practical."