Chapter 460 - 457: Arriving at the Ancient Ruins
Chapter 460: Chapter 457: Arriving at the Ancient Ruins
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—
The man and the tiger tangled for dozens of moves.
In the midst of their fierce battle, the surrounding trees and rocks were all destroyed.
PFFT!
Luo Yuntian seized the opportunity, his sword slashing across the Tiger Demon.
The blade sliced across the Tiger Demon’s waist, leaving a gash half a foot long from which fresh blood seeped.
The Tiger Demon’s ferocity was completely unleashed, and its attacks grew even more frenzied.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!—
Luo Yuntian’s expression was grave. His Sword Momentum was steady as he blocked the Tiger Demon’s crazed assault.
He was waiting—waiting for the Tiger Demon to reveal a flaw.
Dozens more exchanges passed.
After one of its pounces, the Tiger Demon’s recovery was slightly sluggish, its body freezing for a split second.
That was the moment.
A sharp glint flashed in Luo Yuntian’s eyes. His longsword transformed into an azure streak of light, stabbing straight for the Tiger Demon’s throat.
The strike was as fast as lightning and incomparably sharp.
The Tiger Demon’s pupils constricted. It struggled desperately to dodge, but it was too late.
PFFT—!
The tip of the sword pierced the Tiger Demon’s throat and exited through the back of its neck.
The Tiger Demon’s massive body stiffened abruptly. The ferocious light in its pair of dark gold vertical pupils quickly dimmed.
Then, its enormous body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
’My first opponent after breaking through to the Third Grade... I never thought it would be a Demon!’
Luo Yuntian sheathed his sword and stood, panting slightly.
Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his azure robes were stained with a few spots of the Tiger Demon’s blood.
He glanced down at the Tiger Demon’s corpse, the faintest hint of a smile touching his lips.
"Senior Brother Luo has broken through to the Third Grade!"
Wang Miao’s voice was filled with sincere admiration.
The leap from the Fourth Grade to the Third Grade was a massive hurdle that stumped countless people. Once broken, it was like a whole new world had opened up.
Chen Wuhen gently waved the folding fan in his hand and said with a smile,
"Congratulations on breaking through to the Third Grade, Senior Brother Luo."
"Thank you."
Luo Yuntian sheathed his sword and walked back to the group.
Chen Wanjun stood ahead with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over Luo Yuntian, and he nodded slightly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He didn’t say much, however, only stating calmly,
"We’re moving on."
The group continued onward, trekking through the ancient, dense forest.
A little over two hours later, Fang Han’s steps faltered slightly once more.
"Another big one is here," he said, his voice calm.
Everyone paused and followed Fang Han’s line of sight.
Between the trees ahead, a massive black silhouette was slowly approaching.
It was a bear-like Demon, several times larger than an ordinary giant bear. Standing upright, it was a full two zhang tall, covered in earthy-yellow fur, with eyes as scarlet as blood.
Judging by its aura, this Bear Demon’s strength was also comparable to a Third Grade Martial Artist.
Fang Han turned his head to look at Luo Yuntian.
"Junior Brother Luo, do you want to make a move?"
Luo Yuntian shook his head with a wry smile.
"I’m exhausted from that last battle. I don’t have the strength to fight again."
He paused before continuing,
"I’ll leave this Bear Demon to you, Senior Brother Fang."
Fang Han nodded slightly, not refusing.
He stepped forward, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
SHING—
The Cloud Splitting Sword left its scabbard, its dark azure blade shimmering with a restrained light under the sun.
The Bear Demon seemed to sense the threat. Its scarlet eyes stared fixedly at Fang Han as a low growl rumbled in its throat.
It rose to its hind legs and beat its chest with both paws, producing a dull, thunderous sound like the beating of a war drum.
The next moment, it moved.
Its massive body, like a small, mobile mountain, charged straight at Fang Han.
Its paws descended with Mountain-Splitting Stone-Shattering force.
Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged as he held the Cloud Splitting Sword horizontally before him.
He unleashed his first strike, the sword light condensing into a single line of azure brilliance.
PFFT—!
The Bear Demon’s descending right paw was severed cleanly at the wrist, and blood sprayed wildly.
The Bear Demon let out a piercing shriek and stumbled backward.
Fang Han didn’t stop, unleashing his second strike.
PFFT—!
The sword light flashed past the Bear Demon’s left shoulder, and its arm, as thick as a tree trunk, fell to the ground.
The Bear Demon’s shriek grew even more piercing. It turned to flee.
Fang Han unleashed his third strike.
PFFT—!
The sword light swept across the back of the Bear Demon’s neck. Its massive head flew high into the air, and the headless corpse took two more steps forward from momentum before crashing to the ground.
Three strikes.
Just three strikes.
A Bear Demon with strength comparable to a Third Grade Martial Artist had been slain so effortlessly.
Fang Han sheathed his sword and walked back to the group, his expression calm, as if he had just done something utterly trivial.
Behind him, Yun Muyao and the others couldn’t help but look slightly stunned.
They knew Fang Han was strong, but they never imagined he was *this* strong.
A Third Grade Demon, slain in three strikes.
Killing a Third Grade Demon was as simple as slaughtering a chicken or a dog.
"Three strikes..."
Luo Yuntian’s gaze rested on Fang Han, a wry smile appearing on his lips.
He had just fought a long, bitter battle to slay the Tiger Demon.
And yet Fang Han had killed the equally powerful Bear Demon in just three strikes.
This was the gap between them.
An indescribably complex feeling welled up inside him, but he quickly suppressed it.
Chen Wanjun stood ahead with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Fang Han. His expression was calm, showing no surprise.
Over half a month ago, he had personally witnessed Fang Han in action and knew the extent of his strength.
Those three strikes just now hadn’t even been at his full power.
"We’re moving on," he said calmly, turning to continue forward.
Fang Han strode after him, his azure robes fluttering slightly, his expression as calm as still water.
Behind him, the eight others followed one by one, their gazes occasionally falling on Fang Han’s back, their eyes filled with complex emotions.
Even for them, geniuses on the Celestial Pride List, it was becoming difficult to even see Fang Han’s back, a fact that dealt a considerable blow to their pride.
...
「One day later.」
The morning light pierced through the thin mist between the mountains, dyeing the layered peaks a pale gold.
Led by Chen Wanjun, Fang Han’s group crossed the final mountain ridge, and the view before them suddenly opened up.
It was a vast basin, encircled by mountains, like a giant palm holding up a stretch of flat land.
In the very center of the basin, a structure stood silently.
No, "stood" wasn’t the right word. It was more like it was "embedded."
The main body of the structure was buried deep underground, with only its top exposed, like a colossal dome inverted in the earth.
The dome was semicircular, forged from the same material as the Martial Arts Stele—indestructible and smooth as a mirror, gleaming with a cold, dark luster in the morning light.
The most eye-catching feature was the building’s entrance.
It was a jade gate that slanted down into the ground, several zhang wide and about ten zhang high, its edges carved with intricate patterns.
The patterns were ancient and mysterious, vaguely forming some kind of profound design that seemed to shimmer faintly in the light.
The ground around the jade gate was paved with large slabs of the same jade-like stone as the Martial Arts Stele, exuding a sense of weight and timelessness that had endured through the ages.
"This is the Ancient Ruins."
Chen Wanjun’s voice rang out from the front, calm yet clear.
"It’s said the entire structure was forged from the same material as the Martial Arts Stele. Even a Grandmaster Powerhouse would have difficulty damaging it in the slightest, even at full strength."
Everyone’s gaze fell upon the structure buried deep underground, a trace of shock flashing in their eyes.
The entire ruins were actually forged from the same material as the Martial Arts Stele, which even a Grandmaster Powerhouse couldn’t easily damage.
What an extravagant display of resources!
Around the Ancient Ruins, over a hundred figures had already gathered.
They were scattered in groups of two and three on the slightly higher ground at the basin’s edge.
Some sat cross-legged with their eyes closed in meditation, some stood with their hands clasped behind them, conversing in low voices, while others stared intently at the ancient structure buried deep in the earth.
Fang Han’s gaze swept across the area, and he noted their presence.
Most of these figures were young, in their twenties. A few were slightly older, but none appeared to be over thirty.
Their attire varied. Some wore lavish clothes, others simple robes. Some had Sect emblems embroidered on their garments, while others’ origins were impossible to discern.
But judging by their auras, not a single one of them was weak.
The arrival of Fang Han’s group quickly drew the attention of the various parties in the basin.
The first to look over were the disciples from the major powers of Qingyang County.
Most of them recognized Fang Han.
"Is that Fang Han? I heard he’s only twenty."
"He really is young. Looks like the rumors were true; he’s really only twenty."
Some looked on with curiosity, wanting to see for themselves what this legendary prodigy looked like.
Some looked on with reverence. To top the Celestial Pride List at the age of twenty—they couldn’t help but be in awe.
Some looked on with a hint of defiance, whispering to their companions while their eyes never left Fang Han.
And some looked away evasively, reacting to the sight of Fang Han like mice seeing a cat—the prodigies from the Netherworld Pavilion, for example.
The murmurs of discussion drifted over indistinctly, but Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged as he walked with a steady, unhurried pace.
Besides the people from Qingyang County, the young prodigies from other counties also took notice of the newly arrived group.
Some of them had clearly done their homework beforehand. Their gazes lingered on Fang Han for a moment, a thoughtful look flashing in their eyes.
Others remained expressionless, revealing no emotion.
A few others had sharp, appraising gazes, clearly viewing Fang Han as a potential rival.
Fang Han’s gaze swept over the crowd, taking in all these reactions, yet his heart remained untroubled.
Chen Wanjun, walking at the very front with his hands behind his back, scanned the edge of the basin and found a relatively high, open spot with a good view, where he stopped.
"We’ll rest here," he said, his voice calm but carrying clearly to everyone’s ears.
The nine of them dispersed. Some sat down cross-legged to meditate, some removed their packs to stretch their limbs, and others stood with their hands behind their backs, observing the other figures who were also waiting for the ruins to open.
Fang Han found a flat, green rock to sit on, laying his Cloud Splitting Sword across his knees.
All sorts of sounds reached his ears—
the whisper of the wind, the chirping of birds, the distant babbling of a stream, and the high and low chatter of the young people around him.
He wasn’t actively trying to listen, but his cultivation at the Middle Stage of Third Grade gave him hearing far beyond that of an ordinary person, and their words flowed into his ears as naturally as a stream.
"Which one is Fang Han, the top rank on the Qingyang County Celestial Pride List? I heard he’s only twenty?"
"The one sitting cross-legged on the green rock. That must be him."
"He certainly looks young."
"I didn’t believe it when I first heard the news, but now that I see him, it’s possible he really is only twenty!"
At first, the words that reached him were mostly curious and appraising, with no ill intent.
Before long, however, an undisguised sneer cut through the noise.
"Letting a twenty-year-old take the top spot on the Celestial Pride List? The younger generation of Qingyang County must be utter trash."
The voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of many.