Chapter 572 - 568: Middle Stage of Second Grade
Chapter 572: Chapter 568: Middle Stage of Second Grade
"Sect Master Chen."
Xie Changkong’s gaze shifted to Chen Tianyuan, who sat in the main seat, and he asked.
"Your Sect’s True Inheritor, Fang Han, possesses a Tracking Technique that is unparalleled in the county, capable of finding even that deeply hidden Grandmaster Demon. Do you think he has a chance... of finding that old demon?"
In an instant, everyone’s eyes converged on Chen Tianyuan.
Meeting their gazes, Chen Tianyuan slowly shook his head. His voice was steady but held a trace of helplessness.
"Fang Han’s Tracking Technique is indeed unique. However, the best Tracking Secret Technique in our Sect is only Top-Grade, and that is what he has cultivated."
"Although he has cultivated it to Perfection, it is limited by its Grade. His tracking ability is stronger than others, but not by much."
He paused, then looked at the assembled masters.
"Yan Wuji is a Grandmaster, and his ability to conceal his breath is already formidable. On top of that, he has surely used a breath-concealing method. Fang Han has the will, but... his power is insufficient."
The Quiet Chamber fell silent once more, leaving only the soft, continuous clicking of Abbot Kudu’s prayer beads.
A moment later, several gazes, as if they were tangible, slowly turned toward the shadows at the side of the chamber—to where Ling Wuyuan was seated.
As if sensing their attention, Ling Wuyuan’s half-lowered eyelids lifted slightly. His dark, profound eyes met their gazes.
Within them was a calmness like a deep pool, and beneath that calm, a cold, flowing current of understanding.
He had clearly guessed their intentions, and the outcome was just as he had predicted.
"Pavilion Master Ling."
Xie Changkong spoke again, his tone more measured than before.
"The Netherworld Pavilion’s heritage of Secret Techniques is the finest among the Seven Sects. Might you possess a Tracking Secret Technique above Top-Grade?"
Ling Wuyuan didn’t speak. He simply stared quietly at Xie Changkong before slowly moving his gaze across Chen Tianyuan, Kudu, and Lei Pojun...
"Secret manuals are the foundation of a Sect, the very core of its heritage."
Ling Wuyuan’s voice was not loud, but it carried his unique, low-pitched magnetism. Each word was enunciated clearly and slowly, filled with refusal.
"They are never shown to those outside the Pavilion’s direct line. This is an ironclad rule passed down through generations. I... dare not defy it."
"Pavilion Master Ling."
Abbot Kudu placed his palms together and spoke slowly, his voice imbued with the characteristic compassion of a Buddhist monk.
"Yan Wuji is a Grandmaster who cultivates a Demon Skill. The threat he poses far exceeds that of an ordinary Grandmaster. If he is left unchecked, the consequences will be endless."
Lei Pojun followed up immediately, his tone direct.
"Old Ling, rules are dead, people are alive! What kind of person is Yan Wuji? A madman who cultivates a Demon Skill! He’s a tiger brought low right now, but once he recovers, he’ll be a vicious beast that devours people!"
"He could sneak-attack the Qingxuan Sect today, and tomorrow he could be creeping up your Netherworld Pavilion’s mountain! When that time comes, can you fend off an insane Grandmaster’s assassination attempt? This isn’t the time to haggle over a single Secret Technique. We need to band together and eliminate this grave threat first!"
Hua Nishang’s soft voice joined in, but her words were like a needle hidden in cotton.
"Pavilion Master Ling, I understand your difficult position. However, with this great enemy before us, the most important task is to find Yan Wuji, this Grandmaster who cultivates a Demon Skill. Everything else should be temporarily set aside."
Shen Tinglan’s gaze returned from the window and landed on Ling Wuyuan’s profile. His voice was calm and steady.
"Yan Wuji is in the shadows, and we are in the light. The longer this drags on, the more variables will arise, and the higher the price will be. A single Secret Technique might just grant us the upper hand."
Their words—some pleading, some laying out the stakes, some offering a way to save face—wrapped around him like invisible threads, layer by layer.
Ling Wuyuan lowered his eyes, his lips pressed into a rigid line. The line of his jaw tightened slightly.
All the pressure in the room converged on his corner.
Chen Tianyuan watched quietly, not pressing him, but his eyes were grave.
Time ticked by. The sandalwood incense burned down a small section, its white ash falling silently into the censer.
Finally, Ling Wuyuan took a very light breath and slowly exhaled.
He raised his head, his deep gaze sweeping over everyone once more before finally landing on Chen Tianyuan’s face.
"I can provide our Sect’s top-level Tracking Secret Technique, the *Netherworld Guide*."
Ling Wuyuan’s voice was even lower than before. Each word seemed squeezed from between his teeth, filled with deep reluctance and a hint of suppressed coldness.
He paused, a shadow passing through his eyes as he added a condition.
"This technique is one of our Pavilion’s most guarded secrets. I am making an exception today, and only this once. The manual can be studied and cultivated by Fang Han, but it must not be copied or transmitted to others."
Chen Tianyuan’s expression turned solemn as he clasped his hands in a formal salute.
"Pavilion Master Ling understands the greater good. On behalf of the Qingxuan Sect, and also on behalf of the people of Qingyang County, I thank you. I accept your conditions on Fang Han’s behalf."
The others also offered their praise.
Ling Wuyuan said no more, lowering his gaze once again.
The oppressive tension in the room eased slightly with this agreement.
But the sense of crisis brought by the shadow of Yan Wuji only pressed down more heavily on everyone’s heart.
Outside the window, the mountain wind rustled through the forest, a faint, wave-like sound.
...
「The next morning, a thin mist clung to Qingxuan Mountain.」
Inside the Quiet Chamber, Fang Han sat cross-legged on a cushion. He retrieved a Jade Bottle containing an Earth Spirit Pill from his Storage Ring.
He took out an Earth Spirit Pill and placed it in his mouth. The Elixir dissolved, and its gentle Medicinal Power spread through his abdomen like a stream.
RUSH—
Fang Han circulated the Cyan Profound Technique.
Within his meridians, the cyan-gold Inner Qi surged like a great river, seizing, tearing apart, and refining every wisp of the Medicinal Power. It was converted into pure Inner Qi and gathered in his Tinggong Acupoint.
Under the 512-times amplification of his Root Bone, the growth rate of his Inner Qi was more than double what it had been before, reaching an unprecedented speed.
Every Circulation of the Heavens brought a solid, tangible increase.
Fang Han’s mind sank into his body. He could clearly perceive that the misty, cyan-gold ball of Inner Qi in his Tinggong Acupoint was already over ninety-nine percent full.
The breakthrough would happen today.
At a certain moment, the Inner Qi completely filled the Tinggong Acupoint.
The Inner Qi pulsed within the Tinggong Acupoint, gathering to its absolute limit before spontaneously surging toward the next acupoint—the Dicang Acupoint.
An invisible barrier stood between his Inner Qi and the Dicang Acupoint.
’The bottleneck to the Middle Stage of Second Grade!’
Fang Han’s expression remained unchanged. With a thought, his Inner Qi began to compress and condense, forming torrents that followed the breakthrough method of the Cyan Profound Technique, washing over the barrier.
BOOM—
On the very first assault, the barrier shook violently, and cracks spread across it like a spiderweb.
Fang Han’s heart stirred. ’With my current Root Bone Talent, a Minor Realm bottleneck like the Middle Stage of Second Grade is barely an obstacle.’
He guided his Inner Qi to strike again.
CRACK!
A crisp shattering sound, originating from the very source of his life, echoed within his body.
The invisible barrier before the Dicang Acupoint shattered on impact.
The vast, long-accumulated Inner Qi, like a flood that had finally found an outlet, surged joyfully into the newly opened Dicang Acupoint.
BOOM—!
Fang Han’s aura, like a lake into which a giant boulder had been thrown, suddenly exploded outward.
Its intensity was countless times greater than that of the Early Stage of Second Grade, kicking up an invisible wave of Qi within the Quiet Chamber.
The wisp of sandalwood smoke from the bronze censer in the corner was scattered by the wave, and the window lattice let out a faint creak.
Beneath the surface of his skin, a faint cyan-gold light seemed to flow.
It was the afterglow of his Inner Qi’s transformation, naturally overflowing.
Within his meridians, the Inner Qi was becoming denser and heavier, each strand containing far more terrifying power than before.
HUMMM...
A soft hum emanated from the Dicang Acupoint. It was the vibration produced as the newly opened acupoint resonated with the twenty-two that were already open.
With the twenty-third acupoint cleared, a more complex and efficient system for circulating Inner Qi quietly took shape within his body.
"Sound Divine Treasure."
As the Dicang Acupoint opened, a brand-new Divine Treasure was activated. Fang Han carefully experienced this newly unlocked Divine Treasure.
A wondrous feeling welled up in his heart, and he understood the Divine Treasure’s ability.
This was a Divine Treasure related to sound, capable of infusing Inner Qi into his voice.
HUMMM—
With a thought, a wisp of Inner Qi flowed to his throat as he attempted to make a sound.
A low hum emerged from his throat.
The sound wasn’t loud, but it possessed a strange penetrating power, as if it could pass through walls and travel to extremely distant places.
Dust on the window lattice was shaken loose, and the bronze censer in the corner emitted a soft hum.
’Break.’
He closed his mouth, concentrating his will in his throat.
A moment later, he suddenly opened his mouth and uttered a single word: "Break."
The sound wasn’t loud, but it carried a strange might.
The air trembled at this word, condensing into an invisible ripple that spread forward.
The ripple struck a celadon teacup.
CRACK—
The teacup shattered on cue, breaking into several pieces that scattered across the floor.
’Using sound as a weapon...’
Fang Han murmured to himself, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.
This newly unlocked Divine Treasure could imbue his voice with Inner Qi, allowing sound to travel great distances, or even turning it into a weapon to kill people by sound alone.
’Its power isn’t as great as my Swordsmanship, but it’s perfect for clearing out large numbers of weak ’small fry’.’
’The Inner Qi transformation is complete!’
The transformation lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn before it gradually subsided.
Fang Han felt the Inner Qi within his body.
Within his meridians, the Inner Qi had become denser and heavier. The energy contained in each strand was far stronger than before.
’My current strength...’
Fang Han clenched his fist, sensing the vast Inner Qi contained within his body.
Before this, his strength had already been comparable to a First-Breakthrough Martial Artist.
Now, with another breakthrough, even though it was just a Minor Realm advancement, his strength had still increased tremendously.
He had certainly surpassed a First-Breakthrough Martial Artist by now.
’Can I compare to a Second Breakthrough Martial Artist?’
The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately shook his head.
’The Three Gates of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Breaking each gate increases one’s strength by more than tenfold. This was just a Minor Realm advancement. Although my strength increased significantly, it was only by several times, not more than tenfold.’
’No rush. At my rate of improvement, I’m confident I’ll soon have the strength of a Second Breakthrough Martial Artist.’
He wasn’t disappointed by this. A faint smile appeared on his lips.