Chapter 618 - 614: Wind God Step Perfection
Chapter 618: Chapter 614: Wind God Step Perfection
’My combat power has definitely increased.’
Fang Han carefully sensed the brand-new, dark green Inner Qi within his body, reaching a conclusion.
Before switching his Cultivation Technique, his combat power had just reached the level of Breaking the Three Gates, making him just barely able to defeat a genius like Zhen Feixuan, who was at the Middle Stage of First Grade.
But now, with his Inner Power Level having leaped from the Lower Grade Realm Level to the Middle Grade Realm Level, the quality of his Inner Qi had taken a qualitative leap. His combat power was bound to have increased substantially.
’The peak of the Breaking the Three Gates level.’
Fang Han muttered to himself.
Although he hadn’t fought anyone to verify it, given his precise control over his own power, this assessment was almost certainly correct.
If he were to face Zhen Feixuan now, he would surely win with much greater ease.
As for facing an existence like Qin Yuan—someone who had surpassed Breaking the Three Gates and was approaching the Grandmaster level—there was, of course, still a considerable gap.
’As for the miraculous detoxifying effects of the Cyan Wood Antitoxic Scripture—’
Fang Han pondered for a moment.
Since he wasn’t currently poisoned, he couldn’t feel any changes in that regard.
The Cultivation Technique’s description stated that the resulting Inner Qi contained the vitality of flora. When circulated, it could automatically neutralize any invading toxins, dissolving them into nothingness.
Combined with the detoxifying Shenshu Acupoint Divine Treasure in his body, the two effects stacked, making him fearless against the vast majority of poisons.
But he couldn’t possibly go and deliberately take poison just to test the detoxification effect.
’I’ll just have to wait and see what happens when I encounter poison in the future.’
Fang Han shook his head lightly, temporarily setting aside this thought.
He rose to his full height and stretched his limbs, which were slightly stiff from sitting for so long.
His joints let out a series of soft pops. He felt invigorated, his mind sharp.
He pushed open the door of the Quiet Chamber. The moonlight in the courtyard was like water, spilling onto the bamboo grove and dyeing its vibrant green an ethereal silver.
Just then, the soft sound of footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by a knock.
"Senior Brother Fang."
It was Luo Yuntian’s voice.
"Come in."
Fang Han walked to the stone table in the courtyard and sat down.
The courtyard gate was pushed open, and Luo Yuntian stepped into the courtyard.
He wore a deep cyan robe with a longsword at his waist, his expression as tranquil as ever.
"Senior Brother Fang hasn’t rested yet?"
Luo Yuntian sat down on the other side of the stone table and looked at Fang Han.
"I just finished my Cultivation. Is something the matter, Junior Brother?"
Luo Yuntian nodded slightly and said:
"The accompanying Elders from the various Qingyang County sects met today. They’ve decided to set out for Qingyang County tomorrow. I came to ask if you, Senior Brother Fang, would like to return with us. We could look out for each other on the road."
He paused for a moment and added:
"Your top-four finish at the Martial Arts Assembly shook the Imperial Capital, Senior Brother Fang. It’s inevitable that some scoundrels will have their eyes on you. It might be safer to travel back together."
Fang Han pondered for a moment upon hearing this.
According to his original plan, the route from the Imperial Capital back to Qingyang County happened to pass through Wangxi County.
He planned to use the return journey as an opportunity to visit Wangxi County and search for the Secret Realm. To avoid arousing suspicion, it was best not to travel with others.
As for his safety, if trouble was going to find him, it would find him even if he traveled with the Qingyang County sects. After all, the strongest Elder on this trip was only at the Middle or Late Stage of First Grade.
"Junior Brother Luo."
Fang Han raised his head, looked at Luo Yuntian, and said.
"I’ve reached a critical point in my Cultivation and need to stay in the Imperial Capital for a while, so it’s not convenient for me to travel with you. You should take the White Tiger Demon and return with the others from Qingyang County."
Luo Yuntian frowned slightly, a little concerned.
However, when he considered Fang Han’s current strength, he realized that short of a Grandmaster taking action, few could pose a threat to him. The thought put him at ease.
"Since Senior Brother Fang has already decided, I won’t try to persuade you further."
He stood up and cupped his hands in a salute.
"I’ll head back with the others from the sects tomorrow. Please take care, Senior Brother Fang."
"You should also be careful on your journey, Junior Brother."
Fang Han stood up to see him off, escorting Luo Yuntian to the courtyard gate.
...
The next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
In front of the Royal Villa’s main gate, Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, Mad Saber, and other members of the younger generation on the Qingyang County Celestial Pride List, along with the accompanying Elders from the various sects, filed out of the villa. They found their mounts and swung themselves atop.
Fang Han stood in front of the villa’s main gate, watching the group leave.
Luo Yuntian mounted the White Tiger and looked back. "Senior Brother Fang, I’ll be leaving now."
"Go ahead, Junior Brother Luo."
Fang Han shook his head slightly.
"I still have some business to attend to. I’ll return to the Sect as soon as it’s finished."
Hearing this, Luo Yuntian nodded:
"In that case, take care, Senior Brother Fang."
The Steward steering the White Tiger flicked the reins. With a low roar, the White Tiger took the lead, striding forward along the wide street.
The other demon mounts followed close behind, their long shadows stretching out in the morning light as they quickly receded into the distance.
Fang Han watched the procession recede into the distance until the last figure vanished at the end of the long street. Only then did he look away.
He turned and returned to his residence.
Now that the Martial Arts Assembly was over, he naturally couldn’t continue staying at the Royal Villa.
He packed his belongings, hung the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist, and pushed the door open, heading out onto the streets of the Imperial Capital.
About half an hour later, he stopped before an establishment named "Yuntian Inn."
This inn was located at the edge of the Imperial Capital’s inner city. Although it wasn’t in a bustling area, it was clean and tidy.
Fang Han stepped into the main hall, spoke with the Shopkeeper for a moment, and rented a guest room that came with a Cultivation Room.
The Cultivation Room was not spacious, measuring a little over a dozen zhang in length and width. The floor was paved with some kind of hard bluestone, and the four walls were reinforced with ironwood, but for him, it was barely enough.
The door closed, shutting out the hustle and bustle of the street.
Fang Han sat cross-legged in the center of the Cultivation Room, closing his eyes to focus his mind.
His words to Luo Yuntian last night about "reaching a critical point in my Cultivation" were partly an excuse, but they weren’t entirely false.
The part he was hiding was the matter of the Secret Realm, which was inconvenient to discuss.
But he had, in fact, reached a critical point in his Cultivation.
During the Martial Arts Assembly, he had applied the Wind God Step in actual combat, going through one intense battle after another.
His Swordsmanship duel with Bai Yan, the head-on clash with Lie Yang, the all-out battle against Zhen Feixuan, and even the final collision with Qin Yuan’s world-shaking saber strike—
Every narrow escape, every counter-attack by a hair’s breadth, had deepened his understanding of this Grandmaster-level Body Technique.
It was like a sword blank being repeatedly forged, cleansed of its impurities by fire and hammer, growing ever purer and sharper.
The Wind God Step, originally a considerable distance from the Perfection stage, had improved dramatically under the tempering of these successive battles. It was now not far from Perfection.
He decided to take this final step before leaving the Imperial Capital and push his Wind God Step to the Perfection stage.
HUMMM—
The dark green Inner Qi in his body circulated slowly, and the Heart Method for the Wind God Step flowed through his mind like a clear spring.
He opened his eyes and with a flicker of movement, began to practice in the small space.
SWOOSH—
He didn’t use much Inner Qi, relying solely on the Body Technique’s own Force Manipulation Method to shift and turn within the narrow Cultivation Room.
The moment he began his Cultivation, he immediately felt a difference.
After consuming the three Low-grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that boosted his Body Technique Talent yesterday, his aptitude was now on a completely different level.
An unprecedented sense of fluidity washed over him.
The Heart Method Mantra of the Wind God Step, its Stepping Technique Atlas, the crucial junctures for circulating Inner Qi—with his legs now far more agile and suited for Body Technique Cultivation, understanding and applying all these things came naturally.
Subtleties that once required repeated contemplation to grasp now became perfectly clear with a mere thought.
Insights on how to exert force more efficiently, how to change direction in an instant while at full speed, how to perfectly merge his breath with his steps—all of it flooded his mind like a surging tide.
It was as if he had entered a state of epiphany.
No, it wasn’t just ’as if’—this was a state close to an epiphany.
This was a state of mind that ordinary Martial Artists might never experience in their entire lives, yet for him, it was now a constant presence.
’So this is my enhanced Body Technique Talent...’
A trace of amazement flashed through Fang Han’s eyes.
The improvement brought by the stacking of three Low-grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures far exceeded his expectations.
He had originally estimated it would take at least ten more days of painstaking effort to cultivate the Wind God Step to Perfection.
But now it seemed that this time would be greatly shortened.
A few days at most, perhaps even less, and he would be able to bring the Wind God Step to the Perfection stage.
He focused his mind and immersed his full attention in his Cultivation, over and over again.
The cyan-robed figure in the Cultivation Room moved like a streak of azure light, weaving silently between the four walls.
His steps grew increasingly fluid, his speed ever faster, his turns more and more seamless.
That feeling of merging with the wind and harmonizing with heaven and earth grew stronger and stronger.
Sun and moon rose and set. Outside the window, the sky brightened and dimmed, then dimmed and brightened again.
Each day, aside from the necessary time for meditation and meals, Fang Han devoted every moment to practicing his Body Technique.
On the second day, his speed increased noticeably.
On the third day, his speed increased again. A faint cyan afterimage flickered between the four walls.
On the fourth day, that feeling of "merging with the wind" reached an unprecedented height.
「On the fifth day.」
Fang Han was practicing the Wind God Step in the Cultivation Room as usual.
His form was so fast it blurred into a nearly imperceptible streak of light. His footfalls were silent, his movements so light they didn’t stir a single speck of dust.
The airflow enveloping his body created no resistance; on the contrary, it seemed to faintly propel him forward.
Suddenly—
HUMMM...
A soft hum that only he could perceive sounded from the depths of his mind.
The sound was extremely soft, so soft it was almost imperceptible, yet it seemed to have opened an invisible door.
In an instant, his understanding of the Wind God Step underwent a qualitative leap.
The Transformations that once required conscious control were now performed effortlessly, at will.
He now realized that the speed he once thought was his limit could be surpassed.
The Wind Realm and the Body Technique had merged more completely, more perfectly.
His speed suddenly skyrocketed.
So fast that even he himself was caught off guard.
He had been several zhang from the wall, but with this sudden surge of speed, his body shot forward like a bolt of cyan lightning, straight toward it.
In the instant before he collided with the ironwood wall, Fang Han forcefully twisted his body.
His toes tapped lightly against the wall, and like a willow seed caught in the wind, his entire body drifted silently to the other side of the Cultivation Room.