Chapter 628 - 623: The Thunderlight Pavilion Takes Notice
Chapter 628: Chapter 623: The Thunderlight Pavilion Takes Notice
Over an hour later, the medicinal power of the Earth Spirit Pill was completely refined and absorbed.
Fang Han slowly opened his eyes. A dark green gleam flashed in their depths before vanishing.
He could clearly feel his inner qi had grown by a fair amount.
’At this rate, with the cultivation speed of the Cyan Wood Antitoxic Scripture, it will take one or two months at most...’
Fang Han muttered to himself, a satisfied curve appearing on his lips.
The growth of his inner qi from just over an hour of cultivation was already quite substantial.
At this rate, he should be able to break through to the next realm in one or two months at most.
’It’s a shame. I can only use this cultivation technique myself; I can’t hand it over to the sect!’
Fang Han was not a stingy person. If he could, he wouldn’t have minded handing over the Cyan Wood Antitoxic Scripture to the sect.
However, unlike the Void Wind God Sword, the Cyan Wood Antitoxic Scripture came from the Royal Family and was under a strict rule that it could not be passed on to others.
Secretly passing it to the sect wouldn’t be helping them; it would be harming them.
After a short rest, Fang Han took two more Earth Spirit Pills and resumed his cultivation.
...
In the afternoon, Fang Han rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber, heading to the cultivation field in the backyard.
Chi Huo lay on the empty ground beside the cultivation field, listlessly flicking its tail.
Seeing Fang Han approach, it let out a low whimper and came forward to greet him, tail wagging.
Fang Han reached out to pat its massive head, then walked to the center of the cultivation field.
SHING—
The Cloud Splitting Sword was drawn.
He didn’t rush to attack. Instead, he closed his eyes and centered himself, letting the Sword Technique Heart Method of the Void Wind God Sword flow through his mind like a clear spring.
SWISH—
A moment later, he opened his eyes, infused the blade with a sliver of inner qi, and thrust forward.
Although powered by only a sliver of inner qi, the strike was remarkably powerful, even at the Entry Level of the Void Wind God Sword.
The flash of the blade was like a rainbow, carrying a sharpness that felt as if it could tear space itself as it cut a faint cyan arc across the cultivation field.
In the wake of the blade, a pitch-black fissure silently split the air.
SWISH—
Fang Han struck again.
One strike followed another, each one incredibly fast and carrying a pure, perfectly condensed sharpness.
Dark green flashes of sword light crisscrossed the cultivation field.
The air in the courtyard stirred, swirling rapidly around Fang Han.
The bamboo grove rustled in the wind, sending countless leaves fluttering down.
When the hour of swordsmanship practice was over, a light sheen of sweat had formed on Fang Han’s forehead.
He sheathed his sword, closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, and silently reviewed what he had learned from the practice session.
Then, he concluded his practice of the Void Wind God Sword.
He took out a jade bottle from his storage ring, poured out and consumed a Vajra Pill, and began an hour of cultivating the Xuanwu True Skill.
Having consumed three Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that boosted Body Hardening Talent, his aptitude for it was now greatly enhanced, making his body exceptionally suited for cultivating Body Hardening Techniques.
His cultivation speed for the Xuanwu True Skill had clearly accelerated. At this rate, he should be able to break through to the next realm in another two or three months.
In the days that followed, Fang Han stuck to his set plan, dedicating himself to cultivation day after day.
...
「Donglu County, Thunderlight Pavilion.」
In an ancient, stately hall, Lei Qianting, the Pavilion Master of Thunderlight Pavilion, sat at the head seat, his expression as placid and grim as still water.
Several Elders sat on either side below him. The atmosphere in the hall was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.
A middle-aged man in a deep blue Elder Robe stood in the center of the hall. His face was thin and gaunt. It was Elder Yu Yuan, the man tasked with investigating the disappearance of Lei Zheng and his two companions.
"Pavilion Master."
Yu Yuan spoke, his voice low and hoarse.
"I followed the route taken by Elder Lei Zheng and his two companions, making inquiries along the way. I picked up their trail in a small city in Celestial Wind County."
As soon as he said this, all eyes in the hall focused on him.
"Go on."
Lei Qianting said slowly, a sharp glint flashing in his deep-set eyes.
Yu Yuan continued,
"According to the shopkeeper of an inn in that city, the three men had stayed there for one night about a month and a half ago. They were extremely conspicuous, riding a giant, silver-gray wolf demon as a mount."
A giant, silver-gray wolf—the Elders in the hall exchanged a glance.
The First-Grade Demon tamed by Thunderlight Pavilion was a giant, silver-gray wolf. It was highly likely, then, that the three men at the inn were Elder Lei Zheng and his companions.
"In addition,"
Yu Yuan’s voice sounded again.
"I also learned that three other people, riding a White Tiger Demon as a mount, were also staying in the city at that time."
"A White Tiger Demon?!"
The air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
The quick-witted among them had already guessed that this White Tiger Demon must be connected to the disappearance of Elder Lei Zheng and his companions.
Yu Yuan continued,
"I continued my investigation onward from there, but I could find no further trace of Elder Lei Zheng and his companions. It was as if the three of them completely vanished after leaving that city."
He paused, his voice growing even deeper.
"I suspect that the disappearance of Elder Lei Zheng and his companions is connected to the three people riding the White Tiger Demon."
An Elder shot to his feet, his brow deeply furrowed.
"A White Tiger Demon! In all the surrounding counties, only the Qingxuan Sect of Qingyang County uses a White Tiger Demon as a mount!"
Yu Yuan nodded slightly.
"Precisely."
Another Elder spoke slowly, his voice laced with unconcealed astonishment and suspicion.
"The ones from the Qingxuan Sect who went to the Imperial Capital for the Martial Arts Assembly were Fang Han, Luo Yuntian, and a Steward. I heard that at the assembly, this Fang Han displayed combat power comparable to a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist."
"Elder Lei Zheng was at the Late Stage of First Grade. An ordinary First Grade Martial Artist would be no match for him, but if Fang Han were to attack..."
He didn’t finish, but his meaning was clear.
Yu Yuan said slowly,
"Based on my investigation, Fang Han is the prime suspect."
The hall fell into a dead silence.
That name was like a boulder dropped into a deep pool, sending ripples through the silence.
After a long moment, Yu Yuan raised his head to look at Lei Qianting.
"Pavilion Master, Fang Han is the prime suspect. Should we go to the Qingxuan Sect and demand an explanation?"
Lei Qianting slowly shook his head, his deep-set eyes betraying no emotion.
"Demand an explanation? We only have suspicions, no concrete proof. The Qingxuan Sect would never admit to it. They would just turn the tables and accuse our Thunderlight Pavilion of slander."
Yu Yuan fell silent for a moment before speaking again, his voice tinged with unwillingness.
"Then... what is your intention, Pavilion Master?"
Lei Qianting slowly rose from his seat and walked to the center of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Elder Lei Zheng and his men will not have died in vain."
His voice was not loud, but it carried an iron-clad chill.
"Fang Han will pay for their lives with his own."
Yu Yuan’s brow furrowed slightly. After a moment of thought, he said,
"Fang Han has the strength of a Third Breakthrough Martial Artist. To kill him, only a Supreme Elder would be certain of success... Are you planning to ask a Supreme Elder to take action, Pavilion Master?"
Lei Qianting shook his head.
"If one of our Supreme Elders makes a move and is discovered by the Qingxuan Sect, their Supreme Elder would surely retaliate with furious abandon against our Thunderlight Pavilion. That would only lead to mutual destruction."
Yu Yuan’s brow furrowed even deeper.
"Then your plan is...?"
Lei Qianting said nothing more, merely standing with his hands clasped behind his back. An icy killing intent slowly coalesced in his deep-set eyes.
He spoke, his voice as placid as water.
"I have a way to handle this."
He paused, the chill in his voice growing heavier.
"A way to eliminate Fang Han without the Qingxuan Sect ever suspecting the Thunderlight Pavilion."
...
「Over a month later.」
Inside the Quiet Chamber, the incense in the sandalwood burner had long since burned away, leaving only a thin layer of cold ash.
Fang Han sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. The dark green inner qi surrounding him slowly receded like a tide, returning completely to his acupoints.
He opened his eyes. A dark green gleam swirled in their depths for a moment before vanishing.
HAAAA—
He exhaled a turbid breath, which formed a faint white trail in the air that lingered for a long moment before dissipating.
For the past month, he had followed his set plan, dedicating the vast majority of his time each day to cultivating the Cyan Wood Antitoxic Scripture.
Although he hadn’t neglected his swordsmanship and horizontal training, he had significantly reduced the time spent on them.
The results were remarkable—the viscous, mercury-like dark green inner qi in his Baihui Acupoint was now over ninety-five percent full.
’A few more days at most.’
Fang Han muttered to himself, the faintest of smiles touching his lips.
He could clearly sense that he was very close to reaching the bottleneck of the First Grade.
He rose to his full height and stretched his limbs, which had grown slightly stiff from prolonged sitting. His joints let out a series of soft pops.
Pushing open the door to the Quiet Chamber, he saw the midday sun filtering through the gaps in the courtyard’s bamboo grove, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on the ground.
Chi Huo lay on the empty ground beside the cultivation field in the backyard, listlessly flicking its tail.
Seeing Fang Han approach, it let out a low whimper and came forward to greet him, tail wagging.
Having been well-fed and watered in the courtyard for over a month, the once-fierce Lion Demon had actually grown a bit plump, and its crimson mane was even glossier than before.
Fang Han reached out to pat its massive head, then strode toward the front courtyard.
Qiu Lan was on the veranda, instructing a maid to prepare lunch. Seeing him emerge, she hurried over and bowed in greeting.
"Senior Brother."
"Mm."
Fang Han nodded slightly and sat down at a table in the side hall.
Qiu Lan served several exquisite side dishes and a bowl of Blood Rice. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat slowly.
Outside the window, the shadows of the bamboo danced. The occasional birdsong from the distance only made the noon hour seem more peaceful.
After lunch, Fang Han didn’t immediately return to the Quiet Chamber. Instead, he left his villa and went for a slow walk through the True Inheritance Courtyard.
The path of cultivation required a balance of work and rest. A proper break would allow his mind to recover and gather energy for the coming breakthrough.
The ancient trees on both sides of the mountain path rustled in the early summer breeze. Sunlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves, casting large patches of light and shadow across the stone steps.
The disciples he encountered along the path all stopped to bow, their gazes filled with reverence.
Fang Han returned their greetings with a slight nod, his pace unhurried.
After walking for about half an hour, he returned to Villa 35 and stepped back into the Quiet Chamber.
...
「Several days later, at dawn.」
Inside the Quiet Chamber, Fang Han sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion. He tipped two Earth Spirit Pills from a jade bottle into his mouth.
The elixirs dissolved the moment they touched his tongue. A warm yet immense medicinal power spread from his core, surging through his limbs and into every corner of his body.
The Cyan Wood Antitoxic Scripture began to circulate. Dark green inner qi surged through his meridians like a great river, capturing and refining every last wisp of the medicinal power.