Chapter 377 - 186: Mission Complete
Chapter 377: Chapter 186: Mission Complete
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken.
Those with foresight could already see countless possibilities.
That was why the White-robed Saintess did not remain aloof, and even the Ascetic Sect had to consider the coming changes.
But for Fang Shuwen, his goal remained clear.
He had arrived at Cold Valley Town!
From the moment he first stepped into Cold Valley Town, Fang Shuwen discovered it was a particularly desolate place.
Barely one in ten buildings still stood, and a sense of decay permeated everything.
Yet amidst the desolation, there was a strange bustle. From the narrow alleys, dilapidated buildings, and dark corners, hidden gazes watched them.
The streets were clear of snow, obviously swept regularly, and the paths were well-defined.
[Ding! Protect Long Qingzhi and reach Cold Valley Town—mission complete! Calculating reward...]
[Ding! Reward calculation successful!]
[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained the Great Perfection of the Twelve-Layered Golden Bell Shield!]
[Claim now?]
He didn’t even have time to get a good look at his surroundings before a series of notifications appeared.
Fang Shuwen’s pupils contracted slightly. ’The Twelve-Gate Golden Bell Shield!’
’It’s actually this Martial Art!?’
For a moment, even Fang Shuwen couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
Mastering its twelve gates would grant the Vajra Indestructible Body, leaving no weak points on his entire person... This was a Martial Art that could practically make him invincible!
"As expected of a mission with a four-fold Talent bonus. This arduous journey was well worth it."
Fang Shuwen slowly let out a breath, a hint of joy gracing his features.
He glanced at Long Qingzhi and said softly,
"Follow me."
Ordinarily, he should have gone to find Zhao Wuji immediately, but with the Twelve-Gate Golden Bell Shield right in front of him, there was no reason for Fang Shuwen not to claim it first.
’Claim it early, get stronger early.’ Then, if Zhao Wuji really dared to bare his teeth at him...
’I’m curious to see whose is stronger: the single slash he’s been cultivating for twenty years, or my own Vajra Indestructible Body?’
Although Long Qingzhi didn’t know what Fang Shuwen was planning, she followed him obediently.
They arrived at a dilapidated house, where Fang Shuwen had Fang Dabao stand guard outside.
He then had Long Qingzhi enter a room with him.
"Find a place to rest for a bit. I’ve had another breakthrough in my Martial Arts and need some time."
Long Qingzhi immediately grew tense.
"I... I’ll stand guard for you."
Fang Shuwen was taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle.
"Alright. I’ll be counting on you, then."
Long Qingzhi’s face flushed slightly. She knew that since she didn’t know any Martial Arts, her offer to stand guard was completely useless.
But Fang Shuwen didn’t crush her spirits, which made the young woman’s heart fill with a particular joy.
’But then again,’ she thought, ’I still have that technique Fang Shuwen left between my brows.’
’If someone really did barge in, I could just hit them with it.’
’I bet even if Zhao Wuji tried to interrupt, he’d get a big slap in the face first.’
’How could that not be considered standing guard?’
Of course, Fang Shuwen was unaware of Long Qingzhi’s rambling thoughts. He entered the inner room. It was completely dilapidated, and the kang bed-stove was covered in dust.
With a wave of his arm, a gust of wind swept through, clearing a space for him to sit.
Fang Shuwen then sat down cross-legged.
He called out to the system.
The reward interface popped up. Without any hesitation, Fang Shuwen selected "Claim".
All the various techniques of the Twelve-Gate Golden Bell Shield instantly flooded his mind.
The transformations of each gate, the burgeoning of True Qi... his body tensed in response.
This technique trained both the body and one’s Inner Strength. The first gate could generate True Qi and Inner Strength to protect the body, reducing all damage by half.
Subsequent gates involved tempering with Protective True Qi, strengthening the physique, and so on. By the fourth gate, sharp weapons like swords and sabers could only break the skin, not harm the muscle.
Further on, as his True Qi grew stronger, it would evolve into various miraculous uses. Each gate was a new heaven. Upon reaching the Great Perfection of the twelfth gate, his entire body would be without a single weak point, impervious to blades, water, and fire.
In addition to this, the Mental Method for a Healing Chapter also appeared in his mind.
Although the Twelve-Gate Golden Bell Shield trained both the body and one’s Inner Strength, the cultivation process would inevitably cause physical damage.
This Healing Chapter was designed to counteract that, specifically to resolve latent internal injuries, and was itself extremely profound.
A new Inner Strength was born within his body, a process Fang Shuwen was already an old hand at.
He had expected the system to appear again and evolve a new Mental Method to help him harmonize the multiple types of Inner Strength in his body.
He never expected that as soon as this new True Qi appeared, it would immediately merge with the Muscle Strengthening Scripture Divine Technique.
It was as if the two had sprung from the same source. They intertwined yet remained inexplicably distinct.
Seeing this change, Fang Shuwen was immediately relieved.
Nevertheless, he still circulated the Mental Method derived by the system. Seeing that the different types of Inner Strength within him remained distinct yet closely connected—no different from before—he was finally able to relax.
However, the Inner Strength he had just obtained still needed to be assimilated.
This was why he needed to find a room before claiming the reward.
If the reward had just been Martial Arts stances and forms, he could have claimed it anytime.
But since it involved Inner Strength, there was a process of Qi Guiding and Returning to the Origin. The gushing wellspring of Inner Strength, if not restrained and controlled, would be like a runaway stallion, rampaging through his meridians.
This ’wild stallion’ had to be thoroughly tamed and saddled before it could be of any use to him.
The entire process didn’t take too long. With Fang Shuwen’s current level of Inner Strength, it only took about the time of an incense stick before he opened his eyes again.
With a mere thought, the faint sound of a great bell seemed to resonate in the air around him.