Chapter 484 - 480: Carving Up

Chapter 484: Chapter 480: Carving Up

One must first cultivate a Low Grade Mental Swordsmanship to a certain level, refining the Mental aspect until it is sufficiently condensed and proficient, before they can attempt a higher-grade Mental Swordsmanship.

Skipping a Low Grade Mental Swordsmanship to directly cultivate a Middle Grade one would be like trying to run before you can walk. It was simply not feasible.

’Perhaps in the future, when my Talent Amplification multiplier is stronger, I’ll be able to skip this step. But at least for now, it’s not possible.’

Fang Han closed the Void Wind God Sword and put it away in his Storage Ring.

He wasn’t discouraged. The path of the Martial Dao was like this, with few shortcuts to be found.

’Since I can’t cultivate it now, I’ll first focus on advancing my Sky-Splitting Sword Technique to a higher Realm. Once my foundation is solid enough, I can switch to this Middle Grade Mental Swordsmanship.’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

A sudden knock came at the door.

Fang Han opened the door to find Chen Wanjun standing outside.

"We got quite a few good things from the dead disciples of Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect. This is your share," Chen Wanjun said, handing Fang Han a sword and a cloth bag.

Although they had been in a hurry at the time, they naturally wouldn’t forget something like looting the bodies.

They had just been too rushed to divide the spoils, so he had held onto everything for safekeeping.

"Thank you for bringing this to me, Vice Hall Master Chen."

Fang Han reached out and took them.

’The sword must be from the deceased Xue Yuanlang. As a First Grade Martial Artist, his weapon’s Grade couldn’t be low. It’s very likely a Middle Grade Magical Soldier, a higher Grade than the Cloud Splitting Sword I’m currently using.’

’However, now that I have a weapon from the Ancient Ruins that I suspect is a Spiritual Weapon, there’s no need for me to keep it.’

’Once I get back to the Sect, I can just deposit it into the system panel.’

The cloth bag felt heavy in his hands. He had clearly received a good share of items. After all, the deceased disciples from Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect had just emerged from the Ancient Ruins.

"It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb you any further."

Chen Wanjun gave a slight nod and left.

Fang Han closed the door, returned to his room, and emptied the contents of the bag onto the table.

There were two types of items: some were in Jade Bottles, and others were in Jade Boxes.

’Celestial Essence Pills.’

There were ten Jade Bottles in total, all identical. On each bottle were carved the three ancient words, "Celestial Essence Pill."

Celestial Essence Pills were a type of auxiliary Cultivation Elixir, even more effective than Earth Spirit Pills, and extremely precious.

The refinement method was rumored to have been lost, and now they could only be obtained from Ancient Ruins.

’This kind of treasure is perfect for me now that I’ve broken through to the Upper Three Grades. Using this Elixir for my Cultivation will surely boost my training speed significantly.’

’Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.’

There were two Jade Boxes. If his guess was correct, they contained some kind of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Fang Han opened the first Jade Box and found a ginseng root inside, comparable in size to the thousand-year-old ginseng he had once obtained.

’A thousand-year-old ginseng.’

Clearly, this was a thousand-year-old ginseng, the kind rumored to be able to "bring the dead back to life and grow flesh on bare bones."

’Of course, the actual effect probably wasn’t that exaggerated. It couldn’t revive the dead, but it could likely save someone on the brink of death.’

The one he had obtained before, he had deposited into the system panel to increase his Talent Amplification multiplier.

For him now, a single Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure was just a drop in the bucket, far from enough to increase his Talent Amplification multiplier.

’So, I don’t plan on depositing this one into the system panel. I’ll keep it as a life-saving treasure.’

’A Longevity Fruit.’

Fang Han opened the second Jade Box and found a wrinkled fruit lying inside.

Recalling records about Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Fang Han recognized it. This should be a Longevity Fruit.

A Longevity Fruit was a type of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that could increase one’s lifespan by ten years.

It was something he didn’t currently need, but he didn’t plan on depositing it into the system panel either.

’Depositing this kind of Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure into the system would be too wasteful. I can save it for my parents to take in the future.’

’This is all good stuff. I really have to thank Thunderlight Pavilion and the Red Flame Sect!’

With a sweep of his Storage Ring, Fang Han stored away all the Jade Bottles and Jade Boxes.

Whether it was the Celestial Essence Pills or the two Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, they were all extremely precious items. To avoid losing them, it was best to keep them in the Storage Ring.

As long as he was fine, the items couldn’t be lost.

’A Storage Ring really is a wonderful thing.’

「Two days later, at dawn.」

Fang Han awoke from his Cultivation and opened his eyes. A sharp glint of light flashed in their depths and vanished.

After two days of rest, the wounds on his body had mostly scabbed over. Although they still ached faintly, it no longer affected his ability to travel.

His Inner Qi was abundant, restored to its peak state.

After a quick wash, he changed into a clean set of cyan robes and hung the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist before pushing the door open.

Down in the main hall, Chen Wanjun, Luo Yuntian, and the others had already gathered.

Everyone’s complexion was much better than two days prior. The exhaustion was gone from their faces, and their wounds had been properly tended to.

"Is everyone here?"

Chen Wanjun’s gaze swept over the group, and he gave a slight nod.

"Let’s move out."

The group left the inn, departed from Pinggu City, and followed the main road toward the Qingxuan Sect.

The morning light spilled over the fields on either side of the road, dyeing them a warm gold.

An early summer breeze drifted by, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, as well as the fragrance of the earth.

Smoke curled up from the chimneys of a distant village, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be faintly heard.

Fang Han walked in the middle of the group with a steady pace. The past two days of rest had helped him recover significantly.

After walking for a little over two hours, the silhouette of a small town appeared beside the main road ahead.

The town wasn’t large, built against a low mountain with about a hundred households. Its gray-tiled roofs and white walls were scattered in a picturesque arrangement.

At the town’s entrance stood a stone archway, upon which were inscribed the three words "Clear Creek Town."

"Something’s wrong in the town ahead!"

However, from a great distance, Fang Han had already sensed that something was amiss with the town.

A thick stench of blood drifted from within the town, so strong it was distinct even from a great distance.

Mixed in with it was the rank, foul odor unique to Demons.

"There’s the smell of blood and the aura of Demons inside."

Fang Han’s brow furrowed slightly as he fully activated Thousand-Mile Soul Lock to perceive the situation inside the town.

Not only was there the aura of a Demon in town, but there was more than one.

"Pick up the pace. Let’s get into town and see what’s happening," Chen Wanjun said, his expression darkening.

The group used their Body Techniques to race toward the town, arriving in no time.

The scene inside the town made everyone’s expression turn grim.

More than a dozen bodies lay strewn across the street.

There were men and women, old and young. Their deaths were horrific; all of them had been disemboweled, as if mauled by some wild beast.

Fresh blood soaked the flagstone road.

The houses on both sides were damaged. Some had shattered doors and windows, while others had collapsed walls, as if struck by immense force.

There were more bodies inside some of the houses, also mauled to death.

"Damned Demons," Luo Yuntian muttered, his voice thick with suppressed rage.

Fang Han remained silent, his expression grave as his eyes swept over the corpses.

SWOOSH—!

Just then, a huge black shadow charged out from the depths of the town.

It was a Demon that resembled a wild boar, but its body was several times larger than an ordinary one.

It stood nearly ten feet tall at the shoulder, covered in dark gray bristles. Its eyes were as crimson as blood, and its tusks, like spears, glinted with a ghastly white light.

Bits of flesh and bloody foam still clung to its tusks, a clear sign it had just been feasting on a corpse.

"It’s a Pig Demon!" Kuang Tu barked, his giant blade already drawn.

But Fang Han was faster.

The Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath in a flash of light.

A condensed stream of cyan Sword Qi shot from the blade, crossing a distance of over a hundred feet in an instant to strike the Pig Demon.

The Pig Demon didn’t even have time to react before the Sword Qi hit it.

SQUELCH—!

A spray of blood erupted.

The Pig Demon’s massive body was severed cleanly at the neck. Its head flew high into the air as its headless corpse took two more steps forward from momentum before crashing to the ground.

Blood gushed out like a fountain, soaking the flagstone road.

Killed in a single strike.

This Pig Demon’s strength was only equivalent to a Seventh Grade Martial Artist. Before Fang Han, it couldn’t even withstand a single move.

"There are more," Fang Han said as he sheathed his sword, his gaze fixed on the deeper parts of the town.

His senses told him there were other Demon auras there.

The group continued to press deeper into the town.

They soon encountered two more Demons.

One resembled a giant wolf, the other a giant python. Neither was particularly strong; the most powerful was only equivalent to a Sixth Grade Martial Artist.

Luo Yuntian and Yun Muyao each took action, easily slaying them.