Chapter 445 - 442: Harvest

Chapter 445: Chapter 442: Harvest

Chen Wanjun walked over to Song Shu’s corpse and squatted down, his gaze landing on the body’s waist.

He reached into Song Shu’s robes, felt around for a moment, and pulled out a thumb-sized bead.

The bead was grayish-white and unremarkable, yet it faintly exuded a strange aura.

"Spirit-Hiding Bead."

Chen Wanjun muttered to himself. He twirled the bead between his fingertips, and after confirming it was genuine, tucked it into his robes.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over the pair of short spears in Song Shu’s hands that glinted with blue light. He then glanced at the pitch-black longsword that had fallen beside Zhou Yuan, and finally at the black Soft Armor they both wore.

He showed no interest, clearly looking down on such items.

Meanwhile, Fang Han was searching Tu Hong’s corpse.

Tu Hong’s Thick-Backed Ghost Head Saber was stuck diagonally in the dirt, its blade still stained with unwiped blood.

He pulled out the saber, casually placed it to the side, then squatted down again and stripped the Soft Armor off Tu Hong’s body.

The Soft Armor felt heavy in his hands. Its quality was impressive, a fine piece of work.

He reached into the robes and pulled out a few Jade Bottles and a small cloth pouch.

The Jade Bottles contained Elixirs. He uncorked them and sniffed; some were for healing, some for restoring Inner Qi, and one had a pungent, acrid smell, its purpose unknown.

Inside the cloth pouch were over a dozen silver notes of varying denominations, adding up to more than two hundred thousand taels of silver.

He gathered all these items and turned his gaze to the corpses of Song Shu and Zhou Yuan.

Chen Wanjun may have looked down on their weapons and Soft Armor, but Fang Han certainly didn’t.

Both sets of Soft Armor were high-quality. The pair of short spears and the longsword were also extraordinary items. If sold, each would be worth at least several million taels of silver.

He walked forward and first picked up Song Shu’s pair of short spears.

The shafts felt slightly heavy in his hands, glowing with a cold, blue light. Their tips were coated with a potent poison.

He then drew Zhou Yuan’s pitch-black longsword. The blade was long and narrow, its edge gleaming with a cold luster.

A light flick produced a clear, resonant hum. It was a weapon whose quality was no less than that of the Cloud Splitting Sword.

He set the two weapons aside, squatted down again, and stripped the Soft Armor from both Song Shu’s and Zhou Yuan’s bodies.

The two sets of Soft Armor were of excellent quality. They felt dense and heavy, with a faint sheen flowing over their surface. They had remained undamaged during such an intense battle, a clear sign of their superior craftsmanship.

He reached into their robes again and pulled out a few Jade Bottles and two brocade bags.

Song Shu’s brocade bag contained over three hundred thousand taels in silver notes, while Zhou Yuan’s held over four hundred thousand. Besides the money, there were also a few bottles of Elixirs, which he collected one by one.

He wrapped all the items in a cloth, tied it into a bundle, and lifted it. It was heavy, weighing at least several dozen catties.

Chen Wanjun turned around, his gaze falling on the bulging bundle in Fang Han’s hands. His expression was neutral, and he didn’t comment on it, only saying calmly,

"We shouldn’t linger here. We leave for the Sect at once."

Fang Han nodded, slung the bundle onto his back, and walked over to Yang Rui’s side.

Yang Rui’s face was ashen. The wounds on her left shoulder and waist had been treated, but her aura was weak.

"Elder Yang, excuse me."

Fang Han reached out and supported Yang Rui by her arm.

Yang Rui didn’t refuse. In her current condition, it was unrealistic for her to travel on her own.

She whispered a word of thanks and fell silent, allowing Fang Han to support her as they walked out of the forest.

SWOOSH!

Chen Wanjun took the lead, walking with his hands clasped behind his back. His pace seemed unhurried, yet each step carried him several zhang forward.

SWOOSH!

Fang Han followed closely behind while supporting Yang Rui. Although he was carrying an extra person’s weight, it had little effect on him. His Body Technique’s speed was not significantly hindered, and he steadily kept pace with Chen Wanjun.

Dusk deepened, and the last sliver of dark gold on the horizon was swallowed by the night.

Three figures sped through the mountain forest, heading toward the Qingxuan Sect.

Yang Rui’s injuries were not light, so Fang Han had to slow down.

Chen Wanjun didn’t rush them, simply matching his speed to Fang Han’s and leading the way at a steady pace.

Night deepened. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The chirping of insects in the forest was sparse. The occasional cry of a night bird from the distance only emphasized the wilderness’s silence.

At first light, the imposing mountain gate of the Qingxuan Sect finally appeared on the horizon.

The tension in Yang Rui’s heart eased slightly, but after a whole night of travel, her steps became even more unsteady.

They passed through the mountain gate and proceeded along the greenstone path toward the mountainside.

The disciples on duty along the path saw their condition and quickly made way, their eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

When they reached the fork leading to the True Inheritance Courtyard and the Elder Courtyard, Chen Wanjun stopped and turned around.

"Fang Han, take Elder Yang back to rest first. I will report to the Sect Leader."

His voice was flat, betraying no emotion.

"Yes."

Fang Han responded.

Chen Wanjun nodded slightly, turned, and walked up the greenstone path toward the summit. His figure soon disappeared into the morning light.

Fang Han supported Yang Rui and took the other path toward the Elder Courtyard.

Yang Rui’s residence was a small courtyard with a few clumps of green bamboo rustling in the morning breeze.

A Maid was sweeping the courtyard. When she saw Yang Rui returning supported by someone, her face pale, she hurried forward.

"Elder, what happened to you?"

Her voice was tinged with panic.

"It’s nothing. Help Elder Yang inside to rest."

Fang Han handed Yang Rui over to the Maid. Yang Rui turned, gave Fang Han a slight bow, and said in a hoarse voice,

"True Inheritor Fang, thank you very much."

"Don’t mention it, Elder Yang. Please focus on your recovery."

Fang Han shook his head slightly, turned and walked out of the courtyard gate, heading along the greenstone path toward the True Inheritance Courtyard.

When he returned to Courtyard No. 35, the sky was already bright.

Qiu Lan heard the gate, looked up, and saw Fang Han stained with blood and carrying a bulging bundle on his back. She rushed forward.

"Senior Brother, are you injured?"

Her voice was laced with anxiety.

"No, it’s someone else’s blood."

Fang Han shook his head, untied the bundle, and carried it in his hand as he crossed the courtyard and entered the house.

He placed the bundle in a corner, then unfastened the Cloud Splitting Sword from his waist and hung it on a sword rack.

"Senior Brother, the hot water is ready."

Qiu Lan’s voice sounded from outside the door.

"Got it."

Fang Han replied, went to the bathing chamber, removed his robes, and stepped into the tub.

Warm water enveloped his body, slowly melting away the fatigue from a full day and night of travel.

He closed his eyes, leaned against the side of the tub, and let the warmth seep into his skin.

He soaked for the better part of an hour.

When he finally got out of the tub and changed into a clean green robe, he felt much more refreshed.

Picking up the bundle, he returned to his bedroom and closed the door.

He opened the bundle and spread its contents out on the floor.

Song Shu’s pair of short spears, which glinted with a cold, blue light, their tips coated in a potent poison.

Zhou Yuan’s pitch-black longsword, with its long, narrow blade and an edge that gleamed with a cold luster.

Three sets of Soft Armor: two of excellent quality, feeling dense and heavy with a faint sheen, and one slightly inferior but still a fine piece.

Additionally, there were a few Jade Bottles and two brocade bags, containing silver notes and Elixirs.

’Panel.’

Fang Han’s thought stirred, and he summoned the system panel that only he could see.

A translucent screen of light appeared before his eyes.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 256x (Ninth Level Amplification requires 10,000,000 gold)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]

[Secret Technique Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]

[Horizontal Training Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]

[Wealth: 31,000 gold]

’31,000 gold.’

Fang Han’s gaze fell on the "Wealth" category.

After activating the Level 7 Amplification for his Secret Technique Talent, he had only been left with 1,000 gold.

The reason he now had 31,000 gold was because after killing Zhao Ping, the Sect had purchased the Soft Armor from Zhao Ping’s body.

He had split the proceeds evenly with Elder Jin Han.

’I wonder how much wealth these will add?’

Fang Han glanced again at the pile of items on the floor.

The short spears, the longsword, three sets of Soft Armor, a few bottles of Elixirs, and several hundred thousand taels in silver notes—altogether, they had to be worth at least ten million taels.

Without hesitation, he first picked up the bottles of Elixirs.

These Elixirs had been looted from the Netherworld Pavilion Elders. Their origins were unknown, and there was no guarantee they hadn’t been tampered with.

He had no intention of consuming them. If they contained some slow-acting poison, the consequences would be dire.

This wasn’t being overly cautious; after all, one of the three dead Netherworld Pavilion Elders had been an expert in poison, even coating his weapons with it.

’Convert.’

At his thought, the few bottles of Elixirs vanished instantly.

The numbers on the panel flickered.

[Wealth: 31,000 gold → 50,200 gold]

They were worth nearly 20,000 gold, which was equivalent to 2,000,000 silver. These were clearly some extremely valuable Elixirs.

That made sense. Anything an Elder from the Netherworld Pavilion carried on their person wouldn’t be low-grade.

If he hadn’t been worried about them being tampered with, he really would have been reluctant to convert these Elixirs.

He then picked up the several hundred thousand taels in silver notes. These couldn’t be converted and weren’t a huge amount, so he’d use them for daily expenses.

He put the silver notes away and his gaze fell on the three sets of Soft Armor.

He started with Tu Hong’s set and focused his intent.

[Wealth: 50,200 gold → 75,200 gold]

An increase of 25,000 gold. Not bad.

He then picked up Song Shu’s Soft Armor.

This set was of excellent quality, feeling dense and heavy with a faint sheen. It had remained undamaged during the intense battle, a clear sign of its superior craftsmanship.

’Convert.’

[Wealth: 75,200 gold → 135,000 gold]

An increase of nearly 60,000 gold.

A flash of surprise crossed Fang Han’s eyes. The value of this Soft Armor was even higher than he had expected.

Finally, he picked up Zhou Yuan’s Soft Armor, its quality comparable to Song Shu’s.

’Convert.’

[Wealth: 135,000 gold → 195,000 gold]

Another 60,000 gold added to his account.

Together, the two sets of Soft Armor were worth a staggering 120,000 gold.

His gaze fell upon the Thick-Backed Ghost Head Saber, the pair of short spears, and the longsword.

’Convert.’

First, he converted the Thick-Backed Ghost Head Saber.

[Wealth: 195,000 gold → 210,000 gold]

His wealth increased by 15,000 gold.

’Convert.’

Next, he picked up Song Shu’s pair of short spears, their shafts glinting with a cold, blue light and their tips coated with a potent poison.

[Wealth: 210,000 gold → 230,000 gold]

An increase of 20,000 gold.

’Convert.’

Finally, he picked up Zhou Yuan’s pitch-black longsword, its blade long and narrow, its edge gleaming with a cold luster.

[Wealth: 230,000 gold → 250,000 gold]

Another 20,000 gold.

’To think it’s over 20,000,000...’

All in all, the weapons, Soft Armor, and Elixirs had brought Fang Han a total of nearly 220,000 gold, which was 22,000,000 silver in wealth.

’250,000 gold.’

Fang Han’s gaze fell on the number "250,000 gold," and he felt quite satisfied.

He had now reached a quarter of the 1,000,000 gold needed to activate a Level 8 Amplification.

He stood up, lay down on his bed, and prepared to get a good night’s sleep.