Chapter 524 - 520: Beyond Perfection?

Chapter 524: Chapter 520: Beyond Perfection?

’What is this...?’

Surprise filled Fang Han’s eyes.

His Thousand Mile Soul Lock had reached the Realm of Perfection, so theoretically, it couldn’t be improved any further.

But today, something was different.

He had a gut feeling that his Thousand Mile Soul Lock, despite having reached Perfection, could still be advanced.

’It’s not that there’s a higher level beyond Perfection, but that there’s room for improvement!’

After a moment of thought, Fang Han came to a realization.

The possibility of advancing this Secret Technique, which he had already cultivated to the point of Perfection, didn’t mean there was a realm beyond it.

Instead, it meant the technique itself had room for improvement. Once improved, however, it would no longer be the same Secret Technique.

Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques were all created by those who came before, not born from the heavens and earth.

Since they were man-made, anyone who came after with enough talent and understanding could naturally improve upon them, or even innovate entirely.

The principle wasn’t complicated; he had just never considered improving a Cultivation Technique he had already perfected.

He fell silent for a moment, then mentally ran through the Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill from beginning to end.

Sure enough, this Breath Concealment Secret Technique, which had also reached the Realm of Perfection, now felt like it could be improved as well.

’It’s not just the Secret Techniques.’

Fang Han’s eyes glinted.

All the techniques he currently cultivated—Inner Power, Swordsmanship, Body Techniques, and Horizontal Training—were legacies from the past.

With his current Talent Amplification, if he was willing to put in the painstaking effort, he could likely build upon the foundations of these techniques to create his own, even higher-grade versions.

But the time required would be immense.

Improving a technique was different from simply cultivating it. Every minor change required countless simulations, verifications, and corrections, an incredibly time-consuming process.

It was better to just find and cultivate a High-Grade technique than to spend all that time improving a lower-grade one.

’I don’t need to worry about that for now.’

Fang Han shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside for the time being.

Perhaps a time would come when he would have to improve and create his own techniques, but for now, at the Late Stage of Third Grade, it was far too soon for that.

’There’s one more piece of my haul I haven’t examined yet.’

Fang Han turned, walked back into the cave, and sat cross-legged again on the stone slab. With a thought, he retrieved the azure Gemstone from his Storage Ring.

The Gemstone was about the size of a pendant, shaped like a teardrop, and was a pure, unblemished azure.

A tiny hole at its tip showed that it had once been threaded on a string and worn against the skin.

The moment his fingertip touched the Gemstone’s surface, that strange sensation once again enveloped his entire body.

It was like an invisible veil, slowly and irresistibly closing in from all directions to envelop him completely.

Fang Han closed his eyes, focusing intently on the sensation.

It wasn’t a change in his Inner Qi, his physical body, his Spiritual Perception, or even his five senses.

The sensation was too ethereal. Even when he immersed himself in it completely, he couldn’t pinpoint what it was actually changing.

’What in the world is this?’

Fang Han opened his eyes, his brow furrowed in thought.

He passed the Gemstone back and forth between his hands, then held it up to his eyes, examining it carefully in the light filtering in from the cave mouth.

The inside of the Gemstone was perfectly clear, with no impurities or traces of runes and patterns.

He infused a wisp of Inner Qi into it, but the Gemstone didn’t react.

He pricked his fingertip, let a drop of blood fall onto it, and again, the Gemstone didn’t react.

He pressed the Gemstone to the center of his forehead and tried to probe it with his spiritual power. Still nothing.

’Forget it.’

After spending a great deal of time on it, Fang Han still couldn’t figure out the Gemstone’s purpose. He gave up for now and put it back in his Storage Ring.

He decided he would ask one of the more knowledgeable Elders about it after returning to the Sect.

’This trip to the Treasure Storage in Wangxi County was a complete success.’

Fang Han let out a slow breath. His trip to Wangxi County had concluded perfectly, and his gains had been immense.

He had been away from the Sect for half a month already. It was time to head back.

However, "The Xuanwu True Skill is only a few days from reaching Minor Achievement. There’s no need to rush," Fang Han muttered to himself.

His Xuanwu True Skill was just a few days away from reaching Minor Achievement. He would rather spend that time finishing it than depart immediately.

He made this choice because the journey back to Qingyang County would take over ten days, and there was no telling what dangers he might encounter along the way.

On the way here, for instance, he had been extremely careful but was still targeted by Meng Zhao, which led to a vicious battle.

If his Xuanwu True Skill reached Minor Achievement, his power would soar, and he would gain a defense so formidable that even a Late-stage First Grade Martial Artist would struggle to harm him. His ability to protect himself would be significantly enhanced.

For the next few days, Fang Han decided not to rough it in the cave.

He left the forest and followed the main road for half a day until a city within Wangxi County, named Qingyan City, appeared on the horizon.

Its high walls were built from blocks of blue-gray stone.

He didn’t linger after entering the city. Instead, he went straight to a local broker and rented a private courtyard for one month for the price of 10 silver.

The compound wasn’t large, with a main building of three rooms and two rooms in each of the side wings. Its best feature, however, was an extremely large courtyard paved with blue bricks—more than enough space to practice his Body Techniques and Swordsmanship.

Then, he threw himself into his Cultivation.

He didn’t spend the entire day cultivating the Xuanwu True Skill. He merely doubled his training time, extending it from a little over two hours to six hours.

Body Hardening Techniques were different from other Cultivation Techniques; one couldn’t practice them for too long each day. Otherwise, the excessive rush of qi and blood would damage one’s muscles and bones.

He had understood this principle since he first started practicing Body Hardening Techniques and had never gone against it.

In the afternoon, the setting sun bathed the courtyard in a warm, golden light.

Fang Han stood in the courtyard, his body twisting slightly as he assumed the cultivation stance for the Xuanwu True Skill.

He ate a piece of the Grandmaster Demon jerky, and a majestic Essence of qi and blood exploded within him. He guided it along the pathways of the Xuanwu True Skill, where it surged into his muscles, bones, and skin.

A faint red glow pulsed beneath his skin. Beads of sweat evaporated into white mist the moment they formed, swirling around his body.

Fang Han could clearly feel the barrier to Minor Achievement had become almost paper-thin. At most, he could break through it in another two days.

Just then, a furious roar erupted from the street outside his courtyard walls:

"Zhao Family, you’re courting death!"

It was followed by the sharp clang of weapons, mixed with the chaotic sounds of splintering tables and chairs and shattering pottery.

The ringing of steel grew more intense. There were grunts of pain and agonized screams. Someone slammed a palm strike into the wall, and the force of the blow made even the bricks in Fang Han’s courtyard tremble.

Fang Han’s brow twitched. He tried to ignore the disturbance and continue his Cultivation.

Among the dozens of major powers in Wangxi County, none could dominate the others, and the smaller factions were even more defiant. Drawing blades over the slightest disagreement was a daily occurrence.

Since he had moved in, similar brawls had broken out three times. Clearly, such chaos was the norm in this city.

BANG—

Just as Fang Han tried to resume his Cultivation, the courtyard gate was smashed open.

A figure staggered into the courtyard and collapsed. It was a swarthy man in his thirties with a gash on his left shoulder so deep the bone was visible. Blood had soaked through half his robes.

The saber in his hand was broken in half. It fell to the ground with a sharp CLANG.

...

Fang Han looked down at the man in his courtyard, his frown deepening.

He strode forward, bent down, and lifted the man by the back of his collar. The man’s hundred-plus pounds felt as light as a feather in his grasp.

He took a few steps to the gate and tossed the man out onto the street. The man rolled twice before collapsing, groaning in pain.

The street outside was in utter chaos.

Two groups were locked in a deadly melee, blades flashing and blasts of Qi Force flying wildly. The street vendors had long since fled, leaving behind a mess of broken bowls, shattered baskets, and overturned vegetables.

His Cultivation interrupted, Fang Han’s face was livid. He snatched the Cloud Splitting Sword from where it leaned by the door and, keeping it in its Sword Scabbard, strode down the steps.

A martial master from the Zhao Family was raising his saber to strike the neck of the man on the ground. Before the blade could fall, he felt a numbing impact on his side and was sent flying.

He slammed into the door of the shop across the street and slid to the ground, clutching his side and groaning.

Seeing their companion struck down, two Zhao Family guards abandoned their opponents and lunged at Fang Han.

Fang Han didn’t break his stride. He jabbed with his Sword Scabbard. With two muffled THUDS, both men crumpled, veins bulging on their foreheads, unable to get back up.

He didn’t distinguish between the Zhao and Sun families, nor did he care who started it. Using his scabbard as a blade, he struck everyone in his path.

A swordsman from the Zhao Family slashed at him from the side. Fang Han sidestepped and brought the Sword Scabbard down on the man’s shoulder. With a sharp CRACK of bone, the man screamed and fell to one knee.

A Sun Family guard thrust a spear at his back. Fang Han swept his Sword Scabbard backhandedly, snapping the spear shaft in two. The guard’s entire right arm went limp, his face turning deathly pale.

The street devolved into chaos.

The combatants from both families, their eyes red with bloodlust, finally realized something was wrong. "This one’s tough!" someone yelled, and a few began to retreat into the alleys.

But Fang Han gave them no chance to escape. His figure weaved through the crowd, and with every sweep of his Sword Scabbard, another person fell.

In mere moments, dozens of people lay sprawled across the street.

Some clutched their arms, others their legs, and some were curled into balls. A chorus of groans filled the air.

Fang Han stopped and stood still, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone’s ears:

"If you want to fight, go do it somewhere else. No more fighting on this street."

No one dared to make a sound.

The martial masters and guards on the ground even muffled their groans, their eyes cast downward, not daring to look at him.

Fang Han turned and walked back through his gate. The battered, red-lacquered wooden door swung shut behind him with a dull thud.

The groans from outside gradually faded, and the shuffling of footsteps dispersed deep into the side streets.

Leaning the Cloud Splitting Sword against a porch pillar, Fang Han walked back to the center of the stone-paved courtyard and once again assumed the cultivation stance for the Xuanwu True Skill.

Perhaps it was because he had just vented his frustration, but his mood had lightened considerably. Now, as he cultivated, the circulation of his qi and blood felt even smoother than usual.

The majestic torrent of qi and blood from the Grandmaster Demon jerky, guided by his will, surged along the pathways of the Xuanwu True Skill and poured into his muscles, bones, and skin.