Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents
Chapter 230 - 229: Family Crisis
Time trickled by in agonizing slowness. Fang Han held fast to his mental clarity, enduring the "forging" torment brought on by the Vajra Pill.
He could clearly perceive that under the effects of this potent medicinal power, his muscle fibers seemed to be tearing apart and restructuring, becoming far more resilient.
His bone density seemed to be increasing, emitting a faint hum.
His skin grew firmer as well, its defensive capabilities quietly improving.
The entire process lasted for about an hour. When the last trace of scorching medicinal power was absorbed and refined by his body, the faint golden luster on the surface of Fang Han’s skin slowly receded like a tide, returning to normal.
He let out a long, turbid breath, which actually carried a faint, scorching heat.
Slowly, he opened his eyes. A faint golden glint flashed in their depths before vanishing.
He gently moved his arms and legs, and his joints let out a series of crisp pops, like beans crackling in a hot pan.
Feeling the surging Qi and Blood Power within him and the subtly enhanced defense of his skin, a flicker of pleasant surprise flashed in Fang Han’s eyes.
"This Vajra Pill... its effects are incredible!"
After taking just a single pill, he could feel a significant increase in his pure physical strength, and the toughness and resilience of his skin had also clearly improved.
’If I were to take ten, or a hundred, or consumed them long-term... then what the Steward said about "forging a Vajra Indestructible Body" is probably no exaggeration!’
’The treatment of a True Inheritor compared to that of an ordinary disciple is truly worlds apart.’
’With elixirs like the Vajra Pill to build such a solid foundation, it’s no wonder the True Inheritors of the Seven Sects can defeat higher-level opponents as easily as drinking water when they are out in the world.’
...
Liangshui City, in the Fang Family Assembly Hall.
Candlelight flickered, casting the five solemn faces in shifting light and shadow.
Patriarch Fang Lingyuan sat at the head of the table, his brow furrowed with worry.
Seated below him on the left and right were Instructor Elder Fang Yuan, Foreign Affairs Elder Fang Mingde, Guard Elder Fang Tu, and Law Enforcement Elder Fang Zhenshan.
The four core pillars of the Fang Family all wore similarly tight frowns, and the atmosphere in the hall was as oppressive as the deep sea before a storm.
"That is the situation."
Fang Lingyuan finally spoke, his voice tinged with exhaustion and hoarseness, breaking the suffocating silence.
"The silver mine discovered in the mountains north of the city has been preliminarily surveyed. It’s a small-scale mine, but even so, if we could fully excavate it, its value would be... far greater than the sum of all the Fang Family’s current assets."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four Elders as his eyes grew sharp.
"But somehow, news of it leaked and reached the Gong Family, a family with a True Disciple. The Gong Family sent a messenger telling our Fang Family to ’be sensible’ and hand over the mining rights voluntarily, or else..."
The words that followed "or else" were left unsaid, but everyone present understood what they implied.
The Gong Family was the family of Gong Xing, a True Disciple of the Netherworld Pavilion!
The Netherworld Pavilion was one of the Seven Sects, just like the Qingxuan Sect. Its strength was on par with Qingxuan’s, but its methods were far more insidious and ruthless.
Gong Xing himself was a True Disciple with a fearsome reputation.
"This is outrageous! It’s blatant robbery!"
Elder Fang Tu slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair. The hard ironwood groaned under the strain as he roared, his hair and beard practically standing on end with rage.
As the one in charge of the family guards year-round, he possessed a heavy, baleful aura. Now, with his fury ignited, the aura around him roiled restlessly.
"The Gong Family is powerful and has a True Disciple of the Netherworld Pavilion for backing. Our Fang Family... we can’t possibly stand against them."
Law Enforcement Elder Fang Zhenshan sighed, his voice low. "For the Fang Family to clash head-on with the Gong Family at our current strength would be like an egg smashing against a rock."
"Are we just going to hand over this heaven-sent fortune without a fight?"
Fang Tu growled in frustration, his chest heaving.
Foreign Affairs Elder Fang Mingde, who had been silent until now, raised his head. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he spoke slowly.
"Patriarch, Elders, the Gong Family is indeed too powerful for the Fang Family to confront directly. But don’t forget, we are not without our own backing now."
"You mean... Fang Han?" A light flashed in Fang Lingyuan’s eyes.
"Precisely!" Fang Mingde nodded.
However, Instructor Elder Fang Yuan immediately shook his head, his face etched with worry.
"I disagree. Although Fang Han has performed exceptionally at the Qingxuan Sect and is already ranked in the top one hundred on the overall list, his talent notwithstanding, he has only been in the Sect for a short time. It’s not enough for him to contend with the Gong Family’s True Inheritor."
His concern for Fang Han was palpable, and he was unwilling to let him take such a risk.
"Elder Yuan, you’ve misunderstood me. I’m not suggesting that Fang Han should confront the Gong Family’s True Inheritor."
Fang Mingde said, shaking his head.
"Fang Han is now a genius in the top one hundred of the Qingxuan Sect’s overall rankings. With the potential and status he has displayed, he must have gotten to know some True Disciples within the Qingxuan Sect!"
"We could have Fang Han make an introduction and partner with a certain True Inheritor from the Qingxuan Sect to develop this mine."
"At that point, although our Fang Family would have to give up a portion of the profits, it would still be far better than having everything stolen by the Gong Family!"
As soon as he said this, a brilliant light erupted in Fang Lingyuan’s eyes, and his fingers stopped their tapping.
Fang Tu and Fang Zhenshan exchanged a look and nodded slightly, clearly thinking the plan was feasible.
"Elder Mingde’s plan is indeed a viable path. However, to get a Qingxuan Sect True Inheritor to act, the profits we’d have to give up would likely be substantial..."
Fang Yuan mused for a moment, no longer staunchly opposing the idea, and spoke slowly.
"No matter how large a concession we have to make, it’s better than getting nothing at all!"
Fang Mingde’s tone was resolute.
"Besides, if this succeeds, it will allow Fang Han to befriend a True Inheritor, which can only be a boon to his future development in the Sect."
The hall fell silent once more, the only sound the soft CRACKLE of the candle flames.
Fang Lingyuan’s gaze slowly swept over the other three Elders. Seeing that no one else had any objections, he made his decision.
He took a deep breath and said in a solemn voice,
"What Elder Mingde has said is indeed the most viable strategy at present. Elder Fang Yuan."
His gaze turned to Fang Yuan.
"You are the most familiar with Fang Han, so I will have to trouble you to make another trip. Go to the Qingxuan Sect, tell Fang Han the whole story, and hear his opinion. See if he can mediate on our behalf and find an opportunity to cooperate with a Qingxuan Sect True Inheritor."
Fang Yuan stood, cupped his hands, and said with a solemn expression, "Rest assured, Patriarch. I will not fail this mission!"
...
Qingxuan Sect, Villa Number 35, True Inheritance Courtyard.
Inside the Quiet Chamber, sandalwood smoke curled in the air. Fang Han sat cross-legged on a cushion in the Five Hearts Facing Heaven posture.
The Profound Wind Technique circulated rapidly within him. Under the sixty-four-fold Root Bone Talent Amplification, his cultivation efficiency was nothing short of terrifying.
Within the newly opened Tanzhong Acupoint, his Inner Qi had long since filled it to the absolute limit, creating a distinct feeling of swelling to the point of bursting.
As another stream of pure, vast Inner Qi was generated from his circulatory cycle and surged into the acupoint—
BUZZ!
The Tanzhong Acupoint trembled lightly, having reached the absolute limit of its capacity.
The overflowing Inner Qi spontaneously and violently charged toward the next checkpoint—the Zhangmen Acupoint!
BOOM!
The torrent of Inner Qi slammed into an invisible yet incredibly tough barrier, letting out a muffled roar.
The bottleneck to the Late Stage of Sixth Grade!
Fang Han’s mind was as calm as an ancient well. He continued to circulate the Profound Wind Technique, guiding the vast Inner Qi within him to wash against the barrier in stable, continuous waves, like a tireless tide.
Aided by his Root Bone, improved by the Earth Core Stone Milk, and the terrifying sixty-four-fold Root Bone Talent Amplification, this barrier—one that an ordinary Middle Stage of Sixth Grade Martial Artist would need a vast amount of time and resources to even have a chance of breaking—did not seem so unshakeable.
The bottleneck trembled violently, sending out ripples as fine cracks began to spread across its surface.
「Two hours later.」
CRACK!
A clear shattering sound echoed from deep within his body.
The bottleneck to the Late Stage of Sixth Grade was broken!
The vast, long-accumulated Inner Qi instantly crushed all obstructions and, with an unprecedented sense of jubilation, flooded madly into the newly opened Zhangmen Acupoint.
In that instant, the aura around Fang Han’s body skyrocketed!
Including the Zhangmen Acupoint, the twelve opened acupoints now formed a far more complex and vast system for circulating Inner Qi.
The speed and volume of his Inner Qi’s flow increased sharply. Its color deepened to a near-inky cyan, and its texture became as viscous as mercury. The sense of power it generated as it circulated far surpassed that of the Middle Stage of Sixth Grade.
And with the opening of the Zhangmen Acupoint, a new Divine Treasure—"Spiritual Energy"—was also unlocked.
Fang Han felt his mind clear, as if a cool spring had washed through his sea of consciousness. In an instant, his perception and control over his Inner Qi ascended to an entirely new level.
His Inner Qi no longer simply flowed; it was as if it had come to life, becoming incredibly "obedient" and moving as easily as he could move his own limbs.
With a mere flicker of his will, his Inner Qi could travel along the most intricate and complex pathways, flowing freely and smoothly without the slightest hint of sluggishness.
The ’Spiritual Energy’ Divine Treasure made his Inner Qi behave as if it had a spirit of its own, which was an immense help for practicing Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques with complex and esoteric circulation paths.
’I’ve broken through to the Late Stage of Sixth Grade. As I am now...’
Feeling the completely transformed Inner Qi within him and the perfect control he now wielded over it, a powerful confidence surged through Fang Han.
’The True Disciples in the top thirty of the overall rankings have a Cultivation of at least the Late Stage of Sixth Grade. Someone like Senior Brother Luo Yuntian has long since stepped into the Fourth Grade.’
’Before, I was able to rank thirtieth with only a Middle Stage of Sixth Grade Cultivation entirely because my Swordsmanship far surpassed that of an ordinary True Disciple.’
’Now that my Cultivation has also reached the Late Stage of Sixth Grade, putting me on par with an average True Inheritor, I’m confident I can jump a few more places in the rankings!’
Slowly withdrawing his power, Fang Han opened his eyes. A glint of deep cyan light swirled in their depths before fading away.
He gently clenched his fist, his knuckles letting out a soft crackle. Feeling the surging power within, he was in an excellent mood.
...
Outside the majestic gates of the Qingxuan Sect.
Fang Yuan arrived, travel-worn and with unconcealed exhaustion on his face. After traveling for more than a day straight, even an Eighth Grade Martial Artist like him felt the strain.
He straightened his slightly disheveled robes and strode quickly toward the gate.
"Halt! Who goes there, trespassing at the Sect gate?"
A disciple guarding the gate saw Fang Yuan approach and immediately stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword. His eyes were wary, and his tone held a chiding edge.
As one of the Seven Sects, the Qingxuan Sect’s main gate was a restricted area that ordinary people were forbidden to approach.
Fang Yuan quickly stopped, cupped his hands in a respectful salute, and said humbly,
"Greetings, young hero. I am Fang Yuan of the Fang Family from Liangshui City. I have come to visit a member of my family, your fellow disciple Fang Han. I hope you will be so kind as to announce my arrival."
He spoke politely, stating his purpose.
An older disciple, who appeared to be the leader of the guards, looked on with a focused expression. He quickly walked forward and asked,
"Who did you say you wanted to see? Senior Brother Fang Han?"