I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely-Chapter 63: Inner Sect Opponent

This was the enhancement from his one-star Shield Talent.

Previously, he had extrapolated the combat effectiveness of an Upper Grade Magical Artifact, enhanced by his one-star Combat Talent, by using the difference between Lower and Middle Grade Magical Artifacts as a baseline.

The actual result proved to be somewhat different from what he’d deduced.

He had overestimated the enhancement his one-star Combat Talent provided to an Upper Grade Magical Artifact.

The reason was the greater diminishing returns when moving from a Middle Grade to an Upper Grade Magical Artifact. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Junior Brother Fang is already using an Upper Grade Magical Artifact."

"Controlling an Upper Grade Magical Artifact is much more difficult than a Middle Grade one. This is the perfect time to exploit a weakness in Junior Brother Fang’s defense."

Fang Yun’s defense was impenetrable when he used a Middle Grade Magical Artifact, but he might not be able to maintain that with an Upper Grade one.

"Huh... Junior Brother Fang switched back to his Middle Grade Magical Artifact."

"See? I was right. Junior Brother Fang can’t control an Upper Grade Magical Artifact and maintain his impenetrable defense at the same time."

In the eyes of the other disciples, Fang Yun’s actions were a clear sign that he was unskilled with the Upper Grade Magical Artifact and struggled with its increased difficulty.

"Oh, Junior Brother Fang is having a Magical Combat match."

The Magical Combat match was already halfway done when Nan Qiuchun arrived at Battle Peak. She immediately noticed Fang Yun on Dueling Platform Six.

She remembered what Fang Yun had promised her in the Disciple Marketplace a few days ago.

Today, that promise could be fulfilled.

Nan Qiuchun approached the Dueling Platform. She watched as Fang Yun, under a torrential storm of attacks, didn’t move his feet an inch. He simply stood his ground, maintaining a flawless defense with no openings.

His reputation for having an invincible defense against those in the same Realm was well-earned.

"I’ve lost."

With little Spiritual Power left in his Qi Sea, the defeated disciple was already reviewing the Magical Combat match in his mind, wondering where his attacks had fallen short and what he needed to improve.

After Fang Yun returned the bow, the Magical Combat match officially came to an end.

At that very moment, two Sect Disciples stepped onto the Dueling Platform at the same time. One was a man at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and the other was a woman at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Below the Dueling Platform, all eyes turned to Fang Yun, including those of his most recent opponent.

They were curious to see what he would do.

A situation like this—two challengers stepping onto the Dueling Platform at once—had happened before. Back then, however, both challengers were at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, so it didn’t matter whom he chose.

But this time was completely different.

"Please," Fang Yun said, making his choice without hesitation.

He chose the Inner Sect Senior Sister at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. This was Nan Qiuchun, the one who had sold him the Upper Grade Profound Iron ore in the Disciple Marketplace. Even if she had been a little slower to step onto the platform, Fang Yun would have chosen her as per their agreement.

Seeing Fang Yun’s gesture, the Outer Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer had no choice but to step down from the Dueling Platform.

He’d thought there was a much higher chance Fang Yun would pick him, but instead, he’d chosen the Inner Sect Senior Sister.

"Damn it! Junior Sister Nan beat me to it," an annoyed male Inner Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer muttered. "If I’d known, I would’ve gone up myself. I’m definitely faster than her."

He could no longer be the first person to break Fang Yun’s defense.

The breakthrough from the Sixth to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining marks the transition from the middle to the late stage of the Realm. Therefore, the gap in power between the Sixth and Seventh Layers is much greater than the gap between the Fifth and Sixth.

Just because disciples at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer couldn’t break Fang Yun’s defense when he was at the Fifth Layer, it didn’t mean a disciple at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer—a full level higher—couldn’t do it now that he was at the Sixth Layer.

Being the first to break Fang Yun’s defense was equivalent to claiming his "first blood," which was one of the main reasons so many disciples wanted to have a Magical Combat match with him.

Of course, there was no honor in doing so if the difference in their Realms was too great.

Given Fang Yun’s current reputation, a one-level difference was considered the perfect margin.

"Knowing Junior Brother Fang’s temperament, we’ll get another chance."

"Mhm, I’m ready."

"I can’t believe Junior Brother Fang chose an Inner Sect Senior Sister. Looks like we won’t get a chance anymore."

"Even if you got the chance, you think you could break Senior Brother Fang’s defense?"

Some of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer disciples who admired Fang Yun had already started respectfully calling him Senior Brother Fang.

Hearing the crowd’s strong reaction to his choice, Fang Yun offered a brief explanation. "Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, I had a prior arrangement with Senior Sister Nan."

"So, Senior Brother Liu," Nan Qiuchun added, addressing the annoyed senior brother who wasn’t far from her below the stage, "it wouldn’t have mattered even if you were faster than me this round."

"Oh, so that’s how it is... In that case, Junior Brother Fang, what about the next match?" Senior Brother Liu immediately seized the opportunity to ask.

"Of course. It’ll still come down to who gets on the platform fastest."

"Hahaha! That’s what I was waiting to hear!"

Fang Yun’s statement also made it clear that, prior agreement or not, he wouldn’t refuse a Magical Combat match against an Inner Sect Disciple at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

「Not long after.」

After completing the formalities, Fang Yun and Nan Qiuchun stepped onto a Dueling Platform once again.

However, this time it was a different platform.

Before, it was Dueling Platform Six; now, it was Dueling Platform Three.

The Steward assigned Dueling Platforms based on the combatants.

Dueling Platform Three was normally reserved for matches between two Inner Sect Disciples. In a case like this, with one Inner and one Outer Sect Disciple, the assignment was typically based on the rank of the Inner Sect Disciple.

"Fang Yun, Qi Refining Sixth Layer."

"Nan Qiuchun, Qi Refining Seventh Layer."

This was Fang Yun’s first opponent from the late stage of Qi Refining.

’I wonder how many Talent Points I’ll get for defeating an opponent like this.’

Nan Qiuchun didn’t attack immediately. Instead, she looked at the Middle Grade Magical Artifact in Fang Yun’s hands and offered a piece of advice. "Junior Brother Fang, I think you should use your Upper Grade Magical Artifact."

"Let’s test the waters first, Senior Sister Nan."

The Middle Grade Profound Iron Shield in his hands was the third one he had refined. It was quite different from the first.

He had tailored its Refining to his specific needs, making it the most suitable Middle Grade Magical Artifact for him.

Since he was always on the defensive during his Magical Combat matches, he had accumulated a great deal of experience in this area.

The Upper Grade Magical Artifact was stronger, but this Middle Grade one felt more natural in his hands.

"Fine, then I’ll test it out!"

As Nan Qiuchun nodded, she slapped the Storage Pouch at her waist, and a red, oil-paper umbrella appeared in her hand.

One glance was all it took for Fang Yun to identify the red umbrella as an Upper Grade Magical Artifact.

This was the basic level of discernment required to be an Artifact Refiner.

One should be able to determine the grade of a Magical Artifact at a single glance.

Nan Qiuchun raised her hand, and the red umbrella floated above her head. In the next instant, it unfurled. The inside of the umbrella aimed at Fang Yun and shot out a volley of fine, flaming needles.

PING PING PING—

A melodious sound rang out as sparks flew from Fang Yun’s Profound Iron Shield.

"Junior Brother Fang, that Middle Grade Magical Artifact you refined is certainly something special. Now, try this."

This was merely a probing attack from Nan Qiuchun; she had yet to unleash the full power of her Upper Grade Magical Artifact.

She would feel embarrassed as a Senior Sister to use her full strength right from the start against an Outer Sect Disciple who was a whole level beneath her.