'The mission will inevitably involve casualties, it is inevitable.'
Fang Han whispered silently in his heart.
'But because of this, we need to be more cautious. We must be more cautious when accepting tasks in the future.'
A strong sense of urgency arose from the bottom of my heart.
You must improve your strength as soon as possible and have stronger ability to deal with dangers, so that you can go further on the road of cultivation.
Chen Xuan Elder gave a few more solemn instructions and then announced that the class was dismissed. There was no training explanation as usual today.
In the heavy atmosphere, the disciples left Instruction Hall in silence one after another.
Fang Han and Xiao Chen looked at each other and saw the same solemnity in each other's eyes. They walked side by side, silently until they separated at a fork in the road.
After leaving Instruction Hall, Fang Han did not return to his residence, but went straight in the direction of the Library Pavilion.
His steps were steady, but there was a trace of uncontrollable expectation in his heart.
One thousand five hundred and forty contribution points are enough to exchange for a favorite High Grade Sword Technique, solving his current dilemma of Sword Technique having reached Perfection Realm and having no way forward.
On the bluestone path, more and more disciples were coming and going.
Fang Han was keenly aware that the gazes falling on him were more intensive and complex than ever before.
Whispered discussions were like a gentle breeze, reaching my ears from time to time.
"Look, it's Fang Han!"
"He is the one who was only Beginner stage last year, but is already ranked 95th in General Ranking... that Fang Han?"
"Beginner stage has just turned one year old, right? What a monster..."
"Shh, keep your voice down, I heard that he and senior brother Chu Feng..."
There was wonder, curiosity, and exploration in their eyes. After recognizing him, many people's eyes flickered and they quickly looked away, or they exchanged a tacit look with their companions and quietly distanced themselves.
In the past, Fang Han's name was mostly spread within Zi Courtyard, but now, General Ranking's 95th ranking is like a boulder thrown into the lake, making Fang Han's reputation quickly spread throughout Twelve Courtyards.
Beginner stage is already very rare among the top 100 General Ranking in its second year, but Fang Han is the only one who has achieved this achievement in just one year after Beginner stage has completed its first year.
This in itself is impressive enough.
Coupled with the rumors that Fang Han and Prodigy Ranking True Disciple Chu Feng are not getting along, it adds a touch of sensitivity and danger to this reputation. While Fang Han is attracting attention, it is also regarded by many people as an existence that needs to be kept at a distance.
Fang Han looked calm and seemed oblivious to the gazes and comments around him. His pace did not change at all, and he soon arrived in front of the majestic seven-story ancient pagoda - Library Pavilion.
After checking Identity Jade Token, he stepped straight into the pavilion and did not stop on the first, second or third floor. Instead, he walked along the wooden stairs and walked non-stop towards the stairs leading to the fourth floor.
Compared with the third floor, the environment on the fourth floor is more quiet. The air is filled with the unique ink fragrance of old books and a faint Sandalwood Incense breath that seems to calm the mind.
There are obviously many fewer bookshelves in the building, only seven or eight, arranged on both sides. The arrangement of classics on the bookshelves is far less dense than downstairs. Each book appears to be quite heavy and simple, and is held in a special silk or jade box, demonstrating its extraordinary value.
At the entrance, there is a large rosewood counter.
Behind the counter, sat an old man wearing cyan Elder clothing with golden cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem.
The old man's beard and hair are all white, his face is pale, and his eyes are warm and peaceful. He seems ordinary, but Fang Han's keen spiritual sense can feel that the aura around the old man's body is as deep as the sea, far from comparable to that of Deacon on the third floor.
This is obviously a Elder.
The sect attaches more importance to the High Grade technique than to the Medium Grade technique, so it is no longer Deacon that is being guarded, but Elder.
Above the counter, similar to the one on the third floor, there are two digital volumes.
One cover is dark blue and the other is dark red.
Fang Han speculates that this should be a booklet recording an introduction to High Grade's martial arts and High Grade's exercises.
He walked to the counter, stopped, and saluted respectfully. "I've seen Elder."
The old man in green clothes was closing his eyes to rest. Hearing the sound, he slowly opened his eyes and his eyes fell on Fang Han. A trace of unnoticeable scrutiny passed through his gentle eyes, which then turned into a faint smile and said:
"No need to be polite, which academy are you a disciple of?"
His voice was gentle, with the calmness of an elder, which was completely different from the silence of Deacon on the third floor.
"Reply to Elder, the disciple is the disciple of Zi Courtyard." Fang Han replied.
"Zi Courtyard?"
The hand of the old man in green lining stroking his beard paused slightly, a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes, and he smiled.
"My surname is Mo. You can just call me Elder Mo. There are not many disciples among Zi Courtyard who can make enough contributions to reach the fourth floor. If my prediction is correct, you are the Fang Han who has become famous recently and has become one of the top 100 General Ranking, right?"
"Elder Mo Mingjian is the disciple."
Fang Han responded, his expression still respectful.
"Well, not bad."
Elder Mo nodded slightly, the admiration in his eyes getting stronger.
"Young and promising, this is good material. Are you here this time to exchange for High Grade Internal Qi mental skills or martial arts?"
"Disciple wants to exchange for a wind system High Grade Sword Technique."
Fang Han made it clear why he came.
Now he can consider the High Grade Internal Qi technique which is better than the Medium Grade Internal Qi technique. However, what he needs most now is a High Grade Sword Technique.
"Sword Technique?"
Elder Mo glanced at the dark red book on the counter, pondered for a moment, and said.
"The High Grade martial arts are far more difficult to practice than the middle and lower grades. They have extremely high requirements for comprehension, Internal Qi, and even the understanding of 'momentum'."
"For the disciples who come to choose, I usually recommend choosing relatively easy martial arts."
"But you are different. Beginner stage has already practiced the extremely difficult Wind Splitting Sword Technique Perfection Realm in one year. You are obviously very knowledgeable in Sword Technique. If you choose the relatively easy High Grade Sword Technique, you will not be able to fully utilize your Sword Technique comprehension."
As he spoke, he picked up the dark red book, skillfully turned to one of the pages, and pointed it to Fang Han.
"This sect Sword Technique, named <Wind Shadow Fatal Sword>, is an extremely superior wind system High Grade Sword Technique. It is characterized by its extreme speed and weird stealth. The sword comes out like the wind, disappearing without a trace, and it can kill in an instant."
"Although the training difficulty is higher than the ordinary High Grade Sword Technique, when you practice it to Greater Accomplishment, the sword is as bright as the wind, hard to guard against, and extremely powerful."
Elder Mo continued to introduce with a hint of admiration in his tone.
"What do you think? Are you interested?"
Fang Han listened carefully, and couldn't help but feel something in his heart.
<Wind Shadow Fatal Sword>, the sword comes out like the wind and disappears without a trace. This complements the <Wind Splitting Sword Technique> and <Wind Shadow Step> that he has practiced. It is as if it is tailor-made!
He suppressed the joy in his heart and asked respectfully, "May I ask Elder Mo, how much contribution is needed to redeem this Sword Technique?"
"One thousand one hundred points."
Elder Mo reported a number and looked at Fang Han calmly, waiting for his decision.
Fang Han did not hesitate at all, and immediately offered Identity Jade Token with both hands. "Disciple wants to redeem this door <Wind Shadow Fatal Sword>, thank you Elder."
A trace of surprise flashed in Elder Mo's eyes, as if he didn't expect Fang Han to be so decisive, and then he smiled and said:
"Good! Be brave!"
Elder Mo took the jade token and swiped it on an inkstone-shaped object on the side of the counter. A faint light flashed and the number on the jade token instantly decreased by 1100 points to 440 points.
Then, Elder Mo turned around and walked to the row of bookshelves at the back, and took out a foot-long rosewood box with a faint cloud pattern carved on the lid.
He handed the wooden box to Fang Han and warned, "This is the secret book <Wind Shadow Fatal Sword>. It contains the appendix of the cultivation experience of the seniors of the sect. I hope you practice diligently and don't let down this secret skill. Remember, the secret book cannot be passed on to others and must be returned within half a month."
"Disciple understands, thank you Elder Mo!"
Fang Han took the wooden box solemnly, holding it heavily, and could feel the extraordinaryness of the book inside the box.
"Go ahead, I hope you can practice it soon." Elder Mo waved his hand with a gentle smile on his face.
Fang Han bowed again, held the rosewood box, turned and went downstairs, and left Library Pavilion.
There was no words all the way. When I returned to Room C-7, I closed the door behind my back, and Fang Han's heartbeat accelerated slightly.
He walked to the table and carefully opened the rosewood box.
The box is lined with soft bright yellow satin, and lying quietly on it is a thin booklet with a strange material. The booklet is neither paper nor silk, with cold and tough tentacles. On the cover, five vigorous characters are written in ancient seal script - <Wind Shadow Fatal Sword>!
Fang Han took a deep breath, got rid of distracting thoughts, took out the booklet, and opened it gently.
What comes into view is not lengthy text, but exquisite illustrations of human figures wielding swords, supplemented by concise yet profound annotations.
<Wind Shadow Fatal Sword> is divided into twelve styles. Each style contains a variety of changes. It requires extremely high internal force operation, Body Movement coordination, and even the application of "Wind Momentum". They are interlocking and exquisite.
On the map, the villains have different postures, and the trajectory of the sword moves is mysterious and unpredictable. Sometimes it is like a breeze blowing by without leaving a trace, sometimes it is like a strong wind and rain, with murderous intent.
The small-print annotations next to it are very precise, pointing directly to the essence of Sword Technique, involving the subtle changes in the operation of Internal Qi, the key points of combination with "Wind Momentum", and the key points of cooperation with Body Movement. It is extremely profound.
If you are an ordinary disciple, even if you have practiced Medium Grade Sword Technique to the Perfection Realm, you will probably feel dizzy and difficult to understand when you see this secret book.
But Fang Han is different.
Under the terrifying increase of thirty-two times Sword Art Talent, his understanding reached an incredible state.
Those diagrams and formulas that seemed obscure to others seemed to come alive in his eyes. Every stroke of outline and every comment could be quickly decomposed, combined, and deduced in his mind, turning it into an extremely clear understanding.
Fang Han did not turn the pages of the book very fast, but his eyes were focused, sometimes he paused, his fingertips unconsciously traced in the air, simulating the trajectory of sword moves, and sometimes he closed his eyes and meditated, realizing the truth contained in the formula.
I was completely immersed in the understanding of Sword Technique, forgetting the passage of time.
About an hour later, he finally read and understood the entire secret book carefully from beginning to end, together with the appendices of senior experience at the back.
He slowly closed the booklet, closed his eyes, and went through the diagrams, formulas, and methods of movement of the twelve sword moves in his mind completely, making sure that nothing was missing, and that he had understood and memorized them all.