At dusk, Fang Han locked the courtyard gate as usual and walked along the alley towards the main street.
There were many more guests on the second floor of River-Gazing Tower than usual, and the tables by the window were already full.
The waiter carried a tray and moved among the tables and chairs, the clatter of bowls and chopsticks mingling with laughter and conversation, echoing among the beams and pillars.
Fang Han, as usual, chose a corner seat, ordered a pot of tea and a few side dishes, and then aimlessly cast his gaze out the window.
Restaurants are places where information is most readily available.
For the past month or so, this place has become his channel for learning about the outside world.
Three men dressed as traveling merchants, of varying ages, were sitting at the next table, talking quietly over a plate of peanuts.
One of them had a slightly dark complexion and a hoarse voice from years of travel, and said:
"That Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure the Misty Forest has still not been found, and we don't know when it will be."
Another person picked up a peanut, popped it into their mouth, chewed it twice, and then said:
"Who knows? Over the past month, wave after wave of people have gone in to search, including even grandmaster-level experts, but they all came out empty-handed."
"We can't even find a Grandmaster?"
The third person put down his glass, his tone tinged with surprise.
"Could that news be fake?"
The man with slightly dark skin shook his head:
"The news should be true. Think about it, if it were fake news, it's been over a month now, and no one has come out to say it's a lie."
The third person frowned and said, "We can't even find the methods of a grandmaster."
Fang Han picked up his teacup and listened to their conversation.
He had originally been interested in Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure, but he hadn't set off because he was worried about not having enough strength.
Now that he has mastered the Black Tortoise True Art Proficiency Realm, his combat power is comparable to that of a grandmaster. With fewer worries, his mind has become active again.
If one could find that mid-grade rare and Recharge Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure, whether for personal use or added to the System Panel, one would undoubtedly gain immense benefits.
The conversation at the next table continued.
"I heard that not only grandmasters have gone in, but many of the top young talents are also rushing there."
The man, whose face was slightly dark, lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of mystery.
" Qin Yuan of the Dragon Abyss Pavilion, Lin Qingyin of the Azure Heaven Sect, Chu Jinghong of the Cangwu Sword Sect, and Zhen Feixuan of the Zhen Family... they have all gone to the Misty Forest."
"Did they go join in the fun too?"
The second person paused, his hand still holding the food.
"How old are they? Even if their cultivation is high, can they surpass a Grandmaster? What use would they be if even a Grandmaster couldn't find it?"
The third person interjected:
"That's not how it works. The Prodigy Ranking is also called the Fortune Ranking. Those who make it onto the list are all pretty lucky."
"Especially those like Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong, who can be called top geniuses, their luck is beyond that of ordinary people. They might really be able to find that Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure."
The man with slightly dark skin nodded:
"That's true. Look at those rare and precious materials, how many were discovered through sheer skill? They were all found by people with good Opportunity. Luck is something invisible and intangible, but no one can say it doesn't exist."
The second person downed the remaining wine in his cup in one gulp, then smacked his lips.
"That's true, but then again, it's a Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure. Even if Qin Yuan and his group find it, will they be able to bring it out alive?"
"There's no need to worry about them."
The third person put down his glass, his tone resolute.
" Dragon Abyss Pavilion, Azure Heaven Sect, Cangwu Sword Sect, and the Zhen Family are all Overlord-Level Faction. How could their disciples not have ways to protect themselves when they travel outside?"
Fang Han carefully considered these words in his mind.
Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, Chu Jinghong, Zhen Feixuan... these faces that had been seen at the Martial Arts Tournament had all headed to the Misty Forest.
With the addition of the grandmasters who had already entered the search area, the Misty Forest must now be teeming with powerful individuals.
Given his previous abilities, it would indeed be extremely risky for him to get involved.
But things are different now.
With his Proficiency Realm of the Black Tortoise True Art, his combat power was comparable to that of a Grandmaster. Coupled with his formidable physical defense, he had a considerable chance of winning even against ordinary Grandmasters.
Such strength is enough to make them a contender in the Misty Forest.
More importantly, he did indeed have some understanding of the concept of destiny.
Since he made it onto the Qingyang Prefecture Prodigy Ranking, his luck has improved considerably.
Millennium Ginseng, Ancient Ruins, and secret realms— Opportunity that others could only dream of always seemed to fall into his lap time and time again.
He himself didn't believe it was all a coincidence.
Since those on the Prodigy Ranking do indeed have the blessing of good fortune, then given his ranking, his good fortune should be even stronger than that of most other prodigies.
If that's the case, then there might actually be a chance to obtain that Mid-Grade Heavenly Treasure that even grandmasters can't find.
Fang Han put down his teacup, having already made up his mind.
He didn't stay any longer. He finished his meal, paid the bill, and went downstairs.
The streets were already dotted with lights in the twilight as he strolled leisurely back to his courtyard in the north of the city.
That evening, Fang Han packed his belongings, including several bottles of Danyao, two sets of clothes, a bag of water, and some dry food, all of which he stored in his Storage Ring.
The next day, as dawn broke, Fang Han locked the courtyard gate, left Misty City, took out a map to determine the direction, and used his Body Movement to rush towards the Misty Forest.
As the sun rose higher, it cast his shadow on the road, making it grow shorter and shorter.
Fang Han did not walk too fast, maintaining a pace that allowed him to move quickly without excessively consuming his Internal Qi.
After walking for several hours, the mountains on both sides of the road ahead gradually narrowed, forming a winding canyon.
The dense forest on both sides blocked out the sun, and the originally harsh sunlight suddenly dimmed.
Fang Han was walking forward along the canyon when his steps suddenly paused slightly.
"Buzz--"
According to the perception of < Nether Guide >, two auras are moving rapidly several miles ahead.
They were two Third Grade martial artists, fleeing.
Not far behind these two auras, six other auras were in hot pursuit.
They chased and fled, rushing into the canyon and rapidly approaching this side.
Fang Han frowned slightly.
Given his personality, he naturally didn't want to get involved and chose to stay far away. However, at this moment, both sides of the road were steep mountain walls, and it was too late to go around them.
"Whoosh!"
His gaze swept over a dense thicket of bushes by the roadside, and with a swift movement, he silently slipped into it, simultaneously activating the Concealing Breath Technique Shadowveil.
His aura instantly subsided to its extreme, becoming like a rock or a piece of withered wood, blending into the surrounding environment.
Just as Fang Han had concealed himself, the Break the Wind in front of him grew louder and louder.
Two figures, one after the other, staggered out from the corner of the official road.
Running ahead was a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with delicate features. At this moment, his face was as pale as paper, and a large tear in his left sleeve revealed a bleeding wound underneath.
Half a step behind him was a young woman of similar age, with above-average looks, disheveled long hair, and a trace of dried blood at the corner of her mouth, clearly also injured.
The two men were clearly unsteady on their feet, their breathing heavy like broken bellows, indicating they had obviously run quite a distance.
Before they could catch their breath, the Break the Wind the air caught up from behind.
Six figures dressed in matching outfits quickly passed the two and blocked their way.
"People from the Star-Pattern Sect!"
Fang Han's gaze swept over the robes worn by the six people, and his heart stirred slightly.
The robe was entirely dark blue, with a silver star pattern embroidered on the cuffs, gleaming with a cold luster in the afternoon sunlight.
I'd heard people mention this kind of clothing in the restaurant; it was the attire of the Star-Pattern Sect.
If we're not mistaken, the man and woman being chased are very likely survivors of the Tiger Roar Hall, which was wiped out a few days ago.
"Make your move, leave no survivors!"
The two young people, a man and a woman, looked on in despair. Among the six disciples of the Star-Pattern Sect, the leader waved his hand, and all six moved at the same time.
"Clang, clang, clang--"
Amidst the flashing blades and clashing swords, the two sides were locked in fierce combat, and a brutal battle erupted.
Fang Han remained hidden behind the bushes, calmly observing the unequal battle.
He had no intention of making a move.
The destruction of the Tiger Roar Hall is indeed regrettable, but a force like Star-Pattern Sect, which has several grandmasters, is not one he can afford to provoke at present.
Amidst the fierce battle, bursts of energy shot out in all directions, causing one booming sound after another.
"Boom--"
A burst of energy struck the bush where Fang Han was hiding.
With Fang Han's current strength, it's impossible for him to be injured by such a burst of energy.
However, the bushes he was hiding in were destroyed by the force of the energy, and he was revealed, appearing in both sides' field of vision.
The young woman's gaze fell on Fang Han, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in her eyes for a moment.
She called out to Fang Han almost without pausing, her voice deliberately urgent and flustered:
"Senior brother! Don't worry about us, you should go!"
The woman was clearly trying to shift the blame and make Fang Han share the burden with them.
The woman did indeed achieve her goal.
The six members of the Star-Pattern Sect turned their heads at the same time, their gazes falling on Fang Han, their eyes showing vigilance and wariness.
They clearly believed the woman.
They believed that Fang Han, who was hiding in the bushes, was in cahoots with the two from the Tiger Roar Hall; otherwise, how could they have coincidentally been hiding in the shadows?
"Send two people!"
Two of the six immediately separated and surrounded Fang Han.
They flanked Fang Han from the left and right, blocking his escape route.
With steady steps and refined aura, they all possessed the cultivation Third Grade. Although they could not compare with the top geniuses, they would be enough to enter the top ten of the Prodigy Ranking in an ordinary county.
Fang Han stood amidst the shattered bushes, his brows furrowed. A few leaves clung to the hem of his gray robe, but he showed no signs of injury.
He raised his eyes and glanced at the two Star-Pattern Sect disciples who were approaching him.
He then looked past them and at the two young men and women from the Tiger Roar Hall.
As the Star-Pattern Sect diverted their forces, the young woman staggered backward, searching for a chance to escape.
She secretly glanced at Fang Han, a hint of smugness in her eyes, clearly pleased with her own cleverness.