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nTranslator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

nThe whole place was silent.

nAt the foot of the mountain, numerous pairs of eyes as sharp as sabers shot through the mist of clouds and landed upon the youth standing at the top of the Thousand Cloud Stairs. The youth was quietly standing in white robes as he held his sword.

nThat youth was drenched in sweat. Despite that, as he held his sword and looked at the scene at the foot of the mountain, he seemed like a king overseeing his territory.

nAt that moment, everyone was frozen on the spot.

nEven An Fan who was the closest person to the peak of the Thousand Cloud Stairs, could only lift his head slightly and look at the youth ahead of him. His cultivation was no match for that youth, nor was his fighting spirit as strong as his.

nAt this moment, that youth seemed to dazzle as bright as the glow of a thousand lights.

nA single youth had defeated more than half the disciples of the Main Path Guild!

nThe youth shone like the brightest star in the sky!

nAt the foot of the mountain, Zhao Zhenshi took a deep breath. He wore an expression of utmost regret. The worst possible outcome had happened.

nThat youth had managed to beat the many fourth-class geniuses of the Main Path Guild, such as An Fan to become the first person to reach the Main Path Mausoleum!

nZhao Zhenshi was extremely disappointed in the Main Path Guild disciples! He was furious at their shameful performance!

nHowever, there was no point in being disappointed. Fang Lang had reached the Main Path Mausoleum. He knew that there was a chance that this might occur. However, his original plan was to use the rules to get rid of Fang Lang. He never expected that Fang Lang would be able to trod all over the rules. Even more, he stepped over the heads of all the Main Path Guild disciples.

nOf course, Zhao Zhenshi saw a terrifying tenacity within Fang Lang. This youth was not like a genius. That was because many geniuses would not have the tenacity to withstand such overwhelming pressures and hurdles like this.

nAt the foot of the mountain, many of the Main Path Guild elders looked sickly green. After all, the disciples that they had trained had become like floorboards as Fang Lang stepped all over them.

n“This kid… how is it possible that he has an endless supply of spiritual sense? Even an earth-level spell master would not be able to maintain such a wanton use of spiritual sense like this kid!”

n“He must have cheated! He definitely cheated!”

n“This kid must have cheated in some unknown manner!”

n…

nSeveral of the Main Path Guild elders began to shout sternly.

nAs soon as they spoke out, the sound of laughter rang out. Huang Zhihe, whom Ni Wen was supporting, was laughing heartily without caring to hold himself back.

n“Cheating?”

n“If you have the ability to, go ahead and get your disciples to cheat as well.”

n“After all, if he was able to ascend to the Main Path Mausoleum by cheating, then it’s the fault of the Main Path Guild for not managing the situation well. Why are you guys such sore losers? Is he cheating just because he managed to beat your disciples?”

n“Fang Lang is Xuanyuan Taihua’s disciple. Is it really that odd for him to defeat your disciples? Xuanyuan Taihua managed to single-handedly defeat your entire guild. Isn’t it understandable for her disciple to defeat all the disciples of your guild?”

nThere was a mocking tone in Huang Zhihe’s elderly voice.

nThe surrounding Main Path Guild elders’ faces instantly turned scarlet.

nZhao Zhenshi’s expression hardened and he did not speak. After all, Huang Zhihe was right. Even if Fang Lang really did cheat, it was still an impressive feat for him to ascend to the Main Path Mausoleum by cheating.

nZhao Zhenshi stared intently at the peak of the cloud stairs, gazing at the white-robed youth among the clouds.

n“It won’t be that easy for him to retrieve the sword.”

n“The disciples of my Main Path Guild are not people who can’t take a loss. This is a rare opportunity for the Main Path Mausoleum to be opened. That means that this is your opportunity to enter the Main Path Mausoleum and take your chance on good luck.”

n“Xuanyuan Taihua has left a sword in our guild. That sword is waiting for a pre-destined person. Why don’t you go ahead and try to retrieve the sword. If you’re able to retrieve the sword, perhaps Xuanyuan Taihua will return. After all, she wouldn’t say anything even if she was fearful,” said Zhao Zhenshi.

nAs the blue-robed disciples on the mountain heard Zhao Zhenshi’s words, they all clasped their fists in acknowledgment.

nHowever, their eyes shone brightly, as though they could understand the hidden meaning in Zhao Zhenshi’s words.

nOf course, they would not be able to get the sword if they tried to retrieve it. Hence, his implicit meaning was…

nHe wanted them to stop Fang Lang from retrieving the sword!?

nAn Fan’s sparkle in his eyes withdrew. He exhaled deeply. His spiritual sense had slowly replenished. He continued to climb up the steps.

nUpon the cloud steps, the disciples who had been frozen in place also began to continue ascending the steps.

nAt the foot of the mountain, all the disciples who had advanced to the upper fourth-realms swiftly set out to climb the mountain. Their speed as they climbed up the mountain was exceedingly fast. It was not long before they reached the peak of the cloud stairs and stepped into the Main Path Mausoleum.

nJust as vice leader Zhao Zhenshi had said, the reason these disciples had entered the Main Path Mausoleum was to prevent Fang Lang from retrieving the sword.

nThe sword that Xuanyuan Taihua had stuck inside the sacred place of the Main Path Guild, making the entire guild feel as though they had a sword stuck in their throats. The disciples were about to stop the person who had come to retrieve this sword, ensuring that he would not be able to succeed.

nTheir previous humiliation would require a huge amount of manpower in order to protect it. It sounded a little ironic so to speak, ‘to protect their humiliation’.

nAt the foot of the mountain, Zhao Zhenshi made no moves. Neither did any of the elders.

nNi Wen and Huang Zhihe stood still as well. Finally, Huang Zhihe and Zhao Zhenshi expressed their spiritual sense. As they clashed, the scent of gunpowder could be smelled in the air.

n…

nFang Lang sat cross-legged at the entrance of the Main Path Mausoleum. He was in no rush to enter it. He merely took out the cultivation resource provided by the System. He started to cultivate spirit crystals. Now that his spiritual sense was largely depleted, he was now in a really good position to absorb spirit crystals and restore his condition.

nAs time slowly flew by, the cloud patterns changed in the sky. Occasionally a cloud would drift past, bringing a cool breeze.

nGroups of blue-robed disciples gathered in twos and threes around Fang Lang, eyeing him from afar.

nAn Fan arrived at the entrance of the mausoleum, looking at Fang Lang with a complicated expression.

nThey did not head to look at all the stone tablets left behind by the past great warriors of the Main Path Guild. Instead, they stared fixedly at the outsider who had managed to defeat the disciples of their guild!

nThey wanted to stop Fang Lang from retrieving the sword.

nFang Lang got up and swept his gaze around him. Everyone who could enter the Main Path Mausoleum was at least a fourth-class realm and above. Apart from the first ten disciples who made it up the cloud stairs, everyone else was an upper fourth-class realm Main Path Guild disciple.

nHence, Fang Lang, with his third-class cultivation realm, was totally out of step with these disciples.

nIf these disciples ganged upon him. Fang Lang feared that he would be killed in a massive brawl before he had the chance to attack.

nDespite this, Fang Lang was very calm.

nIn his eyes, it was as though he did not see the Main Path Guild disciples. There were no blue robes in his sight. He lifted his eyes to look at the forest in the distance where there was a quaint, ancient limestone path.

nUnlike the Thousand Cloud Stairs, this ancient path was covered in crisscrossing marks. It was not carved with runes. It was covered in moss and was about two meters long. Bamboo trees grew on both sides of the path. As the wind blew among them, a soft rustling sound could be heard.

nUnder the gaze of all the surrounding Main Path Guild disciples, Fang Lang returned the Blooming Lotus Sword to its scabbard. With a swing of his white robes, he began to walk on the limestone steps.

nBehind him, dozens of Main Path Guild disciples followed, making rustling sounds as they walked. They did not head to look at the stone tablets, nor did they explore or seek teaching. Instead, they had all fixed their gaze upon Fang Lang.

nIt was quiet on the ancient path. As Fang Lang walked, he felt as though he was walking alone.

nVery quickly, he arrived at the side of the stone path and saw the bamboo grove. There was a hut inside the bamboo grove. Inside the hut, there was a stone tablet.

nThe eaves of the hut spread out like branches, blocking the tablet from view. It seemed like neither rain nor snow would be able to fall upon this stone tablet.

nIt was drizzling on the mountain and the raindrops were as fine as silk as they landed on Fang Lang’s shoulders.

nThe limestone path became a little wet and shiny under the rain. The rain also made it quite slippery.

nNow that he had entered the Main Path Guild, Fang Lang felt a little calmer. He walked to stand before the stone table in the hut.

nThis was the first stone tablet in the Main Path Mausoleum. It was the stone tablet of the founder of the Main Path Guild. The surface of the tablet was incomparably smooth. It was impossible to know how many people have touched it before. Despite this, the scratches on the tablet remained.

nFang Lang stood in front of the stone tablet. His surroundings were quiet and tranquil. The drizzle of rain continued to fall among the bamboo grove as the leaves rustled like a wave. The soft sound of birds chirping could be heard.

nHis gaze fell on the stone tablet. There were no words of tribute on the stone tablet nor were there any inscriptions of poetry.

nThe only thing on the stone tablet was messy scratch marks left behind by the tablet owner as a gift for the later generations. It seemed like the wordless scratch marks carried the explanation of the tablet owner towards spell mastery.

nIf he could solve the problem of the tablet, he would be able to tear away the hazy fog and see the essence left behind in the stone tablet. He might even be able to receive the instructions and teachings in the stone tablet! The present that the predecessor had left behind!

nFang Lang reached his hand out and pressed it on the stone tablet.

nBehind him, all of the Main Path Guild disciples stuck out their heads curiously. They had not expected Fang Lang to attempt to solve a tablet mystery in the Main Path Guild sacred land instead of heading to retrieve the sword.

n“Will he be able to solve the tablet mystery?”

n“This has been left behind by the founder of the Main Path Guild. It contains endless wonders. After all these years, the people who had been able to solve the tablet mystery and obtain the gift have been extremely few in number. In the entirety of the Main Path Guild, there are only a couple of people who have managed this.”

n“The people who can solve the tablet mystery have all become powerful spell masters that were all at least of the forbidden-curse realm!”

nBehind Fang Lang, a group of Main Path Guild disciples crowded together. They were here to follow Zhao Zhenshi’s orders to stop Fang Lang from retrieving the sword. However, since Fang Lang did not head to withdraw the sword, they curiously watched Fang Lang attempt to solve the tablet mystery.

nFang Lang closed his eyes.

nHe could sense a pulling force from within the stone tablet. An immeasurably profound and mysterious rune pattern appeared before Fang Lang. This was the topic of the stone tablet mystery.

nEven after climbing the first 500 steps of the Thousand Cloud Stairs and receiving all the experience from solving the rune with the Double Cultivation Card, all Fang Lang felt when he saw the rune pattern was a headache coming on.

nHe could not understand this topic that the person had come up with.

nHowever, Fang Lang did not release his hand. This was because he could sense a strand of blade energy. The blade energy contained a hint of sword intent. This hint of sword intent caused the Innate Sword Intent Seeds in his spinning energy center to jump slightly.

n“Blade energy, sword intent?”

nFang Lang was stunned. A touch of disbelief and shock appeared in his heart.

nThis was the Main Path Guild. The stone tablet that he was viewing was the final resting place of the past sword masters of the Main Path Guild. Each one of them was sword masters. How could there be sword intent here!?

nFang Lang was deep in thought. The disciples surrounding him cocked their eyebrows and wore mocking expressions. They could see that Fang Lang had not made a move for a long time.

n“He has not managed to trigger any response from the stone tablet. This kid might have studied a little spell mastery but this tablet mystery must be as difficult as ascending into the heavens for him to solve.”

n“Why is he still wasting time here? Why doesn’t he head straight to grab the sword?”

n“Is he planning to make us lower our guard and then sneakily head to retrieve the sword!?”

nThe blue-robed Main Path Guild disciples placed their hands behind them and calmly watched Fang Lang.

nAn Fan frowned. He felt as though the situation was not as simple as it seemed.

nTime went slowly by. The cool breeze gently blew past unceasingly.

nFang Lang stood there for a day and a night. He seemed to be in a different world and was completely immersed in that mystical world.

nThe Main Path Guild disciples around him grew bored and tired of waiting for him. Many of them ran off to enlighten themselves through other stone tablets.

nOf course, a couple of disciples, including An Fan continued to stare intently at Fang Lang.

nHowever, they did not disturb Fang Lang in his process of solving the tablet mystery. This was because the disciples of the Main Path Guild had a strong sense of respect for the people who were solving tablets. This was also a sign of respect for the Main Path Guild predecessor, who was buried under the stone tablet.

nThe fine drizzle of rain continued to fall, washing over the earth. However, the hut of the stone tablet shielded them from the rain.

nFang Lang’s palm was still pressed against the smooth surface of the tablet. He managed to catch that strand of blade energy. There was sword intent in the blade energy that seemed to have a spirit hiding underneath that rune.

nFang Lang used an extremely strong pulling force to draw the blade energy that was hiding behind the rune.

n“Come, come over here.”

nFang Lang waved his hand like he was attempting to draw a small animal to him.

nThe blade energy started to move cautiously towards him.

nSuddenly, that trace of blade energy instantly sped up and zoomed around in an imitation of the rune patterns!

nAfter it had finished copying the entire rune, it speedily flew out towards Fang Lang, like a swallow returning to its nest!

nWhoosh!

nAs soon as Fang Lang touched the blade energy, the tablet mystery seemed to present itself absolutely clear to him in his mind!

nBoom!

nSuddenly, Fang Lang felt the stone tablet began to move. After that, an incomparably pure spiritual sense energy surged out of the stone tablet!

nIt was like a gush of water shot out of a whale as it rolled out and engulfed Fang Lang!

nAmid his daze, Fang Lang seemed to gain an understanding…

nThe blade energy drew near. This blade energy had something to do with the Reincarnating Lotus Sword!

nFang Lang could not help but feel shocked. This blade energy might have been prepared for the person who came to retrieve the sword. In other words, if he did not obtain this blade energy, he would not be able to retrieve the sword!

n…

nThere was an inexplicable silence inside the Main Path Mausoleum.

nThe people who were studying stone tablets were engrossed in their studies. The ones that were keeping an eye on Fang Lang watched him like a hawk.

nIt was like time had frozen still.

nOver the last day and night, Fang Lang appeared as though he had transformed into a statue as he stood there, not even moving a muscle, causing many disciples to lose their patience a long time ago.

nAt the moment, An Fan was the only one left who was still watching Fang Lang.

nEven An Fan’s determination had begun to waver. Was it possible that Fang Lang was merely pretending to be a fool?

nHe rubbed his tired and sore eyes. All of a sudden, An Fan’s movements froze. He felt a burst of water vapor and a gust of cold wind.

nThe winds had started blowing.

nIn the bamboo grove, the bamboo leaves were fluttering because of the winds. The rustling of the winds made a sound that seemed like the ocean waves had appeared in the bamboo grove all of a sudden!

nAn Fan quickly raised his head and stared at Fang Lang. He was met by the sight of Fang Lang seemingly to meld to become one body with the first stone tablet of the Main Path Guild!

nAn Fan narrowed his eyes. He then saw the patterns on that stone tablet seem to fill with a mercury-like spiritual sense. After that, a pure and boundless energy shot straight out of the stone tablet!

n“This…”

n“H-he’s… solved it!?”

n“That’s impossible!”

nAn Fan was shocked out of his mind. However, the image before his eyes looked real. This was because the spiritual sense that was gushing out of the stone tablet was truly the pure spiritual sense that the predecessor left behind. It was a gift for the person who managed to solve the tablet mystery, to help that person cleanse themselves of the impurities on their body!

nAn Fan was not the only one who was surprised. All the Main Path Guild disciples who were attempting to solve tablet mysteries were all spooked and quickly rushed over!

nThey stared with mouth agape at Fang Lang who was caught within the shower of spiritual sense.

nFang Lang took out a spirit crystal and began to absorb the spirit crystals in the midst of the spiritual sense shower, cultivating at the same time!

nBurst after burst of blade energy shot out. Fang Lang’s physical body was being cleansed by spiritual sense, washing away the lead dust. All 360 orifices on his body glowed with light. The blade energy condensed and seeped into his orifices!

nFang Lang began to achieve a breakthrough thanks to the gift from this stone tablet. His sword mastery advanced into the fifth-grade, sword-wave realm!

nThis was only his sword mastery. Fang Lang’s spiritual sense strengthened and fortified unceasingly under the spiritual sense shower. After climbing the Thousand Cloud Stairs, the depleted stores of his spiritual sense were instantly filled to the brim!

nSixth-grade spell advisor, seventh-grade spell advisor…

nHis spell mastery increased by two grades!

nFang Lang’s entire body was covered in bright spots that glowed light stars. Each bright spot contained an extremely powerful and boundless amount of spiritual sense and man!

nThis was the embryonic phantasm form!

nThe ripples gradually calmed down. Fang Lang opened his eyes.

nThe gift from the stone tablet had been extremely advantageous to Fang Lang. It was no wonder that Chao Xiaojian had said that it might be a stroke of good luck awaiting him at the Main Path Mausoleum when he retrieved the sword.

nFang Lang frowned. Perhaps he had been too careless towards this opportunity. This was because he suddenly discovered a terrible secret.

nWas it only this stone tablet with blade energy hidden underneath or… was all the stone tablets in the guild full of concealed blade energy!?

nHe needed to investigate this secret. Perhaps it might have a connection with retrieving the sword.

nHe took a step back and gently shook out his sleeve as he bowed in the direction of the stone tablet.

nAfter that, he turned around to step back on the limestone path, his white robes swaying around him as he walked towards another stone tablet among the rain and the sound of bamboo leaves rustling.

nAfter Fang Lang left quietly, An Fan’s eyes were full of disbelief. He stepped in front of the stone tablet and shakily stretched out his arm.

nSpiritual sense gushed out. Instantly, the scene before his eyes changed. A complicated and beautifully intricate rune pattern appeared. It was so complex that it caused his head to ache!

nAn Fan stared dumbly at the rune. It was a rune topic that seemed as unreal as a dream. It was like a saber that slashed viciously across An Fan’s self-respect and pride, destroying it completely.

nThat fellow had managed to solve such a difficult problem, one that was so hard it made his hair stand on end!?

nAfter a long time… An Fan’s spiritual sense retreated. He seemed to have lost his wit.

nHis cultivation… was it all in vain!?

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