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nTranslator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

nChao Xiaojian stopped smiling and stared at Fang Lang seriously.

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nA white core… Almost no one in the Sword Guild was a white core as it was practically impossible for a white core to be recruited into the sect.

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nDespite that, a gentle look appeared in Chao Xiaojian’s eyes.

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n‘For a white core to achieve such amazing sword mastery… How remarkable,’ he thought.

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n‘This boy must have sacrificed a lot for his sword mastery. The gods must have shown mercy to this insanely obsessed sword disciple.’

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nChao Xiaojian retracted his hand. As his toe touched the ground, a dense cloud of blade energy appeared around him. Suddenly, his body warped and turned into a beam of light that shot straight into the skies. He vanished.

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n“Go forth and take the risk, young man. If you fail, look for me in the Sword Guild. I can still grant you a position in the outer sect.”

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nChao Xiaojian’s body had vanished but his parting words echoed.

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nTouched, Fang Lang’s eyes glimmered. Chao Xiaojian had seen his core, yet the vice leader was willing to give him a chance.

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nFang Lang bowed respectfully, his heart filled with gratitude.

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nOnly after Chao Xiaojian vanished did Mentor Wen step forward. Fear still lingered in his heart.

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n“I can’t believe you rejected him? Are you really planning to try your luck in the Imperial Examination?”

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nFrowning, Mentor Wen turned to Fang Lang.

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nEven with Chao Xiaojian’s personal invite, Fang Lang still rejected the offer!

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n“With that core of yours, you stand no chance against the geniuses in the Imperial Examination.”

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nMentor Wen knew Fang Lang had an average white core, just like the majority of students in the academies. Being ordinary meant he stood no chance.

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nFang Lang’s achievements in sword mastery had already exceeded Mentor Wen’s expectations.

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nFang Lang nodded. His eyes sparkled with excitement.

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nNo one had faith in his white core.

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n‘I’ll prove them wrong when I defeat a few geniuses in the exam!’ he swore in his heart.

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nNonetheless, Fang Lang still had to contemplate this ‘core’ problem of his—others might become suspicious if his skills improve too quickly.

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nMentor Wen did not reprimand Fang Lang anymore. After all, it was Fang Lang’s decision.

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nJiang Linglong did not bother to give any advice—it was none of her business whether Fang Lang joined the sect.

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nMentor Wen filled them in on some basic information about the three well-established academies. Then, the students were dismissed so they could rest and prepare for the next day.

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nAs for Liu Bubai, he was still recovering from his injuries.

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n…

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nFang Lang returned to his room.

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nHis neighbour, Song Qingyun, had not returned. Fang Lang figured the boy was still out discussing battle strategies.

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nWhen it came to strategies, Mentor Wen was rather lackadaisical.

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nAs Fang Lang closed his room door, his heart filled with excitement and anticipation.

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nFinally, he knew Jiang Linglong’s real name. That mysterious girl was no longer a mystery!

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nSitting cross-legged on his bed, Fang Lang rubbed his fingers over the space ring on his index finger. He willed all the low-grade spirit crystals stored within the space ring to appear.

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nThere were 14 crystals in total—ten were sponsored by his father, Old Fang.

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nFang Lang piled the crystals onto his bed. They would come in handy later.

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nAt that moment, Fang Lang was both excited and anxious. After all, he did not know what colour was her core. All his thoughts and guesses were merely a hypothesis.

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nWhat would he do if Old Jiang actually had no talent?

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nFang Lang was quite nervous, but a moment later, a sharp and determined look appeared in his eyes.

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nHe already made his decision—no point regretting!

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n“System, lock on binding target, Jiang Linglong!”

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nFang Lang took a deep breath.

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n‘Ding! Binding in progress…’

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n‘Target is a second class, eighth-grade sword disciple. Estimated binding completion time: three days.’

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nThe System’s notification popped up.

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nFang Lang was surprised. He was quite dispirited.

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n‘Three days to complete…’ he grumbled in his mind.

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n‘I was so ready for this, what the hell?’

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nHowever, Fang Lang suddenly remembered—the longer the binding process, the stronger the binding partner’s cultivation.

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n‘Ah, this is torture!’ he wailed internally.

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n“System, is there any way to speed things up?” he asked.

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nThree days was too long—the Gathering of Swords would be over by then. It would be too late.

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nAt the same time, Fang Lang was relieved he did not try to bind Chao Xiaojian. With Chao Xiaojian’s cultivation strength, it might take a decade.

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n‘Ding! You have three Grade-Rush Card Fragments. They can be used to shorten the binding time. Would you like to use them?’

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nThe System prompted.

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nFang Lang was stunned. He rejoiced.

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n‘Those Grade-Rush Card Fragments can be used for this too?’ he thought.

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n“Please use them!”

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nFang Lang had three fragments. He still needed two fragments to complete the card, hence they were useless at that moment. There was no reason to hold onto them.

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n‘Ding! Exchange complete. Binding will complete in fifteen minutes. Please hold on.’

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nThe Grade-Rush Card Fragments in his inventory vanished with the System’s notification.

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nFang Lang could afford to wait 15 minutes.

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nSwitching to Ni Wen’s cultivation mode, Fang Lang took some crystals and began to refine and absorb them.

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nHis cluttered mind affected his absorption rate.

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nAfter fifteen minutes, he only managed to absorb half of the low-grade spirit crystal.

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n‘Ding! Binding completed. Binding partner: Jiang Linglong.’

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nFang Lang exhaled deeply. He was brimming with excitement.

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n‘Here it comes! Here it comes!

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n‘Here she comes!’

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n…

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nBinding Partner: Jiang Linglong

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nAge: 15

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nCultivation Discipline: Eighth-Grade Sword Master (Second-Class Sword Mastery)

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nCore: 55 (Gold)

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nCultivation Speed: 15 low-grade spirit crystals

/two hours

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n…

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nJiang Linglong’s stats appeared before his eyes.

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nDespite his expectations, Fang Lang could not stop himself from gasping.

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nA golden core!

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nEighth-grade sword master?

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n‘Is this Jiang Linglong’s true power?’

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nNi Wen had a yellow core of 80, but Jiang Linglong’s had a golden core!

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nBlasphemy!

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nNo wonder Jiang Linglong could become an eighth-grade sword master at such a young age. Of course, she had better access to cultivation resources but to achieve such a feat required a strong core and unimaginable talent.

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nFang Lang made the right bet!

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nThat golden core belonged to him!

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nHe felt the urge to hold his waist and laugh maniacally at the sky.

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nInstead, he went to check his own stats.

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n…

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nHost: Fang Lang

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nCultivation Discipline: Seventh-Grade Sword Disciple

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nLevel: LV2

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nExperience: 2000

/10000

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nCore: 36 (White)

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nCultivation Resource: 5000 gold coins; 30 low-grade spirit crystals (usage limited to cultivation)

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nItems: 3X Amplification Card (1)

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nBinding partner: Ni Wen (50%); Jiang Linglong (50%)

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nSole Passive Ability: Additional rewards may be granted when the host bonds with the binding partner over cultivation.

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n…

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nAlthough Fang Lang’s cultivation speed had greatly improved, it was nothing compared to the eighth-grade sword master, Jiang Linglong.

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n“To absorb fifteen low-grade crystals in two hours… I wonder what that feels like.”

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nFang Lang took a deep breath. His eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity.

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nHe reached out and grabbed a low-grade spirit crystal from his bed. He placed his hand over it and recited the Tang Dynasty’s Sword Scripture in his head, preparing to start absorption.

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nHowever, before he could begin absorbing the crystal, a notification popped up from the System.

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n‘Ding! Congratulations on obtaining a new binding partner. New item rewarded: Randomized Card (3).’

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n‘Oh? A reward! Does this mean I get rewarded every time I obtain a new binding partner?’ Fang Lang wondered.

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nIt was an incredible motivator for him to level up the System and bind to more geniuses.

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nThe System was pretty smart.

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nFang Lang glanced at the item description.

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n‘Randomized Card: One-time use. Upon use, the card transforms into a random action card. Card is more effective when used in the binding partner’s state (effects last for two hours)’

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nThe description was vague, but Fang Lang more or less got the idea.

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n‘That means if I’m lucky, I might get more Amplification Cards. Of course, there’s a chance of getting cards like Grade-Rush too…’ Fang Lang pondered.

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n‘Let’s try one,’ he instructed in his mind.

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n‘Ding! Activating one Randomized Card. The Randomized Card has transformed into an Enlightenment Card. Would you like to use it?’

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nEnlightenment Card?

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nFang Lang raised his brows. ‘No, keep drawing cards.’

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n‘Ding! Activating one Randomized Card. The Randomized Card has transformed into an Enchantment Card (Combat Type).’

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n‘Ding! Activating one Randomized Card. Randomized Card has transformed into a 2X Amplification Card.’

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nHe exhausted all three Randomized Cards.

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nThe lucky draw gave Fang Lang an inexplicable sense of excitement.

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nThe only thing that disappointed him was the 2X Amplification Card. After all, he had used a 3X Amplification Card—2X seemed a little underwhelming.

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nNonetheless, he had the card, might as well use it.

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nIt would work well with Jiang Linglong’s cultivation state.

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n“Switching binding partner to Jiang Linglong. Activate 2X Amplification Card.”

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n‘Ding! Initiating switch. Switching complete. You have obtained 50% of your binding partner’s cultivation inspiration and cultivation speed. With the use of 2X Amplification Card, you have obtained 100% of your binding partner’s cultivation inspiration and cultivation speed. Happy cultivating!’

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nFang Lang grabbed a crystal from his bed.

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nIn front of him sat an elegant and arrogant silhouette—a faint golden glow surrounded the figure. Face-to-face with Fang Lang in the same position, the silhouette’s breathing mirrored his.

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nBoom!

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nA large volume of the spiritual energy in the crystal was instantly absorbed by Fang Lang.

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nThe satisfaction and fulfilment made Fang Lang feel as if he could float!

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nHe absorbed the crystals in a quick rhythm. One after another, waves of spiritual energy entered his body.

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n‘Such incredible speed!’ he exclaimed silently.

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nAn indescribable feeling filled his heart.

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nFang Lang abruptly opened his eyes.

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nAn insane idea popped into his mind.

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nWhat if he used both binding partners at the same time?

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