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nOutside the Spirit Pagoda, Mentor Wen, Headmaster Cui and the other two officials had their eyes fixated inside the tower.

nThey tore their eyes away from Fang Lang and started scanning through each level of the pagoda.

nThe two Ministry of Rites officials had condescending expressions and said mockingly towards Headmaster Cui, “Headmaster Cui, this cohort of students from Luojiang Academy seem rather ordinary. Nanyuan Academy also requested for the Spirit Pagoda.Both academies are of similar standards, they have a genius in their cohort. He reached the sixth level and got his name into the honor roll. Judging from the pace of your students, I don’t think anyone will be able to reach the sixth level,” one official said.

nHe was not being sarcastic—the statement was made solely from their observations and analysis of the situation inside the pagoda.

nHeadmaster Cui answered calmly, “Give them some time. I-I am quite confident of my students’ abilities.”

nBoth officials smiled in return.

nSuddenly, their expressions froze.

nTheir eyes snapped to the spell talisman in their hand—the key to the gates of the Spirit Pagoda. The talisman also functioned as a monitoring device of the spiritual energy absorption rate.

nAt that moment, the talismans were giving out warnings.

n“This…”

nThey quickly turned to look at the Spirit Pagoda. Their eyes paused on the first floor.

nThe warnings originated from the first level.

nWhat happened?

nThe expressions of the two officials changed.

nHeadmaster Cui saw the mass of spiritual energy encircling Fang Lang. He stroked his white beard and said with a smug smile, “Do you need my help?”

n“No… no thanks,” both officials stuttered.

nThey stared at the first level, frowning. They used their spiritual sense to cast the spell talisman for the inner walls of the first level to generate more spiritual energy.

nThe minute they replenished it with more spiritual energy, the whole lot was absorbed by Fang Lang instantly.

nF*ck!

n‘Is he mad?’

nThe bastard was about to exhaust the spiritual energy on the first level, almost crippling the spell.

nIf he was that adept, why did he hide on the first level instead of progressing to the higher floors? Was this all a joke to him?

nThis boy was really something else!

nMentor Wen stared at the Spirit Pagoda and his eyes sparkled with pride. He knew Fang Lang would not disappoint.

nThis was exactly like the time Fang Lang retrieved the sword from the Sword Guild’s demon portal!

n‘He’s maturing! This kid… so crude and ostentatious! He is, without doubt, my protege!’ Wen Ting thought to himself.

n…

nAbsorb!

nKeep absorbing!

nInside the Spirit Pagoda, strong winds blew in the sealed chamber. Whirls of spiritual energy kept rushing towards Fang Lang’s body.

nFang Lang’s body was constantly expanding like a dry sponge in water.

nThe Physical Buff Cards had given Fang Lang another two years of physical training experience after 20 breaths. He was akin to a trained, muscular martial arts master with an incredibly solid foundation.

nAlthough Fang Lang had never trained in martial arts, with the aid of the Physical Buff Cards, three years of physical training were compressed into the span of thirty breaths. Fang Lang had the physique of an eighth-grade martial arts disciple.

nThe spiritual energy on the first floor was surging in violent waves.

nFang Lang lifted his head slightly, calling to the spiritual energy and directing them into his body.

nA notification from the System hovered in front of his vision.

nAbsorbed Spiritual Energy: 15 (low-grade spirit crystal)

nFang Lang grinned happily as he applied the spiritual energy absorption method from the Tang Dynasty’s Sword Scripture. He was absorbing spiritual energy at the rate of two Jiang Linglongs.

nFang Lang absorbed as much as he could—the spiritual energy would never be exhausted within the Spirit Pagoda!

n20, 30, 40 low-grade spirit crystals…

nMerely 15 minutes later, Fang Lang had absorbed the amount of spiritual energy that was equivalent to 40 low-grade spirit crystals, thanks to his starving body and the absorption rate of two Old Jiangs.

nHmm?

nFang Lang frowned when he sensed the presence of a new stream of spiritual energy after draining the entire level’s energy.

nNo matter how hard he tried, there would still be spiritual energy left.

nJust a little bit more!

nHe finally gave up thinking he should leave some spiritual energy on the first level as one should always leave room for something. He had always been kind and considerate.

nTherefore, Fang Lang decided to move on to the second level. He would not need to worry about being affected by the spiritual pressure after completing his physical buff.

nWhen Fang Lang stepped on the ancient wooden stairs that led to the second level, his muscles started to tremble slightly as he started to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy.

nWaves of dense spiritual energy started coming at him!

n“The physical body’s breaking through…” Fang Lang mumbled.

nSnap!

nThe sound of crackling beans sounded inside Fang Lang’s body. His consumption of three Physical Buff Cards and the abundance of spiritual energy allowed him to reach the physical state of a ninth-grade martial arts disciple!

nHis body’s absorption rate was gradually slowing down, but his physical breakthrough instantly recharged it with new absorption power!

nHum…

nThe second level of spiritual pressure pressed down on him!

nThe spiritual pressure in the Spirit Pagoda existed to help the students compress and strengthen the spiritual energy they absorbed, preventing it from being unfunctional.

nThe spiritual pressure was quite substantial at the second level.

nNevertheless, Fang Lang could endure it without much hassle.

nThe spiritual pressure around Fang Lang was lightened.

nMany students were ready to take advantage of the situation.

nWhen Fang Lang reopened his eyes, he was met with many who were sizing him up. He was stunned for a moment before he realized what was going on. He then gave a mysterious smile and continued absorbing the spiritual energy.

nSome of the students were rather stubborn and refused to get closer to Fang Lang. They wanted to rely on their own spiritual energy absorption rate.

nAfter all, those who qualified to enter the Spirit Pagoda were the top fifty students in Luojiang Academy. They had their pride too!

nThey continued to absorb the spiritual energy and swore they would rather die from getting crushed by the spiritual pressure than move closer to Fang Lang!

n…

n“How is he absorbing at such an impressive rate? Doesn’t he have a white core?”

n“Ugh! It angers me! I have a red core and I can’t even keep up with him!”

n“Guys, we’re all from the same academy. There’s no need to be so headstrong. I’m going!” One of the students could not resist the spiritual pressure any longer and inched toward Fang Lang. His absorption of the spiritual energy increased immensely once the spiritual pressure was lifted.

nAll of them were astonished and took the chance to absorb as much as they could.

n‘Wow, this felt great!’

n‘Why should we fight among peers?’

nWe should be advancing together.’

nSoon, most of the students had given up resisting the temptation and turned into the person they once despised.

nThe students gathered around Fang Lang to cultivate, painting a heartwarming scene at the second level of the Spirit Pagoda.

n…

nOutside the Spirit Pagoda, the two officials from the Ministry of Rites watched in horror as the spiritual energy at the second level disappeared at an astounding rate.

n“Something’s wrong!”

n“Indeed, the spiritual energy is depleting too fast. What is that kid doing? He already exhausted the first floor, is he going to do the same for the second floor?”

nFang Lang bore the spiritual pressure all by himself and spared the other students on the second floor from it. His action also caused a sudden surge in their absorption rate.

nThe spiritual energy on the second floor was almost gone!

nOf course, Fang Lang absorbed a significantly larger proportion in comparison to the others.

nInitially, the two officials thought Luojiang Academy would never have an ultimate genius that would reach the sixth level, but the situation had proved them wrong.

nThere was one in Luojiang Academy.

nHowever, he was not what they expected.

nThe official predicted unwillingly, “If he began absorbing the spiritual energy from the fifth level, he may stand a chance to ascend to the sixth. However, he started from the first floor, by the time he reaches the sixth level, he would be saturated with spiritual energy and his body won’t be able to take it.”

nMentor Wen remained silent and suppressed a laugh.

n‘You guys don’t know Fang Lang at all,’ he thought.

n…

nHis body gradually acclimatized to the physique of a ninth-grade martial arts disciple, unable to level up further at the moment.

nFang Lang stood up, attracting the attention of the students around him.

nHe did not say much but turned around to climb up to the third level.

nA dozen students at the second level hesitated before deciding to follow him. All of them walked up the third floor like a swarm of locusts.

nWhen Fang Lang reached the third floor, he sat down cross-legged. His physical body’s breakthrough was complete and there was not much room left for an increase in spiritual energy absorption rate.

nHowever, Fang Lang came fully prepared. He planned to accumulate the spiritual energy to break through the ninth-grade sword disciple and become a sword master!

nHe opened his palm and retrieved a talisman—Flight Sword Crossover Turbo Charge!

nThis was the ace card that Fang Lang had been saving up for the Spirit Pagoda!

nThe combination of martial arts, sword, and spell mastery!

n‘You only get one chance to experience such a miracle event.’ Fang Lang played all his cards out of respect!

nFang Lang used a huge amount of spiritual sense to carefully project the spell talisman above his head!

nThis was one of the spell mastery techniques—Spiritual Sense Matrix!

nFang Lang acquired this skill after the many interactions with Ni Wen.

nEven though he was not that familiar with this rune, it did not stop him from projecting it from the talisman!

nInstantly, there were two blurry runes hovering above Fang Lang’s head!

nThe spiraling runes above his head channeled all of the spiritual energy on the third level and blasted it like a nitrogen rocket onto Fang Lang who was seated below!

nIt seemed like… a showering method of spiritual energy absorption!

nFang Lang felt refreshed after being blasted by spiritual energy.

nFang Lang dared to use his body as a flight sword because the Physical Buff Cards had strengthened the tolerance of his meridians significantly.

nEven so, every inch of Fang Lang’s skin glowed red like hot iron due to the impact of the spiritual energy!

nHis body continued to absorb the spiritual energy internally while he bathed in it.

nThe students gaped at him in shock!

n‘Is he crazy?’

n‘Does he want to kill himself? Using the runes like that!’

n‘A madman or genius?’

nEveryone was astounded by Fang Lang’s madness.

nAt the rate Fang Lang was absorbing, the spiritual energy on the third level was nearly emptied out…

nHe did not hesitate and headed to the fourth floor with the runes on his head!

nMost of the students wanted to follow him but their bodies could not take anymore.

nThey had no choice but to stay put.

nCultivation was not an easy task.

nWhen Fang Lang stepped onto the fourth floor, he was met with Liu Bubai who was concentrating on absorbing the spiritual energy at a far corner, striking at the sword master’s boundary over and over again.

nNi Wen sensed his presence, opened her eyes and looked over curiously.

nFang Lang smiled at her.

nHe manipulated the runes above his head with his spiritual sense. Instantly, the spiritual energy on the fourth floor came charging towards his runes, repeating the phenomenon that happened on level three.

nThe cyclone in Fang Lang’s energy center spun rapidly, the attainment of spiritual energy required to max out the ninth-grade sword mastery was complete.

nFinally, he could graze the shackle of a sword master!

nFang Lang opened his eyes and grinned from ear to ear as he bathed in the torrents of spiritual energy.

nThis was the moment he was waiting for!

n“System, activate the Grade-Rush Card!”

n‘Ding! Grade-Rush Card activated. Have fun at grade-rushing.’ The System’s notification popped up.

nFang Lang stood straight on the fourth level.

nThe moment the Grade-Rush card was activated, Fang Lang could feel as if the bubble in his energy center ruptured. He felt a warm surge of energy spread from the energy center, flowing into every part of his body.

nThe faint outline of a Spirit Suit slowly appeared.

nSecond-class sword master…

nSword master realm, attained!

nThe second Fang Lang broke through, the immense spiritual pressure on the fourth floor came crashing onto Fang Lang!

nLiu Bubai who was cultivating at a far corner felt the sudden relief on his shoulders.

nThe lightening weight led him to open his eyes.

nWhen his eyes were half opened… he realized something was not right!

nLiu Bubai regained his senses and widened his eyes instantly!

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