'Aku benar-benar berhasil masuk sepuluh besar!'
Fang Han perlahan menyarungkan pedangnya. Ekspresinya tenang, tapi suasana hatinya sangat baik. Dia melesat hingga ke peringkat tujuh dalam sekali percobaan.
Ini bahkan lebih tinggi dari yang dia perkirakan. Tidak ada satu pun dari sepuluh besar yang bisa dianggap remeh, jadi berhasil menduduki peringkat tujuh adalah kejutan yang menyenangkan.
Yang terpenting, dia telah mencapai tujuannya. Dengan berhasil masuk sepuluh besar, dia sekarang akan bisa menerima hadiah tambahan.
Awal bulan hampir tiba. Setelah dia menerima hadiah tambahannya, dia akan bisa meningkatkan Bakat Langkahnya menjadi amplifikasi enam belas kali lipat.
Dia berjalan kembali ke kediamannya. Murid-murid yang dilewatinya secara tidak sadar minggir untuk memberinya jalan, menatap kepergiannya dengan ekspresi rumit.
Sementara itu, kabar tentangnya menyebar seperti api, menyapu seluruh Cabang Samping dengan kecepatan yang mencengangkan.
"Kau dengar? Fang Han menantang Prasasti Seni Bela Diri dan menembus sepuluh besar! Dia sekarang di peringkat tujuh!"
"Dia langsung menembus sepuluh besar? Apa itu benar?"
Di kediamannya sendiri, Wang Meng juga mendengar kabar itu dari seorang murid perempuan yang mencoba mengambil hatinya.
"Tujuh?"
Untuk pertama kalinya, ekspresi bingung muncul di wajahnya yang biasanya dingin dan acuh.
Peringkat tujuh...
Pemuda dari keluarga kecil di Kota Liangshui itu, orang yang pernah dia anggap "biasa saja," ternyata telah mencapai titik ini.
Pikirannya tanpa sadar memunculkan gambaran kakaknya, Wang Miao—kakak yang selalu dia kagumi, yang dia jadikan tujuan.
Sebuah pikiran absurd yang tak terkendali muncul: 'Mungkinkah Fang Han... suatu hari nanti masuk Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi, seperti kakakku?'
Tapi dia segera memadamkan pikiran itu begitu muncul.
Dia menggelengkan kepalanya pelan.
'Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi? Itu hanya untuk para jenius paling monster di seluruh Kabupaten Qingyang.'
'Fang Han memang berbakat, tapi untuk mencapai level kakakku... pada akhirnya itu terlalu sulit.'
Dia mengakui bahwa Fang Han sangat berbakat, tapi dia tetap tidak percaya dia bisa masuk Daftar Kebanggaan Surgawi.
Namun, jauh di lubuk hatinya, secuil keraguan yang bahkan dia sendiri tidak mau akui telah dilemparkan seperti batu ke dalam danau, mengirimkan riak-riak samar.
...
「Halaman Sesepuh, Kediaman Chen Xuan.」
Steward Wu Hao melangkah masuk ke halaman dengan ekspresi terkejut dan senang yang tak bisa disembunyikan.
Chen Xuan sedang duduk di meja batu, menikmati secangkir teh wangi yang baru diseduh sambil membaca teks kuno.
Melihat ekspresi Wu Hao, dia meletakkan cangkir tehnya dan bertanya dengan tenang, "Ada apa?"
"Sesepuh, Fang Han... dia baru saja menantang Prasasti Seni Bela Diri," kata Wu Hao, suaranya penuh kegembiraan.
"Oh?" Chen Xuan mengangkat alis, tidak menunjukkan banyak kejutan. "Dan apa peringkatnya?"
"Tujuh! Dia melesat dari peringkat dua puluh empat langsung ke tujuh!" kata Wu Hao, menarik napas dalam-dalam untuk menekankan.
Tangan yang mengelus jenggotnya berhenti, dan kilatan tajam bersinar di matanya.
Bahkan dengan ketenangannya yang biasa, dia tidak bisa tidak tergerak oleh kabar ini.
Melompat tujuh belas peringkat dalam satu bulan, menembus sepuluh besar untuk merebut posisi tujuh...
Tingkat kemajuan ini bahkan lebih besar dari yang dia perkirakan.
"Anak ini... sungguh tidak mengecewakan aku."
Chen Xuan berbicara perlahan, nadanya datar, tapi lengkungan bibirnya yang hampir tak terlihat mengkhianati kepuasan batinnya.
Layak sudah dia menentang True Inheritor Chu Feng demi anak itu.
'Investasi ini,' pikirnya, 'sudah terbukti menguntungkan!'
"Terus awasi dia, tapi jangan terlalu banyak campur tangan. Biarkan dia berkembang secara alami."
Setelah memberi instruksi, Chen Xuan mengambil cangkir tehnya lagi, tatapannya kembali ke teks kuno seolah-olah dia baru saja diberitahu hal sepele.
Tapi Wu Hao tahu bahwa penilaian Sesepuh terhadap Fang Han pasti semakin tinggi.
Dia membungkuk hormat dan mundur dengan tenang.
Di halaman, aroma teh berputar di udara. Tatapan Chen Xuan, bagaimanapun, tidak lagi di halaman bukunya. Itu tertuju ke arah Cabang Samping, dengan sedikit antisipasi yang tak terlihat di matanya.
...
Ada arus kegelisahan halus di Aula Warisan di awal bulan, lebih dari tanggal lima belas.
Ini karena, menurut konvensi, awal bulan bukan hanya hari ceramah dari Sesepuh dan Steward, tapi juga saat pembagian tunjangan bulanan Sekte dan hadiah peringkat Prasasti Seni Bela Diri.
'Ini seperti hari gajian di kehidupan lamaku,' pikirnya. 'Hari di mana seluruh perusahaan gelisah.'
Fang Han melangkah ke aula dan menemukan kursi di dekat depan.
Banyak tatapan, terang-terangan dan halus, jatuh padanya. Alasannya jelas: peringkatnya naik ke tujuh, berarti dia akan menerima bonus Poin Kontribusi bulan ini selain tunjangan dasar.
Ekspresinya tenang dan matanya sedikit tertunduk, seolah-olah dia tidak memperhatikan apa pun.
Xiao Chen menyandarkan tubuhnya, suaranya rendah dan penuh kekaguman.
"Fang Han, kau dengar? Huang Ling'er, yang peringkat tiga itu, menerobos ke Tahap Awal Tingkat Delapan."
'Dia menerobos ke Tahap Awal Tingkat Delapan?'
Fang Han sedikit terkejut. Tatapannya melirik ke arah sosok menawan di kerumunan, dibedakan oleh aksesori rambut kuning.
Huang Ling'er sedang berbisik dan tertawa dengan seorang murid perempuan di sampingnya. Merasakannya dari dekat, Fang Han bisa tahu auranya memang lebih padat dan kuat dari sebelumnya.
Xiao Chen melanjutkan.
"Tapi peringkatnya masih tiga. Yun Qianyue dan Li Feng juga tidak bermalas-malasan; mereka berdua sudah memasuki Tahap Tengah Tingkat Delapan satu demi satu, jadi tiga besar tidak berubah."
Mendengar ini, ekspresi serius melintas di kedalaman mata Fang Han.
'Aku meningkat dengan cepat, tapi yang lain juga, terutama tiga besar.'
'Jika aku ingin mengejar para jenius tingkat atas ini, aku harus terus bekerja keras tanpa sedikit pun rasa puas diri.'
"Diam!"
Steward Wu Hao berdiri di depan aula memegang daftar nama. Suaranya memotong udara dengan jelas, meredam keributan pelan.
Tatapan tajamnya menyapu kerumunan saat dia mengumumkan dengan lantang.
"Sekarang, sesuai peringkat akhir bulan lalu di Prasasti Seni Bela Diri, majulah untuk menerima Poin Kontribusi bulan ini."
Murid-murid di bawah langsung bersemangat. Momen yang mereka tunggu-tunggu telah tiba.
"Peringkat pertama, Yun Qianyue."
Yun Qianyue, ekspresinya dingin dan wajahnya tersembunyi di balik kerudung ungu, melangkah maju perlahan dan menyerahkan Token Identitasnya.
Steward Wu Hao mengambilnya, menggesekkannya di atas perangkat yang menyerupai batu tinta, dan mengembalikannya padanya.
Yun Qianyue menerima Token Giok Identitas yang dikembalikan Steward Wu Hao, memberi anggukan kecil, dan mundur.
"Peringkat kedua, Li Feng."
Li Feng, menggenggam pedang panjangnya, melangkah maju dengan mata dingin dan langkah mantap. Setelah menerima Poin Kontribusi bulanannya, dia juga memberi anggukan kecil dan mundur.
"Peringkat ketiga, Huang Ling'er..."
...
"Peringkat tujuh, Fang Han."
Saat Steward Wu Hao memanggil namanya, sedikit kegemparan melewati aula.
Puluhan mata berputar serempak untuk tertuju pada Fang Han, ekspresi mereka campuran rasa ingin tahu, pengamatan, iri, dan kekhawatiran.
Fang Han tetap tenang saat dia melangkah maju di bawah tatapan kerumunan.
Dia bisa dengan jelas merasakan beberapa tatapan yang sangat tajam datang dari antara murid sepuluh besar.
Shi Meng, peringkat empat, berdiri dengan tangan disilangkan, ekspresi mengamati di wajah kasarnya.
Liu Suifeng, peringkat lima, memiliki mata dingin dan bangga, tapi di balik kebanggaan itu ada sedikit gravitasi.
Api yang biasa di mata Yan Hongyu, peringkat enam, juga diperlunak dengan keseriusan baru.
Kebangkitan Fang Han telah menghancurkan tatanan sepuluh besar yang mapan, berarti persaingan untuk sumber daya di masa depan hanya akan semakin intensif.
Rekan murid ini, yang telah berkembang dengan kecepatan ilahi sejak bergabung, sekarang akan menjadi saingan mereka.
'Aku tidak bisa bersaing. Aku sungguh tidak bisa bersaing!'
Lu Xing, yang dulunya peringkat sepuluh tapi sekarang turun ke sebelas, menyaksikan punggung Fang Han dengan senyum pahit tak berdaya.
Jika Fang Han hanya nyaris masuk sepuluh besar, dia mungkin masih punya kemauan untuk memperebutkan posisinya.
Tapi karena Fang Han melesat sampai ke tujuh, jarak kekuatan mereka sudah jelas. Dia telah benar-benar dan sepenuhnya dikalahkan.
Dia mengalihkan tatapannya ke Ji Hao, yang sekarang memegang posisi sepuluh, dan semangat juang di matanya menyala kembali.
Jika dia ingin kembali ke sepuluh besar, Ji Hao sekarang adalah orang yang harus dia lampaui.
"Bagus. Pertahankan kultivasimu yang rajin, dan waspadalah terhadap kesombongan dan ketidaksabaran."
Saat Steward Wu Hao menggesek Token Giok Identitas Fang Han di perangkat khusus dan mengembalikannya, dia menawarkan beberapa kata dorongan lembut.
"Terima kasih atas bimbinganmu, Steward. Aku akan mengingatnya."
Fang Han menerima Token Giok itu dengan kedua tangan. Menyalurkan seberkas Qi Dalam ke dalamnya, dia melihat angka yang ditampilkan di atasnya berubah menjadi "360."
'Bulan lalu, Poin Kontribusiku mencapai 230 setelah menyelesaikan tugasku, tapi turun ke 220 karena aku menyuruh seseorang menukarkannya dengan satu botol Pil Peiyuan lagi.'
'Tunjangan dasar bulan ini adalah 30 poin, dan hadiah untuk peringkat tujuh adalah 110. Ditambah sisa yang ada, sekarang aku punya total 360 Poin Kontribusi.'
Dia tidak bisa menahan gelombang kegembiraan.
'Jika aku mengonversi Poin Kontribusi ini menjadi sumber daya, itu akan cukup untuk mengumpulkan tael perak yang dibutuhkan untuk membuka Amplifikasi Level 4 untuk Bakat Langkahku.'
Setelah menerima hadiahnya, Fang Han mundur ke kerumunan saat murid-murid lain mengambil giliran mereka.
Setelah semua murid menerima poin mereka, Sesepuh Chen Xuan berjalan masuk perlahan, diikuti oleh berbagai Steward. Ceramah resmi dimulai.
Selama ceramah yang mengikuti, Fang Han bisa dengan jelas merasakan tatapan mereka lebih sering padanya, baik selama bimbingan kultivasi Sesepuh Chen maupun analisis rinci ilmu pedang Steward Liu
’I really made it into the top ten!’
Fang Han slowly sheathed his sword. His expression was calm, but he was in an excellent mood. He had shot all the way up to seventh place in one go.
This was even higher than he had anticipated. No one in the top ten was a pushover, so managing to rank seventh was a pleasant surprise.
Most importantly, he had achieved his goal. By successfully entering the top ten, he would now be able to receive extra rewards.
The beginning of the month was almost here. Once he received his extra reward, he would be able to increase his Stepping Talent to a sixteen-fold amplification.
He headed back to his residence. The disciples he passed subconsciously made way for him, watching him leave with complicated expressions.
Meanwhile, news about him spread like wildfire, sweeping through the entire Sub-Branch at an astonishing speed.
"Did you hear? Fang Han challenged the Martial Arts Stele and broke into the top ten! He’s ranked seventh now!"
"He shot straight into the top ten? Is that for real?"
In her own residence, Wang Meng also heard the news from a female disciple trying to curry favor with her.
"Seventh?"
For the first time, a dazed expression appeared on her usually cool and detached face.
Seventh place...
The young man from that minor family in Liangshui City, the one she had once dismissed as "ordinary," had actually come this far.
Her mind couldn’t help but conjure the image of her brother, Wang Miao—the brother she had always looked up to, the one she saw as her goal.
An absurd, uncontrollable thought surfaced: ’Could Fang Han... possibly rank on the Celestial Pride List in the future, just like my brother?’
But she quickly stamped out the thought as soon as it arose.
She shook her head lightly.
’The Celestial Pride List? That’s reserved for the most monstrously talented prodigies in all of Qingyang County.’
’Fang Han is talented, but for him to reach my brother’s level... it’s ultimately just too difficult.’
She admitted that Fang Han was extremely talented, but she still didn’t believe he could make it onto the Celestial Pride List.
Yet, deep down, a sliver of doubt she refused to even acknowledge had been cast like a stone into a lake, sending out faint ripples.
...
「Elder Courtyard, Chen Xuan’s Residence.」
Steward Wu Hao strode into the courtyard, a look of unconcealable shock and delight on his face.
Chen Xuan was sitting at a stone table, savoring a cup of freshly brewed fragrant tea while perusing an ancient text.
Seeing Wu Hao’s expression, he set down his teacup and asked calmly, "What is it?"
"Elder, Fang Han... he just challenged the Martial Arts Stele," Wu Hao said, his voice laced with excitement.
"Oh?" Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow, showing little surprise. "And what is his rank?"
"Seventh! He shot up from twenty-fourth place straight to seventh!" Wu Hao said, taking a deep breath for emphasis.
The hand stroking his beard paused, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Even with his usual composure, he couldn’t help but be stirred by this news.
To jump seventeen places in a single month, breaking into the top ten to claim the seventh spot...
This rate of progress was even greater than he had anticipated.
"This boy... he truly hasn’t disappointed me."
Chen Xuan spoke slowly, his tone even, but the almost imperceptible curve of his lips betrayed his inner satisfaction.
It had been worth opposing the True Inheritor Chu Feng for the boy’s sake.
’This investment,’ he thought, ’is already proving to be worthwhile!’
"Continue to keep an eye on him, but don’t interfere too much. Just let him develop naturally."
After giving the instruction, Chen Xuan picked up his teacup again, his gaze returning to the ancient text as if he had just been told of some trivial matter.
But Wu Hao knew that the Elder’s estimation of Fang Han had surely risen even higher.
He bowed respectfully and quietly withdrew.
In the courtyard, the fragrance of tea swirled in the air. Chen Xuan’s gaze, however, was no longer on the pages of his book. It was fixed in the direction of the Sub-Branch, a hint of imperceptible anticipation in his eyes.
...
There was a subtle undercurrent of restlessness in the Inheritance Hall at the start of the month, more so than on the fifteenth.
This was because, by convention, the start of the month was not only a day for lectures from the Elders and Stewards, but also the time when the monthly Sect benefits and Martial Arts Stele ranking rewards were distributed.
’It’s like payday in my past life,’ he thought. ’The day when the whole company was on edge.’
Fang Han stepped into the hall and found a seat near the front.
Many gazes, both overt and subtle, fell upon him. The reason was obvious: his rank had risen to seventh, meaning he would receive a Contribution Point bonus this month in addition to the basic benefits.
His expression was placid and his eyes were slightly downcast, as if he hadn’t noticed a thing.
Xiao Chen leaned over, his voice low and tinged with awe.
"Fang Han, have you heard? Huang Ling’er, the one ranked third, broke through to the Early Stage of Eighth Grade."
’She broke through to the Early Stage of Eighth Grade?’
Fang Han was slightly surprised. His gaze flickered toward a charming figure in the crowd, distinguished by a yellow hair accessory.
Huang Ling’er was whispering and laughing with a female disciple beside her. Sensing her closely, Fang Han could tell her aura was indeed more condensed and powerful than before.
Xiao Chen continued.
"But her rank is still third. Yun Qianyue and Li Feng haven’t been slacking either; they’ve both entered the Middle Stage of Eighth Grade one after another, so the top three rankings are unchanged."
Hearing this, a solemn look flashed in the depths of Fang Han’s eyes.
’I’m improving quickly, but so are the others, especially the top three.’
’If I want to catch up to these top-level geniuses, I have to keep working hard without the slightest bit of complacency.’
"Silence!"
Steward Wu Hao stood at the front of the hall holding a roster. His voice cut clearly through the air, quelling the quiet chatter.
His sharp gaze swept over the crowd as he announced loudly.
"Now, according to last month’s final rankings on the Martial Arts Stele, step forward to receive this month’s Contribution Points."
The disciples below instantly perked up. The moment they had been waiting for had arrived.
"First place, Yun Qianyue."
Yun Qianyue, her expression cold and her face hidden by a purple veil, stepped forward slowly and presented her Identity Token.
Steward Wu Hao took it, swiped it over a device resembling an inkstone, and handed it back to her.
Yun Qianyue accepted the Identity Jade Token that Steward Wu Hao returned, gave a slight nod, and stepped back.
"Second place, Li Feng."
Li Feng, clutching his long saber, stepped forward with cold eyes and a steady gait. After receiving his monthly Contribution Points, he too gave a slight nod and retreated.
"Third place, Huang Ling’er..."
...
"Seventh place, Fang Han."
When Steward Wu Hao called out his name, a small stir went through the hall.
Dozens of eyes swiveled in unison to fix upon Fang Han, their expressions a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, envy, and apprehension.
Fang Han remained calm as he strode forward under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
He could clearly feel several particularly sharp gazes coming from among the top-ten disciples.
Shi Meng, ranked fourth, stood with his arms crossed, a scrutinizing look on his rugged face.
Liu Suifeng, ranked fifth, had cold and proud eyes, but beneath that pride was a hint of gravity.
The usual fire in the eyes of Yan Hongyu, ranked sixth, was also tempered with a new solemnity.
Fang Han’s rise had shattered the established order of the top ten, meaning the future competition for resources would only grow more intense.
This fellow disciple, who had progressed at a divine speed since joining, would now be their rival.
’I can’t compete. I really can’t compete!’
Lu Xing, once ranked tenth but now pushed down to eleventh, watched Fang Han’s back with a helpless, bitter smile.
If Fang Han had only just barely scraped into the top ten, he might still have had the will to contend for his spot.
But since Fang Han had shot all the way to seventh, the gap in their strength was obvious. He had been completely and utterly outclassed.
He turned his gaze to Ji Hao, who now held the tenth spot, and the fighting spirit in his eyes rekindled.
If he wanted to get back into the top ten, Ji Hao was now the one he needed to surpass.
"Well done. Keep up your diligent cultivation, and guard against arrogance and impatience."
As Steward Wu Hao swiped Fang Han’s Identity Jade Token on the special device and handed it back, he offered a few words of gentle encouragement.
"Thank you for your guidance, Steward. I will remember it."
Fang Han accepted the Jade Token with both hands. Channeling a wisp of Inner Qi into it, he saw the number displayed on it change to "360."
’Last month, my Contribution Points reached 230 after finishing my tasks, but it dropped to 220 because I had someone exchange for another bottle of Peiyuan Pills.’
’This month’s basic benefit is 30 points, and the reward for seventh place is 110. Added to what was left over, I now have a total of 360 Contribution Points.’
He couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy.
’If I convert these Contribution Points into resources, it’ll be enough to gather the silver taels needed to unlock the Level 4 Amplification for my Stepping Talent.’
After receiving his reward, Fang Han stepped back into the crowd as the other disciples took their turns.
Once all the disciples had received their points, Elder Chen Xuan walked in slowly, followed by the various Stewards. The lecture officially began.
During the lecture that followed, Fang Han could clearly feel their gazes on him more often, both during Elder Chen’s guidance on cultivation and Steward Liu Chong’s detailed analysis of swordsmanship.
When they reached a critical point in their explanation, they would even deliberately slow their speech, their eyes glancing his way as if to confirm he was following along.
This unspoken special attention drew many envious looks from the other disciples.
Fang Han knew full well this was the natural consequence of his increased value. He felt no pride, but instead grew even calmer, focusing intently on absorbing the content of the lecture.
When the lecture ended, the disciples began to disperse.
Fang Han quickened his pace to catch up with Xiao Chen, who was about to leave.
"Xiao Chen."
"Fang Han? What’s up?" Xiao Chen stopped and looked at him, puzzled.
Fang Han hesitated for a moment before getting straight to the point.
"I’d like to ask you for a favor. Could you go to the Pill Hall and exchange for three bottles of True Spirit Pills on my behalf?"
As he spoke, he began to transfer the Contribution Points from his Identity Jade Token to Xiao Chen.
The True Spirit Pill was a supplementary elixir several times more potent than the Peiyuan Pill and an excellent aid for the cultivation of Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists. However, it was also extremely expensive. A single pill cost ten Contribution Points, meaning a bottle of ten cost a hundred.
Xiao Chen was stunned for a moment before realization dawned. He understood Fang Han’s concern; clearly, Fang Han was worried about being deliberately given a hard time again.
He completed the transfer with Fang Han. Staring at the extra three hundred Contribution Points now on his own Jade Token, he couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement and joke,
"Tsk, tsk. Three bottles of True Spirit Pills... that’s three hundred Contribution Points! Fang Han, the perks of being in the top ten really are something else. You’re willing to splurge on elixirs like these just for cultivation? What a big spender!"
Fang Han just smiled, not explaining that he wasn’t exchanging for the True Spirit Pills to use for cultivation, but for another purpose. He only said,
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