Sebelum fajar keesokan harinya, Fang Han sudah meninggalkan perkemahan. Kabut pagi menyelimuti hutan pegunungan yang luas. Sosoknya, seringan asap, meliuk di antara pepohonan kuno dan bebatuan tajam. Ia mengerahkan Teknik Hidung Roh hingga batas maksimal, dan aura segala sesuatu dalam radius beberapa mil membanjiri indranya.
Jumlah iblis hari ini lebih banyak daripada kemarin. Beberapa aura terasa jauh lebih kuat daripada iblis terkuat yang ia temui sebelumnya. Meskipun menilai kekuatan hanya dari aura tidak selalu akurat, itu cukup untuk memberitahunya bahwa iblis-iblis ini tidak diragukan lagi sangat kuat.
SWOOSH!
Mata Fang Han menyipit, namun ia tidak menunjukkan rasa takut. Ia menekan auranya dan melesat menuju aura terkuat yang bisa ia rasakan. Itu adalah sebuah lembah tersembunyi, tempat iblis yang menyerupai kadal raksasa membuat sarang.
Ukurannya hampir dua kali lipat dari yang ia lawan kemarin, tubuhnya tertutup sisik merah gelap. Sesekali, ia mengembuskan napas yang menyengat. Fang Han menyerang tanpa ragu, melancarkan serangan mematikan.
Setelah bertarung selama lebih dari tiga puluh jurus, Fang Han menggunakan setiap teknik yang ia miliki selain kekuatan fisik 100.000 pon miliknya, akhirnya membunuhnya dengan pedang yang menghujam rongga matanya.
"Simpan."
[Kekayaan: 65.020.000 tael perak → 65.670.000 tael perak]
Kekayaannya meningkat 650.000 tael perak. Ini membuktikan iblis itu lebih kuat dari yang ia hadapi kemarin—atau setidaknya, bagian tubuhnya lebih berharga. Tanpa jeda, ia berangkat lagi, melesat menuju target berikutnya.
Satu, dua, tiga...
Fang Han adalah pemburu yang tak kenal lelah, melintasi hutan pegunungan. Setiap kali ia berhenti, iblis lain tumbang oleh Pedang Pemecah Awan miliknya. Dalam setengah hari, ia telah membantai dua belas iblis dari Tiga Tingkat Menengah.
[Kekayaan: 70.000.000 tael perak]
'Tujuh puluh juta.'
Fang Han berdiri di punggung gunung, terengah-engah. Kekayaannya meningkat 5.000.000 tael perak menjadi total 70.000.000. Ia kini hanya berjarak 30.000.000 tael perak dari target seratus juta. Ia mungkin bisa mengumpulkan seratus juta penuh sebelum perjalanan berburu iblis ini berakhir dan mengaktifkan Amplifikasi Bakat Level 8.
Ia sangat ingin terus berburu. 'Tidak, aku tidak boleh terburu-buru. Hal terpenting sekarang adalah memulihkan Qi Dalam yang terkuras.' Ia telah menghabiskan hampir tujuh puluh persen Qi Dalamnya.
Fang Han memindai sekeliling. Setelah memastikan aman, ia menemukan gua tersembunyi, duduk bersila, dan mengonsumsi dua Pil Roh Sejati. Eliksir itu larut di perutnya, berubah menjadi Kekuatan Obat lembut yang mengalir melalui meridiannya. Ia memejamkan mata dan fokus, perlahan mengedarkan Teknik Angin Mendalam untuk memandu Kekuatan Obat dan mengubahnya menjadi Qi Dalam.
Sekitar satu jam kemudian, ia membuka mata, kilatan tajam terpancar di dalamnya. Qi Dalamnya telah pulih. 'Waktunya lanjut.' Ia berdiri dan melesat keluar dari gua.
...
Matahari sore menyaring melalui lapisan dedaunan, melemparkan cahaya dan bayangan di hutan. Saat Fang Han bergerak melalui pepohonan, ia tiba-tiba berhenti. Beberapa ratus yard di depan, cahaya terang bersinar melalui pepohonan.
Ia mengikuti cahaya itu, melewati semak belukar yang lebat, dan pemandangan di depannya tiba-tiba terbuka. Itu adalah sebuah kolam di tengah hutan. Kolam itu berukuran lebih dari tiga puluh yard persegi, permukaannya setenang cermin, memantulkan pepohonan kuno yang rimbun dan sepetak langit biru di atasnya.
Tatapannya jatuh ke tengah kolam. Di sana, sekuntum bunga lotus mekar dengan tenang. Batangnya hijau cerah, setebal ibu jari. Hanya dua daun melingkar sempurna yang mengapung di air. Namun, yang paling menarik perhatian adalah bunganya yang mekar penuh. Kelopaknya tersusun dalam sembilan lapisan yang tumpang tindih. Setiap kelopak berwarna emas murni, berkilauan di bawah sinar matahari seolah ditempa dari emas batangan terbaik.
Di jantungnya terletak satu biji kuning keemasan yang montok. Itu tampak seperti matahari mini, mengandung energi yang luas dan murni.
'Lotus Api Emas Suci...'
Pupil Fang Han sedikit mengecil saat catatan dari arsip Sekte melintas di benaknya. Ini adalah salah satu Benda Surgawi dan Harta Karun Bumi, objek yang sangat langka. Lotus ini mekar dengan sembilan kelopak, masing-masing seperti api, memberinya nama Lotus Api Emas Suci. Tujuannya adalah untuk meningkatkan Bakat Body Hardening seseorang.
'Tenang!'
Fang Han menarik napas dalam-dalam, menekan kegembiraannya saat tatapannya menjadi waspada. 'Benda Surgawi dan Harta Karun Bumi sekaliber ini pasti dijaga oleh iblis.' Ia mengerahkan Teknik Hidung Roh hingga batasnya, dengan hati-hati merasakan aura di sekitar kolam. Namun, anehnya, tidak ada jejak aura iblis dalam radius beberapa ratus yard dari kolam.
Fang Han mengerutkan kening. 'Ini terlalu aneh. Mungkinkah Lotus Api Emas Suci ini benar-benar tidak dijaga?'
Ia merenung sejenak, lalu perlahan mendekati kolam. Langkahnya ringan dan tanpa suara. Ia mengedarkan Teknik Rahasia Penyembunyian Napas dengan kekuatan penuh, menekan auranya hingga batas minimum.
Satu langkah, dua langkah, tiga langkah...
Ia mencapai tepi kolam, tatapannya masih waspada memindai permukaan air. Permukaan air setenang cermin, memantulkan sosoknya. Saat ia bersiap menggunakan Teknik Tubuh untuk berjalan di atas air dan menyambar Lotus Api Emas Suci—
—bencana melanda!
Bayangan hitam besar meletus dari kedalaman! Kecepatannya mencengangkan, hampir terlalu cepat untuk diikuti mata. Permukaan kolam meledak. Air menyembur ke mana-mana saat bentuk hitam setebal tong melesat ke arah Fang Han, membawa bau busuk dan kekuatan yang luar biasa.
Setiap helai rambut di tubuh Fang Han berdiri. Secara naluriah, ia langsung mengaktifkan Wind and Cloud Escape dengan kekuatan maksimal. Tubuhnya menjadi gumpalan asap, melayang mundur beberapa yard.
BOOM—!
Bayangan hitam itu meleset dari targetnya, menghantam dengan ganas ke tempat Fang Han berdiri tadi. Tanah bergetar dan mengirimkan pecahan batu terbang, meninggalkan kawah dalam di belakangnya.
Fang Han menstabilkan diri, tatapannya jatuh pada bayangan hitam itu. Itu adalah ular raksasa. Tubuh ular itu setebal tong air dan panjangnya lebih dari seratus kaki. Ia tertutup sisik hitam pekat, masing-masing seukuran telapak tangan manusia, semuanya berkilauan dengan cahaya dingin dan gelap. Kepalanya berbentuk segitiga, dan pupil vertikalnya berwarna emas gelap yang aneh. Mereka memantulkan sosok Fang Han, dipenuhi dengan kebrutalan dan kebencian yang tidak disembunyikan.
Namun yang paling mengejutkan adalah auranya—dingin, kejam, dan memancarkan tekanan menyesakkan yang membuat jantung berdebar kencang. Itu terasa lebih berbahaya daripada Macan Tutul Bayangan yang ia hadapi.
'Aku hampir terjebak dalam penyergapan itu!'
Ular raksasa itu menjulurkan lidahnya dan mengeluarkan desisan tajam. Tubuhnya yang besar melingkar sejenak sebelum menerjang lagi seperti panah yang dilepaskan dari busur. Kecepatannya mencengangkan.
Mata Fang Han menyipit. Mendorong Wind and Cloud Escape hingga batasnya, tubuhnya menjadi gumpalan asap, melayang ke samping dengan selisih rambut. Pada saat yang sama, Pedang Pemecah Awan miliknya keluar dari sarungnya. Qi Pedang cyan yang terkondensasi merobek udara, menebas bagian tengah tubuh ular itu.
CLANG—!
Qi Pedang menghantam tubuh ular itu, tetapi menghasilkan dentang keras, seolah logam menghantam logam. Sisik hitam pekatnya sangat tangguh. Qi Pedang hanya meninggalkan bekas putih dangkal, bahkan gagal menembus kulit.
Ular raksasa itu, kesakitan, mengeluarkan desisan marah saat ekornya yang panjang dan tebal mencambuk ke arahnya seperti cambuk baja. Fang Han mengetukkan jari kakinya ke tanah, meluncurkan dirinya beberapa yard ke udara untuk menghindari serangan itu.
BOOM—!
Ekor ular itu menghantam beberapa pohon kuno yang sangat tebal. Pohon-pohon itu patah saat terkena dampak, mengirimkan serpihan kayu terbang saat mereka jatuh ke tanah.
Fang Han mengubah arah di udara dan menebas lagi dengan Pedang Pemecah Awan. Kali ini, ia memasukkan serangan itu dengan Momentum Pedang dari Sembilan Pedang Pembelah Langit tahap Keberhasilan Besar miliknya. Cahaya pedang mengembun menjadi satu benang cyan yang merobek udara dengan jeritan tajam sebelum menghantam ular itu dengan ganas.
SQUELCH—!
Kali ini, bilah pedang menembus sisik dan mengiris daging. Darah segar memercik. Ular raksasa itu mengeluarkan jeritan tajam. Tubuhnya yang besar menggeliat hebat, ekornya mencambuk liar dan menghancurkan segala sesuatu di jalurnya.
'Ini bahkan lebih menakutkan daripada Macan Tutul Bayangan!'
Fang Han mendarat beberapa yard jauhnya, terengah-engah. Ular itu bahkan lebih kuat dari yang ia antisipasi. Ia juga harus berhati-hati agar pertempuran mereka tidak merusak Lotus Api Emas Suci. Jika lotus itu hancur, membunuh ular itu akan menjadi kemenangan yang sia-sia. Selain itu, ia tidak mahir bertarung di air.
'Aku harus memancingnya menjauh dari kolam.'
Dengan rencana yang terbentuk dalam sekejap, sosok Fang Han berkedip dan ia mulai mundur. Saat ia bergerak, ia mengirimkan Qi Pedang santai yang terbang, meninggalkan luka putih lain di tubuh ular itu. Benar-benar marah, ular raksasa itu melesat ke depan, mengejar Fang Han menjauh dari kolam.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE—
Begitu mereka berada pada jarak yang aman dari kolam, Fang Han berhenti berlari dan berbalik menghadapi ular itu. Manusia dan ular memulai perjuangan hidup dan mati yang sengit jauh dari tepi air. Kekuatan ular raksasa itu mencengangkan, sisiknya tangguh, dan kecepatannya sangat memukau.
Fang Han mendorong Wind and Cloud Escape hingga batas absolut, sosoknya berkedip tak terduga saat ia menenun melalui rentetan serangan. Setiap tebasan Pedang Pemecah Awan miliknya menambahkan luka lain pada tubuh ular itu.
Tiga puluh jurus. Lima puluh jurus. Delapan puluh jurus. Seratus jurus.
Setelah lebih dari seratus pertukaran, ular raksasa itu tertutup luka, sisik gelapnya licin oleh darah. Namun sebagai iblis, vitalitasnya jauh lebih besar daripada manusia, dan ia menolak untuk mati. Fang Han bersiap untuk melanjutkan pertempuran atrisi dan perlahan menggiling ular raksasa itu hingga tumbang.
Saat itu juga, indra kuat dari Teknik Hidung Roh tahap Keberhasilan Besar miliknya mendeteksi aura kuat yang mendekat dengan cepat.
Before dawn the next day, Fang Han had already left camp.
A veil of morning mist shrouded the vast mountain forest.
His form, ethereal as smoke, weaved between ancient trees and jagged rocks. He pushed his Spirit Smelling Technique to its limits, and the auras of everything for several miles around flooded his senses.
The demons were more numerous today than they had been yesterday.
And a few of the auras felt even more powerful than the strongest demon he had encountered the day before.
Although judging strength by aura alone wasn’t always accurate, it was enough to tell him that these demons were undoubtedly powerful.
SWOOSH!
Fang Han’s eyes narrowed, but he showed no fear.
He suppressed his aura and sped toward the most powerful one he could sense.
It was a hidden valley, where a demon resembling a giant lizard had made its lair.
It was nearly twice the size of the one he had fought yesterday, its body covered in dark red scales. From time to time, it exhaled a scorching breath.
Fang Han attacked without hesitation, launching a deadly assault on the demon.
After fighting it for over thirty moves, Fang Han used every technique he had besides his 100,000 pounds of physical strength, finally killing it with a sword to its eye socket.
"Deposit."
[Wealth: 65,020,000 silver → 65,670,000 silver]
His wealth had increased by a full 650,000 silver. This proved the demon was stronger than those he had faced yesterday—or at least, its body parts were more valuable.
Without pausing, he set off again, darting toward the next target.
One, two, three...
Fang Han was a tireless hunter, weaving through the mountain forest. With every pause, another demon fell to his Cloud Splitting Sword.
In half a day, he had slain twelve demons of the Middle Three Grades.
[Wealth: 70,000,000 silver]
’Seventy million.’
Fang Han stood on a mountain ridge, panting slightly.
His wealth had increased by 5,000,000 silver to a total of 70,000,000. He was now just 30,000,000 silver away from his goal of one hundred million.
He might just be able to gather the full one hundred million silver before this demon hunting trip was over and activate a Level 8 Talent Amplification.
He was eager to continue hunting.
’No, I can’t be hasty. The most important thing now is to restore my depleted Inner Qi.’
He had already used up nearly seventy percent of his Inner Qi.
Fang Han scanned his surroundings. After confirming it was safe, he found a hidden cave, sat down cross-legged, and consumed two True Spirit Pills.
The elixirs dissolved in his stomach, transforming into a gentle Medicinal Power that flowed through his meridians. He closed his eyes and focused, slowly circulating the Profound Wind Technique to guide the Medicinal Power and convert it into Inner Qi.
About an hour later, he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.
His Inner Qi was restored.
’Time to continue.’
He stood up and darted out of the cave.
...
The afternoon sun filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled light and shadows in the forest.
As Fang Han moved through the trees, he suddenly paused.
Several hundred yards ahead, a bright light shone through the trees.
He followed the light, passed through a dense thicket of bushes, and the view before him suddenly opened up.
It was a pool in the forest.
The pool was over thirty yards square, its surface as calm as a mirror, reflecting the lush ancient trees and the patch of blue sky overhead.
His gaze fell on the center of the pool.
There, a lotus flower bloomed quietly.
The stem was a solid, vibrant green, about as thick as a thumb. It rose from the sandy bottom, piercing the water’s surface in a perfectly straight line.
Only two perfectly circular leaves floated on the water. Their veins were clearly visible, and a faint golden light seemed to flow through them.
But what drew the eye most was the flower itself, in full bloom.
Its petals were arranged in nine overlapping layers. Each petal was pure gold, shimmering in the sunlight as if forged from the finest bullion.
A fine pattern traced the edge of each petal, resembling flickering flames or flowing runes, and it faintly radiated a scorching heat that made the heart pound.
At its heart lay a single, plump, golden-yellow seed. It looked like a miniature sun, containing a vast and pure energy.
’Golden Flame Sacred Lotus...’
Fang Han’s pupils contracted slightly as records from the Sect’s archives flashed through his mind.
This was one of Heaven and Earth’s Wondrous Treasures, an object of extreme rarity. It required three hundred years to take root, another three hundred to sprout leaves, and a final three hundred to blossom.
It bloomed with nine petals, each like a flame, giving it the name Golden Flame Sacred Lotus.
Its purpose was to enhance one’s Body Hardening Talent. To a Martial Artist who practiced a Body Hardening Technique, it was a peerless sacred treasure.
The only reason he recognized it was because after he began his own Cultivation of a Body Hardening Technique, he’d had the idea to use Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to augment his Body Hardening Talent and had specifically researched the topic.
He’d originally thought that even with Lan Yuexin’s help, it would take a great deal of time just to learn of the lotus’s whereabouts.
He never imagined it would simply appear before him like this.
’Calm down!’
Fang Han took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement as his gaze grew wary.
’A Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure of this caliber must be guarded by a demon.’
He pushed his Spirit Smelling Technique to its limit, carefully sensing for any auras around the pool.
And yet, strangely, there was no trace of a demon’s aura within a radius of several hundred yards of the pool.
Fang Han frowned.
’This is too strange.’
’Could this Golden Flame Sacred Lotus really be unguarded?’
He pondered for a moment, then slowly approached the pool.
His steps were light and silent. He circulated his Returning Ruins Hidden Essence Skill at full power, suppressing his aura to the absolute minimum.
One step, two steps, three steps...
He reached the edge of the pool, his gaze still vigilantly scanning the water’s surface.
The water’s surface was calm as a mirror, reflecting his figure.
The very instant he prepared to use a Body Technique to walk on water and snatch the Golden Flame Sacred Lotus—
—disaster struck!
A massive black shadow erupted from the depths!
Its speed was staggering, almost too fast for the eye to follow.
The surface of the pool exploded. Water sprayed everywhere as a black form as thick as a barrel shot toward Fang Han, bringing with it a foul stench and immense power.
Every hair on Fang Han’s body stood on end.
On pure instinct, he instantly activated Wind and Cloud Escape at maximum power. His body became a wisp of smoke, drifting back several yards.
BOOM—!
The black shadow missed its target, slamming viciously into the spot where Fang Han had just stood.
The ground trembled and sent shattered rock flying, leaving a deep crater in its wake.
Fang Han stabilized himself, his gaze falling on the black shadow.
It was a giant serpent.
The serpent’s body was as thick as a water barrel and over a hundred feet long. It was covered in pitch-black scales, each the size of a man’s palm, all glinting with a cold, dark light.
Its head was triangular, and its vertical pupils were a strange, dark gold. They reflected Fang Han’s figure, filled with undisguised brutality and malice.
But most startling was its aura—cold, violent, and radiating a suffocating pressure that made the heart race.
It felt even more dangerous than the Shadow Leopard he had faced, a beast that had been on the verge of the Upper Three Grades.
’I almost fell for that ambush!’
A chill went down Fang Han’s spine.
The serpent had been hidden at the bottom of the pool. The water itself, with its currents, had completely masked the creature’s aura.
If not for that, with his perception at the Great Success stage of the Spirit Smelling Technique, he would have undoubtedly discovered it.
HISS—!
The giant serpent flicked its tongue and let out a sharp hiss. Its massive body coiled for a moment before lunging again like an arrow loosed from a bow.
The speed was astonishing.
Fang Han’s eyes narrowed. Pushing his Wind and Cloud Escape to its limit, his body became a wisp of smoke, drifting sideways by a hair’s breadth.
At the same instant, his Cloud Splitting Sword left its sheath. A condensed, cyan Sword Qi tore through the air, slashing at the serpent’s midsection.
CLANG—!
The Sword Qi struck the serpent’s body, but it produced a loud clang, as if metal had struck metal.
Its pitch-black scales were unbelievably tough. The Sword Qi only left a shallow white mark, failing to even break the skin.
The giant serpent, pained, let out a furious hiss as its long, thick tail whipped toward him like a steel lash.
Fang Han tapped his toes on the ground, launching himself several yards into the air to evade the strike.
BOOM—!
The serpent’s tail slammed into several ancient trees so thick it would take a person’s full embrace to circle them. They snapped on impact, sending splinters flying as they crashed to the ground.
Fang Han changed direction in mid-air and slashed again with his Cloud Splitting Sword.
This time, he infused the attack with the Sword Momentum from his Great Success stage Nine Swords of Sky Splitting.
The sword light condensed into a single cyan thread that tore through the air with a piercing shriek before viciously striking the serpent.
SQUELCH—!
This time, the blade broke through the scales and sliced into flesh.
Fresh blood splattered.
The giant serpent let out a piercing shriek. Its massive body writhed violently, its tail thrashing wildly and destroying everything in its path.
If his Wind and Cloud Escape hadn’t already reached the Mastery stage, and if he hadn’t dodged in time, he likely would have been struck by the serpent’s massive tail.
Given the serpent’s destructive power, he would have likely been injured, even with the formidable physique granted by his Entry Level Xuanwu True Skill.
’It’s even more terrifying than the Shadow Leopard!’
Fang Han landed several yards away, panting slightly.
The serpent was even stronger than he had anticipated.
He also had to be careful not to let their battle damage the Golden Flame Sacred Lotus. If the lotus were destroyed, killing the serpent would be a pointless victory.
On top of that, he was not adept at fighting in water.
The serpent’s attacks were already this ferocious with him just standing on the shore. The fight would be even more difficult in the water.
’I have to lure it away from the pool.’
With a plan formed in an instant, Fang Han’s figure flickered and he began to retreat.
As he moved, he sent a casual Sword Qi flying, leaving another white gash on the serpent’s body.
Thoroughly enraged, the giant serpent shot forward, chasing Fang Han away from the pool.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE—
Once they were a safe distance from the pool, Fang Han stopped running and turned to face the serpent.
Man and serpent began a fierce life-or-death struggle far from the water’s edge.
The giant serpent’s strength was astounding, its scales were tough, and its speed was breathtaking.
It attacked like a raging storm, sometimes ramming with its head, sometimes lashing with its tail, and sometimes trying to coil its massive body around him.
Fang Han pushed his Wind and Cloud Escape to the absolute limit, his figure flickering unpredictably as he weaved through the barrage of attacks.
Each slash of his Cloud Splitting Sword added another wound to the serpent’s body.
Thirty moves.
Fifty moves.
Eighty moves.
One hundred moves.
After more than a hundred exchanges, the giant serpent was covered in wounds, its dark scales slick with blood.
But as a demon, its vitality was far greater than a human’s, and it refused to die.
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