Chapter 100 The Last Gamble
The association's work was truly not easy. Especially when they came across troublesome characters like Fang Xingjian, Charlie better sensed all the obstacles coming at them from all directions.
Putting aside the fact that the academy and the local officials were not cooperating, even his subordinates were getting increasingly useless.
Charlie suddenly headed to the office Fang Xingjian was in. He sat down, staring at Fang Xingjian.
'There's definitely a problem with this Fang Xingjian.
'Unknown identity, exceptional talent. He’s obviously come from an unusual background.
'Someone from another country? An occult believer? Orphan from a fallen faction? Or is he a demon from another dimension?'
All these days, the more he investigated, the more Charlie felt that Fang Xingjian was definitely hiding secrets.
A person without any records other than in the past year, and Charlie was unable to find out where he was from. He had suddenly soared after appearing, accomplishing what countless others could not. What were the chances of being no problems with someone like him?
For such a person to enter the Empire, and even become a Knight... How could Charlie possibly feel that it was safe?
Charlie's judgement was not wrong, but he was looking in the wrong direction.
It was because he had thought all along that Fang Xingjian might be someone from an opposing country. He could have been the descendent of a faction which had been wiped out, or a descendent from some fallen aristocrat clan. In short, he must be the descendent of someone from an opposing force of the Empire. If not, how could it be that his identity was not revealed?
He would never have thought that Fang Xingjian was simply not someone from this world.
Therefore, no matter how much he investigated, as long as Fang Xingjian did not say anything, he would have no leads at all.
Seeing Fang Xingjian still keep his eyes tightly shut and not saying a word, a cold gleam flashed past Charlie's eyes.
Fang Xingjian had been unceasingly cultivating his sword arts and Waves. Even if his body was not replenished with various nutrients, heavenly and earthly treasures, and even though he was going through a deficit of vital energy and blood, he continued to cultivate.
Without the replenishment of ferocious beasts, various medicinal foods, and heavenly and earthly treasures, Fang Xingjian continued to cultivate even though his body was unable to take it anymore. Of course, it was harming his body, causing his muscles, flesh, and blood vessels to work under extreme fatigue, unable to rest properly.
Therefore, while his sword arts were improving and his attributes were being tempered, his vital energy and blood were being depleted, his muscles and bones were increasingly strained, and even the thinnest channels in his body were getting destroyed, unable to recover.
Even if such cultivation brought damage to his physical body, he did not give up.
It was because he already had very little time left. He could not afford to waste the slightest bit of it.
It would take losing his consciousness to get him to stop,, or going through a further extended period of malnutrition that could cause him irreversible damage if he were to continue cultivating.
Charlie, of course, did not know that Fang Xingjian could still continue with his cultivation despite being interrogated like this daily, when he could not even fill his stomach. Moreover, he was cultivating at great speed. Having gone through endless sword arts cultivation day and night for the past few days, he had almost brought all of his Nurturing techniques to the maximum level, and that blurred speciality was getting increasingly clearer as well.
Now, Fang Xingjian could already clearly see the first word, 'Unparalleled'.
"Fang Xingjian? Are you still unwilling to speak up?" Charlie asked, calmly. "So many days have passed. You should also understand that there's no one who can save you."
He put up a calm front and said, "In fact, I do quite admire you. Within such a short one year, you've been able to find so many people to help you.
"You've seen the result yourself. They've really be jumping around a lot for the past few days, but it's useless. The Royal Knight Association supervises all the Knights in the Empire. If you go on like this, sooner or later, your status as a Knight will be removed.
"Not only that, you will also be maimed of your martial techniques and Waves.
"If you want to be saved, there's only one way out.
"Which is to confess. Tell your secret and plead for the association's understanding."
Fang Xingjian smiled, "Confess my secret, become a prisoner, then wait for the First Prince to save me, and sign on the Devil's Note?" Today Charlie had come in alone, and Fang Xingjian knew what he was planning. Having unceasingly applied pressure and interrogation for the past few days, going to such an extent to overwhelm him, was it not just for this?
"Charlie, remember what you've done the past few days. You'll regret it."
With that, he looked at the other party as if he were looking at a dead man. Killing intent soared within him, pushing towards the other party, then all of a sudden he shut his eyes, not saying another word as he fully focused on cultivating his sword arts.
"Regret? We'll see who will be the one to regret it."
Charlie coldly said, "The First Prince is wise and great, unparalleled in both civil and military skills. It’s only a matter of time before he attains the Divine level, and he becomes the King of the Empire.
Even if you escape this time, what about next time? What's next? What will happen after the First Prince ascends the throne to become the King? Will you be able to run for your whole life?
"As long as you refuse to budge, then no matter how big the world is, there'll be no place for you.
"Now, with me alone, you've lost all your standing and reputation. How many people are there under the First Prince? How many of them are stronger than me, have a higher status than me, have a even more terrifying identity than me?"
Fang Xingjian continued to keep his eyes closed, unceasingly cultivating his sword techniques in his mind. His sword arts seemed to have reached a crucial point, so he directed all his attention to them.
From then on, no matter how much Charlie threatened and baited him, Fang Xingjian did not react at all. More and more of his sword techniques had reached the maximum level, and his cultivation had entered a never before encountered state of focus. It was as if, in his mind, the whole world had started to change.
Charlie did not know about this at all, and only thought that Fang Xingjian was still putting up a fight. Therefore, he rolled up his sleeves, slowly starting to move behind Fang Xingjian and exerting pressure on him. It was Charlie's Reduced Force Field.
"You're better off not retaliating. I have 107 points in strength. Even if it's only the Reduced Force Field, it's not something you'll be able to face."
Seeing that Fang Xingjian was still not reacting or making a sound Charlie let out a cold laugh, and gradually started pressing down on Fang Xingjian's shoulders.
Fang Xingjian ignored him, or rather, he had already lost all his senses relating to the outside world. His mind continued cultivating his sword arts. There was just one more Nurturing technique to be brought to the maximum level, and the blurred specialty was getting increasingly clearer as well. The next word 'Sword' had already appeared.
An entirely new feeling forced Fang Xingjian to continue to search for it, fully immersing him in cultivation.
Charlie's wrist was like cast iron, gradually increasing the strength applied on Fang Xingjian's shoulders.
His face revealed a brutal expression. "We have a lot of time, you can think about it slowly."
If not for the news that Fang Xingjian had transcended the speed of sound was too astonishing, he would have applied certain means on Fang Xingjian. But now, he was also left with no choice. No matter if it was a success or failure, it was his last interrogation.
And although Fang Xingjian had broken through the sound barrier, it only proved that he had great talent. While breaking through the speed of sound could mean that he could have his way amongst those in the first transition, when facing a Conferred Knight, the gap was very large.
Just as Charlie was gradually grabbing onto Fang Xingjian's shoulder with more and more force, Fang Xingjian’s mental sword practice got increasingly faster, increasingly faster.
Creak creak. His shoulder was suddenly grabbed so hard that it started making creaking sounds, as if it would break at any moment.
The experience for the last set of Nurturing technique soared, and was nearing the maximum level.
Finally, with a huge boom in Fang Xingjian's mind, the last set of the Nurturing technique reached the maximum level. That new speciality finally appeared. Fang Xingjian only felt that ten thousands of swords had appeared, as if something had changed and was just taking shape. All the sword techniques gathered together and then exploded with a boom. At the next moment, he suddenly fainted.
Seeing Fang Xingjian's head slant, Charlie's heart suddenly leapt and he immediately let go of his hand.
"Hey, Fang Xingjian, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing that there was no reply, Charlie furrowed his brows and said, "Don't think that you'll be fine just because you’re putting up a fainting act."
He tested the other party's breath and heartbeat. They felt that normal. But no matter how much he pushed or pulled Fang Xingjian, or even splashed water on his face, Fang Xingjian still appeared to be as if he was asleep, without any reaction.
Charlie started to panic. 'Could it be that Fang Xingjian has reached his limits? But he doesn't look so weak.'
He attempted to lay Fang Xingjian on the ground and then took a closer look. He realized that the other party still had no reaction, as if he was really asleep.
'What's going on?'
Just as he was feeling troubled, the door was kicked open with a bang. Charlie was just about to curse out, he kept his mouth shut when he saw who it was. His paled face turned pale.
Huang Lin was the first to dash in. When he saw Fang Xingjian on the floor, he immediately went up to check out the situation.
Governor Devitt also walked in. Seeing Fang Xingjian unconscious on the floor, his brows furrowed.
Entering with Devitt was an elderly man dressed in black. He wore almost the same clothes as Charlie, but with an additional rim of gold at the sides, making him appear even more dignified.
"Sir, why... Why are you here as well?" Charlie said, stammering.
The old man glared, saying, "Have you forgotten the association's regulations? We always stay neutral, and do not take part in the internal strife within the Empire." He threw a glance towards Fang Xingjian and asked, "What happened? What did you do?"
In that instant, a feeling that great trouble had fallen came to him. Charlie's smiled turned extremely bitter, "I really did not do anything. He just fainted by himself."
However, Huang Lin noticed that Fang Xingjian would not wake up no matter what. He looked at Charlie and said, brimming with killing intent, "Devitt, you were the one who had assured me that my disciple will definitely be fine. What now? This matter will not end here."
Devitt also furrowed his brows and said, "Let the doctor take a look first." He looked towards the elderly at the said, "Seems that there's a lot of problems within the association. Some investigator's characteristics are also worrying. I'll definitely be reporting this to his Majesty.
"And if I were to find out that something has happened to Fang Xingjian, hmph hmph..."
Although he did not say anything in the end, cool air seemed to float around the whole place. Frost formed in the corners of the room.
A second transition level 29 strong Warrior. Even if it was just a slight killing intention, it was sufficient to make anyone tremble in fear.
The old man's face was extremely grim. His gaze towards Charlie was as if he wanted to devour him.
Charlie’s countenance turned extremely bad. He opened his mouth and said in a bitter voice, "I really haven't done anything yet!"