Chapter 463: Change
Translator: Yukidaruma Translations Editor: Yukidaruma Translations
Along a small secluded alley in the eastern district of the Great Western City, Mingyue Sha, a lady who belonged to the Sand Country's secret corps, was waiting there.
In her mind, she was still thinking about her mission this time around.
'Fang Xingjian...'
This time around, she had snuck into the Great Western Region with only a single purpose—to collect information on Fang Xingjian. The priority of this mission was already rated higher than getting the Heavenly Abyss Annihilation Armor.
This was because the Sand Country's upper echelon had already taken notice of Fang Xingjian's potential, and his Rebirth Sword Technique was highly valued by the Sand Country. The Sand Country's upper echelon already viewed Fang Xingjian as an extremely great threat. Additionally, they felt that although he might not be that strong now, his future potential was far too great. He was an existence which needed to be eliminated earlier.
Of course, if they could kidnap him or incite defection, that would be even better.
This was also Mingyue Sha's goal this time. She had come earlier to gather information for those who would be coming later.
As such, she was waiting here so that she could gather some information concerning Fang Xingjian.
Just then, a black-clothed man entered the small valley. Mingyue Sha frowned and said, "You're late."
The black-clothed man shook his head. "We won't be doing business with you anymore."
"You're not going to do it anymore?" Mingyue Sha said, infuriated, "Are you guys trying to go back on your words?"
"Hmph. It isn't because we want to go back on our words, but Fang Xingjian has already entered our blacklist. We'll no longer be peddling secret information concerning him."
Mingyue Sha was taken aback and asked, "Why?"
From her understanding, only Divine level experts and top notch Demigods would receive such treatment.
"On the account that you've been our customer for so many years..." The black-clothed man said calmly, "I'll provide you with a free piece of news on my own account. One day ago, Fang Xingjian was said to have single-handedly fought off The School of Sword Arts' Supreme Chief, the Darkness Demon Lord, and the previous Governor of the Beize Continent. Moreover, the three of them were said to have joined forces. Currently, most people think that in the Empire, aside from the First Prince, Fang Xingijan is the genius expert who has the highest likelihood of attaining the Divine level in the recent years.
"If I were you, I would put Fang Xingjian on my list of those whom I'll never want to make a enemy of."
The team leader of the Sand Country's secret corps went into a daze as she heard this string of information. It seemed that she could not believe what she had just heard.
...
In the Great Western Region's Regional Academy, Hoult walked on the road excitedly. Along the way, there would occasionally be people greeting or attempting to approach him.
Hoult was a disciple under the teachings of a Divine level expert, and he was ranked second in the Regional Selection after losing to Fang Xingjian. Over the past few months, aside from having an intimate relationship with the Regional Chief’s daughter, he had also been working hard on his cultivation.
He had initially thought of giving up after knowing about Fang Xingjian's talent. However, the sponsorship he received from the Myriad Star Palace a short while ago had lit up new hope in him.
However, Hoult was unaware that this was the Myriad Star Palace's preparation for the seventh onslaught. They had provided additional financial support to majority of the sect members who had potential, hoping that these people could raise their abilities in the shortest time possible.
He merely thought that he was being regarded more highly by the sect.
Therefore, during this period of time, the amount of hard work he devoted into his cultivation was unprecedented, even when compared to all the effort he had put in for the past 20 over years. While doing all this, Hoult’s only target was to catch up to and defeat Fang Xingjian.
Yesterday, he had finally successfully attained level 23. For Hoult to reach this stage within a mere seven months, he could be considered a genius amongst geniuses. Furthermore, he had also truly mastered the Myriad Star Palace's Killing technique—Myriad Stars Diagram. As such, he now possessed great power.
An hour ago, he had even defeated someone stronger than him. It was the Conferred Knight ranked 20th in the academy, who was a level 24 expert.
For Hoult to get into the academy's top 20 within just over half a year, it was considered to be quite an amazing feat across all the Regional Academies.
Just then, a gorgeously dressed young lady walked over while looking at Hoult with a strange expression. She was the daughter of the Great Western Region's Regional Chief.
Hoult spoke to her with warmly, "Miley, I won. I'm now in the top 20 of the academy."
Miley nodded, seemingly a bit out of sorts as she said, "Congratulation."
Hoult noticed her distracted state and asked, "What's wrong? Is anything the matter?"
Miley frowned and said, "Father told me to go meet with Fang Xingjian in a few days' time."
"Fang Xingjian? Why is it him again? What does your father mean by this?"
Miley threw a surprised glance at Hoult and asked, "You don't know about it yet?"
Hoult was stunned for a moment, then he asked, "Know about what?" During this period of time, he had gone into full seclusion for his training and had not had the time to be bothered with news of the outside.
Miley let out a sigh and said, "Two days ago, Fang Xingjian single-handedly defeated the joined forces of The School of Sword Arts' Supreme Chief, the Darkness Demon Lord, and the Beize Continent's previous Governor at the Dark Shadow Mountain. The Supreme Chief was forced to retreat while the other two were killed on the spot."
Hoult immediately said, "That's impossible. The Supreme Chief is a Demigod expert who is said to have already achieved two tiers of perfection. How could he possibly have lost to Fang Xingjian? Who was the one who spread this news?"
Miley threw a pitiful look at Hoult. She knew that Hoult had always one-sidedly viewed Fang Xingjian as his rival and was giving it his all to catch up to Fang Xingjian.
"The news has already been verified by many people. It definitely isn’t wrong."
"How is that possible? How can this be?" Hoult said in a daze, "In a mere seven months, he managed to defeat a Demigod who had achieved two tiers of perfection? How on earth did he do that?"
Miley ran her hand through her hair as she looked at Hoult, who appeared a little downcasted. Was this still the charming and talented student of a Divine level expert’s teachings whom she knew?
A hint of disappointment flashed past her mind, and she suddenly felt anticipation toward the meeting with Fang Xingjian.
...
Northern Ice Region, Sacred Land.
Rehlings, who was viewed as someone with a high potential of attaining the Divine level, was the person who had previously helped Fang Xingjian in the case of the Rebirth Sword Technique. This very same Rehlings was now laughing loudly.
His younger brother stood next to him, shaking his head as he said, "If it weren’t for the repeated verifications, I wouldn't have believed it either. To think that Fang Xingjian could reach such a level...
"Elder Brother, you really have good judgement to have done him a favor previously. This has become a great favor."
Rehlings grinned and said, "Those fools in the clan didn't even stop to think. How can a genius who invented the Rebirth Sword Technique be someone who is easily suppressed?"
Simultaneously, a hint of jitters flashed in his eyes. Although he had already affirmed that Fang Xingjian was definitely a man of great promise back when he saw the Rebirth Sword Technique, Rehlings had never expected that Fang Xingjian would progress so fast. In just a mere half a year, Fang Xingjian had already been able to defeat The School of Sword Arts' Supreme Chief.
He suddenly let out a sigh and said, "Fang Xingjian won't just have his reputation spread throughout the world. I’m afraid the shine of our few generations will be covered up by him as well."
...
At a Saint Hall of the Church of Universal Truth in the northern country.
A council member of the Holy Inquisitorial Court, Gardner, who was also known as the Knight of the Rising Sun, rushed over to the archdeacon's office. He did not know why this supervisor of his was calling to meet him so urgently.
However, the moment he entered the office, he noticed that in addition to his supervisor, the other important characters of the Holy Inquisitorial Court were already seated by the side. A few of their statuses even caused Gardner to shiver slightly.
When Gardner's supervisor saw Gardner, he went straight to the point and asked, "Gardner, when you escorted the archbishop to Sinkodati previously, you worked with Fang Xingjian on the Martial Techniques Grading Plan, right?"
Upon thinking of Fang Xingjian, Gardner's countenance became a little unnatural. Although he had been astonished by Fang Xingjian's talent, the feud between him and Fang Xingjian had always been a thorn in his heart.
However, when asked by his supervisor, Gardner replied directly, "Yes."
"What does he look like?"