Chapter 21: A New Mission

Sun Yuan walked straight into his home, his expression brimming with immense pride and high spirits. While the entire One-Heart Sect was currently steeped in a dismal, deathly atmosphere, Sun Yuan’s own mood was absolutely spectacular.

He hadn’t participated in that recent battle; he had been away searching for medicinal treasures for his disciple—the kind meant to solidify foundations, boost cultivation, sharpen perception, improve bone marrow, and temper the physical body. However, he had immediately received a secret order from the Sect Leader to return at once for an important mission, forcing him to head back empty-handed.

But upon his return, he was greeted by a massive surprise: the Sect Leader had prepared every single one of the rare treasures his disciple needed, and they were even more complete and of higher quality than anything he could have imagined.

"There is only one requirement!"

It was truly a windfall from the heavens. With these resources, his disciple was destined to soar!

Upon entering, he saw Fang Che and Ye Meng practicing. He stood aside and watched for a while, feeling a bit surprised. He muttered to himself, "This girl has decent aptitude." He couldn't resist the urge to examine her. As a King-tier expert, if he were to probe her, the secrets Ye Meng harbored would be impossible to hide.

Ye Meng felt a surge of nervousness, her large eyes flickering uncontrollably.

Sun Yuan paused, puzzled: Why does she look so blank?

Fang Che had already finished his practice and approached with a smile, showing the youthful exuberance of a boy. "Master, hehehe, guess what my cultivation level is now?"

That single sentence completely diverted Sun Yuan’s attention. Sun Yuan felt that his life’s most important task now was his disciple. His disciple’s progress was the utmost priority; there was nothing else he cared about more.

His eyes lit up as he asked, "How is it?"

Fang Che, putting on a show of youthful vanity and playing coy, spoke with a deep sense of intimacy toward his master, effectively fishing for praise. "Master, when you left last time, I was at the fifth grade of the Warrior stage, right?"

Sun Yuan was overjoyed, knowing his disciple must have made significant progress, so he played along. "Yes, fifth grade, just broken through. I witnessed it myself. What, are you at the sixth grade now?"

Fang Che laughed out loud. "I broke through just last night. I’d like you to check, Master, to see if I’ve reached the seventh grade."

"Seventh grade?!" Sun Yuan was shocked. If breaking through to the sixth grade was a pleasant surprise, reaching the seventh was nothing short of a fright. Two grades in six days? Did he think his master was so senile and inexperienced that he wouldn't know better? That was simply impossible!

He pulled Fang Che into a room to check. "Seventh grade? That’s hardly possible. Let me see."

After a thorough examination, Sun Yuan’s eyes suddenly bulged from their sockets.

"It really is... the seventh grade?!" Sun Yuan’s hands began to tremble. "What have you been eating these past five days?"

"Nothing special," Fang Che said with a look of innocent ignorance. "It’s just that every time I practice, I feel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth automatically drilling into my body. I can even hear the sound of it rushing in... and it’s getting stronger every day."

He calculated for a moment and added, "Just in these six days since you left, Master, the speed at which spiritual energy flows into my body while I practice is now more than double what it was before you left."

Sun Yuan believed this. Once a cultivator entered the path, they would have a sense of their own absorption speed. It wasn't just geniuses who could feel it; average warriors could too, though a genius’s resonance with the world’s spiritual energy was simply more sensitive. But to double it in a few days? That was simply... unheard of.

"Any other sensations?"

"Yes!" Fang Che, seizing the chance to showcase his genius and secure more resources from the One-Heart Sect—since playing the fool wasn't a strategy that suited him—explained candidly, "Ever since I broke through to the Warrior stage, it wasn't obvious at first, but when I hit the second grade, I clearly felt the absorption speed increase by half compared to the first grade!"

"After breaking through to the third grade, it increased by half again compared to the second. And so on—fourth, fifth, all the way to now. Every single grade, it increased by half."

"So, now... the practice is very fast. I don't understand what's happening and was about to ask you, Master, if something is abnormal or if something has gone wrong. I haven't dared to tell anyone else, but I asked a few people, and no one else has this situation. Even if they improve after a breakthrough, it’s minimal. This kind of step-by-step jump is said to only happen during major breakthroughs..." Fang Che looked nervous. "Master, do you think there’s something wrong with my body?"

Something wrong with your body? Sun Yuan’s expression shifted wildly, momentarily speechless. Of course there was something wrong with his body—a massive, incredible problem! His aptitude was simply too good!

"You were right not to tell anyone else. In the future, tell no one but me," Sun Yuan said solemnly. "If I’m not mistaken, you possess the Supreme Heavenly Ladder physique!"

He sighed, unable to help himself. He had thought his disciple’s constitution was already unprecedented, never imagining it was a combination of two top-tier physiques! Each breakthrough doubled the speed of spiritual energy absorption. This was the legendary Supreme Heavenly Ladder!

One step, one rung!

His current cultivation was still shallow, so it was only a half-step per rung. Once he reached the Innate stage, he would become even more monstrous. At that point, each minor breakthrough would truly double his absorption speed! And a major breakthrough would be a leap—twofold, threefold... Sun Yuan didn't know the full extent. After all, this physique was a legend. He had never seen it before. Or rather, he hadn't even seen geniuses weaker than what Fang Che used to be. Before meeting Fang Che, those had been the stuff of legends to him.

This kind of physique made him a favored child of heaven. As long as he didn't die young, he was destined to be on the Weapon Rankings!

"This matter must be reported to the Sect Leader. The importance the sect places on Che'er must be elevated to the next level!" Sun Yuan made up his mind. "My disciple... is highly likely to become a major figure in the main sect, perhaps even one of its giants!"

"It must be taken seriously!"

The Supreme Heavenly Ladder! Sun Yuan’s heart raced tenfold with excitement, his mind spinning, feeling somewhat chaotic. He even forgot the purpose of his visit for a moment.

Only after a long while did he remember. "Che'er, I almost forgot. I brought you something good this time, enough to push your cultivation a big step further. And there is a new mission for you."

"Please tell me, Master."

"Let's start with the mission. This is a life-or-death task. It must be completed, no matter what." Sun Yuan continued, "For this, the Sect Leader has specially approved another two hundred contribution points for you, along with these cultivation supplies."

"Understood."

"There are three people who are your opponents in the upcoming Martial Academy entrance competition. You must defeat them at any cost!"

"Which three?"

"One is called Ding Jieran, the direct heir of the eighth-rank Ding family of Luofeng City; one is Huo Churan, the direct heir of the eighth-rank Huo family of Fobo City; and the third is Ximen Xuri, the direct heir of the ninth-rank Ximen family of Xiangyun City."

Sun Yuan said, "These three are all rare geniuses. It is said that Ding Jieran and Huo Churan are already at the first grade of the Martial Master stage, while Ximen Xuri, though currently only at the eighth grade of the Warrior stage, possesses elusive hidden weapon skills. Furthermore, he has raised a support spirit beast since childhood, a Blood-Red Snake, which makes him even more unpredictable."

"So, this time, your mission is significant."

Fang Che frowned and carefully noted the names. "Luofeng City, Ding family, Ding Jieran. Fobo City, Huo family, Huo Churan. Xiangyun City, Ximen family, Ximen Xuri!"

"Martial Master first grade, Warrior eighth grade, hidden weapons, Blood-Red Snake." He recited them once and asked, "Is there anything noteworthy about Ding Jieran and Huo Churan?"

Sun Yuan stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction. "I didn't say because I was waiting for you to ask. You did, and it pleases me greatly."

"This is called anticipating the enemy. You must investigate every enemy thoroughly."

"Yes, Master."

Sun Yuan took three papers from his robe. "These are the dossiers on Huo Churan, Ding Jieran, and Ximen Xuri."

Fang Che read them carefully, his gaze focused and intent. He said softly, almost casually, "Master, are these three the seed geniuses of the Defenders?"

"No!"

To Fang Che's surprise, these three were not with the Defenders.

Fang Che was puzzled. "Our people?"

"Not them either."

Fang Che scratched his head.

"They are people from the Night Demon, Radiance, and Heavenly God sects—pawns planted inside the Defenders."

"Oh?"

"There is a backstory to this." Sun Yuan lowered his voice, a hint of schadenfreude on his face. "You know the Sect Leader and the three venerables came by last time."

"Yes."

"That was for an operation, but unfortunately, it failed, and our sect lost quite a few men. The Sect Leader was furious. And at this time... the Night Demon, Three Saints, Radiance, and Heavenly God sects, all belonging to the same main sect, specifically issued a document mocking us. It is said the Sect Leader was enraged on the spot."

Hearing those four familiar names, Fang Che’s eyes deepened. These were all subordinate factions of the True Self Sect. There were countless such factions across the continent. Sun Yuan’s sect, the One-Heart Sect, and the ones he just mentioned were among the most famous and powerful under the True Self Sect.

Sun Yuan whispered, "These sects, while all belonging to the main sect, are in a relationship of competition and mutual suppression. And the competition between them is extremely fierce and bloody."

Fang Che nodded silently.

"They all want to get the upper hand over the others. Even without mentioning the Sect Leader’s rage, our sect has suffered a defeat, while those other sects have not. If their seed geniuses win first place, it’s equivalent to us losing two opportunities."

Sun Yuan explained, "Two opportunities are not easy to chase down; at the very least, our sect’s contribution level within the main sect will be far surpassed by theirs. But if you defeat them and take first place, it’s as if we have clawed one back. They gain nothing, and since we have one win and one loss, it’s a wash—plus, we’ve revealed a newcomer with infinite potential. In a sense, we’ll have the advantage."

Sun Yuan continued, "In the future, any achievement you make will remind people that you defeated the geniuses of those three sects, giving you the upper hand in the internal power struggle. The more of an advantage you have, and the more of an impression you make in the main sect, the more our own sect will be held in high regard because of you. Do you understand?"

Fang Che nodded silently. "I understand."