Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents

"Hmph, playing dumb?"

Yun Muyao’s lips curled into a cold arc. Without another word, her figure flickered, moving so fast she left only a faint blue afterimage.

Chu Feng felt a vast, mighty, and bone-chilling Sword Momentum lock onto him in an instant. It was as if the blood in his veins was about to freeze.

His face paled in horror. The longsword at his waist was instantly unsheathed, and he unleashed his Fifth Grade Inner Qi without reservation. The glint of his blade transformed into a scorching flame, attempting to block the attack.

However, Yun Muyao’s longsword, though drawn later, arrived first. The faint blue Sword Qi swirling around its tip slashed at the fiery sword light.

"BOOM!"

An explosive sound erupted.

Chu Feng felt an indescribable force travel up the body of his sword. The scorching sword light was annihilated like a soap bubble.

The skin between his thumb and forefinger split open, and he nearly lost his grip on his longsword.

As if struck by a heavy blow, he grunted, staggered, and was sent flying backward, crashing hard against the decorative rockery in the courtyard.

He violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning as pale as paper.

One move! Just a single move, and he was utterly defeated!

Yun Muyao sheathed her sword and stood tall. Her clothes fluttered, completely untouched by dust, as if she had just casually brushed away a falling leaf.

She cast a cold glance at the pathetic figure of Chu Feng.

"Remember my words. If you do this again, I won’t let you off so easily."

After speaking, she didn’t spare Chu Feng another glance. She turned, strode calmly over the ruins of the courtyard gate, and vanished from his sight.

Chu Feng struggled to his feet, leaning against the rockery to catch his breath. He stared in the direction Yun Muyao had left, his eyes filled with terror, fury, and an indescribable sense of humiliation.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood that dripped between his fingers.

’Revenge?’ The thought had barely surfaced before he forcibly suppressed it.

’Yun Muyao’s strength is unfathomable. She’s ranked high on the Celestial Pride List, holds immense prestige within the Sect, and has extensive connections. She’s far beyond what I can contend with right now.’

He had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill!

Just then, Song Xiang rushed in from outside the courtyard.

When he saw the shattered gate and Chu Feng with blood on his lips and a grim expression, his face fell. He hurried forward to help him up.

"Senior Brother Chu! What... what happened? Who did this?"

Chu Feng shoved Song Xiang away. His eyes were terrifyingly sinister as he squeezed the words through his teeth in a hoarse voice.

"It was Yun Muyao! She barged in and attacked without a word... Song Xiang, tell me the truth. Which one of you idiots provoked her?"

He glared at Song Xiang, his gaze as sharp as a knife.

"Senior Brother Chu... I’m afraid it’s because of... because of Zhao Kun!"

Song Xiang’s heart trembled under his gaze. His mind raced, instantly connecting the dots to Zhao Kun. His face went deathly pale as he stammered.

"Zhao Kun?" Chu Feng’s brows knitted together. "What about him? Speak!"

Song Xiang didn’t dare to hide anything. He quickly recounted how Zhao Kun had been ordered to provoke Fang Han and had verbally insulted Yun Qianyue, who was with him at the time.

He then explained how Zhao Kun was severely injured by Fang Han and everything that had just happened at the Law Enforcement Hall.

"Idiot! Useless trash!"

After hearing the story, Chu Feng trembled with rage. He violently kicked a nearby stone stool, shattering it to pieces.

"I told him to provoke Fang Han! Who told him to go and provoke Yun Qianyue?!"

"Yun Muyao is extremely protective, especially of her sister! That stupid pig Zhao Kun is more a hindrance than a help!"

His chest heaved violently. It took him a long moment to suppress his boiling fury, and a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

"Listen, the compensation I promised Zhao Kun is canceled. All of it! Don’t give him a single Elixir or a single piece of silver!"

Hearing this, Song Xiang looked troubled.

"Senior Brother, this... Zhao Kun is seriously injured, and he’s lost a year’s worth of Contribution Points. If we cut off his compensation, I’m afraid... he might get desperate. What if he rats us out..."

"Let him try!"

Chu Feng sneered, his tone chilling.

"Go tell him that if he dares run his mouth, I have ways to make his life in the Qingxuan Sect a living hell, a fate worse than death! Tell him to weigh the consequences himself!"

"...Yes, Senior Brother. I understand."

Seeing that Chu Feng’s mind was made up, Song Xiang didn’t dare say more. He bowed and agreed.

"Go. Do it now!" Chu Feng waved his hand, his face a mask of exhaustion and irritation.

Song Xiang hurried away, making his way quickly to Zhao Kun’s residence.

Zhao Kun was lying pale-faced on his bed, regulating his breathing. His chest was wrapped in thick gauze, with faint traces of blood seeping through.

When he saw Song Xiang enter, a flicker of anticipation appeared in his eyes.

"Song Xiang, you’re here... Did Senior Brother Chu send you with the Elixirs?"

Song Xiang looked at him expressionlessly and said coldly, "Zhao Kun, the compensation is off the table."

"What?!"

Zhao Kun’s eyes flew wide open. He struggled to sit up, but the movement pulled at his wounds, making him grimace in pain.

"Wh-why? Song Xiang, I did exactly as you told me! Now I’m injured like this, and the Sect’s punishment is severe. Without compensation, how am I supposed to get through this year?"

"Why?"

Song Xiang scoffed.

"You have the nerve to ask? Who told you to run your filthy mouth and provoke Yun Qianyue? Because of your idiotic words, you angered Second Senior Sister Yun Muyao! She just came straight to our door and even injured Senior Brother Chu!"

"Senior Brother Chu is already being magnanimous by not settling the score with you, and you still want compensation?"

"Senior Brother Chu can’t do this! You can’t just burn the bridge after crossing it! If there’s no compensation, I’ll... I’ll expose this whole thing! We’ll all go down together!"

As if struck by lightning, Zhao Kun’s face turned ashen. He roared in agitation.

"Go down together?"

Song Xiang took a step forward, looking down on Zhao Kun with eyes full of cold threat.

"Zhao Kun, I advise you to think carefully. Even if you expose this, with no evidence, do you really think you can take down Senior Brother Chu?"

"When that happens, Senior Brother Chu might only be in trouble for a little while. But you... I guarantee you’ll have no place left in the Qingxuan Sect."

"So, will you obediently shut your mouth and endure this year, or do you want to spend the rest of your life wallowing in mud? The choice is yours!"

With that said, Song Xiang didn’t spare another look at Zhao Kun’s despairing, venomous eyes. He turned and flicked his sleeves, then departed.

In the room, only Zhao Kun’s heavy, desperate gasps remained.

’If I had known it would turn out like this, I never would have let Song Xiang talk me into provoking Fang Han.’

...

After parting with the Yun Sisters, Fang Han returned to his residence.

’Making petty moves again so soon...’

Thinking about the recent encounter, his brow furrowed slightly.

The uproar from the forced investigation assignment had just died down, and he had only enjoyed a brief period of peace before Chu Feng immediately sent Zhao Kun to provoke him, even going so far as to insult Yun Qianyue who was with him.

This relentless, encroaching malice was like a cancer clinging to his bones—annoying and infuriating.

’It seems my previous ’repayment’ was too light. It didn’t cause him enough trouble...’

A cold light flickered in Fang Han’s eyes as a chilling killing intent swirled in his heart.

Chu Feng had suppressed him time and again. Did he really think he was made of clay?

Now that he had stepped into the Sixth Grade and his strength had soared, the plan he had postponed due to his apprehension about other potential Sixth Grade Martial Artists could perhaps be put back on the table.

’Raiding’ one or two more of Chu Feng’s subordinate factions would not only yield a great deal of wealth to unlock a higher Talent Amplification and speed up his Cultivation, but it would also be the most direct and painful form of revenge against Chu Feng.

His mind made up, his hand subconsciously moved to the sword at his waist.

As his fingertips touched the hilt, he paused slightly.

Remembering something, he quickly drew his Cyan Blade Sword and held it before his eyes for a close inspection.

The blade was still bright, reflecting his calm face. But when he slowly channeled a trace of his Sixth Grade Inner Qi into it, his brows furrowed even more tightly.

From within the sword, he felt an extremely faint sense of "resistance."

It felt as if minute, hidden damages riddled its interior, preventing his Inner Qi from flowing as smoothly as before. He could even faintly hear a nearly inaudible, mournful "BUZZ."

His gaze swept over the edge of the blade, and he discovered three nicks!

This Cyan Blade Sword, which had been with him since Liangshui City, was, after all, only a Low-grade Weapon.

Before, when his Cultivation was in the Lower Three Grades, it had been adequate. But now that he had broken through to the Middle Three Grades, the quality and intensity of his Inner Qi had skyrocketed. A single battle was already too much for it to bear!

’The body of the sword has hidden damage, and the edge is already chipped...’

Fang Han gently ran his fingers over the small nicks, his expression calm.

If he were to move against Chu Feng’s subordinates now and ended up in a fierce battle with a resident Sixth Grade Martial Artist, this sword would very likely shatter at a critical moment.

For a swordsman like him, his Weapon was an extension of his own limbs. If the sword broke, his combat power would plummet. At that point, forget revenge—his own safety would be in question.

’Looks like I’ll have to put this on hold for a little while.’

Fang Han took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to act immediately. Clarity and calm returned to his eyes.

The beginning of next month was not far off. He would wait until his Contribution Points were distributed, then exchange them for a longsword that could withstand his current Inner Qi and combat intensity. It wouldn’t be too late to act then.

’But there is one thing that needs to be dealt with urgently!’

Thinking of how Zhao Kun had blocked his and Yun Qianyue’s path on their way to the Overall Martial Arts Stele, a cold light glinted in Fang Han’s eyes.

The meeting with Zhao Kun was no coincidence. Zhao Kun had known in advance that he and Yun Qianyue would be passing through there.

’There must be a spy of Chu Feng’s near me. If I let this go, Chu Feng will know my every move.’

Rooting out the spy Chu Feng had planted near him was the most pressing matter at hand.

For the next few days, Fang Han’s life followed its usual routine: Cultivation, eating, and resting. But he secretly remained vigilant, carefully observing any suspicious people who appeared around him.

He first focused his attention on the servant disciples.

Servant disciples had extremely low status in the Sect and lacked resources, making them the easiest group to bribe.

In the past, Zhao Qianjun had bribed a servant disciple to spy on him. The precedent was there.

However, after several days of observation, the few servant disciples responsible for cleaning near his residence, serving food in the cafeteria, and running errands all acted normally.

When they saw him, their attitude was respectful but tinged with fear, showing no signs of deliberate prying or snooping.

Fang Han ruled out the servant disciples and turned his attention to the Sub-Branch disciples in the same courtyard.

Although he was reluctant to suspect the malicious intent of these fellow disciples he saw every day, the situation forced him to be suspicious.