Chapter 16: Fang Cun Seeks Learning

“Huh?”

A low gasp rippled through the crowd of onlookers. They had clearly expected Fang Cun to be devoured by snakes and insects and meet a gruesome end. Instead, they witnessed the strange trick inside his umbrella. Seeing his skillful and precise sword strokes, there was even a hint of martial form. They couldn’t help but murmur in surprise, “That playboy from the Fang family… his swordsmanship is actually decent…”

“My darlings…”

The old woman draped in a black cloak watched in distress as Fang Cun cleaved her bizarre snakes and insects in two. He walked and slashed, leaving a trail of dead creatures. Her eyes locked fiercely onto Fang Cun within the formation.

Higher up, the two elderly mentors, one with white hair and one with black, watched intently. The white-haired one gently stroked his beard, while the black-haired one narrowed his eyes, both deep in thought.

“It seems Fang Family’s second son will also become a disciple of our White Xiang Academy,” said the black-bearded elder after a moment’s silence, a faint smile touching his lips.

Even the Academy Head quietly nodded. “Indeed, it appears he qualifies to enter the academy.”

The black-bearded elder smiled in agreement. “People only think we set up the Rear Mountain hurdles to torment applicants, not realizing each arrangement has its meaning. The path of Qi Refining places the highest importance on one’s foundation of talent, intellect, and soul essence. The academy sets up esoteric armor formations to test the children’s deduction and mathematical foundation; the miasma checks their innate foundational potential; the dense snake and insects trial their adaptability and reflexes. Meeting all these standards signifies they are promising sprouts for Qi Refining…”

The disciples nearby seemed to hear his words. A sudden silence fell, few daring to speak.

But then, the white-haired mentor frowned slightly, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips. “Did you all miss one detail?”

The black-bearded mentor was startled. “What detail?”

The white-haired mentor glanced towards the sky and murmured, “It seems the sky is turning… overcast.”

The black-bearded mentor was stunned. He hurriedly looked up, and his expression changed drastically!

……

“Marvelous! Second Young Master Fang is entering the academy!”

“Incredible! Incredible! Apart from Fairy Meng tackling the Rear Mountain half a year ago, I’ve never seen anyone succeed!”

“Tch, of course! He’s Little Immortal Master’s brother. Did anyone think his talent would be poor?”

Meanwhile, seeing Fang Cun move ever faster, nearing the very entrance to the Rear Mountain, the citizens of Willow Lake City burst into loud cheers. Though this spectacle lacked the scenes they most craved – wild laughter, wailing, stripping naked, or being bitten to death by hideous monsters – witnessing someone truly conquer the academy’s Rear Mountain was deeply satisfying. Almost as if, through Second Young Master Fang, they themselves had scored a victory against the academy.

“This inherent talent… truly beyond comparison. Everyone spoke of the elder Fang brother’s greatness, but who expected the second son also possessed such skill?”

“Hah! I recall people saying they’d laugh at the Fang family’s misfortunes. Seems that joke’s on them now!”

Praise filled the air, countless gazes filled with awe turning towards Elder Fang. Some in the crowd hurried off to spread the news. Now that the second young master of the Fang family was also becoming an academy disciple, those who had seen the elder Fang brother’s disappearance and predicted the family’s fall, thinking to grab some easy benefits, would have to think twice. A disciple of the White Xiang Academy carried significant weight in Willow Lake City.

Yet, amid their praise, no one noticed the sky had noticeably darkened.

……

“Who is secretly casting spells?”

At the peak of the Rear Mountain, the black-bearded mentor observing the sudden shift in weather wore a startled expression. His astonished gaze swept urgently across the surroundings. Even the Academy Head seated on the blue sheep behind him narrowed his eyes and looked towards the high heavens. What moments ago had been cloudless, sunny morning light—just after dawn—was abruptly engulfed by converging clouds. The light of the world was blocked out, plunging everything into shadow. The bright noon turned utterly dim, as if dusk had fallen prematurely.

Deep within the dense forest of the Rear Mountain, eerie howls suddenly pierced the air.

“Huh?” Hearing these chilling cries, the citizens of Willow Lake City froze mid-activity. Simultaneously, the faces of the academy disciples drained of color.

……

“Hmph?”

In the midst of the formation, Fang Cun, glancing up at the transformed sky, suddenly understood. His face stiffened.

As the phantom howls echoed, he accelerated, urgently charging forward.

The academy’s Rear Mountain wasn’t merely a trial ground for disciples. To some degree, it served as a defense against external enemies or ill-intentioned intruders. Besides formations and venomous creatures, other things lingered there. Anyone intending to brave the Rear Mountain knew: it could only be tackled during the day. Entering at night? Even the instructors wouldn’t dare predict their survival.

Because the Rear Mountain harbored lingering spirits, vengeful wraiths.

These spirits, fearful of sunlight, dared not manifest by day. But come nightfall, they roamed the Rear Mountain. Any unfortunate soul stumbling into their domain might be ensnared, their vital Innate Qi devoured, their life snuffed out by malevolent qi.

Fang Cun had chosen daytime deliberately.

Yet now, the sky suddenly darkened. These vengeful wraiths might now emerge.

“Rustle…”

Fang Cun could already see the path’s end and the green bell hanging on the platform there.

But behind him came the sound of night wind through treetops – like ghostly weeping. He felt the surrounding temperature plummet unnaturally. A sinister, savage presence seemed to surge rapidly from the depths of the Rear Mountain, closing hundreds of meters in an instant, lunging straight for his back.

Reaching the very end of the path, Fang Cun felt the bell within arm’s reach. Yet, sensing the peril behind him, he had no choice. Instinctively, he spun around to look.

What met his gaze were several pale white faces.

These were things he’d heard of countless times in his previous life, but only now, in this life, witnessed firsthand – vengeful wraiths!

Their empty, vacant faces seemed to twist into expressions of greed, fixing intently on him. Yet Fang Cun knew their hunger wasn’t for him, but for his Innate Qi. Wraiths were dead souls whose innate Qi lingered unnaturally, twisted from Yang to Yin essence. Thus, they instinctively craved the lively Qi essence of the living.

The wraiths surged, approaching like black fog. Claws seemingly stretched forth, ready to tear into him, poised to pounce.

……

“This… this isn’t part of the Rear Mountain trial anymore, is it?!”

Witnessing the sudden emergence and vicious attack by those wraiths, many spectators cried out in horror.

Zhang Shixian sounded urgent, “Do we intervene?”

“We set the trial for daylight precisely to avoid these malignant entities,” croaked the old woman in the black cloak with a chilling grin. “If he encounters them… tough luck. Who said misfortune itself isn’t a test?”

On the cliff above, the two elder mentors looked grim – one gloomy, the other’s pupils sharply contracted. Yet clearly, neither intended to make a move. They knew the Academy Head was present. Meanwhile, seated atop his blue sheep, the White Xiang Academy Head calmly watched the wraiths charge towards Fang Cun, showing no sign of intervening.

“My Cun’er…” Elder Fang let out a wail and lunged towards his son in the Rear Mountain.

But by the time his foot lifted, the wraiths were already upon Fang Cun.

……

“This character…” Fang Cun sighed inwardly. “It seems I was cast in a different role than the low-profile powerhouse one.”

Staring at the vengeful ghosts now inches away, an intangible scroll appeared before his eyes.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Numbers silently bloomed upon the Merit Tome:

Innate Qi: Three Inches, One Li and Two Fen [3.12 Fen]

Merit: 1,600 Thoughts!

This specific level of Innate Qi had been carefully chosen by Fang Cun – deliberately middle-of-the-pack within White Xiang Academy. He’d intended only to reveal this moderate level, enough to gain the academy’s protection without attracting the intense scrutiny already brought by being the “Little Immortal Master Fang Chi’s” younger brother.

But now, there was no other choice!

He concentrated, mentally roaring: All Merit! Transform! Augment my Innate Qi!

……

The numbers on the Merit Tome shifted!

The accumulated thoughts vanished. Fang Cun’s Innate Qi surged! Instantly intensifying!

It reached Three Inches, Two Li and Eight Fen [3.28 Fen]!

A change in Innate Qi, even the slightest shred, was significant. Especially a sudden, explosive surge—it felt like volcanic energy erupting, wildly churning!

To the onlookers, as the wraiths reached him, leaving no escape, Fang Cun underwent a shocking transformation. A faint, almost indistinct white aura seemed to flash above his head. The pure Yang vitality within him erupted like a flood tide, sudden and vast, surging powerfully forward!

Gazing fiercely at the wraiths, Fang Cun spat out a single word like a thunderclap: “SCATTER!”

“SKREEEE—!”

The greed on the wraiths’ faces twisted into terror. The sudden surge of potent inner energy overwhelmed them! Their forms scattered chaotically! Frightened cries tearing at the soul escaped them as they desperately sought to retreat! Fleeing in panic back towards the deep forest!

Only Fang Cun remained. Standing coldly on the path, fury etched on his face, energy radiating from him.

A lion’s fierce glare, demon-repelling light coursing like furious fire!

……

Everyone was stunned by this scene. For a long moment, speech failed them.

A mortal — untrained in cultivation — repelling vengeful wraiths solely with their spirit?!

Even the academy instructors paled visibly, their expressions deepening into something unfathomable.

Within the ringing silence, Fang Cun slowly turned. He walked to the path’s end, standing before the green bronze bell.

He picked up the little mallet beside the bell and lightly struck it.

Dong…

A clear, lingering chime sounded. Its resonance slowly spread over the Rear Mountain, flowed through the academy grounds, and echoed out towards the entire City of Willow Lake.

Fang Cun then clasped his hands formally in greeting and bowed towards the academy.

“Fang Cun of Willow Lake,” his voice steady and clear.

“Comes today to seek learning at the Academy!”