Chapter 194: Then We Take Our Leave

The Five Great Sects had all joined that wager, and naturally, all lost to Fang Cun.

Fang Cun’s plan to enter the Scripture Halls of the Five Great Sects also required a specific order. The first he chose was the Duskblade Sect.

The Duskblade Sect was located about a thousand li west of the Shoushan Sect. Its mountain gate stood within a mountain range named Sword Forest. The mountains held many bizarre peaks, each soaring straight towards the heavens as though carved by ghostly axes. From afar, they looked like countless demon swords chaotically thrust into the earth.

Fang Cun had already sent Xiao Qingliu to deliver a message ahead of time, so the Duskblade Sect naturally knew he was coming.

When Fang Cun’s Dharma Ship sliced through layers of clouds and landed before the Duskblade Sect’s mountain gate, two Elders were already there waiting.

“Much disturbance, very abrupt, Elders, don’t blame us, don’t blame!”

Fang Cun halted his Dharma Ship before the gate. He greeted the two Elders politely and made his courtesies.

The two Duskblade Sect Elders looked at Fang Cun with somewhat helpless expressions. Ever since the Duskblade Sect and the other four sects lost that wager, they knew this day would come. Discussions had taken place within the sect about how to handle this matter. They just hadn’t expected Second Young Master Fang to come so quickly, especially since they hadn’t even agreed on a good countermeasure.

Their Duskblade Sect, after all, ranked last among the five great sects, not much better off than the Shoushan Sect. And the two sects were quite close geographically, leading to many direct conflicts of interest. Now, with the Shoushan Sect recovering its Treasure Body Method and being reinstated among the Six Sects, the Duskblade Sect would likely be the first affected. Feeling resentful about the whole situation, how could the two Elders manage to be cheerful?

Their forced smiles resembled weeping more than laughing. One merely managed to say, “How long does Elder Fang Cun plan to stay?”

Fang Cun smiled. “Perhaps over a month, maybe just a few days. If I can gain some insights, naturally that would be good. If not, I shall have no complaints!”

The Duskblade Sect’s Transmission Elder sighed. “Then please follow me, Young Master.”

“You two, go park the Dharma Ship and tidy up the gifts. Later, I shall pay my respects to the Duskblade Sect Leader!”

Fang Cun turned and instructed Xiao Qingliu and Yu Qingli. With a smile, he turned back and stepped onto the mist swirling beneath the feet of the two Elders, rising into the air. Presently, the entire Duskblade Sect was enveloped in a quiet, secluded atmosphere. Evidently, not many knew Fang Cun had arrived.

After all, Fang Cun had recently slain the Demon Hound, unsettling the entire Qingjiang Prefecture. No one knew if Old Master Fan, who stood above them all, might attract some disaster because of it, or whether such a disaster might suddenly affect all the county sects of Qingjiang. Therefore, the Duskblade Sect’s attitude towards this Second Young Master Fang was somewhat one of wary distance…

“Ahem, for Second Young Master Fang’s information,” the Elder on the left, Elder Yue, explained with a bitter smile as they rode the Soaring Cloud, “Our Duskblade Sect has an eight-hundred-year heritage. Its divine abilities and arts have never been passed to outsiders. Even disciples who complete their studies and leave our sect must not transmit these arts to descendants without the sect’s permission. Each technique embodies the toil and blood of our forebears. Wouldn’t we, their descendants, be disrespectful to our ancestors if we carelessly taught them to others?”

He continued, “However… at Crow Mountain, our five sects all lost to you, Second Young Master Fang. Though this matter… sigh… regardless, a loss is a loss. Our Duskblade Sect, a grand sect with eight centuries of legacy, naturally won’t renege. So… Young Master wishing to see them is no issue. We only hope… do not disseminate them…”

“The divine abilities and arts cannot be disseminated either?” Fang Cun smiled. “If I gain some understanding and pass it to disciples of my own sect, would that count as dissemination?”

The two Duskblade Sect Elders’ expressions turned awkward. “That… we feel it would be best if you didn’t…”

“Why worry so much, Elders?”

Fang Cun smiled at them. “I, Fang Cun, only wish to study the divine abilities and arts. I dare not covet the Duskblade Sect’s Treasure Body Method. Without the Treasure Body Method, no matter how much one cultivates those arts, it remains an external path, forever failing to grasp the essence of the Duskblade Sect. Moreover, when the Great Xia Immortal Emperor unified Dongshan in the past, and all the county sects of the world submitted, weren’t they also commanded to hand over their secret art manuals to the Divine Palace? Surely your Duskblade Sect handed them over then?”

The two Duskblade Sect Elders looked rather sheepish, particularly Elder Yue, who now looked thoroughly ashamed.

Previously, he had led the Duskblade Sect, along with the other sects, to Crow Mountain to slay demons. When making that bet with the Shoushan Sect, he had actually informed the sect and received the Sect Leader’s consent. Who could have foreseen events unfolding so suddenly? The wager the Duskblade Sect seemed sure to win was instead lost. Not only had they gained nothing, but their own divine abilities and arts were now to be scrutinized by an outsider. This had incensed the Sect Leader.

Furious, the Sect Leader needed someone to blame. Consequently, Elder Yue now found his position within the sect precarious.

He naturally knew the Sect Leader was venting his anger upon him, but he couldn’t very well say anything.

Silently enduring it was his only course.

Fang Cun also offered a faint smile. Saying no more, he followed the two Elders directly towards the left back section of the Sword Forest.

At that exact moment, Fang Cun’s Dharma Ship was being guided by Duskblade Sect Stewards towards the left side of the sect. Soon, it reached a small valley.

One Steward said, “You may anchor the Dharma Ship here. You may also rest here ordinarily.”

“We stay here?” Yu Qingli glanced over and frowned slightly.

It was a small valley containing three or four huts that looked dilapidated, draped in spiderwebs.

He had a cleanly nature. Seeing this naturally displeased him, his mind calculating how much cleaning it would require to become barely habitable. Yet the Duskblade Sect stewards, seeing his expression, inwardly tensed, assuming he was very dissatisfied.

Having received instructions beforehand, however, they couldn’t back down. One merely said, “If you wish to stay, this is the place!”

Yu Qingli detected a touch of aggression in their words. Instantly frowning tighter, he fixed his gaze upon them.

The stewards gave a start, taking a step back in unison as if facing a formidable enemy.

“Haha, don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous! We mean no harm. Let’s first unload Young Master’s gifts!”

Xiao Qingliu, seeing this, hurriedly stepped forward with a smile to mediate.

Yu Qingli was rather surprised to see Xiao Qingliu being so polite and glanced at him.

The Duskblade Sect stewards, however, were unmoved. The orders came from above; they all knew the Sect Leader was highly displeased about losing the wager and having to open their own Scripture Hall to a Shoushan Sect disciple. Consequently, the arrangements couldn’t be lavish, and their attitude reflected that. Essentially: This is what our Duskblade Sect offers. Stay if you will; refuse if you choose.

It’s not us entering your Shoushan Sect Scripture Hall. Why should we cater to your demands?

Thinking this, they watched as Xiao Qingliu pulled Yu Qingli onto the Dharma Ship to start unloading things.

The stewards stood by watching, making no move to help as Xiao Qingliu and Yu Qingli hauled three chests onto the ground.

Then, Xiao Qingliu opened one chest. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“T-this…” Their voices actually trembled.

Xiao Qingliu grinned. “Our Young Master never likes taking advantage of others!”

…

Meanwhile, Fang Cun had arrived before the Scripture Hall, guided by the two Duskblade Sect Elders.

He saw the grand, ancient hall stretching nearly seven zhang high. Several disciples guarded its entrance, adding an air of solemnity.

Pushing the doors open, he first entered a ten-zhang square empty space. Beyond lay row upon row, column upon column, of black shelves.

These shelves were densely packed with all manner of classics and records, showcasing the depth of the Duskblade Sect’s heritage.

“Second Young Master Fang, feel free to look at whatever you wish. However…” Elder Yue forced a smile onto his face, “Before viewing, please… ah… inform our stewards…”

Fang Cun gave a slight nod. He stepped forward steadily, walking towards a shelf nearby. He picked up a jingyi scripture, leafed through it slowly, then put it back. He continued forward, seeming intent on first getting a general sense of what the Scripture Hall contained.

The two accompanying Elders and the nearby stewards watched him with tense, pained expressions.

Fang Cun, however, paid them no mind. He slowly paced up and down, flipping occasionally left and right. He soon discovered that the front area of the Duskblade Scripture Hall housed only certain records about Great Xia Qi Refiners, geographical chronicles, and notes on mountains and rivers of the mortal world. Classics truly pertaining to the Dao of cultivation were sparse.

Further in, he saw some study notes on techniques like soul-seizing or object control.

Going deeper still, the jingyi scriptures became even fewer. Barely any Foundation Building Realm techniques were visible.

Reaching the innermost area, the restrictions visibly thickened. The shelves there were made of jade and enhanced with spells specifically designed to repel dust, block energy, and protect precious scriptures.

Yet, these shelves stood entirely empty. Glancing over, nothing occupied them. It formed a stark contrast to the well-stocked shelves near the entrance.

“This… has been emptied out?”

Seeing this, Fang Cun inwardly chuckled coldly.

This Duskblade Sect was truly petty. His visit resulted from winning the wager fair and square, not begging. Yet, upon arrival, not only was there no welcoming banquet, but their Sect Leader didn’t even show himself. And that was forgivable. The most laughable part was this: within their Scripture Hall, all the precious technique manuals, the secret classics on the Seven Great Sword Forms, had all been cleared out!

So, what had he even come here for?

Couldn’t he just spend a few coins on the street for those geographical treatises and strange tales?

As Fang Cun walked into that final area and looked around casually, the two Duskblade Sect stewards and Elders grew visibly nervous.

They worried Fang Cun would notice the emptiness and question them. But the Sect Leader had forbidden it – what could they do? Frantically, they recalled their prepared excuses, rehearsing how they would answer Fang Cun’s inevitable inquiry…

Surprisingly, Fang Cun asked no questions.

He just swept his eyes briefly across the hall and then announced with a smile, “Alright, let’s go.”

The two Duskblade Sect Elders exchanged puzzled glances. One tentatively asked, “Does Young Master wish to retire and rest first?”

“No.”

Fang Cun shook his head, his smile widening. “I’ve seen the Duskblade Sect’s Scripture Hall. Naturally, now I take my leave!”