Monarch Night
Chapter 140 - 98: Sharp Formation, Star Formation!

Chapter 140: Chapter 98: Sharp Formation, Star Formation!

"It’s none of your business whether it’s early or not. Is it for you to use?"

Gao Qingyu gave Huang Yifan a white look, blatantly retorting without mercy.

"I can’t be bothered with you, you should worry about how to coax your wife instead."

Huang Yifan huffed and turned to leave through the window.

Old Man Shen huffed as well, cursing indignantly, "What kind of manners does this Huang Yifan have!"

Gao Qingyu smiled and was about to leave.

He really was in a rush to go home and appease his wife. With the trouble stirred up by Huang Yifan and Li Changkong, Gao Qingyu felt uneasy. He knew his wife’s temper well; after suffering such a grievance, it was doubtful he could win her over even if he acted humbly for a while.

It was truly a sin.

Fang Che worked out the points and asked, "Mountain Master, have you found the Yixin Sect’s sub-branch?"

Gao Qingyu, who was already at the doorstep, immediately turned around, "You know where Yixin Sect’s sub-branch is?"

"Do you have points?"

"Yes!"

"Under the courtyard of number thirty-five at Xiangyang Mansion," Fang Che said. "I overheard it yesterday."

Gao Qingyu looked at him deeply.

"Gather the men, let’s go!"

A night raid amidst the howling wind and torrential rain.

By dawn, Fang Che had another four hundred and twenty Merit Points in hand.

Now his total Merit Points amounted to four thousand nine hundred.

Points that could be used: four thousand five hundred!

Rich overnight!

Only then did Gao Qingyu rush off as if his backside was on fire, "Wife, listen to my explanation..."

Fang Che didn’t go back. He rested for a while at Old Man Shen’s, then went to class and entered the Spiritual Energy Gravity Cultivation Room, desperately striving to enhance his cultivation!

...

On the other side.

Dongfang Sansan received the news.

Replying with just a few simple words: "Understood."

After pondering for a while,

He sent further instruction: "Remind Yueying to be more vigilant; this Fang Che is a figure painstakingly cultivated by Yixin Sect, his motives are extremely dangerous; she must not be exposed, and must not underestimate him. Her position is of utmost importance, nothing must go wrong."

After sending the message, Dongfang Sansan picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Frowning in thought.

After a long time, he sighed softly, "Still too young."

"How to proceed further with this matter?"

"Rough tactics might work at the lower levels of Yixin Sect, but at higher ranks, isn’t the risk too great? Too many loopholes?"

"There must be ways to remedy these errors; a reminder is necessary. Continuing this way is too simplistic; if caught, all hope would be lost."

He sipped the tea, contemplating deeply.

Eyes staring blankly ahead, lips murmuring to himself.

"... Conditions to exploit... If promoted to a Hall Master... If one could break through to King level... Establishing a position at Baiyun Martial Academy? How to increase trust on the other side? ... It would be better if there were intermediaries... It would be perfect if there were backers at the Main Sect..."

"... Yin Shen Palace is not enough; it’s fine for now, but absolutely insufficient for the future, the status is too low... If this step can be achieved in the future... how should the next step unfold... The points of conflict among the several Vice Sect Hierarchs of Wei Wo Zheng Sect..."

"Right! The points of conflict among the Vice Sect Hierarchs!"

Dongfang Sansan banged down his teacup and began to search.

"... This is of the utmost importance; it could be exploited to advantage in the future... but it’s unclear if we can reach that step now..."

"... But I must review these, ready to use at any time... Yes, this Bei Mingxin, this... It seems that an internal strife within Yixin Sect won’t break out too soon... What resources does the seventh Vice Sect Master have?"

If Dongfang Sansan’s thoughts could be visualized, they would be incomprehensible even to immortals.

Hundreds and thousands of messages leaped and interwove in his mind.

Continuously recombining, separating, colliding in pairs, or in larger groups, then dispersing again.

And his expression grew more serious and solemn.

"... Not now, far from adequate... Fang Che is far behind... that Duan Xiyang..."

"... How should the Guardians tailor their support perfectly at each stage... The dynastic power cannot be ignored either, the national destiny and public sentiment are the roots; Guarding the Hall... do we need to pull people away from there?..."

"... Could Huang Yifan leak information... That Baizhan Blade is quite suitable... Will the Sect Leader of Wei Wo Zheng Sect make an appearance... Where is he?"

"... Who is playing this game of chess against me?"

Dongfang Sansan mumbled to himself, calculating.

His gaunt face bore nothing but solemnity.

Xue Fuxiao stood at the door outside.

He had come to find Dongfang Sansan for a matter, also to alleviate some of Dongfang Sansan’s fatigue, but as he reached the door, he felt the immense Divine Thought within, almost like the fervor of a million-strong army in battle.

With a soft sigh, he turned and stood his ground, silently playing the role of protector.

Too exhausted!

Sansan had been thinking like this for who knows how many years; he was truly too tired.

...

Fang Che emerged from the Spiritual Energy Gravity Cultivation Room, radiant with vigor.

Fourth grade Innate Grandmaster!

Finally, he had made a breakthrough.

The Fifth grade was a barrier.

Fang Che needed to consolidate his gains.

So he took this opportunity to visit Old Man Shen once more.

"Master Shen, hello."

Seeing the wine in Fang Che’s hands, Old Man Shen couldn’t help but laugh, "I thought you would have made your choice that same day. I didn’t expect you to be this patient, you rascal."

Fang Che chuckled, "I had to think about what I needed first. Isn’t that why I couldn’t wait to come and consult with you today?"

Old Man Shen huffed, "Two jars of wine to get me to help you choose? Is this how you bribe an official?"

"This is a token of respect for you, not a payment for your help."

Fang Che grinned and said.

Upon hearing this, Old Man Shen furrowed his brow and asked, "Then, what about my reward?"

"None!"

Fang Che spread his hands and then smiled, "If I really brought a reward, I reckon I would never be able to enter your gate again from now on."

Old Man Shen couldn’t help but laugh heartily, "You, lad, really suit my taste! Hahaha..."

Fang Che’s words had truly resonated with him.

Although I might be crippled, who am I after all?

Could it be that I truly covet your two jars of wine? A few silver pieces as a reward?!

Seeking Old Man Shen’s help was something Fang Che had planned for a long time.

In the entire Martial Arts Academy, there was no second person more familiar with the Dian ji Building than this old man.

And there were few others who understood the characteristics of all high-level martial arts as well as he did.

While he was crippled, it was precisely because he was incapacitated and couldn’t go out that he had dedicated all his energy to this.

If anyone said that Old Man Shen was the most erudite person in the Baiyun Martial Academy, he might not be.

But, if it comes to familiarity with the Academy’s martial arts manuals, if Old Man Shen claims second place, then no one dares to claim first!

"What do you want to practice?"

Old Man Shen asked.

"Spear, sword, halberd."

Fang Che was very decisive.

Old Man Shen was surprised, "You learned saber from your master, and now you are looking for spear, sword, and halberd in Baiyun Martial Academy?"

"Yes."

Old Man Shen couldn’t help but sit up straight and said, "You should know the saying, ’Grasp all, lose all.’"

"Out of these four, three are ones I’m merely familiar with or have practiced, but I can only have one mainstay."

Fang Che spoke softly, "But for the other three, I also want to understand the power after consolidating energy. Teacher, you know what I mean."

Old Man Shen closed his eyes and said softly, "That will take up much of your mainstay’s time."

"Don’t worry, Teacher, I’m a genius."

"You genius, my foot!"

Old Man Shen cursed.

Still a bit worried, he couldn’t help saying, "I suggest you reconsider it."

"The student has already considered it well."

Fang Che said earnestly.

He called himself ’student’ with a serious voice and a solemn expression.

Old Man Shen naturally understood what this meant, sighed, and said, "Okay. I’ll take you there. But I’m only explaining and advising—you have to make the final choice yourself. Understand this."

"Yes. The student understands!"

Fang Che bowed deeply.

Old Man Shen stood up and led Fang Che into the Dian ji Building.

After entering,

there was a button nearby; Old Man Shen pressed it.

Instantly, the great doors of the Dian ji Building shut.

Normally, if someone came to choose a consolidating energy technique for practice, it would just be a confidentiality issue, and the doors wouldn’t shut.

Only for those talents capable of keeping a card up their sleeve did such a treatment exist.

Because although the Dian ji Building was usually not crowded, there were times when several people would come in one after the other.

If someone happened to see, there was a possibility of leaking secrets.

This was also why Fang Che decided to come after classes in the afternoon.

The rules of Baiyun Martial Academy decreed that in the evening, the Dian ji Building closed its doors. Except for those choosing consolidating energy cultivation techniques, no one else was allowed to come!

Now, as Old Man Shen accompanied Fang Che to make a selection without a doorkeeper, anyone could just walk in.

What if someone did come by?

Old Man Shen, being an old hand in Jianghu, decided to put an end to future troubles altogether.

Old Man Shen led Fang Che into the building.

They stepped directly onto the staircase, winding their way up floor by floor.

Fang Che followed silently,

all the way to the top floor.

There was just one room.

Shelves surrounded it, each holding a jade scroll.

"All of the Academy’s highest-grade consolidating energy techniques only go up to Elder level. If you want something higher, that depends on your future fortune."

Fang Che nodded, "Understood."

"Sword, spear, saber, halberd—they are all on that shelf."

Old Man Shen walked to the shelf, "This is the sword, four techniques in total: Mountain Formation, Water Formation, Flame Formation, Sharp Formation."

Without a second thought, Fang Che immediately said, "Sharp Formation!"

Old Man Shen was astonished, "So decisive?"

"Hehe."

"There are three kinds of Sharp Sword Technique: Sun, Moon, Star. Each one has at least two and at most five variations."

Old Man Shen said, "You can only choose one."

Fang Che was aware of this, all consolidating energy form Techniques had only Sun, Moon, Star three variations.

"I choose Star Formation."

Fang Che was still without hesitation.

Old Man Shen fell silent for a moment before saying, "I advise you to reconsider. The Star Formation is difficult to learn and master; in the early and middle stages, it is not as good as Sun or Moon."

"But in the later stages, the Star Formation has an advantage."

"How many, though, have reached the later stages with Star Formation? Or rather, how many since ancient times have reached those stages? Moreover, the methods of consolidating energy here only go up to the early stage, not even the middle stage. Everything afterwards depends on your future fortune."

"I still choose Star Formation."