Fang Han's victory over the "Divine Power Puppet" with nothing but his bare fists left the noble youths and disciples of aristocratic families in awe. His physical strength and bone-hard resilience were simply incomprehensible. Yet, none of them pressed too hard to investigate, as each family likely had its own secrets—perhaps Fang Han's strength came from some hidden martial technique passed down through the Fang family. They didn't dare dig too deep.
At that moment, Fang Han had firmly established his standing among them. He was no longer someone to be looked down upon, but rather, someone with considerable value—worth cultivating and drawing closer. Liu Kang, the young prince of Zhenyuan, and Princess Hongyi quickly recognized this.
The world of aristocratic families was full of intrigue and competition, and the trials in the outer sect of the Yuhua Sect were only the beginning. Each year, the competition between the tens of thousands of outer disciples for the limited inner disciple spots was a brutal affair, often more vicious than court politics. Fang Han knew this, and he was confident that he could navigate this competitive environment with ease, gradually rising in strength to one day become a true disciple like Fang Qingxue.
At that point, even if he wanted to return to the Fang family as a servant, they would no longer have the guts to take him back.
As Liu Kang and Princess Hongyi approached him, Fang Han spoke with a measured tone, aware of the opportunity at hand. "We all have our strengths. My bones are just a result of some martial training, but your swordsmanship, both of you, is exceptional. It's a unique style that can kill in an instant. Now that we're all outer disciples, we should look out for one another in the future."
This hint of camaraderie was exactly what he needed. He knew that, as an outer disciple, without forming alliances, survival would be nearly impossible. Besides, there was so much he still didn't know about this world, especially about concepts like the "Subterranean Demon" that he had never heard of before. He needed to learn from others to fill in those gaps.
"Of course, as fellow sect members, we should support each other," Liu Kang said with a nod.
Princess Hongyi, while speaking, seemed distracted by the ongoing trials. "Once the assessments are done, we can all head to collect our assigned items from the sect," she said, eyes lingering on the competition.
As the test continued, several candidates were eliminated, but others, especially those of royal or noble birth, made quick work of the "Divine Power Puppets" with their incredible weapons and skills, making it clear that their power was on a different level. This reality sparked a cautious awareness in Fang Han—his raw strength alone wouldn't be enough to keep up with the most powerful among the nobles.
At long last, the trial ended. Of the hundreds of aristocratic disciples present, only about twenty made it through to become outer disciples.
"Those who failed the trial, please remain here in the hall and wait. We'll send celestial cranes to escort you off the mountain shortly," one of the examiners announced. "Those who passed, follow me. It's time to collect your necessary items. You are now outer disciples of the Yuhua Sect. From now on, your words and actions must adhere strictly to the sect's rules."
Fang Han's curiosity spiked as he followed the others to the inner sanctum of the sect, a place filled with storerooms containing the necessary items for each disciple.
Upon reaching the storage chamber, the examiner opened a large chest for Fang Han, revealing a set of garments, several jade scrolls, a sharkskin sword, and some books.
"The Daoist robe here is made from five types of silkworms—heavenly, earth, golden, silver, and black. It's woven with numerous spiritual herbs, making it resistant to poisons, insects, and even blades. You will find it invaluable when traveling through dangerous lands," the examiner explained.
He continued, listing the uses of several talismans: a cleansing talisman, a dust-avoiding talisman, a soulfire talisman, a water-gathering talisman, and a blood-stopping talisman. All of these items would be essential for the trials and adventures ahead.
Finally, the examiner drew a long, gleaming sword from the chest. "This is the Yuhua Sect's Demon-Slaying Sword. While it's not a flying sword, it's forged from a special material and can cut through iron like clay. It's also imbued with Yang energy, capable of slaying evil spirits and warding off demons. When you advance to inner disciples, the sect will grant you flying swords."
Fang Han carefully stored his items. He was particularly impressed by the sword, but his focus quickly shifted to the books. These contained the basic martial arts of the Yuhua Sect: the "Pine Crane Longevity Fist," "Flying Spirit Soft Bone Body," and "Dragon Form Flying Tiger Step."
The real treasure was in the jade books, which were far more than mere reading material. As Fang Han opened the first book, a white-robed figure materialized within, demonstrating each move of the martial technique while a voice explained the intricacies of the style. The experience was far beyond anything Fang Han had encountered before.
"What is this?" Fang Han marveled. "This book has images and sounds... Is it some sort of illusion?"
Despite his confusion, Fang Han felt his understanding of the martial techniques deepening. After reading through the other two jade books, he felt his inner strength expand.
"Today's battle with the 'Divine Power Puppet' has solidified my foundation. My body feels like steel, and my skin is as smooth as the finest silk," Fang Han thought as he gazed at his reflection. "My organs are as tough as iron now. I'm stronger than before!"
His body seemed to hum with power. Every movement, every breath felt more solid, and he could feel the medicinal power of the Nine-Aperture Golden Pill coursing through him, further enhancing his physical strength.
"One battle, one breakthrough," Fang Han thought with a smile, ready to face whatever challenges the future held.