Chapter 285: 261 Treasures, Part 1

A few days later.

The Li family.

Zhang Rongfang stood with his hands behind his back, looking up as the fallen leaves scattered overhead.

A cool breeze gently blew, winter had passed, and new leaves were already replacing the old.

“I’m sorry, ultimately I couldn’t save your brother and sister in time.”

He bowed his head, looking at the young girl who walked out of the room not far away.

The girl was dressed in plain white, with a white hairband binding her black hair, and there were faint traces of tears and swelling at the corners of her eyes.

It was Li Guanyue’s youngest daughter, Li Huansha.

From the beginning, she had been wary of her father’s actions. So when she was hurriedly taken onto the ship at night, she had already timely sent a message to Zhang Rongfang’s subordinate.

Unfortunately…

“It’s not your fault, they weren’t blessed… too greedy…”

Li Huansha placed the tea tray on the stone table and gently poured tea for Zhang Rongfang.

“Actually, a long time ago I had imagined this day would come, but didn’t expect it to arrive so suddenly.”

At that time, she had found a place to hide early on the ship.

Though she didn’t know why those villains hadn’t looked for her, she survived regardless.

“About your father… one leg and one eye…” Zhang Rongfang said softly.

“Maybe it’s for the best, so he can settle down in his later years. I’ll take care of him, and he won’t engage in deeds that go against his conscience again…” Li Huansha lowered her head.

She paused.

Suddenly, she raised her head.

“May I ask, who were those two on the ship… what was their background? Was it really not you…”

“It wasn’t.” Zhang Rongfang replied candidly.

He did not lie.

His people never intended to be so ruthless, only to capture the Li family and stage a double act.

At most, just incapacitating a few as a scare tactic.

He hadn’t intended to annihilate them completely.

After all, he wasn’t that heartless. If it weren’t for the need to practice hard skills for the Thirteen Protectors, he wouldn’t have resorted to such measures.

Regrettably, in this world…

“I understand…”

Li Huansha looked into his sincere eyes and chose to trust him.

Indeed, given the other’s strength and power, if he wanted to act, there was no need for such elaborate scheming.

She couldn’t imagine that Zhang Rongfang’s people were merely late in taking action…

Li Huansha remained silent for a moment, then finally took out a thin booklet from her sleeve, placing it on the stone table and pushing it over.

“This is the Li family’s inherited Thirteen Protectors training manual, the original text. Familiarize yourself with it first. There are many key techniques and omitted parts that my father will specially explain to you.”

“Thank you.” A hint of realization flashed in Zhang Rongfang’s eyes. He reached out solemnly to take the booklet.

“Inform your father, I’ve arranged for someone to search for the culprits. In addition, I’ve started investigating the organization called Hundred Transformations he mentioned. I believe there will be results soon.”

“Thank you, young master… your kindness…” Li Huansha bowed her knees to kneel.

“Absolutely not!” Zhang Rongfang hurriedly stepped forward to support her. “I’m just doing what anyone would do.”

“No… it’s the Li family who acted without virtue first. If it weren’t for your magnanimity… rest assured, in the future my father and I have agreed to follow your lead!” Li Huansha declared firmly.

“Alas… is this necessary…” Zhang Rongfang sighed, yet he was already planning in his mind that perhaps in the future, Li Guanyue could be responsible for training a team of Hard Skill experts.

He considered that if he were to establish himself in this world, he must control a force capable of aiding him in protecting his loved ones and assets.

After all, he was just one person, stretched too thin.

But ordinary forces were fragile when faced with Spiritual Veins.

Therefore… this matter requires careful planning.

After leaving the Li family’s premises.

Zhang Rongfang returned to Agarwood Palace with the secret booklet and studied it carefully.

He researched it for seven days.

During those seven days, Li Guanyue woke up midway, rested for a few days, and then came to find Zhang Rongfang. Upon learning his true identity, Li Guanyue was shocked and immediately provided detailed guidance on the shortcomings of his Hard Skills.

This time, he imparted the essential experiences of the family’s Martial Arts without reservation.

Under his guidance, Zhang Rongfang swiftly corrected the deficiencies he had in the Iron Shirt practice.

Without using any attribute points, he advanced directly to the fifth level of the Thirteen Protectors training.

This fifth level was equivalent to the sixth level of the Iron Shirt and even stronger. Some untrained weak points were also compensated for.

The entire Hard Skill had nine levels, corresponding to the Nine-Grade System. Each level allowed one to fight and overcome higher levels, with extremely remarkable defense power.

The term ’Thirteen’ in Thirteen Protectors referred to Li Cunxiao’s ranking as the thirteenth, not the structure of the technique.

In no time, more than half a month had passed…

Heavy rain like mist.

Citong had been experiencing continuous rain for three days.

The number of tourists and pilgrims visiting Agarwood Palace had decreased considerably.

The transplanted saplings and shrub seedlings within the palace were now radiating a vibrant green glow, flourishing with vitality.

In the central area of the palace, within the study.

Zhang Rongfang donned his taoist robe and held a letter he had just received.

The letter was sent from Wushan Prefecture, written by his sister Zhang Rongyu.

The content of the letter explained that everything was well in Wushan Prefecture, so he need not worry.

The letter was relayed through the Rebel Sect, circulating through other places before finally reaching Citong.

This was to avoid the discovery that Zhang Ying was in fact Zhang Rongfang.

Only a few from Golden Wing Pavilion’s Eastern Sect knew this fact now.

Like Qingsu and Celestial Maiden.

But now only Qingsu remained, as Celestial Maiden had long vanished.

Therefore, aside from his sister’s letter, he had another one. It was from Qingsu and Dang Mountain Tiger Ding Yu.

Qingsu was a proven warrior of Golden Wing Pavilion, regarded as trustworthy, and it was reassuring to entrust some tasks to her.

As for Dang Mountain Tiger Ding Yu, he possessed exceptional talent, and Zhang Rongfang hoped to nurture him to become a key aide in the future.

Ding Yu has already broken through the Ninth Grade for some time. With his talent, once he finds the right Super Grade pathway and External Medicine, he can easily advance to Super Grade.

After all, Super Grade is indeed the backyard for those with extraordinary gifts.

Those without talent shouldn’t even think about it.

Putting away the letter, Zhang Rongfang gently lit it with the candle flame, threw it into the charcoal brazier, waited until it turned completely black, and then reached out to crush it.

“Now, the Thirteen Guilds Horizontal Training has reached the Fifth Grade height, already at the entry level. The complete subsequent cultivation technique is also mastered.

It’s just the right time to use attribute points for direct enhancement. From Fifth Grade to Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, I wonder if these attribute points will be enough.”

He closed his eyes to open the attribute panel, looking at the accumulated 22 free attribute points.

“22 points, if used entirely on life, could directly break a hundred, entering a new level.

So… should I enhance life first, or Hard Skill?”

Standing in front of the window in the Dao Palace study, Zhang Rongfang fell into thought.

If the 22 points could bring the Thirteen Guilds Horizontal Training to the Ninth Grade, it would have a tremendous effect on him.

By that time, his body would not fear attacks from Ninth-Grade Experts; as long as it’s not Divine Weapons or explosive weapons, he could be immune to general damage.

Even for Divine Weapons and explosive weapons, their damage would be greatly reduced.

This was extremely appealing to Zhang Rongfang.

However… after hesitating for a moment.

He decided to abandon this idea.

“Forget it; now I am worry-free in terms of food and clothing, and my safety is sufficiently assured. I’m not lacking force for now. Perhaps I should enhance life first and then consider other things.”

Suddenly, he was startled.

“No, I forgot that to enhance the grade, I must first raise life by ten points… then there’s no choice.”

With such calculations, 22 attribute points could never elevate the Thirteen Guilds Horizontal Training to the Ninth Grade.

Immediately, without hesitation, he threw all the attribute points into the life attribute.

The original life value of 78 points quickly increased amidst continuous flickering.

To 80.

85.

90.

95….

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang’s heart began to accelerate, his entire body started heating up, his blood circulation, endocrine circulation, and all internal organs began to operate faster.

100!!

Finally, the life value stopped at this complete number.

No movement.

As if all previous speculative feelings were merely illusions.

Zhang Rongfang waited for a while, finding himself still as before, two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and he shook his head with a mild chuckle.

“It seems I was overthinking it…..” he reached out to close the window shutters.

Creak.

The wooden window gently closed.

The light quickly dimmed.

Then it turned gray.

Finally, it turned black.

Pitch darkness.

Zhang Rongfang was shocked, feeling all the light in his eyes began to disappear, all objects in his vision, colors, gloss, all turned into a dark fog that was too dense to dissolve.

The black fog rapidly engulfed everything.

He couldn’t see anything.

This blind state did not last long.

Perhaps for a minute, or maybe ten minutes.

Soon, minute light appeared again before Zhang Rongfang’s eyes.

Gradually, the light increased more and more, becoming brighter and brighter.

Soon after, his vision completely returned to normal.

Zhang Rongfang opened his eyes wide, still standing in front of the closed window.

Everything just now seemed like an illusion.

Immediately, he quickly closed his eyes and opened the attribute panel.

The previous Cultivation of Literature and Martial Arts remained unchanged, only that Martial Arts had an additional item for the Thirteen Guilds Horizontal Training.

What truly made his heart tremble was.

A new major item appeared just below life.

’Special Trait: Super Vision – Darklight Vision.’

“Special Trait….. Super Vision….”

A storm surged in Zhang Rongfang’s heart instantly.

For so long….

For such a long time!!

He finally saw what continuous increases in life might bring!

Immediately, he focused his attention on his eyes.

Vaguely, he felt there was something different about his eyes.

It was as if the world’s light was more vivid and full.

He closed his eyelids.

He could still see most of the outside environment through his eyelids.

Just that the red glow of blood flow within the eyelids slightly interfered with the clarity.

Overall, it was as if a normal person was draped with a transparent red filter.

He reopened his eyes.

There was an inexplicable excitement in Zhang Rongfang’s heart.

All along, he only thought of life as a necessary aspect to enhance the limit of his martial arts training.

But now…. everything has changed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep