Chapter 310 Analyzing
Sasa gave it some thought and did not think too much about it. He felt that his cultivation was too far stronger than Fang Xingjian’s, so it would not possible for Fang Xingjian to be able to solve the secrets of the dragon’s scale before he did.
Therefore, he nodded and said to Fang Xingjian, “Young man, you’re far too arrogant. An artifact from the Ancient Era isn’t as simple as you think. Without the guidance of a teacher, you won’t be able to find out anything.”
“This is none of your concern.” How could Fang Xingjian possibly show Sasa any respect? He just looked at the dragon’s scale before him and said, “Then shall I be the one to start with it today?”
Of course, it was impossible that Sasa would not be able to even wait for just this one day. Sasa let out a faint smile and said, “I wish you good luck.” With that, he left.
All the remaining assistants, as well as Leon, were all at a loss, and they looked at Fang Xingjian with strange gazes.
For Fang Xingjian to compete with a level 29 Conferred Knight… Although it was not a competition of their battle prowess, it still made him appear too arrogant. This was the case even despite Fang Xingjian holding the records of solving all seven levels mysteries of the Pantheon Monument and clearing the Killing Techniques Palace within a day.
However, these two records were more dependent on one’s talent. Understanding an Ancient Era’s artifact, on the other hand, required power and accumulation of experience.
Just based on the fact that Sasa’s ether synchronization rate was at 100% would mean his ability to receive information and investigate ancient artifacts was countless times stronger than that of Fang Xingjian.
So, no one present thought well of Fang Xingjian.
Even James, who was very familiar with Fang Xingjian’s talent, did not think well of him. This was because something like one’s capability in understanding the secrets of ancient artifacts was not very relevant to one’s talent. Instead, it required the perusing of materials and records in order to decipher words and images. Additionally, it also required the use of Heaven’s Perception to sense the information contained in the artifacts.
This type of research relied on one’s accumulated experience and ether synchronization rate. These were two areas in which Fang Xingjian was at an overwhelming disadvantage.
Till now, James still could not understand why Fang Xingjian was so persistent with this Ancient Era’s artifact.
He shook his head and asked, “Why did you have to go all the way for this?”
Fang Xingjian said, “I’m sorry. I have my own reasons for this.”
Even though Fang Xingjian knew his own reason, most of the other people would not see it this way. Before the afternoon was over, news of Fang Xingjian challenging Sasa had already spread through the entire academy.
In the room with the Ancient Era’s artifact, groups of staff from the Sword Tower had come to observe Fang Xingjian, as if they wanted to find out why Fang Xingjian was so confident.
Fang Xingjian ignored the gazes of the surrounding people and calmly read the characters inscribed on the dragon’s scale.
To the others, Fang Xingjian appeared to be looking at the artifact in a daze.
“Why isn’t Fang Xingjian checking reference materials?”
“Could it be that he recognizes the words on it?”
“How can that be possible? We’ve been trying to look for it for close to five days but have yet to find out what language they are in. How can he possibly recognize them?”
“He can’t possibly be in a daze, right?”
“This lad is really arrogant. He is 17 years old and has just completed the second transition for over a month. To think that he would dare to challenge the Sword Saint.”
“It’s good for youngsters to go through some hardship. Otherwise, others would feel that the geniuses in our Great Western Region are unbelievably arrogant.”
Although Fang Xingjian’s records of solving the mysteries of the Pantheon Monument and clearing the Killing Techniques Palace had attracted plenty of attention, there were people who were jealous of his results and the 50,000 gold which the Head of Department had given to him.
When it came down to it, both Conferred Knights and Knights had to fight for resources since there was a limit on them. Fang Xingjian had access to the Sacred Land with one hundred times the density, ate a tremendous amount of ferocious beasts daily, had plenty of cultivation resources, and had even taken 50,000 gold from the Sword Arts Department. Of course, this would mean that the resources others had access to would be lower.
Despite the fact that the resources might not be theirs even if Fang Xingjian had not taken them, they knew that, at least for now, the resources had all been snatched away by Fang Xingjian.
“Alright, alright. What are you guys looking at? Go back and do your work!” Leon let out a loud bellow like a lion and chased off the spectators. However, he stepped next to Fang Xingjian and said, “Hehe, some people are just jealous. Even if they can’t have something, they don’t want others to get it.
“Why don’t they think about it a little more? Even if you aren’t around how high up in the ranking can they get in the academy?”
With that, Leon looked at the dragon’s scale curiously and asked, “Do you have any problems studying it like this? Do you need me to get you some reference materials?”
Fang Xingjian was just about to shake his head, but he suddenly felt that this would attract too much attention. So, he said, “Can I trouble you to help get me some research materials about the Ancient Era?”
Leon said forthrightly, “Hehe, you can leave this to me.”
Despite the fact that Leon had chased away the crowd several times, there were still batches of people who came over to surround Fang Xingjian again. However, Fang Xingjian remained unfazed. That night, he had finished reading the sword technique on the dragon’s scale and was planning to start absorbing the sword intent within it.
He placed one of his palms on the dragon’s scale, sensing its fluctuating temperatures. The changes to the temperature was because of the fluctuating frequency of the dragon’s scale. The incessant change caused its temperature to change together with the frequency changes.
Fluctuating wave frequencies held different information. They were like the modern society’s electronic signals. Right now, what Fang Xingjian had to do was decipher these encrypted information and receive the recognition of the dragon’s scale. Only by doing this would he then be able to absorb the sword intent within.
Fang Xingjian placed his hand on the dragon’s scale, continuously using his Heaven’s Perception to read the information within. He then slowly tried to decipher the secrets within.
Soon, he felt as if his consciousness was sinking into a river with countless whirlpools and ripples. Only by tracking down the trails of the ripples clearly would he then be able to pierce through their weaknesses and remain intact as he swam in the river.
If he were to collide against the ripples and create new ripples, his consciousness would get flung out, and he would have to start all over again.
This was the first time Fang Xingjian had come across such encrypted means using ether technology. Therefore, he failed many times before he gradually got into the depths of the dragon’s scale.
Consecutive days passed by. Fang Xingjian and Sasa took turns to have contact with the dragon’s scale, and the people who came to observe Fang Xingjian got increasingly fewer. However, the people, who saw Fang Xingjian staring frequently at the artifact in a daze, thought even worse of Fang Xingjian’s eventual result.
…
In the Sword Arts Department’s Killing Techniques Palace, Hoult was practicing the Thunderbolt Sword Technique one move at a time. Norman, who had previously been by his side, suddenly dashed in excitedly, saying, “Hoult, do you know? Fang Xingjian got into trouble again.”
Hoult’s brows twitched as he asked, “What did he do?”
Norman exultantly described the whole matter to Hoult and then said with a smile, “I treated a senior from the Sword Tower to a meal and heard from him that Fang Xingjian has been staring at that metal slab in a daze. He’s only 17 and has never studied Ancient Era’s artifacts before. He must be a fool.”
Hoult stopped practicing the Thunderbolt Sword Technique. Although there was no expression on his face, he felt slightly happier now.
He spoke calmly, “It’s nothing strange for a 17 year old Conferred Knight, who has only completed the transition for over a month, to lose to the Sword Saint. Even if he were to lose, he’s still an unrivalled genius. I only pity him for wasting his time on such meaningless things.”
However, Hoult paused slightly before saying, “Norman, go try to find out more news about him. It’s quite interesting.”
Thinking of how Fang Xingjian would suffer a crushing defeat and be taught a lesson by the Sword Saint, Hoult still felt quite happy although he was unwilling to show it on his face. This was what it meant to take pleasure in the misfortune of others. It was human nature, and there was no exception even for Hoult.
He thought to himself, ‘Talent isn’t everything. For example, when researching a sword technique from the Ancient Era, talent isn’t something that’s absolutely necessary.’
Norman and Hoult had gotten very close to each other, so Norman understood what Hoult was thinking. He even added, “I’ve got it. I’ll go ask around for more updates.”
Hoult watched as Norman left excitedly and sighed, “The reason this person hasn’t made any progress after so many years is because he isn’t focused on his martial arts.” However, the slight smile on Hoult’s face betrayed his facade.