Chapter 380 Sunstone
As Fang Xingjian cultivated the Great Solar Divine Sword, he felt that something was different from usual. Various experiences regarding the Great Solar Divine Sword continuously came from the air, supporting his cultivation.
These were clearly the experiences of the experts who had cultivated the Great Solar Divine Sword in the Sacred Land for the past 200 years.
‘Excellent, excellent, excellent. To think that the third level mystical prints have such an amazing effect! They’re able to filter and change the direction of the exchange of information the ether particles go through to support my thinking process based on what I’m thinking. It greatly strengthens the effects of my cultivation.’
Such an effect was far too terrifying. It took Fang Xingjian only five hours to bring the Great Solar Divine Sword to level 40, and he was also very lucky to succeeded in synthesizing it into the Ether Sword Ripples, allowing the maximum temperature of the Ether Sword Ripples to once again increase by a few degrees.
Sensing the amazing effects of the third level of mystical prints, Fang Xingjian continued to train non-stop, slowly strengthening his sword arts. His battle prowess kept on increasing in leaps and bounds.
He felt that with his current Zenith Light Sword Formation, Ether Sword Ripples, and the Prodigious Demolition Sword, as well as with the support of the Unparalleled Sword Intent – Apex, he would be able to defeat a level 26 Conferred Knight.
…
Three days later, in the Regional Academy’s dining hall.
Fang Xingjian sat in the dining hall, where quite a few plates were filled with neatly arranged grilled meat. Diana was still wearing the chef uniform she had previously been wearing, grilling meat non-stop while she introduced the dishes. Her golden ponytail was swinging about, filled with vitality.
“This is extracted from the meat surrounding the heart of a Golden Wild Boar. Only 100 grams of such meat can be extracted from each Golden Wild Boar. It’s connected with the fascia [1] and it’s extremely chewy.
“This is the pork collar meat, grilled over rose charcoal. In order to bring out the full flavors of the pork collar, I’ve grilled it for a longer time, which brings out its crispiness. Give it a try.
“And this is meat from the Raging Buffalo. The lean and fat meat of this kind is extremely well-proportioned. I’ve specially grilled it to 26 degrees celsius, allowing for the fats to melt and for the gravy to seep in.
“Other than the original 12 types of seasonings, I’ve also invented this new jam, made from a combination of 18 different types of fruits. Give it a try.”
Fang Xingjian tried the dishes one by one, occasionally revealing an admiring gaze. Diana smiled happily when she saw this.
Right now, Diana’s face was covered in soot, but this still did not hinder her beauty. Her eyes, especially, had a serious gaze and a special charm to them.
Fang Xingjian nodded and said, “Not bad. My efforts to hire you have not been in vain.”
“I need to thank you as well. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know how long it would have take before I’d have been able to use ingredients so freely.” After saying this, Diana looked at Fang Xingjian with some hesitation.
Fang Xingjian noticed her hesitation and said. “Just be straightforward. What is it?”
“I hope that I can continue to operate my eatery. I wish to let even more people try out my new dishes.”
Fang Xingjian continued to chew on the grilled meat, as if he had not heard what Diana had just said. Just as Diana’s brows sank and she thought that there was no hope, Fang Xingjian spoke with indifference, “Go discuss it with Robert. Count me in for the investment. If you want to manage one, make it a better one.”
“Thank… Thank you, Xingjian!” Diana broke into a smile as brilliant as sunlight.
Just then, Robert walked in with a short, chubby man. Diana smiled and took her leave as the short, chubby man’s gaze got stuck to her, as if he had been dazzled by her beauty.
It was only when Robert coughed softly that he got back to his senses and thought to himself, ‘What a beautiful lady. it’s a pity that she already belongs to Fang Xingjian.’
However, when he lifted his head, he had already changed into a smiling expression as he said, “Lord Xingjian, I’m Johnny from the Great Western City’s City Guards Institution. The reason I’m here today is because I have something I need your help with.”
Fang Xingjian did not reply to Johnny, simply eating a piece of pork collar meat. The strong charred aroma and the texture of the meat seethed in his mouth, making him break into a smile.
When Johnny saw this scene, he thought to himself, ‘Robert was right. Fang Xingjian’s mood is the best when he’s having delicacies and this is also the time when he’s the easiest to talk to.’
Fang Xingjian threw a glance at Johnny and asked, “What do you need my help for?”
“It’s like this. Didn’t you manage to kill an escaped convict at the grilled meat eatery the other time? He’s a follower of the Terrene Shrine. After conducting investigations, we’ve managed to apprehend his accomplice. We’ve realized that he isn’t an ordinary escaped convict. The attempt of breaking out of prison this time around was successful because he’s received help from followers outside of the prison.”
Fang Xingjian nodded, eating meat as he said, “So you guys want me to help to catch the followers on the outside now?”
“Although the Terrene Shrine has been eradicated, the unapprehended fugitives had been secretly expanding in various parts of the Empire all this while. Wiping out the followers of the Terrene Shrine has also been an important task of the Empire. However, this time around, we’re afraid that we don’t have enough forces to apprehend them, and would thus like to invite Lord Fang Xingjian to assist us.”
Fang Xingjian’s lips twitched as he asked, “Other than myself, is there anyone else?”
Johnny replied compliantly, “Other than yourself and a Conferred Knight from our vanguard, we’ve also invited two other Conferred Knights.”
“I don’t have time. I won’t go,” Fang Xingjian rejected right away. He felt that he did not even have enough time for cultivation. How could he possibly have time to catch fugitives?
However, after he had given his reply, Johnny did not just leave, but he continued to wait there. Robert slowly walked up and whispered to Fang Xingjian, “Sir, it’s said that these surviving supporters of the Terrene Shrine have a piece of sunstone. Weren’t you asking me the other day if there’s anything that could accelerate the rate of cultivation of Effulgence Weapons? This sunstone should be able to do it.”
Although the potential of Fang Xingjian’s Ether Divine Art was very powerful, it was not a type of sword arts, and Fang Xingjian’s cultivation rate in this area had always been slow. This was why he had decided to give up on cultivating it altogether.
Because in the same amount of time, it was clear that cultivating his sword techniques could better improve his abilities.
Therefore, Fang Xingjian got Robert to find out if there was anything that could increase the rate of the cultivation of Effulgence Weapons.
The sunstone was one of the options.
The sunstone was a special type of stone which, due to a predestined encounter, corresponded to the waves of sunlight, and which stored a tremendous amount of light waves in it. Conferred Knights could directly absorb the light waves to strengthen the Ether Effulgence Weapon in their bodies.
However, these things were extremely rare. Robert had asked around, but one could not be found in the entire Great Western City. To think that the evil supporters of the Terrene Shrine could get their hands on such a thing!
Robert added, “This is news sent by the spies in Terrene Shrine. It should be reliable.”
Fang Xingjian nodded and asked, “It can’t be bought?”
Robert smiled bitterly and shook his head. “I’ve asked many people. There’s a demand, but no supply.”
“I understand.” Fang Xingjian then said to Johnny, “Count me in. When do we take action?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Johnny said happily. “And in order to not alarm our enemies, please do not leak out any news of the operation.”
[1] A fascia is a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin, that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia