A smile appeared on Meng Fan's face. Thirty Spirit Stones were safely in his hands.
He understood Liu Yanping's character well enough to know that this girl would never default on a debt!
After stepping down from the stage, Liu Yanping walked over. Meng Fan smiled broadly and said, "Congratulations, Senior Sister Liu, and felicitations! You've finally achieved what you set out to do."
His smile was utterly mercenary, transparent at a single glance.
Liu Yanping rolled her eyes, produced thirty Spirit Stones, and handed them to Meng Fan.
Meng Fan didn't even catch where Liu Yanping had retrieved the Spirit Stones from, which only confirmed his suspicion that she possessed a storage artifact.
Those kinds of gadgets were hideously expensive.
Even the smallest capacity, barely a cubic meter, started at a price of a thousand Spirit Stones.
Meng Fan couldn't help feeling a pang of envy!
Yet some things could not be envied into existence, especially having been born into a fortunate womb.
Meng Fan carefully tucked away the thirty Spirit Stones. Clutching such a vast fortune, he felt a sudden, nervous wariness toward everyone he looked at.
"Such ambition!" Liu Yanping looked at Meng Fan and couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Meng Fan could only offer a sheepish chuckle.
Liu Yanping's eyes darted around, and she continued, "My next opponent is Li Changqing. That fellow is a cultivator in the True Martial Realm, much stronger than I am. Go check out his swordsmanship again and see if you can spot any flaws."
Meng Fan gave a wry smile. "An opponent in the True Martial Realm? Senior Sister, you haven't even stepped into the True Martial Realm yet—aren't you being a bit too greedy?"
Liu Yanping said indignantly, "What of the True Martial Realm? I already have half a foot across the threshold. Li Changqing is only at the 1st Layer of True Martial. If I can crush him in swordsmanship, I still have a fighting chance!"
Meng Fan shook his head. The gap was simply too vast.
If he were in Liu Yanping's shoes, he might stand a chance.
But for Liu Yanping to fight Li Changqing, relying merely on a word or two of last-minute coaching, winning would be far too difficult.
"Don't be so defeatist! Just look at Li Changqing's swordsmanship first and try your best. What if I win? As long as you're willing to help, I'll give you ten Spirit Stones even if I lose. Deal?"
Since it had come to this, Meng Fan naturally wouldn't refuse.
How could he possibly have a grudge against Spirit Stones?
"Very well then," Meng Fan muttered offhandedly.
With that, he was dragged along by Liu Yanping to watch Li Changqing's matches.
Li Changqing still had two matches left; it wouldn't be until the third match that Liu Yanping faced him, giving Meng Fan plenty of time to observe Li Changqing's swordsmanship.
And the swordsmanship Li Changqing displayed was something Meng Fan had never seen anyone practice back at the Sword Pavilion—it was a brand-new set of sword techniques.
This piqued Meng Fan's interest!
"What is the name of the sword technique Li Changqing is cultivating?" Meng Fan asked Liu Yanping.
"Surging Waves Sword Technique. It's a technique created by Elder Li himself, not widely circulated within the Shushan Sword Sect, and very few disciples practice it," Liu Yanping replied.
It appeared that Meng Fan had never practiced this sword technique either, which left her feeling somewhat helpless.
Yet that was only natural. If Meng Fan had even practiced the Surging Waves Sword Technique, it would simply be too preposterous!
Chapter 27: The Sword God Monument in the Sword God Hall
Meng Fan watched the sword technique with rapt attention. Without a doubt, it was powerful—after all, it came from the hand of an elder.
Yet this Li Changqing clearly had not yet refined the technique to a state of mastery.
Even from just the first match, Meng Fan had already spotted three flaws in Li Changqing's swordsmanship.
During the second match, Meng Fan spotted two more flaws.
Meng Fan once again led Liu Yanping away to a remote, open spot so she could cram for the exam.
"Didn't you say you've never studied the Surging Waves Sword Technique?" Liu Yanping asked curiously when she saw Meng Fan leading her here again.
Meng Fan stated directly, "Though I have never studied the Surging Waves Sword Technique, that does not prevent me from discovering the flaws within his swordsmanship."
"I have found a total of five flaws in his technique that you can exploit. Listen carefully!"
"The first flaw is..."
...
...
Meng Fan spoke eloquently, leaving Liu Yanping dumbfounded.
Only at this moment did she suddenly realize just how monstrously talented Meng Fan truly was.
Previously, when Meng Fan claimed he had never studied the Azure Sea Tide-Turning Sword Technique or the Bright Moon Sword Technique, she had assumed he was talking nonsense.
How could someone who had never studied those two sword techniques know them inside and out?
Yet now, she half-believed it.
The junior brother standing before her genuinely might never have studied those two sword techniques.
The only reason this fellow could know them so thoroughly was due to his astonishing comprehension. Merely by watching a sword technique a few times, he could unearth its flaws and vulnerabilities.
Wasn't this... simply too monstrous?
Did geniuses with such terrifying comprehension truly exist in this world?
Whether Liu Yanping believed it or not, such a genius was standing right in front of her, alive and breathing.
"Stop daydreaming and listen closely!" Meng Fan lightly scolded Liu Yanping, snapping her back to her senses.
Liu Yanping looked at Meng Fan and sighed inwardly.
After running into Meng Fan previously, she had looked into his background.
She knew he was a menial disciple who had been reassigned to the Sword Pavilion as a sword-guarding disciple.
Crucially, this man possessed a miscellaneous-grade Spiritual Root.
A genius disciple with heaven-defying comprehension, yet saddled with a miscellaneous-grade Spiritual Root.
One could only say that while the heavens opened a skylight for you, they welded the door shut at the same time.
It was impossible to tell whether this was fair or unfair!
A short while later, the match between Liu Yanping and Li Changqing began.
Meng Fan quietly watched the bout. This time his mindset was much more peaceful, as he didn't expect Liu Yanping to actually win.
After all, even if she lost, ten Spirit Stones would still be credited to his account.
He was content!
In the end, Liu Yanping lost the match.
Though during the exchange she had come close to suppressing Li Changqing on several occasions, she always fell just short.
There was no helping it; the gap in cultivation was right there.
Even though Meng Fan had pointed out the flaws in Li Changqing's swordsmanship, she was unable to exploit those vulnerabilities perfectly.
Still, Liu Yanping was already delighted. Under normal circumstances, she should have been "annihilated in a second" by Li Changqing.
Instead, she had lasted a long time, and even briefly held a slight upper hand—it could truly be called an evenly matched fight.
Though she fell short by a single move in the end, she was already satisfied.
"Ten Spirit Stones, not a single one missing." Stepping down from the arena, Liu Yanping immediately handed ten Spirit Stones to Meng Fan.
She knew Meng Fan had been waiting for this.
"It's a bit of a pity. If we had more time to prepare and you studied those flaws in his swordsmanship more thoroughly, you might actually have beaten him," Meng Fan said with a hint of helplessness.
"Haha, a person shouldn't be too greedy. I've already turned quite a few heads in this sect grand competition," Liu Yanping laughed and said.
Meng Fan nodded in agreement.
The fact that Liu Yanping could defeat Yang Xiaohua and spar with Li Changqing for so long proved she had indeed performed exceptionally well.
Pity that he himself had no chance to participate in the matches.
Given his current cultivation, he had already surpassed the level of a menial disciple and should have been participating in the outer disciple trials.
Relying on his mastery of the Sword Dao, even if he encountered disciples at the 6th and 7th Layers of Qi Refinement in this competition, he would still have been able to put up a fight.
Perhaps he might even have had a shot at breaking into the top fifty among the outer disciples—a glorious achievement.
Shaking his head, Meng Fan cast these meaningless thoughts out of his mind.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. It was better for him to quietly cultivate in the Sword Pavilion.
One day, he was destined to astonish everyone!
Meng Fan reminded himself in his heart that he must learn to endure loneliness.
After Liu Yanping lost to Li Changqing, her matches for the day were successfully concluded.
As for Meng Fan, he continued to watch other people's bouts. During this sect grand competition, he witnessed many sword techniques he had never seen before.
After all, once Shushan disciples reached the True Martial Realm, they rarely returned to the Sword Hall, meaning Meng Fan couldn't see many sword techniques there anymore.
This sect grand competition had truly been a feast for his eyes.
Moreover, Meng Fan even caught sight of Li Xuerou's match.
That girl, Li Xuerou, had come from the same village as him.
Back when their village was blood-bathed by the Sky Eagle Demonic Cult, only Meng Fan and Li Xuerou had survived, after which they joined the Shushan Sword Sect.
Over this period, Meng Fan had remained a menial disciple, while Li Xuerou had climbed step by step from a menial disciple to an outer disciple, and then an inner disciple!
Compared to Meng Fan, Li Xuerou's aptitude was truly astonishing!
In this grand competition, Li Xuerou ultimately secured the seventh-place ranking among the inner disciples.
Top ten among the inner disciples!
This girl was truly exceptional, Meng Fan thought with a smile.
Meng Fan was paying attention to Li Xuerou, but Li Xuerou failed to notice Meng Fan in the crowd.
Naturally, she was a pampered darling of the heavens, dazzlingly bright upon the stage.
While Meng Fan was merely an inconspicuous speck in the crowd.
Aside from Li Xuerou, Meng Fan also noticed someone else—someone who had previously wanted him dead.
Qian Lechi.
Elder Qian's son.
It was this very Qian Lechi who had previously sent Steward Wang to deal with him, ultimately banishing him to the Sword Pavilion as a sword-guarding disciple.
Yet in his wildest dreams, this fellow would never have imagined that upon arriving at the Sword Pavilion, Meng Fan would thrive like a fish in water!
This Qian Lechi's final ranking was thirty-eighth among the inner disciples.
Not particularly high, but he had broken into the top fifty of the inner sect, making him a figure of some standing.
Meng Fan lingered his gaze on Qian Lechi for a few extra moments, carefully studying the fellow's sword technique.
After all, this guy harbored hostility toward him; if he ever came back to stab him in the back one day, Meng Fan needed to be prepared!
…………
The setting sun dipped low, dusk approaching, before the sect grand competition finally came to a complete end.
Meng Fan dusted off his sleeves, preparing to return to the Sword Pavilion.
He had to admit, his harvest today was bountiful—dozens of times what he gained in the Sword Hall!
Just as he was about to leave the Heavenly Sword Plaza, Meng Fan ran into Liu Yanping once more.
No, to be precise, Liu Yanping had come specifically looking for Meng Fan.
"Senior Sister Liu, is there anything else?" Meng Fan asked politely.
Having earned forty Spirit Stones from Liu Yanping today, Meng Fan was naturally exceptionally courteous to her.
This was his personal goddess of wealth!
How could he not treat her with the utmost care?
Liu Yanping said to him, "I don't have anything I need your help with this time. I'm here to help *you*."
"Help me?" Meng Fan looked perplexed, thinking to himself that handing him Spirit Stones was already the greatest help she could possibly offer.
"Have you ever heard of the Sword God Hall?" Liu Yanping asked.
The Sword God Hall?
Meng Fan shook his head blankly; he genuinely had not heard of this.
Liu Yanping said, "It's normal that you don't know. Generally, only inner disciple can access it."
Meng Fan asked with interest, "Since Senior Sister has mentioned the Sword God Hall, I ask that you enlighten this junior brother."
Liu Yanping had come specifically to inform Meng Fan of this, so naturally she didn't beat around the bush.
"In the Sword God Hall, there is a Sword God Monument. No one knows the origin of this stone tablet—at least, no one within my circle of contact knows.
Legend has it that a divine sword is concealed within this Sword God Monument, but no one has ever managed to shatter it, so whether this legend is true or false remains a mystery."
Hearing Liu Yanping's words, Meng Fan wore a blank expression, failing to understand what she meant by telling him this.
If no one could shatter the monument, it proved that the material of the tablet was exceedingly tough.
"Since no one in the Shushan Sword Sect can shatter this monument, I have even less of a chance. What does Senior Sister mean by telling me this?"
"What's the rush? Let me finish!" Liu Yanping rolled her eyes, then continued.
"Though no one can shatter the monument or obtain the divine sword within, anyone who touches it can feel a surge of Sword Intent.
Many disciples have experienced a vast improvement in their swordsmanship after sensing this Sword Intent.
Some high-level figures in the Shushan Sword Sect even created their own unique sword techniques after experiencing it.
Everyone's aptitude and comprehension differ, so their insights gained at the Sword God Monument vary as well.
Some benefit immensely, while others gain very little.
You are the person with the most outrageous Sword Dao comprehension I have ever laid eyes on, so I believe you can go to the Sword God Hall and gain insights from the Sword God Monument. I'm certain it will prove immensely beneficial to you!
Rest assured, comprehending the Sword God Monument depends solely on comprehension, not on Spiritual Roots."
Knowing Meng Fan possessed a miscellaneous-grade Spiritual Root, Liu Yanping proactively reassured him.
The Sword God Hall?
The Sword God Monument?
Hearing this, Meng Fan's interest was indeed piqued.
He asked with some curiosity, "Can anyone go and comprehend this Sword God Monument?"
Such an item must surely have conditions attached to its comprehension, right?
If anyone could just go and comprehend it, when would such a good thing ever come around?
Liu Yanping said, "Anyone can indeed go to comprehend the Sword God Monument; even menial disciples are permitted. However, each attempt requires handing over one hundred Spirit Stones, and you are only allowed one hour of comprehension time per session!"
One hour for one hundred Spirit Stones?
This damn thing was highway robbery!
Back when he was a menial disciple, he hadn't even possessed a single complete Spirit Stone.
One hundred Spirit Stones was practically an astronomical figure.
Though Meng Fan was currently clutching a massive fortune of forty Spirit Stones, he still felt that one hundred Spirit Stones was an outright fantasy.
Instantly, Meng Fan lost his enthusiasm.
"That's far too expensive. I'll talk about it later when I have the Spirit Stones."
Chapter 28: The Demon Suppressing Pagoda, Slaying Demons and Eliminating Devils Someday
Hearing Meng Fan's words, Liu Yanping immediately said, "Money is not a problem. I can sponsor you."
Meng Fan's first reaction upon hearing this wasn't excitement or thrill, but suspicion.
Pies didn't fall from the sky.
For Liu Yanping to help him to this extent, she must have an ulterior motive.
Therefore, Meng Fan frowned and asked, "Why are you helping me?"
Liu Yanping smiled. "Naturally, I want something in return. After all, one hundred Spirit Stones is no small sum."
Meng Fan asked, "What do you want?"
Liu Yanping stated bluntly, "I want you to share the insights you gain at the Sword God Monument with me!"
This...
Left Meng Fan somewhat amused and exasperated.
He was reminded of his primary school days when he paid to copy someone else's homework.
"Aren't you afraid that I won't gain any insights, or that after gaining them, I'll deceive you and keep things from you?" Meng Fan asked helplessly.
"I am not afraid!" Liu Yanping said with absolute certainty.
"Why?" Even Meng Fan lacked that kind of confidence in himself.
He couldn't fathom why Liu Yanping trusted him to this degree.
"Because you lack Spirit Stones. If you ever want to earn more Spirit Stones from me, you cannot afford to deceive me!" Liu Yanping said.
This was the supreme confidence of a goddess of wealth!
Crucially, Meng Fan felt her logic was completely sound.
Indeed, if he wanted to acquire Spirit Stones from her, he couldn't cheat her.
Even if he did, he had to ensure she reaped rewards, making her feel those Spirit Stones were well spent.
When he thought about it carefully, she wasn't losing out.
The logic was remarkably simple!
Meng Fan instantly gained a newfound respect for Liu Yanping. Previously, he had thought this girl was just a wealthy simpleton who only knew how to squander money.
Now it seemed every bit of wealth she scattered was never a losing investment.
"Very well, I agree," Meng Fan told Liu Yanping directly.
This was a win-win situation; he had no reason to refuse.
"Then I'll wait for you at the Sword Hall tomorrow. Once you arrive, I'll take you to the Sword God Hall," Liu Yanping said.
"Alright!" Meng Fan agreed.
With that, Meng Fan returned to the Sword Pavilion just in time to close the main gates, arriving right at the usual closing hour.
"Senior Brother Luo, have you ever heard of the Sword God Hall and the Sword God Monument?" Meng Fan asked Senior Brother Luo after finishing his chores.
"The Sword God Monument? Heh, where on earth did a punk like you hear about that? That stuff is way too far out of your league. It costs one hundred Spirit Stones just for a single session of comprehension—don't even bother dreaming about it," Senior Brother Luo said offhandedly.
"Then have you ever comprehended the Sword God Monument, Senior Brother?" Meng Fan continued to ask.
"Heavens, no! If I had one hundred Spirit Stones, what wouldn't be better to spend it on than comprehending that thing?
You brat, stop letting your imagination run wild!
Some people truly gain profound insights at the Sword God Monument and even master formidable sword techniques, but those are rare exceptions.
For the vast majority of Shushan disciples, comprehending the Sword God Monument is utterly useless, wasting one hundred Spirit Stones for nothing.
Even if you actually had one hundred Spirit Stones, I wouldn't advise you to go waste them on that thing!"
Hearing Senior Brother Luo's words, Meng Fan gained some understanding.
It appeared the Sword God Monument wasn't as easy to comprehend as one might imagine; Liu Yanping was still far too naive.
At the end of the day, one hundred Spirit Stones simply meant nothing to Liu Yanping; she could afford to waste them.
Whereas someone like Senior Brother Luo couldn't afford to waste them at all!
Meng Fan said to Senior Brother Luo, "I'm planning to go comprehend the Sword God Monument tomorrow, and it won't cost me any Spirit Stones."
"Huh?" Senior Brother Luo looked utterly bewildered.
Meng Fan explained, "It's that Senior Sister Liu. She wants to sponsor me to comprehend the Sword God Monument, so I don't have to spend my own Spirit Stones."
He didn't wish to hide a matter like comprehending the Sword God Monument from Senior Brother Luo.
Since he was destined to rise to prominence in the Sword Pavilion, he couldn't keep it secret anyway.
Rather than shocking Senior Brother Luo and making it difficult for him to accept later on, it was better to plant the seed early.
After all, he and Senior Brother Luo lived under the same roof day and night; inevitably, he would display some monstrous traits!
If he exhibited any monstrous performance down the line, he could simply attribute it to the Sword God Monument, claiming he had enlightened himself from the stone tablet.
Upon hearing this, Senior Brother Luo looked at Meng Fan with envious eyes.
"It really is great to be handsome! If I had a face like yours, I'd go hug the thigh of a wealthy sugar mommy like Liu Yanping too!"
Senior Brother Luo assumed Liu Yanping was sponsoring Meng Fan because she had taken a fancy to his looks, utterly captivated by his handsome visage.
In reality, what Liu Yanping valued was Meng Fan's comprehension!
Yet Meng Fan couldn't be bothered to explain, or rather, he deliberately left it unexplained. Letting Senior Brother Luo labor under this misconception worked to his advantage.
If any other outrageous events occurred later on, he wouldn't even need to rack his brains for excuses; Senior Brother Luo would likely invent the justifications all on his own.
That would save him a tremendous amount of peace of mind!
That night, Meng Fan returned to his room and began to cultivate.
Now he was living in luxury: gripping a Spirit Stone in his palm to absorb its energy, swallowing a Qi Gathering Pill into his mouth, coupled with the Sword Origin surging forth from his lower abdomen.
At this rate of cultivation, even someone with a supreme-grade Spiritual Root would find it hard to keep up, let alone surpass him!