C9 My Strength Increased Greatly and the Competition Began!

Deep within the Scripture Library, Wang Pingfan was hunched over the last shelf, busily scribbling with a pen on a piece of paper. It was a good thing the place was deserted, or someone would have surely intervened. His eyes sparkled with a kaleidoscope of colors as he worked. After a short time, he tucked the pen away.

A voice echoed in his mind, "Upgrade successful. Would you like to begin practicing the Seven Sound Fist?"

The books of the Scripture Library were not to be removed, so one had to memorize their contents on the spot before leaving to practice the martial arts and cultivation techniques elsewhere.

Wang Pingfan had committed all the martial arts to memory, but he remained seated to avoid any disturbances. Inside the Scripture Library, combat was strictly forbidden, and breaking this rule would result in severe punishment.

Seated in a secluded corner, Wang Pingfan visualized a figure in his mind's eye, diligently practicing the Seven Sound Fist.

Actually, it should now be referred to as the Nine Sound Fist. Following the upgrade, the former Seven Sound Fist could produce nine distinct sounds. His hands moved of their own accord, creating a symphony of rhythmic sounds. As he sat there, passersby occasionally murmured, "This guy's been sitting here forever. Once Brother Wang Yan is out of seclusion, he'll have no trouble dealing with him."

"Absolutely, he's as timid as a mouse. But I've heard the family head has already registered him for the Autumn Hunt. He'll have to go out then, and there'll be plenty of time to sort him out. Let him savor these moments a bit longer. Brother Wang Yan has vowed to cripple his legs this time. Poor fellow might end up spending the rest of his days bedridden."

Wang Pingfan, however, was oblivious to their chatter, fully absorbed in the nuances of the Seven Sound Fist. Before he knew it, ten days had flown by, and the Autumn Hunt competition had officially commenced.

The season had just turned to fall, and the three major families, along with various smaller clans and independent cultivators, had converged at the base of the mountain behind Rerora County. The smaller parties weren't there to compete; they had come merely to spectate.

"Greetings, Patriarch Zhao, Patriarch Qian. How have you been?" Wang Tianlong greeted the two with a sardonic smile.

"Everything is fine with us, but I've heard that there's quite a bit of turmoil within the Wang family lately. Do you need our families' assistance?" the Zhao family patriarch inquired.

"Indeed, Master Wang, just say the word and we will certainly lend our full support. Naturally, that's provided you can meet the price," added the Qian family patriarch.

"Hmph, the affairs of the Wang family are not your concern," Wang Tianlong retorted with a stern look.

"Let's calm down, gentlemen. There's no need to quarrel and become a spectacle for the younger generation," interjected a middle-aged man standing nearby.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting Sun Wei to join us this time," Wang Tianlong remarked.

"Well, it was my daughter's wish to come along this time. But rest assured, we won't interfere with your affairs. You three carry on as you were," Sun Wei replied with a chuckle, though it was clear they all had their own concerns.

Wang Tianlong turned to someone beside him and asked, "What about Fan Er? Hasn't he arrived yet?"

"Sir, the young master was still in the Scripture Library when we left. We didn't want to interrupt him, but I've stationed someone at the entrance to notify him to hurry over as soon as he emerges."

"If he can't make it, then so be it. It seems he's had a breakthrough. As long as he can further increase his strength and get into Aetherwind Academy, there should be no issue. The upcoming competition is far more significant," Wang Tianlong stated.

Meanwhile, Wang Pingfan had just stepped out of the Scripture Library. He had finally done it, mastering the eighth echo of the Seven Sound Fist unexpectedly. It wouldn't be long before he could reach the ninth echo. And even the power of the eighth echo far surpassed that of a low-grade yellow martial skill.

Moreover, his cultivation had advanced to the level of a five-star Martial Cultivator. With his current prowess, he doubted even an eight-star Martial Cultivator could match him.

Lost in thought, Wang Pingfan was approached by someone who hurriedly said, "Young Master, you've finally emerged. The others have been gone for a while, but if you make haste, you should still be able to catch up with them. They're at the base of the mountain behind us."

"Oh, the competition has already started. I need to pick up the pace." With those words, Wang Pingfan dashed out like a swift blade, quickly disappearing from the Wang family estate.

A servant exclaimed in astonishment, "How is he so fast? Surely, even a six-star Martial Cultivator wouldn't match that speed. Just how powerful is the young master? The rumors from the outside world are clearly not to be trusted."

Wang Pingfan made his way to the back mountain at breakneck speed, soon approaching its base. He heard someone announce, "The competition has begun." Nearly all the contestants had already made their way into the mountain, and Wang Pingfan arrived just in time.

"Master, look, the Young Master has made it," a servant pointed out. Wang Tianlong watched Wang Pingfan approaching and thought to himself, His speed could very well be on par with a six-star Martial Cultivator.

Indeed, Wang Tianlong wasn't the only one to take notice; all the onlookers turned their attention to him, particularly the patriarchs of the Zhao and Qian families, who exchanged incredulous glances.

Yet, they both managed a slight smile, confident in their contingency plans, knowing that another six-star Martial Cultivator wouldn't significantly impact their schemes.

At that moment, Sun Wei felt a twinge of surprise. His participation in the competition was partly because his daughter wanted to attend and partly because the auction house had approached him, requesting that he look out for someone named Wang Pingfan, as there might be significant moves from the Zhao and Qian families this time around.

The auction house had mentioned that Wang Pingfan was a one-star alchemist. Considering that alchemists under twenty were exceedingly rare in the entire Aetherwind Dynasty, it was remarkable to find one in Rerora. Sun Wei had questioned the reliability of the auction house's information and had even conducted his own investigation into Wang Pingfan, only to find the results unsatisfactory; the young man wasn't even a Martial Cultivator. However, witnessing Wang Pingfan now, Sun Wei suspected that he might have already surpassed the level of a six-star Martial Cultivator. It appeared that the Wang family had kept their true capabilities well hidden. Sun Wei recalled hearing about an incident where the Wang family's young master had been injured by his daughter's guards after allegedly harassing her.

He had conducted a covert investigation and discovered that the culprit was Wang Yan, the son of Wang Tianhu. Considering the man was from the Wang family and his daughter was unharmed, he decided not to pursue the matter further.

Sun Wei's gaze swept across the assembly, landing on Wang Tianlong with a meaningful look. Unbeknownst to him, Wang Tianlong himself was taken aback by the revelation.

"Good, Fan'er, you've made it just in time. Go quickly and join our family members to vie for first place," Wang Tianlong instructed.

"Rest assured, Father, the first place will undoubtedly be ours this time," Wang Pingfan declared, charging forward as small whirlwinds swirled around him.

Approaching Wang Tianlong, Sun Wei commented with a grin, "Brother Tianlong, you've kept a deep secret this time. Your son's strength is formidable, yet there's no whisper of it outside. It seems you've spared no expense on this occasion."

Wang Tianlong offered an awkward smile, thinking to himself, "What secret? This rascal has become so formidable that even I was unaware. But that's not something I can admit openly."

Seeing Wang Tianlong's silence, Sun Wei didn't press further and withdrew to the ranks of the City Lord's estate.