Chapter 23: Chapter 23 — Demonic Artifact?

Chapter 23 — Demonic Artifact?

“Purple Lightning Peak—that’s where the True Disciple Fang Qingxue resides. When she was promoted to True Disciple, she killed eight outer disciples to establish her authority. The elders punished her in name, but never truly disciplined her. She’s not someone to provoke.”

The moment Fang Han uttered the three words _Purple Lightning Peak_, the expressions of everyone present immediately changed.

Especially the princes and princesses of the Great Virtue Dynasty—their faces tightened as they began whispering among themselves.

“Hmph!”

The most awkward figures were Prince Bao and the inner disciple who had just released the flying sword.

Prince Bao had been defeated by Fang Han, his face slashed open, blood still streaking down his cheek—his dignity utterly crushed. He silently took out a Blood-Stopping Jade Talisman and halted the bleeding.

A cold snort escaped his nose.

The venomous hatred in his eyes was unmistakable—an enmity that could never be reconciled.

As for the inner disciple whose flying sword had been taken, he had originally been on the verge of exploding in fury. But upon hearing _Purple Lightning Peak_, deep hesitation surfaced in his expression.

“My junior brother’s Spirit Wind Sword is no ordinary weapon,”
one person spoke up. “It was bestowed by an elder after he rendered great service—an upper-grade spirit artifact that has slain countless demons. I hope you can return it. Otherwise, the upcoming expedition will be extremely dangerous, and one might easily fall victim to demonic forces.”

“The earlier attack was reckless, but it was only a minor misunderstanding. Unity is what matters most when we head out to exterminate demons. Could Junior Brother Fang consider the greater picture? I’ll apologize on my junior brother’s behalf.”

The speaker was a woman in her early twenties—clearly an inner disciple with profound cultivation.

Her brows were graceful, her face delicate, her figure slender and poised. Her long legs and snow-white neck were especially striking. Her eyes appeared gentle as water, yet flashes of sharp brilliance occasionally flickered within them. She carried the natural air of a leader.

“Senior Sister Mo.”

The Great Virtue royal disciples looked embarrassed at her apology and seemed ready to explain, but Senior Sister Mo raised her hand, silencing them. Her gaze rested on Fang Han—there was apology in it, but also pressure, and an intent to see straight through all his secrets.

She’s formidable. Her aura isn’t much weaker than Master Bai Haichan’s—likely a Tenth Layer, Body Transformation expert.

Fang Han’s thoughts raced.

She’s pressing me for the flying sword. Do I return it or not? The Dragon-Coiled Yellow Springs Diagram has sealed it—I can’t take it out. And if I expose the diagram, I’ll die instantly. Besides, a spirit artifact is priceless. Handing it over so easily—what would that make me?

He weighed his options carefully.

Magical treasures were divided into artifacts, spirit artifacts, treasure artifacts, Dao artifacts, and immortal artifacts.

Artifacts merely contained infused mana and could be refined by anyone in the Divine Ability Realm.

Spirit artifacts, however, required a cultivator at the Fifth Layer of the Divine Ability Realm — Heaven-and-Human Unity, capable of inscribing formation arrays into objects. Only then could such a weapon be created.

A single spirit artifact was unimaginably powerful—something physical-body cultivators dreamed of possessing.

Take the Spirit Wind Sword, for instance. After a simple blood-refinement, it could be controlled by thought alone—flying through the air to kill enemies without consuming the wielder’s stamina. It could not be drowned in water or burned by fire. One person wielding it could calmly face an army of thousands.

If such a sword appeared in a mortal dynasty, it would be effortless to secure a duke or marquis title—glory for generations.

In fact, if Prince Bao possessed a spirit artifact, he could likely shake the position of crown prince upon returning to Great Virtue.

Spirit artifacts were that precious.

Even among the hundreds of thousands of Yuhua Sect disciples, only the very best inner disciples possessed them.

Outer disciples? Impossible. At best, they had ordinary artifacts.

Now that Fang Han had acquired the Spirit Wind Sword, even if he could return it, he absolutely wouldn’t.

“Senior Sister Mo,”
Fang Han said after a moment, “I understand that the greater mission is to eradicate demons and rescue the people of Blue Moon Kingdom. But when Miss Fang of Purple Lightning Peak gave me this spirit artifact, she only said it was for self-defense—to block flying swords—and that I was to accomplish an important task for her.”

“I don’t know how to control it. That’s why it absorbed Senior Brother’s flying sword. I truly have no way to release it.”

“How about this: tomorrow I’ll return to Purple Lightning Peak and ask Miss Fang to extract the Spirit Wind Sword. Then I’ll personally return it. How does that sound?”

He smoothly pushed everything onto Fang Qingxue.

Senior Sister Mo’s eyes flickered.

“Oh? Senior Sister Qingxue gave you a spirit artifact—and tasked you with an important mission?”

She seemed to connect several dots in her mind. After a long pause, she finally said:

“Very well. Tonight, everyone prepare properly. Tomorrow, we depart together for the Vast Sea Desert.”

“What about my Spirit Wind Sword?! He can’t just take it!”
the inner disciple snarled, staring viciously at Fang Han.

“I have my own judgment,”
Senior Sister Mo said sharply, waving her hand.

“Then I’ll take my leave,”
Fang Han said with a respectful gesture.

He turned to Prince Bao. “Prince Bao, I’ve experienced your strength today.”

“I’ll make you understand what regret truly means,”
Prince Bao replied coldly.

“Why say such things?”
Fang Han laughed. “Senior Sister Mo already said the greater mission comes first. I’m someone who considers the bigger picture. I’ll head back to Purple Lightning Peak to prepare for the desert.”

With that, he turned and left.

Only after exiting the city did Fang Han activate the Beast-Taming Token.

Moments later, Crane Fairy soared down from the heavens.

“Fang Han! You’ve been an outer disciple for twenty days and didn’t even call me once! What have you been doing?”
she complained.

“I got beaten up, trained desperately, and beat the guy back,”
Fang Han replied, recounting everything about Prince Bao.

Crane Fairy, like a six- or seven-year-old girl, burst into laughter.

“Giggle! I once ran into a Golden-Winged Roc twice my size—it nearly ate me! Looks like I should train harder and get revenge too!”

“You can cultivate?”
Fang Han asked as he mounted her back.

“Of course! I’m much stronger than you physically. The Pine-Crane Longevity Fist was based on our crane movements. I’m currently cultivating the Astral Spirit Art—Miss Fang taught me herself.”

“What? You know the Astral Spirit Art?!”
Fang Han was stunned.

Without spiritual cultivation, one could never break into the Spirit Communication Realm.

“Can you teach me?”
Fang Han asked eagerly.

“Sure—but don’t tell anyone!”
Crane Fairy whispered nervously. “Or the sect rules might turn me into roasted crane!”

“Only an idiot would tell,”
Fang Han nodded emphatically.

Purple Lightning Peak soon came into view.

After landing, Fang Han saw Fang Qiang waiting outside his room.

“So, Fang Han—you’ve finally risen. An outer disciple now.”

“How did you know I’d return today? Where’s Miss Fang?”
Fang Han asked.

“I saw Crane Fairy fly out. Miss Fang received an elder’s letter today—she’s already left for the Vast Sea Desert. Blue Moon Kingdom is in serious trouble.”

“So you’re heading out too?”

“Yes. I’ll stay one night, then leave with Crane Fairy tomorrow.”

“If you earn an inner disciple slot, it’ll be a tremendous achievement. The Fang family will erase your servant status and make you a core member. You’ll have to look after us then.”

She smiled faintly and left.

Fang Han watched her back, deep in thought.

---

Meanwhile, in the Inner Immortal Court, the inner disciple who had lost the Spirit Wind Sword spoke furiously:

“Senior Sister Mo, an outer disciple can’t possibly own a spirit artifact! How could he take my flying sword?! That sword is my life—I must get it back!”

Mo’s eyes gleamed.

“I suspect the artifact on him isn’t from Yuhua Sect… But a demonic spirit artifact.”

“A demonic artifact?!”

“Yes. There are rumors that Fang Qingxue once had ties with a demon marshal of the Innate Demon Sect. Perhaps she received a demonic artifact. Now she’s planted Fang Han in the outer sect as a chess piece.”

“That involves the Innate Demon Sect. That’s why I didn’t act today.”

Mo’s gaze flickered with speculation—and calculation.