I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely-Chapter 57: 3 Middle-Grade Items

The sect’s influence had jumped by two percentage points.

This had never happened before.

Previously, his influence had only ever increased by a single percentage point at a time.

This was undoubtedly an increase from indirect influence, stemming from the Supreme Elder.

The higher one’s influence, the harder it was to increase. At the same time, each subsequent increase was more valuable.

Going from 9% to 11% wasn’t particularly significant.

’For Senior Sister Song’s great-grandfather, if I were to ask for a small favor—something he could easily grant—he probably wouldn’t refuse me, for her sake...’

As Fang Yun ran, he calculated what effect this two-percent increase in influence might bring him.

If he were in Senior Sister Song’s position, with a Supreme Elder for a great-grandfather, his indirect influence could probably reach 25% starting from scratch.

’...No, that’s not right. It’s only a two-percent increase. The Supreme Elder would probably refuse even the smallest favor. To get the kind of help I was just thinking of, my influence would need to rise from 9% to at least 13%...’

On second thought, Fang Yun decided it was better to be conservative with his estimates.

He had set a goal for himself: to reach at least 10% influence within the sect before becoming an Inner Sect Disciple.

With the influence part achieved, his goal was now half complete.

Once he broke through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and became an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Cloud Sect, the small goal he had set for himself at the very beginning would be accomplished.

Having finished his thoughts, Fang Yun quickened his pace once more.

He was on his way to Dan Cloud Peak to rent an intermediate Alchemy Room to refine Cyan Jade Pills.

...

Artifact Casting Peak.

Inside Intermediate Artifact Refining Room Number Five.

"Done!"

Fang Yun had just finished refining a Yellow Iron Sword.

Unlike his previous creations, this Yellow Iron Sword was a Middle Grade Magical Artifact. Its primary Spiritual Material was Middle Grade Yellow Iron, and he had used a particularly large amount of it.

This meant that activating the Yellow Iron Sword would consume more Spiritual Power.

For Fang Yun, this was a minor issue. Boosted by his one-star Sword Type talent, fully activating this Yellow Iron Sword still wouldn’t consume much power.

As for the auxiliary Spiritual Materials, he had chosen ones that all increased its power.

With the additional boost from his talent, one could only imagine the power of his all-out strike now.

Fang Yun toyed with the newly refined Yellow Iron Sword, nodding in satisfaction before putting it away.

’Even if I were to face a real enemy at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer now, I have the ability to kill them.’

With all three types of his Magical Artifacts upgraded to Middle Grade, Fang Yun had a rough grasp of his current strength.

He had to continue refining Middle Grade Magical Artifacts. This would not only help him accumulate Artifact Refining experience but also further increase his own strength.

He could now control two Middle Grade Yellow Iron Swords without expending too much mental energy.

By accumulating more Artifact Refining experience now, he would be better prepared to refine even more powerful Upper Grade Magical Artifacts when he reached the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Compared to the Fifth Layer, the Qi Refining Sixth Layer possessed far more abundant Spiritual Power, enough to complete the entire process of refining an Upper Grade Magical Artifact by himself.

At his current rate of cultivation, reaching the peak of the Qi Refining Fifth Layer was only a matter of forty-some days.

He should be able to reach it before late December.

Then, he would break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer in late December, completing his goal for the year.

Time flew by.

「Three days later.」

Fang Yun now stood at the foot of Battle Peak.

He had come to Battle Peak for a Magical Combat spar, hoping that his fellow disciples would change the nickname they had for him.

He was no longer just about defense; he had an offense now, too.

He had just ascended Battle Peak and hadn’t even reached the Steward to register when a Qi Refining Sixth Layer Outer Sect Disciple blocked his path.

"Excuse me, are you Junior Brother Fang?"

"I am."

"Junior Brother Fang, my name is Zhang Wenyu. I’ve long heard that your defense is unmatched among those in your realm. I’m one realm higher than you, and I’d like to see if I can break through your defense. I wonder if you would agree to a Magical Combat spar with me."

Once he confirmed Fang Yun’s identity, Zhang Wenyu immediately issued his challenge for a Magical Combat spar.

Two other Qi Refining Sixth Layer disciples had failed to breach Fang Yun’s defense before him. If he could succeed where they had failed, it would be a testament to his own strength.

Fang Yun considered it for a moment before finally nodding.

"Alright."

’I’ll stick to defense for the first spar. I can show off my offense in the second one.’

"Thank you, Junior Brother Fang."

After thanking him, Zhang Wenyu led the way, taking Fang Yun to register with the Steward.

Since the two had already agreed to a match, the Steward didn’t need to find them opponents.

Given the level of strength Fang Yun had demonstrated, the Steward wouldn’t have matched him with a Qi Refining Fifth Layer disciple anyway.

"It’s the Turtle Immortal, Fang Yun."

"Do you think he’ll be able to break through Junior Brother Fang’s defense?"

"It’ll be difficult, but not impossible."

"Yeah, I agree. A Sixth Layer disciple has a chance. Among the Fifth Layer, not even Junior Brother Sheng could do it, so there’s no hope for any of the others."

Now that he had a certain degree of fame, Fang Yun’s Magical Combat spars could attract a crowd of Sect Disciples on their own merit.

Before he became famous, a Magical Combat spar between two Outer Sect Disciples would hardly attract any spectators. The only exception was if a senior brother or sister from the Inner Sect Ranking was watching, which would then draw in other disciples.

"Fang Yun, Qi Refining Fifth Layer."

"Zhang Wenyu, Qi Refining Sixth Layer."

After the two exchanged bows, Zhang Wenyu did not attack immediately.

He was still adjusting his condition, preparing to bring himself to his peak state.

Against any other opponent, this would be a fatal mistake. But his opponent was Fang Yun; all he had to do was attack, without worrying about a sudden counter.

If Zhang Wenyu hadn’t made his intentions clear earlier, Fang Yun would have already struck.

In that respect, Zhang Wenyu was lucky.

Once he finished preparing, Zhang Wenyu attacked with his full strength right from the start.

Fang Yun’s defensive capabilities had already been tested by two other disciples of the same realm, so Zhang Wenyu launched no probing attacks.

An all-out attack didn’t mean a blind one.

If he could find a blind spot in Fang Yun’s defense, that would count as breaking through it.

As time went on, the Spiritual Power in his Qi Sea had dropped by half.

Despite his relentless assault, he had yet to find a single blind spot or opening in Fang Yun’s defense.

"Have you guys noticed? This Junior Brother Zhang’s attacks seem sharper than when he started."

"Huh, you’re right."

"Was he holding back?"

"I’m familiar with Senior Brother Zhang. I’ve seen a few of his Magical Combat spars, and he definitely went all-out from the start."

"When you have a training partner you can go all-out against, it’s natural to improve during the spar," a Qi Refining Eighth Layer Inner Sect Disciple spoke up.

Among all the Sect Disciples watching this Magical Combat, his cultivation realm was the highest.