Target Locked: Jiang Linglong

Chao Xiaojian stopped smiling and stared at Fang Lang seriously.

A white core… Almost no one in the Sword Guild was a white core as it was practically impossible for a white core to be recruited into the sect.

Despite that, a gentle look appeared in Chao Xiaojian's eyes.

'For a white core to achieve such amazing sword mastery… How remarkable,' he thought. 

'This boy must have sacrificed a lot for his sword mastery. The gods must have shown mercy to this insanely obsessed sword disciple.' 

Chao Xiaojian retracted his hand. As his toe touched the ground, a dense cloud of blade energy appeared around him. Suddenly, his body warped and turned into a beam of light that shot straight into the skies. He vanished.

"Go forth and take the risk, young man. If you fail, look for me in the Sword Guild. I can still grant you a position in the outer sect."

Chao Xiaojian's body had vanished but his parting words echoed.

Touched, Fang Lang's eyes glimmered. Chao Xiaojian had seen his core, yet the vice leader was willing to give him a chance.

Fang Lang bowed respectfully, his heart filled with gratitude.

Only after Chao Xiaojian vanished did Mentor Wen step forward. Fear still lingered in his heart.

"I can't believe you rejected him? Are you really planning to try your luck in the Imperial Examination?"

Frowning, Mentor Wen turned to Fang Lang.

Even with Chao Xiaojian's personal invite, Fang Lang still rejected the offer!

"With that core of yours, you stand no chance against the geniuses in the Imperial Examination."

Mentor Wen knew Fang Lang had an average white core, just like the majority of students in the academies. Being ordinary meant he stood no chance.

Fang Lang's achievements in sword mastery had already exceeded Mentor Wen's expectations.

Fang Lang nodded. His eyes sparkled with excitement.

No one had faith in his white core.

'I'll prove them wrong when I defeat a few geniuses in the exam!' he swore in his heart.

Nonetheless, Fang Lang still had to contemplate this 'core' problem of his—others might become suspicious if his skills improve too quickly.

Mentor Wen did not reprimand Fang Lang anymore. After all, it was Fang Lang's decision.

Jiang Linglong did not bother to give any advice—it was none of her business whether Fang Lang joined the sect.

Mentor Wen filled them in on some basic information about the three well-established academies. Then, the students were dismissed so they could rest and prepare for the next day.

As for Liu Bubai, he was still recovering from his injuries.

…

Fang Lang returned to his room.

His neighbour, Song Qingyun, had not returned. Fang Lang figured the boy was still out discussing battle strategies.

When it came to strategies, Mentor Wen was rather lackadaisical.

As Fang Lang closed his room door, his heart filled with excitement and anticipation.

Finally, he knew Jiang Linglong's real name. That mysterious girl was no longer a mystery!

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Fang Lang rubbed his fingers over the space ring on his index finger. He willed all the low-grade spirit crystals stored within the space ring to appear.

There were 14 crystals in total—ten were sponsored by his father, Old Fang.

Fang Lang piled the crystals onto his bed. They would come in handy later.

At that moment, Fang Lang was both excited and anxious. After all, he did not know what colour was her core. All his thoughts and guesses were merely a hypothesis.

What would he do if Old Jiang actually had no talent?

Fang Lang was quite nervous, but a moment later, a sharp and determined look appeared in his eyes.

He already made his decision—no point regretting!

"System, lock on binding target, Jiang Linglong!"

Fang Lang took a deep breath.

'Ding! Binding in progress…'

'Target is a second class, eighth-grade sword disciple. Estimated binding completion time: three days.'

The System's notification popped up.

Fang Lang was surprised. He was quite dispirited.

'Three days to complete…' he grumbled in his mind.

'I was so ready for this, what the hell?' 

However, Fang Lang suddenly remembered—the longer the binding process, the stronger the binding partner's cultivation. 

'Ah, this is torture!' he wailed internally.

"System, is there any way to speed things up?" he asked.

Three days was too long—the Gathering of Swords would be over by then. It would be too late.

At the same time, Fang Lang was relieved he did not try to bind Chao Xiaojian. With Chao Xiaojian's cultivation strength, it might take a decade.

'Ding! You have three Grade-Rush Card Fragments. They can be used to shorten the binding time. Would you like to use them?'

The System prompted.

Fang Lang was stunned. He rejoiced.

'Those Grade-Rush Card Fragments can be used for this too?' he thought.

"Please use them!"

Fang Lang had three fragments. He still needed two fragments to complete the card, hence they were useless at that moment. There was no reason to hold onto them.

'Ding! Exchange complete. Binding will complete in fifteen minutes. Please hold on.'

The Grade-Rush Card Fragments in his inventory vanished with the System's notification.

Fang Lang could afford to wait 15 minutes.

Switching to Ni Wen's cultivation mode, Fang Lang took some crystals and began to refine and absorb them.

His cluttered mind affected his absorption rate.

After fifteen minutes, he only managed to absorb half of the low-grade spirit crystal.

'Ding! Binding completed. Binding partner: Jiang Linglong.'

Fang Lang exhaled deeply. He was brimming with excitement.

'Here it comes! Here it comes!

'Here she comes!'

…

Binding Partner: Jiang Linglong

Age: 15

Cultivation Discipline: Eighth-Grade Sword Master (Second-Class Sword Mastery)

Core: 55 (Gold)

Cultivation Speed: 15 low-grade spirit crystals/two hours

…

Jiang Linglong's stats appeared before his eyes.

Despite his expectations, Fang Lang could not stop himself from gasping.

A golden core!

Eighth-grade sword master?

'Is this Jiang Linglong's true power?' 

Ni Wen had a yellow core of 80, but Jiang Linglong's had a golden core!

Blasphemy!

No wonder Jiang Linglong could become an eighth-grade sword master at such a young age. Of course, she had better access to cultivation resources but to achieve such a feat required a strong core and unimaginable talent.

Fang Lang made the right bet!

That golden core belonged to him!

He felt the urge to hold his waist and laugh maniacally at the sky.

Instead, he went to check his own stats.

…

Host: Fang Lang

Cultivation Discipline: Seventh-Grade Sword Disciple

Level: LV2

Experience: 2000/10000

Core: 36 (White)

Cultivation Resource: 5000 gold coins; 30 low-grade spirit crystals (usage limited to cultivation)

Items: 3X Amplification Card (1)

Binding partner: Ni Wen (50%); Jiang Linglong (50%)

Sole Passive Ability: Additional rewards may be granted when the host bonds with the binding partner over cultivation.

…

Although Fang Lang's cultivation speed had greatly improved, it was nothing compared to the eighth-grade sword master, Jiang Linglong.

"To absorb fifteen low-grade crystals in two hours… I wonder what that feels like."

Fang Lang took a deep breath. His eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity.

He reached out and grabbed a low-grade spirit crystal from his bed. He placed his hand over it and recited the Tang Dynasty's Sword Scripture in his head, preparing to  start absorption.

However, before he could begin absorbing the crystal, a notification popped up from the System.

'Ding! Congratulations on obtaining a new binding partner. New item rewarded: Randomized Card (3).'

'Oh? A reward! Does this mean I get rewarded every time I obtain a new binding partner?' Fang Lang wondered.

It was an incredible motivator for him to level up the System and bind to more geniuses.

The System was pretty smart.

Fang Lang glanced at the item description.

'Randomized Card: One-time use. Upon use, the card transforms into a random action card. Card is more effective when used in the binding partner's state (effects last for two hours)'

The description was vague, but Fang Lang more or less got the idea.

'That means if I'm lucky, I might get more Amplification Cards. Of course, there's a chance of getting cards like Grade-Rush too…' Fang Lang pondered. 

'Let's try one,' he instructed in his mind.

'Ding! Activating one Randomized Card. The Randomized Card has transformed into an Enlightenment Card. Would you like to use it?'

Enlightenment Card?

Fang Lang raised his brows. 'No, keep drawing cards.'

'Ding! Activating one Randomized Card. The Randomized Card has transformed into an Enchantment Card (Combat Type).'

'Ding! Activating one Randomized Card. Randomized Card has transformed into a 2X Amplification Card.'

He exhausted all three Randomized Cards.

The lucky draw gave Fang Lang an inexplicable sense of excitement. 

The only thing that disappointed him was the 2X Amplification Card. After all, he had used a 3X Amplification Card—2X seemed a little underwhelming.

Nonetheless, he had the card, might as well use it.

It would work well with Jiang Linglong's cultivation state.

"Switching binding partner to Jiang Linglong. Activate 2X Amplification Card."

'Ding! Initiating switch. Switching complete. You have obtained 50% of your binding partner's cultivation inspiration and cultivation speed. With the use of 2X Amplification Card, you have obtained 100% of your binding partner's cultivation inspiration and cultivation speed. Happy cultivating!'

Fang Lang grabbed a crystal from his bed.

In front of him sat an elegant and arrogant silhouette—a faint golden glow surrounded the figure. Face-to-face with Fang Lang in the same position, the silhouette's breathing mirrored his. 

Boom!

A large volume of the spiritual energy in the crystal was instantly absorbed by Fang Lang.

The satisfaction and fulfilment made Fang Lang feel as if he could float!

He absorbed the crystals in a quick rhythm. One after another, waves of spiritual energy entered his body.

'Such incredible speed!' he exclaimed silently.

An indescribable feeling filled his heart.

Fang Lang abruptly opened his eyes.

An insane idea popped into his mind.

What if he used both binding partners at the same time?