"When I saw the name of this cultivation method, 'Formless Cold Scripture,' written down by Tang Yan, Shen Shan began to feel a faint anticipation in his heart.

And Tang Yan's excellent, vigorous handwriting also made him trust Tang Yan a few points more. As the saying goes, one's writing is like seeing the person; being able to write such graceful characters, he presumably would not be so bad as to come and make a fool of him.

After Tang Yan filled an entire sheet of paper, he finally set the brush down and clapped his hands with a smile. "Done."

Hearing this, Shen Shan waved his sleeve, and a warm force instantly dried the ink. He picked up the "Formless Cold Scripture" and carefully began reading it.

His strength had long since surpassed Heaven Rank, and his attainments in the Martial Dao could be called extraordinary. After reading through the cultivation method Tang Yan had written from beginning to end once, he closed his eyes and carefully pondered whether it was suitable for his grandson.

After this consideration, Shen Shan was also quite pleasantly surprised in his heart. Although he could not guarantee with one hundred percent certainty that it could solve the problem, judging from the general outline, the line of thought was indeed correct.

If this set of cultivation method was real, its value could surpass a Heaven Rank cultivation method.

After all, Things are valued when rare. Heaven Rank cultivation methods were certainly precious, but there were quite a few of them in the world. Exactly how should he thank this youth?

After thinking for a long time, Shen Shan awkwardly discovered that he actually did not know what gift to use in return.

"Little brother, do you have any needs?" Shen Shan hurriedly asked.

Tang Yan had never thought about asking for any Return at all, and waved his hand. "Meeting each other is fate; Senior need not be so polite."

The way Shen Shan looked at Tang Yan grew more and more admiring. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably already be making outrageous demands by now.

"Big brother isn't carrying a weapon with him. Is it because you don't have one that suits your hand?" the youth at the side asked, blinking.

"Indeed. I'll talk about it later," Tang Yan said indifferently.

Hearing Tang Yan's words, Shen Shan's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "May I know what kind of weapon Young Master Tang likes?"

"A heavy sword would be best." Tang Yan smiled. "A heavy sword that suits the hand is not easy to find, so Senior need not trouble yourself. You can find a place to test whether this cultivation method is suitable."

"A man should wield a heavy sword!" A trace of appreciation flashed through Shen Shan's eyes. "Heavy swords are indeed extremely difficult to forge, but I just so happen to have one. I wonder whether little brother would think highly of it."

As he spoke, a completely black longsword appeared in Shen Shan's hand.

"Go ahead and try it!" Shen Shan said with a smile as he handed it over.

Although he had not planned to ask for benefits, Tang Yan really did want to find a weapon that suited his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he accepted the black sword.

The sword sank in his hand the moment he took it, and Tang Yan was startled inwardly. He had to exert a bit of force before he could keep the sword steady.

He looked at the sword rather astonished. The sword was more than three chi long, not much different from an ordinary longsword, but for it to have such weight could only mean that the material used to forge the sword body was superb.

He flicked the sword body forcefully with a finger, and after feeling the extent of the sword body's vibration, Tang Yan could not help but praise, "Good sword!"

"Little brother is also someone who understands swords?" Shen Shan asked, somewhat surprised.

"The sword body is like ink, without any blemished spots. Its vibration frequency is even, with not the slightest sound of fracture or defect, which shows that the material used to forge the sword was refined at least more than nine times.

"From the tail of the sword to the tip, from the middle of the sword to the edge, the lines are smooth, completed in one go.

"And the material is Ten-Thousand-Refined Mysterious Iron. A material like this is extremely difficult to shape. Without reaching the level of Master, one cannot cast such flowing lines.

"If my estimation is not wrong, this heavy sword weighs ninety-five jin, taking the meaning of the supreme ninety-five."

"..."

As Tang Yan analyzed it, expressions of incomparable shock appeared on the faces of both Shen Shan and his grandson.

Only after a long while did Shen Shan smile and say, "In a place like the Eastern Region, to actually meet a marvelous person like little brother is truly one of the great blessings of life! This sword is pitch-black throughout, unstained by mixed colors, and is called the Unblemished Sword. If little brother is satisfied with it, then this sword will be given to you."

"In that case, many thanks for big brother's generous favor." Tang Yan was not polite either, and directly accepted it.

"This is the scabbard. It was also refined by our Artifact Pavilion. When the heavy sword is not in use normally, it can be carried on the back and will not affect bodily movement." After hesitating for a moment, Shen Shan then said somewhat embarrassedly, "This sword also comes with a set of martial skill, Mountain-Shattering Wave-Treading Sword. However, its grade is only Earth Rank Middle Grade. If little brother does not disdain it, then take it together as well."

Seeing the martial skill and scabbard Shen Shan handed over, a herd of alpacas ran through Tang Yan's heart.

What did he mean by "only Earth Rank Middle Grade"?

Did this bastard know how hard it was to find an Earth Rank Middle Grade martial skill in Tingxiang Kingdom? In all of Yun City, there had never even been talk of an Earth Rank martial skill, alright!

"Many thanks, big brother." Solemnly taking the martial skill, Tang Yan looked at the youth with pitch-black pupils and smiled. "Right, I still don't know your name."

"My name is Shen He, He as in xianyun yehe," the youth said with a smile in introduction. It seemed that having seen hope of continuing to live, he was also in a very good mood.

"The Formless Cold Scripture can be cultivated at any time. When the cold qi erupts, the cultivation effect is even better. You can go back now and test it. It's getting late. If fate allows, we'll meet again another day. Senior Shen Shan, farewell!" Tang Yan did not stay long either, and bid the two goodbye.

"Take care!" Looking at Tang Yan's back, Shen Shan did not forget to add, "My Artifact Pavilion owes little brother Tang a favor. If you encounter trouble in the future, just bring that dagger and go to the Artifact Pavilion to find me!"

After hearing this, Tang Yan waved his hand to indicate he had heard, then left without turning his head back.

Watching Tang Yan leave, Shen Shan slapped his thigh and said, "This old fool forgot to ask where Young Master Tang lives! If we want to repay him in the future, we mustn't fail to find him."

"Grandfather, he doesn't seem like a local. He should be here to participate in this Eastern Region Grand Competition. Tomorrow we'll go to the site, and we'll definitely see him," Shen He said from the side.

"Highly likely. Then tomorrow, we'll also go observe the Eastern Region Grand Competition. Come, let's go back and see whether you can cultivate this Formless Cold Scripture." Shen Shan took Shen He's hand and also quickly left the pavilion.

By the time Tang Yan returned to the small courtyard carrying the heavy sword on his back, it was already evening. Looking at the sky, Tang Yan knew that if he started learning this sword technique now, there would definitely not be enough time.

He took out a High Spirit Pill from his bosom. After swallowing it, Tang Yan began regulating his breathing. Tomorrow was the Eastern Region Grand Competition, and tonight he had to adjust himself to his peak state.

Early the next morning, just as the sky brightened, Tang Yan opened his eyes.

After stretching his constrained body and washing up, he came to Lin Xiao's small courtyard.

Liu Zhi and Lin Dongxue were already waiting in the courtyard. Today, Lin Dongxue was dressed quite beautifully; the well-fitted white clothes made her appear poised and graceful.

And Liu Zhi also soon arrived at the small courtyard.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Lin Xiao then said with a smile, "Today is the day to decide who is better! Fight well. Whoever can obtain a good ranking will certainly have rich Reward!"

"We will go all out!" Tang Yan and the other two said in unison.

Lin Xiao nodded in satisfaction. After breakfast, he then led the three of them toward the competition grounds.

By today, Fang City was lively on an unprecedented scale.

Countless people had gathered in Fang City only to witness this Eastern Region Grand Competition.

Looking at the dense crowd of fellow travelers along the way, Tang Yan could not help clicking his tongue. With people packed shoulder to shoulder like this, how many spectators had come to watch?

In the eastern part of Fang City, on an enormous plaza, people had already crowded all around it, and more were still hurrying over one after another.

This was also the place where the selection for each session of the Eastern Region Grand Competition was held.

If not for the fact that the participants from the five cities all had seats at the very front, Tang Yan probably would not even have found a place to stand.

Among the crowd, an old man was leading a youth, looking around in all directions through the crowd."