Recognizing a Younger Brother

Wrath of the Wind God.

A towering azure phantom appeared behind Fang Han. Violent power of heaven and earth gathered around him, making the surrounding reeds sway without wind. Some waterfowl hidden among the reeds seemed to have been frightened by something and quickly fled into the distance.

The towering phantom dissipated after only a breath. Feeling the sudden power within him, Fang Han's face lit up with joy. Without pausing, he ran, leaped, and rolled across the beach, striving to train his limbs, waist, and abdomen until they were strong and full of power.

Several sandbags were tied to his limbs, yet at this moment, they felt as light as nothing to him.

Sweat covered his forehead, and his back was already soaked through.

Half an hour later, Fang Han was already panting heavily, but instead of resting, he continuously struck the sandbag prepared nearby. He kept going until stars danced before his eyes, his head buzzed, and his strength was completely drained. Only then did he collapse painfully into the reeds on the beach, gasping for breath.

Smack, smack, smack!

"Not bad."

Fang Xuan walked out with a smile on his face.

"Young Master?"

Fang Han quickly climbed to his feet and bowed respectfully.

"You've trained well. In just three months, you've reached the Strength Training realm. Not bad. But remember this: no matter what martial art you cultivate, you must first train the strength of your limbs, waist, and abdomen until they are solid, and ensure you have enough flexibility before practicing techniques. Otherwise, it will have no effect. Any technique without strength is nothing but an empty form.

"The three stages of Nourishing Life, Strength Training, and techniques must be cultivated step by step. You were born a servant and cannot compare with those core disciples. They eat bird's nest, deer antler, ginseng, and black-bone chicken every day, while you only get meat occasionally. You simply cannot endure that kind of intense daily training. Even with the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art, it cannot make up for the deficits in your body in a short time. You must not be careless and damage your foundation," Fang Xuan said.

Fang Han nodded heavily. "Yes, Young Master. This servant understands."

Over the past three months, Fang Han had grown sturdier than before, and his height had increased dramatically.

At fourteen or fifteen, he was at the age when boys grew taller fastest, seeming to change every day. If he took off his clothes, one would see that his muscles and bones had become far denser, and he had gained a full twenty to thirty pounds.

He was no longer as skinny and dark as before, and he looked far more spirited.

Fang Xuan took a sheet of paper from his robes and handed it over.

Fang Han reached out to take it. When he saw what was written on it, his eyes widened, his body trembled slightly, and his eyes reddened.

"This is your deed of sale. I obtained it for you. With it, you will no longer be a servant. Later, I'll have my mother take you as her adopted son. Then you can practice martial arts openly, without having to sneak around like this. But the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art must never be revealed. Otherwise, even the Fang Family would face the disaster of extermination."

Thud!

Fang Han dropped to his knees like a collapsing mountain, bowing repeatedly to Fang Xuan. His voice carried a slight sob as he said, "Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, Young Master. Fang Han will repay this kindness even if I must carry a ring in my beak and weave grass in gratitude."

Better a beggar than a household slave.

For three generations, Fang Han's family had been servants of the Fang Family. He had thought he would never be able to change his fate in this life, but he had never expected happiness to come so suddenly.

Not only had his status as a servant been revoked, but he could also practice martial arts and rise above others.

Fang Xuan reached out and helped Fang Han up, smiling as he said, "I don't know why, but the moment I first saw you, I felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. I've already asked Mother to take you as her adopted son, so from now on, you're my younger brother. Stop calling me Young Master. Call me Brother."

"Bro... Xuan Ge."

"Haha, that's more like it!" Fang Xuan laughed heartily.

Fang Xuan also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At last, he had latched onto Fang Han's thigh. With this favor and this relationship, even if he failed to cultivate, simply relying on Fang Han would be enough to let him soar to great heights in the future.

Fang Xuan patted Fang Han on the shoulder and said, "Tomorrow, I'll be leaving for the Immortal Feather Sect. Stay home and practice martial arts properly. Take good care of Mother. Once your brother achieves something in cultivation, I'll find a way to bring you into the Immortal Feather Sect. Then the two of us can pursue the immortal path together and attain the Dao Fruit of eternal life."

Fang Han was still immersed in this sudden happiness and nodded heavily in excitement.

"Xuan Ge, don't worry. I'll definitely take good care of Mother."

"Haha, that's more like it. Oh, and you absolutely must not let a second person learn about the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art. Such a secret art is something the Fang Family may not be able to protect, let alone the entire Great Li Dynasty. I didn't even teach it to Fang Hong. If I hadn't seen how severely depleted your body was, making success in martial arts difficult, I would never have taught it to you. If anyone else learns of this secret art, it will bring a monstrous disaster," Fang Xuan said solemnly.

Fang Han's heart tightened. Over these past three months, Fang Xuan had taught him some basic knowledge about cultivation. He understood that the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art could draw upon the power of heaven and earth from nothingness, as though swallowing endless weakened Essence Pills to accelerate cultivation. With such a secret art, anyone who obtained it could establish a powerful family, perhaps even a dynasty.

Having known since childhood to conceal his talents and possessing lofty ambitions, Fang Han naturally understood the gravity of the matter.

He nodded heavily. "Xuan Ge, don't worry. Even if I die, I won't let anyone discover it."

Fang Xuan slapped the back of Fang Han's head and pretended to be angry. "What nonsense are you saying? If it truly comes to that, hand it over if you have to. Once you're dead, you'll have nothing."

After being slapped, Fang Han was not angry. Instead, warmth surged through his heart. Since his father's death, he had never felt such warmth again.

"Come, I'll teach you Golden Toad Leaping into Water. This is a Strength Training method of the Fang Family. It can greatly train the body's strength, but it consumes tremendous stamina and can easily sprain muscles and bones, causing permanent injury. The Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art has already made up for the deficits in your body, and you've been nourishing yourself very well recently. You can begin practicing it now."

"Mm."

Fang Xuan carefully explained the training method of Golden Toad Leaping into Water and personally demonstrated it for Fang Han.

Once, twice, three times, four times...

Fang Han kept jumping. Whenever he became exhausted, he would use the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art once, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth to continue practicing.

In this way, the power of heaven and earth continuously washed over his exhausted muscles, bones, and cells, steadily strengthening his bones and expanding his strength in ways invisible to the naked eye.

Only when the moon had risen above the treetops did Fang Han finally stop his frenzied training at Fang Xuan's urging.

Watching Fang Han train so madly from the side, Fang Xuan secretly nodded. This kind of training could only be sustained through the Heaven's Will Four Symbols Art drawing upon the power of heaven and earth. Of course, what mattered most was the tempering of one's will.

Few people could endure such daily torment and exhaustion, yet Fang Han had forced himself to persist through it.

He truly was worthy of being the reincarnation of the Gate of Eternal Life's artifact spirit, born with a madness within him to pursue the Great Dao.