Breakthrough!!

Fang Chen scanned the martial arts school, finding only himself, Yang Hua, and Zhou Hai remaining.

Helplessly, Fang Chen suppressed the excitement within him.

There were too few spectators now; breaking through wouldn't feel satisfying. He'd wait until tomorrow morning.

"Senior Brother Fang, are you really coming tomorrow morning... If you actually do, won't that..."

Yang Hua suddenly walked over, speaking with a hint of worry in his tone.

Fang Chen looked at Yang Hua with some surprise.

He hadn't expected anyone other than Zhou Hai to be worried about him.

Fang Chen didn't have much of an impression of Yang Hua.

He just remembered the other person seemed to come from a poor family too, but was luckier, with above-average aptitude. He was currently being sponsored by a merchant.

Fang Chen didn't know what the other person was thinking.

However, since the inquiry was well-intentioned, Fang Chen smiled and replied, "Of course. Junior Brother doesn't need to worry about me."

Yang Hua didn't understand why Fang Chen could still smile.

He had originally considered suggesting they flee with their families.

Now that Fang Chen had made up his mind, he didn't feel it was appropriate to persuade him further.

In the end, he could only offer his blessings: "I hope Senior Brother can truly break through tomorrow!"

Fang Chen nodded, "Thank you for your kind words, Junior Brother."

After speaking, Yang Hua left the martial arts school.

Fang Chen finished his Qi Supplementing Powder, bid farewell to Zhou Hai, and returned home.

The night was cool as water, the crescent moon like a hook.

In the dilapidated courtyard, Fang Chen's figure weaved and dodged under the sparse moonlight.

He gripped a light saber tightly in his hand, its blade cutting through the air with a "whizzing" sound.

Five more repetitions, and the Whirlwind Blade Technique would reach minor accomplishment!

Fang Chen practiced the Whirlwind Blade Technique over and over.

[Whirlwind Blade Technique Proficiency +1]!

[Whirlwind Blade Technique Proficiency +1]!

[Whirlwind Blade Technique Proficiency +1]!

Sweat gradually soaked through his coarse cloth shirt, clinging tightly to his body.

But at this moment, Fang Chen grew more and more excited as he practiced, his gaze fixed on the Proficiency Panel before him.

[Whirlwind Blade Technique (Initiation 148/150)]

The blade technique was just one final push away from minor accomplishment!

Fang Chen's heart surged with excitement. This "minor accomplishment" represented truly stepping onto the first threshold of the Martial Path—the Skin and Muscle Realm!

If he could master the Whirlwind Blade Technique tonight and the Tiger Subduing Fist tomorrow morning, with two martial arts at minor accomplishment, Fang Chen felt his combat power would definitely be stronger than an ordinary cultivator in the Skin and Muscle Realm!

Thinking this, Fang Chen continued to practice the Whirlwind Blade Technique.

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly blew! A few leaves drifted down, dancing in the wind with elusive trajectories!

Fang Chen carefully sensed the changes as the wind blew past.

At this moment, his Blood Essence surged, and Fang Chen moved with the flow, stepping forward and swinging his saber!

Under the moonlight, the saber light was cold.

The young man held his saber, as if moving with the wind.

His saber moves were fluid and natural, as if strung together by an invisible wind.

With a flick of his wrist, the speed of the saber cutting through the air suddenly increased by nearly thirty percent!

The "whizzing" sound of the saber became more rapid and sharp, as if a true gale was brewing and howling within the small courtyard!

Fang Chen's mind was filled with enlightenment! He understood the essence of the Whirlwind Blade Technique even more!

Fast! Continuous!

Pursuing extreme speed and an unbroken onslaught!

"Slash!"

Fang Chen roared, unleashing his final saber strike with all his might!

The panel in his mind suddenly flashed:

[Whirlwind Blade Technique Proficiency +2]!

[Whirlwind Blade Technique (Minor Accomplishment 0/400)]!

Finally, minor accomplishment!

Fang Chen carefully observed the changes in his body.

Under the faint moonlight, he could see a very thin, almost imperceptible reddish sheen on his skin's surface, as if covered by an invisible layer of oil. The speed at which sweat beads rolled off seemed to have slowed.

Fang Chen lightly drew his long saber across his arm and felt a tough resistance!

Ultimately, the sharp long saber only left a faint white mark on his arm. If it were before breaking through this realm, such a precious saber would have surely drawn blood.

Of course, this didn't mean that a long saber couldn't harm Fang Chen in the future. If he activated the Whirlwind Blade Technique and slashed hard at his arm, he would still bleed profusely!

Besides the changes in his skin and membranes, Fang Chen felt that his physical strength had also greatly increased! If he encountered Zhao San again now, Fang Chen was confident he could blow his head off with a single punch! The opponent wouldn't have any chance to counterattack at all!

Regardless, he had finally stepped into the First Realm of the Martial Path! Fang Chen's heart filled with anticipation for tomorrow's breakthrough. Logically, after breaking through with the Tiger Subduing Fist, his skin and muscles should also have strengthened! With both martial arts at minor accomplishment, it was equivalent to strengthening himself twice! Naturally, he would be stronger than ordinary people!

Fang Chen pondered continuously, coming up with some immature conjectures. If he practiced more martial arts, could he continuously strengthen his skin and muscles?! If that were the case, wouldn't he be many times stronger than others in the same realm?! But would there be a limit to this method? Fang Chen realized he knew too little about the Martial Path and needed to find an opportunity to catch up.

On the last day after the bet was established, Fang Chen still arrived at the martial arts school early. He had already prepared an unknown wild fern, which he would use in place of the Hibernating Dragon Fern when he broke through later. However, to his surprise, many people had arrived earlier than him today. Wang Yanshan, Song Ming, Jiang Qiutong, Qin Yun, and others had all arrived very early.

Scanning the surroundings, Fang Chen noticed that Yang Hua had also arrived. What Fang Chen found strange was that the merchant who had sponsored Yang Hua had also arrived at the martial arts school early. It was unclear if he was looking for Yang Hua or if he had specifically come to watch the show.

At this moment, Wang Yanshan and Song Ming walked over. Wang Yanshan spoke first, "Junior Brother, are you ready to be beaten by me?" Song Ming followed, "Junior Brother Fang, didn't you say that if you lost, you'd let me do anything?" "I've already thought of what I want you to do!" "You'll kneel down..."

Fang Chen interrupted, "What's wrong with you guys? Why do you automatically assume I've lost?" Song Ming and Wang Yanshan frowned. Upon closer inspection, they finally noticed that Fang Chen was holding a great elixir in his hand. The two exchanged a look and were rendered speechless, their faces showing expressions that were neither smiles nor frowns.

Finally, Song Ming smiled and said, "Junior Brother, didn't anyone tell you something? Directly consuming an entire great elixir is something only done when breaking through at the limit. I don't see that you've reached your limit, and if you rashly consume the whole thing, you might not be able to control the surging Blood Essence, ultimately leading to bleeding from all seven orifices and a tragic death." Wang Yanshan also sneered, "You're not thinking of just dying, are you? I'm telling you, I won't let you off that easily. It's not an option to not let me beat you up."

Fang Chen directly cursed, "It's clearly you who are blind and can't see that I've already reached the critical point!" Just as Song Ming and Wang Yanshan were about to retort, they saw Zhou Hai suddenly walk over with Hong Decheng. Hong Decheng approached and said to the onlookers, "Stop making a fuss. Fang Chen is indeed at the point of breaking through." As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted!