Talent Permanently Enhanced

Liangshui City, Fang Clan.

"Sixteen years..."

Fang Han, a collateral descendant of the Fang Clan, walked toward the Fang Clan's Martial Arts Arena, his heart filled with sighs.

He had transmigrated into this world sixteen years ago. At first, he had thought highly of himself and wanted to stand atop the world, to ensure this rebirth would not be wasted.

But he had gradually discovered that although he possessed memories from his previous life, he was still just as ordinary as he had been before.

He had begun practicing martial arts at fourteen. Now, nearly two years later, he had only reached the Skin Refining Realm among the Four Basic Realms of martial arts: Skin Refining, Flesh Refining, Tendon Refining, and Bone Refining.

Among the Fang Clan disciples who practiced martial arts, his talent could only be considered average.

And with such talent, it was difficult to walk the martial path to the end, because the martial path was the path of geniuses.

Even so, he still did not wish to give up. So long as there was even a sliver of hope, he wanted to fight for it.

Because the martial path was the most orthodox path of social advancement in this world!

In his previous life, all pursuits were lowly, only study stood high. In this world, all pursuits were lowly, only martial artists stood high.

Upon arriving at the Martial Arts Arena, Fang Han drank a bowl of Blood-Qi Soup prepared by the Fang Clan servants and began training.

There were quite a few Fang Clan disciples like him in the arena. Everyone trained on their own, most wearing tense expressions and rarely speaking to one another.

When they were tired, they stopped to rest. Once rested, they resumed training. When they were hungry, Fang Clan servants brought them meals together. The entire day passed swiftly.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the vast Martial Arts Arena, gilding the bluestone-paved ground in a layer of gold.

"Fall in."

At instructor Fang Zhen's command, dozens of Fang Clan disciples, including Fang Han, formed neat ranks in the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

"In one month, it will be time for the final assessment for your batch of disciples."

Instructor Fang Zhen's gaze was like lightning as it swept over the young faces before him.

"You all know the rules. Those who have not reached the Flesh Refining Realm by the age of sixteen will no longer be qualified to remain in the clan's Martial Hall for training!"

His words were like a massive stone thrown into a still lake, stirring wave upon wave.

The youths wore varying expressions.

A small number revealed confident smiles. Their auras were robust, their muscle lines smooth, faintly containing explosive strength. Clearly, they had already successfully crossed the threshold into the Flesh Refining Realm.

Far more people instantly lost the color from their faces, their eyes filled with panic and anxiety.

If they could not break through to the Flesh Refining Realm within a month, they would no longer be able to remain in the Martial Hall to train. They would be forever cut off from the martial path.

"The Flesh Refining Realm..."

Standing amid the other disciples, Fang Han unconsciously clenched his fists.

He could feel that he had already reached the limit of Skin Refining.

He only needed to break through the bottleneck and take one step further for skin and flesh to meld as one, strength to course through his entire body, and reach the Flesh Refining Realm.

Yet this step was harder than climbing to the heavens. Among his peers present, there were plenty who had been stuck at this step for months.

And he was no exception. He had trained for two months without breaking through this bottleneck.

As the final assessment drew nearer and nearer, immense pressure spread from the depths of his heart.

"Dismissed. Take care of yourselves!"

Instructor Fang Zhen took in everyone's reactions but said no more, ordering them to disperse.

For those disciples without talent in martial arts, giving up martial arts was not necessarily a bad choice.

Having practiced martial arts for many years, he understood very well the importance of talent to martial artists. The gap in talent was not something effort alone could bridge.

The crowd dispersed in different directions. Some walked lightly, while others bore steps as heavy as lead.

"One month left!"

Fang Han lowered his head and followed the crowd out of the Martial Arts Arena, the setting sun stretching his shadow long behind him.

If he could not break through to the Flesh Refining Realm within this month, he would be forever cut off from the martial path. It was something he was unwilling to accept no matter what.

After leaving the Martial Arts Arena, Fang Han, a collateral descendant of the Fang Clan, returned to his home in a side courtyard of Fang Mansion.

It was a modest but impeccably tidy courtyard. Wisps of cooking smoke curled upward, carrying an ordinary warmth.

The moment he pushed open the courtyard gate, a tiny figure in a little red padded jacket, her hair tied into two pigtails that stood straight up, came stumbling toward him like a cheerful little sparrow.

"Brother, Brother's back!"

His four-year-old little sister, Fang Ying, tilted up her rosy little face. Her grape-black eyes were full of pure delight as she spread her short arms wide, asking for a hug.

The moment Fang Han saw his sister's smile, more than half the gloom weighing on his heart was instantly swept away.

A doting smile naturally appeared on his face. He bent down, scooped the soft, sweet little girl into his arms, and lifted her high into the air.

"Oh? Has our little Ying been good today?"

"Yes! Little Ying was very good!"

The little girl wrapped her arms around her brother's neck and giggled nonstop. Her crisp laughter seemed like the finest medicine, soothing Fang Han's tightly strung heart.

Holding his sister and feeling this simple warmth, the pressure from the Martial Arts Arena seemed to drift far away for the moment.

At that moment, his parents came out from the house as well.

His mother, Lin Wan, wore an apron, her hands still dusted with flour. His father, Fang Zheng, held an account book, evidently having been keeping records just moments ago.

Seeing the affectionate siblings, gentle smiles appeared on both their faces.

"Xiaohan, you're back."

Lin Wan looked at Fang Han lovingly.

"Go wash your hands. Dinner is ready."

Fang Zheng's gaze lingered on Fang Han for a long while. He hesitated, uncertain whether he should ask, but when he thought of how only one month remained, he finally spoke.

"Xiaohan, how has your training been lately? Have you broken through to the Flesh Refining Realm?"

Fang Han's body stiffened ever so slightly.

He set down his still-giggling sister. His gaze flickered, and in the end, he shook his head, his voice somewhat low.

"Not... not yet."

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

"It's all right. There's no rush. Take it slowly."

Fang Zheng stepped forward and gently patted Fang Han's shoulder with his heavy palm, his tone still calm.

"That's right, Xiaohan. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Take it slowly. Dinner's ready, so eat first. I made your favorite minced pork eggplant today."

Lin Wan softly echoed him.

After dinner, Fang Han returned to his own room. Moonlight streamed through the window lattice and spilled across the floor, cool and clear as water.

His body was quite exhausted from a full day of training, so he lay down to sleep.

Suddenly.

A translucent projected screen flickered into view before his eyes.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 0x (Level 1 amplification requires 10 silver)]

[Sword Art Talent Amplification: 0x (Level 1 amplification requires 10 silver)]

[Possessed Wealth: 0]

"A system?"

Fang Han abruptly sat up in bed, staring incredulously at the projected screen in his field of vision.

As a transmigrator, he naturally knew what a system was. At the beginning of his transmigration, he had also longed to possess one.

But year after year had passed, and the system had never appeared. He had long since abandoned such thoughts.

Yet just when he had completely given up on the idea, the system had appeared.

"This should be a Pay-to-Win System!"

Fang Han looked at the System Panel before him.

From the text on the System Panel, it was not difficult to infer that this was a system that could permanently amplify one's talents through spending money.

"It can permanently amplify talent?!"

Fang Han's eyes grew fervent.

After nearly two years of practicing martial arts, he had experienced firsthand the importance of talent. He understood extremely well just how vital talent was to a martial artist.

Yet the system before him could permanently amplify talent. It was simply heaven-defying.

With this system, breaking through to the Flesh Refining Realm within the next month and remaining in the Martial Hall was no longer impossible.