Flesh Refining Mid-Stage

The morning mist had yet to fully disperse. In the Inner Hall Martial Arts Arena, Fang Han slowly drew in his stance, the blood and qi coursing through his body gradually settling.

An aura that was more solid and more explosive naturally emanated from him.

He lowered his head, feeling the resilience and strength radiating from deep within his muscles—far beyond the Flesh Refining Early-Stage. A fierce joy nearly burst from his chest.

"Only a little over a month!"

From first entering the Flesh Refining realm to reaching the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage, he had spent only a little over a month in total.

To be precise, one month and five days.

Such a rate of improvement was absolutely astonishing even among the Inner Hall disciples, all of whom possessed exceptional talent.

All of this was the benefit brought by the twofold Root Bone Talent Amplification.

Under the twofold Root Bone Talent Amplification, it was as though he had been reborn and remade.

"If a twofold Root Bone Talent Amplification is already this effective, then if I can unlock the Level Two Amplification..."

A powerful anticipation and yearning rose in Fang Han's heart.

A twofold Root Bone Talent Amplification already had such heaven-defying effects. If he could unlock the Level Two Root Bone Talent Amplification and gain an even greater multiplier—

How exaggerated would his cultivation speed become?

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 2x (Level Two Amplification requires 100 taels of silver)]

[Sword Art Talent Amplification: 2x (Level Two Amplification requires 100 taels of silver)]

[Possessed Wealth: 0]

At his mental summons, the System Panel appeared before his eyes.

"100 taels of silver."

Seeing the glaring words "Level Two Amplification requires 100 taels of silver" after [Root Bone Talent Amplification], the heat in his eyes was like a fire doused by a basin of cold water, instantly cooling.

One hundred taels of silver!

All his current savings amounted to only twenty-seven taels.

Even if he received five taels as his monthly allowance every month from now on and spent nothing, it would still take a full fifteen months to gather enough.

With no income beyond his monthly allowance, it was impossible for him to unlock the Level Two Root Bone Talent Amplification anytime soon.

Being able to improve at my current speed is already exceptionally good. I cannot be greedy and never satisfied...

Fang Han let out a long breath of stale air and prepared to practice his swordsmanship, using sword training to familiarize himself with his now greatly increased strength.

However, when he raised his head, he discovered several gazes nailed firmly onto him, filled with disbelief and shock.

They belonged to the others who had entered the Inner Hall in the same batch as him.

"F-Flesh Refining Mid-Stage? I didn't sense it wrong, did I?"

One disciple from the same batch spoke with a trembling voice as he nudged the companion beside him.

"How long has it been since he broke through to Flesh Refining? It's only... only been a little over a month, right?"

Fang Chen's face had gone somewhat pale, and his voice was dry.

He was still circling around the Flesh Refining Early-Stage, with the Mid-Stage nowhere in sight. Yet that fellow who had originally been at the bottom among them had silently crossed that threshold and left him far behind.

The resentment and humiliation that had lingered after the Martial Dao Stele test had now completely transformed into an enormous sense of disparity and helplessness.

Fang Tao was even more crestfallen, the hand gripping his sword hilt turning weak.

He had yet to digest the shock Fang Han's swordsmanship reaching Minor Accomplishment had brought a few days ago, and now Fang Han's cultivation realm had broken through once again.

The blows came one after another, completely extinguishing his desire to catch up.

"Flesh Refining Mid-Stage..."

Even Fang Lin, who had always remained calm and even carried a faint sense of superiority, lost every trace of composure from his face.

His sharp eyes fixed tightly on Fang Han, and a flash of suspicion and deep wariness clearly swept through the depths of his pupils.

He had already been at the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage when he entered the Inner Hall. After cultivating for this period of time, he felt that he could cross the threshold and break through to the Flesh Refining Late-Stage at any moment.

He had believed himself to be the undisputed frontrunner of their cohort, and that none of the others from the same batch could possibly threaten him.

Yet Fang Han had used only a little over a month to make the leap from the Flesh Refining Early-Stage to the Mid-Stage.

That speed was so fast it defied all reason!

Even he himself had taken nearly three months to advance from the Early-Stage to the Mid-Stage.

Did that not mean that, at this rate, Fang Han might catch up to him—or even surpass him?

For the first time, a sense of crisis rose in his heart.

The way he looked at Fang Han was no longer condescending and indifferent, but solemn and vigilant.

This fellow from a collateral branch, once utterly inconspicuous, had unknowingly become his potential—and most dangerous—competitor!

Fang Han's expression remained calm. He did not reveal the slightest pride because of the others' shock.

He merely gave a slight nod in greeting, then turned and walked toward the weapon rack, picking up a Refined Iron Longsword.

"Bzz—"

With a flick of his wrist, the longsword gave a clear, ringing tremor.

His Minor Accomplishment Breeze Sword Art unfolded, its sword light flowing in perfect arcs, like mercury spilling across the ground, nimble yet razor-sharp.

He immersed himself in his own world of swordsmanship, as though the complicated gazes around him did not exist.

On the path of martial dao, if one does not advance, one falls behind. The twofold Talent Amplification may be good, but I cannot allow it to breed complacency in me!

As his resolve hardened, Fang Han's sword moves became ever fiercer. The sound of his blade tearing through the air seemed to carry the determination to cleave apart every obstacle on the road ahead.

Fang Lin watched that figure moving freely across the arena, his eyes flickering. In the end, he silently turned and walked toward the area where he usually trained.

Only this time, the movements with which he assumed his fist stance were visibly heavier, and every breath he drew and expelled carried an unprecedented focus.

The invisible pressure of competition had already begun to quietly spread through one corner of the Inner Hall.

Time passed amid immersed cultivation, and before anyone realized it, the end of the year had arrived.

One morning, Elder Fang Yuan, who rarely appeared around the Martial Hall, showed up.

He issued a summons, gathering a total of sixty-one Martial Hall disciples—including Fang Han and the other new disciples—at the courtyard where the Martial Dao Stele stood.

"The year is drawing to a close. Based on your Martial Dao Stele rankings this year, as well as changes in those rankings, the family will determine the rewards granted to you for the year."

Elder Fang Yuan, dressed in a green robe, did not speak loudly, yet his voice rang in everyone's heart like an ancient bell.

"The annual Martial Dao Stele Re-test has finally arrived!"

Upon hearing Elder Fang Yuan's words, the Inner Hall disciples from previous years—especially those ranked outside the top ten who felt their strength had improved over the past year—ignited with blazing light in their eyes.

Ordinarily, only the ten disciples ranked in the top ten could receive extra rewards each month.

Those disciples ranked outside the top ten could not obtain any additional rewards beyond their fixed monthly allowance.

The annual Martial Dao Stele Re-test was their only opportunity to gain extra rewards.

"Martial Dao Stele Re-test?"

Fang Lin and the other new disciples looked at one another. Since they had only been tested recently and their rankings should not change much, they did not react strongly.

"Rewards will be given according to ranking and changes in ranking...?"

Fang Han was the most stirred among the new disciples.

Since entering the Inner Hall, his swordsmanship had first reached Minor Accomplishment, followed by his cultivation realm breaking through to the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage. His strength had increased considerably, so his ranking would certainly change significantly as well.

He was quite looking forward to this suddenly announced Martial Dao Stele Re-test.