New Year, Fourfold

"Those ranked below tenth whose positions have not risen or have fallen shall receive no reward."

Elder Fang Yuan continued.

The words were like an icy proclamation, making the faces of those disciples whose rankings had remained unchanged or declined look even worse. They hung their heads in dejection.

"Those whose rankings have risen shall be awarded ten taels of silver for every place gained!"

At these words, the spirits of those disciples who had risen in rank were instantly lifted, and their eyes lit up once more.

"Fang Zhuo, up two places, awarded twenty taels of silver!"

"Fang Yu, up seven places, awarded seventy taels of silver!"

Elder Fang Yuan read through the names one by one. When he reached the name "Fang Han," he paused slightly.

His gaze fell upon Fang Han, and a trace of exceedingly faint surprise crossed his normally still, ancient-well-like face for the first time.

"Fang Han, newly admitted to the Inner Hall. Initial ranking: fifty-nine. Current ranking: fifty-four. Up five places. Awarded—fifty taels of silver!"

There were others who had risen five places, and some had even erupted in a spectacular surge, climbing more than ten places at once.

But the crucial point was that the rankings the others had gained were the fruits accumulated over an entire year.

As for the youth before him, it had not even been a full month since he entered the Inner Hall.

One month, from fifty-nine to fifty-four—a rise of five places.

Such speed was rare even in the history of the Inner Hall.

For the first time, Elder Fang Yuan felt a faint spark of interest in this obscure youth from a collateral branch.

Of course, it was only a faint spark of interest.

Fang Han had only just reached the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage, whereas in previous years, there had been disciples who had already reached the Tendon Refining level upon entering the Inner Hall.

Those were the disciples who would become the pillars of the Fang Clan's future, the ones worthy of his focused attention.

"Thank you, Elder!"

Fang Han stepped forward and respectfully accepted a weighty cloth pouch containing five ten-tael ingots of Snowflake Silver.

It weighed heavily in his hand, and a sense of solidity rose within him.

Once the ranking rewards had been distributed, the sixty-one Inner Hall disciples scattered.

Some were pleased, some disappointed; every face wore a different expression.

Carrying his fifty taels of reward silver, Fang Han returned with light steps to his home in the side courtyard.

Upon returning to his room, he shut the door and eagerly placed the five silver ingots together with the silver he had saved before.

"Seventy-seven taels!"

He took a deep breath and calmed his excited heart.

Unlocking the second-level amplification of his Root Bone Talent required one hundred taels of silver. He was now only twenty-three taels short.

"Five taels of monthly allowance... If there are no extra expenses, I'll still need five months."

Fang Han calculated silently. With another five months, he would be able to unlock the second-level amplification of his Root Bone Talent and gain a higher root bone amplification multiplier.

And that was merely the most conservative estimate.

"The New Year is almost here..."

Thinking of the coming New Year, the corners of Fang Han's lips could not help but curl upward.

This year, he had successfully remained in the Martial Hall and become an Inner Hall disciple.

The New Year's money given by his relatives would certainly not be little; it would surely be much more generous than in previous years.

Once that New Year's money was in hand, the time it would take him to gather one hundred taels of silver would be greatly shortened.

"It definitely won't take five months!"

Expectation gleamed in Fang Han's eyes as he carefully gathered all the silver and hid it back inside the familiar wooden chest beneath his bed.

The hope of unlocking a higher root bone amplification was already within reach.

The New Year arrived amid the crackle of firecrackers.

On the second day of the New Year, Fang Han's family arrived early at the home of his eldest uncle, Fang Ye. His third uncle Fang Ping's family had come as well.

The three families gathered together, making the courtyard exceptionally lively. Grandfather and Grandmother sat in the seats of honor, their faces glowing red.

The table was laden with dishes, far more sumptuous than in previous years.

"Xiaohan is here! Quick, come sit by Grandpa and Grandma!"

The moment Grandmother saw Fang Han, she smiled so broadly that her mouth would not close. Taking his hand, she looked him over from top to bottom as if she could never get enough.

"Thinner, but sturdier too. Good, good! Our collateral branch has finally produced a martial artist!"

Grandfather's wrinkled face was also full of gratified smiles as he nodded repeatedly.

"Promising. More promising than your father. From now on, you'll be the pillar of our collateral branch!"

Eldest Uncle Fang Ye gave Fang Han's shoulder a firm pat, his hand heavy and solid.

"Good lad! You've won great honor for our branch. Come, have a drink with your eldest uncle!"

He personally poured Fang Han a cup of warm rice wine, his face filled with the pride of sharing in the glory.

Third Uncle Fang Ping also raised his cup with a smile.

"Xiaohan, you must look after your younger cousins from now on, so they can bask in the light of a martial artist like you!"

During the meal, his older cousin Fang Shan and older cousin Fang Yun looked at Fang Han, who had become the center of the entire family, with complicated envy in their eyes, along with a trace of undisguised regret and loss.

Back then, they too had shed sweat in the Martial Arts Arena, only to leave in gloom after failing to break through into the Flesh Refining Realm.

Now, watching their younger cousin accomplish what they could not and soar into the sky in a single bound, the taste in their hearts was beyond words.

Throughout the New Year, the threshold of Fang Han's once-quiet home was nearly trampled flat.

Distant relatives who rarely visited in ordinary times also came one after another, carrying New Year gifts and offering holiday greetings.

"Ah, Second Sister-in-law, happy New Year, happy New Year! This must be Xiaohan, right? What a fine-looking young man! Anyone can see he is a dragon and phoenix among men. Now that he has entered the Inner Hall, his future is immeasurable!"

"Brother Fang, you two are truly blessed to have given birth to such a Qilin Child. When you prosper in the future, don't forget us old relatives!"

"Xiaohan, I'm your maternal cousin aunt from your maternal cousin granduncle's family... Speaking of which, we are connected by blood..."

These ingratiating words and deliberately flattering smiles made Fang Zheng and Lin Wan somewhat unaccustomed, yet they could not conceal the joy of finally holding their heads high.

Fang Han maintained a smile on his face, one that was exceptionally sincere—especially whenever he saw those clearly thickened red envelopes of New Year's money.

Late at night, after all the visitors had dispersed.

Fang Han eagerly opened every red paper packet of New Year's money one by one. Broken silver, silver bits... beneath the oil lamp, the money piled into a small mountain.

His fingers trembled slightly as he began to count. The silver struck together with crisp, pleasant chimes.

"One hundred and seven taels!!!"

With the New Year's money added in, all his savings had reached one hundred and seven taels.

A tremendous joy flooded through him like a raging torrent, and his heart pounded within his chest like a drum.

How could he not be delighted? This number meant he no longer needed to wait five months—he could unlock the second-level amplification right now.

Though he knew the red envelopes from his relatives would not be small this year, he had never expected them to be so generous that they would erase five whole months at once.

"System Panel!"

Without the slightest hesitation, he called out in his mind. A translucent screen instantly unfolded in his vision.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 2x (Second-level amplification requires 100 silver)]

[Sword Art Talent Amplification: 2x (Second-level amplification requires 100 silver)]

[Possessed Wealth: 0]

"Recharge 100 taels."

A large amount of silver on the table vanished, leaving only seven taels. In its place, Possessed Wealth became "100 silver."

Which amplification to unlock was something he had long since considered.

"Unlock the second-level Root Bone Talent Amplification!"

Fang Han's gaze locked tightly onto the words "Second-level amplification requires 100 silver" after [Root Bone Talent Amplification], and his intent fell upon it at once.

"Ding!"

A crisp system notification that only Fang Han could hear rang out in the depths of his mind, and the System Panel immediately changed.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 4x (Third-level amplification requires 1000 silver)]

[Sword Art Talent Amplification: 2x (Second-level amplification requires 100 silver)]

[Possessed Wealth: 0]