Fourfold, Flesh Refining Late-Stage

The night was deep, and the oil lamp in Fang Han's room burned dimly.

Fang Han stared fixedly at the striking number on the System Panel.

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 4x (Level Three Amplification requires 1,000 taels of silver)]

"Fourfold?! It didn't just add another fold—it directly doubled the original twofold amplification?!"

A tremendous surge of delight exploded through his mind like a thunderclap, choking off even Fang Han's breath!

He had originally thought that Level Two Amplification would merely add another fold to his Root Bone Talent, bringing it to a threefold amplification.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected the system to multiply the existing foundation directly, reaching a shocking fourfold!

"The twofold Root Bone amplification already made my cultivation speed far surpass ordinary people's. What will a fourfold Root Bone amplification be like?"

His heart pounded in his chest like a war drum, and all of Fang Han's exhaustion was swept away.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he immediately pushed open his door and silently entered the cold, quiet courtyard.

Moonlight spilled across the ground like liquid mercury, and the chill pierced to the bone, yet Fang Han felt not the slightest cold. His heart held only blazing heat.

He assumed the stance of the Crane Stance, calmed his mind, and instantly sank his consciousness into his body.

"Exhale—inhale—"

Following his deep, rhythmic breathing, he began operating his Stance Training.

The instant he did, an unprecedented torrent of blood and qi—so vast that it made even his soul tremble—erupted without warning from the depths of his limbs, bones, tendons, flesh, and skin.

The sheer majesty, heat, and density of this blood and qi far surpassed what it had been under the twofold Root Bone amplification.

"Gasp—!"

Fang Han could not help sucking in a sharp breath. His body shuddered violently, and he nearly lost his stance.

It was too enormous! Too violent!

If the blood and qi from the previous twofold amplification had been a rushing brook, then what the fourfold amplification brought now was a boundless, raging river.

The speed of its circulation, its total quantity, and its efficiency in scouring his body had all undergone earth-shaking changes.

He could clearly "hear" the dense crackling of popping beans and the deeper humming from the skin, flesh, and muscles throughout his body as they were scoured by that irresistible river of blood and qi.

It was the sound of his flesh being frantically tempered, nourished, and strengthened.

With every breath, he could feel his muscle fibers becoming tougher and more solid, while his sense of strength rose steadily like bamboo shoots after spring rain.

If the twofold Root Bone amplification had made him a minor genius, then the current fourfold Root Bone amplification had truly placed him among the ranks of geniuses!

The improvement it brought was no longer merely visible to the naked eye, but a massive, leap-like transformation.

It was not until dawn that Fang Han finally ended his cultivation, still wanting more.

The sensation of his strength rapidly increasing was simply too wonderful.

"Based on the current pattern, if I activate Level Three Amplification, won't the multiplier reach eightfold?"

After lying back down in bed, Fang Han could not help thinking of Level Three Amplification.

If Level Three Amplification truly worked as he expected and brought the multiplier to eightfold, just how outrageous would his cultivation speed become then?

Unfortunately, Level Three Amplification required a full thousand taels of silver, something he could never gather in a short time.

Still, the enormous sum required was not entirely incomprehensible. After all, such a multiplier was simply too astonishing.

Time flew by as Fang Han immersed himself in cultivation.

A few days later, on the day before the Martial Hall holiday ended.

Fang Han was practicing his stance in the courtyard as usual. The terrifying blood and qi granted by the fourfold Root Bone amplification surged endlessly, scouring his body again and again as though it would never cease.

Suddenly!

"Hum—!"

A low, muffled-thunder-like rumble rang out from within his body!

The muscles all over his body began trembling violently at high frequency beyond his control, like countless tough bowstrings plucked at once.

A sense of power far stronger and more explosive than when he had broken through to the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage erupted within him like a dormant volcano bursting forth.

Flesh Refining Late-Stage achieved!

"From the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage... to the Flesh Refining Late-Stage, it only took... a little over half a month?!"

Fang Han's eyes held astonishment, along with a trace of disbelief.

From the Flesh Refining Early-Stage to the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage, he had spent over a month.

Yet from the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage to the Flesh Refining Late-Stage, he had spent only a little over half a month.

Although he knew the fourfold Root Bone amplification was heaven-defying, he had not expected his cultivation speed to be this fast, allowing him to rise from the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage to the Flesh Refining Late-Stage in just over half a month.

"Will cultivating too quickly... make people think something is wrong?"

After the excitement faded, vigilance arose in Fang Han's heart. But after careful consideration, he relaxed.

In this world that possessed martial power, the human body was even more mysterious and unfathomable than in his previous life.

Some people recovered after severe injuries as though reborn from the flames, their once-ordinary aptitude transforming them into geniuses.

Some gained enlightenment in a single day, as though their minds had suddenly opened, and both their comprehension and Root Bone Talent became exceptionally high.

Others performed ordinarily in the beginning, only for their cultivation speed to grow faster and faster later on, until they finally transformed like carp leaping into dragons and became peerless figures of their age.

With examples like these, at most people would think that he had suddenly awakened. He did not need to worry about the secret of the system within him being discovered.

The next day, at the Inner Hall Martial Arts Arena.

When Fang Han appeared where the newest batch of Inner Hall disciples had gathered, the disciples who had been quietly conversing among themselves immediately fell several degrees quieter.

During the Martial Dao Stele Re-test at the end of last year, Fang Han had climbed five places in less than a month, leaping from the bottom to fifty-fourth place and leaving behind all those who had entered with him.

That scene had left far too deep an impression on them.

Now, the looks they gave Fang Han no longer held their initial disdain and doubts. They had been replaced by caution and a trace of unconcealed complexity.

Though they were still holding back a breath of determination, wanting to catch up to him, they also clearly recognized that Fang Han was now an opponent they had to take seriously. They no longer dared underestimate him in the slightest.

Yet amid those cautious gazes, one figure appeared particularly different.

Fang Lin stood at the edge of the group with his arms crossed, and the look he gave Fang Han had once again taken on that condescending disdain.

The corners of his lips curled upward, carrying undisguised arrogance.

The reason was simple: during the New Year holiday, he had not slackened either.

He had finally broken through and entered the Flesh Refining Late-Stage. He believed that he had once again widened the gap between himself and Fang Han, leaving Fang Han far behind.

Hmph, he's only at the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage, while I'm already at the Flesh Refining Late-Stage!

I was merely somewhat lax before. Now that I've become serious, the gap between you and me will only grow wider and wider!

Fang Lin sneered inwardly, brimming with confidence.

Just then, Elder Fang Yuan entered the Martial Arts Arena with several instructors whose auras were calm and steady.

The Martial Arts Arena, which had still been somewhat noisy, instantly became so quiet that a needle dropping could be heard. Everyone straightened their backs and directed respectful gazes toward the raised platform.

Elder Fang Yuan's gaze was as still as an ancient well as it slowly swept across the young faces below. His sharp eyes seemed capable of piercing flesh and skin, seeing each person's slackness and progress over the past period.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried a strange penetrating force that reached every ear with clarity.

"A new year has begun, and the old year has passed. Whether your past held glory or disgrace, progress or retreat, it has all become settled."

"Standing here in the Inner Hall today means that you still possess the qualifications and opportunity to climb the path of martial dao."

He paused before continuing.

"I hope that in the new year, you will cultivate diligently without cease, forge ahead with courage and vigor, do not betray your youth, and do not betray yourselves. Now, begin cultivating!"

These brief yet weighty words of instruction instantly wiped the relaxed expressions from many disciples' faces, replacing them with solemnity and urgency.