Shattering Arrogance

After Elder Fang Yuan finished his lecture, he signaled for the instructors to attend to their duties while the Inner Hall disciples resumed their training. The atmosphere across the entire Martial Arts Arena instantly became solemn and focused.

Fang Lin's expression had restrained some of its smugness during the lecture, but once it ended and his gaze swept over Fang Han, the contempt and sense of superiority in his heart surged up again.

He turned and headed toward the Courtyard where the Martial Dao Stele stood.

He wanted to use the Martial Dao Stele test to show everyone that he had reached Flesh Refining Late-Stage, and to let the elders and instructors see that he had not slacked off during the break.

Before long, news from the Martial Dao Stele spread back to the Martial Arts Arena.

"Fang Lin went to test himself on the Martial Dao Stele. His ranking rose five places, and he's now forty-eighth!"

"To improve so much, he must have broken through to Flesh Refining Late-Stage!"

"As expected of the undisputed number one among our batch. He really is impressive!"

The new batch of disciples all turned to look toward where Fang Lin had been standing, their eyes filled with even greater awe.

Even some disciples from previous years began whispering among themselves, paying Fang Lin newfound attention.

Fang Lin... has reached Flesh Refining Late-Stage?

Fang Han naturally heard the discussions as well.

His expression remained calm as he circulated the Crane Stance, tempering his physique and sensing the clear, tangible strengthening of his body.

During the break, not only had his martial cultivation risen to Flesh Refining Late-Stage, but under the amplification of his doubled Sword Art Talent, his Sword Art realm had also made enormous progress, though it had not yet reached the proficient level.

With his current strength, if he went to test himself, his improvement would not be smaller than Fang Lin's. It might even be greater.

But to him, this kind of simple ranking showboating brought no practical benefit beyond attracting attention.

As a transmigrator, his mind was far more mature than those of his peers. He had little interest in merely showing off.

"Hmph—"

Fang Lin strode back into the Martial Arts Arena in high spirits, basking in everyone's attention as he deliberately glanced toward Fang Han.

He had expected to see shock, disappointment, or resentment on Fang Han's face.

Yet all he saw was calmness, even... indifference?

It was as though his grand feat of rising five places in the rankings was not worth mentioning in the other's eyes!

That reaction was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly cooling more than half of his smug delight. A nameless fire flared up within him.

He felt as though he had punched a lump of cotton, leaving him stifled and miserable.

"Fang Han!"

After all, he was only a sixteen-year-old boy. Naturally, he could not possess much scheming depth.

With nameless anger rising in his heart, Fang Lin took several strides to Fang Han's side, his voice carrying deliberate provocation.

"Fang Han, aren't you going to give it a try? See whether you've improved recently?"

"Not interested."

Annoyed by Fang Lin's interruption, Fang Han stopped his Stance Training, raised his eyes to look at him, and replied coldly.

But those three airy words were like pouring oil onto a fire!

"Not interested? I think you're scared, aren't you? Scared that your ranking won't change and you'll make a fool of yourself?"

Fang Lin's cheek twitched slightly as he forcefully suppressed his anger and sneered.

He deliberately raised his voice so everyone around could hear.

"What, you don't even have the courage to take the test?"

Fang Han's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He truly could not summon much interest in this childish attempt at provocation.

"How about this? If you dare go test yourself on the Martial Dao Stele now, I'll give you ten taels of silver for every place you move up!"

Seeing that Fang Han still remained unmoved, Fang Lin's eyes shifted as he thought of a more direct provocation, speaking mockingly.

"Move up however many places, and I'll give you that many tens of taels! How about it?"

Fang Han, who had been planning to continue his Stance Training, froze the instant he heard the words, "Move up however many places, and I'll give you that many tens of taels of silver."

Silver!

Unlocking the second-level amplification of Sword Art Talent required one hundred taels of silver, while unlocking the third-level amplification of Root Bone Talent required a full thousand taels. He had been worrying about where to get the money!

His gaze instantly sharpened, and the way he looked at Fang Lin was like he was staring at shining silver ingots.

"Really? You'll give me tens of taels of silver for every place I move up?"

He suddenly realized that this kid was rather adorable too—practically a wealth-bringing boy.

Fang Lin was stunned by Fang Han's sudden change in attitude, but quickly understood. Fang Han was trying to make him reluctant to part with the silver so that he would back down.

Naturally, he would not let Fang Han have his way. He said proudly,

"I, Fang Lin, always keep my word. Everyone present can bear witness! As long as you move up, not a single coin of the silver will be missing!"

"Fine!" Fang Han immediately headed for the Courtyard where the Martial Dao Stele stood, clean and decisive.

"Hmph, putting on a show! Let's see how you'll get off the stage later!"

Believing Fang Han was merely posturing, Fang Lin snorted and followed after him.

The Martial Arts Arena instantly erupted.

No one had expected things to develop this way. They all stopped training and surged after the two of them toward the Courtyard where the Martial Dao Stele stood.

This was a wager involving tens of taels of silver. It was far too interesting to miss!

Before the Martial Dao Stele, the crowd gathered around.

Fang Han remained composed. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he extended his index finger and pressed it steadily against the cold jade surface of the stele. The words "Fang Han" clearly appeared.

Then he took a Refined Iron Longsword, lowered his stance, and planted his feet. His aura instantly became incomparably sharp.

The late minor-achievement level Breeze Sword Art circulated at full force, while the power of Flesh Refining Late-Stage poured into the blade without reservation!

Breeze Piercing Sun!

With a clear shout, the longsword transformed into a streak of cold light like a strip of white silk, carrying a piercing howl as it tore through the air and stabbed with unmatched precision into the center of the Martial Dao Stele!

Clang—!

The sound of metal striking metal rang through the Courtyard. The Jade Stele abruptly lit up, flashing violently!

Everyone stared fixedly at the stele's surface.

Behind the words "Fang Han," the number began rapidly changing.

Fifty-five... fifty-two... fifty... forty-nine...

At last, it settled firmly on a position that made everyone's breath catch.

Forty-eighth!

Whoosh—!

After a brief dead silence, a sky-shaking uproar erupted!

"Forty-eighth?! He... he rose from fifty-fourth to forty-eighth?! Six places in one go?!"

"Flesh Refining Late-Stage—he's definitely Flesh Refining Late-Stage too, and his swordsmanship seems even stronger!"

"My heavens, how long has it been since he broke through to Flesh Refining Mid-Stage?"

"Hiss... this rate of improvement..."

"Wait! Forty-eighth—Fang Lin was forty-eighth just now... doesn't that mean he pushed Fang Lin down to forty-ninth?!"

That final remark was like a heavy hammer smashing brutally into Fang Lin's chest.

The pride and arrogance on Fang Lin's face froze in an instant, then shattered inch by inch like exquisite porcelain.

He stared fixedly at the glaring "forty-eight" on the stele, then looked in disbelief at his own ranking, which had been pushed down to "forty-nine."

His face turned from red to white, then from white to green, before finally swelling into an ugly liver-purple color!

An unprecedented, immense sense of humiliation surged into his mind!

After breaking through to Flesh Refining Late-Stage, he had thought he had left Fang Han far behind.

Yet Fang Han had not only broken through to the late stage as well, but had also risen one place more than him, pressing down on him by exactly one rank!