Could He Have Undergone Aperture Opening?

"You... you..."

Fang Lin pointed at Fang Han, his finger trembling as fury left him unable to form a complete sentence. His blood and qi churned violently.

Fang Han paid no heed to his loss of composure.

He looked with satisfaction at his new ranking, a smile spreading across his face that Fang Lin found incomparably hateful. His voice rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"My ranking rose six places—sixty taels. Fang Lin, remember to bring the money to the Martial Hall tomorrow."

Having said that, he did not spare another glance at the dazed, humiliated Fang Lin. Parting the crowd, he walked straight back to the corner of the Martial Arts Arena where he usually trained.

As though everything that had just happened had been nothing more than a trivial matter, a casual little bit of extra money.

He immersed himself once more in the cultivation of the Crane Stance.

The surging blood and qi brought by the fourfold bone aptitude enhancement were like an endlessly burning furnace, forging his body.

The pleasure of improving every moment was simply too wonderful, and he quickly lost himself in it.

The clamor and shock behind him, along with that gaze that nearly spat fire, were completely shut outside the gates of his heart.

At the corner of the Corridor outside the Martial Dao Stele Courtyard, Elder Fang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his frost-white brows slightly furrowed.

The Courtyard was abuzz with noise. Phrases like "Martial Dao Stele test" and "ten taels of silver for every rank gained" clearly reached the keen ears of an Inner Qi Realm martial artist like him.

"Hmph, youthful vigor—always fighting to outdo one another!"

Elder Fang Yuan's voice was low, carrying a trace of displeasure.

Fang Rui, the Inner Hall Instructor attending him, immediately clasped his hands, his expression turning solemn.

"Please quell your anger, Elder. I'll go rebuke them at once and disperse them. Focusing on cultivation is the true foundation!"

Just as Fang Rui was about to step forward, Elder Fang Yuan suddenly raised a hand. His withered fingers clamped down on Fang Rui's shoulder like an iron hoop.

Fang Rui turned back in astonishment, only to see the elder's gaze pass over the bobbing heads of the crowd and pin itself firmly on Fang Han, who had just sheathed his sword and stood still.

The displeasure in that gaze had scattered like thin mist before the wind, replaced by an astonishment so thick it could not dissolve, and even... disbelief!

"Flesh Refining Late-Stage?"

Elder Fang Yuan's voice was nearly inaudible, carrying a tremor even he himself had not noticed.

"If this old man recalls correctly, this child... had only just entered the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage before the New Year, hadn't he?"

Fang Rui's heart shook violently as he rapidly recalled Fang Han's situation during the retest at year's end.

After all, he was a disciple who had advanced five ranks, so Fang Rui retained some impression of him. As the memory returned, he said in shock,

"Yes, Elder, your judgment is correct. When Fang Han was tested before the New Year, he was indeed at the Flesh Refining Mid-Stage. To this day... it has only been a little over half a month!"

In just over half a month, he had broken through an entire minor realm!

That conclusion exploded in Elder Fang Yuan's and Fang Rui's minds like a thunderclap.

Even those genius disciples in the top ten of the Fang Clan's Martial Dao Stele had never possessed such a horrifying rate of advancement during the Flesh Refining Realm.

At the same time, confusion arose in both their hearts.

If Fang Han had such a rate of improvement, why had he only been at the Flesh Refining Early-Stage when he entered the Inner Hall?

That was utterly inconsistent with the talent he had displayed.

"Come."

As though he had thought of something, a tremor entered Elder Fang Yuan's voice, usually as still as an ancient well.

He turned and headed for his Quiet Room deep within the Inner Hall, his steps noticeably faster than when he had arrived.

Fang Rui did not dare ask further and hurriedly followed.

Sandalwood incense curled through the Quiet Room. Elder Fang Yuan sat upright in the seat of honor, unconsciously stroking several strands of silver beard beneath his chin, while a sharp light flickered uncertainly in his eyes.

"Fang Rui."

"Elder!" Fang Rui stood respectfully with his hands at his sides.

"Go. Find Fang Zhen, who was responsible for the Outer Hall back then. Ask him about every detail of Fang Han's performance during his two years of martial training in the Outer Hall, and report back swiftly."

Elder Fang Yuan's voice was decisive as steel.

"Yes!" Fang Rui did not dare delay. He immediately turned and strode away.

Time slowly passed in the heavy atmosphere of the Quiet Room.

About half an hour later, Fang Rui hurried back, his face bearing an indescribable look of shock.

"Well?"

Elder Fang Yuan slightly raised his eyelids.

"Reporting to Elder, I have questioned Instructor Fang Zhen in detail."

Fang Rui took a deep breath and reported at great speed.

"Fang Han entered the Outer Hall to train in martial arts at fourteen. Over the following two years, his performance... could only be called mediocre. It was not until the final month before the assessment that he narrowly broke through to the Flesh Refining Early-Stage, barely preserving his qualification to enter the Inner Hall."

"Mediocre performance in the early period... only breaking through Flesh Refining in the final month..."

Elder Fang Yuan repeated those words softly. Rather than disappointment, his face slowly blossomed with an irrepressible, heartfelt smile, as though clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

That smile grew ever brighter, finally turning into a low but hearty laugh.

"Ha ha ha! Good! Good!"

He clapped his hands and sighed, the sharp light in his eyes flaring.

"This child has most likely undergone Aperture Opening! Heaven blesses the Fang Clan—our Fang Clan may have produced a true genius disciple!"

Fang Rui had now fully understood as well, and an excited, delighted flush rose to his face.

Having served by the elder's side for many years, he naturally understood what "Aperture Opening" meant.

It was a heaven-and-earth overturning transformation of one's bone aptitude, comprehension, and even spirit, triggered by some opportunity.

Fang Han's leap from mediocrity in the Outer Hall to meteoric progress in the Inner Hall was precisely the most typical sign of Aperture Opening.

His future potential would likely far exceed all imagination.

"Elder, our Fang Clan has produced such a genius. Heaven blesses the Fang Clan—our clan is certain to flourish in the future!"

Fang Rui said with heartfelt joy.

"Whether it truly is Aperture Opening still depends on his subsequent performance."

After a moment of joy, the smile on Elder Fang Yuan's face gradually faded, turning into a deep regret like a tiny flaw on flawless jade.

He gazed out the window in the direction of Liangshui City and let out a long sigh.

"What a pity, what a pity... in the end, it came too late."

"Why do you say that, Elder?"

Fang Rui asked in confusion.

Elder Fang Yuan's gaze was distant.

"Have you heard of Lin Jiao of the Lin Family? When that child entered the Lin Family's Inner Hall, he was already at the Tendon Refining Early-Stage, even not far from the Tendon Refining Mid-Stage. In one breath, he entered the top thirty of the Inner Hall rankings!"

"That old thing from the Lin Family will surely soon find some excuse to bring out this Qilin Child and flaunt him properly before the major families of Liangshui City."

He paused, his tone full of deep regret.

"If Fang Han had undergone Aperture Opening a year or half a year earlier, then with the momentum he now displays, he would certainly have been able to give the Lin Family—and all of Liangshui City—a small shock at the very height of Lin Jiao's glory."

The Five Great Families of Liangshui City appeared harmonious on the surface, but their secret struggles never ceased. Whoever showed weakness would be savagely bitten.

After all, Liangshui City was only so large, and its resources were limited.

"It truly is a pity!"

Hearing this, Fang Rui also fell silent.

He had heard of Lin Jiao of the Lin Family as well.

A sixteen-year-old at the Tendon Refining Early-Stage was a phoenix feather and qilin horn even among the younger generation of all Liangshui City.

Though Fang Han's "Aperture Opening" was fierce, he had awakened too late. His time to grow was too short, and his foundation was still shallow.

The Quiet Room fell silent once more, leaving only the sandalwood incense burning soundlessly.