Tendon Refining Mid-Stage

"Buzz—!"

The moment the sword entered his hand, an unprecedented sense of "clarity" enveloped Fang Han.

Under the previous twofold Sword Art Talent Amplification, he had still needed to ponder and experiment repeatedly to understand changes in sword moves and shifts in force. Now, they flowed through his mind as naturally as a clear stream, understood by him with ease.

The first form of the Breeze Sword Art, "Breeze Brushing Willow," thrust forth.

The path traced by the sword tip was no longer a simple straight line, but carried an indescribable, near-perfectly rounded arc.

In the instant his wrist turned, the muscles, tendons, bones, even the rhythm of his breathing all coordinated with utter naturalness, channeling his strength to the sword tip without the slightest obstruction.

The sound of the blade cutting through the air was so light it was almost inaudible, yet it carried an extremely condensed penetrating force.

Compared with the twofold Sword Art Talent Amplification, the current fourfold Sword Art Talent Amplification granted him far greater comprehension during cultivation. In the same amount of time, the insights he gained increased tremendously.

Over the following days, Fang Han immersed himself completely in the ocean of swordsmanship.

The swordsmanship insights brought by the fourfold amplification crashed against the boundaries of his understanding like surging waves, one after another.

Every swing of his sword gave birth to a new realization.

Every swing allowed him to discover flaws he had never noticed before, as well as angles that could be improved.

The essence of the Breeze Sword Art, those principles that had once seemed obscure and profound, were now being understood, digested, and absorbed by him at an astonishing pace.

His sword grew faster, steadier, and ever more elusive in its trajectories.

As sword light flickered, it was sometimes like a spring breeze brushing one's face, ethereal and unpredictable.

At other times, it was like cold lightning tearing through the sky, swift beyond compare.

His realm of mastery was rapidly being solidified, steadily and resolutely advancing toward the even more unfathomable realm of Great Accomplishment!

Several days later, news spread through Liangshui City's major factions as though it had grown wings, eventually reaching the Fang Clan's Inner Hall.

"Have you heard? That Lin Jiao from the Lin Family has broken through to Tendon Refining Mid-Stage!"

"Really? That fast?"

"Absolutely true. The whole of Liangshui City is talking about it!"

"Tendon Refining Mid-Stage... His strength and speed are far greater than at the early stage. Does that mean Lin Jiao's strength has surpassed Fang Han's again?"

"The gap in cultivation is right there. No matter how exquisite Fang Han's swordsmanship is, he is still at a disadvantage in realm. It seems the title of Liangshui City's foremost newly inducted Inner Hall disciple has returned to Lin Jiao."

Such discussions quietly spread among the Inner Hall disciples.

Many disciples looked at Fang Han with a trace of regret and complicated emotions in their eyes.

After all, when Tendon Refining Mid-Stage faced Tendon Refining Early-Stage, the advantage in sheer power was simply too great.

In a corner of the Martial Arts Arena, Fang Han was intently practicing the move "Breeze Piercing Forest."

The discussions drifting to his ears were like a breeze passing over the surface of water, raising scarcely any ripples in his heart.

Lin Jiao broke through to Tendon Refining Mid-Stage?

The trajectory of Fang Han's longsword did not falter in the slightest, and his gaze remained sharp and focused.

He admitted that Lin Jiao's raw strength had indeed surpassed his own at this moment.

But so what?

The cultivation speed granted by fourfold Root Bone Talent and the efficiency of insight granted by fourfold Sword Art Talent were his greatest sources of confidence.

Surpassing him again was merely a matter of time—and it would not take long.

Time quietly passed amid Fang Han's day-after-day of arduous cultivation, and more than twenty days vanished in the blink of an eye.

Late at night, in the courtyard, Fang Han swallowed a Blood Vitality Pill.

The scorching medicinal power dissolved in his abdomen, rapidly guided by his fourfold Root Bone Talent and transformed into a vast, pure torrent of blood vitality.

Drawn by the Crane Stance, the torrent surged and roared, again and again, like a tireless giant hammer battering and tempering the resilient tendons throughout his body.

Each impact brought a faint tremor, as if his tendons and bones were resonating together.

He could clearly feel the resilience and strength of his tendons rapidly rising. He was getting closer and closer to Tendon Refining Mid-Stage.

"Now!"

Fang Han gave a low shout in his heart, his will more focused than ever.

He mobilized all the blood vitality accumulated within him to its peak, like commanding a flood crest after a dam had burst, and launched the fiercest, most resolute assault against that final bottleneck.

"Rumble—!"

A dull yet earthshaking roar seemed to erupt from the deepest depths of Fang Han's body.

The barrier between Tendon Refining Early-Stage and Tendon Refining Mid-Stage shattered with a crash beneath the impact of that vast power.

A sensation of strength more powerful and condensed than before erupted like a dormant volcano, instantly coursing through his limbs and bones and spreading to every tip of his tendons.

The speed at which his blood vitality flowed suddenly soared!

His meridians twitched, and countless tiny snakes seemed to be slithering beneath his skin. At that instant, a deep, prolonged "hum" rang out from within his body!

"Tendon Refining Mid-Stage... achieved!"

Fang Han abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through their depths.

He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the reborn strength and control within him, while a keen curve lifted at the corner of his lips.

Within the Fang Clan's Reception Hall, the fragrance of tea curled through the air, but the atmosphere carried a faint, imperceptible tension.

Elder Fang Yuan sat at the seat of honor, looking at Elder Lin Shan of the Lin Family opposite him, whose face was full of smiles but whose eyes were shrewd.

Behind him stood Lin Jiao, his aura composed and heavy, his sharp gaze carrying a hint of impatience. Fang Yuan already understood why they had come.

Though Liangshui City's Five Great Families constantly vied with one another in secret, they maintained a facade of harmony. Fang Yuan was unwilling, but he could not turn away a Lin Family elder who had come to his door.

"What brings Brother Lin Shan to my humble home today?"

Fang Yuan took a sip of tea, his tone even, betraying neither pleasure nor displeasure.

"Haha, Brother Fang Yuan, why ask when you already know?"

Lin Shan stroked his beard and smiled, a glint flashing in his eyes.

"Last time, Lin Jiao lost to your clan's Qilin Child, Fang Han. Deeply aware of his shortcomings, Lin Jiao has cultivated without rest and was fortunate enough to make a breakthrough recently."

"Young people are high-spirited, after all. They always wish to test themselves once more and make up for what they lack."

"So he pestered me into shamelessly coming here to trouble you. Would it be possible to let the two juniors exchange pointers again?"

Just as expected!

Fang Yuan snorted coldly in his heart.

Lin Jiao had already broken through to Tendon Refining Mid-Stage. Although Fang Han had progressed at remarkable speed, he had only recently entered Tendon Refining Early-Stage. If he faced Lin Jiao now, his chances of victory would likely be slim.

Allowing Fang Han to be defeated by Lin Jiao on his own turf—and perhaps even shaking his confidence—was absolutely not what he wanted.

"Brother Lin Shan, your timing truly is unfortunate."

Fang Yuan set down his teacup, a suitably troubled expression appearing on his face.

"Sparring and exchanging pointers are good things, but Fang Han has recently reached a critical juncture in his cultivation. It truly would not be convenient for him to be disturbed."

"How about another day? Once this period has passed, I will have him visit you instead. What do you think?"

His tone was sincere and his reasoning sound, making his refusal watertight.

"I see. Then it truly would not be convenient to disturb him."

The smile on Lin Shan's face faded somewhat.

Naturally, he could see that Fang Yuan was making excuses, yet it was difficult to refute him.

A critical stage in a martial artist's cultivation was indeed not something that should be disturbed, though he believed Fang Yuan's words were certainly an excuse.

He lifted his teacup and pretended to drink, but his gaze flicked toward Lin Jiao.

Lin Jiao understood at once. He immediately rose to his feet, a young man's awkwardness on his face.

"Elder Fang Yuan, this junior... needs to relieve himself."