Third Place, an Exceptional Reward

In the Martial Dao Stele Courtyard, a lustrous glow flowed across the Jade Stele.

Fang Han's arrival was like a stone cast into a tranquil lake, instantly drawing the attention of every Inner Hall disciple cultivating or passing through.

Gazes converged on him, carrying all manner of complicated emotions—curiosity, awe, and even a trace of numbed foreboding.

"Fang Han is here again..."

"This time... what rank will he reach?"

Low murmurs spread through the crowd. Everyone unconsciously held their breath, their eyes fixed on the steady figure walking toward the Jade Stele.

Fang Han seemed oblivious to the attention around him, his mind calm and still.

He extended a finger and touched the cold, smooth surface of the stele, steadily writing the two characters "Fang Han."

Then his gaze sharpened. The mighty vitality and blood of Bone Refining Mid-Stage erupted without reservation, pouring into the Refined Iron Longsword he had taken from the weapon rack.

The Breeze Sword Art at the major accomplishment stage was driven to its utmost limit. The sword light was no longer a fleeting flash; it condensed into an incomparably focused white thread, as though it could slice through space itself.

With an ear-piercing shriek, it stabbed fiercely into the center of the Martial Dao Stele.

"Buzzz—!!!"

The Jade Stele erupted with radiant light and shook violently. Its hum was long and deep, and the entire courtyard seemed to tremble faintly beneath this force.

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats, their eyes nailed to the stele's surface.

The number behind Fang Han's name began to jump wildly.

Four... three... At last, the glow gradually faded, and the number settled firmly at—third place!

"Third!"

"This time... he only advanced one place?"

The courtyard first fell silent, then a wave of relieved exhalations rose.

Quite a few people instinctively patted their chests, as though their suspended hearts had finally fallen back into place.

Heaven knew how much psychological pressure Fang Han's previous tests had placed on them, when his ranking had shot upward like a skyrocket.

This time, advancing "only" one place actually gave them the strange comfort of thinking, At least this is somewhat normal.

Yet before they had fully let out that breath, an even more terrifying thought burst into everyone's minds.

"Wait! How long did it take him to go from Bone Refining Early-Stage to Mid-Stage...?"

"O-one month? It only took one month!"

"The Bone Refining Realm... one minor realm in a single month?!"

"Monster! He really is a monster!"

After a brief silence came even sharper gasps and cries of disbelief.

Looking at the name ranked third on the stele, then recalling that utterly inconceivable breakthrough speed, everyone's gaze upon Fang Han changed completely.

It was the look one gave to something inhuman, mixed with shock, reverence, and profound helplessness.

Such talent had already surpassed the bounds of their understanding.

The news swept through the entire Inner Hall like a gale.

"Third place?!"

When Fang Hao, who was sweating profusely in a Martial Dao Room, heard the hurried report from his servant, his fist slammed into the solid waist-high Wooden Dummy with a dull boom.

The Wooden Dummy swayed violently, a clear fist mark left upon it.

He withdrew his fist and stood still. An exceedingly complicated bitter smile appeared on his bronze-colored face. Shaking his head, he murmured softly.

"Bone Refining Mid-Stage... one month... Fang Han, Fang Han, you truly are..."

He wanted to say something, yet found that any words seemed pale and powerless before such cultivation speed.

In the end, it became only a long sigh, filled with helplessness, emotion, and disappointment.

At the same time, in two other separate Martial Dao Rooms.

"Fang Hao was surpassed?!"

Cool and frosty as snow, Fang Xue slowly sheathed her sword.

Listening to the faint commotion outside the window, a barely perceptible ripple passed through those eyes like icy lakes, and the fingers gripping her sword tightened slightly.

Meanwhile, in the First Martial Dao Room at the very depths, Fang Hong slowly opened his tightly shut eyes. Deep within them, something like lightning flashed and vanished.

The mountain-like aura around him stirred slightly before returning to the stillness of an ancient well.

Yet his faintly pursed lips revealed that his heart was far from as calm as he appeared.

The pressure brought by the name Fang Han had already settled clearly upon the shoulders of this member of the Five Heroes of Liangshui.

In the depths of the Inner Hall, within a Quiet Room.

"Bone Refining Mid-Stage?! Is this true?!"

Upon hearing the report from his trusted instructor, Elder Fang Yuan could not help losing his composure despite having long anticipated Fang Han's astonishing talent. The teacup in his hand swayed slightly, splashing a few drops of clear tea.

The instructor's face was likewise full of shock as he nodded firmly.

"It is absolutely true. His Martial Dao Stele test result is already third place, and many disciples witnessed it with their own eyes."

"Furthermore, by calculation, it truly took him only around one month to break through to Bone Refining Mid-Stage!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Elder Fang Yuan said "good" three times in succession, his face flushing red with excitement.

He abruptly rose to his feet and paced twice around the Quiet Room, his gaze blazing as though he had made up his mind.

"With such talent, such speed, how can we continue to treat him by ordinary standards? Clan rules are dead, but people are alive!"

He suddenly stopped and said,

"I will go see the Clan Head at once!"

With that, Elder Fang Yuan straightened his robes and strode like the wind toward Pine Wave Pavilion, where Clan Head Fang Lingyuan was staying.

Within Pine Wave Pavilion, Fang Lingyuan was reviewing clan documents.

Seeing Fang Yuan rush in without announcement, he set down his vermilion brush and asked,

"What is it?"

"Clan Head, Fang Han has broken through to Bone Refining Mid-Stage, and his Martial Dao Stele ranking has risen to third!"

Elder Fang Yuan went straight to the point, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice.

"Moreover, it took him only one month to advance from Bone Refining Early-Stage to Mid-Stage!"

"Oh?"

A piercing gleam suddenly burst from Fang Lingyuan's eyes, only to slowly recede as he returned to calmness. Yet the slight forward lean of his body revealed the unrest within his heart.

"One month... to break through one minor realm in the Bone Refining Realm... This child truly refreshes one's understanding time and again."

After pondering for a moment, he looked at Fang Yuan.

"Elder, you did not come merely to inform me of this matter, did you?"

"The Clan Head sees clearly."

Elder Fang Yuan cupped his hands, his tone solemn. "Fang Han possesses extraordinary talent and is the future hope of our Fang Clan. His progress is so swift that it far surpasses his peers."

"Though he now occupies the Inner Hall Grade-A Martial Dao Room, his residence remains an ordinary courtyard in the side compound, no longer matching his status or talent."

"This old man respectfully requests that the Clan Head make an exception and grant Fang Han an exquisite courtyard, so that he may have a better living environment, devote himself wholeheartedly to martial arts without distraction, and grow even faster!"

Fang Lingyuan's fingers unconsciously tapped the tabletop, producing soft knocking sounds.

The clan had rules: only those promoted to elderhood or those who had rendered great service to the clan could be granted an exquisite courtyard.

Though Fang Han's talent was astonishing, he was still young and had yet to make any truly great contributions to the clan.

However...

Fang Lingyuan's gaze deepened.

He thought of Fang Han's terrifying cultivation speed, the possibility of Fang Han joining that "place," and the opportunity for the Fang Clan to flourish over the next century...

Rules were dead!

"Granted."

After a moment of silence, Fang Lingyuan slowly spoke, his voice steady and forceful.

"Fang Han's talent is worthy of the clan's utmost cultivation. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures; precedent may be broken!"

"Grant Fang Han Rain-Listening Pavilion. Make all arrangements at once and have him move in as soon as possible."

"I thank the Clan Head on his behalf!"

A brilliant smile immediately bloomed across Elder Fang Yuan's face as he bowed deeply.

"The Clan Head is wise! With such a Qilin Child, our Fang Clan shall surely rise to great prosperity!"

Excitement surged in his heart, as though he could already see Fang Han growing at lightning speed and ultimately representing the Fang Clan upon that far broader stage.