Sword Art Perfection

That day, Fang Han's family moved into Rain-Listening Pavilion. That evening, the lights within Rain-Listening Pavilion glowed warmly.

"Xiaohan, I was thinking of hosting a banquet at the restaurant tomorrow evening. We can invite your eldest uncle's family, your third uncle's family, and your grandfather and grandmother to celebrate our housewarming together. What do you think?"

His mother, Lin Wan, wore an irrepressible smile as she looked gently at Fang Han, who was teaching his little sister Fang Ying how to read.

"That was what I had in mind too. We should get together and make things lively."

His father, Fang Zheng, nodded in agreement.

"That is only proper. Father and Mother can make the arrangements. I have no objections."

Fang Han set down the copybook in his hand and smiled slightly at his parents.

"Good. I'll have the restaurant reserve a private room tomorrow!"

Fang Zheng, the restaurant manager, said with a smile.

At noon the next day, Fang Han ate in the Martial Hall dining hall. Sharing his table were Fang Lin and the other disciples from the same batch who had entered the Inner Hall.

"Fang Han, have you heard? Sister Fang Xue's Breeze Sword Art has broken through to perfection!"

Fang Chen said in an astonished tone.

"Sister Fang Xue's sword art has reached perfection? When did that happen?"

Fang Han raised his head in surprise.

When a martial skill reached perfection, it meant it had been practiced to its very end, attaining the same height as its creator.

Without sufficient talent and comprehension, this was impossible. Many people cultivated martial skills their entire lives without ever bringing a single one to perfection.

As a publicly acknowledged genius of the sword path, Fang Xue certainly possessed Sword Art Talent in his eyes. Yet hearing that her sword art had reached perfection still left him unable to suppress his surprise.

"This very morning. Sister Fang Xue went to test herself at the Martial Dao Stele this morning, but... she still ranked second and failed to surpass Senior Brother Fang Hong."

Fang Tao picked up the conversation.

"Brother Fang Hong reached Bone Refining Late-Stage long ago, while Sister Fang Xue is still only at Bone Refining Mid-Stage. The gap between their realms is simply too great..."

Fang Lin said.

Even with sword art at perfection, she could only rank second? The competition for the top three spots on the Martial Dao Stele is even fiercer than I imagined!

Fang Han could not help but sigh inwardly. He was improving, but others had never stood still either.

Neither Fang Xue nor Fang Hong lacked talent. Both could be called minor geniuses. If he wanted to surpass them, he would likely still need to spend quite some time.

Returning to Grade A No. 10 Martial Dao Room, Fang Han cast aside distracting thoughts, held the Azure Edge Sword, and began cultivating Breeze Sword Art.

Again and again, he performed "Breeze Brushing Willow," "Breeze Piercing Forest," and "Breeze Chasing Shadow"...

The effect of the Fourfold Sword Art Talent Amplification was brought to its utmost limit.

Everything concerning the essence, transformations, and methods of exerting force in Breeze Sword Art flowed through his mind like a crystal-clear stream, murmuring onward.

Although it was still at the major mastery stage, compared to when he had first broken through to major mastery, his sword art had now improved enormously.

Moreover, he vaguely sensed an even higher level.

He had a premonition that his Breeze Sword Art was no longer far from perfection.

Perhaps it would be in a few days, perhaps in the very next moment—his sword art could break through and, like Fang Xue's, reach perfection.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

Fang Han swung his sword without pause.

The sword light grew ever more nimble and ever more condensed, as though it was no longer a rigid sequence of moves, but had gained a life and breath of its own.

Who knew how much time passed? Then, at a certain moment, enlightenment came as naturally as water flowing into a channel.

He thrust his sword. Body, heart, intent, and sword fused perfectly as one. The air at the sword tip seemed to be utterly drained and compressed, and a concentrated white stream of force, nearly tangible and about a foot long, abruptly detached from the tip and shot out soundlessly.

Screech!

The stream of force struck the hard bluestone floor of the Martial Dao Room, producing a clear cutting sound.

A slab of bluestone dozens of centimeters thick was sliced apart, leaving behind an exaggerated sword scar over a meter long and dozens of centimeters deep.

Such power was absolutely not something a major mastery sword art could achieve. There was only one answer: his sword art had broken through from major mastery to perfection.

"Breeze Sword Art, perfection realm—achieved!"

Fang Han sheathed his sword and stood still, feeling the faint tremor transmitted from the Azure Edge Sword in his hand, as well as the perfect artistic conception entirely different from that of the major mastery stage.

He could clearly sense that the perfect-level Breeze Sword Art was at least fifty percent more powerful than it had been at major mastery.

More importantly, the streams of force he slashed out were no longer mere ornaments, even when facing martial artists of the same realm.

Previously, his streams of force could at most threaten Tendon Refining Realm martial artists one major level below him. Against martial artists of the same realm, both their power and speed were severely lacking.

Now, whether in power or speed, his streams of force were sufficient to threaten martial artists in the Bone Refining Realm.

This would enrich his combat methods, making his attacks impossible to guard against and rendering him more threatening in battle.

"From major mastery to perfection, it took nearly over three months!"

Fang Han calculated inwardly. From major mastery to perfection, he had spent roughly three months.

Even under the fourfold Sword Art amplification, it had still taken so long. Advancing martial skills truly was more difficult than advancing one's realm.

Sister Fang Xue's sword art reached perfection not long ago. If I go test myself now, I will probably still rank third, with little chance of any change.

After some thought, Fang Han abandoned the idea of immediately heading to the Martial Dao Stele.

If he went to test himself now, his ranking would not change, nor would his reward. Apart from letting others know that his sword art had also reached perfection and serving as a display of vanity, he would gain no benefit whatsoever.

With a mind more mature than those of his peers, he naturally would not go test himself at the Martial Dao Stele simply to show off.

Breeze Sword Art has reached perfection and can advance no further. It is time to cultivate a sword art of a higher grade.

Fang Han murmured inwardly.

After the basic sword art reached perfection, the only way to give a martial skill greater power was to cultivate a martial skill that had entered the grades.

For someone without a family background, obtaining a graded martial skill would surely be a task as difficult as scaling the heavens.

Every faction strictly controlled such powerful martial skills and would never allow them to circulate outside, where they might threaten its rule.

But as a disciple of the Fang Clan, obtaining a graded martial skill was not difficult for him.

It was already somewhat late. He decided that tomorrow, he would seek out Elder Fang Yuan and apply to cultivate a higher-level sword art.

That night, inside the finest private room of Fanghua Restaurant in Liangshui City, laughter and chatter filled the air, and the atmosphere was exceptionally lively.

His grandfather and grandmother sat at the head of the table, their faces glowing with health.

His eldest uncle, Fang Ye, had not recovered from his injuries and could not attend, but his eldest aunt had brought his cousin Fang Shan and cousin Fang Yun.

His third uncle Fang Ping's entire family was present as well.

The table was laden with sumptuous dishes, while the fragrance of wine permeated the air.

"Xiaohan has truly made something of himself now! A premium Courtyard—that is a residence only elders are qualified to live in!"

Third Uncle Fang Ping raised his cup with a smile, his tone full of pride and shared glory.

His nephew Fang Han had made something of himself, and as his third uncle, he could benefit as well.

Take his elder brother Fang Ye, for example. Without his connection to Fang Han, he would not have received special protection from the caravan's martial artists and would likely have died in the bandits' attack.

Therefore, Fang Ping was sincerely delighted by Fang Han's success.

"Xiaohan, we toast you!"

Fang Shan and Fang Yun, who had heard no shortage of rumors about Fang Han lately, looked at him with complicated expressions.

As cousins, why did they not possess talent for martial arts?

There was envy, there was reflection, but in the end, it all turned into the act of raising their cups in a toast.

"Brother Han, you're amazing!"

Their eleven-year-old cousins Fang Hui and Fang Yu blinked their sparkling eyes, looking at Fang Han with faces full of admiration.

"We want to become powerful martial artists like Brother Han someday too!"

Fang Han smiled and offered them a few words of encouragement. The atmosphere was harmonious and warm.

His parents looked at the scene before them, their faces overflowing with happy, contented smiles.

When the banquet finally ended, everyone exchanged pleasantries as they walked out of the restaurant.

Three Fang Clan carriages were already waiting at the entrance. They took everyone aboard and slowly drove away.

The carriages had just left the bustling street where the restaurant was located and turned into a relatively secluded lane.

Suddenly, the coachman driving the foremost carriage yanked hard on the reins!

"Whoa—!"

The carriage came to an abrupt halt. Caught unprepared, the people inside were thrown into a chaotic tumble.

"What is going on?" Fang Zheng poked his head out and asked.

In the middle of the road ahead stood a burly youth with the back of a tiger and waist of a bear. His arms crossed over his chest, he blocked the way like an iron tower.

Under the night sky, the youth's eyes flashed like lightning as they fixed directly on the carriage carrying Fang Han.

His loud voice carried undisguised provocation as it exploded through the silent street.

"Fang Han! Get the hell out here!"