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 night, inviting your eldest uncle's and third uncle's families, as well as your grandfather and grandmother, to celebrate the move together. What do you think?"
His mother, Lin Wan, looked at Fang Han, who was teaching his little sister Fang Ying how to read, a smile she could not hide on her face as she spoke softly.
"That was what I had in mind too. We should get together and make things lively."
His father, Fang Zheng, nodded in agreement as well.
"That's 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 said with a smile, being the restaurant manager himself.
At noon the following day, Fang Han ate at the Martial Hall dining hall. Sitting at the same table as him were Fang Lin and the other disciples who had entered the Inner Hall in the same batch.
"Fang Han, have you heard? Sister Fang Xue's Breeze Sword Art has broken through to Perfection Realm!"
Fang Chen said in an astonished tone.
"Sister Fang Xue's sword art has reached Perfection Realm? When did that happen?"
Fang Han raised his head in surprise.
When a martial skill reached Perfection Realm, it meant it had been cultivated to its very end, reaching the same height as its creator.
Without sufficient talent and comprehension, this was impossible to achieve. Many people cultivated martial skills for their entire lives without ever bringing even one of them to Perfection Realm.
As a publicly acknowledged swordsmanship genius, Fang Han believed Fang Xue possessed Sword Art Talent. Yet hearing that her sword art had reached Perfection Realm still left him unable to suppress his surprise.
"This morning. Sister Fang Xue went to test herself at the Martial Dao Stele this morning, but... she was still ranked second and failed to surpass Senior Brother Fang Hong."
Fang Tao added.
"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 her sword art at Perfection Realm, she could only rank second? The competition for the Martial Dao Stele's top three 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 on it.
Returning to Grade A No. 10 Martial Dao Room, Fang Han cast aside all distracting thoughts. Azure Edge Sword in hand, he began cultivating the 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 pushed to its utmost limit.
Everything concerning the Breeze Sword Art—its essential mysteries, transformations, and methods of exerting force—flowed through his mind like a clear stream, babbling onward.
Though it was still at Greater Accomplishment, compared to when he had first broken through to Greater Accomplishment, 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 not far from Perfection Realm either.
It could be in a few days, or it could be the very next moment—his sword art might break through and, like Fang Xue's, reach Perfection Realm.
"Swish, swish, swish..."
Fang Han continued swinging his sword.
The sword light grew increasingly nimble and increasingly condensed, as though it was no longer a rigid set of moves, but possessed a life and breath of its own.
Who knew how long passed before, at a certain moment, inspiration suddenly struck.
He thrust out with his sword. Body, mind, intent, and sword fused into perfect unity. The air at the sword tip seemed to be completely drained away and compressed, and a condensed white force, almost tangible and about a foot long, abruptly shot from the tip without a sound.
Sshhk!
The force struck the hard bluestone floor of the Martial Dao Room, producing a crisp cutting sound.
A bluestone slab dozens of centimeters thick was sliced apart, leaving behind an astonishing sword scar more than a meter long and dozens of centimeters deep.
Such power was absolutely not something Greater Accomplishment sword art could achieve. There was only one answer: his sword art had broken through from Greater Accomplishment to Perfection Realm.
"Breeze Sword Art, Perfection Realm, achieved!"
Fang Han sheathed his sword and stood still, feeling the faint tremor transmitted through the Azure Edge Sword in his hand, as well as the entirely different Perfection Realm artistic conception compared to Greater Accomplishment.
He could clearly feel that the power of the Perfection Realm Breeze Sword Art had increased by at least fifty percent compared to Greater Accomplishment.
More importantly, even against martial artists of the same realm, the force he slashed out was no longer merely for show.
Previously, his sword force could at most threaten Tendon Refining Realm martial artists a whole level below him. Against martial artists of the same realm, both its power and speed were greatly lacking.
Now, whether in power or speed, his sword force was enough to threaten martial artists in the Bone Refining Realm.
This would enrich his combat methods, making his attacks impossible to guard against and increasing his threat in battle.
"From Greater Accomplishment to Perfection Realm, it took roughly more than three months!"
Fang Han calculated inwardly. From Greater Accomplishment to Perfection Realm, he had spent roughly more than three months.
Even with the Fourfold Sword Art Talent Amplification, it had still taken so long. Advancing a martial skill truly was more difficult than advancing one's realm.
Sister Fang Xue's sword art reached Perfection Realm not long ago. If I go test myself now, I'll probably still rank third, with little chance of any change.
After a brief consideration, Fang Han abandoned the thought of immediately heading to the Martial Dao Stele.
If he went to test himself now, neither his ranking nor his reward would change. Other than letting people know that his sword art had also reached Perfection Realm, serving only as a display of vanity, he would gain no benefit whatsoever.
Having a mind more mature than those of his peers, he naturally would not go to the Martial Dao Stele merely to show off.
Now that the Breeze Sword Art has reached Perfection Realm, there is nowhere further to advance. It is time to cultivate a higher-grade sword art.
Fang Han muttered inwardly.
Once basic sword art reached Perfection Realm, the only way to grant a martial skill greater power was to cultivate a ranked martial skill.
For someone without a family background, obtaining a ranked martial skill would surely be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Every force strictly controlled such powerful martial skills. They would never allow such martial skills to circulate outside, where they could threaten their rule.
But as a Fang Clan disciple, it would not be difficult for him to obtain a ranked martial skill.
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, the finest private room of Fanghua Restaurant in Liangshui City was filled with laughter and chatter, its atmosphere exceedingly lively.
Grandfather and Grandmother sat in the seats of honor, their faces glowing red.
Eldest Uncle Fang Ye had not recovered from his injuries and could not attend, but Eldest Aunt had arrived with Cousin Fang Shan and Cousin Fang Yun.
Third Uncle Fang Ping's entire family had arrived as well.
The table was laden with sumptuous dishes, and the fragrance of wine filled the air.
"Xiaohan has truly made something of himself now! A premium courtyard—that's the kind of courtyard only elders are qualified to live in!"
Third Uncle Fang Ping raised his cup with a smile, his tone full of shared pride.
His nephew Fang Han had made something of himself, and as his third uncle, he too could benefit from it.
Take his eldest brother Fang Ye, for instance. Without his connection to Fang Han, he would not have received special protection from the merchant caravan's martial artists and would very likely have died in the bandits' attack.
Therefore, Fang Ping was genuinely happy that Fang Han had made something of himself.
"Xiaohan, we toast you!"
Cousin Fang Shan and Cousin 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 the talent to practice martial arts?
There was envy and there was reflection, but in the end, it all turned into the gesture of raising their cups.
"Brother Han, you're amazing!"
His eleven-year-old younger cousin Fang Hui and younger cousin Fang Yu blinked their bright eyes, looking at Fang Han with faces full of admiration.
"We want to become powerful martial artists like Brother Han in the future too!"
Fang Han smiled and offered them a few words of encouragement. The atmosphere was harmonious and fervent.
Seeing the scene before them, his parents' faces brimmed 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 outside, carrying everyone aboard before slowly driving away.
The carriages had just left the bustling street where the restaurant stood and turned into a relatively secluded lane.
Suddenly, the coachman driving the foremost carriage violently pulled tight on the reins!
"Whoa—!"
The carriage came to an abrupt stop. Caught unprepared, everyone inside swayed and tumbled about.
"What's going on?" Fang Zheng stuck his head out and asked.
There, in the middle of the road before the carriages, a burly youth with a tiger's back and a bear's waist stood with his arms crossed, blocking the path like an iron tower.
Under the night sky, the youth's gaze flashed like lightning, fixed directly upon Fang Han's carriage.
His booming voice carried undisguised provocation as it exploded through the silent street.
"Fang Han! Get the hell out here!"
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