Dawn had just broken, and the mist over the back mountain had yet to disperse.
Fang Han withdrew his fist and stood still, then slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air.
Sweat slid down his cheeks, soaking through his collar, yet he was completely unaware of it. His eyes only shone as he stared at the Panel before him:
[Martial Art: Gale-Breaking Fist (Mortal Grade)] [Proficiency: 3/500, entry] [Rising Talent Boost: Comprehension increased by 1 point]
After a night of bitter training, he had finally reached the beginner level!
Fang Han clenched his fists, sensing the subtle changes within his body.
A thread of warm energy slowly circulated through his lower abdomen, fine as a gossamer strand, yet undeniably real.
With the medicinal power of that ginseng root whisk, he had actually condensed a thread of Blood Qi ahead of time!
Fang Han was secretly shocked. He then tried guiding that thread of Blood Qi into his limbs, and immediately felt strength flooding every part of his body.
He bent down and picked up a slightly thicker branch, gripping it hard.
Crack!
The branch, as thick as a baby's forearm, split apart at once.
Fang Han froze for a moment, then smiled faintly.
So this was the strength of a martial artist?
Merely condensing a thread of Blood Qi had increased his strength by so much.
If he trained the Gale-Breaking Fist to Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, or even Perfection...
With the [Forged to Excel] Panel, the future was promising!
Protecting his family would no longer be empty words.
Fang Han took a deep breath and turned to head down the mountain.
After silently returning home, Fang Han ate a coarse grain cake in the kitchen, then greeted his mother and left.
Chen Cui, who was busy at work, turned to glance at him. Her gaze lingered on his face. She felt that her son seemed somewhat different today, yet she could not say exactly how.
After reminding him of a few things, she put away her doubts and continued working.
Flood Peak Martial Arts Academy.
After changing into his gray training uniform and entering the practice grounds, Fang Han discovered that he was the first Outer Court apprentice to arrive at the academy.
Other than him, there was only an old man in his fifties some distance away, sweeping the grounds.
Fang Han walked over. As he passed the sweeping old man, he cupped his hands and said, "Good morning, sir."
The sweeping old man raised his head and glanced at him. Without saying anything, he lowered his head and continued sweeping.
Fang Han did not mind. He made his way to the corner where he had trained yesterday, assumed his stance, and began practicing his punches.
After finishing one set, he began another.
His training uniform gradually became drenched with sweat, and his breathing grew heavier and heavier, but Fang Han did not stop.
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1
As his proficiency rose without end, Fang Han immersed himself in training and forgot everything else.
He did not notice that the sweeping old man had stopped at some point and was leaning on his broom as he watched from afar.
A flicker of surprise passed through the sweeping old man's eyes as he looked at Fang Han.
This young man...
If he remembered correctly, this was a newcomer who had only enrolled yesterday, wasn't he?
In just one day and one night, he had already trained the Gale-Breaking Fist to the beginner level?
The sweeping old man narrowed his eyes and carefully studied every one of Fang Han's movements.
His opening stance was steady, his punches forceful, and his fist broke the wind... Though there was still some stiffness, the form and spirit were already there. It was undoubtedly at the beginner level.
This young man's comprehension was astonishing!
The sweeping old man muttered in a voice so low that only he could hear it.
At that moment, laughter and chatter drifted in from outside the practice grounds.
Apprentices entered the grounds in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing. Yet when they passed the sweeping old man, not one of them greeted him.
The sweeping old man withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and continued sweeping.
As more and more apprentices arrived, the practice grounds became livelier as well.
Lin Rou stepped into the practice grounds and habitually swept her gaze across the area.
When her eyes fell upon Fang Han, who was diligently practicing his punches in the corner, she could not help but freeze.
Although Lin Rou was not yet an Inner-Court Direct Disciple, she had trained at the academy for more than a year and had a discerning eye.
Fang Han's fist technique had clearly reached the beginner level!
How was that possible?!
Hadn't this guy only enrolled yesterday?
Lin Rou's delicate brows knitted tightly as she turned and headed toward the Inner Court.
She needed to report this matter to Senior Brother Huo Zheng and have him take a look.
Inside the Inner Court.
At that moment, Huo Zheng, dressed in white robes with a straight, upright bearing, was chatting with three other Inner-Court Direct Disciples.
All three wore fitted azure outfits and carried themselves with extraordinary poise.
"Senior Brother Huo, how many of this batch of Outer Court apprentices do you think can endure long enough to become direct disciples and enter the Inner Court?"
A round-faced young man named Wang Ze asked with a smile.
Huo Zheng shook his head. "It would already be quite good if two of them become direct disciples."
"Only two?"
Another square-faced young man with a cold expression raised his brows. "That few?"
His name was Gu Chenglin. He ranked third among the Inner-Court Direct Disciples, his strength second only to Huo Zheng's.
"Their Bone Constitutions are right there." Huo Zheng's tone was calm. "Only three have Upper-middle-grade Bone Constitutions. The rest are all Middle-grade or lower-middle-grade Bone Constitutions. If their Bone Constitutions are lacking, no amount of effort will help."
Tao Ye nodded, deeply agreeing. She was the only female direct disciple present.
"We were able to become direct disciples and enter the Inner Court precisely because we all possess Upper-grade Bone Constitutions.
A step worse in Bone Constitution means a vast gap in cultivation progress.
Among more than forty Outer Court apprentices, having two enter the Inner Court would already make them as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."
As the four spoke, Lin Rou hurried over.
"Senior Brother Huo."
Seeing that something seemed off about her expression, Huo Zheng asked, "What is it?"
Lin Rou glanced at the other three direct disciples and hesitated somewhat.
"Speak freely," Huo Zheng said.
"Senior Brother Huo, Fang Han, who enrolled yesterday—I just watched him practice the Gale-Breaking Fist, and it seemed that his fist technique... his fist technique has reached the beginner level."
"Hm?"
Huo Zheng was stunned, and the other three were likewise taken aback.
After a moment of silence, Huo Zheng headed outside directly, with the others following close behind.
Before long, the group arrived at the practice grounds. Standing some distance away, they watched Fang Han. Sure enough, each of his moves was orderly and precise, with both form and spirit.
A trace of shock flashed through Huo Zheng's eyes. He really had reached the beginner level!
"He only enrolled yesterday?" Tao Ye looked at Lin Rou and asked.
Lin Rou nodded. "Senior Sister, Junior Brother Fang Han did indeed enroll yesterday."
Tao Ye nodded slightly. After watching for a while longer, she suddenly broke into a smile. "His comprehension is exceptionally high. I could sponsor him and forge a good connection."
Gu Chenglin and Wang Ze nodded as well, indicating that they had the same thought.
The three of them all came from wealthy, influential clans of the Outer City.
To them, casually letting a little silver slip through their fingers to forge a good connection in advance with a poor apprentice like this might one day bring unexpected returns.
"He has a Lower-grade Bone Constitution, and he is already twenty-three years old."
Only after a long silence did Huo Zheng finally speak slowly.
Tao Ye was taken aback. "Such comprehension, yet he has a Lower-grade Bone Constitution?"
"Yes. And he has begun martial training overage at twenty-three. He started too late, so his future achievements will be limited."
Hearing Huo Zheng's final verdict on Fang Han, the eagerness on the female direct disciple's face instantly cooled.
"A Lower-grade Bone Constitution? Forget it. No matter how high his comprehension is, without a good Bone Constitution, his future limit is plain for all to see. Sponsoring him would only waste silver."
Thus.
The group no longer paid attention to Fang Han. Instead, they looked toward several other apprentices on the practice grounds whose Bone Constitutions and comprehension were both fairly good, commenting on them casually.
"That Qian Feng has an Upper-middle-grade Bone Constitution. At only fourteen, he has already trained the Gale-Breaking Fist to Minor Accomplishment. He looks quite promising."
"Zhao Xiaohu is not bad either. Though he has a Middle-grade Bone Constitution, he has also trained the Gale-Breaking Fist to Minor Accomplishment. It seems his comprehension is even better."
In the corner of the practice grounds, Fang Han had no idea what had just happened, nor did he know what he had missed.
He was only immersed in set after set of fist techniques, his eyes fixed on the ceaselessly flickering notifications.
Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1...
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