Gale-Breaking Fist Entry

Dawn had just broken, and the mist over the back mountain had yet to disperse.

Fang Han finished his forms and stood still, then slowly exhaled a long breath of stale air.

Sweat slid down his cheeks, soaking through his collar, yet he paid it no mind. His bright eyes were fixed solely on the Panel before him:

[Martial Art: Gale-Breaking Fist (Mortal Grade)]

[Proficiency: 3/500, Entry]

[Forged to Excel Boost: Comprehension increased by 1 point]

After training bitterly through the night, he had finally reached Entry!

Fang Han clenched his fists and sensed the subtle changes within his body.

A thread of warm energy slowly circulated through his lower abdomen. It was as fine as a wisp of silk, yet undeniably real.

With the medicinal potency of that ginseng root, he had actually condensed a thread of Blood Qi ahead of time!

Fang Han was secretly astonished. He then tried directing that thread of Blood Qi toward his limbs, and immediately felt them fill with strength.

He bent down, picked up a somewhat thicker branch, and squeezed 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.

Was this the power 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 full of promise!

Protecting his family would no longer be empty words.

Fang Han took a deep breath and turned to head down the mountain.

After quietly returning home, Fang Han ate a coarse grain cake in the kitchen, then called out to his mother before leaving.

Chen Cui, who was busy at work, turned and looked 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 aside her doubts and continued working.

Flood Peak Martial Arts Academy.

Fang Han changed into his gray training uniform and entered the training grounds, only to discover that he was the first Outer Court apprentice to arrive.

Apart from him, there was only an elderly man in his fifties sweeping somewhere nearby.

Fang Han walked over. As he passed the old sweeper, he cupped his fists and said, "Good morning, sir."

The old sweeper looked up and glanced at him without speaking, then lowered his head and continued sweeping.

Fang Han did not mind. He made his way to the corner where he had trained yesterday, assumed a stance, and began practicing his fist techniques.

After completing one set, he began another.

His training uniform gradually became drenched in 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 continued to rise, Fang Han became completely immersed in training, forgetting himself entirely.

He did not notice that the old sweeper had stopped at some point and was now leaning on his broom, watching him from afar.

A trace of surprise flashed through the old sweeper's eyes as he looked at Fang Han.

This young man...

If he remembered correctly, this was the newcomer who had enrolled only yesterday, wasn't it?

In just one day and one night, he had already trained the Gale-Breaking Fist to Entry?

The old sweeper narrowed his eyes and carefully observed Fang Han's every move.

His opening stance was steady, his punches were powerful, and his fist broke the wind... Though there was still some stiffness, both form and spirit were present. He had indeed reached Entry.

This young man's comprehension was astonishing!

The old sweeper murmured softly, his voice so low that only he could hear it.

Just then, laughter and chatter came from outside the training grounds.

Groups of three or five apprentices walked into the training grounds, laughing and talking. Yet as they passed the old sweeper, no one greeted him.

The old sweeper withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and continued sweeping.

As more and more apprentices arrived, the training grounds grew livelier.

Lin Rou stepped into the training grounds and habitually swept her gaze across the area.

When her eyes fell upon Fang Han, who was diligently practicing in the corner, she could not help but freeze.

Though Lin Rou was not yet an Inner-Court Direct Disciple, she had trained at the academy for over a year and had a discerning eye.

Fang Han's fist technique had clearly reached Entry!

How was that possible?!

Hadn't this guy enrolled only yesterday?

Lin Rou frowned tightly and turned toward the Inner Court.

She had to report this to Senior Brother Huo Zheng and let him assess the situation.

Inside the Inner Court.

At that moment, Huo Zheng, dressed in a white robe and standing tall and straight, was chatting with three other Inner-Court Direct Disciples.

All three wore fitted blue uniforms 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 became 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, and his strength was second only to Huo Zheng's.

"Their Bone Constitutions are what they are." Huo Zheng's tone was calm. "Only three have Upper-middle-grade Bone Constitutions. The rest have Middle-grade or lower-middle-grade Bone Constitutions. If their Bone Constitutions are lacking, no amount of effort will help."

Tao Ye nodded in full agreement. She was the only female direct disciple present.

"The reason we were able to become direct disciples and enter the Inner Court was precisely because we all possessed Upper-grade Bone Constitutions.

A gap in Bone Constitution meant an enormous gap in cultivation progress.

Among the more than forty Outer Court apprentices, even two entering the Inner Court would be exceedingly rare."

As the four spoke, Lin Rou hurried over.

"Senior Brother Huo."

Seeing that something was off about her expression, Huo Zheng asked, "What is it?"

Lin Rou glanced at the other three direct disciples and hesitated slightly.

"Speak freely," Huo Zheng said.

"Senior Brother Huo, Fang Han, who enrolled yesterday... I just watched him practice the Gale-Breaking Fist, and it seems his fist technique... his fist technique has reached Entry."

"Hmm?"

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 training grounds. Standing some distance away, they watched Fang Han. Sure enough, his every move was orderly and precise, possessing both form and spirit.

A trace of shock flashed through Huo Zheng's eyes. He had truly reached Entry!

"He enrolled only yesterday?" Tao Ye asked Lin Rou.

Lin Rou nodded. "Yes, Senior Sister. Junior Brother Fang Han did indeed enroll yesterday."

Tao Ye nodded slightly. After watching for a while longer, she suddenly smiled. "His comprehension is extremely high. I could support him and forge a good connection."

Gu Chenglin and Wang Ze also nodded, indicating that they had the same thought.

The three of them all came from wealthy, influential families in the Outer City.

To them, casually letting a little silver slip through their fingers to forge a connection with a poor apprentice like this in advance 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 slowly speak.

Tao Ye was stunned. "With such comprehension, he actually has a Lower-grade Bone Constitution?"

"Yes. And at twenty-three, he has started martial training past the proper age. He began too late, so his future achievements will be limited."

Hearing Huo Zheng's final judgment on Fang Han, the enthusiasm on the female direct disciple's face instantly cooled.

"Then forget it. No matter how high his comprehension is, without a good Bone Constitution, his future limit is plain to see. Supporting him would only waste silver."

Thus.

The group no longer paid attention to Fang Han. Instead, they looked toward several other apprentices on the training grounds whose Bone Constitutions and comprehension were both decent, casually offering their assessments.

"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 fairly promising."

"Zhao Xiaohu is also not bad. Though he has a Middle-grade Bone Constitution, he has likewise trained the Gale-Breaking Fist to Minor Accomplishment. His comprehension seems even better."

In the corner of the training grounds, Fang Han had no idea what had just happened, nor did he know what he had missed.

He was merely immersed in set after set of fist techniques, with only the constantly flashing prompts before his eyes.

Gale-Breaking Fist proficiency +1...