Chapter 120: Chapter 119: Sixteenfold Stepping Talent Amplification

"Thank you."

Fang Han took the cloth bag and thanked him.

"Don’t be so formal with me. Alright, you get back to it. I’m going back to my Cultivation."

Xiao Chen waved a hand and turned to leave.

Fang Han closed the door, slid the bolt, and went back inside his room.

He emptied the three bottles of True Spirit Pills onto the table. Each one was the size of a longan fruit, with a lustrous sheen and a rich medicinal fragrance that far surpassed that of a Peiyuan Pill.

He summoned the system panel, and a translucent screen of light appeared before his eyes.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 16x (Level 5 Amplification requires 100,000 silver)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 16x (Level 5 Amplification requires 100,000 silver)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: 8x (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Wealth Owned: 3832 silver]

’Recharge,’

he focused his mind, and a bottle of True Spirit Pills on the table vanished instantly.

The wealth value on the panel jumped accordingly.

[Wealth Owned: 5832 silver]

Without pausing, Fang Han recharged the remaining two bottles of True Spirit Pills one after another.

[Wealth Owned: 7832 silver]

[Wealth Owned: 9832 silver]

The three bottles of True Spirit Pills, each worth two thousand silver taels, increased his wealth by a total of six thousand silver, bringing his total to 9832 silver.

’Still a little short.’

Fang Han’s gaze swept across the room, landing on two longswords leaning in the corner.

They were his share of the loot from killing the bandits on the last mission.

It wasn’t just Elixirs that could be used to recharge the system panel. Valuable items like weapons could be used as well.

’I wonder how much they’re worth,’ he muttered to himself.

Although they were Low Grade weapons, they were heavily worn from long-term use, so their value would certainly be greatly diminished. He didn’t know how much silver he would get for recharging them.

He chose to recharge in his mind, and the two weapons disappeared from his sight.

[Wealth Owned: 10230 silver]

’Less than four hundred taels.’

The two weapons were worth less than four hundred taels in total. Just as he expected, because they weren’t new and were heavily worn, their value was low.

But regardless, he had finally scraped together the ten thousand silver needed to unlock the Level 4 Amplification for his Stepping Talent!

A fervent glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes. Without further hesitation, he focused his mind on the "Level 4 Amplification" option after [Stepping Talent Amplification].

’Unlock Level 4 Amplification for Stepping Talent!’

The moment the command was issued, the text on the panel flowed and refreshed like ripples in water.

[Stepping Talent Amplification: 16x (Level 5 Amplification requires 100,000 silver)]

’Sixteenfold Stepping Talent!’

A delighted smile touched the corners of Fang Han’s mouth. Following his Root Bone Talent and Swordsmanship Talent, his Stepping Talent amplification had also reached sixteenfold.

He couldn’t wait to see what kind of transformations this explosive increase in his Stepping Talent would bring.

He pushed open the door. The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the courtyard, coating the bluestone-paved ground in a layer of warm gold.

He walked straight to a familiar, secluded clearing. It was filled with ancient trees and had flat ground, a place where he often came to practice his Martial Techniques.

He stood still, took a deep breath, and cleared his mind of stray thoughts.

The next moment, he tapped the ground lightly with the tip of his foot.

SWOOSH—

His figure shot forward in an instant. He was so fast that he left a faint afterimage in his place, which only slowly dissipated after he had dashed more than thirty feet away.

He no longer hesitated and began to formally practice the Startled Swan Step.

An indescribable sense of clarity washed over him, as if the connection between his feet and the world had become tighter and more distinct.

The obscure and difficult key points of the Startled Swan Step, which used to require repeated contemplation, now felt as if they were suddenly illuminated.

The Great Success Level of the Startled Swan Step emphasized moving like a startled swan, being still as a statue, changing directions unpredictably, and landing without a sound.

Previously, although he had grasped its essence, he always felt that the subtle transitions and the coordination between his Inner Qi and Body Technique lacked a certain fluidity, requiring a great deal of time to grind out.

But now, with the support of his sixteenfold Stepping Talent, everything was completely different.

His figure flickered unpredictably in the clearing, at times like a willow catkin drifting on the wind, soft and elusive.

At others, he was like a flash of lightning, accelerating abruptly and leaving several afterimages that lingered within a small area.

With every step and every turn, his perception of the changes in airflow became several times more acute.

The circulation of Inner Qi through the meridians in his feet seemed to have gained a Spiritual Energy of its own, naturally finding the most optimal and effort-saving paths.

Difficult maneuvers that used to require deliberate control were now executed effortlessly, as naturally as water flowing to a channel, with just a single thought.

The feeling of sluggishness and awkwardness was completely gone, replaced by a smoothness and ease that was like flowing clouds and moving water.

He was completely immersed in the wonderful feeling of his Body Technique improving at a rapid pace.

His figure grew faster and faster until it seemed as though several "Fang Hans" had appeared in the clearing at once, a dazzling and overlapping series of afterimages.

Only when the sun had completely sunk behind the western mountains did Fang Han slowly cease his movements and come to a stop.

He was breathing heavily with sweat on his brow, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, and his face was filled with irrepressible joy.

"At this rate, it won’t take long at all to cultivate the Startled Swan Step to the Perfection Realm!" he muttered to himself, full of confidence.

What would have originally taken months of hard work to reach the Perfection Realm would now, it seemed, take a much shorter time.

...

「The next morning.」

A figure walked slowly along a bluestone path in the Sub-Branch.

The newcomer was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He wore the deep-green attire of a True Inheritor Disciple, its cuffs and collar embroidered with intricate cloud patterns in silver thread. His face was handsome, and he carried himself with a naturally calm and steady demeanor.

It was none other than Wang Miao, ranked ninety-third on the Celestial Pride List.

"Senior Brother Wang!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Wang!"

The disciples they passed along the way, whether they knew him or not, all subconsciously stopped to bow respectfully, their eyes filled with unconcealable awe and admiration.

To ordinary disciples like them, a figure from the Celestial Pride List was like a being from the clouds above.

Wang Miao’s expression was serene. He gave a slight nod in return and walked with a placid gait, heading straight for Wang Meng’s residence.

"Brother."

Upon seeing Wang Miao arrive, a faint, shallow smile appeared on Wang Meng’s cool face.

"Take these Elixirs."

Following Wang Meng into a simple living room, Wang Miao took out five small Porcelain Bottles from his robes and placed them on the table.

The characters for "True Spirit Pill" were carved on the Porcelain Bottles. These were the very same, expensive True Spirit Pills that cost one hundred Contribution Points per bottle, and there were five of them.

"Brother, these are too valuable. I..."

Wang Meng’s brow furrowed as she looked at the five bottles of True Spirit Pills.

She knew just how precious these pills were. One bottle cost a hundred Contribution Points, meaning five bottles were five hundred points. If converted into silver taels, that was a staggering ten thousand taels.

"Just take them."

Wang Miao interrupted her, his tone flat but carrying an air that brooked no argument.

"A few Contribution Points are nothing to me."

"Thank you, Brother."

Wang Meng pressed her lips together. Seeing the non-negotiable look on her brother’s face, she finally spoke in a low voice.

"Has your Cultivation been going smoothly recently? What’s your ranking?" Wang Miao asked.

"In last month’s minor test, my rank was... ninetieth," Wang Meng said with a touch of pride.

When she had just joined the Qingxuan Sect, she ranked at the bottom among the one hundred and ten people. Now, she had already caught up to the group that had joined the Sect through the entrance examination.

"Ninetieth place. Not bad. Just focus on making steady progress."

Hearing this, Wang Miao nodded in satisfaction.

Although his little sister Wang Meng’s current ranking was inseparable from the precious resources he had continuously given her, she still wouldn’t have been able to achieve this rank if she hadn’t worked hard herself.

He set down his teacup and, as if remembering something, asked casually.

"Oh, right, how is Fang Han doing in the Sub-Branch these days? Have you been paying attention?"

His impression of Fang Han was still stuck on the youth who had just entered the Sect with a Cultivation barely at the Ninth Grade, having scraped through the assessment.

When they had met before, he had shown some courtesy, but that was merely a bit of care shown out of respect for their families’ relationship.

Hearing the name "Fang Han," Wang Meng’s hand, which was holding her tea, paused almost imperceptibly. A flicker of an extremely complex emotion passed through her cool eyes.

She was silent for a moment before she looked up, her voice a little lower than before.

"He’s... currently ranked seventh."

"What was that?"

Wang Miao’s hand, which was lifting his tea, froze in mid-air. He looked up at Wang Meng, his face showing clear surprise for the first time, almost thinking he had misheard.

"Seventh."

Wang Meng repeated, her tone certain.

Watching the undisguised astonishment on her brother’s face, her own heart stirred with waves of emotion.

When she first met him, Fang Han had been "mediocre" in her eyes.

Later, when Fang Han passed the assessment to join the Qingxuan Sect, she had only been a little surprised.

It wasn’t until he charged into the top twenty last time, and then brazenly broke into the top ten to take seventh place this time, that she truly realized she had misjudged him.

The Talent he possessed was anything but mediocre.

"Seventh..."

Wang Miao slowly set down his teacup, the surprise in his eyes gradually replaced by deep contemplation.

Images of his few, limited interactions with Fang Han flashed through his mind: the young man’s calm eyes, his neither servile nor overbearing attitude...

Back then, he had thought it was just a young man’s feigned composure. Now, it seemed that beneath that calm exterior was likely hidden a confidence and potential that far exceeded his estimations.

"It seems I’ve underestimated this family friend’s son."

Wang Miao slowly exhaled. His face returned to its usual calm, but there was a shift in his eyes.

"Since we’re in the same Sect and our families are old friends, we should interact more in the future."

His tone seemed casual, but Wang Meng could clearly feel the weight behind his words.

Her brother’s attitude toward Fang Han had already shifted from initial, superficial politeness to genuine regard.

Wang Meng lowered her gaze, watching the tea leaves floating in her cup, and hesitated for a moment.

She had heard some rumors about the conflict between Fang Han and Chu Feng, as well as the hidden disadvantage he suffered when exchanging for Elixirs.

Originally, she hadn’t wanted to get involved, but seeing how highly her brother now thought of Fang Han, she felt she should probably tell him.

"Brother," she said, looking up, her voice soft yet clear. "Fang Han... a while ago, it seems he had some conflict with the True Inheritor, Chu Feng."

"Oh?" Wang Miao’s brow twitched as he looked at Wang Meng. "Chu Feng? What was it about?"

He had heard a little about this Chu Feng. He was arrogant and not someone easy to deal with.

So, Wang Meng told him about the conflict between Fang Han and Chu Feng, and how he was subsequently given a hard time by a disciple from the Pill Hall.

"Chu Feng... he’s getting more and more tyrannical."

Wang Miao’s voice wasn’t loud, but it held a trace of coldness.

"Making trouble for a newly-entered disciple, isn’t he afraid of demeaning his own status?"

In the past, if he had learned that Fang Han was in conflict with a True Inheritor, he might have weighed the pros and cons.

But now, the Talent Fang Han had displayed was worth investing in, worth stepping up to protect.

"Within our Qingxuan Sect, this kind of behavior—bullying others by relying on one’s power—will absolutely not be tolerated!"

Wang Miao paused, his gaze turning toward the window in the direction of the Sub-Branch. His tone was level, but it carried a sense of resolution.

"Fang Han is a disciple of the Fang Family, and they are old friends of my Wang Family. Now that he has suffered such an injustice, since I am aware of it, I cannot just stand by and watch."

Wang Meng nodded. She understood in her heart that her brother’s action was both to honor the relationship between their families and, more importantly, to invest in the future.