Several days passed in a flash.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—

In Class A-10 Martial Arts Room, Fang Han’s figure shifted, his feet tracing a profound pattern as he cultivated Gale Step.

Compared to a few days ago, his footwork had clearly become much more fluid and natural.

Every dodge and turn carried a fluid, flowing rhythm, free of its initial awkwardness and stagnation.

His movements had also become faster, and the sound of the wind he stirred grew sharper and more distinct.

SWISH—

At a certain moment, he felt a flash of insight. The qi and blood in his body naturally surged, flooding into his legs.

His footwork suddenly changed, his speed increasing by a good thirty percent.

Like a blur of faint smoke, his figure instantly crossed several yards, appearing silently in another corner of the Martial Arts Room.

The entire process was exceptionally smooth; his control over his body had reached a new level.

’I’ve reached the Entry Level of Gale Step!’

Fang Han stopped, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

Even though Gale Step was only a basic Step Technique, reaching the Entry Level in just a few days was an absurdly fast rate of improvement.

After all, when he was cultivating Qingfeng Swordsmanship, it had taken him a full seven months to go from a complete beginner to reaching the Entry Level.

So, reaching the Entry Level in just a few days was a testament to his outrageous rate of progress.

’This is all thanks to the fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification!’

This rapid improvement was, of course, the miraculous effect of the fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification.

The possibility that he himself was some kind of genius in Step Techniques could be completely ruled out.

After all, before his Stepping Talent was amplified, his training could only be described as clumsy and stumbling; he had felt no innate aptitude for it whatsoever.

Suppressing his elation, Fang Han threw himself back into cultivating the Step Technique.

...

On the morning of the last day of the month, just as Fang Han finished his morning exercises, there was a gentle knock on the door of the Martial Arts Room.

A Fang Family servant stood respectfully outside, holding two wooden boxes marked with the family crest that felt much heavier than usual.

"Young Master Han, these are your monthly resources for ranking third on the Martial Arts Stele this month."

The servant respectfully presented the boxes, his eyes filled with unconcealed reverence.

The young man before him had been in the Inner Hall for less than a year, yet he had already broken into its top-level ranks. His reputation as a genius had long since spread throughout the Fang Family, and he even held considerable prestige in Liangshui City.

He was almost destined to become a major figure in Liangshui City in the future.

For a servant of the Fang Family, leaving even a slight impression on such a person would undoubtedly be of great benefit.

"Thank you."

Fang Han accepted the boxes and gave a slight nod.

After the servant withdrew, he went back inside, placed the two wooden boxes on a table, and opened them in turn.

Inside the first box were four neatly arranged, blue-and-white Porcelain Bottles.

He pulled the cork from one, and a rich, pure medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air, invigorating the senses.

"Forty Qi Blood Pills!"

A trace of surprise appeared in Fang Han’s eyes.

The number of Qi Blood Pills he received monthly had increased again, from thirty to forty.

This was a substantial amount, more than enough to support his current cultivation needs in the Bone Refining Realm, leaving him with a good number to spare each month.

His gaze shifted to the second wooden box.

He lifted the lid to find six ten-tael ingots of high-purity government silver, stacked neatly. Their brilliant shine was dazzling.

"Sixty taels!"

Fang Han’s breath caught in his throat.

Sixty taels of silver a month—that was three times his father, Fang Zheng’s, monthly salary!

At market price, a single Qi Blood Pill sold for one tael of silver. Adding the forty pills, the total value of the resources he received each month was as high as a hundred taels!

’The reward for third place is this generous...’

Fang Han muttered to himself, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Compared to the other spots in the top ten, the reward for third place was a quantum leap, on a completely different level.

Evidently, even the top ten was stratified. The top three were treated as a completely different tier from the rest.

’If third place is already this good, what kind of resources do second place, and especially first place, get each month?’

At this thought, a powerful sense of anticipation welled up within Fang Han.

He looked forward to seeing what resources he could obtain if he continued to climb the ranks to second, or even first, place.

’I absolutely cannot be satisfied with my current rank!’

Fang Han clenched his fists, a powerful motivation surging within him.

The higher his rank, the more resources he would get. That meant he could accumulate silver taels faster and unlock even higher levels of Talent Amplification.

He couldn’t be satisfied with his current rank; he had to strive for an even higher one.

...

In the days that followed, Fang Han trained even more diligently.

Under the effects of his Eightfold Root Bone Talent, his cultivation efficiency with the Crane Form was astonishing. His qi and blood surged like a mighty river, constantly tempering the bones throughout his body and allowing him to advance steadily toward the Late Stage of Bone Refining.

With the fourfold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, his progress in Xunfeng Swordsmanship was also remarkable. Although his rate of improvement was no longer as explosive as it had been at the start, it was still far beyond an ordinary person’s understanding, especially for a technique far more difficult than Basic Swordsmanship. His Sword Techniques grew more practiced and sharp, their power increasing by the day.

Meanwhile, with the fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification, his progress in Gale Step was nothing short of staggering.

「More than ten days later.」

WHOOSH—

Inside the Martial Arts Room, Fang Han’s figure moved like the wind, his footwork unpredictable—at times as swift as lightning, at others as light as a feather.

As he moved, he left faint, blurry afterimages in his wake, making it difficult to pinpoint his exact position.

A sense of even greater fluidity arose within him, a feeling of perfect harmony where his body moved as his mind willed.

’Gale Step has reached Minor Achievement!’

Fang Han slowly came to a halt, his eyes shining with delight.

Feeling the exhilarating sensation of his qi and blood perfectly synchronizing with his footwork, combined with a movement speed that was now another thirty percent faster, he couldn’t help but smile.

’From Entry Level to Minor Achievement in less than twenty days...’

As he calculated the time, even Fang Han himself found it hard to believe.

To advance a Step Technique from the Entry Level to the Minor Achievement Realm in less than twenty days!

If word of this speed got out, no one would believe it.

It made him marvel yet again at the sheer absurdity of the fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification.

’With my current Swordsmanship, combined with Gale Step at the Minor Achievement level...’

A flash of excitement at his enhanced strength glinted in Fang Han’s eyes.

With Gale Step now at Minor Achievement to complement his Qingfeng Swordsmanship at the Perfection Level, his combat ability would undoubtedly rise to a new height.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—

Just then, a soft knock on the door of the Martial Arts Room interrupted Fang Han’s thoughts.

’Hm? At this hour...’

Fang Han raised an eyebrow, collected himself, and walked over to pull open the heavy door.

Outside stood a Fang Family servant, his expression reverent. With both hands, he held up an exquisitely crafted, gilt-edged invitation card.

The invitation was made of an unknown, dark red material, its edges detailed with intricate cloud patterns in what looked like real gold dust.

It shimmered under the light with a subdued yet luxurious luster, clearly an extraordinary item.

"Young Master Han."

The servant bowed, holding the invitation high. His voice carried a barely perceptible solemness.

"Young Master Fang Hong ordered me to deliver this invitation into your hands. He asks that you open it personally."