"F... First place!"

"He... he surpassed... Fang Hong and became the new number one of the Inner Hall!"

"How long has it been?! From the time he entered the Inner Hall until now, it hasn’t even been a full year. He’s... he’s a monster!"

After the dead silence, a deafening uproar swept through the courtyard like a tsunami. The faces of all the disciples who witnessed this were etched with utter shock and disbelief.

Although they had a feeling this might happen, the impact of seeing it unfold for real was still incredibly intense.

The news spread at an astonishing speed.

In her private Martial Arts Room, Fang Xue was practicing her Swordsmanship. When she heard her servant’s report, a flaw immediately appeared in her Sword Techniques.

She froze for a moment. A complex emotion flickered in her cool eyes, but then it seemed as if she let out a sigh of relief.

"Fang Hong... was surpassed by him too?"

She muttered to herself. Her tone held no resentment; instead, there was a strange sense of release.

’Since that’s the case, me being surpassed when I was second... doesn’t seem so hard to accept after all.’

With even Fang Hong defeated, her own loss as the former number two suddenly seemed less conspicuous.

A strange sense of comfort washed away her original disappointment.

Meanwhile, in Fang Hong’s Martial Arts Room.

"What...?"

Upon hearing his attendant’s report, Fang Hong was so shocked that he bit through his gums, and a trickle of crimson blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

He snapped his eyes open, his gaze bloodshot. Disbelief, humiliation, dejection—a torrent of emotions instantly overwhelmed him.

"My... number... one... spot... was also... taken?!"

He practically spat the words through clenched teeth.

The shadow of his crushing defeat at the hands of Lin Ao had not yet faded, and now even his last remaining glory in the Inner Hall had been mercilessly snatched away by Fang Han.

An immense sense of failure washed over him like an icy tide, leaving him cold to the bone. His fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.

In his Quiet Chamber, Elder Fang Yuan quickly received the news.

The gloom that had settled on his face due to Fang Hong’s disastrous defeat to Lin Ao was instantly swept away, replaced by uncontrollable relief and excitement.

"Good! Good lad! Beautifully done!"

He praised him repeatedly, his voice holding a hint of undisguised satisfaction.

Fang Hong’s prior defeat had made him, as the one in charge of the Inner Hall, feel that he had lost face. He had been bottling up his frustration ever since.

Now, hearing that Fang Han had surpassed Fang Hong to claim the top spot in the Inner Hall finally dispelled the gloom that had been building up for days.

’If he keeps growing at this pace, given time, he will definitely be able to catch up to and even surpass that Lin Ao!’

Elder Fang Yuan’s gaze burned as he looked out the window in the direction of Fang Han’s room, his heart filled with boundless anticipation and pride.

With a Qilin’er like this in the Fang Family, how could they not hold their heads high and restore their prestige!

In the courtyard, Fang Han slowly sheathed his sword.

He raised his head, his gaze falling upon the name at the very top of the stele’s surface.

The goal of becoming number one in the Inner Hall had been achieved.

However, he would not let himself grow complacent because of it.

Never mind the dazzling geniuses on the Celestial Pride List; even within Liangshui City, there was still Lin Ao, the number one of the city’s younger generation, looming over him.

Under countless shocked and complicated gazes, Fang Han left the courtyard of the Martial Arts Stele and returned to his Class A-10 Martial Arts Room.

KNOCK KNOCK—

He had just returned to the Martial Arts Room. Before he could even compose himself and resume his Cultivation, a soft knock came from the door behind him.

Fang Han went to the door and opened it.

Standing outside was Elder Fang Yuan, his hands clasped behind his back. His face bore an expression of indescribable relief and gravity.

"Elder Fang Yuan?"

Fang Han quickly stepped aside and bowed respectfully.

"Fang Han, the Patriarch has summoned you. Tidy yourself up and come with me to see him."

Elder Fang Yuan stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally landing on Fang Han. He spoke with a satisfied expression.

’See the Patriarch?’

Fang Han’s heart stirred.

As the helmsman of the Fang Family, Patriarch Fang Lingyuan was usually busy with clan affairs. Aside from festivals or major events, it was rare to see him. And now, he had actually summoned him.

Connecting this to his recent rise to number one in the Inner Hall, he guessed the reason.

"Yes, Elder."

Fang Han suppressed his speculations and replied with a calm expression.

Without asking further questions, he quickly straightened his slightly disheveled robes from his Cultivation and followed Elder Fang Yuan out of the Martial Arts Room.

The two of them passed through a series of courtyards and arrived at the depths of the Fang Mansion.

The servants they encountered along the way all moved aside and bowed, their gazes falling on Fang Han with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

Clearly, they were all extremely curious about this Qilin’er of the Fang Family.

Soon, they arrived at an extremely tranquil courtyard deep within the Fang Mansion.

Ancient pines stood strong, and the sound of the wind rustling through their needles was like the murmuring of waves. This was Songtao Pavilion.

This was where Patriarch Fang Lingyuan handled core family matters and conducted his private Cultivation. Ordinary clan members had no hope of ever setting foot inside.

Elder Fang Yuan straightened his attire before the pavilion’s entrance, then led Fang Han slowly inside.

Inside the pavilion, the elegant scent of sandalwood filled the air, and the furnishings were simple yet grand.

Patriarch Fang Lingyuan was not seated on the main chair. Instead, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back before a massive landscape painting, seemingly lost in thought.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around.

This was a man of about fifty, with a refined face, but his eyes were as deep as pools, carrying a natural authority without any show of anger.

The aura around him was as heavy as a mountain. Merely standing there, he exuded an invisible pressure.

Clearly, he was not only an Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist, but he was far from an ordinary one.

"Patriarch, I have brought Fang Han."

Elder Fang Yuan took a step forward and bowed to report.

"Disciple Fang Han pays his respects to the Patriarch."

Not daring to be disrespectful, Fang Han stepped forward and gave a deep bow, his voice clear and deferential.

Fang Lingyuan’s gaze fell upon Fang Han, a gaze that seemed capable of piercing through flesh and bone to peer directly into his very soul.

He studied Fang Han for a moment before a genuine smile slowly bloomed on his face. The smile dispelled his earlier imposing air, making him appear much gentler.

"There is no need for such formalities."

Fang Lingyuan raised his right hand in a gesture, his voice calm yet carrying an inherent force.

"Fang Han, in less than a year since entering the Inner Hall, you have managed to suppress the younger generation of our Fang Family and claim the top spot. Such Talent is a rarity our Fang Family has not seen in decades. Good, very good!"

His praise was unconcealed, filled with sincere admiration.

"You praise me too highly, Patriarch. I am unworthy of such acclaim. It is all thanks to the family’s cultivation and the Elders’ teachings."

Fang Han lowered his head slightly, his tone humble. He showed no signs of smugness despite the Patriarch’s praise.

Fang Lingyuan and Fang Yuan exchanged a look, and both saw the satisfaction in the other’s eyes.

’Neither arrogant nor rash, with a calm and steady disposition. This boy can indeed be entrusted with great responsibility.’

"Humility is a good thing, but there is no need to be overly modest."

Fang Lingyuan paced to the window and gazed at the swaying pine branches outside. His tone suddenly grew distant.

"The family has taken note of your Talent. I summoned you today, on one hand, to formally meet you, our Fang Family’s Qilin’er. On the other hand, there is something I must inform you of."

Fang Han’s mind sharpened. He knew the main topic was coming and focused his attention to listen.

"Fang Han, if you can break through to the Inner Qi Realm before the second day of the second month next year, there will be an immense opportunity waiting for you."

"This opportunity concerns the future of your Martial Dao path, and even... the rise or fall of our Fang Family for the next several decades!" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Fang Lingyuan turned around, his gaze growing serious once more. He paused, then spoke, enunciating every word.