Evening.

Just as Fang Han stepped through the courtyard gate, a tiny figure, like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest, came flying over with a PATTER PATTER PATTER and threw herself around his leg.

"Brother, brother!"

Fang Ying tilted her little face up, her eyes sparkling with excitement as her little mouth chattered away eagerly.

"Inside, inside, there are loooots and lots of shiny rocks! So shiny!"

Still only able to count to ten, she tried her best to spread her short arms wide, gesturing to convey the concept of "a lot." Her little face was filled with the excitement and pride of someone who had just discovered a treasure.

Fang Han smiled, bent down, and easily scooped his little sister up, giving her a little bounce.

"Does Xiaoying like those shiny rocks?"

"I do!" Fang Ying nodded vigorously, wrapping her arms around her brother’s neck. Then she added in a small voice, "Mother said I can’t touch them, so Xiaoying only looked. I didn’t touch, okay!"

"Xiaoying is such a good girl," Fang Han praised with a smile, carrying his sister as he walked into the house.

"Xiaohan, you’re back."

His mother, Lin Wan, was just walking out from an inner room. Seeing Fang Han, a gentle smile graced her face.

"A little while ago, the family sent someone over with a rather heavy chest. They said it was a reward for you. This silver... where on earth did it come from?"

"I went out today and took care of some business for the family. And while I was at it... I defeated Lin Ao of the Lin Family. The Patriarch was greatly pleased when he heard the news and specially rewarded me with a thousand taels of silver."

Fang Han said with a smile.

"You... you defeated who?"

For a moment, Lin Wan didn’t quite process it.

Then, her eyes flew wide open, her pupils filled with utter shock and disbelief, as if she had just heard some fantastical tale.

"Lin... Lin Ao? The Lin Ao... the number one expert of Liangshui City’s younger generation?"

Her voice rose slightly in her extreme surprise. Even as a homemaker, she had heard of Lin Ao, the number one expert of Liangshui City’s younger generation.

What Fang Han had said seemed utterly incredible to her.

Fang Han nodded in confirmation.

Receiving his confirmation, Lin Wan gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

After the shock passed, a smile of immense relief and pride blossomed on her face, and she said repeatedly,

"No wonder the family gave you such a reward... I’ll go tell the kitchen to make a couple of extra dishes! When your father gets back, our family will have a proper celebration!"

After a small celebration with his family, Fang Han returned to his room.

He slid the bolt on his door shut, his gaze falling upon the sandalwood chest resting quietly beside the table.

He walked over and opened the lid.

Instantly, the cool moonlight and the warm candlelight mingled, illuminating a chest full of snowflake silver ingots that shimmered with a soul-stirring, brilliant luster.

The visual impact of a thousand taels of silver piled together was far more intense than just hearing the number.

He took a deep breath to calm his slightly racing heart, his eyes glinting with anticipation.

’Panel.’

As he recited the word in his mind, a translucent screen of light quietly unfurled.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: Eightfold (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: Fourfold (Level 3 Amplification requires 1,000 silver)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: Fourfold (Level 3 Amplification requires 1,000 silver)]

[Wealth: 732 silver]

’Deposit!’

Without the slightest hesitation, Fang Han placed his hand on the cold silver ingots.

With a single thought, the silver ingots in the chest vanished without a trace, as if swallowed by an invisible vortex.

The number on the panel flickered in response.

[Wealth: 1732 silver]

’Activate Level 3 Amplification for Swordsmanship Talent!’

Between Level 3 Amplification for Swordsmanship Talent and Level 3 Amplification for Stepping Talent, Fang Han decisively chose the former.

Compared to Stepping Talent, he much preferred the Swordsmanship Talent, which directly enhanced his Power of Attack.

His gaze locked onto the option after [Swordsmanship Talent Amplification], and he committed his will.

DING—!

A crisp, melodious notification sound, seemingly originating from the depths of his soul, rang out.

The system panel rippled like water, the text quickly refreshing before settling into place.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: Eightfold (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: Eightfold (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: Fourfold (Level 3 Amplification requires 1,000 silver)]

[Wealth: 732 silver]

’Eightfold!’

Seeing that his Swordsmanship Talent Amplification had become Eightfold as expected, Fang Han’s heart gave a heavy thump, and an indescribable ecstasy swept through him.

With a Fourfold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, his comprehension of swordsmanship was already terrifyingly high, allowing him to make rapid progress even when cultivating the Graded Xunfeng Swordsmanship.

’Now that it has reached Eightfold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, what level will my comprehension reach?’

’I’ll find out tomorrow...’

A burning anticipation ignited in Fang Han’s eyes.

He couldn’t wait to see what kind of surprise the Eightfold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification would bring him during his cultivation tomorrow!

...

「The next morning.」

As usual, Fang Han arrived at the Inner Hall training grounds on time and headed toward his own Class A-10 Martial Arts Room.

However, as soon as he entered the training grounds, he keenly sensed that today was completely different from usual.

There were far more people on the training grounds than usual, many of them unfamiliar young faces filled with naivety and curiosity.

They wore brand-new Fang Family disciple uniforms, and their movements were tinged with the restraint and excitement of those who had just entered the Inner Hall.

They were gathered in small groups, some curiously observing their surroundings, others talking in low voices, their eyes full of hope for the future, mixed with a hint of unease.

’Are they...?’

Fang Han was momentarily taken aback, but then he understood.

’That’s right. Time flies. It’s that time of year again when a new batch of disciples enters the Inner Hall.’

’I’ve been so focused on my cultivation that I completely forgot.’

"Who is that...?"

Fang Han’s appearance immediately caught the attention of the older, more senior disciples on the training grounds.

In their gazes, one could see reverence and admiration, as well as a trace of pride, as if they shared in his glory.

The new disciples who had just entered the Inner Hall were puzzled. They looked at Fang Han with curiosity, wondering why a youth who didn’t seem much older than them would inspire such awe in the senior disciples.

"That’s Chief Fang Han!"

"What? He... he’s the Chief Fang Han who reached the top of the Inner Hall in just one year?"

"To reach the top of the Inner Hall in just one year is simply incredible!"

"What’s even more incredible is that I heard not long ago, Chief Fang Han even defeated Lin Ao, the number one expert of Liangshui City’s younger generation!"

Hearing the senior disciples’ explanations, the new Inner Hall disciples immediately let out excited whispers. Though they kept their voices down, they couldn’t hide their excitement and adoration.

Their gazes instantly became fervent, as if they were looking at a living legend. They followed Fang Han’s every move without blinking, their eyes filled with curiosity, reverence, and boundless yearning.

For them, who had been outer-hall disciples only a short time ago, Fang Han—who had reached the top of the Inner Hall in a single year and even defeated Lin Ao, the number one expert of Liangshui City’s younger generation—was nothing short of a legend.