Sandalwood incense wafted through the reception hall.

As Fang Han stepped into the hall, his eyes immediately fell upon Xia Kang, who was fidgeting restlessly and glancing frequently toward the door.

The moment he saw Fang Han enter, Xia Kang shot up as if pricked by a needle. His face instantly broke into a wide, almost sycophantic smile as he hurried over to greet him.

"Young Master Han, you’ve arrived!"

He bowed low, his posture exceedingly humble, his voice filled with reverence and a desire to curry favor.

"Mr. Xia, there’s no need for such formalities. Please, sit."

Fang Han gave a slight nod. His gaze swept past Xia Kang to the meek, head-bowed servant behind him, then to the rather heavy-looking wooden chest in the servant’s hands. A suspicion had already begun to form in his mind.

The two sat down, taking their respective places as host and guest. A Maid served fragrant tea.

Xia Kang was in no mood for tea. He rubbed his hands together, an ingratiating smile on his face as he spoke.

"Thanks to your great fortune, Young Master Han, business at the tea garden has been exceptionally prosperous this month. Here is fifty percent of this month’s profits. Please, have a look!"

With that, he quickly shot a glance at the servant behind him.

The servant immediately stepped forward and carefully placed the wooden chest on the tea table beside Fang Han before respectfully stepping back.

Xia Kang stood up and, with a hint of nervousness, opened the lid himself.

Instantly, the brilliant gleam of silver filled their vision!

Inside the wooden chest, official silver ingots were stacked in neat rows. Each ingot shone with a tempting luster, and the amount was far greater than his monthly family stipend.

"There are two hundred and twenty silver taels in total. Please, Young Master Han, verify the amount."

He couldn’t help but feel a painful sting at the loss, but he rationally forced the feeling down.

Without Fang Han as a backer, the tea garden might not survive. This expense was a necessity.

"Two hundred and twenty silver taels?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Fang Han’s eyes, quickly replaced by satisfaction.

This was even more than he had expected—more than double the top-tier monthly stipend in the Inner Hall!

He hadn’t expected any more than this. If the Qingwu Tea Garden were any more profitable, the Xia Family would have likely lost control of it long ago, and he never would have had the chance to benefit from it.

He reached out and casually prodded the silver ingots in the chest. The cool touch and heavy weight registered at his fingertips.

A sense of security and control welled up within him.

’Sure enough, as long as you’re strong enough, wealth and resources will naturally come pouring in. There’s no need to scheme and scrabble for them at all!’

This realization reaffirmed itself in Fang Han’s mind, and his gaze grew deeper.

"You’ve been very thoughtful, Mr. Xia. If anything comes up at the tea garden, don’t hesitate to find me."

He closed the lid, his mood noticeably improved.

"Yes, Young Master Han!"

Despite the sting of the expense, receiving this guarantee from Fang Han was like having a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. A smile bloomed on his face.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xia Kang tactfully took his leave, not wanting to impose any further.

After seeing Xia Kang off, Fang Han carried the heavy wooden chest and went straight back to the Class A-10 Martial Arts Room.

The heavy door sealed the room off from the outside world, leaving it in complete silence.

Fang Han placed two wooden boxes and the chest from Xia Kang side by side on the floor.

First, he opened the wooden box containing his family’s monthly stipend. Inside were the familiar five vials of Qi Blood Pills and one hundred taels of official silver.

Next, he reopened the chest from Xia Kang. Two hundred and twenty silver taels gleamed brightly.

"System Panel."

He called out in his mind, and the system panel appeared in his field of vision.

[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]

"Deposit."

Without the slightest hesitation, Fang Han placed his hand on the silver in the box and then the chest, choosing to deposit the funds.

[Wealth: 1,052 silver]

The number on the system panel jumped, breaking the one-thousand-tael barrier. He could now activate another Level 3 Amplification.

"Activate Level 3 Stepping Talent Amplification!"

The only upgrade he could afford was the Level 3 Amplification for his Stepping Talent. Fang Han’s gaze instantly locked onto the [Stepping Talent Amplification] option, and he made his choice without a moment’s hesitation.

DING—!

A clear system notification chimed, seeming to ring from the depths of his very soul. The panel flashed, and the text refreshed.

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

[Wealth: 52 silver]

His Stepping Talent amplification multiplier now matched his Root Bone and Swordsmanship Talents, having reached Eightfold.

’Time to see what this feels like!’

Since he was already in the Martial Arts Room, Fang Han immediately began to practice his Gale Step, eager to experience the effects of his new Eightfold Stepping Talent.

SWISH, SWISH—

As he began practicing the Gale Step, Fang Han immediately felt a difference.

An indescribable sense of clarity bloomed in his mind.

Previously, the subtle nuances of the Gale Step had been obscure and difficult to grasp, requiring countless repetitions. But now, it was as if a breeze had blown the dust from a string of pearls; each intricate point lit up on its own, shining with perfect clarity.

Countless insights on footwork, breath control, and even more efficient ways to generate force and leverage momentum flooded his mind like a surging tide.

With but a flicker of thought, he grasped all its profundities.

SWISH—!

His feet moved naturally, his form growing lighter and more ethereal with each step, as if he had truly transformed into a wisp of unrestrained wind.

His steps were silent, his turns fluid and seamless. His heart, intent, and body moved as one.

The circulation of his qi and blood, which had once required conscious effort, now coordinated perfectly with just a passing thought, its efficiency multiplied.

The terrifying comprehension granted by the Eightfold Stepping Talent Amplification allowed him to grasp and internalize the essence of the Gale Step at an astonishing rate.

He weaved and dodged about the Martial Arts Room. The sound of his movement grew fainter, yet his speed only increased. The afterimages he left behind grew more solid and lingered for longer.

He seemed to transform into a blurry wisp of green smoke, his true trajectory impossible to follow.

Lost in this ultimate state of enlightenment, time slipped by unnoticed.

After an unknown amount of time, inspiration struck Fang Han. The qi and blood in his body surged in an exceptionally profound manner, flooding into his feet.

HUMMM!

A faint warmth spread through the soles of his feet, as if an invisible shackle had just been broken.

In the next moment, his speed skyrocketed. His movements became incredibly coordinated, natural, and fluid.

His steps were silent, not even a speck of dust stirring, like a feather drifting to the ground. Yet, in an instant, he could erupt with astonishing power.

His movements were completely free of strain or hesitation. He had truly reached the perfect Realm where his body followed his intentions, and his intentions followed his will.

The airflow seemed to have been completely tamed, clinging to his body. It no longer created resistance; instead, it faintly seemed to push him along.

A series of afterimages, as solid as his real body, lingered in his wake before slowly fading away.

"Gale Step, reached Perfection!"

Fang Han transitioned from extreme motion to absolute stillness, halting abruptly. His figure was as steady as a boulder, and a brilliant light shone in his eyes.

He savored the sensation of his qi, blood, and footwork blending into a perfect, harmonious whole. He felt an ultimate lightness, as if he could walk on snow without leaving a trace, as if he were Riding the Wind. A gratified smile slowly spread across his face.