The next morning, Liangshui City had yet to fully awaken. A thin mist shrouded the Fang Mansion, and the bluestone paths were damp and cool with the morning dew.
Fang Han strode into the Inner Hall's training grounds with the morning light, his steps steady and silent.
"Fang Han is here!"
The moment Fang Han appeared, a subtle ripple went through the training grounds, which had been still with the solemn atmosphere of individual cultivation.
The eyes of the few disciples who had entered the Inner Hall at the same time as Fang Han were drawn to him as if by a magnet.
Fang Lin subconsciously tensed, his gaze sweeping over Fang Han with a complicated expression.
Fang Tao, Fang Chen, and the others looked on with a faint sense of awe—an awe that, just half a month ago, had been reserved for Fang Lin.
"So that's Fang Han?"
Even some of the senior disciples who had been in the Inner Hall for years now cast inquisitive glances his way.
In a short period, Fang Han—a disciple from a side branch who had initially been completely unremarkable—had already built up a small but not-to-be-ignored reputation in the Inner Hall.
Although their rankings were higher than Fang Han's, they didn't dare to look down on him.
Fang Han's expression was as calm as still water; he seemed oblivious to the gazes, both overt and hidden, that were fixed on him.
He walked straight to the corner where he usually practiced his cultivation.
Though he had never claimed it, the others had tacitly designated this spot as his personal cultivation area.
"HUUU... HAAA..."
Once he was in position, Fang Han immediately sank into a horse stance and assumed the opening posture of the Crane Form Pile Skill.
As he began circulating the Pile Skill, he felt a difference from before.
The greatest difference lay in his tendons—the sinews that connected bone to muscle and conducted power throughout his body.
During his previous cultivation, his qi and blood had primarily acted on his skin and muscles. While his tendons had also benefited, they weren't the main focus.
Now, as he delved deeper into the Pile Skill, he could clearly "feel" the scorching, condensed torrent of his qi and blood consciously splitting into smaller streams.
Like countless invisible hammers, they precisely and powerfully struck, permeated, and nourished every important meridian and channel in his body.
Each time his qi and blood washed over his tendons, it brought a subtle yet distinct tingling itch and warmth, accompanied by an indescribable feeling of being stretched and a boost in resilience.
It was as if the "strings" that supported his strength were being constantly tightened and reinforced, becoming tougher and more elastic.
Tendons—this was the primary focus of strengthening in the Muscle Refining Realm!
"WHOOSH—"
The Pile Skill cultivation session ended, and Fang Han slowly relaxed his stance.
The surging qi and blood within him calmed slightly. But the newfound sense of enhancement originating from his tendons settled in, leaving him feeling refreshed from head to toe, as if he had shed a layer of invisible shackles.
He walked over to the weapons rack and picked up a Fine Iron Longsword.
The blade was cool to the touch, but it felt familiar in his hand, a sign of his ever-increasing attainments in Swordsmanship.
A true master of Swordsmanship could even achieve the state of unity between man and sword, where the sword becomes an extension of their limbs. He was still quite far from that level.
"Gentle Breeze Brushing the Willows."
The tip of his sword trembled, tracing an elegant arc through the air.
Fang Han's mind was completely immersed in his Swordsmanship.
Bolstered by his doubled Swordsmanship Talent, the various insights about Qingfeng Swordsmanship in his mind were like ignited sparks, continuously bursting forth and connecting.
The fluid harmony he had at the Minor Achievement Realm was now transforming into something deeper.
The subtle transformations in every technique, the Enlightenment of power conversion, the perfect coordination of his body's exertion...
Countless moments of understanding flowed into his mind as naturally as a clear stream.
The Sword Techniques in his hands grew faster, yet also steadier.
He was no longer just pursuing speed or strength, but a kind of seamless, natural rhythm.
The light from his blade coiled around him like a silken ribbon. The sound of it cutting through the air gradually shifted from a whistle to a low hum—a sign that his power was highly condensed and the air was being extremely compressed.
At a certain moment, Fang Han felt an impulse and thrust his sword forward in the "Gentle Breeze Through the Forest" technique.
A cold glint flared brilliantly from the tip of the blade!
"FZZT—!"
The air was swept up and actually formed a blast of Powerful Qi that shot out from the sword's tip, leaving a faint mark on the ground several feet away.
"..."
Fang Han retracted his sword and stood still, gazing joyfully at the faint mark.
Its power wasn't great. It was only enough to leave a faint mark on the stone slab, far from strong enough to break through his current skin. Yet, its significance was extraordinary.
Because this meant that his Qingfeng Swordsmanship had reached Mastery!
"Two months..."
Fang Han murmured to himself.
In two months, his Swordsmanship had advanced from the early stage of Minor Achievement to the accomplished Mastery Realm.
It had taken longer than his advancement in the Pile Skill. This was partly because his Swordsmanship Talent Amplification was only a two-fold boost, and partly because improving Swordsmanship was simply more difficult than advancing the Pile Skill.
The Pile Skill was divided into four Great Realms—Skin, Flesh, Tendon, and Bone. Each Great Realm was further divided into three minor realms, for a total of twelve realms.
Martial Techniques, however, were divided into only five realms: Entry Level, Minor Achievement, Mastery, Great Success, and Perfection. Although there were fewer realms, the difficulty of each one was greater.
"He's generating Qi Force?!"
"His... his Qingfeng Swordsmanship... broke through to Mastery?!"
The unusual disturbance in the corner drew the attention of the other disciples, and numerous gazes shot toward Fang Han in unison.
When they realized the disturbance was caused by Fang Han's Swordsmanship breaking through to Mastery, their faces were all filled with shock.
They knew Fang Han had considerable Talent and progressed at a divine speed in his Pile Skill cultivation.
But that kind of cultivation Talent, related to the Pile Skill, was more reflected in realm advancement. Comprehending a Martial Technique relied more on one's perceptiveness.
Who could have imagined that Fang Han, who was advancing by leaps and bounds in his Pile Skill, would also possess such impressive Talent in the way of Swordsmanship?
Envy, jealousy, shock, disbelief... All kinds of complex emotions swirled within their gazes.
"He's advancing by leaps and bounds in the Pile Skill, and he has this kind of Talent in Swordsmanship too?!"
Fang Lin watched this from a distance, a new flicker of fear in his eyes as he looked at Fang Han.
Fang Tao and Fang Chen were dumbfounded, their gazes toward Fang Han filled with even greater awe.
Even many of the veteran Inner Hall Disciples now looked at Fang Han with completely different eyes, their scrutiny replaced by deep wariness and gravity.
「Deep within the Inner Hall, in a Quiet Chamber.」
Sandalwood smoke curled in the air. Elder Fang Yuan was resting with his eyes closed, slowly rolling a string of smooth, jade-like prayer beads between his fingers.
Knowing of Fang Yuan's interest in Fang Han, a Tutor hurried over, his steps quick and his excitement unconcealed, to report.
"Elder! Fang Han... while he was practicing his Swordsmanship in the training grounds, he had a breakthrough! His Qingfeng Swordsmanship has reached the Mastery Realm!"
Fang Yuan's fingers, rolling the prayer beads, froze. His eyes snapped open, a sharp light flaring within them.
"His Swordsmanship has reached Mastery?"
His deep voice carried an irrepressible tremor.
"Enlightenment. It's definitely Enlightenment!"
He clapped his hands and sighed lightly, a genuine smile blooming on his face, his eyes filled with gratification and anticipation.
First, a rapid breakthrough in his Pile Skill, and now a rapid breakthrough in his Swordsmanship realm. Such a swift rate of improvement confirmed his judgment that Fang Han had experienced an "Enlightenment."
Fang Han had definitely achieved Enlightenment!
"What a pity, what a pity..."
After the joy, a deeper sense of regret filled Fang Yuan's heart. If Fang Han had his Enlightenment a year or a year and a half sooner, he would have already stepped into the Muscle Refining Realm by now.
He wouldn't be in this situation, where despite having Talent superior to Lin Jiao of the Lin Family, he was suppressed by Lin Jiao's higher realm, forced to simply watch the Lin Family "show off."