"I’ve come to bring you good news. Fang Han has passed the assessment and officially joined the Qingxuan Sect!"

"This is the greatest event our Fang Family has seen in decades! You have given the family a fine son!"

Fang Lingyuan said solemnly, his face filled with gratification.

Although they had suspected as much, hearing the confirmation from the Patriarch’s own lips still made Fang Zheng and Lin Wan too excited to contain themselves.

"Good, good... As long as he got in..."

Lin Wan dabbed the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, laughing through her tears.

"This is all thanks to the family’s nurturing and the Patriarch’s high regard!"

Fang Zheng, for his part, heaved a great sigh of relief. Beaming with pride, he said repeatedly,

"Big Brother is amazing!"

Fang Ying didn’t quite understand what the "Qingxuan Sect" was. Her eyes were glued to the various sweets and pastries Fang Han had bought, and she was practically drooling.

But seeing how happy her parents and the Patriarch were, she clapped her little hands and laughed along.

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the Fang Mansion.

In every branch and courtyard, core disciples, extended family, and servants alike were all abuzz, their faces beaming with the excitement of shared glory.

"Did you hear? Young Master Han joined the Qingxuan Sect!"

"The Qingxuan Sect? Which one? You don’t mean *the* Qingxuan Sect, one of the Seven Major Sects of Qingyang County?"

"Yes, that’s the one!"

"Is—is that true?"

"The Fang Family finally has someone in the Qingxuan Sect! Let’s see who dares to look down on us now!"

A celebratory atmosphere filled the Fang Mansion, both inside and out. However, this joyous mood did not extend to the other four major families of Liangshui City.

In the Yue Mansion, Patriarch Yue Xiong listened to his subordinate’s report, his initial shock quickly turning into unspeakable jealousy.

"The Fang Family must have stepped in shit to get this lucky, actually producing a disciple for the Qingxuan Sect. Damn it! Why can’t my Yue Family produce a disciple like that?!"

His words were dripping with jealousy.

In the He Family, upon hearing the news, Patriarch He Wen began to roll the iron balls in his hand much faster, creating a hurried, rasping sound.

It was a long while before the motion slowed. He let out a long sigh.

"With a son like that, the Fang Family’s rise is imminent... I’m afraid the balance of power in Liangshui City is about to tip completely in their favor."

The worry on his face was plain to see.

In the Sun Family, Patriarch Sun Mang paced anxiously around the hall after learning the news.

His pacing ended with a helpless, cold snort.

"So be it. It’s a matter of fate. Pass down the order: from now on, we must treat the Fang Family with caution and courtesy. Do not offend them lightly."

Meanwhile, in the Lin Family—the family with the deepest feud with the Fangs—the atmosphere within their mansion was even more oppressive.

Lin Yaotian, who had just hurried back from Qingxuan City, listened to Steward Lin Fu’s hushed report. Instead of looking dejected, a cold and strangely sinister smile spread across his face.

"The higher they climb, the harder they’ll fall," he muttered to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the back of his chair. A vicious, expectant glint flashed in his eyes.

’Zhao Qianjun... should be making his move soon, right? Fang Family, you’d better enjoy this final moment of fleeting glory...’

He could already picture the news of Fang Han’s "accidental" death arriving, the entire Fang Family mourning as if they’d lost their parents, and Fang Lingyuan utterly devastated. A twisted sense of glee swelled in his heart.

News of Fang Han joining the Qingxuan Sect swept through Liangshui City like a whirlwind, causing a massive uproar.

In taverns and teahouses, on street corners and in alleyways, everyone was talking about Fang Han.

"The Fang Family’s Qilin’er is incredible! He actually got into the Qingxuan Sect!"

"Has it been a hundred years since someone from Liangshui City joined one of the Seven Major Sects?"

"This kid’s future is limitless! Maybe one day he’ll be like Wang Miao from Lishan City and make a name for himself throughout Qingyang County!"

"Heh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Qingxuan Sect is full of geniuses. Even if Fang Han is exceptionally talented, reaching Wang Miao’s level will be difficult. He’ll be doing well just to find his footing."

"Even if he doesn’t reach that level, it’s still impressive. No matter what, this is an honor for Liangshui City. It’s something we can all be proud of!"

Awe, praise, doubt, comparison... A mix of voices intertwined, but at that moment, Fang Han’s name truly resounded throughout Liangshui City, becoming a topic on everyone’s lips.

Some saw Fang Han as the pride of Liangshui City and hoped he would go far.

Others remained skeptical, believing the competition within the Sect was brutal and that Fang Han might not be able to distinguish himself.

But regardless, the name Fang Han was now deeply etched into their minds.

...

「Inside the Qingxuan Sect’s Sub-Branch, Room C-7」

Fang Han was completely unaware of the stir he had caused back in Liangshui City.

He sat cross-legged on his bed, holding a longan-sized, milky-white elixir that exuded a rich medicinal fragrance. It was a Peiyuan Pill, which he had exchanged his Contribution Points for.

The Peiyuan Pill was an elixir far more effective than the Inner Qi Pills. By using it to aid his Cultivation, he was certain his already fivefold-enhanced Cultivation speed would increase even further.

He hadn’t been stingy, immediately spending ten Contribution Points to purchase ten Peiyuan Pills.

The elixir dissolved the moment it touched his tongue. A gentle yet potent energy—far purer and more powerful than that of Inner Qi Pills—instantly spread throughout his body.

He immediately calmed his mind and began circulating the Xunfeng Technique.

With his Sixteenfold Root Bone Talent Amplification, the Cultivation Technique’s efficiency was staggering. Like a powerful furnace, it rapidly refined and absorbed the potent Medicinal Power, converting it into pure, light-green Inner Qi that flowed into his Dantian and Qi Sea.

A long time later, Fang Han concluded his Cultivation of the Xunfeng Technique. He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath.

Sensing that the light-green Inner Qi within his Dantian had grown noticeably more substantial, a flicker of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Ten days. It had only been ten days!

With the combined benefits of his Sixteenfold Root Bone Talent Amplification, the Middle-Grade Xunfeng Technique, and the superior Peiyuan Pills, his Cultivation progress was astonishingly fast.

The total volume of Inner Qi in his Qihai Acupoint had more than doubled since he first joined the Qingxuan Sect!

If word of such a terrifying Cultivation speed got out, it would leave countless Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists utterly dumbfounded.

He was still a ways off from reaching the Middle Stage of the Ninth Grade, but at this rate, Fang Han was confident it wouldn’t be long.

It was now noon, and a pang of hunger hit him. Fang Han pushed open his door and headed straight for the Sub-Branch’s dining hall.

The Sub-Branch dining hall was quite spacious, easily able to accommodate over a hundred diners at once.

The meals provided were not only free but also of exceptionally high quality, far surpassing anything served in the Fang Family’s Inner Hall.

Not only were there medicinal dishes that nourished one’s Inner Qi, but to Fang Han’s surprise, they even served Demon Beast Meat frequently.

And it wasn’t from the Bone Refining Realm Demon Beasts he had encountered before, but the meat of Inner Qi Realm Demon Beasts!

Although the portions were limited, the Essence Qi they contained was far greater than that of ordinary animals, making it highly beneficial for Cultivation.

He’d heard that the Sect had a dedicated Beast Garden for raising Demon Beasts, which explained the consistent supply. It once again made Fang Han marvel at the profound resources of a Major Sect.

After a hearty lunch and a short rest, Fang Han bypassed the crowded training grounds and instead found a secluded, empty corner within the Sub-Branch.

With a few ancient trees and a flat bluestone slab, the spot was tranquil and secluded. He enjoyed practicing his Martial Techniques here alone.

Quite a few disciples sought out quiet places like this to practice on their own.

As his gaze swept the area, he spotted her under another ancient tree in the distance—the purple-veiled Yun Qianyue.

He had seen the top-ranked, aloof girl practicing her sword here alone several times now.

The light from her sword was crisp and cold, her movements graceful. Even from a distance, he could feel her frosty, unapproachable aura.

Fang Han looked away. He had no intention of disturbing her or trying to get acquainted, so he simply began his own practice.

He started with the Xunfeng Swordsmanship.

SWISH, SWOOSH—

The Cyan Blade Sword sliced through the air, leaving a series of deadly arcs in its wake.

Ever since this Graded Swordsmanship reached the Great Success Realm, its training difficulty had spiked, and his progress had become incredibly slow.

For the past ten days, despite his diligent practice and the boost from his Eightfold Swordsmanship Talent, his progress remained sluggish. He had no idea when he might reach the Perfection Level.

’Tomorrow is the fifteenth. There will be lessons from the Elders and Stewards. I should find a Steward skilled in Swordsmanship and ask for some guidance,’ Fang Han thought.

He was confident that with his Eightfold Swordsmanship Talent, he could eventually master the Xunfeng Swordsmanship on his own and reach the Perfection Level.

However, getting guidance from a Steward skilled in the art would undoubtedly help him avoid some pitfalls and reach Perfection much faster.

After finishing his Swordsmanship practice, Fang Han switched to the Startled Swan Step.

WHOOSH, WHOOSH—

Unlike the stagnation he felt with the Xunfeng Swordsmanship, practicing this Step Technique felt incredibly smooth and natural, as he was still at a lower level of comprehension with it.

His Eightfold Stepping Talent Amplification, combined with the solid foundation from his Perfection Level Gale Step, made his progress with the Startled Swan Step miraculously fast.

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

As his footwork shifted, his figure moved like a fleeting shadow, leaving behind a trail of elusive afterimages.

With every turn and every leap, new insights flooded his mind. His control over his Inner Qi and his sense of timing grew more exquisite and precise.

Then, in a single instant!

The Inner Qi in his body surged on its own, channeling into his feet in a far more efficient and profound manner.

It felt as if an invisible force was lifting him from beneath his feet. His speed suddenly spiked, and his changes of direction became even more erratic and unpredictable.

A string of afterimages hung in the air where he had been, only fading a moment later.

He came to a halt a moment later, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. ’I’ve reached Mastery in the Startled Swan Step!’

Now that his Startled Swan Step had reached the Mastery Realm, its straight-line speed and small-scale evasive maneuvers both completely surpassed his Perfection Level Gale Step.

It had become a crucial trump card, one that could turn the tide of battle at a critical moment!

...

「The next morning」

The sky was just beginning to brighten, and the Sub-Branch was still shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

Fang Han pushed open his door and took a deep breath of the crisp morning air, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep and clearing his mind.

He straightened his cyan Disciple’s Robe and headed for the Inheritance Hall.

He hadn’t gone far before he ran into someone: Xiao Chen.

"Fang Han, heading to the Inheritance Hall? Want to go together?"

Xiao Chen called out upon seeing him.

"Sure."

Fang Han nodded, and the two walked side by side along the bluestone path toward the Inheritance Hall on the eastern side of the Sub-Branch.

Although they had once fought a heated and bloody battle on the stage, the two of them now got along quite well.

Xiao Chen had originally risked offending people by challenging the Six Heroes of Liangshui one after another in order to put enough pressure on himself to break through to the Inner Qi Realm.

Ultimately, he had achieved his goal and even had the good fortune to join the Qingxuan Sect.

Therefore, Xiao Chen held no grudge against Fang Han for injuring him.