Chapter 44: Sword Technique Perfection

That same day, Fang Han’s family moved into Tingyu Pavilion. By night, the pavilion was aglow with warm light.

"Xiaohan, I was thinking we could host a banquet at the restaurant tomorrow night. We can invite your First Uncle’s and Third Uncle’s families, plus Grandma and Grandpa, to celebrate the move. What do you think?"

His mother, Lin Wan, her face beaming with an irrepressible smile, looked at Fang Han, who was helping his little sister Fang Ying learn her characters, and spoke softly.

"That’s what I was thinking, too. We should get together and celebrate."

His father, Fang Zheng, nodded in agreement.

"Of course. You and Dad can make the arrangements. I have no objections."

Fang Han set down the calligraphy copybook and gave his parents a small smile.

"Great! I’ll have the restaurant save a private room for us tomorrow!"

Fang Zheng, the restaurant’s manager, said with a laugh.

The next day at noon, Fang Han was eating in the Martial Hall’s dining hall. At his table were Fang Lin and other disciples who had entered the Inner Hall at the same time.

"Fang Han, did you hear? Fang Xue’s Qingfeng Swordsmanship has broken through to Perfection!"

Fang Chen said, his tone filled with amazement.

"Fang Xue’s swordsmanship reached Perfection? When did this happen?"

Fang Han looked up in surprise.

For a Martial Technique to reach Perfection meant that one had mastered it to its absolute limit, reaching the same level as its creator.

Achieving this was impossible without sufficient talent and insight. Many people could practice a Martial Technique their entire lives and never bring it to Perfection.

As a publicly acknowledged genius of the Sword Dao, he knew Fang Xue possessed great Swordsmanship Talent. Still, hearing her swordsmanship had reached Perfection couldn’t help but surprise him.

"Just this morning. She went to the Martial Arts Stele to test herself, but... she’s still ranked second. She couldn’t surpass Senior Brother Fang Hong."

Fang Tao chimed in.

"Brother Fang Hong reached the Late Stage of Bone Refining a long time ago, while Fang Xue is still only in the Middle Stage of Bone Refining. The gap between their realms is just too big..."

Fang Lin said.

’Perfection in swordsmanship still only gets her second place? The competition for the top three on the Martial Arts Stele is even fiercer than I imagined!’

Fang Han couldn’t help but sigh internally. While he was improving, others weren’t standing still either.

Neither Fang Xue nor Fang Hong were lacking in talent; they could be considered minor geniuses. To surpass them would likely take him a considerable amount of time.

Returning to Class A-10 Martial Arts Room, Fang Han cleared his mind of stray thoughts, took up his Cyan Blade Sword, and began practicing the Qingfeng Swordsmanship.

He executed "Gentle Breeze Brushing the Willows," "Gentle Breeze Through the Forest," and "Gentle Breeze Chasing Shadow" over and over...

The effect of his fourfold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification was pushed to its absolute limit.

In his mind, all the essences, transformations, and force manipulation methods of the Qingfeng Swordsmanship flowed like a clear, babbling brook.

Although it was still Great Success Swordsmanship, it had already improved tremendously compared to when he first broke through to the Great Success Stage.

Moreover, he could faintly sense an even higher level.

He had a premonition that his Qingfeng Swordsmanship was not far from Perfection.

It could be in a few days, or it could be in the very next moment; his swordsmanship could break through to Perfection, just like Fang Xue’s.

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH...

Fang Han swung his sword relentlessly.

The glint of his sword grew more agile, more focused, as if the rigid forms had given way to something with a life and breath of its own.

After an unknown amount of time, in a certain moment, inspiration struck.

He thrust his sword forward. Body, mind, intent, and sword merged into one perfect whole. The air at the sword’s tip seemed to be completely drained and compressed. A white beam of Qi Force, condensed until it was almost solid and about a foot long, suddenly shot from the tip, silent and swift.

PFFT!

The Qi Force struck the hard bluestone floor of the Martial Arts Room, producing a distinct cutting sound.

A piece of bluestone, dozens of centimeters thick, was sliced open, leaving behind an exaggerated sword mark over a meter long and dozens of centimeters deep.

Such power was definitely not something Great Success Swordsmanship could achieve. There was only one answer: his swordsmanship had broken through from Great Success to Perfection.

"Qingfeng Swordsmanship, Realm of Perfection, achieved!"

Fang Han retracted his sword and stood tall, feeling the subtle vibrations from the Cyan Blade Sword in his hand and the Realm of Perfection that was utterly different from the Great Success Stage.

He could clearly feel that the power of the Perfection Level Qingfeng Swordsmanship was at least fifty percent greater than it was at Great Success.

More importantly, the Qi Force he could now unleash was no longer just for show, even against a Martial Artist of the same realm.

Previously, his Qi Force could at most threaten a Martial Artist a level below him in the Muscle Refining Realm. Against a Martial Artist of the same realm, its power and speed were severely lacking.

Now, his Qi Force had enough power and speed to pose a threat to other Martial Artists in the Bone Refining Realm.

This would enrich his combat arsenal, making his attacks harder to defend against and increasing his threat in battle.

"From Great Success to Perfection... it took a little over three months!"

Fang Han calculated in his head. From Great Success to Perfection, he had spent a little over three months.

Even with fourfold Swordsmanship Amplification, it had still taken him that long. Advancing a Martial Technique was indeed more difficult than advancing one’s cultivation realm.

’Fang Xue’s swordsmanship reached Perfection not long ago. If I go test myself now, my rank will probably still be third. Nothing will change.’

After a moment’s thought, Fang Han dismissed the idea of going to the Martial Arts Stele immediately.

If he tested himself now, his rank wouldn’t change and the reward wouldn’t change. Aside from letting everyone know his swordsmanship had also reached Perfection, which was just showing off, he wouldn’t gain any real benefit.

Being more mentally mature than his peers, he obviously wouldn’t go to the Martial Arts Stele just to show off.

’My Qingfeng Swordsmanship is at Perfection, it can’t be improved any further. It’s time to cultivate a higher-grade swordsmanship technique.’

Fang Han said to himself.

After a Basic Swordsmanship reached Perfection, the only way to gain more power was to cultivate a graded Martial Technique.

For someone without a family background, obtaining a graded Martial Technique would be next to impossible.

Any major power would strictly control such powerful Martial Techniques and would never allow them to circulate freely, lest it threaten their own authority.

But as a disciple of the Fang Family, obtaining a graded Martial Technique wasn’t difficult for him.

It was already getting late, so he decided to find Elder Fang Yuan tomorrow and apply to cultivate a higher-level swordsmanship technique.

...

That night, in the best private room of Liangshui City’s Fanghua Restaurant, the air was filled with joyous laughter and lively chatter.

His grandparents sat at the head of the table, their faces beaming.

His First Uncle, Fang Ye, was still recovering from his injuries and couldn’t come, but his First Aunt arrived with his older cousins, Fang Shan and Fang Yun.

His Third Uncle Fang Ping’s entire family was also present.

The table was laden with a sumptuous feast, and the aroma of wine filled the air.

"Xiaohan has really made something of himself now! A premium courtyard—that’s the kind of place only Elders are qualified to live in!"

Third Uncle Fang Ping raised his glass with a smile, his tone full of shared pride.

With his nephew Fang Han’s success, he, as the Third Uncle, would also benefit.

Take his elder brother, Fang Ye, for example. If not for his connection to Fang Han, he wouldn’t have received special protection from the caravan’s Martial Artists and would have likely died in the bandit attack.

Therefore, he was genuinely happy about Fang Han’s success.

"Xiaohan, we toast to you!"

His older cousins, Fang Shan and Fang Yun, who had heard many rumors about Fang Han recently, looked at him with complicated expressions.

’We’re cousins,’ they thought, ’so why don’t we have any talent for martial arts?’

Envy and emotion swirled within them, but in the end, it all melted into the act of raising their glasses for a toast.

"Brother Han, you’re amazing!"

His younger cousins, eleven-year-old Fang Hui and Fang Yu, blinked their sparkling eyes and gazed at Fang Han with pure adoration.

"We want to be amazing Martial Artists just like Brother Han when we grow up!"

Fang Han smiled and offered them a few words of encouragement. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

His parents watched the scene, their faces brimming with happy, contented smiles.

The banquet finally came to an end, and everyone chatted as they walked out of the restaurant.

Three of the Fang Family’s carriages were already waiting at the entrance. They boarded and slowly pulled away.

The carriages had just left the bustling street where the restaurant was located and turned onto a relatively secluded road.

Suddenly, the driver of the lead carriage yanked hard on the reins!

"WHOA—!"

The carriage jerked to a halt, and the unprepared passengers inside were thrown about.

"What’s going on?" Fang Zheng asked, sticking his head out.

There in the middle of the road, blocking their path, stood a brawny youth with the build of a tiger and the back of a bear. With his arms crossed, he looked like an iron tower.

In the darkness, the youth’s gaze was like lightning, fixed directly on the carriage carrying Fang Han.

His booming voice, filled with undisguised provocation, exploded in the silent alley.

"Fang Han! Get your ass out here!"