’My Cultivation speed is already fast enough. It’s my Swordsmanship that needs to improve!’

In a flash of insight, a resolute gleam appeared in Fang Han’s eyes.

The title of "weakest of the same Realm" was secondary. What truly mattered was that his Swordsmanship and Cultivation were the two most critical components of his strength. If either lagged, it would severely hamper his ability to exert his full power.

Only by advancing both in tandem could he increase his strength at the fastest possible rate.

For him now, activating the Level 7 Amplification for his Swordsmanship Talent would be a greater power boost than activating the Level 7 Amplification for his Root Bone Talent.

"Activate the Level 7 Amplification for my Swordsmanship Talent!"

As the thought registered, the wealth value on his panel instantly plummeted by ten million taels.

[Wealth: 963,000 silver]

The text in the [Swordsmanship Talent Amplification] column blurred and twisted before sharpening into new words:

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 128x (Level 8 Amplification requires 1,000,000 gold)]

A one-hundred-and-twenty-eight-fold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification!

There was no earth-shattering phenomenon, but in that instant, Fang Han felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in his mind, followed by the flow of a clear spring.

Countless insights, thoughts, and flashes of inspiration related to Swordsmanship burst forth, collided, and merged at an unprecedented speed.

After reaching the Great Success level with his *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword*, the difficulty had increased dramatically, leading to numerous points of confusion and stagnation. Now, with a mere thought, everything became clear, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

His comprehension of the essence of Cunning, Annihilation, and Speed deepened at an indescribable rate.

Many subtle variations he had previously overlooked, the exquisite pivots in Sword Momentum transitions, and the deeper mysteries of combining Inner Qi with Sword Techniques all presented themselves in his mind with perfect clarity.

It was as if an invisible barrier had been shattered, making his mind more agile, sharp, and profound than ever before.

A deeper sense of Insight and control over the very nature of the Sword Dao arose spontaneously within him.

At this moment, he felt as if he were in a constant, profound state of "enlightenment," born solely for the Sword Dao.

’A 128x Swordsmanship Talent... It’s truly astonishing!’

Fang Han slowly closed his eyes, savoring this wondrous state as the corners of his mouth turned up in an irrepressible smile.

He could sense that under this terrifying amplification, his progress in cultivating the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword* would be greatly accelerated.

The Realm of Perfection was just around the corner!

He was even filled with confidence about cultivating High Grade Sword Techniques in the future.

In the days that followed, Fang Han’s life returned to a calm and disciplined routine.

Every morning, he would meditate and practice Qi Cultivation in the Quiet Chamber of Courtyard 35 in the True Inheritance Courtyard.

With his 64x Root Bone Talent Amplification, the *Profound Wind Technique* circulated ceaselessly, and his Inner Qi surged like a mighty river, growing steadily.

The forenoon was dedicated to Swordsmanship practice.

With his Flowing Wind Sword in hand, he repeatedly practiced the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword* in the clearing beside the green bamboo forest in his courtyard.

The terrifying effect of the 128x Swordsmanship Talent Amplification made his practice feel like a constant state of enlightenment.

Previously, Sword Techniques, the subtle link in the circulation of Inner Qi, and the deeper control over Wind Momentum required lengthy, repetitive contemplation for even the slightest improvement. Now, it all came naturally.

Many Sword Principles and profound meanings that once felt obscure and veiled, as if behind a thin layer of gauze, now became crystal clear with a simple thought. All his difficulties and stagnation were resolved effortlessly.

His Sword Techniques became more fluid and natural, the Realm of cunning and unpredictability grew deeper, and the sharp intent of annihilation became more focused yet wielded with an air of relaxed mastery.

He could clearly feel his comprehension of the essence of Cunning, Annihilation, and Speed surging forward toward the final Realm of Perfection at a speed far beyond what he had ever experienced before.

The slowed pace of his Swordsmanship cultivation had once again become swift and fierce.

The afternoons were spent practicing his Body Technique.

Just like the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword*, once the *Flowing Wind Shadowless Step* reached Great Success, its cultivation difficulty soared, and his progress slowed.

However, this "slowness" was only relative to his own previous speed. Compared to other disciples, even geniuses like Yun Qianyue and Li Feng, his cultivation speed was still absurdly fast.

At night, he would once again meditate and practice Qi Cultivation.

Occasionally, he would also practice the *Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique* or read through miscellaneous Martial Dao records and notes from predecessors that he had borrowed from the Library Pavilion to broaden his horizons.

Day after day, time slipped by quietly in focused cultivation.

「In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.」

On this particular afternoon, sunlight dappled through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting mottled spots of light on the ground.

Fang Han held his Flowing Wind Sword, his mind completely immersed in the world of his Swordsmanship.

When his blade moved, it was sometimes like a light breeze—silent and its trajectory unpredictable.

Other times, it was like a summer thunderclap—explosive, swift, and utterly destructive.

And at other times, it was like a flurry of autumn leaves—a disorienting dance of illusion and reality.

His command and control over the Wind Momentum had reached a critical point.

Suddenly, he felt a pull, and the Flowing Wind Sword let out a clear, long hum.

The body of the blade trembled, as if it had achieved a wondrous resonance with the wind in the surrounding world.

A stroke of inspiration hit him. His Sword Momentum shifted, and the once cunning, unpredictable, and lethal Sword Techniques abruptly transformed from complex to simple.

They condensed into a single, seemingly ordinary thrust that contained his entire, current understanding of the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword*!

This strike was not exceptionally fast, nor was its path particularly clever, yet it seemed to have merged with the very essence of the wind—silent, traceless, and without a whisper.

Where the sword tip passed, the air seemed to be parted by an invisible force, creating a faint, transparent ripple that lingered for a long time.

Within a thirty-foot radius, the airflow seemed to freeze in an instant. All the bamboo leaves hung suspended in the air before beginning to drift down again at a much slower pace.

A Realm of flawless perfection and effortless control permeated the area.

He slowly sheathed his sword and stood still. Deep in his eyes, a glint as sharp as a sword’s edge flashed and then vanished, returning his gaze to the tranquility of an ancient well.

’The *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword*... is at Perfection.’

Fang Han gently exhaled a breath of turbid air.

He could distinctly feel the Flowing Wind Sword move like an extension of his own arm, as if it had become a part of his body. His Sword Momentum now contained a restrained yet immense power.

Just as the manual described, the power of the *Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword* at the Perfection Level had increased several-fold compared to the Great Success level!

The most significant change was his command and control over the Wind Momentum, which had increased from the previous 20% to 30%.

Comprehending Momentum became progressively harder. In return, although it was only a 10% increase, the resulting boost in power was explosive, increasing it by several times over.

With the enhancement of 30% Wind Momentum, his sword was faster, its path more cunning, and its killing power more concentrated and terrifying.

He had now touched the theoretical limit of what this Top Grade Sword Technique could achieve.

Gathering his thoughts, he threw himself back into his Swordsmanship practice.

Although the technique had reached Perfection, he still needed to consolidate his Realm and familiarize himself with its explosive increase in power.

...

「On the morning of the last day of the month.」

In the square where the Overall Martial Arts Stele was located, the crowd was much larger than usual.

The end of the month was the peak time for disciples to make a final push in the rankings and test their strength.

Among the crowd, one figure was particularly eye-catching.

It was the former True Disciple, Li Qinghong, who was now ranked thirty-first on the overall list.

Thanks to precious Elixirs, the severe injuries he had suffered at Fang Han’s hands had completely healed.

Although his wounds were gone, the grudge between him and Fang Han was firmly set.

As he walked toward the Overall Martial Arts Stele, his expression was solemn, but deep within his eyes burned a long-suppressed flame.

For the past month, he had barely left his residence, pouring all his time and energy into cultivation.

He had spared no expense, buying and consuming many precious Elixirs, and had even paid a great price to ask an Elder who specialized in Fist Techniques for guidance.

Both his Cultivation and his Fist Technique had improved. Confident in his greatly increased strength, he had come today to test himself, vowing to wash away his previous humiliation and reclaim his True Inheritor position.

WHOOSH—

Under the gazes of countless onlookers, Li Qinghong took a deep breath. His aura erupted as the full force of his Late-Stage Sixth Grade Limit Inner Qi poured into his right fist without reservation.

His fist carried a brutal and tyrannical momentum, filled with the do-or-die desperation of someone burning their bridges, as he smashed it ferociously against the smooth surface of the stele.

BOOM!

The Martial Arts Stele shone brightly and trembled violently.

The number before his name began to jump!

Thirty-one... thirty... The number abruptly froze—

Thirtieth!

"I did it! I’m back in the top thirty!"

Li Qinghong stared intently at the number "30" on the stele’s surface, his chest heaving violently as an irrepressible excitement flooded his face.

He had finally fought his way back into the top thirty!

This meant that as long as Fang Han couldn’t raise his rank back into the top thirty within three days, he, Li Qinghong, would reclaim the True Inheritor identity that belonged to him.

The glory and status he had lost were about to return!

And that Fang Han, the one who had pushed him out of the True Inheritor position and subjected him to endless humiliation, would only get to enjoy the status for a single month before being forced to depart in disgrace.

At the thought of the ugly expression on Fang Han’s face when he lost his True Inheritor status, a morbid sense of glee surged through Li Qinghong.

"Hmph, Fang Han!"

A cold, sharp curve formed on his lips. Elated and full of spirit, he turned and basked in the complex gazes from the surrounding crowd before striding away with his head held high.

The news of Li Qinghong’s return to the thirtieth rank spread through the Sect as if it had grown wings.

"Senior Brother Li Qinghong fought his way back into the top thirty! Senior Brother Fang Han’s rank has dropped to thirty-first!"

"Three days! Senior Brother Fang Han only has three days! If he can’t get back into the top thirty, he’ll lose his True Inheritor status!"

"Hiss... Losing it after just one month as a True Inheritor? This... This is too much..."

"I don’t think so! Senior Brother Fang Han was able to defeat Gong Xing from the Netherworld Pavilion. His strength must have improved again. It shouldn’t be hard for him to fight his way back into the top thirty, right?"

"It’s hard to say! The Martial Arts Stele only tests the Power of Attack, which is different from actual combat. Senior Brother Fang Han might be formidable in a real fight, but that doesn’t mean his instantaneous explosive power can surpass Senior Brother Li Qinghong’s current level."

"That’s right. Senior Brother Li Qinghong is a veteran True Inheritor, after all, with deep foundations. It’s clear he’s worked extremely hard this time. It probably won’t be so easy for Senior Brother Fang Han to surpass him within three days..."

Discussions erupted everywhere. Some were optimistic about Fang Han’s chances, while others believed he was about to stumble.

A change in the True Inheritor position had always been a major event that drew great attention within the Sect.

...

True Inheritance Courtyard, Courtyard 35.

Qiu Lan hurried back from outside the courtyard, her face etched with obvious anxiety and panic. She even forgot her etiquette, jogging toward the clearing in the backyard where Fang Han usually practiced his swordsmanship.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"

Her trembling voice arrived before she did.

In the clearing, Fang Han had just finished a round of Swordsmanship practice and was regulating his breath.

Hearing her voice, he slowly relaxed his stance and turned to look, his brow twitching slightly at the sight of Qiu Lan’s panicked expression.

"What’s the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Senior Brother, this is bad!"

Qiu Lan ran up to him and, without even catching her breath, said urgently,

"I... I just heard the news! Senior Brother Li Qinghong went to test himself at the Overall Martial Arts Stele, and his rank... his rank is back at thirtieth! Your rank has dropped to thirty-first!"

She spoke extremely quickly, her face filled with worry.

According to Sect rules, if a True Disciple’s rank fell out of the top thirty, they had a three-day grace period. If they couldn’t reclaim a spot in the top thirty within those three days, they would... they would lose their True Inheritor status.

She was so frantic partly out of concern for Fang Han, but also for herself.

Ever since she had been assigned to serve this newly promoted True Inheritor, her treatment had improved by more than just a single tier compared to an ordinary servant disciple.

Her monthly allowance was generous, her work was easy, and no one dared to look down on her.

More importantly, if she could serve a True Inheritor with a boundless future for a long time, she might even have a chance to receive guidance, obtain Cultivation Resources, and perhaps ascend from a servant to a disciple in the future.

This was a life-changing opportunity!

If Fang Han lost his True Inheritor status, her benefits would be stripped away, and she’d be back where she started. How could she not be burning with anxiety?