Inside Songtao Pavilion, Patriarch Fang Lingyuan was practicing his calligraphy. When he saw Elder Fang Yuan burst in so frantically, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Elder Fang Yuan, what’s the rush?"

"Patriarch, that boy Fang Han, he’s broken through to the Bone Refining Realm!"

Elder Fang Yuan’s voice trembled with excitement as he eagerly reported the news.

"What? He broke through... to the Bone Refining Realm?"

Fang Lingyuan’s brush-wielding hand froze. A drop of thick ink went PLOP onto the paper, instantly blooming into a large stain.

But he didn’t seem to notice. He snapped his head up, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light.

"Is that true?!"

"It’s absolutely true!"

Fang Yuan’s tone was unequivocal.

Fang Lingyuan slowly set down his brush and took a deep breath, forcing down his shock and excitement. He paced a few steps around the study, his gaze turning incredibly deep as he spoke.

"From the Flesh Refining Realm to the Bone Refining Realm in just half a year... With such talent, perhaps... he might have a chance to meet the entry standard for *that place*..."

Hearing the words "that place," Elder Fang Yuan’s pupils suddenly contracted.

The ecstasy on his face instantly transformed into immense solemnity and anticipation, and he subconsciously lowered his voice.

"Patriarch... does Fang Han really have a chance to join *that place*?"

Although the Fang Family held a supreme status in their corner of Liangshui City as one of the five great families, it was nothing to be complacent about.

Compared to *that place* the Patriarch spoke of, they were but a firefly to the bright moon—completely incomparable.

"There is a significant possibility. If he can truly do it, the Fang Family’s prosperity for the next hundred years will be genuinely secured!"

"Elder Fang Yuan, you must pay close attention to this matter. Do whatever it takes to ensure he develops smoothly!"

Fang Lingyuan gave a heavy nod, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented hope.

"Yes, Patriarch! I understand!"

Elder Fang Yuan accepted the order solemnly, the excited flush on his face not fading for a long time.

*That place* was the "Holy Land" that all families dreamed of sending their descendants to. If Fang Han succeeded in joining, the benefits the Fang Family would gain would be immeasurable! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The rise of the Fang Family would be just around the corner!

...

A few mornings later, Fang Han finished his breakfast and prepared to leave home for the Martial Hall.

"Xiaohan, wait a moment."

His mother, Lin Wan, called out to stop him as he was about to leave.

"Mom, what is it?"

Fang Han looked at Lin Wan in confusion.

"Tomorrow is your maternal grandfather’s sixty-second birthday. Remember to ask for a day off."

Lin Wan reminded him.

"Don’t worry, I remember."

Fang Han nodded.

Arriving at the Martial Hall, Fang Han went straight to his Class A-10 Martial Arts Room and began his cultivation for the day.

As for asking Elder Fang Yuan for leave, it was still too early. He planned to go ask during lunch.

Time flew by during his cultivation, and several hours passed in a flash.

’My cultivation speed has slowed down a lot!’

Finishing his Pile Skill cultivation, Fang Han slowly concluded his practice, his brow knitting in a barely perceptible frown.

It had been several days since his breakthrough to the Bone Refining Realm, and he could clearly feel that his cultivation speed was much slower than before.

This was normal.

The further one progressed in cultivation, the more difficult it became to advance. As the final realm of the Martial Dao’s Basic Four Realms, the Bone Refining Realm was far harder to cultivate than the previous three realms.

Even with the amplification from his fourfold Root Bone Talent, his cultivation speed had inevitably slowed.

Of course, this "slowness" was only relative to himself. Compared to ordinary Inner Hall Descendants, or even the top ten disciples on the Martial Arts Stele, his cultivation speed was still extremely fast.

’But it won’t be long now. Next month, I’ll be able to activate Level 3 Amplification!’

The thought of being able to activate the Level 3 Root Bone Amplification next month made Fang Han’s frown smooth out.

According to his estimates, activating the Level 3 Root Bone Amplification would double the multiplier again, reaching an astonishing eightfold.

Under the incredible eightfold Root Bone amplification, his cultivation speed was bound to pick up again.

...

The next day, after taking leave from the Xiangwu Hall, Fang Han changed into a new cyan brocade robe. He then boarded a Fang Family carriage with his parents and younger sister, and they departed from the Fang Mansion.

Today was his maternal grandfather Lin Chengde’s sixty-second birthday, and it was his duty to attend and offer his congratulations.

His grandfather’s family lived in the eastern part of the city. They ran a century-old cloth shop and were considered a well-to-do family.

However, ever since his younger uncle, Lin Hai, took over the shop, his management skills proved to be far inferior to his grandfather’s, and the business had been declining year after year.

And as their family fortune declined, his grandfather’s birthday celebrations had grown more and more desolate over the years.

He had expected this year to be as quiet as the previous ones. However, when they reached the alley where his grandfather’s house was located, they found many ornately decorated carriages parked at its entrance.

The normally quiet alley was bustling with carriages and people coming and going.

As soon as they stepped through the courtyard gate, a boisterous and lively atmosphere washed over them.

Dozens of eight-immortal tables had already been set up in the courtyard, all filled with guests.

Many of the faces were unfamiliar to Fang Han. They were distant relatives who hadn’t visited in years, and there were even a few who looked like prominent, wealthy merchants from the city.

"Aiya, Sis, Brother-in-law, you’re finally here!"

His younger uncle, Lin Hai, beamed as he came forward to greet them. His voice held none of its usual timidity; instead, it was full of vigor.

His gaze landed on Fang Han immediately, filled with an unconcealable eagerness and pride.

"Xiaohan is here too! Quick, come on inside! Your grandfather was just talking about you!"

A while ago, the family’s cloth shop business was getting worse and worse, and he was so worried he was about to go gray.

But ever since the news of his genius nephew spread, the shop’s business had rapidly improved. It was now even more profitable than it had been in its most prosperous days.

He knew all of this was thanks to his nephew, and for that, he was extremely grateful.

They went to the Inner Hall, where his grandfather, Lin Chengde, was dressed in a festive, dark red brocade robe with a longevity character pattern. He sat in the seat of honor, receiving the kowtows of his children, grandchildren, and guests.

On his usually rather stern face, the smile never faded today, smoothing out all his wrinkles.

"Your grandson, Fang Han, wishes Grandfather blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and a life as long as the Southern Mountains!"

When Fang Han’s family stepped forward to offer their birthday wishes and present their gifts, nearly every eye in the courtyard focused on them.

"Good, good! Rise, quickly, rise!"

As Lin Chengde motioned for the four of them to rise, he personally helped Fang Han up, patting his shoulder firmly. His eyes were filled with gratification and pride.

"Xiaohan, you’ve really made something of yourself!"

He knew perfectly well that the reason this year’s birthday was so much livelier than before was all because of his grandson, Fang Han.

Sure enough, voices of praise and flattery soon rose from all around, all of them related to his grandson, Fang Han.

"So this is Young Master Han? He’s truly a fine-looking talent, with an extraordinary bearing!"

"The Fang Family’s Qilin’er! His reputation is well-deserved!"

"Brother Lin, you have such a fine grandson! He’s bound to be an incredible figure in the future!"

...

Those relatives and business partners who rarely visited also crowded around to strike up conversations, their tones incredibly warm, as if they had always been the closest of friends with Fang Han’s family.

His father, Fang Zheng, and mother, Lin Wan, stood to the side, basking in the crowd’s envious gazes. Their faces were radiant, and they stood with their backs ramrod straight.

Even the young Fang Ying seemed to feel the glory, her little face flushed with excitement.

The atmosphere at the birthday banquet was unprecedentedly lively. Cups were raised and toasts exchanged amidst a constant clamor of laughter and chatter. Fang Han’s presence was undoubtedly the most dazzling halo at this celebration.

The banquet continued until evening before it finally dispersed.

Fang Han and his family bid farewell to his grandfather’s family, boarded the carriage, and began their journey home.

Inside the carriage, his younger sister had grown drowsy and fallen asleep. His parents spoke in low voices about the day’s banquet, filled with emotion.

If Fang Han hadn’t shown such promise, today’s banquet would never have been so lively. It was a true display of the fickleness of human relationships.

Fang Han, however, was mentally planning his cultivation schedule for when he returned to the Inner Hall, intending to make up for the day wasted today.

He hadn’t let all the day’s flattery go to his head.

He was well aware that all of today’s fawning was purely because of the potential he had displayed.

If, one day, he could no longer display such potential, the fawning would vanish, perhaps even turning into vicious mockery.