Suppressing his excitement, Fang Han calmed himself and turned his gaze to the manual that detailed the *Gale Step*.

He opened the manual and studied it intently. It took him over an hour to memorize all the forms of the Step Technique.

After carefully reviewing the essentials of the Body Technique, he began his Cultivation attempt inside the spacious Martial Arts Room.

But the experience was completely different from his Swordsmanship Cultivation.

Fang Han found the practice clumsy and awkward.

One moment, his qi and blood circulation was off, resulting in weak pushes from his feet.

The next, his steps landed too heavily, lacking any sense of lightness.

Then, his breathing would fall out of sync with his movements, causing his body to falter...

His progress was incredibly slow; it was an arduous struggle.

’This Light Body Technique is surprisingly difficult to cultivate!’

Fang Han furrowed his brow, halting his practice of the Step Technique to silently ponder the reason.

Although *Gale Step* was just a Basic Step Technique, the required qi and blood regulation, footwork precision, shifts in center of gravity, and coordination between steps and posture were all extremely intricate and complex.

This was his first time learning it, and with no Talent Amplification, his progress was bound to be slow.

This brought to mind a suspicion he’d had for a long time.

’Swordsmanship has Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, and Root Bone has Root Bone Talent Amplification... so does that mean this Step Technique... also has a corresponding Talent Amplification?’

Once the thought surfaced, he could no longer contain it.

’Panel!’

He focused his mind and issued the command silently.

A translucent screen of light unfurled in response, hovering in his field of view.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: Eightfold (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: Fourfold (Level 3 Amplification requires 1,000 silver)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: Zero (Level 1 Amplification requires 10 silver)]

[Wealth: 2 silver]

’A new Talent Amplification appeared!!!’

Fang Han’s gaze swept across the panel, his pupils constricting.

Just below [Swordsmanship Talent Amplification], a brand-new entry had silently appeared.

This was the amplification option for Stepping Talent.

’Just as I thought!’

Seeing this transformation, Fang Han realized he’d been right all along.

Ever since he discovered that the system panel could only amplify his Swordsmanship Talent and Root Bone Talent—the two very categories he happened to be cultivating—he had harbored a faint suspicion.

The system panel wasn’t necessarily fixed to just these two Talents. It probably required him to first encounter a corresponding Cultivation Technique to unlock the relevant Talent Amplification option.

Now, with his Cultivation of *Gale Step*, the appearance of the Stepping Talent Amplification confirmed his theory.

...

As night fell, Fang Han concluded his day’s Cultivation and returned to his spacious bedroom in Tingyu Pavilion.

Flickering candlelight bathed the room in a warm, tranquil glow.

He latched the door, walked to his bed, and retrieved a heavy little Wooden Box from a hidden compartment beneath it.

CLICK.

He opened the lid, revealing his entire savings.

He poured out all the silver ingots and fragments, counting them carefully by the lamplight.

’A total of 110 silver taels.’

Fang Han murmured to himself after finishing the count.

His original plan was to keep saving until he had another thousand silver taels to unlock the Level 3 Amplification for his Swordsmanship Talent.

But now, the appearance of the Stepping Talent Amplification made him think he might need to alter his plans.

’Swordsmanship Talent is crucial, of course. The Swordsmanship it affects directly determines my Attack Power. But Stepping Talent is just as indispensable!’

Fang Han’s eyes gleamed as he rapidly weighed his options.

A Lightweight Body Technique might not directly increase Attack Power, but it could perfectly complement his Swordsmanship in battle, greatly enhancing his overall combat prowess.

Besides, a superior Light Body Technique was an excellent tool for self-preservation when facing a powerful foe.

With that thought, he stopped hesitating. He decided to use the silver to unlock the Stepping Talent Amplification first.

’One hundred and ten silver taels. That’s just right!’

Fang Han’s gaze fell on the [Stepping Talent Amplification] option.

One hundred and ten silver taels was just enough to unlock both the Level 1 and Level 2 Stepping Talent Amplifications, which would raise the multiplier to fourfold.

’Deposit it all!’

Fang Han touched the silver and recited the command in his mind.

The 110 silver taels vanished instantly. On the panel, the number next to [Wealth] jumped, changing to [112 silver].

’Unlock Level 1 Stepping Talent Amplification!’

Fang Han focused his will and issued the command.

DING!

A crisp chime seemed to ring from the depths of his mind as the text on the panel rippled like water and changed.

[Stepping Talent Amplification: Twofold (Level 2 Amplification requires 100 silver)]

Just like with his Swordsmanship and Root Bone Talents, the Level 1 Amplification for his Stepping Talent was also twofold.

’Unlock Level 2 Stepping Talent Amplification!’

Without pausing, Fang Han immediately initiated the Level 2 Amplification.

DING!

The chime rang out again. The panel flickered with light before settling.

[Stepping Talent Amplification: Fourfold (Level 3 Amplification requires 1,000 silver)]

Again, just like his Swordsmanship and Root Bone Talents, unlocking the Level 2 Stepping Talent Amplification brought the multiplier to fourfold.

’A fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification!’

Looking at the striking "Fourfold" on the panel, Fang Han’s heart filled with anticipation.

He didn’t feel any obvious physical changes at the moment, but he knew that when he cultivated *Gale Step* tomorrow, the effects of this fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification would become crystal clear.

He returned the empty Wooden Box to its hiding place, blew out the candle, and lay down on his soft, comfortable bed.

...

The next morning, Fang Han arrived punctually at the Class A-10 Martial Arts Room.

As was his routine, he began with his daily, unwavering Cultivation of the *Crane Form* Pile Skill.

The immense flow of qi and blood from his Eightfold Root Bone Amplification surged through his body like a raging river, efficiently tempering his bones and bringing a solid, powerful increase in his strength.

He could feel a noticeable improvement with every Cultivation session.

Once he felt he had reached his body’s limit for the day’s Pile Skill practice, he slowly relaxed his stance and stopped the Cultivation.

Instead of immediately starting his *Xunfeng Swordsmanship* practice, he felt a flicker of anticipation as he prepared to again attempt the *Gale Step*, which had given him so much trouble the day before.

SWOOSH—

He took a deep breath, recalling the key points of *Gale Step*. His qi and blood began to circulate along specific pathways as he took his first step.

The moment he moved, an entirely different sensation from the previous day washed over him!

The circulation pathways for his qi and blood, which had been obscure and difficult to coordinate yesterday, now felt as if they had been smoothed out by an invisible hand. They were clear, distinct, and flowed with incredible ease.

A mere thought was all it took for his qi and blood to flow naturally to where they were needed.

The step transitions and shifts in his center of gravity, which had felt so awkward and stiff before, became natural and coordinated after only a few attempts, as if he had already practiced them a thousand times over.

His steps were no longer heavy and sluggish like the day before. Instead, they kicked up a gentle breeze, and his entire body felt lighter.

All sorts of insights into the essence of the Step Technique bubbled up in his mind like water from a clear spring.

How to exert force more efficiently, how to change direction in an instant while at full speed, how to perfectly integrate his breathing with his steps... many key points he had struggled with yesterday were now suddenly clear to him.

SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH—

He lost himself in the Cultivation of the Step Technique. His figure weaved and dodged around the spacious Martial Arts Room, his footwork growing faster and more fluid, the sound of the wind he generated growing steadily louder.

Although he still hadn’t reached the Entry Level Realm, he was starting to look the part, no longer the clumsy, disorganized mess he was the day before.

’This fourfold Stepping Talent Amplification is no joke!’

After a long while, Fang Han stopped his practice, a flash of delight in his eyes.

The difference between before and after the amplification was like night and day.