Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents

’Should I take on a few more missions... to scrape together this money?’

The thought flashed through Fang Han’s mind.

If he relied solely on the fixed monthly accumulation of Contribution Points, it would take ages to make up the remaining several thousand silver needed to unlock the Level 4 Amplification for his Stepping Talent.

As for his ranking, although he had reached eighteenth place, everyone ahead of him was a tough nut to crack—all at the Late Stage of Ninth Grade with a high level of proficiency in their Martial Techniques. They wouldn’t be easy to surpass.

It was likely impossible to break into the top ten and claim the extra rewards in such a short time.

The only way to quickly raise the money was to take on Sect missions for Contribution Points.

’No. I just got back from a mission. What I should do now is rest and recuperate. I need to cultivate for a while!’

Fang Han shook his head, dismissing the idea.

With a system that was a veritable money pit, he couldn’t afford not to do missions to earn Contribution Points and obtain resources.

But he couldn’t just focus on missions and neglect his own Cultivation and improvement either.

The system he possessed only amplified his Talents; it didn’t directly boost his power.

Making money and Cultivation were both important. He had to strike a good balance.

He had just finished a mission and raised his Swordsmanship Talent amplification to sixteen times. The best course of action now was undoubtedly to spend some time cultivating and consolidating his progress.

As for his slow progress in his Step Technique, he could temporarily shift his focus to improving his Cultivation and Swordsmanship.

Once he upgraded his Stepping Talent, he could shift his focus back. That would be far more efficient.

Putting missions aside for the time being, Fang Han began to cultivate diligently in the Sub-Branch.

During breaks from his Cultivation, he would occasionally overhear conversations among the other disciples in his courtyard.

Aside from his soaring rank on the Martial Arts Stele and his conflict with Chu Feng, rumors about the disappearance of a Yin Courtyard disciple named Zhao Qianjun began to circulate.

"Did you hear? A disciple from the Yin Courtyard named Zhao Qianjun seems to have gone missing!"

"I heard. Everyone in the Yin Courtyard is talking about it. The Steward Hall has apparently launched an investigation."

"Don’t you think he met with some misfortune on a mission outside the Sect?"

"No way. Who would dare to attack a disciple of the Qingxuan Sect?"

"It’s hard to say. There are Seven Major Sects in Qingyang County, and some of them are not on good terms with the Qingxuan Sect."

Hearing these discussions, Fang Han remained outwardly calm and focused on his Cultivation, but inwardly his heart tightened.

He was confident he had handled the situation meticulously and cleaned the scene thoroughly, but the Sect’s methods were unfathomable. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t uncover something.

A subtle, lingering shadow of unease crept into his heart.

...

「Liangshui City, Fang Mansion.」

Two letters from Qingxuan City were delivered to the Fang Mansion by a dedicated courier service.

"A letter from Han’er!"

Lin Wan held the letter Fang Han had arranged to be delivered, her face beaming with joy and relief. She quickly called for her husband, Fang Zheng, and her young daughter, Fang Ying.

As Fang Zheng took the letter and carefully read Fang Han’s words describing his life in the Sect and assuring them of his safety, his tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

A relieved smile touched his lips, and the weight on his heart lifted.

"What did Big Brother say? Did he bring me a candy figure?"

Fang Ying stood on her tiptoes, staring eagerly at the letter in her father’s hands.

Lin Wan smiled and relayed the contents of Fang Han’s letter, telling Fang Ying that he instructed her to be good, practice her calligraphy, and that he promised to bring her the biggest, sweetest candy figure when he returned.

Tempted by the promise of the biggest, sweetest candy figure, the little girl repeatedly assured them she would be good.

Meanwhile, Fang Lingyuan also received a letter from Fang Han.

When he read that Lin Yaotian had actually bribed a Qingxuan Sect disciple, Zhao Qianjun, to assassinate Fang Han, a surge of fury shot straight to his head.

"That damn Lin Yaotian! How dare he reach his hands into the Qingxuan Sect and try to sever the foundation of our Fang Family! Does he really take the Fang Family for pushovers?!"

Fang Lingyuan slammed his hand on the table, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Fang Han was the Fang Family’s future hope; no harm could be allowed to come to him!

Suppressing his rage, he pondered for a moment before calling out in a low voice to the steward outside the door.

"Go and summon the four Core Elders to the Council Hall at once!"

Before long, four Core Elders of the Fang Family, including Fang Tu, had gathered in the Council Hall. All of them had profound auras, their Cultivation having reached the Eighth Grade Realm.

"Patriarch, what is so urgent that you have summoned us?"

Seeing Fang Lingyuan’s livid expression, the head First Elder, Fang Zhenhong, asked in a low voice.

Fang Lingyuan relayed the contents of Fang Han’s letter to the four Elders in full detail.

Upon hearing the news, the expressions of the four Elders darkened instantly.

"How dare the Lin Family resort to such despicable tactics!"

"The Lin Family’s intentions with this move are truly sinister. Thank goodness Fang Han is all right!"

"We must retaliate!"

Fang Lingyuan’s gaze swept over the four indignantly fuming Elders, his voice bone-chillingly cold.

"Fang Han’s letter says that he has already... dealt with Zhao Qianjun, but this matter cannot end here."

"I have summoned the four of you today to discuss how we will retaliate against the Lin Family. We must make them feel a pain that sears their very bones, and we must tie them down so they have neither the capacity nor the nerve to make a move against Fang Han again!"

In the Inner Hall, flickering candlelight illuminated the grim and resolute faces of the five men.

A storm targeting the Lin Family was quietly brewing in the seemingly peaceful night of Liangshui City.

Provoked by the danger Fang Han had faced at the Qingxuan Sect, the long-dormant lion that was the Fang Family was finally about to bare its sharp fangs.

...

The night in Liangshui City was torn asunder by sudden bloodshed and flames.

Several core mines, medicinal herb shops, and two manors outside the city, all controlled by the Lin Family, were violently attacked by unidentified masters at almost the same instant.

The attackers’ methods were seasoned and ruthless. They moved as swift as the wind, striking and retreating in an instant, never lingering in battle.

In their wake, they left behind utter chaos, flames that reached for the sky, and the piercing wails of the Lin Family’s guards.

What was even more heart-wrenching for the Lin Family was that two of their Eighth Grade Realm Core Elders, sent to suppress the attacks, were caught in a fatal ambush while pursuing the assailants.

One Elder was killed on the spot, while the other was gravely wounded.

Eighth Grade masters were few and far between among the five major families of Liangshui City. Although the assailants were masked, the Lin Family easily identified them as being from the Fang Family based on their style of martial arts.

"Fang Family, you’ve gone too far!"

When the news reached the Lin Mansion, Lin Yaotian, overcome with shock and rage, smashed the mahogany tea table beside him to smithereens with a single palm strike.

His eyes were bloodshot and his chest heaved violently, a furious killing intent practically bursting from his body.

The heavy material losses were secondary; losing an Eighth Grade Elder was what truly shook the Lin Family’s foundations.

The Lin Family had built its current empire not because they were skilled in business, but because they had multiple Martial Artists of the Eighth Realm and above to protect it.

The next morning, the Lin Family dispatched all its elite forces, sending them straight for several of the Fang Family’s properties.

The Fang Family was prepared. Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides in the market district, at the docks outside the city, and in other locations. The air was filled with flashing blades and crisscrossing Inner Qi, leaving many dead and wounded.

All of Liangshui City was shrouded in an atmosphere of extreme tension. The other three major families shut their gates, choosing to watch the tigers fight from a safe distance.

The conflict continued for several days. Both sides suffered losses, but they had a tacit agreement to keep the skirmishes within a certain scale.

After all, besides the Fang and Lin families, Liangshui City was also home to the Yue, He, and Sun families.

If the Fang and Lin families suffered excessive losses and showed signs of weakness, the Yue, He, and Sun families would undoubtedly leap at the chance to carve up their territories.

As the conflict began to subside, Lin Yaotian personally led a group of masters to the gates of the Fang Mansion, his voice as cold as ice.

"Fang Lingyuan, get the hell out here! You ambushed and killed my Lin Family Elder and destroyed my properties without cause! If you don’t give the Lin Family an explanation today, I, Lin Yaotian, will not rest until one of us is dead!"

The gates of the Fang Mansion slowly swung open. Flanked by a retinue of Elders, Fang Lingyuan stepped out. His expression was calm, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade.

His eyes swept over Lin Yaotian and the Lin Family disciples seething with murderous intent behind him. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone’s ears.

"Lin Yaotian, you know exactly what you’ve done. The only way to keep a secret is to not do it in the first place. That... is your explanation."

Lin Yaotian’s heart sank. He immediately understood: the Fang Family knew about him bribing Zhao Qianjun. Something must have gone wrong with Zhao Qianjun.

Though shocked, his face remained impassive as he snapped,

"Bullshit! Fang Lingyuan, stop your malicious slander!"

"You know damn well whether it’s slander or not."

Fang Lingyuan’s gaze was glacial.

"If you want war, the Fang Family will oblige you to the very end. But you had better think clearly about whether the Lin Family can bear the consequences."

Their gazes clashed in midair, sparks of cold animosity flying.

In the end, Lin Yaotian gave a cold snort. Knowing there was no point in dragging this out, he threw out a "Just you wait" and retreated resentfully with the rest of the Lin Family.

His retreating back, however, seemed to betray his fierce posturing, revealing the cowardice within.

...

「Qingxuan Sect, Sub-Branch.」

Fang Han received a letter from Fang Lingyuan, sent through a secret channel, detailing everything that had happened in Liangshui City.

The letter ended by telling him to focus on his Cultivation with peace of mind; after this warning, the Lin Family shouldn’t dare pull any more dirty tricks for the foreseeable future.

As for Zhao Qianjun’s death, the Lin Family, being the ones who hired him, would never dare expose their own involvement, so there was no need to worry excessively about the Sect’s investigation.

’The biggest threat has been neutralized...’

After reading the letter, Fang Han burned it immediately. The weight that had been pressing on his heart finally lifted.

A wave of warmth washed over him, knowing his family had stood up for him in such a drastic manner.

The Lin Family was now in a position where they couldn’t act without exposing themselves, so they would never dare bring up the matter of Zhao Qianjun. This eliminated the greatest potential threat.

’I can’t relax yet!’

Fang Han shook his head slightly. Now was not the time to completely let his guard down.

The Sect’s investigation into Zhao Qianjun’s disappearance was still a sword hanging over his head. Until it was concluded, he could not truly be at ease.

’As for the threat of the Lin Family...’

A cold glint flashed deep in Fang Han’s eyes.

’Once I’m strong enough, I must completely eradicate the Lin Family and eliminate this threat for good.’

...

「A dense forest ravine, a hundred li from the Qingxuan Sect.」

Several figures in the uniform of the Law Enforcement Hall stood at the bottom of the ravine. Their leader was none other than Steward Zhou Mo, his face grim and his gaze as sharp as lightning.

At their feet lay a skeleton, picked clean by wild beasts, with only a few scraps of flesh still clinging to the white bones. Scattered nearby were tatters of green clothing and a mud-stained Identity Jade Token.

"Steward, we’ve confirmed it. This is Zhao Qianjun’s Identity Jade Token."

A disciple reported, picking up the Identity Token to check the number.

Despite Fang Han’s best efforts to leave no trace, he could never have imagined that the Sect actually had a way to locate Identity Tokens. Using this method, they had managed to find this very spot.