Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents

On New Year’s Eve, Lishan City was ablaze with lights.

Lanterns hung before the doors of every household, dispelling the winter night’s chill. The air was filled with the faint smell of saltpeter from spent firecrackers, mingling with the aromas of New Year’s Eve dinners wafting from every home. Together, they created a rich, festive atmosphere.

Deep within the Wang Mansion, in an elegantly furnished hall where a brazier burned brightly.

The Wang Family’s Patriarch, Wang Zhengyang, was dressed in casual brocade robes. A relaxed smile graced his scholarly face as he sat around the brazier with his son and daughter, who had recently returned home from the Qingxuan Sect.

His eldest son, Wang Miao, had a tall, straight posture and a handsome face. His gentle eyes held a deep-seated composure.

Though he just sat there quietly, he naturally exuded a captivating aura—the unique confidence and brilliance of a young prodigy renowned throughout the county and ranked on the Celestial Pride List.

His daughter, Wang Meng, wore a water-green long dress embroidered with plum blossoms, which made her skin seem even fairer. Her features were as delicate as a painting.

But at this moment, her eyes were slightly downcast, her long, slender fingers unconsciously toying with a Mutton Fat Jade Pendant at her waist. She seemed somewhat distracted.

The fire crackled, and the aroma of tea curled into the air.

Wang Zhengyang took a sip of his hot tea. His gaze swept over his children before finally resting on his daughter. As if remembering something, he asked casually.

"Meng’er, I recall that when we visited the Fang Family last time, that Nephew Fang, the one named Fang Han, seemed to have passed the Qingxuan Sect’s assessment as well? How is he doing in the Qingxuan Sect now?"

He asked this as a piece of idle chatter, with the casual concern of an elder for the descendant of an old acquaintance.

The Fang Family and the Wang Family were old friends. In his mind, it was already quite good that Fang Han could enter the Qingxuan Sect. As for his progress within the Sect, he probably lingered in the middle or lower ranks. After all, the Qingxuan Sect was a gathering of geniuses where competition was fierce.

However, the moment he said this, Wang Meng’s fingers, which had been toying with the Jade Pendant, suddenly froze.

The warm air in the hall seemed to instantly congeal.

Wang Meng did not look up right away. Her long lashes cast a small shadow on her eyelids, concealing the complex emotions that had suddenly surged in her eyes.

Her pink lips tightened imperceptibly, then relaxed, but she remained silent.

Wang Zhengyang knew his daughter Wang Meng very well, and he immediately noticed her strange reaction. A trace of surprise flitted through his mind.

He turned a questioning gaze toward his eldest son, Wang Miao.

Wang Miao gently set down his teacup. The porcelain made a soft, crisp sound as it touched the sandalwood table.

He glanced at his silent sister, a knowing look in his eyes. A gentle, somewhat wistful smile appeared on his face as he answered on her behalf.

"Father, Junior Brother Fang Han... he’s become quite famous in the Qingxuan Sect now."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Wang Zhengyang’s interest was piqued. He leaned forward slightly. "Miao’er, tell me more."

"Although Junior Brother Fang Han has only been in the Sect for a short time, his progress has been astonishing. Within a year of joining, his ranking in the courtyard has risen from the very bottom to second place."

Wang Miao paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, then spoke slowly.

"Second place in the courtyard?"

Wang Zhengyang was moved. He unconsciously sat up a little straighter.

The Qingxuan Sect was a gathering of geniuses. To be able to rank second in a courtyard there was far more impressive than being the best among ordinary family disciples.

This wasn’t just "quite good" anymore; it was "outstanding"!

"Not only that, but just last month, the Qingxuan Sect won first place in the competition among the new disciples of the Seven Sects, and Junior Brother Fang Han’s contribution was immense."

"He defeated several talented disciples from other Sects in a row, including Mo Chen, the top new disciple of the Tingyu Building."

Wang Miao nodded and continued.

Wang Zhengyang’s hand, holding his teacup, froze mid-air. The relaxed expression on his face was completely replaced by shock.

Winning first place for the Qingxuan Sect in the Seven Sects competition!

Defeating the top new disciple of the Tingyu Building!

Either one of these accomplishments was enough to make Fang Han’s name resonate throughout the younger generation of Qingyang County.

He suddenly remembered the answer Wang Meng had given him when he had privately asked for her opinion of Fang Han after their visit to the Fang Family.

’The man I would marry must be a true prodigy like my brother, Wang Miao—someone who can rank on the Celestial Pride List and become famous throughout the county. He could never become that kind of person!’

At the time, he had thought his daughter’s standards were a bit high, but it didn’t matter. If it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t meant to be. With a brother like Wang Miao on the Celestial Pride List, she was bound to find a husband more outstanding than Fang Han in the future.

But now... considering the potential and Momentum Fang Han had shown...

An indescribable feeling of regret quietly crept into his heart.

He subconsciously looked at his daughter, Wang Meng.

Wang Meng still had her head lowered, but Wang Zhengyang could clearly see that the knuckles of the hand clutching the Jade Pendant had turned white from the force.

Though she hadn’t said a word, her tense silhouette laid the turmoil in her heart bare.

Wang Zhengyang sighed to himself.

His daughter had been exceptionally beautiful since childhood, with high aspirations and even higher standards.

Back then, she had paid Fang Han little mind, vehemently rejecting the matchmaking intentions of their elders. Now, reality had delivered a resounding "response."

For a daughter who had always been so proud, this feeling must be incredibly hard to bear.

He didn’t press the matter of Fang Han any further. Instead, he picked up the teapot, refilled his children’s cups with hot tea, and gently changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, Miao’er, how many days can you stay home this time? The competition on the Celestial Pride List must be getting more intense..."

Wang Miao understood and followed his father’s lead, talking about some interesting events in the Sect and things he had seen in the Commandery City.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually livened up again, but a faint, lingering sense of awkwardness and silence still clung to Wang Meng, impossible to dispel.

Wang Meng did not participate in the conversation from beginning to end.

She just listened quietly to her father and brother talk, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the dancing flames of the brazier, her eyes unfocused.

No one knew what she was thinking. Was it regret for her past decisiveness, or was she questioning her own judgment?

Perhaps it was both.

Outside the window, the sporadic sound of firecrackers grew more frequent. A faint bell tolled in the distance, heralding the official arrival of the New Year.

Wang Zhengyang stood up and, smiling, invited his children to go out into the courtyard to enjoy the night view and welcome the New Year.

Only then did Wang Meng slowly raise her head. Her usual cold expression had returned, but a trace of imperceptible loneliness and complexity deep in her eyes could not be completely hidden.

She stood, straightened her skirt, and followed her father and brother toward the door. Her steps were still elegant, but they seemed a bit heavier than usual.

Inside the hall, the fire was still warm and the scent of tea had not yet faded. But the brief conversation about Fang Han was like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, stirring ripples in Wang Meng’s heart on this New Year’s Eve that would not calm for a long time.

And in Wang Zhengyang’s heart, the regret of having missed out on an excellent son-in-law transformed into a silent sigh amidst the New Year’s bells.

...

「On the morning of the first day of the New Year.」

The revelry and celebration of the previous night had not yet completely faded. Red remnants of firecrackers and the faint smell of gunpowder still lingered throughout the Fang Mansion.

The servants had risen early and begun sweeping the courtyards. They greeted each other with "Happy New Year," their faces still glowing with the aftertaste of the holiday.

In Tingyu Pavilion, Fang Han pushed open his door and took a deep breath of the crisp, fresh air.

His gaze was calm as he looked toward Songtao Pavilion, where the Patriarch, Fang Lingyuan, resided.

’I’ve broken through to the Seventh Grade. The agreement with the Patriarch is fulfilled. It’s time.’

He walked with steady steps through the gradually bustling courtyards and corridors, heading straight for Songtao Pavilion.

The guard on duty saw Fang Han and hurriedly bowed. "Happy New Year, Young Master Han! Are you here to see the Patriarch?"

"Yes. Please inform him that Fang Han requests an audience on an urgent matter."

Fang Han nodded slightly.

Not daring to delay, the guard hurried inside to announce him. A moment later, Fang Lingyuan’s steady voice carried out.

"Ah, it’s Fang Han. Come in."

Fang Han stepped into the pavilion. He saw Fang Lingyuan sitting alone at a tea table, holding a cup of hot tea. His complexion was ruddy, and his brow held a relaxed air unique to the festive season.

Seeing Fang Han, he smiled warmly and pointed to the seat opposite him.

"It’s the first day of the New Year. Instead of spending more time with your parents in Tingyu Pavilion, you’ve come here so early. Is something urgent?"

Fang Lingyuan’s tone was light, clearly not expecting the news Fang Han was about to deliver.

Fang Han did not sit down immediately. Instead, he stood before Fang Lingyuan, his expression calm, but his gaze as firm as a rock.

He paused briefly before speaking. "Patriarch, last night during my Cultivation, I was fortunate enough... to break through to the Seventh Grade."

PFFT—

The teacup Fang Lingyuan had just raised to his lips jerked to a halt. A few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand, but he seemed not to notice.

The smile on his face froze instantly, replaced by utter astonishment and disbelief.

"You... what did you say?"

Fang Lingyuan’s voice held a faint, almost imperceptible tremor. He put down the teacup, his body unconsciously leaning forward, his sharp gaze locked onto Fang Han.

"Seventh Grade? Fang Han, this is no small matter. Are you certain?"

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Fang Han, but the speed was just too fast!

Barely more than a day had passed since their last discussion!

From touching the bottleneck to completely breaking through to the Seventh Grade in just over a day? This was simply unheard of.

Fang Han understood the Patriarch’s shock. He said no more. With a thought, the Inner Qi in his body began to circulate at full power.

HUMMM—

A powerful fluctuation of Inner Qi suddenly erupted from his body.

Unlike the sharp, piercing aura of the Eighth Grade, this aura was deeper and more immense, like an undercurrent hidden in an abyss, containing explosive power within.

The air around him seemed to be squeezed by an invisible force, letting out a low whine. Where he stood, motes of dust on the ground began to swirl and dance without any wind.

As a Seventh Grade Martial Artist himself, Fang Lingyuan was all too familiar with the Inner Qi fluctuations of the Seventh Grade Inner Qi Realm.

His pupils contracted abruptly, the suspicion on his face instantly replaced by immense shock.

’This aura... it’s so condensed and heavy. It has definitely reached the Seventh Grade Inner Qi Realm!’

HSSS—

Fang Lingyuan couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air, leaping to his feet.

He circled Fang Han twice, feeling the undeniably real fluctuation of Seventh Grade Inner Qi. The shock on his face finally melted into irrepressible ecstasy and excitement as he exclaimed repeatedly.

"Good! Good! Good! Heaven has blessed the Fang Family! Heaven has blessed the Fang Family!"

He clapped Fang Han heavily on the shoulder, the force of the gesture revealing the turmoil of his emotions.

"One day! Just one day! Fang Han, you have truly given me—given the Fang Family—a massive surprise!"