Martial Dao: I Can Enhance My Talents

300,000 silver!

Fang Han’s gaze swept over the silver notes in the box, and his heart shook.

He took the wooden box with both hands, feeling its weight—not from the silver notes, but from the immense hopes and support of his family that it carried.

For a small family like the Fang Family, being willing to provide 300,000 silver to support him meant they were truly sparing no expense.

"Thank you for the family’s generous gift. I will not let you down!"

He spoke with solemnity and carefully put the wooden box away.

"Elder Yuan, you’ve come a long way. Why not accompany me into the city and rest at a teahouse for a while?"

Fang Han invited.

The Sect grounds were restricted territory, and non-disciples were forbidden from entering. Qingxuan City at the foot of the mountain, however, was a different matter.

"I can’t. The family has just taken over the Lin Family’s many businesses, and things are a mess. We need people to manage them everywhere. I must return to Liangshui City immediately to prevent any mishaps."

Elder Fang Yuan, however, shook his head, a look of regret and urgency on his face.

His tone was firm; he wasn’t just being polite.

"In that case, I wish you a safe journey, Elder."

Seeing that Elder Fang Yuan’s expression wasn’t feigned and knowing his concern for the family, Fang Han didn’t insist.

"Just focus on your cultivation and don’t worry about family matters. With us old bones around, things won’t fall into chaos!"

After offering a few more words of advice, Elder Fang Yuan turned and strode away, his figure quickly disappearing around a bend in the main road.

After seeing Elder Fang Yuan off, Fang Han stood before the mountain gate. He paused in thought for a moment, then, instead of returning directly to the Sect, he turned and walked into the bustling Qingxuan City.

He found several large Money Shops with grand storefronts and good reputations, and in batches, exchanged all 300,000 silver notes from the wooden box for gleaming gold ingots.

It amounted to a full 3,000 gold, which he packed into sturdy leather sacks.

After completing the exchange, he didn’t linger. He left the city and walked for some distance along the main road.

Confirming that no one was around, his figure flashed and disappeared deep into a dense forest beside the road.

Finding a hidden corner, Fang Han called out the system panel with a thought.

A translucent screen of light quietly unfolded, displaying the data clearly.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 32x (Requires 1,000,000 silver for Level 6 Amplification)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 32x (Requires 1,000,000 silver for Level 6 Amplification)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: 32x (Requires 1,000,000 silver for Level 6 Amplification)]

[Secret Technique Talent Amplification: 16x (Requires 100,000 silver for Level 5 Amplification)]

[Wealth Owned: 537,000 silver]

’Deposit.’

He focused his mind on the sacks of gold.

WHOOSH!

The heavy gold vanished in an instant, and the wealth value on the panel began to jump rapidly.

[Wealth Owned: 567,000 silver]

[Wealth Owned: 597,000 silver]

[Wealth Owned: 627,000 silver]

...

Finally, the number slowly settled.

[Wealth Owned: 837,000 silver]

’Over 830,000 silver!’

Fang Han stared at the number, a sharp glint in his eyes.

He was just over 160,000 silver short of the one million needed to unlock the Level 6 Amplification for any one of his Root Bone, Swordsmanship, or Stepping Talents!

If he could gather the rest, unlocking the Level 6 Amplification would boost his talent to sixty-four times its normal level. His cultivation speed would undergo another qualitative leap!

An indescribable, immense temptation arose in his heart.

’How can I quickly get my hands on that remaining 160,000-plus silver?’

Fang Han’s mind raced as he began to ponder various ways to acquire wealth quickly.

’Take on Sect missions?’

This was the first method he thought of, but he quickly dismissed it.

With his current cultivation at the Middle Stage of Seventh Grade and his ranking in the top one hundred of the overall leaderboard, the Contribution Points he could earn from missions were indeed far greater than before.

Even so, to earn 160,000 silver—which equated to 8,000 Contribution Points—he would need to complete a massive number of missions.

This would inevitably consume a great deal of time and energy, severely cutting into his cultivation time. It would be a case of mistaking the means for the end.

’As for the fastest way to make money, it would have to be...’

A cold light flashed in Fang Han’s eyes as an image of the mountains of gold and silver in the Zhou Family’s treasury surfaced in his mind.

"Taking" from his enemies was undoubtedly the most efficient method.

Not long ago, he had acquired a "windfall" of over 600,000 silver from the Zhou Family, who were subordinates of Chu Feng.

Chu Feng had made things difficult for him at every turn and repeatedly tried to suppress him from the shadows. Fang Han felt no psychological burden about targeting the factions under Chu Feng’s command.

These factions relied on Chu Feng, enjoying the benefits of his protection. Naturally, they also had to bear the consequences of the grudges he created.

The weak are prey for the strong; this was the law of the world. Fang Han wouldn’t hesitate to deal with them.

’Targeting the factions under Chu Feng...’

Fang Han began to seriously weigh the feasibility of this plan.

The advantages were obvious. The system panel’s deposit function was supernatural, capable of instantly converting gold, silver, and jewels into wealth value. There was no need for large-scale transportation, and it left no traces.

Chu Feng’s power was immense, with numerous businesses under his command. Their accumulated wealth was sure to be substantial, making it easy to choose a target.

But there were risks as well. These factions would undoubtedly be heavily guarded, and infiltrating them stealthily would not be easy.

If he were exposed, he would be surrounded and killed, landing him in grave danger.

"And I’d also have to avoid leaving any traces that could be tracked!"

Fang Han muttered to himself.

The reason he had been able to identify Zhou Tong as the culprit was because he had cultivated a Tracking Secret Technique.

After one of Chu Feng’s subordinate factions was robbed, it was highly likely they would hire a Martial Artist specializing in tracking to investigate.

Without a sophisticated method to hide his tracks and scent, he could easily be traced back, and his identity would be exposed.

’I need a Secret Technique that can hide my aura and eliminate my scent!’

Fang Han concluded in his mind.

The introductions to the manuals in the Library Pavilion seemed to have mentioned such auxiliary Secret Techniques.

With the help of such a Secret Technique, combined with the system’s deposit ability, the success rate and safety of his operation would increase dramatically.

’Looks like I need to make another trip to the Library Pavilion.’

Fang Han had made his decision.

Compared to the time-consuming and laborious Sect missions with their uncertain returns, targeting Chu Feng’s subordinate factions was undoubtedly a "shortcut" to gathering the 160,000 silver he needed.

And obtaining a Secret Technique for concealing his aura was a prerequisite for carrying out this plan.

With this in mind, he no longer hesitated.

Getting his bearings, his figure shot back toward the Qingxuan Sect like a wisp of green smoke.

Upon returning to the Qingxuan Sect, Fang Han didn’t go back to the Sub-Branch. Instead, he walked without stopping, heading straight for the towering, seven-story ancient pagoda—the Library Pavilion.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm golden layer upon the stone path, and the number of disciples coming and going gradually increased.

Seeing Fang Han, who was now somewhat famous within the Sect, many disciples cast gazes of recognition his way.

As he stepped through the simple, ancient doors of the Library Pavilion, a familiar scent of books and old wood washed over him.

He didn’t linger on the first or second floors, heading straight up the wooden staircase to the third floor.

On the third floor, the same middle-aged Steward with a stern face and indifferent eyes was on duty.

He sat behind the counter and didn’t even raise an eyelid at Fang Han’s arrival—or rather, at the arrival of any disciple. His demeanor was a stark contrast to the gentle concern of Elder Mo on the fourth floor.

Fang Han paid it no mind. After a brief, cupped-fist salute, he picked up the dark blue-covered introduction to Middle Grade Martial Techniques and began to flip through it quickly but carefully.

The pages rustled at his fingertips as descriptions of various Middle Grade Breath Concealment Secret Techniques came into view. There were many types, each with its own specific strengths.

"Turtle Breath Skill": Conceals one’s life force, bringing breathing to a near standstill. Allows for long-term hiding and aura concealment. Its drawback is a poor ability to conceal one’s aura while moving...

"Shadow Concealment Technique": Specializes in concealing one’s presence in complex environments, using the surroundings for cover. However, it is slightly lacking in pure aura concealment...

"Abyssal Technique": Simulates the aura of deathly stillness. Excellent for concealing one’s aura, but its cultivation requires the aid of special medicines...

"Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique": Possesses an extremely good breath concealment effect. When cultivated to Perfection, it can make one’s aura seem like that of a rock or a plant. However, its cultivation difficulty is extremely high; it is difficult to learn and even harder to master...

’The Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique.’

Fang Han’s gaze lingered on the description of the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique for a long time, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the page.

The description of this Secret Technique’s breath concealment effect was the most outstanding, and the phrase "like that of a rock or a plant" deeply intrigued him.

Although it was marked as "difficult to learn and even harder to master," with his current sixteen-fold Secret Technique Talent Amplification, his talent in Secret Techniques far surpassed that of an ordinary person. He should be capable of successfully cultivating it.

Compared to the other Middle Grade Secret Techniques, which all had distinct flaws, the only drawback of this one was its high cultivation difficulty. As a top-level technique among its grade, the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique would undoubtedly better suit his needs.

’This is the one.’

His mind made up, Fang Han closed the book and spoke.

"Steward, I wish to redeem the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique."

The middle-aged Steward remained expressionless. Only when Fang Han stated his desire to redeem the Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique did he finally lift his eyelids.

He glanced at Fang Han, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"The Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique. It costs one hundred and twenty Contribution Points to redeem."

"Yes." Fang Han handed over his Identity Jade Token.

The Steward took the Jade Token and swiped it across an inkstone-shaped device on the counter. A faint light flashed, and the Contribution Points were deducted.

He then turned and walked to the bookshelves behind him, returning a moment later with a thread-bound book with a leather cover.

"Do not copy or circulate it. Return it within half a month."

The Steward handed the manual to Fang Han, his tone completely flat.

"I understand."

Fang Han accepted it with both hands. He said no more and turned to go downstairs.

By the time he walked out of the Library Pavilion, the sky had already grown dim, the last sliver of twilight fading on the distant horizon.

After grabbing dinner on the way, he returned to Room C-7. Fang Han shut the door firmly behind him.

Walking to the table, he opened the "Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique".

Unrolling it, the first thing that met his eyes was a complex Inner Qi Flow Chart drawn with black ink lines, accompanied by numerous dense annotations.

Aided by his sixteen-fold Secret Technique Talent Amplification, Fang Han began to study it carefully.

The contents of the scroll were indeed profound and complex. Many of the qi circulation methods were strange and subtle, demanding an extremely high degree of Inner Qi Control Power. It was far more complex than the Low Grade Spirit Nose Technique.

However, with the boost from his 16x Secret Technique Talent, while it felt abstruse, it was not incomprehensible. With careful deduction, he could gradually grasp the essence of its various key points.

Unlike a Tracking Secret Technique, which strengthened a specific organ, a Breath Concealment Secret Technique was a method that used special Inner Qi circulation patterns to conceal one’s scent, aura, and Inner Qi fluctuations.

Time passed quietly as he remained engrossed in his reading.

By the time he had a preliminary understanding of the entire scroll and had committed it to memory, the sky outside was already filled with stars.

He slowly closed the manual and began his first attempt at cultivating it.