Chapter 533 - 529: Wind God Step Mastery

Chapter 533: Chapter 529: Wind God Step Mastery

’At this rate of Cultivation, ten days at most...’

An indescribable sense of relief washed over Fang Han.

Previously, the increase in his Stepping Talent Amplification from one hundred twenty-eight-fold to two hundred fifty-six-fold had brought about a change that could only be described as a complete metamorphosis.

The subtleties that once required repeated contemplation to grasp were now as clear as day.

The time needed to advance the *Wind God Step* from Minor Achievement to Mastery had already been drastically reduced.

Now, with this Wind Jade, that time would be shortened even further.

He had a feeling that in ten days at most, or perhaps even less, he would be able to touch the threshold of Mastery.

At that time, both the speed and agility of his *Wind God Step* would experience a qualitative leap.

’Worthy of its reputation as one of the rare Mid-grade Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures!’

Fang Han stopped and stood his ground, slowly steadying his slightly ragged breath.

The Wind Jade on his neck rested against his chest, still emitting its faint, cool warmth.

He raised a hand and pressed the jade stone through his robes, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Truly worthy of being a Mid-grade Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure.

The Wind Jade couldn’t enhance Inner Qi, strengthen the physical body, or improve comprehension, but its boost to one’s Wind Attribute Affinity was tangible and immediate.

For a Martial Artist practicing a Wind Attribute Martial Technique, the effect of this enhancement was no less than that of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that directly improved comprehension.

’Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like the Wind Jade have Attribute Affinities, so people should have Attribute Affinity Talents too!’

Fang Han took the Wind Jade from his neck and held it in his palm, studying it for a moment.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo forest, falling upon the teardrop-shaped cyan gemstone. A faint halo of light flowed unceasingly across its surface, gentle and soft.

He hung the Wind Jade back around his neck and turned to walk out of the Cultivation Field, but a question surfaced in his mind.

Martial Techniques came in various attributes.

Wind, Fire, Water, Lightning, Ice, Earth, and so on—each attribute had corresponding Martial Techniques and Cultivation Techniques.

Different people were suited to practicing Martial Techniques of different attributes. For example, Yun Qianyue was suited for Water Attribute Martial Techniques. Her Swordsmanship followed the path of the Soft Overcomes Hard Technique, flowing without end. When her Sword Momentum was unleashed, one could faintly hear the sound of tides as a mist of water spread.

Her sister, Yun Muyao, on the other hand, was suited for Ice Attribute Martial Techniques. Her Swordsmanship was cold and sharp, and a chilling aura emanated from her blade, capable of freezing an opponent’s blood and Inner Qi.

This was Attribute Affinity.

Different people had different constitutions, and thus, their natural affinity for certain attributes also differed.

The higher one’s Attribute Affinity, the easier it was to reach the Entry Level of a corresponding Martial Technique, and the faster one’s progress would be.

Conversely, forcefully cultivating a Martial Technique that didn’t align with one’s own attributes would be an inefficient struggle.

In a sense, Attribute Affinity was also a type of Talent.

Like Root Bone, Swordsmanship, and Body Technique, it was a fundamental factor that determined how far a Martial Artist could go and how high they could climb.

’But if Attribute Affinity is also a Talent, why hasn’t an option like "Wind Attribute Affinity Amplification" appeared on the system panel?’

Fang Han’s steps faltered for a moment before he resumed his original pace.

He quickly reviewed in his mind the circumstances under which the various Talent Amplification options had appeared on the system panel.

Secret Technique Talent Amplification had appeared after he started practicing the *Spirit Nose Technique*.

Body Hardening Talent Amplification had appeared after he obtained the *Xuanwu True Skill* and attempted to comprehend this Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique.

Swordsmanship, Step Technique, Root Bone—without exception, these Talent Amplification options only appeared after he had come into contact with their respective fields.

The appearance of a particular Talent Amplification option required a trigger condition.

It didn’t just appear out of thin air. There was a "catalyst," like a door that required a specific key to open.

Without starting to cultivate a Secret Technique, there was no Secret Technique Talent Amplification option. Without starting to cultivate a Body Hardening Technique, there was no Body Hardening Talent Amplification option.

Therefore, the reason an option like Wind Attribute Affinity Amplification hadn’t appeared was likely because he hadn’t yet met the trigger condition.

’But what exactly is the trigger condition?’

Fang Han frowned in thought.

He had been cultivating Wind Attribute Martial Techniques for several years. His *Nine Swords of Sky Splitting* had reached Perfection, and his *Sky-Splitting Sword Technique* had even entered the Mastery Realm. So why hadn’t he triggered the Wind Attribute Affinity Talent Amplification option?

If he hadn’t met the trigger conditions, what were they?

’No need to overthink it. It will trigger naturally when the time is right!’

Fang Han shook his head, temporarily pushing the question aside.

He still hadn’t fully comprehended all the mysteries of the system panel.

Some things couldn’t be rushed. When the time came, everything would fall into place.

In the following days, Fang Han unfailingly wore the Wind Jade to aid his Cultivation of the *Sky-Splitting Sword Technique* and the *Wind God Step*.

His understanding of the Wind Realm grew stronger with each passing day of comprehension, and his progress in Swordsmanship and Body Technique became increasingly rapid.

In addition, he didn’t neglect his Cultivation of Inner Qi, Body Hardening, and Secret Techniques.

The first day, the second day, the third day.

The benefits from the Wind Jade continued to compound. Fang Han could clearly feel the threshold to Mastery growing thinner, bit by bit.

The fifth day, the seventh day.

「Seven days later, in the afternoon.」

The obsidian-paved backyard Cultivation Field was slightly hot from the afternoon sun. Heat waves shimmered in the air, yet strangely, there wasn’t the slightest sound of wind.

Fang Han stood in the center of the field, his eyes closed in concentration. The Wind Jade on his neck rested against his chest, emitting its constant, cool warmth.

The Heart Method of the *Wind God Step* slowly flowed through his mind.

Over the past seven days, the boost from the Wind Jade, combined with his Stepping Talent Amplification, had allowed him to progress in his Body Technique by leaps and bounds.

The subtleties that once required repeated contemplation to grasp now felt as natural as breathing when he practiced them.

He could clearly feel that the bottleneck to Mastery had become as thin as a single sheet of window paper.

He opened his eyes and his figure moved.

WHOOSH—

There was no sound of breaking wind, no rustle of clothes, and even his afterimage was too faint to be seen.

The green-robed figure moved silently across the Cultivation Field, flashing from the east wall to the west corner. Before the trail left by his movement could fade from sight, he had already turned toward the south wall.

His turns were fluid, without any hesitation. His movements stirred no dust. He was like a true wisp of wind, moving freely within the confined space.

His speed grew faster and faster, so fast that even he was a little surprised.

The crisscrossing sword marks on the obsidian ground flew past under his feet, left far behind him.

The feeling of merging with the wind, of becoming one with the heavens and earth, was incredibly intense.

At a certain moment—

HUM...

A soft hum that only he could perceive sounded from deep within his body.

The sound was extremely faint, almost imperceptible, yet it was as if it had opened an invisible door.

In the next instant, his understanding of the *Wind God Step* underwent a qualitative leap.

The Transformations that once required conscious effort could now be performed at will, with ease.

His speed suddenly skyrocketed.

He was so fast that even he couldn’t adapt in time.

He had been about a zhang away from the south wall, but with this sudden burst of speed, his body shot forward like a bolt of green lightning, heading straight for it.

Fortunately, his reflexes were extremely fast. The moment before impact, he twisted his body and turned, lightly tapping his toes against the wall. Like a willow catkin swept up by the wind, he floated silently to the other side of the Cultivation Field.

’*Wind God Step*, Mastery.’

Fang Han came to a halt, standing in the center of the open space.

His green robes were perfectly still and his breathing was as steady as water. Only a flicker of undisguised joy flashed through his eyes before vanishing.

He carefully savored the changes brought by the breakthrough.

His speed was several times faster than it had been at the Minor Achievement stage.

It wasn’t merely the speed of a straight-line sprint, but an elusive and nimble grace that came from merging with the wind and being one with the world.

If his Body Technique speed was previously on par with an ordinary First Grade Martial Artist, it now genuinely surpassed it.

If he’d had this kind of speed when he encountered Meng Zhao outside Songquan County, that old scoundrel wouldn’t have even been able to touch his shadow.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!

Fang Han didn’t rush to leave the Cultivation Field. Instead, he practiced for a while longer, adapting to the explosive increase in speed after his breakthrough.

Every abrupt stop, every sharp turn, and every subtle change in direction became smoother and more precise with repeated practice.

Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, but his eyes were astonishingly bright.

He didn’t stop until the sun began to set in the west, painting the clouds in magnificent shades of orange and red. He then came to a halt and let out a long, turbid breath.

Under the covered walkway, Qiu Lan was already waiting, though he hadn’t noticed her arrive. She held a tray with a pot of cool tea and several teacups.

Seeing him stop, she walked over, placed the tray on the stone table, poured a cup, and offered it to Fang Han with both hands.

"Senior Brother, dinner is ready."

Fang Han took the teacup, drained it in one gulp, and nodded. He sheathed his Cloud Splitting Sword and walked toward the side hall.

The side hall was brightly lit, and the table was already laden with dishes.

In the center, a large celadon bowl held a braised demon beast elbow, its color a glossy red, steaming and trembling slightly.

Next to it was a steamed perch resting on a bed of green onion shreds, its flesh snowy-white and tender.

A plate of soy-braised beef was sliced evenly, its grain clearly visible.

A platter of garlic bok choy was a glossy, vibrant green.

There were also several exquisite side dishes and a pot of perfectly warmed yellow wine.

Fang Han sat down at the table, picked up his chopsticks, and put a piece of the elbow into his mouth.

The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender, rich but not greasy. The savory sauce carried a hint of sweetness, making his mouth water as it melted on his tongue.

He then picked up a slice of beef and chewed it slowly before lifting his wine cup for a small sip. The warm liquid slid down his throat, dispelling some of the fatigue accumulated from days of Cultivation.

He ate slowly, but savored every bite.

「The next morning.」

Morning light streamed through the gaps in the window lattice, casting long, slender shadows on the blue brick floor.

Wisps of blue smoke curled up from the Sandalwood Incense Burner. Its faint fragrance mingled with the cool morning air, drifting slowly through the Quiet Chamber.

Fang Han sat cross-legged on a cattail cushion. He poured a Celestial Essence Pill from the Jade Bottle and put it in his mouth.

The Elixir dissolved instantly. A gentle yet immense Medicinal Power spread through his abdomen like a river bursting its banks, surging toward his limbs and bones.

RUSH!

Fang Han closed his eyes and slowly activated the *Cyan Profound Technique*.

Blue-gold Inner Qi coursed through his meridians like a fine net, capturing, absorbing, and refining the Medicinal Power of the Celestial Essence Pill, strand by strand.

The Medicinal Power transformed into wisps of pure Inner Qi, which followed the meridians through a full Circulation before pouring into the Jingming acupoint.

After one’s Cultivation reached the Upper Three Grades, the time required to condense a single strand of Inner Qi was several times longer than before due to the massive increase in its quality.

But with the blessing of the two hundred fifty-six-fold Root Bone Talent Amplification, aided by a precious Elixir like the Celestial Essence Pill, the growth of his Inner Qi could still be described as progressing by leaps and bounds.

The rushing Inner Qi was like rivers flowing into the sea. Each cycle brought a subtle yet solid increase.

He could clearly feel the misty cluster of blue-gold Inner Qi in his Jingming acupoint filling up at a visible rate.

Over an hour later, the Medicinal Power of the Celestial Essence Pill was completely refined and absorbed.

’Soon!’

Fang Han slowly opened his eyes. A faint golden glint flashed in their depths before disappearing.

He gently exhaled a turbid breath. The air condensed, shooting out like an arrow for about a foot before carving a faint white trail in the Quiet Chamber and slowly dissipating.

The Inner Qi in his Jingming acupoint was more than ninety-five percent full.

He was not far from the Second Grade.