Martial Arts: My talent multiplier increased

After the assessment, the crowd dispersed from the training ground, but the discussions lingered for a long time.

Fang Yuan did not linger.

He stepped off the training platform, walked through the crowd, and headed straight for the main hall.

His training clothes were tattered beyond recognition, with the fabric dangling from his left shoulder, revealing a large patch of purplish-red bruises. Bruises on his chest and ribs were faintly visible through the torn fabric, and the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth had dried, forming a dark brown scab.

As he walked along the road, the servants of the Fang family who encountered him all gave way, their gazes falling upon him with obvious fear and respect. Half an hour earlier, these servants had been looking at him with indifferent disregard.

Fang Yuan paid no attention to these changes, keeping walking while calculating the significance of this trip to the main hall.

The patriarch calling out names individually in front of everyone is a rare privilege in the history of the Fang family's martial arts academy. Fang Hao won first place in the previous assessment, but the reward was only conveyed privately by Fang Yuanshan after the assessment; he didn't even get a chance to enter the main hall.

The fact that the patriarch personally summoned him meant that what he offered would not just be the few things he had been given as a performance review reward.

But it also means that the family members should meet him in person and assess his worth.

The main hall is located at the deepest part of the Fang family's inner courtyard, a three-section courtyard made of blue bricks. Two guards stand at the entrance, with swords at their waists and a calm demeanor, clearly skilled individuals at the Bone Refining Realm or above.

Fang Yuan walked to the door. The guards did not stop him, but looked him up and down before stepping aside to let him pass.

It's obvious that prior notice was given.

Fang Yuan stepped over the threshold, passed through the courtyard in the front yard, and entered the main hall.

The main hall was large enough to accommodate thirty or forty people. At this moment, only five people were sitting inside.

In the center sat the head of the family, Fang Zhengkun, in a rosewood chair, with a cup of tea beside him, steaming gently rising from it.

On the left sat the First Elder Fang Shouye and the Second Elder Fang Shouzheng, and on the right sat the Third Elder Fang Shoude. Each of the three occupied a grand chair, and the teacups in front of them had already been refilled.

On the far right sat a middle-aged man whom Fang Yuan had never seen before.

He was in his early forties, with a robust build and a face that resembled Fang Hao's by six or seven points, with high cheekbones and prominent brow bones. He wore a dark gray brocade robe and had a bronze token with the character "Fang" engraved on it at his waist.

Fang Yuan's gaze lingered on that face for a moment.

He resembled Fang Hao by six or seven points and sat in the main hall on equal footing with the family head and elders. This was Fang Hao's father, Fang Shou'an, the fourth elder of the Fang family.

Fang Yuan stood at the entrance of the main hall, clasped his hands and bowed.

"Fang Yuan greets the patriarch and all the elders."

Fang Zhengkun did not speak immediately.

He held his teacup, his gaze sweeping from Fang Yuan's head to his feet, lingering for a couple of moments on the tattered training clothes, and then on the bruises on Fang Yuan's exposed shoulder.

Then he put down his teacup, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.

"Come and sit down."

Fang Zhengkun raised his hand and pointed to an empty chair in the hall.

Fang Yuan did not refuse and went over to sit down.

The chair was cushioned, and as soon as his buttocks touched it, he felt a dull pain from the bruises Fang Hao had inflicted on his body. His expression remained unchanged, and his back was straight.

The Third Elder, Fang Shoude, was the first to speak, his tone completely different from that on the viewing platform, carrying three parts kindness and seven parts warmth.

"Fang Yuan, are your injuries alright? Fang Hao was a rough kid. I'll have the pharmacy send you some high-quality liniment later."

Second Elder Fang Shouzhen, holding his teacup, replied, "Today's realm verification involved personally examining your foundation, and it truly exceeded my expectations. The purity of your qi and blood is extremely rare among your peers. This foundation wasn't created by external forces, but rather through genuine cultivation; it's truly remarkable."

After Fang Shouzhen finished speaking, he glanced at Fang Yuan, his eyes filled with obvious appreciation.

The First Elder, Fang Shouye, didn't say many polite words; he simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Fang Yuan sat in the chair and thanked them one by one, his expression neither humble nor arrogant. He was neither flattered by the sudden closeness of these important figures nor carried away by the limelight he was in today's limelight.

His gaze swept across the faces of the three elders, finally landing on the middle-aged man on the far right who hadn't spoken a word.

Fang Shouan.

Fang Hao's father, the fourth elder of the Fang family, controls most of the Fang family's businesses and external affairs in Liangshui City, wielding more real power than the first elder, Fang Shouye.

Fang Shou'an was also looking at him.

Those eyes were very similar to Fang Hao's, but Fang Shou'an's eyes possessed decades more of shrewdness and composure. Fang Hao's eyes radiated the arrogance and fierceness that youth couldn't suppress, while Fang Shou'an's eyes were like two deep wells, bottomless.

The two stared at each other for a moment.

Fang Shouan spoke first, his voice steady and even somewhat sincere.

"Fang Yuan, you performed exceptionally well in today's assessment, and I am very pleased. My son, Fang Hao, is young and impetuous, and has often offended you in the martial arts hall. I apologize on his behalf."

He stood up, and Chong Fangyuan bowed slightly.

The fourth elder bowed to a young man from a collateral branch of the family.

This scene, when viewed by Fang Yuan, was not one of being moved, but rather a signal.

Who is Fang Shou'an? His son was beaten unconscious and coughed up blood on the spot and carried out of the martial arts arena. Instead of showing any anger, he immediately sat down in the main hall and apologized to Fang Yuan in front of the family head.

This isn't magnanimity; it's cutting your losses.

Fang Hao lost, and lost completely. If Fang Shou'an were to uphold his elder's authority and support his son at this crucial moment, he would be going against the patriarch and against Fang Yuanshan's public evaluation. The entire clan is watching; the top performer in the assessment has been summoned by the patriarch, and you, Fourth Elder, insist on giving him attitude at this critical juncture?

That's not protecting your son, that's pushing him toward his death.

Therefore, Fang Shou'an chose the smartest approach. He publicly showed goodwill, took the initiative to admit his mistake, and characterized Fang Hao's offense as "youthful impetuosity." These four words completely overshadowed all the underhanded tricks he had used before, such as intercepting the medicine residue, cutting off sales channels, and publicly crushing the "power pills."

With a light touch and a smile, we turned the page.

Fang Yuan remembered this debt clearly in his mind, but his face remained completely calm.

"Fourth Elder, you flatter me. Brother Fang Hao's sparring with me shows that he regards me as a worthy opponent, and I dare not have any complaints."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shou'an's smile deepened. He sat back down in his chair, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

Something flickered deep in his eyes—not satisfaction, but a reassessment.

This young man from a collateral branch handled the situation with remarkable skill. He didn't engage, didn't pursue the matter, and didn't try to exert pressure. With just one sentence, he smoothly returned the ball to its original position, leaving no room for error.

Sixteen years old.

The fact that a sixteen-year-old boy could give such a response made Fang Shou'an even more wary than his talent in martial arts.

Fang Zhengkun remained silent, watching Fang Yuan deal with the elders' pleasantries and probing until the conversation came to an end, at which point he slowly spoke.

"Bring the things up."

The servant behind him immediately stepped forward, holding a black lacquered wooden tray with three items on it.

Fang Yuan's gaze fell on the wooden tray.

On the far left is a bulging brocade bag, tied with a red rope at the opening. Judging from its shape and weight, it contains broken silver and silver ingots.

In the center was a yellowed, thread-bound booklet with four characters written in clerical script on the cover: "Dielangquan Manual." The booklet wasn't thick, but the paper was old and the edges were worn, clearly indicating it was a handwritten copy from quite some time ago.

The one on the far right is a token.

Fang Yuan's gaze lingered on the token for a moment longer.

The token is made of black iron, with the Fang family crest cast on the front and the word "core" engraved on the back.