Martial Arts: My talent multiplier increased

Fang Shoude's eyelid twitched.

The difference between suspension and deprivation is that one is six months of solitary confinement, while the other is having your leg broken and being thrown out. Fang Zhengkun left Fang Yuan with a half-way out.

But there was only half a piece.

A three-month suspension; Grade A courtyards relocated; quotas for Qi and Blood Soup cancelled; business of Zhuang Gong instruction automatically reduced to zero. The elders' council will reassess after three months? Given Fang Shoude and Fang Shouan's votes, the outcome is predictable.

Fang Zhengkun's cut was still precise.

They gave him face, but tightened the rope.

"Does anyone have any further objections?"

Fang Shouye slowly shook his head.

Fang Shouan kept the corners of his mouth very low.

Fang Shouzhen closed his eyes.

"Then it's settled." Fang Zhengkun stood up. "Summon Fang Yuan."

Fifteen minutes later.

Fang Yuan walked into the main hall.

He changed into a clean gray-blue long robe, with a black iron token hanging at his waist. His hair was tied up with a strip of cloth, revealing the angular features of his face.

The sixteen-year-old boy stood before the four elders and the head of the family, like a nail embedded in the blue brick floor.

Fang Shoude sat on the right, his cane across his knees, his gaze on him carrying the certainty of an old hunter scrutinizing his prey.

Fang Shouan leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped together, fingertips touching, the curve of his lips perfectly positioned on the line between a "smile" and a "sneer".

Fang Shou remained expressionless.

Fang Zhengkun stood at the head of the table, looking down from above.

Fang Teng stood on the left side of the main hall, less than three zhang away from Fang Yuan.

Fang Zhengkun skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"Fang Yuan. In view of the fact that your recent business activities have led to interference from external forces in the Fang family's internal affairs, the Elders' Council has decided to resolve the dispute through internal family arbitration."

Fang Yuan's gaze moved from Fang Zhengkun's face to Fang Shoude, and then to Fang Teng.

Fang Zhengkun continued.

"Arbitration format: Public duel on the martial arts arena. Your opponent is Fang Teng. The betting clause—"

Fang Yuan heard every single word clearly.

Victory: Full endorsement. Defeat: Three-month suspension.

Everyone in the main hall was watching Fang Yuan's reaction.

Fang Shou'an was waiting for him to show signs of panic. Fang Shoude was waiting for him to bargain. Fang Teng was waiting for him to find an excuse to back out.

Fang Yuan did not keep anyone waiting for what they wanted to see.

I accept.

Without hesitation, without any extra changes in expression, not even a beat of breathing was out of place.

Fang Shou'an's intertwined fingertips separated.

The movement was extremely subtle, but it revealed the surprise he felt for that instant. He had anticipated at least three possible reactions from Fang Yuan—pleading for leniency, questioning the fairness of the situation, or demanding a change of opponent. None of them were "accepting on the spot."

too fast.

A martial artist in the Body Refining Realm, facing an overwhelming defeat in the Bone Refining Realm, agreed as quickly as if accepting a cup of tea handed to him by someone else.

He's either incredibly stupid to not realize the vast chasm between the Bone Refining Realm and the Flesh Refining Realm, or he has a trump card.

Fang Shouan looked at Fang Teng.

Fang Teng's facial muscles didn't change at all. But his right index finger dug into his palm inside his sleeve.

Third Elder Fang Shoude nodded.

"Young people have spirit. The decision will be made in three days, at noon, at the Fang family's martial arts arena."

In his cognitive framework, Fang Yuan's acceptance could only be explained in one way—the impetuousness of youth, acting rashly. The sixteen-year-old boy, cornered, would rather fight to the death than back down.

The most satisfying thing to do is to beat up this kind of person.

Fang Zhengkun remained silent.

His gaze lingered on Fang Yuan for two breaths. During those two breaths, Fang Zhengkun's face showed no discernible change.

Like a mirror, it reflects everything but gives no feedback.

Fang Yuan cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and walked out of the main hall.

Behind him, the gate closed.

The news spread from the Fang family's inner courtyard faster than Fang Yuan could walk back to the first-class courtyard.

Before lunch, everyone in the martial arts hall knew.

In the afternoon, the news spread throughout the three major families of Liangshui City.

As dusk fell, the news was placed on Li Jue's desk.

In the east of the city, at the Li family's study.

Li Jue sat by the window, holding an intelligence report in his hand, and read it for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Fang Yuan vs. Fang Teng. Late stage of the Flesh Refining Realm versus early stage of the Bone Refining Realm. Three days later, at the Fang Family Martial Arts Arena."

He placed the list on the table and poured himself a cup of tea.

"When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits."

The old man in the gray robe stood to one side, waiting respectfully.

Li Jue took a sip of tea.

"Fang Yuan can't win. The difference between the Flesh Refining Realm and the Bone Refining Realm is not just a little bit, it's an insurmountable gap. But this duel itself is a good show." He put down his teacup, his voice as calm as if he were commenting on someone else's game of chess.

Prepare an invitation. Attend as a spectator.

The old man in the gray robe responded and turned to leave.

"etc."

Li Jue took a name card from the drawer and handed it over.

"Send this to the city garrison as well. Please invite Captain Wang to attend the ceremony that day."

The old man took the name card, glanced at it, and his pupils contracted.

"What does the young master mean?"

"Once Fang Yuan is defeated, the pill business will automatically end. But the previous report is still pending." A faint smile appeared on Li Jue's lips, as subtle as a leaf's shadow skimming across water. "Captain Wang can execute the procedures on the spot. Perfectly executed in one step."

The old man in the gray robe acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Li Jue sat alone by the window.

Winning is fine too.

Another possibility crossed his mind. The probability was low, but not zero.

If Fang Yuan can truly defeat someone at the Bone Refining Realm—then this duel will be the best source of intelligence. What methods Fang Yuan used to win, how deep his trump cards are, and where his weaknesses lie will all be exposed to everyone's view.

No matter how you look at it, you're not losing out.

Li Jue picked up his teacup and looked out the window at the darkening sky.

The Fang family's first-class courtyard.

Fang Yuan locked the courtyard gate and went straight to the backyard.

The bluestone targets in the training ground have been replaced. The new targets are a size larger than the old ones, and the stone is noticeably denser—he had Fang Ping bring them back from a quarry outside the city for three taels of silver the day before yesterday.

Fang Yuan did not make a move immediately.

He stood two zhang in front of the target and closed his eyes.

Twice the comprehension spread out a vast network of deductions in my mind.

Fang Teng. Early stage of Bone Refining Realm. His bones have been fully tempered, and his striking power and resilience are at least three times higher than those of someone in the Flesh Refining Realm. Last time on the martial arts stage, Fang Teng defeated him in five moves. He deliberately held back then. But even if he held back, Fang Teng's combat skills are indeed solid. His punches are delivered with tricky angles and his rhythm changes quickly; he's not the kind of reckless brute who just charges headlong.

There are two core differences between the Bone Refining Realm and the Flesh Refining Realm.

First, bone hardness. The bones of someone in the Bone Refining Realm have been repeatedly tempered by qi and blood, making them nearly as hard as refined iron. Even if Fang Yuan punched him with all his might, he might only numb the opponent's arm. Conversely, if Fang Teng punched him, the untempered bones might shatter directly.

Second, the penetrating power of the strike. The fist force of the Bone Refining Realm can penetrate the skin and flesh and reach the bones, creating a "bone shock" effect. This kind of strike does not rely on brute force, but amplifies the damage through the force transmission between the bones.

It's impossible to withstand Fang Teng's attack head-on.

Then I won't carry it.

Fang Yuan opened his eyes.

Boxing intention.