Hearing his grandfather’s voice, Tang Yan felt a bit embarrassed. "I got too absorbed just now and forgot you were still here, Grandpa. I understood some parts, and I should be able to start training with it."

Tang Ling frowned upon hearing this and quickly asked, "What level is this technique? Can you determine its rank?"

Tang Yan pondered over the power of the technique for a long moment before shaking his head. "It’s hard to say, but it’s at least Earth-tier."

"Earth-tier?!" Tang Ling was shocked. The entire Yun City might not even have a single Earth-tier technique, yet this jade slip contained such a priceless treasure!

"Take it and train well. Remember, you must never share this technique with outsiders!" Tang Ling instructed solemnly.

"Don't worry, Grandpa," Tang Yan assured him.

Satisfied with his grandson’s promise, Tang Ling nodded and led Tang Yan out of the secret chamber, allowing him to return to his quarters.

Back in his room, Tang Yan couldn’t wait to absorb the contents of Flame Burst Palm.

Currently, his strength was only at the sixth tier of the Yellow Rank. After analyzing the technique’s intricate steps, Tang Yan estimated that he could barely manage the first form.

The technique was extremely complex. Even though he could grasp some insights, fully mastering it would require significant effort.

But Tang Yan wasn’t in a hurry. He patiently analyzed every step of the first form.

Time passed second by second. Tang Yan sat there thinking, but to outsiders, it simply looked like he was staring blankly for hours.

This left Zi Yun and Xiao Cui completely confused.

"Xiao Cui, do you think your young master was hit so hard by Liu Zhi that he went stupid?" Zi Yun asked worriedly.

"He shouldn’t be crazy… right?" Xiao Cui was also a bit concerned.

However, the two of them knew better than to interrupt him. They simply watched in curiosity as Tang Yan sat in a daze. Then, suddenly—

"Hahaha! I get it now! It’s all about externalizing true energy to create spatial vibrations!"

Tang Yan burst out laughing.

His loud exclamation startled both girls.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Zi Yun snapped in annoyance.

"Heh heh, nothing, nothing," Tang Yan said, grinning from ear to ear. He was so excited about his breakthrough that he didn’t even bother with the front door. Instead, he leaped over the courtyard wall and sprinted towards the small mountain behind the Tang estate.

"Hopeless!" Zi Yun huffed, stomping her foot in frustration. But despite her irritation, a flicker of understanding flashed in her eyes.

No wonder Tang Yan’s strength advanced so quickly. No wonder he could challenge opponents beyond his level. With such dedication to martial arts, he was bound to surpass others!

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TANG FAMILY'S BACK MOUNTAIN

A lean figure stood in front of a tree, repeating the same movement over and over again.

"Pfft!"

"Pfft! Pfft!"

A series of weak, air-leaking sounds echoed as Tang Yan attempted to execute Flame Burst Palm, but there was no destructive force at all.

Again and again, he sweated profusely. Again and again, he failed. But Tang Yan refused to give up.

After every failure, he analyzed his mistakes and adjusted his technique.

"Break for me!"

After countless attempts, Tang Yan felt his true energy surge violently, almost as if it were being drained completely from his dantian.

The air around him distorted.

A massive energy sphere condensed in his palm.

"Go!" He took a firm step forward and struck at the tree before him.

"Crack!" The tree, as thick as a bowl, instantly shattered.

"Boom!"

The tree trunk, unable to support itself, collapsed to the ground with a loud crash.

"Holy crap!" Tang Yan was stunned by the scene before him. He had already expected Flame Burst Palm to be powerful, but with just his sixth-tier Yellow Rank strength, this level of destructive force was simply insane!

"If only I had learned this earlier, I wouldn’t have struggled so much against Liu Zhi yesterday!"

Just as he was lost in thought, a wave of intense exhaustion swept over him.

Tang Yan’s expression changed. In his excitement, he had completely forgotten that this attack had drained his dantian dry!

His body, completely overdrawn, was only standing because of the lingering adrenaline.

Before he could even retrieve a High Spirit Pill, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground.

BACK IN HIS ROOM

When Tang Yan woke up, he found himself lying in bed.

"Young master, you're awake!" Xiao Cui cried out in delight.

Feeling his still-weak body, Tang Yan chuckled, "What happened? Who brought me back?"

"The patrolling guards found you unconscious and carried you back. The old master already had someone check on you. You were just exhausted from overexertion and need rest to recover," Xiao Cui explained.

"Got it. You should get some rest too." Through the window, the moonlight streamed in, indicating it was already late at night. Tang Yan glanced at Xiao Cui and, after a moment’s thought, said, "By the way, your monthly wage is doubled. Tomorrow, go to the accounting office to collect it."

As he spoke, he picked up a brush and swiftly wrote a note, handing it to her.

"Thank you, young master!" Xiao Cui’s eyes reddened with emotion as she accepted the note and quietly left.

"The energy consumption of Flame Burst Palm is ridiculous. Unless I reach the Profound Rank, I should avoid using it recklessly." Tang Yan sighed inwardly. Taking out a High Spirit Pill, he swallowed it and began meditating to recover.

THREE DAYS LATER

For the past three days, Tang Yan had been training at full intensity.

That evening, as he practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard, a servant came to report:

"Young master, someone from the Miao Dan Pavilion is here to see you."

"They’re looking for me?" Tang Yan was intrigued and followed the servant to the main hall.

Inside, upon seeing Ge Ming, Tang Yan laughed and strode forward. "Brother Ge, your visit is an honor to my Tang family!"

"Haha, young brother Tang, you are as lively as ever!" Ge Ming responded warmly.

Hearing their conversation, Tang Ling sat on the side feeling rather frustrated. He had just spent half the meeting addressing Ge Ming as "Master Ge" with utmost respect. Then his grandson waltzed in and called him "Brother Ge." How exactly was he supposed to handle this generation gap?

"Master Ge, since Yan’er is here now, may I ask what business you have with him?" Tang Ling finally interjected.

"I'm here to settle the bill for the Tang family," Ge Ming said with a smile.

Tang Ling froze for a moment before realization struck him—was this related to the 120 guards who had suddenly advanced?

"So this little brat bought all those pills from Miao Dan Pavilion?! He never even told me!"

Luckily, after looting the Four Seas Gang’s entire warehouse, the Tang family had some financial reserves. Tang Ling forced a bitter smile. "How much does my Tang family owe?"

"This time, not much—only 3.3 million silver taels," Ge Ming said with a sigh.

"Three point three million?!"

Tang Ling nearly lost his mind. Judging by Ge Ming’s sigh, it was as if he thought the amount was too little!

"Tang Yan! What the hell did you buy from Miao Dan Pavilion that cost so much?!"