When his gaze shifted forward, his breath hitched. Four elderly people stood before him; their presence was overwhelming, like a mountain pressing down on his tiny frame.

The person in the center was an old man with long eyebrows that swayed like willow branches, and his eyes were locked with Xiao Huzi's.

“Little one,” the old man finally spoke, his tone gentle. “Where did you learn to refine natural energy?”

Xiao Huzi’s heart thudded steadily, but his expression remained serene. He knew he could not reveal the truth—not that he had talent named Heaven Defying Comprehension. Such a revelation could invite scrutiny, envy, and perhaps danger. He could only play dumb in front of the elders.

Instead, Xiao Huzi lowered his head slightly, adopting a humble demeanor. “Respected elders,” he began, his voice calm and steady. “When I was meditating, I felt as though I could absorb the surrounding natural energy, and I tried it. It was as if I was in a trance and someone guided me. I did not seek to refine natural energy; it simply... happened.”

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of skepticism and intrigue. The long-eyebrowed elder narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xiao Huzi as if trying to peer into the depths of his soul.

“What you describe,” the elder finally said, “is not something that happens by chance. Your refinement of natural energy is stable, without the slightest hint of deviation.”

Xiao Huzi remained calm, though his mind raced. He knew he needed to provide more clarity to satisfy their doubts. “Elders, I... I cannot fully explain it myself. While practicing, I felt I was in a trance, and without fully knowing myself, I followed that guidance, and the energy naturally began to refine itself.”

The old man studied him intently, his eyes flickering with contemplation. “Guidance from within... a natural connection?” he murmured. “Is it enlightenment that he has experienced?”

Another elder, the head of the Iron Vein Pond, nodded slowly. “Even though enlightenment only happens by chance. It also requires luck and potential. It can also be said that this child possesses an outstanding potential.”

The elders exchanged a silent agreement, their collective decision forming unspoken. The old man with long eyebrows stepped forward, placing a hand on Xiao Huzi’s shoulder.

“From this day forth, you will no longer be treated as an ordinary disciple. Your potential must be nurtured carefully, and your path must be guided with precision. Little guy, are you willing to take me as your master?"

After these words were spoken, others did not show any expression. If the words spoken by Xiao Huxi were true, then his potential was definitely the best in the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty over the past hundred years.

"Disciple greets Master." Xiao Huzi lowered himself in a deep bow, his forehead nearly touching the ground as he paid respect to the old man before him.

The rules of the Iron Vein Sect were strict, rooted in centuries of tradition. Every new entrant, no matter their background or talent, began as a menial disciple. For two years, they labored, performing tasks that tempered their will but left little room for progress in martial cultivation. Following that, three more years were spent learning basic education—an excruciatingly slow pace for someone with Xiao Huzi’s heaven-defying comprehension.

Had his extraordinary talent not been recognized, Xiao Huzi would have been subjected to these five years of monotony. While his unique comprehension allowed him to draw insights even from mundane experiences, his time was too precious. He knew he had but twenty-five fleeting years in this world, and wasting even a single day was unacceptable.

Now, under the tutelage of the old man, Xiao Huzi felt an urgency and excitement he hadn't experienced before. This arrangement promised efficiency. With the old man’s guidance and his own extraordinary comprehension, Xiao Huzi could progress at an astonishing pace.

Three Months Later

The soft glow of morning light filtered into the meditation chamber as Xiao Huzi and Mu Yang sat cross-legged, facing each other. Mu Yang’s usually calm demeanor was betrayed by a subtle twitch in the corner of his mouth. His expression was both exasperated and resigned as he finally spoke.

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“From now on, you should move to the Scripture Pavilion,” Mu Yang said, his voice laced with a mix of helplessness and relief.

Xiao Huzi blinked in surprise.

“Scripture Pavilion?”

The implication wasn’t lost on the young boy, but Mu Yang continued, as though to clarify his surrender. “I’ve taught you everything I can... and more.”

Mu Yang’s thoughts drifted back to the past three months. At first, teaching Xiao Huzi had been fulfilling. The boy absorbed knowledge at an astonishing rate, grasping concepts that took others years to master in mere hours. But it wasn’t long before Mu Yang realized something unnerving.

This wasn’t mere talent.

Xiao Huzi didn’t just "draw inferences from one example." No, it was as if every single thing Mu Yang taught him opened doors to a thousand other possibilities.

Techniques that Mu Yang himself had spent decades mastering were unraveled and dissected by the boy in hours. Worse still, Xiao Huzi often offered insights that left Mu Yang, a master at the Titanium Soul Stage, stunned.

What had started as a teacher-student relationship had morphed into something else entirely—Mu Yang felt like he was the one learning. It was humbling, even a little humiliating, to admit that this seven-year-old had exceeded his capacity as a mentor.

“I thought exposing you to higher-level knowledge might harm your mental state,” Mu Yang admitted, his voice carrying a trace of bitterness. “But clearly, you are far beyond such concerns. The martial arts stored in the Scripture Pavilion are the culmination of centuries of wisdom. Perhaps they can teach you what I cannot.”

Hearing this, Xiao Huzi’s eyes brightened with excitement. The Scripture Pavilion! The sect’s most sacred repository of knowledge, which contains martial arts passed down through countless generations. Twenty high-grade techniques, hundreds of mid-grade techniques, and thousands of low-grade ones—all lay within its hallowed halls.

“I won’t let your trust go to waste, Master,” Xiao Huzi said earnestly, bowing again. His voice was calm, but a flicker of excitement burned in his chest. The opportunity to access such a treasure trove of knowledge meant he could advance even faster.

Mu Yang exhaled deeply, waving his hand dismissively as though to brush away any formality. “Go, then. May the wisdom of great masters guide you further.”

That day, Mu Yang retreated into seclusion, announcing that he needed time to “reflect” on his own martial path. Some disciples whispered that Xiao Huzi had driven the old master into retreat, while others speculated that Mu Yang was mastering a secret technique.

As for Xiao Huzi, he moved into the Scripture Pavilion without hesitation. Standing before its massive gates, he felt a sense of reverence.

The martial arts collected in the Scripture Pavilion were vast, and the twenty high-grade martial arts were not the only famous part; there are many more martial arts besides these.

Two days passed in a flash.

[You have Heaven Defying Comprehension. After seeing all the Body Tempering techniques of Iron Vein Temple, you have formed a new Body Tempering technique-Iron Body Tempering Technique]

[You have Heaven Defying Comprehension. After seeing all the Meridian Strengthening techniques of Iron Vein Temple, you have formed a Meridian Strengthening technique- Steel Vein Refinement Art]

The Iron Body Tempering Technique Xiao Huzi comprehended is a foundational martial art designed for practitioners in the Body Tempering Stage. It focuses on strengthening the body to withstand the strain of combat and cultivation and martial arts.

The technique that Xiao Huzi formed was different from other Body Tempering techniques of the Iron Vein Sect. There were a total of 4 phases of this technique.

1. Skin-Hardening Phase: The purpose of this phase is to toughen the skin to resist cuts and abrasions. After completion of the skin-hardening phase, one skin would become thick and resistant, with a faint metallic sheen.

Method: Repeatedly striking the body with blunt objects like wooden rods or sandbags and applying herbal ointments or immersing in medicinal baths to heal will enhance the toughness of the skin.

2. Bone-Forging Phase: This phase is mainly to strengthen the skeletal structure to endure immense physical strain. After completion, one's bones would become denser and stronger, which will help in reducing the risk of fractures.

Method: Performing weighted exercises like carrying heavy stones or practicing martial stances under pressure. Consuming bone-enhancing tonics made from spirit beast marrow will also make bone tougher and denser.

3. Muscle-Reinforcement Phase: It enhances muscle density and flexibility for explosive power. The muscles will become corded with strength, which will grant both endurance and agility.

Method: Engage in repetitive, high-intensity exercises such as punching ironwood posts or lifting spirit-forged weights.

4. Organ-Refining Phase: This phase fortifies internal organs to endure the strain. After completion of the organ-refining phase, one's internal organs will function at peak efficiency and enhance stamina and vitality.

Method: Practice specialized breathing techniques like Iron Lung Breaths to expand lung capacity and purify the bloodstream, or consume spirit herbs that will cleanse and nourish internal systems.

The Steel Vein Refinement Art that Xiao Huzi has formed is based on the accumulation of all the meridian strengthening techniques of Iron Vein Temple as well as Xiao Huzi's deep understanding of the human body.

It is a technique designed to strengthen and refine the practitioner’s meridians and transform them into durable conduits capable of handling high-energy or speedy circulations.

The essence behind this technique was simple. The natural energy was circulated at a steady pace through all twelve primary meridians, dislodging and purging blockages and impurities.

This stage requires extreme focus, as improper circulation can cause energy stagnation or damage. The practitioner had to compress their internal energy into dense threads and force these threads through their meridians.

This brutal process caused micro-fractures in the delicate energy pathways, but with time and repeated practice, these fractures healed stronger, transforming the meridians into conduits of unparalleled durability.

This technique, therefore, is physically taxing and requires a strong will. The practitioner refines their meridians to increase energy flow capacity.

By alternating between rapid and slow circulation patterns, the meridians adapt to dynamic energy usage, making them more flexible and efficient.

“Two years,” Xiao Huzi declared, his voice steady and resolved. “With these techniques, my next aim is to reach the Meridian Strengthening Stage within two years. If I cannot break through to the Meridian Strengthening Stage within two years, then I will have failed myself.”

Xiao Huzi stayed in the Scripture Pavilion for the next two years.