Two Years Later
Sitting cross-legged in the tranquil depths of the Scripture Pavilion, Xiao Huzi’s eyes shone with newfound depth. Two years had passed since he made that declaration. The passage of time felt surreal. For two years, he had immersed himself in the study of techniques and the relentless honing of his martial arts.
He also has now a certain degree of understanding of this world. As for the channel of understanding, it naturally came from the Iron Vein Sect. As one of the three major sects of the Dao Zhu Dynasty, the information that the Iron Vein Sect has collected over hundreds of years is nothing to laugh at.
The current royal family that rules the Dao Zhu Dynasty is at its peak years. All the citizens of the dynasty are their subjects.
Even a thousand-year-old sect like the Iron Vein Sect has to bow its head in front of them. According to the records, it is mentioned that there are a total of four Titanium Soul Stage experts present in the royal family of the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty.
You must know that there are not many Titanium Soul Stage experts present in the whole region of the Dao Zhu Dynasty. Even the Iron Vein Sect has only one Titanium Soul Stage expert, who was Xiao Huzi's teacher, Mu Yang. Even the other two major sects, Azure Wind Sect and Crimson Pulse Pavilion, each have only one Titanium Soul Stage expert present.
The reason why the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty had such a strong foundation is because of its founding ancestor. He was a Heavenly Ascension Stage master.
Since ancient times, the Heavenly Ascension Stage has been hailed as the pinnacle of martial prowess, a realm so revered that the total number of experts to reach it throughout history could be counted on one hand. Their strength transcends mortal understanding; their mere presence is enough to reshape the world.
The reason the royal family of the Dao Zhu Dynasty can sweep across the world, forcing great martial arts sects like the Iron Vein Sect to bow their heads, is because they have the foundation of a Heavenly Ascension Stage expert.
The founding ancestor of the Dao Zhu Dynasty has long passed away for many years. But his techniques and inheritance are in the hands of the royal family.
With this foundation, they have nurtured not one but four Titanium Will Stage experts, and with the guidance they have of the founding ancestor, they also have a chance to step foot on the Heavenly Ascension Stage.
The Heavenly Ascension Stage is the pinnacle of martial and spiritual integration in this world. Practitioners of this stage became one with the world itself.
Their internal energy fused seamlessly with the environment, granting them near-limitless strength and endurance. Fatal wounds healed as if by divine will, and their sheer presence could crush weaker cultivators.
Their willpower materialized into physical forms—domains where they reigned supreme. To fight against such a being was to challenge the heavens themselves.
“The Heavenly Ascension Stage...” Xiao Huzi murmured, his gaze distant. “It’s a realm too far from me now. But... one day.”
He clenched his fists, feeling the energy flowing through his refined meridians. Years of relentless practice and study had brought him to the peak of the Meridian Strengthening Stage.
The next step loomed large before him—the Stone Core Realm.
“To break through,” Xiao Huzi muttered, his voice steady, “I must condense my internal energy into a stable core within my dantian. This core will become the foundation of my martial path. The process is delicate, but...” A faint smile crossed his lips.
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“With the Steel Vein Refinement Art tempering my meridians, even reckless energy circulation won’t harm me. My meridians are stronger than steel, capable of handling anything I throw at them.”
A flicker of excitement burned in his eyes.
[You have Heaven Defying Comprehension. After studying all the Stone Core techniques of the Iron Vein Sect, you have created the Stone Core Condensation Technique]
[You have Heaven Defying Comprehension. After seeing all the Stone Core techniques of Iron Vein Temple, you continue to perfect Stone Core Condensation Technique]
The system’s words rang in his mind like the tolling of a bell. Not only had he mastered the techniques, but his comprehension allowed him to perfect them. His path to the Stone Core Realm was set.
Four Years Later
In the Hall of Elders, Bo Chen, Sect Leader of Iron Vein Sect head, sat in conversation with Xu Zhi, head of the Discipline Court, and several other elders.
“It’s been six years since Junior Brother Huzi secluded himself in the Scripture Pavilion, hasn’t it?” Xu Zhi stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face.
After taking Mu Yang as his teacher, Xiao Huzi's seniority in the Iron Vein Sect became the same as that of the Sect Leader of the Iron Vein Sect. Therefore, Bo Chen would refer to Xiao Huzi as his junior fellow apprentice.
Bo Chen nodded. “Yes. He hasn’t stepped outside since the first year. To spend six years surrounded by books and techniques... such focus is rare.”
“Rare?” Xu Zhi chuckled. “It’s unheard of! Do you know how many disciples could endure that kind of solitude? And he’s only twelve. At his age, most boys are running around causing trouble, not delving into martial arts texts for years on end.”
Since Xiao Huzi moved into the Scripture Pavilion five years ago, he has only occasionally come out for a stroll in the first year. For the next four years, he never stepped out of the Scripture Pavilion again.
"Junior Brother Huzi is a martial arts prodigy that only appears once in a hundred years. He truly has the patience to be surrounded by martial books all day." The Head of the Miscellaneous Services, Bing Huo, spoke.
The others nodded. Junior Brother Huzi stayed in the Scripture Pavilion for five years, surrounded by martial arts books all day long. Many people do not have such concentration and patience.
"I don't know how Junior Brother Huzi's training is going." A hint of curiosity appeared on the face of Bing Huo.
Just at the age of seven, he was able to refine natural energy; now that he has been in the Scripture Pavilion for five years, everyone wants to know what level Xiao Huzi is at.
The room grew quiet for a moment. Then Xu Zhi broke the silence. “I’d wager he’s reached the peak of the Meridian Strengthening Stage by now. That would be an impressive feat for anyone, let alone someone his age."
Bo Chen hesitated. “Perhaps. But Junior Brother Huzi is still young. At twelve, his qi and blood are naturally weaker than older cultivators. Even with his talent, reaching the peak of the Meridian Strengthening Stage in five years seems... optimistic.”
Although Xiao Huzi refined natural energy at the age of six, aside from his talent, frankly speaking, Xiao Huzi is just a child. Counting the time, he should be now twelve years old. A twelve-year-old child is normally deficient in Qi and blood.
It would certainly take a lot of time to have sufficient Qi and Blood to enter the Meridian Strengthening Stage. In six years, Xiao Huzi might have just reached the threshold of the Meridian Strengthening Stage.
"Perhaps he might be in the Meridian Strengthening Stage." Bo Chen pondered for a while and nodded slightly.
He did not think that his junior brother Huzi would be able to make up for his foundation and reach the peak level of the Meridian Strengthening Stage. But Xiao Huzi was the disciple Mu Yang and of the same generation as him, so he could not be too negative in his words.
"You two old fellows, do you have so little confidence in Junior Brother Huzi? Perhaps Junior Brother Huzi has already reached Stone Core Stage now." The head of the Martial Academy glanced in the direction of the Scripture Pavilion and said with a smile on his face. He was the most optimistic person about Xiao Huzi's talent.
“Stone Core Realm?” Xu Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Surely you jest.”
The Martial Academy head shrugged. “Do you think it’s impossible?”
“I do.” Xu Zhi’s tone was blunt. “It takes years of preparation, even for a prodigy. The boy might be talented, but to reach the Stone Core Realm at twelve? That’s... unprecedented.”
“Alright, enough about Junior Brother Huzi,” Bo Chen interrupted, his tone sharp. The conversation had spiraled into wild speculation, and it was starting to irk him.
But before anyone could respond, a deafening boom resounded through the sect. An invisible yet overwhelming wave of power surged into the sky, rippling outward like a stone dropped into a calm lake.
The elders froze in their seats, their expressions shifting to alarm.
“This... this aura—could it be Titanium Will Stage?” Bo Chen’s voice trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Xu Zhi, the Head of the Discipline Court, was already on his feet, his face pale. “Impossible! When did a Titanium Will Stage master appear in our sect?!”
But then his gaze darted toward the source of the energy, realization dawning in his widened eyes. “No... This power... it’s coming from the Scripture Pavilion!”
The others turned their heads in unison, their breaths catching.
“Wait. Are you saying...” Bing Huo’s voice cracked, his disbelief morphing into outright panic. “This is Junior Brother Huzi’s aura?”
The hall descended into stunned silence. Bo Chen’s jaw dropped, his usually composed demeanor shattered. “Junior Brother Huzi? A Titanium Will Stage expert? Are you insane?”
Xu Zhi could only nod stiffly, pointing toward the Scripture Pavilion as if the waves of aura crashing over them weren’t already proof enough.
The Head of the Martial Academy let out a strangled laugh, though it sounded more like a gasp. “You’re telling me the kid who’s been holed up reading books for five years has become... a Titanium Will Stage master?!”
The words hung in the air, absurd yet undeniable. Bo Chen slumped back into his chair, muttering to himself. “It was already crazy when he refined natural energy at the age of six. But now... Titanium Will Stage? At twelve? That’s just... No. No!” He shook his head vigorously, as if trying to wake from a bad dream.
Xu Zhi looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. “Do you know how rare a Titanium Will Stage expert is? Even in a hundred years, only one or two might emerge in the entire region. Most take decades to even dream of it! And yet, this kid—this child—does it in six years? What is he, a demon in human skin?”