In the secluded retreat of the back mountain, Mu Yang, the sect’s strongest expert and Xiao Huzi’s teacher, was meditating when the energy wave struck him like a physical force. His eyes snapped open, and for a moment, he simply sat there, stunned.

“This... could it be...?” His voice wavered as he rose to his feet, his gaze locked on the distant Scripture Pavilion.

It took him a long moment to collect himself, but when he finally spoke, his words carried a mix of disbelief and resignation. “Did Huzi... reach the Titanium Will Stage?”

Mu Yang’s mind raced. When he took the boy as a disciple six years ago, he had been astounded by his innate talent. Xiao Huzi’s comprehension of martial arts was monstrous, to say the least. Mu Yang had privately speculated that his disciple might reach the Heavenly Ascension Stage within a century, perhaps even faster.

But six years? Six short years, and the boy had already reached his own level?

“This isn’t talent. This is... this is blasphemy,” Mu Yang muttered, his expression a mix of pride and envy. “I’ve spent decades clawing my way to the Titanium Will Stage, enduring countless hardships, and this brat does it before his voice even deepens. Is there any fairness left in this world?”

He shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. “If he keeps this up, he’ll reach the Heavenly Ascension Stage by the time I need a cane to walk. What a monster.”

Inside the Scripture Pavilion

Xiao Huzi sat cross-legged, his young face calm but his eyes gleaming with wisdom far beyond his years. The storm of power that had erupted moments ago was now under his perfect control, restrained and compressed into his body. A faint, otherworldly glow seemed to emanate from him as he reflected on his breakthrough.

"Is the spirit will similar to the Ascendant path of the 'Psyche Master' of the human civilization in the main universe?" Xiao Huzi speculated in his mind. In the human civilization of the universe, Ascendants are no secret. Most of the Ascendant pathways are known to many citizens.

The Ascendant path of the Psyche Master requires stimulating the nerves around the brain and tapping the consciousness of one's mind through special means. Then the person can master the power of his mind and unleash many incredible abilities.

But Xiao Huzi quickly dismissed the comparison. “No... they are similar, but not the same.”

Those who have ascended from the Psyche Master pathway have similar spirit wills, but they are generally weaker in physical bodies and can do illusions or read someone's mind, provided that the opponent has a weak mind compared to the user.

But the spirit will of the Titanium Will Stage is a pure offensive technique that targets the opponents minds, and the sense of oppression it creates is also greater than that of the Psyche Master. There is no need to say anything about the physical strength of the martial artists.

Their physical body of martial artists has already surpassed that of an ordinary person and can perfectly control every bit of strength in his body.

Xiao Huzi didn't know the specific advantages and disadvantages of the Psyche Master Ascendant pathway. But he guessed that from what he had seen or heard, the Psyche Master should be weaker.

"Martial arts, in the context of human civilization in the main universe, should be considered a completely new Ascendant pathway, right?"

"If I push the martial arts of this world to a higher level in this world and submit it to the NovaSys for appraisal after returning, I will be able to get a huge amount of merit points. With the help of merit points, I will also be promoted to a higher level of citizen and gain exemption from compulsory military draft." Xiao Huzi thought in his mind.

Xiao Huzi knew that NovaSys attached great importance to a new Ascendant Pathway.

"Are all people waiting outside? Hmm, Master has also come. Do they know that I reached the Titanium Will Stage?" Xiao Huzi sensed Mu Yang, Bo Chen, and his group waiting outside the Scripture Pavilion with the help of his spirit will. When he broke through to the Titanium Will Stage, he condensed his spirit will, which inevitably led to the spread of the fluctuations in the surroundings.

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The higher the strength, the more likely the person will be able to sense the changes in the surroundings. It was normal that he was noticed by the higher-ups of the Iron Vein Sect.

Mu Yang and the elders stood awkwardly, exchanging uneasy glances. The oppressive aura lingering around the Scripture Pavilion made even the most seasoned among them feel small.

Bo Chen, trying to mask his nerves, muttered under his breath, “A kid like that... It’s unnatural. I swear it's not some natural talent but some reincarnation of some ancient powerhouse.”

Mu Yang and the other elders heard his words and couldn't help but consider the possibility that he might be right. A sense of unease crept into Mu Yang's heart as uncertainty gnawed at him—he had no idea what the mysterious 'senior' intended to do.

Before anyone could respond, a calm, youthful voice echoed in their minds. “Please come in, everyone.”

The elders froze for a second before scrambling to compose themselves.

“Let’s go,” Mu Yang said, leading the way with apprehension.

The group climbed to the fifth floor of the Scripture Pavilion, their steps tentative. When they arrived, Xiao Huzi sat serenely at the center of the room, his presence radiating both maturity and unshakable confidence.

Mu Yang, usually the most composed among them, bowed slightly. “I greet Senior.”

The others followed suit, their voices trembling slightly. “We greet Senior.”

Xiao Huzi’s lips twitched in a faint smile. “Senior?” he repeated, his tone amused. He didn’t confirm nor deny the title, allowing their imaginations to fill in the gaps.

Next, Xiao Huzi chatted with Mu Yang, Bo Chen, and other elders. He also took the opportunity to share his insights from the past few years. He explained the essence of spirit will, its formation, and the techniques he had devised to make the breakthrough simple and safe.

The elders were initially skeptical, but they quickly found themselves awestruck. Every word Xiao Huzi spoke clarified concepts they had struggled with for decades.

Even Mu Yang, who was already a Titanium Will master, felt his foundation strengthen as Xiao Huzi’s explanations filled the gaps in his understanding.

Bo Chen, the sect leader, trembled with emotion as he said, "How many years has it been since I stepped into the Stone Core stage? For so long, the path to the Titanium Will stage seemed like a distant mirage, an unattainable dream. Yet now… now, I finally see a glimmer of hope to ascend to that exalted realm." His fists clenched tightly as determination flickered in his eyes, the yearning for a breakthrough surging like a tidal wave within his heart.

Xu Zhi nodded with a grave expression. “If this isn’t the work of a peerless expert, then I’ll gladly eat my boots.”

Even Mu Yang couldn’t hide his astonishment. Thoughts raced through his mind as he marveled at the profundity before him. "Could this be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for to reach the Heavenly Ascension Stage? Perhaps… I should consider taking him as my 'Master' instead."

As the session wound down, Xiao Huzi turned his gaze to Mu Yang, his voice softening. “Master, your foundation is good, but the Titanium Will Stage is ultimately about the strength of one’s mind, and it is quite difficult to increase the strength of mental will with the help of outside forces. Only through different life experiences can one temper his state of mind and increase the strength of mental will."

“Indeed, Senior. To increase the strength of my mental will, I need further tempering of my state of mind or have an opportunity for enlightenment." Mu Yang nodded humbly.

Xiao Huzi’s smile grew faintly mischievous. “Fortunately, I anticipated this.”

With a wave of his hand, a small jade scroll materialized, glowing faintly with spiritual energy. “This is a martial art I created—a technique to directly enhance mental capacity and strengthen Spirit Will. It’s still untested, but I believe it will prove invaluable.”

Mu Yang’s eyes widened as he accepted the scroll, his hands trembling slightly. “You… created a technique for the spirit will?”

Xiao Huzi nodded casually. “Of course. Consider it a small token of gratitude for the guidance you gave me all those years ago.”

Mu Yang could only laugh bitterly, shaking his head.

You call this a ‘small token’? Mu Yang knew that techniques related to spirit will were very rare.

Since ancient times, masters of the Titanium Will Stage had walked treacherous paths to temper their minds. They embraced emotions, both exalted and despairing, all to strengthen their mental will by the tiniest margin. Direct techniques to enhance spirit will were as rare as phoenix feathers. Even the royal family of the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty likely possessed only a handful of such treasures.

"Alright, you all should leave now."

Mu Yang, suppressing the excitement bubbling in his chest, bowed deeply. “Yes, Senior.”

The elders followed suit, their faces filled with reverence, before leaving the pavilion. As they departed, silence settled over the ancient building once more. Xiao Huzi ascended to the sixth floor, retrieving an ancient tome with practiced ease.

Time passed quickly. Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Scripture Pavilion

Waves of an inexplicable aura swirled in the air, yet they dared not breach the door, as though held at bay by an invisible force.

Xiao Huzi opened his eyes. A faint flicker of white lightning arced through the sky outside, followed by the low hum of electricity forming from the void itself. He exhaled slowly.

"Peak of Titanium Will Stage."

The spirit will of the Titanium Will Stage can kill people with less mental strength than themselves, but it cannot shake the laws of matter with mental will alone. Since ancient times, no Titanium Will Stage master has been able to do this.

But now, this iron rule has been broken by Xiao Huzi. Because Xiao Huzi's mental will has surpassed every Titanium Will Stage present and has reached a level unprecedented in this world.

Now, two years have passed, and it is not uncommon to break the shackles and achieve unprecedented achievements.

“It’s time to explore the outside world,” he whispered. “Seventeen years left in this world... I won’t waste another moment.”

Xiao Huzi calmed his breath and looked out of the Iron Vein Sect. After entering the peak of the Titanium Will Stage, Xiao Huzi had basically digested and absorbed the heritage accumulated by the Iron Vein Sect over thousands of years.

Next, if Xiao Huzi wants to reach the Heavenly Ascension Stage, he has to comprehend a domain that belongs to himself. His experience of the outside world is too low. He now wants to travel around the world and learn more about other martial arts in the world.

After all, Iron Vein Sect is just one of the three major sects of the Great Dao Zhu Dynasty. Compared to the outside world, it is just a small corner.