「Two days later, at the Su Mansion’s Martial Arts Arena.」

The biting wind howled, but it couldn’t disperse the cloud of white steam rising in the center of the arena.

Su Yu was bare-chested, his muscles looking as if they were chiseled from stone. As he practiced the White Ape Fist over and over, the sound of his Qi and Blood surging within him was clearly audible, roaring like a great river.

"Ban Lan Chui!"

As he threw the final punch of the form, familiar ink-wash characters appeared before his eyes.

[White Ape Fist Skill Level +15]

[White Ape Fist has broken through to the Minor Success Realm]

[Martial Arts]: White Ape Fist (First Layer) (Minor Achievement 1/10000)

The next moment, Su Yu felt a sudden jolt in the Danzhong Acupoint on his chest. The vast reserves of Qi and Blood he had accumulated for so long seemed to have found an outlet. Like a berserk dragon, they surged wildly along the sides of his ribs toward his back, rushing straight for the Jiaji Acupoint in the center of his spine!

"CRACK! CRACK!"

A series of sharp cracks, like popping beans, echoed from within Su Yu’s body. It was the sound of his spinal column—the "great dragon"—being forcibly opened and restructured by his Qi and Blood.

BOOM!

It felt as if a floodgate had been shattered. A wave of heat washed over Su Yu’s back, and a searing current instantly connected his front and back. The Danzhong Acupoint on his chest and the Jiaji Acupoint on his back resonated with each other, forming a perfect, closed loop of Qi and Blood that firmly protected his entire torso.

Su Yu let out a great shout toward the sky, and a straight plume of white vapor shot from his mouth like a sharp arrow, extending more than three feet.

At that moment, the skin on his chest and back felt connected as one. With each breath, his chest rose and fell, emitting a deep, muffled DONG DONG reverberation, as if a battle drum made of ox hide were hidden inside him.

’The Heart Mirror is complete, my Qi and Blood a roaring furnace!’

Su Yu clenched his fists, feeling a power several times greater than before. A sharp light glinted in his eyes.

’This is the Second Acupoint! If the First Acupoint was about developing the limbs, then this is about making the torso a complete furnace, providing an endless supply of Qi and Blood and an impenetrable defense.’

With a flash, Su Yu appeared before the Ironwood Stake specifically used for testing the strength of the Second Acupoint.

"White Ape Asks the Way!"

He threw a simple opening move from the White Ape Fist, striking the Ironwood Stake.

"BOOM!"

His fist slammed into it, creating a thunderous boom. The Ironwood Stake vibrated violently and at high speed, only coming to a rest after more than ten seconds.

Su Yu looked closely and saw a fist-sized depression, an inch deep, left on the stake!

’So strong! Before my breakthrough, I could only leave a fist-print about an inch deep on this Ironwood Stake. Now, a casual punch leaves a dent this deep. This is the power of the Second Acupoint!’

’But this isn’t my limit!’

A sharp glint flashed in Su Yu’s eyes. In the next instant, he activated his Qi and Blood. His right fist turned the color of black iron in the blink of an eye, emitting a faint green glow. He had clearly activated the Black Stone Profound Armor!

"BOOM! CRACK!"

With an even more violent bang, the arm-span-thick Black Iron Stake let out a groan as if it couldn’t bear the force.

Where the fist landed, a deep pit the size of a bowl had appeared. The terrifying force of the punch had even shattered the hard wooden core inside, and dense cracks spread out from the impact point like a spiderweb!

"So strong!"

Su Yu couldn’t help but marvel under his breath. The Black Stone Body Forging Skill was truly worthy of being a Xuan-tier Martial Art; it was absolutely domineering! The hardness and Qi and Blood amplification of this Black Stone Profound Armor were entirely based on his own strength.

’It’s like a fixed twenty-percent boost; as my base strength grows, the actual power of the boost becomes even stronger!’

He wondered how his current strength compared to Martial Artists who had reached Acupoint Perfection in the Second Acupoint. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The training for the Second Acupoint, much like the First Acupoint, wasn’t divided into distinct early, middle, or late stages. The foundation of the training was still about increasing Qi and Blood, and the differences within a minor realm weren’t obvious. One could only tell by fighting.

However, upon reaching Qi Blood Perfection, a Martial Artist could naturally sense the corresponding next acupoint, which is how they generally judged their training progress.

To break through from the Second Acupoint to the Third Acupoint, one needed to open the "Celestial Spirit Acupoint"!

This acupoint was located at the back of the head and governed the head and neck. It was the most dangerous trial in the Skin Tempering Realm.

’With the Black Stone Body Forging Skill, even though I’ve just reached the Second Acupoint, my explosive power is probably on par with most Martial Artists at this level!’

Su Yu was increasingly satisfied with his current strength. Breaking through before the new year not only meant a leap in combat power but also signified that his training progress had completely surpassed those so-called geniuses with Top-Grade Root Bones!

His gaze fell upon his panel once more.

[Martial Arts]: White Ape Fist (First Layer) (Minor Achievement 1/10000)

’I can now gain over two hundred Skill Level points a day. It will only take me about forty-something days to reach Qi Blood Perfection. And since I don’t have any bottlenecks, I can break through immediately! Chen Fan and his Top-Grade Root Bone will only be left further and further behind in his training!’

...

「At the start of the new year, in the White Ape Martial Arts Hall.」

The sound of firecrackers marked the passing of the old year.

Today was the day the martial arts hall reopened. The usually grim Martial Arts Arena was now decorated with lanterns and streamers, filled with a festive atmosphere.

"May you get rich and prosperous! May your martial fortune flourish!"

Senior Brother Jiang Liuchuan, dressed in a fine brocade robe and holding an expensive folding fan, stood at the entrance, generously handing out red envelopes.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang!"

An apprentice took a red envelope, peeked inside, and immediately gasped, "One tael of silver! Senior Brother Jiang is too generous!"

"Of course. The Jiang Family is one of the city’s major clans, and Senior Brother Jiang is their only son. This little bit of money is just pocket change to him." The surrounding apprentices chattered among themselves, their eyes full of envy.

Listening to the flattery, Jiang Liuchuan opened his fan with a sharp SHUFF, a prim and satisfied smile on his face.

’A mere hundred taels of silver to win people over and build a good reputation—it’s a bargain.’

After handing out red envelopes to the Outer Disciples, he straightened his clothes and strode toward the back courtyard.

...

In Chen Fan’s room in the back courtyard.

"Junior Brother Chen, you didn’t even go home for the new year? You’ve been staying at the hall this whole time? Your dedication to the Martial Arts is truly admirable, Senior Brother." Jiang Liuchuan pushed the door open and entered, a flash of surprise in his eyes as he saw Chen Fan polishing a long saber.

Chen Fan set the saber down. Although his eyes were bloodshot, his spirits were unusually high. He bowed respectfully. "Senior Brother Jiang, you praise me too much. My progress was delayed by an injury before, so naturally, I have to work twice as hard to catch up."

Jiang Liuchuan laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "You, a genius with a Top-Grade Root Bone, and so hardworking on top of that. I’m afraid it won’t be long before even I am surpassed by you."

A trace of arrogance flashed deep in Chen Fan’s eyes, but he remained humble on the surface. "Senior Brother has been in the Second Acupoint realm for a long time. I have only just broken through the Front Mirror Acupoint and am still a step away from the Second Acupoint. How could I dare compare myself to you?"

"What? You broke through the Front Mirror?"

Jiang Liuchuan was startled, then gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive! It’s been less than a month since you recovered, right? And you’ve already broken through? Tsk, tsk. With this progress, you’re probably about to catch up to Junior Su, aren’t you?"

At the mention of Su Yu’s name, the smile on Chen Fan’s face instantly froze.

’He’s just trash with a Lower-Grade Root Bone. What right does he have to compare himself to me?’

’If I hadn’t slacked off and gotten injured, how could he possibly compare to me!’

He forcefully suppressed the jealousy in his heart and feigned indifference. "Though Junior Su’s root bone is a bit poor, his comprehension is indeed astonishing. I hear he hasn’t been idle during this time either. He and I are probably on the same level."

"Indeed, Junior Su’s comprehension is truly enviable. He’s already reached the Skillful Realm in the Demon-subduing Saber. I’ve practiced it for so many years and have only barely reached the entry-level. It’s enough to make you sick with envy," Jiang Liuchuan lamented.

Hearing this, a cold, unnoticeable smirk touched Chen Fan’s lips.

’Skillful? Is that supposed to be impressive?’

’If I hadn’t wasted time practicing the White Ape Fist, I would have broken through long ago!’

"That saber technique is indeed obscure and difficult to understand," Chen Fan said, seemingly casually. "But I’ve been working hard on it lately. A couple of days ago, I was lucky enough to have an epiphany and just broke through to the Skillful Realm as well."

"You broke through too?"

Jiang Liuchuan’s eyes widened as he stared at Chen Fan as if he were a monster.

"Then doesn’t that mean your strength is now on par with Junior Su?"

Hearing this, the cold smile in Chen Fan’s heart deepened.

A confident light shone in his eyes. "In terms of saber technique and cultivation realm, perhaps we are similar. However... I recently learned a Superior Body Technique, the Blood Shadow Tracing Technique! If we were to spar, I am still quite confident."

’He learned a Superior Body Technique just like that?’

’Junior Brother Chen’s comprehension is quite impressive too. He’s worth investing in!’

"Junior Brother Chen, this is a small token from your Senior Brother. Take these two hundred taels of silver as my investment in you!"

Chen Fan, looking overwhelmed by the favor, accepted it. "Then many thanks, Senior Brother."

At that moment, a voice came from outside, "Master Qin is summoning everyone!"

Jiang Liuchuan’s eyes lit up. "The Master is here! As is tradition, on the first day of reopening, he will test everyone’s progress in Martial Arts and have us spar with one another. Junior Brother Chen, you and Junior Su will have a good chance to test your skills against each other today!"