While the Youth Tournament was in full swing, in a quiet teahouse within the Battle Network Space.

Su Yueling sat quietly beside her master, Ren Bai, a trace of confusion and anticipation on her elegant face.

Unlike the other contestants, she hadn’t immediately entered the Battle Network for matchmaking. Instead, her master had brought her here.

Across the tea table sat a man in simple gray robes. He looked unremarkable, save for his eyes, which were so profound they seemed to hold the birth and death of stars.

It was none other than Grandmaster Lin Jianyi.

Ren Bai, a revered instructor at Black Stone Academy, now faced Lin Jianyi with the deference of a junior.

He personally poured tea for Lin Jianyi and said slowly, "Master Lin, I’ve taken the liberty of disturbing you this time for the sake of my closed-door disciple, Su Yueling."

Although they didn’t look far apart in age, they were nearly two generations apart in seniority.

Ren Bai had only reached the Grandmaster realm a little over a decade ago, whereas when Lin Jianyi became a Grandmaster, Ren Bai was still a complete nobody.

In fact, back when Ren Bai was still a Martial Master, he had received guidance from Lin Jianyi. The two shared a bond akin to that of a mentor and student and had kept in touch ever since.

Lin Jianyi’s gaze fell upon Su Yueling. It wasn’t sharp, yet it seemed to pierce through all appearances and see into her very essence.

Su Yueling instantly felt an invisible pressure, as if all her secrets were laid bare with nowhere to hide.

"Born with extraordinary Spiritual Power, a piece of unpolished jade," Lin Jianyi began, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "But your Spirit is like rootless duckweed. It is vast, but it has no anchor."

Ren Bai sighed and continued, "That’s exactly it. Yueling’s Spiritual Power grows incredibly fast, far surpassing her peers, but she’s stagnated at the step of condensing her True Intention of Martial Arts."

"I’ve tried numerous methods, but I can’t seem to help her take that crucial step. That’s why I wanted to ask for your insight, Master Lin."

Lin Jianyi nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on Su Yueling. "Do you know what the True Intention of Martial Arts is?"

Su Yueling pondered for a moment before answering cautiously, "It’s the crystallization of a Martial Artist’s Spiritual Will—an understanding of one’s own path and the commitment to follow it."

"Your words are not wrong, but they are superficial." Lin Jianyi shook his head gently. "You only grow your Spirit, but you do not truly understand the Martial Arts. Why does your power exist? What will your arts protect? What will they sever?"

He looked at Ren Bai. "Ren Bai, you’ve protected her too well."

"A flower in a greenhouse, no matter how lush its leaves and branches, can never withstand a true storm, much less develop a ’soul’ of its own."

Ren Bai’s expression turned solemn as he listened intently.

"Keeping her by your side and teaching her conventionally has only restricted her," Lin Jianyi continued.

"Her problem isn’t her technique or her talent, but her state of mind. What she needs is experience, hardship. She needs to see this vast world with her own eyes and feel the tremor between life and death."

"Let her walk onto the battlefield herself."

Su Yueling’s delicate frame trembled. A flash of understanding lit up her eyes, yet it was mixed with a hint of confusion.

Ren Bai took a deep breath, stood up, and gave Lin Jianyi a deep bow. "Thank you for your guidance, Master Lin! I understand."

As a Grandmaster, it wasn’t that he hadn’t sensed this problem himself; he simply prized Su Yueling too much to make such a difficult decision.

Now that Lin Jianyi had spoken, his words settling the matter, Ren Bai had no more reason to hesitate.

...

Star Martial Battle Network, a preliminary round arena for the Youth Tournament.

Xu Wuyi’s figure materialized once more. After twenty consecutive easy victories, he finally faced his first Martial Master Level opponent.

Across from him, a tall, sturdy young man in a combat uniform bearing the emblem of the Beiming Martial Arts Academy appeared at the same time.

His aura was steady and heavy, and the flow of his Qi and Blood carried the momentum of an Immovable Mountain.

[Opponent: Cheng Yagang]

[Affiliation: Beiming Martial Arts Academy]

[Life Energy Level: 33.4]

A level of 33.4. This was a veteran Martial Master who had already made significant progress on his path, far surpassing Xu Wuyi’s recently achieved level of 30.2.

When Cheng Yagang saw Xu Wuyi’s Life Energy Level, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before turning into solemnity.

’Even if a student from Star Martial University has a lower Energy Level than me, he’s bound to have plenty of tricks up his sleeve.’

The higher a Martial Artist’s tier, the less their Life Energy Level represented their true combat power, as everyone had numerous ways to augment their physique.

"Star Martial University is truly full of hidden masters." Cheng Yagang’s voice was deep, with the characteristic roughness of the Northern Lands. "Cheng Yagang. I ask for your guidance!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Xu Wuyi. Please," Xu Wuyi replied succinctly, tightening his grip on the Meteor Iron Long Spear in his hand.

With no more unnecessary words, the two moved almost simultaneously.

Cheng Yagang took a step forward, the arena floor letting out a dull THUD. His weapons were a pair of Heavy Iron Gloves.

His Iron Fists, wreathed in dense, earthy-yellow Qi and Blood, shot out like two cannonballs straight for Xu Wuyi’s face.

The force of the punch stirred the air, which compressed and let out an explosive crack.

Facing this immensely powerful blow, Xu Wuyi didn’t dodge or evade. The Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace cultivation technique inside him rapidly activated, and dark-red Qi and Blood surged like molten lava, gathering in his right arm as he met the attack with his spear!

BOOM!

The spear’s shaft and the Iron Fist collided, releasing a colossal, thunderous roar!

A violent shockwave radiated outward from the two of them, causing the virtual arena’s protective light screen to ripple.

Cheng Yagang’s expression changed drastically. He felt an unimaginable force crash into him—a power that was not only immense but also carried a scorching, penetrating quality. The impact sent his Qi and Blood into turmoil, and he was forced to stumble back three steps. STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!

In contrast, Xu Wuyi only swayed slightly before firmly planting his feet.

’How is that possible?!’ A storm of shock raged in Cheng Yagang’s heart.

’My Life Energy Level is 33.4, and I specialize in Body Refining. I thought my strength was nearly unmatched among those at my rank, yet I just lost out to a rookie who just became a Martial Master?’

’Are the students from Star Martial all this incredible?!’

What he didn’t know was that under the dual refinement of the Earth Fire Marrow and his Heart Fire, Xu Wuyi’s physique was far more powerful than others of the same rank, and the quality of his Qi and Blood was incomparably condensed.

In terms of basic physical attributes alone, he was even stronger than many Middle Level Martial Masters!

"What a powerful physique!" Cheng Yagang shed the last of his condescension, his gaze turning incredibly sharp.

He realized that in a conventional close-quarters fight, he would likely have trouble gaining any advantage.

"In that case..." Cheng Yagang let out a low shout. With a shake of his arms, the earthy-yellow Qi and Blood around him billowed out.

He no longer tried to close the distance. Instead, the Qi and Blood rapidly condensed and compressed in front of him, forming several incredibly solid, sharp-edged shuttles of Qi and Blood!

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The Qi and Blood shuttles tore through the air with an ear-piercing shriek, shooting toward Xu Wuyi from different angles.

This was a signature technique of a Martial Master—the external release of Qi and Blood. Its power far surpassed the Qi and Blood coating used at the Martial Artist stage and was strong enough to pierce through metal and stone.