Refining the tendons was a painful process, but a rewarding one.

As his progress continued, Yu Fei felt his flexibility increase dramatically. Things like doing the splits were no trouble at all, and the transitions between his martial arts techniques became more fluid and agile!

...

"Not bad. You’ve essentially mastered the Cyan Lotus Sword Seal and reached the minor success stage. This meets the basic cultivation requirements for the Green Lotus Sword Nurturing Skill. Next, we need to begin consecrating the sword."

"Teacher, what exactly do I need to do?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

During his regular martial arts classes, Yu Fei no longer participated in basic training. Instead, he cultivated the Cyan Lotus Sword Seal under Yan Sea’s guidance, working hard on the prerequisite for the Tribulation Sword lineage’s foundational technique.

He had a feeling that since this Grandmaster-level special Cultivation Technique had so many prerequisites, successfully mastering it would surely bring him enormous gains.

Yan Sea looked at him warmly and patted his shoulder, saying,

"In ancient times, blood sacrifices often involved various rituals and could even leave the practitioner’s vitality severely damaged. The process was also accompanied by great risks, and some methods had very serious side effects.

"Modern martial studies are different. We’ve broken them down in terms of ritual, materials, and principles. There’s no danger; it’s quite simple. I’ll take you to the school infirmary."

The two then arrived at the school hospital where Yu Fei had previously broken through the physical barrier.

Yan Sea led Yu Fei to the records room on the third floor. An elderly doctor who looked to be in his sixties was on duty inside.

"Yan Sea, is this the successor you’ve chosen?"

Zou Zhiming adjusted his glasses, carefully sizing up Yu Fei.

"Yes! For now, he’s the most suitable. There might be others in the future, but I won’t wait any longer!"

"So... you’ve decided!"

Yan Sea gave a bitter smile, the world-weariness and grief in his eyes vanishing in an instant!

"So be it. Do one’s best and leave the rest to fate! If Yu Fei succeeds, I’ll have fulfilled my master’s last request. If he fails..."

He trailed off, saying no more.

In truth, the Cyan Lotus Sword and Primordial Qi Sword Lotus Seed in Yan Sea’s possession were the last ones left.

The Primordial Qi Sword Lotus Seeds were one thing, as a few still existed in the Abyss. But the Cyan Lotus Sword was formed from his master’s condensed Sword Intent, and it was special—one sword could only be used by a single person for their cultivation. If Yu Fei failed, the Tribulation Sword lineage would become a thing of the past, a lost art in the history of the Martial Dao.

If Yu Fei’s cultivation failed, he would lose his last attachment. When that time came, he would go to the front lines.

A fight to the death... until he was slain in battle!

Zou Zhiming heaved a long sigh, looking at Yan Sea with a complicated expression. He understood the man’s resolve but couldn’t try to talk him out of it, because that would be an insult.

"According to regulations, I need to make a record of you teaching him a Cultivation Technique other than the Ox Subduing Pile Skill and Six Harmonies Killing Fist.

"Kid, your name is Yu Fei, isn’t it?"

Their conversation left Yu Fei completely baffled. Yan Sea had previously told him that he wouldn’t be told anything unless he could successfully build the Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation.

Yu Fei figured that Yan Sea must be at Nanguan Second Middle School to find an heir for his master’s Cultivation Technique, but there were too many things that couldn’t be explained.

For instance, if word got out about the Cultivation Technique of an eighth-stage Grandmaster, countless geniuses would be willing to try it. So why was he searching in a small place like Tianning County? Nanguan Second Middle School wasn’t even the best high school in the area.

Furthermore, the biggest mystery in all this was Yan Sea himself. How could a high school teacher, a mere third-stage Martial Artist, have a Grandmaster for a master—and an eighth-stage one at that?

Yu Fei couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Since Yan Sea offered no explanations, Yu Fei could only focus on his training.

"I’m Yu Fei! Student ID XG8356250X0037."

"Let me see..."

Zou Zhiming typed in the student ID one digit at a time, his movements sluggish, perhaps due to his age.

"Hm, broke through the physical barrier in just over six months... That’s adequate, I suppose."

He glanced back at Yu Fei again.

Yu Fei winced internally. ’He’s looking down on me.’

’This old man seems well-intentioned, but is he really unsatisfied with my martial arts realm?’

’I’m the coolest kid in the entire sophomore class at Nanguan Second Middle School, and I’m still getting looked down on...’

Zou Zhiming had seen the world. While breaking through the physical barrier in six months seemed outstanding in a small place like Tianning County, compared to a true prodigy, it was nothing special.

He didn’t understand why Yan Sea had chosen someone as ordinary as Yu Fei, but some things were best not said aloud. ’Well, so be it!’

"Come with me, you two."

After logging the information, Zou Zhiming led the two of them to the laboratory.

"Draw 500ml of blood every day for a week!"

Zou Zhiming instructed, "During this time, eat plenty of blood-enriching foods. Even though a Martial Artist’s constitution is strong, it’s best not to practice any Pile Skills for the next two weeks!"

"It’s fine. I’ve prepared a Profound Yuan Blood Elixir, so it won’t affect his training," Yan Sea said calmly.

"Oh? In that case, mind the dosage. This boy probably can’t handle a whole elixir. I suggest you give him a quarter on the second, fifth, and seventh days, and have him take the remaining portion after ten days. That way, not only will it not drain his vitality, it will actually invigorate his blood and consolidate his foundation, which will also be beneficial for his future cultivation!"

After watching the nurse finish drawing Yu Fei’s blood, Zou Zhiming had her place it in a refrigerated cabinet for storage.

"I need to process Yu Fei’s source blood. You two can come back in ten days to pick up the refined and vitalized blood."

"Alright, thank you for your help."

Yu Fei didn’t ask any more questions on the way. He knew nothing about blood sacrifices; it wasn’t a topic covered in the high school martial arts curriculum.

Yan Sea, however, began to explain:

"What we call a blood sacrifice usually refers to a method of forging a deeper connection between an object and its user, allowing it to display greater power. The main drawback is that it’s quite draining.

"Through modern martial research, we’ve abandoned the ancient refining method that used heart’s blood. We use a Martial Artist’s own regular blood; venous and arterial blood are both acceptable.

"After the blood is drawn, it undergoes a series of processes like centrifugation and extraction. During this time, certain energy-rich substances are introduced, ultimately allowing ordinary blood to achieve the same effect as heart’s blood.

"So that covers the matter of the blood.

"As for the rituals and timings involved in ancient blood sacrifices, most have since been proven useless. The few rituals that did work were only for creating a special magnetic field, and we can construct that artificially now!

"The consecration for the Cyan Lotus Sword doesn’t need any of that. When it was created, it was meant to be used as a temporary medium, so it only requires blood.

"As for the vitality you’ll lose from the blood draws, that’s easy to deal with. I’ve prepared a Profound Yuan Blood Elixir for you. It’s a medicine used to treat severe Qi Blood damage in second-stage Martial Artists. We’ll just use it as Doctor Zou prescribed. Come find me tomorrow at this same time, after your blood has been drawn."

Yan Sea’s explanation was meticulous and detailed. Now that they had truly reached this step, Yu Fei was starting to see what Yan Sea was thinking.

In truth, Yan Sea didn’t have much confidence in whether Yu Fei could establish the Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation. At this point, he probably just wanted an answer. And yet, deep down, he hadn’t completely given up on his fantasies and wild hopes, which was why his attitude toward Yu Fei was so conflicted.