“By the way Zichen, how are you hiding your Biological Level and tempering progress so well? Even the Dean couldn’t see through it, not even Principal Yuan?”

Song Yuyan sat down beside Lin Zichen, one hand crossed over her chest, the other propping up her chin, watery eyes fixed on him, her voice full of curiosity.

Hearing that question, Lin Zichen suddenly realized that this tall, mixed‑blood beauty really had no sense of boundaries.

‘Was this the kind of secret you could casually ask about?’

This sort of trump card was something you often kept hidden even from family or partners—how could you possibly tell an outsider?

He complained inwardly, then smiled politely.

“Sorry, Sister Yan, it’s not convenient to say.”

“Zichen, don’t be so stingy. Just tell me, won’t you?”

Song Yuyan batted her light‑blue eyes, her tone tinged with pleading.

“I’m just too curious. In exchange I’ll tell you one secret—you can ask me anything, no matter how private.”

She truly was curious, her thirst for knowledge strong.

If he didn’t answer, she would feel unbearably itchy inside.

“Sister Yan, it really isn’t convenient.”

This time Lin Zichen’s tone was more serious, making it clear he was refusing so she wouldn’t push further.

Seeing how serious he was, Song Yuyan knew she wouldn’t get it out of him and had to give up.

Still, the itch of curiosity gnawed at her.

So she compromised with another question.

“Then how about this, you’re Biological Level 9, first round of body tempering complete. That’s your full strength, right? Nothing hidden?”

“No. Blood‑Tempering Art, one full body tempering, Biological Level 9—that’s all my strength now.”

He spoke plainly, satisfying her curiosity.

With that itch scratched, Song Yuyan felt relief.

Smiling at him, she said, “As thanks, I’ll answer one of your questions later—anything at all. Just ask.”

Lin Zichen thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“I’ll hold onto it. If I think of something later, I’ll ask.”

“Alright, I’ll make a note in your WeChat, so if you forget I can remind you.”

She pulled out her phone, opened WeChat and in his profile notes wrote down that she owed him a secret.

She didn’t like owing people; if she could pay it back, she would.

After a moment she looked back up at him.

“By the way, you’re Level 9, I’m Level 9. Want to spar?”

“Sure.”

He agreed without a second thought.

Sparring with someone of the same level sharpened awareness of his own strength and improved combat skills—why not?

Soon the two found a more open space to spar.

Before starting, Song Yuyan gave a reminder.

“My tempering progress: second round of Skin Tempering, Flesh Tempering and one‑fifth into Bone Tempering. My body is quite a bit tougher than yours. You can go all out, don’t hold back out of fear of hurting me.”

“Alright, I got it.”

That’s what he said, but when it came to sparring he wouldn’t go all out.

If it came down only to level and tempering progress, his body wasn’t tougher than hers.

But he had all sorts of powerful attributes backing him.

Damage boosters like Natural Selection and Social Animal.

Perception boosters like Danger Perception.

And vision enhancers like Eye of the Sky.

With all that, his overall strength clearly surpassed hers.

If he went all out, she likely couldn’t withstand it.

After all, completing the second round of tempering only brought her to about the strength of an ordinary Advanced Level 1 fighter.

And last Saturday night, that’s exactly what Catwoman had temporarily become when she fully activated her Shadow Nightcat genes.

Even so, Lin Zichen had killed her alone and unscathed.

There was an element of surprise, but a kill was still a kill.

All the damage was real.

Compared to that, Song Yuyan, only into second‑round Bone Tempering, stood no chance.

“Ready?”

Seeing Lin Zichen take position, she asked.

He nodded, “Ready.”

“Good, then let’s start. You attack first, I’ll defend. Show me your strength.”

She spoke with a mentor’s air.

Without wasting words, he lunged and kicked at her abdomen.

He held back, using only half his strength to test her defense.

Bang!

His foot slammed into her abdomen, driving her back several steps.

‘So strong!’

Shock flickered in her mind. Pain radiated from her belly, but she forced a calm expression.

This guy was absurdly strong.

Just one round of tempering and he could still hurt her already twice‑tempered flesh.

With his compatibility with the Blood‑Tempering Art, it wouldn’t be long before he surpassed her.

‘No way! I need to put on a show while I still can, otherwise I’ll lose the chance.’

Determined, she adopted a teacherly pose, shaking her head at him.

“Zichen, I’m not satisfied with that kick. If you have a chance to strike, you must maximize the damage. Aim for a devastating blow. Don’t waste an opening. I gave you the first move—you shouldn’t have gone for my belly. You should’ve aimed for a vital spot. See my eyes? You should gouge them. My groin? Kick it. My throat? Chop down with a hand blade. Always target the vitals. That’s the right way to fight!”

Staring into his eyes, she asked sternly.

“In battle there’s only life or death. No martial virtue. Understand?”

“I understand.”

Lin Zichen nodded.

He agreed wholeheartedly. In combat there was only life and death, no virtue.

If you could ambush, ambush.

If you could strike a vital, strike it.

Honor got you killed.

And death was the likely outcome of mistakes.

Satisfied, Song Yuyan beamed.

“Very good! Now we fight for real. Let’s see if you can last five minutes.”

With that she blurred forward, attacking first.

Letting him have the first move? Forget it. That earlier kick had nearly killed her.

Oncoming, Lin Zichen didn’t dodge.

He charged too, meeting her head‑on.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

They collided again and again, blows ringing out, each impact sharp and painful to hear.

But only she was in pain, her face twisting in grimaces, practically a series of meme expressions.

Lin Zichen felt fine, but to spare her pride he acted like it hurt, baring his teeth.

One thing stood out: though her body looked slim, her muscles were surprisingly dense, compact yet incredibly powerful.

The opposite of Shen Qinghan.

Her muscles were soft, fluid, like water, a joy to touch.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After over a minute they were evenly matched.

And Song Yuyan was stunned.

‘What?! Why is he this strong?! I was using all my strength, but it’s still even?! Wasn’t I supposed to crush him? Am I going to lose?’

The thought pained her.

She had just lectured him like a master—if she lost, how humiliating.

Thankfully, Lin Zichen understood courtesy.

At the three‑minute mark, he feigned a missed dodge and let her kick him out of bounds, conceding.

“Zichen, your future is bright.”

Song Yuyan praised him.

“I’ve trained ten more years than you, yet with eighty percent of my power, we fought evenly. Only when I used ninety percent did I barely win. With talent like yours, in just a year, I won’t be your match.”

She added, “So for this year, while I’m still stronger, I’ll be your sparring partner and help sharpen your combat skills.”

“Alright. Thanks, Sister Yan.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Waving off his thanks, she smiled.

“I’ve been stuck at Level 9 for years, nearly depressed. But with you, I see hope of advancing to Advanced. Really, I should be thanking you for leading the way.”

He smiled.

“Then we’ll help each other.”

“Yes, help each other.”

Saying it, she smiled sincerely.

Ten years in the Celestial Pavilion had been bitter.

Once the shining runner‑up in Kyoto, she had joined the Pavilion, taken the Pureblood path and been stuck at Level 9. People mocked her as ordinary.

She always acted indifferent, but inside she hurt.

After all, she had been a top student. Such people always had pride.

But now none of that mattered.

With Lin Zichen in the Pavilion, even she could soar with him into a bright future.

As repayment, she could only offer whatever help she could.

Being his sparring partner was one such help.

“Zichen, come on, let’s continue!”

“Alright.”

He agreed and the two sparred again.

[You are in combat, Vitality +1, Combat Skill +1, Combat Awareness +1…]