The dilapidated Liu family mansion, basement.

Liu Chuanwu hurried down and stopped before an ancient bronze coffin heavy with age.

Staring at the coffin, he spoke with reverence and excitement.

“Master, I finally found a peerless genius with the potential to open acupoints!”

The bronze coffin gave no response.

The basement was silent.

But Liu Chuanwu went on speaking.

“That genius just turned eighteen. He’s had the Blood‑Tempering Art translation for only three months, yet has already achieved full first‑round tempering and begun the second round. With such physical talent, he’ll one day shatter the limits of the ordinary level through the Path of Pureblood Humans, evolving into an Advanced Being, a Rare‑Tier Being, even an Epic Being. By then you can rely on him to supply vitality daily to sustain your life, no longer trapped in this coffin. With your strength to protect us, with you and that genius leading, the Celestial Pavilion will flourish on Earth, raising humanity to ascend in flesh and blood!”

He was thrilled as he spoke.

Still, there was no response from the coffin.

The scene was eerie, like a madman talking to himself in a cramped, dim basement.

When no answer came, Liu Chuanwu frowned slightly but made no other move.

He simply stood quietly before the coffin, waiting.

Nearly three minutes later, at last a faint woman’s voice drifted out from within.

“Mm…”

Just that single syllable.

Then silence. The coffin’s occupant sank back into slumber.

Even that word had exhausted her strength for the day.

Liu Chuanwu’s brow furrowed deeper.

The woman within grew weaker by the day.

Decades ago, when the bronze coffin was discovered in the ruins, she could still speak in fragments.

Now, decades later, even a single syllable took half a minute of effort and left her drained.

Her end felt near.

He shook his head and soon left, leaving the basement quiet so she could rest.

Emerging upstairs, he sighed.

“If only she could converse normally. Then I wouldn’t have to waste so much time studying the Opening‑Aperture Chapter of the Blood‑Tempering Art. I could just ask the founder of the Pureblood path directly for her insights—so much simpler, so much faster.”

It was a pity. When he had first moved the coffin to the mansion’s basement, the woman’s mind had been clear enough for conversation.

But the language barrier hindered them.

By the time they had learned to understand one another, her mind had grown clouded and weak.

Now, even one syllable sent her back into deep sleep, making dialogue impossible.

“I hope Zichen succeeds in evolving through the Pureblood path into an Advanced Being before she passes away. Then he can supply her vitality to keep her conscious. With her guidance, the Blood‑Tempering Art could spread wider and reach greater heights.”

He muttered to himself.

* * *

Research Institute.

Lin Zichen and Song Yuyan, just finished sparring, sat on the sofa chatting.

“Zichen, your Blood‑Tempering Art progress has reached full first‑round tempering. You can try opening acupoints. I’ll teach you the latest method. Try it and see if it works.”

“Alright, I’ll try.”

“Listen carefully.”

Song Yuyan’s words were crisp.

“The human body has 366 acupoints throughout. According to the Blood‑Tempering Art, the easiest to open are the four surrounding the heart. Your task is to sense those four, then drive vitality to strike them, ten strikes per second. The harder the strike, the better. But be careful not to hit the heart itself, or the pain will spasm it—possibly killing you instantly. And pay attention to these points…

First…

Second…”

She laid out every detail of her years of attempts, speaking for nearly half an hour.

When at last she finished, she said, “That’s all. Try sensing those four around your heart.”

“No need, I sensed them during summer vacation. All 366 acupoints—I know their locations. I can begin striking directly as you said.”

With a thought, Lin Zichen drove his vitality against the four near his heart.

Ten times per second, as hard as he could.

For over ten minutes he hammered them.

But none budged.

All he felt was pain—sharp, grinding pain.

Clenching his teeth, sweat streaming, he tried again and again.

Still nothing. They would not open.

“It’s fine. No reaction is normal. You’ve only completed one round of tempering. Perhaps your body isn’t strong enough yet. Or maybe my method’s flawed. Either way, there’s no rush. Plenty of time.”

Song Yuyan comforted him like a caring elder sister, worried he might lose heart after such smooth progress since joining the Pavilion.

But inside, he was calm.

Failure was normal; success now would be odd.

He’d only trained for three months.

To have come this far was enough.

The acupoints could wait. One day they’d open.

Even if not, it didn’t matter. He wasn’t bound to this art.

At worst he could grind it out with Use It or Lose It.

With enough time and effort, even grinding could evolve him into an Advanced Being.

And if he could complete five rounds of tempering, then the time spent on the Blood‑Tempering Art would already be well repaid—indeed, a bargain.