On the screen was a brief yet shocking intelligence summary:

[Star Martial University Urgent Intelligence Update: A first-year student from the East Courtyard, Xu Wuyi (originally from Dongjiang Province), recently completed his breakthrough to the Martial Master Realm and has officially registered. Current Life Energy Level is confirmed to be 30.1. Assessment: Extremely high potential. Requires priority observation. Intelligence Credibility: A-Grade.]

The training room fell into a dead silence.

Song Xing’an jerked his head up to look at his brother, his eyes filled with utter disbelief. "Xu Wuyi? Who’s that? When did Star Martial get a guy like that? A Martial Master?! Are you kidding me? How long has it even been since the semester started?"

His voice was a few pitches higher from shock.

Song Xingxian’s brow furrowed, and his normally composed face was also filled with astonishment.

He rapidly tapped at his communicator, pulling up more background information on "Xu Wuyi" while muttering under his breath, "Xu Wuyi... Star Martial University... first year... Martial Master..."

With every word he spoke, the turmoil in his heart grew.

As one of the heirs the Song Family was pouring all its resources into grooming, he knew all too well what it meant for someone to break through to the Martial Master Realm on their own before the end of their first year.

This wasn’t something that could be achieved with resources alone; it required extraordinary talent, an indomitable will, and a profound understanding of Martial Arts.

Even with the full backing of the Song Family, the two brothers weren’t confident they could be pushed to the Martial Master Realm before September.

And it was only May!

"I’ve found some fragmented information." Song Xingxian’s voice was a little hoarse. "This person comes from a commoner background. He learned a B-Level Body Refining Technique, the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*, back in high school. His cultivation speed is incredibly fast."

"His performance in Star Martial University’s internal freshman challenges was astonishing, but he kept a relatively low profile after that... I never would have thought he’d make it this far without a single word!"

He lowered the communicator and took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil.

"Bro, this..." Song Xing’an still couldn’t accept it. "Could the intel be wrong? Or maybe he used some forbidden method to force his advancement?"

"The intelligence source is A-Grade, so we can basically rule out a mistake." Song Xingxian shook his head, his gaze turning extremely grave. "As for forbidden methods... the costs are enormous and the future repercussions are endless. Star Martial University and the Federation’s monitoring systems aren’t just for show."

"The fact that he could register without issue means his foundation is sound. It was a genuine breakthrough."

Song Xing’an opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn’t find the words to refute it.

Facts speak louder than words. The appearance of a first-year Martial Master had completely shattered their previous understanding of the power landscape among this year’s new students.

The gap between a Martial Master and an ordinary Martial Artist wasn’t something that talent and resources could bridge. Even if he was just an ordinary Martial Master, he was beyond what the two brothers could currently handle.

In other words, first place among the new students in the upcoming Federation Youth Martial Arts Competition was already claimed by this Xu Wuyi.

Unless he didn’t compete, who could possibly take it from him!

"Xu Wuyi..." Song Xing’an repeated the name, the look of contempt on his face long gone.

In its place was the gravity of facing a powerful opponent, along with a hint of bitterness at being blindsided and surpassed by a newcomer.

’What kind of monster is this guy, and where did he come from?’

Song Xingxian didn’t answer. His gaze fell back to the communicator’s screen, to the unfamiliar name and its brief description, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest.

’I originally thought our opponents in the youth competition would just be the usual few. Now, a brand-new and immensely powerful variable has barged in without any warning.’

In the training room of Starry Sky Martial Arts Academy’s two first-year stars, the previously relaxed atmosphere vanished, replaced by a heavy sense of urgency.

...

「Almost at the same time, in the Northern Lands, at Black Stone Academy.」

Inside an ancient blockhouse-style building, a powerfully built young man with cold, severe features, dressed in thin practice clothes, had just shattered a strength-testing pillar made of a special alloy with his bare hands.

He exuded a biting chill, and his breath condensed into white frost in the air. This was the genius of the Northern Lands, Zhai Zidu.

A student who looked like an assistant hurried over and handed him a report.

Zhai Zidu took it and gave it a casual glance, then froze.

On his face, which seemed to have been frozen for a millennium, a rare flicker of emotion appeared as his brow furrowed.

"Xu Wuyi... A Martial Master?" he muttered to himself, his voice as cold as the winds of the Northern Lands. "Star Martial University..."

He was silent for a moment before crumpling the report in his hand. An icy battle intent flared in his eyes.

"Two more hours of training today."

...

「Star Martial University, Hidden Dragon Garden, Villa #7.」

Xu Wuyi was completely unaware of the stir he had caused in the outside world. Or rather, he didn’t care.

All his energy was focused on consolidating his new Realm and familiarizing himself with his newfound power.

In the underground Cultivation Room, he drilled the *Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear* over and over, the long spear tearing through the air with a low rumble like wind and thunder.

After breaking through to the Martial Master Realm, his Qi and Blood circulated ceaselessly throughout his body, greatly increasing his stamina when using Combat Skills. His Spear Momentum also became more fluid and tyrannical.

Occasionally, he would activate the [Blood Burning Seal]. The dark gold [Undying Flame] would flicker and coil around the tip of his spear, adding an eerie destructive power to his already formidable Spear Technique.

The surrounding air shimmered, distorted by the heat, and gave off an unnerving aura.

In front of him no longer sat a solitary Earth Fire Marrow Lamp, but two of them, placed side by side.

The dark-red lamps emitted a faint glow. The concentrated Earth Fire Marrow within continuously released pure Fire Attribute Energy, which flowed like two searing streams into Xu Wuyi’s body, greedily absorbed.

Purchasing the second Earth Fire Marrow Lamp had been Anna’s suggestion after he completed his Martial Master registration.

"According to the analysis of your physical data model, after advancing to the Martial Master rank, your Qi and Blood capacity and quality have significantly increased. The Energy from a single portion of Earth Fire Marrow can no longer meet the high-efficiency operational requirements of the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*."

"Forcibly extending the catalysis time would cause energy utilization efficiency to drop significantly, resulting in waste. Using two portions of Earth Fire Marrow simultaneously, while increasing the initial investment, maximizes combined cultivation efficiency and resource utilization, making it more economical in the long run."

Anna’s calm, electronic voice echoed in his mind.

Looking at the 800 points that had instantly vanished from his personal account, Xu Wuyi couldn’t help the corner of his mouth from twitching.

Each Earth Fire Marrow Lamp was worth a small fortune.

Fortunately, thanks to the mission in the mines and his previous savings, he still had a little over one thousand points left in reserve after buying the Earth Fire Marrow. Otherwise, he really couldn’t afford this rate of consumption.

’Cultivation in the Martial Master Stage really is just burning money at every step,’ he sighed to himself.

But biting the bullet and making the investment was worth it.

The double dose of Earth Fire Marrow energy surged into his body. Channeled by the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*, it was like adding accelerant to an already blazing furnace.

His Qi and Blood were being refined and purified with much greater efficiency.