Island Master's Manor.
The flames in the six furnaces gradually died out. The last crimson tongue of fire licked at the furnace walls before slowly turning into wisps of smoke and drifting away.
Wu Heng sat cross-legged in the center. The bright-red patterns on his skin, glowing like heated iron, gradually cooled and gleamed with a metallic luster under the sunlight.
At that moment, the System Prompt appeared.
Trait Unlocked: Mystic Bird Scorched Pattern
Wu Heng's gaze sharpened, and he hesitated slightly.
A trait had been unlocked!
That also meant he had completed the first stage of the Body Tempering Art.
He remembered discussing the Body Tempering Art with the Empress Dowager. She had mentioned skill cultivation before—even people with exceptional talent needed more than half a year to gain any feel for it, rather than directly breaking through the first stage.
Yet he had unlocked the first stage after only his second attempt.
But on second thought, it made sense.
His physique had long surpassed that of ordinary professionals. His attributes were high, and he had fused the genetic advantages of various races.
If his progress were still slow under those conditions, that would have been downright ridiculous.
Either there was something wrong with the cultivation method, or it simply did not suit him.
Wu Heng continued reading the description of the unlocked trait.
Mystic Bird Scorched Pattern: Greatly increases the toughness and defense of the skin.
The effect matched what the Empress Dowager had described, but it was somewhat vague. There was no detailed explanation of just how much it could improve his defenses.
The residual heat from the furnaces still distorted the air, while ashes drifted down like black snow.
Seeing that he was still sitting inside, the Empress Dowager flew in and said, "Did