New Tempering Method Announced

Ministry of Education.

Office.

"Minister, this Tempering Method was submitted by Lyu Zhen. It has already passed multiple rounds of testing. The current data shows that it can reduce Blood Qi consumption by 5%–10%, and increase the success rate of non-martial artists completing their First and Second Bone Tempering by 5%–10%."

Zhang Beihao, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, handed a top-secret file to Zhang Tao. Lyu Zhen had only just submitted it. Zhang Beihao had merely given it a cursory glance before rushing it over.

No one knew just how shocked he had been upon seeing this new Tempering Method. Over the past several decades, countless researchers had tried to create new Tempering Methods, yet none had succeeded.

And yet Lyu Zhen had quietly come up with one. There had been no progress reports from him concerning Tempering Methods these past few years, yet all of a sudden, he had produced a success.

A new Tempering Method?

Zhang Tao accepted the file without betraying any emotion and began reading it carefully.

The first page introduced the origins of the Tempering Method.

"Su Yi?"

Zhang Tao read the name aloud in disbelief. He had never expected this new cultivation method to have been created by a student who had only just entered Freshman Year.

The name looked familiar. Right—he had been the National College Entrance Exam Champion before, and during his interview, he had been Second-Rank Mid Stage.

His cultivation was weak, but the declaration he had made had suited Zhang Tao's stomach quite well. Martial artists ought to shoulder their own responsibilities.

"What Su Yi?"

Vice Minister Zhang was somewhat dumbfounded. Hadn't this been created by Lyu Zhen?

Zhang Tao was left a little speechless. "You didn't read the file?"

"I only looked at the results in the materials Lyu Zhen gave me, then hurriedly brought the file over."

This matter was far too important. When the reduced Blood Qi consumption was multiplied by the number of people cultivating this Tempering Method, who knew how many resources would be saved in a year.

And there was also the increased success rate of Bone Tempering. How many more powerful experts would emerge in the future because of that?

Zhang Tao nodded lightly but did not answer who Su Yi was. Instead, he continued reading.

He had modified the Tempering Method four times based purely on intuition?

Marrow Like Mercury? Spiritual Power perception?

And in the end, he had even created a Tempering Method that could be widely disseminated?

Nineteen years old, and already Third Grade Mid Stage when he enrolled?

The information Lyu Zhen had provided on Su Yi was so detailed that Zhang Tao felt as though he were reading a myth.

Could someone truly modify a Tempering Method on their own while still a non-martial artist?

Could such a genius truly exist, someone who relied solely on their own instincts?

Questions surfaced one after another in Zhang Tao's mind. Though there were explanations, they were far too forced.

Could someone be investing in him?

That final question instantly filled his mind.

But wasn't this far too high-profile? Zhang Tao was deeply puzzled.

At the end, Lyu Zhen had stated that Su Yi dared to bear all responsibility and glory!

The meaning was simple: the name on it would be Su Yi's, and all the glory would belong to Su Yi as well.

Could he truly be a genius?

The alterations to the Tempering Method were quite interesting too. From Zhang Tao's perspective, they were indeed effective.

It seemed he truly needed to keep a close eye on him. So long as his heart was with humanity, any secrets or fortuitous encounters he possessed did not matter.

After reading all the materials, Zhang Tao handed them to Zhang Beihao and said with a light smile, "Take a look at this."

Zhang Beihao accepted the file and examined it carefully. He very much wanted to know what was going on with this Su Yi!

After a long while, Zhang Beihao raised his head, unable to hide his inner shock as he looked at Zhang Tao in utter confusion.

He wondered if he was dreaming. Was this the autobiography of some immortal?

A non-martial artist had modified a Tempering Method himself, and in the end, it could actually temper all the way to the marrow—this was simply absurd beyond belief!

Had Lyu Zhen gone mad?

Zhang Tao glanced at him and said after some thought, "There's no problem with the Tempering Method. Promote it! Put Su Yi's name down as well! First, let martial artists in the mid-rank realm familiarize themselves with it. Lower Three Grades martial artists, and even non-martial artists, must cultivate it under the protection of a mid-rank Guardian."

"Minister, shouldn't a genius like this be properly protected? If we announce it just like this, I'm afraid some accident might happen."

Zhang Beihao was somewhat surprised. He felt Su Yi was still too weak and ought to lie low until he became stronger before revealing himself.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Tao said solemnly, "No. Hardship is also nourishment for a genius's growth, and this was his own choice. Don't overlook his age either. A nineteen-year-old genius—how could he be willing to lie low?"

Zhang Beihao nodded. That was indeed true. Then he suddenly asked, "What about the reward Lyu Zhen applied for on his behalf?"

The reward—that gave Zhang Tao a bit of a headache.

Su Yi's strength was too low. It was difficult to give him anything; for all they knew, the moment they gave him something good, it would be snatched away.

"Give him ten thousand Credit Points first, along with three chances to exchange for government resources. Let him exchange for whatever he needs himself."

Based on Magic Martial Academy's credit-point exchange rate, 10,000 Credit Points were equivalent to 300 million in cash—not much.

What was truly valuable were the three chances to exchange for resources. The government's and Military Department's resources dwindled with every use, and many rare resources were not available for public exchange at all.

Zhang Beihao hesitated slightly. "Wouldn't 10,000 Credit Points be a little too little?"

Zhang Tao shook his head. "If we give him too much, he won't be able to hold onto it. Four, five, and six—give him 10,000 Credit Points with each breakthrough into those three grades. That way, there won't be too many people coveting it."

"Alright! I'll go make the arrangements right away!"

The reward plan was swiftly relayed to Su Yi by Lyu Zhen, who also informed him that the first batch of Credit Points was ready for collection and left him a contact method for exchanging resources.

Such efficiency caught Su Yi pleasantly by surprise. He had been planning to borrow some Credit Points from Wu Kuishan.

This worked out perfectly. With the initial 10,000 Credit Points and the subsequent 30,000 from future breakthroughs, he had a total reward of 40,000 Credit Points.

What delighted him most were the three opportunities to exchange for resources.

Life Essence, Hundred-Tempering Fruit, Vein-Shaping Flower, Spirit-Nourishing Fruit, and the like were all resources he would soon be able to use.

Life Essence in particular was a sacred medicine for healing injuries.

Su Yi immediately went to the Logistics Office to collect his 10,000 Credit Points, then exchanged them for ten third-grade Bone Tempering Pills, thirty third-grade Blood Qi Pills, as well as some Healing Pills, Healing Water, and other medicinal treatments.

"Thirty third-grade Blood Qi Pills should be enough to practice Battle Arts."

After spending 2,000 Credit Points, he intended to use all 8,000 remaining Credit Points to exchange for Life Essence.

As for using up one of his exchange opportunities, Su Yi did not care much. Once they were gone, he could simply take that newly deduced Tempering Method and optimize it again.

The thought suddenly struck him—why bother with another deduction? Wasn't Optimization better?

Though it did require quite a bit more: 50,000 Energy Points, whereas a deduction required 100,000 Energy Points.

His fourth optimization of the Tempering Method had only required 100,000 points. Was it because he would not be cultivating it himself?

But with the New Tempering Method about to be released, he did not want to optimize the new version.

He would wait until the hype died down and the Energy Points he gained decreased before releasing another new one. At present, he was only accumulating around 1,200 Energy Points per day.

2 PM.

The Ministry of Education released an official notice regarding the New Tempering Method.

It outlined the advantages and disadvantages of the New Tempering Method. Lower Three Grades martial artists and non-martial artists had to undergo their first cultivation under the Guardianship of a middle-grade martial artist.

Finally, it highlighted the creator of the New Tempering Method—Su Yi.

As the notice was issued, all sorts of media outlets and television stations began reporting on it.

The 96th National Top Scholar Creates a New Tempering Method!!!

Martial Universities were the first to erupt. More than 99 percent of Martial University students were martial artists below the middle grades, or even non-martial artists. They were the most direct beneficiaries of the New Tempering Method.

And its creator was actually a Freshman Year student from this intake!!!

Demon City Martial University saw the strongest reaction of all, with everyone searching for Su Yi's whereabouts.

The Martial Arts World was shaken as well. Though this was merely a Tempering Method, who did not have a few younger descendants in their family?

They did not care much about reducing the consumption of Blood Qi, but increasing the chances of non-martial artists completing their first, second, and third Bone Temperings was an entirely different matter.

Though even a single Bone Tempering could lead to becoming a Grandmaster, most Grandmasters had undergone a Second Bone Tempering.

There were still no successful cases of a Third Bone Tempering, though perhaps that was related to the difficulty of completing one.

3 PM Huaxia Time.

Many countries issued official documents regarding the New Tempering Method.

Su Yi's name resounded across the globe!

Though Su Yi still did not know of the storm brewing outside, he could feel it through his surging Energy Points.

In just over ten minutes, his Energy Points had shot up by nearly a thousand.

At that moment, Su Yi was seated in the principal's office. The Old Principal and Wu Kuishan stared at him with blazing eyes, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

Just as Su Yi was beginning to fidget, the Old Principal finally spoke. Rather than asking about the New Tempering Method, he said with a sigh, "Child, you've grown up. If Mingjie and Xiuyuan could see what you've achieved now, they would be very comforted."

At the Old Principal's words, Su Yi's eyes instantly reddened. He lowered his head without speaking.

The Old Principal continued on his own, "When I saw you like that three years ago, my heart ached terribly too. Nansheng was looking after you, but how could that rough fellow possibly take proper care of you?

"Later, when you refused Nansheng's offer to move into his home, I knew you were strong. Then keep being strong—until you become a towering tree that reaches the heavens."

Su Yi raised his head. Though he had reined in his emotions, his eyes were still slightly red.

Looking at the Old Principal, he smiled softly. "Grandpa Principal, tell me... will I become their pride?"

The Old Principal did not answer immediately. He slowly walked over to Su Yi, gently rested his right hand on Su Yi's head, and stroked it. "You already are."

"Am I?" Su Yi murmured.

"Of course. From the moment you made up your mind, you were already meant to be their pride."

The Old Principal spoke with complete certainty.

Then he patted Su Yi on the shoulder and said proudly, "You are no longer just your parents' pride, or your teachers' pride, or my pride—you are the pride of the entire Magic Martial Academy, even of all Huaxia.

Has Capital Martial Academy ever produced a student like you? No! Have foreign countries ever produced a student like you? Neither have they!"

Su Yi merely smiled and said nothing.

The Old Principal paused, then said gently, "So, Xiao Yi, go do what you want to do. Become the person you want to become.

Do not let hatred cloud your eyes, and do not lose yourself because of honor."