Breakthrough! The Name of a Genius

Six years later.

Great Gan Dynasty, one of the major cities of the Northern Border.

Qingyuan City, within Qingliu Alley.

From the Training Ground in the corner of a three-courtyard residence came a hearty voice of praise.

"Not bad. This Basic Blade Art has already reached perfection!"

Liu Xingsheng reclined in a lounge chair beside the Training Ground, dressed in training clothes. His one arm held Little One, and his eyes were full of amusement.

"Brother Pot, awesome~"

A soft, sweet voice rang out as Little One struggled in his arms and began clapping.

Within the Training Ground.

Luo Chen slowly let out a long breath.

Over the past six years, he had followed Liu Xingsheng to live in this great city.

Just as he had promised back then, Liu Xingsheng had treated him as his own son.

Even four years ago, when Liu Xingsheng and Aunt had happily welcomed a daughter, they had never slighted him in the least.

To help him lay a solid foundation, they spent dozens of taels of silver every month nourishing his body.

Now, six years had passed. Today, he had come of age, and his innate physique had fully formed.

Martial arts—the extraordinary power of this world.

Liu Xingsheng rose to his feet and carried the little girl over to the youth.

Looking at the spirited, straight-backed young man before him.

Liu Xingsheng spoke with satisfaction.

"Your talent far surpasses mine. Coupled with your extraordinary comprehension, given time, you will surely surpass me."

"But do not grow arrogant. Remember, there are heavens beyond heavens!"

"Uncle Liu, I understand!"

Luo Chen nodded lightly, knowing that he was being cautioned.

"Brother Pot, hug!"

While the two spoke, Little One in Liu Xingsheng's arms started fidgeting again. She stretched out her little arms and leaned toward Luo Chen.

"Yaoyao."

Looking at the little girl, the corners of Luo Chen's lips rose unconsciously.

He reached out and took her into his arms.

The three of them walked toward the study along the covered corridor.

Inside the study.

Liu Xingsheng took out a martial arts manual and handed it to Luo Chen.

"The martial path begins with Body Refinement, which is divided into four major refinements!"

"First Refinement: Skin Tempering! It tempers the body's skin and flesh, making it astonishingly resilient, tough as cowhide, and greatly increasing the body's defenses."

"Second, Bone Forging! It tempers every bone in the body. The spine becomes like a dragon, the limbs strong and vigorous. At major accomplishment in Bone Forging, a casual swing of one arm can wield eighteen thousand jin of force. Talented martial artists can achieve several times that."

"Third, Muscle Tendon Transformation! It tempers the body's great tendons. Once mastered, it grants extreme speed and several times the explosive power."

"Lastly comes Blood Circulation, moving the body's qi and blood through the heavenly cycle and condensing one's foundation. Such martial artists are no longer like ordinary people; every move they make carries immense might!"

Liu Xingsheng spoke at length in one breath, then lifted his teacup for a sip as he waited for Luo Chen to digest it all.

Luo Chen rapidly absorbed the information. Though he had heard of these things over the past six years, Uncle Liu's explanation was far more detailed than anything he had known before.

A moment later.

Luo Chen raised his head and looked at Liu Xingsheng's empty left sleeve, asking softly.

Liu Xingsheng had lost that arm three years ago while carrying out a mission.

At the time, Yaoyao had only recently been born. With too many concerns weighing on his heart, he had suffered severe injuries, and Liu Xingsheng had retired from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

"Then... what realm are you in, Uncle Liu?"

"Haha, I was quite a capable man in the Demon Suppression Bureau back then—a Blood Moving Peak Demon Suppression Captain!"

Liu Xingsheng laughed heartily, clearly proud of himself, though a trace of loss was hidden in his eyes.

Three years ago, chasing down that Demonic Beast had cost him far more than an arm. It had also damaged his foundation.

His martial path had been severed.

His heart was nowhere near as at ease as he appeared before his family.

That afternoon, Luo Chen spoke with Liu Xingsheng at length in the study.

Many of his old doubts were finally cleared away.

It was not until dusk drew near that Aunt called them to dinner.

That night.

Luo Chen returned to his room, sat cross-legged on his bed, and closed his eyes in thought.

Streams of information surfaced in his mind.

[Technique: Crimson Sun Breathing Technique (Not Initiated)]

[Would you like to consume lifespan to simulate cultivation?]

"The Crimson Sun Breathing Technique is a superior technique used by the Demon Suppression Bureau for Foundation Establishment. Uncle Liu made tremendous sacrifices for the Bureau before he was permitted to pass it down within his family, but it must not be taught to outsiders."

Luo Chen took a deep breath, knowing that his starting point had already surpassed that of many martial artists.

"A genius, huh!"

Muttering softly, Luo Chen recalled Uncle Liu's praise.

He could not deny that he might possess some talent, but it was absolutely impossible for him to train a Basic Blade Art to perfection in merely ten days.

But just because he could not do it did not mean his cheat could not.

Come, hack!

"Consume ten years of lifespan to simulate the Crimson Flame Breathing Technique!"

[You cultivated the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique for one year. The breathing technique was initiated; your breath became long and blazing, utterly firm and pure yang.]

[You cultivated the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique for five years. The breathing technique reached major accomplishment, and the Skin Tempering realm was within reach.]

[You cultivated the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique for ten years. The breathing technique reached perfection. Cultivating with a perfected breathing technique, you could enter First Refinement in three days!]

Within the room, Luo Chen abruptly opened his eyes.

A long, blazing breath flowed from his nose and mouth, burning bright and fierce.

Ten years of memories and experience cultivating the Crimson Sun Breathing Technique rapidly surfaced from the depths of his mind.

It was as though he had been born mastering it, without the slightest delay.

With every inhalation and exhalation, streams of warmth circulated through his limbs and bones before finally returning to the Dantian Sea of Suffering.

According to the information emerging in his mind, with the perfected Crimson Sun Breathing Technique, he would need only three days to enter the First Refinement realm.

Though this was the effect of a perfected technique, it was also thanks to the medicinal meals worth dozens of taels of silver he had consumed every month over the years.

[Technique: Crimson Sun Breathing Technique (Perfect)]

[Current Lifespan: 16/145.]

"The Basic Blade Art consumed three years of lifespan last time, and this time consumed another ten years.

I could directly consume lifespan to simulate my cultivation realm as well.

But there is no need."

Luo Chen muttered to himself. He wanted to establish the image of a genius for himself.

But he could not be too shocking!

Or he would draw covetous eyes!

When he had the chance in the future, he needed to cultivate a Concealment Art. In all things, he had to keep a trump card up his sleeve.

Three days later.

Facing the rising sun, Luo Chen breathed in and out. With every rise and fall of his chest, the aura around him became increasingly blazing and expansive.

Liu Xingsheng stood at the edge of the Training Ground. In shock, he rose directly from his chair, his expression gradually turning solemn.

"This breathing technique has likely reached major accomplishment, perhaps even perfection!"

"His comprehension is astonishing!"

Luo Chen's comprehension and talent were even more astounding than he had imagined, enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the descendants of the great Northern Border clans.

Suddenly.

A fierce wind swept up in the center of the Training Ground, while one scorching exhalation after another grew steadily more urgent.

Luo Chen felt strands of immense, blazing power of qi and blood erupt within him. This was also the first time he had clearly sensed extraordinary power.

The fair skin over his body began to flush red, rising and falling with each breath.

His skin and flesh became resilient, and nine strands of qi and blood power were born within him. Only then did the breakthrough barely come to an end.

First Refinement—the Skin Tempering realm!

Within the Training Ground, Luo Chen felt the powerful force in his body, a smile in his eyes.

"Chen'er, you possess heaven-bestowed talent!"

Liu Xingsheng was even more excited than Luo Chen. He stepped forward and patted the youth on the shoulder.

"Come, today I'll have your Aunt prepare a table full of delicacies to celebrate."

"Hahaha!"