Yang Hai, slightly portly, sat formally on the stone slab, squinting as he flipped through ledgers, reporting the recent mining output to Shi Jian, the patriarch of the Stone Clan.

Shi Jian, though seventy-something, possessed robust vitality and a full head of black hair. As the head of the clan, he wore only the coarse linen robes used for martial practice, sitting like a great general upon a grayish-brown slab of rock above. His expression was composed, his sharp gaze inwardly reserved, as he listened intently to Yang Hai.

Once Yang Hai had detailed the situation, Shi Jian frowned slightly. "Hai’er, the ore mined these past months is a full twenty percent less than before. What is the meaning of this?"

"It is because of the Mo and Ling families," Yang Hai sighed. "They have poached many skilled miners with high bids. We are short-handed. In the ongoing skirmishes with those two families, we have suffered losses. Those miners are afraid we cannot win against the two, and with their better offers, they simply moved."

"Hmph!" Shi Jian let out a cold snort. "Those two families are clearly targeting us. Ever since the engagement between Mo Yanyu and Ling Shaofeng was settled, the two families have grown increasingly close. Recently, when we clashed secretly with the Mo family, the Ling family sent people to intervene. They must have reached some unspoken understanding; otherwise, the Mo family could never best us."

"Patriarch, shall we counterattack?" Yang Hai inquired.

"No need to worry. I have a plan forming." Shi Jian sat placidly, paused for a moment, then suddenly frowned. "Has that brat Shi Yan not returned yet?"

"No, I was just about to bring that up," Yang Hai offered with a wry smile. "When he left, he said he was heading to the Gloom Forest. It's been nearly a year, and he hasn't come back. I received word a couple of days ago that Mo Chaoge and Mo Yanyu are both in the Gloom Forest. Do you think something might have happened to that boy? He didn't take any powerful family guards when he left. Qing’er left early, and he is my only child; I am worried..."

Shi Jian’s brow knitted. After a long silence, he sighed. "That child—he didn't inherit our Stone Clan’s 'Petrification Martial Soul' at birth, and he never cared for martial arts, always fiddling with strange contraptions and running off. He truly is a worry."

"Patriarch, it is my bloodline's fault. If I possessed a 'Martial Soul,' the child Qing’er and I bore would not be like this," Yang Hai said with shame.

"It is fate," Shi Jian shook his head. "Hai’er, I found you in the Endless Sea. Though you are not my biological son, I have always treated you as my own. Otherwise, I wouldn't have married Qing'er to you. True, you lack a Martial Soul and shunned martial practice, but does the Stone Clan's strategy and management of those mines require less of you? Without you, Shi Jian could never have amassed such wealth. Though you are weak in the martial path, your contribution to the Stone Clan is no less than anyone else’s!"

"But now, a peak martial artist is worth far more than any fortune," Yang Hai chuckled self-mockingly. "If I had possessed a 'Martial Soul' back then, I likely would have cultivated diligently. If Yan'er had inherited his mother's 'Petrification Martial Soul,' perhaps he too would have continued his training. But why must this 'Martial Soul' be determined by birth? Alas..."

Shi Jian nodded, sighing. "Indeed. A peak martial artist is truly worth much more than wealth now. That is the hard truth."

"Patriarch, do you think something might have happened to that boy?" Yang Hai remained uneasy.

"He should be fine," Shi Jian considered. "Because he dislikes martial arts, the Mo family has paid him no mind. Neither Mo Chaoge nor that Mo Yanyu has likely ever seen the boy. If they don't know him, they won't target him."

"But something still feels wrong. By rights, he should have been back by now."

"Mhm, I will have the people stationed at Quiet Town keep an eye out. Quiet Town borders the Gloom Forest. As soon as that boy appears, we will get word. Don't worry."

"Thank you, Patriarch."

"Why thank me? That boy is your son; is he not also my grandson?" Shi Jian glared and ordered, "How many times have I told you, do not call me Patriarch. I am your adoptive father, and your father-in-law. Call me whatever you like, just not Patriarch."

"Adoptive Father, Hai’er remembers," Yang Hai replied.

"Good."

...

The Gloom Forest, deep night.

On a secluded patch of grass, Luo Hao stood straight as a mountain. A five-times gravity field radiated out from him, the crushing pressure making breathing laborious.

Shi Yan, drenched in sweat, leaped and bounded around Luo Hao, executing evasive and striking motions. Veins pulsed tight on his face, trembling like small snakes along his neck.

In the tall grass, Mu Yudie quietly watched, chewing on a blade of green.

"Guess how long this kid can last today?" Di Yalan quietly sidled up, squatting low so her full hips were level with Mu Yudie’s, whispering her question.

"Is your mission finished for the day?" Mu Yudie chuckled lightly, not answering immediately.

"Zhao Xin has taken over. It was truly a close call just now—a one-horned silver serpent was coiled on a branch, and I didn't notice until it almost bit me dead. Thank heavens I reacted in time, or you wouldn't be seeing me now."

Di Yalan looked genuinely shaken and cursed. "There are more and more demonic beasts lately; we need to be careful. In the last three days, we’ve encountered five waves of beasts, especially at night when many are active. Next time you sneak a peek, you’d better bring me along, or you might be in danger."

"You mainly just wanted to say that last part, didn't you?" Mu Yudie smiled faintly.

"Ha, you figured me out," Di Yalan admitted openly, without pretense. "That kid is incredible. For three days straight, he’s managed to break his limit every time, his stamina stronger each session. Even I, at the peak of the Innate Triple Heaven realm, wouldn't dare mess around in Uncle Luo’s five-times gravity field. This guy is a lunatic! He won't stop until he’s on the verge of passing out—a complete madman!"

"His endurance isn't even his most terrifying trait," Mu Yudie shook her head, her beautiful eyes flashing with an unusual light.

"Right, his recovery is even more monstrous. I truly can't believe he's only at the Innate First Heaven realm and possesses such terrifying regenerative abilities." Di Yalan was equally bewildered.

"This fellow holds many secrets..." Mu Yudie murmured thoughtfully after a while. "I’ve never seen anyone who can eat as much as him. He’s nearly depleted our rations in these three days. Now I’m starting to worry about food; he really is a bottomless pit!"

"Ha," Di Yalan laughed. "But the way this little scamp talks is amusing. One casual sentence can make you laugh until you double over. He has so many novel ideas that I've never heard of. Talk of how emperors should be elected by commoners, or how merchants can sway a nation—and he can even write sentimental poetry! I simply cannot fathom how a seventeen-year-old can have such a head full of strange things."

"Mhm, and yet, this seventeen-year-old looks at you and me as if he wants to devour us whole. I’ve never seen such covetous, possessive gazes—that bastard is rotten to the core!" Mu Yudie ground her teeth and mimed a chopping motion. "I will show him my might sooner or later!"

"Wait until your Martial Soul recovers, then show him, ha! What’s the big deal if he looks? It’s not like you’ll lose a piece of flesh. Guys like Zhao Xin and Hu Long only dare to sneak glances at my backside when my back is turned—cowards. I despise those types far more. Compared to them, that kid is bold enough. I like it," Di Yalan laughed heartily.

"Are you feeling frisky?" Mu Yudie scoffed. "He’s still a child! Don't go seducing him?"

"Have you ever seen a child with eyes like that?" Di Yalan lowered her voice. "I suspect his actual age is greater than he appears. Maybe he’s using some secret technique to keep himself looking so young. He’s deliberately playing coy! Perhaps that’s also a hidden, special Martial Soul..."

"That makes sense. We should pay more attention to him," Mu Yudie considered for a moment, nodding slowly.

...

"Bang!"

Shi Yan fell backward, limbs splayed, utterly exhausted, his voice raspy. "How many laps?"

"Fifteen laps," Luo Hao said, his expression complicated. "These fifteen laps involved constant jumping, tumbling, striking, and rolling—actions that subject you to several times the pressure an average person endures. Kid, can you truly... bear it?"

"Cough, cough, whether I can bear it or not, I’ll know tomorrow," Shi Yan found speaking difficult.

Over these three days, whenever he had a free moment during the day, he secretly practiced "Frenzied Run."

Through his rigorous cultivation, the acupoints on his chest and waist could now release negative energy at will, making his entire body appear significantly leaner.

He had practically refined every part of his physique, save for the most difficult part to cultivate: his mind...

At night, he pestered Luo Hao to unleash the five-times gravity field. Under that immense pressure, he relentlessly tempered himself.

In just three days, he had pushed his limit from eleven laps to fifteen, and while running, he proactively increased the difficulty by adding jumps, dodges, and strikes—actions that consumed far more energy.

Under this high-intensity training, he distinctly felt his strength growing immensely. His limbs, tendons, bones, muscles, and internal organs had all become robust. Every morning when he awoke from his cultivation, under normal gravity, he felt so light he could leap several meters into the air, his body brimming with surging explosive power. Even his agility had greatly improved.

It was precisely because of these tangible benefits, visible daily, that he kept increasing the difficulty, cultivating with a manic obsession, brutally and wildly refining his body to massively boost his physical capabilities; even the speed at which he condensed his vital essence had increased.

"Wooooah! Woooah!" Strange sounds suddenly echoed from the perimeter.

Luo Hao's expression shifted, and he exclaimed, "That’s the roar of a Level Four demonic beast, the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python'! The 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' is extremely irritable but generally doesn't hunt at night. Someone must have disturbed it!"

"Uncle Luo!" Zhao Xin and Hu Long rushed over, looking anxious.

"What's the situation?" Luo Hao demanded.

"A team of martial artists is hunting the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python,' and it’s heading this way! Those martial artists are still in hot pursuit—the 'Fire Cloud Demon Python' is completely enraged," Zhao Xin reported urgently.

"Damn it!" Luo Hao abruptly lifted the greatsword from his shoulder. "Protect Little Die!" With that, he suddenly bolted out.

Shi Yan, despite his aching body, immediately sat up, circulating his vital essence. His eyes shone brightly as he calmly focused on the direction Luo Hao had rushed toward...

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