Shi Yan leaned against a gravity column, his body aching all over. His physique was taut and powerful, every line of muscle distinct and sharply defined, as if cast from molten steel, brimming with shocking explosive potential. With his nutritional needs fully met, Shi Yan had endured another month of relentless training; not only had he grown significantly stronger, but he had even gained several centimeters in height.

Suddenly, the door to the Gravity Chamber was pushed open. Shi Jian, Han Feng, and Yang Hai appeared together in the doorway.

Shi Jian’s gaze was sharp as lightning. He swept over Shi Yan from a distance and nodded silently. “It seems you haven’t been slacking off, boy.” “Of course not.” Shi Yan maintained his posture despite his exhaustion. “I think the tempering of the physical body is nearly complete. I should choose a martial art to cultivate next.” “Whether it’s truly complete isn’t for you to decide.” Shi Jian strode forward, standing beside him, his face stern. “Extend one hand.”

Shi Yan complied, extending his left hand. With a thought, his left hand rapidly petrified, turning a dark brown. On the surface of his skin, visible wisps of dark light flickered erratically. Upon closer inspection, one would notice that this hazy dark light seemed like a membrane as thin as a cicada's wing, completely enveloping his entire hand.

“Oh!”

Shi Jian exclaimed, his face alight with enthusiasm, grinning widely. “There’s something to this! A layer of dark light has actually manifested. It seems you really haven’t been lazy during this period. Not bad! Very good indeed!”

Yang Hai felt a surge of delight and leaned in for a look. “Godfather, this phenomenon—is this the extreme that can be achieved at the Human Rank realm? When Qing’er broke through to the third Heaven of the Human Rank, her skin only displayed this dark light after petrifying. Is that right?” “Mm.” Shi Jian nodded faintly, though the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. “This kid is indeed exceptional! To spur the potential of his Martial Soul to this extent in just a month and a half—very good!”

Although Shi Jian feared Shi Yan growing arrogant, he couldn't help but offer praise, his face showing a touch of astonishment. “Boy, how exactly did you manage this?” “I just followed your method and kept cultivating like that; this is the result,” Shi Yan replied, opening his hand with a placid expression.

“How long do you train each day?” Even Han Feng, who usually spoke little, couldn't help but ask. “About fifteen hours.”

“Fifteen hours?!”

Han Feng and Shi Jian exclaimed simultaneously. They exchanged glances, seeing sheer horror reflected in the other’s eyes. “Impossible! You must be lying, kid!” Shi Jian snapped sternly. “After one high-intensity cultivation session, the body requires at least eighteen hours to recover before it can endure another impact of that magnitude. Add in the time for meals, and five hours of training a day would already be excellent! Where do you get fifteen hours for cultivation?” Han Feng also looked utterly puzzled, shaking his head, clearly not entirely convinced.

“Impudent brat, tell the truth. Don't try to fool your Great Grand-Uncle,” Yang Hai grumbled, admonishing him. “Who said it requires eighteen hours to recover?” Shi Yan asked with ease, smiling faintly. “Four hours is enough for me.”

“Impossible!”

Shi Jian and Han Feng roared in unison again. “The body absolutely cannot recover that quickly from such high-intensity impact! I have managed the Shi Family for so many years, and I have never seen anyone recover so fast! Back then, that brat Shi Dang had exceptionally outstanding physical conditions, yet even after enduring impacts of this intensity at the Human Rank, he still needed fifteen hours for a full recovery,” Shi Jian shook his head repeatedly, then snorted coldly. “Are you saying you are four times faster than him? Do you think that’s plausible?”

“Nothing is impossible,” Shi Yan smiled, suddenly standing up. He turned and walked to a corner, pulling a dagger from a knapsack in the recess. Then, he calmly walked back. “Great Grand-Uncle, I have had a lingering doubt in my heart. Since my father is also here, I wish to conduct a test. I hope Great Grand-Uncle will permit it.” “What test?” Shi Jian frowned. “Uncle Han, I want to make a small cut on your arm.” “Insolent!” Shi Jian barked. “Boy, do you think you can just defy the heavens?” “It’s just a light slice,” Shi Yan’s expression didn’t change. “I also need to make a cut on Father’s arm, and then one on my own arm, to establish a proper comparison.” “Patriarch, Young Master Yan might have a plan. Let him try,” Yang Hai suggested. “What exactly are you trying to do?” Shi Jian was also perplexed. “You will know shortly,” Shi Yan said unhurriedly and calmly as he walked toward Han Feng. “Uncle Han, please do not use any of your Essence energy. If the wound bleeds, you must not activate your Essence energy to stop it, alright?” “Mm.” “Shall I proceed?” “Mm.”

Shi Yan took a step forward and sliced across the outstretched left arm of Han Feng. Crimson blood immediately welled up from the wound on Han Feng’s arm. “Father, it’s your turn now,” Shi Yan moved toward Yang Hai. “Brat, what are you doing? Father isn't a martial artist, be gentle!” “Mm, I know what I’m doing.” Shi Yan stepped up, the dagger flashing like lightning in a swift cut, instantly grazing Yang Hai’s arm. Yang Hai shrieked, looking at his bleeding arm and protesting, “You brat, you’re actually ruthless! I wasn't even ready yet.”

Under the watch of Han Feng and Shi Jian, Shi Yan remained calm. He casually drew a slice across his own arm, and rich red blood immediately began to flow out as well. “Brat, what are you trying to show us? Is there some deep meaning to doing this? I can’t see anything at all,” Yang Hai continued to wail. “Wait, just wait a moment,” Shi Yan said with solemnity, his expression gradually growing serious.

Han Feng and Shi Jian looked on in doubt, unsure what kind of trick he was performing. Their eyes shone brightly as they watched him intently. Shi Yan smiled, offered no explanation, and even used the edge of his garment to cover the bleeding arm, preventing Han Feng and Shi Jian from seeing his wound.

Ten minutes later.

“Eh!”

Han Feng was the first to notice something unusual. He stared fixedly at Yang Hai’s arm. “Patriarch, look!”

Shi Jian’s attention had been fixed on Shi Yan. Hearing Han Feng’s exclamation, he glanced over at Yang Hai’s arm. Upon looking, he too discerned something peculiar. “Hai’er, the wound on your arm—why has the blood coagulated and formed a clot?” “Ah!” Yang Hai cried out, finally noticing his own arm. “I don't know either.” “My arm—the blood is still flowing…” Han Feng held out his hand, signaling Yang Hai to look closely. “What is going on here?” Yang Hai looked astonished. “You have practiced martial arts for many years; your physical conditioning should be far superior to mine. By rights, you should have stopped bleeding much sooner, shouldn’t you? How is this possible?”

“Look at my arm.”

Shi Yan smiled, finally lowering the cloth covering his arm, revealing it. He slowly wiped away the congealed blood. The gash on Shi Yan’s arm had, at some unknown time, reduced to a line as thin as a needle’s prick. The flesh on either side of the wound appeared to be slowly writhing, actively closing in on each other, healing the cut at a visible pace.

Shi Jian and Han Feng shuddered violently, their eyes wide with terror. “Brat, this—what in the world is happening?” Shi Jian was stunned for a long moment before demanding urgently, “What is this?” “This is a Martial Soul, a self-healing Martial Soul! My father possesses one too, but unfortunately, he never cultivated the martial path and never suffered a severe injury, so it was never discovered,” Shi Yan stated nonchalantly, dropping a bombshell.

The light in Shi Jian’s eyes blazed fiercely. He clenched both fists tightly. After a long silence, he suddenly threw his head back and roared with laughter: “Hahaha! A Martial Soul! A Self-Healing Martial Soul!” “I call it the Undying Martial Soul,” Shi Yan explained softly. “I have a feeling that at its later stages, this Martial Soul might even allow for the regeneration of severed limbs, and the internal organs can be refined anew. In essence, it means the body cannot die.”

Han Feng and Shi Jian froze. Thinking it over, they immediately grasped the terrifying potential of this Martial Soul. Both struggled to suppress the excitement rising in their chests; their breathing became noticeably rapid. “Brat, does this mean you have dual Martial Souls?” Yang Hai was also overcome with joy. After a long pause, he exclaimed in astonishment. “Of course, dual Martial Souls! Is there any doubt about that?” Shi Jian roared with laughter. He abruptly slapped Yang Hai’s shoulder, sending him tumbling to the ground. “Hai’er, I never realized you possessed a Martial Soul too! Hahaha, I truly never imagined it. If I had known, I would have cut you when you were little to check! Hahaha!”

“Now do you believe me when I say I can recover in four hours?” Shi Yan asked calmly with a smile. “We believe you! We completely believe you! Hahahaha!” Shi Jian had never been in such high spirits. Ignoring Yang Hai sitting on the floor, he commanded immediately, “Boy, follow me! I’ll take you to the Martial Soul Hall! All of the Shi Family’s secret martial arts manuals are kept there. You can pick any technique you like from inside!” “Alright.”