High Martial Arts: Gains one point of health per second, sweeping across the heavens.

"Yue...the God of War?!" Yang Baichuan's pupils constricted, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back. Even that legendary human was alarmed?!

The communication was cut off instantly, as if every second longer would bring unpredictable risks.

A deathly silence fell inside the aircraft. Yang Baichuan exhaled a long, trembling breath, and his gaze towards Su Jie was no longer just complex, but also contained a hint of awe that even he himself was unaware of.

"Kid, you've really gone too far this time." He rubbed his throbbing temples. "The fact that Lord Yue Wuji is personally paying attention to you means that you've been placed on the chessboard of the highest level of the human race."

Tonight, the federal envoy and Chairman Chen will arrive; they are the very people who can truly decide your fate.

Su Jie touched his nose, his nonchalant expression softened, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but more so a burning fighting spirit.

He subconsciously sensed the strongest martial arts system in the universe within his body, and his heart immediately felt much calmer.

"The God of War, Yue Wuji? Looks like I'll have to work even harder, otherwise I won't even be qualified to meet the big shot."

He muttered to himself, then smiled at Yang Baichuan, "Uncle Yang, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. If they want to know the secret, they'll have to give me something in return, right? Like a huge amount of vital energy resources?"

Yang Baichuan suddenly lowered his voice, his tone more serious than ever before, "The Federation has sent a special envoy! Do you know what this means?"

Su Jie lowered his hand, his nonchalant expression vanishing, and nodded. "I understand. It means that if I can't provide a reasonable explanation, I might be 'protected' until all the secrets on my person are squeezed dry."

"It's good that you understand!" Yang Baichuan took a deep breath. "But don't worry too much. Yue Wuji is an upright man, and federal law strictly prohibits forced research on geniuses."

But while there will be overt protection, there will also be covert surveillance. And you're about to face a problem that no genius can avoid—resources!

He stared at Su Jie and said, word by word, "You have achieved the supreme Dao foundation at the Martial Aperture stage, which is nothing short of heaven-defying. Nobody knows where you obtained your blood and qi resources! The Federation envoy will definitely inquire about this in detail later."

One more thing: although your martial acupoints are already perfected, the resources you will need for further cultivation will be astronomical! The further you refine your martial meridians, the more terrifying the consumption of qi and blood becomes!

The first one requires 10,000, the second 20,000, the third 40,000, the fourth 80,000... and by the seventh, eighth, and ninth, each one requires millions or even tens of millions of units of vital energy!

"Why do the major powers of the Federation, including the military, know the importance of a strong foundation, yet rarely cultivate geniuses above the eighth level of martial arts? It's not that they don't want to, but that they can't!"

Yang Baichuan's tone was heavy. "The Qi and Blood Pills obtained by hunting demonic beasts are currently the fastest source of Qi and Blood. However, the Qi and Blood of demonic beasts are violent, and the Qi and Blood Pills refined from them contain 'pill poison.' Small amounts can be metabolized by the body."

If ingested in large quantities over a long period, erysipelas will accumulate in the body, martial acupoints, and even martial meridians, making it extremely difficult to eliminate! At best, it damages the foundation and cuts off one's future; at worst, it causes a reversal of qi and blood, leading to the body exploding and death!

"Back then, Master Yue Wuji relied on his unparalleled physique to withstand the corrosive effects of the poison and successfully temper his martial acupoint to the ninth level. But the dangers involved are beyond what outsiders can know!"

Although your foundation is now superior to Lord Yue's back then, you still need to condense your martial veins, temper your entire body's martial bones, and awaken your martial soul. If you don't take Qi and Blood Pills, tell me, where are you going to find so much pure and flawless Qi and blood?

This is precisely the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all human prodigies! It is also the biggest bottleneck limiting the number of top human experts!

After listening, Su Jie remained silent for a moment, then revealed a smile that Yang Baichuan couldn't understand.

"Erysipelas...that sounds like a lot of trouble."

His tone was so relaxed, as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

"Uncle Yang, I'll find a way to deal with the resource issue myself." Su Jie stood up, his eyes clear and firm. "Now that I've embarked on this path, I have no intention of turning back. I'll meet challenges head-on, and I'll find a way to deal with the poison."

He thought to himself: The Qi and Blood Essence refined by the Qi and Blood Furnace of the Heavenly Martial Arts System is far superior to that damned Qi and Blood Pill! Pill poison? Doesn't exist!

Looking into his calm and confident eyes, Yang Baichuan knew that this young man was not as simple as he appeared, and must have some amazing trump cards that no one knew about.

As they were talking, the aircraft had already taken them back to the Linjiang City Martial Arts Association. Yang Baichuan sighed, "Well, things have come to this, we can only take it one step at a time."

Don't go anywhere today. Stay in the training room I arranged for you. I will personally protect you outside. Chairman Bai from Linjiang City is also personally overseeing things at the Martial Arts Association. We'll discuss everything once the higher-ups arrive!

"Thank you, Uncle Yang," Su Jie said sincerely.

"Thanks my ass! Get back to training! Every bit of improvement you can make before the envoy arrives is a bonus!" Yang Baichuan waved his hand.

Su Jie said no more and followed Yang Baichuan to a secret room deep underground in the Martial Arts Association, which was filled with arrays.

The stone gate slowly closed, isolating the inside from the outside.

Su Jie sat down cross-legged, the relaxed look on his face completely gone, replaced by a sense of urgency.

"System, bring up my current status panel!"

[Host: Su Jie]

[Realm: Martial Aperture Stage (99 Apertures, Level 10 Perfection)]

[Base combat power: 10000 points (+20% bonus for Extreme Foundation Establishment users = 12000 points)]

[Qi and Blood Reserves: 37.6 points (+3/second)]

[Martial Arts Heart: Green (Moderate mental resistance, 100% increase in control/comprehension/meridian condensation speed)]

[Mastered Martial Arts: Sky-Stepping Step (Top-Tier Profound Rank), Void-Piercing Finger (Qi and Blood Skill), Flowing Shadow Sword Technique (Low-Tier Profound Rank)]

[System Functions: Qi and Blood Furnace, Heavenly Armory]

[Items: Breath of Time (Fragment), Immortal Martial Bone (Left Hand), Time Realm Entry Ticket x1]

"With 12,000 base combat power points, combined with the 'Penetrating Void Finger,' the combat power that can be unleashed in a short time should reach 40,000, or even higher! But that's not enough..." Su Jie's eyes flashed, "It's time to start refining my martial veins!"

Su Jie sat down cross-legged and, according to the martial arts knowledge of this world, began to guide the vast reserves of qi and blood within his body to break through his first martial meridian.

With a supreme Dao foundation of ninety-nine acupoints at the tenth level of perfection, his blood and qi were of incomparably pure quality, making the process of condensing his martial veins hundreds of times easier than that of ordinary people!

In addition, there's the 100% increase in condensation speed from [Martial Arts Heart (Green)], and the continuous supply of Qi and Blood from [Original Breathing Technique]...

[Consuming 10000 points of Qi and Blood, the first Martial Meridian is being formed... Progress 1%... 2%...]