The ancient return was exposed by his sister's live stream.

The core data section of the paper is the real highlight.

Under normal circumstances, when an ordinary person wears a standard Flame Spirit Stone, the natural absorption rate is about 0.08% of the total energy of the Flame Spirit Stone per day.

At this rate, it would take about three years for a standard Flame Spirit Stone to be fully absorbed.

However, if trained in conjunction with Chase's "Ultimate Arcane Arts," the absorption rate can soar to 1.6%.

A full twenty times.

"This data has been verified through experiments." Chen Siyao turned to the experimental section, "A sample size of ten thousand people..."

"Yes! Ten thousand people!" Yang Wanqing added from the side, "And not just any ten thousand people. There are old and young, men and women, people of different constitutions and races. Chase is very meticulous."

When did you finish watching it?

"I read a simplified version translated by a domestic blogger," Yang Wanqing said confidently.

Chen Siyao was too lazy to complain about her and continued looking at the data.

After 10,000 subjects underwent extreme arcane training, the absorption rate showed significant individual differences.

For most people, the absorption rate falls between 1.1% and 1.9% - which is already a very significant improvement.

But what's interesting are the extreme values.

A very small number of people can achieve an absorption rate of 3% to 5%.

Among the 10,000 subjects, only one person...only one person...achieved an absorption rate of 8%.

One in ten thousand.

In his paper, Chase created a completely new rating system for individuals at this level.

The average person is grade C, 1.1% to 1.9% are grade C, 3% to 5% are grade A, and that 8%—

SSS level.

"SSS genius!" Yang Wanqing's eyes lit up. "Sister Yao, do the math! With an absorption rate of 8%, combined with ultimate arcane magic, one Flame Spirit Stone can be absorbed in about ten days! An ordinary person would take two months! That's more than six times the difference!"

"This rating system..." Chen Siyao wrinkled her nose, "It's like a game."

"That's what beautiful Chinese people like."

Yang Wanqing has already started browsing the comments section. Less than six hours after the paper was published, the entire internet was in an uproar.

The top trending topic on a Chinese social media platform: #UltimateArcane#

Second: #VernonChase#

Third: #Are you SSS-level?#

The comments section is downright surreal.

"So, my practice of Baduanjin for over twenty years has been on the right track?"

"Isn't the seventh set of movements just a modified version of stance training? Cai Si, are you being polite?"

"Please, someone please test my level. I bet I'm at least A-level."

"You're dreaming, getting a B grade is like your ancestors' graves are smoking."

"Some gyms are already offering extreme arcane classes, costing 880 yuan per class. They're ripping people off faster than they're absorbing Flame Spirit Stones."

Yang Wanqing laughed so hard she lay on the sofa and kept slapping the cushions.

"Sister Yao Yao, look at this—'Vernon Chase, the light of humanity, I'll name my future child Chase.' Hahahaha, and the replies below say, 'Is your surname Cai?' 'No, my surname is Wang—'"

Chen Siyao didn't respond. She flipped back to the experimental methods section of the paper and read it word by word.

The data is solid. The experimental design is rigorous. The sample size is large enough, and variable control is excellent. Chase even included links to complete instructional videos for all twelve sets of movements in the appendix.

This isn't just empty talk. This is the real deal.

She put down her phone and went to the balcony.

Chen Hao was still practicing his skills.

Chen Siyao leaned against the doorframe, not wanting to disturb him. She watched her brother's retreating figure, a few thoughts swirling in her mind before returning to her own.

Ultimate Arcane Arts.

Twelve sets of movements.

Absorption increased by nearly twenty times.

This guy named Vernon Chase created this thing only a few months after the Flame Spirit Stone appeared.

The word "genius" is sometimes not a compliment, but a statement of fact.

"What is Master practicing?" Yang Wanqing also slipped over and lay down behind Chen Siyao.

"Stop messing around."

"I'm not making a fuss, I just wanted to ask Master what he thinks of this ultimate arcane technique—"

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Hao stopped practicing and turned around.

"What are you talking about?"

"Brother," Chen Siyao handed over her phone, "take a look at this."

Chen Hao took it and glanced at the title.

Ultimate Arcane Arts.

The day after Vernon Chase's paper was published, it was downloaded over 500 million times worldwide. The third day, three major American television networks simultaneously interviewed him.

A 27-year-old man, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a wrinkled plaid shirt, sat in front of the camera explaining the principles behind the twelve sets of movements.

The global academic community was shaken. Vernon Chase's name rose like a new star. In the comments section, some called him a "pioneer of the times," some hailed him as "the key to human evolution," while others questioned the sample size and repeatability of the experiment.

American media outlets rushed to report on it, and Vernon Chase appeared on the cover of Time magazine with the title "A New Chapter in Human Evolution."

He didn't say anything, and started scrolling down.

Yang Wanqing's phone was still vibrating incessantly in the living room, the message notification sound never ceasing. The whole world was talking about it.

Within three days, the name Vernon Chase had spread to every corner of the world.

The news spread faster than anyone expected.

He spoke very quickly, his speech rapid, his fingers constantly gesturing in the air.

"The human body's meridian system is not a mystical concept," Chase said in an interview.

"Traditional Chinese medicine has accumulated thousands of years of research on this. I simply used modern biomechanical methods to re-verify its existence and found the resonance frequency between it and the energy of the Flame Spirit Stone."

This passage was extracted and went viral on the Chinese internet.

The comments section is divided into two camps.

One side argues, "Look, even researchers in the US have acknowledged the importance of meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine! That's cultural confidence!"

Another side argues, "They're using your theories and producing their results, so what are you so confident about?"

Despite the arguments, there's one thing no one argues about—Ultimate Arcane Magic works.

Universities around the world began verification experiments within a week of the paper's publication.

Kyoto University, University of Tokyo, Niu Lu, Kenjiro, Surrey Federal Institute of Technology... all the research institutions that obtained the Flame Spirit Stone samples immediately organized control experiments.

The results all matched.

The subjects who underwent extreme arcane training did indeed experience a significant increase in the absorption rate of Flame Spirit Stones.

The data from different institutions vary slightly, but all fall within the range given by Chase—1.1% to 1.9%.

No one can refute this conclusion.

Vernon Chase's name is etched in history.

"A Pioneer of the Times"—that's the cover title Nature magazine gave him.

"The first key to the evolutionary era"—this is the opening line of a BBC documentary.

Baotian City, top floor penthouse.

Yang Wanqing has already learned all twelve sets of movements.

She sat in front of the large TV in the living room, practicing the tutorial videos posted by Chase, one set after another.

The first set involves upper limb stretching coordinated with a specific breathing rhythm; the second set involves core rotation and power generation; the third set…