In an open area, Long Lin, dressed in a noble crimson robe, gazed at a two-meter-tall metal puppet whose bald head reflected the sunlight.
Three meters away, Long Lin stood with a calculating look and his hands resting on his chin.
"I've mastered ninety percent of the Blood Explosion. From the throat down, everything is under control, but above… it's still difficult to ignite." He muttered, releasing a depressed sigh as a bitter expression crossed his face.
Shaking his head, Long Lin slapped his own cheeks hard. The stinging numbness reignited his determination.
"I will perfect the Explosive Fist Technique to its absolute peak!" Long Lin was obsessed with perfection. To him, everything had to be absolutely flawless. If not, his mood would turn completely dark.
The Explosive Fist Technique was a basic martial art of the Long Family. It was meant to unleash temporary strength by triggering the blood's adrenaline—a simple art, useful only for martial novices between the ages of thirteen and fifteen to train their physical bodies.
At sixteen that year, Long Lin had yet to begin his cultivation. He was waiting until he had mastered the basic art completely.
With a resolute expression, Long Lin stomped on the ground and walked toward the puppet. When he reached it, he clenched his fists tightly and leaped forward, raising them toward the metal man.
Boom!
A heavy sound echoed across the yard as his punch struck the surface, leaving a fist-shaped mark.
Long Lin took a step back and returned with another strike, stronger than the last, deepening the dent.
He continued like this, delivering blow after blow, his blood heating up—growing hotter with each second.
By the twentieth punch, Long Lin's skin was completely red. The liquid within him gathered into his muscle fibers, amplifying his strength.
At the twenty-first, the puppet emitted a loud explosion. Long Lin's hand tore through the metal, bursting out the other side.
He had poured every ounce of strength into that strike, momentarily surpassing human limits.
In the yard, Long Lin gasped for breath, drenched in sweat. Pulling his hand from the open hole, he took a blue stone from the pouch at his waist and placed it into the puppet's mouth, instantly mending the gash in its abdomen.
"Keep going." Long Lin didn't rest and delivered his twenty-second strike. This time, it wasn't easy.
His throat tightened, as if something were lodged there.
Long Lin's eyes widened as he felt himself choking, struggling to breathe.
Still, with his fists clenched, he struck the metal like a raging beast. Even in that state, he could still move—his adrenaline at its peak.
Explosion!
The puppet cracked again—this time, the damage ran from its abdomen to its chest, leaving only the sides and head intact.
Long Lin had gone mad. He had no time to worry about the puppet. For the twenty-third time, he swung his fists—this time at its head.
With this final strike, Long Lin's skull throbbed in pain. He was using one hundred percent of his physical capacity. When his fist came within ten centimeters of the puppet's head, he saw it split just from the force of the wind his punch produced.
Boom!
The moment his actual strike connected, the puppet's head was sent flying backward at high speed, only stopping five meters away when it hit the ground.
"Perfect level." Upon achieving this feat, Long Lin felt every part of his body. Blood coursed through every corner, from the tips of his toes to the highest point of his brain.
This victory would have been sweeter if he weren't losing his breath. To avoid death, Long Lin clutched his own neck and forcefully pressed on the stagnant blood, forcing himself to vomit—and it worked.
Coughing up blood, Long Lin finally breathed easier.
"That was dangerous. I really could've died this time. But at least I've reached perfection. Now I can control my blood."
Long Lin no longer needed to attack in sequences to maintain control. With a single strike, he could unleash his full strength.
"Hahaha!" He laughed loudly, overcome with euphoria. Nothing was more exhilarating than mastering a basic art to its peak. "I can finally start cultivating in peace, with a calm heart."
Thinking about the next stage, Long Lin's expression turned serious. He wouldn't stop his pursuit of perfection there—his meticulous nature wouldn't allow it. "It'll be even harder to cultivate perfectly, but I'll try!"
Having made up his mind, he was about to head for the library when he saw a young woman step through the gate.
She wore a maid's outfit that contrasted with her pretty features and black hair tied up with a white hairpin. Her flawless, pale skin gave her the air of a noble lady.
"Finished?" Zhao Yuxin said simply, looking Long Lin up and down.
"Yes, I reached perfection!" Long Lin said proudly, showing off his accomplishment.
Zhao Yuxin smiled and nodded. "Finally, I'll have peace for a few days."
Caring for Long Lin's daily life as his only maid was no easy task. Besides household chores, she had to make sure he wasn't dead. Many times over the years, she'd found him collapsed in the yard from overexertion.
"This is temporary. That meticulous young master will still cause me a lot of trouble." Zhao Yuxin blew out a cold breath, already picturing the chaos.
Long Lin, having seen her every reaction, scratched his head awkwardly. He truly didn't want to cause her so much trouble, but his obsession left him no choice. Still scratching his black hair, he approached with a gentle smile.
"Have patience. This young master does nothing without reason. Everything I do has a purpose. Completing the basic art allows me to control every part of my blood—an incredible feat that even Spiritual Essence cultivators can't achieve. Once I begin cultivating, I'll have a great advantage over others."
As Zhao Yuxin listened, she first smiled, then rolled her eyes midway, and finally showed surprise at the end. "You can really do that?"
"Yes! Want a demonstration?" He didn't wait for her answer and threw a punch into the air with half his strength. The impact echoed with a loud boom, producing a gust of wind from the shockwave.
'This young master isn't boasting idly. His hard work truly paid off.' Zhao Yuxin felt a sense of satisfaction. It was good to see his effort bearing fruit. Among all the young masters in the city, Long Lin was certainly the most diligent. His willpower was no joke. "My little master, aside from his strange personality, is quite an excellent role model."