After properly resolving the issues in the wild mountain region, Andrew Han drove the two back to Greenfield City and handed them over to the local government authorities.
The follow-up matters, of course, required no further effort from Andrew.
By the time he returned to his dormitory at Southland University, night had deepened. The winter moon hung hazily above the sky, surrounded by scattered stars, like a vast, inky canvas.
A boundless expanse.
A stillness as deep as water.
Andrew leaned by the window, gazing up at the starry sky.
The higher one climbed in martial power, the more one sensed the smallness of human strength. Compared to the might of nature, even the Martial Lord Realm seemed insignificant.
......
After that, life settled into a steady rhythm.
Andrew rose early to practice Mountain-Sketch Pillar Stance, continuing to refine his seven martial techniques. His martial power seemed locked in a firm bottleneck—unable to increase, unable to advance.
If he wished to grow stronger, he had to break through to the Martial General Realm.
The Martial Artist Realm focuses on condensing blood, while the Martial General Realm is about washing the marrow. Once blood condensation is complete, one must use stance work to drive the circulation of blood, letting it permeate the muscles and bones to begin the marrow-washing process.
In short:
If the blood throughout the body can boil on its own, one can advance further.
But unfortunately—
His blood, infused with a metallic sheen, flowed through his body like heavy mercury—always with a sense of sluggishness and resistance, impossible to accelerate.
"The foundation is too solid—extremes always reverse."
"Now, even getting my blood to circulate faster is already difficult. As for making it boil, I always feel something is missing. Pure stance work alone may not be enough."
Andrew leaned by his dorm window, pondering in silence.
He must become stronger—much stronger. So breaking through to the Martial General Realm was the most urgent problem he faced right now.