Refinement

The seven chakras glowed in distinct hues: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Even without the Vajra Seal teachings, Huo Xuan had heard fragments about chakras—energy centers observable by yogis, each governing physical and spiritual facets of human existence.

The Vajra Seal revealed more: these seven chakras mirrored the body-mind continuum. By harmonizing them, one could refine both. Yet they were merely one pathway in Vajra Seal cultivation.

"The sutras claim prolonged practice forges an indestructible vajra body—immune to demons and blades. Could it be true?" he wondered. "The relic's Golden Light constantly purifies my being. Will it accelerate this process?"

That night, Huo Xuan plunged into deep meditation, forgoing even his daily Hunyuan Stance. Dawn found him emerging with:

Crystalline clarity of thought

Full-body vitality

Boundless energy

"This sunrise-like vigor is too precious to waste." Seizing the momentum, he turned to Primordial True Martial Fist.

Insights cascaded—tenfold faster comprehension than usual. Puzzles that once stumped him now unraveled effortlessly.

Thus began an extraordinary routine:

One meal every three days (though each portion quadrupled his normal intake, alarming the housekeeper into suspecting hyperthyroidism).

By the second day, he'd purged another of Lu Yunxiang's fist techniques from his repertoire, further refining the True Martial Fist.

A month slipped by. Lin Yue visited multiple times but never disturbed him, departing silently after a glance.

Then, at sunset on the 36th day, Huo Xuan's fists carried a new Vajra Seal resonance—a fusion marking monumental progress. He'd begun tailoring the True Martial Fist into his own framework, a hallmark of future grandmastery.

Yet the summit remained distant. This was merely the foothills of innovation.

"Only when I've erased all traces of Master Lu Yunxiang's influence from the Primordial True Martial Fist will I truly master it. Then—I'll forge my own framework!" The thought ignited Huo Xuan's ambition, drawing a triumphant laugh.

The next day, he emerged from seclusion after over a month and headed straight to Lin Yue.

She was immersed in a new marketing strategy to elevate Tianxing Jewelry's prestige. Unbeknownst to Huo Xuan, their aggressive promotions had already established the brand across Jiangzhou.

In the CEO's office, Lin Yue brightened at his arrival. "Grandmaster! Has your martial enlightenment concluded?"

Huo Xuan chuckled awkwardly. "You've carried the burden alone. My thanks."

She rolled her eyes. "An honor to serve the grandmaster."

Recognizing her irritation at his absentee leadership, he plastered on an apologetic grin. "The capable shoulder more. You're simply irreplaceable."

"Enough," Lin Yue cut in. "Since you're here, help me with something."

"Name it."

"We're launching another promotion. I've secured gemstone and gold suppliers, but jade—our 50% revenue backbone—requires your touch. We must stockpile."

Huo Xuan blinked. "We've sold 80% of our jade inventory already?"

Lin Yue's eyes sparkled. "690 million yuan from sold stock alone. Including remaining pieces, total value exceeds 800 million!"

"We initially estimated 400 million," he gasped. "A 100% markup—this industry's insane!"

"Natural for our quality," she said. "Our jade outshines century-old rivals. Jiangzhou's elite are queuing for premium pieces."

"Then I'll secure more—fast," declared Huo Xuan.

"The Myanmar auctions are two months away. We can't wait." She unfolded a map marked with 14 domestic jade markets, starting with Beijing. "Hit these hubs sequentially to avoid suspicion. Spend the first three months just in Beijing's circuit."

Huo Xuan approved. "Strategic. I'd overlooked domestic sources."

"Prepare this week. Depart Monday."

"How much cash can we allocate?"

"500 million total, but only 300 million is movable. The rest buffers operations."

Huo Xuan smirked. "300 million will ransack Beijing's market just fine."

After finalizing their plans, the two had lunch together at a restaurant. In the afternoon, Huo Xuan began preparing for his trip to the capital. He recruited twelve capable and reliable men from Zhang Wu, dividing them into six teams.

Each team would drive a large truck, accompanying him on the long journey to Tokyo.

Meanwhile, Lin Yue transferred 300 million into Huo Xuan's account for the purchase of jadeite.

Three days later, Huo Xuan and the six trucks set off in a convoy toward the capital. The distance between the two cities was about 1,800 kilometers, requiring roughly twenty hours of driving.

He didn't waste the travel time—instead, he practiced the Hunyuan Stance inside the truck cabin, using the vehicle's jolts to intensify his training. The effect was even more pronounced than when he had practiced on the train.

They departed early in the morning and arrived in the capital the following afternoon. Even with two people taking turns driving, the twelve men were thoroughly exhausted. Huo Xuan arranged for them to rest at a hotel.

After settling everyone in, he took a short break himself and didn't leave the hotel until evening. The first person he thought of in the capital was Shen Rong, the policewoman from the criminal investigation unit.

I wonder if what happened last time left her with any psychological scars, he mused, pulling out his phone and dialing her number.

The call connected, and a pleasantly surprised voice answered, "Huo Xuan? Is that you?"

Huo Xuan chuckled. "It's me. You sound happy to hear my voice."

Shen Rong paused before replying, "It's not because of you."

"Did you get a promotion, then?" he teased.

"Huh? How did you know?" she asked, surprised.

"Heh, with all the credit you've earned, it was long overdue. Otherwise, there'd be no justice in the world," he joked.

"Well, I should thank you. Without your help, I wouldn't have gotten any credit at all," she said with a laugh. "Let me treat you to dinner tonight—just the two of us."

Huo Xuan considered it. A meal wouldn't delay his plans, so he agreed. "Since you're so eager, I won't stand on ceremony. I'll pick the place."

"Sure," Shen Rong replied. "I'll leave it to you."

The dim glow of a Beijing private dining room illuminated the spread between Huo Xuan and Shen Rong—six signature dishes, a simmering soup, and a crate of iced Tsingtao beer.

Shen Rong filled Huo Xuan's glass to the brim before raising her own. "A toast to you!"

With a faint smile, Huo Xuan drained his cup in one go.

Her mood grew increasingly buoyant as she polished off four bottles, her cheeks flushing crimson between frequent bathroom breaks. But when the alcohol's grip finally loosened her inhibitions, the cheerful facade cracked. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders trembling with sudden sobs.

Huo Xuan wondered if the kidnapping ordeal still haunted her. Before he could ask, she lifted her tear-streaked face. "Huo Xuan... am I really that worthless?"

He blinked. "What kind of nonsense is that? You're a decorated officer in the Criminal Investigation Unit. Who dares call you useless?"

She shook her head, strands of hair clinging to damp cheeks. "Without your help, how many of those arrests would've happened? I'm just... incompetent. That's why he left me."

Ah. Heartbreak, not trauma. Huo Xuan exhaled inwardly. "Shen Rong," he said solemnly, "if you stumble over one patch of withered grass, don't despair. A whole meadow lies ahead."

But his metaphor failed to lift her spirits. Clutching a half-empty bottle, she slurred through the story of her past.

Her father, Beijing's Public Security Director—a deputy provincial-level official with the rank of Deputy Commissioner—was politically insignificant in the capital's power circles. Growing up among "princelings," her status hovered in the awkward middle ground.

At sixteen, she met Chen Wan. His grandfather stood among the Party's old-guard elites; his father held ministerial rank. Naturally, Chen Wan reigned supreme in their social hierarchy.

For reasons unknown, he took Shen Rong under his wing, elevating her standing among their peers. Until the day he suddenly backhanded her across the face, sneering, "You cheap slut. Stay the hell out of my sight!"