The Divine Forbidden Land far surpassed anything the Tianwu Continent had to offer. Before entering it, Qin Chen would never have believed a cultivation method as miraculous as the **Nine Star God Emperor Art** could exist.
According to its teachings, only those who had cleared **all twelve meridians** during the Pulse Condensation period were qualified to practice it.
Yet, while the human body possessed twelve meridians, Qin Chen had never heard of anyone in the Tianwu Continent's ten-thousand-year history achieving this feat. Even the most peerless geniuses of his past life—like Feng Shaoyu and Shangguan Xiyue—had only managed **eleven**.
However, the **Nine Star God Emperor Art ** recorded a method to unlock the twelfth.
*"In my past life, I obtained this technique only after reaching the 8th-rank Martial Emperor realm—long past the foundation-building stage. Now that heaven has granted me a second chance, failing to cultivate it would be a waste of this rebirth."*
*"But..."*
*"I've already advanced to the human level, with only seven meridians cleared. Unless I break and rebuild my foundation, there's no way to reopen the remaining pathways..."*
*"No wonder Feng Shaoyu and the others were so desperate to kill me. The Nine Star God Emperor Art must have been one of their targets."*
His eyes gleamed like cold stars.
After contemplating, he pushed open the door and strode out.
**"Mother, I'm heading out. I'll return soon."**
Qin Chen gave a quick farewell before swiftly exiting the Qin estate.
*"Be safe,"* Qin Yuechi called after him, though she bit back the words *"stay out of trouble,"* keeping them as a silent prayer in her heart.
As he walked through the estate, every servant he passed shrank back, keeping a wide berth. Even the guards at the gate wore expressions of wariness and unnatural deference.
News of Qin Chen executing two guards before Madam Zhao spread like wildfire. No one dared underestimate this young master anymore.
---
### **The Bustling Capital**
The streets of the royal capital teemed with life. The vibrant energy—the shouts of vendors, the clatter of carriages, the scent of spices and street food—struck Qin Chen with a nearly surreal sense of nostalgia. He immersed himself in the sensations, savoring every detail like seeing the world anew.
Following his memories, he navigated toward the city's most prosperous district, where towering buildings gleamed with gold-leafed eaves, their grandeur a testament to the wealth they housed.
*"To break and rebuild my meridians, I need the Heaven's Vein Divine Needles. But the materials required are exceedingly rare—only a place frequented by master artisans would have them."*
His steps led him to a colossal structure that dominated the block—a hundred-meter-tall edifice of carved obsidian and jade, its entrance flanked by rows of luxurious carriages.
**"The Artificers' Pavilion!"**
The gilded plaque above the entrance shimmered in the sunlight. Without hesitation, Qin Chen stepped inside.
The Artificers' Pavilion was one of Tianwu Continent's most formidable organizations, its roots tracing back to antiquity. Alongside the Alchemists' Hall and the Bloodline Sanctuary, it stood above even the mightiest empires.
Every city had a branch, but the royal capital's pavilion dwarfed all others in scale and prestige.
*"Will they have what I need?"*
The moment he entered, a cacophony of voices washed over him. The first-floor hall sprawled endlessly, packed with patrons and craftsmen, yet order prevailed despite the lack of visible guards.
**"Welcome to the Artificers' Pavilion. How may I assist you, young master?"**
A woman in embroidered robes appeared before him, her smile polished. Her calm demeanor and discerning gaze marked her as someone accustomed to dealing with nobility.
*This young man carries himself differently from the usual spoiled aristocrats,* Chen Yufei mused silently.
For a fleeting moment, Qin Chen was transported to his past life—where visits to the pavilion's headquarters were met with obsequious greetings from elders and vice-pavilion masters. This casual reception felt almost foreign.
**"I need these materials."** He took paper and ink, swiftly listing the components required for the Heaven's Vein Divine Needles.
Chen Yufei accepted the list with a confident smile. **"You jest, young master. If our pavilion lacks something, you won't find it anywhere in the Great Qi Kingdom."**
Her assurance faltered as she scanned the list. Her brows knitted, then rose in disbelief.
**"Young master, surely you've made a mistake? I've worked here for five years, and most of these materials... I've never even heard of them."**
Qin Chen's heart sank.
He had already substituted several high-grade materials with more common alternatives, anticipating the limitations of a backwater kingdom's resources. Yet, even these were unavailable.
Without the needles, rebuilding his foundation—and cultivating the **Nine Star God Emperor Art**—would be impossible.
**"What about these?"** He hastily scribbled another set of replacements, his grip tightening on the brush.
If these, too, were absent, his plans would collapse before they began.
---
### **An Unwelcome Interruption**
**"Well, well. If it isn't my dear 'little brother'?"**
A mocking voice cut through the pavilion's din.
A young man in pristine white robes sauntered in, his arm linked with a stunning girl in pink silk. The man—Qin Fen, Madam Zhao's second son—smirked as he eyed Qin Chen.
**"Heard you failed to awaken your bloodline—*again*? What's this? Given up on martial arts and decided to play at being an artificer instead?"**
Beside him, Zhao Lingshan—the fourth beauty of the capital and beloved daughter of Prince Kang—arched a delicate brow. Her curves were accentuated by the flowing gown, her jade-like collarbone drawing admiring glances from passersby.
She studied Qin Chen with cool detachment, as though he were a peculiar insect.
The pavilion's bustling atmosphere seemed to still, patrons subtly edging away from the impending confrontation.
Chen Yufei's smile turned strained. *Trouble.*
Qin Chen didn't even glance at them. His focus remained on the list.
**"Check again,"** he said flatly to Chen Yufei. **"This is urgent."**
Qin Fen's smirk twisted into a scowl. Being ignored was unacceptable.
**"Still putting on airs? A trash who can't awaken his bloodline should learn his place!"** He stepped forward, his voice dripping with malice. **"Or do I need to teach you another lesson?"**
The threat hung in the air like a drawn blade.
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