Three days later.
At the Wu family’s wubao, on the martial arts training ground.
Wu Ming, chest in and back straight, struck a wooden post with a punch, shouting, “Five hundred and seventy-three!”
The wooden post made a loud noise, and deep marks even appeared on its thick and compact grain.
The maids and servants beside him were almost stunned.
Since when had their young master been so serious?
Wu Ming, however, was fully focused, continuing to sweat profusely.
He was a very realistic person. Since he had confirmed that he had been transported to another world and could not return, he naturally could only accept his fate!
But accepting his fate didn’t mean he was ready to die! If he wanted to continue living, even live better, he must become a person above others!
Of course, relying on his sister he could continue to be a spoiled young master, but what if the secret was exposed one day?
Wu Ming had always disliked placing his hopes on others, so he decided to fully recover his martial arts foundation.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, where martial arts could reach divinity, Daoist cultivation could reach immortality, and even esoteric schools offered 3,000 great paths, all leading to longevity, he found great hope.
In his previous life, he had lived an ordinary life in a world where everyone had equal lifespan, so he had accepted it.
But now, in this place, it seemed he could pursue immortality, even eternity?
“One thousand three hundred and eleven!”
“One thousand three hundred and twelve!”
“Hah!”
Wu Ming let out a low shout, suddenly throwing a punch, heavily striking the wooden post.
Crack!
With a loud noise, the wooden post, specially made for martial arts training and as thick as a human thigh, was abruptly broken in half, causing many maids to scream in surprise.
“Young Master Ming! Let me wipe the sweat for you!”
A maid wearing a light green long dress, swaying gracefully with a charming smile, stepped forward, her eyes seeming to sparkle.
“No need, I can do it myself!”
Wu Ming took the towel, wiping his hot sweat, thinking to himself, “Finally, I’ve regained the martial arts foundation from my previous life!”
Although the Great Zhou Dynasty had 3,000 great paths, all mysteriously profound, the most widely spread was still the martial arts school!
After all, with the lowest entry requirements and consuming the least resources, martial arts naturally spread more widely than other schools such as Daoism and Legalism.
Previously, Wu Ming had also wanted to learn Daoism from his sister, but unfortunately, although humans were the most intelligent of all creatures, the requirements for Daoist techniques were too high. With his meager talent, he probably wouldn’t have achieved anything even if he studied until death, so he could only take the path of martial arts, which had the lowest requirements for aptitude.
“Martial arts have nine stages of physical cultivation: Mind Stabilization, Skin and Flesh, Tendons and Bones, Internal Strength, True Qi, Innate, External Gang (Qi), Internal Gang (Qi), and Ultimate Transformation!”
“My previous self reached the fourth stage of Internal Strength, refining the mind, skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and internal organs, making the blood and vitality extremely strong. I was just short of a little to generate internal breath and break through to the fifth stage of True Qi cultivation!”
No matter which path one takes, one must first stabilize the mind, establish a firm intention, then follow the method step by step.
In Wu Ming’s memory, the previous spoiled young master had been stuck at this stage quite badly.
Fortunately, under his sister’s strict pressure, he barely passed, and after gathering a large amount of precious medicinal herbs, he finally completed the foundation of his body.
Now, after several days of hard practice, Wu Ming had finally completely inherited the legacy of his predecessor, and even his control over every part of his body and the refinement of his strength surpassed that of the previously unlearned and indolent young master.
“Young Master Ming, the person sent by the eldest miss has arrived!”
A servant quickly approached, bowing and reporting.
“Oh? I’ll go to greet them personally!”
Wu Ming felt delighted, following the servant to the entrance of the wubao, where he saw a middle-aged man in black martial attire, with a hooked nose, around thirty to forty years old.
“Are you Young Master Wu Ming?”
The man with the hooked nose slightly bowed, his sharp gaze scanning Wu Ming, “Your skin and flesh are tight, your tendons and bones solid… excellent, excellent! My name is Feng Han, sent by Miss Wu Qing. This time, besides removing obstacles for you, I am also here to personally teach you martial arts…”
“So strong!”
When Feng Han’s gaze swept over him, Wu Ming felt his pores contract, inwardly startled, “At least at the Innate stage, no… perhaps even at the External or Internal Qi level! My sister really went all out; I wonder how she managed to invite him…”
On the surface, he humbly said, “Master Feng, greetings. Please come inside to rest. As for those troubles… perhaps they are unnecessary…”
As Wu Ming was speaking, he saw Feng Han wave his hand and suddenly turn his head, looking toward the end of the road.
Teng! Teng!
A black dot quickly moved closer, growing larger, revealing a figure who seemed to be carrying something, moving at a speed faster than a galloping horse.
“Are you Wu Ming?”
The figure stopped in an instant, the dust and sand he brought with him hitting their faces. With his nose pointing to the sky, he looked arrogant and said, “Is this old dog sent by you?”
Bang!
He casually tossed something, and the unconscious butler Wu, with his limbs severed, was discarded on the ground like trash.
Wu Ming remained silent, observing the butler Wu, who was usually so respectful, now reduced to such a state. He felt deeply uneasy inside and asked, “I had instructed him to be humble and courteous. Since the death of Ghost Hand Lao Liu is no longer being investigated, why do you insist on holding a grudge… Could it be for Miss Yun?”
Ghost Hand Lao Liu was the vicious henchman of the previous Wu Ming, with numerous innocent lives on his hands, so his death was well-deserved. By now, the current Wu Ming had no intention of seeking revenge. However, the person standing before him clearly didn’t share the same sentiment.
“That shameless woman?”
(Note: The term “贱” can carry strong negative connotations in Chinese, often implying someone is morally low, despicable, or lacking self-respect. In English, “shameless” captures the derogatory tone while maintaining contextual appropriateness. Alternatives like “wretched,” “despicable,” or “lowly” could also be used depending on the specific nuance intended.)
Lin Qi’s face suddenly turned sinister, “Daring to turn to someone else, I’ve already killed her parents. Today, she will also… die!!!”
“If someone touches my dog, I will kill his entire family! If you touch my woman, I will destroy your entire fortress!”
Such a declaration, akin to a dragon soaring through the sky, instantly made Wu Ming roll his eyes.
Then, he also knew there was nothing more to discuss with this person. He immediately gave a signal with his head:
“Attack!”
The martial arts instructor from the wubao immediately let out a whistle, leading a group of guards rushing forward.
This person was a martial artist who had cultivated true qi, ranking quite high in the county, and the guards were all strong and muscular, their bones crackling.
“Hmph! Insects!”
Lin Aotian… no, Lin Qi sneered, a faint green light appearing on his hand, suddenly sweeping in a circle.
The martial arts instructor at the fifth level of physical cultivation and the guards suddenly had blood lines appear on their brows and necks, then fell over in confusion.
“Murder!”
The maids around screamed in fear, collapsing to the ground and scattering like birds and beasts.
“Good skill, the aura is both hard and soft, at least at the eighth level of physical cultivation, the internal aura realm. My name is Feng Han, here to challenge you!”
Swoosh!
As he spoke, Feng Han transformed into a black shadow, suddenly leaping into the air. His long hands shimmered with a metallic sheen as he struck downward:
“Thirteen Strikes of the Sky Eagle!”
Hiss!
Rays of aura were released, sharp and precise, bending and straightening at will, definitely at the internal aura level.
“Another expert? Unexpected!”
Lin Qi appeared slightly surprised, “I’ll deal with that lying butler later!”
But his face showed no fear at all. He withdrew the green light on his hand, which transformed into a flexible sword made of refined steel. In an instant, three sword shadows appeared: “Fen Guang Sword Technique!”
Wu Ming slowly stepped back, his heart filled with regret, “Too bad I didn’t call for the militia and bring out the crossbows… Otherwise, even an expert at the ultimate transformation level could be driven away!”
As a wubao built for commoners during turbulent times, its defensive power was naturally extraordinary. If properly set up, its armed forces could even withstand a siege by a large army.
But Wu Ming was just a spoiled young master, and there was no way he could mobilize the militia during peacetime, delaying agricultural work. Otherwise, outsiders would only think he was mad.
Now, watching Feng Han entangled with Lin Qi, the two seemed evenly matched, making his heart sink even more.
“Previously, I didn’t know any martial arts at all, but now I’ve reached the internal aura level!”
“How fast he’s progressing? There must be something wrong! If Feng Han hadn’t been called in, no one in the wubao could have stopped him! My life would have been in danger today!”
Wu Ming felt both regret and relief in his heart. As he retreated into the wubao, his right hand quietly reached into his robe and put on an item.
“Little dog, where are you going!”
Seeing the main target trying to escape, Lin Qi immediately became anxious. The wubao had high walls and deep moats, and he wasn’t confident he could immediately find Wu Ming and kill him.
“Feel honored! You’re the first person to force me to use secret techniques!”
He gritted his teeth, his face flushed red. His flexible sword, like a snake, darted forward, and the greenish aura suddenly extended three feet.
With a hiss! Feng Han, caught off guard, was struck on the shoulder, let out a muffled groan, and fell to the ground.
“Die now!”
Lin Qi took a step, his face suddenly turned pale, then quickly moved forward, seeing Wu Ming, who had fallen in disarray, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face: “Haha… little dog, kneel down and kowtow obediently, and I might let you die quickly!”
“What are you doing? Don’t come any closer, I… I still have a very, very powerful older sister… She won’t let you get away with this…”
Wu Ming seemed terrified, scrambling to get up, pretending to kneel, but suddenly his face turned serious, and he threw a punch.
Bang!
The punch was solidly blocked by a palm, and Lin Qi laughed loudly, “Despair? Did you think I wouldn’t know about your little trick? I just want to give you hope and then let you despair… Ah!!!”
In the blink of an eye, Lin Qi screamed in pain, his hand showing signs of burning.
Wu Ming didn’t miss this opportunity. His fist, wrapped in flames, heavily struck Lin Qi’s face.
“Sky Eagle’s Claw!”
At this moment, Feng Han, who had been lying on the ground, also focused his energy on his right hand. A metal claw flew out, hitting Lin Qi’s back, causing blood to spurt out.
Bang!
Lin Qi immediately fell to the ground, his face muscles burned and peeled, a large pool of blood flowing on the ground.
“Phew… phew…”
Wu Ming panted, retracting his right fist with a crimson ring, staring blankly at Lin Qi lying on the ground, “Don’t you know the saying that one shouldn’t show off, because showing off will invite a lightning strike?”
“Kill him!”
A gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall. Wu Ming did not go forward to take the final life but instead quickly retreated and gave the order.
Although Lin Qi seemed to have already turned into a dead dog, it was hard to guarantee that he didn’t have some last-resort techniques or hidden cards.
“Understood!” Several servants had the courage to beat a fallen opponent and immediately rushed forward.
“Pity!”
At this moment, Lin Qi on the ground suddenly roared, actually springing up like a carp, his body covered in a green light, his flesh healing rapidly. With a wave of his hand, several servants spat blood and flew backward, rushing toward Wu Ming: “Die for me!”
Unexpectedly sudden!
No one could imagine that Lin Qi, who seemed like a dead dog just now, could suddenly become so vigorous and fierce again!
“This can’t be? So it’s the fate of a protagonist with a strong survival instinct? But even so, wanting my life is just a dream!”
Wu Ming’s whole body was tense, ready to make a final desperate fight!
“Tsk! Take my life!”
At this moment, a crisp shout came, with a rolling sound wave, a black light flew through the air, hitting Lin Qi right in the waist.
Crack!
Lin Qi’s expression was stunned, and suddenly his whole body was cut in half, separated into upper and lower parts.
“How… could this be…”
Half of his body was still crawling on the ground, blood spilling from his mouth: “…I received great opportunities, coming from the world beyond the heavens. I have great fortune, I am the protagonist!!! How could I die here? At the hands of a native?!”
Lin Qi looked bitterly at Wu Ming one last time before finally breathing his last.
His body was cut into two pieces at this point, and there was no way he could be more dead.
Wu Ming’s face was expressionless, but suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he noticed a flash of emerald rolling from Lin Qi’s body.
His heart stirred, and he immediately stepped forward, picking up the object.
“Huh?”
The object was warm to the touch, a jade pendant as green as if it were dripping with moisture, inside which seemed to have golden stars flowing.
Just as Wu Ming was about to examine it closely, everything suddenly went black before his eyes.
Before he lost consciousness, a mechanical, monotonous voice echoed: “The Primordial Hall is opening! All Reincarnators, prepare yourselves!”
“Damn! So it’s not a story of being transported to another world, but an infinite loop!”
This thought crossed Wu Ming’s mind, and he seemed to see a graceful figure rushing toward him, before he completely fell into darkness.
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