《Full Attribute Martial Arts》


 Chapter 1 - 1: This World Isn’t Right!

    Chapter 1


    ....


    Whitebridge was as hot as a furnace in June. The sky was cyan blue, and not a cloud was in sight. The scorching sun burned furiously like a massive fireball as it hung high in the sky.


    Whitebridge No. 1 High School.


    5.30 pm.


    "Ding dong, ding dong¡­"


    The bell signaling the end of the lesson rang. The entire school campus woke up from its stupor, and noises appeared from everywhere.


    A few seconds later, waves of students gushed out of the different classrooms. They smiled and chatted in their small groups while walking out of the school gates.


    "The weather is so hot today!" someone complained angrily.


    "Hey, Arius let''s go to Wild Rose Pub for a drink tonight."


    A voice pulled Arius back to reality.


    "Saul!"


    As he looked at the person in front of him, the familiar face and the distant memories surged out from the depth of his mind. This was one of his friends when he was a senior in high school.


    "I won''t be joining you tonight. I have a headache. You guys can have fun," said Arius.


    Saul replied hurriedly, "Hey, don''t be like this. There aren''t many people in our circle. If you don''t come, it will be meaningless. Besides, we haven''t gathered in a long while. Why don''t we find another day to meet? How about tomorrow or the day after? What do you think?"


    Arius shook his head helplessly. "Tomorrow is good."


    "No problem. I will inform Little Lisa and the rest that we will be gathering tomorrow instead." Arius smiled brightly.


    When they walked to the school gates, a huge commotion sounded in front of them.


    "Hey, what happens over there? There''s a crowd there." Saul felt puzzled.


    "Let me take a look." He then ran forward and squeezed through the crowd to get to the front.


    Arius, on the other hand, just placed his hands in his pockets and walked forward slowly. A few students saw him and voluntarily made way for him, afraid of provoking this guy.


    As expected he, Young Master Arius, had a powerful reputation!


    Arius mocked himself silently.


    Unfortunately, it wasn''t a good reputation.


    He walked out of the crowd and looked at the open space in front. A lady had managed to knock down a few gangsters with dyed hair. The thugs were lying on the ground and crying in pain. They had fear in their eyes when they looked at the young lady.


    From the discussions around him, Arius had a basic understanding of what happened.


    Amalia encountered these gangsters after her class finished. Finding her quite pretty, they teased her and said some nasty things to her.


    They thought that Amalia was just a weak and easily bullied lady, but unexpectedly, she was a rose with thorns.


    She attacked them angrily and beat them until they couldn''t get up from the ground.


    "Goddess Amalia is indeed an advanced stage martial disciple. These gangsters offended the wrong person!"


    A male student beside Arius was waving his fist around feverishly. Even the pimple on his face turned slightly red because of his excitement.


    From his words, he treated Amalia as his goddess.


    "I''ve heard that Amalia was a star student, but I didn''t expect her to fight so well. Did she learn taekwondo in the past? Has she achieved the legendary 9th-degree black belt?"


    "Honestly speaking, it''s rare to see such long legs. She''s only a high school student, but her figure is already so good. Imagine how she will look in the future!"


    Arius was amazed at Amalia''s bravery. Just as he was admiring the beauties in life, he suddenly heard the words ''advanced stage martial disciple''. The expression on his face froze.


    He was in a daze!


    Did I hear wrong?


    That''s right. I just got reborn, so it''s normal to be a little absent-minded and mishear things.


    At this moment, Saul leaned over and said with jealousy, "We have five advanced stage martial disciples in our school. Amalia is the only female, and she comes from a common background to boot. She''s a genius."


    ¡­Arius felt speechless.


    They were indeed talking about advanced stage martial disciples; he didn''t hear wrong.


    He was reborn in modern society, so why did this interesting profession exist? What was going on?


    Was he reborn?


    Arius sensed the evil intentions of this world. His mind was filled with questions.


    Amalia frowned slightly when she noticed the number of people she had attracted. In the end, she ignored the gangsters on the ground and left right away.


    The people crowding around also dispersed when she left the scene.


    Arius and Saul parted ways at the school gates.


    Arius found his car that he drove to school as the other students stared at him in envy. He sat in the BMW parked on the parking lot, and then zoomed off.


    In the car, Arius looked at the scenery flashing past outside. He was in deep thought.


    This was when he noticed that the trees growing along the road''s side were exceptionally tall, big, and lush.


    These plants had too many nutrients. No wonder he felt something different when he was in school just now.


    The plants in school were exceptionally lush too. However, Arius was immersed in the fact that he was reborn, so he didn''t notice it.


    Everything Arius saw on the road astounded him.


    The streets were clean and neat, the pedestrians'' styles seemed ahead of time, and the country''s economy was extremely prosperous.


    It didn''t feel like 2009. It didn''t feel like 2021 either, the year he was reborn.


    As expected, there was something different about this world!


    Arius''s mind was in a mess. He saw a pretty lady around 20 years old walking on the streets with a huge and fluffy dog on the leash.


    There was nothing wrong with this scene, but the dog was just too huge. It was as big as a calf.


    Arius couldn''t help but curse, "What the f**k! What breed is this? Why is it so big?"


    He took a deep breath to calm his emotions. But then, he was dumbfounded again as he touched his chin.


    "It looks like a golden retriever, but it''s too big."


    He noticed a few more people walking their pets, and all of them were huge. Their sizes exceeded the typical dimensions of the animals. Some parents even let their children ride on the backs of the big dogs.


    The pet dogs became mounts!


    He also saw some pet cats with two tails. They were gigantic, too, looking like leopards.


    However, they were very obedient. Judging from the indifferent reactions of the passers-by, they weren''t treated like wild beasts.


    Arius felt a little numb.


    This was not his original world. Even though his classmates and school remained the same, some things were different.


    The car drove for more than 20 minutes before arriving at the luxurious villa district.


    Fortunately, his home was still here.


    He came from a normal wealthy family.


    Arius''s grandfather had four children. His father, Alexander Amrit, was the second child. He had a talent for business, so he started his own business and built the Myriad Group. This corporation was second to the corporation Arius''s grandfather founded, which was the Bioware Group.


    The Myriad Group and the Bioware Group were both big businesses worth over a hundred million dollars.


    But, Arius knew that there were many corporations like this in the world. His family might be considered wealthy in this area, but in front of the real global financial institutions, they were just tiny ants.


    In his past life, the Amrit family had offended someone, resulting in the downfall of their business. They only managed to persevere for a few months before their company went bankrupt and closed.


    The Amrit family collapsed and became a thing of the past.


    It sounded good to have two companies each worth more than a hundred million. Yet, they were nothing in front of influential people.


    How ironic!


    Since then, Arius''s life took a huge turn. In the next few days, he lived a dog''s life. He got humiliated and embarrassed all the time until he was reborn¡ªwait, he might not be reborn!


    This world had changed drastically, so he didn''t know what the Amrit family was like now.


    He wondered if his parents were still his parents?


    He hoped that when he opened the door, his parents wouldn''t have changed.


    No way! It won''t happen! Arius comforted himself hurriedly. He felt agitated, so he took a few deep breaths before he stepped through the doors of the villa.

 Chapter 2 - 2: The Principles Of Peaceful Coexistence With The Otherworld

    Chapter 2


    ....


    In 2009, the villas in this expensive district cost 30,000 dollars per square meter.


    Arius''s family villa is 800 square meters big, and they had paid more than 20 million for it. Including the price of renovation, they spent more than 30 million in total.


    Upon entering the villa, the first thing visible was the spacious living room. At the moment, two maids were cleaning the place.


    Mother Amrit, Dianne Amrit, was cooking in the kitchen.


    Dianne was born into a scholarly family. In university, she was famous because of her talent. However, she wasn''t someone who couldn''t step into the kitchen.


    Rather, she was a master at cooking. Arius and his father were full of praises for her cooking.


    That was why Dianne always cooked herself. She makes the dishes every day and waits for her husband and son to come back to eat.


    Looking at the hustling figure in the kitchen, Arius could smell the familiar fragrance of the food from here.


    He stood at the door of the kitchen and opened his mouth several times. After a long while, he finally managed to make a sound.


    "Mom, I''m back."


    "You''re back!"


    Dianne turned around and smiled as she continued, "Let''s wait for a while. Your dad should be back soon too. We can eat together after he returns."


    "Okay! Let me wash my face." Arius rushed up the stairs instantly and dashed into the bathroom.


    "What''s wrong with this child today?" Dianne shook her head.


    In the bathroom, Arius turned the tap and splashed cold water on his face.


    He came back!


    He never thought that he would still have the chance to return to this family after ten years.


    In the past, when the Amrit family went downhill, someone conspired against Alexander and had him murdered. Sometime later, Dianne also died of grief.


    Arius raised his head and wiped his face. He stared at his reflection in the mirror with slightly red eyes.


    Many things had changed in the past ten years.


    Arius changed. He was no longer who he was before. Now, he was able to remain calm and composed when facing different people and matters.


    But, in the corner of his heart, there were still a few soft spots that he didn''t want to touch.


    Since he was reborn, his heart turned warm again.


    Arius dried his face and walked out of the bathroom. He then located his bedroom with the help of his memory.


    The similar arrangements, everything was so familiar.


    NBA star''s posters were pasted on the wall, and there were piles of audio CDs and novels on the bookshelf. The study table was below the window while the bed was next to it. There was a computer on the table.


    It was a new model of Apple. The bright silver frame was light and trendy.


    This was another item that didn''t fit the timeline.


    Arius suddenly thought of something when he saw the computer. As expected, he found a cell phone in his bag. However, it wasn''t an antique from 2009; it was the latest iPhone 12 Pro Max.


    He was mentally prepared, though. He entered the passcode and opened his cell phone.


    Arius felt fortunate that he wasn''t good at remembering passwords. He had used the same password for many years without changing it, which became useful now.


    Food delivery apps, WeChat, Tik Tok¡­ many apps in his phone belonged to the future. They didn''t exist in 2009.


    When he was reborn, he wanted to use his memories to create a bright future for himself. He would conquer the hearts of future bosses like Elon Musk.


    Fine, he seems to have no chance now!


    He sighed and put down his phone. Arius then turned on his computer.


    There was no faster method than searching online.


    Since the computer and cell phone technology was so advanced, it would be unreasonable for the internet to be stuck in 2009.


    Technology and the Internet were inseparable.


    Arius was a little surprised after he turned his computer on.


    The operating system wasn''t Windows 10. Instead, it was already the 11th generation.


    So far, the advancement timeline here wasn''t the same as in 2021. There were some differences here and there.


    He had to spend some time before he got familiar with this world.


    Arius opened the Chrome browser and searched the two words ''martial warriors''. A huge amount of information sprung up.


    More than an hour later, Arius closed the browser and leaned back on his chair. He was in disbelief.


    ''30 years ago, multiple dimensional rifts appeared in the world. The rifts are linked to an alternate world, Amazon Continent.


    ''Spiritual Ki exists in the Amazon Continent. Everyone there can become martial warriors by using this Spiritual Ki to cultivate.


    ''Martial warriors are formidable!


    ''Low-rank martial warriors can break metals, split rocks, and divide a stream of water into two using their blades. High-rank martial warriors can move and destroy mountains, cut the sea into two¡­ ''


    This is like a fantasy!


    Arius was speechless.


    The scientist on Earth had done some research on the Spiritual Ki and discovered that it might be dark matter. But, why were the humans and plants on Amazon Continent able to absorb the dark matter to change their body structure? Why weren''t the living creatures on Earth able to do the same? The scientist couldn''t find the answer to these questions.


    After some time, along with the appearance of the dimensional rifts, the Earth started to change. The living creatures on Earth were affected by dark matter.


    The plants became taller and lusher, and some extinct species reappeared on Earth.


    Animals started to grow in size too. The special characteristics on their bodies, for instance, scales, claws, and teeth, were enhanced accordingly.


    Some gifted creatures even managed to mutate and obtained special element abilities.


    As the masters of the Earth, humans also followed suit.


    Their bodies became stronger. They were able to run faster, jump higher, have more strength, and live longer!


    The elderlies who were around 70 to 80 years old are still alive 30 years later. Despite being more than a hundred years old now, their physical and mental state remained the same as 30 years ago.


    Humans went berserk!


    The different countries disregarded their previous enmity and organized a global conference.


    In the end, they decided to organize a team to investigate and explore the dimensional rifts. After confirming that they were safe, they sent the army and different specialists into the Amazon Continent.


    These people were known as the pioneers.


    Amazon Continent was endless. The pioneers claimed that they came from the other side of the sea and gained the locals'' trust. Afterward, they started interacting and trading with them.


    The people on earth didn''t ruthlessly invade the Amazon Continent. Instead, they adopted the principles of peaceful coexistence and interacted with the locals there amiably.


    After some time, the pioneers came back with the cultivation methods from Amazon Continent.


    After some trials and errors, humans on Earth were able to cultivate. The countries came to a common consensus and made the cultivation methods public. Henceforth, it was the dawn of a new martial arts era.


    This was a huge reform!


    History took a sharp turn and moved in an unpredictable direction.


    We have come to the most important part. Please do take note.


    Humans were powerful because they had intelligence. Through cultivation, the human race quickly grew stronger. Within a few short years, a considerable number of martial warriors started to appear around the world.


    Some joined the army, while others entered the government. Some belonged to various financial institutions and elite families. All in all, these people allied. However, a small portion of the civilian martial warriors preferred freedom. They set up various martial arts schools to provide a way for other civilians to start their cultivation.


    Due to the presence of these martial warriors, humans were able to keep the mutated and powerful wild beasts out of the city. This prevented massive damage and impact on society.


    However, becoming a martial warrior required talent. It wasn''t a path everyone could pursue.


    If someone wanted to become an official martial warrior, they needed to toughen their body and build a solid foundation.


    Cultivators at this stage were known as martial disciples. They would only be able to absorb the Spiritual Ki and store it in their body if their foundation was strong enough. Then, they would become an official martial warrior.


    If Spiritual Ki was compared to water, the body would be akin to a vessel collecting the water. The process of absorbing the Spiritual Ki was the same as pouring water into a vessel. The bigger and sturdier the vessel was, the more water it could hold.


    The principle of cultivation could be explained simply like this.


    Based on the martial disciples'' strength, speed, and overall ability, they could be classified into three categories: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.


    Amalia was an advanced stage martial disciple. She was only a step away from becoming a martial warrior.


    This was the step that stumped many people.


    There was a stark difference between people who could absorb the Spiritual Ki and those who couldn''t.


    An official martial warrior who was able to cultivate using the Spiritual Ki was able to easily take on ten advanced stage martial disciples who couldn''t absorb the Spiritual Ki.


    On the surface, though, only one step separated an advanced stage martial disciple and an official martial warrior.


    As the saying goes, the poor study while the wealthy learn martial arts. Copious amounts of resources were required to cultivate the martial path. Naturally, they cost money, so ordinary people were at a disadvantage.


    On the whole, martial warriors only made up a small proportion of humans. Most people were just slightly stronger human beings.


    But, this didn''t stop martial warriors from becoming the mainstream. On the other hand, the rarity of martial warriors and their importance gave them their important status.

 Chapter 3 - 3: Starting My Bugged Life Now!

    Chapter 3


    ....


    7 pm.


    Arius''s family finally sat down together to have their dinner.


    "Your father was halfway home when something cropped up at work again. He had to go back, so he was delayed by more than an hour. Can''t you go back after you finish your dinner?" Dianne complained as she placed some food in Arius''s bowl.


    Arius was holed up in his room for more than an hour. He also forgot about his dinner, but fortunately, his father was late because of work.


    "It was an emergency. I had to go back and take care of it first," Alexander replied helplessly.


    "Let''s ignore your father. His mind is always fixed on his stupid company." Dianne rolled her eyes at Alexander.


    Arius smiled.


    When he was in high school, his relationship with his father was a little tense. Alexander had great hope for his child, so naturally, he was strict. However, Arius was in his rebellious phase, and he didn''t study at all. Thus, the conflict between him and his father got more intense.


    Thinking back on it, Arius felt that his actions were childish in the past.


    On the dining table, Arius and Alexander were quieter as compared to Dianne. She placed food in Arius''s bowl and chatted with the father and son.


    Arius enjoyed this atmosphere.


    Alexander had a short conversation with Arius. He was mostly concerned with his studies.


    Arius''s replies were quite standard. He wasn''t as childish as before, and he didn''t throw tantrums or smash his chopsticks.


    Alexander was pleasantly surprised. He felt that his son was different today, but he didn''t overthink. After finishing his dinner, Alexander left the house in a hurry.


    As the boss of a huge company, he had many things to settle every day. Most of the time, he could only sleep for four to five hours daily.


    Arius informed his mother before leaving the house too. He rushed straight to the Shining Martial House.


    A yellow sports car zoomed along the streets in the night, its loud engine catching the attention of many pedestrians. Most of the cars today used the Spiritual Ki as their source of energy. Fuel had long been eliminated. The Spiritual Ki was more environmentally friendly and cheaper.


    The pioneers didn''t just bring back the methods of cultivation from the Amazon Continent. They also brought back many new technologies.


    The Spiritual Ki rune was one of them.


    By combining the technologies from the Amazon Continent and the Earth, the Spiritual Ki technology was born. From then, cars started to use the Spiritual Ki. Later on, computers and phones also shifted to the newly invented Spiritual Ki runes chip and batteries. They worked faster and could last longer¡­


    Half an hour later, Arius parked his car outside the martial arts school.


    Based on the information he found, Shining Martial House was one of America''s top three martial arts academies. The principal of this school was a 12-star general-rank martial warrior. He was ranked among the top 5 warriors in America.


    Worldwide, he was ranked among the top 20.


    There were different ranks for martial warriors: 1-star to 9-star were soldiers, 10-star was brigadier general, 11-star was low-tier general, 12-star was general, 13-star was high-tier general¡­


    From this, one could tell how powerful the principle of the Shining Martial House was.


    The headquarters of the Shining Martial House was in Texas State Capital, with its branches spreading over the big cities in America. They had a lot of martial warriors in their employment and had given birth to many powerful people.


    The Whitebridge County branch of the Shining Martial House was situated beside the sea. In the dark, it looked like a huge wild beast lying prone. The landmass it covered was comparable to a high school.


    The martial arts academy''s main gate was wide enough for five cars to drive through side by side. It was grandeur and magnificent, to say the least.


    There was a huge rock erected in the middle of the main gate. The words ''Shining Martial House, Whitebridge branch'' were written conspicuously in gold.


    When he reached the sentry box, a few guards carrying guns walked to his car.


    "Routine inspection, please cooperate."


    Arius lowered his car window and nodded. Then, he got out of his car.


    The guards inspected the interior of the car and used the scanner to check Arius''s body. The whole process was done very carefully.


    At the same time, Arius also sized up the guards.


    They wore black protective vests and had large-caliber machine guns in their hands. Just their menacing looks and sophisticated gear was enough to frighten the onlookers.


    There were Spiritual Ki runes carved on the machine guns, signifying that they were Spiritual Ki machine guns. They were ten times more powerful than their normal counterparts. Even if an official martial warrior got hit by them, he would be crippled.


    After the inspection, the guards let him in.


    Arius parked the car properly and walked along the paths in the martial arts academy.


    It was already past 8 pm, but the place was brightly lit. Plenty of students could be seen on the roads and the grass.


    There was no lack of people training at night.


    Every second counted when you were training to become a martial warrior. Being talented was the basic criterion. One still needed to work hard to achieve progress on his cultivation journey.


    There were three tall and huge buildings in the martial arts academy. With their silver-white color with distinctive characteristics, it was easy to spot them.


    The one in the middle was the administrative building. It was rectangular in shape and a hundred meters in height. It stabbed straight into the clouds like a spear. At the tip, there was a strange half circle.


    On the left was the martial disciple teaching building, while on the right was the martial disciple training building.


    These two buildings looked like two huge round balls. They weren''t tall, though, only having three floors, but they were extremely spacious. By rough estimate, they were two times bigger than Orange County No. 1 High School''s stadium.


    The placements of these three buildings made Arius suspect that this was the work of the principal''s poor sense of humor.


    Arius had done his homework, so he ran towards the administrative building without hesitation.


    Under the staff''s guidance, he registered himself as a martial disciple and went to the martial disciple teaching building.


    The martial arts academy would only accept students between the age of 16 and 30. This was to prevent wastage of resources.


    Arius was merely 17 years old, so age wasn''t a problem for him.


    The noise in the teaching building struck him the second he walked into the building.


    The first floor was where beginner disciples trained. Beginner disciples were beginner stage martial disciples, and there were more than 3000 beginner stage martial disciples in the Shining Martial House.


    On the first floor, all the students were cultivating on their own. It looked extremely lively.


    The second Arius entered the main lobby, he froze on the spot.


    What did he see?


    Around 50 transparent bubbles were floating above the ground.


    Strength*1


    Speed*3


    Physique*1


    Intelligence*0.5


    Strength*2


    ¡­


    Arius blinked. He blinked again. The bubbles were still there, but the other students in the lobby couldn''t see them.


    This was his special skill?!


    He wasn''t sure, so he pulled a student that was walking past.


    "What do you want!"


    The student was around 17 years old. He glanced at Arius irritatedly with a ''why are you more handsome than me'' expression.


    "Brother, this floor¡­ it''s paved really nicely," Arius pointed to the floor and said.


    The transparent bubbles were floating at the height of his calves. He could see them just by lowering his head.


    The student ignored the bubbles and replied impatiently, "Of course. This is the best rubber flooring. There are Spiritual Ki runes carved in it that can minimize vibration, last longer, and have many other functions.


    "Where do you come from? Don''t you have common sense?"


    The student flicked his hand and walked away without looking back.


    Arius touched his chin. From the person''s reaction, he obviously couldn''t see the bubbles. That meant that he was the only person who could see them.


    The students walked around the training area, some going through the bubbles. To them, the bubbles didn''t exist.


    Arius moved closer to the bubble nearest to him to test if he could walk through it.


    The instant he touched it, the bubble disappeared.


    His vision blurred for a moment, and a transparent board popped out.


    Intelligence : 18


    Physique: 41


    Strength: 50 (+1)


    Speed: 32


    ¡­


    Arius''s heart palpitated as he stared at the transparent board. He felt as though his heart was going to jump out of his throat.


    This was exhilarating.


    Arius felt that he wouldn''t be so excited even if he struck a hundred million lottery.


    He couldn''t control himself.


    This must be a bug!


    In this era where martial warriors were the mainstream, becoming stronger was the only path to success.


    His bug allowed him to collect attributes from other people and turn them into his own. This was heaven-defying!


    Other people had to cultivate diligently while he only had to pick up attributes. Arius saw an unobstructed path to success in front of him.


    One day, he would go straight to the top of the world!

 Chapter 4 - 4: I’d Rather Die Than Practice The Ninth Set Of Radio Exercises

    Translator: Myriad Translation


    Chapter 4


    ....


    At first, Arius had come to the Shining Martial House to cultivate. But now, he was busy picking up attributes.


    He felt like a garbage collector, working hard to pick up what others dropped.


    He observed the bubbles for some time and noticed that the transparent bubbles on the ground were dropped during the disciples'' cultivation process.


    Many students were practicing in the martial arts academy, so quite a few attribute bubbles had dropped.


    One thing made Arius''s heartache, though.


    There was a time limit for the existence of the bubbles. They would disappear after a few minutes.


    Just now, when he was in a daze, a few bubbles had already disappeared. He felt a pang of pain in his heart as if he had lost a few hundred million.


    The disciples continued practicing; attribute bubbles kept dropping.


    As Arius collected the bubbles happily, his attributes started surging.


    When an instructor saw him running around the arena aimlessly, he couldn''t take it anymore. He called him loudly.


    "Hey, student, why are you not practicing diligently? Why are you running around?"


    "Teacher, this is my first day, so I''m looking at how other people practice. As the saying goes, there''s something you can learn from everyone. I''m learning things from other people first."


    Arius looked at the instructor and smiled as he spouted nonsense.


    "Today is your first day? Come over here. I will teach you the ninth set of radio exercises first. Since you don''t know anything now, you won''t be able to understand what they are doing. Lay your foundations first," said the instructor.


    Arius thought for a moment and felt that the instructor made sense. This guy was quite responsible.


    He looked at the attribute bubbles that had just dropped in the training lobby. The feeling of losing a few hundred million struck him again.


    "Teacher, what kind of exercise is the ninth set of radio exercises?" Arius walked over and asked curiously.


    "It is a set of exercises created by the country to train your body scientifically. It uses the basic physical training exercises from the Amazon Continent."


    The instructor turned to the sound system after he finished speaking.


    "The ninth set of radio exercises, Martial Spirit, starts now."


    Arius froze.


    He could recognize the music. The starting actions were familiar too.


    "Watch carefully."


    The instructor was taller than 5ft and 9 inches, and his muscles were bulging out of his shirt. It was frightening, yet he was getting ready diligently.


    Arius was stunned.


    The instructor started doing the exercises along with the music.


    "The first stance, stretching exercise. One two three four, one two three four¡­"


    "The second stance, chest expansion exercise. One two three four, one two three four¡­"


    "The third stance, kicking exercise. One two three four, one two three four¡­"


    Arius looked at the instructor in astonishment as many crows flew past his mind uncontrollably. He was speechless.


    Oh my god!


    The names of the exercises were the same as the radio exercises he knew in the past, but the actions were more complicated. Some of them even had high physical demands.


    It seemed like¡­ the exercises could truly train one''s physique.


    But, this music, this tempo, and this familiar feeling were really embarrassing.


    "How is it? Have you seen everything? If you didn''t, I could show you again."


    The music stopped, and the instructor slowly ended the exercise. He let out a long sigh. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and his body. The effects of the ninth set of radio exercises were astounding.


    "Instructor, I saw everything clearly!" Arius nodded in a hurry. He was really afraid that the instructor would do it again.


    Looking at his unsatisfied expression, the guy might really do it again. He wasn''t kidding.


    "Oh, it looks like your memory is not bad. I had to watch it three times before I managed to memorize it," the instructor said with disappointment.


    Why do you look so disappointed!


    How can you get addicted to a radio exercise?


    Arius sent the instructor off with all his might by persuading him to harm other students. After all, they would be delighted to listen to him.


    I will never practice the ninth set of radio exercises! I will never do it even if I die!


    I will only rely on picking up attributes to become stronger!


    When the instructor wasn''t looking at him, Arius continued his collection business.


    Strength*2


    Speed*1


    Intelligence*0.2


    ¡­


    Basic Fist Skill*5


    ¡­


    Arius was thrilled. He had picked many strength and speed attributes, but he hadn''t tested them. Hence, he didn''t know where his strength was at. However, while running around, Arius felt his speed increasing. He accidentally dashed a few meters further than expected.


    There weren''t many Intelligence attributes. Most of them were less than one point, so they only added up to one point.


    Will I become smarter if my Intelligence attribute increases? Why don''t I feel anything? Arius thought to himself.


    Wait!


    Basic Fist Skill*5?!


    Arius had absorbed an attribute bubble that he never saw before. Suddenly, memories of him practicing fist skills, which didn''t exist earlier, appeared in his mind.


    "I''ve learned the basic fist skill?" Arius was in disbelief.


    As martial disciples couldn''t absorb the Spiritual Ki, they weren''t able to practice Spiritual Ki battle techniques.


    Hence, the country summarized many basic fighting skills, including footwork, fist skills, sword skills, blade skills, etc.


    They popularized the skills and allowed everyone to practice them.


    Arius looked at the 20-years-old youth who was practicing the basic fist skill not far away from him, and his eyes lit up.


    Although he had learned the basic fist skill, he wasn''t well-versed in it. He just knew it roughly like an ordinary person who had practiced it for five days.


    Was he able to increase his proficiency if he collected more basic fist skill attributes?


    Bang, bang, bang!


    The young man punched the sandbag forcefully, swinging it right and left. Every punch formed a dent in the sandbag.


    "Amazing!


    "Indeed, you can only be successful if you become a martial warrior.


    "Why isn''t it dropping¡­? Hey, it dropped! It dropped again!"


    Arius was feeling over the top. He secretly crept in from the back and picked up the attribute silently. Then, he sneaked away.


    Basic Fist Skill*7


    Strength*5


    "This young man is amazing! He''s good!" Arius exclaimed.


    The proficiency of his basic fist skill had increased once more!


    He waited for a while, but the other party didn''t drop any more attribute bubbles. Wang Teng had no choice but to turn his attention to the other students. He mustn''t neglect the other attributes while waiting for this one.


    Only children made decisions.


    Adults take everything!


    He, Arius was an adult!


    ¡­


    Basic Footwork*2


    There was a running track outside the training lobby. It was like a stadium.


    A fat man was dashing across the track like a gust of wind. Standing by the side, Arius''s hair flew up. Still, a bubble dropped from the fat man.


    This was an agile fatty!


    "Huh? Basic footwork!"


    Arius was astounded when he picked up the attribute bubble. This was another basic technique. He was really lucky today.


    As the fat man kept running assiduously, bubbles dropped behind him like a hen laying eggs.


    "So many bubbles!"


    Arius was flabbergasted. He didn''t want to waste anything, so he ran behind the fatty and collected the bubbles.


    The speed attributes he had collected earlier started showing its effects now. Arius was able to follow behind the fatty without breaking a sweat.


    Speed*1


    Speed*1


    Speed*1


    Basic Footwork*3


    Speed*1


    ¡­


    "Hah, hah, hah¡­ why are you following me?" The fatty stopped and glared at Arius while sticking out his tongue.


    "No one is following you. I''m just practicing my footwork. Don''t flatter yourself." Arius glared back at him.


    "You¡­"


    "What about me?"


    "Damn it, I''m not running anymore. You can run alone." The fatty was frustrated, but he couldn''t do anything to Arius.


    "Hey, don''t do that. You can run a few more rounds. I think that you have a bright future. Don''t give up easily," Arius immediately persuaded the fatty with all his heart.


    The fatty: ¡­

 Chapter 5 - 5: I, Arius, Am Very Hardworking!

    Translator: Myriad Translation


    Chapter 5


    ....


    11 pm. The night was getting dark.


    Arius left the Shining Martial House unwillingly. The other students had trained for the entire night, but he fooled around the whole time.


    Was he fooling around?


    Pfft¡­ how could he say that he was fooling around when he is about to become a martial disciple.


    The martial disciples left in batches, and Arius was among the last batch.


    It wasn''t because he was very hardworking. He just didn''t want to miss any attribute bubble. Well¡­ this is kind of hard work too.


    Arius drove on the empty road.


    Intelligence: 19.3


    Physique: 47


    Strength:135


    Speed: 86


    Battle Techniques: Basic Fist Skill (basic understanding), Basic Footwork (basic understanding)


    Glancing at the attributes panel, Arius felt content. From single-digit to the current double-digits and three-digits, it was an undeniably huge change.


    His strength and speed had increased the most. On the other hand, his Intelligence and physique were on the low side.


    It wasn''t hard to notice that each attribute had a different probability of dropping.


    The greatest surprise today was the basic fist skill and the basic footwork. To become a martial warrior, having a tough body wasn''t enough. He needed to learn battle techniques so that he could display his true potential.


    I will go to the martial arts academy again tomorrow to test how far I can go. Arius thought to himself.


    When he returned home, Dianne had already prepared dinner.


    Alexander was eating. He frowned and asked, "It''s late. Where did you go?"


    "The Shining Martial House," Arius replied casually.


    Then, he said to Dianne, "Mom, did you make egg noodles? Did you leave some for me? I''m hungry."


    "Of course, I left some for you."


    Dianne was elated that her son loved her cooking.


    Slurp~


    Arius took the bowl and sat down beside Alexander, taking huge bites of the noodles. It was incredibly delicious.


    Not smelling alcohol on Arius''s body, Alexander''s eyebrows relaxed a little. He asked with surprise, "Why did you go to the martial arts academy?"


    "To practice martial arts," Arius replied without raising his head.


    "Practice martial arts!"


    "Practice martial arts!"


    Alexander and Dianne were flabbergasted. They exchanged glances with each other before turning to look at Arius in unplanned unison.


    They had tried persuading Arius in the past, but he was too pampered. He didn''t want to learn, so he didn''t take their words to heart.


    Yet, he voluntarily went to practice martial arts today?


    "Son, you want to practice martial arts?" Dianne asked in disbelief.


    "That''s right." Arius nodded.


    "Son, do you have a girlfriend?" Dianne followed up curiously.


    "Huh?" Arius was stunned.


    When did he have a girlfriend? He didn''t even know that he had a girlfriend.


    "You hated practicing martial arts in the past," said Alexander.


    "What''s wrong with that? I''ve sorted out my thoughts, so naturally, I want to start practicing," Alexander gave a relaxed expression as he replied.


    Was it really so simple?


    Alexander and Dianne glanced at each other again.


    "Alright, since you want to learn martial arts, I will hire the best teacher to teach you." Alexander could sense that Arius wasn''t joking, so he clapped his hands happily.


    "Dad, you don''t have to do that. Martial arts require talent. I want to practice on my own and give it a try."


    Arius directly rejected his father. How could a teacher be compared to his bug?


    His father was only able to hire an advanced stage martial disciple as his teacher. Based on his family background, they couldn''t hire a martial warrior.


    He would rather spend time picking up attributes than learning from an advanced stage martial disciple.


    It would be a waste of money and resources.


    This was the martial era. Even hiring an advanced stage martial disciple wasn''t cheap.


    Alexander didn''t force his son. He nodded and said, "Okay, there are instructors in the martial arts academy too. As one of the top three martial arts academies in China, their instructors won''t be bad.


    "Practice properly. I don''t hope that you can become a martial warrior. If you''re able to become an advanced stage martial disciple, your physical quality will improve tremendously, and your lifespan will increase too.


    "Health is wealth. With a good body, you can get twice the result with half the effort."


    Actually, he was afraid that Arius''s passion wouldn''t last long. He might give up after two days of suffering. Thus, it was better to let him practice on his own for a period. If he could persevere, they could make more plans later.


    "I understand." Arius smiled secretly. His father loved to educate him. In the past, he wouldn''t listen to his father.


    But, an advanced stage martial disciple?


    He had a bug. Not mentioning an official martial warrior, he might even be able to become a general-stage martial warrior.


    He was just afraid that he would scare his father if he told him the truth.


    On the other side, Alexander felt content in his heart. He thought that Arius had matured¡­ Was he dating?


    "Son, you''re already 17 years old. If you are really dating, we won''t object. Do you have enough pocket money?"


    Arius was puzzled.


    Why couldn''t they stop talking about this topic?


    "Dad, Mom, I''m really not dating. If I have a girlfriend, I''ll tell you immediately." Arius was speechless.


    "What a pity." Dianne felt disappointed.


    Alexander nodded in agreement.


    Arius said helplessly, "Mom, I''m only 17 years old. Why are you sighing?"


    "You''re not young anymore. We are allowed to get the marriage certificate at 18 years old. If you start dating now, you can cultivate your relationship for a year and get married after that," Dianne said.


    "Get married at 18 years old?" Arius was dumbstruck.


    Was the martial arts era so loving?


    "Mom, I''ve finished eating. I will wash up and go to sleep."


    He dashed upstairs as though he was running away from his parents. He was afraid that if he talked to his mother for a while longer, she might start talking about his future children.


    This was how his mother was like.


    "This child! Hubby, I feel that the young miss of the Smith family is not bad. Let''s visit her family another day and ask them¡­"


    Dianne was still chatting with Alexander on the first floor.


    Fortunately, Arius didn''t hear them. If he did, he might have peed in his pants out of shock. The young miss of the Smith family was at least a hundred kilograms!


    ¡­


    The next day.


    Alexander was eating breakfast bright and early in the morning. Steamed buns, fried dough, soy milk¡­ these were all simple dishes, but they were the favorites of the people in China.


    Arius came downstairs.


    It was Saturday, so he didn''t need to go to school. He could make his own arrangements.


    After he finished breakfast, Alexander bid farewell to his parents and rushed out of the door.


    Alexander felt relieved again. He said to Dianne, "Buy some star beast meat. Little Arius is practicing martial arts. Eating some star beast meat can help him improve his physique."


    Shining Martial House.


    Arius came really early. There were only a few students in the training lobby at the moment. Clearly, these people were remarkably hardworking.


    As early risers, they were all surprised to see a new face.


    However, Arius''s diligence earned their approval as the students nodded at him politely. They felt that he was the same kind of person as them.


    Arius found himself very hardworking, too, but unfortunately, not many people came to practice so early. Hence, there were few bubbles to pick today.


    He went to greet the students and picked up the attributes along the way.


    Yes, he just did it because it was along the way.


    I, Arius, am a polite person. My main purpose is to greet them.


    Basic Fist Skill*6


    Strength*4


    Speed*3


    Basic Sword Skill*4


    ¡­


    Wow, there was an array of attributes also basic fist skills and basic sword skills for him to pick up. He had learned another basic battle technique!


    As expected, the early bird catches the worm.


    The disciples here were all talented, and they were very polite. Even more, they dropped many attributes for him.


    Arius really liked them.

 Chapter 6 - 6: I’m Not Incompetent

    Translator: Myriad Translation


    Chapter 6


    ....


    Arius soon finished picking up the attribute bubbles. He knew that the other students wouldn''t drop any more bubbles for some time, so he ran to a corner.


    There were a few inspection devices placed over there: strength inspection device, speed indicator device, and physique inspection device.


    This was all equipment used to test the physical conditions of the martial disciples. They were very accurate with minimal error.


    Arius stopped in front of the strength inspection device first.


    He had learned the basic fist skill, so he knew how to exert his strength properly.


    Other people would need at least a month to learn this. Even a genius would need around ten days. Yet, Arius only used two days.


    To him, it was only a few attribute bubbles!


    This was the shortest time to learn the skill in the world. It was so short that other people didn''t even dare to imagine it.


    Arius slowly got into posture and took a deep breath. He then closed his eyes, relaxing his body.


    Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide. He fixed his gaze in front of him, as though he was looking at his prey. Then, he moved. He stepped firmly on the ground and slightly moved his waist. His backbone tightened like a bow as he attacked with his fist.


    "Bang!"


    Arius''s fists slammed the strength inspection device. The number on display started jumping violently before it finally stopped. It was 143kg or 315 pounds of force!


    Yesterday, when he went home at night, his strength attribute was at 135 points. Just now, he had picked up 8 points, coming to a total of 143 points. This was the same as the number on the device.


    His strength had reached the limit of a normal person.


    It was worth noting that it was a normal person''s limit.


    A human in a desperate situation was able to go beyond his limits. However, it was hard for an ordinary person to do that. In fact, it was exceedingly difficult.


    Thinking back, his initial strength was at 50, which was the strength of a normal person.


    Fortunately, I''m not incompetent!


    Arius consoled himself. Then, he went to the speed indicator and stood on it.


    The speed indicator looked like a treadmill. When a person ran on it, the wheels below would start spinning, and the person''s speed would be calculated.


    Arius started with a light jog. Then, he increased his speed until he hit his limit.


    The speed indicator device would display the runner''s fastest speed.


    Arius felt that he had already reached his limit, so he slowed down gradually and stepped down from the device.


    He looked at the number on the indicator:


    26 mph!


    It was obvious that the speed and the attribute points didn''t rise equally. Arius wasn''t interested in how these two aspects were connected, though.


    It was just a different formula.


    Nonetheless, Arius was still astounded by his own speed just now.


    This was the speed of the Olympic''s hundred-meter sprint champion, right? If the body of a martial disciple was already like this, how scary was a martial warrior?


    "Let''s look at my physique."


    The physique inspection device looked like a hibernation chamber in a fantasy movie. It stood erected in a corner.


    Arius walked in and pressed the start button. A ray of light scanned his body from his head to toe a few times.


    The physique inspection consisted of an examination of the blood, muscles, bones, meridians, and other elements. It was extremely complex, requiring advanced technology.


    "Ding! The scan has ended. Student Arius Amrit. Physique 47."


    A pleasant female voice resounded from the physique inspection device.


    "Tsk, tsk, there is even a voice broadcast system."


    Arius was amazed at how high-quality the speed indicator device and physique inspection device were.


    He wondered to himself. My physique is 47, the same as my physique attribute points. It seems like only the speed attribute is different.


    He glanced at the ''Levels of martial disciple chart'' hung on the wall at the side.


    The standard strength of a beginner stage martial disciple was 100 kg to 300 kg. The speed was 9 to 7 seconds for a hundred meters, meaning 241mph to 31mph. Lastly, the physique was between 30 to 50.


    As evident, Arius was already a beginner stage martial disciple.


    He was satisfied with this result.


    Why shouldn''t he be satisfied? Did he think that he could rise to the top in a single day?


    He had already saved much time in upgrading from a normal human to a beginner stage martial disciple.


    One needed to learn to be content¡­


    "I will aim to become an intermediate stage martial disciple today!" Arius was filled with excitement as he decided to stay in the training lobby the entire day. He wasn''t going anywhere.


    The other students were all practicing on their own, concentrating on their training. They didn''t notice Arius''s test result. After all, this was the first time they had met. It was impolite to peek at others'' abilities.


    While Arius was doing his test just now, a few more attribute bubbles had dropped beside the students.


    Arius''s eyes lit up. He pretended to walk past them unintentionally and picked up the attributes.


    Basic Sword Skill*3


    Strength*5


    Intelligence*0.6


    Speed*2


    ¡­


    Not bad, not bad. There''s Intelligence to collect, and I''ve almost completed my basic sword skill! Arius was secretly jumping with joy.


    Since there were too few people at the moment, Arius didn''t want to be too conspicuous and garner everyone''s attention. He walked into the weapons room and looked around.


    There were many weapons on the shelves, including swords, blades, spears, halberd, rods, hammers, and many more.


    Each weapon had its subcategories too. For instance, for swords, there were long swords, short swords, soft swords, double swords, and such.


    There were all kinds of weapons on display here, and one could find whatever they fancied. No matter how unpopular the students'' weapon was, they would find it in the weapons room.


    Arius stood in front of the shelf with the swords and observed for some time. Eventually, he selected a black soft sword from the ''dark shadow'' series.


    As martial arts became mainstream, the weapons industry started developing too. After all, weapons were extremely important to a martial warrior.


    In a duel, a martial warrior with a powerful weapon had an advantage over a martial warrior without any weapons.


    However, the weapons provided to the martial disciples were all dummies. The quality was barely satisfactory, and no runes were engraved on it.


    This metal sword from the ''dark shadow'' series was entirely black. Its pattern and weight were the same as the real sword, but there were no occult runes on it.


    If you really wanted to compare, the cost of manufacturing this sword was only a few hundred dollars. On the other hand, it cost a few hundred thousand to make the real sword. The difference was huge.


    Arius weighed the black metal sword in his hand. It felt just right.


    Men had an inclination and yearning for all kinds of weapons.


    Many people probably dreamed of carrying a sword and challenging the pugilistic world.


    In his past life, Arius was in a technological society without any martial arts. Hence, he had no chance to get in touch with martial arts.


    Now, as he looked at the long sword in his hand, he felt as excited as a predator looking at its prey.


    He had collected some basic sword skill attributes, so he had a rudimentary understanding of the sword. As it was still early, not many people had arrived for training. Considering the lack of bubbles to collect, Arius made use of this time to test the power of his basic sword skill.


    He walked out of the weapons room and found an empty spot. After focusing and getting into the posture, he started practicing his sword skill based on his memory.


    "Slash, slash, slash!"


    When he waved his sword, he could hear the sound of it cutting the air. If he hit someone with it, the other party would definitely be injured or dead.


    Among the students, the young man who had provided the basic sword skill attributes was practicing his sword skill too. He was stunned when he saw Arius carrying a sword out of the room.


    He slowed down his actions and watched Arius from afar.


    "He''s just a novice!"


    The youth observed Arius for a few seconds before shaking his head. Then, he ignored him.


    "This isn''t difficult. I familiarized myself with it after two rounds.


    "My Intelligence is just 19.3 too. It isn''t high!"


    Arius stopped and wondered to himself in shock.


    He didn''t know that his 19.3 points of enlightenment had already exceeded an average human. That was why he didn''t find it difficult to learn basic skills.


    If he was learning a Spiritual Ki battle technique, it wouldn''t be so simple.


    Spiritual Ki battle techniques were related to the use of the Spiritual Ki. It was already a complicated and profound skill in itself. People with low enlightenment would have a hard time getting their heads around it.


    Thus, it could be deduced that practicing martial arts truly relied on one''s talent. If you wanted to become a martial warrior, you needed to be a genius!

 Chapter 7 - 7: Collect The Wool…

    Translator: Myriad Translation


    Chapter 7


    ....


    After practicing sword skills for some time, Arius placed the sword back in the weapons room. He then focused on his fist skill.


    The student practicing sword skills shook his head when he saw this. Martial arts relied on quality, not quantity.


    It was better for Arius to choose one skill instead of practicing two skills for a short time. In the end, he wouldn''t be skilled in either.


    "This newbie is hardworking, but he''s a little stupid."


    Arius didn''t know that someone had called him stupid in his heart.


    Even though he practiced his sword skill only a few times, he felt that his understanding had increased a little. The results were not bad.


    He turned around and saw the tall and muscular figure standing at the side with his arms crossed in front of his chest.


    It looked like he had been standing there for a while.


    "Teacher, when did you arrive? Why didn''t you say something? You frightened me."


    This was the instructor who had taught Arius the ninth set of radio exercises yesterday evening. Now, he was staring at Arius so intently that he felt goosebumps on his head.


    "Young man, I have been watching you for a while. Your fist skill is not bad." The instructor gave Arius a thumbs up.


    "Thank you for your compliment."


    Arius felt embarrassed. He continued, "Teacher, I''m Arius. How do I address you?"


    "My name is Rodger Herman. You don''t have to call me a teacher. You can just call me Senior Brother Herman," said Rodger.


    "Senior Brother Herman." Arius reacted naturally. Then, he asked, "Do you always come so early?"


    "I''m not talented. I''m twenty-plus years old, but I''m still merely an advanced stage martial disciple. I can only work harder." Rodger was a little upset.


    For an instant, Arius didn''t know what to say.


    "Hahaha, there''s no need to feel awkward. I''m just running my mouth. Arius, you are smart. As long as you work hard, I believe that you will become a martial warrior within three years. All the best," Rodger encouraged him.


    Three years?


    No, three days was enough!


    This was what Arius thought. But on the surface, he just nodded and replied, "Senior Brother Herman, I will work hard."


    "Okay, I will be going to the third floor for my practice. There will be another advanced stage martial disciple in charge of guiding you today. Of course, if you have any questions, you can come and look for me," said Rodger.


    "What a devoted senior brother!"


    Arius exclaimed when he saw him walking up the third floor.


    More and more students had started arriving now, making the scene lively.


    "Senior Brother."


    "Good morning, Senior Brother."


    "Senior Sister, you look beautiful today!"


    ¡­


    Friends greeted each other before starting their personal training. Time was precious for everyone, so they couldn''t afford to waste a single second.


    Arius stared at the students and suddenly felt that they looked like sheep walking on two legs. There was an endless amount of fur on their bodies.


    "Great!" The corners of Arius''s lips lifted slightly, and he gave a fatherly smile.


    Once the sheep were fat enough, he could kill them¡ªwait, he mustn''t kill these good-quality sheep. He needed to cherish them so that he could collect fur from them continuously.


    As everyone started practicing diligently, all kinds of attribute bubbles dropped down. Very soon, the lobby turned into a bubbling sea, and Arius happily swam in it.


    "I love wool. Let me collect some wool¡­"


    He didn''t dare to sing this song aloud, afraid that he might get beaten to death. Thus, he just sang it in his heart and quietly collected the attributes.


    If there were notifications now, it would be like this:


    Dropped Strength*2, Speed*6. You picked it up. Your strength and speed have increased!


    Dropped Basic Fist Skill*2. You picked it up. Your Basic Fist Skill has increased in proficiency!


    Dropped Intelligence*1, Physique*3. You picked it up. Your Intelligence and physique have increased!


    ¡­


    More people were training on Saturday as compared to the night before.


    Arius had underestimated the number of potential attribute bubbles. Or rather, one could say that he underestimated how hardworking everyone was.


    The harder the students trained, the higher the probability of them dropping attributes.


    It was like squeezing milk. The harder one squeezed, the more milk came out.


    An entire day passed just like that, and Arius really became an intermediate-stage martial disciple.


    His strength, speed, and physique all had reached the standard of an intermediate stage martial disciple. He was now a bona fide intermediate-stage martial disciple.


    Furthermore, he had reached the minor completion stage for his Basic Sword Skill, Basic Fist Skill, and Basic Footwork!


    Based on proficiency, the understanding of a battle technique could be split into a few stages: basic understanding, well-versed, minor completion, half completion, grand completion¡­


    At the well-versed stage, the martial disciple would be able to unleash the power of the battle technique. The minor completion stage would have an extra advantage, with the power at least doubling.


    If he reached the half completion stage or even grand completion, the power of the battle technique would increase many times.


    Besides that, Arius had also received a Basic Blade Skill and pushed it to the well-versed stage.


    All in all, it was a good harvest today.


    In the evening, at dinner time.


    The students were all famished after an entire day of practice. They packed up and slowly left the training lobby.


    Arius was reviewing his gains in a corner.


    He held the black steel sword in his hand and moved around by combining the sword skill with footwork. He waved his long sword and cut the air with it.


    The youth, who was practicing his sword skill this morning, had just returned his sword and was walking out from the weapons room.


    While walking past Arius, he glanced at him unintentionally.


    "This¡­ this¡­"


    He was dumbstruck. His jaws almost dropped to the floor as he rubbed his eyes furiously. He suspected that he was having an illusion.


    "He isn''t at the well-versed stage. No, this is the minor completion. This is definitely the minor completion!"


    His own sword skill was still at the well-versed stage. Although he hadn''t reached the minor completion, he knew what it felt like.


    How was that possible? In the morning, when he saw Arius practicing, he was just a novice. His sword skill was extremely crude.


    Only a day had passed, and he was already at the minor completion stage!


    Was this a joke? It must be a joke, right?


    Was there really such a genius in this world?


    He was starting to doubt himself. In the morning, he mocked this young man and had called him stupid. Thinking back, it felt like a sick joke.


    "This is crazy, crazy."


    The youth shook his head with a bitter smile as he dejectedly walked out of the training lobby.


    Arius didn''t notice this person''s existence at all. He was wholly focused on practicing his blade skill, sword skill, fist skill, and footwork. After the session, he felt invigorated.


    "Pant!"


    He let out a long breath. Arius then placed the weapons back in the weapons room.


    The lobby was almost empty when he walked to the underground parking lot. Along the way, he pulled out his attributes panel.


    Intelligence: 28


    Physique: 52


    Strength: 455


    Speed: 185


    Battle Techniques: Basic Fist Skill (minor completion), Basic Footwork (minor completion), Basic Sword Skill (minor completion), Basic Blade Skill (well-versed)


    "I made great progress today!" Arius smiled happily as he drove home.


    In the house, Dianne was cooking as usual. Smelling the strong meat fragrance wafting out from the kitchen, Arius''s stomach started growling.


    "Mom, what good food are you cooking today? It smells delicious!" he walked into the kitchen and asked.


    "Your dad specially asked me to buy some star beast meat for you," Dianne smiled and replied.


    "Really? My dad is willing to spend the money?" That was unexpected.


    Star beasts were animals that had mutated due to the influence of the Spiritual Ki. Since the Force was born from the universe and the stars, these beasts were named star beasts.


    Their meat was highly nutritious. Normal meat couldn''t be compared to them. Hence, they were very expensive too.


    "It smells amazing. Let me have a bite."


    He looked at the braised meat on the table and started salivating. Arius couldn''t control himself anymore. He picked up a piece of meat and placed it in his mouth.


    "Oh my god, this is delicious. Mom, your cooking is fabulous."


    "Are you a hungry ghost? Look at your smelly sweat. Hurry up and take a shower." Dianne chased him out of the kitchen.

 Chapter 8 - 8: Wild Rose Pub

    Translator: Myriad Translation


    Chapter 8


    ....


    When Alexander returned home at around 6 pm, Dianne asked their helper, Aunt Page, to call Arius down for dinner.


    Arius had just finished bathing then. After changing his clothes, he was blowing his hair with the hairdryer.


    "Okay, Aunt Page, I will be down in a minute," he replied.


    After becoming a martial disciple, his sense of hearing had gotten better. The noise of the hairdryer didn''t disturb Aunt Page''s voice at all.


    Within a minute, he dried his hair and unplugged the hairdryer. Then, he went down for dinner.


    Alexander and Dianne were waiting for him.


    There were a few dishes on the table, steaming hot and fragrant. The family of three sat around the dinner table and started eating.


    "Son, how was your practice today?"


    Dianne asked the question Alexander wanted to ask. He looked at Arius intently.


    Honestly speaking, Alexander had a hard time being Arius''s father. Most of the time, his friends would boast about their children in front of him, telling him how outstanding they were or whose child became an intermediate stage martial disciple and an advanced stage martial disciple or whatnot.


    Arius was the only person who couldn''t brag about his son. He was the CEO of a huge company worth a few hundred million, but his son was ignorant.


    If he talked about his son, other people would laugh at him.


    Now, his son finally got his head straight and was willing to practice martial arts. Once he became an advanced stage martial disciple, he could finally boast to his friends.


    "Not bad. My senior brother from the martial arts academy said that I''m talented," Arius replied.


    He didn''t tell his parents that he was already an intermediate stage martial disciple. He was afraid that they would faint from the sudden piece of good news.


    He would release the news to them slowly in the future.


    "It''s good that you''re talented. That''s good."


    Alexander was so happy that his eyes couldn''t be seen properly. He waved his hand and said, "You just need to practice properly. Our Amrit family might not be extremely wealthy and powerful, but we are at least better than ordinary people. You don''t have to worry about martial arts resources."


    Arius just nodded, not saying anything.


    He wasn''t worried about resources. Other people might need all sorts of martial arts resources, but he didn''t need to rely on them.


    He had a bug with him. Other people''s resources were his resources too!


    "Come, eat more food. You''ve practiced the entire day, so you must be tired and hungry."


    Rather than hoping he would become a martial warrior, Dianne was more concerned if he was tired or had suffered. She felt her heart hurting a little when she saw him stuffing down his food.


    Dianne didn''t have the time to talk. He had to admit that star beast meat was very delicious. It was fatty but not greasy, and it melted in his mouth like cotton candy.


    When he swallowed the meat, he could feel a stream of warmth spreading throughout his body. It soothed his tiredness and fatigue.


    Dianne and Alexander ate some meat too, but they didn''t dare to overeat.


    They didn''t practice martial arts, so if they ate too much star beast meat, it would be harmful to their bodies instead.


    An average person in the martial arts era had a stronger physique because of the influence of the Spiritual Ki, but that was a long-term and gradual effect.


    After dinner, just as Arius prepared to go to the Shining Martial House again, his cell phone rang.


    He picked up his phone and heard Saul''s voice on the other end.


    "Brother Arius, we are already at the Wild Rose Pub. Come over quickly."


    Arius finally remembered this matter that had been thrown to the back of his mind. He smiled helplessly and replied, "Alright, wait for me. I will come soon."


    "It looks like I can''t go to the Shining Martial House today."


    Arius felt some regret. But, he knew that he couldn''t stay in the martial arts academy every single day.


    "I''ll take it as a chance to relax."


    Arius bid farewell to his parents and went out of his house.


    Vroom, vroom, vroom¡­


    The engine of the sports car was extremely loud. Whether it was the sleek body of the car or the loud engine, it captivated all the pedestrian''s attention.


    The pub street of the South City.


    There were many such pub streets in Donghai, but this one was the most prosperous in the South City.


    There were all kinds of pubs here with different styles and price points.


    The public bars were suitable for low-end consumers, while the high-end bars were for society''s elites or the wealthy people.


    It might be hard to admit it, but humans had been segregated into different classes imperceptibly.


    Every night, the pub street would light up brightly and colorfully. The dazzling neon lights intertwined with the glamorous reflections and colors, forming a dreamy and amazing scene.


    In the day, the stress from work bore down on the shoulders of these young men and ladies from the city. Hence, at night, they wanted to find a place to relax and release it all.


    Social pressure had never disappeared. In the martial arts era, it only got stronger.


    They needed to get the stress off their chest!


    Of course, to Arius and his friends, this was just a place for them to have fun.


    There was a row of luxurious sports cars parked outside the Wild Rose Pub. Arius had to search for a long time before he managed to find a parking spot. Then, he walked into the pub.


    Boom!


    The door separated the outside noise and the interior of the pub. When one stepped in, it felt like two different worlds.


    The instant he opened the door, the loud music, the peals of laughter of handsome men and pretty ladies, and the blinking lights congregated and lashed out on Arius''s eardrums and eyes.


    "What a familiar feeling."


    In his past life, ever since the Amrit family had declined, Arius never visited a pub.


    He felt that he was kicked out of this noisy world.


    But now, he was back again!


    Arius strode into the Wild Rose Pub. He had a handsome face and was wearing branded goods all over. Due to his martial disciple practices the past two days, his body had gotten firm and muscular, and his mental state had transformed entirely. Like a diamond in the sand, he stood out among the crowd.


    Many ladies were instantly attracted to him. His appearance had piqued their fancy.


    Arius used to be an old man. Now, he was a true young man with a youthful face. However, his aura was completely different.


    He had experienced many things in his past life. There were ups and downs, and it was like riding a roller coaster.


    He had enjoyed wealth and experienced poverty both. He used to be an arrogant youth full of high spirits. Then, he fell to his lowest point in life and turned gloomy and blue¡­


    His rich life experience made him mature and composed. It easily left a good first impression on people and made them like him.


    Arius scanned the pub in search of Saul and his friends.


    At this moment, a voice sounded on his left.


    "Brother Arius, over here. Over here!"


    Arius looked at the lady waving at him. It was Lisa Molina, the little sister in their circle of friends.


    Her hair was tied in a bun. She looked smart and cheeky with a hint of charm.


    Arius could still remember how beautiful this little girl was after she grew up. In fact, she could wreck a country with her beauty. Many men were enchanted by her.


    "You came early."


    Lisa shifted slightly to give some space to Arius. Arius sat down beside her.


    "Brother Arius, you''re late," Saul complained.


    "The night is young, and the fun is just starting. Why should I come early?" Arius smiled and replied.


    "Brother Arius!"


    Another young man greeted Arius.


    "Lynn, long time no see." Arius looked at the guy.


    "My father has been watching me closely recently. I had to sneak out today to come here," Lynn said helplessly.


    "This brat got dragged by his father to learn martial arts." Saul chuckled at Lynn''s plight.


    "Oh? How''s your practice?" Arius was surprised.


    "I''m already a beginner stage martial disciple," Lynn rubbed his head and said shyly.


    "What the f**k, you little brat. You secretly became a beginner stage martial disciple!" Saul exclaimed in shock. It was obvious that he hadn''t heard this piece of news before.


    "You are the only martial disciple among all of us. If someone bullies us in the future, we will seek your help." He then placed his arm around Lynn''s shoulder and sniggered.


    "Little Mouse (nickname for Lynn Hatfield), we will have to rely on you in the future!" Lisa smiled and agreed with Saul.


    Lynn started feeling a little proud when he heard their comments. Lisa''s compliment made him feel exceptionally good.


    They were close friends, so it was normal to have ambiguous good feelings towards the opposite sex.


    This was how Lynn felt about Bai Wei.


    Arius smiled and asked, "Why isn''t Rhett here?"


    Everyone turned silent.


    "He won''t be coming!" Saul scoffed.


    "Huh? What happened?" Arius frowned and asked.


    "That fellow is following Harry Hermannow. He''s his lackey," Saul pouted and continued.


    "Harry Herman!"


    Arius pondered for a moment. Finally, he managed to dig this person up from the depth of his memory.


    Arius and his friends had similar family backgrounds. Their parents'' generation knew each other, and they also had business interactions. Hence, they formed their own friends'' circle.


    As for the Herman family, it was quite a huge family in Donghai. Actually, the Herman family was more influential than their families.


    In Saul''s eyes, Rhett got close to Harry because he wanted to curry favor with him.


    This was how their rich second-generation circle worked. Only those with similar backgrounds could be called friends. If the difference was too big, it would become a form of currying favor.


    "Let''s not talk about him. Everyone has their own aspirations. There''s nothing much to be said." Arius didn''t really care.


    "You''re right. Let''s not talk about that fellow anymore. Just his name is enough to make me angry," said Saul.


    They changed the topic and ordered some alcohol and fruit platters. Then, they chatted happily with one another. As time passed, Arius slowly regained the feeling of his youth.

 Chapter 9 - 9: When Was It Your Turn To Lecture My Friends?

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 9


    .....


    Amidst their laughter and chatting, time passed very quickly.


    The music in the pub was blasting and the atmosphere was lively. Slowly, everyone got more comfortable.


    Saul, Lisa, and Lynn were playing truth or dare.


    These three played paper, rock, scissors to decide the winner.


    The game had progressed for a few rounds, and everyone won and lost some. When challenged, they said interesting but harmless truths.


    If they didn''t want to answer the ''truth'' questions, they would choose the ''dare'' option.


    The most exciting dare was when Lynn asked Lisa to seduce another young lady. No one expected Lisa to actually succeed in the end.


    The young beauty, who was unlucky and got chosen, turned red in her ears from Lisa''s seduction. Everyone hugged their stomach and burst into waves of laughter.


    This time, it was Lynn''s turn.


    Saul and Lisa laughed happily.


    Then, Saul had a bad idea.


    His question caused Lynn''s face to turn as red as the pig''s liver.


    Arius also laughed and shook his head. He didn''t participate since he had too many secrets. It was easy for things to get out of control if he played this kind of game.


    Saul and Lisa stood at the side and passionately cheered Lynn on. They urged him to answer the question.


    Arius stood up and went to the washroom.


    The star beast meat he ate at night was good for the body''s metabolism. It helped him to purge the toxins out of his body.


    After answering nature''s call, Arius walked back towards Saul and his friends. The moment he got nearer, he noticed that his friends were surrounded by a group of people. Furthermore, Saul and Lynn seemed to be quarreling with them.


    This bunch of people looked like gangsters, with earrings and tattoos on their bodies. They didn''t look like someone to be trifled with.


    Arius couldn''t help but frown.


    Suddenly, one of the people pushed Saul and shouted furiously, "Damn it, this young lady dirtied my clothes. Are you planning to settle this matter with only an apology?


    "Do you know how much this shirt costs?


    "Are you able to pay for the loss?


    "You are just a small child. Why are you learning from the adults and playing in a pub?"


    As he spoke, the people beside him burst out laughing. They were mocking Saul and his friends. Lynn couldn''t bear this humiliation.


    They were all rich second-generation and had been from young. Wherever they went, people would flatter and indulge them.


    If this person had a higher status than them, it was alright to suffer a little. However, they were just nobodies who had popped out from some random street or alley.


    They would become the joke of the rich second-generation circle if news spread that they got their asses kicked by a bunch of ruffians.


    Saul''s expression darkened when he was pushed by these people. He always looked relaxed and careless, as if he was the center of the world. However, he wasn''t stupid.


    He knew that the other party beat them in numbers. Besides, he also had a lady on his side.


    If a conflict arose, they would be the ones on the losing end. Also, this was the martial arts era. Although these people looked ordinary, there might be a master among them.


    They would be dead if his thoughts became true!


    Hence, Saul secretly took a deep breath and tried his best to say calmly, "Buddies, it''s our fault that we dirtied your clothes. We are in the wrong. We can compensate you.


    "Why do you have to be so overbearing? Do we have to make such a huge scene and let things get out of hand?


    "Everyone here saw what happened clearly. Even if we call the police, we will be the ones in the right."


    "F**k, are you planning to call the police? Are you threatening me?"


    The youth whose clothes got dirtied was around 20 years old. He had an aquiline nose and a sinister-looking face. This was a shameless, stubborn, and unreasonable person. When he felt that Saul was threatening him, he started shouting at him.


    "Saul, why are you talking nonsense with him? This fellow is creating trouble out of nothing. Lisa didn''t touch him. He purposely let her bump into him when she got up and walked over," Lynn said angrily.


    "Brat, if you don''t have evidence, don''t slander others," the sinister-looking youth scoffed and said.


    "You know clearly whether I''m telling the truth or not," Lynn stood up and pointed at the youth.


    The sinister-looking youth turned impatient. He snorted and said, "Stop talking nonsense. Ask the young lady to have a few drinks with me and we can forget about this matter. If not¡­ hehe."


    "What did you say? Repeat that. Do you believe that I will kill you?" Lynn exploded in anger.


    These people actually wanted Lisa to drink with them. Anyone could tell what they were thinking of.


    This time, Lynn was really infuriated.


    Saul instantly thought to himself. Oh shit!


    It was obvious that the other party was setting a trap for them. The moment Lynn''s fuse blew up, there was no way this issue could be resolved.


    "Lynn, stop talking!" Lisa had been pulling Lynn all this while, but when she wasn''t paying attention, he had broken free.


    At this moment, she also felt the atmosphere tensing up.


    "Little brat, how dare you to try to kill me? I will kill you today."


    The sinister-looking youth gave an eerie smile and took a step forward. He bent his fingers into a claw, aiming it at Yu Hao''s neck.


    It was a vicious move. The moment he acted, he went for the kill.


    "Martial disciple!"


    Someone exclaimed in surprise.


    Lynn''s expression changed instantly. He didn''t expect the other party to attack him so decisively and be a martial disciple at that.


    In his haste, he didn''t have the courage to directly resist the man. He could only shift to the side to evade.


    Fortunately, Lynn was dragged by his father to learn martial arts, so he was a beginner stage martial disciple now.


    If he was just an average person, he might not have been able to dodge the attack. Rather, he would probably freeze on the spot because of the fright he received from his opponent''s vicious and ruthless aura.


    The pub was in a mess.


    Saul quickly pulled Lisa to the side. They had never practiced martial arts before, so they couldn''t help at all.


    The sinister-looking youth was slightly surprised when he saw Lynn successfully evading his attack. But he didn''t mind. He twisted his body and swept his legs towards Lynn.


    Lynn hurriedly grabbed the chair beside him to block the kick.


    Bang!


    The metal chair was dented by the kick from the sinister-looking youth. Due to the huge force, Lynn flew out diagonally and slammed heavily on the ground.


    Along with him, tables and chairs also crashed on the ground.


    Alcohol bottles shattered loudly as they landed on the floor, spilling wine everywhere. The entire pub had been turned upside down within a second.


    The men and women, who were cheerful earlier, screamed and hid far away.


    Nonetheless, most people didn''t leave. Instead, they hid some distance away to watch the show.


    "Cough, cough." Lynn clutched his chest and coughed a few times. He felt as if his ribs were broken.


    He knew that he offended someone powerful this time.


    Lynn had just become a martial disciple. Based on his opponent''s strength, although the guy was within the range of a beginner stage martial disciple, he was only one step away from breaking through to the intermediate stage.


    The sinister-looking youth retracted his leg and walked towards Lynn step by step.


    "Little brat, weren''t you acting arrogantly just now? You want to kill me, but your ability isn''t enough."


    The sinister-looking youth slowly walked towards Lynn and forced him into a corner. He coldly looked down at him while mocking him at the same time.


    "If you dare to touch me, my dad won''t forgive you," Lynn gritted his teeth and said with a pale face.


    "Young friend, are you still a baby? Why are you looking for your father when you can''t beat me?" The sinister-looking youth sneered.


    "You!"


    Lynn''s entire face turned red in embarrassment.


    Saul couldn''t let his friend get humiliated anymore. He stood up and said, "We admit our defeat today. Tell us a number. We will compensate you."


    The sinister-looking youth shook his forefinger and clicked his tongue.


    His expression was full of contempt.


    "Stupid child, I will teach you how to be obedient today. If you don''t have the ability, don''t stand up." The sinister-looking youth raised his right leg and swept it at Lynn''s head viciously.


    Some people couldn''t bear to see the next scene, closing their eyes. Saul and Lisa''s expressions also changed abruptly.


    If this kick landed on Lynn, he would definitely get severely injured. Also, it was aimed at his head. He might be gone if he was unlucky.


    They didn''t expect this sinister-looking youth to be so ruthless.


    Bang!


    A heavy collision was heard.


    However, Lynn remained at the same spot, unscathed. On the other hand, the sinister-looking youth flew out and slammed violently on the ground.


    "Pfft!" He vomited a mouthful of blood.


    Everyone, including Saul, Lisa, and the other people in the pub, were dumbfounded by this sudden change.


    The spectators stared absentmindedly at Arius, who was standing in front of Lynn.


    Arius placed his hand in his pocket and spat out the cigarette in his mouth. Like a cool mafia boss, he said indifferently, "When was it your turn to lecture my friends?"


    The moment he finished speaking, though, his heart skipped a beat.


    When that sinister-looking youth hit the ground, a few attribute bubbles had also dropped.


    "You can drop attributes like this?"


    Arius controlled the curiosity in his heart. There were many people around them, so he didn''t walk forward.


    "You, you!"


    Lynn finally regained his senses. His face filling with astonishment, he stammered and didn''t know what to say.


    Saul and Lisa looked at Arius in shock too. They felt as though it was their first time seeing him.


    "Why aren''t you getting up? Is the floor very cooling?" Arius laughed and said.


    "Brother, you are my biological brother from now on. You kept it from us really well," Saul shouted excitedly.


    Lisa ran over in small steps, staring at Arius with glistening eyes all the while.


    "Enough. Why are you shouting like this? When did I hide it from you? You just didn''t ask me," Arius replied helplessly.


    "Bastard, how dare you hit me? Charge! Kill this little brat!"


    The sinister-looking youth climbed up from the ground and wiped the blood off the edge of his lips. There was enmity and hatred in his eyes when he shouted to the people beside him.


    "Brother, brother, this brat is too powerful. We are not his match!" One of his friends looked at Arius in fear.


    The sinister-looking beginner stage martial disciple youth had flown out like a ragdoll before they could even see how Arius threw him. As normal young men who weren''t martial disciples, what help could they offer?


    "Useless!" The sinister-looking youth kicked the person and shouted at Arius, "Young brat, tell me your name if you dare. Wait for me to call my men."


    Arius suddenly walked forward. On the other side, the sinister-looking youth flinched and took a few steps back.


    Arius touched the bubbles casually and collected them.


    Strength*15


    Speed*12


    "So many attributes!"


    Arius was amazed. This was the first time so many attributes had dropped from the same person.


    Killing monsters will give you more experience!


    Is this the correct way of using my bug?


    He thought for a moment and threw this matter aside for the time being. This wasn''t the right time to ponder on this question.


    Arius lifted the corners of his lips and replied, "What are you afraid of? My name is Harry Herman. I will give you half an hour to call your men. If you''re late, I won''t wait for you."


    "Okay, wait for me here." The sinister-looking youth left the Wild Rose Pub in a haggard state.


    After they left, Lisa couldn''t help but chuckle. "Brother Arius, you''re so bad, pushing the blame to Harry. If he knew what you did, he would probably hate you to death."


    A cold light flashed past Arius''s eyes. No one saw it, though. He had a deep hatred towards Harry. In his past life, they had no grudges between them. Still, after the Amrit family declined, the other party showed no thoughts of letting them off.


    "Let''s go home." Arius had no interest in this affair anymore. He turned and walked out of the pub.


    "We are not waiting for them to come back?" Lynn was unwilling to leave like this.


    Arius slapped his head and said, "Did you grow stupid after learning martial arts? We don''t know how many people he will bring. What if he brings an advanced stage martial disciple to help him or a martial warrior? Are we still going to stay here and wait for death?"


    "That''s right, you are too impulsive. If it wasn''t for Brother Arius, you''d have suffered a huge beating today," Saul couldn''t help but reprimand Lynn.


    "Let''s go. They can look for Harry if they want. I''m not him."


    After Arius and his friends left the pub, he drove his car and disappeared into the night. If that bunch of people wanted to find him, they would need some luck.


    Even if they did find him, no one knew if it would be their luck or their misfortune.

 Chapter 10 - 10: The Gaze Of Love From A Father

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 10


    ....


    The moment Arius and his friends left the pub, the staff looked at the mess on the ground and turned to ask a 30-year-old man wearing a fitting suit.


    "Manager, are we going to let them go just like that?"


    The suited man glared at the staff member who had asked the question and replied furiously, "What else can I do? Do you want to ask them to stay?


    "You''re not observant at all!


    "That Eddie Case is a beginner-stage martial disciple, and his brother is an advanced-stage martial disciple.


    "As for the rich second generations, all of them come from wealthy families with assets of over a hundred million. Most importantly, there are two martial disciples among them. Let''s not talk about the one that got beaten. The one that acted just now should be an intermediate stage martial disciple.


    "He became an intermediate stage martial disciple at such a young age. Do you know what that means?


    "He would at least become an advanced stage martial disciple. Idiot! If you want to die, don''t pull me along."


    The staff member was speechless. A second later, he started admiring the young man from the bottom of his heart¡­ His manager had already investigated the backgrounds of these people.


    No wonder he could become the manager while he was only an unimportant low-level worker.


    The moment they met a problem, the difference between them was evident as night and day.


    "What do we do now?" The staff immediately asked for advice modestly.


    "Let''s wait for some time. Didn''t that Eddie say that he will call for reinforcements? He is revengeful in nature, so he will definitely come back. He might break some things again, so we can calculate the losses after they leave.


    "That bastard. Why does he have to provoke the rich second generations? Do you believe that he won''t be able to get away with his revenge this time?


    "Even if his elder brother comes, it might be useless." The man in the suit started cursing the troublemaker.


    He thought for a moment and continued, "We will put all the losses on him. Also, we must preserve the surveillance images in the pub. They are our evidence, so we can''t lose them. I''ll make a copy later and send them to our boss through Signal.


    "Since this matter is linked to a few martial disciples, normal people like us can''t deal with it. We can only let the boss make the decision."


    ¡­


    After Arius and the other people left, they didn''t have the mood to go anywhere else. Hence, they went back home.


    It was past 10 pm when they reached their homes.


    Arius didn''t go to the Shining Martial House after that. Instead, he surfed the Internet at home and flipped through pieces of information to strengthen his understanding of the martial arts era.


    What happened tonight was a warning to him.


    He had just met a random gangster, but this gangster''s ability was already close to the intermediate stage.


    Had he not collected attributes furiously for the past two days and leveled up, he wouldn''t have been able to settle today''s affair. It would have led to a huge disaster.


    The percentage of people practicing martial arts wasn''t high within the population of a few billion.


    But, the problem was, when they were thrown into the sea of humans, you wouldn''t know when you would be unlucky and meet one of them.


    What if he offended a real martial warrior in the future?


    The other party could injure him and the Amrit family with just a flick of their fingers.


    He never wanted to experience the lesson from his past life again.


    When Arius just got reborn, he had felt a sense of danger in his heart. Now, the premonition was getting stronger.


    He must become a real martial warrior as quickly as possible.


    Martial disciple¡ªeven an advanced stage martial disciple¡ªwasn''t enough. He would only have some ability to protect himself if he became a martial warrior.


    A little later than 11 pm, Arius finished bathing and prepared to hit the bed. He picked up his phone to set an alarm. He needed to wake up early tomorrow.


    When he turned on his phone, he noticed that he had received two messages on Signal.


    Although it was still 2009 in this world, Signal already existed here and was popularized. Everyone would post some moments on their Signal when they had nothing to do.


    There were many followers of the martial warriors'' friend circle, and it was extremely popular. This was because the martial warriors could enter the Amazon Continent through the dimensional rifts.


    Thus, they took photos of many amazing sceneries and wonders in the Amazon Continent, as well as the exotic beauties there¡­


    Nowadays, showcasing clothes, bags, and luxurious cars was all too low!


    The high-class and classy trend now was posting photos of the other world!


    Arius looked at his two messages. One was sent more than an hour ago.


    Brother Arius, I''m home. :-) ;-)¡ªFrom Lisa Molina.


    There was a cute emoticon at the end of the sentence.


    The other message was sent three minutes ago.


    Brother Arius, I''m sleeping soon. Goodnight. ¡ªFrom Lisa.


    She had added a sleeping emoticon at the end.


    "Why is this little girl so polite? I understand her message after she reached home, but why does she have to message me before she sleeps?" Arius had a weird expression on his face.


    He pondered for a moment. This message was sent three minutes ago. She should be asleep now, right?


    Oh, it was sent four minutes ago.


    He decided that he shouldn''t reply to her to prevent disturbing her.


    Arius scrolled through a few of his friends'' posts. Nothing piqued his fancy, so he put down his phone and closed his eyes to get some rest.


    Within a minute, his breathing stabilized, and he entered deep sleep.


    On the other end of the phone, in a pink princess room, Lisa waited for a long time but didn''t receive any reply. Disappointment appeared uncontrollably on her face.


    "Bang!" She threw her phone and almost went crazy. After rolling around a few times on her bed, she felt frustrated.


    ¡­


    The next day, Sunday.


    Arius woke up early in the morning. After having his breakfast, he left the house under the contented gaze of his father, Alexander.


    "Finally, I don''t feel that gaze anymore."


    After the sports car drove a long distance, Arius shivered.


    "Could this be the legendary gaze of love?"


    "Ssss¡­ That was so scary!"


    After some time, Arius arrived at the Shining Martial House.


    A few attribute bubbles were scattered on the grass field and the pathways in the martial arts academy. He picked them up along the way and walked into the martial disciple training building.


    Some students were practicing in the training lobby on the first floor.


    Arius took a look around briefly. Most of them were those who came the earliest yesterday.


    Arius had a deep impression of them. He thought that he was early enough, but these people were even earlier than him. They were indeed hardworking.


    However, on this path of diligence, I, Arius Amrit, will not admit defeat.


    Arius walked over and greeted them politely. He also collected the attributes these people had dropped.


    Basic Sword Skill*1


    Basic Footwork*1


    Strength*3


    Basic Fist Skill*2


    Speed*5


    ¡­


    "This is a good start! I can tell it will be a great day!"


    After collecting the attributes, Arius didn''t stop moving. He walked straight up the stairs to the second floor.


    His actions attracted the attention of a few students.


    The young man practicing his sword skill kindly reminded him, "Based on the rules of the martial arts academy, a beginner stage martial disciple isn''t allowed to go up to the second floor."


    "I know. Thank you for your reminder." Arius turned around and smiled. "But, yesterday night, I accidentally broke through and became an intermediate-stage martial disciple."


    When he finished speaking, he had already climbed the second fleet of stairs. His figure couldn''t be seen anymore.


    He boasted so calmly and even flicked his sleeves, not leaving anything behind.


    The young man practicing his sword skill froze on the spot.


    "He, what did he say?" He asked the other students in disbelief.


    "This brat just came yesterday, right?"


    The students didn''t answer him directly. Instead, they retorted with another question.


    "That''s not right. He came on Friday night. I saw him," another student suddenly said.


    "He became an intermediate stage martial disciple after practicing for two days? Are you kidding!"


    "That''s definitely impossible. He must have practiced martial arts before he came to the martial arts academy. Look at him. He''s obviously a rich second generation. The poor study while the wealthy learn martial arts. His family is influential, so he definitely learned martial arts earlier than us. It''s easier for him too."


    Everyone agreed with this explanation.


    No one believed that someone in this world could turn from a weak, useless human being into a beginner stage martial disciple and then an intermediate stage martial disciple within two days.


    This was impossible.


    Genius wasn''t enough to describe such a person. You could only call him a monster!


    ¡ªOf course, that was excluding those people who cheated and had bugs.

 Chapter 11 - 11: Walk The Fatty~

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 11


    ....


    There were many students on the second floor of the training building.


    Arius scanned his surroundings, and his eyes suddenly lit up when he saw a familiar figure.


    It was that agile fatty!


    At this moment, just like the last time, he was sprinting on the running track.


    So, the fatty had also become an intermediate stage martial disciple. No wonder Arius didn''t see him yesterday on the first floor. He had come to the second floor.


    "Fatty, good morning!"


    Arius greeted the other party as though he was an old friend.


    The fatty turned around when he heard the voice. His expression then instantly changed. "Why is it this person!"


    He pretended that he couldn''t hear Arius and didn''t reply to him. Instead, he started running faster.


    Arius watched him run like a madman. This fellow didn''t know that he was dropping attributes behind him. But it made Arius elated.


    He executed his Basic Footwork and followed behind the fatty, picking up the attributes along the way.


    Speed*6


    Speed*7


    Basic Footwork*3


    Speed*6


    ¡­


    After becoming an intermediate stage martial disciple, the fatty''s dropping even more attributes. So, the more powerful you are, the more attribute bubbles you drop?


    Arius thought to himself.


    In that case, he would definitely be able to pick up more attributes on the second floor. After all, everyone here was an intermediate-stage martial disciple.


    He believed that it wouldn''t take long for him to break through and become an advanced stage martial disciple. He would be one step closer to becoming an official martial warrior then.


    "Why are you following me so closely like a parasite? Will this guy ever stop following me?"


    The indignant voice of the fatty in front pulled Wang Teng out of his deep thoughts.


    "Haha, where''s the fun in training alone? Why don''t we have a competition? Let''s see who can run ten rounds in the shortest time. What do you think? Do you want to compete?" asked Arius.


    The fatty wanted to reject him. But, he had a sudden thought, so he replied, "If you lose, you will stay away from me and let me train alone."


    "Okay!"


    Arius agreed and continued, "What if you lose?"


    "What a joke! How can I lose!" The fatty scoffed.


    "Confidence is a good thing. However, since you raised a bet, I have mine too. Competition must be fair, right?" Arius said.


    "What do you want?" The fatty frowned and asked.


    "Very simple. If you lose, you will sing this song ''Beggin''. What do you think?" Arius asked.


    "Alright. As long as you win, I can sing anything for you. Don''t talk about one ''Beggin''. I can sing ten songs for you." The fatty patted his chest and agreed.


    Arius sniggered in his heart. Ten songs? You would definitely be crying later.


    "There''s a timer at the side. Let me find someone to help us check the time."


    The fatty walked to one side after he finished speaking and spoke a few sentences to a student who was training. He asked the student for help.


    The student nodded and followed the fatty to the side of the running track.


    "Both of you can prepare first. When I shout ''start'', you can start running," the student standing beside the timer said.


    The two participants nodded.


    The fatty started preparing for the sprint. He shook his legs to relax his muscles, but in the end, only his fat shuddered violently.


    The other students also gathered around the running track when they saw two students having a competition.


    However, they couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing the fatty''s fats shaking.


    "This fatty went to learn footwork and speed even though he is so fat. I wonder what he''s thinking."


    "But, honestly speaking, he does have some ability. He''s faster than a rabbit when he runs."


    ¡­


    Upon hearing the discussions from the side, the fatty felt pleased with himself. He gave Arius a provocative look and stood up straight without moving. He didn''t even get into the starting position.


    Arius smiled. He copied his actions, standing still on the spot. At the same time, he asked casually, "Fatty, what''s your name?"


    "My name is Devin!" The fatty pointed to his nose and said, "You must remember it in case you don''t even know who you lost to."


    After he finished, he continued asking, "What about you?"


    "Arius. Remember to sing ''Beggin'' after you lose!" Arius smiled and said.


    "Tsk!" Devin rolled his eyes in contempt.


    Right then, a shout was suddenly heard from the side.


    "Ready¡­ start!"


    Arius and the fatty were talking to each other, but the moment the voice fell, they dashed out simultaneously.


    The expressions of the people at the side changed slightly. Both of them had moved like lightning. In an instant, they were more than ten meters away.


    They maintained their high speed as they continued running. They didn''t bother to save their stamina for the last burst of fire just because they were running ten rounds.


    This was a timed competition, and they were competing based on time. Also, people who practiced martial arts had great stamina. Running ten rounds wasn''t a big deal to them.


    Devin might be fat, but he wasn''t slow at all. Instead, his speed exceeded the spectators''. There weren''t many who could practice their footwork and speed to his stage.


    This was the reason why everyone''s expression changed instantly.


    As expected of a fatty who ran like the wind.


    This was the exclamation in many people''s minds.


    But, when they looked at Arius, they looked extra shocked.


    They understood the fatty''s abilities, so they accepted his speed as a matter of fact, even though they were surprised. However, Arius was an unfamiliar face. It was highly likely he had just become an intermediate stage martial disciple.


    Yet, this newly advanced intermediate stage martial disciple''s speed was on par with Devin. This was amazing.


    Wait, they remembered that Devin had also just become an intermediate stage martial disciple!


    He only came to the second floor yesterday.


    In that case, these two people were both fresh newbies!


    Were the newbies all the fierce nowadays?


    How were old people like them supposed to live?


    It was indeed true; the younger generations would excel the older generation, leaving no paths for the older generation.


    A wave of sorrow surged through the hearts of a few intermediate-stage martial disciples.


    "This newbie is slightly weaker than Devin," someone commented.


    "That''s hard to say. Although he''s lagging, the distance between him and the fatty is the same. Didn''t you notice that he''s never more than 20 meters behind the fatty?"


    "Hey, if you hadn''t said it, I wouldn''t have noticed."


    They looked at Arius in astonishment. When they observed him carefully, they could tell that he didn''t seem tired at all.


    Indeed, Arius wasn''t giving it his all. He was trailing Devin because he wanted to pick up the attribute bubbles.


    Also, the whole purpose of this competition was to let Devin drop more attributes.


    He had gotten some basic understanding of his bug. If he wanted to let these ''loot bags'' drop more attributes, he needed to make them train harder. Or¡­


    He could hit them. The harder he hit them, the more attributes they might drop!


    He had received the inspiration for the last point from the sinister-looking youth. But, this hypothesis still needed affirmation.


    After all, he couldn''t find a random person and beat him up, right?


    To get rid of Arius, Devin was exceptionally serious about this competition. He used more effort, so naturally, more attributes dropped. He was dropping them like laying eggs the entire way.


    Basic Footwork*2


    Speed*5


    Speed*6


    Basic Footwork*4


    Speed*7


    ¡­


    Arius felt that he was playing ''Temple Run'', and the attribute bubbles were like the gold coins.


    He could almost hear the ringing sounds when he collected a bubble.


    As Arius ran and collected the attributes, his own attributes kept rising. He didn''t feel tired the entire way. Instead, he felt more and more energetic.


    This was why he dared to compete with the fatty. He was cheating, and it would be embarrassing if he still lost.


    When the onlookers saw Arius revealing a smile on the corners of his lips, their expressions turned strange.


    This fellow was walking a dog¡ªno wait, he was walking the fatty!


    All he lacked was a chain.


    Devin didn''t notice anything weird, though. When he saw that Arius was always lagging behind him, he looked back and laughed. "This is so simple. I told you that you''re not my match. Why are you making yourself suffer!"


    Swoosh~


    The moment he finished speaking, a figure dashed past beside him.


    The smile on the fatty''s face froze. His mouth dropped, and he opened his eyes wide. He couldn''t say anything for a long while.


    "F**k!"

 Chapter 12 - 12: Crazy About Duels

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 12


    ....


    Devin was frustrated.


    "You''re so treacherous. You were preserving your strength all this while and only released it at the last stage. You made me happy for no reason!"


    Arius sniggered and said, "Who was the one who was so confident at the start?


    "Also, I wanted to save some of your ego, so I let you be in the lead for a while before catching up at the end."


    "Hmph~ Why should I believe you? You bad old man, you''re so evil." Devin snorted.


    (¨“¡´¨“)


    Why did I become a bad old man?


    "Fine. Do you dare to admit your loss? If you do, I won''t ask you to fulfill your bet with me." Arius was speechless.


    "Who says that I can''t admit my defeat. All I have to do is sing the song ''Beggin'', right? What''s there to be afraid of?" Devin straightened his neck.


    "Go ahead and sing, then! The flowers are drooping from waiting." Arius glanced at him from the corner of his eyes.


    Arius instantly looked as though he had eaten a fly. The expression on his fat face kept changing.


    He couldn''t put down his ego and sing the song, but on the other hand, he didn''t want other people to think that he couldn''t accept losing either.


    His entire expression could be described in one word¡ªdilemma!


    In the end, he admitted defeat while looking like a deflated balloon. He started singing with the voice of a mosquito.


    "I can''t hear you!" Arius placed his hand beside his ear and pretended that he couldn''t hear properly.


    Devin was furious. After taking a long, deep breath, he increased his volume.


    "Put your lovin'' handout, baby¡­"


    "Hahaha!"


    The people around them burst out laughing. This fatty was tone deaf!


    But, they felt sorry for him too.


    He had to sing ''Beggin'' in front of so many people. This must be black history in his life.


    Arius was really evil. He actually pranked someone like this.


    Arius couldn''t help but laugh too. He waved his hand and said, "Fine, fine, stop singing. Your voice can frighten little children to cry their mothers!"


    Devin replied, "No! I still need to sing ten more songs!"


    This time, it was Arius''s turn to feel speechless.


    This fatty was a little cunning!


    "Put your lovin'' handout, baby¡­" Devin got even more motivated when he saw Arius''s frustrated look.


    "Stop singing!"


    Arius ran away as his life depended on it. Damn it, his voice was too terrifying!


    The fatty was fun to play with, but he was too cunning.


    Too much may not always be good. Since he was a good person to pastime with, he would play with him slowly in the future.


    The fatty looked around the same age as him, yet he was already an intermediate-stage martial disciple. This meant that he had some talent.


    He might become a martial warrior in the future.


    He was a fat sheep full of potential. Arius could milk this fatty as his long-term sparring buddy!


    The students who gathered around ran away in fright. They hid far away and discussed with one another for some time. While they marveled at the young men''s abilities, their competitiveness was ignited too. All of them started practicing even harder.


    As a result, there were already many attribute bubbles littering the second floor, as if it was raining here.


    Arius walked over and picked all of them up like a Good Samaritan. He also greeted the other students.


    Speed*6


    Strength*7


    Basic Fist Skill*3


    Strength*5


    Basic Blade Skill*6


    ¡­


    After another round of upgrading his attributes, he stopped in front of a student practicing his fist skill, observing the young man for a long time.


    When the student finished his session, he stopped to take a rest.


    Arius took the chance and walked forward, "Senior Brother, shall we have a friendly sparring match?"


    The young man looked a little older than Arius and seemed to be slightly above 20.


    He was stunned for a moment when he heard Arius''s request. He replied, "You''re Arius, right? I am Jason.


    "I saw you competing with Arius just now and am a little interested in you. Since you brought it up yourself, let''s have a sparring match."


    "Senior Brother Jason, please!"


    The two of them stood in an empty area and distanced themselves. Arius raised his hand to ask Jason to start.


    "I will not be polite then."


    Jason clenched his fist and stomped his leg, darting towards Arius first.


    Bang, bang, bang¡­


    The duo got right down to it. Arius didn''t use any other battle techniques, only using his footwork and fist skills to fight with Arius.


    As their fists went back and forth, the fight looked violent and fierce. If they got hit, their punches would directly land on their muscles.


    Jason was slightly surprised. He was a muscular man. One look and you could tell that he was a very built guy.


    However, Arius was wearing loose sportswear, so the muscles on his body weren''t prominent. From his appearance, he just looked like an ordinary youth.


    But when he started fighting for real, he was full of explosive power.


    It didn''t feel compatible at all!


    Also, Arius''s ability astounded him too. A moment ago, he thought that Arius was already quick with his footwork. Now, he felt that he needed to retract his judgment.


    Arius''s fist skill wasn''t any weaker than him.


    This fellow seems to be a genius! Arius thought to himself.


    They were like a Roland for an Oliver, evenly matched. They fought back and forth, and for a moment, no one won or lost.


    "Jason''s Basic Fist Skill has reached the half completion stage. Yet, Arius isn''t at a disadvantage after fighting for so long."


    The students standing far away didn''t have high hopes for Arius initially. Hence, they didn''t take much notice when he challenged Jason. They thought that it would end within a few rounds.


    But, the reality was unexpected. The two of them fought for a long while, without any results.


    "Could it be that Jason didn''t try his best?" Someone asked puzzled.


    "Are you stupid? Look at Jason. Does he look like he''s not trying his best?" Another said speechless.


    ¡­


    "Hey, let''s stop here, cause I''m not fighting anymore!"


    Jason quickly waved his hands after the two of them collided and retreated a few steps.


    "Why don''t you want to fight anymore?" Arius asked as he was unwilling to stop.


    "Your fist skill is on par with me. There won''t be any outcomes if we continue fighting. Instead, we might lose too much energy, affecting our training for the entire day," said Jason.


    "Also, if you didn''t compete with Devin, I would have lost already."


    "Alright, let''s not go further than necessary. We will have more chances to spar in the future," replied Arius.


    "Okay. I learned many things after fighting with you." Jason nodded.


    Arius went to the side to rest and restore his stamina. At the same time, he counted the gains from his sparring match.


    Basic Fist Skill*23


    Strength*45


    As expected, his guess was correct. Fighting with ''Opponents'' would make them drop attributes. The harder they fought, the more attributes they dropped, especially attributes like Basic Fist Skill. They would never drop so much when they were practicing.


    "So this is the correct way to use my bug!"


    While strolling around the training room, Arius slowly regained his stamina. At the same time, he also picked up the attributes from the other students.


    Half an hour later, most of his stamina was restored.


    He went to the weapons room to pick a sword. Then, he came in front of a student practicing sword skills and said, "Senior Brother, are you free to test my sword skills?"


    "Okay!" The other party was decisive and nodded in agreement.


    More and more students arrived at the training arena. However, only those who came earlier knew that two sparring matches had happened before this.


    "That Arius is having a sparring match with another person again. This time, he''s using his sword skill!"


    A student that just came felt puzzled. "What''s the matter? This student looks unfamiliar. Is he new?"


    Another student started explaining to him.


    On the other side, Arius and the other young man had already started fighting. Their long swords collided, letting out sparks and metallic clangs.


    A sword duel was naturally more dangerous, but both parties knew their limits well. They wouldn''t intentionally hurt the other party.


    When the duel ended, Arius gained many attributes as expected. He rested at the side.


    Basic Sword Skill*26


    Strength*30


    ¡­


    An hour later, Arius found a student practicing blade skill and cupped his fists at the young man. "Senior Brother, my blade is extremely thirsty now. Let''s have a sparring match."


    "Alright, my blade couldn''t keep itself down anymore too!"


    The two of them looked exceptionally serious. They were sparks in their eyes as they looked at each other~


    ¡­


    The other students were already numb.


    Devin was one of them. He suddenly felt pity for the student Arius found when he looked at him.


    This Arius was crazy about sparring matches. He knew all the battle techniques, and the result was always a draw¡­


    He must be a monster!

 Chapter 13 - 13: Advanced Stage Martial Disciple

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 13


    ....


    For the entire morning, besides picking up the attributes other people dropped, Arius was also looking for people to have some sparring matches.


    Footwork, fist skill, sword skill, and blade skill. As long as he knew something, he would find others to challenge them.


    His nickname, duel fanatic, started spreading among the students unknowingly. No one knew who started this nickname, though.


    "You better make sure that I don''t know who that bastard is!"


    When Arius heard someone calling him by this nickname, his entire face turned black.


    What the f**k!


    What grudges do we have? Why do you have to frame me like this?


    "Ah¡­ choo!"


    The fatty, Devin, who was eating his lunch in the cafeteria. Suddenly, he sneezed uncontrollably.


    He choked, and the rice in his mouth flew up to his nose. Next, the rice bits flowed down his nose with his mucus, painting a disgusting scenery.


    He rubbed his nose and said with frustration, "Why did I sneeze for no reason? Is someone scolding me behind my back? How rude."


    ¡­


    Arius looked at his attributes panel. The gains on the second floor were huge. In one morning, most of his attributes were close to an advanced stage martial disciple.


    Intelligence: 35


    Physique: 66


    Strength: 621


    Speed: 323


    Battle Techniques: Basic Fist Skill (half completion), Basic Footwork (half completion), Basic Sword Skill (half completion), Basic Blade Skill (minor completion)


    The requirements for an advanced stage martial disciple were physique 70, strength 700 kg or 1543 lbs, and speed 100 meters in 5 seconds(44.7 mph).


    He just needed to work harder in the afternoon, and a fresh new advanced stage martial disciple would come out of the oven!


    His basic battle techniques were also upgraded by a level. His fist skill, sword skill, and footwork had advanced from the minor completion stage to the half completion stage. His blade skill changed from the well-versed to the minor completion stage.


    In short, his ability had undergone a tremendous change.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t pick up any new battle techniques today. It seemed that most people chose these few battle techniques to practice and master.


    Arius walked out of the training building and headed to the cafeteria of the martial arts academy.


    He had learned from Jason and a few other students that the Shining Martial House also had a cafeteria.


    As long as one had the money, one could eat anything. Even if you wanted to eat star beast dishes, they had it!


    These star beasts were all killed by the martial warriors from the martial arts academy and sold to the academy in exchange for points or money. Hence, the martial arts academy had an abundant array of star beasts ingredients as compared to other places.


    It also includes rare star beasts that are not sold outside at all.


    The martial arts academy had specially hired Spiritual Ki chef masters to prepare these ingredients.


    Spiritual Ki chef was a secondary career derived from the martial warriors.


    Every single Spiritual Ki chef must have the Spiritual Ki in their bodies. If anyone wanted to cultivate with Spiritual Ki, they needed to be a martial warrior first.


    A martial warrior as a chef? Would anyone dare to think about that?


    However, the dishes cooked by a Spiritual Ki chef master weren''t ordinary. They will benefit martial warriors when they cultivated.


    The methods of preparations and the dishes all came from the Amazon Continent. Even this career title originated from there.


    The salary of a Spiritual Ki chef master was high, and there were no dangers. Many martial warriors pursued and flattered Spiritual chefs because they wanted to eat Spiritual Ki dishes. Hence, the status of Spiritual Ki chef masters was actually rather high.


    On the way to the cafeteria, Arius asked Jason curiously, "So, you''re saying that the cafeteria of the Shining Martial House provides Spiritual Ki dishes?"


    Jason explained, "Yes. Our Shining Martial House is one of the top three martial arts academies in the U.S.A. Naturally, we have the ability to hire Spiritual Ki chef masters.


    "Today, after many experiments and trial and error by the Spiritual Ki chefs on the earth, new dishes were created based on the ones from the Otherworld. An entire system of Spiritual Ki dishes cuisine was formed.


    "But, these Spiritual Ki dishes from the Otherworld are only available on the third floor of the cafeteria. Normally, only martial warriors will go there. Average students can''t afford them."


    Arius nodded. He was shocked as he asked, "Oh? We can still see martial warriors?"


    "We can see them, but not many. Most of the martial warriors are exploring the Amazon Continent during normal times or executing some missions released by the martial arts academies. They won''t spend much time in the martial arts academy," Jason elaborated.


    Arius nodded as he continued to expand his knowledge. "Are Spiritual Ki dishes expensive?"


    "They are not just expensive. Usually, Spiritual Ki dishes cost tens of thousands. They are difficult to prepare, and the ingredients they use are rare. Some of them even cost a few million or tens of millions. They are extremely expensive," Jason Shaoyang exclaimed.


    Oh my god, even Michelin chefs aren''t so outrageous.


    Arius was flabbergasted.


    How does one meal cost a few million or tens of millions? Were martial warriors all so wealthy?


    Of course, he didn''t go to the third floor of the cafeteria. He went to eat on the first floor with Jason and a few other students.


    A few million for a meal, Arius wasn''t so extravagant.


    Even if he wanted to eat Spiritual Ki dishes , he would wait until he became a martial warrior and was able to earn a hundred million easily. At that time, he could let his parents have a taste of the Spiritual Ki dishes too.


    After eating, he rested for an hour.


    Then, he continued training in the afternoon.


    Arius grabbed his thirsty blade and started sparring with some of students. He mainly looked for those practicing Basic Blade Skills.


    Among all his battle techniques, only his blade skill was at the minor completion stage.


    A human had to be fair. He mustn''t favor any skill more than the others. Hence, he decided to raise his basic blade skill to the half completion stage first.


    Time flew in the afternoon. In a blink of an eye, a few hours had passed. All of Arius''s attributes had broken through the threshold of an advanced stage martial disciple.


    That meant that he had finally become an advanced stage martial disciple.


    Among the martial disciples, he was part of the elites now. He was a slightly stronger than a regular advanced stage martial disciple.


    His basic blade skill had also reached the half completion stage.


    However, his footwork, fist skill, and sword skill accidentally reached the grand completion stage. They flung the basic blade skill behind them again.


    What happened to fairness?


    Basic Blade Skill: ''Wronged emoticon''


    Everything seems to be rising a little too quickly! Arius felt helpless in his heart.


    His life was so lonely!


    Arius decided to continue staying on the second floor for a few more days. He would still be able to raise his attributes.


    There might be more attributes for him to collect on the third floor, but a few days wouldn''t make any difference.


    At night, Arius returned home and had dinner with his parents. Then, he went back to the Shining Martial House to pick up attributes.


    He worked until 11 pm before he finally returned home.


    After bathing, he laid on the bed and silently opened his attributes panel to take a look.


    Intelligence: 43


    Physique: 84


    Strength: 964


    Speed: 533


    Battle Techniques: Basic Fist Skill (grand completion), Basic Footwork (grand completion), Basic Sword Skill (grand completion), Basic Blade Skill (half completion)


    Not bad. Looking at his attributes, he was above average among the advanced stage martial disciples.


    As long as Arius didn''t meet an official martial warrior, he would be able to protect himself.


    He was immersed in his thoughts as he laid on his bed. After some time, he slowly slipped into the dreamland.


    The next day, Arius woke up early as usual. It was Monday, so he needed to go to school.


    He almost forgot that he was still a senior in high school.


    Although he just got reborn, he still had the mindset of an adult. Coincidentally, it was the weekend, so he went to practice his martial arts. He didn''t do things that a senior in high school should do.


    In the morning, everyone sat down together to have breakfast.


    Alexander ate some porridge and said, "Although you''re practicing martial arts now, you can''t forget about your schoolwork. There''s a martial arts course at university. If you''re able to become an advanced stage martial disciple before the university entrance exam, you can apply for it."


    It would be a good choice if he could enter a military academy. After he graduated, he would at least be a major or above.


    "In this day, the military ranks are closely related to one''s martial arts. However, until now, only martial warriors who graduated from recognized military academies are given military titles. Martial warriors who graduate from a normal university won''t have this special privilege."


    He started nodded and contemplating.


    The country was a good kind of protection. If he could enter a military academy and receive a military rank after he graduated, it was a good solution too.


    Of course, even if he entered a normal university, there would be many benefits for martial warriors. Regular academies also had formed their own factions.


    The amount of protection every martial warrior faction gave to their own martial warriors was undeniable. Also, the martial warriors were given more freedom.


    All in all, each had its own benefit.


    It seemed that if there was a possibility, he should get into a good university. He had a bug, but he needed time to grow too.


    Before he became someone powerful enough to disregard all rules, the best solution was to find strong support.


    The problem was, whether it was his past life or the current one, he had never studied properly in school. His school results were atrocious¡­

 Chapter 14 - 14: In The Past, You Placed The Prettiest Lady In School Beside Me Side

    Translator: Myriad Translations Editor: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 14


    ....


    Alexander chatted with Arius as he ate his breakfast.


    In the past, he wouldn''t have listened to his father at all. Now, he started to listen really carefully and started pondering over his father''s words.


    "He has grown up¡­"


    Alexander felt content. Arius''s performance was vastly different these two days.


    He used to hear other people telling him that their child suddenly grew up and became mature. He could only smile bitterly in response. He felt that his useless son wouldn''t be able to mature before he turned 30.


    As his father, he was really worried for him!


    Yet, now, Alexander managed to wait until the day arrived!


    Sob~ this is too touching. His sternness was finally starting to take effect. He did not waste his effort being a strict father.


    Alexander finished his porridge and wiped his mouth. He said with a serious expression, "The SAT for reading and writing and math are a important tests. I hope that you can think about it properly.


    "I''m informing you about this not because I want you to take the SAT this year.


    "The SAT is just around the corner. Your grades are terrible and you only started practicing martial arts recently, so there''s no hope of you taking the tests this year. We can only wait until next year or the year after.


    "The Department of Education has a rule. You can register for the martial arts course anytime before you turn 20. Hence, you have two chances to repeat your high school.


    "As long as you can become an advanced stage martial disciple before you are 20, you will have the chance to register for the martial arts course. I can hire tutors to help you with your studies and give you specialized tutoring. There will be a good chance for you to enter university."


    He looked at Arius after he finished speaking with a hint of anticipation in his eyes. He hoped that his son would have a bright future!


    This was probably the wish all parents had for their children. This might be a form of love.


    Arius slowly finished the fried dough stick in his hand under Alexander''s gaze. Then, he raised his head and smiled. "Dad, maybe we won''t have to wait until next year."


    When he saw Arius''s smile, Alexander knew that his son was listening to what he just said. But why did he feel like scolding him upon hearing his words?


    He couldn''t help but laugh and say, "It''s good to have confidence, but please don''t pretend in front of your father, your little brat."


    He didn''t believe that Arius was able to pass his SAT this year.


    "This child is getting naughtier and naughtier."


    Dianne took the coat on the clothing rack and passed it to Alexander as she complained sweetly.


    "I won''t be arranging a driver for you today. You can drive or take public transport. It''s up to you. " Alexander took over the coat and left the house.


    Arius was speechless. Wasn''t he very worried in the past? His father always asked someone to send him to school and escort him home afterward, fearing that he would fool around outside.


    He shook his head and bade farewell to his mother. "Mom, I''ve finished eating. I will be leaving."


    "Okay. Be careful on the way."


    ¡­


    Arius drove his car and reached Orange No. 1 High School in 20 minutes. He found a space in the parking lot for his car and started walking towards his classroom.


    Well¡­ if he remembered correctly, he should be in the V hall classroom NO. 335.


    The V hall classroom building.


    Most of the students here seemed to be in a hurry. The atmosphere here was much tenser than the classroom buildings for freshmans and sophomores.


    When he reached his classroom, many students were already studying hard.


    Most of them moved their lips as they silently recited their textbooks. They didn''t make any sound to avoid disturbing others.


    Arius''s arrival seemed highly conspicuous in the quiet classroom. A few students raised their heads with a tinge of surprise in their gazes.


    But, they didn''t think too much.


    They thought this rich second generation probably woke up early accidentally.


    He will most likely resume his usual late arrivals tomorrow.


    These few thoughts flashed through the minds of several students in unplanned unison. They hurriedly lowered their heads and continued what they were doing after that.


    When Arius walked into the classroom, his eyes suddenly lit up.


    Attribute bubbles!


    A few bubbles had dropped beside a few students.


    He watched as one of the female students silently recited her textbook and a small bubble appeared on her lips. As she continued, the bubble slowly became bigger¡­


    Then, it dropped on the floor with a ''splat''.


    She looked like a goldfish blowing bubbles.


    Arius was in a trance. You could drop bubbles when you are studying?


    He always thought that only martial arts had attributes. From the looks of it, that wasn''t the case.


    He walked over calmly and collected the attributes.


    Language*10


    English*15


    Biology*12


    Chemistry*15


    ¡­


    The next moment, Arius smiled. A second ago, he was still worried that he wouldn''t be able to bring up his grades up. Now, the study attributes came like rain in a drought.


    His bug was really amazing!


    After he collected the attributes, relevant knowledge started appearing in his mind.


    He felt as though he had learned all of this before. They had merged into his memory and would never disappear.


    Arius sat down beside the lady that blew the bubble just now.


    Indeed, this was Arius''s table buddy.


    This lady was their class monitor, Elaine Caldwell. She came from a normal family, but she was an ultimate star student. She had the chance to enter the top universities in America.


    One was a rich second generation who couldn''t study, while the other was an average civilian who was a star student.


    By right, there was no way these two people could sit together. But, their headteacher, Odis Stein, arranged their seating like this.


    He claimed that he did this so that the good student could teach her poor fellow classmate.


    Hence, the best student, Elaine, had to teach the worst student, Arius.


    Old Stein''s unexpected move almost caused all the students in the class to sprain their backs.


    He wasn''t afraid that this would affect Elaine and this star student might go astray because of Arius. There was a chance that she could enter the best university in the country.


    Of course, Elaine''s appearance was another reason why everyone was filled with righteous indignation.


    This was such a good and pretty little flower. Old Stein was committing a crime by placing her beside such an unworthy person.


    Unfortunately, no one dared to voice out their anger.


    Arius was a rich second generation who would be inheriting hundreds of millions of assets in the future. They couldn''t afford to offend him.


    However, everyone was surprised by Arius. Although he was incompetent in his studies, he didn''t disturb Elaine.


    They had been table buddies for more than a year, and Elaine''s results remained the same. She was always number one, never dropping in rank.


    Also, because of Arius, many male students didn''t dare to disturb Elaine. This gave her a quiet learning environment.


    Who knew that this might be a blessing in disguise.


    Elaine looked at Elaine, and a memory floated into his mind.


    He was just starting his last year in high school.


    Alexander one night, suddenly told arius proudly, "Son, I gave some gifts to your headteacher so that he will arrange the best student to sit beside you. You should learn from her properly.


    "That''s right. Don''t bully the young lady. If I know, I will break your leg. Do you understand!"


    Arius was frozen on the spot when he heard this piece of news.


    Especially when he saw Old Amrit''s proud expression, he felt speechless.


    You placed the prettiest lady in school beside me, but you don''t allow me to touch her. Are you my biological father?


    This is too cruel!


    Despite complaining, Arius didn''t dare disobey Alexander. Hence, he remained as Elaine''s obedient and good table buddy for a year.


    O(¨s¡õ¨t)o¡­

 Chapter 15 - 15: Did I Do Something Wrong?

    Translator: Myriad Translations Editor: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 15


    ....


    Whether it was his past life or this one, Arius always made things hard for his son.


    In his past life, Arius was Elaine''s table buddy for one year. The prettiest young lady in school was right in front of him, yet he couldn''t touch her. It felt highly frustrating.


    After they graduated from senior high, Elaine went to Cambridge, Massachusetts, and studied at Harvard University.


    After that, he heard that she went overseas to further her studies and came back three years later. At that time, she displayed exceptional business talent and built a huge franchise all over the country within a few years. Her company was looking to go international. She became a powerful boss in the business world in that era and became an amazing person.


    He recalled her life and looked back at his¡­


    He felt like a salted fish lying in front of a whale, a salted fish that laid in front of her for an entire year.


    Arius lowered his gaze and looked at Elaine''s lean legs. He had the urge to go forward and hug them tightly.


    These beautiful legs felt as though they were encased in gold.


    Honestly speaking, this young lady''s figure was perfect.


    Elaine was reciting her textbook when she suddenly felt an intense gaze landing on her legs. She frowned uncontrollably.


    "Hmph!"


    A snort woke Arius up from his daze.


    Arius looked at Elaine''s cold face and touched his nose. He laughed softly and retracted his gaze.


    "Why is he still laughing? This fellow is so irritating," Elaine muttered softly to herself.


    Arius shook his head. He had experienced two lifetimes, but he was still so easily distracted. That was embarrassing.


    He took out his phone and planned to look up information regarding the SAT.


    What Alexander said in the morning had made him see the SAT in a new light.


    Arius always thought that after he became a martial warrior, his status would be different. He wouldn''t need to participate in the university entrance exam.


    He didn''t know that there were so many things he had to do and understand even after he became a martial warrior.


    Fortunately, Arius had reminded him in time. If not, he might have missed the SAT exams this year.


    He searched casually, and a whole bunch of information on the SAT exams jumped out.


    It had to be said this world and the world in his past life had some minor differences. If you didn''t look at it carefully, you wouldn''t be able to find them.


    For instance, this planet wasn''t named Earth. It was called the Earth Star instead.


    For instance, their country was called America, and the capital was called Washington, D.C. Harvard University was a university situated in Massachusetts.


    Orange was similar to Houston. Orange University and Harvard University were both top universities in the country.


    The time of the SAT exams had changed too, from June to the 5th of July. That was because this was the day martial arts started gaining popularity in public.


    Today, the martial arts examination was the most crucial part of the SAT exams. So, the test was held on this special day with a special meaning.


    Arius did more research on the registration for the martial arts course.


    The martial arts examination was very different from the routine examination.


    Martial arts examination wasn''t just about testing your language, mathematics, English, and Science. It included the human anatomy, the history of martial arts, spirit herbs studies, mineralogy, and other various bits and pieces.


    The Department of Education had compiled all these bits of knowledge into a book called ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''.


    Anyone that wanted to take the martial arts course would get one copy of this book.


    Arius looked at the name with a weird expression. He wondered if he should get his hands on one too. After thinking for a moment, he decided to give up.


    It was impossible for him to learn everything. He had to rely on picking up attributes.


    There were five advanced stage martial disciples in Orange No. 1 High School. They would definitely take the martial arts examination, and they would have most likely studied the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''.


    He could find time to visit them and pick up some attributes. This way, Arius could collate more points for the proficiency of the "Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''.


    If that wasn''t enough, there were other students from other schools taking the martial arts course. He could look for them and collect some bubbles.


    Arius came up with a good plan.


    "This fellow came so early, but he''s actually playing on his phone."


    When Elaine saw Arius fiddling with his phone the entire morning, she frowned again. She said in a low voice, "Arius, come out with me for a moment."


    After dropping her words, she stood up directly and walked out of the classroom.


    Arius was still pondering over the martial arts examination, so he was at a loss when he heard Elaine.


    But as he looked at the other party''s back as she walked out of the classroom, he got up and followed her.


    Forget it, since you''re pretty, I will give you some response!


    Arius kept his phone and placed his hands in his pocket. He casually walked out of the class and saw Elaine waiting for him around a corner.


    "What''s the matter, Class Monitor Caldwell?" Arius looked at the beautiful face in front of him and asked.


    "Arius, there''s less than a month until the Sat exams. Why are you still playing every day? Are you not planning to take the SAT exams?" Elaine asked with a cold expression.


    "Even you know that there''s only less than a month until the examination. What''s the point of working hard now?" Arius said in a joking manner.


    Arius''s nonchalant tone made Elaine unhappy.


    Her brows furrowed. In the end, she controlled her temper and said, "I have some notes. Although there''s less than a month, if you work hard, you might be able to score some points in the entrance exam. Your family background is good. It shouldn''t be difficult for you to get into a good university."


    "Class Monitor Caldwell, why are you so concerned about me?" Arius suddenly asked.


    "Don''t think too highly of yourself," Elaine replied without any expressions.


    What do you mean by I care about you? How can there be someone so shameless?


    "Why are you worried about my SAT exams then?" Arius continued asking.


    "The headteacher let you sit beside me because he wants me to help you with your studies. It''s alright if you didn''t listen to me in the past. However, the SAT exams are coming, so I''m reminding you sincerely one last time," Elaine explained.


    "Any explanation is a cover-up," Arius teased her.


    "I¡­" Elaine was stunned by his shamelessness. She didn''t know what to say for a moment. She continued in frustration, "I''m persuading you because we are table buddies. You can choose whether you want to listen to me or not. If you can''t enter a university, it has nothing to do with me."


    She turned around and wanted to go back to the classroom. However, she didn''t see the broom that had fallen on the ground because of her brisk pace. She tripped over the broom and staggered.


    Oh shit, there''s nothing for me to hold onto.


    Arius had a huge shock. But the next second, she felt someone hugging her body.


    Arius had noticed the strange feeling in his hand too. He froze for a moment.


    "Hurry up and let go!"


    Elaine wanted to cry.


    "Do you really want me to let go?" said Arius.


    "Let go!" Elaine said firmly.


    "Okay¡­" Then, Arius released his grip¡­


    He let go of her hand¡­


    "Ahh!" Elaine fell with her face landing flat on the ground.


    "Class monitor, you were the one who asked me to let go," Arius said honestly.


    Elaine raised one hand from the ground and pointed at Arius. Her finger kept trembling.


    "Erm¡­ are you alright?" Arius bent down beside her and asked carefully.


    Elaine raised her head. Her hair was in a mess, and her exquisite nose, as well as her forehead, was entirely red.


    She looked so hopeless!


    "Arius, you bastard!"


    She got up from the ground and ran away without turning back.


    She felt so embarrassed!


    Arius looked at Elaine''s back view as she ran further and further away. His expression was a little awkward. Did he do something wrong?

 Chapter 16 - 16: Tricks! These Are All Tricks!

    Translator: Myriad Translations Editor: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 16


    ...


    Arius walked into the classroom.


    Memories of Arius kept appearing in his mind uncontrollably. He remembered that at that time, she would always persuade him in hopes that he would suddenly get enlightened and study hard.


    Unfortunately, in his past life, he never turned back. He walked along the path of darkness right to the end.


    After that, the two of them parted and never met again. It was really regretful.


    This lady left her mark in his memory in the past. This lifetime, he didn''t want to miss her!


    ¡­


    When Arius went back, almost the entire class had arrived. As a result, more attribute bubbles had fallen to the ground.


    Arius walked around the classroom under his classmates'' puzzled gazes and picked up all the attribute bubbles.


    English*9


    Language*12


    Biology*15


    ¡­


    "What is this Young Master Amrit doing?"


    "Who knows? Maybe he''s taking a stroll."


    "Taking a stroll?"


    "Why do you care about what he''s doing? He''s a rich second generation. His thinking is not on the same level as us."


    "His train of thoughts is really peculiar!"


    The meddlesome students couldn''t help but lower their voices and discuss among themselves. All the while, they had strange expressions on their faces.


    When Arius turned around and looked at them, their voices disappeared. They all sat there seriously and pretended to be studying hard.


    Arius pouted as he sat down on his seat.


    Elaine wasn''t in her seat. No one knew where she went.


    She only walked into the classroom when the school bell signaling the start of the morning lesson rang. She had a cold expression and didn''t glance at Arius at all.


    She sat on her seat as though there was just a ball of air beside her.


    Arius smiled bitterly. He didn''t dare to provoke her again.


    Elaine''s personality was distant and cold. When she wore a chilly expression, she gave off an aura that seemed to forbid anyone to get close to her.


    "This young lady is really cold."


    During the morning lesson, Arius flipped through his textbook aimlessly. He was bored to death.


    All the students were intensely revising the entire morning. Arius had a fruitful morning too. He listened to the class and picked some attributes while at it.


    His knowledge of his subjects increased exponentially. If he was to take a test now, he could get around 60 points.


    This was extremely frightening!


    Mind you, his past results only had one digit, and that was if he was lucky and chose the correct answer for the multiple-choice questions.


    Elaine didn''t want to interact with Arius. However, since they were table buddies, she could see what Arius was doing.


    She couldn''t help but feel surprised.


    "Did this fellow''s character change suddenly? Why is he reading the textbook? Have my words borne fruit?


    "Or could it be that this bastard likes me?"


    Elaine had never been in a relationship, but she had chatted about guys with her female friends before. Also, she secretly read some romance novels.


    In a novel, when a young man loved another young lady, he would take her words to heart and make changes for her. That was what all novels said. The guys always wanted to present a better self to the other party¡­


    When she thought about what happened just now, she felt something strange in her heart.


    But, this fellow was still so irritating!


    He actually let go of her. Would he have died if he had held onto her? He was really a dumb young man.


    As she thought about this, Elaine suddenly woke up in shock. She shook her head like a pellet drum, and her ears uncontrollably turned red.


    What kind of nonsense am I thinking about?


    There was a tremendous fight going on in Elaine''s brain. All kinds of young girl''s thoughts were jumbled up in her mind. Her whole face was so red that it felt as though she was in a steamer.


    Elaine''s will might be stronger than her peers, but she was a young girl after all. She would naturally have these kinds of thoughts about love.


    After some time, Elaine sighed quietly.


    It''s all that fellow''s fault. He''s disturbing my peacefulness.


    Arius noticed Elaine shaking her head frantically and then sighing for no reason. He felt confused.


    What is she doing?


    He couldn''t help but open his mouth. " Class Monitor Caldwell, the lesson has ended. How about we take our lunch break, and I will treat you to a meal? This is my apology for what happened this morning."


    Elaine was flabbergasted. The next instant, she turned vigilant.


    Tricks! These are all tricks! This fellow has other intentions towards me!


    Arius was dumbfounded.


    Why are you giving such a vigilant look?


    Other people might think that I''m a human trafficker abducting people.


    Elaine glared at Arius and said coldly, "I''m not going."


    She got up and took her bag after she finished speaking. Then, she ran out of the classroom as though something would happen if she stayed a moment longer with him.


    "Strange!" Arius shook his head helplessly.


    Was he so scary?


    He actually managed to make a young lady evade him as though he was a poisonous snake.


    "Brother Arius, let''s go and eat!" Saul''s voice came from outside the classroom at this moment.


    Arius got up and walked out.


    Saul was also a senior student too. But, he was in different classes. He wasn''t in the same class as Arius.


    As for Lisa and Lynn, they were both juniors in Orange No. 1 High School. They were one year younger than the two of them.


    Usually, they wouldn''t go home for lunch. Instead, they would finish their meals in the school cafeteria, or sometimes, they would go to a restaurant outside the school to eat.


    When Arius and Saul arrived at the cafeteria, it was already crowded. The noise could almost turn the roof upside down.


    At this moment, Saul''s Signal notification rang.


    He took out his phone and looked at it. Then, he said, "Let''s go to the second floor. Lisa and the rest are waiting for us there."


    The second floor was more spacious than the first.


    When they reached the second floor, the air-conditioner was cold and icy, and there were not many people there. It wasn''t crowded at all.


    The level of consumption on the second floor was much higher than on the first floor. Regular students wouldn''t go there for their meals.


    The moment they came up, they scanned the cafeteria and saw Lisa and Lynn sitting on the seats to the right.


    The dishes were already prepared, still steaming hot. It was evident that they just came out of the stove not long ago.


    This was a unique feature of the second floor. Not only were the dishes exquisite and delicious, but they were also cooked on the spot.


    On the first floor, all the dishes were cooked beforehand and put into trays. The cafeteria aunties just had to scoop the dishes the students chose.


    The spoons they used to scoop the dishes were shared. After taking out one dish, they would use it to scoop another dish. Hence, all the different flavors were mixed, and it was a suffering to one''s taste buds.


    Have you tried the taste of mixing stir-fried tomato with egg, twice-cooked pork, fish-flavored eggplant, ¡­?


    Once you did, you would never want to try it again.


    If you were a little late, you could only eat leftover dishes and rice. The dishes would be cold, and they were all vegetable stems and leftover gravy.


    The four of them chatted happily and ate at the same time.


    Halfway through their meal, Lynn suddenly pointed in a certain direction and asked, "Isn''t that Rhett?"


    Saul and Lisa immediately looked in the direction of his finger.


    "Hey, it''s really is that brat!" Saul scoffed.


    "The pig-head beside him¡­ is that Harry?" Lisa''s eyes suddenly shot wide open as she asked in confusion.


    "What pig-head?"


    Saul and Lynn were stunned at the same time. Then, they looked carefully.


    "Oh my god, haha, that''s really Young Master Harry. How did he become like this?" The two of them were astounded. Then, they burst out laughing.


    "Could it be¡­"


    The moment Lisa started speaking, Saul and Lynn abruptly thought of something. They looked at Arius with a strange expression.


    When Arius saw Harry''s appearance, he remembered that he seemed to have pushed some blame on this young man that night at the Wild Rose Pub. He coughed awkwardly and said, "Don''t talk nonsense if you don''t have evidence."

 Chapter 17 - 17: Don’t Leave After School Ends

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Lynn and Saul couldn''t help but laugh out loud again when they saw Arius acting innocent as if this had nothing to do with him.


    Lisa tried her best to control her laughter. However, she was having a hard time.


    In the end, when her friends burst out laughing, she couldn''t control herself anymore and started laughing along with them.


    Harry was in a bad mood during these past two days.


    Yesterday, he went to the Wild Rose Pub to play and hook up with two young working ladies. He wanted to bring them to a hotel and talk about life and ambitions.


    Just as he was about to succeed, a group of gangsters broke into the pub and started yelling.


    "Who is Harry Herman? Come out if you dare!"


    Harry was extremely infuriated at that time. He stood up at once and scolded, "I am Harry. Who''s your owner? Why didn''t he put you on a leash? Why did he release you?"


    The group of gangsters was burning with anger, too, not caring about anything anymore. They rushed up and threw a Chair over at Harry.


    Harry probably never expected these people to be beginner stage or intermediate stage martial disciples.


    Although he was an advanced stage martial disciple, in front of an entire bunch of beginner stage and intermediate stage martial disciples, he lost in numbers.


    Also, he didn''t know that these people would start fighting directly, so he was caught off guard. At the same time, since he was inexperienced, he got controlled by them within a split second.


    This bunch of people knocked Harry unconscious and brought him to a dilapidated warehouse.


    The sinister-looking youth, Eddie Case, was waiting there. The instant he saw Harry tied up, he asked his lackeys to beat him without even opening the sack.


    They only removed the sack after they vented their anger. When they took a careful look, they discovered this wasn''t the right person!


    While the bunch of gangsters exchanged glances with one another. Eddie started cursing in anger. Then, he vented all his rage on Harry, again.


    Another round of beating that was too horrible to look at followed.


    During that time, Harry was completely at a loss.


    Who am I? Where am I? Where am I doing?


    Eddie and his men left after they let out their anger, leaving Harry lying on his back in the run-down warehouse. Tears of helplessness and injustice flowed down the corner of his eyes.


    From the start to the end, he didn''t know what was happening.


    Slowly, he took out his phone with trembling hands and called 911. That was how he got sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.


    Fortunately, it was only external injuries. Harry was an advanced stage martial disciple, so his physique was stronger than a normal person. He could recover faster.


    Hence, he was able to recover and came to school all alive and kicking today.


    But, there was still a ball of flame in his heart. Everyone was an eyesore to him.


    Morning ended amidst the students'' strange expressions when they saw him. They wanted to laugh but didn''t dare to.


    A few students who laughed secretly were beaten by him violently.


    He came to the cafeteria to have his meal, but the instant he went up to the second floor, he heard peals of laughter. The flame in his heart was ignited immediately.


    His face turned green with anger.


    "Damn it! Why are you laughing!" Harry charged towards Arius and his friends.


    Saul wasn''t an easy person to bully. He stood up and rebutted, "My mouth is on my body. Why is that any of your business?"


    Everyone was clear of each other''s background. The Herman family was more powerful than the Wells family, but their families wouldn''t be at each other throats just because of a conflict between two younger generations.


    Conflicts between the younger generation would be settled by the younger generation.


    This was a silent rule consented to by everyone.


    If the older generations got involved, they were throwing their dignity on the ground for others to trample on. They were all respected people; dignity was like life to them. They wouldn''t lose it for such a small thing.


    In the past, Saul might be a little afraid of Harry, as he was an advanced stage martial disciple, but now, he wasn''t scared. He had Arius supporting him.


    "Saul, you''re getting bold. How dare you speak to me like this?"


    Harry laughed hideously and suddenly raised his fist, aimed for Saul''s face.


    Saul felt depressed. Harry didn''t act according to the script!


    As rich second generations, shouldn''t they hurl insults at each other first?


    Why was he raising his fist so quickly? Where did he throw his dignity as a rich second generation?


    He didn''t know that Harry was seething in anger the entire day. A little stimulation was enough to make him explode.


    The power of this fist wasn''t small. The strong wind caused Saul''s cheeks to hurt. He believed that if this fist hit him, his nose would collapse entirely.


    "I''m dead!"


    Saul closed his eyes instinctively.


    But, the pain he was anticipating didn''t come. He opened his eyes a little. Through the small crack, he saw a hand firmly grabbing Harry''s wrist, stopping him from moving a single inch.


    "Young Master Herman, anger is harmful to the body," Arius said casually.


    "Arius!"


    Harry was flabbergasted. Everyone knew that Arius was hopeless in his studies, but he was actually displaying strong martial arts ability now.


    Rhett, who was standing beside Harry, opened his eyes wide in surprise. He had a look of disbelief.


    In the past, he was Arius''s friend too.


    But as time went by, he tilted towards Harry and cut ties with Arius and his friends.


    Harry had stayed beside Harry for a long time. However, he never once realized that Arius had such abilities.


    Saul regained his senses and stood behind Arius with lingering fear. Then, he glared at Rhett proudly to mock him for being blind.


    On the other side, Harry struggled forcefully. He noticed that no matter how much force he used, Arius''s hand continued to be locked firmly around his wrist like steel. He couldn''t break free despite his best efforts.


    "Let go of my hand!"


    Harry said fiercely. His face was green with anger.


    Arius released his grip as asked.


    Harry was still pulling himself back, so he landed on his butt.


    "Young Master Herman, why are you so careless? Hurry and get up. The floor is cold," Arius said in concern.


    "You!"


    Harry pointed at Arius. He was so angry that he didn''t know what to say.


    He climbed up from the ground and said furiously, "Arius, I didn''t expect you to hide your true power. No matter what the reason is, our grudge is formed today. Do you have the guts to have a duel with me?"


    "Yes," Arius retracted his smile and answered while looking into his eyes.


    "Okay. When school ends in the afternoon, we will have a showdown at the stadium." Harry turned around and walked down the stairs after he finished speaking.


    Rhett glanced at Arius, but he didn''t dare to exchange gazes with him. He hurriedly chased after Harry.


    "Young Master Herman, aren''t we eating?"


    "Eat your head. I''m full from anger."


    ¡­


    After Harry left, Lisa asked worriedly, "Brother Arius, are you really going to fight with him?"


    Before Arius could reply, Lynn answered for him, "This is a martial arts duel. Since he agreed, he will definitely fight with him. This is the rule."


    "Little Mouse, what you said isn''t right," Arius suddenly smiled and said.


    Lynn gave him a puzzled look.


    Arius continued explaining, "Rules are set by men. You can decide whether you want to abide by them or not. Just make sure that you don''t go against your heart."


    Lynn was a little clueless. He didn''t understand Arius.


    "Brother Arius, are you confident that you can beat Harry?" Saul asked.


    "Why would I agree if I didn''t?" Arius smiled and asked him back.


    "It''s alright. Don''t worry. Let''s sit down and have our meal. Then, we can go back and rest. We can talk about this when the time comes."


    "We will follow you to your duel after school ends," Lisa said.


    "Sure!"


    The three lessons in the afternoon were physics, math, and biology.


    Every lesson, the teacher and his classmates would drop many attribute bubbles. This allowed Arius''s study attributes to rise to another level.


    He wasn''t bothered by Harry''s challenge request at all. Instead, he continued doing what he was supposed to do.

 Chapter 18 - 18: Weak! Your So Weak!

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 18


    ....


    For the entire day, Arius swam in the sea of knowledge until school ended at 3:35 pm. Even then, he was still yearning to learn more.


    He felt that in his past life, he was held up by his title as a rich second generation. If not, he would have definitely been a good student who loved studying.


    Fortunately, he still had a chance in this lifetime, even though he missed the opportunity in his previous life.


    From this day onwards, he must become a model student with all-rounded development in morality, intelligence, and physical education.


    When he thought about this, Arius instantly felt the red towel in front of his chest became even brighter.


    After the school bell rang, all the students surged out of their classrooms. Arius didn''t pack his things up. Rather, he threw his textbooks in the drawer.


    Then, he met Saul, Lisa, and Lynn.


    The four of them went to the stadium together.


    Arius was relaxed and didn''t show any hint of worry. On the contrary, Saul, Lisa, and Lynn kept exchanging glances with one another. They hesitated to speak to Arius.


    Lisa plucked up her courage and smiled at Arius. She said, "Brother Arius, shall we have a meal first? You will only have the strength to fight if you fill up your stomach."


    "Yes, yes, why don''t we have some food first?"


    "Harry has a lot of spare time. You can let him wait for a while longer."


    "Maybe he''s going for a meal too."


    Saul and Lynn nodded in agreement as they started convincing Arius together.


    "??"


    Arius said in a helpless tone, "You shouldn''t exercise after eating. You will get gastroptosis."


    "Oops!"


    The three of them realized that they seemed to have made a stupid suggestion.


    "Alright, there''s no need to worry. Harry is an advanced stage martial disciple, but he''s not on my level." Arius could tell that they were worried about him, so he consoled them.


    "Brother Arius, are you also an advanced stage martial disciple instead of an intermediate stage martial disciple?" Lynn asked in shock.


    Arius nodded.


    The three of them were dumbstruck.


    An advanced stage martial disciple!


    Arius was actually an advanced stage martial disciple!


    They knew that Arius was a martial disciple, but being an advanced stage martial disciple and an intermediate stage martial disciple were two different concepts.


    An advanced stage martial disciple could apply for the martial arts course. They had a high probability of becoming a martial warrior in the future. At that time, the distance between them and Arius would only grow bigger.


    This was beyond comprehension!


    They were peers, peers who were really familiar with one another. At first, they thought that all of them were the same, but the other party had soared up straight into the sky.


    They said that they would fail together, yet he secretly became better.


    Complex emotions instantly sprung up in their hearts.


    After some time, the four of them arrived at the stadium.


    Every school viewed students who practiced martial arts with high importance to provide a training ground for them, they emptied a floor in the stadium.


    Stadium, second floor.


    Harry was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of him. He looked impatient from the wait.


    Rhett was standing beside him with water and towels in hand. He looked like he was really trying hard currying favor with Harry.


    Saul felt his blood boiling with anger when he saw Rhett''s actions.


    Why did this fellow choose to be another person''s dog when he could be a human?


    "You finally came." Harry turned his head and squinted slightly as he glared at Arius.


    "Young Master Herman, you''re really early. Did you skip class?" Arius mocked.


    "Don''t bullshit with me. I''m using a blade. What''s your weapon? You can choose one," Harry replied impatiently.


    "I will use a blade too!"


    Arius walked to the side and took a standard blade from the weapons rack.


    The back of the blade wasn''t thick, and it was relatively longer. It looked like the ''Tang Blade'' in his past life.


    He weighed the blade and found it a little light. Arius shook his head silently. It seemed like he needed to find some time to get himself a weapon.


    He would make do with what he had for now!


    Arius held the blade and walked opposite Harry.


    Saul and Lisa''s faces turned pale when they saw them using weapons. "Why are they using weapons? What if they get hurt?"


    "What do you think? This is a martial arts duel, not playing house," Lynn took a deep breath and said.


    This was what he said on the surface, but he had only become a beginner stage martial disciple not long ago. This was also his first time facing such a situation.


    "Arius, you have good strength, so you have probably become an advanced stage martial disciple."


    "Honestly, I''m shocked. Everyone is mistaken about you. You hide very well."


    "But, who gave you the confidence to challenge me with a blade?" Obviously, Harry looked down on Arius.


    He had started practicing martial arts ever since he was 15 years old. He became an advanced stage martial disciple in three years. During these three years, he only practiced his blade skills, advancing it to the half completion state.


    Thus, he had the right to be arrogant.


    He also found it funny that Arius dared to use a blade in front of him.


    "Let''s start." Arius didn''t say much and went directly to the point.


    "Sure!" Harry opened his eyes wide and shouted fiercely.


    He stomped his feet on the ground.


    "Boom"


    A dull and loud sound resounded in the hall. There seemed to be waves churning in the air. Due to the recoil of the force, his entire body flew towards Arius like an arrow leaving its bow.


    In that split second, the ferocious aura appalled Rhett, Saul, and the other two.


    However, Arius, who was the first to bear the hit, showed no change in his expression.


    Harry thought that he was shocked from fear, so he displayed even more contempt on his face.


    He raised his blade up high and struck it down in a simple move.


    Just as the long blade was about to touch Arius''s body, he shifted without any warning and appeared on Harry''s right.


    When his blade cut the air instead of flesh, Harry''s expression changed instantly. He forcefully twisted his body and slashed his blade at Arius at 180 degrees.


    "Clang!"


    The two blades collided and let out sparks and metallic clangs.


    "Bang!"


    Another dull sound was heard. Before Harry could figure out what the hell was going on, he felt a pain in the back of his head and lost consciousness.


    "Weak, so weak!


    Arius shook his head.


    Basic Blade Skill*20


    Strength*12


    He picked up the attribute bubbles Harry had dropped and walked to the side to place the blade back.


    Rhett, Saul, and the rest of the people finally regained their senses. They stared at Arius with their mouths agape.


    The exchange between them looked simple, but the speed of advanced stage martial disciples was more than a little exaggerating. The four of them only saw everything in a blur.


    As the saying went, ''the insider knows the ropes, while the outsider just comes along for the ride''.


    The four of them were purely watching the show. Even Lynn wasn''t considered an ''insider''.


    Hence, they didn''t understand the battle, only feeling that Arius was very powerful.


    Especially the time. It was too short!


    Was it three seconds or five?


    Harry lost even before they could fight properly.


    They watched Arius as he put back his weapon and walked over. He seemed to be muttering to himself, "Too weak, why is he so weak? That''s impossible¡­"


    The four of them were rendered speechless.


    Harry was a real advanced stage martial disciple. He was one of the top five most powerful students in Donghai No. 1 High School. Yet, Arius said that he was weak!


    Brother, we are close friends. Do you have to act so arrogantly?


    But, this also indirectly showed how powerful Arius was.


    Harry wasn''t weak among the students, but Arius was stronger than him. In fact, he was much stronger.


    "Let''s go home and eat dinner."


    Arius called out to his three friends as he walked down the stairs.


    Saul, Lisa, and Lynn hurriedly caught up to him. On the other side, Rhett was left standing alone on the same spot in a daze.


    He didn''t dare to greet Arius.


    This Arius was unfamiliar to him. At the same time, he was frightening.


    In the past, Arius didn''t like studying. However, since his family background was better than his, Rhett didn''t dare to offend him.


    Now, he felt fear towards Arius personally.


    He had betrayed Arius. Would he take it to heart? What if he came to find him for trouble one day when he wasn''t in a good mood?


    The instant he thought of this, Rhett felt anxious. He looked at the unconscious Harry on the ground. He didn''t seem to be able to protect him.


    Regret filled up his heart immediately¡­

 Chapter 19 - 19: Robbery

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 19


    ....


    As they walked out of the stadium, the other three people were exceptionally excited. They never stopped talking on the way back.


    "Amazing! You''re so powerful!"


    "Brother Arius, are advanced stage martial disciples all so powerful?"


    "To a normal person, an advanced stage martial disciple is quite strong."


    Arius lit a cigarette and took a puff of it. He slowly breathed the smoke out and said in a calm tone.


    "Haha, this is great. With you protecting us, no one will dare to bully us." Saul laughed heartily.


    "Brother Arius, do you think I can be as strong as you in the future?" Lynn clenched his fist secretly and asked with envy.


    "You just need to practice hard. Becoming an advanced stage martial disciple won''t be difficult for you," Arius replied.


    Arius walked beside them without saying anything. However, her gaze would land on Arius occasionally. There was a small sweet smile appearing at the corner of her lips.


    The group of four parted at the school gate and went back to their own homes.


    On the way, Arius kept wondering why Harry was so weak. He wasn''t acting. He sincerely felt that Harry was too weak.


    When he drove the car along the roads and looked at the other cars zooming past him, he suddenly got enlightened.


    Speed!


    Right, it was speed!


    Looking at all the martial arts in the world, only speed could never be defeated.


    His speed was much faster than Harry''s, so to him, his attacks looked slow.


    Harry was so slow that Arius only used two moves to knock him unconscious on the ground.


    The speed attribute on the attribute panel couldn''t be perceived directly. Arius kept picking up attributes and his points kept rising, but he had never tested his actual speed before.


    Today, his potential suddenly exploded, and Harry did not even have a chance to retaliate.


    At night, Arius finished his dinner at home and went to the Shining Martial House to practice as well as to collect attributes.


    For the next few days, his life was calm and smooth.


    During the day, he would attend school and go for lessons. He collected attributes to upgrade his studies and occasionally teased his beautiful but cold table buddy. He had a great time.


    After these few days, his studies had improved tremendously. If he took an exam now, he was confident that he could get 90 points.


    This level was enough for him. He wasn''t planning to become the top scorer in the standard exam. Also, this was already a huge leap from his past results.


    At night, he would sign in at the Shining Martial House for training and collect attributes to raise his martial arts cultivation.


    Now, all his martial arts attributes had broken through the limit of a martial disciple.


    Intelligence: 51


    Physique:121


    Strength:1356


    Speed: 632


    Battle Techniques: Basic Fist Skill (grand completion), Basic Footwork (grand completion), Basic Sword Skill (grand completion), Basic Blade Skill (grand completion)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 percent)


    The limit for the physique of an advanced stage martial disciple was 100. The limit of strength was 1000kg or 2200lbs and 100 meters in four seconds for speed(55mph).


    All his attributes had far surpassed those limits.


    Some time ago, he had specifically tested his speed and realized that he could run 100 meters in two seconds(111mph). This was much faster than the advanced stage martial disciples.


    It might only be a two seconds difference, but many people might not be able to cross this hurdle even after three to five years.


    Think about how hard it was to break the 100 meters sprint record for the Olympics. This was proof of its difficulty.


    In addition to his mastery in Basic Footwork, if Arius was to meet another advanced stage martial disciple, he would dominate them without a doubt.


    Getting to here, there was a need to emphasize the fact that all of Arius''s battle techniques had reached grand completion state.


    What was grand completion?


    As its name suggested, it was mastery to the smallest detail of the technique. It was a state above the perfected state.


    What kind of power did a grand completion state battle technique possess?


    A simple example would make it clear.


    If a person was attacked and he had reached the half completion state of Basic Footwork, he would need to move more than half a meter to evade the attack.


    If the person had reached the grand completion state of Basic Footwork, he would be able to remain unscathed by maneuvering close to the attacker. The distance between the two would be no more than a few centimeters.


    Hence, the difference between the two states could only be depicted clearly during an actual battle.


    One could say that Arius''s current ability was only a step away from an official martial warrior.


    Once he started cultivating the Spiritual Ki, he would become a real martial warrior.


    ¡­


    On Friday, after the lesson ended, Arius went back home as per usual.


    He drove his car along the road and looked at the scenery outside the car window. Yet, in his heart, he was pondering how he could get a Spiritual Ki cultivation skill scripture.


    His current stage was known as a half-step martial warrior. Once he started cultivating the Spiritual Ki, his status would change.


    But, the Spiritual Ki skill scripture was different from the foundation battle techniques and aerobics that any martial disciple or average person could practice.


    The imparting of Spiritual Ki skill scriptures had always been tightly regulated.


    One could pass the martial arts exam and learn it in universities. This was the path with the most freedom.


    Another way was to apply for a half-step martial warrior exam at martial arts academies. Once he passed and the academy found nothing wrong with his background, they would impart their Force skill scriptures to him.


    This way, he would become a martial warrior of the martial arts academy. He would be on the same boat as the martial arts academy.


    The last method was to become a vassal of some powerful family. If you were able to gain the other party''s trust, they might impart their Spiritual Ki skill scriptures to you. However, this was equivalent to selling your life.


    The martial arts exam was after the university entrance exam. Furthermore, he had to wait until he entered the university to learn the Spiritual Ki skill scriptures. It took too long. Arius didn''t consider this option.


    Should he go to the martial arts academy to become a half-step martial warrior?


    No way, no way!


    Arius''s family knew his progress. He had only started practicing martial arts not long ago, and yet, he was already on the way to becoming a martial warrior. If unscrupulous people laid their eyes on him, things would turn troublesome.


    Then¡­ should he become a vassal for other martial warrior families?


    Forget it. He was still a rich second generation. He would be lowering his status if he became other people''s lackey.


    Bang!


    As he was pondering to himself, he heard a loud explosion in front of him.


    A great cloud of smoke was billowing out in front of him.


    The intersection in front of him was jammed for some reason, and the car ahead braked abruptly. It looked like there was a rear-end collision.


    Arius''s reaction was swift. He immediately stepped on the brake. However, the distance was too near, so the car still jerked forward due to inertia.


    "Boom!" He knocked into the rear of the car.


    Beep, beep, beep!


    Ring, ring, ring!


    In an instant, the honking of the cars and the sirens of the police cars intertwined together.


    The scene was messy and chaotic. This part of the road was completely paralyzed.


    Arius frowned. He had no choice but to get out of his car to look at what had happened.


    He needed to go back home for dinner.


    "What is happening?"


    "Oh my god, what''s going on? Is their a car accident!"


    The drivers stuck their heads out of their cars and started cursing.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Right then, a few more loud sounds stunned the scene into silence in a blink of an eye.


    "Gunshots!"


    Arius was astounded. "I''m sure I didn''t hear wrong. That was definitely gunshots!"


    Robbery in daylight?


    Riot?


    Or was it kidnapping?


    All kinds of thoughts flashed through Arius''s mind. Suddenly, he saw a few people dashing over.


    Based on their speed, they must be martial disciples!


    Arius made his judgment in his mind. Then, he hurriedly shifted to the side. He didn''t know what was happening, so it was better to mind his own business.


    He wanted to step away, but unfortunately, it didn''t mean that troubles wouldn''t look for him.


    When these people ran past him, the one with a scar on his face suddenly shouted, "Wait!"


    "What is it?" his companions asked him in a hurry.


    "The police will be are arriving soon. We''re too passive if we run like this. We should kidnap a hostage so that we can negotiate with them."


    The man wanted to grab Arius as he spoke.


    Just as Arius was about to resist, the man with a scar on his face raised a gun with his other hand and aimed it at his head. "Be obedient. If not, I will shoot you!"


    He was on tenterhooks!


    The intense aura of death caused Arius''s mind to explode, and the blood in his body started pumping with adrenaline furiously. His heart stopped beating for a split second. Then, it started palpitating.

 Chapter 20 - 20: So, I Can Only Kill Them!

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Chapter 20


    ....


    Danger!


    Extreme danger!


    Although this was Arius''s second lifetime, it was the first time someone was pointing a gun directly at his head.


    In the face of life and death, the fear was terrifying.


    He was reborn, but he hadn''t experienced an actual death before. Back then, he felt that he just woke up from a deep sleep.


    It was nothing compared to the situation now.


    The black muzzle felt like a terrifying huge beast opening its mouth. Inside, it was hell, and it felt eerie. The beast seemed to be waiting to swallow him whole.


    Terrifying! Horrifying!


    Immediately, Arius''s body froze, and his soul trembled uncontrollably.


    Even though he was practicing martial arts, he was still a normal person. He had never met such a situation before.


    Also, at such a close distance, he could clearly see the silver patterns on the body of the pistol.


    They were Spiritual Ki runes!


    This was a Spiritual Ki rune gun. It was a deadly threat to advanced stage martial disciples, as well as martial warriors.


    Hence, even though he had reached the speed of 50 meters per second and his footwork was at the grand completion stage, he didn''t dare to move when there was a Spiritual Ki rune gun pointing at his head.


    "Damn it!"


    Arius cursed in his heart. Then, he instantly gave in.


    He gave in within a split second!


    He gave up without any hesitation.


    "Don''t shoot. I will cooperate with you."


    Arius said in a hurry. He was afraid that the other part would kill him out of pure unhappiness.


    He had no choice but to be a coward.


    This was too frightening. He couldn''t help but tremble in fear.


    "Be obedient. Don''t think of playing any tricks. If you do, I will let you have a taste of this gun."


    The man with a scar on his face pushed Arius and threatened.


    Thus, Arius was forced to join their gang.


    He observed them secretly. There were a total of five people in this group, and they all had Spiritual Ki rune guns in their hands. From their aura, they were at least intermediate stage martial disciples.


    When Arius''s gaze swept past three of them, he paused instinctively.


    Each one of them was carrying a huge bag that was stuffed to the brim. The zip wasn''t closed properly, so one could faintly see the notes inside.


    Could it be that they¡­ robbed a bank?


    I remember that there is a bank not far away in front¡­


    Arius suddenly felt that his situation wasn''t good. He seemed to have gotten involved in a troublesome matter.


    Does this mean that they were just passing by and I accidentally became their hostage?


    Arius was a little speechless, feeling innocent and unlucky. He was able to meet robbers on his way home!


    Meeting them was alright. Why did they choose him as their hostage when there were so many others around?


    Were they bullying him?


    He didn''t know that the man with a scar on his face chose him because he was driving a sports car. A rich second generation definitely had a higher status than an average person. Hence, he took Arius as his hostage.


    Arius was forced into a small alley as the robbers seized him by his arm. Then, he kept running and making turns in the alley, losing his sense of direction. He didn''t know how long he ran.


    He pretended that he was extremely weak and started panting heavily after running for a short time.


    "Damn it, this rich second generation must have slept with too many women. Look at how weak he is."


    One of the robbers cursed Arius. He was probably envious, jealous, or just didn''t like Arius.


    "Shall we kill him directly? Bringing him along will be a hindrance," another robber wearing a cap said ruthlessly.


    What the f**k!


    Arius''s heart skipped a beat when he heard this.


    This person was so cold-blooded. He only ran a little slower, yet he already wanted to kill him. Did he have to be so cruel?


    "Don''t kill me. I can run. I will definitely keep up with you," Arius said frantically.


    "Forget it. We have already come this far with him. It''s just a few more meters. Everything will be fine once we get in the car," the leader of the robbers replied.


    The few of them ran for another ten minutes. Arius appeared exhausted, but he still managed to keep up with them.


    A white van was parked at the side of an old street. One robber pulled the car door open and stuffed Arius inside. The engine of the van started with a loud roar.


    The van drove into the city at high speed.


    Suddenly, the police siren was heard behind them.


    "F**k, the police have caught up with us." The robber, who was driving, slapped the steering wheel and stepped heavily on the accelerator. The van charged forward.


    "The van in front, listen. Stop at the side of the road immediately. Stop at the side of the road immediately¡­"


    "You must be kidding!"


    The driver stuck his hand out of the car and gave the cars behind his middle finger.


    "To the right. Go up the highway," the leader of the robbers said calmly.


    The driver turned the steering wheel.


    The head turned sharply as the van''s boot skidded for a distance, creating a long mark on the ground. Then, it started flying towards the right.


    The police car in front overshot by a huge distance before it managed to stop. It turned and started chasing the van.


    Hence, the police car and the van started their cat and mouse game on the highway.


    During the chase, many cars collided with one another, causing traffic congestions. Drivers with road rage symptoms stuck their heads out to curse.


    "white van in front. If you don''t stop your car now, we will open fire!"


    The robbers turned a deaf ear to the police.


    Bang!


    A gunshot was heard immediately thereafter. However, it was fired at the sky. Since there were too many people in the city, the police didn''t dare to fire randomly.


    This gunshot was purely to scare the robbers!


    But, the robbers weren''t easy to deal with. The more you tried to scare them, the more vicious they would get.


    The man with a scar on his face pushed his gun against Arius and stuck his head out of the car. He shouted fiercely, "If you dare to shoot, I will kill him first!"


    Arius felt like a puppet.


    He felt weak and helpless!


    As the van sped along the highway, the wind blew against his hair, causing his mind to be in a mess.


    Who on earth did I provoke?


    Arius asked the heavens helplessly.


    As expected, the police behind decided to spare the rat to save the dishes. They didn''t dare fire anymore. After seeing their actions, the man with a scar on his face pulled Arius back into the car.


    He proudly said to the other robbers, "Look, this is the benefits of having a hostage."


    "You did well!"


    The leader wasn''t stingy with his compliments.


    Arius rolled his eyes while silently ridiculing them in his heart. You are really smart!


    Unfortunately, it was too early for them to feel happy!


    More than ten police cars were chasing, obstructing, and intercepting the robbers'' van. The robbers had underestimated the determination of the police. Although they were crafty, they were still stopped in front of an office building.


    "F**k, we are just taking some money to spend. Do they have to chase us so fervently?"


    "Shut up!" the leader of the robbers shouted with a cold expression.


    They had no choice but to leave the van. Then, they retreated into the office building while dragging Arius along.


    "You have been surrounded from all sides. I repeat you are surrounded. Hurry up. Lay down your arms and surrender¡­" This sentence kept coming out from the police''s loudspeaker.


    The robbers ignored them and dashed into the office building.


    It was after-work timing, so most people had already left the office. No one could be seen in the lobby.


    The robbers went up to the third floor, probably wanting to occupy the high ground.


    The third floor belonged to a fashion design company. There were still a few professionals working overtime inside, and most of them were ladies.


    The robbers kicked the door open and charged inside.


    Bang!


    One of them fired a shot to take control of the scene.


    His scare tactics made the scene even rowdier. The shouts of the anger of the office ladies turned into screams of terror.


    The leader of the robbers aimed his muzzle at a middle-aged lady and pulled the trigger. The other party''s thigh got hit, and she screamed in pain.


    The middle-aged lady looked like someone with a high status in the company.


    Before the robbers broke in, she was reprimanding her subordinates. But in a blink of an eye, everything turned tragic.


    The other office ladies shrieked when they saw blood. Some of their voices even broke.


    "Shut up! I will kill anyone who makes another sound," the leader warned coldly.


    The office ladies quickly covered their mouths in unplanned unison. They were afraid that if they made a sound and stood out, the robbers would kill them.


    The middle-aged lady, who was shot, forcefully resisted the urge to make any sounds due to the pain.


    Cold sweat could be seen all over her forehead.


    Arius frowned. This bunch of robbers were indifferent and ruthless. They didn''t care about human life at all. This was too crazy.


    "Go to the corner and squat down with your hands over your head. If anyone dares to create trouble, my gun might accidentally fire at you."


    A robber waved his gun and signaled everyone to squat in a corner.


    However, Arius wasn''t so lucky as he was pushed to the window.


    He looked down and saw around twenty police cars surrounding the office building. Many police officers had their guns raised at the windows of the building.


    "Leader, what should we do?" The man with a scar on his face asked furiously.


    The leader didn''t bother to reply with words. Instead, he fired a shot straight at the police. The police officers hurriedly hide behind their shields or cars.


    "Listen, prepare a helicopter for us within an hour. If we don''t see the helicopter one minute after the allocated time, we will kill one hostage. If two minutes pass, we will kill two hostages¡­ We will kill until everyone here dies!"


    The police weren''t the only ones who had heard his words. Arius and the other hostages in the building heard him too.


    The employees of the fashion design company turned pale with fear. As the first hostage, Arius''s heart was raised to his throat, and his face turned black.


    But¡­


    These five robbers had five Spiritual Ki rune guns with them. He wasn''t confident he could deal with them.


    He could only place his hope in the police. He prayed that they would be able to prepare the helicopter in time.


    ¡­


    Time continued to pass slowly. One hour had almost passed.


    However, there was no helicopter.


    The hostages had looks of despair on their faces.


    "It''s almost one minute past the allocated time. If the helicopter doesn''t come soon, you are forcing us to kill a hostage," the leader shouted at the police cars below.


    "Don''t act rashly. The helicopter is on the way. It will arrive soon." The person in charge below was perspiring profusely because of anxiety as he used the loudspeaker to reply to the robbers.


    The leader didn''t say anything. From his reaction, he didn''t seem to care about the reason. As long as the time exceeded the deadline, he would kill someone.


    One minute passed in a blink of an eye.


    "Brat, you, come over!" The leader of the robbers pointed at Arius.


    "It''s too bad. You are unlucky!"


    The man with a scar on his face gave a hideous smile. He pushed Arius towards his leader.


    Arius sighed. He felt that he didn''t look at the almanac before he left his house this morning. This must be why he was so unlucky today.


    Initially, he thought that if he acted as an obedient hostage, the robbers would let him go after achieving their goal. But, from the looks of it now, he was too naive.


    I can''t just wait for death!


    There is no route of retreat now. They want to kill me, but I don''t want to die. I''m still young and I was given a chance to be reborn. How can I die here?


    I can''t let that happen!


    No one can kill me. My new life is just starting. I have many regrets to make up for and many things I want to do¡­ This lifetime, I need to be filial to my parents. I have to become a martial arts warrior and make them proud. I also want to see how the Amazon Continent looks like¡­


    I don''t want to die¡­


    I don''t want to die. Thus, I have to kill them!

 Chapter 21 - 21: Pentakill~

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    I''m so obedient, cooperative, and cute¡­


    Why do they still want to kill me?


    Arius didn''t understand at all!


    His mother was right. A cute and handsome rich second generation like him must protect himself properly when he was outside.


    The outside world was too dangerous!


    His life could be in peril at any moment.


    Arius walked towards the leader of the robbers step by step. His whole body was trembling with excitement¡­ Kill them. I must kill them. They are all extremely wicked and evil people!


    One step!


    Two steps!


    As he got closer and closer, the other hostages looked at him with compassion in their eyes.


    They felt pity for him, but at the same time, there was a hint of relief in their gazes. They felt glad that they weren''t the first to get killed.


    They were shivering in fear too.


    This bunch of robbers wasn''t even willing to let off such a cute young boy. There was no limit to their cruelness. Why hadn''t the police''s helicopter arrived?


    They would be the ones getting killed if it didn''t come soon!


    Kill them!


    Kill them!


    Arius almost had a mental breakdown. He was extremely nervous. His palm, back, and forehead were drenched with perspiration.


    There was no other way besides killing them!


    Three steps, four steps¡­ very soon, he was less than half a meter away from the leader.


    "Hurry up and come over!" shouted the leader impatiently.


    Enough!


    This is close enough!


    I can''t wait anymore.


    Arius raised his head abruptly. His eyes were bloodshot.


    "Why do you have to force me?"


    "??"


    The leader of the robbers felt that Arius had probably lost his mind in the face of fear, hence his nonsense.


    But, the next instant, the eyes of the robbers and the hostages widened in surprise.


    The leader of the robbers looked as though he had seen a ghost!


    What did he see?


    A moment ago, this hostage was still acting like a little lamb. The next second, he turned into a crazy fierce bear.


    His aura transformed in an instant!


    "I¡­"


    Everything felt slow, but it just took an instant.


    When Arius raised his head, there was no hesitation in his mind. His decision was firm and resolute as he stomped his feet heavily.


    Boom!


    The ceramic tiles on the ground shattered, and stone shards flew everywhere.


    The force exploded below his feet, pushing Arius out abruptly. He shot out like an arrow from a bow and arrived in front of the leader within a split second.


    It was a result of extreme speed and grand completion stage footwork.


    Arius crossed the distance of half a meter within a blink of an eye.


    Even though the leader of the robbers could see him, he wasn''t able to react in time.


    Arius''s fist was like a hammer pounding the iron as he raised it high and punched it down. His fist became bigger and bigger in the robber''s eyes, shocking him senseless.


    "¡­ F**k!"


    The second he spoke the word, Arius''s full force attack had already landed on his head.


    Bang!


    The power of more than a thousand kilograms was extremely frightening!


    It probably felt like a small car driving past your head!


    Bang!


    The sound was crisp as if a watermelon was crushed!


    First blood!


    It got crushed¡­


    However, Arius didn''t have any extreme feelings. At the moment, he was only thinking about the threat to his life. He killed one enemy yet, and there were still four left!


    They had guns. They were too scary!


    He must finish this battle as soon as possible.


    Hence, he didn''t stop for a single second.


    He grabbed the leader''s corpse tightly and smashed it at the robber standing behind with a scar on his face.


    At the same time, Arius dashed forward. His mind was churning furiously. All the basic battle techniques he had learned so far seemed to be integrating into one whole.


    Footwork was merged with speed.


    Sword skills and blade skills were merged into the fist''s skills.


    He didn''t have any weapons in his hand, so he used his fists as the sword and his legs as the blade.


    The robber with a scar on his face was in a flurry when his leader''s corpse smashed into him. Wang Teng swept his leg from the left like a blade.


    Crack!


    The sound of bones cracking spooked the onlookers!


    Boom!


    The man shot out horizontally and slammed into the wall like a ragdoll. He spat a mouthful of blood before his head tilted to the side. The guy was deader than dead.


    Double kill!


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The other three bandits panicked. But, they finally regained their senses and fired at Arius.


    The runes-reinforced bullets poured out of the guns, halting Arius''s advance. These bullets were faster and more powerful.


    Swoosh!


    The bullets tore through the air, bringing along a shrill screech with them as they charged towards the vital spots on Arius''s body.


    His head, heart, thigh¡­


    Arius was well-prepared. After he got rid of the man with a scar on the face, he shrunk his body¡­


    And did a perfect roll on the ground!


    In one smooth motion, he hid under the office desk.


    Bang!


    The bullets hit the wall and blasted a huge hole in it.


    When Arius glanced at the hole, a lingering fear washed over him. He felt fortunate that he hadn''t rashly resisted the robbers at the start.


    Based on how powerful these bullets were, they would definitely bore a bloody hole in his body. Even if he had an advanced stage martial disciple''s physique, he wasn''t bulletproof.


    This thought only stayed in his mind for a split second. Then, he immediately grabbed the chair in front of him and threw it out. At the same time, he dashed out in the other direction.


    The three robbers were extremely tense. When they saw something flying out, they instinctively fired multiple shots in that direction.


    "Oh shit!"


    Immediately after, they knew that they were in trouble.


    Arius didn''t give them time to regret it. He charged towards them from the other side and shot his fist out like a cannon, firing it at a robber''s temple.


    The robber staggered and fell to the ground with a thud.


    Triple kill!


    One more down.


    Then, he turned to a robber who was two meters away from him.


    Arius remembered this person. He was the first one who wanted to kill him.


    Thus, he exerted more power in his attack. Arius clutched his hands together and smashed them down like a sledgehammer. The poor guy flew three meters backward.


    Quadra kill!


    Bang! Bang!


    The last robber was the driver.


    By now, he had realized that Arius was extremely fierce and vicious. His companions couldn''t handle his attack at all. They were either dead or seriously injured.


    He was so frightened that he kept retreating. In his flurry, he fired a few shots at Arius.


    Arius dodged, dashed beside the robber, and landed a punch. This was the simplest sword stab from the Basic Sword Skill.


    One attack!


    Another attack!


    In the end, the final robber also fell to the floor.


    Penta kill!


    All five robbers were taken care of. From the time Arius started attacking to the end of the battle, less than one minute had elapsed.


    The hostages were all flabbergasted!


    Their jaws almost touched the ground, but no sound came out.


    The middle-aged woman, who was injured, seemed to have temporarily forgotten her pain. She stared at him in a daze.


    We are both hostages. Why are you so outstanding and fierce!


    We are supposed to shiver in fear together, but you killed the robbers instead. Are you a devil?


    "Pant, pant, pant!"


    After the five robbers collapsed, Wang Teng was finally able to relax his taut nerves. He breathed in large mouthfuls of air.


    Exhaustion!


    A feeling of overwhelming exhaustion flooded his body.


    This battle had only lasted less than a minute, but his state of mind was tense, as he had been dancing on the edge of life and death. The adrenaline rushed through his vessels, and his body operating at an unprecedented high. This was mentally and physically draining for him.


    "Why did you force me?"


    Arius muttered to himself while scanning the room. Suddenly, his face turned pale.


    The horrifying state of the robbers made his stomach churn, and the stomach acid almost spurted out of his throat.


    He hurriedly turned his head away. Coincidentally, he met the gaze of the hostages.


    These people had looks of fear on their faces. They were pale too, and some were even vomiting in the corner.


    However, their gazes were a bit weird. They didn''t seem to be looking at a kind and honest high school student¡­


    Instead, they seemed to be looking at a perverted murderer!


    "Will you believe me if I said I''m a good person?" asked Arius sincerely.


    The hostages shook their heads in unplanned unison. Then, they reacted quickly and started nodding their heads frantically.


    However, their guilty expressions weren''t convincing at all¡­

 Chapter 22 - 22: I Just Want To Stay Alive

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Arius came out of the police station when it was nearing 9 pm. Before this, he had called home and told his parents that he was having dinner with his classmates tonight.


    What really happened was, he was brought to the police station to record his statement.


    Fortunately, Arius was a victim, so the police released him after they understood what had happened.


    The captain of the criminal police personally sent Arius to the door. He passed a cigarette to him.


    "Want one?"


    Arius didn''t stand on ceremony. He directly took the cigarette and placed it in his mouth.


    The two of them lit their cigarettes and started smoking in front of the police station.


    "You know how to smoke at such a young age," smiled and teased Arius.


    "Let''s not talk about it."


    Arius sighed and shook his head.


    Troy didn''t probe further. He dropped the casual attitude and said seriously, "Those robbers fled from other cities to Orange City. They have committed many heinous crimes, and they are all wanted criminals.


    "You should be able to tell that they are all cruel people. Their hands are stained with the blood of quite a few innocents.


    "You are getting rid of evil for the people by killing them. Hence, don''t feel too pressured."


    Arius instantly felt much better.


    "As expected, they were bad people. If I wasn''t forced into a corner, why would a model student like me with all-rounded development in morality, intelligence, and physical education retaliate so violently?"


    Troy: ¡­


    This brat seemed a little shameless.


    Troy felt that his concern was redundant. He said grumpily, "After we finish the procedures on our side, we will reward you with a silk banner and the bounty."


    "Huh? You are still going to give me a silk banner and bounty?" Arius was a little shocked. He hurriedly waved his hand and said, "There''s no need for that. I don''t deserve it."


    "Really? This gang of robbers has been on the wanted list for a long time, but no one managed to catch them. So, the bounty is extremely high. It''s as much as 100 thousand dollars!" Troy thought that Arius didn''t know what he just rejected, so he kindly explained to him.


    "I really don''t need it. I don''t lack the money," Arius replied casually.


    "You don''t lack the money?" Troy was speechless. This brat was really arrogant.


    "Why don''t I donate the bounty to your station? You are the protectors of the citizens. That is hard work. You can take it as my way of saying thank you," said Arius.


    "Allow me to represent the police and thank you on their behalf." Troy was filled with profound sense of duty.


    "Oh right, Captain Troy, before I was taken hostage, my car was abandoned in the middle of the road. Can you help me check if it was seized by the police?"


    Arius suddenly remembered his sports car that was stuck in the traffic.


    "Okay, I will make a call and ask."


    After the call connected, Troy spoke a few sentences. Then, he asked Arius for his license plate number. The answer arrived very quickly.


    "It was indeed seized. Come, let me bring you over to collect your car," Troy hung up and said.


    "Okay." Arius nodded and followed the guy.


    "Honestly speaking, your attacks were a little ruthless."


    While walking, Troy suddenly turned and said to Arius.


    "This is the first time I''ve encountered an issue like this. It looks like I really didn''t know how to control my strength," Arius said helplessly.


    "Compared to you, my first time was very different. I almost failed miserably on an easy task. Luckily, a senior helped me. "Troy was immersed in his memory.


    Then, he exclaimed, "You are so young, yet you are already an advanced stage martial disciple. You are stronger than me. I feel that within two years, you can become a martial warrior!"


    "Captain Troy, you are praising me too much. I was just lucky. "Arius remained humble.


    After some time, the duo arrived at their destination. They were asked to sign some papers before collecting the car. Troy looked at the sports car in front of him and was rendered speechless.


    "No wonder you felt that the 100 thousand dollars were nothing. You really don''t need the money."


    Arius got into the car and waved at Troy.


    "Captain Troy, thank you for today. I need to go home now. If not, my parents will be worried."


    "You''re welcome. I almost forgot that you''re a high school student. Hurry up and go home." Troy nodded.


    ¡­


    A man around 30 years old came beside Troy, who was watching the sports car drive off in the distance. He asked, "What is this young man''s background? How is he able to make you send him off personally?"


    "He doesn''t come from anywhere. But, he''s an advanced stage martial disciple. Today, he personally killed five criminals carrying rune guns, empty-handed, "Troy replied.


    "Advanced stage martial disciple!"


    The man was astounded. "He''s only around 17, right? Yet, he''s already an advanced stage martial disciple. He even managed to kill five criminals with rune guns on them empty-handed. That''s really powerful. Where did this genius come from?"


    "Who knows? But¡­ he''s really amazing. I''m afraid that when I meet him in the future, I can only look up to him," Troy also exclaimed. The man nodded his head in agreement.


    ¡­


    Arius didn''t know the discussion going on between the two people behind him. He drove his car and went directly to the Shining Martial House.


    After he reached the martial arts academy, he directly headed to the second floor.


    Looking at the students practicing diligently in the training hall, his anxious nerves started to calm down.


    Arius made a round around the hall and picked up the dropped attributes. He then walked in front of a sandbag and started practicing his fist skill.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    Arius needed an avenue to let out his emotions. He needed to release the accumulated stress and pressure in his heart. Thus, he pounded the sandbag furiously. His arm formed a lingering shadow as he punched the sandbag.


    The sandbag started shaking violently due to the force of his punches. It seemed as though it was experiencing a storm.


    The students beside him unconsciously took a few steps back when they saw his crazy actions¡­ This was so scary! Was this person a maniac? They needed to stay as far away from him as possible!


    While Arius was practicing his fist skill, the image of him killing the five robbers kept replaying in his mind.


    If he was given a chance to choose again, would he attack so ruthlessly?


    The answer was¡­ yes!


    He wasn''t used to it, but he didn''t feel that he was wrong.


    A person who killed others should be aware they''ll be killed in return by other people!


    Also, in that situation, the robbers would have retaliated even more violently if he hadn''t finished them in a single move.


    They had rune guns. If he wasn''t careful enough, he would be the one getting killed. Thus, kindness was not an option. He did everything¡­ because he just wanted to live.


    After he finished practicing his fist skill, he started on his sword and blade skills.


    Arius didn''t want to stop even for a second. Instead, he wanted to be exhausted. That was the only way he was able to release all the pressure in his heart.


    Thus, Arius practiced all the way until 11 pm. After the students left, he dragged his tired body to his car and drove back home.


    Only when he reached home did he finally feel relieved and at peace.


    "Son, weren''t you eating dinner with your classmates? Why did you go to the martial arts academy?"


    Dianne couldn''t help but ask when she saw Arius drenched in sweat and the look of exhaustion on his face.


    "I went there after dinner. We need to be consistent in practicing martial arts, "Arius smiled and replied.


    "You are really serious this time, my boy, "Arius said with relief.


    "Hurry up and take a shower. I will make some supper for you. Come down and eat it later."


    Dianne''s care and concern warmed up Arius''s cold heart. He smiled and walked upstairs.


    He took some clothes and entered the bathroom. Then, he opened the water tap.


    Coldwater splashed on his tired body, seemingly washing everything away.


    After a cold bath, Arius felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation. He felt light and free. He dried his hair and went down.


    "Wow, this smells really good. Mom, what good food did you make?"


    "Your favorite egg noodles. I used star beast meat to make the soup and added some star beast meat inside too. Come and eat it."Dianne carried a bowl of noodles and walked out of the kitchen.


    "No wonder it smells different. It''s even more fragrant. "Arius took his silverware in anticipation and slurped a huge mouth of the noodles.


    "This is delicious."


    Arius swallowed everything into his stomach like a whale. The heat flowed out of his mouth as he complimented involuntarily.


    "Eat more if you find it delicious. Practicing martial arts takes up too much of your energy. You need to replenish your stamina, "Dianne said.


    "Okay."


    Arius finished more than half of the noodles within a few mouthfuls. He raised his head and asked, "Mom, where''s Dad? Why don''t I see him around?"


    "He went overseas for business. He won''t be returning for the next two days," Dianne replied.


    "I see."


    Arius finished his noodles quickly and patted his stomach in satisfaction. Then, he stood up and stretched his back.


    "I''m so full. Mom, I''m going up now. Rest early too."


    "Okay. I will I''m going to bed after I wash the dishes," Dianne answered.


    Arius went back to his room and took out his phone.


    There were a few unread messages on his Signal.


    Lisa had dropped a couple of messages, asking him what he was doing. One came from Lynn. This fellow wanted to practice martial arts with him.


    They had sent the messages when he was taken as a hostage, so he naturally couldn''t reply to them.


    Since it was very late, he didn''t message them back. He decided to wait until tomorrow.


    Arius got on his computer and surfed the internet for a while. He watched the thickheaded netizens quarreling and making fun of other people. When he started feeling sleepy, he climbed onto his bed in a happy mood and said goodnight to himself.


    He closed his eyes and slipped into the dreamland.

 Chapter 23 - 23: Mountain Villa Gathering

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    The next day was Saturday.


    Arius woke up late, which was rare. He only opened his eyes past at 8: am.


    The sunlight outside the window sprinkled in and landed on his face. Arius raised his hand to block the light, taking some time to get used to the brightness.


    "It''s 8:45 am."


    Arius glanced at the time. He climbed out of bed, brushed his teeth, and washed his face. Then, he went downstairs.


    Aunt Page and Aunt Hazel, the maids at his house, had already started working. Aunt Page was sweeping the floor while Aunt Hazel was dusting.


    The villa was huge and spacious, So it was hard to clean. It was impractical to clean the house themselves.


    "You''re awake. Come and have some breakfast," Dianne said when she saw him.


    "Mom, I overslept. Why didn''t you wake me up?" asked Arius.


    "You looked so tired yesterday, so I didn''t call you. It''s Saturday. One or two hours won''t make a difference," Dianne replied.


    "Little Arius has really changed. He''s becoming more and more hardworking," Aunt Hazel smiled and said.


    Although Page and Aunt Hazel were maids, they had a good relationship with Arius''s family. In the past, no matter how playful and cocky Arius was, he never disrespected them in any way.


    This was attributed to Arius''s strictness and Dianne''s character education.


    A child was a reflection of his parents.


    "I heard that Arius is practicing martial arts now. My son used to do so in the past, but he didn''t have the talent. He could only give up in the end. After all, the burden of practicing martial arts is too great for normal families like us," Aunt Page said .


    "Don''t praise him anymore. If not, he will become arrogant," Dianne smiled and replied.


    Arius ate his breakfast while chatting with the maids. He also replied to Lisa and Lynn''s messages whenever he could.


    After he finished his breakfast, he informed Dianne and drove his car out.


    Shining Martial House, second floor of the martial disciple training building.


    Arius greeted a few familiar students.


    "Ah Arius, you''re a little late today!" Jason stopped his fist training and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He looked like he had been training for a few hours.


    "I overslept, and my mom didn''t wake me up," Arius said helplessly.


    "Hahaha, all mothers are the same. If I overslept, my mom would never wake me up either," Jason replied smilingly.


    Arius laughed and shook his head.


    "Oh right, I have something to tell you. I will become an advanced stage martial disciple soon," Arius said happily.


    "Oh, congratulations. When are you preparing to go to the third floor?" Arius was shocked for a moment. However, he didn''t find it strange.


    Jason''s ability was already close to that of an advanced stage martial disciple. In the past, he had predicted that Jason would have his breakthrough anytime now.


    "I''ll warm up in the morning before going for the test. If no accident happens, I''ll go to the third floor for practice in the afternoon," Jason answered.


    Arius nodded as he teased, "There are more powerful people on the third floor. Don''t get beat up."


    "Hmph, how is that possible? After I train for a period, I''ll definitely catch up with them. Let''s talk about you instead. Don''t make me wait too long. Hurry up and become an advanced stage martial disciple soon. I think that I advance faster when I duel with you," Arius said.


    "Alright, I won''t hold you up." Arius smiled.


    The two of them chatted for a while and soon started practicing. They didn''t waste any time.


    In the afternoon, Arius went to watch Jason''s test. All his indicators had reached the basic requirements. Therefore, he successfully became an advanced stage martial disciple and went to the third floor.


    Arius was genuinely happy for him.


    Advanced stage martial disciple! He was one step closer to becoming a martial warrior!


    Although this one step was huge, it was what all martial disciples worked hard to achieve.


    When will I be able to become a martial warrior?


    I wish I can get a Spiritual  Ki skill scripture!


    Unfortunately, that''s too difficult!


    Arius pondered silently. He still didn''t know what to do.


    Arius spent the rest of his time in the martial arts academy. He picked up attributes and practiced furiously at the same time. He didn''t even have the energy to tease that fatty, Devin.


    Sunday, some time after 9 am.


    Arius was still practicing in the martial arts academy when he received a call from Saul.


    He said that there was a gathering today where they would be able to meet many friends from old and well-known families. Thus, he wanted to invite Arius, Lisa, and his other friends.


    Arius initially wanted to reject his offer, but he couldn''t resist Saul''s nagging. He felt that Saul would keep pestering him until he agreed.


    Hence, he accepted the invitation helplessly. They had been friends for so many years, so it wouldn''t be good to make Saul lose his self esteem.


    Honestly, he wasn''t willing to attend the gathering. He had been to many such parties in his past life.


    The people attending were all rich second generations or children of government officials. Everyone gathered to eat, drink, play, and keep up their friendships.


    Once they forged a good relationship, they could go out more in the future. If anyone had trouble, they could help one another out.


    But, in his past life, when his family went downhill, these people dodged as far away as possible. No one was really willing to help him.


    At that time, he understood.


    These were all fair-weather friends. They appeared like brothers on the surface, helping you when you have small or unimportant problems. Once you were in a true dilemma, you couldn''t rely on them at all.


    "Forget it. I''ll just go there to have some good food and drinks," Arius consoled himself.


    He placed the sword and blade he was holding back into the weapons room. Then, he returned home to tidy up and changed his clothes. He preparing to meet Saul and his friends first.


    "Mom, I won''t be coming home for dinner. I''m going to a gathering of our circle with Saul and some other friends," Arius told Dianne.


    "Go ahead. It''s good to go out and make some friends. You practice martial arts every day. I''m worried that you will get addicted to martial arts and won''t find a girlfriend in the future¡­"


    The moment he heard Dianne mention his girlfriend, Arius felt his head spinning.


    Judging from his mother''s tone, he felt that she planned to continue this topic forever. Thus, he immediately ran away in fright.


    "This is so scary!"


    When Arius drove his car, he still had lingering fears.


    20 minutes later, he met Saul and his friends at the toll station heading to Blue mountain.


    This gathering was being held inside a mountain villa on Mount Blue.


    It was said that the host''s family was influential, and he had massive sway over the younger generation. This mountain villa was his personal property. He had provided it for their gathering today.


    The four of them drove two cars in. Lisa was sitting in Arius''s car as she briefly explained the situation to him.


    She wasn''t clear about the details either.


    Saul drove his car in front of them to lead the way.


    Lynn was sitting in his car, feeling a little bitter. At first, he wanted to sit with Lisa so that they could have a conversation along the journey. Yet, before he could open his mouth, Lisa had already run to Arius''s car.


    Arius''s sports car could only fit two people. In the end, Lynn had to throw his thoughts away.


    Mount Blue was at the outskirts of Orange City. If they took the highway, they would reach in half an hour.


    There were road signs placed at regular intervals. They followed them and left the highway, driving up the hill along a cement road.


    After years of development, there were many mountain villas and entertainment facilities built on Mount Blue. A broad road was constructed to make it more convenient for travelers.


    The road''s construction was made possible because Mount Blue wasn''t high. If it was too high, the road wouldn''t reach the top.


    Lush forests lined the sides of the road and painted beautiful scenery. Mixed with the occasional chirping of birds, the sound of a flowing stream floated into their ears. It was invigorating and refreshing and lightened up people''s moods.

 Chapter 24 - 24: Susie Moore!

    Translator: Myriad Translations


    Ever since the dimensional rifts appeared, the living creatures on Earth went through tremendous changes.


    The trees turned huge and luscious, the animals became enormous, and the unique characteristics of each species were enhanced. Those that were ferocious became more ferocious, while stupid ones turn even more stupid.


    In the wilderness, there were giant eagles with a wingspan of a hundred meters soaring in the sky. There were lions the size of 18 wheeler''s occupying the grasslands. There were also fierce tigers with wings roaring in the forest¡­


    Of course, in the cities, there were still stupid huskies devoted to their great mission of dismantling homes. There were also cute cats dedicated to acting cute¡­


    The mutated star beasts were blocked by martial warriors outside the city. In the city, its citizens continued to get along happily with the animals.


    Mount Blue wasn''t part of the wilderness. It was still within the vicinity of the city.


    The trees were lush and green, and they were all more than ten meters tall. It was a magnificent scene.


    Occasionally, colorful birds would fly out of the forest and stop at the side of the road, ignoring the cars going back and forth.


    In the past, these birds were just ordinary wild birds. Yet, now, their feathers were bright and colorful, their eyes were beautiful, and their posture was elegant. They could honestly be compared to the precious and rare birds in the past.


    However, in this era, they were just wild birds that could be seen all the time in the mountains.


    A white rabbit popped its head out from the bushes, peeking around with its ruby-like eyes. Its fur was smooth and glossy, and its long ears were folded back.


    "Little white rabbit! What a cute little white rabbit!" Lisa exclaimed in surprise.


    Arius glanced at the rabbit from the corner of his eyes while driving his car. The corners of his lips twitched uncontrollably.


    "This little white rabbit isn''t¡­ little at all!"


    The car drove away quickly. The little white rabbit also disappeared into the bushes, leaving Lisa extremely disappointed.


    The two cars soon reached the middle of the mountain.


    A villa was built against the mountain wall, with a beautiful  landscape as the backdrop. It merged with nature, making it high-class but not extravagant.


    After parking their cars, Arius and his friends walked towards the villa.


    A line of attendants was waiting to welcome the guests at the door.


    They walked into the villa and passed through a corridor, which opened into a huge hall.


    There were already many people happily interacting inside.


    Someone came forward and welcomed them when he saw the group. The person smiled and said, "Elder cousin, you came. Aren''t you going to introduce your friends to me?"


    "Jack, my younger cousin.


    "This is my elder brother, Ariusz. These two are my best friends too, Lynn and Lisa."


    Saul gave a mutual introduction.


    Jack was a little surprised when he heard Saul calling Arius his elder brother.


    They were cousins and were quite close to each other.


    Hence, he had some understanding of Saul''s personality¡ªindifferent and nonchalant. Yet, he called Arius his elder brother. This meant that he respected the guy from the bottom of his heart.


    "Saul is my elder cousin. Since he calls you elder brother, I will call you brother too," Jack smiled and said to Arius.


    As the saying went, one can''t be angry at a smiling person. Arius also smiled in return and replied, " We the same age. There''s no need to address each other formally as an elder brother. You can just call my name."


    Jack turned to Lynn and Lisa and chatted with them happily for a while. He took care of everyone and left no one unattended.


    With Jack bringing them around, Saul and his friends quickly got familiar with the rest of the people.


    Arius didn''t like to socialize that much, but since he was here, he would respect other people when they came to speak to him. He would smile and reply to them.


    As a rich second generation, he had never especially learned such a skill. However, he had witnessed situations like these before, so he knew how to handle it.


    Also, he wasn''t a lunkhead who didn''t know anything and frowned upon everything.


    He still had to do the superficial greetings!


    Among them, the most popular person was actually Lisa.


    This young lady was pretty and lovely. When she stood with the other ladies, other young men kept turning their heads to look at her.


    Lynn felt unhappy when he saw this.


    A while later, more people joined the party, around 20 in total. They were all either rich second generations or the children of officials.


    Arius couldn''t help but exclaim over how influential the host of this gathering was.


    "Jack, who is the host of this gathering? Give me some information," Saul asked Jack softly.


    "Susie Moore!"  chuckled before saying the name.


    "Susie!" Saul was astounded. "That Moore family?"


    "Yes, it''s the Moore family you are thinking of," Jack nodded and replied.


    "Then, who is this Susie Moore?" Saul was puzzled, almost bursting with curiosity.


    "The third child of the Moore family. She stayed overseas in the past and just came back recently," Jack said.


    "She isn''t leaving anymore?" Saul immediately understood the situation.


    "That''s right, she''s not leaving anymore. I''m afraid that there might be a fierce battle within the Moore family in the future." Jack gave a meaningful smile.


    Lisa and Lynn were eavesdropping on their conversation. As rich second generations, they were naturally able to imagine future events.


    Arius remained indifferent, though. This had nothing to do with him.


    No matter what happened, he wouldn''t participate in it. Also, as long as he became a martial warrior, family feuds would be just a joke to him.


    "She''s here!"


    Someone suddenly shouted.


    Footsteps were heard outside the hall. Then, four people walked in from outside.


    "I''m sorry. I went to fetch a friend along the way. I apologize for letting everyone wait for such a long time," the lady in the middle of the four people scanned the crowd as she spoke.


    This lady seemed to be in her early 20s. She was tall and slender and could get 90 points for her beauty. However, she had a proud and domineering aura around her. She lifted her chin slightly and revealed her long slender neck, like an arrogant white swan.


    "You''re not too late. We just arrived too." Everyone showed respect towards her and chimed in.


    "Why is Harry here too?" Saul leaned towards Arius and frowned as he asked.


    "Didn''t Miss Susie say that he''s her friend?" Lynn pouted.


    "Harry has a grudge with us. Will he create difficulties for us by talking bad about us in front of Susie?" Lisa asked.


    "If he dares to talk behind our backs, Arius will beat him to death. I didn''t see him in school for the past few days. He must be dodging Brother Arius," Saul said with contempt.


    "Alright, this is their home ground. Don''t talk so much," Arius said.


    Susie had a strong background and was skilled with people. As she interacted with all the rich second generations and children of government officials, people quickly forgot their unhappiness about her late arrival.


    As for Harry, he accompanied her all the time. It was obvious that Susie regarded him as an important person.


    Whether they were real friends or not, no one would know.


    After some time, Susie held a glass of red wine and walked towards Arius and his friends.


    "You seem a little unfamiliar. May I know from which family talented youths like you come from?"


    As the saying went, respect other people and you would naturally get respected.


    The moment the third princess of the Moore family opened her mouth, she gave high respect to Arius


    and his friends.


    Talented youths?


    If students like Arius, who didn''t study well, were considered talented youths, they were dragging the standard for talented youths down to the abyss.


    Harry''s expression changed when he saw Arius.


    Rhett was following  and his expression also followed his example.


    Their expression seemed to be carved out of the same mold.


    Before Jack could introduce them, Susie had already noticed the strange atmosphere between them. She smiled and asked, "Do you know each other?"


    "Of course. How can we not know each other? We are old classmates! We are old friends." Saul sniggered.


    "Young Master Harry, you look better recently."


    Arius greeted Harry casually since they knew each other.


    However, Harry''s expression worsened.


    Susie didn''t know what was happening, so the smile on her face turned slightly awkward. Jack hurriedly introduced Arius and his friends to her.

 Chapter 25 - 25: Hunting Ground

    ....


    "Oh, so it''s the fifth young master of the Amrit family," Susie smiled as she said.


    Her emotions a moment ago disappeared in an instant.


    Before coming here, she had done her homework on all the big and small prominent families in Orange City. Thus, after Jack introduced these people to her, their identities immediately flashed through her mind.


    After a simple conversation, she excused herself and went to find other people.


    When she was a distance away, Saul lowered his voice and whispered, "Our families are probably not up to Susie''s standard."


    Although Susie didn''t portray her emotions, they could feel the difference in her attitude. She wasn''t as hospitable to them as she was to the others.


    Jack was a little unhappy. He was the one who invited Saul and his friends, so Susie''s attitude made him feel humiliated.


    Arius patted his shoulder. "Don''t mind her. We came here today purely to have fun and enjoy some good food. Making friends is secondary."


    "Jack, don''t think too much. It feels better to eat and play for free the entire day." Saul chuckled.


    The other three people instantly felt better after his consolation.


    "Hey, how did Harry manage to get to know Susie? By their families, the Herman family isn''t strong enough to befriend the Moore family," Lisa suddenly asked.


    "I heard that Susie is looking for martial disciples, especially advanced stage martial disciples with the hope of becoming martial warriors," Jack said.


    "That makes sense. When Harry became an advanced stage martial disciple, the Herman family had announced it to everyone. They probably wanted everyone to know that there was a genius in their Herman family who would become a martial warrior in the future." Lynn joined the discussion.


    "Hmph, it isn''t easy to become a martial warrior. Advanced stage martial disciples aren''t rare, but only a small percentage of them can become martial warriors. Within a thousand advanced stage martial disciples, there might not be even one who can take that step. The Herman family might not be able to help Harry become a martial warrior even if they throw all their resources at him," Saul said with contempt. He was incredibly irritated.


    "But, this doesn''t prevent Susie from drawing him to her side,"  Lisa mocked.


    "Throw the net and you will get more fish! Harry is probably only one of the fishes. However, if Susie knows Brother Arius''s ability¡­ haha!" Saul gave an evil smile.


    "This has nothing to do with me. No matter how well she treats me, I won''t interfere in her affairs," Arius shook his head and replied.


    A thought shot through Jack''s mind as he listened to their conversation and recalled Harry''s expression a moment ago¡­


    After some wild guesses, he realized something, and a glint appeared in his eyes.


    But, he didn''t express his emotions. He maintained the same attitude and slowly integrated himself into Arius''s circle.


    Lynn and Lisa liked Jack''s personality. Though Arius knew his intentions, he didn''t say anything.


    Besides, he was Saul''s cousin. This additional relationship naturally made it easier for them to accept him.


    Hence, they had a fun time chatting with one another.


    ¡­


    Afternoon. It was lunchtime.


    Plates with exquisite dishes were placed on the table. The fragrance of the food wafted into everyone''s nose and made them salivate.


    "This is¡­ star beast dishes!"


    Lynn said in a soft voice. He had seen these dishes before.


    "Susie must have spent a fortune on this gathering. These star beast dishes are quite expensive," Saul commented.


    While everyone sat around the table, some guests inched towards Susie''s side. Within a few seconds, the front part of the table was fully occupied.


    The entire dining table was long and rectangular.


    In the end, Arius and his friends could only sit at the end of the table. They seemed a little asocial.


    Very soon, everyone started eating.


    Arius took a piece of meat and placed it in his mouth. Once his tongue touched the meat, he immediately noticed that the energy contained inside wasn''t thick.


    "These are probably wild beasts on the earth that underwent small mutations." He formed his conclusion.


    It made sense. Most of the people here were just normal human beings. How could they handle the energy contained in the meat of real star beasts?


    Arius scanned through the guests briefly and saw that many rich second generations and children of officials had pale complexions. They looked so weak that it felt as though they could drop dead at any moment.


    To these people, eating a small amount of star beast meat could benefit their health. However, if they overate, it was as good as poison. They could lose their lives.


    Susie understood this, so she had prepared these ingredients.


    Of course, most people didn''t know this. Wild beasts that underwent minor mutations were equivalent to the rare game meat wealthy people ate in Arius''s past life. Usually, there was little chance of tasting them.


    Also, these ingredients were cooked by advanced stage chefs. They were outstanding in color, flavor, and taste. At the same time, they were nourishing to the body. Everyone had a happy time eating.


    They all felt that Susie was very considerate!


    This meal lasted for more than an hour. After filling up their stomachs, Susie stood up and said, "There are many entertainment spots on Mount Blue. In the afternoon, everyone can get some rest. We''re going to go out to have some fun at 2:30 pm. Since we have already came here, we should have a good time."


    They all agreed with her.


    There were many rooms in the villa, so the guests went to look for their rooms. Those wanting to rest excused themselves, while the remaining gathered together and chatted with one another.


    Saul, Lisa, and Lynn didn''t have Arius''s energy. They decided to rest for some time.


    Ever since Arius started practicing martial arts, he would consciously ensure that his body was in its best state all the time. Since there was nothing for him to do now, he decided to get a short nap.


    2.30 pm.


    Everyone left their rooms and gathered in the hall. Under Susie''s lead, they went into the mountain.


    There were indeed many entertainment spots in the mountain, like swimming pools where one could play with water guns under the hot sun. They could also enjoy the sight of pretty ladies in bikinis along the way.


    Mind you, there were many beautiful ladies among the wealthy young generations.


    Not only that, there was a special area cordoned off as a hunting ground on Mount Blue. Visitors to the mountain could form teams and hunt there. It was an exciting experience.


    Men loved guns, so this kind of hunting game would satisfy their desires to a large extent.


    So, there were indeed many entertainment venues, and it would be unwise to go through them one by one.


    The group soon reached their destination and looked at the swimming pool in front of them. It was situated below a small waterfall. There were also many entertainments built around the swimming pool. Many people felt like taking off their clothes and jumping into the cool water.


    "Woah!"


    Apparently, some people were already doing this. A man howled like a wolf and jumped into the swimming pool without even taking off his clothes.


    Water splashed everywhere!


    Ryan, are you crazy!"


    His friends started laughing and teasing him.


    Ryan popped his head out of the pool and wiped the water off his face. He laughed heartily and said, "This feels so good. Hurry up and come down if you want to play. Why are you dilly-dallying?"


    "You are indeed bold and unrestrained, just like your name," Susie praised him.


    Ryan laughed loudly again.


    "What an idiot," Saul scolded him softly with a smile. He was speechless.


    "The hunting ground is at the side. You can go there if you want. All you have to do is to register with the staff.


    "You can hunt some game for us to barbecue at night!


    "I have prepared a secret gift for the person who catches the most prey."


    Susie pointed at an entrance-looking spot on the left and did some explanation. At the end, she warned everyone.


    "However, I have to remind you that there are some aggressive wild beasts inside. Please ensure your own safety. It will be better to form a group. You can take care of each other that way. If you act alone, it will be very dangerous."

 Chapter 26 - 26: Gun Skill

    ....


    The second Susie finished speaking, people started heading over to the hunting ground after informing their friends.


    Arius was interested too. Before joining them, he called out his attributes panel.


    Intelligence: 82


    Physique: 167


    Strength: 2888


    Speed: 1033


    Battle Techniques: Basic Fist Skill (grand completion), Basic Footwork (grand completion), Basic Sword Skill (grand completion), Basic Blade Skill (grand completion), Gun Skill (minor completion)


    Over the past few days, his attribute points had been steadily increasing, and he had also added ''gun skill'' to his arsenal.


    It was already at the minor completion stage too.


    There were a lot of things related to guns in Arius''s mind. He felt that his aim had gotten better, and his gaze had become slightly sharp.


    He had picked up the gun skill two days ago when he killed the five robbers.


    These robbers were all martial disciples, and they only had the very basic fist skill and footwork, so the attributes they could provide were limited. However, they had guns to make up for their lack of skills. They had dropped quite a lot of gun skill attributes.


    The attributes from the five robbers pushed Arius''s gun skill to the minor completion stage.


    Undoubtedly, killing someone would make them drop the most attributes!


    It was frightening just thinking about it!


    Besides attributes, Arius also had another gain that day¡ªrune gun!


    Each of the five robbers had one rune gun. However, the leader of the robbers had another one hidden on his body. After the hostages ran out of the office building, based on the principle of not wasting any chances, Arius¡­ searched the corpses!


    This is just a good habit I picked up from playing games. o(¨s¡õ¨t)o


    Fortunately, the surveillance cameras were broken by professional robbers, so it provided the most convenient opportunity for Arius.


    This was why Arius had a weapon hidden on his body!


    After he picked up the gun skill attributes, he hadn''t had the chance to test it out. Thus, when he heard that guns could be used in the hunting ground, excitement crept up in his heart.


    "Brother Arius, shall we have some fun?" Saul asked with glistening eyes.


    Lynn and Jack seemed excited too.


    Arius smiled in his heart. It looked like everyone had the same thought.


    "Little Lisa, are you going?" Arius looked at Lisa and asked.


    "No. You guys play with the real guns, and I will play with my small water guns." Lisa waved the water gun that had suddenly appeared in her hand.


    "Erm¡­ sure. As long as you are happy." The corners of Arius''s eyes jumped a little. He said to Saul and the other two young men, "Let''s go."


    Lisa joined the water gun battle team with a few other young ladies.


    Arius and his friends came to the entrance of the hunting ground. After finishing their registration at the staff counter and collecting their guns, they entered the hunting ground.


    The guns provided by the staff were also rune guns. However, their power couldn''t be compared to the guns the robbers used.


    Although they were both rune guns, there was a difference in their power. More powerful rune guns were able to kill martial warriors, while weaker ones could only be used to kill the lowest level mutated wild beasts.


    Based on the power of the guns, rune guns could be classified from one-star to nine-star.


    The hunting guns they had weren''t even considered one-star guns.


    But, when Saul and his friends touched the guns, they felt they were caressing some precious treasure.


    Amid mixed feelings, the group walked into the hunting ground.


    The entire hunting ground was surrounded by metal barbed wires, which were enhanced by runes. Hence, its defense ability was better than regular metal wires.


    The light in the hunting ground was a little dim. Trees shot up from the ground, and their dense crowns blocked the sunlight.


    The ground was filled with decomposed leaves and branches piled up over the years. When you stepped on them, they kept cracking.


    "Isn''t there any special staff assigned to clean the hunting ground normally?" Saul complained.


    "Cleaning is unnecessary. Many people are attracted by the atmosphere here. If there are too many signs of human intervention, it won''t have this feeling anymore," Jack explained.


    "Hmm¡­" Saul thought for a moment and nodded. "Makes sense."


    Lynn rolled his eyes. He had to admit that Saul was a little idiotic and stupid sometimes.


    Bang!


    As they were chatting casually, a gunshot exploded beside their ears without any warning. They almost jumped on the spot in fright.


    "F**k, Brother Arius, why did you fire?" Saul patted his chest and asked.


    Arius raised his chin. Saul and the other three people looked in the direction he was pointing at.


    There was a huge grey rabbit!


    It was lying in the bushes, dead.


    "We''re off to a flying start!" Saul laughed loudly.


    Lynn and Jack looked at Arius in shock. They hadn''t noticed when this rabbit appeared at all.


    Also, his firing was really accurate. One shot, one kill!


    After Saul picked up the rabbit, the group of young people continued walking into the depth of the hunting ground. The deeper parts were the real playground for wild animals.


    An hour passed in a blink of an eye.


    Arius and his friends were all carrying wild animals in their hands. The harvest seemed good.


    "There''s movement in front."


    The second Arius spoke, the other three people stopped in their tracks and raised their guns.


    They listened carefully and noticed a faint sound coming from the distance. They were already used to Arius''s keen senses, so they appeared nonchalant now.


    Each of them found a tree and hid behind it.


    "Hurry up and chase it! Don''t let it run away!" someone shouted in front.


    Saul exchanged glances with his companions. It looked like they had encountered another group of hunters.


    Just as they were preparing to give up, the bushes in front of them started shaking. Arius and others stopped midway and saw an agile black shadow dashing out of the bushes.


    The person who shouted earlier had run over too.


    "It''s them!"


    Saul and his friends took a glance and exclaimed. It was Susie, Harry, and their friends.


    Harry was eager to perform in front of Susie, so he raised his gun and fired at his prey while sprinting.


    Bang, bang, bang!


    All three shots hit nothing. The black shadow dodged right and left. It was unimaginably agile.


    "Harry, if you can''t hit it, stop firing. You are wasting the bullets. More importantly, what if you hit us?" Saul shouted in a mocking tone.


    "F**k, why are you here?" Harry cursed, as if meeting them was unlucky.


    "Haha, this hunting ground doesn''t belong to your family. If you can come, why can''t we?" Saul rebutted.


    "You¡­"


    "Hurry up and stop it. It''s going to escape!"


    Before Harry could say anything, Susie shouted from behind.


    "F**k, Brother Arius, it''s a white wolf. It''s running towards you," Saul glanced at the animal and yelled in a strange tone.


    Arius didn''t want to fire. This wolf was Susie''s prey. If he interfered with their tram hunting, grudges would naturally take root in their hearts.


    However, Harry fired a few more shots and still couldn''t hit it.


    "If anyone hits that wolf, I will fulfill one wish for him!" Susie shouted when she saw that the white wolf was about to escape.


    Arius looked at the white wolf dashing towards him and felt helpless.


    Why do you have to run towards me?


    You are forcing me to act.


    Bang!


    One shot!


    Arius predicted the wolf''s movement for dodging the bullet. He aimed his shot in its path and hit its abdomen with a single shot.


    The white wolf howled in agony and fell from the branches, landing on the ground with a thud.


    "Haha, you hit it!"


    Saul was happier than Arius. He walked out from behind the tree and laughed at Harry until Harry''s face turned green.


    "What good luck!" Harry scolded.


    Lynn and Jack also walked over. They gathered around the wolf and examined it, clicking their tongues in amazement at the same time.


    "This wolf''s fur is so beautiful!"


    Susie walked over and bent down to stroke the wolf''s fur. She said delightfully, "Very good. This fur is perfect for making a scarf."

 Chapter 27 - 27: The Loud Sound Under The Night Sky

    ...


    Animals had started mutating after getting influenced by Spiritual Ki. This white wolf''s skin was just like silk. Not only was it pure white and beautiful, it felt extremely good to touch. Its thermal insulation effect was good too.


    Susie instantly fell in love with it.


    She passed the wolf to the young lady following her. Then, she got up and said to Arius, "I didn''t know that your gun skill was so good. Thank you for helping out just now. I meant what I said. You can make one request of me."


    After she finished, she gave a cheeky smile and added, "But, you can''t go too far!"


    Susie was proud and arrogant most of the time. But, mind you, when she put on a cheeky expression like this, the contrast made her attractive.


    She had probably noticed Arius''s ability, so her attitude towards him changed.


    Hmph, what a slap in the face!


    "There''s no need to thank me. It''s nothing. Don''t mention it."


    Arius smiled. His indifferent expression caused Harry to go berserk as he screamed in his heart.


    He''s acting!


    He''s acting!


    This man must be feigning calm!


    "Let''s go!" Arius turned and waved at Saul and his other friends. Then, he walked in the direction of the hunting ground''s entrance.


    He was tired of hunting. The preys here didn''t even require him to release one-third of his gun skill potential.


    Saul didn''t hesitate. After pointing his middle finger at Harry, he followed Arius out.


    Susie felt a little dissatisfied with the rejection.


    Jack said to Susie, "Sister Susie, we are all tired from hunting. We will be going back now. Please continue to have fun."


    Susie was displeased at Arius for being disrespectful to her. However, she couldn''t display her emotions openly, so she just nodded with a calm expression.


    "Wait for me!" Lynn couldn''t bear to part with the gun in his hand. But, there was no point in continuing if he was the only one left, so he jogged and caught up with the rest.


    The four of them returned to the entrance and handed their guns to the staff.


    There were many beach chairs placed around the swimming pool. The sunlight filtered through the trees, and the mountain spring in front of them shimmered under the sun.


    Arius and his friends found four empty beach chairs and laid on them. Their hands didn''t rest, though, as they enjoyed some iced fruits, snacks, and drinks.


    The group also admired the beauties in the swimming pool. Tsk¡­ what a good life!


    Saul and Jack chuckled like ducks.


    Lynn couldn''t help but glance at them a few times. Then, he threw a look of contempt before turning to look at Lisa with a sincere expression.


    "It''s good to be young. Everyone is full of vitality!" Arius wore a pair of sunglasses and held a cigarette in his mouth. While taking a puff of his cigarette, he lamented like an old man.


    This young man was acting again!


    This time, he was pretending in front of nobody¡­


    Arius suddenly leaned over and asked with a secretive look on his face, "Brother Arius, who do you like?"


    "Me?"


    Saul nodded.


    Arius glanced at the swimming pool before replying, "What''s there to say? I''ll choose the one with the best figure."


    "Shameless!"


    The three of them exclaimed simultaneously.


    Arius laughed loudly in return. When he turned to look at the beauties again, a sudden scene caused him to squint.


    He picked up a small pebble on the ground and flicked it out with his fingers.


    Swoosh!


    The pebble cut through the air and hit a young man''s hand. This guy was secretly trying to molest a young lady.


    The strength and accuracy were right on point.


    Perfect!


    "Ah!"


    The young man screamed in pain. He immediately retracted his hand, as though he was pricked by needles.


    "What''s the matter?"


    Lisa turned around and looked at the young man curiously.


    "Oh, nothing, nothing. I think I got bitten by something. It frightened me." He laughed awkwardly as he placed his hand behind his back, leaving no traces of his crime.


    Lisa ignored him and continued playing water guns with the other young ladies. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh¡­


    The young man looked at the back of his hand. It was swollen. It hurt so much that he gasped in pain.


    What happened just now?


    He scanned his surroundings in confusion. Unfortunately, he didn''t see anything.


    Arius thought that after this lesson, the young man would restrain himself. But, more than ten minutes later, the young fellow sneaked behind Lisa and lifted his hand again in an attempt to grope her.


    Arius frowned.


    Isn''t he done?


    He picked up a bigger pebble and flicked it out once again. The stone flew towards the young man with a sharp gust of wind.


    This time, it didn''t hit the back of his hand. Instead, it was aimed directly at the bottom part of his body.


    "Slap!"


    A crisp sound shook the hearts of men.


    "Ouch!" Afterward, another howl of pain was heard.


    The earth-shattering scream made everyone jump in fright. The young man''s face turned distorted as he clutched the lower part of his body. He was crumpled up like a huge shrimp.


    "What happened?"


    Everyone turned to look at him. His friends went forward and showed some concern.


    The young man didn''t dare to tell the truth. He waved his hand fervently and took a long time to calm down. Finally, he replied in a hoarse voice, "I''m fine. I''m fine. I think something bit me."


    Lisa gave him a puzzled look when she heard his familiar reply. Both times, this person was standing behind her. Both times, he screamed for no reason and explained that he got bitten by something. She wasn''t stupid.


    Lisa had a hunch and raised her head. Her gaze coincidentally landed on Arius, who was on the shore.


    Arius raised his eyebrows and gave her a sign. Lisa was enlightened and got disgusted by the young man.


    After this issue, she didn''t have the mood to enjoy anymore. She stepped out of the swimming pool and came beside Arius and her friends.


    She found an empty bench and sat on it. Then, she chatted with them casually while having some drinks. Lisa didn''t mention what happened just now at all.


    Time passed quickly.


    Soon, the sky turned dark, and everyone started building a campfire.


    Before this, Susie had already ordered people to clean the preys that were caught.


    Currently, plates and plates of fresh game meat were dished out. Those that knew how to barbecue started showing their capabilities. They needed to perform well in front of the beauties.


    The meal consisted of barbecued meat and vegetables. Everyone''s lips were covered with oil from the food, but they didn''t find it greasy.


    The atmosphere got livelier as they paired their food with beer.


    The young men and ladies were huddled in small groups, singing and playing together as though they had known each other for a long time.


    As they had fun, time seeped away slowly.


    Around 9 pm, everyone started to feel tired after a whole day of fun. They prepared to go back.


    Susie stood up and clapped her hands to gather everyone''s attention. She was planning to say a few polite words before parting ways.


    Everyone respected her and looked at her quietly.


    Susie opened her mouth¡­


    Boom!


    A loud explosion suddenly came from the forest in the distance. Even though it was far away, they still felt the ground vibrating a little.


    "What happened?"


    All of them were flabbergasted. They looked in the direction where the sound came from. It was pitch black, and nothing could be seen clearly.

 Chapter 28 - 28: Martial Warrior Battle

    ....


    The crowd exchanged glances with one another. No one knew what was happening in the forest.


    Harry stepped out at this moment and said to Susie, "I will go and take a look."


    "Alright! Be careful," Susie nodded and replied.


    Harry smiled. He ran into the forest in front and disappeared into the darkness.


    "Harry is an advanced stage martial disciple, right? In a situation like this, only people who practiced martial arts are useful," a rich second generation said in envy.


    Arius looked at the pitch-black night sky. He hesitated for a moment before saying to Saul and his friends, "Wait here. Don''t run around. I will go and take a look."


    "Brother Arius, be careful," Lisa said worriedly.


    Arius nodded.


    He stepped on the ground, and his body shot up abruptly. Tapping his toes on the branches lightly, Arius flew onto the crown of a massive tree like a bird.


    Everyone exclaimed in surprise. They didn''t expect the ordinary-looking Arius to be a martial disciple too. Also, looking at his ability, he wasn''t weaker than Harry.


    Indeed, he was an advanced stage martial disciple!


    Furthermore, judging from his skill, he was more powerful than Harry.


    A glimpse flashed past Suaie''s eyes as she stared at the figure standing on the crown of the huge tree.


    Arius gazed into the distance and identified the direction. He then exerted force on his legs and unleashed his monstrous strength within a split second.


    Boom!


    When he tapped his toes on the crown, the entire thing exploded, and wood splinters and leaves scattered down from the sky.


    Arius''s figure had already shot out like an arrow released from the bow. He slashed through the night sky and used the numerous trees to move quickly through the forest in mid-air.


    The bunch of rich second generations and children of officials were dazzled by Arius. Was this the true ability of an advanced stage martial disciple?


    If Harry saw this scene, he would denounce Arius for acting in public again.


    To hell with advanced stage martial disciples!


    This wasn''t a martial disciple!


    Which advanced stage martial disciple had his kind of ability? If all the advanced stage martial disciples were as powerful as him, the city would be filled with martial disciples jumping on roofs and climbing up walls.


    Not long after Arius left, Harry came back.


    "Did you discover anything?" Susie walked forward and asked.


    Harry shook his head. "The sound came from somewhere extremely far away. I''ve checked all the areas in the vicinity. I didn''t notice anything unusual."


    "Bang!"


    The moment he finished speaking, another loud explosion shook the eardrums of the crowd.


    The atmosphere turned awkward for a second.


    Harry felt embarrassed.


    Saul and his friends snorted without any qualms. They didn''t show any intention of hiding their peals of laughter. It made Harry even more furious.


    "What are you laughing at! Hey, where is Arius?" He suddenly noticed that Arius had disappeared.


    "After you left, Arius went to take a look," Harry said.


    Harry''s expression turned uglier.


    What the f**k!


    Why is this fellow interfering with everything!


    "Let''s wait for a while longer. Maybe Arius will bring some information back," one of the rich second generations suggested.


    "Alright, let''s wait for a while." Susie nodded.


    ¡­


    Arius flew through the forest. He would tap his feet on the crowns of the trees every time before leaping forward.


    Honestly, ordinary advanced stage martial disciples weren''t as powerful as him.


    The crown of a tree was delicate. If you exerted too much force, you would fall. Conversely, if your strength wasn''t enough, you wouldn''t be able to gain the momentum to leap forward.


    Normal advanced stage martial disciples didn''t have his strength nor his outstanding body control. Hence, they couldn''t astonish the crowd with a dazzling performance like Arius.


    After some time, Arius stopped. He jumped down from the tree and landed on the ground lightly.


    "It should be around here."


    Arius scanned the darkness around him. He had noticed something amiss.


    "There was a fight here a moment ago. The explosion was so loud. Could it be martial warriors?"


    Arius had a sudden thought, scaring himself.


    "If it was really martial warriors, it''s better for me to stay here."


    Just as Arius wisely decided to retreat, he hesitated in his tracks.


    "But, martial warriors will drop attribute bubbles when they fight, right? What if there''s something I need?"


    He froze on the spot. In his mind, the voice on the right was warning him that curiosity killed the cat. But, the voice on the left was enticing him¡ªgreat success came with great risk!


    "Why don''t I take a look first? If the situation isn''t right, I will run away immediately."


    In the end, Arius convinced himself and carefully explored the forest. He was unusually nervous.


    He walked forward for another ten meters. Fallen trees could be seen all around him. The tree branches were shattered with burnt marks on them.


    There were also a few holes on the ground.


    Half of the deep holes'' edges were burnt, while the other half was covered with ice shards.


    "This¡­" Arius opened his mouth. He was astounded. Was this the power of a martial warrior?


    He took a few steps forward, and his gaze froze.


    Huh?


    There was a figure lying on the ground. It seemed to be dead.


    A few attribute bubbles were floating beside the figure.


    Arius went wild with joy. However, just as the feeling appeared in his heart, he felt a sense of fear surging throughout his body. It completely drowned his happiness.


    In an instant, Arius''s head turned numb, and goosebumps started appearing on his body.


    He felt a sharp pain somewhere on his back. Without thinking, Arius executed his grand completion stage footwork to its maximum speed.


    He didn''t have the time to dodge to the side, so he could only tilt his body slightly¡­


    Slash!


    The glint from a spear cut through the air beside Arius''s body. His clothes were cut open, and his skin got pierced.


    A dash of fresh blood splattered everywhere.


    Fortunately, it was only an external injury. However, Arius didn''t dare to relax at all. The danger was still lingering closely around him.


    Almost at the same time when he evaded the attack, he shook his hand, and a small-sized rune gun appeared in his hand. He fired multiple shots in the direction where the glint of the sword came from.


    Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!


    Arius only stopped shooting after he emptied the gun.


    He then dashed behind a tree and used it as cover. Arius was panting as his heart threatened to jump out of his chest. He could feel death caressing his back just now.


    Who is it?


    Who on earth is it?


    Why does he want to kill me?


    The forest was eerily quiet. Besides the leaves rustling in the wind, no other sounds could be heard.


    Arius waited for a few minutes before he stuck his head out slightly and looked in the direction where the sword had come from.


    A black figure was leaning against a tree without moving. There were a few bubbles floating beside this figure.


    The faint glow from the bubbles allowed Arius to barely make out the figure. He seemed to be dead!


    Did I kill him?


    Could it be that he isn''t a martial warrior?


    Arius was filled with curiosity. In the end, he couldn''t hold it in and walked over. However, he still had basic vigilance. Arius shifted his energy to his fists and got prepared to fight at any moment.


    However, when he neared the figure, he discovered that the person was really dead.


    There was one Head shot and a few more bullet holes at his organs. If this person wasn''t dead, he wasn''t human.


    Phew!


    Arius instantly heaved a sigh of relief.


    He touched his waist before looking at his hand. It was covered with blood. I''m so lucky! I almost died!


    Is the martial warrior world really so dangerous? Do they kill people whenever they want?


    Arius was puzzled as he studied the corpse''s face. This person didn''t die in peace. There were still remnants of disbelief and the fear of imminent death on his face.


    Maybe he didn''t expect to die in my hands!


    Arius''s gaze landed on the bubbles dropped beside this person.


    He picked them up!


    Red Flame Scripture


    Beginner stage fire talent


    Fire Spiritual Ki *2


    ¡­

 Chapter 29 - 29: One-star Soldier Level Martial Warrior

    ....


    Red Flame Scripture


    Beginner stage fire talent


    Fire Spiritual KI *2


    Fire Kirin Sword Skill *10


    Spirit *0.1


    Arius collected all five bubbles, and in that instant, his entire body underwent a tremendous change.


    When Spirit *0.1 integrated into his body, Arius''s mind became clear. The feeling only lasted for a short moment, though, and disappeared in a split second.


    At the same time, his body underwent some unexplainable changes.


    When he closed his eyes before, it was pitch-black. But, now, he was able to feel numerous fiery red tiny particles floating above the earth. They were like little fairies with life.


    Fire Spiritual Ki!


    This was the fire Spiritual KI.


    After Arius''s body completed its transformation, the fire Spiritual KI hovering around him seemed to have discovered an amusement park. They happily flew towards him and entered his body through the various pores on his skin.


    However, since they didn''t receive any guidance, they only knew how to barge around in his body.


    Fortunately, a memory that appeared in thin air managed to help him.


    Red Flame Scripture¡ªSpiritual KI skill scripture!


    In Arius''s mind, a virtual shadow started practicing the scripture. Arius could clearly see the meridians on the shadow''s body. They spread out from his limbs with his spine as the trunk, covering his entire body.


    The fire Spiritual Ki immediately found their direction.


    The 2 attribute points of the fire Spiritual Ki he just collected were the most obedient. They acted as leaders and commanded the other small Spiritual Ki attributes to line up as they marched into Arius''s meridians.


    Finally, they went to the spine and congregated at its lowest part.


    A red light flashed brightly!


    Boom!


    A wave of heat exploded from the bottom of his spine and spread through Arius''s entire body. The injury he suffered before started healing rapidly as the heat subsided, all the way until it completely healed.


    Then, the ball of heat shot out of the crown of his head like a balloon of steam.


    As it slowly dissipated, the red light at the bottom of his spine also subsided. Everything soon died down.


    At the other side of his mind, another figure was holding a battle sword and practicing. The power of fire was wrapped around the battle sword, and its strength was formidable.


    Fire Kirin Spear Skill¡ªSpiritual Ki battle technique!


    After the scene disappeared, Arius opened his eyes. He suppressed the happiness in his heart and looked at his attributes panel.


    Arius was shocked by what he saw.


    His attributes panel had undergone a transformation.


    Intelligence: 83


    Spirit:12.1


    Talent: Beginner stage fire talent (10/300)


    Spiritual Ki: 6/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    Scripture: Red flame scripture (foundation 1/100)


    Battle Techniques: Basic battle techniques (grand completion for fist, sword, blade, footwork), gun skill (minor completion), fire kirin spear skill (foundation 10/100)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 Percents)


    Overall Battle Power: 132 (the final decision belongs to the system(¡ñ¡¦?¡¦¡ñ))


    What is this?


    Arius stared at the totally different attributes panel, especially at the ''Spiritual Ki'' row. He couldn''t shift his gaze away anymore.


    One-star soldier level?


    I¡­ I''ve become a martial warrior!!


    Arius clenched his fist and took many deep breaths before he forcefully calmed himself down.


    So this person was indeed a martial warrior.


    I actually killed a martial warrior!


    He lowered his head and looked at the corpse of the martial warrior in front of him. He didn''t know what emotions he should have.


    "Sigh!"


    In the end, he let out a deep breath.


    Suddenly, Arius remembered that another person was lying on the other side. The figure dropped a few attribute bubbles too. Arius needed to pick them up quickly, or they would disappear.


    Fortunately, the scene just now felt really long, but only a few seconds had passed in real life.


    When Arius came back to the person lying on the ground, the bubbles were turning transparent, but they hadn''t disappeared completely.


    He picked them up!


    Beginner stage ice talent


    Ice Spiritual Ki*1


    Deep Ice Scripture


    Phantom Ice Fist*8


    There were four attribute bubbles, with the ''spirit'' bubble missing.


    If Arius was right, this fellow was a martial warrior too!


    As the attribute bubbles merged into Arius''s body, the same thing happened again.


    Arius received the beginner stage ice talent, and his body became attractive to ice Spiritual Ki. All the ice particles floating around him surged into his body.


    The Spiritual Ki skill scripture, Deep Ice Scripture, started demonstrating its uses.


    The figure in Arius''s mind was sitting down cross-legged. In real life, Arius copied the figure''s actions; he crossed his legs and sat down. He followed the Deep Ice Scripture and guided the ice Force around his body through his meridians.


    The cold and icy feeling caused him to shiver.


    A thin layer of frost appeared on the ground around him.


    Arius didn''t notice it, though. He commanded the ice Spiritual Ki and congregated them at the lowest part of his spine.


    Boom!


    The flow of ice Spiritual Ki into the spine aroused the fire Spiritual Ki particles that had stationed themselves there not long ago.


    These two elements were naturally incompatible!


    Once they met, one must disappear. They would never allow the other element to exist in their vicinity.


    However, just as the two Spiritual Ki were all set for a showdown and confrontation was imminent, a profound and mysterious energy appeared in between these two Spiritual Ki.


    This energy allowed the ice Spiritual Ki and the fire Spiritual Ki to calm down.


    The two Spiritual Ki slowly twirled and finally became circles, maintaining a stabilized equilibrium.


    At the same time, information about the Phantom Ice Fist successfully merged with Arius''s memory. He had received another Spiritual Ki battle technique.


    A few minutes later, Arius let out a long sigh and opened his eyes.


    That was dangerous!


    Ice and fire are incompatible. They almost exploded in my body. That almost scared me to death.


    Arius still had lingering fears. He felt that after going home, he must read up on martial warriors.


    If not, he might make another common sense mistake again and kill himself without knowing how he died.


    Speaking of this, did that energy come from the ultimate boss, the system?


    Arius pondered over this question for some time, but he couldn''t think of another explanation. It was most likely that the system had helped him.


    After all, he didn''t have a magical ring, so he knew that there wouldn''t be an old man appearing suddenly to save him from the verge of death.


    He wouldn''t have the chance to tear up and call the old man his master~


    What a touching scene. It moved heaven and earth and touched everyone''s heart!


    Arius stood up and patted the dried leaves off his body. At that moment, he noticed that the ground around him had a layer of frost on it. Arius was stunned.


    " Spiritual Ki is really amazing!"


    Arius exclaimed. He looked at the corpses of the martial warriors and contemplated¡­


    Well, let''s search the corpses.


    He looked through the pockets. Besides a cell phone and one steel bar, there was nothing else.


    But, the purple-black gloves on his hand caught Arius''s attention.


    This is good stuff!


    I''ll keep it and examine it when I go home.


    He ran to the other fire element martial warrior and searched through his pockets too.


    An iPhone 12 Pro Max.


    A Zippo lighter. This is good. I''ll keep it.


    There was also a pack of squashed cigarettes in his pockets. It looked like this man was a smoker. Arius kept it without any qualms.


    "Hey, this spear is not bad."


    Arius pried open the corpse''s fingers and sized up the long spear with bright red runes on it. He took possession of it immediately.


    "Please don''t blame me. Your dead anyways so, you won''t be needing it. You can view it as a form of contribution to me," Arius muttered.

 Chapter 30 - 30: After A Great Harvest, How Can You Forget To Destroy

    ....


    After searching through the corpses and taking everything he could, Arius turned around to leave.


    He had already left the group for a long time. If he didn''t go back soon, Saul and his friends might come and look for him.


    If they saw this scene¡­


    Wait!


    Arius frowned.


    He had taken the possessions of these two martial warriors. If someone came to investigate, they would easily find him.


    Should he destroy the evidence by burning the corpses?


    It looked like this was the only thing he could do.


    Arius  placed the two corpses in a deep hole and activated the fire Spiritual Ki in his body. A small flickering flame appeared on his finger.


    "You created this deep hole. It just so happens that you can use it now.


    "Cremation is popular in society nowadays. It''s environmentally friendly and doesn''t waste landmass. How do you recite that poem¡­ Oh right, ''Though turned to mud, they''d nurture flowers'' growth next spring''.


    "After you die, you can still make contributions to this forest. How lovely is that?"


    Arius chattered away for a few seconds before he laid his eyes on the martial warrior who wanted to kill him. His emotions were complicated.


    "Although you wanted to kill me, I didn''t die and even killed you instead. This lighter and cigarette will be the compensation for the emotional distress you caused me. Now, I will cremate you since I''m still a good person."


    He flicked his fingers, and the flame flew out, precisely landing on the corpse.


    The corpse lit up!


    It burned furiously like a raging blaze. Since it was using the Spiritual Ki as its fuel, the flame was burning furiously.


    Within a few seconds, the two corpses turned into ashes. Nothing was left behind.


    Without the corpses, no one would know what had happened here tonight. Even if someone managed to find him, they wouldn''t be able to know what he took.


    Perfect!


    "It''s time to go back!"


    But why were these two people fighting here in the middle of the night? Was it for fun?


    Arius was puzzled. He scanned the surroundings but found nothing. In the end, Wang Teng could only shake his head. It looked like he was thinking too much.


    Arius decided to return to the party. After taking a step, he retracted his feet back.


    Arius stared at the huge tree the fire element martial warrior was leaning against just now. He had a weird feeling.


    He walked under the tree and looked up.


    The leaves were blocking his view, so he couldn''t see anything. He had no choice but to jump lightly. Arius landed on a branch and looked around him casually.


    "Huh?"


    His gaze froze.


    It was a backpack!


    Arius jumped over and took the backpack down from the branch. He unzipped the bag and found it stuffed with hay. The hay was wrapped around¡­ an egg!


    Were they fighting over this egg? Arius touched his chin as he wondered to himself.


    The martial warriors were dead, so there was no point thinking about this. This egg belonged to him now.


    ¡­


    "Arius has left for half an hour. Why isn''t he back yet?"


    The rich second generations and children of officials were getting impatient from the long wait. They were a little unhappy.


    "We didn''t ask you to wait. If you want to leave, you can leave. Why are you complaining?" Saul frowned and replied.


    "That''s not  it. We are waiting because we are worried about Arius. However, from Arius''s point of view, it isn''t right of him to make so many people wait. If he can''t find anything, he should have come back earlier. He doesn''t need to put on a strong front," said Harry.


    "That''s right. I think he just boasted about  himself as an advanced stage martial disciple." A young man scoffed.


    Some other people wanted to chime in, but a voice suddenly came out from the forest.


    "I''ve never said that I''m an advanced stage martial disciple, right? In that case, there''s no such thing as a self-proclaimed advanced stage martial disciple."


    The young man''s expression froze.


    Arius looked at him indifferently. Then, he smiled at the crowd.


    "I''m sorry to keep you waiting for such a long time. I forgot that I''m bad with directions, so I accidentally lost my way."


    ¡­ Everyone almost fainted.


    Where did you get the guts to enter a forest alone when you have no sense of direction?


    Investigation? What can you investigate!


    "Young Master Harry, be careful. You might become a gossipmonger if you continue speaking behind other people''s back." Arius looked at Harry and gave him a mysterious smile.


    Feeling guilty from his gaze, Harry turned his head away.


    Susie didn''t believe Arius''s nonsense, though. She walked forward and asked, "Young Master Arius, did you discover anything?"


    "No. I circled the vicinity a few times and finally managed to find my way back. I didn''t see anything," Arius shook his head and replied.


    Susie looked at him intently with a meaningful gaze. She said, "In that case, let''s go back. It''s getting late."


    No one had any objections.


    Everyone went back to the mountain villa to get their cars before bidding farewell and leaving.


    Of course, we needed to mention that the person who caught the most number of prey was Harry.


    Since Arius left the hunting ground earlier, Harry had won by a small margin.


    He did receive a mysterious gift. It was something Susie brought back from overseas¡ªa human-sized doll.


    And it was a female!


    Harry''s expression was indescribable at that time.


    ¡­


    Arius and Saul''s car drove into Orange City one after the other.


    At the intersection, while they were waiting for the light to turn green, Saup wound his window down and shouted at Arius, "Brother Arius, we will be going home first. Please send Little Lisa back."


    "Go ahead. Send a message when you reach home." Arius waved his hand.


    The two of them parted ways at the intersection.


    Arius dropped Lisa at her home. She lived in another villa district known as Honvale.


    There were many wealthy people in Orange City, so naturally, there were many similar villa districts.


    Lisa stood in front of the entrance of a villa and tip-toed as she waved. "Brother Arius, hurry up and go home. Be careful on your way back."


    "I will take my leave now. Sleep early. You''ll get old faster if you sleep too late." Arius smiled and drove away.


    "You are the one who will get old." Lisa pouted.


    ¡­


    Along the way, Arius drove really fast. He just wanted to reach home as quickly as possible to count and examine the gains he had received tonight.


    He had hidden the backpack containing the mysterious egg, the fire element martial warrior''s battle spear, and the other small items in his car trunk in advance.


    Earlier, Arius had rushed back to the mountain villa at his fastest speed to hide the items. Then, he went back to find Susie and others.


    If not, there was no way for him to explain the many items he was carrying.


    Fortunately, when he achieved his breakthrough, the wound created by the fire element martial warrior had healed. He wouldn''t be able to explain it either if it didn''t.


    Arius took off his bloodstained and torn clothes and found a similar colored shirt to change into. The night was dark, so no one noticed that he had changed his clothes.


    Since he was in a rush, this was the best he could do.


    Some explanations couldn''t withstand careful analysis. Susie had probably noticed something amiss, but she didn''t have evidence. She had to stop at her guess.


    Arius recalled the things he did as he drove his car. After confirming that there was no huge problem, he finally felt a little more relieved.


    The egg!


    He felt like he was a thief!


    He shook his head.


    There were only a few cars on the road at night. Arius placed his left elbow on the car window and leaned his head on his hand. He started driving with one hand like a seasoned driver.


    As Arius drove past a business lane, he saw the bustling and prosperous street from the corner of his eyes.


    It was already past 10 pm, but there were still many people on the streets.


    They were laughing and having fun.


    The young men held the hands of young ladies and stayed out the entire night.


    It felt so good!


    The life of an ordinary person is not bad too! As Arius thought to himself, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in his vision.

 Chapter 31 - 31: Narrow-minded Picture

    ....


    Elaine was drained after working hard the entire day. There were signs of exhaustion on her exquisite face.


    Her forehead was covered with sweat, and her hair was slightly messy because of this.


    But, this couldn''t hide her beauty.


    Elaine worked part-time at a bubble tea shop. Indeed, it was the milk tea shop called Teapresso Bar!


    Undoubtedly, her presence added a touch of color to the shop.


    The boss of the bubble tea shop felt that his decision in the past was brilliant. Whenever Elaine was present, the business at his shop would be better than usual.


    Unfortunately, Elaine could only work during the weekends.


    What a pity!


    The boss was married and had a fierce wife at home, so he didn''t have any other thoughts towards Elaine.


    However, the two male workers in his shop were drooling over the pretty girl. They would either send her breakfast in the morning or treat her for lunch. They were extremely attentive to her.


    The boss saw everything and wanted to say a thing or two. However, it wasn''t appropriate for him to interfere with his workers'' private life. He could only set a rule to prevent them from dating during working hours.


    The rule had its effect.


    But once work ended, the boss couldn''t control them anymore.


    Currently, the workers were all packing up and preparing to get off work. At that moment, a tall, big, and modest-looking young man walked over and smiled at Elaine.


    "Elaine, it''s already very late. Let me send you back later."


    The other young man was fresh and clean-looking with a tin foil perm. When he noticed that he was a step slower, he got anxious and said, "Elaine, your house is on the way to mine. Why don''t I send you home?"


    A young lady teased him from the side. "Seriously? You''re ''on the way'' is approximately ten kilometers away from Elaine''s house."


    "At least my house is closer to hers than Ethan''s. One of them lives in the west and one in the east. They are at least 20 km apart," the man with tin foil perm replied.


    The lofty man, Ethan, frowned. Then, he smiled and said, "Normally, I exercise at night. If I send Elaine home and then go back later, the amount of exercise is just perfect for the day."


    "Hmph, your excuse is really high-sounding." The other young man scoffed.


    "Alright, stop fighting. I don''t need you guys to send me back. I can go home myself," Elaine said coldly. As always, she rejected them outright.


    The two young men felt helpless. They got rejected all the time. Actually, they didn''t even know where Elaine lived.


    Elaine had only told them the general district¡­


    After all, a young lady needed to protect herself outside. She must not tell other men her address casually.


    The two young men still wanted to try their luck, but a voice was heard at this moment.


    "Pretty lady, can I have a cup of bubble tea!"


    Elaine found the frivolous and haughty tone very familiar.


    "I''m sorry. We''re closed."


    The moment Ethan finished speaking, Elaine turned around and saw the person who had walked in. She was surprised as she asked, "Why are you here?"


    "Look at what you are saying? Why can''t I be here?" Arius smiled and replied.


    Ethan and the young man with tin foil perm felt a strong sense of danger when they listened to these two people''s familiar interaction.


    Also, this man was a little handsome!


    Hmmm¡­ Just a little!


    Ethan asked, "Elaine, who is this?"


    "Elaine?"


    "Hmph." Arius squinted and gave him a meaningful gaze.


    "He''s my table buddy," Elaine replied.


    "Table buddy!"


    The gazes of Ethan and the young man with tin foil perm froze. Then, they looked at each other.


    They could tell from each other''s gaze that this was a strong opponent who required them to join hands.


    "Since he''s Little Elaine''s table buddy, let''s make him one last cup of bubble tea," the boss nodded at Arius and said.


    Ethan asked, "So, classmate, what do you want to drink?"


    "Do you have Gogo no Koucha?" Arius asked.


    Ethan: ¡­


    What do you mean by Gogo no Koucha!


    This is a bubble tea shop, not the supermarket!


    If you want to drink Gogo no Koucha, go to the supermarket to buy a cup and drink it by yourself at home!


    Ethan screamed in his heart.


    The boss of the bubble tea shop and the other workers were also left speechless. They didn''t know what to say.


    On the other hand, Elaine had already started moving. She made the easiest recipe, milk tea with black pearls. She prepared the biggest cup for Arius and finished it quickly. Then, she placed it in front of him.


    "1.84 USD!"


    "So expensive!" Arius didn''t care what kind of bubble tea it was. He complained for a moment and took out his phone to pay for his drink.


    Elaine ignored Arius. After packing up, she bid farewell to the boss and walked out of the bubble tea stall.


    She pushed a pink scooter out of the parking lot at the side.


    Then, she put on a round Hello Kitty helmet and was just about to mount her scooter.


    "Elaine, wait for me."


    Ethan and the man with tin foil perm hurriedly packed up their stuff and chased after her. Each of them was pushing one scooter.


    Arius''s appearance had given them a sense of urgency. Tonight, whether Elaine rejected them or not, they planned to shamelessly send her home either way.


    Elaine frowned unhappily when she saw the two of them pestering her like medicine plaster.


    "Miss class monitor, let me send you home." Arius walked over while carrying his milk tea.


    "No need!" Elaine said coldly.


    "We are classmates. You don''t have to be polite with me."


    Arius snatched Elaine''s little scooter and carried it up with one hand.


    "Oh my god, his strength!"


    The two young men''s expressions changed for the worse. When Arius walked to the sports car parked beside the road, their eyes widened even more.


    "Beep!"


    The trunk of the car opened, and Arius stuffed the scooter into the car. However, the lid couldn''t close properly.


    The pink scooter was half-exposed in the air. It was glaring to the eye.


    O_o¡­


    "Amazing!"


    " This is really amazing!"


    "Stuffing a scooter in a sports car. I have never seen anything like this!"


    This series of actions stunned the boss of the bubble tea shop and the other workers.


    "Is this the distance between us?"


    Ethan and the other young man started questioning their lives.


    Arius opened the car door and urged Elaine, who was rooted on the spot.


    "Let''s go. What are you waiting for?"


    Elaine bit her lips and stomped her foot. In the end, she still sat in the car.


    Bang!


    You could almost hear the sound of glass shattering.


    Their hearts hurt!


    The two young men clutched their chests.


    Arius helped close the car door. Just as he was about to get in the car, he remembered something and walked towards Ethan and the other young man.


    "Misters, are you very close to my class monitor?" he smiled and asked.


    The two of them wanted to nod. Arius placed his hands on their shoulder and exerted some force¡­


    The next moment, excruciating pain was felt!


    "Since you''re not familiar with her, remember to call her by her full name the next time."


    I, Arius Amrit!


    Am really narrow-minded!


    Arius snorted and released his hand. Ethan and the other young man''s faces were red from holding their breath.


    Pain~


    They felt as if their bones were crushing.


    This guy''s strength was astonishing. Could he be practicing martial arts?


    Also, he was driving a sports car. That meant that he was wealthy!


    They couldn''t afford to provoke him! They couldn''t!


    Shivers~


    The two of them hurriedly nodded. Elaine? Who was she? Was she very pretty? What did it have to do with them?


    Nothing was important anymore.


    Rather, the most important thing now was to send this devil away.


    Arius drove his car and charged into the night with his loud engine. Ethan and the young man with tin foil perm stared at the sports car''s rear lights in a daze.


    As well as the little scooter exposed outside¡­


    They felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation!

 Chapter 32 - 32: Counting His Gains

    ....


    "Stop the car!"


    Elaine suddenly shouted after the car drove out of the street.


    Arius didn''t comply, though. He turned and asked, "Where do you live?"


    "I want to get out of the car. I don''t need you to send me back. I can go home myself," replied Elaine.


    "That isn''t good. You''re kicking me to the curb after I''ve outlived my usefulness!" Arius smiled.


    "What do you mean by kicking you to the curb after you''ve outlived your usefulness?" Elaine felt a little guilty.


    "I helped you get rid of those two troublesome fellows once and for all. Yet, you are kicking me away now. Isn''t that kicking me to the curb after I''ve outlived my usefulness?" Arius asked her back.


    "I want to get off the car," Elaine couldn''t beat Arius in a argument, so she unbuckled her seatbelt and said firmly.


    "If you don''t tell me where you live, I''ll drive to my home." Arius smiled calmly.


    Elaine: ¡­


    In the end, she lost.


    She lost to Arius''s shamelessness.


    Arius sent her home.


    lived in a low block area. It was hard to imagine that such a place existed in Orange City.


    In front of them was a black alley. When they reached here, Elaine refused to let Arius send her any further.


    Also, the car couldn''t drive in, so Arius had to give up.


    He picked up Elaine''s scooter and then hung the milk tea on the handle.


    "Alright, you can go back yourself," said Arius.


    "Your milk tea." Elaine frowned.


    "I won''t be able to sleep if I drink milk tea at night," Arius replied.


    "So you want me to have trouble sleeping instead." Elaine was speechless.


    "Hahaha, you can only think of me if you have trouble sleeping." Arius laughed.


    "Idiot~"


    Elaine ran off in a flurry as she rode her little scooter into the dark alley.


    This alley was long and dark. Even though her scooter''s light was on, she could only see a small distance in front of her.


    Elaine rode carefully. Suddenly, a white light lit up behind her.


    She turned and noticed that Arius had turned his car around. He had turned on his car''s headlights and lit up the entire alley for her.


    "This fellow!"


    Elaine was touched. But, she hurriedly shook her head to get rid of the feeling and rode her little scooter forward.


    Arius only left when he couldn''t see Elaine''s figure anymore.


    When he reached home, it was already 11 pm.


    Arius couldn''t help but smile bitterly. He wanted to rush home earlier, but he was still delayed until now.


    Women!


    They were troublesome!


    The house was silent. Arius closed the door and climbed up the stairs.


    It looked like Dianne had gone to bed.


    Arius didn''t make any sound. He brought his spoils back to his room and took some clothes to the bathroom.


    After bathing, he dried his hair.


    Then, he locked the door and rubbed his hands in anticipation. He sat cross-legged on the ground and took out everything to sort them.


    One steel bar, one Zippo lighter, half a pack of cigarettes, and two cell phones. These were all ordinary items.


    If there was a chance, he wished that he would be able to decode the passwords of the two cell phones.


    There must be some information he needed in the two cell phones, including the identities of the two dead martial warriors.


    There was also a pair of boxing gloves and a battle spear.


    These were all rune weapons!


    The runes carved on the boxing gloves and the battle spear appeared mysterious and extraordinary.


    Arius searched online based on their appearance.


    The purple-black boxing gloves were a one-star high-class ice element weapon from the ''dark shadow'' series. The pair''s retail price was around 300 thousand dollars.


    As for the battle spear with fiery red runes, it was a one-star elite-class weapon from the ''fiery flame'' series. Its market price was 530 thousand.


    This price!


    Arius could only sigh and exclaim that martial warriors were all wealthy people!


    Fortunately, he was a rich second generation, so he had seen this kind of price before. He wouldn''t kick up a fuss over a few thousand.


    However, this saved him the trouble of buying and selling weapons. These two weapons were enough for him to use.


    Finally, the egg!


    Arius took the egg out of the bag and observed it carefully under the light. From its surface, he really couldn''t tell which animal''s egg this was.


    "This egg should be the reason why those two martial warriors were fighting so brutally.


    "If that''s the case, this egg must be special."


    He looked at different kinds of eggs online and compared them with the one in his hand. He spent another half an hour analyzing.


    In the end, he came to an astonishing conclusion.


    "This is the egg of a bird!


    "That''s right, it must be."


    Arius nodded to himself and stuffed the egg back into the bag. He covered it with hay and zipped the bag. Then, he hid it in a corner under his bed.


    "No matter what it is, let''s keep it first.


    "I will think of a way to hatch it after I confirm its identity."


    Arius then shifted his gaze to his attributes panel.


    Intelligence: 83


    Spirit:12.1


    Talent: Beginner stage fire talent (10/300), Beginner stage ice talent (12/300)


    Spiritual Ki: 6/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    4/100 Ice (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    Scripture: Red flame scripture (foundation 1/100), Deep Ice Scripture (foundation 1/100)


    Battle Techniques: Basic battle techniques (mastery for fist, sword, blade, footwork), gun skill (small achievement), fire kirin spear skill (foundation 10/100), phantom ice fist (foundation 8/100)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 percent)


    Overall Battle Power: 135


    Looking at the rows and rows of attributes on his board, Arius suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction.


    Martial warrior!


    He finally became a martial warrior!


    As compared to other people, the time he took from practicing martial arts to the moment he became a martial warrior was very short. But, the experiences he went through weren''t lacking at all.


    He even went through a life-or-death situation recently!


    Seeking fortune in danger!


    It was worth it!


    Then, Arius compared the before and after differences of his attributes panel.


    When he was at Mount Blue, he didn''t have the time to ponder over this. Now, after observing his attributes panel, he realized that the differences were huge.


    Firstly, Spirit was a new row.


    It wasn''t hard to understand what it was based on the word itself.


    Spirit represented a person''s consciousness. It was a profound way of saying it.


    He might have gotten the spirit attribute from the dead fire element martial warrior, so this attribute got activated.


    He continued looking down. The physique attribute was gone, replaced by Talent.


    Arius knew what talent was. After the physique of a martial warrior reached a certain standard, they would undergo a test using a special device to find their talent direction. This would allow them to choose the Spiritual Ki skill scriptures and the battle techniques they could cultivate.


    This was the largest difference between martial disciples and martial warriors.


    Arius thought about it carefully and was flabbergasted.


    "Speaking about this, I got the fire and ice element talent because I picked up the attribute bubbles. Does that mean that I don''t have any talent personally?"


    He searched the internet before and knew that most people had talents. Once their physique reached a certain level, they would be able to practice Spiritual Ki skill scriptures.


    But, there was a tiny percentage of people who didn''t have any talent.


    To be very talented and having no talent were two extremes.


    Both were rare.


    He didn''t expect himself to be one of them!


    "I''m lucky to have my system!"


    Arius felt fortunate. He wasn''t afraid of having an inferior talent, but rather, he was scared of having no talent at all. It would cut off all possibilities in his life.


    Imagine this. You practiced hard for so many years and were just a step away from reaching your goal. Suddenly, you were told that you had no talent. How frightening would this stimulation be?


    People with a poor mentality might collapse after the setback!


    Arius shook his head.


    Next was the Spiritual Ki attribute. That represented the martial warrior''s level.


    Arius was a one-star soldier-level martial warrior now. However, he had two Spiritual Ki elements in his body. Based on numbers alone, he was more powerful than martial warriors with only one Spiritual Ki element.


    He searched the internet and learned that single element martial warriors were the most common. Multiple Spiritual Ki element martial warriors were extremely rare.


    You could occasionally see a few double Spiritual Ki element martial warriors, but triple Spiritual Ki element martial warriors were rarely seen. As for Spiritual Ki Force elements, five Spiritual Ki elements, and even six Spiritual Ki elements martial warriors, they had not appeared yet.


    Skill Scripture and Battle Techniques didn''t change much. Only two Spiritual Ki skill scriptures and Spiritual Ki battle techniques were added.


    Finally, there was the Battle Power.


    Battle Power was probably the overall calculation of all the attributes, including physique, strength, speed, Spiritual Ki, battle techniques, and the rest.


    This was a good attribute. It displayed his overall ability in one figure.


    ¡­


    After looking through everything, Arius yawned. Exhaustion crept up his body, and he closed his eyes. Slowly, he slipped into dreamland¡­

 Chapter 33 - 33: Custom Made Item

    ....


    Monday.


    The first day after he became a martial warrior!


    When Arius woke up, he was still in a daze. After some time, the events of yesterday night flashed in his mind.


    "So I''m a martial warrior now!"


    Arius clenched his fist. Noticing the hidden strength in his body, he finally felt a sense of reality.


    Martial warriors absorbed Spiritual Ki into their bodies and used it to cultivate. This allowed their bones, muscles, and other parts of their bodies to undergo transformations. They couldn''t be compared to martial disciples at all.


    But, in this martial arts era, becoming a martial warrior was just the start!


    Arius got off his bed and went down to have breakfast.


    "Mom, is Dad not back yet?"


    Arius stuffed an egg into his mouth at the dining table as he asked Dianne curiously.


    "He said that there were some problems on a project, so he will be delayed for a few days," Dianne replied as she ate her bird nest porridge.


    Arius nodded. Since it was regarding the company, he didn''t probe further.


    After he finished breakfast, Arius drove his car to Orange No. 1 High School.


    The TSI exam was getting nearer and nearer. The atmosphere in school got increasingly nervous as the days went by. The students were studying hard for a promising future.


    Everyone said that the TSI exam was the turning point in life.


    Many people scoffed at this remark. So what if you entered a good university after studying so hard? Wouldn''t you still be working after you graduate? Wouldn''t you still be earning a miserable 500$ to 1000$ salary a week?


    You would live frugally and save money for ten years. Then, when you wanted to buy a house and a car, you still had to take a bank loan!


    Those that earned more than a hundred thousand or a few million a year were just the minority.


    All of them were star students from top universities!


    How could you compare with them?


    Tell me, how could you compare with them?


    So, knowledge could change your life was just bullshit?


    Wrong!


    You would realize that if you didn''t enter a university, your life would be even worse¡­


    Elaine had come to school earlier than Arius.


    In the past, Arius just felt that she was hardworking. But now, he knew that she also worked part-time outside until late at night. Yet, she still woke up earlier than most people the next day to study.


    She deserved to be the star student!


    In his past life, Arius was still an arrogant and frivolous young master. At his age, he would just snort at Elaine''s actions.


    What was the use of studying so hard?


    After she graduated, the money she earned in her entire life couldn''t even buy his sports car.


    However, after experiencing the collapse of the Amrit family, Arius finally realized how useless he was. Without the Amrit family''s backing, he was nothing.


    He was extremely useless!


    Thus, when he saw Elaine studying so hard, he just sighed in his heart.


    Arius didn''t disturb her. He sat down on his seat, took out his cell phone, and logged in to amazon¡­


    He wanted to see if there were any specific containers to store his weapons.


    Based on the performance of his system, Arius felt that he would progress more comprehensively in the future. The number of battle techniques he would learn would only increase.


    He already had a battle spear and boxing gloves. There would be even more weapons as he progressed.


    It wasn''t possible for him to hang everything on his body when he went out, right?


    Arius scrolled through amazon.


    Everything could be found on amazon. Whatever you wanted, you could find it there.


    He typed the keywords, and a whole bunch of similar products appeared.


    However, most of them were sword sheaths, blade sheaths, and rod holders. It wasn''t what Arius wanted.


    After the morning self-study session ended, the first lesson of the day started. But Arius was still scrolling through amazon. He didn''t have any thoughts of listening to the teacher.


    Elaine couldn''t bear his nonchalant attitude. She frowned, but all she did was sigh in her heart. She didn''t say anything.


    Suddenly, Arius''s eyes lit up as his gaze landed on an item.


    The seller: Weapon carrier casket?


    He looked at the design. This was a rectangular casket with a vintage style.


    Arius then read the introduction. This weapon carrier casket was said to be able to contain 14 kinds of weapons. There was a mechanism on top. Once you pressed it, the weapon you needed would spring up.


    it looks so amazing?


    He continued scrolling the listing. It was then Arius realized that the 14 kinds of weapons mainly were blades and spears, including 14 different styles and lengths. He was caught between laughter and tears.


    Should I buy it or not?


    Arius hesitated.


    Forget it. Let me ask the seller and see if I can customize one.


    This seller was called ''Master Griffin''. It was a gold crown flagship seller, and the reviews were all good.


    There were custom-made items in the reviews too.


    Hence, Arius decided to open the chatbox and ask the seller.


    Arius: Are you there?


    The seller: Yes, I''m here (¤Å ?3 ?)¤Å¨q?~


    Arius: Can you customize weapon carrier caskets here?


    The seller: Weapon carrier casket?


    Arius: ¡­ You don''t know?


    The seller: Wait for a moment. Let me check.


    ¡­


    Arius was a little speechless. This person didn''t even know what he was selling in his shop. Was he reliable?


    After some time, the other party''s reply finally came.


    The seller: Dear, are you there?


    The stall owner: I''ve checked for you. So this is what you meant by weapon carrier casket.


    The person attached a picture with the message. It showed a wooden casket covered in dust in the corner of a warehouse.


    Arius finally realized why this person couldn''t remember this item.


    He asked curiously: How long has it been since you took this item out?


    The seller: replied awkwardly: Hahaha, there''s no need to care about the details. This weapon carrier casket was created by my grandfather in a moment of inspiration. No one wanted to buy it for a long time, so it was kept in the warehouse. I didn''t expect someone to ask about it after so many years.


    Arius: May I know how many years of history this item has?


    The seller: Not a lot. Only ten years!


    Ouch! Arius felt his teeth hurting. He continued: Alright, can you help me ask your grandfather if he could customize one for me based on my requirements?


    The seller: ¡­ I''m afraid not.


    ??


    Arius asked: Why not?


    The seller I don''t want to be on the same side as my grandfather so soon ?(????¦Ø????)?


    Arius felt a little helpless as he replied: I''m sorry


    Arius: Forget it then


    Just as he was about to go offline, the other party sent him a message hurriedly.


    The seller: Wait!


    He continued: If you''re fine with it, you can tell me your thoughts. I''ll see if I can make some customizations on top of this weapon carrier casket. If I can sell this away, I''m sure that my grandfather will be happy.


    Arius felt invigorated. "So it can be done!"


    Well, let''s make a Hail Mary effort!


    He explained his ideas to the other person.


    The other side remained silent for a long while before replying: Are you collecting weapon carrier caskets?


    Arius replied: You can say so.


    The seller: Alright, I will try my best. I will inform you once I finish the alterations.


    Arius: What about the price?


    Arius noticed that the other party was in a hurry to go offline to start his research on how to modify the weapon carrier casket without even talking about the price. He began to have a faint idea of this person''s personality¡­


    This must be an idiot!


    The seller: Oh, right. I forgot about that o(¨s¡õ¨t)o


    He thought for a moment before continuing.


    The seller: Since no one wants this, you can simply give me around 12 to 15 thousand dollars for my labor fee.


    Arius: Alright, as long as I''m satisfied with the product, I will buy it for 15 thousand.


    Arius didn''t hesitate and agreed immediately.


    Those rune weapons cost 30,000 and even 150,000. This weapon carrier casket was just 15 thousand. It wasn''t hard to accept the price.


    Also, he had many requirements, so he needed them to be custom-made. It was understandable that the fee was a little higher.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Attack Of A Gigantic Bird

    ...


    After settling the weapon carrier casket, Arius researched how to hatch eggs online.


    A list of information popped out.


    There were all kinds of stupid responses from netizens. Arius found one that sounded more credible¡ªincubators to hatch the egg!


    Before hatching the egg, Arius planned to pay a visit to the pet shop to ask some questions.


    This egg wasn''t ordinary!


    Arius was afraid he would accidentally kill it. That would be a pity.


    The lives of two martial warriors were lost because of this egg.


    When the second lesson ended, during the break, Arius said to Elaine, "I have to leave cause have something to attend to. If the teachers ask, just tell them that I went to the doctor because of a stomach ache."


    After Arius finished speaking, he rushed out of the classroom without waiting for Elaine''s reply.


    "This fellow is actually skipping classes!" Elaine was furious. She glared at the door, but she couldn''t do anything. Arius was already gone.


    ¡­


    At the entrance of the school, a few gangsters were squatting and smoking at the roadside. They didn''t look like the good sort. There were cigarette butts all over the ground.


    When Arius drove his car out, the traffic light turned red, so he had to stop at the junction and wait.


    The gangsters were attracted by the sports car.


    "Tsk tsk, are the students from Orange No. 1 High School all so wealthy? They can afford to drive a sports car."


    "Damn it, why is he driving a sports car to school? What a showoff!"


    The bunch of hoodlums cursed and scolded Arius out of jealousy.


    One of the younger gangsters saw Arius in the driver''s seat and suddenly remembered something. He shouted, "Brother Eddie, it''s that fellow!"


    Unfortunately, Arius didn''t hear him. The sports car gave off a loud roar and drove off straight forward.


    Eddie saw the face on the driver''s seat flashing past. He threw his cigarette on the ground and scolded, "F**k, it''s really that brat. I finally caught him. Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and chase him."


    While yelling, he dashed to the car parked at the side of the road. He started the engine at lightning speed and chased after Arius


    .


    At the same time, he made a call.


    "Ring, ring, ring!"


    "Hello?"


    "Brother, I''ve found the fellow who hit me the last time. He''s moving towards Lazy Pines Street. Hurry up and go there. We can''t beat him ourselves," Eddie shouted at the person on the other end of the phone.


    "Alright, continue following him. I will rush over immediately." The person on the other end seemed to be sighing.


    ¡­


    Almost simultaneously, in the vast sky more than ten kilometers away from Orange City.


    As high as a thousand meters above sea level!


    An entirely black giant crow magnificently flew across the sky.


    It was more than 20 meters in length, and the feathers on its body gave off a cold metallic luster. The crow honestly looked like a battle plane. Its entire body screamed danger.


    The crow''s eyes were bloodshot with a hint of killing intent in them.


    Its target was Orange City!


    Boom!


    While flying, the speed of this gigantic crow suddenly accelerated exponentially and formed a loud explosion in the air. It shot towards Orange City like a meteor.


    ¡­


    Lazy Pines Street, in a pet shop called ''Kitty Kitty''.


    After Arius got some incubation knowledge from the staff at the pet shop, he felt that he finally had some confidence.


    He thanked the beautiful, but most importantly, enthusiastic and kind young lady at the pet shop before walking out.


    "He came out! He''s out!" Eddie pointed at Arius and said to a man beside him.


    Suddenly¡ª


    "Screech!"


    A screech that was loud enough to pierce the sky rang through the air.


    The man''s expression changed, and he abruptly raised his head. At the same time, Arius also looked up with a solemn expression. He gazed into the distance.


    High in the sky, a huge black creature was closing in rapidly. A shrill screech of a bird followed its flight downward.


    "Screech¡­!"


    The sound exploded in the sky. It became louder and even more ear-shattering as it neared. Its penetrating power was astonishing to behold, almost threatening to rupture their eardrums.


    Arius felt his eardrums hurt. The pedestrians on the street frowned and covered their ears.


    "Crack! Crack! Crack¡­"


    The shattering of glass all around was a testament to its sharpness.


    "Huh?" Arius''s expression changed.


    The frightening soundwave had created an invisible shockwave. When it spread throughout the street, cracks appeared on the glass windows and glass doors of the shops. After some time, the glass couldn''t hold up any longer and shattered.


    "Sha!"


    The shattered glass shards flew towards the passers-by around the area.


    The young lady at the pet shop had just sent Arius to the door when it suddenly exploded. A piece of palm-sized glass shard smashed down right on her forehead.


    Arius reacted at once and yanked her away.


    At the same time, he trembled, and the energy in his body erupted. Arius forced away all the broken glass shards flying towards him.


    The pedestrians on the streets also dodged in a flurry. Some got hit and had scratches on their skins.


    Some suffered more grievous injuries. The sharp shards had stabbed into their bodies. They laid on the ground and were moaning in pain.


    Others lucky enough to escape the ordeal hurriedly ran far away. They could still sense the lingering fear in their hearts.


    "Where did this bird come from?"


    "Why is it in the city?"


    "Hurry up and call 911. Someone is injured!"


    ¡­


    "What a frightening bird. It must be a star beast!" Arius looked up.


    The bird was getting bigger and bigger in his vision. It was closing in on him rapidly from afar.


    "This isn''t right. It''s coming this way!"


    Arius was shocked. His expression turned ugly, and he shouted at the young lady beside him, "Get into the shop. Don''t come out."


    As he spoke, he hurriedly ran to the roadside and took out the battle sword from his car trunk. He wore the boxing gloves and flung the bag containing the egg on his shoulders. After finishing his preparations, Arius rushed to the shop.


    "Screech!"


    The giant crow seemed to have sensed something. Its speed accelerated once again as it shot towards Arius even faster. Its shrill screech resounded in the air.


    "What''s happening? Why is this bird attacking our Orange City?"


    By now, the crowd had dispersed and ran away in all directions. Everyone was covering their ears and screaming in fear.


    The giant crow had arrived above Orange City in a blink of an eye. It spread its wings apart and covered the whole sky. The bird then waved its wings, giving rise to violent winds.


    It plummeted down from the sky.


    "F**k, did this bird come for me?"


    Arius felt as though dark clouds were boring down on his head. When he raised his head, he was greeted with a pair of blood-red eyes.


    An endless evil aura crept up in his heart.


    Arius was dumbstruck. His entire body froze, and he couldn''t move at all.


    What should I do? What should I do?


    Why do I have to meet all these troublesome matters!


    Hurry up and move!


    Right¡­


    He bit the tip of his lips until it bled.


    Once the sense of pain transmitted into his brain, Arius finally regained control of his body. The Spiritual Ki in his body was activated, and it engulfed the battle spear.


    How unlucky!


    Even if I die, I will make sure you''re heavily injured too!


    The battle spear was shrouded in intense red light, releasing the maximum potential of the Spiritual Ki. Arius''s hands were filled with perspiration as he stared at the giant crow.


    When it reached his attack range, he slashed his spear out.


    "Evil beast!"


    "Audacious!"


    At this moment, a loud shout echoed in the air, accompanied by a green blade light. It extended from the roof of a building and cut the giant crow in mid-air.


    "Screech!"


    The bird released a cry of pain.


    Slash!


    Once the blade light cut the giant crow, blood splattered everywhere, showering down on the onlookers below.


    However, the blade light did not fade away. Instead, it spread all the way to the horizon, even chopping the clouds in half.


    The massive corpse of the bird smashed down from the sky!


    It had all happened in an instant!


    Everyone was stunned. They stared at the sky in a daze with blank minds.


    "So powerful!"


    The man beside Eddie was dumbstruck. He was muttering to himself.


    Arius was clenching his sword, and his back was drenched with cold sweat. He didn''t even have the time to execute his move¡­


    He hadn''t regained his senses even now. Confusion could be seen all over his face.

 Chapter 35 - 35: That Person Is A Martial Warrior!

    .....


    "Awesome!"


    "That person is amazing!"


    Arius took a deep breath and calmed his pounding heart as he exclaimed in his heart.


    The blade light that cut through the air had widened his horizons. This was what a real martial warrior should be like!


    One strike of his blade, and he was able to destroy everything a few hundred meters away from him. Compared to that person¡­


    Arius felt that he was so weak!


    He swiftly adjusted his confused expression.


    I''m all ready. Even my posture is ready. Why did you do this to me!


    I feel so embarrassed!


    Fortunately, everyone''s attention was attracted by the giant crow. In a state of panic, the crowd was busy looking for a place to hide. No one had paid him any attention.


    Arius hurriedly hid his battle spear and boxing gloves. He then stuffed the bag containing the egg into his car too.


    Then, he pretended that nothing had happened and looked at the spot where the giant bird had smashed into the ground.


    It wasn''t far, almost ten meters away from him.


    The massive corpse of the bird laid right in the middle of the road. A few cars parked along the road had been squashed, and their alarms were blaring.


    A few road lamps had collapsed too. Sparks of electricity crackled and scared others from getting close.


    The pedestrians had scattered far away. But they didn''t forget to take out their cell phones to take photos and share them on their moments or social media.


    "This crow is so big. It''s frightening."


    "It was a martial warrior who helped out just now, right?"


    "It must be. Only a martial warrior can deal with a giant beast like this."


    "The blade that struck all the way up to the sky could be seen by the entire Orange City. I wish I was so powerful¡­"


    The spectators started discussing among themselves. They felt admiration and envy towards the martial warrior who had executed the stunning blade light.


    Martial warrior!


    Martial warrior!


    This was a real martial warrior!


    During this martial arts era, who didn''t want to become a martial warrior?


    But what was the use of just thinking about it?


    Many people were still blocked by an invisible wall. They didn''t even have the right to step through the door.


    Even the advanced stage martial disciples standing at the edge of the door were no exception.


    The man beside Eddie was one such example. At this moment, Arius felt a little dumbfounded as he looked at the corpse of the giant crow.


    Would killing star beasts drop attribute bubbles?


    The answer was right in front of him. A few huge transparent bubbles were floating beside the giant crow.


    Although others couldn''t see them, to Arius, they were exceptionally conspicuous.


    He hurriedly squeezed through the crowd, pretending that he was curious about the bird. He got close to the attribute bubbles and touched them secretly.


    He then picked them up!


    Speed*130


    Fire Spiritual Ki*35


    Blank Attribute*60


    Spiritual Sight*1


    ¡­


    What the f**k!


    What the f**k!


    What the f**k!


    Important things must be emphasized three times!


    These attributes are amazing! Arius was on cloud nine, feeling as though he was floating.


    Three ''what the f**k'' weren''t enough to express the excitement in his heart at this moment.


    Speed*130!


    Gaining 130 points of speed attribute at once was honestly a little too much.


    When the fire Spiritual Ki*35 seeped into his skin, the fire Spiritual Ki in his body increased tremendously. It surged through his body like a current.


    The feeling was incredible!


    Arius continued looking down.


    Blank Attribute*60


    He was a little surprised.


    There were even blank attributes?


    What was their use? Could he use it to increase any of his attributes?


    Arius decided to comeback to it and investigate when he is free. After the update of his system, many changes started appearing slowly.


    Finally¡­


    Spiritual Sight*1


    Arius felt that something intriguing was happening to his eyes. A cold and icy stream was flowing in his eyes.


    If he was given a mirror, Arius would be able to see a thin black film covering his eyes. It was eerily black.


    This is so interesting!


    But what''s the use of this spiritual sight?


    He scanned his surroundings, but he couldn''t notice anything special with his pair of eyes.


    Forget it. This is not the time to get to the bottom of this.


    How do I retract this ability?


    When Arius thought about retracting the ability, the peculiar energy in his eyes seemed to have received a summon. It slipped into the depth of his eyes and went into hibernation.


    ¡­


    After some time, a group of people arrived at the scene. The crowd was dispersed, and the place was sealed off.


    "They''re from the City Protection Bureau!"


    The newcomers wore black uniforms with a unique logo on them¡ªa cross of a blade and a sword. On their backs, there was a simple and unsophisticated picture of a shield.


    Someone quickly recognized who they were.


    The City Protection Bureau. Based on the name, one could tell that this was a special department erected to protect the human cities in this world.


    In this department, besides the office workers, all others possessed strong martial arts abilities. The presence of this group allowed normal humans to live peacefully in the cities.


    Many times, without the public knowing, they had solved a lot of troubles.


    The members of the City Protection Bureau carried the giant crow onto a huge truck and cleaned up the streets.


    They learned about the situation from the nearby spectators. They wanted to understand why this giant crow had suddenly invaded Orange City.


    Unfortunately, no one was able to provide any relevant information. The onlookers were all talking in confusion. They just said that a powerful and mysterious martial warrior acted in the end. There was no helpful information given.


    In the end, the members of the City Protection Bureau left helplessly.


    Arius stood among the crowd and watched them leave. He was in deep thought.


    That giant crow seemed to be here for me.


    But why?


    What grudges do we have? Why does it have to travel a thousand miles of wilderness to kill me?


    Since Arius couldn''t find a reason, so he gave up.


    The beautiful young lady from the pet shop ran towards Arius when she noticed that things had settled outside.


    On the other side, Eddie saw the members of the City Protection Bureau leaving and spoke to the man beside him.


    "Brother, the people from the City Protection Bureau have left. Let''s catch that fellow quickly. If not, he will run away. I must take revenge for the kick he gave me in the past."


    The guy remembered how he was kicked into the air at the Wild Rose Pub. He was also tricked by this brat and caught the wrong person. He felt happy for nothing.


    Anger instantly shot up right into his head.


    Eddie was about to walk towards Arius in his fury.


    "Slap!"


    Unexpectedly, the man beside Eddie had slapped him on the head.


    "Catch him? Catch your head!" Will was furious as he shouted at his brother.


    Eddie was stunned. He looked at his brother blankly while muttering, "Brother, why are you scolding me?"


    "F**k, you make me so angry that my mind is muddled!"


    Will slapped Eddie''s head again.


    "Why are you hitting me again? Why are you angry?" Eddie was puzzled. He shrunk his head and asked with a pitiful look.


    "I''m angry because you''re stupid! You are an idiot!


    "Do you know who you''re messing with?


    "If you want to die, don''t pull me along. Why are you getting your brother in trouble?"


    When Will noticed that his brother still didn''t know his mistake, he got even more infuriated. He wanted to vomit blood¡­


    They had the same mother. Why was his brother so stupid?


    Hence, he raised his hand, wanting to slap his brother again.


    This time, Eddie was prepared. He dodged the slap and shouted, "Brother, even if I was to die, you must let me know the reason. What is it? Tell me clearly!"


    "Okay, let me tell you!" Will took a deep breath and continued, "That person is a martial warrior!"


    "What!?"


    Eddie was flabbergasted. However, he didn''t believe it at all.


    "That''s impossible. He''s so young. How can he be a martial warrior!"

 Chapter 36 - 36: I Have Stopped Being A Boss For Many Years!

    ...


    "You don''t believe me?" Will smiled coldly. "What right do you have to not believe me?


    "Do you know what I saw a moment ago?


    "Spiritual Ki!


    "That was the damn Spiritual Ki!


    "When that giant crow plummeted towards him, he activated his Spiritual Ki. I saw it with my own two eyes.


    "If you don''t believe me, are you saying that I''m blind?"


    Will''s angry words echoed beside Eddie''s ears. He was dumbstruck.


    "Spiritual Ki


    "That brat is actually a martial warrior!!


    "But, when I met him the last time, he wasn''t so powerful. He was at most an advanced stage martial disciple. How can he be a martial warrior!"


    Eddie still couldn''t believe it.


    "The only explanation is that he was hiding his ability. He doesn''t want to reveal his true power." Will took a wild guess.


    "Hid his true power!" Eddie was shocked. Then, he asked curiously, "What''s his motive?"


    "That''s not something we should know. But, think about this. If you keep provoking a martial warrior, what is the consequence?" Will stared at his younger brother in exasperation.


    "Oh my God!" Eddie gasped in fear when he thought about this carefully.


    "Brother, I''ve offended him once. Will he kill me?"


    The thought of a certain possibility sent shivers down his spine.


    "That''s hard to say. But, it will be a hidden problem in the future!"


    "How about this? You will follow me, and we will go and apologize to him now. Let''s see if he can forgive you and let this matter end completely," Will added after pondering for some time.


    Eddie hesitated. He didn''t dare to face Arius.


    However, when he noticed that Will was going to flare up again, he gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I will apologize!"


    ¡­


    While Eddie and his brother were guessing the consequences of provoking Arius, the beautiful lady from the pet shop had arrived in front of Arius.


    "Hello, thank you for helping me." The beautiful lady was a little shy as she raised her head and spoke to Arius.


    "You''re welcome. It''s nothing. I have to thank you for answering all my queries. I went to many pet shops before I found someone who truly understands birds," Arius smiled and replied.


    "Let''s exchange Signal. If you have any questions, you can contact me directly in the future." The beautiful lady from the pet shop took the initiative.


    In the past, Arius had never received such treatment.


    As expected, a hero saving a beauty was the ultimate move to win a lady''s heart!


    But¡­


    Exchanging Signal¡­ Am I someone who will add a lady''s Signal so easily? ( ?¤Ø ?)


    "Alright, let''s do that. I''ll have to trouble you if I have questions later."


    Arius took out his phone in a hurry.


    They exchanged Signal and asked for each other''s names. Then, they exchanged their username.


    The beautiful lady from the pet shop was called Lorie. She said, "The shop is really busy today. I have to go back. Contact me on Signal if you need anything."


    "Sure!"


    Lorie smiled and waved her hand. She ran back to the pet shop.


    Will cautiously brought his good-for-nothing younger brother over when he noticed that Arius had finished talking to the young lady.


    "Mister, please wait for a moment."


    Arius turned around upon the call. His eyes fell on Will first and found him unfamiliar. Then, he looked at Eddie, who was beside him.


    "It''s you!"


    The knowing smile and the meaningful tone caused Eddies''s heart to beat violently.


    Will''s heart also skipped a beat. He hurriedly pushed Eddie forward.


    "Boss¡­" Eddie stuttered as he opened his mouth.


    Arius lit a cigarette and suddenly replied, "I have stopped being a boss for many years!"


    ¡­


    What the hell was he saying?


    Eddie was puzzled.


    Will laughed awkwardly and said, "You must be joking. I''m Will. This is my bastard younger brother."


    "My younger brother failed to recognize who you are in the past and was messing with you. I brought him here today to apologize to you."


    Then, he shouted at Eddie, "Hurry up and come over here to apologize to this mister."


    Eddie wanted to bow and apologize, but Arius stopped him.


    "Wait, I''m afraid that you didn''t come to find me today to especially apologize, right? You have followed me for the entire trip. Do you think I''m stupid?" Arius scoffed.


    Will''s expression changed. Eddie even shivered in fright. Oh my god, I am exposed!


    "Mr. Arius¡­"


    "Bang!"


    Arius didn''t give him any chance to speak. The aura of a martial warrior exploded and surged towards Will and his younger brother.


    Just now, he was playing a trick. He knew that someone was following him, but he didn''t know the person''s intention.


    Now, looking at Will''s expression, they were obviously looking for revenge just now.


    However, something had happened in the process and made them change their mind.


    That was why they came over to apologize.


    Could it be that they saw me using Spiritual Ki just now?


    Arius stared coldly at the duo as he thought.


    Since they had come themselves, it was a chance for him to take care of them. This would prevent them from pestering him continuously in the future.


    Even though he wasn''t afraid, it was still irritating to have a few nobodies crawling around him all the time.


    On the other side, in the face of the pressure given off by a martial warrior, Will could only withstand it with all his might. He was extremely shocked.


    Indeed, he was a martial warrior!


    Eddie''s face turned pale, and he fell weakly to the ground. He couldn''t even climb up.


    Aura!


    It sounded mysterious and profound, but it was just the pressure a powerful person could enforce on a weaker person.


    Arius versus Will, a martial warrior versus a martial disciple.


    The difference in ability was vast.


    The distance between them was obvious.


    That was why he felt a huge pressure.


    "We are willing to compensate you!" Will''s forehead was filled with cold sweat. He gritted his teeth and opened his mouth with much effort.


    "Compensate? Arius pulled the corners of his lips.


    "There are 770 thousand dollars in this card. This is our way of apologizing," Will took out a bank card as he spoke.


    "770 thousand."


    The amount wasn''t small. A normal person might not be able to save 150 thousand in his entire life. Yet, this was 770 thousand!


    Will''s heart dropped. It looked like this matter wouldn''t be solved so easily. He forgot that the person didn''t lack money.


    Would a person who drove a sports car lack money?


    Will''s mouth tasted bitter. He really wanted to beat Eddie to death on the spot. Why did he have to offend this malignant star?


    "Give me one day. I will give you a satisfactory answer tomorrow."


    Will was decisive. Once he knew that five million couldn''t solve this matter, he gave up and made another promise.


    "Alright, I will wait for your news tomorrow."


    Arius nodded. He wasn''t worried that the other party would run away.


    Although Orange City wasn''t small, it wasn''t big either. It wasn''t hard to find someone.


    He would meet him one day unless Will was willing to forsake everything he had in Orange City and run to other cities.


    Arius believed that Will wasn''t so stupid.


    He shook his head when he saw Will pulling Eddie away.


    This Will was just an advanced stage martial disciple. He was slightly older, but he was a character to take notice of. However, his younger brother¡­


    He was utterly hopeless!

 Chapter 37 - 37: Felt As Though He Lost A Few Hundred Million

    ...


    Arius left Lazy Pine Street, where the pet shop was located, and headed towards the place Lorie had recommended to get the incubator.


    It would be great if it was an extra-large incubator.


    The egg had almost filled up the entire backpack¡­


    Egg!


    Bird''s egg?


    Arius suddenly shuddered.


    He slapped his forehead. Why is he such an idiot ? Why did he only connect the dots up now?


    The mother crow had come to look for her little crow!


    Damn it, no wonder it had a grudge against me and was dying to kill me. I abducted its child!


    Arius felt speechless.


    However, based on the ability of those two martial warriors, how were they able to steal the egg under the nose of this frightening gigantic crow?


    They had probably employed some special methods. They might have stolen the egg when the giant crow went out to look for food.


    Forget it. It''s useless to think about this now.


    Arius shook his head. Suddenly, he felt very fortunate.


    I was lucky that the mysterious martial warrior helped me. If not, the crow would definitely have killed me for revenge. Even if I didn''t steal the egg, it''s in my hands now. Who else can the giant crow look for?


    Wait, when that martial warrior executed his blade attack, did he leave any attribute bubbles behind?


    F**k, they were the attribute bubbles of a formidable warrior!


    Arius had a taste of how amazing the attributes dropped from the giant crow were.


    If that mysterious warrior dropped some attributes, it must be even more rewarding.


    He hurriedly turned his steering wheel and sped in the direction where the blade light had come from based on his memory.


    I must be on time!


    The car whisked through the traffic as Arius prayed in his heart. Finally, he stopped in front of a commercial building.


    It should be here!


    Arius got out of the car in a hurry. With a ''bang'', the car door closed, and he rushed out like lightning.


    "Mister, may I know who you are looking for? Do you have an appointment?"


    The second the beautiful lady at the reception opened her mouth and asked, Arius had already charged past her. He stopped in front of the elevator.


    "Mister, this is a private company. Outsiders aren''t allowed to enter for no reason."


    "Hurry up and stop him!"


    A few security guards heard the shouts of the receptionist and dashed towards Arius.


    "Beep!" The lift arrived just in time.


    "Stop right there!" the security guards shouted from behind Arius.


    Only an idiot would stop, though.


    Arius leaped into the elevator and pressed the close button frantically.


    The lift door slowly closed. The security guards were a step too late. They could only watch Arius disappear in front of them.


    The guards had no choice but to chase after him using the stairs.


    However, this time difference was enough.


    Arius went up to the roof of the building and scanned the spacious roof. He noticed a bubble that was about to disappear.


    That''s good; that''s good.


    Arius quickly walked over. However, just as he was prepared to pick it up, the bubble disappeared¡­


    ??


    Arius froze on the spot, along with the smile on his face.


    It disappeared!


    It still disappeared in the end!


    His heart suddenly hurt so much!


    Arius clutched his chest. This pain made him feel as though he had lost a few hundred million!


    It was so cruel!


    God, why do you have to be so cruel to me?


    "Sigh!"


    Arius let out a long breath and walked to the edge of the roof. He lit up a cigarette and stood in the wind as it messed up his hair. He felt depressed and melancholy.


    At this moment, the security guards caught up with him. They were panting heavily.


    The moment they reached the roof, they saw Arius standing at the edge with a look of despair on his face.


    They wanted to question this young man, but they forcefully swallowed the words that had already reached the corner of their lips.


    "Young man, if there''s anything you need, we can talk properly. Can you come down first?"


    one middle-aged bodyguard asked. He tried his best to make his voice gentler.


    "You don''t understand. I just lost a few hundred million!" Arius sighed. His expression became even more depressed.


    A few hundred millions?


    Is this young man boasting?


    Don''t say anything. If you stimulate him and he jumps down, you will be held responsible!


    The security guards exchanged glances with one another and completed a silent interaction.


    The middle-aged security guard continued, "Isn''t it just a few hundred million? You are still so young. You can earn it all back. Maybe you will be able to earn a billion or a few billion in the future. What is a few hundred million then?"


    The middle-aged men talked about a few billions so casually as if he was Elon Musk.


    Arius looked at him in shock. "You spoke about it so casually that I almost thought you were talking about paper money!"


    The middle-aged security guard laughed awkwardly.


    "Forget it. It''s my luck to gain and my fate to lose."


    Arius sighed again.


    The security guards heaved sighs of relief when they saw that he had let the matter go. Yet, unexpectedly, the next second, Arius jumped down.


    "Goodbye, everyone!"


    The security guards stretched their hands out and screamed. They looked like the scene where Thor was trying to catch Loki¡­


    "No~"


    Some of them even closed their eyes. They couldn''t bear to look.


    But the tragedy didn''t happen. The middle-aged security guard had rushed over when Arius leaped up.


    He was an advanced stage martial disciple. However, he didn''t have the chance to progress any further since he was already middle-aged. He could only make a living as the head of the security guards.


    His speed was faster than his fellow guards. He rushed to the edge of the roof and looked down.


    His eyes turned wide open.


    He saw Arius landing lightly on the air conditioner outside the building. He was jumping down, level by level.


    Arius saw the middle-aged security guard popping his head out, so he waved at him.


    Now, it was the middle-aged security guard''s turn to stand at the edge of the roof and let the wind mess up his hair.


    "This young man is not a simple person."


    ¡­


    Arius left the commercial building with regret. He went to buy an incubator and then returned to school.


    It was already afternoon.


    All the students had gone to the cafeteria to have their lunch. Before he came back, he sent Saul and his other friends a message on Signal, telling them to save a portion of food for him.


    After finishing his lunch, there were two hours of afternoon break.


    The Seniors students were at their revision period now, so most students only rested for an hour. For the next hour, they revised and recited their textbooks.


    While Elaine was revising, Arius wasn''t sleepy. In fact, he was diligent, too, as he had started studying his attributes panel.


    Intelligence: 83


    Spirit: 12.1


    Talent: Beginner stage fire talent (10/300) Beginner stage ice talent (12/300), Spiritual sight (beginner stage 1/10)


    Force: 41/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    4/100 Ice (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    Scripture: Red flame scripture (foundation 1/100), Deep Ice Scripture (foundation 1/100)


    Battle Techniques: Basic battle techniques (mastery for fist, sword, blade, footwork,spear), gun skill (small achievement), fire kirin spear skill (foundation 10/100), phantom ice fist (foundation 8/100)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 percent)


    Overall Battle Power: 182


    Blank Attribute: 60


    His fire Spiritual Ki had increased


    tremendously.


    It was at 41 points now. Arius could feel the fire Spiritual Ki in the Spiritual Ki nucleus of his body taking shape.


    The Spiritual Ki nucleus was situated at the bottom of his spine. It was where the Spiritual Ki was stored.


    Because of the increase in his speed and fire Spiritual Ki, Arius''s overall battle power had increased to 182.


    This meant that his ability had been enhanced.


    Arius had done his research. He knew that humans had a method to evaluate one''s battle power.


    The battle power of a one-star soldier level martial warrior was between 100 to 300.


    From one-star to nine-star soldier level martial warrior, each rank could be split into the primary, middle, advanced, and peak phases.


    The primary phase was between 100 to 180, the middle phase was between 180 to 230, the advanced phase was between 230 and 280, and the peak phase was between 280 to 300.


    If the Overall Battle Power figure from the system was equivalent to the human''s method of evaluation, it meant that Arius was a one-star middle phase soldier level martial warrior.

 Chapter 38 - 38: Increase Enrolment For Martial Arts Examination

    Arius looked at the additional row at the bottom¡ªBlank Attribute: 60.


    He touched his chin. At the moment, he was in a dilemma. How should he use these blank attributes?


    He scanned the attributes panel from top to bottom.


    Well, let''s try one by one.


    Arius started by adding one blank attribute to Intelligence. The 83 points of Intelligence jumped a little and became 83.1!


    The ratio was 10:1.


    Arius nodded to himself.


    He added two blank attributes to the Spirit attribute. Similarly, his spirit attribute increased by 0.1.


    It had a ratio of 10:1 too.


    Then, he added some attributes to his fire and ice talent. Both of them increased by one point.


    Ratio 1:1.


    When he reached his Spiritual Sight, he thought that the ratio would be the same.


    Arius added 1 blank attribute point, but Spiritual Sight only increased by 0.1. The ratio was 10:1.


    This Spiritual Sight is more of an advanced talent? Arius couldn''t help but think this.


    He continued experimenting. He realized that the Spiritual Ki at the bottom and all the Force skill scriptures and the battle techniques were all 1:1.


    However, he couldn''t add any blank attributes to his Overall Battle Power.


    It looks like I have to raise the other attributes to increase my Overall Battle Power. Arius pondered.


    After the round of experiments, he had used up 11 blank attributes and was left with 49.


    Arius contemplated for some time. He added 20 points to his fire Spiritual Ki and used the remaining 29 points on the Fire Kirin Spear Skill.


    Specialization was better than knowing a little of everything.


    He had a limited number of blank attributes, so he could only upgrade one attribute as quickly as possible.


    [Intelligence]: 83.1


    [Spirit]: 12.2


    [Talent]: Beginner stage fire talent (11/300) Beginner stage ice talent (13/300), Spiritual Sight (beginner stage 1.1/10)


    [Force]: 62/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    5/100 Ice (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    Scripture: Red flame scripture (foundation 2/100), Deep Ice Scripture (foundation 2/100)


    Battle Techniques: Basic battle techniques (mastery for fist, sword, blade, footwork, spear), gun skill (small achievement), Fire Kirin Spear Skill (foundation 40/100), Phantom Ice Fist (foundation 9/100)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 Percent)


    Overall Battle Power: 191


    Blank Attribute: 0


    He looked at the changes in his attributes panel and nodded in satisfaction.


    These Blank Attributes are a good thing. I hope I can get more of them! Arius exclaimed in his heart.


    However, he also knew that it wouldn''t be easy to get so many blank attributes at once. That gigantic crow was extremely powerful. That was why it had dropped so many attributes.


    Such incidents relied on luck!


    If that mysterious martial warrior didn''t appear, he would be dead and wouldn''t have the chance to pick up the attributes.


    He shouldn''t wish for good luck to fall into his laps!


    Arius shook his head and adjusted his mentality.


    In the afternoon.


    The first lesson in the afternoon was with their teacher, Mr.Lee.


    He walked into the classroom and said sternly, "Okay, Class listen the university entrance exam is two weeks away. You must use your time wisely for revision. But remember to rest properly too.


    Adjust your schedule and try not to fall sick. When you go home, ask your parents to make a nutritious dinner for you, so eat a healthy meal¡­


    "Also, the Department of Education just released a statement. They said there are some changes to the martial arts course exam this year."


    All the students looked at him.


    Arius suddenly got more interested when he heard this.


    There would be changes made to the SAT exams every year. He wondered what these changes were this year.


    Also, it was related to the martial arts course exam.


    Mr.Lee opened his mouth under everyone''s anticipated gazes. "There will be an increase in enrollments for the martial arts course this year. Intermediate stage martial disciples can also participate in the martial arts course exam now."


    "Increased in enrollment!"


    "Is that true?"


    "Intermediate stage martial disciples can participate too? Does that mean that I have a chance to get into the martial arts course?"


    Many students were excited, especially those that had reached the intermediate stage. They virtually danced with joy.


    The beginner stage martial disciples were in low spirits, though.


    There were only five advanced stage martial disciples in Orange No. 1 High School. But, there were many beginner stages and intermediate stage martial disciples.


    This was a huge piece of good news for intermediate-stage martial disciples.


    The SAT exams were a turning point in life.


    If they joined the martial arts course, they would be able to enjoy more resources. This would give them a higher chance of becoming martial warriors in the future.


    In the past, many people were unable to become advanced stage martial disciples before turning 20. Hence, they couldn''t get into the martial arts course and couldn''t become martial warriors.


    This year, the martial arts course was increasing the quota. Their chance was finally here.


    How could they not be excited!


    "Alright, settle down. Wait for me to finish speaking." Mr.Lee clapped his hands.


    The students gradually became silent. They looked at Mr.Lee.


    Mr.Lee said, "If there''s anyone who wants to apply for the martial arts course, remember to register with me at my office within this week. The principal''s office needs to compile the number and send it to the Ministry of Education.


    "You will only be given your identity card for the exam if you register. Without this identity card, you will not be able to take the martial arts course exam. Please remember this."


    He paused for a second before continuing.


    "However, there''s one thing you need to inform your parents clearly. There''s an actual combat assessment with a certain risk.


    "The internet is well-developed, so all of you probably know that there''s a particular risk. However, you might not have an idea how high the risk will be.


    "Let me tell you then. There''s a specific death rate for the actual combat assessment. If the death rate doesn''t exceed this benchmark, the authorities won''t take any notice of it. That means that if you die, you will just be dead.


    "Thus, if you are not confident, don''t have the idea of leaving things to chance. I''d rather you repeat a year and take the exam next year.


    "Okay, I''ve said everything. Prepare your textbooks. We are starting our lesson."


    Mr.Lee gave the students some time to digest the news after he finished speaking.


    As expected, the students below started discussing in hushed voices.


    "There''s a death rate? I always thought that you would get injured at most."


    "I''ve asked a senior before. He said that no deaths have occurred for the past two years. Was he lying to me?"


    "Maybe not. Even if there weren''t any deaths for the past two years, what about the earlier years?"


    "I should go back and research carefully. If there''s a death rate, I need to consider it carefully."


    Some students were frowning. The happiness a moment ago had subsided a little.


    "Ah¡­ If I want to participate in the martial arts course exam, I need to start doing my ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''. There are only two weeks left. There''s not enough time!" someone suddenly shouted.


    "Oh right. I haven''t started reading the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''. How am I supposed to take the exam?"


    "They''re making it difficult for us. Why didn''t they inform us earlier¡­"


    The topic got steered in another direction. A moment ago, they were still worried about the death rate. Now, they were all stumped by the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''.


    Arius shook his head. It was just an increase in seats. That had nothing to do with him. His current ability was enough to deal with the university entrance exam.


    "Huh?" Arius suddenly turned his head. He noticed that Elaine''s emotions seemed a little weird.


    Her eyes were shimmering, but there was hesitation and fear on her face.


    "Class Monitor Elaine, are you an intermediate stage martial disciple?"


    Arius thought of a possibility. He couldn''t help but ask her, "Are you thinking of applying for the martial arts course too?"

 Chapter 39 - 39: The Martial Arts Path Is Not Easy To Walk

    ....


    Elaine felt that Arius was belittling her when she heard his tone. She glared at him as she said, "I can''t?"


    "Nope. I always thought that you will move down the scholar path," Arius replied innocently.


    "After all, this is the martial arts era. We can foresee that the uses of martial arts will become greater and greater. Its influence will seep into every aspect of society. The change for this year''s university entrance exam is a signal. Thus, even if I go with the scholar path, I don''t want to forgo my martial arts." Elaine analyzed objectively.


    "You make sense." Arius nodded.


    "You should be participating in the martial arts course exam, right?"


    Elaine gave Arius a meaningful look. From his recent performance, she was around 90% certain that he would take the martial arts exam even though she couldn''t confirm it.


    Arius just smiled.


    Elaine didn''t probe further. However, in her heart, she already had her answer.


    No wonder he didn''t place much emphasis on his studies.


    However, the martial arts exam had a written portion too. The ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' was a must-read. Did he have enough confidence?


    She still had some doubts. But, once she remembered the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'', she frowned uncontrollably.


    "What do you think the Department of Education is thinking? Why did they release this news at the last moment? Many intermediate stage martial disciples haven''t read the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' properly. They have no hope in passing the exam."


    "How would I know? The way these powerful people think is always peculiar." Arius shook his head.


    At this moment, a young man in front of them suddenly turned his head and jumped into their conversation.


    "Hehe, I heard that it''s related to the policies by the World Federation!"


    "World Federation''s policies?"


    Arius and Elaine exchanged glances with each other. This involvement was a little far-fetched.


    "Neal, how do you know this?" Arius asked the young man.


    Neal wanted to perform in front of Elaine, so he turned his body and explained proudly, "My uncle works at the Ministry of Education. A month ago, I heard this piece of news from him. I''ve been reading the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' recently."


    "F**k, you have connections!" Arius laughed and scolded him.


    Alexander had also gotten some wind of this, but he thought that since Arius had just started training, he had no hope of taking the exam this year. Hence, he didn''t tell Arius.


    Elaine felt a little speechless and helpless.


    This was the difference between an average student and someone like Neal. Neal received the news one month earlier, but she had to wait for the school''s notice. She got her information too late.


    No matter what era it was, information was always the most worthy.


    Neal didn''t take it to heart. He smiled and said to Arius, "Young Master Arius, you''re the one with the most connections. Why are you teasing me?"


    Then, he looked at Elaine''s expression and guessed her thoughts. He hurriedly consoled her.


    "Class monitor, don''t worry too much. Since the authorities released the information at this time, they must understand the students'' plight.


    "I''ve also heard that the normal exam''s difficulty and results will be lowered. It might be the lowest among all the previous years."


    Arius instantly smiled at Elaine. "You heard him. It means that there''s much hope this year. Don''t put on that face anymore.


    "Also, with your intelligence, the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' is just a piece of cake for you."


    Elaine rolled her eyes at Arius. She then replied to Neal, "Thank you for telling me this."


    "You''re welcome; you''re welcome. Even if I didn''t tell you, you''d have heard it soon. Since they released this policy, they won''t be able to hide some information from the public." Neal waved his hands.


    "Alright, students, ten minutes of discussion is up. If you continue talking, I won''t need to start my lesson anymore." Mr.Lee knocked on the blackboard.


    The students immediately sat up straight.


    ¡­


    For the entire afternoon, everyone was immersed in the piece of news their teacher gave them. The moment class ended, they started a huge discussion.


    Some students went to take a look at their neighboring class. They were talking about this too.


    After the lesson, some students took the chance to call their families and ask their parents to get some insider''s news. Others asked their parents for opinions.


    The martial arts exam was extremely important!


    Many parents skipped work once they received their child''s call and started hunting around for news.


    They found their relatives and used all the connections they had.


    When a family had a child taking the university entrance exam, they would always be the focal point of the family¡­


    The three afternoon lessons soon ended. It was time to go home.


    Arius looked at Elaine, who was packing her bag beside him. "Miss class monitor, shall I send you home?"


    "No need!" Elaine replied in a hurry.


    She was afraid that if she replied a little late, she would be pulled into his car forcefully. She kept thinking that this fellow had some motive towards her. He didn''t restrain himself as he did in the past.


    "Your choice."


    Arius didn''t mind. He got up and prepared to leave. But, he thought for a moment and said, "Since you want to take the martial arts exam, you shouldn''t work part-time for the next two weeks. Time is a little tight. You should use it wisely and look through the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers''. If you face any difficulties, as your table buddy, don''t forget to look for me."


    Arius didn''t give her a chance to refute as he left the classroom directly.


    In an instant, Elaine felt warmth spreading in her heart. She shook her head and scolded.


    "This fellow is seducing me again!"


    ¡­


    Arus, Saul, and Lisa met one another at the school gate. They already knew about the increased enrollment quota. Even Lisa and Lynn, who were in the second year, knew about it.


    Lisa and Lynn were excited.


    After all, they still had one year. Becoming an intermediate stage martial disciple was much easier than becoming an advanced stage martial disciple. Their chances were high.


    Especially for Lisa, even if she had never practiced martial arts before, it shouldn''t be a problem for her to become an intermediate stage martial disciple in a year. The Molina family just needed to provide her with more resources.


    Saul was a little dejected, though. The increased enrolment for martial arts courses was cruel to those who didn''t practice martial arts. They felt that they had no chance.


    Becoming an advanced stage martial disciple might be a little tricky, but if Saul practiced diligently, he still had hopes of becoming an intermediate stage martial disciple.


    Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in this world!


    Opportunities were given to those who were prepared. He was destined to miss the chance this year.


    Arius thought for a moment. "Saul, maybe you can repeat the year. Go home and discuss it with your parents."


    "That''s right, we were persuading him to repeat a year too." Lynn agreed with Arius.


    "Brother Arius, do you really think I should repeat a year?" Saul raised his head.


    "It''s not what I think. It''s what you want to do," Arius replied.


    "I¡­ let me go home and ask my parents first," Saul hesitated for a moment before saying.


    Arius didn''t reply to him. After all, the final decision was up to the guy.


    After everything he had experienced recently, Arius knew that the martial arts path wasn''t easy¡­


    Should he practice martial arts?


    Was it right or wrong to practice martial arts?


    Would he regret it in the future?


    No one could provide Saul the answer. He had to walk the path personally to know if it was right or wrong, or whether he would regret it or not.

 Chapter 40 - 40: Spiritual Sight

    Saul and his friends were a little depressed because of the martial arts exam.


    Reading the atmosphere, Lisa hurriedly changed the topic. "Do you know that Susie sent someone to investigate Mount Blue again today?"


    "Oh, what did they find?" Arius asked indifferently.


    This was per his expectations.


    Smart people get curious easily. Susie was the kind of person who felt that she was smart.


    She didn''t receive an answer yesterday night, so she would definitely investigate again.


    "Sara said that they found traces of a battle in a forest patch. Based on the strength, it might be a fight between martial warriors," Lisa said.


    "Martial warriors!"


    Saul and Lynn were shocked.


    "There were burnt marks at the scene and some frozen plants too. They must have been destroyed by Spiritual Ki," Lisa nodded and said.


    "There were martial warriors? Luckily, Brother Arius didn''t find them. If not, he would have been in danger," Saul said.


    Arius nodded.


    "Oh right, who''s Sara?" Lynn suddenly asked Lisa curiously.


    "She''s a young lady I met at the mountain villa yesterday. She''s really gossipy and extremely well-informed. She''s talkative too, so she sent me a message on Signal the moment she heard the news." Lisa couldn''t help but laugh.


    "What else did she say?" Arius asked.


    "She also said that after Susie arrived, the members from the City Protection Bureau arrived too. However, they didn''t seem to have discovered anything. The two martial warriors probably left after fighting," Lisa continued.


    Arius was in deep thought. It looked like Lisa only knew some surface news. She probably didn''t know any exact details.


    They chatted for some time before parting at the entrance of the school. The group returned to their homes.


    ¡­


    When Arius reached home, he noticed a few strangers. Alexander had come back from his work trip and was conversing with these people.


    The City Protection Bureau!


    I didn''t expect them to find me so quickly!


    Alexander''s heart skipped a beat, but there were no changes to his expression. He walked into the living room and asked, "Dad, you''re back. These people are?"


    "Yeah." Alexander nodded. He then frowned slightly as he replied, "They''re from the City Protection Bureau. They came to ask you a few questions. Did you cause trouble again?"


    Arius immediately felt wronged. "How can I cause trouble? I''ve been obediently practicing martial arts and going out with my friends recently. What trouble can I cause!"


    "Mr. Amrit, don''t worry. This is just a routine check."


    A young man waved his hand and stood up. He asked Arius, "You''re Arius, right?"


    "Yes."


    "I''m the leader of the No. 3 small team of the City Protection Bureau, Phil Chaney." The young man introduced himself. "We came today because we wanted to ask you about what happened yesterday night on Mount Blue."


    "Oh, okay. So you came for that matter. No problem, ask along. I will tell you everything I know." Arius pretended to know everything.


    Phil asked a few questions, and Arius replied to him with the answers he had prepared beforehand. No loopholes could be found in his story.


    Especially when he mentioned that he had no sense of direction, Alexander laughed and added, "I''m not worried about you laughing at him. This brat has been bad with directions ever since he was a child. Fortunately, we have GPS now. If not, I''m really worried that he will get lost one day."


    "Alright, thank you for your cooperation. Sorry for the inconvenience caused today."


    Since Chai Yu didn''t receive any relevant information, he got up and left.


    After the members of the City Protection Bureau departed, Alexander used his finger and pretended to tap Arius''s forehead.


    Arius chuckled. "Dad, you cooperated well!"


    "Stop teasing me." Alexander flared up once there were no strangers. "From now on, be obedient and stop causing trouble."


    Arius didn''t explain what had happened, so Alexander just warned him and didn''t probe further.


    Dianne placed the dishes on the table and called the father and son for dinner.


    ¡­


    Phil was sitting in a car. The staff driving the car asked, "Brother Phil, how much truth do you think there is in the young boy''s words?"


    "It''s hard to say."


    Phil frowned. "Based on the chemical examination of the site, the martial warriors who were fighting are already dead. There should have been a third party at the scene.


    "From Harry''s statement, we know that Arius isn''t weak. He''s probably an advanced stage martial disciple now.


    "But, it''s impossible for an advanced stage martial disciple to kill two martial warriors."


    "Hence, it should have nothing to do with him.


    He probably saw the fight and got scared, so he didn''t dare to tell the truth."


    The driver also made his guess. "Is it possible that the two martial warriors perished together and he reaped their benefits?"


    "Are you reading too many novels? If there''s such a lucky thing, why didn''t it happen to me?" Phil rolled his eyes.


    "Haha, Brother Phil, don''t you know that this plot is popular nowadays? It feels good when you read it!" The driver laughed.


    "Just focus on the road."


    Phil laughed and scolded him. Then, he couldn''t help but sigh.


    "Sigh. Harry and Arius are both advanced stage martial disciples. There is a chance that they will become martial warriors in the future. The Herman family and Amrit family are not ordinary families. Their lives are really good.


    "Also, the possessions of the martial warriors have disappeared and their cell phones are gone. We don''t know their identities. And we don''t even have a clue where to start investigating. This will probably become an unsolved case."


    "You''re right. Ever since we got linked to the Amazon continent, it''s getting hard to count the deaths and disappearances of martial warriors," the staff lamented.


    ¡­


    After dinner ended, Arius carried the backpack with the egg back into his bedroom when his parents were not looking.


    He took out the egg and placed it in the incubator. He switched the incubator on and let it incubate the egg slowly.


    Then, he laid on his bed and placed his head on his hands.


    He was in a daze for some time. Then, he suddenly leaped out of bed and took out a mirror.


    Arius looked at the mirror and activated his Spiritual Sight. He saw a thin layer of black film covering his pupils¡­


    It''s as if I''m wearing cosmetic contact lenses.


    Huh? There''s a spot of red light deeper in my eyes!


    Oh my god, why do they look a little like crow''s eyes!


    Arius observed his eyes carefully and immediately felt frustrated. Did they really turn into crow''s eyes?


    Sigh, I wonder what kind of talent Spiritual Sight is?


    With a sigh, Arius scanned his room. When he saw the egg on the incubator, his gaze suddenly stopped.


    "This is¡­"


    When his Spiritual Sight was activated, the egg turned entirely red, as though it was a ball of burning flame.


    "Fire Spiritual Ki!"


    Could it be that the use of Spiritual Sight is to allow me to see Spiritual Ki?


    Arius had a mind-blowing thought.


    This might be the talent that allowed the crow to find Orange City. That was how it was able to lock in on him.


    This talent came from the giant crow. Compared to it, his talent was a weaker version. There was plenty of room to develop it further.


    "However, this talent is not bad. I can see the Spiritual Ki through my eyes, so I can predict how strong or weak other martial warriors are!" Arius muttered to himself.


    Arius was burning with eagerness. He experimented with the talent for a long time until he felt his eyes turning sore and his head getting heavy. He had no choice but to deactivate his Spiritual Sight.


    "What''s the matter? I feel a little dizzy!


    "Could it be¡­"


    Arius was a little surprised. He fished out the attributes panel and looked at the Stats section. There was an (over-consumption) behind the attribute.


    Spiritual Sight consumes spirit!


    It looks like I can''t use it recklessly.


    Arius rested for a while before the dizziness gradually disappeared.


    "I only know that Spiritual Sight can help me see the Spiritual Ki. I wonder if it has other abilities."


    Arius pondered for a moment and decided that he would pay more attention to it in the future. Spiritual Sight talent was very promising. He must focus on it.

 Chapter 41 - 41: Presence Enlightenment

    Translator: Myriad Translation


    ....


    After studying his spiritual sight for some time, he had digested almost all the food in his stomach.


    Arius got up and climbed down the stairs. On the way, he greeted his parents.


    "Dad, Mom, I''m going to the martial arts academy."


    Alexander had just come back from his business trip. He didn''t go back to his office tonight. One reason was that he wanted to rest at home and the other was to spend more time with his wife.


    At this moment, he was watching the television with Dianne in the living room.


    When they reached an interesting part, he would discuss with Dianne how outdated the storyline was. The way he was acting now was no different from the millions of ordinary men in this world.


    When he heard Arius''s voice, Alexander waved his hand without even bothering to turn his head.


    "Go already. Don''t interrupt us while watching the television! This is the most interesting part!"


    "Alright, I won''t!" Arius rolled his eyes and beat a hasty retreat.


    Dianne patted Alexander once and shouted in a hurry, "Son, what do you want to eat tonight? I will make supper for you."


    "Anything is fine, Mom. You can cook whatever is available. I''m going now!"


    Arius''s voice came from outside the door. Then, the rumble of a sports car engine was heard.


    Shining Martial House.


    Arius parked his car and walked along the small pathways in the martial arts academy. On the way, he thought to himself, Let''s go straight to the third floor today. Some people already know that my strength has exceeded an intermediate stage martial disciple. There''s no point in hiding it anymore. However, I should drag the news that I''ve become a martial warrior for a little longer.


    Sigh, rising too quickly is vexing!


    Actually, Arius never expected himself to become a martial warrior so quickly either. He thought he would have to wait until the university entrance exam was over.


    Accidents always came so abruptly!


    It caught him off guard!


    Arius stood in front of the martial disciple training building and glanced at the martial warrior training building beside it. He heaved a deep sigh as if lamenting the unfairness of the world like an old man.


    Within sight but beyond reach!


    Arius walked into the building and quietly finished his test. The identification information changed automatically, and he received the right to move to the third floor.


    He didn''t forget to finish a round on the first and second floor, picking up dropped attributes. Wang Teng then headed to the third floor.


    The staircase leading to the third floor was situated in a conspicuous location.


    Arius didn''t want to be in the spotlight, but he still attracted everyone''s attention the moment he stepped on the stairs.


    "Arius, I didn''t expect you to become an advanced stage martial disciple so quickly!" Some familiar students came forward and started praising him.


    Their tone was full of envy!


    The longer one trained as a martial disciple, the harder the path got.


    Many students here had been stuck at the martial disciple intermediate stage for a long time. They never managed to break through the doors to become an advanced stage martial disciple. It was sorrowful, to say the least.


    "Sigh, Jason became an advanced stage martial disciple. Now, another one is leaving."


    "I heard that the Department of Education underwent a reform this year. Intermediate stage martial disciples can also take part in the martial arts exam now. But, it has nothing to do with us."


    "Damn it! Why didn''t this reform take place earlier¡­"


    The moment the news of an increase in enrolment for the martial arts course was released, it spread like wings throughout the city. Everyone that should know about it had heard of it.


    Most of the intermediate stage martial disciples present were adults practicing martial arts as part of their job. Their average age was quite high. As a result, they were unable to take part in the university entrance exam.


    They weren''t the same as the students in school. Even if the students were intermediate stage martial disciples, they still had the chance to climb up the social ladder in the future.


    But, to them, this piece of news wasn''t good. Instead, it was a huge blow!


    Some people were born in the wrong era and missed many good opportunities!


    Time was not on their side, so what could they do?


    "Just work hard. There will be opportunities for you." Arius nodded at the student and went up to the third floor.


    "That''s right. There will be opportunities!"


    The student clenched his fist tightly, and the fighting will in his eyes lit up again. He was just a little past 20. It was too early to give up now.


    Among the crowd, a fatty was watching Arius''s pretentious back view as he left. He cursed in his heart. I knew it. I knew that this fellow must be hiding his true abilities. If not, how could he run faster than me or become an advanced stage martial disciple so quickly? This is so dishonest of him.


    On the third floor, there were obviously fewer people as compared to the second floor. From the first floor to the third floor, the numbers would sharply dwindle. This was a good example of the pyramid concept.


    Arius''s arrival caused many people to pause their training and turn around to glance at him.


    "He''s so young!"


    "Another genius!"


    "Hmph, genius?"


    ¡­


    Arius scanned his surroundings. The floor was littered with attribute bubbles and there was a bunch of two-legged sheep for him to collect furs from¡­


    It felt so good!


    At this time, Jason, who had just become an advanced stage martial disciple, walked over. He sized up Arius with a strange gaze.


    "Arius, your progress is a little scary!"


    "I started practicing martial arts at a young age. I''ve been stuck at the intermediate stage for some time. I was just waiting for an opportunity," Arius smiled and replied.


    Jason had a look of enlightenment. He placed his arm around Arius''s shoulder and took him inside.


    "Come, come. Since you''re here, there''s finally someone who can spar with me using fist skills."


    ¡­


    The entire night, Arius collected all the attribute bubbles on the third floor. It was another round of huge gains.


    In total¡ª


    Intelligence*5


    Spirit*6


    Strength*153


    Speed*66


    ¡­


    Currently, Arius was more focused on increasing his points for Intelligence and Spirit. However, these two attributes were rare as always.


    He had researched online before. Spiritual Ki skill scriptures and Spiritual Ki battle techniques were


    more profound. Hence, they had a higher demand for Intelligence.


    If one''s Intelligence value was high, they would yield twice the result with half the effort when practicing the scriptures and battle techniques. If the Intelligence was low, they would experience what despair felt like.


    Arius was able to collect attributes to improve his scriptures and battle techniques. However, martial warriors were rare. Even more, they wouldn''t congregate together like the martial disciples. He wouldn''t be able to collect rounds and rounds of attributes as he did with the martial disciples.


    Thus, when there were attributes, he would collect them. When there was nothing to be picked, he had to rely on his own practice!


    Increasing his Intelligence was considered saving for a rainy day!


    However, Arius was lucky that he was able to increase his Intelligence by collecting attributes.


    Many made a little drop. If he slowly collected them, he believed that his Intelligence would increase.


    He was different from others. If other people had low Intelligence, there was nothing they could do besides feeling despair.


    As for Spirit, it was related to the endurance time of his Spiritual Sight ability. This ability might prove really important in the future. He should increase the capacity of his spirit battery as quickly as possible.


    Besides all these, he had collected many Basic Footwork, Basic Fist Skill, Basic Spear Skill, Basic Sword Skill, and Basic Blade Skill attributes today.


    Now, these battle techniques were charging towards another stage above the mastery stage.


    The next stage after mastery was ''presence enlightenment.''


    Presence enlightenment was the last stage of a basic battle technique. At this stage, one would comprehend the powerful aura behind the skill. When fighting with someone, the frightening presence of the skill would be felt first, overwhelming the other party.


    Subduing the enemy without a fight!


    This was the use of presence.


    However, few would spend a huge amount of time practicing their basic battle techniques to this stage. If they had the time and energy, they would rather work towards becoming a martial warrior and cultivate Spiritual Ki battle techniques.


    But Arius didn''t mind. All he needed to do was pick up the attributes. It would be a waste if he didn''t collect them.


    Also, if he practiced his foundation well, it would be beneficial to his cultivation of Arius battle techniques in the future. After all, a skyscraper was only possible if the foundations were solid.


    Besides the basic battle techniques he already possessed, Arius picked up a new basic technique¡ªBasic Staff Skill (foundation)!


    Staff skill!


    Not bad, not bad¡­ Do I have to find a golden cudgel or an iron polearm in the future?


    Then, I will shout out loud¡ª


    Hey, demon, let go of my master!

 Chapter 42 - 42: This… Acting God!

    ....


    It was an exciting night of collecting sheep furs¡ªwait, it was a night of training!


    Arius finished picking up the last attribute bubble and came out of the Shining Martial House. He drove his car along the seaside highway on his way home.


    Shining Martial House was situated beside the sea. There was a highway following the coastline. At night, there weren''t many cars on this road.


    Under the dark night sky, the place seemed exceptionally quiet and secluded.


    Arius was the last to leave again. The other students of the martial arts academy had already gone home much earlier.


    The music in the car was turned on, and the vibrant and loud music dispersed the silence in the surrounding¡­


    Tonight, I watch the snow fluttering in the cold night


    My heart is cold as I travel far away


    I ran in the wind and the rain, not able to differentiate the figures in the mist


    The sky and the sea, you and me


    Will we change¡­


    ¡­


    Screech¡­


    The friction between the tires and asphalt broke the calmness of the silent night. The relaxing atmosphere created by the music was gone.


    Arius had managed to stop his car just in time. His body flung forward because of inertia, but as a martial warrior, his control over his body was exceptional. He forcefully remained in his seat.


    The high beam lit up the scene in front. A large fallen tree was blocking the road ahead. At the same time, there was a human figure sitting on a branch of the large tree. He couldn''t make out the figure clearly.


    Arius frowned.


    It looked like this person had come bearing ill intent. He seemed to be targeting him.


    Just as Arius was about to get out of his car, he suddenly thought of something and activated his Spiritual Sight.


    A ball of bright light like a 50-watt incandescent lamp appeared in his vision¡­


    Spiritual Ki!


    Martial warrior!


    Arius''s heart skipped a beat. Why was a martial warrior looking for him? Who was he? What motive did he have¡­


    A pile of questions filled up his heart.


    However, comparing the intensity of the light he saw using his Spiritual Sight and the light on himself, he had nothing to be afraid of, even if they were to fight.


    Arius took out his battle spear and wore his boxing gloves. Then, he got out of the car slowly.


    "Hand over the item!" The man looked at Arius and opened his mouth.


    "What item? I don''t think I know you!" Arius curiously asked.


    "It doesn''t matter whether you know me or not. However, if you hand over the item you took from Mount Blue, I can spare your life," said the person coldly.


    "What item? What Mount Blue? Why don''t I understand what you are saying?" Arius''s heart dropped.


    How did this person know that he had taken something?


    The person snorted. He stood up and walked towards Arius. "You don''t know? In that case, where did you get the spear and boxing gloves in your hands?"


    "I bought them," Arius replied indifferently.


    When the other party came closer, Arius finally saw his appearance. This was a man around 30 years old. There was no distinguishing feature on his face, but his eyes were like that of a lone wolf. He didn''t look like a kind person by any means.


    "You''re at the brink of death, you know. Why are you still being stubborn?" The man waved his cell phone. "All the members of our team installed a GPS tracking system in our phones. You hid it well by destroying their corpses and all traces left. After all, dead men tell no tales. Unfortunately, you were stupid enough to bring their cell phones back."


    Damn it, I didn''t even expect a tracking system to be installed in the cell phones. I was too careless! Arius scolded himself in his heart.


    "Do you have nothing to say now? Tell me where the item is, and I will spare your life.


    "I don''t mind telling you that I''m a martial warrior. You''re just a martial disciple. Even if you have rune weapons, you are not my match.


    "So, don''t cause harm to yourself," said the man calmly.


    Arius felt lucky. Fortunately, he brought the two cell phones along with him wherever he went. This person had just tracked him through GPS, so he probably didn''t know where he lived.


    Still, Arius pretended to look shocked.


    "Martial warrior, you''re actually a martial warrior!


    "If I hand the item over to you, will you really let me go?"


    At this moment, it was as if Arius was possessed by a acting god. He appeared to be nervous and frightened, mired by a dilemma.


    "Of course, you should feel fortunate that I came alone to settle this matter.


    "If my other teammates had found you out first, hmph, they aren''t as easy to talk to like me," the man continued.


    "No one knows about this?" Arius raised his head.


    "That''s right. I''m the only one. You don''t have to worry about other people looking for trouble." The man probably wanted to let Arius believe him, so his expression was extremely sincere.


    "Okay, I will tell you. But you must first promise to spare my life."


    Arius gritted his teeth and nodded firmly. He walked towards the other party in a cautious manner.


    The man had a smile on his face. "Don''t worry. I mean what I say. I''m a martial warrior. There''s no need for me to lie to a small martial disciple like you."


    "I put that thing¡­"


    Arius walked until he was within three meters of the martial warrior. Then, his gaze intensified, and he heavily stepped on the ground. Using the rebounding force, Arius jumped high up.


    The smile on the man''s face turned hideous!


    "Little brat, I knew you won''t be so honest. I was already guarding against you. Do you think you can fool me with your hidden intentions?


    "You are just a martial disciple!


    "Today, I will show you the difference between a martial disciple and a martial warrior!"


    The man punched at Arius. There was a layer of brown Force covering his fist, giving off a thick and solid feeling.


    Arius swung his long spear in response.


    grand completion stage Basic Spear Skill!


    When he raised his spear, he didn''t use any Spiritual Ki. However, once the long spear collided with his opponent''s fist, a scorching explosive Spiritual Ki erupted from the sword.


    Boom!


    The two Spiritual Ki collided and caused a loud roar.


    Arius had used all his strength in this attack while the other party had a casual attitude. He considered Arius as just a martial disciple.


    The winner was apparent!


    Slash!


    The man''s flesh got slashed and his bones cracked by the strength behind the attack. Blood spurted out like a fountain, going high into the sky.


    The man''s scream of agony accompanied the falling blood.


    "Ah!"


    One of his arms had been chopped off by Arius.


    A moment ago, he was still confident and arrogant, as if everything was in his control. Now, his face was pale, and his features were distorted from the pain. Astonishment, anger, and disbelief were written all over his face.


    "Martial warrior!


    "You''re actually a martial warrior!"


    The man couldn''t help but exclaim. He never would have thought that this high school brat in front of him was a martial warrior.


    Run!


    He must escape!


    If not, he would die!


    The man had lost an arm, so his battle prowess had drastically dropped. He knew that he wasn''t Arius''s match. His heart was filled with resentment, but he still turned and ran away.


    He had seen the overflowing killing intent on Arius''s face.


    As well as his pair of indifferent eyes.


    There was no hint of anxiety or fear in them anymore. All that was fake. He had been acting, and brilliantly at that.


    This was a¡­ acting god!


    "Are you planning to leave?"


    After Arius chopped off the man''s arm with a single stroke, he didn''t hesitate. He executed his grand completion footwork and accelerated exponentially. Flames intertwined his battle spear as he slashed it at the other party.


    "Little brat, don''t go too far!" the man screamed in terror. At the same time, he wasn''t going to wait for his death. He hurriedly evaded the attacks.


    Arius wasn''t affected. He continued following the man with his footwork and inched closer towards him with every move.


    But, his opponent was obviously an experienced martial warrior with ample battle experience. Despite being heavily injured, he was still able to hold on to his dear life.


    I can''t drag for too long!


    I must end it quickly!


    Arius was in a hurry. In an instant, a spiritual light flashed past, and the battle spear flew out of his hand. He had hurled it at his opponent.


    Swoosh!


    The battle spear shot out like an arrow leaving its bow, bringing with it the power of the fire flames.


    The man''s pupils constricted into a dot. The hair on his body stood up as he tried his best to tilt his body and dodge the sword.


    Slash!


    The battle spear slashed his chest and left a bloody mark behind. The skin around the cut was all burnt.


    Still, he had managed to evade the fatal blow.


    The man was panting heavily, swallowing large puffs of air. He felt as if he had just survived a calamity.


    "Hahaha, little brat, you won''t be able to kill me. Today¡­"


    He burst out laughing. However, before he could finish his sentence, a gust of strong and icy wind smashed towards him from his right.


    The man turned his head.


    A fist that looked like an ice sculpture was quickly growing in size in front of his eyes.


    "Ice element!


    "No!"

 Chapter 43 - 43: Earth Element Talent Has Gone Live

    Translator: Myriad Translations Editor: Myriad Translations


    _______


    "No!"


    The man screamed in terror. He frantically activated the Spiritual Ki in his body and congregated it into an earth-yellow shield.


    "Earth element shield!"


    But, before the shield could form up, Arius''s Diamond Dust Punch[1. A move from the Saint Seiya anime)¡ªErm, that was not right. Before the shield finished assembling, Arius''s Phantom Ice Fist had already slammed into his body.


    Boom!


    Crack!


    The battle shield shattered, and the fist landed on his opponent''s face¡ª


    The passive skill was activated¡­ Disfiguration!


    The man flew backward from the punch.


    There were no low-quality special effects. Instead, only extreme coldness invaded the opponent''s brain. It froze his brain entirely.


    The man''s scream of agony got cut off the second it started.


    His fearful expression solidified on his face as his body flew out like a cannonball and smashed into the ground.


    KO!


    This was a fatal blow. Arius had used all the ice element, Spiritual Ki, in his Spiritual Ki nucleus. Although there wasn''t much Spiritual Ki, it was enough to kill someone!


    The other party was dead!


    From the start, the information he received wasn''t accurate.


    Arius was a martial warrior, not a martial disciple.


    Arius tricked his oblivious opponent. He used the ability of an advanced stage martial disciple to sneak attack his opponent. At the same time, he made his opponent think that he was in complete control.


    At the end, while his opponent was overly confident, he released his power as a martial warrior and chopped off the man''s arm without giving him any time to react. From then on, the man had no thoughts of fighting anymore. He only wanted to run away.


    In this situation, the man couldn''t even release half his battle potential before he got sent to hell by Arius with a single punch.


    The fight ended!


    Arius''s heart was beating like a drum. He was taking ragged breaths to calm his emotions.


    "I killed a martial warrior!"


    Arius was slightly stunned.


    This martial warrior was different from the one he had killed on Mount Blue.


    At that time, the martial warrior on Mount Blue was already injured. Arius didn''t kill him face to face either. He had used a rune gun instead.


    That martial warrior hadn''t expected Arius''s speed to be faster than an average martial disciple, so he had failed in his sneak attack.


    Even more unexpected was that a high school student actually had a rune gun hidden on him.


    All these reasons and coincidences allowed Arius to kill the martial warrior with a few shots.


    So I''m a sneaky attacker?


    How is that possible!


    Arius quickly shook his head.


    He picked up his battle spear and walked forward. After hesitating for a second, he plunged the spear into the man''s heart.


    Even though his ice element Spiritual Ki froze his opponent''s brain, it was safer to stab his heart just in case something happened.


    A few attribute bubbles dropped beside the corpse.


    Beginner stage earth talent*12


    Earth Spiritual Ki*3


    Earth Loess Skill*1


    Spirit*1


    Strength*10


    ¡­


    He was an earth element martial warrior!


    It looks like I have another element now! I''m moving further and further on the path of becoming an all-rounded martial warrior!


    Arius picked up the attribute bubbles. With the effect of Spirit*1, his mind cleared up at once. Simultaneously, the cultivation techniques of the Earth Loess Skill were added to his memory.


    His body became attracted to earth elements, and he was able to feel the earth element Force lingering in his surroundings in the next instant.


    The earth element Spiritual Ki swarm into his body. The three points of earth Force he picked up merged into his body too.


    He followed the method in the ''Earth Loess Skill'' and moved the earth Spiritual Ki throughout his limbs and bones. Then, the Spiritual Ki entered the Spiritual Ki nucleus.


    When a new type of Spiritual Ki entered, the balance in the Spiritual Ki nucleus instantly broke. The ice Spiritual Ki was starting to get restless. However, the occult energy appeared again and pacified his ice, Spiritual Ki.


    The three Spiritual Ki''s gradually spun around, and equilibrium was once again restored. It slowly became a tripartite confrontation.


    Intelligence: 88.1


    Spirit: 20.2


    Talent: Beginner stage fire talent (11/300) Beginner stage ice talent (13/300), Beginner stage earth talent (12/300), Spiritual sight (beginner stage 1.1/10)


    Spiritual Ki: 62/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    5/100 Ice (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    4/100 Earth (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    Scripture: Red Flame Scripture (foundation 2/100), Deep Ice Scripture (foundation 2/100), Earth Loess Skill ''Earth element shield'' (foundation 2/100)


    Battle Techniques: Basic battle techniques (grand completion for Fist, Sword, Blade, Footwork), Basic Staff Skill (foundation), Gun Skill (minor completion), Fire Kirin Spear Skill (foundation 40/100), Phantom Ice Fist (foundation 9/100)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 percent)


    Overall Battle Power: 195


    Blank Attribute: 0


    This guy didn''t drop any battle techniques?


    Arius felt pity when he looked at his attributes panel.


    However, the Earth Loess Skill had a defensive battle technique¡ªEarth Element Shield!


    The defense shield he used in his last moments must be this battle technique. At that time, I broke his shield before he could form it completely. I wonder what its defense ability is like.


    I need to find a chance to experiment with it.


    Arius was delighted with this Earth Element Shield.


    He had a whole arsenal of offensive battle techniques. However, Arius lacked defensive skills. The Earth Element Shield was able to mend his shortcomings.


    The spirit attribute is quite high this time. He dropped one whole point. Is it because I went for his head?


    Should I get a brick and smack people''s heads from now on?


    Arius suddenly felt that this was highly possible when he thought of this idea.


    These thoughts flashed in his mind for a split second only. Thereafter, he shifted his gaze to the corpse in front of him.


    It was time to execute his god-like skill¡ªcorpse looting!


    Sadly, besides a cell phone, the person had nothing in his pocket. There were no rune weapons at all.


    F**k, what a poor fellow!


    Arius didn''t expect this man to be so poor!


    But it wasn''t the man''s fault either. He had just become a martial warrior and spent a fortune to buy the ''Earth Loess Skill.'' He didn''t have money to buy other battle techniques or weapons.


    If not, why would he conceal his whereabouts from the teammates he mentioned and come to find Arius personally?


    He just wanted to take everything that the two martial warriors had left behind.


    Arius didn''t waste any more time. He lit up the corpse with his fire Spiritual Ki and burnt it to ashes.


    As Arius watched the flame gradually extinguish in front of him, he was in a daze. In less than a month, his hands had been stained with the lives of many people.


    He never voluntarily caused any trouble, though. Every single time, he was forced to take action. If not, he would be the one who lost his life.


    But, the people were still killed by him.


    No matter what was said, his hands were the ones stained with blood.


    Sigh, the evil in the world!


    Arius lamented. He believed he was a kind and honest person, but he couldn''t control how the world was like. He was forced to become a murderer!


    The flames extinguished entirely.


    The sea wind blew, and the ashes also scattered in the wind.


    Suddenly, he realized something.


    The Spiritual was an essential item to bring along when killing people and committing crimes!


    Arius clutched the martial warrior''s cell phone in his hand. He squinted slightly and exerted force on his fingers.


    Crack!


    An expensive iPhone cracked between his fingers.


    Arius sneered. He swung his hand and threw the phone into the sea. It sank into the depths with a ''plop.''


    He went to his car and took out the two cell phones he got from the martial warriors on Mount Blue. He repeated his actions and threw them into the water.


    If they wanted to look for the phones, they could fish them out from the sea!


    This matter also gave Arius a warning. In this current society, he had to be careful of technological creations.


    ¡­


    Arius got into his car and left. Luckily, it was already very late, so no other cars drove past him.


    If someone saw him destroying the corpse and clearing evidence, they might be frightened to death.


    Arius went home and laid out all the things he had taken from the two martial warriors in the past. He examined the items carefully. After ensuring that there weren''t any GPS tracking systems, he heaved a sigh of relief.


    I better not bring these things back home in the future. Mom and Dad might get dragged into the revenge of martial warriors.


    They do not practice martial arts. It''s best to leave them out of it.


    No wonder normal people had so little understanding of the martial world. Only when one stepped foot in this pond would they genuinely appreciate the differences.


    Arius had many thoughts in his mind. He spent some time straightening his ideas for the future.


    In that case, I can only rent a house outside. I''ll take a look tomorrow.


    At this moment, Dianne''s voice came from downstairs.


    "Son, hurry up and have some supper!"


    o(¨s¡õ¨t)o Luckily, I practice martial arts. If not, at the rate I''m eating, I''m not sure how fat I will become.

 Chapter 44 - 44: Cut It Half Off

    -----------------+------------------------------------+-----------------


    After Alexander came back, Arius couldn''t do anything he wants now. He could only go to school obediently.


    Arius stuffed the egg into his bag and placed it in his car along with the two weapons. He planned to rent a house outside today.


    He would find a house to hide his egg!


    Arius soon arrived at his school.


    To his amazement, he realized that many people were studying ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers.''He felt a little frightened when he saw how crazy everyone was.


    Even Elaine wasn''t an exception. She was studying very hard as if her life depended on it. She was chanting while writing her notes.


    Seriously, this was¡ªI either go mad or I succeed!


    The martial arts exam was pivotal to the students. Even if the chances were minimal, most of them didn''t want to give up.


    They were willing to bet their lives¡­ pfft, bet their SAT exams on it. No matter what, they had to go all out and try it once.


    Arius felt gratified.


    Look at this entire floor of ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' attribute bubbles. Classmates, you are really amazing. Study hard, please study hard.


    Arius expressed admiration towards the students who were hard at work as he picked up the attribute bubbles.


    ¡ªAll of you are amazing!


    In one morning, Arius quickly mastered the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers.''


    After eating lunch with Saul and his other friends, he drove his car out of school in the afternoon.


    Will and Eddie had been waiting outside the gates of Whitebridge No. 1 High School for almost two hours. Yesterday, after a whole night of consideration, Will made a decision that he didn''t even believe he could ever make.


    He had been waiting for a long time, but he didn''t dare to complain.


    Eddie sat on the steps beside the road in a dejected and despondent manner. He smoked continuously and looked a little downcast.


    When Arius''s car drove out, Will recognized it immediately.


    "Young Master Arius!" his eyes lit up as he shouted in a hurry.


    Arius was just about to drive his car off. When he heard this voice, he stepped on the brake again. "Oh, it''s him. He really came."


    He parked the car beside the road and came down.


    "How is it? Have you thought about it properly?" Arius said to Will after getting out of his car.


    "Since I promised Young Master Arius, I will definitely solve it quickly," Will gave a bitter smile as he replied.


    "In that case, what decision will you make?" Arius asked with interest. He was a little curious when he saw Will''s reaction.


    Will gritted his teeth. He seemed a little hesitant at the last moment. But, in the end, he still said, "Young Master Arius, I''m not someone talented or powerful, but I do have some beginner stage and intermediate stage martial disciples following me for a living¡­


    "If you don''t mind, we will follow Young Master Arius from now on."


    Arius was dumbfounded.


    He thought that Will might dispose of his assets to gather more liquid cash or find a few rune weapons or something similar to solve the grudge between them.


    But, he never imagined that Will would burn his boats and put himself at his command along with his subordinates!


    "Brother!" Eddie was flabbergasted.


    He didn''t expect Will to make this decision either. If he really became Arius''s lackey, there wouldn''t be anyone he could rely on in the future.


    Arius was contemplating something, though. He had a sudden thought.


    Most of the gangsters were just beginner stage or intermediate stage martial disciples. Will was the only advanced stage martial disciple among his fellow hooligans. However, this was still a small faction.


    He could keep them under his wings!


    But, he didn''t agree immediately. Instead, he gave a look of dilemma.


    Will''s heart skipped a beat when he saw this. He pulled Eddie, who was beside him, aside and said, "My younger brother is the one who caused this issue because he can''t control the lower part of his body. If Young Master Arius feels that this isn''t enough, we can cut it off. He won''t be able to carry out misdeeds in the future."


    Eddie almost peed his pants in fright.


    "Brother!


    "My biological elder brother!


    "I must have been picked up from the streets. How can you treat me so cruelly!" he shouted and struggled frantically in his hold.


    But, with his ability, he wasn''t able to resist Will, an advanced stage martial disciple.


    Arius was stunned too.


    "Ok¡­ stop it!"


    He only regained his senses after a long while. He stared at Will with a strange expression.


    If these two people weren''t similar in their looks, he would really have thought that Eddie was picked up from the streets.


    "Don''t you think that throwing your brother under bus is a little too harsh?" Arius muttered.


    Eddie was so touched that he almost cried when he heard Arius speaking up for him. He nodded his head hurriedly.


    "Brother, look, even Young Master Arius feels this way. Please spare me this time.


    "I won''t dare to do it again!


    "That time, I was blind. That was why I had some thoughts towards Young Master Arius''s friend. I shouldn''t have had those thoughts. I know my mistake¡­"


    Will wasn''t moved in the slightest.


    However, Arius nodded. "It looks like your brother really recognizes his mistake. In that case, we don''t have to cut it off entirely."


    Will felt that something was wrong when he listened to their conversation. But, he didn''t manage to react immediately.


    Eddie was delighted. He knew that Arius had softened his attitude. His brother wouldn''t have to cut his lifeline off for real.


    But, Arius paused before continuing, "I''m a benevolent person. Let''s just cut half of it!"


    Will: ¡­


    Eddie: $%%¡­*&&*#$$$$¡­&


    You must be a devil!


    Your heart must be black!


    Half?


    To hell with half!


    Eddie''s entire face turned pale. He looked at Arius in a daze, especially the expression when he said that he was benevolent. He felt extremely uncomfortable by his sick behavior.


    "Young Master Arius, why don''t we just cut the whole thing off?"


    Will''s eyelids twitched furiously. He kept warning himself continuously that he must not provoke Wang Teng in the future.


    At this moment, Eddie even felt that Will was speaking for his sake.


    Cut half of it¡­


    It was better to be more direct!


    There were no emotions in Arius''s eyes. He was frightened and had no urge to live anymore.


    The world is too scary! Mom, I want to go home!


    Arius noticed that his words had the desired effect, so he stopped frightening Eddie. He patted his shoulder and said to him, "Alright, I was just trying to scare you. Don''t cause trouble in the future. You won''t meet someone who''s so easy to talk to like me all the time."


    Eddie abruptly raised his head. His face was filled with a pleasant surprise. He didn''t need to cut it off anymore?


    "But, if you repeat the same mistake, I will take care of you personally!" Arius said in a calm tone. Then, he ignored Eddie and went back into his car. He started the engine and prepared to leave.


    "Young Master Arius, what do you think of my suggestion just now?" Will shouted frantically.


    "There''s no hurry. Wait for me to check their backgrounds. If they''re up to my requirements, we can talk about it again."


    Arius winded down the car window and glanced at Will. He left him with this reply and drove off in his car.


    After the car went a distance away, Eddie carefully asked his brother, "Brother, you''re not cutting me anymore?"


    "Idiot, only you think that I want to cut you. Don''t you know the self-torture trick? Young Master Arius saw through it at one glance. He just wanted to scare you. Look at how timid you are," Will glared at him as he replied.


    Eddie was used to getting scolded, so he didn''t mind it this time, either. He just heaved a sigh of relief and patted his chest. "I was almost scared to death!"


    "Useless thing!" Will got angrier. He kicked his brother indignantly.


    Eddie jumped to the side skillfully and dodged the kick. He sniggered and asked again, "Brother, are we really going to listen to him from now on?"


    "There''s a brighter future in following a martial warrior than an advanced stage martial disciple like me. What''s more, he''s such a young martial warrior," Will answered in a profound manner.

 Chapter 45 - 45: A Man Who Possessed 18 Relocated Houses

    After parting with Will and his brother, Arius pondered over Arius''s suggestion while driving.


    He had to admit that Will was street smart.


    When Will chose to seek refuge with Arius, a martial warrior, he was able to resolve the grudges between them in the past. At the same time, he was also able to turn Arius into his security blanket.


    There was also that self-torture trick just now¡­ Hmph~


    Arius smiled ambiguously.


    Should he accept Will''s sincerity?


    ¡­


    As he thought about this, Arius drove his car into an estate.


    During his lesson in the morning, he had searched for all the available houses between Whitebridge No. 1 High School and his home on 58.


    He had also set appointments with a few landlords in the afternoon to take a look at the houses.


    The estate in front of him was his first destination. The landlord was a middle-aged woman around 50 years old.


    Since Arius was a little late, the woman''s expression was unhappy. However, when she saw him driving a supercar, her eyes lit up. She immediately turned enthusiastic.


    She brought Arius for a tour of the house. She kept introducing the house to him, telling him how good her place was and how conveniently located it was.


    Arius felt his head spinning because of her chattering.


    Also, the moment they talked about the rent, he felt even more speechless.


    On the website, it was written as 540 per month. Yet, when he came, it became 930 per month. The price rose by almost 100%!


    It was obvious that she was treating him like a wastrel!


    In the end, Arius could only get rid of the naggy old woman by telling her that he needed to go home and consider the offer.


    He couldn''t help but heave a sigh of relief when he drove out of the estate.


    It was seriously frightening!


    After that, he went to look at a few more houses, but none of them were satisfactory.


    Some had weird landlords, while others had so many rules and regulations that they didn''t seem to be looking for a tenant. Instead, they must be seeking a guard to watch over their house¡­


    This room was out of bounds; that appliance mustn''t be used!


    My house was renovated recently, so please don''t dirty the walls!


    Remember to water the flowers and plants on my balcony. Remember to feed the dogs and cats, etc.


    There were all kinds of rules like these!


    Arius was speechless. If they couldn''t bear to leave their house, why bother renting it?


    Since the flowers and plants were so precious, since the dogs and cats were so cute, why didn''t they bring them along and raise them personally?


    ¡­


    After spending an hour or so, he didn''t gain anything. Arius shook his head and went straight to the last house.


    Actually, he didn''t dare to have too much hope.


    "I should have just found an agent!" Arius shook his head. After the Amrit family declined in his past life, he went to rent a house outside alone and got tricked by real estate agents a few times. He could still remember it vividly. That was why he subconsciously threw away the thought of looking for agents.


    The last house was located around Whitebridge University town.


    It wasn''t situated on the path from his house to Whitebridge No. 1 High School anymore. However, this area was secluded and quiet. It was at the edge of a university town, so the security was not bad either.


    He saw it coincidentally and felt that it was not bad. Thus, he decided to take a look.


    "Are you ''Young Master Arius, the king of Qidian Orphanage''?"


    The landlord was a middle-aged rough-looking man. He was wearing beach pants and slippers as he stood at the side of the road. The moment he saw Arius, his question shocked him.


    "Young Master Arius, the king¡­ of Qidian Orphanage?!"


    He wondered for a moment before he remembered that this seemed to be his online nickname.


    He had created the nickname back when he was young and childish. He had long forgotten about it. When he went online in the morning today, he didn''t notice his nickname at all.


    He didn''t expect someone to recite his nickname out¡­


    It was so embarrassing!


    He wished to disappear on the spot!


    Deep down inside, he really wanted to find a hole and bury himself in it, but on the surface, he remained exceptionally calm. He nodded.


    "You''re the landlord!"


    "Yes, it''s me. Come, I''ll take you to see the house." The rough-looking man acted naturally. He didn''t get overly excited.


    This looked like someone who had been through many experiences in life!


    He brought Arius in a certain direction.


    There was an area filled with low-level apartments in front of them. They walked in from the main road and twisted and turned in the small alley. After some time, they finally arrived in front of a house with a courtyard.


    The outside wall was greyish-white and covered with vines. The landlord opened the metal gates and entered first.


    "You can take a look around yourself."


    Arius didn''t hold back and started sizing up the house straight away. The more he looked at it, the more satisfied he felt.


    The location of the house was quiet. It looked old from the outside, but the decorations inside were all new. It appeared extremely comfortable.


    There was a small courtyard included. It looked spacious. If he wanted to practice martial arts, he would be able to move freely here.


    The university town was not far away from this house. It was quiet, but once you stepped outside, you could see the student street in the distance. At night, at around 10 pm, it was still very lively.


    Most of the people living in this area were ordinary families. Many university students also rented a room here. There weren''t many rotten eggs mixed in.


    "What do you think?" asked the landlord when he saw Arius had finished his tour of the house.


    "Not bad. Tell me about the price." Arius nodded.


    The landlord took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth. At the same time, he passed one to Arius. "Do you want one?"


    Arius accepted it and placed it in his mouth.


    The landlord lit up the cigarette and took a deep puff. He blew the smoke out slowly and asked, "Are you renting it alone?"


    "That''s right." Arius nodded.


    "If you''re renting it alone, it won''t be cheap. However, I noticed that you drove a supercar over, so you probably don''t lack the money." The landlord smiled. "How about this? I won''t charge you more. 800 a month, can you accept this price?"


    Arius had checked the rent of the houses in this estate coming here. This price was really reasonable.


    Also, the renovation was not bad. By right, other people would rent the house if the price was slightly higher.


    Arius couldn''t help but glance at the rough-looking man. He was a little astounded.


    "What''s wrong? Do you find it too cheap?" The rough-looking man knew what Arius was thinking at a single glance. He smiled, revealing his yellow teeth.


    "The price is alright. I won''t mind if it''s a little higher. However, I have a requirement," Arius said.


    "You have a requirement? Tell me about it!" The rough-looking man raised his eyebrows.


    "When I''m renting the house, no one can enter it, including you," Arius said.


    "No problem! This is reasonable." The rough-looking man nodded and replied without any hesitation.


    In the end, the man didn''t ask for more money. He kept his word and rented the house to Arius for 800 a month. This caused Arius to have a good impression of the man.


    A month of rent as a deposit and three months of rent paid on the spot.


    Received on Paypal.


    The contract was also signed.


    The rough-looking man took out a bunch of keys and passed them to Arius.


    "If you''re worried, I can pass you the spare keys too. I lived in the newly built estate just beside this one. If you''re not in a hurry to leave, I can go back and bring the spare keys for you." The rough-looking man pointed at an estate that could be seen from here.


    "I''ll be moving in at night. You can give it to me then." Arius didn''t reject his offer.


    The rough-looking man nodded in agreement. They started walking towards the main road outside. By foot, it only took a few minutes.


    When they reached the main road and were just about to bid farewell to each other, the rough-looking man''s cell phone rang.


    "The vast sky is my love¡­"


    The passionate and unrestrained ringtone echoed in the streets. Many students walking by turned around to look at them.


    The rate of second glance was 200%!


    "Hello, yes, wife¡­ Okay, okay, I will come back immediately¡­ what? Oh, buy a bottle of soy sauce? Sure, I will go and buy it at once."


    Arius looked at the rough-looking hunk, who was still calm and composed a moment ago. Right now, he looked like a mouse that had met a cat. He was nodding his head and bowing as he answered the call. The fawning intention in his voice was evident. For a moment, his expression was extremely interesting to watch.


    After some time, the rough-looking man hung up the call and heaved a long sigh.


    He lit a cigarette to calm his soul.


    His back started to straighten again.


    "Sigh, I''m a man who has 18 rental houses. Why did I fall in the hands of a woman?"


    Arius: ¡­


    Brother, I think you just revealed something terribly serious!


    *************


    hey guys if you find anything wrong in the paragraph or any typos, comment on the paragraph so I can fix it. thx

 Chapter 46 - 46: The Benefit Of Crossing Your Legs While Cultivating—Numb Legs!

    --------------------+------------------------------+---------------------


    Arius was enlightened.


    No wonder this landlord didn''t care about money. No wonder he didn''t care if he was receiving a 150 USD lesser for his rent.


    This was how outstanding a man with 18 properties should be!


    This was how someone arrogant and amazing should be!


    One must admit that he had the right to do so!


    Although he seemed a little scared of his wife, he still put up a strong front. Though deep down inside, Arius could see a weak and heartless soul that had suffered greatly.


    Amen. Let''s stand in a silent tribute for three seconds!


    Looking at Arius''s gaze, the rough-looking man opened his mouth.


    "Brother, you don''t have to say anything. I understand. I respect a man like you too. Hurry up and beat¡­ Oh, I meant buy soy sauce. Your wife is still waiting for you."


    Arius patted his shoulder and said earnestly.


    The rough-looking man opened his mouth again, but he couldn''t say a single word. In the end, he just waved his hand and walked dejectedly towards the convenience stall at the side¡ªto buy soy sauce.


    This was how a real man should act. He must have the guts to face the female tiger at home.


    Arius got into his car and glanced at the lonely back view one last time. He sighed before he left, letting his sigh dissipate in the wind.


    ¡­


    Arius went back to school. There were ten minutes until the lessons resumed. But, he didn''t plan to go back to his classroom.


    He felt that it was a waste of time for him to stay in the classroom obediently.


    He didn''t need to worry about the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers.'' He would take some time every day to farm for attributes. Soon, he would be able to reach full marks.


    "Class Monitor, please cover for me in the afternoon."


    Arius said to Elaine. Under the lady''s helpless gaze, he left the classroom light-heartedly.


    "This fellow is so infuriating. He always asks me to cover up for him. I should have ignored him at the start. Why is he asking me again and again? He''s being insatiable." Elaine stomped her feet uncontrollably.


    Actually, all the teachers knew that this rich second generation, Arius, was either skipping classes or playing with his phone in class. However, they had always turned a blind eye to him.


    In the teachers'' eyes, Arius was a hopeless cause. They were already delighted if he didn''t affect the other students in class.


    The school bell rang.


    The noise and clamor inside the school campus slowly quietened down. After some time, only the sound of teachers teaching could be heard.


    Arius walked along the paths in school. He decided to find a place to cultivate.


    Ever since he became a martial warrior, he had never practiced formally.


    Since he had some spare time now, he would use it to practice his Spiritual Ki skill scriptures and see their effects.


    There was a small patch of forest behind the stadium. Usually, besides a few bad students who went there to smoke, very few would go there.


    It was lesson time now, so there was no one there at all.


    Arius thought for a moment and walked towards the small forest.


    A few bird chips and cries of insects were the only noise in the otherwise silent small forest. This area seemed exceptionally quiet and peaceful.


    Arius kept walking further in and saw a huge rock. There was just enough space for a person to sit on its surface.


    He jumped lightly and sat down cross-legged on the rock.


    The tree shade above him coincidentally blocked the scorching sun for him. But, the temperature was still on the high side. Arius used his ice element Spiritual Ki to create a circle of ice cubes around him.


    The temperature instantly lowered to a cool spring breeze.


    Comfortable!


    Seeing that there was no one around him, Arius closed his eyes and began practicing his Spiritual Ki skill scriptures. He started with the ''Red Flame Scripture.''


    Following the instructions on the scripture, he drew out the fire Spiritual Ki in his Spiritual Ki nucleus and circulated them around his limbs and bones.


    Arius slowly entered the state of cultivation.


    All the fire Spiritual Ki in his surroundings surged towards him¡­


    Based on the description of ''Red Flame Scripture,'' when the Spiritual Ki circled once around the body following the scripture''s instructions and then returned to the Spiritual Ki nucleus, this was considered a cycle.


    At this moment, the fire Spiritual Ki had already finished one cycle. However, Arius didn''t stop. He continued cultivating.


    One cycle, two cycles, three cycles¡­


    One hour passed very quickly.


    Arius was exceptionally focused when he was cultivating.


    An hour later, he slowly opened his eyes. He felt that the fire Spiritual Ki in his body had become much stronger. He was also more well-versed with ''Red Flame Scripture.''


    His gaze landed on his attributes panel.


    [Intelligence]: 83.1


    ]Spirit]: 20.2


    [Talent]: Beginner stage fire talent (11/300) Beginner stage ice talent (13/300), Beginner stage earth talent (12/300), Spiritual Sight (beginner stage 1.1/10)


    [Force]: 63/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    5/100 Ice (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    4/100 Earth (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    Scripture: Red Flame Scripture (foundation 5/100), Deep Ice Scripture (foundation 2/100), Earth Loess Skill ''Earth Element Shield'' (foundation 2/100)


    Battle Techniques: Basic battle techniques (mastery for fist, sword, blade, footwork), Basic Stick Skill (foundation), Gun Skill (small achievement), Fire Kirin Spear Skill (foundation 40/100), Phantom Ice Fist (foundation 9/100)


    Knowledge: Basic Subjects (100 percent)


    [Overall Battle Power]: 195


    Blank Attribute: 0


    My fire Spiritual Ki only increased by one point! Arius''s eyes widened in surprise.


    He had cultivated for an entire hour, but his fire Force only increased by a single point. He was flabbergasted by the turtle-like speed.


    Typically, he relied on collecting attributes to raise his points, so his abilities increased exponentially. It couldn''t be any faster.


    As expected, there was no harm if there was no comparison.


    It looked like he was really spoiled by the system.


    What if the system disappeared one day?


    Once Arius thought of this possibility, his heart constricted. He hurriedly shook his head to dispel the thought. No way, no way, I can''t be over-reliant on the system. I must work hard on my cultivation!


    He took a deep breath and steeled his heart. Arius''s gaze became resolute. After sorting out his thoughts on this matter, he adjusted his mentality and started to be positive.


    Then, his gaze went down the attributes panel.


    Red Flame Scripture (foundation 5/100)¡ªHis proficiency had increased by three points.


    Arius nodded silently. If he continued working hard like this, it would only be a matter of time before he achieved his breakthrough.


    When he reached the next level, his cultivation speed would definitely become faster.


    He started cultivating again. But, he changed the scripture he was practicing to ''Deep Oce Scripture'' and ''Earth Loess Skill.''


    As compared to the fire Spiritual Ki, his ice Spiritual Ki and earth Spiritual Ki were undeniably too weak.


    Yesterday night, when he was fighting with his opponent, the ice Spiritual Ki had played a decisive role as an unexpected final move that took his opponent by surprise.


    Thus, there was a need to upgrade these two Spiritual Ki. In the future, they could be his hidden trump cards.


    Time passed slowly¡­


    For the entire afternoon, Arius sat on the rock and cultivated his Force skill scriptures without moving an inch. When the school bell signaling the end of the last lesson ended, he stopped his cultivation.


    He glanced at the attributes panel one last time.


    His ice Spiritual Ki and earth Spiritual Ki had increased by 1.5 points, respectively.


    At the same time, his ''Deep Ice Scripture'' had improved by 4 points and his ''Earth Loess Skill'' by 3.


    The gains are not bad!


    This time, Arius didn''t look down on the small increase.


    Yes, his mentality had gotten stable!


    He wanted to get down from the rock, but his two legs were stiff. He almost fell to the ground.


    Oh my god, what a huge fright!


    He grabbed the rock in a flurry and panted.


    As a martial warrior, he almost fell down from a rock that was only this tall in height. If word spread out, other people would laugh at him.


    Damn it, novels are fake. Who says that the cultivation results are better when you cross your legs? My legs are numb!


    He couldn''t move his legs at all. Arius had no choice but to pry his legs open with his hand and let them rest for a while. Only then could he step on the ground and walk. He kept complaining in his heart.

 Chapter 47 - 47: Working Out? Good For Healthly Things~

    ....


    After the lesson ended, the school became extremely noisy.


    The students from the different years walked out of their classrooms. They merged into human streams and surged towards the entrance of the school.


    Arius went straight to the teachers'' office instead. He was going there to look for his headteacher, Mr. Lee, to register for the martial arts exam.


    The office was livelier than what Arius expected. The desks of the headteachers of the year three classes were even more so. They were surrounded by students, making the whole office appear crowded.


    When Arius knocked on the door, he immediately attracted everyone''s attention.


    After all, Arius was quite famous in the year three cohort.


    "Why is it him?"


    "What is he doing here? Did he come to register?"


    "The rich second generation wants to participate in the martial arts exam too? Has he even practiced martial arts before? Is he joking around?"


    "Did he say that he had never practiced martial arts before?"


    The sudden rhetorical question caused the people discussing in hushed voices to turn strangely quiet.


    "Well~ he has never said that before."


    "In that case, what are you all gossiping about?"


    ¡­


    O((¡Ñ_¡Ñ))o


    The conversation was put to an abrupt halt.


    Then, everyone continued gathering around their headteachers and registered their names seriously. It felt as if nothing had happened.


    "Arius!" Mr. Lee also noticed Arius. His tone carried obvious surprise. "You came to register too? Come in!"


    As a professional headteacher, he clearly knew how many students in his class had chances of entering the martial arts course.


    Arius was obviously not one of them.


    Although Wang Teng''s father occasionally gave him gifts, he still had his principles.


    I will persuade this fellow later. The martial arts exam isn''t something to play with.


    Mr. Lee thought to himself secretly. Then, he continued, "Wait at the side for a moment. I will help them finish their registration first."


    "Okay." Arius nodded.


    His gaze landed on his classmates. There were a few people he was unfamiliar with. Then, there was Neal, who sat in front of him, and¡­


    His table buddy and class monitor, Elaine!


    Neal was fine. He had an uncle working in the Department of Education, so he had gotten some inside scoop a long time ago. He had more time to prepare as compared to other people. Thus, his confidence was explanatory.


    As for Elaine, forgetting her ability first, the ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' was enough to let her suffer.


    However, she came to register the next day after the announcement was released.


    It should be known that many people were still hesitating. They couldn''t decide within such a short time.


    The martial arts exam was intersected with the regular SAT exams. If one applied for the martial arts exam, they wouldn''t be able to take part in a few subjects of the standard university entrance exam.


    It looked like Elaine''s resolution was quite firm!


    "Elaine, have you thought about this carefully?" Arius moved towards Elaine and asked in a low voice.


    "That''s right, Class Monitor. The martial arts exam isn''t a child''s play. There''s even a death rate for the actual combat assessment. It''s very dangerous."


    Neal was in a dilemma just now. He didn''t know how to start a conversation. Hence, when he heard Arius starting this topic, he jumped into the conversation and persuaded Elaine.


    "I know. I have given it careful thought," Elaine nodded and replied.


    "Your parents agreed?" Arius asked with a frown.


    "My parents¡­ I can make my own decision!" Elaine obviously hesitated for a second, but she still replied to them firmly.


    The corner of Arius''s mouth twitched. So, she didn''t discuss it with her parents. Was this young lady so independent?


    He wanted to dissuade her again, but when he saw her stubborn and pretty face, he swallowed the words back into his mouth.


    "Sigh, forget it. Everyone has their right to make decisions. Since she has made up her mind, there''s no point in me persuading her otherwise."


    Neal saw that Arius had shut his mouth. It wasn''t appropriate for him to continue speaking, either.


    At this moment, all the other students had finished their registration. He walked forward and handed over his registration fee. Then, he filled in the registration form, and just like that, the registration process was done.


    The process was surprisingly simple!


    Neal left after he finished his registration. Mr. Lee took the water cup beside him and opened its lid. He blew the water in the cup.


    With his sharp eyes, Arius noticed the wolfberries in the cup flipping their bodies naughtily.


    ©¤©¥_©¤©¥?


    Elaine tried her best to maintain the stern expression on her face.


    Mr. Lee didn''t sense their change in expression, though. He took a sip of his wopfberries tea and looked at the two people in front of him. His head was hurting slightly.


    One was the top student in his year three class eight. She was one of the best talents in the year three cohort and had the potential to enter The First University.


    But, this child wanted to participate in the martial arts exam.


    He wasn''t saying that the martial arts exam was bad; it was just a problem of suitability.


    In terms of studies, Elaine was the best in the entire Whitebridge No. 1 High School. However, speaking of the martial arts exam, if she was really able to pass the exam, her results wouldn''t be high. At least, it wouldn''t be as high as her general papers.


    Elaine had rushed over immediately after her lesson ended. He had persuaded her for a long time, but her mind was fixed. He couldn''t convince him no matter how hard he tried. How could Mr. Lee''s head not hurt?


    As for the other person¡ªArius!


    He was a rich second generation. His studies were extremely poor, and there was nothing that could be said about it. But, the martial arts exam wasn''t an ordinary exam. Mr. Lee didn''t want him to joke around with his life.


    Thus, he said, "Arius, I''ve said before that the martial arts exam is dangerous. You didn''t hear me, right?"


    "Teacher, I heard you alright." Arius rolled his eyes. Why doesn''t he trust me?


    "You heard me¡­ then why do you still want to register for it?" Mr. Lee was frustrated.


    "Teacher, I understand that you''re doing this for my sake, but I know what I''m doing. You don''t have to worry." Arius noticed that his teacher still appeared unconvinced, so he revealed his trump card. "Also, my father agreed."


    "Oh! Your father agreed!" Mr. Lee was slightly stunned. He wondered to himself, It looks like he has his ways. It''s good to be wealthy¡­


    Eventually, he nodded. "In that case, come over and register."


    He handed the registration form to Arius.


    Arius paid the fee and signed his name on the form. Done!


    At the same time, Mr. Lee addressed Elaine again. "Elaine, I still hope that you will consider this again. The SAT examS is a huge turning point in life. You can''t act on impulse."


    "Teacher, I''m not acting on impulse. I''ve already thought about this very, very clearly," Elaine replied with a bitter smile.


    She didn''t expect her greatest obstacle to be her headteacher.


    She knew that he was doing this for her sake, but she really wanted to take part in the martial arts exam. She was very determined, so determined that if she didn''t participate, she would regret it for life.


    "Teacher, even if I participate in the martial arts exam, I won''t give up my general education ."


    Elaine bit her lips and continued, "If I can''t pass the martial arts exam this year, I will give up wholeheartedly. I will repeat my year and go for the normal university entrance exam."


    Since she had already said this, Mr. Lee couldn''t do anything more, no matter how unwilling he was. He just sighed and approved her application.


    After the two of them left the office, a teacher at the side said to Mr. Lee, "Mr. Lee, that''s the top student in your class, right? Are you letting her go just like this?"


    "What else can I do? Her mind is set. Am I supposed to prevent her from registering?" Mr. Lee glanced sideways at the other party.


    "Sigh, that''s true. But, honestly speaking, the attractiveness of the martial arts path is really frightening. If I was a few years younger, I might have wanted to give it a try, too," said the teacher.


    "Why can''t you practice if you''re older? You can still do light workouts ? After some modifications by the martial warriors, New workouts  are now very suitable for old people to practice. Even if you are not a martial warrior, you can use it to strengthen your body."


    Mr. Lee took a sip of his wolfberries tea as he spoke calmly.


    "Oh? Mr. Lee, are you working out?" The teacher''s eyes lit up.


    "Haha, of course." Mr. Lee was a little proud. His interest was immediately perked up. "Let me tell you, working out is excellent for our health. After working out for a bit, my back doesn''t hurt anymore, and I''m not balding. I''m very energetic at night too!"


    "¨t(*¡ã¨Œ¡ã*)¨sMr. Lee, teach me when you''re free (*^¨Œ^*)."


    "No problem. Let''s meet in the park in the evening?"


    "Sure, see you at the park!"

 Chapter 48 - 48: A Data Report

    ....


    After coming out of the teachers'' office, Arius and Elaine walked to the school gates side by side.


    "Class Monitor, it''s dinner time now. Why don''t I treat you to a meal?"


    "There''s no need for that. My mom has already cooked dinner and is waiting for me to go back," Elaine rejected him without any hesitation.


    "Alright, we will part here then." Arius smiled. He didn''t mind her response.


    "Alright, goodbye!" replied Elaine.


    Arius waved his hand. He sat in his car and drove away alone. Along the way, he called the landlord and informed him that he was going over to the house now.


    Approximately ten minutes later, in the university town, it was the same pavement beside the main road. The rough-looking man rode his little scooter with a beauty sitting behind him.


    The scene looked extremely dissolute.


    It was the same rough-looking man but with an additional beauty hugging his waist. Arius almost couldn''t recognize the guy.


    He parked his sports car at the side of the road and got down.


    "Little Brother Arius, over here." The landlord waved at him.


    Arius walked over only after he was called. He said in a meaningful tone, "Brother, I only left for an afternoon, but I almost couldn''t recognize you."


    The landlord obviously knew what he meant. He laughed and said, "Low profile, low profile."


    The beauty behind him rolled her eyes and lifted her hand to pinch his fat waist. "Stupid fellow!"


    Oh my, the voice was a little sweet.


    "Ouch!" The rough-looking man gasped in pain.


    "You must be ''Young Master Arius, the king of Qidian Orphanage,'' right? Old Wade  mentioned you before," the beauty turned to Arius and said.


    Arius: ¡­


    The landlord burst out laughing when he saw Arius''s frustrated expression. "Alright, don''t mention this matter anymore. Normal people won''t have the ability to bear with this name."


    "It''s all youth''s fault!" Arius replied helplessly.


    "How old are you?" The beauty covered her mouth and smiled.


    "Let me introduce her to you. This is my wife. You can call her Sister Lorin ," said the landlord.


    "Sister Lorin!" Arius called. Then, he continued, "My name is Arius Amrit. You can call me by my name."


    "You and Old Wade have the same surname," Sister Han smiled and replied.


    "That''s right. Brother has the surname ''Amrit'' too. Oh right, I don''t know your name yet." Arius smiled. He felt that this was fate.


    "There''s no need to mention my name. I''ll call you Brother Arius, and if you don''t mind, you can call me Old Brother Wade." Wade gave a look of contempt when his name was mentioned.


    Arius didn''t probe further. He nodded and asked, "Are you going out to play?"


    "That''s right. This idiot hasn''t brought me out for a long time. He hardly accompanied me out today," Sister Lorin said sadly.


    "Old Brother Wade, this is your Arius fault. Sister Lorin is so pretty. How can you coop her up at home for so long?" Arius smiled.


    "Did you hear that? Learn from Little Arius. Look at how smart he is," Sister Lorin pinched Wade''s ears as she said.


    Wade''s expression became distorted due to the pain. He glared at Arius


    "I will not disturb you, then. Old Brother Wade, get have some fun quickly." Arius pushed Wade in a friendly manner.


    ¡­


    At the same time, in the office building of Shinning Martial House.


    A young lady around twenty years old was walking towards the principal''s office in haste. There was a piece of paper in her hand. It was a data report.


    Ray was a staff member of Shinning Martial House. While she was collecting the data of the martial disciples today, something caught her attention.


    At the principal''s office entrance, Ray adjusted her breathing that had turned a little rapid because of her brisk walk. Then, she knocked on the door.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    "Come in." A deep voice came from inside.


    Ray pushed the door open and walked in.


    "What''s the matter?"


    The principal was a man around 30 years old. He had short hair that looked like steel spikes on his head. Every single strand of his hair was erected. He wore a stern expression and gave off a fierce and sharp aura.


    The staff of Shinning Martial House would all feel a little frightened when facing the principal. Ray was no exception. At this moment, she needed to gather her courage before she dared to step forward and place the data report on the principal''s table.


    "Principal, there''s something wrong with this report. I think that you should take a look at it."


    "Oh?"


    Mitchell Beard raised his eyebrows. He stopped what he was doing and turned his attention to the date report.


    He took the report and leaned against his chair. He scanned through it twice.


    "A normal person rose to become an advanced stage martial disciple in less than a month? Hmm, this is interesting!"Mitchell smiled ambiguously.


    Ray wanted to say something, but Mitchell continued, "You can leave now. I''ll keep it with me. Also, don''t tell anyone else about the content of this report."


    "Yes!" Ray replied in a hurry.


    Ray didn''t dare to probe further.


    ¡­


    After Arius took the keys from the landlord, he placed the crow egg in the bedroom in the house. He then turned on the incubator and slowly incubated the egg.


    Then, he drove his car home to have dinner. Afterward, as usual, he went to the martial arts academy to pick up some attributes.


    For the next two days, Arius''s life was very peaceful. He followed the same routine every day.


    In the morning, he would go to school to collect some ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' attributes. If he didn''t want to attend the lesson, he would go to the little forest to practice his Spiritual Ki skill scriptures.


    This allowed the proficiency of his Spiritual Ki and skill scriptures to rise.


    At night, he would visit Shinning Martial House to pick up some attributes to perfect his basic battle techniques and raise his battle power.


    Of course, he didn''t forget his two main offensive Spiritual Ki battle techniques, Fire Kirin Spear Skill and Phantom Ice Fist.


    After repeated attempts, Arius realized that he was able to raise 1 point of his battle technique every ten times he practiced.


    Also, as his Intelligence increased, the speed of his cultivation followed suit.


    This caused his thirst for Intelligence attributes to grow stronger.


    Arius also experimented with the defense ability of Earth Element Shield.


    If he executed it to its fullest potential, Earth Element Shield could block approximately 80% of his attacking power.


    This was not bad already, keeping in mind that his overall battle power was at 201 points now. This meant that Earth Element Shield was able to neutralize a third to half of a full-fledged attack of a one-star high-class martial warrior.


    This was enough to save his life in critical times.


    Furthermore, as long as he had ample earth Force, the defense ability of his earth Force could still be increased.


    [Intelligence]: 90


    [Spirit]: 22.8


    [Talent]: Beginner stage fire talent (11/300) Beginner stage ice talent (13/300), Beginner stage earth talent (12/300), Spiritual sight (beginner stage 1.1/10)


    [Spiritual Ki]: 64/100 Fire (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    8/100 Ice (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    7/100 Earth (one-star soldier level martial warrior)


    [Scripture]: Red Flame Scripture (foundation 20/100), Deep Ice Scripture (foundation 12/100), Earth Loess Skill ''Earth Element Shield'' (foundation 15/100)


    [Battle Techniques]: Basic battle techniques (mastery for fist, sword, blade, footwork, spear), Basic Staff Skill (foundation), Gun Skill (small achievement), Fire Kirin Spear Skill (foundation 43/100), Phantom Ice Fist (foundation 13/100)


    [Knowledge]: Basic Subjects (100 Percent), ''Five Years of Martial Arts Exam, Three Years of Mock Papers'' (80 points)


    Overall Battle Power: 201


    Blank Attribute: 0


    Arius nodded in satisfaction when he looked at the changes in his attributes board. It was improving at a visible rate. This was enough to delight him.


    Besides cultivation, Arius also guarded against the team that the earth element martial warrior had mentioned before his death.


    The three martial warriors that died were probably just a part of a martial warrior team. Their disappearance would definitely raise the attention of the other team members.


    He hoped that those people wouldn''t be able to find him out¡­


    Friday arrived. ''Master Griffin'' flagship store, where Arius had ordered his weapon carrier casket, finally responded to him.

 Chapter 49 - 49:Becoming A Certified Martial Warrior

    Master Griffin: Dear, your little basket is ready (*^_^*)!


    ¡­


    What did he mean by little basket!


    Why can''t he type properly?


    The happiness in his heart instantly turned into a stomach full of complaints that he couldn''t vent.


    The other party immediately sent a file over¡ª


    Weapon carrier casket.jpg


    The appearance of the weapon carrier casket was a little different from the last time he saw it. The color was changed to black. At the same time, there were a few silver runes on the surface. The whole thing looked extremely mysterious.


    Not bad~ it''s just a little eye-catching.


    Is this person a runemaster?


    Arius couldn''t help but guess.


    Arius: You even added runes?


    Master Griffin: That''s right, dear. Relying solely on the mechanism is getting outdated. Hence, I added some runes to add finishing touches. As long as you activate the rune, the weapon you need will spring out with a swoosh. It''s really convenient to use.


    Arius: Not bad. In that case, the price should be higher, right?


    Master Griffin: The price doesn''t matter. My grandfather will be elated if I''m able to sell this weapon carrier casket. It''s alright to spend some effort on this matter.


    This was a good person!


    That''s right, he is a filial and good person!


    Arius gave him a long-distance good man card.


    Arius: Alright, I will pay and order now. You can send the casket to me immediately.


    Master Griffin: Sure! Yay (ܳÃóܳ)


    Arius noticed that the person on the other end really loved to use emoticons.


    This person must have graduated from the emoticon university!


    If that wasn''t the case, the Academy of emoticons owed him a certificate of graduation.


    Arius: Why don''t you give yourself another nickname for future use? You can call yourself Crazy for Emoticons!


    Without requiring the other person''s approval, Arius gave the person a loud and pleasant nickname.


    The price of the weapon carrier casket had already been changed on Amazon. It was ten thousand now.


    Arius clicked it to place the order.


    Suddenly, a prompt popped up¡ª''Sorry, you have not entered the martial warrior identification number. You can''t place the order!''


    "??"


    What the hell?


    What is a martial warrior identification number?


    Why do you need a martial warrior identification number to buy something on Amazon? Why didn''t anyone tell me about this!


    Arius was stunned. He quickly asked the other party.


    Arius: You need a martial warrior identification number to buy the things in your shop?


    Master Griffin: Yes, dear!


    Master Griffin: What''s the issue? (???(???(???*)


    Arius remained silent for a few seconds before asking: What is a martial warrior identification number?


    Master Griffin: It''s the number on your martial warrior credential!


    ¡­


    This explanation was amazing. It was the same as not explaining.


    Arius had no choice but to remain patient. He asked the other party: Where can you get the martial warrior credential?


    This person must be obtuse.


    Master Griffin: You can take the test at the martial arts association. Dear! Are you saying that you don''t have the credentials?


    #!


    Dear, what dear!


    An asterisk sign suddenly appeared on Arius''s heat . You would definitely get a heart attack when talking to this person.


    Arius: Why does your shop need the martial warrior identification number?


    Master Griffin: Because our shop is a high-class flagship store. All our products are meant for martial warriors, so we need the martial warrior identification number to prove that you are one. It''s all written in the visitor information. Dear, did you not see it? O_o¡­


    Arius hurriedly browsed to the front to take a look. He stared at the screen for a long time before he finally found the visitor information at a corner.


    @£¤#%£¤¡­


    He suddenly wanted to curse. The guy had hidden this small line of words within the ten thousand words item description. Who would be able to see it?


    Arius asked: Can you send the item first? I''ll give you the martial warrior identification number afterward.


    Master Griffin: I can''t do that, dear!


    Arius: Why not?


    Master Griffin: A martial warrior must be certified before he can use rune weapons.


    Arius: There''s such a rule?


    Master Griffin: Yes. Hurry up and become a certified martial warrior. As long as your background is clean and you don''t have any criminal records, it shouldn''t be a problem. The entire process won''t take more than half an hour. It''s very fast.


    Arius nodded as he contemplated. Really?


    You need to have a clean background and no criminal records to become a certified martial warrior?


    It looks like the authorities were strict with the standard of martial warriors!


    But, the martial warriors I met just killed people as and when they liked. Why is that so?


    Wait! I killed someone too. Is that considered a crime?


    If no one finds out about it, it shouldn''t¡­ be considered, right? Arius consoled himself by repeating this sentence like a heart mantra.


    Arius: I will get the certification first then.


    Master Griffin: Alright. When you get your credentials, I can send it out right away. You will be able to receive your baby later tonight (¡¨''¨Œ''¡¨).


    Arius was shocked. He asked: I can receive it tonight? That''s really fast! What delivery service are you using?


    Master Griffin: You will know when you receive your package~


    ¡­


    I have to skip my lesson again!


    It was morning, and he had just finished two lessons. Yet, something cropped up again.


    Arius felt a little helpless. He said to Elaine, who was beside him, "Class Monitor¡­"


    Elaine was absent-minded. She wanted to ask Arius for help, but she was hesitating. She didn''t know how to open her mouth.


    When she heard Arius calling her abruptly, she had a huge shock.


    "What?"


    Arius almost jumped out of her seat. She turned her head warily and looked at Arius. She thought that he had noticed her lack of focus and attention.


    Arius was dumbfounded.


    I just called you. Do you have to give such a big reaction?


    He was speechless, but he had to continue, "I need to go out and do something later. You understand." Arius winked at Elaine.


    Elaine heaved a big sigh of relief. So he didn''t see through her intentions. What a scare!


    "Wait, you want to skip classes again? The university entrance exam is arriving soon. Do you have any sense of urgency at all!"


    "Don''t worry. I won''t do anything I''m not confident in."


    "I''m leaving!"


    Arius waved his hand and walked out of the classroom.


    Elaine was slightly astounded. That was really daring of him. Can he really do it? Or was he just boasting?


    ¡­


    The martial arts association was an official authority formed by different nations in the world to have unified management of the martial warriors.


    A martial warrior needed to register with the martial arts association and get the martial warrior credentials to have a legal identity.


    Then, they would be able to get special privileges not enjoyed by ordinary people.


    For instance, martial warriors could kill people!


    Of course, this didn''t mean that they could kill anyone whenever. They needed to have a valid reason. If not, they would be punished by law.


    Martial warriors could also use rune weapons.


    In public transportation like high-speed railways and airplanes, ordinary people were not allowed to carry weapons. However, martial warriors were able to keep weapons on them legally if they displayed their martial warrior credentials.


    There were many other benefits too. It was unwise to list them all one by one.


    Arius researched online and found all these pieces of information. That was when he knew how important the martial warrior credential was to a martial warrior.


    Many things would become extremely convenient for him.


    Of course, if he received the martial warrior credential, it also meant that he was indirectly accepting the country''s supervision. He wouldn''t be able to disobey the law outrightly.


    This was to protect ordinary civilians.


    Powerful people used their power to break the law!


    These weren''t words without evidence.


    When someone possessed great power, they would start to act without any fear. It was hard to control them.


    At the start of the martial arts era, many riots had occurred. As time went by, the country sent out a large number of martial warriors to suppress the violence¡­


    That was when those people who considered themselves invincible understood that the country was still their country. They couldn''t act unbridledly whenever they wanted.


    Hence, the martial arts association was indispensable.

 Chapter 50 - 50: Congratulations To Him!

    Whitebridge martial arts association.


    Arius stood at the huge entrance and looked at the building in front of him. The size had left him amazed.


    This was a high-rise building with a sharp octagon tower. The exterior was unique and iconic. From afar, among all the buildings in this area, the first noticeable thing was definitely this huge octagon building.


    A large crowd was walking back and forth in front of the building at this moment. Many people left and entered the building too.


    Arius looked around him. These people were all exuding a faint sense of extraordinary¡­


    Most of these people are martial warriors! Arius was flabbergasted by his guess as he exclaimed in his heart. He was mostly sure of it.


    This was the first time he had seen so many martial warriors. Arius got a little nervous. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. After exhaling, he walked into the huge building.


    When Arius took a step in, many people focused their gazes at him. There was astonishment in their eyes as they sized him up.


    However, they couldn''t see Arius''s face. This was because he was wearing an Batman mask¡­


    Everyone''s gaze was a little strange. Some people indeed wore masks to apply for their martial arts credentials. After all, everyone had secrets. They didn''t want to expose themselves.


    But, this was the first time they saw someone so strange. He was wearing an Batman mask.


    This person must be a joke!


    Fortunately, they knew that no one dared to create trouble at the martial arts association.


    Also, from the aura that Arius released purposely¡­


    They could discern that he was a martial warrior!


    Thus, no matter how weird he seemed, no one would be so bored to create trouble for themselves.


    "Hello, I came to apply for the martial warrior certificate," Arius came to the front desk and said to the staff opposite him.


    The staff member raised her head. It wasn''t difficult to imagine her fascinating expression when she saw the Batman mask right before her eyes.


    She forcefully controlled her laughter and nodded sternly. "Alright, follow me."


    Under her guidance, Arius arrived outside another room.


    "Please go in. You just need to follow the instructions on the wall and operate the machine. If there''s no problem, the system will enter your particulars into the system, and your martial warrior credentials will be out in less than ten minutes." The staff raised her hand to signal to him as she explained the procedure to him.


    Arius nodded while listening intently.


    After he entered the room, the staff closed the door behind him.


    Arius scanned his surroundings and saw a machine right next to the wall. It looked like an ATM.


    A sense of familiarity rose in his heart.


    Beside the ATM-style machine, there was another machine that looked like the sleeping pod in fantasy movies.


    Arius had used the physique inspection device at Shining Martial House before. However, this machine looked much more complicated than the one in the martial arts academy.


    Still, he knew that this was a physique inspection machine. It was just a machine that was designed for martial warriors.


    As compared to martial disciples, the physique of martial warriors would undergo huge changes. Thus, their physical inspection was far more complex.


    The production cost of this machine should be at least a few million. It was more than ten times the cost of the physique inspection machines for martial disciples.


    Arius took off his Batman mask.


    Based on the procedure, he came in front of the ATM-style machine and placed his identification card in the sensing area.


    "Please scan your fingerprint and retina."


    Arius listened to the instruction and pasted his hands on the two palm drawings in front of him. At the same time, he looked right into the camera in front.


    "Fingerprints collected."


    "Beep, retina scanning completed."


    "Verifying identity¡­"


    later, the voice sounded again.


    "Identity verified¡ªArius Amrit, 17 years old. Citizen of America. No criminal records. Clean background¡­ Meet the 108 requirements to become a martial warrior. Verification passed."


    "Please enter the physique inspection device for your physique inspection."


    Even though he knew that there was nothing wrong with his identity, Arius was still a little nervous. He only let out a small breath of relief when he heard that he had passed the verification.


    He stepped into the physique inspection device next.


    The device''s door closed slowly. It started scanning and inspecting his entire body.


    Arius didn''t know if it was his illusion, but he felt as though there was an invisible hand touching him from head to toe.


    At the same time, he felt his Spiritual Ki nucleus tremble slightly for a moment. The Spiritual Ki inside received some stimulation and got a little restless.


    ¡­


    The inspection ended very quickly. The automated voice rang in his ears again.


    "Inspection ended."


    "Arius, congratulations on becoming a martial warrior."


    "The martial warrior credential is being printed. Please wait patiently."


    ¡­


    At this moment, outside the entrance of the martial warrior association, a black sedan stopped slowly. A man with spiky hair that looked like steel spikes came down the car.


    It was the principal of Shining Martial House, Mitchell.


    A refined middle-aged man came forward and welcomed him. He smiled and said, "Old Mitchell, you''re really hard to meet. I invited you multiple times, but you only agreed to come today."


    "There are many things to take care of at the martial arts academy. I can''t leave as I want," Mitchell replied concisely.


    "Seriously." The refined man felt a little helpless. He raised his fingers and pretended to tap the spiky hair man.


    "Didn''t you say that you have prepared top-quality Jade Dragon Tea from Amazon Continent? Hurry up and lead the way," Mitchell looked at the refined man sideways as he said.


    "Come, come, come, I''ve already prepared it. I was just waiting for you to come." The refined man laughed. He raised his hand and walked into the huge building first.


    While the two of them were chatting and walking, there was an uproar around them.


    "Isn''t that the principal of the Whitebridge branch Shining Martial House, Mitchell?"


    "To see him once is better than to hear about him a hundred times. His aura is overwhelming!


    "Of course. Do you know how powerful he is? He''s able to represent the Whitebridge branch of Shining Martial House. Whitebridge City is a huge and important city. This proves how powerful his ability is."


    "Who is that refined man? He''s actually able to invite Mitchell over!"


    "Idiot, that is the president of the Whitebridge branch martial arts association, President Alton Cameron."


    "Oh my god, I''m blind. His here in real person is right in front of me, but I didn''t recognize him."


    "His a powerful figure too¡­"


    Discussions rang out in the vicinity. Even after Mitchell and Alton had left for a long time, everyone was still indulged in talking about their achievements.


    Everyone knew about their achievements, but as the iconic figures of Whitebridge City, the citizens of Whitebridge City never stopped pursuing and flattering them.


    ¡­


    Mitchell and Alton chatted with each other as they took the lift to the building''s highest floor. They arrived at Alton''s office.


    The moment they entered the office, they could see an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.


    It was right in front of the entrance.


    From this office, one could get a bird''s eye view of the entire Whitebridge City. It felt like standing on the highest peak and looking at the smaller mountains below.


    The coffee table was placed beside the floor-to-ceiling window.


    "Have a seat," Alton said casually.


    "Your place is not bad,"Mitchell said calmly. He walked in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed at the busy streets below.


    Alton sat down and started making tea in a natural and graceful manner. The faint fragrance of tea wafted in the room.


    He said, "Sigh. It''s lonely to be in a high position. It doesn''t feel good to stay in this office every day."


    "Pretentious." Mitchell sneered.


    "Nothing good comes out of your mouth. Have some tea. Have some tea." Alton felt helpless as he poured tea for Mitchell.


    Mitchell sat down and took a sip. He savored it with closed eyes. Then, he opened his eyes and said, "Indeed, this is a good tea."


    "Of course. I had to put down this old face of mine before I could take some tea from the governor," Alton said proudly.


    "Where is Governor Duhon now?" Mitchell raised his eyebrows and asked.


    "The last time I saw him, Governor Duhon was preparing to break through to the general stage." Alton turned serious.


    "Oh? Is he confident?" Mitchell''s expression changed, and he asked anxiously.


    "Based on what he said, he''s around 60% confident," Alton replied.


    "60%? That''s too low. Why didn''t he wait for a while longer?" Mitchell frowned and took a deep breath.


    "I heard that Governor Albert of Texas has already reached general-stage half a month ago." Alton suddenly dropped an atom bomb.


    "What! Are you serious?" Mitchell jumped to his feet.


    "Sit down; sit down. Of course, it''s real. Do you think I will make such a mistake?" Alton rolled his eyes.


    "We have another general now. Congratulations to him!" Mitchell''s eyes were shimmering.


    "It''s indeed a matter worth celebrating." Alton nodded in agreement.


    "However, Governor Duhon is too reckless. How could he act on impulse?" Mitchell changed the topic back. He seemed a little worried.


    "You know that those two have been arch enemies since they were in university. They fought for their entire life. How could Governor Duhon take this matter calmly?" Alton explained with a bitter smile.


    "That is true." Mitchell couldn''t do anything either.


    "I hope that Governor Duhon will be able to get through this obstacle smoothly. At that time, Whitebridge will be able to have another general-stage martial warrior¡­"

 Chapter 51 - 51: The Interest Of The Two Bosses

    While Mitchell and Alton were chatting casually, the computer in the office gave off a sound.


    "What''s the matter?" Mitchell looked at Alton.


    "Let me take a look." Alton got up and walked in front of the computer. He saw a message pop-up on his screen.


    He scanned the message and felt astounded.


    "Old Mitchell, come over and take a look!" he shouted at Mitchell, who was at the side.


    Mitchell got up and walked over.


    "This person became a martial warrior at 17 years old." Alton was also slightly shocked when he saw the message on the screen.


    Upon reading Arius''s name, he frowned.


    "Arius Amrit. This name sounds a little familiar."


    "Oh, do you know him?" Alton asked in surprise.


    Mitchell thought for a moment before continuing abruptly, "I remember him. A few days ago, one of my staff handed me a data report. If these two don''t share the same surname and name, I think the report I received was about him.


    "Open the surveillance camera to take a look. We will know if it''s the same person."


    Alton operated his computer, and within a second, the scene in Wang Teng''s room was projected on the opposite wall.


    "That''s right; it''s him. He looks the same as his picture." Mitchell immediately recognized Arius.


    "Oh, right, what report were you talking about just now?"


    "The report shows that this fellow rose from a normal person to an advanced stage in less than a month after he joined our martial arts academy," Mitchell replied.


    "Haha, Arius must have started his cultivation before he joined your martial arts academy. Look at his background. He''s the third generation of Whitebridges Amrit family. His family probably doesn''t lack resources and can let him practice martial arts," Alton smiled and said.


    "I think so too. At first, I wanted to observe him for a while more, but he has already become a martial warrior. It looks like he''s really a genius," Mitchell exclaimed.


    It was rare to see a 17 years old martial warrior.


    "Seems like there will be a black horse in the martial arts exam this year." Alton smiled.


    "Shall we take a look?" Alton tried his best to remain calm and indifferent, but he did seem very interested in this young lad.


    "Sure, let''s go together."


    ¡­


    Arius didn''t know that the moment he became a martial warrior, he had received the attention of two bosses. It was really scary!


    Ten minutes later, the printing of the martial warrior identification was completed.


    Looking at the black booklet in his hand, he smiled in glee.


    Arius wore his 3D Batman mask and left the martial arts association.


    When he returned to the school, the last morning lesson hadn''t ended yet. Everyone was still in class, so Arius didn''t disturb the teacher''s lecture.


    He arrived at the little forest and logged in to Amazon. He entered his martial warrior credential and placed his order.


    This ''Master Griffin'' was quite interesting. He didn''t allow his customers to place orders if they didn''t have a martial warrior credential. You could be stubborn with anything, but when it came to money, one must be flexible!


    Forget it. Looking at the other party''s tone, he probably doesn''t lack money.


    After placing the order, Arius sent a message to hurry the stall owner: I''ve already placed my order. Please send the item as soon as possible!"


    Master Griffin: Alright dear ¦Å=( ?¦Ï`*)))


    The other party responded with one sentence.


    After some time, the lesson ended. Arius met Saul and his other friends in the cafeteria for lunch. He also saw Harry and Rhett, whom he hadn''t seen for a few days.


    The moment Harry saw Arius, his face turned black.


    After that day, Susie actually came to ask him about Arius.


    At first, Susie viewed Harry with high importance. He felt that he had a chance to win the heart of this third young lady from the Moore family. He had his whole life ahead planned. He would marry a rich beauty and proceed to the peak of his life.


    The Moore family would definitely be a great help to him.


    At that time, he, Harry, would be a famous figure in Whitebride''s City. He wouldn''t just be a rich second generation relying on his father.


    However, Arius, it just had to be Arius again. This fellow had stolen the limelight that was supposed to be his. Even Susie got interested in Arius.


    Damn it!


    Harry felt annoyed in his heart.


    "Young Master Harry, are you here for lunch too?" Arius casually greeted Harry when he saw him.


    "Hmph!" Harry scoffed. He walked straight ahead.


    "What''s the matter? How did I provoke him again?" Arius asked Saul, who was beside him, with a confused expression.


    "Who knows!" Saul shrugged.


    ¡­


    During the afternoon rest time, Arius went to practice in the small forest. He only returned to the classroom when the lesson started.


    It was the last day of the week, so he should give some respect to his teacher.


    Three lessons ended quickly.


    After school, Arius got up and prepared to go home. However, Elaine stopped him.


    "Arius, wait for me." She bit her lip and seemed a little embarrassed. But, in the end, she still plucked up her courage and called Arius out.


    Arius had already noticed that she was a little absent-minded. Hence, when he saw her calling him, he stopped in his tracks. He wanted to know what she had on her mind.


    Elaine finished packing her bag and went out of the classroom with Arius.


    The two walked to a secluded spot with no one around.


    Elaine started hesitating again, and her expression kept changing. One moment, she seemed helpless, while the next, she looked resolute.


    "If you have any difficulties, you can just tell me," Arius said in a soft voice.


    Maybe Arius''s gentle attitude had caused Elaine to cement her resolve. She took a deep breath and said, "Can you¡­ lend me some money?"


    After she said this sentence, Elaine seemed dejected. A hint of helplessness and bitterness flashed past her eyes.


    "How much do you need?" Arius suddenly felt something touching his heart when he saw her expression.


    This girl had a hard life!


    He believed that Elaine must have reached a state of desperation to look for him to borrow money. If not, with her high level of pride, she wouldn''t talk to him about this at all.


    "23¡­ 23 thousand!" Elaine found it hard to speak. She hurriedly continued, "I know it''s a little too much, but I''ll definitely return the money to you as soon as possible. After the university entrance exam, I will work part-time. Once I have the money, I will¡­"


    Arius was a little dumbfounded.


    He was a bit curious about the reason why Elaine needed such a huge sum of money. However, Arius didn''t probe further. He took out his phone and said, "Give me your Paypal account. I will transfer the money to you now."


    "¡­return the money to you!" Elaine heard what Arius said before she finished her sentence. Her eyes turned red, and she took a deep breath to calm down. Then, she forced a smile on her face and said, "Thank you!


    "I will return the money to you as soon as possible."


    She emphasized this once again, as if this was the only way she was able to keep the remnants of self-esteem left in her heart.


    "There''s no hurry. Just do what your strength allows." Arius nodded. He scanned her Paypal account and transferred the money over.


    Many things were different in this world. For instance, Paypal supported transfers of large sums of money. There was no limit to the sum.


    Elaine thanked him once again and held her phone tightly. The 23,000 USD felt extremely heavy in her hand. Their family didn''t even have this much savings during their prime.


    To a family like Arius''s, tens of thousands might just be their pocket money. However, many normal families might not be able to save this amount of money even after many years.


    "I wonder what difficulty she''s facing."


    Arius looked at Elaine''s back view as he wondered to himself. He felt a little worried, so he followed her secretly.

 Chapter 52 - 52: I Just Came To Get Rid Of A Few Flies

    Arius followed Elaine all the way and noticed that she was just going home.


    He saw her entering her house from afar. Just as he was planning to leave, Arius noticed a bunch of people walking over.


    The leader of the group was a bald man wearing a black suit.


    There were a few youngsters following him. They looked like gangsters.


    Arius stopped in his tracks and lit a cigarette. He stood at the side of the road and started smoking.


    "What are you looking at? You little brat!" The bald man wearing a black suit saw Arius staring at them, so he scolded him fiercely.


    Arius didn''t say anything. He turned his head away.


    The bald man wearing a black suit didn''t harass him, either. He just walked into Lin Chuhan''s house angrily.


    Elaine''s house was a three-floor apartment. It looked really old. The first floor was the shopfront, where they had opened a small convenience stall.


    The bald man had barged into Elaine''s family stall. He grabbed a bottle of coke and took a drink.


    The middle-aged lady in the shop should be Elaine''s mother. She stood at the side fearfully, not daring to say a single word to stop the man.


    After burping, the bald man turned and looked at the middle-aged woman. He said, "How is it? Have you prepared the money?"


    "Boss, my girl is already borrowing money from our relatives. Please spare us a few more days," the middle-aged woman pleaded.


    "Spare a few more days? I''ve already spared you three. Is that not enough? Huh?"


    The bald man wearing a black suit glared at the woman and kicked a box filled with candies beside him. The candies instantly flew and scattered everywhere.


    "I think that you don''t plan to return the money, right?"


    "Boss, we really have no such intentions. We just haven''t gathered all the money yet. Please give us two or three more days. Please!" The middle-aged woman got frightened and shrank in a corner. Her eyes were red as she spoke.


    "Stop spouting nonsense. If you don''t give me the money today, I''ll destroy your stall!" The bald man didn''t show any intention of softening his attitude.


    "This¡­ you can''t do this. Our entire family relies on this convenience stall for a living. My daughter still needs to take her university entrance exam. If you smash our shop, how are we supposed to live!" The middle-aged woman was so anxious that she started tearing up.


    "Who cares about your lives! It looks like you can''t return the money today. Do you think I''m doing charity? Hey, destroy this place!"


    The bald man wearing a black suit arrogantly sat on the chair and waved his hand. His lackeys were about to smash the shop on his order.


    "Stop!"


    A voice came from upstairs.


    Elaine ran down the stairs. Upon returning home, she went to the bathroom. The moment she came out, she heard the commotion below and came down in a flurry. As expected, those people were here to look for them again.


    "Hey!" The bald man''s eyes lit up when he saw Elaine.


    "Why did you come down?"


    The middle-aged woman panicked. She hurriedly pulled Elaine behind her and said to the bald man wearing a black suit, "Boss, my daughter is still young. This matter has nothing to do with her. Don''t mind what she said."


    "I don''t think that she''s young anymore." The bald man stood up, and his gaze roamed Elaine''s body, as if a wolf was looking at its prey.


    Elaine didn''t back down at all. She stood out from behind the middle-aged woman and said, "My family owes you 23 thousand, right? I can return it to you now. Take the money and get out of my house."


    "Haha, you''re quite bold. How can you have 23 thousand?" The bald man wearing a black suit gave a despicable smile.


    "You little girl, we don''t have so much money." Elaine''s mother frowned. She thought her daughter was fooling around, so she wanted to pull her behind her again.


    Elaine''s mother understood the bald man''s gaze too clearly. They weren''t kind people. Her daughter was just a high school student. She couldn''t fight with them at all.


    Elaine wasn''t moved. "Give us the receipt for the loan. I will transfer you the money now."


    "Did this young lady really manage to get the money? She''s so pretty, so there might really be someone willing to lend her money," the bald man wearing a black suit muttered to himself softly.


    He looked at Elaine''s beautiful face that was full of vitality. His heart was burning with desire. He immediately thought of an idea and sneered.


    "Alright. If you return the money to us, we will leave. However, 23 thousand USD was three days ago. Three days have passed. Let me calculate. Now, you owe us¡­ 30 thousand!


    "What do you think, little girl? Do you have 30 thousand?"


    "200 thousand? It''s been only three days. How did it increase to 30 thousand?!" Lin Chuhan''s mother''s face turned pale. It was hard to tell if it was because of fear or anger.


    "You''re despicable!" Elaine''s body trembled in anger.


    At first, they had only borrowed 15 thousand from these people. Then, they told them that the interest for three months was 7 thousand. Their family couldn''t afford to offend these loan sharks, so they bowed down to fate and went around asking for money.


    But, after so many years, they had already borrowed money from most of their relatives. All of them knew the condition of Elaine''s family.


    Elaine''s father was paralyzed in bed and didn''t have the ability to work. Her younger sister was down with a strange illness. Only Mother Caldwell had opened a convenience stall to support the entire family.


    Lending money to their family was like throwing it into a bottomless pit. They might be able to return insignificant amounts of money, but no one dared to lend them a huge sum.


    A while ago, when Elaine took so much effort to put down her ego and borrow 23 thousand from Arius, she thought that she could finally clear this overwhelming debt.


    She didn''t expect the other party to be so despicable. Now, they wanted to add another 7 thousand USD because they had delayed payment for three days!


    "Little girl, don''t talk nonsense. I''m such a righteous person. How can I be despicable?" the bald man said nonchalantly.


    "This is illegal. I can sue you," Elaine gritted her teeth.


    "Go ahead. I won''t stop you. However, it might be hard for you to continue opening your shop in the future." The bald man sneered.


    "You!" Elaine pointed at him. She was so angry that she could not speak.


    "It looks like you still can''t pay us back. This is difficult¡­ How about this? I don''t have a girlfriend. If you''re willing to be my woman, I can give up this loan for your family," the bald man sniggered and spoke.


    "That''s impossible. Don''t even think about it. Even if I can''t open my shop anymore, don''t even think about touching my daughter." Mother Caldwell was like a tigress exploding in anger. She blocked Elaine behind her and glared at the bald man wearing a black suit.


    Elaine''s expression had also turned ugly. There was a hint of anxiousness in her eyes. She didn''t expect the other party to have this intention. She had underestimated the evilness of a person''s heart.


    "In that case, we won''t be polite anymore¡ª"


    The bald man gave a sinister smile. However, before he could finish his sentence, a voice sounded behind him.


    "What do you want to be impolite for?"


    The bald man turned his head. "Brat, it''s you!"


    "Arius!" Elaine also saw the newcomer. For some reason, she found a sense of reliance in her heart.


    "Hmph, you know each other." The bald man wearing a black suit squinted and sized up Arius. "Are you trying to save the beauty?"


    "Save the beauty? Not really," Arius thought for a moment before replying.


    "Hahaha, look at how timid he is." The bald man burst out laughing. His lackeys started mocking and jeering at Arius too.


    "I just came to get rid of a few flies," Arius continued calmly.


    The bald man''s face turned black. He was looked down upon. The indifferent expression on this brat''s face irked him tremendously.


    "You are courting death!" he said word by word.

 Chapter 53 - 53: Dont Talk Nonsense When You Planned To Run Away

    "Hmm~ How do I court death?" Arius tilted his head and asked.


    The bald man wearing a black suit: ¡­


    The lackeys: ¡­


    Elaine was trying to keep her face straight and tried her best not to laugh when she saw the confused expression of the gangsters.


    Mother Caldwell felt that this child was a little naughty.


    I wonder whose child he is.


    The bald man wearing a black suit flared up in anger. He pointed at Arius and shouted, "Beat him! Beat him to death!"


    The lackeys rushed towards Arius at once. A few of them even took out knives from their pockets.


    Arius retreated out of the convenience stall.


    Once he moved, the gangsters also followed him out. They surrounded Arius Unfortunately; they were only normal people while Arius was a martial warrior. Even if he had been just a martial disciple, dealing with these weaklings would be a piece of cake.


    He swung his fist and hit two gangsters at once. He knocked them to the floor, and a few teeth fell out of their mouth.


    Strength*1


    Strength*1


    Spirit*0.1


    Oh? Normal people will drop attributes too? There''s even the spirit attribute? Arius was surprised.


    "Be careful! Behind you!" Elaine rushed out and wanted to help. She was an intermediate stage martial disciple, after all. She could deal with these gangsters.


    But Arius didn''t give her a chance to act as he kicked his leg behind. The three gangsters with knives in their hands, who wanted to slash his waist, flew three meters out.


    They clutched their chests. Blood seeped out of the corner of their lips.


    Arius hadn''t used his full force. Still, the power of his kick was too much for the gangsters to handle.


    Strength*1


    Strength*1


    Strength*1


    "You''re a martial disciple!" The bald man''s expression changed. He didn''t expect that his lackeys couldn''t even take a single blow from Arius.


    "Brat, you''re forcing me to act." The bald man wearing a black suit took off his coat and walked in front of Arius.


    "I''m not forcing you to do anything. You don''t have to fight," Arius said.


    The bald man was stunned. He quickly shook his head to clear the unnecessary thoughts before shouting angrily, "F**k, don''t talk glibly."


    He circled Arius, seemingly looking for Arius''s weakness.


    Arius stood on the spot and waited for him to act first. However, after circling two rounds, the bald man suddenly ran off¡­


    He was running away?


    That was right, he ran away! He abandoned his lackeys and ran away without turning back.


    To show his respect for the man''s action, Arius was slightly shocked.


    Lin Chuhan and Mother Lin were stunned too.


    When the bald man''s lackeys saw their boss running away like a happy pig, they suddenly didn''t know what expression to give.


    "Young lad, this matter hasn''t ended. Just wait and see!"


    The bald man quickly ran to a corner of the road. Once he felt that he was a safe distance, he stopped, turned around, and shouted.


    Arius shook his head. He scanned the floor around him and picked up a brick.


    His action scared the bald man. He turned around and ran away in fright.


    On the other side, Arius calmly weighed the brick. He took aim for a second and threw the brick out.


    Whee~


    "Ah!"


    The bald man screamed in pain and fell to the ground.


    Spirit*0.1


    Did it really hit his head? Arius looked at the spirit attribute that just dropped and pondered to himself.


    For some reason, when the lackeys saw this scene, they felt a little elated.


    Arius slowly walked forward and squatted down to look at the bald man. "This is why you shouldn''t talk nonsense when you''re running away."


    The bald man wearing a black suit covered his head. He felt his vision getting blurry. He took some time to get rid of this feeling before he raised his head.


    He glared at Arius fiercely.


    "You''re dead, brat. You''re dead. We have martial disciples in our company too. They''re advanced stage martial disciples, and there are a few of them. Just wait to die."


    "Hmph, you''re quite fierce." Arius smiled. He raised the brick and smashed it on the bald man''s face again.


    Crack!


    Splurt!


    The bald man''s nose broke, and blood splattered out. It was so painful that he kept screaming sharply like a pig being slaughtered.


    Spirit*0.1


    Arius''s eyes lit up.


    "I don''t know if I''m dead, but I know that you''re definitely dead."


    While speaking, Arius raised the brick again under the other party''s horrified gaze and smashed it down.


    At the start, the bald man was still quite tough. His gaze was fierce, and he glared at Arius like a ruthless wolf.


    But, now, he was scared. This youth in front of him looked like a high school student with a smile on his face. His expression was calm and composed, but when he decided to act, it was really terrifying.


    "Stop hitting me! I''m wrong, I will not do it again, please let me go¡­"


    The bald man''s face was severely bruised and swollen. He couldn''t speak properly, so he sounded a little awkward. There was only fear left in his mind.


    This young man was too ruthless!


    He was really ruthless.


    Ouch~ this is so painful!


    "I didn''t want to hit you before, but I feel that you''re not very convinced by me. So, I had to hit you reluctantly," Arius said after he stopped beating the man.


    He didn''t want to stop hitting the bald man. Instead, he had to stop because after dropping some spirit attributes, the bald man stopped dropping them no matter how much he hit him. What a pity!


    In total¡ªSpirit*0.4


    The bald man looked at the sky. Suddenly, he wanted to cry.


    Since you''re so reluctant, you don''t have to hit me. No one is forcing you.


    Mom, this person must be a devil! I want to go home!


    "So, are you convinced or not?" asked Arius.


    "Yes! I''m convinced!" The bald man nodded hurriedly.


    Arius dumped the brick on his head again.


    "Ah! Why are you hitting me now?" The man screamed in terror. He was confused.


    "Do you think you''re playing Chess? Who''s asking you if you ''won'' or not?" Arius widened his eyes.


    "I¡­" The bald man was extremely frustrated. He even wanted to vomit blood. He kept quiet for a long time before saying a single word, "Yes!"


    "That''s good." Arius nodded.


    Bang!


    Unexpectedly, the bald man suffered a knock on his head again.


    "Why?" Tears welled up in his eyes. He felt so mistreated, but he had nowhere to vent it.


    "For no reason. I just don''t like you," Arius explained calmly.


    The bald man: ¡­


    "Give me the loan receipt."


    The bald man obediently took out the loan receipt. Arius called Elaine over and passed it to her. "Take a look at it and see if this is the correct one."


    Elaine went back and confirmed with her mother. She returned and nodded. "That''s right. This is the one my dad and mom wrote."


    Arius took it over and scanned it. He then mocked, "They borrowed 15 thousand, and you wanted them to return 30 thousand? This is much easier than being a robber."


    He squatted down and waved the brick in front of the bald man''s face. "In the past, I met five people who wanted to rob a bank. They wanted to kill me, but do you know what happened to them in the end?"


    The bald man suddenly remembered a piece of news he had heard a few days ago.


    A few robbers who robbed a bank got killed by someone!


    He heard that the person who killed them was a hostage. Also, the hostage was a high school student!


    The bald man looked at Arius in fear. He couldn''t help but tremble, his heart pounding in his chest.


    "Bang!" Arius suddenly exerted force in his fingers and broke the brick in his hand. He said, "Look, this is what happened to them."


    "Brother¡­ I know my mistake. I was really wrong. Please spare me."


    The bald man really wanted to cry. He had come to get a loan back and tease a young lady along the way. Why did he have to offend this devil?


    He must have forgotten to look at the calendar when he went out this morning!


    That''s right, this must be the reason.


    Arius didn''t scare him anymore. He said to Arius, "Transfer the money to him. 15,100 USD. The additional 100 is the interest."


    "Do you have any objections?" The last sentence was directed at the bald man wearing a black suit.


    "No, no!" The other party shook his head in a hurry. At this moment, he didn''t dare to have any objection. He still wanted his head to be on his neck.


    He had heard that those robbers'' heads were smashed into meat paste by the hostage¡­


    Oh my god, this was so scary!


    Elaine hurriedly transferred the money.


    Arius took out a lighter and lit up the loan receipt right in front of the bald man. He burnt the whole piece of paper.

 Chapter 54 - 54: Family Background

    The bald man in a black suit left with a swollen and bruised face. His heart was filled with injustice and fear. He needed to go back to answer his boss.


    He knew that he wouldn''t be able to get the interest for this loan.


    The other party was a powerful figure, the heartless kind that might shatter your head if he got angry. He couldn''t afford to provoke him.


    His boss probably didn''t want to offend this kind of person as well, right?


    Fortunately, he got back the loan amount. This trip wasn''t a waste.


    But, his face got smashed by the brick for nothing¡­ Ouch! Pain!


    Sigh~


    ¡­


    After getting rid of the loan sharks, Elaine heaved a sigh of relief. She said to Arius, "Arius, thank you for helping me just now."


    "It''s nothing." Arius shook his head.


    "Oh, right. Why are you here?" Elaine suddenly asked. She was curious about his perfect timing.


    "I followed you because I thought something bad might happen?" Arius smiled.


    Elaine''s heart jumped. She turned her head and felt her ears turning warm. She put down her hair to cover it up.


    "I''m not talking to you anymore. I''m going to take a look at my mum."


    Elaine ran back to the convenience store and explained everything to her mother. She told her that the loan sharks were gone and the loan receipt had already been burnt.


    Mrs. Caldwell hugged Elaine and cried in joy. She almost went crazy from the torment these people had given her the past few days.


    "Oh right, Little Elaine, who did you borrow the money from? Tell him that even though we don''t have so much money now, we will definitely return it to him as quickly as possible," Mrs. Caldwell wiped her tears and said.


    "I borrowed it from him." Elaine looked in Arius''s direction.


    "Ah, he''s just a young man. Where did he get all the money from?" Mrs. Caldwell was surprised.


    "His family runs a company," Elaine explained.


    Mrs. Caldwell was enlightened. Then, she suddenly thought of something and asked curiously, "Little Elaine, you¡­"


    Elaine looked at her mother''s expression and immediately knew what she was thinking. She stomped her feet and complained sweetly. "Mom~ what are you thinking? He''s my table buddy."


    "Alright, alright, alright. I''m not thinking about anything. Mom is not thinking of anything," Mrs. Caldwell said quickly.


    "You little girl, why aren''t you inviting him to our house? He did our family a huge favor. I want to personally thank him."


    Elaine wanted to call Arius over, but she noticed that he was already walking towards them.


    "My mom says that she wants to thank you personally," she told Arius.


    "That''s right, Little Arius. I hope you don''t mind me calling you this way. I really have to thank you for this time. If not, our family wouldn''t have known what to do." Mrs. Caldwell was full of gratitude.


    "I don''t mind. Auntie, Elaine is my table buddy. She has helped me a lot, so I should help her when she has difficulties," Arius replied.


    "Good, good, Little Elaine is lucky to have a table buddy like you."


    The more Mrs. Caldwell looked at Arius, the more she liked him. This was a good child. He was just a little naughty¡­


    But, you could tell that he was a responsible person who had a bright future. He was polite, and he took care of Little Elaine well. If he could be her son-in-law¡­ that would be great.


    During the martial arts era, people tend to get married early on. Mrs. Caldwell felt that she could start considering her daughter''s marriage.


    "Stay here tonight for dinner." Mrs. Caldwell suddenly got enthusiastic. "Auntie will go and buy some ingredients immediately. Little Elaine, take care of Little Arius."


    After she finished speaking, she didn''t give Arius and Elaine any time to react. She directly rushed out of the door.


    Arius and Elaine exchanged glances with each other. The atmosphere had become a little strange.


    "Why don''t I¡­ leave first?" said Arius.


    "Leave your head. My mom has already gone out to buy food. If you leave, how will I explain to her when she comes back?" Elaine rolled her eyes.


    "Just find a random excuse. For instance, you can tell her that I have some urgent matters to attend to," Arius gave her some suggestions.


    Elaine looked at Arius.


    Why doesn''t this fellow want to stay at my house?


    She was a little embarrassed, for sure, but Arius''s unwilling expression made her a little uncomfortable and unhappy.


    "You can explain to her personally if you want to. I''m not explaining." Elaine glared at Arius.


    "Alright, alright, it''s just a meal. I, Arius, am not afraid at all." This was what Arius said, but he looked as though he was going to the execution field.


    Elaine finally understood his emotions when she saw his reaction. This fellow wasn''t actually unwilling; he was just a little scared. Usually, he didn''t seem afraid of anything. She almost forgot that he was a teenage boy too.


    She couldn''t help but laugh secretly behind his back.


    Arius stood in the shop, uncertain of what to do. He looked at the candies scattered on the ground and went over to pick them up.


    Elaine regained her senses. Her gaze turned gentle as she looked at Arius''s back view. She squatted down and started cleaning the candies with him.


    "I will transfer you the remaining money later," she remembered the leftover money and said.


    "Okay!" Arius nodded.


    "As for the 15 thousand USD, I will work part-time during the summer vacation to return it to you," Elaine continued.


    "That''s not right. It''s 15,100 USD," Arius smiled and replied.


    "Yes, yes, yes, it''s 15,100. You''re such a miser." Elaine rolled her eyes.


    "Hahaha¡­" Arius laughed casually. He didn''t mind her reaction.


    Elaine didn''t realize that the respect hidden in his words was what allowed them to continue their relationship as normal. They didn''t suffer any estrangement because of this matter.


    ¡­


    After some time, Mrs. Caldwell came back with the ingredients. She was carrying many bags in her hands and had bought a lot of fish meat.


    "Little Arius, you can talk upstairs with Elaine. I''ll be in the kitchen cooking." Mrs. Caldwell greeted them before she got busy in the kitchen.


    "Come on, let''s go upstairs."Elaine led Arius up the stairs.


    "Isn''t Uncle around?" Arius asked.


    Elaine bit her lips as she said, "He''s here. I''ll bring you to see him."


    Arius saw Elaine''s father. He was a drunk and skinny man,while his legs were gone.


    "How did your father¡­ became like this?" Arius was really shocked.


    "My father used to be a martial warrior. One day, after coming back from the Amazon Continent, he became like this. His teammates managed to save him after much difficulty, but his legs were gone. Even his Spiritual Ki nucleus was broken. He came a crippled," Elaine explained in low spirits.


    "This¡­" Arius knew that the martial arts world wasn''t as beautiful as the public made it out to be, but he didn''t expect it to be so cruel.


    He even felt a little frightened when he saw the ghastly wounds on Mr. Caldwell''s body.


    Also, he didn''t think Elaine''s father could be a martial warrior.


    "Since you know how brutal the martial arts world is, why do you still practice martial arts? Why do you still want to take part in the martial arts exam?" Arius couldn''t help but ask her.


    "I want to take revenge!" Elaine closed the door and gritted her teeth as she said.


    "It''s caused by someone?" Arius was flabbergasted once again.


    "My dad''s teammates say that he became like this because their opponents had set a trap," Elaine explained.

 Chapter 55 - 55: Demon Lotus Poison Body

    Arius suddenly remembered that in his past life, he had heard about Elaine''s paralyzed father. Unexpectedly, in this lifetime, her situation was still the same.


    But, in this lifetime, Elaine''s father was a martial warrior and became paralyzed because of other people''s plots.


    "Oh right, what about your father''s teammates? Don''t they know the situation in your family?" asked Arius.


    "In the past, they helped us a lot. However, most of their time is spent in Amazon Continent. Sometimes, they might not be able to come back for a few months. This time, they are already away for half a year."


    "Half a month ago, my younger sister''s illness suddenly flared up. My mom had no choice. With other people''s recommendation, she could only borrow money from those people to pay for my sister''s treatment fees," Elaine said.


    "You still have a younger sister? What illness does she have?" Arius realized that he knew nothing about Elaine''s family.


    "I always had a younger sister. You just don''t know about her. Her illness¡­ sigh, it will be good if we could know what illness it is. That way, we won''t be at a loss of what to do." Elaine sighed.


    As she spoke, she brought Elaine to the door of another room and knocked. "Claire, I brought a friend over. Can I come in?"


    "Come~ in~"


    A young lady''s faint voice came from the room. The way she spoke was very strange. She spoke a word for word, but there was no break in between the words. She seemed a little feeble and lifeless.


    If one suddenly heard this voice in the middle of the night in the dark, they would probably pee in their pants.


    Arius felt goosebumps appearing on his skin.


    Elaine gave a dry laugh. "Please don''t mind her. My sister has always been like this."


    She pushed the door open¡ª


    Creak~


    The wooden door gave a shrill screech due to the friction on the hinges. The room was dark. The curtain was closed tightly, and no ounce of light was able to enter the room.


    Arius scanned the room. There was no human in sight at all.


    But¡ª


    He saw a sea of¡­ bubbles!


    What is this?


    Arius was dumbfounded in an instant.


    Attribute bubbles filled up the entire room. They were on the ground, the table, the chair, the bed, in front of the cupboard¡­


    They were everywhere. The room was densely populated with big and small bubbles.


    Arius swallowed his saliva. He couldn''t wait to enter the room.


    "Don''t!" Elaine stopped him in a hurry. Then, she reminded him, "I think you better follow behind me. Remember not to get too close later."


    "Why?" Arius was puzzled.


    "I''ll tell you later," said Elaine in a low voice.


    Then, she entered the room first and spoke to a corner between the legs of the bed and the wall. "Claire, Sis is coming in."


    Arius followed her gaze and finally saw a young lady hugging her knees in a blind spot at the corner of the bed. Her head was buried between her knees. She had long black hair, flowing straight down smoothly¡ª


    The hair was long, black, and straight!


    He looked at Elaine. Yes, they looked the same!


    Then, his focus turned to the attribute bubbles scattered around him. He was already full of anticipation.


    What kind of attribute bubbles are these?


    This was the first time he saw a normal person dropping so many attribute bubbles. Even more, these bubbles had dropped naturally. This was very abnormal!


    Could it be related to Elaine''s younger sister''s strange illness?


    Arius guessed secretly. Then, he lightly touched the bubbles beside him¡ª


    He picked them up!


    Poison Spiritual Ki*2


    Poison Spiritual Ki*1


    Demon Lotus Poison Body*1


    Instantly, Arius felt something changing in his body. He sensed a strange, rare Spiritual Ki in this world.


    Poison Spiritual Ki!


    This kind of force actually existed? Arius was dumbfounded.


    After that, the poison Spiritual Ki entered Arius''s body. He had never practiced any poison Spiritual Ki skill scriptures before, so the poison Spiritual Ki instantly exploded and started running amok in his body.


    Damn it! Arius then started to panic.


    If someone observed the skin on his body and his face, they would notice that there was a layer of purple-red color in them.


    He looked as though he got poisoned.


    However, the occult energy immediately pacified the poison Spiritual Ki and congregated all of it in the Spiritual Ki nucleus. It soon formed an equilibrium with the other three Forces in the nucleus.


    The strange color on his skin subsided within a second like the waves of the sea.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Elaine turned her head and asked.


    "Oh, I''m fine." Arius regained his composure and smiled.


    At the same time, the young lady squatting in the corner seemed to have sensed something. She raised her head and curiously looked at Arius.


    Arius''s heart jumped a little when he saw the young lady''s appearance.


    The frame of her face was very similar to Elaine''s. She should be a pretty lady too. However, there were purple-red poison spots on both sides of her cheeks. They covered more than half of her face.


    The poison spots were rough and bumpy. They looked extremely disgusting. They destroyed all the beauty on the face and even made it hideous and terrifying. It was hard to look at her face for long.


    Arius stared into the eyes of the young lady. His heart skipped a beat, but he didn''t feel any loathing towards her.


    He just felt that the young lady was very pitiful. She was at the prime of her life, but she could only hide in the darkness of her room. She couldn''t live like a normal person.


    She didn''t even dare to take a single step out of her house. Arius could imagine how much hate and jeers she must have received in the past.


    This should be the strange illness Elaine was talking about.


    Demon lotus poison body!


    This must be a very rare physique. If it wasn''t, Elaine''s father would have found a cure a long time ago since he was a martial warrior. They wouldn''t be at a loss even until now.


    If the martial warriors couldn''t find a solution for this kind of physique, the current medical industry wouldn''t be able to find a cure either.


    The martial arts era and the technology era were two different systems. Before the martial arts era started, this illness had never appeared.


    Therefore, there were no successful cases of treatment in the medical industry.


    The solution might only be found in the Amazon Continent.


    "Sister~ who is he?" The young lady sized up Arius again. However, the feeling she had just now had disappeared. A hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes.


    "His name is Arius. He''s my friend." Elaine squatted down in front of the young lady, but she didn''t get too close to her. There was at least one meter distance between them.


    Arius kind of understood why Elaine didn''t allow him to get close to her younger sister.


    Right now, he could feel poison Spiritual Ki continuously surging out of the young lady''s body. The air around her was saturated with poison Spiritual Ki.


    If an ordinary person got too close, they would definitely get affected. If the interaction was too long, they would be poisoned. In severe cases, they might die immediately.


    This was how horrifying the demon lotus poison body was!


    "Is he my brother-in-law~" the young lady suddenly asked Elaine.


    Pfft!


    "Brother-in-law!" Elaine was dumbstruck. Her entire face turned red within a split second. "Stupid girl, what are you saying! He''s not your brother-in-law."


    Arius almost burst out laughing. This young lady was such a good wing-man!


    "Oh~" The young lady tilted her head and gave an ambiguous response. There were no emotional changes on her face.


    Elaine felt helpless. She got up and said to Arius, "This is my younger sister, Claire. Don''t mind what she said."


    "Why are you so nervous?" Arius made fun of her.


    "I''m not nervous!" Elaine got nervous because of his stare.


    Arius smiled. Then, he stepped past Elaine and walked towards Claire.


    "Don''t go over!" Elaine wanted to stop him quickly.


    "It''s fine!"


    Arius waved his hand. Before Elaine could block him, he had already squatted down in front of Claire. He lifted his hand. "Hello!"