Transcending Battle Through the Heavens

"Ah! My god! At this rate, when am I ever going to break through to Dou Zhe? And that's not even mentioning the future. I'll be nothing but free food for others!" Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Xiao Heng raged helplessly.

That's right. Xiao Heng was also one of the countless transmigrators, and he had crossed into a novel he particularly loved—Battle Through the Heavens, a novel he had read three times.

That day, the sky was cloudless and clear, and then... he got into a car accident.

"God above! I really do like this novel, but I never said I wanted to transmigrate! Does liking something mean I have to obtain it?"

"If you insist on sending me across worlds, I won't complain. But at least give me a decent Golden Finger! How am I supposed to survive with this lousy thing? Aren't you forcing me to disgrace the entire transmigrator army?"

Xiao Heng wore a troubled expression. As a transmigrator, he did have his own Golden Finger, but compared with other people's check-in systems, his was far inferior. His Golden Finger had only recorded some martial arts from wuxia novels on Blue Star. But those were wuxia techniques! This was a xuanhuan world! They weren't even on the same level! His Golden Finger had given him one Innate Skill and a set of Basic Martial Arts. And then... that was it.

Still, it wasn't too bad, especially after he saw that Innate Skill was Mystic Grade High. Unlike the native cultivation techniques of this continent, this technique could be practiced from childhood, without having to wait until one became a Dou Zhe. The same applied to Basic Martial Arts. As a Yellow Grade High Dou Technique, it could also be practiced from childhood, though it had no powerful moves and consisted entirely of basic techniques.

The Golden Finger's functions were also very simple. It had a list of martial arts, including Lingbo Weibu and Bei Ming Divine Skill, but he couldn't exchange for any of them. They were all grayed out. There was also a panel, but it was just as simple, displaying only his basic information.

Host: Xiao Heng

Cultivation: Level Five Dou Power

Cultivation Technique: Innate Skill (Mystic Grade High)

Dou Technique: Basic Martial Arts (Yellow Grade High)

The Golden Finger had no intelligence whatsoever. It was like a shop without a shopkeeper—no one to introduce the goods, and nothing to buy.

This year marked his twelfth year in this world. A month ago, Xiao Heng had personally witnessed Xiao Yan fall from his pedestal.

He wasn't actually a member of the Xiao Family by blood. He was merely an orphan adopted by them. There were many other orphans like him in the Xiao Family. They picked up these orphans, gave them food, and tested them for cultivation talent. Those with good talent would be supported in their cultivation, while those with poor talent would be assigned to various marketplaces to work for the Xiao Family.

Xiao Heng was fortunate. At the age of five, he was found to possess decent talent. Of course, "decent" meant within Wutan City—he definitely couldn't compare with Xiao Yan. His talent was actually quite good, but Innate Skill focused on laying a solid foundation, making its cultivation speed slow. Even after the system had modified it to suit the Dou Qi Continent, its essence remained unchanged. Otherwise, his cultivation speed might have surpassed even Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei.

After complaining for a while, Xiao Heng gradually calmed down. He had never been the kind of person to blame heaven or others. To be honest, everyone dreamed of dominating the world, and he was no exception. Thus, he felt a trace of happiness after arriving in this world. His previous life had been utterly ordinary. He had once possessed dreams in his youth, but reality had eventually shattered them. Now that he had arrived here, he was fearful, but not afraid. For someone who had already died once, what was there left to fear, right?

He closed his eyes again. It was still nighttime. Ever since breaking through to Level Four Dou Power, he had been able to replace sleep with cultivation, and the effect was even better than sleeping. It had to be said that Innate Skill truly possessed unique advantages in certain areas.

As Innate Skill circulated, the air around him seemed to form an invisible vortex, surging into Xiao Heng's body. Unfortunately, although quite a lot of energy poured in, after being transformed by Innate Skill, only a trace became his own strength.

The night passed uneventfully...

The next day, as the sun rose, Xiao Heng slowly opened his eyes. His next task was to practice Basic Martial Arts. He cultivated Innate Skill at night and Basic Martial Arts during the day. That was the routine he had set for himself. Ever since he was six, he had strictly followed it. To be honest, if he hadn't been so thoroughly exploited by society in his previous life, he might not have been able to persevere. Many times, he had wanted to give up, but whenever he thought of this world, he continued onward. He had already lived one life under the control of others. Did he really want to do that all over again?

Around noon, he left his small courtyard. In the eyes of the Xiao Family, his talent was fairly good, so they had given him an independent courtyard. It wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was quiet.

Besides that, he received a monthly allowance of five Gold Coins for living expenses. The Xiao Family had also arranged a martial arts instructor for him, but he stopped attending after a few years. To be honest, although the Dou Qi Continent was powerful, its basic martial techniques were not particularly exquisite. Besides, what could they really teach a child of ten or so?

So, after attending for a few years, he rarely went anymore. The Xiao Family was fairly tolerant toward children with talent. Judging from his current cultivation speed, he would at least become a Dou Shi in the future. It didn't matter if he stopped attending...

After calculating the time, he realized it was time to eat. The Xiao Family had a dedicated cafeteria, and it was free. It could be considered a kind of benefit, after all. Many people in this world couldn't even eat their fill...

"Good morning, Big Brother Xiao Heng!"

"Oh, it's Xiao Mu! You came to eat too?"

"Big Brother Xiao Heng, I heard you broke through to Level Five Dou Power." A somewhat shorter, immature-looking boy took the initiative to greet Xiao Heng before asking enviously.

Xiao Heng smiled and said, "Yeah. I broke through a few days ago."

"Wow! Big Brother Xiao Heng, you're amazing! I wish I could be as powerful as you." Once his news was confirmed, admiration shone in Xiao Mu's eyes. He had entered the Xiao Family together with Xiao Heng and was half a year younger, but he had only reached the third level of Dou Qi. Although the gap wasn't large, breaking through it was not easy.

"If you work a little harder, you can reach it too. Keep it up!"

"Mm! Big Brother Xiao Heng, I'll work hard."

"Xiao Mu, have you eaten? Want to eat together?"

"Big Brother Xiao Heng, I've already eaten. Go on, or there won't be anything left."

"Mm, then I'll head over. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Big Brother Xiao Heng."

Along the way, quite a few people greeted him, and Xiao Heng responded to each of them. Thanks to his decent talent, both the Xiao Family and the other adopted children treated him well. However, Xiao Heng's relationships with everyone were only average. Just think about it—how could an adult man develop a deep bond with a group of children?

When he arrived at the Xiao Family's cafeteria, there were only a few people left inside, scattered individuals he barely knew. After hastily eating a meal, Xiao Heng headed toward the marketplace outside the Xiao Family. He needed to buy some medicinal herbs. Although they were all low-grade herbs, they were still quite expensive for him.

Once he reached the marketplace, Xiao Heng went straight to a medicine shop.

"Boss, I'd like one ten-year-old Condensing Yuan Grass, one White Fruit, one Black Crow Grass, and one ten-year-old White Ginseng."

"Coming right up! Please wait a moment. I'll go get them from the back." The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man with a genial smile and a friendly appearance. He didn't look down on Xiao Heng for being young. After calling out a response, he went to fetch the medicinal herbs.

While Xiao Heng waited for the shopkeeper, a man who wasn't particularly burly walked in.

"Xiao Heng pays his respects to the Clan Leader." Seeing the Middle-aged Man enter, Xiao Heng immediately bowed.

This person was none other than the Xiao Family's Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan. At this moment, Xiao Zhan didn't look particularly happy, but he still responded to Xiao Heng.

"Oh! I remember you, little fellow. Xiao Heng, right? Level Five Dou Power at twelve years old. Not bad, not bad. You came to buy medicinal herbs too?"

"Yes, Clan Leader. I came to buy some medicinal herbs for cultivation."

Just then, the shopkeeper came back out. The moment he saw Xiao Zhan, he immediately bowed as well. "Clan Leader."

"No need for formalities. I'm just looking around. Go about your business."

"Yes, Clan Leader." The shopkeeper answered, then turned back to Xiao Heng. "Here are your medicinal herbs. Forty-two Gold Coins in total."

Xiao Heng paid and took the herbs. Then he said, "In that case, Clan Leader, I'll take my leave."

Xiao Zhan glanced at Xiao Heng, then seemed to think of something and said, "From now on, increase your monthly allowance to fifteen Gold Coins. Go collect it next month. I'll inform them."

Xiao Heng hadn't expected such a good thing to happen during an ordinary trip out. With more money, his cultivation could progress even faster.

"Thank you, Clan Leader."

Watching Xiao Heng's departing back, Xiao Zhan thought, This Xiao Heng has decent talent. Yan-er is currently... Sigh. Perhaps I'll have to rely on him to protect Yan-er a little in the future.

Thinking of his son, bitterness spread from the depths of Xiao Zhan's heart. Over the past month, he had tried everything he could, yet still couldn't find the reason Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had disappeared. He had no choice but to consider his son's future. After letting out a sigh, Xiao Zhan also left the medicine shop.

After returning to his courtyard, Xiao Heng immediately took out all the medicinal herbs. These were ingredients for a formula from Innate Skill, and the system had also altered it into a medicinal formula suited to the Dou Qi Continent.

As everyone knew, the way to distinguish first-rate experts in the martial world was to see whether they had opened the Ren Du Two Meridians. Of Xiao Heng's Eight Extraordinary Meridians, only the Ren and Du Meridians remained unopened. He had tried many times, but always fell just short. Thus, he planned to use a medicinal bath to stimulate them and see whether he could open them. Once the Ren Du Two Meridians were opened, his cultivation speed would definitely increase by more than double.

The materials needed for the medicinal bath were ready. Next, he only had to see whether he could endure it. The process of preparing the medicinal bath was very simple. Compared with the alchemy techniques of the Dou Qi Continent, it was absurdly easy. He only needed to place the herbs into the water in the proper order at the appropriate temperature. The ingredients he needed were not particularly advanced, which was why they gave him even the slightest hope.

Xiao Heng had simulated the preparation process countless times in his mind. Since it was indeed not difficult, he succeeded on his first attempt.

Looking at the nearly boiling green liquid before him, Xiao Heng wore a pained expression.

He muttered to himself, "This thing won't boil me alive, will it? Whatever, what's there to fear? At worst, I'll die. Besides, my luck has always been pretty good. Let's do it!"

He closed his eyes, stripped off his clothes, and jumped into the tub.

As Innate Skill circulated, the medicinal liquid in the tub bubbled as if it were boiling. Xiao Heng clenched his teeth, and low growls escaped his throat. The sound wasn't loud, but it was obvious that he was suffering.

Pure medicinal power followed the circulation route of Innate Skill, cycling through Xiao Heng's body again and again before being absorbed by it.

"Damn, why does it hurt so much? F*ck, I can't take it. If this doesn't work, I'm really going to die."

He immediately circulated Innate Skill with all his strength, and the surging energy continued rushing toward the Ren Du Two Meridians.

"Fuck!"

After the first impact failed, more and more energy accumulated inside Xiao Heng's body, and the pain he suffered grew increasingly intense. Xiao Heng growled hoarsely but still refused to give up, continuing to circulate Innate Skill with all his strength.

If he couldn't succeed, he would die. The madness buried in his bones surged forth. Xiao Heng opened his bloodshot eyes and circulated the technique even faster. Then—

Boom! The Ren Du Two Meridians were successfully opened.

The entire tub burst apart, and Xiao Heng let out a sigh of relief. Then the aura around his body surged explosively: Level Five Dou Power—intermediate, advanced; Level Six Dou Power—beginner, intermediate, advanced; Level Seven Dou Power—beginner, intermediate.

After reaching the intermediate level of Level Seven Dou Power, his Dou Qi began to stabilize gradually. In the end, it stopped at the beginner level.

"It worked! No wonder they say that opening the Ren Du Two Meridians turns someone into an expert. I didn't just break through two levels of Dou Qi in one go—my cultivation speed is at least two or three times faster than before." Xiao Heng was incredibly excited. With a cultivation speed two or three times faster, even if he cultivated normally, he had hope of reaching Dou Wang.

He brought up the panel. The books were still gray, but two new things had appeared: one Skill Point and one Energy Point. At that moment, Xiao Heng's eyes lit up...