Chapter 1

Desolate mountains, torrential rain.

A sound that shook the heavens suddenly erupted from the dilapidated temple halfway up the mountainside.

It was like a dragon roaring in a great marsh, like a tiger howling in the mountain forests.

The volume was deafening, as if the very rain filling the sky trembled in response.

A white-clad figure suddenly soared out from the ruined temple, with another person in hot pursuit.

The pursuer appeared exceptionally ferocious, gripping a Nine-Ringed Saber and hacking down with the force of a mountain splitting and rocks cracking.

"Bang."

"Clang."

"Clang."

Amidst the Blade Light Sword Shadow, the two figures crossed paths repeatedly within the downpour.

As the rain intensified, their exchange grew even more vicious.

After dozens of moves, only one white-clad figure remained.

A flash of lightning tore through the firmament, revealing his true appearance: a handsome young man.

He looked at the fallen body, his eyes calm and expressionless, and muttered to himself:

"I didn't expect him to have broken through to the late stage of the Bone Refining Realm. If I hadn't struck first, it would have been quite troublesome."

"But if I had been given more time, killing him would have been even easier."

At this thought, his heart stirred.

A translucent panel appeared before his eyes.

[Martial God System]

[Host: Bai Ze]

[Age: 15/73]

[Talent: Mediocre (100/200)]

[Realm: Bone Refining Realm (Mid-stage)]

[Cultivation Method: None]

[Martial Arts: Sword Drawing Technique (Great Accomplishment 12%), Stone Fist (Small Accomplishment 27%), Wind-Following Steps (Small Accomplishment 56%), Mad Bull Body Tempering Fist (Perfected 21%)...]

[Talent Points: 23]

Looking at the data on the panel, Bai Ze's gaze grew firm.

Ever since he transmigrated to this world five years ago, he had gone from a 21st-century shut-in to an orphan. To survive, he had been forced to join the Black Tiger Gang as a common foot soldier.

He felt a sense of helplessness looking at the "Mediocre" talent displayed, knowing this was already the result after adding points to his talent.

Martial arts were divided into the Postnatal Realm and the Innate Realm. The Postnatal Realm focused on body tempering, split into five stages: Strength Refining, Skin Refining, Bone Refining, Viscera Refining, and Blood Changing.

Only after reaching the perfection of the Postnatal Realm could one break through to the Innate Realm and generate internal force within the body.

As for what lay beyond that, Bai Ze did not know; after all, Changqing County was far too small, a completely unremarkable existence within the entire Golden Sun Dynasty.

He had spent five years thinking that "golden fingers" were nothing more than fabrications by novelists.

Relying on his own hard work over those five years, he had only managed to reach the Skin Refining Realm.

Yet, no one could have expected him to suddenly acquire the system three months ago. With the aid of his talent, he had successfully broken through to the Bone Refining Realm, shedding his status as a bottom-tier grunt to become a leader.

This went to show that, at times, martial talent was of paramount importance.

Within the entire Black Tiger Gang, the three Hall Masters all possessed strength at or above the Viscera Refining Realm, and the strongest Sect Master had only reached the Blood Changing Realm three years ago.

In all of Changqing County, the Blood Changing Realm was absolutely the pinnacle of mastery; he had never even heard of anyone in the Innate Realm.

But for Bai Ze, who now possessed the system, this was merely the beginning.

Bai Ze promptly severed the man's head, quickly wrapped it up, and held it in his hand. After looting the body, he turned and walked back into the nearby ruined temple.

After simply cleaning his wounds, he sat down beside the fire.

He placed his long sword to the side, took a roasted chicken wrapped in oil paper from his pack, skewered it on a wooden stick, and held it over the fire to warm.

He couldn't help but think to himself: "I never expected my previous martial talent to be so poor; no wonder I was stuck in the Skin Refining Realm for over a year. But that is no longer an issue."

"With the system's help, my talent will surely continue to increase. Becoming a monstrous genius is only a matter of time."

"Now that I have killed Li Fei of the Ten Thousand Blades Sect, it is time to head back."

Ten days ago, the two major gangs had engaged in a massive battle over territory. The Black Tiger Gang had suffered heavy casualties among its low-level members, and its mid-level personnel had been subjected to assassinations.

However, the gang had quickly launched a counterattack. As a Deputy Hall Master, Bai Ze had received his own mission: upon learning that Li Fei of the Ten Thousand Blades Sect would pass through this area, he had specifically set up this ambush.

Now that the mission was complete, he expected to receive a significant reward upon his return.

Bai Ze took out the Mountain Splitting Saber Technique manual he had scavenged from Li Fei, picked up the Nine-Ringed Saber, and began to study it directly.

He already understood that the source of his Talent Points was the cultivation of various martial arts; by reaching different levels—Entry, Small Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, Perfected, and Profound Realm—he could earn different amounts of Talent Points to further elevate his own potential.

It could be said that as long as one learned enough martial arts, their Talent Points would soar.

Moreover, the Talent Points gained from learning martial arts of different levels varied significantly.

Therefore, with the system's support, Bai Ze could not afford to be lazy; he had to acquire as many martial arts techniques as possible.

After the sky cleared and the rain stopped at dawn, Bai Ze rose and left the dilapidated temple, leaping toward the Black Tiger Gang.

Half a day later, Bai Ze had returned to the Black Tiger Gang's base and arrived at the entrance of the Leopard Hall.

The few lackeys at the door saw him and immediately called out with reverence:

"Brother Bai,"

"Brother Bai,"

Bai Ze merely nodded in acknowledgment and walked inside with an expressionless face.

The lackeys behind him noticed the Nine-Ringed Saber in his hand and a bundle with blood seeping through it, and they began to whisper among themselves.

"Damn, Brother Bai is so fierce. That bundle couldn't be someone's head, could it?"

"Ah, that shouldn't be it. There's no need to decapitate someone just for killing them, right?"

"Heh, that's where you don't know. Ordinary people wouldn't, but did you see that Nine-Ringed Saber just now? If I'm not mistaken, it should belong to Li Fei of the Ten Thousand Blades Sect."

When the other ordinary gang members nearby heard this, they couldn't help but realize the truth, and the look of reverence in their eyes deepened.

By this time, having broken through to the Bone Refining Realm, Bai Ze's hearing had become even sharper, but he paid no mind to their chatter.

Upon entering, he saw Black Panther, the Hall Master of the Leopard Hall, glaring at the people below and saying, "What did I say before? Whoever makes a mistake, even the heavens won't give them a pass."

"Drag him out, sever his hamstrings and tendons, and expel him from the gang."

"Yes!"

"No, please, Hall Master! I won't dare do it again, let me go, I beg you, let me go!"

The two elite gang members nearby didn't care about that; following Black Panther's order, they dragged him straight out, and soon, screams echoed from outside.

Seeing this scene, Bai Ze's face remained completely unchanged. In the few years since he had transmigrated, he had seen too much of this.

If he hadn't been cautious and careful, he feared he wouldn't have even lasted until the arrival of the system.

Even so, only he knew how many crises he had endured during that time.

Bai Ze raised his hand and tossed Li Fei's head onto the ground, saying calmly, "Hall Master, the mission is complete. This is the head of Li Fei from the Ten Thousand Blades Sect."

"Good, good, good!"

Black Panther glanced at it, confirmed it was indeed Li Fei, and his originally icy expression broke into a loud laugh, repeating the word "good" several times.

He smiled and said, "Not bad. You truly didn't disappoint me, Little Bai."

"You have performed a great service this time. As agreed, from now on, you are the Deputy Hall Master of our Black Tiger Gang's Leopard Hall."

"Thank you, Hall Master."

Hearing this, a hint of excitement flashed in Bai Ze's eyes as he respectfully cupped his fists in response.

Seeing this, Black Panther was even more satisfied. He turned around, took a martial arts manual and a bottle of pills, and handed them to Bai Ze.

He smiled and said, "I see you are skilled with the blade; here is a sword technique that should suit you perfectly. There is also a bottle of Bone Forging Pill, which is your reward for this mission."

"Since you are currently at the mid-stage of the Bone Refining Realm, you must break through to the late stage as soon as possible. Only then will your position as Deputy Hall Master be justified, and others will be convinced. I have high hopes for you."

"Yes, thank you for your cultivation, Hall Master."

"Haha, go on."

"Yes."

After Bai Ze respectfully cupped his fists again, he glanced at Black Panther and the other Deputy Hall Master, Scarred Leopard, who had remained silent the entire time, before backing out.

As Black Panther watched his retreating figure, the smile on his face slowly faded away.