Extreme Martial Arts Hall

Knock, knock, knock.

After three knocks, the door quickly opened.

A gaunt man with a square face, Gu Guoping, appeared.

"Ah, Xiao Yan, it's you. Why didn't you call before coming?"

Gu Guoping, who had been looking gloomy, instantly swapped to a smile and invited Shi Yan inside.

"Look at you, you didn't have to bring so many things."

"Just some snacks, nothing pricey. By the way, is Aunt not home?"

Shi Yan pretended not to know, surveying the cramped house.

The couple scrimped and saved for their child, even trading away their original larger home for this one.

His cousin Gu Feng had lived up to expectations, not only getting into Jiangnan City No. 1 High School but also achieving excellent grades.

Especially after awakening the B-class "Wind Dragon Hand" ability, the family even received a special visit from the neighborhood committee.

The Wind Dragon Hand was a dragon-shaped attack form made of wind elements—an ability with an innate attack shape that dealt heavy damage to monsters, making Gu Feng a prime target for future recruitment by the Monster Suppression Bureau.

"Your aunt just finished cupping therapy, she's a bit weak and resting inside."

Gu Guoping smiled gently, showing no signs of the earlier argument.

That was the adult world—life forced people into being masterful actors.

"Oh, perfect. These fruits can help Aunt recover a bit."

Shi Yan set down his things, losing any desire to have a drink with his uncle.

"Uncle, I just came to check on you both and to thank you."

"Why say that? Sit down first, let me whip up a few dishes."

"No, no, you don't understand—I've been pretty busy lately."

Shi Yan waved his hand, raising his voice slightly.

"My homeroom teacher has been giving me special training, unlocking some unique uses for my ability. My strength has improved a lot, and getting into a Martial Arts University is well within reach."

"Really?"

Gu Guoping paused, his hand that had been reaching for an apron freezing, a look of surprise on his face.

If Shi Yan could get into a martial arts school, he'd have done right by his sister in the afterlife.

"Truer than true. Otherwise, I wouldn't be rushing back to train."

Shi Yan said, grabbing a metal drink can from the nearby table.

It was a Blue Bull Drink for alertness—Gu Guoping often drank it to stay focused while welding.

Then, under Gu Guoping's astonished gaze, the metal can was crushed into a ball, burst into flames, and melted down into a small metal sphere.

A wave of heat washed over them, and Gu Guoping burst into hearty laughter: "Hahaha, good! Good! Good! I knew my judgment was spot on."

His laughter was even more joyful than if he'd won a prize himself.

Then, before Shi Yan could speak, he slapped the metal sphere to the floor and pushed Shi Yan out the door.

"Go back and train, train hard. Your uncle is still in his prime—no need to visit, I'm in great shape."

The door closed, and Gu Guoping tilted his chin toward the bedroom door: "Zhang Shufen, come out and see how sharp my eye is..."

"Captain, I found him. He's a senior at Baiyun No. 1 High School."

Inside the security room of Bigui Residential Area, a fresh-faced girl in a black combat uniform raised her wrist and spoke.

On her wrist was a watch-like device, and a blue light screen was rising from it, displaying Shi Yan's detailed information.

Beside the girl stood a young man with sharp brows and bright eyes. He was also dressed in black, but not in a combat uniform—instead, a cheap-looking martial arts outfit.

The young man in black was watching a screen showing Shi Yan killing the dog monster with a single punch.

The two were members of the Jiangnan Base City Monster Suppression Bureau, sent here to investigate a sudden spiritual energy eruption on the outskirts of Baiyun City. When a monster appeared nearby in Bigui Residential Area, they, as the closest Bureau members, naturally came to handle it first.

"Shi Yan is walking out of the residential area. Should we stop him?"

Seeing the young man silent, the pretty girl couldn't help asking.

Monster incidents fell under the Bureau's jurisdiction. Since Shi Yan was involved, he'd at least have to come in for questioning and a statement.

"No need. Not only that, Xiao Li, you should notify the Baiyun City Bureau later to handle things properly and not let this affect Shi Yan."

The young man in black shook his head slightly, his tone calm but brooking no argument.

"He's good talent. Let him take the Martial Arts Examination in peace. Later, we might have a chance to recruit him for our Jiangnan Monster Suppression Bureau."

"Yes, Captain."

Xiao Li quickly responded, a hint of admiration in her eyes as she looked at the young man.

Not affecting Shi Yan... Maybe the captain was thinking of his own school days.

As the youngest Martial General-level martial artist in the history of the Jiangnan Base City Monster Suppression Bureau, the captain's past achievements were nothing short of dazzling.

Back in the Martial Arts Examination, Lin Ye was the Top Scholar of the Jiangnan region.

Based on Shi Yan's performance just now, that punch had to be backed by at least twenty Cal of qi and blood to land.

Twenty Cal—that's considered above-average even among the key high schools of Jiangnan Base City, and in Baiyun City, it would make him a strong contender for the city's Top Scholar.

"The Sharp-Toothed Dog Demon is a ferocious existence even among Level 1 Demonic Beasts. Let's go check the victim's home and see how she got her hands on that Original Body."

Can't find the book title? Try searching by the author—maybe it just changed names!

"Yes, Captain."

The vibration of the communicator made Shi Yan, who had just walked a short distance from the residential area, stop in his tracks.

He opened it and saw it was his uncle, Gu Guoping.

The moment he answered, an urgent voice came through the line.

"Xiao Yan, where are you? Come back, come back—something huge happened. I just saw a message in the residential Owner Group saying a demonic beast showed up here. Hurry back and hide. Wait until the Monster Suppression Bureau deals with it before you go out again."

"Uh, Uncle, I'm already outside."

Shi Yan smiled faintly, then glanced at the slight redness on his knuckles.

"It's already handled. I saw the Monster Suppression Bureau's vehicle. Just stay put at home."

Hearing the words "Monster Suppression Bureau," the voice on the other end calmed down. After a few more nagging remarks, the call ended.

The Monster Suppression Bureau was a department established by the Huaxia Kingdom after the Spiritual Revival, tasked with handling supernatural incidents.

They suppressed not only demons but also humans who stirred up trouble.

Over the years, the Bureau had earned deep public trust and affection from the people.

"There really is a Monster Suppression Bureau vehicle."

Just as he put away the communicator, Shi Yan spotted a heavy, metallic black vehicle tucked away in a corner.

"But why is it Jiang A?"

Only vehicles from Jiangnan Base City had license plates starting with that prefix.

He didn't understand why someone from the higher-ups would come down here, but with the Bureau's presence, the Bigui Residential Area was safe.

"I need to get myself a weapon."

Rubbing his right fist, Shi Yan hailed a cab and headed for the Baiyun Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

To legally own a weapon, one must have a Martial Artist Certificate.

Any qualified martial arts hall nationwide can conduct martial artist certification.

Of course, that only covers First-Order to Third-Order martial artists; anything beyond Third Order requires going to the Monster Suppression Bureau.

The Extreme Martial Arts Hall was the largest in the country, with branches everywhere, so it naturally had the qualifications.

And he remembered that after certifying as a martial artist there, the hall would gift a Fine Steel weapon.

Twenty-five minutes later.

Shi Yan stood before the gates of the Baiyun Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

"Quite impressive."

Shi Yan looked up, amazed at the hall's lavish spending.

Even though Baiyun City was just an unremarkable little base city, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall hadn't skimped on making the venue grand, solid, and imposing.

Just the main gate alone spanned a hundred meters wide, flanked by the skeletons of two ten-meter-tall Level 5 Great Demons.

Real demonic beast skeletons, not statues!

Even from dozens of meters away, Shi Yan could still feel the unique pressure of demonic beasts emanating from the bones.

People came and went in an endless stream, most of them carrying weapons, with a faint aura of Sha Qi clinging to them.

The Extreme Martial Arts Hall's business was vast—not just martial arts instruction, but also testing, duels, auctions, venue rentals, and nearly every service related to martial artists.

Yet, despite the hall being a behemoth, Shi Yan felt it was small—so small that he could run into an acquaintance just by trying to certify as a First-Order Warrior.

It was Lu Jiaojiao, the school beauty of Baiyun No. 1 High School, and the goddess who had once consumed his predecessor's heart.

She stood right beneath the giant demonic beast skeleton, wearing a floral long dress, her hair lightly pinned up, every smile and glance brimming with charm.

No wonder she attracted a swarm of simps—her looks were indeed tempting.

Too bad she wasn't Shi Yan's type.

The moment he spotted her, Lu Jiaojiao seemed to sense something and looked his way.

When she saw Shi Yan's handsome face, she instinctively pulled her hand back from where it had been linked around a rich young man's arm.

"Shi Yan... you, how are you here?"

Embarrassment flickered across her face, like she'd been caught cheating, but she quickly remembered times had changed. She swapped in a cold mask.

"We're not from the same world anymore. Please stop pestering me from now on."

That was right—she had awakened an A-class special ability and latched onto a young master from a major Baiyun City conglomerate. Her future was boundless.

And Shi Yan?

He was just one of her many suitors. No money, no background, no talent. The only thing he had going for him was his looks.

"Hm?"

The next moment, something stunned Lu Jiaojiao.

Shi Yan actually turned around and walked away!

No more fussing over her, no more clinging and pestering, not even half a word!

What infuriated her more was the look he gave her—a glance of disgust, contempt, and pity.

She couldn't hold it together. Gritting her back teeth, she blocked Shi Yan.

"Shi Yan, what do you mean by that!?"