Exploiting Bugs in the High-Martial World

Beneath the dim yellow Sky Screen, a colossal city enclosed by towering walls stood upon the earth.

Bloodcurdling howls rang out as fire spread across the horizon, staining half the sky red.

"Beep beep beep..."

"Alert! Alert!"

"A flying mutant beast has appeared in the Outer City, two kilometers west of the city! City Defense Army, provide support immediately! City Defense Army, provide support immediately!"

Several combat helicopters rose from within the city at the command. After crossing the high walls, their fuselages tilted slightly to adjust direction before they shot out with the force of thunder.

More than ten minutes later.

"Alert lifted! Alert lifted!"

"City Defense Army, immediately inspect the life signs of the mutant beast! Location: 2.5 kilometers northwest of the city!"

"Patrol Team, take responsibility for settling the refugees outside the city!"

Thud!

In the dense forest west of the city.

With a dull crash, an enormous body slammed heavily into the ground.

Broken branches and fallen leaves scattered through the air like a curtain of green rain.

The mutant beast's body had been blasted full of holes by artillery shells. Blood gushed from round wounds as wide as bowls.

In the darkness, a thin figure slipped lightly through the brambles and crept up behind the mutant beast.

At such close range, listening to the mutant beast's heavy breathing, Jiang Fan's heart pounded wildly.

He silently took a deep breath, hid behind a tree, and watched the mutant beast's movements.

Once he confirmed that it had lost all ability to move and was barely clinging to life.

Jiang Fan picked out a suitably sized branch from the ground nearby and quickly trimmed it.

Then, carefully aiming at the mutant beast's rear, he thrust it in hard.

The mutant beast jolted in pain and struggled, instantly flinging Jiang Fan away.

"That hurts!"

Jiang Fan crashed to the ground, feeling as though every bone in his body had come apart.

Yet he had no time to care about the pain. Struggling to his feet, he stared unblinkingly at that massive shadow.

"Ding! Congratulations! You have killed the target and obtained 53 points of Life Energy!"

A notification suddenly sounded.

Jiang Fan let out a long breath.

At the same time, light swirled!

It seemed as though crystalline light was being drawn from the mutant beast's body and flowing endlessly into Jiang Fan's brow.

Before long, the light was completely absorbed!

Jiang Fan swiftly erased the traces on the ground and ran into the distance.

As he sprinted through the woods, a rustling sound came from beneath his feet.

Vaguely, Jiang Fan heard movement behind him.

"Huh? It's dead?"

"Our firepower just now shouldn't have been enough to kill it, right?"

"Hm? Its backside... its backside..."

"This again! How many times has this happened this month already?"

Jiang Fan ran all the way along the path.

As he neared the city gate, he saw flames soaring from the tents where refugees lived outside the city.

Their miserable cries were especially clear in the dusk-darkened sky.

It must have been damage caused by that mutant beast just now.

But he did not dare linger for even a moment and continued running forward.

After rushing desperately onward, he finally dashed through the gates at the very instant they were closing!

Once inside the Outer City, the residents' buildings were much better. Though somewhat filthy and messy, they were no longer tents like those outside the city, but more like a village.

After passing through the Inner City gate, the scene changed once more.

Tall buildings stood in rows, traffic flowed along the streets, and the place was incredibly prosperous—it clearly felt like a major city.

Jiang Fan hailed a taxi, gave the driver an address, then leaned against the back seat and closed his eyes to rest.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Fan arrived at an apartment building.

He quietly slipped into his room, took a shower in the bathroom, and changed into fresh clothes.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he closed his eyes.

At once, a thumb-sized Mysterious Seal appeared before him.

The seal knob had been carved into a lifelike auspicious beast, its lines natural and fluid, radiating an ancient simplicity from every detail.

In the void above the Mysterious Seal was displayed: "Unlock Progress: 98.9%."

What exactly is this thing? Jiang Fan was filled with curiosity.

He had stumbled upon this Mysterious Seal by accident back when he was on Earth.

Three months ago, after an unexpected change sent him transmigrating into this High-Martial World, the Mysterious Seal had inexplicably appeared in his Sea of Consciousness.

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"Absorb Life Energy by killing enemies"—that was the first function of the Mysterious Seal that he had discovered!

"As Life Energy increases, unlock progress increases"—that was the second function of the Mysterious Seal that he had discovered!

He had once tested it at a slaughterhouse, hoping to absorb Life Energy by killing livestock, but the increase had been pitifully small.

Left with no other choice, he had turned to crooked schemes—whenever mutant beasts appeared nearby, he would exploit the bug and harvest those on the brink of death!

Sure enough, though this method was somewhat dangerous, it really worked!

Just this time alone, harvesting a single flying mutant beast had increased the unlock progress by nearly 3%. It felt absolutely incredible!

Next time, he should be able to unlock it!

Once it was unlocked, he would get the hell out of this "home" immediately!

Thinking of this, Jiang Fan could only feel speechless.

Other people transmigrated as martial arts geniuses or noble heirs of powerful families!

But him? Not only had he become a commoner, he was even a useless failure incapable of awakening!

More importantly, in this utterly ordinary household, he was somehow still unwelcome!

Yes, he had not awakened!

But according to the original owner's memories, he had been treated differently ever since childhood. It had nothing to do with whether he had awakened or not!

Originally, he had planned to use the benefits of being a transmigrator and, after activating his golden finger, help his entire family soar. But now...

Leave! He had to leave!

Knock knock knock!

Jiang Fan's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Fan Fan, it's time to eat!"

It was his mother Su Xin's voice.

Jiang Fan got off the bed, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.

When he entered the dining room, the table was already covered with dishes.

His father Jiang Zhihe and younger brother Jiang Li were already seated there!

"Come, come, Fan Fan. Try this Braised Pork—it's your favorite!"

Su Xin affectionately pulled Jiang Fan down into a seat, then kept piling meat into his bowl.

Jiang Fan felt a wave of discomfort.

In the original owner's limited memories, this was the first time Su Xin had ever served him food!

Jiang Fan picked up a piece of Braised Pork and put it in his mouth, his attitude far from pleasant.

"If there's something you want, just say it."

The original owner had been withdrawn and weak, swallowing every insult without resistance. Often oppressed, he had barely spoken at home.

After Jiang Fan transmigrated here, he had not cared to deal with this family either. They usually treated him as if he were invisible, so they rarely communicated with each other.

Su Xin's eager attentiveness today was a first even in the original owner's memories. If she had no ulterior motive, not even ghosts would believe it.

Su Xin froze awkwardly for a moment, then spoke softly.

"Um... Fan Fan!"

"I heard you received a Genetic Serum at school!"

"Your younger brother has just awakened recently and needs to unlock the human genetic lock. I was thinking... how about giving it to your younger brother first?"

Jiang Fan's expression turned cold at Heard this, and he immediately set down his chopsticks.

"I'm afraid that won't work. I'll still need it in the future."

Su Xin's body stiffened. She seemed not to have expected Jiang Fan to refuse her. Her expression became sorrowful as she grabbed Jiang Fan's hand.

"Fan Fan, can you consider it a favor to your mother?"

It would have been better if Su Xin had said nothing. The moment she spoke, the coldness on Jiang Fan's face deepened.

He stared at Su Xin, feeling the warmth from her hand while his own heart was ice-cold.

In today's world, martial strength reigned supreme.

Any Martial Cultivator needed a Genetic Serum as a guide to unlock the limits of the human body.

He had studied tirelessly through countless days and nights, earning this Level 1 gene serum through his own effort.

Just because he had not awakened yet, he had to give it to this so-called younger brother? How was that any different from destroying his future?

Was this something biological parents could do?

"I earned this by taking first place in the academic examination. If he wants it, then let him go take first place himself!"

"Insolent son!"

The moment Jiang Fan finished speaking, an angry roar came from beside him.

The veins on Jiang Zhihe's forehead bulged as he glared furiously at Jiang Fan.

"You're already finished!"

"You're eighteen, with only 0.8 vitality and blood—below even the average for your senior year. And you failed to awaken twice. What use is that thing to you?"

"Your younger brother has already awakened successfully. Give him this Genetic Serum, and he still has hope of leading the family to soar!"

"When that time comes, you'll naturally bask in plenty of his glory too!"

"Otherwise, with your physique, what difference is there between using it and pouring it down a toilet?"

Hearing Jiang Zhihe's utterly inhuman words, Jiang Fan's blood surged with fury.

"Chapter 1 of Martial Arts True Understanding: use an awakening serum to activate one's personal talent and awaken talent abilities!"

"Everyone has three chances to awaken before turning eighteen. Failing all three means one is judged talentless."

"I've only failed twice, yet you're telling me I'm already finished?"

"Was Martial Arts True Understanding not clear enough, or did you create an entirely new martial arts system?"