Noble Scion, Arrogant Oppression

The morning mist dispersed, and the sunlight began to sting.

After finishing his morning practice in the abandoned workshop, Lin Fan ate some dry rations and headed towards the registration point for the Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy. According to the announcement, the registration was to be held in the plaza outside the academy gates for three days, and today was the second day.

It took over an hour to walk from the slums to the academy. Lin Fan couldn't bear to spend money on transportation and decided to walk – he'd treat it as weighted training.

He tied the hemp rope he used for moving goods last night around his legs, and stuffed a few bricks into his backpack, bringing the total weight to about thirty jin. Then, he began to jog forward.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1]

[Strength Proficiency +1]

System prompts popped up rhythmically.

He was combining his commute with cultivation; this was the most efficient way he could think of to use his time. He only had two Qi Replenishing Pills left and needed to save them for crucial moments.

The scenery along the way gradually changed.

The dilapidated shacks of the slums slowly gave way to neat brick and tile houses. The streets widened, and the ground changed from dirt to stone slabs. The pedestrians' clothing was noticeably more refined, and occasionally, he could see Martial Artists in training uniforms walking briskly, swords or sabers at their waists, exuding sharp auras.

"Outer city..." Lin Fan slowed his pace, observing his surroundings.

Life here was clearly much better than in the slums. Shops lined the streets, including grocery stores, butcher shops, pharmacies, blacksmiths, and even a "Martial Arts Supplies Specialty Store." The items displayed in the windows – various weapons, armor, and pills – made Lin Fan gasp inwardly at the price tags.

The cheapest Mortal Grade Low-rank Iron Sword cost 500 Credit Points.

A bottle of the most basic "Body Tempering Pill" (ten pills per bottle) was priced at 2000 points.

"Resources..." Lin Fan took a deep breath.

Without resources, even the best talent would struggle to grow. The Martial Arts Academy provided basic resources, and this was an opportunity he had to seize.

After walking for another half hour, an open plaza appeared ahead.

In the center of the plaza stood a three-zhang-tall stone monument, inscribed with the six large characters "Jiangnan Martial Arts Academy." The calligraphy was powerful and imposing. Behind the monument was the academy's vermilion gate, flanked by four guards in black uniforms. Their auras were steady, and their gazes sharp; they were at least 2nd Grade Martial Artists.

Hundreds of people had already gathered in the plaza, mostly teenagers and young women around sixteen or seventeen years old, all looking nervous yet full of anticipation. They were lined up in three long queues, corresponding to "Strength Test Preliminary Round," "Speed Test Preliminary Round," and "Combat Test Preliminary Round."

Preliminary Round – this was the first step of registration. Only those who passed the preliminary round would be eligible for the official test.

Lin Fan scanned the queues and walked towards the shortest one – the Combat Test Preliminary Round. Most people lacked confidence in their combat abilities, so this line was the shortest.

As soon as he took his place, a scoffing voice came from beside him.

"Well, well, isn't this the kid from the slums yesterday?"

Lin Fan turned his head and saw Wang Hao approaching with two followers. The three had changed into more flamboyant attire today. Wang Hao was even wearing a brocade robe embroidered with gold thread, and a jade pendant hung from his jade belt, emitting a warm luster in the sunlight.

"Brother Hao, this kid actually dares to show up?" one follower sneered. "Doesn't he know his place?"

"His place? What place does trash from the slums have?" the other follower chimed in. "I think he's gone mad for money, thinking the academy is a charity hall."

The surrounding people in line cast glances their way, but no one dared to speak. The Wang family had a considerable reputation in the outer city, and no one wanted to offend the young master of the Wang family for a slum kid.

Lin Fan ignored their taunts and stood quietly in line.

"Playing deaf and mute?" Wang Hao walked up to Lin Fan, scrutinizing him from head to toe. "Dressed like a beggar, reeking of sweat. I say, did you sleep in a garbage heap last night?"

"Hahaha!" The two followers burst into laughter.

Lin Fan looked up at Wang Hao, his eyes calm. "Move aside, you're blocking the way."

Wang Hao's expression darkened.

He hadn't expected this slum kid to speak to him like that. Yesterday, in front of the notice board, this kid had been neither servile nor overbearing, and today he seemed to disregard him even more.

"Blocking the way?" Wang Hao sneered. "Is this road yours? I'll stand wherever I please. As for you, a piece of trash from the slums, are you even fit to participate in the Martial Arts Academy test? Do you know how many resources the test consumes? The strength testing monument needs maintenance, the wind array consumes energy, the puppets need repair – all this is funded by taxes paid by families like ours. Have you paid a single cent in taxes?"

These words struck at the heart of the matter.

Many teenagers from ordinary families around them showed expressions of indignation, but no one dared to retort.

Lin Fan remained calm. "The academy's recruitment notice stated 'Blue Star citizens,' not 'taxpayers.' I meet the requirements, so I have the right to register."

"Right?" Wang Hao scoffed. "You think registering means you'll get in? Naive! Let me tell you, even if you luckily pass the preliminary round, I have plenty of ways to make sure you fail the official test."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Believe it or not, with a single word from me, I can ensure you receive 'special treatment' during the combat test."

Lin Fan's pupils contracted slightly.

Wang Hao's words were clear – he could influence the test arrangements. Although Lin Fan didn't know if it was true, given the Wang family's influence, it wasn't impossible.

"What do you want?" Lin Fan asked.

"Simple," Wang Hao said with a triumphant smile. "Kneel down now, kowtow to me three times, say 'Young Master Wang, I was wrong, I'm not worthy of practicing martial arts,' and then crawl back to your slum. I might consider letting you off the hook."

Silence fell over the crowd.

Everyone watched Lin Fan.

This was blatant humiliation. Martial artists valued their dignity above all else. Kneeling and kowtowing in public was worse than breaking a leg. Once done, he would never be able to hold his head up in the martial arts world again.

Lin Fan looked at Wang Hao for three seconds.

Then he said, "Move aside."

Wang Hao blinked. "What?"

"I said, move aside," Lin Fan repeated. "You're blocking the line."

"You…" Wang Hao's face turned red. "You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

He suddenly reached out and shoved Lin Fan hard.

Wang Hao put all his strength into the shove. Though arrogant, he was indeed trained. He'd been soaking in medicinal baths and taking pills since childhood, possessing Strength far exceeding peers. Last year, his strength test hit 450 kilograms, nearing the peak of a 1st Grade Martial Trainee.

For an ordinary person, this shove would at least send them tumbling.

But Lin Fan wasn't ordinary.

[Received external force impact, Iron Body Skill proficiency +1]

A system prompt popped up.

Lin Fan swayed slightly, but his feet felt rooted to the ground, unmoving. His actual Strength now exceeded 200 kilograms, and his Iron Body Skill was nearing mastery. His Defense had greatly increased. Wang Hao's shove felt like a tickle to him.

Wang Hao froze.

He felt like he hadn't pushed a person, but a wall.

"What's going on?" his followers by the side also noticed something was wrong.

"Again!" Wang Hao, enraged, changed his tactic from a shove to a punch, throwing a Straight Punch at Lin Fan's chest.

The air whistled with the punch, clearly using a martial skill.

[Detected attack intent, recommend evasion]

A system prompt suddenly appeared.

Lin Fan's mind stirred. His feet shifted slightly, and his body drifted half a foot to the side like a willow catkin.

Basic Footwork · Side Slip.

Wang Hao's punch missed. His body lunged forward due to inertia, nearly falling. He stumbled a couple of steps before regaining his balance, turning to look at Lin Fan with astonishment in his eyes.

"You… you've practiced footwork?"

Lin Fan didn't answer, merely looking at him calmly.

Low murmurs arose from the surroundings.

"Was that… footwork just now?"

"It seems so. Although very simple, it's definitely a footwork technique."

"This slum kid isn't simple…"

Wang Hao's face flickered between green and white. He had intended to humiliate Lin Fan publicly, but instead, the other party had shown off a skill. Although it was just a simple Side Slip, being able to evade so precisely under those circumstances indicated that the other party's footwork had at least reached the introductory level.

A slum kid with introductory footwork?

How was this possible!

"Good, very good." Wang Hao gritted his teeth. "It seems I underestimated you. But do you think knowing a few parlor tricks of footwork will get you through the test? Dream on! I'm telling you, the puppets in the combat test are ten times faster than you!"

"Then I won't trouble you," Lin Fan said. He ignored Wang Hao any further and turned to look towards the front of the line. "It's my turn."

The line had indeed moved forward a few steps, and it was his turn.

Wang Hao wanted to say more, but seeing the displeased gaze of the preliminary assessment instructor, he could only snort coldly and walk away with his followers.

Before leaving, he glared fiercely at Lin Fan, his eyes clearly saying: Just you wait.

The preliminary combat test station was set up on the east side of the plaza, a row of temporary wooden sheds.

Inside the sheds sat three academy instructors, two men and one woman, all around thirty years old with steady auras. The middle-aged instructor with a square face was the chief examiner. In front of him was a table holding a roster, an ink pad, and a black crystal.

"Name, age, address," the square-faced instructor said without looking up.

"Lin Fan, 16 years old, West Street, Slum District," Lin Fan replied.

"Slum District?" the female instructor beside him frowned. "Have you practiced martial arts before? Who did you learn from?"

"Just practiced on my own," Lin Fan said.

"Practiced on your own?" the female instructor shook her head. "Do you know how dangerous the combat test is? Last year, seventeen examinees were seriously injured, and three were permanently disabled. If you haven't practiced, I suggest you go to the Strength or Speed test, at least it's safer."

"I want to try," Lin Fan said firmly.

The square-faced instructor looked up and glanced at Lin Fan. "The combat test puppet is 'War Soldier No. 1'. Its Strength is close to a 2nd Grade Martial Artist, and its Speed is not slow either. The test requirement is to last for one minute on the stage without going out of bounds or being knocked down. Are you sure you want to register?"

"Sure."

"Good." The square-faced instructor no longer persuaded him and pointed to the black crystal on the table. "Place your hand on it and input a trace of Origin Energy."

Lin Fan complied, placing his hand on the crystal. He circulated his Basic Breathing Technique, inputting a faint trace of Origin Energy into it.

The crystal emitted a faint white light.

"Origin Energy amount… it's acceptable, barely meeting the standard for a 1st Grade Martial Trainee," the square-faced instructor recorded. "Next test, reaction speed."

He picked up a small copper bell from the table. "I will ring the bell. After the bell rings, you will tap this button as quickly as possible."

There was a red button on the table.

Lin Fan nodded, concentrating and preparing.

"Ding–"

The bell chimed crisply.

Lin Fan hit the button almost the moment it rang.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1]

A system prompt popped up—that instantaneous burst of speed had been judged by the system as "footwork application."

"Good reaction," the stern-faced instructor said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "0.12 seconds. That's excellent for a commoner applicant. Have you really never trained before?"

"I really haven't," Lin Fan replied.

"You have talent," the instructor said, a rare smile gracing his lips. "But talent alone isn't enough. The practical combat test assesses overall ability. Are you sure you want to register for practical combat? You can still change your mind."

"I'm sure."

"Alright." The instructor didn't say any more. He noted Lin Fan's information on the roster and handed him a wooden plaque. "Take this. It's your applicant number. Three days from now, on the morning of September 18th, use this to participate in the official test. The location is the academy's third training hall. Remember, lateness will be considered a forfeiture."

The wooden plaque was palm-sized, engraved with "Practical Combat - 147."

Number 147. It seemed he was the 147th person to register for the practical combat test.

"Thank you, instructor," Lin Fan said, taking the plaque and carefully putting it away.

"Next!"

Lin Fan stepped out from under the wooden shed, the sunlight a little glaring.

He took a deep breath and looked at the other two preliminary screening points in the plaza.

The line for the Strength test was the longest, with nearly a hundred people. The Speed test line was shorter, with about fifty or sixty.

Should I sign up for another one?

Lin Fan thought for a moment and decided to check out the Speed test line. Signing up for an extra event meant an extra chance. Although he was confident in his speed, if Wang Hao interfered with the practical combat test, at least the Speed test would be a backup.

He walked towards the line for the Speed test preliminary screening.

As soon as he took his place, he heard a familiar mocking voice nearby.

"Yo, back again? Practical combat wasn't enough, so you want to sign up for Speed too? Who do you think you are, some kind of all-around genius?"

Wang Hao had somehow appeared again, this time with a few people around him—boys and girls dressed in flashy clothes, clearly his friends.

"Brother Hao, is this the poor kid you were talking about?" a girl in a pink dress giggled, covering her mouth. "He's quite good-looking, but a shame he's just a peasant."

"Good-looking? He reeks of poverty," another tall, thin boy sneered. "Brother Hao, should I teach him a lesson for you? I just recently mastered 'Stone Splitting Palm,' it'd be a good chance to test its power."

Wang Hao waved his hand. "No need. We're at the academy entrance, don't make a scene. He won't pass the test anyway. Making him run around for nothing will be even more interesting, won't it?"

"Brother Hao is right," the girl in the pink dress chimed in with a sweet laugh. "Look at him trying so hard now. When it all comes to nothing, his expression will be priceless."

Lin Fan ignored them, quietly queuing.

He'd seen plenty of people like this before. Back in his previous life at the company, some rich second-generation colleagues had the same attitude, looking down on ordinary employees because they had money and power. The best way to deal with them was to crush them with strength.

Now wasn't the time.

He needed to pass the test first, get into the academy, and obtain resources. Once his strength was sufficient, there would be plenty of opportunities for retribution.

The line moved forward slowly.

The Speed test preliminary screening was simple: sprint across a ten-meter track and record the time. The examiner would judge the applicant's potential based on their score.

When it was Lin Fan's turn, the examiner was a lean, middle-aged man with sharp, eagle-like eyes.

"Name, applicant number."

"Lin Fan, Practical Combat - 147."

"Practical combat applicant number?" the examiner raised an eyebrow. "You registered for practical combat?"

"Yes."

"Interesting." The examiner glanced at him again. "Run, give it your all."

Lin Fan stood behind the starting line, bending slightly.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1]

The system prompt appeared again—any action related to "movement" could trigger proficiency growth.

"Go!"

Lin Fan shot out like an arrow from a bow.

He pushed his Basic Footwork to its limit, each step landing in the most energy-efficient and fastest position. His body leaned forward, arms swinging in sync with his breathing, the whole person like a cheetah.

Ten meters passed in an instant.

"1.82 seconds," the examiner recorded. "Not bad. That speed ranks you in the top twenty among commoner applicants. Have you trained footwork?"

"Just messed around on my own."

"Messed around and got this good?" the examiner didn't believe him but didn't press further. "Alright, you passed. Three days from now, morning, second training hall. Don't be late."

"Thank you, examiner."

Lin Fan took another wooden plaque, engraved with "Speed - 89."

He put away the wooden token and didn't go to the Strength test area. It was getting late, and he still had to go back to the docks for work, plus a private job that night.

Just as he turned to leave, Wang Hao blocked his path again.

"Signed up for the Speed test too?" Wang Hao sneered. "Alright, pretty greedy. But you think just signing up means you'll pass? Let me tell you, the 'Gale Formation' for the Speed test has wind speeds that change randomly. Without practicing a specialized movement technique, you'll just get blown away. Our Wang family has the 'Wind Chasing Steps' inheritance. I've been practicing it since I was a child to ensure stability. You? Heh heh."

Lin Fan walked around him and left directly.

"Stop!" Wang Hao shouted.

Lin Fan didn't stop.

"I told you to stop!" Wang Hao chased a few steps and grabbed Lin Fan's shoulder.

This time he used his full strength, his five fingers like hooks, digging into Lin Fan's shoulder blade. For an ordinary person, such a grip would at least dislocate their shoulder.

But Lin Fan's shoulder twitched, and the Iron Body Skill activated spontaneously, his muscles instantly tightening like iron.

[Received Grappling Attack, Iron Body Skill Proficiency +2]

Wang Hao felt like his fingers had grabbed an iron plate. Not only did he fail to grip, but his fingers went numb from the shock.

"You..." He let go in shock.

Lin Fan turned back and glanced at him. His eyes were calm, yet they carried an invisible pressure.

Wang Hao involuntarily took half a step back.

By the time he reacted, Lin Fan was already far away.

"Brother Hao, what's wrong?" the girl in the pink dress sidled up. "That kid just now..."

"Shut up!" Wang Hao's face turned ashen.

He had actually been intimidated by a slum kid? Even for just a moment, that feeling... was like being stared at by a wild beast.

Impossible!

It must have been a hallucination!

How could a piece of trash from the slums have that kind of aura?

"Brother Hao, should I find someone to..." The tall, thin young man made a throat-slitting gesture.

"No need," Wang Hao gritted his teeth. "It's too obvious to fight at the academy entrance. During the test... I have plenty of ways to make him 'accidentally' get injured. The practical combat test has injury quotas, you know."

He looked in the direction Lin Fan had left, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

"By then, I'll make him kneel and beg me."

Lin Fan left the plaza and didn't return directly to the slums. Instead, he went to a second-hand market in the outer district.

He needed a bicycle.

The second-hand market was huge, selling all sorts of things: old furniture, old clothes, old tools, and even old weapons—though most were rusty, they were cheap.

Lin Fan browsed around and found a stall selling used bicycles in a corner.

The stall owner was a one-eyed old man, dozing on a small stool. In front of him were five or six bicycles, some missing handlebars, some missing chains. Only two looked relatively complete.

"Boss, how much for this one?" Lin Fan asked, pointing to a black bicycle.

The one-eyed old man opened his eyes and glanced over. "That one? 300 points."

"Too expensive," Lin Fan shook his head. "The tires are cracked, and the brakes don't work well."

"Then how much do you offer?"

"150 points."

"You don't haggle like that!" the one-eyed old man glared. "200 points, that's the lowest. The frame is made of 'Black Ironwood,' it's sturdy, it'll last another ten years without breaking."

Lin Fan inspected the frame. It was indeed Black Ironwood, a common low-level spirit wood, hard in texture, and more durable than ordinary steel. The tires and brakes could be repaired himself; it wouldn't cost much.

"180 points, and I'll buy it." Lin Fan took out his money pouch.

The one-eyed old man hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, I'll sell it to you at a loss since I find you likable."

Lin Fan counted out 180 Credit Points—this was from the private job he did last night. Added to what he had saved before, it totaled 216 points. After buying the bike, he had 36 points left.

Enough. At least he wouldn't have to worry about food for the next few days.

He pushed the bicycle out of the second-hand market and found a secluded spot. He took out tools from his backpack—these were all picked up from the slums. Although rudimentary, they were sufficient for repairing the bike.

It took him half an hour to replace the tires, adjust the brakes and chain, and oil the bearings.

"Done."

Lin Fan straddled the bicycle and tested it. Although it still creaked a bit, it was rideable.

He got on the bike and rode towards the docks.

The wind whistled past his ears.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1] (Cycling was judged as "Movement Training")

Lin Fan's heart stirred—this worked too?

He tried to circulate the breathing rhythm of Basic Footwork while cycling, coordinating it with the rhythm of pedaling. Indeed, the efficiency was higher, and his stamina consumption was lower.

"The system's judgment is getting more lenient," Lin Fan thought to himself. "It seems any action related to 'Martial Arts' can trigger proficiency growth."

This was a good thing for him.

The path of a grinder was to use every moment, every opportunity to become stronger.

The afternoon docks were still busy.

After finishing his work and getting paid, Lin Fan prepared to pick up Chen Dahu – they had agreed for him to teach him footwork today.

He rode his bicycle back to the slums and met Chen Dahu, who was already waiting in an abandoned workshop.

"Brother Fan!" Chen Dahu's eyes lit up when he saw Lin Fan's bike. "You bought a car?"

"Yeah, a used one," Lin Fan said, parking his bike. "Let's go, time to train."

"Okay!"

Lin Fan first had Chen Dahu run a few laps, observing his posture and breathing. Chen Dahu had good strength, but poor coordination. His body was stiff when running, his breathing was erratic, and his efficiency was very low.

"You're wasting too much energy running like this," Lin Fan said. "I'll teach you the breathing technique for Basic Footwork. Combined with the steps, it can save you thirty percent energy."

"Save thirty percent energy?!" Chen Dahu was shocked. "That good?"

"You'll know when you try it."

Lin Fan began to explain the essentials of Basic Footwork: how to land, how to swing his arms, how to breathe, and how to maintain balance. This was all experience he had gained from practicing with the system himself. Though simple, it was practical.

Chen Dahu learned very diligently, practicing over and over.

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1] (Teaching was judged as "Skill Application")

Lin Fan froze for a moment, then smiled.

Teaching others could increase his own proficiency too?

This system... was truly a blessing for grinders.

He became even more enthusiastic about teaching.

An hour later, Chen Dahu had initially grasped the breathing technique and found running significantly easier.

"Brother Fan, I feel... it really does save energy!" Chen Dahu said excitedly. "I used to be out of breath after one lap, but now I can run three laps before getting a little tired."

"Keep practicing until it becomes instinct," Lin Fan said. "There's still half a month left. Practice for an hour every morning and evening, and your Speed will definitely improve."

"Okay!" Chen Dahu nodded heavily. "Brother Fan, thank you."

"No need to thank me," Lin Fan patted his shoulder. "You're my brother."

Chen Dahu's eyes turned red, and he rubbed them hard. "Brother Fan, from now on, my life is yours!"

"Don't say foolish things," Lin Fan smiled. "Your life is your own. Live well, become strong, and protect the people you want to protect."

"Okay!"

Night fell.

Lin Fan bid farewell to Chen Dahu and rode his bike to Warehouse No. 2 at the docks.

The private job tonight was the same as usual: moving those heavy crates. With last night's experience, Lin Fan was more efficient, finishing in just over half an hour.

After receiving 30 points of wages, he now had a total of 66 points.

On his way back, he detoured to the pharmacy and used his remaining money to buy three days' worth of medicinal ingredients – not for his sister, but for himself. Iron Body Skill required medicinal baths for assistance. Although he couldn't afford the expensive "Body Tempering Liquid," boiling ordinary medicinal ingredients to make bathwater could still have some effect.

When he returned to Grandpa Li's small courtyard, Lin Xiaoyu was already asleep.

Grandpa Li sat under the eaves, holding a yellowed ancient book and flipping through it by the oil lamp's light.

"You're back?" Grandpa Li didn't look up.

"Mm," Lin Fan replied softly.

"Did the registration go smoothly today?"

"Smoothly."

"Did you run into any trouble?" Grandpa Li suddenly asked.

Lin Fan paused. "A little bit of trouble, but I can handle it."

Grandpa Li put down his book and looked at him. "That kid from the Wang family?"

"You know?"

"The slums are this big; news travels fast," Grandpa Li said. "The Wang family has some influence in the outer districts, but they're not powerful enough to cover the sky with one hand. The academy's tests have an oversight system; they wouldn't dare to be too obvious. However... they'll definitely try to trip you up behind your back."

"I understand," Lin Fan nodded.

"Good that you understand," Grandpa Li picked up his book again. "Go to sleep; you have to wake up early tomorrow."

"Grandpa Li," Lin Fan suddenly said. "Thank you."

Grandpa Li waved his hand without speaking.

Lin Fan returned to his room and looked at his sleeping sister, gently tucking her in.

Then he went to the outer room and began preparing the medicinal bath.

An ordinary iron pot, add water, put in medicinal herbs, and boil it over a fire. The medicinal aroma quickly spread, somewhat pungent, but Lin Fan could sense the faint spiritual energy contained within.

After the water boiled, he poured it into a wooden tub. Waiting for the temperature to drop, he stripped off his clothes and sat in.

The scalding medicinal water stimulated his skin, causing a slight sting, but it quickly turned into a warm sensation, seeping into his body through his pores.

[Detected external energy stimulation, Iron Body Skill proficiency growth accelerated]

The system notification popped up.

It really works!

Lin Fan closed his eyes, circulated his Basic Breathing Technique, and guided the medicinal properties to circulate within his body.

[Iron Body Skill proficiency +1]

[Iron Body Skill proficiency +1]

The speed at which his proficiency increased had clearly accelerated, almost double the usual rate.

"At this rate, Iron Body Skill will break through to the Proficient level within three days," Lin Fan estimated in his mind. "My Defense will greatly increase then, and I'll have a much better chance in the combat test."

He soaked for a full hour until the medicinal water cooled before getting up and drying himself.

He checked his status panel:

[Iron Body Skill (Proficient 421/500)]

Only 79 points away from the Proficient level.

"Just a little more effort."

Lin Fan didn't rest; instead, he began practicing his punches. In the dead of night, it was the golden hour for dedicated players.

Fist shadows danced in the moonlight.

[Basic Fist Technique proficiency +1]

[Basic Footwork proficiency +1]

[Combat Experience +0.1] (Simulated Combat)

Lin Fan only lay down, exhausted, after practicing until dawn.

He had a dream.

He dreamt he was standing on a massive arena, facing a three-meter-tall metal puppet whose eyes glowed red. The puppet swung a fist, and he couldn't dodge, being sent flying with a sharp pain in his chest.

Then he saw Wang Hao standing at the edge of the arena, laughing heartily.

"Trash from the slums, you dare practice martial arts?"

Lin Fan woke up with a gasp, his body covered in cold sweat.

The sky outside the window was beginning to brighten.

He sat up, took several deep breaths, and calmed his racing heart.

"It was just a dream."

But he knew that if his strength wasn't enough, the scene from his dream could very well become reality.

Wang Hao's threat, the academy's test, his sister's illness, his father's belongings... everything required strength to resolve.

"Keep training."

Lin Fan got up and walked into the courtyard.

In the morning light, the young man's figure was slender, but every punch was firm and powerful.

If you find this book to your liking, be sure to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.