Wu Yuan

Dongwu Calendar 3224, early spring.

Nanmeng Prefecture, Jiang Province. Li City.

Inside Prefectural Sect Martial Academy, on the training ground, the chill of early morning had yet to fade, but a large group of academy disciples had already begun their morning drills.

At the elementary Martial Academy, all the disciples were youths whose bones and muscles had yet to mature. They were still far from entering the martial path.

But as the cornerstone of the Hengyun Sect's prestige across Jiang Province's sixteen prefectures, the academy's students were no ordinary bunch. They were either gifted youths from the counties under Li City or descendants of sect martial artists. When they trained together, they naturally cut an imposing figure.

"Whoosh!" Those practicing with short spears drew their limbs back like a great bow, joined their waists and hips as one, and thrust their spears through the air, driving them deep into wooden posts.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Those sparring with fists dodged as nimbly as foxes and struck as fiercely as tigers, their moves sharp and ruthless, displaying extraordinary martial prowess.

Only in one corner—

"Your waist is an inch too high. Your limbs aren't spread wide enough, and you're not leaning forward far enough. You've got a thousand catties of strength, but can only bring out seventy percent of it." A youth of about fourteen or fifteen, wearing a roughly tailored martial uniform with frayed edges, was propping himself up on one arm in an odd, reclined pose as he casually critiqued his "classmates" in the distance.

The Martial Academy disciples' moves were sharp, their attacks and defenses well balanced, but in Wu Yuan's eyes, they were riddled with flaws.

"This world really is extraordinary. When I first arrived, I thought it was a low-martial world. Its martial arts techniques were nowhere near the Federation's, and only its physical abilities were astonishing. Even ordinary people could rival 'warriors' in the Federation." Wu Yuan murmured to himself.

As the youngest Martial Dao Grandmaster in the Solar System's Human Federation, Wu Yuan's understanding and knowledge of the martial path was enough to place him among the top ten in the Human Federation, with its population of hundreds of billions.

Of course, that was in the past!

Because Wu Yuan had transmigrated.

The reason? Wu Yuan had no idea. He'd gone to sleep and awakened in this world, his soul inhabiting another body.

The process? Wu Yuan remembered even less.

He had been in this world for nearly half a year. For the first few months, he'd been in a daze. Only in the past month or so, as he gradually absorbed his predecessor's memories, had his mind slowly recovered.

"I've been here half a year and still haven't awakened a system. You can't take online novels seriously, huh? Maybe I'm not the protagonist type?" Wu Yuan mused.

In his previous life, he'd studied martial arts from childhood, but he wasn't hidebound.

In the various "universe islands" of the Federation's Metaverse, Wu Yuan was known as a "keyboard warrior." He'd also read countless online novels, so accepting the fact that he'd transmigrated had come easily.

The only person he couldn't stop worrying about was his elder sister.

But—

What was done was done. As a Martial Dao Grandmaster, Wu Yuan knew that daydreaming was useless. Strength was what mattered.

Especially in this martial-arts-first, heroes-vying-for-supremacy Central Land World.

Once his consciousness had cleared, Wu Yuan had quickly accepted his new identity and begun working to recover his cultivation.

Unfortunately—

His unfamiliar body and impoverished family had made his progress over the past month or so painfully slow.

"In my previous life, I had an endless supply of high-energy meals to nourish me, a comprehensive AI monitoring every change in my body, and the Human Federation's 'Optimal Martial Dao Solution,' built on hundreds of years of accumulated data." Wu Yuan shook his head slightly.

And in this life?

His cultivation conditions were far worse.

Still, not everything was a disadvantage. The more Wu Yuan learned about this world, the more he discovered its astonishing potential in the martial path.

It wasn't as simple as its "low-martial world" appearance suggested.

Besides—

"Reality isn't an online novel. I didn't suddenly transmigrate just because the heavens thought I was handsome." Wu Yuan wasn't truly unconcerned about the reason he'd transmigrated.

He simply understood—

This sort of supernatural mystery wasn't something he could figure out right now. Even the Human Federation, which had already occupied the Solar System in his previous life, couldn't do it.

"For now, the most important thing is to take first place in the Martial Academy Grand Competition eight days from now." Wu Yuan was perfectly calm.

The Martial Academy Grand Competition was held once a year.

The first-place winner earned the right to enter Cloud Martial Hall, the highest-level martial academy within Hengyun Sect's territory. Even its least accomplished graduates became Proficient Experts.

"A Fifth-Rank Expert counts as a Proficient Expert. Even in the City Guard Army, he'd be eligible to serve as a Battalion Commander." Over the past month, Wu Yuan had learned a fair amount about this world.

It was a world ruled by martial sects!

Martial experts could be enfeoffed as kings and lords! They could found sects! Roam the world freely! They could even establish countries and proclaim themselves emperors!

Martial strength decided everything.

Hengyun Sect was a great martial sect that ruled thousands of li of land. It had countless disciples and experts—a true behemoth.

But—

Wu Yuan wasn't particularly interested in entering the so-called Cloud Martial Hall.

During his time at the academy, he'd seen Fifth-Rank Experts. Their strength was terrifying, slightly surpassing even the peak of his previous life. But their Martial Arts Technique had disappointed him. It was far behind what he'd known before.

"Science is the foremost productive force in the martial path."

As a recipient of a doctorate in martial arts, Wu Yuan wholeheartedly believed in that saying—and lived by it.

A secret manual supposedly discovered by an expert after twenty years of painstaking practice!

A "peerless art" practiced by, at most, a few thousand people over the course of a millennium, according to some great martial sects!

How could any of that compare with the Human Federation's Optimal Martial Dao Solution, based on the training data of hundreds of billions of people?

What truly interested Wu Yuan about the Martial Academy Grand Competition was the other reward for first place—five hundred taels of silver.

"A big meat bun costs three copper coins. Five hundred taels of silver has the purchasing power of five hundred thousand star credits in the Federation," Wu Yuan thought.

"Of course, it'd only buy a square meter of an ordinary house in the capital city."

That much money—

Wu Yuan wouldn't have even looked at it in his previous life. A single "martial arts duel" with another Martial Dao Grandmaster could earn him hundreds of millions in livestream tips.

But in this life—

Wu Yuan was poor.

The kind of poor where he was only a step away from starving to death!

"Practicing martial arts makes you ravenous."

"My slow progress has a lot to do with my diet. Give me enough meat, and I'll improve ten times faster."

Wu Yuan had plenty of plans for his martial cultivation, but even the cleverest housewife couldn't cook without rice.

Martial arts weren't immortal cultivation. You had to eat—and eat well!

Five hundred taels of silver was the easiest "first pot of gold" Wu Yuan could earn right now.

More importantly—it was safe and risk-free!

"This world seems to have a shallow foundation in martial arts, but a Fifth-Rank Expert can wield tens of thousands of catties of force. How strong are the First-Rank Experts who rule entire territories? And then there are the Heavenly Ranking Experts, said to be Land Immortals!" Wu Yuan had read some of the records in the academy's books.

Without enough confidence and strength, he wouldn't act recklessly.

Why would anyone believe that an ordinary Martial Academy disciple had suddenly transformed? Advancing step by step was the proper path.

"Besides."

"After setting aside what I need for Casting Origin, the remaining four hundred taels of silver should be enough to treat Mother's illness." Wu Yuan couldn't help picturing the weathered face of that gentle woman.

When he'd first transmigrated, he'd spent months in a daze. Everyone had urged the woman to give up.

But she'd held on, gritting her teeth as she went on her knees to beg other clan members and her dead husband's "colleagues." She'd spent a fortune and somehow kept "her son" alive until he finally woke up completely.

Who could remain unmoved by such a heart, when it was no stone?

Over the past few months, Wu Yuan had truly settled into this body and come to accept that woman as his "mother." Naturally, he cared about her health.

"Since I've taken the other man's place as her son, I'll shoulder that responsibility."

As time passed, Wu Yuan gradually absorbed his predecessor's memories and felt more and more deeply the fierce warmth of that maternal love.

Suddenly—

"Xu Yuanhan's here." A voice rang out from the other side of the training ground.

"He's the Garrison General's son. The military training grounds are much better equipped, and he even has soldiers to spar with. He usually doesn't come to the academy for morning drills."

"Something must be up." The training ground buzzed with talk.

These Martial Academy disciples were the finest martial arts talents selected from across Li City's territory. Clearly, the newcomer's status was even more exceptional.

"Wu Yuan!"

A somewhat youthful, muffled voice rang out from afar. Many disciples on the training ground turned to look toward Wu Yuan.

"Hmm? Here already?" The person who entered Wu Yuan's view was a burly youth wearing an extravagant purple martial robe.

He stood about one meter ninety tall and was built like a brown bear. Yet, as he moved, his limbs and spine seemed to work together, as though he were a great spear ready to erupt at any moment. He radiated an astonishing pressure.

He stood head and shoulders above the crowd.

His eyes were fixed intently on Wu Yuan!

"Xu Yuanhan."

Wu Yuan sprang to his feet and leaped more than a zhang, his posture straight as he flashed an harmless smile. "What is it?"

Wu Yuan was nearly one meter eighty tall, but standing before Xu Yuanhan, he looked rather "small."

"Last time, I lost to you because I wasn't careful. Today, right now! I want to fight you again." Xu Yuanhan stared at Wu Yuan.

The challenge drew glances from all across the training ground.

"I'm not fighting." Wu Yuan shook his head without hesitation.

"Wu Yuan, are you afraid of losing to me? You took first place at the last minor competition." Xu Yuanhan's voice boomed as he deliberately raised it, finally drawing the attention of every Martial Academy disciple.

"Is Wu Yuan afraid to accept?"

"Xu Yuanhan's not someone to trifle with. Wu Yuan only won last time by luck."

"Wu Yuan's the one who's really impressive. He suddenly achieved Aperture Awakening a while back, then placed tenth and fourth in the next two Martial Academy Minor Competitions, and took first place at the last one!" The disciples whispered among themselves.

They all knew the academy's two rising stars.

Xu Yuanhan had exceptional talent and an extraordinary family background. At only fifteen, he was already a Seventh-Rank Warrior, with a bright future ahead of him.

Wu Yuan? His family was ordinary, but he'd made a stunning entrance, earning praise even from the dean.

"As the instructor said, overwhelm him with momentum. Ordinary people can't bear the criticism, and will lose their composure." Xu Yuanhan stared at Wu Yuan. "I need to fight Wu Yuan more times to get a read on him. Then I can ask a few uncles for advice and practice counters."

For over a year, he'd won eighteen consecutive Martial Academy Minor Competitions. He was determined to enter Cloud Martial Hall.

Who could have guessed that, with the Grand Competition drawing near, a Wu Yuan would suddenly appear?

"I really am afraid of losing. Xu Yuanhan, let's leave our contest until the Grand Competition." Wu Yuan smiled, unconcerned by the many watching disciples.

Face? That was for children to worry about.

In the three previous minor competitions, Wu Yuan had deliberately controlled his ranking, improving it each time. He only wanted to make sure his eventual first place in the Grand Competition wouldn't seem too abrupt.

"Hmm?" Xu Yuanhan's pupils contracted at the reply. He hadn't expected Wu Yuan to answer like that.

By his reckoning, even he would have struggled to stay calm in front of such a crowd.

"You really won't accept?" Xu Yuanhan asked, his voice low.

"I won't." Wu Yuan smiled and shook his head.

Xu Yuanhan thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled. "Fine, Wu Yuan. You're interesting. We'll settle this at the Grand Competition."

Then—

Xu Yuanhan didn't linger. He turned and left the training ground with several attendants.

Many of the Martial Academy disciples who'd hoped Xu Yuanhan would use the "General's Mansion's power" to intimidate Wu Yuan were disappointed by the scene.

Wu Yuan remained calm. It had gone exactly as he'd expected.

"My ranking has risen with each of the three minor competitions. The list should already be on the prefect's desk. I can't provoke the Garrison General, but the general's son alone?"

The Garrison General—

Within Li City Prefecture, he was a major figure second only to the prefect. As his youngest son, Xu Yuanhan naturally wasn't someone an ordinary Martial Academy disciple could afford to offend.

But that didn't include Wu Yuan, who'd already shown his talent.

Selecting the true elite talents from the prefectural Martial Academy was one of a prefect's most important duties. The Garrison General wouldn't dare interfere lightly.

Across the Thirteen Prefectures of the Central Land, heroes vied for supremacy. It was fine for the powerful and privileged of the great martial sects to live extravagantly and enjoy themselves. But if even martial selections became so corrupt that fairness and impartiality vanished, the sect's destruction wouldn't be far off.

"Besides, Xu Yuanhan isn't a fool." Wu Yuan smiled as he watched Xu Yuanhan leave.

Though he'd been born into privilege, Xu Yuanhan could still train "in winter's deepest cold and summer's fiercest heat." He'd practiced martial arts for years, from childhood, without missing a day. He could be arrogant, but he wasn't a wastrel who'd cause his father this kind of trouble.

Even if he truly wanted to make things difficult for Wu Yuan, he wouldn't do it in front of a crowd.

At the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy, in the nine-story tower a thousand meters from the training ground.

On the seventh floor.

A slightly stooped Green Robe Old Man leaned against the railing.

To his right stood a middle-aged man in black robes, with a square face and an imposing air.

"General Xu, what do you think?" The Green Robe Old Man chuckled. "I told you, Wu Yuan's a shrewd boy. He wouldn't accept the challenge."

"Old Brother Zhang knows his disciples like the back of his hand. I'm impressed. This time, my good-for-nothing boy was reckless." The middle-aged man in black robes smiled. "But, Old Brother Zhang, are you really unwilling to consider my earlier proposal?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling. It's the prefect."

The Green Robe Old Man glanced at the other man and said flatly, "You're a core disciple of the sect. You should understand better than I do how strict the sect's Inspection Hall is."

"Haha, I'm not stopping Wu Yuan from entering Cloud Martial Hall. I'm only asking that he wait a year." The middle-aged man in black robes smiled. "He should already have achieved Martial Dao Enlightenment. If you cultivate him for another year, he'll have a good chance of entering Cloud Martial Hall as Number One of the Four Prefectures. That would be a great merit."

"If he enters Cloud Martial Hall this year, he'll only be an ordinary disciple. No matter how accomplished he becomes in the future, the people above will only credit Cloud Martial Hall for raising him well."

The Green Robe Old Man smiled without answering.

"What about three Qi Nourishing Pills?" The middle-aged man in black robes put his trump card on the table.

The Green Robe Old Man's eyes narrowed. After a moment's thought, he asked, "And the prefect?"

"That's not something you need to worry about, Old Brother Zhang."

"Fine."

The Green Robe Old Man nodded and said casually, "I've watched Yuanhan grow up. He's mature and steady. If he doesn't enter Cloud Martial Hall this year, he'll be too old next year. It'd be a real shame."

"Wu Yuan's just achieved Aperture Awakening. He's still very young, so it's true that another year of tempering before he enters Cloud Martial Hall would suit him better..."

Inside a high-grade combat room at the Prefectural Sect Martial Academy.

"Brother Yuan, watch out!" A sturdy youth in black, covered in protective gear, shifted his footing and threw a powerful punch, striking like lightning.

The air whistled around it.

"Whoosh!" Wu Yuan shifted just one step to the left, narrowly avoiding the punch.

"Boom!" The sturdy youth didn't seem surprised. He whipped his right leg sideways, the muscles of his thigh bulging like steel cables.

"Whoosh!"

Wu Yuan seemed to have anticipated the attack. He took a step back first, dodging it.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" The burly youth alternated between punches and kicks, his attacks fierce enough to make even the specially reinforced ground tremble faintly. Yet he couldn't touch Wu Yuan at all.

After nearly a hundred attacks,

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" The burly youth finally stopped, drenched in sweat. He called to Wu Yuan helplessly, "Brother Yuan, your footwork has improved way too fast. When we sparred a couple of days ago, I could still keep up with you, but now I can't even touch you."

"Touch me?" Wu Yuan smiled.

In all their previous exchanges, he had merely pretended to be weaker, creating the illusion that his strength was improving rapidly.

Otherwise, let alone one burly youth attacking him—even if ten opponents of equal strength surrounded him, Wu Yuan could evade them with ease.

In terms of strength, Wu Yuan wasn't much stronger than the burly youth.

But in skill? The difference was like heaven and earth!

"Brother Yuan, is martial arts really this powerful once you achieve Aperture Awakening?" the burly youth couldn't help asking. "I used to have the upper hand over you, but now I bet you could beat ten of me."

"Little Wu, once you achieve Aperture Awakening, you'll understand," Wu Yuan replied with a smile, giving him a vague answer.

Aperture Awakening?

It was a mysterious stroke of fortune that martial experts across the Central Land Continent sometimes encountered. Wu Yuan was merely borrowing the term "Aperture Awakening" to conceal his rapid improvement.

"Aperture Awakening? Plenty of martial artists go their whole lives without achieving it." The burly youth, known as Little Wu, sighed. "Brother Yuan, you'll probably take first place in this tournament. When you graduate from Cloud Martial Hall, you'll be a Proficient Expert at the very least. Then you'll finally turn your fortunes around. The Wu Clan might even put you at its head."

Wu Yuan nodded slightly.

"Brother Yuan, I'm just worried Xu Yuanhan might use other means to deal with you. His father is the Garrison General, after all." Little Wu looked concerned. His father was a centurion in the City Guard Army, so he knew better than most just how much authority the Garrison General wielded.

"It's fine."

Wu Yuan patted him on the shoulder. "At worst, I can still get into Nanmeng Martial Academy. But if you don't get in, your father won't let you off lightly."

Nanmeng Martial Academy was one of the three advanced academies under the Hengyun Sect, second only to Cloud Martial Hall. It was also difficult to get into.

"Brother Yuan, don't say that!" Little Wu groaned theatrically.

Wu Yuan shook his head with a laugh.

The youth called Little Wu was Wu Sheng. The two boys' fathers had sworn brotherhood.

Wu Yuan and Wu Sheng had been close since childhood. When Wu Yuan absorbed his predecessor's memories, he inherited that brotherly bond as well.

In Wu Yuan's memories,

after his father had died in battle eight years ago during the Hengshan Campaign between the Hengyun Sect and the Great Jin Dynasty, the family fell into decline and the clan began oppressing them. Wu Sheng's family had done much to help his mother endure those hardships.

The sun set in the west.

Wu Yuan and Wu Sheng walked out of the Martial Academy together. In the distance, they spotted a carriage beneath the shade of a tree, with a Black Robed Elder standing beside it, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Brother Yuan, that's your Wu Clan chief. Maybe he's here to see you." Wu Sheng lowered his voice. "He's coming over, so I'll head out first."

The Wu Clan's internal affairs were none of Wu Sheng's business. Even his father had no place commenting on them.

Wu Yuan nodded.

"Clan Chief, what brings you here?" Wu Yuan went forward to greet him.

Wu Qiming was the chief of the Wu Clan's Li City branch!

The Wu Clan was a major lineage in Nanmeng Prefecture City, but Wu Qiming was only the chief of its Li City branch—and even in Li City, he was an inconspicuous figure.

Still, after Wu Yuan's father died, the various branches of the clan had joined forces to oppress them. Wu Qiming had kept them somewhat in check; without him, Wu Yuan's mother couldn't have managed on her own.

Over the past month, as Wu Yuan rose to prominence at the Martial Academy, the clan had quickly begun taking him seriously.

"Wu Yuan."

Wu Qiming looked at the most outstanding young member of the family's younger generation. Then he suddenly barked, "What have you done to offend the Garrison General?"