Journey to Eastsea City

The essence of the Fist of the North Star lay in "yin." It was a purely lethal martial art.

This martial art combined fist techniques with Pressure Point Striking. By striking the hidden acupoints known as Secret Acupoints throughout the human body, its user could produce different effects, such as making a body explode or healing injuries and illnesses. It was a martial art with two sides.

Those who practiced the Fist of the North Star had to follow its martial breathing techniques, temper their bodies, refine their minds, and develop exceptionally sharp powers of observation.

The rain had only just stopped, and the flagstone road outside the window still glimmered with a cold sheen.

Situ Xuan's training room was on the third floor of the old house. Its four walls were built from thick bluestone, while several heavy iron ingots and sandbags were piled in one corner.

He removed the upper half of his black training outfit, his bare torso gleaming with a hard, cold luster beneath the moonlight.

Though he was only ten years old, his muscles were as sharply defined as if carved by a blade. Every inch of him seemed deliberately sculpted, taut and packed with explosive strength.

"Ha—!"

Situ Xuan lowered his stance and suddenly threw a punch!

Whoosh—!

The force of his fist cut through the air like a blade, making the sandbags in the corner sway faintly. He had not used any Soul Power. This was pure physical strength alone, yet it had already surpassed that of an ordinary adult.

"Not enough."

He drew back his fist with a frown and muttered under his breath.

The body-tempering method of the Fist of the North Star emphasized overcoming hardness with hardness and suppressing tyranny with tyranny. Its punches had to erupt like thunder, unleashing maximum destructive power in an instant. Though his physical abilities surpassed those of children his age, he was still far from truly grasping the essence of this martial art.

Sweat ran down his jaw and dripped onto the floor with soft pattering sounds. He adjusted his breathing and circulated the Fist of the North Star's breathing method. His chest rose and fell slightly, each breath seeming to draw all the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his body.

"Again!"

With a fierce stomp of his toes, Situ Xuan shot forward like lightning toward the iron ingots piled in the corner.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fists, elbows, knees—every joint in his body became a weapon, smashing viciously into the iron ingots. Dull metallic impacts echoed through the room. The ingots' surfaces had long since become pitted and scarred, while his knuckles were rubbed raw and red with every collision.

But he did not stop.

"Not enough... still not enough!"

A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Situ Xuan's eyes as his punches accelerated once more. Blood seeped from his fists, leaving mottled stains across the iron ingots. Little Black Tiger lay on the windowsill, silently watching him with amber eyes, seemingly accustomed to this nearly self-destructive method of body training.

Broken fists could heal, but insufficient strength would get someone killed in a real battle.

Boom!

With his final punch, the iron ingot finally failed to withstand the impact and was hammered into a deep dent.

Situ Xuan slowly withdrew his strength. His fists trembled slightly, his knuckles already a bloody mess, yet a cold smile spread across his lips.

Situ Xuan rinsed the blood from his fists with cold water.

The icy stream washed over the torn flesh around his knuckles, carrying away the bloodstained metal filings. He did not frown, nor did he show the slightest expression of pain—compared to the torment he had endured fighting illegal matches for a living in his previous life, these superficial wounds were nothing.

After drying himself and changing into a clean black training outfit, he headed toward the desk on the second floor.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell upon the letter with gilded edges on the desk—[Red Mountain Academy Recommendation Letter].

This was an admission credential issued by Proud Arrival Primary Academy to outstanding graduates. Its holder could enroll in any intermediate Soul Master Academy.

On Douluo Continent, in the Sun Moon Federation, primary academies were merely the threshold of basic education. Intermediate academies were where Soul Masters were truly cultivated.

Situ Xuan picked up the envelope, his fingers brushing over the raised emblem of Red Mountain Academy—a crimson mountain peak encircled at its summit by a silver-white soul ring. The corners of his lips rose slightly, and fighting spirit smoldered in his eyes.

"Finally..."

He murmured softly. The flames of battle reflected in his pupils, as if he could already see the Soul Power-filled opponents awaiting him at the intermediate academy.

With the Black Heart Evil Palm and the Fist of the North Star, his strength had long surpassed that of an ordinary primary Soul Master.

But there was one problem... the people his age in Aolai City were too weak.

Every time he fought, he had to hold back, afraid that a moment of carelessness would cripple his opponent. Just like that brawl in the abandoned warehouse: more than twenty boys had not even lasted two minutes against him.

A battle where he had to hold back was utterly meaningless!

Bang!

Situ Xuan slammed his fist onto the desk. The wooden surface instantly caved in, cracks spreading like a spiderweb. He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the Malevolent Qi churning within his chest.

The Black Heart Evil Palm was known for its ferocity. The deeper one cultivated it, the stronger one's killing intent became. The Fist of the North Star, meanwhile, emphasized honing oneself through battle. Only true life-and-death combat could bring rapid progress.

Not to mention that martial artists first had to nurture a vicious breath within their hearts.

When that breath lingered in the chest, it had to be released!

But what about now?

He could not even find an opponent worthy of making him go all out!

"Awoo~"

Little Black Tiger lightly leaped onto the desk, tilting its head as it rubbed against Situ Xuan's wrist. It seemed to sense its master's irritation. Its amber pupils narrowed slightly, and faint black qi flowed within them.

Situ Xuan glanced at it and reached out to rub its head.

"Don't worry. The chance will come soon."

His voice was low and cold, like a sharp blade scraping across metal.

Three days later, early morning.

Situ Xuan stood on the platform at Aolai City's Soul Guidance Car Station, Little Black Tiger lying across his shoulder. He carried simple luggage in one hand—a few changes of clothes, a cultivation notebook for the Fist of the North Star, and that recommendation letter.

His destination was [Eastsea City], the capital of Eastsea Province and the location of the intermediate Soul Master Academy, Eastsea Academy.

"Woo—"

The whistle of the Soul Guidance Train entering the station pierced through the morning mist. Situ Xuan stepped aboard, found his seat, and sat down. Outside the window, the outline of Aolai City gradually receded beneath the morning light.

He closed his eyes, already simulating the battles to come in his mind.

Eastsea Academy... he hoped its students would let him have his fill.

Eastsea City.

The Sun Moon Federation's second-largest coastal city on the Eastsea coast. An important port city for marine transport and marine resource development.

It had a permanent population of more than three million and was very prosperous thanks to its use of marine resources.

Even within the entire Sun Moon Federation, it counted as a second-tier city.

At Eastsea City Soul Guidance Train Station, a dark-blue Soul Guidance Train slowly entered the station and decelerated.

The train came to a stop, and the doors opened.

Tang Wulin tightened the backpack on his shoulders and followed the crowd outside. It was his first time in such a large city, and he looked around curiously at everything.

His complexion was not very good, and he seemed somewhat downcast.

Faced with this unfamiliar environment, it was only natural for a nine-year-old to feel somewhat afraid.

It was his first journey far from home, and the first time without his parents by his side. Tang Wulin looked around with confusion and fear of the outside world in his heart.

Then Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. He looked toward the sturdy young man emerging from another train exit not far away. The old gray shirt he wore was somewhat faded, but it neatly contained the explosive power within.

"Situ Xuan, over here! Over here!"

Tang Wulin had not expected that a classmate would actually be enrolling at Eastsea Academy alongside him. His previously gloomy mood immediately found something to cling to.

Situ Xuan glanced at Tang Wulin, nodded, then continued walking forward.

"Huh?"

Tang Wulin froze for a second, then hurriedly ran after Situ Xuan.