The Double R Outbreak

A force of 4.8 million kilograms.

Even Teng Qingshan, as he was now, wouldn't dare take an attack of that magnitude head-on.

Only by defending with the Primordial Chaos Spear Technique did he stand a chance of withstanding it.

After finishing his training, Teng Qingshan put away his spear as usual and prepared to head home for dinner.

But that day,

Teng Qingshan sensed that something was clearly wrong.

It seemed that an unknown pathogen was filling the air, trying to enter his body through his respiratory system.

But with Teng Qingshan's War God Level physique, the pathogens only caused him slight discomfort. His Source Energy swept over them, wiping them out completely.

"It's finally starting?"

From the images that had come out of the Little Cauldron, Teng Qingshan knew humanity's tribulation was about to begin.

Judging by the timing, it was about right.

There had been warning signs some time ago, but people hadn't paid them much attention. They had assumed it was just the usual seasonal flu.

Only now were people beginning to realize that something was wrong.

Because far too many people had died!

But by the time they caught on, it was already too late!

To prepare for this crisis,

Teng Qingshan had started, half a month earlier, bringing home rice, other food, vegetables that would keep well, dried meat, and the like every day after training.

The old man had only asked out of curiosity. When Teng Qingshan said the supermarket was having a sale, so he'd bought extra, he hadn't asked any more questions.

At the same time, Teng Qingshan had brought home several large barrels and filled them with clean water.

He had done all this

without anyone noticing.

By the time the Double R outbreak hit without warning, Elder Teng had held out for a few days before falling ill, others had fallen sick one after another, and society had been thrown into serious disorder,

the supplies Teng Qingshan had stored away proved quite useful.

After walking along the desolate streets,

Teng Qingshan returned to his room.

By then, the old man was already much better.

He had run a high fever all day when he first fell unconscious.

But the next day,

his fever had miraculously gone down.

The old man had pulled through on his own!

That made Teng Qingshan genuinely happy.

"Qingshan, I have to say, those special breathing exercises and boxing techniques you taught me really improved my health. If it weren't for that, I don't think I would've made it through this time."

At the dining table,

the old man looked nothing like someone who had just recovered from a serious illness. Instead, he looked radiant and full of energy.

"Grandpa, what I taught you was a breathing and exhalation method from Xingyi Fist. The boxing techniques were ones I learned online. I'm just glad they helped." Teng Qingshan served the rice, then chatted with his grandfather as they ate.

"My Qingshan really is a clever boy. Not only does he do well in school, he's even made a name for himself teaching himself martial arts," the old man said happily. But then deep worry appeared in his eyes.

"Still, Qingshan, maybe you shouldn't go out for the next few days. I've seen a lot of reports of deaths in the neighborhood chat. This pathogen seems to keep mutating. Thank goodness you bought plenty of rice, cooking oil, and other supplies. Otherwise, we'd have trouble even putting food on the table..."

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll stay home for the next few days." The pathogen seemed to be starting another round of mutations, and Teng Qingshan wasn't comfortable leaving his grandfather home alone.

He could go back to training once this period had passed.

Besides, he had already reached the threshold of a domain, and his spear and boxing techniques had both made major breakthroughs.

He could train at home, too. He just had to keep the noise down.

"Mm, good. From what I've seen on the news, this pathogen called 'RR' seems to be ravaging the whole world. It's best to stay home for now."

The old man had been following the news lately. Seeing how serious things were outside, he was deeply worried about his grandson, who went out to practice martial arts every day.

After dinner,

Teng Qingshan stayed home as promised and watched television in the living room with his grandfather.

The broadcast was showing the latest developments in the Double R mutations. Experts were urging people to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary.

They advised everyone to stay home as much as possible and limit contact with the outside world.

But Teng Qingshan knew the Double R outbreak had hit too hard and mutated far too quickly.

Judging by the situation, it might already have evolved into its ultimate form, able to survive in the air for several hours!

It could also spread through the air, as well as through food and objects handled by infected people!

That meant

any place with circulating air would be filled with pathogens in a short time!

But experts around the world might not have realized that yet.

Or perhaps they had, but there was nothing they could do.

This terrifying pathogen had swept through every living thing on Earth.

As long as you lived on Earth, there was no avoiding it.

You could only rely on your own resistance to endure it!

Those who could endure it survived.

Those who couldn't, died!

The news broadcast continued.

The more Elder Teng watched, the more worried he became.

Over the past few days, many of his relatives and friends around his age hadn't made it. Every so often, he'd see a message in his social feed saying that someone had died and been sent to the crematorium.

That was why the old man was often downcast when he was alone.

Only around Teng Qingshan did he try to stay upbeat and positive, not wanting his beloved grandson to worry.

There wasn't much Teng Qingshan could do about it. He could only do his best to comfort his grandfather.

Over the next three months,

events unfolded just as Teng Qingshan had seen in the Little Cauldron.

The Double R outbreak grew worse and worse. Every living thing that needed to breathe became infected!

Only those that endured it and developed antibodies could survive this brutal process of natural selection.

Fortunately,

Elder Teng developed antibodies and made it through the disaster.

By April,

the crisis finally began to ease.

Thanks to the powerful measures taken by the Chinese authorities, people overcame the crisis.

The humans who survived developed antibodies, and their physiques improved dramatically.

It was as if a genetic lock had been opened. People were astonished to discover that the hundred-meter sprint record, once so difficult to break, could now be beaten easily by any adult who exercised regularly!

Human physical ability had suddenly advanced by several levels!

For a time, people didn't know whether to grieve or feel relieved.

April 20, 2015.

After three long months, human society had finally returned to normal in most respects.

After this upheaval,

people also came to understand the importance of physical training.

After all, during the crisis that had just passed,

those who had been in good health beforehand had been far more likely to pull through.

Naturally,

the survivors began exercising of their own accord, paying attention to martial arts, which they had once overlooked, and trying their hand at training.

Their bodies, strengthened by the virus, were indeed much stronger than before.

As soon as people started exercising, they realized their strength was improving at an incredible pace!