The Missionaries

Li He left the Scripture Pavilion, then circled back to the open ground.

He opened the manual.

On the title page, an ancient Demon Ape twisted in midair, the wind howling around it. The next page was filled with illustrations and text, explaining the core principles of Ape Demon Steps in detail.

Simply put, it was fast, fierce, and ruthless!

Unlike Ape Trace Steps, which focused on agility, or Wild Goose Eight Steps, which focused on speed, once activated, the technique set his bones and muscles humming as power surged from his spine to the soles of his feet. One step sent him forward in a straight line like a cannonball tearing through the air, its momentum terrifying!

Like Ape Demon Three Styles, it had only three moves: Earth-Shaking Stomp, Sky-Splitting Thrust, and Mountain-Crushing Turn. Their names were all cut from the same cloth.

Li He was thrilled as he read, and immediately began practicing.

Before long,

"Earth-Shaking Stomp!"

Boom!

A deep, thunderous crash rang out. A violent surge of force tore into the ground, splitting it with a web of cracks. Shattered stones flew up and shot in every direction.

This was nothing like an ordinary footwork technique for dodging.

It was clearly a move that used overwhelming force to shake the earth and forcibly change the course of battle, leaving enemies unsteady and slowing their movements.

The manual explained this move, which didn't seem like footwork at all, as follows: the user's speed remained unchanged while the enemy's speed decreased, which was equivalent to the user moving faster and therefore met the definition and requirements of footwork.

Li He felt that something about this explanation was off, but it didn't affect his training.

[Ape Demon Steps: Beginner (0%)]

"Keep it down! Don't practice here!" Uncle Yuan Hong's voice came from inside the window.

Li He froze. Only then did he realize that he really had been making quite a racket. He vaulted over the wall, and found a forest on the other side, with plenty of open ground.

Time flew by, and the sun sank in the west.

Li He was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through.

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Demon Steps: Beginner (99%) → Proficient (0%)]

[Vitality: 16 → 16.5]

For every martial skill, the journey from beginner to proficient was the fastest. The further one advanced, the slower progress became. At his current rate, it would take him about five days to train a martial skill to the minor mastery stage.

The martial arts hall's small assessment was the day after tomorrow.

As for tomorrow's training plan,

Li He intended to focus on Ape Trace Steps and raise it to proficient, while increasing his vitality to 17 and reaching the late stage of First-Rank Martial Artist. That would make him all but certain to take first place in the assessment.

As he worked it over in his mind, he hurried home.

Along several demolition-zone streets he passed,

the number of religious figures carrying strange leaflets had noticeably increased.

They came in groups of three or five, holding scriptures. Some stood on street corners, quietly chanting; others stopped passersby to preach and admonish them.

The atmosphere was oppressive and eerie. Many passersby looked impatient but didn't dare make a scene, lowering their heads and hurrying around them instead.

"Why are there more and more of these people?" Li He thought, alarm bells ringing as an ominous feeling welled up within him. He pushed off with his feet and silently activated Wild Goose Eight Steps, speeding up.

Street scenes flashed past him.

He had just turned into a familiar alley when he heard a commotion.

"Get out of my way! I've no interest in listening to your nonsense!"

"Sir, you misunderstand. Faith is the light of the soul, guiding those who have lost their way. How can you call it nonsense?"

Several missionaries had gathered at the alley entrance.

They were covered in tattoos and clearly looked like thugs, yet their faces wore expressions of compassion. The contrast was jarringly strange.

At that moment, they were holding leaflets and blocking an elderly man dressed in a white martial arts uniform.

"Grandpa Zhang?" Li He recognized the old man at once. He was the one who had taught him Old Ape Stretches Arms.

Grandpa Zhang's face was livid, his gray-white mustache twitching with anger.

"Sir, you've got it all wrong. Look, I used to be a worthless punk, always fighting, stealing chickens and dogs. My parents scolded me every day for being a disgrace to the family and never amounting to anything. But ever since I brought them along to learn about the Holy Sect, they've been telling everyone how much I've changed. It's all thanks to the Holy Lord!"

"Exactly! I used to be a gloomy, timid pushover with hardly any friends. But now? My heart is filled with light and energy, and I'm surrounded by brothers and sisters who share my beliefs!"

"That's right! The Holy Lord guided us toward the light!"

They all chimed in, spittle nearly spraying Grandpa Zhang in the face.

"Just look at us. We're living proof. The Holy Lord changed us and saved us. Don't you want your family to receive this salvation too? Don't you..."

Grandpa Zhang had practiced martial arts, but he was old and his vitality had waned. He also didn't want to cause trouble by fighting in the street, so he found himself unable to break free from their pestering.

"Shut up!"

A sharp shout rang out, instantly drowning out their incessant preaching!

Li He's tall figure blocked the setting sun, casting a shadow over the missionaries.

"You... What are you trying to do? We're just spreading..."

"Hmph!" Li He's gaze sharpened. He stepped forward with his left foot, and in an instant, his Iron Bone hummed as power surged to the sole of his foot.

Boom!

A deafening crash erupted beneath him. The hard stone pavement split apart, and a fierce, domineering shock wave rippled outward.

The missionaries surrounding Grandpa Zhang took the full force of it. They felt the earth shaking violently beneath their feet, and all color drained from their faces as terror seized them.

Two of them were knocked right onto their backsides, sprawling in utter disarray. Their leaflets scattered across the ground. They wouldn't dare linger now; their chanting stopped dead, and they fled in a panic.

Li He had controlled his strength perfectly. Grandpa Zhang wasn't affected at all.

"Grandpa, are you all right?"

"Ha ha ha ha! Thanks to you, I'm fine. Thank you!" Grandpa Zhang looked Li He over, a curious expression on his face. "But what was that move just now, Xiao He? It made quite a racket!"

"Just a basic footwork technique, nothing special. I hope you'll forgive me for showing off, Grandpa," Li He said with a smile.

"That was basic? You've improved so much in just a month. Good, good! You really are a fine prospect, just as Old Wang and I thought!" Grandpa Zhang laughed heartily. Seeing the missionaries flee in panic filled him with satisfaction.

"It was nothing, Grandpa. You should hurry home."

Grandpa Zhang nodded. Before leaving, he reminded Li He, "By the way, Xiao He, you've seen it yourself—the world's getting more chaotic by the day. There are more and more people like these, and they're getting bolder. I've heard there's been trouble in some places. This old man's planning to move. You should talk it over with your parents and consider moving too."

"Thanks for your concern, Grandpa. I'll think about it," Li He replied with a nod.

Grandpa Zhang's words had struck right at the heart of Li He's own concerns.

Moving!

The thought grew clearer and more urgent in Li He's mind.

These missionaries deliberately targeted poor neighborhoods and little alleys on the outskirts of the city, where oversight was lax.

His mother, Zhang Xiujuan, had been stopped by them last time. Although he had stepped in to help in time, Li He had seen how frightened she was, and it had pained him.

As it happened,

there were quite a few vacant apartments in the residential complex where the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall was located. The hall managed them all. They were a little old, but they were inside a scenic area, with pleasant views. There was also a suspension-bus stop, so transportation wouldn't be a problem.

Students of the martial arts hall could apply to rent one. The rent was far below market price, one of the hall's benefits, and ordinary riffraff wouldn't dare cause trouble there.

"With the strength and potential I've shown, applying for one of the subsidized apartments shouldn't be a problem!" Li He thought. "After the assessment, I'll ask the hall master right away!"

As for the rent, taking first place in the assessment would give him access to more resources from the hall. Combined with the Federation credits he could earn from taking on missions, he would be able to cover it.

It was settled.

Li He made up his mind to tell his mother, Zhang Xiujuan, about it when he got home.