Arriving in Keli City

In 1971, eight years had passed since that martial arts development conference.

It had taken more than seven years for most of the conference's proposals to be implemented.

Over those eight years, Keli City had expanded more than fourfold.

There were now countless highways leading to and from Keli City, and the number of airship airports had risen to ten.

The city's architecture had also become far more prosperous, with numerous high-rises filling its streets.

Large television screens covered the exterior walls of those buildings, broadcasting matches related to Heavenly Arena.

Public security throughout the city had also undergone many changes.

Many new industries had emerged, foremost among them the various Martial Arts Halls.

Then there was the pharmaceutical industry, along with two television stations. In the eastern part of Keli City, there was even a film and television city still being expanded and constructed.

Heavenly Arena's entertainment industry had been the first to take off.

In a world where the entertainment industry was still far from developed, Lucky's move into this field had been a complete dimensionality-reduction strike.

There were also some of Heavenly Arena's technological and medical industries.

The medical sector specialized in treating all kinds of combat-related injuries in Keli City.

Technological development mainly focused on entertainment electronics, though it also included the development of the internet.

Mobile phones, in particular, had become something everyone in Keli City needed.

The signal base stations established throughout Keli City had made phone communication simple within the city.

Of course, the willingness to spend money acquiring talent and technology was also why development had proceeded so quickly.

Matsushita Airship Airport.

A blonde little girl held a map and examined it.

"The changes really are huge! I can't recognize this place at all anymore." Biscuit looked at the giant screen in the distance. Aside from Heavenly Arena, there was no trace left of her old memories.

After many years, Biscuit had returned to Heavenly Arena once more.

Of course, she had never lost contact with Lucky. They still spoke on the phone from time to time.

This time, she had not informed Lucky before returning to Heavenly Arena. She wanted to see for herself just how much Keli City had changed.

Her purpose in returning to Heavenly Arena was the same as before: to grow stronger and test her own strength.

Biscuit was already twenty-nine years old, yet she currently wore the form of a little girl. Clearly, she had successfully cultivated her ability.

Unlike in the anime, where she had purely cultivated and used Transmutation to an ultimate level, allowing her to switch between her little-girl form and original form.

Biscuit was not like that now. At her age, she still could not cultivate to that level.

So she had chosen a shortcut. More precisely, she had turned that transformation into an ability.

Naturally, she had used the Eight Wastelands and Six Harmonies Sole Sovereign Skill she had once read as a reference.

Biscuit named this ability "Rejuvenation Technique."

While in this state, she could train her Transmutation ability. At the same time, it slowed her aging and growth, a different form of life extension.

Paired with Miss Cookie, the longevity effect was even better. As for how it would affect her lifespan, that would have to be verified in the future.

Naturally, since it was an ability, it came with a Vow and Restriction.

While in this state, Biscuit could only display ten percent of her actual strength.

Furthermore, she had to remain in the "Rejuvenation Technique" state for half of every year. She could control it herself, but once those six months had been used up, she would no longer be able to voluntarily return to normal.

It was equivalent to having a six-month period of weakened strength.

For Hunters who were also Martial Artists and had to travel all over the world, that was a very dangerous thing.

There was one final vow: if she remained in the "Rejuvenation Technique" state for an entire year, her Nen reserves would increase.

No matter how one looked at it, this was an ability suited for lying low.

And Biscuit was very satisfied with her current state.

In her original form, it had already become difficult for her to make major progress. Every improvement required even more time and effort.

In contrast, though she was weaker in this state, she could continue tempering herself—not only improving her strength, but also her physical fitness.

It was like training under extra weight.

Just after leaving the airport, someone approached Biscuit.

Don't misunderstand. He was an independent tour guide working near the airship airport.

He specialized in providing guidance to newcomers visiting Keli City for the first time.

Heavenly Arena was even more famous now than it had been before.

With a guide, Biscuit would not need to worry about figuring out how to learn about Keli City.

The guide would take the initiative to explain things, and if there was anything she did not understand, she could simply ask.

"Miss Biscuit, did you come to Keli City for sightseeing and to watch Heavenly Arena matches?" the guide asked.

Perhaps it was because Biscuit's current appearance was simply too misleading that he asked such a question.

"I'm a Martial Artist. I came to Heavenly Arena to compete," Biscuit answered honestly.

"A Martial Artist!" The guide was stunned.

It was not that he had never seen female Martial Artists before, but none of them had been like Biscuit.

However, he quickly regained his composure and said, "Miss Biscuit, if you came to compete, the Divine Wind Style tournament is accepting registrations right now. Would you like to enter?"

The Divine Wind Style here referred to a tournament held in Heavenly Arena by a Floor Master under his own name.

It was aimed at independent martial arts competitors under the age of twenty.

"Divine Wind Style?" Biscuit did not quite understand.

But once the guide explained that it was organized by a Heavenly Arena Floor Master, she understood.

Still, she was obviously ineligible.

"Take me around Keli City first." Biscuit was not in a hurry to go to Heavenly Arena.

"Of course, Miss Biscuit. But before that, let's discuss the guide fee." The guide entered work mode.

Biscuit was already a Hunter, so naturally, she was not short on money.

The guide then drove over in a car, which was his work tool.

He began introducing the city to Biscuit while telling her where they were headed.

"Miss Biscuit, if you're not in a hurry to visit Heavenly Arena, you can start by touring the various Martial Arts Halls in Keli City."

"And besides Heavenly Arena matches, the most famous activity in Keli City is challenging martial arts halls."

"Challenging martial arts halls?" Was that what she thought it meant?

"This activity was proposed by Mayor Lucky, and it's incredibly popular."

Biscuit heard a familiar name.

As for Lucky's title as mayor, it was really more of an honorary title bestowed by the Republic of Padokea.

Keli City's changes had a great deal to do with Lucky.

"Tell me more."

The so-called martial arts hall challenging activity was more accurately called the "Martial Arts Challenge Road."

One could obtain a stamp booklet from a certified Martial Arts Hall in Keli City.

Then, using it to challenge Martial Arts Halls throughout Keli City, successful challenges would earn one a stamp.

At first, it was only intended for the various Martial Arts Halls, as a way to resolve conflicts between them. Later, it became an interesting activity and, for Martial Artists, a form of challenge and training.