Huang Tianli's Invitation

Zhang Shuai listened to the conversation between the two students, realizing that as more people across the country practiced the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist, an increasing number of extraordinary individuals capable of breaking human limits would likely emerge. Without a doubt, these were the very talents the state was searching for—those capable of immortal cultivation.

Shortly after, more students filed into the classroom, and the two students in front of Zhang Shuai ceased their chatter. Yet, Zhang Shuai felt an inexplicable sense of emotion; he had originally assumed he would be the only transcendent existence, but it now seemed that many people in the country might be capable of cultivation. Could it be that the future would truly evolve into a society of universal cultivation?

Once the class ended, Zhang Shuai returned to his rented apartment off-campus and immediately opened the Douyin and Kuaitui short-video apps.

For the past two months, Zhang Shuai had been entirely focused on researching ancient scripts and had paid little attention to trending social news.

It was only after hearing the two students chatting in class today that his curiosity was piqued, prompting him to check the trending topics and see how public opinion was commenting on these strange occurrences.

On the Douyin app, Zhang Shuai searched for "Feng Chunzi" and quickly found her videos.

She appeared to be a young girl of only eighteen or nineteen, with a delicate and cute appearance and a very slender build. However, one of her videos had over five million likes and a hundred thousand comments; it showed the girl lifting a one-hundred-kilogram barbell with one hand.

In the video, the small girl stood before a barbell adjusted to the set weight and, with a casual exertion of force, hoisted it into the air.

The contrast between the slender girl and the heavy barbell created a striking visual impact on camera, which explained why the video had garnered so many likes.

The comments beneath the video were quite interesting as well.

There was a pinned comment at the top: "I believe this video is real because I can do it too. Ever since I started practicing the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist, my strength has visibly increased. My husband weighs seventy-eight kilograms, and I can now lift him up just by grabbing his clothes with one hand. My husband is terrified; he says I've turned into a monster."

There were over three hundred replies beneath this pinned comment. Zhang Shuai clicked on it and couldn't help but laugh.

"If you're really that badass, girl, couldn't you just toss your husband around like a toy?"

"I don't know if my mind is just in the gutter, but seeing this comment, I only had one thought: you could try any position now!"

"I just want to know, is your husband okay? Is he still alive?"

These comments had completely gone off-topic, though the majority of the replies below insisted it was fake, claiming the video was created with special effects.

Additionally, there was another highly-liked comment: "Fake! It's obviously fake at a glance! I'm a professional boxer, and I just want to laugh when I see this video. One hundred kilograms—let alone a slender beauty like Feng Chunzi, even if I tried, I couldn't snatch it up that easily. Many netizens say practicing the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist can achieve this effect, but let me tell you, I've practiced it too, and there's absolutely no such magical result!"

Zhang Shuai browsed through the comments under the video; the vast majority of people were skeptical, with only a small minority firmly believing the video was real.

Zhang Shuai continued to check Feng Chunzi's other videos, but after watching just a few, he suddenly encountered a notification: "Video unavailable."

Scrolling further, he saw only "This content has been deleted" messages.

When Zhang Shuai went back to check the barbell-lifting video he had just watched, he was stunned to find that even that one had been deleted by the author.

In other words, while Zhang Shuai was watching, Feng Chunzi had deleted every video she had ever posted.

This was strange. Feng Chunzi made her living off Douyin; why would she delete such high-traffic videos so suddenly?

A moment later, Zhang Shuai was shocked to discover that Feng Chunzi's entire Douyin account had been deleted.

How could it be such a coincidence? He had been watching her videos, and she had deleted her account right at that moment?

Afterward, Zhang Shuai continued scrolling through Douyin, watching popular videos with high like counts, all of which were related to the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist.

Zhang Shuai remembered that a few months ago, no one on Douyin could perform the full 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist, but now, months later, many video bloggers were able to complete the entire set.

Moreover, without exception, any video showing the complete 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist received excellent traffic, with at least ten thousand likes.

It seemed that the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist was the current "traffic code" for video bloggers; as long as they posted a complete practice video, the Douyin platform would push it to the feed.

Just as Zhang Shuai was scrolling through the short videos, he suddenly received a WeChat message from Huang Tianli.

Since returning from the Beautiful Country with Huang Tianli, Zhang Shuai had not been in contact with him, so he was surprised that Huang Tianli had reached out.

"Little Zhang, where are you? Do you have time today? Let me treat you to a meal."

Zhang Shuai replied: "Brother Huang, there's no need for a meal. I'm not in Qingshui right now; if you have something to say, just say it."

"Little Zhang, I have some questions about the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist that I'd like to consult you on."

"What questions?"

"I've been practicing the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist ever since I returned from the Beautiful Country. It's been over two months, and I feel my physical fitness has improved; my strength and reaction speed have both increased. But no matter what, I can't reach your level. I tested it, and my maximum explosive force is 560 pounds. I estimate yours is at least 3,000 pounds. Can you tell me why? Is there some secret trick I haven't mastered?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you with that. I don't have any secret tricks; practicing the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist just made my strength increase."

"Alright. Let me tell you some news: our Tianli Fighting Gym is hosting the first Qingshui City 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist Exhibition Tournament. The first prize is 300,000, second is 100,000, and third is 50,000. It's open to all citizens of Qingshui, and the registration deadline is January 10th. If you're interested, you can participate. Winners might have the chance to be selected for a special government department. Once selected, you'd be a public servant with benefits comparable to national civil servants. Are you interested?"

Zhang Shuai's heart stirred. Was the government holding this selection to find talents who could develop a sense of qi through the 72-Style Big Dipper Long Fist? Would all these selected talents be sent to the 749 Bureau? Just how many people were they planning to select? Was the state trying to round up and recruit everyone capable of immortal cultivation?

Although he was surprised, Zhang Shuai wasn't interested. He didn't care about the prize money, nor did he have any intention of joining the 749 Bureau.

Thus, Zhang Shuai sent a reply to Huang Tianli: "Brother Huang, no need. I'm not interested."