It's Here, It's Here!

Friends who often threw punches knew that without training, hitting a moving target was extremely difficult. It required powerful bodily coordination. And even if the blow landed, it was easy for it to strike off-center and disperse its force, making it hard to achieve the desired result.

If one fought barehanded, it was even easier to injure oneself. Broken finger bones and sprained wrists were commonplace.

But in his towering rage, Hong Yuan gathered his momentum and moved. Almost instinctively, his hand and eyes became one, his waist and hips moved as a unit. Twisting his waist, kicking off with his leg, and carrying a gust of force, he poured his blazing fury into one fist. Like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, he pounced with a killing blow.

Bang!

The heavy fist landed with tremendous force, striking the back of the last sturdy maidservant's head with unerring precision.

This maidservant, her muscles knotted and bulging, more robust than a burly man in his prime, never imagined that among this bunch of "pretty boys" there would be someone with no martial virtue who would launch a vicious sneak attack. Her body stiffened on the spot, her head seeming ready to explode. The agonizing pain left her unable even to cry out before her feet lifted from the ground and she crashed into the two maidservants running ahead of her, knocking one to the ground headfirst while sending the other staggering.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

The bewilderment of suddenly crossing into an unfamiliar world, the rage of being picked over like pigs and dogs—all of it poured out with that violent punch.

Hong Yuan felt utterly exhilarated. Not a single part of his body or mind was anything but comfortable; every cell within him seemed to be cheering and leaping with joy. Even the faint, jarring pain from his knuckles felt so delightful!

Endure?!

Endure my ass. A real man fought!

Just then, Hong Yuan blinked. Something strange floated up beneath his field of vision—rows upon rows of black, twisted shapes, like dancing mosquitoes...

What the hell was that?

Startled, Hong Yuan had no time to inspect them before a fierce shout rang in his ears. A sharp wind whistled as something came crashing down over his head.

The maidservant who had been knocked staggering had already regained her footing. Sweeping her glaring eyes around, she saw one companion smashed to the ground, life or death unknown, and another whose forehead had struck the floor, leaving her face smeared with blood. Shocked and enraged, she drew a tapered staff from behind her and shouted as she smashed it down.

It was only because Hong Yuan had never experienced a real life-or-death fight and lacked experience. Otherwise, taking advantage of the moment when one of the maidservants had fallen and the other had yet to steady herself, he could have pressed his attack and likely crippled another one.

But after that brief lapse, he now had to face their counterattack!

Hong Yuan's scalp tingled. Suddenly, for no reason at all, a warm current brimming with life surged from somewhere inside his body. It flowed through his limbs and bones; even his slightly torn fist grew hot, and the fiery stabbing pain vanished at once.

That was not all. A cool, empty clarity poured directly into the crown of his head. Hong Yuan felt his mind cleanse itself, as if much of the dust deep within his heart had been swept away. In an instant, he became calmer and clearer than ever before.

It was as though a bolt of lightning split through his mind.

Images such as "The Dragon of the Furniture City," "Tianjin's Number One," and "I'll Fight Ten of You" flashed rapidly through his head. Hong Yuan lowered his body and ducked his head!

Whoosh!

A tapered staff swept past, sending his hair flying and scattering apart. Hong Yuan spun, closing in against his opponent at close range. One hand shot out to seize the arm wielding the staff, while his other hand clenched into a fist and drove straight toward her face.

This broad-shouldered, thick-waisted maidservant lowered her head as well. Dodging Hong Yuan's punch, she used her head as a hammer and viciously rammed into his chest.

Hong Yuan raised his knee. With the hand gripping her arm, he gave a powerful yank, pulling her into an even fiercer forward lunge while throwing her footwork into disarray and making it impossible for her to sustain her strength.

Bang!

She slammed face-first into Hong Yuan's raised knee. With that knee strike, there came a crack as her nose bridge shattered. The maidservant screamed, seeing stars as heat rushed through her ears, and swayed unsteadily.

Hong Yuan snatched the tapered staff from her hand. It was extremely heavy. He had no idea what kind of wood it was made from, but it felt solid, its ends wrapped in iron bands. Straight and hard—it was the kind of stick no man could resist.

Smack!

The staff swung in Hong Yuan's hand and lashed across the opposing maidservant's face, making the fat on her face quiver wildly and sending several rotten teeth flying. Already unable to stand steadily, she immediately toppled to the ground. Though not dead, her limbs twitched convulsively.

Boom!

From the commotion outside, to the Colorful-Clad Attendant's frantic cry of "Fire!" on the high platform and his turning against Venerable Mother of Might and Virtue, to Hong Yuan's sudden outburst that killed and wounded two sturdy maidservants, only a few breaths had passed.

Only now did the people in the hall react. Every one of them cried out in alarm, their faces changing color with terror, before the crowd erupted and scattered in all directions.

Most fled toward the hall's exit, but some were consumed by greed and took the opportunity to rob others of the banknotes on their persons.

"Why are you robbing people? Is there any shortage of silver here? What are a hundred taels worth?"

The person being robbed roared.

The robbers immediately came to their senses as well. Right—Jade Wutong Immortal Realm was so lavish and extravagant. There had been no opportunity before, but now someone had clearly made a move against this place. Why not take advantage of the chaos to make a huge haul?

Yang Lie alone rolled across the ground, grabbed a fallen tapered staff, and struck the crown of the bloodied-forehead maidservant's head just as she was about to rise.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Yang Lie was far more vicious and decisive than Hong Yuan. After bringing down the first blow, he did not pause in the slightest, striking three more times in succession until the top of her skull split open and she died on the spot.

Yang Lie did not stop there. He swung back and gave the twitching maidservant on the ground another blow, sending her on her way to the afterlife.

Only then did he look at Hong Yuan, his face filled with surprise. "Little brother, Yang here thought you were a frail scholar. Never did I expect you to possess not only great strength, but decent fighting skills as well. Excellent! Join forces with us, then, and let us bring ruin upon this utterly wicked den of demons!"

"Us?"

Hong Yuan raised his brows, catching the key word, then nodded. "All right!"

"This is no time for talking. We must end this quickly before the guards outside arrive! Kill!"

Yang Lie spoke at a rapid pace, murderous intent blazing from him. Raising his tapered staff, he charged straight toward the high platform.

Just as Hong Yuan was about to join him, the corner of his eye caught those rows of floating "mosquitoes" beneath his field of vision again, and his expression froze.

(Having crossed over from another world, an orphan in a foreign land, trapped in a demon den... you did not wallow in self-pity. You swiftly accepted reality, held fast to your true heart, and tempered your disposition. Comprehension +1 strand.)

(Oppressed, you rose up in resistance. Between life and death, you shed blood for the first time, and your thoughts became clear. Comprehension +1 strand.)

(You underwent a medicinal bath. Your body was enhanced, and your foundation was strengthened somewhat. Physique +1 thread.)

(You erupted amid adversity and fought a formidable foe. Your physique was tempered. Physique +1 thread.)

Hmm?

This was...?!

It's here, it's here!

Though late, it had finally come.

Hong Yuan let out a long breath. He had known it—how could his "crossing-over benefit" possibly be nothing more than a single physical enhancement? Here came the follow-up.

All at once, the rows of tiny words before his eyes rapidly faded, replaced by another cluster of mosquito-like tiny text.

[Blessed Land Dao Lord (Gray): Hong Yuan (18)]

[Physique: 2/100]

[Comprehension: 2/100]

[Talents: ① Qi Through All Bones (Strengthens sinews and bones, enhances bodily coordination, allows qi and blood to flow freely and fill the entire body, slightly increases short-term explosive power, and speeds recovery after injury.) ② Clear Eyes Through the Nether (Allows vision at night; objects several zhang away in the dark are clearly visible. Heightens directional awareness, enhances observation during combat, and improves the ability to catch attack trajectories.)]