Zhu Huang

"I also went to the provincial library and exchanged for several martial arts manuals..."

Intimidated by his sister Gu Yuyue's "tyranny," Chen Wu told her everything about studying the Profound Origin Art and his plans to use the Primal Heaven Mirror as his foundational martial art.

"Oh~ If I hadn't asked, I never would have known. One question, and what a shock. I was wondering why your true qi source seed was so different from what I remembered. So it was because you cultivated the Profound Origin Art."

Gu Yuyue said unhappily, "To combine the Profound Origin Art with your own physique—you really are quite the genius~"

Chen Wu said proudly, "Sis, you think so too, right? Sometimes, even I can't help admiring my own talent."

Gu Yuyue's expression turned stern as she gave him a grave warning. "Give you an inch and you take a mile. Aren't you afraid something might go wrong with your cultivation? Chen Wu, I'm formally notifying you now: if you dare do this again, I'll carry out the family discipline in Mother's place."

Seeing that his sister was angry, Chen Wu immediately meekly surrendered. "Sis, I won't dare do it again."

Gu Yuyue's brows drew together. Putting on a severe expression, she asked in a low voice, "You still dare say there'll be a next time?"

Chen Wu hurriedly admitted his mistake, his expression utterly sincere. "There won't be a next time. Sis, I was wrong."

Seeing her younger brother yield, Gu Yuyue no longer pursued the matter and asked about something else. "Did you choose National Martial University because of the Primal Heaven Mirror?"

Chen Wu nodded in admission. "According to the information I found, this martial art has ten levels in total. The provincial library only has the first five levels. You can only exchange for the next four after meeting the requirements at the National Library. Since National Martial University is directly under the government, it must have a copy of this martial art. Maybe I'll even unexpectedly obtain the tenth level."

"Then do as you wish."

Since her younger brother already had a plan in mind, Gu Yuyue said nothing further.

As for his choice of the Primal Heaven Mirror as the foundational martial art for his future martial path, she cared even less.

My little brother has the Heavenly Spirit Sacred Body and the bearing of a Grandmaster.

Others can't cultivate it because they're incompetent. My little brother will definitely succeed.

From beginning to end, what had angered her was simply that Chen Wu had kept it from her.

Afterward, the two of them washed up and returned to their rooms to sleep.

The sky over Jincheng at six in the morning was already brightening.

Gu Yuyue, whose sixth-rank martial arts realm had already stabilized, took Chen Wu to the training room in the government compound and called Qi Ruyan over on the way.

Having known each other for so many years, Qi Ruyan understood this best friend of hers better than anyone.

When Gu Yuyue contacted her of her own accord, Qi Ruyan knew that Chen Wu must have already persuaded her. Prepared to be fleeced, she rushed over without delay.

Gu Yuyue and Chen Wu waited for Qi Ruyan outside rather than going in.

During that time, Chen Wu went to the public restroom.

After Qi Ruyan arrived, the three of them entered the government compound together.

Not long after the three left, a red-haired figure dressed in black, with a black mask covering his face, emerged from the stall Chen Wu had used.

"The main body really knew how to pick a place. Next time, I should switch at home."

The secondary body, Zhu Wu, grumbled as he waited for the bus.

He boarded Bus No. 8 and rode out of the city.

Only a little over twenty years had passed since the end of the "Great Cataclysm." Mountains surrounded the outskirts, and terraced fields lay layer upon layer.

Getting off at Ben Family Bay, Zhu Wu arrived at a large courtyard.

Many vehicles were parked in the courtyard. As soon as he approached, two burly men hidden in the shadows stopped him.

The man on the left asked in a deep voice, "Kid, what are you here for?"

"To fight."

Zhu Wu straightforwardly opened his left hand before the two men. A thread of true qi flickered in and out of sight in his palm.

Seeing the true qi in Zhu Wu's hand, the man on the left said, "Mm, a ninth-rank martial artist. Go on in."

Even reserve martial artists in the Essence Tempering Realm, despite being above the fifth transformation realm, did not dare casually expend the true qi in their source seeds.

That was because those who had not opened their qi seas could only condense true qi through the accumulation of time, constantly circulating their internal arts.

Like water without a source, they had to continually draw in outside streams to ensure their foundation did not run dry.

It was unlike a ninth-rank martial artist, who had opened a qi sea. Like rivers and lakes, it drew in flowing currents, its source unceasing.

Even if all their true qi was exhausted, they could gather it anew through their qi sea and dantian.

Upon seeing that strand of true qi, the man on the left naturally assumed Zhu Wu was a ninth-rank martial artist and let him enter.

The place Zhu Wu had come to was an underground boxing arena, a semi-public establishment.

When martial artists fought for survival and battled to the death, it would inevitably bring a series of problems.

The Republic imposed extremely strict legal boundaries between ordinary people and martial artists, strictly forbidding martial artists from attacking ordinary people.

Once discovered, they would face severe punishment.

Martial artists were likewise not allowed to fight in public.

Thus, arenas and underground fighting grounds came into being.

Those with grudges could arrange to go to an arena and settle matters through martial arts.

The loser was simply less skilled, with no grounds for complaint.

Those seeking money, experience, or bloodshed, meanwhile, came to underground fighting grounds like this.

But that also meant the level of danger would increase dramatically.

An underground boxing arena was no ordinary arena. Other than a few basic rules, the martial artists inside had few restraints.

One moment of carelessness could leave someone crippled. Worse still, it was not uncommon for people to lose their lives.

The reason Zhu Wu had come here was to prepare for the upcoming provincial university exchange tournament.

After sparring with Qi Ruyan, Chen Wu had realized that although he possessed strength, he lacked experience fighting enemies in the heat of battle and needed tempering.

While the main body received his sister's guidance and learned new techniques over there, the secondary body could put them into practice here and accumulate real combat experience.

It was killing two birds with one stone—in short, a "win-win."

The marvel of having two bodies lay in the fact that even if one body met an accident and died, as long as the other remained, he could be revived.

That was also why Chen Wu felt at ease sending the secondary body to the underground boxing arena.

The man on the right looked Zhu Wu up and down, then grinned. "Kid, don't say I didn't warn you. Once you go in, you won't be coming back out without shedding some blood."

"Mm, I know."

Zhu Wu walked straight through the courtyard gate and headed inward.

After walking for four or five minutes, he vaguely heard a clamor of voices.

Zhu Wu continued deeper inside. When he reached a rather large building, he saw a brawny man who had long been waiting there.

When the brawny man saw Zhu Wu arrive, he opened the door and warned, "Kid, remember to follow the rules once you're inside."

After Zhu Wu entered, what appeared before him was the kind of underground fighting arena he had once seen in movies.

Neon lights flashed, voices roared, and a feverish atmosphere crashed over him.

On the huge ring in the center, two martial artists were locked in fierce combat.

The spectators in the stands around the ring—men and women, young and old alike—watched the battle and screamed.

Scantily clad bunny girls carried drinks through the stands, while sexy dealers wandered about with microphones, calling out for people to place their bets.

The fight on the ring was about to reach its conclusion.