Hyperdimensional Perception Activated

This was why, even as Li Ran Fighting Club devoted itself to teaching and promoting Mixed Martial Arts, it also vigorously promoted the Traditional Martial Arts Dragon Elephant Bedrock Style, and why there were still down-and-out kung fu masters like Yan Zhenghua.

What normal person practiced martial arts?

Ordinary people simply could not endure the hardship of martial arts training, and "poor scholars, rich martial artists" was not just a saying.

But Lu Ren, who understood Meng Jingxian's temperament, knew that she was waiting for an opportunity. Like a venomous snake hidden in the darkness, once she found the right chance, she would surely put him to death.

It felt like thorns prickling his back.

The feeling made Lu Ren deeply uncomfortable, but he needed to wait for an opportunity.

That kind of woman...

Lu Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, and the longsword in his hand suddenly came down.

"Ding. After constantly stabbing around like an idiot, you have finally gained some insight and successfully comprehended 'Basic Swordsmanship.'"

Lu Ren's body paused slightly. Then, the wooden sword in his hand moved even more smoothly, carrying greater force while appearing ever lighter and more agile.

The sword moved like a wandering dragon, his body like an old ape. In an instant, even his footwork no longer carried the slightest obstruction from before.

More importantly, he felt that after comprehending Basic Swordsmanship, his physical attributes had all been strengthened to varying degrees.

"Enough."

Yan Zhenghua's voice sounded from beside him, slightly solemn.

Without rushing, Lu Ren completed his closing stance before turning to look at Yan Zhenghua.

Yan Zhenghua stared at Lu Ren in astonishment. "Why did your swordplay suddenly become so proficient just now?"

During this time, although Lu Ren had a long reach, the swordsmanship Yan Zhenghua had taught him was still fairly advanced. For an ordinary person to even touch the threshold would take at least three to five years. Weapons were unlike Fists and Feet; they were extensions of the body. To wield one as easily as an arm without several years of practice was impossible.

Yet in just one short month, Lu Ren had trained his swordsmanship to such a level.

It was practically worldview-shattering!

Though inwardly shaken, Yan Zhenghua kept his expression unchanged. "Your talent for martial arts is average. Only now have you entered the gate of swordsmanship."

Lu Ren nodded slightly. "Thank you!"

"But I can't teach you anything more."

Lu Ren raised a brow and looked at Yan Zhenghua's solemn, grave expression. "Boss Yan, why?"

"When you drew your sword just now, there was killing intent behind it!"

Yan Zhenghua said gravely, "You've killed someone before, haven't you? This is a society ruled by law now!"

Although Yan Zhenghua had not said much, his meaning was obvious. Lu Ren was a murderer, and there was a vicious aura within him. If this were not a law-governed society, Yan Zhenghua might have wanted to cripple Lu Ren himself.

It was only human nature.

Lu Ren was not surprised. He said calmly, "It was only for self-defense."

Yan Zhenghua said, "No matter your reasons, I can't take that risk."

Lu Ren let out a breath and shrugged slightly. "Fine, Boss Yan. Thank you for teaching me this past month. Although I know you taught me for my money, after spending a month together, I think you know what kind of person I am. As for the three-month trial fee I paid, shouldn't you refund most of it? It's only been one month."

Yan Zhenghua could no longer keep a straight face.

"What do you mean, for your money? I only wanted to pass down the essence of our national heritage! I know what kind of person you are, but I can't take the risk. If I get dragged down with you and sent in, I won't even have a place to cry about it. Besides, I taught you the real thing! If this were a century or two ago, being able to learn this much for a few thousand yuan would mean your ancestors had burned incense for you!"

Seeing Yan Zhenghua look as though he would rather die than take out any money, Lu Ren was rendered speechless.

Damn it, this was really absurd.

Seeing Lu Ren sling his backpack over his shoulder and wave casually as he left, Yan Zhenghua pondered briefly before calling out, "You need to understand that this is the age of guns and cannons. The era of Martial Daoists has already passed."

"Sure, whatever you say. Thanks for everything these past days."

After replying, Lu Ren walked out of the grocery store. Although he knew Yan Zhenghua was trying to tell him that using violence recklessly was against the law, Yan Zhenghua's worries were far too unnecessary to Lu Ren.

He had always been cautious himself. Unless his life was in danger, even if he argued with someone until both of them were red in the face, he would not throw a punch.

He had interviewed at several companies during this period. When they learned that Lu Ren was still on police record, they had looked down on him with considerable contempt. Lu Ren had naturally returned the favor, cursing them as beasts in human clothing and the like.

In short, it was mostly a practice of the national essence centered around the other party's parents, with their relatives as the radius.

"Character Panel."

Lu Ren silently recited it in his mind, and a display appeared in his field of vision.

Name: Lu Ren

Spirit: 8 (Proficiency 22/1810)

Constitution: 7 (Proficiency 15/1120)

Strength: 7 (Proficiency 269/1120)

Agility: 6 (Proficiency 88/820)

Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner's Insight 1/3932), Basic Combat (Beginner's Insight 17/3932)

Freely Allocatable Attribute Points: 0

When he saw the two basic skill entries displayed under Skills, Lu Ren felt that his month of day-and-night training had not been in vain. At the same time, he was tongue-tied by the proficiency values in parentheses.

If advancement continued according to this proficiency system, then later rank promotions would require an utterly terrifying amount of proficiency.

But objectively speaking, if all he needed was proficiency, it seemed easier than the bottlenecks Yan Zhenghua had spoken of, which required comprehension and talent to overcome.

As he walked along a street corner, watching pedestrians stream past, Lu Ren let out a long breath. A smile unconsciously appeared on his face. Everything was developing in a better direction.

At least now, he had the ability to protect himself. He needed to order a weapon online or from a cold-weapons shop.

"Ding. An extradimensional connection has been detected. Hyperdimensional Perception activated. Confirming... Extradimensional instance confirmed: Otherworld Wasteland. Host, please prepare to survive for one week."

Lu Ren's vision blurred. When the foot he had stepped out with landed on the ground, the entire surrounding environment abruptly changed.

Lu Ren's expression shifted slightly as he looked at the drastically transformed world before him.

Collapsed concrete buildings covered the ground. Exposed steel reinforcement and chunks of stone lay scattered everywhere, while the fallen and broken skyscrapers bore one shocking gash after another, clearly struck by some enormous creature.

In particular, as he watched the crowd of several dozen people ahead panic in confusion, Lu Ren forced himself to calm down and listened to the system prompt in his mind.

It seemed to have been the same way when he was dragged into the Silent Forest Deathmatch Instance last time.

Hyperdimensional Perception...

"Where is this?!" A well-dressed fat man looked terrified.

"What's going on? I lowered my head, then raised it, and suddenly I was here?!"

"Where are we?"

"This isn't some kind of prank, is it?!"

"Call the police, call the police!!!"

"Phones! There's no signal on our phones!!"

The crowd's noisy panic continued to spread, and everyone began to grow terrified.

Meanwhile, Lu Ren silently retreated to the edge of the crowd and carefully observed his surroundings. Then he walked to the nearby ruins, picked up a long, hard strip of iron, gave it a slight shake, and after confirming that it was fairly handy, tore a strip of cloth from his clothes and carefully wrapped it around the handle at the end.