Disaster on the Island

Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, more than two months had gone by since Mu Yang left Karin Tower.

During this time, Mu Yang traveled across the Earth, training in the ways he knew while combining the knowledge imparted by Tianxin Style and Korin to continuously refine his martial arts.

This was not simply a matter of using his fists and feet; it required even more theoretical study. As he continuously compared the principles of the two martial arts, Mu Yang was surprised to discover that Tianxin Style and Karin Tower's martial arts actually overlapped in many areas.

"Though they differ in some ways, they can be integrated in their overall direction. Their founding principles are surprisingly alike."

Tianxin Style focused on nourishing the body with vital energy, using the body as a foundation to unleash combat power and ultimately achieve control over every trace of ki. It was a method of strengthening one's fundamentals. Karin Tower's martial arts, on the other hand, used ki flexibly to alter the body's movements, emphasizing bodily control and reducing unnecessary actions.

At first glance, the two seemed entirely unrelated, even contradictory in some respects. Tianxin Style emphasized the body's role in circulating ki, while Karin Tower's martial arts emphasized withdrawing the flesh. Yet upon closer study, Mu Yang found that their intersecting parts were completely identical: both sought to maximize the efficiency of ki, while their remaining aspects complemented each other perfectly.

That was strange.

Although there had always been rumors that Karin Tower was the birthplace of all martial arts on Earth, Tianxin Style clearly had not originated from it. The two should have existed side by side.

Mu Yang had grasped the similarities between them, but he could not understand why. They were clearly two separate systems that should have developed along their own "cultivation trees," yet he vaguely felt that Tianxin Style was like internal martial arts while Karin Tower was like external martial arts. Each had its own strengths, and only by combining them could one form a truly powerful martial arts philosophy.

At that moment, he deeply understood the drawbacks of lacking knowledge. If his perspective had been broader, perhaps what he faced now would not have been a problem at all.

"I can't answer this question right now. Perhaps it can only be resolved after I enter the Sacred Temple to train." He shook his head and spoke to himself inwardly.

He who has no long-term concerns will have immediate worries. Every extra consideration brought another opportunity. True, beyond Karin Tower stood the Sacred Temple, where even more profound martial arts could be found, but that was something Mu Yang could not reach for the time being. He had to rely on himself to think things through.

Troubled by this question along the way, Mu Yang only came back to his senses when he realized he had unknowingly arrived above a vast ocean.

"Splash..."

Several large fish leaped from the sea before diving back down with a smack, sending up a broad spray of fine ripples.

Looking at the boundless ocean, Mu Yang's mood unexpectedly relaxed.

"This ocean would be a good place to live a peaceful life." Mu Yang smiled faintly. Looking into the distance, he could see faint silhouettes of boats casting their nets to fish.

In this era, being able to sail fishing boats out to sea was already quite advanced.

This place was only a few hundred kilometers from the Da Qingshan Mountains, but apart from crossing a stretch of sea when he attended the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament, Mu Yang had never truly experienced the vastness of the ocean. Now that he was here, he intended to take it all in.

Thus, Mu Yang did not linger any longer and flew straight toward an island that looked promising. Before the rolling waves of the sea and that vast, majestic power, one could not help but feel humbled.

An island by the sea.

The environment here was beautiful and the air pleasant. The not-so-large island was dotted with many low hills. It had originally been a scene like a paradise beyond the world, but the violent acts taking place now shattered its tranquility.

A group of uniformed men arrived on the island by yacht, then entered the residential area. At once, the island was thrown into chaos. Every time these people came, it was a disaster for the islanders.

Bang!

Someone violently kicked open the door of a household, glanced around the corners, then crudely shouted at the farming couple inside, "Hey, hey, it's time to pay this month's tribute."

"Sir, could you give us a few more days? We truly have nothing left to give," pleaded the farmer wearing a straw hat.

"Pah! If you don't pay, how am I supposed to answer to my superiors? Be good and hand over anything valuable you have," the officer spat. But seeing that they truly had no money or valuables left, he could only vent his frustration by smashing their bowls and utensils before taking away a few things that still looked somewhat valuable.

The same scene played out in every household. An elderly islander could not bear to watch any longer and stepped forward to argue, only to be knocked to the ground with a single blow.

"Ow!"

"You old bones had better behave yourselves. We aren't bandits. As long as you obediently follow our rules, I guarantee we won't hurt you."

"You... you people, the laws of the United Kingdom won't let you get away with this!" The old man was nearly enraged enough to cough up blood. These sanctimonious fellows might not be bandits, but how were their actions any different from those of bandits? Unfortunately, the other side had firearms, and the villagers had no power to resist.

"Heh heh, in the territory of our Ophiuchus Legion, the laws of the United Kingdom don't apply."

The Ophiuchus Legion officer sneered, his face full of mockery.

The United Kingdom had its own law enforcement departments, but the Earth was too vast, and many places were controlled by local tyrants beyond the Kingdom's reach. The Ophiuchus Legion was the largest resistance force. In the places it occupied, the Kingdom's laws were nothing more than scraps of paper, completely without effect.

"Bastards!" The islanders glared at the Ophiuchus Legion's arrogant faces, all of them furious beyond measure.

"I'll fight you!" Seeing his family's grain being carried away, the old man cried out in grief and rage, clenched his frail fists, and attacked them.

"Hmph, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

Seeing that the old man actually dared to resist, the Ophiuchus Legion officer's expression immediately darkened. He was truly tired of living! With a glance from him, a soldier beside him strode forward, flung the old man away, raised his rifle, and aimed at him.

"Stop!" The villagers cried out in horror.

"Don't shoot!"

Bang!

A half-inch tongue of flame shot from the barrel. Everyone shut their eyes in anguish, but after a long while, no scream came.

They opened their eyes and saw a tall, upright man standing before the old man. He had black hair and sharp eyes that stabbed into everyone's hearts like blades. One hand rested on the old man's shoulder, while the other was extended before him, holding something between his fingers.

Clink! A crisp sound rang out as metal struck the ground.

It was actually a scorching-hot bullet, with wisps of smoke still rising from its surface.

A bullet!

Caught by hand...

Everyone's eyes widened. They could not believe it. How could a person possibly catch a bullet fired from a gun with bare hands?

"Sir, are you all right?" A gentle voice sounded as Mu Yang calmly looked at the old man beside him.

"I... I'm fine. Thank you!"

The old man was still shaken and had not yet understood what had happened.