Gao Wu: From a poor man in the outer city to a martial saint of the ten directions

Blue Star, Year 102.

Huaxia Kingdom, Jiangnan Province, Linghai City.

The sunlight at five o'clock in the evening had lost its midday heat and slanted through the huge explosion-proof glass of the training ground on Linghai No. 7 Middle School's campus.

It was already after school, but dozens of students were still gathered in the stands on both sides.

"Look, look! Another fight has started!"

A girl with a ponytail shouted, attracting many more students.

"Holy crap! It's Wei Xiu again? How many times has he seen Zhou Xiong this month?"

Someone counted on their fingers.

"Is this the third time?"

"Isn't this asking for a beating? Last time you were beaten so badly you were limping for three days, and now you're doing this again?"

A boy next to him clicked his tongue and shook his head: "I heard his Yuan Power is only a little over 300, while Zhou Xiong's is 470. Isn't this just asking for trouble?"

"You can't say that. He's the top student in the entire grade in humanities, he's smart, maybe he has some new tricks up his sleeve this time."

"Even the best brain can't withstand a punch from Zhou Xiong? Look at Zhou Xiong's physique, is he even human enough to move?"

Everyone followed his gaze to the center of the training ground.

Zhou Xiong, who was standing there, was simply not human!

He must be at least 1.9 meters tall and weigh at least 300 kilograms, with not a single gram of fat!

Zhou Xiong was shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose martial arts pants, his exposed muscles looking as if they had been sculpted with a chisel.

His pectoral muscles were as thick as a city wall, and his shoulders were as broad as if he were carrying two door panels.

The most terrifying thing was those two arms, which were even thicker than an adult's legs!

Those veins, like earthworms, meandered and coiled, and just by standing there still, one could feel an overwhelming sense of oppression.

If everyone didn't know him, no one would believe that this boy was only sixteen years old!

"Is Zhou Xiong really annoyed? He doesn't look too good."

"Of course! If you were constantly being dragged into being a sparring partner, wouldn't you get tired of it?"

On the other side of the training ground stood another boy.

Although he wasn't as muscular as Zhou Xiong, he was still 1.85 meters tall.

The muscle lines are even and smooth, unlike the exaggerated ones of bodybuilders, but they exude a restrained sense of power.

His features were sharply defined, and his eyes held a calmness beyond his years. At this moment, he was slightly bent over, assuming a standard fighting stance.

"He's so handsome..." another girl next to her muttered softly.

"No matter how many times I see him, Senior Wei Xiu always looks so handsome in his martial arts uniform!"

"Exactly, even when he's getting hit, he looks so cool!"

The boy next to him rolled his eyes: "Are you here to watch the fight or to see their faces?"

The surrounding chatter did not affect the two people facing off below.

Zhou Xiong's gaze remained fixed on Wei Xiu, tinged with impatience.

"How many punches do you want to take this time?"

Wei Xiu smiled slightly, his dark pupils blazing with fighting spirit.

"Only a punch that can knock me down counts."

Zhou Xiong squinted.

Without uttering a single wasted word, he moved in the blink of an eye!

boom!

With just one step, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly.

Despite his massive 300-pound frame, Zhou Xiong's starting speed was astonishing!

Every step he took was like a pile driver tamping the ground, the entire training ground echoing with dull thuds. In just a few breaths, he had already rushed in front of Wei Xiu!

Then, he threw a punch!

That punch was nothing fancy, just a basic straight punch.

But combined with Zhou Xiong's physique and strength, this punch was like a giant hammer smashing down, unstoppable!

Wei Xiu's pupils contracted slightly. Instead of retreating, he advanced, dodging the punch while simultaneously slamming his right fist into Zhou Xiong's ribs!

boom!

The fist landed squarely on Zhou Xiong's ribs.

Zhou Xiong frowned slightly.

"Some progress."

He muttered something under his breath, and his left fist swung back!

Wei Xiu had no time to dodge and could only cross his arms to block!

Bang!

The dull thud was like a heavy hammer hitting the tire, and Wei Xiu was sent sliding more than three meters away by the punch.

Even the durable flooring, which can withstand being hit by knives and axes, has two white marks from being slid across it!

Wei Xiu shook his numb arm, but a smile appeared on his lips.

"This is just the beginning."

Without further ado, Zhou Xiong charged forward again!

This time his offensive was even more ferocious!

Standard Western boxing technique, alternating left and right hooks, each punch carrying the power to send an ordinary person flying!

This doesn't look like a friendly sparring match at all; it's more like two sickles frantically harvesting wheat!

boom! boom! boom!

The resounding impacts of punches echoed across the training ground, and the students watching held their breath!

"Seven punches already!"

"Eight Fists!"

"Wei Xiu lasted longer this time than last time!"

"Of course, you get experience from getting beaten up so many times!"

Wei Xiu, standing in the arena, maintained a calm expression throughout.

I have been studying Zhou Xiong's boxing techniques for three months!

This Western boxing style is characterized by its wide, powerful, and explosive movements, but it also has its weaknesses!

The more intense the attack, the easier it is to expose a weakness!

The ninth punch.

Zhou Xiong's right fist slammed out again!

It's now!

Wei Xiu neither dodged nor blocked, but instead suddenly lunged forward!

brush!

The punch grazed his ear, the force of the blow sending his short hair flying! But Wei Xiu had already broken into Zhou Xiong's inner circle!

With his right fist, he slammed it hard into Zhou Xiong's chin from below!

boom!

That punch landed squarely!

Zhou Xiong's head was knocked back, and he staggered back a step!

It's not over yet!

Wei Xiu lowered his waist and lashed out with his left leg like a whip, striking hard at the side of Zhou Xiong's supporting leg's knee joint!

This is the most vulnerable direction of force on human joints!

boom!

Zhou Xiong's massive body finally lost its balance!

He bent his knees and knelt heavily on one knee on the ground!

Boom!

The entire training ground floor shook!

Holy crap!!!

A deafening gasp erupted from the crowd!

"Zhou Xiong knelt down?!"

"Wei Xiu did it?!"

"Am I seeing things?!"

The girls jumped up excitedly, shouting, "Senior Wei Xiu is so handsome!!!"

Zhou Xiong knelt on one knee, head bowed, motionless.

Wei Xiu stood two meters away, his chest heaving violently as he gasped for breath, but his eyes remained fixed on Zhou Xiong.

One second, two seconds.

Zhou Xiong slowly raised his head.

The corners of his mouth actually curled up.

That was an excited smile.

"interesting!"

He supported himself on his knees and slowly stood up.

But the moment he stood up...

Snapped.

A drop of sweat fell to the ground.

Zhou Xiong's knees were covered in a large bruise!

Sharp-eyed students in the stands immediately screamed, "Look at Zhou Xiong's knees!"

"It's turned green! It's really turned green!"

"Wei Xiu injured Zhou Xiong with that kick?!"

"How is this possible?! Zhou Xiong is a monster with 4700 Yuan Power!"

Zhou Xiong glanced down at his knees, his brows twitching slightly.

But he didn't say anything. He just took a deep breath, pushed off with his right leg, and like a heavy truck loaded with steel coils, he slammed his shoulder into Wei Xiu!

Shoulder bump!

No boxing techniques, no skills, just pure brute force!

Wei Xiu's pupils contracted sharply, and he crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Bang! ! !

The dull thud sounded like a battering ram hitting the city gate!

Wei Xiu felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, as if his chest had been hit by a speeding truck, and he was sent flying off the ground!

boom!

He crashed heavily onto the floor three meters away, his back hitting the floor with a dull thud, his chest heaving violently, and he almost couldn't catch his breath.

The training ground fell silent instantly.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Wei Xiu on the ground, then at Zhou Xiong, who stood there like an iron tower.

Zhou Xiong stood still, without moving.

He looked down at his knees, then at Wei Xiu lying on the ground.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Wei Xiu's chest finally began to rise and fall. He coughed twice and slowly sat up, supporting himself on the floor.

"Cough cough... Whew..."

A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of his mouth, but he still had a smile on his face.

"This time... I lost again."

Zhou Xiong was silent for two seconds, then suddenly shook his head.

"No."

"That kick of yours has left my knee immobile. It's a draw."

Holy crap!!!

The stands erupted!

"Zhou Xiong concedes a draw?!"

"Wei Xiu forced Zhou Xiong to concede a draw?!"

"What kind of monstrous growth rate is this?!"

The girls were so excited they were hugging each other and screaming!

A moment later, the crowd gradually dispersed, but the discussion continued for a long time.

"Wei Xiu's rate of progress is ridiculously fast!"

"Last time, Zhou Xiong beat him so badly he couldn't get up, but this time he managed to injure him?"

"If this continues, he might actually catch up with Zhou Xiong before the college entrance exam! And become the sixth genius in our school!"

Several girls looked at Wei Xiu with reluctance, and left, turning back every few steps.

Zhou Xiong walked to his schoolbag, squatted down, and began to pack his things.

Wei Xiu sat there, rubbed his chest, and suddenly laughed.

"Feed".

"You're much better than last time, aren't you?" Wei Xiu said with a faint smile.

Zhou Xiong paused for a moment, then turned to look at Wei Xiu.

A hint of expression finally appeared on that silent face.

"He's better than last time."

"But if that's all the progress you're going to make, don't bother me with training anymore."

Zhou Xiong picked up his schoolbag.

"Fighting with you wasn't fun enough."

"What if I treat you to dinner?" Wei Xiu suddenly said with a smile.

"Can we play another round later?"

As soon as the word "eat" was uttered, Zhou Xiong suddenly stopped what he was doing and nodded very seriously.

"Sure, but it has to be barbecue."

Wei Xiu nodded: "Okay, see you at the school gate."

Zhou Xiong didn't say anything more and strode out of the training ground.

Wei Xiu remained seated, slowly raising his head.

Through the glass of the dome, the sky of Blue Star is clearly visible.

However, several gray horizontal bands pierced through the sky.

There are ten horizontal bands, each one hundred kilometers wide, encircling the globe. Each band has a giant empty mirror, like a pupil gazing at the world.

Rain on the mirror, a mirror that overturns the world.

One hundred and two years ago, along with a meteor shower known as the Mirror Rain that struck Earth, these ten horizontal bands suddenly appeared in the sky above Earth.

Where meteors fall, cracks appear in the earth, polluting an area of ​​tens of kilometers. Every now and then, strange beasts and races that can tear through steel, withstand missiles, and feed on humans appear.

The areas illuminated by those ten empty mirrors, such as the Tian Shan Mountains, the Sahara Desert, and the Bermuda Triangle, became completely forbidden zones for humans.

No one knows what's there, but the Sky Federation, which has now been formed, has deployed its top combat power there, supposedly to prevent the crisis of world destruction.

Top-tier combatants are no longer war machines that can be torn apart by alien beasts and races. They can only be relegated to auxiliary roles.

As the Mirror of Annihilation enveloped the world.

Yuanli, a power that humans can utilize to enhance themselves, has also emerged.

A martial artist is someone who can utilize this power to its limit.

The strong can split mountains and part seas, withstand the calamity of thousands of strange beasts, shrink the earth with a step, and have the power of heaven and earth with a single finger!

Wei Xiu looked at the empty mirror in the center and suddenly let out a soft breath.

The next second, a line of semi-transparent text appeared in the lower right corner of the field of vision.

[Battle Ended]

Overall rating: C (Effective counterattack) Resilience has improved.

Experience points gained: 20

[Would you like to spend 20 experience points to exchange for 2 Yuan Power?]

Wei Xiu stared at the panel, momentarily stunned.

For the past few months, every time I fought Zhou Xiong, I only got a D-level rating and gained only 10 experience points.

This time I actually got a C, and the experience points doubled?

Keep reading.

[Host's body has been damaged; the talent "Immortality" is now in effect]

[Estimated full recovery time: 6 hours]

[Tip: Replenishing energy (with high-calorie foods) can speed up the repair process]

"Exchange," Wei Xiu silently murmured to himself.

[Redeem successful]

[Elemental Power +2]

Current Energy Value: 383

[Remaining Experience Points: 0]

I've reached 380 points. I'm just a little over 100 points away from reaching 500 points of Yuan Power and becoming a quasi-martial artist!

Looking at the number, Wei Xiu slowly stood up. Although his whole body ached, he was extremely excited!

The system awakened three months ago.

You can gain experience points and receive rewards simply by fighting.

A D-level rating grants 10 experience points, with no additional rewards.

A C-level rating grants 20 experience points, and the additional reward slightly increases the body's resistance to blows.

As for how much experience and what extra rewards are given at higher levels, I haven't figured that out yet.

However, every 10 experience points can be exchanged for 1 point of Yuan Power!

Over the past three months, through this kind of "training in being beaten" with Zhou Xiong, he managed to increase his Yuan Power from 320 to 380.

Although he still can't compare to a natural monster like Zhou Xiong, at least there's hope of catching up.

As for that "immortality"...

Wei Xiu pressed his chest, which was still aching slightly, and felt the slight warmth and healing sensation under his skin.

This is something that was added to the panel when my Yuan Power reached 350.

The effect is simple and direct: it speeds up recovery and allows the user to withstand a fatal blow without dying.

Despite taking so many punches from Zhou Xiong over the past three months, the fact that I can still stand and walk out of the martial arts arena is all thanks to this.

"383, only 117 points away from 500!"

"As long as I continue to grow stronger, getting a higher rating won't be a problem, and the day I become a quasi-martial artist won't be far off!"

Yuanli value is almost the only standard for measuring strength in this world.

Reaching 500 makes one a quasi-martial artist, transcending ordinary people and considered someone with some social standing.

High school teachers and many white-collar workers are at this level.

If one reaches 500 points before the age of twenty, then one is considered a genius and will receive strong support from the Federation. Not only will one be exempt from the college entrance examination, but one will also enjoy countless benefits and resources!

If I can become a quasi-martial artist, most of my current troubles will be resolved...

The semi-transparent text in my field of vision gradually faded away.

Wei Xiu turned around and walked to his schoolbag, took out his water bottle and took a sip.

The water was cool, and as it slid down my throat, the burning pain in my chest seemed to ease a little.

Barbecue...

Thinking of Zhou Xiong's conditions, and then of her own meager living expenses of only three digits this month, she couldn't help but sigh.

Well, before becoming a quasi-martial artist, I need to figure out how to fill this monster's stomach first.