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

The next day, Linghai No. 7 Middle School.

Despite the lingering shadow of the Xishan disaster, the atmosphere at the school remained oppressive, but the senior students' studies and martial arts exams would not be halted.

In the private training room, the four-person team was undergoing their final practice sessions.

"Bang!"

Zhou Xiong delivered a powerful swing punch to Wei Xiu's block, the immense force causing Wei Xiu to slip and use the momentum to deflect the impact and retreat.

"Your strength has increased again, but the transitions between your moves are not smooth enough. The further you go, the more pauses there are." Zhou Xiong stopped and calmly pointed out Wei Xiu's weakness.

Although he didn't practice any martial arts, nor did he join a martial arts school or participate in competitions.

But as a genius, he also spent many years experiencing things firsthand in places like boxing gyms.

Zhou Xiong's instinctive sense for combat is absolutely top-notch.

"Okay, try again!"

Wei Xiu wiped his sweat and nodded intently.

All morning, he frantically adapted to the surge in his internal organ functions and strength due to the A-level reward, striving to reach peak condition before the final match that evening.

Time ticked by, and the hands of the wall clock quietly passed two o'clock and moved toward three.

After blocking Lin Qi's side kick, Wei Xiu suddenly raised his hand and withdrew from the fight.

"Let's stop practicing here for today."

Wei Xiu grabbed a towel and wiped his sweat, his expression unchanged, but his tone left no room for doubt.

"What's wrong, Lao Wei? It's only three o'clock. We usually practice until five." Lin Qi took a sip of water and asked, somewhat puzzled.

Wei Xiu did not answer immediately, but walked to the sidelines, picked up his schoolbag, and put on his coat as he spoke.

"I'm not feeling well, I need to go back first."

The training room fell silent for a second after he said that.

Lin Yao stopped tidying her clothes, her delicate brows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with doubt and concern.

"Not feeling well? Where do you feel unwell?"

She walked quickly to Wei Xiu and looked him up and down.

"Your Yuan Power is over 450, and your physical strength far exceeds that of ordinary people. How could you suddenly get sick? Is it because the injury from yesterday's match hasn't healed yet?"

Zhou Xiong also stopped what he was doing, a hint of worry showing in his dull eyes.

"No wonder your punches were a bit off. If you have any hidden injuries, don't try to tough it out."

Faced with their concern, Wei Xiu felt a slight warmth in his heart, but he waved his hand dismissively.

"It's not an injury, it's just that I overexerted myself yesterday, and I feel a bit tired and lack energy today. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep."

I'm going to the black market to risk my life for drug testing; it's a life-or-death situation, and I absolutely can't involve them.

"That's good."

Seeing that Wei Xiu's complexion was indeed not as rosy as yesterday, Lin Yao did not suspect anything, but simply gave him a word of advice.

"Go back and drink plenty of warm water, and get some rest."

Lin Qi, however, grew anxious and grabbed Wei Xiu's arm.

"No, Lao Wei, what about the martial arts finals tonight if you leave?!"

"The finals are tonight!"

Lin Qi's voice rose eight octaves.

Wei Xiu gently patted Lin Qi's shoulder, his eyes unusually firm.

"Don't worry, I will definitely be there for tonight's final."

"I promise I'll be at the martial arts gym by 9 p.m. sharp. You go ahead and tell the coach I'm going home to get some rest and will make sure I don't miss the match."

"Alright...you'd better keep your word! I'll get you a leave of absence as soon as I get to the martial arts gym!"

"Um."

Wei Xiu stopped talking nonsense, slung his backpack over his shoulder, waved to the three of them, and strode out of the training room.

The moment Wei Xiu stepped out of the school gate, the ease and fatigue on his face vanished instantly.

Instead, it is as cold and sharp as a drawn blade!

The panel information appears in the lower right corner of the view.

[Talent: Undying (Cooldown complete, now activated)]

coming!

Instead of going home, Wei Xiu strode into a dilapidated public toilet on the street corner.

A few minutes later, when he came out, he had changed into a large black hooded sweatshirt, trying to cover his face and figure as much as possible.

He stood by the roadside and flagged down a taxi.

"Master, go to Rusty Street on the edge of the inner city."

The car started and merged into the traffic.

Wei Xiu leaned back in the back seat, closed his eyes to rest, and tightly gripped the note Sun Na had given him in his pocket with his right hand.

Seven hundred thousand, a life-or-death gamble!

……

West of Linghai City, Xishan Restricted Area.

A hundred years ago, this place was called Xishan Town, the most prosperous logistics center in the surrounding area, where goods from all over the country gathered and distributed every day.

Until that rain of mirrors fell from the sky, a huge crack tore open the center of the town.

Pollution spread like a plague, turning this place into a breeding ground for monstrous beasts and mutations.

Today, the once bustling streets are covered with a thick layer of purple mycelium.

The fuzzy mycelium seemed alive, parasitizing every inch of the walls and roads, emitting a faint glow in the dark mist, making the whole town look like a ghostly realm.

"Click..."

A fully armed soldier accidentally stepped on a piece of rubble covered in purple spots and nervously retreated from a half-collapsed shop, holding his rifle tightly.

"Captain, there are no signs of any strange beasts inside, not even droppings or bite marks."

The soldier scanned his surroundings before reporting to the tall figure in the center of the street.

The captain was a lean man in his early thirties, carrying the rank of lieutenant. He frowned after hearing the report, took out a military walkie-talkie from his waist, and pressed the call button.

"01 Calling the team leader: Search of shops in the southwest area of ​​Zone C completed, no abnormalities found."

"Please indicate the next search direction. Over."

There was only crackling static from the walkie-talkie; no one responded.

"01 Calling the team leader, please respond upon receipt, over."

There was still a deathly silence.

The squadron leader's face instantly turned grim, and his palms became sweaty.

After turning off the walkie-talkie, he looked around at the five aspiring martial artists who were following him.

"A strange beast has been spotted nearby, interfering with the signal band!"

He drew the alloy dagger from his waist and gave the order in a very serious tone.

"Everyone, disengage your rifles, switch to melee weapons, and keep quiet!"

"Follow me, advance immediately to Sector D and rendezvous with the commander!"

The six figures lowered their center of gravity and quickly disappeared at the end of the fog-shrouded street.

But, at the same time they gathered and started walking forward.

"squeak……"

Beneath the road where the soldier had just stood, a rusty manhole cover had silently cracked open.

Through the gap, three grayish-white eyeballs without eyelids were turning at an extremely eerie frequency, staring intently at the departing figures of the squad.

With a chilling sizzling sound of scales rubbing together, a thick, serpentine body, as thick as a beam, slowly emerged from the sewer.

Three grotesque, distorted human heads were prominently displayed on top.

It didn't roar; it simply glided silently out of the shadows in the corner like a ghost, following the team at a distance...