I became the King of Ryukyu

Zheng Yi wasn't quite sure what exactly a level 10 fist technique meant.

After reaching a certain level, he indeed gained a lot more knowledge, including his understanding and experience in applying Taizongquan (a style of Chinese martial arts) – not just the bow stance and chopping punch, but seventy-two of the 108 forms of Taizongquan.

Furthermore, they can apply what they've learned to other situations and integrate the knowledge.

While it may not be the highest level of mastery where there are no moves, it is certainly flawless when used precisely and methodically, as if honed and practiced since childhood, with an incredibly solid foundation.

However, without actual combat testing, Zheng Yi still didn't know his own strength. Surely he couldn't have stopped eating beef by now?

Zheng Yi opened the system panel and checked his personal attributes.

[Character: Zheng Yi]

【Intelligence: 94】

[Strength: 41]

【Charm: 88】

Commander-in-Chief: 52

[Politics: 61]

[Title: Commoner]

[Skills: Stick Affinity, Axe Affinity, Donkey Cart Affinity]

[Federation: None]

[Vassals: None]

[Items: Liu Bei's straw mat, Zhu Di's horse whistle, Liu Gong's owl soup, click to see more...]

[Action Points: 30]

【Wealth: 168760 yen】

Although it was far from reaching the level of "I don't eat beef", Zheng Yi was satisfied after looking at the 41 [Strength] and doing a little analysis.

He upgraded Taizong Fist to level 10, doubling his martial prowess. He was certain that his previous assessment of martial prowess was wrong.

He originally thought his "strength" was only 21, placing him in Hawking's category. Now it seems that a "strength" of 20 or 30 is the norm for modern white-collar workers.

The numerical benchmarks used in this realistic game are clearly based on ancient generals and scholar-officials.

Zheng Yi didn't play many games, but he remembered one called "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". With a strength rating of 50, he was in the same tier as Cai Zhong and Cai He, which was considered the lowest tier of generals.

While ordinary white-collar workers are far superior to the ancients in terms of nutrition and medical care, they sit in front of computers all day, lack exercise, and may die suddenly after running 500 meters. Their fighting skills are also limited to haphazard punches, which is far from comparable to ancient warriors.

In ancient times, gentlemen were required to learn the Six Arts, so that they could both bring peace to the world with their pens and conquer the world on horseback.

If this "Taizong Boxing Method (Fragment)" was indeed written by Li Shimin, Zheng Yi estimates that Li Shimin's five dimensions must all be above 99, or even exceed 100.

It might be worth a try for the average white-collar worker in terms of intelligence, but it's absolutely impossible for anyone else to compete with Emperor Taizong.

With 41 points of "force," one can dominate the campus and wreak havoc. Dyeing one's hair yellow makes one a favorite among female delinquents, while a buzz cut makes one a favorite among drill instructors.

Having gained a general understanding of his own strength, Zheng Yi became even more hesitant. 41 points of [Strength] was more than enough to deal with unhealthy white-collar workers or college students, and even had a good chance of defeating third-rate fighters. But could he really handle the "monsters" in the secret realm?

Fortunately, the game seemed to sense his thoughts, or perhaps this was a further hint that was already there, and a new dialog box appeared.

[This is a virtual world within the mind. Time flows differently within the realm than in reality. Death does not result in the loss of items or experience points. Resurrection does not inherit any negative status effects. Enter now?]

"Yes." Seeing that he wouldn't die, Zheng Yi no longer hesitated.

The Secret Realm of Gaoliang River is about to open. We wish you a pleasant gaming experience.

Then came the flashing countdown.

Zheng Yi held his breath and waited quietly for the countdown on the screen to reach zero.

As the numbers stopped flashing, everything went black before his eyes. Before he could even open them, a familiar electronic voice rang in his ears.

[The Taizong Fist was created by Zhao Guangyi, a great hero who ended the chaos of the world. Its essence is to protect life before killing, and to lose without being defeated. Please complete the dungeon [Gaoliang River Chariot God]. The completion condition is to survive and reach Jintai Post Station.]

Zhao Guangyi!

Baka! I should have thought of that sooner!

The speed of the One Heart Stream is truly astounding; he can travel 300 li (150 kilometers) in a donkey cart. Who can compare to him?

Zheng Yi was a little puzzled when he first saw the name Taizongquan.

Zheng Yi had heard of Taizu Changquan (Emperor Taizu's Long Fist), which was said to have been created by the peerless warrior Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin. Its moves were expansive and powerful, with a fierce and decisive style, and it was accompanied by the Taizu Panlong Staff, making it extremely effective in actual combat.

Taizongquan was unheard of and seemed to have been lost in the long river of history.

Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong.

This is not Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, nor even Emperor Taizong of Ming, Zhu Di, but Emperor Taizong of Song, Zhao Guangyi, who was known for his axe-sounding and candle-shadowing scenes and for drifting in a donkey cart on the Gaoliang River!

As for saying that Zhao Guangyi ended the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which was physically a cannibalistic era, that's not wrong, is it? His brother laid the foundation, and he finished the job.

These are all ambiguous matters and are not important.

"Your Majesty, leave immediately!"

A loud shout rang in Zheng Yi's ears, interrupting his reverie.

He quickly opened his eyes and looked into the distance, only to see smoke and severed limbs everywhere.

Before he could get a closer look, a black dot sped closer from afar.

The next moment, Zheng Yi felt a sharp pain coming from his chest.

Looking down, he saw a wolf-tooth arrow piercing through his body, leaving only his blood-stained tail feathers trembling violently.

Then, blood gushed from his throat, and the feeling of impending death spread throughout his body until he lost consciousness.

You've been hit by an arrow.

You are dead.

[Evaluation: Finished pooping]

[Reward: Slightly increased experience]

Zheng Yi leaned against the wall with his legs bent, his pajamas were wet, and his chest was intact, but it was still heaving violently, like a broken bellows desperately drawing air into his lungs.

As the game description states, being injured or dying in the secret realm will not affect reality.

The Calabi conjecture, proved by the renowned Chinese mathematician Shing-Tung Yau at the age of 27, became the cornerstone of the existence of higher-dimensional spaces in superstring theory. These higher-dimensional spaces are named Calabi-Yau spaces after him and Calabi.

Zheng Yi speculated that the so-called secret realm might exist within the Calabi-Chu space.

During his second year of high school, he studied quantum theory and superstring theory for a period of time, intending to enter the Department of Physics at the University of Tokyo through a special entrance examination.

He later discovered that even so, a grade in a social science subject was required, so he gave up.

He studied purely out of utilitarian motives, simply because he was intelligent; he had no interest in those intangible theories.

I mentally replayed the derivation of the Calabi formula, and my heartbeat gradually calmed down, and my breathing became smoother.

Physically, there are no problems, but facing death for the first time will cause even the genius of Kumejima to have a mental breakdown.

He pinched the skin between his eyes and looked at the hanging clock.

This time, the death was too quick to discern the ratio of the time flow in the secret realm to that in reality. But if it were truly a highly distorted space like Karabhichu, time would have no meaning whatsoever.

After reviewing his experience in the secret realm, which the game had described as "completely exhausted," and mentally simulating the angle at which the wolf-tooth arrow had been fired, Zheng Yi took a deep breath, opened the panel, and selected to enter the [Gaoliang River Secret Realm] again.

"Your Majesty, leave immediately!"

After a brief period of darkness, he heard his subordinates shouting again. This time, Zheng Yi did not hesitate—he rolled over in the process.