Infinite Fighting

In his room, Zhang Ji ate his roast duck rice, but he didn’t look particularly happy.

The roast duck rice here wasn’t a pre-made meal; it was genuinely fresh, the duck plump and tender, and the Control of the Fire was superb.

But Zhang Ji still missed the oily, salty, pre-made roast duck rice from Shanli Island.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Ji stood up without a moment’s hesitation and began his training.

He didn’t celebrate his recent victory, make friends, or have fun in the Five Elements Sect. He certainly didn’t use his authority to seek out any form of entertainment.

He hadn’t even bought a single game console.

Previously, Zhang Ji had thought that leaving Shanli Island would be a huge relief. In reality, ever since he left, his sense of security had only dwindled.

Only the constant growth of his strength could grant him a moment of peace.

’Lost?’

’No, I don’t think I’m lost. On the contrary, I see what I need more clearly than ever.’

"BANG! BANG! BANG!"

Zhang Ji cranked the training machine up a notch. A jolt of pain shot through his body. He settled into a horse stance, his breathing growing steadier.

.....

"This batch of medicinal herbs you want will cost five hundred points. I’ll help you get them, and the pills too," Li Long said after looking over the list Zhang Ji had handed him. "However, I recommend you swap the Qi Nourishing Pills for Qi-Enhancing Pills. The former helps enhance perception for cultivating Primordial Qi, but the latter is what you really need. It will make it easier for you to refine Primordial Qi."

"Thank you for your trouble," Zhang Ji said with a fist-and-palm salute.

’Although Li Long was likely younger than his own mental age, Zhang Ji had to admit that as a teacher, he had been nothing but decent.’

Li Long waved his hand slightly. "Your Horizontal Training Power is improving quickly, but don’t neglect our Sect’s own martial arts. The techniques of the Five Elements Sect are in no way inferior to those of the Vajra Sect."

"I understand," Zhang Ji replied with a nod.

As soon as Zhang Ji left, Li Long immediately ordered someone to prepare the items he needed.

Although most of the things Zhang Ji wanted were within the normal limits, a few items were not currently in the Five Elements Sect’s possession and needed to be acquired from the outside world. Zhang Ji didn’t have enough points to buy so much, but Li Long was not an inflexible person. Besides, Zhang Ji was a True Disciple, a status that came with such benefits.

Li Long acted quickly. By the very next day, Zhang Ji had received everything he had asked for.

Swallowing an Essence Pill and a Qi-Enhancing Pill, Zhang Ji began his training.

From then on, time began to pass quickly.

....

Under the cover of night, Zhang Ji threw a punch at a custom-made metal target. With a loud CLANG, he left a clear fist print in it.

Thirteen days had now passed since the monthly competition.

At this moment, he had six "Iron Shirt" crystals and one "Iron Shirt" essence on his person.

In other words, he had achieved 61% of the full power of the "Iron Shirt Technique."

When he was at his peak state, the metallic sheen on his body became more and more pronounced.

However, Zhang Ji didn’t have the stiffness of an iron man. His body was still flexible—even more so than before—just harder.

Zhang Ji couldn’t make an exact assessment of his own strength, but he felt that if he were to be blasted by Fat Bear’s Gatling gun from back on Shanli Island, his defense probably wouldn’t break, and he wouldn’t be injured.

Returning to his room, Zhang Ji sat down to eat while watching the news.

The news reported on some domestic and international events, including situations from various battlefields where countless people were killed or wounded at a single command from the top brass.

Conflict was a constant, never ceasing.

In the torrent of the mortal world, those without strength were destined to become nothing more than insignificant background statistics.

Watching a soldier in battle armor effortlessly lift an object weighing over a thousand jin amidst some ruins, Zhang Ji’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’These tin cans aren’t like that trash on Shanli Island; they’re bona fide instruments of war.’

’Any ordinary person could put one on, add a smart-assist module, and have combat power approaching that of a Grandmaster.’

’In terms of functionality and the high-powered weaponry they carry, even a Grandmaster would be at a great disadvantage.’

’What’s more, these things can be mass-produced with relative ease, and they can even fight without a person inside.’

This was the main reason for the decline of martial arts in this era.

Decades of arduous study were worth less than an assisted exoskeleton someone could buy for a few hundred thousand.

People were no longer needed for war, and the status of martial artists was now in a steep decline.

As a result, these Martial Artists, who relied on their individual prowess, became a factor of social instability.

Almost every few days, Zhang Ji saw news reports about a Martial Artist breaking the law.

The Eastern Extreme Country was clearly making a deliberate effort to alienate and ostracize a certain group.

Zhang Ji remained noncommittal about this. With different standpoints and different goals, there was no point in talking about right and wrong.

After a few more news segments on war, the economy, and public life, an aerial view of Shanli Island suddenly appeared on the screen.

"Regarding the matter of Shanli Island, the council members have recently reached a consensus..."

The news report gave a brief summary without going into great detail.

The gist of it was that Shanli Island had been an immature and uncivilized solution born from the limited conditions of the past. Now, they were going to restore governance to the island. As for the criminals there, they would be "properly settled." They would not be allowed to leave for the time being, ensuring they wouldn’t endanger the public. Only those with no criminal record for over five years and a clean family background would be allowed to obtain true citizenship.

Of course, that’s what they said, but in reality, they couldn’t stop the truly powerful from coming and going as they pleased.

For example, Zhang Ji himself had been brought out directly by the Five Elements Sect.

’Besides,’ he thought, ’I haven’t even found my own footing yet. I’m not nearly powerful enough to pull people out of there. Even if I managed to borrow someone else’s influence to do it, it would be an empty gesture. It’s better to let them stay on Shanli Island. At least there, Kratos’s word is still law for now.’

...

「Shanli Island.」

Kratos sat on a sofa, facing a person sent by the officials.

"So many people have to die?" Kratos asked with a frown.

"You should know that those matters cannot be exposed to the public under any circumstances. We’re just cleaning up some trash. Not that many people will die," the person opposite him said.

Kratos fell into deep thought.

Shanli Island had been home to many dark dealings in the past.

In fact, the very existence of Shanli Island was due to these dark dealings.

Addictive substances, human trafficking, the training of the Lian Ladys, and even... human experimentation and organ trafficking.

The first few were one thing, but the latter activities were truly crimes against humanity.

Council members and great nobles were involved in this, and not just one of them. The web of connections was vast.

If this were to be exposed, it would not be good for the current Eastern Extreme Country.

Of course, the most important thing was that the participating council members would be vulnerable to their political opponents, who could use this as leverage.

Therefore, the best solution was to simply destroy the related factory areas.

They wanted to use Kratos to stage a man-made disaster, an industrial chemical leak, to directly wipe the relevant restricted areas off the map.

Kratos may have been a ruthless killer, but he found he truly couldn’t bring himself to treat so many human lives as if they were nothing.

"You people are really something else," Kratos said with a sigh.

"Does that mean you accept?" the person asked.

"Sorry, I refuse," Kratos said.

"You should know the consequences of refusal," the person said.

"Perfectly," Kratos replied with a smile.

"It’s a pity you’ve made the wrong decision." The person’s expression didn’t change, but a harsh glint flickered in their eyes.

"Shanli Island does not welcome you. Please leave," Kratos said.

He had his own side to consider.

Namely, the Five Elements Sect.

And the Five Elements Sect’s backer was the newly appointed and highly ambitious Councilman Liu Hetong.

Kratos didn’t understand political struggles, but he knew that those who didn’t hold firm to their allegiances often died the most miserable deaths.

...

...

「Five Elements Sect.」

「In the Main Hall.」

At this moment, the Sect Leader, Li Long, numerous elders who remained in the Sect, and the three current-generation True Disciples were all gathered here.

Zhang Ji, also a True Disciple, was present as well, though he was considered a disciple of the next generation.

The Five Elements Sect had a total of four True Disciples in the current generation: the first disciple, Li Long; the second, Zhou Hao; the third, Gu Shuangshuang; and the fourth, Shen Han.

Now, Li Long had become the Daoist, destined to inherit the Sect’s legacy.

Zhou Hao was away, managing the Sect’s affairs abroad.

Something seemed to have happened to Gu Shuangshuang, as she now spent most of her time in closed-door cultivation within the Sect.

Shen Han was still young and currently only handled matters within the Sect, occasionally teaching other disciples.

This was the first time Zhang Ji had seen Gu Shuangshuang.

She appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen, with a beautiful face. She wore a light green, close-fitting martial arts uniform, her long hair tied up in a bun.

However, her eyes held an unconcealable trace of exhaustion.

The Five Elements Sect had gathered today because of a visit from the Xian Mountain Sect.

Moreover, Sect Leader Xiong Mingxu of the Xian Mountain Sect had come in person.

In the center of the main hall stood an object covered by a red cloth. It was about ten feet tall—a gift from the Xian Mountain Sect, though no one knew what it was.

The animosity between the Five Elements Sect and the Xian Mountain Sect was an open secret. No one from the Five Elements Sect believed their rivals had come bearing gifts with good intentions.

"Sect Leader Xiong has graced us with his presence today. To what do we owe the honor?" Yan Ruifeng asked after a round of insincere pleasantries.

"I heard that my dear nephew Li Long has escaped his confinement. Thinking of the friendship between our two sects, I personally prepared a congratulatory gift to celebrate my dear nephew’s ’ascension from captivity’!" Xiong Mingxu said, then called to a disciple, "Yi’er."

A woman in red, about twenty years old, stepped forward from behind Xiong Mingxu and pulled off the red cloth, revealing a pine tree that had been pruned into the shape of a dragon.

At first glance, it truly gave the impression of a dragon soaring to the heavens.

But Zhang Ji didn’t believe the Xian Mountain Sect could be so kind. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the base of the pine tree was riddled with insects, and the entire trunk showed signs of being eaten away.

’This wasn’t an "ascension from captivity"! It was one step short of outright calling the Five Elements Sect a bunch of parasites and Li Long a rotten dragon who didn’t have long to live!’

Obviously, Zhang Ji wasn’t the only one who noticed. Yan Ruifeng’s face was ashen, and Gu Shuangshuang looked ready to kill. If Shen Han hadn’t put a hand on her shoulder to restrain her, she probably would have charged forward, shouting in fury.

"I thank Sect Leader Xiong for this congratulatory gift. Such a precious present must have cost you a great deal of trouble. When Sect Leader Xiong celebrates his hundredth birthday, I will be sure to return the favor with a gift of equal value," Li Long said to Xiong Mingxu, his expression calm.

Had this happened before, he certainly would have attacked impulsively.

But his experience on Shanli Island had matured him greatly.

He now understood the importance of concealing one’s true edge.

Since his wings were not yet fully grown, he would no longer act rashly out of anger.

A flash of surprise flickered in Xiong Mingxu’s eyes; he was a little taken aback by the change in Li Long’s temperament.

However, his purpose today wasn’t just to needle Li Long. His main goal was to probe their true strength; everything else was secondary.

"I hear my nephew Li Long has recently taken on a new True Disciple. Coincidentally, I have also taken on a new disciple. Why not let them have a little contest? A friendly exchange to improve each other’s martial arts," Xiong Mingxu said with a smile.

"Inappropriate. Fists and feet have no eyes. A fight could easily damage the peaceful relations between our two sects," Yan Ruifeng refused at once.

If it were anyone else proposing an ’exchange,’ he might believe it was genuine. But the Xian Mountain Sect was clearly here looking for trouble.

He had high hopes for Zhang Ji. If the other side used some underhanded tricks and left Zhang Ji with a lingering injury like his other disciple, Gu Shuangshuang, the loss would be immense.

"Hmph, I suppose the Five Elements Sect has no real talent left. Any random stray can become a True Disciple!"

At that moment, the female disciple behind Xiong Mingxu suddenly blurted out an insult.

"Yi’er! How rude!" Xiong Mingxu scolded, feigning anger.

"This disciple was wrong," the female disciple said, lowering her head.

It was a crude goading tactic, but the faces of everyone from the Five Elements Sect turned ugly.

Li Long, however, remained quite calm. He looked at Zhang Ji, indicating that the decision was his to make.

Whether he stepped up or not, it didn’t matter.

Having received so many benefits from the Five Elements Sect, Zhang Ji naturally had no intention of backing down now.

"This unworthy disciple is willing to test his skills against the esteemed disciple of the Xian Mountain Sect," Zhang Ji said calmly as he stepped forward.