Infinite Fighting

After the Five Elements Sect handled matters on Shanli Island, Liu Hetong had clearly gained a significant amount of authority.

Shanli Island was now directly connected to the internet. Many personnel were also heading there to plan the island’s infrastructure and govern its people.

The Five Elements Sect also smoothly secured an opportunity to expand its strategic channels.

They won the contract for a crucial port and gained entry into new markets.

By a rough estimate, it was possible for the Five Elements Sect’s assets to double over the next ten years.

Of course, none of this had much effect on Zhang Ji. He returned to his peaceful days of training.

A drone returned from high above, bringing Zhang Ji a cup of Moon Essence.

He downed it in one gulp, then began to practice his Fist Skill.

With the aid of this substance, his training efficiency soared. Coupled with the True Qi Nourishing Spirit Skill, Zhang Ji now only needed to circulate his energy for three or four hours to get a full night’s rest.

He was simultaneously cultivating four different fighting techniques—Snake Form Fist, Dragon Form Fist, True Qi Nourishing Spirit Skill, and Waterfall Drop—and all of them were progressing at a remarkable speed.

Zhang Ji estimated that by the end of the month, his Snake Form Fist and Dragon Form Fist would reach the mastery stage.

In the first ten days of next month, his True Qi Nourishing Spirit Skill would also reach mastery.

At this rate, he could reach B-rank by next year.

Then he would have about three years to solidify his position at A-rank, claim a share of the spoils in the Saint King War, and become one of the powerhouses who decide the fate of the planet.

Although one could still carve out their own domain by reaching A-rank later, the value of becoming a first-generation Saint King was the greatest.

When the first-generation Saint Kings implemented their will, the world had already completely submitted. No one even thought of resisting them, so their commands were carried out with virtually no opposition.

For instance, if they wanted to massively develop space technology, they could simply designate a territory and order several nations to begin research. Those nations wouldn’t dare to feign compliance or cut corners.

In the face of a Saint King’s absolute might, worldly authority became a joke. Human society redefined the very meaning of the word "power."

That was why it was so easy later on to push for the massive development of combat-related technologies, even making it a standard for judging an individual’s social class.

.....

.....

「Capital City. In a side residence of the Xiao family.」

Having received the news, Xiao Ningning hurried to the main hall.

Her gaze immediately locked onto the figure inside the transparent coffin.

For a moment, she couldn’t believe her eyes.

After a long, stunned silence, she felt her legs go weak. She staggered to the coffin and reached out to touch the cheek of the person inside.

Pale, cold, and without the smile she so longed to see.

"Who brought him here?" Xiao Ningning asked a member of her family.

"Young Miss, the young master of the Kang family brought him," the family member replied.

"The Kang family!"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Ningning’s eyes.

’That explains it.’

’Song Yuan was serving in the [Blade’s Edge] squad. There are very few people who could bend the rules to have him transferred out.’

’That old man from the Kang family is one of them.’

"Did the Kang family leave a message?" Xiao Ningning asked.

"The young master of the Kang family said they are very sorry this happened and are willing to offer compensation. He also said that the one who killed Song Yuan was Zhang Ji, a true disciple of the Five Elements Sect," the family member replied.

"Compensation? What could they possibly offer as compensation?" Xiao Ningning raged.

’I played this game of the young miss and the scholar with Song Yuan for so long. Before I could even take a bite, they went and broke him. How long will it take to find another one like him?’

CRACK!

Xiao Ningning’s fist caved in Song Yuan’s face.

"He’s already dead, so why bring him here? The sight of him is infuriating! Get him out of here! Burn the body to ash, disinfect every place he passed through... on second thought, replace the damn floorboards too!"

Xiao Ningning casually took the towel a servant handed her and wiped her hands.

As Song Yuan’s corpse was wheeled away, her gloomy expression twisted with viciousness and madness.

’She had always been this way, ever since she was a child. When she liked something, she loved it intensely. When she hated something, her hatred drove her to madness.’

’And the one thing she could never accept was someone else breaking what she loved.’

’She could destroy it herself, but no one else could!’

’Xiao Ningning knew perfectly well that by delivering Song Yuan’s body, the Kang family intended to use her as a weapon to kill someone else.’

’But she didn’t care.’

’She needed an outlet for her anger, didn’t she?’

’She couldn’t very well take her madness out on the Kang family.’

’A mere true disciple from some martial arts sect was the perfect target.’

-----------------

「November 23rd.」

Zhang Ji’s Snake Form Fist had produced ten essences.

He then synthesized them within the Limited Space.

After a flash of light, a [Snake Form Fist (Fine Quality)] combat skill crystal appeared in the Limited Space.

It was about the same size as the Iron Body Skill crystal and glowed with a green light.

With a thought, Zhang Ji absorbed the crystal into his body.

He immediately felt subtle changes occurring in his muscles, bones, and flesh.

He became more flexible, able to channel power more efficiently and swiftly.

This time, no additional memories appeared, as Zhang Ji was already intimately familiar with the entire training process.

The fundamental nature of the martial art itself hadn’t changed.

Zhang Ji swung his right arm. CRACK! The sound was like the crack of a whip.

His arm moved like a whip, as if it had numerous joints. The moment he exerted force, it was instantly transmitted to his palm.

It was slightly different from the integrated power technique of the Dragon Form Fist, but the two could be stacked and were complementary.

Zhang Ji stretched his body. His flexibility had increased by more than just a little. His skin, though seemingly taut, could be stretched out a great deal if pulled.

This drastically enhanced his resistance to blunt-force attacks.

Zhang Ji tossed a hundred-pound stone lock from the courtyard into the air, then circulated the techniques of Snake Form Fist to catch it.

With a single finger, he hooked the handle and slightly deflected its path, neutralizing the force of its descent.

Zhang Ji then synchronized the Iron Body Skill crystal with his body and performed a fist routine to test it out.

With two mastered Grandmaster-level martial arts in his possession—one hard and fierce, the other soft and gentle.

Zhang Ji stood under the training machine. As the high-frequency pads struck his body, his skin and muscles stretched to automatically dissipate the force. The small fraction that remained was absorbed, causing him no real harm.

With the force-dissipating flexibility of Snake Form Fist and the tough, absorptive properties of Iron Body Skill, Zhang Ji’s defense rose to a whole new level.

’Now,’ he thought, ’if I were to take another hit from that high-frequency oscillating blade, it might not even be able to cut deep enough to reveal bone.’

’Still, I have to keep training. I’ll train until I can take a hit without a scratch, until my opponent can’t land a blow at all, and until I can kill them in a single instant!’

....

「November 24th.」

First thing in the morning, Li Long summoned Zhang Ji to the reception hall.

A beautiful, exquisitely dressed woman sat in the hall.

Zhang Ji didn’t recognize her accessories, but he could tell at a glance that they were undoubtedly expensive.

Moreover, her status was clearly high, because Zhang Ji was surprised to see that even Yan Ruifeng was present to entertain her.

"She’s here for you. A fan," Li Long whispered to Zhang Ji. "She comes from a very prominent family, and they do business with the Five Elements Sect. Just humor her for a bit. Waste half a day so everyone can save face."

Zhang Ji frowned slightly.

Many fans who had come to tour the Five Elements Sect had wanted to meet him before, but he had refused them all.

He didn’t like these kinds of social obligations.

Nor did he have the time to indulge in such vanity.

But this time, the visitor’s status was apparently so extraordinary that even Li Long had to speak to him like this.

It seemed he had little room to refuse.

Zhang Ji sighed inwardly.

’This is what happens when you’re not strong enough. You always have to make compromises.’

Stepping forward, Zhang Ji gave Yan Ruifeng a cupped-fist salute. "Sect Leader."

"Zhang Ji, this is the eldest young miss of the Xiao family, Xiao Ningning. She’s a fan of yours," Yan Ruifeng said with a smile, then turned to Xiao Ningning. "Miss Xiao, he’s here. We’ll let you young people chat. We have some matters to attend to, so we’ll take our leave."

With that, Yan Ruifeng left with Li Long, leaving Zhang Ji and Xiao Ningning alone.

Xiao Ningning studied Zhang Ji with a curious expression and extended her hand. "Hello, I’m Xiao Ningning."

Zhang Ji didn’t shake her hand, merely offering a cupped-fist salute. "Zhang Ji."

The air fell silent. After a moment, Xiao Ningning said, "I’ve seen your matches. You’re really incredible."

"Thank you for the compliment," Zhang Ji replied curtly.

"I want to be as strong as you. Can you teach me?" Xiao Ningning said.

"The Five Elements Sect’s registration office is at the foot of the mountain. You must pass an assessment to be admitted. Money alone isn’t enough; you also need talent," Zhang Ji replied.

Xiao Ningning pouted, apparently annoyed by Zhang Ji’s cluelessness.

"Come for a walk with me. This is my first time on Golden Hook Mountain!" Xiao Ningning said.

"I have training to attend to. Please don’t make things difficult for me, Miss Xiao," Zhang Ji said.

"And what if I insist on making things difficult?" Xiao Ningning leaned in, speaking very close to him. "If you don’t walk with me, I’ll make sure the Five Elements Sect regrets it."

Zhang Ji frowned, took a small step back to create distance, and rose to his feet. "Then please, allow me to lead the way, Miss Xiao."

"Hmph, that’s more like it!"

Xiao Ningning smiled and moved to take Zhang Ji’s arm, but he sidestepped her.

She stomped her foot and hurried to catch up with him.

As he walked ahead, Zhang Ji felt a strange sense of unease.

The feeling coiled in his heart and refused to fade.

He felt an inexplicable sense of awkwardness and revulsion toward this young lady from a prestigious family.

’For some reason, I just feel like she has malicious intent!’

’Yes, malice!’

Xiao Ningning put on a good act, playing the part of a genuine fan and a young lady from a powerful family. But to Zhang Ji, who now possessed a certain degree of cultivation in Spirit, it was as if she wore no disguise at all.

Zhang Ji could clearly sense it through her skin and flesh—a current of extreme malice directed right at him.

It was the kind of malice that wanted to tear him to shreds, then chew and devour him piece by piece.

This aura was so palpable that he had to fight the urge to smash her head in with a single punch.

But Zhang Ji didn’t.

He restrained himself.

’As long as I don’t take the bait,’ he thought, ’this young miss probably won’t get the chance to act on her vile intentions.’

Zhang Ji simply assumed she was a psychologically twisted young lady from a wealthy family. It never occurred to him that she might have come specifically to seek revenge.

After all, while he had killed many people, most of them had been on Shanli Island. Around here, he had only eliminated the members of the Xian Mountain Sect and two mercenaries. He could never have imagined that one of the people he had killed was the personal "toy" of the young miss before him.

He certainly couldn’t have guessed that this young miss would personally come to his doorstep seeking his life over a mere "toy."