Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques

Shangjing Prefecture, downtown.

In Donghua’s capital—the center of its politics, economy, and culture—the nocturnal cityscape possessed an ineffable splendor.

Skyscrapers, lights, streams of traffic, and tides of people, both brilliant and obscure, wove together into a fantastical, bustling world.

All of life’s joys and sorrows converged in this city.

The upper echelons of power decided the nation’s fate here. The country’s elite gathered to enjoy the city’s glamour and prestige. And then there were the destitute, struggling to chase their so-called dreams. They lived huddled in basements, peering at the beautiful night sky through skylights no bigger than manhole covers.

Central Business District, Dongxin Building.

This was the tallest building in all of Shangjing Prefecture. At 528 meters, it stood like a pillar holding up the heavens, a titan overlooking the entirety of Donghua’s capital and showcasing the city’s prosperity to the world.

As the newest landmark in Shangjing Prefecture, and a world-class one at that, any business that could set up office here was a nationally renowned brand. The people who came and went were among the nation’s top elite.

Simply being able to enter this building was a symbol of status and power.

And at this very moment, on the building’s highest floor—a vast, open-air rooftop terrace—a tall figure stood at the structure’s highest point. No one knew how he had reached the top, just as no one could possibly understand his state of mind.

Zhou Yuanjue stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the city below.

His body was honed to an incredible peak. His vision could pierce through anything, allowing him to clearly see events occurring dozens of kilometers away.

The red walls and high-tiled roofs to the west, the teeming masses all around—he saw it all, feeling neither joy nor sorrow.

The guided breakthrough in the grand hall of Donghua Martial Arts University had gone smoothly today. In the end, despite a few unexpected incidents, all twenty-five individuals had successfully broken through to the Saint Awakening Realm. They would, however, still need some time to nurture their bodies and solidify their new level.

When the news broke, the entire Donghua Martial Arts Realm was rocked. Even the highest echelons of Donghua’s leadership were shaken to their core.

For any nation, Saint Awakening remained a crucial benchmark for individual combat strength. Each Saint Awakening Level existence was a pillar of power—a rare and coveted asset. They represented the peak of human physical potential, living strategic weapons capable of altering the course of a war.

And now, with a single move from Zhou Yuanjue, Donghua had gained a host of new Saint Awakenings in a single day—more than the total number the country had possessed before.

Such a terrifying ability, such an astonishing result, was enough to truly change the entire world—and even the very structure of Human Society!

One could only imagine the shockwaves this news would send across the globe once it fully spread.

The era of human evolution was about to begin!

High-ranking officials in countless nations were spending sleepless nights. Think tanks were running in overdrive as groups of people representing their country’s sharpest minds worked tirelessly to devise countermeasures. They were formulating plans to address Zhou Yuanjue’s abilities and influence, aiming to maximize the benefits for their nations and people.

The Chief Commissioner, Chen Qingmu, and the other pillars of the Donghua Martial Arts Realm were inundated with information and duties. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuanjue, the man at the center of it all, had vanished, only to appear at the top of the tallest building in Shangjing Prefecture.

About half an hour later, Zhou Yuanjue slowly withdrew his gaze from the world below and looked up toward the endless sky.

This towering, cloud-piercing skyscraper was just like him.

’Yes, I’ve reached an unimaginable peak. As far as I can see, there is no one who can match me. But that doesn’t really mean anything.’

’Compared to the sky above, to the cosmos beyond, my power is still just a drop in the ocean.’

’Standing at the pinnacle of Earth sounds glorious, but it’s just being a big frog in a small well.’

He once again recalled the scene in the grand hall earlier today: the looks of elation on the faces of those top Martial Artists as they broke through to the Saint Awakening Realm, and the boundless fighting spirit for the future that lit up their eyes.

They now had hope; they had set foot upon their path. Yet, Zhou Yuanjue found it difficult to see where his own path lay.

Compared to his time at the Saint Awakening level, the path ahead was now even more shrouded in mist.

’I’ve surpassed history, surpassed the limits of Earth’s biosphere... so what now? Where do I go from here? Which way does the path forward even lie?’

’There’s no one I can discuss this with. No literature or data to offer guidance. There’s almost no one left who can even converse with me as an equal.’

’The path I walk has no precedent. The Celestial Demon’s path and mine are like two parallel lines, never to intersect.’

A fierce wind swept across the sky-high rooftop, and a flicker of loneliness passed through Zhou Yuanjue’s eyes.

He looked up. The bright moon seemed so close, as if he could reach out and touch it.

A sudden impulse seized him. He wanted to see the moon up close. He wanted to see just how high the sky truly went.

VMMMM!

A surge of Divine Soul Power emanated from his body as he tensed his legs.

SWOOSH!

His body shot high into the air.

BOOM!

The Divine Soul Power detonated beneath his feet, creating a powerful shockwave that propelled him, allowing him to push off a second time and launch himself even higher.

Then...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Step by step, Zhou Yuanjue ran toward the bright moon high above, treading on the air itself.

He climbed farther and farther from the ground. The air grew colder and thinner, forcing him to use even greater Divine Soul Power to vibrate the air and generate thrust.

BOOM!

He burst through the clouds. The resulting shockwave scattered them, forming a nearly perfect, iconic circle—a spectacular sight.

As he ascended higher, a layer of frost began to form on his body, and he started to feel the strain.

「Meanwhile, at the Donghua Security Department.」

WOOO! WOOO! WOOO!

The alarm blared. Every staff member instantly tensed, shifting to a state of combat readiness.

"High-energy magnetic field detected in the airspace over Shangjing! Attempting to identify the target!"

"Contact the National Defense Bureau leadership! Confirm the identity of this unknown threat!"

"Scramble the fighter jets! Be ready for combat at a moment’s notice!"

"The space station’s imaging Device is active. In approximately ten seconds, it will lock onto the target and provide us with a clear image."

"..."

A cacophony of voices filled the room. The high-intensity magnetic field and Energy released by Zhou Yuanjue had instantly set off alarms throughout Donghua’s national defense system.

The sudden appearance of an Energy signature of this magnitude, completely undetected beforehand, was a major incident. Sweat poured down the on-site commander’s forehead. If there was the slightest slip-up, dying ten times over wouldn’t be enough to atone for it!

This was Donghua’s capital, for crying out loud!

"Space station camera system has achieved target lock. Switching to visual feed now..."

As an electronic tone sounded, all eyes shot to the main screen.

But the image that appeared on the screen a moment later completely shattered their understanding of reality.