Chapter 1, Rebirth

Unfortunately, the brother and sister were both destitute, struggling even to afford meat on a daily basis. The meal he was having now had already depleted their current savings. Fortunately, Zhao Qin was good at budgeting and had secretly saved a gold earring for emergencies, which she had now gone to the pawnshop to exchange for money to buy food for Zhao Qi.

His abdomen is slightly distended, emitting sounds of gastrointestinal motility. The five pounds of rice, three pounds of pork, one pound of vegetables, five eggs, and a large bowl of sweet soup that he has just swallowed are currently being rapidly digested

The man, upon hearing Zhao Xuanqi's words, was not angered; instead, he let out a sneer, exchanged a glance with the two men beside him, and without pausing, left without looking back

Approximately fifteen minutes later, the sounds of intestinal peristalsis ceased

"Whether it can pass or not is not your concern, you insignificant creature, buzzing around all day long, just hurry up and roll away"

Although Zhao Qin cannot be considered beautiful, she has been well-educated since childhood, has fair skin, and is literate, making her a desirable choice in Deng Zhuo's eyes. Six months ago, Deng Zhuo set his sights on Zhao Qin, and it was precisely for this reason that Zhao Qin resolved to support Zhao Qi in his martial arts training at the dojo.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a movement in his ears and heard a sound of tugging at the corners of the mouth coming from outside the room. He then stood up, walked forward, and opened the door.

Zhao Xuanqi opened his eyes, feeling the current state of his body, and couldn't help but shake his head

He is able to control his digestive system, rapidly and efficiently digesting food, converting it into nutrients for strengthening or repairing his body. This gift is one of the key factors that allowed him to reach the pinnacle of individual martial arts in his previous life

In a modest adobe house, the furniture is simple and worn. The only item that can be considered a decoration is a yellowed poster on the wall, featuring a woman in a qipao with fiery red lips, smiling radiantly, embodying the characteristics of the Republic of China era.

On the other side, there is a woman with her hair styled in a bun, dressed in an old, faded plain garment, and her skin is much fairer than that of the average resident

In times of chaos, human life is as insignificant as grass

Zhao Xuanqi wishes to quickly restore his previous life's realm and engage with the martial arts of this world

On the road of fleeing, the family servant of over ten years absconded with funds. The brother and sister faced numerous hardships along the way, spending half a year to reach Guangdong. However, the relatives they hoped to seek refuge with had long since fallen silent, leaving them uncertain if they too had become wanderers in a foreign land

Fortunately, Zhao Xuanqi has been reincarnated. Although he has lost his powerful body and martial arts realm that were honed through countless trials, his martial arts experience still remains. Moreover, it seems that a certain powerful physical talent from his previous life has also been reincarnated along with his soul, influencing Zhao Qi's current body

The two, having lost the will to escape, settled in Yuehai, renaming themselves Zhao Qi and Zhao Qin. However, they were still young and rootless, lacking any skills, and from that point on, they wandered aimlessly, no different from fat sheep. Not to mention being able to settle down, they could not even ensure their personal safety

Yuehai Province, Tianhai Prefecture, Shanghe District

As for Zhao Qi, whose real name is Zhao Jinwen, he fled with his sister Zhao Lingfei to this place. Originally, their family was of scholarly lineage, but due to their father's upright writing, he offended the local warlord, leading to the destruction of their family.

Some signed contracts of servitude are voluntary, but the majority stem from the coercion and inducement of the Sanshui Gang. Those like Zhao Qi and his sister, who are outsiders fleeing from disaster without any local connections, are the prime targets. They can be directly threatened with force, and the security forces turn a blind eye, as they are well compensated for their silence

The path of martial arts requires one part practice and seven parts diet

I am afraid that if Zhao Qi fails to pass the martial arts school assessment, on the day he is expelled from the school, Deng Zhuo will directly take action with the members of the San Shui Gang.

Zhao Xuanqi said to the man in the long gown in a faint voice, which sounded somewhat weak due to his physical condition

After all, from the perspective of memory, the martial arts of this world, Shenzhou, can be said to be quite prosperous now

Zhao Xuanqi opened the door and saw a young man, approximately 1.75 meters tall, dressed in a black long robe with a cold smile on his face. Behind him were two sturdy men wearing short trousers.

Food is the source of nutrients for the body

Watching the man's silhouette, Zhao Xuanqi slightly narrowed his eyes

As the martial arts school assessment approaches, news of Zhao Qi falling ill while training has spread, prompting Deng Zhuo, who had been inactive for half a year, to immediately jump into action, harassing daily at the door these past few days

Oh, you can still get out of bed? I thought you were on the verge of death, yet you still have quite the attitude. Alright, disciple of the Xiaolin Martial Arts School, I can't afford to provoke you, but I hope you still have this bravado in two days. By the way, don't even think about running away; my people are keeping an eye on you, and you won't be able to escape.

It is uncertain how much food can be exchanged back

A large amount of food is efficiently absorbed by Zhao Qi's digestive system, with a continuous supply of nutrients being transported throughout the body, leading to a rapid healing of the injuries on this frail body

Deng Zhuo, a minor leader of the San Shui Gang. In times of chaos, various sects and trades intermingle, and although the San Shui Gang has a fearsome reputation, in reality, it merely relies on a slight connection with the garrison of the Shanghe District. On the surface, they operate a car dealership and a foot business, while secretly engaging in human trafficking. Males are sold to the United States or to the Empire of * for railway construction or coal mining, while females are sold based on their looks to brothels or similarly forced into labor.

May 1665

Zhao Xuanqi, the strongest martial artist in the Blue Star, in pursuit of the pinnacle of martial arts, violated prohibitions and disregarded international laws, continuously assassinating key individuals with combat capabilities across multiple countries, invading secret military bases, and was listed as the number one wanted criminal by the International Criminal Police Organization. Ultimately, he was forced into the desert during a joint operation by multiple countries and perished under more than thirty minutes of comprehensive heavy fire coverage. Upon awakening, his soul had already entered this frail body named Zhao Qi.

This body is truly troublesome, it will at least require two to three meals to return to a normal state

Zhao Xuanqi furrowed his brows slightly; he was not particularly concerned about his own safety. However, for him, who had been reincarnated to this place, the Xiaolin Martial Arts School was the best springboard to engage with this world. Missing this opportunity would undoubtedly lead to some trouble

His soul does not belong to this body

It seems that you are determined not to give up until you see the Yellow River. You cannot possibly think that your brother's half-dead appearance can pass the martial arts academy's assessment? Agreeing to it and actually fighting with us are two different concepts. If you cooperate voluntarily, I can offer you a price that is ten percent higher, and I guarantee that I will not lay a hand on your brother, as he is currently in no condition to fetch a good price.

An hour later, the bruises on Zhao Qi's body had disappeared, and the waxy yellow skin had regained a hint of color, although his complexion still appeared somewhat pale

In desperation, the two sold their family heirloom jade artifacts, raising a sum of silver dollars, and sent Zhao Qi to the local Xiaolin Martial Arts School to become a registered disciple, seeking the protection of the school to ward off the petty criminals.

Inside the room, Zhao Qiguang sat on the creaking wooden bed, his lean upper body bare. He had multiple bruises on his body, his skin was waxy yellow, dark purple bags under his eyes, and his lips were pale, giving him a very weak appearance

Since a century ago, when the six great powers forcibly opened the gates of the Middle Kingdom, the Great Qian Dynasty began its decline, and the ban on martial arts became a mere formality. Ten years ago, the dynasty had weakened to its utmost, and the eight warlords, emerging from large martial arts sects, raised their banners in rebellion, using force to overthrow the Great Qian and sever the Middle Kingdom.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. The named disciples are subjected to assessments every six months, and those who do not excel in their skills will be expelled from the martial arts school. Zhao Qi's innate talent and aptitude are lacking, and for the safety of himself and his sister, he has been practicing diligently for the past six months. Not only did he fail to reach the threshold for the assessment, but he also accumulated numerous injuries. As the assessment approached, in a blind attempt to train harder, he ultimately exhausted his vital energy. Two days ago, after practicing, he collapsed and passed away, leaving Zhao Xuanqi to take advantage of the situation.

This is an era of sudden changes and the rise of numerous heroes, a chaotic world that has not been encountered in a thousand years in the land of the Divine State

That is a powerful digestive capacity