Chapter 0002: The Fiery Spirit and Divine Skills
The reprimanded martial arts instructor looked embarrassed and said somewhat apologetically: "Director, your method is really not suitable for teaching students"
When the sky falls, there are tall individuals to support it. It is foolish to lose sleep and worry about matters that are not yet determined and that one should not be concerned with. One should adopt a more relaxed mindset; those three years of traversing time have long since driven him to madness.
Although the martial arts of Middle-earth involve profound concepts such as true energy, spirit, and intention, along with the cultural heritage of other worlds, they are fundamentally similar to the martial arts known to Bai Qige on Earth. Both emphasize striking techniques, force application, and the manipulation of vital energy. Perhaps there are some common threads in the foundational aspects of both worlds, but Bai Qige is currently unable to ascertain whether this is true or not; she can only try and see.
With this unambitious thought, Bai Qige set out. The flow of people was incessant, leading to extreme congestion during rush hour. In the subway, people were packed tightly together, and Bai Qige felt as if he were in a different world. Upon returning to the hotel, he changed into his work uniform and shoes, and began his shift. Having traversed three years, Bai Qige naturally exhibited considerable changes in both appearance and demeanor, becoming much more mature. Upon seeing him, his colleagues expressed their astonishment, but Bai Qige brushed it off by claiming he was unwell and looked somewhat haggard. Regardless of whether they believed him or not, his colleagues had no way to investigate the reason, and thus he managed to evade further scrutiny. The security job was quite easy; standing in the hotel lobby, he had nothing to manage, and began his shift. After standing in the lobby for an hour, he would then go to the monitoring room to watch the surveillance footage for another hour.
Bai Qige had been traversing for three years, naturally exploring the reasons behind his crossing. However, with the existence of the Destiny Interface Law, Bai Qige understood the reason on the very first day of his traversal. He was inherently endowed with the ability to traverse, capable of crossing dimensions by utilizing coordinates.
Then Bai Qige quickly realized why these martial arts instructors held such reverence for this elderly man. The old man looked around, seemingly dissatisfied, and walked over to an instructor who was teaching apprentices martial arts routines. He bellowed in a voice like thunder: "You little brat, is this how I taught you before? With such a soft and feeble practice method, what skills can you teach? Kid, don’t listen to this useless instructor; I will teach you personally. If you want to cultivate Yanhuang martial arts, there is only one key point: that is passion and momentum. As long as you have enough passion and momentum, swinging a turtle shell or performing the Book Fist is enough to smash your enemies to pieces! Come, repeat after me: the strong are born to defy the heavens!" Come, repeat after me: the strong are born to defy the heavens!
He originally wanted to take a nap, but a phone call early in the morning woke Bai Qige up. After answering the call, Bai Qige suddenly remembered that he had a job before he crossed over.
The emergence of a continent out of thin air, the appearance of malevolent and monstrous beasts that have never been seen in Middle-earth, conquest and slaughter—these clues, hidden behind the myths and legends, left Bai Qige with a lingering sense of foreboding in her heart
The Wandering Celestial Blade from Middle-earth that has fallen to Earth, the Loki mobile phone that has traveled from Earth to Middle-earth, and the recently deceased Bloodthirsty Dragon Camel from Middle-earth are all gradually confirming the emergence of certain clear signs. At the very least, crossing over is no longer the exclusive domain of Bai Qige. Some unfortunate individuals or entities, such as that Bloodthirsty Dragon Camel, may also embark on this irreversible path. However, whether they will receive the treatment of a protagonist template remains uncertain, and the implications are profound and irreversible. At the very least, crossing over is no longer the exclusive domain of Bai Qige. Some unfortunate individuals or entities, such as that Bloodthirsty Dragon Camel, may also embark on this irreversible path. However, whether they will receive the treatment of a protagonist template remains uncertain, and the implications are profound and irreversible.
The security guard's job is quite easy; unless there are unexpected incidents, one can almost spend the entire eight hours daydreaming. This precisely provides Bai Qige with time to ponder certain matters and to take a break. After work, Bai Qige politely declined a colleague's invitation to dinner and drinks, and then took the bus, finally arriving at the destination after seven or eight stops
The front desk attendant, perhaps sensing Bai Qige's confusion, informed him that he could visit the martial arts school and, if interested, could also attend a class at a low price
The old man puffed out his beard and glared, roaring: "What do you mean my methods are inappropriate? It seems you have forgotten the true essence of the martial arts I taught you. As long as there is passion and momentum, one will naturally be invincible in battle. You may provoke dragons and tigers, but you should not provoke me. Today, I will make you thoroughly aware of your own foolishness!"
Bai Qi Ge is not a scientist, but he has also gazed at the night sky of Middle-earth. The constellations in the firmament are completely different from those seen on Earth. Middle-earth is clearly on the other side of the vast galaxy, and it is also a spherical planet. How could it possibly overlap or merge with Earth? Is it like a robot shouting, "I will form the head," and then the two planets collide directly across the distance of the galaxy? Forming the Earth of Middle-earth? In the end, will it battle the Ultraman Demon Emperor of the M78 Nebula? Is it like a robot shouting, "I will form the head," and then the two planets collide directly across the distance of the galaxy? Forming the Earth of Middle-earth? In the end, will it battle the Ultraman Demon Emperor of the M78 Nebula?
However, this is not the main point; the crux lies in the fact that both the gang and the library are in a state of decline. When Bai Qige met the leader of the Dragon-Slaying Alliance, he immediately employed some tactics from those palace intrigue dramas, successfully impressing the leader of the Dragon-Slaying Alliance. As a result, he was treated as a distinguished guest and exempted from various assessments, allowing him to join the gang directly and be taught the foundational mental techniques of the unparalleled divine skill, Apocalypse Cataclysm. It is estimated that the leader of the Dragon-Slaying Alliance was aware that his actions were somewhat unreasonable, yet he endured the pain and retrieved a book that was said to be incomprehensible even to the previous leader of the Dragon-Slaying Alliance, which possessed earth-shattering killing power—the Mountain Tiger Fist technique. Although Bai Qige viewed this Mountain Tiger Fist as being of the same low quality as the foundational mental techniques, he could not deny that due to his weak foundation, even low-quality skills were better than having none.
However arduous it may be, one must still learn what needs to be learned. After three years, he has managed to practice the foundational mental techniques to level 10, and the Mountain Tiger Fist technique has also reached level 10
According to legend, in the world of Middle-earth, every cycle, a great catastrophe of cosmic collision occurs, resulting in heavy casualties among the populace. Countless demons and heroes will emerge at that moment, bringing about earth-shattering changes to the world of Middle-earth
The Baichi Gedun is quite impressive; I spent fifty yuan to visit and take a look around. There are not many people exercising, but some are practicing martial arts routines, while others are training on the boxing ring, creating a lively atmosphere. The martial arts instructor, dressed in a white tunic, appears very spirited and somewhat formidable.
A one-month basic martial arts course costs 2,999 Yanhuang coins. If you wish to learn weapon-based martial arts, an additional 1,000 coins is required. For further advanced training, the price escalates to five, six, or even seven to eight thousand coins.
Upon truly engaging with the power system of Middle-earth, Bai Qige suddenly realized that the leader of the Dragon Slayer Alliance had actually regarded him quite highly, for even the basic mental techniques and estimations, such as the low-tier Shanhuhquan, were sufficiently profound and extensive
The conclusion is quite bizarre, and Bai Qige himself finds it hard to believe; however, the various myths and legends he has collected subtly point towards this most incredible conclusion
For Bai Qige, the Dragon Slayer Alliance is still an exceptionally powerful organization. The leader, known in the martial world as the Wing of Death, practices a divine skill called the Apocalypse Cataclysm, which is said to possess unmatched killing power, making him invincible against the fifteen villages under the Dragon Slayer Alliance's control. The local dogs and livestock turn pale at the mention of him and flee in terror, showcasing his formidable reputation. However, Bai Qige can no longer maintain this facade; the Dragon Slayer Alliance he joined is, in fact, a small gang that can only exert its influence in rural areas, relying on protection fees from the fifteen villages, each with only about a hundred households, to survive.
The great collision of the two realms, perhaps it is very distant, perhaps it is already a cataclysmic upheaval that is just around the corner. Contemplating these thoughts, Bai Qige's expression changed unpredictably, his body trembled violently. Suddenly, he stood up and looked to the sky, letting out a long howl: "I actually forgot to have dinner, no wonder I am so hungry!"
Although he did not understand why he possessed such a miraculous talent, Bai Qige did not dwell excessively on it. What troubled him was the culprit behind his uncontrollable ability to traverse dimensions, the Ten Thousand Illusions Heavenly Slash, and how it had come to drift from the Central Earth world to Earth.
Bai Qige was somewhat distracted at work today, but neither colleagues nor superiors commented on it. Although Bai Qige is young, he is quite experienced in social matters and handles interpersonal relationships with finesse, which has earned him a good reputation and decent relationships with both his superiors and colleagues
Those who are diligent in gathering, summarizing, and researching can always arrive at a conclusion; however, that conclusion may be so absurd and bizarre that it leaves Bai Qige utterly incredulous, weighing heavily on her mind. Yet, upon seeing this bloodthirsty dragon camel, a specialty of the Middle-earth world, that conclusion suddenly emerged in Bai Qige's heart.
Martial arts are the highest currency in the world of Zhongtu. If one possesses formidable strength, one can traverse the world with ease; if one is weak, one will find it difficult to take a single step. Bai Qige contemplated this and ultimately decided to focus on mastering martial arts. Even if a great catastrophe were to occur, he could still rely on his martial skills to navigate the world of Zhongtu. With three years of experience since his arrival, he transformed from an Earthling into a native of Zhongtu.
The three years of exploration have certainly yielded results. During this time, Bai Qige has traveled to many places in the Central Plains and gradually became aware of a widely circulated folk legend.
The monthly income from Baiqi Ge is around 2,000 to 3,000 yuan, and this salary has only increased due to the soaring prices in recent years; previously, the salary was only about 800 to 900 yuan, just over 1,000 yuan. Although he does not have to pay rent for the house left by his parents, the monthly expenses for water, electricity, management, and garbage collection add up to a considerable amount. He also has his own living expenses. Over the years, he has only managed to save around 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. However, it seems that this amount of savings is quite insufficient if he truly wants to lay a solid foundation.
In the corner of the martial arts hall stood an elderly man, dressed in an exquisite kung fu tang suit, holding a smoking pipe and exuding an air of carefree elegance. His hair was completely silver, yet his face bore no wrinkles, embodying the essence of a youthful appearance despite his age. As Bai Qige entered, he immediately noticed the distinguished demeanor of this man. More importantly, Bai Qige keenly sensed that the instructors of the martial arts hall seemed to hold a deep respect for this elder.
Moreover, and more importantly, it is still unknown whether this natural martial arts school possesses genuine skills. If one spends money to enter, only to find it is merely a fitness center disguised as a martial arts venue, that would be quite a disappointment
Supporting this bizarre conclusion is another myth that has been passed down for a long time in the land of Middle-earth, specifically in the region known as the Wasteland, where Bai Qige traversed to. The legend states that long, long ago, there was no Wasteland in Middle-earth. It was not until a great collision between heaven and earth that the Wasteland suddenly rose from the seabed. Countless evil spirits and strange beasts became active in this land. Warriors from other continents crossed the borders to launch expeditions, exterminating the evil spirits and strange beasts, and then recruited refugees from outside, cultivating the land generation after generation, which led to the prosperity of the Wasteland.
To illustrate, if you randomly pick a foreigner who speaks Chinese and ask him whether he knows about "the harmony of the dragon and tiger, the essence of energy, the return to the void, and the birth of the primordial infant," he would surely respond with a bewildered expression. This is the predicament faced by Bai Qi Ge, a person from Earth, who suddenly has to comprehend the martial arts secrets of the Central Plains. While the language barrier is manageable, the underlying cultural chasm and differences in artistic conception pose significant challenges for him
With a loud bang, the martial arts instructor was sent flying into the air by the old man’s punch, performing three backflips before landing and rolling irregularly for three more turns, ultimately losing consciousness. The old man remained unfazed, roaring at the suddenly pale-faced student: "Did you see that? This is the invincible power of the passionate spirit and martial arts taught at our Natural Martial Arts School. Do you want to learn? If you do, shout it out loud with me: Strong individuals are born to defy the heavens!"
Having just returned from Middle-earth, Bai Qige originally intended to rest for a few days and fully enjoy this rare period of peace on Earth. However, upon calculating, he realized that his bank savings were not substantial. If he were to simply sit idly and consume his resources, he might find himself resorting to the skills he honed during his three years in Middle-earth to rob others.
Traveling to another world, not becoming a king or dominating is already quite tragic. After returning, one can only resort to being a robber to make a living. This is truly a disgrace to the profession of a traveler. It is better to work honestly instead.
Although I do not intend to dwell on the uncertain cosmic collision, whenever I find a moment of calm, Bai Qige cannot help but assess the potential impacts it may have on myself. After some contemplation, I have decided to take precautions in advance.
This natural martial arts school was the closest one that Bai Qige found through an online search. The school is quite sizable, with a considerable internal area. In addition to teaching martial arts, it also offers techniques in free fighting, taekwondo, and boxing. When Bai Qige inquired at the front desk of the school, her expression turned rather unpleasant.
Bai Qi Ge wandered around casually under the pretense of visiting, while carefully observing the martial arts instructors, studying whether they possessed genuine skills. Gradually, his gaze settled on an elderly man within the martial arts hall.
Although this folk legend possesses a high degree of circulation, Bai Qige had heard it recounted in many places without initially paying much attention. After all, it is a myth that even the indigenous people of Middle-earth find difficult to discern as true or false, with a history so long that it is impossible to estimate. It was not until he learned about the early signs of the great catastrophe of the collision of heaven and earth, which included the sudden appearance of foreign entities in this Middle-earth, that Bai Qige took it seriously. He then conducted extensive research to trace the origins of this myth.
Middle-earth and Earth are gradually drawing closer, slowly overlapping, until their final fusion
A commercial building, with a sign for a natural martial arts school hanging on the sixth floor, is the destination of Bai Qige's journey. In the Middle-earth world, he also encountered some opportunities and joined a martial arts faction called the Dragon-slaying Alliance, becoming a proud lackey—oh no, a regular member. In fact, he can also be considered a unique type of civil servant in the Middle-earth world, as there are not many nations; instead, there are various factions and organizations that dominate their respective territories, akin to feudal lords and rulers recognized by the state. The Dragon-slaying Alliance is one of these many recognized feudal factions.
His parents passed away early, leaving behind this three-bedroom, two-living-room house in the suburbs. The savings are not substantial, and after middle school, Bai Qige had no choice but to drop out and work for a living. He is currently employed as a security guard in an old hotel, earning around two to three thousand a month, with meals and accommodation provided. While he cannot earn much, he will not starve, and if he perseveres, he might be able to save a little.