Chapter 1 The Radiance of the Great Sun

The great sun洒光芒 (sǎ guāngmáng - scatters its light), and all things awaken from their slumber.

Yangming Mountain, the Xue Family Manor.

嘭嘭嘭~~~

The劲风呼啸 (jìng fēng hūxiào - strong wind howled), and the low, rhythmic sound of colliding fists and palms echoed like urgent drumbeats.

On the empty演武台 (yǎnwǔtái - martial arts training platform), two figures exchanged blows rapidly.

Jing Xiaolou stood firmly on the ground, his fists and elbows flying, his entire body exuding the劲 (jìn - power) of a great spear. He fought fiercely and relentlessly. An Qisheng stamped his feet and strode forward, like an old elephant trumpeting, his arms lashing out like whips, resembling an old elephant swinging its trunk.

The two exchanged blows with speed and force, clashing dozens of times in a short span.

砰!

After one such collision, they separated.

“呼!”

An Qisheng raised his hand and slowly lowered it to his abdomen, exhaling a mouthful of浊气 (zhuóqì - stale air) like an arrow.

"勁发八面 (Jìn fā bā miàn - Strength erupts in all directions), 力透八极 (lì tòu bā jí - power penetrates to the extremes), Bajiquan is indeed extraordinary."

Jing Xiaolou's face was flushed, and he was full of energy:

"Martial arts can only progress through exchange. Closed-door cultivation is undesirable."

"Grandmaster, this Xingyi Quan (form-imitating boxing) is indeed formidable."

An Qisheng couldn't help but admire.

He had stayed at the Xue Family Manor for half a month. For the first seven days, Xue Zheng had instructed him on the fusion of four types of劲力 (jìnglì - internal force) variations, from which he had gained much.

For the next seven days, with Xue Zheng's tacit approval, he had obtained the essence of Xingyi Quan. Similarly, Jing Xiaolou had also received his Bajiquan essence.

After a few exchanges, both felt they had gained a lot.

Of course, Jing Xiaolou had already entered the Huajin (transformation realm), so he benefited the most.

"My teacher has studied hundreds of boxing styles, and his military killing techniques have long since reached the state of化 (huà - transformation). This Xingyi Quan contains the essence of hundreds of boxing styles. Brother An should carefully ponder it."

Jing Xiaolou did not hold back, pointing out the flaws in An Qisheng's boxing:

"Among陸行種 (lùxíng zhǒng - land-dwelling creatures), the elephant possesses the greatest strength. This Xingyi Quan emphasizes大开大合 (dà kāi dà hé - expansive and cohesive movements),硬扎硬打 (yìng zhā yìng dǎ - tough stances and strikes)..."

An Qisheng nodded inwardly.

He had learned the Twelve Forms of Xingyiquan (form and will boxing), and he also had some understanding of boxing styles that drew inspiration from animals.

Learning this Xingyi Quan allowed him to progress rapidly.

"Unfortunately, I am not yet able to master my teacher's Dragon-Elephant Combination Strike."

Speaking, Jing Xiaolou felt somewhat regretful.

Under Xue Zheng, one entered the state of化 (huà - transformation) with Xingyi Quan, and embraced the Dan (inner core) with Dragon Form Boxing. The Dragon-Elephant Combination Strike was the Gangjin (罡勁 -罡 Strength). He had now mastered Xingyi Quan, and he had also dabbled in Dragon Form Boxing.

But he was far from being able to execute the Dragon-Elephant Combination Strike.

It was easy to practice one form, but difficult to combine two – such was the principle.

"With Brother Jing's talent, perhaps it won't be long before you can unleash this Dragon-Elephant Combination Strike."

An Qisheng smiled.

"Only I know my own affairs."

Jing Xiaolou also smiled, and with a wave of his arm, he said:

"Let's take a break. I happen to have some news to share with you."

"Alright."

An Qisheng nodded.

The two came to the涼亭 (liángtíng - gazebo), where the tea had just finished boiling.

Jing Xiaolou picked up the teapot and poured tea:

"Here, I must apologize to Brother An."

"Hmm?"

An Qisheng raised his eyebrows.

"Yesterday, I received news that Brother An's name has appeared on the暗网 (ànwǎng - dark web)'s 死神请柬 (sǐshén qǐngjiǎn - Death Invitation)."

Jing Xiaolou put down the teapot and said softly:

"Afterwards, out of curiosity, I investigated Brother An's information."

"There is nothing I cannot show to others, so Brother Jing need not apologize."

An Qisheng shook his head, not particularly concerned.

In this information age, even playing a game required real-name authentication. A little information could not be concealed from anyone who wanted to investigate.

After saying this, his smile faded as he looked at Jing Xiaolou:

"What is this so-called Death Invitation?"

He had never heard of the Death Invitation, but he had heard of the dark web.

Associated with the term dark web were drugs, black market transactions, slaves, digital currencies...

"The dark web is also known as the deep web, the invisible web. As the name suggests, it is a deeply hidden network that most people cannot access, a black and evil force rooted in the internet."

Jing Xiaolou's face was somewhat solemn:

"The dark web itself is a place where assassins, mercenaries, fugitives, hackers, and other despicable individuals mingle... This Death Invitation is a task list on the dark web."

"It means that once you are on this list, it is as if you have received an invitation from death."

"Death Invitation..."

An Qisheng frowned slightly. His first thought was of the 竹龙会 (Zhúlóng huì - Bamboo Dragon Society).

Had the Bamboo Dragon Society, after suffering such a setback, actually offered a reward for them on the dark web?

However, shouldn't the reward be for Wang Zhixuan? Why was he being targeted?

"The main target is Wang Zhixuan. You and Jiang Shili, who are traveling with her, are not the main targets. As far as I know, no one has accepted the task yet."

Jing Xiaolou revealed what he knew:

"Da Xuan has always been a forbidden area for the dark web. Since you are not the primary target, you don't need to worry too much. I'm telling you this so that you can be careful."

"I understand."

An Qisheng nodded his thanks: "I must thank Brother Jing for the reminder."

This news was somewhat surprising to him, but it was also within expectations.

The Bamboo Dragon Society had suffered such a great loss. If they swallowed this anger, they wouldn't be able to survive in the underworld.

But this Death Invitation...

"No need to thank me."

Jing Xiaolou waved his hand.

"How much does Brother Jing know about the dark web? Are there any experts?"

An Qisheng asked again.

Although he had heard of the dark web, he wasn't very familiar with it. It was called the dark web because it was a place that you couldn't enter without a connection.

"Killer organizations and mercenary organizations go without saying. It is impossible for these foreign forces to bring guns into Xuan. What you really need to pay attention to are the Kung Fu masters."

Speaking of this, Jing Xiaolou's expression became slightly solemn:

"The ranking system on the dark web ranges from one to six, corresponding to the six realms of martial arts. The criteria for judgment is having a kill record. For example, a level six killer must have a record of killing someone who has reached the见神 (jiànshén - Seeing the Divine) realm!" (realm of martial arts)

"Kill someone who has reached the Seeing the Divine realm?"

An Qisheng shook his head slightly.

Those who have reached the Seeing the Divine realm can sense danger and avoid it, seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. How difficult would it be to kill them?

"Indeed, the dark web has no record of killing someone who has reached the Seeing the Divine realm."

Jing Xiaolou naturally knew what An Qisheng was thinking:

"However, the absence of a record of killing someone who has reached the Seeing the Divine realm does not mean that the dark web has no killers at the Seeing the Divine level!"

"The dark web has such killers?"

An Qisheng was truly surprised now.

What status did those who reached the Seeing the Divine realm have?

Would such people also become assassins?

"The dark web currently has a record of seven level five killers. These seven are known as the Seven Great Gods of the Dark Web, and they are truly top killers who have a record of fighting and killing罡勁 (gāngjìn -罡 Strength) martial artists." (martial arts realm)

"As for level six..."

Jing Xiaolou sighed slightly:

"That contemporary saint, Garuda, from the Three Seals Kingdom, is the only known Seeing the Divine killer on the dark web. He is not level six only because he lacks a record of killing someone who has reached the Seeing the Divine realm."

"Garuda..."

An Qisheng's eyes flashed, and his information appeared in his mind.

Garuda was a victim of the caste system in the Three Seals Kingdom. He was the product of a cross-caste marriage, a low-level untouchable.

His father was a night soil collector, his mother was a prostitute, and his own status was naturally self-evident.

It was said that when he was a child, he was almost beaten to death for accidentally stepping on someone else's shadow.

He grew up in discrimination and oppression, suffering all kinds of hardships.

Perhaps it was because of this experience that he practiced yoga to an unprecedented level, becoming the only Seeing the Divine martial artist in the Three Seals Kingdom for hundreds of years.

A former untouchable, now a saint.

Garuda.