Victory

As the signal to begin rang out, Lei Chen lunged at Han Ming without hesitation. His fist shot forward with full force, aiming to end the battle quickly.

But in the blink of an eye, Han Ming shifted his body, effortlessly dodging Lei Chen's strike. In that same instant, his left fist shot forward and struck the back of Lei Chen's neck.

Crack!

A sharp sound echoed through the arena.

Lei Chen's body collapsed instantly. His neck had been broken, and he died on the spot.

[Challenger Defeated]

His body vanished from the arena and reappeared before the difficulty selection screen.

Lei Chen fell to the floor, drenched in sweat, panting heavily, his face pale from shock.

"I... I really thought I died…"

His trembling hand reached up to clutch his neck, his expression filled with disbelief.

"A ten-year-old child killed me with his bare hands? What kind of monster is Master…!?"

Even so, his determination did not waver. Gritting his teeth, Lei Chen once again chose the highest difficulty.

The result was the same.

His neck was broken once again.

Round three.

No different.

Round ten.

Round fifty.

Round one hundred.

No matter how he tried to adjust his strategy, he was killed every single time. The gap in combat experience between him and his master was simply too vast. Not once could Lei Chen defeat Han Ming.

He had his neck broken over a hundred times. He tried every possible advantage he had, and occasionally he did manage to gain a slight edge, but Han Ming would always counter it effortlessly.

"It's impossible to beat Master. I've never encountered someone so utterly without openings…"

Taking a deep breath, he sat cross-legged and began to reflect on all the battles he had just experienced, his thoughts drifting to the past. Back when he was young, he relied solely on his innate physical power and superior martial arts techniques. He had never needed to use real combat sense or awareness.

But now, after facing his master, he realized what he had once been was nothing more than a fool who depended entirely on brute strength and flashy techniques to overwhelm opponents. His pride from the past had crumbled into nothing. He now saw himself for what he truly was.

It felt like he was running headfirst into a wall eight meters thick.

"If I keep trying to win without actual combat experience, I'll just lose the same way again and again. I need to start with the basics."

This time, Lei Chen chose to train on the easiest difficulty. He would study his master's movements, learn to read his attacks, and adapt to his rhythm.

Once more, he was sent into the arena. His body returned to the level of Foundation Establishment, Stage Seven.

Before him stood Han Ming, ten years old, without any cultivation. Just a plain-looking boy.

But Lei Chen knew better than anyone what kind of terror this boy could unleash. This seemingly harmless child had already killed him over a hundred times despite Lei Chen possessing sacred bones and ancient divine eyes. On the hardest difficulty, their strength was equal, which meant Lei Chen couldn't even rely on his special physique.

Now, he was just an ordinary human.

Lei Chen's eyes burned with focus.

"This time… I will do it!"

Lei Chen and Han Ming at age ten locked eyes, like two predators circling one another. In this moment, neither was the prey. They were both hunters, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Lei Chen chose to fight with his bare hands rather than using spiritual energy to control the distance. He wanted to fully observe Han Ming's close-combat style and study every detail in preparation for the more difficult stages ahead.

This time, it was Han Ming who launched the first attack.

A small fist, yet bursting with explosive force, slammed into Lei Chen's torso and targeted a vital meridian. But Lei Chen's body, tough as steel, barely flinched under the blow.

Yet Han Ming didn't stop there.

He moved with incredible speed, shifting his position like a gust of wind before unleashing a rapid series of punches directly at Lei Chen's right shoulder, clearly aiming to damage the nerves in that area.

Lei Chen began to pick up on the pattern. He raised his arm and blocked each blow precisely, managing to withstand the relentless assault.

But in a single instant, Han Ming's expression shifted.

He had baited Lei Chen into opening a weak point.

Suddenly, Han Ming changed his target. He lunged toward Lei Chen's eyes with lightning speed.

Lei Chen tilted his head back just in time to dodge, but what happened next was entirely unexpected. A few drops of crimson fluid blood flicked from Han Ming's fingertips, splashing directly into Lei Chen's eyes, blinding him in an instant.

"Damn it...!"

Lei Chen gasped. He instinctively tried to use his spiritual energy to retreat, but Han Ming wasn't about to give him the chance.

In a heartbeat, Han Ming leapt above him, grabbing both sides of Lei Chen's neck and preparing to use the full weight of his body to snap it.

"Damn it all...!"

Lei Chen's thoughts surged in the briefest of moments.

Boom!

He exploded with every ounce of spiritual energy in his body. A wave of force burst outward, blasting Han Ming's body into nothingness.

[Challenger has cleared Stage 1. Difficulty: Easy.]

The system's voice rang out.

Lei Chen was expelled from the battlefield and returned to the selection screen. A glowing display appeared before him.

[Combat Simulation]

[User: Lei Chen]

[Opponent: Stage 1 – Han Ming, Age 10 (Cultivation: None)]

[Select Difficulty]

[Easy: Use current cultivation level (1–0)]

[Normal: Match Han Ming's cultivation during that time (0–0)]

[Hard: Weaker than Han Ming during that time (0–102)]

Lei Chen collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, his robes soaked in sweat. His face was pale with lingering fear.

He replayed the recent battle in his mind.

"All I did was leave a single opening… and I almost lost. Who could've imagined a few drops of blood could've nearly killed me?"

He couldn't believe it. Every part of Han Ming's body was a weapon. Even his blood had been turned into a tool to strike at Lei Chen's eyes and temporarily rob him of sight. He shook his head in disbelief. Just a few drops, and he'd been thrown into mortal danger.

If he hadn't released his spiritual energy in that final second, he'd already be a corpse.

But instead of fear, Lei Chen laughed. It was the laughter of someone completely immersed.

"So this is... the level of Master!"

He clenched his fists tightly and rose to his feet.

"I will become stronger!"

A sharp light gleamed in Lei Chen's eyes. His next trial was only just beginning.

12 hours had passed.

Lei Chen collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. Sweat streamed down his face and body, but within his eyes burned a brilliant light of joy and unwavering determination. He looked toward the display floating before him and smiled.

[Combat Simulation]

[User: Lei Chen]

[Opponent: Stage 1 – Han Ming, Age 10 (Cultivation: None)]

[Select Difficulty]

[Easy: Use current cultivation level (19–0)]

[Normal: Equal to Han Ming's cultivation during that time]

[Hard: Weaker than Han Ming during that time (1–274)]

Even though he had only won once on the highest difficulty, that one victory was enough to prove he could grow stronger. In the hundreds of battles he had fought on the hardest difficulty, Lei Chen had come to realize that anything teeth, nails, hair, saliva, words, even bones could become lethal weapons in his master's hands. There was even one time when he had nearly claimed victory, only for Han Ming to feign death. In the moment Lei Chen dropped his guard, his neck was snapped.

He chuckled softly, clenching his fists with excitement.

"I will grow stronger. Strong enough to reach the height where Master stands."

Just then, his body was automatically ejected from the cabin.

The moment he returned to the outside world, a warm, savory aroma tickled his nose.

Lei Chen turned toward the scent, and what he saw stopped him in his tracks. Han Ming was cooking. Every movement was fluid and elegant, more like a graceful dance than mere preparation of food.

Lei Chen shook his head lightly and chuckled inwardly.

"Even Master's cooking is flawless."

As he was about to approach, Han Ming turned to him and spoke in a calm tone.

"Come. I prepared a meal for you as well."

At those simple words, tears welled up in Lei Chen's eyes without him realizing it. This wasn't just a meal it was warmth he hadn't felt in so long.

Han Ming served him mushroom rice, stewed pork, and a steaming hot soup. Having seen Lei Chen's memories before, Han Ming understood everything his disciple had gone through. Even he couldn't imagine how Lei Chen had endured all of it. If it had been anyone else, they likely would have lost the will to live long ago.

Lei Chen lowered his head and spoke with a trembling voice.

"Thank you, Master…"

Han Ming simply smiled, and the two sat and spoke as they shared their meal in an atmosphere of quiet peace and warmth. A cool breeze passed by gently.

Once they had finished eating, Han Ming stood and raised his hand. With a wave of spiritual energy, he summoned a protective barrier to encompass the mountain peak.

"From now on, I will teach you the signature technique of Pure Light Peak. It is an Emperor-level technique known as 'Fate Distortion.'"

Lei Chen listened intently, his full attention fixed on every word his master spoke.

Han Ming began to explain.

"This technique was developed from the power of the light element. It has the ability to twist the fate of its user. For those burdened with misfortune, it can grant protection and help one escape impending calamity."

Lei Chen furrowed his brow and asked, "Master… do I possess misfortune?"

Han Ming nodded.

"Yes. Your luck is pure black. It means you will constantly be haunted by misfortune. You may encounter disaster at any time… even death."