3: Chapter 3 Grandmaster

Before he could even react to the "what the hell" situation, an unprecedented and terrifying heatwave erupted without warning from his long-withered and shattered Dantian!

Boom!

If Su Wu's original body was a dried-up riverbed of eighteen years, then at this moment, it was as if the heavenly river was pouring in, a flood Peak passing through!

"Ugh... ah..."

Su Wu gritted his teeth tightly, an oppressed low growl escaping his throat.

Pain!

But this pain was accompanied by an extreme sense of exhilaration!

He could clearly feel that the Dantian, which had been shattered for eighteen years, was reorganizing, healing, and expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye, transforming into a golden Qi Sea in an instant!

Next were the Meridians.

The originally withered and blocked Meridians, under the washing of the golden energy, were like dead wood meeting spring, instantly becoming wide and resilient, emitting crisp "peng peng peng" sounds like bowstrings being pulled to their limit.

[Physical Body Remolding beginning...]

The skin on Su Wu's body began to turn red, and foul-smelling black Impurities were expelled from his pores.

His bones were popping, and his muscles were reorganizing.

That feeling, filled with destructive power, made even him—a former Grandmaster—tremble.

One minute.

In just one minute, that violent energy gradually calmed down, turning into a trickling stream that flowed through his entire body.

Su Wu sat shirtless in the darkness. As he opened and closed his eyes, a tangible bolt of lightning seemed to flash, illuminating the dim bedroom.

"This... this really isn't a dream?"

Su Wu raised his hand, looking at his originally rough palm, covered in calluses and scars.

Now, that layer of old skin had shed, replaced by skin as delicate as a baby's yet containing explosive power.

He tried to gently clench his fist.

Crack!

The air in his palm was instantly crushed, letting out a sharp sonic boom!

"Golden Finger... Hahaha, my Golden Finger!"

Su Wu laughed softly. As he laughed, his eyes turned red.

Forty years!

Transmigrated for forty years, crippled for eighteen!

Being ordered around like a dog on the city walls, bowing and scraping for a few thousand bucks to buy medicine for his son.

He thought he would rot in the mud for the rest of his life, but unexpectedly, the heavens finally opened their eyes!

Just then, a translucent panel emitting a faint blue light abruptly appeared before his eyes:

[Host: Su Wu]

[Bound Offspring: Su Yu]

[Offspring Realm: Body Refinement Realm Great Perfection]

[Host Realm: Great Grandmaster Great Perfection]

[Cultivation Technique: "Primal Chaos One Qi Technique" (Perfection / Evolved from Qi-Breaking Formula)]

[Martial Skill: "Wild Bull Fist" (Perfection / Fist Intent birthed), "Leaf-Treading Footwork" (Major Achievement)]

"Great Grandmaster..."

Su Wu looked at the three words on the panel, his breathing quickening.

In this high-martial world, martial Realms were strictly hierarchical:

Body Refinement Realm: Tempering skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, reaching a strength of a thousand catties; it is the cornerstone of martial arts.

Qi and Blood Realm: Generating internal Qi within the body, nourishing the body with Qi, extending Lifespan, and possessing the strength to lift a tripod.

Innate Realm: Opening the bridge between heaven and earth, releasing True Qi externally, the Hundred-Step Divine Fist; one can be called a regional expert.

Grandmaster Realm: Intent interfering with matter, flying through the sky, killing with plucked leaves or flying flowers; a true privileged class!

Su Wu's former Peak was the Middle Stage of the Grandmaster Realm.

And a Great Grandmaster...

That was an existence standing above Grandmasters!

Resisting missiles with the Physical Body, transforming True Qi into a Protective Aura; one person could guard a small base city!

In the entire Canglan Base City, the strongest person on the surface was the City Lord, who was said to have only just touched the threshold of the Great Grandmaster Realm.

But now, Su Wu, just by sitting still on his bed, was one of the strongest combatants in this city!

"Moreover, this System's judgment is too overbearing."

Su Wu calmed his excitement, his eyes flashing with brilliance. "My son is in the Body Refinement Realm, and I directly jumped four levels to become a Great Grandmaster. Then if my son breaks through to the Qi and Blood Realm..."

Body Refinement Realm (1) + 4 = Great Grandmaster (5).

Qi and Blood Realm (2) + 4 = Martial King Realm (6)!

The Martial King Realm—that's a martial powerhouse who can walk on air!

"As long as my son puts in just a little bit of effort, I'll ascend on the spot?"

Su Wu swallowed hard, suddenly feeling that the phrase "hoping one's son becomes a dragon" had become literal at this moment.

This wasn't raising a son; this was clearly raising a "super experience pack"!

Just as Su Wu was immersed in the joy of gaining power, a suppressed low shout suddenly came from the room next door.

"Heh! Ha!"

It was the sound of fists hitting a low-quality sandbag.

Su Wu's expression shifted.

Now that he was a Great Grandmaster, his five senses were sharp to the extreme.

Even through the wall, he could clearly "see" the scene next door—

In the cramped room, Su Yu was wearing only a pair of shorts, his body drenched in sweat.

His bruised face was full of stubbornness as he tirelessly practiced the most basic "Wild Bull Fist" over and over again.

Every punch aggravated his injuries, making him grimace in pain, but he did not stop.

The boy's eyes were filled with resentment.

"Wang Tai... I'm not backing down!"

"For Dad, for the registration fee, I must become strong! I don't believe I can't beat you!"

"As long as I break through to the Qi and Blood Realm, I can join Underground Deathmatches and earn money..."

Su Yu muttered to himself through gritted teeth while throwing punches.

In the next room, Su Wu's heart jolted upon hearing these words.

So this silly boy wasn't sleeping in the middle of the night because he was desperately trying to find a way to make money, even considering going to a place like Underground Deathmatches where survival was slim!

"Silly child..."

The wild joy in Su Wu's eyes gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented tenderness and...

A bone-chilling killing intent.

He slowly rose from the bed.

Crack!

The low-quality floor tiles beneath his feet instantly crumbled into powder, unable to withstand the sliver of Great Grandmaster pressure he unintentionally leaked.

Su Wu looked down at the mess, took a deep breath, and instantly withdrew his aura.

The world-dominating Great Grandmaster disappeared, replaced by what appeared to be that same ordinary middle-aged man.

But only Su Wu himself knew that everything had changed.

He walked to the window and gently pushed it open.

The night breeze was slightly cool, ruffling his somewhat messy hair.

His gaze pierced through the layers of night, looking toward the brightly lit wealthy district in the city center.

"Wang Tai, is it? Vice Commander of the City Defense Force, is it?"

Su Wu fished a half-stub of a low-quality cigarette from his pocket and gave it a light rub with his fingers.

Chii.

Without a lighter, a wisp of golden Protective Aura emerged from his fingertip, instantly lighting the cigarette butt.

He took a deep drag. Amidst the swirling smoke, his originally cloudy eyes were now as deep as the starry sky and as terrifying as an abyss.

"In the past, I was submissive because I truly only had one worthless life, and I had to keep it to raise my son."

Su Wu exhaled a smoke ring, watching it dissipate in the wind, a chilling curve hooking the corner of his mouth.

"Since someone wants to break my son's legs, then I will crush his bones first."

Su Wu casually flicked the cigarette butt out the window.

That spark traced a red line through the air. The moment it landed, a terrifying burst of energy erupted, silently melting a bottomless hole through the hard concrete ground.

"Time to sleep."

Su Wu turned and lay back on the bed, his heart more peaceful than ever before.

"When I wake up tomorrow morning, I'll go settle that bullshit Vice Commander trouble for my son... just in passing."

This night, Canglan Base City remained a scene of songs and dances, with no one paying attention to the corner of the Slums.