Li Ming stepped out of the Yian District HR Alliance branch, the warm afternoon sun splashing across his face. As he glanced at the message on his phone, a rare, brilliant smile stretched across his lips.
One million.
That was the balance in his account.
If he went to the bank, without the pre-martial artist identity, he could at most mortgage for five hundred thousand, even if the property itself was worth around one million. But here, even just nearing that threshold, the HR Alliance had doubled his credit.
This… was the privilege of the strong.
He withdrew it in cash.
The bundle was hefty—twenty-three kilograms, sealed tight in a silver-gray case. The system had one glaring quirk: only cash could be recharged.
"Tch, what an outdated requirement," he muttered, hefting the box. "But fine, let's go home first."
Carrying the briefcase, Li Ming walked towards the convenience store, waving and greeting neighbors he met along the way as usual. The District HR Alliance branch wasn't far from the convenience store—just over ten li—and even without rushing, it only took him twenty minutes to arrive.
The power of a martial artist wasn't just in numbers—it was in every step he took.
He reached the store.
As he placed the briefcase down to open the door, it creaked slightly ahead of him. The moment he looked up, two figures stepped out.
"Brother!"
It was his sisters—Li Xue and Li Yu.
"What's wrong? You didn't go to class today?"
Li Ming raised an eyebrow, asking curiously.
"Brother, we both took leave; there's something we want to talk to you about."
Seeing the briefcase in Li Ming's hand, Li Xue and Li Yu seemed to have thought of something, and Their expressions turned a little… complicated.
Li Ming blinked, slightly startled, then chuckled. "Just say whatever it is directly; are you still worried your brother won't listen to you?"
"You two are basically my little ancestors."
"Stop joking!"
Both sisters snapped in unison, scolding him like angry hens.
Then, perhaps feeling their attitude was too serious, they softened their voices.
However, Li Xue smoothly took the briefcase from Li Yue's hand.
"So heavy…"
The weight in her hands made her frown deepen.
"Brother…" she said softly, "We know you're trying to become a martial artist for our sake—but… talent isn't something you can force."
"We're just… ordinary people. Maybe we weren't meant to walk that path."
"Our family of three has bad luck; none of us have the talent to become martial artists. There's nothing we can do about it. Can't you just steadily run the store Mom and Dad left behind, and in a couple of years, bring a sister-in-law home?"
Li Xue, holding the briefcase, was tearful.
"Don't cry; let's talk things over properly."
Li Ming sighed, walked to the counter, and pulled a slim red booklet from his inner pocket.
With a flick of his wrist, he laid it on the table.
Four golden characters shimmered on the cover:
Limit Martial Hall.
"You really think I've been slacking off?" he said gently, a smile tugging at his lips. "Where's the trust?"
Li Xue's voice wavered, emotion rising. "Even if you've improved, what can a junior student do? You're already twenty-one! Don't you know the older you get, the harder it is to improve?"
"From sixteen to thirty is the golden period. You've already used up two-thirds of it. And it took you twenty-one years just to reach junior level! In nine more years, how far can you really go?"
But Li Ming didn't flinch.
He opened the red booklet and held it up for her to see.
Right below his photo, in bold black ink:
Quasi-Warrior
Beneath that: Official Seal: Limit Martial Hall
And at the bottom: Approver – Jiang Nian
The words stunned them into silence.
"Yeah," he said calmly, "Your brother is already a Quasi-Warrior. Pre-martial artist level. The official assessment is the day after tomorrow."
Li Ming looked at his two stunned sisters, grinned, and said with some self-satisfaction: "Today, I felt my strength had improved a lot, so I thought of going to the Martial Hall to test it. Unexpectedly, after this test, Supervisor Jiang of the Martial Hall said I could participate in the pre-martial artist assessment, and I'm sure to pass!"
"After passing the pre-martial artist assessment, I can apply for the martial artist combat assessment. "After that, I can attempt the combat assessment. With how things are going, give it a month or two, and your brother will be a full-fledged martial artist."
"Really…?" Li Xue's voice trembled.
Tears welled up again in her eyes—but this time, they were warm and radiant.
Li Yu, usually more reserved, was already sobbing like a kitten beside her.
After all… this wasn't just any accomplishment.
This was becoming a martial artist.
The top of the food chain among humans. Power, status, resources—all doors opened to martial artists.
"How could I fake that?" Li Ming chuckled. "Jiang Nian even invited me to join Limit Martial Hall permanently after the assessment. They'll give me a villa in Mingyue Community… and a one-million starting fund."
Li Ming explained with a smile, though he didn't know that one million in startup funds was the lowest tier.
He didn't yet know that with his level, he actually deserved more—up to five million.
But that didn't matter.
To Li Xue and Li Yu, it was a miracle.
Two hours later.
Li Ming finally slumped into his room, exhausted from coaxing and reassuring the twins.
"Dealing with emotional girls…" he muttered, "is way more tiring than a beast tide."
He sat down heavily.
[Recharge complete. Current balance: 1,000,000]
[Do you want to start a Simulated Life?]
"Yes."
[At twenty-one, you became a pre-martial artist. After passing the martial artist combat assessment, you were recruited by the two major Powerhouses, the military, and the HR Alliance. At your sister's suggestion, you joined the military, becoming a member of the special forces, with the rank of Second Lieutenant;]
[With military resources, you obtained and learned the Guiding Technique, activating your Genetic Energy[1]. Overnight, your fist strength increased by two hundred kilograms, making you a true martial artist;]
[At twenty-two, you diligently cultivated using the Guiding Technique, but alas, your aptitude was too poor, and you gained little;]
[At twenty-three, you diligently cultivated using the Guiding Technique, but due to your poor aptitude, your gains were minimal;]
[Due to slow progress over a long period, you were abandoned by the higher-ups and demoted to serve as a platoon leader in a Wilderness Area base, with your military rank promoted to First Lieutenant;]
[At twenty-four, during a small beast tide, you were torn apart by a Beast Soldier Level monster;]
[Simulation ended. You can choose to receive one of the following three items as a reward;]
[One, the martial arts realm]
[Two, the martial arts insights ]
[Three, half a day's memory before death]
After reading the text, Li Yue was speechless…
He recalled Jiang Nian's explanation clearly:
Average: +300 kg
Good: +600 kg
Elite: +1000 kg
Luo Feng, the protagonist? +2000 kg
And he… got only 200?
That wasn't just below average.
That was tragic.
Still—
"One."
The familiar sensation spread through his muscles, awakening new strength.
Li Yue leaned back and exhaled.
"Luo Feng has talent."
"I have simulations."
Once wasn't enough?
Then he'd simulate a hundred times.
Because no matter how many times he fell—
He would get back up.
[1] Genetic Energy (原力yuán lì, lit. Original Power/Force, also referred to as 原能yuán néng, lit. Original Energy, 基因原力jīyīn yuán lì, lit. Genetic Original Power/Force, or 基因原能jīyīn yuán néng, lit. Genetic Original Energy) is the original energy produced by the genes of a cultivator. When a cultivator's genes evolve to a certain level, they absorb Universe Energy, which becomes the cultivator's power, at which point it is called Genetic Energy.