That scene was still vivid before Li Jun's eyes.
Shining energy.
The trembling earth.
And a stone shattered into pieces with a single strike.
The power wrapped around Zhao Longwie's hand…
That sight had lodged itself in Li Jun's heart like an open wound.
Li Jun couldn't sleep all night.
Every time he closed his eyes, that same shining energy appeared before him.
Only one thought echoed in his mind:
If only… if only I could do that too.
When the slight morning light slipped into the room after striking the mud-plastered walls,"Li Jun" slowly opened his eyes.
His body was very exhausted, but his heart was restless.
Today was a basic traning day in the village..
That day... the one he had always tried to avoid.
The village training ground was nothing magnificent.
An open field surrounded by broken wooden poles.
The ground was hard, packed with dirt, stones scattered everywhere.
Yet this was the very place where
dreams were born...
and where some people's dreams were buried.
When Li Jun arrived, many boys had already gathered.
Some younger than him, some older—
all holding wooden swords, their bodies already coated in sweat.
They were practicing breathing techniques.
Deep inhale.
Slow exhale.
Strengthening the body.
Li Jun stood to one side.
Silent.
Unnoticeable.
As if he himself wished no one would see him.
"Hey, look! He's here too!"
A voice rose.
A few boys turned around—
and then laughed.
"Isn't he the one with no power in his body?"
"Yes absolutely,that is LiJun"
"Think he'll fall again today?"
Li Jun did not look at them.
He simply fixed his on the ground.
He had grown used to hearing such things.
But habit...
doesn't lower the pain.
The village instructor, a old martial practitioner, stepped into the center of the field.
He say tahat"Today we'll only focus on the basics,"
His voice was firm.
"Breathing, balance, and fundamental movements. Anyone who fails even at this will not move forward."
Seriousness spread across the boys' faces.
The practice began.
One by one, the boys breathed, moved their hands, tried to steady their footing.
Around some of their bodies, a faint trace of Qi could be felt—
very weak, but present.
Then it was Li Jun's turn.
He stepped forward.
Each step felt heavy, as if the earth itself were pulling him forword back.
He took a deep breath—
but his body was sluggish.
His hands rose late, his steps faltered.
"Hey! Who moves like that?"
"He looks like a wooden puppet!"
Laughter rang out again.
Li Jun's ears burned.
His breathing grew heavy.
No… I have to keep trying…
After some time, the instructor raised his hand.
"Now comes the sparring test."
The moment Li Jun heard those words, his heart sank.
Sparring…
a direct, face to face fight.
This was the stage where
His weakness was laid bare before everyone.
Pairs were formed.
And when the names were called,
Li Jun's name came last.
"Li Jun... step forward."
A boy stood opposite him—
younger, yet sturdier, confidence shining in his eyes.
He smiled.
"This won't take long."
Li Jun gripped the wooden sword.
His hands trembled.
"Begin!"
The boy attacked immediately.
Fast.
Direct.
Li Jun tried to defend—
but his foot slipped backwards.
Thud!
The wooden sword struck his shoulder.
A wave of pain shot through his entire body.
The crowd reacted loudly.
"Oh!"
"See that?"
Li Jun tried to steady himself,
took his stance again—
but the second strike had already arrived.
Straight to the stomach.
His breath was knocked out.
His body bent forward.
And then—
A final shove.
Li Jun crashed to the ground.
Dust flew.
Sweat and dirt clung to his face.
Silence...
and then—
Laughter.
"That was hilarious!"
"Truly the weakest!"
Li Jun tried to get up,
but his body refused to respond.
The instructor stepped forward.
There was no surprise in his eyes—
only disappointment.
"Li Jun..."
he sighed.
"You have neither physical strength nor any sense of power. With this attitude, you will never become a martial artist."
Those words...
were sharper than any blade.
Li Jun remained seated on the ground.
The sound of laughter echoed in his ears.
His shoulders hurt.
His breathing was irregular.
But the real pain...
was in his heart.
Am I really… this weak?
He looked at his hands.
Covered in dirt.
Trembling.
Can I really become nothing?
For a moment,
he wanted to give up everything.
But then...
He remembered Ahsan's strike.
The shining energy.
The trembling earth.
And inside him...
something ignited.
Anger.
Humiliation.
Stubborn resolve.
No…
He gritted his teeth.
I can't end like this.
Li Jun slowly stood up.
He brushed the dirt from his clothes.
His eys were downcast,
but a fire burned in his heart.
People were still laughing on him.
But this time...
those voices didn't reach inside him.
He repeated a single sentence in his mind:
"This humiliation will not be my last."
"I will not remain weak... even if I have to sacrifice everything."
And at that very moment—
the story truly began.