Chapter 23: A Gift?

In the room, Zhang Ji ate his roasted duck rice, but he didn't seem particularly happy.

This was not a pre-prepared meal; it was freshly roasted duck, with succulent meat and tender skin, cooked to perfection. Yet, Zhang Ji still missed that greasy, over-salted, pre-packaged roasted duck rice from Shanli Island.

After finishing his meal, Zhang Ji rose without hesitation to begin his training. He did not celebrate his recent victory, nor did he spend his time socializing or sightseeing within the Five Forms Sect, much less use his new status to seek entertainment. He hadn't even bought a single video game console.

Before, Zhang Ji had thought that leaving Shanli Island would bring him relief, but the truth was that the further he got from that place, the more insecure he felt. Only by continuously strengthening his power could he find a moment of peace.

Lost? No, he didn't think he was lost. On the contrary, he was becoming increasingly clear about what he needed.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhang Ji turned up the intensity on his training machine. As pain flared across his body, he dropped into a horse stance, his breathing steadily leveling out.

...

"The batch of medicinal herbs you requested will cost five hundred points; I will secure them for you. The same goes for the pills. However, I recommend you swap the Qi-Nourishing Pills for Qi-Benefiting Pills. The former is for enhancing sensory perception to help generate primordial energy, but the latter is what you actually need—it will make it easier for you to refine that energy," Li Long advised after reviewing the list Zhang Ji handed him.

"I am in your debt," Zhang Ji said, cupping his hands in a salute.

Although Li Long was younger than his own psychological age, at the very least, he was a decent mentor.

Li Long waved his hand slightly and said, "Your progress in iron-body training is rapid, but do not neglect the sect’s own martial arts. The Five Forms Sect's techniques are no less formidable than those of the Vajra Sect."

"I understand," Zhang Ji nodded.

After Zhang Ji left, Li Long immediately gave orders to prepare the requested items. While most of what Zhang Ji wanted was within the permitted limits, some items were currently out of stock and had to be sourced from the outside world. Zhang Ji's points weren't enough to cover everything, but Li Long was not an inflexible man; besides, as a true disciple, Zhang Ji was entitled to these benefits.

Li Long acted quickly; by the very next day, Zhang Ji had everything he needed.

After swallowing a Jingyuan Pill and a Qi-Benefiting Pill, Zhang Ji began his training. From that point on, time began to slip away rapidly.

...

Deep in the night, Zhang Ji struck a custom-made metal target with a punch. With a resonant clang, a clear fist mark was left behind.

Thirteen days had passed since the monthly competition.

At this moment, he had condensed six "Iron Shirt" crystals and one essence of "Iron Shirt"—essentially sixty percent of the "Iron Shirt" technique's full potential.

In his peak state, the metallic quality of his body was becoming increasingly apparent. However, Zhang Ji did not suffer from the stiffness of a metal statue; his body remained agile, even more so than before, just significantly harder.

Zhang Ji didn't have a precise gauge for his own strength, but he felt that if he were to be pelted by the Gatling gun of the Fat Bear from back on Shanli Island, it shouldn't be able to break his defense or injure him anymore.

Returning to his room, Zhang Ji sat down to eat while watching the news. The broadcasts covered domestic and international affairs, including situations on the battlefield where thousands were killed or wounded at the mere command of the elite.

Conflict had always existed and never ceased. In the torrent of the secular world, without strength, one could only ever be an insignificant statistic in the background.

Watching soldiers in power armor easily lift thousand-pound loads amidst the ruins, Zhang Ji’s eyes narrowed. These "tin cans" were not the junk from Shanli Island; they were real, high-end military equipment. A common person wearing one, bolstered by an intelligent auxiliary module, could possess combat power rivaling that of a master. In terms of functionality and heavy weaponry, even masters were far inferior. These suits could even be mass-produced with relative ease, and could fight autonomously without a pilot.

This was the primary reason for the decline of martial arts in this era. Decades of hard work were no match for a piece of auxiliary exoskeleton bought for a few hundred thousand. Since people were no longer needed for combat, the status of martial artists was in a freefall.

Consequently, these warriors, who relied on individual valor, had become a source of social instability. Almost every few days, Zhang Ji saw news of martial artists breaking the law. It was clear that the East Pole Nation was deliberately alienating and excluding this particular group.

Zhang Ji remained noncommittal. With different stances and different goals, there was no point in discussing right or wrong.

After reports on war and the economy, a bird's-eye view of Shanli Island suddenly appeared on the screen.

"Recently, regarding the Shanli Island incident, the councilors have reached a consensus..."

The news was brief and did not dwell on the details. The gist was that Shanli Island was the result of an immature and uncivilized approach under past limitations, and they were now restoring governance to the island. As for the criminals, they would be properly relocated and would not be allowed to leave the area in the short term, ensuring they did not endanger the public. Only those with a clean record for over five years and a respectable family background would be granted true citizenship.

Of course, that was the official narrative, but in practice, it couldn't stop the truly powerful from coming and going. For instance, Zhang Ji had been brought out directly by the Five Forms Sect.

Zhang Ji didn't think too much about it for the time being. There wasn't even an internet connection there, so trying to chat with Old Man Kui and the others would be meaningless. Besides, he hadn't even established a firm footing himself; trying to pull people out now was premature. Borrowing influence to save them would be hollow, and it was better to let them stay on the island where, for now, Old Man Kui was still the final authority.

...

On Shanli Island, Old Man Kui sat on the sofa, facing a representative sent by the authorities.

"So many people have to die?" Old Man Kui frowned.

"You should know that those matters must not be exposed or appear in the public eye. We are just cleaning up the trash; not many people will die," the person opposite him replied.

Old Man Kui fell into deep thought. Shanli Island had been rife with dark dealings—it had been created because of them. Addictive substances, human trafficking, the grooming of "Lotus Maidens," and even human experimentation and organ harvesting. The former were manageable, but the latter were truly anti-human. Behind them were councilors and high-ranking aristocrats, and more than just one. If exposed, it would not bode well for the current East Pole Nation.

Most importantly, the councilors involved could easily be manipulated by their political rivals. Therefore, the best solution was to destroy the relevant factory zones. They wanted to use Old Man Kui’s hand to manufacture a disaster, framed as an industrial leak, to wipe out the area entirely.

Old Man Kui was a man who had killed countless people, but to treat so many lives as nothing was something he truly couldn't bring himself to do.

"You guys are really something," Old Man Kui sighed.

"So, do you accept?" the man asked.

"Sorry, I refuse," Old Man Kui said.

"You know the consequences of refusing," the man said.

"I am well aware," Old Man Kui smiled.

"It is a pity; you have made the wrong decision." The man's face remained unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Shanli Island does not welcome you. Please leave," Old Man Kui said. He had his own backing: the Five Forms Sect. And the Five Forms Sect’s stance was aligned with the newly appointed, ambitious Councilor Liu Hetong. Old Man Kui didn't understand political infighting, but he knew that those with wavering stances were usually the ones who died the most miserable deaths.

...

At the Five Forms Sect, in the main hall, the Sect Leader, Li Long, several elders, and the three current true disciples were all present. Zhang Ji, as a true disciple, was also there, though he belonged to the next generation.

The Five Forms Sect had four true disciples: the eldest, Li Long; the second, Zhou Hao; the third, Gu Shuangshuang; and the fourth, Shen Han. Li Long was now the "Dao Seed," destined to inherit the lineage. Zhou Hao was busy with sect affairs abroad. Gu Shuangshuang had apparently encountered some trouble and spent most of her time in seclusion. Shen Han was still young and mainly handled sect duties, occasionally teaching younger disciples.

This was Zhang Ji's first time seeing Gu Shuangshuang. She appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen, with beautiful features, dressed in a light green martial arts outfit, her long hair tied into a bun. Yet, there was an irrepressible trace of exhaustion in her eyes.

The sect was gathered today because the Xianshan Sect was visiting, led personally by their Sect Leader, Xiong Mingxu. In the center of the hall stood an object covered by a red cloth, about a zhang high—a gift from the Xianshan Sect.

The rivalry between the Five Forms Sect and the Xianshan Sect was an open secret. No one in the Five Forms Sect believed the gift was well-intentioned.

"Sect Leader Xiong, your visit is a surprise. May I ask what brings you here?" Yan Ruifeng asked after a round of disingenuous pleasantries.

"I heard that my virtuous nephew Li Long has been released from prison. Thinking of the friendship between our two sects, I prepared a congratulatory gift to celebrate his escape from the trap!" Xiong Mingxu said, gesturing to a disciple. "Yi'er."

Behind him, a woman in red, about twenty years old, stepped forward and pulled away the red cloth, revealing a pine tree pruned into the shape of a dragon. At first glance, it truly seemed to soar, but Zhang Ji didn't believe the Xianshan Sect was that kind. Looking closer, he saw that the base of the tree was crawling with insects, and the entire trunk showed signs of being gnawed. This wasn't "a dragon rising"; it was a thinly veiled insult, calling the Five Forms Sect a nest of parasites and Li Long a rotting dragon, doomed to die soon.

Clearly, Zhang Ji wasn't the only one who noticed. Yan Ruifeng’s face turned livid, and Gu Shuangshuang looked ready to kill; if Shen Han hadn't grabbed her shoulder, she likely would have charged out.

"Li Long thanks Sect Leader Xiong for the gift. Such a precious present must have taken much effort. On your hundredth birthday, Sect Leader Xiong, I will surely return the favor with a gift of equal value," Li Long said calmly.

Had this been before, he would have impulsively lashed out. But having lived through the Shanli Island incident, he had matured greatly. He now understood the importance of concealing one's edge. With his wings not yet fully feathered, he would not easily give in to wrath again.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiong Mingxu’s eyes. However, he hadn't come just to disgust Li Long; his primary goal was to probe their strength.

"I heard that my nephew Li Long recently accepted a new true disciple. Coincidentally, I have also taken on a new student. Why don't we have them spar to exchange pointers and improve our martial arts?" Xiong Mingxu suggested with a smile.

"That is inappropriate. Fists and feet have no eyes; it would be a pity to damage the harmony between our sects," Yan Ruifeng refused immediately. If it were anyone else, he might believe it was a genuine exchange, but the Xianshan Sect was clearly looking for trouble. He thought highly of Zhang Ji; if the opponent played dirty and caused Zhang Ji to suffer the same hidden damage as his disciple Gu Shuangshuang, it would be a massive loss.

"Hmph! I suppose the Five Forms Sect has no talent left if any stray cat or dog can become a true disciple!" the female disciple behind Xiong Mingxu suddenly sneered.

"Yi'er! Do not be rude!" Xiong Mingxu scolded, feigning anger.

"The disciple was wrong," the girl lowered her head.

It was a low-level provocation, but the members of the Five Forms Sect looked grim. Li Long remained calm. He looked at Zhang Ji, leaving the decision to him. Whether he fought or not did not matter.

Zhang Ji had received many benefits from the Five Forms Sect, and he had no intention of backing down.

"This disciple is untalented, but I am willing to trade pointers with the Xianshan Sect's student," Zhang Ji stepped forward and said calmly.