Chapter 153: Years of Hard Training Can

Have you heard the story of Beidou Xing?

What's that…?

A small head peeked out from the wooden crate behind her, eyes gleaming; she had waited only a few minutes before the noises outside fell completely silent. Though she hadn't seen the bloody scenes, she was still a demon—she understood perfectly.

"On a certain day in 1990, a down-on-his-luck martial artist came to the home of a wealthy local merchant and asked to spend the night…"

Though he was spinning a made-up tale to soothe the country-bred little demon, Jia Ji's expression was like a deflated balloon—utterly listless.

He had just been ready to face Hu Yu Lu Di in a true man-to-man brawl, a clash of masculinity, of strength, weakness, and will—enjoying a fight unburdened, unhesitant, truly free…

But he'd slaughtered a pile of riffraff—the real target wasn't even there.

He'd planned it all: rescue Xue Cai, fight Hu Yu Lu Di, agree to meet again at the Dark Martial Arts Tournament, then replace that old woman who was already eligible for retirement as the last member of Youko's team, fight his way up, crush every demon and monster, and finally face the ultimate climax…

This was the essential arena showdown for a classic revenge arc!

If a martial artist doesn't fight in tournaments, who's going to know his fists are bigger and harder than others'?

I want to fight in a tournament! I want to fight in a tournament!

No tournament? I'll throw a fit. pg

"Oh come on, Wan Hua Jing really screwed me over."

Too excited, he'd forgotten this martial arts tournament only happens once every fifty years—and the next one was still five years away. And his planned teammates? Either roaming the Demon Realm as delinquents or still in elementary school.

"Well then, let's take it one step at a time."

After a moment of silent thought, Jia Ji seemed to make up his mind quickly—he'd leave this damned place he'd slaughtered clean.

He slung the wooden crate onto his back, crouched slightly, muscles tensing, his legs sinking deeper into the ground as power built—then he exploded upward, a brief sonic boom ripping through the air.

His joints snapped straight, unleashing a colossal force from his body; his extraordinary leap propelled him dozens of meters through the air like a giant flea.

Not all demons can fly, but since they possess yaoqi, they can at least drift slightly in the air—though Xue Cai floating on her own wouldn't match Jia Ji's explosive jump.

A qi shield formed around him, air violently frictioning against his body; the immense drag was torn apart, yet the girl inside his crate felt not the slightest discomfort.

"Your brother… is called Fei Ying."

Behind him, the ground where he'd launched showed deep radial cracks; Jia Ji spoke without looking back, spoiling the plot: "A short black-haired kid your height and eye color—he became an A-class demon at age five and now roams the northeast of the thirteenth layer of the Demon Realm as a thief, already earned a fearsome reputation."

A certain black-haired shorty currently skulking in the Demon Realm involuntarily shivered—if he'd been there and heard Jia Ji, his face would've turned white with rage, and he'd have slashed without a word.

Xue Cai's body trembled; though she had many questions, she held her tongue and listened in silence.

Yes—the brother Xue Cai sought was none other than Fei Ying, the legendary figure who truly possessed the "Evil King's True Eye," whose arm truly sealed the technique "Flame-Slaying Black Dragon Wave," the idealized self of Xiao Niao You Liu Hua—the ancestral-level "Chūnibyō" champion—Fei Ying!

As he leapt, watching the rolling hills and vegetation below, Jia Ji continued: "Fei Ying originally planned revenge against the ice women who abandoned him, but upon learning of your disappearance, he abandoned vengeance, left the Ice River Kingdom, and set out to find you."

By a cruel twist of fate, the siblings missed each other.

This world is divided into three parts: besides the human realm, there are the Spirit Realm and the Demon Realm. Humans who die enter the Spirit Realm; human and spirit-being combat power is measured by "spiritual power and spiritual energy," while demons' combat power is measured by "yaoqi and yaoli."

The weakest is the human realm, ruled by humans; the most chaotic and powerful is the Demon Realm, where demons dwell; between them lies the Spirit Realm, which governs spirits.

Great demons of the Demon Realm possess terrifying power—any single one could destroy a human nation. Thus, between the human realm and the Demon Realm lies a barrier erected by the Spirit Realm, blocking all demons with strong yaoli; only demons with C-class yaoli or lower can pass through.

After a series of events, under the hand of fate, Fei Ying endured countless hardships to reach the human realm from the Demon Realm.

"Then…"

Jia Ji knew what Xue Cai wanted to ask, but he shook his head.

"Though regrettable, it's impossible to cross the Spirit Realm's barrier and return to the Demon Realm right now. He can only come over after severing his own connection, drastically lowering his cultivation base."

To cross over, one must first carve a tunnel to the Demon Realm—not to mention whether it's even possible, even if done, finding Fei Ying in the boundless Demon Realm is unlikely, and you might just stumble upon an S-class great demon en route.

Hearing this, Xue Cai's expression dimmed. Though she'd finally learned the truth about her long-sought brother and escaped the human-imposed prison of seals, two joyful events merged—why did it turn out like this…?

"Don't worry, don't worry—if we're here this early, why not train? Xue Cai, you don't want to stand helplessly by when Fei Ying's in trouble, do you?"

Though Xue Cai is an ice demon, perhaps all her aggression was absorbed by her twin brother—she's not skilled in combat. Though her yaoli is high in the human realm, under human malice, she can barely protect herself.

"…Yes."

Though Jia Ji's phrasing was odd, she clearly understood: if Jia Ji hadn't come to rescue her, what followed would've been disastrous.

She hated fighting—but hated being a burden even more.

"Good. Now our goals are aligned."

Jia Ji nodded and stopped in place.

Years of hard training can't match three months in the rainforest.

Why is this world so perfectly suited to Jia Ji? Martial arts!

Extremely rare among countless worlds, this world, like Beidou Xing, has people who especially favor using various fist techniques in combat.

The Wind Rider's 【Demon Cyclone Fist】, Fei Ying's 【Evil King Flame-Slaying Fist】… even demons combine their abilities and traits to use the most suitable fist technique.

Beyond these demon fists, the most unique and outstanding among humans is—【Spiritual Wave Fist】!!

The master of Spiritual Wave Fist they're headed to find is Huan Hai!

(End of Chapter)