[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-global-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha":3,"chapter-global-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha-global-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha-chapter-4":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Global High Martial Arts, Starting Off with a Sharingan",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2318732,4534,"Chapter 4: Art Is Explosion!","global-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha-chapter-4",4,"\u003Cp>This chapter may contain many flashbacks, mainly to explain the worldview and the backgrounds of the Four Saints, and why the opening mentioned six SSS-rank talents but only four Saints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia rolled sideways to create distance from Hua Pi, then pulled two ration pills from his system space and shoved them into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t land a hit? But it seems Itachi can’t maintain this state indefinitely either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Pi sneered, staring at Jiang Xia’s pale face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, the skin-stealer peeled off the human skin torn by Jiang Xia, looked at the flying thunder god mark on his back, and suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Itachi planted that trick the moment Itachi slapped me, didn’t Itachi? Brilliant move!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crumpled the skin into a ball, lamenting, “I actually really liked this human skin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if that’s all Itachi’ve got, Itachi won’t even break through my third-rank defenses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia’s expression turned grim as he frantically searched for a way to break the deadlock—when suddenly, the skin-stealer lunged at him with both claws outstretched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia could barely dodge the attacks using his divine power to phase, but his spiritual energy was rapidly depleting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, he pulled the last ration pill from his system inventory and swallowed it, restoring his spiritual energy to its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once restored, Jiang Xia stopped merely dodging and began hurling kunai in all directions around the skin-stealer; within moments, the ground around it was littered with kunai marked with flying thunder seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skin-stealer glanced at the kunai embedded in the ground and sneered, “Even if Itachi can dodge my attacks endlessly, what good is it? How’s a mere awakening-stage brat like Itachi supposed to pierce my third-rank flesh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not necessarily,” Jiang Xia smirked with a strange, sly grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, Jiang Xia’s figure flickered between all the marked locations, returning to his original spot just as his spiritual energy neared exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the explosive tags plastered all around the skin-stealer, Jiang Xia finally burst into laughter: “Hahahaha! Art is explosion!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The skin-stealer’s pupils shrank sharply—he tried to flee, but the explosive tags detonated instantly. With a thunderous blast, the skin-stealer was reduced to ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Ding~】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Congratulations, host! Task completed.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the system’s notification, Jiang Xia collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, hurried footsteps approached—the night watch team arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stared at Jiang Xia, who had already reverted to his normal form, and the massive crater before them, falling into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bro, what the hell did Itachi do here? How’d Itachi end up making such a huge hole in the ground?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slightly exaggerated voice rang out. Jiang Xia looked up to see a young man in uniform, curiously sizing him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Jiang Xia’s wary gaze, the young night watchman introduced himself: “I’m Shen Zhou, captain of the second squad of the Linjiang Night Watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman with a ponytail beside him added: “Guan Xiaoxiao, member of the second squad of the Linjiang Night Watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two men followed: “Luo Zheng (Lin Xuan), second squad of the Linjiang Night Watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Zhou looked at Jiang Xia gently and said, “We’ve introduced ourselves. Now it’s your turn—what happened here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia stood up and fabricated a cover: “I’m Jiang Dong, a student at Linjiang No.1 High School. I passed by and saw the wanted poster for the beast ‘Skin-Stealer,’ so I killed it—and then Itachi showed up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Skin-Stealer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s a third-rank beast! How could a high schooler just awakened possibly defeat it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia shrugged helplessly. “I killed it. If Itachi don’t believe me, I can’t force Itachi to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Zhou quickly intervened: “We’re not doubting Itachi, but it’s just… a bit unbelievable that someone at the awakening stage could kill a third-rank beast, especially without any surveillance footage to back it up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can vouch for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the shadows of the trees, a middle-aged man stepped forward, hands in his pockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia’s pupils contracted in shock: “When did he get there? Why didn’t I sense him at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Zhou, surprised, exclaimed: “Hey, Lao Su? What are Itachi doing here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man called Lao Su pointed at Jiang Xia: “I’m here to protect him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, he’s not Jiang Dong—he’s Jiang Xia, the student from Linjiang No.1 High School who awakened an SSS-rank ability.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added: “And I’ve told Itachi countless times—call me Director Su during work hours. Don’t keep calling me ‘Lao Su.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Zhou ignored his complaint and turned to Jiang Xia, puzzled: “Itachi’re not Jiang Dong? But Itachi don’t even look like the photo we have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing his disguise was useless, Jiang Xia simply dispelled his transformation technique, revealing his true appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Zhou suddenly understood. “Ah, so Itachi can alter your appearance? No wonder we didn’t spot the third squad—they were fooled too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man shook his head helplessly, then extended his hand to Jiang Xia: “Let me properly introduce myself—I’m Su Changfeng, Director of the Linjiang Night Watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I oversee all night watch operations in the Linjiang region—including the ones stationed outside your building.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then continued: “I happened to be downstairs at the time and sensed your energy was unusual, so I followed Itachi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I held back to observe your combat strength—and now I see, it’s truly extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia reached out and shook his hand. “Can I get the bounty for killing the Skin-Stealer right away?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Changfeng chuckled at his bluntness: “I’m heading back to the Night Watch headquarters right now—come with me and collect it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed Jiang Xia’s arm and led him away, leaving the second squad to clean up the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Linjiang Night Watch headquarters, Director Su walked while explaining to Jiang Xia:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each city typically has three combat squads handling beast outbreaks and Cult of the Dark God disturbances; those with weaker combat potential handle logistics and support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the director’s office, Su Changfeng sat down facing Jiang Xia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Su Changfeng spoke first: “Do Itachi know who the current commander-in-chief of the human Night Watch is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia nodded. “Yes—the half-sage Lu Wujiu, hailed as the strongest beneath the Five Saints.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Changfeng nodded, then asked: “And who was the first commander-in-chief?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xia thought for a moment before replying: “The half-sage who died twenty years ago during the Shanhai Uprising, fighting to the death against a catastrophic beast to protect a city’s civilians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Changfeng’s expression grew distant as he spoke slowly: “A hundred years ago, a mysterious mist suddenly descended, engulfing most of the world. Our Huaxia became humanity’s final line of defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just as the mist was about to spread into Huaxia, people across our land began awakening supernatural abilities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to the sacrificial efforts of the first generation of awakened warriors, the mist and the beasts were finally held back beyond our borders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fearing future invasions, our ancestors built the Shanhai Pass at the boundary between humans and beasts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifty years ago, General Ye Ting—one of today’s Four Saints (SSS-rank Enhancement: Ten Thousand Tons of Force)—broke through to sagehood and founded the Demon-Suppressing Legion to guard the Shanhai Pass against beast hordes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At the same time, Scholar Mo Yuan—one of the Four Saints (SSS-rank Rule: Words Become Law)—achieved sagehood and founded the Literary Academy to nurture the next generation of prodigies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirty years ago, Sword Saint Jian Nan Zhu (SSS-rank Special: Listening Sword of Fire) and War God Lu Qing (SSS-rank Enhancement: Battle Against Heaven and Earth) both reached sagehood and took up station at Shanhai Pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Changfeng sipped his tea, his tone growing heavier: “It was in that same year that our first Night Watch commander-in-chief, Xia Wujie, awakened his SSS-rank Elemental ability—Southern Bright Flame—and became a disciple of the Sword Saint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Within less than five years, he broke through to half-sagehood, slew five disaster-class beasts, and alongside contemporaneous prodigies, founded the Night Watch to safeguard order within Shanhai Pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was hailed as humanity’s greatest hope—the one most likely to shatter the mist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But unfortunately…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Su Changfeng’s voice carried a trace of sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty years ago, the beasts launched a massive assault on Shanhai Pass. General Ye led the Demon-Suppressing Legion in fierce resistance, and all Four Saints mobilized to repel the invasion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet after months of relentless attacks, the beasts finally breached the pass, carving a crack into our defenses. The Sword Saint stood alone, sword in hand, holding the breach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the beasts were too numerous, and two catastrophic beasts surrounded him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One of them—the Catastrophic Zhu Yan—broke through with a horde of beasts and rampaged deep into human territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Upon hearing the news, Wujie led our elite Night Watch forces swiftly to the invaded city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Upon arrival, Wujie immediately engaged the Titan Monkey in battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meanwhile, we cleared other beasts to protect civilians.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With Wujie’s strength, even if he couldn’t defeat the Titan Monkey, holding it off temporarily should have been effortless!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But then—the Cult Leader! The sixth SSS-rank human talent—the traitor to our race!—betrayed humanity for the illusion of godhood and allied with the beasts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Su Changfeng’s voice trembled with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As Wujie fought Zhu Yan, the Cult Leader disguised himself as a civilian about to be killed. Wujie, distracted by the attempt to save him, was caught off-guard and struck hard by Zhu Yan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just as Wujie pressed on despite his wounds, the Cult Leader struck him from behind, inflicting grave injuries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His betrayal shattered the balance of the battle. But even then, if Wujie had retreated, his strength would have allowed him to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Wujie didn’t flee. He looked at the civilians around him—and chose to fight to the death with them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In desperation, he burned his own energy, forcibly ascending to sagehood, and unleashed the forbidden technique: ‘Scorching Heaven, Boiling Fire’—severely wounding Zhu Yan and driving back the Cult Leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the combination of his grievous injuries, the forced ascent to sagehood, and the backlash of the forbidden technique claimed his life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Changfeng’s voice dropped to a whisper: “Soon after, the Sword Saint arrived and slew the mortally wounded Zhu Yan. The Cult Leader, near death, escaped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Due to the overwhelming numbers, several disaster-class and king-class beasts managed to flee.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They eventually hid in forests outside urban areas, spawning countless low-rank beasts that infiltrated cities—like the Skin-Stealer Itachi encountered today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the chaos, the Sword Saint blamed himself for failing to hold the Titan Monkey, which led to Wujie’s death. He slashed a single sword-blast that formed a wall, sealing the breach and marking a boundary, vowing to guard it alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One flame, one sword, one Nan Zhu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Inside Shanhai Pass, it was named Jian Nan Pass.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1794,"2026-06-20T15:06:04.061Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ae467f2259eea4d42732f1e3e8a5edc615923b356528375c87b48a34b5b77bdd","global-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha-chapter-5","global-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha-chapter-3",162,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fglobal-high-martial-arts-starting-off-with-a-sha-cover.jpg"]