Chapter 1: Lin Qi (Request Follow-Up)

In the year 2045 of the Martial Dao Calendar, Cang Province, Tianhai City.

It was the height of September’s scorching summer, the entire city sweltering under heat.

Rongshan Community, Building 4, Unit 301

5:30

“Ding ding ding ding!”

Lin Qi snapped open his eyes, sat up instantly, and silenced the shrill alarm clock on his bedside table.

With the alarm gone, only the hum of a blue electric fan remained, the air thick with stifling heat.

Looking around, it was a narrow bedroom.

The bed was a bunk, with luggage and belongings piled high on the upper tier; beside it stood a worn brown wooden desk.

The walls were plastered with posters, especially the largest one, depicting a man with indistinct features, towering stature, and golden flames swirling around him.

Beneath his feet crushed a massive, grotesque black dragon-like beast.

The terrifying aura seemed ready to burst through the canvas.

Across the poster, bold, swirling characters read:

【Effort is the ladder to greatness—Chi Di, the Strongest in the World】

Aside from this, there were almost no other furnishings—sparse and empty.

In the center of the room, less than fifteen square meters, a patch of floor bore deep, weathered footprints.

Lin Qi stood, pulled on his faded school uniform short-sleeve shirt.

He opened the door and stepped into the cramped bathroom to wash up.

“Shhh shhh!”

He relieved himself, brushed his teeth, washed his face—all in one smooth motion, cleansing away grime, feeling refreshed.

Lin Qi stared at his reflection: 1.75 meters tall, lean build, sharply defined features, eyes bright with masculine vigor, brows cold and stern.

Outside the bathroom, in the living room, a burly man sat on the sofa, shirtless; the sofa was faded and worn.

His upper body was covered in scars.

His left arm was gone; his right hand carefully attached a flesh-toned mechanical prosthesis.

“Click click~”

After a few adjustments, the prosthesis’s five fingers moved stiffly, mimicking a normal arm.

“Morning, Xiao Qi!”

The burly man smiled as he saw Lin Qi, his face rugged, every inch of skin marked by time and hardship.

“Morning, Dad!”

Lin Qi nodded.

The burly man turned and walked into the kitchen, speaking as he worked:

“I’m picking up your mom from the hospital today—she just had surgery and should’ve stayed longer.”

“She refused, afraid of the cost.”

“Today’s your first day of senior year—focus on your martial training.”

“Do you have enough money?”

Lin Zhen rattled on, his hands moving swiftly—lighting the stove, cracking eggs, heating pre-made buns and steamed bread…

【Balance: 66.6】

“I’ve got enough money…”

Lin Qi glanced at his phone’s balance, unconcerned, then pulled a packet of black coffee from a corner box, poured it into a glacial cup, and added cold water.

He stirred it, tilted his head, and drank it all down—the bitter taste flooded his mouth, sharpening his mind.

Moments later, Lin Zhen emerged carrying a tray piled high with meat buns, fried eggs, and steamed bread.

Lin Qi ate quickly, returned to his room, changed clothes, slipped on his black sneakers—soles nearly worn through—and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

“Dad, I’m leaving.”

“Alright!”

Lin Zhen’s firm voice came from the kitchen, followed by more clattering activity.

…

Three minutes later

Outside the community, Lin Qi mounted his vintage bicycle and rode down the wide street.

“Huuu~”

Against the morning breeze, clear female voices poured from his black Bluetooth earbuds:

“Martial Dao Calendar 1999!”

“That year, catastrophic natural disasters erupted across the globe: tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes…”

“Causing massive loss of life and economic damage.”

“Initially, people everywhere assumed it was just another ordinary disaster.”

“When they believed the calamity had passed, the true disaster arrived.”

“Massive black fissures opened worldwide, pouring forth countless terrifying beasts that destroyed everything in their path.”

“Greedy, devouring all life.”

“They were walking calamities—hence their name: Disaster Beasts.”

“They possessed mountain-sized bodies, hardened skin, razor-sharp claws, piercing fangs, capable of tearing through steel buildings and crushing humans. Bustling streets became like rice seedlings, plowed clean—everything reduced to ruins.”

“War began. Faced with these monstrous beasts, humanity mobilized every weapon, nations transforming into war machines amid the beast tide.”

“As Disaster Beasts advanced, humanity retreated; countless warriors died in battle, ordinary people displaced and homeless.”

“At the same time fissures appeared, humans discovered their physical strength surged dramatically—some even awakened special abilities, like superhumans.”

“Faced with endless Disaster Beasts, ancient martial arts revived with new vitality.”

“Thus began the war between humanity and the Disaster Beasts…”

Along the roadside, bustling streets stretched, skyscrapers and shops displaying electronic screens broadcasting the latest Disaster Beast news.

Lin Qi listened silently to the history audio playing.

He had heard this history countless times—he knew it by heart.

“Seventeen years in this world already!”

Lin Qi felt dazed.

!

He, Lin Qi, was a transmigrator.

Blue Star—a parallel world nearly identical to Earth.

In his past life, he was just a corporate drone, collapsed after a month of nonstop overtime.

When he opened his eyes again, he was a newborn in this world.

Before 1999, this world was nearly identical to Earth—but after that year, everything changed utterly.

It transformed overnight from an ordinary human world into a world of martial cultivation and the extraordinary.

As a seasoned reader of certain webnovel sites, Lin Qi adapted to this world quickly.

Of course, as a transmigrator, he had a cheat.

Lin Qi thought, in the mysterious region of his mind, endless darkness revealed a tattered golden banner.

The banner was riddled with cracks, as if it had endured some great battle, leaving only fragments.

Resting within his consciousness, it was dim and silent, utterly still, like a rag.

Until six months ago, it had trembled for an instant, shooting out a beam of golden light.

Thinking of it, Lin Qi’s vision flickered with an otherworldly glow—a golden screen visible only to him.

【Name: Lin Qi (17)】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Template: None (99.8%)】

【Blood Qi: 5.2】

【Martial Arts: Hunyuan Stance (Mastery), Tiger Form Fist (Partial Mastery), Basic Spear Technique (Partial Mastery)】

【Fist Technique: First Stage 80%】

【Spear Technique: First Stage 60%】

【Movement Technique: First Stage 57%】

…

This was the panel granted by the golden fragment, allowing him to clearly track his martial progress.

Looking at the data on the panel, Lin Qi sighed.

He had expected the legendary “Deep Blue”—a system where he could just spend points to grow stronger.

He had even mentally prepared himself for takeoff.

But he was disappointed—the panel’s function was simple: only to display his stats, giving him clear awareness of his martial status.

Yet he soon adapted, abandoning his fantasies.

The ability to constantly see his progress—this sense of measurable advancement—gave him the drive to push forward.

Just this feature alone made him stronger than countless others.

Opening the panel half a year ago gave him tremendous progress in martial arts; what more could he want?

As a senior high school student, war and disaster beasts were far removed from him—they were matters for the future.

Right now, he only wanted to train hard, get into a better martial arts university, and earn enough money to improve his family’s life.

Thinking this, Lin Qi’s gaze shifted again to a line of data.

【Template: None (99.8%)】

Lin Qi had no explanation for this “template,” no idea what its function was, but he had a faint suspicion.

Every day after training, he watched the percentage progress bar inch upward.

The harder he cultivated, the more and faster it improved.

In half a year, the progress bar had nearly reached 100%.

According to the current pace, today he would finally find out what it truly was.

He had a feeling the template was vital to him—the key to his future martial path.

……

(End of Chapter)