Chapter 14: Return to the Modern World

In the cafeteria, under the wide-eyed stares of the surrounding disciples, Fang Can’s right fist slammed out like a cannonball.

“Crash!”

Amid the dull thud of bone and flesh colliding, Fang Can’s fist plunged straight into Li Qun’s cheek.

The immense force sent Li Qun’s head snapping violently backward.

In the next instant, Fang Can’s left hand seized the back of Li Qun’s head and yanked it back forward.

With a glint of malice in his eyes, Fang Can gripped Li Qun’s skull with his left hand and drove his right fist again and again into Li Qun’s forehead.

“Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!”

Without mercy, the sound of shattering bones echoed from both men simultaneously.

Around them, the crowd stood frozen in stunned silence; the entire cafeteria was dead quiet, save for the rhythmic thuds echoing outward.

After two seconds of stillness, a furious roar erupted from Li Qun’s two companions.

If they hadn’t been holding his arms, Li Qun wouldn’t have been defenseless, beaten like a slaughtered pig.

Both men instantly released their grip—one reached to grab Fang Can, the other raised a fist to strike back.

But the first man’s grab was anticipated; Fang Can leaned back to evade it, while the second man froze mid-punch—sect rules forbade attacking newcomers.

Even if they reported this to the Enforcement Hall, they’d have no grounds.

They started the fight over stealing money; even if they won, the blame would mostly fall on them.

“Heh—” Fang Can stepped back slightly, lips curling into a smirk: “Gentlemen, are you still going to continue?”

The two disciples hesitated, glancing at Li Qun—their leader’s face was swollen into a grotesque pig’s head, unconscious from the relentless blows.

Seeing their hesitation, Fang Can reminded them: “It seems you’ve made your choice; breaking the rules means punishment by the Enforcement Hall.”

“Don’t get cocky—wait a month, I’ll settle this with you, damn it, I’m gonna beat your ass!”

Their faces twisted with rage, yet they clung stubbornly to their role-playing act.

Fang Can merely smiled brightly: “Since you’re so timid, I’m relieved. Remember—no retaliation, okay?”

With that, Fang Can seized a solid wooden chopstick in one hand and charged straight toward them.

“Kid, what are you doing?” Seeing Fang Can rush at them, the two men’s clenched fists instantly loosened.

They couldn’t fight, couldn’t retaliate—forced to swallow their rage, they dragged Li Qun’s unconscious body out of the cafeteria.

“Phew!” Watching them flee, Fang Can halted and casually tossed the chopstick aside.

Hidden in his robe was the dagger he’d taken from those thugs back then—still unsullied by blood.

‘Still too weak.’ Fang Can gazed at the direction the men had vanished, gently clenching his fist.

The calloused knuckles, barely healed, had split open again from the relentless strikes; yet Li Qun was only severely unconscious. No wonder—he was a martial cultivator, his face was tough as leather.

Fang Can scanned the surrounding disciples, all of whom were now frozen in shock.

Most were under twenty, trained daily in martial arts but never before witnessed bloodshed, let alone a newcomer overpowering three veterans.

Seeing Fang Can’s gaze, most instinctively looked away—then realized how shameful that was, and defiantly glared back.

Ignoring them all, Fang Can turned, picked up his empty tray, got another meal, and returned to his corner to eat slowly and calmly.

This time, no one would bother him. He’d likely enjoy some peace for the next month.

In the following days, as Fang Can had predicted, everything remained calm as he trained.

Each day he swallowed a pill of arsenic, gaining half an hour of Genius Mode—his progress far outpaced ordinary cultivators.

Name: Fang Can

Body: 1.9

Spirit: 1.9

Qi: 1.9

Notes:

Tiger Demon’s Eighty-Eight Caverns, Level 5: 743/16000

Flesh Transformation: 0.79%

……

Five days later, at dusk, Fang Can completed another circuit of the Tiger Demon’s Eighty-Eight Caverns, clenched his fist, and felt explosive power surging through the muscles beneath his skin.

‘No wonder this is called Mind-Only Martial Art—it makes no sense at all.’ Fang Can narrowed his eyes.

His muscle mass hadn’t increased much, yet his strength had tripled, at least.

At this moment, Fang Can felt his body evolving toward a perfect biological form—balancing strength, speed, defense, and flexibility alike.

Yet his transformation level on the panel still hadn’t reached 1%.

He now eagerly anticipated the day his flesh transformation reached 100%—what total power would he then possess?

‘If this is the true power of the first stage of Martial Dao—Transcending the Mortal Body—I’ll accept it.’

After finishing his daily training, Fang Can headed toward the Scripture Hall.

Seeing Fang Can arrive, the librarian smiled warmly.

“Li Lao, I’m back.” Fang Can nodded politely, then sat down on the wooden chair.

“People like you who come to the Scripture Hall are rare these days,” Li Lao sighed, picking up a book from the desk: “Shall I continue reading you The Great Expansion Emperor’s Biography today?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Li Lao opened the book to yesterday’s passage by candlelight and continued reading in a steady tone:

“The Great Chu Overlord, seeing he could not defeat the Great Expansion Emperor, flew into a rage so fierce his Three Corpse Spirits leapt in fury, channeling divine power…”

As Li Lao read, Fang Can closed his eyes, letting the old man’s voice echo in his ears.

He had tried learning characters before, but couldn’t understand them, so he paid the librarian to read aloud.

Thanks to Genius Mode’s perfect recall, once he matched the librarian’s spoken words to the written characters, he’d memorized most common characters.

He believed that after a few more days of listening, he’d be able to read the books himself.

Fang Can leaned back against the wooden chair, yawning slightly—his daytime training had drained him; now that he was idle, he couldn’t sit still.

Forcing himself to stay awake, he listened to Li Lao’s voice, but his head slowly sank lower.

Suddenly, he felt a strange pulling sensation within his body—then the world spun wildly. When he regained awareness, blinding light stabbed into his eyes.

Instantly, Fang Can reached for the dagger in his chest—but his hand met empty air.

“What’s going on?” Fang Can’s eyes widened, yet everything before him was unmistakably familiar.

The television on, the crystal chandelier overhead, the soft leather sofa beside him, the glossy ceramic floor beneath his feet…

“I’m back?” Fang Can’s eyes flickered with disbelief.

Having grown accustomed to life in the other world, he never imagined he’d ever return to this modern era again.

(End of Chapter)