Chapter 1

"Such a waste, we actually have to take care of him!"

"After ten years at the Jin Yang Martial Arts Hall, he still hasn't broken through to the second level of Body Tempering. No wonder the hall dismissed him!"

"Lord Jin Zhengyang, a great expert at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation, is ashamed to have such an incompetent disciple!"

"If it were just martial arts, it would be fine, but his spirit is also too weak!

"Just because the Lan family forced him to break off the engagement, he spat blood on the spot and even tried to commit suicide in his room. What a disgrace!"

"If Father had sent me to the Jin Yang Martial Arts Hall, I would have long reached the third level of Body Tempering and started Qi Cultivation!"

"Alas, it's all fate..."

Xiaoran, in a daze, heard people talking about him. His mind was in chaos, and it took him a long time to understand his situation.

He was an ordinary office worker on Earth. If there was anything different about him, it was his love for reading novels, especially martial arts and fantasy.

He was working overtime at the company when he suddenly fainted, either from a sudden death or something else.

When he woke up, he found himself in a new body, in other words, he had transmigrated!

Xiaoran merged with the original owner's memories and realized he was now in a world called the Ancient Continent, not Earth. This continent was a wondrous world, much like the fantasy novels he had read.

In the early days, this world was ruled by gods and demons, filled with powerful intelligent races and fierce beasts.

The human race was naturally weak, either enslaved or eaten.

But the humans were not content with this. After countless generations of effort, they discovered that their weakness made them highly adaptable. By imitating fierce beasts and gods, they created a martial arts path unique to humans, freeing themselves from their lowly fate!

They participated in three great wars, driving the gods and demons out of this world.

After the wars, the human race rose to the top hundred among all races, ushering in their own era of glory.

The unlucky soul he possessed was also named Xiaoran, a young master from a wealthy family in Jin Guang City. His grandfather was at the third level of Qi Cultivation, not a martial arts expert himself but a business genius.

Because he was not good at martial arts, he placed high hopes on his only son, Xiaoran. When Xiaoran was eight, he spent a large sum of money to send him to the famous Jin Yang Martial Arts Hall.

However, Xiaoran was not up to the task. After ten years, he barely reached the peak of the first level of Body Tempering and failed to break through to the second level, so he was dismissed from the hall.

When he returned home, the Lan family, with whom he had been engaged since childhood, came to break off the engagement. They said their daughter had already broken through to the third level of Qi Cultivation and was accepted by the prestigious Jin Guang Sect as an outer disciple!

Xiaoran was no longer worthy of their daughter, so they came to end the engagement!

The difference between Body Tempering and Qi Cultivation is vast, so it's no wonder the Lan family acted this way!

Xiaoran couldn't bear the blow, spitting blood on the spot and attempting suicide by hanging in his room.

Earth's Xiaoran merged with his body and gained his memories.

"So that's how it is. I've actually come to such a world, what a stroke of luck!"

Xiaoran was a martial arts enthusiast. Ever since he saw Jet Li in "Shaolin Temple," he would take a stick and swing it around all day.

Even as an adult, knowing that such flying and leaping martial arts didn't exist, he didn't give up his hobby and practiced boxing and kickboxing in his free time.

Now, to be in a world where martial arts flourished, how could he not be happy!

But he was sad that he couldn't see his parents again!

As Xiaoran's emotions fluctuated, he suddenly heard a voice: "Ding... Host has activated the Martial Heart, activating the Great Martial World System!"

Xiaoran sat up and asked the two people watching over him, "Did you hear someone speaking just now?"

The two servants, who had been gossiping about Xiaoran, stared at him with wide eyes. One of them turned pale and rushed out, shouting, "Master, it's bad, the young master's brain is broken..."

What does it mean to have a broken brain? This kid is just asking for a beating...

Xiaoran's face turned green, but it seemed only he had heard the voice.

Being a long-time reader, Xiaoran had a strong ability to accept strange things, far surpassing ordinary people.

"Could it be that only I heard it? Is it like a golden finger in a novel?"

Xiaoran closed his eyes and asked in his mind, "Who is speaking in my head?"

Immediately, a game-like interface appeared in Xiaoran's mind, with a list of options, all of which were martial arts novels he loved.

Jin Yong's, Gu Long's, and Huang Yi's, the world of martial arts novels is vast, and he had read countless of them, but he particularly loved the worlds created by these three authors.

The page also had a brief introduction, stating that for every level of martial arts cultivation the host achieves, they can enter a martial arts world. Once the host accumulates enough points, they can re-enter a world they've been to before.

Next to it was a full-body image of Xiaoran, with his attributes listed.

Name: Xiaoran

Race: Human

Title: The Wastrel of Wastrels

(Note: It took him ten years to barely break through to the second level of Body Tempering, so he is the wastrel of wastrels.)

Talent: Reading a Thousand Books

(Note: All useless leisure books.)

Martial Arts Cultivation: Just Entered the Second Level of Body Tempering

(Note: A complete novice who hasn't even touched the door of martial arts.)

Martial Techniques: Three Galloping Horse Stances, Seven Coiling Snake Stances, Eight Fierce Bull Stances

(Note: Body Tempering techniques, useful for Body Tempering, but lacking in offensive power.)

Ultimate Skill: None

(Note: No possibility of a sudden burst of power.)

Transmigration Points: 100

(Note: Gifted by the system for new users.)

Charisma: 50 points

(Note: 60 points is the average.)

Storage Space: One cubic meter.

(Note: System-provided, cannot store living beings.)

A window popped up next to his attributes, stating, "First-time use of the Great Martial World System, the system gifts one transmigration opportunity. You can enter the world of 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' for one year, with a time ratio of 1:10 between the two worlds."

Xiaoran ignored the sarcastic comments and felt secretly pleased. This failed suicide attempt had unexpectedly led him to the second level of Body Tempering, a pleasant surprise!

However, being expelled from the martial arts hall meant he lost the chance to be recommended to a sect to learn advanced martial arts!

But Xiaoran wasn't too concerned. He had always disliked schools and institutions.

Although martial arts flourished in this world, books on martial arts theory were widely available, but without guidance, it was extremely difficult to achieve anything in martial arts!

It's like on Earth, where science is advanced, but very few people can become great scientists without attending a university!

But with the Great Martial World System, Xiaoran could learn various supreme martial arts in different martial arts worlds, such as the Six Pulse Sword Technique, the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, and the Daoist Heart Demon Technique...

Thinking of this, Xiaoran even drooled.

At that moment, a white, fleshy ball rolled into Xiaoran's room, followed by a bruised and swollen servant, the same youth who had shouted that Xiaoran's brain was broken.

The servant had been severely beaten by Xiaoran's father, who was usually kind but couldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of his son.

The servant knew this, and if he had been in another wealthy family, he might have been beaten to death and fed to the dogs for his words!

This fleshy ball was Xiaoran's father, Xiao Dabao. Despite being chubby, Xiao Dabao's movements were terrifying, and he rolled to Xiaoran's side in an instant!

He hugged Xiaoran and said joyfully, "Ran'er, it's just a woman, isn't it?

Is it worth you trying to kill yourself? I'll go to the Spring Breeze Tower and hire the most popular courtesan to keep you company. Then you'll see, the Lan family's little girl is just an unripe vegetable..."

At that moment, a furious voice came, "Xiao Dabao, you old man, if you keep talking nonsense and corrupt my child, I'll tear you apart!"

Xiaoran's vision blurred as another middle-aged woman entered the room, moving even faster than Xiao Dabao!

This woman was Xiaoran's mother, Wang Xiaofeng.

Seeing the two of them move so skillfully, Xiaoran remembered something!

His parents in this body were at the third level of Qi Cultivation!

The martial arts on the Ancient Continent were highly advanced. At the third level of Qi Cultivation, one had already opened the major and minor meridians, with highly refined true qi that could extend several feet to injure others invisibly!

At the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, true qi was further refined and could be condensed into shapes!

In the worlds of Jin Yong, Gu Long, and Huang Yi, even the top experts were only at the third or fourth level of Qi Cultivation.

The Flame Blade of the Great Wheel Mingwang and Duan Yu's Six Pulse Sword Technique were just touching the edge of the fourth level of Qi Cultivation.

Experts like Lang Fan Yun, who could shatter the void, could only condense sword qi into a rain of swords, making them top-tier experts at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation!

However, some details were different. For example, Lang Fan Yun could only touch the edge of the fifth level of Qi Cultivation to draw in the elemental energy of heaven and earth, a feat that required reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation on the Ancient Continent!

Perhaps the two worlds were different in some ways!

Thinking of this, Xiaoran's excitement diminished. With only martial arts up to the third or fourth level of Qi Cultivation, would this system be of any use to him?

Seeing Xiaoran's blank, dazed expression and the drool at the corner of his mouth, his parents became worried. Had he really been injured in the failed suicide attempt and become mentally impaired?

Wang Xiaofeng trembled and said, "Ran'er... don't scare your mother..."

At that moment, Xiaoran snapped back to reality, wiped the drool from his mouth, and said, "I'm fine, don't worry.

I just happened to break through to the second level of Body Tempering, and I was so happy I was dazed."

He still wasn't used to calling her "mother."

Xiao Dabao was overjoyed, "This is a blessing in disguise! I'll find a way to have Lord Jin Zhengyang take you back!"

Xiaoran, however, was unwilling. On Earth, he had been tied down by school and work, and now in another world, he didn't want to join any organization or sect.

Though he loved martial arts, he valued freedom and didn't want to be bound by any system, organization, sect, or family.

"Let's see if I can learn something useful in the martial arts world first!"

Thinking of this, Xiaoran said to Xiao Dabao, "I've died once, and I've seen things more clearly.

I really don't want to go back to the martial arts hall. I suffered enough there for ten years, and I don't want to go through it again.

Besides, I couldn't break through to the second level of Body Tempering after ten years of training at the hall, and I broke through right after being dismissed. I guess I don't have any karmic connection with the hall!"

Xiaoran's resurrection made Xiao Dabao and Wang Xiaofeng even more willing to indulge him!

After a while, the two of them left the room.

Xiaoran felt his body was in good condition, with no discomfort, and his mind was clear, as if he had just had a good sleep.

He didn't know that when he transmigrated, the two souls merged, creating a 1+1>2 effect, allowing him to smoothly break through to the second level of Body Tempering after the failed suicide attempt!

He looked around his room, which was filled with books, all about cultivation.

These books were bought by Xiao Dabao for Xiaoran, but he couldn't understand most of them and wasn't interested in reading, so he had little interest in them.

But the current Xiaoran was a bookworm and naturally started reading them!

In the following days, Xiaoran practiced martial arts and read books.

Although he couldn't understand much, it didn't stop him from gaining some understanding.

On the Ancient Continent, martial arts were divided from low to high into three levels of Body Tempering, nine levels of Qi Cultivation, nine levels of Heaven Essence, and nine levels of Divine Power.

It was said that there were even higher levels of martial arts above Divine Power, but few people had heard of them!

The three levels of Body Tempering: the first level strengthens the muscles, bones, and skin; the second level uses breath to refine the internal organs and bone marrow; the third level controls the blood and qi, solidifying the foundation and nurturing the essence.

Xiaoran was now at the second level of Body Tempering. His family, while not as powerful as the major families in Jin Guang City, was still wealthy enough to supply him with the necessary cultivation pills.

Moreover, his family sold a Body Tempering Soup, one level lower than Body Tempering Pills!

Two months later, Xiaoran's internal organs were as strong as iron, his bone marrow had been renewed, and his bones were as strong and elastic as steel.

He could now visualize his body's internal state as clearly as if he were seeing it with his eyes.

He could control his internal organs as easily as he controlled his muscles.

All he needed to do was to control his blood and qi freely to enter the third level of Body Tempering.

But this was not an easy task, and Xiaoran spent three months without breaking through.

After that, Xiaoran, under the pretext of traveling, activated the Great Martial World System and began his second transmigration.

Destination: The world of "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer"!

...

Outside Fuzhou City, a figure suddenly appeared on a small hill.

Xiaoran looked at his hands and muttered, "I thought it would be a mental transmigration, but it doesn't seem so. It looks like my physical body has also transmigrated.

I wonder where I am!"

Xiaoran looked up and saw two men in long robes, with swords at their waists, riding horses from the distance.

He waited for them to get closer and greeted them, "Brothers, I'm new here and got lost. Could you tell me where I am?"

The two men looked at Xiaoran warily, and one of them said, "This is Fuzhou."

Hearing the man's heavy Sichuan accent, Xiaoran felt a sense of familiarity, as he was originally from Sichuan!

He said, "I'm here to find my relatives in Fuzhou. Do you know where the Fuzhou Security Bureau is?"

Xiaoran wanted to understand the current state of the Fuzhou Security Bureau to determine the time period in "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer"!

When the two men heard Xiaoran asking about the Fuzhou Security Bureau, their faces changed instantly!

They immediately drew their swords and pointed them at Xiaoran, "You're from the Fuzhou Security Bureau, so you don't need to go there.

I'll send you to see them in the afterlife!"

Xiaoran was startled. Sichuan, Fuzhou, Fuzhou Security Bureau, they want to kill me...

Several key points flashed through his mind, and he had a sudden realization, "You're from the Qingcheng Sect!"

These two were indeed Qingcheng disciples. They had just helped their master, Yu Canghai, destroy the Fuzhou Security Bureau and were on their way back to Qingcheng to report. Xiaoran's outburst revealed their secret, and they immediately prepared to kill him to silence him.

They were not skilled in horseback combat, so the Qingcheng disciple on the left dismounted.

He swung his sword in the air, forming a flower, and thrust it at Xiaoran's chest.

Xiaoran had studied martial arts for ten years at the hall and had practiced boxing, gaining a lot of experience in fighting.

He was not panicked in the face of combat. Seeing the sword's trajectory, he twisted his body like a snake, dodging the sword and moving to the Qingcheng disciple's blind spot on the right.

The Qingcheng disciple had never seen such a strange movement and, with Xiaoran's quick actions, could only instinctively dodge to the side.

At that moment, Xiaoran thrust his fists like bull horns, striking the man forcefully and sending him flying.

There was a series of cracking sounds as the Qingcheng disciple's ribs were broken by the blow.

These two moves were the Coiling Snake Step from the Seven Coiling Snake Stances and the Fierce Bull Thrust from the Eight Fierce Bull Stances.

Xiaoran was surprised by his success.

Although the first level of Qi Cultivation is said to have the strength of a horse, the second level the strength of a tiger, and the third level the strength of an elephant, these Qingcheng disciples, though not high-level experts, were at least accomplished in Qi Cultivation. How could they be so weak?

Xiaoran had seen martial artists at various levels of Qi Cultivation, and Body Tempering martial artists had no chance against them!

Although he felt a slight counterforce when he hit the Qingcheng disciple, it was useless and dissipated like a bubble under his impact.

Could this be the difference between the two worlds?

The Qingcheng disciple, who was hit, spat blood and was clearly dying!

In a world without law, Xiaoran, with his combat experience, naturally used his full strength.

The other Qingcheng disciple was startled and shouted, "What excellent external martial arts! But daring to oppose the Qingcheng Sect is asking for death!"

This time, Xiaoran didn't wait for the Qingcheng disciple to make the first move. He pounced on the Qingcheng disciple like a tiger.

The Qingcheng disciple felt as if a fierce tiger, not a human, was pouncing on him.

He was not afraid, as Xiaoran clearly had no internal martial arts training and was just an external expert. How could he match an internal expert like himself?

His senior must have been too careless, or he wouldn't have lost so badly!

The sword thrust in the air, turning three times, covered Xiaoran's three major pressure points on his chest.

However, Xiaoran's reaction exceeded his expectations. Xiaoran's body, which was already at the peak of the second level of Body Tempering, was as flexible as a snake without bones. He suddenly fell to the ground and slid past the sword.

This caught the Qingcheng disciple off guard.

Xiaoran sprang up from the ground, not only dodging the sword but also striking the Qingcheng disciple's abdomen with a punch.

There was a sound like a water bag bursting, and the Qingcheng disciple fell backward, unconscious from the shock of his internal organs being shattered by Xiaoran's powerful punch.

Xiaoran stood up and looked at his hands. He had won. Was he too strong, or were these two too weak?

After a while, Xiaoran understood what had happened!

The martial arts system in the main world was far more advanced and sophisticated than in the "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" world, with more advanced theories.

So, although he didn't know any high-level martial arts, his perspective and knowledge