On his way home, Yu Fei bought another small bag of cat food. Back at the complex, he poured it into each of the bowls that kind-hearted neighbors had set out for the strays.
Not just for the tabby—every cat was cute in its own way.
With the new week, Yu Fei began to look forward to the next martial arts class.
On Monday morning, he arrived at school first, skipping his usual run.
Activating the Fate-Reversing Pearl's marking sight, he scanned through all of his classmates' talents.
More than half were talentless background characters. Among the rest, he found fifteen gray, four white, two green, and one blue—much better than the average passerby on the street.
Some people really were born protagonists.
His gaze fell on Jiang Yifan, chatting with the class beauty Zhang Qingyu.
Born into wealth, refined in manner, brilliant in intellect, and gifted in martial arts.
Aside from Yu Fei himself, Jiang was the only one in Class 6 blessed with a blue-grade talent.
His future path was smooth and bright. Every teacher praised him highly. At his current pace, there was little doubt he would enter a prestigious martial university.
Zhang Qingyu was one of the class's two green talents.
The two of them consistently occupied the top two ranks in academics.
A golden boy and jade maiden—seemingly made for each other.
Yu Fei fell into thought.
A youth's life shouldn't be too smooth. Without hardship, there could be no growth. He would be the obstacle on Jiang Yifan's path.
He needed an excuse to give him a good beating.
There was no choice—the pearl's copy mechanism required him to defeat or kill the target.
"Fei-ge, what kind of evil scheme are you cooking up? You've been brooding all morning like some villain."
It was his back-row neighbor, Lei Xiaoqiang. The two were close, though Lei always carried a cheap and cheeky air.
Yu Fei eyed the green light above Lei's head and sighed at life's absurdity.
"Your head's glowing green."
He teased. From Yu Fei's perspective, Lei's hair was bathed in the emerald glow of the gem, spreading like jade light.
"Green? Impossible!"
Lei's expression was exaggerated. He stretched out his right hand, examining it with mock pride. "My right hand would never betray me!"
Yu Fei slapped a palm over his forehead. Speechless.
This idiot gets a green-grade talent? What kind of talent even is that?
Nearby, Li Mengyao's reading faltered as she overheard Lei's sleazy words. She resolved to avoid talking to him from now on.
But then… did Yu Fei also use his right hand?
The thought flitted across her mind. She sneaked a glance at Yu Fei's hands—long, strong, roughened from years of training, brimming with restrained power.
Her imagination betrayed her. Heat flushed her cheeks, and she raised her voice, reading aloud to cover her thoughts.
Yu Fei blinked, staring at her sudden burst of enthusiasm. Weird.
As for Lei Xiaoqiang—neither good at academics nor martial arts, but full of shameless antics—Yu Fei suspected his green-grade talent couldn't be anything proper. He immediately abandoned the idea of copying it.
The ability had limited uses. He couldn't waste it.
No, it had to be Jiang Yifan. That boy needed tempering.
All day, Yu Fei schemed on how to give Jiang a beating that would seem reasonable.
At this stage, before anyone had completed Skin Tempering, martial talent only made a slight difference. But if he waited too long and Jiang broke through, the tables would turn, and Yu Fei would be the one getting beaten.
Time flew, and before he had a plan, martial arts class began.
This time, Yan Hai did not teach stake training. Instead, he introduced a set of fists:
[Six Harmonies Killing Fist]
Yan Hai explained the origins of the art, then played a video demonstration for the students.
The Six Harmonies Killing Fist was first created by the founding emperor. Over the decades, the Ministry of Education had invited countless Martial Saints to refine it, compiling it with the Academy of Sciences. Now in its thirty-seventh edition, it had been honed for over a century.
The "Six Harmonies" referred to six distinct principles of combat. It was the cornerstone of martial skills, teaching the correct methods of channeling and releasing force from every part of the body. Though named a fist technique, it actually encompassed a wide range of unarmed combat methods.
If one mastered the Six Harmonies Killing Fist, it became easy to transition into any advanced martial art.
Martial examinations tested three things: cultivation realm, actual combat, and progress in this very fist art.
Yan Hai no longer insisted on Funiu Stake. A month had passed, and those who still hadn't sensed their blood and qi likely lacked the talent. Continuing to force it would only waste time and ruin promising students.
After stressing the importance of the Six Harmonies Killing Fist, he prepared to teach the moves.
But first, he had another plan. He needed to set up two targets—sparring rivals—to spur competition and give the rest something to chase.
Martial arts, in the end, had to be proven with fists.
Gathering the class, Yan Hai addressed them.
"You've trained for a month. Some progress, yes—but martial cultivation is not just training. Martial masters are not born from drills. They are forged in blood and battle.
"I've spoken about the importance of willpower. In combat, your hard strength comes from your realm and your techniques. But how much you can truly bring out depends on your will.
"Enough talk. Step within five meters of me."
The students shuffled closer. Yan Hai closed his eyes, sinking into a stance. When he opened them, it was as if twin blades of light shot from his gaze.
He thrust a fist forward.
Bang! The air itself exploded.
The students collapsed like dominoes, most sprawling to the ground. Only a handful managed to stay upright.
In that instant, Yu Fei saw Yan Hai transform into a monstrous beast. He heard his qi and blood surging like a torrential river, suffocating him, squeezing his throat shut.
The beast lunged—he was prey.
Every cell in his body quaked with primal terror.
But then, he unleashed [Super Reflexes] to the utmost. The monstrous vision slowed, blurred, and vanished.
There was no beast. Only Yan Hai, fist extended.
"So this… is martial arts?"
Yu Fei whispered. Yan Hai's single punch had shattered his worldview.
Momentum, aura—it was real.
If a single punch could do this, could a stronger martial artist kill with just a glance?
For the first time in either of his lives, Yu Fei craved power with every fiber of his being.
He had thought martial arts were like the TV dramas of his past life—leaping rooftops, punching boulders, wielding ridiculous forty-meter blades.
But the truth was something else entirely.
When the class regrouped, some students' eyes burned with fervor, while others were pale with fear. Not everyone had the courage to face death.
Seeing reverence mixed with awe in their gazes, Yan Hai nodded in satisfaction. Clearing his throat, he declared:
"Before we begin formal practice of the Six Harmonies Killing Fist, I want to see your understanding of combat. I will choose two of you to fight here and now. In one month, you will fight again—so that all of you will understand the importance of martial skill."
He scanned the class.
"Jiang Yifan, you were the first to sense your qi and blood. You'll be one.
"As for the other…"
Before he could finish, Yu Fei shot his hands up and rushed forward, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Me! Teacher Yan, let me be Jiang's opponent! Pick me!"
Yan Hai froze. He had actually been planning to choose Du Mingxuan.