Chapter Seven: Old Man Wei

After a brief hesitation, Tang Tian strode resolutely through the main gate. He had spent five entire years honing his basic martial skills in pursuit of the copper plaque’s secret—wasn’t it all for this very moment?

As he crossed the cruciform gate, the scene before him transformed. The first thing he noticed was the black floor beneath his feet, its surface so smooth and mirror-like that it reflected his own figure. He pressed down—solid as iron. Tang Tian curiously surveyed his surroundings: a square of ground about thirty feet across, empty, shrouded beyond by dense, swirling mist. He tried walking to the mist’s edge, but an inexplicable force seemed to repel him, no matter how hard he tried—he could not leave the clearing or enter the gray fog.

Suddenly, a line of red characters appeared on the gleaming black floor. Red letters on a black background, somber and strange.

“No matter how strong or insignificant you are, you yourself will be your lifelong enemy—this is a battle that lasts a lifetime. There is nowhere to run, no fluke to be had. Victory will make you unrivaled; failure will doom you to mediocrity.”

“Conquer yourself. Evaluation: Good. Rewarded cultivation time: ten days.”

Conquer himself? Good? Rewarded cultivation time? Tang Tian curled his lip in disdain—nonsense!

Thinking back to how the gray figure had mimicked his every move, he scoffed at the so-called self. It had simply mirrored everything he knew, and yet, hadn’t he defeated it? The thought filled Tang Tian with pride.

Ever pragmatic, he turned his attention to his spoils. What could be more thrilling than the prizes of battle?

Ten days of cultivation time? What was that supposed to mean? Tang Tian scratched his head in confusion. After some experimentation, he pieced together a few things: the copper plaque was likely a tool to aid cultivation, and mastery of a million basic martial moves was the key to unlocking it.

But he couldn’t understand why his mother had never urged him to cultivate when she was alive. Could she perhaps not have known the plaque’s true purpose? Then how had she come by it?

Could it be…?

A shadow fell across Tang Tian’s face. Was it possible the copper plaque had been given to his mother by that scoundrel of a man?

The suspicion grew stronger the longer he pondered it. Every time his mother changed the red cord, she would stare at the plaque, lost in memories.

Tang Tian’s fist clenched tight.

How infuriating!

After a bout of anger, his mood shifted. If the plaque really had come from that wretch, all the better! He would make full use of it, grow stronger, and defeat that scoundrel!

Ha! By then, that man would surely regret ever giving his mother the plaque in the first place!

Yes, that’s what he would do!

Imagining the look of utter regret on that man’s face made Tang Tian’s spirits soar. He felt his idea was nothing short of genius.

The number “0” shone bright and clear on the gate of light. Everything had reset. Would it still be basic martial skills? Tang Tian guessed it must be second-tier techniques now.

He could finally train in second-tier martial arts. At last, he had glimpsed the copper plaque’s real secret, though much remained a mystery. And… there was no trace of his mother here.

Staring at the cruciform gate, Tang Tian’s thoughts drifted. Had his mother once stood here too?

Longing filled the young man’s face.

He stood there in a daze for a while before recovering himself. Clenching his fists, he murmured, “Mother, I will unravel the true secret of the copper plaque! I’ll find that scoundrel and drag him before your grave to repent!”

His resolve was unshakable. Without further hesitation, he turned and walked toward the cruciform gate.

The moment he stepped out, it was as if he passed through a cascade of light and shadow, though the sensation lasted only an instant. The familiar feel beneath his feet told Tang Tian he was home.

Sure enough, in the next moment, he found himself back in his bedroom. Everything around him was just as it always was, as if the previous events had all been a dream.

Instinctively, he reached for the copper plaque at his neck—only to find it gone.

A jolt of panic shot through him.

His neck was bare, save for five intertwined red cords.

The copper plaque! Where had it gone?

Just then, heat flared in his palm. Tang Tian looked down to see a cross, identical to the one on the gate of light, appearing on his palm. The mark slowly faded until it vanished.

Could it be…?

Tang Tian’s eyes widened in amazement. Suddenly, he had a thought, and the scene before him shifted once more—he was back at the cruciform gate.

The copper plaque had fused with his body!

After a moment of astonishment, Tang Tian, ever thick-skinned, decided this was even better. Now he’d never have to worry about losing the plaque again.

He entered and exited the gate several times, gradually figuring out its functions.

What amazed and delighted him most was the reward of cultivation time. When he stepped through the gate, it was as if time outside stopped flowing. He could spend what felt like ages inside, while not a second passed in the outside world.

Tang Tian found this almost unbelievable. It took him a long time to come to terms with it, but when he did, a ripple of joy spread across his face until he burst out laughing.

Time!

For the past five years, he had poured an unimaginable amount of effort into basic martial skills. Compared to others, he was four years behind! But now, he finally had a chance to catch up.

He could recover lost time!

Tang Tian hardly knew how to describe his feelings. Five years, from age twelve to seventeen, had made him the oldest student at Ander Academy. Outwardly, he seemed carefree, but inwardly he bore immense pressure. What kept him going were those cold, ever-increasing numbers, and the deep longing he harbored—to find the man who abandoned his family, beat him like a dog, and drag him to his mother’s grave to repent. He also yearned to keep his promise to Chihui: he had sworn to visit her on the Perseus Constellation; they had agreed to travel the Heavenly Road together.

So he gritted his teeth and persevered.

And now, his five years of dogged effort had finally borne fruit.

“Haha! I must beat up Little Ash a few more times! That way I’ll get even more time!” Tang Tian was beside himself with excitement. He clenched his right fist, his face glowing. With a dramatic pose—left hand on his hip, right hand pointing at the gray figure on the gate—he declared, “Aha! Little Ash, before a godlike man such as myself, you have no choice but to bow down! Prepare to be defeated! Next time I see Chihui, I’ll give her a real shock! Wahahaha!”

“I’m going to the Heavenly Road! I’m going to find Chihui! Woohooo!”

“I really am a godlike man! Ahahaha!”

His cheers rang from the house.

Suddenly, the cheering stopped abruptly. Tang Tian’s smile froze. He had just realized a crucial problem—where was he supposed to learn second-tier martial techniques?

Unlike basic skills, second-tier martial arts required a Soul General Card. Without one, it was impossible to learn them. These cards, forged from the soul imprint of a warrior, served two vital functions, the first of which was martial training.

“Soul General Card! Soul General Card! Soul General Card…” Tang Tian stared blankly, muttering under his breath.

Even a bronze-level second-tier Soul General Card was expensive, and you had to provide your own. When entering an academy, students were given one card based on their ability.

Tang Tian’s gaze grew more vacant.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A thunderous pounding on the door startled him. The door shook so violently it seemed about to fall apart.

The daze vanished as Tang Tian remembered—if the door broke, he couldn’t afford to fix it! He jumped up in alarm.

Bang!

The battered wooden door finally gave way, shattering into countless pieces.

Now he understood what it meant for misfortune to come all at once. He stared numbly at the scattered fragments.

“Basic Tang! You’ve finally been expelled! Aha, wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!” Amory’s ecstatic roar came from outside the ruined doorframe.

Tang Tian’s eye twitched, rage rising within him.

He’d seen people rub salt in wounds before, but never like this!

“Hahahaha! Wonderful! Just wonderful!” Amory’s spittle flew as his hulking body barreled into the room like a storm. “Basic Tang! This is your destiny! You and I are meant to forge a new path in martial arts together! Come on, join Beast Academy! Let’s create a brand new martial way!”

Just as Tang Tian was about to explode, he paused. Beast Academy…

He lowered his raised fist, coughed theatrically, and adopted a worldly air. “You big ox, do you have a way in at Beast Academy?”

“A way in? What way?” Amory looked blank.

Tang Tian gave up hope. Damn, there really was someone dumber than him! Crestfallen, he waved his hand. “Let’s talk about you paying for my door.”

Amory glanced at the door and then returned his eager gaze to Tang Tian. “Basic Tang, come to Beast Academy…”

Tang Tian looked at him helplessly, thinking, How could anyone be so dense… Wait!

“How did you know I was expelled?” Tang Tian’s tone grew cold.

“You didn’t know? The Zhou family tried to keep it quiet, but their young master is an idiot—he bragged everywhere that he’s going to be the new boss at Ander Academy! Now the whole Starwind City knows. The Zhou family’s lost a lot of face this time!” Amory gave a knowing laugh.

The Zhou family!

Realization dawned on Tang Tian. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes, his fist tightening. He would settle this score!

“Come to Beast Academy! C’mon, c’mon!” Amory pleaded.

Seeing this, Tang Tian had to be frank. “I only know basic martial skills and was just expelled—why would Beast Academy take me?”

“Huh, that’s true!” Amory nodded repeatedly, enlightenment dawning on his face.

Seeing this, Tang Tian didn’t even have the will to curse him.

Amory furrowed his brow, squatting on the floor, lost in thought.

“Hey, hurry up and pay for my door,” Tang Tian reminded him. “Don’t waste my time; even a godlike man has to find a job!”

At that moment, Amory’s eyes lit up, and he slapped the ground in excitement. “Haha! I’ve got it!”

Bang!

The ground shook so hard Tang Tian nearly lost his balance.

Amory’s whole palm was embedded in the floor, cracks radiating out like a spider’s web.

Dust rained from the ceiling as Tang Tian stood there, dumbstruck.

Tang Tian eyed the old man before him, who was even more ragged than himself, with deep suspicion. He glanced at Amory—was this big ox dragging him out to do charity work?

He did look like a good guy, but this was hardly the time!

“Old Wei, I’ve brought your school a genius!” Amory announced loudly, clearly well acquainted with the old man.

School?

Hearing that word, Tang Tian grew even more suspicious. What kind of school would let such a slovenly man work there?

“A genius?” Old Wei squinted. “A genius at basic martial skills, you mean?”

Amory was dumbfounded, then looked impressed. “Ah! So you could tell too!”

Tang Tian rolled his eyes—did this guy not understand sarcasm?

Amory puffed up with pride. “He’s the martial artist I admire most, with the heart of a true warrior, determined to forge his own path, known as Perfect Basic Tang—the godlike man, Tang Tian!”

“My, my! Sounds impressive!” Old Wei laughed, eyeing Tang Tian up and down.

“Well? Quite the bargain, huh?” Amory thumped his chest with pride. “Recruit him and your ramshackle school will make a comeback for sure.”

“Mm, makes sense, makes sense. But tell me, Amory, wouldn’t you want to join in on something so interesting?” Old Wei smiled slyly.

Tang Tian couldn’t stand it anymore. It was obvious to him that the old man was scheming to recruit Amory. He wanted to get into the school, but not at Amory’s expense. The big ox might be a bit dim, but Tang Tian couldn’t just abandon loyalty.

He was about to speak up when Amory started counting on his thick fingers. “I might join, but only if the terms are right. One fourth-tier Soul General Card, bladed weapon type, at least silver level. Triple the regular stipend. Five fourth-tier star stones, fifty third-tier star stones. All subjects waived with perfect scores. If I make the top fifty in the Starwind City exams, five more fourth-tier star stones; top thirty, ten stones; top ten, twenty stones; top five, forty stones; first place gets one fifth-tier star stone.”

Tang Tian was dumbstruck—this was highway robbery!

What an outrageous list of demands!

“Deal!” Old Wei agreed without hesitation.

Tang Tian was moved to tears.