C9 Fighting

In an undisclosed location, there lay a secret haven brimming with an array of sophisticated instruments. This was a concealed space, hidden from the light of day, captivating countless individuals with its enigmatic allure.

People bustled ceaselessly, pacing back and forth, engrossed in the devices before them. The vastness of the area was overwhelming; was it thousands of square meters, or perhaps even more expansive? The crowd was immense, with numbers easily surpassing a thousand.

In an age marked by the Federation Calendar, in a time dominated by warriors, it was astonishing to find such a multitude of technicians converging in one place.

At the heart of this hive of activity stood a colossal screen. To call it a mere screen would be an understatement; it was, more accurately, a massive virtual display that was projected into the space.

Before this display sat a young man, his eyes shielded by an outdated pair of black-rimmed glasses, his white lab coat immaculate. His demeanor left no doubt that he was one of the skilled technicians.

His gaze was fixed intently on the screen as data flickered across it. Moments later, he adjusted his glasses instinctively and tapped a watch on his right wrist. Instantly, a new virtual screen materialized before him. With a few light taps, he interacted with the display before shutting it off.

Clearing his throat, he watched as the large screen before him shimmered. A blurry figure emerged, though saying it appeared on the screen doesn't quite capture the event. Rather, it seemed to step right out of the digital canvas.

This wasn't an actual person but a lifelike virtual projection. She was a woman of breathtaking beauty, so exquisite that words failed to do her justice, seemingly not of this world.

Indeed, her features were not naturally occurring in humanity but were the result of innumerable calculations, a digitally enhanced epitome of beauty.

The projected woman, silent, nodded to the man, then extended her hand. With her gesture, a new virtual screen sprang into existence, captivating the onlookers with its projection.

It was beyond the realm of imagination for many that, in an era belonging to the warrior, as per the Federation Calendar, a place so infused with technological wonder could exist.

At that moment, an alarm blared from the screen! The data displayed was erratic, showing no signs of stability. The laboratory staff sprang into action, manipulating the instruments before them, a stark contrast to their previous ease. The flurry of activity cast an eerie sense of dread over the room.

The man before the screen, despite his grimace, remained composed. He murmured, "This test is still not stable." Shaking his head, he called out, "Lishu!" His voice barely faded when the large screen above displayed the data sets. Next to the data, a figure lay in deep slumber—Jie Mu.

The man's frown deepened as he eyed the progress bar on the screen, massaging his temples in frustration. The beautiful woman beside him spoke softly, audible only to him, "Should we inform him about this unexpected development?" He glanced at her and shook his head decisively, "No, let's not rush. The teacher foresaw even this minor issue. Have Little Thirteen handle it and keep Yu Wen out of it. We need a swift resolution."

...

Jie Mu continued his trek through the unfamiliar terrain. Approaching a stream, he was hit by an overpowering and peculiar fishy stench that was almost sickening. But more pressing was the sight across the stream—a colossal wall towering over the wilderness, its integrity a stark contrast to the ruins he had passed earlier.

The sight of such a grand structure captivated Jie Mu, his gaze lingering. "Why is there such a high wall here? What secrets does it hold?" He mulled over several questions, then a thought struck him. "The pollution of this stream likely stems from those residing beyond the wall."

He pondered what might be produced within. "In the Civilization Calendar Era, most factories were destroyed, and many heavy industries became obsolete. Yet, rumors suggest some powerful factions have preserved certain technologies. Could this site be affiliated with such a force?" As he contemplated, Jie Mu's eyes caught sight of a massive drainage pipe embedded in the wall, spewing a continuous stream of red liquid.

Curiosity drove him toward the drainage pipe.

Yet, as he advanced, each step seemed to strike his heart with a fierce blow, instilling a sense of dread and pain that was beyond words. It was as if the pounding wasn't just in his heart, but was resonating with his very soul.

When Jie Mu reached the factory's wastewater outlet, terror struck, and he collapsed to the ground.

His stomach churned violently, and he began to vomit, while cold sweat streamed down his forehead, leaving his complexion deathly pale.

Jie Mu was rendered speechless, his mind a complete blank, seemingly stripped of the ability to think clearly.

He had been raised in a tavern, accustomed to the sight of death, yet he was utterly petrified.

For what Jie Mu witnessed in the drain was no ordinary sight.

A multitude of limbs, countless human remnants, lay grotesquely still within the drain, delivering a shock beyond imagination.

It dawned on Jie Mu why he had encountered no one on his journey.

A few bodies alone could not have turned such an expanse of stream crimson.

He should have realized sooner that the stench was far from ordinary—it was the unmistakable scent of copious amounts of human blood.

The putrid smell of decaying flesh relentlessly assaulted Jie Mu's senses, causing him to retch bile repeatedly.

Yet, none of it eased his nausea or the terror that gripped him.

Meanwhile, as Jie Mu continued to heave, a beam of light pierced the dull sky.

Like someone awakening from slumber, a colossal eye, vast as a football field, emerged in the heavens, slowly opening.

Gazing upwards, Jie Mu's mouth agape, a searing pain erupted from the depths of his soul, a torment that cut to the very heart.

With the opening of this eye, the pain only intensified, and bizarre afterimages began to emerge in his consciousness.

...

On the grand avenue leading to Duross City, Yu Wen's fists were clenched with determination as she leaped from the carriage. Blood-red patterns emerged from her knuckles, spreading across her arms, while the glint of electronic light enhanced her formidable presence. With a grave expression, she fixed her gaze on the adversary before her.

Standing before her was none other than Jie Mu!

Just moments before, Yu Wen had been driving the carriage with ease when suddenly, Jie Mu's hand shot out from inside the carriage and grabbed her face.

Initially, Yu Wen thought he was playing a prank, as he often did, and she reflexively punched back.

But this punch was no laughing matter; she nearly fractured her own arm.

It felt as though she had struck a steel plate several feet thick, and a numbing sensation spread through her hand.

The two then engaged in combat, exchanging over a dozen blows before leaping off the carriage.

Yu Wen noticed something off about Jie Mu; he didn't respond to her calls.

His eyes, once warm when they met hers, now held only violence and confusion.

Though she was clueless about what had happened to Jie Mu and lacked any knowledge of treatment methods, Yu Wen had her own way of handling the situation.

One word: fight!

Yu Wen couldn't afford to take any chances with Jie Mu in his current state.

She unleashed her full power, activating the Machine Arts from the Fourth Department, which harnessed the strength of her arms.

Her internal energy was now at the cusp of Dark Strength, and her mastery of the Machine Arts had reached the pinnacle of Level Four, on the verge of breaking into Level Five.

Yu Wen was confident that at her full power, she could hold her own against an expert in the middle period of the Acquired Stage.

Jie Mu stood his ground, not seizing the opportunity to strike while Yu Wen was powering up her Machine Arts, but instead waited for her to finish.

Then, with a single step, he shattered the ground beneath him and closed the distance to Yu Wen.

She was ready, her right fist cocked back.

As Jie Mu materialized before her, she unleashed her full force in a punch.

"Open Bow, Distant!"

The Fist Technique Yu Wen practiced was the advanced Earthly Fist Technique of the Yu family — the "Distance Suppressing Mountain Splitting Fist."

Legend has it that it was created a thousand years ago by General Yu Dingyuan, whose Fist Technique was unmatched in ferocity and dominance.

Having achieved Great Completion, shattering mountains was as effortless as tossing pebbles aside.

Yu Wen's punch struck squarely on Jie Mu's chest!

In Fragrance Light Valley, she had practiced on a massive boulder, which she had shattered with a single punch.

But this time, Yu Wen didn't hold back.

After delivering the punch, she stepped forward.

With the move "Hungry Tiger Pouncing on Prey," she seized Jie Mu's arm. Then, her right elbow and knee struck simultaneously, hitting Jie Mu squarely in the chest and abdomen with the "Roar of the Tiger and Dragon" technique.

This technique, with the force to break apart a giant boulder, was Yu Wen's most powerful move to date.

Chenmu had taught her from a young age to exert full force even when hunting a rabbit!

Thus, Yu Wen, facing the frenzied Jie Mu, spared no effort and unleashed her most formidable technique.

Reeling from the impact, Jie Mu was sent flying and crashed heavily onto the boulder behind him.

The boulder, too, bore the brunt of the ferocious punch, fracturing with countless cracks.