Chapter 1: Since ancient times, talented people have been tested by nature. Those who can pass the test will accumulate the power of Tao.

Chapter 1: Since ancient times, great talents have been tested by heaven; those who pass the trials accumulate Dao power.

Four AM.

Dawn had not yet broken; the city still slept under the night sky, and the murky yellow streetlights extended like veins throughout the urban area.

Ji Jingqiu jogged out of the residential complex, crossed the skybridge between the tall buildings, and ran towards the lower levels of the urban area.

This urban area was called Taian City, the largest urban area on the East 3 Huang Star. Skyscraper-like buildings, resembling colossal trees reaching the heavens in a forest, soared into the clouds. The skybridges, green corridors, and conveyor belts between them formed intricate, interwoven ‘branches’ connecting this steel forest.

Ji Jingqiu looked up, through the gaps in the skybridge corridor, and saw the hazy sky.

He felt like an insect, crawling from the tree trunk towards the roots before dawn arrived.

As he descended deeper, there were no streetlights, and the sky was barely visible. Only the colorful neon signs of various establishments illuminated the narrow, ominous-looking alleyways.

He skillfully turned through one alley after another, maintaining a steady breath while jogging, until a grateful voice came from the corner ahead.

“Sister Mei, thank you for saving my life last time. Our teacher asked us to give this to you.”

“Just leave it there. You can go back if there’s nothing else.”

This voice was lazy, yet distant and cold, clearly belonging to a woman.

“Okay, Sister Mei. If you have any trouble that needs handling, you can notify us anytime. Although Yangyan Martial Arts School is small, we know to repay kindness!”

Ji Jingqiu continued walking forward.

He rounded the corner, brushing past three tall, sturdy young men.

The leader glanced sideways at Ji Jingqiu but did not stop.

Seeing Ji Jingqiu approach, Sister Mei, who had been bored, brightened up, as if she had spotted an interesting prey, and teased:

“Young man, you haven’t committed suicide yet? Last time you came for an interview, I thought you didn’t want to live, but it turns out you don’t want to die.”

She wore a black qipao with gold patterns and a high slit that reached her thigh. Her delicate chin was raised, and she held a jade-mouthed pipe.

Under the alternating light and shadow, her charming face and slightly pointed chin appeared even more Stereo and alluring.

“Follow me, Old Mu has been expecting you for a long time.”

Sister Mei wasted no words, bending down and entering a wooden door. Her figure, wrapped in the qipao, revealed graceful curves.

Ji Jingqiu bent to follow, and behind the narrow wooden door, it suddenly opened up into a spacious area. Electronic screens comparable to floor-to-ceiling windows and various precise instruments all highlighted the extraordinary nature of the owner of this place.

A dry cough.

A bald old man walked out from the inner room, put on a white lab coat, and, still groggy from sleep, rushed out. A smile was squeezed onto his dry face:

“You’re here.”

“There aren’t many young people this punctual anymore.”

Ji Jingqiu said seriously, “Being trustworthy is a good habit. When do we start? Also, when will the money be transferred?”

“We’ll transfer it to you now,” Sister Mei interjected with a smile. “We wouldn’t dare to owe you your wages.”

Upon hearing the “thirty thousand credited” message from his terminal, Ji Jingqiu for the first time showed a sunny smile.

Old Mu narrowed his eyes, scrutinized him, said nothing, and had him lie down on the medical bed.

“Let me repeat this to you again, during the drug trial, I need you to provide real-time feedback, so you cannot faint midway…”

Ji Jingqiu patiently listened to his rambling, recalling the job requirements in his mind.

“Let’s begin.”

The incandescent lamp overhead suddenly brightened, a blinding light. Ji Jingqiu tried his best to squint, but could only make out vague outlines.

The next moment, more than ten mutually complementary psychoactive drug components were simultaneously injected into his body, quickly weaving an invisible net through his blood circulation System, beginning to attack the predetermined neurons.

A tide of pain spread from his brain to every corner of his body.

This pain was progressive; at first, it was just a slight stinging in his flesh.

“Kid, does it hurt?”

“It’s alright.”

“Bear with it later. The pain Rank of this stuff is higher than your niedu syndrome.”

Ji Jingqiu didn’t make a sound.

“Are you very short on money?” Old Mu asked again.

“Yes.”

“What do you need money for?”

“What doesn’t cost money?”

…niedu syndrome, one of the few diseases for which the Federation allows euthanasia. You actually managed to endure until sixteen, I really want to commend you for being remarkable.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Care to talk about your mental journey over these years?”

“Will you add money?”

“This time I’ll add a twenty percent emotional surcharge for you.”

“I don’t want to die.”

“That doesn’t sound like a reason, more like self-mockery. Give me another one.”

“Since ancient times, great talents have been tested by heaven; those who pass the trials accumulate Dao power.”

“…Interesting,” the old man murmured.

Ji Jingqiu suddenly trembled all over. The drugs injected into his body began to take effect. Dozens, even hundreds, of neurotransmitters released a massive, tide-like flood of information. The pain began to intensify, far exceeding before…

At this moment, a large number of meaningless light and shadows flashed in his mind, like a runaway film projector. Past events flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

In his previous life, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis right after graduating from college. While in a daze, uncertain of his future, he saw a child drowning.

With both his parents being police officers, he didn’t hesitate, jumping into the icy river to save the child, but he himself drowned due to a sudden muscle weakness.

The moment he fell to the bottom of the dark river, he thought that this life shouldn’t be considered lived in vain; he hadn’t shamed his parents.

And when he opened his eyes again.

He had Transmigrated to this world.

Only, the beginning wasn’t good. The original body he Transmigrated into had suffered from an incurable disease called “niedu syndrome” since birth.

niedu syndrome was a “residual remnant” of the gene editing craze from one hundred and twenty years ago in the Federation.

This incurable disease was a congenital genetic mutation. It was not fatal, but euthanasia was the most humane choice.

Its etiology and pathogenesis were still not definitively established, and its main symptom was lifelong, intermittent, cyclical systemic pain that could not be suppressed by medication.

The pain Rank of niedu syndrome was set at 7.

Medically, pain was divided into Ranks 1-10, with the most classic toothache being Ranks 4-7.

This was an incurable disease where, if congenitally carried, one would face daily “toothache” torment from birth, and it could not be suppressed by medication.

Euthanasia was the most humane comfort the Federation could provide.

…

The incandescent light overhead extinguished.

The outlines before his eyes gradually became clear.

“Kid, are you alright?” Old Mu’s voice sounded.

Ji Jingqiu took a deep breath, grinned, and got up.

“That’s it for this time. Come back in a month. This way, there won’t be any side effects. I’m going on a long trip starting tomorrow.”

Ji Jingqiu checked the time; only half an hour had passed from the moment he lay on the medical bed until now.

He suddenly felt the money in his hand was somewhat unsettlingly earned, and cautiously said:

“It’s already over? Let me make it clear first, I won’t be returning the money…”

Hearing the boy’s worried tone about him returning the money made Old Mu’s face twitch. He said irritably:

“Withdraw your worries, you absolutely got more than your money’s worth!”

It didn’t sound like a compliment, but Ji Jingqiu, having received the emotional surcharge, wasn’t going to quibble.

Just as Ji Jingqiu was about to leave.

A sudden suggestion, whether out of goodwill or malice, came from behind him.

“You’re over sixteen, right? Practice martial arts.”

Ji Jingqiu’s footsteps paused.

Old Mu behind him took off his white lab coat and said indifferently:

“niedu syndrome generally doesn’t last beyond three years, but you actually endured until sixteen. It seems you truly don’t want to die.”

“If you don’t want to die that badly, then practice martial arts. As long as you achieve something in martial arts, your illness can be greatly alleviated.”

Ji Jingqiu’s eyes lit up, then he asked in confusion, “Why haven’t I found any mention of this online?”

Old Mu sneered:

“Because current Federal Martial Arts can only begin cultivation at sixteen! And before you, I have never heard of a niedu syndrome patient who could endure until they reached the age to cultivate martial arts!”

“Here, take this. This Visualization Art is wasted on me.”

Ji Jingqiu caught a scroll thrown by Old Mu.

He unrolled the Visualization Art and was instantly deeply shaken in his mind.

The crimson sky was burning, molten lava flowed across the earth, and everywhere he looked was a scene of purgatory.

With just one glance, he felt a mental impact from this painting; it was definitely not an ordinary item.

“Thank you, Grandpa Mu.” Ji Jingqiu changed his address, his tone respectful.

His elders at home had taught him that he should be especially respectful to those who had capabilities and were willing to teach him those capabilities.

Old Mu seemed unaccustomed to this address, and snorted, saying:

“Don’t thank me. I just think you’re a good test subject and don’t want you to die too quickly.

The path of martial arts isn’t something that can be solved with just one Visualization Art. You’ll have to find your own way for the rest, like martial arts schools or dojos.”

He turned back to the instruments, organizing today’s experimental data, and waved his hand:

“You can leave!”

Ji Jingqiu bowed, then bid farewell to Sister Mei at the door, and departed.

After he left.

Sister Mei leisurely walked in, and in a wisp of smoke, said lazily:

“Old Mu, did you really give away your family’s ancestral Visualization Art?”

“You didn’t give a fake one, did you?”

“A replicated version with Divine Ability,” Old Mu said indifferently. “I stole it from the clan back then. It’s long been useless to me, so why can’t I give it away? If you want to practice, I’ll give you a copy too.”

Sister Mei pouted, “Forget it. That thing of yours almost crippled a peerless Genius known as the Pride of the Sun in martial arts. I can’t handle it.”

“You can try. Maybe you’ll succeed,” Old Mu joked. “My family’s Huozhai Foyu Gu想法 doesn’t place much emphasis on talent; what it values is willpower.”

Sister Mei became curious for no reason: “Do you really think that kid can master it?”

“If he can’t master it, then probably no one in this world can,” Old Mu slightly raised his head, his gaze somewhat lost.

“How so?”

“My family’s inherited Visualization Art emphasizes entering the world and Undergoing Tribulation. Both body tribulation and heart tribulation are tribulations. One who undergoes ten tribulations is comparable to a Low-Ranked Visualization Method, a hundred tribulations correspond to a Mid-Ranked Visualization Method, and a thousand tribulations correspond to a High-Ranked Visualization Method.”

In the current Federal Martial Arts, all physical Cultivation Technique and Visualization Method are divided into four Ranks:

Low-Ranked, Mid-Ranked, High-Ranked, and Wushang Fa (Supreme Law).

Sister Mei exhaled smoke, saying irritably, “That ancestor of your family was a madman, no wonder he could create such a method! Is a thousand tribulations something a human can undergo?!”

“This Undergoing Tribulation is not that Undergoing Tribulation,” Old Mu said dismissively. “Who in the Federation doesn’t know that my Mu Family ancestor was the most benevolent, spending his life saving others, not killing anyone.”

His family’s inherited Visualization Method was named Fire Dwelling Buddhist Prison, meaning the world is like a fiery dwelling, and all sentient beings are immersed in a sea of suffering. Only by saving others and oneself can one reach the pure land on the other shore.

Old Mu recalled the young man’s eyes from earlier. He had never seen such a strong desire to live. He murmured:

“Earlier inside, that kid said something very interesting, and it was precisely that remark that prompted me to bestow this Visualization Method upon him.

I’m not worried about whether he can master it; I’m just curious to what extent this kid can master it.”

“What did he say?” Sister Mei pressed.

After a brief silence, Old Mu slowly said, “Since ancient times, great talents have been tested by heaven; those who pass the trials accumulate Dao power.”

Sister Mei’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

This sentence was incredibly compatible with the Fire Dwelling Buddhist Hell Contemplation Diagram!

Was it a coincidence, or…

Old Mu murmured:

“A thousand tribulations correspond to a High-Ranked Visualization Method, but High-Ranked is not the upper limit of my family’s inherited Visualization Method; it’s just that later generations were incompetent.”

“Back then, my Mu Family ancestor led by example, laying the foundation for the Federation’s eternal enterprise. He first saw the heavens and earth, then all sentient beings, and then his True Self, finally deriving a pure land. Only then, at fifty-six, did he perfect the method, achieving a body of Ten Thousand Tribulations, and illuminating the Supreme Wisdom Light Divine Ability.”

“But what if there was someone who, from birth, was subjected to the tempering of that old thief Heaven? Every time the illness flared up was a tribulation. He hovered countless times on the brink of death, enduring from birth until he was sixteen…

Do you think this counts as saving oneself from the sea of suffering? Does it count as—

Ten Thousand Tribulations befalling him?”

Sister Mei’s pupils suddenly constricted, and she blurted out, “Absurd!”

A thousand tribulations was already High-Ranked.

Ten Thousand Tribulations befalling him, an unparalleled path to the heavens!

Old Mu calmly nodded: “Indeed, how absurd.”

How could such a person exist in this world?

I… I’m alive again