Chapter 1: Li Ye

March 24, 2029, Jiangning City, Xia Nation.

The chill of early spring lingered, especially in the morning.

On the top floor suite of a luxurious hotel beside Jiangning University, a young man stood alone in the empty living room, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the gradually brightening sky.

Far, far away in his line of sight, a faint crimson mist hovered.

“Ha.”

The young man stood still, exhaling a breath that formed a warm white mist in the cold air.

He moved closer to the balcony, bent one knee into a half-squat with the entire foot on the ground, toes pointed outward at a 30° angle, the other leg slightly bent with the ball of the foot touching the floor and heel raised. Then, he alternated the weight between his legs, repeating the movement slowly and steadily.

“Hu...xi...” The rhythmic sound of breathing filled the air as Li Ye keenly felt the tension in his core muscles.

After ten minutes, the tendons and muscles in his legs began to receive deep stimulation, dispelling the lingering chill of early spring wrapped around him, bringing a pleasant warmth.

Fifteen minutes later, his calves trembled slightly as the torment and pain set in. Fortunately, Li Ye was already accustomed to it.

“I wonder if that girl Xue Ning took it to heart... Well, luckily I had Aunt Lu start preparing things first.”

His feet kept moving, but Li Ye’s thoughts wandered far away.

He thought of the young lady who liked to introduce jobs to this “good-for-nothing” and of Aunt Lu, who made him braised pork every few days.

His strict instructions in recent days were all for today—nothing could go wrong!

Though his eyes remained calm and still like a dead lake.

The “Void Step Stance” was not something he had learned in this life; it was a skill he had already mastered to perfection in his previous life.

Back then, combined with his body enhanced by mythical powers, he had barely survived over a decade in the apocalypse.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind Li Ye.

“Xiao Ye, you truly are a martial prodigy rarely seen in a century in Xia Nation!”

A tall figure entered the spacious living room.

“Teacher Qin? Didn’t you have a class this morning?”

Li Ye took a deep breath, stood up, and turned with a radiant smile.

As he spoke, he silently repeated the man’s name three times in his mind.

Qin Wu, Qin Wu, Qin Wu.

“Don’t forget, Xiao Ye, you’re coming home with me this weekend. My grandfather treasures you; he keeps mentioning that this might be your chance to get noticed by those in the Underworld!”

Qin Wu smiled, generously praising him.

“I know, Teacher Qin. After your class this morning, remember to come back. I studied all night and found a flaw in that boxing form. I want you to take a look.”

Qin Wu’s face lit up with surprise. He threw an arm around Li Ye’s shoulder eagerly.

“I knew you could do it. That old man was definitely trying to make things difficult for me. Luckily, I have you.”

“Got it. Now go to class, Professor Qin,” Li Ye said with a helpless smile.

Qin Wu nodded, released Li Ye’s arm, adjusted his tailored gray shirt, and turned toward the door.

His once warm expression suddenly turned cold, jealousy almost solidifying in his eyes.

“Why him?!”

Even after Qin Wu left, Li Ye's expression remained unchanged.

After waiting a moment, he took the coat hanging by the door, closed it quietly, and left as well.

...

Not far from the hotel stood an old, shabby rental apartment.

Creak—

The grating sound of the door opening shattered the silence.

Li Ye stepped inside slowly and casually hung his coat on a rickety coat rack by the door.

His eyes landed on a mechanical electronic clock prominently placed on the dining table in the living room.

Beside the clock stood a lifelike statue of a bodhisattva.

Spotlessly clean, clearly well cared for by its owner.

Li Ye stared at the clock for a long while, then pulled out his phone from his pocket and glanced at it.

He looked up again.

Then down.

Then up once more.

He repeated this eight times, double-checking.

Today was indeed March 24, 2029.

The time was exactly 11:28.

Li Ye stripped off all his clothes and entered the bathroom.

The sound of running water whispered from the shower.

Not long after, he emerged from the shower, donned a bathrobe, and gently lay down on the bed.

He turned on the worn radio beside the bed.

“Midday news report: The Yangtze River basin’s waters grow increasingly turbulent, occasionally rising to waves several meters high...”

“A mysterious red mist has appeared near the Kunlun Mountains. Experts report it may contain a previously undiscovered substance. Simultaneously, nearly all creatures in the Kunlun area have shown hostile intentions. Experts preliminarily suspect a connection to the red mist.”

“A fleet from Europa has detected a massive architectural shadow beneath the Mediterranean Sea. Many scholars have boarded ships to investigate.”

“Minor tremors detected beneath the Asian tectonic plate may reach the surface by noon on March 25. Most experts believe it to be a slight shake, at most adding some excitement to daily life in Xia Nation.”

“In recent years, the combined scores of biology and physical education in college entrance exams have increased, even surpassing all other subjects...”

Listening to the broadcast, which sounded just as he remembered, Li Ye suddenly opened his eyes and whispered: “This afternoon.”

Leaving the bedroom, he retrieved some leftover food from the refrigerator and ate with evident enjoyment.

He stopped eating shortly after.

The fullness in his stomach delayed reaching his brain; he had calculated carefully that seven-tenths full was just right without compromising energy intake.

He glanced again at the clock on the table.

12:30.

Li Ye walked to a tightly shut door, opened it, and entered a sparsely furnished, neat room whose walls were covered with soundproofing foam.

Only in the center stood a tall wooden training dummy.

Its surface was covered with deep and shallow punch marks, some even stained with dried blood.

Li Ye stood firmly before the dummy, feet planted.

Suddenly, his fists shot forward like arrows, creating whooshing winds as turbulent air rippled through the room.

His movements opened and closed with the precision of five drawn bows, fists and feet striking like lightning.

After completing the boxing form, he broke a light sweat that aided digestion.

He activated the fresh air system in the room, sat cross-legged on the floor, and began his daily afternoon meditation.

He had practiced these motions hundreds of times, ensuring he could maintain his body at peak condition.

2:30 p.m.

Li Ye opened his eyes on time. Through the window, the weather remained fair.

The faint red mist that had been just a few strands in the morning was now clearly visible.

He turned off the ventilation system and approached the wooden dummy.

Pressing on its chest, a soft click sounded as a hidden compartment opened.

Inside lay a multicolored stone.

Li Ye carefully took the stone out and kept it close to his body.

Finally, he solemnly approached the bodhisattva statue in the living room and bowed nine times.

Taking up his coat, he turned without looking back and left.

The door slammed shut, leaving only the ticking clock on the table—

Tick... tick...