Chapter Three: The Azure Dragon Divine Qi Incantation

Within the Infinite Merit Tome, there were four divine incantations: the Vermilion Bird’s Divine Light, the Black Tortoise’s Divine Might, the White Tiger’s Divine Arms, and the Qilin’s Divine Heroism. Gao Wu had no idea what these four incantations were for; his past life’s experience was of no help whatsoever, as back then the Infinite Merit Tome was nothing more than an ordinary ancient text.

Judging by the names, the White Tiger’s Divine Arms seemed well-suited for combat. He attempted to channel merit to empower the White Tiger’s manifestation, but nothing happened. The same was true for the other divine forms. Clearly, ten thousand merit was still insufficient to awaken these manifestations. Gao Wu did not dwell on it and instead invested the entire ten thousand merit into the Azure Dragon’s Divine Qi Incantation.

The Azure Dragon’s manifestation on the Infinite Merit Tome shone with a brilliant light, plunging directly into the depths of Gao Wu’s brow. The Azure Dragon bore antlers like a deer, a bull’s head, the body of a serpent with a fish’s tail, its entire form sheathed in blue-gold scales, and four claws resembling a phoenix’s talons. Soaring and coiling, the Azure Dragon exuded an extraordinary, spirited majesty.

In a daze, Gao Wu felt as if he had become one with the Azure Dragon, roaming through the blood-red river of time, spiraling around towering white columns, and darting over pulsating crimson mountains.

After a long while, Gao Wu finally opened his eyes. Sitting up, he clenched his fists, sensing the power surging within, threatening to burst forth from between his fingers. His mind was exceptionally clear, his entire being brimming with boundless energy—a state of vitality he had never known before.

He silently recited the incantation to summon the Infinite Merit Tome and saw that the Azure Dragon’s Divine Qi Incantation had reached the Minor Achievement level.

Since awakening at fourteen, Gao Wu had practiced the Azure Dragon’s Divine Qi Incantation dozens of times daily. Even with accumulated merit, after four years he had only reached the third level—Proficiency. The same was true for the Nine Forms of the Dragon; it had taken him four years to reach the second level—Adept.

It might sound unimpressive, but Adept was already quite remarkable. Among the other members of the Ninth High School’s martial arts team, most martial skills were at this level. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” At Adept, one could already master many subtle techniques far beyond the average person.

The third level—Proficiency—meant a true professional standard. Gao Wu believed this equated to an Advanced Martial Artist. The fourth level—Minor Achievement—was enough to match a Warrior who had awakened Source Power.

Since the Martial Emperor, Qin Liuhe, ushered in the New Era, a full century had passed, and martial arts had established a complete system. Countless trials had proven that awakening Source Power required a sufficiently strong physical foundation. Only Advanced Martial Artists met the basic criteria for awakening Source Power.

Generally, only specialized martial arts programs at elite institutions possessed the full suite of knowledge and techniques for awakening Source Power. For ordinary people, the odds of awakening it on their own were extremely slim.

Once a martial artist opened the Source Aperture and obtained Source Power, they could easily surpass human limits—leaping, soaring, and even using Source Fields to resist modern firearms.

At this stage, one would be honored as a Warrior. Among a hundred martial artists, not even one might become a Warrior.

Gao Wu’s goal was to enter Donghe Prefecture’s top martial arts academy and strive to become a Warrior. He had no other particular talents, but with the Infinite Merit Tome, he was certain to forge his own path in martial arts.

Having survived a harrowing accident, Gao Wu set his heart on one ambition: to become the world’s strongest, to annihilate all monstrous beasts and evil entities.

To him, his previous life was but a long, distant dream. This life was his true existence—his foundation.

His martial arts points at the high school were still far from enough for a guaranteed recommendation. Admission to a first-rate university’s martial arts program was extremely competitive and much harder than the regular university entrance exams. Attending a second-rate college was not difficult, but it would all but sever any path upward.

Fortunately, the merit he gained from saving someone by chance allowed him to bring the Azure Dragon’s Divine Qi Incantation to Minor Achievement ahead of schedule.

Gao Wu summoned the Infinite Merit Tome and saw that his Constitution had leapt by 1.7, reaching 10 points. Each point increased his physical strength by roughly fifty percent; this meant his physique was now 7.5 times stronger than a healthy average adult.

This enhancement also raised his lifespan to one hundred and thirty years. It was not an exaggeration; a well-preserved ordinary person could live to a hundred. With such a powerful constitution, his lifespan ought to reach seven or eight centuries by proportion. Evidently, one hundred and thirty years was a kind of limit.

The most immediate benefit of a higher Constitution was his enhanced resilience. Among peers, it would be nearly impossible for anyone to knock him out in the ring. Moreover, such strength meant he could endure the harshest training regimens.

The advantages were immeasurable.

Even more remarkable, the Nine Forms of the Dragon had advanced to Proficiency. Since this technique was based on emulating the dragon’s form, his spiritual union with the Azure Dragon and the insight gained from “soaring dragon in the heavens” naturally advanced his mastery.

Choosing the Nine Forms of the Dragon as his primary discipline was initially due to the Azure Dragon’s Divine Qi Incantation. Now it seemed an inspired choice.

Though he could not conduct precise tests, Gao Wu felt his strength, reflexes, and endurance had all improved noticeably.

As he pondered the transformations wrought by the Azure Dragon’s Divine Qi Incantation, a rapid knocking sounded outside his door.

Shen Yue’s impatient voice pierced through, “Hey, Gao! Open up!”

He added, “There’s good news!”

“What good news?” Gao Wu lazily opened the door to let Shen Yue in, then flopped back onto his bed.

They were close enough that formalities were unnecessary.

Dragging a chair to the bedside, Shen Yue’s thin, sharp face was alight with excitement. “That girl wasn’t a student here. A whole group came and took her away from the infirmary as soon as she arrived. Judging by their manner, she must come from a prominent family!”

He sighed, “For a rich girl like her, what could possibly have weighed on her so heavily?”

“That’s odd…” Gao Wu found it strange. The girl had seemed composed, rational, and emotionally stable—not the type to contemplate suicide. Moreover, coming all the way to Ninth High just to jump in the lake was inexplicable.

There might be some special reason behind it, but it had nothing to do with him and was not worth investigating.

He asked casually, “So what’s the good news?”

“The girl has nothing to do with the school. Your brave rescue is now positive publicity—it’ll bring honor and credit to the school,” Shen Yue replied. “Because of this, the school won’t try to suppress the video’s spread; they’ll even reward you, maybe even help with the promotion! With your reputation growing, you’ll get more opportunities in the martial arts league!”

Gao Wu realized this made sense. Any student attempting suicide at school, regardless of reason, would be a huge scandal. Ninth High was considered second-tier in Dongjiang City, but as a directly governed prefectural school, it still had significant influence in the media and online.

They would never allow a scandal to spread.

Now, however, the school would make a great show of publicizing his rescue—an opportunity for positive exposure.

He sighed, “For your age, you’re pretty sharp!”

“That’s basic instinct for someone making short videos online. I’ve learned the hard way…” Shen Yue began, then caught himself, pointing at Gao Wu and laughing, “Hey, I’m two months older than you! Don’t play coy!”

Gao Wu responded with mock solemnity, “You’re right, I stand corrected.”

“Seriously, this is your chance to shine.” Shen Yue was genuinely invested in Gao Wu’s affairs. “Once I get home and edit the video properly, add some stirring music and narration, you’re bound to get some traction!”

He’d been making short videos for two years on QuickSound—not famous, but experienced. He had developed his own sense for what worked. The rescue was both a compelling story and visually striking; it was sure to attract attention. For him, it was a chance to gain followers too.

“You’re my brother!” Gao Wu was deeply grateful. “Once I’m famous, dinner’s on me—buffet style!”

He didn’t much care for fame; what mattered was that spreading the video could bring him more merit. That was what he truly needed.

“Honestly, that girl was beautiful and rich. You really lucked out! Hero saves the beauty—now you can be her boyfriend and have it all!” Shen Yue said with envy.

“We’ve long outgrown such base desires. My only goal is to serve the people!” Gao Wu said righteously.

“Bah!” Shen Yue rolled his eyes, then hurried off to edit the video.

(A heartfelt thanks to Rose Wildwind and Brother Qin—their support as Alliance Leaders will be noted, and there’ll be bonus chapters after the book goes live. Thanks to everyone for your rewards and monthly votes—I’m moved, and bow deeply to you all!)