I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

“Did he just unlock a new skill?”

Xue Jing glanced at the notification that appeared in front of him.

In an instant, he felt a newfound 'harmony' within himself.

Previously, when he tried to act all arrogant and flashy, it felt forced and unnatural, as it wasn’t aligned with his true character. His expressions and movements were often slightly off.

But now, he exuded an aura of ‘I’m the king of the world’ confidence, seamlessly and without a hitch. If this were a fantasy novel, he’d be a villain of the royal emperor’s son caliber.

Even his emotions felt genuinely haughty.

"Look at me, kid."

Xue Jing stood over Chen Feng, looking down on him with natural superiority, his tone no longer deliberately disdainful but innately commanding.

"What champion, huh?"

Chen Feng felt the pressure on his chest and abdomen, his stern expression gradually transforming.

From disbelief it twisted to shame and rage, eventually spiraling into outright fury.

He summoned all his strength, violently shaking off Xue Jing’s foot, quickly got back on his feet, and reached for Xue Jing’s collar, shouting in unconstrained anger:

"Damn brat, I’ll fu—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Xue Jing intercepted his outstretched hand.

With a surge of power, their palms met, and without holding back, Xue Jing overpowered Chen Feng’s force entirely, grabbing his index and middle fingers and twisting them mercilessly.

“Crack—”

The sound of bones twisting echoed as Chen Feng’s fingers were bent into an unnatural curve, nearly touching the back of his hand.

“Ah!!” Chen Feng screamed in agony.

“I asked you a question, who gave you permission to stand up?”

Xue Jing yanked him like a rag doll, the sound of a dragon’s roar resonating, as his strength infiltrated Chen Feng’s body, completely crushing any resistance.

Chen Feng was lifted off the ground, the force surging through him visibly bending every part it touched, bones cracking relentlessly, and he lost all balance, collapsing once more onto the floor.

“Such an ill-mannered champion.”

Xue Jing stepped on the back of his head, pressing down hard, embedding Chen Feng’s face into the rubber ground, causing cracks to radiate outward.

“……”

Everyone stared, wide-eyed and speechless, at the scene that unfolded so suddenly.

The seemingly invincible martial arts club president, usually untouchable and tyrannical, was now beneath someone’s foot.

And this someone appeared to be nothing more than a seemingly teenage boy.

In the eerie silence, Xue Wan was the first to react.

She hummed and noted: “It seems Brother Chen can’t handle my little brother.”

“What a shame.”

……

After the group exited the martial arts club venue, Shang Ping, a petite college girl, immediately covered her mouth with both hands and looked at Xue Jing in disbelief, saying, "Brother Jing... you're incredible!"

Zhao Lu and Wei Juan nodded in agreement.

That person was the president of Feng University's martial arts club, someone who had won several collegiate martial arts championships.

To Feng University's students, he was almost the strongest university student they knew.

But in front of Xue Jing, he was like a mere chick, easily handled with a casual grip.

Xue Wan curiously asked, "I did tell you to be a little harsh... but wasn't that a bit too much?"

"I was just cooperating with you, wasn't I? How's my acting?" Xue Jing shrugged.

In fact, he also realized he might have overdone it.

Once [Performance] was activated, he immersed himself in the role of this arrogant character, becoming so absorbed that he unconsciously followed through with a fiercer hand.

Xue Wan looked at him skeptically with two glances: "Doesn't seem like you're acting."

"You're not secretly a wild rebel outside, beating people up and acting cool outside when I'm not around, are you?"

Xue Jing replied helplessly, "You're overthinking it."

Xue Wan chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Xue Jing's hair, "Thanks this time, you're truly my little brother, all grown up and able to help your sister now."

Xue Jing moved her playful hand away and said, "Are you sure this is enough? Didn't you say Chen Feng was a tough nut?"

"It's enough... if this doesn't work and he still bothers me, then I have other ways to deal with him." Xue Wan said with a gleaming smile.

"Don't worry, your sister won't get the short end."

Seeing her confident demeanor, Xue Jing nodded, "That's good to hear."

The cat lying on Xue Jing's shoulder yawned.

……

After wandering around Feng University campus for a while with Xue Wan and the others, Xue Jing asked her, "By the way, weren't you from the Horticulture Institute? Why not take me there for a look?"

Xue Wan paused for a moment, and then said nonchalantly, "Not much to see there, just a bunch of flowers and plants."

Zhao Lu smiled, "It's not easy to visit the Horticulture Institute casually, Wan Wan's professor, that Professor Lyu... how should I say, is quite traditional."

"Aside from Wan Wan, I haven't seen Professor give any other student a good face... if we brought outsiders into the Horticulture Institute, she'd probably get upset."

Xue Jing nodded, "I see."

As they were talking, a voice suddenly called out nearby.

"Wan Wan~"

The group turned to look.

A woman, appearing to be around thirty, likely a teacher, clutching a book, waved from the corridor not too far away.

“Professor Lyu is looking for you, she wants you to see her immediately~”

Xue Wan paused for a moment, then replied, “Alright~ I know.”

Seeing this, Xue Jing said, “Sis, if you have something to do, go ahead. I need to head back to the hotel.”

Xue Wan thought for a moment and said, “Alright… You have a match tomorrow. I've already bought tickets; I'll be there to cheer you on.”

Xue Jing nodded with a smile.

“A match? Wait, tomorrow… is it the U19?”

Zhao Lu exclaimed in surprise.

Shang Ping complained, “Wow, Wanwan, why didn’t you say so earlier! I wonder if tickets are sold out, better check quickly!”

“Brother's match must be seen live!”

Wei Juan took out her phone, “Why rush, the stadium seats over ten thousand people, plenty of tickets. Even if sold out, there's always scalpers…”

Xue Jing smiled and said, “Let’s call it a day. I’m heading off.”

Just as he was about to turn towards the school gate, Xue Wan stopped him, “Wait! Leave Xiaofengwan here.”

Xue Jing paused his step, helplessly, “Haven’t you had enough?”

Xue Wan reached out to scoop the cat from Xue Jing’s shoulder, cradling it in her arms, rubbing her cheek against its head, blissful, “How could I ever have enough? I want to be with Xiaofengwan forever, Mommy loves you!”

She then kissed the corners of the cat’s mouth several more times.

The cat turned its gaze to Xue Jing, its face showing an almost human-like ‘Old Man, Subway, Smartphone.jpg’ expression.

Xue Jing scratched his chin. Although he too craved the comfort of the cat, seeing its tortured expression was quite amusing.

He waved and walked towards the school gate without looking back, “Goodbye.”

The cat's mouth twitched.

…

Walking on the path to the school gate, Xue Jing adjusted his glasses and opened the panel.

【… Fitness Experience +152】

【… Health Experience +51】

【… Combat Experience +133】

【… Hidden Dragon Skill Experience +106】

【… Acting Experience +69】

"Acting skills..."

Xue Jing's eyes landed on this newly activated skill.

"What an unexpected gain," he mused.

Although it had just been activated, his extensive martial arts training gave him immense control over his body, making him immediately realize the benefits of this skill.

This skill appeared to be as useless as "Culinary Arts" and "Charm Techniques" when it came to hard power.

However, this wasn't the case.

"Emotional control... No, perhaps it’s more like... 'Emotional mobilization ability'?"

Xue Jing pondered.

The skill of acting endowed him with the ability to conjure emotions from thin air.

Earlier, at the martial arts club, after activating his acting skill, he intended to portray an arrogant character and successfully summoned the emotion of 'arrogance'.

This was something he couldn't achieve before activating the skill.

The "True Vision" granted him powerful emotional control but didn't provide the ability to stir emotions out of nowhere.

"The ability to control emotions is 'static energy', while the ability to summon emotions is 'dynamic energy'."

"With this acting skill, I can instantly stir up 'dynamic energy' within, which is quite impressive."

A martial artist’s combat power is profoundly influenced by emotions; without fighting spirit, killer intent, fighting will, confidence, or rage... these dynamic energies, punches lack strength, and even the desire to fight wanes, making it impossible to defeat opponents.

The ability to generate 'dynamic energy' from nothing is a talent every martial artist dreams of!

"No wonder Brother Feng is so incredible, even a casual skill like this is so remarkable."

"With this, I might comprehend the other hidden technique of the Canglong style before mastering 'Dianjing'..."

Xue Jing contemplated.

The three great secrets of the Canglong style: the first is the ultimate result of the five rigorously trained techniques of the Moving Stake and Shaking Armor, the pinnacle of killer moves, 'Dianjing'.

The second, the final outcome of cultivating Draconic Qi through the Static Stake Dormant Dragon Technique, the ultimate application of dynamic energy, is called—

'Reverse Scale'!

The so-called Draconic Qi essentially involves adopting a mystical state where one perceives oneself as a true dragon.

Once mastery of Draconic Qi is achieved, in the spiritual sense, a person becomes like a true dragon.

Being a true dragon implies having a reverse scale in the heart, and when touched by others, it leads to extreme anger.

The so-called 'Secret Art: Reverse Scale' involves igniting one's spirit, like a dragon in fury touched on its reverse scale, unleashing full physical potential, entering an overwhelmingly explosive state.

Punches delivered at that time are several times more powerful than usual.

"According to the theory of 'spiritual power influencing personal reality', Reverse Scale is not merely about emotions."

Xue Jing spoke to himself.

Prior to understanding this theory, Xue Jing saw 'Reverse Scale' merely as a method of adrenaline surge, a method akin to the demonic disintegration technique that injures oneself while damaging the enemy, hence he didn't pay it much attention.

But that changed after he understood the theory.

Xue Jing now values the "Reverse Scale" even more highly than the skill of "Enlightenment," placing it just below the ultimate move.

"Just like how I can unleash an unexpected sword aura with the realm of the Heavenly Blade, the combat power boost from the Reverse Scale must largely come from mental interference. Other than mental energy expenditure, there shouldn't be any other cost..."

Thoughts flashed through his mind continuously as Xue Jing unconsciously walked out of the school gate.

"It's not just about managing emotions—the control over my body has improved significantly as well... What a useful skill this is."

Control over his physical form, facial expressions, and such fall within the range of his acting skills.

"And then there's the training of the Crouching Dragon Technique—this skill should notably speed up the cultivation of dragon energy."

Xue Jing stepped out of the school gates, adjusted his glasses, and was about to hail a taxi on the road.

Just then, a figure suddenly blocked his path.

"Hmm?"

Xue Jing looked up.

Clad in a black cloak with a hood, the individual had the upper half of their face shrouded in shadow, revealing only the lower half.

From the outline and features of the visible lower half, it was obviously a woman.

Having been lost in thought until now, Xue Jing only then took notice of the strangely serene area around the school entrance.

He glanced around and saw no one besides himself and the figure before him—not even a gatekeeper.

Xue Jing narrowed his eyes slightly, came to a halt, and said nothing.

In the silence, the cloaked woman spoke.

"Sir, do you have faith?"

A missionary?

After thinking for a moment, Xue Jing replied, "I am a materialist."

The woman smiled and said, "Even materialists can have faith."

"My faith is materialism—does that explanation not suffice?"

As Xue Jing spoke, the color of his pupils began to shift, quietly transforming into a soft, silvery white, like moonlight.

"Of course it can suffice. The boundaries of the word 'faith' aren't so narrow. But the faith I want to talk to you about is an object of spiritual sustenance, a confirmation of the path one has chosen."

The woman seemed unaware of anything amiss, continuing to speak softly:

"Many paths exist in this world, but the vast majority are wrong. Thus, discerning the correct path requires a reference point."

"And a being who has completed the correct path is the best reference."

Moonlight seemed to condense within Xue Jing's silver-white eyes, though he didn't act upon it. He remarked calmly, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

The woman smiled, "All men and women in this world are like flowers, each person unique, the sole flower of their kind, contributing to a world of myriad blossoms."

"And the one who governs this myriad blossoms is a great, magnificent existence..."

"This being is the reference for having walked the correct path, the nurturing mother of myriad blossoms, the ever-pervasive fragrance."

"Sir, you possess the talent to follow this being and tread the correct path with them."

The woman spread her arms wide, her head slightly raised to reveal one strikingly colorful eye.

“Come, join us at the Blossoming God Gathering, embrace the Master of a Thousand Flowers, and draw upon the warmth of the benevolent mother.”