I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

“Hidden Dragon Dojo?”

Xue Jing's eyebrows raised in curiosity.

He vaguely remembered this dojo.

When he first awakened and considered learning martial arts, he had looked up the tuition fees of various dojos in Qingcheng. The Hidden Dragon Dojo was among the most expensive.

However, the high fees weren't the reason it stuck in Xue Jing's mind.

It was the terrible online reviews—it was notorious for having atrocious teaching quality that didn’t justify the cost.

Xue Jing’s expression turned slightly complex.

The cat licked its paw, yawned, and said, “The Hidden Dragon Dojo has a poor reputation…but that opinion is from outsiders.”

“In the true martial arts circles, no one looks down on the Hidden Dragon Dojo, especially the old dojo master, Li Qi.”

The cat stretched out its front paws and gave a lazy stretch, its backside raised high.

“He is one of the few ancient martial experts who overcame the dragon’s gate and broke past human limits, all without resorting to ‘forbidden drugs’.”

“In his prime decades ago, he was as famous in the inner city as ‘Diamond Zhou’ and ‘Shura Chen’, earning the title of ‘Dragon King Li’.”

“Though he's just an old man in a wheelchair now, he'll more than suffice to teach you martial arts.”

Xue Jing picked up the cat and placed it on his lap, his curiosity piqued, and asked:

“Forbidden drugs? Leaping the Dragon Gate? Old martial arts? What do they all mean?”

He felt as though a new, vast gateway was opening before him; beyond it lay the realm of martial artists.

The cat seemed drowsy, its eyes half-closed as it lay sprawled across Xue Jing's lap. He gently stroked its back, the familiar comfort almost sending it into slumber.

“Forbidden drugs are concocted from materials gathered in a special borderland. They're intensely stimulating and can cause various mutations in the user's body, bestowing them with a physique beyond human limits.”

“For example, there are drugs that can alter the texture of a person's skin to make it as tough as steel, and some that might even cause extra limbs to grow, turning one into a six-armed monstrosity…”

“Ever since forbidden drugs appeared, the path of martial arts has taken a new direction…”

“Martial artists who refuse to take forbidden drugs, who persist in pushing the limits of the human body using their natural physiques, are called the 'Old Martial School'.”

The cat yawned widely, “As for Leaping the Dragon Gate, that's not something you need to worry about now—maybe not ever. Just forget about it for the time being…”

Having managed to finish its sentence, the cat's eyelids drooped shut. It curled up in Xue Jing's embrace, its breathing steady as it drifted into sleep.

Xue Jing slowly stopped stroking the cat's back, gently picked it up, and returned to his room. He placed the cat on his bed, covering its body with a thin blanket, leaving only its head exposed.

Then, he quietly left the room, headed to the bathroom for a shower, changed into his pajamas, and tossed his blood-scented school uniform into the washing machine. Finally, he walked onto the balcony with his phone in hand.

By now, it was 10:30 PM. Xue Jing turned on the phone screen, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and opened the dialing interface.

He had this cautious habit of not storing contacts with notes identifying family members. That way, should anyone find his phone, they wouldn't be able to defraud his family.

Though, it's a habit he hoped he'd never need.

After entering a string of numbers, Xue Jing made the call.

Xue Jing didn’t have to wait long. After three or four rings, the call was answered.

“Hello, hello, hello~ Woof woof woof?”

A bright and cheerful voice came from the receiver.

When Xue Jing was a child, he often played a fighting game with his sister, Xue Wan. They’d often wager something, maybe a piece of candy or some pocket money.

If Xue Jing lost, he would hand over the stakes without complaint. Xue Wan, however, had a habit of not paying up when she lost. So eventually, they added a rule: ‘If you don’t pay up, you’re a dog.’

That day, the world lost a person and gained a dog.

“Sis, are you still awake?” Xue Jing asked with a smile.

“Do you even listen to yourself?” Xue Wan replied, clearly annoyed.

After a brief pause, she continued, “What’s up with you calling at this hour? Let me make it clear, I’m broke.”

Xue Jing chuckled, “You talk like I’m the kind of brother who only calls to ask for money.”

Xue Jing added, “Transfer me 50.”

Beep... beep... beep...

The call was promptly hung up by Xue Wan.

Xue Jing laughed softly and called back.

“Make it quick, sis needs her sleep,” Xue Wan said, sounding exasperated.

Xue Jing was silent for a moment before softly speaking, “Sis, is something bothering you?”

Xue Wan seemed to pause, then replied with a playful tone, “What could be wrong? Everything's fine, don't overthink it.”

Xue Jing pondered for a bit and continued, “Really nothing at all?”

“Nothing at all... You seem to have a bit of a sister complex, you know. That's not good; when you get a girlfriend, she'll be jealous.”

Xue Wan teased.

Hearing her carefree tone, Xue Jing felt relieved. “Mom's really worried about you, being all alone at college in Feng City...”

...

It had been a long time since Xue Jing and Xue Wan met, so they had quite a bit to talk about. The two chatted for a long time.

By the time Xue Jing hung up the phone, it was already eleven o'clock.

“There really shouldn’t be anything wrong.”

Xue Jing murmured to himself.

Xue Wan hadn't shown any signs of distress just now, so it seemed their mother had worried for nothing.

Stretching lazily, Xue Jing headed back indoors.

Instead of going to bed, he sat cross-legged on the living room sofa.

He began practicing basic breathing exercises.

An hour later.

Xue Jing, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa.

His entire body was radiating heat due to the rapid circulation of blood, bordering on a fever.

After a while, Xue Jing regained his composure and glanced at the panel.

[You have completed a breathing exercise session, fitness experience +16]

[You have completed a breathing exercise session, fitness experience +16]

[You have completed a breathing exercise session, fitness experience +16]

[You have completed a breathing exercise session, fitness experience +16]

The enhancement in physical attributes from leveling up several skills, along with his growing adaptation to the breathing technique, allowed him to perform four full cycles of breathing exercises consecutively this time.

“Power...”

Xue Jing extended his right arm and touched his right elbow with his left hand, appearing thoughtful.

While performing the breathing exercises earlier, he seemed to have hit upon some crucial point. At a certain moment during a breath, the muscles in his right arm twitched.

Trying hard to recall that sensation, Xue Jing attempted to recreate it, but after several tries, he was unsuccessful.

He didn’t rush it—if he couldn't bring it back, then the time hadn’t come yet.

Pouring himself a glass of water, Xue Jing returned to his room, lay on the bed, petted the cat sleeping beside him with one hand, closed his eyes, and drifted into slumber.

The night was shrouded in mystery as Chen Hao held his breath, eyes fixed on the glowing vial in his hand.

Its contents, though luminescent, carried a heavy aura, promising power but at a cost yet unseen.

Chu Minyi stood at the corner of the dimly lit room, her face a mask of concern.

"We should be careful, Chen Hao," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the energy emanating from the elixir.

"Legends say that the ancients paid dearly to leap the dragon gate... with their lives."

Chen Hao nodded, heedful of her warning but undeterred.

"To break through our limits, we sometimes must tempt the forbidden," he replied, the resolve in his voice contrasting with the doubt flickering in his heart.

In the alley below, a shadow flitted across the cobblestones, swift and silent.

Du Shiwei, ever the vigilant guardian, scanned the streets for any sign of disturbance.

The night was rife with tension, the air thick with anticipation.

Above, the stars watched dispassionately as yet another confrontation brewed, not of swords and fists, but of destiny and ambition.