I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

Three days later.

At Xue Jing's home, in the 'gym'.

【You have completed a session of breathing exercises, gaining +16 fitness experience points】

【You have completed a session of breathing exercises, gaining +16 fitness experience points】

【You have completed a session of...】

Gazing at the panel displaying a series of alerts, Xue Jing could feel the myriad rhythms generated within his body as he breathed.

The stretching of bones, the functioning of the internal organs, the contraction and expansion of muscles...

He stared at his own arm in awe, the muscles beneath his skin swelling and deflating with his breath, as though they possessed a life of their own.

He lost track of time until he hit a certain tipping point, where he felt streams of warmth surging from all over his body, rapidly congregating in his right arm in sync with his breath.

Silently, he walked to the standing punching bag in the center of the room, slightly bent his knees, and placed his right hand behind his waist, assuming the stance of preparing a straight punch.

Taking a deep breath, Xue Jing hurled a powerful straight punch.

“Bang!!”

Although this punch wasn't faster or more powerful than those he’d thrown before, it made the three-hundred-pound standing bag react as if an oncoming car had hit it. The bag arched like a shrimp around the point of impact, flying sideways and slamming into the wall, causing the whole room to tremble.

【Condition fulfilled, skill activated: Harnessing the Force】

【Harnessing the Force Lv1】

In an instant, the energy he had stumbled upon by chance became something he could control effortlessly, transforming into an instinctive ability.

Xue Jing’s eyes gleamed with delight.

He immediately activated his breathing technique. His internal organs responded seamlessly to his breathing, generating rhythmic oscillations and converting them into kinetic energy, thus 'creating' a force.

With a thought, Xue Jing directed the force to his right foot, then stepped forward with a stomp!

Crack—

The ceramic tile floor fractured, and even the steel-reinforced concrete beneath it cracked slightly, causing the entire floor to tremble.

【Floor Striking, Force Experience +1】

Xue Jing's lips twitched.

Having just acquired a metaphorical hammer, he couldn't resist treating the floor like a nail.

He hoped his mom wouldn't notice when she got back.

The cat squatted beside him, cocking its head as it watched Xue Jing, its little face showing an almost human expression of disbelief.

“...You say you just started learning the breathing technique three days ago?”

“Yes.” Xue Jing nodded, straightening the standing punching bag he had knocked over with a punch.

“You had no prior experience with martial arts?” The cat's tail began to twitch.

“How many times will you ask?” Xue Jing said with a hint of helplessness.

“I've already told you, I possess invincible potential and extraordinary wisdom.”

He declared, without the slightest trace of shame.

The cat rolled its eyes. “You do have quite some talent, but claiming invincibility is premature. In this world, geniuses who instantly grasp the force upon their first encounter with the breathing technique are not unheard of.”

“There are even some big companies that can use special technological means to artificially create such 'geniuses'.”

“The world is vast, you have some talent, but don't let it go to your head.”

Ning Fengwan carefully instructed, "Do not forget what I told you."

Xue Jing smiled as he approached, playfully pinching its cheek as it pouted, "I understand."

"No touching, and remember to address me as Master." The talking cat replied in a nonchalant tone.

"Alright then, Master Wan." Xue Jing teased, tousling the cat's head.

Ning Fengwan, having grown accustomed to Xue Jing's impudence over the past three days, habitually rebutted him.

"However," the cat continued thoughtfully, "considering the level of talent you've shown and now that you've learned to channel your energy, we should enter the Hidden Dragon Dojo differently..."

"Oh? What do you mean?" Xue Jing asked, puzzled.

The cat leaped gracefully onto Xue Jing's shoulder, settling itself as it licked its paw, "If we rely solely on my connections, you'd just be a 'favored insider.' People might scorn and discriminate against you."

"So, how should we enter then, Master Wan?" Xue Jing couldn't help but quip, amused by the cat's earnest demeanor.

"By the code of the martial world, of course. We must challenge the dojo!"

...

Meanwhile, at the southern docks.

An old man, sturdy and upright like an ancient pine, wearing a black short-sleeved tunic, hair gray-streaked and face shadowed, strolled into a warehouse with his hands clasped behind him.

Inside, Duan Kaiping and a black-clad youth named Yun Ye had been waiting for a while.

The moment the old man entered, Duan Kaiping immediately adopted a respectful expression and knelt down, hands on the ground, bowing solemnly, "Kaiping greets Master. May Master enjoy boundless fortune and endless life!"

Watching this, Yun Ye scoffed, seemingly with disdain.

"…"

The elderly man, none other than Zhao Hongyuan, master of the Golden Wind Dojo, showed no change in his expression. He merely responded to Duan Kaiping with a calm, "Alright, get up."

Then he turned his head towards Yun Ye and said, "Where's the item?"

Yun Ye stretched his neck, thumbing backwards towards a three-meter-tall container stored in the warehouse.

"Knowing you were returning today, I brought it along and had it stored inside."

"So, our deal with the Kondor Company is now concluded. Transfer the remaining funds to…"

He hadn’t finished speaking when Zhao Hongyuan cut him off with an unwavering gaze, "Concluded?"

"Perhaps you've forgotten. When the order was placed, Kondor Company explicitly stated that confidentiality was paramount; there must be no leaks."

"How did you execute your task? Brazenly crossing the fringe city and bursting straight through?"

"Now the Sixth Agency has initiated an investigation. Do you have any idea how troublesome this is?"

Yun Ye sneered, "What do you intend?"

Zhao Hongyuan gave a slight smile.

"I heard that the 'Sky Nest Mother Insect' can produce unique species based on what it’s fed. I'm quite curious if this is true."

Yun Ye frowned, raising his left hand clad in an arm-covering glove directly towards Zhao Hongyuan and his companion, without hesitation.

Yet, as he lifted his arm, Zhao Hongyuan's sturdy figure vanished from sight.

Duan Kaiping could barely comprehend what had occurred—one blink and Zhao Hongyuan had already appeared behind Yun Ye, flicking away the blood on his right hand.

"Golden Wind… White Rainbow Sword…" Yun Ye rasped out his final words before his head and left hand simultaneously fell to the ground.

The headless body remained standing, the cuts on its neck and arms smooth and clean, as if it had been severed by an extraordinarily sharp legendary weapon.

"Master...this is..." Duan Kaiping swallowed nervously, feeling a bit apprehensive.

"These outlaws are rough in both life and death. To die by this old man's hand is a stroke of luck for them," Jiao Hongyuan said slowly.

"Master, what about the others?" Duan Kaiping asked worriedly.

"Naturally, they will join him. As for the Kondor Company, that's been taken care of."

Jiao Hongyuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the three-meter-high container before him. He could almost sense the breath of a beast emanating from within.

"Kaiping, have you prepared what I asked for?"

Duan Kaiping responded with respect, "Everything is ready. All the roaches are farm-bred, none procured externally. The people are prepared, too—all officially recorded as deceased or missing..."

Jiao Hongyuan nodded with satisfaction, "Prepare a few more. Once the focus shifts away from Qingcheng, we can begin the plan."

"Yes," Duan Kaiping replied.

"By the way, Master, isn't Junior Brother with you?"

"He's still in Maple City participating in some selection matches. He'll have to fight a bit more..."

...

In front of a certain building in the Eastern District.

Xue Jing wore a casual outfit suited for movement and raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring midday sun, gazing up the building.

"Hidden Dragon Dojo is on the 17th floor. Go go go, let's move!"

The talking cat perched on Xue Jing's shoulder, pointed its paw upwards, urging impatiently.

...

In the dim light of the early evening, Chen Hao stood outside the Hidden Dragon Dojo, cloaked in the shadows as he mused over the scene before him.

Breathing deeply, he felt the energy flow through his body, gathering strength and intention as he prepared for what lay ahead.

Inside, the dojo was a beacon of discipline and order, its students moving in harmony under the guidance of their master, Li Qi—the renowned 'Dragon King'.

But Chen Hao's purpose here was not to learn, but to challenge.

Notorious for his quick temper and sharp skills, Chen Hao had heard of the dojo's reputation and sought to test his own abilities against its best.

To him, every opponent was a stepping stone, a measure of his growth and the validation of his efforts.

Tonight's challenge was more than just a test of skill; it was a declaration of his ambition and a step towards fulfilling his own aspirations.