"What is this? Is he flying?!! He's flying??"
The audience went wild, staring at Tao Pai Pai in midair, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"A human can fly on their own?!"
"Is this really not some kind of magic trick?"
"How could it be magic?! There's no equipment at all! And he was just in a fierce battle with that guy! This... this is unbelievable!"
"So human strength can really reach such heights?!"
The crowd around the arena erupted in discussion. Photographers holding cameras and reporters broadcasting live with microphones trembled with excitement. This was a huge story! Countless journalists frantically typed up their reports, their eyes glued to the fight, afraid to miss even a second.
"Damn it..." Tao Pai Pai caught snippets of the audience's reactions. He felt a hint of pride, but looking down at his opponent standing firm on the shattered brick arena, his expression darkened. Though his opponent was surprised at his ability to float in midair, he hadn't lost his composure and maintained his stance, waiting in silence.
"As expected, my father was right. The world is vast, and there are countless masters... To think I'd meet someone like this in the finals. He's so young, yet he has such skill. Flight? What kind of martial art is this?"
The man's eyes locked onto Tao Pai Pai like lightning, his whole body tense, ready for the next attack.
He had no idea that without the teachings of a martial arts grandmaster like Tsuru, even with his talent, Tao Pai Pai could never have improved this quickly.
"Well, don't blame me then…" Tao Pai Pai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth midair, grinning ominously. Though he had a youthful face, his expression was utterly ruthless.
From the inner section of the audience, Tsuru, who knew Tao Pai Pai well, immediately realized what was about to happen. He sharply noticed ki gathering at the tips of Tao Pai Pai's right index and middle fingers. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Tao Pai Pai! Killing someone will get you disqualified!"
Tao Pai Pai, like everyone else, froze for a moment. Then he secretly curled his lips in annoyance. In the shocked gaze of the warrior on the arena below, a bright white light suddenly flared from Tao Pai Pai's fingertips. He shifted his aim slightly and then pointed downward with a sharp motion—
"Dodonpa!!"
Buzz!
A dazzlingly thin white beam shot out from Tao Pai Pai's fingertips, piercing through the warrior's body in the blink of an eye. It sliced cleanly through the brick floor of the arena like a hot knife through butter, leaving behind a small smoking hole in the ground, just a little wider than a finger.
What just happened?
What exactly just happened?
The crowd rubbed their eyes in disbelief. What had Tao Pai Pai, the fighter in the sky, just done? That blinding light… was it a laser?!
"Oh my god!!!!!! Was that a laser?? A ray gun?? Humans can really fire attacks like that on their own?? Don't tell me this is some kind of martial arts technique!! This has to be magic!!!!!!"
The internet exploded. On streaming platforms, live viewers flooded the chat with excited comments.
"I'm on my knees! Today I finally understand what a true martial artist is! So all those legends weren't just made up!" one emotional viewer typed with tears in their eyes.
"Excuse me, can I get in contact with these fighters after the match? I'm offering 100,000 for lessons! More if needed!" a wealthy user posted, quickly followed by replies like "Respect to the rich!" and "Sponsor me, please!"
"The North Capital division is insane! To have such a superhuman fighter?! Looks like the champion of this World Martial Arts Tournament is already decided… This young guy, Tao Pai Pai, there's no doubt he'll win the finals!"
"Bullshit! That's because you haven't been watching the West City division!! Do you even know about the top contenders there?! I'm telling you, they're the real martial artists!!" someone immediately retorted, their username "Newbie on the Martial Path" suggesting they were a recent account.
"What's going on in the West City division?"
"Yeah, same question! Someone from another division, tell us—who are the top fighters there? Are they as strong as this Tao Pai Pai? Can they fly? Can they shoot lasers from their hands?"
The reply was a single link.
Curious users clicked on it and found a compilation video—a clip from the West City division's live stream.
It hadn't even been that long, yet people were already making highlight reels. The hype for this year's World Martial Arts Tournament was through the roof.
The video's title was "Muten School Disciple, Arrives!!!!" The excessive use of exclamation marks clearly showed the uploader's excitement. And looking at the views—good grief! It had barely been three days, yet it had already amassed over twenty million clicks!
But what exactly was "Muten School"?
Was it some kind of sect? Did such things, usually found in novels and stories, actually exist in real life?
Driven by curiosity and excitement, countless netizens clicked on the link and hit play.
The video began.
The screen remained pitch black, showing nothing at first. Only the sound of an intense, battle-ready soundtrack grew louder, creeping in from a distance before suddenly exploding in the viewers' ears! It was as if a thunderous roar from ancient times had pierced through space and time, carrying the shouts of ancestral warriors! War drums pounded! Blood spilled! Demons were slain!
"This is insane!!" someone gasped in awe. Never mind the content—the music alone was already incredible, making them stare at the screen with shining eyes.
Then, the video finally revealed its first scene.
A young man clad in a white martial arts uniform, with the character "Muten" embroidered on the left side of his chest, stepped onto the arena stage. Just as viewers in front of their screens were wondering if he was a disciple of this so-called Muten School, the video editor skillfully cut to a montage of others, all dressed in the same white martial arts uniform, stepping onto the stage one after another.
One, two, three, four… Step by step, their youthful faces transitioned to rugged, weathered visages—handsome faces, ordinary faces. Their uniforms, some old, some even older, swayed with the intensity of the music. Through the magic of editing, it seemed as though they were all stepping onto the stage together.
They clasped their hands and bowed to their opponents. Even their voices were edited into half-sentences, blending together as if they were speaking in unison:
"Muten School, please guide us."
Then, they pulled back their fists and took similar stances.
A variety of challengers charged at them, yet they remained steady. Their gazes were focused, their stances solid. Their movements—lowering their centers of gravity, throwing punches, shifting their footing—were practiced and measured, neither rushed nor hesitant. And yet, their blows seemed to carry the force of a thousand tons.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each strike landed in sync with the pounding rhythm of the music, as if hammering directly into the viewers' hearts!
"This is pure hype!!" someone exclaimed, feeling a shiver run down their spine.
Blinding flashes of fists and kicks filled the screen. Had the editor not deliberately slowed down the footage, the audience in front of their screens might not have been able to keep up with the action at all!
"Are these even humans? There's no way bullets could keep up with their speed!" someone muttered in shock.
Onscreen, in the midst of battle, one of the disciples was suddenly caught off guard by an opponent and slammed into the ground with full force.
Boom!
A human-shaped crater appeared instantly!
"The sheer impact! But no visible injuries?! Oh my god!!" someone excitedly commented below the video.
However, not everyone was impressed.
Expressionless, someone muttered, "It's just hand-to-hand combat… Is it really stronger than Tao Pai Pai? He could—"
Before they could finish their sentence, the video reached its climax.
By this point, the number of Muten School disciples onscreen had dwindled from six or seven to just two.
One middle-aged. One young.
Each was facing their own formidable opponent.
The BGM built up toward its final climax, rising in intensity, holding back, holding back… The two disciples panted, their faces obscured by the raw energy of the battle, but even through the screen, their overwhelming aura could be felt!
Suddenly, a tiny speck of white light bloomed in their palms.
Like a lotus flower in full bloom.
The music stretched out, swelling like an impending tidal wave—
In the livestream footage, the two disciples seemed to murmur something under their breath.
"Muten…School… Ki…"
Or at least, that was what it sounded like.
Viewers felt chills run down their spines!
Gripping their mice tightly, they stared unblinkingly at the screen!
Then, just as the music reached its peak—
Silence.
The screen went black.
Four massive calligraphy-style characters—Muten, School, Ki, Art—flashed across the darkness in rapid succession, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the dawn!
Then—BOOM!
The music exploded like a tidal wave crashing down, overwhelming the senses!
A blinding beam of light burst forth from the hands of the two white-clad disciples!
"Muten School Disciple, Monkey D., much obliged."
The video faded to black.
Two overlapping voices rang out—calm, with a hint of quiet satisfaction.
As the screen cooled, the final image showed them stepping off the stage together.
The video ended.
"Muten School… Incredible! But what exactly is Muten School?"
A viewer exhaled deeply, as if they had just finished watching a blockbuster movie. Throughout the entire video, they had been holding their breath—because everyone knew that the fights in this footage weren't from a movie. This was an actual live broadcast of a tournament match!
So, superhumans really do exist in this world.
Muten School.
Muten School...
In the past few days, many martial artists who had remained hidden in modern society were brought back into public memory, thanks to the martial arts tournament. And among them, the most talked-about were, without a doubt, the "Twin Stars of Muten School" from the West City division!
They both came from the same school of martial arts—Muten School!
What exactly was this Muten School? Could it be some secret organization that trained warriors of such caliber?
As people dug deeper, they uncovered an ancient martial sect from decades ago—Muten School. There were very few records about this group, but it was said to have been located in the mountains near Sayuan City, west of East City.
However, due to poor management, the sect struggled to provide for its disciples, and it ultimately disbanded over a decade ago.
Upon learning this, netizens and viewers alike couldn't help but sigh. They could only imagine how difficult life must have been for those martial artists who, despite their struggles, had upheld their principle of "never using martial arts to oppress the weak".
They had dedicated their entire lives to martial arts, yet had no other professional skills. In a fast-paced modern world that valued academic credentials above all else, how could they survive without their martial prowess? It must have been incredibly tough!
During post-match interviews, a few Muten School disciples talked about these hardships, but they did so with smiles on their faces. Their resilience and unwavering spirit earned the admiration of the online community and spectators alike.
Of course, the Twin Stars of Muten School weren't the only ones making waves in the tournament. Every division saw the rise of extraordinary fighters—warriors who completely shattered modern perceptions of what was possible! Some were even rumored to have supernatural abilities! It was mind-blowing!
---
Finally, after six intense days, the regional results were revealed.
From the North City division, two fighters advanced:
Champion—Tao Pai Pai.
Runner-up—Uru.
Tao Pai Pai, the champion, claimed to be a disciple of the Crane School. After the craze surrounding Muten School, this revelation sparked new discussions. What was the relationship between Crane School and Muten School? Meanwhile, Uru, the runner-up, appeared to be a silent giant from a remote Native American tribe. Not much was known about him.
From the South City division, two fighters advanced:
Champion—Purin.
Runner-up—Puhui.
These two were the most surprising of all—they were bald monks! According to them, they were warrior monks from Orin Temple! The revelation astonished many, and some locals from the Orin Mountain area even made special trips to the temple—not only to offer incense and prayers but also to gather information.
From the East City division, two fighters advanced:
Champion—Noah Robe.
Runner-up—Huntun.
Noah Robe was a swordsman! However, since the tournament prohibited sharp weapons, he had competed using a wooden sword. Even so, he had cut through the competition with ease, claiming the championship amidst waves of shock and awe. As for the runner-up, he was a peculiar young man with psychic powers—and his name was bizarre: Huntun!
From the Central City division, three fighters advanced. Compared to the other divisions, they didn't seem as eye-catching. However, all three—champion, runner-up, and third place—were so fast that without high-speed cameras, spectators couldn't even see their movements clearly. No one dared to underestimate them.
Finally, the West City division.
Three fighters advanced.
The "Twin Stars of Muten School" naturally made the cut. Due to various indescribable reasons, these two had already become martial arts celebrities—practically the face of the martial arts frenzy that had swept across the world in recent days.
But they were not the champions.
Then who was?
Only now did the audience realize something was off. Why was all the coverage and video footage of the West City division focused on the Muten School Twin Stars? The second and third place fighters?
Where was the champion? Who was the champion?
Champion: Mu Taro.
Mu Taro?
Who was Mu Taro?
Viewers scoured the internet, refreshing pages over and over, but no additional information on this mysterious fighter could be found.
The tournament had been going on for six days, yet this person seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Aside from those who had witnessed the West City division matches in person, no one had even heard of him!
A simple, two-character name. On the official rankings page, there was no extra information—no age, no background, nothing. Even his profile picture was just a blurry screenshot from a match. How had this even passed verification?
He was a regional champion! And this was the level of detail they got?
But then…
"A surname like 'Mu'… That's not very common these days," someone muttered, clearly beginning to put the pieces together. "Wasn't the founder of Planet Company, Mr. Tam, also surnamed Mu?"
"Wait, Muten School… 'Mu'-ten School?"
"Muten… as in Muten Master?!"
The internet exploded. The rumors spread like wildfire, and even major corporations like Planet Company and kuanto Entertainment found themselves unable to control the frenzy!