Star Martial Era: From Mortal to Emperor

Chapter 1 A Useless Youth, A Humble Beginning

In the year 1027 of the Star Martial Calendar, on Blue Water Star, in Qingyang City of the Hua Kingdom.

A thousand years ago, a celestial tide swept across the globe, causing the collapse of the old era's technological civilization. All things in the world underwent strange changes, ferocious beasts roamed freely, and the martial arts genes dormant within humanity were awakened, thus ushering in the Star Martial Era, where martial arts reign supreme and the strong are at the top.

After thousands of years of development, Blue Water Star has been divided into three core territories: the Wilderness of Ferocious Beasts, which occupies 70% of the world's land and sea, is a forbidden zone for human survival, where ferocious beasts of all levels lurk, constantly coveting human living space; the Void Forbidden Zone, which connects to outer space, is crisscrossed with cracks and hides extraterrestrial evil races and alien beasts, serving as a testing ground for high-level martial artists and also the greatest potential crisis for humankind; and the human territory that humanity has been desperately defending, with martial arts cities as strongholds, has built a defensive line against ferocious beasts and evil races, maintaining the continuation of human civilization.

Within the human realm, a strict hierarchy of power exists, with order defined by martial arts strength. The Global Martial Arts Alliance coordinates the entire human race's combat power and establishes martial arts rules; the Martial Arts Military Guards the borders, constantly battling ferocious beasts and evil races; major martial arts academies bear the heavy responsibility of cultivating martial arts geniuses, offering ordinary martial artists the only way to defy fate; martial arts families control top-tier cultivation resources, inheriting martial arts traditions and standing at the top of the human realm; while folk martial arts schools, mercenary guilds, and black market merchants are scattered throughout the land, forming the survival circles of lower-level martial artists.

In this world where martial arts reign supreme, cultivation techniques and skills are the foundation of a martial artist's existence and the core standard for classifying martial artists' levels. The cultivation techniques of the entire Blue Water Star are divided into five grades from low to high: Common Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, Supreme Grade, and Ancient Inheritance. The differences between cultivation techniques of different grades are worlds apart, as different as heaven and earth.

Common-grade cultivation techniques are the most basic and widespread, only capable of tempering the basic physical body and guiding meager qi and blood. Cultivation is slow, with the ultimate limit being only reaching the Body Tempering Realm. These are techniques accessible only to ordinary people at the bottom of society, possessing no scarcity whatsoever. Mid-grade techniques, on the other hand, possess complete qi and blood circulation pathways, accelerating cultivation and supporting martial artists in breaking through to the Qi and Blood Realm and the Qi Gathering Realm. These are resources fiercely contested by ordinary martial arts schools and lower-level martial artists. High-grade techniques, with their profound and mysterious pathways, contain the true essence of martial arts, helping martial artists open their meridians and condense true qi. Qi is the core inheritance of martial arts families and local universities, and is priceless; top-grade cultivation techniques are rare in the world, and each one can create a martial arts expert and support a martial artist to step into the Earth Martial Realm. Only top martial arts academies and major sects can possess them; while ancient inherited cultivation techniques are martial arts treasures left by the first Martial Emperor a thousand years ago. They contain the origin of martial arts in heaven and earth, can break through the barriers of realm, and deduce and perfect all low-level cultivation techniques. They are supreme treasures that can drive the entire martial arts world crazy and cause bloodshed. It has been difficult to find even one in a thousand years.

Besides cultivation techniques, martial artists also have strict distinctions in their realms. From the mortal realm's body tempering and blood circulation, to the human martial realm, earth martial realm, and heaven martial realm, each advancement in realm means a dramatic change in strength. In addition to personal effort and resource support, the most crucial factor in advancing in realm is possessing a cultivation technique of sufficient quality.

Inside the martial arts testing ground of Qingyang No. 3 High School, the spiritual energy was thin. Sunlight filtered through the sycamore leaves by the playground, casting dappled shadows, but it could not dispel the oppressive hierarchy and indifference that permeated the air.

Lin Chen stood alone in a corner amidst the crowd, completely out of place with the atmosphere around him.

He was wearing an old cloth shirt that had been washed until it was faded and the cuffs were frayed, while most of his classmates were dressed in well-made martial arts uniforms with jade pendants hanging from their waists. They exuded the arrogance of martial artists in every gesture and gathered in twos and threes to discuss their martial arts test results, their eyes full of high spirits.

Lin Chen clutched the martial arts test results sheet in his hand. The paper was crumpled from his grip, his knuckles turned pale from the force, and his fingertips even trembled slightly.

On the report card, a line of black handwriting was cold and glaring, like slaps to his face: Name: Lin Chen, Realm: Body Tempering Realm Level 3, Qi and Blood Value: 89, Failed to meet the entry standard for martial artists, Overall Assessment: Martial Arts Waste.

The Body Tempering Realm is the first level of the Mortal Realm and the entry threshold for martial arts. Only when one's Qi and Blood value exceeds 100 can one truly step into the threshold of a martial artist. However, after three years of hard training, Lin Chen's Qi and Blood value is still stuck at 89, and he cannot even touch the most basic threshold.

It wasn't that he didn't work hard; on the contrary, he worked harder than anyone else present.

Every day before dawn, he would get up to train his body, repeatedly honing his strength according to the techniques provided by the school; late at night, while others rested, he would still be cultivating by moonlight, never slacking off for a single day. But even with all his efforts, his cultivation speed remained pitifully slow, and his realm remained stagnant.

The reason for this is simply that they came from a poor family and had no resources, no martial arts techniques, and no powerful backers.

Lin Chen's parents were low-level miners in the ferocious beast mining area on the outskirts of Qingyang City. Every day, they had to go deep into the edge of the mining area, risking being attacked by low-level ferocious beasts, to mine ores containing a little spiritual energy in exchange for a meager salary that barely supported their family. They also had to save money to scrape together a little bit of money for his cultivation expenses.

His family didn't have the money to buy him pills to improve his qi and blood, nor did they have the means to find him a better cultivation method. What he practiced was just the ordinary "Basic Body Tempering Technique" that the school distributed for free.

This mortal cultivation technique only contains the three most basic body-forging moves: Rock Body, Thunder Step, and Qi Gathering Fist. The moves are rudimentary, and the blood and qi circulation pathways are incomplete. It can only slowly temper the physical body and guide a meager amount of blood and qi, making cultivation extremely inefficient. Even if one exhausts their entire life's efforts, they can at most cultivate to the peak of the Body Forging Realm and will never be able to step into the Blood and Qi Realm, let alone become a true martial artist.

The scions of those martial arts families, from the very beginning, cultivate mid-grade or even high-grade techniques, soaking in spiritual herbs and taking Qi and Blood Pills from a young age, their cultivation speed is so fast that it is incomparable to his.

"Hey, isn't this our infamous good-for-nothing Lin Chen from No. 3 High School? Still looking at that lousy test paper? What, still not accepting the fact that you're destined to be a loser for life?"

A mocking and sarcastic voice came from behind, breaking the tranquility of the playground and instantly attracting the attention of everyone around.

Zhang Hao strode over, tall and imposing, dressed in a brand-new martial arts uniform. A powerful aura emanated from him, his seventh-level Body Tempering Realm aura radiating undisguisedly. His eyes were arrogant, and his lips curled into an undisguised disdain and mockery. He was a member of a collateral branch of the Zhang family, a renowned martial arts clan in Qingyang City. From a young age, he cultivated the mid-grade "Fierce Blood Body Tempering Technique" bestowed upon him by his family. This technique consisted of seven forms with a complete blood and qi circulation route, capable of rapidly stimulating the body's blood and qi, making its cultivation efficiency far surpass that of ordinary techniques. Coupled with the family's continuous supply of medicinal pills, he had broken through to the seventh level of the Body Tempering Realm at a young age. He was a recognized martial arts prodigy at No. 3 Middle School and also the one who most enjoyed bullying Lin Chen.

The two henchmen following behind Zhang Hao were also at the fifth or sixth level of the Body Tempering Realm. They joined in the laughter, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at Lin Chen.

"Young Master Zhang is right. With his aptitude, it's a complete waste of his time to insist on studying martial arts!"

"A poor miner's son wants to become a martial artist? That's wishful thinking! He'll only ever be our shoe-shiner for the rest of his life!"

The harsh mocking voices pierced Lin Chen's ears without missing a single word. The surrounding classmates also cast strange glances at him, some indifferent, some mocking, and some gloating, but not a single person was willing to stand up and say a word for him.

In this world where strength reigns supreme, the weak never deserve sympathy; they are only trampled upon at will.

Lin Chen's back was ramrod straight, his jaw clenched, and his nails dug deep into his palms. The excruciating pain was nothing compared to the humiliation and resentment in his heart. A hint of suppressed anger flashed in his eyes, his hands clenched tightly, and his whole body trembled slightly, but he ultimately managed to suppress his rage.

He must not act impulsively, much less resort to violence.

If he were to retaliate, he would be expelled from school for disturbing public order, which would completely cut off his path to martial arts training. His parents' years of hard work and expectations would also be in vain. He was the family's only hope. His parents worked themselves to the bone in the mining area, hoping that he could become a skilled martial artist and escape his impoverished fate. He couldn't ruin himself, and he couldn't ruin his family.

Forbearance was his only choice and his only form of protection for this penniless young man from a poor family.

But in Zhang Hao's eyes, his concessions and forbearance turned into utter cowardice.

Zhang Hao stepped forward, snatched the test sheet from Lin Chen's hand, and with a forceful flick of his fingertips, tore the thin piece of paper to shreds in an instant. The scraps of paper scattered in the wind, landing on Lin Chen's face and body like invisible slaps, severely humiliating him.

"Lin Chen, let me tell you, the poor should know their place. The path of martial arts is not for someone as worthless as you." Zhang Hao looked down at him, his arrogance and contempt almost overflowing. "Get out of this testing ground now, don't get in our way and sully the eyes of us true martial artists!"

"you!"

Lin Chen suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at Zhang Hao. The resentment and humiliation in his heart surged like a volcano, yet he still managed to restrain himself.

Just then, the old keypad phone in his pocket suddenly started vibrating wildly, emitting a rapid buzzing sound that was particularly jarring on the mocking playground.

Lin Chen's heart sank suddenly, and a strong sense of unease instantly swept over him. He hurriedly lowered his head, took out his phone, and when he saw the word "Mother" flashing on the screen, his face turned deathly pale.

His parents work in the mining area and they never call him at this time of day. If they suddenly call now, something serious must have happened!

Lin Chen could no longer care about Zhang Hao in front of him. His fingers trembled as he pressed the answer button, bringing the phone to his ear, his voice trembling as he suppressed a sob: "Mom, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

On the other end of the phone came the mother's heart-wrenching cries, mixed with the piercing alarm of the mining area's ferocious beasts and chaotic shouts. Even through the phone screen, one could feel the overwhelming despair and panic.

"Xiao Chen...think of something...your dad...your dad's in trouble!" The mother's sobs choked her voice, barely able to form a coherent sentence. "A sudden beast horde erupted in the mining area. Low-level beasts broke through the defenses, and your dad was severely injured while covering his coworkers' retreat. He's now in the mining hospital, and the doctor said...that he needs to take Qi and Blood Pills immediately to stabilize his condition, otherwise it will be too late!"

Qi and Blood Pill!

A basic Qi and Blood Pill costs 5,000 Chinese Yuan!

For a scion of a prominent family like Zhang Hao, this amount of money was just a fraction of the price of a bottle of cultivation liquid. But for Lin Chen's impoverished family, it was an astronomical sum—his father's life-saving money!

Lin Chen felt as if he had been struck by lightning, instantly freezing on the spot. His mind went blank, and the sounds of his mother's cries and alarms mingled in his ears, making him feel cold all over. His heart was completely overwhelmed by endless panic, self-blame, and pain.

He knew better than anyone that outside the mining area was a wild wilderness of ferocious beasts. Sudden beast tides came without warning, and the lower-level miners had no power to resist. His father was the pillar of the family, and if his father were gone, the family would be completely destroyed!

"Mom, don't panic, wait for me. I will definitely find a way to raise the money and bring the Qi and Blood Pill back!" Lin Chen gripped his phone tightly, his voice choked with emotion, his eyes red and brimming with tears, but he held them back.

He hung up the phone, his hands trembling uncontrollably. His father's tired face appeared before his eyes, and he remembered how his father risked his life to go deep into the edge of the mining area in order to raise a little money for his cultivation materials. His hands were covered with thick calluses and scars. His heart felt like it was being squeezed hard by a big hand, and the pain made it hard for him to breathe.

He hates!

He hated his own incompetence, hated that despite his best efforts, he was still a useless piece of trash who couldn't even get close to becoming a martial artist; he hated the injustice of the world, where the scions of powerful families possessed countless resources and bullied others at will, while his parents struggled on the brink of life and death, and he couldn't even afford a single life-saving Qi and Blood Pill; he hated that he couldn't even protect his closest family members!

"Raise the money? You think you can?"

Looking at Lin Chen's pale face and listening to the snippets of conversation over the phone, Zhang Hao felt no sympathy whatsoever. Instead, his laughter grew even more arrogant. He crossed his arms, looking at Lin Chen with a mocking expression, his tone extremely sarcastic: "With your family's poverty, you couldn't even afford five hundred yuan for a Qi and Blood Pill, let alone five thousand yuan, could you?"

"I advise you to give up on that idea and just watch your father die. After all, a poor man's life is worthless in this world."

"However, I can show you a way." Zhang Hao leaned forward slightly, his eyes arrogant, his tone full of humiliation. "Kneel down now, kowtow three times, and respectfully call me 'Master' three times. Then I'll take pity on you and give you a few hundred dollars. As for whether it's enough to save your father's life, that depends on your fate. How about it?"

kneel down?

kowtow?

You can humiliate him, but you must never humiliate his family!

His father was on the verge of death, but Zhang Hao not only showed no sympathy, but also trampled on his dignity and mocked his family. This sentence completely ignited all the forbearance in Lin Chen's heart and crushed his last line of rational defense.

More than a decade of humiliation, resentment, and injustice, along with guilt towards family and resentment at the unfairness of fate, all these emotions erupted completely at this moment, like a dormant volcano suddenly bursting forth!

Lin Chen slowly raised his head. The once gentle, patient, and always-headed young man now had bloodshot eyes, devoid of any retreat or cowardice, only an extreme coldness of determination and an extreme ruthlessness of protecting his own.

He could endure being bullied and he could endure his own humiliation, but he could never tolerate anyone insulting his parents or his precarious family!

"You, move aside."

Lin Chen's voice was low and soft, yet it carried an unprecedented coldness and determination. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a sense of oppressive pressure that made people's hearts tremble.

That was a poor boy who, in dire straits, unleashed his last bit of pride, a resolute determination to protect his family at all costs!