Shen Liang's pale fingers brushed the floating system display with practiced precision. [Fists]—he selected it without hesitation.
Years of solitude had forged him into this moment. He had never attended a normal school, never endured idle chatter or playground rivalries. From the age of three, his world had been numbers, strategy, and empire. As the sole heir of the Shen Conglomerate, he had devoured every ledger, every contract, every decision. Every weakness in the world had been filed away in his mind.
Then, one quiet evening in the family archives, he discovered it: the legendary [Secret Asura Manual]. The pages whispered secrets of martial power and ancient technique. But even this sacred tome had flaws. Shen Liang studied them, corrected them, and expanded them into his own creation. Every nuance of the Shen Family's hidden legacy had been consumed, analyzed, and perfected by his intellect.
A soft chime interrupted his meditation. The system's notification blinked in his vision.
[You will be facing the simulation of White Fist Tiger—Number 5 in A-1's ranking.][Please prepare yourself. The first test begins in 5 minutes.]
He did not flinch. Time was a luxury for the unprepared—he had none to waste. With calm precision, he opened the system market. His crimson eyes scanned the inventory. A few clicks here, a few swipes there.
"I might have to invest a little," he muttered, voice low, almost a whisper.
Five thousand coins. Two blood-stained cloths. Simple, minimal, almost symbolic—a reminder that he did not need extravagance.
[Remaining Balance: 355,999,990,000 Coins][All purchased items will be transferred to your inventory upon leaving the simulation.]
He set the transaction aside like a trivial footnote. Preparation complete.
The chamber's hum deepened, the lights of the capsule softening into a pale haze. Shen Liang's eyes glimmered like molten rubies. This was the moment he had been born to face.
No hesitation. No second thoughts.
It was time for the prodigy of the Shen Family to step into the light — and shine.