The summit of Dragon-Tiger Mountain was deathly still.
The torrent of information that had flooded their minds finally receded slowly, leaving behind fatigue and a brand-new sensation akin to a complete rebirth.
The crowd looked like people who had just struggled out of deep water, gasping for breath, their eyes still reflecting the daze left by the impact of such vast knowledge.
The first to recover was the Old Taoist Master, Zhang Zhiwei. At the very moment his consciousness cleared, he had already entered the gateway of Current Push. His originally grey hair turned black at a speed visible to the naked eye. His slack skin became tight again, and his stooped frame straightened. Muscles bulged under his Taoist robes, seemingly containing explosive power; he had returned to the appearance of his middle age.
The air around him crackled, and fine blue electrical arcs roamed over his body like spirit snakes. That tyrannical aura had clearly reached the limit of 500,000-volt Current Push. He was only one step away from true Magnetic Field Rotation.
Everyone present looked on in shock, their hearts trembling. The Old Taoist Master was already an unrivaled figure; now that he had obtained this method of Magnetic Field Rotation, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
The others benefited immensely as well. Zhang Chulan stood there, eyes closed as he felt the power galloping through his body; his realm of 30,000 Horsepower Magnetic Field Rotation had completely stabilized. Although Zhang Lingyu, Wang Ye, Zhuge Qing, and the others failed to reach heaven in a single bound, they had all touched the edge of Current Push. The Qi in their bodies was more condensed, its circulation faster, and faint sparks of electricity flickered on their skin. Their strength had improved by more than one level.
Xiao Zizai licked the corner of his mouth, a mixture of excitement and bloodlust flickering in his eyes. This new power made the destructive urge within him even more restless, yet he forcibly suppressed it. This contradiction gave him a dangerous aura.
Seeing that the group had preliminary stability, Ian spoke, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"Magnetic Field Rotation is not mere violence."
"It is more like an extreme amplifier of will and emotion."
"Anger, joy, sorrow, hatred... all intense emotional fluctuations are the fuel that drives it to become stronger."
"If you want to master and upgrade this power quickly, training behind closed doors is far too inefficient."
"Combat—especially tragic, life-and-death combat—is the best way to temper it."
Ian paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"Therefore, I have prepared a special trial ground for you."
He waved his hand, and the space in front of him rippled. A portal shimmering with a ghostly blue light slowly took shape. Through the portal, one could vaguely see the scene on the other side. It was a sky filled with thick smoke, broken buildings, burning ruins, and the faint, distant sound of gunfire and artillery. A murderous and despondent aura seeped out from behind the gate.
"Beyond this gate lies a parallel universe of China."
"The year is 1940."
"In that world, the land of the Divine Province is suffering under the invasion of the Sakura Nation."
"Compatriots wail in agony; the mountains and rivers weep blood."
"There are enough enemies there, a battlefield cruel enough, and trials intense enough."
"Go. Use your newly acquired power to fight, to protect, to kill, and to release your will and emotions."
"That is the best place for you to temper your Magnetic Field Rotation."
"Sakura invasion!"
"The year 1940!"
These words were like heavy hammers smashing into everyone's hearts. The older generation of outcasts who had lived through that era, such as Lu Ci and Lu Jin, shuddered violently.
Especially Lu Ci; his wrinkled old face twisted instantly, and a physical, sky-toppling hatred and killing intent erupted from his eyes. His teeth chattered with a grinding sound, and his withered fingers clenched until they were white, his nails sinking deep into his palms and drawing traces of blood. He seemed to have returned to that era of war, where his country was ruined and his home lost. He saw his clansmen die miserably; he saw the land broken. The national feud and family hatred from decades ago exploded at this moment, his body shaking violently from extreme rage.
"Those little devils..." Lu Ci whispered in a voice that chilled the bone.
The Old Taoist Master Zhang Zhiwei's expression became incredibly solemn. His eyes were as sharp as knife edges, and electricity flickered around him; clearly, his heart was far from peaceful.
The younger generation, like Zhang Chulan, Wang Ye, and Zhuge Qing, had not personally experienced those dark years, but the education they received since childhood and the patriotism in their bones were ignited instantly. Zhang Chulan clenched his fists. The usual playful smile was gone from his face, replaced by a heavy resolve. He thought of his grandfather and the ancestors who had sacrificed themselves to protect this land.
"Brother Ian, when do we go!"
Taoist Master Wang Ye's eyes were unusually clear. He frowned slightly as if contemplating something, but ultimately nodded. "To hell with karma. The lives of the people are far more important than some ethereal karma."
The excitement on Xiao Zizai's face grew thicker. He licked his lips and whispered, "Killing... and killing those damned Japanese. There truly is no better trial. I wonder if I can stay in that parallel world."
Xu Four pushed up his glasses, the eyes behind the lenses gleaming with a cold light. "Looks like we're going to be busy!"
The rest of the crowd, young and old, regardless of sect, were filled with boiling blood and high battle intent. Before the hatred of the nation and the ruin of the home, personal grievances seemed insignificant.
Ian looked at their reactions and nodded, saying no more. He stepped aside and signaled that they could enter the portal.
"Let's go!"
Lu Ci was the first to charge in with a roar, his figure vanishing behind the blue light gate as if he couldn't wait a second longer to personally slay the invaders. The Old Taoist Master followed close behind, his steps steady but carrying an aura of unstoppable momentum. Lu Jin, Ma Hongxian, and the other seniors also stepped in without hesitation.
Zhang Chulan took a deep breath and looked at Feng Baobao beside him. "Sister Bao'er, let's go."
"Mhm."
The two stepped into the portal side by side. Wang Ye, Zhuge Qing, Zhang Lingyu, Feng Shayuan, Xiao Zizai, Chen Duo, Wang Zhenqiu... All the outcasts cultivating magnetic martial arts walked into the portal connecting two worlds and two eras, carrying feelings of excitement, heaviness, or anticipation.
When the last person stepped through, the portal slowly closed. The summit of Dragon-Tiger Mountain returned to peace.
...
The scene shifted.
On a night thick with dark clouds, a cold wind howled with a bone-chilling frost. In the inner hall of the Tang Sect in Shu.
The hall was brightly lit, yet the light could not dispel the heaviness and oppression permeating the air. The current head of the Tang Sect, a thin-faced, sharp-eyed old man with one eye, sat on the main seat, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. Below stood a middle-aged man in a long robe, his face full of anxiety. He was the head of the Zhao family, a giant of Chinese commerce. At this moment, this influential figure's face was filled with sincerity and pleading.
"Sect Leader Tang! I beg you to take action!" The Head of the Zhao Family bowed deeply to the Tang Sect Leader.
"The Bihe Mountain Ninjas have followed the Japanese invaders into our China! they burn, kill, loot, and commit every evil imaginable!"
"Especially their leader—his strength is high, and his movements are mysterious. Countless compatriots and soldiers have died at his hands!"
"The authorities are helpless, and the front lines for the army are strained; it is truly difficult to spare the strength to deal with these poisonous snakes hiding in the shadows!"
"I have heard that the Tang Sect is a master of assassination, skilled in using strange and mysterious methods to defeat enemies invisibly. In all of China, only your Tang Sect can handle those ninjas!"
"I am willing to exhaust my entire family fortune just to ask the Tang Sect to strike, kill that ninja leader, avenge our fallen compatriots, and ease the pressure on our Chinese soldiers!"
The Head of the Zhao Family spoke with great earnestness, his voice even carrying a hint of a sob at the end. The Tang Sect Leader remained silent, his fingers stopping their tapping. Under the dim light, his expression was obscured and unclear. In the inner hall, the atmosphere grew even heavier.