I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

At noon, traffic was heavy, and the taxi was caught in a jam on a large bridge. The driver, out of boredom, opened the window, pointed in the general direction of the bridge's diagonal opposite, and casually said, “Look, that's the southern outskirts of the city. Over a decade ago, a big company planned to develop that area, pooled tons of investment, and got the people in the southern district all excited. But unexpectedly, it turned out to be a 'high seismic zone.' The buildings were half-finished, and they realized they couldn't sell them, so they just stopped construction, leaving a sprawling lot of abandoned buildings.”

Xue Jing followed his finger and could clearly see, at the edge of his vision, a sprawling area of half-built buildings, most of which had their steel skeletons exposed.

“You can’t even find a living soul over there now, but there are plenty of dead ones. Many of the murder cases in Qingcheng discovered the bodies there because it's deserted, making it a convenient place to hide them.”

Xue Jing sat in the back seat and didn't respond, but his gaze sharpened.

He possessed Lv5 targeting skills, unparalleled in vision compared to average people, akin to having a built-in telescope. Even from a great distance, he could discern many details in that abandoned district.

On the roof of one building without a ceiling, there seemed to be a strange black silhouette standing on a rusty rebar. Was it... a cockroach?

Xue Jing blinked and looked again, only to find a large black plastic bag hanging from the rebar, flapping loudly in the wind.

“An illusion, perhaps...” he muttered in confusion.

Could it be an aftereffect of fighting that cockroach monster a few days ago, now mistaking anything slightly similar for a cockroach?

He shook his head, not giving it much thought.

Maybe it did leave a bit of a psychological shadow, given how genuinely disgusting cockroaches are.

...

The northern district is home to most government officials, traditionally known as 'North Aristocrats.'

Of course, this is just a saying and not absolute; there are also many ordinary residents in the northern district. If only the officials resided there, it would surely be a ghost town.

It was Xue Jing's first time in the northern district. Sitting in the car, he curiously looked out the window for a while and didn't notice any differences from the eastern and western districts.

However, as the car turned into a long slope, rounded two corners, and entered Mufeng Street, his opinion changed.

On the clean and orderly street, villas and mansions were tastefully nestled among lush trees, the people dressed elegantly, projecting a refined aura. Some even wore butler uniforms and maid outfits, like those seen in idol dramas.

The vehicles on the street weren't all luxury cars, yet the license plates, filled with sequences like “11111” or “666 and 999,” commanded respect even on a basic van, hinting at the car passengers' stature.

The once-relaxed demeanor of the seasoned driver changed as they drove through the area; he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, leaned forward, and focused intensely.

It’s akin to taking a crucial driving test, cautious and tense, fearful of brushing against anything.

Upon reaching the destination, Xue Jing scanned the code to pay, thanked the driver, and got out of the car.

Turning around, he glanced at the house in front of him.

Hmm, quite a mansion.

At the entrance, wide enough to accommodate a large vehicle, two people were already waiting.

“Youguang?” Xue Jing questioned, puzzled.

He looked at the chubby young man awkwardly scratching his head and then at his older companion, Pei Tiancheng.

“Are you the ones who placed a request at our dojo?” Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.

Pei Youguang stepped forward with a smile, saying, “You could say that.”

“But let's not dwell on that, Master Xue. Welcome to our humble abode! Please, come in!”

Xue Jing followed the Pei brothers into the villa. They passed through a spacious courtyard and several corridors before arriving at an elegantly decorated, expansive living room.

Taking a seat on the couch, several maids promptly arrived with trays of tea.

One of them approached Xue Jing, knelt slightly, arranged the tea set, and brewed him a cup of red tea with warm water, though its variety was unknown.

“Please enjoy your tea, sir,” she offered respectfully, sneaking a glance at Xue Jing’s profile with a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Thank you.” Xue Jing replied courteously. He lifted the seemingly expensive cup to take a sip, not recognizing the taste but finding it pleasantly sweet with a lasting aftertaste.

Putting the cup down, he turned towards Pei Tiancheng, who sat opposite him, and quipped with a smile,

“Young Master Pei, from what I understand, your request at our dojo was for me to spar with you?”

Standing nearby, Pei Youguang's mouth twitched as if he wanted to laugh but dared not.

However, Pei Tiancheng quickly shook his head vehemently and hastened to explain,

“No, no, it's not me. Someone wants to meet with you, and they used me to arrange this meeting.”

“I figured someone as impressive as you must be busy, and asking to meet directly might not be appropriate, so I opted to pay for a request to see you.”

Pei Tiancheng spoke tactfully, his expression a bit awkward.

Previously, at a banquet at the Ruizhu Hotel, he wanted to meet Xue Jing and asked Pei Youguang to call him over. But Pei Youguang came back alone.

Pei Tiancheng had already discerned that it wasn't Pei Youguang who had forgotten to relay the message; rather, Xue Jing was grounded in his pride and wouldn't engage in anything remotely subservient.

This time, by inviting Xue Jing through a formal request, he hoped to avoid reminding him of that evening and risk being rejected again.

Xue Jing, unfazed by Pei Tiancheng's intricate thoughts, asked out of curiosity, "Oh? Someone wishes to see me? Who is it?"

Pei Tiancheng waved his hand, signaling the maids to leave.

Then, in a hushed tone, he muttered, "I don't know... It’s a man, apparently with a special background. My father seems to respect him greatly and instructed me to accommodate his requests as much as possible."

“Yesterday, Youguang and I drank with this man and managed to learn a few things. He mentioned he's from some official organization, but I couldn’t find out exactly which one.”

Pei Tiancheng paused before continuing, "However, this man is formidable."

"Even though I haven’t sparred with him, you can tell from his demeanor and certain habits that he's accustomed to battles; he’s straightforward and dislikes unnecessary intricacies."

Xue Jing nodded, inquiring, “Where is he?”

Seeing Pei Tiancheng's cautious demeanor, Xue Jing patted his shoulder reassuringly, chuckling, "Relax, you’re the client now. It’s your call."

Pei Tiancheng breathed a sigh of relief.

“That's good.”

“No time to waste, I'll take you there immediately.”

On the hillside of North City's back mountain, amidst a sea of green grass, lay a young man basking in the sun with his legs crossed.

He had his eyes closed, looking to be in his early twenties, sporting a buzz cut and slightly tanned skin that gave his face a resolute appearance. A blade of grass dangled from his mouth, being slowly ground by his teeth.

The man wore a black sleeveless vest, army green pants, and black combat boots. His exposed muscles were robust and emitted a metallic sheen, almost like they were forged from steel.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, the young man opened his eyes, sat up, and pressed gently behind his ear.

"Hello? Captain?"

"......"

"Huh? Don't overdo it? Didn't you say you wanted to try inviting him into White Crows? To join White Crows, he has to go through this, or else what was the point of all my past efforts?"

"......"

"Big connections in the background? How big could they be? Alright, fine, I'll hold back as much as I can."

"But still, he might become our companion in the future. You know how dangerous the Borderlands are. It’s essential to know each other well among teammates… I'll try to find his limits, but I’ll need to apply some pressure."

In the distance, the sound of a car driving over a gravel road could be heard. The man turned his head to look.

"That's enough talking, he's here."

The man pressed behind his ear once more and stood up, stretching his limbs.

A black car slowly made its way onto the grass, coming to a stop.

Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang stepped out from the driver's seat and passenger seat, respectively.

The door of the back seat also opened, and a startlingly handsome young man emerged.

"Oh? He looks decent enough," the man muttered to himself.

He approached the young man, spreading his arms wide as if to embrace him. His arms were incredibly long, reminding one of a monkey's limbs, reaching past his knees.

The man grinned and said:

“Xue Jing, pleased to meet you. You can call me 'Mountain Ape.'”

“Without further ado, let's become friends right away.”

“The best way to make friends—”

“Is to have a fight!”

The moment these words were spoken, the grass erupted as the man's figure vanished from where he once stood.

Xue Jing watched as Mountain Ape abruptly appeared before him, swinging a fist in his direction. His expression remained unchanged.

As Pei Tiancheng had said, his approach was indeed swift and decisive.

“Alright then.”

“This straightforward method of communication doesn't bother me.”

The punch carried great momentum, whistling through the air, as if it could pierce through a steel plate.

However, Xue Jing didn't dodge. He stood his ground, taking the blow directly on his chest.

“Puh—”

To Mountain Ape's mild surprise, his fist felt as if it had struck a tire, the impact sound dull.

Xue Jing's entire skeleton resonated with a rolling thunderous sound, absorbing the immense kinetic energy of the punch, transforming it…

Utilizing breathing techniques, the force surged through his body, transforming into a true dragon, roaming about, capturing the energy within his bones and making it his own.

The sound of a dragon's roar echoed.

All the power concentrated in his right fist, Xue Jing turned and delivered a swift counter punch, like a dragon's tail sweeping through the clouds.

Finishing Move—Cloud-Tail Sweep!

“Bang!!”

The air tore apart, and the grass several meters ahead was pressed into a fan shape by the shockwave.

Amid the stunned gazes of Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang, Mountain Ape was sent flying over twenty meters away, his body embedding straight into the sloping grass as if like a javelin.

The mountain air was crisp and invigorating as Xue Jing stood face to face with Mountain Ape once more.

Though their earlier exchange had been brief, it left a lasting impression on both participants and spectators alike.

Mountain Ape, renowned for his belief that true camaraderie was forged through the fires of competition, regarded Xue Jing with a newfound respect.

“You have the heart of a warrior,” Mountain Ape rumbled, his voice echoing through the valley. “We shall meet again on the field where friends and rivals are made.”

His words carried a weight that resonated with the surrounding forest, each leaf seeming to nod in agreement.

Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang, standing nearby, exchanged glances of admiration and contemplation.

“We must evaluate our understanding of strength,” Pei Youguang murmured, as if speaking to his brother and himself simultaneously. “It’s not just about winning a fight, but understanding the value that each opponent brings into our lives.”

“Indeed,” Pei Tiancheng replied, his gaze fixed on Xue Jing, who stood unfazed by Mountain Ape’s imposing presence. “He’s shown us that resilience and composure are as critical as raw strength.”

As the group prepared to descend the mountain, Wu Youqing and Zhushan Ying discussed strategies to harness the energy displayed by Xue Jing and Mountain Ape.

“The way they connect through combat—it’s rare and extraordinary,” Wu Youqing remarked, her eyes alight with curiosity.

Zhushan Ying nodded thoughtfully, considering the implications of building alliances based on mutual respect and shared experiences.

Meanwhile, Void Blade remained silent, observing from a distance. While others spoke of the events, he contemplated the subtle lessons entwined within the clashes of fists and wills.

“There is power in understanding,” Void Blade mused silently, noting how Xue Jing’s approach to confrontation had subtly shifted the dynamics among the group.

The sun began its descent, casting golden hues over the terrain as the party slowly made their way back to the city.

Friendships had been tested and strengthened, and each step forward carried a new sense of purpose.

The path towards understanding and unity, hinted at in the folds of conflict, seemed all the more attainable.