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"Gomu Gomu no… Gatling!!!"
Finn shouted with power as dozens of rapid punches burst forth, reinforced by his Yuan Qi.
Finn's arms became nothing but a raging green blur, a storm of fists that destroyed everything around him.
"Aaaaargh!!"
The soldier who had been dueling Finn screamed before being sent flying into the air, crashing to the ground unconscious.
Finn exhaled slowly and looked at his defeated opponent with satisfaction.
That soldier was at the Five Yuan Veins level, yet Finn had defeated him with ease.
"Damn it! Attack him together!!"
Five soldiers roared angrily and charged toward Finn.
Finn leapt backward, clasped his hands together, and shouted:
Low Yellow-Grade Technique – Storm Palms!!
Green Yuan Qi gathered around Finn's hands as he thrust his palms forward.
A powerful wave of Yuan Qi surged out, taking the shape of two massive green palms.
The soldiers' eyes widened in terror, unable to react in time.
BOOM!!
"AAAAARGH!!"
The impact was instantaneous. The soldiers were blown away, their armor shattered by the force of the strike, before they lost consciousness.
"Well done! But now—it's my turn! Prepare to face defeat!!"
Kong shouted excitedly. He was a veteran soldier who had opened seven Yuan Qi veins, and he rushed toward Finn.
Finn crossed his arms swiftly, forming several hand seals before shouting:
Mid Yellow-Grade Technique – Wind Blade!!
He slashed his palm forward, releasing a sharp wind storm toward Kong.
Kong rapidly formed hand seals and roared:
High Yellow-Grade Technique – Lion-Turtle Shell!!
An orange, turtle-shell-shaped shield formed around Kong.
BOOM!!
The Wind Blade struck the shield and dispersed harmlessly.
Finn frowned. He pulled his arm back—his arm stretched several meters as dense green energy coated it, violent winds swirling around his fist.
Gomu Gomu no… Pistol + Wind Palm!!
Finn roared angrily and punched Kong's shield.
The shield trembled slightly—but suffered no damage.
"Hahahahaha! What do you think, brat?! Your rubber attacks are useless against my impregnable defense!!"
Kong laughed arrogantly.
Finn clenched his teeth in frustration. That had been his strongest punch yet—combining Wind Palm with Gomu Gomu no Pistol to drastically increase its speed and destructive power.
"AAAAH!! Don't forget about me—I'll crush you!!"
Wing roared. He was another veteran who had opened eight Yuan Qi veins. He rushed forward, rapidly forming complex hand seals.
High Yellow-Grade Technique – Devastating Fireball!!
A massive flame erupted from Wing's hand, forming a fireball three meters wide that he hurled toward Finn.
Finn's eyes widened as he shouted:
Mid Yellow-Grade Technique – Storm Dash!!
Green Yuan Qi flared around Finn's legs as he slammed his foot into the ground.
BOOM!!
The ground cracked as Finn shot forward at blinding speed, narrowly dodging the fireball.
"Got you!!"
Ling's voice rang out. He was a veteran with eight Yuan Qi veins, a master swordsman. Smiling coldly, he swung his sword and shouted:
High-Grade Yellow Technique – Sky-Cleaving Blade!!
A razor-sharp blue Yuan Qi wave flew toward Finn before he could react.
The Qi wave sliced horizontally across Finn's chest. Blood poured from the wound like a waterfall.
"AAAAARGH!!"
Finn screamed in pain as he was sent flying through the air.
Before he could land, Kong appeared behind him.
Kong raised his fist and shouted:
Mid Yellow-Grade Technique – Iron Bull Punch!!
Orange-yellow Yuan Qi surged around his fist as he smashed it into Finn's face.
BOOM!!!
A shockwave rippled through the air as Finn crashed violently onto his back.
The ground cracked beneath him as he groaned in agony.
Finn tried to rise—but a sharp sword blade rested against his neck.
"Heh… I wouldn't recommend that," Ling said with a mocking smile.
Finn froze, sighed in exhaustion, and collapsed flat on his back.
He had lost… again.
Kong and Wing landed beside Ling, sneering.
"You want to defeat us? You still have a long road ahead of you, rubber brat."
"Enough! The fight is over. All of you, return to your posts!"
Wei Qingqing said sternly.
The three "monsters" turned, bowed their heads, and said:
"As you command, Second Commander!"
They each went their separate ways.
Wei Qingqing looked at Finn and said, "Finn, follow me. I have something to discuss with you."
She turned and headed toward another courtyard of the palace.
Finn groaned in pain as he slowly stood up, clutching his still-bleeding chest, and followed her.
"Don't worry, Finn—you were better this time!"
Wei Bin encouraged him with a wide smile.
Finn sighed and muttered, "Tell that to your sister."
As Finn recalled the past two months, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.
First of all, those two months had been extremely fruitful for Finn. His strength had increased—no, multiplied.
He had finally opened his second Yuan Qi vein, thanks to the Cloud King Technique.
He had also mastered three out of four combat techniques gifted to him by General Wei Tsang Lan.
Combat techniques differed from cultivation techniques. As their name suggested, they were designed for direct combat and came in many forms:
offensive techniques, weapon-based techniques, defensive techniques, movement techniques, and other mysterious categories.
Yuan Qi combat techniques were divided into grades:
1. Yellow Grade
2. Black Grade
3. Low Heavenly Grade
4. Heavenly Grade
5. Low Saint Grade
6. Saint Grade
Each grade was further divided into three levels:
1. Low
2. Mid
3. High
The three techniques Finn had mastered were:
Wind Palm
Wind Blade
Storm Dash
Wind Palm was the weakest—a Low Yellow-Grade technique.
Wind Blade was the strongest—a Mid Yellow-Grade technique.
Storm Dash was a Mid Yellow-Grade movement technique, enhancing speed, evasion, and escape.
Finn had also mastered several of Luffy's techniques, including:
Gomu Gomu no Gatling
Gomu Gomu no Balloon
Gomu Gomu no Net
Gomu Gomu no Revolver
Gomu Gomu no Bullet
He had mastered Luffy's abilities in just one month and found Devil Fruit powers far easier to learn than the complex Yuan Qi combat techniques.
At first, Finn had been satisfied with his progress. His plan was to train quietly behind closed doors and grow steadily before the main plot began.
But everything changed due to an unforeseen effect—
The Butterfly Effect.
A small event in the past can cause massive changes in the future—sometimes catastrophic ones.
A butterfly flapping its wings in Germany could cause a hurricane in Belgium.
The butterfly effect caused by Finn was simple: his existence in this world.
In the original story of Yuan Zun, Finn Colonil did not exist. He was not the friend of Wei Bin, son of General Wei Tsang Lan.
Because Finn existed, Wei Bin became far more energetic and enthusiastic. One day, he dragged Finn and several guards to a dangerous wild mountain near the palace, claiming he wanted to "explore nature."
Finn wanted to curse him and tell him to visit a safe nature reserve instead—but couldn't, due to the difference in status.
After ten days of camping and battling Yuan Beasts, Finn admitted he had gained valuable combat experience.
But that changed when one guard discovered an ancient treasure map inside a beast's lair.
The map pointed to the border between Qi Region and Tsang Lan Region.
Qi Region was controlled by the powerful Qi Marquis Family, a royal marquisate.
A marquis was an uncrowned prince—royal blood, but not emperor.
The Qi Family was a sworn enemy of the ruling Chu Family and would eventually betray the Chu Empire in the future story.
After reporting the map, General Wei Tsang Lan ordered absolute secrecy so the Qi Family would not find out.
Investigations confirmed the Qi Family knew nothing about it.
According to the journal found with the map, the treasure belonged to a wandering expert from the Alpha Origin Realm.
In the entire Great Chu Empire, only three experts had ever reached the Alpha Origin Realm:
Qi Family Head, who arrogantly called himself King Qi
Emperor Chu Qing.
General Wei Tsang Lan
The expert, Lu Qing, had buried his inheritance over two hundred years ago.
His journal stated that whoever found the map was destined to inherit all his treasures.
This meant techniques, cultivation manuals, and treasures worth millions.
General Wei Tsang Lan ordered the formation of a hundred-man expedition.
Officially, the group would visit the Qi Family to discuss war strategies.
In truth, they would secretly search for Lu Qing's treasure.
The expedition leader would be Wei Qingqing.
Wei Bin would naturally accompany her.
Wei Qingqing also chose Finn—and intended to grant him a share of the inheritance.
This enraged the military officers, who protested fiercely.
They wanted the inheritance for their own descendants—not an outsider like Finn.
General Wei Tsang Lan intervened, declaring the inheritance would benefit all of Tsang Lan—but only if capable, trustworthy people retrieved it.
The officers still objected, saying Finn was too weak, having cultivated for only seven months.
Wei Qingqing countered that although Finn's cultivation was low, his combat power was exceptional, allowing him to fight those with six opened veins.
The officers demanded a test.
After two months, five elite soldiers with eight opened veins would fight Finn.
If Finn lost—he would be excluded.
If he won—they would accept him.
The general agreed.
A month passed.
Finn's training became increasingly brutal.
But Wei Qingqing remained unsatisfied.
Because Finn still could not defeat—
The Three Monsters.
Kong.
Wing.
Ling.
Finn cursed Wei Bin once again in his heart… and followed Wei Qingqing forward.
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