The afternoon sun bathed the Azure Cloud Sect courtyard in a warm glow. Mud, sweat, and dust clung stubbornly to Lin Feng's robes, his face streaked with bruises and grime. Despite the chaotic appearance, a sense of pride pulsed through him. He had won the tournament finals, defeated the top Martial Adept, and survived every challenge thrown his way.
The Fist God System hovered beside him, displaying a holographic projection of his recent accomplishments.
[SYSTEM STATUS – LIN FENG]
Level: Martial Adept Stage 2 → Novice Fist God Tier 2
XP: 900 / 1,000
Fist Points: 1,050
Skills Active:
Iron Fist Beginner (Lv1)
Clumsy Hero (Lv1)
Slapstick Resilience (Lv2)
Spinning Mudstrike (Lv4)
Mud-Enhanced Momentum (Lv1)
Chaos Momentum (Lv3)
Adaptive Defense (Lv1)
Adaptive Counter (Lv2)
Momentum Mastery (Lv1)
Chaos Flow (Lv3)
Momentum Surge (Lv1)
Comedic Resilience (Lv1)
"Congratulations, Lin Feng. Tournament victory achieved. Probability of Fist God ascension: increasing steadily. Suggested action: revel in mud, laughter, and applause. Optional: eat something; you look exhausted."
Lin Feng laughed. "Optional? I'm starving!" He glanced toward the crowd of disciples, elders, and spectators who had been cheering wildly throughout the matches. Their admiration was genuine, a rare acknowledgment for a mud-splattered, clumsy weakling.
Recognition from the Elders
Elder Bai Long stepped forward, robes flowing with authority. His eyes, normally stern, held a faint glimmer of amusement.
"Lin Feng," he began, voice resonant, "your victories today have shocked the sect and inspired even the most disciplined disciples. While your style may be… unconventional, your results are undeniable. You have proven that creativity, adaptability, and resilience are just as valuable as raw strength."
Lin Feng bowed, mud dripping from his sleeves. "Thank you, Elder Bai Long. I… I'll continue to train and improve!"
The elder nodded. "Good. Your next step is formal Fist God System training. You have unlocked enough potential that standard drills will no longer suffice. The system will guide you, but only you can control your growth."
The system flickered, projecting a new interface for advanced training modules:
[SYSTEM TRAINING INTERFACE – ADVANCED]
Module 1: Momentum Mastery – Optimize movement-based attacks
Module 2: Chaos Flow – Chain improvisational strikes into combos
Module 3: Comedic Resilience – Convert humor into stamina recovery
Module 4: Adaptive Counter – Redirect opponent attacks efficiently
Module 5: Special Challenge – Simulated combat against higher-tier Martial Adepts
"Recommendation: Complete modules sequentially. Probability of accelerated growth: 87%. Suggested action: avoid injuries… if possible."
Lin Feng smirked. "Avoid injuries? System, you know that's basically impossible for me."
"Acknowledged. Probability of injury: high. Probability of fun: maximum."
Post-Tournament Celebration
The crowd began to disperse, but whispers about Lin Feng's chaotic victories spread through the sect like wildfire. Even disciples who had doubted him yesterday were now asking for tips, advice, and even sparring matches.
One particularly curious disciple approached, a petite girl named Mei Ling, known for her sharp reflexes and analytical mind.
"Lin Feng," she said, eyebrows raised, "your… style is ridiculous. But it works. Can you teach me some of your… tricks?"
Lin Feng grinned. "Sure! Step one: trip over something. Step two: spin wildly. Step three: hope for the best."
Mei Ling blinked, a mixture of confusion and amusement on her face. "You're serious?"
"Absolutely. And if it fails… the system will still give you XP."
The girl couldn't help but laugh, and Lin Feng felt a sense of camaraderie forming. Perhaps the Mud Hero wasn't destined to walk alone after all.
Hints of Rising Rivalries
While Lin Feng celebrated, the system pinged a new alert.
"Warning: Incoming communication from external sect. Potential threat detected. Name: Shadow Sect Operatives. Probability of conflict: high. Recommended action: begin preparation for future encounters."
Lin Feng frowned, excitement mingling with unease. "So… the real challenges are just beginning?"
"Affirmative. Today's victories have made you visible. Probability of attention from high-level Martial Adepts: 92%. Suggested action: train, improvise, and prepare for chaos."
Lin Feng's grin returned. "Chaos is kind of my specialty. Let them come."
Elder Bai Long approached once more, placing a hand on Lin Feng's shoulder. "You have potential beyond your peers, Lin Feng. But remember this: the Xianwu Era is vast, and outside this sect, there are countless warriors far stronger than you. Your growth depends not only on strength and system mastery, but on creativity, quick thinking, and courage."
Lin Feng nodded, feeling determination surge through him. His fists tingled with energy, and the Fist God System's glow pulsed warmly, as if sharing his anticipation.
"Lin Feng, new mission unlocked: External Threat Simulation. Recommended difficulty: high. Reward: Fist Points, XP, and system skill upgrades."
The Mud Hero laughed, brushing mud off his robes. "Finally… a challenge worthy of my chaos. Let's see how far this Fist God System can take me."
Setting the Stage for the Next Arc
As the sun dipped below the mountains, Lin Feng trained in the courtyard, each spin, roll, and improvised strike accompanied by system feedback and stats. His muscles ached, his robes were ruined, but every movement brought him closer to mastering momentum, chaos, and resilience.
The whispers of the Xianwu Era carried on the wind: the Mud Hero of Azure Cloud Sect had survived the impossible, defeated the top disciples, and attracted the attention of far stronger rivals.
And somewhere in the shadows, other sects were already plotting, intrigued and threatened by the rise of this chaotic, mud-streaked prodigy.
Lin Feng wiped sweat and mud from his brow, fists glowing faintly, and smiled. "Let them come. I'm ready… and I'll make it entertaining."
The Fist God System flickered beside him, already projecting the next advanced training module. The era was vast, the world dangerous, and the path to Fist God had only just begun.