The Way of Martial Arts Unveiled: Who Is She

"How can an ordinary person stand against demons and monsters?"

Those outside the "Rivers and Mountains Scroll" had no idea, and most were feeling rather pessimistic.

They had already mentally prepared themselves for the top-ranked genius of the Hidden Dragon Ranking to be taken down in the first encounter, eliminated before the first wave of calamity even arrived.

Little Li the Blacksmith himself didn’t know either. All he knew was that the celestial clans born in the Heavenly City, blessed with innate superiority, could summon storms and shake the earth with a mere wave of their hands—such was their overwhelming power.

He also knew that those in the Earthly City, who had obtained mystical abilities, possessed means to rival them.

Their methods seemed to involve emulating demons, harnessing a certain kind of power called... "martial arts"?

Unfortunately, he had never trained in martial arts. Aside from blacksmithing, the only thing he knew how to do was...

"Oi!"

A small "pebble" flew out and smacked the human-faced serpent square in the face. Instinctively, it raised a hand to wipe it away—

Only to find that the "pebble" smeared into a mushy, foul-smelling mess.

This wasn’t a pebble.

It was cow dung!

"Come at me!"

The little man wielding a hammer beckoned at it with a finger.

Outside, Shang Wu burst into laughter, pointing at Little Li inside the scroll. "Good, good! Even with his memories gone, he hasn’t forgotten the essence of what I taught him. Truly my precious disciple!"

The crowd silently edged further away from her.

What kind of decent person teaches this stuff?!

And what good would it even do?!

"I thought Young Master Li had some kind of trump card, but instead, he’s throwing... uh, that?"

"Ahem, but credit where it’s due—he’s bold and righteous, courageous despite being the underdog. He steps up when needed, even if it’s... not the most elegant display. Still, one could call him... a gentleman?"

"A gentleman? He’s about to become a martyr!"

"That serpent is pissed now!"

Within the luminous expanse of the Rivers and Mountains Scroll...

Little Li the Blacksmith, who had just been praised for his bravery, tossed the dung and immediately bolted.

One look was enough to confirm—this was a demon he couldn’t beat.

He ran!

It chased!

Quick-witted, Little Li noticed the serpent’s massive, house-sized frame and dashed into the nearby forest.

Hiss—

The mountainous terrain was treacherous.

But Li Mo could clearly hear the sound of the serpent’s tail slithering behind him, growing closer by the second!

Glancing back, he saw the human-faced serpent weaving through the forest with shocking agility, its speed and flexibility defying its enormous size.

At this rate, he’d be caught in just a few more breaths!

"Why is it so nimble?"

"It moves as if gliding over the land like water, effortlessly... If its tail were replaced with legs, could the same be achieved?"

As he fled, Little Li pondered this, replaying the serpent’s movements in his mind. He imagined his own legs as a tail, his upper body swaying in rhythm.

Surprisingly, he seemed to have a knack for mimicry. Though awkward at first, within moments, his movements became fluid, and his speed increased!

"What’s he doing?"

"He’s imitating the serpent, creating a martial art!"

"There’s already a hint of animal mimicry in his movements. Human-faced serpents vanished from the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands long ago. If Young Master Li can develop a serpent-based mimicry style, it’d be of great research value!"

"But he’s just started—can he really pull this off mid-fight?"

"Wait! What’s happening now?!"

"Young Master Li... has turned into a human-faced serpent?!"

On the scroll’s projection...

Little Li the Blacksmith had become the very subject of his study. As he mimicked the serpent, his legs shimmered and transformed into a tail.

A surge of primordial power, foreign yet immense, flooded his body.

Since when did martial arts work like this?!

"Is this how Earthly City warriors fight demons?"

"Who knew I had such talent!"

Serpent-Li Mo grinned, halting his retreat.

Now, they were both human-faced serpents. The enemy wielded two weapons—a bone fork and a stone hammer.

Li Mo, meanwhile, held a hammer in one hand and a sickle in the other.

Gazing at his weapons, he felt not only the surging power within but also an inexplicable, overwhelming confidence.

He didn’t know where it came from, but...

The advantage was his!

Serpent-Li charged forward, clashing fiercely with the demon. Their battle raged, toppling trees, churning earth, and shattering rocks.

At first, he was at a disadvantage, unused to his new form.

But through relentless imitation, he gradually mastered his strengths.

It was as if he had an innate gift for this—or as if he’d faced stronger foes countless times before, navigating the struggle with ease.

Slowly, even with inferior raw power, he began to overwhelm his opponent.

The demon’s wounds multiplied, green blood splattering the ground as its movements grew sluggish...

"ROAR!"

A deafening bellow erupted, audible for miles.

"Oh no!"

Li Mo’s instincts screamed—this was the demon calling for reinforcements.

Breaking free was impossible; it would cling to him.

His only chance was to kill it fast—then run!

"ROAR! RAAARGH—cough!"

The serpent demon glared at Li Mo with a predator’s grin.

But before it could finish its cry, a familiar object flew into its mouth, clogging its throat.

Yep.

If there were no surprises, it was still cow dung.

Where the hell did this village get so many cows?! I’LL KILL THIS WEIRD HUMAN A THOUSAND TIMES!!!

Low in intelligence, the demon’s call for help was instinctive. Before its kin arrived, it resumed fighting Li Mo.

But by now, Li Mo’s power had grown even stronger, the flames in his eyes burning brighter!

The demon stood no chance.

Finally, the sickle severed a scaled arm, and the hammer crushed its skull with a decisive blow.

Hummm—

A strange resonance echoed.

Li Mo reverted to human form.

Worse, his improvised martial art had drained him. The battle-high had masked it, but now, exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave.

He couldn’t even run.

Had the Hidden Dragon Ranking’s top contender reached the end of his trial?

Honestly, despite being born in the Heavenly City, given his humble origins, he’d done remarkably well. Even if eliminated now, no one would look down on him.

Four shadowy figures closed in from all directions.

"Did you... kill it?"

Their monstrous silhouettes, towering like houses, blotted out the sun, dwarfing Li Mo’s frail form.

That was why the demons were puzzled—how had this human done it?

But curiosity didn’t matter. To them, he was just a more delicious meal, one that could greatly enhance their bloodline.

Four pairs of lantern-sized, cruel eyes locked onto him.

Leaning against a tree, Li Mo saw no hope left.

"If they’re all after me... at least the villagers will have time to escape."

"It's a pity the martial skills I've learned won't have the chance to be passed on to them, to give them the means to protect themselves in the future..."

As the thought faded—

Splat!!

A scalding crimson spray erupted.

Li Mo felt no pain. He touched his face—the blood reeked, but it wasn’t his.

Stunned, he looked up.

There, suspended midair, stood a figure as cold and divine as a goddess, her robes fluttering like storm-tossed banners, radiant as a moon that had no place in this world.

Her eyes—unbelievably beautiful—were fixed on him.

Though her expression was aloof, sacred, the kind of transcendent grace that would make most avert their gaze in reverence, when she looked at him, there was an unmistakable softness.

So beautiful...

Who was she?