The Divine Martial Stars

Sitting on the edge of a one-thousand-year-old forest near the Qinling mountain range, Randengsi Village was in a region of jagged peaks, bubbling streams, and lush vegetation. This beautiful scenery, combined with its simple people, made this village a paradise. It was famous throughout the province of Shanxi. The Randeng Temple, with its history of being built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, was especially famous.

It was now midsummer, and the sun was about to set over Randengsi Village.

A slender teenager with thick eyebrows and big eyes was chewing a straw stem. He was singing while walking out of the only livestock slaughterhouse in the village. There was a slight smell of blood on him after he had slaughtered pigs. In his hand was a basket with a fresh piece of pork liver.

This teenager was named Li Mu. He was 14 years old.

Li Mu had just graduated from junior high school. He was ranked first in the senior high school entrance exam.

Li Mu was an orphan and had no parents. He was adopted by the only abbot of the ancient Randeng Temple when he was young. However, this abbot was not a monk but an old swindler from the countryside.

The old man and Li Mu lived with each other in the ancient broken-down temple.

When Li Mu was not at school, he would sit in the temple where he would watch the ancient Buddhas and drink from a mountain spring. He was loved among the villagers because he had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and he looked dignified and strong as he smiled.

The old swindler was so respected in Randengsi Village, that they always ate and drank with his neighbors. Because of this, Li Mu grew up knowing many families in the village.

When he was 10 years old, Li Mu was forced by the swindler grandpa to slaughter pigs as a part-time job.

The old swindler told Li Mu that it was a useful job for him to cultivate a murderous spirit.

As Li Mu thought about this, he felt a little annoyed:

"I'm just a junior student, why do I need this spirit? And if it is useful to cultivate the murderous spirit, then the pig-killer uncle Qin must be a peerless killing god... Well, I think the swindler must be crazy."

Li Mu had slaughtered hundreds of pigs in four years. He felt that it was wicked to have his hands drenched with so much blood.

"Woof, woof...woof."

A black and white Siberian Husky with eyes of different colors was following him. It was big and beautiful.

Li Mu called it General.

The general of the dogs.

Li Mu had found this dog at the gate of the school three years ago. At that time, it was a baby dog. It was abandoned and so thin that it had almost starved to death.

Li Mu took it to the Randeng Temple and raised it.

After three years, this husky had grown as tall as a cow and as strong as an ox. Now it acted like an alpha among the many dogs in Randengsi Village. It always took its dog pack across the village and howled in the mountains and forests, scaring the chickens and ducks fly into flapping their feathers all over the village.

The only reason this husky had not been killed and made into a dog hot pot by the villagers, was because Li Mu and his grandpa were so loved in the village.

"Woof." General stared at the fresh pork liver tied with straw rope in Li Mu's hand and drooled. It was following Li Mu, ingratiating itself with him.

It was about a 20 minute walk from the slaughterhouse to the ancient temple.

The scenery along the road was beautiful and the setting sun looked like a gold coin.

As Li Mu met the villagers who were returning from farm work, he greeted them with great enthusiasm.

These uncles and aunts had been good to Li Mu since he was young and treated him like their own son.

When these villagers saw him, they replied with smiles.

As Li Mu and General disappeared into the distance, some people shook their heads and sighed:

"Well, that's a pity. Li Mu is the best student in our village and ranked No.1 in the high school entrance examination. I don't know why Master Li doesn't want him to continue to study."

"I know. I heard that the headmaster from the best high school in the city came to Randeng Temple by himself. He wanted this boy to study in his school for free and even wanted him to be in the Yulin class with monthly living expenses paid for... However, Master Li refused all of this."

"I guess Master Li wants Li Mu to inherit his skills."

"I don't think Master Li's skills like geomancy, health keeping, demon elimination, and ghost catching are useful in modern society. And I don't think it's a good idea for the boy to learn about these. Master Li is really skillful at these, but some people say that he has a mental illness and it will be terrible when he's attacked by this disease. Well, Li Mu will be pitiful since he has to take care of him then."

The villagers kept talking.

...

...

"Hello, old man, I'm back."

But there wasn't the usual response from the old swindler.

Li Mu walked to the kitchen.

Li Mu hid the pork liver in the jar after entering the kitchen, so General wouldn't eat it. After that, he took a gulp of well water.

Then he began to practice in the open space of the temple.

It was Zhenwu Boxing.

And the martial art Xiantian Skill.

And it was the old swindler who taught Li Mu these two kinds of skills.

When Li Mu began to walk, he was forced to practice these skills by the old swindler. Zhenwu Boxing was a series of skills and tricks in martial arts while Xiantian Skill was a breathing method. He had been practicing them for 11 years now. He would practice for one hour in the morning and in the afternoon.

According to the old swindler, Zhenwu Boxing was from the immortals. One could crush a mountain and break stones after achieving mastery through a comprehensive study of the eighteen styles of Zhenwu Boxing. One could easily smash an armored car even after just learning a little. However, the twelve-stage Xiantian Skill was more powerful since it could cause qualitative changes to people by cleaning their marrows and renewing their muscles. When anyone reached the Innate Stage, he could fly swiftly through the air as if he were an immortal.

But Li Mu couldn't even smash a piece of wood with Zhenwu Boxing even though he had been practicing it for 11 years. It only enhanced his vital capacity. He could find no other power from it.

And the old swindler had his own explanations for this.

According to what the old swindler said, the earth was currently at the Power-ending Age. As a result, the energy of heaven and earth was exhausted, as was the Spiritual Qi in the air. This was no condition for practice. And that was why he could not master the two Cultivation Methods he imparted to him.

How could he makeup an excuse like this?

What a liar!

Li Mu didn't even bother to call out the old swindler.

He was even angrier about the fact that the old swindler still forced him to practice even though, according to the old swindler himself, there was no way to practice successfully on earth.

Li Mu had always tried to resist practicing when he was five or six years old. However, he had to continue in tears after the old swindler beat him with a stick. When he grew up, the old swindler had to take the soft way since he could not defeat Li Mu.

Therefore, he would pretend to be attacked by mental illness, talking nonsense and running naked if Li Mu didn't take his advice. As a result, Li Mu was forced to continue to practice.

Now, Li Mu had grown used to this.

He regarded them as a useful way to build up a good physique and improve his health.

After practice in the evening, he went to the door of the meditation room at the back yard, stripped to the waist.

"So, old man, what do you want to eat for supper? I've finished practicing now. I've got the fresh port liver from the slaughterhouse, so, what about your favorite wax gourd and pork liver soup noodles..." Li Mu had been forced to cook by this bad old swindler since he was six.

"It's a big day today. Don't hurry to cook, let me tell you something very important."

An unusual and serious voice came from behind the curtain of the meditation room.

"What is the big day?" Li Mu thought for a while and scratched his head. It was July 14 of 2017 today: it was not a public holiday, or the traditional lunar holiday, or the international day of commemoration... so why it so big?

"Sit at the door of the meditation room and listen to me." It was rare when the old swindler became serious instead of his usual obscenities. "Now listen carefully, don't interrupt me before I finish."

"Oh? Ok." Li Mu had his doubts, but he still sat down at the door of the meditation room with crossed legs.

He had a bad feeling.

Every time the old swindler said there was something big was happening, that was when he was attacked by the mental illness.

And maybe this time was no exception.

"Here's the thing. There is one unprecedented large Transmitting Array built on the Ziwei Star Region where several super martial art sects are located outside the solar system so that it will be convenient for them to develop the south part of the galaxy.

"However, the pulse of the immortal power of this formation is going to pass the earth, and the earth is about to be destroyed. I have to take you away from earth, but before you leave, I have something to tell you so that you can get used to life there quickly..."

"Whhhhhh...what?"

Li Mu was stunned.

"The earth will be destroyed?"

"The Ziwei Star Region?"

"And super martial art forces?"

As expected, the old swindler had been attacked by the illness again.

And obviously, it was more serious this time since he was now talking complete nonsense like this.

Maybe he would say that aliens from the five star systems of the Milky Way would invade the earth and rob the national treasure giant panda if he continued.

"Well, old man, you can stop... Ok, I think we'd better put aside the trivial matter of earth's destruction. Your health is more important, and maybe you've got a fever, so, what about letting me send you to the hospital first?" Li Mu tried to make himself sound sincere as he talked.

Based on his previous experience, Li Mu knew to accept what the old swindler said rather than deny it, or else this old guy would get crazier.

Bang!

A slipper flew out of the meditation room and hit Li Mu right on his head.

"Damn it! Don't interrupt me. Now the formation has already started and time is limited, you shouldn't talk nonsense. Why are you making me angry? Just shut up and listen to me carefully. Damn, I'm not sick. You are a person of limited outlook and experience... Shut up!"

Wiping the shoe prints off his forehead, Li Mu was unable to cry or laugh.

This old man must have been attacked by a serious mental illness today. He was so furious and even spoke English.

"All right, calm down, you can continue and I will not interrupt you..." said Li Mu.

Then the old swindler continued to speak as he was breathing heavily:

"Eeveryone knows that those super martial art forces from Ziwei Star Region are so bad, the destruction of earth is an excuse to deal with the public opinion of the Ziwei Star Region. But the good news is that the early-stage preparations of building the super large Transmitting Array will take more than 20 years according to some calculations...

"Let me send you away from earth to a lower-level Martial Art Star. This way, it will be convenient for you to steel yourself, and maybe you can reach a higher level of learning in Zhenwu Boxing and Xiantian Skill within 20 years. Which means you might be able to gain the power to break the barriers of the planet and find a method to save the earth."

"So...it is, well, I get it. Don't worry, grandpa, I will surely practice those two magic skills you've delivered to me even if it is not for the earth but for you and the fellow villagers in Randengsi Village..." Li Mu figured that the old swindler was consumed by a serious mental illness so he had to cooperate.

"All right, it's good that you can understand it. Damn, it's a kind of fate that we're together. You have to be independent in the future. However, I've to remind you again, do you know what the most important thing is for martial artists when they make a living wandering from place to place among the stars?"

Well, this old swindler was getting a little too deep into this act.

Li Mu pretended to be thinking for a while then said, "A martial artist has to forge ahead with determination, and has to strive for the front line with heaven no matter what difficulties he faces. He also has to focus on righteousness first and be willing to help his friends, even at the cost of his life. Moreover, he should never retreat from facing evil even at the cost of his life for justice-"

Bang!

The second slipper flew out of the meditation room and hit him right on his head.

"Stupid... How can you forget what I've taught you before? Why are you saying helping others at the loss of your life and sacrificing yourself for justice? It's wrong, absolutely wrong! Damn, you are going to piss me off. You must remember the first principle when you're in space. You have to admit when you're defeated or acknowledge your impotency... Life is more important. Safety first! It's more important to live."

The old swindler was furious. He felt disappointed that Li Mu had no capacity for improvement.

Li Mu didn't know what to say.

And the old swindler continued with sincere words and earnest wishes, "My son, I've already taught you all of my skills during the past years. They will be amazing in the universe. Though I've always been tough on you and forced you to do many things that you were unwilling to do, leaving your childhood incomplete. However, I did all this for your own good. You will understand how precious those skills will be when you reach the lower-level Martial Art Star, and you must appreciate me for all this..."

Hearing this, Li Mu twitched his mouth.

To be honest, he would have felt moved if he didn't know that the old swindler was talking nonsense.

How could he trick the old swindler into going to the hospital?

Then the old swindler spoke again, "Well, I will not talk about this anymore. Don't let me down when you are in the world alone... Come in now, let me send you away."

Li Mu giggled.

This was a good chance.

When he entered, he would find a way to get close to the old swindler, tie him up and send him to the hospital.

Li Mu opened the door of the meditation room and entered.

But who knew that the moment he entered, something unexpected happened.

The ground behind the curtain was not actually earth. Li Mu seemed to have stepped into an abyss as he missed his step and fell directly downward. Then there was a strange buzz in his ear, making him totally weightless...

"Damn, that's so villainous. You must be crazy, old swindler. When did you dig such a deep pit in the meditation room..."

Li Mu cried out in grief and indignation.

But his voice stopped abruptly.

As if he had vanished from this world.

"Aha... I did it... I've spent 10 years carving this Nine-star Sky Array and activated it with half of my blood. Well, this is a favor to this brat. I've finally sent this boy away. Well, I'm totally liberated... Aha, I can go back finally... Let me change the array coordination... Aha, I don't want to stay in this damn earth any longer since it lacks Spiritual Qi..."

The frantic laughter of the old swindler reverberated in the meditation room.

However, suddenly there were sounds of footsteps coming from outside Randeng Temple.

"Hello, General, is Brother Mu in the meditation room?" A girl's pleasant voice sounded.

And General, as tall as a little cow, was wagging its head and tail with a flattering smile and led her to the meditation room.

And a beautiful girl of fourteen followed behind.

She was a slender girl, almost 5' 6" tall with black hair, a tender look, and white skin. Her smile was revealed before she spoke. She was wearing jeans which highlighted her long straight legs and slim figure. Even the Randeng Temple became radiant because of her presence.

The girl was Wang Shiyu, the commissary in charge of studies in his junior school, the campus belle and also his former desk mate.

"Woof... woof." General jumped with excitement and wagged its tail wildly. It led her down the hallway and entered the meditation room.

Wang Shiyu followed it closely and entered without hesitation. She smiled and said, "Hello, Brother Mu, are you there? Mr. Chen who asked me to come here. He hopes you can continue to study at high school..."

However, in the next moment, the screams of the girl and the dog sounded in the meditation room at the same time.

And then, their voices vanished completely.

There was a long silence before the old swindler's voice of grief sounded:

"Oh no... Damn dog... Ah, this girl... How can you enter...? Damn, I can't stop them. I've lost too much blood. The array has been activated again before I've had the time to adjust the array coordination...

"Oh my god, this ordinary girl and the foolish dog have been sent away too. They have wasted all my remaining spirit blood... What a disaster! What shall I do now since this array can be used only once? I'll be trapped here on the earth without the array and the spirit blood. God, are you joking with me?

"Damn, that will be so interesting. Your dog and girl have all been transmitted... You will find it so interesting on that planet... You must practice Xiantian Skill for 20 years so that you can break the barrier of the star and help me out, or else, I will stay and be destroyed with earth."