Chapter 9

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Chapter 9: Untimely Death

“Dead?”

“How did he die?”

“Was it suicide or murder?”

“Was it because of the war?”

Su Wen’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. What could be more shocking than learning about his own impending death?

If this were a timeline a hundred years into the future, seeing his statue and memorial events wouldn’t have shaken him so much.

But this is the timeline of the next ten years, and that’s a huge problem!

How old is he now?

He’s in the prime of his life, with so much ahead of him.

Yet, this Time and Space Journey has revealed that, according to the original course of events, he doesn’t have much time left.

【You carefully examine your statue and notice a brief biography of your life inscribed near the base.】

【Name: Su Wen.】

【Occupation: God of Wealth.】

【Lifespan: 24 years.】

【Cause of Death: Died in May 2023 during an Arrow Realm exploration, an untimely death.】

【Achievements: Recipient of the national first-class medal.】

【Evaluation: Su Wen’s life was like a shooting star—brilliant but fleeting. Whenever people speak of him, they can’t help but sigh with regret.】

【The foundational Body Refinement Technique, invented by Su Wen, pioneered the path for martial arts, leading to the rise of a vast community of martial artists.】

【Fate bearers also saw their physical fitness improve thanks to the foundational Body Refinement Technique, significantly boosting their survival rates in trials.】

【The renowned martial arts Master Du Guowei once said that Su Wen was the founding father of martial arts. Had Su Wen lived, martial arts would have played an even greater role in combating anomalies, and warriors would have had a brighter future.】

【Anomalies researcher Bai Zikai publicly stated that without Su Wen’s foundational Body Refinement Technique, humanity would have faced even greater devastation during the invasions from the Arrow Realm aberrants.】

【Some warriors suspect foul play in Su Wen’s death. Why did everyone else survive the Arrow Realm exploration, while only Su Wen died? They are determined to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice!】

“……”

Su Wen stared at the inscription that marked his lifespan as 24 years, his lips twitching slightly.

Reading the thoughts of the martial arts enthusiasts below, his eyes narrowed.

May 2023—that’s just ten months away.

How is it possible that everyone else survived the Arrow Realm exploration, but he alone died? Does that even make sense?

It doesn’t!

He’s not reckless; how could he be the only one to die?

Something must have gone terribly wrong during the Arrow Realm exploration in May 2023. But who would want him dead?

He hasn’t done anything to provoke anyone!

But why has the name of this Body Refinement Technique changed?

Has it become the foundational Body Refinement Technique, is this the Star God’s doing?

Does the term "foundation" signify a hopeful outlook on the future potential of martial arts?

【In the future timeline, you realize you only have ten months left to live. This short span fills you with dread, but upon reflection, it seems illogical.】

【You know your own character: timid and cautious, well-versed in the art of survival. You would never attempt anything beyond your capabilities.】

【You are the God of Wealth, capable of traversing time and space; disrupting time and space and reversing yin and yang are within your powers. How could someone as powerful and thoughtful as you die so early?】

【Ten months is but a blink of an eye for you.】

【Thus, you sense something is amiss; you’ll ponder your death later, but for now, you feel compelled to act.】

【You walk into the city and find a martial arts school.】

【Green Cloud Martial Arts School trains warriors and sells various martial skills.】

【You approach with interest, but after speaking with the school owner, you realize you can’t afford even the cheapest martial skill.】

【Oh, the poor God of Wealth! As the God of Wealth, you should control the source of all riches, yet you’ve fallen to the point where you can’t even buy the simplest martial skill. With less than a hundred coins in your pocket, do you not feel ashamed?】

【Just as you prepare to leave, the school owner calls out to you, puzzled as to why you are still practicing the initial version of the foundational Body Refinement Technique when a new version was issued by the country three years ago.】

【After studying you for a moment, the owner, noticing your resemblance to the martial arts ancestor Su Wen, offers you two transmission talismans for free and gives you a brief introduction.】

【These two foundational skills include an improved version of the foundational Body Refinement Technique, which adds four new movements to the original eighteen, totaling twenty-two Strengthening Movements.】

【The eighteen breathing methods have been condensed into five universal ones, each enhancing one of your five internal organs and providing explosive effects during battle.】

【The other skill is called "Tiger Fist," developed a year ago by Master Du Guowei based on the Tiger Form of Xingyi Fist, combined with the blood energy outlines and operational principles of the foundational Body Refinement Technique, known for strengthening bones and body.】

【After thanking the school owner, you accept the two transmission talismans he has gifted you.】

【Oh, lucky God of Wealth from the past! The seeds you planted in the past are now taking root and bearing sweet fruits in this future timeline.】

【You feel very curious about the updated foundational Body Refinement Technique and martial skills, so you find a place to sit and begin studying through the transmission talismans.】

【Just as you are diligently learning, a black light shoots up from the center of Jiang City, tearing through the sky’s barrier. Evil dark energy spreads from the other side, starting to wreak havoc in Jiang City.】

【Your turbulent blood energy is like a light in the darkness, drawn to the malevolent forces.】

【Your eyes go dark, your energy flows backward, and you fall into a state of madness.】

【Oh, unfortunate God of Wealth! You happen to be caught in a brutal struggle among high-level combatants, but unfortunately, the winner is not on the human side, and you become a victim of this energetic turbulence.】

【You die.】

【The faint power of time and space attached to you begins to tremble, as the river of time in this world sharply perceives that your soul does not belong to this current time point. It refuses to accept your true spirit and chooses to expel you.】

【Under the protection of the power of Wealth Source, your soul and true spirit begin to return to the current time point.】