Every boy harbors a hero's dream in childhood.
He wants to become a peerless master, rob the rich to help the poor, uphold justice, and wander the world with his soulmate.
Like Zhang Wuji, Yang Guo, Li Xunhuan…
But as time slips by and people grow up, they slowly realize that hero's dream drifts further and further away.
Especially when the pressure of life crushes you until you can barely breathe — then that dream feels hopelessly ethereal.
Even ridiculous, almost.
Yet there is no denying it.
No matter when, no matter where, no matter your age, no matter your circumstances — even knowing the hero's dream is illusory, you still cling to hope.
What if?
What if one day, by some stroke of fortune, you become a master?
Then you could soar to greatness, change your fate, and reach the peak of life!
Ye Qiu was no different.
He grew up relying only on his mother. His family was poor, and he was often bullied by classmates at school.
From that moment on, Ye Qiu held fast to one dream:
To become strong!
Strong enough that no one would dare bully him again.
He had fantasized countless times that one day he could be like the protagonists in wuxia dramas — protecting his family, serving his country and people.
But when he grew up, he learned TV shows were nothing but lies.
In this world, there were no real heroes, no one who wielded the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.
But today, the words of the Dragon King and Zhao Yun had shattered his old understanding.
There might be no Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, but there were martial arts masters — he had just never known it.
And there were the Tiger Rank, Dragon Rank, God Rank…
All of them sounded utterly fascinating.
Xiao Jiu, the Marquis Champion, in particular, had become Ye Qiu's idol and goal.
Once a thought takes root in your mind, you cannot stop thinking about it.
The more he thought, the more excited he became.
Ye Qiu immediately searched his ancestral inheritance for martial arts manuals.
But the legacy of the Ye Clan ancestor contained tens of thousands of them — so many that his eyes blurred.
Just as he could not decide which to choose, a thin booklet caught his eye.
On its cover were several ancient seal characters, exuding a primitive, weathered aura.
Nine Revolutions Divine Dragon Art!
After squinting for a while, Ye Qiu deciphered the characters.
"Sounds pretty domineering."
He flipped it open. On the first page, there was a handwritten note from the Ye Clan ancestor:
"This art was obtained by chance. Its origin and creator are unknown. From my research, it is profoundly mysterious. Cultivated to the utmost, it might dominate through the ages."
"However, only those with no prior cultivation may practice it."
"When I obtained it, my cultivation was already complete. Thus, I never got to practice this art — a great regret."
Ye Qiu grinned after reading.
"Ancestor said only those without cultivation can learn this. I'm perfect for it!"
He turned to the second page.
This page held a detailed introduction to the Nine Revolutions Divine Dragon Art.
After reading it, Ye Qiu knew this art was made for him.
Ordinary martial arts required starting with stance training and horse stances, taking decades of practice for even minor progress.
This art was different: success depended entirely on talent.
Those with high talent advanced with half the effort, breaking through realms easily.
Those with low talent might never even grasp the First Revolution in their entire lives.
"I wonder how talented I am?"
Ye Qiu was eager to try.
According to the introduction, the Nine Revolutions Divine Dragon Art had nine revolutions.
The First Revolution was the Body Refining Realm.
The first step in Body Refining was to guide innate Qi and open the Ren and Du meridians.
The second step was to sense the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, using it to temper the body.
As spiritual Qi accumulated, the practitioner's physical strength would grow.
Only when arm strength reached three thousand jin would the realm be complete, allowing entry into the Second Revolution.
Strangely, after reading the introduction and method for the First Revolution, Ye Qiu found he could not flip to the next page.
That thin sheet of paper felt as heavy as Mount Tai.
What was going on?
After thinking for a moment, Ye Qiu understood.
"If I can't comprehend the First Revolution, I can't see the later realms. This art is a bit tricky!"
Whatever. He would try it first.
Ye Qiu sat cross-legged on the bed according to the cultivation method, placed his hands on his knees with palms upward, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed the Qi inside his body.
The art stated that within the Baihui acupoint atop everyone's head hid a stream of Qi — innate Qi.
Only by sensing it and guiding it to break open the Ren and Du meridians could one take the first step.
Fifteen minutes passed.
Ye Qiu felt nothing. He had gained nothing.
"Did I do it wrong?"
He re-read the cultivation method carefully, certain he hadn't made a mistake. He frowned in confusion — why couldn't he sense innate Qi?
"I'll try again."
Ye Qiu kept practicing.
Half an hour later.
He opened his eyes, still having achieved nothing. Doubt crept in.
"Is my talent just too low? Am I not fit for the Nine Revolutions Divine Dragon Art?"
Little did Ye Qiu know that many people spent their entire lives without ever sensing innate Qi.
And he had only practiced for less than an hour.
"If this art exists, it must have a reason. I must have messed up somewhere."
Suddenly, Ye Qiu remembered what Zhao Yun had said: eating the hundred-year-old wild ginseng would make him a master.
With that thought, he took out the ginseng, didn't even wash it, and bit right into it.
In less than three minutes, a warm current rose from his dantian. Ye Qiu's entire body burned hot.
He immediately closed his eyes, focused on the warm current, and practiced according to the art.
Another half hour passed.
Suddenly, Ye Qiu's mind jolted. He clearly felt a cool stream of Qi spreading downward from the Baihui acupoint on his head.
"Innate Qi!"
Suppressing his excitement, he guided the stream toward his Ren and Du meridians following the cultivation method.
But to his surprise, the meridians were like iron walls — innate Qi could not break through at all.
Ye Qiu refused to give up and kept pushing.
By dawn, a crisp crack echoed.
Finally, innate Qi shattered the Ren and Du meridians open.
In an instant, Ye Qiu felt his body brimming with power. It felt amazing.
Moreover, after a night of cultivation, he felt no exhaustion at all — only a light, refreshed sensation throughout his body.
He got out of bed, walked to the window, and looked at the rising sun. A powerful confidence shone on his face.
"If one day I can become someone like Xiao Jiu…
I will make the clan that cast aside my mother beg her to return on their knees!
I will find my biological father and make him kneel before my mother in repentance!
I will make everyone who looked down on us gaze up at me forever!"