ADAPTED FROM THE WEBCOMIC YI REN ZHI XIA
THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION
ALL ACTIONS AND ABILITIES PERFORMED SHOULD NOT BE IMITATED
You're now in the world's top scientific institution.
Everyone you see here
is an outstanding researcher.
When I was a novice here,
I remember that we had to secretly import
advanced machines from overseas.
After years of research and development,
we're capable of producing our own facilities now.
Back then, we had to learn from other countries.
But after years of endeavor,
many countries have started to learn from us.
We stand on the shoulders of giants, that is our culture.
We're now at the cutting edge of innovation.
I thought NDT was just a courier service company.
Yes, we are,
but it's a side hustle.
Everything before you now
is the real form of NDT.
Let me introduce myself.
I'm the General Manager of the Lubei Region of NDT,
Xu Xiang.
LUBEI REGION
Sinister Pleasure is rampaging
in the world of ordinary people.
We, NDT,
must stop them.
We have issued an arrest warrant
for those who are at large.
So what is your research all about?
There are many topics
such as the universe,
time-space,
energy, and life.
However, there's only one core research.
That is, the origin of Outsiders.
The origin of Outsiders?
Chulan.
You're an Outsider too.
Don't be ridiculous.
I'm not like you all.
Not only you,
but your grandfather was an Outsider too.
Outsiders are humans too.
We don't have misshapen body features.
You have come across many more Outsiders than you thought
because you can't identify them.
The standard we use to identify an Outsider
is to see whether the person
can employ a kind of energy that ordinary people can't.
This energy,
according to the ancient people, it's called
qi.
This unique energy
can transform into abilities beyond what ordinary people can do,
which is known as "superpower".
We're researching the origin of qi.
Have you found the answer yet?
Have you heard of dark matter?
The Universe consists of the Observable Universe
and the Dark Universe.
We live in the Observable Universe,
which only occupies 15%
of the whole universe,
while the remaining 85% percent is the Dark Universe.
It's formed by dark matter.
Dark matter is universal energy
that is still unexplained by human science.
However, our research has led us to realize
that between the Observable Universe and the Dark Universe,
there is an interaction of matters
in the form of energy.
And this energy
is the dark energy.
In fact, this energy
can be traced far back in our ancient culture,
and that's qi.
You don't know me
and I don't know you as well,
yet you're sharing so many secrets with me.
Aren't you afraid that I'll blab?
Are you thinking of locking me in here forever?
Zhang Chulan.
On behalf of NDT,
I officially invite you to join our company.
WE, NDT, WELCOME YOU
You must be kidding.
I'm just a normal college kid.
I have a lecture to attend this afternoon. I should get going now.
You can rest assured.
I know the rules well.
I won't tell a soul
about whatever I have looked and heard here.
Zhang Chulan.
I know your grandfather.
TWELVE YEARS AGO
Sir.
It's time to renew
your identity card.
Village Director.
Why should I renew it?
Aren't they the same?
Besides, I already have one foot in the grave.
I might go to the grave
before my new ID card arrives.
Today,
I came for another matter.
Chulan is very young now.
He has lost both of his parents,
and you are old now.
We have a boarding school in the county.
Why don't you send Chulan over there?
The teachers will take care of him.
Bed and board are provided too.
Not only will he get some educations,
but he will also have friends to play with.
What do you say?
He's my only precious grandson.
As long as I'm alive,
I'm not sending him anywhere.
Thank you for the offer.
Sir, I checked your ID card just now.
You're about to turn ninety.
What if
something bad happens to you,
leaving Chulan alone?
I'm strong and sturdy.
Look at my muscles.
Village Director,
I know you're younger.
Let's have a fight.
You might not be able to beat me.
Of course, I can't.
Grandpa, I'll take it.
Chulan.
I taught you how to make a fire and cook just now.
Have you got the hang of it?
-Yes. -Good boy.
Well,
I have to head out
for something.
So I have prepared you three pork knuckles in advance.
Every day, you can take one out
and heat it before you eat.
Besides, I have told you
two important things.
Do you remember that?
First, I shouldn't use martial arts carelessly.
Second, I should only use them when I'm in danger.
Good.
Keep this in mind.
Eat up.
Grandpa,
when will you be back?
After you finish the three pork knuckles,
I'll be back.
THE FIRST DAY
THE SECOND DAY
THE THIRD DAY
I've already finished the last pork knuckle.
What time will Grandpa be back today?
Grandpa.
You're home.
Grandpa.
What's wrong?
Grandpa.
What has happened to you?
Grandpa!
Wake up!
Grandpa!
Wake up!
Grandpa!
Let's go home.
Grandpa!
Please.
Please wake up.
Grandpa.
Please wake up, Grandpa.
Grandpa.
You said you knew my grandfather.
Can you tell me
how did he die?
Well,
I can't answer that.
But I can tell you
where he
acquired his skills.
MOUNT LONGHU
CELESTIAL TAOIST MANSION
ONE OF THE SECTS OF OUTSIDERS WITH A LONG HISTORY
AND IS HIGHLY REVERED.
THEIR LIGHTNING TECHNIQUE SETS THEM APART FROM OTHERS,
REPRESENTING AN ORTHODOX AND PRESTIGIOUS SECT.
THEY'VE BEEN TAKING THE LEAD AND UPHOLDING JUSTICE.
ZHANG LINGYU
THE MOST SKILLED TAOIST DISCIPLE OF CELESTIAL TAOIST MANSION
Lingyu!
Grandmaster wants to see you.
All right.
Gardening folks,
it's pruning time.
Are you ready
with your pruning shears?
Use the pruning shears
to trim the branches
carefully.
Trimming branches
is like trimming hair.
If you accidentally
shake your hand slightly,
they will be gone.
I, Lingyu, offer my greetings, Master.
Have you looked through the name list?
Yes.
This is the 2,000th anniversary of Mount Longhu,
and the guests are our old acquaintances.
We must invite all of them.
The name list
is from eighty years ago.
Many seniors
have already passed away,
while their kins have no interest in attending.
However,
two seniors who still exist
have promised
to come for the ceremony
no matter what.
Master.
On the name list,
a name is crossed off.
I couldn't find any record of him.
Perhaps he's one of the seniors in Mount Longhu.
Zhang Huaiyi.
Master.
Do you know him?
Just leave it
since the name is crossed off.
By the way,
I have a morning session.
I need to go now.
MOUNT WUDANG
It's dark here. Why don't they light up candles?
Lamp.
Light up.
Master Lu.
Master Fang.
Time to eat. Master Hong.
You're here.
Yes.
Wang Ye.
What do you want to ask from me?
Master Hong.
Have you ever
been drawn into phantasmagoria
before your meditation starts?
You were pulled into it?
What did you see?
I saw a train from the Year of Jiashen.
An unfamiliar young man with his face bleeding
was sitting on the train.
Year of Jiashen?
It's the Jiashen Calamity!
The Jiashen Calamity is looming over again!
-What's wrong with you? -Scram!
Master Hong.
That was so fast.
NDT
You're Liu Yanyan, right?
The only successor of the Liu family in Xiangxi.
Your Thrall Sorcery is widely known.
A few months ago, your dad came to us
and told us you ran from home.
He wanted us to find you.
But he could never believe
that you've joined Sinister Pleasure.
This is none of your business.
I don't know much about them.
But I do know a lot about you.
Under the guise of a delivery company,
you only paint Outsiders as your target.
I simply can't put up
with your cocky behavior.
You're Xu Si, right?
I'll tell on you once I go out.
Get this straight.
I'm interrogating you.
Tell me what was Sinister Pleasure after in this act
and I'll release you.
I won't say a word.
You can't do anything to me.
Who let you in?
Get out.
Continue with the interrogation. He'll sit here.
You're the descendant of the Liu family in Xiangxi.
What's so good about Sinister Pleasure to make you defend them?
Nothing is good about the Liu family.
Thrall Sorcery should have disappeared long ago.
They forced me
for the darned inheritance.
Since I was little, my only friends
are only thralls.
Except for my family,
I've never befriended any living humans.
They forbade me
from interacting with ordinary people
before I acquired the sorcery.
I did what they wanted.
Before I turned 15,
I'd never once stepped out of my house.
But when I fully mastered Thrall Sorcery,
they wanted me to live
like an ordinary person
and restricted me from using the sorcery and manipulating thralls.
So what was the 15 years of cultivation for?
I questioned them.
They told me it was for my own good.
I have to do whatever they say.
Am I different
from thralls?
What's wrong with Outsiders using their superpower?
You asked me what's good about Sinister Pleasure.
Nothing is good about them.
But I had freedom there.
Girl.
You want freedom, don't you?
But are you ready to take the responsibility
for your unrestrained acts?
To shoulder the duty and power your superpower brings to you
is the very rule for Outsiders.
Be it rules or principles,
you're the dictator of the game, aren't you?
You condemn Sinister Pleasure as if they're despised by everyone.
But I think you're the real thugs.
We arrested you because we want to help you.
Sinister Pleasure doesn't care about rules or principles.
Naturally, other Outsiders can do outrageous things to them.
Their enemies are too many to count.
Once their leader
is caught by someone,
no one would stand up for them
no matter what inhumane treatment they would get.
What gives, young fellow?
Liu Yanyan.
You're sick of being constrained by your family
because you think you're like a thrall,
and that's why you ran from home.
I became an orphan when I was ten.
I've been living and eating alone.
I talk to the walls for the whole day.
But I've never thought that myself is pathetic.
Who are you to say that?
I just want to idle my life away
quietly.
But you ruined
my little wish.
If you didn't steal my grandfather's body,
I could have led an ordinary life.
Now tell me.
Why does Sinister Pleasure need my grandfather's body?
His memory.
They want Zhang Xilin's memory.
Over ten years ago,
a big group of elite Outsiders
confronted an Outsider in Mount Siguniang.
Eventually, the big group was eliminated,
while their lone enemy was only severely injured.
Some of the elites
came from prestigious sects like Tang Clan
and some were from Sinister Pleasure.
Since then,
they have been searching
for that person.
They didn't mean to take revenge on him.
Instead,
they're interested in his power.
Back then, before an expert from Sinister Pleasure breathed his last,
he said the name of the energy.
Qi Apotheosis.
And the Outsider who killed that expert from Sinister Pleasure
was your grandfather,
Zhang Xilin.
Mr. Xu.
We've found the coffin of Zhang Xilin.
Open it.
Fruit skins are household food waste,
and wet wipes are residual waste.
Everything we've used is waste,
including the body of Zhang Xilin.
Something keeps me puzzled, though.
Zhang Chulan,
is your grandfather a residual waste
or household food waste?
Found it.
NDT EXPRESS
Chulan.
No matter what difficulties you face, you must hang in there.
Don't despair.
Be patient.
You have to be patient.
TOMB OF GRANDFATHER, ZHANG XILIN, BY ZHANG CHULAN
Doesn't it hurt when you hit yourself like that?
Tell me then.
What should I do?
You shouldn't hurt yourself.
You should find those who hurt you
and hit them instead.
TOMB OF GRANDFATHER, ZHANG XILIN, BY ZHANG CHULAN
Mr. Xu.
I'll join NDT.
ZHANG CHULAN
PATIENCE
Do you have a sniper rifle? I need it.
Okay.
PHOTO OF THE DECEASED, ZHANG XILIN
INCIDENT INVOLVES ZHANG XILAN'S GRANDSON, ZHANG CHULAN…
Lingyu.
I need you to leave now.
I want to rest for a bit.
-With NDT Express, life is easier! -With NDT Express, life is easier!
-Let's start! -Let's start!
NDT EXPRESS
This is the inbound area,
where we receive orders
and examine goods
before the storage procedure.
Your job is simple.
Control the panel.
You went to lengths to take me here just for this?
What do you expect?
Zero effort with abundant wages in return is my ultimate dream.
Doggy said, "Slacking off is inadvisable, and pipe dreaming is impossible."
"Working hard is the right way to do it."
Ms. Bao.
Why do Outsider agents like us
have to work here?
We don't have orders every day.
And the company won't feed you when there are no orders.
I have a question.
Outsiders look similar to ordinary people.
So how can we tell the difference?
We have a gesture.
-All Outsiders know about it. -What's it?
This is too easy.
You just learned that?
Baobao, something came up.
You two come with me.
Outsiders hide amidst ordinary people.
As a governing agency,
NDT manages all registered Outsiders
to make sure that their behaviors won't affect ordinary people.
Every Outsider has their own serial number.
Do I have one too?
Of course.
Xu Si. Log in to your account.
XU SI
Xu Si,
you have a pretty long friend list.
Don't get distracted.
A few days ago,
Sinister Pleasure returned the body of your grandfather, Zhang Xilin.
Just moments ago,
they published your information online.
All Outsiders can see it.
Why did they expose me?
Read this carefully.
Read the last line.
ZHANG CHULAN, SENIOR STUDENT IN CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
CURRENTLY WORKS AT NDT EXPRESS THE GRANDSON OF ZHANG XILIN
THE INHERITOR OF QI APOTHEOSIS
About that Qi Apotheosis,
I've heard it from Liu Yanyan.
But what is it for?
There are eight mysterious and robust power
known in the world of Outsiders
as the Eight Supremes.
The Eight Supremes was the cause of the Jiashen Calamity.
Qi Apotheosis is one of them.
Apparently, the wielder of this power was your grandfather, Zhang Xilin.
Now that your details are known to everyone,
aside from Sinister Pleasure, the entire world of Outsiders
will have their eyes on you.
Chief Celestial Taoist.
Why are you still awake?
Chief Celestial Taoist.
It's late.
TIAN JINZHONG, CELESTIAL TAOIST MANSION
You shouldn't stay up late.
Qing, Yu. You may go now.
Yes.
Jinzhong.
I can't sleep either.
So I think we can wet our whistle here.
Zhiwei.
What's that for?
For Huaiyi.
He's left.
But there's always a spot in Mount Longhu
for him.
Certainly.
Our master had taken in so many disciples.
The three of us are tight with each other.
Hadn't he caused that trouble
and put me through this,
it would've been so wonderful
for the three of us to stay here together
till now.
I'll drink this to you.
You're in delicate health,
but you never forgot what Master had taught us.
You didn't take your life.
Both of us have turned a hundred in the blink of an eye.
This is our blessing.
Huaiyi.
I'll drink to you.
Congratulations.
I only found out today
that you had a grandson.
I really wish he was here with us.
Over the years,
Huaiyi had been in hiding
under the alias Zhang Xilin.
In the end, he only had one grandson left.
His name is Zhang Chulan.
What has happened?
Lingyu. There you are.
Master Zhang and Master Tian
have been drinking for the past two hours.
No one comes out.
They didn't respond to us.
I'm very worried about them.
Master Zhang favors you the most.
Go in and check on them.
Yexing.
You called me here
because you're afraid of being scolded?
Jeez, how can you say that?
How can I do that to you?
We're all direct disciples of Master,
we're equal. Go in now!
Come on. Chop-chop.
Lingyu. Come.
Join us.
Master Zhang. Master Tian.
Maybe you should put down your glass.
I want you to have it. Don't be afraid.
Let's not drink anymore, Master.
Your disciple
lacks nothing,
but he's too serious.
Too much seriousness.
Master Zhang.
Master Tian.
I don't understand
what you're talking about.
It's getting late.
You should rest up early.
It's fine if you don't understand. In the future, you will.
INVITATION
Descend the mountain tomorrow,
and leave for Xinpu City.
Find someone for me.
OUTSIDER MARTIAL ARTS CONTEST OF MOUNT LONGHU
Test him
and see if he's qualified.
Qualified for what?
Qualified to inherit the Tianshidu.
Why should I be here
when there are so many intelligent machines working?
Zhang Chulan.
Who are you?
Zhang Xilin is your grandfather, right?
I'll get straight to the point.
Do you master Qi Apotheosis?
I'll go straight to the point too.
No.
Didn't he teach you this?
All of you exalted this thing.
I wouldn't be seized by Sinister Pleasure if I knew it.
Besides, I'm sure that my grandfather couldn't do
that ruddy Qi Apotheosis or whatever.
If he did,
we wouldn't have been in hiding
all these years.
Zhang Chulan.
Your grandfather was a great person.
More than a decade ago, a serious murder case
happened in Mount Siguniang.
More than ten dead bodies of elite Outsiders
were found there.
-And the murderer-- -Stop.
I've heard this before.
You mean to tell me
that my grandfather was the murderer, right?
I've been investigating this case for the past ten years,
and I was only told yesterday that he did it.
Zhang Xilin.
Every one of you claims
that my grandfather is the murderer.
Where's your evidence?
The murder case occurred in Bailu.
Your grandfather
died the next night,
right?
As you said,
it happened in Mount Siguniang in Lunan.
But my grandfather passed away at home in Lubei.
Thousands of li between these two places, you know?
So my grandfather had nothing
to do with the murder case.
Take a look at this.
These are the copies of my investigation over these years.
The last two pages are about your grandfather.
To you,
he was a loving and caring grandfather.
But to the world of Outsiders
and civil peace,
he was a thug who had over ten deaths on him.
You were always on the run
because he was avoiding his enemies
and NDT.
Besides, you're curious about me, right?
Same as Xu Xiang,
I'm the person in charge of the Lunan Region.
My name is Liao Zhong.
LIAO ZHONG
You see,
Zhang Xilin killed more than ten experts on his own
before he died.
However, we didn't see any traces of Qi Apotheosis
in his memory.
It's going to take some time.
How long will it take?
We're talking about lifelong memories.
God knows when Zhang Xilin used it throughout his whole life?
-I'll find it as soon as possible. -I'm approaching the three-year period.
It's going to succeed soon.
Qi Apotheosis is the key to the secret of the Jiashen Calamity.
If you can't trace the thing by that time,
those old geezers of Sinister Pleasure won't go easy on me.
That's your own business, Interim Leader.
INTERIM LEADER OF SINISTER PLEASURE
If I'm in trouble,
you're not going to escape alive either.
To you,
he was a loving and caring grandfather.
But to the world of Outsiders
and civil peace,
he was a thug who had over ten deaths on him.
Who was that?
WHITE TURTLE
Here they are.
Well done, my little turtle.
Stop!
Let me see
what does the legendary Zhang Chulan
look like.
Watch out.
Sinister Pleasure, again?
Give me a break, will you?
We're not from Sinister Pleasure!
We mean no harm.
Our president just wants to meet with you.
He's not going with you.
On my master's command,
we'll take Zhang Chulan with us.
Are you getting in our way?
First come, first serve, you know?
What?
Am I wrong?
They're not some ordinary Outsiders.
It's getting trickier.
Three Taoists?
This late at night?
Are you doing some cosplay thing?
Let me tell you.
I'm just an ordinary college student.
I have lectures tomorrow.
Bye, then.
Lingyu.
Don't waste your effort
on this fellow.
Yexing and I will test him
to see what he got.
No, I give up.
Seriously?
You master Qi Apotheosis, don't you?
Fight back, come on.
I--
Lingyu.
Should we…
Go on.
Lingyu.
Give him a break.
Look at this guy.
He's really weak.
You're one to talk, huh?
What does that make you then,
hitting a weakling?
Jiyun, Yexing.
Step back.
Lingyu.
-This fellow simply can't-- -I said, step back.
What are you up to?
I can't see why my master chose you.
You should've told me so.
Did your master have an interest in me?
How old is he? What's his name?
I'll visit him some other day.
Zhang Chulan.
Shut your mouth.
GOLD BRILLIANCE SPELL
What is our dad trying to do?
He cares so much about Zhang Chulan, but why?
He's never interested in recruitment.
But now, he's taking care of Zhang Chulan himself.
Is he after Qi Apotheosis too?
That is one part of it.
But I think he values the connection behind Zhang Chulan more.
Hear this.
I've looked into Zhang Xilin thoroughly.
Zhang Xilin is a fake identity.
He had been trying to hide his past.
Also, Zhang Chulan isn't as innocent as he looks.
He wouldn't tell anyone
about the martial skills his grandfather taught him.
But I found something on the thralls
that he took down.
The martial skills Zhang Xilin taught him
is the secretive art
of the Celestial Taoist Mansion in Mount Longhu,
The Gold Brilliance Spell.
By any chance, was Zhang Xilin…
He must have something to do with Mount Longhu.
You know them well.
Riff-raff from Sinister Pleasure spread words
that Zhang Chulan is the inheritor of Qi Apotheosis.
As a result, many greedy eyes are on Zhang Chulan.
Obviously, many Outsiders
seek to ensnare him.
As far as I'm concerned, someone has already made their move.
Celestial Taoist Mansion
and All-Encompassing Guild.
Both of us can do this.
Let's not get into the fight, dude.
Forget about that.
My grandfather taught me this when I was little.
We must be connected in some way.
Look at this.
Who on earth are you?
How do you know the Gold Brilliance Spell of Mount Longhu?
So it's called the Gold Brilliance Spell.
Also, who is your grandfather?
Both of you
should go to Mount Longhu and beg for forgiveness.
We are family.
Beg for forgiveness? That sounds harsh.
The Gold Brilliance Spell is off-limits to the public.
No matter who your grandfather is,
he's a traitor to Mount Longhu.
That explains
why you're such a buffoon.
He must be one as well.
Vileness does run in your blood.
My grandfather isn't a traitor.
Take your nonsense elsewhere.
Lingyu.
That's too hard on him.
Didn't Master Zhang tell us to--