Martial Arts Genius with Proficiency System Chapter 3: The Springboard to the Truth of Martial Arts Dao

As the sun sets softly in the sky, the wandering clouds slowly scatter apart.

Just third-year students remain throughout the academy. Green Vine Academy pushes pupils to learn ’independently,’ while those nearing the college entrance exam face even greater pressure to ’proactively’ join evening sessions.

Elite class students especially must ’proactively’ keep studying until ten o’clock at night. Yet after today’s shocking event, Su Tu lacked any drive to continue. He requested leave from the instructor and departed the school grounds.

Back home, the pristine living room sat vacant.

In this lifetime, Su Tu possessed an ideal family setup. His mother served at a cross-star corporation, and his father roamed as a scientific adventurer. Still, their constant business travels meant Su Tu spent most days alone at home.

He flung his backpack onto the couch, at which point the system interface popped up in his view.

[Fighting (Initial Tier): 100/300]

[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 160/300]

[Culinary Skill (Initial Tier): 200/300]

[Spiritual Wisdom (Middle Tier): 140/1000]

[Observing Dao (Initial Tier): 10/300]

[Skill Points: 6]

Whenever Su Tu unlocked a new ability or advanced one, a skill point arrived, though it wouldn’t apply to his current abilities, so he barely noted the fresh one.

His chief attention turned to the brand-new skill.

"How do I raise the proficiency for Observing Dao?" Su Tu wondered intently.

The system interface laid out skills in a straightforward manner. Like how picking up traditional boxing triggered Fighting, yet boxing counted merely as a combat method and technique, much like math or physics facts.

All those served as paths to lift skill proficiency, but none existed for advancing Observing Dao.

For he had only sparked the skill by glancing at a painting, without grasping any specific techniques.

Therefore, no route lay open to boost Observing Dao proficiency.

"Observing Dao holds clear importance, possibly the gateway to unveiling the ’truth’ of Martial Arts Dao. What’s more, it lifts both Spiritual Wisdom and Strengthen Body. Its value-for-effort is top-notch; I need to swiftly uncover how to advance its proficiency."

Su Tu had realized ages ago that proficiency gains weren’t isolated—like his daytime boxing sessions raising Fighting while also pushing Strengthen Body higher. Combat naturally demands bodily exertion, letting the skills reinforce one another.

Observing Dao’s ability to elevate two skills together delivers exceptionally high value-for-effort.

"Maybe it’s that painting from earlier today..." Su Tu abruptly remembered the scroll that had ignited his Observing Dao skill.

"Hold on, that painting... it appeared completely empty!!"

Diving into the memory, he got a jolt upon realizing the wall-mounted painting recalled as nothing but blank paper!!

However... what his eyes had captured then...

Before Su Tu could delve further, the empty scroll from his mind burst forth with a hazy, glowing radiance like the break of dawn.

The instant after!

Suddenly, he stood immersed once more in that mystical landscape, Heishan quaking under his soles, Cyan Snake hissing from the summit, ferocious tigers lurking in wait, twin moons suspended in the desolate firmament.

Taking in the surroundings, profound realization welled up in his core. His breaths fell into a unique cadence, vital force surging inside as luminous rays bloomed around his form.

On this occasion, he endured far beyond the daytime attempt, holding steady for roughly thirty seconds until his breathing stuttered and the pattern shattered, dissolving the entire vista.

Snapping awake, sweat poured off him, leaving a clammy, gross film. Wiping his palm across his skin, he stared in astonishment at the layer of foul-smelling black muck coating it.

"Ugh, what’s this junk?" Revolted by the feel, Su Tu dashed to the bathroom for a quick rinse.

[You completed one Observing Dao, Observing Dao proficiency +10]

[Observing Dao (Initial Tier): 20/300]

While rinsing off under the shower, Su Tu scanned the alerts floating ahead, his brow creasing faintly.

"Unlike before, this didn’t raise Spiritual Wisdom or Strengthen Body too. Was the initial gain just a starter perk?"

Su Tu’s mind drifted. Observing Dao skipped boosting Spiritual Wisdom and Strengthen Body this round, instead purging dark filth from his frame.

Better yet, his perceptions sharpened noticeably, clearing up his former nearsighted blur.

Looking through the window, he even spotted a caterpillar inching along the pine tree down below.

"My physique has undergone a change..." Su Tu admired the transformations stirring inside him.

"Might Observing Dao’s power lie in endlessly refining and strengthening my physique?"

He remembered the dark matter that had been purged from his body moments ago, which bore a striking similarity to the toxins expelled by protagonists in the novels from his past life.

Should that hold true, this ability is nothing short of phenomenal!

After this ordeal, Su Tu grasped the method to activate Observing Dao. Visualizing the painting’s scene allowed entry into it, albeit at the cost of immense stamina.

Moreover, that special breathing technique proved impossible to replicate outside; it persisted solely in the illusory realm.

Su Tu tried entering Observing Dao once more, yet he couldn’t conjure the scroll’s image, a clear sign his energy was too depleted for another dive into Observing Dao.

"I figured Observing Dao would let me cheat by boosting Strengthen Body and Spiritual Wisdom effortlessly. Looks like I’ve got to advance gradually."

"My school grades are solid enough already. For the near future, let’s aim to elevate Strengthen Body and Fighting to Middle Tier. That’ll give me some assurance even if Martial Arts Dao joins the college entrance exam!"

Su Tu pondered for a moment before fixing on his plan.

He slipped into black athletic clothes and stepped outside.

With headphones on and a random playlist playing, Su Tu did some light stretches, picked a route, and began jogging.

Bathed in the dim moonlight, a soft night wind stirred, while the young man dashed under the lunar glow, seemingly in pursuit of the heavenly realm.

At the same time.

A weary woman trudged home after her night shift, her face etched with fatigue.

She’d pulled an extra half-day of overtime and nearly got groped by an idiotic client, just to close a minor contract.

A deal worth 130,000 yuan that earned her only 300 yuan in commission—such a measly sum would make beasts weep.

"I’m so done with life, I’m exhausted!" she muttered. She’d uttered those words endlessly before, mere vents of frustration. Existence grinds like a merciless stone mill; slack off, and folks like her get crushed to powder.

Her aging parents relied on her, as did her brother waiting at home for aid. Death didn’t scare her outright, but she couldn’t indulge it.

The chill night air deepened, making her hug herself tightly while an odd chill prickled her spine, urging her steps faster for no clear reason.

"Is it truly that way...?" A grating voice shattered the quiet, like nails on blackboard, rough and piercing.

"Who, who is it!?" she shrieked in panic, her skin crawling with gooseflesh.

She scanned about but spotted no one.

"Stress is getting to me; I’m imagining sounds." Massaging her temples, she hastened her stride.

Then, out of nowhere!!!

A slimy chill suddenly enveloped her whole form, and a shadowy black shape materialized behind, enfolding her in its grasp. Chunks of mud plummeted as a cold palm sealed her mouth, muffling screams while her eyes bulged in horror.

Helpless, her purse hit the pavement, spilling cosmetics everywhere, as a hoarse murmur brushed her ear.

"If life’s become unbearable for you, then loan it to me..."

Streetlights wavered faintly, and an unnatural grip crushed her bones near snapping, her frame mashed into sludge and devoured by the dark entity.

A horrifying munching noise reverberated through the shadows, sending shivers down the spine.

"Hairless monkey flesh tastes utterly foul. Without the vital essence drain on this planet, I’d never stoop to such feeble prey," it complained.

Under the lamplight, the warped form gathered into a towering outline, its visage marked by gill slits, crimson eyes leaking muddy ooze.

Its gaze locked on a close alleyway, red gleam flaring brighter, saliva dripping unwittingly from its jaws.

"Bursting with life force. Never imagined this Ancestor Star of bald apes hid such tasty morsels."

Droplets of its saliva hit the ground with a corrosive hiss, etching tiny craters into the concrete.

The lamp stuttered on and off, and eventually, the grotesque shape dissolved into nothingness, abandoning just a small makeup pouch....

Right then, the boy in black sportswear turned the corner, his figure partly shrouded by darkness.