The Holy Orchid Institute was a name known to all in Glory City, but what did it truly represent?

It was more than just a school; it was the heart of learning for the city's youth, the only place where they could learn the arts essential for survival and prosperity.

Here, students were taught how to cultivate their powers, engage in combat, hunt, deal with demon beasts, and survive in the wild. They learned about herbology, ancient histories, the art of inscription, and the nuances of soul force manipulation, among many other critical skills.

In his first life, Nie Li had been a part of this esteemed institution.

However, he wasn't exactly a model student. Far from it, he was mediocre at best, struggling to keep up with his peers in almost every discipline.

But there was one exception, one glimmer of excellence in his otherwise unremarkable academic record. Nie Li had mastered a martial art, a feat that had even earned the praise of his teachers. It was his one true achievement, the single point of pride in his life at the Holy Orchid Institute.

Now, in his second life, Nie Li found himself reflecting on that achievement.

[ Skill: The Orchid Garden Weapon Art ]

[ Level: 1 ]

[ Grade: Low ]

[ Description: A low-grade martial arts technique, inspired by the graceful fall of orchid leaves in the wind. Created by a talented gardener who mimicked the movements with his broom, this art emphasizes fluidity and adaptability. It can be applied to any object wielded as a weapon, allowing the practitioner to move with the unpredictable elegance of falling leaves. ]

[ Effects: ]

- [ Agility Boost: Increases user's agility by 10%, enabling quicker dodging and more fluid movement. ]

- [ Weapon Flexibility: Improves the efficiency of using unconventional weapons by 15%, allowing for greater adaptability in combat. ]

- [ Wind Trace: Grants a 5% chance to execute a counter-attack that mimics the unpredictable movement of wind-blown leaves, confusing opponents. ]

I pushed aside the pop-up from the system, giving it hardly a moment's thought.

My entire attention was fixed on my father.

Nie Ming stood there, a figure shaped by years of physical toil rather than by the disciplined practice of martial arts.

His stance was unrefined, the kind you'd expect from someone who learned to fight out of need rather than formal training.

He was full of openings that would have made any experienced warrior cringe.

But even with those flaws, there was undeniable strength in him, a potent force born from a lifetime of labor.

I knew I couldn't beat that strength with brute force of my own.

Even though my father wasn't a cultivator, his physical strength surpassed mine.

I had to rely on my smaller size and faster reactions.

But how could I turn that into my advantage?

What was my next move?

Just as I pondered this, the system window popped up in front of me, as if offering an answer to my silent question.

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[ Simulating Combat Style ]

[ Please Select the Following ]

[ ▶ Attack ]

[ ▷ Defend ]

[ ▷ Run Away ]

[ You have selected ▶ Attack ]

[ How do you want to simulate an attack? ]

[ ▶ Martial Arts ]

[ ▷ Item ]

[ ▷ Spell ]

Driven by curiosity, I clicked on the Spell option within the system's interface.

[ Player Nie Li doesn't have any spells for simulation ]

A slight nod acknowledged the information. My focus shifted as I then selected the martial art option.

[ Player Nie Li has selected Martial art - The Orchid Garden Weapon Art ]

As the combat simulation kicked in, an instinctual guide surged within me, offering real-time advantages in the unfolding battle. With a flick of my wrist, the axe flew from my grasp, spinning toward my father. Nie Ming reacted purely on instinct, his axe swinging up to intercept mine.

The collision sent vibrations jarring through my arms, and I saw him stagger, caught off guard by the intensity of my attack.

Seizing the moment, my body moved with the fluid grace of a seasoned fighter, the principles of 'The Orchid Garden Weapon Art' guiding my every motion.

I adopted a defensive stance, preparing not to meet force with force, but to deflect and control the flow of the encounter.

My feet shifted, my body angled just so, as I prepared to launch my next series of moves.

Instead of relying on brute strength, I harnessed the momentum of my motion, darting forward.

My hands shot out, delivering a series of precise strikes, each aimed at the openings in Nie Ming's guard.

His response was sluggish in comparison, his movements lacking the fluid adaptability of a trained fighter.

With a swift, sweeping leg movement, I anchored myself firmly to the ground while my leg lashed out, connecting solidly with his legs.

Despite my stable stance, the force of my sweep was enough to send him tumbling backward.

As he fell, I smoothly shifted my stance, slamming my foot down onto the axe to prevent my father from reclaiming it, ensuring he wouldn't be able to use it against me.

There, with my father lying surprised on the ground, I finished my display of skill.

The axe, which I had deftly reclaimed in the midst of my assault, was brought down in a swift arc, stopping mere inches from his head.

This final gesture was not meant to threaten, but to underscore my control and precision, silently conveying to my father my true strength.

Looking up at me, Nie Ming's expression was a mixture of shock and realization.

In that frozen moment, with the axe hovering just above him, the truth was unmistakably clear.

I had transformed from the boy he once knew. I had grown beyond the limitations he imagined, not driven by mere bravado or folly.

"I won," Nie Li said with a smile.

Nie Ming dusted himself off and sat up, trying to scowl, but he was worried as he tried to joke to lighten the mood.

"Quiet, you idiot. Just remember, it's only because I didn't want to embarrass you in front of the birds."

Nie Li's smile faltered as he saw Nie Ming's serious face.

"Are you sure you can win?"

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of victory.

"I'll win."

His father met his eyes and sighed, the fight gone from him.

"Nie Li, if you lose, I'll visit you in the afterlife and drag you back home to your crying mother."

"No one is going to cry. I'll win, even if those snobby young masters have better resources than me, I have something they don't have."

"What's that?"

Nie Li smiled as he looked at the system, knowing this little secret helper of his was better left a secret.

"I am not saying," Nie Li said with a mischievous grin.

"Fine, keep your secrets but get off me, boy. We have to head back before your mother sends out a search party. She'll have my head if I return with her two favorite men looking like they've wrestled with a wild boar."

----------------------------------------

As they rode slowly back home in the wagon, Nie Ming broke the silence with a question that had been weighing on his mind.

"Do you have a plan?"

Nie Li glanced at the system screen, pondering.

How exactly does this thing work? he wondered.

The last time, it seemed to respond to my desires.

Do I need to say something, or just think it, to get it started?

Just as he was mulling over this, the system screen flickered to life, as if answering his silent query.

[ Simulation System Initiated ]

[ Mission: Plan to Win the Heavenly Marks Family Heir's Competition ]

[ Objective: Secure victory in the competition to determine the heir of the Heavenly Marks Family. ]

[ Potential Outcomes: ]

- [ 1- Ascend to the 1 Star Bronze Rank Fighter. ]

- [ 2- Increase BP to 10k. ]

[ Warning: Selection of one of the outcomes will initiate simulation, rendering the player unconscious as the body enters auto mode to execute the plan. ]

[ Actions Required: ]

[ Choose Your Desired Outcome ]

"Yeah, I have a plan."

"Good," Nie Ming responded, a note of relief in his voice as their house came into view.

Standing outside, Nie Li's mother's face brightened at the sight of them.

"Let me do the talking," Nie Ming said.