The genius who counterattacked the mainland

Xu Tiancai headed north, his heart filled with anxiety and trepidation. He kept glancing back, fearing the Dark Soul Temple's men would catch up. The road beneath his feet was bumpy and uneven, but he didn't dare slack off for a moment, clutching his bag tightly and moving forward at a brisk pace.

The sun gradually set, stretching his figure outward. Xu Tiancai's forehead was covered with sweat. He wiped it with his hand and continued on his way. The scenery along the way gradually changed from lush forests to open fields. The mountains in the distance looked particularly magnificent in the afterglow of the setting sun.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Xu Tiancai finally saw the small town. Its outline loomed in the twilight, like a tranquil harbor. He quickened his pace and headed towards it.

Entering the town, Xu Tiancai discovered it was much more lively than he'd imagined. People were bustling on the streets, and the shops along the street were brightly lit. He found a relatively simple-looking inn and walked in.

The innkeeper was a chubby middle-aged man. When he saw Xu Tiancai, he came over warmly. "Sir, would you like to stop by or stay the night?" Xu Tiancai hesitated for a moment and said, "The night." The innkeeper smiled and nodded, then took him to a room.

The room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. Xu Tiancai put down his bag, sat on the bed, and sighed deeply. His mind kept replaying his experiences in the tavern and the temple, and he was filled with doubts. Who was that gloomy man? What conspiracy did the Black Soul Temple have?

After a sleepless night, Xu Tiancai rose early. He decided to inquire about the Black Soul Temple in this small town. He arrived at the town's market, which was bustling with people. He looked around, hoping to find some clues.

Suddenly, he saw a fortune teller in a corner. The fortune teller was wearing a shabby robe and a hat, and his face was full of wrinkles. Xu Tiancai's heart moved and he walked over.

"Sir, do you know anything about the Black Soul Temple?" Xu Tiancai asked softly. The fortune teller looked up at him, a strange glint in his eyes. "The Black Soul Temple? That's an evil organization. Why are you asking about them?" Xu Tiancai hesitated for a moment and said, "I was accidentally involved in something with the Black Soul Temple and wanted to learn more about them."

The fortune teller was silent for a moment, then said, "The Black Soul Hall is a vast force, ruthless and merciless. They'll stop at nothing to achieve their goals. You'd better stay away from them, or your life will be in danger." Xu Tiancai frowned. "Is there no one who can stand up to them?" The fortune teller smiled faintly. "The world is so vast, naturally there will be those who dare to challenge the Black Soul Hall. But it requires courage and strength."

A surge of fighting spirit surged within Xu Tiancai. "I must improve my abilities and rid the world of this evil." The fortune teller looked at him with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Young man, it's good to have ambition. But you must understand that the road to the martial arts world is filled with dangers and challenges."

At this moment, Xu Tiancai suddenly sensed a strange presence. He looked around warily and saw several strangers approaching him. Their eyes revealed hostility, and Xu Tiancai's heart tightened. Could it be that the Black Soul Hall was chasing him?

He turned to leave, but was stopped by the men. "Boy, you are Xu Tiancai, right? Come with us," one of them said. Xu Tiancai was anxious, "Who are you? Why are you arresting me?" The men sneered, "It doesn't matter who we are. What matters is that you messed with the wrong people."

Xu Tiancai knew he couldn't escape, so he could only secretly prepare for resistance. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with determination. Just as those people were about to attack, a dark shadow suddenly flashed by, and those people fell to the ground one after another.

Xu Tiancai looked closely and saw that it was the gloomy man. His face remained expressionless, but his eyes revealed a hint of concern. "Why are you so careless? This place isn't safe either," the gloomy man said.

Xu Tiancai was delighted. "Senior, why are you here?" The gloomy man sighed. "I was worried about you, so I followed you. The people from the Black Soul Palace won't let us go. We must leave here as soon as possible."

Xu Tiancai nodded and followed the gloomy man out of town. They hurried along until they reached a remote valley. The valley was shaded by green trees and gurgling streams, making it a very quiet place.

The gloomy man stopped and said, "We're safe here for now. You must hurry and improve your strength. The people from the Black Soul Hall could find us at any time." Xu Tiancai looked at him gratefully, "Senior, I will definitely not let you down."

The gloomy man was silent for a moment and said, "I can teach you some martial arts, but you must remember that martial arts are not for showing off or fighting, but for protecting yourself and others." Xu Tiancai nodded solemnly, "I understand."

From that day on, Xu Tiancai began to train diligently under the guidance of the gloomy man. He rose early and went to bed late every day, constantly honing his body and will. The martial arts the gloomy man taught him were so advanced that Xu Tiancai needed to put in a lot of effort to master them.

As the days passed, Xu Tiancai's strength continued to improve. His eyes were filled with confidence and determination. He knew that he was one step closer to fighting against the Dark Soul Palace.

However, just when he thought everything was going in the right direction, a bigger crisis quietly approached...