The explosive force of the punch stirred up a cyclone in the air, bursting forth as the torn air emitted a strange howling sound. The seemingly fierce and unstoppable earth dragon had its clawing dragon head shattered into a hollow by this wild and overwhelming punch. Its magical power dissipated, and the entire earth dragon turned into a gust of yellow dust, howling as it counterattacked the opponent.

Suppressing the boiling blood within his organs, a trace of blood welled up from his mouth. The burly man gritted his teeth, about to take another step, when a sharp shout rang out: “Watch the dart!”

Recalling the opponent’s empty-handed gestures, the burly man’s heart tightened—could this be the real trump card? He quickly dropped to the ground and rolled to evade, while the other party used the momentum to leap up, darting into the roadside woods like a swallow flying into the forest.

The young man in black, his face ashen, seemed to realize only now, feeling both ashamed and furious. He wanted to give chase, but was stopped by the cold-faced man. “Let him go.”

“Huh?!”

“This guy’s martial skills are not weak, and he carries talismans. He’s also extremely cunning. Recklessly pursuing him will only backfire.” The cold-faced burly man shook his head. If his subordinate hadn’t been frightened by the earth dragon talisman spell, the Xuanji Thousand Vine Dart would have surely hooked the opponent. Unfortunately, his subordinate was still too inexperienced, mistaking an earth dragon talisman for a real earth dragon spell.

Just think about it—if he were really a Fangshu Master or Fangshu Scholar, how could he be working as a scout? When have you ever seen a Fangshu Scholar or Master openly trading blows with you? They’d have already unleashed their spells and wiped you out.

“But this guy has been lingering in our Nanyang for days. He must be up to no good. If we let him go…”

“Hmph, this whole area is under our control. If he wants to slip out, it won’t be that easy. Distribute his portrait immediately, and release the spirit-scented incense. Mobilize everyone nearby—he can’t escape. The situation in the city isn’t calm right now; we need to focus more on what’s happening inside.” A trace of fatigue appeared on the cold-faced man’s face, and he quietly wiped away a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. With a desolate air, he waved his hand to signal his subordinate to leave, then sighed, “A storm is coming.”

Lying low at the edge of the woods, Brian Carter pressed his ear to the ground and listened carefully for a long while, making sure there was nothing unusual around before relaxing. The wound on his shoulder burned with pain, but from experience, it didn’t seem to be poisoned. Brian Carter took a porcelain bottle from his chest, poured out some oil, and carefully sprinkled it on the wound. Then, gritting his teeth, he rubbed the wound hard to help the oil seep in as quickly as possible.

The intense pain made Brian Carter gasp sharply, but he forced himself not to make a sound, though he couldn’t help but cough a few times.

He hadn’t expected to run into such a tough opponent, which made him reassess Nanyang’s strength. By his estimation, the other party was likely a deputy to the military commander, yet could wield the Liu clan of Nanyang’s famed Xuanhuang Overlord Fist, shattering the earth dragon he’d summoned with a talisman hidden underfoot. He must be a Liu clan member. But Brian Carter could tell the man hadn’t truly mastered this secret technique; forcing out such a punch with inner strength had caused internal backlash.

Standing up, he shook off a layer of gray paper clothing from under his outer garment. A faint yellow earth aura, already absorbed into the paper robe, slowly dispersed as Brian Carter took it off.

This was the earth magic that had rebounded when the earth dragon was shattered by the opponent’s punch. If he hadn’t been cautious enough to wear this wooden paper robe painstakingly crafted by Helen Clark, he’d probably have collapsed on the spot.

Even with the protective robe, it could only reduce the rebounding magic, not the force of the punch that followed. Fortunately, the punch’s power had weakened enough to be bearable after shattering the earth dragon. Though his internal organs were slightly injured, he could still hold on. If the punch had been any stronger, his chest and organs would have been crushed. The Xuanhuang Overlord Fist was not something just anyone could use—or withstand.

Chapter Two: I’m Here

Leaning against a big tree to regulate his breath and recover, Brian Carter let his body gradually relax.

Although his body slowly returned to normal, his mood was hard to calm. The scenes he’d experienced in recent days flashed before his eyes like a looping reel.

Transmigration—such a wretched transmigration! Why, when it happened to him, was it nothing like the fun and games described in novels?

Other people who transmigrate either possess the bodies of princes and nobles, enjoying endless wealth and glory, or bring advanced knowledge and technology, leading the tide of history and becoming trendsetters. At the very least, they know the course of history, can cozy up to famous figures, seize opportunities, and live a life of luxury. Even if all else fails, they can be a poet or scholar, plagiarizing ancient works to gain fame and fortune. But him?

Not only did he end up in a destitute family, but he also drew the short straw as a pitiful spy and scout, constantly gathering intelligence and at risk of being captured by the enemy at any moment. What disappointed Brian Carter most was that this era had never existed in Chinese history.