At this point, everyone had begun to believe that, at the very least, the Muten School and the founder of Planet Company, Mu Tam, were absolutely connected. And this Muten School was undoubtedly tied to the "Muten Master"! The names were just too similar!
So, what exactly was the relationship between Tam and the Muten Master?
If there was indeed a connection, then what about this elderly contestant, Taro? What was his relationship with Tam?
Was Mu Taro—also known as the Muten Master—Tam's ancestor?
People started reviewing the legendary life of Tam, a public figure frequently ranked as having a "miraculous life" and topping the "self-made entrepreneurs" lists. If he truly had a familial connection with the mythical Muten Master, then his legend took on an entirely new explanation, gaining an additional layer of mystique.
Countless media outlets pulled out all the stops, digging into every possible source for information on Taro and the Muten Master. And so, in the public's imagination, a mysterious, ancient, and almost mythical martial artist began to take shape.
He was incomparably powerful.
He had once saved the world.
Yet, he had withdrawn from public life.
He had personally founded the Muten School.
Yet, he had never directly taken control of it.
If he were still alive, he would be at least a hundred and fifty years old. And that was the most conservative estimate. According to many speculations, if the stories about him saving the world were true, then… wouldn't he have already been quite old at the time?
It was likely that his real age was well over two hundred.
Powerful, long-lived, and shrouded in mystery… Some netizens had already begun calling the Muten Master—not yet fully equated with Taro—a living god.
But could such a person truly exist?
Could a figure straight out of mythology actually be real?
More importantly, had this legendary figure actually appeared in the flesh? And even participated in the World Martial Arts Tournament?
Many people found it surreal—had myth just stepped into reality?
---
June 21st.
The official tournament organizers finally released all of Taro's match footage!
From the first round to the final match, there had been a total of thirteen rounds.
Everyone following this event immediately opened the official recordings, watching with wide eyes as they reviewed each match, one by one…
And so, they saw it.
In the video, a refined elderly man with shoulder-length, silver-streaked hair slicked back, dressed in loose gray robes, stepped calmly onto the stage.
"This aura! Scary as hell! He's more impressive than any martial arts master in the movies!" someone commented below the video.
His opponent charged at him. Taro, however, didn't seem to move at all—yet in the very next instant, he was already right in front of his opponent!
How did he get there?!
The referee had only just started saying "Begin!"—he hadn't even finished pronouncing the last syllable! His opponent had only just taken the first step!
And yet, Taro was already in front of him, one hand pressing lightly against his opponent's chest—
That was when the viewers realized… His opponent had already fainted!
Even the referee was stunned, though he quickly began the countdown and declared the match over.
"What the hell?! When did that even happen?!"
"This is way too fast! That's it?!"
"Why does it feel like the old man didn't move at all? But he obviously changed position! This is so bizarre!"
"I'm literally kneeling while watching this!"
Then, one comment stood out:
"Hey, did you guys notice? The referee's introductions and match ruling took about fifty-one seconds in total! But the entire match video is only fifty-two seconds long! That means this guy—Taro—finished the fight in less than one second!"
The replies flooded in, filled with countless emojis of people kneeling and worshipping.
"It's just the first round. His opponents were weak—who knows about the later matches?" someone argued, always eager to take a contrarian stance.
Instantly, another viewer shot back:
"Open your damn eyes and take a good look! Except for the final match, all the other videos are about the same length! He finished every single fight in just one or two seconds!"
"I've watched everything… My god, how can such a monster exist? No question about it—if the Muten Master is real, then if it's not this guy, I refuse to accept it!"
Sure enough, by the time most people had finished watching the first twelve matches, they were beyond shocked—they were numb. The man at the center of all this discussion, Taro, had remained completely calm and composed from the first round to the semifinals before the final match. He had ended every fight in a single move! Not a single opponent had lasted more than two seconds against him!
Was he even human? How was this even possible?
Compared to the increasingly fierce battles of the other contestants, his matches made the contrast painfully clear.
What does it mean to make the impossible look effortless?
This is it.
What does it mean to have the bearing of a true master?
This is it.
Isn't this what they call the Muten Master?
"But isn't there still the final match video? It's five minutes long! If he's really the Muten Master, then even in the finals, he should've won in a single move like before, right? Why would it take five minutes?" someone argued.
"If you haven't watched the video, shut up! Use your brain—who was his opponent in the final? A 'Muten School disciple'! At this point, it's pretty much confirmed—the 'Muten School' was originally founded by the Muten Master himself! Against his own successor, of course, he would take the time to teach them properly!"
"Is he really the Muten Master?" Someone, filled with anticipation, clicked on the final match video.
---
Earth Royal Palace.
The current King of Earth closed the video, shut his laptop, and rubbed his temples tiredly. "This again… Why has the Muten School resurfaced?"
He recalled the moment he inherited the throne from his predecessor, who had solemnly handed him a confidential file.
"The Muten Master… The savior of the world… But this world should not have a savior like you. Nor should it ever need one…"
"Your Majesty," a secretary entered, holding a document.
"What is it?" the King asked absentmindedly, taking the file.
The secretary hesitated slightly before speaking in a quiet tone. "It's an application for the establishment of a large-scale nonprofit organization…" Pausing for a moment, he added, "It was personally submitted by Mr. Tam of Planet Company."
"Tam?" The King's expression sharpened. Over the years, the government had dealt with this legendary businessman on numerous occasions.
Flipping through the document, the King stopped at the first page. His expression turned odd as he read the words aloud, one by one:
"Earth Martial Artists' Association… Establishment Application?"