In Shi Tiexin's world, Martial Arts were divided into two broad categories: physical arts and mental arts. Root Cultivation and Essence Nurturing were the first stage of cultivating physical arts. The core of this stage was to nourish body and mind, amass essence and vitality, and ultimately advance to the next stage once one's essence and vitality reached completion.
This stage did not grant any particularly high physical attributes; at least, most people had yet to surpass the limits of ordinary humans. But with abundant essence and vitality, one would be vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger, strong of physique, and able to cultivate both physical and mental arts with greater ease. Martial artists who nurtured their essence to an exceptionally profound level could, to a certain extent, exceed mortal limits as well.
Moreover, some basic Martial Arts techniques might be called "basic," but without a certain foundation in Essence Nurturing, they still could not be used. Forcing them recklessly would only damage one's own body. Only after reaching the corresponding level of Essence Nurturing could one unleash their full power without harm.
Take today's Basic Fist Arts, for example. This body's foundation was far too poor to bring out any of its power at all.
Besides, a towering building rose from level ground. Whether one's future path in Martial Arts would go smoothly was directly tied to how well one nurtured one's essence. Therefore, Essence Nurturing absolutely could not be overlooked.
And the Essence Cultivation Technique was the most widespread and popular method of Essence Nurturing.
Shi Tiexin had cultivated the Essence Cultivation Technique to an outstanding level, meaning his Essence Nurturing efficiency was higher than the passing and good grades. Yet no matter how high that efficiency was, even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice. To nurture essence quickly, he needed Body Nourishing Essence Food.
No, forget Body Nourishing Essence Food. At the very least, he needed to eat his fill!
Take Shi Tiexin. From last night until noon today, he had only drunk a few bowls of pot-rinsing water and eaten half a bowl of coarse rice. He had eaten nothing else. Ordinarily, let alone fighting, one would already be trembling with hunger just from breathing. That Shi Tiexin had still managed to go one against five was already incredibly hardcore.
Speaking of food... his stomach suddenly cramped with hunger.
Hungry, so hungry—hungry beyond endurance, so hungry that he could not go to class at all!
The school cafeteria served meals at a fixed time. No matter how hungry Shi Tiexin was, there was nothing he could do but grit his teeth and endure it. To conserve some strength, he returned to the dorm and lay on his bed again. He endured until stars swam before his eyes, when a bell rang out from the teaching district. Morning classes were finally over.
Shi Tiexin rolled out of bed and sprinted toward the cafeteria. The dormitory area was not far from it, and he soon arrived at the cafeteria entrance.
But Shi Tiexin had not expected so many people to arrive before him. In that brief span of time, a sizable crowd had already gathered at the cafeteria entrance!
The doors stood wide open. A crowd surged inside with a clatter, charging straight toward the serving windows. Relying on his tall, sturdy build, Shi Tiexin squeezed his way forward. Before a proper line had formed at the window, he firmly claimed a spot near the front.
The serving window slid open, revealing the cafeteria auntie's round, plump face, along with the sudden waft of food. No matter how terrible this food might taste, to Shi Tiexin's nose, it was the finest fragrance in the world.
Auntie, there was something I'd wanted to tell you for a long time—I still want ten big buns!
He took out his student card and swiped it across the card reader, his eyes bursting with hopeful light.
Beep.
The cafeteria auntie did not react at all. The serving ladle did not even show the slightest intention of rising.
Shi Tiexin was still wondering what was going on when the auntie snapped impatiently, "There's no money on your card, don't you know that? Go top it up already! Don't block the people behind you. Move, move!"
No money?
There was no money on his card?!
Shi Tiexin could not help staring dumbfoundedly. Do I just naturally clash with this cafeteria? Why can't I get a meal time and time again? But of course he could not buy anything without money. Shi Tiexin was not shameless enough to run up a tab in the cafeteria. He had to hurry back, get some money, and top up his card.
But when he turned around and looked, Shi Tiexin's whole body shuddered.
The line behind him had already stretched far beyond the cafeteria doors. A long chain of hungry faces extended all the way to the edge of his vision.
What the hell? Forget how long I'd have to line up after coming back—even if I got in line, the food would probably already be snatched clean! And look at the Key Class side: not only was their line much looser, but their portions were plentiful too. The difference was way too obvious!
No, this would not do. He was so hungry he felt like he could chew up and swallow his own head if he turned it. No matter what, he had to get lunch today! But what could he do?
Hmm... eh? Wasn't that his warm-hearted roommate over there? He could ask him to hold a place in line!
Shi Tiexin's eyes lit up, and he strode toward Zhou Nan in the queue.
Zhou Nan stood in line, distracted and lost in thought. Teng Chaoguo had been beaten into Teng Drinks Piss—something Zhou Nan had never expected. But now he had no choice but to face a terrifying reality: if he had failed to deal with Shi Tiexin, then he would have to face Shi Tiexin's retaliation.
Whenever Zhou Nan recalled Shi Tiexin's gaze that morning, as though it saw through the human heart, he could not help feeling a chill all over. Rationally, he did not think Shi Tiexin could realize that he had been pulling strings behind the scenes. After all, he believed he had acted very discreetly.
But emotionally... he could not shake the feeling of his hair standing on end, as though something bad was about to happen.
As he was lost in thought, slap—an enormous hand landed on his shoulder. Zhou Nan shuddered and was about to curse, but when he looked up, he found himself enveloped in shadow.
An expressionless, terrifying face appeared in his view. Looking up at the other man, Zhou Nan saw, in the depths of those eyes, a gaze like that of an evil ghost, as though it wanted to devour the entire world.
Zhou Nan grew three parts more timid, his calves starting to tremble.
B-Boss, what do you want? You aren't going to throw me into the soup barrel, are you? This is still the cafeteria—please consider the impact!
As Zhou Nan despaired, Shi Tiexin suddenly raised a hand. Zhou Nan reflexively shrank his neck, terrified of being hit, then saw Shi Tiexin use a thick, long finger to point toward the serving window, opening his mouth as though he wanted to say something.
"I get it, I understand, I know, Big Brother!" Inspiration struck Zhou Nan, and he decided to make a proactive showing. "Just rest over there for now. I'll get everything taken care of right away!"
With that, Zhou Nan did not wait for Shi Tiexin's next instruction. He fled the line as though for his life, rushed to the serving window, and began forcefully cutting in line, preparing the boss's lunch at once.
Shi Tiexin watched Zhou Nan leave, question marks appearing above his head.
Uh... huh? This classmate was actually so warm-hearted? I've never seen such a warm-hearted good classmate before!
Since he was being so warm-hearted... then I'll just sit down and rest a while longer. Let him handle it.
A moment later, Zhou Nan came scurrying over with two meal trays. He set them before Shi Tiexin, then fawningly handed him a pair of chopsticks, his face full of ingratiating smiles. "Big Brother, please enjoy!"
Shi Tiexin lowered his head and looked. Heh, the Trash Class meal portions truly were not very luxurious. There was some meat and some vegetables, but little lean meat and lots of fatty meat, while the vegetables were greasy as well.
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