Skill: Nutrient Absorption

"You drank a bowl of warm congee. You have awakened the skill Nutrient Absorption."

Name: Chen Feng Strength: 8 (Adult male average: 10) Spirit: 8 Speed: 7 Skills: Nutrient Absorption (Beginner 1%), Archery (Beginner 11%), Trap Arts (Beginner 5%) Cultivation: None Talent: None

In just a moment, Chen Feng understood the function of this panel, and delight filled his eyes.

This was a grind-for-experience panel!

As long as he was willing to keep grinding experience, he could endlessly improve any skill.

Moreover, every time he advanced a level, he could evolve a talent.

"So this is the kind of talent." A glint of light flashed in Chen Feng's eyes.

For him right now, with debts still owed at home and no resources to speak of, this kind of golden finger—one that only required hard grinding to improve—was perfectly suited to him!

"Then let's start grinding." Chen Feng said to himself.

Then he turned to Lin Xue, whose face still held a trace of worry, and said, "Xue'er, go to the grain shop at the village entrance this afternoon and buy two jin of rice. If there's any minced meat or the like, you can buy some too."

Lin Xue nodded. "Mm, I'll do as my husband says."

Next, Chen Feng picked up his bow and arrows and walked into the yard.

Outside the yard was a small open space, roughly a few dozen square meters in area.

Looking around, he saw that most of the surrounding houses were similarly low, rammed-earth huts.

A dark-skinned, honest-looking man nearby saw Chen Feng come out and smiled. "Chen Feng, you've recovered pretty well, huh?"

Chen Feng smiled back. "Yeah, Uncle Liu. Thank you for your help, Uncle Liu. I'll find a way to pay you back soon."

This man was his neighbor, who made a living by chopping firewood and was barely getting by himself. Yet he had still lent money when Chen Feng was gravely ill—Chen Feng kept that kindness in his heart.

Uncle Liu waved his hand. "No rush on that. But you should focus on resting up for now."

Then Uncle Liu leaned in a little closer, a note of concern in his voice. "By the way, Chen Feng, you'd better not leave the village for a while. Before Wang Hu and his crew left, I heard them say they were going to teach you a lesson."

"You've just recovered. It's best not to get into a conflict."

A gleam passed through Chen Feng's eyes. He nodded. "I understand, Uncle Liu."

Then he began practicing archery in the yard.

He picked up the ordinary black longbow in his hand, along with about a dozen arrows. The shafts were made of bamboo, and only the arrowheads were iron—extremely sharp, with barbed hooks.

Back in the day, his father had used this very bow to kill wild boars weighing over a hundred jin.

But Chen Feng now was far from that level. In the past, he could only shoot the occasional rabbit.

He had originally thought joining the village hunting team would give him some protection. He never expected it would cost him his life!

Rage burned in Chen Feng's heart. He stared at the round wooden target disc in the distance, drew the bow, and loosed.

Thud!

A dull sound rang out.

The arrow struck the disc ahead.

[You have shot an arrow with focused intent. Archery proficiency +2!]

Joy surged in Chen Feng's heart. "There really is a change."

Effort brought reward. Hard work showed results.

This talent was truly incredible.

He continued practicing archery.

[You have shot an arrow. Archery proficiency +1!]

This time, the proficiency only increased by 1. Chen Feng's eyes flickered with confusion. What was going on?

He quickly checked, and then understanding dawned.

It turned out that the first arrow had been shot with the anger in his heart directed at Wang Hu and Huang Lao Si, making his focus deeper.

The second arrow had been more relaxed, so the proficiency gained was different.

Once he understood, Chen Feng made a decision. He would treat the target as Wang Hu.

Arrow after arrow, he shot continuously.

And as he watched the proficiency steadily climb, even though his stomach was still a little empty, Chen Feng felt no fatigue at all.

Instead, the gleam in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Merging with the original body's memories, combined with the improvements from his own cultivation, he felt the previous unfamiliarity had faded.

Moreover, looking at the bow and arrows in his hands, he even entertained the idea of whether, following his past life's memories, he could modify them into a crossbow.

He wondered if that would bring even more proficiency.

In the afternoon, before long, Lin Xue returned carrying two jin of rice.

Her face lit up with joy as she said, "Husband, look at this."

"And there's almost half a jin of meat."

Chen Feng smiled. "Good, then we'll have meat tonight."

Though all their savings had been spent.

Still, it should help improve his Nutrient Absorption a bit as well.

When dinner was ready.

Chen Feng still hadn't put down his bow.

Only now did he feel some fatigue in his body.

He glanced at the panel information.

Archery: Beginner Progress 81%

Chen Feng felt a surge of delight in his heart. "If I practice a bit more after dinner, I should be able to raise it to the next level today."

Judging by the system's information.

A minor realm breakthrough should have a significant effect on his strength and such.

Dinner consisted of millet, a bowl of meat, and a plate of small greens.

Seeing this, Chen Feng was a little surprised—this had almost spent every last bit of spare money in the house!

Still, he didn't dwell on it.

Improving proficiency came first.

[You ate a piece of nutritious meat. Your Nutrient Absorption proficiency +5.]

[You ate a bowl of rice. Your Nutrient Absorption proficiency +3.]

[You ate a plate of small greens. Your Nutrient Absorption proficiency +2.]

By the time dinner ended, Chen Feng was surprised to find that his Nutrient Absorption proficiency had risen to 53%.

Did that mean if he had another feast like this, his Nutrient Absorption skill could advance?

This was faster than training archery!

After the meal, Chen Feng said, "While it's still light out, I'll practice a bit more."

With that, he picked up his bow and arrows and headed to the training ground.

He wanted to raise his archery skill today.

But Chen Feng didn't notice that behind him, Lin Xue, after responding, looked at his back with a hesitant expression.

Then she let out a sigh.

Chen Feng arrived at the training ground.

Holding the longbow, even in the dim twilight, his eyes were still bright. From a distance of tens of meters, he loosed an arrow.

[You shot the target with a calm mind. Your Archery proficiency +2.]

[You shot an arrow burning with anger. Your Archery proficiency +2.]

Arrow after arrow flew.

Chen Feng's archery proficiency steadily climbed.

Finally, after nearly two hours.

New information refreshed on the panel.

[Your Archery has advanced to the Proficient realm. Archery has evolved into Basic Archery.]

[You have awakened the Beginner Talent: Hundred-Step Piercing Willow!]

[Your Strength +2, Spirit +1.]

As the information refreshed, Chen Feng's eyes brimmed with joy. Such a big improvement?