Breathing Technique

As Lin Mu headed home...

In a training ground elsewhere, Li Yan stood at the center. Before him was a figure covered in various sensors.

With the sound of a mechanical beep, the figure charged at Li Yan.

Li Yan moved, unleashing a violent burst of fist force.

He exchanged blows with the figure, while data streamed across a display screen beside them.

After about ten minutes, both stopped. A progress bar appeared on the screen, analyzing continuously.

Roughly two minutes later.

"Analysis complete."

"Subject: Li Yan."

"Fist Technique Proficiency: Black Iron Grade (29%)."

"Movement Technique Proficiency: Black Iron Grade (17%)."

"Martial Skill: Meteor God Fist (Minor Success 21%)."

"Overall Evaluation: Excellent."

"..."

As this data appeared, the expressions of many present shifted noticeably.

"Fist Technique proficiency went up 5%, Movement Technique 3%, Meteor God Fist 18%—did he pop some pills?" someone couldn't help but question.

"Even pills wouldn't cause such a spike. Something must have happened."

"How could he improve this fast? Meteor God Fist is a Tier 3 Martial Skill. Even 10% in a month is impressive!"

"..."

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

The middle-aged man standing at the center of the group was practically trembling with excitement. He blurted out, "Good! That's my boy!"

Li Yan's own expression shifted as he stared at the data.

He had felt himself improving, but he never imagined the gains would be this massive.

For a moment, his respect for Lin Mu rose another notch.

"My master is incredible!"

He thought to himself.

Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered around him.

"Li Yan, what's going on? How did you suddenly get this strong?"

"Yeah! Sure, you've got some talent, but this is ridiculous!"

"You're insane! Got any secrets? Spill it to your bros!"

"..."

Everyone spoke at once, their eyes full of envy.

Seeing their gazes, a hint of excitement crept onto Li Yan's face.

What was all that hard training for?

Wasn't it to show off?

In that instant, his vanity hit its peak.

"Fine! I'll tell you—it's no big deal. The reason I improved so fast is that I have an incredibly awesome master!" Li Yan said proudly.

"Master? What master?"

Someone asked.

"A truly formidable person. His understanding of martial skills has reached a godlike level!"

"With him around, forget Second-Order Martial Artists—even a Third-Order Martial Artist is nothing to me!" Li Yan boasted.

For a moment, many cast envious glances his way.

"Who is your master?"

"Yeah! Can you introduce him? I want to take him as my master too!"

"As long as he can make me a Second-Order Martial Artist, I'll call him Dad!"

"Your dad is still alive, you know!"

"..."

The group chattered noisily.

Li Yan's face was full of pride, but he never revealed Lin Mu's name.

Showing off was one thing—

Bringing trouble to my master—that wouldn't be good!

If Lin Mu knew what he was thinking, he'd definitely kick him. Since when did he become his master? He was just a sparring partner.

Among this crowd, a graceful figure stood in the distance. She stared at Li Yan, who was surrounded by people, a hint of thought flickering in her beautiful eyes. Then she turned and walked off to the side.

"I need his recent whereabouts."

"Yes!" A figure standing not far away responded.

Lin Mu had no idea what was happening over there. He lay on his bed, cultivating the Five Hearts Facing Heaven Art, gradually drifting into sleep.

Only a little over two months remained until the Martial Arts Exam.

He had to train with everything he had.

The night passed quickly. Lin Mu opened his eyes and walked outside.

But the moment he opened the door, a girl stood at the entrance—about one meter sixty-seven tall, fair-skinned, with delicate features.

Her beautiful eyes scanned Lin Mu, and a smile appeared on her face.

"Hello!"

"You are...?"

Lin Mu's face showed a trace of confusion.

"My name is Chu Miaomiao. I heard you're Li Yan's master, so I came to pay a visit."

The girl extended a fair hand.

"I'm not his master, just his sparring partner. And I don't plan to keep doing it anymore," Lin Mu said.

"Found a better opportunity?" Chu Miaomiao asked.

"Something like that," Lin Mu replied.

With a B-grade Contract, he wasn't that tight on money anymore, and he still needed to prepare for the Martial Arts Exam.

"What a shame. I was hoping to take you as my master."

"Don't. I don't have that kind of ability."

"No, you're better than a lot of instructors."

"So what? I'm not planning to do it anymore anyway."

"I'll pay you double, and you only need to instruct me for one hour a day. How about that?"

Lin Mu was momentarily stunned.

Double the pay!

Six hundred thousand!

And only one hour a day.

Looking at Chu Miaomiao's serious eyes, he realized she wasn't joking.

"Spending that much just to have me instruct you?" Lin Mu asked.

"Mm." Chu Miaomiao nodded.

Lin Mu thought it over. He wasn't exactly short on money right now, but he still could use some. If it was just one hour, he might consider it.

As if afraid Lin Mu would refuse, Chu Miaomiao added, "If that's not enough, I'll throw in a fragment of a Breathing Technique."

Lin Mu's expression shifted.

A fragment of a Breathing Technique!

That was an extremely precious thing.

A full Breathing Technique could sell for over a hundred million.

And that was just an ordinary one.

Powerful Breathing Techniques cost even more.

Even a fragment was worth at least a million.

Lin Mu really wanted to refuse, but she was offering too much.

"Fine. But let's be clear upfront—no backing out," Lin Mu said.

"No problem." Chu Miaomiao nodded.

"Then follow me," Lin Mu said.

"Okay."

She followed Lin Mu as he walked outside.

"Also, if you don't have the time, you can skip instructing Li Yan. I can cover the penalty fee on my end."

Chu Miaomiao said.

A faint smile appeared on Lin Mu's face. "You have a grudge against him?"

"Competitor," Chu Miaomiao explained. "Our families have always been in competition, so we've been rivals since we were kids."

Lin Mu gave a slight nod. "It would indeed be a good thing for me, since I'd have more time to cultivate. But a gentleman's word is a bond. Since I agreed to it, I naturally need to see it through."

A flicker of surprise appeared in Chu Miaomiao's beautiful eyes.

She hadn't expected Lin Mu to place such importance on keeping his word.

Under his lead, the two arrived at the cultivation room beneath the Virtual Duel chamber.

Seeing the cultivation room before her, Chu Miaomiao's expression shifted slightly.

She knew very well that to train here, one needed at least a B-grade Contract.

For a young man his age to secure such a contract was absolutely extraordinary.