Talent Bead

This information was simple, yet it contained earth-shattering content.

This mysterious bead that had traveled with him was called a "Talent Bead."

Its function was to accumulate energy by "absorbing nutritional essence" to "awaken innate divine abilities."

The so-called "absorbing nutritional essence" was, to put it bluntly, eating!

Swallowing food, digesting and absorbing it, and converting its energy into sustenance to activate the Talent Bead.

However, the information also clearly stated that the energy required for each awakening of a talent was a multiple of the previous one.

The first awakening might be relatively easy, but as time went on, the energy required would become astronomical, and the difficulty would increase exponentially.

After digesting this information, Wang Yuan lay motionless on the bed, his chest heaving violently, his breathing heavy.

Innate Divine Ability!

In this precarious and unfamiliar world, what could bring a greater sense of security than power?

What could change destiny more?

Wang Yuan raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the cold, mysterious black bead-like mark on his chest.

The sensation was peculiar, as if he could feel the immense potential contained within, waiting to be ignited.

This was his only capital in this cruel world to establish himself, protect his family, and even... climb higher!

He re-covered his clothes, hiding the secret that could not be revealed to the world.

The confusion and fear in his eyes gradually gave way to an extreme calm and forbearance.

Although his body still ached, his family's situation was still poor, and the threat of the Black Tiger Gang still existed.

But at this moment, Wang Yuan's heart was filled with hope.

He needed food.

Lots of nutritious food.

The thin rice porridge was far from enough.

He needed meat, he needed fat, he needed anything that could be quickly converted into energy.

However, looking at the destitute state of his home.

Wang Yuan knew very well that this first path was fraught with thorns.

He closed his eyes, no longer thinking wildly, casting aside all distracting thoughts, and began to fully sense the mark on his chest.

He could vaguely perceive that the bowl of medicinal soup he had just drunk seemed to have contributed a faint, minuscule stream of warmth, which merged into the mark.

It was like a drop in the ocean compared to what was needed for awakening.

[Energy Absorption in Progress... Current Energy: Below initial awakening standard.]
[Estimated Requirement: (2/100)]

A vague feedback returned.

"Just two percent..."

Wang Yuan murmured the number in his heart, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

"Accumulate, bit by bit."

A few more days passed, and Wang Yuan's injuries had mostly healed. Although there was still a dull ache when he moved, he could already get out of bed and move around.

The fragmented memories and his perception of reality completely merged.

He was no longer a lonely soul who had fallen from another world, but had truly become Wang Yuan of Bluestone Alley, on the outskirts of Gaoye City, Yunzhou, in the Great Yin Dynasty.

As dusk settled, a small oil lamp was lit in the narrow room.

The bean-sized flame flickered, barely dispelling the gloom in a corner.

The Wang Yuan family of four sat around the creaking old wooden table to eat.

The meal on the table was simple to the point of being meager.

A basin of thin porridge so watery you could see your reflection, a plate of dark, pickled mustard stems, and a small bowl of steamed, slightly yellowed mixed-grain steamed buns.

The only bright spot was a single boiled egg in a small ceramic dish in the center of the table.

Eggs were a rare delicacy for the poor families in the outer city.

His mother, Madam Zhou, silently picked up the egg, deftly peeled it, revealing the tender white inside.

Then, without hesitation, she placed it directly into Wang Yuan's bowl.

"Yuan'er, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Eat more to nourish your body."

Her voice was gentle, filled with concern that could not be refused.

His elder sister, Wang Yu, glanced at the egg, then quickly lowered her head and sipped her porridge, saying nothing.

His father, Wang Gui, picked up a mixed-grain bun, took a forceful bite, chewed slowly, his brows habitually furrowed.

Wang Yuan looked at the round, white egg in his bowl, his throat tightening, a warmth rising in his heart.

He knew this wasn't just an egg. It was a meager bit of "nutrition" his family had scraped together, a tiny offering that represented their all. It was also the "energy" he desperately needed to awaken his Talent Bead.

He didn't refuse. He simply let out a low "Mm," picked up his chopsticks, and silently lifted the egg to his mouth.

The egg white was tender and smooth, the yolk carrying a unique aroma. Against the blandness of the congee, it seemed exceptionally precious.

He chewed slowly, feeling the food settle in his stomach.

A warmth, much clearer than his usual congee, spread gently, like a trickling stream flowing towards the black mark on his chest.

[Energy Absorption in Progress... Current Energy: (21/100)]

The progress was slow, but it was indeed increasing.

One egg was far better than several bowls of plain congee.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was heavy, broken only by the faint sounds of chewing and the clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

Suddenly, Wang Gui put down his steamed bun and sighed heavily, his voice shattering the silence. "The Black Tiger Gang's tribute this month... it's been delayed a few days, we can't put it off any longer."

"Their people were lurking around the alley entrance again today."

Madam Zhou's hand trembled, her chopsticks nearly falling to the table. The color drained from her face.

Wang Yu also looked up sharply, a flicker of fear in her eyes.

The Black Tiger Gang was a notorious bully in this neighborhood.

Wang Gui rubbed his rough hands together, his face etched with struggle and sorrow. "Originally... I was thinking, after a few more tight months, we'd save enough money to send Yuan'er to that 'Panshi Fist Academy' in the south city to apprentice."

"I heard the instructors there are truly skilled. Even as an outer disciple, if he perseveres for a few years, maybe he can achieve something. Then..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

In this world where cultivators could shatter stone and might made right, having someone in the family who could even touch the threshold of martial arts would change their circumstances entirely.

Small gangs like the Black Tiger Gang would no longer dare to bully them so easily.

For a poor family like theirs, this was almost the only path to a better life they could see.

The money they had saved for the apprenticeship was the result of their entire family's frugality, the ember of all their hopes.

And now, that ember was on the verge of being forcibly extinguished by the Black Tiger Gang, used to fill their bottomless greedy maw.

Madam Zhou's lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but in the end, only a powerless sigh escaped her.

Wang Yu lowered her head again, her shoulders slumping slightly.

Just as a suffocating atmosphere of despair settled in.

A calm voice rang out:

"Father, give them the money."

Three pairs of eyes instantly snapped towards the source of the voice.

It was Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan put down his chopsticks. The congee and egg in his bowl were completely finished.

He looked up, meeting his father's astonished and confused gaze. His face was expressionless, carrying a stillness that belied his age.

"Pay the Black Tiger Gang their tribute first."

He repeated, his tone unhurried.

"There's no rush about the apprenticeship."

"No rush?"

Wang Gui's voice suddenly rose, as if his tail had been stepped on. "Yuan'er! Do you know what you're saying?"

"If we miss this chance, who knows when we'll save enough money next time."

"And that Panshi Fist Academy isn't a place you can just walk into."

"With skill, you won't have to endure this humiliation!"

"I know."

Wang Yuan's voice remained calm, like a deep pool, undisturbed.

"Precisely because I want to learn skills, we can't afford to anger the Black Tiger Gang right now."

"If they come looking for trouble every day, how will I have the time and focus to learn martial arts?"

He paused, looking into his father's eyes, and continued, "What the family needs now is stability."

"Give them the money and buy us some temporary peace. I need time... to fully recover my health."

He couldn't reveal the secret of his Talent Bead, so he had to use "recovering his health" as an excuse.

"There's no harm in waiting a few months to apprentice. When my body has recovered and my condition is good, it won't be too late to go."

"Perhaps... there will be better options then."

His words held room for interpretation, hinting at some unspoken confidence.

Wang Gui froze. He looked at his son's dark, deep eyes, which no longer held their usual liveliness or the fragility of illness.

There was only a calm and certainty that felt foreign to him.

He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but found that his son's words actually held some truth.

Clashing head-on with the Black Tiger Gang now would undoubtedly be like an egg hitting a rock. Not only would the money for apprenticeship be lost, but it might also invite greater disaster.

Temporary forbearance in exchange for a chance to breathe...

Madam Zhou looked at her husband, then at her son, and said hesitantly, "Yuan'er's words... also make sense."

"His body indeed needs more time to recover."

"Rushing to the fist academy, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it."

Wang Yu also chimed in softly, "Yes, Father. Let's... let's get past this hurdle first."

Wang Gui remained silent for a long time, his chest heaving. Finally, as if drained of all strength, he said dejectedly:

"...We'll do as Yuan'er says."

"Tomorrow, I'll send the money."

After the decision was made, the atmosphere at the dinner table became even heavier.

That sum of money represented hope. Now, handing it over personally felt like tearing flesh from bone.

Wang Yuan said no more, quietly cleaning his bowl and chopsticks.

He felt the faint warmth emanating from the Talent Bead in his chest, and the slowly rising energy progress.

[Energy Absorption in Progress... Current Energy: (22/100)]

Develop discreetly, accumulate energy.

The debt owed to the Black Tiger Gang would be noted for later.

He needed time.

And in his eyes, using a little money to exchange for this precious, undisturbed development time was more than worth it.