Fixing a Water Pipe? (Please Vote)

Hu Qi lowered his head and glanced at it.

The axe in his hand was far larger than the ordinary axes sold on the market.

It felt heavy in his grip, weighing over thirty jin in total, and radiated a cold, unyielding air.

Its blade was incomparably sharp, gleaming with a chilling sheen, while the entire axe body was forged from black steel.

The handle had a fine grainy texture.

It was made of non-slip material to ensure the user would not easily lose their grip while swinging it.

Hu Qi had custom-ordered this axe from a seller, spending over a thousand yuan on it.

Because an axe of this weight simply could not be bought anywhere on the market.

For ordinary people, swinging such a heavy axe was extremely difficult.

It depended not only on raw arm strength, but also on the strength of the entire upper body, core strength, and coordination.

But to Hu Qi, it was merely average. After all, his own strength was right there.

Still, as time passed, he would inevitably grow tired after swinging it for long enough.

A swing could be considered a short burst of explosive force, but holding an axe weighing over thirty jin and chopping for half an hour was an entirely different matter.

Continuous swings would quickly lead to muscle fatigue and exhaustion.

Fortunately, because Hu Qi practiced the Nourishing Origin Breathing Method, his stamina recovered far faster than an ordinary person's.

If it were someone else, they would collapse from exhaustion after only a few minutes at most.

At this thought.

He looked toward the panel.

Mad Axe Combat Technique (Beginner) △

Modification Points: 4 (32%)

"Finally reached Beginner?"

Hu Qi let out a soft breath and stretched his body.

He had not bought the axe for fun, but to practice this Mad Axe Combat Technique.

Its description stated that, during training, the heavier the axe used,

the better its effect in tempering the physique. That was why he had custom-ordered this axe.

Now that his time spent working hard was over, he needed a little help from Crimson.

"Crimson, modify the Mad Axe Combat Technique and raise it to Perfection!"

Buzz!

The panel trembled slightly. The instant Hu Qi's thought settled, the words Mad Axe Combat Technique began to blur.

At the same time, that familiar cool current and strengthening sensation emerged within his body once more.

Only, compared with before, this cool current was much stronger this time.

Since he had just finished training and his body temperature was still high, the chill of that current caused wisps of white vapor to rise from Hu Qi's skin.

Hu Qi considered this situation briefly.

Then he understood the reason. It was likely because he had used Crimson to directly raise this Combat Technique from Beginner to Perfection, and the leap had been too great.

When the strengthening current vanished, Hu Qi opened his eyes and looked at the panel.

Mad Axe Combat Technique (Perfection) Trait: Dragon Spirit Tiger Fierce

Modification Points: 2 (32%)

Raising it from Beginner to Perfection had only cost two Modification Points.

As Hu Qi's physique and strength improved, Combat Techniques still enhanced his body, but their effects could no longer compare to before.

However, correspondingly, the cost of using the modifier to improve these Combat Techniques was also getting lower and lower.

"A new trait?"

Hu Qi looked at the trait, "Dragon Spirit Tiger Fierce."

He could clearly feel it.

The stamina he had exhausted from practicing the Mad Axe Combat Technique for half an hour was rapidly recovering at a visible pace.

At the same time, his energy became fuller and more vigorous.

"Not bad!"

Hu Qi's eyes brightened slightly. Feeling the changes in his body, a smile appeared on his face.

Whenever a skill reached Perfection, it would awaken a trait.

Taken alone, a single trait did help improve the body, but it still remained within the range of ordinary people at most, merely making one somewhat exceptionally gifted.

But if he spent a great deal of time continuously stacking similar traits that strengthened the physique,

perhaps he could raise himself to an inhuman realm.

If this world were merely an ordinary modern city, Hu Qi might not have been in such a hurry and would have considered doing so.

But after learning that this world possessed extraordinary methods capable of breaking the limits of the human body, he naturally would not do that.

To him,

that would undoubtedly be like picking up sesame seeds while throwing away a watermelon.

Right now, all he wanted was to improve his physique as much as possible before heading to the Core Class in a few days.

To reach the true limits of the human body, then practice the Limit-Breaking Method!

With that in mind, Hu Qi prepared to get up and take a shower. His clothes were plastered tightly against his body with sweat.

It was truly rather uncomfortable. But just as he arrived at the bathroom.

Knock knock!

Someone suddenly knocked on the door from outside.

It was already past nine at night, and outside the window was pitch-black.

Even the landlord could not possibly come looking for him so late.

Not to mention that the landlord did not usually live here, but over in South City. Every month, the rent was transferred directly by phone.

After thinking it over, Hu Qi took several steps to the door and peered outside through the peephole.

He saw a pretty young woman standing in the hallway outside.

She wore a thin black spaghetti-strap nightgown, so light it was nearly transparent, like a faint veil of gauze that was there and not there. The outline of her underwear could even be seen beneath it.

Her long black hair was wet and clung to her smooth, fair shoulders.

Several strands hung beside her cheeks, droplets of water constantly falling from their ends.

A trace of anxiety and helplessness showed in her eyes.

She was the woman from the young couple who had previously lived next door to him.

"Hello, is anyone home?"

At that moment.

The woman standing at the door seemed to sense Hu Qi's gaze.

She raised her head and looked over.

Her delicate voice, paired with her fragile appearance, was exceptionally capable of stirring a man's urge to protect her.

"What is it?"

Hu Qi's voice came from behind the door, without the slightest fluctuation in tone.

"Handsome, it's like this. I'm your neighbor next door. While I was showering, the water pipe for the bathroom heater burst, and my boyfriend isn't home.

Could I trouble you to help turn off the valve? I'm too weak—I can't twist it."

After speaking, the woman bit her lip lightly, wearing an expression so pitiful that even one who saw her would feel tender-hearted.

"Fixing a water pipe?"

Hu Qi's expression turned strange.

"How much are you willing to pay?"

"Huh?"

The woman froze, clearly not expecting him to start talking about money over something that required so little effort.

"Why would I help you if there's no money?"

Hu Qi said.

"Fine, come help me, and I'll give you..."

Before the woman could finish, Hu Qi directly interrupted her.

"Forget it. Just call the number posted on the wall. There are people who fix water pipes there, and their prices are fair. Don't come bother me!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Hu Qi said nothing more. His footsteps gradually retreated, as though he had left the door.

"You..."

The woman stomped her foot in anger, then finally turned and left.

"This woman..."

Behind the door, Hu Qi watched her departing figure through the peephole, his brows slightly furrowed.

Only after confirming that she had returned to her room did he turn and head back inside.

This kind of deranged "fixing a water pipe" plot development might be possible, but the odds of actually encountering it were far too low.

He did not deny that, because of his combat training these past days, his body had grown stronger and more sculpted.