Breathing Can Make You Stronger

Pingyin County.

"Externally, you temper your sinews, bones, and skin; internally, you refine a breath of qi. At our Extreme Mountain Martial Hall, everyone has always been treated equally. Even the precious internal cultivation technique is taught to all of you. So long as you work hard enough, better and stronger techniques will be waiting for you!"

Senior Brother Bi Hong of the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall shouted loudly while everyone in the hall listened attentively. In a corner, a dark-skinned, scrawny young man held his head high as well, but upon closer inspection, his gaze was dull and wooden.

Chen Fei had somehow arrived in this world more than ten days ago. After absorbing his predecessor's memories, he learned that this was a world resembling ancient Blue Star.

But here, martial artists soared through the air and over rooftops. Killing an ordinary person was as easy as squeezing a chick.

Chen Fei was currently a Handyman at a Medical Hall, not even an apprentice. On ordinary days, he did odd jobs around the Medical Hall.

Learn medicine? That was completely out of the question. They would never give him the opportunity.

Steal knowledge? If he were discovered, they would cripple him on the spot and leave him to fend for himself afterward.

His predecessor had been unwilling to live like that for the rest of his life. At the Medical Hall, he had been obedient and well-behaved, working hard without complaint in hopes of winning favor and learning a little skill.

Unfortunately, every Handyman had the same idea. The competition had driven his predecessor to question his entire life.

With no other choice, his predecessor had taken the Silver Taels he had saved and gone to the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall to become a disciple, hoping to change his fate.

The Extreme Mountain Martial Hall had been straightforward. Upon becoming a disciple, he was taught a Breathing Technique and a matching set of martial arts. His predecessor had treasured them as if they were priceless, practicing desperately whenever he had free time.

After practicing martial arts for three months, before either the martial art or the Breathing Technique had even reached the entry level, he had overtrained, fallen ill from accumulated fatigue, and died!

After receiving his predecessor's memories, Chen Fei naturally yearned for martial arts as well, and he had practiced for some time.

But the facts proved that there had truly been a reason his predecessor had been unable to enter the threshold after three months of practice.

His talent was simply too poor. After inheriting this body, Chen Fei discovered that his own talent was not much better.

Could he rely on a modern person's way of thinking to earn some money and become a wealthy landowner?

Chen Fei had originally considered that too, but his predecessor had signed a contract when he entered the Medical Hall. For a full twenty years, he had to remain there.

Leaving was not impossible, but he would have to pay a hefty sum of Silver Taels to terminate the contract.

Moreover, all additional income he earned belonged to the Medical Hall. If he hid anything, he would be crippled once discovered.

It was utterly inhumane and vicious beyond measure.

Yet despite how terrifying the Medical Hall was, his predecessor had spent everything he possessed just to get in.

At least the Medical Hall merely made him labor like an ox and horse for the rest of his life. In other places, they would not even give him the chance to be one.

Just moments ago, a translucent Panel had appeared before Chen Fei's eyes.

Name: Chen Fei

Profession: None

Techniques: Extreme Mountain Fist, Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique

Realm: None

"Technique detected. Spend one tael of silver to simplify the Extreme Mountain Fist?"

"Technique detected. Spend one tael of silver to simplify the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique?"

The Panel displayed some of Chen Fei's information. At the same time, two prompts kept flashing at the bottom of the Panel. Chen Fei had been spacing out because he was staring at this suddenly appearing Panel.

"What are you standing there dazed for? Start practicing your fist!"

Bi Hong had come before Chen Fei at some point and shouted, "If your Extreme Mountain Fist still hasn't reached the entry level, you'll have to keep paying next month to come to the martial hall. You should know that!"

Chen Fei came to his senses. He did not dare say much and hurriedly began practicing.

Bi Hong watched him for a few moments and could not help shaking his head. He knew Chen Fei's background. Chen Fei had come to the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall to take a chance. As things stood, though, he was destined to remain an ordinary person. That could not be changed.

An hour later, Chen Fei left the martial hall drenched in sweat. Other than hunger, he had gained nothing.

He hurried back to the Medical Hall in a few strides. After greeting several familiar Handymen, Chen Fei slipped back into the room.

This was a communal bunkroom where nearly ten people usually slept. All kinds of sour, refreshing smells constantly drilled into Chen Fei's nose. Fortunately, he had already grown used to them. When he had first awakened here, he had nearly been knocked unconscious by the stench.

"One tael of silver? I don't have that much money."

Chen Fei sat on the communal bunk, his brows tightly furrowed. He still did not understand the Panel's function very well. No matter how he questioned it, concentrated his mind, or silently recited various versions of "Open Sesame," the Panel did not change or respond in the slightest.

Only those two lines of prompting text kept flashing, urging Chen Fei to pay up.

But his predecessor had spent all the Silver Taels he had saved to go to the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall. In just a few short months, there was no way he had saved up one tael of silver.

"I have to find a way to scrape together this money." Various ideas flashed through his mind, and Chen Fei remembered that his predecessor had hidden a medicinal herb outside.

Four months ago, the Medical Hall had run short of medicinal herbs and sent a group of Handymen up the mountain to gather them with a Herb Gatherer. That herb had been secretly hidden by his predecessor. During that gathering trip, they had encountered a Weird on the mountain, and three people had died. Only then had his predecessor resolved to practice martial arts.

His predecessor had heard that once martial arts cultivation reached a certain level, one could resist Weirds. Even if one could not resist them, if the others traveling with him had weaker blood and qi, the Weird would seek them out first.

Things had not been peaceful outside the county town recently. The Medical Hall occasionally ran short of medicinal herbs, so going up the mountain to gather them once every few months would probably become the norm.

Chen Fei walked out of the room. He considered borrowing money from the other Handymen, but one tael of silver was far too much for them. No one would lend that much to Chen Fei.

If he borrowed from several people separately, it might arouse suspicion. After hesitating for a moment, Chen Fei left the Medical Hall.

Half an hour later, Chen Fei retrieved the herb, which had not been lost. Wearing a Bamboo Hat to cover his face, he secretly sold it at a Marketplace for one tael of silver and fifty Copper Coins.

Chen Fei did not dare return to the Medical Hall either. He climbed over the wall into an abandoned Courtyard in the county.

Simplify the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique.

Chen Fei silently recited the words in his heart. The next moment, the one tael of silver in his sleeve vanished, and the Panel in his vision flickered slightly.

"Simplifying Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique... Simplification successful... Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique → Breathing!"

Breathing?

Before Chen Fei's thoughts could catch up, he suddenly saw the information representing him on the Panel change.

Name: Chen Fei

Profession: Martial Artist

Techniques: Extreme Mountain Fist, Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique (Entry 1/100)

Realm: None

As Chen Fei continued breathing naturally, a warm current spread through his body. At the same time, the number after the Breathing Technique's entry level kept rising. In barely any time, it had already become Entry 10/100.

Many insights regarding the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique naturally surfaced in his mind.

"This breathing alone can cultivate?"

Chen Fei was so stunned that he had gone numb. Was this Simplification function not a little too outrageous? The Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique used a special breathing method to mobilize the body's five viscera and six bowels, strengthening the body.

After simplification, it had actually become breathing, and breathing alone could increase the technique's Proficiency.

This was so absurdly overpowered that Chen Fei had to say, he liked it very much!

"Bang!"

Just as Chen Fei was about to continue studying the Breathing Technique, someone suddenly kicked open the Courtyard's gate. A group of people stormed in menacingly.

"Steward Cui, it's him." Sha Daxin pointed at Chen Fei and said, "I just saw him carrying a medicinal herb, selling it for money, and then running here."

Chen Fei slightly furrowed his brows. Sha Daxin had previously had a conflict with his predecessor. He had not expected that the herb sale would actually be witnessed. Or perhaps this man had been keeping an eye on Chen Fei all along and had finally found his opportunity.

"Search him!"

Cui Sanjie waved his hand, and several Handymen immediately pounced on Chen Fei. Chen Fei did not resist, allowing them to search him.

In moments, the Handymen had thrown all the Silver Taels on Chen Fei onto the ground. There were only fifty Copper Coins.

"Didn't you say he sold it for one tael of silver?" Cui Sanjie frowned and turned to Sha Daxin.

"He must have hidden it somewhere in the Courtyard."

Sha Daxin was slightly flustered, but he quickly thought of an explanation. He strode up to Chen Fei, seized him by the collar, and shouted, "Chen Fei, your business has been exposed. Hand over the money right now, or things won't remain this simple!"

"I didn't sell any medicinal herbs. Don't frame me." Chen Fei pried Sha Daxin's hand away and said with an innocent expression.

"Steward Cui, the money must be somewhere in this Courtyard. As long as we search properly, we'll definitely find it." Sha Daxin glared viciously at Chen Fei before turning to Cui Sanjie.

Cui Sanjie said nothing. Instead, he glanced over the dilapidated Courtyard. Dust covered the ground, and the only footprints were those they had just made. Nothing else looked out of place.

"What are you doing here?" Cui Sanjie looked at Chen Fei.

"I failed to make progress in martial arts, so I came here to calm down," Chen Fei said in a low voice.

Cui Sanjie grinned. He had heard that this Handyman before him had become a disciple of the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall, but more than three months had passed without him accomplishing anything.

"Sha Daxin, come here," Cui Sanjie said.

"Yes, Steward Cui." Sha Daxin did not dare delay and hurried over to Cui Sanjie.

"Smack!"

With a muffled impact, Sha Daxin fell to the side in a daze. He instinctively covered his cheek, which was already swollen and red. His lips twitched, and several teeth fell out.

"Next time, don't come to me about something without evidence. Do you understand?" Cui Sanjie looked calmly at Sha Daxin.

"I... I understand!" Seeing Cui Sanjie's expression, Sha Daxin hurriedly nodded in fright.

Cui Sanjie shook his head, finding the matter utterly boring. He turned and left the Courtyard, and the other Handymen hurried after him. Sha Daxin rose to his feet and stared viciously at Chen Fei. He did not dare blame Cui Sanjie, so he could only vent all his fury on Chen Fei.

"You got lucky this time!"

Sha Daxin fixed his eyes on Chen Fei, but Chen Fei did not react. That one tael of silver had vanished long ago, and there was no way to find it. As for confronting the shopkeeper?

How could the Medical Hall mobilize so many people over one tael of silver?

"Hmph!"

Receiving no response, Sha Daxin grew even angrier. He gave Chen Fei a chilling look before turning and leaving the Courtyard.

Half an hour later, Chen Fei returned to the Medical Hall's communal bunkroom and looked at his Panel.

Name: Chen Fei

Profession: Martial Artist

Techniques: Extreme Mountain Fist, Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique (Proficient 930/1000)

Realm: Martial Person (1/100)

The Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique had already become Proficient. The sensation it gave Chen Fei with each breath had also grown somewhat more distinct. His realm had changed as well, becoming Martial Person.

Chen Fei had heard Senior Brother at the martial hall say that a Martial Person was an ordinary person who had only just entered the threshold of martial arts. To achieve true accomplishment, one had to reach the Skin Refining Realm.

Once one reached that realm, the distance between oneself and ordinary people would truly be pulled apart. At the same time, the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall would completely accept one as a member.

Just as Chen Fei was silently studying it, the Panel changed again.

Technique: Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique (Perfected 1/10000)

Realm: Martial Person (2/100)

The warmth in his body seemed to become more distinct, and his realm also rose by one point. At the same time, Chen Fei's stomach began to rumble. As his body slowly grew stronger, it naturally began consuming energy.

The Medical Hall usually provided only two meals a day. Fish and meat were certainly out of the question, but at least there was no problem with eating one's fill. The Medical Hall did not skimp in that regard.

Chen Fei deliberately ate quite a bit more, but by midnight, he was still awakened by hunger. He glanced at the Panel. The Breathing Technique remained in its Perfected state, but its progress had already reached several thousand. He estimated that he would break through the Perfected level tomorrow.

He simply did not know whether there were any other realms after perfection.

His cultivation had also risen by several points. Based on his calculations, Chen Fei might reach the Skin Refining Realm in less than twenty days and become a true Martial Artist.

By then, whether he continued staying at the Medical Hall or went to the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall, Chen Fei would have bargaining chips and a choice.

After eating his fill during the day, Chen Fei worked with abundant energy. It was not only because his stronger body had improved his stamina, but also because life finally held a glimmer of hope.

Every breath brought strength. What a wonderful thing that was. Watching the numbers on the Panel jump from time to time also gave him an immense sense of accomplishment.

Before noon, the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique reached its limit.

Technique: Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique (Great Perfection)

There was no room for further improvement. Countless insights regarding the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique continued to circle through Chen Fei's mind. Having cultivated to this level, Chen Fei had nearly reached the realm of the person who had created this technique back then.

At the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall, there was probably no one who had cultivated this Breathing Technique to Great Perfection.

After all, this was merely an introductory Breathing Technique. There was no need to stubbornly grind away at it. Chen Fei had not deliberately forced himself to do so either; he had simply cultivated it to the top naturally.

The Great Perfection Breathing Technique gave Chen Fei an increasingly distinct sensation, and the display on the Panel also proved his guess. He had originally estimated that it would take twenty days to reach the Skin Refining Realm, but now ten days would probably be more than enough. His progress had doubled in speed.

Chen Fei's appetite gradually increased, but he was not scolded for it. He had even been singled out for praise by one of the stewards two days earlier.

Compared with the other listless Handymen, Chen Fei's attitude had recently become markedly positive. The difference in his Essence, Qi, and Spirit pleased that steward, indirectly bringing Chen Fei to his attention.

The other Handymen were envious and grew much closer to Chen Fei. Only Sha Daxin, in the corner, watched Chen Fei with a cold, sinister gaze.