Your Shock Is Yet to Come

Name: Lin Chen

Profession: Martial Artist

Vitality: 2083/3000

Fate: [When the Water Flows, the Channel Is Formed]: In the Martial Arts First Realm, persevere unwaveringly, progress step by step, break through like bamboo—no bottlenecks to trouble you.

The next day.

When Lin Chen saw the increase in vitality on his System Panel, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Had he seen that right?

His vitality had increased by eighty points in a single day.

"Is Black Muntjac Meat really that effective at nourishing vitality?"

Thinking of the Black Muntjac Meat he had eaten yesterday, Lin Chen finally understood why even Lu Yongfeng and the others had swallowed their saliva.

That plate of meat must have been worth a fortune. He just did not know whether the same rate of growth could be maintained if he kept eating it.

Others might not be able to, but perhaps he could.

Thinking of his fate, Lin Chen's eyes lit up. But then he remembered that even Lu Yongfeng and the others had been drooling over it, and he abandoned the thought.

There was no need to think about it. Black Muntjac Meat had to be exorbitantly expensive, far beyond what he could afford.

"Chenzi, Xiao Tianxiang's elder brother is getting married today. Should we follow Xiao Tianxiang back to the village and join the festivities?" Gu Fei climbed down from his bed and asked eagerly.

Seeing the expectant look on Gu Fei's face, Lin Chen frowned, his expression turning serious. "A-Fei, tell me the truth. Are you planning to give up martial arts?"

"N-No."

"If not, why have you been slacking off lately? Why do you keep leaving the Training Ground so early? We're brothers, so don't lie to me."

Lin Chen stared at Gu Fei seriously. After hesitating for a long while, Gu Fei suddenly sighed. "Chenzi, do you think we can really cultivate essence energy within two years? My strength is only three hundred and fifty jin now, and I've already spent seven or eight taels of silver. According to those Senior Brothers, the further you go, the more silver you have to spend..."

Gu Fei's eyes were filled with confusion—confusion about martial arts, and confusion about the future.

"A-Fei, why would you think that?" Lin Chen asked curiously.

"It's not just me. A lot of people think so. Zhang Hao and Xiao Tianxiang also think cultivating essence energy within two years is difficult."

This time, Lin Chen understood. The atmosphere in the Martial Hall had already started to change.

After nine months of martial arts training, many students' progress had slowed, yet their expenses had not decreased. Many had begun to feel lost about martial arts. Some were probably already considering giving up, while others had not quit but no longer possessed the drive they had when they first entered the Martial Hall.

If they could not cultivate essence energy in one year, there was always the second year. If not the second, then the third...

"A-Fei, the path of martial arts lies in persistence. No matter what, if even you give up on yourself, how can you cultivate essence energy within two years?"

Lin Chen's expression was exceedingly serious. "If I had thought the same way back then, shouldn't I have given up even earlier? Why would I have gone to work in the cafeteria? Did you really think I felt no humiliation serving food to a few acquaintances?"

"Back then, I had no money. To save enough to eat beef at the end, Zhang Tao mocked me. Do you think I could truly remain calm inside?"

"A-Fei, remember this: if you do not give up on yourself, then perhaps you still might not cultivate essence energy within two years. But if you give up, then you definitely will not cultivate essence energy within two years. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand. I'm going to beat up Zhang Tao right now." Gu Fei waved his fists.

Lin Chen: ...

"I'm joking. I know what you mean. You're right—I shouldn't give up. Once your family's fishing boat is back in the water this time, I'll train my fists diligently."

"Come on. It's time to go to the Training Ground."

When they arrived at the Training Ground, Lin Chen indeed found that quite a few students had come late, while several more were nowhere to be seen.

The teacher and the other two instructors had not shown themselves either. At this stage, only Lu Yongfeng and five others could cultivate essence energy. The instructors would not care about the rest.

At noon, Lin Chen went to the cafeteria and bought a serving of Qi Nourishing Soup. Although many students saw it, it did not cause much of a stir.

After yesterday's shock had fermented, many students guessed that Instructor Yu had given him special treatment. It was only natural for him to buy Qi Nourishing Soup now.

When Gu Fei saw Lin Chen buy Qi Nourishing Soup, he wanted to buy some as well. Lin Chen had initially wanted to stop him, but after thinking it over, he ultimately did not.

According to his cost-effective method of training, if Gu Fei's goal was to cultivate vitality within two years, then eating beef at this stage would be enough. He could start drinking Qi Nourishing Soup in the latter half of next year, maximizing its value.

But Lin Chen had just persuaded Gu Fei to strengthen his resolve toward martial arts. Stopping him from drinking it now would be no different from discouraging him.

After one serving of Qi Nourishing Soup, Lin Chen found the next day that his vitality had increased by twenty points. At this rate, his vitality would increase by six hundred points in a month, and his strength would rise by one hundred and twenty jin. The reward of ten taels of silver would be his.

At this pace, cultivating essence energy within a year should not be a problem.

He had enough time, but it was not entirely safe.

If his vitality growth slowed after he reached five hundred jin and he needed to increase his expenses, his plan would be thrown into disarray.

Instructor Yu had also said that one had to seize every opportunity.

He needed to take two servings of Qi Nourishing Soup a day. Only then would it be secure enough.

Two servings of Qi Nourishing Soup increased his vitality by thirty points.

Judging by the amount of vitality converted from food, that was somewhat wasteful. But he could not worry about that now.

Although spending two hundred and fifty copper coins a day meant seven and a half taels of silver a month, it was all worth it.

"Chenzi, don't be too impulsive."

Seeing Lin Chen spend money so fiercely, Gu Fei grew worried and took the initiative to advise him.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I'm aiming for that ten-tael reward."

"The ten-tael reward? You want to gain a hundred jin of strength in a month and reach five hundred jin directly?"

Gu Fei's eyes widened. He circled Lin Chen three times, then reached out and touched Lin Chen's forehead. "You don't have a fever either."

"I'm serious. I'm confident I can do it." Lin Chen asked in return.

"You really are confident?" Gu Fei could hardly believe it. "Even Lu Yongfeng and the others never gained a hundred jin in one month after reaching four hundred jin. Lu Yongfeng, the strongest of our class, ate beef and drank Qi Nourishing Soup after passing four hundred jin. I heard he even took ginseng in private, yet he only gained seventy jin in a month."

"Believe me. I won't gamble with my own future."

Lin Chen could not exactly tell Gu Fei that he possessed the fate of When the Water Flows, the Channel Is Formed, and that he had carefully calculated everything to ensure he had enough silver coins to cover the expenses.

He had two taels of silver on him. With two servings of Qi Nourishing Soup and three jin of beef a day, his daily expenses came to two hundred and fifty copper coins.

Two taels of silver would be enough to support him until his vitality reached 2,250 points, which meant four hundred and fifty jin of strength.

Once his strength met the standard, he would apply to Instructor Yu for the three-tael reward, then continue investing it to charge toward five hundred jin.

While Lin Chen crazily sprinted toward five hundred jin, Lu Yongfeng and the others were grinding just as hard.

Winter arrived, and white frost covered the ground.

Before dawn had fully broken, eleven figures were already on the Training Ground.

Lu Yongfeng, Zhao Jingchuan, Cheng Ying, Xu Botao, and Yan Dexing had all surpassed five hundred and seventy jin, launching their final charge toward six hundred jin.

The other five were from Lin Chen's batch who had reached four hundred jin, along with Gu Fei, whom Lin Chen had dragged along.

The other students had already slackened off. Until the sun shone onto the Training Ground, they would not come over.

Six days later.

Yu Yongnian and the other two instructors appeared at the Training Ground.

"Instructor, this student wishes to try lifting the four-hundred-and-fifty-jin Stone Weight."

Lin Chen glanced at the vitality value on his System Panel—2253/3000—and spoke loudly.

The moment he said it, everyone present turned their eyes toward him.

What did he mean?

If they remembered correctly, Lin Chen had only just crossed the four-hundred-jin threshold a few days ago.

Gaining fifty jin of strength in just a few days was simply impossible!

Yan Dexing's mouth twitched. If this had happened in the past, he would have mocked him no matter what.

But remembering what had happened at the Zhao Family Restaurant last time, he feared that after mocking Lin Chen, he would once again end up despised from every side.

After receiving the instructor's nod of approval, Lin Chen walked before the four-hundred-and-fifty-jin Stone Weight and crouched down. He did not dare let his guard down. His strength had only just reached four hundred and fifty jin, so he could not lift it every time.

When they saw the veins bulging on Lin Chen's hands and his face turning bright red from the strain, yet watched him ultimately raise the Stone Weight to his abdomen, the entire place fell silent.

Facing the astonished gazes of everyone on the Training Ground, Lin Chen lowered his head somewhat shyly, his eyes cast down.

This was only the beginning!

Your shock was yet to come.

A gleam flashed in Yu Yongnian's eyes. After pondering for a long while, he said, "Good. Lin Chen, go to the rear courtyard with Lu Yongfeng and the others. Everyone else, continue practicing your fists."

Lin Chen left the Training Ground together with Lu Yongfeng and the others, following the three instructors.

"It really is four hundred and fifty jin."

Not long after Lin Chen left, Chu Dong walked over to the Stone Weight Lin Chen had lifted. He tried several times with all his might, but could not lift it at all. Only then did he have no choice but to believe that Lin Chen truly possessed four hundred and fifty jin of strength.

"Chu Dong, what do you mean by that? Are you suspecting Chenzi of cheating?"

Seeing what Chu Dong was doing, Gu Fei was deeply displeased. "With the instructors here, who would dare cheat?"

Chu Dong knew his actions were somewhat improper, so he did not argue with Gu Fei.

He simply found it too difficult to accept the reality that Lin Chen had suddenly soared into the sky, which was why the absurd thought that the Stone Weight was fake had occurred to him.

In his heart, Lin Chen gaining fifty jin of strength in a few days was even more absurd and harder to accept than the Stone Weight being fake.