Please Give Me Just a Little More Time, Just a Little More

The next day!

Lin Chen woke up and stared at the increased vitality and blood value on the System Panel, stunned for several breaths.

Name: Lin Chen

Profession: Martial Artist

Vitality and Blood: 2545/3000

Fate: [When the Water Flows, the Channel is Formed]: Martial Arts First Realm. Persevere, Progress Step by Step, Break Through Like Bamboo, free from the plight of bottlenecks.

His vitality and blood growth had increased by another 2 points, reaching 32 points.

His meals had not changed, yet his vitality and blood value had grown. There was only one explanation.

"Break Through Like Bamboo has taken effect!"

Lin Chen was delighted. If that was the case, then wouldn't his vitality and blood reach the threshold of three thousand this month, allowing him to refine Essence Energy?

The second day.

Vitality and Blood: 2579/3000

His vitality and blood had increased by 34 points.

Now, Lin Chen could confirm that his Fate had entered the Break Through Like Bamboo stage.

Catching up to Lu Yongfeng and Cheng Ying was just around the corner.

The third day.

Yu Yongnian suddenly said, "Lin Chen, lift a Stone Weight."

Lin Chen was startled. He had not planned to lift a Stone Weight every time his strength increased by ten jin; he had intended to hold back and make one big show of it.

But since the instructor had spoken, he naturally would not refuse.

There were quite a few more Stone Weights in the yard than two days ago, all weighing over five hundred jin.

Lin Chen glanced at his vitality and blood value—Vitality and Blood: 2615/3000—then thought for a moment before passing over the five-hundred-and-ten-jin Stone Weight and walking to the five-hundred-and-twenty-jin one.

His action made Lu Yongfeng and the other five stop once again.

Instructor Liu and Instructor Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

From the moment Yu Yongnian called for Lin Chen to lift a Stone Weight, the two had carefully examined him. They soon understood why Yu Yongnian had made that request.

Judging by Lin Chen's vitality and blood, his strength really might have reached five hundred and ten jin.

But Lin Chen had walked toward the five-hundred-and-twenty-jin Stone Weight. Had they misjudged him?

"He can't possibly lift it this time, can he?"

Yan Dexing's words carried a trace of sourness, but before anyone else could respond, Lin Chen had already lifted the Stone Weight.

Lu Yongfeng, who had been about to speak, pressed his lips together. The next moment, he silently swept out his right leg.

He had already opened the vitality and blood point in his right arm. Now, he was attacking the joint in his right leg.

"Not bad. Keep training."

At Yu Yongnian's "not bad," Instructor Liu and Instructor Chen rolled their eyes inwardly.

This was only "not bad"?

In their seven or eight years at the Martial Hall, this was the first time they had seen a student as monstrous as Lin Chen.

What, had he eaten bitterness in the early stages, so that everything afterward was sugar?

Night fell.

After the food was delivered to the dining hall, the three instructors left as usual, leaving only Lin Chen and the other five still training extra.

A quarter of an hour, half an hour, an hour...

Watching Lu Yongfeng and the other five continue without stopping, Lin Chen was somewhat baffled. So none of you were going to sleep?

After thinking it over, Lin Chen decided to offer some advice. These Senior Brothers should not train themselves into deviation.

"Senior Brothers, this Junior Brother believes martial arts training cannot be excessive. You still need proper rest, or it will affect your condition the next day."

No one answered him. Even Zhao Jingchuan, who had always treated him best, merely continued training in silence.

Having made a fool of himself, Lin Chen was helpless. In the end, he could only return to the dormitory first.

The moment he turned and walked out of the yard, Lu Yongfeng and the other five stopped in unison. The five exchanged glances, and Yan Dexing said, "He's only at five hundred and twenty jin. There's still a gap between him and us."

"That's right. The further you go, the harder it gets. We're already at five hundred and ninety jin. He won't catch up." Xu Botao added.

Lu Yongfeng raised his head to gaze at the bright moon overhead. "Soon. I can already feel it. I'm about to refine Essence Energy."

The fourth day.

His vitality and blood increased by 38 points.

The fifth day.

His vitality and blood increased by 40 points, and Lin Chen lifted the five-hundred-and-thirty-jin Stone Weight.

That night, Lu Yongfeng and the others trained an extra quarter of an hour.

Yan Dexing continued, "There's still a gap between him and us."

On the sixth day, his vitality and blood increased by 42 points, and Lin Chen lifted the five-hundred-and-forty-jin Stone Weight.

Late at night.

Yan Dexing said, "There's still... still some gap between him and us..."

Lu Yongfeng: ...

Lin Chen did not know about the changes in Yan Dexing and the other five's state of mind. These past few days, he had been immersed in the physical changes brought by his rapidly increasing vitality and blood.

Every punch was stronger than the last.

This feeling was too wonderful.

On the seventh day, Lin Chen lifted the five-hundred-and-fifty-jin Stone Weight.

On the eighth day, his vitality and blood reached 2822/3000, and he once again lifted the five-hundred-and-sixty-jin Stone Weight.

On the ninth day, it was the five-hundred-and-seventy-jin Stone Weight.

On the tenth day, it was the five-hundred-and-eighty-jin Stone Weight.

Late at night.

Lin Chen left. Yan Dexing said, "He... compared to us..."

Lu Yongfeng: Shut up!

Yan Dexing stammered, "What I meant was, there's no longer any gap between him and us."

Since every word he said had been slapped back in his face, he would say the opposite this time.

Sure enough, clever as he was.

The eleventh day.

Lin Chen lifted the five-hundred-and-ninety-jin Stone Weight.

Lu Yongfeng and the other five were completely numb.

They began to wonder whether Lin Chen was practicing the same martial art as them.

The further they went, the harder it became. Why did it become easier and easier for Lin Chen the further he went?

Could these Stone Weights be fake, made of tofu?

Yan Dexing could not help walking over to a Stone Weight and kicking it.

It hurt a little. It was real.

The three instructors, including Yu Yongnian, also had mixed feelings these past few days.

Every time Instructor Liu and Instructor Chen left the yard, they would hound Yu Yongnian, asking whether he had given Lin Chen some kind of martial arts pill.

They asked so often that even Yu Yongnian began to suspect that he might really have given Lin Chen a martial arts pill.

Had he given Lin Chen one?

Had he really grown old and forgetful?

"Give me another three days... Give me three days and I'll be able to refine Essence Energy."

Lu Yongfeng kept repeating those words like a machine. Beside him, Zhao Jingchuan looked at Lu Yongfeng with pity in his eyes.

It was useless.

At this rate, Lin Chen would be able to refine Essence Energy in another day.

That night!

Gales swept through the back courtyard!

What blew was not a cold wind, but the wind of fists.

Lu Yongfeng and the other five's fists and kicks had already become a dazzling blur.

No matter how cold the winter wind was, could it be colder than their hearts?

"Brother Lu, not sleeping today?"

"Not sleeping." Lu Yongfeng gritted his teeth. He could not let Lin Chen surpass him just like that.

In the end, Zhao Jingchuan and the others also left, leaving only Lu Yongfeng still sweating as he trained.

Early the next morning.

He rose at the crow of the rooster and practiced his sword.

The instant Lin Chen opened his eyes, he saw the change on his System Panel.

Name: Lin Chen

Profession: Martial Artist

Vitality and Blood: 3000/3000

Fate: [When the Water Flows, the Channel is Formed]: Martial Arts First Realm. Persevere, Progress Step by Step, Break Through Like Bamboo, free from the plight of bottlenecks.

After ten months of bitter training, his vitality and blood had finally reached the standard today.

Lu Yongfeng, Cheng Ying...

He had finally succeeded in his comeback.

Gu Fei was no longer in the dormitory.

Ever since the day Lin Chen had been taken away by the instructors for special training, Gu Fei had returned to the village. In his words, "Chenzi, you don't even go to the Training Ground anymore. It's no fun staying there alone. Practicing punches at home is the same."

Lin Chen washed up and headed to the back courtyard.

When he entered the back courtyard, Lu Yongfeng and the other five were already there. But to his puzzlement, Lu Yongfeng was not training. Instead, he sat at the stone table with bleary eyes.

Although somewhat confused, Lin Chen began practicing his punches as usual.

His vitality and blood had reached the standard. Today, he might be able to refine Essence Energy.

As the morning sun rose, faint dawn light surrounded Lin Chen. He took a deep breath and slowly raised his fists level with his shoulders. Then he threw a punch, driving the vitality and blood throughout his body into a turbulent surge, as though the waters of a river were roaring and churning within him.

Every punch was accompanied by a deep but powerful rush of wind. The air itself seemed to be torn apart by that force.

The commotion drew Zhao Jingchuan and the others' attention.

Their own punches could also create wind, but Lin Chen's punch wind now alarmed them. Lu Yongfeng's previously bleary eyes sharpened as he stared fixedly at Lin Chen.

At that moment, Lin Chen had no idea how Lu Yongfeng and the others were reacting. This round of punching had intoxicated him. His vitality and blood circulated faster through his body, bringing a comfort and exhilaration he had never felt before.

His breathing gradually became deep and rhythmic. With every inhale and exhale, his entire body resonated along with it.

"He's refining Essence to Break Through!"

At some point, Yu Yongnian and the other two instructors had appeared at the courtyard gate. None of them stepped inside. At this critical moment, when Lin Chen's vitality and blood were breaking through and condensing Essence Energy, they naturally did not wish to disturb him.

Once, twice, three times...

Lin Chen himself had lost count of how many rounds he had performed. Only a bodily instinct drove him to accelerate his movements without pause. Fist shadows overlapped, dense as a raging storm, while within him, his vitality and blood burned like kindled fire, blazing fiercely and constantly striking against every limit of his body.

Suddenly!

After another all-out punch, Lin Chen felt an unprecedented force erupt violently within him, as though something inside him had shattered with a thunderous crash—the Essence Energy Threshold!

As the Essence Energy Threshold broke open, Lin Chen's eyes abruptly lit up, clear and deep. He felt a warm current flowing through his limbs and bones, finally gathering in his abdomen before cycling again and again, never ceasing.

Lin Chen slowly withdrew his fists and stood upright as a pine. A faint yet undeniable aura surrounded him.

Vigorous as a dragon and lively as a tiger, Essence Energy brimming, bearing the might of vitality and blood throughout his body!

This was the sign of having refined Essence Energy.

"Hahaha!"

Yu Yongnian burst into loud laughter, his voice brimming with satisfaction.

As for Lin Chen, he could not possibly be more satisfied.

"In one month, from four hundred jin to refining Essence Energy—even those children of powerful and wealthy families in the county town would be no better than this!" Instructor Liu exclaimed.

Lin Chen clasped his fists and said sincerely, "This disciple thanks the three instructors for your guidance. For allowing me to take a small step forward on the martial path, I will remember the three instructors' kindness in my heart."

For being able to refine Essence Energy so smoothly, the person he ought to thank most was Instructor Yu. He kept that debt of gratitude in his heart alone; there was no need to show it at this moment.

At the side, Lu Yongfeng and the other five fell collectively silent.

In the end, Zhao Jingchuan was the first to speak. "Junior Brother Lin... No, I should call you Senior Brother Lin now. Congratulations, Senior Brother Lin."

The Martial Hall students were all of similar age, and Seniority was determined by strength.

Lin Chen was now, without question, the Senior Disciple Brother!

PS: In response to the chapter title, please give me just a little more time, just a little more... Brothers, from here onward, this book has two possible versions. If you think the pacing is slow, cast one monthly vote. If you think the pacing is fine, cast two monthly votes. Whichever version follows, Jiudeng has thirty chapters saved up.