Enhancement of Thick-Skinned Physique

Early in the morning, Jiang Yan turned off his alarm and began getting his gear in order.

"Hmm?"

As Jiang Yan was getting dressed, he found an Alloy Long Blade on his desk. To its right was a soft-metal protective suit that looked extremely valuable.

Jiang Yan's hands paused. His throat bobbed as he glanced toward Uncle Wang's room.

Uncle Wang was a homeroom teacher, so he had already gone to class at this hour.

Jiang Yan did not know what to say. He put on the armor, then took the Alloy Long Blade in hand and tested its weight with a few swings around the room.

The weight was just right.

Uncle Wang must have figured out exactly how strong he was when they sparred last night.

After more than ten years together, that carefree uncle had somehow become as meticulous as a woman.

Fully equipped, Jiang Yan headed beyond the city gates.

This world was largely ruled by humanity, but the Fierce Beasts outside the cities were not to be underestimated either. Every year, countless people died in the Wilderness, and Wilderness Hunters accounted for no small portion of them.

Wilderness Hunter was widely recognized as the most profitable profession, and also the one that cost the most lives. You might earn a million or two in the morning, only to lose your life that very afternoon.

There was a saying among Wilderness Hunters—more dangerous than Fierce Beasts were people.

The Wilderness had none of the dense surveillance network found in cities. Even if you died out there, no one would pursue the matter. Here, one could witness the darkest side of human nature.

"Please show your ID card."

The guard at the gate stopped him.

Jiang Yan took out his ID card and handed it over.

The guard accepted it, frowned slightly, and said, "You only just came of age?"

Jiang Yan smiled. "That's right. It hasn't even been three months."

The guard tried to persuade him kindly. "You're still a student, aren't you? The outside world isn't suited for you."

Jiang Yan said, "I have reasons I must go out."

In an instant, the guard thought of it all: a critically ill mother, a gambling father, a younger brother still in school, and a broken him.

"Fine. Be careful."

The guard let him through and returned his ID card.

Jiang Yan left the city without incident. This was his first time leaving the city's protection, his first time truly facing this cruel world.

There generally would not be any Fierce Beasts near the city's edge. The soldiers within the city cleared them out regularly.

Jiang Yan continued deeper.

Not far away, a Red-eyed Rabbit was squatting on the ground and eating grass.

Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Jiang Yan lunged forward, his long blade piercing straight through the rabbit's body.

One strike, one kill.

System Log Updated

You killed a Red-eyed Rabbit. Heaven Rewards Diligence activated. Congratulations, your physique has slightly improved.

Jiang Yan was delighted. "It really works."

"Unfortunately, it doesn't drop Traits."

That made sense. Traits were special products of the Divine Martial Space. How could the outside world possibly have them?

Jiang Yan sheathed his blade without changing expression and ignored the Red-eyed Rabbit's corpse.

He often saw Red-eyed Rabbits at the market. Their meat was delicious, so they were commonly served on dining tables. One rabbit was worth only a few dozen Star Coins.

He continued deeper into the wasteland.

System Log Updated

You killed a Red-eyed Rabbit. Your physique has slightly improved.

You killed a Great Horned Bull. Your physique has slightly improved.

You killed a Red Snake Lizard. Your physique has slightly improved.

These creatures had little desire to attack and could barely even be considered Fierce Beasts. The increase to Jiang Yan's physique was even more negligible.

Jiang Yan began exploring according to the map he had downloaded onto his phone.

Ten minutes later.

Jiang Yan held the Alloy Long Blade before his chest, warily watching the Black Wolf glaring at him like a tiger eyeing its prey.

"A Gale Wolf. Its hide and fangs can both fetch a good price."

This was Jiang Yan's main purpose for leaving the city: kill Fierce Beasts and make big money.

Jiang Yan met the Black Wolf's gaze, and both saw the scrutiny and assessment in the other's eyes.

Awooo~

The Black Wolf let out a low howl at Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan drew his blade, pushing the Basic Saber Technique to its limit.

The Black Wolf hesitated no longer. With an angry roar, it lunged at him.

The blade tip collided with its claws, throwing off dazzling sparks.

You fought the Black Wolf diligently. Your saber comprehension has slightly improved, your practical combat skills have slightly improved, and your physique has slightly improved.

Jiang Yan was delighted. Sure enough, Heaven Rewards Diligence was not some leveling system where killing wild monsters dropped experience.

Only when Jiang Yan put genuine effort into something could he gain benefits from it. Simply killing a few rabbits was not enough to make him stronger.

The more Jiang Yan fought, the more excited he became, constantly gaining benefits from Heaven Rewards Diligence.

You fought the Black Wolf diligently. Your saber comprehension has slightly improved, your practical combat skills have slightly improved, and your physique has slightly improved.

You fought the Black Wolf diligently. Your saber comprehension has slightly improved, your practical combat skills have slightly improved, and your physique has slightly improved.

Jiang Yan slashed off the Black Wolf's front leg, then, while its body was unsteady, viciously flicked his blade tip upward.

Splat!

The wolf's head was split straight open from its jaw to the crown. Blood sprayed through the air, soaking Jiang Yan from head to toe.

He stared excitedly at the Black Wolf's corpse, his chest heaving. He was immensely satisfied with the battle.

Just as he was about to collect the wolf hide, several Black Wolves in the distance caught the scent of their companion's blood and rushed over.

"I forgot wolves are pack animals."

Jiang Yan wiped the red from his vision. The blood and grime covering his face added several shades of savagery to his originally handsome features.

Jiang Yan stood with his Horizontal Saber held across his body, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the Black Wolves charging toward him.

Fight!

You fought the Black Wolf diligently. Your saber comprehension has slightly improved, your practical combat skills have slightly improved, and your physique has slightly improved.

You fought the Black Wolf diligently. Your physique has slightly improved.

You killed three Black Wolves. Your perception of Killing Intent has strengthened.

You killed four Black Wolves. Your killing techniques have improved.

The fiercer you fought, the braver you became. Thick-Skinned Physique has strengthened.

The Black Wolves' claws and fangs were sharp. Facing many opponents alone, Jiang Yan's body inevitably suffered a few injuries.

Yet this instead triggered Heaven Rewards Diligence, strengthening his Thick-Skinned Physique somewhat. It was an unexpected delight.

Heaven Rewards Diligence—the reward of the diligent.

"If I fight a few more times, could my Thick-Skinned Physique evolve?"

After seeing the changes to Thick-Skinned Physique, the talent he had gained after opening his apertures, in the System Log, Jiang Yan could not help but entertain that thought.

Everyone's talent after opening their apertures differed. Only after being evaluated at the Warrior Building could they receive a standardized rating.

Humanity ranked talents into seven categories, from highest to lowest: SS, S, A, B, C, D, and E.

But after actual combat, Jiang Yan realized that his Thick-Skinned Physique was neither weak nor particularly strong. Though his body's defenses had improved considerably, injuries were still injuries.

"Among all the talents, Thick-Skinned Physique can probably only be considered average."

"But that's fine. As long as I grind hard enough, as long as I work hard enough, Thick-Skinned Physique will sooner or later transform into the strongest constitution in the world."

If he could not grind out the strongest talent even while holding Heaven Rewards Diligence in his hand, then Jiang Yan could throw away his title as the King of Grinding.

Bending down, Jiang Yan began cleaning up the aftermath, stripping every valuable item from the Black Wolves.