Breaking Through the Limit Fist Style

Deep within the abandoned factory, in a corner of a maintenance workshop covered in thick grease and rust.

The air was filled with the dull smell of mixed oil, metal shavings, and dust.

A few explosion-proof lamps hanging from rusted steel beams cast a dim, flickering glow, barely dispelling a small patch of darkness and enveloping Lin Xiao and Fatty Wang in a faint halo.

Fatty Wang huddled on a pile of oil-stained burlap sacks, his round face still pale with shock. His small eyes darted vigilantly into the deep darkness outside the workshop, as if a ferocious beast ready to devour them might leap out at any moment.

The naked law of the jungle, the disregard for life like weeds in the black market, had been deeply etched into his mind like a cold brand.

"Xiao... Brother Xiao," Fatty Wang's voice was laced with lingering fear, kept extremely low. "Skinny Monkey said that even the cheapest Energy Stone Shards in the black market cost twenty to thirty thousand for a small piece, and it's hard to tell if they're real or fake. They'll cheat you to death without batting an eye! Where are we going to get that much money?"

He looked at Lin Xiao, who was sitting against the wall, with a worried expression.

Lin Xiao leaned against the cold, rough wall, his hood pulled low as always, obscuring more than half of his face.

His right arm was hidden beneath his oversized hoodie, and a stubborn dull ache pulsed from the fracture beneath the fixed bandages.

But what troubled him more was the sense of depletion deep within his soul, like a maggot clinging to bone—Source Energy Points: [-1.3].

The trip to the black market hadn't solved his predicament; instead, it had been like a cold mirror, reflecting his current insignificance and vulnerability.

Without Source Energy Points, without strength, he didn't even have the right to struggle in that chaotic and bloody world.

The shadows of Scarface Qiang and the Blood Wolf Gang loomed like swords hanging overhead, and Su Qingxue's protection as a "shield" was not a long-term solution.

Get stronger! He had to get stronger, quickly!

Even if it was only the slightest improvement!

Money? None for now.

Energy Stones? Out of reach.

Lin Xiao's gaze, like a wolf lurking in the darkness, slowly fell upon his outstretched left hand.

His finger bones were distinct, and his palm bore a thin callus.

This hand, just moments ago in the black market, couldn't even afford the lowest-grade Energy Stone Shard.

But... it could still throw a punch!

Long Fist! The most rudimentary basic fist technique, popularized by the martial arts class at Tianhai Third High School. Its movements were simple and direct, open and expansive, emphasizing power originating from the ground and punches like a dragon's roar.

Lin Xiao had practiced it for years and knew it by heart, but that was all.

In the eyes of true martial artists, this set of fist techniques was full of flaws and had limited power, like a chicken's rib—useless.

However, at this moment, this "chicken rib" fist technique had become Lin Xiao's only lifeline!

Modifier! Could it modify it?

This thought ignited like a wildfire!

He abruptly sat up straight, the movement aggravating the injury in his right arm, causing his mouth to twitch in pain, but the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Fatty, guard the entrance."

Lin Xiao's voice was low and hoarse, with an unquestionable tone of command.

Fatty Wang was startled by Lin Xiao's sudden movement. Seeing the dangerous glint in his eyes under the dim yellow light, he instinctively nodded. He scrambled and crawled to hide behind a pile of discarded parts at the workshop entrance, nervously peeking out to keep watch.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing the fatigue and severe pain in his body, and concentrated all his attention!

Buzz!

Deep in his mind, the faint blue light screen struggled to appear, dimmer than before, its edges flickering with unstable faint light, like a candle in the wind.

The glaring [Source Energy Points: -1.3] in the center flickered continuously, and the cold warning sound seemed to hum again in the depths of his soul: [Core functions restricted... energy consumption increased...]

Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, ignoring the warning.

His consciousness, like invisible tentacles, struggled to reach the gear icon at the bottom of the light screen, representing [Basic Modification], which he could barely sense.

"Target... lock self..."

He mentally recited, his consciousness laboriously guiding, "Martial skill Long Fist... comprehensive scan... optimize!"

The light screen fluctuated violently, as if under immense pressure.

In the central area, a humanoid silhouette, outlined by countless dim lines, slowly appeared, practicing Long Fist.

The silhouette's movements were slightly stiff, and the lines were rough, representing the inferior nature of this fist technique.

[Target locked: Lin Xiao - Martial Skill Long Fist (Basic Entry Level)]

[Deep scan initiated... scanning...]

[Multiple subtle flaws and redundant energy circulation points detected (17 in total)...]

[Proceed with overall optimization? Estimated effect: Minor improvement in fist technique fluidity and instantaneous explosive power (approximately 5%-8%), elimination of some obvious flaws.]

[Required Source Energy Points: 0.1 (Energy consumption increased by 50% due to core function restriction)]

0.1 points! And at a high price while already overdrawn!

Lin Xiao's heart clenched fiercely!

He currently owed a total of 1.3 points. Consuming another 0.1 points would bring it to -1.4! This was simply adding insult to injury!

Was it worth it?

The indifferent gazes in the black market, the glaring pool of blood on the ground, Scarface Qiang's ferocious grin, Su Qingxue's chilling protection… they flashed before his eyes like a carousel!

Damn it! Let's do it!

Every little bit counts!

If Source Energy Points are gone, they can be earned back. If my life is gone, then everything is gone!

"Optimize!" Lin Xiao let out a low roar in his heart, his will like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely towards the confirmation option!

[Command received! Source Energy Points deducted: 0.1!]

[Source Energy Points: -1.3 - 0.1 = -1.4]

[Modifying parameters…1%…20%…(Speed noticeably slowed)…60%…100%…Optimization complete!]

The prompt sound carried a heavy, sluggish feel.

Buzz!

A faint yet incredibly pure and strange warm current instantly surged into Lin Xiao's mind!

Countless details and insights about "Long Fist," along with the seventeen flaws and redundant points precisely captured and optimized by the Modifier, were clearly imprinted into the depths of his consciousness like a sudden enlightenment!

He felt as if he saw the humanoid silhouette in the light screen practicing the fist technique, its movements suddenly becoming much smoother and more natural!

The slight hesitations during exertion, the imperceptible stiffness when shifting his footing, and those few dead angles in the trajectory of his fist that could easily be exploited by an opponent… all were quietly smoothed out, corrected, and connected by a power originating from the rules themselves!

The entire flow of the boxing technique seemed to have been re-combed by an invisible hand, becoming more concise, efficient, and subtly exuding a sense of seamless integration!

"Hoo…" Lin Xiao's eyes snapped open, a fleeting flash of faint blue light seemingly in the depths of his pupils!

An indescribable sense of clarity filled his entire body!

He felt his brain had never grasped every detail of "Long Fist" so clearly before!

His body even produced an intense urge to practice it immediately!

He suddenly got up!

Ignoring the pain in his right arm and the waves of dizziness from exhaustion!

His left fist clenched tightly!

Buzz!

A faint yet much more condensed feeling of energy rose from the soles of his feet, following his modified and optimized power transmission route. It passed through his waist and hips, flowed through his back, and finally converged at the tip of his left fist!

The entire process was smooth and natural, at least half a beat faster than before, and the loss of power transmission was also significantly reduced!

"Hah!"

A short, sharp cry exploded in the empty workshop!

Lin Xiao stomped his left foot forward half a step, twisted his waist, and his left fist, like a projectile from a cannon, tore through the heavy air. It carried a force far more fierce and swift than before, slamming hard towards a relatively thick cement brick covered in rust and grime on the wall ahead!

Fist out! Like lightning!

The trajectory was straight, devoid of any flashiness, yet it carried a simplicity and power honed through countless trials!

Bang!

A muffled, heart-stoppingly loud noise!

Debris flew everywhere! Rust and dust rained down!

The thick cement brick, centered on Lin Xiao's fist, was instantly covered in a dense web of fine cracks!

The cracks spread and deepened rapidly, like living things! Some small fragments even flew off directly!

Lin Xiao's left fist, however, stopped steadily in front of the wall. The tip of his fist was slightly red, transmitting a slight stinging pain from the impact, but that was all! There was no bone-crushing agony he had anticipated!

There wasn't even any significant discomfort from the recoil!

The power was more concentrated! The exertion was smoother! The recoil was less!

Fatty Wang, startled by the sudden loud noise, flinched and poked his head out from behind some discarded parts, his small eyes wide as saucers. "Bro… Brother Xiao! Are you… are you demolishing the building?"

When he saw the cracked cement brick on the wall, and Lin Xiao's left fist, unharmed, stopped just before it, his jaw nearly dropped in astonishment!

"Holy… Holy crap! Brother Xiao! You… you did that with one punch…"

Fatty Wang was speechless. He had seen Lin Xiao practice boxing before. While it was powerful, it was absolutely impossible for him to have done this to such a thick wall brick with a single punch!

And judging by Lin Xiao's demeanor, he seemed to have done it with ease?

Lin Xiao slowly retracted his left fist, brought it before his eyes, opened his five fingers, and then slowly clenched them again.

His knuckles emitted faint cracking sounds. An unprecedented sense of power and control flowed through the muscles and bones of his left arm, following the optimized power transmission route.

He looked at the shocking cracks on the wall, then down at his own fist. A smear of grime couldn't hide the reappearance of his signature roguish grin on his face.

This time, his smile held less of his usual cynicism and more genuine, wild excitement and confidence!

It was effective! The results were significant!

Although it was just a basic boxing technique, although it had only improved by 5%-8%, and although it had consumed a precious 0.1 Source Energy Point (increasing his debt to -1.4)…

But this tangible improvement was like a glimmer of light torn open in the darkness of despair!

It proved his path was the right one!

It proved that he, Lin Xiao, wasn't limited to relying on that bizarre and unpredictable Modifier to "modify" others!

He could also modify himself! Unearth his own potential!

Source Energy Points! The key to this power increase!

The greedy glint in Lin Xiao's eyes, as if doused with boiling oil, instantly burned even more fiercely!

He licked his slightly chapped lips, his gaze seeming to pierce through the walls of the abandoned workshop, once again turning towards the depths of that chaotic and dangerous black market.

"Fatty," Lin Xiao's voice carried a trace of irrepressible excitement and hoarseness, "Money... Energy Stones... I'm going to get my hands on them!"