Energy Pill

"Pretty fast. Only a thousand reps—no big deal."

"But with my current Skin Refining Realm physique, going all-out on fist training drains a lot of stamina and energy. If I keep pushing, I won't be able to maintain peak condition. I'll need to eat meat and rest before I can continue."

"After dinner tonight, I'll do another ten sets."

Zhao Han immediately began planning in his mind.

Ten sets after breakfast, ten sets in the mountains during the morning, ten sets after lunch, ten sets in the mountains after lunch, and ten sets after dinner.

Fifty sets a day.

Each set was only ten moves, taking about thirty seconds to complete.

That meant ten sets took five minutes, and fifty sets took twenty-five minutes.

Twenty days of this, and he'd reach Great Completion—barely five hundred minutes, just over eight hours in total.

"Does this make me a training maniac? Even with the system simplifying things, I'm still grinding this hard." Zhao Han smiled wryly.

But thinking it over, others practicing Black Wolf Fist couldn't reach Great Completion without over a decade of hard work, and that depended on effort, luck, and talent.

His thousand reps could offset someone else's decade of grueling training—it was ridiculously overpowered.

Back at the mine's kitchen, waiting for dinner, Wang Dawei told Zhao Han that Leader Liu wanted to see him.

Entering Liu Gang's tent, Liu Gang was sitting on a Húdèng, staring blankly at a porcelain bottle.

"Xiao Zhao, you're here. Sit." Liu Gang flashed a "Nuclear Goodness" smile and pointed to the Húdèng in front of the table.

"Leader Liu, may I ask why you've summoned me?" Zhao Han sat upright and inquired.

"Heh, I saw you training hard, so I thought I'd give you a promotion. Do you know what this porcelain bottle holds?"

"I do not."

"This thing in my hand is called an Energy Pill. It's made from many rare herbs. Take one, and it replaces three meals while boosting your vitality. You only need four hours of sleep a day to stay energetic."

Zhao Han put on a surprised expression. "That amazing? This pill must be very valuable."

Liu Gang said proudly, "Heh, naturally. Energy Pills aren't easy to come by. I went through some trouble to get these."

"There are three pills in this bottle. I'll give you one. Tomorrow, do nothing else—get up at dawn, take the Energy Pill, and go train. Aim to reach the Skin Refining Realm as soon as possible."

With that, Liu Gang poured out a single bright red pill and handed it to Zhao Han.

"Thank you for the gift, Leader Liu. This subordinate will never forget it. But one pill feels a bit insufficient... I wonder..."

Zhao Han glanced at the porcelain bottle in Liu Gang's hand, his meaning clear.

Give me all of them.

"Heh, seems Xiao Zhao, you're quite greedy. But you can't take too many of these, or you'll burn out your essence and die."

Liu Gang's tone carried contempt. This Xiao Zhao looked like a peasant boy, honest and simple on the surface.

But in truth, he was insatiably greedy, wanting to take everything and push for more.

If it weren't for Wang Hu and Wang Bao bringing over a hundred new miners from the County Town today, earning merit and gaining influence—Wang Bao might even threaten his position as leader—

Why would he bother giving Zhao Han an Energy Pill?

Besides, the other two pills were meant to win over other Elite Gang Members. He wouldn't give them all to Zhao Han.

Zhao Han was just a tool he'd taken a liking to—young and about to reach the Skin Refining Realm, but with no other advantages.

The other Elite Gang Members were his main targets for recruitment, to counter Wang Hu and Wang Bao.

"Burn out your essence and die? Then forget it." Zhao Han quickly shook his head.

"You may go. Remember to train hard in martial arts. For commoners like us, hard work is the only way to grow stronger."

"Thank you for the reminder, Leader Liu. This subordinate takes his leave."

The next day.

Zhao Han, before dawn, without even eating, went to the forest on the East Side.

After taking the Energy Pill, Zhao Han eagerly began practicing Black Wolf Fist.

"My whole body is so hot—it keeps burning!"

"Truly worthy of being an Energy Pill. The effect is immediate. My vitality is surging, like I have endless strength."

After finishing ten sets in a row, Zhao Han still felt a strong aftereffect, like he could do ten more. The Energy Pill's effect was truly miraculous.

He wondered what herbs it was made from. If only he had the recipe.

"Hah! Hoh! Ha! Hey!"

"Black Wolf Gouges Heart, Black Wolf Pounces on Prey, Black Wolf Charging Fist, Black Wolf Swing Fist, Black Wolf Sweeping Fist..."

Twenty sets!

Thirty sets!

Forty sets!

After practicing a full hundred repetitions, Zhao Han was drenched through, his strength completely spent, utterly exhausted.

The effect of the Energy Pill, which should have lasted a full day, had been drained dry by Zhao Han in less than an hour.

[Black Wolf Fist, Proficiency 120/1000]

"Not bad. If I have enough Energy Pills, at this rate, I can grind 140 proficiency points in a single day. In seven days, I'll achieve Great Completion in Black Wolf Fist."

"Then I'll step into the Muscle Refining Realm. This tiny Refined Iron Mine can't hold me."

Zhao Han's confidence surged, and his eyes grew even more covetous of the Energy Pills in Liu Gang's hands.

"Too bad. Since you, Liu Gang, won't fully support me, I don't have to give you my all. You've shown me the kindness of recognition, but that's all it is."

Zhao Han held no ill will toward Liu Gang—after all, he had helped him somewhat.

If Liu Gang had fully backed him, Zhao Han would have pulled him up once he made his rise.

But alas, Liu Gang only saw him as an ordinary thug to groom, someone he might one day send on a deadly mission.

He could only repay him appropriately, not with wholehearted devotion.

"Why think so much? Just keep training, one step at a time."

He ceased his practice to rest, while taking out a wolf leg, lighting a fire, and eating the wild game.

Only with a full stomach could he regain the strength and energy to continue practicing his fists.

The Skin Refining Realm was equally draining; one meal equaled two or three of an ordinary person's. Zhao Han, nearing the limit of Skin Refining, needed at least three.

This single wolf leg wasn't enough to satisfy him, but it could temporarily restore his stamina.

"Hm? Someone?"

In the afternoon, Zhao Han was lying on a thick branch, basking in the sun while studying the Snake-Style Deft Hand, when he suddenly heard movement.

It was the sound of people talking.

He quickly climbed higher, hiding among the dense leaves.

He saw two Elite Gang Members of the Poisonous Snake Gang, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu.

They should have been in the Mine Tunnel acting as overseers, supervising the Mine Slaves digging ore, yet here they were.

But it made sense—the air in the tunnel didn't circulate, and overseers were human too, needing to breathe. The Mine Slaves, in their eyes, weren't human, so they didn't need it.

When Zhao Han had been mining, he often saw these overseers slacking off; only a few actually supervised.

"Where the hell is that Zhao kid? Searched all over and can't find him."

"Hehehe, he's definitely training in the woods to the east. That Wang Liang wouldn't dare lie to us."

"If he reaches the Skin Refining Realm, it'll be harder to make a move. The gang has rules—no private fights among Skin Refining members. Get caught, and you lose a finger."

"You really think he's some genius who'll break through in no time? He's just practiced some crude martial arts and has a foundation. We've been in Skin Refining for years; dealing with him is as easy as killing a chicken."

"Tch, too bad we can't find him. Otherwise, we'd make him cough up those two taels of silver and the Energy Pill. One pill sells for a tael of silver, you know."

"No rush. We'll find him eventually."