Lin Fan squeezed the brakes. His bicycle skidded half a meter along the stone-paved road before stopping at the entrance to the Night Market.
He planted one foot on the ground, his gaze passing over the bustling crowd and landing on the old man in front of the bookstall.
His white hair was like snow, combed meticulously and tied into a simple bun at the back of his head. The old man wore a gray cloth robe, washed so many times it had faded pale. His face was thin and gaunt, his wrinkles carved deep as knife marks, yet his eyes were unusually clear. In the dim yellow lamplight, they seemed to have the power to see straight through people.
He really didn't know this old man.
Yet the way the other man had beckoned to him was so natural, as though he were greeting a junior he'd known for years.
Had he mistaken him for someone else?
Or...
Lin Fan's thoughts stirred. He remembered the warning from the owner of the blacksmith shop at the docks: "Keep your wits about you during the test." He also recalled Wang Hao's threat when he signed up: "I've got plenty of ways to make sure you fail."
Could this old man be part of some scheme, too?
But then he thought it over. He was penniless, with nothing but the strength he'd just built up and a secret he couldn't tell anyone. What was there for others to scheme over?
"I'll go take a look."
Lin Fan dismounted and pushed his bicycle through the Night Market crowd.
The Night Market wasn't large, just a street a hundred meters or so long, lined with stalls on both sides. Some sold fragrant fried snacks; others displayed cheap trinkets in dazzling assortments; still others peddled old clothes and shoes, with the sound of haggling never letting up. The bookstall was tucked away at the far end, and business was clearly slow. Besides the old man, only two or three customers were browsing the old books.
Lin Fan leaned his bicycle against the wall, locked it, and walked over.
"Sir, were you calling me?" He stopped in front of the bookstall.
The old man set down the book in his hands—a thread-bound antique with a damaged cover, its title impossible to make out. He looked Lin Fan up and down. His gaze was calm, yet it gave Lin Fan the feeling that he was being seen through.
"Come sit." The old man pointed to the little stool beside him. "You've been standing there for a while. Aren't you tired?"
Only then did Lin Fan notice that he was still wearing his fifty-five-kilogram Weighted Gear. He'd grown used to the weight, but standing for a long time was still tiring.
He didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on the stool. It creaked under him as if it could barely bear the weight.
"Weight training?" The old man glanced at Lin Fan's bulging trouser legs and slightly raised back. "How many jin?"
"Fifty-five kilograms," Lin Fan answered honestly.
"Sixteen years old, carrying fifty-five kilograms, and still able to ride a bicycle..." The old man nodded. "Good sinews and bones. But your breathing is a little disordered."
Lin Fan froze.
He really was breathing harder than usual. He'd assumed it was because he'd just finished riding, but now that he paid closer attention, he realized his breath was indeed unsteady—not as long and even as it was during training.
"Please enlighten me, sir." Lin Fan cupped his hands.
He wasn't the arrogant sort. Back on Earth, he'd gone from an ordinary programmer to a project lead by being eager to learn and never ashamed to ask questions. In this unfamiliar world of martial arts, even a little knowledge could save his life.
A flicker of approval crossed the old man's eyes. "It's a good thing you can take advice. You're cultivating the Basic Breathing Technique, right?"
"Yes."
"What level have you reached?"
"I only recently broke through to Mastery Level." Lin Fan didn't hide it. He could tell this old man was no ordinary person; there was no point in concealing it.
"Mastery Level..." The old man fell into thought. "At sixteen, reaching Mastery Level with something as common as the Basic Breathing Technique means you have decent comprehension and you're willing to work hard. But there's something wrong with your soul."
"My soul?" Lin Fan was startled.
He had transmigrated here, and his soul had fused with the Original Owner's. Did that count as having something wrong with his soul?
"Your soul is much more solid than those of others your age, as if... it had undergone some kind of tempering." The old man spoke slowly. "But there's a slight discord within that solidity, like two different souls forcibly fused together without fully blending."
Lin Fan's palms grew slick with cold sweat.
This old man could actually see the state of his soul!
"Sir, does that... have any consequences?" He struggled to remain calm.
"Consequences?" The old man smiled. "In the short term, it's a good thing. A solid soul means greater Mental Power and comprehension. When you cultivate techniques and martial skills, you'll grasp their essence and break through bottlenecks more easily than most."
"What about in the long term?"
"In the long term..." The old man stopped smiling. "If the two souls can't fully merge, then as your cultivation rises and your mental power grows stronger, they may come into conflict. At best, you'll suffer headaches and insomnia. At worst, you'll develop a split personality or even suffer a cultivation deviation."
Lin Fan fell silent.
He knew the old man was telling the truth. Over the past half month, he'd occasionally had nightmares in which his work on Earth and his life in this world were tangled together. He'd wake up dazed, sometimes unable to tell who he really was.
"Sir, is there a way to fix it?" Lin Fan asked earnestly.
"There is, but it's difficult." The old man said, "Either you find a technique specifically for cultivating the soul and use it as a bridge to fully fuse the two souls, or... you keep breaking through in the martial path and slowly smooth out the differences with the help of the world's spiritual energy and the nourishment of your physical body."
"A technique for cultivating the soul?" Lin Fan gave a bitter smile. "I'm afraid a technique like that is beyond my reach."
The Basic Breathing Technique was merely the most basic method for cultivating vital energy. It didn't even qualify as Mortal Tier Low Grade; it was a mass-market primer, beneath the ranks altogether. A technique specifically for cultivating the soul sounded like something high-level. With his current status and finances, he couldn't even dream of it.
"Then take the second road," the old man said. "Keep breaking through and make up for it with your cultivation. But that road is even harder. You'll need tremendous perseverance and resolve."
"I'm not afraid of hardship," Lin Fan said.
The old man looked at him, his gaze profound. "I can see that. There's a force in you, like a string pulled taut and ready to snap at any moment. That force will either push you to the peak, or... crush you."
Lin Fan didn't reply.
He knew the old man was right. Over the past half month, he had barely rested. He hauled cargo during the day and trained at night, sleeping only three shichen a day. He kept going on that drive of his: "I can't stop. I can't lose."
For his sister's illness, for his parents' last wishes, and for... the secret he couldn't tell anyone.
"Sir, you didn't call me over just to tell me all this, did you?" Lin Fan changed the subject.
The old man smiled. "Clever. I do have something for you."
He reached into his robe and took out a thin booklet. Its cover was made of pale yellow leather paper, with five characters written on it in ink: Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique.
"This book is for you." The old man handed it to Lin Fan.
Lin Fan took it. It felt surprisingly heavy in his hand. The booklet was only a dozen or so pages long, but the paper was thick and the edges worn, clearly from being read many times. He opened to the first page, where neat regular script laid out the principles of breathing and the precautions to take.
"Although the Basic Breathing Technique is an introductory method, it has plenty of subtleties," the old man said slowly. "Most people only know how to follow the diagrams and train according to the breathing rhythm. They don't understand why they should breathe that way, what the key points are at each stage, or how to coordinate it with martial arts training."
"It's all written here?"
"About seventy percent," the old man said. "The remaining thirty percent, you'll have to figure out yourself. In the martial path, a master can lead you through the door, but the cultivation is up to you. All I can give you is a key. Which door it opens and how far you go are entirely up to you."
Lin Fan carefully tucked the booklet into his robe. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it." The old man waved a hand. "I've had this stall here for three years and seen countless young people hoping to get into the Martial Arts Academy. Some have extraordinary talent but are too impatient. Others work hard but don't know the right way. You... are different."
"How am I different?"
"Your eyes." The old man pointed at Lin Fan's eyes. "Most sixteen-year-old children have innocence, confusion, or ambition in their eyes. Yours... hold the weight of years."
Lin Fan's heart tightened.
He'd forgotten that, although his body was sixteen, his soul belonged to a thirty-year-old adult. His work experience and worldly dealings from his previous life had left their mark on his soul. That wasn't something he could easily hide.
"Having the weight of years isn't a bad thing," the old man continued. "Only those who've been through things know how to cherish what they have and understand the meaning of strength. But let me remind you of this: the martial path isn't just about moving forward. You must also look back. Don't forget why you set out."
Lin Fan was silent.
He thought of his sister's pale face, his parents' blurred figures, and the shabby roofs of the Slum District.
"I won't forget," he said quietly.
"Good." The old man nodded, picked up another book from the stall, and opened it. He said nothing more.
Lin Fan knew this was his way of seeing him off.
He stood and cupped his hands again. "Sir, I still don't know what to call you."
"My surname is Li. Everyone around here calls me Old Man Li." The old man didn't look up. "Go on. You haven't bought your sister's medicine yet, have you?"
Lin Fan froze. "How did you know..."
"You smell of medicine, but not the body-tempering medicine used by Martial Artists. It's Lung Cleansing Powder, which nourishes the lungs and internal organs." Old Man Li said calmly, "At your age, someone who needs to nourish their lungs and internal organs is either weak from birth or has suffered a serious injury. Judging by how hurried you are, I'd say it's the former."
Lin Fan was impressed.
Old Man Li's powers of observation were downright frightening.
"Yes, my sister was weak from birth and needs medicine regularly," Lin Fan said. "I'll take my leave, then. I'll come visit another day."
"No need to make a special trip." Old Man Li turned a page. "If fate brings us together, we'll meet again."
Lin Fan said no more and pushed his bicycle away from the bookstall.
After going a dozen or so meters, he looked back. Beneath the dim yellow lamplight, Old Man Li was still sitting there, holding a book. His figure looked lonely in the night, yet there was something otherworldly about him.
"Old Man Li..."
Lin Fan committed the name to memory.
At the end of the Night Market stood a pharmacy called Jishitang, a well-known old establishment in the Outer City. Its medicinal herbs were reliable, and its prices were relatively fair.
Lin Fan parked his bicycle and went into the pharmacy.
The shop was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance. Behind the counter sat a white-bearded doctor wearing reading glasses, taking the pulse of a woman. Two or three other customers were waiting at the counter to have their medicine prepared.
"Lin, back again?" A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old apprentice behind the counter recognized him and greeted him with a smile. "The usual?"
"Yeah, three days' worth of Lung Cleansing Powder," Lin Fan said.
"Sure thing." The apprentice deftly took the ingredients from the medicine drawers, weighed them, and divided them into packets. "Same as always: three days' worth, 120 points in total."
Lin Fan took out his money pouch. He'd earned twenty points hauling Black Iron Ore that day, and with the fifty-six points he'd had before, he now had seventy-six in all—not enough.
"Xiao Zhang, could I pay half now?" Lin Fan asked awkwardly. "I'll make up the rest within three days."
Apprentice Xiao Zhang hesitated, then looked toward the white-bearded doctor.
The doctor had just finished examining his patient. He looked up at Lin Fan. "How's your sister doing lately?"
"She seems a little better. She coughs less," Lin Fan said.
"Mm. Lung Cleansing Powder can only ease the symptoms; it can't cure the root cause." The doctor shook his head. "She has a congenital defect in her lung meridians. It would take a pill of the caliber of the Sky Mending Pill to cure her. But that kind of pill..."
He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear: it was too expensive for the poor to afford.
Lin Fan fell silent.
He knew of the Sky Mending Pill, a healing treasure of Earth Tier Low Grade. They said it could repair congenital defects and restore meridians. As for the price... he had never asked, because he couldn't afford it anyway.
"Take the medicine for now," the doctor suddenly said. "The money can wait. Just pay the rest within three days."
Lin Fan stared at him. "Doctor, I..."
"I've seen you hurrying back and forth every day for the past half month. You're either hauling cargo at the docks or training," the doctor said, stroking his beard. "It's not easy for a sixteen-year-old to work that hard. I was poor when I was young, too. I know what it's like to struggle. Take the medicine first. Don't let your sister's condition get worse."
Lin Fan's eyes grew warm.
Over the past half month, he'd faced more than his share of cold stares and mockery. Wang Hao's bullying, the dockworkers' jeers, the examiner's deliberate obstruction when he signed up... People willing to lend a hand, like Old Man Li and this doctor, were few and far between.
"Thank you, Doctor." Lin Fan bowed deeply. "I'll pay the rest within three days."
"Go on." The doctor waved him away.
Lin Fan took the packets of medicine and carefully tucked them into his robe. They were his sister's hope for the next three days.
By the time he left the pharmacy, it was completely dark.
The Night Market was still bustling, but Lin Fan didn't stop. He climbed onto his bicycle and headed toward the Slum District.
The night wind was cold, stinging his face.
As he rode, Lin Fan thought over his conversation with Old Man Li.
"There's something wrong with your soul... two souls fused together..."
"A technique for cultivating the soul... or break through in your cultivation and smooth out the differences..."
"Don't forget why you set out..."
Every word felt like a knock against his heart.
He knew he was in a dangerous state. The system had given him the ability to grow quickly, but it had also trapped him in an anxious need to be "faster and stronger." The first thing he did every morning was check his proficiency, and the last thing he did before bed was plan the next day's training.
Like a machine that never stopped.
But machines wore down, and people broke.
"I need to make some adjustments," Lin Fan thought. "At the very least... I need to get enough sleep and give my body time to recover."
After Iron Body Skill had broken through to Mastery Level, he'd felt a qualitative leap in his physical fitness, and his recovery had improved quite a bit, too. Perhaps he could try sleeping less and use meditation to replace some of his rest?
He remembered that the Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique seemed to mention a method called Breathing to Replace Sleep.
He'd have to look into it carefully when he got back.
By the time he returned to Grandpa Li's little courtyard, it was already the end of the xu hour, between seven and nine in the evening.
An oil lamp was lit in the courtyard. Lin Xiaoyu sat on a little stool beneath the eaves, mending a piece of clothing by its light. As soon as she saw Lin Fan return, she put down her needle and thread and ran over.
"Brother, you're back!"
"Yeah. How are you feeling today? Is the coughing still bad?" Lin Fan parked his bicycle and patted his sister's head.
"Much better. I took the medicine at noon and didn't cough all afternoon." Lin Xiaoyu tilted up her little face, her eyes shining. "Brother, are you tired today?"
"Not tired." Lin Fan smiled and took the medicine packets from his robe. "Here. Three days' worth. Remember to take it on time."
"You spent money again..." Lin Xiaoyu accepted the packets and spoke softly. "Brother, what if I take less? Maybe once every two days would be fine..."
"Don't be silly." Lin Fan put on a stern face. "You have to take it on time. How else will you get better? Don't worry about money. Your brother will figure something out."
"Oh..." Lin Xiaoyu lowered her head, her eyes reddening. "Brother, I'm just holding you back..."
"Silly girl." Lin Fan crouched down and looked into his sister's eyes. "You're not holding me back. You're what keeps me going. Without you, I might've given up long ago. So you need to take good care of yourself, take your medicine on time, and get better soon. Once you're better, I'll teach you martial arts, okay?"
"Really?" Lin Xiaoyu looked up, her eyes shining again.
"Really." Lin Fan nodded. "But before that, you need to get your health back. Martial arts training is hard. You can't do it if you're not healthy."
"I'll take my medicine properly!" Lin Xiaoyu nodded hard.
"Go put the medicine away and get to bed early." Lin Fan patted her shoulder.
"Okay. You should get some rest early, too, Brother."
Watching his sister go inside with the medicine in her arms, Lin Fan took a deep breath. Much of the day's fatigue seemed to melt away.
He went to the well, drew a bucket of cold water, gave himself a quick wipe-down, and then returned to his room.
He lit the oil lamp, its dim yellow light illuminating the simple little room.
Lin Fan sat on the bed and took two things out of his robe.
One was the Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique Old Man Li had given him.
The other was the Weighted Gear he'd gotten for free at the blacksmith shop that day. He'd already taken it off and set it beside the bed.
He opened the Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique first.
The first page contained the general outline:
"Breathing is the exchange between the breath of heaven and earth and the breath within the human body. One inhalation and one exhalation make a single breath. Breath is the root of life..."
The writing explained things in clear, accessible terms. It not only described the principles behind every level of the Basic Breathing Technique, but also detailed how to coordinate it with different martial skills, how to adjust one's breathing rhythm in different situations, and even how to use breathing to aid healing and restore strength.
"Good stuff." The more Lin Fan read, the more excited he became.
Many of the techniques in the booklet were things he'd figured out on his own over the past half month. For instance, using a particular breathing rhythm to conserve energy while carrying heavy loads, or matching his breath to his movements when punching. But the methods in the booklet were more systematic and more effective.
When he turned to the last page, he found the method called Breathing to Replace Sleep.
"Ordinary people need sleep for their souls to rest and their bodies to recover. But once Martial Artists reach a certain level, they can replace light sleep with deep breathing practice. Though this cannot eliminate fatigue completely, it can greatly shorten the time needed to rest, and it also benefits the refinement of the soul..."
The booklet went on to record the specific method in detail: sit in a special posture, circulate the breathing method, and let the mind enter a "meditative state" somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. In this state, the body would recover slowly while the soul was tempered.
"You only need to sleep for two shichen a day. The rest of the time can be replaced with this method..." Lin Fan's eyes lit up.
That meant he could gain two extra shichen of cultivation time every day!
Though it wasn't as effective as deep sleep, little gains accumulated over time, and the long-term benefits would be enormous.
"I'll try it tonight."
He put the booklet away and turned his gaze to the Weighted Gear.
The extra weight of 55 kilograms would let him keep training his strength throughout the day, but he obviously couldn't wear it while sleeping. However...
Lin Fan recalled how he'd felt when he broke through in Iron Body Skill that day.
The "Iron Bones" trait had increased his bone strength by 20% and improved his resistance to impacts. Would training with weights make it even more effective?
He decided that starting tomorrow, he'd wear the Weighted Gear at all times except when sleeping or doing necessary activities.
"Right, there's also the Gale Sword Technique."
There were only two days left before the test. He had to hurry and train the sword technique to the entry level. He might not need a sword for the combat test, but one more skill meant one more measure of confidence.
After planning out tomorrow's training, Lin Fan blew out the oil lamp and sat cross-legged on his bed.
Following the method recorded in Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique, he adjusted his breathing, relaxed his body, and let his mind gradually sink into a state of tranquil emptiness.
[Basic Breathing Technique proficiency +1]
[Spirit proficiency +0.5]
A prompt appeared on the Status Panel.
It worked!
Lin Fan's heart leapt with joy, but he didn't dare lose focus. He kept his breathing steady.
Gradually, his body felt lighter and his mind hazier, as though he were floating in warm water. His fatigue slowly faded, replaced by a faint warmth that flowed through his limbs and bones.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt heat in his chest.
[New skill book detected: Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique. Add to system?]
A new prompt suddenly appeared on the Status Panel.
Add it to the system?
Lin Fan opened his eyes and emerged from his meditative state.
The oil lamp had gone out. Moonlight filtered through the window paper, casting a pale glow across the floor.
He looked at the Status Panel. The prompt was still flashing.
"What will happen if I add it to the system?" Lin Fan silently asked.
[Once added, the system will automatically analyze the skill's key points, generate a personalized cultivation plan, and optimize it according to the host's physical condition. Skill proficiency gain efficiency will also increase by 10%.]
A personalized cultivation plan? Improved efficiency?
Lin Fan didn't hesitate. "Add it."
[Beginning entry...]
[Analyzing...]
[Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique added to system]
[Personalized cultivation plan generated: Based on the host's current physical condition (incomplete soul fusion, Iron Body Skill at Mastery Level), breathing rhythm optimized and the route of qi circulation adjusted]
[New feature unlocked: Skill Library]
[Skill Library: Stores learned cultivation methods and detailed martial arts instructions for review at any time, with a proficiency bonus]
A new icon appeared on the Status Panel: an open book.
Lin Fan focused his thoughts and "opened" the library. Two books lay inside:
Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (optimized)
Iron Body Skill (original)
"Iron Body Skill was added too?" Lin Fan was a little surprised.
But on second thought, it made sense. The system had been recording data the whole time he'd practiced Iron Body Skill, so it was only natural for it to add the technique automatically.
He opened Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique first.
The original dozen or so pages had been broken down into hundreds of points in the system, each accompanied by detailed notes and cultivation advice. More importantly, the system had marked several "key cultivation areas" based on his physical condition.
"Soul Fusion Area... Recommendation: Practice the 'Breathing to Replace Sleep' method for two shichen daily. Combined with 'Clear Heart Grass' as an aid, this can accelerate the fusion process."
"Iron Body Skill Synergy Area... Recommendation: Circulate a specific breathing method while practicing Iron Body Skill to increase proficiency gain efficiency by 30%."
"Combat Application Area... Recommendation: Use 'explosive breathing' in battle to increase strength and speed by 5% for a short time."
One suggestion after another made Lin Fan's heart race.
So this was the effect of the system's optimization?
Incredible!
If he trained according to this plan, his rate of growth could increase by at least another thirty percent!
"Clear Heart Grass..." Lin Fan committed the name to memory. "I'll ask at the medicine shop tomorrow and see if I can buy some."
He tamped down his excitement and continued reading.
When he turned to the last page, he saw a special note:
"Warning: An abnormal soul fusion has been detected in the host. Prolonged high-intensity cultivation may aggravate the conflict between the souls. It is recommended to rest for one day after every three days of cultivation, or seek items such as 'Calming Incense' or 'Soul Calming Jade' to help maintain stability."
"Calming Incense... Soul Calming Jade..."
Lin Fan committed the names to memory.
It seemed Old Man Li had been right. The soul issue needed to be taken seriously.
He closed the Status Panel and entered a meditative state again.
This time, he followed the breathing rhythm optimized by the system, and the results were noticeably better. With every breath, he felt a cool current seep into his limbs and bones. His fatigue faded rapidly, while his mind grew clearer and clearer.
[Basic Breathing Technique proficiency +2]
[Spirit proficiency +1]
[Soul Fusion Rate +0.01%]
That last prompt made Lin Fan's heart stir.
Soul Fusion Rate!
The system could quantify this measure?
He quickly checked the Status Panel. Sure enough, a line of text had appeared beneath the Attribute Bar:
[Soul Fusion Rate: 72.3% (unstable)]
72.3%... Did that mean 27.7% had yet to fuse?
According to the system, the fusion would be complete at 100%, and the risk of conflict would be gone.
"At a daily increase of 0.01%, it'll take... around nine months." Lin Fan did the math.
Nine months wasn't long, but it wasn't short either.
If he could find some aids like Clear Heart Grass or Calming Incense in the meantime, the process should be faster.
"One step at a time."
Lin Fan gathered his thoughts and focused on cultivating.
The moonlight flowed silently, like water.
The young man's cross-legged silhouette looked especially resolute against the night.
If you think this book is good and want to avoid losing track of it, remember to add it to your bookshelf.
Before you continue