As night faded, the eastern sky paled like a fish's belly.
Lin Fan slowly emerged from the "half-asleep, half-awake" state of deep meditation and opened his eyes.
A ray of morning light slipped through a crack in the window lattice, casting a long, narrow patch of light on the floor. The furnishings in the room were still as simple as ever, but for some reason, everything seemed especially clear to Lin Fan—the grain of the wooden table, the cobweb in the corner, even the tiny specks of dust drifting through the air, all stood out in the finest detail.
He lowered his eyes to his hands.
His skin was still the same, and the calluses on his palms remained hard, but... something felt different.
An indescribable sense of clarity spread through his limbs and bones. It was as if some unseen force had washed away most of the soreness and fatigue that had built up deep in his muscles the night before. He hadn't fully recovered, but he felt far better than he usually did when he woke in the morning with his "body feeling like it had fallen apart."
"Is this the effect of 'Breathing to Replace Sleep'?"
Lin Fan's heart stirred, and he summoned the Status Panel.
[Character: Lin Fan] [Age: 16] [Realm: Unranked (Quasi-Martial Apprentice)] [Lifespan: 100 years] [Strength: 18 (+3)] (while bearing a load) [Defense: 15 (+2)] [Speed: 16 (+2)] [Mental: 14 (+1)] [Comprehension: 15] [Bone Structure: 18] [Vital Energy: 0/100 (not unlocked)] [Skill Points: 0] [Technique: Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (Optimized Version · Beginner 0/100)] [Martial Techniques: Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 625/1000), Basic Footwork (Skilled 312/500), Iron Body Skill (Proficient 88/1000), Gale Sword Technique (Beginner 12/100)] [Life Skills: Weight-Bearing Walking (Skilled 210/500), Cargo Handling (Skilled 189/500)] [Special Status: Soul Fusion Rate 72.4% (unstable) (+0.1%), mild muscle fatigue (recovering)]
Overnight, his Mental Power had increased by one point, and his Soul Fusion Rate had risen by 0.1%.
More importantly, Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique had been entered into the system as a cultivation technique. Its proficiency was still at zero, but the "Optimized Version" label filled him with anticipation.
"Optimized version... What's different from the original?"
He focused his mind on the line for "Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique," and the full description immediately unfolded:
[Technique: Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (Optimized Version)] [Grade: Mortal Tier Low Grade (after system optimization, its actual effects are close to Mortal Tier Mid Grade)] [Current Stage: Beginner (0/100)] [Effect: Draws the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body through a specific breathing rhythm, converts it into vital energy, nourishes the body, and restores stamina] [Key Points of System Optimization:] 1. **Breathing Rhythm Adjustment**: Optimized based on the host's lung capacity and chest structure. Inhalation depth increased by 15%, exhalation efficiency increased by 20%. 2. **Vital Energy Circulation Route Optimization**: Avoids several subtle blockages in the host's meridians caused by years of weight-bearing training, taking clearer side branches instead. 3. **Soul Coordination Method**: The breathing rhythm is preliminarily synchronized with brainwave frequency, slowly promoting soul fusion during cultivation. 4. **Enhanced Fatigue Recovery**: The route through which vital energy permeates muscle tissue has been optimized. Recovery efficiency +30%. [Suggested Cultivation: Cultivation works best each morning and during Zi Shi (when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is more active). Auxiliary items such as Clear Heart Grass and Calming Incense can improve efficiency. Take one full day of rest after every three days of cultivation to avoid overburdening the soul.]
After reading the description, Lin Fan took a deep breath.
The system's optimization was more comprehensive than he had imagined. It didn't just improve cultivation efficiency; it also took his actual physical condition into account. Those "subtle blockages in his meridians" were probably old injuries left by years of malnutrition and overwork.
"I'll test it first."
Lin Fan didn't rush to get up. Instead, he sat cross-legged again and began his first proper cultivation session of the day, following the breathing rhythm optimized by the system.
"Inhale... deep, slow, even..."
He closed his eyes and focused his mind within his body.
Unlike before, when he had merely imitated a breathing rhythm mechanically, this time Lin Fan could clearly "sense" the entire process: the air entering his nostrils, passing through his windpipe, and sinking into his lungs. The extent to which his lungs expanded, the force with which his diaphragm descended, even the faintest sensation of his alveoli opening—all were as clear as lines on his palm.
It was a very strange feeling.
It was as if his consciousness could "look inward." The sensation was still hazy, but he could indeed sense some changes within his body.
As his breathing rhythm gradually steadied, an even stranger sensation arose.
At first, he felt only a faint chill on the surface of his skin, like the morning breeze brushing past. But soon, the coolness began to seep in—from his pores, along the fine channels beneath his skin, gradually spreading inward.
It was cold, but not biting. Instead, it carried a refreshing vitality.
"Is this... the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?"
Lin Fan's mind jolted, and his breathing rhythm nearly faltered. He hurriedly pushed aside his distractions and kept his breathing steady.
More coolness surged toward him from all directions, seeping into his body through his skin. It was like countless tiny streams threading through his flesh before finally converging near the Tanzhong Acupoint in his chest. According to Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique, this was the embryonic form of the Sea of Qi, the first hub where a Martial Artist stored vital energy.
The streams converged, but did not linger. Instead, they began to flow slowly along a specific route.
This was the "vital energy circulation route" optimized by the system.
Starting from the Tanzhong Acupoint, one branch flowed upward to his throat before splitting into both arms and running along the meridians on their inner sides to his palms. Another branch flowed down from the Tanzhong Acupoint, past his navel, and split into both legs, running along their inner sides to the soles of his feet. A third branch traveled backward from the Tanzhong Acupoint and slowly climbed along his spine until it reached the area around the Yuzhen Acupoint at the back of his head.
The three routes formed a rough circuit.
The coolness—now Lin Fan knew it was "vital energy" in its initial state of conversion—flowed slowly along those three routes. Wherever it passed, the soreness in his muscles eased noticeably, as if rain had fallen on parched earth.
[Basic Breathing Technique proficiency +1] [Vital Energy Value +0.1]
The Status Panel's notifications appeared.
Lin Fan was delighted, but didn't let himself get distracted. He kept his breathing steady.
Time passed second by second.
The sky outside grew brighter. The distant sounds of roosters crowing and dogs barking rang out as the Slum District began to wake.
Lin Fan, however, was immersed in the strange sensation of "internal circulation." He could feel his body slowly improving as vital energy flowed through it again and again—not through an obvious increase in attributes like strength or speed, but through a deeper, more foundational nourishment.
It was like a tree quietly extending its roots deep into the earth.
About the time it took an incense stick to burn—half an hour—Lin Fan felt a faint fullness in his chest, around the Tanzhong Acupoint.
[Warning: Current Sea of Qi capacity has reached its limit. Continuing to cultivate may cause vital energy to dissipate. Pausing is recommended.]
The Status Panel offered a timely reminder.
Lin Fan slowly brought his cultivation to a close and exhaled his final breath of Turbid Qi.
The Turbid Qi left his body and formed a faint white streak in the air, which lingered for half a second before vanishing. It was a sign that impurities had been flushed out of his body by his vital energy.
He opened his eyes, and the world became clear once more.
No—it was even clearer than before.
The veins in the leaves of the Chinese parasol tree outside, the trembling of the spiderweb beneath the eaves, even the sound of Grandpa Li coughing as he got out of bed next door... all sorts of subtle sensations flooded into his mind like a rising tide. They weren't noisy distractions; they gave him a sense of control. His awareness of his surroundings had expanded, and its precision had improved.
"An increase in Mental Power?"
Lin Fan looked at the Status Panel.
[Mental: 15 (+1)] [Vital Energy: 10/100 (unlocked)] [Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (Optimized Version): Beginner (32/100)]
A single cultivation session had raised his Mental Power by one point, unlocked his Vital Energy Value and brought it to 10, and increased his technique proficiency by 32 points!
The efficiency far exceeded his expectations.
According to the system's explanation, Beginner-level proficiency increased by one point for every complete cycle of circulation. He had cultivated for about the time it took an incense stick to burn and completed roughly five cycles, so he should have gained only five points.
"Is it because of the 'Optimized Version' bonus? Or did I get an extra 'enlightenment' reward for my first proper cultivation session?"
Lin Fan suspected the former. It made sense that a technique optimized by the system would cultivate far more efficiently than the original.
He tried to move those 10 points of vital energy.
He focused his mind on the Tanzhong Acupoint, and the cool energy responded at once, flowing along the route from before toward his right hand. As the vital energy gathered in his palm, Lin Fan felt it grow slightly warm, as if a faint current were stirring beneath his skin.
He gave the air a light punch.
"Whoosh—"
The force of the punch was more noticeable than usual, and his fist seemed to move a little faster, too.
The improvement was slight, but it was real.
"Vital energy can boost strength and speed..."
Lin Fan's eyes lit up.
Before, relying on pure physical strength, he could throw a punch with more than a thousand catties of force. How much stronger would it be if he added a burst of vital energy?
Unfortunately, he had too little vital energy right now—only 10 points—and didn't dare test it casually. According to Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique, running out of vital energy was no pleasant experience. It would leave him briefly weakened.
"I need to find a way to increase my vital energy cap and improve my recovery speed."
Lin Fan got out of bed and stretched.
His joints made faint cracking sounds, like rusty gears that had just been oiled. Most of the fatigue left over from last night's training had dissipated, replaced by a surge of energy.
He walked to the water vat, scooped up a ladle of cold water, and poured it over his head.
Water droplets rolled down his muscles, gleaming with healthy vigor in the morning light. Lin Fan glanced down at his body. He was still on the thin side, but the muscles in his chest, abdomen, arms, and thighs were beginning to take shape. The muscles around his core, in particular, were clearly defined and brimming with strength.
"Brother, you're up?"
Lin Xiaoyu rubbed her eyes as she stepped out from the inner room. Seeing Lin Fan standing shirtless in the courtyard, she blushed and hurriedly lowered her head.
"Yeah, I just finished training." Lin Fan grabbed the coarse cloth shirt hanging on the line and put it on. "Xiaoyu, how are you feeling? Did you cough last night?"
"No. I slept straight through till morning." Lin Xiaoyu's voice was much clearer, and her complexion was rosier than yesterday. "Brother, are you going to the docks today?"
"I am, but I'll be back in the afternoon," Lin Fan said. "The academy's fitness test is tomorrow, so I need to make one last push today."
"Brother, you'll definitely get in!" Lin Xiaoyu clenched her little fist, her gaze firm.
Lin Fan smiled and ruffled his sister's hair. "I'll take your word for it. Go wash up. I'll make breakfast."
"Let me do it, Brother. You should rest for a while." Lin Xiaoyu hurried toward the kitchen.
Lin Fan didn't insist. It was a good thing that his sister was feeling better and wanted to do what she could. Making her feel like a burden all the time would only be bad for her.
Breakfast was simple: half a coarse-grain flatbread left over from the night before, sliced and warmed in a pan, with a bowl of rice porridge so thin you could see your reflection in it, plus a small dish of pickled vegetables.
The siblings sat across from each other and ate in silence.
"Brother," Lin Xiaoyu suddenly said, "Grandpa Li brought us two eggs yesterday and said they were to help build you up."
Lin Fan froze. "Grandpa Li?"
"The old Grandpa Li who lives alone at the end of the alley," Lin Xiaoyu said. "He said he sees you leaving before dawn every day and coming home only after dark, and that you work too hard. I put the eggs in the cupboard. You can have them at lunch, Brother."
Lin Fan fell silent for a moment.
He remembered Grandpa Li from the end of the alley. The old man was in his seventies and had no family left. His son had died in a minor Beast Tide several years ago, and his daughter-in-law had remarried, leaving him to get by on a meager pension. He barely had enough for himself, yet he had given Lin Fan eggs...
"Next time Grandpa Li brings something, tell him your brother can earn money now and he should keep it for himself," Lin Fan said.
"I did, but he wouldn't listen," Lin Xiaoyu said softly. "He said he's old and can't eat much, while you're at the age when you need to grow..."
Lin Fan said nothing more. He simply finished the porridge in his bowl.
That was how the Slum District was. Nobody had much, yet there were always people willing to offer a little warmth whenever they could.
It made him all the more determined. He had to get into the academy. He had to grow stronger—not only to protect his sister, but also to help kind people like these live better lives.
After breakfast, Lin Fan helped his sister prepare her medicine.
Lung Cleansing Powder had to be simmered over a low flame for three quarters of an hour, with constant stirring to release its medicinal properties. Lin Fan crouched in front of the stove, keeping an eye on the heat while reviewing the breathing method optimized by the system.
He realized that if he maintained a particular breathing rhythm while focusing on a task, his vital energy recovered a little faster.
[Vital Energy recovery speed +10%]
The Status Panel confirmed his discovery.
"Does that mean vital energy can recover slowly as long as I keep up the 'breathing state,' even without sitting down to meditate?"
This was an important discovery.
Running out of vital energy in battle was dangerous. If he could quickly recover some of it by breathing during a lull in the fighting, his chances of survival would improve dramatically.
"I need to make this instinctive."
Lin Fan consciously began adjusting his breathing, letting the "deep, slow, even" rhythm seep into his daily activities. He tried to maintain it while stirring the medicine, adding firewood, and even talking with his sister.
At first, it felt very unnatural, and he often lost the rhythm while speaking. But after half an hour of practice, he could finally "do two things at once," keeping his breathing mostly steady.
[Basic Breathing Technique proficiency +1] [Vital Energy Value +0.5]
The efficiency was nowhere near as high as when he sat down to cultivate, but at least he could keep it up continuously.
The medicine was ready. Lin Fan poured a bowl of dark-brown liquid and brought it to his sister.
Lin Xiaoyu took it, wrinkled her little nose as she sniffed it, then held her breath and drank it all in one go. She quickly stuffed a piece of pickled vegetable into her mouth to wash away the bitterness.
"Xiaoyu's so brave," Lin Fan praised her with a smile.
"It's not bitter at all," Lin Xiaoyu said, but her scrunched-up face gave her away.
After his sister finished her medicine, Lin Fan cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, then got ready to leave.
"Brother." Lin Xiaoyu stopped him and pulled a small cloth bundle from her clothes. "Take this with you."
Lin Fan took it and opened it. Inside were two boiled eggs, still warm.
"Grandpa Li gave them to you. Take them for lunch," Lin Xiaoyu said. "Working at the docks is tiring. You need a full stomach to have any strength."
Lin Fan looked at his sister's earnest expression, and warmth filled his heart.
He didn't refuse. He carefully tucked the eggs into his clothes. "All right, I'll take them. Rest at home and don't go wandering around."
"Mm. Be careful on the way, Brother."
After leaving the courtyard, Lin Fan didn't head straight to the docks. Instead, he took a detour to the Night Market.
He wanted to ask Old Man Li about Clear Heart Grass. The system had suggested using it to aid cultivation and increase his Soul Fusion Rate.
The Night Market was deserted in the early morning, with only a few sanitation workers sweeping up the garbage left behind the night before. Old Man Li's bookstall was empty; he clearly hadn't arrived yet.
"I'll come back tonight."
Lin Fan turned and left, riding his bicycle toward the docks.
On the way, he tried to maintain his breathing rhythm while riding.
The wind rushed against his face, and he had to keep adjusting the depth and pace of his breaths. At first, it felt awkward. He nearly choked several times, but gradually he got the hang of it: against the wind, he needed to breathe in quickly and shallowly; with the wind at his back, he could breathe deeply and slowly. Going uphill, he had to match his breathing to the rhythm of his pedaling; going downhill, he could relax a little.
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1] [Weight-Bearing Walking Proficiency +1] [Mental Proficiency +0.5]
Three notifications appeared almost simultaneously.
Lin Fan's eyes lit up.
"So that's what 'multitasking cultivation' means!"
He was riding his bike (Weight-Bearing Walking) while maintaining his breathing rhythm, and he could even train his Mental Power by dividing his attention. Although his proficiency gains for each skill were cut in half, his overall efficiency had increased by more than 50 percent!
"I can't waste the time I spend traveling from now on, either."
This discovery gave Lin Fan a much clearer plan for his path to becoming a cultivation maniac.
By the time he reached the docks, it was already broad daylight.
Foreman Chen was taking attendance. When he saw Lin Fan arrive, he nodded at him. "Xiao Lin, Black Iron Ore again today?"
"Yeah," Lin Fan replied.
"All right. Third warehouse, twenty tons. Same as usual—finish moving it before three this afternoon." Foreman Chen made a mark in his notebook. "By the way, you moved twenty-five tons yesterday. According to the rules, those extra five tons count as a bonus. That's sixty points in all. I'll give them to you with the noon settlement."
"Thanks, Uncle Chen," Lin Fan said.
"Don't thank me. You earned it yourself." Foreman Chen patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. "Kid, you've seemed different these past couple of days. You've got a new spark in you. Have you... found your way onto the path of martial arts?"
Lin Fan's heart tightened, but he kept his expression calm. "You're joking, Uncle Chen. I've just been practicing Basic Fist Technique to stay fit."
"Practicing Basic Fist Technique wouldn't give you a look like that." Foreman Chen studied Lin Fan for two seconds, then lowered his voice. "The Jiangnan Academy test is tomorrow, right? Do your best. If you get in, you can leave this godforsaken place."
Lin Fan fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I will."
"Go on." Foreman Chen waved him off. "Once you've finished moving everything, head home early and rest. You'll want to be in top shape."
As soon as Lin Fan entered the third warehouse, the heavy, distinctive smell of Black Iron Ore hit him.
The twenty tons of ore were piled into a small mountain, its dark metallic sheen glimmering beneath the dim lights. A few coworkers had already started working, and the scrape of their shovels against the ore echoed through the warehouse.
Lin Fan took a deep breath and began the day's work.
Instead of trying to move as fast as usual, he consciously controlled his rhythm. With every shovel of ore, he coordinated his breathing with his exertion; with every trip carrying a load, he matched his steps to his breathing.
At first, he was very slow, working at only half his usual efficiency.
Old Zhang couldn't stand watching. "Xiao Lin, did you skip breakfast? You're moving like a wet noodle."
Lin Fan didn't explain. He just smiled. "Uncle Zhang, I'm adjusting how I exert my strength."
"Adjusting how you exert your strength?" Old Zhang stared at him in bewilderment. "You need to adjust how you exert your strength just to move some ore?"
"Yeah. I'm seeing if I can save a little energy."
Old Zhang shook his head, thinking the young man had gotten a little obsessed, but he didn't say anything more.
Half an hour later, though, Old Zhang noticed something was off.
Lin Fan's pace was... getting faster and faster.
No, it wasn't just speed. It was a kind of fluidity. Every movement was perfectly measured: his back and legs worked together when he scooped up ore; his breathing stayed steady as he walked; his wrist flicked lightly when he unloaded it. He seemed to be moving at an unhurried pace, yet the twenty-kilogram loads looked as light as bags of cotton in his hands.
Even more astonishing, Lin Fan didn't have a single bead of sweat on his forehead, and his breathing remained steady.
"This kid..." Old Zhang's eyes widened.
Lin Fan could feel the difference himself.
With his breathing rhythm in sync, his stamina was draining much more slowly. Before, he would start panting after half an hour of hauling. Now an hour had passed, and he was only slightly warm.
Vital energy circulated slowly through his body, nourishing his muscles and easing his fatigue.
[Strength Proficiency +1] [Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +0.5] [Vital Energy Value -0.2, Recovered +0.3] (Net Gain: 0.1)
Each load earned him 1.6 points of total proficiency, and he even gained a net 0.1 Vital Energy Value!
The increase in vital energy was tiny, but it was a promising sign. It meant that as his body expended energy, it was also actively absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish itself.
"Could it be... that intense physical labor actually stimulates vital energy growth?"
Lin Fan wondered, but he needed more proof.
He kept working while closely monitoring the Status Panel.
Two hours later, all twenty tons of ore had been moved.
[Today's Hauling Task Complete] [Rewards: Strength Proficiency +120, Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +60, Vital Energy Value +12] [Current Vital Energy Value: 22/100]
Standing at the warehouse entrance, Lin Fan wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead and smiled.
The results were impressive.
Not only had he gained a substantial amount of proficiency, his Vital Energy Value had risen from 10 that morning to 22—more than double. More importantly, he'd found a new approach to cultivation: use intense physical labor to "force" the body to absorb spiritual energy faster, thereby raising his vital energy cap and recovery speed.
"Looks like I can't just keep my head down and practice. I need to combine it with actual labor."
Just then, Foreman Chen came over and handed him a money pouch. "Sixty points. Count it."
"Thanks, Uncle Chen." Lin Fan took it and tucked it into his shirt without even looking inside.
"Finished moving everything?" Foreman Chen glanced at the empty warehouse, then at Lin Fan, who looked perfectly composed. His expression was complicated. "Xiao Lin, tell me honestly. Have you... already broken through to Martial Apprentice?"
Lin Fan hesitated, then nodded. "I've managed to reach the threshold."
"Good lad!" Foreman Chen slapped Lin Fan hard on the shoulder, his eyes a little red. "Our docks are finally going to produce someone of real importance! Do your best tomorrow. You've got to get in!"
"I will."
"Go on, you don't need to come in this afternoon. Get ready for tomorrow," Foreman Chen said. "Once you get in, Uncle Chen will buy you a drink!"
Lin Fan said goodbye to Foreman Chen and wheeled his bicycle away from the docks.
He didn't go straight home. First, he stopped by an apothecary.
"Clear Heart Grass?" The white-bearded physician stroked his beard after hearing Lin Fan's question. "I do have some, though it's not considered medicinal. It's usually used by Martial Artists who've overtrained and are feeling unsettled. What do you need it for?"
"I've been a little impatient with my training lately. I want something to calm my mind," Lin Fan said.
"Mm, you really should be careful." The physician gave Lin Fan a look. "You're only sixteen, yet you've got more bloodshot eyes than this old man. Clear Heart Grass isn't expensive. It's ten points a stalk, and each one lasts three days. How many do you want?"
"Three for now." Lin Fan took out thirty points.
The physician pulled a wooden box from the very bottom of the medicine cabinet. Inside were several dried, pale-green leaves, long and narrow, with a faint fragrance.
"Take one leaf at a time. You can burn it in an incense burner or brew it in water," the physician instructed him. "Remember, cultivation takes time. Rush it, and you'll get nowhere. If you wreck your body, nothing else will matter."
"Thank you, Doctor. I'll remember that."
After leaving the apothecary, Lin Fan stopped by a general store and bought the cheapest little ceramic incense burner, for five points.
When he got home, it wasn't even noon yet—eleven in the morning.
Lin Xiaoyu was hanging laundry in the yard. When she saw Lin Fan home so early, she looked surprised. "Big Brother, why are you back so early today?"
"I finished the job, so I came back early to prepare for tomorrow's test." Lin Fan parked his bike. "Xiaoyu, what do you want for lunch? I'll go buy some meat."
"No need, Big Brother. We can just heat up yesterday's leftovers," Lin Xiaoyu said quickly. "We need to save our money."
"Having a proper meal once in a while won't hurt." Lin Fan patted his sister on the head. "You're just starting to get better, so you need good food. Besides, I got a bonus today."
He took out the money pouch and gave it a shake. The coins inside clinked pleasantly.
Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Really." Lin Fan smiled. "So today we're having something special. You get the fire going, and I'll go buy groceries."
"Okay!"
Half an hour later, a long-missed feast was laid out on the rough wooden table: a plate of braised pork, marbled with fat and lean meat and glistening with oil; a dish of stir-fried wild greens, vivid green; and two bowls of white rice.
For children in the Slum District, this was a feast on the scale of New Year's.
Lin Xiaoyu ate until her little mouth was shiny with grease, her eyes narrowing into happy crescent moons. "Big Brother, the meat is so good."
"If it's good, eat more." Lin Fan gave his sister a large piece of meat. "Once I get into the academy, I'll make sure you can eat meat every day."
"Then you have to eat too. You're skinny, too." Lin Xiaoyu put a piece in her brother's bowl.
The siblings exchanged smiles.
After lunch, Lin Fan told his sister to take a nap, then returned to his room to prepare for his afternoon cultivation.
First, he took out the Clear Heart Grass and plucked off a leaf. He tore it into little pieces and put them in the small incense burner, then lit them with a fire starter.
Pale blue-green smoke curled upward, carrying the cool fragrance of plants and grass as it spread through the room.
Lin Fan breathed it in deeply, and his mind cleared. The last traces of the previous night's fatigue vanished as well.
[Calming substance detected: Clear Heart Grass. Mental recovery speed +20%, Soul Fusion Rate +10%]
A system notification popped up.
It worked!
Lin Fan was delighted. He sat cross-legged in front of the incense burner and began his afternoon breathing practice.
The fragrance of the Clear Heart Grass seemed almost alive. As he breathed it in, it made it easier for his mind to settle. The vital energy flowed faster than it had in the morning, and its path was clearer, too.
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +2] [Vital Energy Value +1] [Soul Fusion Rate +0.02%]
His efficiency had doubled!
Immersed in such productive cultivation, Lin Fan lost track of time. Before he knew it, the afternoon had passed.
As the setting sun turned the window paper red, Lin Fan slowly brought his cultivation to a close.
The moment he opened his eyes, he felt that the world had changed again.
It wasn't just clearer. It was... more vivid.
A tiny insect struggled in the spiderweb in the corner, its wings beating at a frequency he could make out clearly. Two sparrows chirped in the parasol tree outside his window, and he could tell which one had the brighter call. He could even pick out three different herbal notes in the lingering scent of the burned Clear Heart Grass.
All five senses had improved.
He checked the Status Panel again:
[Mental Power: 16 (+1)] [Vital Energy: 50/100] [Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (Optimized Version): Beginner (98/100)] [Soul Fusion Rate: 72.5% (+0.1%)]
In just one afternoon, his Mental Power had risen by another point, his Vital Energy Value had reached 50, his technique was only two points away from the "Proficient" level, and his Soul Fusion Rate had increased by another 0.1%.
His progress was astonishing.
"At this rate, I can break through to the 'Proficient' level tonight," Lin Fan estimated. "Before tomorrow's test, my Vital Energy Cap should break through sixty."
How powerful would sixty points of vital energy be if he unleashed it all at once?
He was looking forward to finding out.
"Big Brother, it's time for dinner," Lin Xiaoyu called softly from outside the door.
"Coming."
Lin Fan stood up, worked out the stiffness in his body, and left his room.
Dinner was simple. They reheated the leftovers from lunch and ate in the yard, with the evening breeze blowing around them.
"Big Brother, what were you doing in your room this afternoon? I didn't hear a sound," Lin Xiaoyu asked curiously.
"Practicing. It's a kind of quiet, seated exercise," Lin Fan said. "It can calm your mind and help you recover your strength."
"Oh... Are you nervous about the test tomorrow?"
"Not nervous." Lin Fan added a pair of chopsticks' worth of wild greens to his sister's bowl. "I've prepared for a long time and done everything I can. The rest is up to fate."
Even so, Lin Fan was actually confident.
With his current abilities, passing the physical test shouldn't be a problem. What worried him was whether Wang Hao might try another dirty trick.
"Big Brother, you're definitely going to get in," Lin Xiaoyu said earnestly. "I dreamed about it last night. You were wearing the academy uniform, and you looked so impressive."
Lin Fan smiled. "I'll take that as a good omen."
After dinner, Lin Fan helped his sister heat up her medicine for the evening and watched her drink it. Then he urged her to go to bed early.
"Big Brother, aren't you going to sleep?" Lin Xiaoyu asked from her bed.
"I'm going to practice a little longer." Lin Fan tucked her blanket around her. "Go to sleep. I'll wake you in the morning."
"Mm. Don't practice too late, either."
Once his sister had fallen asleep, Lin Fan quietly returned to his room.
The Clear Heart Grass had burned out, but a faint fragrance still lingered in the room.
He didn't light another leaf. Clear Heart Grass was useful, but the system had warned him that its effects would diminish with continuous use and that it might lead to dependence. One stalk every three days was the best frequency.
Lin Fan sat cross-legged and prepared to break through to the "Proficient" level.
Night deepened, and the moonlight flowed like water.
The boy closed his eyes and focused his mind, his breathing long and steady.
Vital energy circulated through his body, one cycle after another.
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1] [Vital Energy Value +0.5] [Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1] [Vital Energy Value +0.5]
When he completed the hundredth cycle, the Status Panel suddenly trembled.
[Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (Optimized Version) proficiency reached 100. Realm increased: Beginner → Proficient] [Effects improved: Vital energy recovery speed +20%, Vital Energy Cap +20, Cultivation Efficiency +10%] [New feature unlocked: Origin Energy Perception] [Origin Energy Perception: Can vaguely sense vital energy fluctuations within a ten-meter radius, including Martial Artist auras, Demonic Beast auras, and Natural Treasures]
Lin Fan was delighted, but before he could take a closer look at the new feature, his body suddenly underwent an even more violent change!
At the Sea of Qi in his Tanzhong Acupoint, it was as if some kind of limit had been broken. It suddenly expanded!
The space, which had only been able to hold 100 points of vital energy, instantly grew to 120. More importantly, the instant the Sea of Qi expanded, it generated a powerful suction—
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him surged toward Lin Fan like a rising tide!
Every pore on his skin opened wide, greedily absorbing the incoming spiritual energy. Once inside his body, it quickly transformed into vital energy, filling his newly expanded Sea of Qi.
[Vital Energy Value: 85/120] [Vital Energy Value: 90/120] [Vital Energy Value: 100/120]
When his Sea of Qi was full, the spiritual energy pouring in did not stop. Instead, it began to seep deeper into his body.
His bones, organs, and blood...
Wherever the vital energy passed, a tingling itch arose, as if thousands of ants were crawling over him. But Lin Fan could tell it wasn't a bad thing. The hidden injuries deep in his body, accumulated over years of hard labor, and the deficiencies caused by malnutrition were being repaired and nourished, bit by bit, by the vital energy.
The process continued for about fifteen minutes before gradually coming to a stop.
Lin Fan opened his eyes and breathed out a long stream of turbid qi.
It was grayish black, clearly visible in the moonlight, and drifted three feet before dissipating.
"Purging the meridians and cleansing the marrow?"
Lin Fan recalled what the Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique had said: when a technique broke through to a new realm, there was a chance of triggering a "minor marrow cleansing," expelling impurities and improving one's constitution.
He looked down at his body.
A thin layer of gray grime had appeared on his skin at some point, carrying a faint fishy stench. These were impurities expelled from his body.
But beneath his skin, his muscles were fuller, his bones harder, and even the sound of his blood flowing was clearer and stronger.
He checked his Status Panel:
[Character: Lin Fan] [Age: 16] [Realm: Unranked (Quasi-Martial Apprentice)] [Lifespan: 100 years] [Strength: 19 (+1)] [Defense: 16 (+1)] [Speed: 17 (+1)] [Spirit: 17 (+1)] [Comprehension: 15] [Bone Structure: 18] [Vital Energy: 120/120] [Skill Points: 0] [Technique: Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique (Optimized Version · Proficient 0/500)] [Martial Techniques: Basic Fist Technique (Mastery 625/1000), Basic Footwork (Proficient 312/500), Iron Body Skill (Mastery 88/1000), Gale Sword Technique (Beginner 12/100)] [Life Skills: Weight-Bearing Walking (Proficient 245/500), Cargo Handling (Proficient 243/500)] [Special Status: Soul Fusion Rate 72.6% (+0.1%), Constitution Slightly Improved] [New Trait: Origin Energy Perception (Can be switched on/off at will)]
All his attributes had increased by 1, his Vital Energy Cap had risen to 120, and his technique had reached the Proficient Level.
More importantly, there was the new trait—"Origin Energy Perception."
Lin Fan focused his thoughts and activated it.
In an instant, the world changed.
He no longer saw the world with his eyes. Instead, it became a realm made up of countless "points of light" and "currents of energy."
A faint white glow radiated from his own body, concentrated mainly around his chest—the Sea of Qi—and his limbs, along the paths where his vital energy circulated. The glow's intensity represented the concentration of vital energy.
The table, chairs, and bed in his room were all dark gray, with almost no fluctuations of vital energy.
But outside the window...
Lin Fan "looked" outside.
In the courtyard, in his younger sister's room, there was a faint little point of light, pale red and flickering like a candle in the wind. It was her life force. Because she was frail, it was very weak.
Farther away, dozens of points of light were scattered through the other houses in the Slum District. Most were a similar pale red, varying in strength. Once in a while, there was a pale white one. Those belonged to ordinary people who were healthy and had some vitality.
Farther still, beyond the Slum District, in the direction of the East District...
There were several unusually bright points of light!
Some were a fierce red, like blazing torches; some were a deep yellow, like massive rocks; and some were a sharp blue-green, like drawn swords...
Every one of them contained fluctuations of vital energy far beyond those of ordinary people.
"Martial Artists... and not low-grade ones." Lin Fan made his assessment.
They had to be at least 3rd Grade Martial Masters to produce such intense reactions of vital energy.
He continued to "look" farther away, toward the center of Jiangnan City, in the direction of the academy.
There were more points of light there, clustered more densely.
Dozens of red, yellow, and blue-green lights gathered together. Among them were even a few... pale golden lights!
Pale gold!
The Detailed Explanation of Basic Breathing Technique had mentioned that when Martial Artists reached a high realm, their vital energy gradually underwent a qualitative change, and its color changed as well. Pale gold was a sign of at least 6th Grade Martial King strength!
"Jiangnan Academy really is a place full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers..."
Lin Fan turned off Origin Energy Perception.
The world returned to normal.
But his heart remained unsettled for a long time.
This new ability was incredibly useful.
It could let him sense powerful Martial Artists or Demonic Beasts in advance, judge their elemental leanings—the red might indicate fire, the yellow earth, the blue-green wind or lightning—and even detect hidden Natural Treasures if they gave off strong fluctuations of vital energy.
In actual combat, it was like having a radar that was on around the clock.
"With this, I'll have a much better chance in tomorrow's practical test."
Lin Fan got up, filled a basin with water, quickly washed the grime off his body, and changed into clean clothes.
It was late at night, but he wasn't sleepy at all.
The excitement of his breakthrough still coursed through him, and his abundant vital energy left him invigorated.
"I can't sleep anyway. I might as well try a burst of vital energy..."
Lin Fan went into the courtyard and assumed the opening stance of Basic Fist Technique.
Rather than mobilizing all his strength, he first tried gathering 1 point of vital energy in his right hand.
With a thought, a stream of vital energy flowed out of his Tanzhong Acupoint, along the optimized route and down his right arm, before gathering in his fist.
A faint white glow appeared around his fist, almost too dim to see with the naked eye.
Lin Fan threw a light punch at the air.
"Whoosh—"
The punch cut through the air more distinctly than during his test at noon, and it was faster, too.
"One point of vital energy increases the speed and force of a punch by about five percent."
He tried drawing on 5 points of vital energy.
This time, the white glow around his fist was clearly visible, like a thin film of light. When he threw his punch, the air whistled loudly, and the fallen leaves in the courtyard were swept up by the force of it and carried two meters away.
"Five points of vital energy increase it by about twenty percent."
"If I draw on all 120 points of vital energy..."
Lin Fan didn't dare try.
For one thing, it would make too much noise and might wake his sister and the neighbors. For another, the weakness that followed after his vital energy was exhausted would affect tomorrow's test.
But he could make a rough estimate: if he used all his vital energy in a single explosive punch, its power would increase by at least two times!
With Basic Fist Technique at the Minor Accomplishment Level, which gave a fifty-percent bonus, the punch would probably approach the full-power strike of a 2nd Grade Martial Artist.
"That'll be enough to pass the test."
Lin Fan felt his confidence settle.
He finished his stance and stood still, looking up at the night sky.
Stars glittered overhead, and the Milky Way stretched across the heavens.
Tomorrow would be the day his fate changed.
"Dad, Mom, just watch," Lin Fan whispered. "Your son will get into the academy. He'll become a Martial Artist. He'll protect Xiaoyu. He'll... make something of himself."
The night breeze brushed past, carrying the faint chill of summer's end.
The boy stood in the courtyard, his figure straight as a spear.
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