Night was as dark as ink, and the Slum District sank into a murky blackness.
Only a few dilapidated streetlamps cast dim yellow halos, barely outlining the crooked silhouettes of the shacks. The Inner City blazed with lights in the distance, like the glow of another world—one that could not reach this Forgotten Corner.
Lin Fan sat on a stone block outside the shack.
His body still ached, but after an afternoon of breathing exercises and half a coarse-grain flatbread, he could at least move normally. Lin Xiaoyu had eaten a little watery porridge and gone back to sleep. Her breathing was steadier now, but her pallid face still stood out beneath the dim oil lamp.
Two and a half days remained.
Lin Fan closed his eyes. Instead of immediately practicing his punches, he focused all his attention inward.
"System."
He called silently.
"Panel."
"Martial Arts Interface."
"Attribute Bar."
He tried several names in a row, but everything before him remained dark. There was only the wailing night wind in the Slum District and the faint barking of dogs in the distance.
But Lin Fan did not grow impatient.
In his previous life, while debugging programs, he had encountered too many bugs that seemed impossible to solve. Some needed specific conditions to trigger, some were merely data delays, and others required repeated, nearly obsessive attempts.
He recalled the words that had flashed before him twice that day.
Once, at the limit of his thousandth Charge Punch; once, while he was concentrating on his breathing exercises.
"So there may be two triggers." Lin Fan opened his eyes in the darkness. A faint light in the distance reflected in his pupils. "Either a skill has to reach some kind of threshold, or I need to concentrate intensely and enter a state of Internal Vision."
He decided to try the latter first.
He sat cross-legged, straightened his back, and rested his hands lightly on his knees. This was the Starting Pose for the Basic Breathing Technique, and it helped calm the mind more quickly.
He inhaled, long and slow.
He imagined the flow of air entering through his nose, descending along his throat, and gathering three inches below his navel—that was the Sea of Qi, where vital energy was stored, according to this world.
He exhaled, just as slowly.
With each breath, he expelled the Turbid Qi, fatigue, and distracting thoughts from his body.
Inhale and exhale, over and over.
Lin Fan focused his attention entirely within his body. He could feel the faint, itchy sensation of airflow traveling through his meridians, the tingling of muscle fibers slowly repairing themselves, his heartbeat gradually steadying, and the warmth of blood flowing through him.
Gradually, the sounds of the outside world faded.
The wind, insects chirping, and distant voices all seemed to lie beyond a thick Water Curtain, growing indistinct.
Only the sounds within his body were amplified: the beating of his heart, the churning of his stomach and intestines, and the faint rasp of air brushing his windpipe as he breathed.
Lin Fan's consciousness seemed to detach from his body, floating in midair as it "looked down" at him from a strange perspective.
He saw his bones, meridians, and muscles. He saw a wisp of White Qi Flow, so faint it was almost invisible, slowly turning within his Sea of Qi.
Just then—
[Stable mental fluctuation detected]
[Establishing connection...]
[Connection successful]
[Loading Martial Arts Panel System...10%...50%...100%]
[Welcome to the Martial Arts Panel. Bound user: Lin Fan]
A string of cold, mechanical prompts, utterly devoid of emotion, rang out in his mind.
He did not hear them. They simply "sounded" deep within his consciousness.
Lin Fan shuddered all over, nearly slipping out of his state of Internal Vision. He forced himself to steady his mind and kept up the rhythm of his breathing exercises.
The darkness before him was dispelled.
No—not before his eyes. A translucent, Light Blue Interface appeared within his field of consciousness.
The interface was exceptionally simple, without any flashy decorations. Its background was a deep, starless black, while the text and borders were a cool technological blue. Four neat, bold characters in the upper-left corner read: [Martial Arts Panel]. In the bottom-right corner, a line of small text read: [Version 1.0 · Basic Edition].
The center of the interface was divided into two columns.
The left column showed his Character Attributes:
[Character: Lin Fan] [Age: 16] [Realm: 1st Grade Martial Disciple (First Tier)] [Lifespan: 100 years] [Status: Mild Fatigue, Mild Malnutrition] [Strength: 10](+0) [Defense: 8](+0) [Speed: 9](+0) [Spirit: 12](+0) [Comprehension: 15](Max: 20) [Bone Structure: 18](Max: 20) [Vital Energy: 100/100] [Skill Points: 0]
A brief explanation accompanied each attribute. When Lin Fan focused his attention on a particular entry, a more detailed explanation appeared beside it.
For example, [Strength: 10] expanded to: [The average for an ordinary adult male is 5. Current strength can lift objects weighing approximately 100 kilograms. Punching force: approximately 120 kilograms.]
[Vital Energy: 100/100] expanded to: [The current capacity of the Sea of Qi is 100 units. Each complete circuit of the Basic Breathing Technique restores 1–3 points of vital energy, depending on Proficiency Level. Combat and the use of Martial Skills consume vital energy.]
The right column showed his Skill List. There were only two entries for now:
[Skill Bar] 1. Basic Fist Technique (Beginner 1/100) - Effect: +5% power to fist attacks - Proficiency gained: +1 point per complete practice session 2. Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 1/100) - Effect: +5% vital energy recovery speed, +5% fatigue recovery speed - Proficiency gained: +1 point per completed circuit
Below the Skill Bar, a gray [Cultivation Technique Bar] showed [None]. A gray [Martial Skill Bar] showed the same.
At the very bottom of the interface were three prominent lines explaining the system:
[System Core Rules: Proficiency] 1. Any skill, cultivation technique, or martial skill can accumulate proficiency through practice. There is no upper limit. 2. Proficiency Levels: Beginner (0–100) → Proficient (101–500) → Mastery (501–1000) → Minor Accomplishment (1001–5000) → Major Accomplishment (5001–10000) → Perfected (10001–50000) → Transcendent (50001–100000) → Saint (100001–500000) → Mythic (500001–1000000) → Eternal (1000000+) 3. Each time a Proficiency Level increases, the skill's effects gain a Percentage Bonus (Beginner +5%, Proficient +10%, Mastery +20%... See Bonus Table for details).
Lin Fan's consciousness "stared" at the interface, his heart pounding in his chest.
It wasn't an illusion.
It really was a system.
A cheat that could quantify all his efforts and clearly show him how far he had progressed...
In his previous life, he had played countless games and knew how enticing a "progress bar" could be. When you knew that every punch you threw and every step you took was building up data, bringing you closer to a clear goal, the motivation it gave you was boundless.
And now, this "Game System" had descended into the real world.
It had descended upon a penniless boy like him, who was on the brink of despair.
Lin Fan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. His programmer's instincts kicked in—analyze the data, look for patterns, and devise the best strategy.
First, the Attribute Bar.
Strength 10, Defense 8, Speed 9. According to the explanation, the average for an ordinary adult male was 5. So although this body was thin and weak, years of hard labor had left their mark; his attributes were nearly twice those of an ordinary person.
Spirit 12, on the high side. That might have something to do with the fusion of his two lives.
Comprehension 15, Bone Structure 18. Both values were close to the maximum of 20, which meant he had decent talent. No wonder the Original Owner had earned average grades in the school's basic classes. He had never had the resources to pursue further study, but his foundation wasn't bad.
Vital Energy 100/100 represented the capacity of his Sea of Qi. It was empty now because he didn't yet know how to actively draw upon his vital energy; he had only accumulated a little through natural recovery and breathing exercises.
Skill Points 0. He didn't yet know what they were for.
Next, the Skill Bar.
Basic Fist Technique, Beginner 1/100. That meant that out of the thousand Charge Punches he'd thrown that morning, the system had recognized only the last one as a "complete practice session," granting him 1 point of proficiency.
"Talk about strict," Lin Fan thought. But then again, it made sense. If waving your hand around at random could raise proficiency, the system would be worthless.
Basic Breathing Technique was also Beginner 1/100. That must have been from the deep breathing exercise he'd done that afternoon.
Both skills had an "effect" description, and the Beginner level provided a 5% bonus. It was negligible for now, but the percentage would grow as his proficiency increased.
Lastly, there were the System Core Rules: Proficiency.
No upper limit.
Those three words made Lin Fan's breathing quicken slightly.
It meant that as long as he was willing to train, he could grow stronger without end. There were no bottlenecks, no ceiling. In theory, he could even train the most basic skill until it was capable of destroying heaven and earth.
"The ultimate cheat for a hardcore grinder..." Lin Fan murmured.
He remembered the players in the games he'd played in his previous life. Some didn't chase flashy moves or study complicated mechanics. They just ran the same dungeon day after day, fought the same monsters, and relied on sheer time and effort to max out a skill, then... used the simplest attack to deal the most ridiculous damage.
Now, he had what it took to become that kind of hardcore grinder.
No, more than that.
It was a necessity.
For his sister's medicine, for the two of them to survive, he had to grind. He had to squeeze value out of every minute.
Lin Fan's consciousness roamed over the panel, searching for more functions.
He "tapped" the four characters [Martial Arts Panel] in the upper-left corner.
The interface quivered slightly, and a small window appeared:
[System Log]
- New Calendar, Year 300, July 15, 09:47. Abnormal soul fluctuation detected. Beginning binding...
- New Calendar, Year 300, July 15, 12:21. Bound user Lin Fan completed the first effective practice of [Basic Fist Technique]. Proficiency +1. System activation: 1%.
- New Calendar, Year 300, July 15, 16:08. Bound user Lin Fan completed the first effective circuit of [Basic Breathing Technique]. Proficiency +1. System activation: 2%.
- New Calendar, Year 300, July 15, 21:35. Bound user Lin Fan's mental fluctuation met the requirements. System fully activated.
So that was it.
The system had bound itself to him long ago, but needed him to "trigger" it before it could fully activate. The two practice sessions that day had each contributed 1% activation, and his deep Internal Vision just now had completed the final step.
"So this system is pretty 'energy-efficient.' It doesn't bother its host without reason," Lin Fan thought. "Or maybe it needs the host to prove he's 'qualified.'"
He tried "tapping" other areas.
The Realm Bar could be expanded to show the complete Realm Tree, from 1st Grade Martial Trainee to 11th Grade Martial God. Each realm had a brief description. They were similar to what he had learned at school, but more detailed.
A small question mark appeared after the Lifespan entry. When expanded, it showed a message: [Lifespan is the theoretical natural lifespan. Actual lifespan is affected by injuries, illness, realm breakthroughs, and other factors. Major Realm breakthroughs can extend lifespan. See Realm Tree for details.]
The [Mild Fatigue, Mild Malnutrition] in the Status Bar appeared in red, indicating Negative Status. When he focused on it, a suggestion appeared: [Recommend getting sufficient rest and consuming high-energy food. Prolonged Negative Status will reduce Cultivation Efficiency.]
The Skill Points entry was gray and could not be interacted with. Perhaps the function had not yet been unlocked.
Lin Fan spent about fifteen minutes investigating, tapping every area he could and getting a general sense of the panel's basic functions.
Simple, direct, and without a single unnecessary feature.
It was a pure data tool, turning all his growth into numbers and progress bars.
And that was exactly what he needed most right now.
"Time to make a plan." Lin Fan opened his eyes. The panel still hovered in his field of consciousness, translucent and not obstructing his view of the real world.
He picked up a dead branch and scribbled in the dirt.
First, the goal: earn 5,000 Credit Points in three days and buy a Lung Cleansing Pill.
The way to earn money: hunt 1st Tier Demonic Beasts and collect their Demonic Cores and materials. A First-order Demonic Core sold for around 100 Credit Points, so he would need to kill fifty. Impossible.
"So I have to get stronger, hunt more valuable beasts, or improve my hunting efficiency." Lin Fan wrote down "strength" and circled it.
Ways to improve his strength: increase his attributes and raise his skill levels.
How could he increase his attributes? The panel didn't show any direct way to gain attribute points, but based on his gaming experience, they might come from realm breakthroughs, consuming Natural Treasures, or certain special rewards.
He would set that aside for now.
So the priority was skill levels.
Basic Fist Technique, Beginner 1/100. He needed 99 more "complete practice sessions" to reach Proficient.
Basic Breathing Technique, Beginner 1/100. He likewise needed 99 circuits.
"What counts as a complete practice session?" Lin Fan wondered. "I practiced a thousand times this morning, but it only counted once. So the system has a quality requirement. A practice session has to meet a certain standard and be done with complete concentration."
He looked at the small line in the Skill Bar: [Proficiency gained: +1 point per complete practice session].
"That means if I just throw punches carelessly, I might not gain a single point after a hundred—or even a thousand—tries. But if I do my very best every time, then each repetition could give me a point."
"The key is the 'standard.'"
Lin Fan stood and assumed the Boxing Stance again.
This time, he didn't care about the number of repetitions. He focused his attention entirely on every detail of the movement.
Push off the ground, rotate the hips, drive the shoulder, punch.
Slowly.
Like a slow-motion scene in a movie, every frame was crystal clear.
He could feel his soles scraping against the ground, his abdominal muscles tightening and relaxing, and the faint resistance as his fist cut through the air.
When his fist reached its farthest point, the strength throughout Lin Fan's body converged perfectly in his knuckles—not a bit too much or too little.
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
The prompt flashed before his eyes and vanished.
Lin Fan didn't stop. He drew back his fist, adjusted his breathing, and punched again.
Still extremely slow. Still completely focused.
Three seconds, one punch.
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
After five punches, Lin Fan stopped to check his status panel.
[Basic Fist Technique (Beginner 6/100)]
Just as he thought.
As long as he met the "standard," each attempt counted as a "complete practice."
But training this way was too mentally taxing. He couldn't maintain complete focus for long, and the slow pace limited how much proficiency he could gain per unit of time.
"Maybe I can compromise." Lin Fan thought of a middle ground. "First, I'll use 'Standard Mode' to grind proficiency and raise the skill level. The higher the level, the greater the skill effect bonus, and the more efficiently I'll train. Then I'll switch to 'Quantity Mode' to rack up proficiency quickly."
He looked at the effect of Basic Fist Technique: [Punch-type attack power +5%].
It was currently at Beginner level, with a 5% bonus. At Proficient level (101–500 points), the bonus would rise to 10%. Mastery level would give 20%, and Minor Accomplishment level, 50%...
"Once I reach Proficient level, my punch force will go from 120 kilograms to 132. If I reach Mastery level, it'll be 144." Lin Fan quickly did the math. "And that's only the status panel bonus. My force-generation technique is also improving as I train, so the actual increase could be even greater."
His goal was clear.
Within three days, he had to get Basic Fist Technique to at least Proficient level, and preferably reach the threshold of Mastery.
At the same time, he couldn't neglect Basic Breathing Technique. The bonuses to vital energy recovery and fatigue recovery directly affected how long he could keep grinding.
"Let's begin."
Lin Fan wasted no time and assumed his boxing stance again.
This time, he adjusted his rhythm. Instead of trying to go as slowly as possible, he found a balance that let him maintain quality while keeping up a decent pace.
Roughly one punch every two seconds.
His focus was intense, but he didn't overtax his mind.
One punch, two, three...
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
Prompts flashed one after another.
When Lin Fan reached his thirtieth punch, the ache returned to his arms. But he didn't stop. Instead, he deliberately kept his movements steady—he wanted to see whether the system would lower its standard for a "complete practice" when he was fatigued.
His thirty-first punch was a little out of shape.
No prompt appeared.
He forced himself to correct his form on the thirty-second.
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
"The standard hasn't changed." Lin Fan understood. "The system only counts movements that meet the mark. It doesn't cut me any slack."
He stopped, sat cross-legged, and began practicing Basic Breathing Technique.
If fatigue affected the quality of his movements, he had to make sure he recovered.
His breaths grew long and steady as he guided his thoughts.
One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency+1]
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency+1]
Vital energy slowly gathered in his Sea of Qi, and his fatigue gradually faded.
Ten minutes later, Lin Fan opened his eyes, got to his feet, and resumed his punches.
Like this, he alternated between punching and breathing, punching and breathing...
Over and over.
Night deepened, and the Slum District fell completely silent. Only outside Lin Fan's little shack did the boy punch again and again, then sit in meditation, like a tireless machine.
Time slipped by with his sweat and breath.
Two in the morning.
Lin Fan checked his status panel.
[Basic Fist Technique (Beginner 87/100)]
[Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 42/100)]
His progress was slower than expected.
For one thing, he couldn't maintain complete focus for long and had to rest after every twenty or thirty punches. For another, breathing exercises took time to restore him, and his vital energy cap was only 100, so his recovery was slow.
"At this rate, I can get my fist technique to Proficient before dawn, but my breathing technique will still be far behind." Lin Fan wiped away his sweat. The night wind blew against his soaked clothes, bringing a chill.
He looked toward the shack, where his younger sister was sleeping soundly.
Then he looked at the status panel. The line [Status: Mild Fatigue, Mild Malnutrition] still glared red.
"Not fast enough." Lin Fan frowned. "Still not fast enough."
He needed a more efficient way to train.
He needed... any "hidden functions" the system might have.
Lin Fan closed his eyes again and sank his consciousness into the status panel. This time, he didn't browse the information already displayed. Instead, like a programmer scanning code, he carefully examined every pixel and detail of the interface.
The logo in the upper-left corner, the version number in the lower-right, the patterns along the border, the font of the text...
Suddenly, his attention fixed on the small line of text: [Version 1.0 · Basic Edition].
"Basic Edition?" Lin Fan's heart stirred. "Does that mean there's an advanced edition? How do I upgrade?"
He focused on it.
Nothing happened.
Then he looked at the words [Martial Arts Panel]. This time, he tried to "touch" the edge of the logo with his consciousness.
Buzz—
The interface trembled slightly.
Directly beneath the logo, a tiny gray icon, so discreet it nearly blended into the background, flickered for a tenth of a second.
Lin Fan caught it at once.
He directed his consciousness and precisely "tapped" that spot.
A brand-new, extremely simple sub-interface popped up:
[System Status] - Bound User: Lin Fan - System Integrity: 2.3% - Unlocked Functions: Attribute Panel, Skill Proficiency - Pending Unlock Functions: Task System, Skill Point System, Storage Space, Cultivation Acceleration, Achievement System... - Conditions to Increase Integrity: Bound User advances in realm, or completes specific milestones [Current Milestones] 1. Promote any skill to "Proficient" level (Incomplete) 2. Advance to the second stage of 1st Grade Martial Trainee (Incomplete) 3. Accumulate 1000 proficiency points (Current: 128/1000) 4. ??? (Conditions unmet; cannot display)
Lin Fan's heart gave a hard thump.
Just as he'd thought.
The system still had many functions locked. The Attribute Panel and Skill Proficiency system were only the most basic "newbie pack."
To unlock more, he either had to advance in realm or complete milestones.
The first item on the milestone list was "Promote any skill to Proficient level."
"Almost there." Lin Fan looked at the progress for Basic Fist Technique: 87/100, just thirteen points to go.
Without hesitation, he stood up and assumed his boxing stance again.
This time, fatigue seemed to be swept away by a fresh surge of motivation.
His punches cut through the air.
It wasn't an exaggeration. They really did raise a faint wind.
Lin Fan held nothing back. He put everything into each punch and pursued perfect form every time.
Eighty-eight.
Eighty-nine.
Ninety...
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
The prompt echoed through his mind like the sweetest music.
Three seventeen in the morning.
His hundredth "complete practice."
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+1]
[Skill: Basic Fist Technique has advanced from 'Beginner' to 'Proficient']
[Current Proficiency: 101/500]
[Skill Effect Updated: Punch-type attack power +10%]
[System Integrity increased to 3.1%]
[Milestone 'Promote Any Skill to Proficient Level' completed]
[Reward: Skill Point ×1]
A string of prompts sounded one after another.
Lin Fan stood where he was, feeling the changes in his body.
His attributes hadn't suddenly changed. It was something... more profound.
His understanding of throwing a punch had deepened. It was as if his muscle memory had been refreshed and his force trajectory optimized. Details he'd once had to consciously control had become instinctive.
He casually threw a punch.
The sound of it cutting through the air was thirty percent clearer than before.
His fist stopped in midair. The muscles in his arm tensed, their lines brimming with strength.
"A 10% power boost..." Lin Fan clenched his fist. "My punch force should be close to 130 kilograms now."
More importantly, after his skill reached Proficient level, he could clearly feel that the "threshold" for practice had dropped.
Movements that had once required his full concentration to perform properly now only took seventy or eighty percent of his attention. That meant he could complete more "complete practices" per unit of time, increasing his rate of proficiency gain.
A virtuous cycle had begun.
Lin Fan suppressed his urge to test his newfound efficiency right away and turned his attention back to the status panel.
A tiny icon had appeared beside Basic Fist Technique in the Skill Bar, shaped like a miniature star. When he focused on it, the words appeared: [Expend Skill Point to Increase Proficiency].
An entry reading [Skill Points: 1] had appeared below it.
Lin Fan tried to "tap" the star icon with his consciousness.
A prompt popped up: [Expend 1 Skill Point to add 100 proficiency points to 'Basic Fist Technique'?]
One hundred points!
The equivalent of two hours of hard practice.
Lin Fan didn't hesitate. "Yes."
[Skill Points-1]
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency+100]
[Current Proficiency: 201/500]
The skill hadn't leveled up, but its progress bar had leaped forward by a huge chunk.
"Skill Points are valuable." Lin Fan made a note of it. "One point equals 100 proficiency. I should try to earn as many as possible."
He looked at the System Status Bar.
Its integrity had increased from 2.3% to 3.1%, a gain of only 0.8%. It seemed that a single milestone offered little integrity; he'd need to complete several to make substantial progress.
On the Pending Unlock Function List, "Task System" was at the top. It was gray, but just a little brighter than the other entries.
"Maybe that'll be the next function to unlock," Lin Fan guessed.
He exited the sub-interface and returned to the Main Panel.
The predawn wind grew colder.
Yet Lin Fan felt warm all over.
It wasn't the restless heat of fatigue, but a warmth welling up from the bottom of his heart—the warmth called "hope."
Earn 5,000 Credit Points in three days.
It was still a tall order.
But at least he could see the way forward.
A path paved, little by little, with sweat, perseverance, and this cold yet warm system.
"Keep going."
Lin Fan sat cross-legged and began his breathing exercises.
Basic Breathing Technique still needed 58 more proficiency points to reach Proficient level. Before dawn, he wanted to make at least half that progress.
His breaths grew long and steady.
Vital energy circulated in his Sea of Qi, drawing his fatigue away bit by bit.
Deep within his consciousness, the pale blue status panel hovered silently, recording every figure and bearing witness to every step forward.
At the deepest hour of the night, Lin Xiaoyu turned over in the shack and murmured groggily,
"Big brother..."
Lin Fan didn't hear her.
He was immersed in the rhythm of the breathing technique, and in the reassuring feeling of his proficiency rising bit by bit.
Until the eastern sky began to pale.
Until the first rooster crowed in the Slum District.
Lin Fan opened his eyes and looked at the Status Panel.
[Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 79/100)]
Over the course of one night, he'd made another 37 points of progress.
His efficiency was a little higher than before, because the more he practiced, the better he mastered the breathing technique.
He got up and loosened his stiff body.
The soreness remained, but his mind was unusually clear. The system's existence was like a pillar anchoring the sea, steadying the state of mind that might otherwise have crumbled.
He walked into the shack. Lin Xiaoyu was still asleep. Her face remained pale, but her breathing was steady.
Lin Fan gently tucked the threadbare blanket around her, then took the last bit of coarse grain from the wooden chest—that was set aside for his little sister's breakfast.
As for himself, he ate nothing.
It wasn't that he wasn't hungry. It was... that he didn't dare eat.
There was too little food. It had to be saved for the person who needed it more.
"Once I earn money today, I'll buy you something delicious," Lin Fan said quietly, as if making a promise to his little sister and to himself.
He stepped out of the shack into the faint morning light.
A new day had begun.
There were still two days left on the "Three-Day Limit" the medicine shop assistant had given him.
And on Lin Fan's Status Panel, two lines of data lay quietly:
[Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 201/500)] [Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 79/100)]
Along with them was the milestone he'd just completed, and the "Task System" waiting to be unlocked.
The boy clenched his fists and gazed beyond the Slum District at the towering city wall that divided two worlds.
Beyond the wall lay the Wilderness, Demonic Beasts, and danger.
And also... opportunity.
Before you continue