Fivefold Acceleration, the Sleepless Grind

Sunlight filtered through the dormitory window, casting dappled shadows across the floor.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged on his bed, with two things spread out before him—the notes on cultivation insights from Teacher Zhang and the Vessel Protecting Pills in a small jade bottle.

He first turned to the pages recorded by Senior Mad Saber.

The handwriting was wild and hasty, the ink varying in depth, as though the writer had penned it in a state of extreme excitement or pain. In some places, the paper had even been pierced by the tip of the brush.

"First-Revolution Breakthrough Essentials: use qi as the hammer and the meridians as the anvil. Temper them with a thousand strikes, and only then can you reach the great Dao."

"When your vital energy reaches the Huiyin acupoint, do not let it flow slowly. It must surge through like a flood bursting its banks! Pain? Endure it!"

"The three hidden side meridians are the most fragile, yet also the most crucial. Opening one increases circulation efficiency by thirty percent; opening all three doubles it! But each attempt feels like ten thousand needles piercing your meridians. Ordinary people can hardly bear it."

"When this old man broke through, he ran three hundred cycles in a day. My meridians ruptured seven times, and I spat out three sheng of blood before finally reaching Minor Accomplishment in the First Revolution. Others called me deranged; I laughed at their cowardice. On the path of martial arts, if you don't go mad, you don't survive!"

Lin Fan read every word, his heartbeat quickening.

Three hundred cycles.

Last night, he had felt close to his limit after only ninety-nine cycles. Yet Senior Mad Saber had managed three hundred in a day.

What did that mean?

It meant his cultivation intensity had been more than three times that of an ordinary person. And the price he paid was seven ruptured meridians and three sheng of blood.

"Sure was a lunatic," Lin Fan murmured.

But a lunatic's methods were often the most effective.

He continued reading.

"Breakthrough aids: demonic beast blood essence is best, spiritual herbs are second, pills third. Common-tier resources are useless. You need at least Earth Tier Low Grade quality to sustain a high-intensity breakthrough."

"Vessel Protecting Pills are essential. Take three a day, one each morning, noon, and night. Keep Spirit Locking Pills on hand. If anything feels wrong, take one immediately. Staying alive comes first."

"If your body isn't strong enough, don't even try. When I attempted the breakthrough, my Iron Body Skill had already reached Major Accomplishment, and my body was comparable to that of a 4th-grade Martial Master. Even then, I nearly died."

At this, Lin Fan's heart settled.

Iron Body Skill at Major Accomplishment, with a body comparable to that of a 4th-grade Martial Master?

His Iron Body Skill was at full completion. His physical strength should be no weaker than that of a 4th-grade Martial Master, perhaps even greater.

As for resources...

Lin Fan took the Crimson Flame Fruit Zhao Ling'er had given him out of his Storage Space. Ten bright-red fruits lay quietly in the cloth bag.

These were second-tier spirit fruits. They should last him for a while.

And he had the Vessel Protecting Pills from Teacher Zhang—thirty of them. Taking one a day would last a month.

"The conditions are mostly met." Lin Fan closed the notes, determination flashing in his eyes. "Then let's give it a try."

He took out a Vessel Protecting Pill and swallowed it.

The pill entered his stomach and dissolved into a warm current, slowly spreading through his meridians. A thin film seemed to coat their surfaces wherever it passed, noticeably strengthening their resilience.

"System, display my current status."

[Character: Lin Fan]

[Age: 16]

[Realm: 1st Grade Martial Trainee (Ninth-Rank Peak)]

[Status: Slightly fatigued (recoverable)]

[Technique: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art, First Revolution (Entry Level 350/1000)]

[Current Vital Energy: 500/500]

[Physical Strength: Iron Body Skill at full completion (comparable to a 4th-grade Martial Master at Major Accomplishment)]

[Vessel Protection Effect: lasts 6 hours (Vessel Protecting Pill's medicinal effects)]

"Let's begin." Lin Fan drew a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Following Mad Saber's method, he stopped cautiously controlling the speed of his vital energy. Instead, he summoned all the energy in his dantian and turned it into a raging torrent, driving it hard along the technique's circulation path!

Boom!

The moment the vital energy burst from his dantian, Lin Fan felt his body shudder.

It was no longer a gentle stream, but a roaring river!

His vital energy surged through the Huiyin acupoint at three times its usual speed. A violent, swelling pain struck at once, as though the acupoint were about to burst.

But the Vessel Protecting Pill's effects kicked in just in time. A resilient film wrapped around the acupoint, bearing the impact.

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art proficiency +5]

A system notification appeared.

Five proficiency points for one cycle!

Five times what he had gained from cultivating last night!

Lin Fan's spirits lifted. He gritted his teeth against the pain and kept pushing his vital energy forward.

The second cycle.

The third cycle.

The torrent of vital energy surged through his meridians. Each time it passed a crucial acupoint, it brought a tearing pain. The three hidden side meridians were especially painful. Fine as strands of hair, they felt as though red-hot needles were piercing through them whenever his vital energy forced its way through.

Lin Fan clenched his teeth. Veins bulged across his forehead, and sweat soaked through his clothes.

But he did not stop.

He could feel that even as the pain raged, his fragile meridians were being forcibly widened. Each pass enlarged their capacity a little and made the flow a little smoother.

That was the essence of Mad Saber's method: widen the meridians with brute force and trade pain for efficiency.

The tenth cycle.

The twentieth cycle.

By the thirtieth, Lin Fan's face was pale as paper.

It wasn't that his vital energy had run dry. The marvel of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art was that it could automatically absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as it circulated, replenishing what was spent. Though the replenishment couldn't keep up with the expenditure, it at least slowed his decline.

It was his mind that was exhausted.

That constant, bone-deep pain was rapidly draining his willpower.

"Still not enough..." Lin Fan took a Crimson Flame Fruit from the cloth bag and shoved it into his mouth.

The fruit melted on his tongue, becoming a scorching torrent that rushed into his stomach and quickly transformed into blood-and-qi energy, nourishing his nearly depleted body.

His spirits lifted.

He pressed on with the breakthrough.

The fortieth cycle.

The fiftieth cycle...

By the sixtieth cycle, a sudden change occurred.

Pfft!

Lin Fan spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the floor in front of him red.

A tiny side branch of a meridian in the middle of his left arm's Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian couldn't withstand the repeated impacts and developed a hairline crack. The Vessel Protecting Pill's effects quickly wrapped around the fissure and stopped his vital energy from leaking, but the agony nearly made him lose consciousness.

[Warning: slight meridian damage detected]

[Suggestion: pause cultivation and take a Spirit Locking Pill]

The system's warning sounded in his mind.

Lin Fan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but a crazed glint flashed in his eyes.

"Minor damage... I can still keep going."

He didn't take a Spirit Locking Pill. Instead, he took another Crimson Flame Fruit and swallowed it, then directed his vital energy around the damaged meridian and continued circulating it.

Mad Saber's notes had this written in them: "Meridian damage is common. As long as a main meridian hasn't snapped, you can keep going. It's only pain. Endure it, and your meridians will grow tougher."

He was gambling.

Gambling that his physical strength could hold out.

Gambling that the Vessel Protecting Pill could keep his meridians from rupturing completely.

Gambling that the Crimson Flame Fruit's energy could quickly repair the damage.

The seventieth cycle.

The eightieth cycle...

The pain grew more and more intense, but Lin Fan's mind became clearer and clearer.

He discovered he had entered a strange state. His body was enduring excruciating pain, yet his mind was unnaturally calm, as if he were watching his own cultivation from the sidelines.

He could "see" the path his vital energy took through his meridians, "hear" the faint tearing sounds as they widened, and "feel" the rhythm with which each acupoint opened and closed.

Was this... subtle perception?

No, it went deeper than that.

It was a transformation born from the combination of the special perception granted by the system and high-intensity cultivation.

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art proficiency +8]

His proficiency was increasing even faster!

It had risen from +5 to +8!

Lin Fan was overjoyed and pushed his vital energy forward with even greater focus.

The ninetieth cycle.

The hundredth cycle...

When he completed the hundredth cycle, he felt a soft crack from within his body.

It wasn't a meridian snapping.

Some kind of shackle had broken.

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution proficiency reached 1000/1000]

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution reached Mastery Level]

[Attribute bonus gained: Vital Energy Cap +200, Vital Energy Recovery Speed +100%, Vital Energy Quality +50%]

[Profound Origin Qi strength increased; automatic tempering effect doubled]

[Continuous high-intensity cultivation detected. Conditions met]

[Cultivation Acceleration function unlocked: currently available at up to 5x speed]

[5x speed effect: consumes five times the stamina and grants five times the proficiency; physical strain increases significantly]

The stream of system notifications left Lin Fan elated.

The First Revolution had reached Mastery Level!

It might have taken months to advance from Entry Level to Mastery Level, but he had done it in only two nights!

More importantly, the 5x speed function had unlocked!

"Fivefold speed..." A sharp gleam flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "If I activate it and combine it with Mad Saber's breakthrough method, how much proficiency will I gain per cycle?"

He immediately put it to the test.

"System, activate 5x speed cultivation mode."

[5x speed mode activated]

[Warning: evaluating current physical strength...]

[Evaluation complete: Iron Body Skill at full completion. Can withstand the strain of 5x speed, but stamina consumption will increase significantly]

[Suggestion: prepare sufficient energy supplements]

"Understood." Lin Fan took the remaining eight Crimson Flame Fruits out of his Storage Space and placed them all in front of him.

Then he began the 101st cycle.

Boom!

This time, the speed of his vital energy surged fivefold!

If his vital energy had been a rushing river before, now it was a tsunami! A flash flood! A world-shattering rampage!

It shot through his meridians at a speed almost impossible to follow with the naked eye. Acupoints groaned beneath the strain, and his meridians stretched to their limits.

The pain increased fivefold too!

"Ugh!"

Lin Fan let out a low growl, his body trembling violently as beads of blood seeped through his skin. His capillaries had burst under the pressure.

But he didn't stop.

The system notifications were flashing wildly before his eyes:

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art proficiency +40]

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art proficiency +40]

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art proficiency +40]

Forty proficiency points for one cycle!

Forty times what he gained from ordinary cultivation! Eight times what he'd gained before using Mad Saber's method!

"Keep going!" Lin Fan's eyes were bloodshot. He snatched up a Crimson Flame Fruit and shoved it into his mouth.

The fruit's energy quickly transformed into blood-and-qi, nourishing his body, which was on the verge of collapse.

The twentieth cycle at fivefold speed.

His proficiency increased by 800 points.

The fortieth cycle at fivefold speed.

His proficiency increased by 1,600 points.

By the fiftieth cycle at fivefold speed, his Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution proficiency had already reached:

3150/5000 (Minor Accomplishment Level)!

He was only 1,850 points away from breaking through to Minor Accomplishment!

But the price was—

"Pfft! Pfft!"

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Lin Fan spat out two mouthfuls of blood in quick succession, his face pale as paper.

All his meridians were wailing, and hairline cracks had appeared in several places. Most of the Vessel Protecting Pill's effects had been used up. They were close to giving out.

The worst part was the toll it took on his stamina.

At five times speed, each cycle consumed five times the usual stamina. After fifty cycles, Lin Fan felt as if his body had been hollowed out. Even lifting a hand was difficult.

He looked at the Crimson Flame Fruit in front of him.

Only three remained.

He had used five of the eight Crimson Flame Fruits during his training. These three could support him for, at most, another twenty cycles.

"Resources... really aren't enough." Lin Fan gave a bitter smile.

At last, he understood why Teacher Zhang had said Mad Saber's method consumed so many resources.

This way of training was practically burning money.

A single Crimson Flame Fruit cost at least fifty thousand Huaxia Coins on the market. Eight of them came to four hundred thousand.

And he had used five just to go from Mastery Level to the verge of Minor Accomplishment. To reach Minor Accomplishment, he would need at least ten more.

What about Major Accomplishment, or perfection?

The resources required would be astronomical.

"No wonder Senior Mad Saber said not to try his method without enough resources to support it." Lin Fan murmured, "This really isn't something an ordinary person can endure."

But he wasn't ordinary.

He had a system.

"As long as I have enough resources, I can accelerate endlessly." A flame reignited in Lin Fan's eyes. "And I can get resources by completing missions."

He forced himself to sit upright, ready to continue training.

But just then—

"Knock, knock, knock."

Someone was at the door.

Lin Fan furrowed his brow.

Who could it be at this hour?

He quickly concealed his aura, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and the floor, and put the Crimson Flame Fruits and notebook into his Storage Space. Only then did he call out, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Chen Dahu." A hearty voice came from outside.

Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief, got up, and opened the door.

Two people stood outside: Chen Dahu and Sun Wanting.

Chen Dahu had changed into light leather armor and slung a Thick-backed Chopping Knife across his back. He looked ready to head out on a mission.

Sun Wanting wore a black fitted outfit, with a sword at her waist. Her shoulder-length hair was neat and practical, and she looked spirited and sharp. Seeing Lin Fan's pale face, she knitted her brows. "Are you hurt?"

"I overdid it while training. I'm fine." Lin Fan stepped aside to let them in. "Have a seat. What brings you here at this hour?"

Chen Dahu scratched his head. "Brother Fan, Teacher Zhang said we're going on a mission with you tomorrow, so we came to ask what the plan is."

Sun Wanting stared at Lin Fan for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Are you cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art?"

Lin Fan nodded.

"Using Mad Saber's method?" she asked again.

This time, Lin Fan was surprised. "How did you know?"

"My father tried it once." Sun Wanting's tone was cool. "He was a fan of Mad Saber, too. After he got hold of the notes, he ignored everyone's warnings and forced his way through a breakthrough. It damaged his meridians, and his cultivation stagnated for three years."

Her voice was calm, but Lin Fan heard a trace of buried pain in it.

"Your father now..."

"He's dead." Sun Wanting said it lightly. "Three years ago, during a Beast Tide, he was gravely wounded while covering the team's retreat and never recovered."

Silence fell over the dorm room.

Chen Dahu opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

After a moment, Lin Fan said, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Sun Wanting waved a hand. "It was his choice. I came today to warn you: Mad Saber's method is dangerous. Don't follow in my father's footsteps."

"I know." Lin Fan's reply was earnest. "But I have to get stronger."

Sun Wanting watched him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. "As I thought, you and my father are the same kind of person. Both of you are crazy."

She pulled a small pouch from her clothes and tossed it to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan caught it and opened it. Inside were five pale blue pills, giving off a cool, fragrant scent.

"These are Pulse Nourishing Pills, Mortal Tier Top Grade. They're not as good as Vessel Protecting Pills, but they can nourish your meridians and ease the damage." Sun Wanting said, "They were left behind by my father. I have no use for them, so take them."

Lin Fan closed his hand around the pouch. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me yet." Sun Wanting stood up. "You're the main force on tomorrow's mission. If your training gets you into trouble, the whole team suffers. So stay alive."

With that, she turned and headed for the door.

Chen Dahu hurried after her. At the doorway, he looked back. "Brother Fan, meet us at the North City Gate at Chen Shi tomorrow. Don't forget."

"I won't."

After they left, the dorm room fell silent again.

Lin Fan looked at the Pulse Nourishing Pills in his hand, a jumble of emotions rising within him.

Sun Wanting seemed cold on the surface, but she was thoughtful. She had noticed how hard he'd pushed himself and brought him pills. He would remember this kindness.

"I should recover first." Lin Fan took out a Pulse Nourishing Pill and swallowed it.

The pill became a cool stream that slowly soothed his damaged meridians. Its effect was not as strong as a Vessel Protecting Pill, but it did ease the pain considerably.

He opened the system panel to check:

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art, First Revolution: Mastery Level (3150/5000)]

[Vital Energy Cap: 700/700 (+200)]

[Physical Condition: Mild Damage (being repaired by the Pulse Nourishing Pill)]

[Stamina: 23/100 (severely depleted)]

He had only 23 stamina left. He was severely depleted.

In this state, continuing to train was out of the question. Even normal activities would be difficult.

"I need to replenish my stamina as soon as possible." Lin Fan looked at the three Crimson Flame Fruits left. "But these aren't enough. I need more energy."

He thought of Zhao Ling'er.

If he agreed to work with her, the resource problem might be solved.

But...

Lin Fan shook his head, pushing the thought aside for now.

His priority was to recover his stamina and prepare for tomorrow's mission.

He sat cross-legged and began circulating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art—not to force a breakthrough this time, but simply to nourish his body and regulate his breathing.

As the art circulated, Profound Origin Qi slowly gathered. Working together with the Pulse Nourishing Pill's medicinal power, it repaired the damage to his meridians.

His stamina, too, began to recover little by little.

Time passed, second by second.

Outside the window, the sky darkened and night fell.

By the time Lin Fan finished regulating his breathing, his stamina had recovered to 65 points. He was still tired, but at least he could move normally.

He stood and headed for the cafeteria to eat something and replenish his energy.

But when he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.

There was breathing outside.

It was faint and slow, but unmistakable.

Someone was waiting outside his door!

Lin Fan's gaze turned cold as his Mental Power slowly spread out.

A person crouched in the shadows of the hallway. Dressed in black, with their face covered and only a pair of eyes showing, they were staring through the crack in the door at the dorm room.

Finally lost your patience? Lin Fan sneered inwardly.

He pretended not to notice and pushed the door open.

"Creak—"

The moment it opened, the figure darted back into the shadows and held their breath.

Lin Fan strolled toward the stairs as if nothing had happened. His footsteps echoed through the empty hallway.

One step, two steps, three...

Just as he reached the stairwell corner, a faint whistle cut through the air behind him!

Whoosh!

A glint of cold steel shot straight for his back!

Lin Fan was ready. He shifted slightly, and the glint grazed his side before embedding itself in the wall with a thunk.

It was a three-inch dart, its body a ghostly blue. It had clearly been coated in poison.

"Looking to die." Lin Fan turned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

In the shadows, the figure saw the ambush had failed and immediately turned to flee, moving at astonishing speed.

But Lin Fan was faster.

The perfected Iron Body Skill gave him more than just defense; it gave him explosive power. He kicked off the ground, cracking the stone paving, and shot forward like a cannonball, catching up to the figure in an instant.

"You're not getting away."

He threw a punch!

No martial technique—just the simplest, most direct punch.

But it contained the full force of the perfected Iron Body Skill, along with the refined Vital Energy of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art.

Bang!

The figure hurriedly turned to block, crossing both arms in front of their chest.

But it was no use.

The instant fist met forearms, the figure heard their own bones snap.

Crack!

"Argh!" A scream rang out.

The figure flew backward and slammed into the hallway wall before sliding to the floor.

Lin Fan strode forward and yanked off the face covering.

The stranger looked about thirty, with a sallow face and a vicious gaze.

"Who sent you?" Lin Fan asked coldly.

The man grinned, blood frothing at the corner of his mouth. "You... won't get away..."

Then his head lolled to one side, and his breath stopped.

Lin Fan frowned and crouched to examine him.

There was a poison capsule hidden between the man's teeth. He had bitten down and killed himself.

"A suicide operative?" Lin Fan's expression grew grave.

Anyone capable of training suicide operatives was no ordinary force.

The Wang Family? Or... the Shadow Society?

He searched the body. Other than a pouch of poisoned darts and a few hidden weapons, there was nothing that could prove the man's identity.

But a black wooden plaque hung from the man's waist, carved with a bizarre design: an eye, with a crack running through its pupil.

Lin Fan memorized the design and put the plaque into his Storage Space.

Then he quickly disposed of the body—dragging it back to his dorm and shoving it under the bed. He could find a chance to get rid of it tomorrow, when he left the academy.

Once he was done, Lin Fan sat on the edge of his bed, his expression dark.

He'd been followed, then ambushed.

The other side was getting bolder and more direct by the day.

"Did cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art draw someone's attention? Or is the Wang Family trying to take revenge because I crossed them?"

Lin Fan didn't know.

But he knew one thing—

"I have to get stronger, faster."

He looked at the system panel. His Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art, First Revolution, was still at 3,150 proficiency.

He was only 1,850 points away from Minor Accomplishment Level.

If he switched on five times speed and pushed through with everything he had, he should be able to break through overnight.

But he didn't have enough stamina or resources.

"Tomorrow's mission..." Resolve flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "I have to complete it. I'll get the reward, trade it for resources, and keep pushing through."

He stood up and walked to the window.

The night sky was ink-black, scattered with stars.

In the distance, Jiangnan City's lights glittered like a river of stars.

But beneath all that brilliance, undercurrents churned and killing intent lurked at every turn.

Lin Fan clenched his fists.

"Come on."

"Let's see whether you kill me first, or I grow strong enough... to make you despair."

The night wind drifted past, carrying the distant toll of a bell.

It was Zi Shi.

A new day was about to begin.

Waiting for Lin Fan were an escort mission, a resource crisis, deeper conspiracies, and... even more frenzied training.