Fivefold Acceleration, Liver Emperor Sleepless

In the dormitory, sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged on his bed, two items spread out before him—Teacher Zhang's notes and the Vessel Protecting Pills in a small jade bottle.

He first turned to the pages recorded by the senior, Mad Saber.

The handwriting was messy and wild, the ink varying in depth, as if the recorder had written in a state of extreme excitement or pain. In some places, one could even see marks where the paper had been pierced by the tip of the pen.

"Key to breaking through the first revolution: Use energy as a hammer, meridians as an anvil, refine a thousand times to achieve the Great Dao."

"When Origin Energy reaches the 'Huiyin' acupoint, do not slow down. It must be like a flood breaking through a dam, charge straight through! Pain? Endure it!"

"The collateral meridian, the 'Hidden Meridian Three Lines,' is the most fragile, yet the most crucial. Breaking through one line increases circulation efficiency by thirty percent; breaking through all three lines doubles efficiency! But each impact is like ten thousand needles piercing the meridians, unbearable for ordinary people."

"When I broke through back then, I circulated three hundred cycles a day, my meridians ruptured seven times, I vomited three liters of blood, and finally achieved Minor Accomplishment in the first revolution. Others called me mad; I laughed at their cowardice. The path of martial arts cannot be achieved without madness!"

Lin Fan read word by word, his heartbeat accelerating slightly.

Three hundred cycles.

Last night, he had felt he was nearing his limit after just ninety-nine cycles. And senior Mad Saber completed three hundred cycles in a day.

What did that even mean?

It meant his cultivation intensity was more than three times that of an ordinary person. And the price paid was seven meridian ruptures and three liters of blood vomited.

"Truly a madman," Lin Fan muttered.

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

He continued reading.

"Breakthrough aids: Demonic Beast essence blood is best, spiritual herbs are second, pills are third. Mortal Tier resources are useless; at least Earth Tier Low Grade quality is required to support high-intensity breakthroughs."

"Vessel Protecting Pills are essential, three per day, one in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Carry Spirit Locking Pills with you and take one immediately if you feel something is wrong. Saving your life is paramount."

"If your physical body is not strong enough, do not attempt it. When I broke through, my Iron Body Skill had already reached Major Accomplishment, and my physical body was comparable to a 4th Grade Martial Master. Even so, I nearly died."

Reading this, Lin Fan felt reassured.

Iron Body Skill at Major Accomplishment, physical body comparable to a 4th Grade Martial Master?

He had now reached Perfection in Iron Body Skill, and his physical body strength should be no less than that of a 4th Grade Martial Master, perhaps even stronger.

As for resources...

Lin Fan took out the Crimson Flame Fruits Zhao Ling'er had given him from his Storage Space. Ten scarlet fruits lay quietly in the cloth bag.

These were 2nd Tier spiritual fruits, which should be enough for a while.

There were also the Vessel Protecting Pills Teacher Zhang had given him, thirty of them. One a day would last a month.

"The conditions are basically met," Lin Fan closed the notes, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "Then I'll give it a try."

He took out a Vessel Protecting Pill and swallowed it.

The pill entered his abdomen, transforming into a warm, gentle stream of energy that slowly flowed toward his meridians. Wherever it passed, the surface of his meridians seemed to be covered with a thin film, their toughness noticeably enhanced.

"System, display current status."

[Character: Lin Fan]
[Age: 16 years old]
[Realm: 1st Grade Martial Trainee (9th Stage Peak)]
[Status: Mild Fatigue (Recoverable)]
[Cultivation Method: Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution (Beginner 350/1000)]
[Current Origin Energy: 500/500]
[Physical Strength: Iron Body Skill Perfection (Comparable to 4th Grade Martial Master Major Accomplishment)]
[Vessel Protection Effect: Lasts 6 hours (Vessel Protecting Pill potency)]

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

Following Mad Saber's method, he no longer controlled the flow of Origin Energy cautiously. Instead, he mobilized all the Origin Energy in his Dantian, transforming it into a violent torrent that rushed fiercely along the cultivation path!

"Boom!"

The moment the Origin Energy surged out of his Dantian, Lin Fan felt his body tremble.

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

The Origin Energy rushed through the 'Huiyin' acupoint at three times its usual speed. An intense, distending pain instantly struck, as if the acupoint was about to burst.

But the medicinal effect of the Vessel Protecting Pill acted in time, a flexible film enveloping the acupoint and withstanding the impact.

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art Proficiency +5]

The system notification popped up.

One cycle, +5 proficiency!

It was five times what he had achieved during last night's cultivation!

Lin Fan's spirit lifted. Enduring the pain, he continued to push the Origin Energy forward.

The second circulation.

The third circulation.

Origin Energy surged through his meridians, each passage through a key acupoint bringing a tearing pain. Especially along the "Hidden Meridian Triple Lines," which were as fine as hair. As Origin Energy forced its way through, it felt like red-hot iron needles were piercing his meridians.

Lin Fan gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat soaking through his clothes.

But he didn't stop.

Because he could feel that, along with the pain, those fragile meridians were being forcibly widened. Each circulation expanded their capacity by a fraction, making the flow smoother.

This was the essence of the Mad Saber's method—using brute force to widen meridians, trading pain for efficiency.

The tenth circulation.

The twentieth circulation.

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

It wasn't that his Origin Energy was depleted. The profoundness of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art lay in its ability to automatically absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth to replenish what was consumed during cultivation. Although the replenishment speed couldn't keep up with the consumption, it at least delayed depletion.

It was mental fatigue.

The continuous, bone-deep pain was relentlessly draining his willpower.

"Not enough..." Lin Fan took a Crimson Flame Fruit from his pouch and stuffed it into his mouth.

The fruit dissolved upon entering his mouth, transforming into a scorching torrent that flowed into his abdomen, quickly converting into blood and qi energy to nourish his near-exhausted body.

His spirit was instantly invigorated.

He continued to push through.

The fortieth circulation.

The fiftieth circulation...

When he reached the sixtieth circulation, an unexpected change occurred.

"Pfft!"

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

In the middle section of the "Hand Shao Yin Heart Meridian" in his left arm, a small collateral meridian couldn't withstand the continuous impact and developed a hairline crack. Although the medicinal power of the Vessel Protecting Pill quickly enveloped the crack, preventing the leakage of Origin Energy, the intense pain almost made Lin Fan faint.

[Warning: Minor meridian damage detected]

[Recommendation: Suspend cultivation and take a Spirit Locking Pill]

The system's warning chimed in his mind.

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

"Minor damage... I can still hold on."

He didn't take the Spirit Locking Pill. Instead, he took another Crimson Flame Fruit and swallowed it, simultaneously channeling Origin Energy to bypass the damaged meridian and continue his circulation.

Lin Fan's notes on the Mad Saber method recorded: "Meridian damage is common. As long as it's not a main meridian rupture, you can continue. It's just pain; endure it, and the meridians will become tougher."

He was gambling.

Gambling that his physical body's strength could hold out.

Gambling that the Vessel Protecting Pill could prevent the meridian from completely rupturing.

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

The seventieth circulation.

The eightieth circulation...

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

He found himself entering a peculiar state—his body endured extreme pain, yet his mind was exceptionally calm, as if observing his own cultivation from the outside.

He could "see" the trajectory of Origin Energy flowing through his meridians, "hear" the subtle tearing sounds as they were widened, and "feel" the rhythm of each acupoint opening and closing.

Was this... Microscopic Perception?

No, it was deeper than Microscopic Perception.

It was a special sensory ability brought by the system, a qualitative change that occurred when combined with high-intensity cultivation.

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art Proficiency +8]

The rate of proficiency gain had increased again!

It had gone from +5 points to +8 points!

Lin Fan rejoiced inwardly and pushed his Origin Energy with even greater focus.

The ninetieth circulation.

The hundredth circulation...

As he completed the hundredth circulation, Lin Fan felt a slight "click" from within his body.

It wasn't a meridian rupture.

but rather a certain bottleneck was broken.

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution Proficiency Reached 1000/1000]

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution Master Level Achieved]

[Attribute Bonus Acquired: Origin Energy Cap +200, Origin Energy Recovery Speed +100%, Origin Energy Quality Increased by 50%]

[Profound Origin Qi Strength Increased, Automatic Tempering Effect Doubled]

[Host Detected for Continuous High-Intensity Cultivation, Meets Requirements]

[Cultivation Acceleration Function Unlocked: Currently Can Activate Up to 5x Speed]

[5x Speed Effect: Consumes 5x Stamina, Gains 5x Proficiency, Physical Load Greatly Increased]

A series of system prompts greatly invigorated Lin Fan's spirit.

The first revolution, mastered!

From beginner to master, which originally might have taken months, he had only used two nights!

More importantly, the 5x speed function was unlocked!

"5x speed..." A glint flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "If I activate 5x speed, combined with Mad Saber's method for breaking through, how much proficiency can I gain in one cycle?"

He immediately tried it.

"System, activate 5x speed cultivation mode."

[5x Speed Mode Activated]

[Warning: Current Physical Strength Being Assessed...]

[Assessment Complete: Iron Body Skill Perfection, Can Withstand 5x Speed Load, but Stamina Consumption Will Greatly Increase]

[Recommendation: Prepare Sufficient Energy Replenishment]

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

Then, he began to run the 101st cycle.

"Boom!"

This time, the Origin Energy's running speed surged fivefold!

If the previous Origin Energy was a surging river, then now it was a tsunami! A mountain flood! A violent, world-shattering cataclysm!

Origin Energy rushed through the meridians at a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to track. Wherever it passed, acupoints groaned under the unbearable load, and meridians were stretched to their limit.

The pain also increased fivefold!

"Argh!"

Lin Fan grunted, his body trembling violently, and blood beads seeped from his skin—the result of capillaries bursting under extreme pressure.

But he didn't stop.

Because he saw the system prompts flashing wildly:

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art Proficiency +40]

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art Proficiency +40]

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art Proficiency +40]

One cycle, 40 points of proficiency!

Forty times that of normal cultivation! Eight times that before activating Mad Saber's method!

"Continue!" Lin Fan's eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed a Crimson Flame Fruit and stuffed it into his mouth.

The fruit's energy rapidly transformed into blood and qi, nourishing his almost collapsing body.

The twentieth 5x speed cycle.

Proficiency increased by 800 points.

The fortieth 5x speed cycle.

Proficiency increased by 1600 points.

When he reached the fiftieth 5x speed cycle, Lin Fan's Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution proficiency had already reached:

3150/5000 (Minor Accomplishment Level)!

Only 1850 points away from breaking through to Minor Accomplishment Level!

But the price was--

"Pfft! Pfft!"

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Lin Fan spat out two mouthfuls of blood consecutively, his face as pale as paper.

All his meridians were groaning, and multiple fine cracks had appeared. The medicinal power of the Vessel Protecting Pills had been largely consumed and was about to give out.

The more serious issue was the stamina consumption.

In five times speed mode, each circulation consumed five times the normal stamina. After fifty circulations, Lin Fan felt his body had been hollowed out, making it difficult even to lift his hand.

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

Only three were left.

Five of the eight Crimson Flame Fruits had been consumed during his recent cultivation. These remaining three could at most sustain him for another twenty circulations.

"Resources... are indeed insufficient." Lin Fan gave a wry smile.

He finally understood why Teacher Zhang had said Mad Saber's method was too demanding.

This cultivation method was practically burning money.

A single Crimson Flame Fruit had a market price of at least fifty thousand Huaxia coins. Eight would be four hundred thousand.

And he had only consumed five to advance his cultivation from Proficient to near Minor Accomplishment. To reach Minor Accomplishment, he would need at least ten more.

What about reaching Major Accomplishment, or Perfection?

The resources required would likely be an astronomical figure.

"No wonder Senior Mad Saber said not to attempt his method without sufficient resources," Lin Fan murmured. "Ordinary people truly cannot afford it."

But he was not an ordinary person.

He had the system.

"As long as I have enough resources, I can accelerate infinitely," Lin Fan's eyes rekindled with flame. "And resources can be obtained through missions."

He forced himself to sit up straight, preparing to continue cultivating.

But just then--

"Knock, knock, knock."

There was a knock on the door.

Lin Fan frowned.

Who would it be at this hour?

He quickly concealed his aura, wiped the blood from his lips and the floor, and put the Crimson Flame Fruits and notes into his Storage Space before asking, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Chen Dahu," came a hearty voice from outside the door.

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 a set of light leather armor, with a heavy-bladed saber strapped to his back, looking ready for a mission.

Sun Wanting wore a black tight-fitting outfit, a sword at her waist, her shoulder-length hair neat and sharp, exuding an imposing aura. Seeing Lin Fan's pale face, she frowned slightly, "Are you injured?"

"Over-cultivation, I'm fine," Lin Fan said, stepping aside to let them in. "Sit down. What brings you here at this time?"

Chen Dahu scratched his head. "Brother Fan, Teacher Zhang asked us to go on a mission with you tomorrow, so we came to ask about your plans."

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

Lin Fan nodded.

"Using Mad Saber's method?" Sun Wanting asked again.

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

"My father tried it back then," Sun Wanting said calmly. "He was also an admirer of Mad Saber. After obtaining the insights, he forcefully broke through without heeding any warnings. As a result, his meridians were damaged, and his cultivation stagnated for three years."

Her tone was calm, but Lin Fan detected a hint of hidden pain.

"Your father, is he now..."

"Dead," Sun Wanting stated plainly. "Three years ago, during a beast tide, he was mortally wounded while covering the team's retreat."

The dormitory fell silent.

Chen Dahu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately held back.

Lin Fan was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry."

"No need," Sun Wanting waved her hand. "It was his own choice. I came today to remind you – Mad Saber's method is very dangerous. Don't repeat my father's mistake."

"I know," Lin Fan said earnestly. "But I have a reason to become strong."

Sun Wanting looked at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. "As expected, you and my father are the same kind of person. Both lunatics."

She took out a small bag from her embrace and threw it to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan caught it and opened it. Inside were five pale blue pills, emitting a cool fragrance.

"These are 'Pulse Nourishing Pills', Mortal Tier Top Grade. Although not as good as Vessel Protecting Pills, they can still nourish the meridians and alleviate damage," Sun Wanting said. "My father left them behind. I can't use them, so I'm giving them to you."

Lin Fan clutched the bag. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me too soon," Sun Wanting stood up. "Tomorrow's mission, you're the main force. If you get into trouble due to your cultivation, the whole team will suffer. So, stay alive."

With that, she turned and walked towards the door.

Chen Dahu quickly followed, and as they reached the doorway, he turned back to say, "Brother Fan, meet at the north city gate tomorrow at Chen Shi. Don't forget."

"I won't forget."

After the two left, the dormitory quieted down again.

Lin Fan looked at the Pulse Nourishing Pill in his hand, a complex emotion surging within him.

Sun Wanting appeared indifferent on the surface, but was actually thoughtful. She saw that he had overexerted himself in cultivation and specifically sent him the pill. He noted this favor.

"I'll recover first," Lin Fan said, taking out a Pulse Nourishing Pill and swallowing it.

The pill transformed into a cool stream of energy, slowly nourishing his damaged meridians. Although the effect wasn't as good as the Vessel Protecting Pill, it did significantly reduce the pain.

He brought up his system panel to check:

[Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art First Revolution: Proficient (3150/5000)]

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

[Physical Condition: Minor Damage (Restoring with Pulse Nourishing Pill's medicinal power)]

[Stamina: 23/100 (Severely Overdrawn)]

With only 23 stamina points left, he was severely overdrawn.

In this state, let alone continuing his cultivation, even normal activities would be difficult.

"I must replenish my stamina quickly," Lin Fan looked at the remaining three Scarlet Flame Fruits. "But these aren't enough. I need more energy."

He thought of Zhao Ling'er.

If he agreed to cooperate, perhaps the resource problem could be solved.

But...

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

The urgent matter was to recover his stamina and prepare for tomorrow's mission.

He sat down cross-legged and began circulating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art—not to break through, but for normal warming and regulation.

As the cultivation technique circulated, Profound Origin Qi was slowly generated. Combined with the medicinal power of the Pulse Nourishing Pill, it repaired the meridian damage.

His stamina was also slowly recovering.

Time ticked by.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, and night fell.

When Lin Fan finished regulating his breathing, his stamina had recovered to 65 points. Although still fatigued, he could at least move normally.

He stood up, intending to go to the mess hall to eat something and replenish his energy.

But he stopped abruptly just as he reached the door.

Outside the door, there was breathing.

Very light, very slow, but definitely present.

Someone was waiting outside the door!

Lin Fan's eyes turned cold, and his mental power slowly spread out.

In the shadows of the corridor outside the door, a person was crouching. They were wearing night-vision clothing and a mask, revealing only a pair of eyes. Those eyes were staring into the dormitory through the gap in the door.

"Finally couldn't wait any longer?" Lin Fan sneered inwardly.

He pretended not to know and pushed the door open.

"Creak—"

The moment the door opened, the figure abruptly retreated into the shadows, holding their breath.

Lin Fan walked towards the stairs as if nothing had happened, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

One step, two steps, three steps...

Just as he reached the corner of the stairs, an extremely faint sound of air being cut came from behind him!

"Whoosh!"

A cold glint shot directly at his back!

Lin Fan was prepared. He shifted his body slightly, and the cold glint grazed his ribs, flying past with a "thunk" as it embedded itself in the wall.

It was a three-inch-long dart, its body a dark blue, clearly poisoned.

"You're asking for death." Lin Fan turned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

In the shadows, the figure saw that the sneak attack had failed and turned to flee without hesitation, their speed astonishingly fast.

But Lin Fan was faster.

The Perfection of the Iron Body Skill provided not only defense but also explosive power. He stomped his foot, cracking the stone slab beneath him, and shot out like a cannonball, instantly catching up to the person.

"Stay here."

He threw a punch!

Without using any martial skills, it was just the simplest, most direct punch.

But this punch contained the full power of Iron Body Skill's Perfection, and the pure Origin Energy of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art.

"Bang!"

The man hastily turned to block, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

But it was useless.

The moment his fist met the arm, the man heard the sound of his own arm bones shattering.

"Crack!"

"Ah!" A scream rang out.

The man flew backward, crashing heavily into the corridor wall and sliding to the ground.

Lin Fan strode forward and yanked off the man's mask.

It was a stranger's face, around thirty years old, with sallow skin and fierce eyes.

"Who sent you?" Lin Fan asked coldly.

The man grinned, blood foam spilling from the corner of his mouth. "You... can't escape..."

With that, his head lolled to the side, and he breathed his last.

Lin Fan frowned and crouched down to examine him.

The man had a poison sac hidden in his teeth, which he had bitten to commit suicide.

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

Those who could cultivate suicide operatives were definitely not ordinary forces.

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

He searched the body. Besides a bag of poisoned darts and a few hidden weapons, he found nothing that could prove the man's identity.

However, hanging from the body's waist was a black wooden plaque, engraved with a strange pattern—an eye with a slit in its pupil.

Lin Fan noted the pattern and put the wooden token into his Storage Space.

Then, he quickly dealt with the body—dragging it back to his dormitory and stuffing it under his bed. He would find an opportunity to dispose of it when he left the academy tomorrow.

After finishing all this, Lin Fan sat on the edge of his bed, his face grim.

Being stalked, being assassinated.

The other party's actions were becoming more direct, more brazen.

"Is it because I'm cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art that it's attracted some people's attention? Or is it because I offended the Wang Family, and they want revenge?"

Lin Fan didn't know the answer.

But he knew one thing—

"I must become stronger, faster."

He looked at his Panel. The proficiency of the first revolution of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art was stuck at 3150 points.

It was only 1850 points away from Minor Accomplishment.

If he activated the 5x speed and went all out, he should be able to break through overnight.

But he lacked the stamina and resources.

"Tomorrow's mission..." A look of determination flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "I must complete it. Get the reward, exchange it for resources, and continue breaking through."

He stood up and walked to the window.

The night sky was like ink, dotted with stars.

In the distance, the lights of Jiangnan City twinkled like a galaxy.

But beneath this brilliance, currents churned, and killing intent lurked.

Lin Fan clenched his fist.

"Bring it on."

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

The night breeze blew, carrying the sound of distant bells.

It was midnight.

A new day was about to begin.

And what awaited Lin Fan were escort missions, resource crises, deeper conspiracies, and... even more fervent cultivation.