The morning light pierced the clouds, washing the crooked shacks of the Slum District in a layer of dull gold.
Lin Fan stood at the entrance to the shack, his consciousness sinking into the Status Panel as he looked at the two lines of data:
[Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 201/500)]
[Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 79/100)]
There was also the System Status Bar in the corner of the panel: [Integrity: 3.1%], and the faintly visible "Task System" in the Unlock List.
"Still not efficient enough," Lin Fan murmured to himself.
After a whole night of grueling practice, Basic Fist Technique had reached the Proficient Level, with another 100 proficiency points accumulated on top of that—that one Skill Point had been well spent. His breathing technique had also improved, leaving him just 21 points short of the Proficient Level.
But only two days remained of the Three-Day Limit.
His sister's medicine would cost 5,000 Credit Points. At market rates, a 1st Tier Demonic Core was worth around 100 points, meaning he would need to hunt 50 1st Tier Demonic Beasts. With his current strength, that was almost impossible—not because he couldn't beat them, but because he couldn't find that many Demonic Beasts wandering alone, let alone account for the other dangers he might encounter while hunting.
"So I have to pursue both paths in parallel." Lin Fan calculated quickly in his mind. "I'll keep improving my strength to prepare for hunting Higher Tier Demonic Beasts, while also finding a way to make quick money—at the very least, enough to stabilize my sister's condition."
He looked at the Attribute Bar on the panel.
Strength 10, Defense 8, Speed 9.
According to the description, an ordinary person averaged 5, so his Base Attributes were almost twice that. But it still wasn't enough—not nearly enough.
"If there's some way to raise my attributes directly..." Lin Fan focused on the Strength value.
Nothing happened.
He tried focusing on the "(+0)" beside it instead.
This time, a tiny prompt box appeared: [Attributes can be increased through the following means: 1. Realm Breakthrough; 2. Cultivation Technique Buff; 3. Natural Treasures; 4. Special Opportunity.]
None of those were available to him right now.
Lin Fan closed the panel and walked into the shack. Lin Xiaoyu was already awake, sitting on the Straw Mat and sipping the leftover thin porridge from the previous night. When she saw Lin Fan come in, she forced a smile. "Brother, you're up so early."
"I have to go out and work today." Lin Fan crouched and touched his sister's forehead. She was still a little feverish. "Get some rest. Don't get out of bed."
"Mm." Lin Xiaoyu nodded obediently. After hesitating, she asked softly, "Brother, is the medicine... expensive?"
"No, it isn't." Lin Fan answered quickly. "I'll earn enough today. I'll buy your medicine tonight."
He said it with such certainty, as if stating an established fact.
Lin Xiaoyu's eyes brightened, but soon dimmed again. "Brother, don't push yourself too hard. I... I can still hold on."
Lin Fan didn't answer. He simply tucked the threadbare blanket around her, then dug a small cloth bundle out of the bottom of the wooden chest. Inside were the last few things their parents had left them: a rusty Bronze Badge engraved with a blurred "Lin," and a few yellowed sheets of paper recording the most basic Herbal Identification Method.
He tucked the badge close to his body and turned to leave.
On the eastern side of the Slum District, near the foot of the city wall, lay a Messy Open Space.
This was the "Temporary Labor Gathering Place."
Though dawn had only just broken, more than a hundred people had already gathered in the open space. Most were ragged men, but there were also a few women and half-grown boys. Everyone was waiting for the overseers from the Inner City to come out and pick the laborers they needed for the day.
Lin Fan squeezed into the crowd and stood in a relatively clean corner.
He surveyed his surroundings and spotted familiar faces—mostly neighbors from the Original Owner's memories, along with a few people he'd worked with before. They were all gaunt and sallow, their eyes numb, like beggars waiting for alms.
"Kid, you here to find work too?" A middle-aged man with a face full of stubble glanced at Lin Fan. "There aren't many jobs today. I doubt you'll get picked."
Lin Fan recognized him. Everyone called him Old Zhang. He had done hard labor in the Slum District for over a decade and knew all the foremen.
"Uncle Zhang." Lin Fan nodded. "What kind of work is there today?"
"What else?" Old Zhang scoffed. "Unloading cargo at the docks, hauling bricks at construction sites, clearing trash. All the dirty, backbreaking jobs the big shots in the Inner City don't want to do."
As they were speaking, a commotion broke out at the edge of the open lot.
Three pickup trucks drove over and stopped by the roadside. Several men in work clothes jumped out, batons hanging from their belts. Their leader was a Bald Fatty with a whistle around his neck.
"It's Foreman Wang," Old Zhang said quietly. "He's hiring for dock unloading. The pay's fairly reliable, but the work's heavy."
Foreman Wang climbed onto a rock and blew his whistle. The noisy crowd fell silent at once.
"Need thirty people today!" the Fatty bellowed. "Unloading ore carts, five Credit Points per cart, two meals included! Anyone strong enough, get over here!"
The crowd immediately surged forward.
There were thirty spots, but at least a hundred and fifty people at the site. Everyone pushed to the front, waving their arms and shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!"
Lin Fan didn't push forward. He stayed where he was, watching how Foreman Wang selected people.
The Fatty's gaze swept over the crowd, and he pointed. "You, you, and you... Hmm, that dark-haired kid there looks sturdy enough. Come over."
He picked people who were relatively robust and looked capable of handling heavy work. Lin Fan's thin frame was easy to miss in the crowd.
Soon, twenty-nine people had been chosen.
The Fatty was about to pick the last person when his gaze passed over Lin Fan. He frowned. "Too skinny. No good."
"Foreman Wang, I can do the work." Lin Fan stepped forward, his voice calm. "I'm stronger than I look."
"Stronger than you look?" A Strongman who'd been selected scoffed beside him. "Kid, those ore carts carry two or three tons. You think you can haul that?"
Lin Fan ignored him and looked at Foreman Wang. "Let me try. If I can't handle it, I won't take a single cent."
The Fatty stared at Lin Fan for a few seconds. Perhaps there was something unusual in the boy's eyes, because he finally nodded. "Fine, you're in. But I'm warning you—if you slack off or can't do the work, you're gone!"
"Understood."
Lin Fan followed the group into the bed of a pickup truck. It was packed with people, and the smells of sweat and body odor mingled in the air. The Strongman who had mocked him sat opposite, shooting him scornful glances.
"Kid, don't start bawling later," the Strongman said with a grin, showing his yellow teeth.
Lin Fan said nothing and closed his eyes to rest.
The truck started up, left the Slum District, passed through a heavily guarded checkpoint, and entered the Outer City. The buildings here were much more orderly, and the streets somewhat cleaner, but there were still patrols of soldiers and defensive fortifications on the high walls.
After another ten minutes or so, they arrived at the docks.
Jiangnan City stood beside a great river, and the dock district was a major hub for the distribution of goods. Dozens of cargo ships could be seen moored in the distance, cranes loading and unloading containers, while workers scurried among the heaps of cargo like ants.
Foreman Wang led the group to an open-air freight yard. Large quantities of dark-brown ore were piled there. Each chunk was about the size of a basketball, its surface rough and gleaming with a metallic sheen.
"Today's work is simple!" the Fatty said, pointing at a rail cart approaching in the distance. "The ore carts come in from the mining district. You unload them, carry the ore over to that pile, and stack it neatly. Five points per cart, paid out when the job's done! Lunch is steamed buns and vegetable soup, all you can eat!"
He paused, then added, "One more thing: this is Black Iron Ore. It's heavier than ordinary rock. Each piece weighs at least thirty or forty pounds, so be careful not to drop one on your foot!"
The rail cart slowly came to a stop. Its car was packed full of Black Iron Ore.
"Get to work!"
The thirty people split into two groups. One group would unload the cart, and the other would carry the ore over and stack it.
Lin Fan was assigned to the carrying group. He walked to the cart and looked at the mountain of ore piled inside, drawing a deep breath.
He bent down and picked up a piece.
It was heavy in his hands, just as expected—thirty or forty pounds. In the past, Lin Fan would have struggled just to walk with it, but now...
His arms tensed as he lifted the ore steadily.
[Strength-type labor detected]
[Strength Proficiency +1]
A prompt flashed before his eyes.
Lin Fan's eyes lit up.
Just as he'd thought!
Labor could also build proficiency! And based on the prompt, this was Strength Proficiency, probably linked to the [Strength] attribute!
Without hesitation, he carried the ore to the pile twenty meters away. His steps were steady and his breathing even. He didn't stagger or pant like an ordinary person carrying a heavy load.
He set the ore down and turned back.
The second piece, the third, the fourth...
[Strength Proficiency +1]
[Strength Proficiency +1]
The prompts kept flashing.
Lin Fan realized that each time he carried a load, he gained 1 proficiency point as long as his movements were correct and his effort complete. If his form broke down or he stopped midway, he got nothing.
Just like practicing fist techniques, the system recognizes "effective labor." He had it figured out.
So he deliberately adjusted his carrying posture: when bending down, he squatted with his legs and used their strength for support; when lifting, he kept his back straight and his core tight; while walking, he kept a steady stride and maintained his balance.
Every repetition was like practicing some kind of "heavy-load carrying" skill.
His efficiency was far higher than everyone else's.
The Strongman who had mocked Lin Fan was already panting after carrying three pieces and had to stop to rest. Lin Fan had carried eight, yet only a fine sheen of sweat had appeared on his forehead. His breathing was still steady.
"Not bad, kid," Old Zhang said, watching him in surprise. "You practiced before?"
"I'm a little strong," Lin Fan replied simply, then picked up another piece of ore.
[Strength Proficiency +1]
By midday, Lin Fan had carried fifty-three pieces of ore.
At an average of thirty-five pounds per piece, the total weight he had moved came to nearly a ton. But that wasn't the most important part—the most important thing was that he'd gained 53 points of Strength Proficiency.
At lunchtime, the workers gathered around the piles of cargo. Each person got two black steamed buns and a bowl of clear soup with a few leaves of vegetables floating in it.
Lin Fan collected his portion, but didn't eat right away. Instead, he checked the panel first.
[Strength Proficiency: 53/100]
There was no separate "Strength Skill Bar," but the proficiency bar definitely existed. It was beside [Strength: 10] in the Attribute Bar, a tiny gray progress bar that appeared only when he focused on it.
"So Strength, Defense, and Speed—the basic attributes—can all build proficiency through their corresponding activities?" Lin Fan guessed. "Maybe the attributes will increase once the proficiency is full?"
If so, this system was incredibly powerful.
It wasn't just combat skills. Even basic attributes could be improved through sheer grinding!
"Eat first." Lin Fan bit into a bun. The coarse bran scraped at his throat, but he ate carefully. His body needed energy. The afternoon would be the real test.
After lunch, they had half an hour to rest.
Most people lay right down on the ground and dozed, but Lin Fan found a quiet corner, sat cross-legged, and began practicing Basic Breathing Technique.
His breathing grew long and deep as vital energy circulated.
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1]
One cycle, two cycles...
Though the surroundings were noisy, Lin Fan quickly settled into the rhythm. His exhaustion slowly ebbed away, and the soreness in his muscles gradually faded under the nourishment of vital energy.
Half an hour later, he opened his eyes.
[Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 85/100)]
It had advanced another 6 points.
He was just 15 points short of the Proficient Level.
"I should break through this afternoon." Lin Fan stood and rolled his shoulders. He felt almost fully recovered.
The afternoon's work was even more grueling.
The sun beat down mercilessly, and the ore grew hot to the touch. Quite a few workers started slacking off, their pace slowing noticeably. Foreman Wang prowled around with his baton, cursing, but there wasn't much he could do—the heat was so bad that pushing them too hard might cause an accident.
Only Lin Fan kept up the same pace as in the morning.
One piece, two, three...
[Strength Proficiency +1]
[Strength Proficiency +1]
His movements grew smoother and smoother, as if his body had adapted to this high-intensity labor. Every bend, lift, step, and set-down seemed precisely calculated, maximizing efficiency while minimizing energy use.
The Strongman managed two more trips, but finally couldn't hold out. He dropped onto the ground and panted heavily. "I... I can't do it anymore. This damn weather..."
He looked at Lin Fan, the disbelief in his eyes replacing his initial disdain.
The frail boy had carried ore for nearly four hours straight without stopping once or complaining once. Sweat soaked his ragged clothes, clinging tightly to his body and outlining slightly bulging muscles—not the bulky muscles of a Strongman, but lean, taut, resilient lines.
"Monster..." the Strongman muttered.
At three in the afternoon, the first cart of ore was unloaded.
Foreman Wang blew his whistle to gather everyone and began tallying their work.
"Listen up!" The Fatty held a small notebook. "Same as always: you're paid according to how many pieces you carried! One piece is worth 0.1 Credit Points. Tell me your count, and I'll check it!"
The workers began calling out their numbers.
"Twenty-seven pieces."
"Thirty-one pieces."
"Nineteen..."
When it was the Strongman's turn, he hesitated. "Forty-two pieces."
Foreman Wang glanced at him and wrote it down.
At last, it was Lin Fan's turn.
"One hundred and nine," Lin Fan said.
The site fell silent for a moment.
"How many?" Foreman Wang thought he'd misheard.
"One hundred and nine," Lin Fan repeated.
"Are you bullshitting me?!" the Strongman blurted out. "I busted my ass for forty-two, and you did a hundred and nine? You think you're a Martial Artist or something?"
The others cast suspicious looks at him too.
Foreman Wang stared at Lin Fan. "Kid, if you give me a false count, you won't get a single cent."
"You can check," Lin Fan said calmly. "I stacked my ore on the third row of the pile to the west. Count down from the top. The first five layers are all mine. There are about twenty pieces per layer, and nine on the top layer, for a total of one hundred and nine."
The Fatty walked over to take a look, still unconvinced.
The pile was stacked neatly, with twenty pieces on each layer except the top, which held nine. And the third row of the western pile did indeed have five layers, with fresh sweat-marked handprints still visible on the topmost pieces.
Foreman Wang counted twice, then turned to Lin Fan with a complicated look. "It really is... one hundred and nine."
The crowd erupted.
"How is that possible?!"
"He carried as much as two or three of us!"
"What's that kid made of?"
The Strongman's face flushed red. He seemed to want to say something, but couldn't get the words out.
Foreman Wang made a heavy mark in his notebook, then started handing out the money. Most people got three or four Credit Points, while the Strongman got 4.2.
When Lin Fan's turn came, the Fatty counted out 10.9 coins. They were metal Credit Point tokens, with Jiangnan City's emblem on the front and their value on the back.
"Kid, you've got what it takes." Foreman Wang handed Lin Fan the coins and gave him a thumbs-up. "Coming back tomorrow? I'll save you a spot."
"Yeah." Lin Fan took the coins. They made a small, weighty pile in his palm.
Since crossing over, this was the first money he'd earned with his own hands.
It was only 10.9 Credit Points, still a long way from 5,000, but at least... it was a start.
More importantly, when he checked his Status Panel:
[Strength Proficiency: 109/100]
[Strength: 10→11]
[Notice: Strength attribute increased. Current punching power: about 130 kilograms. Weightlifting capacity: about 110 kilograms.]
Just as he'd thought!
Once Strength Proficiency reached 100 points, his attribute went up by 1 point!
It looked like a mere increase from 10 to 11, but compared to the average of 5 for an ordinary adult male, he was already more than twice as strong as an average person. His punching power had risen from 120 kilograms to 130, and his weightlifting capacity from 100 kilograms to 110.
Tangible growth.
"If I keep doing this kind of labor, can I keep raising my strength?" Lin Fan wondered. "But the efficiency's still too low. I only got 109 proficiency points in an afternoon, and the next attribute point will take another 100..."
He needed a more efficient method.
After work, the laborers gradually dispersed. Lin Fan didn't leave right away. Instead, he went over to Foreman Wang.
"Foreman Wang, I wanted to ask if there's any heavier work," Lin Fan said bluntly. "I don't mind if it pays more and wears me out."
The fat man was putting away his ledger. At that, he looked up at Lin Fan. "Heavier work? There is, but that kind of work... people get hurt."
"What kind of work?"
"Loading and unloading Refined Steel Ingots." Foreman Wang lowered his voice. "They come from factories in the Inner City, and each one weighs over a hundred pounds. The pay's good—0.5 Credit Points per ingot—but two people have to carry each one, and they have to work well together. Otherwise, someone could get crushed. There've been accidents before. People have died. Not many are willing to take the job now."
Over a hundred pounds, carried by two people.
Lin Fan did the math in his head. If he carried one by himself, would that count as an "Over-level Challenge"? Would the system award him extra proficiency?
"Could I give it a try?" Lin Fan asked.
Foreman Wang stared at him for several seconds before finally shaking his head. "Kid, I know you're strong, but this isn't the time to show off. It's not impossible to carry an ingot that heavy by yourself, but the risk is too high. One slip, and you could break your leg—or lose your life. Money matters, but your life matters more."
He sounded sincere, not dismissive.
Lin Fan fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. Thanks, Foreman Wang."
"Same time, same place tomorrow." The fat man patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. "With a good worker like you, I'd be happy if you came every day."
After leaving the docks, Lin Fan didn't head straight back to the Slum District.
He wandered the streets of the Outer City for a while, spending the 10.9 Credit Points he'd earned on two White Flour Buns. They cost twice as much as black-flour buns, but were softer and easier to digest.
He spent another point on a small packet of Coarse Salt.
With the rest, he bought the cheapest Nutritional Paste—an industrially synthesized, mushy food that tasted awful but was high in calories and could quickly replenish his strength. One tube cost 5 points. He bought four, spending every last Credit Point.
By the time he returned to the Slum District, dusk had settled.
Inside the shack, Lin Xiaoyu was curled up on the Straw Mat, her face a little paler than it had been that morning. When she saw Lin Fan return, she tried to sit up, but a violent fit of coughing seized her.
"Don't move." Lin Fan hurried over and steadied his sister, then pulled out the still-warm buns from inside his clothes. "Eat something first."
Lin Xiaoyu stared at the White Flour Buns, stunned. "Big Brother, these... must have been expensive, right?"
"Not expensive." Lin Fan broke off a small piece and held it to her mouth. "Eat."
Lin Xiaoyu nibbled at it, her eyes slowly reddening. "Big Brother, I'm sorry... I'm just holding you back..."
"Don't be silly." Lin Fan rubbed her hair. "You're my little sister. There's no such thing as holding me back."
After his sister had eaten half a bun, Lin Fan brought out the Nutritional Paste. "Keep this safe and eat a little every day to build up your strength. Don't worry about the medicine. I'll find a way."
Once he had settled his sister, Lin Fan stepped outside the shack.
The night wind had turned cool.
He checked his Status Panel.
[Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 201/500)]
[Basic Breathing Technique (Beginner 85/100)]
[Strength: 11]
[Status: Moderate Fatigue, Mild Malnutrition (Recovering)]
His fatigue was worse than it had been in the morning, but fortunately, the "Recovering" notice meant the Nutritional Paste was working.
"Time for Night Training."
Lin Fan assumed the Boxing Stance.
This time was completely different from yesterday.
His fists cut through the air with a clear whoosh. With 11 points of Strength and the 10% power bonus from his Proficient-level fist technique, every punch carried a heavy, solid force.
More importantly, he noticed a new change. Before, he'd needed to focus completely to meet the standard for "proper practice." Now, he only needed to give it seventy or eighty percent of his attention.
That meant he could increase his practice frequency without sacrificing quality!
One punch, two punches, three punches...
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]
He was twice as fast as he'd been the night before!
Lin Fan was thrilled, but he didn't get reckless. He maintained a steady rhythm, stopping after every twenty punches to practice his Breathing Technique and restore his strength and Vital Energy.
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1]
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1]
His breathing practice had grown more efficient too. Partly, he'd become more familiar with the Breathing Technique; partly, his physical condition had improved—the energy from the Nutritional Paste was being released little by little.
Time passed amid sweat and steady breaths.
Eleven at night.
[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1]
[Skill: Basic Breathing Technique has advanced from 'Beginner' to 'Proficient']
[Current Proficiency: 101/500]
[Skill Effect updated: Vital Energy recovery speed +10%, fatigue recovery speed +10%]
[System Integrity increased to 3.5%]
At last, his second skill had reached the Proficient level!
Lin Fan could clearly feel the "qi" around him becoming easier to catch. With each breath, Vital Energy poured into his Sea of Qi, and his fatigue ebbed like the tide.
He checked his Vital Energy Value: [Vital Energy: 87/100].
He'd spent a great deal of energy hauling ore earlier, but now, after less than two hours of breathing practice, he'd recovered more than eighty percent.
"Proficient-level breathing is twice as effective as Beginner-level." Lin Fan estimated, "At this rate, I can extend the time I spend grinding every day by at least a third."
He continued practicing his punches.
One in the morning.
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]
The progress bar steadily advanced: [Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 267/500)].
There was still some way to go before Mastery, but at his current pace, reaching Mastery within three days was entirely possible.
Just then—
The Status Panel suddenly trembled.
[Detected that the bound user has completed a cycle of 'high-intensity labor + sustained training']
[Hidden conditions met]
[Milestone 'Day and Night Liver Emperor (Beginner)' completed]
[Reward: Skill Points ×1, System Integrity +0.5%]
[Current System Integrity: 4.0%]
[Unlock progress for pending function 'Task System': 40%]
A new milestone!
And a hidden one, at that!
Lin Fan's spirits lifted. He immediately checked his new Skill Point.
Without hesitation, he put it into Basic Fist Technique.
[Skill Points -1]
[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +100]
[Current Proficiency: 367/500]
He was only 134 points away from Mastery level, which required 501.
"If I keep doing high-intensity labor tomorrow, then train like this at night..." Lin Fan quickly calculated. "Basic Fist Technique should reach Mastery by the night after tomorrow at the latest."
Mastery meant a 20% power bonus.
How strong would his punches be then?
150 kilograms? 160?
More importantly, System Integrity had reached 4.0%, and the Task System's unlock progress had reached 40%. At this rate, completing one or two more milestones might be enough to activate it.
And the Task System meant... there might be more direct rewards, like Credit Points, or ways to obtain resources.
Lin Fan took a deep breath and suppressed his excitement.
He couldn't rush.
He had to take it one step at a time.
He glanced at the shack, where his little sister slept soundly.
Then he looked at the Status Panel, its lines of data quietly flickering in the darkness.
Then he assumed the Boxing Stance once more.
The night was still young.
The path of a Liver Emperor had only just begun.
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