The Might of a Single Punch, Terrifying the Petty

The morning light once again spilled down, gilding the shacks of the Slum District with a pale gold.

Lin Fan stood at the doorway of his shack, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid qi. After a night of cultivation, though he had only slept for three hours, his fatigue had largely vanished thanks to the nourishment of the Proficient Level Basic Breathing Technique.

He summoned his panel.

[Name: Lin Fan]

[Realm: Unranked (Initial Qi Sensation)]

[Strength: 12 (+0.2)] (The bracketed value is the bonus from Fist Technique Proficiency)

[Defense: 8]

[Speed: 9]

[Spirit: 12]

[Origin Energy: 98/100]

[Cultivation Technique: Basic Breathing Technique (Proficient 105/500)]

[Martial Skill: Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 367/500)]

[Skill Points: 0]

[System Integrity: 4.0%]

His Strength had increased from 11 to 12.

This was a natural increase after he had pushed his "Strength Proficiency" to the second 100-point mark by hauling ore yesterday afternoon. The "+0.2" in the parentheses was a 10% Strength bonus from the Proficient Level Basic Fist Technique—10% of 12 Strength points is 1.2, but the system seemed to only display the first decimal place.

His actual Strength should be 13.2.

"According to the prompt, my Punching Power is about 140 kilograms, and my Weightlifting Capacity is 120 kilograms." Lin Fan clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him. "I'm even stronger than yesterday."

He glanced at his sister. Lin Xiaoyu was still asleep, her face still pale, but her breathing had become much steadier. That half-tube of Nutritional Paste had worked.

Lin Fan placed the remaining three and a half tubes of Nutritional Paste by his sister's pillow, along with a White Flour Bun, covering it with a piece of rag. Then, he quietly slipped out.

Today, he had two things to verify.

First, would his work efficiency further improve with the increase in Strength? Second, could combat truly yield more proficiency?

***

The dockside cargo yard, bathed in the rising sun.

Foreman Wang, a cigarette dangling from his lips, watched the workers arrive one by one. When he spotted Lin Fan, his eyes lit up, and he waved him over, "Kid, over here!"

Lin Fan walked over.

"There's a new batch of goods today," Foreman Wang lowered his voice. "Still Black Iron Ore, but with higher purity. Each piece is at least fifty jin. The pay's also increased, 0.15 points per piece. You in?"

"I'm in," Lin Fan said without hesitation.

Fifty jin was 1.5 times heavier than yesterday. Based on his previous experience, carrying heavier objects might yield more proficiency—the system hadn't explicitly stated it, but the logic of "Over-level Challenge" having bonus rewards should apply to labor too.

"Great!" Foreman Wang patted his shoulder. "Same old rule, know your limits, don't overexert yourself."

The whistle blew to start work.

Lin Fan walked to the new pile of ore. These ores were darker, with a metallic sheen on the surface, and about a size larger than yesterday's. He bent down, putting force into his arms—

The weight felt substantial, indeed around fifty jin.

But for Lin Fan, whose actual strength now exceeded 13 points, this weight was... just right.

He steadily lifted it and walked quickly towards the loading area.

[Strength Proficiency +1]

The notification popped up.

Just like yesterday, it was 1 point. It seemed the increased weight didn't directly improve the proficiency gain efficiency, unless...

Lin Fan put down the ore and returned to the cart. This time, instead of using both hands, he tried gripping the edge of the ore with one hand, tensing his arm muscles and engaging his core—

The ore lifted off the ground. Although it swayed a bit, he held it firmly.

[Detected Overload Labor (Single-arm carry of object exceeding own weight)]

[Strength Proficiency +2]

As expected!

Lin Fan understood. The system's judgment logic wasn't just about "labor," but "effective training." When the action's difficulty increased and put more strain on the body, the proficiency gained also increased.

It was like practicing punches. A simple punch might yield 1 point, but if footwork, power generation techniques, and breathing coordination were incorporated, one practice session could be considered a "complete movement" and yield more proficiency.

"So, if I try to carry something heavier..." Lin Fan looked into the distance.

At the edge of the yard, several flatbed trucks were parked, covered with tarps. Occasionally, workers would lift a corner to move goods, revealing ingots of silver-gray metal that reflected a cold, hard sheen in the sunlight.

Refined Steel Ingots.

The kind Foreman Wang had mentioned yesterday, over a hundred jin each, requiring two people to lift.

Lin Fan's mind stirred, but he quickly suppressed the impulse.

It's not time yet.

Although his strength had increased, moving steel ingots weighing over a hundred catties required not just strength, but also stability, balance, and the ability to react to accidents. If he slipped, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"I need to build a solid foundation first." Lin Fan withdrew his gaze and continued to move ore.

This time, he deliberately adjusted his method: sometimes he carried them with both arms, sometimes he gripped them with one hand, and he even tried shouldering them. For each posture, the system would award him 1 to 3 points of proficiency based on the load.

He moved sixty-seven pieces of ore in one morning.

[Strength Proficiency: 87/100] (Proficiency from the second round)

The sun was even more scorching in the afternoon.

Many workers suffered heatstroke and fainted, being carried to a cool place to drink water and rest. Lin Fan also felt dry and thirsty, but he didn't stop. He simply adjusted his breathing rhythm, integrating the Basic Breathing Technique into his labor—each exertion was accompanied by a short exhalation; each movement of carrying allowed Origin Energy to circulate within his body.

Fatigue was suppressed to the minimum.

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1] (Maintaining Origin Energy circulation during labor)

[Strength Proficiency +2]

A double harvest.

At 3 PM, the second truckload of ore was unloaded.

When the accounts were settled, Lin Fan's hauling quantity once again shocked everyone: one hundred and thirty-four pieces.

At 0.15 points per piece, he earned 20.1 Credit Points. Added to yesterday's 10.9 points, he now had a total of 31 points on hand.

He was still a long way from 5000 points.

But Lin Fan noticed that new changes had appeared on his Panel:

[Strength Proficiency: 187/100] (Maxed out, can be upgraded)

[Do you want to convert 100 Strength Proficiency into 1 Strength attribute?]

He focused his intent and chose "Yes."

[Strength Proficiency -100]

[Strength: 12 → 13]

[Hint: Current Punching Power is approximately 150 Kilograms, Weightlifting Capacity is approximately 130 Kilograms]

His strength had increased again.

The remaining 87 points of proficiency were kept, serving as the starting point for the next round of accumulation.

"At this rate, if I can gain about 200 points of proficiency from labor every day, it will take an average of two and a half days to increase my strength by 1 point," Lin Fan calculated in his mind. "That's 4 points in ten days, and 12 points in a month... By then, my base strength might exceed 20 points, four times that of a normal person."

This growth rate far surpassed normal cultivation.

But the prerequisite was sufficient high-intensity labor, and... enough nutritional support.

Lin Fan touched the 20.1 credit points in his pocket and decided to buy something to eat first.

Outer City, dusk.

Stalls lined both sides of the street, selling food, daily necessities, and cheap martial equipment, with shouts rising and falling. Lin Fan walked through the crowd and stopped at a stall selling meat pies.

"Meat pie, 3 points each, 5 points with extra meat!" The stall owner was a plump woman, her face glistening with oil.

Lin Fan hesitated for a moment, then bought two with extra meat. He also spent 2 points on a bamboo tube of clean water. A total of 12 points, instantly spending more than half.

Holding the pies, he found a secluded alley entrance and sat down to eat slowly.

The pies were greasy, and the meat wasn't plentiful, but for a body that had long suffered from malnutrition, this was a rare energy supplement. Lin Fan ate quickly, but chewed each bite thoroughly—a habit learned from his previous life, beneficial for absorption.

After finishing the two pies, his stomach felt warm. He could clearly feel the fatigue in his body rapidly receding, and the soreness in his muscles easing.

"High-calorie food really helps with recovery," Lin Fan glanced at his panel. The status bar had changed from "Moderate Fatigue" to "Mild Fatigue."

After finishing his meal, he got up, ready to return to the Slum District.

But as soon as he stepped out of the alley, he was blocked by three people.

The leader was a man with a scar on his face, around thirty years old, wearing a dirty leather vest, with fierce eyes. Behind him followed two lackeys, one tall and thin, the other short and fat, both looking like ruffians.

Lin Fan recognized them.

They were a notorious group of thugs in the Slum District, their leader called "Scarface Li," his real name unknown, everyone called him Li Si. They specialized in collecting protection fees and extortion in the Slum District, with seven or eight men under him.

In the Original Owner's memories, when his father was still alive, he had been beaten by these people for refusing to pay "stall fees." Later, when his father became a martial artist apprentice, they had become somewhat more restrained. After his father's death, they became active again.

"Kid, heard you made quite a bit today?" Li Si grinned, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth. "That job with Fatty Wang, the pay was pretty good, huh?"

Lin Fan didn't speak, just looked at him calmly.

"What, you mute?" The tall thin man stepped forward, reaching out to push Lin Fan's shoulder. "Brother Li is talking to you!"

Lin Fan took half a step back, avoiding his hand.

"Oh, quite agile," the short fat man sneered. "Kid, do you understand the rules? Working in our territory requires paying 'management fees.' You made over twenty points today, right? Pay half, and we'll guarantee your safety from now on."

Lin Fan glanced around.

The alley entrance was bustling with people, but no one was looking this way. Occasionally, a passerby would glance over, but immediately lower their head and quicken their pace to leave. Clearly, these people had a bad reputation, and no one dared to provoke them.

"I don't have money," Lin Fan said, his voice flat.

"No money?" Li Si narrowed his eyes. "Search him."

The Tall Thin Man and the Short Fat Man moved in from either side.

Lin Fan retreated again, his back against the wall, avoiding being trapped. He quickly assessed the situation: three opponents. Li Si looked like he had some basic martial arts training, probably stronger than an Ordinary Person, but likely not a 1st Grade Martial Trainee. His two followers were just common thugs.

On his side, Strength was 13 points (actual 13.3), Basic Fist Technique was Proficient Level, with a 10% bonus. Combat Experience... almost none.

But with the system, he needed to test the rule about gaining proficiency through combat.

"Last chance, are you paying or not?" Li Si lost his patience, drawing a short wooden stick from his waist and weighing it in his hand.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and assumed the starting stance for Basic Fist Technique.

It was standard, unadorned.

Li Si froze for a second, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Look at this kid, he thinks he can fight! Practiced some Farmhouse Moves for a few days and thinks he's hot stuff?"

His two followers joined in the laughter.

Amidst the laughter, the Tall Thin Man charged forward first, throwing a punch at Lin Fan's face.

The movement was crude, the opening large.

Lin Fan sidestepped, evading the punch, and simultaneously threw a punch from his waist—a simple Straight Punch from Basic Fist Technique.

No fancy moves, no variations.

Just one punch.

His fist landed squarely on the Tall Thin Man's chest.

"Ugh—" The Tall Thin Man cried out, flying backward and slamming into the opposite wall. He slid to the ground, clutching his chest and gasping for air, his face pale.

The scene instantly fell silent.

Li Si and the Short Fat Man's smiles froze on their faces.

They had seen it clearly: Lin Fan's punch... was fast, accurate, and powerful. The Tall Thin Man, weighing at least 130-140 jin, had been sent flying back two to three meters with a single blow!

How much strength was that?

[Combat Record Updated]

[Defeated Average Adult Male (No Martial Arts Cultivation)]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +5]

[Combat Experience +1]

The panel notification flashed before his eyes.

Lin Fan's heart trembled.

As expected!

The proficiency gained from combat was far higher than from practice! A single practice session only yielded 1 point, but defeating an ordinary person gave him 5 points! If killing a Demonic Beast gave 10 points according to the system, what about defeating a Martial Artist? Or a higher-level challenge?

He looked at Li Si, a hint of... anticipation in his eyes.

"Damn it, we've run into a tough one!" Li Si spat, gripping his wooden stick. "Let's go together!"

He and the Short Fat Man flanked him from the sides, their wooden stick and fists attacking simultaneously.

Lin Fan's feet moved—Basic Footwork, Proficient Level.

Although it was just the most basic evasion footwork, with the 10% speed bonus, his movements were a hair faster than theirs.

The Short Fat Man's fist grazed past his shoulder.

Li Si's wooden stick swept towards him.

Lin Fan didn't meet the attack head-on. Instead, he ducked, charged forward, and closed the distance to Li Si.

Another Straight Punch.

But this time, he channeled his entire body's strength—legs, waist, back, shoulders, arms, the power flowed through him segment by segment, finally converging at the Fist Edge. This was a power-generating technique naturally mastered after Basic Fist Technique reached Proficient Level.

His fist struck Li Si's abdomen.

"Ugh—" Li Si's eyeballs bulged, his stomach churned violently, and he arched his body like a shrimp. The wooden stick slipped from his grasp, and he collapsed to the ground, retching uncontrollably.

The Short Fat Man was stunned, his fist raised, frozen in place.

Lin Fan turned and looked at him.

"I, I was wrong! Big brother, spare me!" The Short Fat Man dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing like pounding garlic. "I'll give you all the money! Don't hit me!"

Lin Fan ignored him and looked at the panel.

[Combat Record Updated]

[Defeated Fist and Foot Practitioner (approaching 1st Grade Martial Trainee)]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +10]

[Combat Experience +2]

[First Over-level Challenge (Actual Strength Higher Than Opponent)]

[Additional Reward: Skill Points x1]

Defeating Li Si actually gave 10 Proficiency! And 2 Combat Experience!

More importantly, the "First Over-level Challenge" also rewarded 1 Skill Point!

Lin Fan suppressed the excitement in his heart and looked at the three people on the ground.

The Tall Thin Man was still groaning and wouldn't be able to get up anytime soon. Li Si knelt on the ground, his face pale, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. The Short Fat Man kowtowed non-stop, his forehead already broken.

"Money." Lin Fan extended his hand.

The Short Fat Man was stunned, then quickly took out all the money he had - a few crumpled bills, totaling about seven or eight Credit Points. He then searched Li Si's and the Tall Thin Man's pockets, gathering about fifteen points in total.

"Th-that's all we have..." The Short Fat Man offered with both hands.

Lin Fan took the money and counted it. There were 22 points in total. Adding his remaining 19 points, he now had 41 Credit Points.

He looked at Li Si: "From now on, don't let me see you around here again."

"N-no, we won't dare..." Li Si endured the pain and said with difficulty.

Lin Fan said no more and turned to leave.

As he walked out of the alley, he heard the Short Fat Man's tearful voice from behind: "Brother Li, that kid... where did he come from? With that punch, I felt like he could kill a cow..."

Lin Fan didn't look back, only quickened his pace.

***

By the time he returned to the Slum District, it was already dark.

Lin Fan didn't go home immediately. Instead, he detoured to an abandoned stone mill behind the shacks. This place was usually deserted and suitable for practicing martial arts.

He summoned his Panel to check the spoils from the recent fight.

[Basic Fist Technique (Proficient 382/500)]

One battle, defeating three people, he gained a total of 15 Proficiency (5+10). Coupled with the practice accumulated during breaks from labor, he was now only 118 points away from Mastery Level.

At this efficiency, if he could have one or two such battles every day, his Proficiency accumulation speed would increase several times!

More importantly, there was that 1 Skill Point.

Lin Fan did not hesitate and directly added the Skill Point to Basic Fist Technique.

[Skill Points -1]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +100]

[Current Proficiency: 482/500]

Only 18 more points and it would break through to Mastery Level!

And Mastery Level meant a 20% power bonus. By then, his punching power might break through 180 kilograms, officially crossing the threshold of a 1st Grade Martial Trainee (a thousand jin is about 500 kilograms, the standard for a 1st Grade Martial Trainee is punching power above 200 kilograms).

"Combat is indeed a faster path to growth," Lin Fan took a deep breath. "But the risk is also great. Today I only encountered thugs. If I had encountered a real Martial Artist, or a Demonic Beast..."

He needed to improve his strength quickly.

Not just strength, but also defense, speed, and combat skills.

Although he won today's fight, it wasn't a perfect victory. Facing the encirclement of three people, he was actually a bit flustered, relying entirely on strength and fist techniques to brute force his way through. If the opponents had coordinated better, or had weapons, the outcome might have been different.

"I need to practice footwork, and reaction time," Lin Fan muttered to himself.

He assumed his boxing stance and began to practice.

But this time, it wasn't just about throwing punches. He combined it with footwork, moving around the grinding stone, simulating dodges, advances, and counter-attacks.

One punch, one step.

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +1]

[Basic Footwork Proficiency +1]

Practicing two skills simultaneously, although the efficiency was slightly lower, was closer to actual combat.

After practicing for about half an hour, Lin Fan was drenched in sweat.

He stopped and ran his breathing technique to recover.

[Basic Breathing Technique Proficiency +1]

Origin Energy slowly recovered, and the feeling of fatigue gradually subsided.

Just then, the panel vibrated again.

[Detected that the bound user has completed 'First Combat' and 'Won Against Odds']

[Milestone 'First Battle Victory' has been completed]

[Reward: Combat Experience +5, System Integrity +0.5%]

[Current System Integrity: 4.5%]

[Unlockable Function 'Task System' Unlock Progress: 45%]

Another milestone!

Lin Fan's spirits lifted.

System Integrity had increased to 4.5%, and the Task System unlock progress had reached 45%. At this rate, after completing one or two more milestones, the Task System would likely be activated.

And the Task System, according to its design, would issue main quests, side quests, and daily quests, providing rewards like Skill Points and resources.

That would be another leap forward.

"But the trigger conditions for milestones seem to be more than just 'doing something'; they also require reaching a certain standard," Lin Fan mused. "For example, 'Day and Night Without Rest' required high-intensity labor plus continuous cultivation; 'First Battle Victory' required the first combat engagement to be a victory against a weaker opponent. So, what will the next milestone be?"

He looked at the panel. In the milestone list, besides the two already completed, there were several grayed-out entries:

[Path of the Martial Disciple (Locked)] - Requirement: Officially enter the 1st Grade Martial Trainee realm.

[Skill Master (Locked)] - Requirement: Raise any one skill to Mastery Level.

[Survival Expert (Locked)] - Requirement: Survive independently in the wilderness for 24 hours.

"Mastery Level..." Lin Fan's gaze fell on Basic Fist Technique. "Only 18 points left."

With extra practice tonight, he should be able to break through.

Just as he was about to continue, he suddenly heard footsteps in the distance, along with hushed voices.

"...Are you sure it's here?"

"Yeah, Li Si's gang said that kid lives around here."

"Damn it, daring to mess with our Green Wolf Gang, he's tired of living..."

Green Wolf Gang?

Lin Fan frowned.

He vaguely recalled that there were several small gangs in the Slum District, and the Green Wolf Gang was one of them. They were more organized than Li Si's group of thugs, and it was rumored they had the backing of a minor family from the Outer City. Li Si and his crew seemed to be peripheral members of the Green Wolf Gang.

"They've come looking for me." Lin Fan's eyes sharpened.

The footsteps grew closer. By the sound of it, there were at least four or five people.

He quickly assessed the situation: the opponents were prepared, outnumbered them, and were likely actual gang members, possibly even trained in martial arts.

A direct confrontation would be unwise.

Lin Fan glanced in the direction of the shack. His sister was still inside.

He took a deep breath and made a decision.