Accumulated Strength, Bursting Forth

A senior disciple, who had joined the sect half a year prior, walked over and loudly assigned tasks. "Cui Hao, Wang Nian, Xiao Li, you three clean the courtyard."

"Wang Ji, Li Wu, you're cleaning the outhouse today."

"Zhang Sai, Zhang Le, you wipe the porch."

"..."

It was time for the daily sweeping and cleaning after martial arts practice, and the disciples began their work.

Just like learning martial arts, there were chores, including but not limited to washing and cooking for the master, carrying water, chopping firewood, cleaning the courtyard, clearing the outhouse, and watering the vegetable patch.

A month passed in a flash.

That evening, Cui Hao, dressed in short training clothes, approached the second row of stone locks. He embraced one with both hands and began doing squats.

One, two, three... fifty!

Though sweat beaded on his forehead and his breathing grew heavy, his movements remained steady. He could clearly feel the soreness and strength in his thigh and core muscles – tangible progress.

"Good, good!" a voice of praise came from behind.

Cui Hao put down the stone lock and turned. His fourth senior brother, Sun Cheng, was walking over with a smile. "Junior Brother Cui, your progress is faster than many. You can start practicing sparring and stance training."

Cui Hao cupped his fist in a salute to Sun Cheng.

"Stance training is the basic method to temper blood and qi, paving the way for all fist techniques," Sun Cheng explained. "Starting tomorrow, practice stance training until exhaustion each day. Spend other times practicing fist forms and sparring, rotating between them to accumulate blood and qi as quickly as possible..."

Before Sun Cheng could finish speaking, a sudden commotion erupted. "He broke through! Junior Brother Xiao Li broke through! It only took him a month!"

Almost all the disciples stopped their work and looked in one direction.

In the center of the crowd, a tall, handsome youth was being surrounded like a star. It was Xiao Li, who had joined the sect in the same intake as Cui Hao.

The disciples offered congratulations in a flurry of voices. Xiao Li smiled and returned their greetings with cupped fists. Though he tried his best to maintain humility, the youthful vigor of his success was undeniable.

Soon, Xu Dian, having heard the news, strode over from the back courtyard. The disciples automatically parted to make way.

Xu Dian walked up to Xiao Li. Without a word, he reached out and pressed Xiao Li's shoulder, arm, and ribs at several key points. He then had him demonstrate the movements of the Broken Fist.

Confirming Xiao Li's breakthrough, Xu Dian's eyes flashed. He praised loudly, "Excellent! Your blood and qi are full and circulating smoothly. You've broken through the upper palate gate and truly entered the Mortal Martial Realm! Xiao Li, you are very good!"

"It is all thanks to Master's careful guidance and the martial arts school's cultivation," Xiao Li said, bowing deeply. His posture was extremely humble.

"No need for such modesty. It is your own exceptional talent and your willingness to work hard. From today onwards, I will personally guide you in the subsequent training methods and energy circulation of the Broken Fist."

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Li bowed again, his voice filled with undisguised excitement. To receive personal guidance from his Master meant a vastly different future.

"Alright, instead of envying others," Sun Cheng said, walking to Cui Hao and the other newcomers, his voice serious, "it's better to focus on your own practice and solidify your foundation."

"Fourth Senior Brother," a plump disciple who had joined just a few days ago couldn't help but ask, "Why does the martial arts school only give us two months? If we had half a year, a year, we all could..."

Sun Cheng glanced at him and shook his head. "Two months is the benchmark. If within two months your blood and qi are still insufficient to sense the vital gate and attempt a breakthrough, then your aptitude is truly mediocre and you are not suited for martial arts."

Listening to Sun Cheng's explanation, Cui Hao fell silent. He subconsciously summoned his status panel in his mind.

Those lines of data were the source of his confidence.

[Archery: Novice (150/300)]
[Effect: Soreness -5, Arm Strength +5, Accuracy +5]

[Reading: Novice (170/300)]
[Effect: Reading Speed +5, Memory +5]

[Carnal Relations: Novice (299/300)]
[Effect: Physique +5, Controllable Progress Points +190]

[Broken Fist (Incomplete): Novice (120/300)]
[Effect: Physique +5, Damage Resistance +5]

[Stealth: Novice (190/300)]
[Effect: Scent -5, Light as a Swallow +5, Shadow Utilization +5]

Putting aside other skills for now, the "Carnal Relations" skill was particularly noteworthy. After each intimate encounter, 'Controllable Progress Points' would increase. The more harmonious their love life, and the happier Su Yun was, the more points he gained.

Once, Cui Hao deliberately annoyed Su Yun, and after their intimate encounter, he only gained 1 progress point.

The sky had completely darkened. After ending a day of arduous training, Cui Hao left the martial arts school, habitually practicing his 'Stealth' skill.

He didn't consciously try to hide, but rather treated it as daily practice, making his footsteps lighter, his breathing more contained, and allowing himself to better blend into the night and the shadows of street corners.

As long as he practiced, he received feedback. The progress of 'Stealth' on his panel increased slowly but steadily.

Along the way, he noticed that the number of refugees huddled by the roadside seemed to be greater than in the past few days.

Most of them were ragged, gaunt, and had their families with them. They were temporarily sheltering under shop eaves or in sheltered corners, their eyes numb and despairing, with no idea where to go.

He returned to Willow Tree Village silently, and then to his home.

"Brother Hao," Su Yun greeted him warmly. She was becoming more and more voluptuous. "Wash your face, dinner is almost ready."

A month of rest and relatively sufficient food had faded much of the haggardness from her face, and her skin had regained much of its luster.

Her eyes held a touch more allure, enhanced by recent pampering, and her movements now carried the graceful fullness of a mature woman, making Cui Hao all the more captivated.

Washing his hands and face with warm water brought by Su Yun, Cui Hao quickly began eating rice mixed with lard and steamed cured meat.

Both accustomed to physical labor, they were ravenous and devoured the meal with gusto.

After eating, Su Yun nimbly cleared the bowls, scrubbed the pot, and washed the dishes, then went to add firewood to the stove to heat bathwater.

Cui Hao wanted to help tidy the firewood in the yard, but Su Yun gently stopped him, "I'll handle these chores. You've been practicing martial arts all day; go lie down in the room and relax your muscles. I'll call you when the water's hot, and I'll give you a good massage."

Cui Hao felt a warmth spread through his heart and didn't insist further. Returning to the bedroom, he lay on his back on the wooden bed covered with a clean, old mattress. Listening to Su Yun's soft movements and the crackling of the firewood outside, the day's fatigue seemed to melt away.

Before long, Su Yun entered with the hot water. After helping him wash, she knelt by the bedside and began massaging her husband's shoulders, back, and arms with hands that were still somewhat rough but incredibly gentle.

Compared to a month ago, her technique was much more skilled, the pressure just right, and she accurately found the acupoints, clearly putting a lot of care into it.

What began as a proper massage gradually shifted as the night deepened. Alone together, the physical contact changed the atmosphere subtly.

Cui Hao turned over, took his wife's hand, and met her shy, hesitant gaze...

Afterward, his status panel refreshed, and his first minor accomplishment skill was born.

[Bedchamber: Minor Accomplishment (1/600)]
[Effect: Physique +10, Controllable Progress Points +199]

In an instant, Cui Hao felt his body undergo a silent transformation.

His muscle fibers seemed to become tighter and stronger, his bones felt subtly denser, and his overall vitality and spirit were elevated.

He even had the illusion that if he threw a punch right now, he could kill a fierce tiger with a single blow!

He recalled that a month ago, when his physique had only increased by 5 points from the beginner-level Bedchamber skill, he had been able to get out of bed and resume training just two days after taking a punch from Zhou Mengyue.

At the time, he had attributed it to his youthful recovery speed. Now, he realized that the 'Physique +5' had likely played a significant role.

Now, with Bedchamber at Minor Accomplishment, his Physique had directly increased by 10!

Combined with the Physique +5 and Damage Resistance +5 from the beginner level of Broken Fist, Cui Hao mused that if he faced Zhou Mengyue's punch again now, he might be able to get up immediately, without needing to lie in bed for two days.

"Brother Hao..." Su Yun whispered, resting her head on her husband's chest, "The Village Protection Squad came to the door again today. They knocked five times, but I didn't dare answer or open the door."

Mentioning the 'Village Protection Squad' made Cui Hao's mind race. Its three main members were thugs left behind after Zhou Menghu's death.

Later, they recruited some other ruffians and refugees. As their influence grew, they initially just made a lot of noise.

But in the past few days, under the guise of 'protecting the village from refugee disturbances,' they had begun demanding protection fees from every household!

The villagers of Willow Tree Village were already poor and had no spare money. No one had paid yet. However, seeing their increasingly frequent visits and more aggressive attitude, it was only a matter of time before they resorted to force.

Rather than waiting for them to break into his home armed and threaten Su Yun's safety, it would be better to... strike first and eliminate this threat completely!

Looking at the assignable progress points Su Yun had brought him, Cui Hao hesitated between Archery and Broken Fist, then decided to invest in Archery.

He had learned that Zhou Mengyue practiced martial arts at the Guangchang Martial Arts Hall and had reached the Mortal Martial beginner level. There was a significant gap in cultivation between them, making their close-combat abilities vastly different. Using an arrow for a sneak attack was almost his only option.

Archery was maxed out, and his panel updated.

[Archery: Minor Accomplishment (1/600)]
[Effect: Soreness -10, Arm Strength +10, Accuracy +10, Critical Hit +1]

Previously, it was Soreness -5, Arm Strength +5, Accuracy +5, and no Critical Hit.

Instantly, a surge of 'experience' far more potent and refined than any before flooded his mind!

Countless subtle adjustments to drawing the bow, judging wind speed and distance, aiming techniques for different targets, the coordinated effort of finger strength and arm power, even the delicate perception of arrow material friction with the air... all rushed in.

It was as if he had diligently practiced this path for countless seasons!

Simultaneously, his arm muscles felt a wave of soreness, heat, and swelling, becoming more robust and powerful, with his control over his strength reaching a new level.

Even his eyesight seemed to have sharpened slightly, with his grasp of spatial distance becoming more precise.

And the newly added 'Critical Hit +1' gave him a faint sense that arrows shot at specific times and under specific conditions might carry unexpected penetration or destructive power!

If shooting wild ducks and Squirrels before required luck and repeated practice, he now had much greater confidence! Within twenty paces, he could basically hit whatever he aimed at!

Good archery skills, enhanced arm strength, the +10 Physique from Minor Accomplishment in Bedchamber, and the damage resistance from beginner Broken Fist... taking down a Mortal Martial Realm martial artist... should be manageable, right?