Can all things have a progress bar?

Just as he was pondering...

Zhao Tianxing bumped him in the waist with his elbow and asked, "How many bowls of medicinal soup are you planning to buy?"

Chu Fan smiled bitterly. "I'm completely broke. How could I have spare money to buy medicinal soup..."

"I was overthinking it..." Zhao Tianxing said mockingly. "Sons of wealthy families who want to learn martial arts would naturally go to famous martial arts schools. Why would they come to the Seven Star Gang to be ordinary gang members?"

"Not necessarily." The young man who had spoken earlier joined in. "Ling Feng's family has quite a bit of property... Do you really think he could break through the first stage of Martial Dao Foundation Establishment within a month and a half solely through talent?"

"Two months ago, I saw it with my own eyes. He went to the manager of the dining hall and ordered a hundred bowls of medicinal soup in one go!"

"One hundred bowls?!" Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing drew in sharp breaths together, their eyes wide and round.

The young man continued, "One bowl of medicinal soup costs one mace of silver. A hundred bowls would be ten taels of silver. Yet that amount of money was nothing in Ling Feng's eyes."

"However, medicinal soup boiled with Nurturing Blood Powder could be consumed by an ordinary person only up to three bowls a day. Any more would be like pouring oil onto a raging fire, and the body simply couldn't withstand it."

"That was why he ordered only this much in one go."

"Only this much..." Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing looked at each other, speechless.

Ten taels of silver was an astronomical sum in their eyes, enough for an ordinary family to live peacefully for an entire year.

Yet in the eyes of wealthy heirs, it might not even be enough to pay for one meal.

Although the two of them had long heard the saying, "Poor families raise scholars, wealthy families raise martial artists,"

they had never imagined that the gap between them could be so vast.

For a time, both fell silent.

"If you don't have money to buy that medicinal soup, you can only honestly put in hard work and train... Chu Fan, shall we go practice boxing together?"

Zhao Tianxing raised his arm, and his joints crackled lightly. He said loudly, "I feel as if I have endless strength right now. I was just thinking of practicing a few more sets!"

"Will you die if you don't show off?" Chu Fan lazily lifted his eyelids, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"My blood and qi are far inferior to yours to begin with. After practicing that set of Twelve Forms Boxing just now, I'll need to rest for at least an hour before I can practice it a second time."

"Go practice by yourself. I'm going to the Library Pavilion to read the fist manual."

Chu Fan waved his hand and turned toward the Library Pavilion.

After practicing that set of boxing earlier, he was already staggering as he walked. His legs felt as heavy as if they had been filled with lead, and his entire body was limp, unable to summon even the slightest strength. He wished he could return to his quarters immediately and fall asleep.

Yet his will was much firmer than that of those thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boys.

Moreover, thinking of the wondrous effect of the Mountains and Rivers Map's "One Proof, Eternal Proof," he still forced himself to the Library Pavilion even though he was so exhausted that his bones nearly felt scattered apart.

Once he arrived at the Library Pavilion, Chu Fan took out the Twelve Forms Boxing manual and began reading it carefully again.

[Literacy Technique Experience +1]

This time, he turned the pages much more slowly than before.

Previously, in the Library Pavilion, he had merely memorized the essentials and illustrations in the fist manual by rote without understanding their meaning.

Now, however, he verified the manual's profound principles against Instructor Cao's explanation from earlier, pondering every word and sentence repeatedly in his heart in an effort to understand them thoroughly.

According to Cao Feng, this Twelve Forms Boxing, the Blood Soul Nine Swords of the Blood Saber Sect, and the Ironclad Skill of the Ironclad Sect were all inferior martial arts.

In terms of offense, Twelve Forms Boxing was not as vicious as the Blood Soul Nine Swords.

In terms of defense, it was not as resilient as the Ironclad Skill.

Although neither its offense nor defense was top-notch, it was the best at strengthening one's blood and qi, tempering the sinews, and refining the bones.

Its boxing techniques, combined with stance training and its unique breathing method, allowed one to establish a Martial Dao Foundation far faster than the Blood Soul Nine Swords or the Ironclad Skill.

Thus, disciples of the Seven Star Gang who practiced Twelve Forms Boxing often mastered their blood and qi earlier than disciples who practiced those other two techniques.

Although flesh-and-blood fists could hardly withstand sharp blades, in actual combat, it was not difficult for Twelve Forms Boxing to defeat the Blood Soul Nine Swords.

Once Tiger Form reached Major Accomplishment, its explosive power became ferocious enough to shatter bluestone with a single punch;

once Swallow Form reached Major Accomplishment, the body became nimble and agile enough to weave freely through a storm of arrows;

once Bear Form reached Major Accomplishment, one possessed the strength to shoulder mountains, and a single swing of both arms carried the might to topple trees and split stones;

once Eagle Form reached Major Accomplishment, the eyes could see the tiniest objects, while the sharp claws and tremendous force made them impossible to withstand...

As Chu Fan turned the pages of the fist manual, he constantly recalled the scenes of Cao Feng and the others practicing Twelve Forms Boxing on the Training Ground. His anticipation of this boxing technique grew stronger and stronger, and he only hoped to achieve something with it soon.

An hour passed in the blink of an eye...

[This reading session increased Literacy Technique Experience by a total of 38 points.]

Although he had spent less time reading the fist manual this time than the last, he had gained considerably more experience.

It was probably because Cao Feng's lesson had deepened his understanding of Twelve Forms Boxing.

[Skill: Literacy Technique (Entry) (Trait: None)]

[Progress: (63/100)]

As his Literacy Technique experience increased, Chu Fan felt that his mind had grown increasingly clear, and his thoughts seemed to turn a little faster. It was as if a thin fog shrouding his heart was quietly dispersing.

Was that an illusion?

He rubbed his Temples and stood up to stretch his muscles and bones, feeling that most of the fatigue in his body had dissipated.

After returning the fist manual, he found a secluded patch of empty ground on the Training Ground and prepared to practice the boxing again.

Instructor Cao Feng had once said that when practicing Twelve Forms Boxing, it was best to first practice one form to Minor Accomplishment before moving on to the other eleven forms.

Once one form was mastered, all forms would be mastered;

if one form did not flow smoothly, the others would be difficult to practice.

However, after trying several times, Chu Fan discovered that the Mountains and Rivers Map had not separated the twelve forms of Twelve Forms Boxing.

Only after he completed an entire set of all twelve forms could he gain a single point of experience.

"Then I can only practice all twelve forms together..."

[Twelve Forms Boxing Experience +1]

After finishing one set of Twelve Forms Boxing, Chu Fan lay directly on the ground. Sweat rolled down like beads from a snapped string, and his vision repeatedly darkened.

Although an hour had passed between the two boxing sessions, the depletion of his body's foundations had accumulated. With his blood and qi depleted, he felt as if every ounce of strength had been drained from his body.

After quite some time, a gust of Cold wind swept past. Chu Fan shuddered, finally regaining a measure of clarity.

"Chu Fan, it's time to eat!"

Zhao Tianxing's voice came from far away.

Chu Fan turned his head and saw Zhao Tianxing walking briskly toward him, a longbow on his back and his steps as light as the wind.

This guy had practiced several sets of Twelve Forms Boxing in succession, yet he was still brimming with energy, without the slightest trace of fatigue...

With such an innate gift, how could anyone not feel envious, jealous, and resentful!

"Your body really is far too weak..."

Zhao Tianxing reached out and pulled Chu Fan up from the ground.

He raised his brows slightly. "In two hours, you practiced Twelve Forms Boxing only twice, yet you're already limp as mud?"

Chu Fan steadied himself and could not help asking, "How many times did you practice Twelve Forms Boxing this afternoon in total?"

"Four times." Zhao Tianxing held up four fingers, his tone carrying a hint of ease.

"Counting the one Instructor Cao had us demonstrate in front of everyone, I practiced the complete Twelve Forms Boxing four times. As for Monkey Form, I practiced it separately five times."

"..." Chu Fan was so stunned that he could not speak for a long while.

The difference between people really was like a heavenly chasm...

He now somewhat believed that Zhao Tianxing could truly exchange blows with a blind bear.

The strength of this guy's blood and qi was probably enough to rival a martial artist who had already broken through Blood Nourishment!

He secretly pondered that if he had Zhao Tianxing's formidable physique, perhaps he could practice Twelve Forms Boxing to Entry in a single afternoon!

But judging by the current situation, even if he divided his training from morning to night into three sessions, he could endure at most six sets.

He would probably have to wait until tomorrow night to practice Twelve Forms Boxing to Entry.

He had no idea whether this cultivation speed counted as fast or slow.

The two walked side by side toward the dining hall.

Dusk had gradually descended. The lanterns around the Training Ground lit up one after another, their dim yellow halos swaying gently in the wind.

Dinner was stewed radish with Steamed Corn Buns, ordinary beyond measure. What made Chu Fan's heart stir, however, was that every bowl actually contained a thumb-sized piece of beast meat.

The piece of beast meat was small, but it glistened with oil and was extremely delicious. It had clearly been prepared with care.

The two wolfed down their dinner, then went together to collect their medicinal soup.

The medicinal soup in the bowl was pitch-black, murky, and viscous. It carried a heavy bitterness of medicinal herbs, mixed with a faint fishy odor.

Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing exchanged a glance, both frowning.

Just as they were about to tip their heads back and drink, Ling Feng arrived surrounded by a group of gang members. With an arrogant expression, he swaggered to the medicinal-soup window and slapped a banknote down on the counter.

Ling Feng said calmly, "Manager Xu, please reserve a hundred Blood Refining Pills for me. I'll come collect them tomorrow morning."

"..." Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing's eyes turned green.

They saw it clearly: that was unmistakably a fifty-tael banknote!

Was this how rich people acted—so outrageously bold?

Judging from the name alone, the Blood Refining Pills were presumably far superior to the medicinal soup in their hands.

Even the price was five times higher...

A bowl of Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup cost only one mace of silver, yet a single Blood Refining Pill cost five!

Ling Feng turned his head, swept his gaze across Zhao Tianxing's face, and asked indifferently, "Zhao Tianxing, aren't you going to reserve more Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup?"

The two had originally been complete strangers. It was only because Cao Feng had said on the Training Ground earlier that Zhao Tianxing might break through Blood Nourishment much faster than Ling Feng that Ling Feng had naturally taken note of him.

If Zhao Tianxing truly took less time, the reputation of Ling Feng, the Seven Star Gang's "genius," would inevitably lose some of its luster.

Zhao Tianxing gave an awkward laugh and scratched his head. "How could I have spare money to buy medicinal soup..."

Upon hearing this, the corners of Ling Feng's mouth curled into a faint, ambiguous smile. He said no more and turned to leave the dining hall amid the crowd surrounding him.

Chu Fan withdrew his gaze and looked down at the medicinal soup in his bowl, carefully taking a sip.

Although it tasted bitter, it was still within the range of what he could endure.

It was just that the fishy odor was truly unpleasant.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, held his breath, and tipped his head back, gulping down the entire bowl of medicinal soup.

Seeing this, Zhao Tianxing imitated him and drained his medicinal soup in large mouthfuls.

In less than a moment...

Chu Fan suddenly felt his entire body grow hot. A warm current slowly rose from his Dantian, then surged through his Limbs and Bones like boiling water.

The fatigue left behind by his earlier boxing practice rapidly receded like a tide, and every part of his body was filled with indescribable comfort!

"This medicinal soup actually has such miraculous effects!"

Chu Fan was both startled and delighted, feeling as if the blood and qi within his body had grown more active.

Just then...

The panel on the Mountains and Rivers Map suddenly changed!

[Spiritual Essence: 1.3]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment First Stage, Blood Nourishment 1%]

After drinking one bowl of medicinal soup, his Spiritual Essence had increased by 0.5!

Besides that, the panel had gained a new "cultivation realm."

Can everything have a progress bar...?