"Sorry for the trouble, Boss Sun."
"No problem. I'll let you know if I hear anything."
After hanging up, Li He felt heavy-hearted.
The Abyss's rampage, the eerie little girl, and the Abyss Revenge Society's slogan—all of it pointed in a deeply unsettling direction.
Li He shook his head, dispelling those thoughts, then left home and ran toward the martial arts gym.
The morning air carried a hint of chill. As he breathed it into his lungs, his spirits lifted.
He adjusted his breathing and quietly practiced Ape Trace Steps as he ran, making his movements lighter and swifter.
[Proficiency +1] [Ape Trace Steps: Skilled (0%) → (1%)]
Li He remained unmoved, his mind calm as he focused on coordinating every breath with every step.
Before long, Li He arrived at the hill behind the martial arts gym.
The massive cliff cast a long shadow in the morning light. Fist marks of varying depths pitted its surface.
There was no one else around, making it the perfect place to practice in peace.
Without the blood essence needed for body tempering, Li He wasn't in a hurry to practice Ape Arm Mountain Crushing Fist. He didn't want to damage his muscles and bones.
I'll work on my movement technique first. Li He silently made up his mind. He shifted his feet lightly, turning nimbly among the craggy rocks and steep slopes, his path unpredictable.
He soon discovered the benefits of becoming a Second-Rank Martial Artist.
His blood and qi were robust, as though he'd broken through some kind of limit. In the past, there had always been a brief pause whenever he changed steps.
That pause was imposed by the laws of physics and unavoidable with ordinary strength.
But after reaching the second rank, his powerful blood and qi