Breakthrough

For the next two days, Chen Yue had Chen Shan practice the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique with him every day.

Although Father Chen's leg injury had not fully healed, sitting down to practice breathing and cultivation suited him perfectly. After several days, he said even his chest felt much clearer.

The values on Chen Yue's panel also rose steadily, his Martial Apprentice cultivation reaching 53/100.

The weather was exceptionally fine that day, the sea calm and mirror-smooth. Early in the morning, Father Chen had Chen Yue pack up the pearl-diving tools. "My leg can hold up well enough to steer. You dive for pearls, and the two of us will make a trip to South Bay Reef. I know that place well. Pearl Mother Shells hide deep there, but their quality is good."

Chen Yue had wanted his father to rest and recover a little longer, but Father Chen was stubborn. He said staying at home made him restless and insisted on going together.

By the time their little boat reached South Bay Reef, the sun had only just climbed halfway into the sky.

Father Chen sat at the bow, gripping the oars steadily, his gaze fixed on the sea. "The currents here are stable. Go on, dive without worry. I'll watch the rope."

Chen Yue nodded, tied the rope around his waist, took a deep breath, and plunged into the sea. With the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique circulating, he moved freely underwater. He could hold his breath far longer than before, and in less than two hours, he had brought up a basket of Pearl Mother Shells.

At noon, the two ate dry rations aboard the boat, then Chen Yue went down twice more to gather pearls.

When they headed home at sunset, Pearl Mother Shells filled nearly half the hold. After prying them open, they harvested only two low-grade pearls. Their luck truly was ordinary, but the family's Pearl Tax quota had long since been met. These two were extra savings.

Father Chen rowed the boat with a smile on his face. "Next time, we'll change locations. We'll definitely find medium-grade pearls." Chen Yue agreed, already calculating how to trade the two low-grade pearls for rice and grain. The family was nearly out of bran cakes.

In the blink of an eye, the day to pay the Pearl Tax arrived.

Just as dawn was breaking, disorderly footsteps echoed through Pearl Village. Then came the furious curses of the Sea Shark Gang, the pleas for mercy from the Pearl Households, and stifled sobs, like a heavy net cast over the entire village.

Chen Yue's family rose early, wrapped the pearls in cloth, and placed them on the table. They did not even dare close the door, simply sitting inside and waiting.

Before long, three men in short jackets, short blades hanging at their waists, entered the house. The leader had triangular eyes. Seeing Father Chen, he sneered. "Chen Shan, your leg still isn't healed? Have you gathered enough pearls? If not, then come take a trip with us brothers!"

Father Chen hurriedly dragged himself to his feet on his injured leg and offered over the cloth bundle with both hands, his voice respectful. "Please inspect them, sirs."

The triangular-eyed man opened the bundle, took out the two low-grade pearls, and examined them against the light. Only after confirming they were genuine did he tuck them into his clothes.

His gaze swept over Chen Yue, sizing him up from head to toe. Grinning, he said, "Kid, you've got decent luck. Keep working hard." With that, he turned and left with his men, their footsteps landing heavily in the mud as they headed next door.

Chen Yue's family let out a breath, yet they still did not dare shut the door. Leaning against the frame, they looked outside.

Quite a few Pearl Households poked their heads out as well, their gazes all turning toward Auntie Li's home. Soon, the Sea Shark Gang arrived at the Li Family's door, and the triangular-eyed man's voice rang out. "Where are the pearls? Stop dawdling and bring them out!"

Everyone saw Auntie Li totter out, clutching a small cloth bundle in her hands. When she opened it, several pearls lay inside. One of them had been bought with Li the Third's life.

The triangular-eyed man counted them, confirmed the quota was met, stuffed them away, and left cursing under his breath.

The moment the Sea Shark Gang had gone far enough, Auntie Li could no longer endure it. Holding Yaya, she collapsed onto the threshold and burst into loud sobs, her crying full of despair and grievance.

They had escaped today's Pearl Tax, but what about next time? Without a man to support the household, how could a woman like her possibly gather that life-demanding Pearl Tax on her own?

Pearl Village was silent. Everyone watched the mother and daughter crying together, their faces full of pity, yet no one dared step forward.

Everyone knew their own lives were only barely holding together. They could help for a time, but not for a lifetime.

Chen Yue clenched his fists. Was this the fate of Pearl Households?

He looked at the "Martial Apprentice 63/100" value on his panel, and the thought in his heart grew ever firmer. He wanted to become strong. He wanted to take his parents out of Pearl Village, so they would no longer be at the mercy of others.

That resolve became fuel for his cultivation. Chen Yue spent nearly all his free time on the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique.

During the day, he guided Father Chen and Mother Chen in breathing exercises, correcting the unsteady flow of their breaths.

Late at night, when all was quiet, he sat cross-legged alone in the corner of the house, calming his mind and cultivating by the faint light of an oil lamp. In the blink of an eye, two days passed. When he summoned the panel again, a new line of numbers made his heart pound wildly: Martial Apprentice 92/100.

Recently, the changes in Chen Fei's body had become quite obvious. Before, he needed both hands to swing an axe through hard firewood. Now, he could easily split it with one hand.

When carrying water, two full buckets of seawater weighed upon his shoulders, yet his steps remained as steady as Mount Tai, and his back stood much straighter than before.

Strangest of all, when he helped Father Chen wash his injured leg in the evening, his fingertips touched the icy seawater. The bone-piercing cold that once stabbed into him had weakened by more than half, as though an invisible barrier protected the surface of his body and kept the chill outside.

"Tomorrow, I'll break through Martial Apprentice and enter the Skin Refining Realm..."

Chen Yue felt both startled and eager. In the original owner's memories, Pearl Village had never produced a martial artist. He was about to take the first step, yet he had no idea what reaction his body would have during the breakthrough. Beneath his excitement lay a trace of unease.

The next morning, the sunlight was particularly bright. Golden rays streamed through the broken window, scattering flecks of light across the muddy floor.

Rather than preparing to go to sea as usual, Chen Yue sat in the corner with his eyes closed, cultivating. Father Chen leaned against the bedside, watching his son's composed profile as he meditated. Though somewhat puzzled, he did not speak to disturb him.

Recently, Chen Yue had become increasingly skilled at gathering pearls. The family had saved up quite a few more pearls, and even their rice jar was fuller than before. Though his leg injury had yet to heal, Father Chen and Mother Chen were both filled with hope for the future.

Wang had been busy at the stove since early morning, cooking nearly half a pot of coarse rice bought with pearls. Its fragrance filled the entire house.

Time slowly passed. As afternoon drew near, Chen Yue's breathing grew deeper and calmer.

He could clearly feel the breath within him rising and falling like the tides, every inhalation and exhalation striking at an invisible bottleneck. When he completed one long cycle of breathing according to the fifth level of the Wave-Turning Breathing Technique, the value on his panel suddenly jumped: Martial Apprentice 100/100.

The next second, a wondrous transformation erupted.

The warmth in his dantian surged violently, racing through his meridians toward every part of his body. Every blood vessel throbbed fiercely.

Chen Yue only felt a fine, prickling itch beneath his skin, as if countless tiny insects were crawling there. Then his body temperature rose at lightning speed. His cheeks burned alarmingly hot, large beads of sweat instantly covered his forehead, and his coarse cloth shirt was soaked through in the blink of an eye.

"Yue! What's wrong with you?"

Wang, who was wiping bowls beside the stove, noticed first. The earthenware bowl in her hand clanged against the table as she rushed over. She reached out to touch Chen Yue's forehead, and her hand trembled in fright. "You're burning up! Did you catch a chill from getting into the seawater yesterday?"

She turned and shouted into the house, her voice trembling with tears. "His father! Come quickly! Yue's fever is terrible!"