The Road Ahead Is Unknown

This change was such that the entry Five Animals Qigong had abruptly appeared in his skill bar.

Furthermore, once this entry appeared, a message unfolded within Li Hai's field of vision:

"Would you like to upgrade Five Animals Qigong from Level 0 to Level 3? Yes/No?"

"Huh?!"

Li Hai raised an eyebrow. "It can even do this?"

As his thoughts turned, he tentatively selected [Yes].

Hum—

In an instant, the nearly dissipated essence and energy within Li Hai's body suddenly boiled and surged out of thin air, growing wildly until it reached a level far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Along with this, his fading vitality and sickly physique were transformed in a flash; gone was the lethargy and deficiency, replaced instantly by a vibrant, spirited, and robust state.

It could be said that while Li Hai's combat power had not increased significantly, in terms of physiological lifespan and organ vitality, he had completely crushed his past-life self—who had appeared sturdy and strong but was actually in a sub-health state due to frequent late nights and poor dietary habits.

"Haa—"

Exhaling a long, foul, turbid breath, Li Hai immediately straightened his back and sat up from the dilapidated bed.

Following this, he looked down at his tattered rags and his scrawny, frail frame, then shook his head and sighed:

"What a hellish start."

To have transmigrated into a beggar with no money, no influence, and who couldn't even solve the most basic problem of finding a meal—it was truly miserable.

Fortunately, after transmigrating, he had inexplicably gained a system with seemingly powerful functions to assist him; otherwise, he truly wouldn't know how to proceed.

"Judging by the situation just now, this system seems to allow me to quickly learn other people's cultivation techniques, and once learned, I can reach the max level without any practice. Tsk tsk tsk."

Li Hai rested his hands behind his head and leaned back against the bed frame, smiling leisurely. "If this ability truly has no restrictions, wouldn't I be completely invincible?"

Although he couldn't currently determine if there was a limit to the system's forced learning and forced upgrade capabilities, that didn't stop him from fantasizing about the future.

As the saying goes, if you have money, eat a feast; if you don't, drink cold water.

Being unhappy is one day, and being happy is also one day, so why not make yourself a little happier?

Li Hai was just that kind of person—someone who would always find a way to enjoy himself, no matter the time or place.

Consequently, he wouldn't waste any mental energy speculating on the origin of the system or its purpose.

If he had that kind of spare time, he might as well find some fun for himself.

Tap~ tap~ tap~

Just then, a series of footsteps approached from outside the door.

Li Hai glanced over and saw it was the fat old man from before.

Following behind him was a middle-aged man with a sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked appearance, dressed in grey-green robes.

"Huh, this brat can actually sit up on his own. He looks quite spirited."

Upon entering the room and seeing Li Hai sitting up, the grey-robed middle-aged man smiled and said to the old man, "Doctor Zou, your medicine is powerful. One dose and you've cured him completely."

Doctor Zou himself found it strange.

He had clearly only fed this beggar a bowl of calming soup and barely a few mouthfuls of porridge; how could he be sitting up the moment he turned back around? Where did he get the strength?

But as an old hand in the world, he simply stroked his short beard and spouted nonsense:

"Heh heh, Steward Liu, you don't know. In order to help this beggar recover faster, this old man intentionally added a few extra herbs. It seems the medicinal effect is quite on point."

"Impressive."

The middle-aged man gave a thumbs up and praised, "Don't worry, Doctor Zou, I will put in a good word for you with the master."

"Haha, thank you, Steward Liu."

Doctor Zou added, "If there is nothing else, Steward Liu, this old man..."

"Go, go." Steward Liu waved his hand. "Just go to the accounting office to collect your money."

The old doctor didn't speak further; he smiled, cupped his hands, and turned to walk out the door.

After the doctor left, Steward Liu looked at Li Hai, who had been quietly observing him, and said indifferently:

"Brat, what is your name?"

"Li Hai."

Li Hai gave a carefree smile. "Li as in 'sharp/powerful', Hai as in 'shocking/terrifying'."

"Yo, what a strange name."

Steward Liu said in surprise, "Aren't your parents afraid it will bring you disaster?"

To this, Li Hai merely smiled, with no intention of answering.

"Forget it."

Steward Liu nodded, then beckoned, "Come, follow me. My master wishes to see you."

Having said that, he walked toward the door without a second glance.

Li Hai said nothing; he rolled out of bed, shuffled into his worn-out shoes, and followed the man as he sauntered away from the mud hut.

Once he stepped outside, he discovered that the area surrounding the hut was nothing more than a desolate garden overgrown with weeds and littered with crumbling walls.

A cool breeze blew, and the night was hazy.

Set against the veil-like moonlight and the cawing of crows from an unknown distance, Li Hai felt the place was chillingly eerie.

"What are you gawking at? Keep moving."

A shout came from not far away.

Following the sound, Li Hai looked up and saw that Steward Liu was now surrounded by a dozen burly men in sturdy attire, all wielding cudgels.

A few of them were even holding heavy, thick-barreled muskets.

These men, who appeared to be hired thugs or guards, were all staring fixedly at Li Hai, as if afraid he might try to escape.

Seeing this, Li Hai realized the truth instantly.

The master, whoever he might be, had not saved him out of kindness, but likely for some ulterior and dangerous purpose.

Otherwise, why would his subordinates adopt such a menacing posture?

But for now, he was under someone else's roof and had no choice but to bow his head.

Since neither Steward Liu nor these thugs had any martial arts techniques in their skill panels, he was a clever housewife unable to cook without rice; he had no way to increase his strength, so he could only take things one step at a time.

With that, Li Hai smiled silently and walked quietly toward Steward Liu.

The latter, satisfied by his compliance, nodded and turned to pace away into the distance once more.

Li Hai followed Steward Liu and his group, stopping and starting as they traversed the abandoned garden, passing rows of black-tiled buildings and verdant pavilions, until they reached and entered a sprawling estate.

"Master, the person has been brought."

Following Steward Liu's respectful voice, Li Hai strode into a courtyard deep within the estate.

The moment he entered, his gaze was involuntarily drawn to the center of the yard.

There sat an excessively large grandmaster chair.

Seated firmly upon it was a tall, burly, gray-bearded old man dressed in a pitch-black ancient robe.

Behind the old man stood a bizarre, thick wooden stake stained with patches of blood.

In a daze, Li Hai caught a glimpse of several vengeful spirits circling the blood-stained stake, wailing miserably without end.

"Hiss~"

Li Hai was secretly startled, This old man is no simple character.

The moment he saw the old man, he felt a strange sensation—the man didn't seem human at all, but rather like a monstrous tiger that had gained sentience, crouching on the grandmaster chair, licking its claws, and ready to pounce on anything in the courtyard at any moment.

Furthermore, Li Hai noticed that those vengeful spirits dared not approach the old man, who was mere inches away, and only dared to flutter around the blood-stained wooden stake.

Is it a hallucination?

Li Hai shook his head violently and opened his eyes to look again, only to find that the so-called vengeful spirits he had glimpsed were gone.

Only the burly old man, who resembled a ferocious tiger more than a human, remained seated steadily on the grandmaster chair, unchanged.

So... this imposing old man must be the master Steward Liu spoke of.