First Set of Gymnastics

Hm?

What is this?

Is this the legendary golden finger, the must-have for every transmigrator, the guarantee to marry a wealthy beauty and reach the pinnacle of life???

So, after being transmigrated for so many days.

Are the good days for me, Fang Shuwen, finally arriving?

With chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind, Fang Shuwen couldn't help but breathe rapidly.

Activate, it must be activated.

As his thoughts stirred, the light screen before him rippled like flowing water.

[Martial Arts Panel activated successfully]

[Name: Fang Shuwen]

[Attack: 2; Defense: 2; Vitality: 2; Spirit: 2]

[Technique: First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists (Not yet initiated)]

[Special Effects: None]

[Skill Points: 1]

A mediocre panel.

It was identical to the panel of the martial arts game he played before his transmigration in his past life.

Except, back then, the game character he played didn't have a single initial four-dimensional attribute value below double digits.

Looking at it this way, the original owner's foundation was truly pitifully poor.

Perhaps these two points were the result of the two souls merging after he transmigrated.

Otherwise, why would it be such a "two"?

No, it should be that the damn game has caused him great harm!!!

Fang Shuwen silently grumbled in his heart, his gaze sweeping rapidly across the panel.

The broadcast gymnastics taught at the Xikou County public middle school—does this thing even count as a martial art?

Thinking about the martial arts halls outside that charged thirty or fifty silver dollars just to teach a technique.

The First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists, which cost only ten silver dollars a semester at a public middle school and was mandatory practice.

Fang Shuwen suddenly felt it was somewhat absurd.

But thinking back, the original owner seemed to have attended middle school for two years, practicing this so-called First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists for over seven hundred days.

It seemed, apparently, that it had no effect whatsoever.

Suddenly, he understood in his heart.

Cheap goods are never good.

Even if the First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists were a martial art, it was likely at the very bottom of all techniques.

He skipped over the "+" sign behind the First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists on the panel.

He continued to look down.

Special Effects: None.

Skipped.

[Skill Points: 1]

Alright, looking at it this way, this golden finger doesn't seem to be of much use right now.

Overall, there was only one martial art, and the four-dimensional stats were pathetic.

Very disappointing.

This single skill point was the only thing that could bring him any comfort at the moment.

Skill points could directly increase technique levels or directly add to the four-dimensional attributes.

But the most cost-effective way to use them in the early stages was to add them to a technique.

After all, increasing a technique's level.

Would comprehensively increase the four-dimensional attributes and come with martial arts moves.

Making attacks more powerful, defense stronger, and the health bar thicker.

"It's a free point anyway, let's add it and see."

As Fang Shuwen's thoughts stirred, the text before him changed.

[Do you wish to upgrade the technique "First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists"?]

Yes!

The moment the thought crossed his mind, a strange, warm current surged from his chest, as if someone had lit a lamp inside his body.

The heat flowed along a specific trajectory.

Muscles, bones, tendons—every inch of his body began to glow with a faint heat.

This sensation lasted for about three seconds before coming to an abrupt halt.

At the same time.

Within the mind of Fang Shuwen, thirty-six figures began to practice every move and stance of the First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists over and over again.

Those thirty-six figures moved at varying speeds, demonstrating different angles and methods of exerting force.

They dismantled this set of fist techniques, which he had previously dismissed as mere "calisthenics," to the fullest extent.

Breathing rhythms, spinal twists, the shifting of his center of gravity...

Every stance concealed subtleties he had never noticed before.

The memory in his mind lasted only an instant.

But to Fang Shuwen, it felt as though he had practiced for three years.

Immediately, He snapped his eyes open.

Text flickered across the panel.

[First Set of Body-Strengthening Fists (Entry)]

Simultaneously, his gaze fell upon his four-dimensional attributes.

[Attack: 2→3; Defense: 2→3; Vitality: 2; Spirit: 2]

Attack and defense had each increased by one point, while vitality and spirit remained unchanged.

"My strength seems to have increased significantly, and my muscles have even grown a bit."

Fang Shuwen clenched his fist, clearly feeling the changes in his musculature.

Attack and defense had each increased by one point.

Although it seemed like a small amount, compared to before, He had become 1.5 times stronger.

He stood up, Took a deep breath, and threw a punch.

"Pop!"

The wind of his punch tore through the air, emitting a crisp sound.

He was stunned.

Because this world was strange and dangerous, and the realm was in turmoil.

Therefore, whether it was the previous dynasty or the current Great Yan, the status of martial artists was extremely high.

Before the original owner started middle school, he had pestered Old Fang to let him attend a martial arts gym for half a month.

Although he hadn't achieved much due to his limited talent, He still knew some basic martial arts knowledge.

It was said that a single sound was worth a thousand pieces of gold.

In the initial stage of martial arts, a single crack of the bones was the hallmark of entering the path.

In major martial arts gyms, this was considered passing the entrance exam.

One could be listed as an official disciple.

Enjoying half-price tuition and three meals a day.

And if one could produce three cracks of the bones, it meant the force had been mastered.

At this point, One was a Ming Jin martial artist, having truly stepped into the hall.

During the Great Yin era, such a person could be addressed as "Master."

They could even enjoy privileges such as exemption from personal labor and halved taxes.

Even now, With the new nation established and Western firearms running rampant, The status of martial artists was not what it had been in the previous dynasty, but simply working as a guard for a wealthy family was enough to ensure a life without worry.

And if one were to advance further to the An Jin stage, They could become the leader of a faction.

For instance, the high-ranking members of the gangs in Xikou County possessed exactly this level of strength.

There are also some weaker martial arts hall masters who are mostly at this level.

"So, I can finally say I've truly entered the gate of martial arts!"

Things that his predecessor failed to achieve despite over half a month of bitter study, plus seven hundred days of training at the middle school, he had accomplished in a single breath.

One has to admit, cheating is the way to go; an instant boost is just satisfying.

Fang Shuwen suppressed the excitement in his heart and threw a few more punches in succession.

Every punch carried that crisp sound.

Though the sound wasn't loud, it was undeniably present.

It was no accident.

"Hey, what are you doing? If you break anything, you'll have to pay for it at full price."

The landlady's voice came over, sounding somewhat impatient.

Yet, her voice had that soft, sweet lilt of the Jiangnan water towns, making one's ears itch.

"Got it."

After all, it was a public place, even if he was the only customer at the moment.

Fang Shuwen withdrew his hands.

He looked at the panel again.

The skill points had been cleared, turning to zero.

But how was this golden finger activated? Was it because I touched that piece of miscellaneous jade when I paid earlier?

Thinking of this, Fang Shuwen hurriedly opened his money pouch.

Upon looking, that piece of miscellaneous jade was nowhere to be found.

There were only a few silver dollars, some copper coins, and a pile of pale green powder.

So, that strange energy from just now really was provided by the miscellaneous jade.

Recalling the constipated expression on that old man's face when he gave him the jade earlier, it was clear he was truly pained by the loss.

Next, where should he go to find another piece of such jade?

He thought about it, but had no leads.

Fang Shuwen didn't dwell on it, closing the panel and casting his gaze back out the window.

By now, the sky had completely darkened.

Pedestrians on the street were thinning out, and the streetlights flickered on, their dim, yellow halos swaying slightly in the night breeze.

The two guys who had been lying in wait were nowhere to be seen.

"Time to go back; if I'm any later, Old Fang will start to worry."

Fang Shuwen stood up and shouldered his cloth bag.

He stepped out of the bookstore and, like a fish, slipped into the streets under the veil of night.