Twice the Result with Half the Effort

[Equip Basic Body Forging Method?]

Xu Ziming came back to his senses and silently answered yes.

The text turned to dust and vanished, and the Basic Body Forging Method in his hand disappeared as well.

[Equipment successfully equipped]

[Obtained Trait: Twice the Result with Half the Effort (White)]

[Trait Effect: When practicing the Basic Body Forging Method, body forging speed increases by fifty percent, energy absorption during body forging reaches one hundred percent, and cultivation progress is quantified.]

[Note 1: After equipment is removed, the trait disappears, the equipped item is returned, and the Equipment Slot is freed.]

[Note 2: After permanent solidification, the equipment will permanently disappear, while the trait will remain permanently.]

"If I remember correctly, the condition for solidification is practicing the Basic Body Forging Method a hundred times."

By then, he had already changed into the Martial Way uniform he normally wore for practice.

After switching on the room's main light and clearing a small space in the center, Xu Ziming immediately began practicing the Basic Body Forging Method.

He took a deep breath, cleared his mind of distractions, slightly assumed a horse stance, closed his eyes, and carefully sensed his qi and blood.

Chest out, abdomen drawn in, shoulders lowered, head raised—his mind guided the qi and blood within his body as it continuously circulated through his meridians.

It was completely different from his usual training. In the past, he would always feel an inexplicable soreness that affected his cultivation.

Now, that soreness had vanished completely, replaced by an exquisite pleasure that felt even better than a momentary thrill.

His cultivation speed had also increased by a full fifty percent.

Each session had originally taken an hour and a half, but today, he completed it in just an hour—and the results had even improved by fifty percent.

Even more astonishingly, after one session in the past, Xu Ziming would have no strength left for a second. Yet now, he still had energy to spare. It seemed that another round would be no problem at all.

"At this rate, my daily cultivation will be worth three days of my previous training. It's even more terrifying than I imagined."

At that moment, another glowing panel appeared before his eyes.

[Cultivation Data]

Martial Art: Basic Body Forging Method

Current Realm: Uninitiated (98.8%)

Martial Art Bonus: Locked

Remarks: Not even initiated. Foundation is weak.

[Life Energy Level: 2.3]

"My realm is still only Uninitiated?"

Xu Ziming had cultivated throughout all three years of high school without reaching the beginner level. No wonder his Life Energy Level was only 2.3 even now.

"I'll practice once more and see what happens."

Xu Ziming slowly exhaled, then assumed the standard training posture again.

With the trait's assistance, his qi and blood began circulating through his meridians once more.

As time passed, his movements gradually became less precise. Under normal circumstances, his training would have been interrupted long ago, but with the trait's help, his qi and blood continued circulating without pause.

About half an hour later, the second round of training finally ended.

A scorching sensation seeped from his meridians and gradually spread throughout his limbs and bones.

He subconsciously glanced at the data panel.

Current Realm: Uninitiated (99.2%)

"Now, one session improves me by a full 0.4%. At this rate, I'll reach the beginner level tomorrow. I wonder what changes that will bring."

By then, the sky outside had long since turned pitch-black. Only the occasional bark of a dog broke the silence before everything fell quiet again.

Xu Ziming walked to the desk and reopened his Martial Arts Theory Textbook.

His theoretical knowledge was still far too poor. If he did not study, it would affect his College Entrance Exam results to some extent later on.

He deliberately touched the Martial Arts Theory Textbook several times, but unfortunately, nothing happened.

Seeing that, he gave up on his fantasies, opened the textbook, and began reviewing seriously.

The night grew deeper and deeper.

The old desk lamp emitted a warm yellow glow that shone over the focused side of his face.

Occasionally, a tiny flying insect would land on the lamp tube before quickly flying away again.

At one in the morning, a knock sounded outside his room.

Only then did Xu Ziming put down his pen, walk to the door, and slowly pull it open.

"Mom, why are you still awake?"

Mother Xu stood outside holding a cup of hot milk. Though her face showed exhaustion, she wore a bright smile.

"A-Ming, I saw that your room light was still on, so I heated up some milk for you. Drink it and get some rest soon. Don't stay up too late."

Mother Xu walked in, set the milk on the desk, then silently took out two hundred yuan from her clothes.

"A-Ming, body forging is hard work. Take this money. Make sure you eat more good food at school."

Xu Ziming did not respond. Instead, he went to the living room, poured a cup of hot water, returned, and placed it in his mother's hands.

"Mom, I've made quite a bit of progress in martial arts lately. Even my teacher praised me. There's a weekly test soon, and I'll definitely get a subsidy if I improve then. You should use this money for the household instead."

"I'm your mother. Even if you get a subsidy, it's only right that I support you. How can those be confused? I'm happy if your grades are good, but you still need to take this money."

Mother Xu waved her hand and placed the money in Xu Ziming's palm anyway, smiling warmly.

Xu Ziming slightly turned his face away, his mouth tightening faintly so his mother would not see his expression.

"Mom, you should rest first. I'll sleep after I finish these problems."

"Alright, alright. I'll go then. Don't forget to drink the milk."

Mother Xu left the room with a smile.

Only then did Xu Ziming close the door again and return to sit at his desk.

His hand unconsciously tapped [Cultivation Data], his gaze falling on Life Energy Level: 2.3.

It was not enough. Far from enough.

Even with an Equipment Slot now, he could not slack off.

He had to get into a key university. A key university would provide a subsidy of 100,000 Blue Star Coins, and then his parents would not have to work so hard.

Starting tomorrow, he would practice the Basic Body Forging Method during the day as well.

After turning off the light, he lay down on his bed.

In the stillness, he seemed to hear his mother coughing, followed by the sound of the lights being turned off next door.

Everything was quiet. He silently swore to himself that the weekly test was only three days away, and he had to score much higher!

Then, he slowly closed his eyes.

The moonlight outside the window seemed serene.

The panel drifted slowly in the corner of his vision.

Basic Body Forging Method: 2/100.

At four in the morning the next day, Xu Ziming opened his eyes on schedule. The sky outside had not yet brightened and was still a hazy gray.

The bodies of Martial Artists differed from ordinary people, and they did not need as much rest. He did not linger in bed, instead quickly throwing off the covers and climbing up.

He walked to the window, pulled the curtains open slightly, and began practicing the Basic Body Forging Method again beneath the moonlight.

He slightly widened his horse stance, set his feet shoulder-width apart, and bent his knees a little.

The entire process was so slow that time itself seemed nearly frozen.

This time, he was much more familiar with the movements, and his mental guidance of his qi and blood was far clearer. Starting from the dantian, it passed through the huiyin, traveled up along the spine, passed the mingmen and fengchi, and finally reached the baihui.

Two hours passed quickly. When he opened his eyes again, he had already completed two rounds of the Basic Body Forging Method.

Basic Body Forging Method: Beginner (0.00%)

Having just stopped training, he felt streams of heat coursing through his body, as though the strength to shatter the sky with one punch was gathering in his hands.

He lightly shifted his gaze.

[Life Energy Level: 3.0]