Ascending the Mountain, Mysterious Martial Artist

[Fate Master: Lu Li]

[Fate: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Attribute: A slow horse can cover ten stages, success lies in perseverance]

[Martial Arts: Tiger-Subduing Fist (Flesh-Refining Realm 15/400) - Practice once a day, 40 years to completion]

Lu Li's physique grew increasingly robust, and his stamina became more enduring. Having returned early, he practiced from the hour of the Rooster until the hour of the Pig, successfully increasing his proficiency by 15 points.

Only then did Lu Li feel his energy completely spent, his limbs feeling as heavy as if filled with lead. He tidied up briefly and fell into a rough sleep.

The next day.

Lu Li carried a basket of medicinal herbs and arrived at the Huang Mansion once again.

Niu Er had found another precious herb; this time he earned thirty taels of silver, and after splitting it with his companions, he was left with ten.

However, this still drew the envy of many, and the number of people looking to join him in the mountains surged instantly.

Niu Er now wore the airs of a leader, his nostrils pointed toward the sky.

"We are entering the lair of wolves and tigers, a life-or-death gamble. I need sturdy men. Those who can't run fast or lack strength, go back where you came from."

"Also, I don't want cowards; you'll only hold us back."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Lu Li intentionally or otherwise, filled with a sense of showing off—the very picture of a nouveau riche.

Lu Li was unfazed; in his past life, people with such faces were everywhere.

Uncle Zhao stood beside Lu Li, his expression also tinged with envy. If he had that much silver, he wouldn't have to worry about his family.

It was a pity he couldn't go himself.

Seeing Niu Er mocking Lu Li again, he treated Lu Li like one of his own and couldn't hold back: "I say, you pointy-headed fool, did your mother squeeze your skull too tight when you were born? Does your brain not work when you speak?"

"What kind of place is the deep mountain? Can you really return safely every single time?"

Niu Er's hand, which had been stroking his head, paused, and he flew into a rage: "You surnamed Zhao, you dare curse me?"

"Do you think I won't touch you just because you're an old man?"

"Dare to spar and see if your old bones are harder than my fists!"

He finished, then seemed to recall something, a sneer appearing on his face: "Oh, almost forgot, your wife is sick, and you're in desperate need of silver, right?"

"I'm a generous man. Cut ties with Lu Li, and I'll pay for her treatment."

Uncle Zhao sneered: "Save that money for yourself for when the demons chew your legs off."

"You..."

"What kind of unseemly bickering is this? This is the Huang Mansion, a prestigious family, not a place for you mud-legged peasants to run wild. If you want to argue, get out."

Uncle Huang spoke, his tone cold.

He had realized these people were all hopeless, unable to complete the tasks entrusted by the family head, and was in a foul mood.

Uncle Zhao and Niu Er immediately fell silent.

Lu Li tugged at Uncle Zhao's sleeve: "Is Aunt Zhao sick?"

Uncle Zhao forced a smile: "A minor issue, a few doses of medicine will fix it. Don't worry."

He quickly changed the subject: "Heh, don't mind Niu Er's bear-like posturing. He doesn't actually dare to fight. Now that he's struck it rich, he's become stingy with his life; if a man dies, the silver is gone."

"Talking about fighting is just empty bluster. With that pointy head of his, he can't think of anything better to say."

"Your Uncle Zhao might be spineless and afraid to cross the Master, but I can still trade barbs with an idiot."

Uncle Zhao patted Lu Li's head, as if caressing his own child.

Lu Li knew Uncle Zhao was covering up, but he didn't press further.

After his father died, it was Uncle Zhao who had helped him, often providing clothes and food, and even teaching him how to gather herbs.

Otherwise, he would have starved to death long ago.

Uncle Zhao's kindness to him could be called a rebirth.

Having spent much time together, he understood Uncle Zhao well; he couldn't lie, he could only change the subject.

But his technique for changing the subject was so clumsy that it meant Aunt Zhao's illness must be very serious.

However, although Lu Li now possessed a fortune of seventy taels, he couldn't bring it out in the open.

Once his wealth was revealed, he would surely be targeted.

He had always been cautious, unlike the flashy nouveau riche like Niu Er.

Soon, Uncle Zhao found an excuse and hurried away, as if afraid Lu Li might follow.

Lu Li had no intention of following.

He looked up at the sky, his heart set: he would head into the mountains tomorrow.

Aunt Zhao was still waiting for her medicine.

He still needed an identity to hide behind.

He walked straight home, lit the fire to cook, practiced martial arts, and went to sleep.

After finishing his practice, his points had risen by another 15, reaching a total of 30.

Long-Abundance Mountain covered a vast area, stretching for eight hundred miles.

The depths were rarely visited by humans.

The trees grew thick and lush, and the ground was piled high with dead branches and fallen leaves that crunched loudly underfoot.

The path was rugged, with snow covering jagged rocks; one careless step could lead to a fall.

He moved forward with extreme caution.

So far, he had only ventured ten miles into the deep mountains, refusing to be reckless.

As he slowly pushed forward, the trees blocked his view. Looking at the sky through the dense canopy, he realized it was already approaching noon.

Finally, by a small pond, he discovered a medicinal herb that was golden all over, with stems and leaves shaped like triangles.

Lu Li twitched his nose and sniffed; he did indeed smell a faint fragrance, but the medicinal potency did not seem very strong.

Lu Li gathered it up and continued deeper.

Not long after, he discovered another medicinal herb, quite miraculous; its round leaves were actually emitting a faint, shimmering light.

Moreover, the scent was intoxicatingly fragrant, and it was surely of great value.

Lu Li carefully dug it up and placed it gently into his herb basket, terrified of damaging it.

If the medicinal essence leaked out, its effectiveness would be greatly diminished.

"It truly lives up to the name Long-Abundance; the deep mountains are indeed rich in resources."

"Of course, it is also because I am a martial artist; my physique is strong, my movements are agile, and my eyesight is sharp, which is why I can discover them."

"It's just that ordinary people have no fortune to enjoy this abundance; they can only trade their lives for it," Lu Li sighed inwardly.

Someone was following him.

He had maintained a look of extreme caution the entire time, his face filled with worry, glancing left and right as if he were terrified.

He had kept up this disguise the whole way, hoping to pass through safely.

Yet, he never expected an accident to occur—someone was actually tailing him.

It was fortunate that he had already broken through to the Flesh-Refining Realm, making his ears and eyes sharp.

Only then could he detect the subtle movements coming from behind through the howling north wind.

Otherwise, an ordinary person would never have noticed.

"Tsk, my luck is so poor; the first time out, I encounter danger in the deep mountains. I have to say, Niu Er has the luck of a fool," Lu Li muttered to himself.

He was not worried; this person could make enough noise to be detected by him.

If they couldn't even walk silently, their control over their physical body was not very strong, and they were certainly much weaker than him.

Lu Li stopped moving forward, suddenly turned around, and began walking back, quickly picking up his pace.

His face showed joy, but his eyes were filled with anxiety, constantly looking around.

Both nervous and joyful, he perfectly displayed the timid behavior of someone who had found a treasure and was terrified of being discovered.

High up in a towering ancient tree, a man in a black robe was watching Lu Li with a playful gaze.

"Heh, another lowly herb-gatherer. Why are there so many of them lately? Are they all coming to the deep mountains to get rich?"

"Heh heh, that's fine too. I was just worrying about not finding enough nourishment, and here you are, lining up to deliver yourselves to my door!"

With that, he flipped down and blocked the path Lu Li had to take.

His black robes fluttered, and his sleeves billowed.

Blood energy surged, flowing through his skin and membranes, causing them to bulge and tighten, as tough as cowhide.

He was clearly a Skin-Refining martial artist!

Lu Li slammed on the brakes, his expression changing drastically.