Genius (4k Words, Please Vote)

Time passed.

Li Xiuwen trained steadily, waiting for the day of the martial arts hall challenge.

He had stopped taking fish balls, much to Huang Sihai's relief.

This time, Li Xiuwen had truly taken his advice to heart.

Even without fish balls, relying solely on hard training, he could enter the Python Muscle realm in a little over a month.

That was decent enough—faster than many people with an average physique.

Each day, when he looked inward, he could clearly see the snake-like muscles beneath his skin membrane growing thicker and stronger, showing signs of transforming into a python.

Li Xiuwen had calculated that half a year remained until the Crossing River Association tournament.

If he could get his hands on a few Flood Dragon Great Elixirs in that time, he still had a good chance of reaching Flood Dragon Muscle.

In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.

Only three days remained until the challenge.

Chen's Rice Noodle Factory.

Li Xiuwen closed his eyes and silently recited the Incantation for Heart Furnace Three Forgings.

Inside his Niwan Palace, the Heart Pellet revolved slowly, like a star.

The first Heavenly Dragon Cloud Pattern on its surface had visibly grown more solid.

A notification from the Incense Burner appeared in his mind.

[Heart Furnace Three Forgings proficiency increased by 1%...]

He looked toward the Incense Burner.

[Heart Furnace Three Forgings: First layer (7%)]

"An average of one percent proficiency a day. Why doesn't it feel that difficult? Is it because the first layer is so basic?"

Li Xiuwen pondered. He spent very little time on Heart Furnace Three Forgings each day, practicing it almost as an afterthought.

After a moment, an idea came to him. "Maybe it's like my body-hardening training. I'm talented at this