Traits: Internal Energy Healing, Extended Lifespan, 100% Increased Poison Resistance

"Now that I've cultivated internal energy, I'll test its effects first."

Closing the panel, Zhou Qing began circulating the Spring Return Technique.

Under his control, the internal energy in his dantian immediately began to circulate. It was like a part of his body, as easy to wield as an arm or finger. The internal energy swiftly traveled throughout his body, flowing into his limbs and bones.

At once, Zhou Qing felt a cool current seep into his flesh and bones. The pain throughout his body immediately lessened by more than half, while the bruised and purple patches on his skin from the beating rapidly began to subside.

Internal energy healing really worked.

The effects could even be called immediate. It worked faster than any miracle drug from his previous life, and without side effects.

Once, twice, three times...

Only after the internal energy in his dantian had been completely depleted did Zhou Qing stop.

"My injuries have more or less recovered."

At that moment, Zhou Qing felt better than he ever had before.

Checking himself over, he discovered that not only had most of the bruises on his body faded, but to his surprise, his once-malnourished and frail body had faintly developed some muscle definition. His skin had also become more elastic, as though he had grown several years younger.

This should have been the change brought about by the Spring Return Technique breaking through to the sixth level.

Although the Spring Return Technique focused primarily on preserving health, it also improved one's constitution and strengthened the body. What was more, Zhou Qing had cultivated it to the sixth level and become an Acquired Realm martial artist, so obvious changes in his body were only natural.

Zhou Qing stood up and stretched his limbs. He felt refreshed all over, and his strength had increased considerably compared to before.

"With just one point of Dao Source, I raised the Spring Return Technique to the sixth level. Tomorrow, I'll be able to raise it to the seventh level, perhaps even the eighth."

Zhou Qing thought to himself.

The Spring Return Technique had a total of nine levels.

At this rate, he would reach the ninth level in two days at most.

Zhou Qing sat down again, meditated, and regulated his breathing to restore his internal energy.

But after cultivating for a while, he stopped.

Internal energy did not arise out of thin air; it came from refining essence into qi. Using Dao Source to improve himself consumed the power of Dao Source, but cultivating on his own consumed the vital essence within his body.

Zhou Qing was currently in a prison cell, a prisoner beneath the steps. If he consumed too much vital essence and could not replenish it through food, his body would be left depleted.

Once or twice would not matter much.

But if it continued for too long, it would damage his fundamental foundation.

Late at night.

The prison was deathly quiet.

Every now and then, the sound of rats gnawing broke the stillness.

When the time reached midnight.

Name: Zhou Qing

Realm: Acquired Realm, First Level (Third-rate Martial Artist)

Martial Arts Mastered: Spring Return Technique / Level 6 (Traits: Internal Energy Healing, Extended Lifespan)

Talent: Nine Breaths Assimilation (As long as he breathed in and out for nine breaths, an unfathomable divine power would bless him, automatically refining the power of the Great Dao of heaven and earth into Dao Source. He could automatically gain 1 point of Dao Source each day. Each point of Dao Source was equivalent to a year of arduous cultivation.)

Dao Source: 1

Zhou Qing felt something stir within him.

Opening the panel, he saw that he had indeed gained one point of Dao Source.

"Raise the Spring Return Technique!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Qing added a point to the Spring Return Technique.

At once, he felt himself enter an abstruse space and begin arduous cultivation day and night. The qi and blood within his body flowed into the Twelve Regular Meridians, accelerating their circulation and continuously refining until they swiftly transformed into wisps of internal energy.

These wisps of internal energy were faint and indistinct, like mist.

Then, the mist-like wisps of internal energy gathered together, condensing into a layer of cloud within his dantian.

The Spring Return Technique broke through to the seventh level.

The year of arduous cultivation had not yet ended.

As his qi and blood continued to refine into internal energy, more mist-like wisps of internal energy gathered above the cloud formed by internal energy in his dantian.

A second layer of cloud condensed into being.

The Spring Return Technique broke through to the eighth level.

Zhou Qing's consciousness had cultivated bitterly for a year within that abstruse space.

But in the real world, it had only taken an instant.

Name: Zhou Qing

Realm: Acquired Realm, Second Level (Third-rate Martial Artist)

Martial Arts Mastered: Spring Return Technique / Level 8 (Traits: Internal Energy Healing, Extended Lifespan, 100% Increased Poison Resistance)

Talent: Nine Breaths Assimilation (As long as he breathed in and out for nine breaths, an unfathomable divine power would bless him, automatically refining the power of the Great Dao of heaven and earth into Dao Source. He could automatically gain 1 point of Dao Source each day. Each point of Dao Source was equivalent to a year of arduous cultivation.)

Dao Source: 0

Zhou Qing glanced at the panel. Upon reaching the eighth level, the Spring Return Technique had gained an additional trait beyond its original Internal Energy Healing and Extended Lifespan: 100% Increased Poison Resistance.

The literal meaning made it clear enough: it increased his own resistance to poison.

If he were poisoned, he could endure it longer than an ordinary person.

Some mild toxins might even have no effect on him at all.

At the same time, his realm had also broken through from the first level of the Acquired Realm to the second level.

Zhou Qing immediately sat cross-legged and began circulating his internal energy to heal his injuries.

During the day, more than half of his injuries had already healed. Now that the Spring Return Technique had reached the eighth level, his internal energy was even purer, and its healing effects were better.

Half an hour later, all the injuries on his body had healed.

Clang!

The iron gate to the third level of the dungeon was opened.

Two prison guards entered carrying a large bucket and began distributing food to the prisoners.

The county yamen's dungeon was divided into three levels.

The criminals on the first level had committed the lightest offenses. They were often released after a few months, and some would be freed on the spot as long as they paid a ransom.

Those on the second level had already been sentenced and would be imprisoned for at least a year.

The criminals on the third level were all condemned prisoners.

Condemned prisoners received the worst treatment.

They were given only one meal a day, just enough to keep them from starving to death.

One of the guards came to Zhou Qing's cell and ladled out a full bowl of porridge. After looking around, he secretly took two shriveled steamed buns from his robes and handed them to Zhou Qing, whispering, "This is the food I brought for you. Hide it quickly—don't let anyone see. Take it out and eat it when you're hungry."

"Th... thank you, Uncle Liu."

Zhou Qing thanked him, deliberately making his voice sound weak.

The guard surnamed Liu was named Liu Shan. He lived in the same alley as Zhou Qing. Several months ago, when his young son had suffered a fever and vomited without stop, he had sought Zhou Qing's help. Zhou Qing had treated him, which counted as a life-saving favor, so there was some bond between them.

But Liu Shan was only an ordinary prison guard and knew no important people. Asking him to overturn Zhou Qing's case was impossible.

"Little Zhou, if you have any unfulfilled wishes, remember to tell Uncle Liu. If it's something Uncle Liu can do, I certainly won't refuse."

Liu Shan spoke softly.

"Mm. If there's anything I need, I'll tell Uncle Liu."

Zhou Qing replied weakly, then fell silent.

"Alas!"

Seeing this, Liu Shan sighed to himself.

He knew that Zhou Qing's case implicated far too many people. Overturning it would be harder than ascending to heaven.

Yet he still hoped that during these final days, he could make Zhou Qing's life a little more comfortable and offer what meager help he could.