"I hope it works better than the Qi-Blood Pill!"
Mo Yun placed the pill in his mouth and gently swallowed.
The instant it reached his stomach, a warm current spread outward, like a pool of hot spring water slowly flowing into every limb and bone.
Unlike the fierce, scorching heat of the Qi-Blood Pill, the Foundation-Nourishing Pill's medicinal power was gentle and lasting, like a pair of tender hands softly massaging every inch of his muscles and every bone.
"So comfortable..."
Mo Yun could not help murmuring.
He closed his eyes, feeling the medicinal power circulate through his body.
Wherever that warm current passed, he could distinctly feel something dormant deep within his body awakening, being nourished, being strengthened.
That was the strength hidden within him, the untapped potential buried deep in his Bone Root.
The Foundation-Nourishing Pill's purpose was to draw out that potential and turn it into tangible physical strength.
Unfortunately, the panel had already improved his physique. Now that he was taking a Foundation-Nourishing Pill, there was only so much potential left to draw out.
"No big deal. Charging the seal is what matters. Any improvement to my Bone Root is a bonus!"
Mo Yun immersed himself in that wondrous sensation. Only after an unknown amount of time did he slowly open his eyes.
He raised his wrist and looked at the Black-and-White Seal.
The black portion advanced a short distance at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"This speed..."
Mo Yun's pupils narrowed slightly.
At this rate, the black seal would be full again in another three or four days!
"The Foundation-Nourishing Pill works much better than the Qi-Blood Pill!"
The next day, before dawn.
As usual, Mo Yun arrived at the Martial Training Ground early.
Perhaps because he had taken the Foundation-Nourishing Pill the night before, his mind felt clear and refreshed, and he was brimming with energy. He had never felt better.
"This Foundation-Nourishing Pill really is good stuff!"
Mo Yun was delighted.
"Too bad I'm almost out of Qi-Blood Pills. Once they're gone, the black seal's charging speed will inevitably drop a little..."
He shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. Taking out a Qi-Blood Pill, he swallowed it and began practicing his fist technique.
The sky gradually brightened as dawn broke.
Xiao Liu and the others arrived at the Martial Training Ground one after another.
"Mo! You're sneaking in extra practice again!" Xiao Liu shouted from afar, looking aggrieved. "You come this early every day! Are you trying to kill the rest of us?"
Mo Yun finished his movements and stood upright, giving him an indifferent glance. "Since you're here, spar with me. I just gained a new understanding of the Tiger-Crouching Fist."
"No way!" Xiao Liu hurriedly waved his hands and shrank back.
He did not dare fight Mo Yun now. This freak had reached the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Fist in half a month. Beating Xiao Liu was as easy as spanking his own son.
As they spoke, Han Tang, Luo Shan, Zhang Qiang, Tie Zhu, and Tang Yin arrived in turn.
Commander Li approached through the morning light. His gaze swept over everyone before settling on Mo Yun, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
"Today, we'll continue practicing the Tiger-Crouching Stance and the Tiger-Crouching Fist."
He walked to the center of the grounds and began explaining.
"Mo Yun has already reached the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Fist. You should all learn from him."
Everyone turned to look at Mo Yun at once, their gazes complicated.
Han Tang and Luo Shan, in particular, both looked somewhat incredulous.
They both had average Bone Roots and considered themselves reasonably talented. They had never expected Mo Yun, whose Bone Root was below average, to leave them so far behind.
Reaching the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Fist in half a month-was he even human?
"But you don't need to lose heart." Commander Li changed tack. "On the Martial Dao, comprehension is certainly important, but diligence and perseverance are equally indispensable. As long as you're willing to put in the hard work, you may still have a chance to catch up and surpass him."
He paused, then continued, "Given your good performance lately, along with Mo Yun's outstanding progress, the Village Master has granted special approval. Starting today, all of you will report directly to the Spirit Herb Garden."
"Your work from now on will be tending the spirit herbs. The duties are easy, and supervision is relatively relaxed. Once you finish your assigned work, you can use the remaining time to cultivate."
At these words, they first froze, then erupted with joy.
"The Spirit Herb Garden?!"
"The place everyone says has the easiest job?"
"Holy shit! Mo, we're basking in your glory again!"
Xiao Liu jumped up in excitement and grabbed Mo Yun's arm, trembling all over.
"Get off, get off." Mo Yun kicked him away.
The others also looked delighted.
Everyone knew the work in the Spirit Herb Garden was easy. They could usually finish their duties ahead of time, and supervision was relatively relaxed. Once their assigned work was done, they could use the remaining time to cultivate.
Normally, even after earning the right to practice martial arts and becoming "senior" menial servants, they would hardly have a chance at such a good job.
Everyone therefore knew perfectly well that they really were benefiting from Mo Yun's success.
For a moment, their gazes toward Mo Yun grew even more complicated.
At first, they had been somewhat dissatisfied with Commander Li giving Mo Yun special coaching, and more than a little jealous.
Now, however, they were thoroughly convinced.
Even Luo Shan and Han Tang would need at least half a year to reach the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Fist.
Yet this freak Mo Yun had done it in half a month.
When the gap was small, people might feel jealous.
But when the gap became enormous, that jealousy would turn into awed admiration.
"All right, stop staring." Commander Li swept his hand through the air. "Today's training continues. All of you, practice seriously!"
"Yes!"
Everyone answered in unison, their spirits soaring.
Four days passed in a flash.
Before dawn, Mo Yun arrived at the Martial Training Ground in the Servants' Court.
By the dim light of the sky, he focused his gaze on his wrist.
The Black-and-White Seal rested there quietly, its black portion shimmering, now completely full.
A moment later, black radiance flared and transformed into specks of starlight that flowed into the space between Mo Yun's brows.
In an instant, the black seal emptied, and the virtual panel appeared automatically.
[Available points: black 1, white 0]
"Finally, another black point."
Mo Yun took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his excitement.
Over the past few days, with both the Foundation-Nourishing Pill and the Qi-Blood Pills aiding him, the black seal had charged at an astonishing speed.
"Time to put a point into the Tiger-Crouching Stance!"
He closed his eyes and sank his awareness into the virtual panel in his mind.
[Physique 4.2, vitality 2, defense 2.7, spiritual power 0] [Martial arts: Nameless Fist Technique (minor accomplishment), Tiger-Crouching Fist (First Glimpse of the Way), Tiger-Crouching Stance (not yet initiated)] [Special abilities: none] [Available points: black 1, white 0]
These past few days of cultivation, combined with the nourishment of the Foundation-Nourishing Pill, had brought another small increase to his physique and defense.
His Nameless Fist Technique was also closer to its next stage.
Add a point!
Mo Yun focused his awareness on the plus sign after the Tiger-Crouching Stance. Repeating the words silently, he touched the plus sign with his mind.
The black-point count in the available points field flickered, changing from 1 to 0.
The next instant, that familiar sensation arose again.
Countless images surged into his mind like a tide-
They showed him standing beneath a blazing sun, feet rooted to the ground, knees slightly bent, shoulders lowered and elbows dropped, the blood and qi throughout his body condensed. He held the stance for hours at a time.
Sweat poured down like a waterfall. His legs shook like chaff in a sieve, and his waist ached as though it would snap, yet he gritted his teeth and persevered.
One day, two days, one month, two months...
Neither wind nor rain stopped him; not even thunder could shake his resolve.
Every minute and every second was torment, but every minute and every second also built upon the last.
He could distinctly feel his legs growing thicker, his waist and back growing broader, and his blood and qi surging through his body like mighty rivers.
Those memories of stance training seemed carved into his very bones, becoming bodily instinct.
At the same time, a powerful warm current appeared within his body out of nowhere.
Unlike the sensation of his meridians being flushed when he had previously added points to martial arts, this heat was deeper and heavier.
It sank into his dantian, merged with his bones, and seeped into his flesh.
Mo Yun could distinctly feel his legs heating up, his waist burning, and his spine trembling slightly.
His foundation was being reinforced, packed firm.
The entire process lasted roughly several dozen breaths.
After several dozen breaths, everything settled.
Mo Yun opened his eyes.
He looked down at his body. Outwardly, nothing seemed to have changed, but he could clearly feel that something inside him was different.
It felt like a house that had once been built on sand, liable to collapse at any moment. Now its foundations had been driven down to bedrock, making it as unshakable as Mount Tai.
"So this is what reaching the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Stance feels like..."
Mo Yun drew a deep breath and, with a thought, assumed the Tiger-Crouching Stance.
Feet apart, knees slightly bent, shoulders lowered, elbows dropped, chest drawn in, and back extended.
It was the same posture, but before, he would have trembled all over and felt his legs weaken before he had held it for even an hour.
But now-
His body felt like a mountain, steady and weighty, as though he could stand like this all day without tiring.
More importantly, he could distinctly feel his blood and qi circulating slowly within him, like a small stream endlessly nourishing every limb and bone.
"So this is what stance training does..."
Mo Yun was deeply shaken.
When he had reached the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Fist, Force Energy had formed within his body, but it had been pitifully weak, exhausted after just a few punches.
Now, however, he could feel that wisp of Force Energy becoming more solid and more substantial.
Though there still was not much of it, it was at least twice as strong as before!
He focused and summoned his attribute panel.
[Physique 4.8, vitality 2, defense 3.1, spiritual power 0] [Martial arts: Nameless Fist Technique (minor accomplishment), Tiger-Crouching Fist (First Glimpse of the Way), Tiger-Crouching Stance (First Glimpse of the Way)] [Current cultivation: early bright strength] [Special abilities: none] [Available points: black 0, white 0]
His physique had jumped straight from 4.2 to 4.8, a full increase of 0.6!
His defense had risen from 2.7 to 3.1, a full increase of 0.4!
These gains were even greater than when he had reached the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Fist!
"Sure enough, stance training is the foundation!"
Delighted, Mo Yun released his stance and stood upright, unable to resist testing his current strength.
He assumed the Tiger-Crouching Fist stance and drove out a punch!
Fierce Tiger Leaves the Mountain!
Boom!
The wind from his fist howled, and a dull explosive report rang through the air, far louder than before!
Moreover, this time he clearly felt that it had consumed far less energy. After one punch, his dantian still held abundant Force Energy, unlike before, when a few punches would leave him drained.
"Nice, very nice!"
Mo Yun grinned and threw a few more punches, each one flowing more smoothly than the last.
He even had the illusion that he could now kill an ox with a casual punch.
Only after reveling in his excitement for quite a while did he calm down.
"Now that I've reached the introductory stage in both the Tiger-Crouching Fist and the Tiger-Crouching Stance, I qualify to apply for the Guard Team, according to Commander Li."
He weighed it in his mind.
"Although I still have to wait for next month's assessment, at least I meet the requirements. And besides..."
He raised his wrist and looked at the White Mark.
Radiance flowed through the white portion. It had filled considerably more than before and now stood at over a third.
Reaching the introductory stage of the Tiger-Crouching Stance had charged the White Mark by roughly ten percent.
"At this rate, a few more martial arts breakthroughs will let me condense my first white point!"
Anticipation rose in Mo Yun's heart.
"The future looks bright!"
Before you continue