The makings of a great emperor!

The White Mark had actually... reacted?

Mo Yun stared blankly at the silvery-white glow on his right wrist, as pure as moonlight and visible only to him, while thoughts surged through his mind.

Over the past month, he had tried plenty of methods: eating and drinking, exercising, and even sitting in meditation before the rising sun, moon, and stars in an attempt to absorb the essence of the sun and moon. None had caused any change in the White Mark.

But now...

What caused it?

After a little thought, Mo Yun arrived at an answer.

It was the breakthrough in my martial arts mastery!

The White Mark had changed today because he had learned the Nameless Fist Technique and cultivated it to the beginner level.

Therefore, he guessed that every breakthrough in his martial arts mastery could charge the White Mark!

And once the White Mark condensed a White Point, it would very likely let him increase attributes such as constitution, life, defense, and even spiritual power!

Although Mo Yun had no idea what spiritual power actually meant, nor whether it even existed in this martial world.

Based on his experience reading novels in his previous life, however, he felt that spiritual power should be an important attribute. It would definitely come in handy someday!

He had yet to obtain any White Points, but Mo Yun already had a plan for allocating them: put everything into life and spiritual power!

Clearly, constitution and defense could both be increased through martial arts practice and exercise, whereas life and spiritual power seemed impossible to increase through similar methods, as though they were innate.

All of this underscored the importance of life and spiritual power.

I just wonder what will change after I add points to life and spiritual power...

Looking at that quietly flowing wisp of white light, Mo Yun could not help feeling excited.

There's only a little right now, but as long as I keep practicing and breaking through in my martial arts mastery, it'll fill up someday!

And as long as I eat and drink well, I can keep earning Black Points and adding points to my martial arts. There won't be any bottlenecks!

That means I can earn White Points just by following the steps. I'll have a steady way to obtain them!

Apparently, once you're qualified to practice martial arts, the food gets a lot richer. Not only can you eat your fill at every meal, but you even get meat once a day!

That'll speed up how quickly I earn Black Points, too!

At that thought, Mo Yun let out a long breath and looked up at the slowly rising morning sun, a smile blossoming on his face.

The future looks bright!

Just as Mo Yun was imagining his wonderful future, Xiao Liu shot him a sidelong glare and said irritably:

"Mo Yun, what are you grinning like an idiot for? Hurry up! It's almost time for work. Don't get your pay docked!"

Mo Yun: "..."

Fine. Since things have come to this, let's get to work first!

Filled with anticipation for his martial arts training, Mo Yun felt much more energetic even while working.

Before he knew it, a day had passed.

After finishing the day's labor, Mo Yun dragged his slightly weary body back to the communal sleeping quarters, planning to wash up quickly and go to bed.

Just then, however, the coworkers who shared his sleeping quarters gathered around him.

One smiled ingratiatingly. "Mo Yun, congratulations on qualifying to practice martial arts! Don't forget us when you make it big..."

Another looked envious. "That's right, that's right! Once you start practicing martial arts, your status will be different. You'll have to look out for us..."

Someone else sighed with a miserable expression. "Alas, we all sleep in the same room, so why don't I have any talent for martial arts? I couldn't even figure out the first move of that test technique, but you actually reached the beginner level, Mo Yun! How can the gap between people be so huge..."

"Exactly! One look at Brother Mo and I knew he was no ordinary man. I can almost see seven-colored auspicious clouds hovering over his head. He seems to have the makings of a great emperor!"

That startled Mo Yun, and he hurriedly said, "Old Wang, you can't go around saying things like that!"

The makings of a great emperor? Have a son and name him Wang Teng first!

"Ah, it's fine, Brother Mo. Trust me, I'm a great judge of character!" Old Wang, who looked old for his age and already had forehead wrinkles at just sixteen, waved a hand and spoke with absolute certainty.

Mo Yun: "..."

Meanwhile, a burly man with thick eyebrows and large eyes stepped forward and seized Mo Yun's hand. His expression was excited, and his voice rang out like thunder:

"Brother Mo, do you remember me? I'm your long-lost younger brother, born to a different father and mother! If you ever need anything, just give your little brother the word!"

Mo Yun: "???"

Could you have some fucking shame? Younger brother, my ass! You're a veteran servant who's been at Crouching Tiger Manor for years. You must be pushing thirty!

And you don't even fucking sleep in this room!

At the burly man's words, however, quite a few people caught on and hurriedly chimed in:

"Right, right! Brother Mo, if you ever need anything, just say the word. If we can do it, we definitely won't refuse!"

"Brother Mo, you'll surely have no time for chores once you start practicing martial arts. I can take some off your hands!"

"Me too! I can help, too!"

"Hahaha, count me in! I might look skinny and small, but I'm damn quick at getting work done. Leave your chores to me, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied, Brother Mo!"

"Me too, me too! Count me in!"

"Count me in! Count me in!"

As coworkers who shared the same sleeping quarters, they spent more time with him than anyone else. Now that Mo Yun was about to soar to success, they were naturally eager to build a good relationship with him.

After all, flattering words cost nothing, and doing a little extra work would hardly tire them out.

If they ever ran into trouble and Mo Yun gave them a hand, they would come out way ahead!

Even if they never ran into trouble, once Mo Yun truly made it big, their standing within the manor would be completely different if he so much as remembered them!

"All right, all right, stop crowding around. We've worked hard all day, and it's about time for bed. We're all brothers living under the same roof. If there's ever anything I can help with, I'll do my best!"

Mo Yun avoided making any absolute promises. He waved everyone away and prepared to gather his things and head out to wash up.

Just then, however, he felt a chill at his back.

Turning around in surprise, Mo Yun immediately saw Xiao Liu's aggrieved face.

"What's wrong, Xiao Liu?" Mo Yun asked, puzzled.

"Mo Yun, I qualified to practice martial arts, too!" Xiao Liu said miserably.

"And?" Mo Yun frowned.

"Why doesn't anyone care about me? Not a single person!" Xiao Liu said through gritted teeth.

He wanted everyone to heap praise on him, just like they did on Mo Yun!

"Maybe you don't stand out much? Or you're not as handsome as me?" Mo Yun suggested after some thought.

Xiao Liu: "??!"

"All right, we have to get up early to train tomorrow at the hour of the rabbit. Hurry up, wash, and go to bed." Mo Yun picked up a wooden basin, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed out toward the washroom.

"Hey, Mo Yun, wait for me!" Seeing Mo Yun leave, Xiao Liu hurriedly grabbed his own wooden basin and ran after him.

"Don't fucking follow me! Why would we team up to take a bath?!"

"Hehe! We can scrub each other's backs!"

"Get lost! We're grown men. Who the fuck wants to scrub your back and have you scrub mine? That's so damn gay!"

"Gay? What does that mean?"

"Get lost, get lost, get lost! Stay away from me!"

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Mo Yun rose well ahead of time, patted Xiao Liu awake, and quickly washed up before heading toward the servants' training grounds, brimming with anticipation.

I'm finally going to take my first steps into the martial world!