Lin Chang'sheng realized that after achieving Great Success in the Moonlight Breathing Technique, the Inner Strength in his Dantian was now the size of a fist and could flow through all his meridians at will.
He could even channel it into his Palm Force.
Lin Chang'sheng circulated his Inner Strength, struck a palm down on the bench, and released his power.
"Crack!"
With a crisp snap, several fissures instantly split the bench.
"Not bad—just Inner Strength alone has this kind of force. If I hit a person with this, couldn't I shatter their organs with a surge of Inner Strength?"
"Then what about someone at Second-class? Wouldn't they be even stronger?"
Seeing the result of his palm strike, Lin Chang'sheng was very satisfied.
At the same time, he felt a growing anticipation for reaching Second-class.
........
The noodle shop reopened on the tenth.
Lin Chang'sheng still went to work.
He planned to quit as soon as he mastered the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique and advanced to Second-class.
Although the Moonlight Breathing Technique could gain experience just by moonbathing, cultivation still increased experience, and his goal was to get stronger—he couldn't lose sight of that.
"Sister Zhen, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
At noon, when the noodle shop was closing, Lin Chang'sheng glanced at Yan Zhen and asked casually.
He remembered that Ma Zhankui, that rich guy from East Street, had his eyes on Sister Zhen. Even though she was back now, Lin Chang'sheng didn't believe Ma Zhankui would just give up.
"Chang'sheng, I'm fine, just didn't sleep well last night, maybe."
Yan Zhen forced a faint smile on her pretty face.
"Alright, glad you're okay."
Lin Chang'sheng nodded. He still had to go to Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall.
......
Mu City.
East Street.
Ke La Inn.
"Who the hell took that thing?"
A thin man in green, his face pale, sat in a room on the second floor, looking frustrated as hell.
Ling Ziyu had schemed against Gao Yang just to get "that thing" from him.
Even though Gao Yang fought back and injured him, he'd still been poisoned by Blood Spider Venom and was doomed. Ling Ziyu had tracked him the whole way, but was just a few hours late—someone else took it first.
"Damn it!"
"Wasted so many days of my time. If I ever find out who, I'll grind them to dust!"
Ling Ziyu was practically gnashing his teeth right now.
He absolutely hated the person who'd buried Gao Yang.
.........
Mu City.
In a Cyan Snake Gang manor hall.
Two men lay on planks, their skulls utterly shattered—dead for quite some time, no mistaking it.
"Gang Leader Ma, these injuries really were caused by Great Success Iron Sand Palm. But our Martial Arts Hall has had no conflicts with your subordinates; there's no reason for this…"
"Maybe it was an outsider, a Martial Dao expert who also trains Iron Sand Palm?"
An elderly man with unusually large hands and a towering build—his presence calm and steady—frowned as he examined the bodies.
This old man was none other than Hall Master He, of the Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall.
"Could be possible!"
Ma Zhankui's expression didn't change. He nodded, "Thank you, Hall Master He. I'll run a few more investigations."
"Alright then, I'll take my leave."
He Tieshou cupped his fist to Ma Zhankui, then left with several apprentices from the hall.
"Old fox—if it wasn't your hall, then it was ghosts! One day, I'll see your Martial Arts Hall wiped out of Mu City!"
Ma Zhankui watched as He Tieshou departed, his face growing unbelievably dark and cold.
.......
Iron Hand Martial Arts Hall.
Training ground, by the sandbags.
"Chang'sheng, you've mastered Entry Level Iron Sand Palm?!"
"You've got some talent! Since you've reached Entry Level, you can learn the Breathing Technique and become a formal disciple. I'll take you!"
As soon as Instructor Zhang saw Lin Chang'sheng display Iron Sand Palm Entry Level, surprise flashed in his eyes.
Getting to Entry Level in one month was considered above average talent.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhang."
Lin Chang'sheng offered a respectful fist to Instructor Zhang.
"One month to Entry Level? Man, I'm jealous!"
"My three months are up tomorrow, still not there—damn!"
"You're lucky. I've already paid the silver three times!"
"..."
The disciples training Iron Sand Palm nearby started gossiping as soon as they heard Lin Chang'sheng had mastered Entry Level in a month—all sorts of envy and jealousy filled the air.
.......
"The Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique works best at dawn, when the morning sun is just rising—breathe in and absorb the essence of the sunlight, refine it into Inner Strength!"
"Just keep practicing with my instructions and the chant I taught you—you'll get there with persistence!"
Instructor Liu, who taught Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique, said to Lin Chang'sheng.
"Thank you, Instructor Liu!"
Lin Chang'sheng thanked Instructor Liu Zhengming, then got right to training in the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique.
Right then.
The sun blazed overhead. As Lin Chang'sheng activated the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique, he felt the pores all over his body open up—like his whole body was heating up!
[Martial Arts Technique Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique detected. Spend 2 taels of silver to simplify?]
Just then, Lin Chang'sheng spotted a red prompt flashing in the panel at the edge of his vision.
"Huh?"
"Did it already register as Entry Level? Awesome!"
Seeing the prompt, Lin Chang'sheng's eyes lit up. He kept his cool, asked Instructor Liu for leave, and headed home.
He hadn't brought any silver with him.
If he wanted to simplify, he had to do it at home.
........
Half an hour later.
Lin Chang'sheng's home, in the courtyard.
Standing under a jujube tree, Lin Chang'sheng clutched 2 taels of silver in his hand and pressed the Confirm button on the panel.
[Great Dao is Simple: Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique simplification in progress... Simplifying... Simplification successful... Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique == Sunbathing!]
Less than sixty breaths after confirming, the panel gave him another new prompt.
"Huh?"
"After simplification, the Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique just becomes 'Sunbathing'? I just bask in the sun and gain experience points? That's... awesome!"
Seeing the panel, Lin Chang'sheng's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Sunbathing—it didn't get any easier!
And the sun was shining bright today.
"Let's see what happens if I bask for a bit!"
Lin Chang'sheng stepped out into the open, letting the sunlight pour over him. He discovered that for every three breaths, his Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique gained one experience point.
[Great Dao is Simple: Level 1]
[Lin Chang'sheng: 16/55]
[Cultivation: Third-class (499/500)]
[Cultivation Technique: Moonlight Breathing Technique (Great Success 7809/12500), Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique (Entry Level 13/100)]
[Martial Arts: Archery (Great Perfection), Iron Sand Palm (Great Perfection)]
[Spend some silver taels to simplify Cultivation Techniques, Martial Arts, etc.]
[Status: Yin Qi Invasion]
"My training has been simplified to just sunbathing! This is amazing!"
"Cultivating with Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique makes my whole body feel warm! If I reach Great Perfection, maybe the Yin Qi Invasion in my body will finally disappear?"
Feeling the changes in his body, Lin Chang'sheng's eyes lit up with anticipation and hope.
........
East Street.
Yan Zhen's home.
"Yan Zhen, I spent 100 taels of silver to get you out. My money wasn't spent for nothing. You either marry me as a concubine or stay with me for a month—your choice!"
"Think it over. You have three days!"
With her graceful figure wrapped in plain clothes, Yan Zhen's delicate beauty couldn't be hidden. Sitting at the door, she was full of worry. Ma Zhankui had just been here and delivered his ultimatum.
"What should I do?"
Yan Zhen's eyes filled with sorrow. She buried her face in her knees, her shoulders quivering.
"So Ma Zhankui really is a persistent bastard—he's actually threatening Sister Zhen!"
Twenty-some yards away, Lin Chang'sheng watched Yan Zhen sob quietly, his eyes turning cold.
He was originally coming to tell Sister Zhen he was quitting the job.
He hadn't expected to see Ma Zhankui's ultimatum in person.
He needed to practice Sun-Bathing Breathing Technique during the day and Moonlight Breathing Technique at night—no more time for a noodle shop job. Besides, he'd gotten over 30 taels from Gao Yang, so now strength came first.
......
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