[Name: Lin Chen]
[Occupation: Martial Artist]
[Qi Blood: 2083/3000]
[Life Chart: [Natural Progress]: Martial Arts First Realm, Perseverance, Step by Step, Unstoppable, No Bottleneck Problem.]
The next day.
Lin Chen saw the increase in Qi Blood on his panel and couldn't believe his eyes, rubbing them in disbelief.
Did I see it wrong?
In just one day, Qi Blood increased by eighty points.
"Is the nourishing effect of Black Deer Meat on Qi Blood really that strong?"
Thinking about the Black Deer Meat he had eaten yesterday, Lin Chen understood why even Lu Yongfeng and the others would salivate at the thought.
That plate of meat must be worth a fortune, though he wondered if continuously eating it could maintain this growth rate.
Maybe others couldn't, but perhaps he could.
Thinking of his Life Chart, Lin Chen's eyes shone, but then he recalled how even Lu Yongfeng and the others salivated, and he dismissed the thought.
No need to think; the price of Black Deer Meat is terribly expensive, far beyond what he could afford.
"Chen, today Xiao Tianxiang's elder brother is getting married, should we join Xiao Tianxiang in celebrating in the village?" Gu Fei got down from the bed and asked expectantly.
Seeing Gu Fei's hopeful expression, Lin Chen frowned slightly, his expression turning serious: "Fei, be honest with me, are you thinking of giving up martial arts?"
"No... I'm not."
"If not, why have you been slacking off lately, often leaving the Martial Arts Arena early? Let's not lie between brothers."
Lin Chen looked at Gu Fei seriously. Gu Fei hesitated for a long while, then sighed: "Chen, do you think we can really cultivate Essence Qi within two years? I can only lift three hundred and fifty pounds now, and I've already spent seven or eight taels. As those senior brothers said, the expenses get higher as you go..."
There was confusion in Gu Fei's eyes, confusion about learning martial arts, and about the future.
"Why do you have such thoughts, Fei?" Lin Chen asked curiously.
"It's not just me, many people do. Zhang Hao and Xiao Tianxiang also think that cultivating Essence Qi within two years is a bit hard."
This time, Lin Chen understood that the atmosphere in the Martial Hall had gone slightly awry.
After nine months of martial arts training, many students' progress had slowed, yet the expenses hadn't decreased. Many students were beginning to feel confused about learning martial arts, some probably even contemplating giving up; even if they hadn't given up, they lacked the initial drive of when they first entered the Martial Arts Hall.
If Essence Qi can't be cultivated within a year, there's always the second year, and if not the second year, then the third...
"Fei, the path of martial arts lies in persistence. No matter what, if you give up on yourself, how can you expect to cultivate Essence Qi within two years?"
Lin Chen spoke earnestly: "If I had the same thoughts as you back then, shouldn't I have given up even earlier? Why else would I work in the cafeteria, do you really think I feel no shame serving food to acquaintances?"
"To save money back then to eventually eat beef, Zhang Tao laughed at me, do you think I could really be at peace in my heart?"
"Fei, remember, if you don't give up on yourself, maybe you won't necessarily cultivate Essence Qi in two years, but if you give up, then you certainly won't in two years. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I got it, I'll go punch Zhang Tao right now." Gu Fei shook his fist.
Lin Chen: ...
"Just kidding, I understand what you mean, you're right, I shouldn't give up. After this time, when your family's fishing boat launch is over, I will practice boxing diligently."
"Let's go, time to head to the Martial Arts Arena."
At the Martial Arts Arena, Lin Chen indeed found that several students arrived late, and some were missing.
The teacher and the other two instructors were also absent. At this stage, only those like Lu Yongfeng who could cultivate Essence Qi were given attention by the instructors.
At noon, Lin Chen went to the cafeteria to buy a Qi Nourishing Soup. Although many students saw it, it didn't cause much shock.
After the shock from yesterday's fermentation, many students speculated that Instructor Yu had given him special treatment, so buying Qi Nourishing Soup now seemed normal.
Seeing Lin Chen buying Qi Nourishing Soup, Gu Fei also wanted to buy it. Lin Chen initially wanted to stop him, but after thinking it over, he didn't hold Gu Fei back.
According to his cost-effective martial arts training method, if Gu Fei's goal is to increase his Qi Blood within two years, then eating beef now is enough, and he should start drinking Qi Nourishing Soup in the second half of next year, maximizing the cost-effectiveness.
But he just encouraged Gu Fei to stay steadfast in martial arts, and stopping him from eating now would only discourage him.
With one serving of Qi Nourishing Soup, Lin Chen noticed an increase of 20 points in his Qi Blood the next day. Given this pace, his Qi Blood would increase by 600 points a month, his strength by 120 pounds, and he'd secure the ten taels reward.
At this pace, cultivating Essence Qi within a year should be possible.
There's enough time, but it's not very secure.
If, by chance, the Qi Blood growth slows down after reaching 500 pounds, he'd need to increase expenses, disrupting his plan.
Instructor Yu also mentioned capturing every opportunity.
Taking two servings of Qi Nourishing Soup each day would ensure stability.
The two servings of Qi Nourishing Soup resulted in an increase of 30 points in Qi Blood.
Judging from the transformation of food into Qi Blood values, this seems a bit wasteful, but he couldn't care less about that now.
Although spending two hundred and fifty cents a day adds up to seven and a half taels of silver a month, it is all worth it.
"Chen, don't be too impulsive."
Seeing Lin Chen spending money so aggressively, Gu Fei was a bit worried and started to persuade him.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I'm aiming for the ten taels reward."
"Ten taels reward? You want to increase your strength by a hundred pounds in a month, directly reaching five hundred pounds?"
Gu Fei's eyes widened, circling Lin Chen three times, and then reaching out to feel Lin Chen's forehead: "You're not even running a fever."
"I'm serious, I'm confident I can do it," Lin Chen retorted.
"Are you really confident?" Gu Fei was somewhat incredulous: "Even Lu Yongfeng and the others, after reaching four hundred pounds, haven't increased by a hundred pounds in a month. The most impressive among us, Lu Yongfeng, after reaching four hundred pounds, apart from eating beef and drinking Qi Nourishing Soup, it's said he even took ginseng in private, and only increased by seventy pounds in a month."
"Trust me, I won't gamble with my future."
Lin Chen couldn't just tell Gu Fei that he has the [Natural Progress] Life Chart, and after careful calculation, he ensured that the silver coins would sufficiently cover the expenses.
He has two taels of silver on him now, with daily expenses of two portions of Qi Nourishing Soup and three pounds of beef costing two hundred and fifty cents per day.
Two taels of silver are enough to support him until his Qi Blood reaches 2250, equating to 450 pounds of strength.
Once his strength meets the standards, he will apply to Instructor Yu for a three taels reward and then continue to invest, aiming for five hundred pounds.
...
...
While Lin Chen was madly sprinting towards five hundred pounds, Lu Yongfeng and a few others were also pushing themselves hard.
Winter had arrived, and the ground was covered in white frost.
Just at dawn, there were already eleven figures in the Martial Arts Arena.
Lu Yongfeng, Zhao Jingchuan, Cheng Ying, Xu Botao, and Yan Dexing, all five of them had already surpassed five hundred and seventy pounds in strength, pushing towards the final six hundred pounds.
The other five were Lin Chen and those of his batch who had reached four hundred pounds of strength, including Gu Fei, whom Lin Chen had dragged along.
Other students had already relaxed by this time, and wouldn't come to the Martial Arts Arena until the sun reached it.
Six days later.
Yu Yongnian and the three instructors appeared in the Martial Arts Arena.
"Instructor, I would like to try lifting a four hundred and fifty pound stone block."
Lin Chen glanced at the Qi Blood value on his own panel [2253/3000] and said loudly.
As soon as he spoke, all eyes present turned to him.
What does this mean?
If memory serves, a few days ago Lin Chen had just crossed the four hundred pounds threshold.
To increase by fifty pounds in just a few days is simply impossible!
Yan Dexing's mouth twitched a bit. In the past, he would have surely mocked him with a few words.
But recalling the event at Zhao's restaurant last time, he feared that mocking would only make him look like a fool.
Receiving the instructor's nod of approval, Lin Chen walked up to the four hundred and fifty pound stone block, squatted down, not daring to be careless. His strength had just reached 450 pounds, so he couldn't lift it every time.
As everyone watched Lin Chen's muscles bulging, his face turning red, yet eventually lifting the stone block to his waist, the scene fell silent.
Faced with the astonished looks from everyone in the Martial Arts Arena, Lin Chen shyly hung his head, eyes downcast.
This is just the beginning!
Your shock is yet to come.
Yu Yongnian's eyes shone brightly, contemplating for a moment: "Alright, Lin Chen, join Lu Yongfeng and the others to the backyard. The rest, continue to practice your punches."
Lin Chen, along with Lu Yongfeng and the others, followed the three instructors out of the Martial Arts Arena.
"It really is four hundred and fifty pounds."
Just after Lin Chen left, Chu Dong walked up to the stone block Lin Chen lifted, tried a few times and couldn't lift it, finally having to believe that Lin Chen's strength really was four hundred and fifty pounds.
"Chu Dong, what do you mean by that, doubting Chen's authenticity?"
Gu Fei was displeased upon seeing Chu Dong's actions: "With instructors around, who dares to fake it!"
Chu Dong also knew his actions were somewhat inappropriate and didn't argue with Gu Fei.
He found it difficult to accept the reality of Lin Chen's sudden and tremendous progress, hence the absurd idea that the stone block might be fake.
In his mind, Lin Chen's fifty-pound strength increase in just a few days was more absurd and difficult to accept than a fake stone block.