System Infiltration and Advancement in "Purple Qi"
Xiao Wuchen sat cross-legged in the cold woodshed all night. He sat there until the early morning birdsong outside the window and the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon. He stretched his arms and legs. The bad injuries he had got from being beaten by the important eunuch Li the day before had all gone, and he was not even a bit sore.
"Is this what happens when you optimise the system?"
He looked inside his body and saw that his meridians, which had been broken and tattered like a torn fishing net, were now smooth and strong. Even better, when he used the "Purple Qi Comes from the East" mental cultivation method, he got more than double the efficiency!
He knew that this secret had to be kept secret.
[Detected that the host has finished the first part of the improved mental training method on their own. Merit points reward: +10. Current merit points: 110.]
Xiao Wuchen felt his heart beat faster. Merit points? This was the system's "currency".
He silently recited the Meridian Guidance function, and with a thought, a three-dimensional meridian diagram immediately appeared in his mind. The diagram clearly showed how smoothly his true qi was circulating, where there were blockages, and where he was most likely to make the next breakthrough.
This function was basically a cheat code for growing plants! This completely solved the problem of not having any guidance or incomplete cultivation techniques.
The Dispute in the Servants' Quarters: Xiao Gui's problem
As the sun rose high in the sky, Xiao Wuchen went to the servants' quarters as usual to collect his tasks for the day.
The servants' quarters were where the lowest-ranking eunuchs in the inner palace gathered, and also where bullying was most severe. He had just got to the door when he heard a fight.
"You're a scoundrel! You can't even hold a bucket of water properly? You spilled it all over the floor, so you should clean it up!"
The speaker was a strong eunuch called Zhao Hu. Although he wasn't a high-ranking eunuch, he was notoriously cruel in the servants' quarters.
The person being scolded was Xiao Gui, who he had met the previous night. Xiao Gui went red and apologised, but Zhao Hu just wanted a fight.
"Don't think you won't be punished just because Eunuch Li is gone! You dared to peek last night; that's disrespectful to us servants!" Zhao Hu kicked the bucket of water Xiao Gui had just filled, splashing icy water all over him.
Xiao Gui Zi bit his lip hard, and tears welled in his eyes, but he dared not resist.
Xiao Wu Chen stood at the door, feeling angry. Xiao Gui Zi was the only onlooker to Eunuch Li's violent attack yesterday, and he knew Xiao Gui Zi's actions were driven by fear, not evil intentions.
He took a step forward, his cold voice sounding in the hall: "Zhao Hu is new; it's normal for him to be a little slow. Why make things difficult for him?"
When Zhao Hu turned around and saw Xiao Wuchen, he immediately started laughing at him. "Oh, isn't this the poor little brat Xiao from the woodshed? Not satisfied with the beating last night, you still have the nerve to come out today?" "Leave me alone," Xiao Wuchen said coldly. "I'll mind my own business!" When Zhao Hu saw Xiao Wuchen's gaze, he felt really angry. He didn't like this "unyielding" look. Zhao Hu swung his fist towards Xiao Wuchen's face, using the force of his internal energy. The Meridian Guidance function is activated instantly. Just as Zhao Hu's fist was about to hit him, the meridian diagram (a map of the body's energy pathways) provided by the system spun rapidly in Xiao Wuchen's mind, instantly calculating the direction and weakness of Zhao Hu's punch. [Hint: This attack contains low-level internal energy. The host can use the improved "Purple Qi Comes from the East" true energy to attack the wrist point $Sān Jiǎo Xué$ (Triangle Point) to achieve a devastating effect. This time, we used the Meridian Guidance function, and we estimated that we used X merit points. 1. Confirm?] "Confirm!" Xiao Wuchen started to think. To the people watching, Xiao Wuchen just moved a little as Zhao Hu's hand got closer, his movement as light as a feather. He extended his finger, tapping lightly, but in reality, he was hitting the triangular acupoint on the inside of Zhao Hu's wrist with perfect accuracy. "Ah!" Zhao Hu felt as if his wrist had been pierced by a steel needle, his internal energy instantly disappearing. He let out a scream, the force of his angry punch completely gone, and he staggered forward two steps, falling to the ground looking sorry for himself. The servants and eunuchs around them were completely silent. No one had expected Xiao Wuchen, who usually only stayed in the woodshed and took whatever he was given, to beat Zhao Hu, who was much stronger, so easily. Xiao Wuchen took his gun away calmly, after seeing Zhao Hu's terrified eyes.
System Discovery: Technique Upgrade and New Function
Xiao Wuchen didn't stay in the fight, but went back to his woodshed to check that Zhao Hu was too scared to follow him. He checked the system in his head.
This time, using the Meridian Guidance function used up one Merit Point. Current Merit Points: 109.]
"Of course, you need Merit Points each time you use it."
[I have noticed that the host is using the improved "Purple Qi Comes from the East" mental technique in real combat, which makes the technique work better.]
The "Purple Qi Comes from the East" skill has gone up to 1%.
[New Function: [Technique Optimization] (Level 2 Permission) is now enabled.
[Description: The host can use Merit Points to improve their techniques and make them suitable for their current physique and cultivation level.
[Tip: To improve "Purple Qi Comes from the East" (Beginner), you need 100 Merit Points.]
Xiao Wuchen's eyes lit up as he took a closer look at the new function. This means that he no longer needs to work hard to find new ways to grow them. He just needs enough merit points to gradually improve this incomplete "Purple Qi Comes from the East" into an unparalleled divine skill!