Duan Rong carried a sheathed Cow Tail Saber, pocketed three qian of silver in monthly salary, and held a small packet of five thin slices of deer antler wrapped in straw paper, walking somewhat groggily out of the alleyway of the Inner Warehouse.
There's nothing to be done; this is the aftereffect of devouring the Artifact Spirit, also known as a side effect.
Even now, it's still clearly felt, the brain stuffed with something "unfamiliar."
However, it seems that after the last devouring, there's some adaptation.
Duan Rong merely felt his mind was a bit sluggish, unable to engage in deep thought, unlike the first devouring, when he stood there dazed for a long time, utterly confused.
Now he feels as if driving on a road full of obstacles, having to weave constantly, unable to increase speed.
Thus, Duan Rong controlled his body and went to the C Courtyard canteen, stolidly taking his dinner.
Afterward, he did not practice cultivation but returned directly to the dormitory, bolted the door, and went straight to sleep.
As with the last devouring of an Artifact Spirit, this sleep was deep and merciless.
One great dream!
In the dream was the back of a slender young man dressed extravagantly, wielding a Red Tassel Large Saber that did not match his size, awkwardly striking one move after another...
Approximately visible was the scenery around the youth, some blurred pavilions and towers; although the background was somewhat ephemeral, the grandiosity of those structures was evident.
"This youth's identity... is likely extraordinary..." Duan Rong thought in his dream.
The great dream passed without a trace...
Duan Rong suddenly awoke; as his eyes spun, he knew the devoured Artifact Spirit had been digested and absorbed.
Duan Rong jumped out of bed, opened the door, and saw the narrow courtyard outside the dormitory washed in cold moonlight.
All around was silent, with faint sounds of insects.
Duan Rong raised his head to the southeast, seeing a bright star and a crescent moon reflecting each other from afar.
Duan Rong estimated the time based on the position of the morning star.
"It is only the Hour of the Ox. I have slept merely three hours."
"It seems the time for digesting and absorbing the Artifact Spirit has shortened!" A contemplative look appeared in Duan Rong's eyes.
"Moreover, the last Artifact Spirit was unranked; this time, it was a First Rank Artifact Spirit."
"Could it be that the higher the rank of the Artifact Spirit, the shorter the digestion and absorption time?"
"But shouldn't higher rank Artifact Spirits have more information?"
"Or perhaps... higher rank Artifact Spirits, being more refined by time, have fewer distractions, making them easier for Divine Sense to absorb?"
This was, of course, mere speculation. The real reason, Duan Rong did not know.
But the fact verified was that the higher the rank of the Artifact Spirit, the shorter the digestion and absorption time.
As for the underlying reason, he could slowly explore it.
Duan Rong stepped out of the room, standing under the cold moonlight in the narrow courtyard.
At this moment, his mind was as clear as water, and all around was silent, the perfect time for practicing the Pile Skill.
Duan Rong took a folded straw paper packet from his breast pocket, unfolded it in the moonlight, revealing five slices of deer antler thin as paper, showing a faint purplish-red.
Duan Rong pinched a slice and placed it in his mouth, rewrapping the others and putting them back into his chest pocket, then crouched his legs, sank into a stance, forming a void embrace with his hands, and stood performing the Complete Round Pile Skill.
He stood like this for two full hours.
Only when the sky began to brighten did Duan Rong stand up and disperse his skill.
He knew fully well how much energy using the Complete Round Pile Skill with Inner Breath consumed; yesterday afternoon, he stood for just an hour and felt weak inside.
But now, after standing for two hours, he still felt full of energy; although tired, his vitality and blood circulated with robust energy throughout his body.
Duan Rong smacked his lips, discovering that the deer antler slice in his mouth had completely dissolved.
Duan Rong immediately understood; the deer antler slice had taken effect.
"Indeed, medicinal supplements are stronger than food supplements!"
Seeing the sky about to brighten, Duan Rong drew water from the courtyard well, washing off the sweat from his body, then dressed, fastened his waistband, grabbed the sheathed Cow Tail Saber by his bedside, and prepared to head to the Martial Arts Arena to practice his saber technique.
Duan Rong had just stepped out of the courtyard when he saw Kong Bin emerging from the adjacent D Courtyard.
They were neighbors, one residing in the C Courtyard, the other in the D Courtyard.
Seeing Duan Rong, Kong Bin came over and whispered, "Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Li Chong is dead!"
Duan Rong paused in shock. "Dead? How did he die?"
"He was scolded by the servant leader who looked after him and hanged himself in his dormitory room with a waistband two nights ago. I heard it from Zhang Zheng; yesterday, Li Chong's uncle even made a scene in the front courtyard," Kong Bin said, glancing at Duan Rong before suddenly asking, "Brother Rong, how's your Inner Power Heart Method going? Have you succeeded?"
Kong Bin was using Li Chong's incident as a pretext to probe Duan Rong about his progress in Inner Breath cultivation.
"Not yet!" Duan Rong's heart trembled, and he replied coldly.
Hearing this, Kong Bin noticed Duan Rong's stunned appearance, feeling a slight joy inside.
Yesterday, he had a fleeting moment where he caught a trace of Inner Breath; although it collapsed as soon as he attempted to circulate it due to his scattered Spiritual Power, he was convinced that with three days of practice, he could get the Inner Breath to circulate initially.
From the look of Duan Rong, he probably hasn't found the knack yet.
Feeling suddenly pleased, Kong Bin stopped speaking and left Duan Rong to head towards the Martial Arts Arena.
Lately, Kong Bin had been repeatedly thwarted by Duan Rong; his drugging was thwarted, and he was overshadowed in evaluations; even when extending friendship, he was poured cold water on.
Kong Bin wasn't talkative, but deep down, he was extremely proud. On the evaluation day three days later, he hoped to recover and surpass Duan Rong.
Duan Rong, shocked by the news of Li Chong's death, didn't even notice Kong Bin leaving, still standing in a daze at the dormitory's entrance.
He recalled the last time he saw Li Chong, on the evaluation day.
Yet, he had forgotten when Li Chong had left on that day?
Perhaps no one had noticed?
Duan Rong initially thought he was more dangerous than Kong Bin, but now realized he had overestimated him; the kid was too fragile!
Duan Rong thought of the previous life, reading in the news about kids who threatened life and death over trivial matters.
"That guy is a real tragedy!"
Li Chong was evidently quite clueless in interpersonal relations, blundering arrogantly, leading to his downfall.
Duan Rong suddenly remembered a quote from an author he read in his past life: the most detestable person, if studied closely, is often just a pitiful soul.
With a sigh, Duan Rong walked to the Martial Arts Arena at a leisurely pace.
Collecting his thoughts, he found a secluded corner and started practicing with the saber.
After last night's digestion of the Artifact Spirit, Duan Rong had now reached mastery in the Five Tigers and Sheep Blade Martial Skill.
However, he had yet to achieve the First Level of Inner Breath in his Inner Power Heart Method.
After all, the Inner Power Heart Method is a gradual process of hard work.
The growth of Inner Breath within the Meridians is accumulated strand by strand.
Even though after absorbing the Artifact Spirit, he was now well-versed in Inner Breath circulation, the strengthening of Inner Breath was not an overnight effort.
No one can become fat in one mouthful!
After finishing the routine, Duan Rong had breakfast in the canteen and returned to the Martial Arts Arena to stand in the pile stance while holding a slice of deer antler.
Apart from eating and sleeping, Duan Rong devoted almost all of his energy to strengthening his Inner Breath through standing pile practice.
With the medicinal supplement power of the deer antler slice, Duan Rong noticed he could stand for a long time without feeling drained.
Every two hours, one Blood Deer Antler slice.
Including the time in the dormitory courtyard, Duan Rong stood for ten full hours; it was late at night, the Hour of the Ox, when he climbed back onto his bed.
Though very tired, Duan Rong fell asleep with a smile.
The next morning, Duan Rong went from the dormitory courtyard to the Martial Arts Arena again, discovering the Inner Breath in his Meridians was now as thick as a strand of hair, about three inches long.
This was quite remarkable!
It was formed by the convergence of five strands of Inner Breath!
This Inner Breath coiled in his Dantian, in synchrony with his Spiritual Power.
An idea suddenly occurred to Duan Rong; he wanted to try the Inner Breath circulation technique during a move.
Standing pile practice of Inner Strength is to strengthen the Inner Breath!
But Inner Breath circulation during a move combines energy with force, also known as Inner Breath exertion!
This is also the integration of Inner Strength and Martial Arts technique; only in this way can the true power of Martial Arts be unleashed.