Duan Rong initially doubted whether he could achieve it, suspecting that the fusion of energy and strength required practice.
But unexpectedly, once he started, it went surprisingly smoothly!
Moreover, the more he fought, the more powerful he felt! This was evidently related to him digesting and absorbing the Artifact Spirit!
He could sense a surging force, with the sound of space breaking under his hand!
"Martial Arts!"
"Stone Splitting and Tree Opening!"
In his past life, what he saw in TV shows and books, he unexpectedly accomplished now!
Duan Rong felt a sense of pure strength that brought him courage and confidence.
Just as Duan Rong was in the heat of the battle, suddenly a figure flashed in the alley behind him.
Kong Bin this morning not only captured a strand of Inner Breath but also used Spiritual Power to manipulate that strand within his Meridians, circulating it through a loop.
Although it still dissipated, at least the Inner Breath started to circulate.
He intended to come over to have breakfast with Duan Rong and accidentally reveal that his Inner Breath had circulated through a loop, to smack Duan Rong's confidence a bit.
Kong Bin stopped at the alley entrance, the joy on his face vanished, eyes extremely shocked: "That's Inner Breath power!"
Kong Bin saw Duan Rong's moves producing breaking sounds. If they engaged, his weapon would fly out with just a touch!
"How is this possible!"
Kong Bin already felt utterly hopeless!
Since childhood, he had a mind far beyond ordinary, mature personality, and wasn't lacking in talent.
Kong Bin's heart was always proud.
Even though Xiao Zongting and Zhao Mu favored Duan Rong more, causing him setbacks, he harbored resentment.
He never thought he was inferior to Duan Rong!
But today, he suddenly realized he completely couldn't compare to Duan Rong!
It's like when Duan Rong passed him by, he wished to exert force to chase him, eyes fixed on Duan Rong's back, but one day found Duan Rong's back had become a distant, unreachable dot.
That dot, like a morning star on the horizon, is beyond the reach of a mortal.
Kong Bin recalled asking Duan Rong about his progress, Duan Rong saying he hadn't grasped it, and his own smugness at that time, thinking he could one-up Duan Rong.
Kong Bin suddenly felt ashamed, wishing to find a hole to bury himself.
Kong Bin backed out of the alley, leaning against the wall, feeling both embarrassment and anger!
"You've reached this level. Still pretending to be dumb, weren't you secretly laughing when I asked?"
"Duan Rong..."
Kong Bin almost unconsciously dug his nails into his palm's flesh...
He was not only embarrassed and angry but more of a deep-seated envy!
And envy leads to madness and short-sightedness!
Duan Rong finished his thirty-six forms, feeling indescribably joyful!
A smile spread across Duan Rong's dark face, wiping the sweat from his forehead, feeling empowered!
Although his Martial Arts advanced rapidly, there was a cost.
He nearly used up five slices of Deer Antler in one day.
Duan Rong wasn't sure of the price of these five slices, but assumed they weren't cheap.
Indeed, medicine expenses are far greater than food supplements.
In fact, for ordinary apprentices, the medicinal power of five slices would suffice for a month.
But Duan Rong's Cultivation Method is Artifact Spirit Devouring, directly achieving Realm.
Then, using the obtained Realm as guidance, accelerate the areas requiring effort, like growing seedlings.
Can be called a super fast track!
This process requires a massive resource stack.
Such practice is definitely beyond conventional understanding.
"Looks like I need to visit the Herbal Shop." Duan Rong thought, eyes flickering as he stood at the corner of the Martial Arts Arena.
Cultivation cannot be paused, better to advance steadily than pause for a moment.
After breakfast at the cafeteria, Duan Rong left Yuan Shun Escort Agency and headed to the nearest Herbal Shop.
A stick of incense later, Duan Rong's face darkened as he left the Herbal Shop.
The price for five Deer Antler slices was three taels of silver.
His monthly salary was barely three and previously saved five taels combined weren't even a single tael!
It seems the Escort Agency is willing to spend money on apprentices, after all, early Realm stacking means earlier service for the Agency, contracts signed after all.
And Duan Rong also realized profoundly.
With Artifact Spirit Devouring, his cultivation speed indeed far exceeds peers, could be called monstrous.
But this practice is extremely resource-consuming.
"Need money, must make money! The core of Martial Arts isn't Spiritual Power, it's making money!"
Duan Rong now understands his true predicament.
Standing on the morning streets of Xianggu County, watching the bustling crowd, he suddenly felt a strange sense of crossing!
"From world to world, still about making money!"
"Money moves mountains!"
"A hero without money is finished!"
Duan Rong bought two meat buns and started wandering the streets while eating.
Looking at shops lining the streets, calculating ways to make money.
He's now lacking resources and funds, thinking of ways to gain from nothing, either through setting traps or deceit.
However, in this martial world, setting traps or deceit might lead to a disastrous end.
Otherwise, he must take the technical route, living by skills.
"Skills? Seems like it'll come down to Devouring Artifact Spirit..." Duan Rong rubbed his chin with greasy hands, eyes filled with a deep thought.
Duan Rong walked to a butcher shop beside the street, suddenly picked up a Bone-Cutting Saber from the counter, and silently said: "Read Artifact Spirit."
Artifact: Bone-Cutting Saber
Artifact Spirit Tier: Unranked
Devouring Requirements: None
Devouring Effect: Proficient Bone Stripping Skill
Duan Rong gritted his teeth, putting the Bone-Cutting Saber back on the counter, sighed: "This skill earns peanuts, barely enough for food. Using it for medicinal supplements, impossible!"
"What I need is big revenue, otherwise this supplement won't work!"
"Do I really have to rob? No fat comes from without night grazing, no wealth without windfall?"
Duan Rong really entertained the idea. "Maybe scout it out?"
Duan Rong felt the storefronts surely didn't offer skills for massive wealth.
If they did, why would they be running shops here?
Duan Rong glanced at a silk store's counter, where a plump mid-aged shopkeeper was focused on abacus beads.
Duan Rong shook his head. This skill is useful, but requires work bit by bit.
After covering several streets, Duan Rong's wild heart began to calm down.
Better be stable, after all, rebirth is rare, don't throw it away again.
Wealth isn't so easy, with underdeveloped commerce here, fewer opportunities.
Seems finding some livelihood for slow and steady income is necessary.
The cultivation matter, better slow progress.
If resources aren't full, practice as feasible.
Even so, with Artifact Spirit Devouring, he'd outpace ordinary folks by a mile.
No need to make oneself uncomfortable, becoming a monster!
"Stay steady!"
"Take it slow!"
Duan Rong wandered several streets, still without mature ideas, when suddenly he saw a narrow alley.
The alley had numerous stores and vendors crowded on the ground on both sides.
Xianggu County streets were quite quiet, not lively for someone like Duan Rong accustomed to past life's hustle.
Unexpectedly, this small alley was another world.
Duan Rong searched his original memory, and suddenly his eyes lit up, immediately understanding the alley's significance.
"This is Xianggu County's Antique Street!"