Time passed quickly.
Xu Qing spent the entire day indoors practicing Baji Fist. He started in the morning and didn't stop until near dusk.
All in all, he practiced for at least eight hours.
"Huuuh..."
Xu Qing slowly concluded his practice, letting out a turbid breath. Above his head, white steam faintly rose from his evaporating sweat.
[Baji Fist LV4: 40/80.]
'I should be able to level it up tomorrow.'
Xu Qing glanced at the Baji Fist information and nodded in satisfaction. He then felt the last ten taels of silver in his robes. 'Only ten taels of silver left.'
Inevitably, Xu Qing recalled last night.
He had gone to Chunfeng Tower but hadn't ordered a single girl or spent a single coin. So when he left, the scornful looks from the surrounding girls and pimps truly made him feel a bit awkward.
'So embarrassing.'
Xu Qing shook his head.
In his past life, Xu Qing frequented all sorts of high-end clubs, spending money like water. Everywhere he went, he was surrounded and fawned over by beautiful women. Last night was nothing like that; it was simply beyond words...
「Dusk.」
Xu Qing arrived at the Cangying Martial Arts Hall but didn't see Instructor Zhang He. Most of the students had already gone home, so Xu Qing went to the Martial Arts Hall's warehouse by himself.
"Elder Xiao, I'm here to buy some Tai Sui Spirit Meat."
Xu Qing took out ten taels of silver and respectfully placed it in front of Elder Xiao.
"Mm."
Elder Xiao rose. With a hunched back, he shuffled into the warehouse as if limping. A moment later, he came out with one jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat and handed it to Xu Qing.
"Take it," Elder Xiao said.
"Thank you, Elder Xiao."
Xu Qing cupped his fists in a salute and accepted the Tai Sui Spirit Meat.
「That night.」
Xu Qing returned home.
He first pan-fried the Tai Sui Spirit Meat, then wolfed it down, eating the entire jin. A warm current surged through him.
Every cell in his body seemed to be cheering with joy.
This feeling... was truly very comfortable.
'Snake Body Technique.'
That night, Xu Qing began practicing the Snake Body Technique.
「Two hours later.」
Xu Qing had already practiced the Snake Body Technique ten times.
[Snake Body Technique (Incomplete) LV2: 10/10 (Upgradeable!)]
It was important to note that the Snake Body Technique was originally an incomplete Body Technique. Body Techniques were a type of fighting style, a category which included not only Fist Techniques and palm techniques, but also Body Techniques, Swordsmanship, Saber Techniques, and more...
Furthermore, now that it had been upgraded to Level 2, the Snake Body Technique had been completed.
"Upgrade," Xu Qing said.
BZZT!
The next moment, Xu Qing's consciousness blurred. Before his eyes, countless tiny figures seemed to appear, endlessly practicing a fluid, snake-like Body Technique.
Moreover, Xu Qing felt as if he had entered a mysterious space. Inside this space, he was endlessly deducing the Snake Body Technique, undergoing constant Cultivation.
Soon, the Snake Body Technique underwent a transformation. His legs became extremely agile, his body seemed to turn into a slithering snake, and all the Power in his body condensed into one, forming a soft and fluid 'Ming Jin'.
BOOM!!!
In that instant, it was like a sudden enlightenment.
A vast amount of knowledge and mysteries flooded Xu Qing's mind. He let out a soft cry and quickly began to practice the Snake Body Technique in his room.
[Snake Body Technique (Incomplete) LV3: 0/20 (This is a Body Technique that imitates snakes, with fluid and lifelike movements. After deduction, it has undergone a new transformation, allowing for the condensation of a soft and fluid 'Ming Jin'.)]
"Huuuh..."
Xu Qing took a deep breath. He had finished his practice. Sensing the changes in the Snake Body Technique and in himself, he nodded in satisfaction. 'Not bad.'
The night passed without a word.
「The next day.」
Xu Qing still didn't go to the Cangying Martial Arts Hall. He continued practicing Baji Fist at his residence, aiming to raise it another Level today.
「Cangying Martial Arts Hall.」
"What a pity, what a pity..."
Zhang He still didn't see Xu Qing today. He was completely disappointed. If his absence yesterday could be explained by some delay, not showing up today as well—two days in a row—meant that he had truly given up.
"Haha..."
"That Xu Qing didn't come again today."
"I know, right?"
"I thought he was so impressive, but he's just a pewter spearhead that looks like silver—all show and no substance."
"It's hilarious."
"..."
The students began to mock him.
"He's truly an unlucky person."
Ye Langtian had naturally heard the news and commented casually, "Besides, I feel the time is almost right. Condensing Ming Jin is just a matter of days for me."
"Congratulations, Young Master Ye! Felicitations, Young Master Ye!"
"Young Master Ye is truly a martial arts prodigy."
"Yes! Yes!"
"He's been at the Cangying Martial Arts Hall for less than a month and is already about to master Ming Jin."
"..."
The crowd chimed in with flattery.
Time flew by.
「Late afternoon.」
「Nearing dusk.」
"It's done."
Xu Qing's expression lit up. He quickly concluded his practice, his eyes flashing. The Baji Fist information appeared in his mind; after practicing for another full day, it was finally ready to be upgraded.
[Baji Fist LV4: 80/80 (Upgradeable!)]
"Upgrade," Xu Qing said.
BZZT!
As soon as the words left his mouth, the Encyclopedia of All Things flashed with a fluorescent light. Xu Qing's mind jolted, and his vision blurred. Countless tiny figures appeared before him, endlessly practicing Baji Fist.
At the same time, Xu Qing's consciousness seemed to enter a mysterious space where he had no sense of the passage of time.
Xu Qing endlessly practiced and deduced the profundities of Baji Fist.
Unconsciously, he reached a state of sudden enlightenment.
BOOM!
At the very beginning, the Fist Force of Baji Fist was fierce and powerful. It was as if every punch could pierce the heavens, erupting with an extremely domineering and conspicuous Power.
However, as time went on, the Baji Fist Technique began to change. Its original ferocity gradually became soft and gentle, giving rise to a feeling of yin and yang in harmony.
The Fist Technique's Power began to seep into his body, refining his muscles and bones, no longer limited to just skin and flesh. The Ming Jin also began to change, transforming from deep within his body into a kind of 'An Jin'.
'As expected.'
Xu Qing opened his eyes, full of vigor. He began to practice Baji Fist in his room. The Fist Technique was no longer abrupt, but instead possessed a sense of returning to simplicity.
At the same time, the Ming Jin in Xu Qing's body had gradually transformed into An Jin.
He had become an An Jin expert.
[Baji Fist LV5: 0/160 (Originally just an ordinary short-range fist style with fierce, unadorned movements and explosive power, capable of strengthening the body. But after repeated innovations, it can now condense the power of the entire body's flesh, blood, muscles, and bones, allowing Power to permeate the skeleton, condense 'An Jin', and refine the body.)]
"Good, good, good."
Xu Qing's face was full of joy as he experienced the changes in himself. 'Another qualitative leap. This Baji Fist upgrade allowed me to directly break through the shackles of Ming Jin and condense An Jin.'
'This way, I've already reached the second stage of the first step of the Martial Dao, the 'Power Realm'.'
"GROWL... GROWL..."
Just as he was rejoicing, Xu Qing's stomach began to protest—he was hungry. He had eaten a jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat last night, but he had also practiced the Snake Body Technique.
Today, he had trained for the entire day.
At dusk, he had even upgraded his Baji Fist and broken through to the 'An Jin' level in one fell swoop.
It could be said that the essence of that one jin of Tai Sui Spirit Meat had been completely consumed long ago.
If Xu Qing hadn't been eating Tai Sui Spirit Meat these past few days, he probably wouldn't have been able to hold out today.
'I can't take it anymore.'
Xu Qing took a deep breath and felt his pockets, only to find he didn't have a single coin left. He glanced at the sky, which had not yet grown completely dark.
Without hesitation, Xu Qing quickly left his home.
「Half an hour later.」
「The underground fighting ring.」
「Yu Chen's residence.」
"Were you a starving ghost in your past life or something?!"
Inside the room, Yu Chen watched Xu Qing wolf down his food. Chicken, duck, fish, meat, and even pig's trotters were all devoured by Xu Qing as quickly as a storm scattering clouds.
"BUUURP~~"
Finally, Xu Qing finished everything, stopping just short of crushing and swallowing the bones. Only then did he let out a satisfied burp and pat his stomach contentedly.
"Xu Qing, you dog, you still owe me a hundred taels of silver! And now, what, you come running over to my place to eat and drink for free?"
Yu Chen cursed loudly.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely pay you back your hundred taels of silver."
Xu Qing waved his hand dismissively.
"Like hell I believe you."
Yu Chen glared at Xu Qing. "You tell me, how many days has it been? You left with eighty-three taels of silver. In just five or six days, you've spent every last coin and have to come to my place to freeload."
"This meal alone cost me at least five taels of silver," Yu Chen added another curse.
"Ahem..."
Xu Qing cleared his throat. "So, uh, do you know any ways to make money? You know how expensive martial arts training is, and I'm really short on cash right now!"
"Make money? I want to make money too! Why don't you give *me* a way to make some?"
Yu Chen shot Xu Qing a look.
"Don't be such a stranger," Xu Qing said.
"If you want to make money, I do have a few leads, but they're all pretty dangerous. I think it'd be better if you didn't take too many risks," Yu Chen said.
"Tell me about them first," Xu Qing said.
"First," Yu Chen held up one finger. "There's a match in the underground fighting ring tomorrow. The person competing is Fan Yanbin, one of the three heads of the ring."
"You have to understand, this guy is a true Ming Jin expert. He's mastered the fighting style and Training Technique of the Changfeng Martial Arts Hall. He's incredibly strong. In his eyes, someone like Pang De is just trash."
"If you can beat Fan Yanbin tomorrow, I guarantee you'll earn at least a hundred taels of silver."
"Of course, that's just a fool's dream."
'A hundred taels of silver.'
Xu Qing's eyes lit up.
However, Xu Qing thought of something else.
If he defeated Fan Yanbin, his true strength would be exposed.
"Isn't Fan Yanbin one of the three heads of the underground fighting ring? Why is he stepping into the ring to fight?" Xu Qing asked.
"He's short on cash."
Yu Chen explained, "You yourself know how expensive martial arts training is. Last time, he bet on Pang De to win, but you won instead. He lost a full hundred taels of silver."
"What are the other options?" Xu Qing asked.