Chen Yi glanced at the illusory panel, then focused his full attention on practicing the Big Spear Pile Skill with Wang Lixing.
With every breath he took, he could feel streams of heat emerging from all over his body, hammering down upon his flesh and bones.
Only a trace of heat lingered in his meridians, imperceptible without careful focus.
Nearby, Wang Lixing watched Chen Yi intently. When he saw sweat beading on his forehead and his body trembling slightly, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
'Success.'
In fact, besides what he had just said about the basics of Martial Arts and the Big Spear Pile Skill, there were a few things he hadn't mentioned.
First, not everyone could practice Martial Arts.
Even with the simplest Pile Skill, those with poor physical aptitude or certain special constitutions were unable to practice it.
Fortunately, Chen Yi's current state perfectly matched the signs of cultivating the Big Spear Pile Skill.
Second, the older a person was, the lower their achievements in Martial Arts cultivation would be.
For someone like Chen Yi, starting his cultivation at the age of twenty, even with diligent and unceasing practice every day, breaking through to the Eighth Grade Realm would be his absolute limit.
"From now on, wake him every day around four in the morning and have him practice his Stand Form."
At that moment, Xiao Xuanshuo could also see that Chen Yi's Pile Skill was beginning to show structure. After leaving this instruction, he wheeled himself away from Spring Lotus Garden.
As far as he was concerned, teaching Chen Yi the Big Spear Pile Skill was secondary. His primary goal was to observe Chen Yi's performance.
"Yes, Second Master."
Wang Lixing respectfully saw him off, then turned back to continue observing Chen Yi.
Not until an hour later did Wang Lixing finally speak. "That's enough, Master Chen. We'll stop here for today."
At his words, Chen Yi's breathing hitched, and his body snapped out of that state of churning heat. He was instantly assaulted by a wave of soreness, weakness, pain, and numbness, as if he'd been completely hollowed out. His legs buckled.
Seeing this, Wang Lixing took a step forward, grabbing the back of Chen Yi's collar to hold him steady. He explained,
"Master Chen, cultivating the Big Spear Pile Skill is extremely taxing. Have Miss Xiaodie prepare more meat for you from now on, lest you deplete your body and drain your vital essence."
Chen Yi swayed unsteadily, managing a tired lift of his hand and a listless nod.
'This is incredibly draining. I feel like I jerked off fifty or sixty times in one night. There's not an ounce of strength left in my body.'
A smile spread across Wang Lixing's tan face as he said,
"The Big Spear Pile Skill is a secret Martial Arts Cultivation Technique of the Xiao Family. It's of an exceptionally high grade, not the least bit inferior to the techniques of the great sects and clans of the Jianghu."
"Therefore, it's only natural that its cultivation is more demanding."
Chen Yi just kept nodding, wanting nothing more than to sit down for a moment, then stuff his face to fill his empty stomach.
Wang Lixing knew he was exhausted and didn't disturb him further. Before leaving, he reminded him,
"You must have heard what Second Master said earlier, Master Chen. From now on, I will come to get you every day around four in the morning to practice the Pile Skill."
'Four in the morning?'
"Fine, fine…"
Chen Yi didn't even have the strength to argue. He'd just have to go along with whatever Wang Lixing said.
Although his routine was fairly regular these days, he normally didn't wake up until at least five in the morning.
He had no idea what it would feel like to wake up an hour earlier all of a sudden, but he imagined it wouldn't be pleasant.
After Wang Lixing left, Xiaodie, who had been waiting outside the west gate of the Spring Lotus Garden, trotted over carrying several plates of pastries.
"Ma-Master Chen, the Eldest Miss asked me to bring these for you."
Without a word, Chen Yi sat down in the pavilion and began to wolf down the food.
Only after all the pastries were in his stomach and he had drunk some water did the exhaustion in his body ease a little.
"Xiaodie, go get more food. This isn't enough. Oh, and meat! Brother Wang just said I need to eat meat."
"Okay, I'll go right now. Please wait a moment, Master Chen."
Seeing that he had recovered some of his energy, the worry on Xiaodie's face faded. With a quick "yes," she trotted off toward the rear courtyard kitchen.
After sitting for another moment, Chen Yi let out a long breath. "This Pile Skill really packs a punch."
However, after recovering a bit, he began to notice the benefits of practicing the Pile Skill.
The most obvious benefit was that his body now had some Power.
It wasn't muscular strength. Instead, when he clenched his fist, he could faintly feel a trace of Qi Force flowing inside him, in sync with the rhythm of his breath.
"Is this Martial Arts?"
Chen Yi silently savored the sensation for a moment, marveling at the feeling, before calling up his panel.
Name: Chen Yi
Cultivation: Mortal Body
Martial Arts·Body: Uninitiated (0/1)
Cultivation Technique: Big Spear Pile Skill (Initial Insight)
Opportunity Points: 1
After reading it, Chen Yi directly added the Opportunity Point to "Martial Arts·Body".
Instantly, a flood of profound and inexplicable knowledge appeared in his mind.
Just as when he had added a point to his Calligraphy Dao, this information wasn't instantly mastered. He would have to physically practice and comprehend it during his cultivation until he had absorbed it all.
Not in a hurry to review the new information, he continued to stare at the panel. 'There's a "Cultivation" stat now... Mortal Body, huh...'
'That's fitting, I suppose.'
'For a weak scholar like me, "Mortal Body" is already a compliment.'
Chen Yi's gaze then shifted downward to the intelligence that had refreshed for the day:
[Daily Intelligence · Profound-rank Lower Grade: Before midnight, inside Jiaxing Garden. The Xiao Family's Young Master, Xiao Wuge, and the Crown Prince, Zhang Heng, will come to blows in a decisive confrontation. A small amount of Opportunity can be obtained.]
'Jiaxing Garden?'
Chen Yi was taken aback and turned to look at the long corridor not far behind him.
'It's so close... Maybe I should give it a shot?'
He had waited all this time for an Opportunity to appear so close by.
As thoughts churned in his mind, Chen Yi stroked his chin, contemplating the feasibility.
Jiaxing Garden was where the Xiao Family's Eldest Miss had her private chambers, so it was unlikely the Armored Warriors could enter.
Besides, the time before midnight was when people were most tired and let their guard down.
If he was lucky, he might be able to watch the two of them fight from atop the wall without even needing to leave Spring Lotus Garden.
"It's worth a try!"
After making his decision, Chen Yi relaxed.
Since Xiaodie hadn't returned yet, he began to contemplate the profound mysteries of Martial Arts that had flooded his mind.
'Martial Arts is incredibly vast, encompassing the physical body, Fist and Foot techniques, grappling, Body and Footwork Techniques, weapon combat, and more. Each of these can be cultivated individually until one enters the Dao.'
'Take the Pile Skill, for instance. Even after a breakthrough in one's Cultivation, one can continue to practice it as a technique to temper the physical body.'
'Therefore, Cultivation is merely a measure of one's Martial Arts Realm. Even people in the same Realm can have different levels of Power, Qi, and physical conditioning.'
By combining his experience from the last hour of practicing the Big Spear Pile Skill with the profound mysteries of "Martial Arts·Body" he had just absorbed, Chen Yi came to a new understanding.
"I have a long way to go."
'Without extra Opportunities, if I rely solely on my daily "laziness," never mind advancing in Martial Arts—even progressing in the Calligraphy Dao will take forever.'
This made Chen Yi even more determined to find a way to sneak into Jiaxing Garden tonight.
'The Young Master, Xiao Wuge, and the Crown Prince, Zhang Heng?'
He vaguely remembered Xiaodie mentioning Xiao Wuge once, saying he was always in the Marquis's Mansion studying Martial Arts and the classics.
'I wonder how far he's progressed in his Martial Arts.'
'But since even Madam Lian, Xiao Jinghong, has a Fourth Grade Realm cultivation, the Young Master can't be too shabby.'