Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 500: Give Me Time, and I Can Create Miracles

In the darkness before dawn, a pale blue screen quietly appeared and slowly unfolded.

Fang Cheng stared at the various data on the panel, pondering silently.

Over the past week or so, I have experienced several intense life-or-death battles.

From destroying Xuanzhen's spiritual realm and killing this fiend, to resisting the consciousness possessed by the leader of the ideal land and preventing its true form from descending.

He then helped Chen Xu'an remove obstacles, reshape the power structure of Tiannan Province, and repeatedly helped him eliminate hostile targets.

This series of battles caused the experience points for various fighting skills, such as "boxing", "sanda", "Muay Thai", and "palm techniques", to skyrocket.

Qigong, in particular, achieved a breakthrough after a physical injury, through a fortuitous turn of events.

In stark contrast, fitness skills are progressing at a slow pace.

Due to being overwhelmed with other matters and limited by the environment, and lacking systematic daily exercise, my experience points have almost stagnated.

For me now, strengthening my physique and building a solid physical foundation is more urgent than improving my fighting skills.

The former is the "technique," while the latter is the "way" that carries all power.

After all, skill can move mountains with minimal effort, but only if you have the resources to leverage that "minimal effort."

If one is as fragile as paper, even the most exquisite moves and skill effects are nothing but castles in the air, crumbling at the slightest touch.

Just like in the previous battles, he displayed a terrible performance by using the "Qilin Arm" and "infinite combo".

If one's physical strength is not resilient enough, no matter how fierce the attack, the terrifying recoil will destroy oneself first.

Fang Cheng's gaze swept across the rows of skill bars, finally settling on the attribute interface.

My current constitution attribute has reached 76 points, which is an astonishing number, but it is still far from my expectations.

Having witnessed the almost divine aura and unfathomable strength of the leader of "Ideal Land," Fang Cheng became increasingly aware of his own shortcomings.

Facing a monster that has lived for countless years, with his current physical strength, he probably wouldn't even be able to withstand a single move from it.

To qualify for a direct confrontation with the world's top experts, he must first forge a stronger, more resilient physique that surpasses human limits.

This requires him to invest more time and energy in honing his physical skills to prepare for potential future battles.

Admittedly, once skills are upgraded to the master level or even higher, the difficulty of gaining experience increases exponentially, and every small step forward requires many times more effort.

But that's precisely where the fairness of martial arts lies.

Muscles have memory, and sweat never lies.

There are never any shortcuts on this path to the limits of human potential.

Only through the monotonous repetition day after day, and by persisting for just one more second when one is exhausted, can one gradually forge the mortal body into an indestructible golden body comparable to that of gods and demons.

This process of accumulating sand to form a tower and water dripping through stone is itself a high-level form of spiritual practice.

Because ordinary people cannot see the specific progress they are making, they often find it difficult to persevere through long and tedious periods.

But I am different.

With the help of the dashboard, every heartbeat and every drop of sweat can be transformed into clearly visible data growth.

This certainty that "effort will surely be rewarded" is his greatest source of confidence when facing formidable opponents.

"Give me time, and I can create miracles..."

Upon thinking of this, Fang Cheng's eyes instantly became firm and fervent.

Now that Tai Chi has reached the master level, the focus of training should return to the most basic and unpretentious physical training.

Move your gaze downwards and focus on one of the rows of data:

[Running lv1 (239/250)]

Only 11 more experience points are needed to level up.

"Starting today, the morning exercise program is officially restarting!"

Fang Cheng muttered to himself, then turned off the panel and turned to walk towards the clothes rack.

My schedule is packed today.

Besides morning exercise, I also made an appointment with Lin Chuqiao and the professor to conduct a field visit to the two planned "Illuminati" sites.

In that case, we need to hurry.

He quickly changed into a breathable blue tracksuit, went into the bathroom, and splashed cold water hard on his face.

Cool water droplets slid down my cheeks, taking away the last trace of languor.

The young man in the mirror had sharp eyes and his energy was at its peak.

A few minutes later, a soft click of a door lock closing was heard in the yard.

A lithe figure pierced through the morning mist, ran into the quaint streets of Wanghu Town, and sprinted at a steady pace toward the distant lakeside road.

Time slowly passed, and night quietly faded away.

The eastern horizon first revealed a hint of dawn, then slowly spread out, gradually turning golden red.

A red sun broke free from the horizon and rose into the sky.

The vast expanse of the lake shimmered like gold, and the sleeping city awoke with it.

Traffic began to pick up on the streets, breakfast stalls emitted steaming hot air, and commuters hurried to work, crowding the subway and buses.

The sun was shining brighter and brighter, and it was almost nine o'clock in the morning.

At the other end of the city, in the Lingang District, is the Jinshui Fish Market.

The place was already bustling with activity.

The narrow alleyway was bustling with noise, with vendors hawking their wares and car horns blaring all around.

The air was filled with a unique smell that was a mixture of fishy and engine oil.

Tricycles loaded with seafood zipped around recklessly, and vendors haggled over prices, their spittle flying as they spoke, creating a lively yet slightly chaotic scene of everyday life.

Fang Cheng stood at the street corner, accompanied by Lin Chuqiao and Ye Zhiren.

After his morning exercise this morning, feeling completely satisfied, he took a refreshing shower to wash away the sweat.

After finishing the breakfast prepared by his mother, he made an excuse that he had something to do at the club and drove to the city.

They picked up the two people who had been waiting for a long time at the agreed location and sped there.

The three were neatly dressed and had an extraordinary air about them, which seemed somewhat out of place in the greasy and noisy environment around them, yet they were as firmly rooted as rocks in this hustle and bustle.

A moment later, a young man wearing a brand-new suit and with his hair slicked back walked over quickly.

Although he tried his best to maintain a serious "elite face," his slightly exaggerated walking posture and the slyness that couldn't be hidden in his eyes still revealed his true nature.

The person who arrived was none other than Xiaosa, who had been arranged by Fang Cheng to stay in Dongdu on business.

"President!"

Xiao Sa quickly took two steps from a distance, rushed to Fang Cheng, and bowed respectfully at a ninety-degree angle, attracting the attention of passersby.

"You're finally back! I've been looking forward to this day and night, just waiting for you to come back and take charge of the overall situation."

"Ah."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, turned to look at Lin Chuqiao and Ye Zhiren beside him, and introduced them:
"This is Xiao Chu. He will be in charge of the organization's logistics and finances from now on. He will be our head steward."

"This is a professor, who is in charge of intelligence analysis and strategic planning. He is our strategist."

Then, he pointed to Xiaosai and said solemnly:

"This is Xiaosa, a capable assistant I discovered in Dongdu, and also the first official member of this organization. He was the one who handled the entire selection of the base site this time."

Upon hearing the words "capable assistant" and "first official member," Xiao Sa's face flushed with excitement, and he straightened his back even more. He turned to look at Lin Chuqiao and Ye Zhiren, and said loudly:

"Hello, leaders! I'm Xiaosa. If you need any help with dirty or tiring work in the future, please feel free to ask."

Although their exact identities are unclear, their demeanor alone tells them they are no ordinary people.

He reached out his hand as he did in the movie, but then awkwardly withdrew it.

In the end, he could only clasp his hands in a respectful gesture, which looked rather awkward.

Lin Chuqiao smiled slightly, nodded gently at him, and replied:

"Hello, dashing."

Ye Zhiren pushed up his glasses, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

While waiting, he had already heard Fang Cheng give a general account of this person's background and family situation.

I know very well that this kind of young man, who comes from a poor background, is grateful, and has a ruthless streak, can be a sharp knife if used properly.

"Okay, lead the way."

Seeing that the two sides were already familiar with each other, Fang Cheng interrupted the small talk at the right time.

"Yes, Chairman, this way please."

Xiao Sa immediately turned around and quickly led the way.

The group avoided the bustling main street, walked through several intricate alleyways, and finally stopped in front of a six-story old building.

The exterior walls of the building are somewhat mottled and covered with dark green moss and ivy.

It doesn't look very impressive, but its geographical location is extremely strategic.

It is located in an inconspicuous dead end, easy to defend from the front and close to a hidden canal leading to the port from the back.

Surrounded by dense residential houses, it would be impossible to find this place without familiarity with the terrain.

"President, this is it."

He pointed casually at the building in front of him and introduced it in an orderly manner:

"This building used to be the office building of a seafood freezing plant, but the owner ran away with the money and it has been vacant ever since."

"Don't be fooled by its somewhat dilapidated appearance; the building structure is actually quite sturdy, and the materials used are of high quality. Because it was originally the office of the Port Authority's Inspectorate, it was built to quasi-military standards."

At this point, he lowered his voice, a sly glint in his eyes:
"And... there's another advantage here. The basement is connected to that water channel, which used to be used for transporting goods. Hehe, you all know what I mean."

As he spoke, Xiao Sa pulled out a bunch of keys and unlocked the padlock on the roller shutter door.

As the roller shutter was pushed up with a clatter, a musty, stale smell immediately wafted out.

Fang Cheng glanced around and took the lead, stepping inside.

The first floor is a high-ceilinged hall with a very spacious feel.

In the corner, there were some discarded desks, chairs, and filing cabinets piled up.

Sunlight streamed in through the dirty French windows, forming beams of light in the air, with countless dust particles dancing within them.

Although the ground was covered with a thick layer of dust due to long-term disuse, its original grandeur was still evident.

"good."

Ye Zhiren looked around and gave a fair assessment:

"The interior space is much more spacious than it appears from the outside, and the layout is square, making it suitable as an intelligence hub and daily office."

"The lighting is too good; you can see right inside from the outside, so there's not enough privacy."

"This is easy to handle."

Lin Chuqiao, wearing high heels, deftly avoided the debris on the ground, walked to the window, and gestured:
"When we install one-way mirror glass and apply a frosted film, it will look like an ordinary company storefront from the outside."

"This place is spacious and can be used as a reception area. Let's make it look decent and use it as a cover."

"Yes, yes, that's what I think too."

Xiao Sa chimed in from the side:

"I'm also thinking of adding some green plants and billboards to the lobby to make it look more like the real thing."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, quite satisfied, and then spoke:

"Let's go upstairs first."

The group climbed the dusty stairs, their footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridor.

The second and third floors were originally the office area of ​​the seafood company, which was divided into cramped little rooms using inferior plasterboard.

The dim lighting created an oppressive atmosphere.

Fang Cheng frowned and reached out to push open a rickety office door:

"This place is too messy. It doesn't look like an office. It's more like a maze."

Xiao Sa then gave an embarrassed smile and explained:
"The old boss was a real shrew. He ran a seafood business and treated his employees like sardines in a can."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chuqiao couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

"The layout is flawed; if we buy this place, we'll have to make major changes."

Ye Zhiren shook his head, reached out and knocked on the partition wall, the plasterboard making a hollow "thump-thump" sound.

"All these messy partitions need to be torn down."

"After the connection is made, the second floor can be used as an administrative office area, and the third floor can be converted into several large conference rooms and private offices."

“Even though we are a secret organization, we still need a proper place to hold meetings. We can’t keep meeting in hotels or teahouses, can we?”

"Row."

Xiao Sa immediately declared, "I'll find a construction team right away and tear it all down within three days."

The group continued upwards, reaching the fourth and fifth floors.

The art style here suddenly changes, suggesting that it was originally used as a warehouse.

With no windows and thick insulation panels on all four walls, it felt exceptionally cold and claustrophobic, so much so that even your voice echoed.

The musty smell in the air, mixed with the lingering fishy odor of the past, was several times stronger than downstairs.

Lin Chuqiao covered her nose with some disgust and coughed a few times:
"The smell is awful. Did they not ventilate the house before?"

Fang Cheng, however, showed a satisfied expression.

He took a couple of steps in the empty floor, listened carefully to the sound of his footsteps, and then stomped his feet hard.

"I think it's very good."

Fang Cheng turned to Ye Zhiren and Lin Chuqiao, seeking their opinions:

"This enclosed environment is ideal for installing high-specification security systems."

"The fourth floor could be used as an intelligence room and server room, and the fifth floor could be used as an equipment room and a temporary rest area for core members."

"As long as the ventilation and monitoring systems are upgraded, this place will be an excellent safe house."

Ye Zhiren nodded in agreement:
"Indeed, the opaque design is conducive to secrecy. Adding several layers of lead plates can even block electronic signals, eliminating the risk of being eavesdropped on."

The four of them surveyed the surroundings while discussing specific renovation plans.

After a brief discussion, they finally pushed open the rusty iron gate and went up to the rooftop terrace on the sixth floor.

A salty sea breeze instantly filled my clothes, and my vision suddenly opened up.

(End of this chapter)