Complete one practice method every day

Yesterday's almost self-torture-like attempt was actually recorded! And the effect was amplified!

My mind suddenly gained a lot of more specific and systematic knowledge about herbs.

Those previously fragmented and vague impressions have now become clear and organized, as if they have been sorted out. This is not just an increase in experience points, but a real infusion of knowledge.

And there's Iron Mountain Fist!

Chen Yue subconsciously clenched his fist, a faint sensation of connection coming from his arm.

When the original body and Chen Yue tried to practice on their own, those parts that were always awkward and difficult to grasp suddenly became clear to them!

This realization was not merely knowledge; he moved his arm slightly, and his muscle memory seemed to have been modified. Those insights had settled deep within his body, forming a preliminary reaction trend.

Although it's still far from being truly mastered and forming combat power, this is indeed the beginning!

It is about crossing the most crucial threshold of going from nothing to something!

In the hustle and bustle of the early morning, Chen Yue found a secluded corner and quickly unbuttoned a corner of his shirt to check.

The dark spot on his chest seemed to have grown larger than yesterday, now about the size of a fingernail. The color had deepened, and the edges resembled a smudged ink.

As soon as his fingertips touched it, a bone-chilling cold immediately spread from his fingertips, making him shiver involuntarily.

Chen Yue took a deep breath, suppressing his anxiety, and focused his attention on the semi-transparent panel.

That single "source point" still hangs there, turning decay into magic... but it's not the right time yet.

He fastened his clothes, suppressing the fear and longing deep in his heart, and, as usual, blended into the noisy work in the backyard of the pharmacy.

Grinding herbs, cutting herbs, sorting, drying, cleaning... he did every task meticulously, even more attentively than before.

He would only strike a pose from Iron Mountain Fist very quickly during breaks, or throw a punch or kick out of thin air.

Unlike his previous awkwardness, Chen Yue's movements now have a correct trajectory in terms of muscle and bone strength.

With a slight twist of the waist, the shoulders and arms move, and power rises from the feet. Although it is still weak, it has a faint but continuous momentum, no longer the stiffness of the whole body when practicing blindly.

"Hey, Chen Yue, what kind of amazing skill are you practicing? Planning to switch careers and become a street performer?" An apprentice who was drying medicinal herbs caught sight of him, sneered and asked loudly, attracting several mocking glances from the side.

Chen Yue seemed not to hear, and silently withdrew his hand, continuing to tidy up the medicine sieve in his hands.

The apprentice, finding the situation uninteresting, pursed his lips and turned away.

Occasionally, when the front hall was too busy, Chen Yue would be called upon to help out. This included dispensing medicine, handing over instruments, and cleaning the floor next to the medical records. Every time he entered the front hall, Chen Yue would prick up his ears and widen his eyes.

Doctor Qin, sitting in the clinic, stroked his beard and pondered, reciting the prescription. He would try his best to remember every ingredient and its dosage.

During the Q&A sessions between Dr. Qin and his patients, he tried his best to understand the unfamiliar terminology, including descriptions of symptoms and speculations about the pathogenesis. He even secretly observed Dr. Qin's finger pressure and placement when administering acupuncture and massage, trying to memorize it.

Chen Yue was like a dry sponge, greedily absorbing all the information he could get his hands on, even if he didn't understand it for the time being, he swallowed it whole.

The black spot on his chest was like a silent countdown, forcing him to be faster and more efficient.

……

Another midnight.

On the dormitory bed where snoring was deafening, Chen Yue lay awake in the darkness.

Daily Settlement

[Efforts to grind, cut, and identify herbs will earn you +50 experience in herb identification.]

[Practice Iron Mountain Fist diligently; Iron Mountain Fist experience +50.]

[Strive to learn medical principles; medical experience +5.]

[Name: Chen Yue]

[Skill: Herb Identification (Minor Success 3/200)]

[Skill: Iron Mountain Fist (Beginner 60/100)]

[Skill: Medical Skills (Beginner 5/100)]

[Source: 1]

coming!

Almost the instant the panel information refreshed, a stream of information far larger than yesterday's suddenly flooded into his mind.

The forms, smells, properties, origins, processing methods, contraindications, and main effects of a large number of herbs... seem to have been read and memorized thousands of times, and they naturally emerge, arrange, and return to their places.

He could name most of the medicinal herbs in Huichuntang's medicine cabinet with his eyes closed.

And my understanding of Iron Mountain Fist has deepened once again.

The awkwardness at the transitions between moves has further dissipated, and there is a clearer understanding of the timing of force exertion and the control of the body's center of gravity.

Muscle memory is also adjusted and strengthened, as if it had really been months of hard training.

There's also a vague understanding of the human body's meridians, the most basic theories about cold and heat, deficiency and excess, and the simple effects that can be produced by combining several common medicinal herbs...

Although rudimentary, it marked the opening of another door to medical knowledge, creating a crack in his understanding.

In the darkness where no one could see, Chen Yue's lips curled upwards uncontrollably.

……

The next day, Chen Yue repeated the same focus and hard work.

By day, he is the most diligent figure in the pharmacy. By night, he is a martial arts practitioner sweating profusely under the moonlight.

The dark spots on my chest continued to spread slowly and stubbornly, the chilling feeling like a bone-deep infection, but the hope brought by the panel was like a faint lamp illuminating the way forward.

Another night of settlement.

On the panel, the experience of Iron Mountain Fist increased by 50 again, and then it suddenly became fully mastered.

[Skill: Iron Mountain Fist (Minor Mastery 10/200)]

Just as his skill level was about to leap forward, a strange change suddenly occurred inside Chen Yue's body. A faint but real heat surged up from his lower abdomen, Dantian, without warning.

The heat flow was initially as thin as a spider's thread, but then it spread along a specific path to the limbs and bones, bringing a tingling warmth wherever it passed.

More importantly, when this faint warmth spread to his chest, it came into contact with the chilling aura emanating from the black spot.

"laugh!"

It is not an actual sound, but a sensory sensation.

The lingering, cold, and numb sensation, like a leech clinging to a bone, was actually forced back slightly by this faint warmth. Although it was only a negligible amount, the real reduction in sensation caused Chen Yue's body to tremble slightly.

A new entry appeared on the panel in that instant.

[Realm Level: Martial Apprentice (3/100)]

Martial Arts Apprentice!

Is this the sign that one has just begun practicing martial arts and that qi has been generated within the body?

Chen Yue was excited and tried to focus his attention on the experience points behind the realm, but found that he could not directly use source points to improve it like a skill.

It seems that improving one's skill level depends on advancing one's abilities and diligent practice.

In the days that followed, Chen Yue squeezed every last drop of his free time into the extreme.

The pharmacy staff worked quickly and efficiently, filling prescriptions with such precision that they hardly needed to look at the labels.

The practice of boxing techniques also changed from secretly practicing to seizing every opportunity, even if it was just a few breaths' interval, to adjust breathing and feel the faint heat flow in the body.

This effort, and the visible changes, began to attract the attention of those around them.

Chen Yue's energy and spirit are indeed different now.

Although her face was still pale from the erosion of dark spots, her eyes were getting brighter and brighter, showing a kind of inner strength that was trying to grow upwards.

This enthusiasm stood out starkly against the apathetic atmosphere among most apprentices.

"What are you pretending for?"

"Tch, what's the point of practicing that crappy boxing? How can you become a master? You'd be better off sleeping with that energy."

"Look at him, thinking he's so capable! Just because he can get medicine quickly doesn't make him any special. He's still just an apprentice!"

"Everyone's rolling in the mud, but he stands out. Who's he trying to impress?"

Criticism and ridicule grew behind the scenes, and the rejection and alienation in people's eyes became increasingly apparent. When everyone is sinking into despair, the person who tries to hold their head high always seems particularly conspicuous.

Chen Yue did not react to this. He continued to do his job silently, seizing every opportunity to practice and learn.

The front hall was relatively quiet that day, and Chen Yue was sorting and storing a batch of newly arrived medicinal herbs. Chen Lin, the manager of the front hall, stood by the counter with his arms crossed, watching him for a while.

Chen Lin was mainly responsible for front-of-house reception, dispensing medicine, and accounting. He had noticed this apprentice named Chen Yue for some time.

Other apprentices would carefully check the labels and weigh the herbs repeatedly when dispensing medicine, but this kid was quick and efficient, and never made a mistake. He was even exceptionally familiar with the rare and easily confused herbs in the medicine cabinet.

"Chen Yue, come here." Chen Lin beckoned.

Chen Yue put down his work, walked quickly to Chen Lin, and bowed slightly: "Manager Chen."

Both of them shared the surname Chen, but in Huichuntang, having the same surname did not necessarily mean they were related.

"Um."

Chen Lin looked him over and nodded. "You've been getting your medication very quickly lately, and you're very careful with your checks. Not bad."

"It's all what I should do," Chen Yue said with a slightly reserved smile.

Chen Lin pondered for a moment and said, "Master Lin's alchemy room is short of an assistant recently. The work is a bit messy and hard, but you can learn some things. However, if you want to go, I'll have to test you."

Chen Yue's eyes lit up slightly.

Master Lin, also known as Lin Quan, is an alchemist at Huichuntang.

A portion of a pharmacy's profits comes from treating patients and prescribing medicines, but the majority comes from selling various finished pills and elixirs.

Being able to enter the alchemy room, even if it's just doing odd jobs, means you'll have access to deeper levels of techniques.

"Please examine me, steward." Chen Yue suppressed the turmoil in his heart and spoke respectfully.

Chen Lin casually asked about five or six kinds of medicinal herbs, some common and two less common. Chen Yue answered fluently, not only stating their names and properties, but also briefly mentioning common combinations.

While not exactly an expert, his foundation was so solid that it far surpassed that of an average apprentice.

A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Lin's eyes, which quickly turned to satisfaction. He nodded, "Hmm, you remember correctly. Go on, get back to work, I'll let you know when I have any news."

"Thank you, Steward Chen." Chen Yue bowed again and continued his work.

Late at night, on the communal bed, Chen Yue silently pressed his palm against his chest beneath his clothes.

The touch from my fingertips was still cold, but the eerie feeling of growth, as if something was wriggling, had indeed been greatly reduced.

Since Tieshanquan reached the pinnacle, the new energy in his dantian has grown stronger day by day. He practices diligently every day, and his cultivation progresses by leaps and bounds.

[Realm Level: Martial Apprentice (61/100)]

At this rate, we will definitely break through in another four or five days.

The next day, Chen Yue got up early as usual, waiting to be called to the front hall to help out, hoping to see Manager Chen and see if there was any progress on the matter of the alchemy room.

But for the entire day, he was assigned to the most secluded corner of the backyard to handle the most tedious and time-consuming tasks of sorting and cleaning herbs.

Chen Lin was never seen in the backyard.

The same thing happened on the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day...