“I knew this was a bad idea!” Yu Han screamed. He heaved himself out of bed and rushed to the outhouse.
He’d had the Fasting Brew, then a magical cultivation drug. An upset stomach was the least of his worries.
After half an hour, Fatty Yu came out with weak knees.
“Fuck hole-in-the-ground toilets, fuck water rocks. I’m going to make indoor plumbing and commode toilets if it’s the last thing I do—”
He stopped, then headed back in again.
The curses continued for two hours. Squatting that long should give me at least a point in Endurance.
When he was done, he filled a bucket with water. It would be a poor bath, but with soap from the hot spring, at least he’d feel clean.
Pure Qi: 11 (-11) / 200
[Spirit Origin: 8.20]
“Huh?” It worked. He’d gained 9 True Qi. Assuming 1 or 2 were from Calm Before the Storm Breathing Technique and natural True Qi gain, 7 or 8 were from assimilated Pure Qi.
So 3 Pure Qi was wasted. Not a bad deal by any means.
Grade: Mortal Level 1
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 189 (+8) / 200
Grade: Mortal Level 9
Mastery: Initial Step Level 3
True Qi: 179 (+40) / 400
[Calm Before the Storm Breathing Technique]
Grade: Mortal Level 5
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 188 (+55) / 200
[Ox Tail 72 Sweeping Forms]
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 127 (+35) / 200
[Thousand Petals Awareness]
Mastery: Initial Step Level 1
True Qi: 37 (+12) / 200
Grade: Mortal Level 1
True Qi: Requirements Not Satisfied
[Deep Writhing Clam Bloodline]
Grade: Mortal Level 10
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Grade: Mortal Level 7
True Qi: 2 (+1) / 800
Yu Han stared at the Qi Affinity trait. Ji’s Cultivation Contemplations alluded to a lot of things, and Senior Wen had confirmed a lot of the allusions. ṛ
If a cultivator had Mortal Grade Qi Affinity—which was Common Talent that shone red with the Talent Orb—their usual limit would be the Qi Gathering Realm. For Refined Talents—Elite Grade Qi Affinity—the limit was Foundation Building.
For Profound Talents, with Qi Affinity above Elite like Wu Di’s, they could aim to break through Foundation Building.
With enough practice and dedication, and a little bit of luck, going from Body Tempering to Qi Gathering wouldn’t be an issue. But for Common Talents like Yu Han, Huang Niuniu, and Senior Wen Liujie, they would spend most of their lives trying to grind the Qi Affinity to the next Grade. That would require monster cores, treasured herbs, special pills, and other immortal opportunities.
Yu Han dried himself with a hemp towel, then filled the water bucket again and used it as a mirror. The scar was ugly.
He got dressed and grabbed the halberd. It was time for morning training; he could worry about immortal opportunities another time. Neglecting daily progress through grit and sweat would be the height of folly. This training would be the very thing that would enable him to grasp future opportunities.
After two hours, with one light drizzle in between, he completed the final form of the fifth Ox Tail 72 Sweeping Form variation.
[Body Origin: 6.00 -> 6.40]
Lifeforce: 711 / 768 (+48)
“Hell yeah!” Yu Han cheered. Two stats into Body. He’d decided to go all-in with Memory, so it was blessings from the heavens that he had Huang Niuniu and her Deep Sea’s Strength Spite. As for Endurance, Yu Han guessed it was all the cardio he was doing. On that end, all the aerobic and anaerobic exercise should be contributing to both Endurance and Strength.
He continued training. Mountain Root Stance! Stone Cutting Chop! Swift Hoof Lunge! Grass-Cutting Hook!
One form after another, one variation after the next. He felt stronger; he could go further.
With this, I can take care of the Filth Eating Ghouls more easily. The increased Lifeforce would give him more leeway too.
Hidden Realm, wait for me! He would get all the monster cores he could to grind up his Qi Affinity.
He trained for two more hours. It was easy with the regular pings to progression, though it wasn’t always a stat gain. It could be merely a progression of True Qi, whether realm or Arts, or it could be an observable difference in what he could do. Either way, every bit was a huge dopamine spike.
Yu Han was getting addicted.
“Did you have an upset tummy too?” Huang Niuniu asked.
“Holy cow!” Yu Han jumped back. The halberd slipped from his hands—luckily, he always trained while the blade was sheathed. “You scared me!”
“I’m not a cow!” Huang Niuniu yelled. “Mother was a village girl. It’s actually a very common name in the countryside. It’s even lovable. Why does everyone keep—nevermind.”
“It’s not an insult. It’s an exclamation, like ‘By the Heavens!’ or ‘Oh my god.’”
Yu Han nodded. “What’s your mother’s name?”
“Red Bean?” Yu Han pursed his lips. He would not chuckle!
“How much True Qi did you get?” Huang Niuniu asked, scowling. She had definitely noticed his grin.
“I got the same,” she said suspiciously. “We have to get more Pure Qi Assimilating Elixirs.”
“You’re aiming to be an alchemist. Make more for us,” Yu Han said. Behind Huang Niuniu, a tall young man walked their way on the dirt road.
“Why’s he here?” Huang Niuniu frowned as she followed Yu Han's gaze.
“Tubs! Good news,” Li Yao called as he ran toward them. “I got a trait.”
He had two swords slung on his waist on both sides and wore sleeveless robes. His hair had grown out, and there was a hint of stubble. It didn’t cover up the scar on his face, making it look more pronounced.
“We’re gonna get drunk tonight. All booze on me,” Li Yao said, giving Yu Han a fist bump.
“Sure. I’ll never say no to free food.”
“You better say no,” Huang Niuniu said. “Or was it a lie that you wanted to lose weight?”
“Stop butting in, woman.” Li Yao scowled.
“Stop enabling him, boy,” Huang Niuniu shot back.
As they argued, an intense battle waged within Yu Han.
What’s going on? Just a moment ago, I wasn’t hungry at all. But now an intense, overpowering desire for some good, sugary drinks welled up inside him.
He punched the fence.
“Tubs?” Li Yao looked flabbergasted.
“Sorry Li Yao. I’m not drinking,” Yu Han replied gloomily.
“Seriously?” Li Yao grinned. “Well, good job rejecting. Wanna know what my trait is?”
“And how you got it.”
“Haven’t got a clue.” Li Yao walked past him to the yard. With both hands, he smoothly unsheathed his swords. They were old iron—one had a wooden hilt while the other one had metal.
He dual-wielded both swords, then jumped into motion. His right sword made large, sweeping slashes, while the left sword was more precise. As he moved, the silver sword flash seemed to dance in the light. It would pierce, thrust, cut. Simultaneously, the other sword would slash, chop, sever.
Both hands moved without obstructing each other. If Yu Han were to fight him, he would lose.
Maybe if I use my longer range? No, Li Yao would easily block. His scar looks better than mine too. Bastard.
Li Yao’s sword display finished. He didn’t look tired at all, a huge grin on his face.
“What’s the trait called?” Yu Han asked.
“Ambidextrous Sword Arms,” Li Yao said. “I was practicing the sword technique you gave me with my left hand, and my original one with my right. And before I knew it, I had the trait.”
How did he get such a good deal? Yu Han was amazed.
“Hey, hey. Let’s meet up at Barfing Dragon Tavern this evening. You’ll have time after your work, right?” Li Yao said.
“I still think that name is extremely disrespectful. Dragons are sacred creatures.” Huang Niuniu pouted.
“No booze, only food,” Yu Han replied. “Will we sell the cores?”
Huang Niuniu shook her head. “We need to cultivate our Bloodlines. It’s better to keep it.”
“I would rather not use cores from Filth Eating Ghouls for that. We’ll have to refine the cores to an elixir, right? I say we sell these ones and get less… unhygienic cores.”
“The Night Alchemists only receive tutelage regarding Night Alchemist matters. Senior Wen was drying Filth Eating Ghoul carcasses for a pill too. I’m sure I can use it somehow. At least for practice. But if you insist—”
Yu Han held his hands up. “Then you practice. We can get more in the Hidden Realm, in any case.” She’s too easy to give up on what she wants. Girl, you have to be more assertive!
By now, Huang Niuniu had become Yu Han’s second-best friend. She wanted something from him, and he was sure she had some plans. But other than being evasive, she treated him sincerely.
Nurturing connections, huh? Yu Han remembered the words of his past-life father. Dad wasn’t wrong. With friends, even the icy cold world could give him warmth.
“Hidden Realm?” Li Yao looked excited. “You guys planning to go? You’ll need an official Sect-sanctioned External Mission for that.”
Huang Niuniu and Yu Han exchanged glances. She looked discontented, but Yu Han decided to push.
“Fucking need to ask?” Li Yao grabbed both his shoulders and shook him. “I’m in! When, where, how? What do I need to do?”
“Let go,” Yu Han said. “We have our ways.”
Because of the stigma associated with Night Soil Collectors, not many joined. They were always treated like second-class disciples, like taboos not to be associated with. It made sense. Even in mortal cities, they were the lowest of the low class.
Here though, it was important work. A job that needed to be done. So the Sect, the Medical Hall, and the Alchemy Hall had put in many incentives. Pure Qi Assimilating Elixirs. Mortal Grade Alchemical Methods that Huang Niuniu was eyeing. The hot springs, the Coveralls, and many more.
“That’s Fang Zhao,” Li Yao said. The red-eyed young man trod the same path Li Yao did. He soon reached the three.
“What’s up?” Yu Han asked.
The young man looked up. “The sky?”
“Oh,” Fang Zhao said. He looked down. “Are you busy now? There’s a matter I’d like to ask Brother Yu and Sister Huang.”
The three exchanged glances.
Fang Zhao looked troubled. But he soon gathered himself. His fists were clenched, eyes resolute. “Would you like to go to the Hidden Realm with me?”