Lu Zhiyuan had long since practiced the Highpeak Breathing Method to Perfected proficiency. He understood it thoroughly enough to omit some steps from its original breathing rhythm.
Fusing it with Windborne Method had created the new Windborne Breathing Method. It had not erased his knowledge of how to use the Highpeak Breathing Method.
As he repeatedly performed the Highpeak Breathing Method, his proficiency in the Windborne Breathing Method kept rising. Insights into the latter surfaced one after another, drawing him in until he lost himself in the practice.
Two hours later, he looked at the panel and smiled. His proficiency in the Windborne Breathing Method had increased by a hundred-odd points. At that pace, diligent practice would take him to Mastered in around two days.
Even Perfected would take less than a month. Throughout that time, his cultivation progress would accelerate, reaching its highest rate after a month.
His estimated time to break through to the Flesh Tempering stage might drop from five-odd months to two or three, or even less.
"Panel, simplify Greenpeak Sword Art!"
"Simplifying Greenpeak Sword Art... Simplification successful... Greenpeak Sword Art → Highpeak Fist!"
The panel showed exactly what he had expected: the simplified action was Highpeak Fist. He grinned.
"If future simplifications work this way, I should practice every technique to Perfected proficiency whenever possible. That will save me from taking detours."
Murmuring to himself, he stood and began practicing Highpeak Fist.
Highpeak Fist used straightforward attacks without complex changes in force. It pursued heavy, powerful blows, overwhelming skill with sheer physical strength.
Soon, the sound of his punches whistling through the air filled the room. On the panel, his proficiency in Greenpeak Sword Art continued to rise.
Twenty-odd days passed in a flash. His days were easy and pleasant. He brewed several batches of Blood Vitality Pills daily, then went out to stir-fry pork liver, leaving those still following him bewildered by the spectacle.
The rest of his free time went into practicing techniques in his room. He went nowhere else.
Both the Windborne Breathing Method and Greenpeak Sword Art had reached Mastered proficiency. They were still some way from Perfected, but even Mastered brought considerable benefits.
With Greenpeak Sword Art at Mastered, ordinary martial artists at his cultivation stage were hardly a match for him. Even against someone at the Flesh Tempering stage, he would not be entirely unable to fight back. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Such was the power of a cultivation art at Mastered proficiency. Not every martial artist had the aptitude to reach Mastered, let alone Perfected.
Most remained at Proficient.
Lu Zhiyuan, however, could reach Perfected as long as he worked hard. How could he possibly neglect his practice?
As his cultivation grew, the burden imposed by the mark on his hand gradually diminished.
His wages had been paid a few days earlier, causing quite a stir.
He did not know whether the clinic had publicized it deliberately, but his monthly earnings of fifty-odd silver taels had left many people astonished.
The other alchemists earned at least that much. Since he could brew only Blood Vitality Pills, his income was actually on the low side. Yet people could not help making comparisons.
A month earlier, he had been a lowly menial, someone anyone could beat, berate, or punish when displeased. His monthly wages had been less than one silver tael.
Now his status was higher, and his income had multiplied dozens of times. How could people help envying him?
He acted generously, spending ten silver taels to treat everyone at the clinic to a restaurant meal. Jia Shiheng and He Bingchuan made a point of attending, which soothed a good deal of that jealousy.
More people began courting his favor. They had accepted that he was no longer the insignificant menial he had once been.
A few days earlier, his proficiency in brewing Blood Vitality Pills had reached Perfected. He had then asked Jia Shiheng for several more pill formulas.
Jia Shiheng felt he was rushing and should first fully master brewing Blood Vitality Pills. Still, he did not refuse outright. He gave him several formulas to broaden his knowledge.
He treated Lu Zhiyuan much as he would his own disciple, encouraging him to ask whenever he had doubts. The new formulas had been carefully selected, too.
Beauty Pills, Antidote Pills, Aptitude Pills, and Healing Pills.
As their name suggested, Beauty Pills helped preserve a youthful appearance and improve the complexion with long-term use. Popular with some women, they commanded high prices, far above those of Blood Vitality Pills.
Antidote Pills could relieve ordinary mild poisons. Many martial artists considered them essential when traveling.
Aptitude Pills were intended specifically for children who had not yet begun martial training. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Martial training could not begin too young. Before a child's martial aptitude had fully developed, early training did more harm than good. Taking Aptitude Pills daily at that age could improve that aptitude and smooth the path of future training.
Clearly, these pills were meant for the children of great clans. They cost money. Ordinary people struggled to afford meat, let alone pills like these.
Healing Pills could ease or even heal internal injuries after someone was hurt. Even when they could not cure an injury completely, they could keep it under control.
Unlike the earlier standard formula, these contained extensive notes to help beginners understand and master them more quickly.
Lu Zhiyuan did not study all four formulas. He chose to learn the formulas for Antidote Pills and Healing Pills first.
Money was no longer an immediate problem. He now studied pill formulas mainly to support his future martial training. Only with strength of his own could he truly protect many things.
"Simplifying Antidote Pill... Simplification successful... Antidote Pill → Stir-Frying Yam!"
"Simplifying Healing Pill... Simplification successful... Healing Pill → Stir-Frying Chicken!"
Yam was said to clear internal heat and counteract toxins, while chicken was rich in protein. These simplifications seemed quite reasonable. Probably.
He rubbed his nose, feeling that he might be starting to understand the panel's logic. The new simplified actions were still cooking, which saved him plenty of trouble.
He had tried fusing his Perfected skill in brewing Blood Vitality Pills with the new pill formulas. The fusion had succeeded, but the resulting formulas seemed awkward.
Blood Vitality Pills supported cultivation, while Antidote Pills and Healing Pills served different purposes. The fused formulas appeared to offer two effects, but weakened the original specialty.
Pills brewed from such formulas would probably be difficult to sell. People could simply buy separate pills suited to their needs.
In the end, he separated the newly fused formulas and simplified them individually.
With new formulas in hand, he enthusiastically returned to gaining proficiency. Apart from his unwavering daily technique practice and brewing Blood Vitality Pills, he spent the rest of his time cooking.