Chapter 3: The Six Arts of the Prisoner, Liberating the Self (Please Follow/Read)

The city at five in the morning.

The stars were scattered, and the streetlights were sparse.

Aside from the occasional sound of tires rolling over the pavement, it was completely silent.

Inside a dark, cramped rental room.

Flickering neon light filtered through the window, casting shifting shadows on the wall.

"Hiss... puff..."

"Hiss... puff..."

Fang Cheng lay on the floor, his back straight, legs together and extended behind him.

His arms bent repeatedly until his chest almost touched the ground.

He took a deep breath of the bone-chilling air.

Then, he pushed up with his elbows, chest out and head held high, looking straight ahead.

He exhaled a puff of hot white mist.

With every completed repetition, he counted silently, trying to maintain a steady rhythm.

That’s right.

What he was doing was the push-up, known as the "golden movement of calisthenics" and one of the three foundations of street workout.

After careful consideration, Fang Cheng had decided to prioritize "physical training."

He hoped that, just like mastering "boxing," he could unlock new skills like "fitness" or "exercise" through basic training.

In his past life as a shut-in, Fang Cheng had consumed countless videos and read various books on fighting and fitness.

One bestseller in particular, titled *Convict Conditioning: How to Build Powerful Survival Strength*, had left a deep impression on him.

The author of the book had served 19 years in the darkest of prisons.

Prison life was brutal; beatings and abuse were daily occurrences, and accidents resulting in serious injury or death were common.

In such a harsh environment, weakness was a sin, and becoming strong was simply a means to survive.

The author spent years studying, learning traditional techniques from fellow inmates and combining them with modern exercise science.

Eventually, he achieved enlightenment, discovering a set of "Convict Conditioning" methods consisting of six arts, embodying the principle that the greatest truths are the simplest.

Its philosophy was simple: kill the gym.

No need for cold, auxiliary equipment, and no need for muscle-stimulating drugs.

It didn't pursue bulky limbs or massive pecs; it only sought the ability to control one's body with agility and ease, to become master of oneself.

Anyone could possess explosive power and a beast-like physique.

Discarding equipment and drugs suited Fang Cheng’s current living conditions perfectly.

As he was now, he had no money for gym memberships, personal trainers, or supplements like protein powder, pre-workout, or creatine.

Therefore, combining his own needs with the book's content, Fang Cheng had devised a calisthenics training plan.

It included push-ups, squats, pull-ups, leg raises, back bridges, and handstand push-ups.

The book referred to these six skills as the "Six Arts of the Convict."

And as the first of the six arts, the "push-up" was the simplest, most accessible, yet highly effective method of strength training.

Performing this movement not only trained the wrists, upper arms, chest, and core, but also improved cardiovascular function and endurance.

Fang Cheng was starting with the most standard two-armed push-up.

Of course, there were higher-difficulty options based on this, such as diamond push-ups, pike push-ups, archer push-ups, fingertip push-ups, one-armed push-ups, and superman push-ups.

"13."

"14."

"15."

"Huff... huff..."

As the number of push-ups exceeded 10, Fang Cheng’s breathing gradually became rapid.

His arm movements began to lose form, making it difficult to maintain the standard.

But Fang Cheng had no intention of giving up.

This was both a physical test and a further exploration of the actual function of his "cheat."

Unlike professional skills like "boxing" or "cooking," the concept of "fitness" was too broad and all-encompassing to be easily defined.

For his first training session, Fang Cheng really wanted to see if he could trigger the panel to unlock a skill slot by repeatedly practicing the same movement.

"18."

"19."

"20..."

When he barely managed to reach 20, his physical strength seemed to be nearing its limit.

Fang Cheng’s chest heaved violently, and his arms began to tremble uncontrollably.

He couldn't help but stop to catch his breath.

"I'm still too weak..."

According to his training plan, one set should have been 25 repetitions.

It seemed he had overestimated himself.

This body lacked exercise and had been weak for a long time.

To suddenly engage in high-intensity training, this performance was actually quite commendable.

Besides...

The panel had yet to react, which made him inevitably hesitant.

Fang Cheng furrowed his brows, gasping for air.

A thought of wavering flashed through his mind, only to be immediately discarded.

As an ordinary person in his past life, he could have been resentful, wallowed in self-pity, or regretted his past failures.

But now, heaven had given him a chance to change his ordinary, lowly life.

How could he give up so easily, making up lies and excuses to numb himself?

A salty drop of sweat rolled from the corner of his mouth to his chin.

Fang Cheng gritted his teeth.

The game had already begun.

If he couldn't even take the first step, he would only ever deserve to be a loser!

Regardless of success or failure, if he wanted something, he had to fight for it with everything he had!

At the very least, he had to see where his limits were!

"Skill: Focus—Activate!"

[You have used the Focus skill. Your mind is highly concentrated, and your body control is enhanced.]

[Maintain for over 30 minutes to increase experience points.]

"21."

"22."

"23."

His muscles were still trembling, but Fang Cheng’s eyes had become resolute and calm.

It was as if he had returned to the exam hall during his college entrance exams, facing a difficult paper without a single thought of retreat.

Every time he lowered himself to the ground, it was like a conversation with his former, weak, and helpless self.

Every time he pushed up, it was proof of transcending himself.

"24."

"25."

He had broken through another barrier.

Fang Cheng’s forehead was already covered in fine beads of sweat.

Sweat poured down his body, soaking his undershirt.

He breathed silently for a few seconds.

Then, he continued to repeat the simple yet incredibly difficult movement.

He seemed to have forgotten the pain in his flesh.

He only focused on feeling the taut muscles in his arms, feeling the power hidden within them that could change his destiny.

[Warning! You are beginning to overdraw your physical strength. Please rest and recover your physical condition.]

"26."

"27."

"28."

"29."

At this point, every additional repetition was a massive challenge.

The agony was no less than enduring torture.

No matter how strong the will, the body ultimately has a physiological limit for self-protection.

Fang Cheng’s face turned beet red, his gaze burning like flames.

Was he really at his limit?

Then.

Just one more.

"30!!!"

Fang Cheng swallowed hard and let out a low roar.

He barely managed to complete the downward movement.

His arm muscles suddenly spasmed.

Finally... he could no longer support his increasingly heavy body.

*Thud.*

Fang Cheng fell to his knees, elbows hitting the floor, head bowed as he gasped for air.

He was like a fish that had just jumped out of the water; his hands, feet, waist, and back were all drained of strength, and he was nearly collapsed on the floor.

However.

In the silent darkness, there was no trace of discouragement or pain on Fang Cheng’s face.

Instead, his eyes were bright, revealing a silent joy.

Because the panel screen in front of him was rapidly brightening and enlarging.

New information appeared, scrolling across the screen.

[You practiced push-ups with all your might, reached a certain level, and gained a profound understanding of them.]

[Skill Unlocked: Push-up Lv0 (0/100)]

[You challenged your limits, and your body activated its self-protection mechanism.]

[Skill Unlocked: Potential Burst]

[You have successfully triggered a hidden skill. Please use it as soon as possible.]

It wasn't the "fitness" or "exercise" he had expected, but the more specific "push-up."

That was fine, too; at least it proved the method worked.

The Six Arts of the Convict consisted of six skills in total; if he could unlock them all, wouldn't the enhancements from leveling up be even greater?

Fang Cheng didn't have time to overthink.

He noticed that another newly unlocked skill slot on the panel was flashing red, as if it might disappear at any moment.

Without hesitation, he chose to use it.

*Hum————*

In an instant, it felt as if invisible energy was born from his blood.

Fang Cheng’s pupils dilated.

He clearly felt that energy flowing through his blood vessels, continuously injecting into his bones, muscles, and internal organs.

His exhausted body felt as if it had been injected with adrenaline, instantly revived.

It was like soaking in a hot spring, having just received a spa treatment from a master technician.

All the soreness, fatigue, and other negative factors caused by the exercise were swept away.

Fang Cheng raised his arms, clenched his fists, and felt his strength return.

"Is this the effect of Potential Burst?"

This sense of fulfillment, like leveling up in a game, made his extinguished fighting spirit burn brightly once again.

Fang Cheng licked his dry, chapped lips.

He stood up and poured a cup of warm water from the thermos on the table.

*Gulp, gulp,* he drank it straight down.

After finishing most of the cup, he wiped the sweat from his face with a towel.

His strength had recovered, and he had replenished his lost fluids.

Time to strike while the iron was hot and keep practicing!

"31."

"32."

"..."

"40."

"..."

"60."

"..."

Fang Cheng counted the repetitions while practicing push-ups with extremely standard form.

Unlike before, his muscles seemed to have formed instinctive memory.

Every movement was performed with the minimum expenditure of energy to achieve the perfect score.

If there were an Olympics for push-ups, Fang Cheng would have the potential to join the national team training camp based on his current performance.

"84."

"85."

"Whew————"

Fang Cheng suddenly felt dizzy and couldn't help but stop.

The excitement brought by Potential Burst was gradually fading, and his recovered strength seemed to be reaching its end.

He squinted, checking the scrolling information on the panel.

[You completed 5 standard push-ups, EXP +1]

[You completed 5 standard push-ups, EXP +1]

[You completed 5 standard push-ups, EXP +1]

………………

By the end, it stopped at the 9th entry and displayed nothing more.

He looked at the skill slot again.

[Push-up: Lv0 (9/100)]

After unlocking the skill, he had done over 50 more push-ups in one go.

Only the last 8 didn't grant experience because his form wasn't standard enough.

It seemed the system's evaluation was very strict.

If he slacked off or if his form deformed due to lack of strength, he definitely wouldn't gain experience.

As for unlocking the skill by challenging his limits, Fang Cheng guessed it was more of an introductory test.

Just like the "boxing" skill, he could choose to accelerate the unlocking progress through actual combat.

And so on.

Even if he only practiced 5 standard push-ups a day, he would reach his goal in a month or two.

It was just that the time required would be too long.

At this moment, the flashing text on the skill slot had dimmed, and that wonderful feeling was rapidly receding.

"Potential Burst" had turned gray and was sealed.

There was a small note below it.

[This skill is a hidden skill and requires prerequisites to activate.]

[Remaining cooldown: 71:39:56]

Fang Cheng didn't continue training.

He still had to go to work at the club today.

Since his training goal had been exceeded, he should save some energy.

He didn't want to overtrain, cause a muscle strain, and delay his recovery.

"I'll set the next skill unlock for three days from now!"

Fang Cheng’s eyes flickered as he whispered.

His arm muscles weren't spasming or trembling like before, and there was no soreness from lactic acid buildup.

He only felt a bit dizzy, and his stomach was growling.

He felt as if he hadn't eaten for three or four days, becoming extremely anemic and weak.

Fang Cheng simply lay flat on the floor, slowly breathing and resting.

Even though his body was exhausted, there was a masochistic sense of satisfaction.

All the negative emotions pent up in his heart had been greatly vented through the sweat-drenched exercise.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually turning from pitch black to bright white.

Dawn had already passed.

The misty glass surface shimmered with a hazy light, as if coated with a thin layer of gold dust.

A dark room, golden windows.

It was as if a sacred gate to heaven had descended.

Fang Cheng opened his eyes, slowly climbed up, and walked to the window barefoot.

His home on the top floor had a wide view, allowing him to see the distant skyline.

The city under the faint morning light appeared exceptionally quiet and peaceful.

The streetlights went out one by one, and the people in the residential buildings were still fast asleep.

The occasional car horn on the street seemed to be waking up this vibrant world.

Looking at this winter morning scene, enjoying the warm touch of sunlight on his face, Fang Cheng suddenly felt an urge to stand on a stage.

He couldn't help but open his throat and shout

"Ah————————————"

His voice was loud, meeting the morning breeze, echoing through the buildings, lingering for a long time.

But it also woke up the neighbors, drawing a chorus of complaints.

"Which lunatic is howling so early in the morning? Can't let people sleep in peace?!"

"Damn it, don't let me catch you, or you'll see..."

Listening to the curses, Fang Cheng grinned.

In this life and the last, this was the first time he had felt the thrill of his physique becoming stronger.

This feeling was so good that he was deeply shocked and couldn't help but be intoxicated.

No wonder some people became addicted to fitness.

He hadn't understood it before, thinking those people were masochists looking for trouble.

Now, he felt it firsthand.

No!

He felt it even more deeply than they did.

Fang Cheng’s eyes shone as he stared at the pale blue screen glowing with the dawn.

Perhaps the greatest significance of this panel's existence.

Was that as long as he trained, he would gain experience, and with experience, he could level up and become stronger.

He could tangibly see himself improving step by step, and he would never waste a single drop of sweat.

Therefore, just grind!

A new book by a new author, I ask all readers to add it to your library and follow it. Thank you for your company and support!

(End of chapter)