Chapter 7: Enjoyment in Leisure

Ever since he transmigrated and inherited everything about this body, his proficiency had only ever increased on the premise of success.

Therefore, he had never even considered the possibility that failure could also increase proficiency.

But thinking about it carefully, why shouldn't failure increase proficiency?

Success is never achieved instantly; it is accumulated through repeated failures.

Although the experience gained from failure is minimal, aren't those faint traces of experience a form of success in themselves?

It’s just like learning to drive. A novice certainly can’t drift through a hairpin turn.

But a successful hill start, a successful parallel park, a successful straight-line acceleration—aren't these all individual successes?

It is precisely by relying on these small, faint successes that one eventually accumulates the skills to become a veteran driver weaving through city traffic or a legendary racer on the curves of Mount Akina.

And there is one more point!

It wasn't as if he hadn't had a single complete success!

He had!

The System’s achievement points helped him gain entry-level mastery directly, which in reality meant he already had the experience of one success.

Why is it that only sects and cultivation families can afford to support orthodox alchemists, while rogue cultivator alchemists are so rare?

The reason is actually quite simple: the initial investment is just too high.

It is so high that a budding alchemist, constantly failing and unable to see even a glimmer of hope for success, is forced to shrink back under the weight of the massive upfront costs.

But sects and families are different; they have the financial resources to support this constant stream of early failures.

And as long as an alchemy apprentice succeeds once, they possess the experience of success, and replicating that success in the future becomes a matter of course.

This is the reason why the successful are always successful.

And Luo Chen, in reality, also had a force behind him nurturing him, allowing him to skip the entire initial phase of investment in failure and jump straight to entry-level mastery!

Moreover, this "System" thing was even more formidable than any sect or family.

Some people truly lack talent, but as long as Luo Chen achieved entry-level mastery, it meant he possessed a certain degree of talent.

Of course, this entry-level mastery relied on the achievement points provided by breaking through the proficiency levels of each skill.

So, in other words.

"All my success stems from my own hard work!"

After discovering that his proficiency was rising, Luo Chen’s mood, which had already been adjusted to a decent state, became even better.

He felt as energized as if he’d been injected with adrenaline, howling with excitement!

However, having realized yesterday that "haste makes waste," he knew that his current state of excitement wasn't suitable for alchemy.

So today, he planned to do something else to balance things out.

What to do?

Practice martial arts!

To be more precise, practice light-body techniques.

He knew his own situation: his cultivation realm wasn't high, his spiritual energy wasn't abundant, and the low-grade flying sword in his hand was just for show. He hadn't even learned the "Traction Technique," so he could only use the flying sword to hack away like a regular blade.

When the original owner first entered the mountains, he was actually just in the outermost periphery, helping others carry monster meat back to the city.

In such a situation, how could one have the best chance of survival?

The answer, of course, is to be able to run!

Logically speaking, the most suitable way for a Qi Refining stage cultivator to escape would be a "God-Speed Talisman," or briefly flying on a magic tool; at the very least, it should be the "Wind-Riding Technique."

But unfortunately, God-Speed Talismans are ridiculously expensive, and ordinary people can't even buy them.

Magic tools require the Traction Technique to function, and their effect is often not even as good as the Wind-Riding Technique.

And the Wind-Riding Technique, being a common commodity, was something Luo Chen couldn't afford before.

A single manual cost dozens of low-grade spirit stones.

So, he could only set his sights on secular martial arts light-body techniques.

Although they were only mortal-grade martial arts, it didn't mean they were useless; at the very least, they didn't rely on spiritual energy.

Luo Chen didn't have much spiritual energy to begin with—the spiritual energy of low-level rogue cultivators was rarely good, and in many cases, combat was just a matter of standing still and trading blows.

Therefore, secular light-body techniques that didn't consume spiritual energy still had their uses!

Sitting at the front door, he spread out a light-body technique manual he had bought at the market for ten taels of gold.

《Xiaoyao Travels》

A very impressive name!

The introduction was also very impressive: "Riding the truth of heaven and earth, controlling the changes of the six qi, to roam the infinite!"

Of course, in reality, it was just a grand fantasy of the founder.

After reading it carefully a few times, Luo Chen tried to get his hands—no, his feet—on it!

This wasn't a combat-oriented light-body technique focused on strange footwork, but rather a travel-oriented one that relied on borrowing force, neutralizing force, adjusting one's posture at high speeds, and coordinating with rhythmic breathing to achieve fast, long-distance running.

When he first started, Luo Chen wasn't quite used to it.

All that talk about borrowing force and neutralizing force sounded a bit mystical—how was he supposed to control the "six qi"!

But after running for a whole morning on the plains across the creek, he really did gain some insight.

"When the wind is strong, adjust your posture and change direction; don't run against the wind."

"If there are branches or high slopes, you can borrow force to leap. When landing, either neutralize the force to land lightly or use the rebound to accelerate and run."

"The breathing rhythm cannot be chaotic, and the mindset must be peaceful. Although not truly 'carefree' (Xiaoyao), one must uphold the heart and do one's best."

"Hey, don't say it, this light-body technique really has that feel to it."

At lunchtime, Luo Chen glanced at his proficiency panel.

In the skill column, there was an extra entry: 【Xiaoyao Travels (Entry-level): 13/100】.

"Reached entry-level, and the proficiency is rising quite fast!"

"Cultivation is like a turtle crawling, but martial arts is like a roc taking flight. I turn out to be a one-in-a-million martial arts genius!"

Holding a large bowl, Luo Chen giggled foolishly.

It’s a shame that martial arts can't grant immortality, otherwise, he wouldn't mind becoming a Martial Saint for a while.

He practiced Xiaoyao Travels for another half day in the afternoon, becoming increasingly proficient, and the proficiency points kept ticking up.

When resting, Luo Chen pondered the reason and finally attributed it to his current physical strength.

Eating spirit rice and monster meat every day, and circulating the "Evergreen Technique" to breathe in spiritual energy—even a pig would become a monster pig under such conditions.

With a stronger physique, wouldn't his ability to use his body also be stronger?

It was just like those basketball superstars in his original world. Did you think they became superstars just by technique? No, they first had to have a body full of talent.

Even the superstar labeled as having the "least talent" had a body stronger than those of ordinary professional basketball players.

His physical strength was now high enough, and he had obtained a manual for physical training. It wasn't an "over-performance," but rather just developing the physical functions he should have had.

At dusk, Luo Chen soaked in the meter-deep creek, lowered his head, and dug up a pile of yellow mud.

Then, relying on his memory, he molded a clay figurine.

Phoenix eyes, silkworm eyebrows, a dignified appearance, and a majestic air—even a girl from an art academy would have to praise his sculpting skills.

"Lord Guan, you just wait. Tonight I'll stick a beard on you and carve you a Green Dragon Crescent Blade!"

While he was muttering to himself, several roars of beasts echoed from the mountain forest a few miles across the plains.

Shortly after, several streaks of light flashed out from the woods.

Luo Chen stood up quickly, alert, returned to his house, picked up his magic sword, and closed the door tight.

On the plains across the creek, those streaks of light had already landed in the weeds, gazing into the depths of the great mountains.

(End of chapter)