Chapter 1: Getting Stronger Just by Breathing

Pingyin County.

“Train the muscles, bones, and skin externally; refine the breath internally. At our Jishan Martial Arts Hall, we have always treated everyone equally. Even the precious internal refinement methods are taught to you all. Therefore, as long as you work hard enough, better and stronger techniques are waiting for you!”

Bi Hong, the senior disciple of the Jishan Martial Arts Hall, was shouting loudly. The people in the hall listened intently. In a corner, a dark-skinned, thin, and small person also held his head high, but if one looked closely at his eyes, they were dull and vacant.

Closing and opening his eyes, Chen Fei had inexplicably arrived in this world over ten days ago. After absorbing the original owner’s memories, he realized this was a world similar to ancient times on Earth.

But here, there were martial artists who could leap over walls and roofs; killing an ordinary person was like pinching a chick.

Chen Fei was currently a handyman at a medical clinic, not even considered an apprentice; he spent his days doing odd jobs.

Learn medicine? That was completely out of the question; they wouldn't give you the chance.

Steal the knowledge? If caught, you would be beaten into a cripple on the spot and left to fend for yourself.

The original owner was unwilling to live like this forever, so he was obedient and hardworking in the clinic, hoping to win favor and learn a skill.

Unfortunately, all the handymen had the same idea, and the competition was so fierce it made the original owner doubt his life.

In desperation, the original owner took the few silver coins he had saved and went to the Jishan Martial Arts Hall to apprentice, hoping to change his fate.

The Jishan Martial Arts Hall was very straightforward: upon apprenticing, they taught one breathing technique and a set of matching fist techniques. The original owner treated them like treasures, practicing desperately in his spare time.

After three months of martial arts training, he hadn't even managed to get started with the fist or breathing techniques before he overworked himself, fell ill, and died!

Chen Fei received the original owner’s memories and was naturally eager for martial arts, so he practiced for a while as well.

But facts proved that there was a reason the original owner couldn't get started after three months.

His talent was truly lacking, and Chen Fei, having inherited this body, found that his own talent wasn't much better.

Relying on modern thinking to make some money and become a wealthy man?

Chen Fei had originally thought of this, but the original owner had signed a contract as a handyman at the clinic for a full twenty years.

If he wanted to leave, it wasn't impossible, but he would have to pay a high price to break the contract.

Moreover, all his extra earnings belonged to the clinic; if caught hiding anything, he would be crippled.

It was quite inhumane and quite brutal.

For such a terrifying clinic, the original owner had spent everything he had just to get in.

At least the clinic only made you work like a beast of burden for a lifetime, while other places wouldn't even give you the chance to do that.

Just then, a virtual panel appeared before Chen Fei’s eyes.

【Name: Chen Fei】

【Profession: None】

【Techniques: Jishan Fist, Jishan Breathing Technique】

【Realm: None】

“Technique discovered. Spend one tael of silver to simplify Jishan Fist?”

“Technique discovered. Spend one tael of silver to simplify Jishan Breathing Technique?”

The panel displayed some of Chen Fei’s information, while two reminders kept flashing at the bottom. Chen Fei had been distracted just now because he was staring at this suddenly appearing panel.

“What are you dazing off for? Start practicing your fist!”

Bi Hong appeared in front of Chen Fei at some point and shouted, “If your Jishan Fist doesn't reach the entry level soon, you’ll have to pay again next month to come to the hall. You should know that!”

Chen Fei snapped back to reality and didn't dare to say more, immediately intensifying his practice.

Bi Hong watched for a few moments and couldn't help but shake his head. He knew Chen Fei’s background; he had come to the Jishan Martial Arts Hall to take a gamble. Now it seemed that, in the end, it was the life of an ordinary person, and it couldn't be changed.

An hour later, Chen Fei left the hall drenched in sweat. Aside from hunger, he had gained nothing else.

He hurried back to the clinic in a few strides, greeted a few familiar handymen, and hid in his room.

This was a large communal dormitory where nearly ten people slept. All sorts of pungent smells kept drilling into Chen Fei’s nose. Fortunately, he was used to it; one had to know that when he first woke up, Chen Fei had almost passed out from the stench.

“One tael of silver... I don't have that much money.”

Chen Fei sat on the bunk, his brows furrowed. He didn't yet understand the function of this panel, because no matter how he asked questions, focused his mind, or silently recited various "open sesame" phrases, the panel didn't change or respond at all.

Only those two lines of reminder text kept flashing, urging Chen Fei to pay up.

But Chen Fei had spent all his savings to join the Jishan Martial Arts Hall, and in these few months, he hadn't managed to save a single tael of silver.

“I must find a way to scrape this money together.” Various ideas flashed through his mind. Chen Fei remembered that the original owner had hidden a medicinal herb outside.

Four months ago, the clinic was short on herbs and had a group of handymen follow a herb gatherer up the mountain. That herb was the one the original owner had secretly hidden. It was also during that trip that they encountered something eerie on the mountain, and three people died, which made the original owner determined to learn martial arts.

The original owner had heard that if one reached a certain level in martial arts, they could resist the eerie. Even if they couldn't resist, if others in the group had weaker blood and energy than you, the eerie would target them first.

Recently, things outside the county town had not been peaceful. The clinic was frequently short of herbs, so going up the mountain to gather them every few months would likely become the norm.

Chen Fei left the room, intending to borrow money from other handymen, but one tael of silver was too much for them; no one would lend it to him.

If he borrowed from several people separately, it would likely arouse suspicion. Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, then left the clinic.

Half an hour later, Chen Fei retrieved the herb. It hadn't been lost. Wearing a bamboo hat to cover his face, he secretly sold the herb in a marketplace for one tael of silver and fifty copper coins.

Chen Fei didn't dare return to the clinic; he climbed into an abandoned courtyard within the county.

“Simplify Jishan Breathing Technique.”

Chen Fei recited in his heart. The next moment, the silver in his sleeve vanished, and the panel in his vision flickered slightly.

“Simplifying Jishan Breathing Technique... Simplification successful... Jishan Breathing Technique → Breathing!”

Breathing?

Before Chen Fei could wrap his head around it, he suddenly saw the information representing him on the panel change.

【Name: Chen Fei】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Techniques: Jishan Fist, Jishan Breathing Technique (Entry 1/100)】

【Realm: None】

As Chen Fei continued to breathe naturally, a warmth spread through his body, and the number after the entry level of the breathing technique began to rise steadily. In just a moment, it had become Entry 10/100.

Many insights regarding the Jishan Breathing Technique naturally emerged in his mind.

“Just by breathing, I can cultivate?”

Chen Fei was completely stunned. Was this simplification function too overpowered? The Jishan Breathing Technique used special breathing methods to mobilize the internal organs and strengthen the body.

Now, after simplification, it had turned into breathing to increase the proficiency of the technique.

So perverted—Chen Fei expressed that he loved it!

“Bang!”

Just as Chen Fei was about to continue studying the breathing technique, the courtyard gate was kicked open, and a group of people stormed in aggressively.

“Steward Cui, it’s him.” Sha Daxin pointed at Chen Fei and said, “I just saw him holding a medicinal herb, selling it for money, and then he ran here.”

Chen Fei frowned slightly. This Sha Daxin had a conflict with the original owner before; he didn't expect to be caught selling the herb. Or perhaps this person had been watching him, and now finally found an opportunity.

“Search him!”

Cui Sanjie waved his hand, and several handymen immediately lunged at Chen Fei. Chen Fei didn't resist and let them search him.

In a moment, these handymen had thrown all the money they found on Chen Fei onto the ground—only fifty copper coins.

“Didn't you say he sold it for a tael of silver?” Cui Sanjie frowned and turned to look at Sha Daxin.

“He must have hidden it in the courtyard!”

Sha Daxin was slightly flustered, but he immediately thought of a reason. He walked up to Chen Fei in a few steps, grabbed his collar, and shouted, “Chen Fei, your business is exposed! Hand over the money, or it won't be this simple later!”

“I didn't sell any herbs; don't frame me.” Chen Fei pried Sha Daxin’s hand away, his expression innocent.

“Steward Cui, the money must be in this courtyard. If we search carefully, we will definitely find it.” Sha Daxin glared at Chen Fei and turned to look at Cui Sanjie.

Cui Sanjie didn't speak, but looked at the dilapidated courtyard. The ground was full of dust, and the only footprints were the ones they had made; there was nothing unusual elsewhere.

“What are you doing here!” Cui Sanjie looked at Chen Fei.

“Martial arts training failed, so I came here to clear my head,” Chen Fei said in a low voice.

Cui Sanjie grinned. He had heard that this handyman had gone to the Jishan Martial Arts Hall to apprentice, but after more than three months, he had achieved nothing.

“Sha Daxin, come here,” Cui Sanjie said.

“Yes, Steward Cui.” Sha Daxin didn't dare delay and hurried to Cui Sanjie.

“Slap!”

With a dull thud, Sha Daxin fell to the side, dazed, subconsciously covering his cheek, which was already swollen. Sha Daxin moved his mouth, and a few teeth fell out.

“Next time, don't come to me with things you don't have evidence for. Do you remember?” Cui Sanjie looked at Sha Daxin indifferently.

“I... I understand!” Seeing Cui Sanjie’s expression, Sha Daxin nodded hurriedly, terrified.

Cui Sanjie shook his head, feeling bored, and turned to leave the courtyard. The other handymen followed quickly. Sha Daxin stood up and glared at Chen Fei with malice. He didn't dare complain about Cui Sanjie, so he could only vent all his anger on Chen Fei.

“You got lucky this time!”

Sha Daxin stared at Chen Fei, but Chen Fei showed no reaction. That tael of silver had long since disappeared and couldn't be found. As for confronting the shopkeeper?

How could the clinic go to such lengths for a single tael of silver?

“Hmph!”

Receiving no response, Sha Daxin’s anger grew even more. He gave Chen Fei a cold look and turned to leave the courtyard.

Half an hour later, Chen Fei returned to the clinic’s communal dormitory and looked at his panel.

【Name: Chen Fei】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Techniques: Jishan Fist, Jishan Breathing Technique (Proficient 930/1000)】

【Realm: Martial Practitioner (1/100)】

The Jishan Breathing Technique had become Proficient, and the sensation each breath gave his body had become more distinct. At the same time, his realm had changed to Martial Practitioner.

Chen Fei had heard the senior disciple at the hall say that a Martial Practitioner was just an ordinary person who had just started martial arts. To truly achieve something, one should reach the Skin-Refining Realm.

Reaching that realm would truly distance one from ordinary people. At that point, the Jishan Martial Arts Hall would fully accept you as a member.

Just as Chen Fei was silently studying, the panel changed again.

【Techniques: Jishan Breathing Technique (Perfect 1/10000)】

【Realm: Martial Practitioner (2/100)】

The warmth in his body seemed to become even more obvious, and his realm had risen by a point. At the same time, Chen Fei’s stomach began to growl. His body was slowly getting stronger, so it naturally began to consume energy.

The clinic only provided two meals a day. He couldn't dream of fish or meat, but eating his fill was no problem; the clinic didn't skimp on that.

Chen Fei deliberately ate a bit more, but in the middle of the night, he was still woken up by hunger. He looked at the panel; the breathing technique was still in the Perfect state, but the progress was already in the thousands. He estimated he would pass the Perfect stage tomorrow.

He just didn't know if there were other realms after Perfect.

At the same time, his cultivation had also risen by a few points. According to his estimates, perhaps in less than twenty days, Chen Fei could reach the Skin-Refining Realm and become a true martial artist.

By then, whether he stayed at the clinic or went to the Jishan Martial Arts Hall, Chen Fei would have bargaining chips.

Eating his fill during the day, Chen Fei worked with great energy. Not only because his body was getting stronger, but also because life finally had some hope.

Every breath brought strength—what a wonderful thing. At the same time, watching the numbers jump on the panel gave him a great sense of accomplishment.

Before noon, the Jishan Breathing Technique reached its peak.

【Techniques: Jishan Breathing Technique (Grand Perfection)】

There was no room for further improvement. The various insights regarding the Jishan Breathing Technique swirled in Chen Fei’s mind. Cultivating to this level, Chen Fei had almost reached the realm of the person who created this technique.

In the Jishan Martial Arts Hall, no one had likely cultivated this breathing technique to Grand Perfection.

After all, it was just an introductory technique; there was no need to obsess over it. Chen Fei hadn't obsessed over it either; it had just naturally reached the top.

The Grand Perfection level breathing technique gave Chen Fei an increasingly obvious sensation, and the display on the panel proved his guess. What might have taken twenty days to reach the Skin-Refining Realm would now likely take only ten days—the time was cut in half.

Chen Fei’s appetite began to increase gradually, but he wasn't scolded; in fact, he was even praised by one of the stewards two days ago.

Compared to the other listless handymen, Chen Fei’s recent attitude was clearly positive. The difference in his spirit and energy made the steward quite satisfied, which in turn meant he had noticed Chen Fei.

The other handymen were envious and became much closer to Chen Fei. Only Sha Daxin, in the corner, looked at Chen Fei coldly.