Chapter 4: Passing the Level

The city gates of Pingyin County were already closed; there was certainly no way to enter at this hour. Fortunately, there were some merchants from out of town outside the walls who, unable to enter, were currently camping and resting.

Chen Fei found a spot by a campfire. Listening to the hushed conversations around him, his tense nerves slowly began to relax.

Too many things had happened today. If not for his breakthrough in strength, Chen Fei would be lying stiff and cold on Pingyin Mountain right now.

Thinking of this, Chen Fei couldn't help but look at his panel.

【Name: Chen Fei】

【Profession: Martial Artist】

【Cultivation Method: Jishan Fist (Proficient 307/1000), Jishan Breathing Technique (Grand Completion)】

【Realm: Skin Tempering (2/1000)】

His Jishan Fist had reached the Proficient level, and the insights regarding the fist technique were still echoing in his mind. He could only say that this simplification function was truly powerful.

"The progress of the Skin Tempering realm hasn't changed at all."

Seeing his cultivation progress, Chen Fei’s brows furrowed slightly. Before his breakthrough, the Grand Completion Jishan Breathing Technique could provide an increase of about 10 points of cultivation. Yet, half a day had passed since his breakthrough, and it had only increased by 1 point.

"Has my cultivation realm improved to the point where the Jishan Breathing Technique can no longer keep up?"

This thought surfaced in Chen Fei's mind. After a moment of reflection, he realized it was quite likely. After all, this breathing technique was very basic—so basic that the Jishan Martial Arts Hall taught it to its students without any restrictions.

If it were truly a profound breathing technique, it wouldn't be something that could be exchanged for such a meager tuition fee.

"I'll observe for a few more days to see exactly how much cultivation the Jishan Breathing Technique can provide."

Chen Fei looked away. He didn't sleep; having just encountered a ghost, he didn't dare to close his eyes even though he was at the foot of Pingyin County. Not wanting to waste time, he sat by the campfire and began to gently move his hands in the motions of the fist technique.

Bits and pieces of insight into the Jishan Fist slowly appeared in his mind as he moved. The feeling that effort yielded results made Chen Fei involuntarily immerse himself in the practice.

The people around him looked at Chen Fei with strange expressions, completely unable to understand what this young man was doing, waving his hands like that—was he having a seizure?

Thinking of this, some people moved a little further away from him.

When a person is immersed in something, time always passes extremely quickly. It seemed like only the blink of an eye before the sky turned slightly bright, and the gates of Pingyin County opened.

Chen Fei followed the crowd into Pingyin County and immediately hurried to the Qingzheng Medical Hall.

"So, you were the only one who survived last night, and everyone else died?" Cui Sanjie looked at Chen Fei, his expression somewhat grim.

Although servants weren't worth much, they were, after all, assets of the medical hall. Now that over a dozen had died, and more importantly, the herbs hadn't been collected, it was a major headache for the hall.

If the masters questioned him later, he would likely have to bear some responsibility.

"I don't know the fate of the others, but I truly did not see anyone else at the city gate last night," Chen Fei said in a low voice.

"If everyone else died, how is it that you survived unscathed?" A hoarse voice rang out, filled with accusation.

Chen Fei looked up to see Pu Liao, the guard of the medical hall. Chen Fei cupped his hands and said, "I broke through to the Skin Tempering realm, which is how I escaped this disaster."

As he spoke, Chen Fei threw a punch, and a dull thud echoed in the air.

The expressions of those around him shifted slightly. An ordinary person could never produce such force. What surprised them most was that among the servants, someone had actually raised their martial arts cultivation to the Skin Tempering realm.

While the Skin Tempering realm wasn't worth much, it was still beyond that of an ordinary person; without a certain degree of martial talent, it was truly impossible to achieve.

And with the Skin Tempering realm, if one was careful, one could indeed avoid some supernatural dangers.

"Not bad."

Cui Sanjie nodded, his expression softening slightly. A Skin Tempering realm practitioner among the servants slightly offset the loss of the others. After all, servants could be recruited again, but recruiting a martial artist in the Skin Tempering realm was much more difficult; their values were different.

"I will report this to the masters. As for you, you will work as a guard in the medical hall from now on."

Cui Sanjie said, then turned to look at Pu Liao. "Now that he is no longer a servant, he is qualified to come into contact with some of our Qingzheng Medical Hall's heritage. Pu Liao, teach him a few moves of our Qingzheng breathing technique and combat styles."

"Understood!" Pu Liao nodded, glanced at Chen Fei, and said nothing more.

A smile couldn't help but appear on Chen Fei's face. Before returning, he had considered whether to stay at the Qingzheng Medical Hall or go to the Jishan Martial Arts Hall.

Having reached the Skin Tempering realm, Chen Fei now had the right to choose.

The only thing to consider was the pros and cons of both.

Staying at the Qingzheng Medical Hall meant he could access some of the hall's heritage. While it certainly wouldn't be profound, it was still better than the Jishan Breathing Technique.

However, staying at the Qingzheng Medical Hall meant he would remain a servant, and his freedom would be restricted.

Going to the Jishan Martial Arts Hall would offer more freedom; it was akin to a semi-sect relationship, and the heritage there should be no worse than the medical hall's. But to leave the medical hall, Chen Fei would have to pay a hefty contract termination fee.

It had taken Chen Fei nearly four months to reach the Skin Tempering realm; such talent was mediocre at the Jishan Martial Arts Hall. The hall wouldn't pay the termination fee for him, and Chen Fei had no money of his own.

The main reason Chen Fei decided to stay at the medical hall was that he could learn medicine and alchemy there, which was something Chen Fei valued even more.

After Cui Sanjie and the others asked Chen Fei a few more questions, they left one by one.

"I don't have time right now. Come find me in a few days, and I'll teach you the techniques."

Pu Liao walked up to Chen Fei, said this flatly, and then turned and left.

Once everyone had left, Chen Fei let out a slight sigh of relief. This hurdle had been cleared. If he hadn't reached the Skin Tempering realm, he would never have escaped a round of scolding and abuse.

Because he now had some value, all of that was waived.

The medical hall arranged a private room for Chen Fei. Although it was still small, it was a world of difference compared to his previous treatment. Chen Fei was quite satisfied, as he wouldn't have to worry about his secrets being exposed while cultivating.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Aside from standing guard in the main hall of the medical hall to prevent trouble, Chen Fei spent most of his time hiding in his room to cultivate.

Three days was not long, but it was enough for Chen Fei to bring his Jishan Fist to the Grand Completion level.

With his Skin Tempering realm cultivation combined with the Grand Completion Jishan Fist, Chen Fei's combat power was now more than fifty percent higher than before. Even within the Skin Tempering realm, Chen Fei's strength was no longer considered poor.

After all, not every Skin Tempering practitioner could bring a basic fist technique to the Grand Completion level.

The only thing that left Chen Fei somewhat dissatisfied was the growth of his cultivation. In three days, his Skin Tempering realm experience had only increased by 3 points.

At 1 point per day, with a 1000-point experience bar for the Skin Tempering realm, if he relied solely on the Jishan Breathing Technique, it would take Chen Fei three years to advance to the next realm.