Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 52: Increased Cultivation Speed
[Current Talent: 550 Points]
He focused his mind and stared at the text that appeared before his eyes.
’As expected, the increase in my strength has become minuscule. No matter how much my Talent improves, my strength is capped at two thousand jin. It probably won’t go any higher.’
Over a month ago, when his Talent Points had increased to five hundred,
Fang Yue had discovered that the strength which had once increased slowly had now become almost impossible to improve.
Although there was still a slight increase, it was only by a few jin over the course of a month.
Fang Yue sighed softly. ’Improving my Talent has almost no effect on my strength anymore.’
’This must be a bottleneck in the path of the Martial Dao.’
’It seems the only way to break through this is to advance my cultivation realm.’
After all, Fang Yue knew that powerful Martial Cultivators at the Bone Forging stage could reach a strength of around three thousand jin, and it was said to be even higher after Marrow Transformation.
’Therefore, if I want to keep getting stronger, I have to keep raising my cultivation level. I need to reach Skin Cultivation Perfection, then Bone Forging, and even Marrow Transformation as soon as possible.’
With that, Fang Yue focused his attention on another line of text.
[Talent: Basic Boxing Mastery (Slightly effective at increasing the cultivation speed and power of Fist Techniques)]
’Well then, it’s time to upgrade my Talent again.’
Fang Yue made up his mind, and the text before his eyes changed instantly.
[Consumed 50 Talent Points. Acquired Talent: Intermediate Boxing Mastery]
[Talent: Intermediate Boxing Mastery (Provides a moderate boost to the cultivation speed and power of Fist Techniques)]
The Talent was upgraded from Basic to Intermediate, and its effect improved somewhat.
After the Talent upgrade was complete, Fang Yue once again felt a warm current surge through his body. It flowed through his every limb before disappearing.
It felt as if his body had changed, yet also as if nothing had happened at all.
’Next, let’s test out the effect.’ fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Fang Yue immediately assumed a stance and began practicing the White Tiger Fist.
Punch after punch, he executed the moves with exceptional skill: Hungry Tiger Descending the Mountain, Fierce Tiger Pounces on its Prey, Ferocious Tiger Leaps a Ravine...
As Fang Yue’s fists flew faster and faster, his power steadily rose, creating a series of sharp, crackling pops in the surrounding air.
Finally, Fang Yue seemed to transform into a fierce tiger, ferocious and explosive, as he lunged toward the wooden training post in front of him.
BANG!
Immense power pierced through, easily striking the thigh-thick wooden post.
In an instant, the post exploded into splinters that shot out in all directions.
’My strength hasn’t increased, but the power is ten percent greater than before.’
Retracting his fist, Fang Yue analyzed the attack he had just delivered.
’Upgrading my Talent really is an amazing way to boost my combat strength.’
But a moment later, looking at the shattered post, Fang Yue gave a wry smile. ’Looks like I’ll have to go into the mountains tomorrow to find another ironwood tree.’
With his current strength, the ordinary trees around the village couldn’t withstand his power at all.
Only the wood from the so-called ironwood trees in the mountain forests could endure such force.
’As for my cultivation speed, that should also be up by ten percent.’
Based on the effects of his previous Basic Boxing Mastery Talent, the increase in power and the increase in cultivation speed were identical.
So, his current cultivation speed should have increased by the same amount.
The days that followed passed in peace.
He cultivated daily, helped his parents with chores, went into the mountains to hunt and gather herbs, and then sold his haul in Xiahe County Town to exchange for the Secret Medicine he needed for his training.
In the blink of an eye, another year passed.
It had now been three years since Fang Yue arrived in this world.
~~~~~~
「Early one morning.」
It was a special day for the Fang Family. The courtyard at Fang Yue’s Family home was being rebuilt, and it was the day for raising the main ridge beam of the house.
Though it had only been a year, they had saved twenty taels just from the land tax and population tax exemptions last year.
Adding the silver coins saved this year and the rent collected from the Fang clansmen who had entrusted their land to him,
in just one year, his family’s fortunes had visibly improved.
Now that they had extra money, Fang Yue took the initiative to have the house rebuilt.
The original rammed-earth walls and thatched roof were being replaced with a proper brick-and-tile house. They were also adding four new rooms: two for Fang Cheng to use after he married, one for Fang Yue, and another to serve as a storeroom.
Since they didn’t have to pay taxes and could collect rent, they were able to accumulate a large amount of grain each year. The original small storeroom was definitely not enough, so they needed to build more rooms to store it all.
In the courtyard, a dozen or so young lads from the clan were laying the bricks for the last two walls.
Once those were finished, they could raise the ridge beam.
Today was the sixth day of the lunar calendar, an auspicious day for breaking ground and raising beams.
Without needing an invitation, a large crowd had shown up at Fang Yue’s Family home today.
Scholar Liu wasn’t in the village, but the Liu Family’s Steward had arrived with a congratulatory gift.
A crowd of Fang clansmen, along with the newly appointed Fang Family Elders, had come in droves to help Fang Yue’s Family raise the beam.
According to custom, a village elder first tapped and knocked on the ridge beam while explaining the intricacies of the beam-raising ceremony to Fang Yue.
There were many dos, don’ts, winding rules, and strict traditions to follow.
Finally, he handed Fang Yue a writing brush and asked him to write the date of construction, his own name, and his father Fang Mu’s name on the beam.
Technically, Fang Mu, as the head of the household, should have been the one to write it. However, under the "coercive" gaze of his wife, he had Fang Yue do it instead.
After all, putting everything else aside, Fang Yue was a Scholar Master. His status in the village was extremely high; even Scholar Liu had to treat him with courtesy.
In the end, the village elder affixed a piece of red paper to the beam, on which was written: "Auspicious Star Shining High, Great Fortune and Good Luck."
At noon, when the sun was at its highest and fiercest,
a dozen or so of the younger Fang Family generation had prepared the ladders, ropes, and other tools. Then, men on top of the walls on both sides began to pull the wooden beam upward.
However, the beam seemed too heavy. The men strained with all their might but couldn’t manage to hoist it up.
Fortunately, Fang Yue stepped in at the last moment. All by himself, he pulled the beam up, a feat of strength that left the onlookers completely stunned.
"So this is a Martial Scholar! I never imagined he’d be so strong!"
As the beam was pulled up, Father Fang, his older brother Fang Cheng, and several other young men on the opposite wall also began to exert their strength.
"Great fortune and good luck! Up it goes!"
Ms. Chen let out a shout, and the crowd below got to work, moving the beam, which was decorated with the red paper reading "Auspicious Star Shining High," into position.
Fang Yue did most of the work, as his strength was simply immense—he alone was stronger than a dozen other men combined.
Once the ridge beam was set in place, it could not be moved again.
This was due to certain taboos.
Fortunately, Fang Yue was strong enough and had a sharp eye. The beam was lowered perfectly into the notches prepared for it in advance.
"Great fortune and good luck! The lucky star is shining!"
"The position is perfect!"
As the village elder made the announcement, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Next came the feast to treat everyone who had helped with the work.
Ms. Chen was uncharacteristically generous this time. Although she served a mixed stew, she had added pork to it.
She also gave each person several extra flatbreads. It was a meal that would not only fill their stomachs but also satisfy their palates.
