Free Web NovelChapter 28: Chapter 14: Seventh Grade
Of course, this wasn’t Fang Rui’s original intention. It was just that after spending one tael of silver on the *Beast Taming Technique*, the only way to feed his now-ravenous appetite was to pinch pennies and buy Sorghum Flour.
He didn’t buy a small portion of cornmeal for Fang Ling and Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family to eat, either. Based on his understanding of his mother, if he had bought even a small amount, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family would have only let him eat it.
"It’s not bad."
As expected, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s attention was diverted to these trivial matters. However, upon seeing there was also a pound of eggs, she frowned and started nagging him again for being a spendthrift who didn’t know how to manage a household.
Fang Rui didn’t talk back, letting Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family say her piece. He felt no impatience in his heart, only warmth.
He also didn’t hide the matter of the *Beast Taming Technique* and told Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family about it.
"Brother Rui, you did the right thing."
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was supportive. "Your father used to say that even though our family is poor, we can’t be like the neighbors, just thinking about the present and living day to day. We have to consider the future."
"That legacy technique you bought is now our family’s foundation. What’s suffering a little and eating more Sorghum Flour for that? At this time of year, other families don’t even have Sorghum Flour to eat. They have to ration every bite of wheat bran!"
"That’s right!"
Fang Rui agreed enthusiastically. Seeing that Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s expression had softened, he urged, "Mother, it’s getting late. You should get some rest."
"Alright!"
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family agreed, but she went straight to the kitchen and returned with a basin of hot water. "Brother Rui, I boiled this water for you. Come and soak your feet."
"Thank you, Mother!" Fang Rui quickly stood up to take it.
The night was as cool as water, and the wind rustled through the trees. Inside, the lamplight flickered, but the air was filled with a sense of warmth. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
...
After soaking his feet and wiping himself down with the hot water, he returned to his room.
Tonight, the little girl Fang Ling wasn’t sleeping in his room. Having tired herself out playing after dinner, she had fallen asleep in Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s room.
Fang Rui took the opportunity to read the *Beast Taming Technique* by candlelight.
RUSTLE!
He took out the manual, placed it before the oil lamp, and began to read it carefully, word by word.
The coarse paper the *Beast Taming Technique* was written on was cheap, and the handwriting was an ugly scrawl. He could barely make it out, especially in the dim light...
Fang Rui could only squint, straining to read.
’It’s only now I realize it,’ he thought. ’Every night, when Mother waits up for me while doing her needlework... it must be far more agonizing than I ever imagined.’
’The strain is probably less physical and more mental.’
After reading through it once, Fang Rui closed his eyes.
In the pitch-black darkness, his consciousness sank into the speck of light at the corner of his vision, and the familiar light screen appeared.
[Name: Fang Rui]
[Tribulation Points: 196]
[Cultivation Technique: Nourishing Body Skill (Entering the Hall and Room)]
[Realm: Eighth Grade (Muscle Strengthening)]
[Skills: Fang’s Medical Skill (Skilled) (+), Beast Taming Technique (Uninitiated) (+)]
[Divine Techniques: Immortality (Gray)]
...
’It registered successfully! So it was the real thing, after all!’
A thought crossed Fang Rui’s mind.
’But then again, it makes sense. Gao Yao said he knew the seller. As long as that person was afraid of Gao Yao and had something to lose, they wouldn’t dare try to pass off a fake.’
’It’s recorded, but who knows how long it’ll take for the *Beast Taming Technique* to actually reach Limit-Breaking.’
The information Fang Rui perceived from the system was that the Levels for the Skills section were: Beginner, Skilled, Mastery, Minor Achievement, Great Success, Perfection...
’And after that is Limit-Breaking!’
A glint appeared in Fang Rui’s eyes. ’According to the information I’m getting, when a Skill breaks its limit, it undergoes a qualitative change, turning the mundane into the miraculous and creating a new Divine Technique.’
’Of course, not all Divine Techniques are created equal. Any derived technique surely can’t compare to Immortality. Calling it a Divine Technique is probably an exaggeration; it’s more like a Specialty. Still, that would be an incredible thing to have!’
’I just happened to stumble upon this *Beast Taming Technique*... Spending one tael of silver on a future Divine Power Seed was definitely worth it.’
Why else would Fang Rui have been so generous?
After all, one tael of silver was no small sum for him right now.
It was true that his partnership with Gao Yao was supposed to yield a profit of about four taels of silver a month. However, they had only been working together for half a month before the other man started getting ideas... In other words, Fang Rui hadn’t yet had the chance to accumulate his initial capital.
Of course, Fang Rui had no intention of upgrading the *Beast Taming Technique* for now. He had no idea how many Tribulation Points it would take to reach Perfection, let alone the massive amount needed for Limit-Breaking.
’I’ll just set it aside for now! As someone with Immortality, I have all the time in the world.’
’What’s the rush? I’m not in a rush.’
Forget the *Beast Taming Technique*; he wasn’t even planning to upgrade *Fang’s Medical Skill* for now.
It all came back to the same principle: in this world, everything else was illusory. Only fists and strength were the absolute truth.
’By my guess, breaking through to Seventh Grade will require 200 Tribulation Points, which should only take two or three more days. I should have enough before my next trip to the Black Market.’
’But that’s for later... For now, sleep!’
Fang Rui blew out the lamp, stretched, and lay down on the bed to sleep.
...
Peaceful days are like sand slipping through your fingers. They feel substantial, but they always slip away unnoticed, leaving only empty, bland memories behind.
Yet, if given the choice, most people wouldn’t opt for a memorable, deeply-etched life, preferring instead one of placid tranquility.
「Two days passed in a flash.」
That evening.
After Fang Rui finished dinner, he returned to the inner room.
He lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and focused his consciousness on the speck of light in the corner of his vision, summoning the panel.
[Name: Fang Rui]
[Tribulation Points: 200]
[Cultivation Technique: Nourishing Body Skill (Entering the Hall and Room) (+)]
[Realm: Eighth Grade (Muscle Strengthening)]
[Skills: Fang’s Medical Skill (Skilled) (+), Beast Taming Technique (Uninitiated) (+)]
[Divine Techniques: Immortality (Gray)]
...
’Two hundred Tribulation Points, and a plus sign has appeared next to Nourishing Body Skill. Exactly the right amount, just as I predicted.’
Fang Rui’s brow twitched. ’Today, I will break through to Seventh Grade on my own and step into Bone Forging... Panel, add the points!’
He focused his intent on the ’+’ after *Nourishing Body Skill*.
The familiar cool stream of energy, converted from Tribulation Points, gushed forth from the void. A small portion was absorbed by different parts of his body, but the majority went to temper his bones.
What did it feel like?
It was like the faint itch of a healing wound, or like basking in the sun in the dead of winter. A comfort so profound it felt as if every cell in his body was unfurling.
Similar to the last two times, the breakthrough was complete in about ten breaths.
The panel updated.
[Name: Fang Rui]
[Tribulation Points: 0]
[Cultivation Technique: Nourishing Body Skill (Minor Achievement)]
[Realm: Seventh Grade (Bone Forging)]
[Skills: Fang’s Medical Skill (Skilled), Beast Taming Technique (Uninitiated)]
[Divine Techniques: Immortality (Gray)]
...
’Seventh Grade Bone Forging Realm, done.’
Fang Rui nodded to himself, closed the panel, and carefully sensed the changes from his breakthrough.
’My skin and membranes are tougher, my sinews have been strengthened, and most importantly: my bones are forged like steel!’
Of course, that was just a metaphor. His bones couldn’t compare to actual steel, but they were now better suited for exerting force. It was true that his strength had increased again.
’My strength now... I can probably lift over five hundred pounds. Even if I were just hauling sacks, I could carry more than others.’
Of course, he was just joking. The wages from hauling sacks most likely wouldn’t even be enough to cover his food expenses.
’It’s still the same old problem. Due to my Innate deficiencies, my strength hasn’t increased as much as it would for other Seventh Grade Martial Artists...’
’However, during each upgrade, my body has retained a small portion of energy, compensating for some of my Innate deficiencies... Plus, my Ninth Grade Skin Grinding was flawless, and since my Eighth Grade Muscle Strengthening and Seventh Grade Bone Forging were done using Tribulation Points, the process covered every single part of my body...’
’So, all things considered, my strength isn’t much less than a normal Seventh Grade Martial Artist’s. My actual combat power should be comparable, if not superior.’
Of course, he couldn’t get carried away.
It was just as the saying went: Lower Three Grade Martial Artists were merely a little tougher and stronger. A group of fearless, armed commoners could still overwhelm and kill one.
’Dad said that once you reach the Middle Three Grades, there’s a much bigger improvement. At that point, you don’t have to be too afraid of being surrounded by ordinary people with sharp weapons.’
’But Sixth Grade... I estimate the required Tribulation Points will be more than double what it took to reach Seventh Grade. It’ll be at least 500 points!’
’I probably won’t be able to upgrade again anytime soon. Maybe... I should switch to *Fang’s Medical Skill*?’
The thought had barely formed in Fang Rui’s mind before he ruthlessly stamped it out. ’No. I’ll just keep saving and try to reach the Middle Three Grades as soon as I can!’
In a world where might was right, he didn’t want to divide his focus unless it was absolutely necessary. Unless... he had no other choice.
...
