16: Chapter 16 Ganoderma lucidum

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Lin Tian got up.

He washed up simply and, without even eating breakfast, went straight to the courtyard, opened the "Five Elements Fist" manual, and found the first form of the Metal Element Fist.

Golden Spears and Iron Horses.

He carefully studied the diagrams three times, silently recited the breathing technique and the path of Qi and blood circulation twice more, and then set his stance.

His right fist was slowly raised from his waist, fist pointing forward, inhaling to store power.

A mass of heat rose from his Dantian, traveling up along the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, passing through Jianjing, moving through Quchi, and finally concentrating at the tip of his fist.

Exhaling, he exerted force.

He threw a punch.

"Shh—"

The air was torn apart, emitting a soft sound. However, the momentum of the punch only reached thirty percent before losing steam.

Lin Tian withdrew his fist and frowned.

The movements were correct, and the breathing was correct too, but the circulation of Qi and blood was not smooth; it felt as if several Meridians were blocked, making the force incomplete.

He compared it to the manual, looked at the diagrams again, and adjusted his standing posture and punching angle.

Second time.

It was still not smooth, but better than the first time.

Third time.

After finishing this time, Lin Tian was already drenched in sweat and panting like an ox.

The consumption of the Metal Element Fist was far greater than the Mountain-Opening Fist. It not only consumed physical strength but also exhausted Qi and blood.

After three times, his arms were sore and weak, his chest felt tight, and his vision even went dark for a moment.

He supported himself on his knees, gasping for air, thinking he needed to rest for a while, at least half an hour.

Just then, a voice came from outside the courtyard gate:

"Junior Brother Lin Tian?"

Lin Tian turned his head and saw Liu Yunfeng standing at the gate.

He was wearing a lake-blue silk shirt, his hair combed meticulously, and he held an exquisite wooden box in his hands.

The expression on his face was somewhat complex, carrying both obsequiousness and embarrassment.

"What is it?" Lin Tian's tone was flat.

He had no good feelings toward this Young Master Liu. A month ago, he had publicly mocked him as a "country bumpkin" and wanted to drive him out of the martial arts hall.

Although he had been slapped into submission by Master Huang during the monthly exam later, the grudge had already been formed.

Liu Yunfeng gave two dry laughs and walked into the courtyard:

"Junior Brother Lin Tian, there were some misunderstandings before... I shouldn't have underestimated you; I was blind."

He paused and presented the wooden box with both hands:

"This is a small apology gift from me; please, you must accept it."

Lin Tian looked at the wooden box but did not take it:

"What is this?"

"You will know once you take a look," Liu Yunfeng said carefully.

Lin Tian took the wooden box and opened it.

Inside the box was lined with red silk, and on the silk lay a Lingzhi. It was the size of a palm, the cap was dark brown, the edges tinged with dark red, the texture dense, and it emitted a faint medicinal fragrance.

Lin Tian was stunned.

Lingzhi.

And not an ordinary Lingzhi. Judging by its quality, it was at least a thirty-year-old wild Lingzhi with rich medicinal power.

A Lingzhi of this quality, if sold at a pharmacy, would fetch at least forty or fifty taels of silver.

Seeing him stunned, Liu Yunfeng asked cautiously:

"Junior Brother Lin Tian, are you... satisfied with this apology gift?"

Lin Tian was silent.

To be honest, he and Liu Yunfeng did not have a deep hatred. The other party was just a bit sharp-tongued and arrogant, and had never truly laid a hand on him.

That slap from Master Huang on the day of the monthly exam had already made him suffer a great humiliation.

Now that the other party had taken the initiative to come and apologize, and even presented such a precious Lingzhi...

Lin Tian raised his head and nodded:

"I won't hold a grudge about the past. Now we are both Disciples of the Qingfeng Martial Arts Hall, fellow brothers. If there's anything in the future, we can help each other."

Hearing this, Liu Yunfeng's face immediately showed a relieved smile:

"Certainly, certainly! Then... I won't disturb your Cultivation, Junior Brother."

He turned and walked away quickly, as if afraid that Lin Tian might change his mind.

Lin Tian watched his back disappear outside the courtyard gate, then looked down at the Lingzhi in the box, feeling somewhat conflicted.

This world is truly realistic.

If you have value, even enemies will come to curry favor. If you have no value, even your own brothers will shun you.

He closed the lid and carefully put the Lingzhi away.

This thing was of great use to him now.

Lin Tian returned to his room and tore off a piece the size of a fingernail from the edge of the Lingzhi.

He didn't dare to eat too much. Such a potent tonic had fierce medicinal power, and eating too much would cause problems instead.

He would test the effect first, then see how much was appropriate to use.

He put the Lingzhi slice into his mouth and slowly chewed it.

It was bitter at first, but soon, a warmth dissolved from his throat and flowed into his abdomen.

Immediately after, this warmth turned into surging medicinal power, rushing toward his limbs and bones like a tide.

His sore and weak arms instantly regained strength, his tight chest felt relieved, and even his vision, which had been dark, became clear again.

Lin Tian stood up and clenched his fist.

Strength, it had returned.

Under normal circumstances, after practicing the Metal Element Fist three times, he would need at least half an hour of rest to recover his physical strength.

But now, having only chewed a small piece of Lingzhi, in less than ten breaths, he had completely recovered.

Good stuff!

Lin Tian's eyes lit up.

With this Lingzhi, his Cultivation efficiency could be doubled!

He didn't delay any longer, walked back to the courtyard, and set up the starting form of the Metal Element Fist.

Fourth time, fifth time, sixth time...

One time after another, with almost no rest in between. When his physical strength was depleted, he would chew a small piece of Lingzhi.

The medicinal power would dissolve, and he would immediately be full of vigor.

By evening, he had actually practiced the Metal Element Fist twenty times that day!

Although the movements were still stiff and the circulation of Qi and blood was still not smooth, he was much more proficient than in the morning.

[Metal Element Fist proficiency + 1]

[Metal Element Fist proficiency + 1]

The System's notification sound was his only timer.

The next day, Lin Tian continued his hard training.

Twenty-first time, twenty-second time...

On the fourth day, his proficiency reached 82/100.

On the evening of the fifth day.

Lin Tian stood in the courtyard, drenched in sweat, his coarse cloth short outfit clinging to his body, outlining increasingly distinct muscle lines.

He held the last piece of Lingzhi in his hand, placed it under his tongue, and waited for the medicinal power to slowly dissolve.

This was the last small piece of that Lingzhi.

In four and a half days, he had consumed a Lingzhi worth forty or fifty taels of silver.

In the past, he wouldn't even dare to think about it. But now, he only felt it was worth it.

The medicinal power dissolved completely, and Lin Tian took a deep breath and set his stance.

The ninety-ninth time practicing the Metal Element Fist.

First form, Golden Spears and Iron Horses.

The punch was as fast as lightning, and the sound of it breaking the air was much sharper than five days ago. Although the circulation of Qi and blood still had some stagnation, it was already mostly smooth.

Second form, Metal and Stone Open.

The edge of his palm was like a knife, slashing down diagonally. The palm wind was biting, actually blowing up dust from the ground.

Third form, Vajra Glare.

Both fists shot out together, his Aura like a rainbow.

Thirty-six forms, completed in one go.

He withdrew his stance and stood still.

Lin Tian did not stop and immediately began the one-hundredth time.

This time, the movements were even smoother.

The angle of every punch, the timing of every inch of force, the rhythm of Qi and blood circulation...

The muscle memory from practicing ninety-nine times over the past five days was all awakened at this moment.

The final punch was thrown, the fist tip tearing through the air and emitting a sharp whistle.

He withdrew his fist.

[Metal Element Fist proficiency + 1]

[Proficiency has reached 100/100]

[Metal Element Fist Breakthrough: Not Initiated → Initiated]

[Next stage: Initiated → Minor Achievement (0/300)]

Four

Meanwhile, on the other side of the martial arts hall, at Liu Yunfeng's residence.

He was sitting in front of the window in a daze, holding an empty teacup in his hand, the tea having long gone cold.

For the past few days, he had been unable to eat or sleep well.

Since sending that Lingzhi, he had been secretly observing Lin Tian's Cultivation.

Every day he would quietly wander around that small courtyard and hide behind the wall to peek.

The more he watched, the colder his heart became.

What kind of fist was that kid practicing?

The movements were stiff, the breath was weak, and the force application was wrong.

He had practiced for four or five days without any progress, still looking as clumsy as ever.

This was a Genius?

This was the peerless talent the Hall Master had personally named and recruited?

Liu Yunfeng felt as if he had eaten coptis, so bitter he couldn't speak.

That was a thirty-year-old wild Lingzhi bought for forty-five taels of silver!

He had pestered his old man for several days to get this money.

He had wanted to build a good relationship with Lin Tian so he could bask in his glory later.

And the result?

The silver had gone down the drain!

He really wanted to rush into that small courtyard and ask for the Lingzhi back. But he didn't dare—what if the guy really was a Genius?

What if he was just a slow starter in Cultivation?

If he asked for it back now, wouldn't that be offending him completely?

Just as Liu Yunfeng was struggling so much he was about to crush the teacup, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

He looked up and saw a servant walking in quickly:

"Young Master! Over at Lin Tian's side... over there..."

"What about over there?" Liu Yunfeng stood up abruptly.

"He... he seems to have succeeded!" the servant panted, "I just went to peek, and his set of Metal Element Fist was full of vigor, with his fist tips even making sounds of breaking the air!"

Liu Yunfeng was stunned for two seconds, then rushed out of the room, sprinting all the way to outside Lin Tian's courtyard.

He hid behind the wall and peeked inside.

In the courtyard, Lin Tian was finishing his practice and standing still.

Under the moonlight, his Qi and blood were still surging, and there was a faint metallic luster flowing under his skin. That was the sign of entering the Metal Element Fist—Qi and blood condensed like metal and iron.

Liu Yunfeng opened his mouth, stunned on the spot.

After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh of relief, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

It was worth it.

That forty-five taels of silver was well spent.

Lin Tian did not know there was someone outside the gate.

His entire focus at this moment was on the System panel.

[Name: Lin Tian]

[Realm: None]

[Martial Arts: Mountain-Opening Fist (Minor Achievement) 0/500]

[Five Elements Stance (Minor Achievement) 0/300]

[Metal Element Fist (Initiated) 0/300]

[Strength: Approx. 500 jin]

He stared at the "Metal Element Fist" line, and a smile finally appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Five days, one hundred times, Initiated.

This speed was faster than the Mountain-Opening Fist and faster than the Five Elements Stance. First, it was because he had the assistance of the body strengthening soup and the Lingzhi, and second, he had become accustomed to this way of Cultivation—repeating it over and over again until the System recognized it.

But it was not enough.

Initiated was just the beginning.

Above that were Minor Achievement, Proficiency, Major Achievement, and Perfection.

He withdrew his focus, opened the fist manual, and turned to the second page.

After the Metal Element Fist, it was the Wood Element Fist.

Thirty-two forms, focusing on long-lasting vitality, with softness containing hardness.

Lin Tian closed the fist manual and looked at the night sky.

Rest tonight. Tomorrow, start practicing the Wood Element Fist.

He turned and went into the room, closing the door.

The moonlight spilled into the empty courtyard, shining on the patch of water stains soaked by sweat on the blue brick floor.