Qin Fang carefully assessed his body’s condition, feeling an unprecedented lightness.

Last year’s life as a fugitive had nearly hollowed out his constitution. Although he had recovered some after arriving in True Martial... truth be told, a body so thoroughly depleted wasn’t that easy to nurse back to health.

Shortness of breath, easy fatigue, weakness, listless Spirit, poor sleep...

All these symptoms, usually not very noticeable, had actually been with him all along.

He had just been forcing himself to overcome them and trying his best to adjust.

But to be honest, it wasn’t that there were no results... but the effect was minimal.

But today, after taking a Qi Blood Pill and practicing the Pile once, he could clearly feel a new strength inside his body.

This strength not only made him feel physically lighter, but it also significantly improved his Spirit.

’...So this is the effect of taking it?’

’Just doing the Standing Pile yesterday didn’t have this kind of effect!’

’The Elixirs of this world... their effects seem astonishingly potent...’

Qin Fang swallowed and looked at the Porcelain Bottle in his hand again.

He felt the urge to take another one.

In the end, however, he suppressed the impulse.

’I only have nine Qi Blood Pills in total. I’d better use them sparingly... It feels like there’s still a little bit of the medicinal effect left in my body.’

He could feel it. Although the warm current in his abdomen was no longer as violent as it was at first, a faint warmth was still surging up, perceptible if he focused.

Qin Fang took a deep breath, got back into his stance, and continued the Standing Pile...

...

「Another half an hour passed.」

’Wild Bull Qi Strength Pile (Lower Grade Root) (entry-level): 17/500’

The warm current in his body had completely disappeared. Qin Fang felt refreshed and clear-headed as he looked at the text on the panel.

He let out a long breath...

One Qi Blood Pill had increased his proficiency by sixteen points.

However, his body also felt a sense of exhaustion.

...The Standing Pile itself was also very tiring.

His stamina wasn’t enough to keep it up indefinitely.

Letting out a soft breath, he stretched his body and looked up at the sky.

It was snowing again today. He thought for a moment, went inside to change his clothes, and then headed out.

’Master said the refugee air about me has mostly dissipated, so I can go out now.’

He bought some food on the street, then, after a few twists and turns, arrived at an alley.

He knocked on the gate of a courtyard.

"Who is it? Coming."

His master’s wife’s voice came from inside.

Soon, the courtyard gate opened, revealing an old woman holding a broom.

When Qin Fang saw the old woman, a smile spread across his face. "Ma’am."

"Oh, it’s you, Fang... Come in, come in."

The moment the old woman saw Qin Fang, a kind smile appeared on her face as she welcomed him inside.

Qin Fang replied and stepped inside, seeing the courtyard covered in a layer of snow. The old woman was clearly in the middle of sweeping it.

Qin Fang handed her the things he was carrying, then naturally took the broom from her hand. "Ma’am, where’s Master?"

"He went out first thing in the morning... Hey, let me do that, let me. You go sit down."

"It’s alright, I’ll do it. You should rest."

Qin Fang smiled and began to sweep the snow.

The old woman paused for a moment, then smiled as well. She didn’t insist, and her gaze on Qin Fang grew even gentler.

...Ever since spending the New Year here, Qin Fang had been visiting every day or two.

He would bring some food and drinks and help his master’s wife with chores.

Although his master hadn’t formally spoken of accepting him as a disciple, he had in fact been invited over for New Year’s, formally introduced to the family, and was now even being taught cultivation...

It was as good as acknowledging him as an official disciple.

The only thing missing was the ceremony.

His master’s kindness to him was as heavy as a mountain. Without his master, it was debatable whether he would even still be alive. Naturally, he had to do his part to repay that kindness.

While making small talk with his master’s wife, it didn’t take long for him to sweep the snow in the courtyard to the side.

Qin Fang’s eyes lit up slightly. He could clearly feel a difference...

Before today, after finishing sweeping the snow, his back would have been sore for quite a while.

But now, he didn’t feel any discomfort at all.

The most crucial thing was...

His back wasn’t sore.

Mopping and sweeping were most uncomfortable because you had to hunch over. Hunching over for an extended period naturally puts immense pressure on your lower back. It doesn’t take long; you’ll feel a distinct soreness in just two or three minutes.

But now...

There was no soreness at all.

’It feels like... the way I exert force has changed somehow. Even though I’m still hunching over, it seems I’ve naturally incorporated some of the feeling from the Pile Method...’

Qin Fang subconsciously analyzed the feeling.

Before, when he swept, he would simply bend at the waist.

But now as he swept, he seemed to subconsciously hollow his chest and pull up his back, lifting his waist... With his waist lifted, the pressure wasn’t concentrated there, so naturally, it didn’t get sore so easily.

And more importantly...

’But I’ve only been practicing the Pile for two days... Is the effect really this obvious?’

Qin Fang was pleasantly surprised.

Although sweeping was just a small thing.

But this clearly perceptible, positive change and experience... it made Qin Fang feel overjoyed.

In truth, many people don’t lack the endurance to do something; they just can’t see immediate feedback.

If the feedback were tangible, if you could see your body fat changing moment by moment while working out, and even immediately feel the positive physical sensations that came with it... there probably wouldn’t be any overweight people in the world.

It’s precisely because most good habits involve delayed gratification. Only after accumulating enough quantitative change can a qualitative change occur... This is why so many people can’t persevere.

But now, Qin Fang could easily feel the changes in his body, which filled him with motivation.

Seeing that he had finished sweeping, his master’s wife showed a gratified smile, her gaze growing even kinder. "I’ll go make dinner. You can eat here in a bit."

Qin Fang snapped out of his thoughts and didn’t stand on ceremony, replying, "Ma’am, you’d better make a lot, then. My appetite is huge right now."

"Alright, alright," his master’s wife replied with a smile.

As his master’s wife went to cook, Qin Fang finished up, making sure the areas where she and his master usually walked were clear of snow. Only then did he put away the broom and head into the kitchen to help.

When his master’s wife saw him come in, she smiled and said she didn’t need his help. Qin Fang looked around and saw a large pile of firewood in the woodshed, but because consumption was high in the winter, there wasn’t much split wood left.

So, he found a hatchet and moved some firewood outside to chop.

Seeing this, his master’s wife’s smile grew even warmer.

CRACK!~

CRACK!~

Qin Fang piled up some firewood by the kitchen door and began to chop.

’It feels like this chopping motion is also more powerful than before... I used to just use my arm strength, but now, the chopping motion naturally borrows strength from my waist and abdomen... But this way of exerting force feels a bit stiff...’

By borrowing strength from his waist and abdomen, the force was naturally greater than just using his arms.

But this kind of strength felt a bit ’dead’...

Qin Fang pondered this as he chopped wood.

Even something as simple as chopping wood seemed to hold some knowledge he hadn’t noticed before...

Just then, KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Someone was knocking on the courtyard gate.

Qin Fang looked up, stunned for a moment.

His master’s wife’s voice came from the kitchen. "Fang, go get the door."

"Oh."

Qin Fang answered, put down the hatchet, and wiped the sweat from his forehead... Only then did he walk to the gate, almost subconsciously peeking outside through a crack in the door.

He then saw a strange young man standing at the entrance, carrying a few things.

But one look at the young man’s clothes...

...and Qin Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

A set of Black Clothes...

’Is he... from the Government Office?’

Qin Fang’s heart skipped a beat.

After all... he was still a refugee.

But he quickly came to his senses.

’This person... is he the senior brother Master mentioned?’

He thought to himself, then took a deep breath and opened the gate.

"Sen—"

Seeing the gate open, the young man subconsciously started to call out with a smile, but he stopped as soon as he opened his mouth, looking with some surprise at the tall, thin young man before him.

He was taken aback for a moment.

"And you are?"