The dinner was braised pork. Two thick, succulent pieces of braised pork were just out of the pot. He clamped them into a steaming hot bun, and the pork juices soaked into the leavened bun. Just the sight made one drool.
Zhong Lin and Stone exchanged a glance and started wolfing down the food.
There was still chicken soup stewing in the clay pot. A layer of yellow chicken fat floated on the milky white soup, showing that it was made from an old hen.
With a few bites, the bun with braised pork was devoured. Zhong Lin found two chopsticks to tear apart the thoroughly stewed hen, and then took a coarse porcelain bowl and a wooden spoon to serve two bowls of soup.
Each of them had a bowl; the chicken soup was rich and delicious, making one unable to resist having a few more bowls.
"System."
Host: Zhong Lin
Skills: Bow Technique (Full Level), Flying Locust Stone (Full Level), 3D Painting (Full Level), Calligraphy (Full Level), Culinary Skill (Full Level), Iron Mountain Skill (Beginner)
Skill Points: ∞
On the system panel, two more skills appeared, one being Cooking, and the other was "Iron Mountain Skill," which was just learned this afternoon.
Since transmigrating, Zhong Lin has done most of the cooking, so it's normal for culinary skills to appear on the system panel. The recent braised pork and shredded hen were just a trial, and it's undeniable that the full-level culinary skill indeed tasted great, making Little Stone almost swallow his own tongue.
After the meal, Little Stone automatically did the dishes, while Zhong Lin went to the open space in the yard.
With a thought, the word "Beginner" behind "Iron Mountain Skill" transformed into "Full Level" in an instant.
Memories of cultivating "Iron Mountain Skill" flooded into his mind.
In these memories, he practiced this martial art diligently day after day for ten years, honing fist and foot techniques, refining strength, and practicing the martial art more than ten times daily for a total of twenty years, pushing it to its extreme. His fists and footwork became instinctual.
Host: Zhong Lin
Skills: Bow Technique (Full Level), Flying Locust Stone (Full Level), 3D Painting (Full Level), Calligraphy (Full Level), Culinary Skill (Full Level), Iron Mountain Skill (Full Level)
Skill Points: ∞
Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, murmuring to himself, "Light as a willow swaying deep as the wind, the old ape crosses the sun supporting my top. So that's how it is, so that's how it is."
Moving his body, Zhong Lin began practicing martial arts in the yard.
The technique was exactly the "Iron Mountain Skill" taught by Old Zhou this afternoon. Compared to the stiffness and awkwardness when first learning, Zhong Lin's technique now seemed like he had been practicing for decades, effortlessly executed with explosive power.
His spine was like a great dragon, hands like dragon claws, suddenly twisting his body like a python coiling, tightening his body.
After just one set of punches, Zhong Lin felt the blood inside him surging like a mighty river, coursing through every corner and cell of his body with each heartbeat.
"The essence of Iron Mountain Skill lies not only in the maneuvering of fists and feet but in the breathing coordination. Using the breath to stimulate the visceral movement promotes blood circulation. The core essence of Iron Mountain Skill is in the hidden 'Breathing Skill'."
Zhong Lin felt a stir in his mind and started practicing a round of martial arts from beginning to end, adjusting his breath with each punch and stance, either quickly or slowly, taking long breaths or holding them to stimulate his chest and abdomen.
Completing the entire set of martial arts, Zhong Lin stood still, his skin red as a boiled prawn, sweating profusely. Beads of sweat fell instantly, while steam rose from his head, forming a misty aura.
After a while, Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath of foul air.
Though his body was exhausted, Zhong Lin felt incredibly exhilarated.
"Yes, this is the correct way to use the Golden Finger. The full-level cultivation experience is like starting over in a reincarnated life, with wisdom from a higher vantage point."
Zhong Lin was uncontrollably excited. His point-adding system merely increased experience, with no transformation of the body itself. Everything still required his effort, but even so, compared to others, this was the biggest bug. With the support of full-level experience, further cultivation was from a higher vantage point, like a rebirth.
Looking down at himself, Zhong Lin felt his muscles swelling up, firm as rocks.
He walked straight to the millstone by the wall, easily grabbed and lifted it several times without feeling any soreness.
"It's no illusion. This cultivation session had such an effect. At this rate, it won't be long before I advance in Martial Arts." Zhong Lin's heart was filled with joy.
"Gurgle~"
A sound came from his abdomen, and Zhong Lin showed a strange expression on his face.
The sound was familiar, a rumbling of hunger. Zhong Lin had just eaten to fullness, but merely an hour later, his body was hungry again.
"Energy conservation!"
Zhong Lin smiled bitterly, turning to the kitchen to finish the leftover rice in large mouthfuls.
"In my memories, when practicing Iron Mountain Skill, my original self would consume medicinal meats daily to supplement the body. It looks like in reality, I also need to eat more energy-boosting and blood-supplementing foods, or else, before the martial art is mastered, I would practice myself to death."
Zhong Lin was aware of the saying "a rich martial arts practitioner needs wealth," meaning daily provisions like meat and eggs are necessary to cultivate a powerful physique.
...
Early the next day, after sending Little Stone to Mr. Liu, Zhong Lin turned to head for the government office.
The workload for an artist at the government office wasn't much, as it's impossible for there to be notorious bandits every day; encountering one or two a year was significant.
As a newcomer, after showing up at the government office to make his presence known, Zhong Lin carried his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, heading once again to the East Market.
Today, he had an appointment to paint a portrait of a gentleman named Li. Over the days, Zhong Lin had become very adept at his painting business. Upon arrival, he promptly began, and an hour later, returned with six taels of silver as a fee, but instead of going back to the government office, he headed to a medicine shop in the west city.
As Zhong Lin walked in, the doctor on duty warmly asked, "Where are you feeling uncomfortable?"
Zhong Lin shook his head and said, "I'm not here to see a doctor; I'm here to buy medicine."
"Oh! Do you have a prescription?"
"No, I'm here to buy medicinal food for martial arts training."
The doctor seemed thoughtful. After looking at Zhong Lin, he nodded and said, "Besides some secret medicines needed for special martial arts, training primarily aims to strengthen Qi and blood. I do have a recipe for Eight Treasures Blood Building Soup, which requires eight precious herbs to brew and greatly aids in Martial Arts training to strengthen Qi and blood. However, it is quite expensive, so it depends if you're willing to spend the silver."