Chapter 3: Zero Consumption Distance
"If I want to qualify for the examination, I have to be at least at the fifth level of the Qi Transformation Stage. To be more secure, I have to reach Level 6 of the Qi Transformation Stage!"
Lin Shen's eyes flickered as he summoned the interface.
[Name: Lin Shen]
[Talent: Above Average]
[Stage: Qi Transformation Level 4, 1%]
[Technique: Original Breathing Technique (Proficient 96%), Blazing Sun Palm (Beginner 57%)]
[Number of clones: 2 (40%)]
"The Origin Breathing Technique is only 4% away from breaking through to Greater Mastery. If the two clones cultivate together, I can do it in one day!"
Lin Shen nodded to himself.
The higher the level of the Origin Breathing Technique, the faster he could refine his body.
With the Origin Breathing Technique at Greater Mastery and the help of his clones, it wouldn't be long before he could break through to the fifth level of the Qi Transformation Stage.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Shen calmed himself down and headed for the kitchen. He took out one kilogram of beef he had bought the day before from the fridge and started cooking dinner.
After living independently for a long time, Lin Shen perfected his culinary skills.
In less than half an hour, he cooked a plate of stir-fried beef and 4.5kg of noodles. He sat down at the dining table and wolfed them down.
After dinner, Lin Shen didn't take a break. Instead, he sat cross-legged in the living room and began to meditate. He transformed the food he had just eaten into essence and blood to temper his body.
As his chest rose and fell rhythmically, a rushing sound gradually came out of his body, like a surging river.
It was the sound of blood circulating rapidly in his body.
During the cultivation of the breathing technique, a person's muscles, bones, and even skin would be nourished by essence and blood, and they would become firmer and stronger.
About half an hour later.
Lin Shen opened his eyes and let out a long breath. White smoke visible to the naked eye extended for four to five inches before slowly dissipating.
After resting for a few seconds, Lin Shen summoned the interface and took a look. As expected, his cultivation progress was still at the fourth level of the Qi Transformation Stage, 1%.
Lin Shen wasn't surprised. If the increase were less than 1%, it wouldn't be displayed on the interface.
"What a pity. If I had eaten that amount of spirit beast meat, my cultivation progress would have increased by at least 1%!"
Spirit beast meat contained abundant energy that far exceeded ordinary meat. It was very suitable for low-level cultivators and had an obvious effect on tempering the body and strengthening the blood essence.
However, the price of spirit beast meat also far exceeded that of ordinary meat.
The price of half a kilo of the lowest-grade spirit beast meat was as high as 1,000 spirit coins. It was even more than Lin Shen's monthly allowance. He simply couldn't afford it.
"If I had enough spirit beast meat, my cultivation speed would at least double!"
Lin Shen sighed softly.
After some research, he discovered that his clones could also speed up the tempering of his body and increase his cultivation speed by eating food.
Other than that, he could also materialize his clones and control their movements as he did just now.
Not only did the clones look identical to him, but their strength was also the same as his.
However, the clones could only stay within a limited range.
The clones could exist for a long time without Lin Shen expending any energy when they were within 30m of him.
He called that distance the zero consumption distance.
Once the clones moved further than that, their existence would begin to consume Lin Shen's stamina.
Lin Shen had experimented before. He could only maintain a clone for about half a minute at most when it was 150m away from him. After that, he would be exhausted and could no longer maintain the existence of the clone.
If the number of clones increased to two, the duration would be reduced by half.
This disappointed Lin Shen.
When he first discovered this system, he had dreamed of staying at home and controlling thousands of clones from thousands of miles away.
From the looks of it, this was purely wishful thinking.
A mere 30-meter radius meant his clones couldn't even walk out of the block where the apartment building was located.
"If only I could extend the zero consumption distance."
Lin Shen muttered to himself. He then summoned a clone and let it leave the apartment building to take a walk.
However, he immediately discovered something different.
The clone's zero consumption distance had extended to 40m!
Overjoyed, Lin Shen started his experiment.
Before long, he summarized the changes in his clones.
"The zero consumption distance has indeed been extended to 40 meters, and a single clone's half-minute range has also increased to 200m…"
Lin Shen didn't think for long and quickly understood the reason.
The only thing different about him now was that he had broken through to the fourth level of the Qi Transformation Stage.
Apparently, the increase could extend the clones' zero consumption distance.
The energy consumption after exceeding the zero consumption distance remained the same. With the increase in his level, the duration and range of a clone's activity would naturally increase.
The discovery surprised Lin Shen.
This way, as his strength increased, his clone would eventually be able to move freely within a wide range.
When that happened, controlling thousands of clones from thousands of miles away might not be a dream anymore!
After a while, Lin Shen came back to his senses from the surprise. He thought for a moment and quickly came up with a plan.
Before the third clone took shape, the most effective way to increase the efficiency of cultivation was undoubtedly to eat spirit beast meat.
If he wanted to buy spirit beast meat, he had to have enough money.
Lin Shen grew up in a welfare institute and could receive a monthly allowance.
However, that bit of money could barely cover his daily expenses. He didn't have the spare money to buy spirit beast meat.
If he wanted to eat spirit beast meat, he had to think of other ways.
"Looks like I have to think of a way to earn some money."
...
Early next morning.
Lin Shen came to Willow Academy as usual.
The class hadn't started yet, and the classroom was in chaos. Many students were fooling around, and the room was as noisy as an open market.
Lin Shen came to his seat and turned around to see his deskmate, Zheng Hongsheng, busy copying homework.
Although Dragonside City valued martial prowess, other courses weren't ignored. Students still had to learn various courses at school.
After all, most people wouldn't have the chance to become cultivators in the end. They could only become office workers, and it was still necessary for them to learn the corresponding basic knowledge.
"Is he copying yours again?" Lin Shen smiled and asked Xu Yuan, who was sitting in front of him.
Xu Yuan turned around and shrugged. "I had no choice. He held my hand and begged me since early in the morning. I couldn't stand it anymore and had to let him copy mine."
Lin Shen smiled without saying anything. He put down his backpack and sat in his seat.
Similar things happened every day, and he was used to it.
"Stop complaining. I'll buy you dinner after school!" Zheng Hongsheng kept writing without looking up. "I was too tired from practicing last night, so I didn't have time to do my homework."
Xu Yuan rolled his eyes.
"Bullshit. I know you too well. I would believe it when Lin Shen says he practiced all night, but you? You must have spent that time playing games!"
Zheng Hongsheng chuckled and didn't refute. It was obvious that Xu Yuan was right.
The bell rang, and the teacher walked into the classroom with the teaching plan. Zheng Hongsheng finished copying his homework at the last moment and heaved a sigh of relief.
The morning classes were boring courses. After four sessions, most of the students were already sleepy.
However, as soon as the bell rang, the teacher announced the end of class. Everyone was instantly revived and rushed out of the classroom towards the canteen.
Most of the students who practiced martial arts had shocking appetites. By noon, many students were starving.
Lin Shen was no exception. He rushed to the canteen with Xu Yuan and Zheng Hongsheng.
Lunch at Willow Academy was buffet-styled, and the cost was already included in the tuition fees.
For students like Lin Shen who came from the welfare institute, the tuition fees were covered by the Three Sect Prefecture, so this lunch was free for him.
This was also one of the few occasions that Lin Shen could eat as much as he wanted.
From this point of view, Dragonside City was run in a rather humane manner.
As the ruling class, the three major sects were all orthodox forces, so their style was rather mild.
The heretic sects were quite the opposite. The living conditions in the cities they ruled were very harsh, and the people were in agony.
For example, in Seawatch City, which was under the jurisdiction of the Blood Sea Sect, it was said that the laws were very strict, and death penalties were carried out all the time.
Criminals sentenced to death would be used to make Blood Souls, which Blood Sea Sect disciples would use against their enemies. Their methods were extremely cruel.
Sometimes, Lin Shen was glad that he had transmigrated to Dragonside City.
If he went to Seawatch City instead, he would most likely be living in agony now.