Chapter 25: Chapter 24: Consummate Skill: 180,000
As for his family’s nanny who had vanished without a trace, He Xiaotian felt there was nothing he could do to help.
Z County might be a small, remote county, but its permanent resident population was around 295,000.
And that was data from seven or eight years ago; the number was likely even higher now, not lower.
’How am I supposed to find her on my own?’
’So, I should just call the police!’
After finishing breakfast, he asked his mom for 200,000.
He Xiaotian had prepared his whole spiel in advance, but it turned out he didn’t even need it.
It was probably because of that whole malnutrition episode at the hospital.
’Or maybe it was because I asked about the wild ginseng yesterday?’
He went downstairs, got into his second-hand Audi, and drove toward Tongxi Pharmacy.
He was greeted by the same owner with the professional smile. Since he was buying four stalks at once this time, the owner gave him a ten percent discount.
He Xiaotian was pleasantly surprised. Saving 20,000 yuan meant he could pad his own little nest egg!
When he got home, he saw his mom and aunt talking in the living room.
From their conversation, he could tell they were worried about the paper mill and the nanny.
He went into the kitchen, threw all four stalks of wild ginseng into the pressure cooker, and then hid in his room.
He was afraid that if he stayed out there, his mom would start asking him again about when he was going to get a girlfriend.
Bored, he opened up the Z County online forums.
[Police are useless. It’s been reported that over sixty more people went missing last night. The exact number is still unconfirmed. What kind of depraved monster is the mastermind behind this? With over a hundred people disappearing in total, when will this case ever be solved?
According to news I’ve received, the perpetrators’ methods are incredibly sophisticated. They leave no trace at the crime scenes, putting immense pressure on the police department. The provincial capital has already dispatched a special task force to take full control of the investigation.
Let’s wait and see what happens. Friendly reminder: Don’t go out after dark. Even if you’re staying home, have some friends over. Among the hundred-plus disappearances, many have been from locked rooms.]
[A fire broke out at the Zhongcheng Slaughterhouse last night. Over fifty employees perished in the blaze, and the specific cause is still unknown. A preliminary investigation suggests it might have been caused by an employee smoking indoors in violation of the rules, which then started the fire.
We urge all citizens to strictly adhere to fire safety regulations. You never know when a single careless act could cost you your life, and the lives of your colleagues.]
The posts he had been reading before were now 404’d.
He Xiaotian wasn’t surprised. To keep society running smoothly and prevent mass panic, of course these posts had to be scrubbed.
Ordinary people couldn’t help, and knowing would only bring them fear.
Then they would do crazy, irrational things, putting immense pressure on society.
It was understandable why the relevant authorities would make such a choice.
Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. At least you wouldn’t spend all day worrying.
’What’s wrong with living a happy, carefree life?’
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
’It’s ready.’
He Xiaotian put down his phone and rushed out of his room, running to the kitchen.
A moment later, he returned carrying a basin.
Inside were the four stalks of wild ginseng, and the creamy-white soup gave off an enticing aroma.
[Experience Points: 3000
Function: Scan
Martial Arts: "Fire-refined Golden Body" - /3000+ (Mastered: Top Grade Sea-Boiling... Expand↓), "Iron Sand Palm" - 0/500+ (Mastered: ... Expand↓)]
He Xiaotian focused his mind and gently tapped the plus sign.
The `3000/3000` display instantly blurred. At the same time, the Qi Force in his Dantian transformed into a torrent of fire that coursed through the meridians of his entire body.
HISS!
He sucked in a breath of cold air. ’This really hurts!’
He Xiaotian never knew what it felt like to be consumed by a burning fire, but now, he was getting the full experience.
Flames surged through his meridians, doubling in intensity with every full circulation.
And the searing heat was incredibly vivid.
It felt as if his insides were turning to charcoal, and even his exhaled breath seemed to carry sparks.
It was as if he could breathe a torrent of fire just by opening his mouth.
GLUG! GLUG!
He Xiaotian forced himself to concentrate, grabbing the basin with both hands and gulping down the ginseng soup.
As the soup flowed down his throat and into his stomach, it felt like a torrential downpour on a fiery mountain.
Incredibly refreshing!
Life sprouted from the charcoal, like a withered tree rejuvenated by spring.
But this mere wisp of coolness was not enough to extinguish the flames.
Without hesitation, He Xiaotian grabbed a stalk of wild ginseng and began to CRUNCH CRUNCH on it.
Only after he had devoured all four stalks did the vitality become abundant enough.
The feeling of being roasted over an open flame finally began to subside.
[Experience Points: 0
Function: Scan
Martial Arts: "Fire-refined Golden Body" - 0/6000 (Perfected: Perfect-level Top Grade Sea-Boiling... Expand↓), "Iron Sand Palm" - 0/500 (Mastered: ... Expand↓)]
He Xiaotian wiped the sweat from his brow and clicked to expand the detailed description.
["Fire-refined Golden Body" - 0/6000 (Perfected: Perfect-level Top Grade Sea-Boiling. A casual strike can shatter mountains and crack stone. When unleashed, its Inner Strength is as scorching as fire. It can cause the earth to crack and leave the land barren and scorched black. Furthermore, a single strike can evaporate the blood within a living being, turning it into a desiccated corpse.
The entire body becomes as hard as steel, impervious to blades, axes, and heavy impacts. It manifests a protective fiery aura, wreathing the body in fierce flames that keep evil entities at bay. Every punch and kick carries the power to burn.
The flames can penetrate an enemy’s body to destroy their internal structures and quickly find weak points for a fatal blow. Physical strength increases explosively, like the force of nine bulls, making one completely unrivaled.)]
’This 180,000 worth of wild ginseng was so worth it!’
The upgrade to Perfect-level Top Grade Sea-Boiling changed the effect from "greatly mitigating impact damage" to being completely "impervious to impacts."
’It came with a protective flaming aura, my punches and kicks could inflict burning damage, and the flames could even penetrate an opponent’s body to seek out their weaknesses.’
’The Inner Strength in my Dantian has more than tripled, hasn’t it?’
’If I were in ancient times, wouldn’t I be hailed as a grandmaster of my generation?’
The only headache was that the next level required 6,000 Experience Points.
’That means I’d have to kill at least six Pig Grudges.’
’And what about that black rift?’
’Who knows if I can just stumble upon one of those things whenever I want!’
’Was this Golden Finger developed by some third-rate online game studio?’
Ever since He Xiaotian started practicing martial arts, he had spent a grand total of 230,000 yuan.
While he wasn’t directly charging up the Experience Points system with cash, all that money had gone into buying wild ginseng!
If it weren’t for that all-you-can-eat buffet he’d gorged himself on, he’d probably have had to spend another 100,000 yuan or so.
He could foresee that as he learned more and more martial arts, his expenses would skyrocket.
He feared that even his dad’s nest egg of ten million wouldn’t be enough to sustain this.
’Does this mean... I have to start thinking about making money now?’
’What do I know? What can I even do? Do I have any work experience?’
A triple-combo of self-doubt.
Each question struck a vital artery.
’Reading books? Keeping up with the news? Lazing around like a salted fish? My half-baked knowledge of medical theory?’
When he thought about it that way, he felt too ashamed to face his parents.
No, wait. ’I, He Xiaotian, know martial arts!’
’But am I supposed to go and open a martial arts school or something?’
’Get real!’
If it weren’t for the Experience Points system, he probably would never have been able to cultivate Inner Strength in his entire life.
’If I tried to teach others, I’d probably get beaten to death for being a fraud.’
’Don’t tell me I’m supposed to pose as a Daoist priest and go around vanquishing demons? Wouldn’t the police arrest me for "spreading feudal superstition" and try to "re-educate" me?’
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