《hold an identity in all the heavens and worlds》 The Perfect World At dawn, a centipede, over ten meters long and as thick as a water bucket, slithered through the mountains, radiating a silvery glow. Its body resembled cast silver, each segment shining fiercely and jaggedly, sparking as it scraped against the rocks. It seemed to notice something and looked back briefly, but it paid no attention and continued to move toward the distance. Li Yi crouched atop a towering tree, dozens of meters high, his pale face watching the centipede retreat. His breathing was hurried, carefully suppressing the sound. He waited until the centipede was out of sight, then felt a coldness spreading down his back. He touched it¡ªhis back was already soaked with sweat. "That was damn terrifying," he muttered softly, carefully holding onto the branches to sit himself down. He never expected something so bizarre would happen in his twenty years of life. He only remembered seeing an ancient yellowed book page in his bed. When he picked up the page, a tremendous force pulled at him, and soon after, he found himself in this place. He saw the ten-meter-long silver centipede no more than twenty meters in front of him. His instinct was to run¡ªto run as far as possible and climb higher into the tree. He didn''t know if the centipede could climb trees, but based on the situation, it definitely could. Yet, his mind instinctively urged him to act. It was as though his body was reacting for him in an instant. Although he hadn¡¯t brought the page with him while running, and hadn¡¯t thought about it after arriving, the page was still safely tucked in his chest. He pulled it out. Current World: ????? Identity (Neutral): A traveling merchant who entered the Great Wilderness, carrying many rare and exotic items. Identity Mission: None. Identity Items: A small cart used by the traveling merchant. Identity Reward: Based on the total money earned from transactions upon mission completion. The paper only contained these words, and nothing else. Moreover, the material of the paper was remarkably sturdy. He couldn¡¯t break it with his bare hands for now. Li Yi had a feeling that if he wanted, he could summon the cart at any time. However, he didn¡¯t do it yet, since he was still in the tree and wasn¡¯t sure where to place it. Looking down, he was at least ten meters off the ground. The tree was already incredibly tall, and there were even bigger trees around. The vast mountains surrounded him, stretching endlessly, exuding a desolate air.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Li Yi didn¡¯t know what the situation was or what to do. With the day beginning to brighten, he decided to climb down slowly, not having climbed a tree in years. He had somehow ended up this high when he reacted instinctively to the centipede earlier. Once on the ground, Li Yi thought about it and, with a mental push, a small cart¡¯s shadow gradually appeared and then solidified into reality. The cart wasn¡¯t big, just the right size for one person to push, similar to the wheelbarrows used on construction sites to carry sand and gravel. The cart¡¯s material was wood, and it had a lid, so he couldn¡¯t see what was inside. There was a small door on the side, and when he pulled it, the cart revealed some items: Remaining Energy Points: 100 Salt (1 kilogram): 5 points Refined Iron (10 kilograms): 3 points Books (one, randomly generated according to the current world situation): 30 points These were the only items displayed. The top left corner also showed a refresh time, indicating that everything in the cart would refresh in 22 hours. These items didn¡¯t appear in front of him directly but materialized when he squatted down and looked into the cart. Li Yi tapped the cart lightly, and the sensation was just like wood. With a thought, a jar of salt appeared inside the cart. The salt was white and granular, resembling fine sand, and it seemed valuable. He assumed the value of items depended on their rarity. For example, books were valuable in this world, but something like Coca-Cola would be even rarer. Since books were hard to come by, producing such pure salt must be quite a laborious task, so the price of the salt should be high. Li Yi tasted the salt¡ªit was very salty. According to the page, although he didn¡¯t know what world he was in, it seemed he needed to find someone to trade. He returned the salt to the cart and closed the door. "Now the most important question is where to find someone," Li Yi muttered, looking out at the endless mountains. Suddenly, the ground shook, and the surrounding animals became restless. From a distance, a loud scream echoed, shaking the earth and making the trees around him tremble. At that moment, he saw something unusual. A wild boar, black in color, appeared on the tree. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, the pig was climbing the tree. It moved quickly and smoothly, as if it were entirely at ease in the branches. The boar was clearly fleeing from something, but just as it moved, an arrow shot out from the distance and pierced its eye. Blood sprayed everywhere. Even with such a fatal injury, the boar struggled for a few seconds before falling from the tree, crashing to the ground with a cloud of dust. Twenty or so strong men, some wearing animal hides and others in coarse cloth, emerged from the trees. ¡°Lin Hu, your shot is really accurate!¡± one man praised. Another one laughed, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s drag the prey over. We got lucky this time, thanks to the battle yesterday. Many of the dangerous beasts in the mountains were wounded or killed, or else we wouldn¡¯t have gotten such a good deal.¡± As they laughed and talked, they suddenly fell silent, noticing Li Yi standing there. Both sides were silent, the air tense. The Hunting Party In the mountains, both sides faced off. Li Yi opened his arms, signaling a gesture of goodwill while showing that he was unarmed. He smiled and stared into the eyes of the middle-aged leader of the group. "Hello, I am a traveling merchant." "Traveling merchant? What¡¯s that?" one of them asked. "I¡¯ve heard the village chief mention it," another person said. "Some very large tribes have merchants who trade." "Trade? What¡¯s that?" "It¡¯s when we trade our meat for other people''s meat." "Why trade our meat for other people''s meat? Can''t we just keep our meat and eat it ourselves?" ... The group of people on the opposite side murmured among themselves. Li Yi stood still, not making any sudden moves. To be honest, he had no idea what kind of people they were, whether they were good or bad. But from the arrows they shot, which could pierce through a wild boar, he could tell that if they wanted to kill him, he wouldn¡¯t even have a chance to run. "We are from Shicun, and this is Shicun¡¯s hunting ground. What are you doing here?" After only a brief discussion, the middle-aged man gave an order to send Li Yi away. He didn¡¯t know much about merchants or trade, but he was curious about what Li Yi was up to. If Li Yi was just passing through, even though this was their hunting ground, it was only one person, and they couldn¡¯t possibly eat much. Even if they hunted a few wild beasts, it wasn¡¯t a big deal, as long as there was no hostility. "I¡¯m here to do business, to trade," Li Yi said, slowly stepping back to his cart. He opened the small door and carefully took out the jar of salt. As soon as he touched the cart, it was obvious that the group became tense. Those with weapons raised them, those with shields lifted them, and arrows were nocked, though not drawn yet¡ªclearly, they were on guard. Li Yi could tell that they didn''t harbor ill intentions, and possibly some goodwill. If they truly wanted to harm him, they would have drawn their bows at the moment he reached for the goods. Instead, they only nocked the arrows, which was less likely to cause accidental harm. "Salt," Li Yi said as he slowly moved closer to them. As the distance shortened, he could see the true appearance of the group¡ªbronzed skin, wearing coarse cloth or just animal pelts. They were muscular and sturdy, and their weapons made Li Yi¡¯s skin crawl. Three or five of them had bows, each one towering over their heads, with strings made from the tendons of wild beasts.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Two others held massive two-handed swords. Li Yi had thought that these swords only existed in games, but seeing the size of one, it likely weighed three to five hundred kilograms. No normal person could wield such a sword. Even stranger, two men carried shields made of stone, not wood. This group¡¯s combat power was off the charts. Li Yi, seeing the wild animals they had killed and the weapons they wielded, couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was in a world like that of Monster Hunter. As Li Yi approached, the group spread out, surrounding him with their towering figures, giving him an immense sense of pressure. He opened the jar, and the snow-white salt grains instantly appeared before the crowd. "Is this salt?" asked Shilin Hu, the middle-aged leader. "How can salt be this white?" Li Yi dipped his finger in the salt and tasted it, then pushed the jar towards Shilin Hu. "Try it. Is it salt?" Li Yi asked. Shilin Hu looked cautious but seeing that Li Yi had tasted it, he decided to give it a try. He dipped his finger in and tasted it¡ªsalt, very salty, but not bitter or astringent. It was completely different from the salt they typically ate, which was coarse, bitter, and a bit sour. Li Yi handed the jar to another burly man beside Shilin Hu. He glanced at Shilin Hu before tasting the salt as well. "It¡¯s salt, not bitter, not astringent. It¡¯s different from ours," the man exclaimed. Hearing this, many others looked at the jar, eager to try the salt themselves. Li Yi felt slightly reassured. As he had predicted, white salt was likely quite valuable in this world. Based on their appearance and what they said, most people in this era seemed to live in villages or tribes. They had the ability to make salt, but the salt they made was likely rough, either gray or greenish, and tasted bitter and astringent¡ªnothing like the pure white grains Li Yi held. "I got lost and can¡¯t find my way out. The wilderness is dangerous at night. Can I stay with you in your village for a while?" he asked, hoping to find a safe place. Shilin Hu paused in silence. While there had been other outsiders who came to Shicun before, Li Yi''s appearance seemed unusual¡ªhe was so thin, almost unreal. He seemed weaker than even a child or a woman. Shilin Hu felt a bit relieved. Since Li Yi was so frail, there was no need to worry about him causing any trouble. Besides, they had spiritual protection in their village. "Erhu, Dazhuang, take him back to the village," Shilin Hu ordered, giving a subtle look to the two men. "Li Yi, brother, let¡¯s go," said Dazhuang. Li Yi quickly nodded, a smile unconsciously forming on his face. For now, this was the best plan¡ªheading to the village would at least give him a place to stay for the night. Without it, if he stayed out in the forest, he would certainly die if a beast attacked at night. He recalled the terrifying image of the giant centipede earlier. He packed up the salt jar, pushed the cart, and followed the two men. "Our village isn¡¯t far from here," Erhu said. Li Yi thought the same, but soon realized their definition of "not far" was very different. "Hold on, let me catch my breath," Li Yi said, setting the cart aside and leaning against it, panting heavily. He estimated that he had walked almost three kilometers. The roads here were completely unpaved and natural, and he had been pushing the cart the whole way. While the cart wasn¡¯t heavy, Erhu and Dazhuang had been moving incredibly fast, much faster than Li Yi could keep up with. Eventually, they slowed down, but they were still moving quickly. "What¡¯s wrong?" Dazhuang asked, stopping and coming to Li Yi¡¯s side. He thought to himself, how could this person be so weak? Even though they had slowed down, he still couldn¡¯t keep up. How had he even survived in the wilderness last night? "Let me rest," Li Yi said, but before he could finish, he was suddenly lifted up. Erhu had picked him up and was carrying him on his back, while Dazhuang effortlessly lifted the cart. The two of them sprinted toward the village. Shi Hao The scenery before him constantly shifted. Li Yi estimated that they had probably run nearly twenty kilometers. One of them carried him while the other held his cart. After running nearly twenty kilometers, neither of them showed any signs of exhaustion, their faces not even flushed, their breath steady. This made Li Yi reevaluate his understanding of human physical endurance in this world. The two men¡¯s pace gradually slowed as an ancient and primitive village appeared ahead, with many stone houses. But the most striking feature was the giant tree at the village entrance. As they approached, Li Yi realized that the half-tree was not actually a tree, but a dead tree trunk, with a diameter of several meters, its surface scorched black. Apart from the massive main trunk, there was only a small, weak branch, still emanating faint life. The leaves shimmered in the wind. Li Yi stared at the tree, and the two men gradually stopped. "What¡¯s up with this tree?" Li Yi asked. "Ah, this tree? It¡¯s our village¡¯s spirit tree," Erhu said, letting Li Yi down. "The village elder once said it fell from the sky many years ago." Li Yi was stunned by the words, his mind racing. "Spirit tree... fell from the sky many years ago." "Who are the people in your village?" Li Yi asked, his curiosity piqued. "Everyone in our village is named Shi," Erhu answered. With Erhu¡¯s response, Li Yi finally confirmed where he was. The Shi Village, the spirit tree¡ªif nothing unexpected happened, he would soon see a certain child who loved drinking milk. Now that he knew what world he was in, his inner anxiety and unease began to fade. This world could be dangerous for the protagonist in later stages, but for now, the Great Wilderness and Shi Village still had a period of tranquility. Living in this village was safe, and Li Yi had read the book at least three times. While he couldn¡¯t remember every detail, he still recalled the general plot. He just wasn¡¯t sure how old Shi Hao was at the moment. Shi Village had a few hundred households, with simple folk who lived peacefully. Li Yi felt he could trust them, and considering how valuable the white salt was, he wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to bring out anything else of greater value. It was a known fact that money could tempt people, and he had no way to resist or defend himself if they decided to take advantage of him. As they approached the village, the villagers quickly gathered upon seeing the hunting party¡¯s return, asking if something had happened. They eyed Li Yi curiously, and the crowd parted slowly to reveal an elderly man walking toward them.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Uncle Yunfeng, this is the person we met outside. He says he¡¯s a traveling merchant, here to trade," Dazhuang said, pointing to Li Yi. "You¡¯re a traveling merchant?" asked the elderly man, Shi Yunfeng. Li Yi nodded slightly and took out the jar of salt. "Salt," he said. Shi Yunfeng dipped his hand into the jar. He had never seen such pure white salt. He had only heard about it from his travels in the past, when he had heard rumors of a tribe that possessed salt as white as snow. He had always thought it was just a legend, never expecting to see it for himself. He tasted it. It was salty, and very pure, without any bitterness or astringency. "You¡¯re here to do business?" Shi Yunfeng had traveled to many tribes in his younger days, so he understood what merchants and trade were. Anyone who could carry such rare white salt and travel the Great Wilderness to trade was no weakling. If he had seen Li Yi being carried on Erhu¡¯s back earlier, he might not have thought so highly of him. However, since the spirit tree hadn¡¯t reacted, it meant that Li Yi posed no threat. If there had been any ill intent, the spirit tree would not have allowed him into the village. The people of Shi Village placed great faith in the spirit tree, but it wasn¡¯t blind faith. The spirit tree had protected their ancestors for generations, allowing them to survive in the Great Wilderness. If a village lacked a spirit tree, it wouldn¡¯t last long. Thus, the people of Shi Village were less wary of Li Yi. "Alright, everyone disperse," Shi Yunfeng said, and the crowd slowly dispersed, returning to their tasks. "You two, go back to hunting," he added to Erhu and Dazhuang. Erhu and Dazhuang nodded and left, moving like arrows, disappearing swiftly from Li Yi¡¯s view. Li Yi thought to himself that if they had been running this fast earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to keep up. Turning around, he found Shi Yunfeng smiling at him. "Follow me, guest!" Shi Yunfeng said, leading him to a stone house. "The conditions are a bit simple, not like the big tribes," Shi Yunfeng added. Li Yi hadn¡¯t entered yet, but he already smelled a strong, pleasant scent of milk from outside the door. The house was simply furnished¡ªa stone bed, a stone table. "If you don¡¯t mind the simplicity, stay here for a couple of days before you continue your journey. To be honest, that jar of salt is too precious for our village to afford," Shi Yunfeng said. This was the truth. Though the jar of salt wasn¡¯t much, in the Great Wilderness, it was rare. Even if Shi Yunfeng wanted to buy it, they couldn¡¯t afford it. He also had a thought in mind¡ªif Li Yi lowered the price a bit, maybe they could afford it. But he was really thinking about trading the salt, not eating it. For a small village like theirs, they could use the salt as a valuable trading commodity or as a gift when a man from Shi Village married a woman from another tribe. With fewer women willing to marry into their village, using this precious salt as a gift would make it more appealing to other tribes. Li Yi, however, wasn¡¯t a typical merchant. He understood that while the salt was valuable, it wasn¡¯t worth much to him in this world. Building good relationships with the villagers was far more important than any short-term gain. "Old man, I might stay here a bit longer. You can keep the salt, and I¡¯ll stay with you, eat your food, and sleep here," Li Yi said, handing the jar of salt directly to Shi Yunfeng. Shi Yunfeng was stunned. He had expected Li Yi to discuss pricing, but he never expected him to give the salt away. They would pay with food and lodging, which was a fair deal for both sides¡ªa win-win situation. "Grandfather," a sweet voice suddenly called from outside. A child entered, with smooth white skin, big dark eyes that twinkled like marbles, and looking like a porcelain doll. Li Yi stared at him, realizing that this child would one day become the mighty Emperor of the Endless Wilderness¡ªShi Hao, but for now, he was just a milk-loving little boy. Medicinal Bath Shi Hao, or the little one, with his big black eyes, was curiously observing Li Yi. He had never seen this "big brother" before. "Hello," Li Yi crouched down and extended his hand. Shi Hao seemed a bit confused. After a moment, he reached out with his chubby little hands and grasped Li Yi¡¯s hand. "Hello," he replied in a soft, milky voice, his expression adorable and very cute. Shi Yunfeng couldn¡¯t help but smile when he saw Shi Hao¡¯s reaction. However, Shi Hao was distracted by the jar in Li Yi¡¯s hands. He kept staring at it, trying to reach for it. Shi Yunfeng set the jar down, allowing Shi Hao to look at it, though he held it tightly in both hands, unwilling to let go. Shi Hao touched the white salt inside the jar, which felt similar to the milk he usually drank, but at the same time, it was different. He giggled as he poked the salt, feeling its softness, which was both itchy and pleasant. Trying to dip deeper into the jar, Shi Yunfeng immediately picked him up. White salt was precious, so it wasn¡¯t for play. He let him see it, but quickly took it away to store it, planning to use it later when necessary in the village. "Please rest here, guest. I still have some matters to attend to," Shi Yunfeng said as he prepared to leave. Li Yi quickly replied, "My name is Li Yi. You can call me Xiao Yi or A Yi, whatever you prefer. Please don¡¯t be so formal; I¡¯m not used to that." He chuckled a bit awkwardly after saying that, and Shi Yunfeng smiled too, nodding in approval. "Alright, Xiao Yi. You can call me Uncle Yunfeng from now on," Shi Yunfeng said. This change in address was a sign of their relationship becoming closer. Li Yi had gone from being a mere guest to becoming half a part of the family, exactly what he had hoped for. Shi Yunfeng disappeared quickly. Despite his age, he was still full of energy and moved swiftly. Li Yi pushed the cart under the table and spent some energy points to exchange for a book and ten kilograms of refined iron. The book wasn¡¯t made of paper, but rather something resembling the hide of a wild beast, about two fingers thick. The title seemed to be "Great Wilderness: A Bestiary" or perhaps "Record of the Beasts of the Great Wilderness." The characters were written in a form similar to ancient Chinese oracle bone script. Li Yi could understand a little from the context, but he knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to read it all. Although he couldn¡¯t read the book fully, it was undoubtedly worth a lot in this world. He tucked the book into his clothes, while the ten kilograms of refined iron weren¡¯t one solid block, but five smaller ones. He took three of them out and placed them on the table, leaving the other two in the cart.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Young man. Xiao Yi." Li Yi heard someone calling from outside and hurried to open the door. Two strong, middle-aged women, both around fifty, stood there. One carried a clay pot, and the other had several pieces of animal hide. They immediately entered, one laying the hides on the stone bed, while the other placed the clay pot on the table. The pot contained large, steaming chunks of meat. The people of Shi Village were simple and hospitable. They hadn¡¯t seen outsiders in a long time, and when a guest arrived, they would bring out the best food they had. "Alright, eat up," one of the women said, pressing chopsticks into Li Yi¡¯s hands and patting his shoulder. "You¡¯re a good young man." Li Yi staggered slightly from the pat. The women of Shi Village were just as strong as the men. But that was normal, considering that Shi Hao could carry stones weighing ten thousand pounds around at such a young age. The two women were warm and friendly but knew that Li Yi was hungry, so they didn¡¯t stay and chat. The room fell quiet again. Li Yi walked to the pot and took a deep breath. There were no spices in the meat, just the pure, unadulterated smell of roasted meat. He hadn¡¯t eaten since morning and was both thirsty and hungry by now. The meat was prepared very roughly, in large chunks, each probably weighing a pound or so. When Li Yi picked up a piece with the chopsticks, there was no fishy smell. It didn¡¯t taste like anything he could identify, which made sense. There were countless rare and dangerous beasts in the Great Wilderness, and many of them were unrecognizable. After eating a piece of meat and drinking a couple of sips of soup, Li Yi didn¡¯t feel full yet, though he felt quite satisfied. A pound of meat wasn¡¯t too much for a man his age, but it filled him up quickly, and he began to feel an overwhelming sense of warmth. His face flushed, as though he had consumed a tonic. He had suspected that the meat from these rare beasts contained immense energy, and it acted like a potent tonic for him. He couldn¡¯t eat too much, though, or his body might become overwhelmed. The effects of the meat were incredible. As he ate two more pieces, he felt even stronger, the warmth growing more intense. He soon realized that the meat was far more effective than he had imagined. He quickly shed his excess clothes, feeling the heat build inside him, and lay on the stone bed. It wasn¡¯t long before he felt a distinct change. His body felt more powerful, and breathing was smoother. He grabbed a block of iron and found that it felt lighter than before, not because it had actually become lighter, but because his strength had increased. He had no idea how much stronger he had become, but the sensation of growing stronger was intoxicating. After finishing all the meat and drinking the soup, he lay back down, feeling his body grow even stronger bit by bit. However, each subsequent meal had a lesser effect than the first. Exhausted, Li Yi fell into a deep sleep, his body still humming with newfound energy. When he woke up, the sun had set. There were many people gathered at the village entrance, creating a lively scene. The sounds of children crying could be heard as several men carried their children to the village entrance like small chickens. Li Yi walked closer and saw nine large cauldrons filled with blood and various herbs, the blood boiling as it emitted a potent, medicinal fragrance. Just smelling it made Li Yi feel a surge of energy. Shi Linhu looked at Li Yi, curious. He knew that people traveling through the Great Wilderness were often weakened from injury. He had heard from Erhu and Dazhuang that Li Yi seemed unusually frail¡ªperhaps he had been wounded. Seeing Li Yi''s eagerness near the cauldrons, Shi Linhu instantly understood. Li Yi had likely fought with a dangerous beast and was now in need of healing. This explained why he had been in such a rush to rest. And the weakness in his body was a result of his injuries. Shi Linhu had already discussed with the village elder how to repay Li Yi for the precious white salt he had given them. Although one medicinal bath couldn¡¯t compare to the value of the salt, it was the best they could offer. Rock Candy Li Yi stood by the medicinal cauldron, observing the process. He had to admit, the people of Shi Village were certainly tough when it came to their children. Every child was immersed in the medicinal bath, screaming loudly with twisted expressions, each of them looking as if they were wearing a mask of agony. Meanwhile, their parents stood by, laughing joyfully. Li Yi thought back to his own childhood and the hardships he endured. It seemed that now it was the turn of these little ones to suffer. Among the ten parents present, eight shared the same thought, while the other two were pondering how to make the medicinal effects stronger. The stronger the effects, the more intense the pain would be. This was the survival rule in the Great Wilderness: endure the pain of the medicinal bath, and your body would grow stronger, allowing you to survive in the harsh environment. In this savage land, where ferocious beasts roamed and toxic miasma filled the forests, everyone living here had to fight for survival. At this moment, Shi Linhu squeezed over to Li Yi. "You might as well join them in the bath." "Ah!" Li Yi didn¡¯t have time to react before Shi Linhu picked him up and threw him directly into the cauldron. Shi Linhu didn¡¯t give Li Yi a chance to refuse. After all, if Li Yi felt uncomfortable being the only one not participating, he might hesitate, so Shi Linhu simply tossed him in without warning. "AAHHH!!!!" A loud scream echoed as Li Yi was hit by a sudden shock, but he quickly suppressed the urge to cry out. Though he had never gone through such an experience, his ability to endure pain was much better than these children¡¯s, especially when it came to resisting agony. As an orphan, Li Yi had endured many hardships to survive to the age of twenty, and only he knew the depth of the pain he had suffered. So, despite the initial shock and pain of being thrust into the cauldron, he quickly gritted his teeth and endured the torment. Moreover, he quickly realized that, although it hurt, there was also a strange sense of comfort beneath the pain. He understood that his body was reacting to the intense agony by releasing dopamine, temporarily numbing the pain. The children around him, on the other hand, had likely grown accustomed to the pain, so their bodies wouldn¡¯t release dopamine to counter it. For them, the agony would likely last longer. Li Yi, despite the initial rush of discomfort, gritted his teeth and endured the pain, knowing it would subside. But just as quickly, the pain surged back again, flowing up from his feet to the top of his head. Sitting in the cauldron, Li Yi found himself next to Shi Hao. The little boy seemed unfazed by the pain, only occasionally coughing up a bit of blood as the medicinal bath bubbled. As the temperature of the cauldron gradually decreased, the pain began to subside as well. Li Yi felt as though every part of his body was in pain. He felt like a shrimp being braised, his whole body a fiery red.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. At this moment, Shi Yunfeng lifted Shi Hao out of the cauldron. "How do you feel?" he asked. Shi Hao burped loudly and sleepily answered, "I¡¯m full." His carefree response made all the adults around him burst into laughter. Li Yi, struggling to climb out of the cauldron, couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Shi Hao¡¯s innocent answer. Perhaps, at this moment, Shi Hao was the happiest he had ever been. It was unlikely that he would feel this carefree again in the future. Li Yi lay down on the bed, having felt nothing but pain in the cauldron. Now, however, he could feel the gradual changes in his body¡ªhe was becoming stronger. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but after the medicinal bath, he felt an overwhelming sense of sleepiness despite already having rested earlier. The next morning, he woke up early, feeling completely rejuvenated. His bed was covered in large patches of dead skin. The strange thing was, although he had entered the cauldron fully clothed, there wasn¡¯t a single trace of blood on his clothes. It seemed that all the impurities had been absorbed into his body. He raised his arm and noticed his previously rough skin had become smooth and fair, with not a single blemish left. He looked even more handsome than before. Moreover, he could feel that his muscles and bones had undergone subtle changes. It was a transformation, though not as dramatic as being reborn. However, the results were undeniably impressive. He opened the cart and checked the newly refreshed items: Today, there was one more item than usual, which seemed to be random. Li Yi still didn¡¯t know the upper or lower limits of the refresh. The last item seemed very useful¡ªbeing able to acquire a random ability would certainly be a big help. But it was also a gamble. If the ability turned out to be useless, it wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Right now, Li Yi didn¡¯t have enough energy points, so he decided not to take a risk. He thought it might be better to trade with the villagers for more points instead. He exchanged all the items except for the abilities, preparing for future trade. His energy points quickly dropped, leaving only thirteen. The sun had just risen, and many people in the village were already awake. Li Yi lived in Shi Yunfeng¡¯s home, one of three stone houses next to each other. Li Yi¡¯s room was the farthest left. The house next to his gave off a sweet milky and medicinal fragrance, with a large pot of milk boiling, into which Shi Yunfeng had added various herbs. Many villagers were awake now, and a group of children was gathered at the well, drawing water and washing. Li Yi grabbed a handful of rock candy and put it in his pocket, walking to the well to wash himself. As he washed, he felt his body had grown much stronger than before, both in terms of strength and speed. The children gathered around him, curious, since Shi Village was small, with only about three hundred people. To these children, any outsider was a fascinating sight. Shi Hao was also there, not so much bathing as playing in the water. Li Yi took out a few pieces of rock candy and held them in his palm. The children gathered around, staring at the candy, but none dared to take it. In the Great Wilderness, survival rules dictated that they should never eat anything they hadn¡¯t seen before¡ªmany poisonous things could be lurking. These children had been taught since birth to be cautious, as they had seen friends die from eating unknown foods. Shi Hao, however, was fearless. He grabbed a piece of rock candy and popped it into his mouth, immediately feeling the cool and sweet sensation spread inside. He smiled, and the other children, seeing that he was fine, hesitated no longer and tried it for themselves. The moment they tasted it, they were all astonished by how sweet it was. For these children, who had never known sugar, it was a revelation. They could only describe the taste as "sweet and delicious." "Little one," Shi Yunfeng called out, and Shi Hao scrambled over, rolling and tumbling in his excitement. The Value of Books Li Yi watched as Shi Hao ran off, and he quickly followed. He needed to speak with Shi Yunfeng about the upcoming trade. With so many items on hand, he had to hurry and sell them to earn more energy points to buy more things. The air was filled with the sweet scent of milk. Shi Yunfeng was holding a large clay pot filled with a creamy substance. He had mixed powdered bones from ferocious beasts and a large amount of medicinal herbs to create this concoction. The pot of milk now was as valuable as the true blood of ferocious beasts. Upon seeing Li Yi, Shi Yunfeng quickly called him over. He filled a large bowl and handed it to Li Yi, while the rest went to Shi Hao. Li Yi knew that this milk was something special. He immediately took the bowl, tilted his head, and drank it all in one go. Shi Hao, sitting on the grass nearby, eagerly ate from a large wooden spoon, devouring the milk greedily. Before drinking the milk, Li Yi had planned to discuss the trade with Shi Yunfeng, but after consuming the large bowl of milk, his mind was no longer on business. If the medicinal bath had only enhanced his skin, muscles, and bones, the milk mixed with medicinal herbs and beast bone powder caused him to feel as though his internal organs were being scorched. However, it wasn¡¯t painful. It felt as if a gentle force was protecting his organs while they were being strengthened by the fire-like sensation. Shi Yunfeng had spoken with Shi Linhu the day before and had a rough idea of Li Yi¡¯s situation. He and Shi Linhu both thought that Li Yi must have sustained serious injuries. Otherwise, it would be impossible for someone to be so weak while traveling through the Great Wilderness as a merchant. Li Yi staying in the village was undoubtedly for recuperation, and Shi Yunfeng had added extra ingredients to the milk in hopes that it would help heal Li Yi¡¯s wounds. He knew that for someone like Li Yi, these herbs might not be as effective, but he still wanted to offer them as a gesture of goodwill. Shi Hao finished his milk, but his was not enriched with the additional ingredients Shi Yunfeng had added to Li Yi¡¯s. Their purposes were different: one was for healing, the other for strengthening. The medicinal effects hit Shi Hao quickly. He was still too young to handle such potent medicine and couldn¡¯t bear its immense power. What had once been a well-behaved child now seemed like a troublemaker. His eyes were red, like a wild rabbit, and he let out high-pitched shrieks, refusing to move. He crawled around on all fours, knocking things over and causing a ruckus. The poor large yellow dog was grabbed by him, its fur nearly pulled off its tail. The dog could only whine, disturbing the whole village.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Little one, what are you doing? Stop pulling up the fence!" "How did you even get up there? Stop, don¡¯t tear off the roof tiles!" Shi Hao had turned into a chaotic whirlwind, like a husky dog destroying everything in sight. ... The elders, gathered together, watched Shi Hao¡¯s antics and nodded in approval. "Seems like the medicinal effects have fully kicked in," one of them said. Some of the children overheard and silently sympathized with Shi Hao. The poor little thing was enduring a lot. Li Yi could now feel the burning sensation in his internal organs begin to subside. All that remained was the gentle force continuing to strengthen and enhance his internal organs. He wasn¡¯t sure how strong he was now, but it was clear that he was much stronger than before. As the burning sensation completely faded, he exhaled deeply. The strengthening effects on his organs were almost visible to the naked eye. His breathing was longer and much stronger than before. He pulled out the beast-hide book from his clothing. Shi Yunfeng was still talking to the other elders, who were considered treasures in the Great Wilderness. In a land filled with dangers, the experience of how to properly mix and use beast blood and medicinal herbs had been passed down for generations. These elders were walking treasure troves, and their knowledge helped the next generation survive in the wilderness. Li Yi nodded to the elders, then directly handed the book to Shi Yunfeng. Shi Yunfeng stared at the book in surprise. Having traveled in the Great Wilderness, he knew how incredibly valuable a book could be. Books and the knowledge they contained were priceless in their village. Shi Yunfeng had once hoped to buy a few books from the outside world. If he had brought books back, the next generation could learn from them, and they could supplement their knowledge. But they couldn¡¯t afford it. Even with the combined effort of fifteen villagers, they still couldn¡¯t buy a single book. They had only managed to bring back two pieces of animal hide scrolls, and only two of the fifteen made it back alive, with one dying shortly after. Now, a thick book was placed in front of him, and he didn¡¯t dare touch it. The other elders, although they hadn¡¯t ventured outside, understood the value of the book. They knew that Shi Yunfeng had risked everything to bring back a few scrolls, and a book so much thicker than those scrolls was even more precious. They eagerly eyed the book. Knowledge in the Great Wilderness was incredibly rare and valuable. After a long pause, Shi Yunfeng finally reacted, but when Li Yi offered the book, he hurriedly stepped back and waved his hands in refusal. "No, no, it¡¯s too precious. We can¡¯t take it." He lowered his head in disappointment, but couldn¡¯t help but glance at the book again. How much knowledge could be contained in such a thick book? It was impossible not to be tempted. But the book¡¯s value was so high, and though he wanted it, he couldn¡¯t accept it. Shi Yunfeng knew that Li Yi had already given them the precious white salt, and it was already a huge loss for Li Yi. To accept the book too would be too much. No matter what, they couldn¡¯t accept it. The salt and the book¡¯s value far exceeded anything they could repay. Li Yi understood what Shi Yunfeng was thinking and guessed that he wasn¡¯t wrong about the man. It seemed that, no matter what trade he made with them, he could trust them. "I¡¯m not giving it to you for free. I¡¯ll sell it to you," Li Yi said. "No, no," Shi Yunfeng immediately said, realizing Li Yi would offer it at a price. He knew they couldn¡¯t afford it. Li Yi, however, insisted. "You can pay me later. Just take it for now. You can pay me a part now, and the rest later. I can¡¯t leave for now anyway." He grabbed Shi Yunfeng¡¯s hand and tried to force the book into his hands. Shi Yunfeng still wouldn¡¯t accept it, although it was clear he was tempted. This was, after all, a fair trade. Although Shi Village would benefit more, it was still a deal. After some persuasion, Shi Yunfeng¡¯s resolve wavered. He turned to the other elders and called out, "Tell everyone to gather the hides and beast bones they¡¯ve collected." A Great Harvest A large pile of beast hides was gathered from every household in Shi Village, including the pelts of rare and dangerous beasts. In addition, many beast bones were collected and moved to Li Yi''s house. After Shi Yunfeng gave his instructions, the elders went around notifying everyone in the village. Each household took out everything they had stashed away, and the beast hides piled up to a height taller than a person. Apart from a few hides kept for bedding, all the others were brought here. There weren¡¯t as many beast bones, as many had already been used up, but the remaining bones numbered around five or six, weighing a total of several hundred kilograms. Each bone was massive, yet Li Yi effortlessly lifted them with no difficulty. His body had been strengthened, and now his strength had likely exceeded the human limit. Many medicinal herbs were also brought to the pile and stacked together. The elders of Shi Village gathered around, discussing the situation. "It¡¯s still not enough! There¡¯s a huge gap," Shi Yunfeng said, eyeing the accumulated items. The other elders didn¡¯t speak. They hadn¡¯t ventured outside and didn¡¯t know the real value of books, but they knew they were incredibly valuable. "Well, there¡¯s really no other way. All the village¡¯s accumulated goods are here. We can¡¯t exactly take out the ancestral treasures, can we?" one elder said, shaking his head with a sigh. "Yes, it seems we have no choice," the other elders murmured in agreement. Li Yi felt a quiet sense of triumph. A piece of meat could earn him some energy points. The combined value of these skins might be worth hundreds, even thousands of points. Not to mention the bones and the medicinal herbs, although he didn¡¯t plan to sell those. He would have Shi Yunfeng help him prepare them into medicine to enhance his own strength. Strengthening himself was the top priority, as he still didn¡¯t know what the future held. The task in the book didn¡¯t mention how to complete it, nor did it have any time limit. But, based on his judgment, after completing the task, he might have to leave this world. The next world might not be as kind, with such a long period of time to improve his abilities. Shi Hao was still in a frenzy. The effects of the medicine hadn¡¯t fully worn off, but with the gathering of people, he came over. His eyes lit up as he spotted a beast¡¯s bone, grabbed it, and fled at incredible speed, kicking up dust as he dashed away. Li Yi watched his retreating figure and muttered to himself, "He¡¯s like a husky among dogs." If he had a phone, he would have definitely recorded a video¡ªthis would have been Shi Hao¡¯s embarrassing history. Others saw him grab the beast bone and immediately chased after him. At this moment, a mysterious light flickered from Shi Hao¡¯s palm, revealing a glowing rune, and his speed increased even more.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Shi Yunfeng didn¡¯t bother with the commotion. He decided to go over and take a look at the items. He knew the value of these things couldn¡¯t compare to the value of the book, but he still wanted to see them. Li Yi understood that, although he was willing to give them the book, Shi Yunfeng knew how valuable it was. Even with the combined efforts of Shi Village, they couldn¡¯t afford it. But deep down, Shi Yunfeng really wanted the book. A real book was sitting right in front of him, and the temptation was enormous. Not only for him but for everyone in Shi Village. Shi Yunfeng hadn¡¯t gone over yet when Li Yi waved at him from a distance. Feeling a little embarrassed, Shi Yunfeng walked over. He coughed and cleared his throat, ready to speak, but was interrupted by Li Yi, who had already pressed the book into his hands. "Later, have the beast hides brought to my house. The beast bones and herbs, please help me prepare them into medicine." Shi Yunfeng didn¡¯t have time to respond before Li Yi spoke again. Holding the old, heavy book in his hands, Shi Yunfeng nodded silently. Li Yi hadn¡¯t mentioned any repayment for the book, but that didn¡¯t mean he could pretend nothing was owed. Shi Yunfeng knew that Shi Village couldn¡¯t repay Li Yi in full. But anything they could return, even a little, they had to. Li Yi had his reasons for giving them the book. He wanted to strengthen Shi Village so they could hunt more powerful beasts. By improving their capabilities, his own profits would continue to grow. If he didn¡¯t help them improve, they wouldn¡¯t even have the ability to make transactions with him. For now, it was just the book. Later, when he gave them the iron and beast bones, they didn¡¯t necessarily have to pay right away. They could use the same method as now¡ªsimilar to a loan. Shi Yunfeng carefully held the book and motioned for the strong men to carry the beast hides into Li Yi¡¯s house. He then excitedly gathered with the other elders, preparing to study the book. Li Yi went into the house and took out the jar of rock candy. "Come, come, everyone, you¡¯ve worked hard. Have some candy." Many adults had heard the children talk about rock candy. While they didn¡¯t know what it was, they could easily recognize the sweet taste. Of course, these adults didn¡¯t make a fuss like the children. Some of them held the candy in their hands, intending to save it for their children. One kilogram of candy wasn¡¯t much, and it was quickly finished. As the crowd started to disperse, Li Yi held a piece of rock candy and waved it toward the distance. "Come, little one. I¡¯ve got some candy for you." Shi Hao saw the candy and immediately ran over, excited. He wasn¡¯t acting like a child anymore, but more like a small beast in a frenzy. Li Yi handed him the candy. After eating it, Shi Hao calmed down, though by this point, the effects of the medicine had worn off. When Shi Hao woke up and realized what he had done earlier, he muttered, "Uh-oh, I¡¯ve caused trouble." He felt exhausted and sleepy, so he lay down on the grass to sleep. The large yellow dog, which had almost had its tail fur pulled out by Shi Hao, grabbed him and gently carried him to the stone bed inside. Li Yi closed the door and windows, pulled the cart from under the stone table, and took a deep breath. He could feel his excitement building up, and his heart was racing. He took some of the beast hides from the pile and stuffed them into the cart. 35 points, sell? After confirming the sale, his energy points quickly rose to 57. He pulled out a few more hides and stuffed them into the cart. 32 points, sell? This time, the number of hides was more than last time, but the price was lower. It seemed that these hides weren¡¯t as valuable as the previous ones. It seemed his earlier meat was also quite valuable in this world. After finishing the transaction, he had a total of 455 energy points. No One Knows Better Than Me Li Yi was holding four bottles of Wangzai Milk. However, the labels were blank, with most of the text removed. Even the ingredient list and the place of manufacture were missing¡ªbasically, it was a no-name product. The packaging was similar to Wangzai Milk, with its festive red color and the large-eyed doll on the front. Next to the milk, there was a clay jar filled with a mixture of spices. This was the seasoning for barbecues, though it was priced much lower than the white salt. It seemed that some of the spices here could also be obtained. The price was still quite high, likely because salt had also been included in the mixture. He put the items down and took a scroll from the cart. On it was a picture of an old man standing at a podium, waving his hands and shouting, "No one knows better than me..." After purchasing the item, Li Yi understood how it worked, but he hadn¡¯t used it yet. This item was a bit of a gamble, based on probability. If he got lucky, he could gain a powerful ability. But if it turned out to be something like, "Every year on August 24th at 3:15 PM, when it rains heavily, you¡¯ll find five dollars at the market in Zhaoyang District," then it would be completely useless. He shook off the thought, walked outside, washed his face with a basin of water, and then went over to the "Willow God" statue, hands clasped together as he silently prayed, "Willow God, please bless me. Even if I don¡¯t get a powerful skill, at least give me something useful. Don¡¯t let it be like I thought it would be." After completing the ritual, he went back inside and stood in front of the stone table. He tore open the scroll, raised his hands, and shouted, "No one knows better than me about barbecuing." He froze for a moment after saying it, realizing that the skill he had acquired wasn¡¯t as impressive as he had hoped. It was clearly about barbecuing, but that was all it did. At least it was something, though it was a bit disappointing to spend fifty energy points on it. Li Yi wasn¡¯t too upset, though. After all, the things he purchased were random, and his energy points were plentiful. If he didn¡¯t use them, they would be wasted. The task on the book also said his earnings would be counted based on the total funds from trading, so it didn¡¯t matter if he spent all his energy points or not. As long as he kept making trades, it would still count as earning. With that in mind, Li Yi decided to try to spend as many energy points as possible. He grabbed two pieces of refined iron and walked over to the village to trade some meat for lunch, intending to test out his new barbecuing skills.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. By now, many households in the village were preparing lunch, with smoke rising from chimneys all around. Shi Yunfeng, along with several other elders, was still gathered together, studying the book. They had no time for lunch. Shi Hao, of course, couldn¡¯t get any milk since no one was cooking, but he wouldn¡¯t go hungry. With so many households in the village, he could easily grab a bite here and there. Li Yi walked up to Shi Linhu¡¯s house. Shi Linhu was busy preparing supplies. Many of the strong men in the village were also preparing for another hunting trip. Although the meat from the previous hunt was more than enough for the next ten days or so, Shi Yunfeng had instructed that, since they had already received a huge favor by being given the book, they should try to repay the debt as soon as possible. Shi Linhu didn¡¯t really understand what "money" was, but he figured it had something to do with skins, beast bones, and perhaps the like. So, the logical next step was to go hunting again to gather more. "Give me some meat," Li Yi said, tossing the two pieces of iron at Shi Linhu. Shi Linhu caught the iron with ease, immediately noticing that the material was much better than what they usually had. Instinctively, he brought it to his mouth and bit down, surprised by its superior quality. Shi Village had some iron tools, but the iron ore was scarce, and their refining techniques were limited, so their weapons were not very high quality. They had to rely on the size and weight of their tools to hunt the fierce beasts. Shi Linhu knew the iron Li Yi had brought was of high quality. Although it couldn¡¯t be made into large weapons due to its size, even small items like arrowheads would make hunting easier. However, he couldn¡¯t accept it. Since he had already agreed to take care of Li Yi¡¯s food and lodging, it wouldn¡¯t make sense to accept more goods now. "I can¡¯t take this," Shi Linhu said, trying to hand the iron back. Li Yi sighed. The people of Shi Village were so simple and honest. But that honesty was precisely why he felt safe making such large trades with them. "Take it, just take it. Don¡¯t give it back to me," Li Yi insisted, grabbing a piece of meat from the drying rack nearby. The meat wasn¡¯t fresh, but it had been dried for just a day, so it wasn¡¯t too tough. It was fine for barbecuing. Li Yi quickly got to work, setting up a barbecue stand by cutting a few branches and lighting a fire. As the flames rose, he started grilling the meat, occasionally sprinkling some of the spices into the fire. The smell of the roasting meat soon filled the entire village, drawing Shi Hao over. He was eagerly watching the meat cook, occasionally swallowing saliva. If Li Yi hadn¡¯t warned him that the meat wasn¡¯t cooked yet, he might have grabbed it and eaten it raw. Not only Shi Hao but many other villagers were drawn in by the aroma. They were accustomed to stews and simple dishes, but barbecuing was a rare luxury. The meat usually didn¡¯t taste as good when grilled, especially because the salt they used was bitter and harsh. The meat would often taste even worse, so they preferred stews. However, watching Li Yi roast the meat and seeing how incredibly delicious it smelled made them reconsider their assumptions about barbecuing. Bonfire Party In Shi Village, there was no fixed dining area. Many adults would squat in a corner and chat with their neighbors. Those who were a bit older would find a sunny spot, while many of the women gathered to gossip. Of course, the most important part was the children. Each child had a large bowl filled with meat and vegetables. They would gather with their friends, exchanging food, saying "Try mine," and "I''ll try yours." The delicious aroma from Li Yi¡¯s cooking attracted many children. They stood at a distance holding their bowls, watching. Since Li Yi was still a bit of a stranger to them, they felt shy and didn¡¯t approach directly. It wasn¡¯t just the children¡ªmany adults were also drawn by the scent, but they didn¡¯t have the courage to come closer. Li Yi added more spices to the meat, and the scent burst into the air once again. The meat was almost cooked. The sizzling sound of fat dripping onto the charcoal, accompanied by the juices sizzling, was utterly delightful. Many of the children swallowed their saliva in secret, and the adults weren¡¯t much better. Whether it was the spices or the salt, everyone was eager to taste the meat. Li Yi felt like he had mastered the process effortlessly. Even though the ingredients were simple, the meat was still delicious. "Try this," he said, handing a skewer to Shi Hao. He also moved the wood around, reducing the fire¡¯s intensity. Li Yi took a skewer for himself. The pieces of meat were large¡ªeach piece weighed about three to four ounces. The meat had been partially dried, and though it had shrunk a little during roasting, it wasn¡¯t as bad as he had imagined. He took a bite. Though it had been dried, the juices were still rich and flavorful, with a unique taste. It was delicious¡ªvery, very delicious. He never imagined he could make something this tasty. Li Yi wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with cooking. After all, he had lived alone for years and had worked in kitchens and barbecue stalls to earn tuition and living expenses. His cooking skills were better than most ordinary people. But even so, he knew that he had never made anything this good before. The meat was delicious, and Shi Hao wasn¡¯t afraid of the heat. He devoured the skewer like a hungry wolf. Li Yi handed him another skewer. The little guy still had an appetite. Shi Linhu walked over at that moment. He had never thought that he would be drooling over something like this. Shi Village was poor, but he never went hungry; he could always eat enough and stay warm. There were some animals in the forest with really good meat, but nothing that made him salivate uncontrollably. It felt like when you¡¯ve decided to lose weight and you go out for a run, but halfway through you smell roasted lamb skewers from a stall. The aroma of charcoal, the scent of oil, and the natural spices all burst together.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Your mind tells you not to eat after your run, but your body doesn¡¯t listen. Instead, it starts salivating like crazy, telling you that you need food, that you need to eat. That¡¯s exactly how Shi Linhu felt right now. He couldn¡¯t resist anymore and went over to Li Yi. The main reason was that the meat was from Li Yi¡¯s home, and they were familiar with each other. So he had no shame in going over. As soon as he arrived, a few of the strong men in the village watched from the side. Li Yi saw him and quickly pulled a skewer off the grill and handed it to him. Shi Linhu wanted to be polite, but before he could say anything, his hand had already grabbed the skewer. Shi Hao had already eaten three skewers and was full, though he kept trying to eat more. He burped repeatedly and couldn¡¯t eat anymore. He got up, patted his round belly, and said, "I¡¯m full." At that moment, he spotted a bright red bird not far away, hopping around, chirping excitedly. He quickly ran over to chase it. Shi Linhu took a bite of the meat, and immediately, tears welled up in his eyes. He felt like the first thirty years of his life had been wasted. He had never tasted anything so delicious before. He was happily eating alone, while the men watching from a distance muttered curses. They thought it was unfair that he was enjoying the food while ignoring them. But Shi Linhu couldn¡¯t care less. He was too focused on the taste. The more he ate, the more he wanted. The pieces of meat were big, so there weren¡¯t many skewers. He ate one, and then three more, leaving none for the others. Li Yi hadn¡¯t expected Shi Linhu to gobble up so many skewers. When Shi Linhu had finished, he realized just how much he had eaten. His face turned red, and he was embarrassed. He wanted to hide. "I¡¯ll go get more meat," he said, turning and running off. Soon, he returned with a large amount of meat. Not only him, but a group of thirty or so strong men followed behind him. Shi Linhu tried to hide in the back, ashamed, and the others didn¡¯t dare ask Li Yi directly for any more meat. They were embarrassed because they hadn¡¯t even tasted the meat themselves. All they could do was look at the delicious food. Li Yi saw the men standing around, and he figured that if he didn¡¯t say something, they would stand there until nightfall, waiting for him to offer more. "Come on, lend a hand," Li Yi said, standing up and directing them to set up the barbecue racks and cut the meat. With so many people helping, the work went quickly. Soon, several barbecue racks were set up, and many skewers were prepared. Fortunately, they had enough meat, or else even if everyone only had one skewer, it might not have been enough. Li Yi also had them add some wild vegetables and flatbread to the skewers, grilling them alongside the meat. By the time the meat was cooked, it was already evening. The scene now resembled a bonfire party. When Shi Yunfeng and the other elders came outside, they were stunned by the sight. They had been so absorbed in studying the book that they hadn¡¯t noticed the time. Their research had been so intense that they had only skimmed through the contents of the book. Now, as they carefully put the book away and stepped outside, they saw the villagers gathered around, enjoying the barbecue. They hadn¡¯t figured out exactly what was happening yet. Someone handed them skewers of meat and grilled vegetables. At first, they hadn¡¯t noticed their hunger. They had been so focused on their research. But now, as the delicious food reached their mouths, they realized how hungry they were. The meat tasted so good that they forgot all about their questions. Brother, Your Home... Its Very Beautiful As the last bit of darkness from the night disappeared, the sun slowly rose from the horizon. The once quiet Shi Village seemed to come alive all at once. Li Yi stretched lazily, feeling the energy that had been nourishing his internal organs overnight. After a full night¡¯s sleep, it had completely absorbed into his body. Logically, he should be able to cultivate in this world, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have any cultivation methods. Not only did he not have them, but neither did anyone else in the village. If it weren¡¯t for the Willow God, Shi Hao might never have had the chance to begin his cultivation journey. Li Yi knew that the Willow God took Shi Hao as a disciple because she was gradually absorbing the spiritual remnants of the god beneath Shi Village. As part of that, she wanted to compensate the village by taking Shi Hao in. Li Yi didn¡¯t think that by flexing his muscles, the Willow God would accept him as a disciple too, so for now, he couldn¡¯t cultivate in the traditional sense. He could only focus on strengthening his physical body. Cultivation was something to think about slowly, and maybe one day, he would get lucky and refresh a cultivation method. On the stone table in front of him, there were already several items. Some fine iron, a piece of a fierce beast''s bone, and four bottles of Wangzai Milk. He opened the small cart beneath him, praying that today¡¯s refresh would yield some good items. Items Refreshed: Looking at the last item, Li Yi immediately knew who he wanted to use it on. After a few days of refreshing and purchasing, Li Yi had gradually figured out the pattern. The first few items usually consisted of daily necessities. Then came more useful items that would generally enhance his abilities. As for special items, they had only refreshed twice, and their effects were clear. Though the last ability he obtained wasn¡¯t very useful, it did prove that these items had potential. Li Yi bought everything except for the "Brother, Your Home... It''s Very Beautiful" item. He quickly bought everything else, leaving that item for later. The salt jar, which looked very similar to the wine jar but much larger, had a mud seal on the opening. The pills were stored in a jade bottle that was beautifully crafted¡ªsmooth, transparent, and a lovely green color. He opened the jade bottle, took one of the pills, and swallowed it. Immediately, he felt a wave of warmth spread through his body. There was no cracking sound from his bones, but he could feel the warmth spreading through him, making him feel comfortable and relaxed.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He pushed open the door. Shi Hao was standing nearby. He lived with Shi Yunfeng, and every morning, he drank fresh beast milk. Li Yi drank the milk, and although he could feel the effects, it wasn¡¯t as good as before. Even though today¡¯s ingredients might have been more precious, the effect wasn¡¯t as strong as the first time. It seemed that strengthening the body followed the law of diminishing returns¡ªthe higher the level, the harder it was to improve. Even more concerning, he had a vague sense that his limits were quite low. He needed to improve quickly. After just two medicinal baths, his body had already surpassed the growth of these children who had been strengthening their bodies for years. The issue was that the methods were fundamentally different. The children were laying the foundation for later growth, while Li Yi was trying to improve directly at an older age. It was like building a house. The children were building their foundation and would later be able to reach greater heights. Li Yi, on the other hand, was already trying to build on the ground, which was faster at the start, but the structure might collapse once it reached a certain height. Shi Hao had finished his medicine and didn¡¯t act the same as last time. His effect was shorter this time. Now, he was running around like a little animal, climbing walls, jumping onto trees, tearing off roof tiles, chasing chickens, teasing dogs, and bullying cows. Li Yi sighed to himself, thinking that life in Shi Village was tough. Only the villagers'' kindness allowed them to tolerate such antics. If this were another place, they wouldn¡¯t stand for it. Shi Yunfeng had prepared the daily beast milk for Shi Hao and then turned to leave. He and the other elders were still studying the book. They hadn¡¯t gotten far, and there was much left to explore. Li Yi immediately stopped him. "This bone, when ground into powder and added to weapons during forging, will enhance their durability and sharpness. These iron pieces are excellent. Keep them for now. These things aren¡¯t worth much. With them, hunting fierce beasts will be easier." Shi Yunfeng originally wanted to refuse, but after hearing Li Yi¡¯s words, he found no reason to turn him down. Li Yi was right; with these materials, their weapons would be stronger and they could hunt beasts more effectively, helping them repay their debt faster. Li Yi wasn¡¯t asking for money. Instead, he hoped the stronger weapons would make hunting easier, which would result in more profit. Shi Yunfeng silently accepted the items and instructed his men to forge the weapons. He knew that the skins Li Yi had brought into the house were already gone, but he didn¡¯t ask any questions. As someone strong enough to travel through the vast wilderness, it was normal for Li Yi to have his own secrets. Shi Yunfeng respected that and didn¡¯t pry. Li Yi had been very kind to the villagers, but that didn¡¯t mean they could take advantage of him. He quietly trusted them and decided to help them get stronger by providing these materials. With the fine iron and the beast bone, Shi Yunfeng would be able to forge better weapons for the village. Li Yi was prepared to give them whatever they needed, as long as it helped them survive. Shi Yunfeng, excited by the possibility of better weapons, hurried to give the orders for forging. He also knew that with the materials Li Yi had provided, they could make arrows and possibly even some other weapons. This would allow the village to hunt more effectively in the coming days, and the next hunt could take place in just two or three days. After sending the materials, he was back to studying the book. He was determined to fully understand it. The book contained important information on the weaknesses of fierce beasts, how to attract them, how to poison them, and what herbs to combine with their blood for optimal results. The knowledge from this book was essential for survival in the wild. Shi Yunfeng felt excited, knowing that if they followed the instructions, they could strengthen the village¡¯s future generations. Wangzai Milk, Shi Haos Favorite Li Yi held a bottle of Wangzai Milk, watching as Shi Hao, who had gradually calmed down and stopped destroying tree bark, leaves, fences, and furniture, looked at him. He gently waved his hand. "Come here, little one. I have something good for you." Upon hearing this, Shi Hao immediately sprinted over. After spending the last few days with Li Yi, he had realized one thing: Li Yi could produce a lot of delicious food. So, upon hearing his call, Shi Hao dashed over. He was very fast, and in just a few steps, he reached Li Yi. He raised his head high, looking at the rectangular red item in Li Yi''s hand. There was a plump, white doll printed on it. It looked nice, and the doll resembled him a little, though he had no idea how it would taste. Li Yi opened the packaging, inserted a straw, and handed the Wangzai Milk to Shi Hao. Shi Hao, without any instruction, immediately grabbed it and began sucking. After just one sip, he instantly fell in love with the taste. "So sweet, so fragrant, so delicious!" Frankly speaking, compared to the beast milk Shi Hao usually drank, Wangzai Milk might not have much nutritional value, nor would it help him build a foundation for strength. But there was one undeniable fact: it was truly delicious. This was something that couldn''t be ignored¡ªit was the triumph of industrial society over agricultural society. Wangzai Milk contained many food additives designed to enhance its taste and texture. These additives didn''t exist in this era, making it an overwhelming treat for Shi Hao. Even something as simple as instant noodle seasoning mixed with water could produce a high-quality broth, although they didn''t know what MSG was; they only recognized freshness. Shi Hao quickly finished the entire bottle, and learned to tear open the packaging with his mouth, licking it clean and carefully saving the packaging. Even in a world without any dyeing techniques, this packaging was a bright spot in the Stone Village. With longing eyes, Shi Hao continued to gaze at Li Yi, eager for more milk. "Do you want more, little one?" Li Yi asked with a smile. After asking, he suddenly felt like a strange older man. "Mm-hmm!" Shi Hao nodded furiously, his gaze never leaving the Wangzai Milk.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Li Yi took his small chubby hand and led him inside. Inside, Li Yi had already prepared something. He had a rectangular wooden board with many characters carved on it¡ªsimplified Chinese characters, which no one else in this time could read except for him. The note read: "I, Shi Hao, hereby borrow two bottles of Li Yi''s Wangzai Milk, to be repaid in the future with one hundred purebred beast bodies and ten pieces of treasure artifacts. No empty promises¡ªthis contract is a witness." In the lower-right corner, Shi Hao''s name was written. Li Yi pulled him over, dipped a burned twig into ink, and stamped Shi Hao''s handprint onto the wooden board. With satisfaction, Li Yi nodded at his work. "Come on, little Shi Hao. Drink your milk." He said, handing him two more bottles of milk. Although Shi Hao didn¡¯t understand the writing on the board, he didn¡¯t care and quickly grabbed the milk again, sucked it down greedily. Li Yi initially thought of writing more, but after considering it, he decided not to burden Shi Hao too much. He lowered the repayment requirements, since a hundred purebred beast bodies would be relatively easy for Shi Hao to acquire in the future. He thought about writing something extravagant, like the Daluo Immortal Sword or the Five-Colored Battle Chariot, but decided against it. After all, those items belonged to Shi Hao, and taking them could cause complications. Instead, he opted for something more practical¡ªsomething he could settle for. Li Yi chuckled to himself, thinking how Shi Hao¡¯s future might be quite tragic, but meeting him could be a turning point. Li Yi hoped he could make some changes and help Shi Hao. "Come here, little one. Let me show you something interesting." Li Yi took out another item from his cart, a scroll. It depicted a person pointing at another person and saying, "Today, let''s go visit my brother¡¯s house... it¡¯s beautiful!" After purchasing it, Li Yi already knew how to use it. The most powerful aspect of this item was not just that it allowed him to take anything from someone else''s house, but that it forced a brotherly bond between him and the other person. What is a brother? A brother shares good fortune and bad times alike. It sounds easy, but is incredibly difficult to establish. Li Yi hesitated for a moment before using the item to make Shi Hao his brother. Although it was clearly dangerous, Li Yi figured it was a gamble worth taking. The potential benefits far outweighed the risks. If it worked out, he would gain much, including possible access to powerful cultivation techniques in the future. "Shi Hao." "Mm." "Brother." "Mm." At this moment, Shi Hao still didn¡¯t have a proper name, but Li Yi thought that would come soon enough. As long as Shi Hao agreed, the bond would continue to deepen. "Your Supreme Bone is very beautiful." "Huh?" Shi Hao looked up, vaguely sensing that the Supreme Bone might be something important, but not fully understanding it. Still, with a delicious bottle of milk in his hand, he didn¡¯t focus too much on it. As he slowly drank, he didn''t realize how much trust and reliance he was starting to place in Li Yi, instinctively seeing him as a trustworthy and reliable companion¡ªhis brother. People Cant Be Compared Li Yi finished the last sip of milk. After so long without drinking it, he was pleasantly surprised by how good Wangzai Milk tasted. Shi Hao, on the other hand, was conflicted, staring at the bottle of milk in his hand, lifting it up and putting it down, repeatedly. Eventually, it seemed like he made up his mind. He carefully ran to the house and hid the bottle of milk in what he thought was the safest spot. Out of sight, out of mind¡ªhe figured that if it wasn¡¯t in his hands, he wouldn''t keep obsessing over it. Of course, every so often, he would go and check on it, ensuring it was still there. Li Yi found it amusing to watch. It reminded him of his own childhood when he would hide something delicious and worry about it disappearing, checking on it constantly. Li Yi could already feel that he was growing closer to Shi Hao. A sense of trust was building between them. As the user of the item, Li Yi didn¡¯t feel the same bond Shi Hao did, but he understood that once you know someone regards you as their brother, even if it¡¯s just in their mind, it creates a bond. Shi Hao trusted him and was someone Li Yi could trust as well, which naturally fostered a sense of closeness. Li Yi took out a pill and swallowed it. This time, he could feel more clearly the effects on his body. It was as if there was a slight itching sensation inside his bones, but it wasn¡¯t too intense. "Little one," Li Yi called, and Shi Hao immediately ran over. "Eat this," Li Yi handed him the last pill. Shi Hao didn''t hesitate and swallowed it right away. Unlike the fierce effects of beast blood, this pill¡¯s effect was gentler, slowly strengthening his bones. After taking this one, Shi Hao would likely grow a little taller tomorrow. Once Shi Hao had taken the pill, Li Yi left the house and found a quiet spot to test his physical data. He wasn¡¯t aiming for precision but at least wanted a rough estimate. Although he lacked precise equipment, he could make a good guess based on his own abilities. He recalled some world records: the world record for the standing long jump was 4.43 meters, the high jump was 2.45 meters, the fastest 100-meter sprint was 9.58 seconds, and the world record for the clean and jerk was over 260 kilograms. He remembered most of these data points clearly, though he didn¡¯t have exact figures for everything.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. A cubic meter of stone weighs approximately 2.9 tons. The stone in front of him weighed roughly a third of a cubic meter, which meant it was about 700 to 800 kilograms. Li Yi approached the stone, took a deep breath, and grabbed it. It was heavy, very heavy, but not beyond his ability to lift. Slowly, he rose with the stone, every muscle in his body groaning under the strain. He didn¡¯t dare breathe too deeply, worried it would sap his strength. His face turned red, but he managed to lift it. The world clean and jerk record was 260 kilograms. Li Yi¡¯s strength had surpassed the human limits in this regard. He had no technique, and the stone wasn¡¯t like a dumbbell that had a handle, making it harder to grip. With just a bit of training, he could lift more than he just did. Next, he tested his jumping abilities. Even with rough estimates, he could jump at least 6 meters in a standing long jump. With a running start, he could easily clear 12 to 13 meters. For a vertical jump, he could jump about 2.5 to 3 meters. With a sprint, he could jump up to 5 meters. As for his sprinting speed, he couldn¡¯t test it exactly since he didn¡¯t have professional equipment. But even without detailed measurements, he knew he was far superior to average humans on Earth. Of course, in this world, he couldn¡¯t yet surpass the strength of ordinary villagers in Stone Village. In fact, if compared to the children of the village, Li Yi was only slightly stronger. In the original story, a child at the age of 10 was able to lift a 500-kilogram cauldron. That put Li Yi¡¯s own strength into perspective. Even for Stone Village''s adult men, having a strength of 5,000 to 6,000 kilograms was considered normal. People really couldn¡¯t be compared to each other. The men of Stone Village could easily handle tasks that would be impossible for an ordinary person on Earth. And when it came to Shi Hao, at the age of six, he could already lift 50 tons. Li Yi had a rough estimate of his physical condition but had no intention of testing beyond his limits. He felt his strength had reached an impressive point compared to humans, but he was far from the truly exceptional individuals in this world. Afterward, he quickly washed himself off, as he was keen to test the potential of the items he had obtained. Stone Linhu and the others were busy working on forging, and the iron he gave them was of good quality. Though some impurities might make their weapons less than perfect, they would still be very effective. Another day passed. Li Yi got up early to check what new items had been refreshed today. His luck from the past two days had apparently run out, as the new items were not as impressive: The prices seemed reasonable, so he bought both. His energy points dropped to 150. He needed to find more items to sell. Li Yi knew he couldn¡¯t stay in Stone Village forever. Even though the villagers were kind, he needed to expand his horizons. For now, though, he decided it was best to stay put. The wilderness outside was too dangerous, and the villagers needed to focus on their upcoming hunt. With that, Stone Linhu led the hunting team for their ritual, praying for protection from the spirits so that they could return safely from their hunt. The Second Medicinal Bath Li Yi sat in a high spot, watching the first rays of the rising sun, feeling the life force of the world stirring. He had been observing the elders of Stone Village, including Shi Yunfeng, who would meditate each morning to absorb the energy of the heavens and earth. After two days of watching, Li Yi decided to try it himself in a quiet spot, and to his surprise, he felt a surge of energy enter his body as the sun''s rays warmed him. However, perhaps due to his lack of knowledge, he wasn''t sure how to absorb the energy effectively. The energy circled through his body but left again. He wondered if there was a method to store it within himself¡ªhe was certain it would benefit him greatly. Unfortunately, neither he nor anyone in the village had any method of cultivating such energy. The practice of meditating to absorb the energy from the heavens was something passed down through generations, but it was limited to only doing so at sunrise. He thought perhaps he should try meditating under the moonlight to see what effect that might have. Meanwhile, Stone Linhu led the hunting team into the mountains, each member carrying a small wooden board inscribed with words, a method derived from Shi Yunfeng''s studies. The book they had found provided detailed information about the behaviors, habits, and weaknesses of the savage beasts of the Great Wasteland. It also included advice on plants that could attract certain beasts and the types of traps that could be set. The team¡¯s purpose was not only to hunt but also to verify the accuracy of the book''s information. Back in the village, Li Yi drank a large bowl of beast bone powder mixed with various herbs. He could feel his power increasing, but the rate of progress was slowing. Though it was still fast, it was approaching its limit. The Strong Bone Strengthening Pills he had taken earlier had solidified his foundation, but even with that, the increase in strength was slowing. On the other hand, Shi Hao was progressing at a rapid pace¡ªthough he was still building his foundation, his growth surpassed Li Yi¡¯s. After finishing his beast milk, Li Yi went to a secluded spot to exercise, hoping to speed up the absorption of the medicine. Shi Hao joined him, and over the past few days, they had grown close, their bond deepened by the use of the items. While they weren''t quite life-and-death companions, their relationship was certainly one of mutual trust and support.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As evening approached, the hunting team returned, bringing an unexpected bounty. Where they had once been fortunate to bring back one beast with savage blood, this time they had seven! Among them was a beast with the blood of a Pi Xiu, a mythical creature known for its strength and ferocity. "This was the easiest hunt of my life," one of the hunters said, amazed by the results. "We mixed a couple of herbs together, and the beast just ate it right up." The hunters couldn¡¯t believe how easy it had been. Previously, every hunt had been a life-threatening endeavor, but now, with just a mix of herbs and fruits, they had captured a large number of beasts without any struggle. The entire village erupted in celebration. Shi Yunfeng and the other elders were especially pleased. Without the book, they would never have known how easy it could be to hunt. They were filled with even greater gratitude towards Li Yi, realizing that this one book had brought immense benefit to their village. As the hunting team celebrated, the beasts were slaughtered, their blood used in a ritual to honor the spirits. Despite the fact that the spirits hadn''t absorbed any blood for years, the villagers still made their offerings, understanding that honoring the spirits was important, regardless of whether they received the blood. Shi Yunfeng then called for all the children to be brought forward to undergo another medicinal bath, one that would be even more intense than the last. The bath would contain more beast blood and less water, enhancing its effect. The children, of course, tried to avoid it, but their fathers had used the same methods on them in the past. Soon enough, they were all brought to the medicinal bath. As the children cried and struggled, Li Yi, seeing Shi Hao in the bath, decided to join him. The moment he stepped into the bath, the intense pain hit him like needles stabbing his body. At first, he couldn''t bear it, but soon his body became numb. Shi Hao, who was happy to see him join, wobbled around in the bath, unable to stay still. Li Yi, seeing his struggle, took his hands and helped him sit calmly in the bath. The second medicinal bath was brutal, but it was a necessary process for the children and Li Yi to enhance their strength, pushing them closer to their physical limits. The Cultivation Method Li Yi sat in the medicinal bath, feeling almost nothing at this point. It was as if the sounds and actions around him were growing distant, despite being so close. The beast blood was being absorbed little by little into his body¡ªthis was the true strength-enhancing medicine. It was a complete and rapid enhancement without any side effects, the only drawback being the intense pain. But as long as he could endure it, it wasn''t much of an issue. His body slowly began to regain sensation. He didn''t feel the pain anymore, though he knew that it might still be there, just numbed by his body. He anticipated that once his senses returned fully, the pain would become more acute. Just as he thought about this, the pain surged in like a wave. Meanwhile, Shi Yunfeng was organizing the processing of the massive pile of beast bodies they had accumulated from the hunt. "Dry the meat that needs to be dried, and salt the rest. For the next few days, everyone in the village will eat nothing but meat," he ordered. The villagers had been living off wild fruits, coarse bread, and wild vegetables. Meat was a rare commodity, only available to the children who were still growing. But now, the results of the hunt were far greater than usual, so the villagers would be able to feast on meat for the next several days. When Li Yi had absorbed the last of the medicinal power, he jumped out of the bath, picked up Shi Hao, and slung him over his shoulder. Shi Hao, already in a daze, didn''t know if he was still in pain or just groggy from the beast milk he had consumed. The other children were also taken out of the medicinal bath by their parents, and the remaining beast blood was poured into a large cauldron to be boiled into a medicinal concoction for healing. This blood, especially when used for treating wounds, was invaluable. The next morning, Li Yi awoke to find Shi Hao holding onto his hand. After a tiring night of absorbing the medicinal power, Li Yi was too sore to move much, so he and Shi Hao had ended up sleeping on the same bed. Shi Hao, lying there, looked peaceful¡ªhis small face round and soft, his lips slightly parted as his long eyelashes fluttered in his sleep.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Li Yi gently freed his hand from Shi Hao''s grip and opened the door to find two jars of beast blood, three beast bones (one of which had been inscribed with runes), some animal pelts, and several more beast skins. These were the most valuable remains of the beasts that Stone Village had hunted, and the village had no objections about the exchange. Li Yi''s contribution with the book had made the hunt much more successful than usual, and the villagers were grateful for his help. After selling the animal pelts and bones, Li Yi had earned a substantial amount of energy points. He then opened his shopping cart and found several items available for purchase: a type of tea called Iron Goddess, a few strengthening pills, a cultivation method called Blood Transfer Realm, and a speed-enhancing talisman. Li Yi was especially interested in the cultivation method, as it seemed to offer an immediate solution for his physical growth. The method was imprinted in his mind the moment he purchased it, making it feel almost like he had already known it all along. The Blood Transfer Realm method, if practiced to its extreme, would grant him immense strength¡ªaround 54,000 pounds of power. While this seemed impressive, he couldn¡¯t help but feel small compared to Stone Hao, who had already surpassed this limit by the age of six. The Blood Transfer Realm wasn''t the only thing on Li Yi''s mind, though. The God Speed talisman, while mysterious, was another potential tool to enhance his abilities. Despite not being able to fully understand the inscription on the talisman, Li Yi knew it could be useful for improving his speed. He was eager to test it out when the opportunity arose. Li Yi then called Shi Hao, who had just woken up. "Come here," he called, and Shi Hao immediately ran over, eager to help. "Go get two jars of beast milk. I''m going to make some milk tea," Li Yi instructed. Shi Hao, unfamiliar with milk tea, didn''t question and quickly ran off to fetch the milk. The day was just beginning, and Li Yi had already set his sights on improving his physical capabilities and expanding his influence. The possibilities were limitless, and with each step, he was moving closer to his goal. Tea Leaves The aroma of milk mixed with the scent of tea leaves continuously wafted from the pot in front of Li Yi. Holding a wooden spoon, he occasionally stirred the mixture. He had decided to make milk tea using Iron Goddess tea leaves, though he wasn''t sure how it would turn out. After all, tea leaves were tea leaves, and even if there were slight differences, they probably wouldn''t affect the taste much. Unfortunately, he didn''t have any tapioca pearls; otherwise, he would have made bubble tea. Shi Hao crouched nearby, eagerly inhaling the fragrant air. The smell was not only of milk but also of sweetness. Li Yi had added plenty of sugar to the milk tea, knowing that sugar could bring happiness. Shi Hao, already holding a small bowl, kept his eyes fixed on the pot, not taking them off the milk tea. He was used to drinking milk, but this was the first time he was drinking milk brewed with leaves. Curious, he had secretly tasted a leaf earlier and found it bitter and unpleasant. After a while, Li Yi poured the tea into a bowl and handed it to Shi Hao. Although it wasn''t quite the same as true milk tea, the taste was still delightful. Shi Hao didn''t mind how hot it was and quickly drank it all, savoring the sweetness. His eyes squinted with pleasure, and a smile spread across his face, making him look adorable with his dimples. Stone Yunfeng, who was nearby, was also attracted by the smell. As he approached, he noticed a large bag of tea leaves next to the milk pot. He crouched down slowly and asked, "Is this tea?" He was familiar with the concept of tea from his travels, though in Stone Village, tea was a luxury item only the clan leader or elders could afford on rare occasions. Stone Yunfeng had heard of tea but had never seen it before. Li Yi explained, "This is tea, what''s wrong?" He then poured a bowl of milk tea for Stone Yunfeng, who was initially hesitant but slowly took the bowl in his hands, carefully sipping the warm beverage. It was sweeter than he expected, and the milkiness made it quite pleasant. This wasn¡¯t the tea he had heard of, which was usually bitter at first and then became sweet.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "It''s good, isn''t it?" Li Yi asked as he poured the remaining tea from the pot. Stone Yunfeng felt a pang of regret at seeing the remaining tea leaves being discarded but didn¡¯t voice it. After all, it was Li Yi''s to do with as he pleased. "It''s really good. I can''t accept this, though. Tea is a luxury here," Stone Yunfeng replied, though he was clearly impressed. Li Yi understood his reluctance. Stone Yunfeng, like the rest of Stone Village, had a strong sense of dignity and would never accept something so valuable without paying it back in some form. "If you want more tea, just come and get it," Li Yi said, shrugging. He knew that no amount of persuasion would change the man''s principles. Shi Hao, curious about the tea leaves, reached for them to try making the same delicious drink. However, noticing Stone Yunfeng¡¯s gaze, he reluctantly put the tea leaves back into the bag. Li Yi stepped outside to find the village filled with the smell of meat. From this day forward, the entire Stone Village would eat meat three times a day¡ªstewed meat for breakfast, roasted meat for lunch, and stewed meat again for dinner. With so much meat available, the villagers had little reason to go hungry. The hunting team was sharpening their weapons, eager to go out again. The hunts had become much easier now, thanks to the traps and the mixed herbal concoctions that attracted the beasts. The villagers had learned to be cautious with the ingredients to avoid triggering a beast tide. But as long as they were careful with the proportions, hunting could be as easy as setting a few traps and waiting for the beasts to come. Li Yi ate a large bowl of meat, knowing that with his increasing strength, he would need more food. After finishing his meal, he found a quiet spot to begin practicing the cultivation technique he had learned. Chapter 16: First Cultivation Practice The "Wild Blood Moving Technique" is the simplest and most basic method for cultivating the Blood Moving realm. Li Yi followed the instructions in his mind and began mimicking the actions of the wild beasts. This technique is straightforward¡ªby copying the movements of these fierce creatures, he could strengthen his body and learn their methods of exerting force. During a medicinal bath, he could absorb a large amount of blood energy into his body. This energy would directly enhance his physical strength, and part of it would be stored for later use. The key benefit of cultivating in the Blood Moving realm is that it improves the efficiency of absorbing medicinal energy. Without the technique, he could only absorb a small portion of the medicinal energy, wasting most of it. But when the technique is used, he could absorb up to 90% of the energy, making his progress significantly faster. Without the need for such a technique, training only allowed him to accelerate the circulation of his blood, absorbing some of the energy from the sun and moon. However, the process was slow and inefficient, especially when compared to the efficiency of those in the Dongtian realm, who could absorb vast amounts of energy with ease. Li Yi was aware that, even though the technique was helpful, he was still far from mastering it. To truly advance, one needed more resources and proper cultivation methods. Although he was only at the Blood Moving stage, he was determined to focus on strengthening his body and not get ahead of himself by rushing into higher realms. While practicing, Li Yi ignored the spectators around him, focusing solely on his movements. Even though he was not hiding his actions, Stone Yunfeng, who had a little experience with cultivation, noticed and quickly instructed the villagers, especially the children, to move away. Watching someone cultivate without permission could be seen as an infringement on their privacy.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Li Yi didn¡¯t mind the audience. He had nothing to hide and didn¡¯t think anyone could truly steal his techniques. After completing his first cultivation session, Li Yi could feel the difference. The energy in his blood had been absorbed efficiently, and his body felt more powerful than before. He realized that cultivating this method wasn¡¯t particularly difficult¡ªit just required a constant supply of resources and effort. When he finished, he noticed that everyone had left, and only little Shi Hao remained, staring at the two caterpillars crawling on a nearby tree. Li Yi didn¡¯t pay much attention to it and continued his practice, as every second was valuable for maximizing the medicinal energy. After a while, he finished absorbing all the available energy, and he took a deep breath, feeling his internal organs stronger than before. This was the advantage of using a cultivation technique¡ªit accelerated the process of strengthening his body, starting with his skin, then bones, tendons, and finally his internal organs. The only downside was the slow speed, especially in terms of long-term growth, and the limited potential without more resources. Li Yi then decided that he would teach the cultivation technique to everyone in Stone Village. He believed that they were all in this together, and by sharing the method, the entire village would benefit. If the villagers trained, they would have a burst of growth in their strength, helping them hunt stronger beasts and become more powerful. This would lead to better trade opportunities and ultimately allow Li Yi to continue his own cultivation. Though his potential was limited by his age, Li Yi remained determined to push forward and get the most out of the resources he had. He knew that the best years for cultivation were already behind him, but he would do everything he could to maximize his progress. Later, when Shi Hao woke up, Li Yi told him to go gather the villagers because he was going to teach them the cultivation method. This was an extraordinary opportunity for Stone Village, and when Stone Yunfeng heard the news, he immediately rushed to inform the villagers. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and he could hardly contain his excitement. Chapter 17: Teaching the Cultivation Technique The crowd at the village square grew larger as Stone Yunfeng hurriedly ran to notify all the families. Whether it was the adult men from the hunting team or the children, everyone was gathered together. While the children didn''t understand what a cultivation technique was, they knew it was something incredibly important and valuable. They saw the serious expressions on their fathers'' faces, and they quietly stood in place, not daring to act out. By the time Li Yi arrived, there were already over a hundred villagers gathered, consisting of strong adult men and some children. They stood in a disorganized manner, but luckily, no one spoke up, so the situation remained manageable. "Everyone, spread out!" Li Yi called out, and the crowd looked to Stone Yunfeng for guidance before slowly dispersing. "I will teach you a cultivation method, called the Wild Blood Moving Technique. If you reach its peak, you will be able to wield 54,000 pounds of strength with a single swing of your arms," Li Yi announced. As soon as the words were spoken, a murmur erupted from the crowd. The idea of wielding such tremendous strength was astounding. For comparison, the strongest person in Stone Village could only manage about 1,500 pounds with a swing of their arms. "Silence!" Li Yi raised his voice, and the chatter ceased immediately. Standing behind him, Stone Yunfeng took advantage of the moment to discreetly signal to the villagers. "Master, we pay our respects," a chorus of voices called out. The response was uncoordinated and somewhat scattered, but it caught Li Yi off guard. Suddenly, every single person in front of him bowed deeply three times. Stone Yunfeng, seeing this, nodded in satisfaction, thankful for his prior instructions. In other tribes, when someone passed on a cultivation method, there was a formal ritual, where the disciples would kneel and serve tea. Though Li Yi was not formally accepting them as disciples, the courtesy of the ritual was still observed. After the bows, the crowd stood up straight and fixed their eyes on Li Yi. Despite some villagers being older than him, Li Yi had no qualms about being treated with respect. He had earned the right by sharing this valuable knowledge.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Watch me," Li Yi instructed. "I will perform an action, and you follow." He began to slowly perform the Wild Blood Moving Technique. His movements were deliberately slow to allow everyone to clearly see and understand. While the technique''s effect on him was minimal at the moment, as it was still in its infancy, the purpose was to demonstrate the technique for others rather than for his own cultivation. Shi Hao, though too young to practice, was still watching intently and attempting to imitate the movements. At just one and a half years old, he was not yet ready, but his ability to mimic was impressive. Watching the child easily imitate the actions left many of the adults feeling embarrassed. Here was a child mastering the technique faster than they could, and they struggled just to replicate the movements. Li Yi, undeterred, continued to demonstrate the movements one by one, explaining each step and encouraging the quicker learners to help guide the slower ones. Shi Hao was brought into the teaching process as well, further embarrassing the adults who found themselves being instructed by a toddler. Despite the embarrassment, the villagers were determined to learn. They practiced with zeal, knowing that gaining strength through this method could mean life or death in the wild. Their persistence paid off as the afternoon wore on. By the end of the day, many had mastered the full set of movements, and some had even managed to complete the entire sequence without error. Though their movements were still unrefined, they could feel their bodies absorbing the technique and becoming stronger. The children felt the effects most immediately. After completing the full set of movements, one child, who had previously struggled to lift a stone, found that he could now lift the same stone with ease. With this success, more villagers were able to complete the full sequence. The adults were amazed by the children''s progress, though they still struggled. While they didn''t speak up about it, it was clear they were puzzled as to why the children were advancing faster than they were. Li Yi noticed their curiosity and explained, "This technique isn''t difficult, but it requires a lot of medicinal blood baths from fierce beasts, as well as a diet rich in beast meat. You need to convert the energy from the food into strength." At these words, the hunters'' eyes gleamed. After learning about the habits of the fierce beasts in the wilderness, they realized that hunting had become much easier. What had once been a dangerous and arduous task was now much more manageable. With this technique, they were eager to take their bows and arrows and venture out into the wilderness once again. Chapter 18: Mass Hunting Li Yi was awoken from his sleep by the noise outside. He opened the door to see Stone Yunfeng leading many of the hunting team members in a ritual before the willow tree. The entire Stone Village hunting team had set out early, much earlier than usual. Normally, they would leave when the sky was fully bright, around seven or eight in the morning, but today, it was barely five. The early hour was chosen because, according to the book, many beasts in the mountains woke up at this time, making it the best time for hunting. In the past few days, the village women had gathered a significant amount of medicinal herbs, which had been mixed together. Some of the herbs needed to be fermented and prepared beforehand. This time, everyone in the village was fully committed to hunting more beasts and ferocious creatures, using their blood and meat for training to enhance their strength. With more strength, they would be able to hunt more powerful beasts next time, further improving their abilities. The only concern was whether they might encroach on the hunting grounds of other villages. Despite this worry, they weren¡¯t too concerned because they knew there were no other villages for miles in most directions. The Great Wilderness was vast, and the villages were like isolated islands in the sea. If they were lucky, a few villages could be near each other, but in other cases, a village could be the only one for hundreds of miles. The hunting team members disappeared into the vast mountains, their figures fading into the early morning mist. Li Yi was now wide awake. He opened his small cart to check what had refreshed today, but there was nothing of note¡ªjust some everyday items. He quickly set them aside as they weren¡¯t important. He took a solidifying pill and consumed it. Afterward, he began practicing the Wild Blood Moving Technique. This cultivation method, aside from body exercises, was particularly effective when combined with a medicinal bath. When in the medicinal cauldron, the technique would operate on its own, absorbing the medicinal energy to enhance the body, all while the body moved instinctively. When the medicinal energy was exhausted, the automatic operation of the technique would slow down. Each time this happened, Li Yi felt himself grow stronger, although he hadn¡¯t yet tested how far his power had increased. It was hard to quantify his strength exactly at this stage.
The hunting team returned unusually early this time, still hours before sunset. They had already decided to stop hunting because bringing back more prey would surpass their ability to carry it. Stone Village''s consumption of meat had skyrocketed, as nearly every person in the village was training and required more nourishment.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Stone Yunfeng led the team in a ritual to the willow spirit, though they didn¡¯t expect any response from the spirit, as it had never consumed their offerings. However, it continued to perform its role as protector of the village. After the ritual, they brought large cauldrons to the village. This time, all of the cauldrons were filled with a mixture of beast blood, including both ferocious beasts and wild animals, along with medicinal herbs and water. The cauldrons emitted not a pure white steam, but a reddish hue, as if the blood itself was battling in the air. The atmosphere felt intense and charged, a sign of powerful energy gathering. At that moment, the branches of the willow tree rustled, and the blood energy seemed to be pulled away, dispersing rapidly. Li Yi could feel that with the technique in operation, not only was he absorbing the energy from the blood faster, but the pain of it had diminished significantly. Many villagers, including their children, joined in the medicinal bath, instinctively operating the technique to absorb the medicinal power. The cries of the children were fewer this time. Those who cried were quickly silenced by stern looks from their fathers, causing most to quiet down. The adults felt the power increase within their bodies, growing rapidly. Years of accumulation were finally coming to fruition. Their strength soared in an instant, and by the next morning, they would likely find themselves much stronger than before. The medicinal bath this time was short but highly effective. As the medicinal energy was nearly depleted, the blood mixture had turned a pale red and lost much of its potency. The once-strong beast blood had been absorbed to the last drop, and what remained was now useless for medicinal purposes. The energy from the blood had all been transferred into the villagers¡¯ bodies. After the bath, many of the men felt a surge of energy and no longer wanted to sleep. They immediately tested their newfound strength by running to the open area and lifting stones to test their newfound abilities. Li Yi, having completed the technique, finally managed to get Shi Hao back into bed. Unlike last time when he was exhausted, this time he felt rejuvenated. Li Yi lay down on the bed, feeling a sense of fullness, not from eating but from the abundant energy within his body. The technique continued to work on its own, digesting the internal energy and nourishing his body. It was a pleasant feeling, knowing that with each passing moment, he was growing stronger. This kind of progress was tangible, not a gamble. Many people avoided effort because success wasn¡¯t guaranteed, but with such clear rewards, it was easy to stay motivated. The next morning, Li Yi woke up feeling like a new person. It was as if he had shed a layer of skin, and his muscles and bones had significantly changed. He felt full of energy, his body continuously improving. Stepping outside, he found that there was no more beast blood left, only bones, skins, and tendons. The last of the beast blood had been consumed in the medicinal baths. Chapter 19: Bai Ze Fruit Li Yi gathered all the materials inside the room. Though this batch was much larger than the last one, it still lacked the most valuable item¡ªbeast blood. Therefore, these items were not worth much, and collectively, they sold for only 217 points. With a total of 655 points, today¡¯s refresh yielded no special items, but some rare ones did appear, their prices notably higher. Li Yi suspected that his small cart might have a storage function: the more energy points he accumulated, the more valuable items it could generate. When his points were low, only ordinary items were refreshed. The day''s items included: By now, Li Yi had a rough understanding of how item values were determined in this world. The rarer and harder to find something was, the higher its price. For example, a book of cultivation techniques was likely worth less than a few bags of Wangzai milk candy or bottles of soda, due to their scarcity. In this world, books on cultivation techniques were common, but milk candy and soda were rare. A piece of high-quality beast skin could sell for more than 15 points, while a book of techniques might not even be able to fetch enough beast skins to match its value. He carefully examined the items. The Bai Ze fruit, about the size of an infant¡¯s fist, was completely white. Its taste resembled that of an apple¡ªcrisp and refreshing but without a seed. Li Yi ate one to see its effects. It was supposed to help with internal injuries and prolong life, but since he hadn''t suffered any serious injuries, he couldn¡¯t notice any immediate effects. He did feel his skin become smoother, though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was psychological.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Just then, he noticed movement at his window. Approaching cautiously, he saw a small hand slowly pulling open the window slit. It was Shi Hao, peeking through to see if Li Yi had decided yet whether to open the door. Upon catching sight of Li Yi staring at him, Shi Hao lost his footing and fell out of the window. Instinctively, Li Yi slammed the window shut and quickly reached out to catch him. Shi Hao, embarrassed, scratched his head and grinned. ¡°Big brother Yi, grandpa told me to ask if you¡¯re ready to eat.¡± Li Yi chuckled, setting him down on the bed. He tossed a Bai Ze fruit to Shi Hao. ¡°Here, eat this first.¡± Shi Hao, not waiting for permission, immediately devoured it. He had learned from being around Li Yi that if there was something good to eat, it was wise to grab it first. However, the fruit wasn¡¯t very tasty¡ªno strong flavor at all. Shi Hao instinctively rubbed his stomach afterward, feeling a warmth inside him. It felt as though something was growing, and it was happening quickly. Li Yi, observing him carefully, realized that Shi Hao had internal injuries from when his Supreme Bone had been taken. The Bai Ze fruit likely helped alleviate those injuries, possibly even aiding in the development of the second Supreme Bone inside him. Shi Hao''s body, which had once been weak and stunted, now seemed to be slowly changing. Li Yi could sense that the fruit was working on Shi Hao¡¯s injuries, and he saw the boy starting to develop a new strength within him. Shi Hao briefly felt a flash in his mind¡ªhe saw faces of people he couldn¡¯t remember meeting. One of the faces looked kindly, much like the village elder. He felt no sadness, but inexplicably, tears started to well up in his eyes. Fortunately, his attention shifted quickly as Li Yi handed him some milk candies, distracting him from his thoughts. As he chewed happily, his tears dried up. Li Yi, observing Shi Hao¡¯s innocent joy, couldn¡¯t help but wonder. If given the choice, Shi Hao would surely prefer a life of peace and happiness in the village, away from the harsh path fate had pushed him toward. He himself had arrived in this world with no choice, while Shi Hao was being steered down a solitary, difficult road. Li Yi could only hope that his arrival would bring about some change. As Shi Hao continued to eat his candy, Li Yi took the remaining Bai Ze fruit and walked toward the village''s willow tree, contemplating what steps to take next in this world. Chapter 20: The Acknowledgment of the Willow Spirit Li Yi stood before the large willow tree, observing its unique form. The tree¡¯s trunk was almost entirely black, with only one new bud sprouting from it, its leaves swaying gently in the breeze. If it weren¡¯t for that lone sprout, it would have been hard to distinguish it as a willow tree. Standing in front of it, Li Yi could sense the surrounding spiritual energy was denser than anywhere else, which explained why the people of Shicun often gathered here. However, despite the dense energy, it didn¡¯t significantly aid in cultivation. Over time, though, it could lead to a gradual change. Li Yi slowly held up the Bai Ze fruit in his hand and was about to place it at the base of the tree. A few people from the village tried to stop him, worried about provoking the spirit by offering something unworthy, but they watched in stunned silence as the fruit disappeared. It was the first time in many years that the Willow Spirit had accepted an offering. Li Yi wasn¡¯t surprised. The Bai Ze fruit, known for healing internal injuries and extending life, could certainly aid the spirit, especially considering the severity of its own hidden injuries. After the fruit disappeared, another tiny sprout appeared on the tree. It was small, but the moment was significant. Li Yi was startled by the sight, realizing that the fruit¡¯s effects were more profound than he had imagined. The villagers, however, were even more astonished. For years, their spirit had never accepted offerings, and now, a foreigner¡¯s gift had been accepted. Soon after, Shi Yunfeng arrived. He had been notified immediately of this unusual event. He regarded Li Yi with a peculiar expression, as if unsure about Li Yi¡¯s intentions. "Do you wish to join Shicun?" Shi Yunfeng asked in a serious tone.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Li Yi was caught off guard by the question, his mind running through the potential benefits and drawbacks of joining the village. It seemed like a good idea, given his current state¡ªhis strength was far from sufficient to survive outside, and joining the village didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t leave if he wished. He had also noticed that Shi Yunfeng had left the village for long periods, suggesting that joining didn¡¯t restrict one from leaving. After weighing his options, Li Yi nodded. Shi Yunfeng¡¯s face lit up with joy. He had thought that Li Yi might be hiding some deep, secret reasons for joining, but this straightforward decision was a relief. The spirit¡¯s acknowledgment meant that Li Yi was now considered part of Shicun, and it was a rare honor to be welcomed so. To join the village, men had to offer a tribute to the spirit first¡ªsomething that women didn¡¯t need to do. This was because men were seen as the main providers of strength and protection for the village. Shi Yunfeng rushed off to inform the others, as joining the village was a formal process. Though the most crucial step¡ªgaining the spirit¡¯s acknowledgment¡ªhad been completed, there were still rites and rituals that had to be observed. Li Yi, meanwhile, took the opportunity to eat his meal. By the time he finished, word had spread across the village, and preparations were underway for the ceremonies. As Li Yi wandered through the village afterward, he noticed that the villagers¡¯ behavior toward him had changed. Previously, many villagers had respected him but kept their distance, treating him like a guest. Now, however, they greeted him as one of their own. Children who had once shied away now eagerly ran up to him. The villagers, both adults and children, shared food with him without hesitation¡ªoffering it as if he were family, not a guest. Li Yi smiled as he walked through the village, accepting the food. It was a small but significant change, signaling his newfound place among the people of Shicun. The Ritual Dance Li Yi dug small holes, each about 15 centimeters deep, on the ground, and planted cabbage seeds in them. He didn¡¯t plant too many¡ªjust fifty seeds to observe how they would grow. After planting them, he watered them with well water, and whether they would survive or not depended on the vitality of the cabbage. He had never grown vegetables before, so he could only plant them this way and hope for the best. Li Yi was busy with his task, unaware that many people from the village were looking for him. It was mealtime, and since they couldn¡¯t find Li Yi to eat, several people had come to search for him. Previously, the villagers might have hesitated to search for him. They didn¡¯t know his situation and were cautious because he seemed to be a very powerful individual who might be healing somewhere in secret. However, now that Li Yi had offered a sacrifice to the Willow Spirit and it had been accepted, the villagers considered him one of their own. They didn¡¯t need to be as cautious as before. Li Yi had barely put down his hoe when people greeted him warmly. Many children, who used to avoid him, now came closer and smiled. Li Yi greeted them back with a smile and walked to the center of the village. He grabbed a bowl, took some meat, and began eating. Recently, the village had been consuming a lot of meat, and due to the training, each time they practiced the cultivation method, they felt extremely hungry, even if they had eaten before. Their bodies had absorbed most of the food, and thus, they were always hungry. To make things easier, Stone Yunfeng had ordered the construction of several large clay stoves in the village. Now, every family came to the central stove to eat, and the stoves always had freshly cooked meat ready. This had greatly sped up the villagers'' cultivation progress. Many of the children¡¯s daily routine consisted of eating, then cultivating, and then eating again. The adults did the same. Without the need to sleep or rest, they dedicated all their time to cultivation. Li Yi thought that if it weren¡¯t for the exhausting mental and physical demands of cultivation, the villagers might not sleep at all. Li Yi ate two large bowls of meat and then took out a book. He handed it to Stone Yunfeng, who had been watching the other villagers train. Surprisingly, Stone Yunfeng accepted the book without hesitation or resistance, easily taking it from Li Yi.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The reason for this was clear. Li Yi was now considered a part of Stone Village. Before, when Li Yi had offered the book, it was a transaction since he was seen as an outsider, but now he was one of their own. Stone Yunfeng felt no guilt in accepting the book now. Stone Yunfeng also started thinking of ways to help Li Yi heal his wounds. As a member of the village, it was his responsibility to ensure Li Yi received proper treatment. Li Yi, on the other hand, began cultivating again. With the cultivation method¡¯s benefits, along with the medicinal herbs and the vast amount of beast blood he had absorbed, Li Yi was confident he could soon close the gap between himself and the average men of Stone Village. However, he knew that after reaching a certain point, his progress would slow down, and his cultivation might plateau since he didn¡¯t have a solid foundation. But for now, that was something to worry about later. A few days later, the hunting team returned with a much larger haul than before. Their increased strength had allowed them to capture more game. Even some of the older children had joined in the hunt. Stone Yunfeng arrived, wanting to arrange for Li Yi to participate in a ritual. It was a special event that had different significance compared to the usual rituals. Normally, Li Yi would observe from the sidelines, but this time, he was required to join in the dance. The ritual in Stone Village wasn¡¯t complicated, except for the dance, which was the centerpiece. Fortunately, with his growing strength, Li Yi quickly picked up the dance moves, and soon, he was ready to participate. The ritual began! This time, the scale was grander than usual. Stone Yunfeng and several elders had obtained a full set of ritual instruments, and they painted strange symbols on Li Yi and the other hunters with the blood of wild beasts. Li Yi led the hunting team in a dance in front of the Willow Tree. The large cauldron in front of the tree was filled with beast blood, but as usual, the Willow Spirit did not consume the offerings. However, as Li Yi danced, a powerful figure with great vision could see a willow tree slowly forming behind him. It was not like the current willow tree in the village; it was lush and green. This represented the Willow Spirit¡¯s protection. If Li Yi were ever in danger, this protection could potentially save his life. After the ritual, Stone Yunfeng and the others began preparing more beast blood for use. As usual, Li Yi and Stone Shao went into the medicinal cauldron, silently practicing the cultivation method while absorbing the medicinal energy to strengthen their bodies. Willow Bark Li Yi brought all the fur, bones, and beast tendons that he had placed in front of his door inside, but this time, unlike last time, there were two jars full of precious beast blood. More importantly, there was a piece of bark, pitch black like charcoal. This bark didn¡¯t feel particularly heavy, and in terms of texture, it seemed like ordinary tree bark. Li Yi thought to himself that Stone Yunfeng wouldn¡¯t casually give him a piece of regular tree bark. This led him to believe that the only possibility was that this bark had likely fallen off from the Willow Spirit itself. He placed all these things inside, sat down, and began to examine the piece of bark in his hands. He tried to break it in half, wanting to see how much it would sell for and also study it. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t break the bark. The toughness of the bark far exceeded his expectations. Li Yi had only been in this world for a short time, but after multiple medicinal baths and with the help of his cultivation method, his physical strength had grown considerably. Unlike the children, who were still in the foundational stages, Li Yi now had the strength to lift three to four thousand pounds. However, even with all his strength, he couldn¡¯t make the slightest impact on this bark. He couldn¡¯t break it, and it didn¡¯t even show any signs of bending. It was clear now¡ªthis bark was definitely from the Willow Spirit. He placed the bark into the cart, and a string of numbers immediately appeared, from zero to one million. This was just a small piece of bark, no bigger than a baby¡¯s palm, and it was as black as charcoal. Despite being completely withered, its price was high. Li Yi couldn¡¯t help but imagine how much a fresh piece of bark or even a branch from the tree would cost. He quickly snapped out of his thoughts, realizing that such musings were futile because he couldn¡¯t just take more bark from the Willow Spirit. For now, he decided not to sell this bark. Its price was high, but he didn¡¯t lack energy points. It would be better to keep it. If his strength increased in the future, he might be able to develop or study some properties from it. After all, it was a piece of bark that had fallen from the Willow Spirit, which made it more valuable. Li Yi kept the bark close to him and didn¡¯t sell the beast blood this time. Instead, he drank it all in one go, using his cultivation method to extract its energy. Once he had completely drained the energy from the blood, he began to sell the other items. This time, he made a bit more than last time¡ªhe earned 273 points. His energy points rose to 822. Finally, a new item appeared in the cart. It was a packet of wheat seeds, and another packet of sugar. The total cost for both was 6 points. There was also a pill called Zhuangfu Dan (Strengthens the internal organs and boosts physical strength, but it causes extreme hunger after consumption), priced at 50 points.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Another item was Dong Yue Guan Xiang Fa (A method for visualizing Mount Tai, which strengthens the soul. When practiced to its limit, it can summon the image of Mount Tai to protect the user), priced at 80 points. And finally, Xiang Yu Zhi Yuan (A fateful encounter. It allows the user to meet an important character from the current world, and the character will develop a certain degree of affection for the user), priced at 200 points. Li Yi swallowed a Zhuangfu Dan, feeling its effects immediately. However, he knew he would need to eat more meat later. As for the visualization method, it felt very mystical. After buying it, he could clearly see Mount Tai in his mind without any explanation. It was simply an image of Mount Tai, and judging from its name, it seemed like all he had to do was visualize it. It seemed easy, but Li Yi didn¡¯t start practicing it immediately. Instead, he carefully observed the small Xiang Yu Zhi Yuan. It was about the size of a thumb, and inside it were two stars surrounded by a few star rings, made of a gemstone-like material. This item could be very useful. If he entered an unfamiliar world, using it might temporarily ensure his safety. For now, he decided to keep it. Li Yi didn¡¯t waste time. He ran outside and quickly grabbed a large bowl of meat from the stove. He felt the effects of the pill immediately. His heart started to beat stronger, and his stomach¡¯s ability to digest and absorb food was increasing as well. He could now feel that his heart and lungs were functioning better. As for his spleen, stomach, and kidneys, he could only make a rough estimate, but his digestion was definitely improving. The increase in kidney function would raise his overall strength, and his body¡¯s detoxification ability had become far stronger than that of an average person. The improvement of his internal organs was naturally making his whole body stronger. Li Yi could feel his strength growing every day. Various factors were combining, and his progress was very fast.
In the evening, the hunting team returned with many more beasts than before. Stone Village¡¯s hunting team was now split into two groups. One group stayed behind to cultivate, while the other went hunting daily. The village¡¯s consumption of meat had greatly increased, and from now on, they would only eat meat from beasts with beast blood. Any ordinary wild animals or giant beasts without beast blood would be discarded, serving as food for other animals at night. Stone Shao, like a pendant, hung from Li Yi¡¯s shoulder as the two of them watched the medicinal cauldron filled with beast blood and medicinal herbs. Li Yi wasn¡¯t sure what he was thinking, but he was adjusting his mindset. As he soaked in the medicinal bath more often, his body had gradually adapted, and the pain wasn¡¯t as intense as before. The problem now was that the pain lasted longer than before. This was probably because his body had become stronger and more capable of enduring it. His body no longer released dopamine and some adrenal hormones to mask the pain, so it lasted longer. Stone Shao didn¡¯t experience much discomfort. Ever since eating the white fruit, he hadn¡¯t felt much during these medicinal baths and actually felt quite comfortable. He just felt a slight itching sensation in his body, like wounds were healing.
Li Yi tossed Stone Shao onto the bed, grabbed a handful of milk candies, and let him eat them. Li Yi then lay down on the bed and silently visualized Mount Tai in his mind to strengthen his soul. As he visualized, he could feel his body and soul coming together to form a complete self. He also felt a strange sensation, as if his body and soul were perfectly aligned, and despite lying down with his eyes closed, he could clearly sense the surrounding environment. Departure Li Yi could feel everything around him becoming clearer with his visualization. Now, he could distinctly perceive the existence of his soul. However, his soul was still very weak, unable to leave his body. Even if it could, he wouldn¡¯t dare to leave recklessly. As he visualized, his soul gradually grew stronger, becoming denser. The underground energy from the earth began to be drawn towards him, slowly entering his body in small amounts. The earth''s energy was very gentle, like water, nourishing his soul. In this state, Li Yi lost track of time. By the time he decided to stop and wake up, it was already the next morning. He could sense the passage of time in the outside world, and after a certain period, his body would automatically give him a reminder. It was like setting an alarm to wake up at 6:30 every morning. It wouldn¡¯t be noticeable in the first week, but after a year, it would become habitual. Even if the alarm didn¡¯t ring, you would still wake up. When Li Yi woke up, the first thing he felt was a warmth in his chest. He took out the book page that he had tucked inside. Originally, he had just casually stuffed it there, but later it seemed to stick to his clothes like chewing gum. Of course, he could take it out if he wanted to, but even if he discarded it, it would always find its way back to him. The world status showed as: ?????? Identity (Neutral): A traveling merchant who has entered the Great Wilderness, carrying many rare and exotic items. Identity Mission: None. Identity Items: A small cart used for business. Identity Rewards: Calculated based on total transaction funds upon completion of the mission. Return at any time; once returned, energy points can be used to re-enter this world. The page hadn¡¯t changed much from a few days ago, except for one small line at the bottom: "You may choose to return at any time." Li Yi naturally wanted to leave. Life here had been difficult and uncomfortable. He had to adapt, and now that he had the chance, he wanted to go. But honestly, he didn¡¯t want to just leave without notice. Since arriving in this world, Stone Village had helped him countless times. Although, in some ways, it was mutually beneficial, he felt he should inform them before he left. More importantly, the fact that he could return after leaving made him want to go even more. He wasn¡¯t sure what "energy points" were, but he guessed that they were a reward for completing trade transactions. Li Yi stood up and made his final trade. He sold the furs, bones, and tendons, but without any beast blood, he only earned 173 points this time. The items he sold were not as valuable, and it seemed that they would be a bit lower in value from now on. After selling those items, he had accumulated a total of 822 points, and a new set of items appeared in his cart.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Li Yi bought everything. He put the seed that contained vitality into an empty bottle that previously held medicine, and prepared himself to say his goodbyes. He was really going to leave. He wanted to leave and return to modern society. However, in his heart, he was also preparing for his departure. If he were to return to this place, he would make sure to bring a little extra toilet paper. Everything else could be tolerated, but using stone pieces... that was unbearable. Fortunately, this kind of life wouldn¡¯t last long. He wouldn¡¯t get used to it, but he¡¯d been enduring for a while now. Li Yi needed to tell Stone Yunfeng about his departure, and he had to come up with a good reason.
"I need to go out for a while. There are some matters I need to resolve. I''ve planted a lot of cabbage in the open space on the east side of the village. Once it grows, you can eat it directly. There are also some things on my table. You can take them and use them." Li Yi didn¡¯t specify what he was going to do. Over the past few days, he could tell that many people in Stone Village considered him a very strong expert who was just hiding away to recover from injuries. Since that was the case, he might as well keep them guessing about his true intentions. It was easier for them to believe and accept. Stone Yunfeng listened and fell silent. He knew Li Yi¡¯s injuries and could tell that he had recovered a lot recently. Stone Village didn¡¯t have any precious healing medicine, and it was impossible for Li Yi to recover fully in a short period of time. Seeing his urgency, Stone Yunfeng realized there must be something important that required attention. "Is there anything that can''t be handled here in the village?" Stone Yunfeng asked, part question, part probing. Li Yi, still injured, could have asked the hunting team to bring back any valuable medicine. He could have accompanied the hunting team or had them go without him, but since he insisted on leaving, it meant this wasn¡¯t just about healing. It was likely that someone was after him, an enemy, maybe even a beast. "What if something happens while you stay here?" Stone Yunfeng¡¯s voice held concern, mixed with his own uncertainty. Li Yi refused his help, "No, I¡¯ll be fine on my own." He made it clear that he wasn¡¯t asking for permission but was simply informing them. Stone Yunfeng didn¡¯t reply immediately. If he were younger, if he weren¡¯t the village chief, he would have insisted that Li Yi stay and face whatever it was with the village¡¯s help. But as the village chief, he couldn¡¯t gamble with the lives of everyone else. "Well, go ahead," Stone Yunfeng said, almost with his last bit of strength. Li Yi noticed the unusual tone, but he couldn¡¯t understand. He was still a man from the modern world, unaware of the depth of the feelings, beliefs, and worldview Stone Yunfeng held. Stone Yunfeng¡¯s concern for Li Yi was based on their shared connection as brothers who worshipped the same spirit. To them, it was a matter of life and death, sharing both good fortune and hardships together. Li Yi didn¡¯t fully understand, but he respected the old man¡¯s feelings. After all, as a village chief, he had experienced many hardships. "Be careful on your journey. Don¡¯t let anyone see you," Stone Yunfeng added before Li Yi left. Li Yi nodded and left, but just as he was about to leave, Stone Yunfeng called out to him, "Wait a moment." Kung Fu World Li Yi originally wanted to leave, but he didn''t quite understand why Stone Yunfeng had asked him to leave while avoiding other people. However, he had a general idea¡ªit was probably because Yunfeng was concerned that if others saw him leave in a hurry, he wouldn¡¯t be able to leave today, or at least he¡¯d have to wait until tomorrow to prepare properly. Hearing Yunfeng call out, Li Yi stopped. "Wait for me a moment," Yunfeng said, and turned to walk toward the back of the house. Before long, he came back with a large bow in hand. This bow was engraved with many mysterious symbols, and the material looked extraordinary. The bowstring faintly emitted a dangerous aura. "The village has nothing else that can help you. Take this ancestral weapon for protection," Yunfeng said before leaving. Li Yi carefully examined the bow. This was probably the most precious item in Stone Village! He exerted all his strength to try pulling the string, and he could vaguely see the shape of an arrow forming in the air as he drew the bowstring. Though he didn¡¯t attempt to shoot, he strapped the bow to his back. To be honest, Li Yi was deeply moved. He had only mentioned needing to handle some things and leaving the village for a while. Without asking any further questions, Stone Yunfeng had given him the village¡¯s most precious ancestral weapon for protection. This gesture of kindness, of brotherhood, was something Li Yi would always remember. In truth, there was a gap in understanding between Li Yi and Yunfeng, or even between Li Yi and the people of Stone Village. As a modern man, Li Yi found it difficult to fully comprehend their sense of camaraderie. To them, anyone who worshipped the same spirit was considered a brother. Yunfeng giving him the ancestral weapon was out of a sense of guilt. They considered themselves Li Yi¡¯s brothers, yet they had not chosen to help him directly. However, Li Yi didn¡¯t understand these emotions. Li Yi packed up quickly. He didn¡¯t take much, not even the small cart. He wondered if the cart would disappear with him, or if it would follow him like the book page. He left Stone Village and entered the wilderness. After taking out the book, he murmured "Return." In an instant, Li Yi felt as though he was thrown into the deep sea¡ªunable to breathe and dizzy. Luckily, this feeling only lasted for a moment. The next second, he found himself in a vast, white space. Everything around him was white, except for a colorful screen in front of him. World Status: ?????? Identity (Neutral): A traveling merchant who entered the Great Wilderness with many rare and exotic items. Identity Mission: None. Total Transaction Amount: 1214 points. Reward: 27 Identity Points.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. The screen changed, and the world status read: ?????? You may spend identity points to re-enter. Li Yi tried to click, but nothing happened. The screen showed a black-and-white world at the top. When he tried clicking, there was no response, but as he observed more closely, he began to notice that the entire world slowly shifted from black-and-white to color. It seemed he had to wait until the world turned fully colorful before he could enter. Li Yi wasn¡¯t too concerned with this. The real problem was that he didn¡¯t understand why he was here instead of returning to Earth. Even though he had silently chanted "Return to Earth" countless times, it was obvious that it didn¡¯t work. He was still trapped in this vast white space, which seemed endless. At his current speed, he could cover one kilometer in about a minute. Even after sprinting for what felt like an eternity, he still saw no changes in the environment. His body was highly capable, yet he couldn¡¯t see any progress. Eventually, feeling helpless, Li Yi sat down. He took a sip from a nearby milk bottle. At least with this milk, he wouldn¡¯t die from hunger. For now, he didn¡¯t need to worry about that. The real question was: How could he go back? Looking at the situation, Li Yi concluded that there were two possibilities. The first was that he couldn¡¯t return to Earth at all. Forget about Earth¡ªhe might never get back. The second possibility was that he hadn¡¯t completed enough tasks to be allowed to return. Li Yi was inclined toward the second possibility. From the information he had gathered, choosing an identity probably came with tasks. Since he hadn¡¯t completed any tasks, that was likely the reason why he couldn¡¯t return. If he could find a way to complete a task, he might be able to go back. If completing one task didn¡¯t allow him to return, Li Yi could accept it. However, if completing multiple tasks still didn¡¯t allow him to go back, that would mean he couldn¡¯t ever return. Li Yi¡¯s state of mind was a bit shaken. He didn¡¯t have strong attachments to Earth, but having lived there for so many years, the thought of not being able to return was difficult to accept. Li Yi was adaptable, but being stuck here was not an option. He couldn¡¯t keep living like this, drinking milk every day. There had to be another way. The main issue was that he had no choice¡ªhe never had the chance to choose before, and now he was once again left with limited options. He could either gamble on the chance to return to Earth with a certain level of power or choose another world where he could live a better life. Either way, staying in this endless white space wasn¡¯t an option. Li Yi pulled out the book again. As expected, since arriving here, the page had changed. Task World: Kung Fu Identity: To be selected. Identity Mission: To be selected. Identity Rewards: Based on task completion. Li Yi organized his belongings and prepared for the task. As soon as he chose to begin, his consciousness seemed to sink into a deep ocean. He could only feel his own presence and nothing else. Identity Selection (Good/Evil/Neutral): This option only determines the starting alignment. The alignment can be changed later during the task. Li Yi understood that this was just an initial choice. No matter which alignment he chose, he could still perform actions that would switch his alignment later on. With this in mind, he chose to play as a "Good" character. High-tier Identity: 20 identity points. Mid-tier Identity: 10 identity points. Low-tier Identity: 5 identity points. Random Identity: Free. Li Yi, not having many identity points, chose a mid-tier identity, opting not to go with the random one. The system began processing his selection. Identity Selected: Black Tiger A Fu. I Am White Tiger Ah Yi, Prepare to Die! There were no pedestrians in the alley, just sewage flowing across the ground, and trash scattered everywhere. There were also plenty of feces on the ground, which likely indicated that people frequently relieved themselves wherever they felt like it. These things mixed together and emitted a strange, eerie smell. Li Yi quickly covered his nose and took a few big steps onto the street. The street was crowded, but most people looked sickly, and beggars lined the sidewalks, begging for food. Many beggars were missing limbs, blind, or had only half a body. The passersby seemed used to this sight, ignoring the beggars and walking quickly on their way. This was the old Shanghai Bund, a hell for those without power and status, but for the powerful, it was a hunting ground. Fortunately, in a short time, an army would enter the area. That morning, the people of Shanghai would see soldiers lying in the streets, resting, without disturbing anyone. Li Yi took out the book page from his chest without hiding it from anyone. On one hand, he was tall, and on the other, his physical strength was gradually growing, exuding an aura of fierceness. Ordinary people faced him as if facing a full-grown tiger. In Stone Village, there had been no issue because the people were stronger than him. But here, the situation was different. People were instinctively avoiding him as he walked. The most important thing was that in this era, less than 0.2% of people were literate, and the book''s text was in simplified Chinese characters, which made it even harder for anyone to recognize what it was. World: "Kung Fu" Identity (Good): A martial artist with exceptional physical strength but no expertise in martial arts, hearing that there are experts in the Zhu Long City and preparing to head there. Identity Task: Kill Tian Can Di Que. Kill Huo Yun Xie Shen. Protect Kuli Qiang, Hong Caifu, and You Zha Gui, keep them alive. Identity Tools: None Identity Abilities: All basic attacks are skills. (You can give each of your normal attacks a skill name. Every time you attack, if you loudly shout the name of the skill, it will automatically apply its effect. Note: the additional effects are only valid the first time during battle; repeating them will not trigger any effects.) Identity Rewards: Calculated after completing the task. Li Yi looked at the information and extracted the details. This identity was a bit like Black Tiger Ah Fu from "Jackie Chan Adventures," but unlike Ah Fu, who was skilled in combat, Li Yi had no fighting skills¡ªthough his physical strength was much stronger than his. Since that was the case, his future name would be White Tiger Ah Yi. Li Yi wasn¡¯t sure why, but something about the name felt off. The tasks seemed simple enough, except for killing Huo Yun Xie Shen, which might be difficult. With his current physical strength, if it were a surprise attack, he should be able to take down one of the members of Tian Can Di Que.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Li Yi also planned to experiment with his new identity abilities to see how effective they were, as well as test his own physical strength. Li Yi was currently broke, so his top priority was to find a pawn shop to exchange some items for money. He wanted to ask someone for directions, but wherever he went, the crowds scattered like startled birds. This was partly because he carried the bow on his back. His tall stature, combined with the fact that people at this time were generally shorter than him¡ªmost were below 1.7 meters tall¡ªmade him stand out. He couldn¡¯t control the fierceness radiating from him, and the bow itself had an aura of danger. People avoided him as though he were a predator, much like how a sharp blade would cause people to instinctively move away. Though he tried to be polite, it didn¡¯t help much. ¡°Excuse me, where is the pawn shop?¡± Li Yi asked, stopping a man who was only slightly shorter than him, making him stand out among the crowd. The man trembled uncontrollably, and if he weren¡¯t worried about running, he would have turned and fled immediately. To him, Li Yi seemed like a predator, a wild beast with the aura of a killer. "Uh..." The man raised his hand, pointing distantly, "It¡¯s over there." "Thanks." Li Yi smiled at him and turned away. The man, still terrified, collapsed to the ground once Li Yi walked away. He was too frightened, too terrifying. Li Yi had no choice but to shrug. He didn¡¯t know how to suppress his aura. In Stone Village, this wasn¡¯t an issue, as the villagers were physically stronger than him, so he could let his aura run wild. But here, it was different. He hadn¡¯t trained to control it, and his power was growing too quickly for him to manage it well. Li Yi jogged quickly to a pawn shop, which had an opulent appearance. In this time period, only those with power could own such establishments. In fact, most pawnshops here weren¡¯t run by decent people. Inside, there was only a dozing clerk leaning against the counter. As soon as Li Yi entered, the clerk felt a chill down his spine and instantly snapped awake. His first instinct was to flee, and that¡¯s exactly what he did. Li Yi frowned. It seemed like he needed to figure out how to rein in his aura. If he didn¡¯t, everything he did would be problematic. Even a surprise attack wouldn¡¯t be easy if normal people could sense his aura, let alone skilled fighters from Tian Can Di Que, who could likely sense it with greater clarity. Li Yi walked to the counter and lightly knocked twice. ¡°Manager, please come over,¡± he called out. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The clerk¡¯s voice trembled. Not long after, a middle-aged man in his forties came from the back. His name was Xu Feng. When he saw Li Yi, he felt the same intense pressure as the clerk. He considered running but remembered it was his business. He couldn¡¯t afford to leave. "This big guy... How can I help you?" Xu Feng asked, shaking as he leaned against the counter. Li Yi smiled at him, ¡°What can I do at a pawnshop? I just want to see how much this is worth.¡± He handed over an empty bottle that he had used for holding medicine. The bottle was well-crafted and made of fine jade, but Xu Feng quickly realized that no one would pay much for it. He estimated it was worth around thirty silver dollars at most. However, he was too scared to say that price out loud. If he did, he feared Li Yi might kill him on the spot. ¡°Fifty silver dollars,¡± Xu Feng said, gritting his teeth. "Breaking the bank to avoid disaster," he muttered under his breath, hoping that this would get Li Yi to leave quickly. Li Yi accepted the price, took the money, and left. However, Xu Feng couldn''t help but feel relieved that he was still alive. The Pigpen City Li Yi walked out of the pawnshop with a small bag of silver dollars, feeling satisfied. He hadn¡¯t expected the bottle to be worth so much. There were three bottles in total; he kept the one with the "First Bloom Flower Seed" inside, and sold the other two for one hundred silver dollars. Right now, silver dollars were the real currency¡ªgold-backed paper money and silver notes were unstable, changing value every day, and it was anyone''s guess if they''d become worthless at some point. One hundred silver dollars was a huge sum in this era. A decent house, like a Beijing courtyard, could be bought for just a few dozen silver dollars. A typical family spent around five silver dollars a month, which was considered comfortable. With money in hand, Li Yi no longer had to worry about survival. Without it, he wouldn¡¯t even know where to go at night. Ahead at the intersection were several rickshaw pullers, their vehicles waiting for customers. Along both sides of the street, numerous small vendors were setting up shop. It looked like a bustling commercial street, and the mood of the people here seemed better than the previous streets. But as soon as Li Yi stepped onto the street, the lively atmosphere froze. Many people immediately stopped in place and stared at him. They quickly glanced away, and the street¡¯s earlier buzz turned silent as people seemed to be avoiding him. Li Yi briskly walked up to a vendor selling various pastries and candies. Taking out a silver dollar, he said, ¡°Give me two dimes¡¯ worth.¡± The vendor, though fearful, had no choice but to accept the business. He worried that if he didn¡¯t quickly pack the order, Li Yi might flip his stall or even harm him. Soon, the vendor handed him a full bag of assorted pastries, nervously saying, "Here you go, sir! No need to pay." ¡°Pay what is owed,¡± Li Yi said, pushing the silver coin towards the vendor. The vendor hesitated for a moment, then gave Li Yi the change, consisting of a smaller silver coin and some copper coins. These metal currencies were the true solid purchasing power; paper money, like the gold-backed or silver notes, was rejected by the majority because no one knew how their value would fluctuate the next day. Li Yi took the change and the pastries, then quickly walked away. He realized he had already started impacting the local vendors¡ªif he stayed any longer, their business would suffer, and their families would go hungry. He approached a rickshaw, with no intention of bargaining, and simply said, ¡°Take me to Pigpen City.¡± The rickshaw puller didn¡¯t haggle either. After all, the aura from Li Yi made him feel like a blade was pressed against his back, so he quickly started running, eager to get the man to his destination as fast as possible. Within half an hour, they arrived at Pigpen City. However, as soon as they entered, everyone in the area stared at the rickshaw. This place was full of impoverished people; no one here could afford a rickshaw. Those who could were unlikely to come to such a place.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°How much?¡± Li Yi asked as he got out of the rickshaw. The rickshaw puller didn¡¯t ask for payment; he turned and ran off, as if escaping from a disaster. The environment in Pigpen City was poor, but surprisingly clean. The people here were all from destitute families, yet none of them looked filthy. Though their clothes were full of patches, they were kept neat. The ground was well-maintained, indicating someone cleaned it every day, otherwise, the filth from chickens and ducks would have made it impossible to walk here. As Li Yi walked deeper into Pigpen City, the people around him behaved just like the ones he passed earlier¡ªavoiding him as if he were a plague. Only three people didn¡¯t react: the owner of the breakfast stall, You Zha Gui, Kuli Qiang who was carrying a bag, and Hong Caifu, the tailor. These three had practiced martial arts for years, and before they retired from the martial world, they were figures who had tasted blood. They had encountered people with even more terrifying auras than Li Yi¡¯s, so they weren¡¯t afraid of him. There was another person, however, who showed a delayed reaction: the landlord. He too had the reflex to avoid Li Yi but was a step slower than the others. Only You Zha Gui and Li Yi noticed this. On the fifth floor, a woman with curly hair, smoking a cigarette, watched Li Yi and muttered to herself, ¡°He¡¯s not here for good intentions.¡± People who exude such a sharp aura are often well-practiced martial artists. If a martial artist can¡¯t control their aura, it¡¯s almost laughable. Even though the landlord¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t fathom how someone could reach such a level of power in less than ten days, she could tell he was likely an experienced fighter, and she thought he was deliberately provoking trouble by showing off his power. The landlord, on the other hand, reluctantly retreated to the bathroom, too troubled to think about peeking at the situation. He was silently cursing himself, wondering if he¡¯d need to move again. After all, they had been in Pigpen City for ten peaceful years. He had hoped to settle down, but now it seemed that trouble might come knocking once more. Li Yi walked up to the breakfast stall, taking a seat. At this point, You Zha Gui finally showed fear, but his fear was visible to Hong Caifu, who had been watching him all along. It was only now that Hong Caifu realized that his long-time neighbor was not an ordinary person and had some martial skills himself. ¡°Ten pan-fried buns, three oil sticks, and three bowls of soy milk,¡± Li Yi said. He was genuinely hungry. Though it wasn¡¯t breakfast time, it was already afternoon. As Li Yi drank the soy milk, he kept an eye on You Zha Gui, who was trying to act like he was cleaning up but was constantly watching him. Li Yi mused, ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of me?¡± You Zha Gui turned around, forced a smile, and said, ¡°You¡¯re not a tiger that eats people. Why should I be scared?¡± Though his words seemed calm, his posture suggested he was ready to flee at any moment. ¡°No, they¡¯re all afraid of me. You¡¯re not afraid of me, so you must be a master. Can you teach me how to control my aura?¡± Li Yi asked sincerely. He really wanted to know how to do it. The constant bloodlust and fierceness around him made everything difficult. ¡°Aha! What are you saying, guest? I don¡¯t understand at all,¡± You Zha Gui said, pretending to be clueless, trying to test Li Yi. If Li Yi was truly seeking revenge, he figured it wouldn¡¯t matter what he said, but if not, then maybe he could make Li Yi leave. He backed away nonchalantly, trying to blend in with the others. Their voices were low, but the landlord and his wife on the fifth floor, as well as Hong Caifu beside the stall, heard everything. They were still on edge, despite having retired from the martial world years ago. Their vigilance hadn¡¯t faded. Taking Action Li Yi listened to the man''s words, appearing somewhat disappointed. He knew that the other person had no intention of revealing their true identity, and asking further would be useless. So, he simply sat down to eat, but he ate slowly this time. While he sat there, many residents of the city felt anxious. For most of the impoverished people here, a day without work meant a day without food. But no one dared to be the first to step forward. They all stayed inside their homes, keeping the doors tightly shut, peeking out through the windows. The landlord, who had a faint aura of energy surrounding him, formed an almost invisible Taiji symbol, a yin-yang diagram. He had been considering taking action, but not to deal with Li Yi directly. Rather, he planned to unleash a burst of true energy from a distance, hoping to suppress the aura surrounding Li Yi. As the landlord was one of the top martial artists in the city, he was confident in his ability. For years, he and his wife had been living quietly, having retired from the martial world, not out of fear, but because they wanted peace. However, if Li Yi remained where he was, it would disrupt the entire village, and the people would not be able to eat in peace that night. Reluctantly, he decided to act. He aimed a burst of true energy at Li Yi, entering his body and attempting to balance the yin and yang within him, suppressing the overwhelming aura. Having reached a certain level of physical strength, Li Yi could sense the aura approaching. But he didn¡¯t avoid it, nor did he resist. Just before it entered him, however, a phantom of a willow tree briefly appeared behind him. It seemed to assess the incoming energy and deemed it harmless. In an instant, the aura dissipated, leaving only the faint killing intent from the bow Li Yi carried. This level of murderous energy was nothing compared to what would disrupt the lives of ordinary people. They could still feel the threat, but it no longer paralyzed them with fear. The bow, for now, was silent. Li Yi immediately sensed the direction of the aura, and without hesitation, he got up, tossed a silver coin on the table, and quickly made his way toward the bathroom. "Hey, your money!" You Zha Gui, the vendor, called out as Li Yi rushed away.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The young man seemed reckless, and You Zha Gui realized that Li Yi wasn¡¯t here to seek revenge. He surmised that someone had just suppressed Li Yi¡¯s aura, and now he could tell that the city was not as simple as it seemed. Li Yi reached the bathroom in no time, but upon arrival, he found it empty. His instincts told him that the landlord had likely been the one to act, as only he had the capability and knowledge to suppress such a powerful aura. He figured that the best option now was to stay in the city and wait for ¡°Tian Can Di Que¡± to arrive. Before that, he needed to learn some martial arts, or at least try. But if it didn¡¯t work out, he would have to accept it. Li Yi didn¡¯t continue his search; with the landlord''s power, it would be impossible to find him if he didn''t want to be found. Instead, he returned to the breakfast stall, where You Zha Gui had finished packing up but quickly handed over the change to Li Yi. He also gave him some leftover pastries. Li Yi didn¡¯t take them but instead pulled out three silver dollars and handed them over. "Uncle, help me buy some peanuts, melon seeds, and candy for everyone. I know it was unintentional, but I did disrupt their lives. Let me apologize by offering this." Before You Zha Gui could refuse, Li Yi left the city without waiting. As he walked away, You Zha Gui no longer had any doubts. The way Li Yi treated everyone showed that he wasn¡¯t here to cause trouble. Now, he was just a young man who might have had a brief confrontation with a true expert, causing him some shock. But with time, Li Yi would understand the nature of those who practiced martial arts. Li Yi didn¡¯t leave for long. He wandered around the area, bought some high-end cigarettes, a box of good liquor, and several pieces of prepared meats. Since he was going to visit someone, he wanted to bring something they liked. By the time he returned to the city, some people were still surprised to see him, but they no longer reacted as they did before. This time, they didn¡¯t scatter like frightened birds. ¡°Excuse me, where can I find the landlord?¡± Li Yi asked, pointing to a muscular man. The man, though still cautious, kindly pointed toward a building. ¡°Thank you,¡± Li Yi said politely, and with the items in hand, he made his way to the top floor of the building. Inside, the landlord was explaining to his wife why he had acted earlier. "I stepped in, but no one noticed. Even that young man didn¡¯t realize it. He understood his place and left without any trouble. If I hadn¡¯t intervened, he would¡¯ve stayed here, and the neighbors wouldn¡¯t be able to make a living." His wife nodded slowly, then sighed, "Since no one noticed, we¡¯ll let it go this time." The landlord, taking advantage of the moment, attempted to embrace her but was interrupted by a knock on the door. Li Yi gently knocked, and the landlord and his wife exchanged glances. The Young Man Who Doesn鈥檛 Follow the Martial Arts Code The landlady glared at the landlord. "Didn''t you say no one noticed?" She didn¡¯t speak, but the landlord could tell what she meant. He awkwardly laughed, not expecting Li Yi to return. Was this young man so stubborn? After being humbled here, he still dared to come back. "Is anyone here?" Li Yi knocked gently on the door again, "Bang! Bang! Bang!" "Coming, coming! What¡¯s the rush? Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?" The landlady coldly walked to the door, glaring at the landlord. Her meaning was clear¡ªhe was in for it later. She opened the door, and Li Yi flashed her a smile. She seemed to be perming her hair, with curling rods still in her hair, holding a cheap cigarette with no filter. She wore a floral dress. "Hello." "Hello, my foot! Say what you need to say. Spit it out!" She opened the door halfway and could close it at any time. Li Yi, knowing the landlady was all talk, remained patient. She might scold tenants who owed rent for months, but she never actually kicked anyone out. If it were any other landlord, missing a rent payment would have your belongings thrown into the hallway the next day. But Li Yi understood, since he was asking for a favor, he had to endure her scolding. "I''m here to rent a room." "We don¡¯t have any rooms available. No rent," she said, and seemed ready to slam the door. Li Yi extended his hand, gently blocking the door, and like a slippery eel, slipped inside. The landlady was taken aback. She could feel that Li Yi hadn¡¯t used any internal energy. She had only used three-tenths of her strength to close the door, and no ordinary martial artist could have withstood it. This meant that Li Yi¡¯s raw physical strength must have been in the thousands of pounds. Looking at the wooden door, where a large dent was left from their struggle, if it weren¡¯t made of solid wood, it might have already been broken through. Li Yi stepped inside, placed the things he bought aside, and took out two bottles of fine liquor. "Thank you for your help earlier. Just a small token of my gratitude." The landlord initially tried to stop him but, upon seeing the packaging and labels of the alcohol, his hands involuntarily reached out to take them.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The landlady squinted at him from behind, and the landlord immediately froze, quickly putting the bottles back into Li Yi¡¯s arms. "What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand," he said, pretending to be clueless. Li Yi didn¡¯t argue further and turned to take out a cigarette. "Here, have a smoke," Li Yi said. The landlady looked at him disdainfully and sneered, "Top-quality stuff, huh? But we¡¯re not martial arts experts." "I never said you were martial artists. Why do you assume I think you are?" Li Yi sat down on a nearby chair, watching her with curiosity. Only then did the landlady realize that Li Yi hadn¡¯t mentioned them being martial artists. She had inadvertently revealed herself by assuming his words meant that. Taking advantage of her distraction, Li Yi swiftly attacked the landlord with a punch and yelled, "Mantis Fist!" Though he didn¡¯t know the Mantis Fist, he just shouted it out to see what would happen. As he threw the punch, Li Yi noticed several issues pop up in his vision, but they didn¡¯t obstruct his sight. They quickly vanished, leaving behind a series of small texts. The landlord, seeing the powerful punch coming, immediately focused his attention on the sides, knowing the Mantis Fist¡¯s real danger lay in its deceptive side attack. However, Li Yi didn¡¯t know any Mantis Fist techniques and simply shouted for no reason, just throwing a regular punch. The speed and force were so overwhelming that when his fist approached, it felt like punching through water, with the force dispersed. The landlord, feeling the strength of the punch, was impressed. Li Yi didn¡¯t use any internal energy, just brute force. It was powerful enough that the landlord had to use his own energy to dissipate the blow. The landlord stood firm in his stance, forming the Taiji stance, realizing that his identity could no longer be hidden. He was annoyed by the situation, having to deal with this young man who didn¡¯t follow the martial arts code. "You¡¯re not following the martial arts code, young man," he muttered, "You¡¯re just here to trick me..." Before he could finish, Li Yi raised his hand and was ready to slap him with the "Scorpion Palm." With his current physical condition, a full slap could easily crush a normal person¡¯s skull. Even the landlord couldn¡¯t be careless. "Lotus Floating, Black Tiger Pierces the Heart." The speed of his attack increased by 20%, its power increased by 20%, and the chance of hitting weak points was up by 10%. "Elephant Tramples the Mouse." The force of the attack succeeded, and its power was doubled by 100%. Li Yi could feel the power increase in his punch. The moment they collided, or perhaps just from trying to defend, the landlord realized that Li Yi didn¡¯t know any martial arts techniques. His strikes were just a mix of raw strength, but sometimes, his force would mysteriously grow stronger. The landlord and landlady had both realized that Li Yi wasn¡¯t a martial artist. His raw power was impressive, but he had no real martial arts technique. "Young man, you¡¯ll need a couple more years before you can hurt me," the landlord said casually, now no longer worried. Li Yi, locking eyes with them, said, "You¡¯re truly impressive, both of you. I can tell that your martial arts skills are profound. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you¡¯re the ones from the martial world¡­" "Yang Guo." "Xiao Long Nv." The landlady, realizing that Li Yi had already figured out their true identities, decided it was better to just admit it. Internal Energy Cultivation "I never expected that you two would be living here in seclusion," Li Yi said, bowing respectfully to them. The landlord sighed, a hint of melancholy in his tone. "Young man, I don''t know how you found out we were here, and I don''t care why you''re looking for me. We¡¯ve been out of the martial world for many years now. There¡¯s no more ¡®Divine Eagle Hero¡¯¡ªjust an old man and an old woman." At the end of his words, the landlady moved to his side, leaning on his shoulder, and sighed softly. He, too, wrapped his arm around her. While the two were lost in their nostalgic moment, Li Yi set out the food he had bought, placing the various cooked dishes on the table. He poured a glass of wine and handed it to the landlord. "Senior, I¡¯ve prepared this for you. Don¡¯t you want to have a sip?" The landlord glanced at the dishes¡ªbraised beef, salted goose, sweet water duck, pig¡¯s trotters, assorted vegetables, and seven or eight cold dishes filled the table. The fragrance of the wine filled the air, teasing his taste buds. "I¡¯ll¡­," he started, but before he could finish, his gaze shifted to his wife, and the words stuck in his throat. The glass he had raised to drink was slowly placed back on the table. For a drunkard, having the dishes ready and the wine in hand, but not allowed to drink, was pure torment. "Here, senior, have a smoke. These cigarettes are good, won¡¯t harm your lungs," Li Yi said, quickly tearing open the package and offering it to the landlady. Li Yi didn¡¯t understand why the landlady smoked, unless she wanted to slowly ruin her own martial abilities. Her Lion¡¯s Roar Kung Fu was directly related to lung capacity, and smoking could irreparably damage her lungs. Even though martial artists'' bodies detox better than ordinary people, prolonged smoking would still decrease lung capacity, weakening overall physical abilities. For someone like the landlady, this was almost like crippling most of her martial arts. She didn¡¯t accept the cigarette, glaring at him. "Flattery, huh? It¡¯s either trickery or theft," she said, scanning him from head to toe as though trying to see through him. Li Yi gave an awkward smile. "Senior, you¡¯re sharp." The landlord knew exactly what he meant. "Flattery, huh? But let¡¯s just eat and see what¡¯s easy to solve," he thought. If it¡¯s a simple problem, he might lend a hand, but if it¡¯s difficult, he¡¯d just enjoy his meal and forget it. "I do have a request. I want to learn how to suppress the aura I have. When I was training alone, I didn¡¯t notice it, but here I can feel it. If I don¡¯t suppress it, everything I do becomes inconvenient, and people around me are terrified of me."Stolen story; please report. Li Yi¡¯s tone was sincere. This was one of the main reasons he came here, though it was also true that he hoped to learn a few things from them. But he didn¡¯t want to ask outright¡ªhe planned to wait until he built a better relationship with them before making the request. The chances of success would be higher then. "Humph!" The landlady snorted dismissively. It was obvious she didn¡¯t believe a word of what he said. The landlord raised his hand. The aura that had surrounded Li Yi earlier began to dissipate, but that oppressive force like a fierce tiger in the mountains resurfaced. Fortunately, this was the top floor, and most of the residents weren¡¯t home. Li Yi looked at them with an innocent expression. He wasn¡¯t trying to release this aura¡ªit was simply out of his control. Sometimes, he couldn¡¯t even sense it himself. He could only gauge it by how the people around him reacted. When he was in Stone Village, this wasn¡¯t a problem because the villagers were generally stronger than him. But now, in this new place, he could feel it. The landlady didn¡¯t speak. Instead, she released her own aura. Her aura was focused, while Li Yi¡¯s was scattered, overwhelming everything in all directions. As her aura pressed down like a mountain, Li Yi felt the oppressive force, yet he was helpless against it. At that moment, he finally understood what it was like to be the target of such overwhelming force. If he didn¡¯t know better, he might have mistaken her for a lion, one with the power to kill him. At least, he could still make some effort to resist. But for ordinary people, facing such a force, they couldn¡¯t even resist. Their fear would be magnified multiple times. Seeing Li Yi¡¯s innocent look, the landlady cursed him silently. She increased her pressure, and Li Yi felt as if he was trapped in a tiny boat, adrift in a violent storm. Despite this, he did nothing. The landlady was now puzzled. She had applied so much pressure, yet Li Yi didn¡¯t resist. Could it be that he really couldn¡¯t control himself? But that didn¡¯t seem right. Even if he had no internal energy training, just his external martial arts should have gradually helped him control his aura over time. She gradually lessened her aura, circling Li Yi. "This doesn¡¯t make sense," she murmured. No one noticed the landlord. He took advantage of the distraction, having already drunk most of the bottle of wine and eaten a good portion of the dishes. Li Yi still wore an innocent expression, which made the landlady even more suspicious. If he was pretending, he was doing it exceptionally well. Could it be that he really couldn¡¯t control himself? "Can¡¯t you really control it?" she asked, finally breaking the silence. Li Yi quickly nodded. "I truly can¡¯t control it." "Sit cross-legged, close your eyes, and start to feel yourself." The landlady¡¯s final doubts had not fully dissipated, but she decided to give it a try. Li Yi immediately followed her instructions. She observed his posture and could tell instantly. He had never truly practiced martial arts¡ªhis posture was too relaxed. It was obvious he hadn¡¯t trained seriously. But where did his immense strength come from? The landlady wondered, though she didn¡¯t ask¡ªshe didn¡¯t care about that detail. "Focus on your breathing¡ªinhale, exhale. Focus all your attention on yourself, as if the entire world has disappeared, and there¡¯s only you." Her voice was soft, yet Li Yi could hear her clearly. This was the difference between having guidance and not. When someone guides you, they tell you exactly what to do and how to adjust. Without that, you can only blindly follow a confusing manual, which could lead to missteps and disaster. The Beginning of the Plot Li Yi gradually began to feel as if the world consisted of just him. He could vaguely see inside his own body. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth flowed into his body, and he could clearly observe something slowly forming within him. It was a very peculiar energy flow¡ªweak and faint¡ªbut he felt as though he could control it. Martial artists, when they reach the pinnacle of external martial arts, can cultivate internal energy naturally. Li Yi had never practiced any external martial arts, but his body had grown so strong that it surpassed the limits that external martial arts could achieve. He should have already started channeling spiritual energy into his body, leading to the birth of internal energy. Previously, without guidance and lacking understanding, the internal energy hadn¡¯t emerged. But now, with some guidance¡ªeven if it was just casual advice¡ªit was enough for internal energy to begin forming within him. Of course, the existence of this internal energy depended on him not using the Wild Blood Method; otherwise, it would be immediately drained to nourish his physical body. The landlady, sitting on a nearby table, observed him. "Never practiced before, but his internal energy forms on the first try. How did his body become so strong?" she muttered to herself. The landlord, hearing this, handed her a goose leg. "Who knows? Maybe he¡¯s born with divine strength. Try this goose leg; it¡¯s delicious." The landlady reluctantly took a bite, and the landlord seemed relieved when she ate. He quickly poured himself two large gulps of wine. At the moment the internal energy was born, Li Yi gained a much clearer understanding of his physical body. More importantly, he realized that he could now control the internal energy circulating within his body, moving it around in a full circle. He could feel that he now had a far better grasp of his own body. This was a significant benefit¡ªordinary people throw punches using only their upper body, but trained martial artists can use their entire body¡¯s strength. Li Yi was now very close to that state, though he didn¡¯t have much practical experience yet. In a real fight, he wouldn¡¯t be able to unleash more power than a seasoned martial artist.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He opened his eyes and finally felt everything around him. Before, he could only sense himself and the peculiar energy inside him, which he now knew to be internal energy. "Thank you, senior," Li Yi said, standing and bowing respectfully to the landlady. "You don¡¯t need to thank me. If it wasn¡¯t for the cigarettes, I wouldn¡¯t have bothered teaching you. Besides, it¡¯s nothing special. If I hadn¡¯t told you, you would have figured it out eventually," she replied. Even though she said this, Li Yi was still grateful in his heart. She could have chosen not to share any knowledge, but she did. Understanding such matters on his own was incredibly complex, and it would have taken a long time to figure out. With luck, he might have understood after some time, but without it, he might never have figured it out. Li Yi sat back down at the table, where several dishes remained untouched. The landlord had only eaten a little, using the food to accompany his wine. When he saw Li Yi sitting down, he no longer hesitated. "Senior, I wonder if you have a room to rent," Li Yi asked. He really intended to stay here, as he needed to wait for someone. The landlady sighed as she heard his question. "You¡¯re young; you shouldn¡¯t be here. Judging by your appearance, you¡¯re not a poor person. A young person like you shouldn¡¯t be doing something like this. Don¡¯t always think about practicing martial arts. The martial world is not as beautiful as you imagine." The landlord, hearing her words, silently put down his chopsticks without speaking, and drank more wine. Their child had once died in a martial contest, beaten to death in front of them. Unable to do anything, they had decided to leave the martial world. In his view, Li Yi¡¯s decision to stay after being guided only meant he still wanted to practice martial arts. He regretted not refusing him earlier. If he had, things would have been simpler. "You are overthinking. I just want to stay here," Li Yi replied. "Why do you want to stay here?" the landlady asked. "Because it¡¯s cheap. Right now, I don¡¯t have any other way to make a living, so I¡¯ll save whatever money I can. Later, when I find work, I can move out." Living in the Pig Cage Slums was indeed a good choice. Li Yi could take this time to familiarize himself with the environment. As long as he understood the surroundings better than the two blind and deaf individuals, he would have an advantage in battle. The landlady understood that her simple advice wouldn¡¯t convince Li Yi. If she wanted him to leave, the only option was to stop talking to him. If he sought any further teachings from her or her husband, they¡¯d refuse outright. "Eat first. After you finish, I¡¯ll take you to see the room," she said, no longer trying to persuade him. She had no deep attachment to him, and if he left after learning his lesson, it was his own business.