Changes in Body, Same Old Routine

It took him at least an hour before he finally left his house to continue working. His status has become like this.

[Status]

Points: 2759 (1/s) (+)

Physical Rank: Lower Stage Muscle Strengthening (+)

Cultivation Rank: 1st Stage Earth Realm (+)

Spiritual Rank: Quarter Stage Bronze Core (+)

He didn't go any further as he felt rather overwhelmed at the newfound strength he is feeling within his body. For now, he wanted to absorb the knowledge he got when he is upgrading himself.

It seems like Physical, Cultivation, and Spiritual Ranks have their own ranking systems. Each of the realms are further separated by stages.

On the Physical Ranks, he only learned the Body Tempering and it's next realm which is the Muscle Strengthening. Each of these realms are separated by four stages, which is the Lower, Middle, Higher, and Peak Stages.

On the Cultivation Ranks, he only learned about the Human Realm, and its upgrade which is the Earth Realm. This one is separated by nine stages which is the 1st Stage up to the 9th Stage.

On the Spiritual Ranks, he only learned about the Copper Core and the Bronze Core. It is only divided into three stages which are the Quarter, Half, and Full Stages.

Each of the stages costs differently. Everytime he strengthens himself, the costs becomes more expensive.

He have decided to strengthen himself more after he is done working for the day. He didn't want to stop with his routine as he was used to it, and he felt like he might find something useful if he do this.

He noticed that his abilities and other sections of his status are blank, meaning he didn't have any techniques or something. He presumes that this might indicate that he can learn it, though he doesn't know how he will do so.

He still wants to maintain his own sense of normalcy, so he will continue working for Old Wang. Old Wang is a good natured old man who owns a farm, and he thinks he might be able to help him more with his newfound powers.

Old Wang is the only person who gave him work, and he gives him the right amount of money and doesn't cheat him. He even goes as far as to share meals with him just because he knows that he is an orphaned child.

He is very grateful to him, so that's why he wants to continue working for him as a sign of gratitude.

____________________________________________

Old Wang's barn is only a few walks away from his house. He easily got there after awhile. He can see that many people are already working to carry the sacks of rice grains to the designated area.

"Old Wang, good morning!"

"Oh your here! Come, come, there are a lot of orders today!"

Having heard that, he easily get to working.

It seems like it will be a busy day. There seems to be a festival approaching two days from now, and the other restaurants and food dealing shops are ordering products en masse. This includes rice and corns, which Old Wang have a lot of.

"This occasion brings is a blessing for us! Let's work hard, everyone!" Old Wang cheered from them to the side.

The others are also excited. Old Wang is fair and gives a lot of benefits to those who works hard. He pays them per sacks they delivered. So all of them are very happy to carry a lot of sacks.

"Here I go!" He first tried carrying his usual single sack onto his back. He is not that strong so he usually carries a single one, and Old Wang doesn't mind it.

Though he widened his eyes when he felt that the sack is so light. It's practically weightless to his hands.

One of his coworker looks at him in confusion when he saw him stopping.

"Hey, Little Zhou. What's the matter, do you have a stomachache?"

Zhou Lin remembers this guy. It is Bai Luo, one of the hardworking workers here who occasionally talks to him. They sometimes share a meal when they find the chance, and he considers him one of his few friends.

"Ah... no." He shook his head before continuing. "Can you give me more of those sacks. I'll tell you when to stop."

Bai Luo widened his eyes. "Did you hit your head somewhere? You'll get crushed if you try that!"

"Don't worry. I think I can do it." He said with a cheeky grin.

"Oh, Little Zhou is becoming daring." Even if Bai Luo is playing along, he is still looking concerned at him. "Just tell me if it gets unbearable."

With that, he carries a single sack and stacks it on the sack Zhou Lin is carrying. Bai Luo widened his eyes when he saw that he wasn't even fazed by it.

"Senior Bai, put a stack of sacks on my back."

"Huh... but I already did?"

"What?"

Zhou Lin is surprised when he heard that. He got to thinking immediately.

'Is this because I strengthened my status!?'

It is the only explanation. He can't feel the weight of the sacks of grains behind him. He can't believe his body becomes that strong.

"Do you want... more?"

"Of course!"

He immediately accepted Bai Luo's hesitant suggestion, and prepared himself. Then he waited for the weight behind him, only to feel like nothing is happening at all.

"Senior Bai, did you put it?" He asks in wonder.

"Little Zhou.... I already put five stacks behind you. You still don't feel it?"

The others who are working together with them have noticed the strangeness of this event and are staring at them in surprise. Zhou Lin is becoming a bit conscious of their stares and have decided to stop being surprised by this.

"It's okay... I am fine with this stacks." He decided to stop it at that before he got an unnecessary amount of crowds.

He just wanted to try just how strong he got. He didn't want to show off to the others.

'Do it in moderation.' He thought to himself.

He didn't want to be noticed by others. It's fine if it's only to his fellow mortals, but if a cultivator got interested in him, he is sure a lot of troubles will come to him. He didn't want his life to be destroyed just like that.

".... Okay..."

He is glad that his Seniors didn't ask for more and decided to chalk it up as him showing off his true strength. They think he might have become stronger due to carrying bags of rice grains everyday.

As they are working, Zhou Lin can't help but grin.

'I am stronger now! I don't need to feel scared of others!' He thought to himself, feeling rather proud.

He might not want to find trouble, but he still felt invincible due to this newfound powers. He shakes his head at that.

'There is no need to be arrogant. I have to strengthen myself more, then maintain my normal life!' He thought even while looking very giddy.

This is so exhilarating to him. Becoming strong just because of the System.

He decided that he will strengthen himself more after work. Already anticipating how strong he will get when he does that.

Just when he is thinking like that, his eyes widened when a prompt suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

[You learned an Ability, Mortal Bodybuilding]

'.... What!?'