Two new skills.
Dinner consisted of braised pork.
As soon as the two thick and succulent pieces of braised pork were taken out of the pot, they were sandwiched into steaming hot mantou. The juices from the pork soaked into the fluffy bun, making it look so appetizing that it made one's mouth water.
Zhong Lin and Little Shi exchanged glances before devouring their food ravenously.
In the clay pot, a pot of chicken soup was still simmering. The milky-white broth had a layer of golden chicken fat floating on top, an indication that the chicken used was an old hen.
Within just a few bites, the mantou and braised pork were completely finished. Zhong Lin grabbed a pair of chopsticks and tore apart the well-cooked old hen, then used a coarse porcelain bowl and a wooden spoon to serve two bowls of soup.
Each of them took one bowl. The chicken soup was rich and flavorful, making them unable to resist drinking more.
---
"System."
- Host: Zhong Lin
- Skills: Archery (Max Level), Flying Locust Stone (Max Level), Realistic Painting (Max Level), Calligraphy (Max Level), Culinary Arts (Max Level), Iron Mountain Strength Technique (Beginner)
- Skill Points: ∞
The system panel had two new skills—one was Culinary Arts, and the other was Iron Mountain Strength Technique, which he had just learned that afternoon.
Ever since he transmigrated, Zhong Lin had been the one cooking most of the time, so it made sense for the Culinary Arts skill to appear in the system panel. The braised pork and shredded old hen from earlier were just a small test of his abilities. As expected, the taste was incredible—so good that Little Shi was practically swallowing his tongue in delight.
After dinner, Little Shi automatically went to wash the dishes, while Zhong Lin stepped into the open courtyard.
With a single thought, the "Beginner" label behind Iron Mountain Strength Technique on the system panel flickered and transformed into "Max Level" within moments.
Immediately, a flood of memories surged into his mind.
In those memories, he had practiced this martial art relentlessly for ten years, refining his punches and enhancing his strength. He had gone through twenty years of dedicated training, honing this technique to its very peak. His fists and footwork had become second nature, ingrained into his muscle memory.
- Host: Zhong Lin
- Skills: Archery (Max Level), Flying Pebble (Max Level), Three-Dimensional Painting (Max Level), Calligraphy (Max Level), Culinary Arts (Max Level), Iron Mountain Strength Technique (Max Level)
- Skill Points: ∞
Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes and murmured to himself:
"Light as a willow, deep as the wind; an old ape vaults over the sun and props up my head. So this is what it means… I see now."
His body moved instinctively, and he began to execute a set of martial movements in the courtyard.
The technique he was performing was none other than Iron Mountain Strength Technique, the same one that Old Zhou had taught him earlier that afternoon. But compared to his stiff and clumsy movements back then, now his execution was fluid, effortless, and brimming with explosive power.
His spine coiled like a great dragon, his hands clawed like a beast, and his entire body twisted suddenly, resembling a giant serpent in motion—his muscles taut and coiled with energy.
After completing a single round of the technique, Zhong Lin could feel his blood surging through his veins like a mighty river, rushing to every part of his body in sync with his heartbeat.
"Iron Mountain Strength Technique isn't just about strikes and movements—its essence lies in breathing techniques. The control of breath stimulates the internal organs, which in turn enhances blood circulation. This is the true core of the technique!"
Excited, Zhong Lin started from the beginning and performed the routine once more. This time, he consciously adjusted his breathing with every punch and movement—sometimes inhaling deeply, sometimes holding his breath, sometimes controlling the expansion and contraction of his chest and abdomen.
By the time he finished another full cycle of the technique, Zhong Lin suddenly stopped in place.
At this moment, his entire skin was flushed red, as if he had been boiled like a prawn. Sweat poured down like rain, and steam visibly rose from his head, forming a mist-like haze above him.
After a long moment, Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.
His body felt exhausted, but his spirit was soaring.
"Yes! This is the true power of my cheat ability!"
"A max-level Iron Mountain Strength Technique experience is like reincarnating with the memories of past training—it's completely overwhelming!"
Zhong Lin could hardly contain his excitement. His system didn't directly enhance his body, but the experience gained was equivalent to decades of training. With this perfect knowledge as a foundation, he could improve at an insane pace—a true game-breaking advantage.
Looking down at his arms, he had a feeling that his muscles had visibly bulked up—firm and solid like stone.
Walking over to the millstone in the courtyard, he casually gripped it with one hand and lifted it effortlessly. Then, he raised and lowered it several more times in succession without the slightest strain.
"It's not an illusion—just one session of training already produced such effects. If this continues, I'll reach a ranked martial level in no time!"
Zhong Lin was overjoyed.
Just then, his stomach growled loudly.
A peculiar expression appeared on his face.
"This sound… I know it well. It's hunger."
But he had just eaten a full meal earlier! Yet now, only half an hour later, his body was already craving food again.
"Energy conservation at work, huh?"
Zhong Lin smiled bitterly, turned around, and went into the kitchen to devour the leftover rice in the pot.
"The memories in my mind show that the past 'me' would consume medicinal meals and high-protein foods daily to support training. It seems that I'll have to do the same in reality, or else my body won't be able to handle this martial arts cultivation!"
He understood well—"A scholar needs wealth, a warrior needs food." If he wanted to build a powerful physique, he had to eat enough meat, eggs, and tonics daily. Otherwise, his body would collapse before he could achieve true strength.
---
The next morning, after sending Little Shi to study with Master Liu, Zhong Lin headed to the government office for roll call.
As a court artist, his workload wasn't too demanding. After all, notorious criminals weren't caught every day—encountering even one or two major cases in a year was already a lot.
After making his appearance in the office to maintain a sense of presence, Zhong Lin grabbed his ink and brushes and headed straight for the Eastern Market.
Today, he had an appointment to paint a portrait for a wealthy man named Master Li.
By now, he had become very experienced in portrait commissions. As soon as he arrived, he began painting swiftly, finishing within half an hour and earning six taels of silver as payment.
However, instead of returning to the government office, he made his way to the Western District's pharmacy.
As soon as he entered, the doctor in charge greeted him kindly.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Zhong Lin shook his head.
"No, I'm here to buy medicine."
"Oh? Do you have a prescription?"
"No, I need medicinal ingredients for martial arts training."
The doctor seemed to understand and nodded.
"Aside from secret martial elixirs, most training medicines focus on nourishing and strengthening blood circulation. I do have a formula for an Eight-Treasure Blood Nourishing Soup, which requires eight valuable herbs. It is highly beneficial for warriors—but it is quite expensive. The question is, are you willing to spend the silver?"