Level Up

Yun Feng stood shirtless under the scorching midday sun, beads of sweat already rolling down his brow.

The faint sheen on his lean, wiry body made the scars across his arms and back glisten like battle marks, each one etched from years of silent struggle.

His breathing was slow and controlled, a rhythm honed through weeks of relentless grind and sharpened through sheer determination.

Finally, after hours of continuous effort, dozens of falls, and countless repetitions of the Twin Serpent Sprint, he had reached the peak of Level 2. Only one last push remained.

Yun Feng shook off the fatigue, wiped his brow, and steadied his breath.

"Let's go," he whispered to himself.

He lowered his body into the stance and moved.

This time, there was no awkwardness. No imbalance. His form was sharper. His steps were smoother. His movements no longer twitched with hesitation, but instead flowed with calm precision, like a serpent weaving silently through the underbrush, always on the verge of a strike.

[Twin Serpent Sprint +1]

He adjusted his rhythm instinctively, no longer forcing the feint but letting his upper body sway naturally with his steps.

A slight twist of the ankle. A pivot of the hips. A subtle shift of the shoulders.

The illusion of movement deepened — more refined, more deceptive. If someone had been watching him in that moment, they would've hesitated, unsure which direction he would attack from.

Dust kicked up behind him with each burst of speed like miniature explosions.

His entire body was drenched in sweat. His breath came in short and every muscle in his legs screamed in protest, as if bound in chains of iron.

But his lips curled into a faint smile as a familiar voice echoed within his mind.

[Twin Serpent Sprint +1]

[Twin Serpent Sprint has leveled up!]

[Twin Serpent Sprint, Level 3 reached.]

[Rewards: True EXP +2.]

Yun Feng collapsed to the side, catching himself against a nearby tree and leaning heavily against it. His body was at its limit, but the grin on his face only widened.

A fresh wave of understanding surged through his mind — new insights, subtle shifts in movement, timing, and force distribution — all the little details that had confused him before now made sense.

Even his body felt slightly looser, more agile than before. His flexibility had noticeably improved, likely as a direct result of the breakthrough.

'This is the best,' Yun Feng chuckled softly, joy blooming in his chest. 'Another step forward... A small one, maybe. But even small steps, when added together, can climb mountains and touch the peak.'

He remained there for a while, allowing his body to recover as he carefully sifted through the newly absorbed knowledge.

The Twin Serpent Sprint drained both stamina and mental focus far more rapidly than Mountain Shaking Fist. Even though he had practiced less today than the previous day, his body was equally, if not more, exhausted.

'I can't practice like this anymore today. I'd only be wasting effort... Might as well go check out the registration center.'

Letting out a weary sigh, Yun Feng reached for a towel he had stuffed into his pack. He wiped the sweat off his face, tied his hair back loosely, and began to gather his belongings.

He packed quickly, knowing that even this short break would cause his muscles to start stiffening. But he had no intention of walking back.

No, this was actually the perfect chance to grind his Sprinting skill. He was tired, which made it the ideal condition for pushing his limits.

'Let's make this pain worthwhile,' he thought and began running.

The road back felt longer than usual. Every step was a battle. His legs were dragging, his vision occasionally blurred, and his chest ached with every breath.

But he pushed through.

He gritted his teeth and continued, whispering to himself, "One more step. Just one more."

By the time he reached the city gates, he looked like a half-dead beast crawling toward shelter.

As expected, his return didn't go unnoticed.

Once again, he became the center of attention or rather, mockery.

Rumors had already spread throughout Blackwood City that the former young master of the Wei Clan had lost his mind after being exiled. And now he ran around the city like a lunatic.

Many had come to see for themselves, especially people from the Wei Clan. Subordinates of the young elites had come to check the situation themselves.

The young geniuses had always hated him.

To them, Yun Feng had been born with everything status, prestige, and position, while they had to fight and climb.

His existence as the clan's heir, despite his trashy cultivation, was an insult to all their efforts.

And now? Now that he was no longer protected by clan rules or status, they finally had a chance to exact their silent revenge.

Of course, none of them would move openly. Attacking him publicly would still ruin their reputations. But watching him act like a madman… that was enough to satisfy their wounded pride.

Their spies were already scattered across the streets, watching him with amused smiles.

Yun Feng didn't care.

Not one bit.

He ran through the street in his disheveled pants, shirtless, sweat dripping from his scarred chest and back. He ignored the eyes, the whispers, the smirks.

He even hoped that people would consider him a madman as that helped him in his plans. This was also the reason that he acted a little too.

It satisfied the hidden observers. Some even turned back immediately, eager to report to their young masters.

The trash has finally lost it.

Yun Feng reached the Golden Taste Restaurant soon afterward. Thankfully, he didn't crash this time, though he did wobble dangerously near the end.

There was no one waiting at the entrance today, so he simply took the back route to reach his quarters.

He needed a long, warm bath more than anything right now.

Just as he neared the back of the restaurant, he spotted Lady Su walking alongside Old Bai, deep in conversation.

Not wanting to interrupt, Yun Feng gave them a quick nod in greeting and attempted to slip past silently.

But a large hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

"Wait a second! Why are you running away like a scared kitten after seeing me?" Old Bai asked, his voice loud as ever and his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do I look that scary?"

'You look funny, not scary...' Yun Feng thought but didn't say. Instead, he took a deep breath and answered politely, "It's not like that. You were talking with Lady Su, so I didn't want to disturb you two. Besides, I'm really not in a good state to meet anyone right now."

"Hmph. That's true. You smell like filth," Old Bai sniffed and clicked his tongue. "Wash yourself in hot water."

Before Yun Feng could say anything, Old Bai shoved a small jade bottle into his hand.

"Use this. Pour it into the hot water and soak in it. Trust me, it'll help more than you think."

Yun Feng opened his mouth to respond, but Lady Su interrupted with a soft smile.

"There's a hot spring on the right side of the staff quarters. We take good care of our people here."

And with that, the two of them walked off, continuing their earlier conversation — leaving Yun Feng standing there, a little stunned, a little confused, and very unsure what to think.

After a moment, he let out a sigh and muttered under his breath, "If you really are helping me sincerely… then I'll remember this forever."

Shaking off those thoughts, he made his way to his room to pick up some clean clothes. The restaurant had generously provided him with an extra set — nothing fancy, just simple but clean.

Of course, nothing came free.

The cost would be deducted from his salary but Yun Feng didn't mind. He needed fresh clothes anyway, and this was as good a deal as any.

After grabbing his change of clothes, he made his way to the hot spring Lady Su had mentioned.

On the way, he passed a few night-shift staff members preparing for their duties.

The Golden Taste Restaurant never closed. It operated day and night and even then, it was always packed.

He greeted them with a polite nod. They returned it quietly, some with small smiles.

'It seems that they are finally losing some of their awkwardness. I don't know what happened, but it's a good thing.'

Soon, Yun Feng reached the hot spring.

Steam rose lazily from the water. The air smelled faintly of minerals and something sweet — probably from whatever medicinal ingredients were added.

A peaceful smile touched his lips.

It was finally time… to let go of fatigue and reward himself with warmth.