On the way back, Ling Feng checked the panel information.
Name: Ling Feng
Life Chart: Coast Along
Profession: Senior Martial Dao Student
Combat Power: 9.57822
Coasting Along Value: 28
Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms: Minor Success (30/100)
Tidal Breathing Method: Entry Level (28/100)
Ability: All-weather Breathing and Exhaling Ability, arm strength increased by two hundred kilograms at any level.
Usually, by adhering to his Life Chart attributes and thoroughly fulfilling his mission to coast along, he would gain only six to seven points daily. But the last class in the afternoon, Xu Zhiyuan's remote teaching, was extremely valuable to Outer Ring City students. Coasting during that class netted Ling Feng a substantial amount of Coasting Along Value.
Ling Feng knew that Combat Power was composed of cultivation techniques and skills.
The all-weather breathing and exhaling ability is equivalent to a continually operating breathing technique, which not only slightly increases combat power but also boosts the Tidal Breathing Method value daily.
So, Ling Feng chose to add more Coasting Along Value to the spear skills.
He knew that the original owner wanted to rely on spear skills to break through and enhance combat power, and he hoped to fulfill the original owner's wish as soon as possible.
He aimed to cultivate the Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms to perfection and achieve the Mortal Realm.
So-called spear technique having form refers to the spear technique reaching a speed where sonic booms are produced during maneuvers, with each thrust forming a terrifying lethal force.
Once the spear technique reaches the Mortal Realm, Ling Feng would become an Entry-Level Martial Artist.
Thus, the panel changed.
Combat Power: 9.70011
Coasting Along Value: None
Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms: Minor Success (58/100)
As the spear skill value increased, although Minor Success did not become Great Success, imperceptibly, Ling Feng seemed closer to the Mortal Realm in spear technique, and his combat power increased from 9.5 to 9.7.
A while later, Ling Feng returned to the West Warehouse District.
At night, he hid in the small room on the balcony, surfing in Star Realm, interacting once more with the female streamer, Angry Little Lass, watching her live broadcast on how to upgrade and fight monsters with her Planted Muscle Arm.
In the opposite building, Lai Zhijun glanced at the interaction content between Ling Feng and Angry Little Lass, then began breathing exercises, trying to awaken qi sensitivity from his body.
Internally, he silently chanted, "You think you're the only one secretly cultivating, using interaction with a female streamer as an excuse to fool me? No way!"
The long spear was knocked flying by a single move from Ling Feng.
Lai Zhijun regarded it as a great humiliation.
He and Ling Feng lived in the same West Warehouse District, best able to observe Ling Feng's every move. Seeing Ling Feng hiding in the small room on the balcony, appearing to interact with Angry Little Lass on the surface, in reality, Lai Zhijun believed Ling Feng was practicing breathing exercises in the room.
In the dead of night.
Second uncle Zhang Lei returned, looking exhausted.
Liu Feng, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly served a bowl of rice from the pot, complaining, "Even if it's to pay off the high-interest loan, you don't have to go so hard. At worst, sell everything in the house that can be sold. You're no longer an Elemental Martial Artist, so you can't stay too long in the Great Radiation Zone."
"Keep your voice down, I'm fine. I know my body, and all these years, I've gotten used to that environment from running there often."
Zhang Lei glanced at Ling Feng and Zhang Qingqing's room and said.
"If it comes to that, we can have Tiesheng apply for a loan from his unit to pay it back."
Liu Feng felt conflicted.
"What nonsense, Tiesheng has only just established himself. Asking him to take out a loan so young would affect his future. When he comes back, don't bring up this matter, I've got the loan issue covered. Understand?"
Zhang Lei instructed.
"Okay, okay, you're the capable one. If you collapse, what will happen to this family? Originally, I hoped that someday, we could move into the Inner Ring City, but now... sigh."
Liu Feng looked dejected.
"I just got back, and you start nagging. Can't I eat in peace?"
Zhang Lei said with disdain.
Liu Feng didn't grumble anymore, just sighed now and then.
"Second uncle and aunt are still worrying about the loan. Returning so late, second uncle must have made an extra trip than usual."
"Two years ago, second uncle stopped being an Elemental Martial Artist. Before, even as an Elemental Martial Artist, he dared to run through the Radiation Zone only three times a day. Now, he's not an Elemental Martial Artist anymore, yet his workload remains the same."
"I have to become an Entry-Level Martial Artist soon. Only by becoming an Entry-Level Martial Artist can I obtain a 50,000 reward and participate in ranking tournaments in Star Realm to get various rewards."
Ling Feng thought to himself.
Zhang Lei came home late at night, thinking that Ling Feng had fallen asleep, but he was actually still surfing the internet.
Ling Feng didn't truly sleep until dawn.
Before sleeping, he checked the weather forecast.
Tomorrow, strong winds and rain will bring pollutants from the Great Radiation Zone, making it inconvenient to travel, so before sleeping, he sent a leave note to the Cultivation Committee Member Wu Weiwei.
Coasting along refers to avoiding competition, struggle, effort, and anxiety. Heading to school to cultivate in harsh weather is something only a Cultivation Committee Member would do.
If Ling Feng were like them, he wouldn't gain even a speck of Coasting Along Value tomorrow.
As for what Yang Liru tasked him with.
Ling Feng had long forgotten about it.
After he fell asleep, on the opposite building's rooftop, Lai Zhijun wielded a bamboo stick, practicing the Basic Spear Skill Thirteen Forms.
He practiced while saying, "You sneak to cultivate, so do I, and I do it more thoroughly. When you sleep, I don't; when you rest, I practice. Let's see how you'll compete with me. I'm sure to become an Entry-Level Martial Artist before you. I'm the real pride of the West Warehouse District."
...
The next day.
Yang Liru arrived at Class 8, Senior Year with high expectations.
Upon entering, she noticed two empty seats in the classroom.
One of them belonged to Ling Feng.
"Why hasn't Ling Feng come to class?"
Yang Liru frowned and asked.
"Teacher Yang, Ling Feng asked me to inform you that he is taking leave today. He said it's inconvenient to travel due to strong winds and rain, and he'll come to school once the weather is better."
Cultivation Committee Member Wu Weiwei stood up and said.
"What?"
Yang Liru couldn't believe her ears.
She wondered if Ling Feng had truly become foolish and whether secretly cultivating behind everyone's back was just everyone's imagination.
The other students were also discussing.
They all felt Ling Feng's behavior was unreasonable.
"What's going on with Lai Zhijun? Why isn't he here either?"
Yang Liru looked at the other empty seat.
"Classmate Lai Zhijun, in order to quickly become an Entry-Level Martial Artist, was practicing the spear technique on the rooftop last night under the cover of darkness and wind. He accidentally tripped over some steel bars and passed out, only to be discovered this morning. Because it rained all night, classmate Lai Zhijun caught a cold, and his limbs are weak. He has taken two days off for this."
Wu Weiwei explained.
Yang Liru was speechless. Running to the rooftop to practice spear techniques at such an hour—if they truly wanted to cultivate diligently, they might as well do it in Star Realm. Why go to the rooftop?
Could it be that they didn't want to be discovered so they snuck away to cultivate, aiming to stun everyone with a single achievement?