A few days later.
Chu Ming finished his daily practice of the Slapping Wind Palm and Tiger and Python Strength.
Slapping Wind Palm (Great Success)
Progress: 21/100
Tiger and Python Strength (Minor Success)
Progress: 13/100
"After Tiger and Python Strength advanced to Minor Success, my stamina improved several times compared to before."
"Slapping Wind Palm has also reached Great Success; now, even with just thirty percent of my strength, I can chop through wooden stakes..."
Returning indoors, he continued reading three books of poetry.
"These past few days, I've slackened in reading because of working hard on Tiger and Python Strength. Today, there's still time; let's see if I can finish the progress and advance."
Reading (Minor Success): Photographic Memory
Progress: 82/100
Progress: 83/100
...
Two hours later.
Progress: 99/100
Chu Ming eagerly flipped to the next page.
Reading (Great Success): Integration
Progress: 0/100
"Advanced!"
He gleamed with bright eyes.
"The whole General Theory of the Book of Songs, half of the Essence of Classics and History, finally pushed Reading to Great Success."
"Integration...?"
At this moment, Chu Ming felt countless thoughts entwining in his mind, stories from more than twenty travelogues, all the poetry from the General Theory of the Book of Songs, history from the Essence of Classics and History...
These read contents were no longer just imprinted in memory; the intertwining began to resonate, leading to more unprecedented ideas.
Insight, understanding.
His consciousness stayed on the thought line of the Sword Gourd Journey travelogue, and then countless colored thought lines gathered almost instantly, expanding swiftly like a spider web...
Buzz—
Suddenly, a wondrous feeling arose like never before.
"This is..." Chu Ming closed his eyes, "Inner Vision?"
Flesh, meridians, even the five internal organs, all were within his observation.
"My physical condition is really poor, meridians thinning, many surface cracks, most acupoints blocked, and blood can't circulate in many places; even the five organs have varying degrees of damage..."
All this even after cultivating Tiger and Python Strength to Minor Success; before that, it must have been worse.
Chu Ming opened his eyes, adjusted his mindset, and looked at the panel.
Sword Gourd Spirit
Progress (entry-level): 1/100
Evaluation: Derived from comprehending multiple travelogues, enhanced perception ability, can be triggered actively, consuming spiritual power, enabling inner vision
"Integration, that's what it means."
Reading over twenty travelogues, the content fermented and blended in his mind, ultimately illuminating the inner vision ability based on Sword Gourd Journey.
"So, I can derive special abilities through reading!"
Read to death, or read dead books?
That only means you haven't read enough!
"Keep reading."
...
At dusk, after Chu Ming practiced Tiger and Python Strength to '23', he sat in the small courtyard, activated Sword Gourd Spirit, and did an inner vision.
"After practicing Tiger and Python Strength, though tired, it's very comfortable; turns out there's meridian unlocking."
With the ability to view his internal condition, he understood the benefits of cultivating Tiger and Python Strength, stimulating blood circulation to impact blocked meridians.
The more meridians opened, the better his body would recover.
But the problem is clear too: Tiger and Python Strength at Minor Success can only accelerate blood flow through meridians, not repair damage on meridians, acupoints, and internal organs.
That's why his body is improving but still can't compare to ordinary people.
In summary, the foundation is damaged.
"Slowly..."
While thinking this, the courtyard door was pushed open, and Fang Xiao returned from outside.
"Old man, these days...?"
Housekeeper Fang has been leaving early and returning late these days, quite different from the elderly who used to dwell in the courtyard.
Chu Ming felt puzzled, so he casually asked.
"Oh, met an old friend, had some tea." Fang Xiao wasn't ready to tell Chu Ming about his joining the Arresting Office.
Chu Ming wanted to ask more, but Fang Xiao quickly changed the topic, pretending to casually say, "By the way, young master, the old servant heard today that the town's private school is about to hold the academy exam, and it's different from usual."
"It's said the top three in the academy exam not only can enter the county exam but also receive the Great Qin Dynasty Ministry of War and Ministry of Rites jointly written Poetry, Politics, and Military books as rewards."
"I wonder what's special about that Poetry, Politics, and Military?"
The private school academy exam is about to take place?
The words were unintentional, but the listener took them to heart.
Chu Ming felt a stir in his heart.
Before mastering Slapping Wind Palm and Tiger and Python Strength, his plan was to pursue scholarly recognition.
With the powerful effect of Read, he's not certain about becoming a high-ranking official, as moving upward realistically requires more than just a head full of knowledge.
But passing the exam for a smaller official position, life should definitely improve compared to now.
And this idea didn't change even after rigorously practicing martial arts.
"Though I do possess martial skills, compared to true martial artists in this world, it's nothing, let alone those who can move mountains and overturn seas."
"Though I might prolong my life staying secluded, ultimately I can't escape destiny in this small patch of soil."
"In the Great Qin Dynasty, culture and martial arts flourish, the martial artist path isn't so clear now, knowing little. But if I can pass the exam, I have a chance to access deeper knowledge."
"Even the original wealthy father tried every means to send his son to the imperial court."
"Being within the system is always unmatched by common people struggling for livelihood."
"If a major event arises, by holding the status of a Great Qin Dynasty official, I can know the inside story ahead of time, avoiding being kept in the dark like the masses..."
"Simultaneously, I can use my power to explore more about martial artists."
"However... before that, I must finish reading Essence of Classics and History and the Complete Book of Agricultural Administration."
Traditionally, private school academy exams draw their questions from the three poetry books he's been studying.
Fang Xiao glanced at Chu Ming out of the corner of his eye; his raising of the academy exam topic was to shift the conversation and to gauge if the young master had the intention to participate.
Those three classics were exchanged for by Fang Xiao from the private school, as only the private school in the small town could acquire them, being the highest circulated exam materials.
Originally, he couldn't understand why Chu Ming sold his beloved travelogues for poetry books, but witnessing Chu Ming's exceptional memorization, Fang Xiao developed an idea.
Perhaps, the young master had planned to join the academy exam long ago.
...
The next day, after practicing Slapping Wind Palm and Tiger and Python Strength, Chu Ming took some silver and walked out of the courtyard.
"Is the young master going to the brothel to listen to music?" came Little Shan's voice from behind.
"There's no music in the morning." Chu Ming paused.
"Oh," Little Shan, still not quite convinced, added, "I'll help... accompany the young master."
"No!"
Chu Ming showed a stern expression, and Little Shan obediently returned to the courtyard to do her tasks.
He wasn't going to listen to music; he intended to go to the private school to see how to participate in the academy exam.
Initially, he planned to have Housekeeper Fang inquire, but he hadn't seen him all morning, so he had to go himself.
Luckily, after these days of cultivating Tiger and Python Strength, his physical strength grew significantly, making going out manageable.
Liuu Town was just a border town with a not particularly large population, so Chu Ming walked steadily along the stone-paved road, only occasionally seeing one or two people.
They either walked hurriedly or looked apathetic, even brushing shoulders as if unnoticed.
After turning several streets, Chu Ming reached an alley where he was faced with someone.
"Brother Chu?" The person looked about the same age as Chu Ming, around fifteen or sixteen years old.
An acquaintance?