In the dead of night, Zhang Yuan tossed and turned on the bed, unable to fall asleep.
It wasn't because of the heat, but because the excessive internal fire caused a surge of qi and blood, leaving him drenched in sweat.
In the evening, Zhang Yuan had eaten a whole large can of stewed venison.
Experiencing for the first time the feeling of being stuffed from eating too much meat!
Venison has a yang and dry nature, and he ate too much. Coupled with his natural fiery disposition, the result was predictable.
Unable to sleep, Zhang Yuan simply got up and quietly left his room.
He walked into the small courtyard outside, looked around under the moonlight, and confirmed that there was nothing unusual around.
Then Zhang Yuan activated the first host of the Divine Nest—the Black Giant Ant!
In the next moment, a strange force surged from his left hand, instantly spreading through his vital organs.
Reaching his limbs and bones!
Zhang Yuan couldn't help but grunt, as his muscles bulged, and thick tendons emerged from beneath his skin, with all his bones resonating in unison.
His body grew taller and expanded in circumference.
This was the extraordinary power bestowed upon Zhang Yuan by the Divine Nest host, the Black Giant Ant!
He stepped forward, spreading his now burly arms, and embraced the stone mill placed in the corner of the small courtyard.
"Hey!"
Zhang Yuan exhaled and made a sound, and lifted the stone mill weighing four to five hundred pounds.
To avoid disturbing his sleeping mother inside, he kept his voice very low.
But the explosive power did not diminish!
Holding the heavy stone mill, Zhang Yuan walked five full circles around the small courtyard.
If it were the previous Zhang Yuan, he wouldn't even be able to lift this stone mill, let alone walk around with it!
It wasn't until he felt his strength beginning to wane that Zhang Yuan steadily placed the stone mill back in its original position.
[Host: Zhang Yuan]
[Divine Nest: Level 1 (15%)]
[Host: Level 1 Black Giant Ant (1%)/2x Strength]
[Qi and Blood: 10/75]
[Source Material: 0]
The Divine Nest panel showed that Zhang Yuan's qi and blood value had fallen to a very low level at that moment.
This was very normal.
Not only activating the abilities of the Divine Nest host consumes qi and blood, but also maintaining these abilities requires the same.
Zhang Yuan estimated that the duration of double strength was about five minutes.
This duration is undoubtedly limited by his own qi and blood.
So he must find ways to keep increasing the upper limit of his qi and blood, so his explosive power will last longer and longer.
Thus, he has to find ways to learn real martial arts and enhance his own strength.
Zhang Yuan's determination to become a martial artist had never been so firm as it was at that moment!
After such an exertion, most of the internal fire in Zhang Yuan's body had been taken away by the sweat.
He took a simple cold water bath at the edge of the courtyard and returned to the room to sleep, no longer troubled by insomnia.
Slept soundly until dawn!
The next day, Zhang Yuan woke up to the crowing of the village rooster.
Oh no!
Realizing that he had overslept, he cursed under his breath, got up quickly, and washed up.
To deal with the county government's corvée, Zhang Yuan only had three days to gather the five taels of silver required for service.
Now there were only two days left!
After wolfing down the breakfast Mother Zhang prepared, he grabbed his hunting bow, firewood knife, and water bag, and set off to go hunting in Qianfeng Mountain again as fast as he could.
What Zhang Yuan didn't expect was that as soon as he stepped out of his house, not more than a dozen steps away, he saw Steward Zhang from yesterday blocking his way with two household servants.
Zhang Yuan stopped in his tracks and said sternly, "It hasn't been three days yet, has it?"
Steward Zhang chuckled, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Zhang Yuan, you've struck it lucky. Our eldest young master has taken a liking to you. Just sign this contract, and you won't need to serve this time or any time in the future!"
Saying this, he handed over a piece of yellowed paper, "If you can't write, a fingerprint will do."
Zhang Yuan calmly took the contract paper and quickly read it over.
Then a surge of anger ignited in his heart!
Because it was a slavery contract.
Once Zhang Yuan signed this contract, he would not only become a slave servant to Eldest Young Master Chen but also have no end term!
Stewart Zhang shook his head and continued, "Not just anyone can become our Chen family's household servant. Besides the monthly rewards, you'll also get clothes, food, and worry-free living."
"If you serve well, maybe the eldest young master will grace you with the opportunity to learn martial arts, and then you'll truly prosper!"
He spoke with spittle flying, while Zhang Yuan listened with a growing cold sneer in his heart.
If he wasn't wrong, Eldest Young Master Chen was likely one of the young men learning martial arts with Hunter Gao yesterday.
He still clearly remembered how the other looked down on him with arms crossed!
If Zhang Yuan really became this young master's servant, he would most likely end up as a human punching bag.
Used as a live target for martial practice!
So no matter how eloquent Steward Zhang was, no matter how profound his skill in drawing cakes, how could Zhang Yuan possibly fall for it?
Expressionless, he handed the contract paper back to Steward Zhang and said, "Thank Eldest Young Master Chen for his kindness, but following Zhang family's ancestral teachings, I'd rather starve than steal, die poor than serve as a slave!"
"So I can only acknowledge the goodwill."
Let alone Zhang Yuan had a Divine Nest— even without it, he would never become someone's slave!
Steward Zhang's face turned cold, clutching the contract sinisterly, "Zhang Yuan, have you thought about the consequences of refusing our young master?"
Zhang Yuan didn't answer, bypassing them and headed out of the village.
Seeing Zhang Yuan ignoring him, Steward Zhang was so furious his whiskers twitched upwards, "Bold!"
"Steward, should we?"
One of the household servants made a slashing gesture.
"Not necessary."
Steward Zhang didn't lose his senses, said grudgingly, "A mere ant-like being isn't worth such effort, anyway, there'll be a time for this brat to cry soon!"
He seemed to envision Zhang Yuan kneeling and begging at his feet for not being able to pay the service silver.
Can't help but chuckle sinisterly, as malicious thoughts raced through his mind!
Meanwhile, after leaving Chen Family Village, Zhang Yuan quickened his pace towards Qianfeng Mountain, trekking the path he took yesterday until he reached the small forest stream again.
This time, he didn't immediately search for traces of prey.
Rather, he looked around waiting in place.
After a short while, amid a flurry of rustling sounds, a pitch-black crow came flying through the forest, landing on a large tree about ten steps away from Zhang Yuan.
It watched Zhang Yuan coldly with its blood-red eyes.
Zhang Yuan's gaze focused, and he spoke deeply, "You help me, I help you, you get the intestines, I take the meat!"
The crow tilted its head, seemingly pondering and weighing it over.
After a while, it suddenly flapped its wings, flying towards the right.
Zhang Yuan hesitated not at all, gripping his hunting bow, following tight behind.
The heart is more treacherous than treachery itself.
He'd rather collaborate with dangerous oddities than bow down to the Chen family, be reduced to servitude!