Watching the towering, stout figure move toward him like an iron fortress, Li Fan's heart leaped into his throat. Just sent the wolf away, and now a tiger arrives? The life of a chore boy at Azure Bamboo Garden was a little too"fulfilling"!
He instinctively cried out in his mind,"System! Quick, scan the newcomer! Points…"
[Basic biological scan (non-combat assessment) of the target requires 1 point. Confirm?] The system's reply was instantaneous, as if it had been waiting.
"Confirm!" Li Fan gritted his teeth. His meager remaining 3 points instantly halved. Poverty was a primal sin!
A stream of data rushed in, and the interface refreshed:
[Target Basic Analysis Report]
Identity: Wang Tiezhu, Azure Bamboo Garden Chore Boy, five years of service.
Physique Assessment: Eight feet tall, coarse bone structure, muscle density far exceeding the common average, possesses excellent Body Cultivation potential.
Status Description: Malnourished, spiritual energy depleted, multiple chronic soft tissue injuries in the right shoulder and left knee.
Micro-Expression Interpretation: Direct gaze, stable gait, no hostile intent detected. Expression reveals hesitation and… a hint of plea?
Comprehensive Judgment: Threat Level:[Extremely Low]. Target likely holds non-hostile intentions.
Li Fan blinked slightly. Non-hostile? A plea? The situation seemed to be taking an unexpected turn.
While he was momentarily stunned, Wang Tiezhu stopped a few steps in front of him. He was nearly a head taller than Li Fan, broad as a wall, but now he was slightly bowed, nervously rubbing the corner of his rough clothes. His honest face was etched with unease, a stark contrast to his intimidating physique.
"Li… Li Senior Brother," Wang Tiezhu spoke, his voice muffled and cautious.
Senior Brother? Li Fan was taken aback by the title. Among chore boys, they usually just called each other by name, or some, like Zhao Hu, might arrogantly deem themselves"Senior Brother." This was the first time he'd been called that by someone clearly older and much larger.
"Uh, just call me Li Fan." Li Fan quickly adjusted his expression, masking his surprise, and asked as calmly as possible,"Senior Brother Wang, can I help you?"
Wang Tiezhu looked up, his dark, bright eyes filled with a pure, desperate hope."I… I saw you talking to Zhao Hu and the others just now. You… you really know how to diagnose illness? You can see their problems?"
A thought flashed through Li Fan's mind. This big, honest guy must have witnessed his"scientific fortune-telling" act that had hoodwinked Zhao Hu's trio, and… he actually believed it!
Li Fan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he sized Wang Tiezhu up. The system's report mentioning"excellent Body Cultivation potential" and"multiple chronic injuries" gave him a clear picture. This was a piece of unpolished jade, overlooked and in desperate need of help.
"I know a bit of the Art of Observing Aura," Li Fan answered vaguely, maintaining the air of mystery."Senior Brother Wang seems… troubled as well?"
Wang Tiezhu immediately nodded as if he'd found a savior, his tone full of grievance and confusion:"Senior Brother Li, I… I have strength, and I never slack off! But I don't know why, when I practice the Body Strengthening Technique, it always feels wrong. I feel like I can't use all my power, and my shoulder aches, my knee hurts." He pointed to his shoulder and knee.
"I've been here for five years, but I haven't even mastered the first layer. The steward says I'm slow, and the others laugh at me as a big, stupid brute with only muscle…" His voice trailed off, his massive figure somehow appearing pitiful.
Li Fan understood completely. Wang Tiezhu's innate talent was definitely not bad—in fact, he might be a rare seed for body cultivation. But he lacked proper technique, and the long-term malnutrition and accumulated injuries resulted in diminishing returns, trapping him in a vicious cycle.
Just then, the system's prompt, like a cat smelling fish, chimed in at the perfect moment:
[Ding! High-quality research sample"Untapped Body Cultivation Genius" detected. Side Quest issued: Body Cultivation Potential Assessment and Training Plan Optimization.]
Quest Description: Conduct a comprehensive physical test and potential assessment on target Wang Tiezhu, and based on the data analysis, customize a scientific basic training plan for him.
Time Limit: 24 hours.
Quest Reward: 15 Research Points.
Failure Penalty: None.
Li Fan's eyes lit up! 15 points! That was more generous than the main quest! And no failure penalty! This was a godsend and a long-term meal ticket delivered by the system!
The look in his eyes, as he stared at Wang Tiezhu, instantly changed from scrutiny to the feverish gaze of someone who'd found a"mobile point package."
"Senior Brother Wang," Li Fan offered a very friendly smile, the kind of smile a researcher gives upon finding the ideal specimen."I might be able to see a few clues about your problem. But to cure it, we need the right medicine. I need to conduct a… well, a'physical evaluation' on you."
"A physical what?" Wang Tiezhu looked puzzled.
"It's a thorough check of your current physical condition," Li Fan explained."However, the process will require your full cooperation, and… it might be a bit tiring."
"I'm not afraid of being tired!" Wang Tiezhu thumped his chest, assuring him earnestly."As long as we can find the problem so I can cultivate, I'll do whatever it takes!"
"Good!" That was exactly what Li Fan wanted to hear.
The next half-day saw a bizarre spectacle of"physical evaluation" unfold in a quiet corner of the Azure Bamboo Garden.
Li Fan made full use of everything around them. He had Wang Tiezhu repeatedly lift stones of different weights, recording his maximum load and the number of repetitions until failure, testing his absolute strength and endurance. He made him sprint along a fixed route, using a self-made water clock for timing, assessing his explosive power and speed. He had him perform various stretches and twists to evaluate his flexibility and joint mobility…
Lacking professional equipment, Li Fan relied on observation, meticulously recording every detail of Wang Tiezhu's movements, the frequency of his breathing, and the degree of his muscle tremors.
Wang Tiezhu, meanwhile, showed astonishing cooperation and perseverance. No matter how strange Li Fan's requests were—like standing on a slippery stone in the stream on one foot to maintain balance—he completed them rigorously, panting and drenched in sweat, without a single complaint.
[Data Log: Target Bench Press (Stone) approx. 150 catties, failed after 15 repetitions.]
[Data Log: Target 100-meter dash (est.) time 7.8 seconds, far exceeding the average chore boy level.]
[Data Log: Target shoulder joint hyperextension restricted, consistent with old injury.]
[Data Log: Target heart rate recovery speed after exercise is unusually fast, suspected sign of a special physique.]
A vast amount of data was recorded and organized by the system. The more Li Fan tested, the more astonished he became. Wang Tiezhu's physical qualities were the stuff of a top athlete in his previous life, perhaps even stronger! Yet, in this world, he was considered useless because of a lack of scientific training and nutrition knowledge.
The physical evaluation concluded. Wang Tiezhu was sprawled on the ground, puffing and blowing, but his eyes were unusually bright. He felt that though Senior Brother Li's methods were strange, he was far more reliable than those stewards and fellow disciples who only called him an idiot.
Li Fan closed his eyes, communicating rapidly with the system in his mind.
"System, based on the current data, can you generate a preliminary optimization plan? For example, targeting his old injuries and muscle engagement habits?"
[Wang Tiezhu Preliminary Physical Analysis and Basic Training Suggestions V0.1 can be generated. Requires consumption of 1 host point.]
"Exchange!" Li Fan didn't hesitate. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
The information flowed in, and a concise, yet core-focused report was generated. It included a set of targeted stretching exercises to alleviate old injuries, a suggested food list to increase intake—using common ingredients but with more reasonable pairings—and several key points for adjusting the muscle engagement techniques of specific movements in the Body Strengthening Technique.
Li Fan opened his eyes and translated the key points of the report into language Wang Tiezhu could understand.
"…So, before you cultivate, first do these few movements to activate your shoulder and knee. When you eat, try to find more beans and meat. If not, eggs and brown rice will do, but you must eat until you are full! Also, when circulating the third form of the technique, your focus should be on the Governing Vessel (Du Mai), not directly rushing the bottleneck…"
Wang Tiezhu listened, half-understanding, but he firmly etched every single word into his memory. He felt that what Senior Brother Li said… seemed incredibly logical!
"Senior Brother Li! I… I've got it!" Wang Tiezhu struggled to his feet and bowed deeply to Li Fan, his eyes even a little red."No one… no one has ever told me this! Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Seeing Wang Tiezhu's tearful gratitude, as if he had found the beacon of his life, Li Fan felt a profound sense of satisfaction. This, perhaps, was the power of knowledge.
"You go try what I told you. In three days, I'll check the results," Li Fan patted his solid arm.
Wang Tiezhu nodded heavily, expressed his thanks profusely, and left, his steps seeming much lighter than when he arrived.
[Side Quest Progress Updated: Preliminary data collection and basic advice complete. Please observe the training effect and submit the final assessment report within 24 hours to receive the full reward.]
Li Fan nodded, pleased. A good start. A potentially powerful aid (scratch that)—a vital research partner—had been tentatively secured.
As the sun set, he returned to his dilapidated woodshed. It was time to verify the"Qi Guidance Technique Circulation Efficiency Analysis Report," which cost 5 points!
He sat cross-legged, cleared his mind, and began to guide the meager spiritual energy according to the optimized path.
It worked! The spiritual energy flow, which had been stagnant and prone to errors, became much smoother! The efficiency increased by more than thirty percent! At this rate, he might soon break through the first layer of Qi Condensation and truly enter the gate of cultivation!
Just as he was absorbed in his practice, enjoying the pleasure of his strength slowly growing—
[WARNING: Abnormal energy stagnation point detected in the host's body, located in the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin. The optimization plan is exhibiting an unknown rejection reaction with the host's own meridians, recalculating… Recalculating…]
Li Fan was jolted awake from his trance, feeling a surge of numbness in his right arm. The spiritual energy that had just been flowing smoothly suddenly froze in his arm!
What happened?! Was there a problem with the system's plan?!