He had tended the fire all night.
By morning, Su Qing felt his body's exhaustion.
He fell asleep in an instant.
...
"Hahaha."
"Catch me! Come and get me!"
...
Su Qing was jolted awake. The sound of children was truly annoying.
His annoyance grew, especially since he was still so tired.
Soon enough, Su Qing forced himself to get up amidst the children's laughter.
He first went to the stream to wash himself. His body was covered in sweat, which made him feel sticky and grimy.
Normally, there would be women washing clothes by the stream.
So Su Qing found a secluded spot to clean himself up.
"Refreshing!"
The cool water on his face jolted Su Qing awake.
He continued to practice the Cyan Snake Posture.
Seeing that no one was around, Su Qing decided to practice right there.
With the help of First Layer Grass Cakes and his own practice, another day quickly passed.
Returning at night, Su Qing was utterly exhausted, even with his Chaotic Life Body.
As soon as he got back, Su Qing installed the shabby grass door he had spent half an hour weaving onto the entrance of his little dilapidated hut.
He also patched up the roof a bit.
He took out a Fire Stick, lit some tinder, and then placed firewood on top.
As the firelight flared up, Su Qing felt much of the day's fatigue melt away.
Host: Su Qing.
Realm: Third-class[First Layer Cyan Snake Posture: Entry Level (86/500)]
Synthesizer Level 2 (32/300)[Synthesis Success Rate +2%, Mutated +1%, Evolution +1%]
[Evolution: Augments the effect of synthesized items tenfold]
Su Qing glanced at the panel for his Cyan Snake Posture and was quite satisfied. His Synthesizer was now Level 2, and he had chosen the Evolution Talent. If it triggered, the effects of his items would be multiplied tenfold.
'Replicate the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture.'
Su Qing recited it silently.
Another wave of mental exhaustion washed over him, but this time, he kept his eyes on the fire, forcing them to stay open.
'If it weren't for the Chaotic Life Body, I feel like I'd really drop dead from overwork.'
Practicing Martial Arts during the day, replicating a technique during his rest time at night, and having to watch the fire so Demon Fiends wouldn't try to extinguish it...
It was truly exhausting.
He took out a Dandelion Grass Cake and started eating.
Dandelion Grass was still quite rare, so this was the only one Su Qing had managed to synthesize successfully.
He ate one grass cake a day.
'Once my First Layer Cyan Snake Posture advances, I'll probably become a little more handsome, right?'
'Money.'
'How am I supposed to make money?'
Su Qing felt helpless. He couldn't expose the items from his Synthesizer, and he had no other way to earn money easily.
Starting a business was too much trouble. As someone not from this era, Su Qing was confident he could make a profit, but it would be just as easy to lose everything.
After all, he wasn't one of the major players who controlled the pie.
'With money, I could learn other Martial Arts, buy weapons, and live a life of comfort.'
...
He guarded the firelight through the night.
Finally, daybreak arrived.
This time, Su Qing didn't go back to sleep.
He went back to the spot where he had washed up the day before.
After a quick rinse, Su Qing silently recited, 'Replicate the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture.'
Immediately, he was hit by another wave of mental exhaustion.
He sat down on the soft grass.
'Synthesize.'
All nine copies of the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture were now in the Synthesizer.
[Synthesis successful. Evolution Talent triggered. The effect of the Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture has evolved.]
[Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture (Evolved) (Twice the effect of the First Layer) → (Twenty times the effect of the First Layer)]
Su Qing was instantly thrilled.
'Twenty times the effect of the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture?'
'Isn't that... completely heaven-defying?!'
However, after a moment of excitement, Su Qing didn't rush to extract it.
He remembered that when he extracted the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture, a flood of essential points and instructions had come with it.
He was mentally exhausted right now. He needed to rest first so he could properly cultivate after extracting it.
An hour later, Su Qing finally felt his mind recover.
"Extract."
In an instant, the complete cultivation method for the Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture flooded into Su Qing's mind.
It wasn't actually that different from the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture.
'I wonder if the effect is really that dramatic.'
Su Qing pushed himself up with his hands, taking a moment to digest the practice method for the Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture.
Then, he began his Cultivation.
[Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture (Evolved) and First Layer Cyan Snake Posture share the same origin]
[Skill Level will inherit half of the First Layer Cyan Snake Posture's progress]
——
Host: Su Qing.
Realm: Second-class[Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture (Evolved): Entry Level (43/500)]
Synthesizer Level 2 (33/300)[Synthesis Success Rate +2%, Mutated +1%, Evolution +1%]
Su Qing now felt as if his entire body was brimming with power, enough to shatter a wall with a single punch.
But that was just a feeling.
The Evolved version of the Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture was simply too effective.
He could clearly feel the qi and blood circulating throughout his body.
...
「Three hours later.」
Under the scorching midday sun, Su Qing was completely exhausted.
In just those three hours, he had devoured ten First Layer Grass Cakes.
That was a ten-day supply.
But the overall results were excellent.
He was no longer scrawny. His muscles were becoming defined, and while he didn't look burly, he was a far cry from his previous emaciated self.
If one were to look into Su Qing's eyes, they would see that they were clear and bright, with a liquid sheen like a flawless mirror.
Realm: Second-class[Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture (Evolved): Entry Level (49/500)]
Thankfully, his Skill Level for the Cyan Snake Posture was still increasing normally.
This made Su Qing happy.
'So what if I need grass cakes?'
'The ground is covered in them. In this world, there's no shortage of grass.'
Filled with motivation, Su Qing rested for a while, ate one Dandelion Grass Cake and ten more First Layer Grass Cakes, and immediately resumed practicing the Cyan Snake Posture.
The potent circulation of his qi and blood kept Su Qing engrossed in his training.
Another three hours passed.
The sun was about to set.
Su Qing didn't continue his Cultivation.
Realm: Second-class[Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture (Evolved): Entry Level (55/500)]
The feeling of getting stronger was just too amazing.
Su Qing had no idea what level he was currently at, as he had no one to compare himself to.
He returned once again to his dilapidated hut.
He lit the fire by himself.
This time, Su Qing didn't replicate the Cyan Snake Posture.
He was afraid that replicating it would cause him to pass out instantly.
After all, this was the Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture, and an Evolved version at that.
'Cultivation.'
'In less than two months, I'll definitely break through to the next stage. I won't be at Entry Level anymore.'
「Five days later.」
Realm: First-class[Second Layer Cyan Snake Posture (Evolved): Entry Level (100/500)]
Su Qing, who was in the middle of his Cultivation, also noticed the change in his panel.
'I've reached First-class?'
'What does First-class even mean?'
Su Qing didn't really understand, but the good news was that he had definitely grown taller.
He didn't know by how much, as the change was small.
This made him very happy.
'I'm fifteen, and I can still grow taller!'
He cultivated until night fell once more.
Just as he returned to his little hut and was about to get some well-deserved rest, he saw an old man with a limp.
The old man pushed open Su Qing's grass door.
Su Qing looked at the limping old man. His clothes were patched all over but clean, and he wore shoes, even on his limping leg.
"What do you want, old man?"
Su Qing's bright eyes stared at the old man. Even in the dim light, the old man could see Su Qing's extraordinary aura.
"Haha, I heard a beggar boy was living here. That would be you, I take it?"
Su Qing's Wang Family servant uniform was so filthy that its insignia was no longer visible.
Su Qing's hair was a tangled mess, but his exposed upper body was toned with muscle.
The key was that Su Qing's skin had also lightened a shade.
It now had a sallow complexion.
...