《Holy Fist》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: 001 enjoying the bitter taste of failure Chapter 1: 001 enjoying the bitter taste of failure ¡°Glug, glug, glug¡­¡± Bai Xiao tilted his head back, his chapped, dry lips approaching the cup, gulping down the water greedily until not a drop remained in the black thermos. ¡°Huff¡­¡± He exhaled a satisfied breath of warm air, the other hand fanning the collar of his grey training uniform back and forth, trying to cool himself down a bit more. The entirety of his back was soaked with sweat, and the air flowed over it, the effect quite remarkable. He stood still in place for a while, calming his racing heart. Bai Xiao then leaned back against the white porcelain wall and sat down with a plop on the rubber mat. With the water cup placed beside him, he rested while looking ahead. It was an indoor training hall, spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides. The midday sun shone through the glass, creating several golden trapezoidal shapes on the light blue rubber carpet. Beyond these areas bathed in high-temperature sunshine, young people dressed in grey training uniforms were each practicing on their own¡ªsome hitting punching bags, some sparring, some shadowboxing. The dull thumping of feet on mats, the thudding of fists on sandbags, and the encouraging shouts of the sparring pairs made for a scene full of intense activity. Even the air, permeated with the scent of sweat, body odor, and rubber, had a fiery, passionate quality to it. ¡°Feels young, not bad¡­¡± Bai Xiao took a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders. It was his third day in this parallel world. After three days of exploration, Bai Xiao understood that he hadn¡¯t been reborn but had traveled through time. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? This 24-year-old body was not particularly strong, but it was quite healthy. ¡°Gather up!¡± Suddenly, the voice of a middle-aged man echoed in the center of the hall. Quickly, the various students stopped what they were doing and clustered around. Bai Xiao also set down his water cup and ran to join the others. In front, a man about 1.8 meters tall, wearing a black coach¡¯s uniform, stood straight, his build impressive. A square-jawed face with thick eyebrows and large eyes, his hair cut short like bristles. It was White Bird Martial Arts Hall¡¯s instructor in charge of them¡ªZhang Hongtao. ¡°Warm-up is over, let¡¯s continue with the concept of Sandboxing from last time.¡± He scanned the many students with his gaze and began to speak knowledgeably. The Sandboxing he spoke of was a fighting technique that combined boxing, leg techniques, and wrestling with the goal of subduing the opponent in as little time as possible. Sandboxing is effective in real combat, focusing on ground fighting and offensive and defensive skills. Today, Zhang Hongtao was going to teach basic movements and fighting stances. ¡°First, the fighting stance, watch my moves carefully,¡± he said. As he spoke, he quickly turned sideways, presenting his left shoulder to the crowd. His legs were spread front to back, slightly wider than shoulder-width, his right foot turned inward, and the tip of his left foot turned slightly inward as well. He clenched his fists with both arms extended forward to the left, eyes looking straight ahead. This was a typical fighting stance, his shoulders shaking slightly, with his body¡¯s weight pressing down on his right foot, ready to explode forward with a punch any moment. Bai Xiao watched carefully as Zhang Hongtao continued to demonstrate and explain. ¡°After the fighting stance,¡± he said, ¡°comes basic fist skills, basic leg techniques, and basic footwork.¡± ¡°Basic fist skills include Charging Fist, Guan Fist, Copy Fist, and others¡­¡± With each technique mentioned, he rapidly executed a corresponding move. His shoulders powered through, his fists whipped out fiercely. ¡°Basic leg techniques include kicking, Kicking, Whip Leg, and so on.¡± ¡°Basic footwork includes tip-toe step, Long Step, Flash Step, etc.¡± Zhang Hongtao executed each move crisply, without any hesitation. ¡°Good, the demonstration is over, next we proceed to breaking down the moves.¡± He quickly assumed the role of instructor, dissecting the various postures and punches into individual movements, explaining key points and their applications as he went along. Half an hour later, Zhang Hongtao retracted his fists and feet, and started by selecting one movement for the many students to imitate. About thirty-odd people in the area started to practice methodically. Among them were some who were quick to grasp it, nailing around seventy to eighty percent accuracy on their first try. Others who were average in comprehension could only manage a rough approximation. The few with the least aptitude, around three or four individuals, executed their moves awkwardly, completely off the mark. Fortunately, Bai Xiao was not among these three or four. However, he wasn¡¯t doing much better, resembling someone who would likely rank in the bottom ten. His athletic talent was not good in his past life, and it didn¡¯t seem to be much better in this life either; combined, he was below average. At the front, Coach Zhang¡¯s gaze swept over the crowd before finally resting on a short-haired young man around 1.8 meters tall, standing two or three places to the left of Bai Xiao. That youth was his focus of attention; in the previous stages of the course, he had already displayed considerable physical talent and comprehension. As expected, during this session teaching the basics of Sandboxing, Guo Hao¡¯s movements were more than seventy to eighty percent correct, showing great potential for future training. ¡°Guo Hao has pretty good talent, but he¡¯s a bit lazy,¡± someone said. ¡°Wait until the Sandboxing course is over.¡± ¡°Maybe we can promote him to the elite class¡­¡± Coach Zhang thought to himself, his gaze moving away from the row of students including Guo Hao, and even the slightly awkward Bai Xiao. More than an hour passed in the training hall. ¡°We¡¯ll practice these movements first, and then you can practice on your own,¡± Coach Zhang said, clapping his hands to signal that everyone could take a break or continue training by themselves. Soon, the students dispersed to different areas and began to practice. Bai Xiao noticed that Coach Zhang hadn¡¯t left the hall, but instead stood by a window. Nearby, Guo Hao was practicing. Bai Xiao glanced over, then returned his focus. Bai Xiao turned and found a corner to start practicing on his own. In this area, there were other students practicing their own movements and steps. However, it was clear that without a coach watching, their intensity slackened¡ªa sign of perfunctory effort, especially from those at the bottom. Yet Bai Xiao was somewhat an exception. The movements he demonstrated, the punches he swung, the steps he took may not have been standard, but there was a hint of earnest effort. It was easy to tell who was diligent and who wasn¡¯t when practicing alone. ¡°Huff¡­ Wheeze¡­ Huff¡­ Wheeze¡­¡± The heavy breathing escaped from Bai Xiao¡¯s nostrils as he could hear his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. The more diligently he practiced, the quicker he tired; after some time practicing Sandboxing, he was quickly drenched in sweat. But despite that, Bai Xiao kept his gaze fixed straight ahead. His movements were meticulous, and the frequency of his training showed no signs of decreasing. From a distance by the window, Coach Zhang¡¯s gaze shifted from Guo Hao, who was resting, and swept across the training hall again. When his sight passed over Bai Xiao¡¯s area, he paused briefly and made a judgment. ¡°He¡¯s working hard, but his talent is just average.¡± ¡°If Guo Hao worked as hard, his training results would surely be two or three times better. I¡¯ll have a good chat with him after class¡­¡± ¡°And it¡¯s about time to talk to him about that elite class¡­¡± In the corner, Bai Xiao¡¯s sweat flew as his arms grew heavier and his legs weaker, with faint sounds coming from his bones. The sweat gathered at his eyelashes and chin, dripping onto the mat. Yet his mouth kept muttering. ¡°Almost there¡­¡± ¡°Just a bit more¡­¡± ¡°Just a little more!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hold on anymore, huff!¡± Bai Xiao exhaled a deep breath, his whole body feeling dizzy and blurry as he quickly leaned on the wall with one hand, taking a moment to recover. After a while, he lifted his head. He could vaguely see. A screen of light in front of his retina was rapidly fading. [Occupation: Fighter (Unactivated)] [Requirements: 1. Attributes average above 10 ¡Ì, 2. Beginner¡¯s fighting technique ¡Á] ¡°It¡¯s really¡­¡± ¡°So frustratingly tantalizing!¡± Bai Xiao licked his dry, chapped lips. Silently savoring the bitter taste of failure. ps. Bai Xiao (Xiao), pronounced the same as Xiao. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: 002 Career Panel Chapter 2: 002 Career Panel ¡°Alright, today¡¯s lesson is over for now,¡± In the training hall, Coach Zhang announced the end of the Sandboxing practice. Instantly, the thirty-something students dispersed on the spot. They each grabbed their belongings and headed towards the changing room. Bai Xiao noticed Guo Hao seemed to have been specifically called aside by the coach to stay behind, possibly for some important words. He didn¡¯t have the habit of eavesdropping, and soon, dragging his exhausted body, he walked outside. After changing into his usual clothes, a set of black sportswear, Bai Xiao arrived at the marble-fronted hall, the air filled with the scent of disinfectant. He frowned, lifted the blue canvas bag on his right shoulder, and quickly exited the door. It was now half past three in the afternoon. The sun was still intense, the sky cloudless, clear, and deeply blue. Bai Xiao walked onto the grid-like red brick pedestrian path and proceeded along the green belt. Five minutes later, he bypassed a bus shelter and a billboard and stepped onto the platform. Just then, a bus arrived, right on time. ¡­ ¡°Beihai Road station, please exit from the back door.¡± With a voice prompt, the bus door squeaked slowly open. A black-haired young man in sportswear stepped down. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 ¡°Tianxia Federation, Nanjiang Province, Huai Shui City, Xuanshan District, then Beihai Road,¡± Bai Xiao shook his head, ¡°not one name is familiar¡­¡± This world was somewhat familiar yet strange, and he found it slightly unsettling. ¡°After sweating so much today, first thing¡¯s a shower back at the rented place.¡± Near the university town, Beihai Road, number 136. In a small rented house, the sound of water gushed from the bathroom. Under the orange-yellow light, pitter-pattering, a steady stream of water fell from the showerhead. Bai Xiao tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let the water wash over his face. He quietly maintained this posture like a monk meditating under a waterfall, completely still, for over a minute. As the stickiness washed off, Bai Xiao moved to the washbasin. There were toiletries on the surface of the washbasin, above which was a mirror. Under the bright light, the mirror reflected Bai Xiao¡¯s upper body. Height 177 cm, a normal adult body, not much muscle definition. Walking closer towards the mirror, one could see Bai Xiao¡¯s somewhat handsome face, with its relatively pronounced features, straight and sharp brows and eyes. Pity about the skin, rough and darkened by wind and sun exposure. ¡°If my skin were better, I could be considered handsome by normal standards,¡± Bai Xiao glanced at the mirror, then bent down to grab shampoo. Pitter-pattering¡­ The pale blue shampoo touched his wet, broken hair, casually scrubbing out white foam. Water rushed down, and the foam followed, flowing down to the floor. After a while, Bai Xiao turned off the shower, picked up a towel from the metal rack beside him, and wiped the drops of water from his body and face. Thirty seconds later, he stood in front of the mirror while toweling off his hair and paid attention more intensely. On his retina, a dim screen suddenly appeared. The screen gradually became clear, enveloping the view. It displayed a panel similar to a game character¡¯s. [Character Panel] [Character: Bai Xiao] [Age: 24] [Status: Exhausted] [Profession: Delivery Worker] [Four Attributes: Power, Speed, Physique, Will] [Power: 10.0] [Speed: 9.6] [Physique: 9.8] [Will: 10.8] This was a game Bai Xiao played in his previous life. Unexpectedly, after transmigrating, he brought it with him, becoming something akin to his innate talents. Triggering the profession, unlocking the profession, leveling up the profession. Above was essentially the function of this character panel. The only regret for Bai Xiao was that he hadn¡¯t brought the hacks he used to install and download while playing this game. Otherwise, it would have been a game-changer. ¡°The Fighter profession has been triggered, but not fully unlocked,¡± ¡°Right now, I only have the Delivery Worker profession.¡± He stepped out of the bathroom, quickly turning off the light. Three minutes later, inside the rented place. Bai Xiao, dressed in a black sportswear with white stripes, stood beside the bed. He switched on his phone, and it was already 16:05. The lock screen displayed messages, and he pressed his fingerprint then clicked in. [Sakura Bird Bar (Security Department Manager)]: Something came up today, opening time will be adjusted forward by 15 minutes, starting at 20:45. [Xiao Tang]: Bro, out of living expenses, please help¡­bowing.jpg. [Nanjiang Mobile]: Dear customer, your 2020 year 6¡­ After a glance, Bai Xiao first replied to the Security Department Manager: Understood. In this era, university graduation means unemployment. The original host didn¡¯t graduate from a prestigious university, so after graduation, he worked two jobs, one as a part-time delivery worker, and the other as a nightclub security. And training at White Bird Martial Arts Hall was his hobby. People often seek ways to vent under pressure. Some turn to drinking, others to clubbing, and yet others to singing. But the original host¡¯s way of venting was sweating it out, punching. After replying to the Security Department Manager, Bai Xiao looked at the next message. Xiao Tang, Bai Tang, the original owner¡¯s younger brother. However, not a blood-related brother, as Bai Tang was a baby picked up and raised by the original owner¡¯s parents until he went to college. But last year, a car accident took the lives of the original owner¡¯s parents, leaving no pillar to hold up the family. Only the grandparents, who lacked the ability to work and lived in the countryside, and Bai Tang, who was still attending university, remained. The entire burden of the family fell on Bai Xiao alone. This was also why the original owner had been under great pressure recently. After pondering for a moment, Bai Xiao clicked to check the bank account balance. 3096.52 Both coins and bills, decidedly meager. A few days ago, the original owner had just paid the tuition fee for martial arts training at the dojo, and just yesterday, had also paid fifteen hundred for rent, leaving hardly any money left in hand. Bai Xiao looked at the account balance and hesitated for a moment. In the end, he still transferred a thousand to Bai Tang. 2096.52 It hurt a bit. Honestly, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that Bai Tang¡¯s academic performance was indeed excellent in university, the original owner would definitely have made this kid work part-time to earn his keep. The screen flickered slightly. [Xiao Tang]: Thanks, bro!!! Cry.jpg Bai Xiao didn¡¯t reply, adhering to the original owner¡¯s reserved and taciturn persona. With a light press of a finger, he exited the chat interface. 16:10 ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Bai Xiao grabbed his phone, charging bank, and keys, and hurried downstairs. Tap, his sports shoes touched the sun-heated concrete outside. He raised his hand to his brow, squinting as he looked outside. This was an old residential area, but fortunately, it had always been well-managed. In the round flowerbed in front, there were still marigolds of a bright orange color, with a light fresh floral scent in the air. A few old men were moving a table, playing Go under the shade of the trees in the flowerbed, and discussing from time to time. Bai Xiao took a deep breath and walked toward the parking shelter nearby. One minute later. Click, the key inserted into the lock hole, turned clockwise. Bai Xiao¡¯s ride, a Hummer electric bike that had been used for five years and was peeling paint, started up. The bottom and the tires were covered with mud stains. Clearly, it had seen better days. Bai Xiao sat on the electric bike, pulled out his phone, and opened an app named ¡°Hungry Rider.¡± He received orders from here; he was not a full-time worker, so he could only grab orders. Fortunately, Bai Xiao chose to log in around dinner time when many users placed orders. From four in the afternoon to just after eight, he could usually receive delivery orders during these four hours. He could earn about 2500 to 3000 a month. Enough for all his personal expenses from rent to meal costs. ¡°Today¡¯s first order, Nanjiang Business University¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Compared to the original owner. At this moment, Bai Xiao felt very motivated while delivering food. Naturally, the reason was the delivery man profession panel displayed before him. [Profession: Delivery Man LV.1 (39/100)] [Skill 1: Electric Bike Driving LV.1 (86/100)] [Skill 2: City Route Mastery LV.1 (62/100)] The skill with the highest experience points was electric bike driving, nearly at level two. Bai Xiao was very good at driving. Whoo¡­ The hot wind blew against the helmet as the Hummer electric bike set off. Time passed bit by bit, and it was now 8:10 in the evening. The sky of Huaisui City had turned a deep indigo, stars scattered and hidden among the clouds, like secretive eyes peering down at the earth. Bai Xiao was about to deliver the last order of the day. The electric bike passed through an alley and arrived at a somewhat secluded factory. When he was still a bit away from the delivery location. The profession panel in front of Bai Xiao lit up slightly, and he slowly stopped. [Your professional skill ¡°Electric Bike Driving¡± has gained +10 experience.] [Your professional skill ¡°Electric Bike Driving¡± has advanced to LV.2] [Skill 1: Electric Bike Driving LV.2 (1/200)] ¡°Having such a panel that records experience points in real time, even in dull work, brings me a bit of motivation and fun¡­¡± A flash of genuine feeling crossed his mind. Sometimes, what people fear is not seeing a goal, not seeing the endpoint. But when the target is visible to the naked eye, everything is different. Starting the electric bike again, Bai Xiao quickly arrived at the factory entrance. He put away the key and took out the fried chicken ordered by the customer from the insulated box. He walked into the factory, placed the items at the security post, and came out again. As Bai Xiao passed the factory entrance, he noticed several missing person posters attached to the nearby utility pole. He paused to scan them; they all spoke of people who had gone missing, accompanying the descriptions of height and appearance with photos. What caught the most attention was. These people had all disappeared recently. ¡°May 16th, May 22nd, May 28th¡­¡± ¡°Recently¡­ So many people have gone missing?¡± Bai Xiao withdrew his gaze with a puzzled look and quickly headed toward his bike. He needed to go home for a shower and then off to his night job as a part-time security guard. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: 003 The world is not simple! Chapter 3: 003 The world is not simple! No. 111 Wutong Road, Sakura Bird Bar. It was already past eight in the evening, and the city¡¯s nightlife had come alive. Vehicles of all kinds lined the street as people out for fun sought their venues. Some headed to malls, others to cinemas, some to barbecue snacks, while many groups entered bars, nightclubs, and KTVs. This crowd was mostly young people, likely including some college students. An age brimming with youth, loving fun was in their nature, regardless of gender. Inside Sakura Bird Bar, the DJ had already warmed up the crowd. Waiters in white shirts and black trousers began to take drink orders and serve fruit platters. The bar¡¯s marketers constantly made calls, inviting regulars and VIP clients to come out and play. Soon, the whole place was in the zone, and the lights gradually dimmed. ¡°Thump, thump, thump¡­¡± With a series of forceful beats, deafening waves of sound swept through the space. Purple and blue laser lights with an atmospheric vibe replaced the usual incandescent bulbs. Colored disco balls spun steadily, casting blinding light, illuminating a few colorfully-tinted heads. On the dance floor, men and women alike swung their bodies and twisted their hips to the music. Women with trendy makeup and stunning attire giggled among groups of men. There were good-looking couples clinging to each other, giving vent to their desires. People¡¯s preferences varied, but Bai Xiao just felt it was noisy. In a corner of the bar, next to the marble bar counter, stood a young man in black security attire, stationed in a spot untouched by laser lights. His feet were slightly apart, his stance meticulous, his gaze slowly sweeping over the fashionably dressed men and women in the booths ahead, his face expressionless. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Bai Xiao was on the job, working as a bar security guard. He was attempting to trigger the professional panel exclusive to a bar security guard. That evening, Bai Xiao was serious. Neither the scantily clad tattooed dance girls on the dance floor, nor the ambiguous kisses under the laser lights, nor even the tide-like flow of DJ pop music, nor the dizziness of alcohol could distract him. On his retina, the panel exclusive to Bai Xiao almost occupied his entire field of vision and mind, impossible to look away from. An ordinary person had received an extraordinary opportunity, and if he wanted to break free from his slowly rotting mundane life, then he had to cling to it like a lifeline¡­ Firmly grasp that chance, never letting go! Time flew, and it was now two in the early morning. A youth in sportswear came out of the back door of the bar. Bai Xiao took out two pieces of Doublemint gum from his pocket and stuffed them into his mouth. His hands in his pockets, he chewed as he walked forward. On the roadside, a girl with garish makeup and revealing clothing sat in a drunken stupor on the edge of a flower bed, her cheeks flush and her eyes glazed over. Tall and handsome young men joked flirtatiously with girls by their side, exchanging teasing banter. Bai Xiao walked straight past them, heading for his electric scooter. Whoosh¡­ The electric scooter accelerated, heading in the direction of Beihai Road. The cold wind met him head-on, and in his peripheral vision, Bai Xiao could see some men and women staggering as they walked. Their destination seemed to be a nearby budget hotel; it looked like the night was indeed high! Turning a corner, the electric scooter entered a quiet, dimly lit alley as he planned to take a shortcut back to his rented room. Whoosh¡­ He sped along. Passing an intersection, Bai Xiao noticed a black figure standing there, seemingly illuminated by the dim light. The figure was neither leaning against the wall nor crouching and smoking on the ground, but standing in the middle. Rigid and motionless, standing silently facing this way. The speed was fast, and Bai Xiao only glanced briefly, the scooter flashing past the intersection in an instant. Yet, even so, his heart startled with fear, his body covered in goosebumps, and his arms broke out in a cold sweat. That feeling was like encountering a venomous snake in the jungle. ¡°What was that¡­¡± Bai Xiao hadn¡¯t even had time to wonder before he heard a sudden burst of chasing footsteps from behind, incredibly dense. He hurriedly glanced at the rearview mirror and saw a blurry human-shaped shadow rushing towards him and a pair of eyes reflecting a strange green light. They looked like those of a predatory animal, such as a wolf. In an instant, palpitations and panic fiercely gripped Bai Xiao¡¯s heart, suffocating him. The next second, his entire body became agitated, his blood surging upwards uncontrollably. His hands clutched the handlebars, twisting the speed to the maximum. Whoosh! Tat-tat-tat! The sounds of the two entities chasing each other reverberated through the alley. Time passed by, minute by minute, second by second. The running footsteps that had been pursuing him stopped, gradually fading away. Only the sound of the electric scooter remained, disappearing into the distance. With a swoosh, the electric scooter shot out of the dim alleyway, making a slightly wobbly fast turn, racing down the main road at top speed. Bai Xiao looked into the rearview mirror again, and this time, there was no trace of the shadow. It was only then that he took a deep, hot breath, feeling dizzy and a chill running down his spine. ¡°What was that¡­?¡± ¡°Robbery? A lunatic? A murderer?¡± ¡°Or¡­ a prank?¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s throat was incredibly dry; he gasped for air, recalling those faintly glowing green eyes in the alley. Were they¡­ human? Bai Xiao vaguely remembered some biology knowledge; human eyes don¡¯t have a reflective membrane, only animals like cats and wolves have eyes that shine green. ¡°This world¡­ maybe¡­ is not simple¡­¡± At two ten in the morning, in the Sunshine District, in Bai Xiao¡¯s rental room. The showerhead continuously sprayed cool, refreshing water. Bai Xiao leaned on the bathroom wall with one hand, his head hanging. The wet strands of hair on his temples, soaked by the water, clung to his forehead like scattered willow branches. He kept chewing gum in his mouth, even though it had lost its flavor. This was a habit of Bai Xiao¡¯s; he liked to chew gum. Either when he was relaxed or extremely tense. Five minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes. The bathroom light stayed on the whole time. It wasn¡¯t until two thirty that Bai Xiao came out, pale-faced. He lay exhausted on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Just like that, staring blankly, for another ten minutes. It was then that Bai Xiao broke the silence of the room with a mutter to himself. ¡°Tomorrow, I must unlock the Fighter profession!!!¡± Twenty minutes later, the cool moonlight slipping through the gap in the curtains covered the young man¡¯s face like a sheer veil. In his sleep, Bai Xiao¡¯s brows were still tightly furrowed, as if he were in the midst of a nightmare. Ding-ling-ling, ding-ling-ling¡­ As sunlight enveloped the head of the bed, Bai Xiao suddenly awoke from his dream, his features twisted. He breathed heavily, his back already soaked with cold sweat. Turning his head to look around, he realized he was inside his safe rental room. Bai Xiao then relaxed, glancing at the time on his phone screen. It was nine thirty. Sitting on the bed to recover for five minutes, he quickly stepped into the bathroom. At nine forty. Bai Xiao wore his most common set of black sportswear, put on his sneakers, slung on his blue canvas backpack, and set off. Today. The urge to unlock the Fighter profession was overwhelmingly strong! Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: 004 Unlock the [Fighter] panel Chapter 4: 004 Unlock the [Fighter] panel On a blue public bus adorned with hospital advertisements, Bai Xiao quickly finished the last meat bun on the right-side plastic rear seat, crumpled up the plastic bag into a ball, and stuffed it into the net pocket on the side of his canvas bag. He reached out to open half of the window, allowing the fresh air from the outside to flow in gusts. The sunlight was strong, prompting Bai Xiao to squint his eyes slightly as strands of his black hair fluttered above his forehead, watching the shops and guardian trees pass by outside. ¡°The vehicle has reached the stop, please exit from the rear door.¡± As the bus¡¯s announcement played, Bai Xiao stepped down and exited. He shouldered his backpack, walked along the sidewalk, and turned into a corner. Grain pancakes, meat floss rice balls, Yunqing noodles ¡ª street vendors were setting up their stalls, with some late-rising customers paying through their phones dressed in slippers. Bai Xiao glanced, then quickened his pace. Before long, he saw the advertisement board of a martial arts hall up ahead. ¡°White Bird!¡± The two large artistic characters captured the eye, with the edges of the font resembling the wings of birds of prey ready to take flight, full of tension. Below the characters ¡®White Bird¡¯, there were several keywords: combat, professional, package, discount. Not much further now. A metallic signboard that reflected the daylight slightly caught his gaze. [White Bird Martial Arts Hall] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Knowing the way well, Bai Xiao walked straight in and headed directly to the changing room. After changing into his training attire, he hurried to the second training hall. Sunlight shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, the black mats on the floor giving off a leathery scent. A quick glance revealed several leather punching bags of different sizes, from 80, 120, to 160 centimeters, hanging from iron frames. In the far corner were four to five metal equipment racks, with items such as punch mitts, boxing gloves, mouth guards, hand wraps, and belts; professional equipment that White Bird Martial Arts Hall specifically used for sandboxing training. The training hall was spacious, able to accommodate over thirty trainees even with all these equipments; and now, many people had already arrived. About half of them appeared to be under eighteen, looking young and innocent. Walking past them, Bai Xiao found his row and sat down. Beside him, a group was chatting in a lively manner. A long-legged girl with a ponytail and a pretty face was particularly popular. Another girl with light makeup and lipstick, sporting short hair, also caught a lot of attention. Surrounded by male peers of the same age, they were continuously striking up conversations. However, clearly, both girls¡¯ attentions were focused on Guo Hao, who was over six feet tall, with a lean build and handsome face. They were both creating topics, laughing lightly in an effort to maintain a relaxed atmosphere. ¡°Guo Hao, what did the coach keep you behind for yesterday?¡± The ponytailed girl with big eyes stared at Guo Hao and asked in a clear voice. ¡°Nothing much, just that of our class I performed the best, so Coach Zhang wants to move me up to the elite class. It¡¯s probably for me to further my studies¡­¡± Guo Hao smiled crookedly, putting on airs in a casual manner. Boys of this age are all like this, especially in front of girls. ¡°You¡¯re really good.¡± The short-haired girl also turned her gaze towards him. It wasn¡¯t exaggerated admiration but carried a hint of surprise. ¡°Of course, Brother Hao¡¯s athletic talent is high. He easily became the captain of the basketball team, he¡¯s also the top in long-distance running, and picking up fighting is just as effortless¡­¡± Next to Guo Hao, a freckled boy, obviously trying to ride on his coattails, also chimed in looking a bit proud by association. Just then, Coach Zhang Hongtao briskly walked in from the corridor outside. He was carrying a thermos in his right hand and clad in black training clothes. The sleeves and shoulders of his attire featured patterns reminiscent of raptor feathers. ¡°Time¡¯s almost up; everybody start warming up,¡± ¡°After warming up, practice the moves I taught you yesterday twice¡­¡± Suddenly, the chattering in the hall ceased. The trainees stood up one by one, beginning to stretch and limber up. Ten minutes later. Coach Zhang called for a stop and continued to explain the remaining sandboxing moves. Like yesterday, he had everyone copy him. During this process, Zhang Hongtao also began to walk among the crowd, correcting any incorrect moves. A few of the worst ones were corrected at least a dozen times. Bai Xiao was corrected seven or eight times as well. Only Guo Hao, indeed quick to understand, was corrected just once. As time went by, the sun outside climbed higher and higher. ¡°Next, is independent practice,¡± Coach Zhang announced from the front of the venue. After speaking, he took his thermos and stood next to Guo Hao. In fighting, in martial arts, talent is too important, even more so than effort. ¡°Coach, how¡¯s my training going?¡± Guo Hao, while demonstrating a fairly standard Fist Skill, asked Zhang Hongtao by the window. His question was both friendly and a bit showy. ¡°Not bad, but don¡¯t get cocky, kid.¡± ¡°That opportunity might not necessarily be yours.¡± Zhang Hongtao took a sip of his tea. He was somewhat annoyed by Guo Hao¡¯s flashy attitude, typical of young fellows. ¡°Hehe.¡± Guo Hao chuckled softly, still not voicing what was on his mind. ¡°If not me, then who could it be?¡± At that moment, in a corner of the hall, a black-haired young man was practicing his punches intensely, sweating profusely. Bai Xiao had found the rhythm! It was uncertain whether it was the stimulation from last night or a sudden epiphany that morning. Either way, the more he practiced, the more fluid his moves became, and the more invigorated he felt. Four fingers together, his waist and hips slightly twisted, his arm lashed out with sudden force. This was Charging Fist. Knees slightly bent, powering up instantly, his right leg whipped out high and fast. This was Whip Leg. Soon, his gray training outfit was soaked with sweat, faintly seeping through. Bai Xiao entered a zone, his eyes becoming ever brighter. At last, with a tip-toe step, he thrust forward with a straight punch. Then, he froze in place. He¡¯d done it! In his field of vision, with a whoosh, the character panel flashed. In the profession column, something began to shine brightly and enlarge. [Profession: Fighter (Activating)] [Conditions: 1. Average Attributes above 10 ¡Ì, 2. Beginner Sandboxing ¡Ì] Humming¡­ [You have activated the new profession ¡®Fighter¡¯!!!] [You gained the new profession talent ¡®Pure Heart¡¯!] His brain suddenly felt hollow, followed by a bit of dizziness. Bai Xiao looked forward once more. [Profession: Fighter LV.1 (1/100)] [Talent: Pure Heart] [Skill: Beginner Sandboxing (1/100)] He had finally awakened the Fighter profession, and he¡¯d gotten the hang of Sandboxing. Next was the profession talent ¡®Pure Heart¡¯. Pure Heart: Removes complicated and chaotic information during learning and working, extracting only the most essential and purest parts, enhancing efficiency. Great stuff! Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up, feeling as if when he needed a pillow, sleep came. This body¡¯s athletic talent wasn¡¯t great, below average, or even poor. But with ¡®Pure Heart¡¯ as an aid, everything would change drastically! ¡°Why not try out the effects now?¡± He was rubbing his hands together, eager to test the Fighter profession¡¯s talent. In front of him, however, another change suddenly occurred. [Your character panel has more than two professions!] [Main and secondary professions, opening separately] [Would you like to set ¡®Fighter¡¯ as your main profession?] [Would you like to set ¡®Deliveryman¡¯ as your main profession?] Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: 005 Enviable Career Enhancement Chapter 5: 005 Enviable Career Enhancement Bai Xiao was momentarily startled, but with a bit of concentration, he understood clearly. The personal character panel was divided into main profession and secondary professions. There could be countless secondary professions, but there could only be five main professions. Compared to secondary professions, main professions had greater potential. This was manifested in two aspects. Career Sublimation and Career Enhancement. The first one, Career Sublimation. Take the deliveryman for example, if it¡¯s a secondary profession of deliveryman, then you can only level up, from Deliveryman LV.1 to LV.10. But if it¡¯s a main profession, then you can be promoted to a manager or president afterward. The second, Career Enhancement. Every Career Sublimation of a main profession would bring about a Career Enhancement. Career Enhancement is a number of enhancement options for various characteristics of the profession. Each choice would lead the main profession down different paths of development. Bai Xiao thought for a moment and quickly made his decision. [Deliveryman] confirmed as secondary profession. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? [Fighter] confirmed as main profession. As soon as the [Fighter] profession was activated, it brought Bai Xiao a talent that was far beyond what [Deliveryman] could compare to. Moreover, just the effect of the talent ¡°Pure Heart State¡± was enough to confirm [Fighter] as his main profession. Absolutely useful for improving learning efficiency! [Character Panel] [Character: Bai Xiao] [Age: 24 years old] [Status: Normal] [Main Profession: Fighter] [Secondary Profession: Deliveryman] After completing all this, Bai Xiao came back to his senses. Around him, numerous students were still practicing Sandboxing movements meticulously. In the distance, Guo Hao swiftly executed an entire set of basic Fist Skills. This elicited a slight nod from Coach Zhang Hongtao nearby. ¡°There¡¯s still some time, let¡¯s try out the effects of ¡®Pure Heart State.¡¯ Bai Xiao thought to himself. He stared straight ahead with his eyes, instantly using the profession talent. Whir! It seemed as if there was the sound of a bee flapping its wings at a high speed, passing by his ears. His mind went blank, and he felt as though he had been cleansed thoroughly with ice water. Bai Xiao opened his eyes, and a cold, indifferent color appeared. In the entire environment, various complex pieces of information¡ªwhether it be visual, auditory, or olfactory¡ªall unnecessary parts were being stripped away and excluded. Only the purest, most core, and most useful parts remained. Whoosh! Bai Xiao swiftly moved sideways, his legs spread apart, slightly turned inward, and he suddenly clenched his fists, assuming a relatively standard combat stance. It looked to be at least 60 to 70 percent as good as Coach Zhang Hongtao¡¯s level. Snap, Bai Xiao returned to a relaxed standing state, his limbs once again swiftly expanded into a combat stance. This time, it was even more accurate, probably reaching around 70 to 80 percent. In the corner of the training hall, on the soft mats, Bai Xiao made a swift sound as he once again assumed a combat stance. The third time, he almost reached about 90 percent of the standard movement! After that, every time Bai Xiao assumed a position, he was able to reach over 90 percent of the standard. Even, he was getting closer and closer to the perfect state. Beyond combat stances, various Fist Skills, leg techniques, and stepping techniques also appeared. Whoosh, whoosh, swish, his meticulous movements and expressionless face, along with virtually zero emotional fluctuation, made one wonder if Bai Xiao was a machine running on a program. The engine in his chest coldly turned. ¡°This¡­¡± In the distance, Coach Zhang Hongtao, who was drinking tea, inadvertently swept his gaze over the entire training hall and immediately noticed Bai Xiao in the corner. His attention was drawn at once, could this student¡¯s movements be so standardized? Zhang Hongtao glanced at Bai Xiao, then at Guo Hao beside him. Bai Xiao¡¯s Sandboxing movements were significantly more standardized than those of Guo Hao. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the student I mentioned last time who is quite hardworking but with average talent?¡± Zhang Hongtao recognized Bai Xiao, ¡°Has he had a breakthrough?¡± He didn¡¯t make a sound, just quietly observed. In the corner where Bai Xiao was, some other trainees also noticed something unusual and turned to look. They felt that his movements were smooth and powerful. They almost resembled the ones demonstrated by the coach before. After a while, Bai Xiao suddenly snapped out of the Pure Heart State. His vision blurred, he even felt a bit dizzy. [The talent ¡°Pure Heart State¡± duration is related to will] Bai Xiao took a few deep breaths, feeling his body drenched in sweat. But the changes on his career panel were like a cool breeze to his heart and mind. [Your skill ¡°Sandboxing¡± has gained +8 experience!] [Your main profession ¡°Fighter¡± has gained +1 experience!] The ¡°Pure Heart State¡± talent really is useful! ¡°Gather up!¡± Suddenly, Coach Zhang¡¯s voice echoed in the center of the hall. After a short speech. ¡°That¡¯s all for today¡¯s lessons, you are dismissed.¡± Instantly, the thirty-something students began to head towards the changing rooms. Bai Xiao, being at the back of the room, was one of the last to leave. Just as he took a step forward, passing by Coach Zhang. Zhang Hongtao suddenly extended a hand, patting his shoulder. He whispered, ¡°Keep it up.¡± Five minutes later, Bai Xiao stood at the entrance of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, his bag slung over his shoulder. He felt an inexplicable sense of ease, his face relaxed and content. Soon, Bai Xiao found himself seated on the back of the returning blue bus. With his bag on his lap and the window half open, gusts of wind cooled his cheeks, which were still warm from the workout, bringing waves of refreshment. Looking outside, the bus happened to pass by a lush park. Inside, there were elderly people strolling leisurely and parents with their children. Walking under the green shade of trees, with dappled sunlight sweeping over, felt quite pleasant. Bai Xiao rested his elbow on the window ledge, leisurely taking in the scene. Suddenly, his view blurred slightly. [Below is the enhancement foreboding for the main profession of Fighter] ¡¸Enhancement 1: Talent Evolution (The ¡°Pure Heart State¡± talent will evolve with each level up, its effects gently and gradually strengthening)¡¹ ¡¸Enhancement 2: Secondary Development (You will gain a physique and skeleton more suitable for fighting, becoming stronger, more agile, and more charismatic)¡¹ ¡¸Enhancement 3: Extra Option (The next time you enhance your career, all enhancement options will permanently increase by one, allowing for six choices)¡¹ ¡¸Enhancement 4: Sandboxing Expert (Experience required for Sandboxing reduced by half)¡¹ ¡¸Enhancement 5: Superhuman Physique (Gain five points to Physique immediately)¡¹ ¡°Is this to whet my appetite?¡± ¡°I can only look, not choose.¡± Bai Xiao was quite envious, but what appeared was merely a foreboding. He would be able to choose one enhancement only after he had elevated the Fighter profession. At a glance, they were all desirable, Bai Xiao wanted them all. ¡°It seems I need to double my efforts to advance the main profession of Fighter¡­¡± The bus sped along, passing through city streets until it reached Beihai Road. Bai Xiao returned to his rented room, ready to take a shower. But then, a call from his younger brother Bai Tang came through. ¡°Hello? Brother.¡± The voice from the other end was somewhat immature, clear, and pleasant. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bai Xiao, bare-chested, held the phone in his right hand. Bai Tang replied, ¡°My advisor asked if I want to join a really good research project, I¡¯m currently hesitating, and I don¡¯t know if I should go.¡± ¡°What kind of research project?¡± ¡°It¡¯s mechanical, cutting-edge technology, other details are confidential.¡± ¡°Mechanical, isn¡¯t that good? Don¡¯t you like that stuff the most? If you ask me, having the chance to do what you love is rare.¡± ¡°This is¡­ a bit different¡­¡± The two brothers talked over the phone, and finally, Bai Tang gave some noncommittal replies. Obviously, Bai Xiao as the older brother wasn¡¯t able to solve his dilemma. In his rented room, Bai Xiao shook his head and turned to enter the bathroom. He needed to shower and then go out to deliver food to grind some career experience. Bai Xiao wanted to give it a try. The ¡°Pure Heart State¡± talent¡¯s effect on the other professions. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: 006 Dark Red Modifier and Adding Points (Request for Follow-Up) Chapter 6: 006 Dark Red Modifier and Adding Points (Request for Follow-Up) June 20, 4:15 PM. Bai Xiao set off to continue his part-time job as a delivery worker. Being a delivery worker really has no barriers to entry. As long as one is more familiar with the delivery routes and knows the various districts and factories, one can manage quite well. The only hardship during the process is dealing with various weather conditions and the potential dangers of biking. Bai Xiao, who knew the ropes, started to complete his delivery tasks one by one. He was seen riding his e-bike through various universities, nearby residential areas, office buildings, and factories, steadily gaining professional experience. [Profession: Delivery Worker LV.1 (49/100)] [Skill 1: E-bike Driving LV.2 (1/200)] [Skill 2: City Route Mastery LV.1 (79/100)] This was the professional panel of the delivery worker after yesterday¡¯s deliveries had ended. Today, Bai Xiao had gained a considerable amount of professional experience again. 8:01 PM, and there was a little time left until the end of his shift. [Your profession ¡®Delivery Worker¡¯, experience +14] [Your professional skill ¡®E-bike Driving¡¯ experience +18] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? [Your professional skill ¡®City Route Mastery¡¯ experience +21] [Your professional skill ¡®City Route Mastery¡¯ has leveled up to LV.2] While driving his e-bike, Bai Xiao slowly reduced his speed. His gaze fixed straight ahead, where he saw the display on his retina. [Profession: Delivery Worker LV.1 (63/100)] [Skill 1: E-bike Driving LV.2 (19/200)] [Skill 2: City Route Mastery LV.2 (1/200)] Having both professional skills reach level two gave him a sense of gradual improvement and joy. Visible progress was pleasurable. Just now, Bai Xiao had tried applying the ¡®Pure Heart¡¯ talent to his Delivery Worker profession. The effect was excellent, making him more focused while driving the e-bike, and the city routes felt like a map poured into his mind. If ¡®Pure Heart¡¯ talent could be put into words, it was like giving Bai Xiao a cool-headed rational buff. It allowed him to grasp the core points of anything instantly. Indeed, using the ¡®Pure Heart¡¯ talent had significantly enhanced his professional experience gain. The day was not over yet, but Bai Xiao had already gained much more professional experience than yesterday. The only disappointment was that he couldn¡¯t use the ¡®Pure Heart¡¯ talent continuously. Today, he had used it for a long time during the fighting training class and briefly while delivering, which had completely triggered the cooldown of the talent. Whenever Bai Xiao tried to activate the talent, his brain would feel a sharp pain, clearly indicating that his will couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. This was still with Bai Xiao¡¯s Will Attribute at 10.8, higher than ordinary people. ¡°It¡¯s a pity. I wanted to try tonight whether I could use the ¡®Pure Heart¡¯ talent to accelerate the activation of my security guard profession. Looks like I have to wait until tomorrow¡­¡± Bai Xiao said regretfully as he continued to check his panel. He scrutinized it with the mindset of an old farmer inspecting his fields. Two professions. Main profession: Fighter, secondary profession: Delivery Worker. Four-dimensional attributes. Power 10.1, Speed 9.6, Physique 9.8, Will 10.8. Three professional skills. Sandboxing, E-bike Driving, City Route Mastery. When his gaze reached the end, Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes suddenly fixed. [Skill 1: E-bike Driving LV.2 (19/200)] (Extractable) [Skill 2: City Route Mastery LV.2 (1/200)] (Extractable) When had these (Extractable) labels appeared behind the two professional skills? The (Extractable) label glowed with a dim red. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the mod I installed and downloaded!?¡± ¡°I thought it hadn¡¯t been brought over along with the professional panel¡­¡± ¡°Now, I¡¯ve really hit the jackpot!!!¡± Bai Xiao was extremely excited, the fatigue in his eyes completely vanished. As he focused his attention on the (Extractable) label. Swish! A rudimentary modifier, like a plugin, instantly popped up. Dark red in color, it resembled a hacked mod shared by netizens. [Dark Red Modifier] [Feature 1: Extract professional experience and convert it to potential points] [Feature 2: Invest potential points to enhance the skill level of your profession] [Potential Points: 0] ¡°The familiar feeling, it¡¯s back!¡± Bai Xiao clenched his fists tightly, suppressing the excitement in his heart. Use the experience from various menial jobs to nurture the growth of your core profession! This is the purpose of the Dark Red Modifier. For instance, he could now use the experience from his deliveryman profession to nurture his Fighter profession! No time to waste, let¡¯s test the specific effects first. ¡°Dark Red, extract!¡± Bai Xiao focused, and instantly used the Dark Red Modifier. The two professional skills of the deliveryman profession blurred and twisted. The next second, a bright red light exploded before his eyes. [Dark Red Modifier] [Potential Points: 2] ¡°That feels good.¡± Bai Xiao saw the familiar scene and completely relaxed. His gaze returned to the deliveryman profession. The two LV.2 skills had not reverted to LV.1, but the extractable marker had disappeared. In other words, the skills from which experiences had been extracted by the Dark Red Modifier wouldn¡¯t regress, and Bai Xiao could continue to upgrade his deliveryman profession. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Bai Xiao exhaled a steam of hot air and turned to look at the rearview mirror. Reflected in it was a face transitioning from excitement back to calm. Sharp eyebrows as if chiseled by a blade, deep-set features filled with shadows. In his eyes, dark as ebony wood, lay repressed desire. Bai Xiao took a piece of gum from his pocket and started chewing it. As a refreshing feeling flooded his mouth, the electric scooter started moving forward again. Beihai Road, Sunshine District, Number 136. In a slightly cramped rental room, the cold moonlight streamed through the half-open curtains, casting trembling shadows of trees outside onto the gray-white wall. The glass window was ajar, letting in a continuous stream of fresh air that carried a hint of earthiness and coolness. ¡°Beep beep¡­¡± Vehicles passed on the street outside, their headlights flickering momentarily. Click, the door opened. Tap, the light was switched on. Bai Xiao, weary from the road, returned home and tidied himself up briefly. Then he sat on the bed, staring blankly ahead. [Potential Points: 2] Two potential points, right before his eyes. And the Sandboxing Skill of his main profession, Fighter, also displayed a marker. [Profession: Fighter LV.1 (2/100)] [Special Ability: Pure Heart] [Skill: Introduction to Sandboxing (9/100)] + A small plus sign indicated that the Sandboxing Skill could be directly improved. Bai Xiao hesitated, wondering whether to use the points now. Theoretically, having just activated the Fighter profession and just begun Sandboxing, now was the time when progress would be fastest. Even without forcefully adding potential points, the skill could upgrade quickly over time. This way, the resource allocation efficiency could be maximized. However, after a moment of consideration, Bai Xiao decided to add the points directly! He believed that stronger means more efficient. The learning efficiency of someone moderately skilled in Sandboxing would definitely surpass someone just introduced to it. The higher the mastery, the quicker the learning¡ªthis was an absolute truth. A billionaire growing their wealth by 0.01% daily and an ordinary person whose assets suddenly increase by 100% from winning a lottery might seem more dramatic percentage-wise for the latter. But in absolute terms, the billionaire¡¯s 0.01% is ten million, while the ordinary person¡¯s 100% is just one hundred thousand. The difference is a hundredfold! After clarifying everything, Bai Xiao concentrated his attention without hesitation. ¡°Dark Red, boost me!¡± Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: 007 Plus some changes (please follow the read) Chapter 7: 007 Plus some changes (please follow the read) Suddenly, the potential points in his vision instantly dropped to zero. ¡°[Skill: Sandboxing for Beginners (9/100)]¡± A blur suddenly appeared, within which some numbers could be vaguely seen frantically jumping. From single digits to double, then to triple digits! The speed was so fast, it was nearly the blink of an eye. Hum. Bai Xiao¡¯s vision blurred for a moment, then once again became clear. ¡°[Your profession ¡®Fighter¡¯, experience +5]¡± ¡°[Your professional skill ¡®Sandboxing for Beginners¡¯ experience +100]¡± ¡°[Professional skill ¡®Sandboxing for Beginners¡¯ has upgraded to ¡®Sandboxing Novice¡¯]¡± He looked closely and saw that the professional panel had undergone some changes. ¡°[Profession: Fighter LV.1 (7/100)]¡± ¡°[Talent: Pure Heart]¡± ¡°[Skill: Sandboxing Novice (9/200)]¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°With the blessing of the Pure Heart talent, it would have taken at least half a month to break through to Sandboxing Novice. But now, it took only one second!¡± Bai Xiao reveled in this sensation of leaping progress. But before he had the chance to take a closer look at the professional panel, his brain suddenly shook violently, as if a torrent of information was flooding in, making him slightly lose focus. Bai Xiao¡¯s shoulders swayed, and he began to breathe rapidly. A full minute passed before he caught his breath with a big gasp. Just now, Bai Xiao had experienced the strength phase of Sandboxing Novice in his mind: all the training and fighting methods. It all felt as if he had personally experienced months of sandbox training. Various combat techniques and movements gradually merged into his body, bit by bit. ¡°This feeling of fulfillment¡­¡± Bai Xiao muttered to himself, slowly clenching his fist. ¡°Fascinating.¡± However, in the next second, a sudden feeling of weakness overcame him. ¡°What¡¯s this¡­¡± He felt a sudden soreness all over his body, his joints weak and powerless. He felt utterly drained, like he had bled too much or had low blood sugar. And for some reason, Bai Xiao felt very hungry and desperately wanted to eat something. His stomach churned, saliva flowed, and he was so hungry that he felt dizzy. ¡°Definitely related to the instantaneous upgrade of my Sandboxing to Novice!¡± Bai Xiao quickly grabbed his phone and hurriedly rushed downstairs. At 20:20, he arrived home with difficulty, along with a large pile of food. A heap of carbohydrates, various meats, two servings of broth. Bai Xiao buried his head and began to eat voraciously, never before had he found eating so enjoyable. He ate messily, his mouth dripping with grease, with no table manners to speak of. Twenty minutes later, Bai Xiao burped contentedly, leaning back in his chair half-reclined. The black table was a mess, stained with various soup splatters and bones greased. ¡°Awesome!¡± Now standing up, he paused briefly before entering the bathroom. Shower, change clothes, pack backpack, all together took ten minutes. In the blue canvas bag, filled with chocolates and compressed biscuits. At 20:50, Bai Xiao went downstairs, moving swiftly. By nine in the evening, Bai Xiao arrived at Wutong Road, Sakura Bird Bar. This time, he was a bit late, but the manager of the security department did not blame him, turning a blind eye instead. After all, Bai Xiao was only occasionally late. If he dared to be late often, the manager certainly wouldn¡¯t be so generous. At Sakura Bird Bar, the passionate waves of music began again, multicolored lights flickering in a daze, silhouettes of men and women interweaving among each other. The surrounding white porcelain walls reflected ever-changing colors, and glasses clinked in the booths. In a corner, Bai Xiao, dressed in a black security uniform, stood silently in the shadows. He would occasionally reach into his pocket to pop a piece of chocolate into his mouth. Not even five minutes passed before Bai Xiao took out a compressed biscuit. Eating, always eating. It was as if his body wanted to reclaim all the time it had spanned from beginner to a minor achievement in Sandboxing. Bai Xiao was gradually understanding the reasons. Adding Potential Points could certainly elevate him to a higher realm. But such an enhancement required a corresponding consumption of body nutrients to fill the entire deficit. Bai Xiao calculated that if he didn¡¯t use his Pure Heart talent, it might take him several months to reach a minor achievement in Sandboxing. The muscle mass and physical quality developed over these months would all need to be replenished by a continuous external intake of nutrients. Was this a bad thing? No, it was a good thing! This meant that as his professional Skill in Sandboxing improved, Bai Xiao¡¯s overall body attributes would also benefit! That made sense, how could one practice Sandboxing for a few months and remain in the same physical condition? Physical quality and muscle strength are the foundation of all skills. A skull soldier, bare-handed, would never be able to defeat a burly man. ¡°Ah!¡± As Bai Xiao was pondering this, he suddenly heard a scream in the distance. He turned his head to look and saw a few bursts of laser light illuminating the area. A man wearing a floral shirt with a necklace suddenly stood up, holding a green beer bottle in his left hand, pointing with his right at two girls sitting opposite. Clearly, some kind of altercation was occurring in that booth. Bai Xiao watched from a distance, and something swift flashed before his eyes. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he took a step and walked briskly towards it. His black leather shoes, mandated by the night club¡¯s dress code, clicked on the floor tiles. As he drew closer, Bai Xiao could hear the fierce argument between the two sides. ¡°So you don¡¯t want face, huh?¡± ¡°You fucking bitch, who are you trying to impress with that act?¡± The man in the floral shirt was arrogant, his voice booming, and his shoulders and neck adorned with black dragon tattoos, along with an earring, gave the impression of a gangster. The two scantily clad girls clearly looked scared, shrinking back timidly. Next to them, other patrons at the booths turned their heads to look over. ¡°Today, I¡¯m in the mood to hit women!¡± The man in the floral shirt stepped forward, as if about to make a move. Suddenly, the figure of a black-clad security guard appeared next to the booth. Bai Xiao stood straight to the side and spoke up to warn. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m sorry, but fighting is prohibited in the bar.¡± The two women, seeming to find a protector, hurriedly moved closer to Bai Xiao. Meanwhile, the man in the floral shirt, whether intoxicated or just used to being arrogant, turned around and glared at Bai Xiao. ¡°You trying to play hero, kid?¡± Bai Xiao, expressionless, replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but fighting is prohibited in the bar.¡± ¡°Fuck you, is that all you can say?¡± The man in the floral shirt lifted the beer bottle in his hand, the bottom facing Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao responded once more, ¡°Fighting is prohibited in the bar.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make you keep saying that!¡± The man in the floral shirt bulged his eyes, his face turning red, and swung the beer bottle towards Bai Xiao. But in the next instant, as the lights flickered, dimming and then brightening, the scene changed. The man in the floral shirt was pinned against the backrest of the booth, in a position indicating he was being grappled, hissing in pain. Above him, Bai Xiao had grabbed his wrist with his right hand, twisting the man¡¯s left arm behind his back, while his left hand was braced against his shoulder, executing a standard shoulder-lock elbow twist. Sandboxing competitions didn¡¯t include Grapple Skill, but standard Sandboxing instruction for self-defense often includes special Grapple Skill teaching. As the man in the floral shirt howled in pain, the men and women around the booths turned their gaze curiously towards the scene. Other security guards from a distance also hurried over, evidently alerted by the situation. ¡°Thank you, thank you so much¡­¡± The two women recovered from their shock. With a sigh of relief, they quickly expressed their gratitude. Bai Xiao turned his head slightly toward them, nodding slightly, without speaking. His attention was captured by the professional panel in front of him. [Profession: Security Guard (Activated)] [Condition: Fulfilling his duty¡Ì] Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: 008 Visible progress Chapter 8: 008 Visible progress Security guard, security guard, isn¡¯t the utmost duty to safeguard security? So, this time activating the security guard profession was only to be expected. [You have activated the new profession ¡®Security Guard¡¯!] The panel flashed briefly. [Profession: Security Guard LV.1 (1/100)] [Skill: Patrol LV.1 (1/100)] There was no innate talent like when the Fighter profession was activated, which should be a reward triggered only by certain particularly promising and powerful professions. [Would you like to set the profession ¡®Security Guard¡¯ as your main profession?] No! This ordinary profession should of course be treated as a secondary one; just upgrade it normally. Later, when it¡¯s fattened up, it can be used to extract potential points to cultivate the main profession. Bai Xiao¡¯s thought process was very clear. Two minutes later, the little drama at the booth ended. The man in the floral shirt was subdued, and Bai Xiao quietly moved aside. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? He took a piece of chocolate out of his pocket and chewed it in his mouth. The bitter, smooth taste filled his mouth, moistening his throat. ¡°Hey, Bai Xiao, not bad moves there, when did you learn that capture technique, did you train specifically for it?¡± Next to him, a middle-aged security guard, about thirty years old, turned his head. An ordinary-looking man with thick eyebrows and a very friendly face. Wang Ping. He was the most likable guy in the security team, someone who could chat with anyone. Bai Xiao chewed the chocolate in his mouth and was just about to reply. Up ahead, the paunchy security manager dressed in a white shirt with slicked-back hair hurried over. He looked at Bai Xiao and commended him. ¡°Bai Xiao, come and get your bonus after work, seven hundred.¡± A very normal reward and punishment system; Bai Xiao had stopped a fight that could have broken out, so the security department gave him a cash bonus. It also served as an example to other guards, encouraging them to fulfill their duties bravely. After everything ended, the whole club returned to its usual atmosphere. Pump it up! Keep pumping till two o¡¯clock in the morning. In the staff area of Sakura Bird Bar, Bai Xiao returned with his bonus. He was in a good mood, having activated the security guard profession and gotten paid as well. After changing his clothes, Bai Xiao headed towards the back door. On the way, he ran into Wang Ping who had spoken to him earlier. The two struck up a casual conversation. At first, Bai Xiao was not very interested. Until Wang Ping started to mention a rumor from last night. He said that a girl had gone missing on Wutong Street last night and still hadn¡¯t been found after a whole day. Rumor had it she might have been picked up by someone. Wang Ping spoke with a suggestive and even envious tone. The girls who came to the nightclub were often beautiful and well-endowed. Scantily clad and stumbling drunk, they were like tempting dishes. Bai Xiao listened to Wang Ping¡¯s words with a frown on his face. Because last night, had he run into a psychopath, a lunatic? Bai Xiao did not know quite how to describe it; he always felt that the human-shaped shadow he encountered in the alley last night had a non-human quality, eerily indescribable. Could the girl¡¯s disappearance be connected to that shadow from last night? Bai Xiao had his suspicions, but he did not dare to conclude. Because in this area, with many bars and nightclubs, the phenomenon of ¡°picking up corpses¡± really did exist. Moreover, this was just Wang Ping¡¯s gossip, which might be false. After a bit of idle talk, they parted ways. Bai Xiao, with a piece of chocolate in his mouth, climbed onto his beloved bike. This time, he did not take the shortcut through the alleys; instead, he followed the brightly lit, busy main road toward his home. Halfway there, Bai Xiao got a fright from a drunk. As he drove past an intersection, a staggering figure burst out next to him, making Bai Xiao think it was the same human-shaped shadow he had encountered the night before. Upon closer inspection, it turned out it was just a heavily intoxicated drunk. Back in his rented apartment in the Sunshine District, the warm lights came on. Bai Xiao held a white plastic bag in his hand, placing it gently on the table by the window, the bag open to reveal a rich array of late-night snacks. He needed to thoroughly satisfy his body¡¯s craving for nutrition. As a fighter, a sandboxing practitioner, one must not neglect to eat. To forge a robust physique and build powerful muscles was essential to fight. At two-forty in the morning, Bai Xiao finished his struggle and peacefully fell asleep. The curtains were slightly parted, allowing the cold moonlight to shine through from outside and envelope the upper body contour of the young man sleeping soundly on the bed. As time trickled by, a slow yet persistent change was taking place. Bai Xiao¡¯s arms, exposed from under the covers, began to show more defined muscle contours, creating a sense of rigid curvature. One could faintly see several blue veins pulsating beneath the skin. ¡°Dinglingling¡­¡± The alarm rang out, and the golden sunlight had already spread over the head of the bed from outside the window. Bai Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, his black pupils looking up at the ceiling. With a slightly dazed gaze, he quickly sat up and threw back the covers. Almost in the next second, Bai Xiao noticed something unusual. His arms had grown noticeably thicker, and the muscle contours were much more pronounced. He hurriedly stood up, took off his shirt, and stepped into the bathroom. In front of the mirror stood a young man of about one hundred seventy-seven centimeters tall quietly observing his body. His chest muscles, abs, shoulders, and arms all showed varying degrees of bulging muscles, giving off a sense of power. The skin near the muscles also bore dark red stretch marks resembling tree branches. Although his build did not match those who worked out specifically for fitness, he now had a sense of ruggedness that surpassed the average person. ¡°Is this the physical transformation that comes with reaching a small achievement in sandboxing?¡± Bai Xiao murmured to himself as he looked at his body. Swish! Suddenly, he threw a punch at the mirror with lightning-fast speed. His fist stopped right next to the mirror surface, as if colliding with the reflection of his own fist. ¡°Very good.¡± A faint smile appeared on Bai Xiao¡¯s face. After that, he quickly took care of his urgent needs, washed up, and dressed. Coming out of the bathroom, Bai Xiao wore a blue shirt and effortlessly picked up the canvas bag that was already packed on the bed, slinging it over his shoulder. With his other hand, he opened the door, his gaze somewhat vacant as he looked at the door panel. [Character Panel] [Character: Bai Xiao] [Power: 10.1¡ú11.0] [Speed: 9.6¡ú10.1] [Physique: 9.8¡ú10.5] [Will: 10.8¡ú11.0] All four attributes had increased, with strength showing the most significant gain of +0.9. The hardest to improve was will, which had only increased by 0.2. ¡°This is just the beginning¡­¡± With a click, the door opened. In the Pujiang District, on Yanshi Road, the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. In the second training hall, warm-up and exercise had already begun. Over thirty students dressed in grey training gear were continuously throwing punches and kicks. Most of them were mere imitators; their sandboxing movements, although practiced for a few days, were still dreadful to watch. Except for two in the corners¡­ Zhang Hongtao, who had always kept an eye on Guo Hao, noticed that his arms moved with proper form and power, with punches nearing standard quality. To reach such a level in just a few days was promising. If Zhang Hongtao could understand and appreciate the progress on Guo Hao¡¯s part, then Bai Xiao¡¯s side was somewhat incomprehensible to him. Swish, swish, swish! The sandboxing movements were exceptionally standard, the punches and kicks quick and powerful, and his limb movements lacked the stiffness and deliberateness seen in Guo Hao, appearing quite fluid and coordinated. It was as if he had practiced sandboxing for several months. ¡°Has this kid¡­ finally got the hang of it?!¡± Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: 009 Enthusiast, Amateur, Professional, Boxing King Chapter 9: 009 Enthusiast, Amateur, Professional, Boxing King Zhang Hongtao did not make any grand announcements; he simply observed in silence. He was a coach at the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, but he also had the responsibility of selecting fresh talent for the core Fierce Bird Sect of the martial arts hall. The elite class of the academy served as a specialized filtering stage. Each class¡¯s instructor would select students with exceptional talent and understanding and recommend them for the elite class. During the training process of the elite class, some students would be sifted out. The ones remaining were the truly vibrant new blood. It is important to know that the White Bird Martial Arts Hall was not just one venue in the Pujiang District; there were a dozen branches across Huaisui City and several nearby cities, with the headquarters being in Huaisui City. ¡°Focus on observing Guo Hao and Bai Xiao¡­¡± Zhang Hongtao thought to himself. Half an hour later, all the students gathered to watch the instructors demonstrate. Zhang Hongtao began to explain that apart from basic moves in Sandboxing, there were also some advanced training processes, such as target practice that followed. One student would wear something like boxing gloves, which cushioned power on both feet and hands targets, and then another beginner-level Sandboxing student would practice punching. Zhang Hongtao chose some students to come up and experience it. Among them were Guo Hao and Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao stepped forward and quickly put on the feet and hand targets. He nodded at Zhang Hongtao, signaling that he was fully prepared. The next second, Zhang Hongtao suddenly threw a punch. His large, calloused fist cut through the air and with a bang, slammed into the hand target. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Bai Xiao only felt a jolt in his palm, half of his body numbed, and he took two steps back. He looked up in surprise at Coach Zhang, who had already retracted his movement. The power behind the coach¡¯s punch was far beyond his own by a factor of eleven. Moreover, it looked effortless and without full strength. ¡°Next.¡± Bai Xiao stepped down, and another young man with a crew cut was brought up. Soon, the target practice experience was over. Coach Zhang then demonstrated the methods to practice heavy punches and kicks after mastering the basic moves. At this point, it was of course time to bring out the heavy sandbag. In the corner of the training hall, three different-sized black leather sandbags were tied to a metal rod. 80cm, 120cm, 160cm. The largest one, 160 centimeters, was thick and long, and it seemed larger than a human body. Above the sandbags, there were two extremely forceful artistic characters for ¡°White Bird.¡± The sturdy Zhang Hongtao stood in front of the sandbag, assuming a punching stance. Around him, over thirty students gathered and watched. ¡°Boom!¡± His fist careened forwards, striking right at the center of the sandbag. Squeak! The metal chain and bracket rubbed together, creating an unpleasant sound. The massive 160-centimeter sandbag was instantly thrust upwards. Only after swinging through an arc of over sixty degrees did it heavily fall back down. Beside him, students who were watching exclaimed in surprise. Such a large sandbag weighed at least eighty kilos, heavier than an adult man. If Coach Zhang¡¯s punch could send the sandbag flying so high, one could hardly imagine the consequences if it landed on a grown man. ¡°Fuck, coach, that¡¯s too fierce!¡± One of the more boisterous students called out in shock. ¡°Fierce? Haha¡­¡± Zhang Hongtao glanced at him, chuckled, and shook his head. While reaching out to stop the still-swaying sandbag, he spoke. ¡°My skills are not worth bragging as ¡®fierce.¡¯ ¡°In the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, there are plenty who are much stronger and more impressive than I am.¡± ¡°Believe it or not, there are people who could burst this leather sandbag or break the chain holding it with a single punch¡­¡± The students cried out in disbelief, urging Coach Zhang to bring out someone capable of such a feat to see if there really was such a prodigy who could burst a sandbag. It wasn¡¯t any canvas bag, but a leather one with excellent cushioning. Being able to punch through leather¡­ almost means you can punch through a person. Within the crowd, Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze flickered, his eyes growing even more fervent. He felt that what Coach Zhang had said was mostly true, that someone really could burst a punching bag. It seemed that the profession of Fighter did indeed hold higher potential. And not just limited to the common fighting of his previous life. In front of the punching bag, Zhang Hongtao smiled without speaking, only after a moment did he start to talk. ¡°You should know that in the Tianxia Federation, there¡¯s an official classification regarding fighting levels, used to regulate competitions large and small, and for fighting enthusiasts. Amateur fifth-division, professional fourth-division, these are collectively called the Federation Nine-Division. Above the Federation Nine-Division, are the well-known and well-named Boxing Kings in the major fighting competitions¡­¡± ¡°For instance, Ye Feng, Tai Shan.¡± ¡°And for those of you who haven¡¯t even started, you¡¯re collectively called fighting enthusiasts. Fighting enthusiasts who haven¡¯t obtained official certification and haven¡¯t been officially recognized, cannot participate in various fighting competitions.¡± ¡°As for my division, it¡¯s professional second-division, with a punching power of around two hundred and twenty kilograms. If I use special skills¡­ hehe¡­¡± Zhang Hongtao chuckled, then slowly turned around: ¡°Anyway, practicing fighting is a process¡­¡± ¡°As long as you have talent and the persistence to keep training, with the guidance of my White Bird Martial Arts Hall, you can gradually reach my level¡­¡± His eyes swept across the crowd, deliberately lingering on Guo Hao and Bai Xiao for a while before the two made eye contact and he withdrew his gaze. ¡°Enthusiasts, amateur fifth-division, professional fourth-division, Boxing King.¡± Bai Xiao muttered to himself softly, quickly forming a clearer understanding in his mind. He was deep in thought when he suddenly felt a gaze from the crowd on him. Turning his head, he looked through the gaps between many students¡¯ figures and saw a handsome and deep-featured young man looking at him. Guo Hao. Bai Xiao and he made eye contact from a distance, and after a moment, both withdrew their gazes. As time ticked away in the training hall. By three-thirty in the afternoon, the training ended, and many of the students scattered. Bai Xiao hung back, turning his head to glance at the hall. Inside, Guo Hao had not left yet, surrounded by a lackey, as well as the ponytailed girl and short-haired girl from last time. The four of them were laughing and talking, with Guo Hao at the center. It seemed that after training, they were planning to go out together. Bai Xiao swept them a glance, his face expressionless as he turned to head for the changing room. He was not like Guo Hao and the other students who had summer break after their college entrance exams. Bai Xiao still had to grind for his professional experience; he had important things to do. Personal panel information flashed momentarily on his retina. [Your professional skill ¡°Sandboxing¡± experience +10!] [Your profession ¡°Fighter¡± experience +2!] Around four-ten in the afternoon, Sunshine District. Bai Xiao set off as usual, climbing into his beat-up car. The familiar residential district, the familiar city streets, the familiar turning intersections, Bai Xiao had practically roamed the entire city. By six in the evening, he found himself back in the secluded factory area he had visited before. It was the same factory, the same guardhouse. When Bai Xiao came out, he found himself inexplicably in front of a utility pole. He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over it. There were a few more missing person posters than before, it seemed they were newly posted. ¡°June 2nd, June 5th, June 7th¡­¡± ¡°The number of missing people¡­ is increasing¡­¡± Bai Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think of the dark shadow he had encountered the night before. He always felt that within the nocturnal shadows of this city. Something seemed to be gradually stirring up chaos. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: 010 Size means strength, strength means size! Chapter 10: 010 Size means strength, strength means size! ¡°` At around 7:00 in the evening, a heavy rain assaulted the entire city. Thick clouds piled up, making the sky even more overcast than a normal night. The rainfall pounded down, splashing on cars, the road surface, and bus shelters. Water streaming off the eaves converged into small streams along the road¡¯s edge, pouring into the drainage systems. The waves of wind kept lashing out. Boom! The thunder, as dull as the roar of a cannon, made one¡¯s heart palpitate. On the road, with a screech, an electric scooter toppled over. Fortunately, Bai Xiao was quick to react; he ejected from the scooter, narrowly avoiding a face-first fall into the mud. Clad in a plastic raincoat, he stood on the waterlogged pavement, raindrops blurring his helmet¡¯s visor. Bai Xiao quickly righted the scooter, crouched down, and discovered that what was normally a dip in the road had filled with rainwater. The overhead light swept past without revealing the anomaly. With a little more speed, one could easily go head over heels. Having stood on the rain-soaked road for a while, Bai Xiao¡¯s sports shoes were already soaked, and the hem of his pant leg and half of his body were drenched. He looked rather bedraggled as he sat back on the scooter and twisted the handle, only to find that it was somewhat damaged. Although it still ran, the inner components creaked ominously. This Hummer electric scooter that Bai Xiao had used for four or five years, and especially heavily over the past one, appeared to have reached the end of its life with today¡¯s fall. ¡°Harsh weather is the nemesis of every deliveryman.¡± Bai Xiao shook his head in resignation. Encountering this rather unfortunate situation, he didn¡¯t complain or feel dissatisfied like the original owner of the body might have in similar circumstances. Instead, he evaluated the situation with a sense of equanimity. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï For the current Bai Xiao, most negative information didn¡¯t really matter. What was most important was, how had he fared in terms of experience gained in his various jobs throughout the day? Like an old farmer in the vegetable field, calculating the year¡¯s crop yield. [Your profession ¡®Deliveryman¡¯ has gained +13 experience.] [Your professional skill ¡®Electric Scooter Driving¡¯ has gained +19 experience.] [Your professional skill ¡®Mastery of City Routes¡¯ has gained +20 experience.] In front of his retina, the career panel¡¯s summary flashed by and disappeared. On the rainy night streets, Bai Xiao drove his wonky electric scooter. He headed towards the Sunshine District, to his rented house. 20:20, in the warmly lit room. Bai Xiao, in his soggy sports shoes and drenched tracksuit, had strands of black hair like willow branches sticking to his skin. He stood next to the wardrobe, feeling the wet fabric sticking uncomfortably to his body. He stripped down in no time and walked bare into the bathroom. In the mirror, Bai Xiao examined the slight bulge of his muscles and wasn¡¯t very satisfied. This physique barely qualified as lean muscular. The so-called lean muscular build was popular among girls on the internet these days. But Bai Xiao himself, liked it big. In his primal male notion, Big meant strong, strong meant big, and bigger muscles felt safer! Once, Bai Xiao heard about a concept from the bodybuilding community in his previous life. Those obsessed with muscles would inject their bodies with large doses of hormones and drugs, even going as far as to use what was called ¡®Nine Dragons¡¯ (slang for nine different kinds of steroid drugs). Many bodybuilders thus lost their reproductive capabilities and had their lifespans shortened. Still, they pursued muscles. Because to them, muscles were love. Turning muscles into a hard armor on the body was like wrapping oneself in stifling, thick love! Bai Xiao felt that the bodybuilders¡¯ passion for the perfect human form was respectable. However, he didn¡¯t think to such extremes, and as long as he could regularly train in combat sports to enhance his physique and make himself strong, he was satisfied. After sizing himself up, Bai Xiao quickly took a hot shower. Exiting the bathroom, he first swept and mopped the floor, then briskly cleaned his clothes that had been soaking in soapy water. By the time everything was done, it was 8:40. Bai Xiao stood beside the wardrobe, glancing at the empty space near the window. He hesitated over whether to buy a freestanding punching bag for that spot. But after a moment, Bai Xiao abandoned the idea. ¡°` The rental was situated within the neighborhood, surrounded by neighbors above and below, and there was a fear that the noise of punching a sandbag would lead to complaints, as the soundproofing in the Sunshine District was not particularly effective. Besides, Bai Xiao spent his days outside, with tightly packed schedules, and by the time he got home, he hardly had any free time. Even if he bought a sandbag, he probably wouldn¡¯t use it often. Actually, the main issue was that he was broke, strapped for cash. Otherwise, he would have just set up a dedicated training room, filled with all sorts of gym equipment, combat gear, and professional props, training however he wanted. No need to hesitate and worry about this and that. ¡°Soon, with my two great talents, the professional panel and the Dark Red Modifier, everything will gradually develop in a positive direction¡­¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s phone screen lit up slightly, interrupting his thoughts. He took it out and saw it was a lock screen notification from a chat app. The profile picture was a swordsman, with the note ¡°Society¡¯s Brother Dong.¡± Society¡¯s Brother Dong: Xiaozi, I¡¯ve been missing you and Lao Liang. Fancy a drink tonight? I¡¯m at Heng Guang, and I¡¯ll reimburse you for your travel and accommodation expenses. Society¡¯s Brother Dong: Had another argument with my dad, feeling down. Bai Xiao looked at the message, and after a brief recollection, remembered. Wei Dong, a buddy from the same dorm room throughout high school, and his bunkmate. They had always been tight, and had stayed in touch even after graduation. Wei Dong¡¯s dad was already a small-time boss during high school, and then suddenly made it big during college, turning into a big company CEO within a mere four or five years. Wei Dong relied fully on his father, upgrading to a second-generation rich kid. His social media photos were either of him with a sports car or spending lavishly at luxury venues. Wei Dong had risen to wealth, and he actually wanted to bring his old buddy Bai Xiao along. But the original Bai Xiao was somewhat stubborn and had a bit of pride. So, their relationship had never extended beyond friendship. In fact, this was also good. If he really became an employee at Wei Dong¡¯s father¡¯s company, the fairly pure friendship between the two might have soured. Bai Xiao stood in place, pondering for a moment before finally sending a reply. ¡°No can do, Brother Dong, I¡¯m a bit busy with work lately,¡± He followed up with an emoji that the original Bai Xiao frequently used. Soon, there was a response. Society¡¯s Brother Dong: Then get on with it. It¡¯s good to be busy.jpg Society¡¯s Brother Dong: My dad has opened a branch company in Huai Shui. It should be set up in half a month. I can easily get a position and come to visit you there. You better not make excuses then, I¡¯ll come to see you! Bai Xiao replied with a speechless emoji and typed. ¡°Mr. Dong, you¡¯re short of company? Last time I saw your birthday photos on your social media, there was a crowd of dignified people, plenty of promising young men and women, and I even saw a few minor celebrities. You¡¯re not lacking in friends¡­¡± ¡°Why so desperate to see me?¡± The screen flashed slightly. Society¡¯s Brother Dong: How is that the same thing? Friends, after my dad hit it big? Everyone I¡¯ve met, to a man, they¡¯re not friends. The only people I can have a heart-to-heart chat with are you and Lao Liang. Bai Xiao replied with another speechless emoji, typing: It¡¯s up to you. Society¡¯s Brother Dong: Hehe.jpg Then, another photo came through. A young man reclined against the riverside railing, wearing sunglasses, with a cigarette in his mouth. He was looking up at the sky, seemingly fixated on something. Five minutes later, Bai Xiao left the house, driving his rundown electric scooter to the bar. He continued to faithfully play his part as a security guard in the stormy ambiance of the nightlife, shadowed by the roaring club music. Ever since he got the cheat, he treated each job and task with an upgraded level of meticulous dedication. Because in Bai Xiao¡¯s mind, To know one could grow stronger and not act on it was a form of laziness! He preferred that fulfilling sense of achievement, far surpassing any pleasure from slacking off. [Your profession ¡®Security Guard¡¯ has gained +11 experience] [Your professional skill ¡®Patrol¡¯ has gained +15 experience] Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: 012 Woman, can it be used to add points? Chapter 12: 012 Woman, can it be used to add points? ¡°That¡¯s it for today¡¯s training,¡± Zhang Hongtao¡¯s voice pulled Bai Xiao back to reality. He suddenly withdrew from that state, the noisy surroundings and the warm scent of sweat enveloping him. Bai Xiao stretched out a hand and wiped his face, smeared with sweat. His training clothes were almost soaked as well. His limbs felt somewhat fatigued, but it was still within a tolerable range. Turning his head, he noticed the other students had already started heading to the changing rooms. Bai Xiao stood still, calming his heartbeat and allowing his blood to cool slightly. He raised his right hand and swept his drenched hair back behind his head. His clean forehead was revealed. He was just about to take a step forward. But he heard a crisp, pleasant female voice next to him. ¡°You¡¯re Bai Xiao, right? Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Li Xuefei.¡± Turning around, to his right stood a long-legged girl dressed in a women¡¯s training outfit. She had a well-proportioned, tall figure, fair skin, and long black hair tied back into a ponytail that nearly reached her waist. At the moment, Li Xuefei was looking at Bai Xiao with a curious tilt of her head, her pretty oval face lit up by her bright, sparkling eyes giving her a clean appearance. Wasn¡¯t this the dark ponytail who had been hanging out with Guo Hao before? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Why was she greeting him now? Bai Xiao glanced at her, replying emotionlessly. ¡°Hello, is there something you need?¡± ¡°Not really, I just wanted to get to know you. Since I joined this training class, I haven¡¯t spoken to you,¡± the dark ponytail said with a light smile, looking youthful enough to be either in college or high school. Perhaps like Guo Hao, she had just graduated from high school. This striking appearance and figure, even without makeup, must have made her the object of many high school boys¡¯ secret crushes and their unattainable dream. ¡°Well, now we¡¯ve met.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I have some things to take care of, so I¡¯ll be going,¡± Bai Xiao looked at Li Xuefei, nodded politely, and then walked straight towards the changing room. His expression was somewhat peculiar, clearly realizing that Li Xuefei was hitting on him. But Bai Xiao had long outgrown that age of full of longing and excitement about the opposite sex. Those moments that could make a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy¡¯s face turn red. To him, they hardly had any effect. After all. Can you use women to earn points? If not, then don¡¯t waste his precious time. On his retina, the professional panel information displayed. ¡°Your Skill ¡®Sandboxing¡¯ experience +11!¡± ¡°Your profession ¡®Fighter¡¯ experience +2!¡± Bai Xiao pressed his tongue against the inside of his left cheek, his eyes narrowing in pleasure. Only progress brought joy. In place, at Training Hall No.2. Li Xuefei¡¯s attempt at flirting was only half-successful, but she didn¡¯t get angry or frustrated. Instead, she found Bai Xiao quite a character. Beside her, seemingly her close friend, a short-haired girl came over. The two linked arms, giggling and chatting as they walked towards the changing room on the left. The topic of their discussion seemed to subtly involve Bai Xiao. Previously, when Bai Xiao had been immersed in a state of pure heart, he hadn¡¯t noticed that some onlookers within the vicinity had been attracted by his sweat-slicked figure. When a person is wholly engaged, they generate a magnetic field of their own. This is why there once was a topic on the internet. ¡°Men who are serious about their work are the most attractive.¡± As the training hall had nearly emptied, Guo Hao wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave. He randomly picked a black rubber punching bag and began punching it rhythmically, using techniques taught in previous classes at the training camp. Bang! A punch flew out, striking forcefully against the punching bag. ¡°Hiss.¡± Guo Hao frowned slightly, obviously having exerted too much force. It had affected a bruise caused by a moment of distraction during target practice earlier. ¡°This Bai Xiao, he¡¯s really suited for Sandboxing? I remember when he practiced boxing, he wasn¡¯t that great,¡± Guo Hao felt a looming threat, remembering Coach Zhang saying that the elite class was competitive. That spot, might not necessarily be his. Bang! Guo Hao threw a punch and then turned around. With a cold expression, he headed to the locker room. At this moment, outside the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. Bai Xiao had already changed his clothes and was walking out with a backpack. His gaze turned across the street where a dance training center was opening today. Groups of girls with fine figures and exquisite faces were sorting into classes¡ªethnic dance, classical dance, ballet¡­ No matter which type of dance, the girls trained were tall and graceful, with a temperament that might or might not have been cultivated by the arts. ¡°A dance class right next to the martial arts hall¡­¡± ¡°Those boys in the training class will probably be distracted.¡± Bai Xiao glanced over and walked straight toward the bus station. He hadn¡¯t left the street yet when he saw, out of the corner of his eye, Li Yufei with a ponytail and another girl with short hair walking towards the dance class; perhaps they had friends attending classes there. At three forty-five in the afternoon, Bai Xiao returned to his rental apartment. He hadn¡¯t even had time to shower when his grandparents from the countryside called. Their rustic dialect, full of care, made Bai Xiao feel a strange sense of closeness. The entire call was stress-free, filled only with concerns about whether their dear grandson was doing okay in the city, or if he had lost weight. ¡°I¡¯m fine, my health is good,¡± he reassured them. ¡°Once I get settled and earn a bit more money, everything will get better,¡± he promised, following the original tenant¡¯s habits. Finally, with a beep, the call ended. Clearly, the grandparents were worried after the original tenant¡¯s parents had died in a car accident, leaving behind just a university graduate as the family pillar. The pressure was immense, fearing something might happen. They frequently phoned to check on the original tenant, who often reassured his relatives over the phone that he would make something of himself and that things would get better. ¡°Make everything better, huh?¡± Having inherited the original tenant¡¯s body and identity, Bai Xiao also felt this vision. Making everything better was also what he wanted. ¡°I¡¯m already on my way¡­ ¡± Next, it was time to intensively work as a delivery driver and a security guard. This time, Bai Xiao found his groove quickly. Eight thirty in the evening. [Your profession ¡®Delivery Driver¡¯, Experience +13] [Your professional skill ¡®Electric Scooter Driving¡¯ Experience +18] [Your professional skill ¡®Mastering City Routes¡¯ Experience +18] ¡­ Two in the morning. [Your profession ¡®Security Guard¡¯, Experience +11] [Your professional skill ¡®Patrolling¡¯ Experience +14] Back at his rental, Bai Xiao began to summarize. Security guard and fighter, let¡¯s not mention those, they haven¡¯t been activated for long. It would still be a while before the profession or the professional skills could be upgraded. But the delivery driver profession was about to level up from LV.1 to LV.2. [Profession: Delivery Driver LV.1 (89/100)] [Skill 1: Electric Scooter Driving LV.2 (56/200)] [Skill 2: Mastering City Routes LV.2 (39/200)] With one more day¡¯s work, the delivery driver profession could reach level two. I wonder how many Potential Points the ¡°Dark Red Modifier¡± could extract? Bai Xiao was looking forward to it¡­ Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: 013 My Own Bai Xiao Chapter 13: 013 My Own Bai Xiao On June 23, Bai Xiao got up early. He went to a nearby pharmacy, bought some sprays and liniments for bruises and swelling, and also stocked up on over a dozen plasters. This was all in preparation for his own martial arts training; he had seen Guo Hao get accidentally injured by another student yesterday, so he felt it was necessary to take precautions in advance and prepare himself. After that, Bai Xiao purchased some tonic herbs that are commonly known to the public. Such as ginseng, Ganoderma lucidum, Chinese yam, and so on. He didn¡¯t buy anything particularly expensive, the prices of ordinary goods were still quite cheap. Then, he considered whether to get some supplements, but after checking, he realized it didn¡¯t need to be that complicated. To replenish vitamins, just drink some orange juice; to supplement nutritional calcium, drink more milk. Eating a bit more meat every day was completely sufficient. After all, it¡¯s the modern society, and many things are available for purchase. The threshold for practicing fighting techniques and martial arts has been greatly reduced. At 9:55 AM, outside the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. Bai Xiao, wearing a black tracksuit and carrying a blue canvas bag, Slowly walked over from the street corner in the distance. He was chewing gum, his nasal passages filled with the taste of mint. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? He glanced across the street; the training institution that had opened yesterday had its doors wide open. Inside, he could see a group of girls, each wearing their respective dance outfits, laughing and chatting. Though the styles of the outfits varied, they all shared a common trait: tight-fitting and back-revealing. Their smooth skin exposed like white icebergs on the sea, their graceful figures were like a flock of swans. Perhaps it was break time, their voices were so loud that they could be heard from the street. Celebrities, entertainment, novels, films ¨C the topics were mostly of this sort. That wasn¡¯t surprising at all. Just like how the boys in Bai Xiao¡¯s combat training class talked about the same few things: games, novels, esports, and possibly with the addition of combat sports. The original host was the same at the age of eighteen or nineteen. ¡°When I think about it that way, the original host¡¯s little brother, Bai Tang, really seems out of place. He took an interest in mechanics in junior high, and in high school, he began tinkering with electronics. He got into a key university and joined a group of like-minded people in a national college robotics competition. While other people¡¯s youth was about first love, his was about circuits and motor oil¡­¡± Bai Xiao thought quietly to himself. Then, he stepped forward and walked straight into the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. In the locker room, Bai Xiao changed into a gray training suit. He walked step by step toward Hall No. 2 and stepped onto the soft mat with his right foot. Immediately, a few glances from the many students were cast toward him. The two girls who had been close to Guo Hao previously looked toward Bai Xiao with smiles and laughter. Guo Hao and his lackey, the freckled-faced He Hao, both watched Bai Xiao with their gazes. They weren¡¯t glaring intently, but it was almost there. Bai Xiao needed only a moment to understand. It was nothing more than the competitive spirit of adolescent boys in front of girls. Probable that the incident yesterday, when Li Xuefei approached him with a charming and coquettish manner, Had unsettled the psyche of Guo Hao, a boy who had just graduated from high school. As Bai Xiao was thinking to himself, he joined the ranks without any expression on his face. Although he understood what Guo Hao was thinking, that didn¡¯t mean Bai Xiao had any intention of initiating conversation to dispel the misunderstanding or to alleviate the potential jealousy. He was quite self-absorbed, only caring about things he was interested in; everything else was a bother. Just as he had refused to engage further with Li Xuefei¡¯s attempts at conversation the day before, Bai Xiao would ignore Guo Hao unless he stepped forward to block his path. Moreover, many things are inevitable. As a person becomes extraordinary, they will involuntarily attract various looks of admiration, jealousy, or resentment. If Bai Xiao had to deal with each one of them, Then how could he continue to refine his fighting skills? At 10:00 AM, the training resumed. Starting with warming up and reviewing. Then came the coach¡¯s demonstrations, the students¡¯ imitations, and free practice. Those who were fast learners proceeded to target practice or to hit the punching bags. In the training hall. After practicing alone for a while, Bai Xiao soon activated the ¡°Pure Heart¡± talent. He isolated himself from the distractions of the outside world, creating the impression that the entire hall was empty and turned into a blank training room. Punching and retracting, shedding sweat, his blood began to surge and boil. ¡°` Whoosh! ¡°Pure Heart¡± effect ended, and Bai Xiao gasped for air. His gaze shifted forward, eyes flickering. [Your profession Skill ¡°Sandboxing¡± gains +10 experience!] [Your Main profession ¡°Fighter¡± gains +2 experience!] The Fighter profession panel displayed. [Profession: Fighter LV.1 (13/100)] [Skill: Sandboxing Novice (40/200)] ¡°It¡¯s not enough, the rate at which the Sandboxing profession skill improves is decent, but the experience for the Fighter profession is increasing too slowly. Each time it¡¯s just two or three points, to level up to level two, wouldn¡¯t that take a month and a half. And nobody knows how many levels there are for the Fighter¡­¡± Bai Xiao frowned slightly, thinking to himself. In this case, if he wanted his profession to sublimate and receive enhancement, it seemed it would take forever. The more Bai Xiao used the talent Pure Heart, the more he felt its importance, it was definitely core. But, the duration of Pure Heart talent was entirely insufficient. This greatly reduced the efficiency at which he gained professional experience. If the Pure Heart talent became stronger, it would undoubtedly benefit all of Bai Xiao¡¯s professions, including any future ones he might activate. So, this next part was crucial. [Below is the Enhancement Foreboding for the Fighter Main profession] ¡®Enhancement 1: Talent Evolution (The talent Pure Heart will undergo an evolution with each level-up, gradually and slowly growing stronger in effect)¡¯ ¡°I must increase the rate at which I gain Fighter profession experience¡­¡± Bai Xiao thought hard, dripping with sweat, his eyes serious and focused. ¡°The best way is to learn more Fighter skills.¡± ¡°Just Sandboxing as a professional skill isn¡¯t enough.¡± ¡°Boxing, Jujutsu, Kickboxing, Wrestling, and so on and so forth¡­¡± ¡°Maybe that could work.¡± He quickly formed a plan in his mind and intended to put it into action. Time ticked by, and it was already half-past three in the afternoon. As Coach Zhang announced the end of the class, many students headed towards the changing room. Only Bai Xiao remained, not in a hurry to leave the Martial Arts Hall. He waited until most of the people had gone before asking Zhang Hongtao. ¡°Coach, for the boxing and Jujutsu classes we had before, does the White Bird Martial Arts Hall have other classes? I feel like I didn¡¯t learn well before and want to train again, I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s possible¡­¡± Bai Xiao asked seriously. Zhang Hongtao, dressed in black coach attire and holding a thermos, paused briefly at the question, then smiled. It had been a long time since he encountered a student so passionate about fighting. ¡°It¡¯s not that complicated, if you really want to practice, I can send you the teaching videos exclusively for the internal coaches of the Martial Arts Hall. You just follow the instructions in the videos step by step at home, along with what I have taught you before. If you just want to reinforce the basics and self-learn, it¡¯s perfectly fine¡­¡± ¡°How about this, after the 3:30 pm training class is over, I¡¯ll still be here for a while, you can ask me directly if you have any issues with other classes. I¡¯ll also check how you¡¯re practicing, to make sure it¡¯s correct and standardized. Otherwise, you might hurt yourself if the posture or movement is wrong¡­¡± Zhang Hongtao took a sip of strong tea and said so. ¡°Thank you, Coach!¡± Bai Xiao thanked him on the spot; for him, self-study was the best approach. At worst, he could cut one or two hours from his delivery job. Or mix in some boxing during his free practice. ¡°Alright then, off you go.¡± ¡°I have your yy, I¡¯ll send it to you later.¡± Zhang Hongtao tightened the bottle cap and started to tidy up some props and equipment. Bai Xiao didn¡¯t leave straight away as told, but instead, offered to help tidy up, and it was only after an extra fifteen minutes that he went to the changing room. ¡°` Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: 014 Martial Arts School, Master-Disciple Succession Chapter 14: 014 Martial Arts School, Master-Disciple Succession Sunshine District, inside a rental property. Having just finished his shower, Bai Xiao, drying his wet black hair with a towel, stepped out of the bathroom and picked up his charging phone from the bed, opening the chat interface with Coach Zhang Hongtao. As expected, he saw a whole set of instructional videos. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± He clicked on one of the collections, the first video. In the footage, a man dressed in black fighting attire stood alone in a vast hall. Since the shot moved from far to near, Bai Xiao first noticed the man¡¯s physique. Over one meter eighty-five, with broad and strong shoulders, muscular build, typical inverted triangle shape, creating a strong sense of oppression. From a distance, he looked like a towering iron tower stretching out ahead. The focus zoomed in to reveal the man¡¯s face, a fierce kind of handsome. His bone structure was extremely aggressive, with a high nose and deep eyebrows, sharp and chiseled contours. His eyes were half-closed, the corners as sharp as knives. Under his messy hair, a narrow, cross-shaped scar spread from the corner of his right eyebrow to his temple. ¡°This man¡­¡± Bai Xiao suddenly noticed that the fighting attire the man wore was different from Coach Zhang¡¯s. It had a menacing bird of prey with spread wings covering a large part of his back, even extending its claws onto the sleeves. It was all in white gold, with hints of blood-like dark red. It looked both aesthetic and commanding. ¡°Boxing, Lesson One¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï In the video, the man spoke with a deep, raspy voice. It was like sand chafing against each other enveloped by the wind in a dry desert. He then introduced the essentials of the move with short, direct, professional terminology, setting his feet and swinging his fist. Standard, perfect, relaxed, and clean-cut. Bai Xiao watched somewhat surprised, until the video ended. ¡°The man in this instructional video, he¡¯s very skillful! Feels like he teaches even better than Coach Zhang Hongtao; I wonder which instructor from the Martial Arts Hall he is¡­¡± He hesitated slightly, then typed in the chat interface. ¡°Coach, who is the man in this video, is he an instructor from our White Bird Martial Arts Hall? The movements are so standard, a template among templates¡­¡± Waiting for a moment, the screen bumped slightly. Zhang Hongtao (Coach): Haha, of course, he¡¯s standard, he¡¯s the senior brother doing the instructional videos at White Bird Martial Arts Hall! It¡¯s definitely different. Bai Xiao: Senior brother? What does that mean? Isn¡¯t he one of the instructors? Zhang Hongtao (Coach): We have two systems, inside White Bird Martial Arts Hall is a legacy of master and disciple, outside resembles more of a training class setting with coach and students. Either way, he¡¯s the senior brother to everyone in the hall. Bai Xiao: So, Coach, you¡¯re his junior brother then? Zhang Hongtao (Coach): Formally speaking, yes, but I¡¯m actually far from having the status to call myself his junior, the gap is too wide. Let me put it to you this way, we instructors at the martial arts hall are all eliminated losers¡­ Zhang Hongtao seemed to somewhat admire Bai Xiao, thus revealing some details, but when Bai Xiao asked more, he became reluctant to say more. In the end, he only replied with these words to Bai Xiao. Train hard! If you get a chance to join the elite class, anything is possible. ¡°Inside White Bird Martial Arts Hall, there seems to be a more core circle¡­¡± ¡°Legacy of master and disciple? Is it similar to those ancient schools of martial arts?¡± Bai Xiao looked puzzled and eventually put away his phone. He decided not to practice any other fighting techniques today. Bai Xiao planned to focus on leveling up his career as a delivery driver to level two next. He picked up his dirty clothes and soaked them in a basin full of soapy water. Carrying his phone and keys, he quickly went downstairs. At the Sunshine District¡¯s bike shed. Bai Xiao saw his own electric scooter which had been repaired and rejuvenated. The master¡¯s skills were quite good, it had been brought back to life. Huaguang Electric Vehicle Repair Store, he noted, he would go there again next time. Login, receive orders, delivery. Bai Xiao started his routine delivery process, which he knew well. Today was a clear day, no heavy rain, sunset tinged with red. Sunset¡¯s glow streamed between the tall buildings, blurring the horizon with a soft twilight hue. An electric scooter wove steadily through the roads. Continuously moving, never stopping. Until darkness completely engulfed the sky, and the city¡¯s neon lights came on. On a bridge crossing the river, Bai Xiao rode his steed, speeding along the edge of the lane. Moist air filled with mist brushed against him as vehicles flowed endlessly beside him, while the halo of streetlights and car lights swirled like revolving lighthouses. The lights flickered and passed by incessantly. Looking up, through the helmet, I gazed far across to the district on the other side of the bridge. The brightly illuminated modern city was bustling and enchanting. Skyscrapers and luxurious buildings, blocks of square, brown glass lighting up in a connected series, roof tops designated for helicopters were rotating laser headlights continuously. Thousands of lights twinkled like stars, an illusion of glamorous vanity. How many people would become lost in this city¡¯s nighttime scenery? Forgetting their goals, forgetting the present. Only yearning for that mirage-like opulence. ¡°What a beautiful view.¡± ¡°Next, it¡¯s time to continue improving my security profession¡­¡± Bai Xiao stretched out his hand, pulled down the glass face shield, and his gaze dropped. Completely isolated from the distant, intricately magical neon lights. [Your profession ¡°Delivery Worker¡± Experience +12] [Your professional skill ¡°Electric Scooter Driving¡± Experience +17] [Your professional skill ¡°Expertise in City Routes¡± Experience +20] [Your profession ¡°Delivery Worker¡± has been upgraded to LV.2] The numerous information before my eyes receded, and the profession panel displayed. [Profession: Delivery Worker LV.2 (1/200)] (Extractable) ¡°Here it comes!¡± Before Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up, the dark red (extractable) indicator appeared again. What¡¯s the difference between the experience of the profession and that of the skills? Soon, everything before him provided the answer. ¡°Dark Red!¡± The entire Delivery Worker profession suddenly underwent a blurry distortion. As if a layer of misty water vapor had covered the surface. The next second, a bright red light burst forth. [Dark Red Modifier] [Potential Points: 2] Two potential points! The simplest and most tangible difference. The potential points extracted from professional experience were twice that of the skill experience. Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze swept over the other profession panels. He quickly found a plus sign behind the security profession skill ¡°Patrol.¡± Bai Xiao decisively chose to save it for later. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste precious potential points on such common professions. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to use these two potential points to learn boxing in a few days, or to save up a bit more to improve sandboxing? Every potential point must be used effectively. Bai Xiao was clear about that in his mind. After eight in the evening, he rode his bike home and started by washing his clothes. After a bit of rest, Bai Xiao headed to his workplace for the evening. No. 111 Wutong Road, Sakura Bird Bar. In the shadowy corner nearest to the black marble bar, a tall and vague figure always stood quietly, surveying the entire place. [Your profession ¡°Security Guard¡± Experience +10] [Your professional skill ¡°Patrol¡± Experience +13] Profession panel. [Profession: Security Guard LV.1 (33/100)] [Skill: Patrol LV.1 (43/100)] Every bit of your effort is faithfully recorded as experience. Every jump in the numbers at the end is a symbol of sweat flowing. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: 015 Trouble and Solving Trouble Chapter 15: 015 Trouble and Solving Trouble At two in the morning, after finishing work, Bai Xiao exited through the staff passage. He tucked his hands into his pockets, chewing mint-flavored gum in his mouth. The night wind rustled the treetops, the leaves slightly audible, a cool sensation coming head-on. Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze swept indifferently across the street, some cars parked along the curbside spots, their matte surfaces faintly reflecting the white light. In front of the store, by the streetlight, many fashionable young men and women could be seen gathered together, their phones lit continuously urging, seemingly waiting for friends to join the fun. They dressed stylishly. The men wore oversized goggles that covered their entire eye sockets, a recently popular celebrity style. The women¡¯s earrings twinkled under the light as they gently tapped on their screens with manicured nails. They also sprayed some kind of strong perfume, the heavy scent detectable from a few meters away, somewhat choking. As Bai Xiao walked past, he had to take out another piece of gum from his pocket to cope. Waiting for the minty scent to disperse the perfume. Bai Xiao had already walked some distance away from Sakura Bird Bar. Ahead, at the turn, entering from the side, was a place for parking. Click, click, click¡­ Behind him, the laughter and chatter of the group of youths gradually faded. Bai Xiao kept moving forward, turning into the side. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In less than ten seconds, a man dressed in black trousers, a black hoodie, and wearing a black mask, also came striding quickly. At the turn, one could see a dragon-shaped tattoo on the man¡¯s neck. His hands stuffed into his pockets, he strode forward along the alley with his head down. To the casual observer, he appeared to be merely a normal nighttime runner or someone heading home. Down the alley off Wutong Road, the streetlight cast a circle of dim yellow haze, lighting up the grid-patterned sidewalk and the surfaces of black benches. A swarm of flying insects gathered under the light, floating in the green belts. In the half-dim, half-shadowed alley. One after the other, two figures walked in the same direction. ¡°Heh, I¡¯ve finally caught you¡­¡± ¡°Like playing the hero? Like sticking your nose in?¡± ¡°Damn it, no one who messes with Chen Jinlong ever ends up well!¡± The man in black, following behind Bai Xiao, was the one who had tried to cause trouble two days ago at the Sakura Bird Bar. After being subdued, he was handed over to the police and spent a day in detention, released only after paying a fine. Chen Jinlong considered himself a half-gangster, and his first deed after gaining freedom was revenge. He had been staking out Bai Xiao since the closing hour of Sakura Bird Bar today. Chen Jinlong carried two items in his pockets, a controlled knife in his left for stabbing and a blackjack in his right for striking. He planned to first use the blackjack to give Bai Xiao a painful beating, to let him understand the cost of provoking him. The dagger was for contingency, in case Bai Xiao turned out to be a fool who wouldn¡¯t plead under the blackjack¡¯s blows. Then Chen Jinlong would use the dagger to let him taste the flavor of blood. ¡°Heh¡­¡± Underneath the black mask, Chen Jinlong sneered. His head dipped slightly, his hat¡¯s brim hiding his excited eyes, hands still in his pockets. Once he got to a secluded spot, he could instantly draw his weapon and strike. In the alley, Bai Xiao, walking at the front, had reached the road¡¯s turn and disappeared from sight with a slight sidestep. Chen Jinlong hurriedly quickened his pace, clenching the blackjack in his right hand tighter and slowly drawing it out a little. It was about time to teach this guy a lesson right here. Click! He lurched forward, sweeping past the corner, completely drawing out the blackjack. Underneath the hood, fierce eyes lit up, his gaze quickly scanning ahead. ¡°Huh? Where is he?¡± But there, in the alley ahead, was no sight of Bai Xiao. Only buildings stood on both sides with several small lanes running through. ¡°Where is he? Fuck!¡± ¡°Does that kid live around here?¡± ¡°I knew I should have just hit him right away, damn it!¡± Chen Jinlong took off his hood and cursed loudly. He hadn¡¯t expected the alley around the corner to be so short, and he had lost him by just a few steps. Putting away the flick stick and putting it back in his pocket, Chen Jinlong hurried forward, not giving up. He scanned several forks, but unfortunately, there was no one in sight. ¡°Pah, you got lucky today!¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t avoid me forever.¡± He slowly turned around and took out his phone from his chest, tapping it incessantly. The screen glowed faintly, unclear what was being sent. While sending messages, Chen Jinlong muttered under his breath. ¡°Sooner or later, you¡¯re going to get a beating from me¡­¡± Before he could finish typing, suddenly a black plastic bag was thrust over his head from above, completely obscuring his vision. Chen Jinlong was startled, dropping his phone as he frantically reached for his pockets. Smack! A fist came from the side and struck Chen Jinlong in the face. It was fast and fierce, knocking him out cold. Half of his face buzzed as if stung by a bee, numb and painful. ¡°Fuck! Who!!!¡± Bang! The only response was another harsh punch! This one hit right on the bridge of his nose, an excruciating delight. Blood flowed from his nostrils, the salty, sour, stinking mix piercing his brain! ¡°Aah!¡± Chen Jinlong screamed in agony, but it was abruptly cut off. He was kicked to the ground by a large foot, falling hard! After that, a rapid assault of punches and kicks followed. The attacker was eerily silent, saying nothing, just relentlessly beating him. Chen Jinlong cried out in pain, only able to cover his head, still sheathed in the plastic bag, and screamed for help. Midway, he switched to begging for mercy! ¡°Stop beating, please stop! Ah!¡± In the alley, Xiao slowly withdrew, silently standing up. He glanced at Chen Jinlong, lying on the ground like a dead fish, his muscles spasming, fearing he had beaten him to death. Seeing the flick stick and dagger that had fallen out of the pockets nearby, he stepped forward and kicked him again. ¡°Ah!¡± Chen Jinlong screamed again. The next second, Xiao turned his head, unhesitatingly disappearing into the alley. Half a minute later, at the parking lot, he found his electric scooter. Stepping on, he turned the key, and the screen lit up. Actually, Xiao had already noticed when Chen Jinlong was following him. When he turned into the side alley, he was even more certain. Even if he didn¡¯t know it was the old foe in the floral shirt coming for revenge, Xiao would still be on guard against potential thieves and robbers. This kind of bar street often attracted such riffraff. Of course, this also had a lot to do with his high Will Attribute. Lately, Xiao had confirmed it was the previous floral shirt guy causing trouble. So, he had picked up a plastic bag from a nearby trashcan and struck from behind, a barrage of punches and kicks. The job done, he left as quickly as he came! Although he had some sandboxing skills and outstanding attributes, he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to confront an armed thug head-on. As long as Xiao¡¯s physical condition remained within the human range, he must always be wary of sharp weapons like daggers and axes. A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Unless, he¡¯s no longer human¡­ Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Evil Ghost, testing punching power Chapter 16: Evil Ghost, testing punching power ¡°` Whoosh¡­ The electric bike started, speeding towards the distance, leaving everyone in its dust. On Wutong Street, in the originally dim alleyway. Chen Jinlong staggered to his feet, groaning with a hiss of pain; he was evidently hurting all over. With one hand propped against the rough gray wall and the other removing the plastic bag that was almost burst by Bai Xiao¡¯s punches, he revealed a swollen and bruised face. His eyelids were somewhat swollen, his eyes slit and slightly bloodshot. His nose was bleeding from both nostrils, but luckily the bridge of his nose wasn¡¯t crooked. ¡°Damn it! What the hell is in this trash bag? Ugh!¡± Chen Jinlong nearly vomited as he found his hair and face smeared with a sticky, black filth that reeked like years of sediment from a sewer drain, it was utterly disgusting. He hadn¡¯t even noticed it in the midst of being beaten up. ¡°Motherfucker! You better hope I don¡¯t find out who you are!¡± Chen Jinlong roared in anger, tossing the trash bag onto the ground and stomping on it several times to vent his fury. Yet the next second, he twisted his face in pain and cried out, having inadvertently aggravated the bruises from the kicks and punches on his body. After a round of cursing and moaning, Chen Jinlong gradually gathered himself. He now strongly suspected that it was Bai Xiao who had beaten him up; after all, Bai Xiao was the only likely connection here. Regardless of whether it was someone else, Chen Jinlong was determined to pin this incident on Bai Xiao. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°You just wait!¡± He gritted his teeth and gathered his belongings from the ground, using one hand to push himself off the wall, limping toward the outer street. A hospital visit was definitely in order. However, Chen Jinlong didn¡¯t see what was taking place behind him in the dark corner of the alley. At some point, a blurred human-shaped shadow emerged from the darkness, its eyes emitting a disturbing green glow. It, or rather he, was staring intently at Chen Jinlong¡¯s retreating figure. Tap¡­ tap tap¡­ tap tap tap¡­ The shadow moved with jerky, statue-like motions, advancing in starts and stops. Then suddenly, it sprinted with a posture that defied human anatomy! Like a tiger pouncing on its prey. Only then did Chen Jinlong notice the anomaly behind him. He whipped around abruptly: ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± ¡°Ahhh!!!!!!¡± The abrupt scream echoed down the alleyway. It seemed Chen Jinlong¡¯s plans for further revenge against Bai Xiao¡­ would never come to fruition in this lifetime¡­ On June 24, Bai Xiao got up early. He planned to buy an extendable baton online, to serve as a self-defense tool. In the end, Bai Xiao chose the most traditional type of steel-extending baton. Compared with the magnet-attraction type and the spring-loaded type, the steel-extending baton had higher stability and fewer downsides. After tidying up his room, as usual, he went to the martial arts hall for training. Compared to the combat training of the previous days, Bai Xiao¡¯s practice today saw some change. He began mixing boxing training into his Sandboxing practice, especially during his own practice sessions. Following Coach Zhang¡¯s instructional videos, he made the most of his Pure Heart talent to grind on boxing for a while. Zhang Hongtao noticed Bai Xiao practicing boxing, but he didn¡¯t scold or stop him. Since Bai Xiao¡¯s Sandboxing was exceptionally good, Zhang Hongtao¡¯s teaching pace couldn¡¯t keep up, considering he had to take care of other students as well. So it was fine for Bai Xiao to practice boxing during his own training time. Throughout the practice session, bolstered by the Pure Heart talent, Bai Xiao faintly sensed he was nearing the threshold of entering into boxing. This pace was incredibly fast. Chiefly for three reasons. The Pure Heart talent was powerful. The body¡¯s original owner had practiced boxing before. The instructional video demonstrated by the senior disciple from the White Bird Martial Arts Hall was very standard. With these factors combined, Bai Xiao felt the trend of entering the threshold. ¡°` Unfortunately, by the time the training ended, he still hadn¡¯t fully grasped boxing. At half past three in the afternoon, in Training Hall Two, all the students had left. Only Bai Xiao and Zhang Hongtao remained, tidying up the equipment. Once the equipment was almost put away, Bai Xiao began to seek advice. Boxing, as a combat skill, involves hitting sandbags, focus mitts, shoulder touching, shadowboxing, punching speed balls¡ªthese are roughly the initial training routines for beginners. Zhang Hongtao also taught Bai Xiao a little trick. If one wants convenience, they can buy a head-mounted boxing reflex ball. Turn a cap backwards, tie a reflex ball to the snapback. By moving the head and punching, the ball attached to the elastic cord swings, simulating an opponent¡¯s punching point, which can be practiced repeatedly. Around four in the afternoon, Bai Xiao finished asking for advice. After Zhang Hongtao left, he hit the punching bag for another two minutes. When he came out, an unexpected situation had occurred in Training Hall One. A crowd had gathered, somewhat noisy. Most were students in grey training suits, but they were unfamiliar faces, probably from other classes. As Bai Xiao approached, the students let out exclamations of surprise. It was only when he got close that he realized they were gathered around a punch force measurer. The students took turns to test their power. Most of them were in the fifty-kilogram range, with hardly anyone exceeding sixty kilograms. As for the girls, the numbers were even lower, the highest being fifty-three kilograms. Clearly, this was the normal punch force range for an adult male. Coach Zhang Hongtao¡¯s two hundred and twenty kilograms was already quite exaggerated. After watching for two minutes, Bai Xiao was about to leave when he noticed two young men stand out from the crowd. One was one hundred eighty-five centimeters tall, with a strong build, broad shoulders, bushy eyebrows, and big eyes. The other was one hundred eighty centimeters tall, with a shiny bald head and a substantial physique, his arms full of strength. Both were about twenty years old, not exceeding twenty-five. From the excited egging on by the surrounding students, it was clear. These two, one named Kang Li and the other Zhou Bing, were the most outstanding from the first and third training halls. Now, it was obvious they wanted to compete to see whose punch was stronger. In front of everyone¡¯s eyes, Kang Li stepped forward first. He aimed at the punch force measurer and threw a punch. With a bang, the number on the display started to jump wildly. 114.5kg! Kang Li shook his head and stepped back. It seemed he had held back a bit, as this was not his best result. Immediately afterwards, the bald Zhou Bing stepped forward, gathered his strength, and struck fiercely. Bang! 120.2kg! The crowd gasped in amazement, and Zhou Bing stepped down looking somewhat pleased with himself. From the sidelines, Bai Xiao observed everything, inwardly startled. These top students from the training classes were much more formidable than Guo Hao from their class. Or rather, their physical condition and talent far surpassed Guo Hao¡¯s. During a previous boxing class, Guo Hao had tested his punching power, at around 72kg. Indeed, this was higher than the average student and had even exceeded the threshold for the Federation Amateur First Rank, approaching the Second Rank. But compared to these two, he was far behind. Who knew whether Kang Li and Zhou Bing had trained before the classes to have such exceptional physiques. After watching for a while, Bai Xiao felt an itch to try it out himself. Since many people had already tested and there was no need to queue, anyone who wanted to try could do so immediately. A minute later, Bai Xiao took a deep breath, gathering his strength. Then, assuming the power generation stance, he punched the testing area. 84.1kg! A very decent punching force, quite a bit stronger than Guo Hao¡¯s. Originally, the host¡¯s power was just a normal fifty-plus kilograms. But after Bai Xiao made small achievements in Sandboxxing, learning the power generation movement, with a boost in his attributes, his punching power had remarkably increased by about thirty kilograms in just a few days. Bai Xiao looked at the number on the measuring device and thought about Kang Li and Zhou Bing¡¯s hundred-plus figures. He felt neither pride nor discouragement. He simply calmly accepted this reality. He had improved, and grown stronger, but it still wasn¡¯t enough. Next¡­ Kang Li, Zhou Bing, and even Coach Zhang Hongtao¡ªsooner or later, Bai Xiao would surpass each one. This was a quiet yet powerful confidence. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: 017 Time Flies Chapter 17: 017 Time Flies In Hall 1, many students were slightly surprised. Although Bai Xiao¡¯s 84 kg result wasn¡¯t as shockingly exaggerated as the previous two, compared to most students, it was already a significant gap. Amid the crowd, Kang Li and Zhou Bing also turned to look over, deeply observing Bai Xiao. The two of them, familiar with each other, had already practiced fighting for a long time before entering the White Bird Martial Arts Hall¡¯s training class. Joining the training class at White Bird Martial Arts Hall wasn¡¯t really about learning fighting; it was about joining that elite class at the hall. According to some rumors within the Huaisui City fight scene, White Bird Martial Arts had even more formidable martial arts, ones even better suited for combat and skirmishes than boxing or Sandboxing! So, when they saw how outstanding Bai Xiao¡¯s fist strength was, they both doubted whether he was the same as them, an old hand in the fighting scene, specially coming for White Bird Martial Arts Hall. Five minutes later, the students in the training hall dispersed, heading home. Bai Xiao was just about to head to the locker room to change out of his training clothes when a tall, sturdy man approached him, his conspicuous bald head giving him a somewhat simple yet fierce appearance¡ªZhou Bing. ¡°Friend, let¡¯s get acquainted. I¡¯m Zhou Bing.¡± The newcomer stretched out his right hand, hovering in mid-air. Bai Xiao hesitated slightly, then extended his hand and shook with the other. ¡°Bai Xiao.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 He could feel that the other¡¯s hand was full of calluses, rough and powerful. This man must have practiced fists for many years to have such hands. ¡°Are you also here for the elite class of White Bird Martial Arts Hall?¡± Zhou Bing was a straightforward man, speaking concisely and to the point. Bai Xiao immediately recalled the conversation he had with Coach Zhang Hongtao the day before. Elite class, mentorship, core circle¡­ ¡°Sort of,¡± he responded. ¡°Then after a while, we¡¯ll not only be classmates but also opponents,¡± Zhou Bing withdrew his hand, smiled, and then turned and walked away. At the spot, Bai Xiao watched his broad back, murmuring to himself. ¡°Elite class, huh? What exactly will be inside it?¡± Leaving White Bird Martial Arts Hall, he took a bus back to his rental room. He didn¡¯t forget the coach¡¯s suggestion and ordered a reflex boxing ball online, and incidentally, a black cap, dual-purpose. Then, he opened the chat interface with Coach Zhang Hongtao. He found the boxing tutorial videos he had viewed before. One after another, he watched them all the way through, gaining much insight. Many things that were blurry in his memory before were now answered more clearly and precisely. The chief disciple in the video was very high in his teaching standards. ¡­ Meticulously imitating, practicing bit by bit. In his solitary rented room, quiet and boring, Bai Xiao punched and retracted his punches, stepped, and slid, enjoying the power slowly seeping out from his body until he felt utterly drained. Becoming stronger was a lonely and painful affair. Even with the help of the professional panel, he had to give it his all! Heaven won¡¯t give you perfectly sculpted muscles, but it gives you a sculpting knife! To some extent, that knife isn¡¯t even given by heaven, but by Bai Xiao himself¡ªheld tightly in his own hands! What kind of person he wanted to be in the future¡­ He might as well slowly carve it out with the knife, even if it meant bleeding. After who knows how long. Snap! In the open space of the room, Bai Xiao lay on the floor drenched in sweat, sprawled out with his body forming a large ¡®X,¡¯ his chest heaving. He was panting heavily, physically drained, completely exhausted. Yet a smile appeared on his face. The reason was the panel information that suddenly popped up before his eyes. [You have obtained a new professional skill ¡°Boxing¡±!] [Profession: Fighter LV.1 (16/100)] [Talent: Pure Heart] [Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (51/200)] [Skill 2: Introductory Boxing (1/100)] ¡­ Starting from June 24th, every aspect of Bai Xiao¡¯s life had thoroughly gotten back on track. He felt exceptionally fulfilled, completely immersed in gaining experience in various professions, steadily improving. June 25th, practicing fists. After the initiation into fist skills, the experience gain as a fighter indeed became quicker. From the original +2, +2, it had changed to +4, +4¡­ June 26, practiced fist skill. In the White Bird Martial Arts Hall Fight Class, Guo Hao and his subordinate He Hao seemed to have some prejudice against Bai Xiao, implying a sense of confrontation. Right before leaving for the locker room after class, He Hao spoke ill of him. June 27, practiced fist skill. Practiced Jujutsu and finally got the hang of it! His physique was gradually getting stronger, and his muscles and strength were slowly increasing. June 28, practiced fist skill. That day was exhausting for Bai Xiao; he was tired both physically and mentally, as a strong feeling of laziness stealthily played on his mind, wanting to indulge himself just for that day. After a struggle of thoughts, Bai Xiao still stood up and continued his extra fight practice for the day until he was drenched in sweat, draining his last bit of energy. Resisting desires proved to be more admirable than indulging them. Every act of indulgent procrastination harmed the future self. Every act of restraining instinct saved the future self. Bai Xiao gradually understood this principle. June 29, 2:30 AM, Sunshine District rental house. Bai Xiao took a refreshing cold shower in the bathroom. He stayed for about fifteen minutes before coming out while rubbing his hair with a dry towel. ¡°Huuh¡­¡± He sat on the edge of the bed, his body relaxed, eyes staring straight ahead. [Character Panel] [Character: Bai Xiao] [Power: 11.0¡ú11.2] [Speed: 10.1¡ú10.2] [Physique: 10.5¡ú10.7] [Will: 11.0¡ú11.1] Without using potential points, just this week¡¯s efforts, desperate training, and coordinated nutrition had all attributes increased. Although not as exaggerated as adding points, it was very stable. Persistently accumulated progress added up to a lot. After checking the character panel, Bai Xiao looked at his professional panels. His gaze carried a touch of the joy found in a farmer¡¯s bountiful harvest. 1. Delivery man [Profession: Delivery man LV.2 (66/200)] [Skill 1: Electric Scooter Driving LV.2 (162/200)] [Skill 2: City Route Expertise LV.2 (154/200)] 2. Security Guard [Profession: Security guard LV.1 (88/100)] [Skill: Patrolling LV.2 (13/200)] 3. Fighter [Profession: Fighter LV.1 (34/100)] [Talent: Pure Heart] [Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (91/200)] [Skill 2: Basic Boxing (41/100)] [Skill 3: Beginner Jujutsu (9/100)] The proficiency of each profession had greatly improved. The security guard¡¯s professional skill of patrolling had broken through to level 2 and Bai Xiao had extracted potential points from it. Plus the two points accumulated earlier. [Dark Red Modifier] [Potential Points: 3] With three potential points, Bai Xiao had already decided how to use them. [Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (91/200)] [Skill 2: Basic Boxing (41/100)] Today, both skills of the Fighter would have crossed the halfway mark of the experience threshold. Just nicely allocating two potential points to one and one to the other for enhancement, something he had long anticipated. Additionally, it was almost the day after tomorrow. The Security Guard profession would break through to LV.2, and he would gain two more potential points. He just had to carefully consider how to use these two potential points. This was, in a way, a happy dilemma¡­ Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: 018 Boxing Junior Achievement Chapter 18: 018 Boxing Junior Achievement A night of sound sleep. June 29, 9:30. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a large patch of mottled golden shadows on the white bed. The Sunshine District was rich in greenery, with birds chirping on the branches. ¡°Ding ding¡­¡± The alarm on the phone had just started when a well-defined hand reached out and clicked it off. With a swoosh, the covers were thrown back, and Bai Xiao got out of bed energized and strode into the bathroom. After washing up, he walked out while drying his wet face with a towel. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s my imagination, but I seem to have gotten a bit more handsome¡­¡± Bai Xiao muttered to himself, his hands never pausing in their task. Making the bed, opening his backpack, he stuffed in the boxing reflex ball and metal nunchaku that were on the bedside table. Zipping up, he slung it over his shoulder. Beneath that patch of golden sunlight coming through the window. He moved his limbs a bit, then retracted his arms and swiftly jabbed the air in front of him with a series of lightning-fast punches. Whish, whish, whish, whish, whish¡­ Shadowboxing, primarily for warming up, maintaining rhythm, and feeling. Bai Xiao had been practicing boxing for a while, and his punches had become increasingly proficient. Half a minute later, the security door banged shut. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Quick footsteps hurriedly descended the stairs in the corridor. 9:55, Pujiang District, White Bird Martial Arts Hall. On the sidewalk close to the shop, a young man in black sports shoes and activewear was jogging along. As he ran, he tucked in his chest, curled his body inward, and raised his arms parallel to shield his head. His upper body continuously dodged and ducked, shoulders heaving. It was a boxing evasion technique, quite effective at avoiding hits. Tap, his foot touched down at the entrance of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, and Bai Xiao finally stopped his playful warm-up routine. It was fortunate that the street had been empty when he arrived; otherwise, he might have been mistaken for a lunatic. He briskly walked into the hall and changed into his training gear in the dressing room. Like always, Bai Xiao headed straight into Training Hall No. 2. Inside the hall, Coach Zhang Hongtao had arrived earlier than usual today. Holding a black thermal cup in his hand, he nodded slightly at Bai Xiao as he entered. Bai Xiao nodded back and quickly moved into formation. Ever since he had taken the initiative to ask Coach Zhang Hongtao to teach him other fighting techniques, their relationship had grown much closer. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± ¡°Same as always, start with a warm-up by yourself.¡± Coach Zhang glanced at everyone and slowly made his way to the window. In Training Hall No. 2, everything returned to normal. The students monotonously swung their fists and feet, repeatedly going through motions they had practiced hundreds, if not thousands of times. Fighting was like this: tedium was the main theme. Only those who could endure solitude, withstand hardship, had a chance to succeed. By the window, Coach Zhang took a sip of strong tea, then started to walk around observing. He stood by Guo Hao for a while, quickly moving to Bai Xiao¡¯s side. Bai Xiao was deeply immersed in practicing Sandboxing and boxing. ¡°This kid¡¯s Sandboxing is flawless, completely at a certifiable level. His re-learned boxing also has a decent shape, each move precise and accurate. Could he actually be a genius?¡± Coach Zhang touched the stubble on his chin with his right hand, surprised by the contrast. Just a week ago, Bai Xiao was but an inconspicuous nobody. In just a few days, it felt like he was completely overshadowing Guo Hao. For the next several hours in the training hall. Bai Xiao was furiously practicing Sandboxing and boxing techniques in his corner, some of which the coach hadn¡¯t taught him. These were from instructional videos he had watched, performed by the senior brother of White Bird Martial Arts Hall, learned by himself. With a heart of pure intent and gifted talent, Bai Xiao was cold and logical, continually extracting the essence of the fight. Sweat streamed, and the back of his gray training outfit gradually dampened. Hum¡­ Bai Xiao snapped back to reality, his posture shifting to standing. The swath of sunlight pouring in from the nearby floor-to-ceiling window filled the warm air with a slightly unpleasant rubber and sweat smell, making it stifling. He exhaled deeply, his shoulders relaxing slightly. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. [Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (101/200)]+ [Skill 2: Boxing 101 (52/100)]+ In order to meet his goals in both Sandboxing and boxing, Bai Xiao had not even practiced Jujutsu today, and his Pure Heart talent had been completely exhausted. Finally, two dark red pluses entered his vision. Bai Xiao was extremely excited in his heart. It was time to welcome change and improvement once again. After pondering for a moment, he calmly suppressed the impulse to add points to both skills at once and decided to enhance boxing first. This was the conclusion drawn from previous practice¡ªbreaking through in fighting techniques would strengthen attributes but consume a lot of the body¡¯s energy. Last time Bai Xiao broke through Sandboxing, he was ravenous. ¡°I need to upgrade boxing first.¡± Bai Xiao chose to break through at the martial arts hall to increase his recovery time, even if it was just by half an hour. Since he planned to break through twice today, overlapping periods of hunger and weakness would definitely result in an extremely bad experience. Sandboxing could be broken through later at night, so the earlier boxing was broken through, the better. After all, after the last Sandboxing breakthrough, the side effects had lasted a long time. If they continued until late at night, Bai Tang would have no choice but to grit his teeth and break through Sandboxing, which would definitely be painful. ¡°Dark red!¡± A flash before his eyes, and the Potential Points beneath the modifier decreased by one. [Skill 2: Boxing 101 (52/100)] was covered by a hazy water mist-like blur effect, while the black numbers jumped wildly. A couple of breaths later, the Boxing 101 skill reappeared in front of him. [Your profession ¡®Fighter,¡¯ experience +6] [Your professional skill ¡®Boxing 101¡¯ experience +50] [Professional skill ¡®Boxing 101¡¯ upgraded to ¡®Boxing Proficient¡¯] [Skill 2: Boxing Proficient (2/200)] Bai Xiao swiftly scanned and, without relaxing his joy, he focused and held his breath. In the next second, his mind shook, and a torrent of information rushed in. Key points of punching, footwork transitions, and timing¡ªall were included! He felt as though he had been boxing for months, with the muscle memory of his body remembering various movements and techniques, bringing a sense of comprehensive integration. Swish! Swish! Two swiftly sensitive fists, like bee stings, moved through the air quickly. Bai Xiao slowly withdrew his arms: ¡°Done!¡± Almost in the next second, he felt a wave of weakness and hunger, coming from every cell in his body, where the energy had been drained. Fortunately, compared to the last time, the various negative feelings he experienced during this breakthrough had significantly lessened. It was probably like going from not eating for half a month to not eating for a week; the hunger and weakness felt less severe. It was probably because Bai Xiao¡¯s physique had become stronger and could endure more. ¡°Class dismissed.¡± At the front of the hall, Zhang Hongtao announced that the day¡¯s session was over. Immediately, Bai Xiao quickly moved forward, found Coach Zhang, and explained that he had an urgent matter to attend to shortly. He would not stay after class for extra training. Zhang Hongtao nodded, showing understanding. Only then did Bai Xiao resume his stride and head towards the locker room. His steps were quick, surpassing many of the trainees in the class. On the corridor to the locker room. Thump. Bai Xiao¡¯s shoulder gently bumped into a student blocking the middle of the path. The person seemed temperamental and suddenly turned his head, revealing a face with freckles. It was Guo Hao¡¯s high school classmate and follower, He Hao: ¡°Can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re¡­¡± His words of cursing stopped abruptly. Bai Xiao quickly walked past, the greenish hue in his eyes somewhat penetrating, his teeth still clenched, and the angularity of his cheekbones very striking. His aloof and solitary demeanor gave off the impression that he was not in a good mood, like a volcano about to erupt, emanating a sense of danger. ¡°It¡¯s best not to provoke him at this time!¡± He Hao felt such a phrase inexplicably rise within him. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: 019 Sandboxing Great Achievement Chapter 19: 019 Sandboxing Great Achievement White Bird Martial Arts Hall, changing room. Next to the last row of metal lockers, painted green. ¡°Crunch, crunch, crunch¡­¡± The sounds of gnawing, chewing, and swallowing echoed from far away. It was like something out of a horror movie, where a victim passing through an alley would hear a beast tearing and chewing flesh inside, an alarmingly eerie sound. Some students who had already changed couldn¡¯t help but take a look. They then silently breathed a sigh of relief. It was their classmate Bai Xiao, bare-chested and drenched in sweat, his streamlined muscles contoured and defined. One hand was holding an energy bar, the other a piece of chocolate, as he replenished his energy. His eating was fierce; his white teeth bit down, capable of gnawing off a large chunk of the energy bar. The ravenous way he ate, it was as if he were indulging in fatty, juicy, large slices of roasted meat. He seemed to be enjoying himself greatly. Next to the lockers, Bai Xiao seemed to notice the gaze of other students in the hallway. His eyes suddenly turned to look at them, expressionless, he raised his hand and asked, ¡°Do you want some?¡± ¡°Uh, no, no need¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°You¡­ you keep eating.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 Several students shook their heads like ratchets. Because. They saw Bai Xiao¡¯s green, unblinking gaze. And that unemotionally polite invitation. They always felt that if they accepted at this moment, trying to compete with Bai Xiao for food, something very bad might happen next. The crowd dispersed, leaving Bai Xiao alone by the lockers to eat. He had been prepared, filling his backpack with many high-calorie foods, mainly chocolate and energy bars. Each of these convenient snacks could provide the body with over two hundred kilocalories of energy. In theory. Eating seven or eight energy bars would be enough for an adult¡¯s daily intake. Yet Bai Xiao, in just a short amount of time, had consumed three pieces of chocolate and five energy bars. Even so, he still felt an emptiness throughout his body. He threw the plastic wrappers into the trash can in the corner in one swift motion. Bai Xiao wiped the crumbs from the corners of his mouth and exhaled. Only then did he have the time to change clothes and sling the blue canvas bag over his shoulder. With a bang, he closed the locker that was his own. Bai Xiao slowly turned around and walked towards the exit of the martial arts hall. His stomach was still somewhat hungry, his limbs weak. But Bai Xiao knew that this was an illusion; his physique and power were constantly growing stronger, slowly increasing every second. The feeling of weakness was due to his cells strengthening and lacking the necessary energy and nutrients. ¡°At times like this, the hungrier and weaker I feel, the happier I should be! It means that my improvement this time is even greater!¡± Bai Xiao bared his teeth and smiled, his confidence soaring. Sunshine District, rental house. After replenishing his nutrients, Bai Xiao took an unusual short nap. Around six in the afternoon, he woke up. Outside the window was the flushed glow of the dusk and the about-to-set sun. Bai Xiao abruptly opened his eyes and got up from the bed. Only then did he realize that he was drenched in sweat, soaking through the fresh clothes he had just changed into. ¡°I need to take another shower.¡± Bai Xiao stretched out his hands, about to take off the T-shirt he was wearing. But he noticed that his palms were stronger, his muscles more robust. Moving his gaze upward, the muscles on his forearms were noticeably thicker, the contours wider. He stepped directly into the bathroom and quickly took a cold shower. After the shower, Bai Xiao rubbed his hair with a dry towel while standing in front of the bathroom mirror to closely observe the changes in his body. A young man stood upright in the bathroom. He had a sturdy build, long limbs, and tight muscles, exuding a sense of robust beauty. His skin was overall more bronzed, appearing far healthier than before. At a glance, this was undoubtedly the physique of someone who exercises regularly. ¡°I¡¯ve become even stronger¡­¡± Bai Xiao approached the mirror, where the face of a young man appeared, his features deep-set and his cheekbones rugged and angular. His sharp eyes were slightly half-closed, the pupils dark and glossy. Was it because of his strengthened physique, combined with a diet of high-calorie, easily absorbable food, that his speed of recovering from the side effects had greatly increased? He had thought he wouldn¡¯t fully recover until the evening. Five minutes later, he stepped out of the bathroom. Standing by the window, he glanced at the plants swaying in the wind within the complex. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at the changes in my attributes first¡­¡± [Character Panel] [Name: Bai Xiao] [Power: 11.2¡ú11.9] [Speed: 10.2¡ú10.8] [Physique: 10.7¡ú11.3] [Will: 11.1¡ú11.3] ¡°Very good¡­¡± Bai Xiao slowly clenched his fist, feeling the increasingly vigorous power. The enhancement he received from achieving a minor proficiency in Fist Skill was similar to that from Sandbox boxing, though slightly less. That was because Bai Xiao¡¯s physical condition had already been elevated, and it was not so easy to make further enhancements on top of a strong base. However, overall, the improvement in his four attributes satisfied Bai Xiao. He snapped back to reality and poured himself a cup of water from the teacup. After downing it in one breath, Bai Xiao went to the nightstand, opened the drawer directly, which was filled with a variety of foods for energy replenishment. Carbohydrates, sugar, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins¡­ ¡°After the physique became stronger, the body recovers faster when skills break through. And with two potential points left, I¡¯ll add them now¡­ all of them!¡± Bai Xiao had no intention of slowing down even slightly. He planned to become stronger and more powerful within a single day by enhancing himself twice. As for those sayings about the foundation being unstable due to rapid enhancement, yielding only an appearance without substance, Bai Xiao did not agree. He believed that strength was strength! If someone had greater power and a higher realm, they could overpower you! Moreover, Bai Xiao¡¯s potential point breakthrough involved both physical and combat skill enhancement; there was no question of an unstable foundation. ¡°Sandboxing has reached a minor proficiency, next¡­ it will be a major proficiency!¡± ¡°I wonder if Coach Zhang Hongtao has reached this level?¡± Bai Xiao found a chair and sat upright with a vacant gaze. [Skill 1: Sandboxing Minor Proficiency (101/200)]+ ¡°Come on¡­¡± ¡°Dark red, it¡¯s time for you to take effect!¡± The modifier suddenly popped up, and the remaining potential points dropped to zero in a flash. When Bai Xiao opened his eyes again, the enhancement of his professional skill had been completed. [Your profession ¡®Fighter¡¯ gained +11 experience] [Your combat skill ¡®Sandboxing Minor Proficiency¡¯ gained +100 experience] [Combat Skill ¡®Sandboxing Minor Proficiency¡¯ has been upgraded to ¡®Sandboxing Major Proficiency¡¯] [Skill 2: Sandboxing Major Proficiency (1/400)] ¡­ As he looked at the ¡®Major Proficiency¡¯ tag behind his combat skill Sandboxing, his whole body suddenly relaxed. Before a sense of joy could rise from his heart, a torrential hunger and exhaustion assaulted him. Bai Xiao¡¯s vision darkened, and he felt a slight dizziness. Fortunately, after a moment, he recovered and began to devour his food ravenously. Everything nutritious found its way into his stomach. By the window, under the setting sun. A muscular, black-haired young man with sparkling eyes wolfed down his food. Chewing on a protein bar, he muttered to himself as if gritting his teeth. ¡°This enhancement, it¡¯s definitely going to be powerful!!!¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: 020 Absolutely powerful boost Chapter 20: 020 Absolutely powerful boost The next day, June 30, morning. In the bathroom, water flowed along the tiles, gradually draining away. In front of the mirror, a young man stood expressionlessly. He slowly stretched out his robust arms, observing the protruding muscles and the thick blue veins pulsing beneath his skin. Slowly turning around, he glanced sideways at his back. His shoulders resembled the wings of a soaring eagle, radiating strength. His skin had also undergone significant changes, from its original roughness to now appearing as if it were coated with a layer of ointment. It was translucent, thick, and glossy. The bathroom¡¯s mesh window was half-open, and the dazzling sunlight fragmented as it shone through, illuminating Bai Xiao¡¯s upper body with fine golden light, making him look like a young cheetah, poised to strike. ¡°Is this my physique now?¡± ¡°Good!¡± He shifted his gaze away, feeling a strong sense of security within him. His body, enveloped in muscles, didn¡¯t feel suffocating, but rather brought immense comfort as if he were wearing a layer of hard armor, capable of warding off danger. In front of his gaze, his personal panel suddenly displayed. [Power: 11.9¡ú13.0] [Speed: 10.8¡ú11.6] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? [Physique: 11.3¡ú12.3] [Will: 11.3¡ú11.7] Power +1.1, Speed +0.8, Physique +1.0, Will +0.4! Bai Xiao¡¯s average four-dimensional attributes had now surpassed 12. Especially the power attribute, which had reached an astounding 13! ¡°I am becoming stronger at a visibly rapid pace!¡± ¡°Such an enthralling feeling¡­¡± He ran his hand over his arm. The muscular contours were angular, firm yet full. With a deep breath, Bai Xiao stepped out of the bathroom. Two minutes later, in the room¡¯s open space, he began warming up, fully dressed. Whoosh! Progressively, Bai Xiao¡¯s figure dashed, moving as swiftly as a rabbit. Tss! His fist unleashed furiously, piercing through the air at an extremely fast speed. Leaving behind a short and sharp whooshing sound. ¡°Let¡¯s try Sandboxing again¡­¡± He shifted his stance, instantly switching to a Sandboxing combat position. The next second, Bai Xiao fiercely threw punches, unleashing a series of fierce and potent blows. Fast, ferocious, fierce! It was completely a feeling of mastering the skill as if it were second nature! Swoosh! His palm struck out swiftly cutting through the air and smoothly retracted. ¡°Is this what it means to master Sandboxing?¡± Bai Xiao squinted his eyes, a smile of excitement appearing on his face. Last night, he did not go out to deliver food as usual because he had improved his fighting technique. Instead, he took it easy at home. Nevertheless, he still went to his job as a bar security, although he was slightly short on experience. [Occupation: Security LV.1 (99/100)] He was truly just a bit off. But it didn¡¯t matter, he could easily break through to level two next time. ¡°This bit of Potential Points might be put to use in Jujutsu¡­¡± Bai Xiao pondered for a moment, then immediately checked his phone. 9:40. ¡°It¡¯s about time to leave.¡± He grabbed his backpack with one hand and slung it over his shoulder as he briskly walked out the door. He bought breakfast and finished it quickly. On the blue bus, fresh air streamed in through the window continuously, giving a refreshing feeling. Bai Xiao stood straight at the exit, his right hand raised to grab the handle, while his eyes looked outside. He frowned slightly, catching in the corner of his eye a few college-aged girls on the adjacent seats, pointing and whispering in his direction. He could vaguely hear them. ¡°Muscular,¡± ¡°physique,¡± ¡°sort of handsome,¡± like they were murmuring. Bai Xiao had indeed become more handsome. His facial features were already good, and his skin had become smoother, body more robust, and demeanor more confident after his breakthrough. Coupled with his quiet and cool demeanor, he had the air of a cool guy. Additionally, Due to his physique and muscles growing too rapidly, the black shirt on his upper body was now too tight. The fabric tightly stretched over his pectorals and arms, outlining the firm contours and muscular figure, creating a tight-shirt look. Fortunately, the pants were fairly large and not too tight. Otherwise, it would be quite embarrassing if it were tight and seen while walking. ¡°The bus is arriving at the station, please exit from the rear door.¡± After the announcement from the speaker¡¯s female voice, the bus door whooshed open. Bai Xiao quickly stepped off and headed towards the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. 9:54. At the entrance of the martial arts hall, he was just about to enter with his backpack strap in his right hand. Suddenly, a familiar voice arose at his side. ¡°Are you¡­ Bai Xiao?¡± Turning his head, he saw it was Li Xuefei, whom he had chatted with briefly before. Today, she was dressed in a white mandarin collar shirt and black capri wide-legged pants, topped with white canvas shoes, adopting a rather handsome unisex style. Her black ponytail complemented her long legs, exuding a youthfulness. At that moment, Li Xuefei was tilting her head slightly, her big eyes wide with surprise as she looked at Bai Xiao, as if seeing him for the first time: ¡°You¡­ seem to have become a lot more handsome. Are you always this muscular? I didn¡¯t notice before¡­¡± Her gaze swept over Bai Xiao¡¯s prominent pectorals, and the short sleeve tightly hugging his muscular arm contours. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I used to wear loose clothing, so it¡¯s pretty normal you couldn¡¯t tell.¡± Bai Xiao accepted her compliment and turned his head directly towards the inside of the martial arts hall. His time was precious, and talking for just two or three sentences with unrelated people was already his limit, even if the other party was a beautiful woman. 9:59, Bai Xiao came out of the changing room and walked along the corridor towards the training hall, where he happened to meet Li Xuefei halfway. Li Xuefei seemed enthusiastic and appeared to have something to say, but the hall was just ahead, and they walked in together. ¡°You¡¯re here? Get in line,¡± Zhang Hongtao glanced aside and then let the two of them enter. In the training hall, Guo Hao saw Bai Xiao and Li Xuefei entering together, his face darkened immediately. Beside him, He Hao, with a freckled face, also saw this scene. Perhaps it was due to the residual anger from being bumped by Bai Xiao the day before and being humiliated when he attempted to curse, fear behind his anger made He Hao, like Guo Hao, look unfavorably at Bai Xiao. ¡°Hah, not seriously learning fighting technique, wasting time I don¡¯t know where. This kind of person, can he compete with my Brother Hao?¡± ¡°He was so poor in previous lessons, only Sandboxxing was somewhat okay, this kind of one-legged walker, don¡¯t even think about getting into the elite class¡­¡± ¡°Even if he got into the elite class, he would be eliminated immediately.¡± He Hao murmured, his expression unimpressed. Several other students around heard these words, furrowed their brow but said nothing. It seemed to comfort and inspire Guo Hao, however. His hostility towards Bai Xiao suddenly escalated to the maximum. The following was, as usual, coach training and self-practice. Time passed bit by bit, and many students were sweating profusely. This time, however, with a significant increase in physical fitness, Bai Xiao did not feel soaked as usual. He was sweating too, but far from the point of exhaustion. Bai Xiao still had a lot of stamina left. He had the energy to continue training for another two or three hours with ease. At three fifteen in the afternoon, nearing the end of the class, Coach Zhang Hongtao suddenly came over to the corner where Bai Xiao was practicing his punches. ¡°Bai Xiao, come out for a second, I have something to tell you¡­¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: 021 Test of strength, coach is startled Chapter 21: 021 Test of strength, coach is startled Bai Xiao turned his head and quickly grasped the situation. Zhang Hongtao was now calling him out to discuss something, and it was mostly related to the elite class. They had chatted about it on the phone before, but only in passing. Now, it seemed he wanted to make things clear. He walked quickly out of the line and followed the figure of Zhang Hongtao out. Outside, in the hallway, by the open windows, near the railing. Zhang Hongtao leaned against the slightly reflective stainless steel rail, his right elbow also resting on it, turning his head to look at Bai Xiao approaching step by step. The two exchanged glances, and Zhang Hongtao began to speak. ¡°I¡¯ve been observing you for over a week now,¡± he said. ¡°Your Sandboxing is very good, and boxing looks pretty decent as well.¡± ¡°It seems your potential has finally been fully unleashed.¡± A smile brushed across his square face, lightening the serious atmosphere, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, I¡¯ve seen it all. I appreciate students who love combat sports, that¡¯s why I showed you the internal sparring videos before. Let¡¯s not talk about that anymore, I¡¯ll get straight to the point now¡­¡± Zhang Hongtao gazed at Bai Xiao, speaking earnestly. ¡°You now qualify to compete for a place in the martial arts hall¡¯s elite class.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Although Bai Xiao had vaguely sensed the foreboding during his previous chats with Zhang Hongtao, hearing it confirmed still thrilled him. A few days ago, he had encountered Zhou Bing, who could deliver a punch of 110 kg; it seemed as if Zhou was specifically interested in the White Bird Martial Arts Hall¡¯s elite class. Certainly, there was something there that attracted him. Coupled with what Zhang Hongtao had implied before. In the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, there were people who could easily burst heavy bags. Bai Xiao was convinced that within the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, there must be formidable techniques far beyond the ordinary scope of combat¡ªsome martial arts? Some fist skill? Some burst skill? In any case, far surpassing common techniques. Like Zhou Bing, he too wanted to acquire such powerful skills. And even more earnestly so, many times more desperate than Zhou Bing. Because Bai Xiao had two extraordinary gifts that made his potential far exceed that of ordinary people. Once he could grasp the basics of those powerful techniques, Bai Xiao would be able to use his astonishing intelligence and transcendent aptitude to significantly enhance himself through the Dark Red Modifier. That was his confidence, his ambition! After all, if Bai Xiao didn¡¯t enhance himself, would the Dark Red Modifier do it on its own? Of course not! So, in the end, it was still his own achievement. The panel and modifier are inanimate objects, operating mechanically. But it is the subjective initiative of humans that brings the inanimate to life! In the hallway, a gentle breeze blew through the window, rustling the leaves. After thinking for a moment, Bai Xiao took the initiative to ask Zhang Hongtao, ¡°In the martial art hall¡¯s elite class, can I learn something out of the ordinary?¡± Zhang Hongtao heard this and couldn¡¯t help but smile covertly. ¡°I can only say, what you want, it¡¯s all in there!¡± Bai Xiao nodded, understanding without further words. ¡°Also, don¡¯t think it¡¯s a sure thing for you, kid. I talked to Guo Hao about the elite class a week ago. The two of you will be competing, and whoever trains better, I¡¯ll recommend him for the elite class¡­¡± ¡°The results will be out by the end of the Sandboxing course.¡± ¡°Do you understand?¡± Zhang Hongtao¡¯s eyes fixed on Bai Xiao. ¡°Understood,¡± replied Bai Xiao. ¡°Alright, now, let me see how well you¡¯ve trained?¡± Zhang Hongtao straightened up and began to explain, ¡°I have to do something after class, so let¡¯s just practice now and see how far you¡¯ve progressed¡­¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate, as Zhang Hongtao had offered to practice with him, he naturally had no reason to refuse. It was also a good opportunity for him to test his newly improved strength and gauge his level. The two followed the corridor until they reached an empty space. They faced each other, standing about four or five meters apart. ¡°Come on,¡± Zhang Hongtao beckoned with a casual wave, his posture relaxed. Bai Xiao nodded, his hands instantly assuming a boxing stance, his feet lightly tapping left and right, his shoulders shaking. His eyes, shielded by his fists, fixed intently on Zhang Hongtao like the gaze of a hawk, observing for weaknesses in his opponent¡¯s body. ¡°Come,¡± Zhang Hongtao called out again. The next second. Whoosh! Bai Xiao burst forward, his slightly bowed body like a coiled spring, rapidly closing in on Zhang Hongtao. Hiss! His gloved fist shot out fiercely. The previously leisurely Zhang Hongtao instantly tensed up, all his muscles taut. His eyes narrowed, and he threw a diagonal punch swiftly. Bang! Their fists collided at the edges, causing both arms to stall momentarily. Bai Xiao felt a strong force strike him, causing his body to slightly shift. Zhang Hongtao too felt a considerable punch power release from Bai Xiao¡¯s fist. ¡°Close to amateur fifth level, almost 140 kg!¡± Zhang Hongtao became very serious, his attitude shifting to one of solemn focus. Across from him, Bai Xiao¡¯s feet shuffled as he launched another offensive. His figure flickered, his fists flying out like a pair of dancing bees showing their stingers mid-air. Hiss, hiss, hiss! A series of punches quickly headed towards Zhang Hongtao. ¡°Good!¡± Zhang Hongtao instantly retaliated, displaying the level expected of a coach, his usual lazy teaching demeanor nowhere to be seen. His punches were fierce and powerful, slamming into Bai Xiao¡¯s fist shadows, with footsteps rapid and solid. Pop pop pop! In the open field, the two went at it, fists flying. ¡°This kid, he¡¯s improved so much in boxing!?¡± Zhang Hongtao was secretly shocked, and then with a punch, he forced Bai Xiao back. ¡°Use your Sandboxing!¡± He shouted loudly, clearly wanting to see Bai Xiao¡¯s Sandboxing capabilities. Bai Xiao had nothing to hide; it was just his character. If you have the ability, show it, let others see your potential! That way, those who admire you will value you even more and be willing to invest more in you. As for those jealous glares, Bai Xiao would crush them with his fists! ¡°Be careful!¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze changed as he switched to a Sandboxing combat stance. His body suddenly shifted to the side, one arm extended diagonally, slightly bent, while his other hand formed a fist. Whoosh! He suddenly closed the distance with quick steps, his arm swinging as fast as lightning! Zhang Hongtao didn¡¯t back down but advanced, adopting a Sandboxing posture as well, clashing head-on with Bai Xiao. Punches thundered, elbows clashed, and even knees and feet joined the fray. This was no ordinary sparring. It was like a brawl between boxers in various combat leagues! ¡°Bang bang bang bang¡­ pop pop pop pop¡­¡± The two restrained from striking vital areas, entangling in a scuffle. The light in Zhang Hongtao¡¯s eyes was almost undeniable. ¡°This kid, he¡¯s a damn monster!¡± ¡°His Sandboxing training, it could go right onto the professional stage!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the competition for?¡± ¡°Guo Hao can completely let go now, focus on cultivating Bai Xiao¡­¡± Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 022, are you looking for death? Chapter 22: 022, are you looking for death? ¡°` From any angle, Guo Hao had no business being compared to Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao had higher talent, stronger comprehension, worked harder, loved more passionately, and was more proactive! The spot in the elite class of this martial arts hall could only belong to him. On the field, Zhang Hongtao and Bai Xiao stopped sparring and took off their gloves. Bai Xiao felt the bruises and pain caused by the fight on his body. He asked, ¡°Coach, how much of your strength did you use?¡± ¡°Without fighting to the death, without using any special techniques¡­¡± ¡°Seventy percent.¡± Zhang Hongtao looked deeply at Bai Xiao, his feelings now far beyond shock, verging on fright. Right before his eyes, Bai Xiao had had an epiphany, and in just a few days, he had reached such a level. Had he broken through the Ren and Du meridians? But, other than that, there were no better explanations. One could only say. Some people have sudden epiphanies, and the world before them changes utterly. ¡°Seventy percent?¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze flickered, contemplating something. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Is seventy percent not enough?¡± Zhang Hongtao watched Bai Xiao pondering seriously. He almost burst out laughing on the spot. In the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, he was not considered a poor coach, at least he was above average. If Bai Xiao matched his seventy percent strength, then he could almost take on the weakest batch of coaches. Of course, defeating them might be a bit difficult. After all, although these coaches were the eliminated losers, they had all learned some very special combat techniques within the martial arts hall. If they fought with full strength, Bai Xiao would most likely be no match. ¡°You, kid¡­ today you really shocked me.¡± Zhang Hongtao shook his head, a resigned expression on his face. He picked up his phone and glanced at it, 15:28. Below, there was a notification message from the staff inside the martial arts hall. Clearly, the matter Zhang Hongtao mentioned earlier was this one. ¡°Class is almost over, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhang Hongtao patted Bai Xiao¡¯s shoulder and led the way outside. Bai Xiao followed behind, his expression returning to calm. Into the number two training hall walked two figures, one after the other. Under the watchful eyes of many students, Bai Xiao made his way back to the line. He could feel that several gazes were unusually intense. Shortly after, Zhang Hongtao announced, ¡°Class dismissed, you can go now.¡± Then, holding a black thermos cup in his left hand and looking at the messages on his phone with his right, he hurried off towards the interior of the martial arts hall. In the training hall, students began to leave, heading towards the changing rooms. Bai Xiao rested for a moment on the spot because he had sparred with Zhang Hongtao for some time. He waited until most of the students from the training class had left before he started towards the changing room. At the site, some people still remained in the training hall. Guo Hao watched Bai Xiao¡¯s departing figure, his gaze growing cold as he quickly followed. He knew that the conversation Zhang Hongtao had with Bai Xiao outside must have been about the elite class. Bai Xiao was his competitor! Guo Hao wanted to make Bai Xiao understand who truly deserved that spot! ¡°He Hao, where did Guo Hao go?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯d go to school later?¡± In the hall, Li Xuefei with her black ponytail and another girl with short hair were both somewhat puzzled. They exchanged confused looks, unsure of what had happened. Guo Hao¡¯s lackey, He Hao, had a delighted smile on his face. ¡°` Afterward, he spoke with a mysterious air. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, you¡¯ll know what¡¯s going on soon.¡± In the locker room of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, Bai Xiao walked in slowly. His gaze swept around; there was basically no one left in the locker room. In a corner, someone had left a window open, allowing a relatively cool breeze to flow in, replacing the sweaty smell and stagnant air of the locker room. Bai Xiao walked to his locker, opened it, and took out his backpack. He quickly changed clothes, then unzipped his backpack and took out an energy bar. Tearing off the wrapper, he took a fierce bite. Crack, the door to the locker room opened, and someone else seemed to have come in. A series of hurried footsteps quickly approached from the entrance. Thud! A hand slammed onto the open locker and forcefully pushed the metal door back into place, making a loud bang. A young man about one meter eighty in height stood in front of Bai Xiao, his handsome face wearing a cold sneer. ¡°Bai Xiao, did Coach Zhang talk to you about the elite class?¡± His tone was sharp, not so much asking a question as issuing a condescending interrogation. With an air of smug pride, Guo Hao suggested, ¡°I advise you to just tell the coach that you¡¯re not fit for the elite class! What¡¯s the use of being skilled in just Sandboxing? The way you train in the other disciplines is as crappy as shit¡­¡± ¡°Elite class? Do you think you¡¯re worthy?¡± His face twisted slightly, the flames of jealousy in the young man¡¯s heart fully ignited. ¡°Only I have the right qualifications!¡± Guo Hao¡¯s voice, almost a shout, echoed in the empty locker room. At this moment, his talk about the elite class sounded more like some excuse or pretext. Guo Hao¡¯s dissatisfaction with Bai Xiao was multifaceted. It encompassed the emotional shift of Coach Zhang, the resentment of being surpassed by Bai Xiao, and the frustration of the pretty girl in the training class paying attention to other males. In summary, All these things combined over the past few days ignited a rage within Guo Hao. However, what responded to his anger was the sound of crunching. Bai Xiao stood with his back to the sunlight, which outlined a robust and muscular black silhouette; he looked at Guo Hao expressionlessly. His pearly white teeth bit into the energy bar, chewing it loudly. ¡°Eat! Damn it, I said eat!!!¡± Guo Hao couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. He felt ignored, as if he were just a childish and irritable teenager in the eyes of the other. With anger written all over his face, Guo Hao quickly stepped forward and swung his hand toward Bai Xiao¡¯s face. The slap whistled through the air, clearly powered with at least eighty to ninety percent of his strength! Slap!!! A huge collision sound resounded and echoed in the locker room. A black arm shot out like a shadow, striking hard against Guo Hao¡¯s hand. Guo Hao grunted and stumbled several steps backward. He grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, feeling a sense of soreness and numbness throughout his forearm. Guo Hao looked up in disbelief; was Bai Xiao¡¯s strength so immense? He looked up to see Bai Xiao still standing in his original spot. His feet hadn¡¯t moved an inch, and his right hand was slowly retracting, while in his left hand, he was bringing the small remaining piece of the energy bar to his mouth. Crunch, Bai Xiao ate the last bite. He chewed twice, and his icy gaze slowly turned towards Guo Hao, his face expressionless. Bai Xiao looked at the astonished Guo Hao and said, word by word, ¡°Are you looking for death?¡± Guo Hao had intended to compete with him for a place in the elite class, which meant obstructing Bai Xiao¡¯s path to becoming stronger. To step out and block his way was only to be crushed by the wheels! ¡°Your mother!¡± Guo Hao was instantly enraged by Bai Xiao¡¯s indifferent tone, his blood boiling with fury. He charged again, throwing a punch at Bai Xiao¡¯s head. The swinging fist was even backed by the skills of boxing and Sandboxing. On the other side, Bai Xiao¡¯s unmoving figure suddenly burst forward, transforming into a rampant black shadow, crashing directly into the oncoming Guo Hao. Bang! Guo Hao was instantly pushed back, his arms, which were raised in an attempt to strike, were hammered down by a fist shadow, and his shoulders were struck viciously twice. Clang, his back slammed against the metal locker, making a loud noise. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: This is the gap between you and me. Chapter 23: This is the gap between you and me. ¡°Ah!¡± Guo Hao let out a stifled cry of pain, his back, arms, and shoulders all throbbing with pain, especially his shoulders which sent waves of piercing agony. It made lifting his arms to a significant extent an impossibility. ¡°You!¡± Guo Hao¡¯s eyes fixed on the figure approaching step by step under the sun ahead. The backlight made the figure¡¯s facial features seem dark and profound, carrying with them an inexplicable sense of oppression. Shock and fear mingled in Guo Hao¡¯s eyes¡ªhe was astonished at the formidable strength Bai Xiao had revealed, and terrified that he was no match for him and might face a severe beating next. Guo Hao gritted his teeth, pushed off with his back, and attempted to run toward the door. Yet, just as he had forcefully shut Bai Xiao¡¯s wardrobe door with one hand earlier, another sinewy arm now pressed against the cabinet door upfront. Bang! A robust figure blocked the way, trapping Guo Hao inside. Then, with a bang, Guo Hao found himself grasped harshly by the collar by Bai Xiao, hauled up so that his back slammed once again against the wardrobe. Guo Hao stood on tiptoes, gasping for breath, his face contorted with remorse and fright. He had completely lost the arrogant posture he had at the start, and all the jealousy and haughtiness had wilted like bean sprouts. ¡°You¡­ what do you want to do?¡± There was a trace of trembling in his voice. Guo Hao tried to appear composed, but the cowardice in his eyes gave him away¡ªa classic case of bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Bai Xiao looked into Guo Hao¡¯s eyes, disappointment on his face. He had thought Guo Hao would remain defiant to the end, in which case Bai Xiao might have still had some respect for him. But now, Guo Hao¡¯s current state was disappointingly weak. Bai Xiao had entirely lost interest in him. He regarded Guo Hao, a hint of scorn in his pupils. ¡°Now, do I qualify to join the elite class?¡± Guo Hao fell silent, his eyelids drooping, silent. ¡°Haha¡­¡± Bai Xiao let out a cold laugh, ¡°I know what kind of person you are¡­¡± His sharp gaze pierced directly into Guo Hao as if a bright blade plunged deep into the latter¡¯s heart: ¡°You need the admiring gazes of girls, you need their praise, their cheers, to prop up the sense of superiority in your heart, to support you every day in your combat skill practice. But I, I do not!¡± ¡°This is the difference between you and me, do you understand?¡± Thump, Guo Hao¡¯s feet hit the ground. Bai Xiao turned and left without any hesitation, not even looking back. In the changing room, only the sound of Guo Hao¡¯s gasping and sobbing remained. ¡­ In training hall number two, only a trio remained¡ªa man and two women. Under the persistent curiosity and questioning of Li Xuefei and the short-haired girl, He Hao eventually succumbed to feminine wiles and revealed the real reason Guo Hao had stormed out. ¡°Brother Hao has gone to teach Bai Xiao a lesson!¡± ¡°Xuefei, just wait and see. Brother Hao will show you how he uses all sorts of combat skills learned from the training class to thoroughly beat Bai Xiao into submission!¡± A smug expression crept over his face as he boasted about Guo Hao. ¡°Ah? Guo Hao went to fight someone?!¡± the short-haired girl exclaimed. ¡°Why would Guo Hao go after Bai Xiao? Did Bai Xiao provoke him?¡± Li Xuefei, who had a soft spot for Bai Xiao, quickly pressed for answers. ¡°Heh, Bai Xiao is so arrogant and reclusive, always acting cool. Brother Hao just can¡¯t stand such pretentiousness, strutting around as if everyone owes him a debt of tens of thousands. That type¡­ they are just asking for a beating!¡± He Hao exaggerated Bai Xiao¡¯s flaws, speaking confidently. ¡°This¡­¡± Li Xuefei recalled her encounter with Bai Xiao that morning, his strong physique and muscles, and couldn¡¯t help but murmur to herself, ¡°Can Guo Hao really beat Bai Xiao?¡± ¡°What are you talking about!¡± He Hao clicked his tongue and raised an eyebrow, starting to defend his boss Guo Hao: ¡°What is Bai Xiao? He used to be invisible in class, jujutsu jujutsu can¡¯t be learned, boxing boxing can¡¯t be learned. Only sandboxing seems alright, but it¡¯s all for show.¡± ¡°Brother Hao previously tested his boxing strength at 72kg, higher than anyone else in class. Plus, with the boxing and jujutsu he has trained in, fighting Bai Xiao is just like playing with kids for him. What¡¯s Bai Xiao considered?¡± Just as He Hao was fervently belittling Bai Xiao, with a sharp and spiteful tone. Outside Training Hall No. 2, a tall young man with a sullen face staggered as he stepped inside. Guo Hao¡¯s expression was beyond ugly; it was like dark clouds accumulating with flashes of lightning and thunder. Around his eye sockets, one could vaguely discern a circle of tear-stained red marks. ¡°Guo Hao has come back,¡± Li Xuefei whispered. ¡°Sigh, Brother Hao is back, we were just talking about you.¡± ¡°How was it? That kid Bai Xiao must have been taught a harsh lesson, probably even cried. Such a poser, with no real strength, acting like he¡¯s so strong and aloof. Haha¡­¡± He Hao chuckled with satisfaction. He turned his head before he had time to grasp the situation properly. Then saw a fist suddenly enlarge before his eyes, hitting him directly in the eye socket. ¡°Ah!¡± He Hao cried out in pain, falling to the ground. After that, Guo Hao, who had just beaten up his own lackey, mounted He Hao and began to punch him ferociously. It was as if he wanted to release all the fury he had held back from Bai Xiao onto He Hao, making him bear the brunt. ¡°Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!¡± Guo Hao growled lowly. ¡°Ah! Stop hitting me! Brother Hao, it¡¯s me! Don¡¯t hit me!¡± He Hao protected his face with both hands, crying out in pain and begging for mercy. To the side, Li Xuefei and the short-haired girl were startled and hurriedly retreated to a corner of the training hall. They watched befuddled as Guo Hao beat He Hao. Why was Guo Hao hitting He Hao? It¡¯s simple, the things He Hao said had deeply wounded Guo Hao. Earlier in the locker room, his pride had been crushed by Bai Xiao, and the mask hiding his ugly jealousy was brutally torn off. After Bai Xiao left, Guo Hao finally cried alone. And He Hao¡¯s derogatory talk about Bai Xiao, claiming that Bai Xiao was reduced to tears by Guo Hao, was a stark contrast to the truth, even producing a huge mockery for Guo Hao. It was he who had been beaten, he who had been beaten to tears! Moreover, when Guo Hao had just come down the corridor, he had also heard the other things He Hao said to belittle Bai Xiao. This made him burn with shame, utterly humiliated! If Bai Xiao was as trashy and low-level as He Hao had described, then him, easily defeated by Bai Xiao within a few moves, would that not make him the trash amongst trash? Added to the humiliation and rage previously inflicted by Bai Xiao¡¯s harsh insults, Guo Hao¡¯s blood rushed to his head, and he lost all reason. Savagely beating He Hao. ¡­ Meanwhile, in the chaotic scene of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall training hall, while Guo Hao was in a state of impotent fury, on the bus returning from Pujiang District to Xuanshan District. Bai Xiao sat quietly in the backseat by the window. A blue canvas bag rested on his knees, and his elbow was propped on the windowsill. The window was open, with his black fringe hair fluttering in the wind. He quietly enjoyed the cool breeze and the passing city streetscape. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: 024 Serial Disappearance Case Chapter 24: 024 Serial Disappearance Case [Your profession ¡°Fighter,¡± Experience +6!] [Skill ¡°Sandboxing Mastery,¡± Experience +8!] [Skill ¡°Boxing Minor Achievement,¡± Experience +10!] [Skill ¡°Jujutsu Beginner,¡± Experience +12!] The experience gains for today in the Fighter profession flashed before his eyes. It was noteworthy that after Bai Xiao consecutively unlocked Sandbox, Boxing, Jujutsu, and other professional skills, the experience gain in the Fighter profession indeed accelerated¡ªfrom the original two points per day to now six or seven. ¡°My efforts are in the right direction¡­¡± On the bus, Bai Xiao, satisfied, withdrew his gaze and relaxed against the plastic seat, feeling a cool sensation on his back. But the next second, he slightly furrowed his brow, straightened up, and avoided leaning his shoulders against the hard surface. Just now at the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, sparring with the coach had indeed been satisfying, and it had also more or less tested his own strength. However, once Zhang Hongtao perceived Bai Xiao¡¯s true strength, his strikes were not light. Even with the padding of gloves to cushion the blows, several bruises were made. ¡°Luckily, I prepared some medicinal solutions and ointments in advance, and now they can be put to good use.¡± At four in the afternoon, in the Sunshine District, inside a rented room with the curtains half open, a muscular young man, bare-chested, was carefully applying ointment to the bruised areas around his body. In the air, a strong pungent medicinal scent spread, flowing out through a slightly opened window. Bai Xiao¡¯s phone was on the bed, playing soothing music. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? He then recalled, in the changing room a while ago, how he had harshly admonished Guo Hao. Guo Hao indeed had talent, but his character was poor. Guo Hao cared too much about others¡¯ eyes, even mistakenly prioritizing others¡¯ admiration and praise as the things he truly pursued. You are here to train in martial arts, not to enjoy being surrounded by women! So-called admiration, so-called worship, so-called throngs of followers¡ªthose are just peripheral things you acquire along the path of pursuing martial arts! When all else is stripped away, these superficial appearances left behind, What remains in martial arts is the biggest challenge for every learner! Which is¡­ Whatever you persist in doing when nobody is watching! Training in unnoticed corners and making appearances in the spotlight. Doing the right things that others are unwilling to do, this is another explanation of persistence. Bai Xiao believed he could endure solitude better than Guo Hao. This was the difference between the two men, according to Bai Xiao. Five minutes later, after applying the ointment, he took out his phone to check messages. By the bedside, Bai Xiao unplugged the charger and lit up the screen with one hand. Scrolling through the YY social circle, he swiped past several posts, most of which were friends documenting what they ate today in pictures and text, along with some game achievement screenshots. Tap, his finger paused. On the display was a post from Social Me, Brother Dong (Wei Dong). Yesterday 22:35 Title: Fame has its pros and cons. What was, was; what is, is bizarre. Below was an image of the entrance to a luxurious nightclub. A young man wearing sunglasses stood leaning against a luxury car, his elbow resting on it, right hand holding a burning cigarette, as he gazed melancholically up at the stars. Bai Xiao slightly raised his eyebrows, speechless. Sometimes sudden wealth can make people abstract. Below the image, there was a long string of lengthy comments. Sulky Me, Lao Liang: ¡°Are you showing off again?¡± Society¡¯s Brother Dong: ? Sulky Me, Lao Liang: ? Then came a long string of question marks, two guys childishly bickering with each other. Bai Xiao wanted to post a question mark too, but he didn¡¯t want to join the fray, so he just clicked on the image, took a look, and silently liked it. Wei Dong¡¯s dad could be considered a legendary figure¡ªit had taken him just four to five years to become the director of a biopharmaceutical technology company. Somehow, he had produced Wei Dong, this funny and quirky son. Of course, there was also a possibility that Wei Dong only showed his true self in front of acquaintances and friends. Outside, he might play the role of a rich and handsome playboy, handsome and wealthy. After all, the views on Wei Dong¡¯s Moments were extremely low, which indicated that he only allowed a very few people access to see his posts. ¡°No idea what kind of company Wei Dong¡¯s dad runs¡­¡± ¡°Medical instruments? Or is it specifically for pharmaceutical research?¡± Bai Xiao scrolled through his phone for a while, resting, and was about to exit the interface out of sheer boredom when he suddenly saw that someone had shared an official news post about serial disappearances¡ªit was from Huai Shui City. ¡°The police in Huai Shui City reported that since May 10 of this year, there have been consecutive¡­¡± Beneath that was a bunch of official jargon, followed by several photos of the missing people. Bai Xiao scanned them and found them vaguely familiar. After a moment of recollection, he remembered the missing person notices he had seen before. ¡°Has disappearing become such a frequent occurrence?¡± Bai Xiao frowned slightly, his gaze fell further down, and suddenly his pupils constricted. He saw a man in a floral shirt whom he had beaten up near the Sakura Bird Bar about five or six days ago¡ªthat face, the dragon tattoo on his neck, it was identical! The man in the floral shirt had disappeared! What happened?! Did I accidentally kill him? Impossible, I know how to pull my punches, I didn¡¯t hit him critically. Even if he had died, there was a parking lot next to that alley. People come and go there every day; it¡¯s impossible that they wouldn¡¯t have discovered his body! Bai Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed deeply, and he felt confused and uneasy. Although he was reluctant to think about it in that direction, perhaps these so-called disappearances were related to that rushing shadow he had encountered that day in the alley! Bai Xiao admitted that he had been scared that day, somewhat horrified. The shadow, though human-like, had an eerie, non-human aspect to it. Its eyes glowing green like a wild beast¡¯s were deeply imprinted in his mind. Bai Xiao snapped back to his senses and immediately started searching online and in local forums, but couldn¡¯t find any useful information. ¡°This shouldn¡¯t¡­ come back to me, right?¡± Bai Xiao muttered to himself, his expression deep. Fortunately, this parallel universe was not the original world, there were no cameras all over the streets, and the efficiency of various departments was not so high; this aspect was more reminiscent of a certain country in his past life. ¡°Whatever, it wasn¡¯t me who killed him.¡± ¡°Done is done, not done is not done¡­¡± He quickly turned off his phone screen, planning to start today¡¯s extra training. Perhaps because he had been startled by the news about the series of disappearances just now, Bai Xiao felt a vague sense of unease. To dispel this feeling, he began to furiously practice boxing and jujutsu. Perspiration was released fully, and his joints cracked loudly. That sense of fulfillment and immersion made him forget about his unease. ¡°It¡¯s still not enough, I need to be stronger¡­¡± Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: 025 The Correct Way to Improve Will Chapter 25: 025 The Correct Way to Improve Will Tap. A foot struck the ground, knees slightly bent, and power burst forth instantaneously. Whoosh! A whip leg swung out high and fast, leaving a trail of afterimage. Zi! The waist and hips twisted slightly, the four fingers came together as power transferred from the shoulder to the arm, and with a fierce motion, he struck out. This charging fist seemed to be packed with power. In the empty space of the room, Bai Xiao¡¯s entire body was soaked with sweat, sticking to the surface of his skin. The black, broken hairs on his forehead were a mess, like strands of willow branches. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans slid over his eyelashes and chin, flinging into the air with the vigorous movement of his body, plip-plopping onto the ground. If the body¡¯s stamina were a pond storing water, then at this moment, Bai Xiao¡¯s pond had nearly dried up, all his strength almost wrung out. His ferocious training today was aimed at eliminating the unease in his heart. And now, Bai Xiao had done just that. When one was almost completely exhausted, the brain truly couldn¡¯t think of much. Only a thread of will, taut like a thin string, kept Bai Xiao going for a moment longer, then another moment! The moment one can¡¯t hold on any longer is exactly the time for cultivation. When you¡¯re nearly exhausted, that¡¯s when the real training begins. Swish, swish, swish¡­ Inside the rental property, the shadows of fists danced, and a silhouette moved swiftly, its speed growing slower and arms trembling, but its movements remained just as precise. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 The closer he got to that point, the less Bai Xiao was willing to admit that he had limits. Because admitting there were limits was the first step to failure! It was very quiet inside the room; he could hear his heart pounding intensely like a drum, as well as the cracking of his bones as his limbs moved. His feet stepped on the sweat-drenched floor. Bai Xiao, like a wild beast, suddenly let out a fierce growl from his throat. He threw his last punch forward with immense satisfaction! Whoosh! Everything before his eyes blurred. Bai Xiao almost thought he was about to pass out. But after carefully focusing, he realized it was the change in the attribute panel. [Your Will Attribute has increased by +0.2!] [Will: 11.7¡ú11.9] He stood still, his robust chest heaving rapidly as he gasped for air. Bai Xiao stared at the notification in his retina. A wearied smile, with a hint of fierceness, revealed itself on his face. ¡°Training truly strengthens the will; muscles are just a bonus.¡± ¡°The closer to the limit, the more I can surpass it¡­¡± He seemed to have grasped a truth, and vaguely found a clumsy method to improve his Will Attribute. Will had always been the slowest to increase among Bai Xiao¡¯s four attributes, with even Speed, which was initially far behind Will, nearly catching up. The reason for this was that the increases in Will Attribute from leveling up professional skills had been too insignificant. But now, Bai Xiao understood. To enhance the Will Attribute, the best method was to push oneself to the brink of limits. Every second of perseverance under those limits might make one¡¯s will stronger and tougher. Of course, those who couldn¡¯t endure hardship or fatigue couldn¡¯t use this method¡ªit was by no means a shortcut. It was a clumsy method that required a lot of sweat and time. ¡°With the profession panel, it seems I¡¯ll never regress, my four attributes are fixed, they¡¯ve never fluctuated¡­¡± Bai Xiao murmured to himself. This was a hidden, powerful effect of the profession panel. He rested on the spot for a moment, waiting for his overheated body to cool down a bit. Bai Xiao first mopped up the sweaty floor. Then he walked into the bathroom and took a very refreshing cold shower. When he came out, the wind blowing through the window chilled him once more. Probably due to a significant increase in his Physique Attribute, Bai Xiao¡¯s stamina recovered faster, and he felt much better just by taking a bath. With a bit more rest, there would be no problem going out to deliver food. Wearing only shorts and revealing his fit body, he sat on the edge of the bed. He picked up his phone and glanced at the time¡ªit was already 5:15 in the afternoon. In ten more minutes, it would be time to grind for experience. Bai Xiao was about to put his phone down when the screen flickered ever so slightly. It was a message from YY, displayed on the lock screen. Bai Xiao pressed his fingerprint and entered the message. Zhang Hongtao (Coach): Be cautious recently, avoid going to desolate places, especially at night, and try to stay on main roads as much as possible. With one glance, Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes sharpened, and he slowly lifted his head. His gaze, ponderous, lingered on the window before he eventually turned it away. Bai Xiao: Coach, what do you mean? He sent the message, and within two or three seconds, he received a reply. Zhang Hongtao (Coach): Don¡¯t worry about what I mean, just do as I say. There¡¯s no harm in being careful these days. Bai Xiao remained silent for a moment before replying: Okay. After closing his phone, he sat still for a while, then turned and walked into the bathroom. Cupping his hands, he scooped up a ladle of water and doused it all over his face. He stood up straight. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he saw the eyes of the young face before him, dark and deep as a still pond. Bai Xiao muttered to himself. ¡°Inside the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, they definitely know something!¡± ¡°About the recent string of disappearances.¡± ¡°About that inhuman black shadow¡­¡± At that moment, his instinct told him that Coach Zhang Hongtao¡¯s safety warning concealed much more than just a simple reminder. ¡°Coach Zhang said he was busy before and couldn¡¯t stay after class to practice with me.¡± ¡°Could it be that¡­¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes flickered, growing increasingly certain. He couldn¡¯t be one hundred percent sure that White Bird Martial Arts Hall was involved, but at least there was a fifty percent chance it was related. Bai Xiao stepped out of the bathroom silently. A subtle sense of urgency filled his heart once more. In his rented room, he quickly put on his clothes, choosing the most comfortable, loose-fitting tracksuit. Bai Xiao grabbed his keys and phone and hurried downstairs. At five-thirty in the afternoon, as usual, he began delivering food. Unlike before, Bai Xiao made a point not to take orders from more remote locations, choosing instead to focus on the area around the university town. This meant he made slightly less than usual. But the difference wasn¡¯t significant, especially in the evening and in such a densely populated area. The ones who order takeout the most, college students, were all in this area, so he wasn¡¯t short on orders during the evening. Don¡¯t assume that college students don¡¯t order takeout; they have their ways. The iron railings near the cafeteria, the gaps at the back of the school¡ªthey knew them all. Learning to master the delivery spots of each university is a fundamental skill for a delivery person in the university town area, and Bai Xiao was quite proficient at it. Until eight-thirty at night, he finished his deliveries for the day. [Your profession ¡°Delivery Man¡± has gained +10 experience] [Your professional skill ¡°Electric Bike Driving¡± has gained +13 experience] [Your professional skill ¡°City Routing Master¡± has gained +14 experience] 20:50, No. 111 Wutong Road, Sakura Bird Bar. Through the employee corridor, Bai Xiao, dressed in his security uniform, walked out at a leisurely pace. Today, his Security profession would definitely reach LV.2. He could also use the Dark Red Modifier to extract two potential points! Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: 026 Boys should also take good care of themselves Chapter 26: 026 Boys should also take good care of themselves Ten o¡¯clock in the evening. Inside the bar, the music had reached its maximum volume, nearly deafening people. The intense metal and punk vibes of rock music exploded in the air, like sizzling flashes of lightning. The noisy crowd twisted their waists and hips on the dance floor, their movements and gazes provocative. In the shadowy corner near the black marble bar. Bai Xiao stood with his legs slightly apart, standing erect. His hands were placed in front of him, his right hand gripping his left wrist, left hand clenched into a fist, his face expressionless. He didn¡¯t look like a security guard, but more like a bodyguard. On the tables, the colorful lights were dizzying, in a world of flashy revelry. Men and women clinked their glasses, and the wailing songs reverberated. Some young people started speaking in nightclub slang, tearing tissues, grabbing fingers, or playing the King¡¯s Game and other interactive games. They indulged uninhibitedly in the ambiguous atmosphere. Bai Xiao swept his gaze over the scene, confirmed there were no issues, and blandly withdrew his attention. He then refocused on his professional panel. [Your profession ¡°Security Guard¡± has gained +2 experience] [Your profession ¡°Security Guard¡± has risen to LV.2] [Profession: Security Guard LV.2 (1/200)] (Extractable) Success! And below the profession, a familiar extractable tag appeared. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Bai Xiao glanced at the dark red (Extractable) without hesitation and confirmed. Instantly, the professional panel blurred and flickered faintly. The next second, everything became clear. [Dark Red Modifier] [Potential Points: 2] Two potential points in hand, it was time to allocate points again. Almost simultaneously. Under the Fighter profession, a tag appeared beside the Jujutsu skill. [Skill 3: Intro to Jujutsu (23/100)]+ Bai Xiao took a deep breath, feeling a faint joy in his heart. One potential point could add fifty experience, two points a hundred. Jujutsu could only be upgraded; as for Sandboxing and boxing, they still needed a lot more. He thought that unless in special cases, he should upgrade as much as he could in the short term and grab tangible strength first. Bai Xiao came back to his senses, and glanced down at his chest. ¡°This security guard uniform is getting a bit too tight¡­¡± Due to the rapid advancement of his physical attributes, his muscles and physique had developed dramatically. The bar security uniform, which had fit well and even a bit loosely before, was now quite tight, accentuating his physique. Bulging chest muscles, broad shoulders, arms filled with a sense of power. His prominent inverted triangle figure stretched the entire uniform tight. Compared with some other security guards of normal build, he stood out conspicuously. At the Sakura Bird Bar tables, glances occasionally swept over the corner where Bai Xiao stood, carrying an inexplicable meaning. Most of these gazes were from women, with one or two even from men, quite unsettling. But Bai Xiao didn¡¯t seem to mind much. He continued to work expressionlessly. Not far away, at a table where several attractive girls were gathered, they were playing the King¡¯s Game. The general rule was that the King¡¯s command was absolute, and participants had to unconditionally obey the King¡¯s orders. Whoever was lucky enough to become the King could issue a random command to someone to do anything. Similar to Truth or Dare. ¡°Hehe, I am the King!¡± A girl with short hair and black lipstick showed the ghost card joker in her hand. Her fingers sparkled with shiny nail polish, glinting faintly. ¡°So, now¡­¡± The short-haired girl¡¯s eyes moved, her thick eyelashes fluttering, a sly look aimed at Bai Xiao in the corner, ¡°I command, the three of spades, go flirt with that handsome security guard next to the bar. You have to get some contact information.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, everyone showed their cards, and a beautiful girl in a black bodycon miniskirt got caught¡ªshe was the three of spades. Suddenly, the surrounding crowd burst into a commotion, with snickers and laughter creating a lively atmosphere. The miniskirt girl was straightforward and generous, obviously used to playing and not easily embarrassed. She stood up and walked towards the bar. As she drew closer, the miniskirt girl could see the tall and straight figure of the young man with black hair, his expression meticulous, eyes staring straight ahead, conveying a sense of seriousness and focus. Because he was in the shadows, with only some of the lights illuminating him, they cast dark shadows on his brow bone and jawline. It gave him a rare, rugged, and tough demeanor. How to put it? The miniskirt girl had seen many handsome men, like puppy dogs and big bad wolves, tall guys with white socks, and rough-looking bad boys. But she had never seen someone like the one before her. ¡°Hello there, handsome.¡± The miniskirt girl approached Bai Xiao and greeted him with a smile. The black tattoo, winding around her fair-skinned neck like a begonia flower, created a striking contrast. As the colorful lights flickered by, it somehow appeared even more enchanting. ¡°The restroom is on the left.¡± Bai Xiao turned his head and, after a brief eye contact with the girl, seriously reminded her. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The seductive smile on the miniskirt girl¡¯s face faltered for a moment, nearly causing her to lose her composure. But she quickly recovered, leaning slightly forward to reveal a glimpse of her snowy cleavage. She lifted her lightly made-up face with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re so handsome. Can I add you on Fetion?¡± The miniskirt girl shot straight to the point. She knew that with her attractive appearance and figure, coupled with her bold compliments, most handsome guys would instantly take a liking to her and respond positively. But today, it seemed she had miscalculated. ¡°I don¡¯t really use Fetion.¡± The young man before her pondered for a moment and then replied indifferently. ¡°Okay, what about YY then?¡± The girl¡¯s beautiful eyes sparkled as she gazed at Bai Xiao. ¡°I don¡¯t use that much either.¡± Bai Xiao continued to reply. The miniskirt girl hesitated and looked up, but Bai Xiao¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. Moreover, he seemed to be in serious thought, and it didn¡¯t look like he was just joking with her. The miniskirt girl gritted her teeth and asked one last question. ¡°What about your phone number then? That should be okay, right?¡± Bai Xiao glanced at her and nodded, giving her his phone number. The miniskirt girl saved it in her phone as ¡°handsome security guard,¡± followed by Bai Xiao¡¯s number, and pressed save. She smiled happily. ¡°See you around, handsome.¡± The miniskirt girl threw him a flirtatious look, then returned to her booth. Instantly, a group of girls at the booth erupted into giggles and cheers. Meanwhile, in his corner, Bai Xiao remained as usual, scanning the crowd just like before, fulfilling his security inspection duties. In the following hours, the night scene was nonstop excitement. Perhaps the DJ was exceptionally good that day because some female customers got completely drunk after dancing. Even one girl, after downing a strong drink at the bar, tried to get fresh with Bai Xiao, wanting to come over and feel his muscles. In the end, her friends forcefully dragged her away. In a place stirred up with hormones, anything could happen. Guys should also protect themselves and not get teased by female hooligans. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: 027 Jujutsu Small Success Chapter 27: 027 Jujutsu Small Success At two in the morning, Bai Xiao quickly exited through the staff passage. His harvest today was good, better than usual. [Your profession ¡°Security Guard¡±, experience +13] [Your professional skill ¡°Patrolling¡±, experience +16] Bai Xiao chewed on his Green Arrow gum, feeling the refreshment of mint spread in his mouth. He squinted his eyes and found his electric scooter parked by the main road. Inserting the key, twisting the throttle, he set off toward home. On the other side, the girl in the short skirt and her friends dispersed, each heading to their respective homes. But before calling it a night, she couldn¡¯t withstand the soft pestering of her annoying friends and ended up sharing Bai Xiao¡¯s phone number with them. In the taxi, the girl in the short skirt sat in the back seat, scrolling through her phone. To avoid being outwitted by other scheming girls, she decided to make a call now that the other party had also finished work. She accessed her contacts and confirmed the call. Bringing the phone to her ear, what followed was a strong and colorful ringtone: ¡°Willing to exchange several lifetimes for our one-time bond¡­ let love move the heavens¡­¡± ¡°What an old-fashioned song, my dad used to listen to it a lot.¡± The girl paused for a moment, feeling that Bai Xiao might be a traditional man. He had an unusual mature charm, indeed very rare. With a beep, the call connected. The girl in the short skirt was slightly pleased and immediately took the lead, saying, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The voice on the other end seemed to be that of a middle-aged man who had just woken up. The next second, a series of broken Mandarin with a rural accent came from the other end of the line: ¡°Is it the toilet that¡¯s clogged? Or the kitchen? Or the sewer? Calling at this hour, definitely can¡¯t fix it tonight¡­¡± ¡°Tomorrow then, I have time tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Toilet eighty, kitchen fifty, sewer line¡­¡± With a beep, the call hung up, and the distinctively loud voice of the middle-aged man on the call vanished. The girl in the short skirt sat in the back seat, stunned. For the first time, she experienced what those pure-hearted young men felt when they could not get through or dialed the wrong number after she casually gave them a wrong one¡­ How awkward and frustrated they must have been. At two thirty in the morning, in a bedroom. The pipe repairman hung up the phone bewildered, having received four or five perplexing calls, all from female voices with coquettish tones. As soon as the pipe repairman introduced his services, the calls were disconnected. ¡°Could it be that my rates are too high?¡± ¡°Eighty for unclogging a toilet isn¡¯t expensive, is it? Strange¡­¡± Baffled, he chose to turn off his phone and continue to sleep under the covers. In Sunshine District, rental house. The small kitchen beside the living room had something simmering on the gas stove. Gurgle, gurgle¡­ The air was filled with the fragrant aroma of cooking food. Although Bai Xiao didn¡¯t cook much, he knew how to make chicken soup. A whole chicken, onion, ginger, garlic, spices, seasonings, and the nourishing herbs he had bought before. Beiqi, ginseng, red dates, goji berries. Soon, a casserole full of aromatic and thick white chicken soup was served. With a click, the rice in the rice cooker was also ready. Bai Xiao picked up the bowl and chopsticks that he hadn¡¯t used much in the past half month. He began his late-night meal, replenishing his body¡¯s nutrients. The entire chicken was devoured, leaving only bones. The chicken soup was scooped clean, and Bai Xiao, with his vegetables, had several large bowls of rice soaked in soup. He didn¡¯t miss a single piece of the tonic herbs. Bai Xiao tried to see if having a full meal in advance could effectively alleviate the hunger felt after improving his professional skills. Feeling fully satisfied, he reclined in his chair, staring straight ahead. [Skill 3: Jujutsu Beginner (23/100)]+ ¡°Dark Red, upgrade my Jujutsu to Minor Achievement!¡± With a thought, the Potential Points at the bottom of the modifier instantly dropped to zero. Two Potential Points were directly allocated to the Jujutsu Skill. The entire skill bar blurred as numbers flickered. [Your profession ¡®Fighter,¡¯ experience +6!] [Your professional Skill ¡®Jujutsu Beginner¡¯ experience +100!] [Professional Skill ¡®Jujutsu Beginner¡¯ has risen to ¡®Jujutsu Minor Achievement¡¯] [Skill 3: Jujutsu Minor Achievement (23/200)] Bai Xiao concentrated with closed eyes when suddenly, as expected, a torrent of information flooded his mind. The many essentials of Jujutsu and the professional combat moves had been integrated drip by drip into his body and memory. With a swoosh, he opened his eyes. Now, Bai Xiao had one Combat Skill at great accomplishment and two at Minor Achievement. He might have already reached the level of a professional athlete. ¡°I wonder how I¡¯m supposed to go about the grading that Coach Zhang Hongtao mentioned¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask about it during tomorrow¡¯s training if there¡¯s time,¡± he decided. As he thought about it, he suddenly felt hungry, a sensation emanating from his entire body. This time, the hunger and weakness were a bit less intense than before, but there wasn¡¯t a significant change. Clearly, just getting full on a meal did not provide enough energy and nutrition to support a rise from Beginner to Minor Achievement. ¡°So I still need to eat energy bars, protein bars and the like¡­¡± Bai Xiao shook his head, declaring this experiment a failure. Next, he resumed his usual routine. When he was hungry, he ate; and after eating, he slept. Time flew, and soon it was the next morning. July 1st, 9:30 AM. Bai Xiao stood in front of the bathroom mirror, under the golden sunlight streaming through the window, and performed several poses used in bodybuilding competitions to show off his muscles. His thick chest muscles, powerful-looking abs, and the ¡°shark lines¡± on either side of his waist and abdomen. Their contours and gullies were hard, exuding a rugged beauty. ¡°Will has actually become my lowest attribute¡­¡± ¡°It seems that in the future, I¡¯ll need to regularly use extreme training methods to temper my will.¡± In front of his retina, the four-dimensional attribute panel was displayed. [Power: 13.0¡ú13.6] [Speed: 11.6¡ú12.1] [Physique: 12.3¡ú12.8] [Will: 11.9¡ú12.0] Power +0.6, Speed +0.5, Physique +0.5, Will +0.1. As his overall attributes rose, the enhancements gained from breaking through in professional Skills slightly decreased. However, Bai Xiao was mentally prepared for this. In the bathroom, he began to freshen up, ensuring he stayed in good condition. Five minutes later, he checked his phone and saw that the clothes he ordered online had arrived. Bai Xiao didn¡¯t want to wear those few tight clothes anymore, so he had to buy several larger-size shirts. They were all uniformly colored, either completely black or white. He hurried downstairs and quickly made his way to the security gate of the Sunshine District. After chatting with the security guard for a moment, he collected his package. On his way back up, Bai Xiao ran into a neighbor. It was an old man with white hair, wearing a miniature backpack with a pink pig pattern on it and holding the red-eyed hand of his granddaughter, walking down from upstairs. When Bai Xiao saw this, he instinctively made room for them to pass. The old man nodded at Bai Xiao with a smile and then continued on his way down. Soon after, cries of the girl could be heard from downstairs, her voice muffled, yelling: ¡°I don¡¯t wanna go! I don¡¯t want to go to kindergarten!¡± Bai Xiao mourned for her for a couple of seconds and then made his way back to his rental room. He packed his belongings into a blue canvas bag, grabbed his phone, and again opened the security door. Checking the time as he left the Sunshine District. Today, Bai Xiao wanted to try to break through in the professional Skill ¡®Wrestling Beginner.¡¯ Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: 028 White Bird Martial Arts Hall definitely knows something. Chapter 28: 028 White Bird Martial Arts Hall definitely knows something. Pujiang District, White Bird Martial Arts Hall. Bai Xiao, with a backpack slung over his right shoulder and his left hand in his pocket, walked into the martial arts hall. Today, the marble hall did not smell of disinfectant, but the floor was clearly mopped by the cleaning lady, smooth and shiny. He continued towards the changing room, occasionally meeting some students wearing gray training uniforms coming toward him along the corridor, whom he did not recognize; they were from other classes. At 9:58, Bai Xiao changed into his training clothes and quickly walked out. The training uniform of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall was quite loose. Even though he had rapidly grown in size recently, he did not feel it tight and could still move well. Training Hall Number Two. Bai Xiao walked in, stepping forward under the gaze of some of the students. At the front, Zhang Hongtao wore his black coach uniform, still clutching his ever-present thermos cup. Sensing footsteps behind him, Zhang Hongtao turned his head for a glance and saw Bai Xiao. His usually stern face broke into a smile, and he nodded, ¡°Join the line.¡± Bai Xiao nodded back and headed for his row. Zhang Hongtao, watching the increasingly broad figure of Bai Xiao, thoughtfully stroked his chin, feeling his stubble¡¯s tough texture, ¡°Has this kid gotten more robust again? He seems even more muscular than yesterday¡­¡± He shook his head, feeling this was a good thing. The stronger Bai Xiao¡¯s physical and perceptual talents were, the more he deserved to remain in the elite class. Competition in the elite class was fierce and brutal, even involving a lot of actual combat. Only the true elites were filtered out, eligible to understand the core secrets of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall and join the Fierce Bird Sect. Originally, Guo Hao was the most talented in their class. Compared to the top talents in other classes, he really had no advantage. Outmatched in talent and outworked in diligence, he was frankly nothing noteworthy. Zhang Hongtao estimated that even if he recommended Guo Hao to the elite class, unless there was some significant change, Guo Hao would be eliminated in two or three rounds¡ªdirectly disqualified. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï But, if Bai Xiao demonstrated the strength he exhibited yesterday in the elite class, he would undoubtedly be a pillar. He could surely pass smoothly. So, Zhang Hongtao virtually didn¡¯t even need to think about it. He decided to recommend Bai Xiao to the elite class of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t disappoint me, Bai Xiao¡­¡± At ten o¡¯clock sharp, the training class began its daily combat practice. Bai Xiao was also doing his practice, accumulating experience for the next upgrade of various professional skills, reducing the need for potential points. While practicing various combat techniques, he noticed to his right in the same row, Guo Hao¡¯s lackey, He Hao with a freckled face had several adhesive bandages on his face today, with bruise outlines at the edges like he¡¯d been hit by someone. As he practiced combat, his brows furrowed in pain and he hissed through his teeth. Next to him, Guo Hao, who had been taught a lesson by Bai Xiao the day before, kept his face cold. When he felt Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze, his sandboxing arms twitched slightly, distorting his motions. He seemed under immense pressure, trying to appear calm, but his awkward punches and kicks betrayed him. Guo Hao didn¡¯t dare meet Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes, nor did he dare to look back at him. The lesson of the previous day seemed to have left a significant psychological shadow on him. Throughout the training session, Li Xuefei, who used to get along well with Guo Hao and seemed to be his schoolmate, was hardly interacting with him. Li Xuefei and another girl with short hair deliberately kept their distance from Guo Hao and He Hao. To be honest, what Guo Hao did in Training Hall Number Two yesterday, taking out his frustrations on his lackey, He Hao, was downright clownish. The slight goodwill Li Xuefei and the short-haired girl had felt for an impressive image of Guo Hao was completely erased. Guo Hao¡¯s impotent fury pushed everyone away. Even He Hao now dared not speak to Guo Hao. I praise you, you insult and hit me, what does that mean? Bai Xiao didn¡¯t have time to delve into the resentments and vendettas between Guo Hao and others. He was only quietly practicing various enhanced combat techniques, making his moves smoother and more powerful, more practical for combat. Additionally, Bai Xiao was practicing wrestling moves, hoping to master his fourth skill. In a one-on-one situation, wrestling could be deemed a divine technique. Grabbing the opponent¡¯s lower back, a backward arch throw could even break the opponent¡¯s spine and cause severe damage to the back of the head, quite deadly. One-on-one, use wrestling. When facing multiple opponents, use boxing. This was commonly acknowledged. As the most threatening solution for different combat scenarios. In Bai Xiao¡¯s corner, he began to practice, sweating profusely. As always, focused, earnest, and calm. With his talent of Pure Heart unlocked, Bai Xiao¡¯s every movement tended towards perfection, improving bit by bit with each practice. In the center of the training hall, Zhang Hongtao sipped his tea while watching Bai Xiao in the corner, ¡°Tsk tsk, this kid has even started to teach himself wrestling. Let me see, Sandboxing, boxing, jujutsu, wrestling, that¡¯s four types. Except for the newly practiced wrestling, he¡¯s learned the others quite well¡­¡± ¡°He has truly mastered the Ren and Du meridians.¡± Today¡¯s training did not last long before Bai Xiao, with the help of Pure Heart, had grasped the basics of wrestling. He then began to practice all combat skills. Until three-thirty in the afternoon, when the training session ended. [Your profession ¡®Fighter¡¯, experience +6!] [Skill ¡®Advanced Sandboxing¡¯, experience +8!] [Skill ¡®Basic Boxing¡¯, experience +8!] [Skill ¡®Basic Jujutsu¡¯, experience +9!] [Skill ¡®Wrestling Beginner¡¯, experience +6!] Bai Xiao noticed something was amiss. Although he had mastered the basics of wrestling, the growth rate of his Fighter profession experience had not increased. Moreover, the experience gains from other professional skills had noticeably decreased. Even with wrestling, it was only about the same as the total experience gained previously with three skills. ¡°The overall training time is fixed, and there is a limit to experience gain, which won¡¯t increase once reached. The total experience gained from three or four professional skills is about the same¡­¡± Bai Xiao muttered to himself. ¡°It seems that increasing the number of skills won¡¯t enhance the speed of experience gain. The quantitative approach isn¡¯t working, so should I focus on quality?¡± He speculated internally. Bai Xiao decided to temporarily stop learning other combat skills. That wouldn¡¯t help him gain more professional experience and would instead consume a lot of time on basics. Four skills were enough. ¡°Class dismissed.¡± In the training hall, Zhang Hongtao announced that the training time was over. The multitude of students began to leave, heading towards the changing rooms. Guo Hao walked the fastest, seemingly eager not to see Bai Xiao anymore, feeling suffocated inside. The number of people at the entrance gradually dwindled. ¡°I have something else today, go home and practice by yourself for a while.¡± ¡°I just watched your practice, and your movements were standard, nothing was off¡­ Keep it up!¡± Zhang Hongtao patted Bai Xiao on the shoulder. He then glanced at his phone and hurried away. Bai Xiao watched Zhang Hongtao¡¯s retreating figure, pondering to himself. ¡°White Bird Martial Arts Hall, they definitely know something¡­¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: 029 Huaisui Citys Fighting Circle Chapter 29: 029 Huaisui City¡¯s Fighting Circle He paused momentarily and struck a shoulder-stretching, chest-expanding pose. Slightly relaxed, Bai Xiao headed for the exit of Training Hall No. 2. In the somewhat cool corridor, he was steadily making his way to the changing room. Unexpectedly, he bumped into a familiar bald head midway. Standing at 1.8 meters tall, with a sturdy build and a shiny, bald crown. It was Zhou Bing, whom Bai Xiao had encountered during the punch strength test. Zhou Bing was the most outstanding student in the class based in Training Hall No. 3. ¡°We meet again.¡± Zhou Bing stopped in his tracks, looked over, and said, ¡°Bai Xiao.¡± ¡°Zhou Bing,¡± Bai Xiao also stopped and recited the other person¡¯s name. ¡°You¡­ seem to have gotten a lot stronger than before?¡± Zhou Bing stood by the corridor window, his bald head reflecting the sunlight, forming a white halo around it. He stood thinking for a moment before speaking hesitantly. ¡°Do I?¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s expression was unchanged. Zhou Bing shrugged, unsure. But in his memory, Bai Xiao did not have such a robust physique, nor did his eyes have the current sharpness, carrying an impression of vigorous vitality. ¡°Maybe, he has improved during this period¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Zhou Bing convinced himself, his thoughts shifted and a spark of realization flashed through his mind, ¡°Ah, right. Bai Xiao, it seems you haven¡¯t joined our Huai Shui City fighting circle group yet, I haven¡¯t seen you there. How old are you now, you¡¯re not over twenty-five, are you?¡± Bai Xiao was slightly taken aback, then responded, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-four.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s fine, our group only recruits fighting prodigies under twenty-five years old, it¡¯s sort of an exclusive club for enthusiasts.¡± Zhou Bing started to explain, ¡°In that YY group, there are people like me and Kang Li, mostly old-timers who have been in the fighting scene for a long time, though their ages might not be very big. Aside from me and Kang Li, there are a few group members who are training in other branches of White Bird Martial Arts Hall in Huai Shui City, so it also serves as a channel to exchange information. You¡¯re pretty strong, want to join?¡± With clear-cut words, he extended the invitation to Bai Xiao. In the corridor passage, Zhou Bing looked at Bai Xiao with an evaluative gaze, weighing in his mind. He still remembered Bai Xiao¡¯s last punch test, which was roughly 84kg, already beyond amateur second-dan. Though it was considerably less than his own 120kg punch power, it was still quite good. He was definitely qualified to join their group chat. He wouldn¡¯t be a core member but would probably be middle to lower tier. ¡°Okay.¡± Bai Xiao accepted Zhou Bing¡¯s invitation; he didn¡¯t really have any other channels to learn about fighting skills. Perhaps he could find out more through this group. ¡°Alright, go change your clothes. I¡¯ll wait for you at the entrance of the martial arts hall,¡± said Zhou Bing, who also needed to change. The two nodded at each other and headed towards the changing rooms separately. Five minutes later, Bai Xiao changed his clothes and carried a canvas bag over his shoulder. He crossed the corridor, passed the marble foyer, and appeared at the entrance of the martial arts hall. At this moment, it seemed like class break at the dance training institute across the street. Some pretty girls in airy dance outfits came out, their smooth hair styled into elegant updos. Their beautiful features were accentuated with heavy makeup: shimmering eyeshadow, red eyeliners, foundation, and blush. They looked as though they were part of a touring ballet troupe. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Xue Ling here today?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she say she feels uneasy without a day of dancing?¡± A girl crouched on the ground said. ¡°I heard from the dance teacher that there¡¯s been a big issue at home, something about her mom suddenly disappearing. No one knows what¡¯s really going on¡­¡± Another tall girl who was standing replied. ¡°Could it be human trafficking? My God¡­¡± At the entrance of the martial arts hall, Bai Xiao could faintly hear the conversation from across the street. His expression icy, he once again looked up, glancing at the shiny White Bird Martial Arts Hall sign overhead, his pupils gathering a mysterious shade, gradually becoming resolute. ¡°Here we are.¡± In the foyer, Zhou Bing jogged over and pushed open the door. ¡°You should add me on YY first, then I¡¯ll invite you in.¡± Bai Xiao quickly took out his phone and went through several operations. Two minutes later, he joined a YY group with around sixty people. The group name: Boxing Club Upon entry, there was an announcement. These are the rules of the Boxing Club: Rule one, you must not talk about the fight club. Rule two, you must not talk about the fight club again. Rule three, fighting must not stop, not even if you¡¯re injured. Rule four, take off your clothes and shoes, and welcome fighting barehanded. Rule five, make sure you¡¯re always ready for a fight! ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this announcement?¡± Bai Xiao looked up at Zhou Bing. Zhou Bing smiled, then said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a reference to a movie line that the group owner tweaked a bit. The gist is that members should always maintain their wildness and firmly remember their primal instincts, not to be blinded by luxurious life and the dazzle of the city¡­¡± ¡°If you have fallen and neglected your fighting technique, then you don¡¯t deserve to be a member.¡± Zhou Bing extended his fist and lightly touched Bai Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s encourage each other and make progress together.¡± Bai Xiao hesitated for a moment, then also extended his fist and touched Zhou Bing¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s encourage each other and make progress together.¡± He suddenly felt that the atmosphere in the Boxing Club group was quite good. At least, some of the philosophies spoken there were very much to Bai Xiao¡¯s taste. ¡°By the way, now that we¡¯re group buddies, I might as well tell you.¡± Zhou Bing put away his phone and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve been following the training class situation at our martial arts hall. There are a total of ten classes, Kang Li is in class one, you are in class two, and I am in class three. However, in class nine, I heard there¡¯s a genius, who has been confirmed ahead of time for the elite class. His name is Chu Ming, and four days ago, he personally defeated a coach during a sparring match¡­¡± ¡°He personally defeated a coach?¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze sharpened slightly, as this was indeed very impressive. As a student, he had actually managed to defeat a coach. Even Bai Xiao, before he had improved in Jujutsu, had only managed to bring out seventy percent of Zhang Hongtao¡¯s actual strength. This Chu Ming must be very strong. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Bing nodded. ¡°His Sandboxing is incredibly powerful, and he also has his own unique style, even the coach couldn¡¯t beat him. I suspect that his family must be skilled in Sandboxing as well, most likely from a martial arts lineage¡­¡± ¡°By the way, Bai Xiao, what fighting technique do you specialize in? Me, I¡¯m best at boxing.¡± Zhou Bing assumed a boxing stance and asked. ¡°For me, Sandboxing, I guess¡­¡± Bai Xiao was telling the truth. Sandboxing was the only professional Skill he had fully mastered. ¡°Sandboxing, huh? Then it seems you and Chu Ming are of the same type. His Sandboxing is extremely powerful, maybe you can reach out to him for advice and possibly learn something. Of course, that¡¯s if Chu Ming is approachable¡­¡± ¡°The number one in the martial arts hall¡¯s elite class, he¡¯s definitely a strong contender!¡± Zhou Bing was an undiscovered chatterbox; once he started talking, he wouldn¡¯t stop. ¡°Number one, huh?¡± Bai Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, with a profound look in his eyes. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: 030 Federation Nine-Division Punch Strength Classification Chapter 30: 030 Federation Nine-Division Punch Strength Classification Everyone has a competitive spirit. Bai Xiao was no exception, and even more ambitious than the average person. To admit that you have limitations, to admit that you are inferior to others¡­ is the first step to failure. At the entrance of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, Zhou Bing and Bai Xiao chatted for a while before parting ways. Bai Xiao walked to the nearby bus station and boarded a bus. Perhaps the bus driver had a moment of conscience today, for he turned on the air-conditioning, which brought a wave of coolness to Bai Xiao, who had just undergone intense physical exercise. He leaned into the blue plastic seat with his backpack on his thigh. Right hand resting on the backpack, he was scrolling through his phone. Bai Xiao clicked into a chat group named ¡°Boxing Club.¡± There were several recent chat records above, all incredibly serious. They were either videos of strenuous exercises drenched in sweat or practice videos of punching the wooden dummy and sandbag, with a string of time records beneath them, noting their own training data. It didn¡¯t look like a typical chat group full of silly banter and racy images at all. It seemed Zhou Bing was right; this group was quite professional. Looking at the group members¡¯ names, they were basically structured as the fighting technique they were best at followed by their real names, quite standardized. After pondering for a moment, Bai Xiao changed his too. ¡°Sandboxing-Bai Xiao.¡± He clicked into the group chat¡¯s member list, and after a brief refresh, his eyes quickly scanned through, and he soon noticed Zhou Bing and Kang Li, both with the prefix Boxing. Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze moved to the group owner¡¯s nickname: Steel Sound Stream ¨C Qiushan. Steel Sound Stream? What kind of combat skills were those? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Looking slightly puzzled, he pondered for a moment before exiting. Next, Bai Xiao clicked into the group files. Soon, he found some useful things within. For example, regarding the division of punching power according to the Federation Nine-Division in fighting technique. A normal adult, untrained, had a punching power of about 50kg. Below 60kg, they were all referred to as enthusiasts. Amateur first-division, 60kg. Amateur second-division, 80kg. Amateur third-division, 100kg. Amateur fourth-division, 120kg. Amateur fifth-division, 140kg. Every division apart, the difference in punching power was 20kg. Then came the professional levels. They were separated from the amateur fifth-division by a 40kg difference in punching power. Professional first-division, 180kg. Professional second-division, 210kg. Professional third-division, 240kg. Professional fourth-division, 270kg. Every division apart, the difference in punching power was 30kg. Finally, there was the Boxing King level, over 300kg. It¡¯s important to know that the professional classification of the Federation Nine-Division comprises a comprehensive consideration of various factors, with punching power being just one of them. The most crucial aspect was still actual combat results; a boxer with 300kg punching power might not necessarily beat a boxer with 200kg punching power. After all, no matter how strong you are, it¡¯s useless if you can¡¯t hit your target. The above punching power data are for reference only. ¡°I wonder what my current punching power is¡­¡± Bai Xiao clicked on his notifications, which included a message alerting him to a delivered parcel. He had previously ordered a Boxing Power Tester online. It had arrived that morning, so he could go home and give it a try. At three fifty in the afternoon at Sunshine District, the security office. Bai Xiao carried a parcel wrapped in tape, his backpack slung over his shoulder, making his way upstairs in a hurry. He opened and closed the door, then pulled the living room curtains wide open. The golden sunlight from outside flooded the room, making it extraordinarily bright. He unwrapped the packaging and took out a board-shaped boxing power tester from inside. It was all red, with a clenched fist logo full of tension in the center. Reading the manual would tell you that this area was precisely where the force was measured. Bai Xiao pondered for a moment and then stuck the boxing power tester onto the wall. After that, he took two steps back, his feet springing and interweaving as he swayed his body, warming up with the footwork of a boxer. Suddenly, he threw a punch with a whoosh! A sound of rapid friction between fabric and skin filled the air. ¡°Thud.¡± Bai Xiao retracted his fist and looked up. The digits on the tester jumped before finally settling on a number. 155.2kg! It was a very impressive figure, already achieving the level of an amateur five-division. It was even over thirty kilograms higher than the punching power of Bald Zhou Bing. Even, if you used Guo Hao¡¯s 72kg as a unit of count. 1 Bai Xiao > 2 Guo Hao. If this tester was accurate, then Bai Xiao wasn¡¯t far from the professional level. Of course, this was only in terms of punching power data. In a real fight, Bai Xiao likely already possessed the combat strength of a professional. After all, mastering one fighting technique to a high degree and two others to a lesser extent was definitely not just for show. Both physical data and combat techniques were equally important. After testing his punching power, he began his daily self-improvement training. Each punch and kick accumulated, each movement piled on top of the other, his speed increasing while still maintaining proper form. His fists and legs swept through the living room, rustling as they went. An hour later, in the bathroom, his daily cold shower began. As Bai Xiao relished the refreshing feeling of the icy water flowing over his skin, he thought of the Will Attribute that had not increased despite nearing exhaustion. He took a deep breath, expressionless, he lifted his head, allowing the water to splash on his face. There was nothing to be discouraged about. Since he already knew it was a crude method, there was no doubt that multiple efforts and copious amounts of sweat needed to be paid. Nothing could be achieved overnight. After the shower, Bai Xiao went to deliver food. Today there were particularly many orders; he kept delivering until 8:30 PM before getting back home. [Your profession ¡°Deliveryman,¡± Experience +10] [Your professional skill ¡°Electric Scooter Driving¡± Experience +14] [Your professional skill ¡°City Route Mastery¡± Experience +15] In his field of vision, today¡¯s experience gains were quite satisfactory. [Profession: Deliveryman LV.2 (86/200)] [Skill 1: Electric Scooter Driving LV.2 (189/200)] [Skill 2: City Route Mastery LV.2 (183/200)] Bai Xiao glanced over and quickly fixed his gaze on the two professional skills of the deliveryman profession. Both of these professional skills were close to breaking through to level three, and once they did, they would bring him four potential points. He could definitely raise either boxing or jujutsu from minor to major accomplishment! Bai Xiao was looking forward to it and decided to cancel tomorrow¡¯s extra training to ensure he had enough time to break through the two professional skills. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that to continue breaking through from major accomplishment in sandboxing, I actually need a whopping four hundred experience. That¡¯s equivalent to eight potential points, which is a lot,¡± he remarked with some emotion. ¡°However, the more it requires, the more it will improve later on.¡± ¡°The change from major accomplishment to perfection in fighting technique must be extraordinary!¡± At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Wutong Street, Sakura Bird Bar. Bai Xiao, as always, performed his work as a night security guard and suggested to the security manager that he needed a larger size for his uniform; his request was accepted. Thus, Bai Xiao, in his new black security uniform, patrolled the place. Tonight had a small interlude; a thief snuck into the bar. However, it wasn¡¯t Bai Xiao who caught him, and he missed out on a four-hundred-dollar bonus and potential experience. So, Bai Xiao decided that he would need to be even more diligent from now on. To perform his duties to the fullest extent was how to gain the most experience. At two o¡¯clock in the morning, his shift ended. [Your profession ¡°Security Guard,¡± Experience +12!] [Your professional skill ¡°Patrolling¡± Experience +14!] Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: You, no good! Chapter 31: You, no good! July 2, 9:48. Bai Xiao was sitting on a blue bus heading to White Bird Martial Arts Hall. He was in the back seat when he received a phone call. Contact: Bai Tang. Bai Xiao: ¡°Hello? Xiao Tang, what¡¯s up? Is something wrong?¡± Bai Tang: ¡°Bro, have you been tired from work lately? I remember you enrolled in a martial arts hall a while back, and you¡¯ve been practicing your fighting technique every noon. Plus, you have physically demanding work in the afternoon and late at night, can your body handle it?¡± Bai Xiao pondered for a moment. If it were the original owner of the body, indeed, he would have felt considerable pressure, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen to vent through boxing. But for the current him, he didn¡¯t seem to feel mentally exhausted, on the contrary, there was a kind of joy in it, feeling extraordinarily fulfilled. Not being busy for a day made him feel uncomfortable. ¡°No worries, I am in good shape, and I¡¯ve gotten a lot tougher lately in the martial arts hall. You should try it when you have the time, it¡¯s very good for your body.¡± Bai Xiao responded softly. ¡°I¡¯ll pass, it probably takes a long time to see any results from training. I don¡¯t have any spare time recently, the project with my supervisor is about to start¡­¡± Bai Tang¡¯s voice came through the phone. Then, he continued. ¡°Bro, how about we get together tonight?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 ¡°Let¡¯s have hotpot, I have something I want to talk to you about.¡± In the back of the bus, Bai Xiao thought it over for a moment and calculated the time. If all went well, the deliveryman¡¯s two professional skills could break through by 7:30. Then he could ask for a half-hour off from the Sakura Bird Bar. He would then have two hours of free time. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Moreover, Bai Xiao also wanted to see the original owner¡¯s younger brother. The last time Bai Xiao and Bai Tang met seemed to be a month or two ago. Since he had inherited the identity of the original owner, he could not avoid the original owner¡¯s relatives. In any case, he had to meet up and see how things were. Based on the original owner¡¯s memory, Bai Tang, the younger brother, was fairly adorable. He had always been a well-behaved child, handsome, with good academic performance, and he knew how to flatter his older brother. The relationship between the brothers was always harmonious. ¡°He should be a nice guy¡­¡± Bai Xiao pondered for a moment and quickly agreed to Bai Tang¡¯s suggestion. As for the location, it would be on a street near Nanjiang University of Technology where Bai Tang attended. There was an Old Flavor Hotpot Restaurant there, generous and affordable. With a beep, the call ended. Bai Xiao got off the bus following the broadcast¡¯s prompt and arrived at White Bird Martial Arts Hall. Under the enhancement of the Pure Heart State talent, he began to train fiercely. His Will Attribute had increased by 1.2 during this period, so his talent¡¯s duration was extended, allowing Bai Xiao to practice more fighting techniques. Throughout the training period, Guo Hao still had that half-dead look, seeming to care a lot about Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze. With the cold, emotionless eyes of Pure Heart State, Bai Xiao was immersed in his world, not even noticing Guo Hao. Yet, Guo Hao was always affected, his punches and kicks becoming clumsy. It seemed that the psychological shadow from that day wouldn¡¯t fade anytime soon. In the front of the training hall, Zhang Hongtao took everything in. He vaguely sensed that something must have happened between Guo Hao and Bai Xiao. Moreover, Guo Hao had suffered a big loss, making him seem a bit scared of Bai Xiao. However, Zhang Hongtao did not intend to intervene. In his opinion, it was very likely that Guo Hao had taken the initiative to provoke Bai Xiao. And then he got a bloody nose or met with rejection. Guo Hao, such a hot-headed young guy, was far behind the composed Bai Xiao. It was good for Guo Hao to be taught a lesson by Bai Xiao, to change his rash nature, maybe allowing Guo Hao to achieve even more in the future. At 3:30 in the afternoon, the training ended. This time, Zhang Hongtao had nothing to do. But Bai Xiao had something to attend to and couldn¡¯t stay for extra practice. In the center of the training hall. Bai Xiao walked up to Zhang Hongtao: ¡°Coach, sorry, I have some work matters later on, so I might not be able to continue with extra practice today.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Zhang Hongtao shook his head: ¡°Actually, you just need to practice your skills during the training sessions every day, that¡¯s entirely sufficient. To be honest with you, Bai Xiao, once the Sandboxing course ends, I¡¯m only going to recommend you for the elite class at the martial arts hall. Your match with Guo Hao wasn¡¯t really necessary¡­¡± ¡°Thank you, Coach.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to give you a heads-up, even though I¡¯ll recommend you for the elite class at the martial arts hall, you can¡¯t be complacent, you should still give it your all¡­¡± Zhang Hongtao squinted his eyes, speaking mysteriously to Bai Xiao. ¡°Bai Xiao, after entering the Elite Class, compete with the other geniuses and aim to rank as high as possible. There are some things I¡¯d rather not say, but always remember, the higher your ranking, the better it is for you¡­¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Locker room. Bai Xiao had just changed out of his training clothes into his usual attire. He packed his backpack and took out his phone. On the phone, the screen suddenly lit up with a message. Upon opening it, he saw it was from a YY friend: Zhou Bing (Baldy). Zhou Bing (Baldy): Come quick, Bai Xiao, come see the show! That Chu Ming from Class Nine I told you about is going to fight with Wang Heng from Class Eight. I have no idea where their conflict comes from. Bai Xiao looked at the glowing screen, hesitated for a moment, but eventually decided to take a look. He had two hours of free time, which was quite ample. As he walked out, the messages on his phone screen kept refreshing. North-east corner of White Bird Martial Arts Hall, Training Hall Six. As soon as Bai Xiao walked in, he spotted Zhou Bing¡¯s conspicuous bald head and the 185-centimeter-tall Kang Li standing beside him. They were both looking towards the center of the training hall, where two people were confronting each other from a distance. On the left side, there was a spirited young man with pitch-black, sharp eyes, a high and narrow nose, and a small mole on the right cheek, his physique reminiscent of a cheetah¡¯s. On the right side stood a rather handsome, black-haired young man in a casual posture, apparently paying no mind to his opponent. He had a pair of sharp, slightly upturned phoenix eyes exuding a faint scorn. ¡°On the left is Wang Heng who practices boxing; on the right is Chu Ming.¡± Zhou Bing, seeing Bai Xiao join him, whispered introductions. ¡°I¡¯ve told you about Chu Ming before. Wang Heng is also quite formidable.¡± ¡°This guy had sparred with Kang Li before and no winner was decided. Although Kang Li didn¡¯t exert his full strength, I reckon Wang Heng didn¡¯t either¡­¡± ¡°So you can think of it as if Kang Li himself is stepping up to fight Chu Ming. Let¡¯s just watch, and see if Kang Li can win¡­¡± Kang Li, upon hearing his own name from Zhou Bing, turned his head with his thick eyebrows and large eyes exuding an intimidating presence. Obviously, Zhou Bing and Kang Li had a good relationship. Kang Li just glared at him before turning back to watch the match. Bai Xiao also turned his gaze back to the action. Just then, the two stand-offish individuals began their fight. Wang Heng quickly shuffled left and right, with his gloved hands protecting the sides of his head, eyes looking up and watching Chu Ming diagonally. His eyes hardened as he took a Long Step forward and threw a straight punch towards Chu Ming¡¯s face. His fist was swift and heavy as if a spring had been compressed to its limit. Whoosh! A black shadow suddenly swung from the side. Chu Ming reacted faster, unleashing a Splitting Punch so fast and accurate that it landed on Wang Heng¡¯s forearm with a loud smack. Wang Heng¡¯s punch instantly deviated off course, losing all its power; his brows furrowed, clearly in pain. Whoosh! Whoosh! Seizing the opportunity, Chu Ming took a step forward, pressed in and threw two punches, turning defense into offense, while Wang Heng retreated defensively, his initiative turning into passivity. Subsequently, Wang Heng was completely suppressed, each of his punches restrained as if he were stuck in a spider web, unable to fully exert himself. Meanwhile, Chu Ming was unruffled, seamlessly, and steadily disrupting Wang Heng¡¯s counterattacks, launching his own swift and precise attacks at Wang Heng¡¯s weaknesses. In less than two minutes¡­ Bang, a straight punch savagely and cunningly hit Wang Heng¡¯s shoulder. Wang Heng stumbled backward, clearly completely defeated. ¡°Huff, huff, huff¡­¡± He breathed heavily, his brow twitching from the pain in his shoulder. Fine sweat beads fell from his forehead, slipping past the small mole on the right side of his nose. ¡°Heh, heh¡­¡± Ten meters away in the center of the hall, Chu Ming let out a cold laugh. His narrow eyes watched Wang Heng from afar, his pale black pupils gleaming with a hint of mockery. ¡°You¡¯re not up to it,¡± he said, then, without waiting for Wang Heng¡¯s reaction, he turned sideways and glanced at Bai Xiao and the other onlookers with an air of extreme confidence. ¡°You guys aren¡¯t up to it, either¡­¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: 032 Crushing others dreams without a shred of pity. Chapter 32: 032 Crushing others¡¯ dreams without a shred of pity. ¡°` Talented individuals all have their own personalities, be it arrogance, disdain, or flamboyance. In extraordinary tales, their exceptional abilities match these quirky traits. This personality becomes an interesting label that highlights their legendary aura, making for good storytelling. But that¡¯s for the story readers. When this kind of personality truly confronts you in reality. It¡¯s infuriating! Chu Ming was undoubtedly such a character with a strong personality. His self-confidence had skyrocketed, almost to the point of arrogance. Perhaps it was because he had recently defeated all the coaches at the martial arts hall, leading him to look down on the students from other training classes. Top students like Wang Heng and Zhou Bing would, in a few days, also become part of the elite class and his competitors. So, Chu Ming decided to show them who¡¯s boss first. He knew that there were people watching him spar with Wang Heng, and he was aware that Zhou Bing was calling others, like Bai Xiao, to watch the fight. This was intentional on Chu Ming¡¯s part. He wanted the other top students who would join the elite class to see how he was dominating and defeating Wang Heng. Chu Ming wanted to intimidate everyone! He was sending them a message beforehand. He would undoubtedly become the number one in the elite class. This intense desire to win was something Chu Ming did not bother to conceal. The arrogance of the incompetent is called presumptuousness. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The arrogance of the competent is called unrestrained! ¡°Bai Xiao, it seems that I was wrong before.¡± ¡°To let you approach Chu Ming to learn Sandboxing? This guy is anything but down-to-earth, he¡¯s super arrogant!¡± Zhou Bing cracked his knuckles with a pop. ¡°I never said that I needed to learn Sandboxing from him.¡± Bai Xiao was expressionless, his dark pupils calm yet deep. Chu Ming seemed to have reached Perfection in Sandboxing. But so had Bai Xiao. He looked at the retina display in front of him, at the Sandboxing Perfection badge in his professional skills, completely fearless. His next step was Perfection. The physique enhancement and combat skill techniques that came with Sandboxing Perfection would be terrifying. A skill that required eight Potential Points to improve. One need only think a little to realize how exaggerated that boost would be. ¡°I hate your eyes.¡± In the training hall, Chu Ming¡¯s glance swept over Zhou Bing and the other two, finally resting on Bai Xiao. For some reason, he felt that silent and calm Bai Xiao had more guts than an enraged Zhou Bing and Kang Li. That indescribable self-confidence, like he had an ace up his sleeve, was bland yet forceful. Disgusting. ¡°I also hate the look in your eyes.¡± Bai Xiao did not like the aggressive, attacking gaze of others. Chu Ming¡¯s way of looking at people was like shooting two ice arrows directly into their eyes. Just like a lion that brazenly invades the territory of other fierce beasts. The timid might be pushed back, cowering in a corner. But the strong would be enraged, determined to make the invader pay a heavy price. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the elite class.¡± Chu Ming looked at the few coaches who were already walking over in the distance and sneered at everyone with a cold laugh. Five minutes later, it was all over. Bai Xiao, Zhou Bing, and Kang Li, the three of them stood at the entrance of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. ¡°He¡¯s really arrogant! How can someone be this conceited? Not even sparing the spectators? Damn, this kid¡¯s just too pompous¡­¡± Zhou Bing touched his bald head and vented with swearing. ¡°Chu Ming obviously knows that we will become members of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall¡¯s elite class, so he wanted to give us a warning in advance,¡± said Kang Li with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, surprisingly calm. ¡°And the victor¡¯s arrogance is never called madness; it¡¯s called having a personality. As long as he can back up his arrogant words later, fulfill what he¡¯s boasted about, then he might actually be admired and respected¡­¡± ¡°` Just like those Boxing Kings on the professional circuits, who would taunt each other and even call out the entire Combat Skills ring, claiming no one was worthy to be their opponent. Once they truly achieved that, they were the real deal. It was simply about victory and defeat. ¡°Hmph¡­¡± Zhou Bing originally came for the fun but ended up being unexpectedly affected, feeling a pent-up frustration: ¡°When I get to the elite class, I¡¯ll have a proper match with him¡­ Have I, who have trained in boxing for so many years, got any reason to fear him?¡± After finishing his words, Zhou Bing¡¯s gaze shifted, looking toward Bai Xiao. There was a brief silence before he took the initiative to apologize. ¡°Right, Bai Xiao, sorry, my bad.¡± ¡°I only intended to invite you over for some fun, but I didn¡¯t expect Chu Ming to lash out like a rabid dog, getting you in trouble along with us. If he targets you later on, just tell me, and I¡¯ll deal with him! Damn, does he dare to underestimate me?¡± In Zhou Bing¡¯s mind, Bai Xiao¡¯s strength was still at the level of the last power test, 84kg. Although punching power wasn¡¯t everything, it was an important measure of combat ability. Clearly, Bai Xiao was the weakest among the three. If Chu Ming targeted him, he might destroy him even more effortlessly than he did with Wang Heng. Given his arrogant nature, he might even intensify his efforts. Zhou Bing worried that Bai Xiao might develop a psychological shadow from this. ¡°How much is Chu Ming¡¯s punching power?¡± Bai Xiao suddenly interrupted Zhou Bing and asked. ¡°170kg? It¡¯s about that, I guess.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if he held back, but he was probably at full strength.¡± Zhou Bing was slightly startled before responding. ¡°Close to the level of a professional first-class?¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, as if thinking about something. Two minutes later, the three people at the entrance of the martial arts hall left in different directions. As he was leaving, Bai Xiao could still hear Zhou Bing muttering under his breath, clearly disgusted and unable to let it go. On the blue public bus, with the windows wide open, the fresh cool air filled the back seat. Bai Xiao was still thinking about the Chu Ming he had encountered for the first time. That person, in reality, wasn¡¯t singling out Bai Xiao. He was targeting all the potential elite class candidates, including Zhou Bing and Kang Li. To be honest, his personality was quite annoying. Bai Xiao was also very confident, but his strong confidence was more reflected in silent yet powerful actions. He would not provoke others actively, but he was not afraid of any challenges either. Just like Guo Hao, who jumped out wanting to block Bai Xiao¡¯s path, he would only be mercilessly crushed under the wheels. ¡°Competing for the top spot in the elite class, huh?¡± ¡°Chu Ming must have heard some news as well¡­¡± ¡°To become the first, maybe you get more attention? Have more resources poured into you? Or is there some unexpected huge benefit?¡± ¡°Tss¡­¡± He took a deep breath, a spark of fire flickering in his eyes. ¡°If, I must compete for the first place in the elite class¡­¡± Then Bai Xiao would, without a trace of pity¡­ Completely shatter Chu Ming¡¯s pitiful delusion! At the back seat of the bus, with the breeze on his face. Bai Xiao gathered his thoughts and looked down at his phone to check the time. ¡°It¡¯s already 15:50, huh? I need to pick up the pace.¡± ¡°The two skills of the deliveryman career¡­¡± ¡°Today, they must be upgraded to level three!¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: 033 have you become a super buff guy? Chapter 33: 033 have you become a super buff guy? Four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. An electric bike set off from Sunshine District, weaving through various food outlets and residential areas. The rich aroma of the meals lingered in the insulated box. Every time the lid was lifted, a waft of steam would escape. The surroundings of the university town were all areas where Bai Xiao competed for delivery orders. During his training at the martial arts gym today, he had deliberately reserved some usage time of his ¡°Pure Heart¡± talent to speed up the experience acquisition for his delivery job. Based on Bai Xiao¡¯s observation over this period, the ¡°Pure Heart¡± talent was most effective at boosting experience gain for the Fighter occupation, while it only provided a boost for the other two. Therefore, he prioritized using it on his Fighter occupation. He would only consider using the leftovers for his security guard and delivery jobs. Today, his delivery job also enjoyed a rare indulgence. The ¡°Pure Heart¡± talent lasted for quite a while. Three hours passed, and it was about seven-ten in the evening. Bai Xiao parked his own Hummer in the parking shed, locked it up, and put it to charge. He strode upstairs, changing into a set of black shorts and long pants. As he changed, his gaze remained vacant, staring ahead. [Your occupation ¡°Delivery Person¡± has gained +12 experience.] [Your occupational skill ¡°Electric Bike Driving¡± has gained +17 experience.] [Your occupational skill ¡°Urban Route Mastery¡± has gained +18 experience.] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? As expected, all skills leveled up to Level 3. [Occupation: Delivery Person LV.2 (98/200)] [Skill 1: Electric Bike Driving LV.3 (6/300)] (Extractable) [Skill 2: Urban Route Mastery LV.3 (1/300)] (Extractable) ¡°Dark Red!¡± With Bai Xiao¡¯s focus, both of the delivery job¡¯s skills started to blur as if enveloped in a layer of mist. Half a breath later, the modifier appeared. [Dark Red Modifier] [Potential Points: 4] Scanning over them, his Fighter occupation, besides the fully realized Sandboxing, had dark red plus signs appearing next to the other three occupational skills. ¡°Jujutsu Mastery or Boxing Mastery?¡± ¡°Just pick one.¡± After some thought, Bai Xiao decided to allocate the four Potential Points to Boxing. But he wouldn¡¯t add them now; he¡¯d wait until before he went to rest in the evening. This way, he¡¯d wake up the next day with the enhancements completed by the morning. Just as he finished changing and stood at the door, ready to go downstairs. Bai Tang sent him a message on YY. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m waiting for you at the south gate of the school.¡± What followed was a video of a campus intersection. Cars passed through the road, shops shone with bright lights. Groups of university students, full of youth and in high spirits, walked quickly, chatting and laughing. Bai Xiao: Okay, I¡¯m coming. I¡¯ll be there within fifteen minutes. Bai Tang was attending Nanjiang University of Technology, which was also within the bounds of the university town. Bai Xiao just needed to go to the bus stop near Sunshine District and take the 112 bus. He could reach the entrance of Nanjiang University of Technology in about ten minutes straight. After turning off his phone screen, he opened the security door and hurried downstairs. At the nearest bus stop, Bai Xiao waited for just a couple of minutes. The frequently arriving bus number 112 soon came, its lights aglow. He boarded with his phone in hand. ¡­ Nanjiang University of Technology, directly outside its south gate, is a street bustling with eateries. Smooth marble bollards dotted the area, marking off a space that, along with the verdant flower beds and greenery surrounding it, created an especially pleasant environment. The school gates were wide open, students entering and exiting, some talking animatedly, while others discussed celebrity gossip. Stepping into a university campus is completely different from high school; it essentially means you¡¯ve already stepped halfway into society. The students coming and going through the south gate were fashionably dressed with necklaces, earrings, and even tattoos¡ªaccessories that broadcasted their individuality. The girls wore make up like internet influencers. Boys also followed the fashion trends, learning from the recommendations of short video bloggers. Among this crowd, there stood a clean and fresh-looking big boy next to the bus stop, waiting quietly. His knees were somewhat whitened blue jeans, a light grey crewneck shirt, and a pair of canvas shoes. A very ordinary outfit, but the person wearing it was undeniably handsome. At a height of 1.75 meters, he had a somewhat lean frame. His face was gentle and fair, with delicate and straight eyebrows, especially a pair of phoenix eyes. If placed on the face of any girl, these would definitely be a plus, but even now on a man, they didn¡¯t seem out of place. He seemed gentle and approachable at a glance. ¡°Beep!¡± ¡°The bus has arrived, please exit from the rear door¡­¡± At the nearby bus station platform, bus number 112, painted in green, came to a halt. The rear door hissed open. In the distance, the black-haired young man saw the bus arriving and looked up quickly. There were people coming off the bus from the rear door, two girls, a fat person, and a burly man in black; there was no sign of White Bird though. Bai Tang lowered his head and lit up the phone screen, asking in YY. Bai Tang: ¡°Bro, are you on the next 112 bus?¡± Bai Tang: ¡°I didn¡¯t see you on this one that just passed.¡± Bai Tang: Little Bear Question Mark.jpg A second later, the phone screen flashed. Bai Xiao: You didn¡¯t see me? But I¡¯ve already seen you. Bai Tang looked up, searching around: ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Right here.¡± Hearing the familiar voice, Bai Tang turned his head abruptly to look. To the left, about ten meters away on the sidewalk, a young man was quickly approaching, his tall and sturdy body wrapped in a short-sleeve shirt and long pants. His legs were straight and powerful, shoulders broad and solid, and his hard chest muscles pushed up against his clothing. Come a little closer, the details more visible. A standard inverted triangle body shape, the large arms and forearms exposed by the short sleeves were quite thick, and one could faintly see the veins under the honey-colored skin. Moving his gaze upward, a very familiar face had become quite unfamiliar at that moment. Straight and sharp sword-like eyebrows, cold and profound facial features, eyes black as ink and full of confidence, he was completely a ruggedly handsome type. ¡°Ah? Bro!?¡± Bai Tang was stunned. ¡°How come I haven¡¯t seen you for a month or two, and you¡¯ve become a super hunk?¡± ¡­ It wasn¡¯t until Bai Xiao and Bai Tang, the two brothers, arrived at Old Flavor Hotpot Restaurant and took their seats that Bai Tang still couldn¡¯t believe that his older brother had suddenly become so strong and stylish. It wasn¡¯t that Bai Tang didn¡¯t want Bai Xiao to become better; it was the impactful change in appearance that made it hard for someone to accept in such a short time. Now Bai Xiao was what, two or three sizes bigger than before? ¡°Bro, are these muscles real? They are not some kind of suit, right?¡± Sitting in the hotpot restaurant, Bai Tang was still dumbfounded. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Bai Xiao extended his right arm and flexed, his biceps bulging. Bai Tang reached out and pinched it, the muscles clearly defined, firm and strong; they were by no means fake. Bai Tang estimated roughly that Bai Xiao¡¯s arm was at least twice as thick as his own. ¡°Wow, bro, which martial arts gym did you go to, to develop all these muscles?¡± Bai Tang said with a hint of envy as he withdrew his hand. ¡°White Bird.¡± Bai Xiao responded indifferently. ¡°White Bird? That martial arts gym shares a certain fate with your name, huh.¡± ¡°Fate? I suppose so¡­¡± Five minutes later, the server began to bring the dishes. Plates were filled with various types of meat and some vegetables, while sauces were in the dishes. Using two metal tongs, they put the ingredients into the bubbling hotpot. Glug glug, glug glug, steam rose from the hotpot. Bai Tang glanced at Bai Xiao and rested his chopsticks on the edge of the plate. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke. ¡°Bro, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve ever heard of bionic robots?¡± Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: 034 Handsome people always attract jealousy Chapter 34: 034 Handsome people always attract jealousy ¡°Is it that cutting-edge technology being researched by major universities?¡± Across from Bai Tang, Bai Xiao recalled a news article he had read before. ¡°Yes, my mentor accepted an invitation from a laboratory.¡± ¡°This mechanical laboratory was funded by the Holy Sect Group, in collaboration with several key universities investing resources and manpower. The standards are very high, and the treatment is also good, but because it involves cutting-edge technology, participants must sign a confidentiality agreement and cannot disclose details to others¡­¡± Bai Tang looked at Bai Xiao and explained, point by point. ¡°So now you¡­¡± Bai Xiao paused, his hand holding a metal clip. ¡°I don¡¯t need to disclose specifics, the information I told you is public, many of my schoolmates know about it.¡± Bai Tang smiled gently, his expression soft. He reached out with his chopsticks, dipped into the spicy side of the hotpot, grabbed a heap of lamb, and then placed it into Bai Xiao¡¯s bowl. ¡°Brother, here you go, you can eat now.¡± Bai Xiao hesitated for a moment, then quickly dipped the steaming lamb into sesame oil sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing eagerly. He realized that his previous feelings were correct, Bai Tang was a good person, as shown in the details. Normally, the relationship between brothers sometimes lacks communication and interaction, but Bai Tang was an exceptionally affectionate younger brother. The original person had struggled with jobs like delivering food and being a security guard. Paying for rent and meals while still squeezing out living expenses for Bai Tang each month seemed to have its reasons. In the hotpot, green vegetables and white slices of meat tumbled in the spicy oil, emitting an enticing mixed aroma. The two brothers quickly began to eat, with Bai Tang having a smaller appetite, so much of the food ended up in Bai Xiao¡¯s mouth. 19:45, the seat by the right-hand side floor-to-ceiling window at the Old Flavor Hotpot Restaurant. Bai Tang picked up a lime-flavored soda drink, took a sip, then put it down. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Brother, I will also be involved in this project with my tutor, and I should be able to earn quite a bit of money each month. So, you don¡¯t have to provide for me anymore, I can support myself. Also, brother, you should take care of yourself, don¡¯t overwork yourself. Be more careful when riding your bike, and it¡¯s best not to always work part-time, that way you¡¯ll have more time to rest¡­¡± He spoke sentence by sentence, not so much like a younger brother, but rather like a worrying old mother. Bai Xiao was patient enough to listen to it all. ¡°And also, brother. Later on, I might not be able to reply to your messages in time. The lab is confidential, I can¡¯t bring in my phone, so I¡¯ll generally only be free in the evenings, my replies via mobile will be delayed¡­¡± Bai Tang picked up a slice of meat, placing it into his bowl. ¡°Hmm.¡± Bai Xiao took a sip of his drink, then remembered the call he had with his grandparents before and said, ¡°By the way, Xiao Tang, grandma and grandpa asked me to ask you if you have made a girlfriend at school. I think, you being so handsome, you must have lots of admirers, right?¡± Bai Xiao teased, following the customs of how the original person and Bai Tang interacted. ¡°A girlfriend? No.¡± ¡°Well, admirers, I guess there are some¡­¡± Bai Tang¡¯s face showed a somewhat awkward and bizarre expression. ¡°It¡¯s like, there are both boys and girls, and they even posted on the school¡¯s confession wall. It has gotten to the point where now someone is spreading rumors at school that I am abnormal. This led to some girls asking for my contact not to date me, but to become ¡®sisters¡¯ with me¡­uh¡­¡± Bai Xiao across the table fell silent, sizing up his younger brother. He had a youthful charm but not any softness or femininity, completely unrelated to being effeminate. So, Bai Xiao thought for a moment, then said. ¡°Maybe someone did it on purpose.¡± ¡°Because they see you¡¯re popular with the girls, so they smear you?¡± ¡°After all, handsome people always attract jealousy, and it comes with many annoyances¡­¡± He rested his elbow on the edge of the table, his forearm robust and veiny. ¡°If you have any troubles at school, tell me, I¡¯ll help you.¡± As one of the few relatives of the original person. Bai Xiao was somewhat concerned, since Bai Tang was a decent person. ¡°In school, it¡¯s all young, impulsive students, conflicts and clashes are quite normal. Even if I encounter some aggressive people, I can discuss calmly with them, clarifying the reasons often solves the problems¡­¡± Bai Tang spoke with a bit of pride about his way of dealing with people. His popularity among his class was quite impressive. In the entire school, he hadn¡¯t made any enemies. Of course. If there was indeed an irreconcilable conflict, it would likely be with a fellow disciple under the same mentor, Feng Yu. Bai Tang¡¯s mentor, who was involved in a confidential project, was only allowed to bring two students. The disciple who had followed the mentor the longest, adept and insightful Pei Ying, and the highly gifted Bai Tang were chosen by the mentor, leaving out senior disciple Feng Yu from the project. It was a classic scenario, Feng Yu felt that Bai Tang had stolen his spot. So, recently, the two had almost broken off their friendship. ¡°It¡¯s best if you can handle it yourself.¡± ¡°But if there¡¯s something you can¡¯t solve, remember you still have a brother¡­¡± Bai Xiao exchanged a deep glance with Bai Tang. Bai Tang quickly nodded and reached out with his chopsticks to pick up some food. However, outside the full-length windows of the Old Flavor Hotpot Restaurant, a familiar figure was sneaking around, appearing to be peeping. When Bai Tang turned his head, he saw their class¡¯s study monitor, a girl with a ponytail and glasses thick as beer bottle caps, sporting a mischievous smile. Her hands were busy on her phone, sending who knows what. Perhaps sensing Bai Tang¡¯s gaze, the study monitor suddenly looked up, startled. She then awkwardly smiled and hurried away. ¡°It¡¯s done¡­¡± Bai Tang had a speechless expression. ¡°What happened?¡± Bai Xiao asked, suddenly consuming a few pieces of lamb. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, brother. Keep eating, I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Bai Tang stood up and walked to the corridor on the other side of the hotpot restaurant. While walking, he took out his phone. He opened YY and found the study monitor¡¯s chat window. ¡°Study monitor, I just saw you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m just dining out with my brother today, don¡¯t think too much.¡± The next second, the screen flashed. Study monitor: I understand, I get it all¡­ AuntySmile.jpg Bai Tang: What do you understand?! At that moment. Bai Tang felt once again the damage rumors could inflict on a person. Half a minute later. He really reached the restroom, as he had drunk a bit too much beverage. After taking care of business, Bai Tang pulled out his phone and saw on the YY interface the chat with his senior disciples, especially senior disciple Feng Yu. Though he had been deleted, due to their recent interactions, Feng Yu¡¯s chat was still near the top of his message list. Bai Tang stared silently for a moment. ¡°Sorry, senior brother¡­¡± ¡°The mentor chose me; I couldn¡¯t just hand over this opportunity to you. After all, that mechanical lab contains such devices¡­¡± Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: 035 This is the first lesson I taught you. Chapter 35: 035 This is the first lesson I taught you. The boy¡¯s puberty generally begins in junior high. Bai Tang¡¯s peers, busy with their fun and games, were enjoying naive romance, singing the praises of their youth on the campus paths lush with greenery. But what was he doing? Day after day, he dismantled electronics and assembled parts; his hands and nose were always coated with sticky, black grease and stains; he took apart his grandparents¡¯ old radio and put it back together, then laughed like a fool when it resumed functioning¡­ In the silent environment of a dimly-lit room, amidst the cold touch of metal parts and the pungent scent of lubricating oil, he fumbled and learned about mechanical machinery like a kid with a strange hobby. If this could be called youth, it was truly too sad to bear. However, the reason Bai Tang could endure such solitude was because of passion¡ªhe loved these things! Honestly, men all have a thing for large machines. If there¡¯s a digger working by the roadside, you¡¯re sure to find a crowd of men watching. And Bai Tang, he was just a bit more intense than that. His fondness for them was so strong it could even overcome the impulses of puberty. What would happen if such a mech-fanatic was presented with a never-before-seen mecha that surpassed the limitations of its era? This was Bai Tang¡¯s near-crazed excitement just a few days ago. Yes, in the lab funded by Holy Sect Group¡­ He had seen a mecha, currently in the midst of repairs!!! And on the very day Bai Tang saw this mecha, he was completely convinced that it wasn¡¯t just for show. Whether someone was piloting it or not, the mecha exhibited incredible flexibility. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 It continuously cooperated with the lab technicians, performing a variety of movements. Bai Tang had only recently joined this project as a disciple of the mentor, so he wasn¡¯t very clear about the other detailed aspects. But what he could be sure of was that his subsequent work would be closely related to the mecha. Therefore, Bai Tang would absolutely not give up his spot to his senior apprentice brothers. All the dreams and romance he could think of¡­ Were in this experimental project. ¡°Huff, it officially starts tomorrow, feeling a little nervous¡­¡± Bai Tang put his phone back in his pocket, quickly walked out of the bathroom, went to the sink to wash his face, and dried off with a paper towel. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a familiar face entering from the side in the mirror. It was such an unfortunate coincidence to run into the very person he didn¡¯t want to see. Feng Yu, a senior under the same mentor. He too had come to this hotpot restaurant for dinner today. And it looked like he had been drinking; his cheeks were somewhat red. ¡°Bai Tang?¡± The next second, Feng Yu also saw Bai Tang, his eyebrows instantly standing upright, his face growing even redder. He had just been venting to his friends about the mentor and Bai Tang, cursing the old fogey for disregarding mentor-disciple relations, and branding Bai Tang as a sly and fawning villain. Feng Yu felt off-balance; he knew he had been lazy and couldn¡¯t possibly compete with his senior sister, Pei Ying. But he had retained a sliver of hope against his junior, Bai Tang; he believed he could defeat Bai Tang. Unfortunately, that sliver of hope had been shattered a few days ago. Feng Yu didn¡¯t dare lash out at the mentor nor challenge his senior sister, Pei Ying, so he placed most of his anger on Bai Tang. Last time, the two had already had an argument at school. And now, not even two days later, they had an unexpected encounter, and Feng Yu had had a bit to drink. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t hold back, and his anger surged to his head. His palm suddenly exerted force, and he fiercely shoved Bai Tang on the shoulder. Thud, Bai Tang¡¯s back slammed against the wall, emitting a dull sound. ¡°Are you crazy? Feng Yu!¡± ¡°The mentor decided to let me do it! You think I stole your spot? Why don¡¯t you ask yourself why you weren¡¯t chosen?¡± Bai Tang was annoyed, having been shoved out of the blue. But he had a relatively gentle nature, and still did not retaliate against Feng Yu. Instead, he tried to reason verbally, which was somewhat tinged with sarcasm. ¡°Your mother! Feng Yu had no intention of rationalizing anything with Bai Tang right now. He just wanted to beat the other up and let off some steam. Feng Yu¡¯s expression tightened, blinded by rage, and he charged forward aggressively. His eyes locked onto Bai Tang¡¯s delicate face as he swung his fist. Bai Tang, leaning against the wall, was suddenly alarmed. As he watched the fist before him swell rapidly in size, he reflexively closed his eyes. Smack! Oddly, after two seconds passed, Bai Tang didn¡¯t feel any impact or pain. He opened his eyes, gasping for breath. ¡°Hm?¡± He saw that Feng Yu¡¯s swinging fist had been forcefully grabbed midair by someone. A thick, powerful arm reached out from behind Feng Yu like a pair of iron tongs. A robust inverse-triangle figure suddenly appeared. ¡°A drunkard? Or a madman?¡± ¡°I can take you to the hospital for free¡­¡± ¡°Who?!¡± Feng Yu spun around, his eyes filled with fury. What met his gaze was a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes, devoid of emotion. Cold as ice, they were like a glacier floating on the sea surface. Looking downward, a face without expression, a formidable figure pressing in its strength, and the sleeves of a short-sleeve shirt stretched tight over muscular arms, highlighting a rough and rugged outline. This man¡¯s arms were nearly twice as thick as his own! Feng Yu instantly cooled down, as if doused with a bucket of cold water. ¡°Scared, are you?¡± ¡°Seems like a drunkard.¡± Bai Xiao noticed a flicker of panic in Feng Yu¡¯s eyes, his eyelids drooping slightly, halving his gaze. Then, without any warning, he kicked out fiercely. ¡°Ah!¡± Feng Yu screamed in pain, and his body was sent flying forward, crashing past the bathroom door, tumbling to the ground next to a urinal. The spot where he fell was surrounded by suspicious yellow stains that resembled urine. ¡°You!¡± Feng Yu, in pain, raised his head to look at Bai Xiao, who stood quietly outside the door. However, upon making eye contact again, he averted his gaze, somewhat intimidated. ¡°You should be thankful you were afraid just now¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise, I would have taken you to the hospital in the physical sense, for free.¡± Bai Xiao¡¯s imposing stature was overwhelmingly oppressive, and Feng Yu didn¡¯t dare to retaliate. He could only watch as Bai Xiao and Bai Tang walked away leisurely while he, himself, staggered to his feet, looking at the footprints and stains on his hands and body with helpless rage. It had been Feng Yu who, in a fit of temper, had struck first. Now, he was forced to swallow his anger and accept the loss. Meanwhile, in the corridor. Bai Xiao led Bai Tang back towards their location. ¡°Who was that guy just now?¡± Bai Xiao asked. ¡°My senior brother; we had some history, and things just escalated¡­¡± Bai Tang followed behind Bai Xiao¡¯s robust figure, relieved. He had almost ended up with a smashed face from that punch. ¡°Bai Tang, I think it¡¯s time you started working out,¡± Bai Xiao stopped, turned his head, and suddenly said to Bai Tang. ¡°Ah?¡± Bai Tang lifted his head, meeting Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze. ¡°You study to talk to idiots with peace of mind,¡± ¡°And you work out so that the idiots can talk to you with peace of mind.¡± ¡°This is the first lesson I¡¯m teaching you as your brother.¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: 036 Great Achievements in Boxing Chapter 36: 036 Great Achievements in Boxing 8:10 PM, Old Flavor Hotpot Restaurant, under the enveloping entrance lights. Bai Xiao and Bai Tang stepped out, pausing next to the flower bed. Just moments ago, the brothers had finished the remaining dishes. Bai Tang described to Bai Xiao what had just occurred, explaining the matter concerning senior brother Feng Yu. Bai Xiao listened silently throughout, not expressing any opinions. When it came time to part ways soon, Bai Xiao finally gave his younger brother some advice, ¡°Xiao Tang, I know your temperament is mild; this is your strength. However, when someone else has already aggressively confronted you, your first thought should not be ¡®what did I do wrong?¡¯, nor should your response be any sort of nonsensical scientific reasoning¡­ but to fiercely retaliate!¡± ¡°Immediately, right away, use all your means to let him know¡­¡± ¡°You are not someone to be trifled with.¡± Bai Tang nodded, understanding what Bai Xiao meant. A consistently mild image can make others think you lack temper and seem easy to bully. Thus, you need to appropriately let others know your boundaries. Avoid letting others mistake your restraint for weakness. A bottomless well of honesty often ends up becoming a scapegoat. ¡°Brother, I understand now.¡± Bai Tang smiled slightly, his whole demeanor becoming refreshed and bright. ¡°Hmm.¡± Bai Xiao looked at Bai Tang again and said, ¡°If your senior brother Feng Yu still intends to target you, let me know in advance at any sign. Brother will help you improve, the close relationship between brothers¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï His expressionless face squeezed out a stiff smile. That smile, tinged with chilly nuances, was rather unsettling. However, Bai Tang felt very secure. ¡°Hmm, brother, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Bai Tang nodded frequently, like a little chick pecking at grains of rice. The meeting today, after one or two months, significantly altered Bai Tang¡¯s perception and impression of his older brother. In his memory, Bai Xiao was just a normal brother, generally silent, with a relatively bland personality, but his most obvious strength was his considerable love for his younger brother. At least for Bai Tang, that was his most profound impression of the original owner. Very loving toward him¡­ But today¡¯s Bai Xiao was different, with literally revolutionary changes. Firstly, his robust physique, visibly overflowing with vitality, had transformed from an average build into that of a powerful man. Secondly, his personality seemed to become more confident, more authoritative. He moved with an ease that conveyed a strong sense of steadiness and security. Lastly, his way of handling interpersonal relations. Bai Tang had always been beloved by everyone at school and at home. He never thought he would be taught a lesson in interrelations by his usually quiet and reclusive older brother, which greatly altered his perception. Nonetheless, overall, everything was developing in a good direction. Bai Xiao visibly improved; that was a good thing. ¡°It really seems necessary to start working out.¡± A strong physique can influence one¡¯s spirit and personality. Bai Xiao is the best example. If I start working out intensively and build some muscles,¡± perhaps those trivial rumors and gossip circulating in school will just collapse on their own¡­¡± Bai Tang thought somewhat expectantly. 8:15 PM, the brothers parted ways. Bai Tang returned to school, while Bai Xiao went to the bus station to catch a bus back to the neighborhood. At 8:30 PM, he opened the security door and walked into the house. He first soaked all his dirty clothes removed earlier in a basin of soapy water. Then, Bai Xiao went into the bathroom and took a shower. He rinsed his whole body with just water and did not use any shower gel. The bath gel the original owner used was called Ice Mountain, and it boasted a powerful effect and functionality that every man envied and desired: a thirteen-in-one wash and care. One bottle of bath gel could be used for shampooing, facial cleansing, bathing, and even as sunscreen. You paid the price for one but got the functions of several. A great deal. By nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Bai Xiao arrived at Sakura Bird Bar on time. He even didn¡¯t need to use the leave he had asked for from the manager beforehand. In the bar, among the dazzle of colorful lights, Bai Xiao encountered the same group of sisters playing the King game as yesterday. They occasionally glanced at Bai Xiao, showing a somewhat resentful expression, but ultimately, they did not come over to say anything. This handsome security guard was a bit scheming and best avoided. At two in the morning, the bar closed. [Your profession ¡°Security Guard¡±, experience +12] [Your professional skill ¡°Patrolling¡±, experience +14] Bai Xiao drove his Hummer, swiftly returning to his rented house. First, he washed the dirty clothes, then cleaned up the house. In the brightly lit living room, Bai Xiao sat quietly at the rosewood table, which was laden with various kinds of food for nutritional replenishment. He took a deep breath and looked deeply ahead. The professional panel instantly popped up, displaying various professions. Bai Xiao¡¯s gaze rested on the Deliveryman profession, with two professional skills already at level three, which seemed to be the limit for a delivery person. As he focused on the Deliveryman profession, he could feel its limit; level three was the max. This meant that Bai Xiao could extract potential points one more time when two professional skills reached full experience at level three. After that, he could no longer upgrade the level three skills to level four. Clearly, the Deliveryman was a rather ordinary profession with limited potential. There wasn¡¯t much to develop or expand within it. However, as a secondary job, it also had its advantages. A profession with average potential generally also had a low threshold, making it relatively easy to get started. Thus, there were pros and cons, all depending on how one weighed and considered them. ¡°Next, I need to continue looking for new professions to gain experience,¡± he said. The reason Bai Xiao had not searched before was that his daily schedule had been filled up. Practicing boxing, delivering items, working as a security guard had almost taken up all of Bai Xiao¡¯s time, and triggering another would be pointless. But now, things were different. With the Deliveryman profession maxed out, Bai Xiao was ready to prepare. Under the incandescent light, on a wooden chair. ¡°Whew.¡± He exhaled a breath of warm air: ¡°It¡¯s time now, Dark Red!¡± The screen flickered slightly, and the rudimentary modifier jumped out suddenly. [Dark Red Modifier] [Potential Points: 4] He looked down, and two prominent options caught his eye. [Skill 2: Boxing Proficiency (34/200)]+ [Skill 3: Jujutsu Proficiency (45/200)]+ There was nothing to hesitate about, Bai Xiao had already decided on boxing. ¡°Dark Red, four potential points, all on boxing!¡± he said. His vision slightly flickered, and as the potential points disappeared, the Fighter¡¯s profession panel also fell into a misty, blurred state. After a wait, [Skill 2: Boxing Mastery (34/400)] appeared! At this moment, Bai Xiao had already firmly mastered two major combat skills! Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: 037 Finally entered the elite class Chapter 37: 037 Finally entered the elite class The next day, July 3rd. The window was wide open, allowing gusts of air carrying a fresh scent to flow in, causing the hem of the white embroidered curtains to flutter slightly. In the bright living room, dazzling sunlight shone on the pure white tiles, casting sharp rays of light. To the right of the coffee table, there was a thick wall connected to the window. At this moment, a muscular man with his upper body bare was stretching his limbs. He stood with his slender legs straight, his muscular arms open on both sides, slowly raising them with a cracking sound. Finally, his hands glided over his head and came together in front of his chest. Bai Xiao slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the sensation of power coursing through his body like flowing water. ¡°Now, I wonder if I can compete with Coach Zhang?¡± In his line of sight, his personal attribute panel displayed. [Power: 13.6¡ú14.5] [Speed: 12.1¡ú12.8] [Physique: 12.8¡ú13.6] [Will: 12.0¡ú12.3] Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Power +0.9, Speed +0.7, Physique +0.8, Will +0.3! Bai Xiao¡¯s average attributes had now exceeded 13 points. He took a deep breath, feeling the strong sensation seeping out from his core. Unable to help himself, Bai Xiao began throwing punches. Shh, shh, shh! His footsteps constantly shifted, as if fitted with a pair of springs. The sound of his soles scraping quickly against the tiles rang out in rapid succession. Swish, swish, swish! Swish, swish, swish! He suddenly threw a punch, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, staring straight ahead. His muscles bulged, and his powerful shoulders trembled with the sense of strength; his arms created afterimages as they struck out at the air in front, delivering a series of void punches! In front of his fists, gusts of wind blew past. Making the nearby white curtains sway gently, their hems stirring. At this moment, if there had been a living person in front of him, they would have surely been battered into a crying mess by Bai Xiao¡¯s barrage of punches. Swish! The final punch was retracted. Bai Xiao paused to regulate his breathing, then looked towards the Boxing Power Tester. ¡°The warm-up is almost done¡­¡± Swish! Thud! He suddenly stepped forward, his large fist shooting out. It struck fiercely right in the center of the tester! Bai Xiao¡¯s fist perfectly overlaid the fist image on the tester. Fast, accurate, ruthless! All the elements necessary for combat were embodied in that moment. On the tester, the numbers flickered before finally coming to a halt. 190.3kg! An exaggerated figure. It had surpassed the professional grade one standard of 180kg for punching power. ¡°Very good!¡± Bai Xiao slowly retracted his fist, his fingers making cracking noises. ¡°The increase in my own power attribute, combined with a profound understanding of punching techniques and motion due to my considerable boxing skills. The power of my punch now is nearly 200 kilograms¡­ almost four times what it was at the beginning!¡± He felt somewhat moved, seemingly in awe of the rapid growth of his strength which was visible to the naked eye. Yet, at this moment, Bai Xiao didn¡¯t feel any sense of hollow grandeur or instability; instead, he felt full and confident. In his mind, his understanding of boxing was now thoroughly ingrained. As if it became instinctive to his body, honed and hammered through thousands of repetitions. As long as Bai Xiao wished, he could use any technique in an instant. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Bai Xiao laughed softly, clenching his well-defined fists. ¡°If Chu Ming doesn¡¯t have any hidden tricks, he definitely won¡¯t be my match now. First place in the elite class, I¡¯ll gladly take it¡­¡± Morning, 10:05. Pujiang District, White Bird Martial Arts Hall. Coach Zhang Hongtao stood at the very front of Training Hall Number Two. ¡°Today is the last phase of the real combat practice for the Sandboxing course.¡± ¡°The course is nearing its end, and I¡¯m available to answer any questions you may have. Alright, let¡¯s begin today¡¯s practice¡­¡± His gaze swept across the hall, watching the movements of all the students. Before long, everyone started training according to the routine. The air gradually filled with the fiery scent of sweat, and the overhead fans whirred. Time flew, and it was past three in the afternoon. When it was nearly time to finish the class, Zhang Hongtao suddenly called a halt and gathered all the students. Then, he announced he would demonstrate a real Sandboxing combat. Without any hesitation, he called Bai Xiao up. Both donned boxing gloves and some red and blue protective gear. ¡°Everyone watch closely! Real Sandboxing combat goes like this!¡± Zhang Hongtao surveyed the entire hall with his eyes and said loudly. Immediately afterward, he and Bai Xiao faced off, launching into a rapid exchange. Each move and transition from offense to defense. Adapting on the fly, their strikes were tricky and swift! Neither was mediocre, their punches packed with a sense of power, sounding a resounding thump when hitting the protective gear. Amidst the flurry of fists, the watching students gasped in amazement. They were stunned by the highly professional Sandboxing demonstration and the impactful collisions of strikes. Even more shocking was that Bai Xiao, a fellow student, could hold his own against the coach. At that moment, even Guo Hao, whom Bai Xiao had put in his place, had to completely concede that Bai Xiao¡¯s skills and Combat Skills were far superior to his own! That day in the changing room, where he had initiated the provocation, the fact that he had not been soundly thrashed was fortune enough. Guo Hao felt a sense of relief deep inside. After a round of real combat practice, the class finally ended. The various students began to leave, heading towards the changing rooms. Back in the training hall that remained, Only Zhang Hongtao and Bai Xiao were left, organizing the protective gear. ¡°How come I feel like, you kid¡­ your strength has gotten even greater recently?¡± Zhang Hongtao looked sideways at Bai Xiao, who was adjusting the equipment rack next to him. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a second growth spurt,¡± Bai Xiao responded without expression on his face, casually. ¡°Well, this second growth spurt of yours sure came at a convenient time,¡± Coach Zhang laughed, then stood up straight to look at Bai Xiao. Bai Xiao sensed that the coach seemed to have something to say, So he also turned his head to look at Coach Zhang. ¡°Congratulations, Bai Xiao. From now on¡­ you are a member of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall elite class,¡± said Coach Zhang as he patted Bai Xiao on the shoulder. ¡°Finally, I¡¯m going to join the elite class, huh?¡± Bai Xiao mused inwardly, his heart brimming with a rich sense of anticipation. He knew that in the elite class of White Bird Martial Arts Hall, he would likely come into contact with some extraordinary things, especially certain Martial Arts. ¡°Why so serious? Aren¡¯t you happy to be in the elite class?¡± Coach Zhang teased Bai Xiao, seeing his thoughtful expression. ¡°Right, I¡¯ll take you to see the training base now,¡± Bai Xiao spoke up. ¡°The training base? Inside the martial arts hall?¡± Coach Zhang shook his head, ¡°Not inside the martial arts hall, but a separate venue nearby, also in Pujiang District. The facilities there are even more professional, and the space is wider. Moreover, core members of the martial arts hall will train you there. Each one of them is far more powerful than I am¡­¡± ¡°There, you¡¯ll be able to encounter Martial Arts in their truest form!¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: 038 Next time, you wont be so lucky. Chapter 38: 038 Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky. Three forty in the afternoon. Bai Xiao had changed into his clothes in the locker room and, carrying a canvas bag on his back, quickly walked out of the martial arts hall. Coach Zhang Hongtao was already waiting at the entrance. He was dressed in casual black sportswear, holding a cellphone in his left hand and clutching a thermos that he never seemed to part with in his right. The two men made eye contact and turned to step forward. Together they headed toward the nearby street parking. Halfway there, Coach Zhang took out the car keys and lightly pressed them in the distance. ¡°Click, click.¡± A muffled unlocking sound echoed. As he approached the vehicle, Bai Xiao saw Coach Zhang¡¯s SUV. It was taller and more imposing than a sedan, with rugged lines. Metal struts at the bottom edge shimmered with a bright silver luster, while the body¡¯s paint was mostly a gray-green. ¡°Let¡¯s go, get in the car.¡± Coach Zhang climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, and Bai Xiao got into the passenger¡¯s side. The interior design of the car was also robust and forceful, matching Coach Zhang¡¯s martial arts coach identity. It was the type that tough guys would like. ¡°Coach, this car must have been quite expensive, right?¡± Bai Xiao glanced over the instruments on the driver and passenger seats as he spoke. ¡°About five hundred thousand or so, not too expensive.¡± Coach Zhang started the car and made a turn, speaking as he did so. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? He drove onto the main road, glancing at Bai Xiao from the corner of his eye. ¡°Feeling a bit envious?¡± ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t need to be envious; what I earn is on the lesser side. If you train hard enough in fighting and manage to attain a rank, participate in various professional competitions, becoming a professional competitor, then what you¡¯ll earn will only be more than me. Like those at the Boxing King level, they get appearance fees of several million, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions for a single event. Heh, mastering fighting can definitely support you¡­¡± Coach Zhang continued as he drove. ¡°Oh, and the tuition fees you paid earlier, go to the martial arts hall¡¯s front desk to get it back when you have time. As long as you are selected for the martial arts hall¡¯s elite class, you won¡¯t have to pay tuition. And if you perform exceptionally, the gym will even provide you with financial subsidies. If you officially pass the elite class selection, then you can directly get a salary from the gym, which means you get paid to train¡­¡± Bai Xiao nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that White Bird Martial Arts Hall provided very good benefits. Two minutes later, in a location not far from the martial arts hall. Ahead was a training ground similar to a school. Next to it was a lush park where many elderly people were leisurely strolling around. ¡°This is our White Bird Martial Arts Hall¡¯s training base in Huai Shui City. The students selected from Huai Shui¡¯s six White Bird branches train here¡­¡± ¡°There is also another training base in Heng Guang City, where many students from the other several cities¡¯ six White Bird branches come together to practice¡­¡± The SUV pulled into a parking spot. As Coach Zhang got out of the car, he continued to introduce the place to Bai Xiao. ¡°Come, let me take you inside to have a look.¡± Afterward, the two men walked along the pedestrian path toward the front. The entrance to the White Bird Training Base was marked by two tall pillars linked to white painted walls, with a classic heavy black iron gate between them. ¡°This base has been in use for nearly twenty years now, so it looks a bit old in terms of decor, but rest assured, the facilities inside are absolutely professional and complete¡­¡± Coach Zhang and Bai Xiao went directly through the wide-open gate. Striding along the concrete road, Bai Xiao looked left and right. The surrounding area was full of lush trees and bushes, which gave off a rather cool ambiance. In the distance, there was a standard canteen, a warehouse filled with various fighting equipment, a tall building used for rest, changing, and washing, and a spacious playground. Half of it was a track and the other half was a demonstration arena. Furthermore, according to what Coach Zhang had said. To avoid rain and other weather conditions, there was also an indoor gymnasium. ¡°This layout is a bit like a martial arts school,¡± Bai Xiao thought. ¡°Pretty much. It¡¯s actually built similarly to a martial arts school.¡± As he spoke, Coach Zhang led Bai Xiao to a large building covered in white tiles. The tiles gleamed under the light, creating a halo effect. ¡°Wait here for me for a bit; I¡¯ll go up first to see if the people from the Fierce Bird Sect have arrived¡­¡± With that, Coach Zhang went up the stairs. ¡°Fierce Bird Sect?¡± Standing there, Bai Xiao murmured to himself, repeating this name he had heard for the first time. ¡°Coach Zhang previously mentioned to me that inside the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, there¡¯s a more core circle of master-and-disciple inheritance, similar to the ancient Martial Arts schools.¡± ¡°Is that what you mean?¡± It wasn¡¯t yet four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, and the sunlight was still fiercely blinding. White Bird didn¡¯t stand at the entrance of the building but took a few steps forward. He arrived at a somewhat shady, spacious marble vestibule. Once there, he saw several young men he didn¡¯t recognize, all of them tall, well-built, strong, and powerful. Clearly, they were elite class members selected from other training classes or branches. Bai Xiao wasn¡¯t the type to familiarize himself with strangers instantly, nor did he go up to greet them. He just stood quietly in his spot, waiting for Coach Zhang to return. However, within a few seconds, he felt a sharp gaze from the side as if someone was looking at him. Bai Xiao instinctively turned his head to look. A familiar face caught his eye. Fierce phoenix eyes, filled with an aggressive glare. Proud expression, with a hint of contemptuous cold sneer on the lips. Chu Ming. Sensing that prickly intense stare. The next second. White Bird didn¡¯t back down at all, meeting Chu Ming¡¯s gaze with his own undisturbed demeanor, his lips forming a slight cold smirk as well. A true villain¡­ When faced with provocation from others, they only respond coldly and fiercely! Bai Xiao didn¡¯t mind teaching Chu Ming a harsh lesson right there and then. ¡°So defiant? Interesting¡­¡± Chu Ming¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, the corners exceptionally sharp. With outstanding talent, he had always been the leader among his peers. His haughty character had been fostered on the back of repeated victories. Chu Ming never feared an opponent because that would only serve as his stepping stone! In the marble vestibule. Chu Ming, with a profound gaze, looked at Bai Xiao, his lips silently moving. ¡°Try?¡± White Bird raised his eyebrows, just about to take the meat that was served up to him. ¡°Tap tap tap tap¡­¡± On the left staircase, a series of dense footsteps came down. Coaches from various classes frequented by the students said one after another. ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the training ground behind the base, let¡¯s all gather there.¡± The noisy voices interrupted the stand-off between Bai Xiao and Chu Ming. Chu Ming¡¯s expression turned sour, he gave Bai Xiao a vicious glance: ¡°I¡¯m letting you off the hook.¡± Unexpectedly, Bai Xiao turned slowly, his face expressionless, and ignored him. ¡°Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡± Behind the White Bird Training Base, on the training ground. A throng of coaches brought their classes of students, all arriving here. The teams were loose, each going their own way, entering the innermost part of the ground. This was a dirt training ground without a rubber track, surrounded by lush trees. Further away, there was a thick and tall perimeter wall. At the moment, on the dirt ground next to the small woods. Two formidable figures were fiercely entangled in close combat. Bang bang bang! The sound of fists colliding with flesh created a series of deep, muffled noises. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: 039 Far beyond previous professional experience Chapter 39: 039 Far beyond previous professional experience Fast, beyond the ordinary! Fierce, with all their heart and soul! The combat between these two was perilous and ferocious, as they exchanged blows rapidly. Each time their palms and feet swept through the air, there was a distinct whooshing sound, leaving no doubt about the astonishing power they contained. When a foot swiped down diagonally, it could shovel up the dirt from the ground, leaving a pit. ¡°Jeez, that speed, can someone really do that?¡± Next to Bai Xiao, a young man with shoulder-length hair exclaimed in shock. Indeed, the two combatants¡¯ speed was too fast at this moment, as if a martial arts movie was being fast-forwarded. Although the human eye could still make out their movements, it was almost too much to keep up with. This was not something a normal person, or even a professional fighter, could manage. Swish! One of the fighters suddenly lunged forward, fiercely ripping through the air. The other sidestepped swiftly, avoiding the attack. As a result, the claw brutally scratched into a large tree¡¯s trunk behind them, making a tearing sound! A piece of wood along with the bark was ferociously pulled off. At the spot, the trunk was gouged out, leaving a concave cross-section. Within the cross-section, one could still vaguely see the traces of fingers that had ripped through quickly. ¡°Dammit!¡± ¡°F*ck!¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Expressions of astonishment filled the air, never ceasing. Bai Xiao¡¯s eyes were also deep, with a fire slowly accumulating. The display from White Bird Martial Arts Hall was enough! It was enough for Bai Xiao to focus wholeheartedly on his career as a Fighter from here on out! The two men who were fighting stopped and slowly turned around. One had an ordinary face, with a mole on his chin. The other had large, bright eyes that were extremely spirited. Both were wearing tight fighting suits with a ferocious bird ready to fly embossed on the back, covering their shoulders and the claws extending to the sleeves. The suits were in platinum white with a hint of blood-red dark hue. Bai Xiao had seen these uniforms before. They were the ones worn by the eldest senior brother from White Bird Martial Arts Hall in the training videos shared by Coach Zhang Hongtao. This meant that these two must be official disciples of the Fierce Bird Sect. ¡°These two are sparring intentionally¡­¡± ¡°The first lesson for entering the elite class? To showcase the power of the Fierce Bird Sect?¡± Bai Xiao speculated quietly. What he thought was very close to the truth. The sparring session of the two official Fierce Bird Sect Disciples successfully captured the attention of everyone present. Many excitedly asked what this martial art was and if they would be learning it next. The two answered some questions and left some unanswered. The parts they did not disclose were all consistent. ¡°Classes officially start tomorrow, then you¡¯ll know,¡± they¡¯d say. At ten past four in the afternoon, everything ended. Zhang Hongtao led Bai Xiao away from the training ground, heading towards the exit of the training base. Halfway there, Bai Xiao encountered Zhou Bing and Kang Li, nodded to them, and then left the base to join their respective coaches in their cars. The car had just started and had not yet moved forward. Zhang Hongtao spoke up, ¡°Bai Xiao, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°Give me the address, and I¡¯ll navigate there,¡± said Zhang Hongtao. ¡°Thanks, Coach,¡± replied Bai Xiao, quickly giving his address. ¡°The university town, right? That¡¯s quite close from here. Your home seems to be closer to here than the White Bird Martial Arts Hall.¡± Zhang Hongtao noted as he looked at the navigator. The off-road vehicle slowly made a U-turn and then headed towards the Sunshine District. ¡°Bai Xiao, do not be lax going forward, exert your full strength,¡± Zhang Hongtao advised solemnly, his expression showing some nostalgia. It seemed like he, too, had stories from his youth. ¡°I understand,¡± Bai Xiao replied. Bai Xiao replied silently, but his heart had never wavered. If you have the chance to change your life, why not strive for it? You deserve to be a loser for life! He had never entertained thoughts of neglect or disdain, nor would he ever. Silently, Bai Xiao turned on his phone, where messages were flooding in. It was from the boxing club group, where members were actively chatting. The conversation revealed that they were students from other branches of the White Bird Branch who had successfully made it into the elite class. In the chat logs, Bai Xiao also saw Zhou Bing and Kang Li; everyone was discussing the elite class. With a quick glance, Bai Xiao noticed some names that were frequently mentioned. ¡°Wang Sheng,¡± ¡°Gu Xing,¡± ¡°Chu Du.¡± They were the exceptionally gifted from various branches. Like a crane standing among chickens, exceedingly prominent. Among them, Bai Xiao took an extra look at the name Chu Du. It seemed from the chat logs that someone had mentioned that Chu Du and Chu Ming were brothers. Less than ten minutes later, Zhang Hongtao¡¯s SUV stopped at the entrance of the community. After thanking him, Bai Xiao got out of the car and walked into the Sunshine District. Bypassing a group of old men playing chess in the shade of the garden, he climbed the stairs, stomping up to his rented apartment floor. Closing the door behind him, Bai Xiao opened the curtains to let sunshine pour in. At the window, he took a deep breath of fresh air. In his mind, he recalled the combative scenes of two Fierce Bird Sect Disciples, powerful in every move and strike. One claw could gouge out chunks from a tree trunk! ¡°This is exactly what I¡¯m looking for,¡± he muttered. Bai Xiao slowly turned around, a certain desire rapidly consolidating in his eyes. Led by this excitement, he fiercely added forty minutes to his Combat Skill training. He did not stop for a moment or even pause to catch his breath, until he was drenched in sweat and steam was rising from his head. In the living room, Bai Xiao, half-sitting on the ground, forced himself to stand up. He raised his right hand to wipe the soybean-sized sweat from his face upward. His short, damp hair was slicked back into an imposing pompadour. Only a tuft of black hair above his right eye fell, resting on his brows, adding a sharp and handsome look. ¡°Refreshing!¡± he exclaimed. [Your attribute ¡®Will¡¯ +0.1!] [Will: 12.3¡ú12.4] When you put in your utmost effort and receive instant, visible feedback, it¡¯s an incredibly affirming experience¡ªa positive feedback! Encouraged by this positive reinforcement. The second full effort, and even the third, will be on their way. After a quick shower and changing his clothes, Bai Xiao quickly descended the stairs to start his day as a delivery man. By 8:30 PM, his work was over. [Your job ¡®Delivery Man,¡¯ experience +12] [Your job skill ¡®Electric Scooter Driving,¡¯ experience +16] [Your job skill ¡®City Route Mastery,¡¯ experience +16] After a short rest, he continued to the bar to work as a security guard. During the shift, a few incidents occurred. Typically, at around midnight, a customer in a booth started cursing. Bai Xiao stepped forward and stopped the dispute. However, coincidentally at 1 AM, another customer at the Sakura Bird Bar, who was inebriated, began to act crazily, grabbing bottles and assaulting people like a mad dog. Ordinary people couldn¡¯t get close to him. Two security guards approached, receiving several bruises on their arms. Finally, Bai Xiao swiftly moved in, swiftly snatching the two bottles and subdued the attacker with overwhelming strength through a flip and pin maneuver. This time, the security department directly awarded him eight hundred in cash. However, after finishing work, Bai Xiao wasn¡¯t particularly concerned about the money. What pleased him the most was that, after once again fulfilling his duties as a security guard, he had earned an exceptionally large amount of job and skill experience today! So much so, that it far exceeded any previous times¡­ Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: 040 Raising method, training method, killing method Chapter 40: 040 Raising method, training method, killing method [Your profession ¡°Security Guard¡±, experience +75] [Your professional skill ¡°Patrol¡±, experience +28] The acquisition of professional experience was a full six times the original. The acquisition of skill experience was also twice the original. These two farces directly boosted Bai Xiao¡¯s Security Guard profession to a new level. [Profession: Security Guard LV.2 (111/200)] [Skill: Patrol LV.2 (109/200)] Could resolving conflicts and problems also be a method of fulfilling one¡¯s duties? With a few more issues like these¡­ his profession would likely level up to max quickly. On the way back to the Sunshine District on his rugged electric bike, Bai Xiao couldn¡¯t help but ponder. If he were to deliberately create such conflicts and problems and then resolve them himself, could he achieve the effect of quickly farming experience? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Or, should he switch to a bar with worse conditions? There, he could encounter such problems every time and harvest waves of experience daily? Humans have subjective initiative, they think, they look for loopholes in the rules. That¡¯s an advantage. ¡°I can try it after a while, and if it doesn¡¯t work out, there¡¯s no loss,¡± thought Bai Xiao, with an implicit contingency plan in mind. In fact, he felt the likelihood of this was quite low. But the slight possibility of reaping huge benefits was too tempting to ignore. Experimenting once was better than doing nothing at all. ¡­ July 4th, the next day. Bai Xiao woke up in his bed bathed in sunlight. He glanced at his phone: 9:25 AM. Immediately, he threw off the blanket, turned off the air conditioner, and walked into the bathroom. After washing up, changing clothes, and grabbing his backpack, at 9:32, he hurried downstairs and bought a breakfast. He caught the bus on time and took a seat in the back. While eating, he headed toward the training base. The commute to the White Bird Training Base was noticeably shorter than to the White Bird Martial Arts Hall. By 9:44, the bus had already swiftly reached the station. Bai Xiao got off the bus, and in front of him was a densely planted park. A breeze blew gently in the distance, rustling the leaves like waves. He walked about seventy or eighty meters to the right of the platform. There, the White Bird Training Base appeared before him. At the moment, the gate of the base was wide open, with two staff members standing quietly at the entrance. Bai Xiao hurried over, confirmed his identity, and went straight inside, following the process he was told about the previous day toward the building. Two minutes later, Bai Xiao entered the cool lobby. Before him were more than fifty students from various White Bird Branches across Huai Shui City. It was now nine fifty, and they were divided into six classes according to their respective branches, with varying numbers of students. Notably, the Pujiang Branch, where Bai Xiao was from, had the largest number of students. Bai Xiao walked over and joined the queue of the Pujiang Branch. It is worth noting that Chu Ming, eager to stand out, was right at the front. He seemed to always love being the center of attention, wanting to be first in everything. Next, as agreed upon yesterday, each elite class was assigned an Instructor. And these Instructors came from the inner core of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall¡¯s Fierce Bird Sect. Many of the students, recalling the powerful fighting they saw from the two Fierce Bird Sect Disciples the day before, felt a surge of excitement. Being taught by such strong individuals promised that they would learn a lot! 9:55 AM. Each instructor, leading their own class, headed to the sports hall at the training base. There, multiple independent areas and extremely well-equipped exercise facilities were available, sufficient for the more than fifty students in the six classes. Sports hall, Area Three. The floor was covered with mats of an unknown material in light yellow. Off to the side, various fitness devices with a metallic sheen were placed. In the corner, there were also many wooden mannequins in dark yellow, wax-sealed in honey hues. The entire sports hall exuded an atmosphere of both modern and ancient influences. A faint medicinal scent lingered in the air. The leading instructor looked over the ten students from the Pujiang Branch. He began by saying, ¡°Sit.¡± Soon, the numerous students sat cross-legged, keeping a certain distance from each other. ¡°Let¡¯s start with a brief introduction. My surname is Liu, given name Yang.¡± ¡°You can call me Instructor Liu or Brother Liu.¡± Instructor Liu Yang was the only one standing, making him appear unusually tall. At a height of 1.85 meters, Liu Yang wasn¡¯t particularly bulky. Broad-shouldered with a relatively small head, his head-to-shoulder ratio was much higher than normal. His naturally bent arms couldn¡¯t hang straight down due to his thick and full muscle fibers, large cross-sectional area, and the limited space beneath the skin on his upper arms, which compressed the bones, pulling on his forearms. Furthermore, Instructor Liu Yang¡¯s standing posture. Body erect, chest slightly leaning back, standing on one leg while the other was angled forward. Those familiar with combat would understand at a glance. If you encounter this, you better run fast, or a few punches will get you killed! The students present had some understanding, so after observing Instructor Liu Yang, they all showed a wary look in their eyes. Even the usually brash Chu Ming had a much clearer gaze, devoid of any contempt. Instructor Liu Yang stood quietly by himself, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present. ¡°I¡¯m a man of few words, not very good with pleasantries or small talk.¡± ¡°So, later on, if anyone has any questions, just ask them directly.¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s get to today¡¯s topic.¡± After saying just a few words, he immediately began the formal content. It was unclear if this was a regulation of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall, but Liu Yang started with an introduction. ¡°In this world, there are various fighting techniques such as boxing, Sandboxing, wrestling, and so on. Train hard in these skills for ten, twenty, thirty years. Perhaps you could defeat many, achieving a bitter victory against a handful of opponents. That is the limit of the human body¡­¡± ¡°But what do you do when you are alone and unarmed, facing more enemies? Dozens, hundreds of enemies! Even if the opponent has knives and guns! Then, these regular fighting techniques are useless. The human body is fragile, and reaction speed is fixed¡­¡± Instructor Liu Yang advanced a step, his gaze sharp as he continued to speak out loud. ¡°Only by breaking the limits and allowing the body and mind to undergo metamorphosis and evolution can one truly transcend the ordinary and reach a non-human realm¡­¡± ¡°My Fierce Bird Sect is one such school that masters these techniques!¡± The more Liu Yang spoke, the more focused the students became, their eyes excitedly fixed on him. Such techniques were exactly their goal! Under the watchful eyes of ten eager students, Liu Yang did not dawdle. ¡°In this elite class, I will teach you the Fierce Bird Fighting Skill!¡± ¡°It¡¯s divided into nourishment, practice, and killing methods.¡± ¡°Nourishment is the root, practice is the trunk, and killing methods are the branches.¡± He looked deeply into the eyes of all the students. ¡°Nourishment is the most important and is the foundation for everything else.¡± ¡°Breathing techniques, exercise routines, Visualization Boxing Manuals, medicinal baths¡ªnone can be omitted! Among them, breathing is the foundation of the foundation, the very base of the entire edifice. As long as you master the breathing technique, you will surely achieve success!¡± With a firm gaze, Instructor Liu Yang suddenly came to a halt and said. ¡°Watch carefully, this is the Fierce Bird Sect¡¯s White Bird Breathing Technique.¡± His chest suddenly inflated and then rapidly collapsed, swift streams of air coursing continuously through his chest and passing at high speed through his narrow nostrils. ¡°Hiss hiss hiss! Hiss hiss hiss!¡± Sounding like a rattlesnake, the hissing noise swirled and echoed in the air.