Around nine o'clock in the morning, Chen Fan was struck by a sudden burst of inspiration. Alongside it, a warm sensation coursed through his body, though not as intense as when his body had strengthened. Nonetheless, it had considerably alleviated his previous fatigue.
"I can feel that my physique and strength have improved."
"Finally upgraded to level 2."
Chen Fan heaved a sigh of relief and glanced at his mental skill panel.
Realm: None
Level: 3 (0/4)
Physical: 11.78
Strength: 10.57
[Basic Archery: Lv2 (0%), characteristics: physical strength level 2, arm strength level 2, slow shooting level 2]
The increase in his physical strength attributes was apparent, particularly his physique, which had nearly reached 12.
Having reached level 2 in slow-firing also meant his accuracy had improved to 60%.
"I wonder how much my proficiency will increase with each arrow now?"
The thought sparked a growing eagerness, prompting him to draw his bowstring and take aim. This time, it was much easier to pull the string to its limit.
"Phew!"
The arrow sliced through the air and found its mark in the red heart of the target.
Impressively accurate.
"Reaching level 2 in Basic Archery has indeed made a significant difference," Chen Fan mused. He had noticed that, while shooting, he could focus entirely on his target without any distractions. Moreover, once he began drawing the bow, he automatically entered this state of concentration.
The next moment, a wry smile crossed his face.
[Basic Archery Lv2 (0.4%)...]
At the first level, hitting a bull's-eye would increase proficiency by approximately 1.2%. However, it was now only one-third of that amount.
"In other words, to reach level 3 in Basic Archery, I need to hit the bull's-eye 250 times."
"My physical fitness and strength have improved, and I can probably complete one shot in two minutes. That's 30 shots in an hour. So, in about 10 hours, I should be able to achieve it."
Chen Fan's face lit up with renewed determination.
As time ticked away, noon approached, and Chen Fan returned for lunch. The woman, appreciative of his diligent practice, added a few extra pieces of meat to his bowl.
His potential points had also increased to 0.3. While still a fraction of the 4 points needed for the next level, Chen Fan felt deeply grateful.
After lunch, he eagerly returned to the open area in front of the warehouse to continue his archery practice.
It appeared that his diligence had made an impression, as several young people joined him shortly after.
They hadn't entirely believed the lame man's story about the young man practicing archery all night, but after observing Chen Fan's dedication this morning, coupled with the departure of the Wei brothers, they knew they couldn't afford to slack off.
An hour later, the lame man, massaging Chen Fan's aching arm, spoke in a complex tone. "You have some real talent, kid."
He had witnessed at least six or seven of Chen Fan's ten arrows hitting the bull's-eye. If he didn't know better, he'd think this kid was no beginner.
Chen Fan chuckled, acknowledging that the system had played a significant role, but his own hard work had also paid off.
"However, practicing like this may not be very effective," the lame man changed the subject.
Chen Fan's thoughts snapped back to reality.
"Uncle Zhang, what do you mean?" he inquired.
The lame man raised his head and glanced at him, "Your accuracy is impressive now, but have you considered that these are stationary targets? Wild beasts are not foolish; unless they don't detect you, they'll likely move too quickly..."
He didn't finish the thought, but the implication was clear.
Chen Fan's mind raced. He had been so focused on the proficiency progress bar that he hadn't considered this aspect.
"Uncle Zhang, do you suggest I practice shooting at moving targets?"
"Exactly."
The lame man nodded, then hesitated before reluctantly offering, "I'll help you with that."
After a while, several young people witnessed the spectacle. The lame man stood to the side and threw an archery target into the air, while Chen Fan aimed and released an arrow at the airborne target.
Regrettably, he missed.
"Don't worry; take your time," the lame man urged. "This time, I'll throw it more slowly. Focus!"
With those words, he hurled the archery target once more.
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, predicted the trajectory, and released another arrow.
"Phew!"
The arrow hit the edge of the target. The target wobbled, flew backward, and finally crashed to the ground.
Chen Fan let out a breath and immediately checked his skill panel.
[Basic Archery Lv2 (25%)]
His eyes widened. It had been at 23% before. In other words, that single arrow had boosted his progress by 2%.
"This is just the edge of the target," Chen Fan mused. "If I hit the bull's-eye, it should increase by 4% or more. Even hitting the edge, it's a 2% gain. That's five times more efficient than shooting at a stationary target!"
"What's on your mind? Stay focused and keep going!" the lame man reminded him.
"Yes, Uncle Zhang!" Chen Fan replied with gratitude.
At this rate, reaching level 3 in Basic Archery seemed entirely achievable, and level 4 was now within sight.
Uncle Zhang was indeed a good person.
An hour passed, and Uncle Zhang could no longer continue. His right arm felt heavy, and he couldn't lift it. He considered suggesting a break but changed his mind when he saw the determination in Chen Fan's eyes.
"Next, I'll switch to my left hand," Uncle Zhang said. "I might
not have as much control as before. Brace yourself."
Chen Fan, awakened from the excitement of rapidly increasing proficiency, apologized, "Uncle Zhang, why don't we take a break first? We can resume practice after resting."
"Keep going as long as you're told; why so much talk?" Uncle Zhang responded with a frown.
Nevertheless, he thought to himself that he was a grown man; he couldn't lose to a kid like Chen Fan.
And so, they continued—throwing the target, shooting the arrow, throwing, and shooting. For almost an hour, Uncle Zhang pushed himself to the limit.
"Uncle Zhang, let's rest," Chen Fan finally suggested, feeling concerned for the older man.
During those two hours, he had hit the target about a dozen times, even if not all were bull's-eyes. Nonetheless, his progress had exceeded 50%.
The lame man could see that Chen Fan's physical strength wasn't being overly taxed. Taking note of this, he asked, "Can you continue?"
Chen Fan hesitated. "I..."
"Come here!" Uncle Zhang interrupted, beckoning a young man who had been resting nearby. "I noticed you've been watching for a while. It's your turn now."
The young man wanted to cry but had no tears. He had just sat down and was content to observe.