Oliver devoted three days to rigorous training, indulging in a protein-rich diet of fish and meat.
His efforts yielded eight additional strands of silk-like internal energy and six skill experience points.
His Energy Cultivation technique now stood a mere 72 experience points shy of advancing to level 4.
Under normal circumstances, this would take two months. But their recent hunt, netting two monsters, changed the equation.
Even a modest share would suffice to push him over the threshold.
At dawn, Oliver hurried to the supply warehouse, eager with anticipation. Luke and Laura arrived shortly after.
This windfall was too significant to delay!
"Bang!" The quartermaster produced a crate, addressing the trio. "The Village Chief confirms a total yield of 95 kilograms from the two monsters, including all usable parts. Your 47.5-kilogram share is within."
"Additionally, the monsters generated 200 contribution points, to be allocated by your captain."
Luke tossed the crate to Laura before stepping forward to distribute the points.
The breakdown, predetermined, went as follows:
Luke: 110 points
Laura: 60 points
Oliver: 30 points
Level two treatment required 50 points. One more successful hunt could potentially secure an upgrade.
This underscored the immense benefits of solo hunting.
A single catch could yield 100 points, instantly boosting one's salary.
Moreover, solo hunters enjoyed exclusive rights to their monster meat. The risks were undeniably high, but the rewards were even greater.
With contributions settled, the team retreated to Luke's quarters to divide the monster meat.
"Laura's tracking proved crucial for both catches. She'll receive 15 pounds, 15 ounces," Luke declared.
Turning to Oliver, he added, "You helped stop the first monster. Five pounds for you."
As always, Luke claimed the lion's share.
Strength was everything. No objections were raised.
Oliver was surprised to receive five kilograms. Then he remembered – the deceased team member's share had been redistributed.
Five kilograms of monster meat equated to 500 copper coins. Their previous haul of 25 kilograms of wild boar had fetched a mere 150 coins.
The difference was more than threefold!
Meat secured, Oliver retreated to his quarters without a word, intent on secluded practice.
With a team member's death, the next hunt would likely be delayed. This afforded him ample time for undisturbed cultivation.
Back home, Oliver took stock of his resources:
900 copper coins
5 kilograms of monster meat
Sufficient rice and vegetables
"Village prices for meat run 3 copper coins per pound," he mused. "Buying directly from hunters might yield a slight discount. These supplies should sustain two months of training without issue."
Oliver's mind raced with possibilities.
Meat-fueled training could elevate his skills to level 4 within a month, leaving another month for intensive practice...
In that time, his Energy Cultivation prowess might well rival Laura's or Eric's.
They'd trained for seven or eight years, consuming significant quantities of monster meat.
The disparity in innate talent was stark, but Oliver's 60% boost offered a considerable advantage.
This 60% increase, compounding both learning speed and practice efficiency, was truly formidable. Oliver sensed he was on the cusp of a breakthrough in Energy Cultivation. These two months might well see him achieve it.
A knock at the door interrupted his musings.
"Brother! I've come to play!" A thin girl with hair tied in buns burst in – Emma, his eight-year-old sister.
Oliver's prolonged absence had left the child missing him. Familiar with his new residence, she'd taken it upon herself to visit.
"My, you've gotten skinnier," Oliver observed, pinching her cheek. "It's mealtime. Let me fix you a snack."
Emma's eyes widened. "You can cook, second brother?"
"Of course," Oliver replied, though he quickly qualified, "But not much..."
His culinary skills were basic – meat-heavy stir-fries with some vegetables. Nothing truly delectable.
Noticing Oliver's frown after tasting his creation, Emma asked, "Isn't it good, brother?"
"It's... adequate," Oliver admitted.
Emma sampled it. "I think it's fine. The meat's quite fragrant."
"A few bites are alright," Oliver gestured, miming a mountain of food. "But what if you had to eat this much?"
"That's bigger than my head!" Emma exclaimed. "Why eat so much? Isn't being full enough?"
"For cultivation," Oliver explained. "Without surplus energy, how can one cultivate effectively? Perhaps I need seasonings, but how to procure them?" His mind grasped at half-remembered culinary knowledge, but specifics eluded him.
Finally, he abandoned the struggle. Such non-essential research could wait until he wielded real power. For now, it remained beyond his reach.
Seeing Oliver's distress, Emma left, deep in thought.
Days later, she returned, eyes shining. "Second brother, since your cooking's lacking, why not let me cook? You can use that time to train. When you're stronger, you can eat whatever you like without struggling!"
Oliver stared, stunned.
He regarded his thin sister, considering. Then he nodded.
If Emma remained with their parents, she'd likely face malnutrition, denied the chance to eat her fill.
Willowbrook's environment mirrored ancient times – early marriages, limited women's rights, vulnerability to mistreatment in marital homes due to economic dependence.
Poor health coupled with early childbearing led many women to early graves.
Emma was his blood. It was only right to keep her close, to care for her.
"Alright," he agreed. "Why not live here with me? When I cook, you'll eat too. But it'll be demanding – I eat morning, noon, and night..."
"No problem!" Emma interjected. "I'm used to rising early to help anyway. Helping just you will be easy, second brother!"
Oliver nodded silently.
What followed was a month of intense training.
Freed from cooking and other chores, Oliver saved considerable time.
He not only practiced Energy Cultivation but devoted significant effort to understanding its principles and experimenting with crop yield enhancement techniques.
Time flew. A month passed in the blink of an eye.
With three kilograms of ordinary meat daily, supplemented by small amounts of monster meat, vegetables, and rice, Oliver maintained an extraordinarily high cultivation pace. On average, he generated four new strands of silk-like internal energy daily.
This regimen dramatically enhanced Oliver's internal energy. He forged his fifth basic internal energy core, with sixty silk-like strands in reserve.
Simultaneously, his Rebirth Codex skills achieved their first level 4 milestone:
◇
Ordinary Skills
Farming (Level 3: 260/300, yield increased by 30%)
Energy Cultivation (Level 4: 0/2000, practice speed increased by 100%. Master Energy Cultivation secrets and enter practice state at will)
◇
The boost jumped by 40%, with an additional special effect.
At first glance, Oliver found this new ability unremarkable.
But once put into practice, the difference became starkly apparent.
To his astonishment, Oliver discovered he could now practice Energy Cultivation even while walking.
From static to dynamic, his Energy Cultivation underwent a revolutionary transformation!