Despite all the attitude, Hwang was nothing more than a mere servant—albeit a senior one at that.
The only edge he had in contrast with most other servants was that he was an underling of the infamous Zhi Nan.
Zhi Nan, aged 22, is nothing more than a harbinger of trouble. He was the only son of Elder Zhi Kong, whom held the keys for the Hall of Discipline. Zhi Nan was his only son as well as the sole remaining of his immediate family, which is why in defiance of his usual sternness, it was unbearable for him to correct his son via fists and might.
And thus Zhi Nan reigned as the devil child of the Zhi Family. Over the past decade, who knows how many conflicts has he been involved in.
Fortunately for him, it was all suppressed by his father, who was a well renowned Grade 9 Martial Artist. Having been in the Grade 9 Realm at an age much younger than his peers, he was thought to be the next head of the family. Alas, not all were smooth sailing. Elder Zhi Kong had lost his wife to an accident when he was in the Peak of Grade 9, and since then, there were no more advancements in his cultivation progress.
For the past few days, Gu Cheng was wrapped head to toe in bandages, like an ancient mummy. The only time he wasn't was when he was doing the deed with Liu Wei.
During this period, there were some people who had came by, but they only briefly asked about Hwang. One of Zhi Nan's goon even came by, but seeing as Gu Cheng was dressed in medical attire, and with Hwang missing, he had neither the time nor the desire to oppress the couple.
In the humble shack, the fragrance from a few days prior was still lingering around. Atop the only bed with one of its legs broken apart and stacked on a brick, Gu Cheng was enjoying the usual berry rice porridge.
For the last several days, he had been busy accumulating Covet Coins, once in the morning and once at night, it was a routine at this point.
===== Star of Covet System =====
Realm : Grade 8 Martial Sensor
Skills : Nimble Hands, Earth Shattering Claw (Max) +
Covet Coins : 14687
Shop : Level 1
Gu Cheng already had a martial skill in mind, so he went straight into the system shop, and with no further ado...
System, purchase Golden Bell Body Tempering Technique!
-- Ding! Purchase Success! Covet Coins - 12800!
-- Ding! Your lucky number is two!
"Huff..." Blood surged through his body, racing like a wildfire! His muscles felt as though they were being torn apart and reconstructed with each passing second.
"Push! Push!" One by one, his thirty-two meridians cleared, the torrent of internal energy sweeping past every blockage. Before long, all thirty-two were fully unblocked!
As the saying goes, the thirty-two meridians are the pillars of the Dantian.
This principle held true for Gu Cheng, as his thirty-two meridians converged at the center of his abdomen. They resembled roots of a tree, tirelessly supplying internal energy to this core, the source of his power.
Although there were no visible signs of the core's presence, as time went on, a vague spherical outline began to take shape: the Dantian! Only the size of a fist, it represented the source of energy that countless martial artists yearn for, marking the beginning of their long journey in martial arts.
As time passed, the Dantian grew increasingly opaque. It wasn't until the center of the sphere developed a sharp edge that the process finally halted.
Internal energy has a myriad of applications, and it is something that countless martial artists covet! It allows one to perceive what lies beyond physical reach, and when sufficiently strong, it can even be harnessed as an attack. This is the hallmark of a Grade 7 Martial Spirit!
...
When the air finally grew still, Gu Cheng opened his eyes.
The atmosphere felt purer than ever before. His vision was as sharp as a hawk's, and his sense of smell rivaled that of an elephant. With a single glance, he spotted ants crawling in the far corner of the room, their bodies intermingled with dirt and debris. The details of their disgusting setae were strikingly vivid.
Gu Cheng closed his eyes again, feeling an inexplicable wave of energy emanating from his body—Qi sense! As this wave swept through the room, he became acutely aware of the condition of each object around him. It was indescribable; he couldn't see in the traditional sense, yet his perception was sharper than sight. He didn't just observe the appearance of things; he grasped their essence.
He instinctively recognized the wooden chair had a weak point and was on the verge of collapsing, while the queen ant was poised to give birth to another brood. It was a unique experience, one that transcended ordinary perception.
"So this is how a Martial Spirit feels like..." Gu Cheng thought as he scanned his body. His meridians were striped across his organs, and within the heart of it all rest the Dantian. It was akin to a tireless pump, continuously supplying internal energy to every part of his body with each heartbeat.
===== Star of Covet System =====
Realm : Grade 7 Martial Spirit
Skills : Nimble Hands, Earth Shattering Claw (Max), Golden Bell Body Tempering Technique (Layer 2)
Covet Coins : 1887
Shop : Level 1