Chapter 16: Attributes_2
At 17 years old, Chen Yuan's physical attributes were fairly typical for his age group.
However, this improvement was the result of ten days of training.
Previously, his physique lagged behind that of other teenagers of his age with normal development.
Within the Swallow Wing Martial Hall, most apprentices who had trained for a certain period had physical attributes exceeding '1.'
In other words, even some apprentices his age could rival ordinary adult men.
And these were merely disciples in the foundational Nourishing Body realm.
The benefits of martial arts training were evident.
This realization fueled Chen Yuan's determination and motivation to advance further in martial arts.
'However, the entry point into refined strength in martial arts isn't heavily reliant on physical constitution...'
The Refined Strength Realm does not demand a specific level of physical fitness from the practitioner.
For any martial art, as long as the practitioner can harmonize and unify 30% of their body's strength, they are considered to have achieved refined strength.
Of course, entering the refined strength realm brings with it certain visible physical manifestations.
Take Little Swallow Wing Fist, for example.
As the practitioner delves deeper into the technique, achieving refined strength naturally leads to the development of specific muscle groups in certain parts of the body.
These specialized muscles are the foundation for a martial artist to gradually harness the full strength of their body.
The location and structure of these muscle groups vary depending on the martial art.
For Little Swallow Wing Fist, the muscle groups typically develop in the shoulders, arms, and waist.
Their shapes resemble certain muscle patterns found in the wings of a swallow, which is also the origin of the technique's name.
When the body is tensed, these muscle groups become apparent.
While improved physical constitution aids in developing these specialized muscles, it does not solely determine the timeline for achieving refined strength and becoming an official disciple.
However, with the Huangting Jade Book in his possession, Chen Yuan had started to sense some development in these key areas during his martial training over the past few days.
With time and persistence, he believed it wouldn't be long before he saw tangible progress.
Because of this, Chen Yuan had become increasingly diligent in his martial practice in recent days.
"Junior Brother, the path of martial arts emphasizes balance and moderation. Overly strenuous training won't necessarily lead to progress and might even harm your body. Master's rule of three days of intense training followed by one day of rest exists for this very reason."
A voice came from the side. "Even during the designated rest days, your training must not be excessive. Otherwise, your body's recovery won't keep pace with the depletion of your vital energy."
"Senior Brother."
Chen Yuan turned around and saw Zhao He standing nearby.
Immediately, the data on Zhao He's physical attributes appeared in his mind.
[Zhao He — Strength: 1.5 (approx.), Constitution: 1.6 (approx.), Agility: 1.8 (approx.)]
With such physical attributes, Zhao He was clearly far stronger than an average adult.
Moreover, while most adults might possess decent strength, they generally couldn't harness the full power of their bodies.
A martial artist like Zhao He, who had fully mastered the Refined Strength realm, could.
In a confrontation, the difference in combat capability between the two would be significant.
And yet, from what Chen Yuan understood, Zhao He wasn't even considered particularly outstanding among Li Yue's disciples.
Chen Yuan sighed and replied helplessly, "I understand the principle, Senior Brother. But with the current chaos in the world, you also know that I don't have anything to rely on outside. It's hard not to feel anxious. Only when I'm focused on martial training do I feel a bit of peace."
Over the past few days of gathering data in Cloud Mountain City, Chen Yuan had realized the situation was far more chaotic than he had initially thought.
This mounting pressure only made him more eager to improve himself.
But Chen Yuan's extra effort wasn't just due to his anxiety.
The primary reason was that he had discovered an advantage—by following the training regimens provided by the Huangting Jade Book, his vitality recovery rate was significantly faster than others.
The exact reason behind this, however, wasn't something he could share with Zhao He.
Zhao He pondered for a moment before saying, "Junior Brother, if you're eager to progress quickly, I might have a way to help."
Chen Yuan had been training under Zhao He's guidance for some time now, and the two had developed a fair understanding of each other.
Although Chen Yuan hadn't become a formal disciple as Zhao He initially anticipated, his dedication and progress had impressed Zhao He enough to consider making further investments in him.
Chen Yuan looked at Zhao He in surprise, his heart stirred.
He knew this senior brother wouldn't speak lightly. If there was indeed a way to rapidly improve his abilities, he wouldn't want to miss it.
Without hesitation, Chen Yuan bowed deeply. "Please, Senior Brother, guide me."
Zhao He waved his hand dismissively. "No need for such formalities, Junior Brother. This path isn't exactly a secret. It's simply one of the benefits that only formal disciples of the martial hall can access."
Chen Yuan's eyes flickered as he absorbed Zhao He's explanation.
The idea of a miraculous medicine like Tongxue Pills was undeniably enticing. If they could indeed rapidly restore vitality and increase training efficiency, it would be a significant advantage for him.
Especially for someone like him, burdened with the pressure of time and the necessity of self-improvement, this sounded like an ideal opportunity.
However, the mention of the cost quickly brought him back to reality.
"One tael of silver per pill…" Chen Yuan muttered, calculating in his mind.
For a common person, a tael of silver was no trivial sum—it could easily sustain a family for months.
Seeing Chen Yuan's hesitation, Zhao He chuckled lightly.
"Junior Brother, don't feel pressured. As I said, even among formal disciples, few can afford to use these pills daily. Most of us only turn to them during critical periods, such as when preparing to break through to the next stage. But I see your drive and potential, and I believe this could be a worthy investment for you."
Chen Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
"Thank you for offering, Senior Brother. This pill seems extraordinary, but I'll need to consider it carefully. Resources like this shouldn't be wasted, so I'll make sure I'm ready to use it effectively."
Zhao He smiled in approval.
"Wise decision, Junior Brother. If you decide to take up my offer, just let me know. I'll ensure you get your share promptly."
Chen Yuan thanked Zhao He again, inwardly pondering how he might gather enough money for the Tongxue Pills.
He knew this wouldn't be easy, but the potential benefits were too great to ignore. If the pills could indeed accelerate his training, they might be the key to achieving Refined Strength sooner than anticipated.
With this thought, Chen Yuan clenched his fists and resolved to find a way.
Compared to the average expenses of the common people in Yunshan City, the price was undoubtedly steep.
"I can purchase five pills from Master each month. If Junior Brother is interested, I can part with three. The restorative effects of this pill are remarkable—one pill is equivalent to three days of rest and recovery. It should be of significant help to you," Zhao He explained.
Chen Yuan pondered for a moment.
After paying the tuition for the martial arts school and renting a place to stay, he still had seventy taels of silver left.
Using it to purchase Tongxue Pills for training was certainly affordable.
However, before he could respond, Zhao He pulled a wax-sealed pill out of his pocket and handed it to Chen Yuan.
"Considering we've known each other for some time now, let this be a gift for my Junior Brother. You're at the stage where you're just starting your training, and this is the perfect time to try it out. Experience the effects first, and if you're interested later, come find me."
Chen Yuan was momentarily taken aback.
Feeling a surge of gratitude in his heart, he didn't hesitate. Taking the pill with both hands, he bowed deeply and said, "If Senior Brother ever needs my help in the future, just say the word. I will do my utmost to assist."
Zhao He smiled but said nothing more.
After handing over the wax-sealed pill, he left.
Chen Yuan was left holding the wax-sealed medicinal pill, lost in thought.
After a moment of contemplation, he decisively cracked open the wax seal.
Inside was a red pill exuding a strong herbal aroma.
Without hesitation, he swallowed it whole.
Before long, a warm current began to rise from his stomach, spreading throughout his body.
Just as Chen Yuan was beginning to feel pleased, a sudden notification from the Huangting Jade Manual echoed in his mind:
[Detected a special substance capable of enhancing the host's physical attributes. Would you like to analyze it?]
"Hmm?!"
Chen Yuan's pupils contracted in surprise.