The Pinnacle of Ordinary
Ye Zi's eyes locked onto the words "The best of the ordinary level" on the panel.
He had indeed felt a sense of lightness and comfort on his way here, though he hadn't thought much of it at the time. Now, it seemed that upgrading his breathing technique had also enhanced his abilities.
Two upgrades had taken him from the "Top of the Mortal Level" to the "Best of the Ordinary Level."
What if I upgrade it again?
Excitement surged through him as Ye Zi noticed his breathing skill's experience bar nearly full again. He decided to test it further.
This time, as the skill leveled up, a profound transformation coursed through his body.
"Ah!"
A shout of relief escaped his lips. He could feel it—his body refreshed, impurities seemingly expelled. It was as though his very being had been renewed.
Yet, there was one disappointment. His abilities remained at the same level.
"It seems a single promotion isn't enough to push my abilities further," he murmured, glancing back at his status:
Skill: Breathing (High-Grade Mortal, 14/1000).
Ye Zi observed the rising experience points, calculating the rate. About 20 points per minute, roughly one every three seconds.
"At this rate, 1,000 points will take around 50 minutes—about the length of a regular class."
Not planning to return to class anytime soon, Ye Zi resolved to stay hidden in the small forest. He tried speeding up his breathing or deliberately practicing the technique to accelerate the process, but the results were lackluster.
If the breathing technique could be turned into a skill, why not boxing or swordsmanship?
Testing Boxing Skills
Determined to experiment, Ye Zi found a relatively open space in the forest and began practicing his Basic Boxing Technique.
Although classified as a low-level mortal skill, it required immense effort to perform a complete set properly. Unlike simple offensive techniques, it combined combat moves, endurance, and physical conditioning.
In 20 minutes, Ye Zi completed the entire sequence. Panting, he opened his status panel.
Skill: Boxing (0/1 before entry-level).
It worked!
Excited, Ye Zi quickly noticed, however, that boxing skills gained experience far slower than breathing. Completing a full sequence provided just one experience point. If the skill followed the same pattern as breathing—tenfold experience requirements per level—then the time commitment would be substantial.
"The first upgrade takes 20 minutes, the second more than three hours... This will take years at higher levels," Ye Zi estimated grimly.
Still, he continued, wanting to see the effects. After finishing a second set in 18 minutes, the skill leveled up:
Boxing (Low-Grade Mortal, 4/10).
Each sequence now granted five points of experience, and his growing familiarity with the technique shortened the time required.
Five points every 15 minutes—three minutes per point.
While 60 times slower than breathing and requiring active effort, Ye Zi suspected the skill encompassed all boxing techniques, not just the basic set.
With his improvements, even casual punches now carried the power of trained techniques. The results confirmed his hunch—he was growing stronger, albeit incrementally.
The Next Level
After around 40 minutes of effort, Ye Zi realized his breathing skill was close to another upgrade. Anticipating the transformation, he ventured deeper into the forest, ensuring privacy.
"This should do," he muttered, leaning against a sturdy tree. He waited for the last few points of experience to trickle in.
When the breathing skill leveled up again, the transformation was far more intense.
Crack!
He felt his body undergoing complete reconstruction.
It was as if countless ants crawled under his skin, gnawing at his flesh. His bones stretched and restructured, while his pores exuded a mixture of blood and impurities.
The pain was unbearable. His body convulsed as his throat filled with blood, silencing his screams.
Finally, the process ended, and Ye Zi collapsed, unconscious.
A Sudden Encounter
Not far away, a small figure leaped through the forest.
"Little flower, here I come!"
The voice belonged to Ye Mengmeng, one of the top three students in the school and a seventh-level body refiner. While most students attended the beast sparring class, Mengmeng had opted out. She was more interested in the small flowers she had cultivated deep in the woods.
However, as she neared her usual spot, a foul odor of blood and impurities overwhelmed the floral scent. Alarmed, Mengmeng quickened her pace, following the smell.
Turning a corner, she froze.
A frail, blood-covered figure lay crumpled beneath a tree. His thin frame and sickly appearance made him barely recognizable.
"Ah! A classmate—I'll take you to the infirmary now!"
Quickly recovering from her shock, Mengmeng grabbed Ye Zi and bolted toward the school.