CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 55: STRENGTH IMPROVEMENT

"Brother Xuan is in a good mood today, Sister’s got skills!"

During breakfast.

Su Yun saw the rare smile on Chen Xuan’s face and couldn’t help but compliment her sister.

You know,

Chen Xuan hadn’t smiled at all these past few days.

Although his face didn’t look bad, there was always an ominous feeling.

As a result,

Her usual carefree self had been quite cautious these days, not daring to speak much.

Moreover,

Her sister had warned her that Chen Xuan might be facing some issues, so she should be careful for the time being. So, she had been keeping silent these days, but it was driving her crazy.

"Alright, won’t be a problem in the future, just eat your meal!"

Chen Xuan chuckled, not bothered at all.

Su Wanqiu, sitting next to him, blushed red and gave him a secret side-eye.

"Okay!"

Su Yun celebrated like a little kid, happily raising her chopsticks.

But the next sentence made Su Wanqiu even more awkward.

"Sister, how did you do it, could you teach me?"

"Cough cough cough~~~"

Chen Xuan almost spewed out the rice in his mouth upon hearing this.

And Su Wanqiu’s face was even redder.

Fuming, she pinched him hard on the waist and glared at him fiercely.

Truly mortifying.

Chen Xuan felt he was innocent, who knew Su Yun would ask such a question?

As for the pinch, it was just tickling him.

But he had to slip away quickly,

because the look in Su Wanqiu’s eyes seemed like she wanted to stab him.

Time to escape!

....

In the study.

During the day, Chen Xuan spent most of his time here.

At this moment, he sat on the floor, examining the panel in front of him.

[Name: Chen Xuan]

[Life Span: 18/160]

[Artifact: Springs (Skill Point Boost 10%)]

[Spouse Bonding: Su Yun]

[Realm: Sixth Grade (Refining Aperture)]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine Revolutions Secret Technique (Lower) (Not Beginner (0/2000)), Life Cultivation Technique (Mastered)]

[Skills: Sun-Chasing Archery (Not Beginner (0/200)), Cloud Body Technique (Not Beginner (0/200))

Beast Command Technique (Not Beginner (0/300)), Void-Slicing Blade (Not Beginner (0/200))

Advanced Archery (Major Achievement), Advanced Tracking Technique (Major Achievement),

Room Commanding Technique (Major Achievement), Absorbing Palm (Not Beginner (0/300))

]

[Skill Points: 332]

Grandpa’s collection of four martial arts, bow skills, body techniques, blade techniques, plus a beast command technique.

Entry-level alone requires at least 200 skill points for each.

They seem promising.

But now he’s troubled, with only 332 skill points, he can at most upgrade one martial art.

As for the Nine Revolutions Secret Technique (Lower), it requires too much, not even considering it for now.

"Which one to choose?"

Chen Xuan stroked his chin, repeatedly looking over the martial arts in the skill panel.

It would be nice if he could gain more skill points.

"Absorbing Palm it is!"

The impression of that middle-aged man in the white robe was too deep.

He’s really obsessed with this martial art.

"Add points to Absorbing Palm!"

With a loud shout in his heart.

The next moment,

A blurry silhouette appeared in his mind, raising its hand and absorbing in mid-air.

Suddenly,

Chen Xuan gained some inexplicable memories.

Every time the silhouette moved, he gained a bit more memory.

Until the silhouette completely disappeared.

At this moment,

Chen Xuan abruptly opened his eyes.

The display on the panel for Absorbing Palm changed.

Absorbing Palm (Minor Achievement (0/500))

The next level requires 500 points.

"So expensive!"

Seeing this, he grit his teeth in pain.

For his already limited skill points, this made things even worse, let alone the Nine Revolutions Secret Technique waiting to drain him dry.

"Can’t bear it, can’t bear it."

Chen Xuan could only sigh, helplessly shaking his head.

After lamenting,

His gaze fell on the books on the nearby shelf.

Slowly reaching out his right hand.

Transforming his palm into a claw.

Within the apertures of his body, the vital energy flickered slightly.

Next moment,

A book flew into his hand automatically.

"Not bad, not bad!"

Chen Xuan smiled with satisfaction.

But, still not enough!

A book weighs so little; it’s just for fun to watch, in actual combat, not very useful.

So he aimed his hand at the bookshelf, trying once more.

"Squeak squeak!"

The friction between the wooden shelf and the bluestone floor produced a piercing sound.

Next moment,

The shelf was pulled to a position one step away from him.

"Good!"

Chen Xuan shouted excitedly!

The shelf weighed at least 200 pounds, and he hadn’t even exerted full strength.

"Test that one?"

A sudden thought came to him.

He stood up and headed to the entrance of the secret room.

Ever since Grandpa had taken him into the secret room that day, the wall had remained half-open.

He couldn’t fully close it.

Unless he pushed from inside.

But, that would be foolish.

No idea how Grandpa closed it after building it.

He searched around but couldn’t find any mechanisms.

Standing before the wall,

Took a deep breath.

At this moment, the apertures in his body fully opened, like tiny silver lamps.

apertures illuminated various parts of his body.

"Absorb!"

Chen Xuan bellowed.

However,

Next moment reality slapped him.

The wall remained unmoving, not a single response.

"Guess I expected too much."

Chen Xuan smiled wryly, waving his hand.

After all, even he needed to exert all his strength to barely push it, and that included the strength of his body.

Keep in mind,

Now, without using the energy in his apertures, he already had at least over thirteen or fourteen thousand pounds of strength.

"Forget it! Can’t close it, so be it."

Anyway, it’s empty inside now.

....

More than half a month passed like a breeze.

During this time,

Chen Xuan devoted nearly all remaining hours every day to repeatedly cultivating the Absorbing Palm.

Moreover, he roughly figured out that,

With the Absorbing Palm at minor achievement, it could absorb roughly around 500 pounds.

Additionally,

He played around with the Absorbing Palm.

Full force absorption, then suddenly stop!

Just like suddenly braking while speeding.

He remembered the first time he tried this trick, it was aimed at a small tree, and instantly, just a crack snap sound, the tree broke into pieces.

If this was directed at a person instead, the effect... would be incredibly fierce!

Besides,

Throughout this time, for the energy within his apertures, he became increasingly adept at controlling.

He even felt that,

The energy in the apertures seemed to have increased slightly.

Of course, apart from the Absorbing Palm, within the half-month he gradually upgraded the Cloud Body Technique and Void-Slicing Blade to minor achievement level.

In just over half a month’s time,

His strength greatly surged.

Previously he had brute strength, but now whether it’s body skill or attack power, they are totally incomparable to before.

At this moment,

In the back garden,

Chen Xuan was just trying to combine Cloud Body Technique with Void-Slicing Blade.

Sweat drenched his whole body.

"Still a bit too much."

Both Cloud Body Technique and Void-Slicing Blade required the energy within the apertures, using them together consumed too much.

"Brother Xuan! Brother Xuan!"

Then, Su Yun’s voice came from nearby.

This little girl hollered noisily, waving at him from afar, shouting loudly.

At this moment,

Su Wanqiu, Liu Rushi, and the little girl walked toward him together.

As soon as she reached him, the little girl couldn’t wait to speak: "Sister Liu said she’ll take us to the county town for a stroll, do you want to go?"