The next morning.

Jiang Ping opened his eyes and stretched lazily.

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Although he was almost woken up by a slap last night, he still felt refreshed overall.

The fatigue from yesterday's training had completely dissipated, leaving him feeling invigorated and full of energy.

He dressed and took a towel outside to wash up.

By this time, the washing area was already crowded with people.

Jiang Ping noticed that they were all using willow twigs to rinse their mouths, while he brushed his teeth with salt, making him seem a bit out of place.

"Does using salt work well?" someone asked him, and several others looked over curiously.

"It's alright," Jiang Ping replied.

He knew that poor people generally couldn't afford to use salt for rinsing. His former coworkers also used willow twigs, but because his ancestors were once wealthy, and his parents taught him, he hadn't changed his method.

"I'll buy some to try next time," Liu Wensheng said, looking at the wooden twig in his hand.

"See you later." After washing up, Jiang Ping headed back to the dormitory.

Unlike Luo Tiegen, the others were more restrained and didn't ask him for anything.

He was too poor, and the salt he had was only enough for himself for a month or so.

Just as he entered the dormitory, he saw Luo Tiegen and his fellow townsman about to go wash up.

Luo Tiegen looked at Jiang Ping as if he were cheese, his eyes lighting up as he said, "Brother Jiang, lend me some salt."

"No," Jiang Ping refused flatly.

He was actually a kind and easy-going person, but he wasn't a fool.

The other day, Luo Tiegen had already borrowed some salt, and during training, he wanted Jiang Ping to help guide his fellow townsman in the Nourishing Life Art.

And today, he still wanted to borrow his salt.

Jiang Ping understood that this person was someone who would take advantage of others.

If he chose to be generous now, half of his salt would inevitably end up being used by the other person.

Moreover, Jiang Ping had noticed that Luo Tiegen had spent extra money on beef for both lunch and dinner the previous day.

With that money, couldn't he buy some salt?

He simply thought that since Jiang Ping had agreed to lend salt the first time, he was easy to talk to, and thus kept testing his limits, trying to take more advantage.

But how could Jiang Ping agree? They had only known each other for two days, far from being 'friends.'

Luo Tiegen's hand, reaching for the salt, froze in mid-air, creating an awkward atmosphere.

"Use mine, I bought some," his fellow townsman stepped in to smooth things over.

"Daniu, you bought salt?" Luo Tiegen's awkwardness vanished instantly, and he turned to look at Luo Daniu, ignoring Jiang Ping.

Daniu glanced at Jiang Ping walking away and said, "I saw Brother Jiang using salt to rinse his mouth yesterday, so I went out and bought some myself last night to see how it works."

See, this is someone who knows boundaries. If he wanted to try salt, he wouldn't ask others for it; he'd buy it himself.

Speaking of which, it was Luo Daniu who stopped Sun Zheng last night, preventing that slap from happening.

However, Sun Zheng still asked about his situation today.

"Didn't feel anything," Jiang Ping wouldn't tell the truth to a fool, so he casually brushed it off.

After tidying up a bit, Jiang Ping headed to the dining hall.

He couldn't miss the free meals at the escort agency, so he chose to go early.

But there were already some who arrived before him.

Fortunately, the dining hall opened early too, and soon, Jiang Ping was enjoying fresh, hot beef.

After the meal, he went to the Martial Training Ground to practice the Nourishing Life Art.

The escort masters wouldn't supervise them daily anymore; now, training was entirely up to their own initiative.

As he performed the movements of the Nourishing Life Art, a thread of Blood Qi flowed through his body, and the Fate in his mind flickered slightly:

[Nourishing Life Art 2nd Layer (13/100): Practice ten times a day, half a month to mastery]

The effect of the Fate couldn't be wrong; it was his body that was the issue.

His talent was too strong!

[Nourishing Life Art 2nd Layer (13/100) → Nourishing Life Art 2nd Layer (14/100)]

[...]

After the first round, his proficiency increased to twenty.

The second round added another eight points.

After six rounds, the progress of the second layer was already more than halfway.

"After six rounds, I can't practice anymore, and the effectiveness of the training has diminished. The increase in proficiency never exceeded nine points per round."

"Indeed, each layer of the Nourishing Life Art is harder than the last. Otherwise, the escort agency wouldn't have only a few people who became martial artists."

"But with my talent, I'll soon break through to the second layer, increasing my fist strength by forty pounds!"

Jiang Ping pondered, his eyes filled with anticipation.

With his talent, how long would it take to become a martial artist?

A month?

......

The day passed quickly.

Jiang Ping progressed rapidly, just two points shy of mastering the second layer.

At the same time, he discovered a trait about himself: practicing three times a day, he was more enduring in the morning, but by afternoon and evening, he would tire easily, with the afternoon being the shortest.

It likely had to do with his innate talent.

However, despite this curiosity, Jiang Ping dared not ask the head escort, lest he expose himself.

So, he simply stopped digging for answers. As long as he progressed quickly, every day was filled with hope.

The only downside was that he went to bed early and was almost woken up by noise again.

In a ten-person dormitory, it was simply too crowded, and Jiang Ping longed to break through to the fourth layer and get a room of his own.

This time, Sun Zheng still asked everyone one by one after everyone had gathered.

Except for Qian Dele, who said he felt something, everyone else reported no unusual sensations.

Of course, this time Sun Zheng didn't try to wake Jiang Ping.

Jiang Ping drifted back to sleep in a daze.

When he opened his eyes again, it was another sunny day.

"Comfortable," Jiang Ping yawned.

Honestly, ever since he started practicing, his sleep had become more restful each day, washing away all fatigue and filling him with energy.

After breakfast.

At the Martial Training Ground.

Not long after Jiang Ping began his first round of the Nourishing Life Art:

[Nourishing Life Art 2nd Layer (99/100) → Nourishing Life Art 3rd Layer (0/100)]

[Nourishing Life Art 3rd Layer (0/100): Practice ten times a day, one month to mastery!]

At that moment, the Blood Qi within him surged, multiplying from one thread to three.

With each breath, the Blood Qi ebbed and flowed.

Jiang Ping realized that he was becoming increasingly adept at utilizing his Blood Qi.

He also felt that this Blood Qi was the source of his strength. As long as he kept the Blood Qi surging within, his whole body felt like it was boiling, as if he had endless energy. Once the Blood Qi calmed, that sense of power would vanish.

"So that's it. The surge of Blood Qi marks the beginning of the body's display of strength. When I unleash one thread of Blood Qi, it's the power of the first layer of the Nourishing Life Art; three threads equate to the second layer."

Jiang Ping pondered, then his face lit up with joy.

As long as he unleashed his Blood Qi during the next Fist Strength Test, he could definitely rank in the top five and earn extra food supplements while concealing his true strength.

It was a win-win!

Jiang Ping was quite excited.

It was only the beginning of the third day, and he had already mastered two layers of the Nourishing Life Art and found a way to avoid standing out!

He glanced at his Fate with some disdain.

According to the Fate, it would take him at least a year and a half to become a martial artist.

Luckily, he was a genius!

Of course, it couldn't be said that the Fate was useless; it should ensure his upper limits.

"By the way, how long will it take them to reach the first layer?"

Jiang Ping glanced around.

Everyone was focused on practicing the Nourishing Life Art, but after two days, there seemed to be no news of anyone reaching the entry level.

"I really am a genius!" Jiang Ping thought to himself.

But this leisurely state of mind crumbled by the afternoon.

"I sensed the Blood Qi! I sensed the Blood Qi!"

A voice full of surprise echoed across the Martial Training Ground, leaving everyone stunned.

"So soon?" Jiang Ping blurted out.

No way, someone had reached the entry level already?

Wasn't the Nourishing Life Art supposed to be difficult? It was only the third day.

Jiang Ping looked towards the source of the voice and saw a tall figure gesturing excitedly to those around him.

It was Sun Qi, who had ranked in the top five in the previous Fist Strength Test.

"Impressive!" Jiang Ping praised, suddenly feeling the pressure.

Indeed, even though he had some talent, he couldn't be too complacent. There was always someone better!

Though Sun Qi had just reached the entry level, he couldn't be underestimated.

Of course, Sun Qi ate an extra serving of beef at every meal; otherwise, Jiang Ping was confident he could train even faster!

However, the disparity in food supplements would be evened out by tomorrow.

......

At the Martial Training Ground, Sun Qi had become the center of attention, with some surprised, some envious, and others rushing to congratulate and get close to him.

After the commotion, everyone seemed invigorated, practicing with renewed vigor.

Even Jiang Ping, feeling the pressure, practiced the Nourishing Life Art an extra round.

"You're quite diligent today. Feeling the pressure?" Liu Wensheng chuckled lightly beside him.

The only ones who caught his attention, besides the top ranks in fist strength, were this pretty boy in front of him.

No choice, in a group of toads, a second frog stood out, hard not to notice.

"Yeah," Jiang Ping nodded, slumping to the ground, panting and drenched in sweat.

How could he not feel the pressure? He was only at the second layer, and someone had already reached the entry level. Clearly, he wasn't talented enough and needed to work harder to widen the gap by two layers!

If Liu Wensheng could hear Jiang Ping's thoughts at that moment, he might have wanted to beat him to death.

Listen, is that even human talk?