Although the mission to retrieve the secret scroll had been a success, Xiao Wuchen's life appeared to remain unchanged. He continued to wear his plain servant's uniform and shuttled between the logistics room and the laundry room, performing menial tasks. In the sinister power arena of the Inner Palace, a high profile meant certain death. The Chief Evil-Slaying Steward's 'balancing of merits and demerits' provided the perfect cover, making everyone believe that Xiao Wuchen was just an ordinary servant who had been chosen by the Chief Evil-Slaying Steward on a whim before being demoted back to his original position. However, unnoticed by anyone, Xiao Wuchen's inner world was undergoing a transformation. In the dead of night, he curled up on the simple bed in the corner of the servants' room, his consciousness sinking into the system as he began to analyse the 'Basic Internal Energy Advanced Chapter'. [System analysing 'Basic Internal Energy Advanced Chapter'...] [The advanced chapter aims to consolidate and strengthen the foundation of internal energy, increasing the sustainability of internal energy circulation and explosive potential during accumulation.] A stream of obscure and difficult-to-understand internal energy circulation routes and breathing techniques flooded his mind as the system began cultivation simulation and guidance. While the Basic Internal Energy had taught him how to perceive and gather the primordial energy of heaven and earth, the advanced version taught him how to 'refine Qi into silk, weaving meridians'. During his daily breaks from work, he practised silently according to the methods in the advanced version. In the morning, while carrying water: He channelled his energy into his arms, practising the stable output of internal energy. In the afternoon, while washing clothes, he practised the rapid circulation of internal energy within his body. By coordinating the scrubbing motion. At night, while meditating: He guided his internal energy to cleanse his meridians and expand his dantian. As his cultivation deepened, he felt the faint 'qi' within his dantian begin to solidify and grow stronger. The internal energy that could originally only support a few Flying Swallow Acupoint Strike attacks now had significantly improved endurance. System monitoring: True Qi value (INT) has begun to slowly increase.
Current True Qi: 3 -> 3.5
[Movement Enhancement: Utilising Ultimate Agility] In addition to internal energy cultivation, the permanent +1 Agility (SPD) boost is even more noticeable.
One night, in the abandoned backyard of the manor, Xiao Wuchen practised his movement techniques in secret. His Agility had now reached eight points, surpassing the level typically attained by ordinary martial artists.
When he performed the [Flying Swallow Acupoint Strike] again, he no longer needed to consciously 'explode' with speed; that extreme swiftness had become ingrained in his blood and muscle memory.
He could perform continuous S-shaped changes of direction in extremely small spaces, and his starting speed was almost 30% faster than before. Most importantly, his attack accuracy and evasive judgement had become even more impressive.
'The faster the speed, the greater the load on the body, especially the joints and heart meridians.'
He recalled the tearing sensation he experienced when his body neared its limit while fighting Fang Xiong.
[System-Assisted Training: Through high-intensity running and pausing, train the explosive power and cushioning capacity of the leg muscles to adapt to the instantaneous acceleration brought by 8 points of Agility. Xiao Wuchen repeatedly sprinted, stopped and turned in the darkness like a tireless machine. He knew that, when combined with the sustained true energy of his advanced internal energy cultivation, this seemingly simple agility would truly allow him to achieve 'swift as a ghost, injuring the enemy invisibly'.
[The Aftermath of the Jianghu Turmoil]
During his secluded training, he also heard from the servants about the fate of 'Iron Arm' Fang Xiong.
When Fang Xiong was found, his right leg was badly injured, leaving him completely disabled and abandoned in Qifeng Tower. The imperial court swiftly purged his backers, while he himself was secretly brought back and is rumoured to be undergoing brutal interrogation.
Xiao Wuchen was sent a chill down his spine by this news: the Evil-Slaying Steward's methods were indeed meticulous. If Fang Xiong, a top-ranked expert, died, it would inevitably attract the attention of even more masters in the Jianghu. However, if he survived his injury, he would become a bargaining chip in the hands of the Inner Palace, deterring the wicked.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wuchen continued to play his most inconspicuous role as executor, sweeping the floor and fetching water, as if nothing had happened.
Xiao Wuchen gazed at the night sky, his eyes flashing with ambition.
He wielded advanced internal energy and possessed extreme speed. Soon, his identity as a menial servant would no longer confine him.
A new mission could arrive at any moment.