In the room, within the bathroom.
Shen Hex looked at himself in the mirror, a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth, identical to his memory, neither handsome nor ugly. On the whole, he was rather average, except that his body was strong due to the effects of the Yuan-Devouring Skill, not lacking nutrition.
After cleaning the room, Shen Hex took a shower, changed into a new set of clothes, and didn't immediately go out, but silently started gnawing on a compressed biscuit in the room.
He hadn't had a proper meal in a long time.
Due to the huge time flow difference between the Dream Butterfly World and the real world, the rhythm of life here was always tense, especially in the early stages. Even though he had the Yuan-Devouring Skill, which allowed one meal to be equivalent to ten, life was still very difficult.
Basically, he could only wake up for a few minutes each time. Within these few minutes, he had to solve both eating and physiological needs, then promptly re-enter the dream to avoid the Dream Butterfly Body from waiting too long and dying of accidents or thirst.
In the later stage, after the Martial Madman's cultivation improved, the situation got a little better. However, it was not much better because he had to develop forces and frequently encountered technical difficulties, requiring him to wake up and browse for information, juggling both busy sides, more tiring than overtime in his previous life.
Though he endured through it, new problems were now before him, urgently needing his solution.
First is the issue of money.
Why is he gnawing on compressed biscuits in the room?
Because he didn't have much money left.
Although he sold the martial arts hall before traversing, changing it for a sizable sum, being researching data online for both dream development and career planning, a lot of it involved professional knowledge content, requiring payment of extremely high fees.
This severely damaged his wallet, to the point of embezzling funds for tuition fees.
Thus, now he could only gnaw biscuits in the room, unable to go downstairs to the restaurant for a feast.
Even biscuits he couldn't keep gnawing because school is about to start. If he couldn't replenish the tuition and accommodation fees he had used before, then there'll be no way to attend school and stay in dorms; surely can't stay at Yunlan Grand Hotel, have to pivot to the Lower City District.
Though currently, even if he went to Lower City District, he has means to deal with those scoundrels eyeing him, perhaps even rise by chance, seize the moment for development. Still, if such matters can be avoided, it's better to avoid them.
After all, this is the real world, it concerns his life, and the Empire with such monstrosities and various high-tier powerhouses, engaging in illegal activities carries an enormous risk, one wrong step results in being overwhelmed.
Hence, Lower City District or such places should be avoided if possible, none of those messy troubles if not must be provoked.
But without provoking trouble, how could he find someone to make a Scattered Wealth Boy and safely and prudently make money?
Now, this very moment, was just after he'd completed the turn of a Martial Artist, the cultivation level hasn't reached even Inner Strength. Not yet is he a Martial Madman dominating Jianghu, nor the Martial Ancestor commanding much of the world, many methods cannot be employed.
So, what to do then?
Though professionals have many ways to make money, limited by his current situation, seemingly could only...
Shen Hex stood up, tidied up his clothing, and then picked up the room card and his personal items before exiting the room.
...
Yunlan Grand Hotel, named after Yunlan Star, part of the Empire's official background.
Such a level of hotel, fully equipped naturally, with dining areas, entertainment areas, and fitness areas at their disposal. Some professional equipment like Gravity Chambers, even more advanced than specialized martial arts halls and academies.
Shen Hex traveled light, promptly arriving at the fitness area.
The fitness area is only a collective term; it could be subdivided into many zones, with differentiated openness and equipment usage based on customer levels and the housing standard.
Some high-tier customers can even use Space Simulation Devices, simulating various environments or even engaging enemies in combat; not virtual reality games, but real battles that can hone skills and even provide professional experience.
Shen Hex was booked at Yunlan Hotel's lowest tier room, so didn't qualify to enter those high-end training sessions lacking intention either, only honestly arriving at the public fitness area on Layer One.
"Hoo!!"
"Ha!!"
Even on the lowest-tier layer, quite a few professionals were here training, sounds of shouts and cheers rising and falling, some using machinery to temper bodies, others training solo with bare hands, engaging in sparring of fists and feet, or playing with weapon strikes, diverse in action.
It was clear that most were Martial Arts Professionals, or rather, most of the Empire consisted of Martial Arts Professionals. With low entry-level and decent combat strength and a certain development prospect, naturally, it became the common profession.
Shen Hex arrived but didn't train, instead scanning through the crowd, identifying several targets with suitable conditions, then...
"Hm!?"
Zhong Qin frowned, feeling slightly uncomfortable, glanced to the side, seeing a young man standing not far away, smiling while looking at her, gaze thoroughly undisguised.
This made Zhong Qin's frown become even more severe.
She wasn't the type of woman to become greatly displeased by being seen by the opposite sex in the training area, defining the man as a creep.
But this person was too blatant, wasn't he?
Constantly staring at her, what did he mean by this?
Was Yunlan Hotel's personnel management so poor, letting any kind of guy in here?
Had she known, she wouldn't have trained on this layer; it'd be better to open a private room.
Zhong Qin grumbled internally, her actions becoming more unnatural, her fist techniques chaotic.
Just then...
"That's not how you throw a punch."
The voice reached her ears, making her body stiffen and freeze her movements immediately.
Turning his head, the speaker was precisely the young man who seemed bothersome.
Though he was called a young man, he exuded a sense of stability; even in the face of her cold and stern gaze, he remained calm, standing there smiling at her.
"Hmph!"
Zhong Qin snorted coldly, ignoring him. She stopped practicing her punches and turned to leave.
But unexpectedly...
"Xingyi, using form as the trunk, and intent as the root, only when form and intent merge can one grasp the essence. You only possess the form without the intent; even after practicing for ten years, you won't achieve Gang Qi."
The calm words drifted over, causing Zhong Qin to stop instantly, then turn around with a look of suspicion at him: "What did you say?"
"I said you're practicing incorrectly."
Shen Hex walked forward, smiling gently with a calm voice: "Have you considered hiring a coach?"
"A coach?"
Zhong Qin was startled, then realized, eyeing Shen Hex up and down: "You want to be my coach?"
Shen Hex smiled and nodded: "That's right!"
"Just you?"
Zhong Qin looked at him coldly: "What profession are you in? Are you a Samurai or a Martial Artist? What level and rank is your Xingyi Fist skill at, that you dare to come out and offer to be a coach? You're not just putting on a show, are you?"
The tone was quite rude.
It didn't need to be polite. This young-looking guy, coming to the Layer One training area to recommend himself to a girl, seemed completely unreliable.
But it was also understandable. Judging by his attire, his family background seemed average. Coming here to earn some pocket money was understandable.
However, he had approached the wrong person; she wasn't one of those naive girls who could be fooled by vague and general words.
Therefore...
"You can try coaching."
Shen Hex's expression didn't change, remaining composed: "If you're not satisfied, I won't charge."
"..."
Zhong Qin was silent for a moment, looking at him with suspicion, finally saying impulsively: "This is what you said. Don't argue with me later."
"I won't."
Shen Hex shook his head: "Let's book a room."
"Follow me!"
Zhong Qin, seeing this, was straightforward, turned, and walked to the counter to book a small training room.
Money, money, money, a penny can stymie even a hero!
Although the Human Empire is an Overlord Level cosmic civilization, some people's lives remain tough. After all, resources do not materialize out of thin air, and the Empire needs its citizens to feel some pressure; otherwise, who would combat those Cosmic Evil Gods and their minions and lackeys?
So, money is essential, extremely important.
Without money, how can you practice martial arts?
Without money, how can you cultivate immortality?
Without money, how can you be a Professional?
Let's not even talk about practicing martial arts and cultivating immortality, or advancing and transitioning professions. Without sufficient economic power, you can't even survive, especially on a newly developed colonial planet like Yunlan Star, where dangers lurk outside the city. The Native Resistance Army, Cultist Lurkers, and various chaotic elements could easily take a life.
So everyone is living tough, doing their best to make money.
Thinking of this, Zhong Qin couldn't help but doubt if something was wrong with her mind for believing this unimpressive little guy could actually help her and even spending money to book a training room.
In this layer, there were quite a few private coaches soliciting clients like him, all of whom looked more reliable, and she hadn't fallen for any of them. Why did she get swayed by him? This guy wasn't even particularly handsome.
Zhong Qin felt a wave of regret, clouding her mood. Once inside the training room, she turned back: "Remember, if I'm not satisfied I won't pay, and you'll have to split the cost of this training room with me."
"No problem!"
Shen Hex smiled, unconcerned: "Let's start now. With the Twelve Forms of Xingyi Fist, which form do you plan to focus on?"
Zhong Qin glanced at him: "Dragon Form!"
"That would be the Dragon Subduing Skill."
Shen Hex smiled lightly and began to explain to her: "The essence of the Dragon Form lies in subduing, not the external dragon but the dragon within oneself. When you can control your own qi and blood as well as True Power to a desired degree, you can transform into a dragon..."
"I know these theories already."
Zhong Qin, after hearing him, felt even more disappointed: "But what exactly needs to be done to subdue one's qi and blood power?"
"Watch closely!"
Hearing this, Shen Hex was also forthright, directly setting up a stance before her and displaying the Xingyi Dragon Subduing Technique.