A Night of Desperation

Weight Training The heavier the load, the greater the power.

Yu Hong carefully memorized the key principles of this leg technique, stood up, and began to assume the stance, attempting to train.

The training method was simple—three moves in total, divided into three stages. The first move focused solely on low sweeping kicks.

The technique involved kicking at the opponent’s lower legs. It seemed to align perfectly with Yu Hong’s natural movements, as every action felt smooth and habitual, as if it was tailor-made for him.

The only additional requirement was to practice alongside visualizing the provided diagrams.

Everything proceeded smoothly. Yu Hong trained daily, focusing on advanced body techniques and the first move of the leg technique from morning until night. Seven days passed before Li Runshan’s mushrooms were ready for harvest. The two traded some fresh mushrooms, which they used to make soup mixed with other ingredients, vastly improving the flavor. This marked their first break in training.

The stone house at the post office, in the yard.

The sky was thick with clouds, threatening rain at any moment.

Yu Hong and Li Runshan stood in the yard, looking down at a yellowish sludge mixed into a muddy mess.

“What exactly is in this stuff?” Yu Hong asked, wrinkling his nose.

“Mushroom scraps, some moss I found, roots, oilseed plant fruits, and feces,” Li Runshan listed casually. “Just like you need wood chips for mushroom cultivation, cockroach farming requires specific additives. You can’t just raise them randomly.”

Yu Hong’s expression turned wooden. He had initially considered farming cockroaches himself, but now it seemed clear—until he had a separate room excavated, he had no intention of attempting it.

“I understand now why people prefer eating lizards,” he sighed.

“Yeah, there’s a big difference between eating poop directly and eating it indirectly,” Li Runshan said with a laugh.

He turned to Yu Hong and asked, “How’s your training going? Remember to eat, drink, and sleep properly. Training without taking care of yourself just harms your body—it’s like burning through your reserves.”

“Not bad. I sleep ten hours a day and eat plenty, so there’s no problem. But when will you teach me slingshot shooting?” Yu Hong asked.

“Wait a bit. First, make a slingshot handle yourself. I’ll give you some elastic bands to use. Practice on your own for a while,” Li Runshan replied with a smile.

“By the way, I’m planning to visit the Pyroxene Mine in a few days. Are you familiar with that place?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Not very,” Yu Hong said, frowning.

“Then how did you get those Great Luminous Stone? You might fool others, but you can’t pull that off with me,” Li Runshan said with a laugh.

Yu Hong stayed silent. His advanced body technique had now condensed four strands of cool energy. As for his leg technique, though he only practiced one move, a week of intensive training had given him a solid grasp.

He had spent his days entirely dedicated to training, aside from basic needs like eating, drinking, and collecting firewood, water, and vegetables.

Meanwhile, the black seal continued strengthening the silver runic arrays. Now, he had four silver arrays, including the one he had previously created, not counting the one behind the door.

The silver arrays had a significant advantage: they could be replenished after use, restoring them to full capacity.

Ordinary runic arrays were more numerous, though Yu Hong had stopped counting them. Whenever he had time, he would strengthen them and pile them in a corner. Unlike the silver arrays, these were consumables—they couldn’t be replenished and were destroyed after use. However, they required less time to make and were useful in emergencies.

“Great Luminous Stone are effective against Ghostly Shadows but struggle against the Evil shadows. You’d need a large quantity to make them effective,” Yu Hong said in a low voice.

“You’re right. Great Luminous Stone aren’t mainly for combating Ghostly or Evil shadows. Their primary use is as additives or catalysts in other production processes. Since the discovery of the Black Disaster a few years ago and the establishment of the Silver Tower, the real treasures have been the Sunlight Series materials,” Li Runshan said, smiling again.

“I’ll soon have some Sunlight Series materials in hand. These are exceptional coatings that can disperse ordinary blood tides and conceal your presence to avoid shadowy apparitions. They can even hold off malevolent shadows for a long time, as long as they’re electrified.”

“Sunlight Series? Are they really that strong?” Yu Hong asked, doubtful.

“The Black Disaster’s first target was Hope City, and so were the Evil shadows. They even unleashed monsters far stronger than the ordinary blood tides. What do you think the nation relied on to survive?” Li Runshan said matter-of-factly. “The threats in major areas are far more than you can imagine.”

“When is the supply convoy arriving?” Yu Hong finally asked.

“Tomorrow. That’s the notified time, but the exact arrival is uncertain. If you have resources to trade, you can come find me. You might get some food or good tools in exchange,” Li Runshan replied.

Yu Hong nodded and left. His main purpose for visiting was to check on the cockroach cultivation, and since everything was progressing smoothly, he was reassured.

Returning to the safety of his cave, Yu Hong resumed training in leg techniques and advanced body methods before shifting his focus to strengthening other items.

Standing at the cave entrance, he used a saw and an axe to fashion some thick wooden planks. These planks weren’t meant for runic arrays but for creating barrel-shaped body armor. However, the process proved challenging, as the planks often cracked. If the supply convoy arrived tomorrow, he planned to trade for bulletproof vests or similar gear.

After a session of woodworking, Yu Hong returned to the cave, confirmed that another ordinary array had been strengthened, and laid out items for further enhancement. Among them, the most critical ones were:

• A solar generator

• A dagger

• A handgun

• A pair of boots

First, he picked up the boots—women’s waterproof leather boots, sturdy and tough.

Examining the dagger alongside the boots, Yu Hong had an idea.

Placing them together, he concentrated and thought, Enhance to create spiked boots I can wear.

He visualized boots with extendable blades, like those from martial arts movies.

The black seal responded: Enhance spiked boots?

This feedback usually indicated the seal could proceed, meaning the items were compatible.

Relieved, Yu Hong looked at the countdown displayed on the boots: 1 day, 3 hours, and 5 minutes.

“Not bad,” he thought, as the countdown began.

Observing the flashing numbers on the boots and dagger, he realized, It seems items placed together can be fused and enhanced. This adds another layer of functionality.

Feeling encouraged, he slept for a while, then woke to train in his leg techniques again.

He had named the technique “Heavy Leg Technique,” a straightforward name that highlighted its focus.

In the cave, Yu Hong practiced low sweeps with both legs, visualizing the diagram in the manual and directing the cool energy within his body to flow through the mapped meridians.

Initially, multitasking was difficult, but after a week, he executed the movements with ease.

He had now reached the point where the fifth strand of cool energy was beginning to form within him.

After practicing for a while, he ate and resumed chiseling stone. As night fell, he trained further in the Heavy Leg Technique.

To master the first move, he needed to coordinate the cool energy with his kicks, achieving an explosive release while aligning with the meridian diagram.

Standing shirtless in the dimly lit cave, Yu Hong contemplated for five minutes before suddenly sweeping his right leg diagonally forward.

Swish!

It felt as though he had struck an invisible opponent’s lower leg. The speed and strength were normal for an average man.

Gathering focus, he swept again.

Thud!

This time, a strand of cool energy surged into his right leg, significantly boosting speed and power.

“Much better with one strand of cool energy. Let’s try two,” he murmured.

He repeated the motion, this time channeling two strands.

Boom!

A muffled noise echoed in the cave, louder than before. The sweeping motion generated an audible gust.

Breathing heavily, Yu Hong remarked, “Two strands are powerful but require intense focus. It’s less convenient than using just one.”

On his third attempt, he tried all four strands.

Swish!

The speed was impressive, but the effort depleted all his cool energy, requiring half a day to recover.

“Too fast a drain. Tomorrow, I’ll test the full power outside,” he thought, glancing at the boots being enhanced.

Excited by the possibilities, Yu Hong rested for the night and set off early the next morning for the stone house near the post office.

From a distance, he spotted a middle-aged man with a large backpack chatting with Li Runshan. The man, with a bushy beard and disheveled hair, looked leaner than Li but exuded a sharp, capable energy.

Keeping a safe distance, the man stood outside the fence. Li Runshan waved enthusiastically as Yu Hong approached.

“Yu, come here! This is Old Zhou. He came with the supply convoy and plans to settle here.”

“Old Zhou?” Yu Hong nodded and studied the man.

“Hello, I’m Yu Hong, a Luminous Stone supplier in the area. Feel free to reach out if you need to trade for Luminous Stone,” Yu Hong introduced himself.

The identity of a Luminous Stone supplier was one he had carefully crafted to maintain cover. After Li Runshan had previously discovered issues with protein bars, Yu Hong became more cautious, refraining from selling enhanced items directly.

Instead, he planned to process Great Luminous Stone into powder and create ordinary runic arrays to sell—a safer and more sustainable business.

“As long as my arrays are slightly better than others, I can secure steady trade,” he thought, strategizing his next moves.

Simply selling Great Luminous Stone is wasteful; using them to create runic arrays is much more practical. They are lighter and far more effective.

(End of Chapter)