Chapter 5: Exploding Fist Martial Arts Hall, Surging Vitality

It is not only the power of hatred that drives progress; love and expectation can do the same! Even with the memories of his past life, if Yang Feng had been born into an unfortunate family, it would have been difficult to ensure his character remained untainted. Having parents who cared for him so deeply, he was determined to provide them with a better life now that he had the opportunity. Yang Feng made this resolution in his heart.

After finishing his meal, Yang Feng made up an excuse to go out for a stroll, leaving his family looking at him with suspicious eyes as he beat a hasty retreat. He had no choice; having suffered from malnutrition since childhood, he had always cherished every bit of his energy, strictly adhering to a principle of energy conservation. In the eyes of his parents and brothers, he was a pure homebody who preferred quiet and avoided physical activity. The fact that he suddenly wanted to go out for a walk surprised them, though they did not stop him. After all, what parents would forbid an eighteen-year-old boy from going out for a walk?

...

Once outside the residential complex, he took out his phone and opened a digital map to search for the nearest martial arts gym. He quickly found one about three kilometers away. In this world, for an ordinary high school student to test their blood-energy level, aside from schools, the Martial Artists Association, and hospitals, the only other option was a private gym. The gym Yang Feng found was called "Crushing Fist Gym." The storefront was not particularly large, but the decor was quite nice. In the past, he would have ignored such places, not only because of his malnutrition but, more importantly, because he could not afford the fees.

Upon reaching the entrance, he noticed the recruitment poster. A quick glance revealed it to be an honest establishment; the owner specialized in the "Crushing Fist" style, hence the name. It was a chain gym, and the introduction suggested it was quite famous in Song City. Furthermore, they were running a promotion: a two-hour membership trial pass for only eighty credits. His pocket savings were just enough, so he chose this gym.

Walking inside, the gym was brightly lit, and the sound of fists striking sandbags echoed periodically. Two pretty receptionists were chatting at the front desk; they stood up immediately to greet him when they saw him enter. One of them asked, "Hello, student, are you here to sign up for our gym?" Because Yang Feng was still wearing his school uniform, she recognized his status as a student at a glance.

Yang Feng did not waste time and got straight to the point. "Hello, I would like to purchase a two-hour trial membership. Can I use the blood-energy meter during this time?"

"Yes, of course. Our members can use the blood-energy meter for free, along with most other equipment. For the few pieces that require a fee, members get a thirty percent discount!" The receptionist did not treat him with perfunctory disdain just because he was a student; instead, she explained the details in a friendly manner.

"Then I'll take a trial pass." After providing his information, he received a membership card.

...

Holding the membership card, he followed the other receptionist into the member rooms. "Member Room No. 6 happens to be empty. It has a blood-energy meter inside. If you don't know how to use it, just let me know, and I'll help you!"

Yang Feng looked at the meter and saw it was the same model as the one at school, so he said, "I know how to use it myself, no need to trouble you."

She replied politely, "Very well, just call me if you need anything!"

After the receptionist left, Yang Feng opened the chamber door and lay inside. There was a start button; after selecting the mode, he closed the door and pressed it. Soon, a blue light scanned him from head to toe. This blood-energy meter was a piece of high-tech equipment in this world; Yang Feng did not know the underlying principles, but as a martial artist, it was enough to know that a higher reading indicated better physical fitness.

Martial arts had developed for many years, and a master once stated that practicing martial arts is the process of constantly tempering the body. While Yang Feng could not fully agree with that statement, he acknowledged its validity; otherwise, the Federal Bureau of Education would not have established blood-energy levels as the admission standard for martial arts universities.

The light scanned slowly. After a minute, the results appeared on the screen: a green value of 1.216! His pupils constricted, and he felt immensely shocked! Due to chronic malnutrition, his blood-energy level had been a pitiful 0.2, but now it had broken through 1! He had only consumed the flesh and blood of two strange turtles in his dreams, and his level had skyrocketed from 0.2 to 1.216! If he hadn't experienced it himself, he would never have believed in such a rapid increase—it was like taking a rocket!

Suppressing his inner excitement, Yang Feng climbed out of the chamber, feeling his confidence surging. This proved that as long as he ate and drank well in his dreams, his blood-energy would continue to improve! The process of hunting in his dreams was not just a feast; it was a form of cultivation!

No one wants to be mediocre, especially not a transmigrator living a second life. Eighteen years of hardship made him realize how difficult everything was. He was now determined: no matter what unknown secrets lay in the dream world, he didn't care. He had to seize this opportunity to make his life in this world worth living. "Eighteen years of mediocrity, today I gain the path to ascend to the heavens!" His heart was filled with wild ambition.

After his emotions settled, he realized only twenty minutes had passed. He still had an hour and a half left on his trial pass. The money was non-refundable, so he had no intention of wasting it. He decided to take a look at the gym's most famous style: the Crushing Fist.

He inserted his card into the computer. It contained a detailed demonstration of the technique. He clicked on it without hesitation. A projection of a middle-aged man with a shaved head appeared in the center of the room. He clasped his hands in a salute and introduced himself: "I am Zhuo Fei, a Tier 3 martial artist and owner of the Crushing Fist Gym. I will now explain the energy circulation routes and key difficulties of practicing the Crushing Fist!"

Zhuo Fei began the demonstration. It had to be said that he certainly had the skills to back his gym's name. In his hands, the Crushing Fist displayed power beyond imagination. Yang Feng estimated that Zhuo Fei had reached the "Advanced Mastery" level.

In this world, mastery of a technique is divided into four levels: Initial, Intermediate, Advanced (also known as "Pure Perfection"), and the final level, Peak (or "Ultimate Mastery"). The biggest difference between each level is the power of the technique. If an Initial level strike deals 100 damage, an Intermediate strike deals 150, and an Advanced strike deals 300. As for the Ultimate level, it deals 500 damage while consuming only one-fifth of the internal energy, with other various benefits that only those at the Martial Artist level can truly understand.

However, among the millions of federal martial artists, finding one who has reached the Peak level is not easy, as it involves a significant time cost. For instance, reaching the Initial level in Crushing Fist is simple—an ordinary person can do it in three weeks. But reaching Intermediate mastery might take half a year, and reaching the Advanced level could take five or six years. As for reaching the Peak level, it is not just a matter of time but of insight. Some people are unlucky and may never reach it in their entire lives. Therefore, it was no small feat that Zhuo Fei had managed to reach the Advanced level.