0047 - Training Montage?

Lu Sheng thought for a moment and then nodded, determined to face his fears and take on the challenges ahead.

"Wait," Lu Sheng said, his voice filled with hesitation.

[Why do you change your mind so much? Why so much doubt?]

"No, no, no doubt, I just want to prepare more," Lu Sheng replied, wanting to ensure he was ready.

[Okay, that's not a bad idea.]

"Let's check other rooms and see what else we can gather and prepare," Lu Sheng suggested, eager to investigate further.

[Agreed.]

He went to the Martial Room first, which looked like a sparring dojo room, but a large cupboard was in the corner. He quickly opened it and found several sparring weapons.

"Swords, spear, daggers, staff, bow and arrows. Let's take it all," Lu Sheng said decisively, swiping them all into his spatial ring. He pulled the sword out and swung it, trying to look like a cool hero.

[They are sparring weapons, blunt and useless, but it's better than nothing,] 

The Automated System noticed.

Lu Sheng quickly checked, and yes, the edge was blunt, not even good enough to cut vegetables, let alone fight with. However, he did not mind. In the above racks of the cupboard, there were some books, they were thick, dusty, and old, and a jade slip.

"Quickly read them. Automate it," Lu Sheng commanded, eager to learn more.

[Automation initiated.]

Within a minute, he was done reading the thick book and the Jade slip.

[This is a good book, it's about all the Martial Arts of Mortal Initiative. The book feels closer to one of your memories about Shaolin Martial art, the breathing, meditation, the struggle and cultivating the dew of essence,]

"Dew? Not Dao?" Lu Sheng asked, slightly confused.

[No, this book is about cultivation for those who would never be able to break their Mortal shell, never be able to cross the Mortal Initiative. They are practically calling or rather accepting that they will never be able to cross, so they learn to be frugal with essence. So the amount they cultivate in their lifetime is equivalent to a dew, that's why they call it the dew of essence,]

"Frugal?" Lu Sheng inquired, wanting more details.

[Yes, they do not have the luxury to use essence like all the people around you are able to do. So the jade slip is filled with a more practical approach to martial art instead of the magical nature of essence. Here, let me show you,] 

The System explained as Lu Sheng's vision got filled with images of Shaolin-style martial arts.

"Will this be useful?" Lu Sheng asked, evaluating the information.

[Tremendously.]

"Show me. Automate it," Lu Sheng commanded, eager to witness its glory.

[Automation initiated.]

His body suddenly took an eagle-like stance as his head got closer to the ground while both of his hands raised backwards like wings, his fingers claw-shaped, ready to grip or strike. With a quick motion of his hand, a wooden staff materialized from his spatial ring into his hand, his body twirling it with finesse and speed. The staff danced in his hands, delivering powerful strikes and fluid jabs.

Next,a sword, the blunt blade gleaming in the dim light. With precise movements, he sliced through the air, each stroke filled with deadly precision. His footwork was accurate, his fat body moving with agility and grace.

Then, he switched to daggers, dashing around the room he delivered rapid strikes and did evasive maneuvers. The daggers felt like part of his own hands as he moved with effortless grace.

"WHOA! NICE! I know Kung Fu!" Lu Sheng said in a husky smoldering voice, trying to mimic a famous actor but started panting, a few seconds of practice made him tired immediately.

[The Jade slip is filled with thousands of instructions with clear instructions, not like flowery words of cultivation methods we have read so far. Except for the Eternal Life Core Elixir Method, Physician Hong has written straightforward words, but it still gets a little confusing with the choices of words.]

"It seems the trash of these people will be my gold," Lu Sheng said, recognizing the value of his previous life knowledge in this world.

[In a way, yes, but nothing can compare against raw power, that's why Spirit Essence cultivation is superior.]

"Let's check out the Pill crafting room too," Lu Sheng suggested, eager to explore further.

As he entered the Pill Crafting room, it was much less than what he was given in his courtyard. Not many ingredients, one Pill Cauldron, and the room was also much smaller.

He looked through everything and there was nothing much which he hasn't read about it so far.

"Can we make some pills too?" Lu Sheng asked, hopeful.

[Of course, let's give it a try.]

"Yes!" Lu Sheng clenched his fist, eager to be a Pill Genius too. "Which Pill?"

[We need cultivation resources, so let's make Spirit Nourish Pill.]

"Yes, Automate it," Lu Sheng commanded.

[Automation Initiated.]

His body moved and started following the pill recipe of Spirit Nourish Pill, after gathering all the ingredients as this was a very simple recipe, his body moved to light up the furnace.

"Wait," Lu Sheng said, an idea forming in his mind.

[What is it?]

"You made that Spirit Bead out of thin air, could you not follow the same method and make this pill like it?" Lu Sheng asked, his eyes shining with excitement at his idea.

[I didn't make it out of thin air, I pulled every ounce of Spirit Essence from you to make it. But, your idea is fascinating, yes, let me give it a try.]

His body moved on its own again, but this time it collected all the ingredients in his palm and squeezed it tightly as Lu Sheng felt the flow of Spirit Essence within himself. 

His hands started to heat up as he felt his fingers were burning, he endured it, but the pain was too much.

"Wait," Lu Sheng quickly opened his palm, sending all the pill ingredients scattering across the floor. His palm steaming, far more red than his already red skin, multiple blisters popped up on his palm. "This is too much," he exclaimed in pain. "Do you have any other ideas?" A green, verdant essence covered his palm as it slowly healed his wound.

[It was your idea, but you are right. Pill crafting usually needs a high temperature, and that's why a Pill Cauldron is used. Maybe your idea is not useful.]

"You lack imagination. How about using the Pill Cauldron?" Lu Sheng suggested, confident in his solution as he enjoyed the cool sensation of the Eternal Life Core Elixir essence.

The Automated System immediately understood what Lu Sheng meant by it.