Starting with Proficiency Panel-Chapter 612: See the real deal tomorrow morning (new book content)

After hearing what Duan Nantian said, Xiao Qiang hurriedly began breathing according to the Breathing Technique Duan Nantian just taught him. Xiao Qiang forced himself to concentrate, focusing all his thoughts on his breath. "Inhale... and exhale..."

Gradually, Xiao Qiang felt a slight coolness spread over the fiery pain in his body. This coolness began soothing the pain in his muscles and fascia, slowly nurturing every part of his body.

Just as Xiao Qiang was feeling a sense of euphoria, the coolness suddenly vanished. The pain instantly flooded his entire body, causing Xiao Qiang to cry out and collapse on the ground.

At this moment, Duan Nantian looked at Xiao Qiang seriously and said, "That was just a nudge to help you take your first step on the Martial Path. The rest will depend on your own efforts."

After a pause, Duan Nantian continued, "Alright, rest up and go take a shower. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchen."

Xiao Qiang had thought learning martial arts would be tough, but he hadn't expected it to be this hard. A hint of regret flashed through his mind—if he had known, he might not have gone looking for trouble.

But remembering his life in recent years, he thought to himself, if he managed alone all this time, why not endure this hardship? This was an opportunity to transform like a carp into a dragon. As long as he could persevere, he could change his life and no longer worry about food and shelter.

With this thought, Xiao Qiang found determination in his heart. Everyone has a martial arts dream from a young age, dreaming of becoming a Martial Arts Master. Since he had this opportunity, he had to seize it and keep going.

Xiao Qiang slowly got up from the ground and immediately felt his whole body ache. A faint layer of black substance coated his entire body. Enduring the soreness, he went to the courtyard bathroom to take a shower. He found a set of clothes placed beside him, which made Xiao Qiang feel warm inside. After all, from a young age, the warmth Xiao Qiang genuinely experienced was extremely limited, making him feel a bit more attached to his perhaps slightly eccentric mentor.

After getting dressed, Xiao Qiang was about to put on his glasses when he suddenly realized everything before him became exceptionally clear, causing him great excitement. He was certain that the black substance just like in martial arts novels was the Washing Marrow and Shaving Hair process, which returned his body to normal. Finally, he could get rid of those bothersome glasses.

When Xiao Qiang entered the kitchen and checked the time, it was already eight o'clock. He was astonished because, excluding the 20-minute shower, it meant the first technique of the first form his mentor taught him took over two hours. Yet, Xiao Qiang felt only a short time had passed. He realized it was Duan Nantian's guidance that helped him persevere and step onto the Martial Path.

Seeing nothing on the table, Xiao Qiang asked doubtfully, "Master, weren't we supposed to have breakfast in the kitchen? Where's breakfast?"

Duan Nantian, sitting by the table, seemed just to be waiting for Xiao Qiang to ask this. "I just called you to the kitchen to let you cook, of course. Did you think it would fall from Celestial Mountain?"

Duan Nantian continued, "Ahem, since the master has business, it's natural for the disciple to handle such chores."

Xiao Qiang chuckled bitterly and said, "Master, wait a moment."

After saying that, Xiao Qiang headed to the countertop and started busily cooking. Given all these years of living on his own, he had honed his culinary skills quite well.

In no time at all, Xiao Qiang brought out two large bowls of steaming hot egg scallion noodles and a plate of pickled vegetables, and the two of them began noisily slurping their meal.

After breakfast, Duan Nantian contentedly patted his belly and said, "Not bad, not bad. Little Qiang, from now on, you'll be responsible for the meals! If there's nothing going on at school, just stay here. There's only me living in this courtyard, just find a room and tidy it up, hehe, perfect as we don't need to hire any helpers."

Hearing this, Xiao Qiang felt a warmth in his heart and replied without pretense, "As Master arranges."

Xiao Qiang had guessed that Duan Nantian knew he was running out of money, since Duan Nantian, having stealthily followed Xiao Qiang for over a week, was aware of his situation. This offered warmth to Xiao Qiang, who hadn't felt such caring for a long time.

Although this old man was quite the rascal and a stalker, once he took a liking to someone, he treated them exceptionally well. Though Duan Nantian spoke about not needing to hire a helper, he genuinely cared for Xiao Qiang, being one of those people with sharp words but a soft heart.

After a bit of rest, Xiao Qiang bid farewell to Duan Nantian and went back to school to pack his things. Since the courtyard was upstream of the school, the fifteen-minute journey took him only two trips to move all his belongings from the dormitory to the courtyard. He then picked a vacant room and, after about half an hour of cleaning, gazed at his handiwork with a great sense of accomplishment.

Checking the time, he saw that it was Wednesday, precisely nine o'clock. The school has two classes starting at half-past nine, and this class is history, where the professor always takes attendance, so he had to go. Xiao Qiang tidied up and headed straight to the school classroom, randomly choosing a seat once he arrived.

"Eh, Little Qiang, it's been a few days, how come your skin got so fair?"

A voice suddenly emerged from beside him—it was Zhang Jie, Xiao Qiang's roommate. As mentioned earlier, Xiao Qiang has three local, day-student roommates: Wang Chao, Ma Han, and Zhang Jie.

Zhang Jie is the only roommate with whom Xiao Qiang could somewhat converse. The other two immediately went home after class and rarely returned to the dormitory, barely acquaintances.

Xiao Qiang touched his face, "Really? Hearing you say it, I do feel it's the case. It seems heaven is not satisfied with my handsome looks and wants to add some more shine!"

Xiao Qiang thought privately that it was certainly due to the black substance expelling this morning, causing a Washing Marrow and Shaving Hair process. But aren't the novels supposed to say that after this process, one should gain strength and muscles? Why did his skin only become fairer?

Zhang Jie remarked with a look of disdain, "Okay, cut it out, even if you look like this, you still can't find a girlfriend!"

This is where we bring up our protagonist. Xiao Qiang, male, 19 years old, 175 centimeters tall, neither fat nor thin, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, short hair exuding vigor, and a high, sharp nose. At first glance, he looks quite ordinary, but he's the type who grows more attractive the more you look.

At this moment, the bell rang. Because this class was taught by an extremely strict History Professor, in his classes, you couldn't talk or play with your phone. If caught, you could kiss your credits goodbye. There were such precedents; reportedly, a guy got busted for playing with his phone in this class, ended up staying late in school during his senior year learning classical ancient texts. He wouldn't deduct your credits, but would treat you individually, and come the end of term, you'd be greeted with an exceptionally challenging historical examination to complete.