The real world, early morning.
Lin Zhao, Shen Xingchen, Chen Xue, Ding Chi, and others were about to have a morning meeting before going online. The so-called morning meeting was just having breakfast and chatting. So, Wang Ju, with Xiao Juzi, had breakfast early and then took Xiao Juzi to school, leaving the entire living room for everyone.
Lin Zhao held a fried dough stick and drank white porridge.
"Brother, want a braised duck leg?" Luo Man said.
"Mm, thanks, Manman!"
Lin Zhao held a duck leg and drank white porridge. He couldn't help it; practicing martial arts consumed energy, and the psychological suggestion had already affected reality. He had to eat more, or he wouldn't have the strength to practice when he went online later.
"Let's talk about the recent plans."
Chen Xue pursed her red lips and said, "Now that everyone has basically figured out the systems in 'Tian Xia,' it's not much different from previous games. It's just leveling up, getting equipment, doing quests, and learning skills, improving yourself step by step. But after the current version, with the opening of the realm and sect systems, it's completely different. Sect skills, magical artifacts, realms, plus equipment, are the four factors that affect overall strength, and none can be lacking. So, we all need to hurry."
"The key is still the sect system."
Shen Xingchen said, "Currently, in the studio's sect system, only Lin Zhao is stable. Although he doesn't have a master, he has Shan Dian Bie Yuan, so he lacks no cultivation resources. But we are different. We are not from Shan Dian Bie Yuan and still need to be proactive in finding masters. As I said before, it's best to find a master who can reach the five realms, so you'll get more and better resources."
"Alas..."
Zhang Jun sighed, "Actually, I had a chance, but I missed a great opportunity."
"How so?"
Lin Zhao asked, "Dajun, you almost became a disciple?"
"Mm."
"Explain in detail!"
"Alas!"
Zhang Jun sighed again and said, "It was a misty afternoon. I teleported to Chun'an City to do a quest. While taking a small boat across a lake, I saw an NPC in a green dress walking on the water. When I got closer, I realized she was incredibly beautiful, carrying a sword. She walked towards me on the water and asked me for directions, asking how to get to a town within Chun'an City's jurisdiction."
"And then?" Ding Chi asked, picking his nose.
Zhang Jun said regretfully, "It's all my fault for being too shy. After telling her the direction, I didn't have the courage to say more. Otherwise, I would have succeeded in becoming a disciple. You wouldn't believe who that woman was."
"Who?"
Chen Xue asked.
Zhang Jun showed a look of longing, "The chief disciple of Lingyan Sword Sect, an eleven-realm sword immortal, Chen Mengjun, from Wangxin Lake in Furongzhou!!"
As he spoke, he clasped his head with both hands and yelled frantically, "Ahhhhhhh!" Then he said, "Why was I so damn shy back then? I could have just spoken up, and it would have been over in a word. If she wanted Golden Cicada Coins, I would have sold everything to get them. But if I had become Chen Mengjun's disciple, it would have been incredible."
"Alas, Dajun!"
Lin Zhao looked at him with a pained expression, slapped the table, and said, "What are you shy about? Next time you see her, just go up and ask, 'Mengjun, do you want to be my master?' You'll probably succeed!"
"Is that for real!?"
Zhang Jun looked at him doubtfully and said, "Azhao, you have wide connections and have met many at the five realms. Have you perhaps met Chen Mengjun?"
"Will you be sad if I say I have?" Lin Zhao asked.
"Yes."
Zhang Jun pointed at Lin Zhao's face, "How can such an ugly fellow like you have the chance to meet my Fairy Chen by chance!"
"You damn it..."
Lin Zhao drooped his face, "Then I haven't met her. I'm not familiar with Chen Mengjun."
"Baldy."
Luo Man slapped the table, her beautiful eyes glaring at Zhang Jun, "Who did you call ugly?"
Mo Chenxue also stood up, but without slamming the table, lacking the confidence, she purely lent support to Luo Man.
Zhang Jun immediately put his hands together and buried his face on the table, repeatedly apologizing to the two little ancestors.
Chen Xue couldn't bear to watch and said, "In short, everyone should think of a way recently. Learn from our alliance leader, travel more in the martial world. We can no longer play this 'Tian Xia' with old concepts, or we will eventually fall behind. If you need funds for apprenticeship, you can apply to the studio. As long as it's not too exaggerated, I will approve it."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded heavily, "Everyone, keep it up! I'm going online to practice boxing too!"
"After practicing for so many days, have you made any progress?" Shen Xingchen asked.
Lin Zhao looked at her, his old face blushing, "No..."
Shen Xingchen looked at him playfully, "Humph~~~"
...
Going online, Lin Zhao went straight to the mountaintop of Shan Dian Bie Yuan to continue practicing his boxing.
At noon, Dong Cang floated over, carrying a bamboo basket with two layers of food boxes.
"Young master."
"Mm, Dong Cang!"
Dong Cang didn't disturb him. He put down the things and left. Today's dishes were even richer: a roasted chicken, a stewed pig trotter, a plate of beef, a braised carp. In addition, there was a large bowl of white fish soup and a stack of steamed buns. The aroma wafted with the wind, so Lin Zhao didn't stand on ceremony today. With delicacies before him, he couldn't refuse. So, he turned around to eat.
But just as he picked up a steamed bun, he heard the sound of heavy breathing like a bellows from the cliff. Then, that familiar figure reappeared on the cliff. The old apothecary, carrying a bamboo basket, came again, panting. A white ape jumped down from the tree behind him.
Again?
Lin Zhao's heart tightened. It's over, he wouldn't be able to eat this meal!
The old apothecary scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "Young man, I accidentally got lost again and ended up here. My stomach... I haven't eaten for two or three days. Look..."
"Let's eat together."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Old sir, there's no need to be polite. I can't finish it all by myself anyway."
"Thank you, young man!"
The old apothecary nodded with a smile and sat down by the stone. He intended to be polite, but his stomach rumbled loudly, so he couldn't. He immediately began to gobble down the food. The white ape also came and grabbed food with its hands. When the four dishes, one soup, and a stack of steamed buns were all wiped clean, Lin Zhao only managed to eat one steamed bun and a few slices of beef!
However, he could see that the old apothecary was truly starving. His face was almost contorted. And after eating, he was still polite. The old apothecary looked at Lin Zhao, then at the empty dishes. He took out a handful of herbs from his bamboo basket and said, "Although these herbs are not rare treasures, they can still be sold for some money at the pharmacy... How about it, young man?"
The old gentleman is quite decent.
"No need!"
Lin Zhao smiled, "Old sir, no need to be polite. I can still afford these foods!"
"Then... thank you, young man!"
The old apothecary rested for a while and left again with the white ape.
Lin Zhao then resumed practicing his boxing, unable to break through again.
...
The third day.
Lin Zhao was still practicing boxing on the mountaintop until noon. Dong Cang delivered more delicious food. As Lin Zhao took a big bite of a steamed bun and ate a chicken leg, he couldn't help but look north. Still no movement? He actually felt unaccustomed to it. Then, just as Lin Zhao took a second bite of the steamed bun, he heard panting sounds from the cliff again. The old apothecary sat down on the cliff with a thud, his breathing heavy. Climbing the mountain had made his face extremely ruddy. After placing his bamboo basket behind him, he lay down.
"Young man, I'm exhausted today, this old man."
"Old sir, come and eat."
The old apothecary flipped over and got up with surprising agility. Then, he appeared on Lin Zhao's left and right sides with the white ape. The familiar scene began again. Dishes of delicacies were devoured in a flash. As for Lin Zhao, he only ate a small amount before it was all gone. When it came to eating, the old apothecary and the white ape were both at least thirteen realms.
"Oh dear, I'm exhausted, this old man."
The old apothecary lay down on the stone and said, "I'm going to take a nap. Young man, you continue practicing your boxing. Don't mind this useless old man."
"Alright, old sir."
Lin Zhao smiled. The old gentleman is a mortal, and it's normal for him to be physically weak. In fact, given his age, it's already remarkable that he could climb to the summit of Xue Yu Tian Chi.
A while later, Dong Cang arrived and smiled, "Young master, shall I clean up the dishes?"
"Mm, thank you for your hard work."
So, Dong Cang cleaned up the dishes and left with the bamboo basket.
Not far away, the old gentleman and the white ape who were lying on the stone and snoring loudly seemed to have gone completely unnoticed by Dong Cang.
After several rounds of the Nine Farmers' Fist, Lin Zhao was also panting from exhaustion. He clearly felt that the boxing intent within him had long been very strong. Forget about a first-realm martial artist; even a third-realm martial artist might not have such dense boxing intent. But alas, his cultivation foundation was there, yet he couldn't break through the bottleneck, couldn't return to the martial path.
Although his will was strong, he still felt a sense of frustration.
Looking at the old apothecary and the white ape snoring loudly in the distance, Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle lightly. He then lay down on the rock by the cliff. Since it was like this, he might as well go with the flow. If he was tired, he'd just sleep.
...
A while later, the exhausted Lin Zhao fell into a deep sleep.
In his dream, he stood in a chaotic land, his body surging with powerful boxing intent, but he couldn't break free. As he looked up, he saw a ray of golden lightning descend from the sky, directly cleaving the chaos between heaven and earth. Immediately, an old man emerged from the golden light, his hands behind his back, his body radiating immense and heavy boxing intent, walking towards him with a smile.
He looked at Lin Zhao and smiled, "In the beginning, there was no martial path or boxing techniques. I myself forged a way."
This old man, radiating transcendent boxing intent and immense boxing aura, wasn't it the old apothecary?
"Lin Zhao."
The old apothecary smiled slightly and said, "I've eaten your food and drink for three meals. It wouldn't be right not to give you a token of appreciation. Consider it your fate to be connected with the pinnacle of martial arts. I will bestow this wisp of chaotic boxing intent upon you."
Saying this, the elder raised his hand and sent a golden wisp of boxing intent into Lin Zhao's glabella.
The next moment, boundless boxing aura erupted within his body. His meridians were fully opened, and wisps of fiery true qi circulated wildly within him. As Lin Zhao suddenly sat up from the ground in shock, he had already become a first-realm martial artist. And behind him, the old apothecary and the white ape who had been sleeping soundly were long gone.
He was stunned.
This was... meeting a master?