“Argh!”
In the gym, Li Feng roared, fully activating all the residual medicinal power stored in his body, transforming it into qi energy. After three days and two nights of relentless body refining, he had finally reached his body’s current limit.
Through grueling effort, Li Feng broke through to the third layer of the Mysterious Heaven Body Refining Technique. At this moment, he felt the qi within him growing denser.
Though painful, Li Feng deemed it worthwhile. Especially after breaking through to the third layer of body refining, his physical strength and internal qi energy had increased several times, comparable to his peak existence in his previous life.
Exhausted, Li Feng collapsed onto the floor, nearly limp. It took a full hour to regain some strength. Beyond the sense of abundant power, another feeling emerged: hunger.
He suddenly realised that, aside from eating a few packs of compressed biscuits during training, he hadn’t eaten in a long time.
As he prepared to step out, he noticed a foul smell on himself, nearly making him gag.
Cleansing the marrow and refining the tendons—this was it.
Li Feng hadn’t expected body refining to have this effect. Immediately, excitement surged within him. As a martial artist, he knew well the benefits of marrow cleansing and tendon refining.
Even in his previous life, where genetic modification was widespread, marrow cleansing was essential for a martial artist to reach higher realms.
Everyone is born with innate qi, but infants cannot harness it, leading to its loss. From his previous life to now, Li Feng had never met anyone who retained their innate qi.
However, in the eyes of ancient martial artists, some could preserve it. These were people born for martial arts, cultivating with twice the results for half the effort. If one could utilise innate qi, their martial arts realm could reach unprecedented heights.
Li Feng didn’t understand innate qi fully, but from scientific research in his previous life, he knew humans are born with it. As they breathe and interact with the world, their bodies become polluted, accumulating impurities that constantly harm them. According to the Human Science Academy’s report from his previous life, without these impurities, human lifespans could extend by centuries.
Centuries—an unimaginable feat, even in his genetically advanced era.
For martial artists, marrow cleansing occurred a few times during cultivation, with the first typically upon breaking through to the Innate Realm.
Li Feng hadn’t anticipated achieving this during body refining, something unimaginable before. Overwhelmed with joy, he knew the Acquired Realm was foundational for martial artists. Marrow cleansing at this stage brought unexpected benefits.
Though he didn’t believe he could achieve an innate body, multiple marrow cleansings gave him confidence to surpass his previous life’s peak.
After a shower in the bathroom and changing clothes, Li Feng looked in the mirror and sighed. In his previous life, hovering on the edge of life and death, his skin was bronzed. Now, especially after marrow cleansing, his skin was flawless and fairer than a woman’s—a true “pretty boy.”
Pretty boy? Li Feng gave a wry smile. With this skin, he’d surely be mistaken for one. Perhaps this was the only side effect of marrow cleansing.
Leaving the villa, he drove his QQ to a nearby restaurant. Though the villa had plenty of food, meat was scarce, and he needed substantial meat to replenish his energy.
Yumixiang was an upscale restaurant not far from the villa. His predecessor had visited a few times and enjoyed the food. After leaving the villa, Li Feng arrived at Yumixiang.
“Young Master Feng,” the waitress, recognising him, greeted politely.
“Get me a private room,” Li Feng said, glancing at the busy dining hall, still crowded despite the lunch rush.
“Young Master Feng, please follow me,” the waitress said, leading him to a second-floor private room. “Is this room satisfactory, Young Master Feng?”
Li Feng nodded, took the menu, ordered several dishes, and said, “Bring them quickly.”
“Understood. Young Master Feng, how many people in total?” the waitress asked.
“Just me,” Li Feng replied, sitting down and pouring himself a cup of tea, its rich aroma filling the air.
“One… one person?” The waitress stared, shocked, doubting her ears. The dishes Li Feng ordered were enough for ten.
“Is there a problem?” Li Feng frowned.
“Young Master Feng, are you okay?” the waitress asked with concern. Familiar with his predecessor, she knew he came from a wealthy family but was approachable, not arrogant (timid and weak). She often saw him bullied, so she worried he might be distressed.
“What could be wrong? Hurry and serve the food,” Li Feng said, slightly annoyed.
“Alright,” the waitress replied, concerned but complying as she arranged for the dishes.
Soon, the food arrived—eight meat dishes. Li Feng was satisfied.
Picking up his chopsticks, he began eating.
Taking a bite, he frowned slightly. “What’s this?”
“Young Master Feng, that’s deer meat, freshly imported from Australia,” the waitress said.
Li Feng nodded. Deer meat was nearly extinct in his era, rare in this one, explaining why he couldn’t identify it.
Continuing with other meats, the waitress introduced them: venison, wolf meat, beef…
“Are these wild?” Li Feng asked gravely.
“Yes, Young Master Feng,” the waitress confirmed.
“Anything better?” Li Feng inquired.
“Young Master Feng, these are the best we have. Regulations are strict, and these cost a fortune to source,” the waitress said, shaking her head.
Li Feng nodded, his chopsticks never stopping as he ate the cooked meats. Though he ate quickly, to the waitress, his movements were oddly elegant, almost unfamiliar.
“Young Master Feng?” she called cautiously.
“What is it?” Li Feng paused, asking.
“Are you okay?” She still feared he might be suicidal, debating whether to call an ambulance.
“Do I look like I’m not?”
Each piece of meat turned into energy absorbed by his body.
After finishing all eight dishes, Li Feng set down his chopsticks. The waitress quickly cleared the plates, replacing them with fresh tea.
“Young Master Feng, are you okay?”
Sipping his tea, Li Feng smiled. “You think I’m going to kill myself?”
Her earlier reactions suggested she feared he’d eat himself to death. He couldn’t help but smile wryly. She was shocked by his appetite, understandable since, as an ordinary person, she couldn’t fathom a martial artist’s need for meat.
“No, no…” The waitress shook her head, embarrassed. Li Feng didn’t look suicidal now.
“Do you have these foods daily?” Li Feng pointed to the empty plates.
During this period of cultivation, especially refining his body with qi, his meat consumption was several times higher than before, even compared to his previous life. In his past life’s military, meat for cultivation was provided, especially from animals on life-sustaining planets in the Milky Way, rich in energy suited for martial artists. Now, though he ate copious amounts, the energy was far inferior to his previous life’s meat.
Without sufficient energy, recovery after each body refining session took longer, hindering his cultivation. He needed higher-quality meat or a substitute.
Until he solved this, he’d make do with these. For the foreseeable future, he needed to focus on body refining and couldn’t come here daily, so he thought of a solution: delivery.
“Yes,” the waitress nodded.
“Good. From tomorrow, deliver twice this amount to my home,” Li Feng said.
“What!” The waitress stared, stunned, doubting her ears. Li Feng’s order included a whole roast suckling pig and a whole roast lamb.
“That’s settled,” Li Feng said, standing to pay by card, leaving the dumbfounded waitress behind.
“Is Young Master Feng trying to feel what it’s like to eat himself to death every day?” she muttered, watching his back with a hint of admiration.
