The predawn chill seeped into the clinic, a stark contrast to the lingering warmth of Su Lin's first successful Qi circulation. He moved silently, the faint, grounding thrum of the Iron Mountain Stance already woven into his posture, a constant companion now. His bruises were fading yellows and greens, the ache diminished but not gone – a reminder of his fragility. The encounter with the Stone Serpents had been a victory, but a costly one in terms of secrecy. Wen's wary glances hadn't faded entirely. He needed strength. *Real*, permanent strength. The kind that didn't vanish when a technique ended.
He checked his crude spear staff – the knife lashed tight, the wood smoothed by practice. He refilled the small pouch of Glowmoss powder. Today wasn't about EXP, not primarily. Today was about *potential*. The Talent Points promised by the System were the key to unlocking his base potential, the foundation upon which all techniques would build. And for that, he needed treasures. Rarer, stronger herbs than the meager Glowcaps found near the city wall.
"Going deep?" Wen's voice was a soft rasp from his pallet. He hadn't slept much.
"Edge of the black pools," Su Lin confirmed, his voice low. "Need specific herbs. Frostpetal clusters. Sunroot bulbs." He named two Wen had mentioned grew in riskier areas.
Wen sat up, worry etching his face. "The Horned Toads, Su. They lurk near the black pools. Low-Level beasts, yes, but tough. Thick hides, venom spit... equivalent to Mid-Level Body Tempering cultivators. And they hunt in ambush."
"I see. I avoid," Su Lin stated flatly. "I go for the herbs, not the beasts." *Unless the opportunity is perfect, and the EXP is worth the minimal risk.* Rule Three still governed.
Wen sighed, recognizing the steel beneath the calm words. "Take this." He shuffled to a hidden nook and pulled out a small, greasy leather pouch. Inside was a grey, gritty powder. "Ashblind Dust. Throw it if you're cornered. Stings the eyes, fouls the nose. Might give you a second to run. Not much, but…" He trailed off, handing it over.
Su Lin took it. A tool. Deniable. Useful. "Thank you, Elder Wen." He slipped it into his tunic. "Lock the door."
The journey to the deeper marsh felt different. The air hung heavier, thick with the smell of stagnant water and decaying vegetation. Strange, phosphorescent fungi glowed faintly on rotting logs. The reeds grew taller, denser, forming walls that limited visibility. Su Lin moved like a shadow, his steps silent on the marginally firmer ground near rocky outcrops, the Iron Mountain Stance lending an unnatural stillness to his posture. He scanned constantly, the System humming quietly.
`[Scanning: Crimson Reed - Common Plant]`
`[Scanning: Glowcap Mushroom Cluster - Low-Grade Natural Treasure]`
`[Potential Talent Points: 0.15]`
He noted the Glowcaps but left them. Higher yield targets awaited. He focused on the terrain Wen had described – an area where mineral-rich runoff from the rocky hills met the acidic water of the deeper marsh, creating pockets of unique flora. He found the first Frostpetal cluster clinging to a damp, shaded rock face. Larger than the ones Wen had, the petals a deeper, icy blue.
`[Scanning: Frostpetal Cluster - Mid-Grade Natural Treasure]`
`[Potential Talent Points: 0.3]`
Better. Three times the yield of a single leaf. He carefully harvested it, storing it wrapped in broad leaves inside his pouch. *One down.* He moved on, senses straining. The croaking here was deeper, more resonant. *Horned Toads.*
He spotted the first one near a brackish, oily-looking pool – the "black pool." It was squat, the size of a large dog, covered in bumpy, mottled green and brown hide. Two short, curved horns protruded above its wide, lipless mouth. Its bulbous yellow eyes scanned the murky water. `[Target: Marsh Horned Toad - Low-Level Beast]` `[Species Power: Equivalent to Mid-Level Body Tempering Realm Martial Artist]` `[Traits: Steel-Hide (Passive - Enhanced CON), Venom Spit (Range: 5 meters)]`
Su Lin froze, blending into the reeds. *Not worth it.* The risk assessment was clear. Engaging a beast equivalent to a Mid-Level Body Tempering cultivator, with venom capabilities, in open terrain? Victory was *not* 100% assured. He noted its location and carefully skirted wide around the pool, using the dense reeds for cover. He found another Frostpetal cluster (+0.3 TP) and then, nestled in a crevice where sunlight filtered weakly through the canopy, a cluster of small, golden tubers – Sunroot bulbs.
`[Scanning: Sunroot Bulbs - Mid-Grade Natural Treasure]`
`[Potential Talent Points: 0.4]`
*Jackpot.* He harvested them carefully, adding them to his growing haul. `[Talent Points: 0.3 (Frostpetal) + 0.3 (Frostpetal) + 0.4 (Sunroot) = 1.0]` One full Talent Point! The System confirmed:
`[Talent Points: 1.0]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (1.0 / 10)]`
Progress. Measurable progress. He felt a surge of cold satisfaction. As he turned to leave, his foot dislodged a loose stone near the crevice. It clattered down, splashing into the edge of the black pool.
**GURKLE!**
A deep, guttural croak erupted from the reeds nearby. The Horned Toad he'd avoided earlier surged forward, not towards Su Lin directly, but towards the disturbance in the water. Its movement was surprisingly fast, a powerful lunge. As it reached the pool's edge, a smaller, silvery fish darted away. The Toad snapped, missing, but its lunge brought it perilously close to Su Lin's position, its side exposed, barely five meters away.
`[Opportunity: Target Distracted. Vulnerable Flank. Terrain: Concealing Reeds.]`
`[Risk Assessment: High (Beast Tier Superior). Reward: Estimated 100 EXP.]`
`[Victory Probability: 70% (Ambush Advantage, Terrain, Technique Mastery).]`
70%. Not 100%. Su Lin hesitated. Rule Three screamed caution. But 100 EXP… enough to master the spear form to Perfection and have some left. The beast was distracted, its tough hide facing away. He had one perfect shot. The Ashblind Dust was ready. *Calculated risk.*
He didn't charge. He *flowed*. Activating the Iron Mountain Stance for stability and the Spear Form for precision simultaneously, he stepped from the reeds, his movement silent and economical. He drew back the crude spear, the Lv3 Thrust Precision guiding his aim unerringly at the spot just behind the Toad's left forelimb – a potential gap in the thick hide near the softer underbelly. He channeled the faint trickle of Qi he could muster, feeding it into the thrust, amplifying the speed and force.
The reed spear, propelled by technique and desperation, shot forward like a bolt.
*THWACK!*
The sharpened knife point struck true, punching through the surprisingly tough hide with a wet crunch, sinking deep into the Toad's side. Not a killing blow, but a grievous wound.
**SKREEEEE!** The Horned Toad shrieked, a sound of pure agony and rage. It whirled with shocking speed, ignoring the spear shaft protruding from its side. Its maw opened wide, and Su Lin saw the glint of viscous green venom gathering at the back of its throat. *Venom Spit!*
He didn't wait. He threw the pouch of Ashblind Dust straight into the Toad's open mouth as it prepared to spit.
**POOF!**
The grey powder exploded in a cloud right in the beast's face. It choked, the venomous spit turning into a strangled gurgle. Its bulbous eyes squeezed shut in agony, mucus streaming instantly. It stumbled blindly, disoriented and in pain.
Su Lin didn't press the attack. Rule Three: Exploit the advantage, secure the objective, disengage. He grabbed his pouch of herbs and ran. Not in panic, but with controlled speed, weaving through the reeds back the way he came. He heard the enraged, choking bellows of the Toad fading behind him. He didn't look back. He had the treasures. He had escaped. He hadn't killed it, but he had inflicted a serious wound and gained valuable knowledge of the beast's reactions. And he had confirmed his tactics worked.
He reached the safer fringes of the marsh, heart pounding, but unharmed. He checked his pouch – the herbs were safe. He looked at the System notification that had flashed during the encounter:
`[Target: Marsh Horned Toad - Critically Wounded]`
`[EXP Gained: 60 (Partial Elimination)]`
`[New EXP Total: 82]`
Sixty EXP. Not the full hundred, but a significant haul for a non-lethal encounter. Combined with his treasures, it was a good haul.
Back at the clinic, Wen practically snatched the Ashblind Dust pouch back, relief warring with fresh worry as he saw Su Lin unharmed. "The Toads? You used it?"
"Distracted one. Got away," Su Lin stated, placing the pouch of herbs on the table. "Frostpetal. Sunroot. Strong."
Wen's eyes widened as he inspected the haul, especially the vibrant Sunroot bulbs. "Sunroot! Excellent quality! Su, this... this is worth several silver leaves! More!" His fear momentarily forgotten in the face of valuable resources.
"Keep some. Sell some," Su Lin said. "Need funds. For better tools. Materials." He needed a real spear. Better traps. Maybe even information on rarer treasures.
He retreated to his pallet. First, the Talent Points. He focused on the System.
`[Consuming: Frostpetal Cluster (Mid-Grade) - Talent Points Gained: 0.3]`
`[Consuming: Frostpetal Cluster (Mid-Grade) - Talent Points Gained: 0.3]`
`[Consuming: Sunroot Bulbs (Mid-Grade) - Talent Points Gained: 0.4]`
`[New Talent Points: 2.0]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (2.0 / 10)]`
Two points. Still far from leveling up, but progress. Now, the EXP. He had 82. The Spear Form awaited its final step: Perfection.
`[Technique: City Guard Basic Spear Form (Mastery)]`
`[EXP Cost to Master Perfection: 50 EXP]`
`[Effect upon Perfection: Lv4 Thrust Precision (+4 AGI permanently), Lv4 Arm Stability (+4 STR permanently)]`
*Permanent attribute boosts.* This was the key Wen's fragmented notes hadn't revealed. Mastering techniques to higher levels didn't just grant temporary effects during use; it forged permanent enhancements into his very being. Low-Grade techniques offered modest boosts, but they were *foundational*. He focused.
`[EXP Deducted: 50]`
`[New EXP Total: 32]`
`[Mastering: City Guard Basic Spear Form to Perfection]`
`[Progress: 100%]`
`[Mastery Level: Perfection]`
`[Permanent Attribute Boost: STR +4]`
`[Permanent Attribute Boost: AGI +4]`
`[Technique Effect: Lv4 Thrust Precision, Lv4 Arm Stability (Active)]`
It hit him like a physical forging. Knowledge crystallized – the absolute apex of what this crude spear form could achieve. Every feint, every block, every lethal thrust was now instinct, optimized beyond the original creator's intent. But more profound was the physical change. He felt it instantly. His arms, his shoulders, his back – muscles tightened, fibers realigning with new density and coordination. A surge of raw power flooded his limbs. His fingers felt surer, his reactions sharper. He flexed his hands. The difference was staggering. He pulled up his status.
`[Host: Su Lin]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (2.0 / 10)]`
`[Realm: Body Tempering (Low-Level - Progress 5%)]`
`[Attributes: STR 9 | CON 5 | AGI 9 | SPI 5]`
`[Techniques:]`
` - Essence Gathering for Body Forging (Perfection)`
` - Iron Mountain Stance (Perfection) - *No Permanent Boost (Low-Grade Defensive)*`
` - City Guard Basic Spear Form (Perfection) - Permanent: STR+4, AGI+4]`
`[EXP: 32]`
`[Talent Points: 2.0]`
His Strength and Agility had nearly doubled! From a baseline of 5 to 9! The Iron Mountain Stance, while powerful when active, was purely defensive and Low-Grade, offering no permanent stat boost – only the City Guard Spear Form, an offensive Low-Grade technique mastered to Perfection, had granted this permanent enhancement. The implications were staggering. High-Grade techniques could offer immense leaps! But they would require immense EXP and likely higher cultivation to master.
He stood. He felt lighter, stronger, faster. He picked up the crude spear staff. It felt like a toy now. He flowed through a spear sequence – thrusts were blindingly fast and precise, blocks were rock-solid, transitions seamless. He stopped, breathing steadily. The power was real. Permanent. His foundation was hardening.
He spent the remaining daylight practicing the Essence Gathering postures, channeling Qi. With his enhanced Strength and Agility, the postures were easier to hold, the strain less. He felt the Qi trickle more readily, a slightly stronger current flowing into his core, tempering his bones and sinews. When he finished, sweat-drenched but energized, his Realm progress had jumped.
`[Realm: Body Tempering (Low-Level - Progress 8%)]`
Progress fueled by permanent stats and perfect technique mastery. As dusk settled, Wen approached, holding out a small, rough-hewn stone he'd found while clearing debris – a deep blue stone flecked with gold, cool to the touch. "Found this lodged under the broken shelf post. Never seen its like. Probably just a pretty rock, but..." He handed it to Su Lin.
Su Lin took it. The System hummed instantly, brighter than before.
`[Scanning: Skyiron Shard - High-Grade Natural Treasure (Damaged/Core Fragment)]`
`[Potential Talent Points: 0.5]`
Half a Talent Point! From a single shard! High-Grade! Su Lin's breath caught. "Where...?" he managed.
Wen shrugged. "Like I said, under the post. Maybe Broken Nose dropped it? Or it was lodged in the wood from somewhere? No idea."
Su Lin closed his fingers around the cool stone. `[Talent Points: 2.5]` `[Talent Level: 1 (2.5 / 10)]` He looked at Wen. "Useful. Very." He pocketed the shard, a new kind of heat blooming in his chest – the heat of tangible, accelerating growth. The Moss Quarter held more secrets. The path of the Cautious Sovereign was paved not just with caution, but with the golden roots of permanent power, carefully unearthed one step at a time. He glanced towards Wen's herb stores. Tomorrow, he would brew the strongest Iron Bone Broth the clinic had ever seen. His bones ached for it.