NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 134
The power of the Explosive Fist was undeniable. Now, Lu Ming turned his attention to the most critical aspect of any skill: proficiency acquisition.
He opened his attribute panel and focused on the Origin Power Skill section.
Explosive Fist (Entry) (2/100)
The proficiency had increased by one point!
And...
Hand-to-hand Combat LV32 (2030/3200)+30!
"With the 3.2x proficiency gain from Explosive Fist," Lu Ming calculated, "I earned one point with just a single punch."
"And it wasn't even a full-powered punch," he marveled. "If I continue practicing like this, my skill level will skyrocket."
"Furthermore," he realized, "the Explosive Fist also granted me 30 additional proficiency points for Hand-to-Hand Combat."
This is just practice in the air, Lu Ming thought. If I were to engage in actual combat, the proficiency gain would be unimaginable!
The Explosive Fist had undoubtedly accelerated Lu Ming's path to mastery. It was clear that acquiring more non-breathing Origin Power Skills would be crucial in the future, perhaps even more important than anything else.
But that was a concern for another day.
Lu Ming was eager to push the limits of the Explosive Fist.
"More!" he grunted, driving his fist forward.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The night air crackled with the sound of explosions, loud enough to rouse Huo Sheng and the others from their slumber. They ventured outside, but seeing Lu Ming immersed in his training, they quickly lost interest.
Brother Lu was at it again...
While the sight of Lu Ming honing his skills was impressive, it had become a familiar scene, lacking the novelty it once held.
Lu Ming, however, remained focused, his eyes glued to his attribute panel as he continued his relentless assault on the air.
Explosive Fist Proficiency +1.
Hand-to-Hand Combat proficiency +30.
"Push harder!" he urged himself.
Explosive Fist Proficiency +2.
Hand-to-Hand Combat proficiency +50.
"Full power!"
Boom! The shockwave from his punch rippled through the air, stronger and more devastating than before.
The explosive force of the punch traveled a hundred meters, even demolishing a small building in its path.
It was clear that the training effect of full-powered punches was far superior to that of restrained ones.
Explosive Fist Proficiency +3.
Hand-to-Hand Combat proficiency +80.
With just a few powerful blows, Lu Ming's Hand-to-Hand Combat skill had reached LV33 (0/3300)!
Strength and Physique +3.3!
More importantly, the proficiency gain of the Explosive Fist had increased by 0.1, now standing at 3.3x.
After dozens of punches, the Explosive Fist finally leveled up!
Explosive Fist (Proficient) (2/1000): World Realm Origin Power Skill. After mastering, significantly enhances punching power. You have mastered the use of Explosive Fist, and your overall attributes +100! Your free attribute points +100!
On top of the original gains, Lu Ming's three-dimensional attributes (Strength, Physique, and Agility) increased by an additional 70 points each! His free attribute points also received a 70-point boost.
A boundless energy surged through Lu Ming's body, causing his height to increase by another notch, reaching a staggering 2.5 meters.
In this moment, Lu Ming felt his cells rejoicing, his bones crackling with newfound strength. The exhilarating sensation brought a groan of pure satisfaction to his lips.
"This is the thrill of becoming stronger!" Lu Ming exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face.
The exhilarating feeling of progress, the tangible increase in power - nothing brought him greater joy.
But as he gazed at the "(2/1000)" displayed on the screen, a flicker of apprehension crossed his mind.
"A tenfold increase in proficiency requirement," he mused. "Isn't that a bit excessive?"
However, he quickly shrugged off the doubt. "It's just training," he reminded himself. "And I'm quite familiar with that."
Eager to test his newfound power, Lu Ming prepared to unleash another punch. But a sudden wave of emptiness washed over him.
He was hungry.
And tired.
Cultivating Origin Power Skills was fundamentally different from practicing ordinary skills. Lu Ming was undoubtedly a stamina powerhouse, able to chop away at the Blood Flesh Mother Tree for hours on end without tiring. Yet, after just a few dozen Explosive Fists, he felt mentally and physically drained.
More accurately, it wasn't physical exhaustion, but a deeper fatigue that seeped into his very being.
If another Awakened who had trained in Explosive Fist witnessed this scene, they would be astounded. Origin Energy Skills consumed not only physical strength but also the Mystery Factors within an Awakened's body. These factors were finite.
To replenish them, one either needed time to recover naturally or consume Origin Stones (formerly known as zombie crystals).
Generally speaking, the higher an Awakened's level, the more Mystery Factors their cells contained. A typical Level 1 Awakened couldn't utilize a Origin Power Skill like Explosive Fist, even at its most basic level.
At the very least, one needed to be a Level 3 Awakened to wield such a skill, and a single punch would leave them drained, having exhausted all their Mystery Factors.
Lu Ming's case was unique. His abnormality was both a blessing and a curse.
On the one hand, he could access and utilize Origin Power Skills at a remarkably low level. On the other hand, he couldn't rely on Origin Stones to replenish his depleted Mystery Factors.
Lu Ming was a Level 1 Awakened, after all.
The lowest tier Origin Stone corresponded to Level 1. Consuming it would inevitably cause Lu Ming to level up, an outcome he wished to avoid.
Even if he wanted to use Origin Stones, he had none of the lowest tier remaining. Replenishing his Mystery Factors with them wasn't an option.
Lu Ming sat on the ground, deep in thought.
"This feeling of exhaustion," he mused, "is similar to what Chengcheng and Wei Lan experience when they overexert their superpowers."
"Therefore," he concluded, "Origin Power Skills must consume not only physical strength but also superpower energy."
In simpler terms, superpowers and Origin Power Skills shared the same energy pool, represented by the blue bar on his attribute panel.
Since Lu Ming wanted to avoid consuming Origin Stones for the time being, the rate at which he could replenish this "blue bar" would determine how quickly he could train his Explosive Fist.
A spark of inspiration ignited in Lu Ming's eyes. He opened his attribute panel and focused on the line: "Basic Breathing Technique (Entry) (1/100)."
"Isn't this the perfect solution?" he exclaimed.
The Basic Breathing Technique had been widely adopted in the gathering place. Numerous trials had proven that it not only accelerated an Awakened individual's progression but also replenished their depleted superpower energy.
While not as fast as consuming low-tier Origin Stones, it was certainly faster than natural recovery.
In practice, using the breathing technique to restore superpower energy was most effective for Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan. After assisting Lu Ming in his training, they would often be drained, but the Basic Breathing Technique allowed them to quickly recover.
Research had also revealed a unique characteristic of the Basic Breathing Technique.
When the user's superpower energy (the Mystery Factor within the body) was at its peak, the technique prioritized increasing the upper limit of their power. However, when their superpower energy was depleted, the technique focused on replenishing it.
This meant that Lu Ming could safely utilize the Basic Breathing Technique after exhausting his superpower energy without risking an unwanted advancement!
Previously, Lu Ming had avoided cultivating the technique because he lacked the means to deplete his superpower energy, as awakening it required reaching Level 2.
But now, Lu Ming had met that condition!
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he began to circulate the Basic Breathing Technique, following the specific rhythm.
Soon, a warm current flowed into his body through his pores.
After ten minutes, Lu Ming opened his eyes, the previous fatigue completely vanished.
He checked his attribute panel, focusing on the Basic Breathing Technique section.
Basic Breathing Technique (Entry) (2/100)
"Excellent!" Lu Ming exclaimed, a broad smile spreading across his face.
Origin Power Skill: Explosive Fist, which consumed superpower energy.
Followed by the Basic Breathing Technique, which replenished that energy.
It was a perfect cycle.
He could increase the proficiency of both Origin Power Skills simultaneously.
Without a doubt, this was an incredibly efficient cultivation method.
"Let's call it the Origin Power Skill Cultivation Cycle," Lu Ming declared, already brainstorming a catchy name.
His mood was brighter than ever before.