Comprehensive Network: Starting with Martial Artists to Stack Passive Skills

Chapter 23: The Revival of Spiritual Energy?

[Sky Domination]?

The young martial artist immediately stood at attention.

It sounds powerful just from the name, but isn't it just a falling attack?

As he absorbed the knowledge constantly flowing into his mind, Lu Qingfeng continued to comprehend the profound mystery of this move.

No, the core idea behind this move is to use the high ground to attack the low ground and the strong to bully the weak.

Moreover, it's one of the Nine Ultimate Techniques; I might collect them all in the future.

With that in mind, Lu Qingfeng didn't sit idle either, cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks he and Xu Lun had left behind after their meal.

But, a food court?

This was the new restaurant that Jolyne had mentioned earlier, and it made him feel something was amiss.

After all, it's not very common to find a trace of life energy mixed into food that's being sold.

Although it was very, very little, Lu Qingfeng would have barely sensed it if it weren't for the skill notification from [Qi Gathering].

To achieve this, one must either possess exceptional skills and be able to perfectly handle the ingredients.

Or it is...

Life energy can be injected later or the ingredients themselves may possess it.

Regardless of the possibility, he seemed completely out of place in this world where he had lived for over twenty years, a world that should have been ordinary and unremarkable.

Was it because I wasn't strong enough before that I couldn't notice the abnormalities around me?

Or is this just the beginning?

Lu Qingfeng kept pondering this possibility.

The sense of arrogance brought about by the increase in strength almost perfectly balanced the period of soul weakness, preventing him from becoming a cripple and allowing him to perfectly adapt to the increase in strength.

No, thinking about this much will give me a headache.

Just ask.

I skillfully logged into the forum and swiped to start a thread:

[Shocking! Life energy has suddenly appeared in an ordinary, magic-free world. What could be the reason?]

[Stop being sarcastic, experts please help!]

[Attachment: Explanation of the Situation]

Soon, after Lu Qingfeng had rested for a while...

A flood of messages went viral.

"OP, I know how to do this one, it's about spiritual energy revival."

"Don't interrupt, what if the original poster just didn't know before?"

"I still suggest you check what kind of energy it is first. Aren't you a martial artist? Try probing its internal energy."

"What do you mean you're not a traditional martial artist, not a practitioner of Qi and Blood Martial Arts?"

"How did your master teach you? You're self-taught, excellent!"

"Damn it, I'm going to teach you a lesson!"

After a while, under pressure from a group of senior martial arts practitioners, Lu Qingfeng purchased and studied the "Introduction to Martial Arts Qi and Blood".

[Martial Arts Qi and Blood Introduction lv1 (Cannot be upgraded)]

[A foundational work for Qi and Blood Martial Arts, its future advancement depends on the user's evolution into higher realms]

You have already gained a fairly good grasp of your own strength.

P.S.: You know nothing, where did you come from, you uncivilized monkey? — 999+ popular comments online

It was also thanks to his weakened state that Lu Qingfeng was able to quickly master these skills.

"Jolyne!"

Lu Qingfeng shouted, his voice clearly penetrating the space between the kitchen and the front hall.

"Hey boss, what's up?"

Jolyne was scrolling through videos on her phone when she heard the sound and quickly leaned over.

Lu Qingfeng ignored his slacking off and kept his eyes fixed on him:

"You just said that the newly opened store is called Shanshifang?"

"Yeah, boss."

Jolyne nodded his head vigorously, as if pounding garlic.

"It's right at the street corner, where the hardware store used to be. It's decorated in a classic style and looks quite upscale. It just opened today, and everything is 20% off."

"Um."

Lu Qingfeng responded and took a few steps closer. Under Xu Lun's somewhat puzzled gaze, he reached out and placed his hand on Xu Lun's wrist.

"Boss...the boss?"

"Don't move, let me see."

Xu Lun was startled and instinctively tried to pull his hand away, but found that Lu Qingfeng's fingers were like iron clamps, not moving an inch.

Lu Qingfeng released a wisp of his aura into his meridians.

As the investigation deepened, Lu Qingfeng frowned.

really!

He detected an extremely faint trace of Qi within Jolyne's meridians!

This wisp of energy was extremely primal and chaotic, as if it had just been forcibly generated by an external force, almost like a rootless duckweed.

But its very existence is the greatest anomaly!

An ordinary person who has never been exposed to martial arts, cultivation, or any other extraordinary path, suddenly has a trace of mixed qi in his body after eating just one meal.

This is far more complex than simply nourishing and maintaining health!

"How are you feeling? Do you have any unusual sensations in your body?"

Lu Qingfeng released his grip and asked in a deep voice.

Jolyne flexed her wrist, carefully felt it, and shook her head:

"Nothing special, boss. Just... I'm pretty full. Oh, and I feel pretty energetic after eating."

He seemed to be in good spirits, but Lu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed slightly.

That faint sense of energy can indeed slightly boost the spirits of ordinary people, like getting a shot of low-quality chicken blood, making them feel energetic for a short time.

But what if this continues in the long run?

What consequences will occur when this wisp of energy, which does not belong to oneself, accumulates in the body?

Will it disrupt the original balance?

Could it even... become some kind of catalyst?

This so-called food service establishment is highly suspicious!

"Besides the food, what's so special about that restaurant?"

Lu Qingfeng pressed for details, explaining that the unusual situation around him made him feel somewhat insecure.

Jolyne tried hard to recall:

"What's special about it... would you call it having a traditional Chinese style? It's all wood, with carvings, and it looks quite expensive. Plus, there are statues of deities, a traditional Chinese theme, it's really great."

"A statue?"

Lu Qingfeng's eyes sharpened. "What kind?"

"Brother Lu, are you making things difficult for me? Who would bother memorizing that kind of thing?"

Jolyne scratched her head, trying to describe,

"It's placed in a shrine inside the shop, with three rather thick incense sticks lit in front of it, but that's all."

Lu Qingfeng quickly searched his memory for knowledge from the "Common Low-Level Demon Illustrated Guide".

This description is neither like a traditional deity nor a common household guardian spirit; instead, it subtly exudes an eerie aura.

He couldn't help but touch the amulet around his neck.

They're causing trouble around me, aren't they?

Damn it, why did you have to disturb my peaceful life?

"Point me to the exact location, and I'll go check it out in a bit."

To avoid arousing his suspicion, Lu Qingfeng added another sentence.

"Let's go and check out the environment in person."

He still had a few hours left in the period of spiritual weakness, but that wasn't enough to affect his actions.

Moreover, it was just a reconnaissance mission; if things didn't look good, they would simply run away.

You better really have no problems, you jerk who's disturbing my rest.

He needed to see for himself what this suddenly appearing restaurant at his doorstep was really up to.

"Huh? Now?"

Jolyne glanced at the already darkening sky outside the window. "Boss, it looks like it's about to rain, and they might be closing soon..."

"Stop talking nonsense, we'll really be closing soon if we stay any longer."

Lu Qingfeng said without any room for doubt, and casually grabbed an old-fashioned umbrella hanging behind the door.

His intuition told him that this matter could not be delayed.

Jolyne dared not say another word, quickly responded, and ran to open the door.

As soon as Lu Qingfeng stepped out of the bookstore, a damp, cold wind carrying dust rushed towards him.

The sky was as dark as ink, with heavy, dark clouds pressing low over the city, and faint rumbles of thunder could be heard.

A long-brewing downpour seems about to pour down.

Xu Lun shrank his neck and pointed towards the street corner: "Boss, it's over there, the one with the red lanterns lit up."

Lu Qingfeng looked up.

At the street corner, two dark red lanterns swayed in the wind, their dim red glow barely illuminating a black sign with gold lettering—"Shicanfang" (Food and Drinks Restaurant).

The light, in the increasingly dim sky and oppressive atmosphere, seemed particularly glaring.

Don't pretend to be a ghost or spirit.

He gripped the umbrella handle tightly, the ribs making a slight creaking sound.

"I'll go take a look. You stay here and watch the shop."