Chapter 3

Night fell dark, shrouding the increasingly dilapidated Old City District.

The vast streets within were filled with quiet; only a corner here and there remained lit, preserving liveliness.

Qin Shi returned to his bedroom of seven or eight square meters, used here for both sleeping and studying.

The window was pasted with old newspaper, the writing desk mottled with peeling paint; to the right stood piles of various books forming small hills, mostly extracurricular types.

On the left sat a photo frame, inside a yellowed photo of a family of five; the woman refined and gentle, the man upright and sturdy, both wearing dark blue work clothes.

The eldest sister stood in the middle, the other two little ones sitting on their parents' knees.

Click!

Qin Shi lightly pulled the light cord, and the narrow, low-ceilinged room instantly sank into darkness.

Lying on the bed, eyes open staring at the wooden board overhead, the panel frame emerged once more.

【17536th Energy Supplement】

【Growth Degree +1】

【Malnutrition】

【Low Training Intensity】

【Growth Degree slightly increased...】

【Comprehensive Evaluation: F】

"Three synthetic meals a day, twenty to thirty thousand steps daily, push-ups and sit-ups the moment I get home, yet still malnutrition, little training? Trash, at least have some effect!"

Trash, at least have some effect!

Qin Shi glanced over the meaningless text information flow, then touched the money pressed under his pillow, feeling slightly more at ease.

He originally wanted to work a summer job for two months himself, to save up the registration fee for the sports school teacher's class.

Although the gym's strengthening training and the martial arts class's physical training are both useful methods for Life Force Development.

But most are expensive, and effects vary from person to person.

His close friend Zhou Ning's family conditions were decent; throwing in tens of thousands and watching it go to waste, they could barely bear it.

Qin Shi, however, could not bring himself to spend his eldest sister's hard-earned money, earned through toil, with a clear conscience.

"The sports school is also a path. Uncle Zhou said, the Old Factory Street Subsidiary School used to be glorious."

Qin Shi had some impression of this; at that time the Taian Metropolitan Area had not yet developed, the vast harbor region centered on Dangyang, establishing a massive industrial park.

And deriving various industries closely related to clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

The upper levels considered the special nature of the military factories, and the special background of the Great Reclamation Movement in full swing, learning that many senior workers fighting on the frontlines had almost no rest all year, finding it difficult to care for their families.

After on-site investigation, each factory took the lead, and Dangyang District specially established subsidiary schools that were neither public nor private.

Administratively subordinate to Factory Leadership, professionally guided by the Taian Education Bureau.

At its peak, the subsidiary schools had eleven branch schools, including elementary, middle, and high school.

All enrolled students were local workers' children.

Long, long ago, the Education Committee announced Hengzhou's Top Ten Strong Schools list.

Back then, still the "Dangyang No. 11 Middle School" Old Factory Street Subsidiary School, was prominently listed!

Even more famous than today's Xin Yi High School!

Only a pity that as the era's torrent rumbled over, the Dangyang factory subsidiary schools gradually reduced from eleven, gradually cut down to five.

Currently those still preserved are only three: elementary, middle, and high.

Those old campuses, like the green military uniforms worn on the bodies of the students' fathers' generation, from once representing Labor Most Glorious, became symbols of today's laid-off unemployed personnel.

After constant patching and mending, finally utterly ragged, ruthlessly swept into the corner.

"In short, first raise Life Force, pass the Ranking Examination, then think of the rest."

Qin Shi made up his mind, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

As his consciousness entered the deepest layer of dormant state, a vague text information flow brushed lightly past.

【5572nd Deep Sleep】

【Growth Degree +10】

【Progress 100%】

【Achieved...】

【Loading...】

【Stela, Unlocked!】

"This sleep, so refreshing!"

Morning light leaked through the newspaper cracks pasted on the window, waking Qin Shi from dreamless sound sleep.

He opened his eyes, the first sensation was spirited.

Surging vitality like cola violently shaken, almost gushing out.

Turned his head to glance at the alarm clock on the bedside table, 7:12 AM.

"What's going on? Never had such a wonderful experience, simply like taking a tonic!"

Qin Shi was astonished.

He propped himself up with both hands, flipped over and got off the bed.

Compared to usual, his movements seemed lighter by several degrees.

"Something wrong, ten out of ten, even twelve out of ten wrong!"

Qin Shi frowned tightly.

Where does this inexplicable illusion of ten years of closed-door cultivation, kung fu perfected, and rebirth come from?

Like the protagonist in an old era wuxia novel, who in one morning opens the Ren and Du meridians, the whole body incomparably comfortable.

"Could it be that my life force increased?"

Qin Shi, full of puzzlement, almost instinctively, summoned the transparent panel with the black frame.

Sure enough, the presented information had already changed greatly!

【Anchor Point: Qin Shi】

【Growth Stage: Embryo】

【Progress: 0.008%】

【Monument Count: 1】

【Description: A carbon-based lifeform unimaginably weak, its body will naturally age, easily infected by disease, fatal weak points too many, even unable to resist the damage brought by cold weapons and hot weapons, and relying on inefficient eating to maintain basic activities. That such a race has not gone extinct is truly a universe miracle!】

"What does this mean? I remember that only when amateur level is fixed at first segment can one achieve body blocks large caliber bullet, bare hands tear alloy.

Only upon promotion to professional level can one adapt to the vast majority of planetary environments, fearless of radiation and mutation……"

Qin Shi froze; he usually watched plenty of previous Star Cup tournament videos.

As Dongxia's topmost martial arts grand ceremony, the Star Cup is broadcast galaxy-wide every year, viewership rating consistently top three.

"In every opening ceremony, those long-renowned martial artists all display their own might.

Among them, there are even those who can, without equipping exoskeleton armor, quickly traverse frontline positions covered by artillery fire."

Qin Shi recalled scene after scene of stimulating, thrilling, explosive footage.

Relying solely on flesh and blood, hard enduring ground and air dual strikes, launching a surprise assault on defensive fortifications cast of steel.

Watched until the audience's blood boiled, cheering!

No wonder for so many years, martial artist has always maintained the title of most popular profession!

"Even a professional first segment that has broken through the 100-point life force barrier cannot withstand a warship main cannon! What kind of species, at the embryo development stage, can ignore hot weapons?"

Qin Shi pondered the monument's evaluation, and as his thinking diverged, the text information changed again.

【Junior Achievement Activated - Deep Sleep】

【Deep Sleep: Young is good, fall asleep immediately. Any biological growth stage cannot do without sufficient rest, let alone you, this embryo seed still in development.】

【Trait: You will long-term obtain high-quality sleep, can eliminate fatigue, restore energy, and slightly improve disease immunity.】

【Advancement Route: Maintaining good work-rest schedule is indispensable; if you persist seven days early sleep early rise, obtain eight hours or more of sufficient sleep, you can upgrade and unlock corresponding skill.】

"Is this the monument's function?"

Gaze sweeping past the black frame, Qin Shi faintly saw the profound background, a gray stone tablet rising like a small earthen mound.

On it engraved shallow numbers.

(1/7)

"Spirit refreshed, thinking active…… the benefits brought by deep sleep, truly remarkable effect."

Qin Shi suppressed his inner excitement; deep sleep is also called "golden sleep"; if it lasts long-term like this, the body will certainly get better and better, equivalent to every day being the optimal state.

Like having a buff bonus!

"Early sleep early rise, one week's time, should be no big problem.

If maintained for months, even years, perhaps even life force can be improved!

I remember Zhou Ning mentioned that the elite class's top students hire private meditation masters to help enter dreamland and complete deep sleep."

Qin Shi couldn't help but yearn.

You must know, even a half-point increase in life force.

Requires arduous training, sufficient nutrition, and one's own talent jointly accumulated, only then can one progress smoothly.

Sleeping and it increases, this kind of outrageous thing, even health product companies that specialize in all-encompassing marketing wouldn't dare boast so shamelessly.

But with deep sleep possessed, there is completely a chance to achieve it.

"Pity, no testing instruments on hand, cannot determine whether my perception is right or wrong."

Qin Shi felt some regret; to precisely know the life force value requires a comprehensive examination.

The medical wristbands sold in pharmacies often have large error margins; only the scanning machines commonly found in cultivation halls are a bit smaller.

"Finally have something to look forward to."

Qin Shi put away his happy mood, spread the bed sheet, put on his clothes.

The shantytown's living environment differs little; all are simple houses of very long age.

He had just lifted the thick bed sheet serving as a door curtain, and happened to see youngest Qin Lan carrying breakfast walking in.

It was several smoked meat pancakes and two bowls of steaming hot mutton soup.

"Brother, you slept so deeply yesterday, I called you twice and you didn't move."

"Is that so, didn't snore, right?"

Qin Shi asked while washing up.

"Nope. Brother, your part-time job is so hard, I don't want the computer anymore."

Qin Lan pouted, ponytail swaying.

"I've always kept my word; since I promised you, how could I go back on it. Appeal rejected, original decision maintained!"

Qin Shi sat at the rice table, casually rubbed Qin Lan's head:

"Work hard, youngest; I'm still waiting for my own sister to become 'Engineer Qin'.

When that time comes, let me pilot a mecha for a thrill too."

Qin Lan hehe laughed:

"Deal, brother! If I get into Yangchen Museum of the Four Great National Universities, after graduation I'll go to San Tan Heavy Industry to build divine machines!"

"Haha, sure thing, Engineer Qin. I'll head to the Sports School later; you'll have to figure out lunch on your own."

Qin Shi laughed while drinking big mouthfuls of Mutton Soup.

Once the warm heat had rolled through his whole body, he wiped his Mouth and got up to Go Out.

His not-exactly-slight figure merged in an instant into the Lively Street outside.

(Chapter End)