[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback":3,"chapter-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rising from Obscurity: My Martial Path Comeback",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2265837,4424,"Chapter 2: The Optimal Cost-Effectiveness in Martial Training","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>Lin Chen clearly understood Gu Fei’s goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not the kind of proud, face-conscious person who refused help for vanity; he had declined before because he understood Gu Fei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had accepted early, Gu Fei would have bought extra beef every time, and he couldn’t keep freeloaded off Gu Fei’s beef.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei was from the same village as him, and his family wasn’t any better off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time he accepted Gu Fei’s kindness not because of Zhang Tao’s mockery, but because he was ready to start eating beef.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had little money, fifteen wen per jin of beef wasn’t truly beyond his means to buy a full jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t eaten it before because the time hadn’t come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his first day entering the Martial Hall, he had memorized one of Yu’s teaching’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Training martial arts, the more you chase quick results, the more you spend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Lin Chen, who had lived two lives, this was easy to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human absorption and digestion capacity has an upper limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more you push for maximum daily blood qi increase, the higher the cost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppose eating one jin of beef increases blood qi by 8 points, the second jin still adds 8, but by the third jin it might only provide 5 points, because the body’s absorption and digestion are saturated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For students from wealthy families, they naturally didn’t care about this waste—they wanted maximum effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like upgrading gear in a game, ordinary players stop at +9, because upgrading to +10 costs as much as all previous upgrades combined, yet only adds one stat point—zero cost-effectiveness. Only rich players who splash cash don’t care about cost-effectiveness; they want the gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had little money; over five months in the Martial Hall, his elder brother secretly sent him three hundred wen, plus two hundred wen he earned from odd jobs—he had five hundred wen total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to stretch every single wen into two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without beef, relying on full meals and Warm Sun Fist, he could still gain two blood qi points per day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Hall’s six-month assessment required strength to reach two hundred jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This world had no precise blood qi measuring instruments, so student blood qi was judged by inferring from strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Hall’s six-month goal was two hundred jin of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Chen entered the Martial Hall, his blood qi was 500 points, his strength 100 jin; from the numerical changes on his panel, he deduced the data.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five blood qi points equal one jin of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To meet the Martial Hall’s requirement, his blood qi needed to reach one thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five months had passed, and he was still two hundred points short of one thousand blood qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His reason for holding off on beef until now was a plan he’d devised based on observing Gu Fei and other students’ strength gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cohort from Linhu Village included four students, including himself; when they entered the Martial Hall, everyone’s strength hovered around 100 jin—blood qi levels were nearly identical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei started eating beef daily in the third month; the other two started a month earlier than Gu Fei, and both consumed fifty jin more beef to reach two hundred jin of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Delaying beef consumption by one month, given their age’s natural blood qi growth, meant gaining an extra 60 blood qi points—that’s twelve jin of strength gained naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did fifty jin of beef buy twelve jin of strength?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen felt it wasn’t that simple; after observing other students, he reached another conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The higher one’s blood qi, the stronger the organs’ ability to digest food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t hard to grasp: high blood qi meant a stronger body; one jin of beef’s nutrients could be fully absorbed, while lower blood qi meant weaker digestion—perhaps only 70–80% of the nutrients were absorbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, the later you started eating beef, the more blood qi you gained per jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this deduction, he had held off on beef until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen believed he wasn’t the only one who figured this out; previous cohorts must have discovered it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But discovering it was one thing—could they actually wait?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At fifteen, who didn’t have vanity? When seeing other students start eating beef early, reach two hundred jin of strength, and bask in others’ envious glances—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many could avoid comparison?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t match those wealthy students, but seeing classmates or dorm mates eat meat, could he remain unmoved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even faced suspicion and cold mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not everyone was like him—two lives, a golden hand, and a visible panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin Chen and others practiced fist forms on the training ground, a burst of cheers came from the neighboring class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen turned toward the sound and saw a student standing beside Instructor Chen, expressionless face but slightly upturned lips betraying inner triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Comparing people kills you—we’re still struggling to hit three hundred jin, and they’ve already passed five hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Fei looked envious; Lin Chen recognized the boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yongfeng!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top genius of their cohort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More accurately, the most financially powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Lin Chen was famously stingy, Lu Yongfeng was famously rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his first day in the Martial Hall, he ate beef every meal; when Gu Fei and others started eating beef, he was already drinking Nourishing Qi Soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If many students could afford beef, Nourishing Qi Soup was a true luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred wen per serving—most students trembled when buying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going to die from envy, should I drop dead right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even eaten beef in the Martial Hall—where could he complain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True, we can’t compete with them—they aim to cultivate Essence within a year, while we’re lucky if we do it in two.” Gu Fei patted Lin Chen’s shoulder: “Chenzi, at least you’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get lost!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing what Gu Fei meant, Lin Chen brushed his hand away irritably—he was just saying that Lin Chen’s bottom-tier presence gave them a little vanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Lu Yongfeng, Lin Chen felt puzzled—was this guy really just aiming to cultivate Essence within a year to get free entry into the county martial academy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county academy had rules: if a Martial Hall student cultivated Essence within a year, tuition was waived; if within two years, ten taels of silver; if in the third year, twenty taels. After three years, no entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most Martial Hall students knew their limits and aimed for Essence within two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yongfeng’s unnecessary spending in the Martial Hall already exceeded twenty taels—saying he did it to save academy tuition didn’t add up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe he was just rich, seeking vanity and face in the Martial Hall, unconcerned with spending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lin Chen pondered, Instructor Yu at the front spoke: “By month’s end, there will be a Martial Hall evaluation; those who haven’t reached two hundred jin of strength will be expelled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yongnian’s words shifted every boy’s gaze from Lu Yongfeng in the neighboring class to Lin Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen: …\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Martial Hall had three instructors, each leading a class of twenty students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Lin Chen’s class, only four hadn’t reached two hundred jin; the other three were close, but Lin Chen still lagged forty jin behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Chen, come with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Yu Yongnian didn’t sit on his usual chair watching students train—he directly called Lin Chen’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chenzi,” Gu Fei watched worriedly—he thought Instructor Yu was displeased and had summoned Lin Chen for a scolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen gave Gu Fei a reassuring glance, ignored the other students’ expressions, and stepped forward quickly behind Instructor Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on five months of observation, Instructor Yu would never scold him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the Martial Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yongnian’s small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Five months in the Martial Hall, never eaten a single meal of beef in the cafeteria—only free meals… Lin Chen, you’ve surprised even me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yongnian looked at Lin Chen—not to scold, but out of curiosity for this, the most stingy student in the Martial Hall’s history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logically, the boys from Linhu Village paid no tuition, saving ten taels—surely they didn’t come with not a single cash coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wouldn’t be studying martial arts—it would be freeloading the Martial Hall’s meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yu observed Lin Chen wasn’t a freeloader; over five months, he saw who was diligent and who slacked off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Chen wasn’t the most diligent in class, but definitely top three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instructor, besides me, my eldest cousin is also training martial arts—he’s been studying for over two years. Our family has little silver to spare for my training. I fought hard just to get into the Martial Hall…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the instructor, Lin Chen didn’t hide—he told his family’s situation plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yongnian’s expression didn’t change—he’d seen this too many times in the Martial Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial training cost heavily; most families couldn’t afford two sons training. Lin Chen’s grandfather’s plan was clear—he waited for Lin Chen to be expelled after six months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Chen’s older brother, after two and a half years, still hadn’t cultivated Essence—he’d likely achieve nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you and your grandfather made a pact, shouldn’t you reach two hundred jin sooner? Are you giving up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t given up,” Lin Chen shook his head. “Instructor, you once said: the more you chase quick results, the more you spend. I chose to go slowly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go slowly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yongnian’s lip twitched—he’d meant to warn students against wasteful spending due to competition, not to go this slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This month, I’ll buy beef to accelerate blood qi growth,” Lin Chen promised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the instructor had no further instructions, Lin Chen asked to leave; Yu Yongnian nodded slightly: “Go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cafeteria!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Lin Chen stood at the beef window, only a few students noticed at first, but as those students began whispering, all eyes in the cafeteria turned toward him—including those at the first table on the left, where Lu Yongfeng and his group sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What am I seeing? The most stingy student in Hehe Town Martial Hall is actually buying beef today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My youth is over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It means your youth has ended. I don’t know who said it, but it’s catchy, so I remembered it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so special about today? Why is Lin Chen suddenly buying beef?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Yu Instructor called Lin Chen into the courtyard. I think Lin Chen got scolded by Yu Instructor and came here to buy beef as a result.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Senior Brother, when you were the first to buy Qi-Nourishing Soup, it didn’t cause this much of a stir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the youths at Lu Yongfeng’s table smiled and spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeking attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yongfeng smiled. In his view, Lin Chen and he lived in two different worlds—someone who wouldn’t even spend a few silver taels was destined to go nowhere in the martial path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: New book released—please save and recommend. The main tone of this book is healing, uplifting, and positive energy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1833,"2026-06-19T20:25:56.550Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","36588bfacda4254db8560f1b558f722bb7f2a191d9d61fdf52d5fc0bbfcbf4ce","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-3","rising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-chapter-1",591,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frising-from-obscurity-my-martial-path-comeback-cover.jpg"]