Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 3: State Solidification

"Chopping wood can be considered martial arts as well?"

Gu Sheng felt a initial shock, yet shortly after, a wave of astonishment and joy spread across his features.

Regardless of the reason, if chopping wood qualifies as martial arts and appears on the proficiency panel, it's straightforward!

"Based on the game mechanics from my past life, hitting 100% proficiency should allow me to level up."

"Chopping just ten logs adds only 1% to the beginner skill. In theory, handling a thousand logs could push it to Small Success!"

"Naturally, factors like physical condition and personal insight might cause slight differences, but it ought to be roughly accurate."

Gu Sheng thought it over carefully, at last grasping why chopping wood showed up on the proficiency panel.

"Gripping the axe to split wood requires technique in applying power. It also builds arm strength. In a basic sense, this indeed counts as the simplest type of martial arts."

"This particular axe technique for chopping wood— for others, it might merely boost their efficiency a little. But for me, it's unique. Training it to Small Success, Great Success, or even Perfection could dramatically enhance its potential power."

"Above all, as my chopping ability improves, I'll earn more coins every day!"

Gu Sheng instinctively licked his parched lips, then drank some water, his gaze shining with thrill.

Survival remained the utmost concern.

Making only two copper coins daily, sometimes relying on his savings, made Gu Sheng feel deeply uneasy.

However, with the prospect of higher earnings now, Gu Sheng suddenly overflowed with vigor.

He stared at the stacks of dry logs, envisioning them as heaps of experience points and copper coins.

"Time to grind!"

He rose to his feet, set up a log, and raised the axe overhead with both hands before bringing it down powerfully.

This time around.

Gu Sheng distinctly sensed a change.

Previously, after handling dozens of logs, his body would tire unevenly, his concentration waver, and the strength and accuracy of his strikes would vary.

Yet now.

The moment he swung the axe, he clearly perceived an assisting force, elevating his condition to its peak!

From what he recalled, the most fluid and effortless chop before had produced this sensation.

"No doubt about it—this is a key feature of the panel: stabilizing the state. Once I've hit the best performance in this skill, the panel records it. Going forward, each attempt will maintain that peak condition!"

Gu Sheng's eyes lit up with elation. He delivered two successive swings, dispatching one log with ease.

He conserved at least 20% of his energy!

The once dull and laborious task of chopping wood now filled him with a surprising fulfillment.

"Press on!"

Thump!

Crunch!

The steady rhythm of those sounds filled the courtyard.

Gu Sheng became increasingly energized with each chop.

Taking short pauses in between, after a quarter of an hour, he had neatly processed another ten logs.

Checking the proficiency panel, Gu Sheng's mouth formed a faint grin—chopping wood had advanced to entry-level 2%!

It aligned exactly with his prior calculations.

"This state stabilization is incredible!"

"Lacking the panel, my fading stamina and aching arms would have dragged out completing these ten logs far beyond a quarter-hour, and I might not have reached the two hundred logs targeted before dusk."

"With it, though, I could potentially handle even more!"

Relishing the triumph, Gu Sheng incorporated regular brief rests as he kept chopping wood.

…

Time flowed onward.

Before long, noon arrived.

The sun blazed overhead, its heat pounding down without mercy. Sweat poured along Gu Sheng's spine, and he had shed his cloth shirt ages ago to avoid soaking it.

Massaging his fatigued arm muscles, Gu Sheng sat down heavily, munching on rough bread paired with well water.

Despite its poor flavor, he needed to eat. Burning so much stamina without refueling might lead to collapse.

Fortunately, the morning's output was impressive.

More than 120 logs lay chopped and piled orderly to the side.

The proficiency panel indicated that chopping wood had climbed to 12% proficiency.

That 12% spared Gu Sheng a ton of labor, solidifying his conviction that without the panel, he couldn't have finished even 100 logs by midday.

"This afternoon, even with reduced stamina from the morning, tackling another eighty or ninety logs shouldn't prove difficult. That would fulfill today's quota, and from here, I can steadily build my foundation!"

While gnawing the bread, Gu Sheng bore the minor sting as the gritty bites scraped his throat. His resolve in his eyes intensified.

A short while later.

"Let's continue!"

Disregarding the muscle aches, Gu Sheng picked up chopping again.

….

Crunch!

As a round log got positioned, Gu Sheng circled his arms broadly. The axe descended in what seemed like an inevitable arc—not lodging at the wood's surface but slicing directly into its heart.

"What's happening?"

Gu Sheng's eyes bulged in astonishment.

He had noticed his arms aching too much before, so he lifted the axe a tad higher than normal. Unexpectedly, it yielded this outcome?

Reviewing the movement in his mind, a flash of insight dawned in his gaze.

"I just... drew power from my core!"

Accessing the panel, he watched the chopping wood proficiency surge from 12% to 16% instantly!

Gu Sheng's mouth hooked into a smile.

Proficiency didn't just build from rote repetition—deliberate contemplation and breakthroughs could hugely boost the training gains.

Mastering core-generated strength offered Gu Sheng vital relief, and his chopping pace quickened notably.

The steady chopping noises reverberated in the courtyard's woodshed, attracting puzzled looks from servants walking by.

Gu Sheng lost himself in the rhythm of chopping.

Time sped past.

The sun dipped toward the west.

Gu Sheng beheld five complete stacks of precisely cut wood, his face alight with satisfaction.

The debut day's assignment was flawlessly done.

He had processed 253 logs altogether, surpassing the original 200 target by an impressive 25%. The proficiency panel deserved all the credit.

Currently, the panel revealed:

Chopping proficiency stood at 29%!

"If this pace holds steady, I could elevate chopping to Small Success within three days!"

Gu Sheng's pulse raced with eagerness as he collected his things and sought out Gu He for his pay.

In another courtyard.

Roughly a dozen simply dressed tenant farmers queued up for their wages, each bending low and offering endless gratitude to Gu He for his kindness while receiving their copper coins.

The Gu family hired numerous day laborers beyond just Gu Sheng.

When Gu Sheng's turn came.

Gu He glanced up at the sweaty, slender youth with faintly shaking arms. His voice gentled somewhat as he inquired:

"How many logs did you manage?"

Gu Sheng answered:

"A total of two hundred and fifty-three logs, sir."

Gu He paused for a second, then eyed Gu Sheng closely. In his thoughts, he praised the lad's grit. For someone so slight, completing two hundred logs was exceptional, much less over two hundred and fifty. It must have demanded unyielding effort.

As for any chance that Gu Sheng was lying?

That seemed improbable.

"Base pay begins after a hundred logs; two hundred gets you two copper coins. Anything extra doesn't count toward payment," Gu He stated calmly.

Gu Sheng offered a well-timed smile—modest yet genuine. At fourteen, as a village lad with soft traits, his grin exuded innate charm.

"I owe this opportunity to your generosity, sir. Handling extras was just right. Two copper coins satisfy me fully," he said.

Gu He laughed lightly, shaking his head.

"Clever kid. Take three copper coins today. You can cover the extra wood next time."

He portioned out three sizable copper coins from his pouch and passed them to Gu Sheng, then signaled the following worker to approach.

Gu Sheng accepted politely, murmured his appreciation softly, and departed.

Yet inwardly, Gu Sheng developed a positive view of the overseer, Gu He.

…

For now, the full ache from chopping hadn't hit yet. Gu Sheng only experienced mild weariness across his frame, along with minor tenderness in his arms and midsection.

Freshly pocketed with three copper coins—sufficient for almost half a pound of rough grain—he felt buoyant, his stride buoyant.

Though humble, it signaled a hopeful start.

Crossing the dappled evening light, Gu Sheng made his way to the village edge.