Becoming a saint begins with apprenticing under the last martial arts champion.

After a moment's thought, Lu Changqing decided to allocate these attribute points first.

There are two reasons.

First, he discovered that the pain and fatigue after training his skin made him feel noticeably tired.

My condition today is completely different from when I finished practicing stance training and leg techniques.

Increasing life force can better prepare one for subsequent cultivation.

This is why he was considering whether or not to add the word "life".

Secondly, because he was about to try out the demon's talent.

Perhaps they encountered something underwater.

We need to add a certain attribute to improve and address this issue.

Taking both of the above into consideration, Lu Changqing decided to place it.

If the talent is tested and then no further testing is needed, then it will be unnecessary.

If he could adapt to this kind of training in three to five days, he would then focus on improving his defense.

It can be considered as adhering to the original idea: to be a balanced hexagonal warrior.

If you can't adapt to it later, and feel that practicing martial arts and going out to sea to fish is too tiring and you don't have enough time to rest.

Then add lives.

Seeing that it was almost time, Lu Changqing got up and headed to the dock.

...

...

"Brother Lu!"

"Hello, Brother Lu!"

"Brother Lu is here."

Village Port Wharf.

As soon as Lu Changqing reached the shore, the men on the boat greeted him with smiles.

The Zhao brothers and Liu Shitou need no introduction.

The smiles on Wednesday's face were filled with reverence and genuine joy.

Old Chen was the same.

As the group greeted him, the fishermen on the nearby fishing boats and the laborers carrying things on the dock all cast curious and scrutinizing glances at Lu Changqing.

After all, too many people have seen the demon fish incident; it's impossible to keep it a secret forever.

Everyone was curious about what kind of person had killed the demon fish.

Lu Changqing remained calm and composed under the watchful eyes of everyone.

After greeting a few people with a smile, I was just about to board the boat and head out to sea as usual.

Just then, someone walked over from the side.

Groups of people parted like a tide, making way for each other.

A man in his fifties, wearing a silk jacket with a front opening, and carrying two iron balls in his hands, strolled over.

His skin was slightly yellow, and his cheekbones were very high.

Many fishermen and boatmen, upon seeing each other, would subconsciously lower their heads or look away.

Old Chen, Zhou San, and everyone behind Lu Changqing all put away their smiles, stood up straighter, and had obvious reverence in their eyes.

"Master Huang!"

"Uncle Huang, you've arrived!"

Many respectful greetings rang out.

The visitor was Huang Bingkun, the leader of the Cao Gang's branch in the village port area.

Those who made a living at the docks, whether from the Wang or Zhang families, would all respectfully address this man as "Master Huang."

Leaving aside his own abilities.

Just the influence of his background and the connections he's built up over decades at the docks are enough to make him a veteran!

At the docks, this man was considered one of the local bigwigs who held sway.

Huang Bingkun ignored the others and walked straight to Lu Changqing's fishing boat. His eyes swept over Lu Changqing, and a faint smile appeared on his face. His voice was not loud, but it was enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly:

"This must be Young Master Lu, the one who personally killed the demon fish last night? He's quite the young man."

As soon as he uttered those words, Lu Changqing clearly felt that the curious and scrutinizing gazes around him instantly changed.

Envy, shock, and a few barely concealed expressions of jealousy were all directed at them.

Being addressed as "Brother" by Master Huang in public is an invisible boost to one's status on this dock!

Old Chen, Zhou San, and the others also couldn't hide their shock.

After the initial surprise, under the watchful eyes of many, they couldn't help but straighten their backs!

Lu Changqing felt a slight chill in his heart, and was not particularly happy.

Liu Bai was absolutely right!

Actions inevitably attract attention!

Now that he's caught the attention of the local bullies, who knows how many are secretly plotting against him, and how many are eager to befriend him...

Lu Changqing clasped his hands in a respectful bow, neither humble nor arrogant: "Master Huang, you flatter me."

"The kid was just lucky to kill the demon fish. It was mainly thanks to everyone's efforts and the muskets in our hands."

Huang Bingkun chuckled twice, the iron dantian in his hand making a soft "crackling" sound as he twirled it: "Whether it's luck or not, this old man has lived for so many years, I can still tell the difference."

"Although you were on Master Wang's ship, according to the old rules at our dock, we will remember your kindness even if you are a menace."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "Brother Lu is a trained fighter. If you encounter any minor trouble while walking on this river, you can mention my name, Huang Bingkun."

"So young, yet so talented, with a bright future ahead of him."

After saying that, without waiting for Lu Changqing's response, he nodded slightly to Old Chen, turned around, put his hands behind his back, and swayed away surrounded by several burly men.

The tense atmosphere suddenly melted away as his figure disappeared at the other end of the dock, and a buzz of discussion suddenly erupted.

"Did you hear that?! Master Huang called him 'Brother Lu'!"

"Incredible! Incredible! Master Huang himself has confirmed that Lu Changqing is about to rise to power!"

"Damn it, it's true what they say, comparisons are the thief of joy. I've been carrying bags at the docks for ten years, and I've never had a stroke of good fortune..."

Envy, amazement, and sour whispers intertwined.

The gazes that fell upon Lu Changqing were now completely different in temperature.

If before it was just curiosity about the "hero who slays the demon fish".

Now, there's a greater sense of appreciating, befriending, and even harboring subtle envy towards the "new dock elites."

Lu Changqing could clearly sense this change.

He felt little pride; instead, he was even more clear-headed. Huang Bingkun's words, though seemingly complimentary, were in fact a kind of "marking."

In this chaotic dock, fame is both a shield and a target of public criticism.

He still had a faint smile on his face and nodded to Old Chen: "Brother Chen, let's set sail."

...

The setting sun sank into the riverbed, and dusk descended.

The fishing boats returned to port, unloaded their catch, and divided the money among themselves.

Lu Changqing declined Zhou San's invitation to have drinks with others and stayed alone by the gradually quieting dock.

He found a secluded spot on the riverbank, away from the lights and surrounded by rocks.

The darkness provided the best cover.

They took off their outer clothes, shoes, and socks, leaving only their close-fitting shorts.

A cool evening breeze brushed against his skin, carrying the fishy smell of the river. He took a deep breath and slowly walked into the water.

The river water gradually rose above his waist and chest...

Just as my mouth and nose were about to be submerged, a strange, almost instinctive understanding arose naturally.

He doesn't need to deliberately paddle; his body automatically adjusts to the smoothest posture.

With a gentle swing of the legs, one can slide silently and swiftly into the deep water like an arrow released from a bow.

It really felt like walking on flat ground!

Lu Changqing was shocked.

.

Underwater, he felt none of the sluggishness or buoyancy that ordinary people experience.

Turning around, moving forward, rising, and diving—wherever his thoughts led, the water enveloping him became his most docile mount, propelling him effortlessly to complete his mission!

It's as if he was born to belong here, as if he were part of the water!

After swimming for a while, Lu Changqing fully understood the true value of "walking on flat ground"!

He was just like a fish!

Unfortunately, although I felt free and unobstructed in the water, everything in front of me was blurry and dark...

Visibility was not as good as it was on land.

The moonlight was extremely faint after penetrating the water's surface, barely enough to make out the blurry outlines of the reefs within a meter or two; beyond that, there was only pitch blackness that swallowed everything.

Besides the low visibility, Lu Changqing also keenly sensed that a "weakness" different from muscle fatigue was being drawn away from the depths of his body.

It was as if an invisible hourglass was counting down, clearly telling him: this unnatural ease in the water came at the cost of rapidly consuming physical strength.

He roughly estimated that at the current rate of energy expenditure, he could only maintain this state for a little over fifteen minutes, and twenty minutes was probably the limit.

"Talent, like ability, has its limits."

"It's like some people are born fast or strong, but that doesn't mean they never get tired."

Realizing that time was limited, he dived toward the deeper waters where the fishing boats were operating that afternoon.

The increased water pressure had little effect on his movements.

He was like a real big fish, swimming in dark waters.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Deeper underwater, amidst the mud and rocks, in the extremely dim light, he witnessed a chilling scene!

Piles of white bones!

Not one or two, but dozens of humanoid skeletons!

They were piled up haphazardly on the edge of a deep underwater ditch below!

Most of the bones were broken, as if they had been violently torn or broken by some force.

Among these skeletons, dozens of palm-sized, strange fish with scales that gleamed with a dark metallic sheen swam.

These fish have large heads and wide mouths, filled with fine, saw-like fangs that appear exceptionally white in the occasional reflected light!

They were frantically gnawing at the few remaining soft tissues on the bones, making a sickening "crunching" sound.

It seemed that the currents created by Lu Changqing's swimming, or perhaps it was the vibrant life force emanating from him, that startled this group of gluttonous beasts.

The few strange fish that were closest to Lu Changqing suddenly stopped eating, and their dark little eyes all turned towards him!

Lu Changqing's eyes narrowed, and he saw several strange fish lunging at him in unison!