Nine Bull Fist

Lem summoned the simulation screen. 

[Name: Lem]

[Age: 15]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques: Nine Bull Fist (entry)]

[Energy: 0]

[Simulation: 4%]

He knew that he could accumulate simulations by letting the simulator recover past one hundred percent. 

For the first time, he considered doing so to add another safety measure. 

Of course, it was not the most reliable measure. After all, the percentages were calculated according to the current recovery time. If the next simulation ran significantly longer, then the one hundred percent he had saved up could suddenly regress into a much smaller number.

Before, he had not considered accumulating them because every minute was precious.

However, as his strength increased, he felt the need to protect himself both by having simulations in reserve and by gaining proficiency in the [Nine Bull Fist]. 

After a moment of indecision, Lem reluctantly decided against accumulating simulations for the moment. When the length of recovery time increased, he would revisit the idea. 

Lem looked down to the berry in his hand. Minutes ago, it had been his most precious possession, but now it only felt like a burden.

The energy boost it provided seemed insignificant next to the mushrooms. It also had the potential to attract danger.

He looked over at the fox, which was still watching him from a couple meters away.

After a moment's hesitation, he tossed the berry over.

The fox dashed away before it landed.

Seeing how meek the little beast was, Lem felt like laughing, but he only shook his head. The fox had managed to stay alive without a simulator. Clearly, it was very intelligent.

He still had an hour to wait. 

Now that he was full of energy, it felt like a waste to sit around doing nothing, so he began practicing the [Nine Bull Fist] into the air.

Punch! Punch! Punch!

His punches looked rough and unsophisticated, but this was only because he was trying to focus on many minute aspects at once. He accidentally broke a few nearby branches, but the noise was no louder than his ordinary moments, and was unavoidable in the course of practice.

Punch! Punch! Punch!

As the nearby branches broke and were no longer obstructing his movements, the noise from punching in the air began to diminish.

Punch! Punch! Punch!

Lem was pleasantly surprised to see that his body was easily keeping up with the energy exertion. It was a new experience for him, as his memories of practicing always left him gasping for air after only one or two punches.

Martial arts were a mysterious subject. They bore some relationship to the cultivation arts of immortals. Theoretically, they cleaved to the fundamental principles of the world, allowing the martial artist to display power disproportionate to their physical strength.

However, many lineages had intentionally modified the arts so that they were easier to practice, causing them to lose much of their effectiveness and orthodoxy in the process.

Martial arts were many and varied, from body strengthening arts, movement arts, sword arts, and physical combat arts. 

Nearly every settlement in the forest had at least one, as it was impossible to survive in the world as a pure mortal.

The lone martial arts of Lem's village, the [Nine Bull Fist], was extremely common and was watered down to the point that nearly anyone could practice it. The only requirement was that one had four limbs and sufficient energy and strength to sustain the extreme physical positions.

After some time had passed, Lem began to feel fatigued, so he stopped his movements. It was very important that he did not put himself into a compromised position, as his safety was always at risk in the forest.

He checked the simulation screen.

[Name: Lem]

[Age: 15]

[Cultivation: None]

[Techniques: Nine Bull Fist (entry)]

[Energy: 0]

[Simulation: 23%]

It was unsurprising to him that his recorded skill level in [Nine Bull Fist] had not moved from 'entry.' If it was so easy to improve, then he would have done so long ago.

Lem decided that he would rest while he waited for the next simulation. He sat down, but he did not lose his vigilance.

[Simulation: 51%]

…

[Simulation: 63%]

The brush began to rustle again. 

Lem's eyes flicked up, and the hand on his spear tightened.

A small fox head emerged, and he relaxed again.

This little guy is persistent, Lem thought to himself.

The fox quickly dashed up to the fallen berry. It looked up at Lem, and then looked down at the berry and sniffed a couple times. It opened its mouth and picked up the berry, before dashing away through the underbrush.

Lem smiled. The little fox was truly cautious, not even wanting to eat in front of others.

He settled down again, as he prepared to wait for the simulation to recover.

[Simulation: 69%]

…

[Simulation: 90%]

…

[Simulation: 97%]...[Simulation: 98%]...

[Simulation: 100%]

[Detecting Karma is small enough to extract energy from the environment. Run Simulation?]

Wait for an hour while practicing [Nine Bull Fist]. Travel north until you reach the mushrooms, and then travel west. 

If you find signs of immortals, then follow all leads.

Yes, he thought.