Demon-Wraith Plagued World: From Commoner to Supreme

Lin Feng stared at the simulation panel floating before him, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes. He was trying to determine if the few drinks he had consumed were causing him to hallucinate. After all, since arriving in this world, he hadn’t had a proper drink. Could it be alcohol poisoning from his first taste of liquor?

Name: Lin Feng

Cultivation Manual: Battle Array Breaker

Cultivation: External Refinement Realm – Body Forging (0/100)+

Divine Ability 1: Devour

Techniques:

Tiger Roar Fist (0/20)+

Upgrade Points: 1

Lin Feng gazed at the simple panel, which seemed to be genuinely real, and felt a surge of excitement. His golden finger had finally arrived! Like many who had crossed over to another world, he had been trying to figure out how to trigger his golden finger since he was in the womb, but to no avail. Yet today, after a few drinks, it had appeared.

Noticing that no one else seemed to see it, he began to study it. Having read many novels in his previous life, he naturally understood what this panel signified and had a rough idea of its functions. Seeing the “+” signs next to his cultivation and techniques, he realized this was a panel that could rapidly enhance his cultivation and techniques. The upgrade points were obviously meant to be added.

“But how do I get more upgrade points?” he pondered. “Could it be related to the ‘Devour’ ability of Divine Ability 1?”

As soon as he thought of this, the panel seemed to sense his thoughts and transmitted a piece of information into his mind. “So that’s how it works! No wonder I have one upgrade point. In summary, eating food can increase my upgrade points. The more energy-rich and higher the level of the food, the more upgrade points I can gain. Simple!”

Lin Feng finally understood the panel’s function.

“Hey, big brother, what are you spacing out for? Eat some food! Don’t just drink!” Lin Yu, thinking his brother was still dwelling on his earlier failure, tried to divert his attention by piling food onto his plate.

“Oh, right, okay!” Lin Feng responded, eating while continuing to explore the panel. The two of them then devoured their meal.

An hour later, they were full and satisfied. The brothers left the restaurant and headed back to the shantytown outside the city, where they parted ways. Lin Yu had to return to the territory managed by the Great Knife Gang. In these times, joining a gang was often a necessity. Although he was just a small lackey and frequently faced the dangers of gang fights and even death, at least he wasn’t easily bullied by others.

Lin Feng checked his panel, which now showed that his upgrade points had increased to 3. Although the meal wasn’t cheap and the alcohol was the essence of grain, gaining three points so quickly was astonishing!

“At this rate, with three meals a day, wouldn’t I reach peak Body Forging in just ten days to half a month?!” Lin Feng thought, startled by the rapid progress. He knew his father had been considered quite accomplished, having reached peak Body Forging with at least a thousand jin of force in a punch after more than a decade of cultivation in resource-scarce conditions. Could he really achieve the same in just half a month?

“Let’s see how this works!”

With that, Lin Feng carefully allocated all three Upgrade Points to the “Cultivation” section.

Name: Lin Feng

Cultivation Manual: Battle Array Breaker

Cultivation: External Refinement Realm – Body Forging (3/100)+

Divine Ability 1: Devour

Techniques:

Tiger Roar Fist (0/20)+

Upgrade Points: 0

As Lin Feng finished clicking, the military’s basic Body Forging technique, Battle Array Breaker, which he couldn’t cultivate due to lack of food and clothing, suddenly became clear to him!

He felt a warm energy coursing through his body. Once it dissipated, the previous strains in his body healed, and his pallor from hunger improved. He felt more spirited and energetic!

“Body Forging has early stage, Mid-stage, Late Stage, and Perfected. I should be at the early stage now! I feel power surging within me. I want to unleash it!”

Lin Feng muttered to himself.

His gaze swept around and landed on a medium-sized stone mill weighing two to three hundred jin. It was shared by the Shantytown residents for grinding.

Lin Feng approached the stone mill, placed his hands on either side, and with a gentle exertion, lifted it! Though it took some effort, he managed to raise it!

Earlier, lifting a hundred-jin stone lock nearly made him gasp for breath. Now, he was making the two to three hundred-jin stone mill weep!

Seeing the remnants on the stone mill fall off, Lin Feng dared not continue. He set it down.

Finally confirming the panel’s efficacy, he felt elated!

Next, he cheerfully headed home, his steps light and buoyant.

With the panel, he now had the means to survive in this Demon-Wraith plagued world. Though any stronger person or Demon-Wraith could still end him, it was better than having no hope at all!

Before long, Lin Feng was nearing his home. From afar, a commotion reached his ears!

“Sister Lin, I heard Lin Feng didn’t become a Constable. How about returning the money we lent you yesterday? Er Niu’s father needs it for his leg!”

“Lin Family, we’re in the same boat. We’re nearly out of food. Without those thirty wen¹, we’ll be left with nothing tomorrow!”

“Big Sis, our family is planning a wedding. We need that one qian² to buy some new clothes for the bride. Can’t have her come over without a proper outfit, right?”

…

The noise reached Lin Feng, and though he caught bits and pieces, he understood the neighbors’ intentions!

The Two Taels of silver he carried were voluntarily given by these neighbors when they heard he was going to take the Constable exam. After all, everyone knew that without money to grease the wheels, no one would pay attention to a commoner like him.

As a military family member, Lin Feng had an advantage in the Constable exam, especially since they were hiring quite a few this time. It was almost certain he’d get a government job and secure a steady income.

So, the neighbors rushed to “invest” early, hoping Lin Feng would look after them once he became a Constable.

But now, news of his failure had somehow spread, and they couldn’t wait to reclaim their money the very next day!

Such behavior was disgraceful!

Utterly shameless.

His mother, though outwardly gentle, was strong inside. She smiled apologetically, promising everyone that Lin Feng would return their money once he got home. Yet, tears glimmered in her eyes.

At this moment, her mind was in turmoil. Her husband had passed not long ago, and the family relied on a small pension and her earnings to get by for months.

Finally, her son had a chance at a decent job! But now, it was gone!

How would they survive?

She smiled while discreetly wiping away tears when no one was looking.

Beside her, Lin Feng’s sister was frightened by the crowd. She clung to her mother’s clothes, wide-eyed, staring at the varied expressions of the neighbors.

She couldn’t understand how the once friendly neighbors had turned into such monstrous figures!

Lin Feng approached, witnessing the scene, anger surging to his head.

He set down the food he brought for his mother and sister.

Grabbing the Pig-killing Knife from Butcher Zhu’s door, he strode forward…

Footnote:

Wen(文):The smallest copper coin. A beggar’s meal cost 3-5 wen, while a teacher earned 500 wen daily.
Qian(钱):A traditional Chinese silver unit, 1 qian ≈ 100-150 wen in copper coins, enough to buy 10-15 meals for a laborer at the time.