C2 I Really Became Smarter!

Lo Chen was meditating with his eyes closed when he heard Yu Qiulian's call. His eyes snapped open, shining with vitality. Clenching his fists, he felt an overwhelming surge of power and exclaimed in amazement, "The Innate Holy Bone truly is a once-in-an-eternity martial arts prodigy. Without even fully tapping into its potential, a brief period of cultivation has already opened the twelve meridians in my body, propelling me to the first level of the Body Tempering Realm!"

[Ding! Your cultivation level has advanced to the first level of the Body Tempering Realm. Reward: 10 attribute points!]

[Ding! New mission: Gain the attention and support of the Lo family within three days. Reward: 50 attribute points!]

A mission?

As Lo Chen pondered this, his mother's voice reached him from outside. "Cui Yi, why have you brought so many people into my home? What do you intend to do?"

"Yu Qiulian, you borrowed two hundred taels of silver from us a few days ago for your son's medical expenses. It's time to repay that debt."

"But... wasn't it agreed that I would pay it back in a month? I don't have the money right now."

"A month later? Who said anything about a month? If you can't pay back the money, then we'll have to take you as payment!"

Cui Yi reached out with a sinister grin, lunging for Yu Qiulian. "Stop!" Lo Chen emerged from his room, his voice booming.

Cui Yi turned his sneer towards Lo Chen. "You're such a pathetic fool. It's a miracle you survived being beaten to within an inch of your life by the young master of the Lo family. But if you think you can interfere with my business, I won't hesitate to kill you again!" He gestured to his thugs.

Yu Qiulian, in a panic, pleaded, "Don't hurt Little Chen! I'll go with you!"

"Heh, that's more like it. We won't really harm you... much."

Seeing Cui Yi's lecherous grin, Lo Chen's fury ignited. He quickly pulled his mother, Yu Qiulian, to safety behind him and faced Cui Yi with a thunderous roar, "You scum, how dare you lay a finger on my mother? You're looking for a fight!"

Lo Chen's fists were clenched tightly as he stepped forward and delivered a solid punch to Cui Yi's face.

Blessed with the talent of the Innate Holy Bone, he had broken through the twelve apertures and entered the first stage of Body Tempering, making his strength several times that of an average person.

Dealing with a few thugs with rudimentary fighting skills was a breeze for him.

Lo Chen's punch connected with Cui Yi's face with a resounding 'bang,' sending Cui Yi flying several meters.

His underlings, witnessing this, were immediately thrown into disarray.

After all, Cui Yi was a martial artist whose strength was several times greater than that of an ordinary person.

Yet now, he had been sent flying by a mere teenager with a single punch.

[Ding! The host has made a show of force and taught the hooligans a lesson. Reward: 1 attribute point!]

Ah, an unexpected bonus!

Lo Chen looked down at Cui Yi and bellowed, "Cui Yi, I, Lo Chen, have awakened and stepped onto the martial path. No matter how many of you trash come at me, it won't be enough to challenge me!"

In the Great Dawn Dynasty, martial arts were held in high esteem, and martial artists enjoyed a status above the common folk, who typically wouldn't dare to oppress them.

Lo Chen was aware of this and had deliberately made his status known.

However, Cui Yi, a martial artist at the second level of the Body Tempering Realm, was not so easily cowed.

With his face in his hands, Cui Yi's expression was one of shock; he was struggling to reconcile the once foolish Lo Chen with the formidable presence before him now.

The power Lo Chen had just displayed was inconceivable given his former simple-mindedness.

But Young Master Lo Yuv had issued a strict command—if Cui Yi failed, it would mean death upon his return.

"Lo Chen, don't forget, I am also a martial artist. You've only just begun your journey on the martial path, merely at the first level of Body Tempering. Face my attack!"

Cui Yi erupted with a sudden burst of speed, launching a palm strike towards Lo Chen.

Lo Chen, realizing he couldn't dodge in time, braced himself to take the full brunt of Cui Yi's attack.

At that moment, Yu Qiulian unexpectedly darted forward to shield Lo Chen.

"Puff—"

Cui Yi's palm struck Yu Qiulian in the abdomen, causing her to cough up a mouthful of bright red blood.

"Mother, mother!"

Lo Chen was seething with rage. Though he had only just arrived in this world, he had merged with the deceased Lo Chen, inheriting all his memories and emotions.

Seeing his mother injured and her fate uncertain, a surge of anger welled up within him.

He turned his head, his eyes bloodshot, and bellowed at Cui Yi, "Cui Yi, you dare to harm my mother? You're asking for death!"

With that, Lo Chen, fueled by his rage, charged at Cui Yi like a swift and ferocious beast.

Cui Yi had never seen someone at the First Level of Body Tempering display such ferocity. He had intended to overpower him with his higher cultivation level, but when he clashed with Lo Chen, he found himself completely outmatched.

In a fit of rage, Lo Chen needed only a few punches and kicks to severely injure Cui Yi, who was a whole realm above him, leaving his life hanging in the balance.

Eventually, Lo Chen's anger subsided, and he turned to address Cui Yi's cronies. "If any of you disagree, come at me. I, Lo Chen, am right here waiting!"

Cui Yi's followers were all ordinary people who hadn't even begun their martial journey.

After witnessing their leader's defeat at Lo Chen's hands, they knew they stood no chance against him.

One quick-witted lackey immediately adopted a sycophantic grin and raised his thumb, saying, "Ahem, Young Master Lo, that was impressive! Hehe, I was blind to provoke you. Please, overlook my foolishness and let us off the hook!"

Lo Chen considered the situation. Surely Cui Yi wouldn't have acted alone; someone must have put him up to it.

"I might let you go, but first, you need to tell me who sent you to collect this debt!"

The lackey hesitated, his heart pounding. Mumbling incoherently, he knew revealing his employer after failing to overpower Lo Chen would tarnish his reputation forever.

Lo Chen fixed a fierce glare on the man before him and said menacingly, "If you refuse to talk, then today I shall rid the people of a menace! I'll cripple one of your legs!"

The underling, feeling the intensity of Lo Chen's resolve, felt a bead of sweat trickle down from his temple. He gulped and said, "Fine, I'll talk. It was Young Master Lo Yuv who sent me. He wanted us to use the pretext of collecting a debt to check if Young Master Lo Chen was dead! If you were, we were to bring back your body."

"What does Lo Yuv want with my body?" Lo Chen demanded.

"I... I don't know. We were just following orders!"

Lo Chen's expression darkened as he said, "Fine, I've got the message. Go back and tell Lo Yuv that I, Lo Chen, will make him pay, sooner or later. Now get out of here!"

The underlings, upon hearing Lo Chen's command, felt a weight lift off their shoulders and quickly dragged the barely alive Cui Yi out of the courtyard.

Lo Chen's thoughts turned to Lo Yuv, the face of his half-brother emerging in his mind. He was the one who had killed the original owner of this body, and now he seemed intent on desecrating his memory further, despite them sharing the same father.

Turning his attention to his injured mother, Yu Qiulian, who was struggling to stand, Lo Chen hurried over to help her up.

Yu Qiulian gazed at her son, Lo Chen, barely recognizing him after such a transformation. Amidst her astonishment, she was moved to tears of joy. Their descent into such dire straits was all because Lo Chen had been considered a fool.

She never looked down on Lo Chen, but seeing her son become wise was a cause for celebration for any parent.

"Xiao Chen, you've truly become clever!" she exclaimed.

Lo Chen smiled, approached his mother, and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. "Mother, it's true. I've become clever, and from now on, you won't have to suffer anymore!"

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