[Kill the Ghostly Shadow hornet, gain 0.1 days of life]

  [Kill the Ghostly Shadow hornet, gain 0.1 days of life]

  ...

  Stirling was very excited, but he also felt a chilling aura coming towards him.

  Things were different now. Stirling no longer panicked as he had a few days ago. Instead, he practiced the Aether stance with masterful skill. Next, the burning sensation surging from his body filled him with warmth.

  Stirling was full of delight, and a surge of pride filled his heart. He stood firm as a rock in the room filled with shadowy hornets, then let out a long, soft whistle.

  "Ugly little bugs, I, Stirling, in the name of human justice, command you to sacrifice your lives! All of you, go to hell!"

  Stirling raised his arms and yelled, pouring out all his pain from the last few days at those tiny monsters.

  The swarming, shadowy hornets sensed Stirling's danger. After a brief pause, they retreated, then rushed out of the window and vanished into the dark night.

  Stirling cursed at this. At the moment, he sensed his Aether skill improving. His body buzzed with endless energy. He had planned to fight the shadowy hornets until dawn, but he had not expected them to escape.

  The shadowy hornets' retreat made Stirling feel his power that night. He couldn't help but feel a bit elated.

  To become stronger, Stirling's desire ignited. He rushed to the window, closed it, and fastened the cover plate. Stirling took the rest of the pills from his room and carried on with his training that night. After all, he was in dire straits, with danger lurking at any moment. Improving himself as soon as possible was the most important thing now. Driven by a deep sense of urgency, Stirling followed suit and enhanced the second pill.

  [Enhancement Success! Current Lifespan: 6 months and 11 days]

  After the strengthening was successful, Stirling saw his current lifespan.

  Stirling was astonished, with a sense of disbelief.

  But then, Stirling thought of another possibility, and he stroked his chin in thought.The thought flashed through Stirling's mind, but he shook his head after.

  Stirling muttered as he swallowed the strengthened pill. ...

  The next morning, the first rays of light crept through the window. Stirling, resting on a bench, opened his eyes. He bounced off the bench, feeling a completely distinct sensation.

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  After a night of practice, the Aether flow had grown as thick as straw. Even after he stopped practicing, it still flowed through him. It had become a habit. Stirling wasn't sure; after all, he knew nothing about the martial arts tiers of this world. But he was certain he had become stronger.

  Stirling chuckled, then filled his stomach with some dried meat and hurried out to hunt. During the day, Stirling set traps to catch prey. He then exchanged these with villagers for medicinal pills. In the afternoons and evenings, he indulged in drug-taking and training. At night, he took out preserved animal blood. This attracted ghostly hornets, helping him extend his lifespan. His days were quite regular and bustling.

  One day, Stirling grabbed a piece of cloth from his room. He took it to the table and wrote "Basic Blade Techniques" on it with charcoal. Yes, Stirling felt fulfilled these past few days, but still a little uneasy.

  The Aether inside Stirling was thick as a finger. He gave it his all, but he couldn't match the powerful punches and kicks from Eastern films. Aside from a slight increase in strength and a boost in spirits, Stirling felt no difference at all. This made him think it was time to learn a truly useful skill.

  Being a big fan of martial arts, he knows various kinds such as Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga, ect. After some thought, Stirling settled on blade skills. Stirling had dreamed of being a knight since he was a child. He imagined himself with a longsword on his back, riding on horseback freely. Enjoying grape wine and roast venison is another picture of him. Sure enough, he longed for adventure and the thrill of upholding justice as well.

  Given the current situation, Stirling recalled all the weapons he knew. He felt that the single-edged broadsword in ancient East called the Tang Dao was the most powerful. Its strength and presence made it ideal for survival in this harsh world. Stirling encouraged himself.

  [Current enhancement requires a lifespan of 5 years and 1 month. Enhance?]

  Stirling frowned a bit as he looked at the pop-up notification.

  Not that the lifespan required for enhancement exceeded his limit. He had already extended his life by ten years. He did this by luring and killing shadow hornets repeatedly over the past few days and nights. While Stirling felt bad about the loss of these five years, he wasn't too tangled.

  A fresh idea sparked in Stirling's mind: Thus, Stirling pondered for a long time, standing at the table. Then, he added the words "Best for Stirling" to the rag.

  [Current enhancement requests a lifespan of 7 years and 4 months. Enhance?]

  Stirling felt happy when he saw the notification. His lifespan cost had increased by over two years, yet not surprise him. After all, he was an authentic genius who could always find the best way. Without pausing, Stirling selected "yes" with a snap finger.

  Next, a flash of light lit up the table, and a tattered parchment book appeared.

  [Enhancement Successful! Current Lifespan: 3 Years and 71 Days]

  [Stirling's Swordsmanship]

  This swordsmanship, made for a man named Stirling, has 13 moves. While ordinary, it contains something extraordinary. If mastered to a high level, one might even become the guardian of a city-state.

  Stirling glanced dumbly at the prompt. He thought the swordsmanship book's name was plain and unremarkable. It made him twitch his mouth. But thank God, it was the swordsmanship book he had longed for. Stirling could not wait to pick it up and flip to the first page.

  The first page caught his eye, depicting a tree. And beneath this tree, a line of small words reads: Every time you practice swordsmanship, picture this image. You'll get twice the results with half the effort.

  Stirling felt stunned. He wondered if his strengthening was more than a basic sword technique. How could he create something as complex as a visualization diagram?

  Could it be the influence of the last-added condition? Stirling scratched his head and then turned to the second page: First move- Horizontal Slash.

  Stirling looked at the tiny figure in the painting, then at the various annotations marked on it, such as the range of motion, the angle of the Tang Dao technique, the running tips of the Aether...

  Wait, Aether?!?! Stirling's eyes widened, and his mouth hung open.