Chapter 144: What Lies Within the Rusted Iron Scrap

At the hospital, the doctor examined the elderly man and diagnosed him with sudden syncope, requiring a few days of inpatient observation. Qin Feng handled the admission procedures and covered the medical expenses.

After settling the old man in, Qin Feng began searching for clues that might help him contact the man’s family. After rummaging through the pockets of the old man’s clothing for quite some time, he finally found a slip of paper with an address written on it.

Qin Feng followed the address to a dilapidated residential area. The old man’s home was tucked deep within a narrow, cramped alley—a low-slung, single-story house with mottled, peeling walls and a roof covered in weathered asbestos tiles, clearly showing years of neglect.

Qin Feng knocked on the door. It creaked open, and a girl of about ten years old poked her head out, her large, dark eyes observing Qin Feng with curiosity.

"Little one, are you home alone?" Qin Feng asked.

"Who... who are you?" the girl asked timidly.

"I’m a friend of your grandfather. He’s at the hospital and asked me to come and let you know," Qin Feng said.

"Oh." The girl nodded, but she made no move to invite him inside.

"May I come in?" Qin Feng asked.

The girl hesitated for a moment before stepping aside to let him enter. Once inside, Qin Feng found the furnishings extremely sparse: only a worn wooden bed, a table, and a few chairs. Miscellaneous items were piled in the corner, and the entire room was permeated with a musty odor.

"Where are your parents?" Qin Feng asked.

"Dad... Dad passed away. Mom... Mom went to a very far place to earn money. She said... she said she would come to get me later." The girl lowered her head, her voice trailing off.

Hearing this, Qin Feng could not help but feel a pang of sympathy for the poor girl. He took his wallet from his pocket, extracted several hundred-dollar bills, and handed them to her. "Take this money. Buy yourself something to eat first, and if it's not enough, come find me."

The girl looked up at the money in Qin Feng’s hand, but she did not reach for it.

"Uncle, I can't take your money." She shook her head and said, "Grandpa said I shouldn't take things from strangers."

Looking into the girl’s clear eyes, Qin Feng felt moved; despite their poverty, the child was incredibly well-behaved.

"Take it. Just consider it a loan from your uncle. You can pay me back when you grow up." Qin Feng pressed the money into her hand.

The girl wanted to refuse again, but Qin Feng cut her off: "It’s settled. I’m leaving now. Take good care of yourself. If you need anything, find your grandfather’s attending physician; I’ve already spoken with him."

With that, Qin Feng turned and left the house. He did not go far, instead hiding in the shadows to watch over the girl. He saw her take the money, run to the small shop at the entrance of the alley, and buy some bread and milk.

After returning, the girl sat at the table, eating the bread while looking at the remaining money, her eyes brimming with tears. Qin Feng decided he had to help them.

He returned to the hospital and found the elderly man’s doctor to inquire about his condition. The doctor explained that the man had suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage; while the rescue was timely, he would likely suffer long-term complications and require continuous medication.

Qin Feng thanked the doctor and went to the patient's room. The old man had regained consciousness and, upon seeing Qin Feng, struggled to sit up.

"Young man, it’s you! Thank you so much!" the old man said gratefully.

"Sir, you are most welcome. It was only a small effort," Qin Feng replied. "How are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine, just a bit dizzy," the man said. "By the way, I heard you went to my home. Did you see my granddaughter?"

"Don't worry, the little girl is doing just fine," Qin Feng lied.

"That's good, that's good." The old man sighed with relief.

Qin Feng chatted with him for a while before rising to leave.

"Young man, wait." The old man stopped him, fumbling under his pillow for a long time before pulling out the tattered cloth bag from before. "Young man, this is... this is a token of my appreciation. You must accept it!"

Qin Feng looked at the bag; it was the same one the man had given him earlier.

"Sir, this is..."

"Young man, don't refuse. This thing is useless to me now. Just take it!" The old man insisted, forcing the bag into Qin Feng’s hand.

Seeing the man’s persistence, Qin Feng had no choice but to accept it. *What on earth is in this bag?* he wondered. As he left the ward, his mind was a tangle of emotions. He looked down at the pouch, even more curious—what kind of treasure could be inside that the old man cherished so much?

He found a quiet corner and carefully opened the bag. Inside was nothing but a palm-sized block of copper, covered in rust and looking entirely ordinary—almost shabby.

*This is it?* Qin Feng thought, scoffing to himself. *Is the old man trying to pull a fast one on me? This piece of scrap metal can't be worth a dime.* He examined the copper block from every angle, but could make nothing of it.

*Could it be an antique?* Qin Feng wondered. *But looking at the rust and the craftsmanship, it doesn't seem valuable at all.*

Driven by curiosity, he activated his "Perspective Eye."

The next second, he froze. Inside the rusted copper block, there were intricate, mysterious patterns. These lines were interwoven as if holding some hidden, supernatural power, emanating a faint golden glow.

"What... what is this?" A storm of shock surged in Qin Feng’s heart.

He calmed his breathing and studied the patterns intently. Gradually, he realized that these lines were actually a meridian circulation diagram for a cultivation technique!

"This... how is this possible?" Qin Feng exclaimed. "How could a plain block of copper contain a cultivation manual?"

Suppressing his excitement, he continued to read. As he delved deeper into the technique, his breathing grew rapid. This manual was called the "Nine-Turn Golden Body Art," an incredibly powerful physical cultivation technique. Legend had it that if one reached the ultimate realm, they would become impervious to blades, bullets, fire, and water!

"I’ve struck gold! I’ve really hit the jackpot!" Qin Feng was so excited he nearly jumped. "With this technique, couldn't I become a superman?"

He longed to find a place to start practicing immediately, but after a moment's thought, he restrained his impulse.

"No, there are too many eyes here. This isn't the right place to cultivate." Qin Feng forced himself to stay calm. "I should find a safe place first."

He put the copper block back into the bag, tucked it into his pocket, and hurried out of the hospital. After paying the remaining medical fees for the old man, he checked into a hotel not far from the old man's home.

Locking the door behind him, Qin Feng couldn't wait any longer. He took out the copper block and began to study the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art. According to the text, the technique consisted of nine levels, each corresponding to a different stage of power. The first level involved opening up all the meridians in the body, tempering the physical form, and enhancing strength and defense.

"Let’s start with the first level!"