I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 1059 Resurrection of spiritual energy
The original owner refused to confess in prison, causing trouble and even getting beaten up by the guards. In the end, he died of anger. This gave Zhang Chen's original consciousness the opportunity to take control of the body and revive.

"They're all rotten people!" Zhang Chen sighed softly, then flexed his hands, feeling the sensation of his body being under control, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes:
"It feels good to be alive."

"Most importantly, the world seems to have changed. I sensed a faint spiritual energy in the air. Although it was very faint, it was definitely there." Zhang Chen looked away from his body, raised his head, and looked through the crack in the window at the gray clouds in the sky. He did indeed sense the presence of spiritual energy in the air.

If the end times of the Dharma era were a barren desert, then the current environment is like a blade of grass in that desert. Although we are still some distance from a true golden age, there is no doubt that it already has the beginning of a golden age.

As he thought of it, the Five Elements Authority was activated, and it remained unaffected. The range of control it had expanded from one meter to two meters. Although two meters was still insignificant to Zhang Chen, it was a good start.

"As long as I live well, I can survive until the Golden Age. But I can't be reckless in this era. The firearms of the steam age are really powerful. Not only have machine guns and cannons come out, but even the Mushroom Egg has been manufactured. The power of the Mushroom Egg is such that even if I could control the Five Elements Law within a thousand meters, I wouldn't be able to withstand it! The power of the Mushroom Egg is not inferior to that of a Celestial Immortal, right? It can at least be compared to a twelfth-level expert." A hint of caution appeared in Zhang Chen's eyes.

However, now that he has mastered the Five Elements Law, in this era of firearms, he doesn't care about ordinary weapons except for the Mushroom Egg.

"But I must remain low-key and not act ostentatiously." Zhang Chen thought to himself, and a sense of energy began to emerge within his body. A wisp of heat gathered from his dantian and transformed into magical power, capturing and refining the spiritual energy in the air.

Zhang Chen dared not use his cheat ability to improve his cultivation level. Although the cheat ability could improve his cultivation level quickly, it offered no control whatsoever.

"Even those at the Qi Refining stage might not be able to withstand this era. If I accidentally break through to the first level of Qi Refining, I'll probably become a laughing stock and die from exhaustion of my essence and spirit." Zhang Chen muttered to himself, carefully sensing the situation within his body. He sensed his Heavenly Eye, which was still hidden deep within his consciousness, where the Middle Thousand Worlds still existed.

However, Zhang Chen did not rashly resort to various means. He was currently like a frightened bird, somewhat afraid that he might accidentally disturb the will of the world and cause the great era that had finally arrived to end once again.

"It's going to be tough," Zhang Chen muttered to himself. After checking his own condition, his gaze swept across the entire cell, over the tattered clothes of the other inmates, causing a sudden jolt to run through him.
"Keep a low profile! You must keep a low profile! For me, the most important thing is to survive in this world."

"The new dynasty is in a special era, and there is bound to be some tension and fear. But how can I extricate myself from this situation?" Zhang Chen's mind was filled with thoughts as he squatted in the corner, pondering silently. In fact, it didn't matter to him where he lived, but he still needed to find a way to make his life better.

Looking at the cramped cell in front of them, which was only ten square meters in size, with only two fist-sized windows, more than twenty people were locked up inside. Everyone could only squat; lying down was a luxury.

Why has going to prison been called "going to prison" since ancient times?
Because once you actually enter prison, you really have to squat, since prisons are packed with people and it's impossible to lie down.

Someone asked what to do when sleeping at night?
Squat down!

"In this era, if I were to become a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, I should be able to make a living, right? At least I could earn a living." The thought flashed through Zhang Chen's mind: "I just wonder if any of the guards in the prison are feeling unwell. Perhaps I could take this opportunity to show off my skills and make my life more comfortable."

Of course, some people may ask, since Zhang Chen has the power over the Five Elements, why doesn't he just escape and hide in the deep mountains and forests, waiting for the golden age to arrive?

Zhang Chen really didn't want to do it this way. Do you know why?
He had been imprisoned in the void for countless millennia. Now that he had finally returned, how could he bear to leave human society?

He could live alone in the deep mountains and forests, but what difference would that make from being locked in a physical body and 'watching a movie'?
Just as Zhang Chen was deep in thought, a shout suddenly came from afar. Soldiers from the prison appeared outside the cells and shouted at the top of their lungs to the people inside: "It's time for labor reform. You're coming with me to dig soil and build a dam."

The manager was in his forties and was a minor leader. Behind him were four young managers, each with a long spear at their waist. Their muscles were bulging, and they looked like they were trained fighters.

Zhang Chen's gaze swept over the hands of the leading manager, and he noticed that the hands were exceptionally large, with skin as rough as sandpaper, and also had a faint bluish-black tinge. Zhang Chen's heart skipped a beat: "Hard Qigong? And it's the wrong kind of hard qigong he's been practicing?"

Since Zhang Chen's last reincarnation, countless millennia have passed, but the martial arts tradition has never ended. However, the martial arts have been monopolized by powerful clans and families, becoming the exclusive domain of the powerful and wealthy.

Until the advent of the steam age, the status of martial arts has been greatly diminished, and the powerful and wealthy have gradually relaxed their restrictions on martial arts, allowing ordinary people to occasionally have the opportunity to come into contact with the mysteries of martial arts.

Some impoverished nobles simply opened martial arts schools, recruited disciples to make money, and that's how martial arts began to spread widely among the people.

"The country's name is now Xin Han... I wonder if it has any mysterious connection to the great Han Dynasty of the past." A hint of reminiscence appeared in Zhang Chen's eyes.

The group slipped through the gate and were escorted by the foreman to the dam. Zhang Chen deliberately walked at the very back; due to malnutrition since childhood, he appeared thin and frail, standing out among the prisoners. "Sir!" Zhang Chen called out softly as he lagged behind, his gaze sweeping over the foreman's underling.

The person in charge turned to Zhang Chen and asked, "Is there something you need?"

He remembered Zhang Chen, an unlucky guy who was reported. To be honest, he didn't have any ill will towards Zhang Chen, he just felt sorry for him.

"Does the master practice hard qigong?" Zhang Chen asked the squad leader.

The leader gave a sarcastic "hmm," his eyes fixed on Zhang Chen, seemingly waiting for him to continue.

“The cultivation technique you obtained, sir, seems to have a problem. Your practice has gone astray. If you continue practicing in the current way, you will encounter serious problems sooner or later,” Zhang Chen said calmly.

Upon hearing Zhang Chen's words, Wang Biao's pupils contracted, and he looked Zhang Chen up and down. Didn't he know whether there was a problem with the cultivation method he was practicing?

Even if there is a problem, he has no solution. The Iron Palm technique he practices is a fragment he obtained by chance when he was young. Even if you ask him to collect the complete Iron Palm technique, he cannot find it.

Don't think that Iron Palm is some low-level martial art. Iron Palm is definitely one of the top martial arts techniques in the world.

"You know kung fu?" Wang Biao looked Zhang Chen up and down, noticing Zhang Chen's thin appearance, which didn't seem to show any signs of martial arts training.

Zhang Chen smiled upon hearing this, glanced around, and then looked at a piece of blue stone not far away. He bent down and picked up the blue stone, which was about the size of a fist. Then, Zhang Chen clenched his fist, and the blue stone instantly turned into fine sand.

As the saying goes, when a master makes a move, there is nothing left to do. When Wang Biao saw this scene, his eyes widened in astonishment.

Zhang Chen casually released the sand from his hand, then clapped his hands and looked at Wang Biao with a smile: "How was it?"

"Incredible! I've only ever heard of your skills in legends." Wang Biao's gaze fell on Zhang Chen, seemingly unable to believe that such a small and thin person could possess such immense strength.

"I want to eat roast chicken," Zhang Chen said.

"I will personally prepare a banquet for you tonight," Wang Biao said, bowing deeply.

Without practicing martial arts, Zhang Chen appears as a mayfly; after practicing martial arts, he appears as the bright moon in the sky.

Zhang Chen nodded. Wang Biao, being quite perceptive, turned and walked away, saying, "See you tonight."

Watching Zhang Chen's retreating figure, Wang Biao stared intently at him for a while before quickly catching up with the group. He then said to the jailers beside him, "There's no need to assign Zhang Chen any work. Just let him stay to the side. You all take good care of him and make sure you don't offend him."

The jailer looked at Wang Biao with surprise: "Sir, could this man have some important background?"

Wang Biao thought of Zhang Chen's unfathomable kung fu skills, and a look of awe appeared in his eyes. To be able to master such skills, one must have a profound lineage.

Martial arts are linked to wealth and status. With Zhang Chen's martial arts skills, who would believe that he has no powerful backing?
"Don't ask about things you shouldn't ask. Quickly send someone to compile all of Zhang Chen's information and give it to me," Wang Biao instructed.

After hearing Wang Biao's words, the jailer turned to make arrangements, while Wang Biao stared at Zhang Chen from afar, his heart filled with curiosity and awe.

(End of this chapter)