Detailed Explanation

Seeing the delight on Lin Sheng's face, Wang Dehai smiled faintly and, without beating around the bush, began speaking directly.

"The Martial Way is divided into three realms: Body Tempering, Muscle Forging, and Blood Circulation. Of course, there are further realms beyond Blood Circulation, but those are not something I can glimpse. After all, in all of Lin'an County City, even that small handful of lofty masters at the very top are only at the Blood Circulation realm."

"Body Tempering, Muscle Forging, Blood Circulation..."

Lin Sheng rolled the names of those three Martial Way realms around in his mouth.

Wang Dehai continued.

"The first realm of the Martial Way is the Body Tempering realm. Just as its name suggests, one strengthens the body by practicing martial arts. To put it simply, one tempers one's own strength. Once one reaches a certain critical point and successfully crosses it, one has entered the Body Tempering realm."

Wang Dehai paused here before continuing.

"Take you, Brother Lin. Since your Raging Bull Fist has successfully reached the entry level, you've already touched the threshold of the Body Tempering realm. Once you truly cultivate this Raging Bull Fist to minor accomplishment, you'll have genuinely entered the Body Tempering realm. There isn't much difficulty in the Body Tempering realm, really—nothing more than the grinding work of diligent practice. Of course, that assumes you have enough blood and vitality to sustain you. Put simply, you need to eat meat. Only by eating well can you accumulate the blood and vitality within your body more quickly. And you can't be too old, either. Otherwise, once your blood and vitality have settled into shape, stirring them again becomes troublesome. You're a little older than ideal, but it's not too late yet. Entering the Body Tempering realm will merely take time and steady grinding."

"Although this Raging Bull Fist is only a third-rate martial art that can't be put on the stage, under normal circumstances it takes around fifteen to twenty days to reach the entry level. That is the cultivation speed of an ordinary person with average aptitude. Entering in ten days counts as fairly good among ordinary people—provided there is enough meat to eat, of course. As for poor households that go hungry one meal and full the next, unable to eat their fill or dress warmly, managing to reach the entry level within a month is already quite good. Not to mention the workers here at our slaughterhouse, who still have to work while cultivating."

"So, Brother Lin, managing to reach the entry level in ten days under such conditions shows that your aptitude is quite good. At the very least, your comprehension is far stronger than that of ordinary people."

After hearing Wang Dehai out, Lin Sheng revealed a thoughtful expression.

In truth, after his Raging Bull Fist had reached the entry level three days ago, he had been considering when would be best to reveal it. In the end, he had decided to show it today. Looking at it now, the effect was just right.

Displaying his value without drawing prying eyes was undoubtedly the most suitable course.

At that moment, Wang Dehai continued speaking to himself.

"As long as one's aptitude isn't utterly dreadful, the Body Tempering realm can eventually be achieved by enduring and grinding away with time. But the Muscle Forging realm, especially the Blood Circulation realm above it, demands not only strict requirements for one's bones and physique, but also considerable comprehension. Deficiencies in bones and physique can be made up for with certain blood-and-vitality tonics, but comprehension can basically only depend on oneself. So, Brother Lin, if you can establish yourself in the Beast Hunter Hall, there's a good chance you may become a Muscle Forging realm martial artist in the future."

As he spoke, Wang Dehai patted Lin Sheng on the shoulder.

"The Beast Hunter Hall is quite dangerous. Once you enter it and carry out missions, Brother Lin, you must be more careful. Those beasts on Yangping Mountain are fierce indeed."

After saying that, a trace of lingering fear appeared on Wang Dehai's face, as though he had recalled something unpleasant.

Lin Sheng committed Wang Dehai's words to heart. After chatting with him for a while longer, he took his leave.

As he walked out of the slaughterhouse, Lin Sheng played with a small cloth pouch in his hand. Wang Dehai had slipped it to him before he left, and inside were five taels of silver in broken pieces.

Wang Dehai had offered it of his own accord, so Lin Sheng naturally did not decline. He happened to be short on silver right now.

Five taels of silver was no small sum to him.

Under Great Yan, the currency exchange was quite simple. One hundred large coins equaled one tael of silver, while one hundred taels of silver equaled one tael of gold.

These five taels of silver amounted to five hundred large coins, equivalent to more than half a year of his hard-earned wages as a skinning worker.

With this silver, he would no longer have to live so tightly. Ever since reaching the entry level, he had noticed that his appetite had grown considerably. After three days, his original savings were nearly exhausted. Wang Dehai's five taels had arrived at precisely the right time.

Besides that, what he valued most was the thin booklet newly tucked into his breast.

This booklet was nothing else but the cultivation method for taking Raging Bull Fist from the entry level to minor accomplishment.

According to Wang Dehai, Lin Sheng would have to wait several days after entering the Beast Hunter Hall before receiving the subsequent cultivation methods. Thus, he had asked Wang Dehai to write down the cultivation method for minor-accomplishment Raging Bull Fist for him.

He was already considered a member of the Beast Hunter Hall, so receiving the subsequent Raging Bull Fist cultivation method was perfectly reasonable and in accordance with the rules.

He simply did not want to waste these few days. Seeing that Wang Dehai seemed inclined to befriend him, he had directly sought his guidance.

Wang Dehai had hesitated briefly, but ultimately did not refuse.

"The minor-accomplishment Raging Bull Fist should be enough for my training over these next few days."

The reason he cared so much about the subsequent Raging Bull Fist cultivation method was also to prepare for his future work in the Beast Hunter Hall.

Although the Iron Yak entering his body had greatly enhanced his physical capabilities,

the Beast Hunter Hall's work involved dealing with those vicious ferocious beasts. Raising his strength as much as possible would bring nothing but benefits.

Watching Lin Sheng leave, Wang Dehai finally tipped the little wine remaining in his flask into his mouth and murmured softly.

"That makes four already. But this kid is smooth enough. I hope he survives and enters the Muscle Forging realm."

The reason Wang Dehai, despite possessing only perfected Body Tempering realm cultivation, could serve as a steward in this slaughterhouse rather than going outside to fight and kill was because he had dared to gamble in the past. When a chief steward of Town Mountain Tower had been young, Wang Dehai had given him some convenience, allowing him to secure this fine post.

He understood that his talent was limited and that he might never enter the Muscle Forging realm in this lifetime. Therefore, whenever the Beast Hunter Hall or another hall selected disciples, he would invest in some of the more talented people in the slaughterhouse, even proactively recommending workers he had discovered to be promising.

Unfortunately, he had gained nothing from it. All that bright silver had gone down the drain, but he still had not given up.

His connection with that chief steward stretched back many years and had long since faded. If he did not find another way, then in a few more years, even the position of slaughterhouse steward might no longer be his.

Leaving Wang Dehai's thoughts aside,

Lin Sheng had already arrived on Crock Street. Since he would enter the Beast Hunter Hall tomorrow, he naturally did not need to return to the slaughterhouse to work that afternoon. This was the earliest he had returned in two months.

With another five taels of silver in hand, he naturally had to purchase some necessary items.

Before that, he planned to bring his father, Lin Hong, home and tell them this good news.

His martial art had reached the entry level, and he had successfully entered the Beast Hunter Hall. This was undoubtedly something worth celebrating.