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"It's all up to the teacher's arrangements," Wei He quickly replied.

"That's good," Zheng Fugui nodded with satisfaction.

Immediately, he began to impart the subsequent cultivation methods for Stone Hide, one by one.

"The cultivation method for Stone Hide involves doubling the intensity on the previous foundation!"

"But simply doubling the intensity won't get you to the next stage. You also need to change the medicinal bath and, importantly, the Internal Cultivation Method."

"Internal Cultivation Method?" Wei He's spirits lifted. He had heard of Internal Cultivation Methods long ago, knowing that this was the true foundation for stepping onto the path of a master.

"The so-called Internal Cultivation Method, when you get down to it, is actually quite simple," Zheng Fugui said with a smile, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping or peeking.

He then continued.

"When we martial artists temper our bodies and train our strength daily, it seems our essence, energy, and spirit are all growing. But in reality, over the long term, our spirits will be constantly influenced by the various instincts of the physical body, leading to impulsiveness, irritability, and a short temper.

At this point, an Internal Cultivation Method is needed to neutralize these effects."

He fumbled around on his person and, after a moment, pulled out a thick, yellowed, folded piece of paper from an inner pocket.

He gently unfolded the paper.

On it, a watercolor painting of towering mountain peaks was drawn with colorful ink.

Small green and red flowers were scattered across the dark green and black peaks, creating an extremely exquisite visual.

"This painting is the Fundamental Diagram of our Huishan Fist. Internal cultivation requires a Fundamental Diagram that can fully embody the core of essence, energy, and spirit.

The internal cultivation for our Huishan Fist is this Green Peak Tri-Color Diagram. If you can thoroughly comprehend this diagram and maintain this artistic conception in your heart during your daily practice, you will have hope of stepping into the next level."

"Fundamental Diagram…" Wei He's heart stirred with excitement, knowing he was finally beginning to truly touch upon the most mysterious path of martial arts.

"Martial artists refine essence, circulate qi, and temper spirit. These are three stages. It's rumored that advanced techniques have extremely detailed steps for the latter two. Unfortunately, our Huishan Fist is still too rudimentary," Zheng Fugui sighed.

"But it's already very powerful. Many ordinary martial artists outside, perhaps even many, have never even heard of what a Fundamental Diagram is. They can only rely on some ambiguous mnemonic verses and mental techniques, fantasizing about so-called artistic conceptions."

"Old Zheng, so our Huishan Fist's Fundamental Diagram is used to cultivate qi and spirit?" Wei He asked curiously.

"You're thinking too much. It has a little bit of that effect, but its primary purpose is to break through to higher stages of external cultivation. You need to understand one thing first," Zheng Fugui said solemnly.

"The purpose of cultivating qi and tempering spirit is actually to strengthen the physical body. To make the physical body perfect, step by step, and stronger."

"This disciple understands," Wei He nodded solemnly.

"Good." Zheng Fugui's expression turned serious.

"From today onwards, you will comprehend the Fundamental Diagram with me. When practicing your fist techniques and Skin Grinding, keep this diagram in your mind. Let your heart be like the mountain peaks, your intent like the flowers, and may nine crimson cloud flowers bloom like verdant green shoots!"

"When you can cultivate nine crimson cloud flowers on your arms, that will signify the great success of Iron Hide!"

"Yes!"

Time flew by, winter turned to spring, and a light rain began to fall.

Although the weather might return to clear skies later, this small rain felt like a life-giving drink to the parched land.

Cheng Residence.

In the drizzling rain.

Cheng Shaojiu and Wei He stood in the courtyard of the residence, letting the gentle rain fall from the sky, leaving small white droplets on their shoulders.

Cheng Shaojiu didn't know where to put his hands, raising them, lowering them, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.

His gaze kept drifting towards the inner room.

Illuminated by candlelight, only a few figures could be seen rushing back and forth inside the house from the outside.

"Push! Breathe in! Deep breath!"

"Hurry! Don't stop! Absolutely don't stop!"

"Madam, quickly, quickly!"

"Ah!" The pained cries of a woman continued to echo from the room.

Cheng Shaojiu seemed to feel it himself. Despite standing in the rain and feeling the cool breeze, a cold sweat was already forming on his forehead.

He never imagined that his beloved concubine would become pregnant again half a year ago.

Now, after ten months of pregnancy, it was time for her to give birth. Although he was a philanderer, he was also very generous to his concubines.

He was also very fond of his children.

Wei He had met some of his children, but it seemed this one was being treated with even more importance than the others.

"If anything happens to Yun'er this time…" Cheng Shaojiu gritted his teeth.

"Don't worry, I heard your sister-in-law's cries are loud and full of energy. She should be able to give birth smoothly," Wei He comforted him.

"I hope so…" Cheng Shaojiu nodded, but his face was still filled with worry.

Just as he was about to say something more, a sudden exclamation came from the inner room.

"She's out! She's out!"

"Scissors, quick!"

"Stitch the wound immediately! Get the hot towels!"

"Pat her butt!"

"Waaah!!"

Finally, a piercing cry shook the heavens.

Cheng Shaojiu couldn't help but relax his entire body, rushing into the house.

Just then, the house door opened, and the midwife stood at the entrance, holding a swaddled infant, wrapped three layers deep.

"Congratulations, Master Cheng, it's a daughter!"

Cheng Shaojiu took a quick glance at his daughter before rushing inside to see his concubine.

Wei He chuckled slightly, noting from this how genuinely good Cheng Shaojiu was to his wife.

Since breaking through to Stone Hide, three months had passed. While practicing his Internal Cultivation Method, he had begun training for the next stage, advancing towards Iron Hide.

This hurdle was different from before; it was a true test of endurance.

Senior Brother Zhao Hong had been stuck for five years, not budging an inch. Cheng Shaojiu had been stuck for four years, also unmoving.

During these past few months, besides diligently practicing Skin Grinding, Wei He had also been testing and probing the situation with the Boundary-Breaking Pearl.

The Boundary-Breaking Pearl's ability to accumulate Blood Essence was clearly related to the nutrients and calories contained in food.

He had tried various foods with different calorie counts and found that the progress of the Boundary-Breaking Pearl varied significantly.

Furthermore, as he advanced to the Stone Hide level, his body's total Blood Essence capacity increased again, and the accumulation speed of the Boundary-Breaking Pearl noticeably slowed down.

He could understand this; it was like needing to fill two buckets of water to break through now, whereas before, only one bucket was needed, and the faucet's water flow rate hadn't changed.

Naturally, it was slower.

Wei He recalled the progress of the Boundary-Breaking Pearl he had checked that morning. It was currently only a little over a tenth of the way complete.

Meaning, just a tiny bit.

As for Blood Essence, it had only strengthened by a small segment. He hadn't even formed a tiny red imprint for the first flower of what was called the Nine Crimson Cloud Flowers.

Wei He snapped back to reality. Cheng Shaojiu was already walking towards him, happily holding the child.

Servants followed behind, holding umbrellas, and two people used fox fur to block the wind.

"Little He, come look! Hahaha! This is my fourth child, my third daughter! What do you think I should name her?"

Cheng Shaojiu was beaming with joy.

"Didn't you already have a few names in mind? Why not just pick one from them?" Wei He smiled.

"Look at her, this kid... she kind of looks like you!" Cheng Shaojiu suddenly said something astonishing.

Wei He was startled and quickly looked.

Indeed, the infant in the swaddling clothes, though her little face was wrinkled like a tiny old man, upon closer inspection, she did bear some resemblance to him.

"Senior Brother, you can't just say things like that!" Wei He quickly reminded him.

"Hahaha, just kidding, just kidding," Cheng Shaojiu laughed heartily.

"It's better not to make jokes like that," Wei He shook his head.

"But she really does look a bit like you. How about you recognize her as your goddaughter?" Cheng Shaojiu smiled. "Since you two have such a connection, let's just name this child Cheng He!"

"..." Senior Brother, you...

Wei He was speechless.

Was naming a child this casual?

"Alright, alright, her name will be Cheng He, the 'He' from lotus leaf. You'll have to take good care of your goddaughter from now on!" Cheng Shaojiu decisively settled it.

Among his many friends now, Wei He had the closest relationship with him, so this scene was understandable.

After a period of joyful commotion, the child, tired from crying, fell into a deep sleep. Cheng Shaojiu went to comfort his wife.

Wei He took his leave early.

He exited the Cheng residence and got into the Cheng family carriage that was taking him back. Staring at the slanting raindrops outside the window, he remained silent.

Cheng Shaojiu's fourth child was born, and he had been recognized as the godfather.

Originally, with only Second Sister left in the world, he had inexplicably gained a goddaughter.

Wei He felt a strange sensation in his heart.

"It's true, after all, I'm only eighteen now and already a godfather... In the blink of an eye, a year and a half has passed since I arrived here."

From waking up, to entering the Huishan Fist Academy, and now, a full year and a half had passed.

He had transformed from a weak, ordinary commoner, step by step, relying on his own efforts to reach this point.

It had truly not been easy.

As he was reflecting, the coachman driving the carriage in front suddenly veered, pulling the carriage to the side of the road.

"Young Master Wei, there's a cavalry ahead, from the Inner City. We should avoid them for now."

The coachman was an experienced middle-aged man who had been driving for the Cheng family for twenty years. Everyone called him Old Huang.

Wei He also addressed him as such.

"Inner City... cavalry?"

He quickly pulled open the left side curtain of the carriage and looked out.

The carriage had stopped on the right side. On the street in Shiqiao Town, many pedestrians and carriages had also stopped, waiting for the sound of hooves approaching from the main street ahead.

The sound of the dense cavalry's hooves quickly drew nearer, and then they galloped past from the left side of the street.

Wei He took it all in with a glance.

This cavalry consisted of thirteen riders. Both the horses and the clothing worn by the riders bore the large "Seven" emblem, representing the Seven Families Alliance.

He had seen that emblem once before on the street and had heard Cheng Shaojiu explain it. He knew it was the mark of the Seven Families Alliance.

These thirteen riders were moving very fast. While they appeared normal on the surface, Wei He, with his Stone Hide level and his vision enhanced by a secondary breakthrough in Blood Essence, was no ordinary observer. He immediately noticed something was amiss with these thirteen riders.

The horses were fine, everything seemed normal. But the riders on the horses were all experiencing weakened Blood Essence. Several of them had irregular breathing, coming in heavy and light gasps, as if they were gritting their teeth and enduring something.

"There's a smell of blood!" Wei He narrowed his eyes, his nose twitching slightly as he detected a faint scent.

The thirteen riders soon galloped past, disappearing down the street toward the Inner City.

Wei He withdrew his gaze and told Old Huang to continue on their way.

'These riders don't seem like ordinary people. Although their Blood Essence is weak, their aura and presence from a distance suggest they've undergone long-term training. I'd guess they've all practiced martial arts,' he mused to himself.

Raindrops fell diagonally.

Wei He lowered the curtain.

"Let's go."

Old Huang responded.

"These lords from the Inner City were all wearing black cloaks when they went out recently, and now they're back... sigh."