Entering the Inner Refinement Stage!

"Su Ti, the first three moves—the King Python Hand, Double Python Whip, and Scaled Python Armor—you can forcibly use them during the Tongli Stage. Though they will seriously damage your body, they won't be fatal."

"However, though Violent Python Roar is a single technique, it has two applications: Sound Strike and Qi Sword. Before you reach the Perfected Circle Realm, you must never use either of them. The moment you do, your body will explode and you will die."

"Perfected Circle Realm?"

"Mm."

Long Yuanzheng nodded. Although Su Ti had no immediate use for this final technique, he still taught it to him in advance.

"The Perfected Circle Realm is a realm reached when both Inner Refinement and combat techniques have attained Great Accomplishment. Once you reach it, you can control every muscle in your body and the flow of your blood and qi. Not only will your senses greatly improve, but you'll even be able to feel the weight of a fly landing on your shoulder. You can also attack with any part of your body."

"However, you're still at the Tongli Stage. You haven't even begun Inner Refinement, and you've only just learned combat techniques. You're still a long way from the Perfected Circle Realm."

Remembering how Long Yuanzheng had struck people with his back and knees during their fight two days ago, Su Ti's eyes lit up with understanding. So that was the Perfected Circle Realm.

He then asked cautiously, "Master, are you in the Perfected Circle Realm?"

Long Yuanzheng smiled. "Your master is above that realm."

As he spoke, he clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly,

"Su Ti, ask me anything you want now. I'll answer it all for you."

Su Ti thought for a moment and asked,

"What do minor accomplishment and great accomplishment in Inner Refinement mean?"

Long Yuanzheng smiled faintly and explained,

"One or two rounds of Inner Refinement count as minor accomplishment. Three or four count as intermediate accomplishment. Five or six count as great accomplishment."

Long Yuanzheng gave an example.

"At the Death Fighting Competition run by Li Zong, D-Class Fighters are usually people who have learned one or two rudimentary martial arts techniques. Their techniques are generally nothing special, but combined with a black-market fighter's physical conditioning and willingness to kill, they are already enough to crush ordinary people. Even many modern martial arts experts can't beat them."

"C-Class fighters above them possess not only techniques, but also extensive fighting and real combat experience against opponents of the same level. That makes them stronger than D-Class Fighters. Even retired soldiers may not be able to beat them in a fight."

"At B-Class, you enter the domain of Tongli-level experts. Without Tongli Stage cultivation, you can't establish yourself at B-Class."

"A-Class is the level of that Demon Mountain you saw. They've entered the Inner Refinement Stage, but only reached minor accomplishment. They won't be any higher."

"However, that Demon Mountain is no simple opponent. Even among A-Class Boxers, he is among the strongest. He was born with a powerful physique and possesses divine strength like your Eldest Senior Sister. He has also trained external martial arts, making his skin thick and resistant to blows. You must be careful when you face him."

"Lastly, there are S-Class Boxers. They have generally reached intermediate accomplishment in Inner Refinement. Your Eldest Senior Sister is at this level with her third level of Inner Refinement, but she lacks real combat experience. In an actual fight, she would not be an S-Class Boxer's match."

Long Yuanzheng stopped there. Su Ti had gained a general understanding of the Ancient Martial Arts power system and could not help asking,

"What about higher levels?"

"Higher than that? Those who reach Great Accomplishment of Inner Refinement have all gone on to establish sects and schools. They won't appear in underground boxing arenas."

Long Yuanzheng shook his head.

"In this day and age, people who have reached Great Accomplishment of Inner Refinement are as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. There are only a few in an entire city. They are either honored guests, retainers, or advisors to wealthy and powerful families, or they run martial halls or establish their own organizations."

"As for the Perfected Circle Realm, that is the realm where both Inner Refinement and combat techniques have attained Great Accomplishment. There are even fewer people at that level, because combat techniques cannot be mastered by sitting at home."

"Combat techniques are meant for fighting. Without fighting, you cannot grasp their essence, but once you fight, you break the law. To achieve Great Accomplishment in combat techniques, you must personally endure danger and fight your way through life-and-death battles. You can't achieve it by staying home and practicing health exercises."

"Therefore, every person in the Perfected Circle Realm is a martial arts master with blood on their hands. The battles and stories they have experienced could fill a book."

By this point, Long Yuanzheng's throat was somewhat dry. He picked up the teapot and took a sip. The sky had already brightened. A whole night of imparting techniques and explaining principles had passed without them noticing, and it was now eight in the morning.

"Su Ti, I've taught you and told you everything I should today. The rest is up to you."

Long Yuanzheng looked deeply at Su Ti as he spoke.

Only seven days remained until the duel with Demon Mountain. Even though he acknowledged Su Ti's outstanding talent—especially in combat techniques and fighting ability, where he could bring out one hundred percent or even one hundred and twenty percent of his strength—

such a short time was clearly not enough for Su Ti to break through to the Inner Refinement Stage.

With a Tongli Stage physique, facing a fighter who had reached minor accomplishment in Inner Refinement, possessed innate divine strength, and trained external martial arts, the odds of victory were infinitesimal.

But things had already reached this point. Long Yuanzheng could only do his best and leave the rest to fate. He had done everything he could and taught everything he could. What remained depended on Su Ti's own fortune.

"For these seven days, make your own arrangements. Whether you practice here with your master or go elsewhere to do whatever you wish, it is entirely up to you."

In Long Yuanzheng's view, cramming and training desperately for seven days would not produce much. It would be better to leave Su Ti time to adjust himself and enter the match in his best condition. Perhaps he might create a miracle.

"Yes, Master. Then I'll take my leave for now. Seven days from now, I will appear at the competition venue on time and bring glory to Dragon Gate Martial Hall. Please rest assured."

After saying that, Su Ti gave Long Yuanzheng a deep bow and took his leave.

Long Yuanzheng watched his retreating figure and let out a deep sigh.

After bidding farewell to Long Yuanzheng, Su Ti first returned home.

It happened to be Sunday, so his parents were off from their part-time jobs. He had not been home for several days, and his family was already somewhat dissatisfied.

Although Su Ti had told them that he had found a job at a martial hall that provided food and lodging, he was still subjected to quite a bit of complaining when he returned home.

Most of the complaints came from Su's Mother. Su's Father, however, was quite pleased to hear that Su Ti had found work. When he learned that the pay was five thousand a month, he nodded with a smile.

"The salary doesn't really matter. You can keep whatever you earn from your summer job as spending money. The important thing is to use this summer work opportunity to toughen yourself up and prepare for entering society in the future."

Su's Mother then asked,

"You work at a martial hall? Which martial hall exactly?"

"Dragon Gate Martial Hall in the city center."

Su Ti answered. He already had one foot in the circle of the inner world, so he would naturally have many reasons to stay away from home in the future. Using a martial hall job as an excuse would make it easier to explain his absences.

Upon hearing this, Su's Mother's expression softened somewhat. She had been unhappy that Su Ti had not returned home these past few days.

"Dragon Gate Martial Hall? Xiao Ting and I saw it when we went shopping downtown. That martial hall looks quite impressive, and plenty of people go there to train."

Su's Father was even more pleased when he heard that.

"That's good, that's good. It doesn't matter whether the money is much or little. The main thing is that it's legitimate and not some unscrupulous martial hall. Working at a martial hall will let you strengthen your body and learn some things—how to conduct yourself, social skills, and the like. You can't learn those things in school."

Everyone in the family was happy that Su Ti had found a job. That evening, Su's Father and Su's Mother even bought Su Ti's favorite pork trotters and crabs to celebrate.

At the dinner table, his parents talked only about Su Ti, which made the neglected Su Ling extremely unhappy. She pouted and silently ate every last bit of crab.

"Su Ling, it's a good thing that your brother found a job. Say something encouraging to him. When he gets paid, he can take you out for something delicious too."

"Hmph! I don't want his money!"

Su Ling angrily tossed down her bowl and chopsticks, then returned to her room without another word. Although she had returned after being reborn and "saved" Su Ti's life, she still found this brother of hers increasingly annoying the more she looked at him.

At the dinner table, Su's Father and Su's Mother shook their heads at the sight.

Ever since they started high school, the siblings had been like fire and water. They could barely say a word to each other. Now that Su Ti was in college, nothing had changed.

Su Ti did not even glance at Su Ling as she left. He simply shoveled down food like mad, and before he knew it, he had finished an entire rice cooker's worth.

Su's Mother was somewhat surprised by his appetite.

"This child, when did he become such a big eater? Zimo, I'll cook some noodles. Do you want some?"

"Make some for me too. Being able to eat is a good thing. Su Ti used to be too skinny. Why does he seem sturdier after only a few days apart?"

"I've been training at the martial hall. Mom, make me two pounds of noodles too."

After dinner, Su Ti changed into sportswear and headed out, arriving at Red Leaf Park, where he had dumped the bodies of the two men in black.

Although a murder had taken place there, the park remained quiet. Only the occasional bark of a dog could be heard.

Seeing that the area was deserted and silent, Su Ti looked around.

"This should be about right."

He then turned his gaze to the modifier, staring at the plus sign beside the Inner Refinement martial art, Golden Snake Molting.

Boom!

As his gaze focused, his energy began to plummet. His 480% energy rapidly decreased, while Golden Snake Molting's proficiency began to soar!

Beginner 30%!

Beginner 80%!

Minor Accomplishment 1%!

After reaching minor accomplishment, Su Ti felt an itch spread across his skin. His internal organs felt pleasantly warm, as though they were being roasted inside a furnace. Every pore was wildly breathing in and out, giving him an incredibly strange sensation!

It felt like a butterfly trying to break out of its cocoon or a python trying to shed its skin—a feeling that his body had reached a certain point and was yearning to transform!

Yet it seemed as though something was still missing. Golden Snake Molting at minor accomplishment had not allowed Su Ti to break through.

Since minor accomplishment was not enough, he would keep adding!

As his energy dropped once more, Golden Snake Molting's proficiency began soaring again.

Minor Accomplishment 20%!

Minor Accomplishment 50%!

Minor Accomplishment 80%!

Intermediate Accomplishment 1%!

Boom!

After consuming a total of 150% energy, Su Ti's Golden Snake Molting finally reached intermediate accomplishment!

After reaching intermediate accomplishment, Su Ti felt a boom resound inside his body. Countless currents of heat surged out from within him and rushed toward every organ, bone, muscle, and cell in his body!

"Ah!"

Su Ti crouched halfway down. After the intense pain came a violent itch. His skin actually began to thicken and turn pale, eventually forming a keratinized layer like dead skin.

When the transformation finally ended, Su Ti reached up and tore at his face, ripping off a large patch of pale dead skin!

Using both hands, he soon tore away all the skin he had shed.

A large amount of white skin lay at Su Ti's feet. His skin was now a shade paler than before the shedding, and his pores appeared to have become much smaller.

Breathing in the air and feeling as though he had expelled impurities, shed his old skin, and gained a completely renewed body, Su Ti clenched his fists.

"So this is the realm of the Inner Refinement Stage."