Transaction

An entire morning passed with Su Ti being whipped by Long Yuanzheng's cloth strips, having medicinal oil applied, and receiving massages for recovery.

By noon, when the sun was scorching, Su Ti's skin was already faintly dark.

This was the effect of the secret medicinal oil of the Copper Skin Skill penetrating. With each application of the medicine and the increase in skill, this color would continue to deepen, from the initial faint darkness to a light bronze, deep bronze, and finally deepening into ancient bronze. True mastery, however, was achieving a normal skin tone like Long Yuanzheng's.

By noon, Long Yuanzheng had changed the training method again.

Under the scorching sun, Su Ti smeared coarse sea salt all over his body, creating streaks of blood on his skin.

"The cloth whipping in the morning was to allow the force to penetrate, train your inner skin, and enhance your resistance to blunt objects."

"In the afternoon, we switched to sea salt. This is to roughen your outer skin and enhance your defense against sharp objects."

The coarse sea salt rubbed against his body, accompanied by waves of intense pain.

Coupled with the scorching sun, Su Ti quickly became drenched in sweat, his lips cracked.

It wasn't just the Copper Skin Skill; Su Ti was now also practicing another technique, the Bodhisattva Practice.

Long Yuanzheng stood with his hands behind his back, watching Su Ti practice under the torture of the scorching sun, and spoke.

"At the same time, what you are currently experiencing is the skin grinding and sun exposure torture from the Bodhisattva Practice."

"There is an ancient saying in the Buddhism of Mi Country: For a mortal to cultivate into a Bodhisattva, they need to endure ten lifetimes of suffering, reincarnate ten times, endure pain without falling, and face hardships without losing their way, only then can they achieve enlightenment."

"Ten lifetimes of arduous cultivation, this is the origin of the Bodhisattva Practice."

"Corresponding to the internal cultivation method, it involves dozens of different tortures used to simulate these ten lifetimes of arduous cultivation!"

As Su Ti practiced, Long Yuanzheng explained.

Although he hadn't practiced the Bodhisattva Practice himself, he had a thorough understanding of the origin and practice methods of this technique. At this point, guiding the beginner Su Ti was more than sufficient.

"Su Ti, you must remember, torture is not the goal, but the process!"

"Our Dragon Gate's Golden Snake Molting internal cultivation method relies on the airflow during breathing to internally cultivate the body."

"The Toad Fishing Skill relies on special medicinal baths to internally cultivate the body."

"What does the Bodhisattva Practice rely on for internal cultivation? It's neither airflow nor medicinal materials, but the will that everyone possesses!"

"Human will is the most miraculous thing in this world."

"It can unleash incredible power, stimulate potential, and turn decay into wonder!"

"I believe you've also heard of the miracles created by willpower."

"There was an elderly man who unleashed his potential in a car accident, lifting a car he couldn't possibly lift, saving his grandson who was trapped underneath."

"There was a soldier in the air force who accidentally broke his spine while parachuting, was paralyzed for several years, and finally stood up again through strong willpower."

"There were even travelers lost in the desert who traversed the desert for three months. When they were found, their weight had shrunk by two-thirds, like skeletons, but their eyes shone like stars in the face of hardship, radiating divine light."

"These miracles in human history were all triggered by willpower. Willpower is the most powerful force in humans."

"And the torture you are currently undergoing is to train your will, and then use the will you have trained to internally cultivate this body!"

"This is the core secret of the Bodhisattva Practice technique!"

Practicing by grinding his skin under the scorching sun, enduring dehydration and intense pain, Su Ti's progress was extremely fast after enduring it.

By evening, both techniques had reached the introductory level.

Copper Skin Skill (Introductory 1%) +

Bodhisattva Practice (First Layer 1%) +

After both techniques reached the introductory level, a plus sign appeared, indicating they could be upgraded with energy.

However, Su Ti currently had zero energy, so he naturally couldn't upgrade them and could only increase his progress through practice.

In the evening, the dinner table was filled with large fish and meat, various nourishing and strengthening medicinal meals. Long Yuanzheng personally served Su Ti, extremely satisfied with Su Ti's performance.

"Su Ti, even without sufficient comprehension and aptitude, you can become a powerful martial artist."

"Because you can endure hardship, which many people nowadays lack. Your willpower is very strong. People like you can go further in the martial path."

"Yes, Master."

Su Ti responded and then frantically shoveled rice. At this time, Eldest Senior Sister Yao Juan had already gone back to her post, and Second Senior Brother Wang Gengyuan had also gone back for something. Only Third Senior Brother Yan Jun was still eating at the same table.

Looking at the warm scene of a kind master and filial disciple, a hint of shadow flashed in Yan Jun's heart.

He was naturally prone to jealousy and didn't have much loyalty or love for the sect and martial arts. Instead, he had a fanatical pursuit of worldly wealth and power. His long-term service to Long Yuanzheng was also for money and power, but he hid this very well, so much so that Long Yuanzheng hadn't discovered it even now.

"Master, I'm full."

"Okay."

After Yan Jun got up and left the table, Long Yuanzheng glanced at Su Ti and said.

"You shouldn't just focus on practicing when you have nothing to do. You should interact more with your senior brothers and sisters."

"Especially your third senior brother, he has been by my side the longest and is closest to me. If it weren't for his slightly lacking talent, he might have been able to inherit my mantle."

"Third Senior Brother?"

Su Ti was really not familiar with this third senior brother. He only remembered that he didn't talk much to others and always quietly waited by Long Yuanzheng's side.

"Yes, your third senior brother actually has another identity. He is my adopted son. I took him in shortly after I came to Mingguang City due to some unexpected circumstances. He was born into poverty, without parents, and is very filial to me. It's just a pity that his talent for martial arts isn't too good. You must not look down on him just because of your martial arts talent, understand?"

Su Ti was a little speechless.

"With my bone structure, who would look down on whom?"

"Haha, that's true. But Su Ti, besides your bone structure, your comprehension, willpower, and combat talent are all top-notch."

Long Yuanzheng laughed heartily, then said in a slightly serious tone.

"If it comes to the day of the duel, and you're not confident, just tell Master. We'll concede. Getting on stage still carries risks. Li Mingsheng is, after all, at the Great Accomplishment of Internal Cultivation, only one step away from the Perfected Circle Realm. If you can avoid this risk, it's better not to take it."

Conceding without a fight is embarrassing, but compared to the safety of his disciple, Long Yuanzheng would rather lose some face.

"We'll see when the time comes."

Su Ti didn't have to win the fight against Li Mingsheng a month later.

If the hard power gap was too big by then, he would just concede directly and wouldn't really fight a battle that was purely suicidal. That wouldn't be bravery, but foolishness.

Of course, this all depended on what realm he could cultivate to in this month. As long as he had five layers of internal cultivation, he would definitely go on stage and compete with Li Mingsheng.

Half a month passed quietly like this.

Su Ti practiced martial arts in Long Yuanzheng's villa every day, and his progress was quite fast.

His appearance also changed greatly. His skin gradually darkened under the medicinal oil of the Copper Skin Skill, and his whole body became thinner under the torture of the Bodhisattva Practice, but his eyes became brighter and brighter, full of divine light.

This morning, Su Ti woke up and first pushed away the stone blanket covering him.

The so-called stone blanket was a large rectangular stone, more than one meter wide. Covering it on the body not only had no warming effect, but also made it difficult to breathe.

This was one of the cultivation tools of the Bodhisattva Practice, and Su Ti slept on a dense needle bed that made people's scalps tingle just by looking at it.

The cultivation method of the Bodhisattva Practice was to use these tortures that ordinary people could not bear, to temper their will day after day for ten years, making their will extremely firm and clear, and then feeding back the body through the will to strengthen the internal organs.

Of course, this degree must be well controlled. Excessive torture is destroying the body. In fact, many Ancient Martial Arts practitioners in Mi Country died during the arduous cultivation process of the Bodhisattva Practice, from shock, poisoning, kidney failure. With the practice method of the Bodhisattva Practice, there were simply too many ways to die.

After getting up and washing up, and eating breakfast, Su Ti glanced at his martial arts panel.

Bodhisattva Practice (Layer 1 10%) +

Copper Skin Skill (Beginner 10%) +

In fact, in terms of half a month's progress, his speed was already very, very fast.

The Bodhisattva Practice could break through the first layer in just over four months. This technique had a total of ten layers, and each layer could provide one internal cultivation. Therefore, Su Ti cultivating internally once in just over four months was already very fast. This was also the result of his ability to endure great hardship and his firm willpower.

And the Copper Skin Skill, at this rate, could reach minor accomplishment in less than a year. This external technique was expensive, required professional assistance, and required the ability to endure hardship.

With the assistance of a master like Long Yuanzheng, who had reached Great Accomplishment in the Copper Skin Skill, assisting with striking and massaging, and applying medicine crazily without cost, Su Ti's progress was definitely very fast!

But Su Ti still felt it was slow. If he didn't lack energy, he would have added points long ago!

Just in time, another batch of Cursed Antique sellers contacted on the dark web arrived today, and he was also ready to inspect the goods.

After getting dressed and saying goodbye to Long Yuanzheng, Su Ti took two suitcases and called a taxi, heading all the way to the suburbs.

The driver was a local and talked a lot along the way.

"Little brother, the villa area where you got in the car is not cheap. Although it's in the suburbs, it costs more than 30,000 per square meter. Tsk tsk, these rich people really know how to enjoy themselves, building houses in the suburbs to enjoy peace and quiet."

"The place you're going to is very remote. That area was originally planned to develop an industrial zone, but then the developer absconded with the money, and the project was left unfinished. Let me tell you, many gangs trade there privately, and there are even murder cases. You have to..."

Speaking of this, the driver glanced at the two suitcases Su Ti had placed beside him in the rearview mirror, and then looked at Su Ti's capable appearance. He seemed to realize something and remained silent for the rest of the journey.

Upon arriving at the agreed-upon abandoned factory area, Su Ti picked up the two handbags and gave the driver a hundred-yuan bill as the fare.

"Wait for me here. I'll give you an extra hundred on the way back."

"Then you have to come back quickly..."

Looking at the abandoned factory area ahead, and then at Su Ti's appearance as if he was going to meet someone, the driver swallowed his saliva and planned to run away as soon as the other party left.

Su Ti glanced at him without speaking, took two steps forward, and the sound of a car starting came directly from behind. When he looked back, he could only see the taillights.

Su Ti sighed. He was used to it. Every time he came to such a place for a transaction, the driver would run away, and some would even call the police.

However...

From a certain perspective, what they were trading was indeed contraband.

He strode into the abandoned factory area. In the empty field, the sellers who had come for the transaction were already waiting.

There were four of them in total, three men and one woman. One was sitting, and three were standing. An abandoned office desk was placed in front of them, and several suitcases were placed at their feet.

Su Ti walked closer and saw that among these four people, one young man exuded a fierce aura and had a machete on his back.

Another middle-aged man had a sharpened engineer's shovel on his back and didn't look like a good person either.

The woman had long legs, was about twenty-five or six, wearing a camouflage uniform, with her hair tied up. She looked mature and beautiful, and seemed very capable. Su Ti noticed that she had a steel whip tied around her waist and a circle of darts on her belt.

Finally, the person sitting down, who seemed to be the boss based on his position, had graying temples and looked about sixty years old, but he was constantly playing with two walnuts in his hands, sitting upright and full of energy.

"Where's the goods I asked for?"

Su Ti walked to the table in front of the four people and stood still, asking.