Third-Rank Martial Artist, Skin Tempering Realm

After running through the Four Elephants Five Elements Fist once, Bai Yu felt his whole body heating up, his pores opening.

Practicing the Four Elephants Five Elements Fist not only didn't deplete Blood Essence, but actually increased it.

This was simply amazing.

In the days that followed, Bai Yu began his cultivation journey.

In the morning, he routinely buried guests, and in the back mountain, he practiced the Lingxu Step and Mystic Tortoise Breath Concealment Art.

In the afternoon, he practiced the Four Elephants Five Elements Fist and Soul Severing Blade in the small courtyard.

Every day, the life experience he gained was added to the Four Elephants Five Elements Fist.

The days passed by, plain but fulfilling.

On this day, he practiced the Four Elephants Five Elements Fist once in the small courtyard.

He only felt the Blood Essence in his whole body surge, as if boiling, with wisps of white gas rising from the top of his head.

"Heh!"

Bai Yu gave a clear shout, and with a punch, he broke a section of wood as thick as a sea bowl in half.

On his arms, a trace of crystalline luster actually appeared.

His Blood Essence was as strong as an ox, and his skin was like jade.

Third Rank Skin Tempering Realm!

After reaching the Third-Rank Martial Artist, one had to begin using Bloodline Power to temper the skin.

To train the skin to the point where blades couldn't penetrate it.

The skin would also become as crystalline as jade, or like golden paper, with a luster.

When the entire body's skin was tempered, with no dead spots, one could enter the next major realm, the Qi and Blood Realm!

Bai Yu exhaled a long breath of stale air, and after a period of adjustment, calmed his mind.

These days of diligent study and hard practice had finally paid off.

The attribute panel had changed.

[Name: Bai Yu.]
[Aptitude: 5]
[Blood Essence: 108]
[Strength: 85]
[Cultivation: Third Rank Skin Tempering Realm.]
[Technique: Four Elephants Five Elements Fist (Proficient, 831/1000)]
[Martial Skill: Soul Severing Blade (Proficient), Mystic Tortoise Breath Concealment Art (Proficient), Lingxu Step (Proficient)]
[Divine Power: Eternal Life.]
[Other Skills: Suona Playing (Mastered), Essence Nourishing Powder (Basic Understanding), Literacy (Basic Understanding), Hunting (Basic Understanding), Meng's Herbal Compendium (Basic Understanding).]

Bai Yu felt comfortable in his heart.

As the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy; he had been too tense these days, and it was time to relax.

He remembered that he seemed to have received a copy of Li Kingdom Immortal Romance Tales from the Black Market before.

Bai Yu washed up and sat by the window to start reading.

The author of this book was named White Turtle Hermit.

It told the romantic stories of various beautiful immortals in the Li Kingdom's cultivation world.

He didn't know how it had spread to the mortal world.

With a critical spirit, Bai Yu read a few pages and finally came to the conclusion:

"This book has high artistic value."

Just then, Zhu Tong's voice came from outside the small courtyard.

"Xiao Bai, what are you doing?"

Bai Yu's old face turned red, and he hurriedly put away the Immortal Romance Tales, replacing it with Master Meng's handwritten Spring and Autumn Annals.

"Cough, well, I'm reading the Spring and Autumn Annals."

Zhu Tong pushed the door open and said:

"Why are you closing the door in broad daylight, and why is your face so red?"

Bai Yu replied:

"I just finished practicing martial arts, Blood Essence is surging."

He changed the subject, hurriedly diverting the topic.

"Tong-ge, is there another business opportunity?"

Zhu Tong shook his head and said, "It's that Mangzi, he's leaving in a few days."

Bai Yu asked curiously, "Why is he leaving all of a sudden?"

Zhu Tong waved his hand, "I'm only telling you this, so don't spread it around."

"That Mangzi guy stumbled upon some good luck and saved a martial arts hero, seems like a monk."

"The hero took him as a disciple, taught him all his martial arts, and is going to take him to travel the world."

"You know how he's always admired those wandering heroes, so he immediately decided to follow his master on his adventures."

Bai Yu was stunned, never expecting Mangzi to have such an opportunity.

Finding an injured expert by the roadside and then becoming his disciple – that's a protagonist's story for sure.

Come to think of it, Mangzi isn't a bad guy, just a bit reckless.

It'll be a shame if he really leaves.

Bai Yu said, "In that case, we should see him off."

Zhu Tong laughed, "That's why Uncle Jiu spoke up. We're giving Mangzi a farewell party tomorrow night."

"At the Mortuary. Everyone brings two dishes and some wine."

Bai Yu nodded, "Alright, I'll go prepare something."

The next day, Bai Yu went to Willow Street and bought a roasted chicken, wrapped in lotus leaves.

Then he brought a jar of Bamboo Leaf Green.

Reaching a river, Bai Yu said, "Old Mo, I want to eat fish."

Old Mo understood and plunged into the water. After a few splashes, he actually caught a fish longer than an arm, probably weighing three or five pounds.

Bai Yu grinned, "Great, watch me show off my cooking skills and make some pan-fried fish with flavor enhancers."

That evening, the five of them gathered at the Mortuary.

Bai Yu brought the roasted chicken and the fragrant pan-fried fish.

Zhu Tong brought a plate of braised pork and grilled mutton, Daoist Lin Jiu brought a pig's knuckle, and Mangzi sliced a plate of beef.

The most surprising was Old Zhang, who actually brought a whole roasted dog.

These were all rare and substantial dishes.

Everyone swallowed hard just looking at them. After offering Mangzi a few words of congratulations like "boundless future" and "bon voyage," they began to devour the food.

After a few rounds of wine, Zhu Tong was calling Daoist Lin Jiu brother.

Mangzi hugged Old Mo, stuffing beef into Old Mo's mouth, insisting on becoming sworn brothers with Old Mo.

Old Zhang, however, was still quite sober, sipping his wine slowly, "Mangzi, I'm saying, why bother? You have a secure job at the Mortuary, why go out into the world and face hardships?"

Mangzi hiccuped, "Ever since I was little, I've admired martial arts heroes, robbing the rich to help the poor, eliminating violence and bringing peace."

"Meeting my master is a heaven-sent opportunity."

Old Zhang snorted, "You don't know shit. What robbing the rich to help the poor? That's all nonsense. There are no good people among those who wander the pugilistic world."

Unfortunately, Mangzi wasn't listening, hugging Old Mo and calling him big brother.

Bai Yu chimed in, "Uncle Zhang, why do you say that? I've heard that Hero Qiu of Iron Palm Across the River is a real man."

Old Zhang snorted, "You don't know shit. How did he get all that wealth? Didn't he steal it?"

"People in the pugilistic world don't produce anything. Where do they get the money to eat, drink, gamble, and spend lavishly?"

"It all comes down to one word: steal. Either openly or secretly."

"Steal a hundred taels, then give away one tael to put on a show, and still get a good reputation. That's just fooling you young'uns."

Hearing this, Bai Yu understood a bit more.

Old Zhang's words made some sense. Those heroes practiced martial arts all day and didn't engage in production. Someone had to support them, right?

However, he still had some doubts and asked:

"What about escort agencies? For example, Old Boxer Mo, known as Fist Shakes the Northern Pass, he diligently escorts goods. Surely, he's a good person, right?"

Old Zhang still said the same thing:

Old Mo monopolized the security escort business in the Northern Pass. How many people did he kill when he started his business? The mansion of his security company came from an unlucky rich man.

Bai Yu was still a bit unconvinced and said:

"Could it be that there isn't a single true hero in the martial world?"

Old Zhang sneered:

"If you really want to talk about it, there is one. Nine-Dragoned Shi of Lingnan, Hero Shi, is a true man."

"That's because his father was successful and left behind a vast fortune."

"And what happened? Nine-Dragoned Shi was generous and squandered it all in a few years."

"The dignified Hero Shi has been reduced to guarding homes for others."

Old Zhang took a bite of dog meat, seemingly talking to himself:

"Why bother with the martial world? It's better to honestly drink and eat in peace."