Martial Artist Association

"The medicinal power of the White Jade Dragon Rock Fruit has not fully dissipated yet. There is no need to take a second one for a while. Refine all the medicinal power first."

Lu Chuan thought to himself. He roughly estimated that at least half of the medicinal power still remained in his body.

This remaining half would not be so easy to refine. It had already seeped into every inch of his flesh and blood, and he would need long-term cultivation to refine it bit by bit.

"However, once I refine all the medicinal power, my physical body can make further progress. My mental strength should improve as well—perhaps it can break through its limit."

Lu Chuan thought to himself, "Also, the Savage Elephant Skin Refining Method can undergo Limit Breaking. By then, perhaps I can advance from Ox Skin to Stone Skin..."

With that thought, Lu Chuan shook both arms. As the muscles throughout his body stretched and pulled, he vaguely sensed that the skin and flesh all over his body had undergone some kind of transformation, forming a keratin-like membrane.

This was the Ox Skin cultivated after the Savage Elephant Skin Refining Method reached Perfection and his cultivation reached Ninth Rank Peak.

At Ninth Rank Peak Perfection, the physical body could be divided into three levels.

Ox Skin, Stone Skin, and Bronze Skin.

And right now, he was only at the lowest Ox Skin Realm. This was not because his talent and potential were lacking, but because of his cultivation method.

A Low-grade Skin Refining Method could at most cultivate Ox Skin. This was an ironclad rule.

To cultivate Bronze Skin, one needed a High-grade Skin Refining Method.

"However, even by cultivating a High-grade Skin Refining Method, one's physical strength would only reach ten thousand jin. Yet I may already have reached twenty thousand jin."

Lu Chuan thought to himself, "The reason for this is, firstly, that my physical body's talent is different from ordinary people's. Secondly, it is probably inseparable from the Attribute Panel or the Bronze Ancient Tree."

"I'll make a trip to the Inner City tomorrow. First, to verify my status as a Martial Artist and obtain the qualifications to enter the Inner City. Second, to look into buying a house."

Lu Chuan immediately made his decision.

Then he began cultivating the Savage Elephant Skin Refining Method again.

To grind the Savage Elephant Skin Refining Method up to Limit Breaking required a full five thousand proficiency points. Even if he cultivated around the clock, it would take at least several days.

The night passed without incident!

Lu Chuan only slept for three hours. He spent the rest of the time cultivating.

The next day, early morning.

After eating the breakfast personally prepared by his mother, Liang Ya, Lu Chuan headed out alone and made straight for the Inner City.

He followed the main street forward and soon arrived at the Inner City gates.

The Inner City gates were far more grand and magnificent than those of the Outer City. They were divided into several entrances, each equipped with an identity-verification scanner.

Only after one's identity had been verified would the checkpoint open, allowing entry into the city.

As for Outer City residents like them, who lacked Inner City residency qualifications, there was only one entrance and exit, guarded by soldiers.

"City entry fee, one thousand."

The moment Lu Chuan approached, an armored soldier swept a glance over him and coldly said, "Pay if you want to enter. Leave immediately if you do not. No loitering..."

Damn it!

Hearing that, Lu Chuan could not help wanting to curse.

Entering the city actually required a one-thousand-yuan entry fee, all because he had not obtained Inner City qualifications and had no residency rights.

Though his teeth ground in fury, Lu Chuan still paid the thousand.

No matter how displeased he was, he understood even more clearly that he was not yet qualified to challenge such unspoken rules.

The Inner City was a crouching tiger, hidden dragon. Let alone a tiny Ninth Rank Martial Artist like him, the Great Factions likely had Eighth Rank and Seventh Rank experts.

Crushing him to death would be as easy as crushing an ant.

"This is your pass. Keep it safe and do not lose it."

After taking the money, the soldier still wore an icy expression as he tossed Lu Chuan a token. Only then did he coldly say, "You must leave before six o'clock. If you are caught inside after that, the fine is ten thousand, and you will be detained for three months,

Of course, if you can stay at a hotel, you may remain overnight, but for no more than three days..."

After issuing the warning, he did not care whether Lu Chuan had heard clearly. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for Lu Chuan to leave at once.

Lu Chuan said nothing. After putting away the identity pass, he walked straight into the Inner City.

Passing through the gates was like entering an entirely different world.

Compared with the filthy, chaotic, and run-down Outer City, the Inner City was practically heaven.

The streets were broader, with rows of towering high-rises lining both sides, splendid and luxurious.

There were even all kinds of cars driving through the streets. The pedestrians were dressed extravagantly, and most wore smiles on their faces.

It was clear that they were very satisfied with their lives.

This stood in stark contrast to the numbness in the eyes of those living in the Outer City slums.

These were two different worlds.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, but his feet did not stop as he continued down the main street. He knew where the Inner City Martial Artist Association was; he had heard people mention it more than once before.

After entering the city and following the main street for roughly ten minutes, one could see the Martial Artist Association building.

It was a high-rise of more than thirty stories, occupying an equally vast area.

Above the ninth floor, it split into two.

At a glance, it resembled an enlarged sword and shield standing upon the earth.

"So this is the Martial Artist Association? It truly is extraordinary..."

Lu Chuan's gaze swept over the two buildings of the Martial Artist Association. A sharp gleam flickered in his eyes as he muttered, "I heard there are highly professional testing instruments here that can precisely measure a Martial Artist's exact strength.

"There are even various Martial Arts Rooms that assist cultivation. If I could have all those advanced instruments helping me every day while I cultivate, it should greatly benefit my cultivation improvement..."

Countless thoughts flashed through Lu Chuan's mind as he entered the first-floor lobby.

"Hello, sir. How may I help you..."

The moment he entered the lobby, before Lu Chuan had time to inspect it carefully, a young woman in a black business suit approached him with a smile.

"Ah... oh, I'm here to verify my Martial Artist status..."

Lu Chuan was taken aback, but he immediately reacted. His expression returned to calm composure as he casually said, "May I ask where I can verify my Martial Artist status? What procedures are required..."

His mental strength far surpassed that of others his age. According to the Attribute Panel, it had already reached Mortal Grade High-Level.

Moreover, Lu Chuan had a feeling that after swallowing a White Jade Dragon Rock Fruit, his mental strength had surged once more. Though it was still Mortal Grade High-Level, it had definitely reached the limit of Mortal Grade High-Level.

Once he completely refined the medicinal power of this White Jade Dragon Rock Fruit, his mental strength would likely break through its limit and advance to the next realm.

Unfortunately, he knew very little about mental strength.

He had even indirectly asked Chen Qingfeng about it, but the other man seemed not to know much either.

However, there was one thing Lu Chuan could be certain of: as his mental strength grew stronger, his control over his own emotions had also clearly improved.

Though this was his first time entering the Inner City and seeing such a scene,

he could still remain calm and composed, neither servile nor overbearing.