Skin as Outline, Bone as Pillar-With Time Flow Altered, Can the Frail Onmyoji Tetsu Also Attempt a Slash Test?

At the Imagawa Residence, in Uesugi Tetsu's private courtyard.

After seeing the servants preparing the medicinal bath leave the room, Uesugi Tetsu rose to his feet.

Only one final medicinal-bath cultivation session remained before he could complete the first major stage of the Palace of Flesh: Skin Tempering.

In truth, the term "Palace of Flesh" was used in two different places.

The first referred to the mastery level of all breathing techniques. This proficiency level had been collectively called the "Palace of Flesh" based on the experience of those who came before.

As for the reason, Uesugi Tetsu guessed it was probably because, among the vast majority of breathing techniques, this stage required the highest proficiency for Flesh Refining.

The second referred to one of the Four Ultimate Forms—the "Palace of Flesh" he had unlocked not long ago after studying nine breathing techniques.

This Palace of Flesh was the ultimate form of "flesh" among skin, bone, flesh, and sinew.

Although both were called the Palace of Flesh, the gap between them was still quite substantial.

"Shiraishi, aren't you going to take a break? You'll go farther and steadier if you balance work and rest."

Before entering the room, Uesugi Tetsu spoke to Shiraishi, who had been squatting beneath the shade of a tree and studying a secret manual all day.

Ever since Shiraishi had tasted the sweetness of intense positive feedback four days ago, he had spent nearly all his time studying and practicing the ninja manual in his hands, apart from eating and sleeping.

After four days, he had already roughly finished reading the manual.

Thanks to that, Shiraishi should now have a strength level of a little over half a star.

But judging from Shiraishi's personality, such an intense enthusiasm for learning was clearly abnormal.

It was practically