Second Order: Ox Demon Strength Fist

"Finally, I broke through."

After completing an entire set of Ox Demon Strength Fist, Yang Chan saw the technique on his panel advance to Second Order: Entering the Hall. The Raging Bull Strength within his body had already been nurtured to perfection.

For the next stage of Ox Demon Strength Fist cultivation, he had to combine it with Ox Demon Skin Tempering. This move contained 144 variations, and Yang Chan had long since committed every movement to memory and practiced them over and over.

After breaking through to the Second Order, he had already practiced a full set once. Although the proficiency panel showed no increase, Yang Chan knew it had taken effect.

"Panel!"

The virtual panel appeared before Yang Chan.

[Name: Yang Chan]

[Lifespan: 16/69]

[Talent: 7]

[Potential Points: 1.1]

[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (First Stage Peeking into the Threshold 13%)]

[Comprehended Techniques: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique (Second Order: Entering the Hall 6%), Ox Demon Strength Fist (Second Order: Entering the Hall 1%), Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique (First Stage Peeking into the Threshold 6%)]

The advancement of Ox Demon Strength Fist had only added one year to his lifespan. Its effect was nowhere near that of a health cultivation technique, nor did it compare to the first advancement.

This was not a health cultivation technique. Besides, although his strength had improved, it had not undergone a qualitative transformation. Being able to increase his lifespan was naturally a good thing, so Yang Chan did not pay it much mind.

Since Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique advanced to Second Order: Entering the Hall, its progress had slowed considerably. Still, he could feel that it was continuing to improve, and Yang Chan did not mind.

The Pharmacist profession and Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique had both improved over the past few days. It was visible on the panel: each had risen by one percent. That was not insignificant, since he had spent most of his time on Ox Demon Strength Fist. Such gains were naturally a good thing.

After these past few days, a group of people had already left Qingyuan Sect in high spirits, including Shi Gaojun and the others. There were also far fewer Formal Disciples in the Hall of Medicine Training Ground.

To improve one's cultivation, one needed cultivation resources. To obtain cultivation resources, one had to take missions and deal with the rebellious forces below the mountain.

Only some of the Formal Disciples from the Medicine Hall had gone out. Those who practiced Raging Bull Strength had at least reached the Minor Success level, and their cultivation was not weak.

Yet Yang Chan knew this was only the beginning. They were currently dealing only with rebellious forces. If they later had to confront hostile sects, far more people would certainly be mobilized.

All the Formal Disciples of Qingyuan Sect might have to participate, including even those who became Formal Disciples within the year.

They would not be assigned the most dangerous missions, but they would certainly be tasked with guarding certain areas, providing rear support, and the like. There would be a certain degree of danger.

He had also tried the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup he purchased. Its effect was mediocre, adding only 0.1. He brewed three bowls in total, and although the Potential Points gained exceeded a single bowl prepared by a Pharmacist by 0.1, it also showed that his medicine-preparing ability was quite ordinary.

Yang Chan's premonition regarding Qingyuan Sect had not been wrong.

Ten days later, the sect once again summoned disciples to descend the mountain and battle other factions.

The first batch of disciples sent back news of victory. They had successfully cleared out some of the rebellious forces. Crates upon crates of treasures were delivered back to Qingyuan Sect. The Formal Disciples who had joined the missions first all carried an aura of conquest and killing intent. Clearly, they had already seen blood, and their presence was vastly different from how it had been within Qingyuan Sect.

This also meant that these disciples had become more mature.

Yang Chan naturally saw all this, but he continued to keep a low profile while carrying out his tasks as an Alchemist Assistant. Whenever he had time, he read Medicine Scripture, medical texts, and other related books.

Normally, he also cultivated Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, Ox Demon Strength Fist, and Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique together. Every day, he could feel himself improving.

Take Yang Chan's skin and flesh at this moment. Though it had not reached the level of Bronze Skin, it was indeed tighter and tougher than before. It was not yet at the point where blades and swords could scarcely harm it, but a membrane had already formed over it. This was the change in his skin after cultivating Ox Demon Skin Tempering through Ox Demon Strength Fist.

External Refinement: Bronze Skin had three levels of transformation, which also represented its progress.

When the skin took on a bronze hue, it meant one had entered External Refinement and stepped into the first level of skin-and-flesh tempering. This counted as entering the ranks of Elite Disciples, though one's cultivation would be at the bottom among them. Ordinary blades and swords could still leave tiny wounds, but they would struggle to cut deeply.

When the skin took on a brass hue, it meant External Refinement: Skin and Flesh had entered the second level of tempering. One's strength would increase greatly. Even if struck by ordinary blades or swords, only pale marks would remain.

When the skin took on an antique bronze hue, it meant External Refinement: Skin and Flesh had reached its final step. At that point, even ordinary blades and swords would leave no mark when they struck.

Those who had reached External Refinement: Bronze Skin were already difficult for ordinary people to injure. Even if thousands of ordinary people wielded weapons, they would be unable to harm someone with External Refinement: Bronze Skin.

Only those of the same realm, or with even higher cultivation, could injure them.

Of course, falling from a great height, suffering violent impacts to the internal organs, being poisoned, and similar threats could still wound or even kill them.

After all, the internal organs and viscera of those who practiced External Refinement: Skin and Flesh were still very fragile.

As good news kept returning, the Formal Disciples and Elite Disciples who remained in the sect naturally wanted to join in and obtain more cultivation resources.

Even Du Xiaolin, who had been reading Medicine Scripture, was somewhat eager to try. The reason he read Medicine Scripture was because he had discovered that his Martial Talent was rather ordinary. But if he could obtain abundant cultivation resources, he might still have a chance to break through External Refinement and become an Elite Disciple of Qingyuan Sect.

Du Xiaolin came to find Yang Chan, hoping to pull him into the next mission, but Yang Chan decisively refused.

Yang Chan saw that Du Xiaolin had not given up. He was still seeking out other disciples, planning to take on missions with them.

Since ancient times, profit had been able to stir the hearts of men. If they could see the possibility before their eyes, they would charge ahead without regard for their lives.

Du Xiaolin was just like that. If he had a chance to become an Elite Disciple, then naturally he wanted to become one, because that meant having strength.

Yang Chan naturally did not try to dissuade him. This was everyone's own choice, and there was no need to interfere. Interfering might even turn them into enemies.

There was no need for that. It was better to let nature take its course.

His own path was clear. He only needed to walk it.

After Ox Demon Strength Fist reached Second Order: Entering the Hall, its progress had slowed considerably. However, he was not in a hurry to add points to it. Instead, he added points to the Pharmacist profession.

This chaos would certainly not end anytime soon. Later on, even an Alchemist Assistant like him might be dragged into it. It would be better to raise his Pharmacist ability as quickly as possible.

Once the situation worsened, he would first pass the Pharmacist assessment and become a Pharmacist of Qingyuan Sect. At that point, his status and position would rival those of an Elite Disciple, while the chance of being sent outside would also be much lower.

There were not many Pharmacists within Qingyuan Sect to begin with. Training one required considerable time and effort, and Pharmacists were not suited for actual combat. Naturally, they were less likely to be dispatched.

Yang Chan had also been making preparations these past few days.