External Refinement: Bronze Skin

Yang Chan bought the twenty-year-old Dragon Kui on the very day it was delivered, but he had not used it. The reason was the medicinal herb Du Huo.

He had informed Steward Sikong and the others at the Medicine Hall about Li Junhao and the others' methods, so he would naturally draw their attention.

Sikong Yan, Steward Li, Steward Wang, and the others were all External Refinement experts. If he had just broken through External Refinement, then even if he used Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water to conceal the traces, these people might still notice. After giving it some thought, Yang Chan chose not to break through that very day.

Instead, he waited until Zhao Ziqing, Li Junhao, and the others had been taken away before he began preparing to brew the Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water.

When applied to the body, Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water could conceal the bluish tint that appeared on the skin after breaking through External Refinement: Skin and Flesh. However, it could not conceal the change in one's aura, which was why Yang Chan had made this choice.

Brewing Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water was not complicated. It was merely a relatively basic medicine; as long as it was prepared in the proper proportions, it would work.

The supplementary herbs needed for Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water were all common medicinal ingredients. Yang Chan had long since prepared them, and now that the Dragon Kui had arrived, everything was complete.

"This medicine soup really has an interesting color."

Yang Chan scooped out a spoonful. It was a purplish-black color and looked rather like poison, though fortunately, it did not need to be consumed.

He applied it to his skin and found that once the Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water touched it, it was rapidly absorbed and soon vanished.

Looking at his skin again, there was no change.

He had previously tried leaving color on his skin with a certain herb, but after applying the Purple Sun Skin Transforming Water, it disappeared and became the same color as his skin.

Seeing this, Yang Chan did not delay any longer.

He summoned the panel and directly added points.

[Name: Yang Chan]

[Lifespan: 16/74]

[Talent: 8]

[Potential Points: 6.7]

[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (Second Order: Entering the Hall 2%)]

[Comprehended Techniques: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique (Second Order: Entering the Hall 6%), Ox Demon Strength Fist (Second Order: Entering the Hall 3%), Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique (Second Order: Entering the Hall 1%)]

Even without adding points during this period, he had still improved through his own efforts.

Effort would bring rewards. That had never changed.

Yang Chan used up all six Potential Points. When the proficiency of his Ox Demon Strength Fist rose past ten percent of Second Order: Entering the Hall, his skin and flesh began to change, turning directly bronze in color.

It was exactly like Zhao Ziqing during the day, when he circulated his Jing Power and his skin took on a bronze hue. This was the first layer of External Refinement: Bronze Skin, and it represented Yang Chan's Martial Cultivation breaking through to the External Refinement level.

But this was not the end. After Yang Chan used up six Potential Points, his Ox Demon Strength Fist rose to Second Order: Entering the Hall 33%. The first bronze layer of External Refinement: Bronze Skin was no longer merely at the beginner stage, but had reached great mastery. It was gradually advancing toward External Refinement: Bronze Skin Second Layer: Brass, though it was still just short. If he kept adding points, he would break through soon.

Yang Chan clearly felt Raging Bull Strength continuously tempering his skin and flesh. The efficiency of this tempering was extremely high, as though he had been painstakingly cultivating and tempering himself, while memories of that tempering surged into his mind.

Yang Chan's strength, speed, and other aspects were all undergoing a qualitative transformation. Even his perception improved, and his reactions became faster.

On the panel, his lifespan increased by another two years.

Yang Chan looked down after taking off his clothes. At this moment, all the skin on his body had turned bronze. This was the trace left behind on his skin and flesh after Raging Bull Strength had successfully tempered him following the breakthrough to External Refinement: Bronze Skin. Under normal circumstances, it would take two or three days to fade.

Thus, when many people successfully achieved External Refinement: Bronze Skin, they were easily discovered by others unless they went into seclusion for several consecutive days.

Of course, most people would not choose to hide it, because it was capital for elevating their status and position. There was naturally no need to conceal it.

Within the Qingyuan Sect, the status, monthly stipend, monthly cultivation resources, and everything else granted to Elite Disciples were on an entirely different level from those of Formal Disciples.

What was an Elite Disciple? Even within the Qingyuan Sect, they were exceptionally outstanding disciples. They possessed powerful strength, and the authority in their hands was not small either.

If Elite Disciples went to any affiliated force, they would certainly receive the highest respect. Even if they visited other sects, they would be treated with respect.

Elite Disciples were the pillars of a sect, its elite, and its future.

Many Personal Disciples had risen above the rest from among Elite Disciples.

Those who broke through to the Bone Refining Realm before the age of forty could become Personal Disciples. Of course, if one's talent was sufficiently outstanding, one could be promoted to Personal Disciple ahead of time. But anyone granted such treatment would certainly have displayed astonishing talent.

If anyone knew the rate of Yang Chan's progress, they would very likely include him among the candidates for Personal Disciple as well.

Naturally, Yang Chan would not choose to expose himself at this time. Once his strength increased, he only needed to keep a low profile.

It was like someone picking up ten million—there was no way they would post about it on their social circle and tell everyone.

That was precisely what Yang Chan was thinking at this moment.

Looking at the panel, his lifespan was growing ever longer, and he was drawing ever closer to his small goal.

[Name: Yang Chan]

[Lifespan: 16/76]

[Talent: 8]

[Potential Points: 0.7]

[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (Second Order: Entering the Hall 2%)]

[Comprehended Techniques: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique (Second Order: Entering the Hall 6%), Ox Demon Strength Fist (Second Order: Entering the Hall 33%), Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique (Second Order: Entering the Hall 1%)]

The Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique can continue improving as well.

This thought surfaced in Yang Chan's mind.

The Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique concerned his lifespan, talent, and more, so naturally he could not leave it idle without cultivating it.

Previously, further improving the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique required practicing techniques such as Silk Coiling Strength and Quiet Nourishing Technique. At the time, Yang Chan had refrained from cultivating them to avoid affecting the purity of the Jing Power within his body, so he had stopped for several days. Now that his cultivation had risen to External Refinement: Bronze Skin, he could resume cultivating the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique.

In Yang Chan's mind, the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique was the key. It could grant him longevity, while the Ox Demon Strength Fist was a means of self-defense. Though it was important too, it was slightly less important than the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique.

Because only the living needed to speak of strength.

If one's lifespan ran dry, then no matter how powerful one's cultivation was, one would still ultimately die of old age.

The Turtle Breath Body Nourishing Technique can continue to be cultivated as well. Although it cannot compare to the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique, it is still a life-nourishing technique that extends one's lifespan.

Yang Chan silently pondered.

His cultivation reaching External Refinement: Bronze Skin was only a beginning. There would be more and more matters ahead, and at the same time, he would need to become increasingly low-key. The benefits, however, would all be pocketed by him.

In a word: sneak into the village—no shooting.

He had made a splash once in the Medicine Hall this time. Next, he would quietly be a qualified Pharmacist apprentice. Once the time was right, he would directly take the Pharmacist assessment, and then he would have far more freedom.

Though he could not be like Xu Gaocen, arriving late and leaving early, the restrictions on him would grow fewer and fewer. Those were the real, tangible benefits.