Skin Refining Mastery!

This term was both unfamiliar and familiar to him.

In the real world's Yue Kingdom, the martial path began with a hundred days of foundation building, followed by the three stages of Flesh Tempering, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining to hone the body—strengthening the physique, hardening the bones, and fortifying the organs. Only then could one formally begin cultivating an Internal Cultivation Method.

In this process, martial artists used their Internal Cultivation Method to refine the spiritual energy of heaven and earth until the first thread of Inner Force was born within their bodies. Only then could they be called an Initiate-level Master!

In Gu Han's estimation, the "Inner Force" of the Yue Kingdom should be the same energy as the "Inner Qi" of the Great Yan Kingdom, differing only in name.

As for concrete verification...

With that thought, Gu Han's mind stirred. The next moment, a gleam seemed to flow within his eyes, as if he could see through all things in the world and penetrate every mystery.

System Skill: Insight

Insight Target: Arhat Hall Chief Monk Ben Guan.

"Shua!"

The moment "Insight" was activated, the void before Gu Han's eyes rippled like waves, and a transparent attribute panel—visible only to him—abruptly appeared.

Name: Ben Guan Age: 52 Level: 4 Realm: Inner Qi (Inner Force) Minor Accomplishment Martial Skills: "Arhat Fist" (Major Accomplishment of the First Layer), "Tiger Subduing Palm" (Major Accomplishment of the Second Layer), "Great Strength Vajra Fist" (Major Accomplishment of the Third Layer), "Spirit Ape Evasion Steps" (Minor Accomplishment of the Third Layer)

"Just as I thought!"

Seeing the realm and level descriptions on the attribute panel, Gu Han understood in his heart, but he also felt some disappointment.

Treasure Pearl Temple, as the martial holy land of the Great Yan Kingdom, had stood for a thousand years and was already the foremost sect in the Great Yan martial world. Yet even in a sect of this rank, the heads of each hall and the Abbot himself were only at the Inner Qi level.

This showed just how low the martial power level of the Great Yan Kingdom was—far inferior to the real world's Great Yue Kingdom.

After all, in the real world's Great Yue Kingdom, those who could cultivate Inner Force were merely considered Initiate-level. Above them were Second-rate Masters who could project Inner Force outward, First-rate Masters who manifested True Qi into protective aura, and even Martial Dao Innates and Daoist Immortal experts who occasionally appeared—far surpassing this world by an immeasurable margin.

"Jingming! Jingyuan! Are you two done talking? What kind of figures do you think Inner Qi masters are? How dare two little monks who haven't even learned a shred of martial arts discuss them? So unfocused and distracted—even if you enter the Prajna Hall, how will you ever succeed in martial training? Jingming, come back with me now! Jingyuan, you return to your Prajna Hall group at once!"

Just as Gu Han was lost in thought, a voice rang out beside him. A middle-aged monk in a yellow robe walked over from the Arhat Hall formation with a displeased expression, scolding Gu Han and Jingyuan.

"Yes, we humbly accept your admonishment, Uncle-Master. We will return to our formations immediately."

Hearing the yellow-robed monk's reprimand, Gu Han and the young monk Jingyuan had wanted to exchange a few more words, but now they could only give up, not daring to defy him, and acknowledged their fault in unison.

The Great Yan Kingdom was a nation that placed great emphasis on distinctions between old and young, superior and inferior, and Treasure Pearl Temple was no exception.

Although Jingyuan was a Prajna Hall disciple with a bright future ahead and was not under the yellow-robed monk's jurisdiction, the yellow-robed monk was still an elder of the temple. If Jingyuan dared to talk back to him, he would inevitably be punished, and even the Prajna Hall would not speak up for him.

"Amitabha! Then, Senior Brother, I'll take my leave. Let's talk another day."

Seeing the yellow-robed monk's displeased expression, Jingyuan shrank his head in fear, said a word to Gu Han, and returned to the Prajna Hall formation.

Gu Han, seeing this, did not linger either. He followed the yellow-robed monk and the crowd of novice monks into the Arhat Hall.

The Arhat Hall, main hall—a vast chamber. At its center stood a nearly ten-foot-tall, gold-gilded Buddha statue, surrounded by many smaller, gilded Buddha statues in various poses.

Before each of these statues was an incense table, upon which sat several censers. Countless incense sticks burned within them, emitting a calming, serene aura.

"Amitabha! Disciples, the Arhat Hall has arrived. Yuanhai, from now on, you will be responsible for teaching the newly entered disciples. I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave."

As soon as Chief Monk Ben Guan entered the main hall of the Arhat Hall, he intoned a Buddhist salutation, turned to a middle-aged monk in a yellow robe, about thirty years old, and gave his instruction before departing on his own.

As the Chief Monk of the Arhat Hall and a great master at the Inner Qi level, his time was extremely precious. Naturally, he would not waste it accompanying new disciples like Gu Han.

"As the Chief Monk commands!"

The yellow-robed monk Yuanhai, upon hearing the Chief Monk's order, immediately stepped forward and responded respectfully. After Ben Guan had walked away, he composed his expression and said sternly to Gu Han and the other novice monks:

"Fellow disciples, this humble monk's Dharma name is Yuanhai. From today onward, you are all disciples of the Arhat Hall, and I am your teaching master. From now on, I will instruct you in the foundational martial arts of Treasure Pearl Temple.

If, one day, any of you can cultivate any single martial art to the Second Layer realm, you will graduate from the Arhat Hall and become a martial monk or teaching master of the hall. If not, you will be assigned to the temple's labor quarters to handle miscellaneous chores!"

Yuanhai's voice was clear and resonant. Though his expression was calm and he did not shout, his voice was exceptionally loud, allowing every novice monk present to hear his words clearly.

"I see. May I ask, Uncle-Master, how will you teach us martial arts?"

As soon as Yuanhai finished speaking, a small, thin monk with lively eyes raised his hand and asked.

"An excellent question, fellow disciple."

Hearing the young monk's query, the yellow-robed monk Yuanhai nodded in approval and then explained:

"Regarding the teaching of martial arts, the Arhat Hall has long established rules. All disciples who enter the Arhat Hall will first spend several years practicing the temple's foundational martial art—the 'Arhat Fist.'

Only after cultivating the 'Arhat Fist' to the Major Accomplishment of the First Layer may they enter the temple's Sutra Library to select three other, more profound martial arts. This is not because the Arhat Hall is stingy with its teachings, but to ensure that you focus on one art and achieve greater accomplishments."

Yuanhai explained patiently.

"Then, Uncle-Master, how does one achieve Major Accomplishment of the First Layer?"

After hearing Yuanhai's explanation, the same young monk asked again.

"Heh! That is simple."

Seeing the young monk ask again, Monk Yuanhai gave a light smile, casually picked up a nearby club as thick as an arm, and then swung it hard against his own arm.

Crack!

A crisp sound rang out as the club snapped cleanly in two, yet on Monk Yuanhai's arm there was not a single trace—not even a faint red mark—as smooth and unblemished as before!

"When your skin and membrane become as tough as cowhide, impervious to clubs and staves, that is considered the first major achievement of the 'Arhat Fist.' In the outside world, this stage is also called—Skin Refining Mastery."

Seeing the novices' faces full of shock, Monk Yuanhai pressed his palms together and gave a slight smile.

"Skin Refining?"

Hearing these words, Gu Han's pupils constricted, and a storm of shock surged within his heart.