Battle Against Stone Skin

So Zhang Lingshan readily accepted it as well.

From what he had learned over so long a period of cultivation, ordinary people simply could not drink medicinal ingredients every day as he did.

It was not because they could not afford it, but because drinking too much would bring all manner of ailments, making their bodies worse rather than better.

Only because he had the Panel, which could directly convert medicinal power into energy and thereby lessen the burden on his body, could he drink them every day.

In other words, the martial hall's meals and Four Harmony Soup were entirely sufficient to sustain an ordinary person's cultivation. There was no need for extra meals.

Those five taels of silver were merely money in Song Dazhuang's hands, but in Zhang Lingshan's hands, they would become Energy Points and make an enormous contribution to improving his strength.

Naturally, Zhang Lingshan would not refuse this kindness that sped up his cultivation.

At worst, when he paid Da Zhuang back later, he would return a little extra to show his gratitude for Senior Brother Da Zhuang's timely aid in the snow.

"Brother Da Zhuang, I'll accept this gesture of goodwill, but I still need work. Otherwise, if I only sit and eat away at my savings, I won't be able to repay you either."

Zhang Lingshan asked again.

Song Dazhuang smiled. "You're overthinking it. Focus on Skin Grinding first. Once you reach Skin Grinding, all sorts of people will naturally come looking for you. By then, you'll only find there are too many jobs, interfering with your cultivation."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Lingshan did not understand the ins and outs of it.

But since Senior Brother Da Zhuang said so, it had to be true.

So Zhang Lingshan stopped dwelling on it.

He calmed himself. Every day, aside from methodically rubbing his skin with Iron Sand and soaking in medicinal baths, he spent all his remaining time cultivating the Red Thread Fist.

Nor did he lack the energy replenishment provided by Spirit Root Grass.

Thus, day after day passed, and his strength steadily improved in an orderly fashion.

One day.

After finishing a medicinal bath at home, Zhang Lingshan suddenly felt a flash of inspiration. His body trembled slightly, and the skin all over his body tightened taut.

An indescribable sensation welled up in his heart.

Did I succeed? Is this the Skin Grinding Realm?

Zhang Lingshan was astonished.

This breakthrough had felt a little too casual, without the great commotion of when the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture reached Perfection.

But that did not mean the Skin Grinding Realm was worthless.

Rather, it was because he had ground his skin bit by bit all along the way. It had been as natural as water flowing into a channel, so there naturally would not be much commotion.

Though the commotion was slight, the changes were not.

Zhang Lingshan scratched the back of his hand with a fingernail and found it hard as leather. He felt no pain at all; it was as if he were merely scratching an itch.

Next, he drew out a small knife with his right hand.

Then he tensed the back of his left hand and dragged the knife across it.

A white mark appeared on the back of his hand, accompanied by a faint sting of pain.

This is Ox Skin!

Zhang Lingshan secretly nodded.

This breakthrough had not been an illusion. His skin truly was as tough as oxhide; ordinary blades could not cut through it at all.

This meant that he finally had a measure of confidence in this world!

Even if ordinary people came at him with knives, he would not fear them.

From this moment onward, he had completely left the ranks of ordinary people and become a true martial artist.

The next day.

The instant Zhang Lingshan arrived at the martial hall, several gazes immediately fell upon him.

"You reached Skin Grinding?"

One Senior Brother cried out in surprise.

It had only been a little over half a month, yet he had successfully reached Skin Grinding. Zhang Lingshan truly was a genius. At the very least, his body's recovery ability already surpassed that of many people.

"He has reached Skin Grinding. His complexion is different."

Another Senior Brother nodded, equally unable to conceal the shock in his heart.

He strode quickly up to Zhang Lingshan and said, "Junior Brother Shan, do you know who I am?"

"Senior Brother Feng Shaolong?"

Zhang Lingshan ventured.

He truly was not familiar with him.

The only reason he could name him was that Feng Shaolong's family ran a pharmacy. Zhang Lingshan often bought medicine at Feng Family Pharmacy and had run into him once before, though they had never spoken.

Why had he suddenly come over to speak with him today?

"Junior Brother Shan really does know me. I remembered that I seemed to have seen you once at the pharmacy. But I've been busy cultivating and never got the chance to exchange pointers with you. Why don't we spar today?"

Feng Shaolong spoke with a smile, then added, "Oh, right. I'm in the Stone Skin Realm. Use all your strength against me—don't be afraid of hurting me."

Exchange moves?

Zhang Lingshan's heart stirred.

Though he did not know why the other man was suddenly so enthusiastic, his Red Thread Fist Combat Technique was indeed not very practiced. Since someone had delivered himself to Zhang Lingshan as a sparring partner, it would be foolish not to spar.

So he immediately nodded. "All right. Then I'll have to trouble Senior Brother Feng."

"No trouble, no trouble. Master has said that the Combat Technique of our Red Thread Fist is actual combat. Helping Junior Brothers is also every Senior Brother's responsibility."

"Then this Junior Brother will make his move."

With a swish, Zhang Lingshan assumed an opening stance—the Embracing Yang Posture, in which courtesy came before force. It was his way of greeting the opponent and showing respect for his sparring partner.

Then, with a sudden burst of force beneath his feet, he pounced like a tiger. His fists fell like raindrops, bang bang bang, smashing toward Feng Shaolong's chest.

"Good!"

Feng Shaolong praised him. Unhurried and unflustered, he brought both fists together before his chest like a shield, firmly blocking Zhang Lingshan's fists outside.

Then the two traded moves. Zhang Lingshan attacked while Feng Shaolong defended, as they darted and shifted through the courtyard, stirring wave after wave of heat.

Though it was the depths of winter, the two fought with blazing intensity, like two great braziers continuously radiating heat.

Suddenly!

Feng Shaolong turned defense into offense and threw a punch straight at Zhang Lingshan's face.

Zhang Lingshan was greatly startled and hurriedly leaped back, but Feng Shaolong pursued closely and slammed a fist into his chest.

Thud thud thud!

Zhang Lingshan staggered back several steps, his face flushing slightly as his blood and qi churned.

But the churning blood and qi soon settled. He opened his clothes and looked at his chest, where he saw a pinkish fist mark.

Looking at Feng Shaolong's arms, abdomen, and every other place Zhang Lingshan had struck, however, there was not the slightest abnormality.

It was as though his fists were balls of cotton. They could only scratch the other man's itch and could not harm him in the slightest.

Zhang Lingshan could not help revealing a stunned expression, disappointment filling his heart.

He had thought that breaking through to Ox Skin meant he had been reborn and become a genuine martial artist.

But reality gave him a blow to the head.

He had attacked with all his strength, yet he could not injure Feng Shaolong in the slightest.

Was this the gap between himself and a Stone Skin Martial Practitioner?

"Junior Brother Shan."

Feng Shaolong came before Zhang Lingshan and patted his shoulder, rousing him from his daze.

Then he said earnestly, "Junior Brother Shan, your Combat Technique is somewhat unpolished, but your explosive strength is quite good. You can be considered outstanding among those who have just entered Ox Skin.

"So long as you practice your Combat Technique more, spar with more different people, and witness more Combat Techniques, you will surely achieve something.

"My family's pharmacy happens to be short of Herb Gathering Guards. Quite a few skilled fighters are among them, making them ideal sparring partners.

"Would Junior Brother Shan be interested in joining Feng Family Pharmacy?

"The monthly pay will be twenty taels of silver.

"You won't need to remain at Feng Family Pharmacy all the time. You will only need to go out when medicinal herbs need gathering. What do you think?"