I want you to help me cultivate

"Senior Brother, to be frank, Yuezhen has a request."

"Yuezhen would like to ask Senior Brother to guide my Cinnabar Palm cultivation."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Yuan was stunned.

He had barely interacted with Dong Yuezhen before, and now this girl suddenly shows up asking for his help with her cultivation?

What in the world...?

The Cinnabar Palm is taught at the martial arts school, and the master is an expert at cultivating it. Why don't you go ask the master...

Before Li Yuan could finish, Dong Yuezhen interrupted him, "The Pavilion Master's Cinnabar Palm isn't as strong as yours."

Good heavens!

Li Yuan exclaimed, "Good heavens!"

This girl really dared to say that!

If those words reached the owner's ears, she'd definitely be in trouble.

Li Yuan coughed awkwardly, "Yuezhen, you flatter me. I'm just messing around."

Dong Yuezhen's face was full of disbelief, completely ignoring Li Yuan's humble words.

As a fellow cultivator of the Cinnabar Palm, how could Dong Yuezhen not know the difference between Qi Zhengyang and Li Yuan?

Back then, Li Yuan had gone toe-to-toe with Qi Zhengyang, unleashing a hundred consecutive Cinnabar Palm strikes. The Shocking Force and true essence clashed and exploded continuously. The sheer roar of the impact made the surrounding disciples' internal organs churn, causing them discomfort!

And he called that "messing around"?

Who was he kidding?

There wasn't anyone stronger at Cinnabar Palm in all of Jiujiang Commandery!

Seeing the determined look on Dong Yuezhen's face, Li Yuan felt a headache coming on.

He was on the verge of breaking through to the True Essence Realm. He could clearly feel himself getting closer and closer to his physical limit. It might happen in the next few days, and at this critical juncture, he really didn't have time to guide Dong Yuezhen's cultivation.

"Ahem, it's like this, Senior Brother is a bit inconvenienced these few days..."

Inconvenienced?

I understand!

Dong Yuezhen took a small booklet from her embrace and gently placed it on the stone table.

"Senior Brother, Yuezhen won't disturb you for nothing."

"This manual is the reward for your guidance in my cultivation. Please take a look."

Li Yuan looked at the small booklet. Three large characters were clearly written on the cover: Iron Body Skill.

Dong Yuezhen also explained at the opportune moment, "This Iron Body Skill is a type of external hard skill. When cultivated to a high level, it not only strengthens the tendons and bones but also makes the body like iron armor, making it difficult for blades and swords to wound."

Dong Yuezhen had also practiced this external hard skill before, but she simply lacked the talent for cultivating hard skills. After practicing for a long time, she hadn't made much progress, only managing to barely get started. So, she decided to use it as a reward for her Senior Brother's guidance. It was the most valuable thing she could offer.

After hearing Dong Yuezhen's explanation, Li Yuan seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes suddenly lit up!

External hard skill!

What is an external hard skill?

The biggest characteristic of external hard skills is that they can enhance physical strength and defense. However, external hard skills are very difficult to practice. They require years of hitting the body with hard objects, rubbing the skin against sand and stones, and piercing various parts of the body with sharp objects. Through these methods, the body becomes stronger and undergoes constant transformation until the skill is mastered.

External hard skills are notoriously difficult and painful to practice. Without over a decade of effort, one cannot achieve results. Not everyone can endure this hardship.

Therefore, very few people practice external hard skills, and even fewer manage to master them.

But no matter how difficult external hard skills are to practice, they are not a problem for Li Yuan. With the enhancement of Divine Wisdom, any cultivation technique progresses at lightning speed.

His current physical strength was already approaching its limit, but this Iron Body Skill that suddenly appeared before him offered another possibility.

That was to break through his limit!

To elevate his physical strength to another level!

When he was previously exchanging for cultivation techniques at the Special Capture Division, Li Yuan had seen the existence of external hard skills, but he hadn't paid much attention to them. It wasn't until today, when Dong Yuezhen explained the many benefits of external hard skills, that Li Yuan suddenly realized.

External skill body refinement!

This is exactly what I need!

This Iron Body Skill could very likely significantly strengthen his body once again!

"Alright, I can guide you in practicing the Cinnabar Palm."

"For one month, you can come to me with any questions. How much you learn depends on you."

Seeing that Li Yuan had agreed, Dong Yuezhen was overjoyed. "Thank you, Senior Brother. When should we start?"

"We'll start now."

"First, go close the door."

Close... close the door?

Dong Yuezhen's face stiffened, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes. With the two of them alone here, closing the door for what?

Li Yuan shot her an annoyed look. "Techniques shouldn't be taught lightly. It wouldn't be good if someone passing by learned it."

Is... is that so?

Dong Yuezhen blushed and quickly went to close the door.

Li Yuan took the opportunity to size up Dong Yuezhen's figure, finding her to be quite attractive.

Dong Yuezhen was tall and strong, yet still possessed a woman's delicate beauty. Her features were soft, and her demeanor carried a hint of martial prowess, making her the type of person who grew more appealing the longer you looked.

The two stood in the courtyard, and Li Yuan spoke, "Show me your Cinnabar Palm, one round."

To receive guidance from a genius martial artist like Li Yuan was an opportunity not everyone got. Dong Yuezhen quickly performed one round of Cinnabar Palm in the yard.

The palm technique was finished in no time. Li Yuan nodded, his mind made up. He pointed out the obvious flaws in Dong Yuezhen's palm strikes one by one and taught her some techniques for using Shocking Force.

After the guidance, Dong Yuezhen could clearly feel that her Cinnabar Palm was vastly different. It flowed more smoothly and powerfully, with a thirty percent increase in its might.

Amazing!

As expected of Senior Brother!

Dong Yuezhen rejoiced inwardly, knowing she had found the right person.

Li Yuan had Dong Yuezhen continuously practice the palm technique in the courtyard, while he sat at a stone table nearby, flipping through the newly acquired Iron Body Skill.

Soon, he finished reading through the Iron Body Skill, and a new cultivation technique appeared on his personal panel.

Iron Body Skill (Uninitiated)

This was a mid-grade martial art, a typical external hard body technique that required repeatedly striking the body with hard objects to stimulate and strengthen it.

First, one would strike the body with hardwood. Once the body grew stronger, they would switch to iron rods, and finally, incorporate wolf-tooth clubs and large sabers. One couldn't practice this martial art without being a true tough guy.

Matching the Iron Body Skill was a breathing technique. Circulating the breathing technique while practicing, and reaching a certain level of mastery, could cultivate a kind of Iron Body Force!

When the Iron Body Force flowed through the entire body, combined with strong and hardened bones and sinews, it was truly like wearing iron armor!

Practicing this external hard body technique not only consumed a lot of vital energy and blood but also caused wear and tear on the body. Therefore, it required a large supply of meat during practice and frequent consumption of tonics. Otherwise, one's vital energy and blood would be depleted, endangering themselves.

After reviewing the Iron Body Skill several times, Li Yuan began to cultivate the technique.

He turned and walked into the adjacent kitchen, selecting the thickest and heaviest piece of firewood from the pile. He then walked out and stood in the courtyard.

Dong Yuezhen also stopped her Cinnabar Palm practice. She stared, dumbfounded, at the exaggeratedly sized piece of wood in Li Yuan's hand.

Li Yuan took a deep breath, let out a shout, swung the wood in a wide arc, and smashed it heavily onto his own forehead