Major Accomplishment Iron Cloth Shirt! Peculiar Bones!

The night was as dark as ink. Su Haoran moved along the path behind Prajna Temple, finally returning silently to his dilapidated woodshed.

The air was still filled with the mixed scent of decaying wood and dry grass, a stark contrast to the recent smell of blood.

Without a moment's hesitation, Su Haoran bolted the wooden door of the woodshed from the inside.

He didn't bother with the bloodstains or injuries on his body. Instead, he went straight to the corner and took out the oil-paper package from his bag.

Qi Replenishing Powder!

He skillfully started a small fire, placed a cracked clay pot over it, and poured the medicinal powder into the water, letting it simmer slowly.

The medicinal aroma soon filled the small woodshed.

While the medicine was brewing, he took out the dozens of pounds of meat.

A fresh scent of blood rushed into his nostrils. Far from making him uncomfortable, it stirred a deep craving within his body.

Su Haoran drew his Military Saber and quickly cut most of the meat into pieces, sprinkling them with coarse salt to cure.

This was his sustenance for the next few days and the foundation for his breakthrough.

After finishing this, Su Haoran left about three to four pounds of the freshest loin meat. He skewered it directly onto a wooden stick and placed it over the fire to roast.

"This will be tonight's Blood Essence supplement!"

A glint flashed in Su Haoran's eyes as he waited for the medicinal soup in the clay pot to boil.

A moment later, the water was boiling. Su Haoran picked up the scalding clay pot, let it cool slightly, and then downed the bowl of dark brown medicinal soup in one gulp.

"This tastes really awful!"

Su Haoran frowned slightly.

But soon, a warm current rose from his abdomen, like a trickle of water, quickly flowing into his limbs.

The Blood Essence, depleted from a fierce battle, was being replenished and filled at an astonishing speed.

Compared to before, his Blood Essence was not only more abundant but also carried a hint of indescribable heat and vitality, as if a force was surging beneath his skin, eager to break through some invisible barrier.

"Good!"

"But it's not enough!"

Su Haoran's eyes shone brightly. He grabbed the sizzling meat skewer beside him and began to devour it in large bites.

There were no seasonings, only the most primitive aroma of meat and Blood Essence, but to Su Haoran at this moment, it was more delicious than anything in the world.

His stomach rapidly absorbed large amounts of vital energy, converting it into the purest energy, further catalyzing the medicinal effects of the Qi Replenishing Powder.

After devouring all the roasted meat like a whirlwind, Su Haoran felt his entire body burning, a powerful force raging within him.

He didn't waste this strength. He immediately stood up and assumed a stance in the center of the woodshed.

Iron Cloth Shirt!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

He used his fists as hammers, continuously striking his chest, back, and limbs.

Each blow was infused with the power of Arhat Fist. Dull thuds echoed in the silent night, like a tireless blacksmith hammering a stubborn piece of iron.

Sweat quickly soaked his monk's robe, but Su Haoran paid it no mind.

The Meditation Scripture circulated, clearing his mind and focusing all his will on the tempering of his skin and muscles.

The medicinal effects and the consumed food combined, acting as fuel to make the fire of cultivation burn even hotter!

He remained awake all night.

As dawn approached, Su Haoran suddenly opened his eyes, a smile gracing his face.

The soreness and bruises from the previous night's deadly battle had vanished without a trace overnight! His entire body was filled with Blood Essence, like a blazing furnace!

"The vital points have loosened!"

The next day, Su Haoran repeated the same process.

Brewing medicine, eating meat, cultivating.

The third day, it was still the same.

The fourth day, still the same.

Time seemed to stand still in the mountains.

He had become like a tireless cultivation machine, pushing his will and potential to the limit.

The dozens of pounds of meat and the entire bag of Qi Replenishing Powder had all become a part of his body.

Beneath his skin, it was as if countless fine threads were being rewoven and tightened, becoming increasingly tough and dense.

Finally, late on the fifth night, as Su Haoran once again channeled a surge of Blood Essence power throughout his skin and muscles for the final round of hammering, a drastic change occurred!

"Buzz—"

Su Haoran felt a roar in his mind. Inside his body, it was as if an incredibly strong dam, under the impact of the flood that had accumulated for four days and four nights, had suddenly collapsed!

An unprecedented, powerful force, like a bursting river, instantly washed over every inch of his skin and every inch of his fascia!

Numbness, soreness, burning... various sensations intertwined, ultimately transforming into an indescribable comfort and power!

His skin's surface faintly emitted a golden luster, appearing like a gilded Arhat statue in a temple under the dim firelight.

It's done!

[Technique: Iron Cloth Shirt (Major Accomplishment 1%)]

[Your Comprehension has increased due to the technique breakthrough!]

[Comprehension: 15 (Uncommon Talent)]

A series of messages appeared in Su Haoran's mind.

He slowly exhaled, his breath long and sustained, leaving a faint white line in the air.

Feeling the surging power within him, Su Haoran's eyes shone with astonishing brilliance.

He looked down at his fists, the texture of his skin seemingly transformed, becoming more refined and even tougher.

He extended a finger and forcefully scraped his arm, producing a "creak-creak" sound like scratching old oxhide, yet not even a white mark was left behind.

"Is this the Major Accomplishment of Iron Cloth Shirt?"

Su Haoran's heart stirred, and he walked to the wall where a sturdy wooden post, used to reinforce the wall, stood with several protruding iron nails.

In the past, he would never have dared to try this lightly.

But now...

He took a deep breath and punched out with his right fist!

He didn't use the force of Arhat Fist, only pure physical strength!

"Thump!"

A muffled sound echoed, causing the entire woodshed to tremble.

Su Haoran withdrew his fist and saw a shallow fist imprint on the hard wooden post. The iron nail at the center of the imprint had been driven half an inch into the post!

On his fist, there was only a negligible red dot, his skin not even broken!

"Such strong defense!"

Su Haoran's eyes burst with ecstatic joy.

He felt as if his current body was like a stubborn rock, polished by a thousand years of river water, indestructible and incredibly resilient!

At the same time, he vaguely sensed that his martial arts realm seemed to have entered a new level along with the Major Accomplishment of Iron Cloth Shirt.

"First Skin Tempering... Second Skin Tempering..." he muttered to himself.

The masked man he had killed earlier was a martial artist at the Second Skin Tempering stage.

But he felt more than just a little stronger than that person now. Could this be Second Skin Tempering?

"But what is the fundamental difference between First and Second Skin Tempering?"

"Besides being stronger and harder, what else is different?"

Clearly, this doubt could not be answered by mere contemplation.

The sky began to show the first light of dawn.

Su Haoran pushed open the woodshed door, breathing in the cool morning air. The killing intent and murderous aura in his heart had long been washed away by the joy of his breakthrough.

After a brief tidy-up, he set off towards the Martial Monk Courtyard.

He was going to seek Zeng Qiu for clarification.