The monks who had been doing their morning drills had already dispersed from the Martial Monk Courtyard's training ground.
When Su Haoran found Zeng Qiu, he was alone in a corner, wiping down his Monk's Knife. He looked focused, yet there was a trace of loneliness on his face.
"Brother Zeng Qiu," Su Haoran called.
"Brother Haoran!" Zeng Qiu suddenly looked up. When he saw Su Haoran, surprise immediately mixed with a hint of guilt on his face. "You... you've come out of seclusion?"
He rose to his feet and rubbed his hands awkwardly. "Well... regarding the Martial Monk Courtyard, I went to see Martial Uncle Cao Yi. Martial Uncle did his best, but several of the senior uncles in the courtyard... sigh, they said the rules couldn't be broken. A sweeping monk was a sweeping monk, unless... unless he had rendered great service, otherwise..."
Su Haoran smiled faintly and patted his shoulder, cutting him off. "I understand. There's no rush. Brother Zeng Qiu has already gone to great lengths for me. I know it in my heart."
He knew that such matters could never be accomplished overnight.
Zeng Qiu had run around on his behalf, and Su Haoran remembered that friendship in his heart.
Seeing that Su Haoran held no blame whatsoever, Zeng Qiu finally let out a breath of relief. His respect for this sworn elder brother deepened by several degrees.
He asked curiously, "Did Brother come looking for me today because you need something?"
"There is indeed something I'd like to ask." Su Haoran did not beat around the bush. "I want to know: in the Skin Tempering Realm, what exactly is the difference between First Skin Tempering and Second Skin Tempering?"
Zeng Qiu was stunned for a moment, then looked at Su Haoran in surprise.
Usually, only those about to break through, or those who had just done so, would care about such a question.
Could it be...
He suppressed his speculation and explained with a smile, "Brother, you've hit the nail on the head. Though Skin Tempering is all about honing the skin membrane, the gap between First, Second, and Third Skin Tempering is as vast as heaven and earth."
"First Skin Tempering is like me." Zeng Qiu patted his arm, producing a dull thud. "The skin membrane becomes tough. Ordinary clubs and staves can hardly hurt it, and even blades and swords can be blocked to some extent so long as they don't strike a vital spot. Among the village militias, that already makes one a capable hand."
"But against the army's powerful bows and heavy crossbows, it's no different from paper mache."
At this point, his tone shifted, and a trace of longing appeared in his eyes.
"But Second Skin Tempering is an entirely different level!"
"Upon reaching Second Skin Tempering, a Martial Artist's skin membrane undergoes a qualitative transformation. Its toughness becomes sufficient for Arrows Difficult to Harm! Think about it: on a battlefield where two armies faced off, arrows fell like rain, and ordinary soldiers could only rely on shields to stay alive. Yet a Martial Artist at Second Skin Tempering could charge into battle beneath that rain of arrows!"
"One could say that only upon entering Second Skin Tempering did one truly gain the capital to fight and survive amid a chaotic army! In the military, such a figure could serve as the leader of an elite squad, or as an elite soldier at a great general's side!"
The more Zeng Qiu spoke, the more excited he became.
"As for Third Skin Tempering, that's even more incredible. They say one becomes impervious to heat and cold, while water and fire cannot penetrate. Other than a few elderly monks in the temple, I've never seen it with my own eyes."
After hearing this, Su Haoran's mind suddenly cleared.
Arrows Difficult to Harm!
Those four words gave him a clear understanding of his current strength.
In this Chaotic World, such an ability was undoubtedly a trump card for preserving his life!
After finishing, Zeng Qiu sighed enviously and looked at Su Haoran. "It took me a full five years of hard tempering to achieve First Skin Tempering. I don't know what year or month I'll ever glimpse the threshold of Second Skin Tempering. For ordinary Martial Monks like us, that's practically an insurmountable chasm."
His words were full of confusion over the road ahead and longing for a higher realm.
Yet Zeng Qiu did not know that the youth before him had already silently crossed the chasm he spoke of.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the woodshed, Su Haoran stood bare-chested. Beneath the dim oil lamp, his bronze skin reflected a layer of tough, restrained luster.
His eyes were shut, and he was as motionless as a boulder. Yet if an expert had been present, he would have sensed the surging Qi and Blood within him, perfectly restrained beneath his skin membrane like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Technique: Iron Cloth Shirt (Major Accomplishment 45%) Technique: Arhat Fist (Major Accomplishment 71%) Technique: Meditation Scripture (Major Accomplishment 22%) Comprehension: 15 (Extraordinary Bones)
In one month, the progress of his Iron Cloth Shirt had surged by 44%.
This was the terrifying improvement brought by "Extraordinary Bones"!
Fifteen points of comprehension had turned Su Haoran's cultivation path from a rugged, muddy trail into a broad and level official road.
In the past, when practicing Arhat Fist, he had merely learned each stance and move, copying the gourd by its shape.
Now, with every punch he threw, he could clearly sense how force rose from the soles of his feet, twisted through his waist and hips, and finally gathered at the edge of his fist.
It was no longer a rigid set of moves, but a living, flowing force.
The cultivation of the Meditation Scripture benefited him even more.
With his mind empty and clear, his control over his body had reached an unprecedented degree of precision. Every surge of Qi and Blood, every contraction and extension of muscle, lay beneath the shroud of his intent.
More importantly, he was no longer completely in the dark regarding the realm of Perfection for Iron Cloth Shirt.
"Major Accomplishment means tempering the skin membrane until it is tough as cowhide and sealed so tightly that not even wind can pass through. Perfection should be a deeper level of tempering..."
Su Haoran's mind was crystal clear.
"Qi and Blood must fuse perfectly with the skin membrane, like water soaking into a sponge, inseparable from each other. When force erupts, the skin membrane becomes a layer of flowing steel; when the force is drawn inward, it is no different from that of an ordinary person. That is true freedom in advancing and withdrawing. That is Perfection!"
A blurry yet tangible path had already unfolded within his heart.
He was confident that, given sufficient resources, within three months he could push the Iron Cloth Shirt—which ordinary people found impossible to master in a lifetime—to the true realm of Perfection!
Just as he was immersed in his comprehension of the ultimate principles of martial arts, the wooden door of the woodshed was lightly knocked upon.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Brother, are you in there?" It was Zeng Qiu's voice, carrying excitement he could barely suppress.
Su Haoran gathered his mind. The rushing Qi and Blood in his body instantly calmed, and he opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them before vanishing.
"I'm here."
He rose, draped on his Monk Robe, and pulled open the bolt.
Outside the door, Zeng Qiu's face was flushed red, and fine beads of sweat still covered his forehead. He had clearly run here all the way.
"Brother! It worked!" Zeng Qiu grabbed Su Haoran's arm, so excited that his words came out in a jumble. "I... I begged Martial Uncle, and Martial Uncle went to speak to Elder Hui Jue, who oversees affairs..."
Su Haoran's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm. "What did they say?"
Seeing Su Haoran's composure, Zeng Qiu calmed somewhat as well. After catching his breath, he spoke quickly. "Elder Hui Jue said that Prajna Temple's rules cannot be abolished. But considering your sincere pursuit of martial arts, the merit you've rendered to the temple, and the unrest down the mountain recently, which has affected many of the temple's properties, they've decided to reopen the Martial Monk assessment."
"Tomorrow at the hour of the dragon, a Martial Monk assessment will be held just for you at the central training ground of the Martial Monk Courtyard. So long as you pass, you can be exceptionally admitted into the Martial Monk Courtyard and become a true Martial Monk!"
"However, the official Martial Monks will also take part in this assessment! Those who pass will likewise receive cultivation supplies issued by the temple as a reward!"
After saying that, Zeng Qiu added worriedly, "Brother, this has caused quite a stir. Tomorrow, I'm afraid all the brothers of the Martial Monk Courtyard will come to watch. Do... do you have confidence? The assessment covers strength, movement technique, and fist techniques—its standards aren't low."
Su Haoran's gaze passed over Zeng Qiu's shoulder toward the brightly lit Martial Monk Courtyard in the distance. His eyes were calm and profound.
"Don't worry. Tomorrow, I won't disappoint you."
Before you continue