Deep within the Qingyun Mountain Range, Crimson Hair Stronghold.
The stronghold had been built against the mountain, the terrain steep and perilous. Its outskirts were dotted with open sentries and hidden posts, guarded with ironclad vigilance.
Inside a secret chamber built from massive stones, flames roared in a brazier, casting the shadows of ferocious animal hides on the walls into twisted, swaying shapes.
Two men sat at the head of the chamber.
The man on the left was built like a bear, his face covered in bristling whiskers. His crimson hair was braided into dozens of small plaits. He was the First Boss of Crimson Hair Stronghold, "Crimson Beard Dragon" Xiong Ba.
The man on the right was thin and sinister, with a hooked nose and eyes like venomous snakes. He was the Second Boss, "Shadow Hand" Liao Fan.
Below them stood the Third Boss, "Ghost Shadow Leopard Cat," who had fled back from Prajna Temple in a sorry state last night.
By now, Ghost Shadow Leopard Cat had long since lost last night's panic. He stood tall, disdain written across his face, and embellished his tale of the previous night. Naturally, in his version, he had moved with effortless ease, while Prajna Temple's defenses had been utterly worthless.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, Prajna Temple has long lost its former splendor! I slipped into the Scripture Repository as if entering an empty courtyard. Those so-called patrolling Martial Monks were nothing but wine-soaked fools!" Ghost Shadow Leopard Cat said. "If those old bald donkeys hadn't reacted so quickly, I'd have cleaned out even their Abbot's meditation chamber!"
"Oh?" Second Boss Liao Fan narrowed his eyes, his voice hoarse. "Then why did you return empty-handed? And make such a commotion?"
Ghost Shadow Leopard Cat's expression stiffened before he snorted coldly. "I was ambushed by some young monk! Who knows what kind of heretical body-tempering Kung Fu that brat practiced? His skin was thick and his flesh tough, like a lump of iron. I let my guard down and got tied up by him for a moment, alerting those old bastards. To avoid being surrounded, I chose to withdraw."
A flicker of venom flashed through his eyes, though his tone remained casual. "But don't worry, Big Brother, Second Brother. That kid is just a reckless brute who practices body-tempering, relying on nothing but brute strength. As for his true cultivation, I could tell he was at most at the Second Skin Tempering realm—far inferior to me! If I hadn't been wary of those old monks in the temple, I could've twisted his head off on the spot!"
He knew full well that he was a genuine Third Skin Tempering martial artist, and his movement technique was his greatest specialty.
His loss last night had entirely been because the other side's defensive power had exceeded his expectations, catching him off guard.
But when it came to overall strength, he firmly believed he could defeat Su Haoran with certainty.
"Hmph! A junior at Second Skin Tempering dared to obstruct my third brother?" First Boss Xiong Ba snorted. His fan-sized hand slammed fiercely onto the stone table, making the wine bowls atop it hum and tremble. "Prajna Temple truly is declining more and more by the day!"
He had long harbored deep resentment toward Prajna Temple.
This Qingyun Mountain Range should have belonged to Crimson Hair Stronghold. Prajna Temple's presence here was like a nail driven into his throat, leaving him unable to swallow or spit.
A gleam flashed through Second Boss Liao Fan's eyes as he laughed sinisterly. "Big Brother, third brother's words are likely true. If Prajna Temple truly had confidence, they would not have sent only an elder and a few disciples to demand answers. They would have marched an army straight to our gates. Acting this way clearly means they are fierce in appearance but weak within, merely looking for a way to save face."
"A way to save face?" Xiong Ba grinned, exposing a mouthful of yellow teeth. His smile was savage. "Then I refuse to give them one! Aren't they coming to demand answers? Excellent! I want to see whether their heads are harder, or Crimson Hair Stronghold's rolling stones and timber logs are harder!"
He abruptly rose to his feet, and a fierce, violent aura instantly filled the entire secret chamber.
"Pass down my order! Set an ambush at One Line Sky Valley, the only route they must take up the mountain! The moment that old bald donkey Hui Jue leads his men into the valley, drop the rocks and seal the road at once! Archers, prepare yourselves!"
"Big Brother means..." Killing intent burst nakedly from Liao Fan's eyes.
"Exactly!" Xiong Ba snarled. "Since they dare come, they'd better not think of leaving! Kill Hui Jue first, then slaughter Prajna Temple! From this day onward, the Qingyun Mountain Range will have only one voice—Crimson Hair Stronghold's!"
Inside the woodshed, Su Haoran knew nothing of the gathering storm outside.
All his focus was immersed in the raging ocean of Qi and Blood within his body.
The medicinal power of the second Blood Strengthening Pill was even fiercer than the first!
If the first had been a flood bursting through a collapsed dam, then the second was roaring, surging magma!
That searing power, hot to the absolute extreme, madly crashed through his limbs and bones. Every inch of flesh and every tendon and vein groaned under the unbearable strain of its tempering.
Pain! Pain beyond imagination!
It was as though countless red-hot branding irons were repeatedly searing every corner of his body!
Yet Su Haoran's will had long been tempered by the experiences of two lifetimes until it was as solid as a boulder.
He desperately guarded the last shred of clarity in his mind and frantically circulated the Iron Cloth Shirt cultivation method, guiding that violent energy to strike at the final—and most stubborn—barrier!
His skin had completely changed from bluish-black to a deep bronze, gleaming with the hard luster of metal.
Under his guidance, his Qi and Blood became invisible sledgehammers, pounding again and again against the two weak points that had yet to be opened!
Three inches below the armpits! To the right of the center of his back!
These two spots were natural nodes in the circulation of Qi and Blood, and also the blind corners most difficult to cultivate in body-tempering Kung Fu.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every impact brought agonizing pain that tore at his heart and lungs. Yet Su Haoran could clearly feel that layer of obstruction being worn away bit by bit. Those two dim regions were gradually being penetrated and illuminated by his vigorous Qi and Blood!
Time flew past amid the torment of pain.
Who knew how long passed before the medicinal power of the second Blood Strengthening Pill was nearly exhausted, while the Qi and Blood within Su Haoran's body gathered at its peak!
Iron Cloth Shirt (Major Accomplishment 99%)
Only the final sliver remained!
That barrier was incomparably tough, like a sheet of kraft paper. He could see it and touch it, yet no matter what he did, he could not pierce through it!
"Just a little more..."
A crazed resolve flashed through Su Haoran's eyes.
Opportunity must not be missed; once time has passed, it will never return!
Without the slightest hesitation, while the Qi and Blood within him was still boiling, he opened his mouth and fiercely swallowed the final Blood Strengthening Pill from the wooden box!
The first drumbeat roused the spirit, the second weakened it, and the third exhausted it! He would seize this momentum of breakthrough and achieve success in one stroke!
Rumble—!
The medicinal power of the third pill was like the final straw that broke the camel's back, and like pouring a barrel of fire oil onto towering flames! The lingering force of all three medicinal powers erupted completely within his body!
Su Haoran felt an explosion ring out in his mind. It was as though he had been thrown into a pill-refining furnace, and even his consciousness began to blur.
But at that crucial moment, his astonishing comprehension of 16 points—the level of Gifted Talent—once again displayed its miraculous effect!
The cultivation formulas of the Iron Cloth Shirt and Arhat Fist began circulating on their own within his mind, blending together in perfect harmony.
A flash of insight struck him, and without even realizing it, he began using that vast Qi and Blood to drive both techniques at once!
He used the Iron Cloth Shirt method to temper his flesh and skin, and the fist intent of the Arhat Fist to guide his Qi and Blood!
One defensive and one offensive, one taut and one relaxed—they unexpectedly formed a wondrous balance!
The medicinal power that had originally been violent enough to burst a man apart now became docile. One portion merged into his skin and flesh, while the other was guided by the force of the Arhat Fist, flowing endlessly through his meridians and tempering them over and over.
Finally, at a certain instant!
It was as though great rivers had burst through their final dam, and as though spring thunder had exploded, awakening all things!
Crack!
A crisp shattering sound, seeming to arise from the depths of his soul, rang out!
Su Haoran's entire body jolted. Those two incomparably stubborn weak points were forcibly broken through by his surging Qi and Blood at that very moment!
A smooth, unhindered sensation of being flawless from head to toe instantly spread through his entire body!
He abruptly opened his eyes, and a brilliant gleam shot forth, lighting up the entire woodshed!
"So... this is what Perfection feels like?"
Su Haoran lowered his head and looked at his hands. His skin was smooth as jade, but with a single thought, a deep sheen like cast black iron instantly emerged over it.
He could feel explosive power filling his body, as though he was no longer made of flesh and blood, but a humanoid weapon forged from refined steel and mysterious iron!
With a thought, he summoned his status panel.
Name: Su Haoran Lifespan: 25 years Cultivation Techniques: Meditation Scripture (Perfection), Arhat Fist (Perfection), Iron Cloth Shirt (Perfection), Soaring Dragon Startling Swan Art (Perfection) Comprehension: 20 (Raw Talent)
He had succeeded!
Iron Cloth Shirt, Perfection!
Arhat Fist, Perfection!
Meditation Scripture, Perfection!
All three techniques had broken through at once!
What delighted him even more was that, as the two techniques simultaneously reached Perfection, his comprehension had finally shattered its bottleneck. From 16 points of "Gifted Talent," it had leaped to 20 points of "Raw Talent"!
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