Iron Bones First Success

After subduing Zhou Meng, Class A Courtyard Number One finally became quiet. No one dared to provoke him again, and even the footsteps passing by the courtyard gate became much lighter.

Li Yuan was happy to have peace and quiet, dedicating all his thoughts to cultivation. He had obtained the Copper Skin Technique from Class A Room some time ago. It was just a few thin pages, covered in fingerprints from sweat and oil, indicating it had been read by countless people.

This technique was far more profound than the Iron Body Technique. It focused on mobilizing Qi and Blood to nourish the dermis at a deeper level. When practiced to a high level, the skin would turn a bronze color, tough as old cowhide, making it difficult for ordinary swords and blades to wound. The Master Shi Lie Feng's bronze-colored skin was a sign of his mastery of this technique.

However, after practicing according to the instructions for a few days, Li Yuan felt something was not right.

The Qi and Blood circulation route of the Copper Skin Technique was more complex, winding and twisting, as if deliberately drawing a complicated pattern within the body. He tried to guide his Crimson Sun Qi and Blood along this route, but the scorching, pure Qi and Blood felt like a wild horse with its reins on, running awkwardly. Less than thirty percent of its strength could be exerted, and the low efficiency made him frown.

At night, he sat cross-legged on the futon in the quiet room, with no lights on. Only moonlight filtered through the window paper, casting a faint glow. The Crimson Sun Qi and Blood circulated within his body, warm and comfortable, much more so than when he deliberately ran the Copper Skin Technique.

He suddenly remembered the method he had used before to temper his dermis. He didn't bother with fixed routes, but directly used his Crimson Sun Qi and Blood like needles, piercing into his skin and flesh. The effect was surprisingly good.

"If the skin can be trained like this, what about the bones?" A thought emerged, growing like wild grass.

Behind the Iron Body Technique, there was indeed a rudimentary method called the Iron Bone Technique. It stated that one had to wait until the dermis reached Minor Accomplishment and the Qi and Blood were sufficiently vigorous before attempting to use subtle force to vibrate the bones and slowly temper them. The process was slow, and if not done carefully, it could easily injure the bones.

Li Yuan gritted his teeth. He couldn't wait that long.

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his body. Qi and Blood surged like rivers, and the Crimson Sun hung in his Sea of Qi, steadily emitting light and heat. He attempted to separate a wisp of Crimson Sun Qi, finer than a strand of hair, and instead of following the winding meridians, he directly penetrated the bone of his right index finger.

A needle-like stinging pain immediately followed, sharper than when tempering his dermis. The bones were too hard, too dense.

He steadied his mind, carefully controlling that wisp of Qi and Blood, like the most patient craftsman, using a slow, gentle heat to penetrate bit by bit. The scorching characteristic of the Crimson Sun Qi and Blood manifested at this moment. It wasn't just impacting, but rather "forging" the hard bone.

Initially, the progress was extremely slow, and the stinging pain was constant. But gradually, a slight itchiness emerged from the stinging sensation, as if something within the bone was being awakened and reorganized. The small section of finger bone permeated by the Crimson Sun Qi felt a strange warmth and a faint sense of fullness, as if its density were increasing.

There's a way!

Li Yuan's spirits lifted, and he became even more focused. He no longer sought to do too much, but focused on that small section of finger bone, repeatedly using the Crimson Sun Qi to penetrate and forge it.

Unknowingly, the sky outside was almost dawn.

He slowly withdrew his technique and opened his eyes. The first thing he did was look at his right index finger. Externally, there was no visible change; it was still slender. But he bent his finger and gently tapped the bluestone floor beside him.

"Tap."

A light sound, not the crisp sound of bone hitting a hard object, but rather a dull, solid thud. The phản lực (recoil) felt in his fingertip was much weaker, but on the surface of the bluestone he had tapped, a very fine white spot appeared.

Li Yuan's eyes lit up.

He had actually found a way into the Iron Bone Technique through this brute-force yet clever method! Although it was just a preliminary glimpse and still far from "iron bones," the direction was correct! The efficiency was far higher than the orthodox method of subtle force vibration!

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and a fine crackling sound, like popping beans, emanated from the gaps between his bones, feeling incredibly refreshing. The solid feeling from the section of his right finger bone made him feel exceptionally secure.

He pushed open the door of the quiet room, and the cold morning air rushed in, carrying the fresh scent of the plants in the courtyard. He took a deep breath, feeling full of energy.

His gaze swept over the pair of heavy stone locks in the corner of the courtyard. He walked over, and this time, instead of using his usual right hand, he extended his left index finger, which he had just tempered. He hooked the bottom of the stone lock's grip, and his Crimson Sun Qi and Blood gathered slightly at his fingertip.

"Rise."

With a low shout, the hundred-pound stone lock was forcefully kicked off the ground by a mere inch using only the strength of a single finger! Although he felt his strength give out and had to put it down after just a moment, the dull thud of the stone lock hitting the ground struck his heart heavily.

One finger!

Li Yuan looked at the index finger of his left hand, his breathing quickening slightly. This was just the beginning of tempering a single strand; if his whole body's bones...

He could already see a body-refining great path, completely different from ordinary people, one that belonged only to him, Li Yuan, slowly unfolding beneath his feet. What Copper Skin Technique, what fixed routes, were merely references. His path had to be forged by himself with this Crimson Sun Qi and Blood!

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking crisply.

He wanted to temper these bones into something harder than Ironwood Stakes!