The rear courtyard of Sky Wind Martial Hall.
An old plum tree stood proudly, its branches and trunk gnarled like an elder who had weathered countless storms.
The sunlight slanted across the courtyard. At the end of the covered walkway stood a silent figure, his beard and hair slightly grizzled. He wore a dark-gray robe and a jade belt, his hands clasped behind his back.
This man was none other than Li Tianfeng, the master of Sky Wind Martial Hall.
His features were stern and handsome, his sword-shaped brows reaching his temples. Though he was over fifty, he remained vigorous, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.
A deep furrow between his brows marked the traces left by the passage of time—and the pressure honed amid flashes of blades and swords.
He quietly watched the youth in the courtyard.
Gu Chang'an was wholly focused. His fists fell like iron rain, his steps cracked like thunder. With every breath, a faint golden light surfaced beneath his skin, as though iron and stone were flowing within him.
Every punch landed with a subtle tremor. His force was even, continuous, and unceasing.
Li Tianfeng narrowed his eyes and muttered under his breath:
"Your foundation in body cultivation is already stable, and your qi and blood are dense... There are already signs of tempering beneath that skin."
He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "You're called Gu Chang'an?"
Gu Chang'an heard him and halted, cupping his fists. "This disciple is indeed."
"Come with me."
Li Tianfeng turned and headed toward the inner hall, his back solemn.
Gu Chang'an was somewhat puzzled, but he dared not delay and quickly followed.
The inner hall of the martial hall was quiet and elegant.
Several pieces of vigorous calligraphy hung on the walls. A weapons rack and fist manuals stood to one side, while a burner of sandalwood sat in the center, its smoke curling upward.
Li Tianfeng sat down on a meditation cushion and gestured for Gu Chang'an to sit as well.
He asked directly, "How long have you been practicing body cultivation?"
Gu Chang'an replied, "A year."
In truth, he had practiced for only a little over a month.
Of course, he could not say that directly.
Upon hearing this, shock and delight appeared in Li Tianfeng's eyes, and even his voice trembled slightly.
"A year? And you've already reached the threshold of the Skin Tempering Realm?"
Gu Chang'an blinked. "The Skin Tempering Realm? Master, this junior isn't very clear on that."
He only knew that Houtian martial artists were divided into nine ranks. He had never heard of the Skin Tempering Realm.
Li Tianfeng froze, then suddenly laughed three times.
"Hahahaha... You don't even know about 'Skin Tempering'?"
"You relied on self-study and the scraps taught at the martial hall, yet forced your way across the threshold of body cultivation?"
"I never thought this world still had a genius like you!"
He rose and walked over to Gu Chang'an, placing both hands on his shoulders. With a light tremor, he felt the solidity of the boy's flesh and the smooth flow of his qi and blood.
Although he was not yet a Ranked Martial Artist, his physical attributes were already no weaker than those of one.
What a superb martial arts prospect.
"Not bad, not bad! Your skin has already begun to show signs of tempering. Given a little more time, you'll enter the Skin Tempering Realm and become a Ninth Rank Martial Artist."
"Come. I'll tell you about the path of the martial artist."
Li Tianfeng stood with his hands behind his back and slowly began:
"Martial artists are divided into Houtian and Xiantian."
"And within the Houtian Realm, there are nine ranks—"
"Ranks Nine through Seven belong to the Body Tempering Realm. Rank Nine tempers the skin, Rank Eight tempers the bones, and Rank Seven tempers the tendons."
"The Iron Cloth Shirt you practice is, in its complete form, a body-tempering technique. It tempers the skin and flesh while strengthening the tendons and bones."
Gu Chang'an suddenly understood. His heart trembled, and he regarded Li Tianfeng with solemn respect.
"So that's how it is."
Li Tianfeng turned and gazed at him, a trace of expectation in his eyes.
"Are you willing to take me as your master? I'll teach you the complete cultivation system of the Body Tempering Realm and lead you through the true gates of martial arts."
Gu Chang'an's heart pounded like a drum.
The true gates of martial arts!
He gritted his teeth, immediately knelt, and solemnly kowtowed three times.
"This disciple, Gu Chang'an, pays respects to Master!"
Li Tianfeng threw back his head and laughed heartily. He helped him to his feet with both hands, his gaze blazing.
"Good, good! From today onward, you are my personal disciple, Gu Chang'an!"
"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you the Complete Iron Cloth Shirt."
"If you study diligently and train bitterly, I'll certainly let you enter the Ninth Rank within ten days!"
"And you may well achieve the Seventh Rank!"
Gu Chang'an's eyes burned, his heart surging.
He knew that at last, he had the chance to step onto the true path of Martial Arts.
Early the next morning, sunlight spilled across the streets of Nanjing City, covering them in a golden veil.
Gu Chang'an rose early, washed, and dressed neatly in a clean blue cloth martial outfit. Carrying a simple bundle, he hurried through the streets and pushed open the martial hall's side door.
Li Tianfeng had already been waiting in the courtyard. His expression was solemn, a horsetail whisk in hand, and he wore a martial robe trimmed in black. His bearing was dignified and imposing.
He nodded, signaling for Gu Chang'an to follow.
"From today onward, you are my personal disciple. I should introduce you to your master's family."
The two passed around the training grounds, followed a narrow path through a bamboo grove, and arrived at the inner courtyard.
The inner courtyard was not normally open to ordinary students. This was Gu Chang'an's first time entering, and he could not help feeling curious.
He looked around and saw a secluded, elegant courtyard paved with bluestone, with pines and cypresses encircling its four corners.
A stone platform for martial practice stood in the center, exuding an ancient and solemn air.
Rockeries and flowing water, fallen flowers drifting soundlessly—every stone and tree had been deliberately arranged, clearly revealing its extraordinary nature.
A woman sat beside a stone table in the courtyard. She appeared to be in her forties, with gentle features and a dignified bearing.
She wore plain white clothes embroidered with orchids along the hem, elegant as jade, and was brewing tea.
Li Tianfeng introduced her.
"This is your Master's Wife, Xie Lanzhi."
Xie Lanzhi smiled faintly, her voice gentle.
"You're Chang'an, aren't you? It's the first time Tianfeng has taken a disciple with such seriousness. You're certainly no ordinary person."
Gu Chang'an bowed respectfully.
"This disciple, Gu Chang'an, pays respects to Master's Wife."
Xie Lanzhi nodded lightly. Her gaze held a blend of scrutiny and warmth.
"From today onward, cultivate properly. If you need anything, come straight to me."
Suddenly, a clear, heroic female voice came from the adjacent sword-practice platform.
"Oh, is this the new disciple Father took?"
Gu Chang'an followed the voice with his eyes and saw a figure fly over, landing as lightly as a swallow.
The newcomer was a young woman of about twenty. She was tall and slender, her aura sharp.
She wore the standard martial uniform of a constable from Nanjing County—a short black robe with a black-bronze badge at her waist. A standard horizontal saber hung there as well, while she held a long whip tipped with a red tassel. Her gaze was as sharp as a blade.
Her black hair was tied high. Her skin was slightly dark, clearly the result of years spent traveling outdoors, yet her features were exquisite, and her heroic spirit was striking.
After landing, she folded her arms and looked Gu Chang'an up and down.
"My name is Li Hongye. I'm your Senior Sister."
"Other than me, Father hasn't taken another disciple in years. You're quite lucky, and your talent must be decent too, for him to accept you."
Gu Chang'an froze, then hurriedly saluted.
"Greetings, Senior Sister."
At the same time, he checked Li Hongye's information.
[Li Hongye: Physique 231]
Gu Chang'an was astonished. A physique of 231 was the highest value he had seen apart from Li Tianfeng and Ma Dahu, the Fifth Chief of Black Tiger Stockade.
Li Tianfeng was an Eighth Rank martial artist at his peak. Although age had taken him past his prime, his physique still reached a staggering 588.
Li Hongye looked at him, her gaze narrowing slightly as she thought:
There's hardly any energy fluctuation about him, but his blood qi is boiling, and his gaze is sharp and steady. Interesting...
The corner of her mouth curled up, and her tone carried a hint of teasing.
"Don't let the title of 'personal disciple' go to your head. You'll soon learn the rules of Sky Wind Martial Hall."
Xie Lanzhi reprimanded her lightly. "Hongye, don't be rude."
Li Hongye curled her lips. "I was only giving him a reminder."
Li Tianfeng did not stop her. He merely said lightly:
"What Hongye said isn't wrong. Entering the sect is easy, but cultivation is difficult. Chang'an, whether you can stand firm depends not on me, your master, but on yourself."
Gu Chang'an nodded, his tone resolute.
"This disciple understands."
Seeing that his expression remained unmoved, a trace of surprise flashed through Li Hongye's eyes. She then smiled.
"Good. Since you're my junior brother, come ask me if there's anything you don't understand in your future cultivation. I may have a bad temper, but I don't bully my own people."
Xie Lanzhi finished brewing a pot of tea and handed a cup to Gu Chang'an.
"Indeed, Chang'an, Hongye. I hope you'll help each other in the future."
Gu Chang'an accepted the tea, feeling the warmth behind her gesture. He smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Master's Wife. Thank you, Senior Sister. I will."
Note: The physique values of Ninth through Seventh Rank martial artists are as follows.
Ninth Rank Martial Artist: 100–300
Eighth Rank martial artist: 300–600
Seventh Rank Martial Artist: 600–1000
Before you continue