Skin-Refining Technique

Safely tucking away the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique manual against his body, he searched through the other suspicious places in the room again, but found nothing of value.

After carefully observing the alley and finding no one around, Luo Yi ran straight back into his own courtyard.

Sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, he thought about the consequences that might follow Luo Wei's death, then remembered Wang Meng's reminder that day—the Mister Li behind Luo Wei.

If Mister Li made a move against him, could he really withstand it? Doubt inevitably rose in his heart.

He took out the "one hundred taels in Silver Notes and a manual" he had searched from Luo Wei's house.

Luo Wei had only just disappeared. If he took the silver into town to register at a Martial Arts Hall, it would be far too conspicuous and make him an easy target for anyone with ulterior motives.

He then opened the manual and began reading it carefully.

Relying on his predecessor's memories, Luo Yi discovered that he could basically understand the contents of the manual.

After reading through the entire manual, he found that it was actually a skin-refining Cultivation Technique.

Luo Yi was curious. With Luo Wei's abilities, where had he gotten his hands on something so good?

Although he was puzzled, Luo Yi did not want to waste time. He memorized the incantations and movements of the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique," then went into the courtyard and began practicing.

Five minutes passed. After completing one full practice of the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique,"

Luo Yi silently thought, Open Panel.

Host: Luo Yi

Age: 16

Realm: Mortal

Skills: Basic Archery (Great Mastery 17/400)

Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Not Yet Initiated 1/100)

Traits: None

Looking at the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique—Not Yet Initiated" displayed on the Panel,

"Good, good, good." As long as the system could record it in the Panel, Luo Yi was not afraid he would fail to master it.

Standing in the courtyard and continuously practicing the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique," Luo Yi felt a tingling pain arise in his body one moment, then a strange itch the next. Sometimes the two sensations even mingled together, making him intensely uncomfortable.

After practicing for nearly an hour, he looked at the Panel, which displayed Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Not Yet Initiated 21/100), and felt a wave of weakness spread through his body.

He stopped practicing and walked to the well. By the moonlight, he looked at his reflection in the water. His originally sturdy build had become gaunt, and the Flesh on his face had sunken in as well.

He kept pondering the reason. Could he have practiced martial arts too intensely, leaving his body depleted?

Worried that continuing would reduce him to a dried husk, he did not dare practice any longer.

Lying on the floor of his room, Luo Yi thought, "Tomorrow, I'll go to the town's apothecary first and see if I can buy some Tonic Medicine to replenish my depleted body."

"And the food Xiao Xi and I eat every day is too plain, with too little nourishment. Now that I'll be practicing martial arts, we have to try to eat better as well."

Early the next morning, Luo Yi crawled up from the floor. Luo Xi, still deep in a dream, was startled awake by the noise her brother made.

Looking at Luo Xi's bewildered face, Luo Yi said, "Xiao Xi, sleep a little longer. I'm going to town to buy some things."

After arriving at the largest apothecary in town, Luo Yi said to the shopkeeper, "My body has been seriously depleted lately. Give me several doses of potent restorative medicine."

Looking at the young man with sunken cheeks, a dark complexion, and the appearance of someone suffering from kidney deficiency, the shopkeeper gave him a knowing look.

He took out five prepared packets of Chinese medicine and handed them to Luo Yi.

"Soak the medicine in cold water for a quarter of an hour, then bring it to a boil over high heat. After it boils, switch to low heat and simmer it for about another quarter of an hour. Take one packet in the morning and one at night. Thank you, customer. The total is five taels of silver."

Seeing that such a small amount of medicine cost five taels of silver, Luo Yi thought he had stumbled into a black shop and turned to leave.

The shopkeeper's voice came from behind him. "Young man, you overtrained in martial arts and depleted your body, didn't you? Don't think my medicine is expensive. Take this medicine every day, and you'll be able to increase your practice time by at least two or three shichen."

Hearing that the shopkeeper had seen at a glance that his depletion had been caused by martial arts practice,

Luo Yi turned around, took out five taels of silver, placed them on the counter, and cupped his hands. "This junior failed to recognize Mount Tai. Please don't take offense, senior."

Picking up the silver from the counter, the shopkeeper weighed it in his hand. After confirming there was no problem, he handed the Tonic Medicine to Luo Yi and said, "Don't keep calling me senior, senior. I don't know martial arts. I'm just an ordinary physician from the town clinic. Remember to come to me whenever you need to buy Tonic Medicine in the future."

With that, he waved his hand, making a shooing motion.

Seeing that the shopkeeper wanted him gone, Luo Yi left the apothecary and went to the liveliest market in town. As he listened to the hawkers calling out from both sides of the street, he thought of the huge Steamed Buns whose fragrant aroma he had smelled right after transmigrating here.

He walked up to the Steamed Bun Shop, bought twenty huge steamed buns in one go, and carried them home.

Luo Xi had just gotten out of bed and was preparing to cook when she saw her brother enter from outside with twenty huge steamed buns in his hands. Saliva immediately dribbled from the corner of her mouth.

Seeing his greedy little sister, Luo Yi placed the buns on the stone table in the courtyard.

"Xiao Xi, you don't have to cook this morning. We're eating steamed buns."

Picking up a fragrant steamed bun, Luo Yi opened his mouth wide and bit straight into it. He found that it tasted about the same as the pre-made buns mass-produced on assembly lines in his previous life, but it was still the best thing he had eaten recently.

After the two of them had eaten their fill, Luo Yi carried the Chinese medicine to the kitchen, intending to brew a dose.

Looking at the Chinese medicine in her brother's hand, Luo Xi asked anxiously, "Brother, were you injured while hunting in the Mountain recently?"

Seeing the concern on his little sister's face, he rubbed her head.

"These aren't wound medicines. Brother has been practicing martial arts recently, and my body has become seriously depleted. These are all Tonic Medicine."

Hearing that it was all Tonic Medicine, Luo Xi hurriedly snatched it from him, rushed into the kitchen, and started the fire to brew it.

Seeing this, Luo Yi smiled and did not stop her. He picked up his bow and arrows and began practicing in the courtyard.

Half an hour later, Luo Xi carried the brewed Chinese medicine to Luo Yi's side and said, "Brother, rest for a while and drink the medicine before practicing again."

Taking the Tonic Medicine his little sister handed him, he drained the bowl in two gulps.

As the medicinal liquid entered his abdomen, a stream of heat arose within his body and revolved ceaselessly around his stomach.

Feeling the medicinal power continuously generated by the Tonic Medicine inside him, Luo Yi assumed a stance and practiced the Tiger Strength again and again.

This time, he practiced for nearly three shichen before a feeling of weakness spread through his body.

Looking at the Panel, which displayed: Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Not Yet Initiated 93/100),

"Good," "good," "good." Seeing that he needed only seven more points of progress to level up, Luo Yi felt indescribably exhilarated.

Remembering the shopkeeper's words—that one dose was to be taken once in the morning and once at night—he did not dare continue without more Tonic Medicine.

He slung his bow and arrows over his back and walked toward Yunling Mountain.

When he reached the entrance to Yunling Mountain, Luo Yi saw two yamen runners standing guard in the distance, questioning the hunters entering and leaving Yunling Mountain.

Could someone have found Luo Wei's body in the Mountain and reported it to the authorities?

His heart was full of doubt.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Luo Yi braced himself and walked over.

The two yamen runners saw that the newcomer was no more than fifteen or sixteen years old and dressed like a hunter.

One of them took out a sheet of paper. A multicolored pearl was drawn on it.

"Have you seen this thing in the Mountain lately?"