Skin Refining Martial Artist

It took only a quarter of an hour for the clear water in the pot to turn into a pitch-black, sticky sludge.

Looking at the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" on his Panel, which was only seven points away from Initiation, Luo Yi poured the black medicinal liquid into a bowl and drank it in one gulp.

As the liquid entered his stomach, waves of warmth spread through his abdomen.

Feeling the medicine take effect, Luo Yi rushed into the courtyard, assumed a stance, and repeatedly practiced every move of the Body Forging Art "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique."

Luo Xi, who had finished tanning the wolf hide in a corner of the courtyard, looked up and saw a tall figure constantly striking different poses.

Thinking about how her older brother had spent all this time either hunting or practicing martial arts, she secretly swore that one day she would learn martial arts and grow stronger, so she could protect him.

Immersed in his martial arts practice, Luo Yi completed one full set of the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" as time slowly passed.

He felt a needle-like sting across his skin, as if countless ants were gnawing at it.

Bean-sized beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking through his hemp clothes. Just as he was about to give in, a tremendous BOOM rang out in his heart, as though some kind of shackle had been broken.

His skin, once as black as charcoal from practicing archery beneath the blazing sun, began to change color rapidly.

Amid the charcoal-black of his skin, hints of copper red began to appear.

Seeing the change in his skin, Luo Yi recalled what the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" recorded:

Upon entering the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique, one reached the first realm of the martial art: Skin Refining Entry.

The skin would gradually change from its original color to copper red. As one's realm improved, the copper-red color would spread.

Once the 'Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique' reached Perfection, the entire body would turn copper red.

At that point, the skin would be hard as iron, and ordinary blades and swords would struggle to wound it.

Since he had only just reached Initiation in the “Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique,” the changes did not last long. As the pain gradually faded, Luo Yi opened his Attribute Panel:

Host: Luo Yi

Age: 16

Realm: Skin Refining (Entry)

Skills: Basic Archery (Greater Accomplishment 27/400)

Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Entry 1/200)

Traits: None

"Skin Refining Entry"!

Now that he was certain he had become an Entry Realm Martial Artist, Luo Yi had finally set foot on the path of martial arts after all this time since transmigrating. He burst into laughter in the courtyard.

His father in his previous life had said that even the cheapest tuition at the Town Martial Arts Hall cost ten taels of silver. After enrolling, if a student failed to become an Entry Realm Martial Artist within a year, they had to pay tuition again.

Many families in town emptied decades' worth of savings to send their children to study at the Town Martial Arts Hall, dreaming that they would become Entry Realm Martial Artists and change their own and their family's fates. But reality slapped them hard across the face.

Ninety percent of the Town Martial Arts Hall's students had emptied their families' savings just to pay tuition. They had nowhere near enough nourishment to support their training, which hindered their progress. After a year, they all returned home in disgrace, shattering their parents' hopes and dreams.

He had only obtained the Cultivation Technique yesterday, and he'd already reached Initiation today? It had taken less than two days in all!

He knew the modifier was powerful, but he hadn't expected it to be this powerful. Thinking of how difficult martial arts training had been in his predecessor's memories, he felt as if it couldn't be real.

Suppressing his excitement, Luo Yi began to test his increased strength.

He easily drew the Three Stone Bow on the ground, his strength more than doubling.

With a single step, he crossed three meters. Remembering how Luo Wei had suddenly displayed his speed that day, he realized that becoming a Bronze Skin Martial Artist also brought a tremendous increase in speed.

He didn't stop testing himself. Picking up the hatchet, he lightly drew it across the copper-red skin on his arm. The blade left only a faint white mark.

Only after he applied half his strength did a fine cut appear on the surface of his skin, with a little blood seeping out. Luo Yi hurriedly stopped.

Although becoming a Skin Refining Martial Artist greatly increased his strength and speed, the improvements were nothing compared to his increased defense.

After assessing his overall abilities, he reckoned that as a Skin Refining Entry martial artist, he could take on at least three of his former self.

Without wasting any more time, he continued practicing the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique." After completing one full set, he found that the progress on his Panel hadn't changed at all.

He kept going. Only after completing the third set did a prompt appear on the Panel: Progress +1.

After the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" advanced, he now needed to perform it three times to gain one point of progress, instead of once. Just as he was about to continue practicing—

"Big brother, dinner's ready!" Luo Xi called from the kitchen.

Seeing his younger sister carrying out a huge basin full of wolf meat, Luo Yi couldn't help drooling.

The two sat in the courtyard, ate mouthfuls of meat, gnawed on bones, and polished off the whole basin of wolf meat.

After belching, Luo Yi got up and continued practicing.

He practiced until midnight. When the feeling of depletion returned, he checked his Panel: Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Entry 28/200).

After taking the tonic medicine that evening, he had practiced all night and gained 27 points of progress. Now his body felt depleted.

If he took tonic medicine in the morning and evening from now on, he could probably gain about 50 points of progress each day.

At that rate, he could cultivate the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" to Minor Accomplishment in another four or five days.

The thought made Luo Yi's heart surge. Perhaps he was too excited, because he wasn't sleepy at all.

He picked up the bow and arrows on the table and practiced Basic Archery in the courtyard, repeatedly drawing the bow and shooting.

After practicing for nearly an hour, sleepiness washed over him. He looked at his Panel: Basic Archery (Greater Accomplishment 50/400).

Luo Yi returned to his room and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Luo Yi slept in for once. He didn't wake until noon, when sunlight streamed through the hole in the roof.

The glaring sun had interrupted his good dream. Looking at the hole in the roof and feeling the hundred Silver Notes in his arms, he found himself wanting to move.

Looking at the blazing sun in the courtyard, he remembered that he hadn't practiced yet and hurriedly scrambled up from the ground, preparing to brew his medicine in the kitchen.

Seeing that her brother was awake, Luo Xi came out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl of wolf meat porridge and a bowl of black Chinese medicine.

Luo Yi was just about to enter the kitchen to brew his medicine when he saw her.

"Xiao Xi, you've worked hard helping me with my martial arts training lately."

"It's no trouble! It's no trouble! You're the one who works hardest, big brother. You have to hunt every day and practice martial arts, so you're the one who works hardest."

Looking at his thoughtful younger sister, Luo Yi took the wolf meat porridge and tonic medicine from her.

After finishing the Chinese medicine and porridge, Luo Yi looked at the blazing sun in the courtyard and decided there was no need to put himself through needless hardship. He began practicing the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" right in his room.

He practiced for a full three hours. The Panel showed that his progress in the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" had increased by 24 points.

Looking at Luo Xi, who had already prepared lunch and was waiting obediently by his side, Luo Yi smiled and said,

"Xiao Xi, from now on, if I'm still practicing when it's time to eat, eat first. Don't wait for me."

After the two finished lunch, it was already close to the hour of the Monkey. Since it would be dark in at most two hours and that wasn't enough time to hunt in the mountains, Luo Yi decided to ask Wang Meng about the county town's exact situation, so he could make proper preparations.