Follow-up Plans

Looking at the bow and arrows placed on the table in the courtyard, still practicing martial arts so late at night.

Wang Meng's opinion of Luo Yi rose another notch in his heart.

Stepping into the Skin Refining Realm at such a young age and still working this hard—his future prospects were limitless.

The three of them sat at the stone table in the yard. Luo Yi went into the kitchen and brought out tea.

He looked at the two visitors arriving late at night, a blank expression on his face.

Seeing Luo Yi's expression, Wang Meng spoke up first: "Xiao Yi, what plans do you have from now on?"

Hearing Wang Meng's question, Luo Yi shook his head.

"Uncle Wang, do you have any good advice?"

"Throughout all of Yunlu County, aside from 'Enlisting in the Army,' 'Joining the Demon Suppression Department,' and 'Marrying into the Four Great Clans,'"

"Any other path that can get you the best Cultivation Technique won't exceed the 'Bone Forging Realm.'"

"You're young and already a Skin Refining Martial Artist. Surely you want to go further on the path of martial arts."

"I came tonight because I was worried you'd choose the wrong path and waste your prime years and talent."

Listening to Wang Meng's explanation, Luo Yi seriously pondered the road ahead.

With the system Panel to assist him, as long as he put in the effort, he could master any martial art.

Marrying into the "Four Great Clans" of Yunlu County—that option was the first Luo Yi ruled out. With the system Panel, he couldn't stand living under someone else's thumb. Besides, in his past life, he'd worked himself to death like a beast of burden. To transmigrate and then marry into a family just to be a doormat? That would make the whole transmigration pointless.

"Enlisting in the Army" was pretty straightforward—joining the Great Qi military to serve the nation.

The name "Demon Suppression Department" was something Luo Yi had never heard before. He didn't know exactly what they did. Looking at the word "Suppression" in the name, he guessed it was a special branch of Great Qi that dealt with Demons and Evil Spirits.

Seeing Luo Yi lost in thought, Wang Meng and Chen Liu didn't rush to speak.

"Uncle Wang, marrying into the Four Great Clans is out. I've got good teeth—I don't like eating soft rice."

"As for Enlisting in the Army and the Demon Suppression Department, I don't know much about either. Could you explain them to me in detail?"

Hearing Luo Yi's reply, Wang Meng wasn't surprised at all.

"Enlisting in the Army means joining the Great Qi military. Once you join, you'll receive an internal cultivation method for the Skin Refining Realm and a set of martial arts combat techniques. For higher-realm techniques, as long as you earn military merits and report them up, you'll be rewarded."

"In recent years, Great Qi has been plagued by internal strife. As long as you're strong enough and talented enough, it's easy to rise through the ranks."

"The Demon Suppression Department is a special branch under Great Qi's rule, mainly handling Demons and Evil Spirits. They fight them year-round. All the Cultivation Techniques in the Demon Suppression Department are extremely fierce, with effects that suppress Demons and Evil Spirits. In battles of the same level, the Demon Suppression Department's techniques also hold an advantage."

"After joining the Demon Suppression Department, hunting Demons and Evil Spirits earns you Contribution Points."

"All the techniques and resources in the Demon Suppression Department can be exchanged with Contribution Points."

"However, the Demon Suppression Department fights Demons and Evil Spirits year-round, and their casualty rate is extremely high."

After hearing Wang Meng's introduction, Luo Yi felt that both "Enlisting in the Army" and "Joining the Demon Suppression Department" were decent options.

He was torn inside!

Considering that "Basic Archery" and "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" still had some time before reaching mastery, he didn't need to rush a decision.

"Uncle Wang, this matter is too important. Could you allow me some time to think it over before deciding?"

Seeing Luo Yi's serious expression, Wang Meng nodded.

"Xiao Yi, there's no rush. Take your time to think it through, and decide when you're clear."

"Alright, Xiao Yi, get some rest. Your Sixth Brother and I won't disturb you any longer." Noticing how late it was, Wang Meng and Chen Liu stood up to take their leave.

After seeing the two out of the yard, Luo Yi hurried to the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, the embers under the stove had already gone out. Carefully lifting the lid, he saw the black, murky Tonic Medicine in the pot and ladled it into a small bowl.

Walking into the yard, Luo Yi downed the tonic in one gulp.

Feeling the surge of warmth spreading from his lower abdomen, he began practicing "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" over and over again.

"The Time of the Ox has arrived—'The air is dry, beware of fire.'"

"The Time of the Ox has arrived—'The air is dry, beware of fire.'"

Luo Yi, still practicing in the yard, heard the night watchman's call from outside.

After training for nearly three hours, a wave of drowsiness hit him.

Glancing at the Panel, it showed: Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Beginner 192/200). Eight points left to go—at least another hour before it could level up. Luo Yi turned and went back to bed.

Having slept late the night before, Luo Yi crawled off the floor very late the next day.

After eating the breakfast his younger sister had cooked and downing the pre-boiled herbal medicine, he returned to his room and began practicing the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" forms.

Training was all about persistence—the will to keep going rain or shine, without fail.

Every three complete cycles, the Panel would pop up with a +1 experience notification.

An hour passed, and Luo Yi again felt a needle-like stabbing pain across his entire skin, as if countless ants were gnawing at him.

This time, it lasted only a few seconds before all the pain vanished.

Host: Luo Yi

Age: 16

Realm: Skin Refining (Minor Accomplishment)

Skills: Basic Archery (Major Accomplishment 95/400)

Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Minor Accomplishment 1/300)

Traits: None

Seeing the Minor Accomplishment realm displayed on the panel, Luo Yi smiled.

He looked at his skin, where about a third had taken on a Bronze Color, and worried about being discovered.

He put on the cloth clothes he had just bought in the county town. Apart from the faint Bronze Color visible on the backs of his hands, the rest of his body was completely covered.

Curious whether his face had changed color, Luo Yi walked to the well in the yard.

Looking at his reflection in the water, his face was fair and clean, still handsome and charming as ever.

After sensing the improvement, Luo Yi realized that this upgrade of the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique to Minor Accomplishment

hadn't increased his strength by much—only about a fifth.

Considering that the Tonic Medicine he had drunk was still taking effect, Luo Yi continued practicing.

After completing three rounds of the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique, the panel didn't pop up with a progress +1 notification.

He had expected this and didn't stop. Only after five rounds did the panel show progress +1.

Seeing that it took five repetitions to gain one point of progress—meaning at most less than five points per hour of practice—

and that if he stayed home hunting nothing and practiced six hours a day, it would take nearly ten days just to break through, he felt the breakthrough speed was a bit slow!

After days of continuous practice, the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique was firmly etched in his memory.

Luo Yi decided to try speeding up the technique's movements, to see if the number of repetitions needed for a progress point would change.

Thinking it, he did it. He shortened the time to complete one full cycle of the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique from five minutes to under two.

Ten minutes later, he saw the panel pop up with progress +1.

Though he had increased his practice speed, the number of daily repetitions hadn't increased—he could still only gain about thirty points of progress per day.

Considering he had only one dose of Tonic Medicine left at home, Luo Yi decided to go to the pharmacy to buy more, and also ask if there was a more effective Tonic Medicine available.