New Trait

It's worthy of the peak of Skin Refining, the increase in strength is indeed significant. With a sigh, Luo Yi mentally opened his status panel to verify his current strength:

Host: Luo Yi

Age: 16

Realm: Skin Refining (Peak)

Skills: Basic Archery (Proficient 270/400)
        Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Mastered)
        Introduction to Poisons (Mastered)

Traits: Immune to all poisons, Fierce Tiger Back (Through long-term training, back is broad and thick like a fierce Tiger, slightly altering bone structure, improving martial arts aptitude)

Energy Points: 16

Root Bone: Upper-class

Looking at the newly appeared "Root Bone" section on the panel, "Upper-class Root Bone."

Only half a month has passed since obtaining the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique."

To have practiced the "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" to mastery in just half a month, and to reach the "Skin Refining peak" realm so quickly, besides the help of the modifier system, the original owner's martial arts aptitude must have been quite good.

He wondered if the "Upper-class Root Bone" was achieved after the "Fierce Tiger Back" altered his bone structure, or before it.

Unable to verify his guess for now, Luo Yi calmed his mind.

The "Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique" had reached its peak, with no further room for advancement. To improve further, he would need to find a cultivation method for the "Muscle Refining" realm.

With that thought, Luo Yi called his younger sister into the courtyard and sat beside her on a stone stool.

"Xiao Xi, do you want to learn martial arts?"

Xiao Xi, with a well-behaved expression, looked at her brother's serious eyes and nodded firmly.

"Brother, I want to learn martial arts and become strong. I want to protect you in the future!"

"Haha! Good, good, good," Luo Yi laughed. "Xiao Xi, your brother will take you today. Let's first go to the three major martial halls in the county town and see what their enrollment requirements are."

Having confirmed his younger sister's firm resolve to learn martial arts, the two tidied up briefly and left.

After about fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at "White Ape Martial Hall," one of the "three major martial halls" closest to their home.

"White Ape Martial Hall" is located in the Core Area of the southern district of Yunlu County, just a wall away from the inner city of Yunlu County. It is one of the safest places in Yunlu County.

The two stood before the main gate of "White Ape Martial Hall," looking at the majestic stone lion statues flanking the entrance. Above the gate, a grand plaque bore the four characters "White Ape Martial Hall."

Tall walls surrounded the martial hall, preventing a clear view of the interior. Only the occasional "Hoo-ha!" shouts of young disciples practicing martial arts could be heard from within.

Looking at the vast "White Ape Martial Hall," Xiao Xi, who rarely went out, was a little intimidated and whispered, "Brother, the tuition here must be very expensive, right? Why don't we go to a more ordinary martial hall?"

He ruffled his younger sister's hair.

"Don't worry, Xiao Xi, you have me! Let's go in and see the situation first." With that, he took Xiao Xi's hand and walked towards the martial hall's entrance.

The two disciples guarding the gate of "White Ape Martial Hall" saw someone approaching and scrutinized them carefully.

Seeing that the two were wearing clean and tidy coarse cloth clothes, they confirmed that they were not refugees who had recently flooded into the county town.

One of the men stepped forward proactively, raising his hand to block Luo Yi and Xiao Xi who were about to enter the courtyard. He said with a smile, "You two, this is the 'White Ape Martial Hall.' Unnecessary personnel are not allowed inside. Please do not make things difficult for us."

Knowing that the young man had misunderstood their intentions, Luo Yi cupped his hands towards the young man who had come out. "Big brother, this junior is Luo Yi, and beside me is my little sister Xiao Xi."

"I brought Xiao Xi here this time because I want her to learn martial arts at the martial hall. I'm not sure about the requirements for entering the martial hall to learn martial arts. Please, big brother, inform us."

"You're here to learn martial arts?" The young man was not surprised by their intentions. He returned the salute to Luo Yi with a cupped fist.

"My name is Han Yanshi, and I am an inner disciple of the martial hall. You only need to pay thirty taels of silver to become an outer disciple."

"After becoming an outer disciple, every day at Mao Time and Chen Time, our inner disciples will teach basic cultivation methods to the outer disciples."

"Outer disciples must achieve basic proficiency within six months of enrollment and become a 'Skin Refining Martial Artist' to become a formal disciple of the martial hall. Otherwise, you will need to pay the enrollment fee again or be expelled from the martial hall."

After listening to Han Yanshi's explanation, Luo Yi felt that the requirements of "White Ape Martial Hall" were not too strict.

The martial halls in Dongsheng Town required ten taels of silver, while the three major martial halls in Yunlu County town only required thirty taels of silver, which was far below Luo Yi's expectations.

Hearing that it cost thirty taels of silver and they could only study for six months, Xiao Xi feared she would disappoint her brother's expectations. She tugged at Luo Yi's sleeve.

"Brother, thirty taels of silver is too expensive. If I can't learn it, the money will be wasted."

Looking at the anxious Xiao Xi, he reached out and ruffled the little girl's head. "Don't worry, Xiao Xi, your brother can afford thirty taels of silver. Just focus on learning martial arts."

After comforting his younger sister, Luo Yi looked at Han Yanshi. "Brother Han, where do I pay the registration fee?"

Hearing that they were actually going to register, Han Yanshi's face instantly lit up with a smile.

"Little brother, this way, please." With that, he led the two into the martial hall.

As he walked, Luo Yi surveyed the martial arts school's environment.

On the training ground paved with bluestone slabs, neatly arranged apprentices, under the scorching sun, continuously practiced martial arts forms. The weapon racks surrounding the training ground displayed the eighteen kinds of weapons, glinting with cold light. Beside the weapon racks, several massive stones weighing a thousand pounds were piled together.

Next to the training ground, a pool of water reflected the scorching sun. A few withered leaves floated on the surface, gently swaying with the ripples as the strong wind blew. In the center of the pool stood seven plum blossom piles of varying heights, their surfaces polished smooth by time, with shoe prints of varying depths remaining on top.

Around the bluestone courtyard walls of the martial arts school, the dull thudding of wooden dummies could be heard. The camphor wood stumps were polished to a shine, their joints wrapped in faded red cloth strips, trembling with each punch and palm strike.

"Brother Luo Yi, the place to pay the registration fee is ahead. The one sitting inside is Deputy Master Long, who is in charge of recruiting apprentices for the martial arts school."

Luo Yi, who was still examining the martial arts school's environment, was interrupted by Han Yanshi's voice. He came back to his senses and looked inside the room.

Inside sat a man, powerfully built like an ox, with a complexion as dark as ink, and around forty years old.

Seeing someone outside, the man opened his amber eyes and sized up the visitors.

As the man stared at him, Luo Yi's hairs stood on end, and a great sense of crisis washed over him.

Seeing the deputy master awake, Han Yanshi quickly said, "Deputy Master Long, this young brother is Luo Yi. He's here to register his younger sister to learn martial arts at our school."

"Interesting, interesting." Ignoring Han Yanshi, Deputy Master Long kept his gaze fixed on Luo Yi.

"Young brother, how old are you this year?"

Hearing the question and seeing the man's gaze upon him, Luo Yi was startled. Did this person have some strange hobby?

Seeing Luo Yi's strange look, Deputy Master Long almost blushed.

He waved his hand, signaling Han Yanshi to go out first and close the door.