New Traits

It was no wonder that reaching the perfected Skin Refining stage had brought such a tremendous increase in strength. After marveling at it, Luo Yi tested his current abilities in detail, then silently thought, Open Attribute Panel.

Host: Luo Yi

Age: 16

Realm: Skin Refining—Perfection

Skill: Basic Archery (Mastered 270/400)

Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Perfection)

Introduction to Poisons (Perfection)

Traits: Immune to Poisons, Fierce Tiger Back (After long-term training, the back became broad and thick like a fierce tiger's, slightly altering the Bone Frame and improving martial aptitude)

Energy Points: 16

Bone Frame: Superior

Looking at the newly appeared Bone Frame entry on the panel, "Superior Bone Frame,"

Only half a month had passed since he obtained the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique.

To train the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique to perfection in half a month and reach the Skin Refining—Perfection realm so quickly, aside from the modifier system's help, it seemed that his predecessor's martial aptitude had been fairly good too.

He simply did not know whether the "Superior Bone Frame" had been achieved after the Fierce Tiger Back altered his Bone Frame, or whether it had been that way before.

For the time being, he had no way to verify his guess, so Luo Yi gathered his thoughts.

The Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique had already reached perfection. There was no room for further advancement. If he wanted to improve, he would have to find a Cultivation Technique for the Flesh Refining realm.

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

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

Luo Xi, her face obedient and well-behaved, looked at her brother's solemn expression and nodded firmly.

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

"Haha! Good, good, good! Xiao Xi, your brother will take you there today. We'll first visit the three major Martial Arts Halls in the county town and see what requirements they have for enrolling in martial arts."

After confirming that his sister's resolve to learn martial arts was firm, the two of them made a simple preparation and left.

After walking for less than a quarter of an hour, they arrived at the White Ape Martial Hall, one of the three major Martial Arts Halls closest to their courtyard.

The White Ape Martial Hall stood in the heart of South District in Yunlu County, separated from Yunlu County's Inner City by only a single wall. It was one of the safest places in Yunlu County.

The two stood before the White Ape Martial Hall's main gate, gazing at the two imposing stone-lion statues placed on either side of the courtyard entrance. The grand signboard above the gate bore the four bold, magnificent characters: "White Ape Martial Hall."

Towering walls surrounded the Martial Arts Hall, preventing anyone from seeing what was inside. All they could hear were the shouts of young men practicing martial arts within the courtyard.

Looking at the enormous White Ape Martial Hall, Luo Xi, who rarely left the house, was somewhat intimidated. She spoke softly:

"Brother, the tuition here must be very expensive, right? Why don't we switch to a more ordinary Martial Arts Hall?"

He rubbed his sister's head.

"Don't worry, Xiao Xi. Your brother is here! Let's go in and see what it's like first." With that, he took Luo Xi's hand and walked toward the Martial Arts Hall's main gate.

The two Martial Arts Hall apprentices guarding the entrance saw someone approaching and began examining them carefully.

Seeing that the two wore clean, neat coarse-cloth clothes, they confirmed that they were not refugees who had recently poured into the county town.

One of the men stepped forward, raised a hand to stop Luo Yi and Luo Xi as they were about to enter the courtyard, and said with a smile:

"You two, this is the White Ape Martial Hall. Unauthorized persons are forbidden from entering. Please don't make things difficult for us."

Knowing that the young man had misunderstood their purpose, Luo Yi cupped his hands toward him and said:

"Big Brother, my name is Luo Yi, and this beside me is my younger sister, Luo Xi."

"I brought my sister here this time because she wants to learn martial arts at the Martial Arts Hall. I just don't know what requirements there are for entering the Martial Arts Hall, so I'd appreciate it if you could tell us."

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

"My name is Han Yanshi. I'm an inner-courtyard Disciple of the Martial Arts Hall. As long as you pay thirty taels of silver, you can become an outer-courtyard Disciple."

"After becoming an outer-courtyard Disciple, every day during Mao Time and Chen Time, senior brothers from the inner courtyard will teach the outer-courtyard Disciples the Basic Cultivation Technique."

"Outer-courtyard Disciples must master the Basic Cultivation Technique within half a year of enrollment and become Skin Refining Martial Artists to become official Disciples of the Martial Arts Hall. Otherwise, they will have to pay the enrollment fee again or be expelled from the Martial Arts Hall."

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

The Martial Arts Hall in Dongsheng Town required ten taels of silver. The three major Martial Arts Halls in Yunlu County required thirty taels, which was already far below Luo Yi's expectations.

Upon hearing that it required thirty taels of silver and that she could only study for half a year, Luo Xi feared she would let her brother down. She tugged at Luo Yi's sleeve.

"Brother, thirty taels of silver is too expensive. If I can't learn, all that silver will go to waste."

Looking at his nervous little sister, he reached out and rubbed her head. "Don't worry, Xiao Xi. Your brother can still afford thirty taels of silver. Just focus on learning martial arts."

After comforting his sister, Luo Yi looked at Han Yanshi. "Big Brother Han, where do we pay the enrollment fee?"

Hearing that they really intended to enroll, Han Yanshi's face instantly filled with smiles.

"Little Brother, this way." With that, he led the two of them into the Martial Arts Hall.

As he walked, Luo Yi examined the Martial Arts Hall's surroundings.

On the bluestone-paved Training Ground, the apprentices stood in neat rows beneath the blazing sun, ceaselessly practicing martial arts forms. The weapon racks around the Training Ground held all eighteen kinds of weapons, their edges glinting coldly. Beside the racks, several enormous stones weighing a thousand jin were piled together.

Beside the Training Ground, a pond reflected the blazing sun. Several withered leaves floated on its surface, drifting gently with the ripples whenever a strong wind swept past. Seven unevenly spaced plum-blossom stakes stood in the center of the pond. Time had polished their posts until they shone, while shoeprints of varying depths remained at their tops.

Beside the blue-brick courtyard walls surrounding the Martial Arts Hall came the dull thuds of impacts against wooden dummies. The camphorwood posts had been polished bright, and faded red cloth strips wrapped their joints, trembling with a rustle every time fists and palms collided with them.

"Brother Luo Yi, the place where you pay the enrollment fee is just ahead. The person sitting inside is Deputy Master Long, who handles recruiting apprentices for the Martial Arts Hall."

Luo Yi was still examining the Martial Arts Hall when Han Yanshi's voice interrupted him. He came back to his senses and looked into the room.

A man sat inside, his build as sturdy as an ox, his complexion as dark as ink, and his age around forty.

Seeing someone outside, the man opened his amber eyes and studied the newcomers.

The instant Luo Yi came under the man's gaze, every hair on his body stood on end, and an immense sense of danger swept over him.

When Han Yanshi saw that the Deputy Master had awakened, he hurriedly said, "Deputy Master Long, this is Little Brother Luo Yi. He has come to enroll his younger sister in our Martial Arts Hall."

"Interesting. Interesting." Deputy Master Long ignored Han Yanshi and kept his eyes fixed on Luo Yi.

"Little Brother, how old are you this year?"

Hearing the question and seeing the way the man looked at him, Luo Yi's heart jolted. Could this man have some unusual proclivities?

Seeing Luo Yi's strange gaze, Deputy Master Long nearly flushed with embarrassment despite his old face.

He waved for Han Yanshi to leave first, then had him close the door.