"Did people in ancient times really get up to this kind of thing?" Looking at the scantily clad maids, Luo Yi couldn't help criticizing them.
He first went to the maid on the left and inspected the manuals in her hands one by one. He found they were all skin-refining techniques, much like the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique.
They only differed in their areas of focus, so he didn't rush to choose.
Luo Yi then went over to the maid on the right and began examining the Body Refining Realm techniques in her hands.
After looking through all the Body Refining Realm techniques, he thought it over and chose one called the Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique.
"Shopkeeper Hong, how much does this technique cost?"
When Hongyu saw Luo Yi choose the Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique, a smile appeared on her face. "Young master, you have a good eye. This technique is very similar in style to your Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique. Both techniques follow a bold, powerful style, with wide, sweeping movements."
"That's why this manual costs a little more. It's fifty taels of silver."
"Ahem, how much?" Luo Yi thought he'd misheard. He couldn't believe a manual that could be copied and sold again and again could fetch fifty taels of silver.
But then he remembered this was a Body Refining Realm technique. A martial artist who had reached Skin Refining Great Accomplishment had plenty of ways to make money; earning fifty taels would only be a matter of time.
Besides, Luo Yi figured that once he reached the Body Refining Realm, he could earn even more silver through hunting or other means.
He gritted his teeth, pulled fifty taels' worth of silver notes from his robes, and handed them to Hongyu. "I'll take this Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique," he said.
Then he went over to the maid on the left and chose a manual for the Mantis Skin Refining Technique.
He'd accomplished his goal, and now had only a dozen or so taels left in his bag. Considering the expenses of future training, he didn't ask about any other manuals.
"Shopkeeper Hong, I've paid, and our exchange is complete. Please bring out the complete manuals." Hearing this, Hongyu turned to the person beside her and instructed:
"Feicui, bring the young master the manuals for the Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique and the Mantis Skin Refining Technique."
"Yes, Sister."
After receiving the two manuals, Luo Yi read through them carefully. Only once they had both been recorded on his system panel and he'd confirmed there were no problems did he rise to leave.
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Hong."
Seeing that her customer was about to leave, Hongyu hurriedly stood up and hooked an arm around Luo Yi's shoulder. "Young master, please wait. I have one more favor to ask."
"Young master bought a Body Refining Realm technique, so I suspect you haven't joined any of the county's factions. On behalf of the Chen Family, my backers, I'd like to invite you to join us. What do you say?"
Feeling two soft mounds against his arm, Luo Yi shook his head. "Not interested." He slipped out of Hongyu's grasp and headed for the door.
Watching Luo Yi walk away, Hongyu licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with the excitement of a predator spotting its prey.
"Interesting. No one in Yunlu County has ever been born who could refuse an invitation from me, Hongyu. Sooner or later, you'll fall at my feet."
After leaving Wucang Pavilion,
Luo Yi rubbed the two manuals tucked against his chest, feeling as if his heart were bleeding. But there was no time to fret over money. What mattered now was breaking through to the Body Refining Realm as soon as possible.
Lost in thought, Luo Yi soon reached the alley near his home.
His younger sister needed to practice martial arts at the White Ape Martial Hall lately, leaving him alone at home. Even getting meals would be a problem.
He found a food stall by the alley near his home, paid a deposit, and arranged with the stall owner to deliver meals to his courtyard every morning, noon, and evening until he sent word to cancel.
With that worry taken care of, Luo Yi opened the courtyard gate and went inside. He sat on a stone stool beneath the large banyan tree.
He silently thought, Open Attribute Panel.
Host: Luo Yi
Age: 16
Realm: Skin Refining, Complete
Skills: Basic Archery (Major Achievement 270/400), Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique (Complete), Introduction to Poisons (Complete), Mantis Skin Refining Technique (Not Started 1/50), Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique (Not Started 1/200)
Traits: Immune to Poisons, Fierce Tiger's Back
Energy Points: 16
Constitution: Superior
Seeing the skill progress on the panel, Luo Yi looked surprised and murmured:
Strange. The Mantis Skin Refining Technique and the Fierce Tiger Skin Refining Technique are both similar techniques. Why does it take only 50 progress points to get started with one? Is it because I've practiced another manual of the same level, so my progress is faster? Or is it because my aptitude has improved? Luo Yi planned to find another skin-refining technique later to test his theory.
And the Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique—why does it take 200 points of proficiency just to reach Initiation? Is it because it's a different realm?
He couldn't test his theories for now, so Luo Yi put them aside and took the Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique from his robes to study it closely.
The Berserk Bear wasn't an ordinary wild black bear or brown bear, but a demonized ferocious beast. A full-grown Berserk Bear was as huge as a hill, and could easily smash a house with a single swipe of its paw.
A martial artist of Great Qi had created this Berserk Bear Flesh Refining Technique by observing the beast's hunting habits.
This flesh-refining technique focused on the Berserk Bear's sinews and flesh, which were immensely strong and hard as iron. Once practiced to Perfection, the technique could greatly increase a martial artist's strength and defensive ability.
After reading through the entire manual, he reached the note on its final page: Unless you have reached Skin Refining Great Accomplishment, do not attempt to practice this technique lightly. Otherwise, at best, your qi and blood will be depleted; at worst, you will die. Those who have reached Skin Refining Perfection or possess abundant qi and blood will see their cultivation speed greatly increased by practicing this technique.
After reading the note on the last page, Luo Yi fell into deep thought. The panel showed his realm as Skin Refining, Complete. If he continued practicing skin-refining techniques, would his strength, defense, speed, or qi and blood keep increasing?
Looking at the Mantis Skin Refining Technique on the panel, which needed only 50 points to level up, Luo Yi stopped pondering, took up a stance, and practiced its movements.
After performing every move of the Mantis Skin Refining Technique once, a notification appeared before his eyes: Progress +5.
"That much?" Luo Yi had been agonizing over whether to improve his realm first or practice another skin-refining technique. Now he no longer hesitated.
A quarter of an hour passed.
As the Mantis Skin Refining Technique reached Initiation, that familiar sensation spread through his skin. But it came and went quickly, lasting only a minute or two.
Luo Yi rolled up his sleeve and looked at his arm, which had become crystal-clear after he reached Skin Refining Perfection. Now it gleamed even more brightly.
He drew the dao at his waist and slashed it across his arm. Its defensive power had increased a little, too. Learning several manuals really did work.
Having confirmed his theory, Luo Yi wasted no more time. He first went to the kitchen and set the tonic medicine to simmer, then took out the bear gall from his robes and swallowed it.
After making all the preparations, he returned to the banyan tree in the courtyard and began practicing the Mantis Skin Refining Technique.
Aside from taking a short break to eat lunch, Luo Yi practiced until dusk began to fall. When he felt fatigue creeping through his body, he slowly stopped.
He sat at the stone table in the courtyard and looked at the panel, which showed Mantis Skin Refining Technique (Major Achievement 23/300).
He'd reached Great Accomplishment in just one day. At most, he'd need another two or three days to bring it to Perfection.
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