Reward for Merit, Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique

Li Bufan was reading a book in the courtyard when a white shadow flashed past. Before he could react, the white shadow spoke first: "Studying medicine, discerning medicinal properties—it's quite beneficial for martial training, body tempering, understanding the flow of your own Vital Energy and blood, and dealing with internal and external injuries."

This voice...

Li Bufan's heart jolted sharply, his mind snapping back from the book to reality! His heart contracted in an instant, blood seeming to freeze for a moment. It was almost a bodily reflex—his right hand snapped the book shut with a smack, his left hand smoothly and securely tucked it into his chest against his skin, while his back straightened like a pine, feet together, fists clasped in a bow. The movements were fluid and seamless, displaying excellent body control:

"Subordinate Li Bufan, paying respects to the Eldest Miss!"

Under the moonlight, Lin Zhiyan stood in the courtyard in a white robe, her figure graceful, like a moon goddess descending to the mortal world—cold, ethereal, untouched by dust. She was still in that same attire, a light veil covering her face, only her deep, ancient-pool-like eyes calm and unruffled, lightly resting on Li Bufan as if they could pierce through skin and see straight to the essence.

When had she arrived? How had she crossed the courtyard wall? How had she approached so silently? Li Bufan had no idea at all! Her unfathomable strength once again, in an incredibly direct way, made him feel the vast gap between them, deepening his reverence.

"At ease." Lin Zhiyan's voice was clear and cold, betraying no emotion, as if she were merely speaking casually.

Li Bufan straightened up as instructed but still kept his head slightly lowered, his gaze respectfully fixed half a foot in front of him, not daring to meet her eyes. His mind, however, churned like boiling water. The Eldest Miss was of noble status—why had she come personally to his crude outer courtyard guard quarters late at night? What was her purpose? Was it fortune or misfortune?

Lin Zhiyan's gaze lingered on his face for a moment. Those eyes, as if capable of reading souls, seemed to have already seen through the turmoil and doubt in his heart, but she paid it no mind and cut straight to the point, her tone as flat as if she were recounting something trivial:

"In this Winter Hunt, your performance was passable."

She paused briefly, as if organizing her words or simply unwilling to say more, continuing in a routine manner: "You stayed calm in crisis, escaped from a wolf pack, hunted a Snow Fox and preserved its pelt intact without damaging its value—that is one merit. You were ambushed by a colleague but turned the tables, captured evidence, and upheld the reputation of the Lin Family Guards by rooting out the traitor—that is a second merit. You fulfilled your patrol duties, showed foresight, gave timely warnings, and brought back information about the ambushed companions, allowing the estate to respond promptly—that is a third merit."

Her tone was flat, but every word she spoke made Li Bufan's mind tremble slightly. So everything he had done deep in the mountains, even every detail, the Eldest Miss had long known clearly, seeing it all like a fire in the dark! This level of control sent a chill through him, mixed with a strange feeling of being acknowledged.

"Merits must be rewarded, faults must be punished—this is the foundation of the Lin family and the iron law of the Guard Camp." Lin Zhiyan continued, her voice still without inflection. "According to Guard Camp convention, with your accumulated merits, you may go to the Merit Hall to exchange for cultivation resources of equivalent value, or make a reasonable request. Handle this yourself in the coming days."

She paused, then added a crucial remark for Li Bufan: "Furthermore, from today onward, your monthly allowance and treatment in the Guard Camp will be equal to that of the new batch of guards. Daily Medicinal Cuisine, a Medicinal Bath once every ten days—all will be provided on schedule."

Hearing this, Li Bufan's heart surged with uncontrollable joy and excitement! Daily Medicinal Cuisine! A Medicinal Bath every ten days! This was something he, as a former menial, had never dared to dream of! It was the basic cultivation guarantee that only senior guards enjoyed! What did this mean?

It meant that from today, he no longer had to worry about the most fundamental cultivation resources. He could completely leave behind those days of carefully calculating every bit of resources and devote all his energy and time to mad cultivation and strength improvement! And the chance to exchange merits was an unexpectedly generous reward, enough to get him some urgently needed specific resources!

Suppressing his surging emotions, he immediately clasped his fists, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor of excitement: "Thank you for the generous reward, Eldest Miss! Your subordinate will do his utmost and live up to your expectations!"

Lin Zhiyan nodded slightly. Moonlight fell on her pale forehead, casting a cold sheen. Seeming to consider the matter settled, her white sleeves shifted slightly as she turned to leave.

"Eldest Miss!" Li Bufan, almost instinctively, called out to stop her. The moment the words left his mouth, his heart tightened slightly, unsure if this would offend her.

Lin Zhiyan paused mid-step, not turning back, and asked flatly, "Is there something else?" Her voice betrayed no emotion—neither impatience nor curiosity.

Li Bufan took a deep breath, forcing down his excitement and the faint unease, and said respectfully, "Eldest Miss, your subordinate... your subordinate wishes to request not ordinary resources, but... a cultivation technique for the Muscle Tempering realm!"

This was a decision he had made after careful thought. Resources were temporarily sufficient, but the orthodox technique to reach the next realm was the key. Without guidance or a bestowed technique, blindly groping forward could easily lead to mistakes. Moreover, this trip into the mountains—whether the long chase after the cunning Snow Fox or the life-and-death moment of being surrounded by a wolf pack—had made him painfully aware of his massive shortcomings in movement and footwork! Insufficient speed, agility, and explosive power meant the difference between life and death at critical moments! If he could obtain a Muscle Tempering technique focused on forging leg muscles to greatly enhance speed and agility, it would undoubtedly improve his combat ability, pursuit skills, and most importantly, his survival capability!

"Muscle Tempering technique?" Her voice remained flat but carried an indescribable nuance. "Do you know why the Five Body Tempering Gates—Skin, Muscle, Sinew, Bone, Blood—must be followed in strict order, step by step? It's not simply a matter of sequence."

Li Bufan was taken aback and answered honestly, "Your subordinate is dull-witted. I only know it must be done step by step. Please enlighten me on the deeper meaning, Eldest Miss." He truly only knew that each gate had to be passed in order, but the deeper principles, with no one to teach him, he naturally didn't understand.

"Skin, Muscle, Sinew, Bone, Blood. The five gates of foundation building may seem independent, but they are interlinked like building a tower—each lower layer must serve as a solid foundation for the one above." Lin Zhiyan's voice was especially clear in the cold night air, each word like a small hammer striking Li Bufan's heart. "After Body Nourishment, Skin Refining is the beginning of everything. Only by cultivating the Skin Tempering Realm to true Perfection Realm, making the skin membrane whole and tough as dense copper, can you begin muscle training. Though it's called Skin Refining, it also involves further filling and surging Vital Energy. Only when Vital Energy is abundant and surging do you have enough strength and 'capital' to impact, shake, and temper the deeper muscle fibers, causing them to tear and regenerate repeatedly, becoming stronger and more resilient. This is a matter of natural progression."

Her tone suddenly sharpened: "If the skin membrane has not reached Perfection Realm, and you greedily rush ahead, forcibly operating a Muscle Tempering method to guide Vital Energy into tempering the muscles, it's like using a leaky ladle to scoop water to irrigate a parched drought land. Not only will it be inefficient and waste Vital Energy, but it will likely damage the incomplete skin membrane from the forceful impact of Vital Energy, and the massive wasteful dissipation of Vital Energy will hollow out your foundation. At best, your realm will stagnate forever, your path cut off. At worst, your Vital Energy will be severely damaged, your martial arts will regress, and you may even develop lifelong hidden injuries. This is no exaggeration."

Li Bufan's mind shook violently, and a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on his back. When the night wind blew, it brought a chill. He had thought that with the Snow Ganoderma and his hard training, reaching the peak of Minor Success in Skin Refining meant he was only a step away from the next realm. He had no idea there was this crucial, almost Natural Chasm-like key realm of "Perfection Realm"! Nor did he know that forcing a breakthrough could have such terrifying consequences! If not for the Eldest Miss's warning tonight, he might have foolishly ruined his own future!

Seeing his suddenly changed expression and the fear in his eyes, Lin Zhiyan's tone remained flat, but she continued to drop heavy words: "Moreover, even if you luckily achieve perfect skin membrane and seemingly abundant Vital Energy, do you know that simultaneously driving the dual tempering of skin and muscle demands a level of mental will and control over Vital Energy far beyond ordinary imagination?

Dividing your focus is no easy task. The slightest deviation or uneven force will result in incomplete tempering—some muscle groups not fully forged, others over-damaged. These subtle flaws and hidden injuries may not show at first, but accumulated, they will leave your martial foundation riddled with cracks.

If the foundation has flaws, Foundation Establishment is not considered successful, and the flow of Vital Energy in your body will eventually encounter obstacles. When the day comes that you try to draw Heaven and Earth Vital Energy into your body and embark on the path of Qi Refining, these foundational flaws will magnify infinitely, becoming insurmountable bottlenecks, even causing Vital Energy to run wild and backlash against you. At that point, forget Qi Refining—counting yourself lucky to survive is the best you can hope for."

She concluded, her voice as cold as ever: "Ordinary guards have limited resources, slow Vital Energy accumulation. Reaching perfect skin membrane already takes years. And the fine control over Vital Energy, grasped bit by bit through experience, is not achieved overnight. Simultaneously tempering skin and muscle—the total Vital Energy required and the precision of control—how could that be easy?"

These words, like thunder from the heavens or a sudden epiphany, completely cleared the fog ahead for Li Bufan, pointing out the truly correct path, and made him keenly aware of the difficulty and rigor of that path. The martial way was not about reckless, bold advancement; it required the wisdom and accumulation of knowing both the "what" and the "why."

However, after the initial shock and fear, Li Bufan's eyes showed no trace of retreat or fear. He had the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny. So-called Vital Energy control was a matter of fist technique realm—once the realm was reached, Vital Energy control naturally became harmonious. But what the Eldest Miss said was right; cultivating multiple gates simultaneously did require vast Vital Energy and mental control.

He bowed deeply again, his tone utterly sincere and firm, carrying a resolve to burn his bridges: "Thank you for your teachings, Eldest Miss! Your subordinate understands! I will strictly follow your instructions, calm my mind, first polish the Skin Tempering Realm to Perfection Realm, and diligently train my Vital Energy control. I will not aim too high or rush ahead greedily!"

Lin Zhiyan looked at the flame of fighting spirit in his eyes—a flame that seemed unquenchable by wind, burning ever brighter—and at his calm and clarity far beyond his peers. She was silent for a moment. Then, her slender wrist turned slightly, and as if by magic, she produced a thin, slightly old, pale yellow booklet from somewhere, handing it to Li Bufan. The surface of the booklet seemed to carry a faint, intangible coolness.

"Since you have your heart set on a Muscle Tempering technique, this Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique is given to you for study, as your reward for your merits."

Li Bufan was overjoyed. He quickly stepped forward, taking the booklet with both hands in utmost respect. On the cover, in simple, vigorous strokes, were the five ancient, forceful ink characters: Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique.

"Though this technique mainly tempers the leg and waist muscles, enhancing explosive power, speed, and agility, its foundation is still a Muscle Tempering method." Lin Zhiyan warned. "Remember what I just said: if the skin membrane is not perfected, Vital Energy insufficient, and control not refined, do not rashly practice the Muscle Tempering essentials within. However, the accompanying 'Spirit Ape Three Leaps' footwork can be studied and understood now; it should benefit your movement."

"Though this technique mainly focuses on tempering the lower limbs and core muscles of the waist and abdomen, aiming to enhance explosive power, speed, and agility, its core is still an orthodox Muscle Tempering method, requiring Vital Energy to temper the muscles." Lin Zhiyan reminded, her voice still cold. "Remember what I just said: if the skin membrane is not perfected, Vital Energy insufficient, and control not refined, absolutely do not rashly practice the Muscle Tempering essentials within, or the consequences will be endless."

"Yes! Your subordinate will remember the Eldest Miss's teachings! I will not let this gift go to waste!" Li Bufan clutched the technique booklet, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, his emotions surging and hard to calm. This was exactly what he needed most, what he craved most! Not only a path for the future but also a practical footwork technique to improve his strength immediately!

Lin Zhiyan seemed to have said all she needed to. Without another word, her white figure flickered slightly and vanished like a ghost, as if she had never been there, leaving only the courtyard bathed in moonlight and a faint but clear admonition that dissipated slowly in the cold air: "Cultivate diligently. Do not be arrogant or impatient."

Li Bufan bowed deeply once more in the direction she had disappeared, remaining bent for a long time before straightening up.