Muscle Tempering Minor Accomplishment, Steadfast Martial Arts

Back in the familiar alley, he pushed open the wicker gate. Ping'an hadn't returned from school yet. The house was quiet and cold. Li Bufan moved quickly, retrieving a small bundle wrapped in coarse cloth from the corner.

He opened it. Two Cinnabar Fruits, red as blood and pungent with fragrance, lay still, brimming with immense energy.

Without a moment's hesitation, he picked one up and tucked it into his chest. Though he'd just eaten one recently and a second dose would lose some effect, time was pressing—he couldn't afford to waste it.

He sprinted down the road, pushing Spirit Monkey Three Leaps to its limit, far faster than usual. The cold wind cut at his face like a knife, but his heart burned hot.

Soon, that familiar, snow-covered Official Road appeared before him. Empty and desolate, only the wind howled.

Li Bufan stopped, panting heavily, his chest heaving like a bellows.

He pulled out the Cinnabar Fruit, a flash of resolve in his eyes, and swallowed it whole!

The fruit dissolved on his tongue, turning into a scorching, surging torrent that crashed into his limbs and bones!

"Ugh!" He couldn't help but grunt, his skin instantly turning red, veins bulging, steam rising from his head as if he were about to ignite!

The vast medicinal force rampaged through his body, his Meridians aching with swelling pain!

He dared not delay, quickly assuming the stance of Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique!

"Spirit Ape Stretches Arms! Wicked Ape Shakes Tree! Spirit Ape Tumble...!"

He unleashed the movements wildly, like a frantic ape.

This time, his goal was clear—using the Cinnabar Fruit's immense power to break through to Muscle Tempering Minor Success!

The blood-energy torrent from the fruit, like a breached river, was guided by the technique, madly crashing against the deep barriers of his muscles! Every exertion brought excruciating pain, tearing and rebuilding muscle fibers.

The Heaven Rewards Diligence fate shone with unprecedented brilliance! All past training insights, control over blood-energy, and understanding of muscles were pushed to the limit, merging with the violent medicinal force, charging at the invisible barrier again and again!

His movements grew faster, fiercer, like a demon possessed! Sweat evaporated as soon as it formed; the snow was trampled into chaos.

Pain! Absolute pain!

But within that pain, Li Bufan could clearly feel his muscles undergoing a qualitative transformation—becoming tougher, better at holding blood-energy, unleashing greater strength!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Invisible thunder seemed to explode inside him—the sound of blood-energy smashing through obstacles!

After who knows how long, as the violent medicinal torrent began to wane, a fierce light burst from Li Bufan's eyes!

Now!

He gathered all his strength, will, and remaining medicinal force, unleashing the final, most powerful charge!

"Break for me!!"

A silent, earth-shaking roar!

A power far stronger, more refined, and more controlled than before erupted from the deepest part of his body like a volcano, surging through him instantly!

Muscles trembled violently, contracted, expanded, completing a total sublimation! Blood-energy surged, heavy and solid!

Muscle Tempering Minor Success!

[Heaven Rewards Diligence]

Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, Proficiency (688/1000)

He broke through!

Li Bufan slowly withdrew his stance, standing still, panting heavily, drenched as if pulled from water, yet feeling a reborn ease and strength.

He clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within, and finally couldn't suppress the grin spreading across his lips.

Slowly, the ecstasy of breakthrough faded, replaced by a wave of intense soreness and bone-deep exhaustion. Four hours of frantic training, plus the Cinnabar Fruit's brutal force and the final muscle transformation, had nearly drained him dry.

Li Bufan dragged his leaden legs; every step made his muscles scream. But his eyes were unusually bright, feeling the far denser and more refined power within—all the fatigue was worth it.

He looked up at the sky. The setting sun slanted, painting the horizon orange.

"Damn, I need to pick up Ping'an!" He suddenly remembered his brother. Ignoring the pain, he forced a breath and used Spirit Monkey Three Leaps again, heading toward the county town. Though exhausted, his speed was faster after the breakthrough, and he made it before school let out.

At the school gate, Ping'an, carrying a small backpack, was standing on tiptoes scanning the crowd. Seeing his brother, he ran over happily.

"Brother!"

"Mm, school's out? Let's go home." Li Bufan took his brother's backpack and held his hand. Ping'an keenly sensed his brother seemed very tired, his palm still damp with sweat. Worried, he asked, "Brother, are you really tired?"

"It's nothing, just trained a bit long. Let's go, I'm hungry. Home for dinner." Li Bufan smiled and ruffled his brother's hair.

Back home, Li Bufan nearly collapsed onto a stool, not wanting to move a finger. Ping'an, understanding, ran to light the fire and heat up the food.

Dinner was still mixed coarse and fine rice, a big pot of previously stewed tiger meat, and Li Bufan had boiled a dozen eggs.

When the food was on the table, his stomach growled embarrassingly. After the breakthrough, his body urgently needed energy. He picked up the big bowl and devoured it.

One bowl, two bowls, three! The mixed rice was gone! He alone ate most of the oily, tender tiger meat! Then he peeled seven or eight eggs in one go, dipping them in soy sauce!

Ping'an, holding a bowl smaller than his face, stared wide-eyed at his brother's ravenous eating, his mouth forming an O, forgetting to eat himself.

"Brother... you, you eat so much... won't your stomach burst?" he whispered, full of worry and amazement.

Li Bufan swallowed the last egg, let out a satisfied burp, and finally felt his empty body replenished. He smiled at his brother. "It's fine, little brother. Big brother trains in martial arts, so I burn a lot of energy and eat more. When you start training, maybe you'll eat even more than me!"

Ping'an nodded, half-understanding, looking at his brother with newfound admiration. "Martial arts are amazing!"

After eating, Li Bufan rested for a moment and felt some strength returning. He knew that eating alone wasn't enough—today's training had been too intense, and he needed a medicinal bath to fully regulate his body.

He told Ping'an to review his lessons on his own, then went outside, took out the large wooden tub, and started heating water. At the same time, he retrieved the medicinal bath packet he'd bought from Doctor Liu and prepared the ground powder inside.

Once the water boiled, he adjusted the temperature, poured the black powder into the tub, and stirred it gently. A rich, medicinal aroma immediately spread through the air.

He stripped off his clothes, stepped into the tub, and slowly sat down.

"Hiss—"

The warm, almost scalding medicinal broth enveloped his weary body, the medicinal power seeping through his pores strand by strand. First came a faint sting, then it transformed into an indescribable comfort, like parched earth finally drinking in rain.

Stimulated and nourished by the external bath, the residual medicinal power of the Cinnabar Fruit seemed to reactivate, slowly releasing. Combined with Doctor Liu's medicine—one working from outside, the other from within—they jointly nourished his flesh, repaired the minute damage from the day's frantic training, and further solidified his newly broken-through realm.

The soreness in his muscles rapidly eased under the medicinal effect, replaced by a warm, strength-filled comfort. His blood and qi became more lively and condensed through the nurturing.

Li Bufan closed his eyes, leaning against the tub's rim, savoring the sweetness after the pain, feeling his body grow stronger bit by bit.

The heat and efficacy of the medicinal bath penetrated deep into his limbs and bones, gradually dispelling the fatigue from the breakthrough and the ache in his muscles. After about half an hour, Li Bufan stood up from the wooden tub, feeling warm all over, most of his energy restored. The slight swelling and hidden soreness from overexertion had vanished, replaced by a smooth, comfortable sensation and surging power.

He dried himself, changed into clean underclothes, but didn't rest immediately. His blood and qi were still active and surging from the bath and residual Cinnabar Fruit power—this was the perfect time to consolidate his cultivation and familiarize himself with his new strength.

He pushed open the wicker door and stepped into the chilly courtyard. The night sky was dotted with stars, and a cold wind brushed past, but he felt no chill at all.

Assuming his stance, the three forms of the already-mastered Nameless Fist Technique flowed out naturally.

Thousands of Soldiers Split Easily! Directly Strike the Yellow Dragon! Feint to the East, Attack to the West!

Supported by the blood and qi of the Muscle Tempering minor success realm, the power of these three fist techniques had increased significantly! Every punch and kick contained explosive force, yet was controlled with precision. His mastery over his own muscles had reached a new level—with a single thought, his blood and qi could instantly reach wherever needed.

He ran through the fist technique three times in a row, only stopping when his blood and qi had calmed and he was slightly sweaty. Feeling the power within him now more fluid and harmonious, Li Bufan gained a bit more confidence for the upcoming life at Lin Manor.

Over the next three days, Li Bufan's life fell into a highly regular rhythm.

Every morning, he rose early, prepared breakfast for Ping'an, sent him off to the schoolhouse, then immediately left the city and headed to that secluded fork on the Official Road for intense training.

During the day, on that empty snowfield, he focused without distraction on cultivating the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique and Spirit Monkey Three Leaps. Having reached the proficient level, his understanding of the technique deepened, and his efficiency in tempering muscles and circulating blood and qi improved. Combined with the slowly releasing residual power of the Cinnabar Fruit still within him, his cultivation steadily advanced, marching toward the peak of Muscle Tempering minor success.

The [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny continued to take effect, bringing new insights and subtle progress with every training session.

Moreover, the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique broke through to minor success (37/2000).

In the evening, he stopped on time, dragging his tired but fulfilled body to the schoolhouse to pick up Ping'an after class.

The brothers walked home together, and Li Bufan would cook a big pot of food. His appetite remained astonishing—large amounts of meat and rice were needed to replenish the massive consumption from his daytime training. Ping'an had gone from initial surprise to taking it in stride, even putting meat from his own bowl into his brother's during meals, saying childishly, "Brother, eat more so you have strength to train and get even stronger!"

After dinner, Ping'an would study the characters taught at the schoolhouse by the oil lamp. Meanwhile, Li Bufan would practice the Nameless Fist Technique in the courtyard or carefully ponder the force techniques of the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, using the quiet of the night to digest the gains from the day's training.

This simple yet fulfilling life made Li Bufan's mind increasingly calm and resilient.

Three days of hard training, along with the breakthrough in the Spirit Ape Muscle Tempering Technique, further solidified his realm. His strength, speed, reflexes, and control over his body all improved. His muscle fibers became tougher, and the power he could unleash grew stronger.