Sinew and Bone Resonance

Night.

Bright moonlight spilled down.

Dull thuds echoed from the courtyard.

Lin Zheyu was working out with grunts and huffs.

After his income increased, his daily meals had improved. Nourished by plenty of fish and meat, his body had grown increasingly robust.

Lin Zheyu practiced his fists bare-chested. The lines of his muscles were smooth, his sinews, flesh, and skin full and taut. Every punch he threw stirred up a gust of wind.

Only after exercising for a full two hours did Lin Zheyu stop.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence]

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 5

Skill: Bull Fist (Beginner 47%)

"Source Power has accumulated to five units. It's time to raise my strength."

Lin Zheyu said to himself.

During this time, he had broken through his limits twice more and gained two units of Source Power.

Each time he broke through his body's limits, he needed around five days of recuperation before his essence, energy, and spirit could return to their peak.

Over the past dozen days, after repaying Steward Wu's five taels of silver, Lin Zheyu had saved another eight taels, all of which he had used to buy medicinal herbs.

The fragrance of medicinal herbs drifted through the courtyard.

Since he did not know how much energy this improvement would require, he had tossed all eight portions of herbs into the pot.

It was not until deep into the night that all the medicinal efficacy had been boiled out.

He poured it out and let it cool.

Gulp, gulp.

After drinking the medicinal broth, Lin Zheyu let out a satisfied burp.

"Use one unit of Source Power to improve Bull Fist."

Lin Zheyu sent out the thought.

As his thought was transmitted, one unit of Source Power vanished.

Immediately afterward, the Bull Fist progress began to jump rapidly—80%... 90%... 100%.

Bull Fist officially advanced to the Proficient level, finally stopping at 2%.

A familiar sensation came over him. Mysterious energy surged from deep within his cells and began transforming Lin Zheyu's muscles and fascia.

Lin Zheyu's mind sank into a strange state.

His consciousness entered an unknown space. In that space, he had only one thought: practice Bull Fist!

Lin Zheyu crazily trained Bull Fist within that special space, punch after punch, never stopping, never tiring, like a demon possessed.

No one knew how long passed in that mysterious state, but his understanding of Bull Fist grew ever deeper.

The medicinal broth in his stomach was drawn out under the influence of that mysterious power, its medicinal efficacy strengthening his physique.

Tremendous changes occurred in Lin Zheyu's body. The muscles all over him became increasingly compact, while his fascia grew tough and powerful.

A moment later, crackling sounds rang out from within his body. This was the sign of advancing from Muscle Refining into Bone Forging.

Once Bull Fist entered the Proficient level, one reached the Bone Forging Realm.

A few breaths later, Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes and recovered from his daze.

He shook his head. His mind felt somewhat exhausted.

Training without sleep or rest and comprehending Bull Fist in that special state had been an enormous drain on his mind.

"Very good. My Blood Energy isn't depleted like last time."

Lin Zheyu assessed his physical condition. The muscles throughout his body were full, his internal organs sturdy, and even his bones seemed several degrees stronger.

Almost all the medicinal efficacy in the broth he had drunk had been absorbed, with very little remaining.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence]

Name: Lin Zheyu

Source Power: 4

Skill: Bull Fist (Proficient 3%)

He lightly clenched his fist, producing faint crackling sounds.

Having completed Muscle Refining and entered the Bone Forging Realm, his control over his muscles and fascia had risen to another level.

At this point, he could control his sinews, flesh, and skin, using the method of sinew-and-bone resonance to temper his bones.

"I've reached the Bone Forging Realm. Tomorrow, I'll find Master Liang and ask him about the cultivation methods for the Bone Forging Realm and Organ Refining Realm."

Lin Zheyu thought to himself.

Both the Bone Forging Realm and Organ Refining Realm had special training methods. Liang Song had not taught him those, only the content for the Muscle Refining level.

Ever since Lin Zheyu had gone to Liang Song's home to learn for one morning, he had not returned.

He would occasionally stop by when passing through, but he had never seen anyone.

Early morning.

In order to see Liang Song, Lin Zheyu arrived early at Number 33 Jin Dong Street.

Knock, knock, knock.

He lightly knocked on the door, and it opened with a creak.

"Why are you here?" Liang Song asked when he saw it was Lin Zheyu.

Lin Zheyu grumbled inwardly. He had come early in the morning for three consecutive days, and only today had he finally found him.

Who knew where his master had been going, all secretive and mysterious? He could only be seen in the afternoons when he told stories.

"I encountered some problems while practicing martial arts and wanted to ask you for guidance."

Lin Zheyu said.

He walked inside and shut the door again.

"What problems?"

Liang Song watered the flowers and told Lin Zheyu to find himself a place to sit.

"It's when I'm training. I always feel like the fascia and bones around my elbow..."

Lin Zheyu described the problems he had encountered during Bone Forging. The more Liang Song listened, the more astonished his expression became.

He set down the watering can and looked at Lin Zheyu.

This brat's understanding of Bull Fist had already reached such a level?

"Perform the whole fist technique for me." Liang Song could not help saying.

"Yes."

Lin Zheyu nodded and walked to the center of the courtyard.

He took off his outer robe and assumed the Bull Fist stance.

Puff.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The courtyard filled with the repeated bangs of fists striking wooden stakes.

Amid the sounds were several crackles that came from Lin Zheyu's body.

"Bone Forging!"

"He's reached the Bone Forging Realm!"

Liang Song's eyes widened, and he could not help rising to his feet.

Less than a month had passed since he had last taught him the fist technique.

A rookie who had never practiced martial arts had trained Bull Fist to the Proficient level in less than a month. Unbelievable!

"What an enviable talent!"

"If he had begun practicing martial arts from childhood, he might have had a chance to reach the Grandmaster realm. What a pity."

As he watched Lin Zheyu practice, a trace of regret appeared on Liang Song's face.

Such terrifying talent was something he had seen only once in his life.

"Rest for a while. I'll explain the Bone Forging methods to you." Liang Song stopped Lin Zheyu.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu withdrew his fists and went to sit across from Liang Song at the table.

"Not bad. You trained Bull Fist to the Proficient level so quickly."

"Once you enter the Proficient level and train your body until your sinews and flesh are full and taut, you can try Bone Forging."

"Bone Forging requires both external stimulation and sinew-and-bone resonance. Through..."

"..."

Liang Song taught him the methods of Bone Forging.

Lin Zheyu listened with extreme focus and learned much about the body's skeletal structure.

"Your comprehension is not bad. I'll pass the Internal Breathing Method for Bull Fist on to you as well. Go back and slowly study it."

"Only Bull Fist paired with its Breathing Method can unleash its true power."

Liang Song said after pondering for a moment.

With Lin Zheyu's talent for comprehension, he should be able to master the Breathing Method as well.

Special Breathing Methods demanded a high degree of control over the body. One needed exceptional comprehension and powerful control to accomplish them.

"Yes, Master!"

Lin Zheyu was overjoyed.

An Internal Breathing Method sounded incredibly formidable.

"The martial path: externally train sinews, bones, and skin; internally train one breath."

"Different cultivation methods place different burdens on the internal organs. Only by training according to the cultivation method and strengthening the internal organs can one wield greater power."

"The Breathing Method corresponding to Bull Fist focuses on abdominal breathing. You exert force through the dantian and must grasp a specific rhythm and cadence of breathing."

"Come, watch my chest and abdomen."

"Feel carefully..."

Liang Song's voice sounded as he had Lin Zheyu feel the rhythm of his breathing with his hand.

Lin Zheyu placed his hand on his master's muscular chest. Liang Song's muscles were extremely hard, like lumps of iron and stone.

He silently felt Master Liang's breathing rhythm, the profound cadence within the rise and fall of his chest.

This rhythm and cadence were exceedingly difficult to grasp. Even after sensing them for a long time, Lin Zheyu still felt hazy and confused.