Tempering

"Hiss--!"

Li He gasped, the scalding medicinal liquid enveloping his entire body. An indescribable burning sensation pierced deep into his skin, surging relentlessly toward the depths of his bones.

He dared not hesitate, immediately sinking his waist and dropping his hips. Amidst the boiling liquid, he assumed the opening stance of the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: the Iron Body Stake.

His spine arched like a dragon, shoulders dropped, elbows tucked, and arms held in a protective embrace. A fierce, unyielding intent erupted from within him, clashing against the violent medicinal power to transform it into a pure energy that scoured his muscles, bones, skin, and membranes.

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

[Proficiency +1]

The system panel flickered before his eyes, his proficiency rising rapidly.

Every increase was accompanied by waves of intense pain. His skin was repeatedly torn and healed, while his muscle fibers tightened and stretched under the impact of the medicinal power, emitting faint groans. Deep within his bones, a sensation of numbness and itching spread, as if countless ants were gnawing at them.

Li He's complexion shifted between blood-red and paper-white.

Beside the medicinal pool lay several rods of varying lengths: hardwood sticks, solid iron bars, and even a mace with protruding edges.

Hard qigong training required more than just medicinal baths and internal cultivation; it demanded external tempering.

Li He stood up from the pool, picked up the thickest mace, weighed it, and slammed it hard against his left arm.

Bang!

Li He let out a muffled grunt, his body swaying. He quickly sank back down to absorb the medicinal liquid, and as soon as the deep red on his skin faded, he rose again to strike himself, repeating the process over and over.

Time ticked away, second by second.

The dark red liquid in the medicinal pool gradually began to pale.

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: Entry (99%) → Proficient (0%)]

[Vitality: 12.9 → 13.4]

The burning sensation on the surface of his skin suddenly subsided, replaced by a sense of toughness and firmness, as if an invisible layer of iron skin had covered his body.

The first level of the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique, Iron Skin, was complete!

Li He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. He exhaled a scorching breath that condensed into a white mist in the air, lingering for a long time.

He looked down at his body.

His skin was a healthy wheat color, flushed slightly from the soak. Upon closer inspection, the skin texture was tighter than before, and the stratum corneum had noticeably thickened.

"The results are truly excellent."

Li He felt a surge of joy. Although his vitality had only increased by 0.5, with a hard qigong technique under his belt, the boost to his combat strength was far greater than what a mere 0.5 could represent.

He glanced at the sky outside; it was only just noon, yet the color of the medicinal liquid had faded significantly. It seemed it wouldn't last the day. His estimate had been off, or perhaps he was simply training too quickly.

"Waste is shameful." Li He assumed the Iron Body Stake once more, absorbing every last bit of energy remaining in the liquid.

Following this.

For five consecutive days!

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: Proficient (99%) → Mastery (0%)]

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: Mastery (99%) → Minor Success (0%)]

[Proficiency +1]

[Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: Minor Success (0%) → Minor Success (1%)]

By now, the ten days' worth of medicinal liquid was completely exhausted, and Li He had successfully cultivated the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique to Minor Success. His Iron Bone was formed.

Li He stepped out of the bath and dried himself off.

Water cascaded down his steel-like muscle lines. His skin was firm and tough, his stratum corneum incredibly thick. He felt reborn, exuding an aura as steady as a mountain.

[Vitality: 14.4 → 14.5]

"Huh?"

The system window suddenly popped up. Why had his vitality increased by 0.1 for no reason?

Puzzled, Li He changed into clean clothes and pushed open the bedroom door.

Outside, his mother, Zhang Xiujuan, was sitting on the sofa eating fruit.

"Hehe, you finally came out. Come here, Mom cut some fruit for you..."

Halfway through her sentence, Zhang Xiujuan's voice came to an abrupt halt.

"Hehe?" Zhang Xiujuan looked confused. "Why do you seem... taller?"

Li He was stunned.

Grown taller?

He subconsciously looked down at himself, then at his mother. He had already been much taller than her, but at this moment, he realized that his mother had to tilt her head even higher to meet his eyes.

Li He was a bit puzzled. He leaned against the wall and took out a tape measure to check; he had indeed grown by three or four centimeters.

For someone his age, this was a fairly significant change.

"You really did grow taller." Zhang Xiujuan leaned in, gesturing with her hand. "How did this happen? You suddenly shot up."

Li He pondered for a moment. This must be the effect of reaching the minor completion stage of the Ape Demon Iron Body Technique, with his Iron Bone beginning to solidify.

His muscles and bones had been repeatedly tempered, becoming tougher and more resilient, while the structure of his skeleton had been optimized and stretched, naturally increasing his height.

Even his vitality had increased by 0.1.

"Mom, it's probably because of my training. I've been practicing a hard technique lately that tempers the muscles and bones quite deeply, which stimulated my bone growth."

"Training can make you grow taller?" Zhang Xiujuan looked amazed. "Well, that's good. Growing taller is good; you look sturdier and more spirited."

She couldn't help but reach out and pat Li He's solid arm, feeling it as hard as iron.

Li He smiled and didn't mind his mother's small gesture. He picked up a piece of fruit and ate it, only to find that the taste was extremely bland.

"The fruit I bought this time is a bit sour. Hehe, eat less of it. I'll buy you some sweet ones tomorrow," his mother, Zhang Xiujuan, said.

Li He's heart stirred.

Sour?

But he couldn't taste anything at all. Could practicing a hard technique affect his sense of taste?

He shook his head, stopped overthinking it, and opened his attribute panel.

[Name: Li He]

[Vitality: 14.5]

[Skill: Federation Body Forging Fist: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Old Ape Stretches Arms: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Cloud Hand Eighteen Forms: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Wild Goose Eight Steps: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Turtle-Crane Health Stance: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Silk-Reeling Power: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Ape Standing Stake: Minor Completion (1%)]

[Skill: Ape Demon Iron Body Technique: Minor Completion (1%)]

Although practicing hard techniques requires consuming a massive amount of resources, the effect is truly excellent, and there are additional bonuses! Li He thought to himself.

He needed to find a way to acquire more hard techniques to practice and see.

The next day.

Li He returned to the Yellow Mountain Martial Arts Hall.

Lin Feng, who was in the training field guiding the disciples in practicing Old Ape Stretches Arms, was the first to notice him.

"Junior Brother Li..." Lin Feng habitually started to greet him, but the words stuck in his throat. He abruptly stopped his movements, his eyes widening.

"Junior Brother Li, what happened to you?" He looked Li He up and down. "How did you change so much? You've grown taller and much sturdier."

Lin Feng's words immediately drew the attention of the other disciples. Shi Lei, Jin Yongsheng, Sun Ao, and the others all stopped what they were doing.

"Hiss... it's true. Senior Brother Li really seems to have grown taller."

"Not just taller! Look at his arms and shoulders; they feel several times sturdier than before."

"And his gaze is so sharp; it feels a bit intimidating."

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Li He ignored their reactions.

"Senior Brother Lin, I'm back. I've made some progress in my training over the past few days."

"This is more than just 'some progress.' I suspect you've secretly mastered a hard technique. Has there been any progress with Old Ape Stretches Arms?"

Li He gave an awkward smile and didn't answer.

Fortunately, Lin Feng didn't press him, only giving his customary advice to stay focused.

After completing the morning's collective training, all the disciples had reached the proficiency stage in Old Ape Stretches Arms, and they were not far from being taught the next martial art.

In the afternoon.

Li He left the training field directly and headed toward the Scripture Pavilion.

He walked toward the inconspicuous, blue-gray small building deep within the martial arts hall—the Scripture Pavilion.

Pushing open the wooden door, Uncle-Master Yuan Hong was still sitting behind that large wooden desk, his head lowered as he read a book.

Li He performed a salute and walked quietly toward the bookshelf in the corner.

However, just as he passed by Uncle-Master Yuan Hong's desk.

Yuan Hong, who had been keeping his head down, paused in the act of turning a page, and an imperceptible aura instantly swept across Li He's entire body.

The fingers Yuan Hong used to grip the ancient text tightened unconsciously, and a monstrous wave surged within his heart.

Iron Bone beginning to condense, Ape Demon Iron Body Technique at minor completion? It's only been five days; what kind of talent is this?

A thought took shape in Yuan Hong's mind.

He slowly stood up and walked to a row of bookshelves, pretending to organize the books, his fingers sliding across the rows of spines and making a faint rustling sound.

His fingertips precisely brushed past a manual of fist techniques.

With a flick of his finger, the manual instantly flew out and landed precisely into the gap at the edge of the bookshelf behind him, silent and soundless.