Flawless Martial Artist

"Bang!"

Li Jinshui crashed heavily to the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

Damn... that was reckless.

The situation had completely exceeded his expectations.

He had assumed that Ninth Grade Stake Standing required a step-by-step, methodical approach, so he had gone all-out, surging his blood-energy from the very start.

He never imagined he would push it too hard.

Breaking through three stages in a single breath had caused his entire body to shed its skin instantly, nearly knocking him unconscious from the pain.

This stake technique is wrong, something is very wrong!

He had discovered the problem.

Under normal circumstances, even after perfecting the Basic Stance Technique, one would still have to start from the beginning and cultivate the Ninth Grade Stake Standing gradually.

Even with all his meridians cleared, it should have been impossible to reach minor completion in the stake technique so quickly.

He recalled the sensation during his breakthrough; every stage of the Iron-Skin Stake required a massive infusion of blood-energy, far exceeding the levels of a normal martial artist.

If he hadn't just stepped into the First-rate Martial Artist rank, causing his internal blood-energy to surge, it would have been questionable whether he could even enter the Iron-Skin Stake, let alone reach minor completion.

Could this be a stake technique specifically deduced and tailored for me?

Li Jinshui's expression grew increasingly grim.

If even the entry level required over a thousand points of blood-energy to initiate, how were others supposed to practice it?

Entering the technique required a thousand points, and minor completion would require several times that.

Which First-rate Martial Artist could possibly possess several thousand points of blood-energy?

Only a powerhouse in the Thousand-Jun Realm could likely master the Iron-Skin Stake.

But the problem was that Thousand-Jun Realm experts were already practicing Eighth Grade stake techniques. There was no shortage of skin-tempering stake techniques on the market; why would they regress to practice a Ninth Grade one?

It's over. My career has collapsed before it even truly began...

Li Jinshui's face fell, and he let out a deep sigh.

If the Ninth Grade Iron-Skin Stake was like this, the Eighth Grade ones were likely similar.

Aside from him, it was highly probable that no one else could practice these techniques.

Forget it, one shouldn't be too greedy. At least I can save money on buying stake techniques from now on. Besides, as long as I'm strong enough, making money will be as easy as breathing, right?

Clearly, Li Jinshui was a carefree kid who didn't dwell on internal conflict; he adjusted his mindset quickly.

He had already made his plans: he would continue practicing the Iron-Skin Stake.

This technique focused on tempering the skin and membranes, and its effects were excellent. Reaching perfection would result in "Iron Skin," comparable to an Iron-Skin Beast, capable of deflecting ordinary bullets.

As for the top-tier Ninth Grade Wild Ox Stake that Huang Lichen had given him, Li Jinshui shook his head repeatedly after flipping through it.

"This is supposed to be top-tier Ninth Grade?" He looked at it with utter disdain.

The primary function of the Wild Ox Stake was to increase blood-energy volume, which felt inferior to the Iron-Skin Stake.

Moreover, most of the cultivation paths within it overlapped with the Seventh Grade Blood-Spike Stake.

Good thing I didn't practice this ahead of time. The original registration code hasn't been used either; I can list it on Doudou Secondhand later.

Putting away the stake technique, Li Jinshui began to clean up the blood on the floor.

It wouldn't do to have others see this; the scene looked like a crime scene, and it would be hard to explain if word got out.

Soon, another month slipped by!

During this time, Li Jinshui successfully maintained his cover, demonstrating a "perfected" stake technique to Ye Mei and the others, displaying 1,500 points of blood-energy.

This was the hallmark of someone who had just entered the "Ninth Grade First-rate" rank!

Huang Lichen and the others were so excited they couldn't sleep for days, yet they still showed up for work on time, full of energy every morning.

Li Jinshui, meanwhile, conducted his own self-assessment. 1,500 points of blood-energy was only about thirty percent of his true strength, meaning he would likely hit around 5,000 points at full capacity.

And this was just the boost in blood-energy from perfecting the Basic Stance Technique.

After reaching the extreme realm, he had only gained the ability of Deduction.

The Ninth Grade Iron-Skin Stake provided no boost to blood-energy; its primary purpose was tempering the skin and membranes.

However, ever since the Iron-Skin Stake reached minor completion, no matter how he infused it with blood-energy, the progress bar remained stagnant.

Fortunately, this still couldn't stump him; by the next day, he had found the trick.

Eating ten catties of Iron-Skin Beast meat every day increased his progress by 1 point.

It took only five days for the Iron-Skin Stake to reach the proficiency level.

From then on, he went to the cafeteria every single day to buy Iron-Skin Beast meat.

Over this entire month.

The Grade 9 Iron-Skin Stake reached "Perfection," and just like the Basic Stance Technique, it could still be broken through even after reaching perfection.

After continuing to consume twenty catties of Iron-Skin Beast meat, the Iron-Skin Stake successfully entered the Extreme Realm.

[Iron-Skin Stake (Extreme Realm: Copper Skin)]

It transformed from perfect iron skin into "Copper Skin"!

On the surface, Li Jinshui's skin looked the same as always, with no special abnormalities.

But after testing it himself, he felt it was incredibly awesome!

When he slashed his own arm with fifty percent of his strength, sparks flew; although he felt pain, his defense was not broken.

When he slashed with one hundred percent strength...

He didn't do it, fearing that if he got injured, he would have to spend money on treatment, which would affect his training, so he let it go.

In addition to practicing the Iron-Skin Stake, the Grade 9 hidden weapon martial art Meteor Chasing Moon was also practiced to "Entry Level."

Although it did not have the "Upgradable" tag in its suffix like the Lightning Pulse Step, it was, after all, a rare offensive method, and the key point was that it was a noble long-range attack.

The Heaven Rewards Diligence panel also changed once again.

[Name: Li Jinshui]

[Realm: First-rate Martial Artist (Flawless Realm)]

[Martial Arts: Basic Lightness Skill (Minor Success 0/500)]

[Lame Fist (Not Entered 0/100)]

[Lightning Pulse Step (Proficient 0/300) (Upgradable)]

[Meteor Chasing Moon (Entry Level 0/200)]

[Cultivation Methods: Basic Stance Technique (Extreme Realm), Iron-Skin Stake (Extreme Realm)]

[Traits: Deduction, Copper Skin]

[...]

After the Iron-Skin Stake reached perfection, he officially became a Flawless Martial Artist; on the panel, however, it was displayed as "Flawless Realm."

The "Traits" column, which had always been empty, now had two terms, which were the effects brought about by the "Extreme Realm" of the stance techniques.

"The current me really seems like I could clash with the Thousand-Jun Realm. Should I find Old Huang for a spar before I leave?"

Li Jinshui was itching to try.

The three-month period had arrived, and his life at the Youth Training Camp was over. If he could test the true strength of the Thousand-Jun Realm, he would have a better idea of things when he walked the pugilistic world.

On the night before his departure, Li Jinshui went to Huang Lichen's office again to meet with the four old leaders.

Both sides held a cordial and friendly discussion, fully exchanged views on the work content of Comrade Li Jinshui's new station, deepened their understanding of the environment surrounding the new station, and reached a high-level consensus that survival was the priority.

The next day, Li Jinshui officially finished his course and left the camp.

"Old Huang, at the moment of parting, don't you want to have a hearty, non-lethal spar with me, a once-in-a-millennium martial arts genius?" Li Jinshui proposed an invitation.

"Hah!"

Huang Lichen gave a look full of disdain.

"There's no need for a spar. Even if you reach the peak of the first-rate, you couldn't possibly be an opponent for the Thousand-Jun Realm."

Chen Yu explained from the side: "The Thousand-Jun Realm, if judged solely by strength—one jun is 30 catties, and a thousand jun is 30,000 catties. Just this point alone is already difficult to match, let alone the fact that they are far ahead in physical strength and explosive speed."

He didn't mention one thing: they were not just entering the Thousand-Jun Realm, but were veteran Thousand-Jun Realm experts whose strength had long exceeded 30,000 catties.

After listening, Li Jinshui immediately dismissed the idea.

The gap was simply too ridiculous.

A thousand jun is 30,000 catties, which is equivalent to starting at fifteen tons for a casual punch; this was way too overpowered.

He currently had 5,000 blood-qi points. Without the support of martial arts, one point of blood-qi could at most produce 2 catties of force, so 5,000 blood-qi points would be 10,000 catties.

If there was martial arts support, this explosive power could be multiplied several times over.

But the problem was that the Thousand-Jun Realm also had martial arts support, and higher-grade ones at that.

Comparing them like this, it was indeed impossible to fight.

"Forget it, when I reach the Thousand-Jun Realm in a while, I'll just take on ten at once."

Li Jinshui shook his head and then said goodbye to everyone.

Although Old Huang and the others kept saying they were out of money, they still pooled their resources to give him two C-Grade Supplement Potions before he left.

In these three months, they had witnessed Li Jinshui's potential and understood his terrifying talent.

But it was impossible to keep him for training.

First, they couldn't afford to raise him; second, there was no one else to use. If Li Jinshui didn't go out to stir up trouble, all four of them would be out of a job.

Only by letting Li Jinshui go out and turn the situation around could they have any hope of talking about the future.

Martial artists were never flowers raised in a greenhouse; without the nourishment of blood and storms, they could never truly grow.

"Alright, I'm heading to the new station now. Don't forget the high-end combat power you promised me; it must be arranged properly."

Li Jinshui waved his hand, hoisted two heavy suitcases, and left the office.

Ye Mei followed him out alone and pressed the elevator button for him.

There was no helping it; Li Jinshui's ID card didn't have clearance for the first floor, otherwise, he would have run off long ago.

"Li Jinshui."

Ye Mei blocked the elevator door with one hand, looking at him with a grave expression. After a brief silence, she said slowly, "Don't be careless. You must stay alive. In six months at the latest, I will resolve everything."

"Got it, babe."

Li Jinshui beamed, rubbing his hands together. "Look, since I'm leaving, is there anything you want to give me? Don't get me wrong, I just think that if I miss you while I'm out there, having some token of yours would help me see the object and think of the person, easing my lovesickness!"

"Shut up, Li Jinshui!"

Ye Mei snapped coldly, her phoenix eyes filled with authority and her face stern. "I'm not in the mood for your jokes. This time is truly dangerous. Wei Hu Security is using you to make a move, using you as a small pawn to cut into our branch in Rong City. We can't report our current situation; we have to solve it ourselves. Do you understand?"

"Uh..." Li Jinshui opened his mouth. This was the first time he had seen Ye Mei so furious.

"And another thing!"

Ye Mei took a deep breath, her full chest heaving sharply, and her tone suddenly rose. "I don't care if you really have some kind of histrionic personality disorder, and I don't want to know what you're thinking. In short, let me make this clear: I am 31 years old this year, and you are only 18. There is no possibility for us, do you hear me? If you're smart, you'll stay alive, and in the future, you'll obediently call me 'Sister,' and I might continue to look after you."

After she finished speaking, her fair ears were already bright red. Without giving Li Jinshui a chance to reply, she pulled her arm back from the elevator frame and let the doors close.

"Sigh... oh well, it was all a waste of affection in the end."

Li Jinshui stood stunned for half a second before letting out a long, weary sigh.

He never expected his first attempt at romance to end so spectacularly.

He tilted his head slightly upward; books said that when you're sad, looking at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle keeps the tears from falling.

"From this day forth, I seal my heart and lock away love, focusing only on food delivery."

As the elevator descended rapidly, he steeled his resolve to cut off all romantic ties.

"Ding!"

The elevator reached the first floor.

The moment the metal doors slid open, Li Jinshui, draped in a long, fluorescent yellow windbreaker, stepped out with his head held high and his chest puffed out, striding along while dragging his two suitcases.

He carried an extraordinary aura, walking with the wind at his back.

Passing the reception desk, a familiar figure caught his eye.

"Zhang Yaya, long time no see! You're getting prettier every day." Li Jinshui performed a slick slide, leaning against the front desk with practiced ease, a charming smile plastered on his face.

"Huh, Li Jinshui! Did you graduate from the Youth Training Camp?" Zhang Yaya looked up, surprised.

"That's right, that's right."

Li Jinshui rested his chin on his hands, gazing at her with burning intensity, and said affectionately, "Yaya, do you believe in love at first sight?"

"Ah?"

Zhang Yaya froze, lowering her head in slight discomfort as she whispered, "Don't be like this. I told you last time, I have a husband. If he finds out..."

"Pfft! So what if he finds out? I don't mind that you have a husband. If he dares to mind that you have a lover, it just proves he doesn't love you as much as I do."

Li Jinshui's eyes were filled with sincerity. "But I'm about to start my post at a new station, and I'm afraid it'll be hard to contact you in the future. You know how I spend money like water—my phone is already suspended for non-payment. Could you lend me a few tens of thousands to top up my credit? Then I can call you every day."

"..."

Zhang Yaya's face, previously flushed with shyness, instantly froze. She suddenly grabbed a flowerpot from the desk, poised to smash it at him.

"Li Jinshui, get out! Get out right now, or I'll call my husband over to beat you to death!"