Sudden Change

Soon, it was late at night.

Lu Li took out a flatbread mixed with wheat bran and, washing it down with cold water, stared at the data on the light screen with impatient anticipation.

After returning, he had continued to practice the Tiger-Subduing Fist three more times.

As expected, the "2" next to the Tiger-Subduing Fist had changed to a "5."

His hypothesis was proven: he was truly a martial arts genius!

He had previously assumed that, born into poverty like the vast majority of people in the world, he possessed mediocre aptitude and that his path in martial arts would be limited from the start.

He never expected to be a genius, nor that he would awaken the Heaven Rewards Diligence destiny, which, by a stroke of luck, accelerated his cultivation speed and drastically reduced the time needed to master the basics!

This meant that, at this rate, he only needed a few short days to achieve a breakthrough!

Lu Li's expression remained calm, but a stormy sea raged within his heart.

What did this signify?

Even the descendants of noble families did not possess this speed.

In this world, those who could reach such speeds were, without exception, either geniuses or prodigies!

They were once-in-a-millennium talents!

Lu Li's heart leaped with joy; the bread in his mouth no longer felt difficult to swallow, and he even found it somewhat sweet.

He felt that the future was bright, and the thorns that had once cluttered his path in martial arts had all been severed.

What remained was a broad, smooth road with boundless prospects!

"As the saying goes, 'The spring breeze is proud, and the horse's hooves are swift; one must enjoy life to the fullest when fortune smiles.' But I am only at the starting stage; I must never be impatient. Keeping a low profile is the only way to endure."

"If I don't know how to hide my light, I'll die without even knowing how it happened!"

Lu Li took a deep breath, patted his chest, and forcibly suppressed the restlessness in his heart.

After finishing the bread and washing up, drowsiness washed over him.

"I have to go up the mountain to gather herbs tomorrow. I should sleep early; if I don't meet the quota, the Huang Family will deduct my wages."

The next day.

At the first light of dawn, Lu Li was already heading up the mountain with his herb basket on his back.

Using his bare hands to push aside the snow, Lu Li carefully took out a small knife, pried a medicinal herb out by its roots, and tossed it into the basket. Facing the biting wind, he hunched his shoulders and continued to scan the surroundings.

He was still wearing the same coarse hemp clothing, his cheeks were flushed red, and his hands were caked with a mixture of snow and mud.

A purplish-blue mark on the webbing between his thumb and index finger was particularly conspicuous; it was clearly frostbite, and the numb, itchy sensation made Lu Li want to scratch it.

The job of an herb gatherer was extremely difficult, regardless of the season.

In summer, there were mosquitoes, insects, snakes, and rats.

In winter, the heavy snow sealed the mountains, making herbs even harder to find, and one had to endure the bone-chilling wind.

Moreover, the herbs on the outskirts were not very valuable; even if he met his quota, he would only earn one tael of silver a month.

The truly valuable medicinal herbs, which were of great benefit to martial artists and could help them temper their bodies, were generally found deep within Cangchangfeng Mountain.

But in the depths, poisonous miasma was everywhere, and one might meet their end if they were not careful.

That was only a minor issue, however; the real danger was that demons and monsters haunted the deep mountains!

Even martial artists were terrified to enter!

Usually, when the families of Changfeng County went in search of precious herbs, they sent teams of martial artists accompanied by apothecaries.

"To have a treasure mountain before me and yet be unable to enter!"

Lu Li sighed, "Martial artists value their physique and blood-qi above all else. My body is depleted, and I need a massive amount of resources to compensate, but entering requires immense strength."

"I should focus on what is right in front of me for now. When my strength is sufficient, everything will fall into place naturally!"

Every day after gathering herbs, Lu Li set aside time to practice martial arts.

His life was a simple routine.

During this time, he also took a day off to find Hero Zhao and ask for advice, learning about the realms of martial arts.

The first realm was Body Tempering.

As the name implied, it involved activating the blood-qi within the body and circulating it to hone the physique. It was divided into six minor stages.

They were: Skin Tempering, Flesh Tempering, Tendon Tempering, Organ Tempering, Marrow Tempering, and the final Blood Exchange Realm.

The Tiger-Subduing Fist, when cultivated to a profound level, could reach the Tendon Tempering Realm!

However, even Hero Zhao himself had only reached the first stage, Skin Tempering, to this day.

But even a Skin Tempering martial artist would never have to worry about food or drink wherever they went.

Finally, on the fifth day, Lu Li broke through to the Skin Tempering Realm!

Lu Li threw his final punch, and the information on the light screen changed abruptly.

Lu Li felt the blood in his body surging, his veins pulsing like a rushing river as it continuously scoured his frame.

His skin turned a deep, vibrant red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

To any observer, Lu Li would have looked like a boiled shrimp, yet in the dead of winter, wisps of steam were rising from his entire body.

His skin rippled and squirmed as if it were made of jelly.

With every ripple, Lu Li could clearly feel his skin and flesh becoming tougher and more resilient.

Soon, the transformation ended.

Lu Li's body returned to a state of calm; the faint steam vanished, and his flushed skin faded back to a waxy yellow.

Inside him, the surging, turbulent blood energy gradually quieted and retreated into dormancy.

After the breakthrough, his senses were sharpened; amidst the falling snow, he could see clearly into the distance.

His hearing range had also expanded; when he stilled his mind, he could even distinguish the rustling of leaves on the trees through the whistling wind.

Facing the biting cold wind, Lu Li now felt absolutely nothing.

He stretched out his hands to look, only to find that the purple-blue frostbite that had been there moments ago had completely vanished.

His palms were fair and tender, like those of a newborn infant.

Lu Li felt the changes in his body and found the sensation infinitely wonderful.

"The Skin-Refining Realm can make one's skin as tough as oxhide, impervious to blades, and grant a physical strength of five hundred catties. I must test this."

Lu Li hurried back into his room, took out the small knife he used for digging herbs, and slashed hard at his arm.

Miraculously, the blade left only a shallow white mark on his skin.

Furthermore, the white mark vanished at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Lu Li couldn't help but nod, his eyes gleaming as he once again felt the wonder of the martial path in this world.

Returning to the courtyard, he set his sights on the stone mill.

He walked quickly to the mill and lifted it over his head with ease!

A smile bloomed on Lu Li's face, his excitement beyond words.

He felt filled with power and couldn't help but want to vent it.

He assumed the stance of the Tiger-Subduing Fist and began to practice, move by move.

If Hero Zhao were here, he would surely be astonished, his eyes popping out as he shouted, "Monster!"

Because Lu Li had actually managed to make his punches move like thunder, keeping the wind and snow from touching his body!

Hero Zhao had held no expectations for him, yet Lu Li had mastered it in a mere five days.

Such talent could be described as earth-shattering!

After venting his energy, Lu Li turned his gaze back to the light screen to see how much proficiency he had gained.

However, after looking, his expression shifted, and he curled his lip.

Martial Art: Tiger-Subduing Fist (Skin-Refining Realm, cannot be upgraded further)

"Tsk, Hero Zhao, you have no heroic spirit at all; you actually held back!" Lu Li complained softly.

The Tiger-Subduing Fist could be practiced up to the Tendon-Refining Realm, yet he was already unable to upgrade it at the Skin-Refining Realm; Hero Zhao had definitely kept secrets!

Deep down, however, he understood; he and Hero Zhao were not related, and the old man likely believed he had no future on the martial path.

Therefore, it was only natural that he wouldn't pass on the complete martial art.

Even though it could no longer be upgraded, a massive amount of insight still flooded into his mind.

Lu Li could still feel that he had improved significantly.

He threw a light punch, carrying a gust of wind that sent the snow swirling in all directions.

As he finished practicing each move, he felt as proficient as if it were second nature.

Lu Li was confident that an ordinary practitioner of the Skin-Refining Realm would be no match for him!

Images of Hero Zhao demonstrating the Tiger-Subduing Fist before him surfaced in his mind.

Comparing them carefully, Lu Li was surprised to find that the sound his Tiger-Subduing Fist produced was louder, and its power far more majestic, than Hero Zhao's!

Though they were both in the Skin-Refining Realm, bolstered by his talent and his golden finger, Hero Zhao was no longer his match.

Lu Li looked up at the sky.

"It's almost dark. I must hurry to find Hero Zhao and wheedle the rest of the Tiger-Subduing Fist out of him."

"If that doesn't work, I just got paid today; I'll buy a jug of strong liquor and get him drunk."

Soon, Lu Li tidied up. Thinking that the world was not a peaceful place, he grabbed some lime to hide in his sleeves, then bought a jug of wine and some food before heading straight up the mountain.

Arriving at the cave with practiced ease, Lu Li suddenly caught the faint scent of blood.

Suspicion rose in his heart; he frowned, his body tensing as he scanned his surroundings.

The next instant, beneath a large tree, he discovered Hero Zhao, drenched in blood and on the verge of death.

His wounds were deep enough to reveal bone. Looking at Lu Li, his lips moved as he used his last ounce of strength to roar, "Run... run away!"