All Astonished at Copper Skin in One Month! A Chance Encounter with a Mysterious Old Acquaintance at the Banquet

The next instant, a strand of warm, gentle heat quietly arose between Liu Yunche's calf muscles.

The heat neither rushed nor lingered as it slowly flowed downward along the texture of his flesh, passing through his ankle joints and winding through the hidden meridians in the soles of his feet.

A faint numb ache spread layer by layer, neither scorching nor violent, slowly seeping into his tendons, bones, and meridians. Bit by bit, it tempered his body, nourished his lower body, and carried out subtle cleansing and refinement.

A piece of information appeared in the depths of his sea of consciousness, and Liu Yunche instantly understood what these shoes had given him.

Gift: Divine Movement!

[A warlord had been driven into a miserable rout on the battlefield. He cast aside his crimson robe, cut off his beard, and abandoned his armor. In the end, only these treasured shoes carried him out of the encirclement.]

After being embedded continuously for one month, it could be devoured and permanently fixed, becoming a permanent gift.

"Divine Movement... what a fine gift." Liu Yunche sighed inwardly, the fingers resting on his knee twitching slightly. He had spent only two or three taels of silver to buy such a gift.

Divine Movement could greatly increase one's walking speed. It was truly the ultimate skill for traveling the martial world, protecting oneself, and preserving one's life.

Liu Yunche had yet to test exactly how much it could increase his speed, but he was full of anticipation.

Wei Cong drove the carriage toward the Liu Household, and nothing happened along the way.

After returning to the Liu Household, Liu Yunche stepped down from the carriage and turned to thank Wei Cong. "Thank you for today."

A trace of a smile squeezed onto Wei Cong's troubled face. "You are too courteous, Young Master. It is my duty."

After they parted, Liu Yunche's steps unconsciously quickened.

At last, he reached Cloud Perch Courtyard.

After closing the courtyard gate, Liu Yunche willed it, then began racing through the courtyard.

Only a streak of white flashed through the courtyard, with no sign of the person himself. For a time, his figure appeared in the pavilion, beside the ancient trees, and near the stone table.

Only after quite a while did Liu Yunche stop. Calm and composed, he slowly sat down.

"The Divine Movement Gift has not only increased my speed, but my stamina as well. At this speed, Skin Tempering martial artists are far beyond compare."

"If I cultivate another movement technique and pair it with my Perfected Realm Gale Swift Saber..."

"Then I can be said to possess at least some ability to protect myself."

Within Cloud Perch Courtyard, Liu Yunche gave off a dense, bitter medicinal scent. A layer of fine black fuzz covered his body as he forcefully held the stance of the Nurturing Origin Stance.

This fine black fuzz was not clothing, but something woven from a plant known as Ironwire Grass.

Ironwire Grass grew in the mountains and forests. It could abrade the skin; if ordinary people touched it carelessly, their skin would split open and bleed without end.

Yet the powers within Verdant Grain County consumed vast amounts of Ironwire Grass every year. Thus, gathering Ironwire Grass had become the livelihood of many commoners.

That was because Ironwire Grass could wear down the skin of Copper Skin Realm martial artists without harming their foundation. Paired with a particular medicinal solution, it could allow Copper Skin martial artists to reach the Iron Skin level sooner.

A few days earlier, when Liu Yunche had asked Liu Wangzhou whether there was a way to improve the effects of Skin Tempering, Liu Wangzhou had told him about Ironwire Grass.

His father's gentle voice echoed beside his ears. "Ironwire Grass is good, but you must bear its pain and itching yourself."

Liu Yunche had now personally experienced what the faint smile in his father's eyes had meant when he said those words.

At this moment, the Ironwire Grass covering his body squirmed as though it were alive.

Liu Yunche felt as if it were made up of dense swarms of tiny black insects crawling all over every inch of his skin.

It was like ten thousand ants gnawing at his body. Though he knew it would not greatly harm him physically, the psychological shadow was not something ordinary people could endure.

Fortunately, Liu Yunche possessed a strong heart. He wanted only to grow stronger. Ever since he had felt that rise in vitality, he had become immersed in it.

His entire body burned and itched. Liu Yunche gritted his teeth and maintained the Nurturing Origin Stance.

The heat generated by the Nurturing Origin Stance stimulated and tempered him from within, while the Ironwire Grass honed him from without. One inside and one outside, and Liu Yunche progressed steadily and swiftly.

Two days later.

Within Cloud Perch Courtyard, Liu Yunche downed three large bowls of Nourishing Origin Soup in succession. Feeling his body growing stronger by the day, he laughed brightly.

"In this world, all things and living beings have a sliver of opportunity—to rise against the odds, to climb upward."

"These days are far more satisfying than my previous life, when I stayed in the factory from seven in the morning until midnight every day."

After quite a while, Liu Yunche heard footsteps outside the courtyard. A servant's voice came from beyond the gate. "Young Master, Young Master Shi invites you to a banquet."

When he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw a middle-aged martial artist standing behind his family's servant, with a mountain emblem embroidered on his chest.

The mountain emblem was the symbol of the Rolling Stone Martial Arts Hall, which had been founded by Shi Xiuyan.

The middle-aged martial artist cupped his hands in salute. "Young Master Liu, my young master invites you."

Liu Yunche returned the salute and nodded for him to wait a moment, then instructed the servant to call Wei Cong as well.

By the time Wei Cong arrived at Cloud Perch Courtyard, Liu Yunche had changed into a black long robe.

Jingyuan Tower had five floors and was the finest establishment in Verdant Grain County.

Today, Shi Qingyue had broken through to Flesh Tempering. He therefore held a banquet in Azure Cloud Chamber, a private room on the second floor of Jingyuan Tower, and invited several close friends.

Outside Jingyuan Tower, Liu Yunche looked at the five-story building, a glimmer of admiration flashing through his eyes.

Its rooftop was densely covered with vermilion-red and dark-gray tiles, layered atop one another like interwoven scales.

The stairways wound around floor after floor, lined with evenly spaced pillars painted yellow.

Yellow pillars and crimson tiles made for a particularly striking sight.

Upon entering Jingyuan Tower, one found an entirely different scene.

Its carved windows and lattices were arranged in neat rows, while artificial hills and flowing water complemented them. It was magnificent, yet touched with quiet elegance.

Inside Azure Cloud Chamber on the second floor, Shi Qingyue was chatting idly with several people.

Hearing the door open, he looked up. Upon seeing Liu Yunche, he laughed heartily and spread his arms as he strode forward, brimming with high spirits.

"Yunche, you're here."

Seeing Shi Qingyue's delight, Liu Yunche smiled as well and raised a hand in congratulations. "Congratulations."

Shi Qingyue took Liu Yunche by the arm and led him into the room. "Come, let me introduce everyone."

"Everyone, this is my brother, Liu Yunche."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in Azure Cloud Chamber looked over and silently sized Liu Yunche up.

Liu Yunche showed no timidity. He generously cupped his hands and smiled.

"Yunche, this is He Wu. His family runs the He Family Rice Shop in the south of the city."

Shi Qingyue pointed to a tall, thin youth dressed in green as he introduced him.

He Wu smiled faintly. "Brother Yunche, I had heard of you some time ago."

He paused before continuing, "A few days ago, I heard an old servant in my household mention that Old Master Liu of the eastern city had produced a genius who broke through to Copper Skin after practicing martial arts for only one month."

"That must have been you, brother."

As soon as those words fell, Shi Qingyue turned toward Liu Yunche and could not help asking—

"Yunche, you've reached Copper Skin?" As he spoke, his right hand landed on Liu Yunche's shoulder and squeezed hard.

"Sure enough, hard enough. It really is Copper Skin."

Without changing expression, Liu Yunche brushed his hand away and casually explained, "You flatter me. I cannot be called a genius. My father merely supported me greatly, and I consumed several precious medicinal herbs."

Everyone understood. Perhaps that was the reason Liu Yunche had achieved Copper Skin in one month.

However, Shi Qingyue held some doubts about Liu Yunche's explanation. He did not voice them and instead continued introducing the remaining people.

"This is Miss Li Xuantong, daughter of Constable Li from the county office."

Liu Yunche knew that according to Great Qian law, constables had entered official rank. Though they were only ninth rank, they were officials nonetheless.

With one glance, Liu Yunche saw that Li Xuantong was around fifteen or sixteen. Her features were delicate and clean, while her skin held the pale, unadorned tone of someone who practiced martial arts year-round.

Li Xuantong cupped her hands in salute, a trace of doubt in her eyes as she spoke. "Did you truly reach Copper Skin in a single month?"

Behind Li Xuantong stood a refined young gentleman. He lightly tugged at her sleeve to remind her to mind her tone, while showing Liu Yunche an apologetic expression.

Liu Yunche did not take offense. He returned the salute, his voice gentle, humble but not servile. "Copper Skin in one month—it is indeed true."

Then he asked the youth behind Li Xuantong, "May I ask who this brother is?"

The youth was modest and courteous. "I am Li Xuansheng, Xuantong's cousin."

At the side, Shi Qingyue took over. "Yunche, let me introduce the last person—Senior Brother Jiang Xu."

Shi Qingyue smiled as he filled in the reason and explained the background to Liu Yunche as well.

"The few of us present all studied and trained at the Green Grain Martial Academy in our earlier years. Senior Brother Jiang is a senior student of the Martial Academy, so we all address him as Senior Brother Jiang."

"Even you, Yunche, spent some time in the Literary Academy before you began practicing martial arts."

"Senior Brother Jiang is a disciple of the Green Grain Martial Academy. He is only eighteen this year, yet he is already a Tendon Forging martial artist."

In the corner reclined a young man, reading a yellowed old book.

Upon hearing his name, Jiang Xu put down the book and looked over.

The moment he saw that face, Liu Yunche was slightly stunned. A flicker of surprise also flashed through Jiang Xu's eyes.

Jiang Xu smiled, his voice clear and mellow. "We meet again."

This time, Shi Qingyue was the one left stunned. "You know each other?"

Liu Yunche explained, "I met Senior Brother Jiang once in a bookstore on Changqing Old Street. I never expected that you knew each other as well."

Shi Qingyue nodded. So that was it.

Li Xuantong's voice came from the side.

"Senior Brother Jiang is one of the most outstanding students of this generation at the Green Grain Martial Academy."

He Wu looked at Jiang Xu and muttered, "Jiang Xu? No wonder that name sounded so familiar. So it is the Bookworm himself."

He solemnly cupped his hands toward Jiang Xu. "I have long admired your great name."

For a moment, the gazes directed at Jiang Xu carried an added measure of respect and admiration.

"You are all too courteous. Jiang is merely a few years older than you." Jiang Xu replied modestly.

The proud bearing of a genius that Liu Yunche had imagined was not displayed by Jiang Xu. This eighteen-year-old Tendon Forging martial artist was unexpectedly gentle in his treatment of others.

Seeing that everyone did not believe him, Jiang Xu pointed at Shi Qingyue. "Qing Yue is only sixteen and has already reached Flesh Tempering. In two years, he will naturally be able to reach Tendon Forging. Perhaps he will not even need two years."

"Senior Brother Jiang, you praise me too highly. Flesh Tempering does not progress as swiftly as Skin Tempering. Flesh Tempering involves many muscles, and the slightest carelessness may leave hidden injuries." Shi Qingyue shook his head.

He knew his own circumstances best. Flesh Tempering could not be rushed; one had to proceed step by step, advancing with every footfall firmly planted.

"I do not even have the confidence to reach perfection within two years, much less Tendon Forging."

Shi Qingyue raised his wine cup, changing the subject. "Let us not speak of this today. Come, let us drain this cup together and wish all of us martial fortunes as vast as a rainbow."

"Good! May our martial fortunes stretch like a rainbow!"

The young men and women drained their cups in one gulp, and for a time, host and guests alike were thoroughly delighted.

"Today, Qing Yue has broken through. I wish Qing Yue swift and soaring progress, and an early breakthrough to Tendon Forging." Jiang Xu raised his cup in congratulations.

The others also raised their cups one after another, joining in wishing Shi Qingyue an early breakthrough to Tendon Forging.