Mid Skin Tempering Realm

In the first year, you familiarized yourself with acupoints throughout your body and began slowly tempering the Iron Shirt through various methods. The defensive power of every acupoint greatly increased, and you entered the initial stage of the Skin Tempering Realm.

In the nineteenth year, the Iron Shirt achieved minor success. You entered the mid stage of the Skin Tempering Realm, and under the nourishment of spiritual energy, your defense increased greatly.

He opened his hand. The Spirit Stone in his palm had already crumbled into powder.

Seeing the panel, Gao Fei nearly roared, "Why is my lifespan still 117 days?"

The muscles across his entire body began to bulge, making him about as built as a gym trainer. His strength had more than doubled.

He would study the matter of his lifespan later. Gao Fei closed the Iron Shirt manual and tossed it to his second uncle.

"Do you have any techniques that can quickly kill someone at the late Skin Tempering Realm or Tendon-Bone Realm?"

The rat demon Gao Fei had killed last time had probably been in the mid Skin Tempering Realm. It had been far too difficult to kill.

It would be easier to kill one now, but he could still only rely on brute force to smash the opponent's bones and internal organs.

It was difficult to kill with a single strike.

"No. Only upon reaching the Spirit-Absorption Realm are there cultivation techniques that use true qi to directly attack the internal organs."

Gao Fei thought of the traditional martial arts of Blue Star. Bright Force was said to be on par with the Tendon-Bone Realm. Perhaps once he reached the Bone Tempering Realm, he could try directly deducing "Dark Force."

"Do you have a better fist technique? Teach me a set."

"Sure! Just practice it casually. There's no need to take it seriously. Training with weapons is the proper path."

As he spoke, he began taking up stances in the courtyard.

"This set of Beast Fist was created by a group of martial artists based on how demons exerted force. Watch the points where power flows through my whole body."

As he spoke, he began performing the moves one by one on the spot.

At one moment, he was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain; at the next, like a bear. When he chopped with his palm, his force was heavy and overwhelming... the bones and tendons throughout his body cracked in succession.

"This is the Bright Force method of exerting power from traditional martial arts."

System prompt: Beast Fist discovered. Learn it?

Gao Fei froze for a moment. He had thought that techniques taught by others could only use Merit Points after he had gotten started with them. He had not expected to learn it directly after merely watching one demonstration.

"Start with ten Merit Points."

In the first year, you mastered the method of exerting force and gained entry into the fist technique.

In the eighth year, the fist technique reached perfection.

In the ninth year, you discovered that many methods of exerting force in the fist technique were unsuitable for humans and decided to revise them.

In the tenth year, combining the Six Harmonies Spear technique with memories from your previous life, you restored part of Form-Intention Fist.

"Oh! There were gains. Use another 9."

Gao Fei had long found those remaining odd-numbered Merit Points an eyesore. He used them all at once, leaving no tail behind.

In the first year, you continued your research and occasionally gained insights.

In the seventh year, based on your memories, you completely created Form-Intention Fist.

In the eighth year, you gained entry into Form-Intention Fist.

In the ninth year, you discovered that your tendons and bones could not withstand the power exerted by Form-Intention Fist. Your Form-Intention Fist remained at the stage where you knew it but could not use it.

Luckily, he had memories of watching short videos. Otherwise, who knew how many Merit Points it would have taken to deduce Form-Intention Fist.

Now, looking at the fist technique Gao Linyue was performing, it was simply riddled with flaws.

"Second Uncle, did you create this fist technique?"

"No. Back when I joined the army, the hundred-man unit I was in created it together. How is it? Isn't it incredibly powerful?"

Gao Linyue seemed to have recalled the past, and his fist technique came to a halt.

"Why do I feel like you've changed somehow? You've gotten much sturdier."

"Have I? I should stick to practicing the saber. This fist technique doesn't seem fully developed."

Gao Fei had already learned it completely, but there was no need to show it. His current strength was still a little lacking.

Just like when he dragged demon corpses back, the people along the road assumed Gao Fei was helping someone clean up the battlefield. They did not react in the slightest.

The reputation of his original self as a good-for-nothing and a scoundrel was still extremely useful.

He still had 30 Merit Points left. Now that the Spirit Stones were used up, he could only return to the miserable days of drinking medicine.

Walking over to the two jars of Qi-Blood Soup he had just bought, he took several large gulps. After feeling it out, it was still effective, but the effect was terribly poor.

He wondered whether a thousand portions could replenish the qi and blood needed for the mid Skin Tempering Realm.

He took a gourd from the house and filled it to the brim before turning back to look at his second uncle.

Gao Linyue was sizing Gao Fei up and down, even rubbing his eyes.

"What happened to your skin? It suddenly got much darker. If I didn't know your realm, I'd think you'd been in the Skin Tempering Realm for a long time."

"I've been going out often lately. It's from the sun."

After answering, Gao Fei quickly changed the subject. "Have you heard of Spirit Stones?"

"Spirit Stones? Legend says they are things immortals use for cultivation. I've never seen one, but I heard that grandmasters who cultivate to the Martial Dao Golden Core need Spirit Stones to aid their cultivation."

"Back when we were wiping out Yueyang County, I was injured and could only stay here to recover at your second aunt's family home. When I returned to our hometown again, the whole family had vanished without a trace. Only you remained, begging as a little beggar, so I brought you here to settle down...

Second Uncle Gao Linyue sank into his memories once more.

Gao Fei checked the system time. Half an hour had passed. It was time to head back.

"Second Uncle, Qiu Mei is redeeming herself today. How about we go to Spring Revival Pavilion and watch the excitement? I'll treat you tonight..."

"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not going!"

Gao Linyue hurriedly covered Gao Fei's mouth, glanced toward the inner room, lowered his voice, and leaned close to his ear. "You go first! I'll be there shortly."

Gao Fei turned and left through the front gate with a smile. His goal had been achieved.

It wasn't excessive to invite an elder to lend some weight to the occasion, was it?

In a world with demons and ghosts, ordinary people basically did not go out at night unless they had urgent business.

As he happily made his way toward Spring Revival Pavilion, an ill-timed voice rang out.

"Gao Fei, stop! Don't think that by not coming to the martial hall today, you can avoid my revenge. I refuse to believe you won't go for Qiu Mei's redemption. I still caught you, didn't I?"

Lin Shaoxiong, accompanied by a burly man, blocked Gao Fei's path. It was obvious he had been waiting for him.

The burly man looked familiar. Upon closer inspection, he was the leader of the men who had delivered blood food to the rat demon today.

"Well, if it isn't Lin Shaoxiong. Have you gotten addicted to being beaten?"

"Go over there and grab him. I'll slap him a few times first to vent my anger!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand, then slowly backed away with his arms folded across his chest, terrified of getting caught up in it.

When Gao Fei drew his Tang Saber, the burly man still approached slowly with his bare hands.

Gao Fei raised the saber and slashed.

The burly man did not dodge. The blade swept across him, leaving a bloody line on his chest as beads of blood immediately seeped out.

The burly man was startled as well. His defense had been broken in an instant, and he retreated repeatedly.

"Young Master Third, the saber in his hand is unusual. He's also a constable. If we make too much of a disturbance fighting in the city, I'm afraid..."

"Trash!"

Turning around, Lin Shaoxiong shouted provocatively at Gao Fei, "You're only relying on a treasured saber. What's so impressive about that? Let's go. This time, Qiu Mei is mine."

With that, he took the lead in trying to walk past Gao Fei and leave.

"Did I say you could leave?"

As he spoke, Gao Fei reached out, grabbed Lin Shaoxiong, and lifted him up. He slapped him across the face.

Slap!

Anyone going to redeem her was someone opposing him. If he did not deal with this man now, was he supposed to wait for him to disgust him later?

"Hand over the banknotes!"

Lin Shaoxiong was not intimidated. Instead, he threatened his own subordinate.

"Robbery!... You dog of a servant, why aren't you coming over to kill him?"

"The stolen money is there. I won't say it a second time. Right now, I'm the highest-ranking official. Hand it over, and I'll spare your life."

Gao Fei did not speak loudly, but it was just enough for both men to hear.

As he spoke, the saber in his hand was already pressed against Lin Shaoxiong's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.

The guard who had been cursed at did not dare talk back. Stunned, he watched them and did not dare make any reckless move, only standing where he was and trying to persuade him.

"Don't be rash. We can talk this out!"

A few passersby began gathering at this point. Those heading to Spring Revival Pavilion saw the situation and hurriedly backed away.

The people out at night were generally people of status and cultivation. They all knew Gao Fei and Lin Shaoxiong.

They merely watched from afar, with no intention of helping at all.