Skin Tempering Five Times

Lu Li was somewhat surprised by Lei Zhengming's breakthrough, but no matter what, it strengthened the martial hall's overall power.

The front courtyard once again filled with laughter and cheer.

Lu Li gradually immersed himself in training, turning a deaf ear to the discussions in the courtyard. He punched in "self-forgetfulness," absorbed in his own world, again and again.

As he practiced, he also quietly reflected.

After Primordial Unity Force broke through to the fifth level, he felt that his body had become even "heavier," as though the Jade Pure Vase held an entire river of water.

"As Primordial Unity Force accumulates day by day and gradually grows richer, rolling through my entire body again and again, carrying and circulating, soaking into skin and membranes, this Sinking Force of mine will only become more solid..."

He felt like an old millstone packed firm by a rammer—steady and weighty, still yet impossible to shake.

Lu Li circulated his Primordial Unity Force and focused his mind as he examined the skin and membranes across his body.

Within the faint violet glow on his chest, a trace of deeper markings vaguely surfaced. Beneath his fitted martial attire, they were pale and obscure, utterly inconspicuous.

"If a punch landed on skin and membranes like this, its force would first be dispersed by the circular flow. The remaining rebounding force alone would be enough to leave an opponent's arms numb and aching..."

Lu Li's thoughts turned.

Once his qi and blood recovered, his Primordial Unity Force reached great completion, and his Skin Tempering reached the Extreme Realm of ten times, what kind of magnificent sight would that be?

"At that point, if a martial artist who has yet to break through the Gate punched me, would the rebounding force kill them outright?"

Lu Li smiled inwardly and gave a soundless laugh.

"As my Skin Tempering deepens, I will grow heavier and heavier, like an old tree sending roots into the earth. The deeper those roots sink, the harder it will be for the winds of this mortal world to shake me..."

Thinking of this, another measure of anticipation rose in Lu Li's heart.

"Primordial Unity Force has reached the fifth level. How many levels are there at completion? Could it have an Extreme Realm too, like ten rounds of Skin Tempering?"

The scenes from yesterday's Deathmatch Arena abruptly flashed through his mind. In the previous five deadly battles, Huben's ultimate chained attack had been seamless and silky smooth. If not for the hidden injury in his right arm, Lu Li likely would not have reacted so quickly. In a fight to the death, victory and defeat were decided in an instant. Perhaps he still could have dodged it, but he might not have escaped unscathed...

At the same time, he felt that Huben's biting, frigid aura was also worth learning from. If every strike of his blade could carry that kind of presence, disrupting his opponent's mind, it would be another great killing move...

As countless thoughts surged through Lu Li's mind, a certain feeling gradually became clearer.

He cast aside his thoughts, his eyes tranquil as water, and concentrated on using stance training to temper his skin.

The movements of his hands grew faster and faster.

After a night of life-and-death slaughter, his Primordial Unity Force had become increasingly solid and weighty, like rivers flowing into the sea. A dense, substantial stream of Primordial Unity Force rose from his dantian, washing through his limbs and bones before finally seeping into his skin and membranes.

A faint violet radiance spread over his chest, gathering without dispersing into a patch of light that gradually solidified as purple brilliance bloomed.

His skin and membranes seemed like aged wood soaked in pulp, visibly growing firmer and tighter.

Then the purple brilliance dispersed like mist, and a pale orange glow abruptly rose, flickering like orange lightning as it continued onward.

"Five rounds of Skin Tempering..."

Lu Li slowly withdrew his fists, his expression returning to calm. Such a surging breakthrough had been completed in a corner of the front courtyard, while the other disciples were still gathered around Lei Zhengming, seeking advice on the critical hurdles of Gate-Breaking.

It came as naturally as water flowing into a channel, without the slightest obstruction or stagnation in his breakthrough.

Lu Li sensed the Celebratory Cloud Lamp within his mind.

His heart filled with emotion. One step at a time, steady and sure, advancing firmly through meticulous polishing—he never needed to fear failure.

Train bitterly, and there would be gains.

Beneath the Celebratory Cloud Lamp's day-after-day illumination, his foundation had become stable and solid. This was not the kind of rapid growth achieved by pulling seedlings to help them grow; there was no sense of emptiness or instability, and it gave him immense peace of mind.

Celebratory Cloud Lamp, his dear close friend.

Night was drawing near.

Lu Li went to the rear courtyard to see his master.

The moment he entered.

"On the table is secret nourishing meat meant only for martial artists. Compared with what you ate before, it replenishes qi and blood far more..."

Shen Gangfu's voice began sounding the instant Lu Li stepped through the door.

Lu Li silently nodded, sat down, and began eating with great relish.

"Those three pills are Blood-Activating Pills. From now on, take three every day. The box contains a month's supply."

Lu Li's right hand, which held the secret meat, paused for an instant. His eyes shifted slightly, and his eating slowed unconsciously.

This master truly was a real master. He was still worrying over Lu Li's depleted qi and blood...

After thinking for a moment, Lu Li suddenly turned sideways and asked,

"Master, do you have any other relatives?"

At his words, Shen Gangfu's gaze shifted and stalled for a moment. Then he gently stroked his short beard and replied leisurely,

"I entered the Xingyi Sect when I was young. My parents have long since passed away. I have a younger brother and sister, but neither is involved in the martial path, so we rarely keep in touch..."

Hearing this, Lu Li rose to his feet, set down the meat in his hand, and slowly said,

"Master, from now on, I'll be your family. The courtyard I just bought happens to be right beside yours. Once I tear down the wall between them someday, we'll truly be one family."

Lu Li spoke with complete sincerity, and there was even a trace of longing in his eyes.

"You brat."

Shen Gangfu froze for a moment.

"I think you've got your eye on my courtyard. Finish eating quickly. In a while, I'll take you to meet the brothers I ran escort missions with back in the day."

Hm?

Why was his master suddenly taking him to meet his old escort bureau brothers?

But since his master did not explain further, Lu Li did not ask further either.

He turned back and sat down again, wolfing down all the secret meat in a few bites. He had barely tasted it at all; it melted the moment it entered his mouth, and he simply swallowed it whole.

Before long, he felt a warm current begin circulating through his body, as though his qi and blood were flowing.

This secret meat was actually so miraculous?

Before he could think further, his master spoke again.

"Swallow the Qi-Blood Pill too, then practice a set of punches."

Lu Li did as instructed, swallowed the Qi-Blood Pill, and began performing the perfected Eight Trigrams Moving Stake.

He was halfway through the set.

Shen Gangfu's eyes widened at his side. He raised his right hand and pointed at Lu Li, taking a long while before he finally said,

"You... you've trained Eight Trigrams Moving Stake to completion?"

Lu Li gave an "Mm," his movements never stopping. Crashing, chopping, hooking, and hanging flowed together in one breath. His entire body moved with agile dexterity yet carried deep ferocity. It looked plain and unadorned, but mysteries lay hidden between feint and substance. Only an expert could see that every one of Bagua Fist's eight great hurdles had been fully displayed in his movements.

Shen Gangfu's eyes burned, filled with tears. It had taken him twelve years to train it to completion.

How long had Lu Li even been practicing martial arts?

What foundation had he possessed before practicing martial arts?

Shen Gangfu even blamed himself, blaming himself for not teaching such an excellent seedling properly. If he had taken Lu Li as a personal disciple sooner and nurtured him with care, then... then the failure at Gate-Breaking would never have happened.

His resolve toward what he wished to do next grew even firmer.

Lu Li finished the set and withdrew his stance.

Seeing his master frozen where he stood, one hand still raised in midair and tears faintly glimmering in his eyes, Lu Li was also taken aback.

He had revealed his perfected Bagua stance today not merely to give his master a small shock.

He wanted his master to know that all his help had been worthwhile. He had not expected perfected Bagua Fist alone to make his master lose composure to this extent.

Then what about perfected Form-Intent Fist?

Lu Li decisively cut off that reckless thought. This was enough. Anything more would be impolite.

"Master, when are we leaving?"

Lu Li paused, then added,

"Aren't we going to meet your escort bureau brothers?"

Shen Gangfu came back to himself. Looking at the personal disciple before him, his eyes were filled with smiles, pride, and satisfaction.

"With such a fine disciple, what more could a man ask for?"

He composed himself, returned to his room to change into a proper brocade robe, straightened his sleeves, and said in a calm, unhurried tone,

"Let's go. We're heading to the Inner City."