Skin Tempering

Biodata

Power Progression

Only explicitly documented advancements in Lu Li's Skin Tempering are listed.

Background

Skin Tempering is the first of the Four Great Gates, followed by Flesh Refining, Tendon Alteration, and Bone Forging. A practitioner must first build qi and blood through stake work, refine Internal Force, and break through the first bottleneck. Only then are they recognized as First-Gate Martial Artists. Gate-Breaking failures can damage the body, and later gates become progressively harder to cross. 5 17

The realm strengthens the skin membranes—the body’s defensive layer—by circulating force, qi, and blood through them. Lu Li’s initial breakthrough causes his skin to breathe through its pores and converts his Internal Force into Primordial Unity Force, creating the resilient “soft armor” characteristic of the realm. 17

Cultivation Requirements

• Qi and blood foundation — Still stances build qi and blood before a weak practitioner can safely train combat arts or refine force. 5
• Internal Force — Moving stances refine qi and blood into Internal Force; reaching Sinking Force Peak permits the first Gate-Breaking attempt. 5 17
• Fundamental Skin-Tempering Method — Such methods are contained within Secret Arts, including the Form-Intent Blade Secret Art taught to Lu Li by Shen Gangfu. 17
• Martial comprehension — The first six temperings rely heavily on prolonged grinding, while progress beyond the sixth requires comprehension. Some practitioners remain stuck at six for life. 16
• Nourishment and recovery — Meat supplements restore qi and blood, while medicinal baths repair strain and expand the channels. Neglecting recovery can leave a practitioner permanently stalled or physically ruined. 8

Rank Structure

Defensive Properties

• First Skin Tempering — Tempered skin can withstand ordinary blades, spears, clubs, staffs, punches, and kicks. 17
• Below Sixth Skin Tempering — Specialized Secret Arts can penetrate a martial artist’s skin membrane, unlike ordinary weapons. 17
• Seventh Skin Tempering and above — Defense rises enough that Secret Techniques struggle to inflict meaningful injury; Ultimate Techniques are required to reliably break such defenses. 38
• Fifth Skin Tempering — Lu Li’s skin disperses incoming force through circular flow, with the rebound alone capable of numbing an attacker’s arms. 32
• Eighth Skin Tempering — Lu Li’s refined body can stop the momentum of Zheng Zhen’s massive halberd with two fingers without visibly using Variant True Qi. 65

Cultivation Resources

• Azure Membrane Paste — Protects the skin membrane during tempering and may be used up to three times; it is required for the early rounds. 21
• Vermilion Sand Powder — A stronger medicinal aid required after the third tempering and used by Lu Li for his sixth breakthrough. 21 56
• Tiger Hide Powder — Supports the seventh through ninth Skin Temperings; Lin Lanyi provides Lu Li with three portions. 41
• Variant True Qi — Greatly accelerates Lu Li’s later Skin Tempering, allowing a round to be completed at a pace comparable to someone with Upper-Grade Bone Aptitude. 56

Strange True Qi Reforging

After reaching the Extreme Realm of Primordial Unity Force, Lu Li’s force transforms into Strange True Qi. Rather than merely adding to his existing five Skin Temperings, it loosens their old layers and allows him to reforge his body from the first stage onward. 53

• Copper Skin forms dense circular marks like copper coins or fish scales. 53
• Tiger Hide creates raised scale-like hard scabs resembling a suit of armor. 54
• Ironclad Hide manifests chain-like reinforcement extending from skin toward the bones. 54
• Jade Lotus Root Skin develops regenerative connective threads beneath the skin. 64
• Each reforging subjects Lu Li to extreme pain and recurring visions within his Sea of Consciousness; the Celebratory Cloud Lamp repeatedly suppresses the entities that appear. 53 54
• The eighth stage leaves a dormant vertical line between Lu Li’s brows. He speculates that it may be the beginning of a divine ability, but cannot activate it. 65

Known Practitioners

• Lu Li — Reaches First-Gate Skin Tempering after roughly one month of martial training, later reforging his body through Strange True Qi to complete eight stages. 17 65
• Xie Guhe — Reached the tenfold Skin-Tempering Extreme Realm at sixteen after obtaining Starfall Martial Moss during a previous miracle; he later became master of the Martial Suppression Hall. 44