He Liang pointed at the dock not far away. "This dock used to be split equally between the Shen Lineage and the Lin Family, but now the Lin Family has taken over most of it. If the Shen Lineage loses the martial contest in half a month, they'll have to hand it over on a silver platter."
Hearing this, Chen Tie feigned curiosity and asked, "Where did the Lin Family get the strength to take over a dock?"
"I heard the Lin Family has an inner-city Lineage backing them. The Shen Lineage doesn't have much chance of winning the contest."
Chen Tie nodded noncommittally, but quietly committed the matter to memory.
Their patrol that night passed without incident, and Chen Tie went back early to rest.
Early the next morning, Chen Tie arrived at the Fierce Tiger Martial Hall. He felt as though a ball of fire were burning inside his flesh.
"It's time to break through to the Flesh Refining Realm!"
Chen Tie deftly assumed the Fierce Tiger Stance Art's posture. His chest rose and fell slightly, his Qi and blood growing stronger with every breath. His heart pounded powerfully, and a faint, blood-red sheen appeared on his skin. Beneath his skin and flesh, the pulsing flow of Qi and blood was clearly audible, like the low rumble of muffled thunder.
The Qi and blood inside him erupted as though boiling. The warm Blood Qi that had lain hidden in the gaps within his flesh instantly surged throughout his body.
His sinews, bones, skin, and flesh seemed to be scoured and tempered by a scalding torrent. His muscle fibers quivered and reformed without cease, and his already firm skin and flesh grew tougher and denser. A powerful force arose from every inch of his flesh. His force no longer resided in his skin, but lay hidden in his muscles, stored within his skin and flesh.
Chen Tie was drenched in sweat, only for his boiling Qi and blood to dry it away. A layer of white mist shrouded his entire body.
Chen Tie's suppressed panting rang out in the outer courtyard. He could feel his body changing, and the pain nearly made him cry out.
But Chen Tie knew he had to endure. After a long while, his boiling Qi and blood gradually settled, and the pain faded. At once, he felt refreshed from head to toe.
Chen Tie raised a hand and clenched his fist. A series of faint crackles came from his skin and flesh as force spread through his muscles to his knuckles.
"So this is Flesh Refining! Compared to Skin Refining, my total Qi and blood has increased severalfold. It's rich and full, no longer insubstantial."
A keen light flashed in Chen Tie's eyes. A Skin Refining martial artist's Qi and blood mostly lingered at the surface, but once the Flesh Refining Realm was achieved, they were firmly locked within the flesh, bringing a qualitative change in physical strength.
With a mere lift of his hand, a weighty sense of pressure spread outward. His body's resistance had greatly increased, and his force circulated with his Qi and blood. Every movement carried the tremendous strength of tempered flesh.
Force flowed freely through his skin and flesh. His Qi and blood circulated faster, swiftly reaching his limbs without any sense of obstruction. It was an exhilarating experience.
[Fierce Tiger Fist: minor mastery (180/200)] [Fierce Tiger Stance Art Greater Mastery (1/300)][Resounding Viscera Blood Scripture Second Layer (62/100)] [Supple Bone Palm Initiation (61/200)]
Chen Tie reined in his presence and looked around. Since he had arrived early today, the other outer courtyard disciples had yet to arrive.
"Five months to break through to the Flesh Refining Realm. Looks like I'm not doing too badly. I'll find a chance to tell Master Mo after some time."
"But my breakthrough seemed to cause much more of a stir than Second Senior Brother's. Could it be because I practice more arts, or because I have more Qi and blood?"
Chen Tie shook his head. He might as well ask Master Mo next time.
In these troubled times, concealing some of his strength was necessary. Of course, he couldn't hide all of it.
By showing an appropriate amount, he could at least obtain some resources. Hiding everything and living like a dog wasn't a good choice either.
Chen Xi, who had been playing nearby, immediately ran over.
"Brother, you broke through!"
"Yes, but don't tell anyone just yet."
"Okay." Chen Xi nodded obediently.
Chen Tie adjusted his mindset and resumed practicing martial arts. The other outer courtyard disciples arrived one after another, and the day's training began.
Chen Tie practiced his punches over and over, his movements stirring the air with a tiger's might. His sweat steamed into mist, and even after such intense training, he felt far less fatigued.
"Senior Brother, wipe your face. It's noon."
A disciple hurried over with a towel and washbasin.
"Thank you, Junior Brother."
Chen Tie took the towel, wet it, and wiped his face. Though the sweat on his face had already evaporated, wiping it still felt comfortable.
This disciple was named Ye Dong and had only just joined the martial hall. Normally, he should have started by learning martial arts under Shen Yan or Xu Da.
But those two were occasionally absent from the martial hall now, so Chen Tie, as an older disciple, could only guide him for a while.
Ye Dong said quietly, "Senior Brother Chen, it's only what I should do."
Chen Tie understood what he was thinking and casually set down the towel.
"Show me how your Fierce Tiger Stance Art is coming along."
"Yes, Senior Brother." Delight appeared on Ye Dong's face. "I've practiced for two days and feel like I've memorized it all, but something always feels wrong. My body tires very easily."
"Show me. Let me take a look."
At his words, Ye Dong spread his feet, extended his hands forward, and lowered his body, assuming the Fierce Tiger Stance Art's posture.
Chen Tie walked around him and offered some pointers. "You're just starting, and your lower body is weak. Don't squat too low at first. If you lack the strength, raise your body and progress gradually. The moment you feel a stabbing pain in your knees or an ache in your lower back, stand up and rest. Forcing yourself to hold on is bad for your body."
Chen Tie explained every point in detail so the new disciple could avoid unnecessary detours. After all, Shen Yan had guided him attentively back then too.
After hearing his explanations, Ye Dong was deeply grateful. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll go practice over there."
"Mm, go ahead."
He cupped his hands and left.
After resting for a short while, Chen Tie immediately began practicing the Fierce Tiger Fist.
After all, he wasn't far from major mastery. Now that his cultivation realm had risen, his fist technique needed to improve as well. Advancing both together would make him stronger.
Not a single disciple in the entire martial hall had trained the Fierce Tiger Fist to major mastery. After all, it required painstaking work over time. Even most disciples in the Flesh Refining Realm were merely approaching major mastery.
Once the fist technique reached major mastery, fist intent would completely merge with Qi and blood. Throwing punches would no longer rely on brute strength alone.
With a single thought, the Qi and blood throughout the body would flow with the momentum of the fists, and the meridians would open and close with each move. A punch would no longer forcibly drive Blood Qi; instead, as the fist arrived, Qi and blood would naturally surge to meet it.
Moreover, the muscles would contract and relax at will, and power would no longer be limited to the arms. It would truly travel from the feet through the hips, waist, and back, reaching all the way to the knuckles. The force would become one seamless whole, and with a single movement, the strength of the entire body would gather into one punch, greatly increasing its power.
That afternoon, Xu Da hurried into the martial hall.
"Junior Brother Chen, I haven't seen you for just a day. Why do you feel like a completely different person?"
"I've made some small gains in my martial arts recently. Third Senior Brother, did you come specifically to see me?"
"That's a good thing!" Xu Da gave it no further thought and said directly, "That's right, I do have something to discuss with you. My Tiger Might Escort Agency just accepted an escort job to nearby Tianshan City. Are you interested in coming along to gain some experience?"
A keen light flashed in Chen Tie's eyes. Had he not broken through to the Flesh Refining Realm, he might have refused to leave the city.
But now that his strength had reached this level, he had to seize this opportunity to temper himself.
"Third Senior Brother, when do we leave?"
"In seven days, at the Tiger Might Escort Agency."
Chen Tie cupped his hands. "With such a sincere invitation from you, Senior Brother, how could I refuse?"
Xu Da patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, you won't be shortchanged. Besides, I'll be going with you this time."
"All right!"
Chen Tie nodded as he spoke.
Chen Tie reckoned that if he pushed himself a little harder over those seven days, he could bring the Fierce Tiger Fist to major mastery, making this escort trip all the more secure.