After practicing the Four Symbols Five Elements Fist once, Bai Yu felt heat coursing through his body, his pores opening up.
Training in the Four Symbols Five Elements Fist not only doesn't deplete his Qi and blood, but actually enhances them.
This was simply amazing!
In the days that followed, Bai Yu embarked on his cultivation journey.
In the mornings, he routinely buried guests and practiced the Void Walking Step and Mysterious Turtle Breath Gathering Technique in the back mountain.
In the afternoons, he practiced the Four Symbols Five Elements Fist and Soul Severing Blade in the small courtyard.
The life experience gained from each funeral procession was all invested into the Four Symbols Five Elements Fist.
Days passed by, plain yet fulfilling.
On this day, he practiced the Four Symbols Five Elements Fist in the small courtyard.
He felt his Qi and blood surging throughout his body, almost boiling, with wisps of white steam rising from his head.
"Ha!"
Bai Yu let out a clear shout, swung his fist, and broke a piece of wood as thick as a large bowl in half.
A faint crystalline sheen appeared on his arms.
Strong as an ox, skin like jade.
Stage Three Skin Tempering Realm!
Upon reaching Stage Three as a martial artist, one must begin tempering the skin with the power of Qi and blood.
The skin is trained to be impervious to blades.
It becomes as crystalline as jade or as lustrous as gold paper.
Once the entire skin is tempered without any weak spots, one can advance to the next major realm, the Qi and Blood Realm!
Bai Yu exhaled a long breath, calming his mind after a round of breathing exercises.
The diligent practice of these days had finally borne fruit.
His attribute panel had changed to:
[Name: Bai Yu]
[Aptitude: 5]
[Qi and Blood: 108]
[Strength: 85]
[Cultivation: Stage Three Skin Tempering Realm]
[Cultivation Technique: Four Symbols Five Elements Fist (Practice Makes Perfect, 831/1000)]
[Martial Skills: Soul Severing Blade (Practice Makes Perfect), Mysterious Turtle Qi Gathering Technique (Practice Makes Perfect), Void Walking Step (Practice Makes Perfect)]
[Divine Ability: Immortality]
[Other Skills: Play Suona (Thorough Understanding), Essence-Nourishing Powder (First Glimpse of the Path), Literacy (Practice Makes Perfect), Hunting (Practice Makes Perfect), Meng Family Herbal Classic (First Glimpse of the Path)]
Bai Yu felt a sense of ease in his heart.
As the saying goes, balance work and rest; he had been too tense these days and it was time to relax.
He remembered that he had picked up a copy of "Romantic Chronicles of Li State's Immortals" at the black market.
After washing up, Bai Yu sat by the window and began to read.
The author of this book was named Master Bai Gui.
It told of the romantic escapades of various beautiful female immortals in the Li State cultivation world.
He wondered how it had spread to the mundane world.
With a critical spirit, Bai Yu read a few pages and concluded:
"This book has high artistic value."
Just then, Zhu Tong's voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Xiao Bai, what are you up to?"
Bai Yu's face turned red, and he quickly put away "Romantic Chronicles of Li State's Immortals" and replaced it with Mr. Meng's handwritten "Spring and Autumn."
"Ahem, well, I'm reading Spring and Autumn."
Zhu Tong pushed the door open and said:
"Why are you closing the door in broad daylight, and why is your face so red?"
Bai Yu replied:
"I just finished practicing martial arts, my Qi and blood are surging."
He quickly changed the subject.
"Brother Tong, is there business again?"
Zhu Tong shook his head and said:
"It's Mangzi, he's leaving in a few days."
Bai Yu asked curiously:
"Why is he leaving all of a sudden?"
Zhu Tong stepped forward and lowered his voice:
"I'm only telling you, don't spread it around."
Search "pawread.com" for the original.
"Mangzi got lucky and saved a wandering hero, who seems to be a great monk."
"The hero took him as a disciple, taught him martial arts, and wants to take him on adventures."
"You know, he always wanted to be a wandering hero, so he immediately decided to follow his master on adventures."
Bai Yu was taken aback, not expecting Mangzi to have such an opportunity.
Finding an injured master by the roadside and then becoming an apprentice—this was the script of a protagonist.
Come to think of it, Mangzi, despite being a bit reckless, had a good heart.
Except for the first time when he tried to bully Bai Yu, he later took the initiative in everything.
If he really left, Bai Yu would miss him.
Bai Yu said:
"In that case, we should see him off."
Zhu Tong laughed and said:
"Exactly, Uncle Jiu has spoken, tomorrow night we'll give Mangzi a farewell party."
"At the charity mortuary, everyone brings two dishes and some wine."
Bai Yu nodded and said:
"Alright, I'll get ready."
The next day, Bai Yu went to Willow Street and bought a roasted chicken, wrapped it in lotus leaves.
Then he brought a jar of Bamboo Leaf Green wine.
By a river, Bai Yu said:
"Old Mo, I want to eat fish."
Old Mo understood, jumped into the water, and after a few splashes, caught a fish longer than an arm, weighing three to five pounds.
Bai Yu beamed with joy:
"Great, watch me show off my cooking skills and make Essence-Fried Fish."
That evening, the five people of the charity mortuary gathered together.
Bai Yu served the roasted chicken and fragrant fried fish.
Zhu Tong brought a plate of braised meat and roasted lamb.
Daoist Lin Jiu brought a pig's knuckle, and Mangzi sliced a plate of beef.
The most surprising was Old Zhangtou, who brought a whole roasted dog.
These were rare delicacies.
Everyone could only swallow their saliva, and after congratulating Mangzi with a few words like "boundless prospects" and "safe journey," they began to devour the food.
After a few rounds of drinks, Zhu Tong and Daoist Lin Jiu were calling each other brothers.
Mangzi hugged Old Mo, stuffing him with beef, insisting on becoming sworn brothers with him.
Old Zhangtou, however, remained sober, sipping his wine slowly:
"Mangzi, why bother? With a stable job at the charity mortuary, why face the hardships of the world?"
Mangzi hiccupped:
"Since I was young, I've yearned to be a hero, robbing the rich to help the poor, upholding justice."
"Meeting my master was a heaven-sent opportunity."
Old Zhangtou snorted through his nose:
"What do you know? Robbing the rich to help the poor is nonsense, there are no good people in the world."
Unfortunately, Mangzi was no longer listening, hugging Old Mo and calling him brother.
Bai Yu chimed in:
"Uncle Zhang, why do you say there are no good people in the world? I've heard of heroes like Qiu the Iron Palm, a true man."
Old Zhangtou coldly snorted:
"What do you know? How do you think he got his wealth? Didn't he use his iron palms to rob it?"
"People of the world don't produce anything, where do they get the money for eating, drinking, and gambling?"
"It's all about robbing, either openly or secretly."
"Rob a hundred taels, then give away two or three to make a show, leaving a good name, fooling young ones like you."
There was indeed some truth to that.
Those heroes practiced martial arts all day and didn't produce anything, someone had to support them, right?
Bai Yu asked again:
"What about the escort agencies? Like Master Mo, known for his fists in the North Pass, he works diligently, surely he's a good person."
Old Zhangtou took a swig from his gourd:
"Master Mo monopolized the escort business in the North Pass, how many did he kill to get started? His escort agency's house came from an unlucky Mr. Zhu."
Bai Yu wondered:
"Is there really no hero in the world?"
Old Zhangtou sneered repeatedly:
"If you really want to count, there is. Hero Shi of the Nine Dragons Blade in Lingnan is a true man, never did anything bad."
"But this true man is the most foolish, worse than a pig!"
"His father left him a fortune, and he squandered it all in a few years, ending up with a broken family."
Old Zhangtou took a bite of dog meat, seemingly talking to himself:
"Why wander the world? Better to eat and drink in peace."