"The ascent of the Martial Dao is all about refinement. You refine your skin, bones, sinews, organs, and blood—anything and everything you can. When you can generate true power, that's when you've finally crossed the threshold."
"When you've refined your body to the absolute limit, blades won't be able to cut you, a hundred poisons won't harm you, and a mere touch from you will be fatal to any mortal. Once you reach such a realm, you could even secure a place for yourself in the Divine Mansion Sect."
"The Divine Mansion Sect?!"
"That's right, the Divine Mansion Sect!"
In the Martial Arts Arena, the hundred or so apprentices all revealed looks of yearning.
What kind of existence was the Divine Mansion Sect?
It was the supreme power in all of Huanglong Prefecture.
Never mind that the three major powers strutted about on a daily basis; in front of someone from the Divine Mansion Sect, they were more docile than pet dogs.
"Instructor, what level of refinement have you reached?"
A young man Bai Yuan had never seen before called out from the crowd.
"Bone Forging!"
Instructor Zhang Yang said proudly.
In the Jianghu, Martial Artists who reached these corresponding levels of refinement were given names for each stage: Skin Grinding, Bone Forging, Sinew Changing, Strong Organ, and Blood Refining. These are also known as breaking the Five Barriers.
It was said that the strongest experts among the three major powers were masters who had passed the Strong Organ Pass.
As for the experts who had refined true power, they could only be found in major sects like the Divine Mansion Sect.
Zhang Yang looked at the daydreaming boys and girls before him and splashed a bucket of cold water on their ambitions.
"Don't aim too high. Within two years, you all need to pass the Skin Grinding Barrier. If you can't even manage that, you might as well go home and grope some girls' asses."
Hearing that last crude remark, Li Ting couldn't help but blush.
But this was followed by immense pressure. It was true she came from a wealthy family, but she still had no confidence she could pass the Skin Grinding Barrier within two years.
Skin Grinding, as the name implies, is the process of toughening the skin until it's sufficiently resilient.
A Martial Artist who had refined Skin Grinding to its peak could even become impervious to blades, making them exceedingly powerful.
Bai Yuan, having transmigrated from Earth, knew that the human body had its limits.
Blindly training would only break a person's body; it was impossible to reach the superhuman level Zhang Yang described.
The key lay in Cultivation Techniques and herbal medicine.
Cultivation Techniques showed the way, teaching the correct methods of practice.
Herbal medicine served as a supplement. Not only could it promptly repair injuries sustained from training, but it could also help a Martial Artist strengthen their constitution. The only downside was that only those with deep pockets could afford such a luxury.
Someone like Bai Yuan was naturally not among them.
Fortunately, he had a cheat system.
Afterward, new apprentices like Bai Yuan all received a manual for the *Five Animals Fist Technique*.
This was the foundational fist technique of the Huwei Arts Hall.
This fist technique was remarkably similar to the Five Animals Qigong from his previous life. Both enhanced the body by imitating animals, except this *Five Animals Fist Technique* was far more profound and could help one pass the Skin Grinding Barrier.
In the Martial Dao, fists are the foundation.
Most Martial Artists began by learning basic fist and foot techniques. Those who started by brandishing blades were mostly disciples from families with a long heritage of swordsmanship. Ordinary factions couldn't afford to teach it, nor did they have that many blades.
For the next half-hour, the Martial Arts Hall apprentices practiced on their own. If they had any questions, they could seek out Zhang Yang for answers.
With his hands behind his back, Zhang Yang patrolled the Martial Arts Arena. He would offer a word of advice when he saw disciples making mistakes in their practice, but only apprentices with decent talent enjoyed such treatment.
Of course, a Xiaobai who had just joined, like Bai Yuan, was not included.
"Brother Yuan, practicing fists is so boring."
Zhuang Zhao mumbled under his breath, throwing half-hearted punches at the wooden stake in front of him.
He never liked practicing martial arts to begin with; he was just going through the motions to get by.
Bai Yuan, on the other hand, was much more serious.
He meticulously compared his movements to the diagrams of the Five Animals Fist.
His ankle twisted, and power erupted from his waist and abdomen, surging straight to his right fist.
THUD!
A dull thud rang out. A heavy punch landed squarely on the sandbag tied to the wooden stake, showing no sign that this was his first time practicing.
Zhuang Zhao's beady eyes went wide.
"Brother Yuan, don't tell me you're actually a genius."
Even an apprentice who had been training for a month might not have been able to execute a punch like the one Bai Yuan just threw. Yet this was his very first punch. How could Zhuang Zhao not be astonished?
Zhuang Zhao's eyes immediately lit up.
If Bai Yuan really could become a Martial Artist, he could also benefit from it.
Ma Qi and the other two saw this as well. As apprentices who had all started together, they were naturally comparing themselves to each other in secret.
Seeing Bai Yuan so far ahead, they began to swing their fists with even more effort.
Bai Yuan's brow furrowed slightly.
'My talent really is too poor.'
'It's true this is my first time practicing this fist technique, but I have the foundation of a Swordsman with three proficient skills. My constitution is who-knows-how-much stronger than before, yet the effect of this punch is far from satisfying.'
'At this rate, it will take me at least two years just to scrape by the Skin Grinding Barrier and meet the minimum requirement to become an Outer Disciple.'
'I originally planned to practice fists on my own and use all my Enhancement Points on the Tiger Form Crane Style.'
'Looks like that's not feasible now. I'll just have to unlock the Boxer profession.'
Just as Bai Yuan was pondering this, Zhang Yang harshly berated a young man, "Your body must be light, your fists straight! Like a playful ape, natural and unconstrained! Again!"
Such treatment was naturally reserved only for the most outstanding apprentices.
Zhuang Zhao had arrived a few days earlier than Bai Yuan and was familiar with the people in the Martial Arts Hall.
"That guy's name is Xu Wen. He's been practicing for less than three months and is already about to break through the Skin Grinding Barrier. I heard even the Hall Master knows his name."
'A genius, indeed...' Bai Yuan thought to himself. 'To be on the verge of the Skin Grinding Barrier in just three months... his talent is truly remarkable. No wonder Zhang Yang gives him special attention.'
The Martial Arts Hall naturally accepted apprentices in order to screen for promising Martial Artist candidates. It was only natural that they would pay more attention to a disciple with outstanding talent like Xu Wen.
Zhang Yang felt everyone's gazes on him.
"In the path of martial arts, hard work is fundamental! If others practice one punch, you practice two! Heaven rewards the diligent!"
Inspired by Zhang Yang's words, the morale of the apprentices in the Martial Arts Arena soared. They couldn't help but put a little more force into their punches.
But there was a second half to that saying he didn't mention.
'The only thing to fear is someone more talented than you who also works harder than you.'
Xu Wen's ability to break through the Skin Grinding Barrier in just three short months wasn't solely due to his talent.
For those three months, he had always been the first to arrive at the Martial Arts Arena.
Having had his fill of motivational platitudes in his past life, Bai Yuan was naturally unmoved.
'Hard work is just an excuse for failure.'
Half an hour passed quickly.
It was now time for the Outer Disciples and Inner Courtyard Disciples to practice.
The apprentices were no longer qualified to set foot in the Martial Arts Arena.
There was, however, one exception: Xu Wen.
He was on the verge of passing the Skin Grinding Barrier, and under Zhang Yang's special care, he was granted the same privilege as an Outer Disciple ahead of time: he could continue practicing in the Martial Arts Arena.
This made many of the other apprentices green with envy.
Geniuses always received preferential treatment.
...
Bai Yuan's job was quite relaxed, leaving him with plenty of free time during the day.
If it weren't for the incident some time ago, the job wouldn't have fallen to the four of them.
Zhuang Zhao, who helped in the kitchens, was much busier, but at least the perks were good.
After parting ways with Zhuang Zhao, Bai Yuan left the Martial Arts Hall.
He couldn't exactly grind mobs in the Martial Arts Hall, so there was no reason to stick around.
He wasn't a homicidal maniac. He couldn't just go crazy and treat the Martial Arts Hall as his personal grinding spot. Besides, he didn't have the strength for that anyway.
Bai Yuan glanced at his panel.
[Name: Bai Yuan]
[Profession: Hunter, Swordsman]
[Skills: Chop (Proficient), Upward Slash (Proficient), Hack (Proficient), Tracking (Proficient), Archery (Proficient), Tiger Form Crane Style (Uninitiated), Five Animals Fist (Uninitiated)...]
[Enhancement Points: 0]
He needed Enhancement Points.
A lot of Enhancement Points.