19: Strength improvement
Since he wanted to test a Cultivation Technique, he naturally chose the cheapest one. Even so, this ‘Jade Bone Skill’ cost him 30 contribution points.
A ‘Chain Iron Armguard’, which is a common ‘Iron Fist Gauntlet’, Han Yi learned from his battle with the ‘Giant Spider’ to prevent the awkward situation of being unable to break through defenses if he lost his weapon. This cost him 10 contribution points.
He also exchanged for a ‘Fine Steel Broadsword’, which cost 5 contribution points.
“It’s really easy to spend money and hard to earn it…” Han Yi left the exchange office with a pained expression, and in the blink of an eye, 45 contribution points vanished like flowing water.
However, there is always a reward for effort. Han Yi glanced at himself; with the gauntlet in hand and the broadsword at his waist, his stats had changed from ‘10 ~ 15’ when unarmed to ‘16 ~ 25’!
“If I were to face that ‘Giant Spider’ again now, it should be much easier…” he mused to himself.
‘Jade Bone Skill’: The bones of the body are the Foundation of the human body and the source of strength. Those who Cultivate it to Major Achievement will have bones as transparent as jade, greatly increasing their strength and defense…
First, use Qi and blood to stimulate the leg bones…
“This ‘Jade Bone Skill’ Cultivation Technique seems somewhat similar to the Body Tempering of the human body’s bones required in the ‘Refining Bone Stage’.” Han Yi pondered thoughtfully on the training ground.
“Let’s try it first!”
As his Qi and blood circulated, he felt warm currents surging through his leg bones, like a hot spring flowing, incredibly warm and comfortable.
[Realm]: Refining Bone Early Stage (13 / 100)
[Cultivation Technique]: Yang Yuan Skill (Incomplete, Proficient 2 / 20, can be upgraded); Jade Bone Skill (Mortal Rank, Beginner 1 / 10, can be upgraded)
It’s already at the Beginner level? Han Yi was a little surprised.
However, on second thought, he was already in the Refining Bone Stage, and his bones had undergone several Body Tempering sessions with Qi and blood. It was like asking an Artifact Refining Great Master to forge the most ordinary knives and swords; with such an advanced perspective, his progress was naturally astonishing.
“System, add points!” Han Yi’s thoughts turned.
New memories began to flood his mind.
He felt as if he had become a Disciple of a Martial Arts Hall. During the day, in the front courtyard of the Martial Arts Hall, fellow Disciples would constantly use wooden sticks to temper his bones. In the dead of night, on the bed in his room, he used “Blood-Activating Pills,” “Jade Bone Pills,” and “Body Tempering Paste,” practicing both internally and externally, a two-pronged approach.
Thus, the young man persevered in his Cultivation for a long time, and after several teachings from his master, finally, a feeling of becoming stronger emanated from his body, from the inside out.
He succeeded!
He had finally completely mastered the ‘Jade Bone Skill’ within a few months!
At this moment, Han Yi gradually regained consciousness. He clearly felt warm currents circulating throughout his limbs and bones, as if bathed in the sunlight of spring, feeling warm and comfortable all over.
If he could see inside himself at this moment, he would find that the bones throughout his body were slowly changing, and emitting a soft, jade-like glow!
This was precisely the characteristic—‘Bone Like Jade Color’—that appeared when ‘Jade Bone Skill’ was Cultivated to Minor Achievement!
Han Yi checked his stats, which had changed from ‘10 ~ 15’ when unarmed to ‘12 ~ 17’.
But he frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with this result!
“Although my stats have increased, my Cultivation has not changed…”
Han Yi’s thought moved, and the panel appeared before his eyes.
[Realm]: Refining Bone Early Stage (13 / 100)
[Cultivation Technique]: Yang Yuan Skill (Incomplete, Proficient 2 / 20, can be upgraded); Jade Bone Skill (Mortal Rank, Trait: Strong Bone, Minor Achievement 1 / 20, can be upgraded)
[Martial Arts]: Mountain Shattering Fist (Mortal Rank, Trait: Stone Shattering, Minor Achievement 8 / 20, can be upgraded); Basic Knife Technique (Mortal Rank, Trait: Knife Dancing, Minor Achievement 2 / 20, can be upgraded); Flying Swallow Kick (Yellow Rank Low Grade, Beginner 6 / 10, can be upgraded)
[Essence Value]: 31
“Indeed, it seems that the path of relying on the System to Cultivate multiple Cultivation Techniques to quickly increase my Cultivation is not feasible. My idea was still too naive!” Han Yi gave a few helpless bitter laughs.
However, it wasn't without any gains. At least Han Yi figured out that to improve his Cultivation, he only needed to add points to the Cultivation Technique with the highest proficiency!
Moreover, this ‘Jade Bone Skill’ was not useless. He felt that the trait of ‘Jade Bone Skill’—Strong Bone—also seemed to have improved his body's defense and strength.
This could be seen from the changed overall strength of ‘12 ~ 17’.
“Although an overall strength of ‘12 ~ 17’ is considered strong compared to the guard Disciples of my same period, but…”
Han Yi thought of the ‘Human-faced Giant Spider’ with an overall strength of up to ‘50 — 50’. “If the System hadn’t been able to absorb that layer of black qi, and if I hadn’t been lucky and my prepared ‘Burning Bottle’ hadn’t been effective, I’m afraid I would have long become a pile of white bones in the mine!”
Furthermore, the System seemed to only have special effects on demonic-related things. For ordinary Martial Artists, he could only rely on his own hard strength to deal with them.
The scene of those bandits’ ambush last time was still vivid in his mind. He couldn’t Cultivate to the strength of Captain Li Feng, which was as high as ‘60 ~ 70’, in a short time, but he also didn’t want to be the weakest one in the team.
“The mission is in a few days. If I encounter such unexpected situations again…” Han Yi’s brow furrowed into a ‘Chuan’ character.
“If there’s even a slight accident during the mission, it will be too late to regret it. I must do everything possible to ensure it’s foolproof!”
“Continue to add points!”
Han Yi added 12 Essence Value points to ‘Mountain Shattering Fist’ in one go. After all, Mountain Shattering Fist was currently his most powerful Martial Art.
As he added points, some memories began to emerge in his mind.
The young man who had Cultivated ‘Mountain Shattering Fist’ to Minor Achievement was not arrogant. He ate, slept, and Cultivated as usual. The only difference was that the equipment the young man used for Cultivation changed from wooden stakes to iron sand.
The scorching flames fiercely licked the bottom of the iron sand pot, making the already extremely hard iron sand, which surpassed ordinary iron, even hotter. Under the high-temperature scorching, the iron sand even emitted a faint red glow.
However, the young man faced this torturous Cultivation without hesitation, punch after punch…
Thus, one month, two months, three years passed. In a sudden burst from the young man, the iron sand actually exploded!
Even with one punch from the young man, a shallow crack appeared on the bluestone ground!
[Realm]: Refining Bone Early Stage (18 / 100)
[Martial Arts]: Mountain Shattering Fist (Mortal Rank, Trait: Stone Shattering, Earth Cracking, Major Achievement); Basic Knife Technique (Mortal Rank, Trait: Knife Dancing, Minor Achievement 2 / 20, can be upgraded); Flying Swallow Kick (Yellow Rank Low Grade, Beginner 6 / 10, can be upgraded)
[Essence Value]: 19
Han Yi returned to his senses and found that his arms had grown a circle larger than before. Tapping them even produced a metallic sound.
Outside the camp, in front of a ten-foot-tall black iron boulder, Han Yi secretly took a breath.
Suddenly, his arm muscles swelled another circle, noticeably larger than the muscles in other parts of his body, as thick as a normal person's thigh. And upon closer inspection, one would even find that there seemed to be some inexplicable particles contained within his arm muscles, emitting a rock-like luster.
‘Mountain Crushing Fist — Earth Cracking!’
Bang!
A faint muffled sound rang out.
The large rock remained motionless, then a gust of wind blew.
The black iron boulder immediately burst into a crackling sound, and after a loud bang, it shattered into pieces!
“This power…” Han Yi’s eyes widened suddenly.
The Black Rock Mountains are named for their abundant black iron ore. This black iron ore is incredibly heavy and hard; a piece the size of a human head weighs over a hundred catties, and it is said that it is difficult for Martial Artists in the Refining Blood Stage to shatter it.
Han Yi glanced at his stats, which had changed from ‘12 ~ 17’ to ‘15 ~ 31’. Who would have thought that ‘Mountain Shattering Fist’ would have such a significant increase in strength after reaching Major Achievement!
As a Mortal Rank Cultivation Technique, ‘Mountain Shattering Fist’, aside from Han Yi’s System adding points, probably very few people could Cultivate it diligently for three years to reach the Major Achievement Realm!
“However, a Mortal Rank Cultivation Technique is still ultimately Mortal Rank…” Han Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, “’Mountain Shattering Fist’ seems to be unable to improve further. Major Achievement is its limit!”
“But now, with my current strength, performing missions should be safer, right…”