3: Chapter 3: Body Tempering at its Third Stage, Tendon Refining at its Great Perfection!

Bidding farewell to the bustle of the county yamen, Lin Feng dragged his weary body back to his new residence.

As an official constable, the treatment was indeed different.

He moved from the communal bunk where a dozen or so intern constables were squeezed together into an independent single room.

The room wasn't large, but it had the advantage of being quiet.

Closing the door, Lin Feng casually tossed the five taels of silver onto the table, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He remembered Chief Constable Li Gang's face very clearly.

In this world, strength was ultimately what mattered. Whether facing ferocious demons or these colleagues with hidden daggers behind their smiles in the county yamen, without enough power, one could only be at the mercy of others.

"System," Lin Feng muttered in his heart.

A translucent panel that only he could see floated before his eyes.

[Host: Lin Feng]

[Realm: None]

[Cultivation Technique: None]

[Martial Skill: "Basic Constable Saber Technique" (Perfection) (Beginner, Entry, Proficient, Major Achievement, Perfection)]

[Critical Hit Multiplier: 2.5x]

[critical hit points: 100]

Looking at the glaring "None" in the Realm column, Lin Feng felt a deep urgency to improve his strength.

Relying on the System's critical hits, he could turn a basic saber technique into something miraculous. But ultimately, his own physical constitution was still too poor; he hadn't even stepped over the threshold of the martial path.

"I must start cultivating as soon as possible!"

Becoming an official constable, besides having an independent room and a fixed salary, came with another important benefit—access to the county yamen's Armory to choose a basic Cultivation Technique for free.

Early the next morning, Lin Feng arrived at the county yamen's Armory, unable to wait any longer.

The so-called Armory was actually a remote warehouse that had been neglected for years. Inside were several dust-covered bookshelves with a few yellowed Secret Manuals scattered about.

These were all the most common and basic goods. Truly superior martial arts had long been controlled by the great aristocratic families and Sects.

Lin Feng didn't mind. What he needed now was precisely a stepping stone.

He searched the bookshelves for a moment and quickly locked onto a thin booklet titled "Qi Guidance Art."

This "Qi Guidance Art" was almost the introductory Cultivation Technique for all official personnel of the Great Xia Dynasty. It was balanced and peaceful, winning on stability with no risk of Qi Deviation.

Its function was simple: to guide the thin Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth into the body, tempering the Physical Body and laying the foundation for future martial cultivation.

After obtaining the "Qi Guidance Art," Lin Feng also took the opportunity to learn about the division of martial Realms in this world.

The martial path begins with Body Tempering.

The Body Tempering Realm is a Martial Artist's first major Realm. As the name suggests, it involves tempering the mortal body so it can contain and withstand greater power.

It is divided into nine layers, proceeding from the outside in, step by step.

Body Tempering First Layer: Skin Refining.

Cultivating the toughness of the skin so it can resist minor bumps and scratches, and be unaffected by cold or heat.

Body Tempering Second Layer: Flesh Refining.

Training the strength and explosive power of the muscles, greatly increasing physical strength.

Body Tempering Third Layer: Tendon Refining.

Stretching and tempering the tendons of the whole body, greatly enhancing the body's flexibility and coordination, marking the official entry into the threshold of a Martial Artist.

Body Tempering layers four through six correspond to Bone Refining, Blood Refining, and Marrow Refining.

Body Tempering layers seven through nine correspond to the more profound Organ Refining, Viscera Refining, and Aperture Opening.

It is said that by cultivating the Body Tempering Realm to the Ninth Layer Perfection, the Physical Body can become as hard as gold and stone, with the strength of a thousand catties!

Above the Body Tempering Realm are the Meridian Opening Realm, where Qi can travel through the Meridians, and the True Qi Realm, where True Qi can be released externally to harm people from a distance...

"Body Tempering Realm First Layer, Skin Refining... It's said that for someone with ordinary Aptitude, even with diligent daily practice and medicinal baths, it takes about a month to see initial results..."

Lin Feng muttered to himself, looking at the "Qi Guidance Art" in his hand.

"But I don't need that!"

He had the System!

He had critical hit points!

That night, he returned to his room, closed the doors and windows, sat cross-legged on the bed, and after committing the contents of the "Qi Guidance Art" to memory, he gave the command to the System in his heart.

"System, use all 100 of these critical hit points on the 'Qi Guidance Art'!"

[Ding! Consumed 100 critical hit points. 'Qi Guidance Art' critical hit successful!]

As soon as the words fell, before Lin Feng even had time to assume the cultivation posture recorded in the "Qi Guidance Art," he felt an invisible, warm current of air like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, frantically surging into his body from all directions!

This air current was precisely the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth!

Under the effect of the System's critical hit, the wisps of Spiritual Qi that originally required meditation to sense and careful guidance were now like a burst dam, rushing toward him of their own accord!

"Ugh!"

Lin Feng let out a muffled groan, feeling a wave of tingling pain across the skin of his entire body.

He could "see" that a faint glimmer seemed to plate the surface of his skin. His skin, which had looked somewhat dull from staying up late, was becoming smooth, tough, and full of elasticity at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This was...

Body Tempering First Layer, Skin Refining Major Achievement!

However, this was only the beginning!

That massive torrent of Spiritual Qi did not stop for a moment. It rushed past his skin and began to permeate the muscle tissue of his entire body.

Under the nourishment and tempering of this Spiritual Qi, his muscle fibers began to frantically squirm, tear, and then reorganize!

A sense of power far exceeding before emerged from every part of his body.

He even felt that he could kill a bull with a single punch right now!

Body Tempering Second Layer, Flesh Refining Major Achievement!

Immediately after, the Spiritual Qi continued deeper, surging into the tendons of his entire body!

Crackling!

Inside Lin Feng's body, a series of slight popping sounds like roasting beans rang out.

Those were the sounds of his tendons and bones being forcibly stretched and reshaped under the impact of the Spiritual Qi!

His originally somewhat stiff body instantly became incredibly flexible, filled with an explosive sense of coordination.

Body Tempering Third Layer, Tendon Refining Major Achievement!

When the last wisp of Spiritual Qi merged into his body, the room returned to tranquility.

The entire process, from start to finish, took no more than the time for a cup of tea.

"Whew..."

Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing through them.

He looked down at his hands and clenched them tightly.

His body contained an unprecedentedly powerful force. Compared to his weak self from yesterday, it was like night and day!

What took others months or even a year of hard cultivation, he had easily achieved in a single night!

"Body Tempering Realm Third Layer..."

Feeling the surging power within him, the corners of Lin Feng's mouth curled up uncontrollably.

"Chief Constable Li Gang, that 'tough job' you gave me is likely going to become my blessed land."