16: Refining copper skin

“Martial Dao initially achieved, killing intent solidified, life and death disregarded, fighting to the death!”

“This Reincarnation evaluation: Grade D, Top.”

“This Reincarnation reward: 5 Reincarnation Points.”

“You now have 8 Reincarnation Points. You can use Reincarnation Points to exchange for: Damaged Iron Armor (5 points), Damaged Military Saber (2 points).”

“Whoosh~”

Gu Chang’s mental consciousness returned to reality again, but now his emotions had become increasingly stable. Death, to him, had become a common occurrence.

“As expected, the more powerful the enemy I fight, the more Reincarnation Points I get.”

This Reincarnation yielded five Reincarnation Points, which further convinced Gu Chang that his conjecture was correct.

It was still dark outside; after all, he had only spent half a month in the Reincarnation World this time. Even adding the previous time, it was still only the middle of the night.

“It’s better to rest today. During the day, I can Cultivate martial arts and fish. After catching more fish, I’ll go to the market town to sell them and buy medicinal ingredients.”

Some of the medicinal ingredients for Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill’s secret medicine were quite precious, such as ginseng and deer antler. It wouldn't be easy for him to afford a single dose of the secret medicine with his financial means.

Of course, he could also collect them in the Reincarnation World and then exchange them using Reincarnation Points.

This way, the risk would be lower, and it would be less likely to be discovered.

After all, it didn't matter if he died in the Reincarnation World; it would merely consume Reincarnation Points.

Thus, another night passed. Early the next morning, Gu Chang got out of bed and started bustling about.

“After half a month in the Reincarnation World, my martial arts have clearly improved. Now I’m only one step away from the Copper Skin Realm. As long as I cross this threshold, my strength will rise to another level!”

After eating his fill, Gu Chang immediately began to Cultivate martial arts. Under his urging, the vigorous Qi and blood in his body continuously transformed into internal Qi, and he repeated his Cultivation movements again and again.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

“Hah!”

“Not enough! Without external stimulation, it’s indeed not that easy to Breakthrough!”

In reality, there was no one to assist him in Cultivating martial arts, using wooden sticks to strike his skin and flesh, allowing him to use the power of internal Qi to temper his skin.

Of course, even Cultivating martial arts this way was not without benefits. The vigorous Qi and blood within Gu Chang’s body were also strengthening his physique and solidifying his Foundation, making his strength greater.

It was just that this level of improvement was very slow, far from the rapid progress of advancing layer by layer.

It was now early winter, and the weather was getting colder by the day. A layer of hazy mist always drifted over the lake.

On this lake, only Gu Chang was Cultivating martial arts, fishing, and resting.

As the saying goes, one loses track of time in the mountains, and Gu Chang was the same when he Cultivated martial arts.

Soon, the day passed, and night fell again. However, after a full day of Cultivation, Gu Chang had a short-term goal in mind.

“Next, I must raise my martial arts to the Copper Skin level in the Reincarnation World!”

After muttering to himself, Gu Chang immersed his mental consciousness into the door of the Human Dao.

“Big Brother! We’re about to reach the Linjiang City territory!”

When Gu Chang came to his senses, Li Ergou’s voice sounded in his ear. It was three days before his last death, and they had just arrived outside Linjiang City to assemble.

“Hmm, I know!”

“After we set up camp, you all come and help me Cultivate!”

Gu Chang’s gaze swept across the faintly visible military camp in the distance, then he directly said this to the trusted soldiers beside him.

“No problem, Big Brother!”

Li Ergou nodded without hesitation, and Wang Da Niu and the others also chorused their agreement. After all, the stronger Gu Chang was, the safer they would be.

Soon, the Xuanjia Army entered the temporarily established military camp. Other miscellaneous tasks would naturally be handled by the Auxiliary Army. Gu Chang dropped his luggage and immediately threw himself into Cultivating martial arts.

“This time, hit harder! Don’t hold back!”

With a Breakthrough imminent, Gu Chang decided to go all out and increase the external stimulation, which should accelerate the speed of his Breakthrough.

“Understood!”

“Clap! Clap! Clap!”

Wooden sticks as thick as wrists were vigorously swung by Li Ergou and the others, striking Gu Chang’s body. However, his faintly bluish skin only turned slightly red.

Several hours quickly passed. The sky outside the tent had already darkened, but Gu Chang did not Breakthrough as he had imagined.

“That’s enough for today. We’ll continue tomorrow!”

Gu Chang glanced at Li Ergou and the others, who clearly had sore arms and numb legs, and then stopped Cultivating.

“Big Brother, aren’t you being too hasty?”

“I heard that others need to rest well for a while when they Cultivate.”

Upon hearing Gu Chang’s words, Li Ergou and the others said to him with some concern.

They also Cultivated martial arts after joining the Xuanjia Army and were currently at the Blood Strengthening level, so they also understood the principle of gradual progress in the Dao of martial arts.

“It’s fine, I know what I’m doing. You just do as I say.”

Gu Chang shook his head and didn’t explain anything to them. Instead, he put on his clothes and went to the mess hall to buy secret medicine.

“I want two bowls today!”

Feeling the surging Qi and blood within him, Gu Chang directly said this to the soldier responsible for brewing the secret medicine.

“Alright!”

While the herbal soup was still piping hot, Gu Chang drank it all in one gulp, then returned to his tent without looking back.

“Boom!”

Under the enhancement of the secret medicine, he felt as if he were a furnace at this moment. The vigorous Qi and blood continuously began to burn, making his internal Qi grow thicker.

At the same time, his fatigued body was also absorbing nutrients, and his swollen skin quickly recovered.

“Hoo~ Hiss~”

As he breathed and exhaled according to the method of Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill, the Qi and blood in his body became increasingly vigorous, his body started to turn red, and a large amount of sweat and Impurities seeped out from his pores.

“Pfft!”

“Cough, cough!”

Suddenly, Gu Chang violently spat out a mouthful of dark, clotted blood, and only then did he feel much lighter.

At the same time, his originally bluish-black skin now turned sallow. Finally, he successfully reached the Copper Skin level!

“Finally, I’ve Broken Through!”

“But I didn’t expect the side effects of this martial art to be so strong!”

Gu Chang was no longer a novice in martial arts. Seeing the black clotted blood he spat out on the ground, he immediately understood some things.

These were old internal injuries left in his body, and also the side effects of Cultivating Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill, such a crude and fierce Cultivation Technique.

“Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill is definitely not some profound martial art. It’s the kind of Cultivation Technique that forces growth, like pulling seedlings to help them grow. Although it progresses quickly, the hidden dangers are quite significant. Coupled with long-term battles and constant injuries, even if one achieves success in Cultivation, they probably won’t live long in the end!”

However, fortunately, those who Cultivate this martial art are basically this body, and his main body will ultimately only gain Skill and benefits, without leaving any internal injuries or hidden dangers.

“Forget it, even if I knew these things beforehand, what could I do?”

“I simply have no other choice. Moreover, this Cultivation Technique progresses fast enough and is powerful enough, which is sufficient for me.”

If it were his main body, Gu Chang would agonize over many things, but now, as long as it doesn’t kill him, he’ll Cultivate it to death. Otherwise, he’ll still die on the battlefield in the end.

So, Gu Chang directly cast aside the hidden dangers of Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill, simply tidied up, and then began to rest.

The next day, when the news of Gu Chang’s successful Breakthrough spread, even Zhou Yun was startled and came specifically to check on his condition.

“Good! Good! Very good!”

“I didn’t expect you to Breakthrough to the Copper Skin level so quickly. It seems your talent is indeed decent. In the future, Iron Skin is within reach, and then you can become a fierce general on the battlefield!”