On the second day, the two and a half men advanced another sixty miles, landing in the lee of a massive mountain range. Xu Yunfan and Fang Mushan then went hunting separately.
An hour later, Xu Yunfan was carrying a large, elderly lone wolf, while Fang Mushan was clutching a hare.
Seeing Li Haomiao and Fang Mushan staring at the wolf, Xu Yunfan shrugged.
"I don't know. I turned a corner and saw this old wolf, exiled from the pack. It couldn't run fast, so I shot it dead with one arrow."
After a moment, Fang Mushan snorted, "You definitely won't be so lucky tomorrow."
Self-proclaimed expert hunter, Fang Mushan was naturally unconvinced.
On the third day, the two returned empty-handed, a relief for Fang Mushan, a sense of peace of mind.
The fourth day, empty-handed.
The fifth day, empty-handed.
On the sixth day, they reached a mountain valley, facing a blanket of snow. Xu Yunfan, dragging a massive wild yak, stood before Li Haomiao and Fang Mushan.
Seeing Xu Yunfan's vibrant demeanor, Fang Mushan, empty-handed, remained silent.
Seeing Fang Mushan's dejected expression, Xu Yunfan couldn't help but ask with concern, "Brother Fang, what's wrong?"
Fang Mushan shook his head slightly, his expression slightly bleak. "Nothing, just thinking about something unforgettable."
Li Haomiao smiled softly, observing without comment.
Xu Yunfan didn't press the issue. A little flaunting was enough, not too much provocation. Although Fang Mushan appeared easygoing, he possessed a stubborn temper.
If he provoked him, he might become furious and go hunting, determined to catch his prey. Then, perhaps Fang Mushan would stay in this 800-li desolate river, treating him like a savage until he caught prey heavier than him.
"With this wild yak, weighing hundreds of pounds, its fur is more than enough to make three sets of warm clothing."
That night, after feasting on yak meat, Xu Yunfan wielded his pickaxe, his mind no longer focused on the ever-deepening hole before him. Instead, he focused intently on the constant stream of information displayed on his horizon about the Bronze Body Art.
The Bronze Body Art was about to advance, reaching the ultimate state.
"You suddenly had an inspiration, noticing the changes in the hardness of the soil and rock at different times of day. You chose to mine when the toughness was lowest, increasing your mining speed."
"With a thought, you swung the pickaxe using the Bronze Body Art's hammering technique, carefully listening to the resonance of the pickaxe in your hand.
Finding the perfect rhythm, you swung the pickaxe, achieving a more stable vibration feedback, and your proficiency in the Bronze Body Art improved."
"..."
"Your Bronze Body Skill has reached full proficiency, entering the Great Mastery stage."
"Bronze Body Skill 0/5000 (Great Mastery)
Special Effects: Vibrant Qi and Blood, Strength Penetrating the Body, Skin as Hard as Iron, Muscles Strong and Bones, Impervious to Blades, Able to Withstand Huge Rocks, Incredible Physical Strength, Mastery of Hammer Techniques."
...
As the Bronze Body Skill Great Mastery appeared on his horizon, countless warm currents suddenly surged through his body like unbridled wild horses, his body inflated, muscles bulging and knotting.
Even his skin began to tighten and swell.
His bones crackled, as if undergoing a reshaping process.
Muscles rapidly expanded like inflation, each one bulging high and brimming with explosive power.
His skin gradually darkened, as if cast from bronze, radiating a metallic sheen.
His qi and blood surged like a surging tide, churning endlessly through his flesh and blood. With every heartbeat, he felt the powerful force impact him. The pumping-like contractions filled him with seemingly endless energy.
His elevated realm transformed him from the inside out, as if he had been reborn.
A memory began to flow through his mind.
Those days of cultivation, etched deep within him, were like a brand. In a trance, Xu Yunfan could only imagine himself standing in the training ground at dawn each day, his hands tightly gripping a long-handled, fine steel hammer.
With each blow, his core muscles coordinated to unleash a powerful force.
His abdominal muscles tensed like steel, his waist muscles twisted rapidly, driving his biceps and triceps to swing the hammer with all their might. Each thrust seemed to rend the air around him.
During breaks in his practice, he would, pushing his body to its limit, immerse himself in a tub filled with rare and secret herbs.
The secret medicine blended together, exuding a strange aroma. The moment it touched his body, it felt like countless tiny flames burning across his skin and muscles, sending a stinging sensation that instantly spread throughout his body.
Every day, he gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, sweat pouring from his pores, yet he forced himself to suppress even a sound.
While the effects of the medicine lingered, dozens of steel rods, wielded by others, rained down on his body.
The rods struck his flesh with a dull thud, each blow sending his blood surging through his body.
Day after day, he never slacked off.
Finally, on a stormy day, the sky flashed with lightning, streaks of lightning streaking through the dark sky like giant dragons.
Xu Yunfan swung his hammer as usual, but suddenly, he felt it no longer weighed him down. He tried to swing it faster, and the hammer became as light as an embroidery needle.
Every swing effortlessly sliced through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound, and his skin shimmered with a coppery sheen as the thunder pulsed overhead.
"Skin training has reached perfection!"
Xu Yunfan's heart was filled with emotion. Lately, he had almost completely abandoned his leisure activities. Aside from necessary hunting and running, he devoted almost all his time to practicing the Bronze Body Technique.
Even mining was about to reach perfection.
Hard work pays off.
God rewards hard work!
Xu Yunfan felt his eyes moisten.
These days, he felt like he was on the verge of becoming a professional miner, and his mining proficiency would soon reach perfection.
He looked down at his muscular body, his clothes and trousers several inches too short. His skin training had clearly made him taller.
The Bronze Body Art isn't just a hammer-wielding martial art; it's also a horizontal training technique. With his current physique, ordinary swords and knives are unlikely to injure him, which is why his skin appears coppery.
Clang clang!
His blood and energy surged, his body throbbing with activity. Seeing the coppery sheen on his skin, Xu Yunfan tapped it with his fingers, producing a resounding, golden-copper sound.
Climbing out of the tunnel, Fang Mushan leaped to his feet upon seeing Xu Yunfan.
"How did you become so massive?!"
Li Haomiao's eyes flickered open and closed, a glint in their eyes.
"Great accomplishment in skin training."
He tried to maintain composure, but his heart was already churning. How long had Xu Yunfan really been practicing martial arts?
At most, it had been over a month since he started working in the mines?
Even if he had a foundation before, he wouldn't have been able to advance at such a terrifying rate.
Fang Mushan reacted.
"True blood?!"
(End of chapter)