Li Jinshan remained deliberately vague. He merely mentioned fortified villages and left without further explanation. Su Yan was left puzzled: 'Fortified villages in the mountains... are they involved in illegal trade?' He merely considered the possibility: if they were involved in smuggling, a single Golden Ape Martial Academy might not be able to sustain it.
'I'll find out in time. Perhaps it's related to the Desolate Mountain hunt.'
Su Yan scanned the room, checked everything, then called a servant to bring bedding and settled in.
A night passed. The next morning, just as dawn broke, Su Yan woke up, went to the courtyard, stood his stance, inhaled and exhaled, and tempered his blood energy. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him.
"Such diligence! No wonder you achieved Great Accomplishment in Stance Skill so quickly." Master Bai walked over, his tone showing satisfaction.
"Master." Su Yan finished his stance, cupping his hands in respect. Having entered the Inner Door, he was now a direct disciple of Master Bai and followed the proper etiquette.
"Since you are already awake, come with me. I will teach you the Golden Ape Jade Body Art."
Master Bai led Su Yan to an open space near the rock garden. They stood facing each other. Master Bai said: "To do good work, one must first sharpen their tools. Before teaching you, tell me: how much do you understand about the martial path?"
Master Bai's question made Su Yan pause slightly. He answered honestly: "I learned a little from the Senior Brothers and Manager Song of the Hundred Herb Hall. I only know the Body Forging realm has four stages: Skin Refining, Tendon-Bone, Blood Circulation, and Vitality Nurturing. And above that is the True Intent realm."
"What about cultivation methods and martial techniques?"
"I only know of Stance Skills, Martial Techniques, and the mastery levels for them."
Master Bai merely nodded slightly. His knowledge was neither too much nor too little, saving him some effort.
"Your understanding of the realms is adequate. Let me explain the cultivation methods and martial techniques." Master Bai slowly began: "Cultivation methods and martial techniques are three types: Primary Art, Supplementary Art, and Martial Technique. The Primary Art refines cultivation, guides True Intent visualization, and determines the upper limit and speed of your advancement."
"The Supplementary Art, as the name suggests, assists the Primary Art. Though it carries the word 'supplementary,' it encompasses all methods—body tempering, mental strength augmentation, and cultivating variant True Essence. What you learn can merge with your body. While it cannot be used to visualize True Intent, it can augment its power. It solidifies the foundation and grants various abilities."
"The Martial Technique needs no explanation. Since your Ape Fist is at Great Accomplishment, you should know its purpose." Master Bai looked at Su Yan, testing his understanding.
"A Martial Technique is a tool. How much of one's cultivation and ability is utilized—its effectiveness and quality—is intimately related to the Martial Technique." Su Yan replied after careful thought.
Master Bai smiled. The student was teachable.
"No, the Primary Art determines the upper limit, the Supplementary Art increases the foundation, and the Martial Technique determines explosive power. Currently, all new Inner Door Disciples must learn the Golden Ape Jade Body Art and the Ferocious Ape Three Styles to solidify your foundation and truly grant you the means of survival."
Su Yan's eyes flickered: "Master, I have one question. Is the Golden Ape Stance Skill also a Primary Art?"
Master Bai smiled: "It is merely a foundation extended from the Primary Art; it is not counted as a Primary Art itself."
Su Yan's eyes brightened: "Master, was that White Ape Phantom yesterday the martial True Intent?"
Master Bai glanced at Su Yan, a smile playing on his lips: "You want to know the ability of the True Intent realm? Yes, it is the martial True Intent, also called Beast Spirit True Intent. When the True Intent descends, it manifests like a Desolate Beast, and one fights using its might—that is the skill of the True Intent realm. Our academy has the Golden Ape, the Hundred Herb Hall has the Azure Goat, the Small Mountain Association has the Black Wolf, and the Fishermen's Gang has the Crocodile Dragon. Each True Intent has its own nature and power; they are all the martial artist's core skill."
Su Yan was astonished. If they fought like that, the destructive power would be far more terrifying than simple hand-to-hand combat.
"Adopt your stance now and perceive the fluctuations and flow of your blood energy."
Su Yan immediately adopted his stance, his muscles trembling slightly. Master Bai placed his hand on Su Yan's shoulder, and a warm current of Primal Essence flowed into Su Yan's body. His surrounding blood energy seemed to be instantly mobilized by this external Primal Essence, surging along his meridians and forming a distinct cycle. As the blood energy circulated, threads of jade-like energy continuously fused into his skin and flesh, strengthening Su Yan's body. Master Bai guided Su Yan'sblood energy through one full cycle before withdrawing his hand.
"The Golden Ape Jade Body Art is a tempering technique that uses blood energy to refine the body, supplemented by medicine, honing a body that gains strength and becomes invulnerable to blades and spears. The Golden Ape Jade Body Art has three layers: Stone Fetus, Iron Bone, and Jade Body. Skin and flesh like stone, invulnerable to blades, and a strength increase of thousands of jin is the first layer."
Su Yan's eyes brightened: 'If the augmentation is that significant, even in the same Skin Refining stage, I could fight three to five ordinary Skin Refining practitioners, and my defense would be extremely high.'
Having gained the Supplementary Art, Su Yan was naturally excited. He immediately plunged into comprehending the art, repeating the flow and direction of the blood energy circulation he had just felt.
Master Bai watched, secretly chuckling: 'A Supplementary Art is harder to master than a Stance Skill. It took four or five days back then. Let's see how long you take.'
The entire morning passed like this, with Su Yan constantly trying to practice the Golden Ape Jade Body Art while standing in his stance. Once, twice, thrice... He barely rested. As long as his blood energy and energy could sustain it, Su Yan practiced like a madman, following the habits he had developed while training alone.
Master Bai watched nearby, his heart increasingly touched by Su Yan's fierce dedication. Even if his aptitude was slightly lacking, this ability to persevere and conquer hardship meant he would eventually achieve a high level of martial skill. Master Bai guided Su Yan'sblood energy twice more during this time, just to help him recall the sensation.
Time passed quickly. Li Jinshan sent food, and before long, the sun was setting. Su Yan was utterly exhausted, covered in sweat, his training uniform completely soaked. He had stripped off his shirt, revealing his sharply defined muscles.
"Alright, at this rate, you'll master it in less than three days." Master Bai was about to interrupt Su Yan's practice. Too much was as bad as too little. The circulation method of the Golden Ape Jade Body Art, based on the Stance Skill, still consumed a lot of energy and blood energy even if the cycle wasn't perfectly formed. Su Yan was improving with every attempt, so mastery was inevitable; there was no need to rush.
However, Su Yan, eyes tightly closed, suddenly opened them, revealing a focused, bright gaze, like a pair of stars. He smiled at Master Bai: "Master, it seems I won't need two or three days. I think I've mastered the Golden Ape Jade Body Art."
[Golden Ape Jade Body Art: 21/100 (Initiate)]
"What?!" Master Bai looked surprised. Su Yan merely raised his hand and activated the Golden Ape Jade Body Art. Blood energy converged in his arm, and his skin subtly changed, gaining a dark, rock-like color. Although the color was faint, this change clearly showed he had mastered the Golden Ape Jade Body Art.
"In the thirty years since the academy was established, you are the first person to comprehend the Golden Ape Jade Body Art in a single day." Master Bai sighed with emotion, his eyes sharp: "Since that is the case, you should also memorize the Ferocious Ape Three Styles before resting for the day."