Chapter 26: Battle Against Stone Skin

Thus, Zhang Lingshan accepted it quite readily.

From what he had learned through his long period of cultivation, ordinary people simply could not consume medicinal herbs daily as he did.

It wasn't because they couldn't afford it, but because consuming too much would lead to various ailments, causing their physical condition to deteriorate rather than improve.

Only because he possessed a panel that could directly convert medicinal potency into energy, thereby reducing the burden on his body, could he drink them every single day.

In other words, the meals and the Four-Harmony Soup in the martial arts hall were more than sufficient to cover the consumption of an ordinary practitioner; no extra meals were necessary.

Therefore, while those five taels of silver were merely money in Song Dachuang's hands, in Zhang Lingshan's hands, they would transform into energy points, contributing greatly to the advancement of his strength.

Zhang Lingshan naturally would not refuse this kindness that accelerated his cultivation.

At worst, he would simply pay back a bit more when the time came, as a token of gratitude to Senior Brother Dachuang for providing timely assistance in his hour of need.

"Brother Dachuang, I accept this kindness, but I still need a job. Otherwise, if I just sit around consuming my savings, I won't be able to pay you back," Zhang Lingshan asked again.

Song Dachuang smiled and said, "You're overthinking it. Focus on Skin Grinding first. Once you've completed Skin Grinding, all sorts of people will naturally come looking for you. By then, you'll only find that there are too many affairs interfering with your cultivation."

"Is that so?"

Zhang Lingshan did not understand the intricacies behind those words.

But since Senior Brother Dachuang said so, it must be true.

Zhang Lingshan stopped dwelling on it.

He calmed his mind. Aside from following his routine of using iron sand to rub his skin and soaking in medicinal baths, he spent all his remaining time practicing the Red Line Fist.

He also did not lack energy replenishment from the Spirit Root Grass.

As the days passed, his strength improved in an orderly fashion.

One day.

After finishing a medicinal bath at home, Zhang Lingshan suddenly experienced a moment of sudden enlightenment. His body trembled slightly, and the skin all over his body tightened.

An indescribable sensation rose in his heart.

'Did I succeed? Is this the Skin Grinding Realm?'

Zhang Lingshan was surprised.

This breakthrough felt somewhat casual, lacking the grand commotion of his previous breakthrough to the perfection of the Hunyuan True Yang Stance.

But that didn't mean the Skin Grinding Realm was trash.

It was simply because the process of skin grinding was achieved bit by bit, a natural progression that would not cause a massive disturbance.

Though the commotion was small, the change was significant.

Zhang Lingshan ran his fingernail across the back of his hand and found it as hard as leather. There was no pain at all; it felt merely like an itch.

Next, he took out a small knife with his right hand.

Then, he used his left hand to exert force and tense the back of his hand, dragging the knife across it.

A white mark was left on the back of his hand, accompanied by a slight sensation of pain.

'This is Ox Hide!'

Zhang Lingshan nodded inwardly.

This breakthrough was no illusion; his skin was truly as tough as ox hide, and ordinary blades could not pierce it.

This meant that he finally had a certain level of confidence in this world!

Even if an ordinary person tried to hack at him with a knife, he would not fear it.

From this moment on, he had completely escaped the ranks of ordinary people and become a true martial artist.

The next day.

As soon as Zhang Lingshan arrived at the martial arts hall, several gazes immediately fell upon him.

"He's reached Skin Grinding?"

One senior brother exclaimed.

It had only been half a month, yet he had successfully completed Skin Grinding. Zhang Lingshan was indeed a genius; at the very least, his physical recovery capability had already surpassed many others.

"He has. His complexion is different," another senior brother nodded, unable to hide his own shock.

He stepped quickly toward Zhang Lingshan and said, "Junior Brother Shan, do you recognize me?"

"Senior Brother Feng Shaolong?"

Zhang Lingshan tested the waters.

He indeed wasn't well-acquainted with him.

The only reason he knew the name was because Feng Shaolong's family ran a pharmacy. Zhang Lingshan frequently went to the Feng Family Pharmacy to buy medicine and had encountered him once before, though they had never spoken.

What did it mean that he had suddenly come over to talk to him today?

"Junior Brother Shan indeed knows me. I remember seeing you once at the pharmacy. However, I've been busy with my cultivation and haven't had the chance to interact with you. Why don't we spar a bit today?"

Feng Shaolong said with a smile, adding, "By the way, I am at the Stone Skin Realm. Use your full strength to strike me; don't worry about hurting me."

'A sparring session?'

Zhang Lingshan's heart stirred.

Although he didn't know why the other party was suddenly so enthusiastic, his Red Line Fist techniques were indeed not very proficient. Since someone was offering to be a training partner, it would be a waste not to take the opportunity.

So, he immediately nodded. "Alright, then I shall trouble Senior Brother Feng."

"No trouble at all. Master instructed us that the essence of our Red Line Fist is combat. Helping a junior brother is the responsibility of every senior brother."

"Very well, then I shall make my move."

With a swift motion, Zhang Lingshan assumed a starting stance—the Baoyang Stance, which was a gesture of etiquette, serving as a greeting and a sign of respect to his sparring partner.

Then, he lunged forward with a sudden burst of footwork, his fists raining down like droplets of water, thudding against Feng Shaolong's chest.

"Well struck!"

Feng Shaolong praised him. Unfazed, he brought both fists together in front of his chest like a shield, firmly blocking Zhang Lingshan's punches.

Then, the two engaged in a back-and-forth exchange. With Zhang Lingshan on the offensive and Feng Shaolong on the defense, they maneuvered through the courtyard, kicking up waves of heat.

Despite it being the cold winter season, the two fought with such intensity that they seemed like two large heaters, constantly radiating warmth.

Suddenly!

Feng Shaolong shifted from defense to offense, throwing a punch directly at Zhang Lingshan's face.

Startled, Zhang Lingshan scrambled to retreat, but Feng Shaolong pursued him closely, landing a punch squarely on his chest.

*Thud, thud, thud!*

Zhang Lingshan retreated several steps, his face flushing slightly as his blood surged.

However, the surge quickly subsided. He unbuttoned his shirt to inspect his chest, only to see a faint pink fist print.

In contrast, Feng Shaolong's arms, abdomen, or any other part that Zhang Lingshan had struck showed no abnormality whatsoever.

It was as if Zhang Lingshan's fists were made of cotton; striking the other man only felt like an itch and could not cause the slightest harm.

Zhang Lingshan couldn't help but look stunned, a sense of disappointment washing over him.

He had thought that by breaking through to the Ox Hide stage, he had undergone a complete transformation into a genuine martial artist.

But reality had dealt him a heavy blow.

Even after striking with all his might, he could not harm Feng Shaolong in the slightest.

Was this the gap between himself and a Stone Skin martial artist?

"Junior Brother Shan."

Feng Shaolong walked up to Zhang Lingshan, patted him on the shoulder, and brought him back to his senses.

Then, he said earnestly, "Your fighting style is a bit unrefined, but your explosive power is good. You are among the outstanding practitioners newly entering the Ox Hide stage.

"As long as you practice your techniques more and spar with different people to see more styles, you will surely succeed.

"My family's pharmacy happens to be short on herb-gathering guards, and there are many skilled hands among them, making them perfect for sparring.

"Would Junior Brother Shan be interested in coming to the Feng Family Pharmacy?

"I can offer you twenty taels of silver a month.

"You won't need to stay at the pharmacy all the time; you'll only be called upon when herb gathering is required. What do you think?"