Chapter 54: Black Jade Skin-Tempering Method (Please follow, favorite, and vote with monthly tickets!)

To survive in this world, one must understand the ways of human nature and social graces.

Wei Yongfu had thick eyebrows and large eyes, giving him the appearance of a simple, honest man without a calculating bone in his body.

However, there was a reason he had managed to make a name for himself in the bounty hunter industry.

The moment they clashed, he had already gauged Su Mu's Body Tempering realm.

He had grasped Su Mu's psychological state—that he had reached the perfection of Skin Tempering and was in urgent need of the next stage of cultivation—and he knew that Su Mu had just raided the Xu family and was not short on silver.

That was why he had proposed this deal.

*Looking like a rugged brute, yet possessing such a meticulous mind,* Su Mu thought to himself with silent admiration.

"I have the silver, but I have no interest in ordinary Flesh Tempering methods," Su Mu said.

"Why do you think I can go toe-to-toe with a third-stage Body Tempering practitioner while only being at the second stage? Aside from my innate bronze skin, iron bones, and immense strength, it is because the Flesh Tempering method I practice is extraordinary."

A flash of pride couldn't help but cross Wei Yongfu's face. "I'm not bragging, but my 'Wild Elephant Flesh Tempering Method' is absolutely top-tier. You won't find many methods better than it in Wuling City."

While Wei Yongfu's words were somewhat boastful, the Wild Elephant Flesh Tempering Method was indeed a superior technique. If it were placed in a pawnshop, one certainly couldn't buy it for less than two or three thousand taels of silver.

"I won't ask for two thousand. One thousand five hundred taels, and I'll sell the Wild Elephant Flesh Tempering Method to you," Wei Yongfu said.

"One thousand five hundred taels is no problem," Su Mu replied after a moment of deliberation. "But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

Wei Yongfu felt a surge of joy. For a martial artist without a background like him, every single tael spent on cultivation had to be earned himself. But earning money was difficult. Even as a bounty hunter, large contracts were not frequent. To save up for the Black Tendon Pill, he had even risked his life against the Black Dragon Fortress last time. The job of assassinating Su Mu had earned him a few hundred taels, but it still wasn't enough. If he could get another fifteen hundred, his breakthrough to the third stage of Body Tempering would be much more certain.

In truth, if Wei Yongfu were willing to abandon his conscience, he could have earned much more. However, he had his own bottom line, and the laws of the Great Xuan were not merely for show; he had no desire to become a wanted criminal on the bounty list and spend the rest of his life in hiding.

"Besides the Wild Elephant Flesh Tempering Method, I also want the Skin Tempering method you practice," Su Mu said. "If you have any other cultivation methods, I want those as well. Money is not an issue."

The Xu family was incredibly wealthy. Although Xu Mingchen had taken most of it when he left, they had still left behind nearly ten thousand taels worth of gold, silver, jewelry, and antiques. Most of these items had entered the vaults of the South City Division, but Su Mu had intercepted three thousand taels for himself. Part of this was used for the public good, turning into the bluestone roads of Guangfu Workshop, while the rest was more than enough to purchase Wei Yongfu's techniques.

"Deal!" Wei Yongfu said without hesitation. "I have two Skin Tempering methods. One is my own 'Black Jade Skin Tempering Method,' and the other is a common one, the 'Iron Sand Skin Tempering Method.' You only need to give me two hundred taels in total!"

***

As dawn approached, Wei Yongfu left the Xu residence with seventeen hundred taels of silver.

Su Mu sat before the three manuals, lost in thought.

"For ordinary people, Skin Tempering takes anywhere from two to five years. It is naturally impossible to practice multiple Skin Tempering methods simultaneously."

"But I am different. I only need two or three months to reach perfection in a Skin Tempering method. Even if I practice two or three, it will only take a few months."

"Compared to the gains, it is entirely worth it!"

If he could develop skin as tough as Wei Yongfu's, even an ordinary Flesh Tempering martial artist would find it difficult to break through his physical defense.

The Black Jade Skin Tempering Method involved applying a specially prepared Black Jade Paste all over the body, wrapping it in bandages, and absorbing the medicinal power through rhythmic striking. The Iron Sand Skin Tempering Method was even more brutal, using coarse iron sand to abrade the skin, supplemented by medicinal baths. This method often caused skin damage and bloody wounds in the beginning; even if one succeeded in tempering the skin, it could leave lasting issues, causing full-body pain in old age.

Su Mu did not have iron sand on hand, but before leaving, Wei Yongfu had left him a bottle of Black Jade Paste as a free gift.

Without hesitation, Su Mu applied the Black Jade Paste all over his body, tore a bedsheet into strips, and wrapped himself tightly. He then grabbed a wooden stick from the courtyard and began striking himself.

Su Mu's Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method was already at perfection. On this foundation, the effect of practicing the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method would be almost negligible. While it could be practiced, without years of arduous training, it would likely be difficult to see results.

Su Mu didn't care. He struck himself forcefully until all the medicinal power beneath the bandages had been absorbed by his skin.

By this time, the sky had brightened completely.

After washing himself clean and dressing, Su Mu summoned his system panel.

[Name: Su Mu] [Identity: Constable Squad Leader (Official)] [Points: 5] [Cultivation Methods: Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method (Perfection), Black Jade Skin Tempering Method (Not Started/+)] [Martial Arts: Wave-Subduing Saber Technique (Perfection), Archery (Beginner)]

Su Mu blinked, making sure he hadn't misread it.

In a single night, the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method had reached perfection, and the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method had reached the entry level. This was within his expectations, but why was there a "+" after the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method?

According to his previous experience, reaching the entry level of a Skin Tempering method required ten points, moving from entry to minor success required one hundred points, minor success to great success required three hundred, and great success to perfection required one thousand. After the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method leveled up last night, he should have only had five points left. Logically, there shouldn't be a "+" indicating further improvement.

"Could it be because my Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method is at perfection, making my skin itself so resilient that practicing other Skin Tempering methods yields twice the result with half the effort?" Su Mu mused. It was like asking a middle schooler to solve elementary school problems; a problem that might take an elementary student an hour could be solved by a middle schooler in half an hour.

Regardless of the reason, if it could be upgraded, he would upgrade it.

With a thought, Su Mu directly upgraded the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method to the entry level!

*Boom!*

A surge of heat raced through his body, and his temperature rose continuously. His skin felt as if it were being struck like red-hot steel. Residual impurities were continuously expelled, and his skin grew increasingly tough.

Compared to when the Golden Scale Skin Tempering Method had leveled up, this process was far from painful. Instead, it brought a strange sense of comfort; Su Mu found himself not wanting the process to end.

After a moment, the surging blood and qi in his body returned to calm.

Looking at his skin again, he finally felt a slight change. Reaching the entry level of the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method had indeed made his skin slightly tougher on top of the foundation provided by the Golden Scale method.

"It really works."

Su Mu was extremely satisfied. It would take others at least a month to reach the entry level of the Black Jade Skin Tempering Method, but he had done it in one night. Furthermore, his cultivation speed would only get faster.

"Body Tempering is the foundation for subsequent cultivation, and Skin Tempering is the foundation for Flesh Tempering. Only with a sufficiently solid foundation can one go far in the future. With the help of the system panel, I should take every step steadily. It won't be too late to start Flesh Tempering after I have tempered my skin to the absolute limit."

Su Mu decided to push through in one go, aiming to master both the Black Jade and Iron Sand Skin Tempering methods to see where the limit of skin tempering lay.

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

A knocking sound rang out, followed by a voice in Su Mu's ear, as if someone were speaking right beside him.

That familiar yet strange voice made Su Mu freeze, before his face broke into a look of great joy.

*Finally, has it come?*