Su Yan bought his supplies, found a deserted area, and placed everything into his Bug Realm space. The space was already filled with various herbs and his broadsword, and now it was even more packed.
He left the Rear Temple Alley and entered the bustling area of Yun Cang Town, where hawkers' calls were incessant. The aroma of roasted goose, the sight of candied hawthorn, and the warmth of meat soups were everywhere. The town's prosperity was evident. With centuries of history, the town had countless wealthy residents and abundant entertainment.
Su Yan only had a few hundred copper coins and couldn't afford any extravagance.
'After achieving Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining, I'll eat my way from one end of this street to the other!'
Su Yan sped up, using the Ape Leap Step to return to Cloud-Front Village. After the Summer Tax, every household was busy mountain-trekking or farming to close their debts. Even in the evening, many villagers were still working hard.
Su Yan took the small path through the village and arrived home, immediately setting up a large pot. He cut half of the Blue-Backed Rock Ox meat he bought, placed it in the pot to stew, and added the Ground Blood Vine and Cinnabar Ganoderma. Five jin of the Blue-Backed Rock Ox meat didn't look like much; its compact texture gave it only half the volume of regular beef of the same weight.
Su Yan waited for the beef to cook, ate it all quickly, and immediately adopted the Golden Ape Stance Skill. As the stance circulated, the consumed food was rapidly digested, and its energy was extracted. Su Yan felt a full, warm current surge from his stomach, then spread throughout his body. Most of it was instantly wrapped up by the blood energy refined by the Stance Skill, sweeping like a tide and fusing with his skin.
"The nourishing effect is this good, and it's sustained and gentle with my body." Su Yan was startled, then filled with joy. Precious plants and herbs provided potency like water rushing through an open dam—a sudden flood. The Desolate Beast meat, however, provided a slow, gentle stream. Though slightly less potent at any given moment, its sustained, subtle nourishment was superior.
Su Yan didn't want to waste the power of the Blue-Backed Rock Ox meat. He composed himself and stood in his stance for a full hour. Most of the Blue-Backed Rock Ox meat was consumed. The remainder, which was not enveloped by the blood energy, provided a slow, warm nourishment—the true benefit of a tonic. Su Yan sensed his skin's toughness and the faintly discernible threads of blood energy beneath it. He knew his Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining had advanced further. This blood energy would not only strengthen his skin but also provide greater defense and power.
"I'll strike while the iron is hot. Time to try the Red Skin Powder."
The Inner Door Disciples enjoyed great benefits: a more powerful supplementary art, a martial technique, and the advantages of their elevated status. Entering the Inner Door meant becoming a true member of the academy, giving him more leverage in his actions. Furthermore, there was the matter of the Great Desolate Mountain expedition. Though Li Shun and Dian Jing's accounts were vague, it was likely that the major powers all had interests in the Great Desolate Mountain, and the expedition was a way to divide those spoils. Since Desolate Beast meat alone was so effective, he wouldn't miss this chance.
Su Yan mentally organized his priorities: "First, I'll achieve Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining, enter the Inner Door, and then temper my tendons and bones."
He brought a large wooden barrel, filled it with hot water, and poured one-third of the bottle of Red Skin Powder into it. The powder dissolved instantly, turning the water a dark red, like blood. The water, though only warm moments ago, now seemed to boil.
Su Yan frowned slightly: 'Will I get boiled alive if I get in?'
Despite the thought, he didn't hesitate. He stripped off his clothes, revealing his strong physique, and stepped into the large barrel. He submerged himself completely, only his head remaining above the water.
"Though I can't adopt the Golden Ape Stance Skill posture while sitting, if I 'live-practice' the stance, I can integrate the feeling of muscle trembling and blood energy circulation into my body. Practicing while seated might not be impossible..."
A feeling came over him. Su Yan immediately tried to activate the Stance Skill. His breathing became regulated, and his body surprisingly began to mobilize more blood energy. Though not as effective as standing, it was undoubtedly working. Su Yan was delighted and immediately immersed himself, using a variation of his Stance Skill to absorb the medicinal power.
After about three minutes, his blood energy surged, and his skin felt the continuous invasion of the medicinal power. But Su Yan suddenly noticed something was wrong. His entire body turned red, and the temperature slowly rose. It felt as if he had smeared himself with hot chili oil. A premonition of danger rose in his heart.
Sure enough, ten minutes later, a burning, intense pain scorched every inch of his skin, as if he were submerged in boiling chili water. First, it felt like being boiled, and then like countless fire ants were eating his skin. The explosive medicinal effects ravaged his skin. While strengthening him, they also brought unimaginable pain.
"Damn this Red Skin Powder and its name!" Su Yan's veins bulged, and his face turned crimson, but he did not rise from the barrel. The pain made him clench his jaw, but his eyes showed a fierce resolve. He had fought a tiger barehanded; he could endure this.
'It's just pain...' Su Yan forced himself to endure the intense pain, regulated his rough breathing, resumed the muscle trembling, and mobilized his body's blood energy.
He tortured himself for a full hour. The water gradually turned clear as the medicinal power was completely absorbed into his body. His skin was red like a boiled shrimp. Su Yan let out a long breath, his eyes gleaming like daggers. He leaped out, his body moving like an ape. He inhaled deeply, his bones ringing. Taking advantage of the medicinal power, he performed the Golden Ape Stance Skill for another hour.
His stance was powerful and dynamic, like a raging ape. His blood energy surged like a flood, impacting and refining his skin, forging it into iron-like toughness.
[Body Forging Realm: Skin Refining 31/200 (Minor Accomplishment)][Golden Ape Stance Skill: 79/200 (Minor Accomplishment)][Ape Fist: 21/200 (Minor Accomplishment)]
His Golden Ape Stance Skill had advanced again, and his Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining had also moved forward significantly. Though this was partly due to his diligent practice, the effect of the supplement was clearly substantial.
"The moon is up. Time to go to the mountains and meet the Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug."
Su Yan finished his practice, changed his clothes, and set off for the mountains with only his basket and weapons. The moonlight was clear, and the shadows of the old trees crisscrossed, making the mountain look like a giant beast lying in wait.
He entered the mountain. The Dark Water Centipede was released and concealed itself in the undergrowth, closely following his steps toward the interior. The Dark Water Centipede, though only in its Growth Stage, was more condensed in its purple color and its carapace was tougher. It looked less like a poisonous bug and more like a weapon.
Su Yan found his bearings and quickly moved toward the Inner Mountain. His figure leaped and bounded. In less than half an hour, he had crossed a mountain peak and arrived at the spot where he had previously collected the Cinnabar Ganoderma.
"The ferns covering the path haven't been disturbed, and there are some hoof prints. It seems this spot hasn't been discovered in the past few days. The Velvet Fire Scorpion Bug should still be here." Su Yan felt relieved looking at the tracks. A few mountain-men came here anyway.
Although he had informed Uncle Xie and Guo Yun about the location, when they came and went, they also followed the custom of placing fern leaves and branches over the path to obscure their tracks, preventing other mountain-men from finding the resource spot. Furthermore, since it was just after the Summer Tax, this area wouldn't be explored by others for a while.
This was naturally good news for him.
He moved slowly and quietly, finally arriving at a ravine at the boundary of the Outer Mountain and Inner Mountain. Bushes grew wildly, moss covered the cliff face, several fallen trees lay across the gully, and the ground was a thick layer of decaying leaves. Su Yan looked at the scene under the silver moonlight and saw a large cluster of Cinnabar Ganoderma (丹芝) growing profusely on a fallen log—it was clearly tempting enough to draw Guo Yun and the others.
Shasha... Shasha... Shasha...
The sound reached him. Su Yan immediately concealed himself in the undergrowth.