Chapter 126

127. Chapter 127: Tiger and Leopard Tendon and Bone Training

After renting the courtyard and having a place to stay, the taut line in everyone's hearts loosened slightly.

Zhao Ge got up early after giving some instructions to everyone: "Get up, all of you, get up! Don't you see what time it is? Still sleeping? Meng De stood guard all night, not so you could sleep in. We are currently on the run, so hurry up and pack your things to leave."

"Once the sky brightens, if the Han and Jin families don't receive news, they will surely suspect that this pursuit has gone wrong. By then, they might send martial artists at the Meridian Opening stage, so we can't stay here any longer; we must take a different route."

Zhao Ge was very strict. He found a branch from somewhere and struck his sleeping disciples with it.

He struck his own daughter, Zhao Qian, even harder.

However, none of them felt anything was wrong with the Master's strictness. Being struck with a branch was already considered very friendly; most martial arts school masters would strike a sleeping disciple with a club, and if the club didn't wake them, they would just be dragged out and buried.

Shou Hou, Rong Niang, and Zhao Qian woke up immediately from the pain and then, as usual, got up to pack their things and leave immediately.

Li Yi had been standing guard, fearing any accidents.

Once everything was prepared.

The group rode their horses and galloped all the way, turning back in the direction they had come.

"Master, this isn't the road to escape; this is the road back to San Yang City. Did we take the wrong road?"

Shou Hou rode his horse, with a dozen or so fine horses tied behind him. These horses were carrying goods—the spoils of war they had seized earlier. He had organized them, ready to take them to the market to sell.

Zhao Ge controlled his horse and said: "Escaping forward into unfamiliar territory makes it easier to be discovered. Turning back and launching a surprise attack will catch them off guard. We don't need to hold them off for long; we just need to survive these days. Once Meng De finishes re-cultivating his martial arts, we won't fear their pursuit anymore. Even if a martial artist at the Meridian Opening stage really comes, Meng De has a firearm in his hand, which is enough to ensure our safety."

With strength and confidence, he became much bolder in his actions.

"Meng De, how is your horse riding practice going?" Zhao Ge then controlled his horse to move closer and asked.

Li Yi was currently riding a black stallion. According to the Master, this was Jin Bu Feng's mount. Jin Bu Feng, as a swordsman, loved fast horses, so this black horse was a rare steed. Originally, the steed recognized its master and was unruly, but as soon as Li Yi approached, the black horse smelled the scent of the Qilin Dragon skin and immediately submitted, now obediently following Li Yi's commands.

"I've learned enough. Controlling the horse is very simple; there's no problem."

Li Yi didn't know how to ride a horse, but under the Master's guidance, he had mastered horsemanship in just a few minutes.

An Evolver's ability to adapt is very strong; this is both an advantage and a talent.

Zhao Ge stroked his beard and laughed: "Good, I knew Meng De had amazing talent; you learn everything quickly. Since controlling the horse is no problem, I will start teaching you martial arts. The first step of martial arts is Skin Refining, followed by Tendon Refining, and then Bone Refining. These are the Lower Three Realms of martial artists. For ordinary people, reaching Bone Refining is already being an expert. Above that are Marrow Refining, Blood Refining, and then Meridian Opening. These are the Middle Three Grades of martial artists."

"A martial artist who reaches Meridian Opening is considered an expert in one region; they can build a martial arts school and open a sect. Beyond that are the Upper Three Grades of martial artists, but I won't go into detail about that here. Let's start with Skin Refining."

"Skin Refining requires storing a breath of energy inside while tempering the tendons, bones, and skin outside. How to store this breath and how to refine it involves methodology. I practice the 'Wild Ox Breathing Method,' which specializes in refining the skin and flesh. It is a Middle-Grade Skin Refining method. Meng De, pay attention to my breathing."

Zhao Ge finished speaking and immediately began to demonstrate.

He took a deep breath, held it without releasing it, his abdomen bulged, and then this breath circulated. His skin and flesh vibrated like ox hide, and as Zhao Ge circulated the energy, the skin and flesh in every area could move. These skin and flesh would sometimes be loose, sometimes tight, and could be mobilized at will.

After Zhao Ge demonstrated, he exhaled this breath in one go, like a wild ox howling.

"Meng De, although Skin Refining is just the beginning, it is very critical. The human body's strength is limited. For a martial artist to have fierce energy and sufficient power, they must mobilize the strength of every inch of their body as much as possible. The potential of the skin and flesh's strength is huge. You know, ordinary people can hang their entire body by piercing a hole in their own skin."

"If the strength of the skin and flesh can be fully mobilized, that power cannot be underestimated. Although you have learned the boxing stance and unleashed boxing energy before, the boxing stance cannot mobilize the strength perfectly and cannot thoroughly excavate the potential of the skin, tendons, and bones. Now that you are re-cultivating martial arts, it can take your boxing energy to the next level."

"So that's it. Master, I understand." Li Yi's eyes shone with light, and a sense of excitement welled up.

Just as the Master said, there was still great potential to be excavated within his own body. Skin Refining, Tendon Refining, Bone Refining—if he could successfully complete these three realms, his strength would surely see a huge increase.

"Good, now I will teach you the Wild Ox Breathing Method." Zhao Ge immediately began to guide Li Yi on how to store the breath, how to circulate it, and how to vibrate the skin membrane.

And in just a few words, he spoke the true core of it.

These things were the essence of the Zhao Family Zhao Wuguan and could not be taught to anyone but true disciples.

However, there were no outsiders by Zhao Ge's side, and Rong Niang and Shou Hou both knew this Skin Refining method, as did Zhao Qian.

"Master, isn't it a bit bad to teach Senior Brother Skin Refining on horseback? Aren't you worried that Senior Brother might circulate the energy incorrectly and hurt his body? It's said that circulating energy incorrectly can easily affect one's offspring. Didn't several junior brothers practice it incorrectly before and end up unable to find a wife?" Shou Hou rode his horse behind and reminded him of this.

Seeing this, Li Yi simply became generous, went to find a porcelain bowl, and poured a full bowl for the Eight-Treasure Deer. This amount would make even him full, and it was estimated to be enough to feed this old deer.

"I won't say it, I won't say it."

After being scolded, Shou Hou shrank his head and immediately became obedient.

Li Yi took a deep breath, followed the Master's example, and began to store a breath of energy inside to refine his skin.

Zhao Ge watched while guiding him.

Soon, Li Yi understood the principle of Skin Refining.

This was about mobilizing parts of the body that are usually unused. For example, some people can move their ears themselves, while others cannot. This is because part of the nerves in the ears are dull and require more stimulation to allow the human body to master them.

Similarly.

Skin Refining is about activating the human body through unique breathing and energy circulation to regain control over these parts, and once you can control the strength of the skin and flesh, you can use the pulling force of the skin and flesh to drive the tendons and bones, exploding with more powerful strength.

Of course, this was Li Yi's personal understanding.

However, with this understanding, he knew what he should do.

Li Yi took another deep breath, and his empty chest immediately filled with air. Then he attempted to use the Wild Ox Breathing Method to circulate the energy and stimulate the vibration of his skin and flesh.

Seeing that the amount of energy Li Yi was circulating was so huge, Zhao Ge was surprised but didn't show it, only reminding him: "Meng De, you cannot circulate a breath for too long, otherwise it will easily hurt your body. Breathing requires inhalation and exhalation, following nature. If you feel you cannot control this breath, exhale and stop immediately; do not force the Skin Refining."

Li Yi continued to close his eyes and circulate the energy. He felt he could control this breath, and even though he was riding on horseback, bumping around, it didn't affect him at all.

Just a short while later.

The skin and flesh on some parts of Li Yi's body began to vibrate, and the clothes behind him also swayed like waves, as if a force invisible to the eye was circulating around his body.

"Master, has Senior Brother already entered the gate?" Rong Niang pointed at Li Yi, her eyes full of astonishment.

"Otherwise? He has already learned the Wild Ox Breathing Method, and he learned it more exquisitely than ordinary people. Others can only circulate energy to one part to slowly refine the skin, but Meng De can circulate it throughout his whole body, vibrating the skin and flesh of his entire body. And that's not all; ordinary disciples need at least three months to slowly control the strength of the skin and flesh."

"Meng De doesn't need that long. I guess one hour is enough."

Zhao Ge said, stroking his beard, with a hint of pride in his eyes.

What is talent? This is talent.

Half an hour to produce boxing energy, one hour to master Skin Refining—for a figure like Li Yi, who seemed like a god descended to earth, martial arts were just something he could pick up with ease.

Last time, he had wanted to pull Li Yi to the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

Now that his wish had come true, Zhao Ge had to teach him with all his might, letting the martial artists of the world see what "Yi's divine bravery, unique in a thousand years" meant, and what it meant to be invincible under heaven.

"One hour to master Skin Refining? Is he still human?" Rong Niang looked at Li Yi, who was riding ahead, her eyes full of shock.

"Senior Sister Rong Niang, I was just as surprised as you when I first saw Brother Yi practice boxing, but later I got used to it. Brother Yi cannot be viewed with the eyes of an ordinary person. Besides, Brother Yi already has strength; he is re-cultivating martial arts now, so naturally, it's faster."

Zhao Qian, who was riding a horse and carrying a sniper rifle, said with a smile.

"This is no longer just 'faster,' but turning an impossible thing into a possible one." Rong Niang pursed her lips and said: "At this rate of cultivation, I'm afraid it won't take Senior Brother many days to reach the Meridian Opening realm."

"Whether he can reach Meridian Opening depends on Meng De's physical potential. Although Meng De has extraordinary bones, he is still growing, just like a child who hasn't fully grown into an adult." Zhao Ge said with a smile: "Follow Meng De well in the future, listen to Meng De, and with Meng De's character, there will be no lack of benefits for you in the future."

"What Master says is right; we will naturally follow the Senior Brother's lead in the future." Shou Hou shouted from behind.

As the practice continued, it was fine at the beginning, but towards the later postures, Li Yi felt that some parts of his body were sore, numb, and swollen.

Shou Hou grinned sheepishly and shrank back.

The group rode their horses while waiting for Li Yi to re-cultivate his martial arts.

Sure enough, just as Zhao Ge had said.

Li Yi's progress in practicing Skin Refining with the Wild Ox Breathing Method was rapid. After just over half an hour, he opened his eyes again after his final exhalation.

The first step of martial arts, Skin Refining, he had succeeded.

Then, he saw his intent move, and as if by instinct, the skin and flesh on the back of his hands began to vibrate, like a wild ox moving its skin membrane to drive away mosquitoes and flies. ===== CHAPTER 127 =====

Zhao Ge stared at Li Yi with burning eyes.

His heart was excited because he could gradually feel that after the bone training was over, Li Yi's tendons and bones would be combined, the potential of dragon tendons and tiger bones would be excavated, divine power would erupt, and with one punch, all the martial artists in the world would have to bow their heads.

"I know." Li Yi nodded.

It was like this when practicing skin before, but now it was just a different part. The principle was the same.

He closed his eyes, gave up the vibration of skin and flesh, gave up the power of bones, and only relied on the large tendons to pull his body.

At this time, he felt his body was exceptionally heavy, and his body was soft and powerless.

Trying to throw a punch, it had no power at all.

Zhao Ge was not impatient when he saw this, but went up to point out the tips on how to pull the large tendons and how to store power. After all, no matter how talented Li Yi was, he couldn't be self-taught, and he still needed Master to teach him.

Li Yi got the pointers, found the knack, and after a few attempts.

After about half an hour, he threw a punch.

"Bang!"

The fist power sounded, although it was not loud, it was enough to prove that Li Yi had passed the tendon training pass, and the rest was just practicing more by himself.

"Good, very good." Zhao Ge clapped his hands and laughed.

One hour to practice skin, two hours to practice tendons. If this spread out, who in the world would believe it?

Wait, the martial artists in the world, wait.

In the Four Seas and Eight Continents, a real dragon is about to be born soon.