Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Power Penetrates the Skin Membrane "Asheng, off to practice martial arts again?" Gu Sheng walked with his head lowered, contemplating the variations in the fist techniques of the Iron Stone Fist. Ever since receiving guidance and sparring with Gu Xiaojiang, his grasp of the Iron Stone Fist had advanced by leaps and bounds, far quicker than practicing alone. Upon hearing Zhang Ze’s familiar voice, he couldn’t help but look up. Zhang Ze stood at his doorstep, accompanied by a woman who, though silent, wore a broad smile on her face. "That’s right, Brother Ze. Not heading into the mountains today?" A smile spread across Gu Sheng’s face, causing the somewhat nervous Zhang Ze to visibly relax. Ever since Gu Sheng began practicing martial arts, subtle changes had occurred. Though Gu Erniu treated Gu Sheng the same way as before, the other hunters who knew Gu Sheng had become more cautious when speaking with him. The specific details of that trip to the city had been downplayed within the village, but some bits and pieces inevitably leaked out. The hunters vaguely realized that Gu Sheng’s archery skills far exceeded their imagination. Now, he had even established a connection with the main family and begun practicing martial arts early. His eventual ascension to becoming a Martial Artist seemed almost certain. When that day came, his status would skyrocket—far beyond what they, as mere hunters, could ever hope to achieve. Thus, each interaction with Gu Sheng grew more restrained and cautious. "No, not today! With winter here, there’s less prey in the mountains. My wife suggested I find some other work for a while and wait until spring to head back into the mountains," Zhang Ze said with an ingratiating smile, the woman beside him beaming even brighter. Gu Sheng nodded, replying, "That seems wise. I’ll make a few more trips into the mountains myself, but after that, I’ll also wait until spring." The dropping temperatures and the impending heavy snow that would seal off the mountains made hunting increasingly challenging—Gu Sheng had no intention of taking unnecessary risks. "Asheng, with your exceptional archery and now training in martial arts, you’re bound to succeed. When spring comes, you must let me accompany you on a hunt!" Zhang Ze’s smile carried both deference and a faint note of flattery. Gu Sheng nodded with a smile. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Gu Sheng took his leave. As they watched Gu Sheng’s departing figure, Zhang Ze’s eyes filled with envy. The woman beside him couldn’t help but sigh wistfully, "If only our son Xiaodong could be as accomplished as Asheng someday..." Zhang Ze shook his head. "Becoming a Martial Artist isn’t easy. We’d be better off saving what we can to give Xiaodong an easier life. Let’s hope that maybe Xiaodong’s son will have a chance to become a Martial Artist. For now, there’s Erniu—he’s close with Asheng. Perhaps one day his children might break free from their fate." The couple sighed softly, their voices tinged with envy for both Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu. For tenant farmers and hunters from the lower rungs of society, the hope of a better future relied entirely on generational accumulation. If even one generation faltered, that fragile sliver of hope could be completely extinguished. In their eyes, Gu Sheng had already turned his fortunes around. ... Gu Sheng was oblivious to Zhang Ze and his wife’s envious musings. At that moment, he was immersed in a unique realm. Whoosh whoosh!! On the martial training ground, Gu Sheng’s body stood like an immovable rock. He slowly threw one punch after another. Though his movements were deliberate and unhurried, they were seamless and fluid, stirring gusts of wind with each motion. "Iron Fists Crossing the River!" "Heavy as a Mountain!" "Rolling Boulders!" By now, Gu Sheng had thoroughly memorized every move of the Iron Stone Fist. The more he practiced, the more exhilarated he felt, his eyes radiating with sharp determination. Despite the cold of winter, Gu Sheng was drenched in sweat, faint wisps of steam rising from his body. This was the result of mobilizing all the power within his body, causing his sweat to evaporate. A week ago, Gu Sheng had already achieved this level of control, but today, something felt entirely different. In the past, though he could mobilize his entire body’s power, the sensation felt ephemeral and elusive, unable to penetrate the layers of his skin. His strength felt ungrounded and insubstantial. But now, his power thrummed and rippled, reaching the surface of his skin—he could vividly sense its existence. The essence of the Iron Stone Fist lay in honing this power, using it to refine the skin and, eventually, the blood. At that moment, beneath Gu Sheng’s clothes, it was as though small rodents were scurrying about. Occasional bulges appeared and disappeared across his body. His eyes were focused. He could feel every inch of his skin being transformed under the stimulation of his power—subtle but undeniable! With a surge of power, he let out a sharp cry, shifting from training form to combat form and landing a punch on the wooden post before him. Pa! A muffled sound echoed as a faint imprint of a fist appeared on the post. Many young onlookers cast envious glances in his direction. Power permeating the skin—Iron Stone Fist had reached the entry-level stage! Gu Sheng retracted his fist and stood tall, his eyes alight with delight. From the side, Gu Xiaojiang’s hearty laughter rang out: "Asheng, congratulations! Twenty-eight days of training, and you’ve mastered Iron Stone Fist’s entry level! You’re finally ready to start tempering your skin!" Gu Sheng smiled and nodded. "Compared to your seven days to entry, I’m far behind. If not for your guidance, Xiao Jiang, I might not have progressed so quickly." He spoke earnestly. Still, it wasn’t as if he lagged far behind. If left to train by himself, Gu Sheng estimated that he could’ve reached entry-level within another seven or eight days. Of course, Gu Sheng didn’t dwell on the difference of a few days. What mattered now was that the Iron Stone Fist had entered the entry-level stage, and his martial panel finally recorded it! He opened his panel. [Name]: Gu Sheng [Age]: 14 [Realm]: None [Martial Arts]: Chopping Wood (Effect: First-level Tearing), Archery (Perfect 24%), Iron Stone Fist (Entry-level 1%) ... The entry for Iron Stone Fist now prominently appeared under Martial Arts. For Gu Sheng, this marked the true beginning of training! "Asheng, you’re too modest. Without your hard work, you couldn’t have progressed this quickly," Gu Xiaojiang replied with a dismissive wave, admiration evident in his heart. Over these past days, Gu Sheng’s diligence had been plain to see. Though Gu Sheng wasn’t as innately gifted as him, his tireless effort was humbling, even spurring Gu Xiaojiang to push himself harder. Now, his own breakthrough to the Small Success stage of the Iron Stone Fist seemed within reach. Gu Sheng merely smiled. "Now that you’ve just entered the Iron Stone Fist, it’s the perfect time to temper your skin. Start practicing quickly and see how effective it is," urged Gu Xiaojiang, his anticipation evident. Typically, the effects of tempering the skin with newly harnessed power were most pronounced at the beginning. Over time, the effects would diminish and plateau. The process then required painstaking effort over time until the skin transformed into stone-like toughness, marking the achievement of the Refining Skin Realm! Gu Sheng nodded in agreement. Calming his mind and focusing his energy, he began practicing the Iron Stone Fist once more. With the entry-level breakthrough, the techniques underwent a qualitative transformation. Though the movements followed the same patterns, the force and momentum had entirely changed. From a distance, Gu Sheng appeared like a boulder in motion. Gu Sheng could distinctly feel, as his power reverberated through his skin, a tingling pain emerged. The greater the sting, the faster his skin was transforming. Each repetition of the Iron Stone Fist lessened the sting, until the sensation gradually stabilized at a consistent level. Gu Sheng slowly withdrew his fists. Gu Xiaojiang also paused his training and hurried over to ask, "Asheng, how did it feel just now? Did you experience that tingling sensation as the power stimulated your skin?" Gu Sheng nodded and described the intensity and duration of the sting to Gu Xiaojiang. Gu Xiaojiang furrowed his brow slightly, then relaxed. "According to what Uncle Jin’gang told me before, Asheng, your physical foundation is considered decent. With this pace, combined with two portions of Body Refining Ointment each month, you’ll definitely reach the Refining Skin Realm within three years!" "That aptitude surpasses many in the main family. Tomorrow, you can claim this month’s Body Refining Ointment. This time, the elders of the clan should have no objections!" Mentioning the clan elders, Gu Xiaojiang couldn’t help but purse his lips.