Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Great Cold The effect of the meat from the demon wolf began to take hold. Though the demon blood within this wolf wasn’t particularly pure, its flesh was perfectly suited for someone like Gu Sheng, a martial arts practitioner in the stage of tempering his skin and membrane. Gu Sheng felt waves of heat rising within him. Even though it was the height of winter, with snow falling heavily, he sensed an oppressive warmth as boundless energy surged through his body. "Hah!" Gu Sheng let out a spirited shout, assuming a fist stance. "Boulders Rolling!" "Iron Fist Across the River!" "King of Force Casting Stones!" ... One move after another, slowly unfolding. Although they appeared slow and soft, the strikes were as weighty as a mountain, imbued with immense and overwhelming force. The shift between practice and combat styles was instantaneous. If it shifted to combat, it would unleash earth-shattering power—fierce, domineering! Gu Sheng’s eyes gleamed brightly. With the assistance of demon wolf meat, his energy was boundless, and his practice was in an unprecedentedly optimal state! The skin and membrane of his body throbbed and trembled, waves of sharp pain coursing through him, bringing both joy and exhilaration. Yet what delighted him most was the boiling, subtle transformation of power surging through his fists as he practiced! The Iron Stone Fist’s Small Success was within reach! Gu Sheng devoted himself wholly to his training, relentlessly repeating his moves. Fists as heavy as a mountain crashing down, fists as swift as a raging river! Sweat vaporized in waves, forming wisps of white mist, which gradually grew dense. At a certain moment— Gu Sheng suddenly threw a punch, power bursting forth as though casting an iron boulder that slammed into the wooden post before him. Bam!! A dull thud echoed as a deep fist imprint appeared on the post, with cracks starting to form. Gu Sheng’s eyes were filled with joy. He opened his panel. The martial arts section had visibly changed. Iron Stone Fist (Small Success 0%)! "Two months of grueling training, and the Iron Stone Fist has finally reached Small Success. Compared to when I first began, my power is at least double. The transformation is astonishing. No wonder so few in the estate manage to achieve Small Success in Iron Stone Fist." Gu Sheng felt a faint sensation and was immediately filled with awe. Twice the power meant his efficiency in tempering his skin and membrane had doubled from now on! With the addition of five portions of Body Refining Ointment each month, what originally would have taken three years to advance to the Stone Skin Realm could now be achieved in just over half a year! The speed of improvement was genuinely transformative. Moreover, achieving Small Success in Iron Stone Fist wasn’t merely symbolic. Doubling his power and pairing it with the First-level Chopping Wood’s tear effect meant Gu Sheng could likely defeat someone like Gu Xiaojiang, who had just entered the Stone Skin Realm, with a single axe strike. Even without using Chopping Wood, merely relying on the Small Success Iron Stone Fist would likely leave a regular person with shattered bones and sinews. Gu Sheng’s enthusiasm surged. His fist techniques evolved, and his whole being erupted like a tiger leaving its cage—fierce and domineering. Shadows of his fists overlapped as he relentlessly attacked the wooden post with strikes, whether fists or elbows, producing a series of deep ’bam, bam, bam, bam’ sounds. His fist momentum kept building. Gu Sheng leaped high, delivering a downward punch as if a mountain was crashing down, slamming it fiercely into the wooden post. The post, already covered in fist imprints, finally reached its breaking point. With a resounding snap, it split into two! Gu Sheng gazed at the fragmented remains scattered across the ground, his eyes brimming with joy. From the beginning of his martial training to now— He finally felt a taste of the true power of martial arts. Though he wasn’t yet a martial artist and his body hadn’t fully transformed, his strength was already so formidable. Once he truly became a Stone Skin martial artist, paired with Small Success Iron Stone Fist, his combat power would surpass that of an average Stone Skin martial artist! "Hiss!" After the joy subsided, Gu Sheng couldn’t help but hiss in pain. He glanced down, seeing his fists swollen and reddened. Although his skin and membrane were now far sturdier, clashing against the wooden post still caused injury. "Stone Skin, Stone Skin! I must push ahead and transform my membrane into stone soon to become a true martial artist, only then will I have some degree of protection!" To accelerate the tempering of his membrane, naturally, he needed to continue advancing the realm of Iron Stone Fist. For others, this would be exceedingly difficult. Even someone as talented as Gu Xiaojiang needed years—three to five years at the shortest, six to seven years at the longest. But Gu Sheng didn’t have to. "Keep training!" Small Success Iron Stone Fist was just the beginning, and Gu Sheng wouldn’t settle for merely this level. Within the fenced courtyard, fist momentum gradually rose as Gu Sheng continued his diligent training. Before he knew it, the jade rabbit had faded from view. By now, the demon wolf meat had been completely absorbed. Gu Sheng’s progress in tempering his membrane was visibly enhanced, a tangible improvement made possible by the dual benefits of achieving Small Success Iron Stone Fist and the demon wolf meat. Most importantly— Gu Sheng now had a clear sense of how long it would take to push Iron Stone Fist to Great Success. "Approximately four months, twice the time needed for Small Success." Gu Sheng’s eyes flashed with determination. "At this pace, I won’t even need half a year to become a martial artist in the Stone Skin Realm!" A sense of accomplishment welled up within him. ... Time continued to flow. Gu Sheng’s rhythm of training remained steady as always. His progress in archery, Iron Stone Fist, and membrane tempering steadily intensified. Winter’s chill grew harsher, temperatures dropped lower, and fewer people ventured outside. Gu Sheng was unfazed. Solitary training suited him well. Occasionally, Gu Xiaojiang would stop by to drink and chat, and Gu Erniu would visit from time to time. As for the other hunters, few proactively sought out Gu Sheng anymore. "Erniu Brother, here are two jackets I asked Xiao Jiang to exchange from the main family. Take them back for your wife and Xiao Wan to wear. It’s far too cold this year, and while we two can withstand it with thick skin, I’m worried their weaker bodies won’t endure." Gu Sheng rubbed his hands, feeling the cold air swirling around him. Gratitude filled Gu Erniu’s eyes. No matter how Gu Sheng’s strength grew, his attitude toward Gu Erniu’s family never changed, which deeply touched him. Too many people, once they achieved success, eagerly distanced themselves from their humble past—but Gu Sheng wasn’t like that. Gu Erniu didn’t refuse. "I won’t stand on ceremony, then. I’ll thank you on behalf of my wife and Xiao Wan." He couldn’t help but sigh emotionally. "For you to achieve what you have today—if Uncle Shun could see it from the afterlife, he would undoubtedly be overjoyed. If Xiao Wan manages to have even half your capabilities in the future, I could die content!" Gu Sheng merely smiled. "If not for you teaching me archery, how would I have reached this point?" Gu Erniu waved his hand modestly, unwilling to take credit. Back then, his decision to teach Gu Sheng archery was prompted by Gu Sheng saving his wife and child. He stroked the soft fabric of the jacket in his hands, his voice lowering. "Two days ago, Uncle Er Gen from the village passed away. When he was found, he was frozen solid, as hard as a rock." "After losing his sick son and his wife, he lived alone, crippled and unable to walk properly. A strong wind during the night blew off his roof, and he froze to death..." Gu Sheng remained silent, his heart heavy with grief. He could only handle so much. Managing to care for those close to him was already an exceptional feat. "In this world, we can only rely on ourselves..." "Indeed. I just hope this cursed winter ends quickly. Otherwise, who knows how many more will die..." ... Toward the end of the Seventh Year of Jianping. The Qing Province remained locked in severe winter, with blizzards raging for two months straight. Death plagued the roadsides. Ten homes out of ten were impoverished. The common folk suffered immensely. Meanwhile, in Canghe County, the unrest was nearing its conclusion.