Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World

Chapter 99: Chapter 90: Promotion to Jade Skin! Predicting the Enemy’s Next Move!_2

”The Jade Skin Realm martial artist can anticipate the enemy’s moves—so that’s what it means.”

Gu Sheng finally understood. With this realization, Jade Skin Realm martial artists are naturally invincible against Iron Skin and Stone Skin martial artists.

”If that’s the case, my archery techniques are less effective against Jade Skin Realm martial artists. Although my first-level penetration arrow techniques have enough power, it’s difficult to hit critical points unless the speed is fast enough so that even if the opponent perceives the arrow, they can’t react in time.”

”Nowadays, my close combat ability has surpassed my archery skills, unless I can learn martial arts techniques for archery in the future.”

The initial joy of the breakthrough gradually subsided.

Becoming a Jade Skin Realm expert was certainly exciting, but it was only the first step of a long journey. Moving forward, Gu Sheng knew he had to keep working hard—at the very least, he would need to reach the Blood Refining Realm to gain some sense of security.

Gu Sheng started planning his next steps for cultivation.

”After breaking through to the Jade Skin Realm, the training of the skin membrane is almost perfected. The next phase is nurturing qi and blood, allowing power to refine qi and blood to generate Qi Blood Power—and for that, I must use Blood Nourishing Powder!”

”The black market—I’ll have to make a trip there!”

There are subtle differences between the Blood Refining Realm and Skin Refining Realm.

Skin Refining consists of three sub-realms.

The Blood Refining Realm, however, includes four sub-realms: entry-level, small success, great success, and perfect.

Each has distinct characteristics.

Entry-level Blood Refining corresponds with the generation of Qi Blood Power. Qi Blood Power greatly enhances the martial artist’s destructive force—combined with an already formidable physique, it becomes easy to rip apart tigers and leopards. Every movement exudes incredible might.

Small Success in Blood Refining sees Qi Blood forming a faint veil around the body.

Great Success evolves Qi Blood into rising wolf smoke.

Reaching perfect realm means the unification of Qi Blood—flawless and complete, with a complete transformation of flesh and blood!

These are common martial arts principles: easy to know, but difficult to achieve. Even though the path is clearly laid out, truly breaking through is as challenging as reaching the heavens.

Fortunately for Gu Sheng, these goals felt within reach—so long as he went step by step and worked diligently.

He opened his status panel.

[Name]: Gu Sheng

[Age]: 16

[Realm]: Skin Refining Realm (Jade Skin)

[Martial Arts]: Chopping Wood (First-level Tear), Archery (First-level Penetration), Iron Stone Fist (Perfect 52%), Shapeshifting (Great Success 88%)

...

Looking at the panel now, compared to its simplistic state when he first started, it appeared much richer.

Four martial arts disciplines, each at least at the Great Success realm—were it known by others, they would surely be dumbfounded. For ordinary people, possessing one martial art at the Small Success level would already make them stand out, let alone achieving Great Success or even Perfect realm!

”Shapeshifting is now at 88% progress in the Great Success realm. It won’t be long before I break through to the Perfect realm.”

Gu Sheng looked forward to it.

Shapeshifting at the Great Success realm was already this strong; at the Perfect realm, it would undoubtedly be even more terrifying—there might even be unexpected surprises.

For now, without Blood Nourishing Powder available, Gu Sheng couldn’t recklessly refine qi and blood. Thus, he devoted all his energy to improving Iron Stone Fist and Shapeshifting.

After a few days, when he fully familiarized himself with the combat capabilities of the Jade Skin Realm, he planned to sneak into the city.

As per usual, the Black Sand Gang was expected to come around for the annual tribute in the next few days—it was best to wait for that to pass; otherwise, running into them along the way would spell trouble.

...

The next day.

Gu Sheng was training Shapeshifting in the yard. His skin appeared to undulate like ripples on water—it looked bizarre. The undulations were not overly exaggerated, and his body intermittently emitted crisp snapping sounds.

Perhaps due to successfully attaining the Jade Skin Realm, Gu Sheng felt his training speed in Shapeshifting had improved.

Suddenly.

The sound of knocking came from outside the yard, accompanied by a familiar laugh:

”Asheng! Come out—I’ve come to apologize!”

It was Gu Xiaojiang.

Gu Sheng smiled faintly, immediately understanding what Gu Xiaojiang meant by ”apologizing.” With a swift turn of his power, his face and body returned to their original appearance. He threw on a light robe and walked outside.

”Apologize? I think you’re here to show off!”

Gu Sheng remarked jokingly.

Standing outside the yard was Gu Xiaojiang, his figure tall and upright. Gu Xiaojiang’s face was glowing with excitement—as expected, something good must have happened.

Gu Xiaojiang grinned cheekily and squeezed into the yard. He raised the wine jar in his hand, releasing an aroma of fine liquor.

”I snatched this from my dad’s stash—a top-grade ten-year-old Shaodaozi. How about it? This should show my sincerity!”

Gu Sheng burst into a hearty laugh.

Though initially not much of a drinker, as he started drinking with the group, he gradually began enjoying the relaxation of sipping on fine liquor. The corners of his mouth curved in a smile as he casually took the bowl of alcohol handed over by Gu Xiaojiang.

”Thanks to you, during our last sparring session, I had a sudden flash of inspiration and had to leave abruptly. After all this time, I finally achieved Great Success in Iron Stone Fist!”

Gu Xiaojiang’s eyes sparkled with joy as he bragged to his close friend. Extending his arm, flashes of iron-black light sparkled around it.

”Not just that—I broke through to the Iron Skin Realm in one go, haha!”

He had just completed his breakthrough and couldn’t wait to rush over to share the good news, gulping down a mouthful of alcohol and pounding his chest with delight.

”Rest assured, now that my Iron Stone Fist is at Great Success, only Uncle Jin is stronger than me. From now on, you can come to me with your questions. Let’s spar more frequently so you can reach Small Success early!”

”Someday, we’ll be the Gu Manor Duo, dominating Canghe County!”

Clearly, Gu Xiaojiang was overjoyed following his breakthrough, and his jubilant mood rubbed off on Gu Sheng.

However, hearing the title ”Gu Manor Duo,” Gu Sheng couldn’t help but twitch slightly at the corner of his mouth. Still, deep inside, he felt appreciated—Gu Xiaojiang had always regarded Gu Sheng as his closest friend.