Chapter 37: Mid-stage of Bull Skin Realm

Not long after swallowing the Qi Replenishing Pill, Jiang Che felt a ball of fire in his lower abdomen, burning hotter and hotter.

His skin began to turn red all over, and wisps of white steam rose from his head.

A vast surge of Qi Blood instantly flooded his Dantian and began to run rampant.

’This medicinal power is too intense! I’m losing control of my Qi Blood!’

Jiang Che quickly entered the Heart Stream State, and his Qi Blood gradually stabilized.

But he still felt hot all over.

Sweat continuously broke out on his skin, only to be instantly baked dry by the heat.

This cycle repeated endlessly, and Jiang Che lost all track of time.

He only opened his eyes when he could no longer sustain the Heart Stream.

Jiang Che frowned, looking down at the sticky, greasy film covering his body.

He fetched a basin of water and began to scrub himself down.

As if he hadn’t bathed in years, Jiang Che scrubbed away layers of black filth.

Jiang Che instantly felt completely refreshed, as if he’d just had a thorough scrubbing at a bathhouse.

He carefully sensed the changes in his body and discovered that his Qi Blood now filled sixty percent of his Dantian.

Whereas before, his Qi Blood had only filled ten percent of it.

’My Qi Blood increased by fifty percent in one go! I’m at the Mid-stage of the Bull Skin Realm now!’

Jiang Che was astounded.

Although it didn’t fill his Dantian completely in one go, he was already very satisfied with a fifty percent increase.

Besides, the pill’s effects weren’t a one-time burst. Its excess medicinal power had already been stored in his body.

Jiang Che estimated that if he just continued his regular training, he could completely fill his Dantian in less than four months.

At his previous pace, it might have taken him one or two years to do the same.

His Cloud-Stacking Fist had already reached the Stone Skin Realm level.

Now, as soon as his Qi Blood was full, he would automatically advance to the Stone Skin Realm!

After getting dressed, Jiang Che left his room.

He scanned his surroundings and saw that the people who had been watching him earlier were gone.

’Did they give up, or are they hiding in ambush somewhere?’

Regardless, Jiang Che was no longer afraid.

He was confident that he could handle anything with ease, as long as he didn’t encounter someone in the Iron Skin Realm.

Winning might be a different story, but escaping, at least, would be no problem.

Besides, masters at the Iron Skin Realm weren’t a dime a dozen.

The most those two could do was find a helper at the Stone Skin Realm.

They might not even have found a helper and would just try to take him on themselves.

After bidding farewell to Chief Liu, Jiang Che left the Government Office.

Sure enough, he saw two people squatting in a corner across the street.

It was the same two men from before.

In addition to them, there was another man who looked to be in his thirties.

The man’s Qi Blood was even more vigorous; he appeared to be at the Stone Skin Realm.

But he was only at the Early-stage, not even as strong as the young servant from Li Yuanwai’s Mansion.

Jiang Che ignored them and strode away.

At the same time, he remained inwardly vigilant.

With his Qi Blood at sixty percent, Jiang Che was confident in his Qinggong and Iron Body Basic.

Facing these three, even if he couldn’t win, he at least wouldn’t be at a great disadvantage.

If worst came to worst, he could just escape back to the Government Office and find Chief Liu.

After his two life-or-death battles—one with the young servant from Li Yuanwai’s Mansion and the other with the flower thief—

Jiang Che now had a clear understanding of Martial Artists at the Stone Skin Realm.

Although he still couldn’t defeat them in a head-on fight.

But he still had a chance if he resorted to underhanded tactics.

And if all else failed, he could still escape.

Besides, his apparent weakness would likely cause these Stone Skin Realm Martial Artists to underestimate him, giving him an opening.

But after walking for a bit, Jiang Che realized the three men weren’t following him.

Looking back, he saw them mutter a few words and then leave.

’Looks like they realized I took the Qi Replenishing Pill,’ Jiang Che thought to himself.

After all, there was nothing to be gained. Even if the three of them killed Jiang Che, they wouldn’t get any benefit from it.

And since they had no other grudge against him, it was only natural for them to leave.

But Jiang Che didn’t go home immediately. Instead, he took a few detours, and only after confirming no one was following him did he head home.

He arrived home.

Jiang Ling was in the middle of concocting some sort of dish.

Lately, she had become obsessed with researching all sorts of strange and exotic foods.

Some of them were passable, but most were beyond description.

Jiang Che didn’t pay her much mind; it was good that she had a hobby.

’I wonder how strong I am now...’

Jiang Che went into the courtyard and decided to test his newfound strength.

He first went through a set of the Cloud-Stacking Fist.

When he reached the fifth stance, Mountain Shattering, his punch pulverized a bluestone paver.

’My strength has at least doubled!’

Jiang Che was inwardly stunned.

If he were to face that flower thief now, he figured he wouldn’t be so powerless, especially after activating the Heart Stream.

Of course, he still wouldn’t be able to win, but his escape wouldn’t be quite so pathetic.

Next, he performed the Flying Swallow Step.

In an instant, an afterimage was darting rapidly across the courtyard.

"Haaaah—"

Jiang Che stopped, letting out a long breath.

’My speed has also increased, though not by double. It’s up by about thirty percent.’

Jiang Che made a rough estimate.

Feeling the inexhaustible Qi Blood coursing through him, Jiang Che finally felt a little more at ease.

「The next day.」

White Cloud Martial Arts Hall, Disciple Courtyard.

Gong Yulei, Zhang Xiong, and Lin Xue’er were gathered together, talking about something.

"My cousin’s Martial Arts Hall is organizing an exchange meet. It’s for disciples from various halls who show promise of breaking through to the Stone Skin Realm.

"What do you think, want to go? If you do, I’ll talk to my cousin."

Lin Xue’er said with a smile.

This was an opportunity she had gone to great lengths to secure, and it was the perfect chance to strengthen their bonds.

"Sure, count me in! It’ll be a great chance to see what the disciples from other Martial Arts Halls are like."

Zhang Xiong’s eyes lit up. He was eager to spar with different people.

"I’m going to break through to the Stone Skin Realm any day now. Going to this kind of gathering is a waste of time," Gong Yulei said, shaking his head.

"My cousin said some senior brothers from the Stone Skin Realm will be there to offer guidance. It’s a rare opportunity.

"Senior Brother Gong always trains by himself, which is a bit too solitary. Why not come along with us? We could all learn from one another," Lin Xue’er coaxed.

Gong Yulei frowned in thought for a moment, then nodded:

"Very well. I haven’t fought anyone at the Stone Skin Realm yet. This will be a good chance to see what they are capable of."

"Then it’s settled! The three of us will sign up together!" Lin Xue’er said with a smile.

Zhang Xiong hesitated for a moment. "What about Jiang Che?" he asked. "Shouldn’t we ask him, too?"

Lin Xue’er frowned. "Jiang Che? Someone with no hope of breaking through to the Stone Skin Realm? Let’s just forget about him, shall we?"

"But his Fist Technique is actually excellent. Maybe he could offer us some insights..." Zhang Xiong tried to argue.

"If someone like Jiang Che can go, doesn’t that mean the gathering will be full of losers? In that case, I might as well not go! I have no time to waste playing around with weaklings!" Gong Yulei said coldly.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Gong! I would never agree to let Jiang Che go. This gathering has standards, you know!" Lin Xue’er said, placating him.

Zhang Xiong opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more.

He knew the two of them had always looked down on Jiang Che.

No matter how he explained, they wouldn’t listen.

To be honest, if he hadn’t traded punches with Jiang Che back then, he might also be looking down on him now.

He might not have been as outspoken as Gong Yulei and Lin Xue’er, but he certainly wouldn’t have gone out of his way to befriend him.

But ever since he had experienced Jiang Che’s Fist Technique firsthand, he knew just how terrifying Jiang Che truly was!

To a bystander, his practice just looked graceful.

But when you actually faced him, you could feel a suffocating pressure!

Jiang Che’s Fist Technique was not only flawless, but it even felt as if it were one with heaven and earth.

Even though his own Qi Blood was stronger, he couldn’t land a single blow on him!

The longer they fought, the more exhausted he became.

Meanwhile, his opponent remained perfectly at ease.

It didn’t feel like a sparring match at all; it was more like Jiang Che was guiding him!

...

Not long after, Jiang Che also arrived at the Martial Arts Hall.

Seeing him, Zhang Xiong went up to greet him.

But as Jiang Che drew near, he got the strange feeling that Jiang Che seemed like a completely different person.

Jiang Che’s Qi Blood was now vigorous and flourishing, completely unlike before.

"You’re...?" Zhang Xiong asked, puzzled.

"I was lucky enough to get a Qi Replenishing Pill," Jiang Che said with a smile.

He didn’t bother hiding it. People would find out sooner or later anyway.

"A Qi Replenishing Pill?!" Zhang Xiong clearly knew what that was, his expression one of utter shock.