'I've finally broken through.'
After Yang Chan completed a full set of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist, the technique on his panel rose to Tier Two Entry, and the Wild Ox Force within his body had reached Perfection.
The next stage of cultivating the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist required coordinating it with the Ox Demon Transporting Skin. This form had 144 variations, and Yang Chan had long since committed the movements to memory, practicing them relentlessly.
After breaking through to Tier Two, he had already started practicing a set. Although the proficiency panel didn't show any increase, Yang Chan knew it was already having an effect.
'Panel!'
The virtual panel appeared before Yang Chan.
[Name: Yang Chan]
[Lifespan: 16/69]
[Talent: 7]
[Potential Points: 1.1]
[Mastered Professions: Pharmacist (Tier One Initial Glimpse 13%)]
[Comprehension Technique: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill (Tier Two Entry 6%), Ox Demon's Mighty Fist (Tier Two Entry 1%), Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill (Tier One Initial Glimpse 6%)]
The advancement in his Ox Demon's Mighty Fist only added one year to his lifespan. The effect was nowhere near that of a Health Cultivation Technique, nor was it as significant as the first time it leveled up.
It wasn't a Health Cultivation Technique, and while his strength had increased, it wasn't a qualitative leap. Any increase in lifespan was a good thing, so Yang Chan didn't dwell on it.
Since the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill reached Tier Two Entry, its progress had slowed considerably, but he could still feel it advancing, so Yang Chan wasn't concerned.
His Pharmacist skill and Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill had both improved over the past few days, which was visible on the panel. Each had increased by one percent, which wasn't a small amount, considering he had spent most of his time on the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist. Naturally, any improvement was welcome.
In the days that followed, a group of people, full of confidence, left the Cyan Yuan Sect, including Shi Gaoshun and his peers. The number of Official Disciples in the Medicine Hall's Martial Arts Training Ground had also dwindled significantly.
To raise one's Cultivation, one needed Cultivation Resources. And to get Cultivation Resources, one had to complete missions and deal with the treacherous factions at the foot of the mountain.
The Official Disciples who left from the Medicine Hall were only a fraction of the total. They were all individuals who had at least reached the minor accomplishment level in Wild Ox Force, so their Cultivation was not weak.
Yang Chan, however, knew that this was just the beginning. Right now, they were only dealing with treacherous factions. Later, if they had to confront rival sects, far more people would be mobilized.
All the Official Disciples within the Cyan Yuan Sect might have to participate, even those who had only become Official Disciples within the last year.
Although they wouldn't be assigned the most dangerous tasks, they would certainly be given duties like guarding a location or providing rear support, which still carried a degree of risk.
He had also tried the Qi Nourishing Soup he bought. The effect was mediocre, only increasing his Potential Points by 0.1. He had brewed three bowls, and while the total gain was 0.1 more than a single bowl prepared by a Pharmacist, it also proved that his concoction skills were quite average.
Yang Chan's premonition about the Cyan Yuan Sect's affairs was not wrong.
Ten days later, the Sect once again summoned disciples to descend the mountain and battle other sects.
The first wave of disciples sent back news of victory. They had successfully eliminated some of the traitorous forces, and chest after chest of Treasure was sent back to the Cyan Yuan Sect. The Official Disciples who had participated in the initial missions now carried an aura of battle and killing intent. It was clear they had all seen blood, a stark contrast to their disposition back in the Sect.
This also meant these disciples had matured.
Yang Chan naturally took note of this, but he continued to quietly perform his duties as a Pharmacist's Assistant. In his spare time, he would read the Medicine Scripture, medical texts, and other related books.
He also continued his daily Cultivation, mixing the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill, the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist, and the Turtle Breath Body Cultivation Skill, feeling himself improve every day.
Take Yang Chan's flesh and skin, for example. Although it hadn't reached the level of Copper Skin, it was indeed firmer than before. It couldn't quite withstand blades, but a thin membrane had already formed over it—a change that occurred after practicing the Ox Demon Transporting Skin form of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist.
External Refining Copper Skin had three levels of change, which also marked the progress in Refining Copper Skin.
When the skin took on a Bronze color, it meant one had begun External Refining and entered the first level of flesh and skin Tempering. This was considered stepping into the ranks of Elite Disciples, albeit at the lowest Cultivation level. An ordinary blade could still leave a small cut, though it would struggle to penetrate deeply.
When the skin turned a Brass color, it signified that the External Refining of Flesh and Skin had reached the second level of Tempering. One's strength would be considerably greater, and even a strike from an ordinary blade would only leave a white mark.
When the skin achieved an Ancient Bronze color, it meant the External Refining of Flesh and Skin had reached its final step. At this point, a strike from an ordinary blade wouldn't even leave a mark.
At this stage, a person with External Refining Copper Skin would be extremely difficult for an ordinary person to injure. Even a thousand armed commoners would be unable to harm someone with External Refining Copper Skin.
Only those at the same Realm, or with even higher Cultivation, could possibly injure them.
Of course, they could still be injured or even killed by falling from a great height, suffering a severe impact to their internal organs, being poisoned, and the like.
After all, for someone who practiced External Refining of Flesh and Skin, their internal organs were still very fragile.
As good news trickled back, the Official Disciples and Elite Disciples who remained in the Sect were naturally tempted to join in and obtain more Cultivation Resources.
Even Du Xiaolin, who had been reading the Medicine Scripture, was eager to give it a try. The reason he was reading the Medicine Scripture was that he had realized his own Martial Arts Talent was rather average. But if he could get his hands on a large amount of Cultivation Resources, he might just have a chance to break through to External Refining and become an Elite Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect.
Du Xiaolin came looking for Yang Chan, hoping to convince him to join the next mission together, but Yang Chan flatly refused.
Yang Chan saw that Du Xiaolin hadn't given up and was still looking for other disciples to team up with for the mission.
Since ancient times, personal gain has always stirred the hearts of men. When a potential opportunity is right in front of them, people will often throw caution to the wind.
Du Xiaolin was a prime example. If he had the chance to become an Elite Disciple, he would naturally want to seize it, because that meant having strength.
Yang Chan didn't try to persuade him otherwise. It was each person's own choice, and there was no need to interfere. In fact, interfering might even turn them into enemies.
There was no need for that. It was better to let things run their natural course.
'My own path is very clear, and I'll stick to it.'
After his Ox Demon's Mighty Fist reached Tier Two Entry, its progress slowed down significantly. However, he wasn't in a hurry to add points to it, choosing instead to add them to his Pharmacist skill.
'This chaos definitely won't end anytime soon. Eventually, even a Pharmacist's Assistant like me might get dragged into it. It's better to improve my Pharmacist abilities as quickly as possible.'
'When the situation gets worse, I'll first pass the Pharmacist assessment and become an official Pharmacist of the Cyan Yuan Sect. At that time, my status will be comparable to an Elite Disciple, and the chances of being sent out on assignments will be even lower.'
'Within the Cyan Yuan Sect, there aren't many Pharmacists to begin with. It takes a lot of time and effort to train one, and they aren't suited for combat. Naturally, the possibility of being dispatched is much smaller.'
These past few days, Yang Chan had been making his preparations.