Complete one practice method every day

Chen Yue recently made a special effort to inquire about the realms of martial arts, progressing step by step from skin refining, flesh refining, bone forging, marrow refining, to filth refining...

In this small Youlin County, those at the Skin Refining Realm can become guards, while those at the Flesh Refining Realm can serve as guard leaders like Li Lie, holding high positions.

The Bone Forging Realm is already the top expert in the county, and only a few large families that have been entrenched for many years have such experts.

The Chen family, the main family of Huichuntang, has a master of the Bone Forging Realm, which is one of the important advantages that allows the Chen family to establish itself in Youlin County.

Chen Yue's daily life became regular: he practiced boxing in the morning, refined blood-activating pills in the late morning, observed Lin Quan refining other pills or received guidance in the afternoon, and continued to hone his boxing skills and digest the medicinal effects at night.

Cultivation and alchemy should be pursued in tandem.

That day, Chen Yue found Chen Lin, the manager of the front hall.

"Manager Chen."

"Chen Yue, come, come, sit down. Is there anything you need for alchemy?" Chen Lin greeted Chen Yue with great enthusiasm.

"Thank you, Steward. Everything in the alchemy room is in perfect order, thanks to Master Lin's excellent care."

Chen Yue first thanked him, then explained his purpose: "I came today to ask if, although I have become an alchemist, I am still able to practice the Mountain-Turning Technique that the guards learned?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Lin was taken aback at first, then suddenly understood.

Chen Yue, after all, had a martial arts foundation at the Skin Refining Realm. Now that he had become an alchemist, his status was higher than that of a guard. However, the stronger he was, the more security he would have. This was only natural.

"The Flipping Mountain Technique is a skill that all guards of my Huichun Hall can learn, designed to enhance their own strength. Although you are not a guard, you are now an alchemist at the pharmacy, so you can naturally learn the Flipping Mountain Technique if you wish."

Chen Lin smiled and said, "Here's what you'll do: just go find Li Lie and tell him it was me who told you to learn the Flipping Mountain Technique from him."

Chen Yue's face showed gratitude, but then he hesitated slightly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Manager Chen, but since this is my first time visiting to seek your guidance, I shouldn't leave empty-handed."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already clear.

Chen Lin was taken aback at first, then couldn't help but burst into laughter: "You do understand social etiquette, not bad, not bad!"

Chen Lin directly instructed the accountant beside him, "Old Zhou, advance five taels of silver to Chen Yue from his share of this month's earnings."

The accountant agreed and quickly counted out five taels of silver.

Chen Lin pushed the silver in front of Chen Yue and said with a smile, "Judging from your current speed and quality of alchemy, I estimate that you'll earn at least seven or eight taels a month. Take these five taels first, and you should also buy some new clothes."

"Thank you, Steward!"

Chen Yue put away the silver, bowed again, and took his leave.

Chen Yue first went to the winery to buy a jar of good wine, and then went to the deli to buy some top-quality braised beef and braised pig ears. He wrapped them in oil paper and spent a total of one tael of silver.

Then, Chen Yue changed to a newer piece of blue cloth, wrapped another tael of silver in it, and put it in his pocket. He carefully kept the remaining three taels for emergencies.

With everything prepared, Chen Yue carried the wine and meat to the room where Li Lie was staying.

"Tap, tap, tap."

"Come in." Li Lie's deep voice came from inside.

Chen Yue pushed open the door and entered. He saw that Li Lie was not sitting behind the table, but standing shirtless in the room, holding the thick-backed broadsword, maintaining a peculiar slashing stance, and not moving at all.

A sense of oppressive weight, as heavy as a mountain and poised to strike, permeated the small room.

Chen Yue remained silent, holding his breath and waiting.

Time passed slowly, and only Li Lie's long, steady breathing remained in the room.

Chen Yue could sense that the flow of Qi and blood within Li Lie's body was surging and powerful. Although the surface appeared calm, it contained terrifying power within. This was the Flesh Refining Realm, far stronger than the Skin Refining Realm.

A moment later, Li Lie concealed his aura, deftly sheathed the broadsword to his side, and then slowly exhaled a long, white breath, which shot out like an arrow, traveling more than a foot before slowly dissipating.

Li Lie turned around, his gaze first falling on the wine and meat on the small table by the door. His nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly. Then he looked at Chen Yue, his face expressionless, but his sharp eyes swept over Chen Yue.

"What is it?" Li Lie asked, his voice still calm, revealing no emotion.

Chen Yue gently placed the wine and meat on the wooden table in the room. The oil paper package was slightly unwrapped, revealing the glistening braised beef and braised pig ears inside, and the aroma immediately filled the room.

He carefully placed the silver wrapped in blue cloth next to the wine and meat, so that one corner of the silver was just peeking out of the blue cloth.

"Li Tou,"

Chen Yue straightened up and cupped his hands in greeting to Li Lie. "I've come today to ask for your help, Li Lie, to teach me the Flipping Mountain Technique."

Li Lie, shirtless, did not respond immediately. He glanced at the glint of silver light before focusing on Chen Yue's face. He tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a cryptic smile.

"Oh? The Mountain-Climbing Technique?"

Li Lie's voice remained calm, but his speech was slow and slightly amusement-laden. "I heard you're a proper alchemist now. You're not a guard anymore, so why bother learning the Mountain-Climbing Technique? Your Iron Mountain Fist is good enough, isn't it?"

Chen Yue smiled and said, "Inspector Li, although I can refine some rudimentary pills, I have always longed for profound martial arts. I have indeed mastered the Iron Mountain Fist, but I yearn to go further. I hope Inspector Li will grant my request and guide me through the essentials of the Mountain-Turning Technique."

"Yearning? Fulfillment?"

Li Lie chuckled softly. He strolled slowly to the table and picked up the silver wrapped in blue cloth. He weighed it in his hand, then looked up at Chen Yue.

"Tsk tsk, alchemists... they make money so fast."

Li Lie stroked the silver in his hand. "Unlike us rough guards who only know how to fight and kill, living on the edge of a knife, we only earn a pittance of a few taels of silver at the end of the month. Don't you think so, Master Chen?"

Chen Yue's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his heart sank slightly.

A jar of fine wine, top-quality cooked meat, and a solid tael of silver—this gift was quite generous for a pharmacy employee who was visiting for the first time to learn about martial arts techniques.

An ordinary guard could only earn one or two taels of silver a month after working himself to the bone.

Is Li Lie still not satisfied?

"Li Tou is joking. Alchemy is hard work, especially since my skills are still rudimentary. A slight mistake could cause the furnace to explode. Li Tou and the guards have worked hard to protect the pharmacy, and Chen Yue has always admired them."

"Oh,"

Li Lie chuckled noncommittally, then with a flick of his wrist, he slipped the tael of silver into his belt with a smooth, natural motion.

Then, he broke the clay seal on the wine jar, and without using a bowl, tilted his head back and gulped down a large mouthful of wine, which flowed down his chin and soaked his chest.

"Excellent wine!"

Li Lie wiped his mouth, slammed the wine jar heavily on the table, looked at Chen Yue, and said, "You go back first. I'm busy today. I'll teach you the Flipping Mountain Technique when I have time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue's eyes narrowed slightly.

He accepted the gift, drank the wine, and then dismissed him with a simple "I'm too busy"? Is Li Lie determined to take the money and not do the service, or is he dissatisfied with the two taels of silver and wants to demand more?

"Li Tou, I..." Chen Yue began.

"I told you I'm busy today!"

Li Lie abruptly raised his voice, rudely interrupting Chen Yue. His eyes suddenly turned fierce, and a sharp aura belonging to a martial artist in the Body Refining Realm subtly pressed down on Chen Yue. "Didn't you hear me?"

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly, leaving only Li Lie's heavy breathing and the lingering smell of alcohol.