I think I've felt this confusing feeling before during my fight against the red-haired woman, when I spent a skill point on boxing methods.
Aside from the feeling of being injected with experiences and knowledge about combat technique, I could also feel something new, I could feel my fists gaining a bit more strength and stamina, although it was barely noticeable, my body had also been injected with that mysterious energy, that's why I was able to deliver one last blow with all my might or else I might have lost that day.
Looking closely at my body, I could notice that my skin was firmer and more toned than normal. It wasn't that big a change, but it could still be noticed if you looked closely. From a sickly pale skin, my skin had gone from acquiring a slightly healthier tone.
—This is similar to skin refinement, the third stage of body refinement, only to a much lesser extent —
Looking at the pills still in my hand, I couldn't help but wonder, "With 32 exercises unlocked, could I withstand the energy of an expert-grade pill?"
Even though it was just a little joke, the thought couldn't leave my mind and after a moment of hesitation, I found some courage in me —Screw it, I'll try—
Without hesitation I took the expert quality pill, the impurities didn't matter, the higher the quality of the pill, the fewer its impurities, after a few seconds the warm sensation didn't come, making me wonder if the pill didn't work.
But that thought didn't last long, a sharp pain invaded my body, trying to see what the problem was, I noticed how my stomach began to bulge, also acquiring a strange glow as if there was a flashlight inside my stomach, a clear symptom that the body was not able to process and store energy.
Without wasting a single second, I began practicing the 32 exercises from the copper body manual. The pain persisted, but after a while I could notice how part of the energy stored in my stomach was being directed to each part of my body.
The pain was much greater than the previous times I practiced the copper body, almost unbearable to the point where I felt like I might faint at any moment.
Once I finished the first 16 exercises, I continued with the rest. The effect of practicing 32 exercises was much greater, and thanks to that, the stagnant energy in my stomach began to flow more quickly and easily throughout my body.
The unbearable pain subsided to the point of being barely bearable.
Three hours passed until the pill's energy disappeared completely.
Lying on the floor of my room, my breathing was unsteady and my body felt horrible, almost as if it was screaming in pain and exhaustion.
Still, I couldn't help but let a smile bloom on my face as I looked out the clear window.
Strength level:
Body Refinement: Blood Refinement
Practice method:
Breathing (Beginner 40/10,000)
Copper Body/Physical (Advanced 22/100) (Mortal)
Spiritual techniques:
None
Physical techniques:
Boxing Methods (Expert 16/40)
Skill Points: 4
An expert quality pill is worth 22 points, the gains were incredible without a doubt, and that pill alone is worth two skill points.
Looking at my hand, with such progress I should be close to reaching the second stage, if there are no setbacks, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I should reach the second stage.
With several expert-grade alchemy pills, he could even reach the third stage.
It was just a crazy thought that I pushed aside, I wouldn't do that kind of nonsense again, at least not for a long time.
"I'll rest for now." My eyelids were involuntarily closing, but I still forced myself to practice the mysterious breathing method, wondering what effects it would have when I advanced to the next stage.
. . . .
The next morning, the sound of drums and bells filled the calm of the day, awakening everyone from their sleep.
I got up from the floor without haste, my body was completely rested and unlike the previous times when I woke up, the amount of impurities in my body was not as great as when I took beginner or advanced quality pills.
After washing my body to remove impurities, I walked to the guard station to take my turn as a guard.
However, seeing how everyone seemed to be making a scene again, I approached a fellow practitioner to ask what was going on.
Without looking at me, he said in a somber, apathetic voice, perhaps tired of everything that was happening. "Several people disappeared today, all of them interns."
My face turned gloomy upon hearing the news, whether this was intentional or not, it was not good news for anyone.
With a hint of nervousness, he spoke again. "The high command and the weapons master are trying to calm the people down, but no one wants to listen. It's understandable. In this situation, who isn't nervous?"
That's true. —Thank you. —I retired to do my job as a guard, no matter what, at least with my current strength what I said or did was irrelevant.
Either way, if the martial arts school wanted us to keep quiet, we would have to do it, even if everyone joined forces and fought. What could they do with the higher-ups and the weapons master who is said to be at the third rank of body practice?
. . . . .
It was already late at night, my breathing was stabilizing after a long session of body practice, at this point I was about to advance to the second stage of body refinement so I had to keep my mind calm to avoid any setbacks.
After calming down completely, without needing another alchemy pill, I began practicing the copper body.
Time passed as I practiced and the sound of something breaking reverberated in the room.
Crack!
My bones began to break, however, I didn't panic, I knew this was very normal as I advanced to the second stage of body refinement.
With each breaking sound, my body became unable to stand, the pain was unimaginable, anyone with a weak will would have already fainted at this point.
The main reason why the number of body practitioners is much lower than that of spiritual practitioners is because every advancement in body practice is extremely painful and uncomfortable, and although the benefits were quite substantial in both the long and short term, people were not willing to go through so much pain.
The sound of breaking bones continued to reverberate around the room, and I felt like I was going to die. In fact, I wanted to cry, roll on the floor, and scream for help.
Still, I restrained myself from making any kind of noise and endured the process in silence. Luckily, just when I thought I would lose consciousness, a warmth invaded my body and every bone in my body began to reassemble itself.
This process lasted more than half an hour, once finished, although my body was sweaty and weak from the process, I tried to examine my body calmly.
By clenching my hands and forcing myself to do a few movements, I got an idea of my current strength. If I had previously thought I could put a dent in a stone wall, I was now confident I could break it with only minor injuries.
Even now, with my newly strengthened body, the 32 exercises that used to take me a lot of time and energy, I could now do without much difficulty and still have energy after a workout.
Looking at the transparent window, new information had appeared on it.
Strength level:
Body Refinement: Bone Refinement
Practice method:
Breathing (Beginner 45/10,000)
Copper Body/Physical (Advanced 52/100) (Mortal)
Spiritual techniques:
None
Physical techniques:
Boxing Methods (Expert 16/40)
Skill Points: 7
With all my practice in just two days, I managed to get seven skill points, the most so far.
Now that I have reached the second stage of body refinement, I am eligible to claim a mortal rank combat technique.
Thinking about another combat technique, I couldn't help but look at boxing methods, this technique has helped me a lot despite being just a technique without range.
I was curious to know what would happen if I improved a technique to its maximum level, I only needed three skill points and I could take it to the perfection stage.
Boxing Methods (Perfection)
After waiting for a while, I looked at the transparent window in disappointment, nothing happened, not even the mysterious energy from before appeared.
Trying to perform all the movements of the boxing technique, every punch, dodge, or footwork was quite fluid, as if he had practiced them all his life.
After thinking about it for a bit—In fact, if anything had changed—I couldn't say exactly what had changed.
After thinking it over and over again, I had to give up because I couldn't find the answer.
It's true that each blow I delivered was much more fluid than the previous ones. In fact, I can say with complete certainty that if I were to face the red-haired woman again, this time I could finish her off in just a few moves and come out unscathed, unlike last time.
Now he was looking forward to the event that was coming in five days.
. . . . .
"What an interesting boy," someone murmured in the darkness.
"Should we catch him?" someone else asked.
—No, you have the favor of the colored turkey, until the event is over, we cannot touch any of your fighters —
The person in the dark stopped paying attention to the white-haired boy who had finished his practice.
—Come on, tonight we'll only catch a few practitioners, tomorrow we'll cease our movements until further notice —
The mysterious person disappeared into the darkness of the night, leaving behind the white-haired boy who, absorbed in his thoughts, was unaware that they had been watching him.