He smeared the secret Qingyuan medicine on his hands, marveling at how quickly they recovered.
"The recovery speed is so fast! This means I can perform iron sand peeling twice a day. With the Qingyuan secret medicine enhancing the effect, the benefits to my hands will double. If I push myself hard enough, the repair time will be four times faster than before. What used to take six months for the iron sand grinding and leather chain repair can now be achieved in just over one month."
Over the next month, he followed this grueling regimen. Every day, he consumed one serving of Qingyuan secret medicine, using up dozens of portions in total. These cost him hundreds of taels of silver.
This expense was astronomical for ordinary families, and even many warriors in the Stone Skin Realm couldn't afford such a luxury.
However, Ye Chen was not afraid of attracting the envy of others, like Du Hai, who might covet his wealth. As a blacksmith, he enjoyed a certain level of respect, and most Stone Skin Realm warriors wouldn't dare offend someone in his profession.
Thus, even if he flaunted his wealth, the risks were minimal.
In the days that followed, he bought a portion of Qingyuan secret medicine from the martial arts school daily, using it to aid his recovery. During this time, he temporarily set aside his weapon forging activities to focus solely on his training.
As time passed, his rapid progress did not go unnoticed.
"This guy's improvement is astonishing! He's repairing his skin with iron sand twice a day, which means he must be using the full Qingyuan secret medicine for recovery."
Zhang Jun, one of the senior apprentices at the martial arts school, marveled at Ye Chen's financial resources. For Zhang Jun, a single portion of Qingyuan secret medicine was a luxury he could only afford after secretly selling some of his own supply to earn the price difference.
Having already completed the iron sand resurfacing stage, Zhang Jun was now working on sensing the flow of energy and blood to temper the skin of his hands. However, he was still one step away from achieving the transformation needed to enter the Stone Skin Realm.
Time was running out. He was nearing the one-year limit for apprentices at Qinggang Martial Arts School. If he failed to break through next month, he would lose his qualification to remain at the school.
"If only I had enough Qingyuan secret medicine, I might be able to break through and become a Stone Skin Realm warrior!"
A dark thought began to take root in Zhang Jun's mind—he would ambush and kill Ye Chen.
Ye Chen was wealthy, and if Zhang Jun could steal his fortune, he could buy all the Qingyuan secret medicine he needed to achieve his breakthrough. Moreover, as an apprentice, Ye Chen's death wouldn't attract much attention. The martial arts school wouldn't bother investigating.
The next day, Zhang Jun began investigating Ye Chen's background. He discovered that Ye Chen was a blacksmith with exceptional skills, capable of forging high-quality weapons.
"No wonder he can afford so many portions of Qingyuan secret medicine—he's a blacksmith with immense earning power!"
Despite this revelation, Zhang Jun remained resolute in his plan. While blacksmiths were respected, their status wasn't enough to deter someone desperate like Zhang Jun. If he eliminated Ye Chen discreetly, no one would trace the act back to him.
In his mind, the risk was worth the reward.
That night, Zhang Jun lay in wait, his heart pounding with anticipation.
When Ye Chen finally appeared, Zhang Jun attacked. However, things didn't go as planned. Ye Chen reacted swiftly, grabbing a nearby stick and unleashing the Vajra Hammer Technique.
Though the stick was an improvised weapon, Ye Chen's mastery of the technique turned it into a devastating tool. With a series of nine rapid strikes, he overwhelmed Zhang Jun.
The great-master-level Vajra Hammer Technique enhanced the force of Ye Chen's attacks, far surpassing the strength of an ordinary apprentice.
Zhang Jun crumpled under the relentless assault. When Ye Chen finally stopped, Zhang Jun lay motionless, bloodied, and lifeless.
It was Ye Chen's first time taking a life, and the act left him shaken. Suppressing his nausea, he removed Zhang Jun's mask and recognized the face beneath.
"Zhang Jun… So it was him!"
The realization struck Ye Chen. Zhang Jun's jealousy and greed had driven him to this act. If not for his mastery of the Vajra Hammer Technique, Ye Chen might have lost his life.
Understanding the consequences, Ye Chen left the scene immediately. He knew that no one would investigate the death of a mere apprentice, especially one as unremarkable as Zhang Jun.
The next day, Ye Chen returned to the blacksmith shop and resumed his training at the martial arts school. The news of Zhang Jun's death circulated briefly, but no one seemed to care.
Ye Chen's focus shifted back to his training. After weeks of effort, his iron sand skin grinding practice was complete. His hands had grown so resilient that the hot iron sand no longer harmed them.
With this stage behind him, Ye Chen began practicing the Green Steel Hand, a martial art designed to sense the flow of qi and blood. Once he succeeded, he could temper his skin and finally ascend to the Stone Skin Realm.
"Ye Chen, congratulations on completing the iron sand skin grinding training," said Instructor Du Hai. "The next stage—sensing qi and blood—is critical. Some people spend their entire lives unable to achieve it. If you want to succeed quickly, I recommend using the secret medicine."
"Thank you for your guidance, Instructor Du," Ye Chen replied gratefully.
Knowing his limitations, Ye Chen relied on the Qingyuan secret medicine to enhance his efforts. Over the next few weeks, he continued his rigorous practice, pouring his resources and determination into achieving his goal.
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Finally, after more than half a month of relentless training, he sensed the qi and blood within him. A sense of triumph filled his heart—he was one step closer to becoming a Stone Skin Realm warrior.