I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 57: Breaking the Stone
When he said this, Zhang Lin actually felt very uncomfortable.

In just a few months, this elder brother gained the appreciation of Wei Dian and the chief deacon, and was also established as the second deacon.

You have to know that when Zhang Biao was here, although he was superior to Zhang Lin, they were both deacons and of equal rank. Wei Xiangzhu did not give Zhang Biao the title of second deacon.

I’m afraid it will be difficult for me to make a name for myself in the future.

Although he felt lost, he admired his elder brother from the bottom of his heart.

Be a good person and do things well.

Without any background or connections, he managed to become the second deacon simply by relying on his ability to deal with people. Zhang Lin saw everything Xie An did and felt ashamed of himself.

"The Plum Blossom Monster is still watching us covetously, and the black market situation is unstable. Let's talk about celebrating the victory later." Xie An did not refuse, but adjusted the time.

"Then it's settled."

Zhang Lin left happily.

Xie An could sense that Zhang Lin, who had always been his equal, had now taken the initiative to lower his stance and was trying to please him.

Xie An returned to his room to rest and continue practicing.

He was not in a hurry to go outside to get the brocade box back.

This was mainly because Xie An had just keenly noticed Wei Dian's eyes sweeping over his quiver. It was clear that Wei Dian still had some suspicions. To avoid hidden dangers, Xie An simply stayed at home.

Just practice with peace of mind.

In addition, Xie An also asked Liang Zhi to track down the identities of the bearded hunter and the fat medicine seller. As expected, he learned that these two people were very close to the second master of the Chen Mansion.

Xie An became more and more certain of his previous judgment.

In the next two days, the Plum Blossom Monster did not come to the black market again.

The black market business slowly returned to its peak.

Now that the Plum Blossom Monster has learned about the Second Master of the Chen Mansion from the young man in the chamber pot, he will definitely go and cause trouble for him.

It was not until the third day that Xie An was sure that no one was targeting him, so he found an excuse to go on patrol and went outside to get the red box back.

Xie An studied the box for a long time but still found nothing special about it. Finally, he put the box next to the water tank and continued practicing.

When Xie An woke up the next day and went to the water tank to scoop water to drink, he was shocked to find that there was a warm current in his stomach that lasted for a long time, making his muscles and bones feel comfortable and warm.

"I had to practice health-preserving exercises for a long time before I could generate a heat flow in my lower abdomen. Can this sip of water have the same effect?"

"Could it be..."

Without saying a word, Xie An immediately put down the spoon and began to practice health-preserving exercises.

Surprisingly, the effect is doubled.

It is much more effective than the unique prescription left by Tang Qingfeng.

This discovery made Xie An extremely excited.

"Although this box can't be opened yet, it can generate inexplicable power when placed near clear water. It's truly a great treasure!"

"It's already so effective even before it's opened. If it's opened..."

In the following days, peace returned again.

Practice Five Animal Exercises and Fuyang Sword Technique during the day, and practice Fetal Breathing Exercise to recuperate at night.

Now Xie An's monthly salary has doubled to 40 taels per month, which is 480 taels a year, which is considered to be a small fortune.

With the doubled amount of supplementary medicine, I could receive two sets of Tiger Skin Yuan Tang for free every three months. This was more than enough to support my martial arts training for the next few months.

Three months passed in a flash.

The market closed that day, and the sky was just beginning to light up. The Black Market closed, and as the vendors and merchants left, the entire Black Blood Ridge became quiet.

Xie An was still taking a medicinal bath in the other courtyard.

Xie An was naked, and his skin had turned bronze. Not only was his skin tight, but it also emitted a layer of shiny color, making him look very powerful.

With the naked eye, one could see the potion flowing into the body from the pores of the skin, tempering Xie An's skin membrane and causing it to tremble slightly, as if an inexplicable force was surging beneath the membrane.

Even after taking a medicinal bath for several hours, the medicine in the bathtub did not cool down, but remained warm and emitted bursts of hot steam.

This was due to Xie An's muscles and bones generating heat, his skin membranes strengthening, and his blood and qi surging. This was how the water temperature remained constant. Suddenly, Xie An opened his eyes abruptly, and a powerful light emanated from them.

"Finally reached the Bronze Skin Realm!"

Xie An clearly felt that his membrane had been tempered to an extremely strong point and could no longer be strengthened.

This is the sign of the great success of the Bronze Skin Realm.

Ordinary blunt instruments, branches, and fingernails are no longer able to scratch the membrane. It can resist cold and heat, and is not afraid of evil spirits.

Every gesture and movement carries with it great power.

"I've been practicing martial arts for almost half a year now, and I've only just achieved the ultimate level of skin refining. It seems I don't really have any extraordinary talent in martial arts... Fortunately, I, an old man, have worked hard enough."

Xie An sighed, then walked out of the bathtub, picked up the broadsword and went to the yard to practice.

Stab, chop, slash, turn and chop...all kinds of basic sword techniques are natural in his hands, as easy as using one's own arm.

Compared to three months ago, Xie An's swordsmanship has obviously made a fundamental leap and is no longer the same.

"Fuhu!"

Suddenly, a sword slashed down, and the faint sound of a tiger roaring in the forest could be heard. It cut a half-foot deep groove in the bluestone brick floor, extending three meters away. Sand and rocks flew, and the ground shook violently.

It really did break the stone and split the monument.

After releasing his physical strength, Xie An felt refreshed and his muscles and bones were flexible.

"How about I try the one-arm lift?"

Xie An used hemp rope to tie a 200-jin stone lock and an 800-jin stone lock tightly together, making sure there was nothing loose. Then he took a horse stance and grasped the handle of the stone lock with his right arm.

"drink!"

With a soft cry, he exerted force with his right hand, fiercely lifting the stone lock above his head. Although it was a bit strenuous, he was still able to swing it a few times.

"Lift a thousand pounds!"

Xie An felt extremely happy. He put down the stone lock and called up the panel:
[Current longevity level: Level 1!]

Five Animal Exercises: Cultivating Internal Qi (28/100)

[Fetal Breathing: Yin and Yang Intercourse (98/100)]

[Remaining Years: 33]

"The Yin and Yang are almost full, and the internal Qi is almost one-third full. The progress is acceptable. However... the so-called Qi sensation hasn't appeared yet. Otherwise, you can go to Tangjiabao and try your luck."

Although it was a little behind his expectations, Xie An knew that the progress was not slow. If it weren't for the blessing of the immortal treasure, there would be no such progress.

After all, he is not a son of luck or a genius.

Moreover, Xie Anke had never slacked off in his martial arts training over the past three months. No matter what, this was all he was capable of.

It is not a good idea to be too ambitious, as it will only add to your troubles.

"With my current combat power, I am unbeatable in the Copper Skin Realm. Even if I encounter a master who has just entered the Flesh Realm, I will not be at all inferior to him."

Xie An was very confident in his own abilities.

He remembered that Zhang Lin once said that Wei Dian had taken action during the test at the headquarters three years ago, and his strength happened to be at the level of the Great Perfection of the Bronze Skin Realm.

Xie An felt that at this moment, he could completely crush Wei Dian from three years ago, and even if he met Wei Dian today, he would not be inferior.

In fact, according to Zhang Lin, the head of Baiyu Hall was just a master at the Jingrou realm.

"Give me another two or three years, and Fang Baiyu might not be defeated."

As strength increases, people’s confidence will also increase.

They even dare to compare themselves with the branch hall master...

"If I meet the Plum Blossom Monster again, I won't be afraid." Xie An smiled, put away his sword, took a quick shower, and returned to the room to look in the mirror.

Xie An was shocked when he saw himself in the mirror.

(End of this chapter)