Longevity by Grinding Skills-Chapter 48: Thunderous Waves Palm Initiation

External Training of Tendons, Bones, and Skin is followed by the merging of the Outer Three Harmonies. From the outside in, one trains the Four Realms of Muscle, Blood, Marrow, and Qi.

The Thunderous Waves Palm was a martial art that primarily trained the muscles, with an emphasis on the arms. For Xu Yunfan, who had already achieved Great Mastery of Muscle Training, this meant he could further strengthen all the Great Tendons of his body.

In the courtyard, Xu Yunfan’s palms moved like flowing waves. Under the moonlight, he managed to conjure a triple palm-shadow in front of himself.

’You are attempting to practice the Thunderous Waves Palm. You have a vague sense of understanding and seem to have grasped some of its training methods.’

Just as a system prompt for the Thunderous Waves Palm appeared in his vision, Xu Yunfan saw a grayed-out option for "Thunderous Waves Palm (Uninitiated)" appear in the Skill Bar on his Attribute Panel.

As long as it appeared on the Skill Bar, it was only a matter of time before he mastered the basics.

Xu Yunfan didn’t pause for a moment, continuing his practice of the Thunderous Waves Palm. The muscles of his arms were clearly defined, the grooves between them visible. With each move, one could clearly see the muscles in his arms swell and bulge.

With a single horizontal palm thrust, one could even see his qi and blood surge. Blood rushed into his arm, and its muscles swelled significantly.

BOOM!

Four hours later, after practicing the seven stances of the Thunderous Waves Palm dozens of times, the skin on his arms had turned the crimson red of a boiled shrimp, but each of his Great Tendons was stretched taut, like a newly forged bowstring.

’You have mastered the basics of the Thunderous Waves Palm.’

’Thunderous Waves Palm, 0/500 (Initiate)

Effects: Triple Layered Wave Force, Armor-Piercing Force, Rock-Shattering Power, Tendons Like Bowstrings’

As he processed the cultivation memories that had materialized in his mind, Xu Yunfan felt delicate, hair-thin streams of warmth emerge once more and begin to circulate throughout his body.

Most of the warmth, however, gathered in his arms, shoulders, and neck. The fine streams seeped into his muscles, creating a pleasant, tingling sensation, as if he were soaking in a hot spring.

What he noticed most was how the years of practice from the new memories had caused a thin layer of calluses to form on his palms. His hands were now less sensitive to pain, and the lethality of his strikes had increased.

These martial arts, when cultivated to a profound level, could strengthen specific parts of the human body.

As a Second Level Martial Artist, his physical attributes were already far beyond those of an ordinary person.

He had only just reached the initial level with the Thunderous Waves Palm, so its strengthening effect on his body was still minimal.

This Palm Technique drew its power from the core, channeling it from the back, through the shoulders and neck, and into the arms.

A Refiner of this art could shatter an iron block with a single palm strike.

Even at the initiate level, the Thunderous Waves Palm could easily shatter bricks and stones.

’Four hours to master the basics of the Thunderous Waves Palm. Practicing these martial arts after already reaching the Great Mastery of Muscle Training is incredibly efficient.’ The result was a pleasant surprise.

’Now, all I need to do is keep practicing, and I’ll soon bring the Thunderous Waves Palm to the Great Success Realm.’ 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

That night, he once again formed the Linn Character Seal with his hands and chanted the Supreme Kindness Heart Spell.

’You have diligently practiced the Linn Character Technique. You seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough, but it remains just out of sight, as if behind a thin veil. Your Linn Character Technique Skill Level has increased.’

’You ponder the Linn Character Technique, sensing something is there...’

Some time later, Xu Yunfan opened his eyes, which betrayed the utter exhaustion of a depleted mind.

’But this is far too slow compared to the progress I made with the eight-armed, three-headed Powerful Awakening Bodhisattva statue I got from Qin Bo.’

’At this rate, I’m afraid I’ll be stuck on this final step of the Linn Character Technique for half a year or more.’

’More than half a year!’

Xu Yunfan couldn’t bear the thought of that. He would have loved to take his time, but he needed strength to face the threats on the horizon. His true identity could be exposed. Fei Qi, the Sect Leader of the Thunderous Waves Sect, could discover his daughter was missing and suspect him. He needed power to handle it all.

’Even though I covered my tracks perfectly, this is an ancient world.’

’Often, these sects that kill common folk on a whim don’t bother with reason.’

’If they decide you’re an enemy, they’ll use every method imaginable to kill you.’

Mastering the basics of the Linn Character Technique would bring obvious benefits, from increased mental resilience to enhanced comprehension.

He naturally took it very seriously.

Lost in thought, Xu Yunfan lay down on his bed and sank into a deep sleep.

The next morning, after his usual practice of performing the Red Rope Cloak Hammer several times with his Drumming Jar Golden Hammer, Xu Yunfan’s thoughts settled.

He frowned slightly. ’This Red Rope Cloak Hammer really is a perfect fit for blacksmithing.’

’Red Rope... Red Rope... Does the ’Red’ part come from swinging the hammer until it glows red-hot?’

...

...

"Nonsense!"

In Blacksmith Lv’s smithy, Lv Yi’s beard bristled and his eyes went wide when he heard Xu Yunfan’s question.

"It refers to your qi and blood raging like a Flood Dragon, your body burning like a furnace! If you..."

Lv Yi explained with a sigh, "The Red Rope Cloak Hammer and the Copper Body Skill are two arts that work in tandem. On Divine Weapon Ridge, there is a Divine Weapon Heavy Hammer that is a perfect match for the Red Rope Cloak Hammer, but you would need to cultivate a more advanced martial art to be able to wield it."

Xu Yunfan asked curiously, "What’s the name of that Divine Weapon?"

"The Red Rope Thousand-Pound Hammer."

A nostalgic look appeared on Lv Yi’s face before he shook his head. "A pity. It’s been lost."

Xu Yunfan was speechless. ’Well, that was a waste of curiosity,’ he thought.

He glanced at the forges inside the shop where several journeyman blacksmiths were grunting with effort as they hammered away at blades.

Over the past half-month, Xu Yunfan had frequently visited Lv Yi, often inviting him to the Changfeng Tavern for drinks, so the two had naturally grown familiar with each other.

He asked curiously, "Elder Lv, I’ve seen you forging a lot of weapons lately. Who placed such a large order?"

Lv Yi replied casually, "The Wu Family Castle outside the city. They say it’s for training. Doesn’t matter to me, as long as they pay."

Lv Yi glanced at Xu Yunfan, who was still standing there, and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, spit it out," he said lazily. "What do you really want?"

Xu Yunfan acted surprised, then praised him, "Elder Lv, your insight is truly profound! You’re too sharp for me. How about we go to the tavern to drink and talk? I heard they just unsealed a few new jars of Drunken Branch Wine. Care to try some?"

Upon hearing this, Lv Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He wiped the Black Oil from his hands with a rag.

"Let’s go, let’s go."

They arrived at the Changfeng Tavern and settled into a private room on the second floor. After several rounds of drinks and numerous dishes, the moon was already high in the sky.

The alcohol had already turned Lv Yi’s nose a deep, rosy red.

"I’m getting old, getting old," he slurred. "Back in my day, I could drink a whole jar of this Drunken Branch Wine without batting an eye. Not anymore, though."

He let out a satisfied, wine-scented burp.

"Alright, spit it out. What’s on your mind?"

Xu Yunfan asked, "Elder Lv, in all of Qingzhou, who has the best Bone Strengthening Skill?"

Lv Yi squinted, his eyes hazy from the alcohol. His inhibitions were lowered, and his words flowed more freely.

"What’s the matter? Isn’t the Red Rope Cloak Hammer enough for you?"

Xu Yunfan smiled. "The Red Rope Copper Body Cloak Hammer trains the skin. Naturally, I also need martial arts to train my tendons and bones."

Lv Yi nodded at his words. He understood that since Xu Yunfan had already achieved the Great Mastery of Skin Cultivation, he would of course need to consider training his tendons and bones next.

"If you were on Divine Weapon Ridge, there are more advanced progressions for the Cloak Hammer that use the Great Mastery of Skin Cultivation to temper the tendons and bones. But here in Qingzhou..."

Blacksmith Lv’s knuckles tapped against the boxwood table. Moonlight streamed through the window and into his wine cup, shattering into fine, silvery scales with each tap.