Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Precautionary Measures

Although he had just become a Stone Skin Martial Artist,

the sense of security it brought far surpassed what archery and chopping wood had offered.

The rock-hard membrane of his skin greatly enhanced Gu Sheng’s ability to stay alive.

Previously, whether it was chopping wood, archery, or even the Iron Stone Fist, although all of them significantly improved Gu Sheng’s offensive capabilities—so much so that he could threaten martial artists—his body remained fragile as ever.

Not to mention against martial artists—even ordinary people wielding blades or swords could threaten his life.

But now.

With the attainment of Stone Skin, the toughness of his membrane and the strength of his body meant that ordinary people were hardly a threat to him anymore.

"And it’s not just about survival; my combat prowess has also received a tremendous boost!"

"Stone Skin Realm, combined with my Great Success Iron Stone Fist, means that even facing Iron Skin Martial Artists, I won’t be the slightest bit intimidated. I could even defeat them in close combat—my strength at close quarters has surged exponentially!"

"Although other aspects of my growth aren’t as monstrous as the skin transformation, my strength has still doubled—more than twice that of an average adult. This means I can use an even stronger bow!"

Gu Sheng clenched his fist slightly,

feeling the explosive power surging within his body.

"A four-stone bow!"

"My current limit should be a four-stone bow. Paired with the first-level penetration effect of my archery, I could even shoot straight through an Iron Skin Martial Artist!"

"But... a four-stone bow won’t be easy to acquire..."

Gu Sheng furrowed his brow.

Hunting bows typically max out at two-stone bows, and at most, a three-stone bow. As for a four-stone bow, it falls into the category of military-grade weaponry, as only individuals born with extraordinary strength or martial artists can draw such a bow.

In the hands of a skilled archer, such a powerful bow becomes an undeniable weapon of mass destruction, posing a significant threat.

If possessed privately, it would be a serious crime if pursued.

If it were a time of peace and stability, Gu Sheng might hesitate for a moment. But with the collapse of the dynasty’s order, no one actually cares about such things anymore.

The key issue is how to acquire one.

"Perhaps I can check out the black market during my next visit to the city."

A thought arose in Gu Sheng’s mind. The previous time he went to sell bows in the city was at a black market contact point. Gu Erniu had mentioned before that qualifications for entering the black market could be purchased from that place.

The so-called black market,

as the name suggests, is a shady marketplace.

It’s mostly frequented by bandits and rogues, primarily for trading forbidden items. Aside from various weapons, the market also offers treasures like spirit pills and martial arts manuals.

Gu Sheng wanted to visit the black market,

not just for the four-stone bow,

but also to secure resources for the future.

Now that he had broken through to the Stone Skin Realm, he didn’t intend to reveal his strength outright. It was better to follow the external perception of steady progress.

At this juncture, even if he displayed exceptional talent, the clan elders of Gu’s Manor would be unlikely to expend excessive resources to cultivate him. On the contrary, it could attract unwelcome scrutiny. After all, the pace of Gu Sheng’s breakthrough was unusually quick.

He had only just entered Iron Stone Fist training a month prior, yet in less than half a year, he had already become a Martial Artist, surpassing even the timeframe of Gu Xiaojiang’s breakthrough back then.

The disparity between then and now was extraordinary.

Given that, Gu Sheng decided to keep a low profile.

"The Body Refining Ointment needed for the Refining Skin Realm isn’t much of a problem—it can easily be procured from the manor. The real issue lies with the Blood Refining Realm. With my current Great Success Iron Stone Fist’s skin-tempering speed, I should be able to break through to the Iron Skin Realm in about six months. The time required to achieve Perfect in Iron Stone Fist will be even shorter."

"At this rate, I’ll be able to reach Blood Refining Realm in under two years!"

"But the problem is, the Blood Refining Realm requires a Blood Protection Medicine Bath to maintain and nourish qi and blood for power refinement. If I try to obtain it from the manor, won’t that openly expose my intentions?"