Chen Nuo opened the book.
Large, vigorous words were written on the first page.
Man takes Heaven and Earth as his teacher.
The One Element is the beginning. It is great, thick, heavy, and cyclical.
The next page was the Nourishing Body Chapter his grand-uncle had given them before. Chen Nuo didn't skip it, but read through it once more.
Only then did he turn to the second half.
The Skin and Flesh Chapter.
Once a person's body is fully nourished and has reached its peak physical condition, they can sense their Qi Blood and channel it into their skin and muscles.
But this wasn't a simple matter of just channeling it over to nourish the body. Instead, it involved flushing specific parts of the body with different amounts of Qi Blood, a process that held its own secrets.
Too much would cause harm to the body, while too little would have little to no effect.
In such situations, one needed predecessors to blaze the trail.
A truly superior Cultivation Technique passed down through generations would have every part of the body marked out. It would thoughtfully tell you how to use Qi Blood to refine your body faster and more efficiently. At the final stages of refinement, it could even give rise to different Traits, allowing one to far surpass others of the same level in certain aspects.
A Third-class technique, on the other hand, might only allow for a superficial flush. A slightly better one might have a few parts of the body marked out, but the rest would have to be worked on bit by bit over time.
The difference in efficiency between the two was as wide as a chasm.
This was also how the class differences in the Secret Manuals of Martial Artist Families came to be.
At the same time, medicine and martial arts were inseparable. To meticulously flush the body with Qi Blood, one must either understand the body or have a Great Physician for guidance. Otherwise, their efforts would be twice as hard for half the reward.
Therefore, a Great Physician who could guide Martial Artists in refining their bodies held a rather high status.
The process was arduous, but the rewards were naturally significant.
Even just a rough entry into the Skin and Flesh Realm, involving a simple refinement of the entire body, would result in a massive increase in strength and defense. One could easily take on a dozen ordinary people.
Those who had meticulously refined their entire bodies had skin as tough as ox-hide and the strength to pull two bulls.
In the army, such a person would immediately be made an officer.
And the refinement that granted Traits was even more incredible. Some Traits were related to strength, allowing one to lift cauldrons and shatter stone; others were for defense, enabling one to block strikes from blades and swords... each was different.
It could be said that the Skin and Flesh Realm was where a Martial Artist truly began to possess combat strength, and it was also the point where they became distinct from ordinary people.
"Skin and Flesh Realm Techniques are divided into four grades."
"Techniques that allow for a rough refinement of the whole body are Third-class."
"Techniques that target one or more parts for meticulous refinement are Second-class."
"Techniques that target the entire body for meticulous refinement are First-class."
"Techniques that grant Traits are top-tier. Because the Traits vary, they cannot be compared or ranked; they must be tested in actual combat."
And the One Element Qi Blood Technique was a First-class Cultivation Technique, capable of refining the entire body.
Moreover, the Secret Manual seemed to hint at more, suggesting the existence of a Trait. Unfortunately, this was just speculation, with no practical application recorded.
But that didn't detract from its high-level nature.
He flipped to the last page.
It was densely packed with names.
Chen Haicang... Chen Yongqiang... Chen Ping'an... Chen Hongmian... Chen Lanluo...
Chen Nuo stroked the Secret Manual, sighing with emotion.
'This was carved out by generations of Chen Family ancestors through sheer hard work!'
They wrote down their insights from their own refinement, paving the way for those who came after them, allowing them to avoid pitfalls and better strive for higher Realms.
'Perhaps this is a process every Martial Artist Family must go through.'
'Perhaps one day, I too will write a book for future generations to admire.'
That's right, write a whole book.
He wouldn't be satisfied with simply adding his name.
"Looks like you're done reading. Go back and practice hard. If you need money, take it from the clan's assets."
The Clan Leader had the authority to mobilize the clan's assets.
Chen Nuo nodded. If there were resources available, he would naturally use them.
The Clan Leader ceremony lasted until nightfall.
Fireworks and firecrackers blossomed in the sky.
Fireworks like iron trees and silver flowers bloomed, a riot of vibrant color.
The clan members left one by one with some leftover food, their faces wreathed in smiles. It was clear they were very happy with their new Clan Leader.
At the very least, they now had someone to stand up for them.
At the entrance.
Chen Nuo tucked a piece of candy into a little girl's hand and patted her. "Alright, hurry on home now. Be careful, or the big bad wolf might get you."
The little girl paused for a moment, gave Chen Nuo a strange look, and then scampered over to a woman nearby.
Her childish voice drifted faintly on the wind.
"Mother, that big brother is so childish. He tried to scare me with the big bad wolf..."
"..."
Chen Nuo's face stiffened.
'I forgot. Poor village children in this feudal era mature quickly. The whole 'big bad wolf' thing is so outdated!'
Rubbing his face, Chen Nuo stomped his foot and prepared to head home.
Just then, Chen Nuo spotted two familiar figures in a corner.
One was big and burly, built like a pillar—it was Chen Yong.
The other had a sturdy build and sharp eyes—it was Chen Li.
The two were facing off in the corner.
'What's up with these two now?' he wondered.
"What's going on with you two?"
"Brother Nuo," Chen Yong called out happily.
Chen Li, beside him, seemed a bit constrained. "Clan Leader."
Chen Nuo smiled and waved his hand. "No need to be so serious. Tell me what happened."
"Brother Nuo, this guy was sneakily watching you just now. He was standing here for ages. I didn't trust him, so I kept an eye on him," Chen Yong said in his gruff voice.
Chen Li seemed a little awkward. He opened his mouth, then fell silent again.
Chen Nuo glanced at him.
Especially at the large word 'Fool' floating above his head!
"Yongzi, what's with all this 'sneaky' business? Chen Li probably has something to discuss with me. Don't be so suspicious."
Although that's what Chen Nuo said, he clapped Chen Yong on the arm and, while he was at it, stuffed the few other pieces of candy he had hidden into his pocket.
Chen Yong grunted, dejected.
Nearby, Chen Li looked at Chen Nuo and hesitated. "Um, I just wanted to see if there was anything I could help with. If not, then... never mind."
Chen Nuo understood.
He was happy to see Chen Li trying to get closer.
'As for that minor conflict from before? It was barely even a conflict.'
'If my tolerance was that narrow, I'd be better off not being a Clan Leader and instead become a lone wanderer, living on nothing but wind and dew.'
Chen Nuo immediately broke into a wide, enthusiastic smile and moved closer.
"Chen Li, how could you say 'never mind'? You're the best Hunter in our Chen Manor! The manor will have great need of you in the future."
Chen Li looked at him in surprise, as if trying to determine if his words were sincere.
Finally, he pressed his lips together.
"Thank you, Clan Leader."
'At a time like this, being resented by the Clan Leader would be a huge disaster. My whole family could be ruined, or even killed.'
'Now I understand why Grand-uncle passed the position of Clan Leader to Chen Nuo.'
'It wasn't just because he's smart and capable.'
'More importantly, his magnanimity toward his clansmen is truly admirable!'
He was convinced. Utterly convinced.
"Clan Leader, if you ever have need of me in the future, just give the word."
"Excellent, excellent. Come on, there's still some wine left over there. The three of us will have a drink."