After Stirling got home, he checked the small mechanisms he had set up. They hadn't triggered. Then he went right to the inner room to prepare to memorize the he had just read.

  Fifteen minutes later, Stirling had written the general steps and methods of the "Kim's Bone Forging Method" on a piece of white paper. As for the minor details, he glossed over them.

  Next, Stirling wrote and on the back of the paper. He held it up to his eyes and stared at it, waiting on tenterhooks.

  [Current enhancement requires a lifespan 2 years and 27 days. Enhance?]

  Looking at the words before him, Stirling hesitated a little before selecting "Yes."

  [King Kong Bone Refining]

  Derived from the Kim Clan's bone-forging method. All things in nature can serve as a model, and on the path of bone-forging, the King Kong reigns supreme. Observe King Kong's movements—walking, sitting, lying down, leaping, and flying. From this, you can learn the best bone-forging method.

  Stirling glanced at the book in his hand. He turned to the first page and found no visualization diagrams. Instead, there was a very detailed description of the bone-forging sequence.

  The human body has 206 bones. While the King Kong Bone-Forging Method focuses on moving from the bottom to the top, step by step.

  The manual noted that the skull is crucial, made up of 29 bones that protect the brain. One can only try to forge the skull using Aether and blood after fully grasping the bone-forging process.

  Stirling stroked his chin for a while, then had a general idea in mind and prepared to try forging it himself.

  He first went to the already heated stove, opened the herbal packet he had prepared the night before. Then he poured the powder inside into the teapot on the stove.

  The bluish-gray powder dissolved quickly in the water. It changed the clear well water to dark brown and released a strong medicinal smell.

  Stirling looked at the liquid before him, feeling a bit disgusted, but there was no other way. How could he become stronger if he couldn't even overcome this minor difficulty?

  Stirling wrapped the teapot handle in a thick cloth. Then, he picked it up and poured the liquid into the bowl that was ready.

  Stirling fanned himself for a few minutes. He checked the bowl's temperature, then picked it up and drank the liquid in one gulp.

  Stirling felt the hot liquid rush down his throat. He set the bowl down straight away, stepped back, and took the starting stance of King Kong boxing.

  A few breaths later, Stirling felt a strange heat surge in his stomach.

  Stirling narrowed his eyes. Then he twisted his hips and threw a punch, letting out a soft shout. His muscles rippled rhythmically like waves.

  The firm pressure on his skin coiled Stirling's blood and Aether. They surged through his meridians, pushed towards the bone in his right leg by a python-like force. At the same time, the heat surging in his stomach followed the blood and Aether, rushing towards that bone.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  In an instant, intense pain exploded in Stirling's brain. He felt as if needles were piercing his bones. His body shuddered, and his strength faded right then.

  With only one movement, cold sweat appeared on Stirling's forehead, and he cursed.

  This was Stirling's first time experiencing Aether and blood forging his bones. He felt quite different from the pain of the skin-refining stage.

  The Skin-Refining process caused a sensation like ant bites all over the body, a painful yet itchy pain in the skin. This bone tempering, however, was a real, visceral bone pain, much like gout.

  Stirling wiped the sweat from her brow, then resumed his fist stance. This time, Stirling focused on the Aether inside him. He hoped it would ease his pain like the Skin-Refining Realm had.

  As Stirling guided him, the Aether and a warm current from her stomach filled his leg bones. This sparked another surge of Aether and blood.

  This time, the pain dropped a lot. It was less than a tenth of what it was before and was now completely tolerable. Stirling felt thrilled. He focused his mind and started the second surge of Aether and blood.

  After thirty-six rounds of tempering, Stirling felt the fire in his stomach begin to go away. This showed that the medicine's effect had worn off. Stirling didn't stop right away. He kept trying to strengthen his leg bones with his Aether and blood, but the effect was much weaker.

  This enhanced medicinal soup is quite potent. Stirling paused and wiped the sweat from his brow. he thought.

  Once Stirling's leg bones were fully forged, he could learn a quick footwork technique. When his arm bones were done, the power of his King Kong Boxing would double.

  But Stirling calculated his lifespan and felt uncertain.

  Seventy years sounds like a lot, but supporting the Bone Forging Realm takes a toll. After that, there may be little lifespan left. Higher martial arts realms demand even more lifespan, which is an enormous cost.

  Stirling sighed inwardly. He had already drunk the medicine once that night; another bowl would only be harmful. So, he went to the well in the courtyard, drew a bucket of cool water, took a shower, and went to bed.

  The next day at dawn, Stirling put on the uniform he had got from Night Watch. He was ready to report at his post.

  The tailor, who had measured Stirling the day before, was very skilled. This flying-cloud robe fitted him very well, feeling cool to the touch. It was nice for Stirling, who was used to wearing tattered linen clothes.

  Stirling checked his blade, a little excited. Then, he looked around the house to ensure nothing was missing. Finally, he pushed open the door and left.

  Walking on the road, Stirling just realized the importance of the status.

  Before unnoticed on the street, today he received greetings from people all the time.

  "Hello, Sir!"

  "Morning, Sir!"

  Stirling ignored them, walking straight ahead without looking to either side. But the more he did so, the more praise poured in.

  "Sir, you look so impressive!"

  "This handsome officer looks unfamiliar; I have never seen him before!"

  "If my daughter could be his maid, it would be the greatest blessing of her life!"

  "You old hag, look at you drooling; you want to warm his bed yourself, don't you?!"

  Stirling listened the whole way until his ears were practically calloused. Luckily, he was near the Night Watch building. The streets were quieter now, giving him some much-needed peace.

  Right now, several officers in flying cloud robes stood at the outpost gate, waiting for roll call. Stirling's arrival caught their attention.

  "Heh, a newbie, quite young indeed!"

  Someone exclaimed in surprise, looking at Stirling's flying cloud robes.

  "Looks like this is the big thing the boss told us about yesterday. Interesting. It's difficult to become a samurai these days. I wonder what his background is."

  Stirling walked over, and his colleagues immediately greeted him.

  "Man, new here, right? We're all family now; don't be nervous."

  Someone laughed, looking at Stirling.

  "Hey, guys, my name is Luis Chilavert, I just reported for duty yesterday."

  Stirling replied with a smile.

  "Welcome, man. After work, let's go to The Wild Rose to listen to sensual songs and see the best udders in the outer city."

  Another person said with a smile.

  As everyone laughed and joked, the outpost gate creaked open. Drums echoed from the courtyard. "Time for roll call! Hurry and go in!"

  With a shout, everyone surged into the courtyard.

  Stirling, at the back, followed the others into the courtyard. He hung the badge on the signboard at the front of the courtyard. Then, he followed the group through the courtyard and into the back room.

  In the room, a man in a white robe with flying clouds stood with his hands behind his back. He was with a young woman in a turquoise-green dress.

  The group arrived excitedly but tensed up when they saw the woman in the green dress. Their smiles vanished altogether.