36. Attribute point soar

The logo on the coins featured a skull-shaped emblem with two red diamonds set into its hollow eye sockets. Although Chu Yan had never seen this symbol before, he decided to keep the coins, just in case.

Next, Chu Yan retrieved a mini map from the body. Judging by his experience, this map likely indicated the location where Jin Rong had hidden the stolen resources.

After a quarter of an hour, Chu Yan arrived at the old store. The place was so dilapidated that the door had fallen off its hinges, and grass had begun to overtake the interior. Digging through the center of the living room, Chu Yan unearthed several boxes buried under layers of dirt.

Inside the safety boxes, Chu Yan discovered a variety of elixirs and cards. The mission's completion requirement was to either bring the criminal back alive or dead and retrieve the remaining resources. It did not specify the quantity of resources needed, so Chu Yan could use them to enhance his attribute points as he saw fit.

After half an hour of sorting through his resources, Chu Yan converted the remaining items into attribute points.

The surge in his attribute points was dramatic. Within minutes, the increase finally leveled off.

[Attribute Points: 10,456]

This was the highest number of attribute points Chu Yan had ever amassed since activating the system panel. With these points, his strength would undoubtedly rival or even surpass that of the city's younger generation.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Yan settled onto the cold stone floor, sitting cross-legged. His breath steadied as he concentrated on the flow of energy within him. The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the soft, flickering glow of a single lantern that cast shifting shadows on the walls.

Suddenly, his body began to tremble as the energy inside him coalesced into a dense, potent force. Sweat trickled down his brow, and his muscles tensed as they absorbed the surge of power. Chu Yan felt a profound transformation taking place, his skin tingling with an intense, unfamiliar sensation.

Slowly, Chu Yan's skin began to transform. A faint metallic sheen spread across his body, starting from his hands and creeping up his arms, then over his chest and legs. His skin hardened and took on a bronzed hue, as if his flesh had been tempered like steel.

"Isn't this the Bronze Skin state?!" Chu Yan exclaimed in shock.

After spending five consecutive days studying in the library, Chu Yan was no longer a novice in martial arts. Achieving the Bronze Skin state was an extraordinary feat, accomplished by only a few geniuses across the country.

The rarity of this state stemmed from the fact that achieving it required the complete tempering of both skin and muscles. Most geniuses could temper their skin and muscles to around 95%, but only a select few could push beyond that threshold.

Achieving the Bronze Skin state was not only a mark of exceptional talent but also a testament to significant resources. The minimum requirement to reach this state was at least tens of millions of federal coins, underscoring just how rare and challenging it was to achieve.

"I thought I had grasped even a fraction of the system's potential, but it seems I was mistaken," Chu Yan mused to himself.

Rising to his feet, Chu Yan approached the stone pillar in the center of the room. Previously, destroying such a pillar would have been a formidable challenge. But now, Chu Yan was different—stronger and more resilient. Though his realm had not changed, his defense and strength had increased severalfold.

He pulled back his fist, channeling his newfound power into the strike. With a determined roar, he thrust his fist forward, connecting with the pillar in an explosive burst of energy. The impact reverberated through the chamber, sending a shockwave rippling from the point of contact.

The stone pillar cracked, a jagged fissure spreading across its surface before it collapsed under the force of Chu Yan's blow. Dust and debris filled the air, but Chu Yan remained steady, his eyes reflecting the cold, bronze hue of his enhanced skin.

Chu Yan stood amidst the rubble, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. The Bronze Skin state had not only fortified his body but also heightened his senses, sharpening his perception of the world around him. He felt invigorated, every fiber of his being thrumming with newfound energy.

Just as Chu Yan was about to revel in his achievement, his enthusiasm waned. His attribute points had plummeted by nearly 6,000!

Feeling a twinge of disappointment, Chu Yan quickly regained his composure. Despite the cost of the breakthrough, the rewards were clear. He had ascended to the third layer of the Martial Artist realm, reaching a state that many could only dream of.

After a few training sessions, Chu Yan swiftly gained control over his newfound strength. Seizing the opportunity while the iron was hot, he decided to press on towards the next realm—a realm that many students found difficult to attain.