According to Master Xiu Chen, the Iron Armor Skill was a Breathing Technique for the Skin Grinding Realm. Cultivated to Perfection, it allowed one to lift a thousand jin, as if clad in iron armor and impervious to blades and spears. One would be invincible within the Skin Grinding Realm and could even contend with experts of the Muscle Strengthening Realm.
Cultivating the Iron Armor Skill was also very simple. Unlike other Breathing Techniques, it didn't require practicing various supporting techniques and forms. One only needed to carry weights, adjust their breathing according to the incantation, and circulate the qi and blood throughout their body.
Not only was it simple to cultivate, but the Iron Armor Skill also had absolutely no requirements for one's innate talent or constitution. Anyone could practice it.
Even disabled people missing an arm or a leg could cultivate it. After all, the Iron Armor Skill's weight training could be applied to the whole body or just specific parts.
Someone missing an arm could just train their legs to master the Iron Leg Skill, and someone missing a leg could train their arms to master the Iron Arm Skill.
Powerful, simple to cultivate, and with no restrictions on talent—it was simply the dream Martial Arts Cultivation method for any ordinary person.
Before awakening his Innate Wisdom, Chen Cheng had been an honest and dutiful young man. His intelligence was decent, but at the end of the day, he was just a seventeen-year-old boy with a dream of becoming a Martial Artist. Fired up by Master Xiu Chen's ridiculously exaggerated claims, he had rushed into it headfirst. He ignored his frail and skinny body and diligently trained with weights, which resulted in severe injuries.
As Chen Cheng recovered, he awakened his Innate Wisdom and, simultaneously, a system panel. He discovered that this Cultivation Technique was merely an Incomplete Technique, with a completion level of only (40/100).
In Martial Arts Cultivation, a master leads you through the door, but your progress depends on your own efforts. Still, you needed a master to teach you in the first place.
Even with External Skills like the simple chopping and slashing forms of the Scattering Hand, practicing rashly with improper force could lead to pulled muscles and strained tendons.
Practicing an incomplete Inner Cultivation Technique without a master's guidance—it would have been a miracle if nothing went wrong.
Chen Cheng discovered that the system panel had another ability: during cultivation, it could automatically correct the technique, preventing him from practicing it incorrectly and injuring himself. Each cultivation session yielded progress, and the completion level of the Iron Armor Skill technique would increase as well.
During this time, aside from cultivating the Incomplete Technique, Chen Cheng would 'greet' Master Xiu Chen with a branding iron every day. He was getting his revenge while simultaneously forcing the technique's incantations out of the man.
At first, the cunning villain was able to remain stubborn, but he couldn't withstand Chen Cheng's persistent 'hospitality' with the branding iron. Eventually, he confessed a good portion of the remaining incantations.
Over the past few days, it seemed Master Xiu Chen's well of knowledge had been squeezed dry. He wouldn't talk, no matter how he was tortured.
However, Chen Cheng wasn't in a hurry. His Iron Armor Skill Cultivation Progress had reached (8/10), and the technique's completion level was at (85/100). Even if Master Xiu Chen didn't talk, Chen Cheng could perfect the technique himself after just a few more days of cultivation.
So, it was a pleasant surprise when Master Xiu Chen finally coughed up his most secret incantations and the Dharma Gate today.
'That bastard Xiu Chen, it must have been tough on him! This last part of the incantation and the Dharma Gate is truly... cringe-inducing!'
Recalling the resentful look on Master Xiu Chen's face, Chen Cheng couldn't help but laugh.
A Prison Guard's job was extremely laid-back. Chen Cheng slacked off for a while longer until it was time for the shift change. After handing things over to the next guard on duty, he headed home.
After leaving the Prison, he passed through an archway and walked by the South City District City Guard Office. Though only a wall separated it from the prison, the security at the City Guard Office was visibly much tighter. Guards were posted every few steps, standing at attention with swords in hand and stern expressions.
This was the crucial hub responsible for the security of the entire South City District. Even the ordinary guards were tall and powerfully built, far beyond what an average Jianghu Martial Artist could compare to.
Chen Cheng, a mere Little Prison Guard, was treated as if he were invisible and was completely ignored by the other guards.
Inside the Prison, he was Fierce Ah Cheng, a name that struck terror into the hearts of the inmates. But outside the Prison, he was a nobody.
'Until I become a Martial Artist, I'm no different from an ant!'
The wind was dying down, but a mixture of rain and snow still filled the sky. A bitter feeling welled up in Chen Cheng's heart as he walked down the street.
'Fortunately, I have the panel. Becoming a Martial Artist is just around the corner! The future is full of promise!'
He reached into his robes and weighed his slightly deflated Money Bag. Gritting his teeth, Chen Cheng went to the market and bought a jin of pork before finally hurrying home.
'If I want to practice martial arts, I have to eat enough meat. Even one extra meal is better than nothing.'
The prison of the South City District City Guard Department was in Guangfu District, near the district's center. The Chen Family home, however, was in Ruyi District, near the city gate, with several main streets separating the two.
Chen Cheng quickened his steps and finally, just before the sky went completely dark, arrived at the gate of his small courtyard on Locust Tree Lane.
This was a poor district, filled with old, tiled-roof adobe houses, and the Chen Family's home was no different.
"Xiaowan, I'm home."
Chen Cheng knocked on the courtyard gate.
"Coming!"
The sound of hurried footsteps was followed by the drawing of the bolt from inside. A small, slender girl pulled the gate open, her delicate and pretty face full of joy.
"Brother Cheng, you must be hungry. Dinner will be ready soon."
Chen Cheng stepped into the courtyard, closing the gate behind him. He held up the pork in his hand.
"No rush. I got paid today, so we're having something extra for dinner."
"That's wonderful! I'll make some braised pork, then."
"Mm."
Mu Xiaowan took the pork and hurried into the kitchen.
The Chen Family home had three rooms in total: one for living, one for storage, and a kitchen.
Chen Cheng went into his room and eagerly began to cultivate the Iron Armor Skill.
He skillfully circulated his energy according to the previously corrected incantations. Waves of scorching heat surged through his body. Chen Cheng felt his Qi Blood Power increase significantly, and his once slightly stooped posture suddenly became ramrod straight.
[Iron Armor Skill Cultivation Progress Increased. Current Progress: (9/10)]
[Cultivation Technique Successfully Corrected. Iron Armor Skill Technique Completion Increased. Current Completion: (86/100)]
'Not bad, more progress!
Now to try out Xiu Chen's most secret incantation!
Yang qi converges... the great root strengthens... gathers in the Dantian...'
[Cultivation Technique Successfully Corrected. Iron Armor Skill Technique Completion Increased. Current Completion: (99/100)]
'It increased the technique's completion by a full 13 points! Looks like Master Xiu Chen really did cough up everything he had left.'
'So close, just one more point!'
Wild joy surged in Chen Cheng's heart, and he was filled with anticipation for the complete Iron Armor Skill.
'Wait, there's still one Dharma Gate I haven't used!'
After a long moment of contemplation, Chen Cheng still couldn't resist the temptation of obtaining the complete Iron Armor Skill technique.
He quickly shut the door, found a hemp rope, and a counterweight...
「A good while later.」
[Cultivation Technique Successfully Corrected. Iron Armor Skill Technique Completion: (100/100)]
[Iron Armor Skill Cultivation Progress Increased]
...
[Skills: Iron Armor Skill (Beginner Level 1/100)]
'Success! I've reached the Beginner Level of the Iron Armor Skill!'
Chen Cheng was overjoyed.
'With a complete Inner Cultivation Technique, becoming a Martial Artist is just around the corner!'
'Time to test the strength of the Beginner Level Iron Armor Skill!'
Removing the counterweight and untying the iron plates strapped to his legs, arms, and abdomen, Chen Cheng suddenly felt incredibly light.
He stood ramrod straight, an unprecedented feeling of power flooding his entire body.
The Iron Armor Skill focused on weighted cultivation. The moment the weights were removed, the feeling of relief and freedom was so sublime it made one want to roar with exhilaration!
Chen Cheng didn't shout. Yelling at night would surely make the neighbors think he was a madman.
He opened his door and leaped forward, covering over ten feet in a single bound. In just two or three more steps, he reached the courtyard wall. With another powerful jump, he easily vaulted onto the top of the nearly two-meter-high wall.
'My current strength, compared to before I started cultivating the Iron Armor Skill, has more than doubled!'