Chapter 31: Breakthrough! Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt!

Night, a blanket of silence.

Inside the brightly lit study.

Lu Zhangsheng stands with legs apart, arms crossed, his gaze blazing.

A thought flickers, and he taps the button behind the Iron Cloth Shirt.

"The Iron Cloth Shirt has reached its limit, cannot be upgraded. Enable fusion function?"

"Yes."

Lu Zhangsheng nods.

In the instant he confirms, Source Energy Points flash by, and a subtle tremor descends instantly.

The membrane on his body begins to swell, emitting a faint golden light—truly wondrous.

【You have continued cultivating the Iron Cloth Shirt beyond mastery, and your physical strength keeps increasing…】

【Three months later, your strength has risen to ten thousand jin, reaching the historic limit of Refining Skin, and can no longer increase by any amount.】

【At this point, you realize you must seek a new path for the Iron Cloth Shirt…】

【You have toiled for ten years, finally gaining a hint of a new idea…】

【Fifty years later, you combine the Iron Cloth Shirt, Iron Arm Technique, Iron Leg Technique… and many other Refining Skin arts, finally deriving a new method…】

……

……

"The new method has been successfully generated. Rename it?"

Another crisp voice sounds, devoid of any emotion.

Lu Zhangsheng slowly opens his eyes, a sharp beam of light piercing the void.

It seems as if flowing light rotates within his eyes.

He surveys his surroundings; as his qi and blood circulate, a metallic clanging seems to echo on his membrane—truly wondrous.

"The method is renamed Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt."

Lu Zhangsheng directly sets the name of the new method.

When cultivating this method, it feels as if tiger roars and dragon chants, giving a great advantage in tempering muscles, so he named it accordingly.

He opens the panel to view the new method.

Method: 【Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt】 (Entry)

Note: A high-level method of Meat Refinement Level, derived by fusing the Iron Cloth Shirt with several transverse refining techniques; its power is notable, and when fully cultivated the flesh becomes like diamond.

Method rating: three stars.

Source Energy Points: 12.

This fusion used a total of 30 Source Energy Points, but the result satisfies him greatly—value for money.

Staring at the plus sign behind Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt, he no longer hesitates.

"Add points!"

He lightly thinks, and a massive wave of warmth sweeps his body; his entire flesh begins to swell, as if enlarged by a layer, looking astonishing.

Immediately after, his body slowly contracts, and his qi and blood surge dramatically, becoming ever purer.

After a moment.

Host: Lu Zhangsheng.

Age: twenty 【one hundred twenty】.

Realm: Meat Refinement.

Methods: 【Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt】 (Minor Accomplishment) 【Great Strength Bull Demon Fist】 (Uninitiated) …

Skills: 【Five Tiger Severing Gate Knife】 (Complete), 【Whirlwind Chaotic Shadow Knife】 (Uninitiated) 【Burning Blood Secret Technique】 (Complete), 【Basic Swordsmanship】 (Complete), 【Floating Light Skimming Shadow】 (Complete).

Equipment: Pig Slaughter Knife 【Weapon】

Status: Good.

Source Energy Points: 2.

Bound Beast: King of Pangolins 【Red】

Level: 11.

This breakthrough in Meat Refinement consumed a full ten Source Energy Points.

His resources also announce another shortage.

Lu Zhangsheng clenches his fist; an immensely powerful force fills his body, as if a single punch could shatter the void.

This illusion stems from his power rising too much; the strength has not fully adapted.

He estimates his own strength at roughly fifteen thousand jin, a direct increase of five thousand jin—truly terrifying.

Enough to match some masters with over a decade of Meat Refinement.

One should know that beyond ten thousand jin, each increment is arduous, let alone a single boost of five thousand jin.

This panel-certified high-level method is indeed extraordinary.

He does not know what power the top-tier, even divine-level methods above possess.

This gradually growing sensation also intoxicates him greatly.

A strongman's heart wells up spontaneously.

After entering Meat Refinement, he finally has a rudimentary self-protection ability.

This gives him greater confidence for his upcoming actions.

Indeed, he plans to begin revenge against the Sanhe Gang. Repeated attacks from them have long stoked his murderous intent; when he was weak he could only lie in wait, but now he finally possesses a sliver of retaliatory power.

Lu Zhangsheng prepares to both search for Spiritual Creature resources and strike against the Sanhe Gang.

…………

Three days later.

When the DemonSubduingOffice personnel gradually returned, the entire Zhen Yao Si Office was instantly thrown into a great uproar.

Many cultivators fell during this mission.

Some were slain by the suddenly surging, bizarre power; others perished in attacks encountered on the way back.

After the DemonSubduingOffice's higher‑ups pursued the matter with all their might, everyone's gaze was firmly fixed on the head of the Wenxiang Sect.

Inside the main hall of the DemonSubduingOffice.

"Snap……"

Qin Ruobing slammed the tea cup in their hand onto the ground.

"Those cultists actually dared to pick a fight with us; they really courted death."

"This is probably a retaliatory move for the crackdown we carried out a year ago; they actually can endure it."

XiaoTiansi gave a cold smile.

A year ago, they helped the county magistrate capture a group of Wenxiang Sect members and some Black Mountain bandits, who are still imprisoned now.

"I propose we act again and sweep that group of cultists with full force."

Qin Ruobing was as cold as ice; this operation caused considerable losses to her subordinates.

"I will discuss this matter with County Magistrate Du…"

Soon, the hall returned to calm once more.

…………

Li Family courtyard.

Inside a magnificent house.

"You say the young master hasn't returned; perhaps something happened?"

An elderly man wore a face full of disbelief.

His appearance bore some resemblance to Li Yunhua.

Li Wanpeng, as a senior of the family and the only son, never expected such a mishap to occur.

It made his murderous intent surge.

"Investigate with all force; the living must be seen, the dead must be seen as corpses."

"Your junior obeys your command."

A young man in blue below wore a respectful expression.

He then slowly walked out of the hall.

…………

In a dim space, emerald ghost flames flickered.

"Lord, shall we take the initiative to strike against the official forces of Changping County and no longer hide? How shall we deal with those believers?"

A black‑clad, masked man sounded somewhat puzzled.

"Hmph… This is the master's will; do you intend to defy it?"

An elderly man stood with his arms crossed behind his back, surrounded by swirling murderous aura.

"The Old Emperor is nearing his end; the princes are busy vying for power, the Great Zhou's fortunes are turbulent, and it has become hard to suppress the whole realm…"

"The flesh and blood of a million lives in Changping County must please you greatly; let those believers be the beginning, they will willingly sacrifice themselves, ha ha ha…"

A chilling, extremely cold laugh echoed through the void.

………………

The next day, at dawn.

Lu Zhangsheng got up early in the morning, preparing to go to the DemonSubduingOffice.

He still had a Small Merit in his hand, wondering if he could exchange it for something useful.

After all, the situation is becoming increasingly tense, and no opportunity to improve one's strength can be missed.

After finishing his ablutions, he donned official robes, a long sword hanging at his waist, looking exceptionally heroic.

At this moment, Fang Qing stepped out of the house, approached Lu Zhangsheng, and extended her soft little hand, carefully tidying his robe as if she were a sensible young wife.

"You are now an official now; when you go out, you must pay attention to your demeanor…"

While speaking, she furtively examined Lu Zhangsheng's profile, his cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

"I know, thank you, Sister‑in‑law Fang."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled, then turned and walked away.

Leaving his own courtyard, he walked along the wide, tidy streets.

The passing crowds around him stepped aside, looking at Lu Zhangsheng with faces full of reverence.

These days, Lu Zhangsheng has gained some fame in Changping County, especially among the common folk.

From an ordinary background, to rise as a cultivator and even join the DemonSubduingOffice—such a case appears once in three years, naturally making the commoners extremely envious.

Many lovestruck maidens even began inquiring about Lu Zhangsheng's residence, sending matchmakers to propose marriage, but Lu Zhangsheng turned them down.

(End of chapter)