Chapter 31: Breakthrough! Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt!

Night, a stretch of silence.

Inside a brightly lit study.

Lu Zhangsheng stood with his feet spread apart, arms folded across his chest, his gaze burning bright.

With a thought, he tapped the button behind Iron Cloth Shirt.

"Iron Cloth Shirt has reached its limit and cannot be improved further. Enable fusion function?"

"Yes."

Lu Zhangsheng nodded.

The instant he confirmed, Source Energy Points drained away at a rapid pace, and a mysterious stirring descended in an instant.

The membrane of skin across his body began to swell and ripple, emanating a faint golden light—truly wondrous.

【You cultivated Iron Cloth Shirt to Transcendent Mastery and still did not stop; the power of your flesh continued to grow…】

【Three months later, your strength grew to ten thousand jin, reaching the absolute limit of Skin Refinement since ancient times, unable to increase even a fraction further.】

【At this moment, you realized you needed to seek a new path for Iron Cloth Shirt…】

【You studied hard for ten years and finally gained a new idea…】

【Fifty years later, combining Iron Cloth Shirt, Iron Arm Skill, Iron Leg Skill… and many other Skin Refinement martial arts, you finally deduced a new Cultivation Technique…】

……

……

"New Cultivation Technique successfully generated. Rename?"

Another crisp voice rang out, carrying no emotion at all.

Lu Zhangsheng slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam piercing straight into the void.

A flowing light seemed to swirl within his pupils.

He looked over his body; as Qi and Blood circulated, faint sounds like metal striking rang out from the membrane of his skin—truly wondrous.

"Rename the Cultivation Technique to Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt."

Lu Zhangsheng directly set the name of the new Cultivation Technique.

When this technique was cultivated, it sounded like tiger roars and dragon chants, and it held a great advantage in tempering muscles, so he named it directly according to its characteristics.

He opened the Panel to check the new Cultivation Technique.

Cultivation Technique: 【Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt】 (Entry Level)

Note: A high-grade Cultivation Technique at the Flesh Refinement level, deduced and fused from Iron Cloth Shirt and several Horizontal Refinement techniques. Its might is considerable; once cultivated to perfection, the fleshly body becomes like a vajra.

Cultivation Technique Rating: Three Star.

Source Energy Points: 12.

This fusion and deduction used a total of 30 Source Energy Points, but the effect still satisfied him greatly—you get what you pay for.

Gazing at the plus sign behind Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt, he no longer hesitated.

"Add points!"

With a light tap of the thought, a massive warm current swept through his entire body; his whole fleshly body began to swell, as if grown a size larger, looking astonishing.

Immediately after, his frame slowly shrank back, and Qi and Blood surged violently, growing ever more refined.

A moment later.

Host: Lu Zhangsheng.

Age: Twenty 【One Hundred Twenty】.

Realm: Flesh Refining.

Cultivation Technique: 【Dragon Chant Iron Cloth Shirt】 (Small Achievement), 【Great Strength Bull Demon Fist】 (Not Entry Level)……

Skills: 【Five Tiger Gate-Severing Saber】 (Perfection), 【Wild Wind Chaotic Shadow Saber】 (Not Entry Level), 【Blood Ignition Secret Art】 (Perfection), 【Basic Blade Technique】 (Perfection), 【Floating Light and Shadow】 (Perfection).

Equipment: Slaughtering Pig Blade 【Sharp-Grade Weapon】

Status: Good.

Source Energy Points: 2.

Bound Strange Beast: Pangolin King 【Red Quality】

Level: 11.

This breakthrough to Flesh Refining used a full ten Source Energy Points.

The resources in hand were once again declared in urgent shortage.

Lu Zhangsheng clenched his fist; an immensely powerful force filled his entire body, as if he could punch through the void with a single blow.

This illusion was precisely because his strength had risen too much, and his body had not yet fully adapted.

He estimated his own strength was probably around fifteen thousand jin, a direct increase of five thousand jin—truly terrifying.

Enough to rival some Strong Persons who had cultivated Flesh Refinement for over a decade.

One had to know that after ten thousand jin, every bit of improvement was extremely difficult, let alone a single increase of five thousand jin of tremendous force.

This high-grade Cultivation Technique certified by the Panel was indeed extraordinary.

He wondered what kind of might the top-grade techniques above, or even divine-grade techniques, would possess.

This feeling of gradually growing stronger also intoxicated him greatly.

A heart of a Strong Person welled up spontaneously.

Having stepped into Flesh Refining, he finally possessed an initial ability to protect himself.

This gave him even more confidence in his upcoming actions.

That's right—he planned to begin taking revenge against Sanhe Gang. Being repeatedly targeted by them had long made his killing intent boil over. In the past, when his strength was weak, he could only choose to lie low; now he finally possessed a sliver of power to strike back.

Lu Zhangsheng prepared to next search for Spiritual Object resources while also taking action against Sanhe Gang.

…………

Three days later.

When the Zhenyao Si personnel began returning, the entire Zhenyao Si Yamen erupted in chaos.

Many martial artists perished in this mission.

Some were slain by the sudden surge in the Guai's power; others were ambushed and killed on their way back.

After a full-scale investigation by Zhenyao Si's high-ranking officials, all eyes turned firmly toward the Wenxiang Sect.

Inside the Demon-Suppressing Division Main Hall.

"Crack…"

Qin Ruobing smashed the teacup in her hand hard onto the ground.

"Those heretic cultivators dare to provoke us? They're asking for death."

"This is surely retaliation for our strike against them a year ago—they've been patient."

Xiao Tianci let out a cold laugh.

A year ago, they assisted the County Magistrate in arresting a group of Wenxiang Sect members and some Black Mountain Bandits, who are still imprisoned.

"I propose we strike again and completely eradicate those heretic cultivators."

Qin Ruobing's face was as cold as ice; she had suffered heavy losses in this operation.

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

Soon, the hall fell silent once more.

…………

Li Family Courtyard.

Inside a lavish chamber.

"You say the Young Marquis hasn't returned? Could he be in danger?"

An old man stared in disbelief.

He bore a resemblance to Li Yunhua.

Li Wanpeng, as Family Elder, had only this one son—and now this had happened.

His murderous intent surged violently.

"Search thoroughly. Alive, bring him to me. Dead, bring his body."

"Your humble servant obeys."

A young man in green robes bowed respectfully below.

Then he slowly walked out of the Main Hall.

…………

In a dark space, Green Ghost Fire flickered.

"Lord, shall we launch a preemptive strike against Changping County's official forces and abandon concealment? What do we do with the believers?"

A black-robed, masked man spoke with hesitation.

"Hmph… It is the Venerable Lord's will. Do you dare defy it?"

An old man stood with his hands behind his back, his body wreathed in swirling malevolent energy.

"The Old Emperor is near death; the Imperial Princes are busy fighting for power. Dazhou Kingdom is in turmoil—it can no longer suppress the entire realm…"

"The flesh and blood of a million souls in Changping County will surely please you. Let the believers be the beginning—they will offer themselves willingly. Hehehe…"

A chilling laugh echoed through the void.

………………

The next day, morning.

Lu Zhangsheng rose early and prepared to head to the Zhenyao Si.

He still had a Small Merit—perhaps he could exchange it for something useful.

The situation was growing increasingly tense; every opportunity to enhance his strength must not be missed.

After washing and grooming, he donned his Official Garment, a Long Blade hanging at his waist, appearing strikingly heroic.

At that moment, Fang Qing stepped out from the room and approached Lu Zhangsheng, extending her soft hand to carefully smooth his robe, like a dutiful young wife.

"You're now an official. Be mindful of your appearance when you go out."

As she spoke, she stole glances at Lu Zhangsheng's profile, her cheeks flushed red.

"I know. Thank you, Qingsao."

Lu Zhangsheng smiled, then turned and walked away.

Leaving his courtyard, he walked along the wide, clean streets.

Passersby on all sides quickly stepped aside, gazing at Lu Zhangsheng with deep reverence.

In recent days, Lu Zhangsheng had gained some fame in Changping County, especially among the Commoners.

To rise from a Commoner to a Martial Artist and join the Zhenyao Si—fewer than a handful achieved this in three years—naturally filled the Commoners with envy.

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

(End of Chapter)