Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 41: Accelerated Progress

Just then, Liu Yunfeng arrived in a hurry.

"Greetings, Lord Shen."

Shen Qingshuang continued to gaze at the sky, completely ignoring him. Only when footsteps sounded again, and Xiaoxing rushed back to stand guard at the courtyard entrance, did she finally turn and enter the main hall. Liu Yunfeng followed her inside.

Inside the main hall, Shen Qingshuang sat down without ceremony. She looked at Liu Yunfeng and asked coolly, "You went to the Flying Eagle Gang. Did you find anything?"

Liu Yunfeng nodded and said with a serious expression, "I was just about to report to you, Lord Shen.

I took my men to the Flying Eagle Gang, and it wasn’t long before Zhao Yongfeng followed. Besides him, Official Zhou Xu from the South City District City Guard Headquarters also went."

"So, the power behind the Flying Eagle Gang is indeed the Zhou Family." A cold glint flashed in Shen Qingshuang’s eyes, though she didn’t seem surprised. She then added thoughtfully, "For Zhou Xu to show up in person, the Flying Eagle Gang must be more than it seems.

First Zhao Yongfeng, now Zhou Xu... This annihilation case is getting more and more interesting. We might actually find a clue leading to the Black Lotus Sect."

Liu Yunfeng said, "Lord Shen, should I have some men secretly monitor the Flying Eagle Gang’s every move?"

Shen Qingshuang pondered for a moment before replying, "No need. Your trip to the Flying Eagle Gang’s base has likely already tipped them off. They will surely be on their guard now.

Besides, the Flying Eagle Gang’s headquarters is in Zhao Yongfeng’s jurisdiction. If you send men to watch them, he’s bound to notice."

"So we do nothing?" Liu Yunfeng asked, puzzled.

Shen Qingshuang explained, "The Black Lotus Sect is extremely secretive. The harder we investigate, the more cautious they become. Instead of wasting our efforts chasing them, it’s better to do nothing and wait for them to expose a weakness on their own.

If I’m not mistaken, the Flying Eagle Gang has been clashing frequently with other gangs lately, eager to expand its territory. The person pulling the strings must be about to make a move."

"Your strategic foresight is admirable, Lord Shen." Liu Yunfeng seized the opportunity to offer a subtle compliment.

Flattery and sycophancy were not Liu Yunfeng’s usual style. Shen Qingshuang frowned slightly, knowing he wanted to ask about Chen Cheng. She asked, surprised, "Are you really that optimistic about Chen Cheng?"

"Nothing escapes you, Lord Shen." Liu Yunfeng gave a wry smile, then answered honestly, "You intend to cultivate me, Lord Shen, so naturally, I should follow your example and focus on cultivating my own subordinates.

Among my men, Liao San is brave and fights hard. As long as he diligently cultivates the Martial Dao, he’s sure to become a competent Chief Constable one day.

However, he ultimately lacks a certain cunning, so his future achievements will be limited.

Chen Cheng, on the other hand, though from a Humble Family, is both brave and resourceful. If he’s properly developed, his future accomplishments could be limitless.

Furthermore, his background is clean and he is good-hearted. If you were to give him a bit of a push, Lord Shen, he would surely become a great asset to you in the future."

At the Ruyi Square Sub-Department, everyone thought Shen Qingshuang was suppressing Liu Yunfeng by targeting him at every turn.

Who would have thought that behind the scenes, Shen Qingshuang was already grooming him as the next Chief Constable?

Sometimes, promoting a subordinate doesn’t mean blindly protecting them. Placing one of your own in an adversarial position makes it easier to perceive the movements of hidden enemies.

This was a mark of Shen Qingshuang’s brilliance as a Chief Constable, something Liu Yunfeng had always deeply admired.

Shen Qingshuang said nonchalantly, "Didn’t I give him a Secret Manual for the Bear Skin Grinding Technique before?"

"But the Medicinal Materials required to cultivate the Bear Skin Grinding Technique are incredibly expensive. How could Chen Cheng possibly afford them?" Liu Yunfeng said. He truly didn’t understand Shen Qingshuang’s intentions.

In his view, it would have been more practical to give Chen Cheng an ordinary Skin Grinding Technique and the resources to cultivate it, rather than a top-tier Secret Manual for a technique he couldn’t afford.

Shen Qingshuang’s expression turned serious. "The Shen Family values you, Liu Yunfeng, because you have sufficient strength. That’s why they are willing to invest so many resources in you.

But Chen Cheng is just a lowly Preparatory Constable. Whether he can become a successful cultivator like you is still an unknown.

If he wants enough resources, he must fight for them himself and prove his worth through his strength.

This doesn’t just apply to Chen Cheng. It’s true even for the Shen Family, even for me, Shen Qingshuang. Everything I have, I earned through my own hard work."

Shen Qingshuang had reached Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection at such a young age. While her family’s resources were certainly an advantage, she must also possess exceptional talent and have endured arduous cultivation.

Liu Yunfeng knew her words were reasonable. He could only sigh to himself before taking his leave.

Just then, Xiaoxing came in and said, "Miss, Chen Cheng was deceived by Master Xiu Chen before. He almost died from serious injuries while cultivating the incomplete Iron Armor Skill. He’s a pitiful person."

Shen Qingshuang glanced at her. "So you think the same as Liu Yunfeng? You want to persuade me to cultivate him properly, perhaps even arrange for him to train in the Martial Dao at the Inner City Shen Family’s Martial Arts Hall?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Xiaoxing said, her voice lacking confidence.

Shen Qingshuang stared at her, then suddenly smiled. "Xiaoxing, you’re twenty-two this year. You must be eager to find a husband. I think Chen Cheng seems like a good match."

"Miss, please don’t tease me! My only desire is to follow you and cultivate the Martial Dao. I have no interest in getting married," Xiaoxing protested, her face blushing crimson.

"That’s good. Although you are my handmaiden, your Martial Arts Cultivation has already reached Skin Grinding Realm Perfection. Chen Cheng is not yet worthy of you." Shen Qingshuang nodded, then sighed. "But who can say how things will turn out in this world?

I have observed Chen Cheng. Even though he has never cultivated a Body Tempering Technique, his physique is already comparable to that of a Small Success Martial Artist in the Skin Grinding Realm. With such talent for the Martial Dao, cultivating External Skills will be much faster for him than for an ordinary person, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

If he cultivates diligently and seizes the opportunity to enter an Inner City Martial Arts Hall, he might be able to catch up to you in the future."

Xiaoxing’s eyes lit up. "Miss, are you talking about having Chen Cheng join the Zheng Martial Arts Hall? Wouldn’t that make him your junior martial brother?"

Shen Qingshuang waved her hand dismissively. "With his talent for the Martial Dao, my master is naturally the most suitable person to teach him. Otherwise, why do you think I gave him the Secret Manual for the Bear Skin Grinding Technique?

I just hope he doesn’t disappoint me!"

...

Night fell. A crescent moon, hidden behind thick clouds, cast a dim, faint glow.

After dinner and a short rest, Chen Cheng resumed practicing the Wind Chasing Saber Technique in his courtyard.

As his Cultivation Progress in the Iron Armor Skill advanced, his vitality grew stronger. The fifty-jin weights were no longer a burden to him at all. Even after a full day of cultivating the Iron Armor Skill with the weights on, he didn’t feel tired. Instead, he felt invigorated.

His progress in cultivating the Wind Chasing Saber Technique was now even faster than before.

In the dim moonlight, his footwork was nimble and swift. The Long Saber in his hand danced, its movements fluid and natural, becoming more effortless with each pass.

After completing a full set of the Saber Technique, Chen Cheng stood still. His dark eyes were deep and full of vigor, and he felt as if he had reached a new understanding.

’Martial Arts Cultivation emphasizes the dual cultivation of internal and external aspects, as they complement each other. Cultivating an Inner Cultivation Technique strengthens the body, which has a powerful amplifying effect on the practice of External Skills.

For example, if a child wants to learn a Saber Technique, they would struggle just to hold and swing the saber due to their limited strength, speed, and agility, let alone actually cultivate it.

But for an ordinary adult, learning a Saber Technique is comparatively much easier.

And for a trained Martial Artist, mastering a Saber Technique is easier still.

My current overall strength far surpasses that of an ordinary Martial Artist, making it even simpler to cultivate a Saber Technique.

For an ordinary Martial Artist, it takes two to three years at most, or one to two years at least, to cultivate a Saber Technique to the Great Success stage. But with my physique, plus the guaranteed progress from my cultivation system, I estimate it will only take a few months, or maybe even less.

After all, as my Martial Arts Realm improves, my physique will get stronger and stronger, and my Cultivation Progress in the Wind Chasing Saber Technique will accelerate.

The future is promising!’ A look of joy appeared on Chen Cheng’s face, but he quickly fell back into deep thought.

It was great that his Martial Arts Cultivation was progressing well, but he couldn’t ignore the hidden dangers of the outside world.

He had to be mindful of danger even in times of peace.

He had joined the City Guard Department and gained its protection. Liu Yunfeng was also doing his best to shield him, even going so far as to mobilize a large force and storm the Flying Eagle Gang’s base.

All of this seemed like Liu Yunfeng was just protecting his subordinate, but Chen Cheng had a persistent feeling that the matter wasn’t so simple.

’As a Chief Constable, Liu Yunfeng must know that the Flying Eagle Gang has a powerful figure backing them.

Yet he went anyway, without any regard for the consequences. That in itself is unusual.’

He had offended Official Zhou Xu from the South City District City Guard Headquarters, yet as a mere Chief Constable, Liu Yunfeng didn’t seem worried at all. Where did his confidence come from? It wasn’t hard for Chen Cheng to guess that Liu Yunfeng also had a powerful figure supporting him.

’The powerful figure behind him is likely an enemy of Zhou Xu’s.

Therefore, I’ve probably already been dragged into the conflict between the great personage behind Liu Yunfeng and Zhou Xu.

I’d better be more careful. Otherwise, I might end up as cannon fodder one day without even knowing why.’