The panel that appeared today was different from usual. In Chen Ping'an's field of vision, a plus sign had appeared at the very end of the Martial Arts entry.
'I really can level it up!'
Chen Ping'an suppressed his excitement, cleared his mind, and focused his spirit, tapping on the plus sign.
WHOOSH~
As he tapped the plus sign, the 5 Experience Points before it underwent a wondrous change.
The Experience Points transformed into motes of starlight that flowed toward the spot between Chen Ping'an's eyebrows.
As the starlight entered his body, Chen Ping'an initially felt only a refreshing coolness that rendered his Spirit Platform exceptionally clear. Then, streams of complex information flooded into his mind.
This was all information regarding Cultivation insights for the Iron Cloth Shirt. Chen Ping'an instantly understood, digested, and thoroughly absorbed the complex data, as if he had entered a state of flow, completely losing himself in the process.
Every single cultivation insight didn't just appear out of thin air. It was as if he himself had cultivated it, drop by drop.
Training through the dead of winter and the dog days of summer!
In a trance, Chen Ping'an felt as if he had been practicing the Iron Cloth Shirt for months. Every session was performed with the most precise posture, and the recovery afterward was supported by the most appropriate Major Medicine, leaving not a single hidden injury or potential weakness.
Everything followed the most correct training methods and the most suitable rhythm, progressing perfectly along the path of Iron Cloth Shirt Cultivation.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood First Layer
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Entry Level (0/15)
...
'Qi Blood First Layer!'
A brilliant light seemed to flash in Chen Ping'an's eyes.
It wasn't just that his Iron Cloth Shirt had reached Entry Level; this was... he had truly stepped onto the path of Martial Dao Cultivation!
The path of Martial Dao Cultivation is an arduous one!
Without the proper methods, an ordinary person would struggle for months to even reach the Entry Level. Furthermore, forcing oneself to train so hard carries a huge risk of hidden injuries and internal damage.
'I... I've reached the Entry Level?!'
He had started practicing the Iron Cloth Shirt the day before yesterday, and now... it had only been three days in total.
'I reached the Entry Level of the Martial Dao?'
'In just three days...'
Even though he had been mentally preparing himself, Chen Ping'an couldn't shake the feeling of unreality now that it had actually happened.
'In just three days, I went from being an ordinary person to a Martial Dao Cultivator at the Qi Blood First Layer.'
'This speed is just too absurd! And...'
'My journey doesn't end here—it's only just beginning!'
Chen Ping'an's heart pounded with excitement.
He could practice the Iron Cloth Shirt twice a day and gain 2 Experience Points. According to the panel, reaching Iron Cloth Shirt Minor Achievement required 15 Experience Points. That meant seven and a half days.
This way, he could definitely cultivate the Iron Cloth Shirt to Minor Achievement within Young Master Xiao Hu's ten-day deadline!
This would further reduce the risk of his plan and give him a much greater chance of success!
Back in the small courtyard, it took Chen Ping'an a good while to gradually calm his racing heart.
He carefully observed the changes to his body. Removing the tightly wound undergarments, he found his skin had become exceptionally smooth, as if it hadn't just endured all that friction.
'So Breaking a Realm also restores you to peak condition!'
Chen Ping'an was secretly delighted, having discovered another hidden function of his Golden Finger.
He tried gently tapping his own body and found that even though his upper half was bare, it felt as if he were striking cloth.
Chen Ping'an's eyes lit up. 'The effect of the Entry Level Iron Cloth Shirt seems pretty good!'
Next, Chen Ping'an couldn't help but use a little more force. As he increased the force, he began to feel some pain, but it was undoubtedly much less than before he reached the Entry Level of Iron Cloth Shirt.
"I see!"
Chen Ping'an nodded.
The effect of the Entry Level Iron Cloth Shirt was equivalent to wearing a thick set of underclothes, greatly reducing the damage from fists, palms, and kicks. As for weapons... it was better than nothing, but just barely.
The difference between having the Entry Level Iron Cloth Shirt and not was like the difference between cutting soft tofu and cutting firm tofu.
Besides the changes to his skin, Chen Ping'an also noticed his strength seemed to have increased significantly. However, without a proper way to test it, he couldn't say by exactly how much.
However, perhaps due to the Golden Finger, there were no visible changes to either his physique or the appearance of his skin.
'Hmm, I could probably take on two of my past self now!'
Chen Ping'an concluded in the end.
After assessing the changes to his body from stepping onto the path of Martial Dao Cultivation, Chen Ping'an didn't wipe himself down. Instead, he wrapped the undergarments around his torso several times and started practicing the Iron Cloth Shirt again.
Normally, with such a short interval between sessions, his physique and cultivation level would make it impossible to complete a second round of Iron Cloth Shirt practice.
But thanks to his Golden Finger, reaching Entry Level had restored him to peak condition. It would be a crime not to exploit this bug and continue his Cultivation.
「Half an hour later.」
The familiar "+1 Experience" appeared again.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood First Layer
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Entry Level (1/15)
...
Seeing the number 1 appear on the panel, Chen Ping'an was deeply satisfied.
'At this rate, I'll be able to cultivate the Iron Cloth Shirt to Minor Achievement in just seven more days.'
Chen Ping'an's face was filled with satisfaction, his heart surging with emotion.
...
Early the next morning, Chen Ping'an rose to practice the Iron Cloth Shirt. After a full half hour, he successfully changed the "1" on the panel to a "2".
After wiping himself down and having breakfast with Chen Erya, he headed to the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
"Ping'an."
Monkey Head, who had arrived early, called out to Chen Ping'an from a corner. Da Shan was right beside him.
Even though he had woken up early to practice the Iron Cloth Shirt, Chen Ping'an was still a little later than usual. It wasn't a big deal, though; he hadn't missed the morning roll call.
The Constable and many of the official constables hadn't even arrived yet!
'I still need to be earlier next time!'
Chen Ping'an made a silent, stern reminder to himself.
He might have reached the Entry Level of the Martial Dao and gained some insignificant capital, but compared to the rules of the Garrison Commandant's Office, he was still nothing more than an ant.
"What's going on today?"
Walking over to Monkey Head and Da Shan, Chen Ping'an noticed that the atmosphere today seemed different than usual and asked with curiosity.
The constables, who usually stood scattered about in groups of three or five, were now crowded together in the center.
"Ping'an, you haven't heard!"
Monkey Head wriggled his eyebrows, grinning smugly.
"What is it?"
Chen Ping'an glanced toward the center. He could see that the constables were gathered around a young man, though he couldn't make out his face.
"Call me 'big brother' and I'll tell you!"
Monkey Head couldn't resist showing off. Opportunities like this were rare, and he was determined to make the most of it.
"Forget it, then!"
Chen Ping'an knew Monkey Head was just joking, so he wasn't angry, but he didn't give him the satisfaction either.
Monkey Head's expression froze. He could see that Chen Ping'an wasn't just putting on an act—feigning indifference while secretly dying of curiosity. The tables had turned, and now Monkey Head was the one itching to spill the beans.