38: Iron Fist Perfection, Iron Hand Perfection
After the first condition for Iron Hand and Iron Fist was met, Chu Qing immediately took both Secret medicines.
Then:
Both Cultivation Techniques advanced to Major Achievement.
The advancement conditions displayed:
To reach Perfection, only ten portions of Secret medicine are needed.
When thoseMuseum Masters gave him the Cultivation Techniques, they came with over twenty portions of Secret medicine.
Enough to support advancement to Great Perfection.
Continue taking the medicine!
First, he took the Iron Hand Secret medicine.
【Cultivation Technique: Iron Hand Perfection — A thousand refinements daily, Secret medicine every ten days, breaking limits in a thousand days.】
【Advancement Conditions: 1: Refine Iron Hand with fierce fire for ten days, 2: One portion of Limit-Breaking Secret medicine】
The method of advancement had changed.
He could advance without a shizhu pearl.
This was good news.
However, Limit-Breaking Secret medicine was something Chu Qing had heard of for the first time.
“I hope this thing isn't too precious.”
At this moment, the Secret medicine took effect.
He began to Cultivate.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
His ten fingers were pressed together, his hands flew, like door panels, like hand blades.
【Iron Tendons + 20】
【Iron Tendons + 20】
“Damn, I forgot to use Toad Skill to improve.”
He wanted to use the Secret Inheritance of Toad Skill.
But then, he thought of that old man.
“Never mind, there’s plenty of Secret medicine anyway. A 5% loss in progress doesn't matter, I can completely make it up with Secret medicine.”
Ten minutes… one hour… two hours… all the Iron Tendons were opened up.
In the end, there were 16 Iron Tendons that were not duplicated.
At this point, all his Iron Tendons reached 139.
He rested for a moment, feeling the changes in his hands.
On his hands, the skin peeled off, like a large snake shedding its skin.
The newly born skin was fair and delicate, like a baby’s skin.
However, its toughness and firmness had greatly improved.
Chu Qing picked up a stone ball.
He rubbed it with both hands.
Crack!
Crack!
The stone ball cracked; the strength of his hands alone easily destroyed the stone ball.
Vaguely, he had a feeling:
He could crush iron into mud.
And the reason he could do this was entirely because too many Iron Tendons in his hands had been activated.
“Eagle Claw Skill + Iron Hand + Mantis Fist”
The Iron Tendons activated by these three Cultivation Techniques were simply too numerous.
If he had only Cultivated Iron Hand, let alone crushing iron into mud, he probably wouldn't even be able to crush a stone ball.
“Next, it's Iron Fist.”
He took the Secret medicine.
【Cultivation Technique: Iron Fist Perfection — A thousand refinements daily, Secret medicine daily, breaking limits in a thousand days.】
【Advancement Conditions: 1: Iron Fist hammer iron one hundred thousand times, 2: One portion of Limit-Breaking Secret medicine】
The Secret medicine took effect.
Start practicing!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
His fists swung, like wielding iron hammers.
The wind from his fists howled, whimpering incessantly.
One hour… two hours… with the support of the Secret medicine, Chu Qing practiced all the Iron Fist Iron Tendons in one go.
Among them, only ten were not duplicated.
Even so, he was still delighted.
Because:
The total number of his Iron Tendons had reached a terrifying 149.
In just half a month, he went from an ordinary person to a Martial Artist with 149 Iron Tendons.
This progress was truly very, very fast.
“Unless someone takes several shizhu pearls a day; otherwise, they won't be as good as me.”
149 Iron Tendons gave him full confidence.
Several Perfection Cultivation Techniques, as well as the Secret Inheritance Toad Skill, further bolstered his confidence.
“If I were to encounter Hall Master Liu now, even if he used his Eight Great Hammers, I might be able to clash with him head-on!”
Unfortunately… Hall Master Liu's bones were gone, and he didn't even have anyone to test his skills against.
“Tang Wuming said that the limit of Iron Tendons is 365, which corresponds to the number of the Great Cycle.”
“I'm almost halfway there.”
“With a little more effort, I can reach the limit.”
“It's just… the Iron Tendons in my upper body are almost all developed; I still lack leg skills and Cultivation Techniques for the chest and abdomen.”
It's just… there are no Cultivation Techniques now.
“I've only trained a dozen or so Iron Tendons for Toad Skill…”
“Without Secret medicine, the progress of Toad Skill is too slow.”
“And… I need to keep a low profile these two days and can't Cultivate.”
Looking through his own Cultivation Techniques, Chu Qing found:
The only things he could practice were Iron Cloth, which could still improve defense, and Double-Handed Mantis Sword.
His other Cultivation Techniques were either already at Perfection or just needed Secret medicine to advance, requiring no further grinding or training.
“Counting the time, my Double-Handed Mantis Sword will be finished the day after tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow night, I'll go to Maple Leaf County; the day after tomorrow, I'll be back just in time.”
“At that time, I'll quickly improve Double-Handed Mantis Sword; I just don't know if this Swordplay can develop Iron Tendons.”
Some say that weapon Cultivation Techniques are merely killing Cultivation Techniques and cannot develop Iron Tendons.
Some say that they can develop Iron Tendons.
However, those who have Cultivated weapon Cultivation Techniques remain silent and never directly respond.
“If I have the chance to meet Tang Wuming in the future, I must ask him.”
Morning:
Chu Qing washed up and went to find Jin Pangzi.
Jin Pangzi had already prepared his men and, upon his arrival, immediately arranged everything, saying:
“Our position is at the East Gate.”
Chu Qing didn't waste words and directly led his men there.
When he arrived at the East Gate, he noticed:
Soldiers stood on the city wall.
Outside the gate, many high platforms had been set up.
Fortified Manors and wealthy families each had their own platforms to recruit people.
Outside the platforms were densely packed disaster victims.
Many of the disaster victims had an abnormal flush on their faces.
It was clear they had a fever.
After all, the wind and rain hadn't stopped for days, so it was normal for those with slightly weaker Physiques to get a fever or a cold.
And there were pharmacies brewing medicine, all decoctions to dispel wind and cold; drinking one bowl, though not an instant cure, could suppress the illness.
Chu Qing led his men to the high platform belonging to the Blood River Gang.
A ruffian asked, “Master Qing, shall we start now?”
This ruffian was the small leader who had tipped him off earlier.
The small leader had originally wanted to draw a clear line with Chu Qing.
But:
Before he could do anything, Hall Master Liu died.
Then… he continued to chase after Chu Qing, calling him Master Qing.
Now that Chu Qing had taken on an assignment, the 'Master Qing' from his mouth was incessant.
Chu Qing said indifferently, “Start recruiting!”
The small leader beat a gong and shouted:
“Blood River Gang is recruiting.”
“Families with dependents get priority!”
Those with families had more considerations; after joining the gang, fewer would run away.
The small leader called out.
However, very few people came forward to sign up.
Everyone prioritized trying their luck at the Fortified Manors and wealthy families.
Only if they couldn't get in there would they come to the Blood River Gang.
Seeing a group of thin, feverish, and coughing people, Chu Qing felt a headache.
The gang's conditions were:
Men must be able to lift a hundred catties of heavy objects.
Women and children must not be seriously ill.
But:
Among the people who came, very few could meet the standards.
“In a few days, when the disaster victims run out of dry food, even fewer will be able to meet the standards.”
“This assignment… is mediocre!”
Looking at the densely packed disaster victims, he thought of his previous life.
In his previous life, when disaster struck, the whole country provided relief.
But in this world… alas!
With a sigh, he closed his eyes and Cultivated Iron Cloth.
After running the Cultivation Technique once, his defense slightly improved.
The amount was small, but accumulating little by little, he could continuously grow stronger.
Approaching noon:
The disaster victims grew in number.
The gang also recruited some suitable people.
After Cultivating all morning, Chu Qing felt mentally fatigued. He walked back and forth on the high platform, scanning his surroundings to relax his mind.
Just then:
He suddenly saw a girl with a birthmark on her face on the high platform of the neighboring He Fortified Manor, being examined by a woman who was prying open her mouth to check her teeth.
In an instant, Chu Qing's spirits lifted.
Girl with a birthmark?
shizhu pearl?
“I finally found you.”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart beat faster.
This Miss Xu represented a shizhu pearl!
“I hope the He Family doesn't want her.”
“That way, I can openly get her.”