The sky was just beginning to lighten at dawn.
Nanquan Lane, Pear Blossom Lane, Chen Family Courtyard.
Chen Ping'an was bare-chested, rolling repeatedly in a pile of sand and gravel. The sharp, hard grit scraped against his skin, stimulating it relentlessly.
As the gravel rolled, his Qi Blood surged.
After this continued for a long time, a "+1 experience" symbol appeared in Chen Ping'an's vision.
"It worked!"
A smile spread across Chen Ping'an's face as he stood up from the gravel.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood First Level Perfection
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Minor Achievement (40/40)
....
Six days had passed since Zheng Shiyong's Martial Arts Introduction was announced. Just two days after that announcement, his official constable assignment was finalized.
Night watch duty at the Garrison Commandant's Office.
The division of labor within the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office was extremely specific. Common assignments could generally be divided into street patrols, arrests, watch duty, and clerical work.
The watch duty post was far better than patrolling the streets. As the name implied, it meant standing guard inside the Garrison Commandant's Office. This job was responsible for coordinating and summarizing various matters, reporting directly to the Constables. Not only did it spare one from daily patrols, sheltering them from wind and sun, but it also allowed for regular contact with the Constables. It was a truly cushy assignment.
It wasn't just the Constables; there was also a good chance of seeing the high-and-mighty Lord Chief and Vice Chief of the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office.
Even if you couldn't speak to them, just showing your face regularly and being remembered by the Lord Chief or Vice Chief was an excellent thing.
Don't underestimate a small thing like being remembered by the Lord Chief; at a critical moment, it could determine a person's entire future.
When there was only one spot on the official register, but several people had the right merits and seniority, how would the choice be made?
It all came down to the Lord Chief's decision.
Naturally, there would be a difference in treatment between those who were familiar and those who weren't.
This wasn't written in the Garrison Commandant's Office's official rules, but it was an unspoken rule, an accepted convention.
Normally, only an official constable could hold a watch duty post. Even the few night watch positions were filled by temporary constables with extensive seniority who had reached Martial Arts Introduction.
Although Zheng Shiyong had reached Martial Arts Introduction, his seniority was still shallow. No matter how they assigned the roles, it shouldn't have been his turn. No one would believe that Constable Zheng's influence wasn't behind him getting this post.
However, other people were other people. Their business had nothing to do with Chen Ping'an.
These past few days, he had been eating meat every day to nourish his body. He practiced the Iron Cloth Shirt nonstop, tempering his physique, refining his Qi Blood, and accumulating Cultivation Experience.
Until this morning, when he finally accumulated enough—40 points of Cultivation Experience.
"Let's do this!"
With a smile, Chen Ping'an focused his mind and tapped the faint plus sign that appeared after "Iron Cloth Shirt."
SWOOSH~
On the panel, 40 Experience Points instantly swirled, transforming into specks of starlight that surged toward the spot between his eyebrows.
As the starlight entered his brow, a familiar sensation washed over him.
A torrent of complex information flooded Chen Ping'an's mind—insights, combat applications, and reflections related to practicing the Iron Cloth Shirt.
This information wasn't just rote memorization. Through some Profound Mystery, Chen Ping'an was able to understand and digest it all himself. The moment the Starlight Entering the Body was complete, this knowledge was no longer something external. It became his own experience, as if he had accumulated it bit by bit through tireless daily practice.
Great Success in Iron Cloth Shirt! His skin was now like cowhide, capable of withstanding ordinary blades.
Although he would still be injured after taking a hit, the damage would be reduced to a minimum.
A Martial Arts Cultivator of above-average talent would need to spend over a decade in arduous, daily training to reach such a Realm!
Not only had he achieved Great Success in Iron Cloth Shirt, but under some profound and mysterious guidance, Chen Ping'an's Qi Blood also ascended to a new level.
Qi Blood Second Layer, the Muscle Training Realm!
Qi Blood First Layer is for Skin Refining! Qi Blood Second Layer is for Refining Flesh.
The Qi Blood Second Layer Realm, combined with the Great Success Level Iron Cloth Shirt, meant that Chen Ping'an could now handle five or six able-bodied, armed men by himself.
If he were more aggressive and adopted a strategy of trading injuries for kills, he could even take on seven or eight of them.
Of course, if he fought like that, the outcome for him wouldn't be pretty either!
After all, although Iron Cloth Shirt was an Outer Sect Hard Skill, it was only a Lower Grade Technique. It couldn't truly make him immune to blades.
If Chen Ping'an were to reveal his current strength, he would be considered a notable figure among the various gangs in Nanquan Lane. Even within the Nanquan Alley Town Patrol Office, his power would rank in the top ten among the official constables.
He was young and vigorous, with robust Qi Blood, unlike those older, weaker official constables whose strength was fading with age.
Chen Ping'an's eyes flickered as he focused his gaze on the panel that had appeared before him.
Name: Chen Ping'an
Realm: Qi Blood Second Layer
Martial Arts: Great Success in Iron Cloth Shirt (0/100)
...
"Qi Blood Second Layer!"
Chen Ping'an's heart soared. This meant he had stepped onto a new level.
'After Great Success is Perfection. Do I need 100 Experience Points to practice Iron Cloth Shirt to Perfection?'
Chen Ping'an mused.
However, since he had to report for duty soon, he didn't dwell on it. Having just broken through to a new Realm, he was in perfect condition and could practice Iron Cloth Shirt two more times.
He had known he would accumulate enough experience today, so he had woken up earlier than usual. As a result, he had plenty of time.
He rolled back into the gravel and resumed practicing his Iron Cloth Shirt.
After reaching Great Success in Iron Cloth Shirt, the gravel's stimulating effect on his skin was diminished.
'Looks like I'll need to switch to rocks.'
Chen Ping'an thought to himself during the practice.
In his vision, the "+1 experience" symbol appeared twice in a row. But Chen Ping'an realized he could still keep going.
'Should I keep going!?'
Chen Ping'an hesitated.
He had woken up early today, so he did have plenty of time. But if he practiced again, he'd be cutting it close.
"I'll continue!"
After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ping'an made his decision.
"Time waits for no one. I can't waste a single second. Again!"
When the "+1 experience" symbol appeared once more, Chen Ping'an quickly wiped himself down and hastily threw on his clothes. After calling out a greeting to Chen Erya, he ran straight out of the courtyard gate.
His morning practice had run a little long. Seeing the time, he knew he was about to be late for duty, so he had no choice but to run.
Although he was running late, Chen Ping'an was in an excellent mood.
With his Iron Cloth Shirt at Great Success, he could comfortably gain 3 experience points in a single session. Even if he couldn't manage to push for 4 points in the evening, he could still accumulate 6 points a day.
At this rate, reaching Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection was just around the corner!
And so, Chen Ping'an sprinted enthusiastically to the entrance of the Garrison Commandant's Office. Checking the time, he saw he wasn't late after all.
Chen Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as he was about to step through the main gate of the Garrison Commandant's Office, a deep, powerful voice sounded from behind him.
"Rushing about in such a hurry. What kind of behavior is that?"
Hearing this, Chen Ping'an's expression stiffened.