Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 32: Majestic and Imposing

’So you’ve finally lost your patience?’

He Zhiling’s eyes narrowed. He had been full of confidence, thinking he could easily defeat Chen Cheng with his Great Success Level Saber Technique. But to his surprise, Chen Cheng’s Body Technique was incredibly fast. He constantly dodged and weaved, keeping his distance, as slippery as an eel.

After dozens of exchanges, He Zhiling hadn’t even managed to touch the hem of Chen Cheng’s clothes. He was frustrated to the extreme.

Fortunately, he was experienced and level-headed, neither arrogant nor rash. He quickly adjusted his strategy, feigning exhaustion to show a decline in his strength. He deliberately revealed an opening, all to appear weak and lure his enemy in.

The trick worked. Chen Cheng changed his tactics and even attempted a counterattack, playing right into He Zhiling’s hands.

’This Chen Cheng is still too young, too naive. He has no one to blame but himself for this loss!’

In a flash of thought, He Zhiling stepped back and coiled his body. He mobilized all his Qi Blood Power, channeling it to the edge of his blade. He executed a swift and fierce diagonal slash with a shifting step, vowing to send Chen Cheng’s advancing Long Saber flying and seize victory in a single move.

A triumphant smile had already appeared on his face, but it vanished almost instantly. The saber-wielding figure reflected in his eyes was simply too fast.

So fast that he had executed less than half of his diagonal slash when his right hand, gripping the saber, felt the chill of a faint breeze. The tip of Chen Cheng’s attacking Long Saber was already just inches away.

’Not good!’

An intense sense of danger surged through him. He Zhiling’s heart trembled in fear, and the hairs on his body stood on end. Forgetting about his Saber Technique, he abandoned his Long Saber and threw himself into a roll to the left.

A desperate roll.

SHIICK...

The blade tore through He Zhiling’s sleeve, and a thin line of blood sprayed out.

The wind whistled past; the blade’s shadow vanished without a trace.

The Long Saber was held at a slight angle. On its tip, a thin trace of blood was particularly striking. Chen Cheng stood calmly, his face showing neither joy nor sorrow, as placid as still water, as he mentally replayed the duel.

’Just as I thought. An absolute advantage in the speed of my Body Technique can completely make up for the gap in Saber Technique. With that last strike, I used my maximum speed. With my Beginner Level Wind Chasing Saber Technique, I easily defeated He Zhiling’s Great Success Level Six Harmonies Saber Technique.

’If I weren’t carrying fifty-five pounds of weight, my speed would be even faster. Beating him would have been even easier.

’It seems that in a battle between Martial Artists, strength, Body Technique, and speed are all key factors in determining victory or defeat.’

[Wind Chasing Saber Technique Cultivation Progress increased.]

...

[Skills: Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Beginner 36/100)]

A panel prompt materialized in the air, and a wave of delight washed over Chen Cheng.

He hadn’t expected that after a fierce battle, his Wind Chasing Saber Technique progress would increase by a full 6 points.

The rate of improvement was much faster than when he was in a state of focus.

’That’s right. In the match just now, He Zhiling and I fought a real life-and-death battle. I was constantly facing the risk of death, so my mind was completely focused. I didn’t dare to relax for even a second. It’s only natural that my Saber Technique would improve so quickly.’

The Saber Technique duel had long since concluded, but the training ground was eerily quiet.

Chen Cheng defeating a Great Success Level Saber Technique with a Beginner Level Saber Technique was simply too incredible to believe. Not only were the spectating constables stunned, but even the few Chief Constables and the two Martial Artists from the Martial Arts Halls in the stands were unable to compose themselves for a long time.

Shen Qingshuang, on the other hand, had a strange light shining in her beautiful eyes. The young man before her had given her far too many surprises.

He came from a Humble Family, didn’t know any Fist Technique, and his self-taught Saber Technique was only at the Beginner Level. There were no signs that he had ever practiced any Body Tempering Technique.

Relying solely on the physique he’d built by tempering his strength at home, he had easily defeated a Martial Arts Hall disciple whose Fist Technique was approaching Great Success, and another who had just entered the Skin Grinding Realm and had achieved Great Success in Saber Technique.

Such talent for the Martial Dao was simply shocking, monstrous even!

’This Chen Cheng is truly extraordinary. Perhaps, just as Liu Yunfeng said, he’s worth cultivating.’

Shaking her head slightly, Shen Qingshuang turned and walked off the training ground.

"Lord Shen, you haven’t announced the results of the assessment match," Liu Yunfeng said.

"You handle it." Shen Qingshuang didn’t even look back.

On the field, He Zhiling clutched his injured forearm. His back was soaked in a cold, clammy sweat.

In the match just now, he had given it his all. He even used a ploy to lure his enemy in. It was safe to say he had used every trick up his sleeve.

But he still lost, and it was a complete defeat. As a fellow saber user, he could tell that if Chen Cheng hadn’t held back on that last strike, it wouldn’t have been a simple cut on his arm. His entire arm might have been severed, turning him into a cripple for life.

The thought that he himself had never considered holding back made He Zhiling feel even more ashamed and mortified.

"Chen Cheng, I, He Zhiling, will remember the mercy you’ve shown me today."

He Zhiling said this with a flushed face, then picked up the Long Saber that had fallen to the ground. He walked silently off the field, his sturdy and broad back looking exceptionally lonely.

Chen Cheng had defeated two opponents in a row and successfully passed the Preparatory Constable assessment. Even Zhao Yongfeng was left with nothing to say.

Liu Yunfeng was, of course, overjoyed. He personally took Chen Cheng to the Deacon’s Room to get registered, collect his waist token, and receive his Preparatory Constable uniform.

Although the process had a few twists and turns, he had successfully entered the Ruyi Square Sub-Department of the City Guard Department and become a Preparatory Constable.

His rank and salary were no different from when he was a Prison Guard in the Prison, but when Chen Cheng changed into the gray uniform of a Preparatory Constable and walked down the street, the feeling was completely different.

Before, when he wore the Prison Guard uniform, people paid him no mind.

Now, it was a completely different scene. Wherever Chen Cheng went, whether it was the street vendors or the common folk, they all had ingratiating looks on their faces.

Even those figures from the Jianghu who carried weapons had a wary look in their eyes and mostly chose to get out of his way.

As the saying goes, a distant official is less powerful than the one on the ground. A Prison Guard manages the Prison, feared by prisoners and their families.

A street patrol constable manages street security, a sphere of influence that was clearly much larger.

Liu Yunfeng looked out for Chen Cheng, arranging for him to be in the same squad as Liao San. He just had to stick with Liao San during his shifts.

The job of a street patrol constable was actually more laid-back than that of a Prison Guard. It was nothing more than strolling around the designated district at the appointed time. If you ran into thieves or bandits, you’d fight them, kill them, or arrest them as needed.

If someone reported a crime, you’d go handle it.

In this day and age, what thief or bandit would dare cause trouble right in front of a constable? They’d see a constable on patrol and flee from a mile away.

After a full day on duty without any incidents, Chen Cheng continued to silently practice his Iron Armor Skill while strolling, just as he had in the Prison. His progress steadily increased.

Since his patrol district was near Locust Tree Lane, he could even go home for lunch and a rest, and practice his Wind Chasing Saber Technique a few times while he was there.

Preparatory Constables weren’t qualified to carry a saber. This so-called lack of qualification didn’t mean they were forbidden from carrying one, but that the City Guard Department didn’t issue Constable’s Sabers to them. If you wanted a saber, you had to buy it yourself.

In Linji City, trades like salt and iron were monopolized by the great families. A Long Saber of ordinary material was worth over ten taels of silver. How could a typical Preparatory Constable afford that?

After all, people like He Zhiling, who served as Preparatory Constables while also being disciples of a Martial Arts Hall, were a minority.

Chen Cheng had previously confiscated a Long Saber from Tian Qi of the Flying Eagle Gang. He now wore it ostentatiously at his waist, which made him look like a proper saber-wielding constable, an imposing figure indeed.