Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill-Chapter 54: Progress at Divine Speed

At first, the Herbal Decoction was scalding hot and thick, enveloping his entire body. The medicinal power slowly melted through his skin and into his body, repairing the damaged skin tissues.

As the medicinal power spread, the bruised and swollen skin gradually contracted and began to heal under its effects. Waves of cool energy diffused from his skin throughout his body, bringing an indescribable sense of relief and comfort.

But this pleasant sensation didn’t last long. Soon, the medicinal power surged madly into his body, transforming his skin. Chen Cheng felt as if countless ants were gnawing and tearing at him, an excruciating, burning pain that pierced him to the core.

He picked up the prepared oral medicine and gulped it down. GULP, GULP. This medicine contained Pizzly Bear Blood, and its medicinal power was incredibly potent. A searing heat, like he had drunk strong liquor, burned down his throat, then into his stomach and abdomen, before beginning to spread from the inside out.

[Cultivation Progress for the Bear Skin Grinding Technique has increased.]

...

An hour later, Chen Cheng’s skin ached all over. He didn’t have a shred of strength left in his body and felt on the verge of collapse.

This was the weakness that preceded transformation, a state caused by the strengthening and tempering of his skin, qi, and blood.

[Skills: Bear Skin Grinding Technique (Beginner Level 32/100)

Looking at the panel’s notification, Chen Cheng’s eyes gleamed, and he was ecstatic.

The Cultivation Progress for the Bear Skin Grinding Technique had increased so quickly, it was a genuine surprise.

With just one session, he had not only successfully reached the Beginner Level, but his progress was already nearly a third of the way through it. It was simply unbelievable, a divine speed.

Moreover, this wasn’t even the final result of this session’s Cultivation Progress. He could feel that there was still medicinal power in his body that hadn’t been fully digested and absorbed. Once it was all absorbed, his progress would likely increase even more. At that point, his Bear Skin Grinding Technique might even advance directly to the Small Success Level.

Of course, completely digesting the medicinal power would take a considerable amount of time. According to the Cultivation Technique Manual, even a Martial Artist with outstanding innate talent would need about half a month to fully digest and absorb the medicinal power after a single session.

Even so, Chen Cheng was still overjoyed. To be able to cultivate the Bear Skin Grinding Technique to Small Success within half a month after just one session was something he wouldn’t have dared to imagine if he hadn’t experienced it himself.

After some careful thought, Chen Cheng came to a realization.

Cultivating a Skin Grinding Realm Body Tempering Method was highly dependent on one’s innate talent.

Those with outstanding innate talent were born with stronger skin, qi, and blood. When they ground their skin, its endurance was greater, allowing for a more thorough tempering.

Chen Cheng himself was already at Small Success in Skin Grinding Realm, nearing Great Success. His skin was as tough as cowhide. For a Martial Artist tempering their body for the first time, the degree to which he had ground his skin was likely terrifying.

But the more important parts—soaking in the Herbal Decoction and taking the oral medicine—varied from person to person. Different people had different physiques and varying degrees of affinity for a Cultivation Technique’s medicinal properties, which determined how much medicinal power they could absorb from each session.

A Martial Artist with excellent innate talent who was also perfectly suited for a particular Cultivation Technique and had a high affinity for its medicinal properties could absorb around thirty percent of the medicinal power.

In contrast, those with poor innate talent, whose bodies were incompatible with the medicinal properties, might not even be able to absorb five percent. This was why many people could cultivate for decades without ever breaking through to the Skin Grinding Realm.

No matter how diligently they ground their skin, it was all in vain if they couldn’t absorb the medicinal power needed to transform and regenerate their skin and strengthen their qi and blood.

Chen Cheng could feel that the amount of medicinal power he absorbed far exceeded that of others. It was likely more than thirty percent, perhaps even as high as sixty or seventy percent.

The only reason he hadn’t absorbed all of it was that his body simply couldn’t contain any more medicinal power.

Chen Cheng guessed this might be a bonus effect from his panel. After all, the panel guaranteed that as long as he cultivated, his progress would increase. For him, it seemed that as long as he soaked in the Herbal Decoction and took the oral medicine, he was guaranteed to absorb the medicinal power.

The only variables were the speed at which he absorbed the medicinal power and the limit of what his body could contain.

The panel ensured there were no obstacles to absorbing medicinal power, and since Chen Cheng’s Martial Arts Realm was already at Small Success in Skin Grinding Realm, nearing Great Success, his body’s capacity for medicinal power was very high. Naturally, his progress in cultivating the Body Tempering Technique was god-like.

This state of god-like Cultivation Progress would probably continue until his progress in the Bear Skin Grinding Technique caught up to his current Martial Arts Realm. Only then might it slow down.

Cultivating an Inner Breath Technique and a Body Tempering Technique at the same time was mutually beneficial, each one enhancing the other. Even after his progress in the Bear Skin Grinding Technique caught up to his Realm, his cultivation speed would likely still be faster than others.

It was the same principle as how cultivating External Skills becomes easier and faster after one has strengthened their physique through a Body Tempering Technique.

Chen Cheng reined in his thoughts and summoned the panel again.

[Name: Chen Cheng

Realm: Skin Grinding Realm (Small Success)

Skills: Iron Armor Skill (Small Success 852/1000), Wind Chasing Saber Technique (Great Success 566/10000), Bear Skin Grinding Technique (Beginner Level 32/100)]

In the past few days, his Cultivation Progress in both the Iron Armor Skill and Wind Chasing Saber Technique had also increased.

Cultivation that damaged the skin required time to recover, and absorbing medicinal power also took time. All Body Tempering Techniques could only be practiced periodically.

Chen Cheng’s Bear Skin Grinding Technique could be practiced about once every half a month, which wouldn’t interfere with his cultivation of the Iron Armor Skill and Wind Chasing Saber Technique.

’In less than a month, I can break through to Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm. By then, my physique will be even stronger, and my progress in cultivating the Wind Chasing Saber Technique and the Bear Skin Grinding Technique will be even faster.

’My Martial Arts Cultivation progress might be much faster than those so-called martial arts geniuses!

’A martial arts genius reaches Skin Grinding Realm Perfection in three years. But I’ve achieved so much in just a few months. Even reaching Skin Grinding Realm Perfection will probably only take me a year or two at most.

’The future is full of promise, truly full of promise!’

Chen Cheng got up and dressed, only to see Mu Xiaowan and Xi’Er peeking out from the kitchen doorway. They seemed to want to come out but were too shy.

While cultivating the Bear Skin Grinding Technique, Chen Cheng had been completely naked. When the two of them had gotten up and passed by the sandpit, they had just walked with their heads down, not daring to look.

"I’m done cultivating. You can come out now."

Chen Cheng said with a smile.

Only then did Mu Xiaowan and Xi’Er come out of the kitchen.

"Brother Cheng, the porridge is ready. Time for breakfast," Mu Xiaowan said.

"Alright," Chen Cheng replied with a faint smile and walked into the kitchen.

On the table was a large basin full of millet and lean pork porridge, along with a bowl of pickled vegetables.

The porridge was mostly minced meat with only a small amount of millet and a few mixed vegetables. It was less like porridge and more like a meat stew with some millet and vegetables.

A single breakfast easily consumed more than a pound of pork—a true luxury.

Chen Cheng cultivated the Martial Dao diligently every day, which consumed a great deal of energy. Only by supplementing his diet with so much meat could he replenish his expended qi and blood.

He had to report for duty at the City Guard Department soon, so Chen Cheng focused on eating. Mu Xiaowan and Xi’Er watched him with smiles on their faces.

They ate little and didn’t have to go out, so they were in no hurry.

Mu Xiaowan noticed that Chen Cheng’s exposed skin all over his body seemed to have grown a thick layer of calluses. She asked curiously:

"Brother Cheng, after cultivating your Body Tempering Technique, it looks like your whole body has swollen up."

"Mm... cultivating a Body Tempering Technique requires grinding the skin. It’s supposed to be like this," Chen Cheng replied while eating.

Mu Xiaowan reached out and gently poked the back of Chen Cheng’s hand. It felt like poking a piece of hard cowhide.

She hadn’t used much force, but Chen Cheng felt a sharp pain in the skin where she poked him, and he couldn’t help but frown.

"Brother Cheng, did I hurt you?"

Seeing his strong reaction, Mu Xiaowan instantly grew anxious and her heart ached for him.