5 Chapter 3 60 Years of Hard Work_2

```

To reach perfection in Iron Shirt Technique, it would normally take over a decade of hard work, even for the genuine disciples from top sects or children from prominent families, who have access to various pills and ointments, it still requires at least several years of dedicated study and practice.

However, once a martial artist's physical body has reached a certain level and inner breath has started to nourish the body, entering the Conduit Opening Realm, rarely anyone still focuses solely on external techniques like the Iron Shirt Technique.

After all, even if the Iron Shirt Technique is perfected, it still can't withstand a palm strike from a martial artist in the Conduit Opening Realm - there's a gap in cultivation level and strength.

But Gu Chen had the panel, so naturally, he had no such concerns.

Thus, Gu Chen spent another three power points to also advance the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Training to the state of perfection.

Once the Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Training reached perfection, the martial arts knowledge surged into his mind, and Gu Chen suddenly felt great enhancement throughout his body - his muscles, skin, and other parts all greatly strengthened.

At the same time, the feeling of physical bloating that came with too swift an increase in cultivation also seemingly dissipated considerably.

However, Gu Chen chose not to continue increasing his cultivation but instead spent five power points to bring Red Flame Palm to the state of perfection as well.

Immediately thereafter, the corresponding martial arts knowledge poured directly into Gu Chen's mind.

Raising Red Flame Palm to great achievement cost two power points, while reaching perfection cost three.

"It seems that different states of martial arts require different amounts of power points," Gu Chen thought to himself.

Logically speaking, at Gu Chen's age, there were few patrolling enforcers in the Jing Tian Department who could perfect a martial art. Reaching the great achievement state was already a sign of exceptional talent. Perfecting a martial art requires not only time but also a higher natural talent and comprehension.

Keep in mind, no matter what rank the martial art is, reaching perfection is much harder than the combined effort of advancing from the initial stage to great achievement.

Gu Chen was only able to easily bring three martial arts to perfection one after another because of the panel's existence.

Now, after a series of upgrades, only one point remained on the panel.

Name: Gu Chen

Martial Arts: Iron Shirt Technique (perfection), Thirteen Grand Protectors' Horizontal Training (perfection), Red Flame Palm (perfection), Dragon Sinew Tiger Bone Fist (initial glimpse)

Inner Power Technique: Pure Yang Technique

Cultivation: Sixty years

Realm: Full Circle of Encompassing Breath Realm

Power Points: 1

After spending fifty-one power points, Gu Chen's strength underwent an earth-shattering change, his inner power cultivation in particular reaching a full sixty years.

Ordinarily, such a level of inner power should have exceeded the Encompassing Breath Realm, which for anyone else could lead to a breakthrough to the Conduit Opening Realm. Yet, the panel still indicated that Gu Chen was at the Full Circle of the Encompassing Breath Realm.

Additionally, Gu Chen himself sensed that his body could still accommodate more inner power.

For this reason, he wasn't in a hurry to make a breakthrough.

Gu Chen found he was somewhat addicted to the sensation of his cultivation surging. It was similar to his addiction to extreme sports in his previous life; the feeling of increasing strength was simply too delightful.

Moreover, he knew well that in such an ancient feudal society, the fist is power. Moreover, the world wasn't safe; the land of Da Xia was showing signs of chaos, and demons and evil spirits might appear at any time. And as a member of the Jing Tian Department, he needed to be ready to confront these threats head-on.

Therefore, strength was what Gu Chen needed the most at this stage.

Having shed his old skin, Gu Chen once again cleaned himself thoroughly and then went straight to bed.

The next day, in the early morning, after washing up, he changed into a set of dark clothes and hung a treasured sword at his waist. He stepped out of his house, ready to head to the Jing Tian Department.

In this life, his physical appearance was quite impressive: tall and well-proportioned, with handsome features and striking looks, especially a pair of slanted eyebrows which added a touch of valor to his visage.

Regarding such an appearance, Gu Chen himself was quite satisfied, feeling it was on par with his looks from his previous life.

```

Tiandu City, as the capital of Da Xia, was the finest place under the heavens, extraordinarily flourishing. The streets were endlessly bustling, with a steady stream of pedestrians and a constant flow of carriages and horses. Dazzling buildings could be seen everywhere, and hawkers were incessantly hawking their wares.

It was indeed a scene of prosperity and peace, which Gu Chen silently admired in his heart.

This was merely the outer city. Tiandu was divided into an inner and outer city, with the inner city being even more prosperous. It was a place where only princes, nobility, and high-ranking officials had the privilege to reside.

Even someone like Gu Chen, who was equivalent to a seventh-rank official of Da Xia, couldn't afford a house in the inner city of Tiandu.

The reason was that the housing prices were too high, and Da Xia did not have installment payments.

Listening to the lively hawking sounds around him, Gu Chen wasn't in a hurry. He enjoyed the scenery while making his way toward the Jing Tian Department.

The headquarters of the Jing Tian Department was also located in the inner city. The Jing Tian Department branch in the outer city was like those in other prefectures, merely a branch.

No sooner had Gu Chen stepped through the gates of the Jing Tian Department than someone secretly reported his arrival to Liu Zheng.

...

At that moment, Liu Zheng was cultivating in the martial training ground at his home when a servant suddenly ran over.

Liu Zheng, who was exercising his physique with his upper body bare, frowned in displeasure when the servant interrupted him.

However, when he heard that Gu Chen had appeared at the Jing Tian Department, he was greatly shocked.

"How is that possible? That brat actually didn't die?" Liu Zheng's eyebrows knitted together.

He had been quite precise in his attack. Back then, his palm had struck Gu Chen's chest, directly injuring Gu Chen's internal organs. As a result, Gu Chen's existing injuries worsened, and the sinister yin energy of the demon seeped into his heart vessels.

In Liu Zheng's view, Gu Chen was virtually guaranteed death in such a situation, with the demonic yin energy corroding his heart vessels.

The Jing Tian Department encouraged martial practice and did not prohibit combat but did forbid deliberately injuring someone to the point of disability or death.

Therefore, Liu Zheng had controlled his force well; even if Gu Chen died, the blame wouldn't fall on him.

For the cause of death would be the demon, not greatly related to him.

A month and a half had passed since the incident, and Liu Zheng had thought Gu Chen was dead. Unexpectedly, Gu Chen had appeared at the Jing Tian Department today, unharmed.

"Good, I just perfected my Iron Sand Palm and was worried I had no one to spar with, yet you've come to me on your own." A cold smirk appeared on Liu Zheng's lips.

He felt that, even if Gu Chen had miraculously survived, he would likely be unable to practice martial arts ever again. Moreover, since defeating Gu Chen, his understanding had deepened. In the last month and a half, his cultivation had greatly advanced, and he was on the verge of breaking through to the mid-stage of the Yunqi Realm.

That was why Liu Zheng didn't think Gu Chen would still be a match for him.

"Someone, prepare my bath and change of clothes," Liu Zheng ordered, and immediately, maidservants attended to his washing and dressing.

Once everything was ready, the servants at his home had prepared everything needed; he quickly left, heading toward the Jing Tian Department.

...

"Gu Chen!"

From some distance away, Gu Chen heard someone calling his name. Turning around, he saw a young man of average build with a sinister look in his eyes.

It was precisely Liu Zheng, who had inflicted severe injuries on the original host.

"So you really didn't die." Liu Zheng strode up to him, watching Gu Chen with a cold smirk appearing on his lips.

Gu Chen's expression remained calm as he met Liu Zheng's gaze and said, "What do you want from me?"

With a snort, Liu Zheng said, "Last time the fight wasn't satisfying. Do you dare to have another match with me?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chen immediately smiled, with a playful look in his eyes as he gazed at Liu Zheng, and said, "You want to challenge me?"