Iron Armor

Meanwhile, Lin Shuyao sensed his gaze but didn't look up. She lowered her eyes and continued her martial arts practice.

Coming from a martial arts family, she had received excellent training since childhood. She knew that what martial artists lacked most was never Federal Coins or Nutrient Solution, but the more precious Origin Energy treasures and innate talent.

She couldn't help Chu Kuang with these things, so she chose to keep her distance from him, lest it affect her pursuit of martial arts in the future.

Over the next few days, Chu Kuang lived a very fulfilling life. He spent most of his time at school diligently practicing the Iron Armor Technique and the Gold-Splitting Spear. As usual, he practiced Basic Internal Martial Arts, fist techniques, and movement techniques ten times each day to consolidate his progress.

In the evenings, he tutored Lin Shuya, and after returning home, he would spar with Chu Yu for two hours before playing over a dozen ranked matches.

After mastering the Basic Spear Technique, Chu Kuang's win rate against opponents ranked within the top three thousand was already quite high.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. His ranking in the ranked matches steadily climbed to over fifteen hundred. That evening, the Iron Armor Technique finally advanced further, breaking through to the Great Accomplishment realm.

Iron Armor Technique [Great Accomplishment 1%], with the attached trait [Iron Armor].

Iron Armor [Purple]: Body armor, impervious to blades and spears, Iron Armor Technique defense increased by fifty percent.

"Fifty percent more defense."

Chu Kuang's face lit up as he looked at the trait on his status panel.

Each external martial art had different focuses. Generally, they were divided into four aspects: strength, defense, physique, and speed. The official term for these was the four-dimensional attributes, with each attribute divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.

For the same beginner external martial art, Jiang Feng's Brute Ox Technique had upper-grade physique and upper-grade strength, middle-grade defense, and lower-grade speed.

Chu Kuang's Iron Armor Technique focused on defense, with upper-grade defense, middle-grade strength, middle-grade physique, and lower-grade speed.

On the surface, the Iron Armor Technique only had one upper-grade attribute, making it seem weaker than the Brute Ox Technique.

However, the Iron Armor Technique was a specialized defensive skill. Its defense had reached the limit of the upper grade, while the Brute Ox Technique's strength and physique, though both upper grade, had only just touched the threshold of the upper grade.

"Among all beginner external martial arts, the Iron Armor Technique is one of the strongest in terms of defense. Even those comparable to it are at most on the same level."

"If the four-dimensional attributes were divided into nine stars across three grades, the Iron Armor Technique would definitely be a nine-star level in defense."

"With a fifty percent increase on top of this, what level will my defense reach?"

Chu Kuang murmured to himself. He understood the principle of specialization and had no intention of becoming a five-dimensional warrior. After all, being proficient in everything often meant being mediocre in all of them.

He casually picked up a short knife and stabbed it into his arm, only to find a faint white mark.

He gradually increased his strength until he used eighty percent of his power to barely scratch the skin, resulting in only a minor injury.

"With my current defense, it's almost like wearing a suit of heavy armor. My survivability has improved by far more than one level."

Chu Kuang took a deep breath and looked at his status panel again, a smile appearing on his face.

Name: Chu Kuang Race: Human Life Level: 5.8 Realm: Body Tempering Great Accomplishment [Pebble Body]

"Life Level 5.8."

"It seems that after digesting the gains from the Iron Armor Technique's Great Accomplishment, reaching Life Level 6.0 will be effortless."

After breaking through with the Iron Armor Technique, Chu Kuang opened the ranked matches and impatiently clicked to queue up.

He was matched with an opponent very quickly, and this opponent turned out to be an acquaintance.

[Su Ling] [School: Tian Heng Seventh Middle School] [Rank: 1463] [Wins: 37, Losses: 12] [Win Rate: 75%]

[Chu Kuang] [School: Tian Heng Third Middle School] [Rank: 1523] [Wins: 57, Losses: 33] [Win Rate: 63%]

Su Ling glanced at Chu Kuang and showed a hint of apprehension. He then looked at Chu Kuang's status panel and smiled, "A 63% win rate. It looks like you've hit a bottleneck."

Chu Kuang's brow twitched slightly. The opponent's 75% win rate indicated that they had definitely entered the top three thousand with a winning streak. If nothing unexpected happened, Su Ling had likely just achieved Great Accomplishment in an external martial art and had the misfortune of encountering Chu Kuang. If it were yesterday's Chu Kuang, facing Su Ling might have been a tough fight, but unfortunately, Chu Kuang's Iron Armor Technique had now reached Great Accomplishment.

With this thought, Chu Kuang calmly held his spear and said, "Come on, let me see what you've got."

As he spoke, Chu Kuang stood still, calmly awaiting Su Ling's attack.

"Willow Catkin Sword Technique."

Seeing the chance for revenge right before him, Su Ling immediately channeled her rapier and attacked Chu Kuang.

As soon as they clashed, Chu Kuang realized his opponent was incredibly fast. Her agility, evasion skills, and the speed at which she changed her sword stances were astonishing.

"Spirit Rhinoceros Strength, Flying Swallow Movement Technique, Willow Catkin Sword Technique."

Chu Kuang murmured inwardly, recognizing the origins of her techniques.

Spirit Rhinoceros Strength was an external martial art focused on agility. Its defense, fortitude, and raw power were average to below average, but its speed and agility were top-tier among those at the same level.

The Flying Swallow Movement Technique was even more nimble and agile. Combined with the continuous Willow Catkin Sword Technique, it perfectly amplified the speed advantage of the Spirit Rhinoceros Strength.

The only drawback was that her attack power was too weak, placing her at the lowest tier for her level.

After exchanging dozens of blows in the blink of an eye, Chu Kuang found himself constantly on the defensive against her attacks, unable to find an opportunity to defeat her.

"Her body is as agile as a swallow, her sword strikes as numerous as willow catkins."

"I must create a single, decisive opening to defeat her completely."

Chu Kuang made up his mind. He slammed his spear forward, his face a mask of rage, and shouted, "Aren't you annoying? Fight me head-on if you dare!"

"Hehehe, only a fool would fight you up close," Su Ling giggled. She instantly dodged the attack like a swallow and swung her sword at Chu Kuang.

Chu Kuang parried repeatedly with his spear, seemingly provoked beyond measure. He suddenly threw his spear at Su Ling, intending to pin her in mid-air.

"A perfect opportunity."

Su Ling dodged the attack in an instant, then spun around and unleashed a powerful downward strike at Chu Kuang with the Willow Catkin Sword Technique.

Instantly, sword light filled the air like willow catkins, weaving into a vast net that swept over Chu Kuang, engulfing him completely.

"Just in time."

Facing such an attack, Chu Kuang advanced instead of retreating.

He charged into the torrent of sword strikes, allowing the rapier to repeatedly stab at him. The result was merely a series of faint white marks.

In that instant, he closed the distance, passed through the curtain of swords, grabbed Su Ling's wrist, and pinned her to the ground.

"How dare you!"

Su Ling was stunned and tried to struggle free, but she was powerless. Chu Kuang easily disarmed her, placing the rapier against her throat.

In mere moments, a beautiful head flew off, dissolving into ethereal data and vanishing without a trace.

"Fortunately, her sword technique and movement technique weren't fully mastered, or I fear it would have been very difficult to deal with her."

Having won the match, Chu Kuang glanced at the changes in his ranking, a look of seriousness appearing on his face.

If this fight had been against someone like Jiang Feng, who had mastered an ordinary external martial art, they probably wouldn't have been able to even touch her before dying, given her fighting style.

Su Ling's external martial art and accompanying techniques were too agile. Opponents at the same level would find it hard to land a hit on her, and Jiang Feng's defense probably wouldn't withstand her continuous onslaught.

Chu Kuang could endure it, but if her movement technique and swordplay had reached mastery, it would likely be difficult for him to catch her.

"With the Iron Armor Technique and Gold-Splitting Spear, my defense and offense are not lacking. What I'm missing is a movement technique for explosive, ultimate speed."

Chu Kuang mused. He was well aware of his strengths. His Iron Armor Technique offered exceptional defense, and the Gold-Splitting Spear's attack power was not weak, but neither aligned with agility.

A more suitable movement technique for him would be one that was dormant until it struck, unleashing earth-shattering power when it moved. This way, even against enemies who relied on agility, he could counterattack after they made their move.

With that thought, Chu Kuang checked his status panel and saw the data for his Basic Movement Technique.

"Basic Movement Technique [Mastery 98%]."

"At most by tomorrow, Basic Movement Technique will reach its limit. I need to quickly break into the top one thousand to complete this piece of the puzzle."

Chu Kuang murmured, then continued to queue for another ranked match.

After mastering the Iron Armor Technique, Chu Kuang's strength had undergone a qualitative change. Although his Life Level of 5.8 wasn't particularly high among the top two thousand, the defensive power of the Iron Armor Technique, coupled with the buffs from the purple Iron Armor attribute, made Chu Kuang's strength far exceed that of martial artists at the same Life Level.

Chu Kuang went on to win four more matches consecutively. Although his opponents were all ranked in the thousand-plus range, his own rank steadily climbed.

[Chu Kuang]

[School: Tian Heng Third Middle School]

[Rank: 1251]

"Five consecutive wins. My hidden points should have increased significantly. I shouldn't be matched against opponents ranked lower than me anymore."

After defeating another strong opponent, Chu Kuang decisively initiated a ranked match.

With a ripple effect like water waves, Chu Kuang found himself in a rocky area, surrounded by strangely shaped giant stones.

"Strange Rock Forest."

Chu Kuang felt a sense of calm. This type of battlefield was more advantageous for martial artists who relied on hard-body techniques.

Opposite him, a burly figure wielding a greatsword descended from the sky, looking at Chu Kuang with a scrutinizing gaze.

[Li Xiong]

[School: Tian Heng First Middle School]

[Rank: 986]

[Wins 174: Losses 62]

[Win Rate: 66%]

"Kid from Third Middle School."

Li Xiong's gaze shifted slightly as he scanned Chu Kuang and said, "Five consecutive wins, your strength isn't weak. But since you've run into me, I'm afraid your streak will end here."

As his voice fell, he charged forward with the greatsword in his hand.

"Coiled Dragon Technique, Juque Sword Technique."

Chu Kuang took one look and immediately wore a solemn expression.

The opponent was also following a specialization path. This Coiled Dragon Technique was a beginner external martial art focused on strength, and the Juque Sword Technique was known for its wide, sweeping attacks.

With the immense power of the Coiled Dragon Technique and this heavy sword that resembled a stone tablet, any martial artist like Su Ling who focused on agility would be injured just by being grazed and killed by a direct hit.