Iron Cloth Shirt, Divine Skill Entry Level!

The Black Water Gang's main hall was decorated with lanterns and streamers.

Although many brothers had died, for those who survived, this was a moment worth celebrating.

The Red Fish Gang had been crippled and was holed up in their inner compound, not daring to show their faces.

The entire Nu River dock business was now controlled by the Black Water Gang.

This meant more silver, more women, and more meat.

Inside the War Hall.

Zhao Tieshan sat at the head seat, awarding merits and rewards.

"Lu Chen!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

Lu Chen walked out from the crowd, dressed in a brand-new black martial arts uniform. The red sash around his waist was particularly striking.

"During the night raid on Red Fish Compound this time, you led the team to burn the granary and, at a critical moment, severely wounded Li Qingyi. You have achieved the first merit!"

Zhao Tieshan looked at Lu Chen, his eyes full of satisfaction.

"With the Gang Leader's approval, you are rewarded with one hundred taels of silver! Ten stalks of Bone Strengthening Grass! And one jar of Tiger Bone Wine!"

"Furthermore, the thirty brothers under your command will each be rewarded with ten taels of silver. You will also be responsible for collecting this money and distributing it."

A chorus of envious gasps filled the hall.

One hundred taels of silver was an astronomical sum that ordinary gang members wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Not to mention the Bone Strengthening Grass and Tiger Bone Wine, which were cultivation resources that couldn't be bought even with money.

"Thank you, Gang Leader! Thank you, Hall Master!"

Lu Chen accepted the rewards, his face showing appropriate excitement.

However, his heart remained incredibly calm.

These things were all earned with his life.

Back in his small courtyard.

Wang Xiaoliu and others were already waiting at the entrance.

Upon seeing Lu Chen return, their eyes lit up.

"Boss, how did it go?"

Lu Chen cut to the chase and threw the bag full of silver to Wang Xiaoliu.

"Ten taels each, distribute it."

"With the rest, go buy some wine and meat. Tonight, the brothers will have a good feast!"

"Long live Leader Lu!"

The cheers almost blew the roof off.

In this era, following a generous and protective leader was like having one's ancestors' graves emit smoke of good fortune.

After sending off his subordinates, Lu Chen closed the courtyard gate and bolted it.

The clamor was shut out.

He placed the jar of Tiger Bone Wine and the ten stalks of Bone Strengthening Grass on the table, and took out the Iron Cloth Shirt manual.

"Now that I have the resources, the next step is to convert them into strength."

Lu Chen didn't rush into cultivation.

He first went to a pharmacy in the city.

Using the hundred taels of silver reward, plus his previous savings, he prepared fifty portions of medicinal bath ingredients according to the formula in Iron Cloth Shirt.

This almost emptied half of the pharmacy's stock, making the shopkeeper grin from ear to ear.

Returning to his small courtyard, Lu Chen began his tedious and intense cultivation.

During the day, he handled gang affairs and patrolled the docks.

Now that the Red Fish Gang dared not show their faces, the docks were peaceful, and no one dared to cause trouble in "Lu Iron Skin's" territory.

At night, it was his hellish hour.

Gurgle... gurgle...

In the large iron pot, the medicinal soup bubbled, emitting a pungent odor.

Lu Chen stood naked in the courtyard.

He held a specially made ironwood staff.

This wooden staff was harder and heavier than the previous jujube wood staff, and it hurt more when it struck.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The dull thuds, accompanied by Lu Chen's suppressed groans, echoed in the night.

Each strike left his skin torn and flesh bleeding.

Then he would jump into the scalding medicinal bath, enduring the pain of ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart.

This cycle repeated.

This kind of self-abusive training, if it were anyone else, they would have long ago suffered a mental breakdown or their body would have collapsed.

But Lu Chen had the [Heavenly Dao Rewards Diligence] Panel and the [Body Immunity] trait.

He didn't need to worry about hidden injuries or qi deviation.

As long as he didn't die from the training, he would train himself to death.

Half a month later.

Late at night.

Mist billowed in the small courtyard.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged in the medicinal tub, his eyes closed, his breathing long and heavy.

With each breath, his chest heaved violently, making a sound like a bellows.

The medicinal soup in the tub had changed from dark brown to clear water.

All the medicinal power had been absorbed by his body.

Suddenly.

Lu Chen's eyes snapped open.

A sharp glint flashed in the darkness.

"Hmph!"

He grunted, and his muscles tensed.

Crack crack crack!

A series of popping sounds, like popping beans, came from within his body.

On the surface of his skin, the layer of dull, old skin began to peel off, revealing a new layer beneath that had a dark, metallic sheen.

This new skin didn't look rough; in fact, it was somewhat delicate.

But if one were to touch it, they would find it terrifyingly tough, like a layer of dense rubber, or an indestructible armor.

Lu Chen stood up from the tub and looked at his body.

Although his physique hadn't changed, he felt heavier, more dangerous.

He was like a piece of refined iron that had been tempered a thousand times.

With a thought, his Panel appeared.

[Name: Lu Chen]
[Realm: Body Tempering Realm (Flesh Refining Stage Peak)]
[Martial Arts: Stone Crushing Palm (3rd Stage Mastery 15%), Mountain Splitting Saber Technique (2nd Stage Proficient 50%), Iron Cloth Shirt (1st Stage Beginner 1%)]
[Traits: Copper Skin (Intermediate), Iron Hand (Intermediate), Vibrating Force (Intermediate), Thick Skin (Intermediate > Superposition)]

Iron Cloth Shirt had finally entered the beginner stage!

And, just as he had predicted.

The [Thick Skin] trait from Iron Cloth Shirt had overlapped with the [Copper Skin] trait from Stone Crushing Palm.

His defensive power was now more than just the sum of its parts.

Lu Chen picked up a sharp dagger.

He had bought it specifically to test his defenses.

Taking a deep breath, he slashed his left arm with all his might.

Zzzzz--!

A harsh scraping sound rang out.

The dagger slid across his skin as if it were cutting through tough leather.

No blood flowed.

It only left a shallow white mark.

After a moment, the white mark disappeared, and his skin was as good as new.

"Good!"

Joy flashed in Lu Chen's eyes.

With this level of defense, ordinary swords and blades could barely scratch him.

Even a master in the Flesh Refining Realm would have to put in some effort to break through his defenses.

If coupled with the counterattack of Vibrating Force...

"Even if I faced Li Qingyi again now, I wouldn't be completely defenseless."

Lu Chen clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

Just then.

A faint knock came from outside the courtyard gate.

Knock, knock, knock.

Three long, two short.

This was a secret code from the gang.

Lu Chen frowned, put away his dagger, threw on an outer robe, and walked over to open the courtyard gate.

Standing outside was a person completely wrapped in a black robe.

"Leader Lu."

The person lowered their voice and handed him a letter.

"This is a secret letter from the Hall Master for you. Burn it after reading."

With that, the person turned and vanished into the night.

Lu Chen closed the door and opened the envelope in the lamplight.

There were only a few lines of text on the letter, the handwriting messy, exuding a murderous aura.

"The Red Fish Gang is at its end, holed up in the inner dock."

"Recent intelligence indicates someone within the Red Fish Gang wishes to defect, offering a map to the Red Fish Gang's treasure vault."

"This person specifically requested to meet you."

"Tomorrow at noon, the abandoned mine ten miles outside the city, at Ten Mile Slope."

"Be wary of a trap, but seize the opportunity."

Signed, Zhao Tieshan.

Lu Chen looked at the letter in his hand, his fingers lightly caressing it.

The Red Fish Gang's treasure vault?

Defection?

And they specifically asked to see me?

Lu Chen sneered.

This smell... why does it smell so much like bait?

He casually placed the letter over the candlelight and ignited it, watching it turn to ash.

"Li Qingyi, you can't sit still any longer, can you?"

"Since you want to play, I'll play with you."

Lu Chen turned and went back into the room, tossing aside the chipped Mountain Splitting Saber.

He dragged a chest out from under the bed.

Inside was a thickened and weighted Hundred Refinements Steel Saber.

He had paid a hefty sum to have the best blacksmith in the city forge it.

Born for killing.